I THINK I FINALLY GOT IT!

For over a month I've wanted to make a cowl. And for over a week I've been trying to find a pattern to make it using this gorgeous Manos Silk Blend that I bought for my birthday. I tried several patterns but none looked good in this colorway. Then thanks to my good friend Amy and her suggestion of the Luxury One Skein book I found a pattern that I love in this yarn.

I can't wait for this work day to be over so I can go home and play on my new, yet to be named wheel. I'm still trying to figure out what her name should be. Maybe after a few more hours spinning on her her personality will inspire me to name her.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Back to work I go.

THAT'S RIGHT - I ACTUALLY DID IT...

Yesterday on a full day outing with my good friend Amy I bought a spinning wheel.  That's right folks...I bought a beautiful "Kromski Sonata" spinning wheel. 

    

I have not yet been able to actually spin on it yet.  I need a lot of  practice.  My hand to feet coordination is pretty sad right now.  But it's so going to be a fun learning curve.

Now to think of a name for her.

Another co worker with a love of cooky t-shirts.

BIRTHDAY PARTY AND SPINNING FAILURE AND SUCCESS

 Two weeks ago was my friends Beth's birthday.  We didn't get to celebrate it until this past Sunday.  We were set to have a mini celebration at one of my LYS's.  But unfortunately, the birthday girl got sick and wasn't able to stay for her own party.

 The Birthday Girl

  Our friends Amy,  Lynn, Wyllie,  and Jenny.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get as many pics as I would have liked.  I hope for the time she was there she enjoyed what we put together for her.

I finally did something with two of the singles I had recently spun.

The turquoise is from the Rolags I purchased from "Rainy Days Wool Dogs".  Which I found thanks to Alcariel and Miss Violet of Lime and Violet fame.  And the copper was one of my first fiber purchases at my LYS EweNique Knits.

   

  

Unfortunately the copper single came out over-spun.  Not sure what to do about that yet.  I tried my hand at plying with the turquoise, and am so pleased with how it came out.

Not to bad if I do say so myself!

Later!!!

CAN YOU SAY OBSESSED... (my story from desire to obsession)

(very picture heavy post)

As you may have noticed, I can/am!

From the moment I started knitting, shopping knitting stores, going to S&B's, reading blogs, surfing etsy and Ravelry,  and just being in the world of knitting, I swore that the last thing I would do was spin my own yarn.  BOY did I go back on that one!

I think it started for me Oct. 16th at knit night with my friends, N. and M..  N. was showing us a couple of projects she made from her hand spun.  And the bug crawled up my leg.  Then M. and N. started fondling some gorgeous fiber one of them (I don't remember which) had recently purchased, and the bug barred it's teeth.  Then N. started spindle spinning some fiber, and the bug sunk his teeth into my flesh.  Needless to say, "That's All She Wrote!"  I was an almost instant convert.

The next day I went to one of my lys's that carries fiber and spindles and made my first purchase.  That night I went home and stared at the cute spindle, having no idea where to begin.  I started surfing through Youtube videos and found lots of helpful information.  Unfortunately for me, I'm more of a one-on-one type of learner.  So, at my next SnB I asked my good friend A. if she would show me the basics, (and being the great friend she is she put down what she was working on an showed me how to begin).  At first I didn't think I liked it.  My first few spins were lumpy and bumpy and not at all cute to look at, or even consider knitting.  So to the back of my mind went the desire to spindle spin.  For all of about several hours.  After watching more videos, especially this one, and more fondling of the fiber and spindle, I picked it back up and tried again.  The rest, shall we say, is history.

That is until I realized yesterday that I have seven spindles, (some purchased here, here, and here) and plastic bin full of fiber (some from here, here, here, and here), to name a few.  I had to ask myself,  "What the H*LL!"  On my way to a local fiber store with a couple of friends, I resigned myself to the fact that I'm an Obsessive Compulsive Personality (and proud of it!)!  When I get interested in something, I go head first - full throttle - ass out - no worries or cares!  And this is the results of my latest obsession, several weeks of etsy shopping, and web surfing:

  
  
 

Well, that's my story, including pictures, and I'm sticking to it!

Have a great weekend everyone.  I'm off to obsess a little bit more.

S.

THE WEEK FROM HELL ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE...

After a dead battery in a two month old car on Monday and my identity being stolen on Wednesday, and having to work full shifts on Friday and Saturday.  My week from "Hell" ended on a high note.  I got to go see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"!  I haven't seen a live showing of RHPS in over 10 years, and I had a fabulous time.

I've included a couple of pictures to give you an idea of the good time we had.  The troupe that performed the show put on the same show in Ohio once a month, and I plan on making a few trips down there to see them again.

My friend "BelovedOne" and her friend A., as Magenta and Columbia.  I also got a pic of them posing with the cast's "Dr. Frank-N-Furter", who was out-standing by the 

way.

I'm not sure who this group was, but they were nice enough to pose for a picture for me.  They had a great time, and made the show even more fun for me to watch.

Another shot of "Frank-N-Furter".  He was rocking those costumes.

It was a great show, with great friends, and an excellent cast of characters, on and off the stage/screen.

There was a bit more drama at the end of the night, though.  Shortly after I got home, I heard a commotion outside and went out to see what was going on.  My neighbors garage had caught on fire and burned to the ground with two cars inside.  Luckily no one was hurt.  But we were outside for hours making sure everything was completely extinguished, and no one was in any danger.  It made for a really long day, (3am to 3am).

This is what was waiting for me when I got home from work today.  Three packages, that's right THREE packages.  I was so excited I almost forgot to take Harley out for his potty break.

The box contains my Golding Spindles.  Thanks to one of my friends on Plurk, for suggesting I check them out.  Once I saw them I couldn't help myself, I immediately bought two of them.  And even though I haven't actually spun with them yet.  I am in love.  How could I not be!  Both are made from a purple wood.  One has a 2" Whorl, the other has a 3" Whorl.

I also got more sock club yarn.  And fiber, including more "BFL".

This is "Sweet Dreams" - BFL Wendleydale Colonial, from Copperpot Woolies.  My pic does not do the colors justice.  The blues and purples are gorgeous.  And I can't wait to spin it up.  I only hope I can do it justice.

These two came from "Handpaintedyarns.com".  They were so inexpensive I wasn't sure that I would like them, but I love the colors, and they are both very soft to the touch.  The reds is " Frutos del bosque romm" and the purple and yellow is "Flor del Lotto romm".  Check out this site.  You will be pleasantly surprised!

This months "Yarn Pirate" is probably my new favorite colorway.  I just wish I could get a better picture of it.

And this is this months "Plucky Classics".  Not as crazy about the colors.  Too much green for my tastes.

I had a pretty good few mail days, wouldn't you say?  Not a bad haul at all!

KNITTING ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE...

I get lots of mini breaks at work. And this is what I usually do with them.

My knitting stays hidden, for the most part, in my bag which hangs from the machine next to me. But easily accessable for knitting a row or two. My co-workers get a kick out of it.