Part 2 Issues Plus Fun Pictures of Babies & Knitting

While writing this blog, I have found that I am really not very good at "Part 2".  I have written several entries that I decided to break into separate posts.  As you may have noticed, I rarely get back to finish them up.  This also seems to be the way my mind works nowadays.   It moves from one thing to the next at warp speed and tiny bits are flung off and lost.

I have decided to go back and revisit the posts that are languishing in my draft file. So hopefully within the next few weeks I will catch up with my life & can fill you in on everything.

In the mean time, here are a few random shots of some cuteness & knitting fun!

Miss Lily with another favorite hat.

It is the Fair Isle Gaiter/Hat Combo by Ann Druce-Hoffman.

Super quick & fun to knit.

Liam being his adorable self.

My Helix Scarf byStephenie Gaustad.  This is a very relaxing knit.  I pull it out when I need to knit in times of stress.  It's also a great project for knit groups & knitting in public places as you can never really lose your place.  I am using Ella Rae Lace Merino in color 103 purchased at The Fiber Closet in Rockville, IN.

This is a new yarn I recently purchased.  Florafil Super Soft Cotton Yarn by Textured Yarn Co.,Inc  in their American Wildflowers Collection.  This color is called Blue Flag Iris.  I am not sure what I am going to make with it yet but it is a truly scrumptious bulky cotton yarn.  

It is recommended that you treat this as you would a hand painted yarn and alternate between two skeins every few rows to assure an overall blended effect. 

There is your knitting tip for the day!!

This is a mystery warp on the Cricket Loom by Schacht.  I am just playing around with it and making it up as I go along.  I would love to tell you what the yarn is but I can not find the ball band at the moment.  And.........I can't find the second skein that I need to continue weaving.

Which sort of sums up my life lately!!

A Bright & Shiny New Year

A bright & shiny New Year....the possibilities are endless.

This is why I love the New Year holiday.  2012 could be my absolutely best year ever.  Probably not, but I am the eternal optimist.  Even knowing that things will go wrong,  I will get behind, stressful situations will pop up that I don't deal with in the best way, I will get my feelings hurt, I will hurt someone else's feelings,  I still love the fresh start.

The pessimist I live with always tells me "You just set yourself up for disappointment by believing everything will be wonderful".  I can't help it.  I love to expect the best from myself & others.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

So here is my list of things I am hoping for in 2012.

• Reduce the drama/stress/turmoil in my everyday life
• Keep up with daily chores that I dislike
• Organize the compartments of my life so I don't neglect any particular section
• Be positive

That's it, just those four things.  Seems simple enough, right? So how do I accomplish them? 

• Well, I started with Facebook.  I have tons of friends, acquaintances, business contacts and family on my Facebook friend list.  I have found that just reading about other peoples stress & drama affects my mood quite a bit.  Seems like a simple solution for that....just don't read it.  Easier said than done. So I have been unsubscribing from friends who habitually make these type of posts.  I don't wish to deny them their right to post anything they care to but I also have the right not to have to see it. By unsubscribing I am not deleting anyone from my friends list. They were on there for a reason.  I can still visit with them, check out their pix, play games etc.  I am just not too involved in their daily life. I do love that Facebook allows me to connect with friends & family everyday but I probably don't need to.  I wouldn't dream of calling all my friends & family once a day to find out what's happening in their life.  So my Facebook time will only consist of the parts I want it to contain now.  ps. If we are Facebook friends and you urgently need to contact me......Facebook wall posts are probably not the best way to do that.  Direct message me on Facebook or Twitter, text me, or call me.  (HaHa, You didn't think I would be crazy enough to post my phone number on my blog, did you?)

• On to keeping up with chores.  I have never been a fan of housework.  There are always so many other things I would rather be doing.  So to inspire myself, I have been utilizing the free  FlyLady System.  She offers a series of emails/posts etc that break chores down into 15 minute segments.  I can do anything for 15 minutes, even if I despise it.  She also stresses how de-cluttering can be done quickly & efficiently so you don't get behind.  Hopefully no more "CHAOS" for me. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

• Next is organizing my life better.  I felt like this past year in order to accomplish something in one part of my life, another part suffered.  Now that I have cut back on clutter & am getting my chores done more efficiently ( see how this is all tying together) I should already have more time to devote to other segments of my life.  I have 3 main compartments of life: Household, Family, & Business.  

