They're Mine! All Mine!

Really. For once, I Dyed up fibers just for me. I'll share them, and better yet, I'll probably even sell them after they are spun. (cause I love the spinning much more than the knitting, really) But for now, they are mine!


Excuse the not great pics, I promise I'll get better ones before I spin them up. These are the ones I dyed for the Yarn everyday.
Daydreams on Merino/Tencel:


And an unnamed Colorway on sock fiber... that is, a blend of superwash wool, very very soft, and nylon.


Just wanted to share.





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I have been sorely MIA...

If you recall, last I posted was just as we were coming on Easter, and I hope everyone had a good one. We also had a birthday party here on the 11th, and an out of state guest. Still, the absence is inexcusable.

To make up for it, instead of putting up a post of yarn, fiber, or fabulous UFO's, I'll start us back up with some fun photos that exhibit what we have been doing with ourselves here for the last couple weeks.

We have spent quite a few days at the local park, just a couple blocks away. Its great fun for the Beeba 1.

But Beeba 2 prefers to stay in our own backyard, and have a swing with her big brother.

I'll post more tomorrow, with some up to date Yarn Everyday Pics, and who knows, maybe even a further in progress shot of the Monkey Socks.

Till then, Keep having fun!

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20 Things you may not know about me.

1. I have always considered myself a Capricorn, but about half of the horoscope calendars call me a Sagittarius, since I am on the cusp.
2. I have been crocheting since I can remember, sewing since I was 7, knitting for 3 years, and spinning since September.
3. I am the oldest of 4 kids, and the sanest of the bunch of us.
4. I have never used any illegal substance in my life.
5. I cut class only once in high school, on the first day of freshman year, because I got lost.
6. I went to catholic school for 8 years, and my 8th grade class had 14 students. 13 graduated.
7. If you can name a craft, I have probably tried it, or will eventually. I have done: Painting, wood carving, plastic canvas, crosstitch, crochet, knitting, spinning, dyeing, sewing, basket making, and more.
8. I am addicted to the internet.
9. I own 2 spinning wheels, at least 10 pounds of fiber, a minimum of 50 yards of fabric, a serger, 3 sewing machines, and an embroidery machine, and only 3 pairs of jeans, which I wear every day.
10. My children own more clothing (that fits) each, than I have owned cumulatively in the past 2 years.
11. My daughter wears really cute cloth diapers when we are out, and her brother's old hand me down diapers when we are home. She now can wear the same diapers he can, but can also still fit in her small diapers. They are 3 and 1.
12. My sewing and fiber addictions have taken over my dining room.
13. This is the unlucky item.
14. I am so sick of bad comedy.
15. I love vampire romance.
16. I hated pink till my daughter was born.
17. Now, I love pink... Even on me.
18. Today, I bought $25 PINK sock yarn. I have not finished my first pair of socks.
19. I have enough sock yarn for 4 pairs. Not cheap, either. I have a problem.
20. I am imagining casting on another pair of socks even though I'm not done my first. It’s a sickness.

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Dream Knitting Bag

On Ravelry, there is a challenge going. The Challenge is to choose your dream knitting bag, and fill it with all the accessories you'd love to have. it is just a fantasy challenge, so you don't need to actually buy anything, just think it up.

So, Searching, I found this:

Which is a Namaste Cali Collection Buddy Notions Case, and retails for $15. I really like the idea of it, and I really love the Pink. The inside walls are magnetized, allowing metallic objects to stay nice and neat inside, and it has an interior divider (removable), to keep things that move separate from the smaller stuff.

I also have a small round felt case that nicely holds the cords and tips for my knitpicks options needles. In my dream knitting bag, it would still be there. it just serves its purpose too well to not keep it.

Of course, all knitters need a good pair of scissors:

And some Yarn Needles, a tape measure, and at least one small cable needle. I like to keep a small crochet hook in my knitting bag too.

I also have been looking at the Debra's Garden Gauge Pendants for quite a while. I love how cute and little and round they are, and I think they'd work as a cool Diz, too, for fiber stuff. I have been wanting a new needle gauge for a while, but keep holding off, and this is the one I really want. probably in any color, but I think I like the red, teal, or lavendar best.

