Today's News

Classes are going very well at Yarn Explosion and I will be working there on a semi permanent basis now for a while. I am excited about it and hope to keep the designing and classes going.

This is my Pendragon Banners Socks, (click on any photo to see larger image)





knit in the Arthur colorway dyed for me by Unplanned Peacock Studios.

After reading The Mists of Avalon, I just had to knit from it, so my Camelot series was born. Natasha is dying my ideas of colors for each character and I am designing a knit for each of the main people in the book. Since the bloodlines were such an important part of the story, the red will be in all of them. This is just the beginning of the quest and I am very excited to be collaborating with Natasha on this project. These socks were knit from the toe up on size 1 needles in the Superwash Merino Fingering.

Also from Unplanned Peacock in the Forest colorway is an idea that came from The Hobbit. "In Mirkwood lives the big spiders."





I am terrified of real spiders but this one is very cute sitting on its web. Knit on size 5 needles with Superwash Merino DK.

There's been a lot of reading going on here as well. I got on the band wagon finally and read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I really did enjoy it and look forward to the next two soon. The best thing that I have read recently, though, is Handling Sin. This was a book with a Southern theme, but anyone that grew up in a large family of fun, goofy aunts and uncles will certainly appreciate its humor. I remember my dads large family getting together every year at least twice and all the food, music, and celebrating! Honestly, it was one of the best books I think I have ever read and I have some more of his books in the que.

Now, for some more very exciting news!!

Guess who I will be going to see in October?

Need a hint?




And one more just for the hell of it!



I can hardly wait!! Love me some Alice!!

Almost February?

This month has flown by and I haven't posted any! Sorry!!!

Hubby left for China on Sunday the 10th and had to come home on the 17th. MIL has been in the hospital since the 9th. We didn't know that it was going to turn into such an ordeal for her. She has since had her left leg amputated and they have discovered leaking valves, extremely low blood pressure, and fluid around her heart. The doctors were able to stop the progression of a second heart attack. She has become confused and nervous and it has been so hard on her and the members of her family that have had to see her this way. We have only missed one day going to see her and it is so draining, physically and mentally. Tonight she almost broke my heart- when someone begs you for help and you can't help, it is just heartrending. Tomorrow they will maybe move her closer to us to begin some therapy and we will have to see how everything else progresses.

Also, I taught 3 classes this month at Yarn Explosion and am planning my next sets of classes. I've enjoyed it enormously!

My plan to read a book a week? Yep, going strong! When Christ and his Saints Slept is a fabulous read and I actually missed it when it was done but the good thing is there are two more books in the series so I can go back to these characters and pick up where I left off! Death in the Stocks is the third Georgette Heyer mystery that I have read and they just keep getting better. I love early 20th century writers! The language and humor are just wonderful! Finished Fer-De-Lance and read the second novel, The League of Frightened Men. Again another early 20th century author and I can't tell you how much I truly enjoyed these mysteries. Nero Wolfe is an eccentric, and his personality is so true to his character. I have already bought several more Rex Stout and can't wait to dive into them! The current book on the nightstand is this one. I'll let you know.

In February I will be receiving something very special and will let you know all about it then! I can hardly wait!

Will have the first pair of socks for personal sock club done by the last day of the month. It's been a close race with everything that has been going on and the preparatory knitting that I have been doing for classes this month as well, but I am pretty sure that I'll get there!

My friend Roseanna and I have been able to catch two matinees this month. We saw Avatar in 3D which was just one of the most awesome things I have ever seen for the animation. Also caught Sherlock. As a huge fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock I had to get past Robert Downeys looks as the master deducer, but he had the personality down to perfection. The fighting and action part was not true to the original stories either, but it was enjoying none the less. We are going to try to catch as many as we can because during the week the matinees are great!

Phew! Just reading back over what I have written made me suddenly feel very tired. I think it is time for that long winters nap!

2010 Here I Come!

These are not resolutions, just plans. I can't commit myself to say resolutions or right away I am resenting that I HAVE to do something. I guess it all goes back to my youth and the antiestablishmentarianism of those times. Whew, that is a helluva word! Said it lots, never typed it, wow!

