tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289950252024-03-07T19:44:31.235-05:00Clickety-Clack EweJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-83207534853431036122008-05-21T14:22:00.008-04:002008-05-21T17:42:42.103-04:00Kashmir<div align="center">I thought I looked at my knitting. I really did. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErS9XoQe9kOAlZPSKQRFSJrHy0Sr29_C4jhl9liamjxZjTLD6xdG6hiMy1F2M_p11I8QuJYeh8id-5IiJLhoM40CdpibzIQkwnVm3jFzSvInwDjvS6nemzydezhzuBBK2rEqhww/s1600-h/IMG_2472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202947178816151730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErS9XoQe9kOAlZPSKQRFSJrHy0Sr29_C4jhl9liamjxZjTLD6xdG6hiMy1F2M_p11I8QuJYeh8id-5IiJLhoM40CdpibzIQkwnVm3jFzSvInwDjvS6nemzydezhzuBBK2rEqhww/s320/IMG_2472.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div>That is, until I had knit about 100 rows and then discovered a mistake at about row 50. The mistake was the ommission of two rows when I went from the top of the chart to the bottom again. It looked fine.... not as fine as the original pattern, but even folks that knit Kashmir would have been hard-pressed to see it unless it was pointed out. I took my friend Carolyn's advice (She who also knit Kashmir) to keep on knitting.<br /><br />So I happily knit another 22 rows on Sunday.<br /><br />And then...<br /><br />I spotted it. A Big-O, Obvious can't-ignore-it error at about row 70. I was missing another <span style="font-size:130%;">entire row</span>, which made the design kind of bleed together. Ugh. Ick. Flock!!!<br /><br />I sighed. I took a picture. (photo above is an earlier one at the 100 row point. The 122 row one is still in my camera.)</div><div><br />And then I began to frog.... and frog... and frog....<br /><br />When the fist 52 rows were ripped down to the Big-O mistake, frogging another 20 rows didn't seem all that drastic. This wholesale frogging is kind of like spotting a dreamy pair of shoes in some glossy fashion mag that costs the equivalent of a mortgage payment - makes that pair that costs a whole car payment look downright reasonable (for about 3 seconds).<br /><br />I'm 25 rows to the good now, and I'm watching like a hawk. Believe me!!</div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-35664318936331848952008-05-16T08:57:00.002-04:002008-05-16T09:11:55.766-04:00Seduced<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've been completely seduced by Ravelry all these months. It is a spectacle with it's kaleidoscope of inspiration and breadth of discovery, a World's Fair of fiber and wonder. It is the exhibition halls, the midway, the barkers, the cotton candy, the tilt-a-whirl, the tractor pull and the prize livestock all rolled into a click of the mouse. I've made magnificent friends, been wowed a thousand times, organized my stash, and broadened my horizons.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> It's time to come back now, just to keep my own journal. In truth, I tried to come back before, but I couldn't remember sign-up e-mail, passwords, etc., and blogger does not make it too easy for prodigals to get back in the swim of things. I have lots to update.</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-81501913908304394112007-09-25T18:17:00.000-04:002007-10-04T13:48:37.619-04:00Watch the Birdie!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjromx9Ntvqx7_BrQCP0OPkQHj4LkTVc4KXZKnSj_8sScnYPtn6Mpl9ZOPdbfWjeMSoOe9za5S_mJX-jwTVOVhBYME239Rr2GZJxHOgCL6ez0Iia-FAbablIcXosP4iaY24DRBEbQ/s1600-h/IMG_1769.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjromx9Ntvqx7_BrQCP0OPkQHj4LkTVc4KXZKnSj_8sScnYPtn6Mpl9ZOPdbfWjeMSoOe9za5S_mJX-jwTVOVhBYME239Rr2GZJxHOgCL6ez0Iia-FAbablIcXosP4iaY24DRBEbQ/s400/IMG_1769.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">DH and I got back from vacation on Mackinac Island today. We brought back a DVD of wild birds (natural sound and music, too). Oliver and Garbo are positively enthralled. When a bird flies off the screen, they look in the back of the set to see if it went behind there. When the video ran out this afternoon, Oliver cried until DH started it again.<br /><br />More on Michigan yarn shops later....</span> <div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-92149984836177519422007-07-31T09:18:00.001-04:002007-08-01T14:13:48.859-04:00Two more hands, please!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfT1ydJOGr7AO_m8wJAW_A4q7ZskpNVxBqvdycj3D1FytdnemEXgsAhn4GxBHzaqQNJys5W6kj2xkPs3D-sXKu8H-FQx0X5841b5ejy1tFss88-B8vM3Yw13yG7EbRaS0qncH-A/s1600-h/IMG_1553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093793187609353282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfT1ydJOGr7AO_m8wJAW_A4q7ZskpNVxBqvdycj3D1FytdnemEXgsAhn4GxBHzaqQNJys5W6kj2xkPs3D-sXKu8H-FQx0X5841b5ejy1tFss88-B8vM3Yw13yG7EbRaS0qncH-A/s200/IMG_1553.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I just landed a new job helping a wonderful friend of mine run for Governor for the state of Indiana. I've been busy getting her office set up and attending meetings. With her background and experince, she will be perfect for the job. The work is exciting and fun - but it hasn't left me much time for knitting! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm still plugging along with my MS3 stoles. The white one is ready for Friday's clue, but I'm behind on the gray one <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8W5TmnsKmKPljkv451lkk5TILVyfRb2ZEYZONMCP-Ri7ART1RRh5FLOb6vmoRKMpSNOLc5ycycl5PoNB2MT-uRa4eXIe-wgiUKjMRwgJxd-AGKM2lYVbsmMvnFjqhZrafHsu8w/s1600-h/IMG_1554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093793638580919378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8W5TmnsKmKPljkv451lkk5TILVyfRb2ZEYZONMCP-Ri7ART1RRh5FLOb6vmoRKMpSNOLc5ycycl5PoNB2MT-uRa4eXIe-wgiUKjMRwgJxd-AGKM2lYVbsmMvnFjqhZrafHsu8w/s200/IMG_1554.JPG" border="0" /></a>and probably won't catch up before the next clue is out. Knitting the ground of flowers has been fun, hasn't it? I'm really curious why we'll need the lifeline.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm also excited to see what the theme will be. My back-up guess is that the theme has to do with the plight of the honey bee. Honey, I'm stuck on that bee thing! Bees have been in the news lately (read it in black and white) because of the mysterious epidemic killing so many.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoGLI4jhuQ_qPWiWUO0AA2ja3zo0RcYpuS09OpLfPlNQZo8M9GQyR6ZJzoNa_NKgVyNoWpzaAnC-sjPsV3DpNYslhIbc-9_CH31qcjMJFvVQ2t0QbiIlkbrBaqsqgDVjjG3hhug/s1600-h/IMG_1543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093794351545490530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoGLI4jhuQ_qPWiWUO0AA2ja3zo0RcYpuS09OpLfPlNQZo8M9GQyR6ZJzoNa_NKgVyNoWpzaAnC-sjPsV3DpNYslhIbc-9_CH31qcjMJFvVQ2t0QbiIlkbrBaqsqgDVjjG3hhug/s200/IMG_1543.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With so much traveling, I needed a really, truly mindless project to knit in places where knitting lace can be dangerous (like conversing with your boss in a moving car, for instance). Using this bundle of yarn from the Fleece Artist, I'm working on the "Lady of the Lake" sweater. I got the yarn and pattern from an eBay store called <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Tidal-Brook-Yarns">Tidal Brook Yarns</a>. Kathleen is an excellent merchant, with prompt shipping and helpful service. I recommend her highly to my knitting friends.