Dear Bloggy

How I miss you.  I'm sad I haven't been able to post more often.  Life is quickly moving and I'm in a constant jog to stay on top of it.  But at least we are happy and healthy a majority of the time!  I don't have photos, links or much craft, I just wanted to stop by and say that I've been thinking about this space.  All my cable projects are in time out right now.  I can't seem to focus very well with all the crossings.  So I started a new project, surprise.  I started the hemlock ring blankie from Brooklyn Tweed.  Google him.  Great knitter.  That's all I got.  I have to go to sleep now.

all cables all the time

I might have gotten slightly distracted from e's cable sweater.  I replaced it with another cable. Michele talked me into making the sweater piece I was making into a pillow.  It didn't take much convincing!  I was feeling like I would never get the sweater done in time, but this way I can still have this beautiful piece, finish at my leisure (ha!) and e will have a sweet little keepsake.  So, what am I cabling now?

I first spotted this on Radiant Twist's blog.  I had to cast on right away!  So I dug in the stash of Knitted Wit and found Stolen Easter Basket in sport weight.  This picture shows the color more accurately.  

I'm trying to have some examples for future shows and this is working perfectly.  It's going really fast which helps with any knit!  I've just started the cable portion.  I would have kept going but I wanted to catch up a little here!  e is taking an amazingly long nap so I thought I would use it wisely.  There hasn't been much sleep around here lately.  

About a week ago Daisy and I finally had a chance to sew up stockings.  They were packed with goodies in Salem and sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

It was started by a Marine Mom and the program grows every year.  It was quite easy and quick and of course felt good to give.  We assembly lined the project with Daisy cutting, me sewing, then adding the trim.  

I think other crafty things have occurred but the brain is mushy.  Daisy and I have plotted out the month of December to get our craft on to prepare for the holidays.  Lots of baked goods are happening this year, which is always a favorite of mine to receive!  

e is now up and I can't remember anything else I was going to blog about.  But we're a little caught up.  Hopefully I'll be here again soon.

Shhh...

The baby who won't sleep is actually sleeping.  I trying to take advantage of the free hands and brain so I won't be long.  I'm going to be posting a bunch of fiber to the store... as long as he's asleep.  Tomorrow I'm planning a yarn shoot and I'll start posting a ton of fingering weight yarn to the shop too.

We are starting a new tradition around here.  Craft Sunday.  Daisy will be over shortly to make stockings for Marines oversea.  I don't know where she heard about this but I'll post some pics and linkys when the day is over.  Hope your Sunday is crafty!

and the winner is...

All of us!!  Yea Obama!  But the winner of the contest is... Michele!  Too funny.  Thanks to all you for sharing your voting day stories.  We went to the library to drop off ours in the box.  e woke up just in time, right when the library was opening.  I told E that I wanted a picture and he was pretty reluctant.  That's why it's a crappy shot.  He was a little embarrassed that I made him take a picture of us voting.  But it's a big deal to me and I'm proud of it!  Okay, another lack of photo, I can't seem to get it from the phone to my email.  Dang it!  Michele let me know what you want!  Yarn, handspun?  

Life is coming at us fast.  E's schedule is getting mixed around (small scandal is the reason, not involving E, but affecting him), I'm adding a day to my work schedule and e popped another tooth!  Geesh.  It's hard looking at all the things I want to do sitting on my desk and I can't play with.  I was able to wash my hanspun which is nice to cross off the list.  I could babble on about the things I'm not getting to.  

Lets talk about the positive things.  We have a new president!  I didn't even know I was that upset about the current political situation until it changed.  Breathing became easier.  It seems to be a common thread I've read on many blogs.  

I'll try to get back here sunday with a picture of current life.  Here's e trying to put life in his mouth.  A few days later I noticed a tooth!  Explains a lot!

checking to-do's off the list

I had a lovely play date with Daisy yesterday.  e hung out in the laundry basket and had a play date with his toys.  I made a necklace, Daisy made some earrings.  I have some motivation to make a few more things.  I feel anxious when I have all these crafting supplies and nothing done with it.  

We filled out our ballots and sealed our envelopes.  We'll drop them off at the library tomorrow with e and E.  I think it is so important to teach e the importance of participating in elections.  E was telling me about some of his coworkers who have never voted and don't see the value in doing it.  grrr.  The trip to the library will also be a first for e.  We read books that we have here at home, but we've never checked any out with him.  The possibilities are endless.  

