Wild Yarn
Thursday, November 30, 2006
  Ankle Socks Rock
Well, I finished another pair of socks. They are ankle socks, but they still count. They are made of w.w. yarn on size 4 dpn's, but they still count. I like knitting with w.w yarn on size 4 needles. The socks come out a bit quicker and with the cold weather, my toes are warmer.
Pattern: my own
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted
Needles: size 4 dpn's (5 of them)
They fit really well and they are super soft. I bought the yarn out of the sale bin at KnitPixie. The color is called Gold Hill.


Did anyone see the Gilmore Girls on Tuesday night? I was totally loving it and my family new it. . . Lorelie was wearing a tee that had a skull and knitting needles on it that said "knit or go home" -- I think "knit or die trying" would have sounded better. As if that weren't enough, the town was having a Knit-a-thon to raise money to save some bridge. The town gathered in the square to knit all day long until their goal of like 7 or 8 thousand dollars was reached. When it looked like they may be there a day and them some to raise all the doe, Lorilie's new husband (Christopher, blah) donated $7,000. Tah dah, the end. Eveyone packed up their needles and went home cause the goal had been met. What a butthead. Since I am a Continental knitter I always watch how others knit to see if they are too. While watching, I noticed everyone knitting English style except for Sukie who wasn't knitting at all!! she was passing herself off as knitting by simply slipping stitches from one needle to the next. I cracked up on that one. To funny. She should have just been winding skeins of yarn into balls or something. Anyway, I got to be the one pointing out the obvious boo boo in a show for once. Usually it is my husband when it concerns the military OR cars. Go figure.
 
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
  I Rock the House Big Time
I love the thrift store--I really really do. . . not just because I can get rid of my unwanteds and feel good about it but because I can get all of this for under $20!
Sorry about the darkness; here is a run down: 1 pair of pants, 3 shirts, 2 books (one paperback and one hardback), a picture frame, and a little bag to keep my dpn's in. Ha! that is freakin' awesome!

This is the hardback book I found copy righted in 1971. It has some knitting stitch patterns in it along with tons of advice. I just thought it would be a nice addition to the craft library. I am so happy.

As if that weren't enough to make a kid giddy, I got a surprise package in the mail yesterday from Knitzilla (the folks I donate rad bad beanies to). I was entered in a contest for those who participate and I won this:

That is 10 skeins of Beyond Bold cotton from South West Trading Co. and some needles and a pair of cool scissors. Shout out to SWT Co. and to Knitzilla! you all are awesome! Check out the yahoo group if you think you may want to join.

And because I feel like I rocked yesterday and this morning, I am sending the Rad Bad Beanie group this package:


Thirteen knit/crocheted beanies for some awesome kids! Weeeeee

Have a great day and stay warm (or cool, whatever the case may be). Peace~ DAWN

 
Saturday, November 25, 2006
  Thanksgiving Success
I trust you all had a full Thanksgiving. . . we sure did. It was beautiful here so the kids decided to sit on the deck and eat. That is some kinda good eats! Lots of fun.

There was 16 of us sharing the turkeys. One out of the 4 of my siblings was all that was missing. We had so much food and a lot of fun. No mishaps or fighting! wow! We must be grown up or something.

We all agreed to skip out on the "day after" shopping. I haven't done that in several years. Instead we went to the Jack Daniels Distillery. That says "holiday" to me. The master distiller was there signing bottles so my husband bought 2 and got the man's autograph. Moore county is a dry county however there is a small little shop inside the visitors center that is allowed to sell special bottles of Jack. They are more expensive but and we live so close we don't ever by anything there but this time since the Master was there I guess we thought, "what the hell".

Today we went hiking and tomorrow all of my company will be gone. It will be back to routine after that. Well, not routine since Christmas is right around the corner and I have nothing bought for the holidays. Don't panic.