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yep, I should be knitting the Koigu sweater sleeves, but I'm still figuring and planning as I go (not mindless enough). Even though Koigu can be frogged a lot without visible damage, I want thesleeves perfect this time so Jazz will have to wait until I get an MS3 finished.</span></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-8310546388481962162007-07-18T10:15:00.000-04:002007-07-18T10:23:10.136-04:00In Sheep's Clothing<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O4yvAWO7avpVv4LRvBZdmXtQw2zHpcIZxGkItKs-lHw3eZvYTC1J8UMl3btRMnsP2NEZ4NvduMO5EK6-QxKomWDmiqfvhYbgmndkaFdSuy1m7GqozQWPlz27ZxuMpfU35MzUXg/s1600-h/P1000437.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O4yvAWO7avpVv4LRvBZdmXtQw2zHpcIZxGkItKs-lHw3eZvYTC1J8UMl3btRMnsP2NEZ4NvduMO5EK6-QxKomWDmiqfvhYbgmndkaFdSuy1m7GqozQWPlz27ZxuMpfU35MzUXg/s400/P1000437.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I just went for a second cup of coffee! </span></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Garbo, asleep in the alpaca fleece I was spinning.)</span> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-40157000889596856992007-07-14T23:24:00.000-04:002007-07-14T23:36:20.418-04:00The buzz<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">MS3 is buzzing around my brain. I now think the motif in the point is a likely a bee. It fits even better with my original guess of the Goddess Neith, the weaver, the wearer of the veil, deity of the sky (light and dark). The Temple of Neith in Sau (Sais), Egypt, is known as the House of the Bee.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"The Veil of Neith" sounds like a good shawl name, too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or a thousand other guesses. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It probably really is a NASCAR checkered-flag theme. Ha!</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-7027424213564789692007-07-13T10:52:00.001-04:002010-05-11T20:21:37.349-04:00Sheep shot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6rtvuXqISu4kBFuJFYOKJYbjWs3E66l97E_4CAOmKyFHOgYTCXn_EslVLYDKBuIocwrJ8bzGP8Eo4mczKSOV0IlrXehbbz6Mt6nGcrvN1MeqY9BYe131dBBNekGnkYxHOjX6aw/s1600/P1010139.JPG"><span style="font-size:+0;"></span><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470171602951969810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6rtvuXqISu4kBFuJFYOKJYbjWs3E66l97E_4CAOmKyFHOgYTCXn_EslVLYDKBuIocwrJ8bzGP8Eo4mczKSOV0IlrXehbbz6Mt6nGcrvN1MeqY9BYe131dBBNekGnkYxHOjX6aw/s320/P1010139.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k6c8cHEP115mxYekCpg5fhNY8S1KYkoEThTxCFjBfd4gsZKMOSsF2Q1XXwCqGoQkkQmwsMPYS0wp1O_KIcCAot1ObwChSzXu92XCv3KvwGQPWL0n-OP-mELLjrTJaN6bjyBaAQ/s1600-h/P1010233.JPG"></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My wonderful nephews are in town, which means little knitting or spinning. More like NO knitting or spinning. But fiber? Can't keep me away from fiber! We went to a petting zoo yesterday, and I got to at least feed a coupla sheep and a llama or two.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I love my nephews. (But I'm missing MS3)</span>!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-6455491038849465662007-07-11T10:49:00.000-04:002007-07-11T10:55:39.354-04:00My, aren't we lazy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4as92wcPwlt2slM-BdpxNkKGkewSyTL1ZjevPulUrAoNT53N153E9EhscEEA1kFcnkeqBFZox_0ctYK5FsiYkBgIOQSUdx_FQTzKNr0n1lBKCJRR4NgONRgReIviE48Viv-2Mg/s1600-h/IMG_1537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085951810466957442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4as92wcPwlt2slM-BdpxNkKGkewSyTL1ZjevPulUrAoNT53N153E9EhscEEA1kFcnkeqBFZox_0ctYK5FsiYkBgIOQSUdx_FQTzKNr0n1lBKCJRR4NgONRgReIviE48Viv-2Mg/s400/IMG_1537.JPG" border="0" /></a> No stretching, no blocking, no nothing.... <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My 7-1/2 year old twin nephews are here to visit for a week, so there's little time to knit. I banged out the last six rows of Clue 2 on the white version of MS3 this morning while they slept. I hear them stirring now, so a quick shot before I start a very, very, VERY fun-filled day...<br /></span><div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-50641394005348292752007-07-08T10:23:00.000-04:002007-07-14T23:39:33.373-04:00Nothin' but knit<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yaaaaaay! DH is out of the hospital again, and my beads *finally* arrived on July 5. Had to jump right in on the MS3 of course, so here's the dark Zephyr through Clue 2. Can't see the beads, but I assure you, they're there, and IMO, it was worth the wait.</span></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM-U6I91FYvgnKDb1sKwBL87Pybe8AKFYBWpZVOROaJZ_cQsYHh4fG_IyLV7Wayvp4yBFSgay2-bshyphenhyphenXsujSmBfK7aOXZUNN3HOfespiYxTl5TaqI_Szj8aA4AuR1hSWr8rCG1g/s1600-h/IMG_1533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM-U6I91FYvgnKDb1sKwBL87Pybe8AKFYBWpZVOROaJZ_cQsYHh4fG_IyLV7Wayvp4yBFSgay2-bshyphenhyphenXsujSmBfK7aOXZUNN3HOfespiYxTl5TaqI_Szj8aA4AuR1hSWr8rCG1g/s400/IMG_1533.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My current official guess (subject to change, of course) for the theme of Mystery Stole 3 is the legend of the Egyptian goddess Neith. I swear that the motif within the "pyramid" end of the stole is a scarab, and the edging represents the Nile. (That is, until my next guess!)</span></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Neith is a goddess of the sky, mother of night and day, and the goddess of weaving and arts domestic (did they call it knitting then?). She is also associated with war. MS3 designer Melanie hinted that this would not be a good theme for a wedding. Althogh a wedding is never associated with war (or dung beetles), it is sometimes associated with marriage...</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-23023696657415957732007-07-04T11:04:00.000-04:002007-07-04T11:17:01.951-04:00In the meantime...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">MS3 has begun, but my beads for the gray Zephyr yarn have not yet arrived in the mail. When none arrived yesterday and today is a no-mail holiday, there was only one thing to do: start something else!</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But MS3 has my full knitting attention right now. Looking at the stash, I spied a couple of skeins of soft white Misti Alpaca. DD donated some silver-lined transparent beads from her jewelry-making stash, and I was on my way. No swatching this time - full speed ahead! Some folks are making two shawls, since the theme colors are black or white. I uess I am, too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a long, sleepless night - DH is back in the hospital - Clue 1 is finished. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083359458401405026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bpZI5k51GHNhYdCizY1uLJY-OkBF8FmKyeiNC_ushwsjfd6VWw3NmkDeBirV2lLMz-acFQlvh-pEGstehvxyAsYMnd4afX8galSg-rfXDilydn7EFRy7M4Oq7dGr8m2zQ7ReXQ/s400/IMG_1525.JPG" border="0" />(There <em>are</em> beads, but this quick and dirty pin-and-point shot doesn't show 'em.)</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-72534423833949371482007-07-01T17:46:00.000-04:002007-07-01T18:05:45.544-04:00Uncle!<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, okay. I have a gazillion projects lined up, and one languishing on the needles (Jazz). What cut the queue this time?</span></div><br /><div><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mystery Stole 3</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, that's what! