BLUE TOE SPINNER

I love to read other people's blogs...they are so inspiring...yet they make me so depressed that I'm not accomplishing as much as ya'll. I have the same number of hours each week. But, ya'll crank out these intricate shawls, a pair of socks a day, blog, spin thousands of yards of yarn, play with families, friends...etc. Maybe I sleep too much. Maybe I should give up my job. I could cut out eating and only drink liquids. I could cut out laundry, doing dishes and cleaning altogether. Learn to knit something without frogging it 3 or 4 times. Learn to knit in my sleep or give up sleeping. Do they have a class for speed knitting like speed reading? Maybe I could learn to knit with my feet and get twice as much done. Put a spinning wheel in the bathroom? under my desk at work? take one to church? These are the drawn backs for discovery the wonders of spinning and knitting so late in life. Never fear, I will keep clicking those needles and keep spinning that wheel. Sloooowly, ...

I read recently that if you want to raise a child to knit, you should put knitting needles in the child's hands. I had an opportunity to watch Sweet Pea for a little while this past week, and seized the chance to introduce her to the wonderful world of fiber. As you can see I placed her on a sheep skin rug. I heard no complaints. We talk about yarn and fiber and knitting needles and spinning wheels. As I spoke of these thing she showed great interest and smiled and giggled Mumsy said she was just interested in the way I was speaking to her. It had nothing to do with what I was saying but how I was saying it. It sounded like a challenge to me. Here is the photo while we spoke of cars and trucks and tractors. Here is the photo when we talked about spinning wheels and yarn and fiber. You be the judge!

This is a video I shot at Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair, September 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnNz7cRtMHE You will see how much fun we have!! I hope you will plan to visit us this year. Here is the link to our website: http://www.greatbasinfiberartsfair.org/ Oh, and save your money until then, there will be lots of pretty things to buy!!

The last weekend in March, I took a mini-holiday! I attended Celia Quinn's classes. Friday, Spinning to Specifications, Saturday and Sunday, Color Blending. Yes it is true, I skivvied off church to attend an all day class. It was a FANTASTIC weekend! I don't think I can put the experience into words, but I did take a few pictures for you to enjoy. Yummy Fiber!! Beautiful projects! Barbara showed us the shawl she spun and knitted for her mom. Modeled by Celia. Fluff she gave us to play with! What we did with some of the fluff. (Color Blending) Celia's color blending examples, WOW! Celia spent much of her time upside-down teaching. Some of us attendees. Pretty Colors! I had a great time and learned many smart things, and made some really fun memories. Thanks Mumsy for your support!

I don't have a kitty, to play with my yarn or my fluff lying around the house. I have always been an appreciator of cats. I love the pictures of the kitties from other blogsites. I must say that I wish a had a kitty to pose with my spinning and knitting creations. (But, please don't send me a cat, Mumsy won't let me have a kitty. We have been down that road.) I have had many kitties in my life time. Mostly, when I live in the country and had load of room for those sweet things. But, I haven't had a kitty since I moved to SLC 10 1/2 years ago. But, when Mumsy moved here, we decided that we needed a therapy dog. An animal to lift our spirits and bring us joy. In our minds we pictured getting a cute little fluffy thing. Maybe with fur I could spin. We went to a pet store, that was having a Humane Society adoption day. In we walked, and I spotted this wee little thing in a big cage, with the sweetest little brown eyes and this perfect little kiss of pink on her nose. Mumsy...

I finished my first project from the "2-at a time Socks" book by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. It is called Berry Season. This was a very fun pattern, really easy to follow. I used some of my home spun. Wool, silk noils and a little flash, I think Mumsy bought it for me from Three Wishes. So, it is only fair that Mumsy be the recipient of these lovely socks. Mumsy has these tiny little feet, so the socks are just adorable on her! Minutes after finishing these socks, I cast-on for "Belle Epoque" sock. I am using Maizy Nut-Brown, which is more of a maive, 82% corn fiber and 18% elastic nylon. Fun I think.

Not that many years ago, I did very tiny needle work. I could see every stitch clear as a bell. Since turning 40, (I'm older than that now), the unthinkable has happened...I can't see little tiny stitches. Mother Nature can be very cruel. I now sport no-line bifocals. So, when my son asked me to knit him a Black Beanie, I cringed. He wanted it to be light weight so he could wear it in the summer, (he is an auto mechanic). So, I tried a couple different yarns, and decided to use 100% Mercerized Crochet Cotton. Due to the weight of the yarn, used size 0 circular needles. Next challenge how many stitches to cast on. After four different casting on episodes, I remembered, that I have heard that you can wrap the yarn around your head three times, and use that length to cast on using the long tail cast-on. Yeah!! Cast-on conquered. Next challenge, trying to see the darn stitches. And when I dropped a stitch, and tried to see the stitch to fix it. OH, MY WORD!! Let's say, it will ...

Wednesday was our annual Dye Exchange at the Wasatch Woolpack Guild. The color for this year was purple. Some are a little out of focus or the color is a little off. But, I was in the front of line at the exchange and I didn't want to hold people up too much. (You know how spinners are around pretty, pretty, roving, you know). Here are the fruits of our labors! This is what Mumsy and I ended up with. Quite the haul, don't you think?! I think, between the two of us, the total was about 52 ounces of glorious fluff. It's just like Christmas! Thanks to everyone for great work and for coming to this event.

These are my very first Magic Loop socks. They are no long the bane of my existance. Aside from the tops of the cuffs being not stretchy enough they fit very well and are super comfy. I knitted them toe up from a pattern I found on the internet ( Knitting 2 Socks at One Time ). They are not perfect but I learned tons! Things I have learned knitting these socks: 1. My handspun sock yarn needs to be more consistent. One skein was thicker than the other. 2. I luuuuuvvvvve short row heels, it uses way less brain cells to do heels this way than heel flap, gusset, not so much. But, can do it. 3. I need to learn the stretchy cast off. 4. Pay attention when you are doing the wrap stitches or else you get funny little string on the outside of your socks. 5. So many sock patterns, so much sock yarn, so little time. (thank goodness they are so portable.

I can't remember the last time I had an entire day to knit or spin! You may think "big deal, I never get an entire day to do..." The difference is I have no children at home, (close by, yes, of course), but it just Mumsy and me and puppy. I'm an empty nest-er for crying out loud! So, today was my day. I had Mumsy full support and enabling. She went to the temple and I stayed home like a heathen. She even brought home Taco Bell for lunch. Puppy napped close by in case I needed anything, like a moment to pet her. And so determined was I to knit, I didn't even take a nap. I finished the "Flower Bud" scarf for my daugther-in-law. I had several unraveling moments...the switching of wrong and right sides. I know it's a special gift, it takes years to perfect this kind of error. But, comes so naturally to me. Anyway, it is finished and beautiful and think she will love it. Now, back to the socks that have been the challenge of the last couple months. I boug...