Since the last post we've all had some kind of cold.  I'm functioning but not joyfully.  e I think has recovered for the most part, he was the happiest thru the whole thing.  E is suffering from a sore throat, the man who never gets sick even when I have had mono!  Not to mention that Jake is still sick.  That is the state of affairs in the Kelley house.

I have gotten a ton of spinning done.  I think this is my fall back when I get stressed.  The wheel is a good place to go.  I have six skeins to wash up for posting.  I also have a ton of yarn and fiber to post.  The list is long.  Enter Henna Mae the amazing baby sitter.  She hasn't baby sat since before OFFF.  I can't wait.  She has a genuine love for e and he really likes her too.  I get to hang around and get things done and nurse when I'm needed.  It's a pretty good life.  So on to make the list of to-do's while she's here. 

Thank you so much for your voting stories!  There is still time to leave a comment about your voting experience, or just telling me that you voted.  The prize is fiber, yarn or handspun.  Whatever floats your boat.  Comment by Nov 5th and I'll announce the winner shortly after.

Remember, we're voting for the future!

A Little Contest

I know I don't have a ton of readers so I will most likely hand deliver the prize to a friend, but I want to encourage people to vote.  I don't care who you vote for, (really I do) I just want you to vote.  So leave me a comment between now and November 5th telling me voted and I'll enter you into the drawing.  The prize will be winner's choice.  What floats your boat?  Handspun?  Fiber to spin or felt?  Some fingering yarn for socks, mittens or lace?  Let me know.  Here in Oregon we have a mail in vote.  When I was in college I voted absentee so I could vote for my god dad to win city council, which he did.  I've never had the chance to wait in line and go into the little booth.  In a lot of ways I feel lucky to not have to wait or be told I have limited time/chance to cast my vote. But I feel like I'm missing out on a step.  Anyways, we'll be voting soon and dropping the ballots of at the library.  I want to make it a family event and have a picture with e and E.  E isn't super cooperative about photo ops so I'll have to due some convincing.  

On to other news.  I'm working on carrying a new line of fiber.  I'm excited to try out some new things.  I'm also searching for some yarn stores to carry both my yarn and fiber.  I have an idea of what I want to send out to the shops as a preview but I've been having a hard time finding time.  e is so active and is awake for longer periods of time while sleeping less.  This makes me a little crazy and slightly unproductive.  But I have a sitter lined up next week for an afternoon and that is something to look forward to.  I was able to get some spinning in the other day.  It felt incredible to finish all four ounces.  I really like the singles, kind of a sport weight, maybe worsted after it's washed.  I just realized I forgot to take a picture of the leg warmers (secretly wrist warmers for me!) I knit for e out of some handspun.  I love the way they feel.  I'm craving more knits out of my yarn!  The leg warmers distracted me slightly from the cable sweater but I'm probably half way up the back.  I'm slightly regretting not doing the sweater in the round, but that would have required more fore thought (is that a term?) and I just wanted to knit. 

While I don't have pictures of any current projects I do have one of e, of course.

Don't forget the contest, vote early and tell me about your experience! 

Look Ma!

No cable needle!  Not only is it my first cable project, but I'm not even using a cable needle! Thanks to Michele!!  I'm using a pattern from Knitting for Baby.  The aran pullover is too cute to resist.  I've been able to get a lot done in the last week or so.  Surprising since e doesn't get the concept of napping anymore.   

Being away from the blog I felt like I had tons to write about, but now that I'm here...my mind goes blank.  I just read about this and grieved for a family.  I can't imagine.  Some times I can when E is feeling well.  I don't believe his disease will kill him any day soon, but the long term out look feels dark sometimes.  But the polly anna in me turns around and looks at the brighter side of life.  e is healthy, growing and happy.  That's a pretty good life.  

On the spinning front I'm still working on finishing plying the bobbins.  I'm on my last one and I'm itchy to get started on another project.  I have so many fibers to choose from I can't wait!

