stix and a ball of string....

Now I know for you experienced spinners this is not much and is definitely not the best yarn but... for a beginner spinner this is real excitement! I have had my spinning wheel for over a year now and have worked with it off and on trying to learn to spin. I could not find anyone in our area who knew how to spin that could help me. So I bought books...read the web....bought a dvd...read more books and still accomplished only one thing..frustration! Then a wonderful lady in one of my knitting groups offered to help me - PTL! We met at a local library and after a few hours with her it all came together for me. I have a long way to go but at least I am now spinning what actually does look like yarn and I am so excited and happy! Thank you June for all your help and encouragement - I could never have done it with you.
*GB2B*

I have so many wonderful projects on my to do list and just not enough time to do them all. I would love to be able to craft all the time but it is just not to be. So I enjoy the time that I have to work with them.
I had a wonderful day today - it was Spinning Day! I met with my friend June and she helped me with my spinning. I have had my spinning wheel for sometime but have not been able to get the knack of the spinning process. But June was such a wonderful teacher and by the time that we ended our visit I was actually spinning yarn that was good. I was so thrilled - now I must practice...practice...and practice some more. I really want to do this as I have already developed such a love for it.

I finished two pair of slipper sox this week. I used Lynn's fg 30 peg round loom and some wool blend yarns. I did one with a gathered toe and the other is just a square toe using the flat removal. I am pleased with them and will put them aside for an upcoming gift.


This is my tote bag that I am currently working on. I am using Patrons Classic Wool and Lynn's 80 peg fg square loom. I plan to felt this bag after I complete the knitting. I did a simple stripe using some scrap wool that I had, it gave a nice accent and broke up the plain look of the solid color.

AC Moore had a good sale on Patron Wool yarn this weekend - $3.44 a ball, which for our area is an excellent price. So I naturally had to stock up on it:) Not that I really needed any more yarn but I could not pass up a good price on wool yarn. And I really do not have that much wool yarn in my stash. And I plan to do some felted bags for Christmas gifts this year. And....one never has too much yarn :) Just like looms....my wish list was shortened by one this week as I ordered a fg adjustable loom. Hey - I really needed that loom - LOL

Well....back to my bag....happy knitting
*GB2G*

Thank goodness it is Friday! It has been a long, hard week. We have been covered up at work this week so the stress was really thick. Then I had meetings three nights this week - not much time for looming or resting! I did take some quick time-outs to work on some of my looming projects. Hey..a person got to de-stress :)

There was a wonderful bright spot in my week - my looms came from Lynn! Here they are - are they not just super!

I got two of her new looms, the beret set and the square fg loom. And some of Lynn's delicious yarn..,oooh...it is so cuddly. This will be for me - new mittens! Won't this just make a beautiful pair? I also got Denise's book, such a thrill to have one of our group published! Check out Lynn's site - a link is listed on my sidebar.

I know this is short but I am bushed ... I'll do better next time.
Happy knitting.....*GB2B*

....so sorry for those who have been trying to access my blog today. I have had a terrible time trying to get all my buttons put back on the blog. It seems that the image host I was using decided to shut down their website...and did they email anyone?....No!
So, needless to say I had to reload all my images onto a new image host site and then correct my blog template to get my images back. But anyway....they are all here again....sorry for the raving and the downtime.

Happy Knitting all - *GB2G*

....I promised a photo of the drop stitch loomed stole that I did and here it is. It is not blocked in this photo but you can see the stitch detail and what the stole looks like. It is on the blocking board now so it will be completed and ready for wrapping soon.








And Here is my BH bag....






(Here is my bag before felting)

I used the BH pattern from http://www.masondixonknitting.com/ and did some modifications on my bag.
Yarn - Patrons Classic Wool (That's Red) Needles - 11 Circular
I used two strands of yarn throughout the pattern.
**At the Knit Straight Row (where you lengthen or shorten the bag) I did 30 rounds instead of the 10 rounds in the pattern. I wanted a taller bag rather than a short one. At end of the pattern after doing buttonhole handle, I knitted 4 rounds before binding off to give a thicker handle.
Felting - One time through the washer and then stuffed for shaping and let air dry.

This photo is my completed bag after felting.
For reference, before felting my bag was 13" Wide and 15" Tall.
After felting my bag was 9" Wide and 11" Tall

****As for accents, I am still thinking on that one.
*GB2G*

....my favorite part of the house - LOL. Actually this is only one wall of my sewing/knitting/home office area but it is a favorite spot for me. I know that the organization does not look too good, but......actually I know where everything is, that is I do if....no one moves it - LOL

You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every

eventuality covered and every opportunity

just has to be taken. Every fiber is

wonderful, and every day is a new beginning.

You are good at so many things, it's amazing,

but you can easily lose your place and forget

to show up. They have row counters for

people like you!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
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I have finished my felted tote bag - see below, my drop stitch shawl - photos coming soon....I have started on some wool slippers on my loom, I have a burial gown on my needles, and some fleece blankets cut out for TTT.

Crafting is moving on ....have a great day! *GB2G*

Aren't these adorable? For my birthday Hubby got me two handcrafted crochet hooks from Dodo Designs in Canada. The first one is Mickey Mouse (my hero) and the other one is a cute doggie! I cannot wait to use them!

...is finished! This is the first felted item that I have made and I am so excited about it! I needle knitted the bag from KP "wool of the andes" and then loomed my handle with my thumb looms.


...here is a photo of the bag before felting - it was 18 x 20 before the felting process and my finished bag was 14 x 15. Perfect for my looming items - a great knitting tote!

.....are here and they are adorable! We have three boys and two girls. They are all black and some of them have little bits of white on them. Their eyes are not open yet but will be soon. I thought I would just share a photo of them with you.