So This Happened....

Here's 2 of my retaliation yarns (Andrew got a new Playstation during the spending hiatus):

This is Regia in Clown Rings. (I love rainbows so much!)

This is Regia in Istanbul Mosaic.  (Still rainbow-y!)

And then this happened....  Dancing Dog Dyeworks updated her shop and I used my craft show money to by this lovely Spring rainbow socks with matching mini skein. *swoon*

I have 3 more retaliation yarns coming.  This two shown above arrived UNDETECTED.  Which makes them even better!!

AND, I sold more of my stash yarn today so I have more room in my stash! Stashbust2014 is working and it's not working, but it's ok...  The stash bust has made me more discriminating and conscious of my purchases.  No frivolous purchases--all purchases already have projects in mind.  And the yarn I sold would never be used.  Win-Win!

Stashbust 2014 Continues

So, I checked my stash online and noticed my stash now stands at 53 yarns.  That is so absolutely awesome!  I even unloaded all my cotton stash today to mom.  She's making dishcloths and said something about needing more cotton, so I graciously gave her all of mine.

So, I won't tell you I bought more sock yarn this week in retaliation of my husband buying a new Playstation 4.  It will just be my little secret.  And next weekend, we won't discuss the yarn I buy at A Knitters Fantasy.  My stash will just mysteriously grow a few skeins--until I can unload more of the stash I don't work from...

Final Craft Show for Me...

For years, I've done craft shows.  I work my butt off for weeks trying to get together items I think people will buy.  I spent countless hours crafting and countless trips to the store for even more stuff in case I don't have enough. Well, I've had enough. Don't get me wrong--I love craft shows and I love craft show people--but the time has come to hang up my crafting...

Today, mom and I exhibited at a community center in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. It was a pretty good day.  We didn't charge more than $10 for anything--except a shrug for $20.  

We both came home lighter.  We even donated a bunch of stuff to a charity--which helped lessen the load to bring home.  My headbands--didn't sell.  My ribbon necklaces--didn't sell.  My painted glasses and coasters--didn't sell.  Oh well.  At least I got to spend the day with my mom--AND the money I did make will be the money I spend next weekend at a Knitters Fantasy in Youngstown. Not bad!

So what do I do with all the leftovers? Well, everything fits in one bin and it all fits in my closet.  Someone always is having a birthday or some such thing--they get my goods.  I save money on the gift and I don't care if they like it or not--they're probably lucky I gave them anything! 

And this snow that was falling on my way home (and is still falling hours later)? That is God getting me back for being a cheapskate with your next present.

11 miles

So, today I did some arithmetic. I had a little time to kill while I waited to go home so I scanned my ravelry stash and added the yardage.

In my bins, I have 19318 yards of yarn waiting to be used.  This does not include my Vanna's Choice or my bulky bin of acrylic, or my yarn of cotton for dish cloths.  This is the good stuff.

Being a nerd, I'll break it down further:

I have 695448 inches of yarn--57954 feet of yarn, 19318 yards of yarn, OR 11 (10.976) miles of yarn.  I can drive to work and back and still have yarn left over. 

And let me tell you this--compared to most avid knitters and crocheters, my stash is super small.  

Andrew just looked at me and shook his head.

At my current rate of speed, I'll not even get through the stash this year.  It will take two years.  Or more...

Craft Tuesday has Been Cancelled!

Why?  Because I'm completely caught up on my whimseybox kits, the glasses are done, and the craft room has been cleared out. 

I seriously took a hard look at my craft room this past weekend and I decided that all I really want to do is knit and occasionally make jewelry or paper garlands and sew small projects.  So.....I got rid of everything that was just taking up space.

So, if you want it, I got it.  Ask and it is yours.

Clay

Beads (wood,pearls, size 6 & 8 seed beads, spacers)

Felt 

Tulle spools

Embroidery floss--3 bins

Clothes pins

Paracord

Pliers

Wire

Plastic store cases

And more!!

Mental Health Day

I had one of those days on Monday where I became filled with anger.  I don't know why.  I don't know what set it off.  I was a time bomb. I did not lash out at anyone, I remained contained.  So,when I woke at 4 this morning still steaming about nothing I decided I needed a day.

So, I knit.  I sat in my craft room watching Kojak and knitting.  I got 7 points on my hitchhiker completed. I cleared out three of my craft room bins of shit that's been sitting there "just in case." I have a giant bag full of these items and no one seems to want them.  I'll package them for a yard sale and if they don't go then, they get pitched.