On the Knitted Wit front things are a little stalled.  I've been posting new treats in etsy which is always good.  I'm about to start offering new products once I place an order with a new company.  Some draw backs are I haven't dyed anything in a month, and I'm on the waiting list for the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat.  It's great to be considered but it takes a lot of planning to get ready for a show.  Especially with e.  So, I don't know if I should wait to do this show next year (if I can get in) and focus on other things.  Like BSG, Sock Summit, Knit-Crochet Show, OFFF and Soar.  All those things sound like they could keep me plenty busy!  

e is in his little scooch chair (his wheels) and he just discovered an electric outlet that he can't figure out how to touch.  Time to baby proof I think!  

 A dear friend gave us another amazing hat.  The photo shoot was a little tough because he's so wiggly.  Expect to see more pics of this hat!  Thanks Sarah!  I can't remember if I posted the first hat.  Can you believe how much he's grown!

I think I've rambled enough.  

The Best Laid Plans

Yesterday I sat down and wrote out all the little errands I needed to get done today.  I was lucky to have grandma over baby sitting so I actually could finish a few thoughts!  I was pretty excited to cross off all the little chores... Then this morning I realized it's Columbus Day.  No mail today. Also, no Canadian correspondence.  It's Thanksgiving there.  Well, shoot.  There are plenty of other things to do around the house.  

I've been plying up old bobbins that have been sitting around.  My wheel is right next to my desk so I just ply a minute here and there.  I'm on my last bobbin so it's been working.  I hope it will work for plain old spinning too.  And on the spinning front, there's been a lot of talk on ravelry about creating a portland spinning group.  I look forward to this!

I've started a wee sweater for e.  Aran Pullover, from Knitting for Baby.  Very cute and I've already made a ton of mistakes!  But I've worked them all out so far.  I'm using yarn I picked up at OFFF and I love it.  I'm having a hard time not just plopping down on the couch and avoiding all chores to make this sweater.  I also got a little tutorial from Michele at knit night on cable jumping.  Pretty handy.  I don't have a picture of the sweater in progress so maybe I'll find one of e.

I'm slowly adding more product to the store, so if you missed buying at OFFF you can find it here. I'm off to rescue a baby that won't nap!  I hope your Monday is as productive as mine!

The Big Day

So I've been thinking of this day since I probably knew I was pregnant.  I'm going back to work tomorrow.  This all feels a little more dramatic than it is because I've had some practice days.  No more training wheels.  I am going back just two days a week so it's not major.  The big point I keep reminding my self is that we're all going to survive, I need some space, and E and e need to relate.  I think E will come out with some confidence and I won't be so quick to intervene and fix. I also feel like I'm adding one more ball to the juggling mess I have going on.  My desk is a reck, I still haven't shown you the treats I picked up at OFFF and the list of to-do's keeps growing.  On the other hand, I've talked with a single friend and a mother of two teenagers and they're all busy. I'm not the only.  It's comforting.

I need to hustle, the debate starts in a few minutes and I still need to figure out what I'm going to knit on the bus ride to work tomorrow!

Time Flies

So I can't believe a whole week has gone by sense OFFF.  e and I had a great time seeing so many familiar faces and meeting bloggers for the first time.  We've been spotted all around the internet. There were a lot of people taking pictures of the booth but I wasn't able to ask all of them who they were or where the pics would be showing up.  If you stopped by say hi again!  There were a few people I missed seeing and some people couldn't even find me!  I'm hoping for a better location next year. 

I had a lot of great feedback on the booth and products and it felt like I solidified where I'm going with Knitted Wit and what some goals are.  I really want to thank Tactile for being so friendly and helpful with info.  I don't think it could ever be said enough, how generous the fiber community is.  

Sense OFFF we've gone to the beach for some r&r with the in-laws.  It was a great trip that went too fast.  e is growing leaps and bounds and seems to be on the brink of something new. He's trying anyways!  Now that we're back I have a lot of work to catch up on and get the family ready for me heading back to my day job.  Yikes!  I'm hoping to get a lot of wool in the shop, I have plenty left over from OFFF to last a little while.  So, hopefully a photo session in my near future and I'll post here when the update happens.  I'm off to enjoy the last few moments of e's nap.  

A little side note.  Does anybody have an apple peeler/slicer thingy?  We want to make apple sauce and dehydrate them for xmas gifts/e food.  We would love to borrow yours if it's not in use.