Peace~ DAWN
 
Monday, November 20, 2006
  Purple Daze
Sorry about the extra large photo of my foot however I wanted you to get a gander at the gi-normous stone bruise that I have. It is that big on the bottom of my foot as well, just under my pinkie toe... I do not where I got it from but there it is in all of it's purple glory. Kinda pretty color. It looks like it would hurt but other that when I first discovered it and had the raised knot on the underside of my foot, it feels fine.

To keep up with the theme I have begun a purple beret. . .

I absolutely love this Ultra Alpaca from Berroco. This color is so lovely, it shifts and changes in the light. I have no earthly idea if this beret will fit me when I am done because I had a dickens of a time getting gauge and frankly, I don't trust hat gauges anyway. I also don't know how I will look in a beret... I guess we shall see. If it doesn't fit I will have to find it a home and then re-do my numbers. If it does fit-- oo la la.

It is bone chilling cold here today. Not a day for being outside for more than a couple of minutes. The wind just cuts straight through.

Some sad news. . . a client of mine lost her 25 year old son over the weekend in a motorcycle accident. It is just so sad. He had a passenger on the back and she is in serious condition with a fractured pelvis and broken leg. I can not imagine my clients pain...I just pray that her spirit is protected and that she has great support to help her deal with everything. Give your loved ones an extra squeeze today and tell them that you love them. It is important.

Peace~ DAWN

 
Sunday, November 19, 2006
  Baking and Rambling

Peace~ DAWN

 
Thursday, November 16, 2006
  10 Eye Pillows and some yarn

These are the eye pillows I made for the boss to give out to some of her clients for Christmas. Scented with lavender/Tangerine oil. Mmmm. . .
I seemed to have heard her wrong because when I told her I'd have them done by Friday she said, "all fifty?". 50!!! say what? I thought you said 10... she said no, she asked for 50. I chuckled and said, "well, maybe I can have 1/2 of that ready by Thanksgiving," and she said 10 was fine she'd just do some bottles of oil for the other 40 people. Okay, in my defense. . . she said 10. I know this for sure because I would never have agreed to make 50 eye pillows. Hello... not a sweat shop. I have a life. Anyway they are done and she is getting 10.

Here is a sneak peek at the scarf I stared this morning. I love the look of this simple pattern. I can't remember the website yet but when I post the finished picture with all the other pertinent info I will include the link. It is just so pretty and the baby alpaca that I'm using is super soft. Yeah!

Well, big bash at my house for Thanksgiving. 13 peeps. My family, the girlfriend, one of my sisters, my brother, his wife and the three daughters plus my dad. Whew. I may need a vacation afterwards. I have sent off one turkey to get smoked and the other will be done traditional-like. I would like to fry it cause they taste so damn good but I don't own a fryer and frankly, they scare the crap out of me. One to many "deep fried turkeys gone wrong" videos.

Peace~ DAWN

 
Monday, November 13, 2006
  Monday Monday
Well, after a weekend of cold, wet, grey weather it is nice to begin the week with a promise of 60 degrees and sunshine. It won't last but a few days but that is okay with me, I'll take it when I can get it.

We went to a Pow Wow on Saturday (I got a great appreciation for what the natives had to put up with, weather wise--burrrrrr). It was great. Lots of dancing and drumming and nice, friendly vendors. There were a couple of vendors that needed an attitude adjustment but I just turned heels and walked to the next tent, instead. I got some white sage and sweet grass along with some beads and the coolest South American Toad made of clay from New Mexico. Check him out...

Isn't he just the handsomest? The clay is really cool because it comes out in the Kiln in all sorts of swirly colors of the earth: reds, browns, yellows and black. Brilliant! The artist signed and dated the bottom.

