I'm not sure......

Today is the first day of December........I'm not sure......but I think it is time to start that Christmas knitting!!!!!  My problem is this.  I can't just knit gifts for knitting gifts sake.  I have to have inspiration.  I have to have a dream.  Maybe I'm a dreamer, I don't like to go looking for patterns I like for patterns to find me.  Understand?????  You know, you see something you know you just have to make.  That special gift for that special someone.  Such as.....Lyra's Hat from The Golden Compass or all those ear flap hats you see in the mall stores.  I've decided I wanna make those.  That would knock out several gifts. As is typical, I have lots of yarn but not that special yarn that speaks to me for these hats.  Guess that means I'll have to "make" myself run off to my LYS (Enchanted Yarn & Fiber) to find that speaking yarn.  Or I could dive into my stash......not near as much fun!!

I need inspiration!!!!!  Or possibly I'm a sadist that only produces under extreme time pressure??

What motivates your holiday knitting? 

Let it be known throughout the land!!!!!

Let it be known throughout the land, Friday has been officially designated as Spinning Day.  For far too long I've neglected my beloved wheel.  She has sat there in the corner of my bedroom very patiently waiting for my life to settle down long enough to give her the deserved attention.  From here on out she and I will spend Friday's together.

So, now that that has been established the question came to "What to spin?"  People, it is redic!!!  I have 4-5 of Abby's Luxury Batts, 3-4 of Abby's Silk, Cotton, boxes of Romney, Jacob and Alpaca, Superwash roving, Llama, Angora, Silk roving, Cormo, Gotland, Raw fleece by the bags full.......

I've settled on starting the first weekly Spinning Friday with the spinning of this gorgeous black Alpaca roving loving given by Amarosa the Alpaca.  Several years ago my husband's cousin graciously sent me fiber from 4 or 5 of the Alpaca from their farm.  I sent it off to a fiber mill and had it turned into roving.  Really gorgeous, soft fiber.

I have 3 lbs 12 oz of this wonderful stuff.  I decided to measure it out in 4 oz section so I can hopefully get the same amount of singles on each bobbin before plying.

Why don't you join me on Spinning Fridays?  It is be a "virtual spinning guild."

What's on your Holiday needles?

What's on your Holiday needles? What projects/patterns do you turn to when you need a quick gift? I have several standards I fall back on and this year thanks to Enchanted's Christmas Club I have a couple more. Typically I fall back to knitting dishcloths. They are a quick knit and oh so useful. Plus, there are plenty of free on-line patterns and so many gorgeous cotton yarns. Or I knit up a bunch of fingerless mitts. I love the Fetching pattern. It's quick when using a worsted or DK weight and inexpensive.

This year I'm adding the Biscuit Blanket from February's club project and the Just Enough Ruffles scarf from January's club project. Both are fast knits and again an inexpensive gift.  What you got going? 

Hum, HUm, HUM!!!!!!

"CHIPPIE THE PARAKEET NEVER saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She'd barely said 'hello' when 'sssopp!' Chippie got sucked in.

"The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie-- still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

"Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.

"A few days after the trauma, the reporter who'd initially written about the event contacted Chippie's owner to see how the bird was recovering. 'Well,' she replied, 'Chippie doesn't sing much anymorc he just sits and stares.' An excerpt from Max Lucado "In the eye of the storm."

These last two years have probably been the hardest of my life. Accusations, slander & lies, rejections, loss of income, change of lifestyle, added responsibility of the full-time care of my sister, having to put my aunt that raised me in a nursing home and dealing with her degenerated mental state, my own physical issues......many, many changes.

Remember this, "I'm A Hummer", entry I posted in March '08. Definitely a simplier time!!!! Like Chippie I've found myself not humming much, if at all, over the last couple years. I didn't really think about it until a couple months ago when David brought it to my attention that he had'nt heard me humming for quite some time.

I'm happy to say though in the last month I've caught myself humming every once in a while. It is a good sign that my heart and mind are loosening up. I don't want to give the impression that there hasn't been great joy during the last two years. It definitely hasn't all been bad, much of the changes have brought great freedom. However, I have found myself thinking "I want my life back." The life where I wasn't so mentally strained with the daily decisions and such that any creativity was squelched. The life where I had the time, strength, joy and creativity to blog, knit, spin, cook, garden, sew..........

Even though we may feel like Chippie. We need to give ourselves time. The song may not be the same as it was before but still a song it will be. I'm a Hummer!!!!!!!

A Post With No Name

You remember the song the band America recorded, "A Horse With No Name?" Welp, this is the post with no name. It isn't like I couldn't come up with a name.....the trouble is I came up with to many. You see, I have a problem......a big problem.