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At least I haven't bought new yarn. I got mine from the basement stash, some lovely Zephyr wool/silk in "Steel". Now I did have to buy a smaller crochet hook (size 12), and a bunch of beads, which haven't arrived yet. But <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxsb26GMITRgTAoM_CZbPCO9sh-nYyLnjZG7sxYwsDDLbFg3i7yILBh7M5tuyCx_uIDfjCxnqs_mkJOnnp1Q19kfntoao_XmUNP_ys1V_BzOvZCpMv66DlgegjhOdX8nCQtf3ow/s1600-h/IMG_1522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082351678685136962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxsb26GMITRgTAoM_CZbPCO9sh-nYyLnjZG7sxYwsDDLbFg3i7yILBh7M5tuyCx_uIDfjCxnqs_mkJOnnp1Q19kfntoao_XmUNP_ys1V_BzOvZCpMv66DlgegjhOdX8nCQtf3ow/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" border="0" /></a>meanwhile, I printed out all the info and dutifully swatched:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, to be truthful, it wasn't exactly dutiful - I just wanted to knit. The top piece is on size 3 needles, and the bottom one (the one of choice) is on size 4's. Amazing what a quarter of a millimeter makes, isn't it?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">No fewer than seven members of my local group, <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrogPondFiberArts/">Frog Pond Fiber Arts</a>, have joined so far. It's positively contageous. If you have the bug to sign up, you'll have to do it post-haste: <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/">MS3</a> closes to new members on July 6.</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-79981443488341883522007-06-27T09:56:00.000-04:002007-06-29T12:03:32.574-04:00Diamond Mesh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp5LJf-944aWjR1vW40npWfwwoBNZQjC7uPYlFFpYW8Rzf5fXMEVoy2EiqbMCBnGrgLieT-xwC9fmcuM9ADfbH8_nR1xavgXUxZZXJLHHkJfxvyPRids80sl1YDj4Mb2FCVkK_w/s1600-h/IMG_1508.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080778642428829906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp5LJf-944aWjR1vW40npWfwwoBNZQjC7uPYlFFpYW8Rzf5fXMEVoy2EiqbMCBnGrgLieT-xwC9fmcuM9ADfbH8_nR1xavgXUxZZXJLHHkJfxvyPRids80sl1YDj4Mb2FCVkK_w/s200/IMG_1508.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Finally! Knitter's Magazine hasn't exactly been batting a thousand for me lately, but there's a project in the current<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogF1pLiubz7SdS0F65bX7vd9CvljX8QI-70I7ZAV4s7spa_Roe2dkunDupEAcyrgvuu1K_5ZHhcVJvN_Umbku99IoJ9XQvX1b-GxByANcOGf8KsdMHr3qKRIgjjzTsBxoEmdasA/s1600-h/IMG_1506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080778337486151874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogF1pLiubz7SdS0F65bX7vd9CvljX8QI-70I7ZAV4s7spa_Roe2dkunDupEAcyrgvuu1K_5ZHhcVJvN_Umbku99IoJ9XQvX1b-GxByANcOGf8KsdMHr3qKRIgjjzTsBxoEmdasA/s200/IMG_1506.JPG" border="0" /></a> issue that looks good to me. </span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What yarn? What yarn? </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I decided to go stash shopping in the basement. This requires mustering both bravery and imagination on my part, because the choice seems so... <em>final</em>. I'm not such a good knitter that the result is generally better than the possibilities. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm a brave person, but I'm not very imaginative. I want to have the final project come out perfectly, and I fret that my choice of yarn - especially when the fiber and gauge are way different than the designer's choice -will not come out well. Still, I know I <em>must</em> have stuff that would work. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAXecRgmhtqOu9OsXuolZkeQJbmwwgWgkYZu-nIfmVmMwd_NAINlaB6NDrnNvuUQAVDVGZ2UwKfZtaBdN_hVGSUb69oUmxjXWNEGRWpi-owNufLbRY0Y2JMoDqiLvwU2IVoel0w/s1600-h/IMG_1509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081512072519131362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAXecRgmhtqOu9OsXuolZkeQJbmwwgWgkYZu-nIfmVmMwd_NAINlaB6NDrnNvuUQAVDVGZ2UwKfZtaBdN_hVGSUb69oUmxjXWNEGRWpi-owNufLbRY0Y2JMoDqiLvwU2IVoel0w/s200/IMG_1509.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, several years ago, my friend Vicki and I went in together on a yarn deal. We got a large number of cones of yarn for just the cost of shipping. I selected two cones from our lot One was a charcoal boucle, a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7uLw64vMl0_2Xa6KqXhXJyKwihbQe9qEyIS_2kX4Qg6UAhq2Pp4K8zMWpJz9hQuOPojBZ_1XbSpZyujfsTzdhiL0udXh-fF-zMs7O9uxd_V1t13m3vIrEJ8jn25MBzLSmoFqrw/s1600-h/IMG_1517.JPG"></a>nd the other was a pink silk/cotton (whatever did Vicki do with the rest of those cones? :-) ). </span></div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJztBd6ZpO6vHysKszl_AzIwCDRFO0q18UKlUWw6-Mq_2zh7N_G1jnuGyd0iXTkyRow2muNdhVNjcC3z61qBwteUQF8RGkoSz_j3ap70G_PPqJfBPz88TQy44M66DCE_QBzq8ghw/s1600-h/IMG_1517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081513056066642178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJztBd6ZpO6vHysKszl_AzIwCDRFO0q18UKlUWw6-Mq_2zh7N_G1jnuGyd0iXTkyRow2muNdhVNjcC3z61qBwteUQF8RGkoSz_j3ap70G_PPqJfBPz88TQy44M66DCE_QBzq8ghw/s320/IMG_1517.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After combing through my stash, the cone of pink silk/cotton called to me. Other yarn would have been suitable and would have given me gauge without messing around. But I kept going back to the pink cone. The yarn was too thin, so I loosely plied it together with my spinning wheel. The result was still a bit skinny, so after a gauge swatch, I re-gauged the pattern. It knit up fairly quickly. I finished the seams last night.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I feel especially good because it cost me about fifty cents (broken down from the shipping cost of all the cones - yarn was free)! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-82572780224011646712007-06-27T09:26:00.000-04:002007-06-27T09:54:46.814-04:00Frog Pond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hu1CmmEoCLNa0ssl8hM6tY_IeOJkgnFkp2owqe9aqscG1YySmV3vkt7Z7gxhX_1SZMduGhn9m6KJkUd30k0KcpICSt3-6ZsItUyBoCT9gQ84OD__5bKvoXob2zmtMhgCItvhEw/s1600-h/IMG_1481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080738660578271362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hu1CmmEoCLNa0ssl8hM6tY_IeOJkgnFkp2owqe9aqscG1YySmV3vkt7Z7gxhX_1SZMduGhn9m6KJkUd30k0KcpICSt3-6ZsItUyBoCT9gQ84OD__5bKvoXob2zmtMhgCItvhEw/s200/IMG_1481.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What a great time we had at the Frog Pond Fiber Frolic! We spent a lazy afternoon experimenting with Easter Egg dye on wool and silk. First we soaked our plain vanilla yarn and fiber in a vinegar and water solution.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8pJowWRWdvJyN9EZ1Gnr3bqRGgLb25_u4hoKZAfHZLJqHVroOLNHdkGV41aTs2GM0IhCAbnEAspgK5Vgzy-vZ4te_StMchpFtVs_oGOZq9fBne_fnGyXMcvEaWgrt6qILNa0uA/s1600-h/IMG_1485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080739841694277778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8pJowWRWdvJyN9EZ1Gnr3bqRGgLb25_u4hoKZAfHZLJqHVroOLNHdkGV41aTs2GM0IhCAbnEAspgK5Vgzy-vZ4te_StMchpFtVs_oGOZq9fBne_fnGyXMcvEaWgrt6qILNa0uA/s320/IMG_1485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then we created colors! We swished, we dunked, we squirted. We put our creations in ziplock bags to cook in the sun while we had refreshments. Gorgeous!</span> <div><div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Frog Pond is lucky to have Janet, who found a great quantity of Easter Egg dye on clearance after Easter, and had the presence of mind to buy it for the group. We are also lucky to have Vicki, who gathered the supplies and directions for us. And we are lucky to have each other, because we are a mighty creative group together. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAAN_d2rIVHswXuKHphCk28c-RDyamEMwQShA8c0PYFQF0I4fOrxW5bbuUwD_MjAXlAWytjq8_QPpP0FoOgjXhB7WR-8_Ur_Mor7WQNPo9FRBL_L70kEf8R5dt0d1YBavNV5E1w/s1600-h/IMG_1502.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080740524594077858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAAN_d2rIVHswXuKHphCk28c-RDyamEMwQShA8c0PYFQF0I4fOrxW5bbuUwD_MjAXlAWytjq8_QPpP0FoOgjXhB7WR-8_Ur_Mor7WQNPo9FRBL_L70kEf8R5dt0d1YBavNV5E1w/s200/IMG_1502.JPG" border="0" /></a>I decided to dye sock yarn - could have knit boot socks if it turned out ugly, but I rather like my result. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoTMiXQED-EsnVx9JwhNpjdH74I5qvQneYt_B-vX4Qh_k0WJ_OMJPDfB7em59eDi-rON4FTyf5qPlzd6McpphOkjMmodslKi1Ktkb4IlJ6GCAeYJkEDWH7fZhaKsWOkQr5JVIfA/s1600-h/IMG_1503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080741168839172274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoTMiXQED-EsnVx9JwhNpjdH74I5qvQneYt_B-vX4Qh_k0WJ_OMJPDfB7em59eDi-rON4FTyf5qPlzd6McpphOkjMmodslKi1Ktkb4IlJ6GCAeYJkEDWH7fZhaKsWOkQr5JVIfA/s200/IMG_1503.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My result on the silk was ermmmm, okay. The teal I started with was looking <em>too</em> even. However, I had mixed together all the leftover dye from the Frolic, which turned out a kind of pea green. Squirted in splotches over the teal and left to cook a second day, the teal silk now has a little depth. We'll see how it looks when I've spun it into some lace weight yarn. I bet it will look pretty good, in a monochromatic way. </span></div><div></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-77885917285347817142007-05-29T13:15:00.000-04:002007-05-29T14:08:51.412-04:00Talk to the handI found this funny quiz on <a href="http://www.chicknits.com/">Bonne Marie's</a> blog. Here's my result for "What Finger are You?" (find your finger through the link below).<br /><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#eeeeee;"><span style="font-size:14;"><b>You Are the Thumb</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/finger-1.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />You're unique and flexible. And you defy any category.<br />Mentally strong and agile, you do things your own way. And you do them well.<br />You are a natural leader... but also truly a loner. You inspire many but connect with few.<br /><br />You get along well with: The Middle Finger<br /><br />Stay away from: The Pinky</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/">What Finger Are You?</a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pretty funny that it says I should stay away from the pinky! I'm not getting along with mine too well. (Or maybe I chould say that I'm not getting along <em>without </em>it too well.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know hearing about my bum hand is boring and repetitive and old. Without full use of it, though, there isn't a lot of progress to post. But there's news! They finally resorted <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssAmuFhhAmYgow8Gg5VdoqA-IY4039v5xzknDcuA25JZgtQ0HkdmFmHivJuBIyQItDiFeycULCjZy9CfmBzSXHUnMcaaZ8YdmSEVJcwf-V7Rot4vVl7Gnv0DEPCTOYxRxK986CA/s1600-h/IMG_1479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069445526911057378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssAmuFhhAmYgow8Gg5VdoqA-IY4039v5xzknDcuA25JZgtQ0HkdmFmHivJuBIyQItDiFeycULCjZy9CfmBzSXHUnMcaaZ8YdmSEVJcwf-V7Rot4vVl7Gnv0DEPCTOYxRxK986CA/s200/IMG_1479.JPG" border="0" /></a>to putting a plaster cast on</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> the pinkie to force it into being more straight. The cast will be changed twice a week, stretching the finger back more each time (A digital rack!) </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even better news? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">I CAN REALLY KNIT! </span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The cast keeps my finger immobile enough that I can just about knit to my heart's content. Won't be able to make up for three months worth of major knitlessness, but I might put a dent in my long project list before they remove the cast for good. (Then there will be a re-evaluation of what I can do.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.chicknits.com/free.shtml"></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">(Thanks, <a href="http://www.chicknits.com/">Bonne Marie</a>, for the hand site!)</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-46205030872413567562007-05-27T17:18:00.000-04:002007-05-27T17:39:08.158-04:00Bare Naked<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUalJghaq1BJSD3vuvF_PCs9BgmkrACDDofua8bbthnVR8VoBCz8kcZvzQxGRRGVT0XQKz88PtHlqN3KCwpkDoJJb13vO9yjnJcb8usjTqcWHphhFtobX8K-EdSnMq6m3Eh3ae3A/s1600-h/IMG_1470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069356968980381106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUalJghaq1BJSD3vuvF_PCs9BgmkrACDDofua8bbthnVR8VoBCz8kcZvzQxGRRGVT0XQKz88PtHlqN3KCwpkDoJJb13vO9yjnJcb8usjTqcWHphhFtobX8K-EdSnMq6m3Eh3ae3A/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Score!!! My fiber came in on Friday! As IF I needed more. This is special though (isn't it all?) - a bunch of bare-naked, no color fingerling-weight yarn from KnitPicks and some silk from <a href="http://www.pacificwoolandfiber.com/spinning.htm">Pacific Wool and Fiber</a>. Our local <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrogPondFiberArts/">Frog Pond Fiber Arts </a>group is having a dye workshop at <a href="http://esknitnspin.blogspot.com/">E's</a> house in a couple of weeks. I haven't done any dyeing yet, so I'm really jazzed about it. I figure fingerling weight is good - I can knit socks. If the colors turn out icky, I'll just wear long pants. Hope to get lucky on the silk, though.</span></div><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-46686839697676362022007-05-22T16:26:00.000-04:002007-05-22T16:31:34.966-04:00<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is what kind of day it was around here today. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9uRlMXl1RiGy1ZOSDsp1DlzD08oABcZlEJwTYKBEwxijvitveKNuZ5tbL-woYB2UuPIZ_zoWkSb3FGVehICbUHn73Afq39XhR2a6ukCE8VarvZW9SckTd1giEv_9dYmKfTIs-w/s1600-h/IMG_1465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9uRlMXl1RiGy1ZOSDsp1DlzD08oABcZlEJwTYKBEwxijvitveKNuZ5tbL-woYB2UuPIZ_zoWkSb3FGVehICbUHn73Afq39XhR2a6ukCE8VarvZW9SckTd1giEv_9dYmKfTIs-w/s400/IMG_1465.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Garbo, fast asleep, never heard me sneak up with the camera.</span> <a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-3424105662753850302007-05-21T17:25:00.001-04:002007-05-22T00:08:48.164-04:00On the other hand...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm out of the habit of posting, and there's not too much to write about. But okay, okay, it's been over a month. </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br /><br /><div><blockquote><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZumUQMfiv63FIbsqFn2nm2RbF2sK4eRN6OTFkMafmrxBQ-tMj6rmXL_3JiIMGqEPdMjydhaHzpnMbBbsW8ikAYt93jmsBVK0iAlOjwQqw0K8FGjPPXnpq1ruf5bbJgVVnPUZQ/s1600-h/IMG_1462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067145129542417762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZumUQMfiv63FIbsqFn2nm2RbF2sK4eRN6OTFkMafmrxBQ-tMj6rmXL_3JiIMGqEPdMjydhaHzpnMbBbsW8ikAYt93jmsBVK0iAlOjwQqw0K8FGjPPXnpq1ruf5bbJgVVnPUZQ/s200/IMG_1462.JPG" border="0" /></a>I started knitting a little. I began a cardi from Maie Landra's new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knits-Painters-Palette-Masterpieces-Handpainted/dp/1933027061/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2060608-0412619?