Ninja wars part duex?

Well I didn't intend to fall silent.  But life happens.  Work has been a bubbling cauldron of turmoil, but I'm hopeful it has gone down to a simmer at least.  I've been spinning and spinning and spinning.  I'm slowly rebuilding my stock.  I applied to be a vendor at the DFW Fiber Festival but sadly did not get a spot for 2013.  You know I'm an adopted Texan.  I lived there for many years, Anna was brought home to Dallas from China.  I've always called her my Chinese Swedish Texan baby.  I was sad that we could not come to Dallas in April as a vendor for the festival, I was encouraged to resubmit my application for the 2014 event as they are moving to a larger venue and they will have more spots for vendors.  So I'll see what happens next year.  This means however, that I'm probably taking the plunge this year and applying for a vendor spot at Shepherd's Harvest.  I'll do Yarnover again as well.  So that makes a busy spring schedule for me.  So I need to keep spinning as much as I can to ensure I have a good supply of skeins for both events.  Stay tuned.

One of the issues I've had with blogging is I used to do my updates at work on my lunch or breaks.  They've since blocked all access to so many web sites to rein in the data usage.  I get it, but it really has been a challenge for me to change my routine to include finding time to blog and upload pictures etc from my home computer.  While it is fine, it isn't nearly as nice as my work computer so I'm working through the picture issues. 

In an effort to continue using my handspun when I do knit, I needed new mittens.  I wore my last pair literally out.  My mittens I've worn for the last 3 years were the first stranded things I ever made.  I loved them and last year as spring finally crept into Minnesota I realized the thumbs had completely worn out and had holes.  So I grudgingly threw them away.  Thinking, I have MONTHS to knit a new pair before it gets cold.  ya well, guess what.  It is COLD (finally) here.  In fact, it snowed.  Yes there is snow on the ground.  Which means my hands are COLD.  So a couple weeks ago I started knitting.  I pulled a pretty 3 ply, goldish but with flecks of reds/browns in it.  I found a fun pattern that was simple and would show off my handspun (I'm going to try and insert the links but probably not right now, stay tuned) so I started knitting.  After a few inches I realized it was geared for Sasquatch, so I ripped it out, went down a size (I have large hands, really I've never had to downsize ANYTHING for my hands) and started knitting again, got past the last spot, felt it was better, kept knitting. Until I forced myself to admit that yes, they were still too big, this time merely grizzly bear big.  RIPPPPPPP again.  sigh.  Now I was knitting using the smallest size. SMALL?  for my hands?  really?  But that seemed to be just right.  So knit, knit, knit.  The third time is the charm.  I gloated as I happily knit away, now I'm past both spots I ripped back and am merely working on the thumb gusset.  Yes it fits just fine I say, knit, knit, knit.  I happen to look in my knitting bag, oh no.  Turn away, keep knitting, knit, knit, knit.  peek back into the bag.  sigh.  Slowly take out my yarn cake.  My full big yarn cake that now that my mitten is 3/4 done, is not so full or big.  It is not so cake like, rather more CUPcake like.  I slowly take out my scale, weigh my cupcake of yarn, weigh my perfectly fitting 3/4 mitten.  And sit down hard.  I do not have enough yarn to make TWO mittens.  sigh.  Two mittens for two hands is pretty much a requirement here in MN in January.  Or you will find yourself with only one hand, which while would solve the mitten dilemma would create all sorts of new issues in trying to knit or spin with only one hand.  So yes, you guessed it.  I ripped it out yet again.  I swear I haven't had this much trouble knitting something that will fit since the Ninja socks.  See the saga here  Ninja wins .  And we all know how that turned out!  But I carefully RIPPPPPPEEEEEDDDD it out yet again.  And went back to the basket of completed handspun.  Rethought where all my issues had been and reselected a yarn, this is still golden, a BFL and silk blend so it will be plenty warm and in an effort to be sure I have enough yarn, I'm adding a commercial yarn for part of the cuff section.  And restarted it for a FOURTH time.  After knitting a lot in the last 2 weeks I've finished the cuff section and am starting on the hand.  Only time will tell if these mittens will follow the Ninja socks or whether I will finally triumph.  Frankly? I'm betting on me. 

p.s. - if you are still reading, thank you.  You are more than kind.  I'll work out the picture kinks soon.

Amazing!  I just found out that the spinning class is filled at Lila and Claudine's!  Now I'm a bit scared!  But it will be a fun time.  See you there!

