January Spin-In

This is it...it's finally here and I am super excited about it.  Tomorrow, after an appointment, I am going to Destin, FL for the January Spin-In.  I am not really sure what to expect, but there are over 100 other spinners registered, coming from all over the country.  There will be vendors, and other stuff.

Oh, and did I mention Destin?  Palms of Destin to be exact.  I have a little condo all reserved and I can't wait.  I even got up early this morning to put away some yarn and pull out some fiber to take with me.  I haven't packed anything else yet...and I am not sure how I am going to get it all there.  Going to borrow my brother's Tahoe, since my truck is not as reliable as it used to be.  And need to get a few groceries. 

I am going to try to remember to take some pictures...

DETENTE

So yesterday was a rainy nasty kind of day.  The kind only good for cooking homemade soup, baking cookies, watching movies and knitting.  So that's what I did.  We also tried moving Prue's food up, so that we could leave the door open, and she could come into the house, while the DOG was out.  After a bit of hissing and spitting and retreat, we finally achieve our version of DETENTE.

That's Millie on the left and Prue on the right.  Ignore the mess...like I said it was a stay in kind of day.  I had everything I needed right there in front of me.  I finished a project, and designed a hat.  More on those later.  For now, peace for a day was awesome!

Happy New Year!

They say that  what you do on the first day of the year, you will be doing for the rest of the year.  Well, if that's true, then I am really looking forward to spending time with good friends, eating good food, and knitting!  I had my ham and black eyed peas...and salad replaced greens, but what the heck....it was all good.  I have a couple of finished pairs of socks.

I am sitting here watching my Gators! pummel Cinnci in the Sugar Bowl in my blue and orange...and I have my socks on! Anything I can do to support the boys!

Made a pair of socks for Mom too. Used Tofutsies. i like the yarn, even though it was a bit splitty.  Mom loves them, that's all that matters!

I will leave you with what we can expect from Millie this year...

Happy New Year! 

Cookies, round 2

well, they're made, but i am not sure i like them. So i will box them up and take them tonight to my test subjects...i mean friends and see what they think.  I will not be heartbroken if they don't like them.

unsuccessful cookies

So, I bought this little Betty Crocker Christmas Cookie book.  You know the kind...at the grocery store check out..5x7 book with a zillion recipes centered around a particular type of cooking.  Well, I saw the Christmas cookie book and couldn't resist.  I looked through this book about a 100 times before deciding to bake my way through it.  Occasionally, I will blog about it, but I am not turning it into a blog project or anything like that.

As I have moved back home, and work out of the house, I didn't really have anyone to share with...until I mentioned my plans to Molly, the LYS owner.  Um, well, needless to say, my new test subjects are my knitting groups.

Today I was on my third recipe.  Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread.  I misread the recipe and used only one stick of butter instead of 2.  I didn't realize the mistake until the pans were in the oven.  It turned out more like pie crust than shortbread.  But, despite that, I am not sure about the taste.  I think it was all just a little too much.  So, I am not making another recipe and I will probably not keep that one.  I love shortbread, but I am not sure I am able to make a good one.   Maybe I will try again later.

Anyway, I am moving on to Cherry Chocolate Cookie Cups.  These have Amaretto!!

On the knitting front, I have finished a few things and finally gotten some pictures.

Girasole by Jared Flood

Dotty Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knittig

Beaumont Tam by Jared Flood

Modern Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting

There have been a few other little things to do in a care package to Seattle...and a new little boy-child that I can't wait to meet.  I have a couple of pairs of socks on the needles and am thinking about what should be next.  I have a whole bunch of a cotton blend that I think will be a sweater...as it didn't work out as a skirt.  And, I have curtains to sew, a blouse to make, and a craft room to try and get cleaned out and organized.  So, lots to do.

Ishbel

So, there was this KAL for Breast Cancer Awareness in October.  We got the same sock yarn and were going to knit pink socks.  I tried.  Really, I did.  But, the yarn just wasn't saying it wanted to be socks.  Instead, it's dream was to be a little pink shawl.  So, that's what it became!

Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague.  I used 1 1/2 skeins Lorna's Laces Sock in the Pink Flamingo colorway. 

I am enchanted.

Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival

This weekend.  And I will be spinning with the Pensacola Heritage people.  Here's the website:

www.ggaf.org

Hope to see you there!

Back from SAFF...gearing up for winter...

Winter in Pensacola lasts for about a week...when the temps get really cold...but that won't stop me from getting my sweaters, hats, scarves, and various and sundry woolly items out to wear.

But the lack of truly cold weather doesn't stop me from knitting!  Oh no...i have moved to plant fibers like cotton and bamboo in the summers and stick with wool blends for winter.   I am still going to wear my knitted socks and my sweaters...just won't have to worry so much about a coat.  It's and adjustment, but I will get used to it again.

Anyway, back from SAFF and a couple of days in Atlanta...I wanted to share some of my acquisitions...

Knit Witch Cassiopeia in Red for a shawl...maybe with beads.

Miss Babs Yummy Sock and baby yarn in Crazy B

Sanguine Gryphon "Bugga" in Orange Assassin Bug.  This is sock yarn that is Merino/Cashmere/Nylon.  I manged to felt my orange cable socks.  This will replace them!

Hanks Yarn and Fiber "Perhaps Today is a Good Day to Dye" BFL Sock Hogtown.  That's what's on the label.  I am calling it my Gator Sock Yarn.  And I will be making socks that will be for Saturdays during the SEC season!  Go Gators!

Kitchen Sink Dyeworks Merino Fine "Maureen"

Now, I have a friend named Maureen who plays tennis, and this just reminded me of her.  Not sure yet what this will turn into...

Miss Babs again!  Color "Nell".  Mom really liked this, so it may be destined for her, but we will see.

Sheep earrings.  They are glass beads and I love them!

Dragonfly Fibers "Sistine Colorway"

Superwash Merino and Silk!

My new High Speed Flier for my wheel.

On which, I spun this:

Mermaid's Wool, Merino/Seacell "neapolitan"

about 290 yards!

There were a few other things...but some are for Christmas...so not sharing them here.  Overall, I had a great time and am already planning for next year!