Of course, for me, there is no question that the needles in my knitting bag would all be knitpicks nickel plated Options set. Ideally, I'd have the full set, and have a small arrangement in my knitting bag. in reality, I have a small arrangement, and they are always in my knitting bag.

Of course, stitch markers should be in every knitter's bag. I make my own, and have been given quite a few, but I still found recently I needed to buy a small pack of the cheap plastic ring ones, for some fine lace knitting. The little box they came in is the right size to hold other nicer stitch markers, and I think that would be included in my list of contents.

I don't do Row counters for the most part. I might include, though, some row markers with the stitch markers.

For the bag itself... well, My readers will have seen already my new purse? I think it is already my dream knitting bag, for smaller projects. I can fit 2 small projects in it at once, still leaving space for a diaper (for my Beeba 2), my wallet, and other personal items.

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Reminiscing...

Yup, that's me, the old fogey at all of 27.

No, but really, I was looking at some old photos, and since I was at it, I thought I could put a couple up on the blog. You wanna know more about me, right?

Of course, I knew it! (really, I just like to share, but don't mind that these are just pictures of pictures, and the originals are in the bad kind of album. I can't help it. I'm afraid to remove them for fear of damaging them.)

without further ado, Me at 6 months old:

and at 6 years old:

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Waiting... and Sleep Issues

Yes, Waiting... My Ladybug wheel is due to arrive home today. Knowing UPS, it probably won't get here till late afternoon, but it doesn't stop me from being all antsy about it... I just can't be patient, this close to it being here.

And the DH is completely "fibered out" he doesn't want to hear anything fiber related... at all. Oh well.

On other fronts, we are shifting out of co-sleeping mode. For many reasons, we choose to co-sleep with our children when they are infants. they sleep better, we sleep better, and we feel it protects them. I know it does, because I have seen both my children stop breathing at night, and a light breath from me immediately gets them going again. For that reason alone I will never put a newborn in a crib.

But, as they get older, well.... we moved Beeba 1 to a twin mattress on the floor at about 1 year. it took 2-3 weeks, and he was fine. within 2 months, he slept through the night. We moved him because he was kicking us at night too much, and I was having terrible back pains.

Beeba 2 is not a year yet, but we are also working slightly differently with her. She has recently gotten into standing in the middle of the night and dive-bombing herself to sleep on us. and them sleeping anyway she falls. That isn't comfortable for us (I wound up sleeping halfway in her sidecar-ed crib multiple times), and we don't feel its safe for her, especially with the winter blankets still on the bed.

So, we are trying something new. we didn't move the crib, it is still right next to the bed. But we put the 4th side up. after a reasonable nursing session (which ends when she starts crawling on me), I put her in her crib, complete with a couple little animals (they are small, and though stuffed are not super soft, so not a hazard as far as I can see) and she must rest.

I am less than 6 inches from her right now. I can stick my hands into the crib through the bars and hold her hand, or rub her belly.

Right now, she is getting mad about it though. she cries, but not the, "I'm hurt" or "I'm scared" cries, its the, "I'm not getting my way" cry. Yes, at almost 11 months old, she most certainly has a very distinct sound to this particular cry.

Saturday was the first night. I think neither of us slept much. at 2 or 3 in the morning, after she had slept some in the crib, I was too tired to keep fighting. she came into the bed with me.

Last night, at 2-3 am again, she came into the bed.

But, we are making progress. It was easier to get her to sleep in the first place last night. and when she does better with going down, I will try to be more consistent with the late night coming into the bed. Eventually, we'll move the crib a few inches away, then a few more... and eventually, though not probably for a few months yet, right into her own room.

And I know we will all sleep better. I know that her brother did not start to take regular naps till after he was in his own bed. and she has started fighting sleep during the day, instead of falling asleep often as she did for so long. Her need for naps was another big push that led us to do this.

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Lace! and a matching set.

I'm making it, yes I am... wanna see?

Isn't it pretty?

And here is the matched set, my new purse with the matching Wallet:

Please ignore the scrappy mess on my floor. It gets that way when I am crafting... I just throw things over the side of the desk as I work... I really need a new trash can for that space...

