That Lazy Kate!

Alright, if you spin, you know what kind of lazy kate I'm talking about! It is a tool used in plying (taking multiple strands of spun fiber and twisting them together for a 2, or 3, or 4 ply yarn) Well mine was an Ashford, meant to be used with Ashford bobbins. Now I have Abigail, my antique spinning wheel, and her bobbins were just too wide for my Ashford lazy kate. So after much begging, my wonderful husband did a little surgery and widened it! So as you can imagine I have done a little spinning this weekend. I just finished my second skein about 20min ago. Neither are washed, but you get the idea :)

The springy greens and purples is a Funky Carolina superwash merino. It came out right at worsted weight and 211 yards. The pinks, peaches, and browns is Romney dyed by me! It is a dk weight yarn coming in right at 200yards. Also in the collage is a lovely coffee mug I received for my birthday from a good friend :)

Tulips....where are you?

Today was a nice average day. Perfect for getting out into the garden. Which (after really putting it off) I did!!! With much help from my Aunt I was able to really get most of the big weeds out and really "bring to light" my bulbs and perennials! I really am wishing that I took a before picture as it was pretty bad. I have so much grass coming over from the next yard it makes it a little difficult to keep up with! Not to mention that I was pretty pregnant at the end of last summer and my garden really suffered. With most of the weeds out and everything cleaned up I am hoping to have a summer with lots of time tending my plants. A few didn't come back this year - but most are back a rearing to go. The new grass we planted has come in pretty thick and I think it's getting close to being ready to mow. I will be taking pics of freshly dyed fiber tomorrow and I will try to get some "early summer" pictures of the garden then too.

In the home I have been meeting more goals. All of our meals for the past week have been cooked from scratch and they all have been much heavier on the fresh fruits and veggies too! I just need to really keep things going to try and make this habit - I think the key for me will be having the evening meal thought out and ready before evening arrives. That is what's been working so far.

Anyhow no fun pictures or links tonight! Though I will most likely finish up some handspun yarn tonight that I plan on putting up in the shop! It has definitely been a while since I have spun yarn for sale.....I have been a little greedy ;P

I will include this recipe that is a favorite of my family - handed down by my Grandmother.

Ginny's Beans:

1 Can Pork & Beans
1 Can Lima Beans w/ham (I usually use butter beans...)
1 Can Kidney Beans
1 Can Tomato Sauce
1 Can Stewed Tomatoes
1/8 Cup (+or-) mustard (try different varieties to kick it up a notch)
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2lb-1lb Browned Ground Beef
1 Medium Onion, chopped (optional)
1 Green Pepper (optional)
1/2lb Crumbled Bacon (Optional)

Put all ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-4 hours. For the cans, just make sure they are all the same size - this recipe is very easy to double for more people! Yep that easy!

I love this recipe as it is easy to make last minute as the key ingredients are easy to keep on hand! Especially shopping at Costco. It is very flavorful and the mustard and brown sugar come together to make an amazing combination. This is one of my husbands very favorite meals - he asks for it often!

Swap'oholic

I think I'm addicted! I participated in a swap on The Fibery Goodness board on Ravelry! Spiderspins sent me tons of fiber! Two batts were by her as well as one roving and then she also included a set of mini batts from Terra Bella Spun! They are all so beautiful! I couldn't resist spinning some up yesterday and I got approx 240yards out of the Mother Earth Batt. I spun it as a slightly thick n thin single. Already plotting what to make with it! I thought it was very aptly named and it is a very soft blend of Superwash Merino, BFL, and angora bunny! YUM! Here is my collage of what all was included!
Here is the finished yarn spun from the Mother Earth Batts:

Last night I went to knit night at Far North! It lots of fun and I am pretty sure I will be able to be there next week! My Aunt Connie came with and it was awesome to have her with me - plus she helped me feel brave! I meant to take pictures and while I remembered my camera I forgot to take it out! Oh well another time I guess!

