Making Skeins...

Happy Monday!

FAF 01 21 11

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

The straw-like fiber called Forest Floor has been spun...

and plied...

 not too bad a result, glad I'm done with it though.  I have visions of a small bag or something...certainly not anything close to the skin - ooo, itchy!

I also plied this...

and this...

ooo, isn't Jellybeans nice?  I love this fiber and the yarn it spun into.

I got lucky. The brake-band on my flyer broke just as I was finishing the last bit of plying Wednesday night.  I've decided that plying two nights in a row is too much plying. About 90 minutes each night.  It was fun and I think I got pretty good results but there was a physical price to be paid.

My favorite thing about working in my crafty room is being able to listen to great books.  While plying I finished listening to Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.  An excellent story with a good narrator.  Next book in line on my iPhone is Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.  The reviews said it was a story like The Help.  If it is half as good it should be enjoyable.  I'll let you know.

Do you listen to books or music while doing your craft?  What is your favorite book genre?  I'm always looking for book suggestions so please share your favorites.

I'll be spinning at Urban Mill on Sunday with my friends Paula and Erica but Saturday will be monopolized by parties - family and work.  I'll need to go back to work Monday to get some rest, LOL

Thank you for coming by, it's always great to see you here.  Be sure to check out the talented folks over on Andrea's Blog that post for Fiber Arts Friday.  They love company too.

LittleDog turned 5 on Wednesday, what a big boy.  See ya!

Spindling my Sunday away

Friday 01 14 11

Thank you for joining me on another Fiber Arts Friday!  As the photo above will attest, I've been spinning.  This was spun on Sunday while I was getting to know my new friend Erica.  Not sure how I feel about this fiber.  It's called Forest Floor (alpaca blend) by Fiber Fancy.  Feels quite dry and makes me think I'm trying to spin straw into gold.  The finished product does have some gold-like qualities though.  I do like the halo it's developed.  Now if I can just get it to hang together long enough to knit something with it, ugh.

Wow, this week went by fast.  It's to be expected when you're really super busy, isn't it?  Yep, that's me - super busy.  Lots to do at work, which means I long to come home and jump into my jammies and knit on the sofa...with LittleDog keeping my lap toasty.  I was spinning at Urban Mill on Sunday then Wednesday evening, I slid down the hill to Urban Mill again and had a nice time knitting and chatting with Heather, Susan, Sarah, Michelle and a whole bunch of other peeps.  Urban Mill is a great place for knitting and spinning, imo.  Lots of room and a toasty fireplace make it very nice.  There are yummy snacks and decent coffee.  It's been a long year since my favorite LYS closed and I've been wandering around trying to find a place to fit in.  This is a nice group and it feels good.

I actually made a new dishcloth too.  Haven't made one in quite awhile so the ones I have are getting quite worn and faded.  They're still working fine, just not looking so good.  I love my dishcloths and haven't used a store bought one in at least 4 years.  Do you make your own dishcloths?  How about socks?  How many of you devote the time and energy to rewarding your feet with custom made socks?  You're worth it, you know?

I'm challenging myself with Jared's hat (double hat on size 1 dpn) and have started a pair of socks that are going to take some intense concentration...Salto mmm, cabley!

LittleDog says...it's too cold to play outside!

 He's laying around thinking I wish the weather would warm up so I could go for a long walk thoughts...

What are you thinking about today? 

Be sure to share the joy you experience from fiber and friends.  You can meet some new friends who love the fiber arts over on Andrea's blog every Friday.  Hop on over and check it out.  You won't be disappointed.

Friday 01 07 11

Another week has flown by and here we are again for another Fiber Arts Friday.   I know I'll see great fibery things over at Andrea's.  Have you checked them out yet?  There are some really crafty folks posting over there on Fridays.

I've been spinning...see the pretty yarn I made?

and knitting and watching spinning videos.

I've been contemplating working on The Big Ass Sweater again.  Wish me luck.  I'd like to get it done while the weather is still cold enough for him to be able to wear it for at least 5 minutes this year.  Alpaca can keep you nice and toasty-warm.

I've added a new tool to my collection this week.  This nice beaded orifice hook I purchased on eBay from Goodman Goods.  There are other interesting items in that store, I'll probably visit her again.

While I was awaiting its arrival I made one to get by, out of a piece of coat hanger wire

I don't think it looks too bad, do you? LOL  Sometimes looks aren't everything when you're trying to pull fiber through an orifice.  A crochet hook just doesn't get the job done well.

Have a great weekend.  We're bracing for snowmagedden part 3 this weekend, LOL.  Don't you love how those meteorologists are always so melodramatic about the forecasting of snow.  We live in Michigan!  It's supposed to snow...a lot!  Don't they remember the old Michigan motto?  Winter Wonderland!  Hope you all stay safe and warm.

For some great pug humor check out The Daily Puglet.

Tuesday 01 04 11

It's good to get back into a routine after slackin around the house for 11 days.  You know you're in trouble when you sleep til 9 every morning, the usual wake-up time is 5:45am and your back aches cuz you been layin in bed too long.  It was a great 11 days though.  I had lots of time for spinning and knitting. 

I'm trying to keep the momentum up with the spinning.  I find myself thinking about it several times during the day at work and wishing I could just spin for 20 minutes or so and relax.  It's comforting for some reason.  I'm hoping this is not an unusual occurance. 

Yesterday I got two nice packages in the mail.  Very nice roving from St Seraphina Knits on Etsy

100% Superwash Corriedale and a beautiful beaded orifice hook that I found on eBay.  I cannot find the orifice hook at the moment but it was made by the same person at the linky.  Photo to come if it's at the office when I get back there tomorrow.  I'm hoping it's in the lunch bag that I left in my office at work. 

The hat I'm making for my son is progressing nicely.  Fingering weight yarn on size 1 needles makes for a slow go though when you're making a hat for a man with a 23 1/2" bean!  I'm really liking how it's looking so far.  Whatchu think?

Well, I'm off to sit in my comfy chair and watch a few more episodes of Victorian Farm.  The link is to the first 10 min segment but there are many segments. If you're like me you better find a comfy chair before you start watching them.  I cannot stop!  You can go from one installment to the next on YouTube and I spent almost 2 hours watching it the first night.  It was produced by BBC and the first video explains the project and who's involved.  Fascinating!  Makes me want to have a little farm with a couple of sheep and a couple of pigs and a couple of ducks...uh, this is sounding a bit like I'm getting ready for a flood...ahem

LittleDog says it's no fun having to scratch his own head when I'm so busy spinning and knitting...

I hope you all have a fabulous week.  I know I will.

Good-bye 2010 and good riddance!

Happy New Year everybody! 

Let's party hearty and get 2011 started with some positive momentum. 

I have so many things to be thankful for...

The Saint,

awesome children,

 and grandchildren

crazy dogs

and another fun hobby

 too perfect. 

Come along on the journey this year...it should be fun and interesting and challenging...I'm always up for a challenge. 

And be sure to visit my other fibery friends who post for Fiber Arts Friday over on Andrea's blog.  You never know what you'll learn from them.

Let's rock 2011!!!