Goals for 2012

I'm not going to go too crazy like I did last year.  And to be honest I've not even started my 12th project for me or my 12th learned knitting technique.  I'm still on vacation so, it may happen.  But I've been inching to post to the blog world my my two itty bitty goals for 2012.

• spin at least 4 ounces of fiber a month
• try and participate in the Tour de Fleece in July

Did I mention all that spinning will be on my two Ashford spindles??  Did I also mention I have a box of fiber that needs some major attention?  It will be a fibery year for me that's for sure.  I will still be making projects here and there.  I have to make my sister and my cousin some cowls that I'm really excited about but the main focus of the year will be my spinning.  I've been just parking and drafting and to help my productivity, I really need to kick it up notch.  

As for the Tour de Fleece, I'm not sure if that's a goal that will be set in stone.  I'm expecting another kiddo in June so who knows where the productivity and determination will be at that point.  

I think the spinning is also going to help me deal with a loss we had recently.  My little kitty had to be put down.  So this post is dedicated to Chips.  You were a crazy kitteh but we loved you! 

Photo by Ammerican Photography

Happy Holidays!

An unexpected, lovely gift from a friend I made this year on Ravelry

And then...

...it was my turn in the studio:

Cowl for a co-worker

Lion Brand pattern - Yorkshire Cowl

Yarn - Loops and Threads-Haze-Roving

Photos by: Ammerican Photography

Photo Shoot

Some of my projects went on a photo shoot the other day....

Shawl from Hell turned Scarf from Hell

Pattern from Lion Brand - Afghan Squared

Pattern on the fly

I think I have a crush on Jill Draper...

Purchase #1 from Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC

Purchase #2 from Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC

Purchase #3 from Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC

 

 

 

Little luxuries...

Thank you to Ammerican Photography for capturing my yarny goodness.

The bend

http://www.nataliedee.com

I am still here and I am still working on the last of the Christmas gifts!  This whole week was spent  fulfilling my civic duty as a juror.  I got picked right from the get go and I'm participating in a civil trial that will last for about two weeks.  The first week just finished and we are at the half way point.  Because I am not used to a full day of work, being part-time and all, I am finding it super difficult to have time to do stuff I want to do even at night when the babe is in bed.  The whole process is mentally draining and it's all I've been thinking about for the last week.  However, I have been managing to get a little crocheting done since my bamboo crochet hook has gone undetected through the doors of the court house.  I am using a pattern I used in the past for a blanket.   It's going to be way smaller and a little more boyish in color.  I already finished another little blanket for my other cousin's son and got bored with the pattern.  Don't get me wrong - it looks nice but the next blanket needed something to keep me interested.  Once that gets done, I'm counting three more projects to go.  Well, two and a half, because half of one is pretty  much done.  

I hope you are making some head way during your holiday crafting!

BFL, WPI, LYS, and Hexipuffs..OMG!

Today, I picked up a few things from my favorite local yarn store, the Yarn Cupboard, with Hazel.  Thankfully,  Hazel seemed to be very into the button containers and I was able to pick out some rainbow-esque blue-faced leicester from the Great Adirondack trunk show.  I also picked up the Beekeeper's Quilt pattern by Tiny Owl Knits along with some double pointed needles and a WPI (wrap per inch) tool kit to measure up the yarn I spin!  Here are the goods:

Let my hexipuff craze BEGIN!

Some BFL from Great Adirondack

The BFL from another angle..

Whooooo???

My last swap

I got sucked into one again.  Good thing I had a little extra cash lying around from my birthday or else I'm sure Michael would've been a tad mad at me.  It was a round robin swap because there was an odd amount of swappers so I sent to my wonderful friend Denise, in Seattle and I received a gift from Heather in Iowa.  Here is what greeted me in the mail yesterday when I got home:

Some nummy gummy bears and chocolate and two skeins of Knit Picks Capra DK in Harbor and six skeins of  Knit Picks Palette in Verdant Heather.  I have been wanting to try Knit Picks in the worst way and thanks to Heather's ESP, I'll be able to! :-)

November for ME!

 I was debating whether or not to keep this yarn I spun for me or not.  Then I realized that I am very attached to it.  So, therefore, it becomes my November for ME!  This is the first time since the beginning of the year that I've been a little ahead here on this goal.  That leaves only one more month and one more thing to make for me.  The fiber is from Spinner's Hill Top and I purchased it at, where else, but the Yarn Cupboard.  I named the color, "Blue Jay Way," after having a particularly Beatle-y day.  This is my second yarn I have ever spun and I am enjoying the thick and thin appearance which wasn't intentional.  I also learned a lot from this fiber.  Such as, since I don't have a wheel to help me ply, that the method of making a center pull ball is the best when you want to make sure you have an even plyed hank without any wonky little balls left over.  Hence the other teeny skein in the background.  I don't want to waste any little bits of singles because I have no clue what I'd do with them.  I don't have a WPI guage yet so if any of you wanted those details - sorry!  But I would consider this a bulky yarn.  I love me some bulky!

Oh and let's not forget this hank wouldn't have been made possible without the help of my lovely birthday present from my husband - a Kromski niddy noddy.

Now?  On to finishing those Christmas gifts!  Tally HOOOOOO!

October for ME!

Something little for me and to quench my Owl Obsession.  This is from Ysolda Teague's hoot! pattern.  It took me the WHOLE month to do the cables.  Luckily, I have very nice friends at spin night at the Yarn Cupboard who have lots o' patience.  Thank you, Julie!

Had to edit to include my learned knitting task of the month and you guessed it; it's cables!