Hello Winter!

If you live in the NW I hope you have a lot of layers on. The low today was 14 degrees F. Brrr. But the forecast does call for rain and warmer temperatures by the weekend so there is an end in sight! But I'm sure you didn't stop by to get a weather report. Where have I been? Sitting on the couch for the most part. Well maybe just mentally. It's been a big year for me, my family and Knitted Wit. Next year is going to be even bigger so it's been nice to be a little reflective but also to plot out some plans for the new year.

With no Sock Summit in the near future I've been trying to figure out how to grow the business in other ways. I can't seem to get it together to take pictures and post them on Etsy. Way too time consuming. I've had great shops buying from me this year and I hope I can continue to add to the list in the coming year.

My family is also trying to figure out where to keep Knitted Wit. Currently everything is in the garage. And I mean everything! The business plus all the personal stuff: sports equipment, camping equipment, art supplies, wood working tools, books...The list goes on for miles. In the summer it's not too big of a deal. I can do all my dyeing, drying, re-skeining outside under the carport. In the winter it gets a little too cramped to do much in the garage. We're hoping a storage shed under the carport for Knitted Wit, downsizing a bike (or three) and possible losing a saw contraption will open up the space.

I think in some ways I'm experiencing some growing pains. I work almost full time so trying to figure out how to dedicate enough time to the business to make it successful is hard. I can't be too successful in some ways and start losing hours at a job that pays health insurance. However, this is all going to change in a bit when baby number 2 gets here. Limbo is a tricky place to be.

This blog post probably isn't so much for you as it is for me. I've been mulling in these thoughts for a while. I think getting them out of my head will help. I'll try to be back sooner with something a little more festive!

The Quease

I've been having all my morning sickness in the evening. Super frustrating considering I have a free hour every night but I can't seem to get anything done. I'm doing pretty good today so I thought I'd stop by and say hi. Sadly I don't have much to report.

I have realized that I should do my spinning in the morning after I drop e off at daycare. I have a few minutes before I have to leave for work and I usually feel pretty good. So that's the plan for tomorrow. Then maybe I'll have something to report!

For now I'll leave you with some photos of life lately

Helen's baby blanket that knit night made her. I did the dyeing of the yarn, a great group project. Thanks ladies!

e at the pumpkin patch. He was standing on a giant tower of hay. He's pretty beautiful if I do say so myself!

Last weekend we went to Oma's house up in Welches. There were puppies, geese, bunnies and a nice fall walk.

I need to be doing more of this! It's hard to move the dye studio inside after a great summer under the carport.

Excuses

So it's been forever since my last post and I have a lot of excuses

*I got my new spinning wheel! I had a lot of fun breaking it in. I have three bobbins that need to get plied. And a huge pile that still needs to get spun up

*I'm pregnant. !! A bit of a surprise. I'm not very far along, 8 weeks, and feeling quite queasy. So next summer life will be quite busy.
*My car broke down over a weekend, easy fix. Phew!
*My yarn can now be found at WoolGirl I had so much fun hanging out with Jennifer when she picked out the yarn.
*I now work four days a week. Adding that extra day really takes a lot out of my free time!
*I've been busy behind the scenes making this for a dear friend. Now that it's over I have a little extra time in the evening. Hopefully I'll be showing up here more! Sorry I don't have a finished picture, it's still on the camera!

I'll try not to go so long between posts, but there are no guarantees!

OFFF and the great catch up

So the week leading up to Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival was busy. I found out Friday before that I would be receiving a box of Bling to dye up on the following Wednesday. Had to be dried and labeled by Friday. Add to the chaos finding the most perfect Knitted Wit mobile. But I just realized this is old news. On to OFFF.

The weather was amazing both days. Such a great way to wrap up fall. Both days had a great pace with customers and friends. I was able to get in all the shopping I needed! Business wise it felt like I was established. I don't feel like I have the words to describe the event. I think a lot of people felt this way about Sock Summit. The only sad news is that my spinning wheel isn't here yet. However this is really for the best. I have a lot to do in the next week, which hopefully is all I have to wait. I bought a ton of wool plus the stash I already own, I need to spin!

I did purchase a spindle at the urging of Michele, which really wasn't much urging! But there is no way I'll be busting through stash on it. But it is a nice calming moment to pick it up and spin a little.

I bought a little fleece, just a 1/3 or a merino sheep. I bought it from a lady in the barn, she shears. It was a little over cooked on the sheep but is washing out just fine. I'm taking pictures of the whole process to show you next time. It's pretty amazing how much gunk washes out! The fleece was a small investment and seemed like a reasonable challenge to tackle. I'm really excited to break out the drum carder and put it to use!

I don't want to put a million pictures up so I'll let you look at the rest of the set. You'll see the stories! If you attended the event I hope you had as much fun as I did. I'll see you next year OFFF!