My ball of yarn noticeably diminished.  I feel renewed, lifted, and ready to try again tomorrow. Cleaning out spaces does this to me.  I honestly don't know how hoarders live with all the weight of their crap on them. My husband is a hoarder of sorts. I honestly don't understand keeping things for years even after they have no use.  BUT, I give him his spaces and I close the doors and I avoid the clutter.

Andrew had a rough day today, too. He'll never admit it, but he's about to come unglued too. He's trying to find work and having no luck.  But I looked up from my knitting to see this, so maybe he's coping better than I think.  

2 Socks and a Hitchhiker

I finished the second sock this morning. It is truly lovely.  I wish I had done both of them at the same time because my feet have been super cold all day--even with socks and slippers on.

Both second socks have been cast on and are ready to go!

And then the rest of the day was spent doing household stuff and working on my hitchhiker.  It seems like the yarn never ends...

Recovery

I woke at 10:45am and decided I was able to complete the first Moondance sock.  I guess the fiber overload was actually exhaustion because I very rarely sleep that late.

So, the sock--it is absolutely perfect.  Seriously.  It is so beautiful that I have it hanging from my pegboard in my craft room so I can admire it like a work of art.

Then, I decided I would look for Liberty of London fabric on etsy.  Don't ask why, I just did. And what do I find? Limited Edition Liberty of London Hello Kitty fabric.  There's scads of different styles and colors. Very awesome. (My mother is not to buy this fabric.) 

And once I finished the first sock I decided to finish the second sock I started this week, but as you can see, there were some errors and I had to darn the sock in 2 places before they are even done.  I'm going to work until I get to the toe decrease and finish it in the morning.  Thiese bad boys are going to be so warm!!

Tomorrow, I'm going to check through my stash and decide on my next project.  Probably the Silver Fern from Miss Babs.  We'll see...

Fiber Overload Leads to Knitting Meltdown, Film at 11.

Wednesday, this loveliness arrived from mom.  I resisted it until today.  

Then I opened my yarnbox subscription that arrived today (from Andrew).  It silk and comes from Switzerland and is so incredibly lovely. Siitegarde yarn, yummmm.

And then I opened the much awaited package from Reno/JimmyBeansWool with 2 skwpeins of madelinetosh Vintage is Technicolor Dreamcoat (also from mom.)

And then, I just sat down and did nothing.  I couldn't knit or read or craft or even watch tv.  Resisting yarn for 3 months and then ending up with 6 skeins in 48 hours caused my brain to misfire.  Heck, I even worked all day on my Moondance sock so I could finish it tonight and I just walked away from it.  See?  This is the picture of it on my desk at worki did 6 stripes and was so excited!  Bah!

Tomorrow will be different.  I put all of the new yarn away so I could reclaim my zen.  I had no idea I was this excitable!

Sock Fever!!

So, I started these socks on Sunday night and by Tuesday I had the heel turned.  And I'm finally starting to like the striping.  But--these suckers are 100% wool and I should have made them months ago!  My feet have been cold since October!!

These socks were also started on Sunday.  And I'm seriously in love with them.  I knew I would be--that's why I stalked the dyer for weeks until I finally scored the yarn in a nail biter etsy sale.  I actually had to stay late at work so I wouldn't miss out.  It is called Moondance by Lollipop Yarns.  Today,  I completed the heel in orange and I worked it perfectly between the stripes of grey.  You will be so impressed when they are done.  Trust me.

And what is this???  The yarn that brought tears to my eyes?  It is here in Cleveland in my yarn stash.  It is still in the bag, because I clearly have enough socks going at one time.  So I will furiously be finishing 2 pairs of socks so these bad boys can get in the works.  Much love to my beautiful and generous mother.  She bought and shipped it to me because she understands my love of yarn and she loves me, too.  Thanks mom!  You are so wonderful!  

Crafty Tuesday

Well, my Craft Tuesday was productive again.  I finished my wine glasses and matching coasters for my upcoming craft show and now I'm trying to decide how to price them.  I'm thinking $5 for the glass and coaster.  Thoughts?

 

I finished my Sweetie Pie hat.  As predicted, it is wonderful!  105 yards of the softest wool to cradle my head.  This hat is mine.

I love the little cables, but most of all I like the crown. Worth the slight aggravation DPNs are to me.

Wait until you see the next hat I'm going to make--but I seem to be running out of acceptable yarn for hats.  I don't want to dip into my madelinetosh Vintage stash, but I just might have to.  I'm loving how my stash is decreasing!  And if I run out of yarn for hats, I can always just make socks!!

