Crazy Crafter Crafts Continually

Bad blogger, no cookie.

2012-01-21T18:57:00.000-05:00

Yes, I've been a bad blogger and no cookie for me. In fact, I've only come out of my hidy place to share a giveaway my friend is doing of some AMAZING chainmaille jewelry. I've watched her take her shop through it's paces and have almost more work than she can handle and she's inspired me to try harder with my storefront. So I've been working on some things and you can expect news on that sometime in the near future.

But in the mean time go visit Aislinn's Journey and check out her post and then go and drool all over yourself at her jewelry.

Bad blogger - no cookie

2011-03-12T23:17:00.000-05:00

Once again, I have committed a blogging fail. The 2010-11 winter season has been murder for the house and myself. Pneumonia twice, down with bronchitis right now (and it'd better stay that way). Mom was in and out of the hospital in February and they don't know why (again).

I've gotten 2 packages from my SP16 partner, Cricket, so far. Of course I've not managed to grab pictures of the mini skeins of sock yarn she sent me for the blanket I'm working on before they were knit into it but I do have a picture of the fingerless mitts Cricket made for my out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that she over dyed from a gold color to this beautiful coppery cinnamon color. Using black cherry koolade. I love them, they are super warm and I like to think I can feel the warm Athens sun in them. Cricket is in Athens Greece with the US embassy as a nurse right now, and has 2 adorable granddaughters. I'll admit to hunting her up on rav so I could tell a friend what pattern the mitts are. I've also received some amazing Tazo white tea with cucumber and a mug with adorable cozy and ooooo so nummy chocolate from Greece. Pretty stitch markers (one of which has been dubbed as for the blanket only, it's a skull) and the pattern for Fireside (rav link) which is a beautiful cabled cardi that I've lusted after. I will have that knit by next winter, and am thinking of spinning up Hopper for it. Hopper is a shetland fleece I picked up at the MI wool fest on 09. Currently having been pressed into use as a bolster pillow to keep me more upright than all the pillows I have can manage at night. She's been washed, it's all good.

This pic doesn't show the beautiful color that Cricket achieved, but does show off her stitch work. They fit me perfectly, not too long in the finger area (something I have problems with) and nice and sung on the thumb and finger area. I have small hands so usually go in the boys department for mitts and gloves. I love to have things that were made just for me, and these mitts will be treasured for years to come.

Scott looking like his daddy, a few weeks ago. He's still with his grandparents, but J gets to have him for 3-4 days every few weeks. They are phasing Scott into J's house more and more, with hopes that Scott will be with him full time by the start of the school year, when he'll be in kindergarten.

The Dairy Queen up by the grandparents let Scott go behind the counter and fill his own cone. A perk of a small community. Seriously, the town the grandparents live in has less than 800 people. I think the entire county has only about 20,000.

He still loves playing pirates. That's been a constant with him since before he was 2. Also loves dinosaurs, and his favorite animal is a unicorn right now.

I meant this to be longer on him, but the little man decided to grow some. It is however supposed to have 3/4 length sleeves. Something I didn't notice in the pattern until I saw the picture. Knit from a bi-color blue twist yarn from Plymouth Encore. Scott told me he loves the hood, and both he and J said he didn't want to take it off. So I consider that a huge success. I made this for one of his Christmas presents. I'm just so happy he likes it.

On the knitting front for now, I'm slowly working on the Phatghan (the miter square blanket of DOOM) and mom's sweater (of doom) and have started a lace shawl KAL. I'm knitting In Dreams (rav link) by Susan Pandorf. I love Susan's patterns and am proud to say I'm still on track with the shawl, and on schedule. Of course I'm only on clue 3, but hey, that's on track. I'm not doing the full amount of beads because 5000 beads would be heavy for the person who's getting this one. I am beading the last clue as it calls for, because Susan was so sweet to leave a few clues unbeaded before the end so I can do it w/o having to figure it all out myself. I know Sally will love this, because it's one of Susan's LOTR patterns, and Sally is a huge LOTR fan.

The New Year

2011-01-01T00:38:00.000-05:00

It seems only fitting that the first real post of the New Year comes as the folks all around me are still setting off their fireworks and yelling hurray! This year in some ways has been worse that '08 or '09 were, though they each have their highs and lows. but I'm not here to share the woes of the year, rather some highlights. No, Scott's still not with me, and he's not with J yet either. Soon, we both hope. But I did get to spend a good chunk of time on the phone the few days before Christmas and we had some fun. I knit a sweater for him and according to J he didn't want to take it off. Once again the midget needs new socks, so I'll work on some of those. Getting to play with him on the phone made me want to cry, yet I was so happy to get to talk to him it didn't matter. I love trying to tell him a story, because if you don't ask what the person's name is, and what animal they are, and what they're doing before hand he'll interrupt you and tell you that you're not telling the story right. He speaks so beautifully now, I can't get over it. I know he's growing up, just hard to remember that sometimes when you're away. I had the hardest time trying to find things for him for the holiday, as I didn't want to get just toys or clothes. I think I had a good mix going. A few books, stuffed dragon, couple of crafty toys. Yes, I'm a parent who gives educational and craft related toys. Some regular ones too, but what's the fun of that?

Christmas Eve I went with some newish friends to another friends house for dinner. By dinner I mean we got there around 12:30 and didn't leave until 10:30 that night. There was duck involved, you know I was all ready for that. I just feel bad because I dozed about 4 hours of the day. Didn't sleep very well the night before, haven't slept well in weeks. The big day our landlord/neighbor drove us to gamma's early in the morning. Mainly cause out car is deader than dead. Not sure if it's the engine or transmission. Doubt it's worth fixing the car, not with its age. But spent the day at gamma's house with a roasty toasty fire going. I'm the firekeeper at her house, had a very nice bed of coals going by 10, so I took a nap for an hour. Than I made dinner. Just being there with her, whom I hadn't seen since early November, made the tight holiday here in the house worth it. I got jammies and everyone knows that xmas jammies from a grandma are the best type.

Than Monday night I checked my email and there was 2 emails from Amazon, each with gift card codes of $98, for a total of $196. From a Rybecka Johnstone. I have no idea who this woman is, and I just want to wish her a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. Honestly and truly, I started crying when i say those in my email. I checked with amazon and the codes are legit, so Wednesday found me laying in wait for the UPS man, who was bringing me a Wifi Kindle. I also got books for Scott (sent straight to J so there's books for him at his daddy's place) and a light box setup so maybe the pictures I take for work will look decent.

The kindle couldn't have come at a better time. All day I've been laid up in bed shaking like a newborn foal, and coughing. I'm hoping that this is just an upper respiratory infection and not pneumonia rearing it's nasty head again. Just got over that thanks, don't want it again.

Anyway, that's my Year end review. I will be trying to blog more often this year, now that I have a decent computer and all that jazz.

SP16 questionaire

2011-01-01T00:18:00.001-05:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like? I love wools and cotton yarns, as well as some fancier ones. Not a big acrylic fan (not a snob, but it squeaks and sets my teeth on edge) and I'm super sensitive to mohair.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a few different cases for hooks, a large binder and smaller one too for my needles.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for 13 years or so, a sub in school taught me. Crocheting for 18 years easy, my grandma taught me. I'd consider myself advanced on knitting, and advanced intermediate for crocheting

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon Wishlist

5. What’s your favorite scent? I like clean scents, nothing fake. I'm actually fairly sensitive to scents so would prefer not to get any.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I do have, though it comes and goes. I love dark chocolates and other things.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I knit, spin, crochet, tat (needle) weave, make jewelry, do chainmaile. I also make soaps and lotion bars and have played with paper

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Anything but rap and gospel. I have a few mp3 players and the laptop can take them.

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand? Darker colors. Blues, greens, reds (like wine, garnet, brick), greys. please no super bright ones and no pink, orange, or yellow please.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Live with family, 1 4yo son who's away from me. 8yo niece with me. We have a mutant goldfish and a turtle. The fish and turtle are both 6 inches, body length only.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes, and maybe.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks actually. Started knitting them for Scott, and he loves them.

13. What are you knitting right now? Scocks (Scott Socks)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes a million times yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circs please, I like metal ones though bamboo are growing on me.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a winder, no swift

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I think a few years. I usually unravel them after a while if they don't get worked on. I can always find another use for the yarn

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Halloween. Myself personally? Not really any winter holiday. We keep xmas in the house because of my niece. I'm agnostic with pagan leanings. By that I mean respect for nature, paying attention to the turning of the seasons, the phase of the moon and that stuff.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Yoda, the little green muppet from Star Wars. Love him. Hummingbirds, rubber ducks. Yarn, pretty stones.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Soft squishy yarns, lace weight or up. Sock yarns with interesting colors or shading. I'd love odd balls of sock yarn if you have any. Anything over 25 yards in one type would be awesome. Knitting a miter square blanket.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? I want to get better at cables.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am, but I'm a noob. 8" ball of foot circ, 9.25 heel to toe, if you need more than that let me know.

23. When is your birthday? October 6

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID? boosheeps

PayBox.me

2010-11-29T13:01:00.000-05:00

PayBox.me is a site that sounds like it will be better than PayPal once the box is "opened" as they call it. Right now they are doing what I would call beta testing and for every day you log in you get $20 put into your paybox account, and you get more money put in for voting on debit card designs and taking the surveys. It only takes about 5 min a day to log in, do the daily survey and vote on a few cards. Once the box if opened you'll be able to use the account to pay vendors online, you'll have a debit card to use in brick and mortar stores, and you'll have all that money you earned there for your use. Lemme tell you, it adds up fast.

Anyway, wander over there, take a gander and join up, you've got nothing to lose, and the chance to gain some decent amounts of money to gain.

http://www.paybox.me/r/bbal

Le sigh

2010-11-28T15:24:00.000-05:00

What's that saying about best laid plans? I had hoped to blog more, and then the craptop died and I got viral pneumonia. But now I have a shiny new laptop (thanks mommy and Sally!!) that was a b-day present and I'm all human again.

On the crafting front, I knit Scott a sweater for x-mas, pictures will come in the next few days. it's hooded and looks so cute. I'm also planning to knit little sock puppet type things for him, just not sure if they'll all get knit in time for the holiday. Mom and Sally threw a metric crap ton of yarn at me when they got their school grants. Mom wants a sweater and Sally has no idea what she wanted. Gee, thanks sis. At least I have plenty to knit and play with. I even got a few skeins of yarn for myself out of it. I love going to yarn and fabric stores with them when they have spare cash, I just stick a few thing sin the basket for me and they call it my knitting fee. I need to bust out the new sewing machine Sally got and play with it. She got an computerized embroidery machine *drool*.

Scott is just getting over bacterial pneumonia (like mother like son, no?) and I'm so thankful they got him to the dr as soon as he started to have problems, because his temp spiked to 105, according to Diana. He's still with the former in-laws. J finally has both a job and an apartment so I hope that Scott will start to be phased into his house again.

August Phat Fiber Box.

2010-08-19T20:44:00.001-04:00

I always mean to post the boxes when I get them, but I get so swept up on fondling the yarns and fibers, and before I know it I've spun or felted them all up, and can't remember who is who. I kept myself from that today....long enough to take pictures. I'm planning to start knitting either strips or mitered squares from all the yarn samples I have and start working on a throw blanket. Same with the little skeins of handspun I've gotten up. We'll see how long that lasts right?

All info I have on the samples is with them, and the descriptions of texture/feeling are mine alone. They only reflect my feelings of the fiber, and my weird wool sensitivity issues.

From All For Love of Yarn Beautiful squishy soft 50/50 merino silk fingering weight yarn, in an amazing tealy turquoise color. Perfectly solidly dyed. Amazing yarn.

Avalon Springs Farm Some of the softest mohair I've yet to feel. Silky and doesn't make me itch at all. Which is a great thing, cause I love mohair and most of it makes me itch like the end of the world is nigh.

Color Bug Pin drafted Romney. For romney it's pretty soft. I'm going to dye it with some of the neon food colors and then spin it up.

Farmgirl Chic A loverly mini batt of Border Leicester, corriedale cross, mohair, cotswold, and vintage fibers. Such beautiful colors, and the little threads and fabric in the batt are amazing. I would love spinning up a shawls or sweaters worth of this.

Fiber Diversions 100% alpace fiber. Just super soft and amazing. I love alpaca anyway, and this just makes me want to curl up in it.

Griffordables Masham wool and angelina. I'd never heard of masham wool before, but it's not too bad. I'd call it a medium softness. Love the sparkles!

Jag's Funky Fibers pretty recycled yarn in tan, brown and cream shades. Not sure of fiber makeup

Jenny Fields Fiber Silk noil and silk cocoons dyed in shades of gold. Those lacy bits there to the right of the card are the actual cocoons, and seriously look like wrought gold. It's stunning.

Light Brown Hare All I can say is WOW! Mini mini skeins of all 6 of her yarns, and a larger mini skein in the Red Desert colorway. Some amazing base yarns, and a great eye for color.

Mama Jude's Judy is an amazing woman anyway, and used plant dyes. This is super soft merino pencil roving dyed with indigo. I can't wait to see how this spins up.

Wild Hare Hand dyed Lambswool 58s top. Pretty soft and squishy. Not sure if I'd use is as a next to face fiber, but for a sweater it would be perfect.

The Critter Ranch Two beautiful mini batts. This colorset is called Gorillas in the Mist. The black batt is natural black llama and alpaca, natural silver mohair and llama. The green is hand dyed llama, alpaca, wool, bamboo, mohair, silk, and fire star. AMAZING!!!!!

I'm now going to go set up my wheel and spin some of this up. I plan to aim for fingering weight yarns for the most part, so they will be either 2ply or 3ply it just depends on how thin the fiber wants to be spun.

Scott pictures

2010-05-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

Since I doubt I'll be able to afford to go to MN to be with Scott for his birthday I thought I'd post some pictures here to show to the world. More so on the affording the trip later, once the farce that is child support is taken care of. The magistrate wants J and I to both pay $173 a month. I don't even make that a month. He thinks, and I quote "That I am purposely unemployed" which to anyone who actually knows me knows is a crock. My health has gotten worse lately, and I'm undergoing tests for a fairly icky disease. On the good news front, I finally got my hearing date for disability! Only took 18 months to get the date.

Back to the Scotty pics! All theses are from the trip J and I made up there in March to go to court and we got to spend 4 amazing days with Scott.

Here he was playing with a little people's city playset. Not that new LP stuff either, this one dated back to when J and I were kids. He was VERY intent on what he was doing.

Scott smelling the ball of yarn I'm in the background plying up.

More playing with the toyset. Ignore the x-mas tree in the background. We were at J's grandma's and she had yet to take the tree down.

.We were letting Scott take pictures with the cameras in out phones. I have to get them off, as he took some pretty good ones. I let him take some with the camera as well.

My darlin "medium boy" as he insists on being called. I think he looks so mature and adorable. I can't express just how proud I am of Scott, and how well he's weathering through all this crap going on. I love you so much Scotty lad!

I'm still living.......I think

2010-05-01T02:04:00.000-04:00

I realized just how long it's been since I've posted anything here. Sorry, life has been interesting, and since certain people who don't deserve a mention here actually know my blog address (and attempt to post rude comments as "anonymous") I've chosen to remain silent as i try to put my world together again. While my world isn't whole by any means, it's no longer shattered into a million pieces.

Scott is still with them. Not for good, but until J can get a job and a place of his own. To that end J's back in MN because he couldn't get a place in CA, and for 8 months he was here in Michigan looking. Since I think even aliens in outerspace know the economy situation in MI you can see why he's now in MN again. Our friend Chris is back safe and whole from the sandbox in the Middle East, where he's been the past year with his National Guard unit. He's trying to get J a job with the security company he works for.

Scott is growing so fast. He had to have a circumcision in February because the foreskin wasn't stretching to accommodate him as he was growing up. We'd tried to have it done when he was a newborn but the Dr wanted him to see an urologist first and we couldn't get an appointment before we moved to MN, and in Mn the insurance wouldn't cover it, as it wasn't necessary. It was necessary in Feb. I was so scared, because at Scott's age now he had to go under a general anesthesia and I couldn't afford to make the trip to be with him. It was go then or go for court on March 18th. Scott's all better now, is fully potty trained, and is learning to read.

We had court in November, and it was ordered that Scott stay in the state and we could only "visit" for Thanksgiving and Christmas. All visits had to be supervised and we didn't even get the schedule for visitation until the day the Thanksgiving one ended. In November J and I only got a few hours with Scott, but we tried to make the best of it. Even then we had to be supervised.

Couldn't afford to go to MN to spend Christmas with him, especially since I'd been told I wasn't allowed in any of the family's houses, so I would have had to get a hotel room for the visit. Christmas without Scott was a dreary day. I wanted to wrap myself up in the blanket and sleep the day away.

We went back to court in March, on Kathy's day. In the end we came to a settlement with them, in that 6 months if J has a job and a place of his own Scott will be integrated back into his dad's house. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't take that long. J actually has Scott for a whole week right now, so I'll be able to call and talk to Scott without having a panic attack.

