Tuesday, December 27, 2011

GGAF & Pensacola - 2011

Now, why don't we back track a little bit to a time before the world changed.....

November 4th-6th was our second showing at the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.  I love this festival.  Not just because it is in Florida or even my top selling event, but because it is my very last Festival of the year!  And what a better way to end the festival season in Florida with your Floridian knitter friends, the Pensacola Purls who meet on Mondays at the airport Barnes & Noble! Gosh, how I love those gals!  Don't worry, I am definitely planning a return visit if the festival folks let me in again:)



I couldn't keep the art batt bins stocked well enough!

Yarn, yarns and more yarns!

Sock yarns

Bfl Sock

Glammy-licious!

I love when customers bring in finished projects from my fibers.  These are from last years batts and were spun on  a 'Trindle' and then hand knit.  Kudos to Miss Jennifer and awesome fiberista!
Say hello to the needlefelted dolls of Darlene Samuel of Pace Florida.  Is this not the cutest little needle felted guy on the planet or what?  PS..His mane was made from one of my batts!!




Also by Darlene, the cutest little finger puppets ever!  This little guy was done with  my fibers too:)
My little splurge each evening was eating at the 'Fisherman's Corner' which is under the Theodore Baar Bridge in Perdido Key.  It is not a super fancy place, but the fresh caught specials are out of this world!!!  As you can see, after finishing each night, I was lucky to get a little table  where I could knit a little while enjoying one of America's oldest brewed beers, Yuengling. Fabulous combination!!  Wish we had Yuengling in Kentucky!!

Catching up

Granny & me 20 years ago.
Yes, it has been a long time since I posted on the blog about what is going on in my life.  As with all things on our journey through the world there have been some good things, but they have for a while been out weighed by the bad, depressing, soul sucking things that seem to come in and grab you by the heart and squeeze until you think you can bear no more.  I feel I need to get all the bad things out of the way in this post so that I can move on with all the good.  Trust me there is some good in there.  There always is even if sometimes it has to smack you in the head to get through a little.

My last post was about made the day before I left Florida to come home in November.  A day before I had received a call from Mom that my Granny had taken a turn for the worse.  I packed everything, cleaned the condo and drove home on Wednesday.  Thursday, my sweet Granny passed away.  We were expecting this day since Granny collapsed on Easter, but no matter how much time you have to prepare yourself, you never are quite prepared for the death of a loved one.  Even still a month and a half later I am finding it hard to  write this.

At the memorial service, I stood up and spoke.  There are somethings in life you will regret not doing later and I knew this would be one of those things.  It was hard.  It was not fun.  I don't really remember all of what I said, so I want to do it again right here where I can say exactly what I want with out the feeling that everyone is staring at me......

My Granny was born and raised in England on July 9th, 1921.  She lived with her parents, brother and sister during WWII in Wiggan, England.  It was during the war that she worked as a police woman and met my Grandfather who probably through sheer persistence won her heart and brought her home to Nicholasville, KY.  It was here that my Granny had two children and after my Grandfather passed away she was able to put both of her children through college.

I have to say that my Granny was the Grandmother everyone dreamed of having.  She loved her family and friends.  She loved you with out reserve.  And, she loved to tell stories.  Stories of her life.  I spent most of my childhood, youth and  adulthood listening to her stories of the war and being a police woman.  I know we all have our favorites.  One of mine was how during WWII a Granny would go with her friends to the dance halls and dance for hours on end.  Before marrying Granny's last name was Hill and the service men would serenade her with the song 'Blueberry Hill' (although we are more famialar with the Fats Domino version, at the time it was made popular by Glenn Miller & his Orchestra).  You don't have to imagine how much fun she had doing the Jitterbug to some jive swing, if you knew my Granny, you probably heard a WWII story or two or three or four or five or six.......

We all spent time with Granny, but I probably spent more than most listening to her stories of life in decades gone past.  And she also told me so much more than just her stories.  We talked about many things and she told me a few things I think she would want me to share with you.  Dad, Granny was so very proud of your achievements in the Senate.  Aunt Mimi, she was proud that on your own, you raised two successful children who have gone on to bright and wonderful things.  Cousin Nikki, Granny was so proud to know you were raising two of her beautiful Great Grand boys so far away in California.  Cousin Ryan, Granny delighted in your becoming a lawyer for the Army.  Brother Beau, Granny was not just proud of your military career, but also your beautiful family.  And last but not least Mom, Granny said that although you had your differences she knew that Dad would not have gone as far in his career with out you pushing to grander things.

-End-

That was more along the lines of what I was trying to say.  I just never realized how hard it would be to share that with family and friends.  I still miss my Granny every day.  She was always there for me in good and hard times.  She loved her family with out bounds and everything she did was for her family.  I don't think I ever realized that until she was gone.  But, everything she did, she did for all of us.  I am so very thankful to have had such a strong woman to look up to and who loved me so very much.


July 9, 1921 - Nov. 10, 2011

Granny & her oldest & best friend Gene Rice on Granny's 80th birthday.

Christmas

Granny, Mom & Me

Trip to Bermuda
Christmas or Easter late 90's.

Granny, Grandfather & Aunt Mimi

One of our trips about town.


One of Granny's boyfriends in WWII drew her portrait.

Found this lovely dress in Granny's closet, but none of us remember her ever wearing it.   Bet she turned a few heads when she did wear it.