This is the problem. I joined Enchanted's Christmas Club thinking that I'd get a jump on Christmas gifts this year. I don't know why I fool myself, I suppose I'm rather convincing. My husband tells me I could sell jalapenos in hell. Maybe I'm an over optimistic optimist. Maybe I'm just plain stupid. Maybe I'm insane. The meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Every year I think "I'm not going to wait until October (sometimes November, sometimes December) before I start my Christmas knitting." Yet, year after year after year that is what I do. Insanity thou art my middle name!!!!!

However, I think I'm going to put the blame on RoLynn and Ashley. After all it IS their fault. If they wouldn't pick such scrumptious projects each month I wouldn't be writing a post with no name. It isn't that I don't love the patterns they choose AND the perfect yarn for the monthly projects. The trouble is I love them too much. This is April, I've knitted every months project, fixen to start on this month's, yet I have nothing, N-O-T-H-I-N-G, in my Christmas gift box, NOTHING!!!!!!

Actually, I haven't even designated a box for Christmas gifts. Maybe my psyche knows me better than I know myself????

Last year I decided I was going to become a selfish knitter. Up to that point I had given just about all my wonderful projects away or I was constantly knitting for someone else. Maybe that is the problem........hmmmmmm.

Anyways, so far all the "Christmas Projects" have ended up in my closet. Thus, the problem with naming this post. I was thinking maybe it should be "Houston We Have a Problem" or possibly "Merry Christmas to Me!!!!" or even better "Hello, My Name is Peggy and I'm a Selfish Knitter."

Just look at that face, just look at it!!!!! Isn't that the cutest little feller you ever saw? I gotta have one, I'm gonna have one, I'm gonna have three!!!! One for my Emma Belle, one for her little sister, Ava Simone, and one to be my special little friend and he shall be called Herman!!!! And he shall go with me everywhere. He will ride in my truck on the dashboard, at other times he will travel safely in my knitting bag and at night he will be the last little face I look at before I go to sleep and the first thing I see when I awake. He is my soulmate.

Kits are available at Enchanted Yarn & Fiber for your very own little friend.

What you gonna name him?

Take a ride on the Crazy Train!!!!

I've jumped on the Crazy Train!!!!! Not the one you are thinking of, I've been on that one for years. The one I've jumped on is the Flower Crazy Train. I've even gone so flower crazy that I've been found crocheting the little buggers!!!! (Please keep that whole "Peggy is crocheting" thing a secret). Here's a pic of some finished ones and some partly finished ones.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. Been busy, busy I suppose. I've had to look back at my pics to see what I haven't shown you. One thing that isn't knitting but came as a gift from an awesome knitting friend is this little chicken. I collect chickens and French things. Isn't she beautiful????? And so proud!!!!!

Okay, let's see what have I been knitting.......I finished the February Project from Enchanted's Christmas Club. It is a lovely Biscuit Blanket. It is a quick knit and such a lovely stitch pattern. I plan on making several of these for gifting this year. There was also a bonus pattern for a dish cloth, quite loverly as well.

I finally finished Mystic Light and have it blocking. Sorry about the background, I already had it all pinned out and I ain't gonna do that again!!!! I'll post a better pic once it is dry.

My Name is Peggy, and I'm a Fiber Snob

I've decided, I'm not only a knitting vs crocheting snob and a yarn snob......I'm a fiber snob. Now I know you may be saying what is the difference between a yarn snob and a fiber snob? Aren't they one in the same? Au contraire mon fraire!!!!!!

A yarn snob is someone who turns their nose up at acrylic yarns, particularly the kind purchased at the big "super department stores." Now, there is something to be said for acrylic. When man no longer inhabits the earth and all the buildings have crumbled and the only living thing left are cock roaches......anything ever made from acrylic yarn will look like it did the first day it was made. Kinda like hell.....never ending. A yarn snob will only use "quality" yarns usually purchased at their favorite LYS, Local Yarn Store.

A fiber snob is someone who prefers certain fibers over others. I can't help it, I love wool and wool blends. I'm not sure...but I think I may hate cotton. Or maybe cotton hates me. I recently knitted Rosa's Sleeveless Cardi. I really like the design and I like the garment....I'm just not fond of cotton. Now, I've not given totally up on cotton so no hate mail please. If you've found a cotton you love let me know, maybe I'll have a change of heart.

I finished the Shalom Vest and wore it to a Super Bowl party. Jamie and I staged a throw down, she was for the Colts and I for the Saints. I even won $13 for drawing the winning quarter-backs name out of the pack. I see yarn in my future.

And last, but certainly not least, I have a new friend. I picked her up in Tennessee. A Harrisville 36", 4 harness, 6 treadle floor loom. I think we are going to be great friends and with her I believe I will find a new love and respect for cotton.

OCD Much??????

I've always thought it was a possibility, it's never been diagnosed, but I think I'm kinda OCD. Here are my symptoms, check it out and see what you think:

1. Well, when I get into something, I really get into it. I want it all. Like, I could never understand collecting thimbles from each state one thimble at a time. I would want them all, like now so my set would be complete.