We got to spend 4 days with Scott when we were up there in March. It's amazing how much he's grown in this last year. He's gone from the toddler that he was to a little person. He talks so clearly and is such a sweet, kind, and caring boy. He says he's a "medium boy". Not small, little, or big; just a medium boy. and I are knitting him a sweater for next winter. I wove scarves for us all in November and I was told he never wanted to take his off. They were all woven from the same handspun. I've knit socks for him, the first pair he wore a hole in the toes super fast, because he wouldn't take them off.

On my end there's new stuff but it sucks. I'm having lots of muscle tremors, shaking, and vertigo. My dr is testing me for something that I don't want to say right now. I'm not sure if I'd rather it be the mystery condition, or to just be a mystery. Is it better to know or to wonder?I don't know. I'm still knitting, crocheting, and spinning when I can. I got a job as a contract spinner for a wonderful company. They pay me to spin cashmere, and I don't have to buy the fiber. Come on, it's the perfect job. I still send in samples to the Phat Fiber boxes a few times a year.

I promise to post more often. Comments are still moderated, because I really don't want comments from them on here. I was actually accused of writing, and I quote, "Slanderous things on my blog." Tell me what's wrong with that and I'll send you a cookie.

My life

2009-06-11T18:16:00.000-04:00

Since I have no idea how long it'll be until this farce of a mess is straightened out, here's the soap opera of my life. It's complicated, and drawn out, and may involve some bad words. Plurkers already know almost all of this.

~~~~~~~

My inlaws have filed suit against J and I for custody of Scott, and are currently holding him against our wishes in MN.

Diana had been asking over and over if Scott could come visit, cause her husband, Carl, had just had surgery and they thought Scott would cheer him up. I finally agreed to letting him visit for a period of about 3 weeks. The deal was that he was to be brought back the week before his birthday (June 9) and we'd have a little celebration with them here. I called on Friday May 29th to talk to Scott and see what the therapy schedule was for Carl, to find out when they would be bringing him home. She told me that it wouldn't be happening and they had filed suit that day.

They took Scott up on Monday May 11th, though the original plan was for the 13th. But she called and asked if they could get him the 12th so they could have a day to rest before Carl's therapy on Thursday, and I said yes. Than I got a call around 7:30 at night on Monday asking if they could get him that night, and they would just head on back to MN, since there was a hotel on the Il/WI border that had recliners. Carl had shoulder surgery, and has to sleep sitting up for now. Again, I said yes, and was told they would be there around 9:30-10pm. They didn't get here until 11pm.

Diana is claiming that my house is unsafe, and filthy. She actually sic'd CPS on us. CPS states the house is fine, and I state that Diana is a cleaning nazi. She is saying the house was "strewn with pizza boxes". 2 boxes is not strewn, since it's what we had for dinner that night. She has told J that when she left here she had no intention of bringing Scott back to me. She took him to the Dr on May 19th and informed the Dr that she was gonna file for custody.

I can't get the cops in Todd County where they live to do crap yet. And all the cops are claiming that it can't be considered kidnapping because I let them take him. But if you borrow something and claim you'll bring it back at a certain date/time, with no intent to return it, that can and is usually considered theft. So why not this as kidnapping.

As it is, she and Carl are violating a standing custody order, because they are violating visitation for both J and I. For Scott's birthday he's to be with BOTH of us. For Father's day (this weekend) he's to be with J. And I get him with me 2 weeks every other month, and come June 22nd she'll have violated that as well.

Some highlights from the petition

Upon information and belief, Respondents (J and I) are not capable of caring for the minor child, do not have a very close relationship with the minor child, and have not spent significant time with him. Upon information and belief, Respondents are not capable of providing a stable, healthy environment for the minor child.

Anyone who'd read this blog knows how I feel for Scott. Anf if not, than go read postings tagged with his name. They are claiming that they have spent more than 180 days with him (true). Ok, that's 1/2 a year, out of 3. I can claim 2 full years with no problem. I would do anything and everything for my little man. I have the phone records to prove that even once I was in MI and he was still in MN or in CA I was calling him almost nightly. Some of those calls were over an hour long. I could call and tell him stories. Sing him songs. Sometimes I'd wind up singing him to sleep. When I was in MN with him, we'd play, I'd read to him. He's started pretending while he was here and we'd play "Kitchen". He liked to pretend he was a doggie named Pepper (their dog's name) and I was ok with that. I even let him eat popcorn like a doggie 2 times, out of a bowl, on a towel on the floor. I didn't let him watch too much TV. We've been coloring here, and playing Candyland, and I'm starting to teach him his ABC's. Every morning he would come and give me a hug to wake me up, and sometimes crawl into bed with me to cuddle. He had actually memorized 2 of the books we would read at night, the ones he liked the best, and would "read" them to me. I say he did it to keep me in there once it was bedtime. And I was fine with it. He wanted to campout in Kitty's tent, and so we made up a nest for him. Blankets and padding almost 4 inches thick, and a few stuffed animals in the tent with him. She hates that. It's not like the tent was outside, it's in the playroom. I think he liked it so much, not just for the camping feel, but because it did give him a little space to call his own area. Kitty wouldn't go in there without his permission, even though it was her tent. He loves his cousin Kitty.

We cut his hair, not because she wanted it done, but because he asked. So we got it trimmed short, and J asked if he'd like his Mohawk once it grows a little. Scott said yeah. But can Diana be happy it's been cut? Nope, now she's claiming that we got him a "Wizards Peak". WTF is that? Maybe she means a Widows Peak, which he has as his naturally occurring hairline. I wouldn't put it past her to say I sat there and tweezed it into that shape.

This is one big farce, and I want my baby back with me. I'm sick of the lies that this woman is telling about me, and I'm refraining from playing her own game.

Soon

2009-06-08T01:47:00.000-04:00

Soon you'll be home little man, than I can tell what's been going on. Mommy loves you!

I can't think

2009-06-02T10:44:00.000-04:00

So much is going on in my life right now that I need to talk about, but it will have to wait until it's resolved, one way or another. Leave a comment if you *must* know right now. Until then, a literary meme.

What’s your bookstore? Barnes cause it's what's here, or used. I love used book stores. Just the general smell they have, of old books.

Hardback or paperback? Paperback. Easier to hold and cheaper.

Bookmark or dogear? both? Though I usually use a receipt or piece of clean TP

Keep, throw away or sell? Keep. I love my books. Sometimes, I’ll donate it. Or trade to a used bookstore for new ones. I have a very good memory for things in print, and it can take 4+ years before I can read something again.

Read with dust jacket or remove it? Remove

Short story or novel? Both. I tend to buy more novels, but I love short stories too

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? Usually at chapter breaks, but that’s not always possible.

Buy or borrow? Yes. I do both. From friends, and from the library. They have a good mystery section, and I've gotten hooked

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? Browsing and recommendation

Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Hmm… I’d say mostly tidy. A little bit of doubt can be good, but not when it makes the reader go: Bwuh?

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading? Yes. All of above. Also add reading in the loo, and those rare baths too.

Standalone or series? both. Though it takes a very good author to write long series where you don't run into the Sequel Syndrome. That's where they just drag on and on from having to repeat things again and again. I've gotten lost in some sets that started out amazing, and now I can't tolerate them.

New or used? New.

Last five books you read:
1. The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fford
2. The Face- Dean Kontz
3. Knitting Without Tears - Elizabeth Zimmermann
4. The Veiled Web - Cathrine Asaro
5. Change of Heart -Jodi Picolt

Next five books you want to read.
Don't have a list

The first novel you remember reading. Something from Sweet Valley Twins - the one where they have tonsils removed

A book that changed your life IDK…

A book that made you cry (really cry, not just a shed tear) A lot

A book that made you brood for days There's a few

A book that made you laugh What I Learned From Knitting (whether I wanted to or not) - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

A book you have signed by the author A have 5 Jodi Picolts (she was signing when I worked at Borders) and I have a few more

A book where you have drowned in the language There's a few, brain not recalling them

A book you have lost Not remembering names, but there's been a few

A book given to you by your father He'd have had to be around for that wouldn't he?

A book given to you by your mother Most of the ones I have. I didn't get allowence, she bought me books :)

Bored, and can't sleep

2009-05-27T06:49:00.000-04:00

One word answers

1.Where is your cell phone? lap.
2. Your significant other? none
3. Your hair? ponytail.
4. Your mother? sleeping.
5. Your father? gone.
6. Your favorite thing? Yarn.
7. Your dream last night? pornshop. (please dear gods, don't ask)
8. Your favorite drink? iced tea.
9. Your dream/goal? Scott.
10. The room you’re in? Bed.
11. Your fear? spiders.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. What you’re not? Tall.
15. Muffins? Blueberry.
16. One of your wish list items? Kindle.
17. Where you grew up? California.
18. The last thing you did? knit.
19. What are you wearing? jammies.
20. Your TV? small
21. Your pet? swimming.
22. Your computer? ebil
23. Your life? odd.
24. Your mood? owwie.
25. Missing someone? YES.
26. Your car? feet.
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra.
28. Favorite store? yarn.
29. Summer? pass.
30. Favorite color? reds.
31. Why did you laugh last? Scott.
32. Why did you cry last? miss scott.
33. Who will repost this? not a clue.
34. A place I go over and over: Library.
35. Someone who emails me: phatties.
36. Place I would rather be right now: CA.

I haven't died, honest

2009-05-25T20:32:00.000-04:00

I've just been quietly sitting here and playing with Scott is all. Yes, playing with my little lad since St. Pat's day back in March. 7 weeks and 5 days of wonderful wonderful fun time. He's visiting his other grandparents up in MN for a few weeks, since his Papa Carl is having to undergo 2 operations to fix a disc in his neck. Scott will be here for his birthday, and pretty much until further notice. J and I worked out a 50/50 custody split, but the reason Scott's here is because J still doesn't have a job, or a place to stay. He's crashing at HIS grandparents place in CA, and that's gonna have to end soon. Then he'll most likely be out here in MI too.

In the craft world, I've been spinning. LOTS. Right now it's a blend of Ashland Bay's Merino top in a beautiful green color with stripes of browns and such, all carded together (cause I'm odd like that) with about an ounce of Pomeranian fur for my great-gran's dog Teddy. I plan on knitting something out of the yarn for her.

I'm also working on samples for the Phat Fiber Box again, for the month of July. July is the non wool month, so I'm doing a blend of natural colored cottons, mohair, angora, and soy silk. All in natural colors. The longer fibers spin up so nicely, and the cotton gives it an almost wooly feel, by core-spinning around the other fibers. Those as well as samples of my Isis yarn in an organic naturally brown cotton will be there in July.

Also for Jessie at Phat Fiber I'm working on shawl kits for her to have in her shop. A custom design by me, paired with the Twilight Dawn colorway of Isis. Approx 1200 yards of yarn are there, more than enough for the shawl.

I'm knitting socks again. I never did get past the first little armor one I made for Scott. But the main hostess for the Secret Pal swaps was a sweetheart and got me an angel package for SP12 (since my partner vanished off the face of the Earth) and sent me some amazing things. 4 oz of alpaca roving in a colorway called Crocus Crochet. Blues and purples. Reminds me a lot of my Twilight Dawn colors, and I LOVE it! Also, a skein of Mmmmmmmalabrigo Sock in Botticelli Red, which is this brick/tomato red kettle dyed color. I have been petting it like made lately. And some Addi's to knit socks on (right now they have mitts on them, couldn't get gauge with them for socks) and a nifty little keyring that had a small crochet hook on it, to help pick up stitches. That's come in handy already, trust me. There's also a beautiful pattern for bamboo patterned socks, that I may convert to toe up. I have odd feet (really high arches) so I like toe up construction.

My first socks WILL be done for whenever Harry Potter 6 comes to the big screen. I'm calling them my Griffenclaw socks. They couldn't sort me into just one house at work, when book 6 came out, but instead said I should be in both Griffendor and Ravenclaw. So I will be having socks with gray toes, heels, and cuffs (Knitpicks Bare I dyed myself) and a semisolid red body from a yarn I totally forgot what it is. I remember it was $18 a skein though, does that count?

Off to rest and make more samples. I've been having a fibro flare lately, which is why I haven't posted in a while. That and adjusting to a new psych med. Which causes cluster headaches whenever they up the dosage. I foresee a new medication soon. I don't like going to the ER to get an injection to make it stop.

What's up with me?

2009-03-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all. Head on over to the Etsy shop and see some of the new yarns I just posted. Yes, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just been working my wheel into the ground with spinning up Isis yarns for sale.

Teen Dragon

Orangeade

Graffiti Artist

On the Scotty front, I go to get him in MN on the 16th, We'll be together on St Pat's day for 2 months (maybe more). Why is he in MN you may ask? Because he's visiting his other grandparents.

What else have I been doing? Well, I've been writing up a pattern I've been crocheting for years, and getting ready to self publish it. Yes, I'm that nuts. You'll be able to find the pattern on Etsy soon enough.

My Secret Pal

2009-02-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Hi Secret Pal, or as known in the real world Amy. For those not Amy go check out her blog and see just how cute her daughter is. Go, I'll wait here.)

I have to share pictures of my last package from Amy, something that has me oooooing and ahhhhhhing.
Ok, This made me laugh, because I do the same thing. With the tape that is. Lots of tape is better than too little.

Where Amy reveals herself to me, so to speak.

I have yet to see this book in our local Barnes and Noble. It leads me to 2 possiable conclusions. The first one is that our B&N sucks various critter parts (true, their craft area is sad) and the second is I'm not spending enough time there (also true, though they are the ONLY real bookstore in town.) But I did find an awesome used bookstore I need to spend more time in.

My Artsy fartsy shot of the cover, all closeup. I have to admit, I LOVE the macro feature on my camera.

Amy, the book is awesome. I love the yarns they have featured, and the colors are so beautiful. I can see this book being not just a spinning inspiration to me, but a dyeing one as well. I think that Madelyn is an adorable little girl, and she couldn't be blessed with a better mum than you are. Reading your blog shows how much you care for her. I love the picture you have up of her and the ribbon tag monster. That's something my little guy would do. Though with him it's his Kitty (or really his DAD's snow leopard. Just don't tell Scott that it wasn't for him).

On the Scotty front, St Pat's day can't come soon enough. I get to head BACK to MN (he's visiting his grandma right now) and pick him up on March 17th for a whopping 7 weeks and 5 days. Assuming that J has a place in CA by then, because otherwise he's not leaving this house. Cuff me and take me away, my son is NOT living on the streets. I can't wait to see my darling laddie. I'm painting him a castle to sleep in. Last time he was here we set up Kitty's playhouse as a private area for just Scott, and he loved it. Sadly the house was getting on in years, and had structural issues. It collapsed a few weeks after Scott left. So I asked if he'd rather a house or a castle, and castle it was. I know he'll love sleeping in his own castle.

Other than that I've been working my tail off spinning up more cotton yarns. I'm collarabiting with Jessie from Phat Fiber on a shawl kit so I have to spin/dye the yarn for that, and the masses of yarn I have here for the store. Business is going pretty well. I've even done the books, to keep track of profits and such. Oh, and I'm getting a wage, can you believe it? I still think taking 25% of the gross is too much, but I've been told that's a decent amount. And since I kinda gave in and got some scents from Happy Housewife and then a pendent followed me home on Etsy I kinda need it. Mostly I'm investing in more yarns and dyes. Jo'anns was having a sale on the t-shirt tye dyes and I stocked up. Then I found some for really cheap at another place, and snapped them up too.

Another things I'm going to do in my (huge laugh here) spare time is recycle yarn from high end sweaters. Not sell it as is, but spin it up into new yarn. So instead of a plain cobweb weight cashmere yarn, ply it up on itself as a lace weight. I've been thinking about trying beaded yarns as well, and the sweaters sound like the would work great for that. Really I'm doing it because people keep giving me nice sweaters that are too big for me, and too small for mom. Instead of get rid of them I thought it's a cheap source of good yarn. Silk fingering weight, silk/cashmere lace, cashmere lace, silk and cotton fingering.

In Tribute - Ya might need a kleenex

2009-02-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

There are few people I would even consider claiming as an major influence on my life. The 2 biggest, I'm sad to say, have passed into what I hope is a far better place than here. The first for me to talk about was my sophomore year World History Teacher. I can't put into words just how special of a person he was, so in tribute to him I have posted the article the LA times wrote for his memorial service. A service attended not only but current students, but also former ones. Students from his 31 years of teaching. We couldn't all fit on the bleachers, and we almost couldn't fit in the gym where the service was held.

I don't remember learning in his class, yet I know I did. We played games, and watched random movies. He'd steal my gummys and try to pick out all the white ones when I wasn't looking. No matter what it was you had to talk about, he was there to listen. A greater teacher I've yet to meet.

Mr H, if they have the intwewebs where you are, I promise to share my gummy bears next time we meet. I'll even give you some of the white ones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘He Was More Than a Teacher’

By Elaine Gale