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179787699&sr=1-1">Knits from a Painter's Palette</a>. I've been collecting Koigu skeins for a while, and finally broke down and bought the last two. I must be out of my mind - knitting this on size twos when my knitting time is so limited right now. A nice super-bulky sweater or a quick hat would have been more instantly satisfying, but, well, I'm in it now - literally up to the armpits.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm still waiting for my hand to heal. It has been <strong>eleven weeks</strong> since the surgery. I am <em>still </em>struggling with physical therapy, splints, braces, exercises, massage, and heat packs. Knitting <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlkL6U9I0RU2OsDcYwEPyCqS5zvNvvnB9Y2KGpSkFWf_VDvQJQVUIoGrZrLt3XCcBFvuGFfm0KSW8wtlxEumKVcGPfg62r74qi0s2IrZfa5_4uZJknQ6Vddpwj0iYl0-yi5d6MA/s1600-h/IMG_1443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067145790967381362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 102px" height="116" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlkL6U9I0RU2OsDcYwEPyCqS5zvNvvnB9Y2KGpSkFWf_VDvQJQVUIoGrZrLt3XCcBFvuGFfm0KSW8wtlxEumKVcGPfg62r74qi0s2IrZfa5_4uZJknQ6Vddpwj0iYl0-yi5d6MA/s200/IMG_1443.JPG" width="113" border="0" /></a>has been an adventure. I've had to learn a new way to tension my yarn because some of the digits engaged doing it my usual way are out of commission. If I get enthusiastic and knit more than a few rows at a time, my little finger contracts into my palm, the middle joint freezes at about 45 degrees, and there is some pain. It can take days clamped back in the splint to get the finger to extend again. The Medical Professionals can't or won't say how long therapy will continue, if my vigilance is going to ultimately pay off - or like Sisyphus and the rock, I am doomed to this cycle of flexion and forced extension over and over again forever. But knit I will.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay. I'm finished whining (for now).</span></div><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm spinning on my beautiful new wheel a lot - howzat for optimism? If I <strong>do</strong> eventually knit without restriction, I'll have lots to knit with! And I'm spinning <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3u874w4r4hD6EdUjnimuM3vfN5IQmDzCvSvhWM1897Z4ehiPVjqzPRxz7TVfzCo_GzB8XiR2G8Qlf4aijvWjgpWSo6SMgXvKPe0vwLXjOc2RPdSWFulMsexsJnkckronf3nEUQ/s1600-h/IMG_1447.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067148548336385410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3u874w4r4hD6EdUjnimuM3vfN5IQmDzCvSvhWM1897Z4ehiPVjqzPRxz7TVfzCo_GzB8XiR2G8Qlf4aijvWjgpWSo6SMgXvKPe0vwLXjOc2RPdSWFulMsexsJnkckronf3nEUQ/s200/IMG_1447.JPG" border="0" /></a>better, too, though I'm still exploring what Hazel can do. I finished 22 ounces of charcoal alpaca, DK weight, for a sweater (pictures when it's all skeined and washed). And look at this lovely pink silk from and blue merino from <a href="http://knitandspincrazy.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth M</a>! I'm working on some turquoise silk now, too. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">More pictures later. I promise!</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-36319403107283590082007-04-16T17:41:00.001-04:002010-05-11T20:51:25.016-04:00Greencastle<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greencastle</span> was, of course, wonderful. Hazel is the BIG news (see post belo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCeDMNLz6FbZagPVor3qoYLFxErjYMgBT4ydhYZ0tFdeJ5zvBMkrc0bdyP2dTAcXwNyDsP_a_dXV3uYBcmmXeDNltHScFFtAN03VC04fgCp8RfUETjSFjybXEw7DYIYyaHa2E4A/s1600-h/IMG_1412.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054144410600828002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCeDMNLz6FbZagPVor3qoYLFxErjYMgBT4ydhYZ0tFdeJ5zvBMkrc0bdyP2dTAcXwNyDsP_a_dXV3uYBcmmXeDNltHScFFtAN03VC04fgCp8RfUETjSFjybXEw7DYIYyaHa2E4A/s200/IMG_1412.JPG" /></a>w), and there was much, much more. Robins, Cherry blossoms, Red-winged blackbirds, Prom dresses, Kildeer, Tulips, Greencastle.... Spring is sprung! (Well, sort of. The sleet amd high winds didn't help.) Despite the nasty weather, it was exhilarating to finally see the first show of the season in our area. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I spent like a drunken sailor. I only go to two shows all year, this <a href="http://www.thefiberevent.com/">Fiber Event </a>at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greencastle</span>, and the <a href="http://michiganfiberfestival.info/">Michigan Fiber Festival</a> in August. I need to get all the fiber I'll spin in a year, pretty much, and besides, I hear it's healthy to be on a high fiber diet!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOKLYjUb63YoZZEI_XMME4VrcJ5ye-FOMbyQGUbaF-Slqp-U73DzSYKsoXebhKTzMA930ibG4pXuA4ojI6jLns5MgpmTORwcPpVyIQi6DT-PaFXAw3Q_yo8-1C4AbJloM55LvxA/s1600/IMG_1404.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 237px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470178776705344594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOKLYjUb63YoZZEI_XMME4VrcJ5ye-FOMbyQGUbaF-Slqp-U73DzSYKsoXebhKTzMA930ibG4pXuA4ojI6jLns5MgpmTORwcPpVyIQi6DT-PaFXAw3Q_yo8-1C4AbJloM55LvxA/s320/IMG_1404.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First of all, I was enabled by two good friends, <a href="http://simpleknits.blogspot.com/">Vicki</a> and <a href="http://avocadofever.blogspot.com/">Michelle</a>. I was lucky enough to get a ride down with Vicki and her DH Phil on Friday, and then ride back with Michelle on Saturday. Since <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greencastle</span> is perhaps 3-1/2 hours from my house, I was happy indeed for the rides and for the company.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP7zEFYjc8v9O70UpTmEyYayu6x1e32RrOxqGTo_Yzx6aNSL3SEsVc90OaAsc7pNglLsEkhrV6GxJ7ISPlWrSyam_oz8asgNtpfwJFoUJG3TMGoLdFSjRofx26vOuEq9VtcTjzA/s1600-h/Jess+and+Hazel+(5).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 5px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 12px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054009479908256770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP7zEFYjc8v9O70UpTmEyYayu6x1e32RrOxqGTo_Yzx6aNSL3SEsVc90OaAsc7pNglLsEkhrV6GxJ7ISPlWrSyam_oz8asgNtpfwJFoUJG3TMGoLdFSjRofx26vOuEq9VtcTjzA/s200/Jess+and+Hazel+(5).JPG" width="5" height="12" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I did mention Hazel, didn't I? Here's a pic of Michelle and the Jaegers at the Jensen booth.</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bbKVnNBxMCyL7eM9GgoWzsn00D-hIt693td1aYjVCYvsAGnBXb7uAt5YaOmVuilH_6_A1bTXXEZ2tYiR985N1_aYRTya6BI5-EaDN-LNWKkPnfolF-gKvIC0ppaygCabaWmuEQ/s1600-h/IMG_1423.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054019349743102994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bbKVnNBxMCyL7eM9GgoWzsn00D-hIt693td1aYjVCYvsAGnBXb7uAt5YaOmVuilH_6_A1bTXXEZ2tYiR985N1_aYRTya6BI5-EaDN-LNWKkPnfolF-gKvIC0ppaygCabaWmuEQ/s200/IMG_1423.