Purls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Oh no --I feel a new obsession starting to form...

I may have been swooning over and checking out fiber over the last couple of days....

 

Can anyone tell me what type of spindle this is?  And equally important where can I get one?

What is your favorite type of spindle and why?  How about Fiber  what should beginners use and what is your favorite fiber?  That is if you are a spinner:)

It may have to do with how pea green with envy I am over those that were able to go to SOAR:)

I almost bought Sanguine Gryphon Fiber on Monday,

 
Look at this gorgeous shade of orange called Phoenix:

 

Funky Carolina on Tuesday,

and then Sweetgeorgia yesterday....

 

And then Hello Yarn today:

I only window shoped - I swear:)   Famous last words...  Anybody have some Hello Yarn or Sweet Georgia they are looking to de-stash?

An excuse to cake it on...

Little C insisted I accompany him to just about every door:)

Only thing is that the Flash was too fast for me... At times I found it hard to keep up with him

 

I was able to snap a few quick pics... during those rare moments when he stopped:

For a candy break

To decorate a Pumpkin at a local block party:

To pose with a Scare Crow:

After the block party and a little bouncy house fun we (there may have been a hot dog or too eaten) x

  We then decided to drive back to our neighborhoos and did a little more trick or treating before calling it inn. Little C ran into quite a few of his classmates it was nice to see the kids recognize each other:)

BTW: The pumkin he decorated... It won first prize!  And to think that I was so critical of little C... wondering why in the hec he would paint a pumpkin all one color!  His favorite color is red and he wanted it to be a bloody pumpkin.  That'l teach me to critize his work of art:)

 And now to confiscate as much of that candy as possible... Better my co=werkers eat it than my little pumpkin:)

Trick or Treat

Its that happy happy day for kiddos around every neighborhood of these precious United States.

There are Pumpkins waiting to be carved:

Treats waiting to be eaten:  I have been enjoing daily cuppa Joes --a deep rich roast

that I received from my Love Bites Halloween Swap on Ravelry.  Very tasty --who knew that the Volturri were also in the coffee busines ha!

Its been a little interesting savoring my goodies through my new grown fangs he he...

I could not resist posing in my new Knits:  Toasty Mitts pattern by Leslie Friend

Yarn from GherkinsBucket.etsy.com  colorway: Newborn VampCampCollection Camp Twilight

And because I could not let the scraps go to waste....I used them for a Mountain Nights Toque:

You just never know... It may get a little frosty some nights when I am out on the hunt for that perfect fibery treat Ha!

 

Mountain Nights Toque made with: Scraps from handspun Newborn yarn, Shokay Shambala Yak yarn, and Karabella 50/50 merino silk doubled.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween! Back soon with pictures from the festivities. The Flash is in the house and resting up for the school parade and festivities later today.

Did you miss me?

I havent blogged in a what seem like a week of Sundays...

You know its been too long when you find yourself asking... Well gosh what should I share?  What should I talk about?  Do people even come here anymore?  Have I lost my readership?

Its been 30 days since my last confession I mean post. A lot has happened this past month.  Do I bring everyone up to speed slowly?  Or do I just jump right in?   I think I will take the impulsive route and just present little snippets... You know to catch up:)

Little C turned 6!

  We celebrated his birthday at My Party Play House in Daly City --Little C invited his friends this year.

I let him take charge of passing out the invitations.   I figured its your birthday little man.. You decide.

The usual kid delicacies were served: Pizza

and Birthday Cake:

How did he get this big?  Its true what they say....they do grow up fast...