Anyhoo, I plan to get healthier this year. If a perk of that is weight loss then much the better. My plan is just to eat well and get moving.

I plan to read a book a week, which is not unusual but will continue.

Several people here in blogland have done what they call a personal sock club. Already have mine bagged and ready to go and will have 12 pairs of socks at the end of 2010.

Write more, here and in my journals. Draw more.

Thanks to the commenters, you're all special to me.

Hope your 2010 is treating you well so far. We will all travel it together.

Oh, another plan is to take more pictures for this here blog! ;o}

On The 4th Day

This is day 4 of the snow in. I'm still here and have been living in flannel pjs for 4 days. Don't worry I am taking regular showers, changing underwear daily and have plenty of clean flannel pjs.

Didn't have to work up the courage for the John Deere as my son volunteered to do it for me. He scraped but has never used the tractor before so it still needs to melt out a little, but he has my appreciation and I am sure he did a much better job than I would have.

Actually, a lot has been accomplished during my confinement. The sewing machine was pulled out and book covers made from Laurel Burch fabrics in stash. It is hard to find covers for trade paperbacks or books with more than 400 or so pages. As most of my books tend to be rather large, I decided to take it upon myself to design and sew some myself and I must say they turned out pretty terrific. Laundry is all done and floors are clean. I have gotten some last minute Christmas knitting done, and have enjoyed every evening sitting in my living room watching Christmas shows and seeing the twinkling lights on my tree.

On my nightstand now is The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. I haven't read the Arthurian books in a long time and have found lots of new authors which will be shared with you as I get to them. Most of the Arthurian authors call for this series to be read first and they have built on it. Personally, I don't know where any of them would have been without T.H. White, but that's just my opinion.

Two more days and hubby will be home! Whoohoo!!

It's the Hap Happiest Season of All!

My Christmas tree is up!!

That means Christmas has officially begun. I love Christmas! Love Love Love it!!

One Christmas gift has already been gifted before I came home this time.



Gifted to a friend who is in North Dakota celebrating time with family. The yarn is long discontinued from stash and I found the cute dragonfly brooch at a little shop and thought it just added a nice bit of bling. It is the Glitterspun Slouch hat without the glitter, but I really like it.

Knitting like crazy right now trying to get gifts done!! Stay tuned.

Tomorrow is a charity knit and I will post about that Monday. Note to self, don't forget camera!

Going through photos this morning, came across this one and had to share. My fancy Pedicure from a couple months ago. I think it was around 7 US bucks!



The little flowers were sculpted onto my toes. The girls who do this are so cute and I feel badly because they get paid so little so I force a tip on them. I say force because they really are not used to it and it scares them, but my conscience feels somewhat better when I leave.

Took hubs back to the airport a couple days ago and he is safely across the pole for a couple weeks but will be home for Christmas. I miss him and speaking of him here is the picture of the day.



I have lots of things planned for the New Year and I will let you all in on it as we go along.

Have a great weekend and, if we get the snow they are calling for, be safe and stay warm!

Man Versus Yarn

Hubby has been complaining that my stash is taking over his life. The closet door in the small bedroom won't close and it offends him to see all that yarn! IMAGINE THAT!!!!!

I ask you, is this too much of a mess for a room that is supposed to be my storage room for yarn? As you pass the room this is what you see from the hallway.



This is what you see as you enter the room to the left,





straight ahead, but these doors close and you don't see this,





and to the right.





Turn around and this is the offending closet.





Okay, maybe I admit that the mess in front of the closet could be organized. I will also not mention the trunk of my car that is still full of stuff from the shop that has to be put into this room somewhere.

Still, I ask you, Is this too out of control?

My first finished object of 2009? Clapotis! Yeah, I'm awfully late to this party, but I have to say it was amazingly fun and I will have the pictures as soon as it is blocked.

I'll leave you with a picture from China. A tea room and enjoying a tea ceremony and tasting.



I'll keep you all informed on the battle of the sexes as it unfolds.