She Walked!

Beeba 2, that is. Not far, mind you, but she did. She took 2 steps all by herself yesterday. Aren't you proud of her?

Mow back to your regular scheduled programming.

Too many Crafties!

So really, I should be finishing things up here, right? I should definitely NOT be starting new projects.

But What do I do... I go ahead and start new projects.

Today, I cast on for the Blue Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl. I have not finished my basket, and I have lots of yarn to spin. I need to dye more fiber in the next few weeks, I'd like to have a whole bunch of nice variety done up to stock in my next stocking on the Indie Dyers Coop.

And, I just got my Batts that I bought from Berritt of The Good Sheep, who is another member of the Coop. (I really have to say, they look just Yum! She called them Pink Chocolate and they look good enough to eat!)

Oh, and did I mention, that my new LADYBUG spinning wheel is en route? well, it is en route to my dealer, and from there it will come to me, but really... yay!!!

Plus then there is a little matter of a spinning swap I am participating in. My partner (the sender) will send fiber to me (the spinner) to spin up. half the fiber goes back to her as yarn, the rest is for me to keep. My impression is that most people will be doing 4-8 ounce batches. My partner and I agreed to do 12-16 ounces for each of us (because really, what spinner can turn down more Fiber??) its more craftiness for me to do, but fun fun...

Oh, and My monkey socks... they have progress, but they are still not done. that will take time. And sadly for them, they are not the highest priority right now. Then again, neither is my lace shawl, and I was silly enough to cast that on...

Oh well... the nice part about the shawl (aside from how pretty it is) is that the cast on is 3 stitches. I only have about 7 rows in, with 11 or so stitches at this point. yeah, I know, not much of a cast on. but, I only got a few minutes to spend on it. And, it took almost an hour just to wind the yarn into a ball!

Ok, I have my crafty projects lined up... now lets see how I do.

I was frustrated...

...and I did something about it. While shopping at Walmart, I found a little cheapy version of a flip -type camera. For all of 20 dollars, this little doo-dad records video using 2 AA batteries and an SD memory card.

The video quality is low, but I'm hoping it will suffice for my needs.

And if it does, then watch out video bloggers, I'm about to join your ranks!

Frustrated today.

I have been messing with Video stuff today, and it is causing me some real frustrations.

I want to put some video of my kids on DVD for family. But that isn't happening. And I want to take and put some video up of my spinning for the blog. But That isn't happening right now either.

Know why these things aren't happening?

Because despite having the Camcorder (an old analog one with no USB and no digital ports, sadly) and having the Pinnacle box and software which is supposed to be the converter and allow me to upload to the computer, it isn't working.

I think there are a couple of factors.

Factor 1, we recently got a new computer. it has Vista 64 bit operating system. It is not compatible with loads of things. Very frustrating right there. I think it also means I need a new web cam, and the one I have is not even old.

Factor 2, the stupid pinnacle box does not have full AV inputs... it has an S-Video, and a video jack for the yellow part of the AV cord, but a stereo jack for the audio... which my camera does not have.

Factor 3, I am just about ready to throw the whole get-up in the trash or out the window.

So... in order to put any video on my computer, even the low quality that comes from a webcam, I need to buy MORE stuff!

And you know none of it is cheap. It means spending more money we don't have on things we already do have but which are no longer compatible with our frustrating, but very fast and also very expensive brand new computer.

Its just not fair. I want life to be fair. Actually, what I really want is whatever it takes to get all this stuff working.

So, if anyone out there has any technical knowledge of how to get this all working without spending a fortune, please let me know.

Part of me wants to just run out and buy one of these:

But... My DH would just kill me, and that is even if I had the car to run out and shop, which I do not. Plus, it is still a fairly low quality video, so great for web applications (which is really what I want it for, since I'd love to give all you readers some cool videos to watch), but not so great for awesome family videos. On the other hand, it is compact enough to keep in a pocket for spur of the moment use, though they only have 30-60 minutes of recording, depending on the model.

