Forced Organization

After being gifted with new carpet in all 5 bedrooms, we had a leak in the roof that dripped through the ceiling fan in our bedroom. So, I was supposed to be moving stuff back in, but ended up having to move more stuff out...

All of this had to be removed to make room for the ladder necessary for cutting the scuttle hole that the drywaller forgot to cut for us. 

Yes. It's an unfinished bathroom. Fooled Ya, huh?!

I am trying not to pile it all back in there, but it's really hard. I did move my sewing desk in there and found out that the unplumbed toilet is a perfect height for me when I'm spinning. So, I'm slowly filling it up again. Money will be tight for a while (Christmas, you know) so I'm sure we won't be getting the plumber out anytime soon. I have piles of stuff all over the house & refuse to put it back in here until it's all sorted. So far, the photos are in the kitchen, my spinning, knitting & quilting supplies are in Jacob's room. He's in Berea for school most of the time now, so I've sort of claimed that space. 

Anyway, it's a slow process but I have the living room cleared enough that we should be able to get our Christmas tree sometime this week. This is the first time in 8 years that we haven't had our tree up and decorated for Meredith's birthday. It's a little less festive, but we'll survive. 

I'll keep you posted as I get around to finding a home for all my stuff. 

I started here:

I'm happy. 

Mom's Table Runner

I started this project at least a year and a half ago.  Mom's birthday is July 4th & we always celebrate with a little red, white and blue. I decided (after an emergency clean up) that I would get it quilted for Christmas. Here are a few photos of the center square. 

Hope your projects are progressing with the magic of the holidays (and not being naughty & taking longer than expected).

First Christmas Finish!

This Honey Cowl has been on the needles for more than a year. I can't believe it's finally finished! 

I'm not sure, but I think I like the "wrong" side...

...better than the "right" side. 

Time to move on to the next project!

Temps here are dropping again. Looking like a low of 14*F. 

Stay cozy!

November's Loose Ends

I had planned to take some photos while at our meeting on Saturday, but...

A) I was running late. 

B) My Ashford Traveller was not behaving properly. 

C) I was too excited about spending time with my girls. 

D) I found out that one of the ladies does ancestor regressions & hypnosis. 

It was quite an interesting day. I did manage to finish spinning the mix of brown & raspberry coopworth. Sash has a jumbo flyer & bobbin and she plied the 2 strands for me. 

I think I've got about 130 yards. Not bad.

The "oldest" has indicated that she isn't interested, so I may try to sell it...if I can part with it. But, Christmas is coming and we'll see what happens. 

I'm off to finish a UFO. (I need the needles to start another Christmas gift.)

Multi-tasking

It's been a very productive day. Thing 1 & Thing 2 had a full day of lessons that moved along rather quickly. Thing 1 has been elected to be club reporter for his 4-H club & turned in his very first article & photo to the local paper. He's really excited to be "published"!

Hubs & I found an excellent addition to our vintage movie collection. $5 for Ghostbusters!

On Tuesday, I was trying to get my Heat Wave socks started.  

I didn't like the striping & decided to switch over to the November Mystery sock. It's coming along nicely. 

Tomorrow is our LEFA (Loose Ends Fiber Addicts) meeting. We get to go to Tygart Lake Lodge...a special treat due to an overbooking at our regular meeting place. I plan to finish spinning the grey-brown wool with raspberry coopworth & ply them on a friend's wheel that has much larger bobbins. 

I'd like to get this finished & prepped for a Christmas gift for my oldest daughter. 

Hopefully I'll get some good photos tomorrow. In the mean time, keep on spinning, knitting, quilting, etc. 

Smiling When I Can

Ever have a stretch of time that completely wears you down?

These past 5 months feel more like a nightmare than real life. You don't need to keep reading, I just need to vent a little & my therapist says blogging is part of my homework. 

On second thought, perhaps I'll just post a few pictures that have made me smile on occasion. 

Yarn Mountain Sock Club

Around Christmas 2013 I joined Yarn Mountain's Sock Club. 

It's been so much fun & I've managed to knit several pairs of socks just for me. 

I don't have pictures of all of them on my phone, but here are a few...

March pattern- "Northern Lights" using Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. 

April's pattern- "Black Purls" using ToshSock sock yarn...

May's pattern- "Mardi Gras"...

I love them all! I'm trying to get caught up & am currently working on June's pattern

"Farmer's Market". I'm using Ellen Cooper's Yarn Sonnets this time. 

This picture was taken as part of a summer Scavanger Hunt. I had a lot of fun doing that this summer. 

Update & Check In from Myrtle Beach

I've done a little housekeeping on the blog...all of the previous posts are still here, but I've removed all of the buttons from other blogs that I've followed in the past.

That is not to say that I don't still support and follow those bloggers, it just means that I am trying to get mine cleaned up and reorganized.  It was easier to delete the buttons than to try to find and correct any broken links.

On another note, I've been doing a lot more knitting than sewing.

My new (to me) Bernina is not getting much of a workout yet, but I have lots of plans.  I have done a little practicing on my free motion quilting, unfortunately I am a perfectionist and want it to be perfect RIGHT NOW!  It is very frustrating to me when I can't see a noticeable improvement from my first attempt to my 10th.  I'm sure it will come...someday.

We also recently acquired a new camera and I have been experimenting with all of the gadgetry that is associated with that.  Hopefully I will be getting some better photos for my blog.

I joined a sock club with Yarn Mountain and just finished the "Winter Challenge".  I am thrilled to have three new pairs of socks and to be working on my fourth.

January "Donna's Favorite"

I will have to wait until I get home to take pictures of the other two pairs.  I thought I had them on my computer, but apparently not.

Anyway, hopefully we will be seeing a little more of each other in the near future.

If you'd like, you can stick around and see one of the wonderful sunrises & some
other beachiness of the past week.  I'm heading out for one last evening of sand between my toes.

Goals for 2014

Yesterday I finished a long time UFO. 

John finally got his blue scarf...garter stitch on size 8 needles with a wool blend yarn. 

I also worked on my "Brain-Made Shawlette" (the pattern is on Ravelry). I'm hopeful about finishing it today. 

Other knitting projects to finish:

Seaweed Shawl

Watercolor Stripe socks

OBX socks (Yarn Mountain's January Sock Club pattern)

Andrea Poncho

November's KAL

...and adding details to my Ravelry project pages

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a Bernina Artista 200. So there will hopefully be some finishes in the quilting UFOs, as well as some new embroidery projects. 

Quilting Projects:

Cinnamon & Nutmeg

Red, White & Blue Prairie Paisley

Mom's table runner

Morgan's Rag Quilt

Morgan's Fig Tree sampler

Farmer's Wife (2)

Spinning:

Raspberry Coopworth Blend

Brown Wool from the Harsh Farm

Grey Wool from the Harsh Farm

Jacob Wool from the Harsh Farm

Weaving:

Re-warp the rug loom

3 different rag colors for rugs

Clean & repair the Structo table loom

Finish & repair the tape loom

Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures up as I start/finish these projects. I am running out of storage options around the house, so I'm hoping to finish several of these projects before starting any new ones. 

Wish me luck!

And Good Luck to those of you focusing on UFOs in 2014! Let me know what you are working on & how quickly you get those projects finished. 

Love & Peace

~kristy