Yesterday I made a bunch of eye pillows for my boss. She wants to give them to some of her clients as Christmas gifts. I told her I'd give her a good price on them. All that is left to do to them is fill them with flax seed and essential oils and zip them closed through the sewing machine. Then I will have a bit of sock yarn cash (hehe). Have a great start to the week. Peace~ DAWN

 
Thursday, November 09, 2006
  BEHOLD!
The cutest baby hat ever! This is the Dulaan Fetching Hat by Grace. She wrote up an excellent pattern and this is the most darling hat.
Here are the particulars of the pattern plus modifications:
Yarn: Wool of the Andes (worsted weight)
Needles: Size 8 circulars (16") plus size 8 dpn's
Pattern: Dulaan Fetching Hat
Modifications: I used w.w yarn instead of bulky and size 8 needles instead of 10. This gave me a cute little baby size hat. It worked up in one day and probably used 100 yards of yarn. Right now I am working it as the pattern stated with some wonderful handpainted yarn in 100% wool. These are the beginning of my Dulaan Project donations for the year 2007.
I have so much of this wool and am so fond of this pattern that I have plans to make several. Look out!

My son is in a Veteran's Day program at school. Tonight is the big night and we get to see the big show. They have been practicing for a couple of weeks and he comes home everyday talking about it. Also, my senior is in a play at the high school which we will attend tomorrow since tonights show conflicts with the young ones.

I have also been ordering away for Christmas gifts. I am in to way close to being done however, I am happy that I have at least begun the process. Happy Day!

Who saw Kate and Sawyer getting it on in the cage in the Fall finale of Lost? how hot is he? Not really enjoying this season too much. The little man with the tumor, Ben, is way to creepy for me. WTH is up with him and his little followers? Anywho, I just wanted to applaud when the cage seen happend. To much sexual tension cannot be healthy. Release! I am continually enjoying CSI:the original, though. That comes on tonight.
Peace~ DAWN
 
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
  Election Day Rain
I don't know, is it a portent of things to come or just a test to see of the die hard voters are willing to weather the storm. It is raining cats and dogs here today.

We need the rain, I suppose. I'm just not a grey weather kind of gal. I have lots to do but this weather just makes me want to sit in a comfortable chair and read, knit or write and then fall asleep. Unfortunately, if I give in I will never catch up.


I have discovered something about myself... I really enjoy knitting socks. Who knew? They are fairly simple in construction (you decide how intricate to make them with the pattern for the cuff, otherwise a simple rib and you are off to the races). It is a fantastic mind numbing knit for waiting in line or on a loved one or for making good use of T.V time. "Look, I watched fluff on t.v and made a useful item to boot." I already have 3 pairs I made since the beginning of October when my class started and Soctober began. Yes, I said 3...I have this pair on the needles (finishing up the toe and soon to begin the mate) plus, I have several skeins of sock yarn already purchased and several patterns and styles I want to try. I find my other projects looking at me with wilted fiber and begging to be picked up. This is shocking to me since I stated on a couple of occasions that I would never knit a sock. Why? You can buy a perfectly good pair at the walmart. Answer: they are delightful little gems that take up little to no space and you can wear them and feel special. Nobody else has a pair of socks like these. . . anyway, if you have an aversion to hand knit socks or for some reason haven't knit any I implore you to give them a try...
Check out Knitty's tutorial, Socks 101. Read over it from top to bottom and then grab some yarn and get going. You will gain confidence with this little sock ( and you can hang it on your Christmas tree as the ornament for 2006 ).
After you have turned the heel and closed up the toe (grafting, also known as Kitchener stitch is a piece of heaven!) you will feel like a magician! Tah-Dah!!
Peace~ DAWN
 
Saturday, November 04, 2006
  SWS Mitts
Spirals wrote up a great little pattern for Pretty Mitts and here are mine:

If you are in need of a quick gift and are short on funds, these really do work up with one skein and are really fast.

I have been MIA lately because I have been feeling short on time and long on stuff to get done. Blogging has been put on the bottom of the list. Hopefully, I can get myself better organized and not feel so rushed all the time. All is well on the health front around here. We had that horrible week of the dreaded stomach virus and thankfully it is over now.

Enjoy the weekend! Peace~DAWN

 
. . .the Fiber of Life

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Location: Tennessee