i'm back

It has been ages since I last blogged. Life has really gotten in the way. With everything from a visit from my mom to GS trip to hershey park for the weekend and all that goes on in between life has been crazy.

What have I been up to. HMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!

I have gotten a job. I am going to teach a clas at the local craft store. It is my aim to bring the quality of project classes offered a little more up to date. so far they have made dishcloths and swiffer covers and not much else. They offer alot more in the way of crochet classes. so when i went in and asked if they needed a teacher they said bring in your stuff and we will see. After ohhh and ahhing i am assuming this was good they offered me the job. I get to pick what projetcs I teach and when I do the classes . Perfect.. so off i went to find the right project. The only limitation is that all the materials must be able to be purchased in the store.

So i chose socks 2 at a time on 2 needles this i can do with my eyes closed. I found some socks yarn not what I would choose to use but hey ho and made up a sample. They went in this week and I should be able to have the date I want the first week of july. So I am very excited about that.

I have nearly finished the first pair of socks i have made for hubby. They are shades of grey and are done in a chevron pattern to help with pooling of colors. I have finished an adorable shrug/ shortsleeved jacket thing for baby daugnhter in my own handspun. It cam out beautiful and i will have to post pics for all to see.

Today I am off to train adults as camp counselors for GS day camp i am co running in the summer. So i better get ready.

But just wanted to sign in for a few mins and be back blogging i really miss it. lots to catch up on.

pittsburgh knit and crochet

I travelled down to Pittsburgh for the 5th annual knit and crochet festival on the weekend of valentines day.

I had the best time. I took a class in double knitting and despite my concerns about not having takena formal class before all was great.. this technique was not something i had seen before or tried and i came away with some greta knowledge and hope to be able to use it in the future. I think it would be best applied for me with hats for hubby and the kids a nice smooth layer inside for warmth and the fancy bit ont the outside. just have tof igure ot how to cable and decrease in this method.

I also puchased some wonderful things.

I bough a skein of sock yarn from creatively dyed and got to mee t with diane the owner and dyer herself. it is called sea scape and i cannot wait to start knitting this. a great base yarn adn the colors are fab. not to mention dianne gives a very generous 510 yeards per skein of sock yarn.
I also got form her 2 hanks of fiber to spin of a bamboo and merino. very pretty in pinks and purples.
I bought a pound of the softest merino tops for spinning and cannot wait to do this so soft and gorgeous. a pattern for charlotte rose of nonis ella and the garden jacket. i think i am going order the y arn for this this weekend. it is slightly felted and will look lovely for her for the spring.
a skien of sock yarn for simon in many shades of grey.

and the best purchase was a real splurger. a patterna nd yarn to make myself the most lovely jacket i have seen in a long time. it is called the lake placid basket weave jacket. basket weave body with a very intricatre cable border allaround to make the collar closed with a pin. i have about 8 inches done so far and cannot wait to finsih. decadent fibers make thsi yarn and pattern the yarn is called creme brulle and i chose it in a kind of grey and cream colorway. kntis fast as fat yarn and big needles.

pics to follow on that one.

vermont this weekend for our first skiing weekend away. I am taking the wheel fiber and as much kntting as i can pack in my bag. charlie and i get all day to do just as we like and i dont have to clean and do scout things so a real vacation for me lots of spinning and knitting and nothing else. except for quality time with my family.

spinning bunny fiber

I just joined the spinning bunny fiber club high fiber desserts.

I got my first shipment this week. It was a gorgeous color combination of pink and red and white. i chose to spin all the colors together instead of separating layers and this is the wonderful result. I love the combination and differences in colors. it spun like a dream with me almost not having to do anything to it. just be there to guide it in. I plied it 2ply and cannot wait to find the perfect project for it. I think i have about 360 yrds and somewhere betweena sport and a worsted weight.

cannot wait to see what comes next time. i think it should be here for april.

oh and the best bit and i forgot to mention this it comes with a recipe for a dessert that inspired the colors of yarn. this month it was a white chocolate cherry cheesecake and i plan to make it for sunday tea. hope it turns out well have not always had sucess with baked cheesecake in thepast we shall see.

question #4

Question #4 for the warm ewe up winter swap.

What are you plans for valentines day????

my plans this year are to be at a knitting and crochet festival in pittsburgh I should be back saturday night but late so no dinner then. sunday is my beautiful charlotte roses birthday 2 i cannot believe it already, so we will celabrate during the day with presents and cake and fun and then sunday night is just for me and hubby. dinner a glass of wine candles and who knows.........

Knitting this week is going slow have had no time at all to get anything done. Did cast on a pair of new socks but have done nothing more than the cuff. maybe this week and definately whilst i am away.

I really need this break it has been a long cold winter and the kids have been home alot as much as i love them the snow days are taking their toll. lots of yarny goodness is just what i need.
and then home to a great meal and a glass of wine. win win !!!!!!

question #2

This weeks question for the warm ewe up winter swap really had me stumped so I have taken some time to think about it.

The question was If you could only knit with one brnad of yarn what would it be??

I honestly did not know the answer to this. I have thought about it and can come up with no specific type. But, I would be lost with out soft hand painted beautiful sock yarn. I love the many colors and fibers available in this medium and would hate to be without it.

so that is the best answer i have to this quetsion lame i know but thats me.

On another note I recieved a wonderful package from my swap partner this week. She stalked me well and knew just the right things to put in.

I recieved a lovely berry colored skein of Paccapeds which comes with a coordinating heel toe skein. And a gorgeous skein of sea colored lace weight malabrigo, so soft and yummy. cannot wait to use it. I also got a lovely pattern that I have wanted for a while for the Little Pumpkin socks along with matching pie slice stitch markers, so cute. lots of yummy chocs and some pretty knitting note cards.

A huge thankyou swap pal who ever you may be.

I did it I did it!!!!!!~!

Siplau is finally finished, lined and ready to be sent to my MIL. It took a little longer than expected to finish as I really wanted to get my Angelina done for Christmas, which I did so this took a back burner. But I have done it I love it and cannot wait to go on and do the next one.

I was just looking on knit picks and they have a great lap top bag kit in the same kind of work this involves steeking which I have not yet attempted but I think I could do it. The kits look great and mayb e when I get back from Pittsburg knit and crochet festival in february that I might go ahead and order it. This is providing I have not spent all my money there.

Talking of that I am taking my very first knitting class there, I am taking double knitting so I can knit to layers of fabric together. I have been knitting for 20 somethings years and have never taken a formal class so a little nervous about it, what if I am doing it all wrong and have been for forever. I am looking forward to meeting some cool people though. It looks like the group from ravelry is planning on meeting me for dinner when I get there which will be great. Nice to put a face to some names.

warm ewe up swap question #1

why did you learn to knit???????

I learned to knit when i was 12. I used to spend to summers with my elderly aunt and uncle and they had no tv and no kids my age lived in the area. so one evening after i had complained my way through the day. My aunt sat me down and showed me how to knit. She had always had projects on the go and my brother and i had always had sweaters for Christmas. She showed me how to knit and purl and left me to it. by the end of the summer i was away.

it was something i picked up and put down over the years and had of course knitted for the kids but it got to be serious about 4 years ago. and now it is my hobby of choice.