Steam wrapped yarn update!

Remember my Steamers post? Well, here is the finished product. 175 yards of Fingering weight super wash yarn! I love how the rose, lavender & mint colors blended together! I was a bit worried at first that I was just making a big huge mess by using those bright colors together, and was very happy that the results turned out so well!

74% Dixie!

OK, I'm 74% Dixie. Course I'm sure it helps that I'm from and still live in Kentucky! Only one question threw me off and that was the 'carbonated water' question. I call it SODA-POP. What percentage are you? Are you a Yankee or Dixie Quiz

It's here!!

It's here! It's Here! It's HERE!! Dawn's bag came from the UK today and I am in awe! I got the bag, the pattern, a book of stunning rowan patterns, Yummie candies, Beads, Tea, an addorable cell phone charm sheep, a Happy Easter pin and last but not least a warm and fuzzy feeling inside! Oooh, almost forgot the lovely smelling butterfly soaps and an extra ball of Noro Yarn! What a fabulous, Fabulous package you put together Dawn! I love everything in it! Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!

Petal Pusher Bag

OK! I finally finished it! I started this last summer and it got stuck in transition for a long long time. I feel like such a bad, bad friend as this was for Jeannie my Hair dresser. In the next picture are the metal grommets that I use for the strap to connect to. The bag is very simple to make. And has a fun and unique end result. Well at least I think so:) Hope everyone likes it!

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
Wool, Linen & Cotton. Really anything Natural


2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
Hate Acrylics of synthetics


3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
Touch everything


4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
Spinning yarn & Beading


5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
None. Like National Geographic though:)


6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:
Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden
Knitting, Garden, Crochet, Food, Home, Other Craft, Fashion, Celebrity Gossip


7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
Purses, socks, dish cloths, scarves


8. Are you allergic to anything?
Latex


9. What do you like to* smell of?
(*This is not a typo. The question is: What do you like to smell of)
Favorite purfume is Opium, so would have to go with musky (not sweet) smells


10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Camping by a bon-fire:) Or taking the dog hiking by the creek:)


11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
Tea Room


12. What do you come out with?
Earl Grey & Lavender Teas


13. Where do you go next?
Sweet Shop for Chocolate!


14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
Guess I probably should add that I'm addicted to knitting:) And have recently become addicted to spinning and yarn dying. I love all colors with the exception of neons which I find too bright and garrish:) Outside of that, I'm a pretty down to earth gal who is getting married in Florida in May and really looking forward to it.

Millie's Exchange Bag!

OM Goodness! I feel like a bad exchange partner after receiving Millie's BOX! I just sent some homespun, notepad, markers, etc... I will have to send a suprise package to Millie and a big thank you note! Look at that fabulous needle case, brownie mix, mug w/ tea candle holder, soap, dish cloth, candy eggs all packaged in an adorable basket! Millie, I am amazed that you did all of that for me! Thank you so very much!!!

Steamers

Haven't tried steaming wool before, so guess what? I had a bit of the Super Wash left and decided to go for it! It was relatively easy peasey. Lay it flat on saran wrap, drizzle dye on it, wrap it up and steam in pot (like photo). Will show results after they are done:)

Dying Super Wash

Dying Super Was Rovings is easy as pie! Here I have added a dash or two of Cushings Dye with vinegar and hot HOT water to some large Mason Jars, while the rovings have been resting in a warm bath of sudsy water. I then drain the rovings and gently squeeze out excess water. Then I CRAM them into the jars. .. LOL If I don't want as much varigation (spots of white) to the rovings I use a larger jar. Dang fiber is fun, Fun, FUN!

Eggs Glorious Eggs!

The other night at my spinning group, Lynn brought in farm fresh eggs! And when I say farm fresh, I mean they came right out of the chickens butt that morning! Lynn, you are so great! I need to come out for a visit and help with the critters!

New Home Spun Yarn!

I have three new home-spun yarns that I finished plying the other day......... The white yarn is 100% silk two ply and was incredibly simple to spin! The pink and green yarns started out as super wash rovings that I dyed and then spun into two ply skeins. All turned out great and once Blogger is working correctly again, I will post photos:)

Stitch Marker's Received!!

Jeannie and Toni sent mesome great exchanges!
I am hoping that these pictures come through. I have tried to upload them twice! Looks like I will have to upload them later:( Jeannie sent me a fabulous stitch and bitch calendar, markers, sheep tape measure, calculator, note pad, and the list goes on!