I did try to convince DH once that it would be a cool toy, but he would not bite. He only likes to spend money on games he can play with, not cool gadgets for me. Plus, in his defense, I do have a lot of expensive things, too, even though most of them he did not actually spend the money on, but I saved for and got myself.

Unfortunately, all of my current money is caught up in the new wheel that is ordered (and should arrive in a couple weeks)

Too bad Walmart does not take yarn in payment... I could probably whip up some skeins of pretty hand spun to pay for new toys, lol.

Craft Room Re-do!

Readers who frequent the same message boards as I may already know that I have been working hard on my Craft room. the room is large, but also must function as office/computer room, and as Dining room, and has no real storage, no closets, and no built in shelves.

Well, its been a long time coming, but I have finally re-done it.

Of course, that is completely on a re-arrangement/organization level. no new paint, and so far, no new window dressings. But its a start.

Previously, I had done my craft room in This Post. But that was before we were given DH's Bubby and Zadie's Dining room table, a beautiful old table, which has seen several generations of use. My Father in law remembers causing one of the many story-telling dings in the table when he was 2 years old. We decided that despite its dings, it is still a very pretty table, and more than that, it is an heirloom for my husband, and for our kids.

So, we had to find space.

and of course, we had 2 computers up until recently, a desktop and a laptop. Well, then 2 things happened. we replaced the dying laptop with a humungo but amazingly fast and up to date desktop, and days later, the old desktop pretty much died. so now, we have one functioning computer, which takes up a lot more space than my old laptop did.

Then there are the sewing machines. well, one serger, one embroidery/sewing machine, and one high tech sewing machine. I love them all. but, in the space I had, the poor embroidery machine was sadly ignored. and piled upon, so I could barely get to it. completely sacrilegious.

I had to make some decisions. we got rid of the old desktop, and are sharing one computer now, which we moved onto the computer desk, where my 3 machines had previously been housed.

I decided to relegate the sewing only machine to backup, and it will move upstairs to be stored, and now I will have only 2 machines in front of me, and will still have 3 functions. The machines are moved to the sewing table, where the new computer had been housed. (I know, we were backwards, but the sewing table did not have room for 3 machines. it does have space for 2.)

I gave away to a friend a PILE of fabrics, mostly fleeces that I was not using, and probably never would. when they were bought, I was using them, of course, but my sewing skills, and my diaper construction has changed so much that it was just a waste of space to keep them.

Now, all my fabric is confined to one large dresser (6 feet long) which when we need it, functions as a buffet, as well. Also on that dresser is the tower of shelving I previously had over my sewing space. It now holds my personal yarn stash, not the hugest stash, but it fits well. on top, my vase of spindles and mini-skeins has a home.

No more fabric on the big book shelf we brought into the room last summer. instead, I currently have 6 big show-off bins (which fit perfectly 3 to a shelf) and 1 small one. I need 3 more large ones and 2 more small ones to make best use of the space.

My favorite new feature is my vertical storage. more specifically, I finally convinced DH to mount a shelf on the wall above my new sewing space. on that shelf will be my collection of stabilizers, and embroidery and sewing accessories I don;t want the kids reaching. they'll be stores nocely hidden (mostly) in the basket I am making just for the shelf. I think my spinning basket will also find space up there.

My thread racks have moved to their new home, over the new sewing space, a little higher than I first thought, but possibly better this way, since the machines can be pushed all the way to the wall without bumping thread.

Sorry for the incredibly long picture free post. I promise, the next one will be picture heavy and show off all this craft-room goodness. I just have to finish cleaning up remnants and take some pictures.

This also means you can expect to see installment 2 in the Art of the Rolag very soon. Spinning the Rolag. I just could not see video recording in the mess I lived in before.

Poor Sick baby here

Which means no great posting today. Sorry folks. Please wish my Beeba 2 some feel better fast vibes, as I know she hates having the yuckies as much as I hate her having them.

Monkey Socks!

I have to say I am very proud of how these socks are turning out. It is Monkey by Cookie A., and I love them. See for yourself.




These are the first socks I have knit since my lonely sock fiasco 2 years ago. (the poor sock still sits alone) This time, I am doing 2 at a time. Loving it!

I received a Blog Award.

