December 23, 2006

December 23, 2006

Wow. It is almost Christmas. Finally, tonight we put up the tree. Ralph and Cameron came over and Cameron basically decorated it. He is so cute doing it too. Then it was time for me to wrap some of his presents. Some you say? Why yes. Only some because I just got back from the toy store having spent a ton more on toys. But hey. I can spoil him if I want to!!

Knitting

Mom's sweater is still going strong. I am at the point where I join the sleeves to the body. Therefore I am now knitting the sleeves. Due to the holiday season I haven't been knitting as much over the last few days as I would have liked. However, I am still planning on knitting as much as possible to get this sucker done!

Writing

I love to write. Am i good at it. No not really. Would I like to improve. Of course. So I am going to be implementing a writing portion to my posts. I picked up a few books that give prompts ect and plan on using them throughout the year. Therefore, You may end up reading some weird stuff on this blog at times. One of the biggest issues for me is that I don't like to write about what I am feeling or being open about what is going on in my head. I don't want to expose myself to weakness like that. I hold back when I write and I need to stop doing that. Thus the writing. I am hoping that it will help me break through the writing blocks that I have when it comes to me.

Presents

So I know what I am getting this Christmas. At least for the most part. However, since it is not Christmas yet I am not going to share it with you.

*g*

December 21, 2006

learn to take a picture

learn to take a picture
Originally uploaded by FiberAddict.

I need to learn how to use my camera. I was too close to this skein to take a good picture but it is BEAUTIFUL handspun.

SO I am going to start doing the 365 days of pictures. Take a picture a day to catalogue my life. I may not post all of them but it is the one goal I am going to give myself!

ps. Working on the sweater still.

December 18, 2006

Knitters Without Borders

The Harlot is at it again. She has asked the knitting community to come together and add to what we have already donated to Doctors without Borders. If you can spare a $1 or $5 or more please go and donate. Instead of buying that skein of yarn or that latte donate this season.

I am donating some of my stash and my hand dyed roving to the cause...

And here is the Emerald sweater for my mom as of 9 pm. I have also started the sleeves but they are upstairs and I'm too lazy!

December 17, 2006

Birthdays, Knitting and Whitley

Birthdays

Four years ago today I was in Nashville getting ready to go the next morning to give birth to my son. My girlfriend Pam was due later than me. But we had joked that week about us being in the hospital together. What a shock it was for her to call me and say that she was in labor! It was so crazy for us both to be in labor at the same time. Happy Birthday Zoe.

The next day I was blessed with Cameron.

That was then. This is now. On the eve of my boy's 4th birthday.

I am so in love with this little man. He brings light to my dark days. Even the worst of moments he can make me laugh. I am thankful for him every day of my life. He is my Mostest.

Knitting

with all that is going on I wanted to knit my mom something that she can wrap around herself and feel my love on the days when she is in the hospital with my step-daddy or around her house. I decided to knit Emerald by Amy Swenson. Think I can get it done for the holidays to suprise her? (she doesn't read the blog unless I tell her to so I'm not concerned about posting it here).

This is just the start. I will try to post daily pictures! Cheer me on. Go Mommy Go. as Cameron would say.

Whitley

and here is the girl tonight. we won't talk about the black alpaca that was strewn across the livingroom and knotted up.

December 16, 2006

On the wheel

Fiberaddict Hand dyed merino

pinks & purples

~ 14 wpi, 2 ply

started: December 1, 2006

Fiberaddict Hand dyed merino

carded leftover pinks & purples

~ ? wpi, single ply

insight into me

How evil are you?

You Are Dancer

Carefree and fun, you always find reasons to do a happy dance. Why You're Naughty: That dark stint you had as Santa's private dancer. Why You're Nice: You're friendly. Very friendly.

December 15, 2006

15dec06

I really hate naming my entries. So I am going to just start typing in the date. There needs to be some random title generator out there that I could use! It would make the posts more interesting.

Anyways, today I am answering a question from Loribird:

Would you do a post sometime about how you dye fiber? I'm always interested in reading about the various ways, and yours looks different somehow...

There are a few ways that I am dyeing my roving. However, being new to the dye scene I am experimenting. Mostly I use roasting pans in the oven. I have used the microwave method but I didn't like how the roving turned out. I did purchase a steamer which works wonders and a countertop roasting pan.

The last time that I dyed I wrapped the roving in saran wrap and then baked it. But I could get the same results without using the saran wrap so I won't go that route again. I like the roasting pan method quite a bit. Right now I have been space dyeing my roving. I am going to do some handpainting soon. I covered the kitchen table with a shower curtain. It works VERY well.