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

A very generous friend helped me set up my booth today. And boy does the booth look good! I'm in the same location as last year. I'm across from the bathrooms out side on the lawn. If you're standing in line for food turn around and you'll see my booth! I'm really proud of how the booth looks, lots of beautiful yarn and fiber. There are a few things I want to hide under the table!

After setting up Michele and I took a spin around to see some shops. Most people were already closed up but we were able to chat with a few friends. And of course I bought some fiber. I bought from this lady at the Abernathy Grange Sale in March and love the colors. She only had a few bundles so I'm glad I got first dibs! I'm really excited about this weekend. It's so fun to see familiar faces. And don't forget the critters! While we were setting up we listened to the baaaing and maaaing of the critters. So sweet. I'll try to sneak away from the booth and get some pictures. I think e's going to really like the animals. Well, I hope anyways since I want to be a farmer when I grow up !

I went to find a picture of my booth from last year but couldn't on this computer. I did find this though! What a sweet little boy!

Happy Equinox

So, it's been a while. Sorry about that. I think after sock summit I needed some nights off. And e sleeps in his crib, all night. So I can't use the computer (the main one) in his room. But I'm sure you'll understand it's more important that he sleeps than I blog!! I think after OFFF life will be rearranged a little and we'll sink into a fall routine. One can hope anyways. One improvement around here is my new set of wheels! This is not the one I bought, but just like it. You would be amazed at how much yarn and fiber fit in there! Now I can drive Knitted Wit around and e!

Here's a quick reminder of what's going to happen at OFFF:
I'm going to have a seconds bin with merino that aren't up to par, they'll be half off. Four ounces of wool for $7!!! I'll also have a discontinued bin with corriedale, shetland and select BFL. $10 a braid, regularly $14. Pretty exciting.

My new little idea is Create Your Own Colorway. One ounce balls of color for you to mix and match to create what you want. Spin it, felt it, create with it. $3 a ball. If you spin up a colorway you're crazy about send me a pic and I'll start dyeing it. You can even name it. I dyed all the colors today and they are rich. I'm so excited to see what people create. This idea has come from moms asking me for wool to do felting projects with their kiddos. So excited to do that with e one day.

AND!!! Bling yarn will be available! Merino, Silk, Nylon and Silver. That's right, silver. I'm going to focus on dyeing the Bling in solid colors because it seems to get used as shawls for the most part. I will do a few variegated ones, Peacock, Ladies that Lunch, Umpqua Valley, maybe a few more favorites. You may have heard that the yarn was having production problems, but they are ironed out. I'm very excited about debuting Bling at OFFF. If you have a request for a solid or variegated color way let me know.

So there are a few things going on behind the scenes here. A few new places to find Knitted Wit yarn, a few (too many) projects on the needles, and a new spinning wheel that is almost here. You know what else is keeping me busy is e. This picture is right after his first hair cut. I still miss his curls but not all the tangles! What a cutie. Lately he's been snuggling with me and not just nursing. He's not been known to sit still for anything! He's also saying please and thank you. Well, Pea and Anku. He also likes to test me when I say no. He looks me square in the eye and tries again. Nothing like a healthy toddler. Still on the family front, E is doing well too. He's added food to his diet and feels strong. That seems like a simple little statement, but in the 8 years we've been together he's only eliminated food. So life is feeling pretty grand.

I hope you are able to make it to OFFF if you live in the area. Stop by and say hi, it's great seeing people!

Spin Your Stash

I started a group on Ravelry, Spin Your Stash. If you're a member (if you're not, why not?!) join us. I'm working on spinning my stash from the start of the fall equinox to the spring equinox. That way I'll have room in the bin for more fiber when all the shows start in the spring. I got all my fiber out this afternoon and took some pictures. I feel very inspired to get going on this project. I was also reminded of a few dyers that I love and who will be at OFFF!

Speaking of OFFF, there are going to be some specials! I'm going to have a seconds bin with merino that aren't up to par, they'll be half off. Four ounces of wool for $7!!! I'll also have a discontinued bin with corriedale, shetland and select BFL. $10 a braid, regularly $14. Pretty exciting.

My new little idea is Create Your Own Colorway. One ounce balls of color for you to mix and match to create what you want. Spin it, felt it, create with it. $3 a ball. If you spin up a colorway you're crazy about send me a pic and I'll start dyeing it. You can even name it. I dyed all the colors today and they are rich. I'm so excited to see what people create. This idea has come from moms asking me for wool to do felting projects with their kiddos. So excited to do that with e one day.

I'll snap some pics in the morning of all the fiber drying. I won't know my booth location at OFFF until the friday we set up. As soon as I know I'll post it here and on Ravelry. I only dyed up 4 one ounce balls per color, so get to the booth early for best selection!