BLUE TOE SPINNER

A well-kept corner. In life there are few things that can give you a true sense of pride and appreciation. Children possibly, but they have their good days in which you can bust a few buttons with pride and other days you would like to return them with a refund. Jobs. That too can have varying in degrees of satisfaction or days of dreaming of the men in white coats taking you away from it all. But, a well-kept corner. It doesn't make demands. It doesn't argue with you. It stays unchanged unless you desire to make a change. Yes, I know. Crazy, right? But, I have few things in my life that I can truly have control over without compromise. For Christmas, Mumsy gave me two 6 foot high bookcases and lovely plastic containers. In the photos to follow you will see my well-kept corner. It make me sigh with calm and peace. As you can see, containers with blue lids contain roving. Most are from Dye Exchanges. Small clear boxes contain handspun yarn. One shelf holds all my issues of Spi...

Doesn't it feel good to start a new year? I don't know why, but my inner Pollyanna revels during this time of the year. It feels like a new start to me. I know, I know...but I AM on medication. This past saturday I attended the first Spinning Saturday event of the year. After the fantastic Sugar Bowl held on Friday, everyone there was just beaming! Way to GO UTES!!! Anyway, one of the conversion we had during spinning saturday was guilt and the moms that programmed us. I told them, "I have a Jewish Mom but she isn't Jewish." And I told them about she has books that tell her how to be a Jewish Mom. They didn't believe me. Here they are ladies. Please notice how dog-earred they are. And I promise they are highlighted and written in for quick reference. I told you she was special. Love ya Mumsy!!

We have been so very blessed this year. In ways too numerous to name. We are grateful for our health and safety and the blessings of family and friends and tolerent neighbors. Mumsy, Taylor and I wish you the very best in the coming new year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Saturday, Mumsy and I made a trip up north. Stopping to visit a friend in Clearfield and to visit "the Kids and babies". We thought since we were around the Ogden area, we decided to visit the Needlepoint Joint for the first time. Can I say, I now know where I want to live when I retire. I think, they have room for me. We had alot of fun there. I picked up three circular needles. One was a 60 inches. I didn't know they made 60 inches. I also found a fun felted Christmas Tree. And I bought the yarn for it and got the pattern free. I had it knitted up by saturday night. So, easy and fast. I threw the tree in the washer. I think it needs to go thru a couple more times, but it is still really cute, i think. Mumsy also surprised me by sending me a very cute planter. Isn't she the best?!!!

I finished the Rivendell Socks, yeah!! It was sooo fun to knit. The pattern is very enjoyable. The only thing that wasn't so fun was the pattern doesn't give much guidance to line up the heel to pattern. So, I had to tweak it a little. I was knitting them for myself but they turned into a Christmas present. I can knit more. It was really fun. Oh, the yarn Kraemer Yarns Little Lehigh Pebbles, Rubber Ducky Lot 13641. I inherited this yarn. Nice and warm, and totally machine washable and dryable. Thanks to my lovely model Maggie.

I forgot I never posted a picture of "Boo the Bat". He is knitted from handspun yarn from my stash. I love bats. Isn't he adorable. I'm sitting here looking out the window, and watching the snow fall and watching the snow ploughs do their thing. I am so grateful for people that are willing to do the heavy lifting.

On my quest to find the most comfortable way (for me) to knit sock, I think I have found a winner! I just finished Columbine Peaks Socks from Cat Bordhi's book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles . I use Berroco Comfort DK, 2 skeins = 356.0 yards (325.5m), Red 2751 dye lot 1064. I started the project in the early part of November, and used most of my Thanksgiving holiday to progress thru the first sock, but the 2nd sock I was able to finish in 4 days. I totally enjoyed this pattern and the yarn was very nice to work with. I am looking forward to my next pair of socks. I think it is time to pull out the Rivendell Sock pattern I bought. I also have reorganized my "office" at home to allow my drum carder, swift and ball winder to be ready for action any time. It is very exciting!! Mumsy and Taylor are exhausted by my unusual flurry of activity. It is nice to start a project and actually finish it.

Our last guild meeting was fantastic! We were visited by Nancy Bush and treated to a history of the Estonia tradition of knitting. She brought all the wonderful patterns she has knitted for she book Knitted Lace of Estonia . She has visited this country about 13 times and bring gloves, socks, and shawls to America to sell for the Estonian knittting ladies. It is a wonderful book with beautiful patterns and some of the history of Estonia. It is a very special thing she has done to help save the traditions of Estonia. Thank you, Nancy, for spending time with us.

Ok, I knitted some socks for one of my sisters. She wore them and discover a run in them. She returned them to me to fix. This is were I need help...How do you fix dropped stitches in at finished sock???? Please respond if you have any helpful ideas! Thanks :-)

Fall cleaning can be every bit as good as Spring cleaning. Mumsy gets these brilliant ideas and they turn into alot of work but they can be fun, too. It started with the declaration "Yarn is our life.", well, let your mind chew on that for a minute. Although, it sounds shallow and trite, it is the beginning of whole new way of thinking. If, "Yarn is our life.", then we need to make room for it and get rid of the things that we do not have need. This means, new containers and boxing this up. Accidently, Mumsy came home with clear containers. Brilliant, because it is so much easier to know what is inside without having to label the containers or open it. Anywho, we spent saturday boxing the un-needed and re-boxing the things we use in clear boxes. We have only dipped our toes in the pool of reorganization. But, we look forward to reaching the other side.

Oh, ya! Witches' Night at Gardner Village. Our Favorite holiday tradition. Shopping and eating and dancing. And Prizes!! This is the kind of men I attract. Cooking lessons Part of our coven. What could have been a very yummy Jack Sparrow, but sadly it was a woman. Lovely do-s! Mumsy with a very friendly owl and the owl's mummy. Stacey and Jeanette, pretty girls. Witches Night at Gardner Village. We had a Wiccan Time!!

(to the tune of Spiderman) Spider Dog, spider Dog, Does whatever a spider dog does... Missy Taylor in her Halloween costume. She really didn't mind wearing it. Too cute not to share.

Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair Photos, finally. Saturday was wet and cold, but busy and fun. Sunday the sun broke through the clouds and gave us a gorgeous day! These are some of the fun thing we had at GBFAF. Happy Greeters! Happy Spinners! Happy Weavers! Fun Things to buy! Massages! Cute Babies! Classes! (the Otterness' teaching in tandem) Lovely T-Shirts to buy! Beautiful Fiber Artwork! Happy Vendors! And Pizza! (thanks Mumsy for fetching) Great event! Plan to attend next year.