1. Household can be further broken down into cleaning, cooking, caring for relatives, paying bills, anything that has to be done to make the household run smoothly.
2. Family is quality time spent with all my family.  Time spent just relaxing, visiting, playing without being so focused on everything I have yet to do.
3. Business involves everything to do with my fiber arts business.  It needs to include first & foremost, time spent in the studio without distractions making the actual products to sell.  Followed by dealing with all the lesser parts that together add up to make or break the business.  These include everything such as promotion work, blogging, taxes, paperwork, scouting shows and vending at shows.

Theoretically, since there are 24 hours in a day I should be able to devote 6 hrs each day to a compartment of my life & still have 6 hrs for sleep.  They obviously wouldn't be 6 consecutive hrs (except the sleep part). Now I know everyday is going to be different.  I am not going to need 6 hrs of family time everyday, some will be much shorter and some days (like when the grandchildren are here) will require more.  Likewise I won't need to clean 6 hours everyday but occasionally I will have heavier chores that will require lots of time.  The business part will usually require all the time I can allot to it.  I am still finding my way in this new adventure.  I haven't built up my inventory to an acceptable level and I have so much more to learn about having a successful, creative business.

• The last goal is to BE POSITIVE!!  I normally don't have much trouble being positive.  I wake up every morning expecting my day to go great.  Now many times it certainly doesn't go that way but I think as I achieve the first 3 goals, then staying positive should be much easier.  

These are my goals for 2012.  I believe they are attainable.  I am quite sure I will need to refer back to this post occasionally as a reminder but hey..........

It's a bright & shiny New Year

A New Generation

The next generation of fiber artists and great cooks 

in our family is well on its way.

Wearing her favorite fuzzy needle-felted hat.

Why are these treadles so far away???

Perhaps I should spin instead.

Making the Thanksgiving noodles.

Nana's best helper.



I rest my case!!

Weddings, Doctors, and Family Vacations - Part One

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted!  Where has the time gone??

Well.....In my defense,  it has been an incredible month for our family.

My youngest daughter got married!  It was a lovely, small, intimate wedding with just their children, siblings and parents.  It was beautiful.  My eldest daughter flew in for a whirlwind visit and to be "Maid of Honor" to her sister.  It was an incredibly special weekend for us all.  Here is a picture of the bride wearing a shawl made by Momma after the ceremony.

There will be many more pictures to follow.  I decided to not spend any of my precious time with family taking pictures.  There was a photographer recording the entire day.  I left it up to her and I just enjoyed myself.  However, there are hundreds of pictures to sort through.  Look out folks when I get my disc.  I am sure you will be crying ....Enough!  I am so pleased that the day went perfect for DeeDee & Todd.  We have considered Todd & his boys family for years.......but it is nice for it to "official".

At the end of the weekend, we loaded the entire family up & headed to the airport for a trip to California.  It is important to note that a 2yr old & a 3 month old handle the red-eye flight much, MUCH better than Nana & PopPop. However, we survived the overnight flight & landed at John Wayne Airport early the next morning to be met by Emily & her fiance Chris.  (This is the same eldest daughter that just flew to IL for a 30 hour visit).  We found our rental van.  It is another entire story on how difficult it is to find a minivan with 8 seatbelts! Regardless we were all in Southern California for the next big family event.

Which brings us to......Our daughter....The Doctor!

To be continued...........................

Time Conspiracy, Festivals, Family & Obsessions

I have never thought of myself as a believer in "Conspiracy Theories" but.........IT'S OCTOBER ALREADY!!

There has to be some conspiracy theory out there that explains how it can possibly be October already.  I mean seriously, where did September go? For that matter, did I sleep through the end of August?

I have a serious time shortage if I can't find a way to turn back the calendar.  I have major festival & travel plans for the last two weeks of October. If I work round the clock until then....maybe......Nope, I can not be ready.

The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival is rapidly approaching.  This year it runs October 14 - 23.  It is headquartered in Rockville, Indiana.  Shops that are in Rockville year-round are gearing up for big business and the myriad of vendors will soon be moving in.  The variety of hand-crafted items and delicious food is just amazing.

While you are in the area, you need to visit Bridgeton, IN to check out The Bridgeton 1878 House and all the fabulous crafts & food in that area.  