March 06, 1999 in print edition B-1

One after another, teachers and students alike, they trooped up to a podium with crumpled tissues in hand to offer their tributes: gifts of words and music, little gestures meant to somehow repay Carl Hoist for all he had given.

“He was a genuine hero,” said Principal Gary Ernst.

“He was like another father to me,” said Michael Spandorf, 17.

“He gave us a reason to go to school,” said Jessica Teter, 18.

Amanda Uribe played a ragtime tune on the piano and asked the audience to think “happy thoughts.”

It was a memorial service–a gathering in the gymnasium of Fountain Valley High School where more than 700 mourned Hoist, a history and government teacher who died at the shockingly early age of 53 of a heart attack.

“We were all crushed when we found out Carl died,” said Assistant Principal Diana Carey. “We wanted to know why something like this would happen to a 53-year-old who was a picture of health.”

“It’s amazing, the love for this man,” said faculty member Eva White.

Described as “tan and robust,” Hoist died Feb. 13 in his Huntington Beach home. A former karate teacher and avid body surfer, Hoist was known to take his students to the beach to supervise them until they learned to catch a wave.

In a private ceremony with family members last month, Hoist was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the surf near his home, where he had hoped to retire, surf, roam the shoreline and chat with the locals.

Students of all stripes–band members, cheerleaders, theater rats and rebels–voiced respect and a feeling of connection with Hoist, who always had an open door and an encouraging smile.

“I would like to be like Carl and have the kind of influence with kids that he did,” said Principal Ernst.

When senior Michelle Vance got her acceptance letter from Loyola Marymount College the week after Hoist died, she considered it another gift from her favorite teacher, who had written her a letter of recommendation and helped her with her personal essay.

“He was more than a teacher; he was my friend,” said Vance, who sobbed through the service, pulling tissues out of a box. “He always made a point to make you feel important.”

Hand-lettered signs in Hoist’s honor covered the red-brick walls of the school’s courtyard. “Hey Dude: How are the waves in heaven?” read one sign in colored markers on butcher paper. A yellow sign had Hoist’s trademark exclamation: “Oh my gracious!” and was covered with Skittles wrappers, the favorite candy of a man who was allergic to chocolate.

Many at the service wore blue, Hoist’s favorite color, or Hawaiian shirts, his favorite fashion statement. Students took turns signing Hoist’s classroom podium–plastered with surfing stickers–for presentation to his family.

The messages were plaintive: “We love and miss you, Mr. Hoist.”

Marsha Hoist, his wife of more than 22 years, attended the ceremony with their son, John, and daughter, Lisa Daniels.

“It’s nice to see that he was so loved,” said Marsha Hoist, who stopped to hug and kiss students who approached her with cards and notes. “He cared so much about these kids.”

A lifelong resident of Huntington Beach, Hoist graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1963 and then earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach and a master’s degree in educational media. He had taught at Fountain Valley High School for 31 years.

Faculty members described a humorous, quiet leader who had an enviable ease with his students, going out of his way to listen, advise and help them in a pinch.

Like Brian Shaughn, who was a senior at Fountain Valley High School when his parents moved out of the district. Every school day for six months, Hoist went out of his way to give Shaughn a ride to school, allowing him to graduate with his class.

Now 34 and a manager at Federal Express, Shaughn drove from Pasadena to be able to talk about Hoist’s influence on his life. He cried through his talk, once stopping to brace himself on the podium and catch his breath.

During the service, audience members wiped wet eyes on their sleeves or the backs of their hands, and clutched the blue program with photos of Hoist and quotes from students: “If you have time, do you mind being my guardian angel?” and “Thanks for the memories, Mr. Hoist. Enjoy the surf up there!”

The school has set up the Carl Hoist Memorial Scholarship Fund, and donations can be sent to the school’s financial office.

“We have to do something to heal and move on,” said Principal Ernst. “We have to try to bring closure to this.”

Still, it’s a heavy loss for many students, including Spandorf.

“The deepest thing in everybody’s life was Mr. Hoist,” he said. “The school won’t ever be the same.”

OMFG!!!!

2009-02-12T13:25:00.001-05:00

WOW. I can just say wow for now. Jessie of Phat Fiber put up a blog about my samples yesterday. Since then I've had 6 sales. My store is down to 6 items. I'm gonna be working my tail off to finish plying up the box of Isis I have dyed. Not to mention skeining it. And skeinging the merino fingering weight I have dyed as well. We're talking a few THOUSAND yards here. Those wool balls are 440 yards each, and there is 10 of the buggers. *head desk* I am SO not going out this weekend. Not that I have anywhere to go anyway. For the first time in 7 years I'm single on V Day. Granted, I don't like the day. 10 years ago this year a dear friend and teacher passed on it. On a Saturday V Day too. So. I'm just gonna work and work and work and work.

Lest you think I am all work and no play. I spent a whopping $22 on myself with some of this cash, and got 12 sample scents from Happy Housewife. If you go there to look, I am SO not responsible for any money you may spend. Seriously. I started out having to find 6 scents I liked. That ended up being 16 I wanted to try. I went back, to re-read the descriptions and then I had 23 to pick from. Thankfully the new must have list was 12, so I called it fate, and will try these before I commit to a bottle. I have problems with most scents, and the cupcakes they offer are perfect for me to give them a go.

Just cause you know you want to find out what I got they are (in no real order). Yuan Fen, Farm Girls, Embroidered Linens, The Wind, Brain Bleach, Day of the Dead, Dirty Jack, OMFG Zomb1ez!, Fractal Dance, The Last Rain, and then hopefully Boho- Wake and Boho- Gypsy. If not those 2 then Ivory Merchant and Cultivated Pearls.

I know, you have no idea what scents those would be from the names. So go and drool, a 6 pack of samples is onlt 11$ and there's free shipping for them.

Back to work. :D

Phat Fiber Box

2009-02-08T12:30:00.000-05:00

Samples are in for the Phat Fiber Box. I sent in for Feb and March, some beautiful things. I'll post teasing pictures up here all week, as the boxed are due to go on sale in one week, Feb 16th. They sell out fast folks. Jessie writes such wonderful posts about everyone. I squeed when I saw my graphics posted up on the site. You can also sign up to be notified of when she plans to post the boxes this month. Or you can just stalk her Etsy store. There's collaborations from artists featured in the boxes to look through for now.

Also, head on over to Sheeps of Egyptian Cotton to read a little about our 2 signature yarns. Or head on over to the Esty storefront for SEC and take a gander at what yarns I have already posted.

I can haz Cashmere??????

2009-01-28T16:16:00.000-05:00

I'm either not crazy enough to be admitted into the hospital, or I'm too crazy. I'm not quite sure which it is, and not sure I want to know either. But i now have a therapist, and they'll refer me to a psychiatrist and hopefully all will be well soon.

Now, to the good stuff.

You can go here and see info on it. Beautiful white CASHMERE and silk yarn. *swoon* I've had my cashmere cherry popped. Yes, that's right. I've never owned any cashmere yarn before. You really don't want to know some of the things this ball has already been subjected to. I've pet it, stroked it, cuddled it, and than I molested it by sticking my finger inside. Yes, I'm a yarn pervert. Wanna make something of it?? I have no idea what to make with this, which means I'll be haunting Rav for hours tonight. Something for around my neck is as far as I've gotten.

I didn't just get yarn mind you. My secret pal also printed up some lace shawl patterns for me, and sent a row counter, and a needle sizer/gauge guide. But the yarn, oh, it's yarny goodness will comfort me in this frozen wasteland we call MI.

There's just one mystery left, who is my Secret partner?? The mind boggles.

This is NOT a craft post, fyi.

2009-01-26T16:12:00.000-05:00

3 months, 1 week, and 2 days. That's how long it's been since I've seen Scott. Since I've gotten a few pictures, and 2 small 30 second video clips. We talk on the phone, yes, but lately it's been a fight to just get him to say hi. And now the newest bombshell. The friend J's been staying with gave them 2 weeks to find another place to stay. She's screwing with the well-being of my kid, and I can't do a thing to stop it, to make it better. Just the thought of Scott and J not having a place to go scares the shit out of me. Last resort if his sister, up by Vandenburg AFB.

My poor little guy has been through so much crap this past year, and now this. He's got to leave his friend (her son), his pre-school, and "his" doggie. He doesn't need to uprooted again from where he was making his home. He's already had that change time and time again. Mommy is gone, Daddy and Scott move and make new friends. Now Scott has to leave those friends behind.

I can't stop worrying about what will happen. I can't sleep, I can't seem to shake this depression that's settled over me. I can't go see a therapist because of teh insurence issue, and I don't want to go check myself back into a hospital. I don't think being back in that environment would help me right now. Yes, I was in a psych ward for a few days back in May. It was boring, the food sucked, and we couldn't eat out of our rooms because of the flu going around the ward. Lemme tell you, eating all alone is not conducive to becoming mentaly healthy. It's not. Eating is a social habit. For those who don't know I'm bi-polar. I would fathom a guess at Bi-polar type 2, which is a more mild versoin. I don't go manic often, and when I do it's for short times. But I get depressed. When I do it sometimes sticks around. I'm just scared that if I go into a hospital now it'll fuck up my chances of having Scott in March. But I want to be healthy for him, and make sure I'm ok for him. I should want to do it for me, but he's more important to me than myself.

I'm supposed to go out to CA in mid March, pick him up, and fly back here with my heart and soul. For 7 weeks and change. I didn't realize that the day I'm supposed to go and being him home is 5 months to the day since I'll have last seen him, help him, kisssed him in person, rather than on the phone. My mom gets to have the joy of having her grandson here for her birthday, my great grandma gets the same honor. I get to spend Mothers day with the whole reason I'm a mom. Then I have to fly back with him, and leave him in CA. Just 51 weeks to the day after I went a little crazy, forgot him, and pretty much ended my marriage.

I don't care. I need help. I'll keep y'all updated when I can.

Back to the land of the living.

2009-01-21T23:19:00.000-05:00

I know, I haven't posted for a little while. But I really do have a good reason. As I mentioned, I was sicker than sick, and about the time I could get out of bed to get back online, I started having jaw problems. I have TMJ (to go with everything else) so figured that's what it was. Spent a few days in bed with heating packs on the joint. Well, not I'm stuck on antibiotics due to an abscess. I'm not sure what's going to happen with it. That's the problem with no insurance, I can't just go into the DR to have it drained. Hopefully the antibiotics will do some good, and soon, or I have to head back to the ER to have it done there. *le sigh* I hate medical crud.

On a good medical note, all those medical bills I had from the concussions and whatnot, from April to late September, are gone. FINALLY!!! Seems the state got off it's fat duff and decided I met the requirments to get coverage. Which is nice, since we're talking over 30 thousand dollars of bills here. CT scans, 5 day visits to the hospital, nueroligical workups, all those aren't cheap. That is a load off my mind.

Scott is doing well out in CA. We talk on the phone almost every night, except for those nights "I don wanna talk to mommy." Everytime I hear it my heart breaks a little. I know he loves me, but I'm doing the best I can to show him I care. I can't be there for him like I want. He is just getting over some sort of viral infection himself, and I can't be there to care for him. He's in pre-school now, and loves it. Or so I'm told.

I'm knitting on a baby blanket for a good and close friend of mine. We've been friends since we were in 6th grade, or 13 years. He and his wife are expecting their first, and I wanted to make some special things for them. Right now the blanket is still small, and I'm making up the pattern as I go. But it's pretty. I'm using a cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby and OMG, it's so dang soft. I *heart* this yarn. Oh yeah, blanket is a dark chocolate brown, and will have pink satin blanket binding. Neither of them really like pink, so it's just a small touch.

It seems my downstream secret pal partner is a smart woman, she found out who I am by doing a rav search using my email. I'm the ditz who forgot that I can be searched for by that. Gotta remember that for the next rounf.

In the Audit news, J's company sent out a letter stating that it was all a big screw up on their part, so we're hoping that the IRS will actually pay attention to it, and call off the audit. Which would be nice. *crosses fingers*

Stand back

2009-01-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

and don your protective face gear. I'm plague ridden. Otherwise I could have written about me trip before this. Ok, I'm still not writing about it, this is a quick little thing to let y'all know I'm alive. Of course I fee like a zombie, and some friends are hoping I turn over to the dead side soon. For scientific reasons of course, so they say. I'm actually mending, it's just an upper respiratory infection. Been given a bill of health against Mono, Influenza, and Strep. Seems when I get really sick I now have the joy of either fighting off whatever infection it is, or dealing with the Fibro. Fibro lost. I've spent the last 3 days in bed watching movies, first on my portable player, than when that dies and I threatened to watch them in the living room on my old TV that was downstairs. It's wonderful when your family doesn't want to get sick, no?

Ok, quick vaca info. We went to TX (cause we would make it by NYE and the ocean, I was promised ocean). More so Galvenston. Had fun. More to follow later.

Vacation

2008-12-29T16:16:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be away from my blog for a little while, going on vacation with a friend to an exotic mystery destination. Ok, maybe not totally exotic, but it is a mystery. I should be back in a week or so, and will have lots of pictures to show everyone.

Of course I'm taking along knitting. We're driving, and since I'm just the navigator (wait, where are we going again) I get to knit all day. *Insert Big Chocolate Eating Grin Here* I hope I'll be taking enough with me. I've got my secret knitting project with me, which is for a friend. I will be taking along the lovely ball of Ultra Alpaca I got from my SP13 swap partner (if I can find the ball, it ran away). it won't become socks though, but this Fern Lace Pattern. I know I was hinted to make it into socks, but the second I saw the pattern, I knew it had to be this. I love ferns, but I can't keep them alive.

Not sure what else to take. I'm kinda sure that if I run out of yarn I can stop and get more, but still, you can never take too much yarn.

I have to weave in the ends on my one Row Handspun scarf I made for my friend. I"ll make sure to get pictures of it with it's new owner as well.

Off to pack. :)

A post

2008-12-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

First off, some thanks go out to my Secret Pal for this round. On Christmas Eve I received a box from the person I used to call Santa (The UPS man) and was able to gloat as I opened it early. I have pictures of everything, but I'm not sure where the camera cable went.

First was a pair of hand knit cotton mitts in sky blue, very warm and comfy. Next was a hat to match. This hat is so nice, it covers my ears, forehead, and comes to the nape of my neck, all in one fell swoop. I love that in a hat. I also got this cute little snowman mug complete with top hat cover and a ceramic candy cane to stir with. The cane is on the tree. The cutest thing though was the gingerbread man full of hot cocoa mix. He's made of brown paper and is sewn around the edges. I don't think I can bring myself to use him though, he's too cute.

We went to a candlelight service that night, and came back to packages left on the chair by the door. They were to Kitty from "Santa" (in this case the next door neighbors/landlords).

Christmas day was fun, went to Gamma's and had ham.

Bad words and depressing stuff to follow. You can leave if you don't want to read it, I'll understand. Honest.

Silly de-motivational picture to protect innocent eyes.

Today however really reminds my just how much 2008 has sucked in all it's fucking glory. I'm getting audited. All because the company my now ex worked for can't be bothered to do their tax reporting properly. Does the IRS seriously think that a person is stupid enough to try and hide 13 thousand fucking dollars? Oh wait, this is the government I'm talking about. My step-dick should work for them, since he seems to think that they'll give one ounce of caring to the fact that I have no goram memory of the last 3 years. Oh yeah, J and I have to figure out how to manage a fucking audit when we're 2000 miles away. What fun. I actually have to sit there and do all this crap because his company fucked up, but I can guarantee I'll have to pay my own way out there. I still can't get him to commit to a percentage of what travel costs he'll cover for the approved holidays I get with Scott. I still have to laugh (so i don't cry) at what they say is reasonable parenting time. 3 months a year. Once Scott is in school I've been told he's going to change it so I only get him during school brakes. Wonderful. We wonder why I feel like a total failure at this parenting gig. I've gotten to talk to him 2 times since that nice long phone call, and both went the way I've become accustomed to. He doesn't want to talk to me for more than 3 words it seems.

Can I tell the IRS to shove it up GW's ass and make J do all of this himself? After all, he's the one who quit this farce of a relationship. But no, I have to find the tax returns, I have to find out what HR Blockhead does when you get audited. And if you can manage to get a word in edgewise when telling him things about all this you get made to feel you have no right to be upset. Only he can be upset about it. I would think that when you move across the country you'd keep your tax info AT HAND!!! Oh, would that make sense? Cause than you could find the very last pay stub from 2007 and take it to wherever you needed to go, and make them sort this fucking mess out, instead of being a dick to the person trying to fucking help you.

Sorry, needed to rant. It's not like I have anyone I can talk to anyway.

My Darlin Lad

2008-12-22T01:12:00.000-05:00

Everyone who's read this blog for more than 3 posts (or looks just a little to the right) knows I have a son. Read back a few months and you know that he lives in CA now with his dad, and I haven't seen him since early October (if not at all if you want to go by my memory, stupid concussion).