In shop news, my recent yarn orders came in and I am back in the swing of dying again! Some are already up in the shop - Lots of new yarns including cashmere, seacell, tencel and yak blends! Also I am running a special in my shop today only - In honor of the Phat Fiber Boxes going on sale today I am offering a 20% refund off your entire purchase - Just put "Phat Fiber Day" in your checkout notes!

Arctic Berry Handspun

Finally got my wheel back out after a couple weeks of no spinning at all! I have a custom order right now that I am working on, including spinning up some of my Arctic Berry BFL I have in-stock right now. So I thought I would share what it looks like spun up into a 3ply worsted yarn! It definitely felt good to get in some spinning and I will be spinning more tonight!

Still alive!

The blogging mojo has just not been with me lately but I am pushing through tonight!

My sweet Noah is going to be six months old one week from today and it is hitting me like a ton of bricks! I just look at my boys and I just can't believe the time has passed so quickly. I know this is one of the favorite "phrases" of a parent, but it is so true. Noah is now in full blown mobile mode. Unfortunately it also means he is starting to fight going to sleep, he has just been rocking back and forth on his hands and knees, and really it just cracks me up!

I have made a nice bit of progress spinning and knitting the past couple of weeks. I have a side-to-side vest for me, Minimalist Cardigan (again for me), a forest canopy shawl, and a pair of yoga socks in "active" progress right now. I am enjoying jumping between projects right now, which does surprise me a bit, as having that many wip usually stresses me out. I did finish one item. Corbin's Vest. It is still drying so I don't have any action shots yet, but I will do a fiber to finished vest photo group for ya. The fiber is Blue Faced Leicester dyed by Fat Cat Knits in her "Clyde" colorway. I used right about 3.5oz spun in a light worsted ~ approx 230yards to do the vest.


My boys will now have matching vest for Easter! Mom mission accomplished!

Noah's Cobblestone Inspired Vest

This is gonna be quick as I am supposed to be heading out the door...

Tada! I love how this vest turned out and it fits him perfectly (well still enough room to grow that it should fit for a little while I hope!). This was going to be a Baby Surprise Jacket, but I started it in November and my little one has grown at quite a fast rate. I used my yarn, handspun from Pigeonroof Studios Roving (my fave indie dyer). I haven't gotten buttons yet, so I have stitch holders pinning the shoulders together.

Progress and more progress!

I had written half this blog before I unthinkingly restarted firefox. So I will just jump in with my project progress first.

Spinning: My latest is skein of bulky weight wool that I intend for some super cuddly mitts. I purchased the batts from Knitting Grounds, but they are from one of my fave local fiber artists, Denise of Fiber n Ice. I love how the batts blended to form a beautiful heathered yarn. I will defninitely be buying more of these batts!


Knitting:

I have some baby shower knitting on the agenda and I have completed:

• a pair of suede booties (sans the fluffy yarn called for),

• A super cute - will definitely be making for my boys - hat pattern by Sweet Mama, Small Sugar. Who, by the way, I think has one of the greatest eyes out there for putting together some of the cutest children handmade outfits I have ever seen. I am just in love with her style. The hat is small on Noah, but I think you get the idea. Her patterns have great size range and I plan on knitting the next size up for him. It was a fast knit, and I some handspun leftover from my Dad's Turn a Square hat and (what I'm thinking is malabrigo worsted) yarn from my grab bag purchase. I had plenty leftover from each and am making a pair of thumbless baby mitts to go with the hat.
  

Sewing:

• So this is embarrasing to admit but our Christmas package just went out to my inlaws yesterday, the package was all finished except that it had been waiting on this table runner. I had just been indecisive on how I should quilt it (went the easy route and just ended up doing stitch in the ditch). I finally just sat down to do it. The (machine) quilting took maybe half an hour, but the hand stitching of the binding to the back took around 4 hours. I am glad I did it that way though, and I am just happy that it is finished in general.

