Unplanned Events

When I last posted, which was more than a few days ago, which is not me, I'm usually posting about every other day, however when I last posted, I was just anticipating my Knitter's Retreat with Skein Lane at the Marconi Center in Point Reyes, CA.

Well, things took a turn for the bad late Thursday night, I got a call my a family informing me of my Grandpa who had taken ill in the hospital and things weren't looking good. I ended up staying behind and dealing with this, rather than going to my retreat. By Saturday, things were ok, and it was basically the doctor's saying that there wasn't anything they could do, and hopefully he makes it through the season without catching anything because his immune system and heart aren't strong enough. After that winded down, which was difficult to deal with, I got home too late on Saturday, and realized there was no way for me to salvage my retreat, so I stood home, and just spent time with my family, and did do some knitting and spinning. Geez, I wish I could've gone, but I guess you just never know when emergencies like this happen, not to mention my wasted $$ I spent on the retreat, $$ I won't be able to recoup. Oh well, next time. I did talk with Marisol, who said it was awesome! Just made me all the more sad I didn't go. I am glad that she went and enjoyed herself.

Ok, onto more happier things, to at least make things better 8), I received in the mail today my Woolgirl "Wicked Witch" kit! I signed up for this baby awhile back, and I just love it!

Look at this ensemble



And the list goes: 1 "Where's my Broom" Sock pattern, 1 wicked bookmark, 1 bag of jelly beans in Black & Green, 1 broomstick pen!, 1 wicked witch glow in the dark pez kit, 1 witchy hot chocolate that turns orange!, 1 skein of sock yarn custom dyed from White Oaks Studio in Wicked Witch of the West colorway, 2 Wiz Oz notepads, 1 totally cute wicked witch stitch marker, 1 wicked witch bubble sticker, and 1 cute zip of wicked witch bag.

Can you see this teeny weeny "Wicked Witch of the West" stitch marker! So damn cute!



Here's the socks:



And last, but not least, the lovely sock yarn:





Now I did do some spinning, basically widdling down that monster fiber from Marisol... it may not look like I spinned much but believe me there's alot of spinning on that spindle! I'm really trying to stay uniform in my yarn weight. Do you see how there's just still a ton more fiber left! Whew!





Well, for now, that's all folks! 8)

KnitSpinPrep_X_3

I enjoyed a 3 day weekend, courtesy of ME 8) I completed my last day of work at my former company on Thursday, and gave myself Friday off. It was sad to go, I'd only been at my last job since July 7 of this year, but when your in an IT support role, you really get to know quickly, almost every employee at your workplace. Well if your good at IT support, you do, and I can confidently say I am good at what I do. I really work hard to make sure my "customers", the employees I support, get their issues or requests resolved quickly. Really, employee's are my customers, and if you treat your customers with respect, attention, and honesty, you'll go far.

My Thursday was pretty busy and I tried to leave my job with all things done, and then shoot on over to go to my daughters High School Open House night. She got a good group of teachers this year, and thankfully! I've had some serious encounters with teachers that have been difficult.

Started my Friday off with some knitting, picking a stitch out for a Traveling Scarves Group 25 SO scarf section belonging to CoffeeKnitGal's on Ravelry. I sent her an email with some yarn and let her pick which one she wanted me to knit with, she choose some of Vanna White's new line at Michael's in orange. I bought this yarn specifically for my Amigurumi projects, but in CoffeeKnitGal's notes, she said she'd like oranges, so obviously she choose the orange 8). I do like how the trinity stitch looks, it kind of has a bobble effect, can you see? You Knit, Purl, Knit into 1 stitch, thereby creating 3 stitches out of one, and you get a bobble.

Can you see the pattern?





I tried really hard to get a good shot, but damn if my camera wasn't being bitchy with me! Trust me, it looks pretty in person. There is definitely 2 sides to the trinity pattern, both look pretty, so I decided to reverse the wrongside to the frontside half way through so you get half of the Rightside in front, and half of the Wrongside in front. If only I had better pictures to show you.

I also spent some of my Friday with my Mother, going over ideas to create my own Stitch Markers line, and we made some pretty good progress. I'm actually testing out one of the stitch markers she made, which is pretty cool. I can't wait until I have a few products for sell in my Etsy store. There's not much in my store right now, but I plan to have some good yarn, stitch markers, WIP bags, and other things to sell soon.