Today Scott and I talked on the phone for 3/4 an hour. We played a game of Hide and Go Seek (yeah, on a phone, so we're weird). He licked me a few times so I licked him back. He gave me kisses and said "I kiss you Mommy" each time. I told him about my day yesterday at Gamma's house. I talked about what I was doing next week (more in a few days). I sang to him. We laid on his bed and "watched" a Little Einstein movie. When I was telling him about the weather here and saying how I was cold he covered me with his blanket. We cuddled. I sang some more to him. Than he said he was tired and was gonna take a nap and hung up the phone on me.

This is really special to me because usually I get to talk to him about 5 min before he hangs up on me. This is the closest I've felt to being a mommy in the whole time since I was told I had a son. I wouldn't have traded the phone call for anything in the world, and my darling lad gave me the best Yule present I could have asked for. I got to spend time with him, with 2000 miles between us. Got to spend time just being a mommy.

Thank you baby boy. Mommy loves you so much.

SP13 questions

2008-12-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

Part A:

Are you doing any holiday knitting?

I was, and now am done with everything that was planned. Even some that weren't planned.

Part B:

Have you finished?

All but the last item, a scarf. I would have been done, but ripped it back, since the handspun wasn't being nice to me. Now it's 2 rows with one ball, and 2 with another.

I was tagged

2008-12-16T04:06:00.000-05:00

I got tagged by GirlMeetsNeedle and decided to actually do it. Just for shites and giggles. (I'm medicated, shoot me)

Here's how it works:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things about Betty:

1. I can only fall asleep on my tummy, with a hand on my hipbone
2. I can't poke my belly button, or let anyone else do it. It makes me sick
3. I love lightning storms, but hate thunder. It seriously freaks me out.
4. If I don't have something in my hands I fidget and pick at my fingers
5. I have *never* been bitten by a mosquito, I don't taste right or something
6. My body chemistry changes every once in a while, and it throws things outa wack. I become sensitive to things I've used for months/years, and can suddenly use things i haven't in a long time. Right now I'm washing my hair every other day, instead of maybe 2 times a week.

I'm cheating. If you read my blog, and see this, you're tagged! Enjoy

So totally random

2008-12-16T03:46:00.000-05:00

I couldn't sleep, and had already taken a muscle relaxant. This is the result. More random little things about me than could ever be useful. Enjoy. =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you were a hot dog , would you eat yourself?
Hell no, I can't eat those things
Kennedy Assassination – conspiracy or did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? I say there was someone else too, but who knows?
Did you like Jurassic Park III? – if yes, you must explain why. Never seen it, so no idea
Do you like GUC & Cleolinda? Do I like WHO? Not a clue
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? 253
Did you witness Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch? Nope
Do you consider bowling a sport? Nope
Do you know what “FPS” stands for? (note: contrary to popular belief, it is not “Free Patrick Stewart”) FIrst Person SHooter?
Speaking of Patrick Stewart, what is your favorite Star Trek series? Next Generation
Which Buffy character do you identify with? Willow
Did you want Joey to end up with Pacey or Dawson? Never watched the Creek
What color is your hair? Brown, for the moment
Do you find Howard Stern offensive? Sometimes
How many chucks would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? 42
Do you have a favorite “indie-dyer”? If so, who? ME, of course
Do you use hand-knit dishcloths? hells yes
What new technique would you like to try? (dye yarn, felting, lace, socks, etc.) um, stranded or fair isle knitting
Do you know what Sparkle Motion is? nope
Do you like Starbucks? Seattle's Best, thanks
Do you eat fast food? If yes, what is your favorite? In-n-Out (which isn't near me, waaaaa)
Coke or Pepsi? Cherry coke, which is weird, casue growing up I was pure Pepsi
tea or coffee ? or hot chocolate ? Tea (green) please
Do you wear hand-knit items? If yes, what is your favorite? whatever I have on at the time
Do you have any favorite Etsy shops? A bunch
What is one pattern you love, but would never make for yourself? most sock patterns
What are your feelings on stalking RPattz? Who?
Do you like Harry Potter? Yes, and need to re-read teh last book, since I forgot
What is your favorite book? Way too many to pick
What is your favorite song? Drift Away is pretty high on the charts
What is your favorite band? not picking one
Are there any celebrities you would like to meet? Who/Why? Nope, not really
Do you like Green Eggs & Ham? They can be tasty
Are you a monogamous knitter? Or a WIP-Hoor? I'm a WIP slut baby
Have you listened to RPattz musicality over at YouTube? nope
What is your favorite TV show? NCIS and Good Eats
Have you seen Meet the Feebles? (and will you admit it, if you did??) Meet the WHO?
VanHalen - Sammy Hagar or David Lee Roth? Sammy Hagar
Are there any non-knit/crochet crafts you enjoy? Spinning, tatting, weaving, beading
Why is the rum always gone? Cause I like Vodka better
What is the secret of life? *holds up a finger* this one thing
Explain the complex theoretical problems of the Babble Fish. 42
What was your favorite childhood outfit? Jeans, mom's red checked tank, and boots
If you’re riding in the car late at night with the windows down, what cd is playing on the stereo? GOdsmack or Nickleback
If you were on a deserted island and had only one skein of yarn, which would it be? something cotton
If your life were a television program, would it be a half-hour sitcom or a one hour drama? drama lately
What would be the title of said show? nope
Do you know how to pronounce Clapotis correctly? Yes
What one superhero power would you want and why? Human Teleportation over great distances
Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? If so, what is it? A stuffed Panda Scott gave me. Wiggles A. Panda. And there's also Tommy (groundhog) and Maize (alpaca fluff teddy bear) on the bed
Describe your style in one word. comfy
You randomly walk into a bookstore on a whim & buy a book. It’s most likely a ___Science Fiction____(fill in genre here)
Do you collect anything? Rubber Ducks, Yoda things, stuffed critters, yarn, books, fiber, dust
What’s your favorite smell? Least favorite? citrus smells and LIGHT floral. I can't stand the smell of bacon cooking. Or any food burning. The step-dad always burns his oatmeal and it stinks up the house. I have a very sensitive nose now
What’s your living situation? Live with parents? In a dorm? Apartment? House? With mum/sis/niece/step-dad. In a house
What do you do in your leisure time? Craft, read, cook, talk to Scott, computer
What do you like to do on weekends? see above
What is the strangest thing you’d wear on your head? A stuffed christmas tree with Disney ornaments that lights up
If you were to fill the sun with rats, how many rats would you need? 57,597,576,954,645,354,687,389,587.34568742 (I guessed, can you tell?)

I'm still here, Promise

2008-12-11T19:50:00.000-05:00

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. I've been busting me butt to make sure I got Scott's Stocking done in time to mail. And I seemed to have managed it. I can't embroider worth a damn, but it's done, and would make a killer knee sock for me. Scott's only requirements were "It be green right?" and "It be LONG!" Yes, he's that cute. So, his long green stocking, with mommy's crummy dot matrix printing on it.
Since I couldn't just let him have a stocking from Mommy (due to our ex roommate I'm cash strapped until his mangy butt moves out of the apartment and gets the deposit back for me) I also made him his own little Loch Ness Monster. Isn't Nessie the cutest? Best yet (in my yarn needs) she matches his stocking, so I know the wee laddie will like it. J has assured me that Scott will like Nessie, but I have worries. I know they are grounds less worries. You may notice my Nessie doesn't have the horn things that the pattern suggests, but I feel that she didn't need them.

Growing up we had this little lucite block with a LNM in it, and she didn't have horns. We still have that one in the curio cabinet, and I still love to look at her.

So, now that I'm not cranking out the presents for Scott what am I doing? Well, I'm making presents for other family members, but since they don't have to be mailed to the West Coast I can take a little more time on them. I've also started a little "selfish" knitting. I'm working on the Elfin Bride sweater pattern from DomiKNITrix. This is a mega uber involved pattern, and she only shows pictures in her book, cause it's 19 pages of regular paper to print it off. And to think I call this my "relaxation" knitting. I wrote about 2 years ago that I was gonna knit this, and now I finally have gotten around to it. Wheeeeeee!

When I'm out and about, knitting in public I can usually be found at a little coffee shop in Portage called Water Street. My knitting group meets up there, the Zombie Prom Date Knitters. A more awesome bunch of crazies you'd be hard to find. We're cool, you should come visit if you're in town.

Layers - I'm either an Onion or a Parfait

2008-12-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

LAYER 1: Tell us your…

* Name: Betty
* Birthday (month, day): October 6
* Birthplace: Barstow CA
* Current location: K'zoo MI
* Eye color: Blue
* Hair color: Brown
* Height: 5′3″
* Righty or lefty: righty
* Zodiac sign: Libra

LAYER 2: What’s…

* Your heritage: Mutt
* The shoes you wore today: None, 2 pair of socks though
* Your weakness: chocolate
* Your fears: losing my family, spiders, crowds, and now being a bad mommy/Scott not liking me
* Your perfect pizza: garlic sauce, chicken, bacon, green onions, lots of cheese, tomatos
* Goals you’d like to achieve: get memories back
* Your first waking thoughts: Shit, I'm up. Can I go back to sleep?
* Your best physical feature: My eyes or hair
* Your most missed memory: Mid October 05- October 26th 08. Everything in there

LAYER 3: Do you…

* Smoke: Never have, never will
* Cuss: I ain't got no chicken duck turkey goose mouth (that would be a fowl mouth, but yes, I do)
* Sing: sometimes
* Do you think you’ve been in love: I know I have
* Did you go to college: I did, and want to go again
* Liked high school: sometimes
* Want to get/stay married: no
* Believe in yourself:sometimes
* Think you’re attractive: not often
* Think you’re a health freak: hell no
* Get along with your parent(s): with me mum
* Like thunderstorms: no, I like lightning, not thunder
* Play an instrument: I can play the spoons and want to learn the violin

LAYER 4: In the past month have you…

* Drank alcohol: nope
* Smoked: Nope
* Done a drug: None that were not prescription
* Made out: no *sniff*
* Gone on a date: No, again *sniff*
* Gone to the mall: Yeah, nothing else to do here
* Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No, but next time I hit the store I'm getting some damn it
* Eaten sushi: again with teh *sniff*
* Been on stage: nopers
* Been dumped: no
* Gone skating: I don't glide, i fall, so no
* Gone skinny dipping: WTF?! There is snow on the ground and I'm bundled up. Hells no!
* Stolen Anything: not yet, but some time for myself would be nice

LAYER 5: Have you ever…

* Played a game that required removal of clothing: no
* Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: No run for me, it's the only thing to ever get me almost puking drunk
* Been caught “doing something”: not for a while
* Been called a tease: Yesh
* Gotten beaten up: No
* Shoplifted: Yes

LAYER 6:

* Age you did get/hope to be married: 23
* Numbers and names of children (either you have or want): Scott, 2.5
* Describe your dream mate:
* How do you want to die: in my sleep
* What did you want to be when you grow up: Chef
* What country would you most like to visit: The Uk

Layer 7

* Name a drug you’ve taken illegally: None really, unless you count Mom's pills that I have an Rx for, but can't afford my own ones
* Name a person you could trust with my life: Scott
* Name a favorite CD that you own: my Ipod
* Number of piercings: none
* Number of tattoos: none, yet
* Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: A couple, I think 5
* Name a past experience that you regret: Aaahh…some skeletons are in their closets for a reason, but I do regret not going back to school BEFORE I had LW.

Why I should leave the house more often

2008-11-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

Well, I get great mail, that's for sure. On Wednesday I was off to Gamma's house (that's the Great Gran on mom's side) so that I could make the turkey the next morning. Gamma doesn't really cook anymore, and her daughter isn't a cook at all. We weren't sure if the other kids would be coming up for the holiday, and didn't want to risk someone not having it made. As we were pulling out of the driveway the mail woman was just getting to our box, and I wanted to stop, since I was expecting a package. But alas, the BOC wouldn't stop for 3 seconds. *sigh* Typical to my life, the package was there. 8 ounces of beautiful 80/20 Merino Tencel roving hand-dyed by the wonderful Jessica of Zarzuela's Fibers. Check out her Etsy Shop. I won this in a contest she held in her blog at the beginning of the month. It's her Seascape colorway, and is so amazingly soft. I'm hoping to get a heavy 2-ply laceweight yarn out of it, and make something uber wonderful.

Here we have 1/2 of the fiber, in all it's beautiful colors. I decided I was going to halve it, than stip it lengthwise 4 times in one half, and draft it. For the other half I plan on drafting it as is. So one ply will have shorter color sections, and the second ply will have nice long ones.

Here we have a small section of the pre-drafted strips of the first half. I love the pure white silky strands of the Tencel that are all shiney. I think it'll look amazing once it's spun.

And here's proof it'll look amazing as it's spun, a fine single of the pre-drafted fiber. So yummy.

Than today I decided I was going to take advantage of the Black Friday Sales and hit Jo-Ann's for cotton dyes. They had the tie-dye kits on sale for $5 (that's 50% off) and I had a coupon for 20% off the entire purchase, if I got there before noon. So I actually got out of bed when I woke up, instead of trying to fall back asleep. I managed to get 5 kits, for a total of 15 more bottles of dyes, in the basic colors. I have enough empty bottles now that I can mix new colors up as needed. I also was able to pick up a new cable for my digital camera, since the one I had been using went to CA with J and Scott. I've been using a basic camera for now, and missed the loverly pictures this one takes. When I don't smudge the lens.

When I got home I had this bouncy 6 yo niece telling me I had a package. Now, I hadn't ordered anything, and had no idea what it could be. More so when I saw the city it was mailed from. Mailed from right here in MI. It's from my secret pal.
This loverly yarn here is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, is a beautiful teal color. It's not as dim as the picture would suggest. For those willing to go hunt the site to see the true color, it's #1294. I think my SP is trying to pass on a hint, to get making socks again. Now I can, because I was also gifted some size1 bamboo DPN's. I swear to make sure these don't meet the same fate. And behind everything else, there's that pattern. Which pattern is it, you might be asking yourself. Well, it's the Leaf Lace Sock by Fiber Trends of course.
On the Scotty front, tonight when talking to him, I asked if he'd like socks. "Nooooo" A Scarf? "Noo" A highland cow (been making one for him) "Yesh". A Christmas stocking? "Yesh". He wanted a gree one, so I'll be makign an olive green with grey details, and maybe some red. He doesn't seem big on the reds lately, so I'll most likely leave that out. If I have enough yarn I'l supposed to make one for J too. Soctty said.

He's doing well, and on Thanksgiving helped a friend's son decorate the Chirstmas tree they have. 2 kids under 5 decorated the tree, and I have video proof. He's going to have his half birthday in December. Growing up so fast.

Mondo massive Blog post

2008-11-23T20:12:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you're all waiting with baited breath to learn who answered all the questions properly. There were 2 who got them all right, and something fun happened with that. But first, the questions.

1) In August of '08 I fell and sprained what? My Knee
2) My son's name, and birthday? Scott and June 9th, 2006
3) What life changing events have happened to me this year (there's 2 answers) I lost 3 years of memory due to concussions, and got divorced.
4) My favorite color Blues, deep reds, greens, and grays (yes, more than one, so that was a toss up)
5) I made something for my MIL, what was it? A shawl. A lot of you said scarf, which never got made. At least no one said doily!
6) What to name my wheel (no wrong answer) Arduwynne (which has already been shortened to Win when I'm in a hurry)

Ok, so the whole reason I really picked 2 winners was the name one submitted scarded me. I am *terrified* of spiders, and while Arachnae is a beautiful name, it could never be. So I went with 2 winners. Oh yeah, should maybe tell you's all who they is. The first is the beautiful, talented and mother of 2 beautiful little lads, AMY, also known as ArtemisOrange on plurk. And the second is another beautiful woman, soon to be in the LSG (Lazy Stupid and Godless) calender as an unknown month. The talented Cadence , known in plurk fame as GirlMeetsNeedle. BTW, if you readers aren't on plurk, get yourselves up there. It's fun.

Prize packages are being decided as a surprise for my 2 winners. I'm sure they will involve some baked item, some handspun yarns, and other treats.

On the spinning front, I just finished spinning up 349 yards of a heavy lace/light fingering weight yarn, in beautiful purples and blues. Mom has named it Lake Michigan Twilight (since she's who picked what to spin)

As Arduwynne's "christening" project, I'm going to spin for a real project!!! Ok, pick yourselves up off the floor, weirder things have been known to happen. I know that I usually just spin and horde, or have no real plan with what I should do with the yarns. But I want to knit a Hemlock Ring Blanket and so I am going to spin some of the massive bag o' fleace that I got a year and a bit ago. It's t his beautiful black-ish brown and sure to spin up all pretty. I'll also be spinning things up for sale some more, so I can get items posted. I'm also doing some testing of ideas/items to see what everyone thinks of them.

It's a lot easier to see what I have for sale since I got the fibers and yarns all sorted. Ok, the fibers are, but I need to rig up a "closeline" type thing so I can hang the yarns from that, and see at a glance. Than there's the idea of getting a lot of priority mail boxed from USPS and using them as storage. That caused some laughs, but I'm good for now.

Scott is thriving in CA it seems. He just got a pet, his first. It's a beta fish named Ulric (I know, weird right?). Today he's at the Disney parks with his Great Uncle Jeff (he works for Disney and gets them in free) and I'm going to assume his uncle Caleb, who just graduated from Marine Boot Camp and will spend the next 6 months of his life in Butt-f'ing-nowhere. Also known as 29 Palms. I hope he enjoys having to travel at least 20 miles for anything. Sally was born out there on base, and they prob still haven't forgotten the story of that. I had the decent sense to be born in Barstow, in town. That's where mom and Robert were stationed at that time. Congrats to Caleb for finishing.

I'm off to Plurk, attempt eating (got the stoopid tummy bug going around) and knit some. I swore that I wouldn't start to knit another item until everything but the beaded lace shawl was off the needles. I finished the Jaxy Cowl last night (pictures soon) and will be frogging the lace shawl, cause I've screwed up several times. So that takes care of everything. I think I'll knit a few scarves. One in my Malabrigio Lace, and one in a silk yarn I recovered from a tank top. I know I blogged about that one. Maybe something with leaves, since it's green.

