Monday, June 30, 2008

SP 12 Week 3 Question

Stash: I swear I did this already. The question of the week is regarding out stash... let's just say mine exceeds my life expectancy according to the Social Security Administration and AARP. I did take pictures of my stash closet and will post them tomorrow.

On another topic: WTF - how did this happen?? It must be swap season or something - I have managed to sign up for 3 swaps - all during the summer months. I just have to keep my act together and it should all come off without a hitch. One is a Ravelry fiber swap - it goes for 3 months (July/August/September). There are 4 to a group - we all have each other's ravelry info - so it's not "secret" per se - Each month I send 4 oz of fiber to a member of my group. Cool, hu? That's it - nothing too fancy - 4 oz of fiber.

The other fiber swap is the Hush Hush Handspun Hootenanny swap. This was a blog-based swap. This is a one time swap. Pals are assigned beginning July 7 - the swap ends August 9th. We send 4 oz of unspun fiber and 4 oz of spun fiber. Cool, hu? I am excited to see who my HHHH buddy is.

then, of course the SP12 SWap - which I have always enjoyed. My first SP swap was SP5. I have gotten to know so many wonderful knitters, spinners, and fiber friendly folks thru the swaps. Blog snooping is fun!

OK, back to "work" for my volunteer job - then home to knit some more on my BBSs for SFS - that's Big Black Socks for Socks for Soldiers. I have put my pairs of BBS aside for too long. It's time to pick up those pointy sticks and get busy.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Hush Hush Handspun Hootinanny Swap Questionnaire

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself? I have been spinning for about 2 years. I think I am an advanced beginner - heading towards intermediate.

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)? I am stuck spinning lacey singles - I don't trust them on their own - so I double and 3 ply - just started cabling.

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)? I have an Ashford Joy and Traveler. Mostly the Joy. I have a navajo spindle I am trying to learn with.

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don't like? I love the softness of alpaca and silk.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)? My 3 "dealers" are The Dizzy Ewe (my primary source); my local yarn shop, Knit Wits, or from the animal itself.

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try? Quivic - soy - crazy stuff like that.

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn? I'd love to be able to spin bulky again.


8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn? I did once. Ruth, of The Dizzy Ewe did a class "graduated shades from a single pot" fun fun fun.

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber? I have no tools (sad), just the wheels.

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed? I've yet to knit with my own handspun - I 've given it away and added it to the stash.

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)? Yup.

12. What colors "fall into your shopping basket"? Any colors you just can't stand? I like them all 0 no neon stuff.


13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now? I am getting ready to ply some lovely "orange-ish" merrino/silk - will probably be knit into socks.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have? I knit, love to read.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about? Knitting -


16. Do you have an online wishlist? Amazon, but it's so outdated, I should answer "no."

17. Is there anything that you collect? besides fiber and yarn?? sadly, 1.25 magnifer glasses for reading and seeing my knitting. the funkier the better.

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have? I subscribe to Wild Fibers, Interweave Knits, Spin Off - I have lots of books.. I don't think there is any must have pattern right now

19. When is your birthday? May 7

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality? Ohhhh - hard to say. sometimes i'd have to say Uma Therman in Kill Bill - sounds nasty, hu?? I can get bitchy sometimes... I have to think abou this one.

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)? We can get in the triple digets here.. it's so smokey from all the fires now.. for the summer, i'd say mid 80s to 90s

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself! I have a birthmark on my arm shaped like Africa.

OK: for these, I have to post another day.. DH's b-day is today and I am running late.
Favoritesfavorite painting/picture(link):

Candy:
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

What to Knit??

I have finished knitting my cabled bag. I need to charge camara batteries to take pics..will do tonight.. I have several pairs of Socks for Soldiers socks on the needles and one pair of socks for me on the needles - but right now the thought of knitting socks makes me want to barf - then the guilt for not knitting BBS for SFS - arrgggg. So, what to cast on next?? I dove into the stash closet this morning and pulled out the Tree of Life afgan I got from KnitPicks - its all beige with cute trees in the pattern - should not be too hard. As slow as I knit, another contender is the sweater for my son, yarn and pattern purchased at Knit Wits here in town. It's a neck down v-neck. I showed the yarn to The Boy when he was on leave - he approved - so perhaps that is the smarter choice, but then lace is calling me - I got some lace projects at Stitches West - just sitting in the lonely, dark stash closet. And then there are the knit along items - Hey Heather - are we still gonna knit those fingerless mits or what?? Hey Julie - did you ever cast on that "bag in a bag" we got over a year ago at Stitches West from Carolina Homespun?? - ya, me neither. Sheez, so much yarn, so little time.