Upcoming Spinning Class

 I've been given an opportunity to teach a spinning class!  Kirstin and Polly at Lila and Claudine's invited me to teach a spinning class.  I'm working out the details but watch here or at Lila and Claudine's and I'll have the dates and times.  Right now I believe it will start mid-October and run every two weeks for 4 classes.  It is a bit scary to think about teaching a spinning class.  I'm virtually self taught.  There is so MUCH I don't know.  But what I can do, is teach what I do know.  And I'm excited.  There is nothing better than being surrounded by people who get excited about the same things I do, fiber and yarn.  smile...

And to my two girls, tomorrow is the start of a new school year, Emily's a bus patrol and so very excited...Anna is settled into high school.  Have a GREAT year!

A happy moment

For the first time ever, I entered something into the MN State Fair.  I entered the baby blanket I made for my nephew and his wife's first baby.  Their baby will be born in November and hopefully they will wrap him or her up in this blanket.  And guess what, the fair opened today and I couldn't wait.  I went on line and looked up the results and found out the blanket came in second in its category!  GRIN....I'm so happy.  I spun the yarn myself and knit it up.  And it WON something. 

Hopefully I'll get to the fair and get a picture of it in the case...and will replace this picture, but until then?  I'm THRILLED!

And I've been to the fair and added the ribbon picture.   Still thrilled!

Thank you Yarn Harbor

I spent the best day Saturday at Yarn Harbor in Duluth.  I set up my wheel and spun, laughed, and talked to so many people.  Kathy is a wonderful hostess and I had a great time.  I forget sometimes, so much of my time is spent doing my day job or taking care of my girls or my mom.  The time I spend spinning is mostly spent alone in my room, surrounded by my yarn and my fiber.  But Saturday I remember what it is like to be surrounded by people who love the same thing that I do.  And I had fun.  Lots of my yarn is now at Yarn Harbor, I can't wait until I can go again.  But before I do, I need to spin like a wild woman to rebuild my stock.  So tonight I started this...

It is from Aloha Blue, and it is spinning up beautifully.  Stay tuned...I'm going to need to spin fast, so I'll have some new pictures up soon.  I already have a couple skeins soaking and two bobbins full ready for plying tomorrow night.

I know I'm not posting as often, I'm sorry, but lately life is just a bit much to handle.  Work is trying, family life is interesting, but the fiber is soothing.  It will work for now.

The circle of life

In the last ten days, we've had a funeral, a birth, and a wedding in my family.  Sadness but oh so much joy.  All in all, we are blessed.  Although I will admit, tired!  The sadness of losing my great uncle is blunted knowing he is once again together with his beloved wife.  The joy that stretches so high and wide is my favorite niece had her first baby last week, welcome to the family Adelynne!  And finally two days ago, my cousin's daughter married in a beautiful park.  All in all, lots of family time, lots of laughter mixed with tears. 

In the mix I received a new package of roving.  I found a new dyer, Aloha Blue, her colors are heavily influenced by Hawaii and oh it shows. This is Tropical Sorbet. 

Then there is Lanikai Hike.  I'm a sucker for blues and browns

I also picked out South Seas - this is a Superwash blue Face Leicester roving.

And finally Blood Oranges.  This is what is currently on my wheel.  It is a wool silk blend that is heavenly to spin.  Just slips through my fingers. 

But the truly best thing I'm working on?  This is Baby Girasole, for another new baby on the way to our family.  This baby will be born in November.  When Kyle and his Anna were married three years ago, I knit them a Girasole blanket.  So when they announced they were expecting, I quickly ordered up some roving from Ginny at Fat Cat Knits, I spun her Millifiori into a fingering weight yarn and am powering through a baby sized Girasole.  I love the symmetry of the same pattern.  I'm nearly done and I'm so happy with how it is turning out.  So a couple pictures, does need some blocking eventually, but I think it is gorgeous.  smile....

I hate math

I was an English/Elementary Ed major in college.  Taught school for several years.  Most of those years I was a Reading/English teacher for middle school kids.  Note, READING....not math....ENGLISH....again not math. Later, I transition into the legal field, working as a paralegal and legal secretary.  Again...no math.  Well I'd have to number exhibits for trial but that was the extent of my math requirements.  So here I am, knitting.  A lot.  And what is part of knitting?  Math.  Sigh, sometimes a lot of math.  Did I mention I hate math?  That my sister is an accountant and can do math easily and in her sleep.  Me?  Not so much.  I can do it.  But it is a chore.  The Girasole is a well planned out and beautiful pattern.  I've even done it before.  Most of the math is limited to simple counting.  Apparently this weekend, that was more than I could handle.  But I'm back on track and should finish Chart F by midweek if not sooner.  But I did use my math skills to figure out that to finish this baby blanket, I have approximately 26,000 stitches left.  26 THOUSAND stitches.  This is why I hate math.  It is black and white and just lays it out there.  I need to run, must keep knitting.  I'm talking THOUSANDS of stitches needed to complete the blankie by August 4.