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And here's what other wonderful stuff I found: A kilo of painted "Pansies" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Polworth</span> from Susan <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Markle's</span> <a href="http://www.tradingpostfiber.com/">Trading Post Fibers</a> booth;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheisivFszrsi7u2_43riGzftW5OUH5e7Z8xtVeklMiQUSID-SX5HLWlBhR9Yr1EWaNNmZpq7Ney1F7dqGncsyHQguQV6AiwtU29omYAhjF9k0gdqAAPgfyO8tMY9W8aKNlTRB0Hg/s1600-h/IMG_1420.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054019710520355874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheisivFszrsi7u2_43riGzftW5OUH5e7Z8xtVeklMiQUSID-SX5HLWlBhR9Yr1EWaNNmZpq7Ney1F7dqGncsyHQguQV6AiwtU29omYAhjF9k0gdqAAPgfyO8tMY9W8aKNlTRB0Hg/s200/IMG_1420.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> Also from Susan, two painted skeins of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Targhee</span> (top two balls), some Fleece Artist <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">BFL</span> roving, and a lovely painted Merino from a lovely person whose booth I've forgotten. (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmmmm</span>. detect a color rut here? )<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtA2-CAsJP5PRD1jMrx36IRpofy2Mxbuogy9zUL2PGUTONX6wKH3oEgOhXmWU3O-vSXpcq8FvW81uSustIE00cxyrrLXf0EevKrE4VPEInFwAhfeYv_pVTZRvpSIh_UiLWHGI8w/s1600-h/IMG_1425.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054020311815777330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtA2-CAsJP5PRD1jMrx36IRpofy2Mxbuogy9zUL2PGUTONX6wKH3oEgOhXmWU3O-vSXpcq8FvW81uSustIE00cxyrrLXf0EevKrE4VPEInFwAhfeYv_pVTZRvpSIh_UiLWHGI8w/s200/IMG_1425.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br />An entire <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Corriedale</span>-Romney cross fleece (6.9 pounds - now there's some spinning!) which I've split with Michelle - this is from the lovely Lola at our friend Charlotte's <a href="http://prairiewindsnaturefarm.com/">Prairie Winds Farm</a> near home;<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuXkoCr_NPUHGfpm7YHtKQVxoQnhAtjCg6xKLaNIswWFo3kew7gGuaksc6sBzfyGCJ3Y7TmHD0BlSc6_Yw2Lxreuh8tDB8B5rV7hdmeCwttHf-AIwrlYkzwhixUJ25eDVSl5qCA/s1600-h/IMG_1417.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054020698362833986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuXkoCr_NPUHGfpm7YHtKQVxoQnhAtjCg6xKLaNIswWFo3kew7gGuaksc6sBzfyGCJ3Y7TmHD0BlSc6_Yw2Lxreuh8tDB8B5rV7hdmeCwttHf-AIwrlYkzwhixUJ25eDVSl5qCA/s200/IMG_1417.JPG" /></a> And these two balls of lovely baby alpaca. I bought one ball last year, (spun, foreground), and wanted 16 more ounces for a sweater. Well, I stopped by Nancy Haas's booth - and she had exactly that amount left. SCORE!<br /><br /></div><div><br />There were other buys, too, with more photos for another day: a luscious small white alpaca fleece ("Apollo") from my Union sister Julie Stephens at <a href="http://alpacanation.com/farmsandbreeders/03_viewfarm.asp?name=10712#saleslist">Thunder Bolt Farm</a>; a baby <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Shetland</span> fleece I'm splitting with Vicki, some baby <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Shetland</span>, a hank of Border <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Leicester</span> roving, and a buttery <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Corriedale</span>-silk blend that Vicki and I each bought (she has the whole batch at the moment)... all to share later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRxhaZaAcJAwM3Vdalwm1h4_D52s1RckPrELvPL0k_OMRAM7c_kgeKE4RBHfJa9XDUN4jKSAIARtf9QwP0BB8KunvkLj2h89g8Kp0NXdCC3eUSLxjTN1w242z2v-IXaTODXClVQ/s1600-h/IMG_1428.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054139132086021202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRxhaZaAcJAwM3Vdalwm1h4_D52s1RckPrELvPL0k_OMRAM7c_kgeKE4RBHfJa9XDUN4jKSAIARtf9QwP0BB8KunvkLj2h89g8Kp0NXdCC3eUSLxjTN1w242z2v-IXaTODXClVQ/s320/IMG_1428.JPG" /></a>Oh - and did I happen to mention Hazel? She is all settled in with her sisters, Inez (my trusty <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lendrum</span> in the middle), and little Amelie in the back, the tiny Cabriolet.</div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-4313264715414015982007-04-15T13:46:00.001-04:002007-04-15T19:37:16.996-04:00Meet Hazel.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkXJC3Az7_HkJXA-WNmvVRg2SG4CNr7AYUgh06HvKnq5qNrLhrlFteZWW7iuh_hzTlppgwrZzM62l1FweBCfRraZUMkwxZY5ZQ4UrKifgBNuRC7rYpIXl7BoliolqVxGSWUcktA/s1600-h/IMG_1404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053794027168820210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkXJC3Az7_HkJXA-WNmvVRg2SG4CNr7AYUgh06HvKnq5qNrLhrlFteZWW7iuh_hzTlppgwrZzM62l1FweBCfRraZUMkwxZY5ZQ4UrKifgBNuRC7rYpIXl7BoliolqVxGSWUcktA/s400/IMG_1404.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please allow me to introduce you to Hazel. She is posing here with my friend </span><a href="http://www.avocadofever.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Michelle</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (middle) and </span><a href="http://www.colinadelcarl.com/index.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, the Jensen dealers. Hazel is my gorgeous new Jensen D-30 production wheel. She us the big sister to Inez, my Lendrum (who is feeling a tad jealous right now).<br /><br />I fell in love with Hazel on Friday at the </span><a href="http://www.thefiberevent.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fiber Event </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">in Greencastle, Indiana. She is all elegant cherry wood, and she spins with an effortless grace heretofore unknown to me. Hazel is a "mirror image" wheel (right flyer for us Southpaws). Her distaff is charming (and keeps roving out of the inquisitive paws of Oliver). </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had been longing for a production wheel for some time, and after I spun on this wheel, I couldn't get her out of my mind. When I talked it over with my DH on Friday night, and he told me, "go for it!" I weakly suggested to Michelle that she should talk me out of it. Instead, Michelle informed me that Hazel would certainly fit in the back seat of her car - and backed it up by rising at the crack of dawn to drive me back to Greencastle to buy her.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Though the weather was brutal - snow, sleet and wind - we had fun shopping for another three hours, then, loading Hazel into the back seat of Michelle's auto (where she fit nicely), we headed for home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tomorrow: all the other wonderful things from the Fiber Event.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-2411676120358742072007-04-13T17:17:00.000-04:002007-04-13T07:58:28.552-04:00New Baby<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy Friday 13!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Here's the news</span>:</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lBQNdQc4yBV72QgSjFM16fmh6srdGnl7nUpsrZA6WhZ69UcgK4Q24RgqWsHahoQO2Pb9nykiQ_SuMDezjK5gXck1ElFJbSqDiInYBaJ1oYgHNNp0bqzncgxBTF_6uTRDjBYCcg/s1600-h/P3280003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052283933847415778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lBQNdQc4yBV72QgSjFM16fmh6srdGnl7nUpsrZA6WhZ69UcgK4Q24RgqWsHahoQO2Pb9nykiQ_SuMDezjK5gXck1ElFJbSqDiInYBaJ1oYgHNNp0bqzncgxBTF_6uTRDjBYCcg/s400/P3280003.