Fiber Festival

The kids, my Mom and I hit the road yesterday out to Berryville, VA for the Shenandoah Fiber Festival. I have never been to a fiber dedicated type thing, so it was something I was really looking forward to.

The kids learned how to weave on a loom (daughter is sporting an Odessa):

I bought a Rakestraw Spinner and spun my first yarn:














And got some yarn and roving from some friendly llamas and alpacas:


The festival was a ton of fun. It was small and I liked that because I was able to talk to just about every vendor there (except the ones I just didn't understand... why were there jewelry vendors there?!?!). It was so educational and interesting. I'd like to hit a few more small ones before I do something crazy like go to Stitches East or Sheep and Wool. Those are gi-freaking-normous!!

Anyway, it was a great day and now I'm off to finish watching my Skins get spanked by the Pats... ugly.

Settling In...

I have been thinking about you, oh blog of my life. But my part time job went full time this month and it's been a bit busy! I am in no way complaining. I am so blessed to have this position and I am thrilled that they liked me enough to want to bring me on board full time. God is Good... All the Time! Yes sir!


On the knitting side of thangs, my Mom sent me some pictures of completed projects, her lap blanket I made for her birthday and my sister's bag. I am seriously thinking of hiring my mother to take all pictures of my finished projects. I'm mean, she added candle and pumpkin realism! I'm going to add a clear vinyl (like shower curtain from the dollar store) to the inside of the bag. The learning process never ends! ;)


Jonathan (and no I don't know why I can't spell that name to save my life!) got his blanket on Monday. Very exciting stuff. Now I just need to slyly suggest that I should have a picture or two...

Teacher converences were this week. Aside from both of my babies being complete genious, they are also well rounded and "a pleasure to have in class". That phrase cracks me up, it's a staple and I've heard it from just about every teacher since I was in grade school! But they both are really doing well, the phrase I did like hearing was that they are both self-motivated learners. Above grade level in reading and math. It's just amazing what a year can make. My little man had a rough kindergarten, but he enjoys going to school now. Happy happy, Joy joy!

So, I will probably touch base again in what, another week and a half? LOL

A long time coming...

I am so bad at this! I really need to get on the ball with blogging, there's just so much stuff out there to do! :)

So, I finished the blanket for Jonathon - woo who! Sent that bad boy out and I can't wait to see if they love it or not. Now I'm working on my sister's birthday present, which is obviously not a surprise present. It's the Dream Swatch and I'm doing it in SWTC's Bamboo in the Parrot colorway. Beautiful stuff. I've got to figure out how to steam block this thing though. I will use the Emerald City of Ravelry to get that answered.

And I would love to say that I was able to keep to my "finish what you start" diet thing. But, see, there was this Halloween Knit-A-Long, and this headband my daughter loved and this cute toe up sock in a dreamy cranberry superwash... yeah, let's just say I've got no will power to speak of! And accepting that fact is forward motion, so stuff it! LOL

Are you ready for some football?

It's Sunday night and I'm watching some Bears vs. Cowboys (why, oh why, are the Cowboys going to be 3 & 0???) Can ya tell I'm from DC?? LOL

Anyhow. I am remaining faithful to little Jonathon's blanket. Taking it out during football practices and cheerleading bonanza's. The little man will be snuggly warm there in Southern California soon. I'd say I'm 40% finished. It's cute and I'm happy. Then it's on to complete my KAL socks and then I'm going to start a couple of hats and gloves for the kiddies. I've found a couple of cute things on the wonderful Ravelry (I. AM. SO. ADDICTED.)

I'm really enjoying the groove I've got going on with this knitting thing. I've even inspired a couple of cheer moms to start up their habit as well, a very cool thing for a fairly new knitter. When do I get to stop considering myself new? There are so many things I want to learn in this knifty little kraft, I will probably always consider myself a novice. But I'm happy with the fact that I'm staying fearless, I look at something and if it looks pretty and something I think someone would like, I'm game! The habit itself is very theraputic (well, maybe not the whole begging the kids for 5 more minutes of not fighting, but every other part... oh, except when I find a mistake... and when I lose my needle... well, most of it is theraputic).

Well, tomorrow is the start of a new week and I need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed to tackle it, so off to bed for me. I am anxiously awaiting an offer letter to full-time with the company I've been contracting for. Maybe tomorrow...

Got my invite, got my invite!

Yeah baby. Got my invite and have sunk into the addiction that is Ravelry. It is super fun, incredibly easy to navigate and so damn hard to walk away from. I'm supposed to take pictures of projects and stash and such, but I have been so entertained looking at other peoples projects, all the different groups (I frantically joined 26, it was just so much fun!) and all the pretty, pretty yarn. I got myself hooked up with being able to pictures on this computer, now I just need to do it!

Since my last post, I finally finished MS' satchel, started and finished a shrug for my daughter, cast on a purse for my niece and frogged my LYS socks a couple of times. I've settled on toe-up, two at a time, magic loop monkeys for them. So far I've got both toe increases completed and I'm ready to start the pattern. I got the pattern from Jennifer O'Sullivan's website, the pattern is called Los Monos Locos (The Crazy Monkeys). Super cute. We'll see if I make it past the whole gusset thing, I am notorious for that not being a sure thing.

Big day tomorrow in cheerleading world. And it's going to be an all day event, with little man's game, then little lady's half time show for all teams. At least it is supposed to be beautiful. I love the fall!

Until next time! :)

School Days and Back to School

All things are going really well with this second week of school. I got to meet with the teachers last night for Back to School and get a glimpse into what my 1st and 3rd graders lives are going to look like. Both are making a great impression on their teachers so far and I can say both teachers are making equally grand impression to us. What a relief! Now if I can just get the princess to stop shutting her brain off when it's time for homework, things will be smooth!

On the knitting front, I have put myself on a "Must Finish" plan. I have to finish each project before moving on to the next. So I am solely working on MS's satchel now. Then I'll move on to the LYS Socks. Then little Jonathon's blanket (after deciding the pattern I had chosen was just not making me happy). And so on from there. Forward movement, baby!

On a brighter note...

Man, what a downer that last post was, huh? Not that I am any more clear on what the hell I'm doing today, but I guess I've got my sense of humor about it all back. I had to rip back on my sock yesterday (big pout). I messed up the heel, but it's looking good now. I really, really wish I had my Gateway computer so I could get some freaking photos uploaded. This computer blows.

I'm thinking about starting (yes, I know, it's only the illusion of progression - bite me) the Leavened Raglan from Interweave's Fall 2007. It looks all soft and cuddly. I wonder if I could make a v-neck? I'm a little gun-shy after my Billy-Bad Ass feelings about my sister's bag and the beat down that came right at the heels of that! I like the Placed Cable and Tangled Yoke sweaters too, but the raglan reminds of the dream sweater I hunted down my senior year of high school. So it's that one I want to jump on.

Mmmm, knitting may be my way of avoiding my life, but at least it involves gifts for friends and family (well, when I finish something)! :)