I Have Been Ravelryed

I am working in Jacksonville, FL., probably for 2 months. Thanks to www.Ravelry.com, I have a way to meet new friends everywhere my job takes me with nothing more than a click of my mouse.

I had planned to meet up with a knitting group, The Black Purls. They meet at a coffee shop in St. Augustine on Saturday's. Unfortunately, I drove around and could not find a parking space. I was so discussed that I left. On the way back to the hotel, I remembered another group on Ravelry that meets in Jacksonville at a shop called KnitWitz. I decided that since I could not find a parking space, I would check out the shop. After having to call for directions, the GPS could not find the street, I finally arrived at the shop that turned out to be about 20 minutes from my hotel.

As soon as I walked in the door, I knew that this was going to be a great hangout. I am anxious to go back on Wednesday evening for their knit-in.

Some of the ladies had brought their spinning wheels and was spinning, a group had CD spindles and was learning how to spin, and another group was knitting. Everyone else, including me, was just wandering the shop.

Also on Ravelry, I joined the Western Maryland Ravelers that meet at Barnes and Noble in Frederick, MD, at the FSK Mall two Friday's a month to sit, knit and be a part of a group of other knitters. Here is a couple of pictures of some of the group that met the last time I was able to meet with everyone. What a joy it is to be in a group of like minds. There is some spinners as well as knitters. Several people have come to my little section of Ravelry and left comments about my knitting. I do hope that there will be a place for weaving, on the site, one of these days.













I just have to complete the toe on the socks I started knitting while I was on my Europe trip. They were finished when I realized that one was much, much, longer than the other and had to rip back. I was not happy about that. On this trip, I only brought UFO's with me and my spinning wheel. I am hoping that I can get these done so I can stop feeling guilty.

Okay, I brought more yarn when I went to KnitWitz, ....I will not start a project until I finish what I brought. Now, keep in mind, this store has handdyed and handspun yarns from local dyers that I can not get anywhere else. That is bad!!!!!

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

A knitting friend, Rhonda, had this on her website so I thought that I would check it out. Found out something else about me...

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

CRAFTING IN THE NEW YEAR

I have started my 2008 stash busting. I refuse to buy anymore yarn until I get some of what I have down to something that is a little more manageable. Well...until the Maryland Sheep and Wool.

I would not call this a New Year resolution because I never keep them so I felt that maybe this year I would just say that intend to use up a lot of my yarn.

The first hat called the Nehalem Hat by Oat Couture, www.oatcouture.com, can be made with either DK Weight or Heavy Worsted Weight. You also have a choice of brims, cable or ribbed. It was fun and quick to make. The only adjustment I made was that I did not have any beads so I used three crochet corkscrews. I wear my hair in braids for most of the year and is hard to find a hat to get all that extra hair under. This hat is perfect for that.


The yarn is very soft Berroco Foliage. It is a thick and thin yarn so I used the DK weight instructions but the the size 9 needle of the Heavy Worsted pattern.
Worked out beautifully.


Crocheting the corkscrews for the Nehalem Hat made me want to crochet a project. I learned to crochet years ago and made my daughter's coming home outfit from the hospital. The only crocheting that I have done in recent years was teach a co-worker how to crochet because she wanted the Martha Stewart coming home poncho. This hat is a free Lion Brand pattern.



It is just called Suede Cap. I have some suede yarn left over from a purse exchange that I was in. The yarn is by Reynolds and is called Cabana. This was quick, quick.

I am off to a good start I feel.

Happy New Year-2008 Has Great Promise

TWAS THE MONTH AFTER CHRISTMAS

Twas the month after Christmas, When all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, Not even a blouse!
The cookies I'd nibbled, The eggnog I did taste....
At the holiday parties, had gone to my waist!

I remember the marvelous meals all prepared:
The gravies and sauces, the beef "nicely rare".
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I NEVER said, "No, thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
And I prepared once again to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself (as only I can),
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a MAN"!

So---away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip!
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'Til all of the additional "ounces" have vanished!

I won't have a cookie, not even a lick!
I'll want only to chew, on a celery stick!
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot, and quietly cry.

"I'm hungry...I'm lonesome..and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for"

Unable to giggle, No longer a riot!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD DIET!


(author unknown)

A Great Christmas

I had a most fantastic Christmas. The first 5 pictures are from a calendar that a family friend gave me. Don't you think that this is terrific!















My son got me the Keurig Single Cup home brewing system with the cup maker so I could use my own coffee. It works great for coffee or just hot water. I am loving this .









My daughter got me the The New Pathways for Sock Knitters book. I had been looking at it and wanting it but just had not gotten around to buying it. Feels good to have it now.











