Swap Sister Revealed

My secret sister from the swap that Kimberly hosted was the first swap that I've participated in. I'm a member of Christian Artisans, which is a really neat group, we share our love for Christ, and fiber arts. I've learned so much from this groups of ladies, by the way, there is one guy in the group too. So, I'm posting to share what I received from Karen at Windy Lane Farms. The roving is wonderful, I've never felt anything other than cashmere that is this soft. Thank so much to Karen for praying for me, and gifting me with so many wonderful things. I've been wanting to make this shawl, called Bee Fields Shawl, by Anne Hansen, http://www.knitspot.com/ and low and behold it was one of the last things I pulled from my box. I received, Earl Gray Tea, Java Jingle, Coffee, by Pioneer Coffe, a tea mug with strainer, and lid, sugar free chocolate Bar, Merion Oro lace weight yarn for the shawl(this also is so soft), and the pattern, plus a generous bump of lovely colored roving, that is super soft. This is Kimberly's blog page. http://www.wovenspun.com/blogmain/index.php I was very impressed with Kimberly when I first saw her, I'm new to blogging, and I thought it was neat that she is a Christian woman, and not ashamed to share her faith. Thanks Kimberly for hosting the swap, it's always neat to get to know other people. Praying for a person is such a blessing, I enjoyed this swap.

Fruitcake anyone?

Autumn has past, and winter is here, or is it? It will be 79 degrees here tomorrow. Crazy, just crazy! How is a person to get in the Christmas spirit?

I have been busy, I'll have you know. I have a friend who is always telling me to get my stuff on Etsy. I've been dragging my feet, literally. I've injured my right foot, again. I did get my order to the local yarn shop. This week I'll be dying yarn for the Etsy shop, and working on Christmas presents. I'll also be starting my Christmas baking.

Christmas time always brings memories. I used to make fruitcake and give it as part of my gift giving, until someone once said on the sly, that it was one of the worst gifts you could give. I disagree, so this year, I will be making fruitcake. I remember my grandmother making a fruitcake, but not baking it. It was yummy! I don't have her exact recipe, but she may have used the one I found. I was going to throw out a few cookbooks, de-cluttering. I happened to open this one up(Cornerstone Cook-Book, Lajes Field Azores), and low and behold, I found the recipe. There is not a date in the cookbook, but it's old, they refer to the refrigerator as the ice box, it also includes can sizes, and lots of neat information you don't hear about nowadays. I'll include the recipe here, along with some eye candy of the yarn I just dyed.

Refrigerator Fruit Cake

1 qt. mixed canned fruit
1 qt. shelled pecans
1 lb. marshmallows
1 lb. raisins
1 lb. box graham crackers
1/4 cup milk
submitted by: Helen Hassenmiller-Lafyette, LA

Melt marshmallows in milk in double boiler. Roll crackers. add fruit and nuts to graham crackers, add marshmallow and mix thoroughly. Line container with paper and press mix firmly. Add sherry as desired.
May be used after 24 hours of chilling buy recommended 30 days.

I will be using dried MI cherries, white raisins, and candied orange peel when I make my fruitcake, as most people don't like the mixed citron fruit. I like the taste of brandy on a fruitcake also This recipe calls for regular canned fruit, which might be more economical, but not have the traditional taste.

Michigan Cabin

While in Michigan we had a chance to visit with my neice and her boyfriend. They make such a cute couple. This is a picture of them with my sister(Mother to neice.) The trip was short, but it was also nice to "Get out of Dodge." I would love to get snowed in, just think of all the knitting and spinning I could do there.

Autumn Arrives In All It's Splendor

We recently took a trip up North to Michigan. I was disappointed that the leaves were mostly gone. MI is just beautiful. We stayed in a cabin that was owned by a friend of my sisters. I am always amazed by God's people. M & B were so gracious to let us stay in their cabin on such short notice. Our trip was short, I would have loved to stayed for a couple of weeks. We are back home, and warm. We just missed the winter weather in MI :) I took some pictures yesterday of the beautiful fall foliage here in Tennessee. Most of the pictures were taken while driving in the car. I still have not found a neat picture for my Etsy sight, instead I have the same tangled woods picture.