As far as I am concerned... I am not sure how I feel. Work has continued to take the forefront. I have quite a bit to do.  Never a dull moment.  I feel blessed that this is the case. Although at times it makes me unhappy.  My boss has a way of beating me down some times.  Shall we say that he/she has really poor delivery. The things that come out of this persons mouth sometimes just amaze me.  In general, like most Americans --I  am working really hard for less $$$.  At times it feels like I am doing the work of 3 people. Its no wonder we get overwhelmed and tired.  The incentive however is that we have a job.  Lets face it its an employer's market.  We should be thankful we have jobs right?  I am --believe me I am!  I felt the need to vent a little in a very reserved fashion. You know big brother and all....you never know who is reading:)  

I have been reading too --- this is one of the little perks of riding the train in every day. Last week I found these two gems at Costco:

and

I have it on very good authority that Jodi is a wonderful author.  I decided to save the best for last and started with Mrs. Kimble:)  Pretty good so far.

Knitingwise,  I am still heavy into shawls.  I have been working and working and working on "My Charlotte". Easy peasy pattern --just time consuming when you decide to make the BIG ASS version:)

When I am not working on my Charlotte -- I switch to Multnomah: I had to break in some of that Bugga sock yarn he he...

Last night however,  I was a bit overwhelmed.  Will I ever be done with either of these projects?  How much longer....   I broke down when parusing through my friends FO's on Ravelry.  Nartian just posted a pair fingerless mittens that I have had in my queue for a couple of weeks. 

The New Moon - Alice Mittens!

I needed some instant gratification!  So I wound this pretty yarn: New Moon Alice

But wait, then I remembered I had this as well:

Gorgeous Handspun by Gherkins Bucket:

The barberpole in this one --compounded by the fact that it was bulky caused me to cast on for a pair of these Toast Mittens:

Because we all need some instant gratification once in a while:)

Its no wonder I feel like a:

This wine turned out not so good...

When "Life gives you Lemons"  you make lemonade...  Spaghetti:)

Do ye be knowin' what this day be?

Hi-ho thar me buckos. Its that special day 'o th' year again! Don't forget to speak like a scurvy pirate now ye hear!

Feast ye eyes on th' me favorite bad scurvy dog: Cap'n Jack Sparrow:)

As fer me... I decided it was a jolly the hour fer some special new boots! Check them out: I'd shout these babies be made fer walkin' 'n I don't mean th' planl - Ha!

As fer knittin' check out me latest finished object: Elmrow in Sundara sock yarn in Brambleberry

 

I really like th' way th' edgin' came out

Did I shout that I lust me boots!

I'm back...

Wow has it really been 3 weeks?  I think this may be the longest I have gone without blogging.  Sorry about that blog, friends and family:(

Quite a bit has happened since August 18th....

We went to Lego land and back:

The boys had an encounter with Darth Vader

Little C:

Learned how to drive:)

Got a drivers license:

Got swallowed by a shark:)

 Started first grade:

and got re-acquainted with some of his Kinder buddies:

As for Momma... She:

Finished this book and saw the movie:

got herself a new pair of shoes:

and finished knitting her Gail aka Nightsongs:

The edging:

She has one more FO to share... Next week it will be revealed as well as new projects on the horizon.

Sorry everyone for the huge gap... Work has really been kicking my butt.  I feel like I am in documentation hell.  Someone locked me up and through away the key:)

I;m in work up to my eyeballs... Someone please help me:)

SS09 Haul - Yes That Haul!

Yes there is a time for everything and everything in its place... I have a proper Stash Bin and it has served me well. I quickly hid many of the following items from the Hubbs.  Particulary the lovely yarn and luscious fiber:D

Please remain calm.  And before you pass judgement --know that I really did use restraint. I brought back a total of 37 Skns - 35 pictured above and 1 additional STR in Falcons' that was wound to knit a Hey Baby sock (see bottom of post).  Carie this makes you the winner of what is behind Door # 1! Congratulations! You guessed 29:)

Look Only 5 Socks that Rock (1 I used for my Hey baby sock), 2 Hazel Knits, 1 Abundant Yarn, 2 Goth Sock yarns self stripping...  Not in this photo but peaking up above is 1 Skn from Material Whirled the red skn with kitty beads:) and the Paca Peds sock yarn that is the grand prize for our contest.