Day One

Wow, OFFF is going great!  What a day.  It started off on the cold side but the sun popped up and it was beautiful.  I had a hard time staying put but I've stuck to my buying plan so far.  I might slip a little tomorrow if I stop at dicentra.  We'll see.  e had a great time and even managed a few naps. It was great seeing michele and some other visitors.  I'm terrible for no linkys and pics, but when we get back from the beach I think I'll have it together for a full report.  There are some major plans underway for Knitted Wit's future!

almost there

Thank goodness for smiling babies!  e is being such a trooper with my dyeing shenanigans.  Here is the rack drying after a marathon dye day over the last weekend.  I've been desperately trying to reskein everything for this weekend.  I haven't quite met my goal.  I'm okay with that though.  Lots of deep breaths.
Here is a sneak peak at the booth set up.  It's totally different now that I'm there.  I have a corner booth so things had to move around.  If you are going to OFFF I'm across from the bathrooms by the kettle corn.  I can hardly sleep.  Which is what I need to do right now.  I'm going to try and take lots of pics but be patient, I might not post for a few days!

bad blogger

I can't believe a week has already gone by!  I have been going like crazy trying to get ready for offf. Throw in a birthday party for E and working a real job the week evaporated!  On Wednesday we'll be doing a dress rehearsal for the booth.  Making sure to dot the t's cross the i's.  That sort of thing.  I'm very excited to tell you that I'll be accepting credit cards too!  I'm on my way out to run a few more errands on the ever growing list!

I'll be back Wednesday with pics!

What a Weekend!

Wow!  I'm glad to be home with e taking a nap!  We've been busy.  Early Saturday morning a friend arrived at the house from the airport with her mom.  They crashed out for a while after taking the red eye to pdx.  e decided to crash out too, not fair being the only one awake!  After everybody was fed we headed over to Green Sprouts Organic Baby Festival.  I had a great time checking out all the latest and greatest gadgets for raising a green baby.  I was able to find a diaper I want to invest in for using.  I've done a lot of research and this seams to have all the components I'm looking for, but we still need to test drive them.  Not to mention that some grandma's were at the festival!  What a great day.  Beautiful weather to make the whole thing perfect.  

Then this morning we sang happy birthday to E and got ready to go to the knit/crochet show here in town.  This was a little painful on the pocket book, but really relaxing.  I'm contemplating having a booth there next year so this was a little research and development excursion.  (I can justify just about any yarn purchase!)  I did find some treasures and ran into some nice people and bloggers.  Everybody is so sweet to e, it takes some pressure off the entertaining part for me!  Northwest Wool was there and I was able to score some more of Sandy's fibers and she told me she would have the last scraps out in the store on wednesday, but you can't go an buy it before me!  I get first dibs!  

I also happened to fall in to the sock club that I'm dyeing for.  It seems a little silly to buy into it but I'm really excited to own my color way and to see it all packaged together!  I'm really proud to be participating.  The first month was dyed by Koigu, and you can't go wrong with them.  

In the side of the photo (there's no photo because they refused to load.  Sorry!) are some braids that I bought from Yummy Yarn.  I can't wait to spin these up!  I'm planning on getting one more (maybe two) bobbins from WooLee Winders and a lazy kate at OFFF.  I think that will make plying more managable.  Gosh I'm excited about the next two weeks!  I'm a little anxious about the weather.  It's been absolutely amazing and I hope it lasts through OFFF.  

I hope your weekend was just as enjoyable, why don't you tell me about it?!

Back in Business

I thought that was a clever title to go with a picture I just realized I didn't take.  Dang it!  Here's all the ways I'm back in business:

1.  My order from Louet will arrive in time for me to dye for OFFF.

2.  While Louet had most the items on back order, Helen is letting me raid her stash of to-dye items!

3.  Michele showed me how to pick up the stitches on my blanket (that's the picture I was going to show you!) so I've been doing a row here and there.  I feel a little guilty that I should be knitting for the booth but you do what you can!

4.  Today was my first day back at work or should I say job.  I have a lot of emotions about this.  Mainly I feel lucky that I was able to stay home with him for so long!  E did great with e, there was plenty of milk in the fridge and I only cried two tears when they left me at work.  

The love of my life just woke up hungry!  It's a pretty big day around here.  Getting over this mile stone of going back to work feels like a big weight lifted.  

Gotta run.  next, a report from the knit/crochet show.  Sorry no linkage.