St. Patrick's Day and a Full Moon

That was the start to my day.  Full moon shining in and the realization that there will drunks loose all day. (Shudder)

Today was the final day of state testing and I got 3.5 stripes done on my Kroy socks.  Not too thrilled with the patterning, but I can tell you they will be mighty warm!

I got to the point where I can start the decreases on my Sweetie Pie Hat.

And I finished my first Rachael Herron book, "How to Knit a Love Story."  Not a bad day after all!!

Socks

I've acquired quite a bit of sock yarn over the past year and I'm finishing I really like knitting them.  So, I made another decision...  From now on, socks are my main focus.  I'll change my ind again, but I can do whatever I like because, well, because I can.  

So, tonight I cast on this yarn for a pair of socks.  Just a simple stockinette pair of socks.  On Instagram they called these #plainvanilla.

And here's the Moondance socks.  I actually got about an inch more done on these. These are a k6 p2 design.  I wanted something different for the yarn since it's pretty plain.  The heel and toe will be orange.

And, I'm going to finish the things I'm currently working on.  But once they are done, one big project at a time, one hat for something to break up the monotony, and SOCKS!!!  Operation Sock Drawer is in progress.  12 pairs for the year is my goal, but I'm on track to have 16.  *HappyDance*

Happy Saturday!

So, I wake up from a nice little nap to see my mail guy pull up...  I was very good and did not stalk him, but I knew he had my Miss Babs Knitting Tour Yarn in his bag.  (Hey! Where's the snow?)

So, here's the yarn. 7 skeins of Yummy 2 Toes in the New Zealand gradient set.  It's an exclusive yarn only for tour knitters and the pattern is exclusive, as well.  It is called Silver Fern and it requires grafting.  I'll perhaps need to practice that before hand, because grafting scares the poop out of me.  YouTube....

And I spent my evening watching Hill Street Blues (awesome!!!), eating pizza (yum!!), doing laundry (...), and knitting a few more ridges on my Hitchhiker.  I really love this yarn.  And I really love that I have 750 yards of it so I can still make something else with it when I'm done....

3446 Yards of Joy

So, as predicted, I finished my Winter Pastel socks today.  I always screw up the finish, but no one really knows unless my shoes are off.  My left sock is 6 rows longer.  Phft! I entered them in a contest on ravelry.  If they are "chosen randomly" I get a yarn prize from Desert Vista Dyeworks. Cross your fingers for me!  

I started *another* hat! as Andrew likes to say.  My favorite hat to wear is the Sweetie Pie Hat by Jen from PurlSoho in NYC. I did the original in dark blue Malabrigo Rastita and it is so lovely.  I decided to make another one in red (Jupiter) from the leftover Rastita I used to make my hitchhiker this past summer.  It is just a lovely, so far.  I finished the ribbing this evening and will commence the body tomorrow.

And do you remember my battle to score this yarn?  It's Moondance by Lollipop Yarns.  I stalked it for weeks and finally was able to get one.  It is the color way for the next pair of socks I'm doing.  Yum!

And as the title suggests, I have my current total of yards knit for 2014--so far! 

3446 yards, baby!  The nerd in me wants to know how much yarn yardage I have in my stash, but I'll calculate that at another time.  I'm off to play Township on my iPad!

Unexpected Snow Day

Yes, I knew we were under a Winter Storm Warning. Did I expect Cleveland to shut down during OGT week?  Never!  So, I got up, showered, dressed, etc.  it's not until I'm getting ready to leave that I look at my phone and discover I have the day off.  Dang it!  That's almost as bad a s getting up on Saturday thinking you're late for work.

So, I crawled back into bed with wet hair and slept until 10:30.  Niiiiice!

How did I spend the rest of my day?  Finishing a hat, of course!  It's a snow day tradition!  This is the Pup Tent hat ( free in ravelry! ) that I made using left over yarn from my Range Wrap.  It's MarigoldJen worsted yarn and it is lovely!

Then I figured. I might as well crank out the heel on my March Socks!  It took a few hours, but I obviously had the time.  I worked 5 stripes and the heel.  It'll be finished Friday night.  Hopefully.

And what is this? Michele cooked?  Yes, she did.  Thank you to Campbellskitchen.com who provided me with this awesome recipe for mini chicken pot pies. They were so awesome!  They also have a recipe for mini Shepherd's Pie which I'll probably do next.  Yuuuuuummmmmm!

Tuesday Craft Day Continues!

So, I got an awesome deal on the internet for "liking" Darby Smart--$10 off anything in their store.  I chose a studded wallet kit and tonight I pimped it out!  Obnoxious?  Yes! And I totally love it!!  I'm currently waiting 24 hours for it to completely dry, but I will soon be rocking it!!