So that is part of my bad news.  I know it is a natural part of life to grow old and die.  But, I secretly wish my Granny could have lived forever and I had never known a day with out her.  

If you have gotten this far, you deserve to hear the rest.  Do you remember last year when Bill had surgery to remove a tumor in his head?  We knew the Surgeon had not been able to get all of the tumor and we were hoping that it could be monitored by bi-annual scans and simply stay the same size and not grow.  Well.....  We were not that lucky.  It, Bob, I'm calling it Bob, has had a little growth spurt.  Surgery is scheduled with a new Surgeon (referred by the last one) soon.  Will keep you updated.

And now, that I have all that off my chest, we can return to the irregularly scheduled posting program.  And I promise there is good stuff coming.  Very good stuff and great news:)

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

SAFF 2012

Well, it has come and gone.  This 2012 SAFF was a first time vending experience for LunabudKnits.   And did we ever have fun!!!    This year we were set up in the Sales Arena on the top of the hill.  And as I said on the SAFF Ravelry board:

Mom and I had an absolute blast meeting everyone. The weather was perfect for our first year vending at SAFF! Have to say, This is one of the smoothest festivals to attend from the ease of knowing before hand about set up to the smiling faces of SAFF Staff and of course the attendees who kept us smiling, laughing (with and at us), and busy all day!
Having the opportunity to meet so many of my online Raverly & Facebook personas as well as gaining so many new friends, I am truly overwhelmed with how wonderful everyone was. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a fabulous event!
Thank You to my customers and all the wonderful SAFF people who made this festival the hot awesomeness that it was! I better not forget to thank Mom either. With out her help and support, I don’t know what I would do!  I also would not have any pictures of the booth as I completely forgot to take any. Luckily Mom had my back:)
Oh and PS… The pink boots came from Marshals:)

The new wall of yarn!
Wall 'O' Wool

I always enjoy having a fun time with happy customers!

If you are ever in Fletcher,NC, I would like to recommend the Blue Sky Cafe.   Oh MY...the fried raviolis were  fabulous and don't forget to try the sweet tater fries!  Awesomely delicious!!

On my way to SAFF in Tennessee somewhere...

About to go through a mountain side tunnel in NC.

In the tunnel.

My purchases from the show:)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Southern Indiana FiberArts Festival

It is definitely past due for a blog post. Several weeks ago, I was thrilled to again be a part of the Southern Indiana FiberArts Festival in Corydon, IN. Yes, this little fiber frolic happens at the same time as Rhinebeck. No, it is not as big as Rhinebeck. But, it is a heart warming group of dedicated vendors who make this little fair better and better each year!


This year, I did not have a helper so unfortunately did not have much of a chance to snap shots of the other vendors. I did of course get a shot or two of my booth and the Kintner House where I stayed:)
Dining Room

My bedroom.  don't you just love the handmade quilt on the bed?
My booth

Purse I needle felted from my fibers.

Wool Locks

Merino Tops

Like I would go to a festival and leave the happy sheep behind:)

Wall 'O' Wool


Monday, October 10, 2011

Kentucky Wool Festival 2011

The Kentucky Wool Festival was over yesterday and I have to say I am absolutely blushed. If you remember last year I stayed with the Yeltons and I was pleased as punch pie to have a return visit with them this year. Cheryl of Purdy Thangz and I were truly blessed to share in the Yelton's special brand of Kentucky Hospitality this year. Have to say I count myself lucky to have met and come to know Jim and Lana these past two years.

Side one of the booth full of wool.  This was the first show I got to play with the new wire panels and bins.  I think they still need a wee bit of tweeking, but they should be fun at future shows.

The other side full of yarns.  These were taken on the end of the second day.  By the third day, I was almost wiped clean. 

The boots on a section of fence posts were intriguing.

If only there were some way to find out the idea behind the boots on the fence.  


This little fellow, Jack, greeted me at Jim and Lana's by thoroughly looking through my bag for contraband.  He finally settled on an old receipt.  How stinking cute was that!?!  BTW, Jack is part of Jim and Lana's Flour Creek Dachshunds kennel.

Cheryl, aka Purdy Thangz, on our last morning with Jim and Lana.

An older version of the Louet S75 that is close to 20 years old and still a true work horse!  

Jim and Lana in front of their cabin.

The view from Jim and Lana's front porch.

Unfortunately, I missed getting snap shot of the other vendors.  You can take my word for it, there was fabulous fibery goodness everywhere in our tent!

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Beeswax Candles




In today's mail were most wonderful candles from Mother Seraphima and the Sisters of the Holy Nativity Convent.  Upon opening the box the most delicious aroma of honey and beeswax surrounded me and made me feel loved.  The candles are hand dipped by the Sisters and if you are interested in partaking in this heavenly smell, please visit their website:  Holy Nativity Convent. They are so lovely;)

This bundle is destined for my sweet Granny who is not doing so well at the moment.  If you have a few moments in your day, can you think of her with kindness and love today.  Thank you so very much.

Other Fun Facts..................

I taught myself to knit by watching a woman while on a flight from Scotland to the USA in 1996.

I taught myself how to spin yarn Feb 15th, 2007. I think I've done fairly well:)

'Lunabud' is a combination of two dogs' names I was loved by, Buddy and Luna:)