Betty, thanks for the love letter!  It was the perfect thing to come home to tonight!  i heart you!

shhh, he's sleeping

Sorry it's been so quite around here.  I've been a little busy with a teething baby.  We're still at two teeth but his gums are really soft.  We've been slowly figuring out his night schedule.  Nothing like taking a moment to listen to your child.  I felt like such a dumb-dumb.  In the midst of all this I go to work the next two fridays.  Kind of dipping my toes in the water.  I've been a little nervous but E and e are going to do great.  And they can always come visit me if they need to!  I love the flexible job! 

Speaking of work.  I worked my little tush off yesterday!  I dyed about 25 pounds of wool.  That is a personal record.  I had two rounds of babysitters and e did great for everybody.  Mild fussiness with poor napping, but still happy all around.  I think the fiber and yarn turned out pretty good too.  I'm hoping for one more major dye day when I get my shipment of wool.  Cross your fingers it gets here in time.  I'm a little nervous it's going to get here to late for OFFF, but at least I'll have stuff here to dye either way.  I'm sure I have enough to make the booth look nice, but I want to have a big enough selection for everybody. 

We continued to paint the display pieces, I love how the colors turned out.  E has also been airbrushing the bags and they look fantastic.  Not too homemade, but still stylish and funky! I'm so excited to put the whole booth together.

Helen made this little jumper and it is so sweet!  We had a very hard time getting a picture of e with out him wiggling so much!  I think he's looking at the dog.  He giggles when ever he sees Jake, it's pretty cute!  He's taking a nap now and I think I only have a few more minutes before he awakes and the grandmas arrive!  More pics to come of all the dyed wool!

Some Progress

I use a great display board, you might have noticed it in the picture from the market, a painted peg board that's framed.  Well I needed a few more of those for OFFF.  So we got the fixin's to make more.  e was a fantastic supervisor!  He likes to oversee major projects like these.  And Betty, there I am with him!  We're getting closer to having e and me in a picture!  Have I told you he has two teeth now?  That's right, two!  He'll be four months old a week from today!

One more coat of paint will finish up the task.  A few things are left on the list for making the booth shine.  I'm planning on putting the booth up at home to give it a run and move things around.  You'll get to see some preview shots here!  I can't wait to show you all the ideas I have!

I was able to get some dyeing done yesterday, I thought I'd work on labor day!  I'm really happy with how the fiber turned out.  It's hard to go back and forth between the fiber and yarn.  Yarn can be treated pretty hard, while the fiber is fragile.  But I don't think anything felted and the fiber is uber fluffy!  

I have to tell you a sad story now.  I was trying to buy a bunch of roving from an etsy seller and somebody else beat me to it!  Grrr.  I know it's not that sad, but it is a little.  

The market went great by the way!  I had lots of visitors, sold some of my favorite things, and great friends checked in!   Things to look forward to next time: more dyeing!, hopefully printed bags, and I'm sure a cute picture of e!

You can never have enough...

Bags!  I couldn't say no to this cute sheep bag, especially since it was 1/2 off!  Sorry it's a little blurry.  As I eluded to last time, we've been working on a project here.  I was thinking about the booth at OFFF and how people will be buying (hopefully!) lots of things and needing a bag to put their new treasures in.  I'm a fan of reusable bags, another reason I couldn't say no to the sheep bag.  So I got some organic, fair trade bags

And Eric came up with a stencel.  The design matches my new labels.  Did I ever show you those?  I think I solved the problem with uploading photos so maybe I should get to that. Anyways, the design:

I'm sure you can use your imagination to picture the design on the bag.  We still have some kinks to work out with the stencil, but very promising!  

So if you want to get one for your self you can come to OFFF or you can buy one at the shop! (as soon as they are there!)  The bags are priced at $3.50 each or FREE!  with a $35 purchase.  

If you are free tomorrow and in the Portland area you can see this

We'll be selling from 10-2 at 76th and Stark across from Mr Plywood!

There's a crying baby so if I left anything out tell me and I'll post next time.

Slightly Rested

See Betty, I'm in a picture!

Vacation is never really a vacation anymore.  Having a baby sort of detracts from rest.  But totally worth every second!  e has a tooth!  On friday it finally popped through.  I think more are close behind.  He did pretty good for having a tooth come in.  I've also learned the importance of a nap. Enough about baby though!

I started knitting!  Ahh.  I'm knitting my first color work piece too.  Endpaper Mitts (Ravelry link) I think they are looking pretty good.

You can see the new office space in the background!  A little messy, but an improvement.