Toni gave me some lovely, black and silver markers, the prettiest ball of white yarn, some beads and a fantastic dish cloth! Gals, thank you so much for the exchanges! They were great! I only regret that it took me so darn long to post about them! Will add photos when blogger lets me:)

Bye, Bye Steak:(

OK, for the next two months, I have to give up my favorite food.....
Steak.

Why you ask. Well, I found a georgeous dress for the wedding and I'm not even going to spill what size it was. I love Bill dearly, but I blame him for the weight gain...lol Yeah! Like I have anyone to blame but myself! So, anyhow, I am hoping that when 'the dress' arrives I have to have it Drastically altered...lol Which means I have to forget about eating steak, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, watch the junk stuff, and exerise, exercise, exercise. I'm not starving myself, but I am watching things very closely:)



This is 'The Last Steak'.................. Dang and I love Rib-Eyes marinated in Soy!



At least for a long long while:)

Plying....WooHoo!!!

And here it is! My first attempt at plying! I showed the members of the spinning group last night and they were all very impressed that I did so well my first go round. That got me to thinking that maybe it was a fluke that the first batch turned out soo good.



So last night, I spun more of the same alpaca but in different colors to just check that I am consistent. well guess what! I am! Both attempts are 100% alpaca. I think I might have to start using Etsy to sell some shortly....lol Let me know what you think!

Registering for the Wedding!

OK, I never realized weddings were so crazy...lol I spent all day yesterday registering for the wedding. Gosh it seems like only yesterday that we were engaged! We decided to use Macy's and Target for the registries. It was pretty fun (big fat lie). Luckily I got to do all of it in the comfort of my own home, which was a blessing, because I had no desire to go to the mall! I selected 3 china patterns and had one inparticular that I was very fond of. I showed them to Bill and he actually picked the one I liked the most! Of course, it helped that I said "OOh, isn't that pretty!", when I first saw it...lol Isn't he just great!


I am hoping that we get as many of the towels that I picked out, because the towels we currently have are well beyond thier 'sell by date' and I am looking forward to haveing a towel burning party! And the Kitchen-Aid mixer! I am keeping my fingers crossed on that one! Honestly though, we are really hoping for money, because we are hoping to purchase a few acres out in the country and every little bit helps out.



Tonight I am going with Kim from the spinning/knitting group to another spinning group which meets every first Friday of the month. Really looking forward to this! I am hoping to try out different spinning wheels, so that I can purchase the right forever wheel:) Will write more about it later!

Felted Needle Case!

I am so darn proud of my new little needle case! I made this with alot of left over scrappy yarn. Double stranded and seamless knit, this little bag is long enough to hold what ever long needles I need to take along. And MAN OH MAN is it ever long, Long,LONG! I plan to get a double snap hook so that I can clip in onto my purse or bag and just not worry about it:)






And this is a picture of the Zipper! I have never added a zipper to anything before, so this was just fun. A bit time consuming, but definitely fun. The zipper I used was a touch long for the opening, but I think I did a good job tying it off and trimming it back with out loosing any of the zipper action:)





Here I have stitched on a polymer fish button! I thought it was so cute! And since I was shooting for a beach kind of feel, he fit right in! I got a great idea from another knitter Heidi, which is embroidering on the felted bag. Now, I have to tell you, I have never embroidered! I got on the web and found a site, which I unfortuantely forgot to bookmark , showing embroidery stitches. Last night while going to my first knitting group I tried my first embroidery stitches! I think I did OK, how about you?




OH, now on to the knitting/spinning group....



I had heard that there was a knitting group in town from a yarn shop in a neighboring town and they met at a local Mexican Restraunt on Wen. (Can you follow that? I think I can:) Anyhow, I could never find them try as I might. A few weeks ago, I was watching my Mom's shop for her when a good friend Lynn came in to see my dog Ms. Piper. No one comes in to see me...lol She told me that she was with the group! I really should have known that, because Lynn has sheep! Duh!



Last night was my first night there. All the girls were so friendly and fun and helpful! Gosh! I wish I had found them a long, long time ago! I am hoping that I hear from Kim about going to a spinning group on Friday(tomorrow). I had so much fun! We met at 6pm at Panera and we did not leave until almost 10pm! I think Bill thinks I went out partying..hahaha He had an incredulous look on his face when he said: You can really talk about knitting stuff for almost 4 hours? I think I will have to bring him with me next time...hehehehe*wicked evil grin*