Two Tsock Tsarina sock kits:

The three leftmost yarns were free as part of the wine tasting.

Another Free sock skn - a present from Deb for my birthday--look she made this for me:) isn't it purdy:)

Some pretty delicious fiber from Mt. Hood Fiber: Deb's newest business venture:)

From Girl On the Rocks: Spunky Ecletic BFL fiber and needle sizing owls:)

I think I made --or would like to believe anyway, that I made some wise choices.   There is only one booth where I could have lost my mind and every penny I owned - Ha!

Sam was right it was the Sanguine Gryphon:D  Their yarn is in a word - DREAMY!  Rich, intense hues, coupled with some pretty amazing yarns -from merino, to silk and cashmere! 

Yum!

What was I after?  Like anyone else that has tried this.   I have become addicted to Bugga! Funny thing is that its basically the Handmaiden - Casbah sock yarn.  But the color--ooooohhhhhh the color the Gryphon achieves is simply amazing!

Here is a new discovery-- simply lovely! I also found this little Gem inside the Gryphon's booth: Dragonfly FFibers.  I would keep my eye on this dyer!  This particular one in the Antique color way is just screaming: Knit me, Knit me, Knit me now:)  I do believe some Rivendell Socks are in order:)

Last but not least,  I also picked up drop spindling- spinning:)  Yes Sam was right on this count as well!

Check it out: The the thick and thin on the left is my first yarn ever!  The one on the right Deb spun while listening to the Luminary Panel - in pretty even lace weight.

Thanks Deb for teaching me how to do this.  I now want to spin everything in my house he he... I am clawing through my closet looking for that pencil roving:)

And now for the non-fibery swag:)

A little Sock Summit Parafanalia:

A closeup of my cool new Tshirt and the Hey Baby Sock I knit up in Yarnissima's class

Some Ruby slippers

And some blue ones two (both are from clogs and more they were at the convention ctr - evil I tell ya!). Sock bag is by SplitYarn

And one Hand Dyed Silk Scarf from Verb for Keeping Warm - to match my Ruby Slippers:)

 I do hope you will still respect me in the morning after having bared it all:)

And now my peeps, I must go pack... We are off to Lego Land - Cheers!

 

SS09 Day 4 Shannigans, and a Rav Party

 

On the 4th Day of Christmas I mean Sock Summit StephandTina gave to me...

More time in a fabulous marketplace

a fabulaous new shiny stash bin!

Some really good tips and tricks for studying color, playing with color, and what to consider when designing a garment.

She also aforded me the opportunity to meet this Gem of a lady: 

Anna Zilborg - non other than the author of these fabulous books:

We played with yarn for a while chatted about many ways to experiment, blend and step out of your comfort zone.  Oh and we also swatched with various color combos.

After lunch, I had more time to walk the market while Deb was in Class with Joan Schroader learning about bavarian stockings (man I wish I could have made that class:) ) Oh well next time.

Check out this girl's knitted crutches - I LOVE it!  See there was no stopping her:)

I took a couple of 1 hour wonders like conquering short row heels with Chrissy Gardner and Grafted Bindoffs with Deb Barnhill.  Funny things is that during this class I was pretty zonked out.  I was so tired all I could do was stare at her.  She, Deb Barnhill must have sensed this 'cuz she pretty much ignored me event hough I was sitting front and center.  After 20 minutes or so of not being able to wrap my brain around this I decided to go window shopping again. 

I met Reenie from Material Whirled the Art Yarn Diva -- I LOVE her she is such a sweetie!

While there I ran into a couple of people. Some I knew, some just drew my attention like this guy who was knitting 7 pair of socks!  On one Ginormously long circular needle!!! 

Good God! - He even had a method of keeping it all strait!

I got to meet Amy from goodtobegirl!

x

x

I also met these two lovely women for the first time. Two swap buddies of mine Liz and Denise!