And I'm finally caught up on my Whimseybox crafts (except for one that requires a sunny day--maybe in May...).  I did the tedious work of wrapping beaded on head pins and attaching them to a painfully small chain.  (My spectacles were required--which I hate admitting because I'm getting OLD.). I stopper after 21 beads.  Enough was enough.  I did save the extra beads, though for a day I might decide I feel like adding the rest.  (As if!)

And I learned needle felting.  This is not exactly my favorite craft, but the bird looks cute in my craft room Christmas tree, so all's well.

As a result of this feverish crafting I came to a few conclusions about the stuff in my craft room.  Sometimes it's nice to find a few things you like and stick with them.  No one truly needs a fully stocked craft room unless they are Martha Stewart.  More on this revelation in a later post...  And a list of all the stuff I'm getting rid of for good.

Slow Motion Sunday

Well, I'm sick.  Not real real sick, but droopy and cranky sick. Sneezy, coughy, sleepy sick.

So, instead of working on my afghan, I started a hat.  Something small I can lay down and pick back up in between naps.  It's called the Pup Tent.  No idea why, it just is.

I'm using the leftover yarn from my Range Wrap.  It is a butterscotch color that is warm and lovely.  I don't wear much yellow, but this is very nice...

I started my second Hitchhiker on Friday using a lovely variegated yarn.  I didn't get very far on it because once I started to feel crappy, I put it down--I didn't feel like paying attention.

And now?  I'm going to bed.  It's early, but I have a long week ahead of me.  I'm proctoring the Ohio Graduation Test every day this week.  Four hours on my feet with no breaks, no food, no nothing but walking up,and down the aisles making sure they don't cheat.  This should be fun with a cold....

Happy Saturday!

Well.....  I finished Zuzu's Petals today.  I don't like the way it blocked, so it is currently "reblocking" on the mats.  It doesn't lay very nicely, so I'm trying to block it lengthwise instead of widthwise.  We shall see in the morning!  That being said, I love this cowl.  I love the yarn, I love the pattern, I love it all!  My next one will use a real gradient yarn that is worsted weight.  Yum!!

I always put the leftover yarn from a project into a bin.  I save them all for no real reason other than if I need a small amount to try a new technique or if I'm teaching someone to knit and I don't want them to use one of my full skeins.  Having said that, I came across an article on Buzzfeed about what creative things you can do with your yarn scraps.  I decided to take the leftovers from all my favorite yarns or projects and I put them in a vase that I've had sitting around.  Gives a little pop of color and also makes me happy to remember all the cool things I've made without dragging them out.

And I have the perfect spot for it!  Next to my colorful knitting needles from my "grandma" Flo and my Festival Glass candy dish that my mom gave me that was her mother's--my real grandma.  And after this picture was taken, I put up the paperweight my dad gave me that used to sit on his desk.  A lot of awesome memories for one corner!

Serves Me Right!

I'm about to be a very unhappy little girl in the next 24 hours. I'm coming down with an upper respiratory infection. I can tell by the slight discomfort in the back of my throat.  That's what I get for telling people gleefully that I haven't been sick this whole school year.  It always happens on a Saturday when I can't get to a doctor.  And it always happens in a week I can't take off from work.

Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but I doubt it.  So, until then, I'll just look at my dearest Maximillian here and smile!  What other choice do I have? 

He really does make things seem better....

Stashbust 2014

My resolution is still holding.  I'm still working strictly from my yarn stash. But let me tell you this, honey--there's this yarn from Turtlepurl Yarns in Canada that is making me weak!  Burberry striped yarn for socks.  Tears come to my eyes with it's loveliness.  I have resorted to begging Andrew to buy it for me, but he has such willpower.  I'm going to keep working on him, though.  Eventually, there will be something he wants and I'll negotiate for the yarn.

Sigh.

I got a little sidetracked for a minute.  Sorry about that.

Back to the stash...

I found this lovely pattern today on Pinterest.  The Harmony Cloche. It is totally awesome and I'm making that pattern mine.  It will be just as lovely as my Lucy Hat and I have the perfect madelinetosh vintage in "Whiskers". A light grey that is super squishy.  Yum!

I've had 3 skeins of madelinetosh DK in "Cathedral" for a very long time.  This shawl is called "Mara" and calls for 3 skeins of madelinetosh DK!  Win win win!  And the pattern is free!  It's amazing to me that once I made the decision to work from stash how the perfect patterns have floated to the surface.  This is definitely one of those.  I'm almost sad winter is almost over.  But I'll rock it anyway!