I have received my very first blog award from Shimmermeblue. You should totally check out her blog!



Here are the rules

List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

7 Things I love

1. I love family, including both the beeba's, and their daddy, who when he isn't busy playing computer games, is a wonderful husband and father.

2. I love Raising awareness. Did you know how many chemicals, some poisonous and highly carcinogenic, are in that disposable diaper you just put on your baby? Read up on it, you might never want to touch a disposable again.

3. I love making things that are both functional and Art. Diapers that make mommies and babies alike smile when the put them on. Training pants no child wants to pee in. Yarns that can be knit into the cutest articles of clothing.

4. I love spring days, when its warm enough to just grab a sweater for the kids and go out, walking, playing in the yard, anywhere but in the house.

5. I love Spinning and dyeing yarn. Such a great excercise both in creativity and in serendipity. Learning that it doesn't matter always if it is what I had in my mind, but that it is beautiful on its own volition.

6. I love waking up in the morning with the sun Shining on me, and everyone else in the house still sleeping. Sneaking away for a moment of quiet before the storm of the day.

7. Last on the list, I love every person who reads my blog, whether you have read it once or every day, I love that you have. Because without you, why write it at all?

My 7 nominees are:

Smariek

Ironneedles

Miscyours

Photo.knit.dog

Knitsomniac

BerlinBetty

TheLumpySweater

Check them out sometime!

Can't Have Pretty Yarn Pics Every Day...

I just am not quite that prolific, lol. Today's Pics have a subject of a much cuter variety.

The weather was great today, sunny, and Warm (in the 50's, imagine that) and the Beebas and I went out for a nice long walk after lunch.

Beeba 1 was feeling photogenic, so here he is, in all his cuteness. He was very tired by the time we were done walking, which worked out fine, cause by then it was naptime.








And so with that, I leave you for today, to think of tommorrow, and what it might bring.

Oh Happy Day...

In the scheme of things, a new computer doesn't always seem like much. Unless you have been trying to justify the buying of it for over a year. and unless you finally chose and paid for it over 3 weeks past. and unless when you finally got it, it got its drivers confused and chose not to function (really, this did happen. We took it back to the guy who built it for us, as it turned out, the computer was looking for HIS mouse and keyboard, and decided not to recognize ours)

But, all is well today. The new computer is up and functioning. And I can tell you, I never realized just how slow my old computer was until I started to use this new one. Everything runs faster. From Word to Photoshop to my embroidery software, it all flies. (and even DH's games which he insists must be on the computer, lol... he's been waiting to play Neverwinter Nights 2 for literally years, but the old computers could not handle it.)

So now, instead of first waiting 5 minutes for the programs to load, only being able to load one file at a time and praying it will function properly, and just grimacing praying that the computer would stay turned on long enough to save (yup, it had the mysterious problem of random shut downs, lol), I can switch on the programs in a few seconds, load multiple images at a time to choose the best of them, and not worry about losing work. I am blessed in having this new computer to work at. Hurrah!

New Format, New Outlook

You might have noticed yesterday's Title Change here on the Blog. This morning, I decided that with that, it was time for a new format. From now on, there will be no Ads on this Blog. There will be no links to top lists, and the only shops that will be permalinked are my own shops, in their customary same space on the right side of the page.

I May still post links to shops if they have particularly impressed me with their product, customer service, etc, but within blog posts only, and in context.

Blogging has been a new Journey for me, and I am first to say I am still learning the ropes of it. I am not always able to update the Blog as often as I like. For that reason, Instead of my stagnant "whats new" section at the top of the page, which never seems to change, I have moved my Twitter updates to the top. While still not always everyday, I am much more prolific with my tweets than I am with regular posts.

Whats new is still here, but instead of being the first thing you see, it has a new home under the About me section on the right. You will be able to find occasional sales and promotions there.

I am also hoping to document my process more, over all. Daily life and business ventures. We are waiting for our new computer to be finished and delivered, and when that happens, within a week from now, I pray (we paid for it nearly 3 weeks ago with the expectation of having it that week) that I will be able to be more prolific again. Sadly, my little laptop just does not run nearly as quickly as it used to.