That afternoon I was on a mission--looking for a skein of yarn that would be good for Yarnissima's Hey Baby - A Mini Toe Up Sock that I was taking on Sunday morning.  I searched high and low for a single skn of yarn that would not be too dark and not too varigated.  I wanted to be sure I liked it though.

Funny thing is that on the way my tootsies were hurtin' so I stopped by clogs and more and picked up some Ruby Slippers:)

Then I spotted Deb and explained how it took me forever and a day to find that one perfect skein of sock yrn that would be fitting for my Hey Baby class.  So I pulled it out my bag and she lost it and started it laughing.  She could not believe how it was almost identical to the one that she bought!

Deb and I have this thing goin on....   We both like all colors. I prefer dark and intense and she prefers muted.  She seems to think that its all due to the fact that we were born on the same day about an hour or so apart. Deb thinks that this slight shift in the rotation of the stars has caused me to prefer intensity in colorways.   Kinda of cool huh... We seem to gravitate to the same things- Two peas in a pod hmmm....

By this time it was 6:00 p.m. and the market was closing.  We had to rush back to the condo to get ready for a fabulous Ravelry party!

And now a few candid shots from the Rav event:

Angela and I wearing our Bipps (Fluevog matching sandals:)

Some random shots:

I also met Turtlegirl76 -  Woohoo!

And now lets have a little contest shall we...

For the first Prize: SS09 Showbook, PacaPeds Double Skein of Sock Yarn, Notebook and Pin

along with a copy of the Orion Sock Pattern. The official Socks from SS09

Here is the question for what is behind door # 1:  How many skeins of yarn did I bring back from SS09? Hint... I got 5 free skeins at the Yarn tasting remember?  How many total did I come back with that are now being stored in the stash bin up above?

Now dear friends... Here is what's behind door # 2

Where did I spend the most money while at the market place? Who was my favorite vendor?

And for a booby prize --small door # 3.... because I am feeling generous... 

What new habit or mad skill did I pick up while on this trip?

Alrighty then... answer away.   I will keep this up for 2-3 more nights.   The plan is to pick the person that has the correct number (without going over) or right answer. If no one picks the right number for # 1 or provides the right answers for each of the other questions. Then I will select at random from each of the 3 Doors folks chose to enter:)  Feel free to play for all of three prizes.

Here is what happened next...

On Day 3 - Friday morning

We had class with Marjan Hammink aka Yarnissima! You the grand designer of Firestarter, Kiila,La Digitessa and other gorgeous sock patterns. 

 Marjan works closedly with the Wollemeise and pairs her patterns with Wollemeise yarn:)  Yum!

I loved her!  She is the epitome of elegance and serenity. Deb and I walked in fashionably late (by a few minutes) and it did not faze her one bit.  She welcomed us into her classroom and made us feel right at home. 

This class was not heavy on the techniques but more on her approach to design, technique, how she sees things and what she finds inspiring.  LIke Spina di Pesce for example. When she was designing this pattern she was on a train and started tinkering a design and pretty soon she had something that looked like a fish bone. She then asked the Wollemeise to design a color for her. Somehting that resembled the Mediterranean sea. That gorgeous blue:)

The Wollemeise came back with this

Here are the socks featured in Socks that Rock: 

She also wanted to make sure that we all knew how to cable without a cable needle

So she gave us all a personal lessons:)

Of course another pre-requisite that makes this easier is magic loop!

After Yarnissima's class we headed over to the market place for more shopping and a little lunch.

We then rushed over to the main hall for the knit out.  All the knitters were getting together to attempt break Guinness World Record for the most knitters - Knitting together in one place at the same time. They timed us for 15 minutes. 

x

x

I think we succeed. The last record was just made in Australia with something like 256 knitters.  I think we topped off at 934?  Over 900 for sure! If you haven't seen the video clip yet --then go here and check it out.   It was sooooooo much fun... We just kept knitting for 15 minutes. Knitting and purling - not tinking.

