Busy Lady that's me

This is yarn that will be used for the Bee Fields Shawl

Well as you can se I have been busy changing things on my blog. I am somewhat please so far with what I have done. I hope to be adding more things and music in the months to come. But I wanted to get the buttons of most of the kals that I am either doing or getting ready to venture into. I have just added some new things. Anyway I am off to get started FINALLY on the Bee Fields Shawl (by Anne Hanson) I got that pattern and the Honey Bee Stole pattern today. Lord help me I am in Lace Heaven lol.

Y'all have a great Holiday weekend!!

Ciao,

CW

3-2-1 Contact for Fall Felted Bag Exchange

Ok, now I am really stressing because I cannot figure out what happened to my link to the fall felted bag exchange. It soes not appear in my list of blogs and how will I be able to post to it? Any ideas HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok here is the contest info:

1. What is your favorite yarn for felting, and why?

I have only felted one purse and it was using Nashua chunky and worsted weight yarn. I like the way it felts and the colors meld together.

2. Name one person in the swap who is not from he U.S. and tell us where they are from, and link to their blog.

Penny she live in Central Canada and here is her blog: http://pennypurlsandkittyknits.blogspot.com/

3. Find one person in the swap who has a dog, and let us know the name of their dog(s) and link to their blog.

Kris W. she lives in NH, just took her son to Norwich U and she has 2 dogs their names are: Annie and Toby and this is her blog: http://knottyknitterkris.blogspot.com/

4. Find one person in the swap who has a child or grandchild and link to their blog.

Joanne P. she has 4 grown children and 5 little grandchildren and her blog is here: http://capesoxknitter.blogspot.com/

5. And finally, tell us if you like October or November more, and why! (Yea, I know part of September and November are technically fall, but for this question, only October and November matter!)

I love November because one of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving and I love going on harvest rides and pumpkin picking. Also things seem to be slowed down by this time of year. That is just before the Christmas dash for holiday shopping lol.

Well I am going to see if I can email the host of this group so I can get the link again strange how things happen. Anyway have a reat night y'all.

Ciao!
CW

Close-ups of First shawl and 2nd one

This is the second Forest Canopy that I am knitting it is made out of pure wool so I will have to use some type of rinse when I block it to make it a bit softer. But it will be great to where over long sleeved shirt in the fall and when you just need to take the chill off. That is for those who live outside of the TX area lol. This one is destined for a Christmas gift.

The above shot shows the point details. Yeah I know some are a little off but for the first time blocking I think it's darn good!!

This picture above shows the detail a little better. This was such a joy to knit and rather fast. I bet if I worked on this several hours a day that I could complete one in 2.5 maybe 3 days!!

Here is another shot of the shawl this time I took the picture with it on the ecru floor tile. I can hardly wait to wear it for the first time!! That is it for the shawls I will post again with some of the other recent photo's I've taken. Have a great Friday night all!

Keep them needles busy!!

Questionnaire Done

Well I finally finished the questionnaire for the Felted BAg Exchange and here it is:

1. How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom?

I can’t remember how old I was when I starting knitting I know that when I was 25 I tried to do serious knitting and got annoyed and put the needles down until October 2005 and I have been knitting like there is no tomorrow now. I believe it was my mom who taught me how to knit and the when I was older my grandmother taught me to crochet. I need to do a basic course in that again as a refresher.

2. What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting?

The first was a scarf in December 2005, I wanted to see what it would look like and then I joined the International Tote Exchange IV and I designed, knitted and felted my “first” HUGE tote. I just had this design in my head and I ran with it and picked colors as I went along. It was a blast!! I am getting ready to do another felted tote for ITEV!!

3. What are your favorite colors? Any you hate?

I am a lover of jewel tones. I am not fond of bright neon clothes if it is clothing, otherwise I like them all. The neon’s are ok for an accent color an nothing mre when it comes to my personal taste.

4. What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!)

Since I’ve gotten older I sort of lean toward the short handles (but do have a few with long handles) these days. I like totes because I always carry a knitting project with me. I love embellished bags, They let the knitter express their creativity. These are links to purses/totes that I love: http://internationaltotexchangeiv.blogspot.com/ ~ go to the hall of fame page and look for the following names: Toro,Ohio; JoanB-Connecticut; Trika – Estonia Europe I love both bags; Deb Brown – Georgia; Two Sticks and Yarn-Maine; Jane-Maine. This is the ultimate one, look for Christina Coghill-Indiana.

