Virtual Fibering

Most of my work lately has been online.  I've been creating a new webpage for IAGARB.  They are having a membership drive and wanted their sign up sheet online.  So I did some PHP scripting for them and made a map to show their districts, etc.  It turned out pretty good.  I also like the site as it has some fun information about Angora bunnies on it.  So if you want, go check it out at www.iagarb.com  

I've been reading Kathy's blog and she has babies galore!  Her ewe Pearl had 4 lambs!  Wow!  I wouldn't want that task of feeding 4 at once.  I'll bet her farm will be fun to visit with all those little ones running around.  They are so cute and bounce around like crazy.  Of course, it is tough raising goats and sheep and all the other things she has.  It's not for sissies.  But she loves it.  

I am trying to clean up my spare rooms which I am using for projects.  I have a wall of fiber, and a whole bunch of fabric too.  I have been washing and carding shetland and merino wool in my spare time, which is not much.  But I have a few batts done.  I plan to spin some sock yarns.  

New Hat

I finally got my newest version of the Celtic Cable hat done.  The top is a 6 pointed star that I drew myself.  I went to a website that taught me how to draw celtic knots and designed it from there.  I will be finalizing the pattern and then it will go on the web for sale.  I really like it and am pleased with how it turned outl.  

I need to post pictures of the fiber I got dyed.  Maybe this week.  I have been spinning the lovely fiber Leslie gave me.  

Much to do, but I spend most of my time working and hanging out with my sweetheart Wayne.  When I get to Kathy's for spin group I get some done so thank goodness for that.  

Prayers for Kathy that she does not lose any of her momma's and babies.  Birthing time is always hard I think.  

My new studio

I finally got around to fixing up my studio (spare bedroom) this weekend.  Wayne put a ceiling fan in and I hung my quilt wall.  I started unearthing all my bags of fiber and putting them into boxes.  I can't believe I have so much!  LOL  I guess I am a fiber addict for sure.  I bought a table to work on and I am continuing to move the fiber into the small bedroom for storage and the quilt supplies into the main room.  I have been doing a little bit of carding of my colored fibers and I did get my new wool picker delivered a week ago.  I like it OK although it's not as thorough as the Pat Green picker that Kathy has.  It does a pretty decent job on some things but I have not tried everything in it yet.  I need to do some more work with it and see how fast it processes things and what works best in it.  

I am happy to be back working in my fiber and have been spinning some amazing fiber that Leslie sent me.  It's 65% Angora, 10% silk, and 25% Fine Merino.  It is so beautiful and only has some small noils that I have to pick out as I spin because the Angora was way longer than normal.  But it's gorgeous and I should have enough for a shawl.  I think I got 337 yards out of 1 ball and I have 4 of them.  I spun it as a single and it should be great for a garter stitch shawl of some kind.  I imagine I'll find a pattern or make one in the Orenburg style like I did before.  

Well, it's bedtime.  More and pictures soon.

Happy Holidays

I know I have been negligent in writing lately.  I have been working a lot up here in Phoenix AZ at my new job and when I'm not doing that, I'm hanging out with the new love of my life, Wayne.  :-)  I did make a new pair of my lacy half gloves to show in Kathy's store and I was told they were well received at the New York Sheep and Wool festival.   Now I need to modify my hat pattern as I am told it is similar to someone else's.  So I will change my design to keep it original and in the clear.  I don't want to steal anyone else's ideas certainly.  

My picture of the glove is on the IAGARB blog, hmm.  I should link my blog to that one (note to self).  It's where I get the yarn for most of my creations because my friend Leslie is the president of it and she always asks me for designs for her yarn.  We will be putting up a link to sell some of the patterns on the IAGARB site soon so that will be cool.  I have so much to do...  