Just knitting on two needles like Deb and Teri are here:)

Next up on the Agenda:  More shopping of course... Followed by Dinner at Ginos and the Sock Hop!

Deb and I had decided to go as the Pink Ladies - Ha!

On the way to dinner we hooked up with our two favorite Sandy's:vSam and Teri

I was a little surprised to see that we were the only two bad girls there!  We were so pupular many attendees stopped to pose for pictures with us bad girls:)

There are more of these out there... I just don't know who all took pictures  he he...

Here are a few candid shots from the Hop!

The Kanucks were in Da House!

JC cuttin' loose:)

Lucy Neaby too:)

Oh.. There goes Rachel one of the ST-2 fab ladies:

Steph, Mya and Alice - Boogying Down to the groovey sock hop tunes

Oh look here is a good one of Tina - Cuttin loose too!

We topped things off by paying a visit to cool pub Hubers in downtown Portland where I had my first ever  Spanish Coffee - Apparently they are lethal when consumed in excess (2-3 coffees) Ha!

End of Day two... still swooning from being in my happy place:)

Day III next. Like in a few minutes....  I have to go pretend I am busy cleaning the house... Back later with more and a contest --stay tuned...

Sock Summit Bliss - Days 1

Officially Our SS09 experience began on Thursday morning. 

We Linda, Deb and I met at the convention Center as first thing in the morning we had Sock Design with Anne Hanson  OMG, OMG, OMG!

On our way to class we ran into this Vog Diva: Angela aka Purlsbeforewine

Oh look, there is Chrissy Gardner walking up looking at the camera too - coffee in hand:)

Anne's class was fabulous.

 She really emphasized the importance of investing in good design software and charting. She also provided some pretty detailed instructions of things you should consider when designing a sock like:

• The most important decisions of every project are made in the first hours!

• Fabric: Structure begets structure

• Texture: Visual and tacticle irregularity in the fabric

• Scale: Placing motifs in the surface design

• Fit: The proportion of garment to figure - how the garment lays along body lines

• Gauge: Swatch, Swatch, Swatch [again with the swatching I keep hearing this is important:) ]

• How to properly measure your foot, leg, etc when designing
• How to create a written Pattern

The classes were not that big folks... this is a good thing as you are able to get more individual attention. 

Thanks Anne for your attention to detail it was a great learning experience. 

I guess its time to start thinking about designing my first sock eh?

Immediately following Sock design, the market doors were opening and everyone made a mad dash or should I say beeline to the market place:

Many of us had goals as to which booth we were headed to first... You know your personal favorites.  I can not disclose this yet as there is a little contest involved further down the line (next post).

We made our way through the glorious yarnie isles.... Still swooning everytime I think about all the fabulous people I finally got to meet in person! 

Like this lovely lady: Sherri from The Loopy Ewe. Guess what she recognized me as a Loppy Groupie:)

There was an opening reception that we barely made.  I am not sure why we were late at this point?  Oh yeah, we were busy at the silent auction being held for Doctors without Borders.  They had some pretty amazing Swag and well we got to bidding and time got away from us. Once inside we had trouble finding seats.  Then we somehow scored some at the very front!  First row center - Woohoo!!! 

We ended up sitting next to all the grand masters:)

Cat Bordhi and Anna Zilborg:

Cookie A:

Barbara Walker:

Meg Swansen: That is her lovely Shawl anyway... sorry she did not turn around:)

Lucy Neatby:

Here is a good picture of Nancy Bush and Alice aka: All things Socktopus

It was nice seeing you Alice!  Loved your shawl - especially that it was cashmere:)  Hey i am still trying to get my hands on the pattern...  Tried thru twibes--not sure it worked.

Oh my gosh... all this and it was only the end of day 1!   It was around 10:30 p.m.  and after a couple of glasses of vino we decided to head back so that we could start fresh in the morning.