Friday, June 20, 2008

SP 12 Question for Week 2

Going down memory lane - what did I look forward to most as a kid?? I have to say, the best part of summer as a kit was getting shipped off to my Aunt's house. I was put on a Greyhound bus as young as probably 5 or 6 in San Jose and rode the bus (alone!!) until my stop in the cute little farming town of King City (Monterey County). My Aunt would meet me at the bus stop. She never learned to drive so we walked home - the "bus stop" really was just the bus pulling to the curb outside a little diner. Her house was about 2 blocks away. I loved spending my summers there and did so until the summer between 8th and 9th grades. She and my uncle were like second parents to me. there was a fence between my aunt/uncle's yard and my grandma/grandpa - I'd walk back and forth between the two - and then my other grandma lived a few blocks away. My grandma "M" taught me to crochet - my grandma "J" taught me to sew; and my Aunt "M" taught me to be a proper young lady, do some cooking and just be a decent person. There all gone now - these fine woman and I miss them terribly.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Evacuations for Friday, June 13

I am not taking pictures because I think it would violate personal privacy. The Skilled Nurcing Facility across the street from my office is being evacuated. At about 10:30 this morning the office received reverse 911 calls advisiing of a precautionary evacuation...the system worked well, but you don't think about all the logistics of moving bed-ridden folks. It's amazing to watch. There is about 10 medi-vans and/or ambulance vehicles either in the parking area next to the SNF or next to our office (across from the nursing home). One by one, they either wheel out on gurnies, wheelchairs or help the residences walk to a vehicle. I don't know where they are taking them.. If you want to see what is happening - go to google and type in Paradise Post - that's our local news paper, or google "paradise california" one of the first links is the town's website, click on emergency services, you'll see the road closures and info on the Public Service Announcements.

We are a fairly small town.. as you can see from maps, only a few roads in/out of town. right now there is no way to get IN - all roads are only open to OUTBOUND traffic...

I am still at work - The Boy is still stick in Chico - if he can't make it home, then I will meet him in either Oroville or Chico and we'll go to Reno and hang out until Monday when we have to take him to the airport.. Nice way to spend your kid's leave time, hu??

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Evacuations Due To Fire

Well, this kinda sucks. Our town is under a state of emergency. Roads out of town (all 4 of them) are either closed or open to OUTBOUND traffic only. About 1/3 of our town is being evacuated... my friend's boss lost their home - everything gone - zip - nadda - nothing.... Be thankful for all you have..Say prayers for our firemen and those who lost their stuff.

SP 12 Q of the Week

Q: What is your favorite Summer beverage??

A: Ohh, this is hard....for adult libations - I'd have to say my modified Sea Breeze.. fill old fashion size glass with ice; add about 1/2 glass vodka, 1/2 cranberry juice and a splash of OJ. stir, drink, repeat.

On the kid friendly side: I have discovered a drink mix available from Tastefully Simple - it's their Vanilla Bean Chiller - i think it's like 2 cups of ice cubes, a cup of milk and then a scoop of their mix. It's deeeeeelish!!

More SP12 news - I did get an ecard from my pal and am frantically searching for the email with info on who i spoil... I 've checked my "real" email and my "secret" email, but so far no luck. My hostess is very kind about this and we are trying to figure out what the heck is up!

I'll take pics of my cabled handbag tonight and post pictures.. I have completed one side (front?), the bottom and the two sides. I am on row 8 or so of the back panel.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

On The Road Again..

On the road again... I just can't wait to get on the road again.. the life i love is makin' music with my friends and I can't wait to get on the road again. or On the wheel again, I just can't wait to get on the wheel again. the life I love is makin' yarn with my friends and I can't wait to make some yarn again!! OK, Willie Nelson, please forgive me!! I am back from my weekend trip - about 90% unpacked and organized.

The Boy Child is almost done with is 17 hour adventure home. He left Cinncinatti, OH at about 8am. this morning and will arive in SAC at 10:40pm. Today he has been to Ohio, Charlotte, NC, Richmond, VA, Atlanta, GA and Sacramento, CA - not all in that order!! We'll be leaving soon to go pick him up at the airport, its a drive of about 1.5 hours give or take a few - so it will be a long night and we work in the am - He'll be home for 8 days - leaves next Monday - and thinks he will not be deployed until December 2. If that holds true, I think we'll do Thanksgiving/Christmas both in November - presuming he can come home for turkey day... we shall see.

Gotta run - stuff to do. place to see