Besides the little knitting I did both Friday and Saturday, I also was really really wanting to spin.
I decided to try out my new spindle given to me by Marisol from our Knitter's Treasure swap, and also decided to spin the "Rise of Phoenix" Crown Farms Pencil Roving she gave me too. I drafted a very good amount, I mean the amount of fiber she gave me was enormous, I swear I didn't even make a dent in it! I drafted about a good 1.5 ounces, and started spinning. I can honestly tell you that I just really do love spinning.

My goal for this wool was to try and spin my fiber in the same weight continuously, I didn't want chunky here, skinny there, you know? I actually succeeded to keep it pretty uniform. Took me about an hour or so to spin, while also watching football. I actually think I like spinning and watching football over knitting and watching football.. hmm... maybe I'll use my football Sunday's as my spinning time???

Here is the fiber drafted



On the left is my spindle I bought when I first learned to spin at Purlescence Yarns and on the right is the pretty spindle given to me by Marisol, in the background is the bottomless pit of yummy fiber 8)



Some close-ups





Besides these fun things, I also spent time getting ready for Day 1 at new job. I'm looking forward to the 15 minute commute **woohoo!!**, and just plain curious on how my first day will be. I'm really hoping I made a good choice and just hope I'll like it there. Because I don't know what's in store for me tomorrow, I'm posting this early.

And to end this post with some fibery goodness,

**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!
**SOCKS THAT ROCK SPOILER ALERT**!!!!!


Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Club 2008, September installment in "Tidal Pool"!

Yarnsmackdown 08' Diamond Lace Dishcloths

I finished all my events in Yarnsmackdown successfully, without getting killed beforehand...whew!
I was taking my sweet time with knitting up these Diamond Lace Dishcloths, until I got stalked and magic linked on Raverly from Yarncandie, informing me that she sent me my dishcloths.



As soon as I read that post, I immediately cast on for these, and in 2 hours, I whipped these out. The pattern was so easy, and the yarn knit up fast, once I got comfortable with it.



Do you ever feel that way with different types of yarn? I bought blue, because my target's favorite color is blue, I bought cotton, because what better to knit a dishcloth with. I visited Green Planet Yarn on Monday, and found that they have this wonderful Blue Sky Alpaca 100% Organic Cotton. It is very soft, and easy to knit, it can tend to split a little, but I think that's because I wasn't using the Addi Turbo lace needles.



I really need to stock up on the Lace needles, they are just so much better than knitting with the dull ends.



So here's an interesting little tidbit, Sandy, (she teaches at GPY), and I were talking for bit after one of the classes, and she said that her friend happened to be at a retreat, or some class or show, can't remember which, and the lady from Addi Turbo's was there, and her friend told her how great the needles were, but only had one complaint, there too blunt. So, voila, a year later Addi Turbo Lace needles were born. If only I knew Sandy's friend, I'd send her some goodies to thank her for giving that suggestion. Who knows, would we have had the Lace needles without it? I don't know the dates or anything, but I thought it was an interesting little tidbit.



Anywho, I sent these dishcloths off the other day with some of my signature goodies, some kisses & tea 8-)



In other news, Purlescence Yarns is having a spinning class this coming weekend! I signed up on Friday the 8th. If you can make, I'd love to see you there! It's only $50 smackeroos too! Great deal!

Some smacking, scenery, and goodies

One of the events in Yarnsmackdown is knitting bookmark. I never knitted one of these, but boy are they fast, and cute! I knitted this for my target the other night and shipped off with some goodies.





I got so many goodies for my birthday

All these books (Creepy Cute Crochet, Tech A Square, Amigurumi World, Crocheting for Dummies, 25yrs of Vogue Knitting, Knitted Embellishments, Start Spinning)


A New Spindle to learn spinning this coming weekend at Purlescence, a complete Crochet steel hook set, Blue Sky Alpaca Yarn 100% organic cotton, Some Magazines (Knit Scene & Vogue Knitting)


This cute Sheep keychain


And friend for Sheepy, a small Alpaca


Oh, and check these Star Wars Alpacas out, so cute..


Here are some pics from the day I spent with my hubby in S.F.
Look at all the Seals.. & there's one posing


This is a snapshot of Alcratraz, for a period of time Indians held seige to the island for 2 years, and called it "Indianland", they used the "Homestead Act" to rightfully call it theirs; eventually they were forced from the Island. Can you see the "Indianland" writing


Here's what's left of the Church on Alcratraz, this was in the movie with Nicholas Cage & the handsome Sean Connery "The Rock", one of my favorite movies


And of course my hubby & I


I have to go knit some more, see if I can get the dishcloths done.. I just got magic linked in Ravelry, and ahhh! My assassin has sent my killer dishcloths in the mail... I'll be dead soon, we'll see if I can get these babies done before mine get here????