New beginnings and Clean Floors

Unfortunately no Etsy feature today. I didn't get my stuff together fast enought, so maybe in the next few days.

Anyhow as I am sure anybody who pays even the slightest bit of attention knows that today was inauguration day for President Obama. I missed the speech, but got to see the rest of the special news regarding it and it was exciting to see the changeover of power. I thought the media was tasteful, and I truly hope that we will be moving forward in this country regardless of political party. I am tired of bickering, as I think most people are. It will be an interesting year to say the least. But enough politics.

I got a new vacuum today! Not just any vacuum but a Kirby! Our second vacuum since Hubby and I's marriage had broken about a month or so ago and we had been trying to decide on what kind of a vacuum to buy. We decided that we would much rather shell out the big bucks to have a vacuum that would last. So today we had the demonstration done (wow!) and we were sold :) So I now have MUCH cleaner floors. This vacuum actually makes me excited to clean!

In my fiber world I have started knitting these. I would show pics of my progress but my camera battery is dead :( So pics to come soon! They are knitting up fantastically! I can't wait to get them finished!

Ouch! I just realized how long it had been since I blogged! Ah! I will do better!

Oh and just to get points for pics here is one of the family in Disney World!
Ah, green grass! I can't wait for summer.

The World is Weird

I didn't blog about it but it was freezing here for around two weeks. I had been going crazy staying inside, but with two babies (one of which is only 3mo.) I found it just too much to go outside without reason. Finally in just one night it warmed up from -15 to 20! It was wonderful, it felt like a heat wave and me and my family rejoiced! I even took my boys out for a great walk down at West Chester Lagoon, Corbin repeatedly told me that he had "fun in the snow". Unfortunately yet again in one night it warmed up to around 35 with freezing rain. Blah! It makes it such a mess around town and I would much rather have it be -15. It has been two days of this warm weather and it supposed to last for at least another day. Yet now down-states it has been crazy cold for them.

The world is weird.

January is now officially half way over and I have been doing okay on my goals so here is an update:

• Blog at least 5 times a week, with pictures twice a week - I have been blogging more regularly, though I don't think I have made it with enough pics.

• Dye 2 days a week - I have dyed once, maybe by the end of the month I will average out

• Spin at least 2 50g skeins a week - Yep! I made a great hat for my Dad's b-day!

• Develop and finalize my marketing plan for 2009 - Not finished but I have been working on it!

• Knit 1 pair of socks a month for myself - I can only do this after completing my other projects, which I am making good progress on!

• Knit 2 pairs of socks for hubby (per his request) - Not there yet

• Knit all of my Christmas Gifts for next year before November (lofty goal I know!) - I am started on this one! :)

• Lose six pounds by the end of January - I am down 5.4 lbs so I should do even better! I am already planning lots of sweaters for a skinnier me!
  

So not too bad all in all!

I would love to hear what "resolutions" or "goals" you've been working on!

Stay warm!

Oh yeah and here are some pics from my last batch of dyeing

Etsy Feature: Retro Crochet

A fellow Alaskan shop, I remember noticing Retro Crochet shortly after it opened through the "shop local" feature. I was so impressed! Sharon's photo's are great and I love the way she has used crochet to make amazing jewelry and other assorted fiber goodies! My favorite items of her are the peace earrings and ornaments. They are done very delicately, but are still bold and fun! Several of her items are made using upcycled materials. Every little bit helps!




She offers some great patterns including one for this Anime Ninja Doll, my sister is a big anime fan and this pattern has me ready to pick up crochet again!


I know everyone if tired of hearing the words "econimic crisis" but please make the effort to still shop local and handmade. This directly influences that person's life and how much better is that than just being a transaction number at a big box store!

ravely & flickr

I am proud of myself. I now have my knitted gifts lined out for 2009. Not only that but I have them loaded up in my queue on ravelry and even have some of the yarns picked out etc. My plan is to have all the birthday and Christmas gifts knit by September. We'll see if I am able to stick to my plan! I also managed to whittle down my queue to a mere 66 patterns lol. Next winter should see me and my loved ones wearing more and more handknits!

of course the pessimist in me is mumbling in my head "...yeah right, lets see you try to stay on track!"

My rules are:

1. I must accomplish the gifts for each month as planned before starting anything else
2. I do not have to follow any particular order as long as it's the right month for the project.
   
3. I am not working ahead, if I finish my planned projects I get to work on something for myself.

oh yeah, I have learned the hard way to not mess with your flickr settings just to see what they do. This results in having to redo every photo in your ravelry notebook. Not fun.

Time flies

My baby sister is now officially 17! I was waiting to post this until I had pics of the buttony sweater that I made her, but I will just have to do another post with those! One of my most vivid memories was of her birth, I can't believe it has gone by so fast!

I do have a shipment on the way with some new yarn bases that I am so excited to try out. One is a 50/50 blend of wool and yak! I can't wait to feel this yarn! I only ordered a small amount for now, but hopefully it will become a staple for me. I also am trying out a new base for my solar flare sock yarn. I am happy with what I use now, but I keep getting "the grass is always greener" syndrome so I decided to try it out. More details to come!

Regarding my personal knitting I am more than ready to be finished with "deadline" knitting. In fact right now I really should be working on the EZ February baby sweater that I am making for my cousin's new baby. It is supposed to be done by 1 tomorrow. I am about half way. ugh I guess that means that's all for now!

Etsy Art

Today I would like to feature one of my favorite shops on Etsy.

Katie m. Berggren art & design

She does some of the most amazing intimate and heartfelt artwork that I have ever seen. I ordered one of her prints as a gift for our midwives after the birth of my son Noah. I really am hoping that I will get another print for myself for mothers day. Artists like Katie do such an awesome job capturing the complex and intense bonds of family. When I received her package in the mail I was inspired as to how well it was packaged and the professional nature of materials and information included. I am hoping that we will be able to bring by her print to the midwives tomorrow and I just know that it will be a beautiful addition to the birth center and I hope it is an inspiration to them and the new and growing families that will see it there.

Alaska has been in the middle of a cold snap and it is wearing very thin. Supposedly it should be over Friday or so but I think I have heard "it should be warming up in the next couple of days" at least three times now in the last 2 1/2 weeks or so! Which reminds me, I need to go plug in my car - negative 12 degrees is not kind to my engine.

Movitation Monday

So I was so inspired by another friend and blogger this morning, and I have been thinking about her goals all morning and decided to make some of my own.

• Blog at least 5 times a week, with pictures twice a week
• Dye 2 days a week
• Spin at least 2 50g skeins a week
• Develop and finalize my marketing plan for 2009
• Knit 1 pair of socks a month for myself
• Knit 2 pairs of socks for hubby (per his request)
  
• Knit all of my Christmas Gifts for next year before November (lofty goal I know!)
• Lose six pounds by the end of January

January is a time of new beginnings and I am definitely looking forward to improving myself this year!

I do have a plan in the works for some give-aways of my fibers so stay tuned!