• The other sewing project was a block for my sister's wedding quilt that her MIL is putting together. Again I was two months behind getting this in! Ack. I enjoy sewing, but I am (obviously) much more easily motivated by knitting or spinning. The instruction given to me were that the theme was "Love and Romance" and that the border would be done in a leafy green. My sister loves purple and green and I thought I had some fabrics in my stash that would work together. I ended up doing the design I did because Whitney and her hubby own property in Homer and are currently building their "love nest" cabin there. It took me two hours from pulling out the fabric to putting in the envelope to mail. Again a good reminder to myself that I need to just sit down and do it! "It" being whatever item on my agenda that I am putting off for whatever reason. I am really happy with how it turned out and think Whitney will love it!

Shop Progress:

My base yarns that I ordered more than 2 weeks ago finally got here! (Next time I will upgrade shipping!) I am so excited! I wound over 40 skeins today and still have more to do. I am adding three new yarns to my line - Terino Luxury (50/50 Tencel/Merino Sport weight), Borealis Lite (Superwash Merino Fingering Weight), and Australis (Merino worsted weight). I have a great deal planned in the upcoming months regarding my "yarn lines" and can't wait to share more as it get solidified into reality.

So all in all while I haven't quite been on top of blogging a lot has been going on!

*Waves Hand*

I so had grand plans for tonights blog. I finished spinning some yarn for mittens, finished a pair of booties, and starting knitting and almost finished a hat. Today. It started off so well, but then I was thwarted by Mommy Duty. My toddler is sick, but what I had thought was just a cold moved into puking mode. In the car. Really, really not fun. Especially when the water in your home is turned off. Without notice. Thank goodness for family in town! So more later on my project progress.

A series of collages...

Thank you ahead of time for putting up with the excessive amounts of collages, and not just in this post, but in the last few as well. They take up much less room however and I am a little infatuated with them.

I finally got all of my desired pictures taken and edited and voila! Here they are (make sure you're comfortable this might take awhile!).....

The first collage is the contents of my Phat Fiber Sampler Box from February. I will describe a few in detail.... Fiber (Left Side):

• I will start with bottom left first. Angora bunny fiber....I had never felt this fiber before and I am so in love. I ordered more that night....12oz more.
  
• I was thrilled to have gotten a sample from Moonwood farms of hand carded alpaca and she included a great informational card with pics of her animals and ways to use the roving!
  
• My fave wool is BFL and I got a generous sample of it from Abstract Fibers in a colorway that instantly drew me to it!
• Wildhare Fiber Studio (whose name and logo I just love) had a light as air and fluffy roving that just lit up once the light hit it (red firestar). I think it would make such a great yarn and can tell just from looking at it that it would be a joy to spin! I love bright colors and
• From Ewe to You delivered a great example of that! Their roving sample had depth that is hard to capture in photos and I think it would be great for felting, I was instantly wanting to pull out my needlefelting supplies! It had great spring to it as well! They had also tied their sample with what looks like the same fiber spun and it is a lovely crisp yarn that would wear well.

Yarns (Bottom Right Corner):

There were a variety of yarns, some pure silk worsted from Hedgehog fibres (YUMMY), the beautiful pinks & chocolates fingering from sis yarn was lovely too. A generous sample included was from Fire Lizard Studios and while I probably would have never picked this colorway for myself has become a favorite and I keep thinking how nice it would be to have a pair of socks in that colorway. I knit the sample into a phone cozy (pictured in a collage below). Another sample, or set of samples I should say, that stood out were from Oriri Draco Design and it was great to see three different yarns that they carry, my fave was the Sea Squish Lace a luxurious seacell and silk blend.

Other (Upper Right Corner):

• I felt so lucky to have recieved one of Seven Yaks needle guages! I have already used it several times and am planning on picking up some of their sock blockers in the near future!
• I also got one of the notecards from Knit it Up, It's a beautiful card and I love just having a beautiful picture of yarn to look at! I also have several friends that I know would like to receive it.
• A very cute conversation hear stitch marker was in my box from Designs by Tami and I know it will be getting some good use!
• Another sample was Teat Treat Salve from Desert Garden Farms, it came in an awesome tin and it feels great on the hands! Love!
• I also received Two patterns, "Under the Rose", a very pretty fingerless mitts pattern and a sock pattern "Berries" that uses a worsted weight yarn, which I could easily see myself making!
  