October 14th, 2011 is " I Love Yarn Day"  sponsored by the  Craft Yarn Council.  Locally we will be celebrating at The Fiber Closet.  Cheryl is hosting a "Yarn-a-bration" celebration.  There will be spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting, etc......and refreshments!  While you are visiting the Covered Bridge Festival, be sure to stop by & visit with all your friends at The Fiber Closet.

I have been busy in the studio this week.  These little felted nesting bowls have been my obsession of late.  I have made several sets of them.  What's your current fiber obsession?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Halloween set

Fall colored bowls

A baby set

Wouldn't these be cute holding cotton balls, Q-tips & such?



A Christmas set or two are on the way.  I have just been having the best time making these!



I will miss the last weekend of the Covered Bridge Festival as I have a family wedding to attend.  Much more about that in an upcoming post.

Then we are taking a family trip to California to attend my eldest daughters'  PhD Defense.  So excited for Emily (aka The NeuroKnitter)....and that we will all be there to help her celebrate.

Well that's it for now as suddenly the yarn is calling my name.  Back to work!


Happy Crafting!!!

I look forward to reading your comments.

Ramblings.....Courtesy of Benadryl

It is the peak time for my allergies right now in the midwest.  Therefore,  I am on medication.  This causes some minor inconveniences to my life such as.....I can't concentrate!!!

As my mind wanders all over the place, I sometimes come up with good ideas.  Such as this example.  I think it turned out well.

And this idea, which doesn't seem to work quite as well as envisioned while under the influence of anti-histamines.  What!  It doesn't look like an up-side down fluted-edge bowl to you.  Hmmm.  Maybe you need some allergy meds too?

Maybe it is a hat for a stone goose?

I also seem to think I am capable of producing a vast quantity of finished products for the "Creative Friends" booth at Neva's.  When in actuality I am moving in super slow motion.  The annual 10-day Covered Bridge Festival is coming up soon.  This gives me a definitive, set in stone deadline to get things done.  I always say I work best under pressure.  This will be a test of that theory, but don't bet on me........because...

I have been a bit distracted by these little creatures.
Have you seen them yet?  They are called "hexi-puffs" and are the invention of Tiny Owl Knits.  Look out folks, once you start knitting them it is difficult to quit. The knitterly world is becoming obsessed with The Bee-Keepers Quilt


By the way, I found my notes on the Hoosier Hills Fiber Arts Festival.  Hopefully, I will have the much delayed post about that up soon.

In the mean time, I wish you a life filled with happiness & art.





  

A Good Life

I was recently fortunate enough to be invited by Brigitte Pieke of Klose Knit in Urbana, IL to attend a "meet & greet" with Stephen West aka WestKnits.

I carpooled with Cheryl Moreo of The Fiber Closet.  We headed of to Urbana for a wonderful fibery excursion.  After a  delicious early meal at The Courier Cafe where they still serve old-fashioned "Green River Phosphates", we moved around the corner to Klose Knit.  This is a truly lovely yarn shop owned by Brigitte.  It is warm, cozy and full of every fiber you could hope to find. Brigitte was a gracious hostess making sure everyone felt welcome and had time for a personal chat with Stephen.

Stephen West is a delightful young man.  His designs are fresh and fun.  You can not help but be cheered by his smile.  It is wonderful to see this designer gaining popularity.  After his recent mention by The Yarn Harlot, I expect his fame to soar in the knitter world..


Hopefully I will soon have a picture or two of items made from his unique patterns.  I am thinking about starting with Loxley, Transatlantic or maybe the Boneyard Shawl just because I love the name. The new book, "WestKnits Book Three" is scheduled for an October release.  Look for it in your local yarn shop.

While at Klose Knit, I also met designer Todd Gocken.  We had a very nice chat about yarns, pattern writing, publishing, sales, etc.  He offered many fine tips.  His "Brigade" sweater and "Norwegian Snowflake" hat and scarf are just beautiful.  Check him out on Ravelry.

On a more personal crafting note,  work continues on the "stealth shawl pattern".  I have projects on 2 looms and several UFO's hanging out around here.  The spinning is coming along.  I actually spun some beautiful yarn from Jacob roving.......for about 2 yards.  Then I was back to thick & thin.  But I am making progress.

Life has been busy here with grandchildren, canning vegetables from the garden, and crafting when possible. 

But, it is good.  Definitely a good life!