I'm probably knitting too loose to air on the side of caution.  But I also didn't have the right needle size to make the size that would fit me.  I think it all works.  I've done one full repeat of the pattern and have started the second, I'm not sure what I think of the colors I chose.

I might reverse it on the next mitt to see if the pattern shows up better.  I almost wonder if I messed up the pattern because it's not coming through very consistent.  I was knitting this while on the train with my mom and e.  Trying to hold a conversation and make sure e was adequately entertained!  We'll see what the next pattern repeat reveals.  I decided to knit these as samples for the booth at OFFF.  Now that I'm back I feel like I need to dye everyday to get it all done!  I need to call my baby sitters!  

More to come later about the trip, e is now international, and about a treat that will be at OFFF!  E's working on somethings that will be in the booth!

busy busy busy...

As a bee!  We're gearing up for a trip to Blaine for a family visit.  It's also my ten year reunion.  So many things to say about that but I'm sure you can imagine all the emotions that go with it. We're taking the train up and down which will be quite an adventure.  E will be staying home and working so we'll miss him quite a bit.

Other things keeping me busy is Knitted Wit.  I've slowly been posting things which is fun.  Etsy has gotten a lot faster for posting, it's nice not to sit here waiting for things to load!  I'm also gearing up for the sock club.  Quite the tall order, but looking forward to the exposure.  

I'm really enjoying the little office set up I have going on, I promise I'll take a picture to show you. Pretty modern.  All that HGTV paid off!  

I'm worn out so this might be my last post until we're back from Blaine.  I hope you are enjoying the last bits of summer!

Baby it's hot!

I am melting...yuck.  Well the camping trip was a bust.  The camp ground we wanted to stay at didn't have running water, neither did the back up option.  We didn't bring out filter to use for the river running by so we left the area and went to a camp ground that was a little fancier.  We then realized that we forgot E's medicine so we needed to get back as early as possible so he could take it.  Then on our way home I wanted to stop at some kind of farm since we were on the Fruit Loop but none of the farms were open.  GRRRR.  The positives (which I'm really trying to focus on) are we realized how to pack better and what we really need to remember.  e didn't really enjoy so much time in the car seat but trooped through it pretty well.  

Another positive of coming back early was redoing the craft/e room.  I got some new furniture via craigslist and ikea.  What a difference.  No photos because I'm still organizing and there's some bags of junk laying around.  But I'm stuck home due to the heat so I keep chugging away on it.  I'm also hoping to photograph some yarn and wool for the shop.  Now that I know how to use the camera a little better I think the pics will look nicer.  

It's also been nice getting some quality time with e.  I think we're going through a little growth spurt/teeth/major motor skill changes.  He is now rolling onto his tummy, getting his right arm stuck and moving his legs like he's trying to crawl.  That's a lot to accomplish in one move!  

I think I fixed the comment bug Shannon if you want to try again.  If not, will you tell me?  I'm also going to try putting some pics up to see how long it takes to load.  I'm going to try them smaller and you can clickety-click-click to make them bigger.

Aww, we have pictures!  These are the ones I was going to put up a week or two ago.  These are all going to be available at Twisted and in the shop once the photos are taken.  I really like how these turned out.  Perfect for socks, lace, mittens, whatever you dream up.  I've also been thinking about making pairs of colors for mittens that were featured in the fall Vogue issue. There area number of mitten patters out there using color work.  If you are interested let me know.  I like mixing up nutty colors.  I'm off to soak in some cold water.

What day is it?

Time is flying by and I can't seem to make sense of it!  Today we (e and I) sold yarn and roving at the market!  I've been pretty busy getting ready for that and over all, getting ready for OFFF.  And tomorrow we are off camping.  This is probably the last time we'll go this summer and E is making a three day weekend out of it.  The big family vacation!  Wee.   In years past we usually take a week off and go on a little road trip.  Two years ago we drove the whole Oregon coast, from Astoria to Brookings.  Beautiful.  This year I think we're headed to the gorge and going to Hood River.  Then south a little, but hitting the Fruit Loop before setting up camp.  E is going to pick up flowers, probably sun flowers, and paint.  I'm hoping for some lavender for future sewing projects.  

