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.