The Husband would suggest that this is because I have too many programs loaded in it. I agree. This laptop was never meant to handle Photoshop, or running a small business on it. It oes not handle graphics at all, and never has. The new computer will solve that problem, with 8 GB Ram, a brand new 512MB non-integrated Graphics card, 500Gb Hard Drive, and a brand new 22 inch widescreen monitor.

ou know, the only thing I am not sure of? Will I need to buy a seperate keyboard for the new computer. Sadly, that is the only thing that was not mentioned. That and is the monitor the model with speakers built in or without.

I am also realizing that my photography skills, while not always the best, are also not the worst either. However, my camera leaves something to be desired. The next technical tool I want therefore, is a digital SLR camera or at least a camera with a much better Macro setting. Because really, my little Casio camera, which I do love for its size and ease of use, was bought for snapshots of the kids, not art photos or product images. Unfortuanately, DSLRs cost money. So unless someone has a lonely unloved DSLR sitting around to give me, it will be quite a while before I can get one. And I don't dare buy a new camera just for Macro setting, unless it was very inexpensive.

Till tommorrow, when I don't know what I'll do next, Fare well Readers.

Happy Holidays!

The Holidays are here, and everywhere we find christmas music, glitter, mistletoe, and garlands. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanuckah, Kwanzaa, or some otherr holiday I apologize for not knowing of, it is a time for celebration, laughing children, and often frustrated parents.

New Toys abound in our house, due to our Thanksgiving trip to NC, where we celebrated christmas early with family who won't be here next week. This afternoon, the smell of baking cookies will rise in my house, and Saturday, we celebrate christmas again with DH's Brother and his family. Then the smells of turkey and stuffing will be wafting around my kitchen.

My Birthday is next week too. I will be 27... and as my DH reminded me, I am older than he was when we met, I must be getting old... I feel it, too... but in a good way. We have a lot to be glad for this holiday season. We have 2 beautiful healthy children, we own our home, DH has a good steady job when many do not, and while we cannot always buy everything we want when we want it, we do have everything we need.

This year, We tried to buy toys for the kids that encourage imagination... not that they need the encouragement... Beeba 1 loves trains, and in his mind, anything can become one. He will look at rain on a window and find a train, or at the clouds. Beeba 2 is growing fast, and can get into anything she tries for, with little effort. She is trying to pull up to a stand now, too, and sometimes succeeds.

So, to my friends, family, customers, and readers, I wish you a Happy Holiday, whichever you celebrate!

Thanksgiving travels; GCDH Drawing; Happy Holidays

Well, Thanksgiving is done. My family and I traveled 12 hours each way down to NC to visit My dad and sisters. We had lots of fun, and did an early Christmas celebration with them too. The Beebas both got entirely spoiled, and really, so did my husband and I...

Beeba 1 is happily driving me crazy today with his new Drum set... Beeba 2 is just so worn out she is sleeping all morning in my lap... and the car was so loaded, that all of us but my husband the driver had things on our laps... even the almost 7month old Beeba 2.

I of course had the diaperbag, and all the trip snacks all over my lap. Beeba 1 had jackets and coats on his feet, which he hated... it frustrated him more than anything that he could not kick all around.

Evan little Beeba 2... she had her brand new and very first dolly on her lap, along with 2 teddy bears, 2 blankets, and who knows what other little toys. Between them sat the large box of Beeba 1's new Drum set... so they could not see each other, and with the piles in the car, I could barely see either one of them if I tried.

I heard the line "well, what do you want to do about it?" a lot when I worried about the over-packed situation.

In the meantime, I got a new cell phone, as an ongoing birthday/Christmas present, and as such will be changing my contact info for the web-shops to reflect that change.


On the business end of things, The 2008 Great Cloth Diaper Hunt has come to a close. I hope everyone has enjoyed the hunt. For those who have entered into our mini hunt drawing, I will be drawing a winner as soon as we finish getting settled back home. Meaning, it will be this week, but give me a few days. I will notify the winner through email as well as here on the blog by Saturday afternoon.

Happy holidays to all. Watch in the near future for more great sales and promotions from Beeba Bottoms!