So thats it in a nutshell.

December 14, 2006

around the house

Today was my Uncle Burke's funeral. I spent quite a bit of time today reflecting on my family, what it means to me, how lucky I am and also thought a lot about my Uncle Burke. He was such a wonderful man. Loving. Caring. All the things that I aspire to be when I grow up.

But now. No sadness.

First off. Here are pictures of the first more than one little bit of roving dye job that I did.

It was a fun project. I did happy colors and I am excited to start spinning it up. I need to finish plying what is on my bobbins right now. thankfully, I am starting to feel like spinning and knitting again. Being sick and depressed has really worn me out!

The next shot is a puppy shot. Whitley sleeps in many different places around the house. It depends on where I am and what her mood is like. She is a sockal dog yet also likes her space. But when I am spinning she likes to lay down on the floor against the corner of the couch and sleep.

And then there is my boy. He woke up two nights ago with a fever at his dads house. he is now with me and we went to the doctor today. he has the viral flu. Poor guy. His fever is pretty high but when the medicine finally kicks in this is what he was doing:

Being spiderman and striking a pose!

Oh wait. This is a knitting blog (at times). I should show you some of what is hanging around my house then.

yes that is Socks that Rock. Medium Weight from Rivercity Yarns in Edmonton. So pretty. Have I told you that even though I belong to the STR sock club and I have ordered this yarn, I have actually never knit up one of their skeins?!

I know. Horrific. Stashbuilding. I just love yarn.

There is also quite a bit of talk these days about what is going to be on the needles for 2007. One that has my interest is Wendy's idea of knitting only from her stash for 9 months. Ok. So she does have a lot of exceptions. But its the concept that counts. I honestly can say that there is no way that I can go for that long without buying yarn. Even with all of the exceptions. I teach knitting classes and well, I also just like buying yarn. But I think what I might do instead is limit my yarn buying to once a month - either in person or online. Yes those once a month purchases may be huge ones but at least it would help me curb the need to purchase every piece of yarn/fiber that I love.

I'll have to think on this some more.

December 12, 2006

KMKS

The Questionnaire: (better late than never)

Are you allergic to any fibers? angora and mohair

What are your favorite colors? blues, greens, autumn colors but I am ok with anything that isn't neon

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens? No, 7 years

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? either

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? nothing really scratchy

Where do you usually knit mittens? on my couch

How do you usually carry/store small projects? in a knitting bag

What are your favorite mitten patterns? n/a

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? n/a

What new techniques would you like to try? estonia/norwegian knitted mittens

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? wood

What are some of your favorite yarns? I am a yarn snob ...

What yarn do you totally covet? koigu

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? I haven't looked ...

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? addi turbo's circular bamboo

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? koigu

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? chocolate of course!

What’s your favorite animal? orca whale

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts? I'd take either

If you were a color what color would you be? blue

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? gerbera daisy

Do you have a wishlist? nope

December 9, 2006

what I do

Thank you to everone who has sent me and my family their thoughts and prayers. It is appreciated more than I can express.

Now. What I do when I am sad ... I either curl up in a ball and want to sleep ... or I become manic over something.

On Thursday, when I found out about my step daddy I spun my heart out. I spun a half a pound of dyed by me roving.

and then of course there is dyeing. Now I have done more tonight but its "baking" at the moment ... I'll take pictures tomorrow ... tonight I did 3lbs worth.

But for now, here is what I have done that I do have pictures of ...

then of course here is Whitley ...

caught in the act of chewing what she shouldn't

December 7, 2006

when it rains

It pours.

My step daddy was diagnosed today with inoperable lung cancer. My uncle who is dying will probably be gone in a week as he is no longer able to speak. My father is status quo in his dying. And I am still getting divorced.

Actually, having a doctors note to not go into work until after Monday is perfect. It would be best if I didn't feel like crap still. Then again. I can sleep. Sleep is good. Sleep is avoidance. Oh and I have berry chocolate scones that I can ease my sadness in for a moment.

December 6, 2006

i'm sick

Yes folks. I'm sick. You would think that would mean "yay lots of knitting/spinning time" but no. all I want to do is lay on the couch. My dr said that I am not allowed to go back to work until she sees me on Monday.

I did start a new project. But I won't talk about it until I can see if I can even concentrate on it.

I have pictures to post later when I have the energy to upload them into flickr.