2. When I started knitting socks, that is all I wanted to knit.

3. When I started knitting lace, how many KALs was I a member of at the same time????? It wasn't pretty I know that.

4. When I started spinning, I got ALL the gadgets

5. Now I'm getting into weaving and I WANT IT ALL!!!! NOW!!!!

But, here is the thing that really got me to thinking we may have a problem. You know I've been happily getting back into knitting, spinning, blogging and Ravelry. Well that is all fine and good. This is the thing:

6. You know on Ravelry where you can join groups and then take part in many different interesting conversations about the particular specialty of the group? I can't stand to go to the group home page and see any number in the posts column signifying I haven't read the post. I find myself going to the page and pretending that I'm reading the post just to get the little number to go away. Sick right??????

Thankfully I deleted a bunch of groups before I realized this tendency. I presently only have about 6-7 to keep clean.

On another note, I've been asked to blog for Enchanted Yarn & Fiber. I'll be sharing different things over there if you wanna have a look see. You can also sign up for their newsletter over there and keep up with all the fun.

Here we go AGAIN!!!!

I've been feeling pretty good. Been knitting like a fiend, began thinking about my blog again, hooked back up with several on-line knitting groups, heck, I even got one of my spinning wheels out again. I was feeling pretty much in control, till it happened. Don't ask me how it happened.....it just happened. One moment I was living in semi-sane knitterland and the next I had re-entered bonkersville knitterland.

First I'll try to explain how I think it happened and then I'll tell you the result. I had happily made it through the Christmas knitting madness actually quite happy with myself. I had even finished the Angelica's Coat and the Shawl Collared Vest. I began knitting the Falling Water Vest and a La La Simple Shawl but feeling somewhat underwhelmed I decided I wanted to knit the Every Way Wrap. Trouble is with all the changes that have occurred my funding has dried up so forget purchasing new yarn and I couldn't find enough in my stash to complete it. So, being the optimistic idiot I am I decided I should spin the yarn, after all, I have loads of wonderful fiber crammed into two closets. I've already started spinning the fiber, white Romney, I plan on dying it before I knit it up.. It is okay, no biggee. But then I added a pair of Fetchings for a friend to the queue, actually I've already cast them on. Still not biggee right? This is where I began sliding down the slippery slope into bonkersville knitterland.

A couple months ago we purchased a Stacht Rigid Heddle Loom hoping it would be something my sister, Sheila, could be taught to do. She did make Sara a beautiful scarf, only trouble is I have to sit right there to make sure she is following the steps properly. Anyways, I began looking into weaving. A dangerous thing to do. Now, I want a floor loom. And by golly I'm going to finger out a way to get one. If nothing else, surely there is someone out there with one stuck away somewhere and I can at least borrow it. They are rather pricey. Heck, I've even been looking at plans for building one. Until I can steal, uh procure one I'm going to work on the rigid heddle one. So with my other projects, now I'm wanting to make the Space Out Felted Scarf. Then today on one of my on-line groups someone talked about the Heart on a String hat and after seeing it I've decided I want to knit for a couple special little girls.

See what I mean????? Here we go AGAIN!!!!!

Hey you!!!! Wanna know a secret????

Wanna know a secret? I love knitting. I mean, I don't just like knitting, I don't just enjoy knitting, I don't just knit for fun........I love, love, love, Love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE knitting!!!! I knit everyday of my life.....do you? I can't imagine life without knitting. I can't understand how people make it through life without knitting.

It is almost like magic (hehehe), you take string and sticks and create unbelievable wonders, works of art. And if it doesn't turn out like you thought it becomes insulation between the bottom of your stash and the stash itself. Or it gets frogged and the possibilities begin again.

I'm not a great knitter, however, I've taught countless women to knit. It is so thrilling to see a new knitter born. One lady I taught several years ago told me every time she sat down to knit she felt like she was wasting time. WASTING TIME!!!!!! Can you imagine????? How could knitting be considered wasting time? Pretty much every Christmas, birthday or "just cause" gift I give is something I've knitted. How is that wasting time? Each gift is an heirloom.

Well, IF knitting is wasting time......I sho have been wasting da time.....a lot!!!! Here is the low down on my wasting time the last month or so:

9 pairs of fingerless gloves
2 Gators
9 hats
2 pair of mittens
1 Angelica's Coat
1 Shawl Collared Vest
2 scarves

What have you been wasting time on?

Presently I'm wasting time on the Falling Water Ruffle Vest by Jamie Thomas of Imagine Knit Designs and the La La Simple Shawl. I'm feeling kinda agitated.....like I'm not wasting my time on enough projects. I know many of you waste time on one project at a time. To me you aren't getting the most benefit of your wasting of time. I need several, oh, okay...many projects going at the same time or I feel kinda empty. With that said, I believe it is time to go digging into the ole UFO bags.