Wednesday, August 27, 2008

SP 12 Question of the Week & Pics








Here is the next edition of the "question of the week"!





I'm sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you've tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??





Hands down - I think my best bet so far has been the Interweave Knits Tilted Duster sweater. It was the biggest project and my very first sweater. I'll have to post pictures.





And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can't get right? What is that one project that you've never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?





Well - this is harder. I guess the one project that seriously kicked my butt and was never finished was the Mystery Stole 3. It was my first lace project and I just could not get the whole chart thing. I'd get the clue and wait a day for the MS3 angel to convert the chart to a written pattern (Excel spreadsheet) and go. I ended up substituting yarn to a non-lace yarn, so I could see the stitches. and then decided I really did not love the yarn for that particular project...so - in the stash closet it sits - all alone and unfinished..



PICTURES: The "pastely" picture of the roving (braided) is from my Fiber of the Month Swap. The roving is called Glass Beach - and my assistant tells me that there really is such a place - not sand but glass - obviously its smooth glass or who would go?? then there is the lavendar "beak balm" and soap - it smells so good. My smart a## husband says "but you don't have a beak" - men, they just don't get it - do they?? The soap smells devine and inspired me to make some soap... what a disaster. Never again! I'll continue to get my handmade soap from qualified soap making swap buddies or the craft fairs... this gal ain't gonna try that again!!

I was gone doing some wine tasting in Napa, then off to a conference - now I leave again in the am for the famous (see the food network) for the Reno Rib Cook-off!! Yummmy for your tummy!! I'll be better at posting - i swear.

OHHH YA: SP12 buddy who spoils me? If you sent me an ecard - It accidentally got deleted (again). It was in my spam folder - and as I was hitting the "delete all" button I did one of those slow motion things "noooooooo - doooooon't deeeeleeeeete thaaaaaat onnnne" and Poof - it was gone. I am so sorry. If you send another, send me an email letting me know to be on the look out for it.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Swap Parcels




See how well I am spoiled? My Hush Hush Handspun Hootinany pal sent me a delightful parcel - as did my Ravelry swap buddy. One swap is spin 4 oz and send 4 oz, the other is just send 4 oz. Now, I take really good notes when a parcel arrives so I can post details.... except my notes are at home and my only computer with internet access is at work... which is why it is saturday at 5 pm and I am at the office.... boo hooo... should be home spinning or knitting.
I'll do my best..First, who could not use a diz?? That's the little wood gizmo in the top picture. You can measure your wpi (wraps per inch) in the notch and use the holes to thread your roving thru when you spin. Also, the wallet card for conversion of wpi to needle size - LOVE it. The handspun is about 440 yards if I recall from memory and the roving is a fiber I am not familiar with - i'll have to google it.... Finally, some tea! The Ravelry swap is a tad different - we just send 4 oz of fiber.. but I got a bonus - a delightful coaster/swatch, a little book made with homemade paper, the picture/postcard and my new fav - the money pen!! Even the pen is felted, not just the body of the monkey!! Thank you to both (all) of my swap buddies.
It has been rather hectic with life in general and with the swaps. I 've mentioned before that i signed up for 3 swaps - not realizing at the time that htey would all be happenig at the same time... so.. here I am - SP 12, HHHH and Ravelry fiber swap - keeping track and trying not to go nuts.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

SP 12 Question of the Week

I forgot to include this in my other post.. The question is: have I ever entered anything in a county/state fair? No. and here is the real rub. I belong to our local spinning guild - we have one member who is the pro on all things "fair" related - she takes her Jacob sheep to the fair she knows the book inside and out, etc etc. etc. Even with her loving reminders, gentle prodding and sometims downright scolding - I fail to enter completed projects in the fair. Each year I say I am going to and something comes up. I am out of town the day for forms must be postmarked (i wait for the last minute to do lots of things). I forget or think my project is not good enough. But NEXT year, I'm gonna do it.

Swaps and Wild Animals




How cute are these two little critters? It's two deer/fawns, not two pics of the same animal. The pictures were taken at work. I had this odd feeling that someone was looking at me thru the window. The picture of the deer on the lawn by the corner of the deck is the window to my right as I sit at my desk. the second picture (a close up) is taken from the window of my husband's office. The deer ar sitting a few feet apart on the lawn of our office - which ages ago was a house. The 3rd picture is the loot my SP12 sent me (I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HERE THAT I ALSO RE'CD A PACKAGE FROM MY FIBER SWAP BUDD AND HAVE NOT TAKEN A PICTURE YET, BUT DID SEND A THANK YOU CARD.). There was two bags of chocolate covered almonds, but I put one down in short order thank you very much! Do you see the candles in front of the book? they are battery operated - how clever - tealights that run on batteries w/on and off switch. So here is the office humor related to this package. When I route a file to boss-man/hubby and it really needs attention "now" - I'll write "hot" on it - sometimes I'll even draw flames to make my point... well, the day this box arrived, I had a file that was waaaay hot. I set it on the boss man's chair, turned the tealight on (the flame flickers) and TAAA DAAA - he got the hint the file was "hot" and needed his attention ASAP. I have all but one candle at home. I have kept one at the office for future "hot" files. The book should be a good read. The character works in the legal field, like me - so as long as she hasn't wacked anyone - Ha ha ha - The bubble bath smells sooooo good you have no idea. I am seriously thinking of using a drop or two to soak some handspun!! Gotta run - doing on line traffic school!! (don't ask).