I am still in awe and smiling because I HAVE MY WOOLEE WINDER. I know it will not make my spinning better but no more stopping and starting to move the yarn, now it will at least look pretty on the bobbin. Get ready for some fantastic spinning...well...maybe not fantastic.













My friend Vicki sent my favorite coffee, Creme Brulee, this beautiful sparkly yarn and goodies. There were more goodies but this is all that made it home. I made this scarf for Vicki from a pattern at Garn Studios-Drop Design. It can be knit in a day with bulky yarn. I also made my daughter a black one and a grey/blue one for me. I lose my scarves when I am working so this one will work just great.








Okay, I am through bragging. Hope everyone had as great a Christmas as I did.

For the next year I plan on concentrating on my spinning and weaving but will keep a knitting project with me for when I can not get to my loom or spinning wheel.

I have great plans for the New Year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

1st Sweater and Studio Tour

I thought I would give you a close up view of my sweater. On the sleeve is the cable stitches that I mentioned in my last post.







My daughter and I went on a studio tour in our area on Friday. We had a chance to meet and talk with the owners of 2 studios that offered handspun and hand dyed yarns and jewelry; owners of a Handmade fiber art Gallery that featured several local artist; hand painted furniture studio and a winery. There were several others that we wanted to go to like a hand blown glass studio and a pottery but time and weather was not in our favor.


Our first stop was Kiparoo Farm, www.kiparoofarmstudio.com
















I always stop at the owner, Annie Kelley, booth when I go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool in May. She has beautiful kits, yarn and her own patterns. I ended up with yarn and patterns to make some mittens and a scarf. The mittens will be knit and the scarf crochet. I really like this rich red. The yarn is wool and mohair.




Next, we went to Dancing Leaf Farm, www.dancingleaffarm.com
My daughter, TeAntae, had discovered her years ago when she needed to take a spinning lesson. Both Dancing Leaf and Kiparoo are farms. They offer completely different yarn and both are worth going to. I brought this gorgeous bright yarn from Dalis to make socks. The yarn is 100% superwash merino.























Our next stop was Lahara Gallery and Textiles. www.laharatextiles.com
I brought and insulated quilted lunch sack. I also signed up to take a rug hooking class this spring.






























Our last stop was Stone Wall Farm, Kathleen Balogh, offered hand painted glass ware as well as hand painted furniture. The sign said to go to the barn and it really was a barn. I loved it and wished I had one.

Proud Mom and 1st Sweater

So much has been going on these last few weeks. I finally finished my first sweater and wore it to my son's graduation. I am in the process of unraveling the cuff of the sweater to make it longer. Otherwise, I am quite pleased with my first attempt. The pattern is from Green Mountain Spinnery and is worked in the round with cables on the sleeve. The yarn is from The Yarn Cafe, http://www.yarn-cafe.com/store.cfm in Minnesota by Mooncake and is called Tranquility. This yarn is so soft that makes the knitting a joy. I will certainly make something else with it.










On December 8, 2007 my son got his Bachelor of Science degree with honors. It amazes me that I sent him to school and he would rather party. He goes on his own and look what happens!!!

The first picture is my son, Roger, and my daughter, TeAntae. The next one is Roger, of course. It is hard to see in the picture but he has crimson and white tassels; gold and a white stoles. The white tassel and stole shows that he is in the Information Technology honor society, the gold stole signifies that he had a 3.8-4.0 grade point average.....
and then I had to show you part of the commencement program. The important part.....

The Cruise was Fantastic

We took the 7 day Eastern Caribbean Disney cruise. My daughter, TeAntae, and her husband Bryan renewed their vows. I do not have all the pictures as yet.

How do you like us as pirates?

The seas were very rough because of Noel, however, I had a ball.

Was able to work on my socks but not as much as I would have liked.

Currently, I am working in OH. Hopefully, just until Christmas.

I have been working on my first sweater, hope to get it finished in a couple of weeks. I just have the sleeves and collar to go. Then I will post it so you can see.

Take care,

Happy Halloween

I know that I have not been posting lately but hopefully, my life will be back in order next month.

This Halloween greeting is early because I will be taking a cruise with my daughter and son-in-law at the end of the month. They are renewing their vows on the Disney Cruise ship.

Are you on Ravelry? If you love fiber, you must sign up. Lots of great ideas, ways to catalog your yarn, UFO's, finished items, needles, books and meet great people.

See you next month.

I Have Been Framed

I just found out that I would not be leaving Minnesota anytime soon. I was depressed and then I received a call that brighten my day. A new friend, Theresa, said she was stopping by the hotel later that evening to show me something.

