Just a ping.

Haven't had much to report recently but wanted to at least make my presence known. As usual I am working on about a dozen things at once and haven't taken any pictures yet. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Pictures and a thought.

Fiber Happy
Cranberry Merino Top I bought for my birthday



The gorgeous Merino top Teach gave me for my birthday

I put up a few new pictures of completed projects on ravelry so if you get a chance to look I would love to hear your thoughts. I have been making hunny do some home renovation in the form of shoving furniture around so I haven't been doing anything this weekend. With school ending in a week there will be lots of things going on to prevent my crafting but I will try to at least make a post a week over the summer. Thanks for the wishes and Hoping you all are doing well.

Back, sort of.

On the crafting side I have finished a shawl (sort of) and am about to finish my mom's mothers day present. I will be trying to get some pictures of those up soon, like within the week. I have also cut my yarn stash in almost half with the help of a new friend, a mother of three girls that go to my daughters school.
On the reality side, my house is still a mess and Murphy's Law still rules. Hopefully all the mothers that read this had a good day on Sunday and are ready to face another year of "but, Moooooom! " from their children.
Good day to you all.

Fantastic!

http://www.purlescence.co.uk/storytellers/open_winner1.html

Pictures and such.

For those of you that want to see a bit more of how I think I present you with a link. (Ha! That rhymes.) http://www.flickr.com/photos/mystarfalling/

Busy a while.

April has been interesting. Had a birthday, had a friend die, made (knit) a shawl, Got some yarn, got some fiber and a new Addi hook.
Strange things in the air making me want to hide my head for a while. Have been reading the posts left by others and wishing I had words to comfort those in pain and congratulate those in joy and accomplishment. I might be pulling my head out of the sand a bit soon, just letting my (*OH so loyal*) readership know I haven't dropped off the high velocity ball we live on.
Love, peace and harmony to all.

Simple yet satisfying.

**Edit**
Pictures (=
** end edit**
Ah-ha. I have a pattern to post, yet because the google servers and unhappy right now I can't put up the pictures yet. The pattern is very simple and I will happily repost it when I can do so with pictures.
Moms short stole pattern.
Measures approximately 2' x 4.5' when finished.
First, grab 3 or 4 skeins of worsted weight yarn (I used a fun fuzzy acrylic variegated I was given recently) and your favorite J (6.0mm) hook.
Chain 77 fairly loosely, then chain 3 more (total of 80 chains)
Row 1... dc in the 4th chain from the hook. Do a total of 77 dc into the chain, chain 3 and turn.
Row 2... dc across (total of 77 dc) ch 3 and turn.
Row 3...One dc in top loop of the first stitch, ch 1 skip 1 and dc in the top loop of next stitch. (creating and open space) continue to ch 1 skip 1 and dc in top loop across. ch 3 and turn.
Row 4 through 9, repeat row 3
Row 10, 11 repeat row1.
Repeat these rows until you have 7 (or more) sections of open work and end in 2 rows of solid dc.
With 3 skeins I got seven sections easily. If you want more sections I suggest figuring on 3 sections per skein. No, I didn't do a gauge swatch...Sorry

Have some pictures.

I have a small obsession with brick stitch right now. I started this shawl with some Knit Picks "gloss" that was given to me over the holidays and I seem to be doing fairly well with it. I haven't changed stitch in the middle or gotten frustrated and ripped it apart. Might be the yarn cause it is smooshy and nice to work with... Might be the stitch as it is mindless once begun. Either way I just might be able to finish this.

This is a fair shot of the bottom. I like the way the spaces create pinwheel shapes for the light to go through. The color is more red and less fuchsia than this but hey, this is what I get for not trying to get a better camera for x-mas.

The next color after the chocolate brown is going to be this grape purple. I hope I can hold out long enough to finish because I think it will look good once finished.

I also made this yarn ball holder(not what I call it in my head, thanks to L&V) for a friend out of P&C cotton. The bottom has an issue where the knot I was making got out of hand. Soon to be remedied. Once that is fixed I will make the cord.

As most of you know I have been trying to learn to spin. This basket is my "homework" for the class. I have to take more pictures due to a spate of activity in the middle of the night while dealing with a cramp in my (still) broken foot. Eventually I will have pictures of finished yarn to show y'all.

In other news... I am a lazy wench and haven't found any of the things I wanted to put up for sale. I am seriously considering closing the shop for a while due to feeling guilty at not *making* the time to take care of it.
Also, for anyone in the area of MD please go to the fiber festival and put up lots of pictures. I really want to try to go next year and drag my favorite uncles with me.
Go buy Yarn from NHknittingmama
Cause she is just the coolest... And I said so. =)

Not Self promotion...

http://www.NHKnittingMama.etsy.com
Go there, check out her stuff... Tell her I sent you, please.
I should ask if I can link her in my sideboard...

Preservatives.

Sometimes, no matter how healthy you try to be, there comes a craving for something un-healthy. I will on rare (maybe once a year) occasions CRAVE little debbie's swiss rolls. I have been good this month so I will allow the vile preservative laden fascimile of food to come home from the store... Now however, comes the real battle. Not eating the whole box at one sitting.
Spinning classes... Learning how to "flick" the locks in order to make them ready for whichever preparation I choose to use for the yarn. Fun, but a bit tough on the hands. Deciding that I don't like carded fiber and would prefer to spin straight from the lock, amusing.
I made an order for my teacher from Etsy today because she doesn't have acess to a computer at home right now. I was horribly tempted yet resisted blowing my birthday money on some of the drop dead gorgeous fibers I saw. Makes me want to touch them. You know, this learning to spin thing might turn out to be an expensive habit... I might have to sell yarns to pay for fiber addiction... Are there 12 step programs for that?