Toods for now my darlins!

Plurk Contest, and other stuff

2008-11-17T02:40:00.000-05:00

So I promised the folks over there on Plurk that I would do something special for my 1,000th plurk. What better than a contest? I mean, my wheel needs a name, and so here goes nothing. It's simple and easy. Ok, you have to find the answers to a few questions for me.

1) In August of '08 I fell and sprained what?
2) My son's name, and birthday
3) What life changing events have happened to me this year (there's 2 answers)
4) My favorite color
5) I made something for my MIL, what was it?
6) What to name my wheel (no wrong answer)

Ok, that be it. There will be a prize package put together for the winner who gets the questions right. Oh, and gives a name for my wheel. Prizes will range from home made fudge, yarn, fiber, and other items. Depends on the winner for some. Oh, and Secret Pal, you can enter if you want, and I can save the package for later for you.

Please send answers to vxb222 (at) gmail (dot) com to avoid others seeing them and swiping. All entries should be in by Wed the 19th at midnight.

Now for other stuff, I'm knitting a shawl out of the sweater silk, and it's beaded. I know huh? Freaking cool. I'll post pictures when I get better ones. It's been snowing all damn day here.

Great Acheivment and Great Loss

2008-11-13T17:16:00.000-05:00

The last few days have been good to me. I've spun up 230 yards of 3 ply sport/worsted weight yarn. A beautiful heathered gray color, made of a blend of white and gray merino, gray alpaca, and black Border Collie fluff. Yes, that's a dog. I'd say a 75/15/10 blend of the 3 fibers.

Than I did a first for me. I made a sock. For Scott, so it's not big. It's worked in sport weight on size 2's so it'll wear very well as a sipper too. The mate will soon follow, once I recover from losing a few friends of mine.

Yes, today a few friends of mine were resting on the couch, and suddenly a big foot came and stepped on them. Ok, I admit, it was my foot. 4 size 2 vintage rosewood DPN's have passed on to the great woodpile in the sky. The lone survivor was off on the table, cause he's not the shrpest needle in the bunch. Thankfully I have circs in size 2, and can make the other sock.
The lone survior over there, laughing at them. Little does he know that now he's a shawl pin.

On plurk and other things

2008-11-11T14:55:00.001-05:00

Ya know, sometimes I forget that just because I'm on Plurk doesn't mean the rest of y'all are. See, I talk about my days and what I'm working on over there, and forget about this here.

I've been spinning a lot lately. I can do this because as a b-day present Mommy got me an electric motor attachment for my Wheel (Wheel needs a name, I'm sensing a contest soon). Yesterday I spun and plyed 4 oz of Merino/silk top into a 3 ply heavy worsted yarn. This is to go with the 2 oz of this top already spun up. It's destined to become something for Scott. Not sure what yet, maybe a scarf.

Today I'm spinning a Merino/alpaca/Border Collie blend. I know it's somewhere around here in my archives. Look for early August, I saw it there. The Merino/alpaca blend is a lovely slate gray, and there is also white merino blended in with the black Border Collie. It's making for this beautiful heathered gray that I'm loving. I'm spinning it fine and hope to make it a 3-ply heavy lace. I'd love for enough to knit a cowl or scarf for me.

I've been bitten by the cowl bug. Right now I'm working on one inspired by a hat a friend in knit group was knitting. It's a mobius cowl worked with an applied cable edging. The cable it's self is reversible (turned on both sides, and worked in a 1-1 ribbing) so it flows with the who mobius idea. Yes, the mobius is worked from the center out, using Cat's method.

I'm also going to knit Scott a sweater, and promised Sally one too. Both are in the planning process. I"m also going to finally attempt socks. Someday. Maybe start with Scott sized ones. Makes me wonder what size he wears anyway.

I'm trying to prep yarns for work, and on the topic of work, the name has been changed. It seems there was a Tangled Web Fibers out there on the interwebs so the name was changed. Besides, not it's Punny. Sheeps of Egyptian Cotton. When I was growing up my half sister Kathy (ask some day, maybe I"ll tell you fun stories about her) told me the clouds being relfected on the ocean were sheep. And me, being the smart wee child, asked how they didn't felt. So she said they were sheeps of Cotton, and that's where Cotton came from. A few years later I got proof she was being silly, but than it wasn't too late to tell her. So, in homage of Kathy and my sillyness, Sheeps of Egyptian Cotton has been born. Shop blog and Etsy Storefront are at those links. Store is empty, but only for now.

I've been tagged

2008-11-10T23:04:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Girl Meets Needle over on her blog with this, and for a change thought I'd actually do it. Here's goes. The deal is only one word answers can be used.

Where is your mobile phone?
Bed

Where is your significant other?
wanted

Your hair colour?
brown

Your mother?
downstairs

Your father?
asshole

Your favorite thing?
Knitting

Your dream last night?
peaceful

Your dream goal?
memories

The room you’re in?
bedroom

Your hobby?
Knitting

Your fear?
spiders

Where do you want to be in 6 years?
there

Where were you last night?
chair

What you’re not?
sporty

One of your wish-list items?
yarn

Where you grew up?
CA!!!

The last thing you did?
ate

What are you wearing?
PJ's

Your TV?
his

Your pets?
none

Your computer?
crap

Your mood?
whimper

Missing someone?
Scott

Your car?
feet

Something you’re not wearing?
bra

Favourite shop?
Yarn

Your summer?
forgotten

Love someone?
Absolutely

Your favorite color?
blue

When is the last time you laughed?
today

When was the last time you cried?
yesterday

And that's all folks!

I can't really tag anyone, but those followers I have, consider yourself tagged if you see this. Oh, and whomever gets to be my SP13 partner

Secret Pal 13 Questions

2008-11-09T21:13:00.000-05:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love cotton and other plant based fibers. I can use some wools, but they must be super soft. Malabrigo is about the only one I can wear that's commercially produced.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Um.........the cases they come in? All my hooks are in a susan bates case, and there are too many to easily fit, but I can find it. My Options are in their binder, and the few other ones I have are just lying around

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for 10 years and consider myself an advanced intermediate. I was taught by a sub teacher in my German class sophomore year of high school

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope, that's too easy. But I have wonderful ideas, and can post them if y'all want

5. What's your favorite scent?
Clean natural scents. No artificial perfumes. I like citrus scents and spices. Oh, and honeysuckle.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate, around 75%. Gummys. Dark chocolate Peanut M&M's

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I spin, needle tat, crochet, learning to weave.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I listed to a lot of stuff. Not a big classical fan, nor rap or gospel. Yes the computer plays MP3's and I have an Ipoop.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Blues, greens, deep reds, and grays. I really am not a pink/yellow/orange fan though I will take a dusky rose color

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a son who lives with me for short periods of time (reap past entries to see why) and no pets. I'm not allergic to them though. I live with my mum, sister, and niece right now.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, Yes, Yes, no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Lace. I love to knit lace shawls. I'm learning socks (ok, at this point I've yet to knit a sock). Baby things.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Right now I'm working on a Mobius Cowl and a sweater for my sister. I'm also knitting a blanket for a friend who's expecting. Sweaters for Scott too.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES!!! I love getting homemade things.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circular by fat. Metal too. I don't like bamboo, they feel odd to me. I have a set of rosewod DPN's I'm learning to knit socks on, and those are the only wood ones I have so far

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I use my mom for ball winding and I have a niddy noddy. No swift though

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Not sure, can't remember right now. I'll go with 2 years and 5 months (Scott)

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I like Halloween the best. I observe Christmas, though I'm not really a Christian. It's more about spending time with family and friends, and sharing a little handmade item with them.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Rubber Rucks, Yoda things (green dude from Star Wars), Yarn and lace patterns.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have no subscriptions and no books or patterns spring to mind. I plan of spending some time in the bookstore soon, and will change this as that can be updated. :)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Socks.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet, but I want to learn. 8.5" around the ball, 9.25" fron index toe to heel, 9.25" around ankle. Not sure if that helps. I like socks to midcalf (my winter boots are combat boots). I have no idea if these measurments help. Oh, I wear a size 7.5 in US womens.

23. When is your birthday?
October 6th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
vxb222

2008-10-28T18:02:00.000-04:00

I don't know how to tell people this, but due to a hail strike on the head, I've lost 3 years. I know most of you are saying "What, again??!!?" Yeah, it sucks. I have a lot to adjust to. I'm still here though, plugging along.

Knitting away even. And enjoying myself while doing it. Pictures of projects will be posted, soon.

I can't give a Scott update, like I seem to. All I know is he's happily back in California again. I'm waiting to get to know him.

Moore reading

2008-10-18T13:13:00.000-04:00

Maybe I should pace myself, but here I go. Onto my THIRD book of the day. Bloodsucking Fiends, again by Christopher Moore. And no, before you all ask, I'll not be doing any more Moore today. They're at the ex's place in MN, so I might be reading some tomorrow when it ends.

I think next it'll be Promised Land by Connie Willis. On the bus I'll prob. read fairy tales to Scott.

I played the rice thing and donated 5,ooo grains to the cause.

Off to read more.

Read-a-thon Start

2008-10-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know I said I would be doing updates on Plurk, but you can't update what's not been officially started can you?

First on the lap is Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore. It's his first novel and one I've read before. I like his work, it's funny and quick to read.

And speaking fo reading, I'm off. Plurk you later!

11:15am

Did I forget to mention I'm a fast reader? Onto Fluke, by Christopher Moore. :D

Read-a-thon

2008-10-17T14:32:00.000-04:00

A 24-hour Read-a-thon. Uber wonderful. I blame the thought of a long bus ride ahead of me to agree to this. Plus, it's reading. Besides eating and sleeping, it's my favorite thing.

I'll be Plurk-ing my updates to this, cause it's so much easier than blogging while on a moving bus. I promise to join all plurks together as a blog post by Monday night.

Here's the deal. Starts at 8am Eastern and you just read for 24 hours. You don't have to read non-stop. You can read whatever. You can take breaks. Just read. More info here!

Read with me, and cheer us all on. Check my plurks to see what I'm reading, and what page I'm at. I'll post random sentences that I love.

It's over

2008-10-14T01:40:00.000-04:00

It's over, it's done, it's final. I'm speaking of course of the Divorce. Final on the 3rd of October.

Somebody

2008-10-14T01:38:00.000-04:00

Ok, I was asked what it was I was looking for in a relationship now, and while writing it all down found this song. It's perfect.

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who'll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She'll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She'll hear me out
And wont easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone who'll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don't want to be tied
To anyone's strings
I'm carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when I'm asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I'll get away with it

Depeche Mode - Somebody

I was bored

2008-09-29T19:04:00.000-04:00

If you're one of the 3 people who haven't seen this one, it works like so:

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
Using only the first page, pick an image.
Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into the bighugelabs.com mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you wanted to be when you grew up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Add one of your own flickr images.

There it is... and if you haven't done one of these, you should, you can get some strange results for some things...

Dragon eggs

2008-09-23T17:59:00.000-04:00

Kitty's Egg

My egg

Scott's Egg

My Egg

Come visit and click my eggs, an some day they'll hatch into pretty dragons.

Lace wish list

2008-09-19T16:22:00.001-04:00

Because I'm always losing things lately, I'm posting my lace wish list here. All the books I want to get, so far. I love knitting lace, if you can't tell.

Creating Original Handknitted Lace
—Nancy Nehring

Knitting Lace

-Barbara Abbey

Victorian Lace
—Jane Sowerlaby

Arctic Lace
—Donna Druchunas

Shetland Lace Knitting from Charts
—Hazel Carter

Knitting from 19th Century Sources
—Jules and Kaethe Kliot, eds.

Patterns for the Art of Lace Knitting: the Complete Works of Rachel Schnelling
—compiled by Gloria Penning

Knitted Heirloom Lace II

Knitted Heirloom Lace III

Miniature Lace

Danish Lace Treasures

Old World Treasures
—all compiled by Gloria Penning

Bundanaurriklaedid

- Marilyn Van Keppel

Three-cornered and Long Shawls
—Sigridur Halldórsdóttir

Heirloom Knitting
—Sharon Miller

Knitted Lace Patterns of Christine Duchrow,
Vol. 1, 2, and 3

Knitted Lace: Kunst-Stricken
—Marie Neidner

Knitted Lace 2: Kunst-Stricken
—Marie Neidner

Gossamer Webs Design Collection
—Galina Khmeleve

Stahman's Shawls and Scarves
—Myrna Stahman

Back in MI

2008-09-15T23:05:00.001-04:00

So I'm finally back in MI, for a total of 3 weeks before I get to see the wee one again. Seems so stoopid to have to come back here again, for that short amount of time.

I'm working on a spinning commission right now, and it's going good so far. A very nice and easy going one at that. I'll post pictures of the yarns as they are done.

No other news right now, except my "little girl" Kitty (niece) turned 6 today. Happy birthday Kitty Kat. Auntie loves you!

Scott

2008-09-08T10:30:00.001-04:00

Must blame one of the blogs I read for this site. It's fun. Try it, you'll like it

Mall Saga

2008-09-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

Ok, I really don't like the mall people. Went down Tuesday to try and get insurance info and accident report, no go. "The Hospitals and Dr's offices will have to call us for that themselves" in the case of insurance. So I let the hospital and Orthopedist's office know that. Come Thursday morning, right before my appt I get a call from the Ortho office and "They won't give us their insurance info, they say it has to go through your insurance". Now for those fellow readers who know me, y'all know I have no insurance right now. So I had to schedule an appt with my Primary Dr out here and borrow the $50 they want as a "down payment" for this.

Still need to get a damn lawyer to call me back, the only one I'd gotten a hold of said She'd contact her partner in the Twin Cities (why a lawyer out of the area called me is beyond me) and find out if he had space in his books for me, or something like that. No call back, from her or otherwise. *grr*

Seriously NO knitting done this week, because it's too hard to concentrate on what I'm doing. For future reference, Sprains really hurt, and when the Dr you see in the ER gives you just enough pain meds to get through the 3 days before the holiday is up and not much else you've got yo actually figure out how many you can take, so you'll still have some for the rest of the time. I was taking 1 most days, and on a few a whopping 1.5 pills. He only gave me 12 in the first place. I'm hoping I can get something from my PC, because this freaking hurts. And hobbling around on crutches just screw up my other calf, major knots in it. Gotta ask him about that as well.
Figure if I'm there might as well ask all the things I've been needing to.

A day at the Mall

2008-08-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

Usually when you go to the mall you have a good time, not wind up with a sprained knee. Not so for me today.

I was walking along with Scott on my shoulders in our local mall and slipped on a puddle of water, which even security there said they couldn't see right above it. So now I have an immobilizer on, and have to go back there on Monday to get their insurance info, and get them to cover all the damn bills. Scott is fine, I'm just the hurt one, so I don't mine uber much.

Finished knitting the Veil of Isis Shawl, will block and photograph it this week. I didn't knit the edging, cause I decided I didn't like it enough to do. :-P It's pretty but this will be a baby blanket, and it's easier to block a square than a square with pointed edging.

Off to the Ren Faire tomorrow, and will have fun with that. Walking around with a cane, and can't wear the skirt I made yesterday for it. :(

Government bans Knitting!

2008-08-26T14:11:00.000-04:00

Federal Government Bans Knitting in Public Buildings

WASHINGTON, DC (AP) -- Citing the rapid rise in the number of new knitters over the past 12 months, the United States Congress and Senate have both taken unprecedented measures in passing a bill banning knitting inside any public building, according to documents released Thursday.

Under the terms of the new law, knitters are required to take their knitting at least 10 yards from any public building. Although they are allowed to carry knitting inside, anybody caught engaging in the act of knitting may be subject to a $10,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment.

According to recent studies, the mere sight of a knitter actively knitting increases a person's odds of becoming a knitter by 200 percent. The dangers of second-hand knitting have long been a concern for Federal worker Irene Schlamp, who is happy to see the bill pass. "It's been a big problem in my department, where people often take four, five, or even six knitting breaks a day. Those of us who want to do our work can't because we're so distracted by the clacking of those damned needles."

But not everybody is happy about the news. "This is so unfair!" says Betty Schnoodle, a worker at a U.S. Postal Service processing plant in Louisiana. "Why should we be forced to huddle outside in the cold when we want to take a knitting break? We're not hurting anybody."

Human rights group AmKnitty International has already filed a suit claiming the new law is unconstitutional and violates the civil rights of knitters everywhere.

Yes, it's a joke folks. Could you see this really happening?

2008-08-25T22:10:00.000-04:00

I'm plugging away on my Veil of Isis shawl, just started knitting the edging charts today. Already on row 7 of 31! Considering row 7 will have 504 stitches in it, that's a feat in itself. I just started knitting them today.