Well, off to work.  But I shall try to make this more interesting.  I did a ton of dyeing and washing yesterday.  FINALLY!  Some fiber work.  I will post pictures soon.  I dyed some skeins of wool I had spun as well as a bunch of my beautiful Merino lambswool.  I owe a friend some wool to play with and I had to be sure I had some pretty colors to send her.  So now I do.  I ordered a small bench picker this morning.  My darling Wayne had said he would make me one, but I don't think he will have time and his tools are in Alabama.  So instead, I got a small portable one from Kaydessa at www.woolpickers.com  I sure hope it works as well as it looks like it does.  I don't have room for a big one anyway and would like the portability.  Plus it's a much smaller investment.  I made my own yarn winder yesterday and was quite pleased with myself.  I will post pictures of all.   Now I just need a new yarn swift because my old one won't stop collapsing down onto the table.   Then I will have it all.   BWAHHAHAHAHA  Ooops, sorry.  That just slipped out.  

Lace Half Gloves

I finally got the half gloves done for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend.  It should be over by now and I haven't heard it they were well received or not.  I hope they got there OK.  I Fed Ex'd them at the last minute of course.  I've been moving and unpacking in Phoenix and didn't have as much time to knit as I'd hoped.  But I did get the two cowls and the gloves done.  I'll do more later as I'm sure she'll do more shows and have more yarn to sell.

I'm very pleased with this pattern.  I like it a lot, so we'll see if others do.

Short post, more later.

New Version of the lace Cowl

OK, I have been goofing off, or rather working now.  I started my new job in Phoenix last week.  But I did manage to get the next version of the cowl done and I even have a test knitter trying it out.   It's different than the other one.  I will be offering both versions of the cowl.  Here is me modeling it again.

And here is the back of it.
I'm happy with it.  I'm finishing up a multi colored version of the first cowl.  And I'm also working on a set of fingerless gloves.  I need to hurry up because it is almost time for the NY Sheep and Wool festival.  I don't want to let Leslie down.  

I have so much to do and work is getting in the way.  LOL  But it's a cool job, so I should not complain.   I have a house now too or will in a week or so.  So things are good.  I also started dating someone a few weeks ago and am completely smitten.  He is the most amazing guy I've ever met and I feel so lucky to have him in my life.  Fortunately he's not around all the time or I would never get anything done!  

We went to Sedona a few weeks ago and it was so much fun.  I will post pictures of that soon.  Sorry to be so negligent!  I need to go up on Ravelry too.  I have totally not been there for months!

On the road

I have finished my degree and decided to drive up to Chicago from Tucson.  This is an 1800 mile trip.  I made it in two days though with a lot of perseverance, audio books on the iPod and lots of friends to chat with on the way.  It was still torture though for my hips.  Now I have to pack up all the rest of my worldly belongings including a fair amount of fiber and bring it back.  I'm starting to worry about managing a trailer, but I am pretty good at driving and have watched my dad maneuver trailers for years.  So I hope I learned by osmosis or something.  When I get back, we will literally be awash in fiber as I have accumulated a lot in the 7 months I've been in Tucson as well as all the stuff I had back here.  

My friend is going to drive back with me for the sheer fun of it (he's more than slightly mascochistic) which means I will have time to KNIT!  LOL  So I am looking forward to the company as well as the additional time to work on things.  I have an initial prototype of my next piece and am already redesigning it a bit.  But I do have pictures, so I will put one up.  It's made out of my friend Leslie's angora yarn and she will be selling it as a kit in October at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  

I actually made this a bit longer and now Leslie has it.  I am doing a second one that is not so large.  it fits closer to the face which I think is good.  She also wants me to make lace gloves and a scarf pattern.  So I need to get busy.  Plus she can sell the hats I make, so I need to make more.  Busy busy busy.  And I have to chart up a pattern for a headband or hat band in the Celtic knot variety.  So guess what I will be doing for the next two months?  It is fun being a designer though.  I rather enjoy it.  She gave me a bunch of colored fuzz and some felting needles.  But first, I need to pack all my crap up here and maybe go through the boxes that Crystal packed for me.  I hate to, but it is necessary so I can get out the things I need, and choose what to get rid of.  (Sigh)  But first I pack what is not packed and then go through what I can before we leave.  I have 4 days for this activity.  Wish me luck.