First List of 2013

I have been trying to learn to do most of my computer stuff on my iPhone.
It hasn't been easy.
I don't always have the time to research and apply new found knowledge...and sometimes it is best to just keep it simple.
I have Blogger on my phone, and I am slowly figuring out the little quirks to posting.  I still can't post pics where I want them in the blog, but I know there has to be a way to do it and I'm going to figure it out.
Just not right away.

So, here I am.  I have my internet up and running (for now). And, I'm going to get my list of UFOs and WIPs on here so that I can keep track of what I accomplish in this new year.  Mostly these are my crafting, knitting, quilting & other sewing projects.  But, I want to do some family research & work on getting my photos organized if not scrapbooked.

I've already taken time to list the projects that I have laying around my room.  I've even taken those projects and sort of arranged the list by category & the easiest finishes.  Great start, right?!

Quilting/Sewing:
1.  Small Blue Bag (stitch the bottom closed)
2.  Sock Monkey mug rug (hand stitch binding)
3.  "Ole Glory!" mug rug (attach binding)
4.  "Ole Glory!" mug rug (quilt)
5.  "Ole Glory!" mug rug (quilt)
6.  Mom's Red, White & Blue table runner (quilt)
7.  Kelly's Quilt (hand stitch binding & return)
8.  "Prairie Paisley" 1/2 square mini (finished top)
9.  "Prairie Paisley" 1/2 square mini-mini (finished top)
10.  "Prairie Paisley" piano key mini (finished top)
11.  Christmas mini (finished top)
12.  Colleen's 9 Patch table runner (needs borders)
13.  Star table runner (hand quilting project)
14.  Bird house Kindle cover (finish piecing)
Larger Projects that I started last year:
15.  Paper Piecing for the Terrified (log cabin block finished)
16.  Morgan's Sampler (1/2 of the blocks are finished)
17.  Craftsy Block of the Month (stopped at Hexies)
18.  Stella's 4 patch (4 patch blocks are finished)
19.  Barrister's Blocks Farmer's Wife (stopped somewhere around October)
20.  Cinnamon & Nutmeg (mostly cut...3 strip sets need cut)
21.  Morgan's Flannel Quilt (flannel is cut; needs batting cut)
22.  Rapha's Fireman Quilt (pre-printed blocks are cut)
Knitting:
23.  "Spice" socks for Sidney (1 sock scrapped; 2 sock finished; 3 sock working heel flap)
24.  "Spice" sock gauge with size 3 needle
25.  Kelly's 2nd "knitted knocker"
26.  Crocheted market bag

Then there are other kits, pre-cuts & a variety of ready to go projects:
"Prairie Paisley" throw (basted...still not sure if I want to hand quilt it)
"Pinwheels in my Garden" (waiting on quilter & cash)
Halloween wall hanging
Kansas Troubles jelly rolls (2)
Small bags (cut & waiting for batting or a coordinating fabric)
Denim squares
Basket of sock yarns (Morgan, Meredith, Sidney, Me, Darren, James & John)
John's blue scarf (He's been asking for one for the last couple of months)
Ruffled scarves
knit dish cloths
weaving projects (3 are on the rug loom...need more rags to use up the warp)
spinning (wool is in various stages...some washed, some picked, some still in laundry bag on the porch)
spinning (purchased locks...needs combed)
spinning (purchased roving)

I'm sure there are more projects hiding in a variety of places...I didn't dig too deep into the closet.

I have already seen lots of lists from the other bloggers that I follow.  I've also seen a bunch of mosaics (I going to learn how to do that this year too!)  Leave me a message if you want me to check out your 2013 to-do list & I will try and be a cheerleader for you!

Get busy & Have fun!
~Kristy

Spinning my Wheel

Yes.  That's "wheel"...Not "wheels".

Although, I kinda feel like I'm doing that too.

In my earlier post I told you that I had visited Sheeps & Peeps Farm and that got me all excited about the wool fleeces that I have laying out on the front porch.  I had half of one fleece somewhat clean and had picked some of the wool for carding.

Well, when I sat down to spin last night...Yeah.  I thought I could just dive right in and be spinning like I was last year when I was doing a little every day...I realized that there is "use it or lose it" clause in the spinning rules.  

So, last night I decided to use some of my scrap cotton yarn to re-introduce myself to collecting yarn on the bobbin.  Once I got started, it started coming back to me...I was beginning to get the rhythm of spinning.  Then Thing 2 came in to talk.  And he wanted to try.

Until he was able to do it all by himself.

Then, Big Brother came in and he wanted to give 'er a spin.  He stayed for quite a while.  Funny how the boys are enjoying this more than the girls ever did.

Eventually I had a chance to play and I started spinning some of the wool that I have been trying to get cleaned before we leave for vacation.  Oh, how I wish I could take my wheel with me!

 Thing 2 liked the carding process...he is a great photographer too!

And this is what I ended up with after about 20 minutes.  It's slow going again, but I'm really happy with it.

Here is the bit that has been washed, picked and is waiting to be carded & spun.

Tomorrow I will introduce you to my spinning wheel.  She really is quite beautiful!

Open House

Earlier this year, as I was beginning to find my way around blogland, I came across a blog that had Sheeps and Peeps listed as one of the blogs that they followed.  

I immediately noticed that they were in West Virginia so, I went to check out the blog.

They quickly became one of my favorites!

Lots of beautiful pictures of their farm & animals.

Well, yesterday they had an open house and I got to meet the shepherdesses.  They are lovely ladies and I had a wonderful time visiting with them "in person".

My daughters and I had a wonderful adventurous trip to the farm.  We got lost (not really, but we didn't know that at the time); back-tracked to Cool Springs (more photos later on that adventure); stopped off at one of the civil war trails in historic Rowlesburg...

...and took the back way up to the farm.  We turned onto a gravel road and while the view was amazing, the road was not!

 We finally arrived and parked our car, and this was the view that greeted us.

 There are some wonderful pictures on the Sheeps and Peeps blog, but we went ahead and took a few of our own.  My youngest daughter now wants sheep!  She absolutely loved the black ones...but then, that suits her.

There was a selection of yummy yarns for sale.

 I always enjoy watching other spinners spin...and this lovely lady was no exception.  

The wool she was spinning was a natural fleece that was producing a lovely thread with browns, greys and even a bit of yellow.  

Very interesting...I just wish I could see how it looks once it is plied.  

I'm sure it will be absolutely gorgeous.

There were jars of locks in a Cosmos solar dye.  They do a variety of natural dyes...Looks like fun!

The girls and I had a wonderful visit; we sat and listened to the Celtic musicians, Meredith got a pony ride but I missed getting a picture of that. 

I brought home a bag of Raspberry spinning batts... 

 ...and a small bag of colored locks that I can't wait to play with!

 I also got a few tips on how to clean the fleeces that were given to me by another farming friend.

 I might even get around to cleaning these before we leave for the beach!

Well, I am off to our last soccer game for the Spring Recreational season.  I will have a  week off before the optional High School practices start up and then the month of July before we start all over again in August.  Perhaps I will be better organized for the fall season...
...One can only hope!