5. What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting?

I use a knitted Cable purse and I carry a separate tote for my project too, my DH sometimes calls me Bag lady lol.

6. What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting?

Lace Shawls; Baby Caps, Scarves, Cowls/Smoke Rings and shrugs.

7. What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (Straights vs. circs, bamboo vs. aluminum)?

Actually I love working with Addi Turbo’s and Addi Lace Circ. Needles, though some yarns do better on bamboo circulars. I like to use the straights when they are in “BIG” sizes because then they are short needles not long ones.

8. What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make?

Barbara’s Shawl using the Kauni EQ colorway. Really any shawl using the Kauni yarn(s) would be grand, but I love the EQ-Rainbow colorway. That is what I would love to have in my yarn stash.Actually at the moment there are 3 lace projects I’d love to start in the next 3 weeks. They are the Honey Bee Stole; Bee Fields Shawl by: Anne Hanson, Barbara's Shawl by Jean Townsend

9. What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with?

I have 3 actually they are: Quivit ; Kauni and one of the Silk and/or Silk & Wool yarns from the Schaefer Company’s Memorable Women collection.

10. What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden?

I sew and in the process of making a tote + purse combo bag so I can have room to carry things from my purse in addition to knitting. I also make jewelry and stitch markers. I am a chef and enjoy preparing meals as presenting what I have prepared.

11. Besides yarn, do you collect anything?

I like to collect the following things: Antique Tea Cups & Saucers, Sterling Silver, Lead Crystal, Swarovski Crystal, Glass paperweights to mention a few things.

12. What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to?

I love hard candy (sugarless), Sour dough pretzels; Honey roasted nuts. I am not that crazy about chocolate. As for Goodies well crazy or unusual stitch markers, earrings etc.

13. Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!)

Yes I have a 28 yr. old daughter and 2 beautiful granddaughters. I also have 4 stepchildren (2 boys and 2 girls). Plus we have 2 (soon to be 4) furry children. Miss Rita is a hairless Chinese Crest Dog she is almost 7 yrs. Of age, I got her when she was 4 yrs. Old. Then the baby is our Sir Angus Seton. He is a Black & Red Phantom (rare color markings) toy poodle. We sometimes call him BA (bad ass) because he can pretty feisty at times. He plays with DH and they rough house. Yep you should see my little 8.5 pound wonder kick butt, but he also is a Casanova. He just loves to give kisses, but let anyone come near me and he can be a force to be reckoned with. He is very protective of me.

14. What kind of project best personifies you and why?

Lace knitting, I guess because of the many different facets and sometimes intricate patterns/stitches that are used and yet most of it is simple knitting. My DH says that I am like that because I can adapt to most situations with tack and finesse. I have a way of looking at certain situations and can see the easier way of getting things done when others only see a long drawn out process. He said at times I can be complex like lace and also laid back and relaxed.

15. What is your favorite part of autumn? You can also share a special autumn memory if you'd prefer!

Oh that would definitely be the changing of the leaves. Foliage season, driving up in New England in the NH & ME areas and looking at the beautiful colors on the mountains and the nice sweet, crisp apples and cider that you can get from road-side stands is the best!! But that is one of the drawbacks of living in TX, the do not have the same breath taking colors of the fall, like the North does.

16. Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery.

I would give 10% to church and charities like Susan Komen Breast Cancer; Inner City programs for disadvantaged children, then I would pay off any and all our debts. Buy 2 smaller, easier to manage homes for our parents. Set up educational trust funds for our grandchildren. Then we would buy land and build the house of our dreams and have all the animals we want like horses, Alpaca & sheep since I am going to be learning how to spin my own yarn it would be fun to raise my own animals for fiber. Then maybe even some Brangus, Black faced herefords. That would make for a nice ranch that could also be a B&B.

Birthday Surprise ~ Gotcha Michael

I got his so good with this one. He has no idea at all that I was planning this for him. I told him I was helping plan a baby shower and that is how I was able to buy groceries etc. in the open. When he was taking his afternoon nap I went and got ballons etc and little odds and ends. I was just so thrilled to be ale to do this for him. I wanted to show him just how much I appreciate him and how truly blessed and honored I am to have him as my husband, the man that God has chosen for me. Plus the party also helped him in away that he knows that their are others who appreciate him and love him and will always be there in his life. Well I need to get moving the chicken is don and while it is coling I will make a nice summer greens salad for him with veggies steamed with Asian Giner marinade. I go for my weigh in this Tuesday and also see the surgeon on the 27th to schedule my surgery date!! So I wll say "Later Gator"!