I have coffee every morning in a local coffee shop before work. Theresa comes in most mornings on her way to work or swimming. One morning I was knitting when she came in and we talked about knitting, crocheting and the fact that I spin and weave. She had never seen anyone spin so she asked if she could take pictures of me spinning. Theresa is a nurse and has a part-time framing business in her home. She loves to take photographs of people in natural settings doing everyday things then she frames and hangs the pictures in her shop as well as enters them in local shows.

To make a long story short, she asked me to bring my spinning wheel to the coffee shop because they had a fireplace and the place looks very homey. I am quite sure the shop employees were happy when we left because she moved their furniture all over the place to get good lighting. She brought her husband along to distract me so she could get pictures that were not staged. I actually got a lot of spinning done that night.

Approximately a week ago, Theresa, gave me a set of the pictures and extras for my son and daughter. Tonight, she came by the hotel to show me how she had framed the pictures.

I hate taking pictures, hope anyone that looks at them will just look at the wheel and the yarn.

Mom is Safe and Sound

This is Louise's daughter, TeAntae. I'm cross posted this from my own blog:

To those of you who've called or sent emails, thank you so much for all of your concern. To everyone, whether you're aware of this or not, mom has been working storm duty in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region since she got back from her European trip in June. THANKFULLY she was not in Minneapolis-St. Paul this week. She has been in Orlando, FL since Sunday at a training seminar/conference. She flies back to Minnesota today.

I didn't even hear about the bridge collapse until Mom called me last night. She found out from a friend of hers who'd called to see if she was ok. Then the flood of emails and calls starting coming in.

I think the one spooky thing about the whole thing for us is, though mom doesn't regularly travel that bridge (her territory is in the surrounding suburbs), we traveled that bridge a few times while I was up there visiting a few weeks ago.

Again, thank you for all of your care and concern. Everyone is breathing a huge sigh of relief believe me.

Yarn Crawl in Minnesota, part 1

It has been awhile since I posted. I do not have any pictures of the socks I am working on. Hopefully, I can get them posted shortly. I am also spinning yarn for socks. The yarn will be Christmas presents. Of course, after I finish spinning I have to get it dyed. Won't be able to do that in the hotel room.

However, I am anxious to tell you about my weekend. My daughter, TeAntae, flew in to Minneapolis Thursday evening to spend a long weekend with me. I do not think we had planned to do a yarn crawl weekend but that is what it turned out to be.

We started at Sheepy Yarn Shoppe in White Bear Lake, MN http://www.sheepyyarnmn.com/ . I can only say a fun atmosphere, staff and patrons.

The Yarn Café is more than a store and more than a café. They want you to come in for lunch, then stay and chat a while. Need help with a project you are working on? At the Yarn Café, they welcome the casual diner or the serious knitter as well as everyone in between. The Yarn Café is open for lunch dinner or anytime during the day that you are in the mood for a snack. They offer a selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, sides and pastries, as well as a full beverage service. Their beverage selection includes beer and wine, as well as many different coffees and teas. On Friday nights from 4 to 8 PM they have "Happy Hour" with half price wine and beer. They are also an internet cafe with two terminals and WiFi. The shop opens at 9A.M., I can not believe it...yes, we were there at 9.

Oh...and they have a great selection of yarns and patterns.

My daughter and I decided to go to the "Happy Hour" after yarn shopping all day. We ordered a glass of wine and a cheese platter.

That is my daughter knitting away while we snacked at the Yarn Cafe. (By the way, I wove the top she is wearing, it is a copy of one we saw an an arts & craft show for a couple hundred dollars).

We also met a lovely group of ladies that asked us to come back.

I have every intention of going back to knit with this great bunch.

Don't you think this is a great idea for a yarn shop?

We also went to the Yarn Garage http://www.yarngarage.com/ . I have to go back and take pictures because you have to see to believe. The shop is very small crammed with yarn from floor to ceiling. My daughter said that doing inventory must be a nightmare. The owner, Steven Berg, calls himself the "Glitter Knitter". He has a "Yarn Tasting" on Wednesday nights that I have to try to get to before I leave the area. There is no way to describe this man or the store. Go to his website and surf around. You will be amazed. He is also sponsoring knitting cruises.

Our travels on Friday also took us to Amazing Threads, http://www.amazing-threads.com/ . I purchased some of their original patterns for my collection and brought some yarn to make a hat. My daughter went into the clearance area and brought some yarn and books. You will have to check out her sight to find out about that.

We also went to All About Yarn http://allaboutyarn.biz/ Because we were so hungry, we did not stay long and so I will have to go back and let you know about the store.

I hope I did not miss a shop but that was our Thursday night and Friday yarn adventure. I will let you know later about our Saturday.

All the stores in the area are open on Sunday from 12-4 or 5. In fact, all of the stores are open 7 days a week. I love it.