On the craft front I've been spinning my fingers to the bone.  We just got cable, the first time in both my adult life and E's of having such a luxury!  I told him if e and I figured out breast feeding we could get cable.  I figured since we weren't buying formula we could kind of afford cable.  The only time we watch cable is when we're on vacation and stay in a hotel!  I feel like I've been on vacation in my own house!  That's one of the reasons time is going by so fast and I haven't been around.  HGTV sucks me in and it's hard to break away.  Enough about the telly.  I have two big yarn cakes I need to ply and one bobbin to finish up tonight before we take off for camping.  I want to take two empty bobbins for the trip and I'll ply next week.  I'm starting to get a little frustrated that I don't really have time to knit any more.  I think I've been spinning so much because I actually finish the task.  I get a quicker gratification for starting and finishing something than knitting.  But usually in the winter the spinning slows down and I want to snuggle on the couch.  I'll also be back on the bus which is all knitting all the time!

I'm off to get ready for camping and I'll be back with some great photos!  I'll leave you with this, e is now three months old!  He was a week and half in this picture!  What a sweetie.

Well I was going to leave you with a photo.  Does anybody know why blogger sucks at uploading pictures?  Do I need to make the picture smaller?  This is why I haven't shown the pictures of the labels.  I know it will take forever.  Dang.

Life at a fast pace

We're trying to keep up!  Camping was great.  We learned a few things, missed a few items we forgot, but most importantly we had a good time.  I even got the same amount of sleep I would've if I was home.  Not too shabby.   That was our test run, this next weekend we're going for two nights, and not in Oma's (grandma in german) back yard!

I just realized that I don't have pictures ready for the label show and tell.  So a little tease

ready to play

(He's into taking two hour naps now!)

Earlier I had snapped pictures and was ready to snuggle in and write a post, and wouldn't you know it e woke up from the nap!  Here we are now at another nap ready to play.  

Thank you for the anniversary kindness.  We had a raging time at the outlet mall buying nursing tops for me.  That was E's present to me.  I know, romantic.  

So here is the knitting question I eluded to earlier.  I have a blanket, the log cabin-ish one, that I need to add on to.  I can't remember how I was doing it.  See how the stitches aren't ridges?

When I was doing it right I would cast off then add the new color with the garter stitch doing the right thing.

Now I can't remember how to start a color with out the garter ridge being disrupted.  You can see in this picture all the seams looking correct.

Next time there's knit night I have a feeling I'll be bugging Michele!  I might have to get in line though!  That's George up in the corner from George and Martha.  Some of our favorite books! 

So I also was going to talk about the new labels and dyeing.  I'm going to do a post on the process of getting the yarn all ready for market so I need to take some more photos.  I did get some dying done yesterday while grandma was here (yay for grandma's!).  I really like the way the colors turned out.    We're going camping tomorrow so give me a few days to get back with the label story. 

Today

Three years ago, on a tuesday, we were doing this

Now, we're doing this

and a lot of this

Happy August 2nd

(actual crafting content coming up: the label is finished, 

I need help with a blanket, and I'm dyeing tomorrow!)

a fresh start

Today was the average day, run lots of errands...feel like nothings really getting done.  Then I just cut all my hair off.  Ahhh.  I feel great!  The big motivation was my hair falling out in huge clumps. I'm sure it will continue to come out (from nursing), but it won't seem as bad!  I know the pics a little silly, but it's exciting.  and yes I cut it myself.  It's a little wonky but in a week no one will ever notice!

Craft wise I'm still spinning the super wash, but I'm hoping to finish that tonight.  Then it's a ply party.  After that I need to get cranking on some small spin projects for the farmer's market. Just over a week away!!  

E was productive in the kitchen today.  I can't wait to taste them!  The berries and the plums are from our yard!  What really stinks is E can't eat them.  I'm one lucky lady.

The cookies I bakes off yesterday?  The best I've ever made.  I'm excited to take some of this to bounty of dessert to Concert in the Park tomorrow with my friend Betty.  Before e, we got into a lot of trouble together.  Now the trouble is a little more sober!  Hope you're enjoying summer!  

Catch Up!

There's a lot to catch up on, but little time to squeeze it all in!  I'm going to try and add to this all day then post later this evening.  My life doesn't seem to allow a block of time to finish this task all at once!

On Saturday I had my little de-stashing sale and did quite well.  I was able to put all the left over yarn into one tote instead of two.  I wasn't able to pawn off any fiber but hopefully craigslist will help with that!  Michele came by and kept me company.  She also took some plums off our hands! I can't wait to try the jam she made!