She be Finished WooooHooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well here it is, the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl!! I did have a minor problem but thanks to one of the owners at the LYS I was able to do a little creative contrast color and it cam e out awesome (I think). The pictures of the yarn shows the original dye lot to the right and the same colorway but different dye lot is to the left. Yes I was almost in a knitter’s coma on that one. But a valuable lesson learned. The darker one was from a project I started in February of this year and I frogged it to make the shawl. The other yarn picture shows the contrast yarn that I used. Louisa Harding's Grace and it went well with the Handmaiden's Silk Maiden. I am so happy and pleased with my first lace shawl. I have started another one that will be for one of my aunt's for either a Christmas or birthday present.

I am getting a jump on knitting for holiday gifts as well this year, so I have a few things lined up to do some knitting, some will be done with sewing pattern and some will be jewelry gifts this year. Well I have to chicken in the oven and I have given the little ones their baths and what did they do? Roll around on the lawn!! Right doesn't seem to mind it as much as Angus, he is not crazy about the dryer aspect. They both have dental appointments at the end of the month, Rita for routine cleaning and Angus is having the baby teeth removed that he still has along with cleaning and being micro chipped. Next month on the 10th we'll be celebrating out 1st anniversary. It really does not seem as though we have been married a year, I guess when you marry your best friend things work extremely well. Plus I guess the fact that we have a strong communication foundation and we have a "couples" journal has really worked for us.

Well I ought to go as I want t get some knitting done on another Forest Canopy. I will be starting the Bee Fields shawl next month and I just have to decide on what yarn I want to purchase for it. I just might get it as a kit and not have to worry about where to get the yarn. So I shall say catch ya later for now. I will post some pictures the next time of the surprise birthday party I had for Michael. It would have been nice if mom could have come up from NV for it, but we hope to be going to visit her sometime in January. I know that we will be going to my 30th class reunion this November. It is going to be wonderful going this time because I will have my husband along with me and my friends can meet the man that has stolen my heart! Have a great week all!
Ciao!
CW

My Prize Package from ITEIV arrived today

My Surprise package I won for the most posting during the ITEIV !

What a nice surprise to see my package from Jane that I had won. After a day like today (can we sayrow boat needed). what started as a crappy day due to the weather ended on a good note. Just look at the goodies I got!! The lime colored yarn was dyed using Kool-Aid, I love it is sort of goes from a deep lime to almost a sherbet colored lime. I am going to look for the pattern in the book I got to make a few for the Christmas Holiday as gifts!! Well this is short Michael is not feeling well so I need to check on him, the drive to and from Houston today was an absolute bear and people seem to be just "BUTT" heads when it is comes to driving in the rain. Tomoorrow I will post an updated picture of the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl. I am making another one for a family memebers' birthday. Can you guess who it will be for? Well you'll just have to wait an see lol. Stay dry and cool ad enjoy what is left of the summer!!

I'm in Yarn HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk about yarn coma? These are the latest eBay yarns that all came in today. I was beside myself in yarn nirvana. They are so soft and smooth especially the 4 hanks fo MYC Wool/Silk yarn from New Mexico. It is a thick -thin bulky and I have 560 yds of that. So I figure maybe a scarf or hat will use up 280 yds. Then I will save the rest of that colorway.

The 3 pictures are from Mirari Crafts from Scotburn, NS Canada. The first reminds me of a Macaw Parrot and this is 1-ply pure wool @ 450 yds. The second is the same type of yarn and remoinds me of the Christmas holiday and the 2 hanks give a total of 900 yds. the third picture is from same company and the colorway reminds me of a desert sunset and this too is 900 yds. The final picture is yarn from Yarntopia Treasures from New Mexico it is a Superwash Merino Wool in fingering weight (1-ply) 560 yds. So now I do need a ball winder for my yarn. I have the yarn swift already. My office craft room is about half way done just 2 more walls to paint the base color and then I will just havethe stenciling to do. I figure if I stencil some "huge" 18-inch circles in say an antique white that will off-set the bumble bee yellow walls, plus I will be able to then stencil inside of these also and them make smaller circles whre I can stencil encouraging and creative words. Well it is 2:47 in the morning and I still need to get some sleep cause the sun do rise arely in the mornin' lol. Everyone have a nice day!!