I did work a little with my dyes before the trip. There are two new colorways: Autumn, and ? I can not come up with a name for the second one. Any suggestions for a name would be greatly appreciated. If not I'm going to name it "Favorite."

Cashmere

I'm busy working with cashmere. I've been working with several colors to put on Etsy. Colors I'm now processing: pink, blue,gray, and cream. I will be handpainting a few skeins also. The cooler weather is coming, and I'm really trying my best to get some new yarn ready. I will also be taking some pictures to put on soon.

The Good and the Bad and the Ugly

I'm feeling really guilty right now(BAD). I've not done anything in way of dying yet. I tried skeining earlier in the week, and had to stop after a couple of turns on the winder. So, the GOOD news, I'll be working on cashmere instead. I've told a couple of people that I would be listing some recycled cashmere. I love working with it, and the end results are beautiful. Cooler weather is on it's way. Next week will be October! Where has the time gone?

This is Buttons. Isn't she adorable? Besides being sweet she is also finicky when it comes to yarn, she likes alpca, and cashmere. She has her own fiber toys, and she leaves my projects alone. The are all hidden out of sight. She belongs to my sister, Becca, but she thinks I'm her Mamma.

Raverly, at first I wasn't really interested, but then, everyone started talking about it. The more I heard the more I wish I had signed up earlier. So, I decided I'd go for it, that was onSept 3. I really want to see what's going on. I'm number 30,654. I have 11,464 people ahead of me. They have done 2,225 invites since Monday, so that's good. They are getting faster, so maybe, I'll get on sometime in October. Can you tell, I'm excited? I'm hoping it will get me organized, and accountable. I have so many UFO's right now, it's unreal. A couple of years ago I made a list of all of my unfinished projects(UGLY), so I could finish them and check them off. I found the list, not many are checked off. Making lists at least made me feel better. I wonder if the people who list their projects actually list them all?

I'm feeling BETTER, I did something good today, I updated my blog. It sure is a lot easier than finishing a project. giggles Now, I'm off to frog a sweater :)

Happy Monday

I need to get in the "groove." I have been such a procrastinator! Actually, I've had some health issues going on, and a new addition to the household. My sister, Rebecca is now living with us, along with her kitten, Buttons. Does that sound like procrastination, or what? I'm ready to feel better. I've had two nerve blocks done, and my neck is still not any better. Other than the pain in the neck, life is wonderful. I love having my sister here. She is the younger, and boy, do I know it. She has brought a lot of spark to our lives. I am so happy to have her here. "It's the little things in life that bring joy", that's one of my mom's favorite sayings, along with, "There are plenty of things to do that won't cost you a single thing." Aren't mom's neat? I have been blessed to have such a wonderful mom. One of my little joys is, having coffee with my sister. Hey, another joy is having the house all to myself again. My sister, got a job last week. giggles

I've posted on my Etsy store, that I will be dyeing more yarn this week. It's a rainy Monday, and I'm happy. We have not had rain here much at all this summer. Who would have ever thought that I would be happy on a rainy Monday morning, but I am. I'm getting off right now, to heat water and get those pots humming with color, and wool. Happy Monday!

Passion

New Colorway. It is gorgeous, because I love purple and green. I will be making more of this.

This has a small skein for heels, and toes. There is another contrasting skein that is lavender.

SOLD

I will be working on getting more of this colorway onto Etsy.

Yarn Update

I will be listing more new yarn later today. Here are some pictures of the self striping sock yarn.

Dying Yarn

I will be dying today, yarn of course. I will be dying the colorway, Summer Brights. I will also be listing more of the Boy Friend yarn. I am knitting my husband a pair of socks in this colorway. This yarn was originally made for a Japanese customer for her boyfriend. I really like the way it is knitting up. I'm thinking about offering it with a small skein of pink, for those wanting something different and a little more frilly/fun looking. I also thought about a small skein of yellow for remembrance, for those who have a loved one in the military. These are just a few of my ideas. I've told my customer's if they have any colorway they would like to see, to please tell me. I'm in this business for two reasons: one, I like to play with color, and create, two, to sell yarn. I need to please my customer's, without them I would not have a business. I enjoy my work. I can actually say, I enjoy going to work.