Fellow knitter...

Fellow blogger became a blog of note recently!  Whoohoo, congrats to you!  Now to catch up on all your past posts!

I'm still here!

It's been a while since I posted some words rather than pictures.  First off, so sorry for not posting!  My life is crazy busy with the end of the school year, looming budget cuts and life at home with a pretty baby who has ants in her pants.  No, not walking yet...but she's very close!  I've also been engrossed in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  Just when you thought you read everything there was on the Holocaust...  I'm mostly reading this to help one of our Mexican students better interpret it and mostly because the book has sucked me in and I have to finish it!

In yarn crafting news: I have finished a motif that is currently being used as a coaster on my desk (pics to come).  Unfortunately, I remain two motifs behind, as usual.  I've joined a group on Ravelry called Veni Vidi Vixi as per mon amie Denise and I'll be helping her moderate.  If you're a Ravelry member take a look and see if this group tickles your fancy.  It involves optional fiber swapping and reading some 21st century literature and discussing it.   I have to admit, having Denise ask me to moderate couldn't have come at a better time.  Since little Hazel has been born, I've prioritized yarn crafting over my other past time of reading  so, I plan to give equal time to them both.   I'm also still chugging along on my Wham Bam Thank You, Lamb cowl.  Although I haven't been practicing any new knit stitches this month, I did learn the long tail cast-on from this project, which I'm counting for this month.  I'm also totally in love with this cast-on.  I find it slightly hypnotizing when I watch a video of someone doing it quickly.  Lastly, I am starting a countdown to the next fiber festival I'm going to in the central New York area.  Here's the link with some more information.  Of course, I'm super psyched about it!

14 days 'til Bouckville!

Flea Market Finds

Around town sightings

The good...

 The fab...

 ...and the UGLY!

Mini Swap - What I got

This package smelled LOVELY!!!

Thanks, Whitney!

Some more motifs..

Birthday

Happy first birthday, Hazel!  Mommy loves you even if you like to tangle her yarn and empty the contents of any project bag laying around.  XOXOXO

Charity

These were the three squares I did for the Lion Brand Swap group on Ravelry.  The squares will go to make a blanket to be sent off to Project Night Night.  The theme of the blanket was, colors you would find in a bag of Skittles.  I used Vanna's Choice yarn in Kelley Green and pretty much just winged the squares on my own...  If you're on Ravelry and want to add some squares to the blanket, go for it!  Search for Lion Brand Swaps and start yarn crafting away!

Hampton Artistic Yarns

 My final purchase of the day was at the Hampton Artistic Yarns booth.  As you know, I've been wanting to get a spindle and my goal at this fiber fest was to obtain one.  Rather than just buy a spindle separately, I wanted to get some sort of package deal.  H.A.Y's booth was exactly what I wanted and more.  For $30, I got a hip, reusable bag and inside were the following:

 An Ashford spindle...ummm can you say QUALITY?

 I love it and I would sleep with it every night if I weren't afraid of my cat nibbling on it...

 Some domestic wool to practice with...

...and some Falkland wool to play around with.

What I like about H.A.Y is that included in the bag were also some basic spindle use instructions.  Very cool.  They also included a card with every possible internet social site you can find them on.  Again, very cool.  Heading over to Ravelry now to join their group!

...into the whirled

 ...into the whirled was the first booth we stopped at and I must say, "WOW!"  I loved the packaging of the fiber and the colors were amazing.  I don't use the term 'amazing' to describe just anything.  I got quite a bit of Bluefaced Leicester.  Which according to my research is a good fiber for first time spinners.

I loved these little trial size fiber samples.  For a quarter of an ounce, I can try out new fibers and not feel bad if they don't seem to work out for me.  Wanna see more?  GO HERE NOW!  There's also a group on Ravelry called ...into the whirled and you'll see me there as one of their newest members!

Last knit stitch for April

My other newly learned knit stitch pattern of the month (I swear I finished the mini swatch for it this past Saturday!): alternated smooth stitch and tier!

 What I learned:  use my damn row counter.  I bought it for a reason! :-D

Scarecrow Farm

 

Scarecrow Farm, in Hollowville, New York, is a small family farm that is known for their livestock, vegetables, garlic, jams and preserves, eggs, their own honey, wool yarn, and local crafts.  This was the only booth at Chancelor's Sheep and Wool Festival where I actually bought yarn.  I loved the color and feel.  One of the women at the booth suggested to me that once I'm done knitting up the yarn to soak it in very cold water to smooth out the stitches and make them lay more flat.  My plans for these hanks are to make myself some sort of hand wear for the winter.  I'm thinking fingerless mittens with a flap.  If there is any left over, I was thinking of making a real basic winter hat with a simple rib pattern on the brim.

Another convert?