I'm still in MN visiting with Scott. Because of the Army screwing over the roommate who was to loan me the money for my trip back to MI I'm still here. I'd complain, but I get to spend time with Scott. Yeah, ouch, twist my arm why don't ya?

No spinning, cause the wheel is in MI.

I'll be sending out a big box to my SP12 partner once I actually have money. I may add the VOI to it, since I want to knit other ones. :) Just need a reason.

SP 12 Questions

2008-08-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?
Um, the All Around Gymnastics? I do just about everything, and can usually do it well. Except Socks, don't know why.

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?

I have thought about it, and really want to. Maybe Next year.

50 tricial facts you could have lived w/o knowing

2008-08-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

Fifty things you didn't know about me. At least I don't think you do.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Deff yes on this one

2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? nope, can say I never have

3. Do you own a gun? No

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Moot point, cause there ain't one around here

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? depends on the Dr and what it's for

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Not a big fan, I still can't stop thinking that the ends are spiders. Thanks bunches Kathy.

7. Favorite Christmas Song? Grandma got run over by a reindeer, or any parody. Love Bob Rivers

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Soda or water

9. Can you do push ups? um..........we'll go with not anymore

10. Favorite movie? Ever After, Braveheart, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Love Actually

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Don't wear it actually, can't wear necklaces anymore, and no longer can wear my rings. So I keep them all nearby, so I can play with them

12. Favorite hobby? knitting, crochet, spinning, cooking, reading, sleeping (when you get as little as I do, it's a hobby)

13. Do you work with people who idolize you? Nope

14. Do you have ADD? Don't think so

15. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Temper issues

16. Middle name? Jane (After grandma)

17. Three thoughts at this moment: I hope Scott will still want me when I get there, Please let there be no freaks with knives on my buses tonight, god, i need sleep.

18. Three things you bought yesterday. um, 2 dill pickles and a corn dog, and some Hawaiian shaved ice

19. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly. water, cherry coke, iced tea

20. Current worry right now? Scott

21. Current hate right now? frustrated over this stupid divorce

22. Favorite place to be? with Scott

23. How did you bring in the New Year? I have no idea actually, sad to say. Stupid concussion

24. Where would you like to go? To Scott, and to CA

25. Name three people who will complete this. not a clue, no idea who actually reads this blog. If you read, wanna say hi?

26. Who's answer do you want to read the most? Again, not a clue

27. What color shirt are you wearing?black tank with Alice and the Cheshire Cat

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? never have, wanna give me some to test?

29. Can you whistle? sometimes

30. Favorite color? blue

31. Would you be a pirate? I could be a wench

32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower

33. Favorite girl's name? Grace

34. Favorite boy's name? Scott (sensing a theme here?)

35.What's in your pocket right now? not a thing, not even lint

36. Last thing that made you laugh? Craig Fergison

37. Best bed sheets as a child? Give hugs sheets, they had these mom/dad people, with kids. I miss them

38. Worst injury you've ever had? broken arm in 5 spots (all greenstick fractures, so NO cast) age 4) Broken arm in 7 spots, age 7, broken kneecap age 18. Take your pick

39. Do you love where you live? Yeah, so don't love this place.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? Actually none, I don't have a home. I have a bed in the computer room of my mom's place, and that's it

41. Who is your loudest friend? Um, Justin Brito or Ross, whichever he's going by now. Love ya man, but it's true

42. How many dogs do you have? not a one

43. Does someone have a crush on you? doubtful. only person who could have doesn't want me

44. If you could marry a movie actor/actress who would it be? Not sure

45. What is your favorite book? Too many to pick, seriously

46. What is your favorite candy? 75% dark chocoalte

47. Who is your favorite sports team? um.......none?

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and maybe amazing grace, but that's not a biggie

49. What were you doing at 12 AM last night? Knitting and watching clips on Youtube

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? I haven't woken up yet this morning, I have yet to go to bed. Ask me later.

County Fair

2008-08-07T00:23:00.000-04:00

Today I went to the Kalamazoo County Fair, with free tickets from Portage Public Library's summer reading program. It was fun, and I would up eating too much Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Strawberry Colada flavor, so can you blame me?

I came away with something odder than the usual fair things. A mega double handful of Border Collie hair. Now you may be scratching your head and wondering what I'd want that for. Spinning, that's what. This hair has almost no guard hairs in it, the dog was freshly washed, and the ladies thought I was a little strange, but let me have it anyway. They admitted that while they spun they had never thought of spinning puppy fluff. Almost pure black BCH is being blended with whit BFL (hehe, letters are fun things). I'm wishing I had some actual hand carders now though, cause dog slicker brushes will take me a while to blend this up.

Dog hair is often called Chiengora, and is a beautiful fiber. It's warmer than wools, up to 8 times warmer. Yes, that's as warm as it's bunny "cousin" angora. It's best when blended with wool, to minimize shedding. It halos once washed, and no, it doesn't get that wet dog smell every time it's washed. Once it's been washed and cleaned the first time it will no longer smell like a wet dog. It's slightly heavier than wools, and has almost no elasticity. Another great reason to blend it with wool.

I'll post pictures prob this weekend, of the blended fiber. Tomorrow I get to get on a bus and see my baby boy! It's been almost 2 months, and it actually has been 7 weeks and 4 days. No, I'm not counting. :) This divorce is so stupid, and I don't feel bad in the least that now there's a bill to be paid to the lawyer. Ok, a little bad, because that's money that should be used for Scott, but I suggested he go to We The People and have it done there. Not my choice to go to a lawyer, so I refuse to feel uber guilty about it.

I get to see my boy! Happy day. 2 weeks isn't enough, but I'll take what I can get.

My love of crafting

2008-08-05T01:25:00.000-04:00

I was thinking about it today, how I got started in crafts. Mainly because I was poking through all my mom's beads, thinking about other beads for MS4 and my Veil of Isis shawl (cause I'll make another one, I'm digging it). Hopefully everyone will get this, how I put my love of all things crafts.

I got started doing simple bead work around age 6 as a way to have another thing I could do with mom. Mom raised my sister and I on her own until I was 7, and between school and working full time, it was sometimes hard for her to want to play with us, our games. I had my sister for that, so it didn't matter much. But I wanted a connection with mom, and she used to do beading. We got me some big ol' pony beads, and away I went, stringing them, as though it was the most perfect thing in the world, cause I was spending time with my mommy. Skip ahead about 3 years, and I was doing bead weaving without a loom, which can boggle the minds of normal adults, so it's an accomplishment for a 9 year old.

Summer of '93 (I was 9), I learned how to crochet. Our roommates mom taught me one night on a trip to Wyoming. She never told me about turning chains, and that I didn't have to skip the first stitch of every row with single crochets, so I made a LOT of triangles. In fact all of my Barbies had aprons, and I was sewing them together in some cracked out quilt. But I had fun. I've since become a proficient crocheter, and will work with size 30 thread, and smaller. Again, it was something I could do with mom, though she wasn't doing it much than.

Skip to 7th grade (age 12) I learned how to spin on a spindle from my World History teacher, Mrs H Smith. She had brought in her spinning wheel to show the 8th graders, and had a spindle to let us use. I begged for a spindle and wool for Christmas, that was all I wanted. The entire family thought I was off my rocker, but mom went and talked to Mrs Smith and found out where she could get it for me. Christmas morning came, and I spun all day on this very nice Turkish spindle, and by the end of vacation I had over 100 yards of REALLY fat and lumpy yarn, but I was so happy. I crocheted Mrs Smith a little cup and felted it, for her pencils, as a thank you.

I stayed content with crochet and beading and spinning for a few years after that. I was in awe of my great grandma's knitting skills, but since she was in MI, and I was in CA, I couldn't have her teach me, and my mom couldn't remember the little she'd known. In my sophomore year of high school ('91) a friend learned to knit, and offered to show me. That didn't work well, cause she couldn't cast on, and if it hadn't been for Sister M (a sub teacher) I would have never learned than. But in 5 minutes the good sister had shown me to cast on, and how to make a knit stitch. By the end of class that day I had about 2 feet of garter stitch. I went home, and because I was out of yarn, I had to go online and find out how to cast off. Than I learned how to purl, and before the night was done, I had another swatch, this time with a weird mix of stockinette and just textures knitting. By the time the week was over I was playing with lace and cables.

I've knit blankets for friends, a sweater for a boyfriend (stupid curse), and so many baby things now it's scary. I've designed my own patterns, changed them, and through it all I still get that special rush I used to get when I was stringing beads with my mom, all those years ago. The feeling that I'm sharing something with those I love, and sharing a pastime with others around the world. You can do crafts alone, or in a large group, and you'll always be a part of something larger. When you give away a hand crafted item, it's not just about the cost of what it took to make it. You're giving away your time, and love to another person, which I feel is the greatest gift of all.

Ok, I hope that makes sense to all you readers. If nothing else, you get to learn a bit more about me. :) So it can't be that bad, right?

I'm a Plurker

2008-08-01T22:33:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it. I've given in and joined Plurk. And I've gone a little odd with it. But what else is I to do?

2008-08-01T21:07:00.001-04:00

Ravelry is the devil. Or is run by devils. Or maybe is just my personal heaven. I'm gonna knit the Veil of Isis Shawl by BadCatDesigns. Seriously, go and lust, than go to the aforementioned devil place, and see that she's letting us fiberholics have it for free. *happy dance*

Another happy dance, Mystery Stole 4 signup's are open. Yes, I have. The bigger question is why haven't you yet? They're always pretty, and this time PLT's mum is doing it. That's Pink LemonTwist for you heathens.

Go forth my fibery children, and lust after the lacy goodness.

Your enabler,

The Crazy Crafter

Grrrrr

2008-07-31T21:55:00.000-04:00

No, no more spinning on the sweater silk has been done. Sad to say I had to quit one of my meds for a few weeks, because i couldn't get it (it's pricey) but that'll be changed manana. So right now there's lots of pain.

On a knitting note, I just finished a commission to knit an Owl backpack. This link was the inspiration for the lady. Here's a link to pictures of the finished item. Ok, bad pictures, but still.

I'm to go and see Scott next week, for 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!!!!! Yeah, had to say it like that. I still think I"m getting the shaft time wise but it's better than before, I got it upped to 2 weeks every 2 months, instead of 1. 1 week every 2 months was called reasonable parenting time. Excuse me, 12% of the year? 6 weeks a year was reasonable???? What planet does the law live in? 12 weeks isn't much better, but it's almost a quarter of the year, and I have it in writing from J that once we're both in CA (planning by New Years) that it'll be changed. I know, it's something small to pin my hopes on, but I'll take what I can get.

Off to find more patterns for things. And look at my wheel wishing I had an electric attachment for it, or the cash to get one. Soon.

Weeks 7 and 8

2008-07-31T21:49:00.000-04:00

Question of the Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

For added flavor (Get it?..."flavor"...I crack myself up!), post a photo or recipe link.

A light spinach salad, with a bacon vinaigrette on it. Maybe tossed with bacon pieces, hard boiled eggs, and craisens (or currents). I'm a dressing snob though, ONLY the stuff in the diamond shaped bottled is good enough for this. I can't tell you the name right now, cause I can't find it this summer. :'( But it's tasty

Question of the Week #7

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit?
Usually the computer chair, bed, or in the car. I don't watch a lot of TV (sad, I know) but I'll watch DVD's on the 'puter at night.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
Some good music, or a decent movie for background noise. No one coming in and pestering me while I'm counting. You'd think they'd learn that me muttering 54,55,56,um.......damn would be a sign to run the other way, but nope. Nice light is useful too.

Silk Sweater spinning

2008-07-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

Ok, so this may sound odd, but than it's me. I got bored and liberated a very much Unloved sweater set from my mum's closet. No, not to wear, but to unravel and to spin into much loved yarn.

The T-shirt portion is unraveled, and currently sits in baggies waiting to be spun. I won't undo the Cardi until it's all spun up. But the other night I couldn't sleep, and sat spinning for 10 hours. Yes, there's not an extra 0 there, really is 10. Below are pictures to prove that I'm going to have my work cut out for me.1.5 hours into the spinning
3 hours into the spinning, there's still bobbin to be seen
It's all plyed! 10 hours into it

Look, it's a skien of yarn. Lace weight, 3-ply yarn. Silk. *drool* 157 yards, ready and waiting to be loved for ever and ever and ever.

Windows Vista Error Messages

2008-07-17T22:39:00.000-04:00

Windows Error Messages
• Smash forehead on keyboard to continue.

• Press any key to continue or any other key to quit.

• BREAKFAST.SYS halted... Cereal port not responding.

• Close your eyes and press escape three times.

• File not found. Should I fake it? (Y/N)

• Runtime Error 6D at 417A:32CF: Incompetent User.

• Enter any 11-digit prime number to continue.

• Bad command or file name! Go stand in the corner.

• Windows message: "Error saving file! Format drive now? (Y/Y)"

• Windows VirusScan 1.0 - "Windows found: Remove it? (Y/N)"

Yarns for Sale, help needed

2008-07-17T21:10:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I've posted a slew of yarns on my Etsy site, as well as some lovely smelling good for the skin soaps. Drop on by, and take a look.

There are hand dyed cotton yarns, some wools, hand spun Alpaca, Lavender Oatmeal soap, Milk and Honey soap, all just to name a few.

Plus, I have hand crocheted washcloths, better than any you'll find on CL, and I can say that honestly, because they're made with hand spun cotton yarn, spun by myself, in a textured stitch soft enough for a baby, but tough enough to get all the grime off your hands. Price of those is $1.25 each, or 3 for $3. Shipping is a flat $1, no matter how many you buy.

Right now prices are lower than usual, as I'm testing out the market and seeing what people like. Also I'm trying to save up money so I can go out and see 2 year old son, whom I haven't seen in almost month already because of this stupid divorce. I have until mid August, so please buy yarns. :)

http://tangeldwebfiberarts.etsy.com

SP12

2008-07-16T20:39:00.000-04:00

Question 6

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

Shawls, scarves, and baby items. Anything lace really

Rip-it, rip-it good!

2008-07-13T23:47:00.000-04:00

I decided to completely unravel a knit silk tank I bought a few months ago at a thrift store. In it's self not a strange idea. It was starting to catch and unravel on it's own, I just helped it along. I I have 2 large navel orange sized balls of 10 strands of silk. I can't call it yarn, it's not earned that yet, it's not plied. When it's done it'll be fingering weight. That will happen soon, cause I have plans to have a knit silk scarf. I have linen, and wool/silk, so why not pure silk? And it's green already, so it shows that I'm being thrifty and recycling something. Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Now for the crazy part. I'm going further, I'm doing the same to a knit silk sweater set of me mum's (with permission, did you think I wanted to die?) that she can't wear because of the color. A very light mocha, or maybe a taupe. Not good with her complexion. It's 4 strands of silk together, so will make a lovely lace weight once it's plied and cabled. I figure I should get well over 1,000 yards for some hard work. Worth it. I've got the cap-sleeved sweater separated, and just finished undoing the first sleeve. It's gonna take a while, but I like the yarn, and will dye it a pretty color, maybe make a dark color. But if I do that it will be AFTER it's knit. Knitting lace in dark yarns is a job for someone who's already blind.

I know, I know

2008-07-09T16:03:00.000-04:00

I haven't been blogging much this week, I've been working my rear end off trying to get stock ready for the garage sale. Anyone want to label over 60 skeins of yarn for me? Or maybe wrap the soaps I have. Write up the various meanings of the friendship bracelets I've made? My family runs when I say I need help now, except my sister, who's helping make bracelets.

And I have to make cookies, brownies, and lemonade (none of that powder stuff for us) for my 5 year old nieces Lemonade stand. She'll be helping me make the things, and her mommy will be helping sell them.

Anyone in the Kalamazoo/Portage area wanna stop by? Yarns are on sale.

The divorce papers have been drawn up, and are supposedly in transit to me in MI. Joygasam. I finally got the application for federal disability filed, and have an appointment on the 22nd. I laughed because I got the call to schedule about 12 hours after I filed. I love smaller towns, there's not the backlog of applicants as there was in CA. It took my mom a few weeks just to get an appointment scheduled, and than that was for over a month away. Maybe all this will be wrapped up by Christmas. *crosses fingers and thinks happy thoughts*

Secret Pal Questions week 4

2008-07-09T15:57:00.000-04:00

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?

Hm, this is a tough one. Right now I'd say Southern CA, or the Twin Cities, MN because those are the 2 places I really want to be right now. But than I could also say Benton CA, a tiny little town with the most beautiful scenery I'd seen, nestled between 2 mountain ranges in central CA. Or How about the UK? It's a place I've got family, and would love to go. Especially Scotland and Ireland.

So I don't know really where I'd like to go. Too many choices for this one

2) Where is one place you'd like to go?
Ok, this one is easier. Ireland and Scotland win. Dream vacation right there. Though how would I get all the yarns and fibers back?

Week 4 SP12 questions

2008-07-03T20:06:00.000-04:00

1) What yarn (that you don't have/haven't used) would make your stash "complete"?