Joined a new Swap

Hey all,

I forgot to mention that I joined a new swap called Christmas Around the World Knitters. I think that is the correct name. Anyway I am so excited to find out how this one will run. Today I got my Addi needles that I won on eBay and also some new yarn as well. The ran is for another shwl but then agaon it might be 2 scarves instead. I am trying to get a jump on the Christmas holiday thing this year. Anyway it is almost midnight and soon to be Friday and I need to get some sleep busy day tomorrow must finish up painting this weekeend. Then get my office craft room done so I can start putting things back in their. Well the little onese are quiet now. They have had their share of barking at kitty. Kitty is our housemates cat. So far so good no major happenes between the aniumals thanks the good Lord lol. Y'all have a nice night an will write more this weekend.

Ciao!

CW

PS I thought I would showl you my lateset eBay winnings!!

My eBay winnings

Hand dyed Pure wool ~ 900 yds. Fingering yarn from Mirari Crafts -Canada
Hand dyed Pure wool ~ 900 yds. Fingering yarn from Mirari Crafts -Canada

Hand dyed 50% Wool 50% Silk yarn from Mystical Creation YArns in New Mexico

Hand dyed Pure wool ~ 450 yds. Fingering yarn from Mirari Crafts -Canada

My new adjustable yarn swift made out of Oak. I got from Tim Hale in Rosemont, IL .

Hi all,

Boy this past month has been rather quirky, but things are leveling out now. Let's see we are back on the internet after dealing with Comcast. Bot glad that is over lol. I have gotten some awesome yarns and a swift through eBay and also some incredible deals on Addi Circ. needles!! The pictures are from the site what I won and I will post my own when the yarns get here.


Just look at the yarns!! I can hardly wait to get my hands on the new ones!! I might even have to do two posting to show everything. I have saved quit a bit too, but I will always make my monthly LYS purchase though cause I just love the things that they have and will be taking classes as well. So as you can see the yarns and swift above. I am going to have fun knitting, I am talking knitters heaven. I can hardly wait to feel and do the yarn nuzzle lol. Some of this yarn is already slated for Christmas gifts, the next tote exchange and the Christmas around the World exchnage.

Then to top my day/night off I won a prise for the most postings for the ITE IV!! Me of all people!! I did not think I would win any of the contests let alone the most posting, I was off line for a few weeks!! Well it is sort of late I will post aontherentry tomorrow to show some more of my eBay booty lol. Have an awesome week y'all!!

The Perils of Hand-dyed; Hand-painted Yarn

Wow !!

I can't believe I have not posted in such a long time. Have had internet wows and then some other things popped up. But I have been knitting to that ias a good thing cause my nerves were frazzled lol. Well I am going at a good clip with my Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl. I am really pleased with the way it is coming. Well I ran into every knitters horror having to get more yarn to finish project. Well I called my LYS and they had more of Hand Maiden's S8ilk Maiden in Vintage. I was excited to here that news. So I go and get 1 more handk and Amy winds if for me. I notice after it's wound that hummmm....... This looks a little off but Amy gave me some suggestions and I was off.

Well I get home and get ady to sit and knit I pull the new yarn out and grab my shawl tote and take out my work. I thought I would pass out. To my horror it had changed, not slightly but a drastic change. I looked at teh rich jewel tones of the yarn tta I had frogged to make the shawl and the new ball and they were so opposit it wasn't funny. You see the scarf that I frogged was the one I had started in February when I took the Easy Peasy Lace class. They colors in the new lot are not the vibrant, rich jewel tones. They are subdued and there are 2 new colors in it.

So back to the LYS I go and I showed Sheryl and she said I had two choices one was to start over using the new yarn and get another one so I would have enough or pick a color in a solid that would match and incorporate it.


So that is what I did so I have this very pretty sort of reddish brown that I will work the middle of the shawl with and the finish it with the rest of the Vintage I started it with. So I found the brown in the Louisa HArding Glace yarn I believe it is color #12. So in the mean time I have posted these pictures to show what I have done and the differences in dye lots and the new solid I am going to use. After I finish and block it and if I like that way it came out I will use aonther colorway and make one for my grandmother for Christmas. I think I will use one of the Schaefer yarns from their Memorable Women Collection. Anway I need to get moving I have a lot to do tomorrw and I need to get some good sleep. That's it for now.




Ciao!