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">am the proud keeper of this marvelous wee wheel. My friend </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Janet King, who took this picture, put it up for sale at our local group's web site (the </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrogPondFiberArts/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Frog Pond</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a wonderful buy, but there are several new spinners in our lovely group who don't have wheels. I wanted to make sure they got first dibs before I glommed on to this beauty.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://star-shaped.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Aubrey</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> had her eye on it, but in the end she chose a beautiful hand-painted Ashford wheel. You should have seen Aubrey spinning on the wheel she wound up buying. It looked as if she had been spinning on it all her life.<br /><br />This little baby is tiny, and more portable even than my folding Lendrum (certainly a lot lighter!). The wheel is a mere 15 inches in diameter, and it only measures 28 inches to the top of the flyer. Janet thinks it might have been made for a child. Though petite, I don't think this is a beginner wheel, mainly because the treadle is steep. I seem to have taken to it well though, even with my tall frame (child at heart?!). </span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now off to play and to name the little tyke....</span></p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-12387697543008408802007-04-11T12:04:00.000-04:002007-04-11T16:43:24.019-04:00In like a lion...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-l3KLfTjqZX71G2pRUL_j0kfuT5aoPMfqC3FXRzmpUgzSHOwPM4DIA4Gm63efURhlTKRsALdoC8ttbryvH0FjSfhFC9jYh416iB3D8Bt1JE9fxM7pJ3lNZ9DqxrNu1Al6GP0UA/s1600-h/IMG_1395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052206177759488962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-l3KLfTjqZX71G2pRUL_j0kfuT5aoPMfqC3FXRzmpUgzSHOwPM4DIA4Gm63efURhlTKRsALdoC8ttbryvH0FjSfhFC9jYh416iB3D8Bt1JE9fxM7pJ3lNZ9DqxrNu1Al6GP0UA/s320/IMG_1395.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know, I know, it's March that is supposed to come in like like a lion, and here it is April! This is what it looked like outside my door this morning. Perhaps we should revise those old weather axioms...</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I spent the morning at </span><a href="http://www.kiva.org/app.php"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kiva</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. If you haven't heard of it yet, Kiva is a non-profit organization which lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. It has been featured on <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/video_index.html">PBS</a> and in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10section4.t-6.html?ex=1323406800&en=72e9b0bb93393330&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">New York Times</a>, along with other media coverage. For as little as 25 bucks, you too can become a "world bank" for those in need. The loan rate of return of your money is very high - pretty much 100% - though I would consider that if my investment wound up being a donation, it would still be a good deed indeed. Can't you just imagine what the result would be if every person who was able to loan a few bucks - did?</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On the hand front, </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Still unable to knit, and typing is slow. I have some spinning news to share tomorrow. Stay tuned!<br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_bNUIJmdOZAGsqQjvenBCB_nZjlcu6CyF6ZcyLkYirxp6cXkheNFdY3TZA3Axr48jRBNTJAkzgzTnOwmgCGqjnlA3rNN3c8VXv2sH9duKXxXhlGaoVirbWQHLEpBOKUzEDv2uQ/s1600-h/IMG_1395.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-19869626965996478982007-03-17T10:24:00.000-04:002007-03-17T18:50:27.567-04:00The Spin Cycle<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-warzD48KNKjwNxvumUfimH7SGa2g7getjRAKuHrFfAnX2VbHFMjeXAmsNRoyfkIR7Om_0D9Lg6BBbiWicjhESUNwfVOYZHcc0FR3zgraRl5uzH_el-iCmHDOvpepy4SjMkg7Qg/s1600-h/IMG_1370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042906201885635938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-warzD48KNKjwNxvumUfimH7SGa2g7getjRAKuHrFfAnX2VbHFMjeXAmsNRoyfkIR7Om_0D9Lg6BBbiWicjhESUNwfVOYZHcc0FR3zgraRl5uzH_el-iCmHDOvpepy4SjMkg7Qg/s320/IMG_1370.JPG" border="0" /></a>Well, the Medical Folks won't tell me how long I must wear the sado-splint, but my hand is doing better each day. Typing is hard still - all with my left hand - and I am unable to knit at all. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But I can spin! I'm limited to a half hour at a time and it has to be easy stuff with light tension. I make it a reward for doing the difficult physical therapy every few hours.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's some sumptuous alpaca I've been working on the past few days, which I bought at Gre<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aUEC6pSVMTsK3hvtkESRi4tsTspru1Hcser0p_910DLREF-S-Jv2gp7I2UM8NlHp9m_b6ViRqP-T-bCPsPz76UgMY2cb2NnKTYiuja8c0q74Xlhr55bZX1z4UQQXoC2CS0aJjg/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042908048721573234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aUEC6pSVMTsK3hvtkESRi4tsTspru1Hcser0p_910DLREF-S-Jv2gp7I2UM8NlHp9m_b6ViRqP-T-bCPsPz76UgMY2cb2NnKTYiuja8c0q74Xlhr55bZX1z4UQQXoC2CS0aJjg/s200/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" /></a>encastle last year. I wish I had a lot more of it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ-OF6eIU7Uaevy4_M-70BFZ03-tzOjxlNciEiL8sLDo1SgYToidxGRMX_VWli17xZ6CtOsp1aPBe2qyA6R84TyS4vL_x0MoIo7lV3BDLJjRCMXakofrXrp1Gefgu036JAriKBA/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And remember this? (Of course not! It's been a while!) I bought it last August at Michigan Fiber Festival. I spun most of it at the Lindenwood Spinning Retreat (see the post on the retreat below). The finished yarn is <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2s1NZj5SF3vFwfbnGHjG7T2SrOR-N8Revj4YaMzyL3iViWNHv2DEe72bfvnxuBrvjrtnGHGm0_iynfkBLHwDfkyCgesUqVJ6UGBB2vEHNfadKA5GiqFoUpMt8vjhtQJLplqnuA/s1600-h/IMG_1367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042905922712761682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2s1NZj5SF3vFwfbnGHjG7T2SrOR-N8Revj4YaMzyL3iViWNHv2DEe72bfvnxuBrvjrtnGHGm0_iynfkBLHwDfkyCgesUqVJ6UGBB2vEHNfadKA5GiqFoUpMt8vjhtQJLplqnuA/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" border="0" /></a>pretty darn rustic. Frankly, I think it looked nicer in it's raw potential than my clumsy finished product, but I'm happy enough with it to be designing a jacket for it (sideways, shawl collar). I'm grateful to my very DH, who set the twist for me and learned how to twist skeins today. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Just hope I can knit it sometime soon!</span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-27483312963710112802007-03-08T10:04:00.000-05:002007-03-08T10:14:48.338-05:00Stitches<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Knitters aren't the only group making stitches. So is my hand surgeon! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYCXEX4rgvvzvKvw_iK4X9yY10IMZSrapkEFkRXSW60QSUAnb1vjRKZ7DSUkWLf3Wr0kwhmTpLL-iN5oyQsBx4fY1mVk9Pzf-o9-74Hp18uELRHzCAYlpjCMAJtXPrbuGgQbHCA/s1600-h/IMG_1362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039571582265342114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYCXEX4rgvvzvKvw_iK4X9yY10IMZSrapkEFkRXSW60QSUAnb1vjRKZ7DSUkWLf3Wr0kwhmTpLL-iN5oyQsBx4fY1mVk9Pzf-o9-74Hp18uELRHzCAYlpjCMAJtXPrbuGgQbHCA/s200/IMG_1362.