Um, I dunno. I've done linen, silk, LOTS of cotton. Maybe a cashmere blend of something. But that's one of those I'd pet and stare at and maybe never use.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

Cotton, but I'm more scared of running out of yarn, than a certain type. *Gasp* like that could ever happen. I'm finding all my yarns here at me mum's place, and that should keep me going for months still, with nothing else.

SP12 question week 3

2008-07-01T10:53:00.000-04:00

This week's question posted by our SP 12 Hostesses was "What would you consider the PERFECT amount of stash?"

Um, there's no perfect amount of stash, except MORE. You can never have enough fiber or yarn. Never in a million years. When you start running out of room, start stuffing beds and couches with it. :)

6 buses in 10 days

2008-07-01T10:36:00.000-04:00

I swear, I've got enough miles racked right now to fly to moon it seems. Here's my life in the last week. He finally agreed to let me come out and talk face to face, and at least bring some things for him. I got there, we talked. I was in the process of finding a place to stay that wasn't with him, so I could be near Scott. We were this close *holds up 2 fingers an smidgen apart* to working things out. Than Friday morning I get a call from his mother, at 6:28 AM mind you, so I think it's something wrong with the kid or him and pick up instead of giving the call all the due it deserved at that ungodely hour of the morning. She tells me, and this is a direct quote "If you're not on the next bus out of town you're going to be a sorry little girl." And the AM hung up. AM stands for Aunt Mary who was my dad's aunt and a manipulative old hag who would play mind games and fuck you over if you didn't do what she wanted. She tried suing mom for custody when we were kids, and almost had my great gram arrested. I figure it's better calling her that than a b-word. So I"m back in MI now, not because she told me to leave, but because she had Scott at her house and J and I were afraid she'd try and keep him from J. She's already lost any right to see him until his hair grows back, they all have (except the brother before he ships out for the corps) because everyone and their brother has been forbidden to cut his hair. We liked it long, and it was our decision. They were even told what would happen when they did. We're not so much mad about the hair cut as the fact that even a simple thing like that couldn't be respected. I wonder what crap they'll try to pull when they find out once J's out of the lease he's moving back to CA. That may be as soon as the roommate gets out of Basic and comes back. Otherwise beginning of November.

I miss my little boy, he's so cute on the phone.

I've been spinning on my supported spindle a lot while on the computer, it's something I can have in front of me. I was giving demos in the Chicago bus station Saturday morning during my 7 hour layover and have what I would say is 200 yards on there of uber fine cotton, and still more to spin. I'm also crocheting up a storm of washcloths and making soaps to sell with them at a garage sale we're having out here weekend after the 4th. There's already Milk and Honey soap with oatmeal, and I'll be making a Rose and Glycerin soap, and a Lavender Oatmeal as well. I'm collecting rose petals to put in the rose soap, for added bits of color.

The answer

2008-06-23T00:21:00.000-04:00

He said no. not now. I may not be on for a while, please don't hold it against me. I'll try to have updates posted by family members, since I'm a tad too upset to use the computer

On a lighter note

2008-06-22T17:28:00.000-04:00

I'm spinning and crocheting a storm up right now, trying to get all my yarns labeled and make washcloths up for a garage sale the mum is having. Might as well try and get some money for myself out of it. Or so I think. Hopefully I'll be using it for a bus ticket back to MN and Scott.

Waiting with baited breath

2008-06-22T17:15:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting all weekend for tomorrow, when the soon to be ex will let me know if I can come back and stay in the spare room, so i can be with the wee one. I don't want to be here in MI, I didn't ask to be here (which the step-dick seems to think), and I didn't want this to happen. I've been trusting J to make decisions for me on major things, since I know crap about our life together. He's decided it's not worth trying, and that it's better to just end it. I just have all these questions going through my head, does he just want rid of me? Was it so bad before that now he'll just use the concussion and memory loss against me? He's holding the past against me, while saying he wants to start fresh. How is that fair, or even right? You can't hold the past against someone who doesn't remember it, it's like holding a past relationship against your new partner. I dunno know what's gonna happen, I just want it all over, so I can see Scott. Please dear gods, let me see him more than every few months. I don't think I could bear it otherwise. I miss him so much already, and it's only been 6 days. I found his little toy sheep last night, tucked in a bag of yarn I'd brought with me, and I started crying. All that's going through my head is it's the 2nd time in 6 months that someone's decided it was best to leave me, or so it seems. Yes, K was over years ago, but it seems so recent to me. All that pain is brought up all over again, someone I loved leaving me behind because they were bored with me, they were done, and they didn't want to try anymore. I'm starting to think my sister was right, relationships suck and aren't worth the effort or the heart ache caused by a loss. I'd rather be alone than have this feeling again. Hopefully someone will read this and try to prove to me that there's hope in loving someone, and trusting someone not to hurt you, because otherwise I don't think I'll have hope again.

What hurts the most is I trusted J to make the right decisions from the time I woke up in the hallway in the apartment and over the last month it's just caused me so much pain. But I trusted him because he said he was my husband and it would be all right, everything would be ok. What a crock that turned out to be.

Questions of the week

2008-06-22T17:12:00.000-04:00

Ok, I forgot about the questions, but with the stuff in my life hopefully I'll be forgiven.

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

What is your favorite summertime drink??

Iced tea and slurpies. There's a 7-11 in town here, I have to go and get one. Or just nice cool water, not really cold. Lemonade is a good one too

I'm here

2008-06-18T15:42:00.000-04:00

Got into MI today, after a Loooonnnnggggggg trip by bus with me mum and niece. We're all uber tired and sore (well, not the kid) from toting 4 suitcases that each weigh 50 pounds. Of course only one was a suitcase, the other 3 were trunks, which means a little tiny handle and no wheels. Major suckage.

Just resting for now, wanting to go take a nap but won't because I'll not sleep well tonight. It's not the first time I've gone 2 days on just a few hours sleep, not even the first time this week. Actually going on 8 hours for the last 3 days.

I did manage to get some knitting done on the bus, and even some spinning. I found my supported spindle about an hour before we left for the bus depot and grabbed that and some cotton to spin. It's fun to use. Most my yarns and fiber collection are in the 2 trunks that are my stuff, and the box my spinning wheel was packed into. I think there's about 2 pounds wool roving in there with the wheel. I'm knitting something for my secret pal partner person, but can't tell y'all what it is.

I wish I was with Scott, though I love my family. To read my more depressing thoughts right now I'm on Live Journal username Vxb222.

Transplantation

2008-06-17T01:11:00.000-04:00

Due to relationship issues (mainly not remembering ANY of the relationship!) I am moving to MI to stay at my mom's for now. Sad to say I will be leaving Scott here with J for now, while we hammer out details. I will miss my little man something awful. I hope that he will always know that mommy loves him, and didn't want to leave him behind. Contact info will be the same, and ifin anyone needs my address just leave me a message with an email and I'll send it out.

Wish me luck getting settled in. I'll write soon.

Taking all my yarn with me, and my wheel too.

Bleh

2008-06-12T03:37:00.001-04:00

For some unknown reason I'm still awake, and it's almost 3am. I just can't seem to sleep, even with sleeping pills. It sucks but what's a girl to do?

I spun up some bamboo, the first thing I've really SPUN on my wheel since the bump on the noggin. I've plied up some cotton yarn for sale, but that's not the same. I've never used a wheel in my memory, but obviously the muscle memory is there, and it's tucked up into my brain as well. I just sat down one night and started spinning on it, and it worked.

I finished my gran's shawl, and just have to weave in the ends. It took a whole ball of yarn. And I'm not talking about a regular ball, but one of those 1 pound balls o' cotton that you can get at the craft stores. I'll be taking a picture and trying to figure out if I want to dye it in the next few days.

It's been pouring rain today, and so the kids were a little antsy. We took them to the mall so they could play in the play area there. That was a success, and they both crashed once we got home from shopping. Tomorrow will be much the same, with a trip to Jo-ann's for yarn for Mum, Cold Stone for ice cream shakes (they do 1/2 price until 5pm), and the store to get things to make truffles. Those are for some friends of ours who are having a going away party on Saturday. We were told Sunday (with all our other friends) that they are moving to Washington state on the 17th. Short notice, but their roommate is an abusive woman and they need to get themselves and the 7 year old daughter out of the house NOW. I'll miss them dearly but it's what's best for them, and for my friend's health. MN winters don't do very much for those with Fibromyalgia (which she also has).

Gonna try sleeping again. Here's hoping it works.

What did I do?

2008-06-07T23:17:00.000-04:00

I think I ate too much is what. Never go to Chipotle if you're not really hungry, cause you can't finish a burrito bowl. So I sit here, typing, and feeling so stuffed one wrong move will make me explode.

On other what was I thinking notes, I had my mom and 5 year old niece come out for a visit. They're driving me up the wall already. But she's cute, and my mom is a big help. I also taught my niece how to use a spindle and a spinning wheel. Yes, that's right, a 5 year old is spinning. Granted, it's not real spinning, but more plying cotton singles together, but it's something.

Scott turns 2 on Monday, and he's so cute. We're going to the zoo with his auntie and some cousins and than having a small party at home. Speaking of parties, i have to make his cake tomorrow, and get a cheesecake made tonight for our usual craft potluck day at friends. Cheesecake and pasta salad are what I'm taking. But I'm not making a heavy mayo salad, more of a light one in Italian dressing. There's a friend there who can't do meat and other protein items due to health problems so the salad is for her, and the cake is also for her if she wants to dare it.

I finished crocheting a shawl for me, and I'm making a cape type thing for my Gamma (great-gran). Both are pineapple patterns, and both are kinda my patterns. I say kinda because they are based on pictures of patterns I've seen, but never actually seen the pattern. I have a knack for getting patterns from crocheted items and even just pictures of them. My high point was taking a cheap plastic tablecloth from the dollar store and sitting there and writing out the pattern for the crocheted item it was pressed from. Took a while, but the folks at the dollar store were amazed when I took the finished item down there to show them.

Off to make cheesecakes. Woohoo!

Secret Pal 12 questions

2008-06-01T20:22:00.000-04:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Cotton, rayon and linen are my favorites, as well as silk. I like wools and other critter fibers too. Please no acrylic as I actually have problems with them.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Whatever is handy to use, I have a knitting needle case for my interchangeables and a crochet hook case for some of my hooks
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting since I was 14, so over 10 years now. I'd consider myself pretty advanced, as I can do just about anything, except knitting socks, I can't stand them.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope, not really

5. What's your favorite scent?

Don't have one really, but clean light scents are the best.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, and chocolate. The darker the better, I personally love a good 75% cocoa bar

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I knit, crochet, spin, needle tat, and am learning how to weave. I also do kumi-himo braiding.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Classic country and rock, but pretty much anything but rap and gospel music

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Blues, greens, and deep reds, I don't really like pinks unless they are a dusky rose

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a hubby and a 2 year old, no critters

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes, Yes, Yes, and sometimes

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Lace anything, usually scarves and shawls

13. What are you knitting right now?

Nothing actually, crocheting up a storm though. A pineapple lace cape for my gamma

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES!!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circs please, and metal is better for me, they have pointer tips

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Nope to both, but only for lack of $ right now

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Well, she's going on 25 years (hehe, me). I try not to have unfinished projects

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Rubber ducks, pretty patterns, anything Yoda (yes, Star Wars), hummingbirds

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I like White Lies Designs patterns, and Fiddlesticks knitting patterns also. No mag subscriptions

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Maybe how to turn a heel on a sock. I've just never tried it before.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Nope, not a sock knitter. and I wear between a 7 and an 8 US

23. When is your birthday?

October 6th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Username is Vxb222 but I still haven't put much into it.

My year so far

2008-05-25T15:09:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while. I promise you I have reasons for this. In late January I suffered a miscarriage, and that sent me into a little bit of a depression. This was my 3rd one now, and I hate to think that Scott might be an only child. Than, in late April, I went for a walk and wound up slipping and hitting my head upside a bus bench, getting a mild concussion. I had been having really bad headaches and short term memory loss for about 3 weeks, when I knocked my head again and now I'm missing almost 3 years. Please note that Scott is not yet 2, and I have none of the memories of him that I'm susposed to love and treasure and all that stuff. I barely know my husband and getting used to suddenly being in a different state, far from my family, with a child and husband is taking some getting used to. I got to spend 4 days in the hospital being a guinea pig for all sorts of tests, and have been told that the memories may come back, in time. For now I'm wandering around in a deja vu mood.

Here's some of what I've learned so far.

I have a business, on Etsy.com where I goofed spelling the name and so that's fun.
MN is a weird state, and as I type this, there's a tornado warning going on. Gee, what fun. At least with earthquakes there's no warning, and it's over fast.
My sister is back at school *happy dance* and my niece talks.
I have fibromylagia, finally got a diagnosis.

My mom and niece are coming out to visit next week, and to help me get used to taking care of a 2 year old. My sister can't come, because she's still in classes. Scott's up at his other grandma's until the 3rd, so they'll all get here the same day. I can't wait to see my little girl (niece) again. I still feel as though I should be in CA, but I'm determined to give MN a real shot. I've met my sister-in-law and some of our friends, but have yet to meet the big ones (the MIL AND FIL's)

Scott is a sweetheart, and though I was freaked out when I first saw him, I mean who wouldn't be. There's this little kid calling you mommy, and he looked enough like Kitty where I knew he had to be related. He came up 2 times to visit me in the hospital (than he want to gamma's) and we were playing and everything. He even came running to me when he fell and hit his head. He gave me lots of kisses and even does Eskimo kisses. I'll be happy to see him in a week.

I need to inventory all of my yarns and fibers so I can get them posted and sell them. I'm also thinking about doing one of the holiday craft sales, if they do them out here in MN. But that's ages away. I'll see.

Here's hoping that I get a few more little memories. I've had a few, which is nice. It means that they are in my head somewhere, just gotta find them. I wish there was a disk defrag for the human mind, get everything in it's proper place.

For the love of Jack

2008-02-07T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'm not usually the sort to pass along things in my blog, but this one just calls out to be shared with as many people as it can be. Maybe it's because I have such messed up legs myself, but I'll go with the fact that no animal deserves to be in that shape. There's pictures of him below, just look at that face, and fall in love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack was found "walking on played- out tip-toes, knees
together,pelvis turned up and forward and the sacral/lumbar spine
curveddramatically upward". His injury was diagnosed as "a level IV
case of patellarsubluxation - the knee caps having slid to the side
and muscle and bonescaring resulting. Cause is hard to determine but
time in too small a crate or riding by a child were top on the list."

Jack is rescued, being provided and cared for, and, rehabilitated by
Dave of The Merlin Tree. By now, Jack have had his first round of
surgeries - "a femoral ostemy (chip out of the bone for a new
patella socket), a patellar relocation, a rotational suture
(corrects twisting of the knee) and tibial ostemy". When he is
ready, " the next surgery could be the 'bad' leg which will need all
of the above plus an external ring procedure".

We have been running a fundraising raffles which would end next Fri,
the day after Valentine's (Happy Valentine's! ! :) ). If you're
inclined to help out $$wise, every $10 donation gets a raffles
ticket. One of the prizes includes a HitchHiker Spinning Wheel!

For more information, please visit Jack's blog here:

http://fortheloveof jack.blogspot. com

Yarn Smut

2008-01-17T15:22:00.000-05:00

I just had to take pictures today (because the sun finally came out) and post of all the yarn I've spun up this week. VERY picture heavy, so you've been warned. I have no idea the yardages yet, I'll figure that out once I wash and set the twist.

This first one is a part of the 5.5 pounds of fleece I got from the lady in Stillwater, in the Fiber Find of '07. It's an award winning Cotswold, beautiful dark brown/black. Spins like a dream and seems to be a worsted weight 3-ply. I'm going to be spinning the rest up and making some sort of blanket.

This one is again from the Fiber Find. I got a 1+ pound ball of the roving, as seem below. I'm going to guess that it's BFL or Merino. It's so soft and silky. It's such a beautiful yarn, and I still have so much left to spin. Again, a worsted weight 3-ply.

