Homespun Yarn Party

Better late than never! Here are the few pictures I took from the Homespun Yarn Party last month:



It was so great to see friends old and new - I even got to see a preview of Karida's new book Pints and Purls! It's awesome by the way. I bought one skein of yarn and three skeins of fiber. I already spun up two of them - and I am excited to start the third!

Navajo Plying

I finished Navajo plying half of the BFL I’ve been working on the past few days. I was planning to spin this into thin singles for a three ply fit for socks. I think I may have been a little too thick - because I ended up with 136 yards for 2 ounces. I’m still going to finish the second half and I will still knit socks with it, but I will have to use another yarn for the cuff, heel and toes. I think a nice solid blue or green will set it off nicely.

Here's a mosaic of the life cycle this yarn went through: Roving, singles, and Navajo plied:



This is Three Irish Girls roving - purchased at the Homespun yarn party. Speaking of the Homespun yarn party! I just remembered I never posted pics of the fun! I think it's probably because I took my "small" camera. I have to hunt down the cord and upload those soon!

6 years!

I survived 6 years of being married today :)

I came home from work to the scent of flowers...









Happy Anniversary to me!

Need a little sunshine...

I'm sitting in the Birmingham airport... waiting for my plane which is an hour delayed. I originally had a 1 and half hour layover - and now it's 2 and half hours! I spent the last few days in New Orleans for work. It rained or drizzled or fogged the entire time I was there. And now a huge storm is delaying me more! Ack!

I could definitely go for a little sunshine. - So I thought I'd share some of the Spring that has been popping up around my house... before all this rain of course!

My neighborhood cherry trees are blooming!



The hyacinths are popping out...



And the daffodils are blooming...





And another little piece of sunshine... I bought these daffodils from Trader Joes to brighten up my table... aren't they gorgeous!

Actual Knitting!

Don't faint! I know it's been a while - but I actually have knitting to show you!

I dyed this yarn with Sarah two summers ago and I knit the socks in February, but I'm just getting around to showing you now:

These are just plain jane socks - basic top down and comfy.



Stats:
Pattern: Basic top down sock
Yarn: Hand dyed Louet base yarn
Needles: size US 2


I am still not sure if I will get to keep these - my mom had her eyes on them the last time she was over!




But she doesn't have cutes shoes to show them off!!

I'm an Auntie!

My sister in law (John's sister) had a baby boy today!

He arrived this morning at 2:02am. He is 6 lbs. 14oz, and 16 inches long. Here he is on the scale.



He doesn't have a name yet - but he sure is cute!
Both he and Mom are doing great!



Stay tuned for more pictures and a name!

***Updated! His name is Simon :)

Tap tap... this thing on?

It's been a month since I've last posted! I can't believe how quickly time has gotten away from me. All I can say is - I've been working long hours. It's no excuse - but it's all I've got.

John has also started chemo again - he's done 2 rounds and has 8 more to go. He's been extremely tired and it's very frustrating to watch him go through this again. Those of you who read his blog know the details - but in a nutshell - there is still some cancer in his liver. Luckily his colon and entire digestive track is still clear. We just have to get the little suckers still in his liver.

So anyway - I'm doing ok other than my frustrations that I can't do anything to help John feel better. I have been keeping busy - working maybe a little too much though!!

I've been doing some knitting here and there also. Right now I am working on the Shetland triangle. I'm knitting it with the orange handspun I just finished. I'm loving it! I have one more repeat to go before the border. Pictures soon!

I also have new drawings to share! These are my latest sketches for the sketchbook swap.

Giraffes...



Light as a Feather...




Just Hanging Around...




Birds on a Wire...




Coi pond...



Thanks for stopping by!!!

Homespun Yarn party

Did you hear that there is going to be a Yarn Party on March 14? It looks like it will be a fun time! Lots of indie artists and great stuff to drool over. Check out their blog for more info!

I'll be there - so let me know if you're going - I'd love to meet up!

Sketch'n Part V and VI

I'm a month behind in showing you my sketches for the Sketchbook swap. I just finished up a book this week and am mailing it off to the next person today.

Here are the latest sketches:




And here are the ones I did last month:



Hope everyone is having a great week!!

More spinning

I've been spinning more and more lately! I just finished almost 600 yards of a lovely orange tweedy yarn - pics coming soon. But right before that one - I spun up a braid of Funky Carolina. It was my first time spinning her stuff and I loved it!

I got many comments on Flickr and Ravelry about how different the roving and the finished yarn look.

Here's the roving:


And here's the yarn.



You can definitely see the colors are the same - but they are much more evened out and blended in the finished yarn. I'm really happy with how it came out! I have about 120 yards of two-ply in worsted weight.



I was going to make this part of the handspun shawl I am planning, but the colors don't seem to fit with the rest I have already spun. So - what to make with this one? Any ideas?

In knitting news - I had been in a bit of a slump - started a sweater - ripped it back out, knit one mitten - haven't started the second... but last night - I finally finished a sock I had been working on for ages.

It's knit out of this:



It's yarn that I dyed with Sarah two years ago. I really love the color and so does everyone who sees it! I have already gotten requests from my mom, my husband and a couple friends for a pair in the same yarn. It's one of a kind I said! (Well - actually 1 of 2 - since Sarah and I each have a skein... Guard it well Sarah!!)


Now I just have to start the second one and I may eventually have something to show you!!

Until then - have a great week!