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here's why posting is going to be a little slow around here. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Typing is awkward, like trying to learn how to knit backwards. Can't knit at all (aaarrrggghhhh!), but maybe I'll be able to spin in a few days. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">More when I'm able.</span></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-52560591174950209112007-03-03T14:47:00.000-05:002007-03-03T15:39:12.453-05:00Spinning Retreat<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHKgXZb7kDySEMAjF-zIdfK-d-0IHysr4De5y7vj7m9rP2-PlPyyo2dg-61KmmBW30qIYcxVao-mmluLAfMCmPlhrxyYe21OAW_7b_e6NzdCghZXILZ-yzDesykHZHuu3qHRwYQ/s1600-h/IMG_1355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037789146947546818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="181" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHKgXZb7kDySEMAjF-zIdfK-d-0IHysr4De5y7vj7m9rP2-PlPyyo2dg-61KmmBW30qIYcxVao-mmluLAfMCmPlhrxyYe21OAW_7b_e6NzdCghZXILZ-yzDesykHZHuu3qHRwYQ/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" width="308" border="0" /></a>A whole week has gone by, and I still haven't raved about the spinning retreat.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfNC4uu_EvOt1v70g-wbN5IIqXVciCnHPT9GtdcvmVsjLLQczfnYklpfdu8gdFPoxjYvRnoGrbqFnENMNmVqistKld7rU6ELqW-LItOl7puegKz4iP3Hn-fONL7tZvGjnXZaVOg/s1600-h/IMG_1342.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037796186398945010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfNC4uu_EvOt1v70g-wbN5IIqXVciCnHPT9GtdcvmVsjLLQczfnYklpfdu8gdFPoxjYvRnoGrbqFnENMNmVqistKld7rU6ELqW-LItOl7puegKz4iP3Hn-fONL7tZvGjnXZaVOg/s320/IMG_1342.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clickety-Clack Ewe joined some old friends and a lot of new ones at </span><a href="http://www.lindenwood.org/conference.html#facilities"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lindenwood</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for a gloriuos weekend of just spinning. This was spinning with no chores. There was no housework to do, no teenage children to fret over or ferry around, and no meal preparation. DH took care of all of that, bless his generous <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH58dG7GuZrwo18dzMW95zY9_VTQhzStpG4y_rAEB0UbYCKkBZbeE_3vR8RhIF2b_nZFNiagy_zW4QehaZQwPwEA7o7UcZL-fvu8PIaACEU5Qg8rph50wF2hztVJGpemzraCmSA/s1600-h/IMG_1342.JPG"></a>heart!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjst1IsnK78jGDARgO4xLKGrYiONOaEMORRM456WLOOj1QDZ1edUESlrktqBxuDu_SaZP0NlLa8P-xB6umiyEFnZab3NxDgp4ft2LcyWpUT1ngnz8iyqS9IXzu1LgDbjsieexXQLA/s1600-h/IMG_1343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037794343857975010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjst1IsnK78jGDARgO4xLKGrYiONOaEMORRM456WLOOj1QDZ1edUESlrktqBxuDu_SaZP0NlLa8P-xB6umiyEFnZab3NxDgp4ft2LcyWpUT1ngnz8iyqS9IXzu1LgDbjsieexXQLA/s200/IMG_1343.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There were about thirty wonderful women there. We ate all our meals together in the convent's lower level , but otherwise all our waking hours were spent spinning and talking together. Bed was when we felt like it - for some, that was close to midnight. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYusQuYL1fZm-c6Mo7mnbVX-uCb4vJviZm80OOlQiW4H9ywYNV0893aJU-jELnSG-RpBuhtGzc2fDwgEeEujadUNnRt1CffBVmv9mGyBw1R0tU7lgekxCBw9gq_2SIKnUdIvO9Q/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037796890773581570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYusQuYL1fZm-c6Mo7mnbVX-uCb4vJviZm80OOlQiW4H9ywYNV0893aJU-jELnSG-RpBuhtGzc2fDwgEeEujadUNnRt1CffBVmv9mGyBw1R0tU7lgekxCBw9gq_2SIKnUdIvO9Q/s320/IMG_1344.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Many brought food to share, so there was some serious diet-busting snacking going on. (Leave it to me to take a picture of the food!) </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Naturally there was fiber to buy, too. See that bag front and center of the picture marked "Desert Sundown?" It's mine! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I had waaaaay more pictures, but I didn't bring fresh batteries, so they aren't useable. Otherwise, you could see that I</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> got to sit next to my friend Elizabeth M the entire weekend, and was happy to see my friends Charlotte, Peggy and Susan. I really wish all my other <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrogPondFiberArts/">Frog Pond Fiber Arts</a> spinning friends could have been there, too.</span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH58dG7GuZrwo18dzMW95zY9_VTQhzStpG4y_rAEB0UbYCKkBZbeE_3vR8RhIF2b_nZFNiagy_zW4QehaZQwPwEA7o7UcZL-fvu8PIaACEU5Qg8rph50wF2hztVJGpemzraCmSA/s1600-h/IMG_1342.JPG"></a></span> </div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28995025.post-88162704238452067722007-02-23T12:52:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:04:42.321-05:00Swallowtail<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUW5RVROtTx3VFHrWq_5g98ac37iOZcGK-s80IQ8gx56eDHR1Li89TmfmzsA8c6jTgOlZJJBVgyzNv2Q1_8Iac9bgK7xf5cuAz29xQIpSM7ch9t52UaMEntFmqbtz2TcZqwUEdw/s1600-h/IMG_1258.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034792522241789650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUW5RVROtTx3VFHrWq_5g98ac37iOZcGK-s80IQ8gx56eDHR1Li89TmfmzsA8c6jTgOlZJJBVgyzNv2Q1_8Iac9bgK7xf5cuAz29xQIpSM7ch9t52UaMEntFmqbtz2TcZqwUEdw/s200/IMG_1258.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZtxWfVT4ar3YZSSnaBzwJzinGxp3yys78tlme5M-F5Y07ti-ADlhfLg_VQxc3dG1wbtiHTwLg9Hpg_qSFVmLoSkbTlB5fpe4eIwq5wQCQXSVG0ZZc-09sfcf8AG79qEw35O_YA/s1600-h/Em+merino.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034792200119242434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZtxWfVT4ar3YZSSnaBzwJzinGxp3yys78tlme5M-F5Y07ti-ADlhfLg_VQxc3dG1wbtiHTwLg9Hpg_qSFVmLoSkbTlB5fpe4eIwq5wQCQXSVG0ZZc-09sfcf8AG79qEw35O_YA/s200/Em+merino.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Remember this?</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's my handspun from my friend <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5023853">Elizabeth M's</a> beautiful merino. On the way back from Nova Scotia, it became this:</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNApHK_i6pa9_nYbBi1cnuja2Z32IqmZv5TDAX41Qf5iKgeo4TDtT02lIPCPdkFnNEOs9Hq9741-7inMksp8nrP-d9HOm9w6Go8uk42jriddZuq_cklnCFbHNiVotuilORPNhy_w/s1600-h/IMG_1337.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034806506655305442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNApHK_i6pa9_nYbBi1cnuja2Z32IqmZv5TDAX41Qf5iKgeo4TDtT02lIPCPdkFnNEOs9Hq9741-7inMksp8nrP-d9HOm9w6Go8uk42jriddZuq_cklnCFbHNiVotuilORPNhy_w/s320/IMG_1337.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div>The Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark.</div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I blocked it after we had the first Frog Pond Fiber Frolic, but didn't get around to taking pictures until <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebK5PnvW5DpQpwneYMUw98SC0KeqfTGF8sGv6W138k-m9QmlTx147jR-747U0guvfHPP5EBDAvB8765AgHRd9qKZaS_gvqWMHCv-82AlJtw-oxdJVoR4ynYH9rJJq8EPvsZCoKg/s1600-h/IMG_1340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034807034936282866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebK5PnvW5DpQpwneYMUw98SC0KeqfTGF8sGv6W138k-m9QmlTx147jR-747U0guvfHPP5EBDAvB8765AgHRd9qKZaS_gvqWMHCv-82AlJtw-oxdJVoR4ynYH9rJJq8EPvsZCoKg/s200/IMG_1340.JPG" border="0" /></a>today. </span></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703055225746975845noreply@blogger.com9