Next we have 3 ounces of an unknown wool I found in a thrift store with some yarns. I'm thinking about overdying it either red of blue, because with the grays it'll look so look so nice. Another worsted weight 3-ply. Sensing a theme here? :)

And last but not least, we have the weird roving that I didn't like when I dyed it, and now looks so pretty. It's BFL, about 4 ounces. Beautiful mauves and pinks, bright and drab greens, and the natural cream of the fiber. Another worsted 3 ply. It's sooooooo fluffy and pretty. I have another 4 ounce section of this roving to be spun up, and I hope it looks as good as this.

God, I'm a dork

2008-01-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Apparently when I typed in my username on Etsy I pulled a dyslexic fast one and misspelled it. So the link below is now fixed and for future referance it's just switch the e and l in Tangled.

http://tangeldwebfiberarts.etsy.com

Oh yeah, this is my hundredth post. *throws confetti in the air*

I'm so happy.

2008-01-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

I just made my first sale of yarn to a person who is neither a friend, or my family. I'm SOOOO happy.

Check out my Etsy store, you'll like it.

Tangled Web FiberArts

That is all

Taxes are done man!

2008-01-13T03:45:00.000-05:00

Finally, after looking all over, 3 times, the W-2's from last year were found, so I could do my taxes early. J's work was more than willing to give me the state and federal TIN's, but Borders can't even manage to get my filing status right, so I didn't want to wait of their slow asses.

Within 2 weeks I should have my lovely refund, over 3 grand. *phew*

Knitting fun

2008-01-07T21:11:00.001-05:00

Right now, when I'm not spinning up yarns for sale, I'm knitting a lace shawl for a friend. I'm using the pattern from Fiddlesticks Knitting, The Peacock Feather's Shawl. It's just being done in the leftover lace weight that I dyed up for my MIL's shawl 2 years ago. I decided that I didn't need to hoard the rest of it, and since I had ordered 2,400 yards of it and only used less than 800, I had plenty of it left. I'll be dying it to a darker blend of greens and blues, with maybe some specks of purple. I'm trying to decide if I should put in some beads and if so, what color? Maybe gold, to replicate the color in the feathers of said bird. But I have a while to go on that, since I'm only on row 50 of around 250. So you could say I'm 20% of the way done, but the rows get much longer than they are now. :-P

More to be posted later when I'm ripping my hair out at the pattern.

New website

2008-01-06T14:47:00.001-05:00

I've transfered all of my rovings and yarns to Etsy for ease right now. http://tangeldwebfiberarts.etsy.com Go and take a look, you'll like them. I'll be posting more yarns and fibers over a few days, as I'm spinning my legs off right now.

More to be posted later.

2007-12-30T02:22:00.000-05:00

Ok, bad blogger again. I'll post about the holidays once I recover from them, so in about 2010. But had to post a picture of my SP11's daughter, Samantha Ann, in the sweater I made for her. Doesn't she look SOOOOOOO cute???!?!?

You may now resume you regular holiday induced coma from all the calories. :)

Holiday Humor

2007-12-21T13:22:00.001-05:00

To All Employees
From Management
Subject Office conduct during the Christmas season

Effective immediately, employees should keep in mind the following guidelines in compliance with FROLIC (the Federal Revelry Office and Leisure Industry Council).

Running aluminum foil through the paper shredder to make tinsel is discouraged.

Playing Jingle Bells on the push-button phone is forbidden (it runs up an incredible long distance bill)

Work requests are not to be filed under "Bah humbug."

Company cars are not to be used to go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.

All fruitcake is to be eaten BEFORE July 25.

Egg nog will NOT be dispensed in vending machines.
In spite of all this, the staff is encouraged to have a Happy Holiday.

Lol, what a day

2007-12-15T01:58:00.000-05:00

My poor dear hubby has a really bad case of hives and is trying to scratch himself in his sleep. I mean really bad here people. All over his ENTIRE body, front and back. It's so funny, though I'm sure not to him.

I'm waiting for my soaps to cool so I can turn them out of the mold and cut and get them curing. They're melt and pour cause I'm lazy right now, but they are for Christmas presents. I scented them with Vanilla and Sandalwood and put apricot seeds (ground) as well, to exfoliate the skin. And they'll moisturize because they are Shea butter soaps. i figure give them with the wash cloths and I'm covered.

While I wait I'm knitting a purse that I'll be felting to give to my Cousin-in-law's daughter. Yeah, weird huh? But the cousins will be at Grandma's house and while the parents may get a bar of soap and a washcloth the kids will get something special. I was always raised to give a gift to the kids in a family I was visiting for the holidays, even if I brought nothing for the parents. Plus, I can honestly say that between both of the kids I only spent $25. Though I never had any idea it was so hard to get toys for a 5 year old boy. I finally went with the typical thing, and got him toy cars, from Cars too. My in-laws are big Disney fans, the whole family, cause one of the uncles actually works for Disney Studios out in CA. And yes, we take shameful advantage of it, and get in free to the parks. So nice. The daughter is getting a little purse/makeup bag and a few things of tasteful makeup. I say tasteful because yes, while she's 8 and using it for play, I'd rather give real makeup to play with (cheaper and cleans up easier, not to mention lasts a hell of a lot longer) and I don't believe that even in play those icky colors should be used, and they should be something that she might one day wear in public. It's just how I was raised. So there's 2 nail polishes, a set of mini nail files, a manicure block (for smoothing the nails and such), a lipstick, a quad of eyeshadow, and a little bottle of lotion. I know when I was her age the nail polish would have sent me over the moon. I used to take the stuff and paint EVERYTHING with it. Works really well on foil and metal, in case you were wondering. But I figured that she needed a bag to hold it in, so I'm knitting a little purse and I'll be felting it. Its in shades of pinks and browns, which I think is nice, cause all the makeup is pinks and roses. I'm thinking of going and getting some of the nail polish for myself actually, it was a really nice color. And they are all real makeup, so it may help her feel like a grownup.

Scott gives Eskimo kisses now. He started doing it when I was kissing him goodnight. It was so cute. I think he was saving it until I tried to put him down, to distract me from bedtime for another few minutes.

I'm gonna go check my soap and see if I can get some sleep soon. Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Felting with Acrylic

2007-12-14T20:23:00.001-05:00

Ok, I admit I stole this from another blog. I got it here, but just had to share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to Felt With Acrylic.
I know that there is a huge demand for information on how to felt with acrylic yarn. After exhaustive research, I've written up the following guide. I hope it is helpful!

How To Felt with Acrylic Yarn
by Gail

List of Materials Needed:

1. Some acrylic yarn. Make sure it doesn't have any natural fiber content in it whatsoever. That would be bad.
2. An oversized stock pot. The one you attempted to use to Brine your turkey before you accidentally killed all your relatives will serve you well here. Plus, it'll hide the evidence.
3. A blow torch.
4. An oven. Preferrably one that you don't plan on using much in the future.
5. A welding sheild.
6. Some tongs.
7. Some leather gloves. Not the nice ones - the heat shielding kind.

Step 1:

Knit something out of that acrylic. Make it bigger than you want the final results to be.

Step 2:

Drinking some alcohol is probably a good idea here.

Step 3:

Turn on the oven as high as it will go. Throw your knitted acrylic garment into the oversized stock pot, and stick that in the oven. It is a matter of great debate on whether or not you should add water - water will probably slow the felting process, but may keep the yarn from melting to the bottom of the pot. Maybe you should add some canola oil or something.

Step 4:

Open a window. Take the batteries out of the fire alarm.

Step 5:

Check on your garment. If all is going well, it will become soft and melty. With the gloves and tongs, coax it into the shape you want. You may also want to stir it around to make sure that it isn't sticking.

Step 6:

Once your garment has shrunk down and appears to be the correct shape, remove the stockpot from the oven. Throw a bunch of water into it. You might want to put on the welders shield now. Then, with the tongs, remove the item from the pot, and arrange it charmingly. You should no longer be able to see individual stitches. You may find that your garment is a bit inflexible - that is to be expected.

Step 7:

Once your garment has cooled, you can use the blow torch and tongs to make any last minute adjustments, such as creating holes in your slippers for the feet.

Step 8:

Enjoy your fabulous felted acrylic garment! Tune in next week where Gail explains how to use flexible rods to keep your stockinette from curling!

Oof

2007-12-13T19:40:00.000-05:00

I never realized how hard it is to spin to a certain size of yarn. I have NO problem spinning lace weight or fingering weight yarns, but I'm having a hell of a time spinning my alpaca roving to something heaver than fingering, and that's when it's 3 plied. I figure I'll just have to cable the yarn into a 6 ply, or even more to make sure that it's the same thickness as the black wool I'm spinning up for the blanket. I have no problem making a 3plyd worsted weight yarn out of that, but than it's a big fluffy batt, and not roving.

Besides spinning I'm still crocheting up washcloths like a little sweatshop. I'm planning on making some goats milk soap or maybe olive oil soap and give those as gifts with the washcloths to people. And give them a cute art picture I did of Scott. I'm getting it printed up as a 11X14 poster for the In-laws, and I'll frame it. J and I are using the excuse of the car needs brakes and we'd rather spend what money we have for presents on Scott, than spend a lot on everyone else and have nothing to give Scott. We'll be getting the brakes fixed on Monday, and we pick up the brother-in-law on the Sat before X-mas. We told the MIL that we'd be coming up on Sunday afternoon, but we're gonna surprise her and come up on Saturday.

Scott's still having über poops and farts so he's being a clingy little boy. So cute though. He's getting to learn about time outs because he's been throwing things lately, and I don't want him to get used to being able to do that. Still trying to figure out what I can get him for his X-mas. For that matte,r trying to figure out what to get J too. Oh well, Scott has his presents to give to us. I picked them up when we were visiting my mom.

I hope to be able to get stock up in my store after the holidays and than get my site running again. *crosses fingers*

Holidaze

2007-12-10T12:36:00.001-05:00

The holidays have finally made me snap. I agreed to going and spending them with my in-laws, mainly because I don't want them to miss out on Scott doing cute things. Scott's now 18 months and trying to get at every display of lights we've seen in the stores. We're not decorating this year though, because I'm too lazy and the place is still a mess. Boxes everywhere and I need to go and get bookcases or something to get them all taken care of. But back to taking that trip around the bend, finally.

I have decided, and started as well, to spin up that great big bag'o'fleace that I got in the great fiber score of '07. It's lovely, soft, and a dark gray/black/brown. I already have a full bobbin (about 100 yards) spun and plied into this beautiful light and lofty worsted weight yarn. I plan on making a blanket out of it when it's all done. I think that's where the crazy comes in. A blanket to be used by all of us at once, and I'm allergic to wool.I shouldn't say that really, because since I've started spinning more I've not had many problems. I think I just have problems to the crummy wool used in most commercially produced clothes, and the chemicals they use to make it. I'm thinking spin up other colors of wool, and maybe a few stripes in the blanket to show the pattern it will take. It's going to be a ripple star blanket, worked in the round. I made one years ago for my aunt and uncle and somehow messed up in counting in the very first row, and wound up with 7 points instead of the 8 I needed. I'll do better this time, I promise. If I can ever find the apalca I got in the same '07 score I think that is what I'll use. It's a lovely dark gray that drafts like a DREAM!!!!!!! Yeah, spun up a little sample on my spindle. Or i could use the black/multi colored roving I got than too. No idea yet, but I don't want to start making it until I have more yarn made, because with that big a hook and gauge (I'm used to lace or fingering, and never bigger than a size F hook) it'll go fast, at least I'll be thinking so.

I've also been making more of my cotton yarn, and I'm gonna attempt dying it. I have finally decided that Scott sleeps at night, and since we put him down to bed around 8 every night (cause much after that and I want to flush him, how the HELL did I get a morning person for my kid) I can just prep the yarns when he's up and dye them after he goes down. They need to set 8 hours really anyway. Stupid cotton, can't use my food dyes like I can with the wool. Speaking of wool and cotton and such, I actually have some of my yarns being sole right now, in a craft exhibit. Makes me happy.

Off to eat muffins that the kid didn't want. He's been on a yogurt kick lately. It's cleared up the diaper rash of doom, I'm good with it. Yogurt and granola bars. Maybe I should find him his tie-dyed shirt I got him and have him wear that. My darling little hippy boy. Oh, he's potty training himself. Cool huh?

Home again

2007-12-05T20:45:00.001-05:00

Yea, I'm home again. Don't get me wrong, I love my family a lot, but I can only take so much lately. They all have to talk loud because my step-dad is almost deaf, and so I had a headache most the time I was there.

Scott has the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen, his balls look like a bright red prune. We actually had to take him to the ER last night just after midnight, because he woke up screaming in pain. He's doing better now, because they gave us some cream with nystanitn in it, which will halp kill bacteria. It's a medicine used to fix yeast infections, which can cause the diaper rash to stick around and get really bad. I've had to use it before.

Gonna go rest and look at my chocolate cake. We've got over a foot of snow on the ground and supposed to get more tomorrow, so I wanted to have something around that was sweet to eat.

Trip

2007-11-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

So we made it to Grandma's house ok, with just one little mishap. I forgot diapers!!! I had just one in my purse, and so I changed him into it around 10:30 in the morning, thinking that the little darling would be ok until we got to Chicago and grandma could give me more diapers. ,Yeah, not so lucky, 15 min later he had a massive blowout and I was forced to make do with duct tape and pantyliners for an hour and a half until some very nice Amish people got on with an 18 month old and let me have 2 diapers. So sweet of them. Than we went to Ikea (because there's not one near my mom's house) and drove the 2 hours back to her place. My niece is aadorable, and she loves her baby Scott.

He was so scared last night, because he didn't nap on the train, and we got in here at 11:30, so we had to wake him up to get him inside. He didn't go to sleep again until almost 2 and he woke up at 7:30. He's napping now, and seems to be well adjusted to his gran's house. He's so cute, and I'm very proud of him. He was a dream on the train, didn't whine really, and was cheerful and played all of the trip, which is 8 hours. He even let me crochet on the train, so I have about 10 baby washcloths made now, which I need because 2 of J's cousins are preggers. Oh, and my sp11 partner had her baby on the day before Thanksgiving, she's ADORABLE. Gotta get her package off to her, I have most of it here to send while I'm at moms.

Gonna go torment my niece now, and raid my clothes from my sisters closet. hehe, getting my clothes back will be fun.

Holiday recap

2007-11-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, my family must be cursed or something, Tuesday afternoon I wound up with the tummy glu. This happened to me last year too, though it at least had the good graces to happen at the begining of the month. It was my mom and sister who got it last turkey day, the night I got to their house too! I wound up making turkey soup for the holiday last year. This year it was J and I trying to see who could stay in the loo longer. But we're all better now, thank the gods.

I'm heading off to my mom's tomorrow with Scott for a week, she hasn't seen him in a year, and as anyone who's ever been around a baby knows, a year is a LONG time, he's changed so much. I mean, he's sitting up, standing, walking, WAY past crawling, and is starting to talk and potty train himself.

Finished the baby sweater for my SP11 partner, and also have a blanket for her. Saddly, Scott poured grape juice all over the shawl I made for her other daughter, and I'm attempting stain removal on it. Dat's all for now.

Happy Turkey Day!!

2007-11-20T11:27:00.001-05:00

Yes, I'm a bad blogger, but between moving, a torn muscle in my shoulder, and a router that's on the fritz, I'm amazed I got online at all. I've been spinning up some of my cotton yarns because a friend has a display in an Art Boutique and needs more stuff to sell, so I'm helping her out.

Scott is so cute, he's trying to potty train himself and he's starting to say bigger words than that and mama. His word of the day is bubble(ok, the week, but it's cute) and he likes to sat bath too, though it comes out as bapth. Poor kid is gonna have a speech impediment just like his mommy.

J's cousin should be finding out if she's having a boy or girl today. I know that they are rooting for a girl, since they have a boy already, who's almost 2. I want a girl too, that way I can spoil her a lot. I try and spoil Scott and Kyle (cousin's kid) but it's not the same.

Off to rescue the kid from the crib. He was a bad baby, so he got put back in there so I could clean up the eggs he threw all over. He's not a food thrower, and I was a little ok with it, but when he threw the plate, he knows that's a nono.

Oh, here's what I did last night, since we're actually going to a friends for the holiday. I wanted the meat. Very proud of myself, if I may say so. Isn't it all pretty and golden? Nice crispy skin, juicy meat. Flavorful too, since i roasted it with an onion, apple, and 3 cloves of garlic in the middle.

Package

2007-11-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

I have to guess the theme of the package sent to me by my secret pal. I'm guessing it's country. There's cows and sheeps, and pretty blue yarn, and Scott gets his own dishes. Oh, and Highland oatcakes.

I'll write more when I get internet access back, I'm dashing this off on my phone.

Moving Sucks!

2007-11-01T23:28:00.001-04:00

Yeah, I forgot how much I hate moving. We're moving into our 2 bedroom apartment starting today. It's bigger, and I have just doubled my kitchen counter and cabinet space. My storage space is now more than my mom's kitchen, and that's sad, since her kitchen is the size of my son's bedroom. I'll update more as needed or as such happens. For those who have our address and want the new one, it's #212. Yeah, we are lazy and just moving to a bigger place in the same building. For those who need the address, send me a message.