Next up are the yarns I spun from a friend's Phat Fiber Sampler (She doesn't spin, so I luckily got the chance to play with that many more samples.)

• The first is a woolen spun (my first) yarn that weighs in right at 25g with 75 yards (top right pic). I loved spinnging this yarn and know that I will be ordering more batts from Giffordables Folk art and Fibres. It is probably the most enjoyable yarn I have spun in a long time! Her prices are insanely good too.
  
• The bright yarn on the top left is a 3 ply(which I done in a long time) with about 60yards, was so much fun to see the variety of colors intermix. It was spun from roving dyed by Kangaroo Dyer, which specializes in unique color combinations, which I think she has a great eye for. I really can't wait to see what Sally knits with it as I think it will look fantastic knit!
• Bottom left was spun from a Copperpot woolies roving, which was so soft and fun as it was a merino and bamboo blend. It's colorway was rockin' robin, which I thought was a great name for it! I did a two ply and ended up with about 36 yards.
• Liberty Fibers included a very creatively named Raspberry Truffle Dark Chocolate With Wasabi Cream blended roving and I LOVED it. The named fit it perfectly and it really stretched me as a spinner and I felt there were so many ways to have spun up this fiber. I am happy with how it mixed up and it had a great amount of sparkle! Here is her link for the fiber, I forgot to take a pic before spinning it.

Below are the other projects that have been keeping me busy this week! More about them later!


Wow! You made it all this way! Thanks for sticking it out!

Running....

I have so much to post about, but I still haven't gotten my pics off my camera (or my thoughts together enough to make it cohesive) so again this will be a somewhat lackluster photoless post.

I am watching the end of the Academy Awards as I type and thoroughly enjoyed much of it this year, it had many great mini-performances through out and I have to say that I love Hugh Jackman! I am looking forward to the new X-Men movie, though I still can't believe that I haven't seen Australia yet either.


But, back to fiber, I have thoroughly enjoyed some good knitting and spinning this weekend, including working with batts, rovings, wraps, phone socks, and booties....I will try to have pics of it all as well as a review of a couple of my phat fiber items. I am so amazed at the creativity and talent in the fiber community....each new sample I pick up proves that more and more.

Ah well the awards are over and my bed is calling.....congrats to Slumdog Millionaire!

Silky Valentine

Happy Valentines Day!

They're in...and I've dyed my first batch!! Silk Hankies! I will begin to offer these in my shop starting next week. I am going to (hopefully) get some of these spun up today. They are amazing little things! Used for knitting, spinning, felting, and paper making - they are a very versatile and unique form of silk.

One skein down.....

11 more or so to go! I must say I am in LOVE with how this skein turned out. Looks like it should be the perfect weight and I should have more than plenty! This skein turned out to be 171 yards and three oz and looks spot on for aran weight (though I still need to check wraps per in). It has a delicious feel and I want to just start knitting it now!

As promised

Ta-Da! - The first braid is one half, and the lovely pile-o-fiber after that is the other half! This is the Blue Faced Leicester that I dyed up for John's Cobblestone Pullover as mentioned in yesterday's post.



Here are two of the other rovings that I dyed up that same night - they are up in the shop as of now!

Big project for the year!

I am dyeing, spinning, and then knitting some Blue Faced Leicester wool into this! I dyed the wool last night and it is drying now! I am SOOO happy with how it turned out! I kettle dyed it in charcoal tones with touches of burnt orange (which both are some of John's fave colors) so it should produce a nice heathered yarn. I would post a pic now - even though it is still wet, but John snatched the camera as he is out snowmachining with my Dad. So the pics will have to wait until tomorrow, plus then it will be dry!

This will be the biggest spinning project I have ever taken on! I dyed up a full two pounds to make sure I would have plenty for the sweater!

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!