I also had a chance to label all the yarn and fiber with my new labels!  I just need one more little sticker saying needle size and gauge and we are in business!

Speaking of business, I'm hoping to squeeze in some dyeing today.  I called the grandmas yesterday to see when they could come by.  e is going through a new phase that is wearing me out a little faster than usual.  I also haven't had that sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.  Getting a little bit of work done will feel very rewarding!

Well the grandmas have come and gone.  They've decided he's teething.  I kindly disagree.  The took e for a nice little walk and I was able to dye.  I haven't dyed rovings at my house and it's a little different process than the yarn.  Today was a little trial and error, but I know what I need for the next dye adventure.  I was also able to make cookie dough which will be baked tomorrow.  Ahhh, sense of accomplishment.  I'm off to spin my super wash merino (I still have one in the shop).  The purple optimized merino singles rested last night and might be plied the next few days.  

I meant to bring back pictures when I sat down this time but I just didn't get to it.  I'm sure all of you have excellent imaginations and can think of pictures to fill in the spaces!

I'm in!

I'm going to have a booth at OFFF!  I can't wait to see you there!

More later when the squawker is sleeping!

The Lessons I Learn

We'll I think I'm one of the riders that fell out of the race on the really long hilly day.  Every time I join a project like this I'm super motivated in the beginning.  Then about midway through I don't feel like playing anymore.  I don't like putting constraints on craftyness.  It might also have to do with how busy I've been!

I went to visit a friend and she had a bucket of fiber she wasn't ever going to spin.  I got to go diving and found a few treasures I wanted to try out.  The pictures are from Funky Carolina

fiber.  The friend was apart of a fiber of the month club and had some extras she didn't want to spin.  I love the colors, it's a South African Fine, similar to Merino.  I don't know if the fiber got squished or over cooked, but it's a little felted.  I'm really having to pre-draft to avoid hurting my wrist.  I explained this to E and he thought it was comical I could get an injury from spinning.  I don't think it's that funny.  Anyways.  So now I have to bobbins being used up in projects I'm not super excited about.  The sad thing?  Those are all the bobbins I have.  So I think I'm going to muscle through both projects and get to something more fun.

So another lesson I've learned?  Spin what I like.  That means I have a lot of fibers I don't like and don't plan on spinning anytime soon.  I also decided I had a lot of yarn that I probably would never get to knitting.  So...I'm having a 'Help Me Help Your Stash Grow' Sale.  I'm thinking this Saturday under our carport.  I have three overflowing bins to clean out!  email me (knittedwit at gmail dot com) for directions to the house if you live in Portland.  I'm thinking the sale will be from 9am to 12pm.  Bring some knitting or a spinning wheel if you want.  Yarn, Fiber, a baby, what else do you need on a Saturday morning?  If you have yarn or fiber you want to trade or sale, bring it!  

N is for Naughty

You might be able to tell by the pictures I took that I was in a bit of a hurry.  I don't want E to find out about this yet!  I stopped off at Northwest Wools on my way to see family and found some wool.  I wasn't planning on buying anything (famous last words, I know), but I discovered this morning that I wouldn't be able to buy this dyer's wool anymore.  Sandy is one of my favorite!  She is so sweet and does an amazing job with color.  I would love to dye roving like her.  I have a plastic tote that is devoted to her wool!  I stopped by the shop and they happened to have some of her stuff because she had left over from Black Sheep Gathering.  I went a little over board I know.  I bought three colorways in Superwash Corriedale and one colorway in BFL.  I just happened to buy two of each in the colorway.  I figured I enjoyed spinning the Superwash Corriedale so much this last time I should get more. I've been so tired of going through my fiber box and there's fiber I don't like.  I'm learning, and only buying what I do like!  I do need to clean out the bucket and have a stash sale of all the stuff I don't want to spin.  

Last note about Sandy.  If you visit my shop, the top picture is BFL she dyed that I spun and plied.  I'm still a little sad I sold it!

I'm meeting some knit friends at Twisted tonight for some e loving and chatting.  I hoping for some more label input.  As soon as I have a general consensus I'll show the results here.  

Tomorrow there is a German Festival!  I'm hoping to get some good Oma tchotchkes for Christmas.  I'll be back with the results.  My guess is I should probably go spin!