Just realized I even still had this blog. I had taken a 2 year or so ...not hiatus from knitting but definitely a reduction in knitting. In the last 6 months, moving to a new climate reviewing my yarn stash has resurged my knitting mojo. I've finished a pair of socks, countless cowls and hats and I'm 75% through a sweater for the spouse.

I never stopped knitting, I just reduced my knitting - interesting how aspects dont completely disappear. Here in Seattle I'm a solo knitter - havent found my knitting group - more so than I was in San Diego...but I expect this winter when the doldroms hit in full force I'll be out quite a bit.

I've been to two Seattle(ish) knitting stores recently - Quintessential Knits in Duval and Acorn Street.  Quintessential is in a little strip mall (3? 4?) stores, but was chock full of lovely including local dyers (which i promptly picked up two skeins). The staff was friendly but not pushy and lovely to chat with on my brief stop.

Acorn Street had pretty standard choices, I was on a mission to find some sweet georgia for a sweater or some malabrigio for a cowl (that my lovely child lost on a recent trip) - neither of which was around.  But the staff was wonderful and let me know that there is knitting night (which I havent gone to yet).

The social clique and purchasing power.

It really amazes me sometimes the purchasing power of a social entity. We saw this last year in one of my online social circles with the whole "Franklin Goose" debacle.

Company giving out 5.00 for reviews. Use the 5.00 for purchasing their own products.
And it went wild. Like fire on a southern California hillside in October.  In the day and age of purchasing power on the internet a comment (either pro or against) can make or break a company.


I recently made the mistake about raving about a yarn club (of all things) and how amazing the dyer was. She was inundated with notes which led to (and no I'm not joking) closing and canceling my membership.

Since I work for a Fortune 500, it comes to me as a surprise that a relatively small company/dyer would have such a reaction....but after reading her response which was essentially (I dont want people like you having my yarn) I think I saved myself another addiction and heaven forbid problems down the road when her customer service get's worse.

Yarn and Fibery goodness.

It actually (recently) came to my attention that Lime and Violet is done. I hadnt been able to catch up with them in awhile, but it's sad to me because I enjoyed what I had listened to of them. In fact they're one of the things that 'clicked' with me and knitting.

Punks, goths, knitting? Pointy sticks and chicks who wear black? COUNT ME IN. Well that and they werent afraid to say anything...hm while I'm thinking about it maybe I SHOULD label this blog PG-13.

Anyway, so I'm anxiously awaiting my new spinning wheel. I had bought an Ashford Traveler, and... well we've never bonded. She doesnt like me, she acts up, and frankly I've never been impressed by her behavior. So I gave up/in/out, and sold her to a fabulous woman in my spinning group. In the meantime.... I ordered my rose. My beautiful, majacraft rose. See when I first spun on a friends I was in awe, and rather than just woman up and spend 1000.0 I hemmed and hawed and didnt get one. And where am I 4 months later? Selling the traveler (after dumping 250.00 INTO it for a double treadle kit, some bobbins, oil, flyer, etc) and buying a Rose. What does that mean? Get what you want in the first place.

It's supposed to ship soon......
In the meantime, the wonderful person put a deposit on my traveler, and I can still spin on her. Heaven forbid if I had to go weeks without spinning. I might have to *gasp* knit.

I'm also reading a decent amount. My beautiful husband got me a kindle last year, and It's done horrible wonderful things to my book love. You mean I just *click* and get it? *giggles*. Well except when I click and it says "no". Such as the new Charlaine Harris book. Apparently penguin and amazon are in disagreement....which uhm... isnt ok. They need to WORK THINGS OUT....instead I had to go to a book store and purchase it. *tsk tsk*.

I of course finished it in one evening...so I have the new Kim Harris book on there, and I'm re-reading the Outlander series since I think I read up to 4, and then stopped.... and I'm one of those sick re-read the book series people.

I'm honestly trying to find time to knit because there are so many beautiful projects I want to work on, but there isnt *time*.  However since it's summer time and tv shows are on hiatus (with the exception of True Blood in a few weeks *bounce*) it'll leave more time for knitting? Right? I need more arms. Then I could spin and knit at the same time.... and maybe a 5th to hold a book :)

Blogging in the blogosphere

For the longest time I blogged on LJ. I  dumped my thoughts, my commiserations. But then my view changed, and the the things I wanted to talk about were'nt.... fitting to post there. So I stopped blogging.

I actually started *this* blog because my traditional "crew" on LJ just wasn't interested in the knitting upkeep.... but then it changed, it modified, my knitting became my yarn collection (yes it can be a collection, why do you ask? It's just a USEFUL collection.) Which in turn became my spinning, which in turn became my fiber, my spinning wheel, my.... (the list goes on you see.)

So I'm not the crazy bat girl I was 10 years ago. I'm a mother of 3, but I still wear a lot of black *wink*. So I'm making another stab at it.
You might see some books on here. I dont make any bones I love to read. You might see some TV. You might see some spinning, you might see some knitting. Hell you'll probably see a lot of misc me. If you dont like it....no one's forcing you to read it.

Wow... that sounds so argumentative huh? But journaling isn't for others, it's really for the soul.

Lego Ball Winder

So maybe I'm late in the game...but this is just neat....

Oh...

Pretty darn cute isnt it?

Great post about eco friendly yarn...

Eco Friendly yarns...made me think twice about buying bamboo...

Interesting to say the least....BTW someone (not me I dont have the time) should put together a list of:

Eco Friendly yarns who dont participate in price fixing. :)

I'd buy there. I still haven't purchased Lorna's Laces....

The good part of travel -

I got some great knitting time in.

Couldnt really DO anything else on the plane...especially since the hubby had the baby.

So I knit his cigar gloves (finally almost finished one. Only the pinkie and the thumb stub to finish). And I got some decent time starting on yet another pair of fetching for me (this time in silk) I love that pattern.

I even rolled up two balls of yarn for... a misc project for my MIL.

If I dont do some photographic evidence soon though my BFF in Salt Lake (like my acronym usage? *snort*) will disown me.

I need a knitting bag...

No I dont, and I know I dont but that doesnt keep me from obsessing.

Look, isnt it cute (I hate the pattern though).

That and I just cant spend 140 on a bag....

Current List of projects on the needles

Jules longies (these are supposed to be for her first birthday in November)
Dom's Cigar Gloves (for our anniversary present in October)
Log Cabin Blanket (long term project)
Rib scarf (misc)


some knitpicks alpaca yarn I need to use for a shawl for my MIL
Jules Sweater (not cast on yet)
Hat for Adam