Now That’s A Big Upload!!

Whew! I just spent a whole buncha time uploading new Shawl/Scarf Pins for sale over at my Etsy Shop. Go take a peek – there are Stars, Butterflies, Swirls and Diamonds galore!

psssstt..my designs are still copyrighted by Chris Gerstner and Scotts Mountain Crafts 2006 – just sayin’
I’ve been very, very busy with special orders, wholesale orders and the like and my knitting has seriously suffered, but it’s still good. I did manage to finish Fetching – those fingerless gloves everyone is knitting from Knitty. You know where it is. Go. Knit. They are great. And it’s true – one skein and viola! A Pair it is! Photo’s will be forthcoming – I won’t say when, but I just did a major photo shoot with metal, and didn’t think to switch gears and get some fiber shots.

I’m also still working on a pair of socks, a scarf and a shrug. Can’t for the life of me get a pattern going for a sweater – which I desperately need to do. I’m looking for a textured, modern, but not weird pulloverish type of sweater to wear with jeans. Gimme some ideas, please. Something a little funky, but not too wild or time consuming to keep me from wearing it this year.

I saw the chiropractor 5 times over the last week and a half – and he’s help tremendously – but I’m still symptomatic, so baby steps it seems to be. I ache in the weirdest places – yesterday it was the pad of my hand attached to my thumbs – too much knitting? No. Too much metal? No, not really and I don’t use my left hand the same as my right, yet they both hurt the same. Me thinks I best get myself back to the doctors to update her on the weirdness. I’m keeping better track of symptoms with my Memory Minder Health journal. I’m sure my doc will appreciate less vagueness on my part. There’s sometimes a long wait to see the chiro – so of course I bring the knitting bag and had quiet the group interest last wednesday – he actually thanked me for helping do crowd control in the waiting room! Knitting is good on so many levels and I just found another – crowd control.

The weather is tre shitty today. But it is calming down a bit – and a good think too – knitting meetup day and I don’t intend to miss it.

Some exciting developments and collaborations are in the works right now for my pins – I can’t spill it now, but I’m very optomistic, so keep a good thought for me (and the collaborateee) – I’ll definitely fill you in when it all gels together!

A Hush Over Blogland

It’s amazing what one fiber festival does to the knitting blogesphere – it’s sooooo quiet here in blogland – just a few updates here and there from those of us who’ve not gone to Rhinebeck.

I’m sorry I didn’t get to go. Originally, DH was driving me there, it was going to be my first time – we’ve talked about going for years. We’ve just been so busy and I’ve been so tired, I decided, meh, maybe next year. We took a nice drive to Kutztown instead – never my first choice to go to Renniger’s flea market, but occasionally they have something for me. But wouldn’t you know, as we are coming out to the main road again I see a sign……… YARN CALLING! Well, one trip around the block and quick jump out of the car, up the front steps to what looks like a store that’s closed, only to find the door opens easily(while I laugh evilly at the DH) and there on the other side is a wonderful Yarn shop!!! With everything I would ever want in my very OWN yarn shop. All the yarns I would carry. In a big, light, airy space. In clearly marked cubbies with prices visible so I can look around without having to ask every five seconds “how much is this”. Beautiful. I will be back. I ended up with two skiens of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Red for a scarf and 4 skeins of their cotton for a cabled scarf. Softest stuff on earth, I think.

But there was a bigger reason I wasn’t supposed to go to Rhinebeck. We didn’t know it till we were almost home. And when I tell you how when my husband turned up the “other” road to our house because he saw a yardsale sign – how not happy I was – I just wanted to go home. But there was a reason. As we were rounding the first corned up our “other” mountain road – a cyclist was laying in the road. She was hurt pretty badly. My DH has been a Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Squad member for longer than I’ve known him. We used our car to block the road in front of the cyclist and her partner while another cyclist kept watch a bit up the road – I can’t tell you a whole lot about it, just that waiting for the Emergency Squad seemed to take forever – and I’m used to this stuff. I’m happy I had a few things in the car to make the victim more comfortable, but before long, DH and I were back in the car, heading to the Firehouse and Squad building so he could help set up a Landing Zone for the Medivac. Seeing these people at work puts things in perspective – if you’ve ever even wondered why we have these guys and gals around, these volunteers – I’m here to tell you firsthand of the excellent care and speed with which they acted – it was amazing.

If we had gone to Rhinebeck – we wouldn’t have been there when someone really needed us – so it keeps that little whiney voice in perspective for me. I’m sure help would have arrived just fine without us – but I have to believe we made that unusual turn down that road yesterday because we needed to be there. Those cyclists – they didn’t know the name of the road they were on, the township they were in, how far away or even what the nearest crossroad was. I’m grateful we were there to help – and I’m very proud of my DH and all the other Emergency personel. They are a great group of people.

Farwell Tweed

Yes, another sweater ripped and rethought. Or rethought and to be ripped? This was just not going to provide the coverage that the breasticles needed. No way. No how. Wasn’t gonna do it. Nope. Nada.

Now I need to find another pattern for Jo Sharp Silkroad DK. Preferably something with a little bit higher of a neckline.

And it’s not like I’m lacking for knitting projects – I do have three on the needles right now – but I need sweaters – NEED them. You know. To HAVE.

Today is our 22nd Anniversary!. Happy Anniversary, Honey! Our plans are a little rearranged due to college pickups and, well, life, but we’ll celebrate sometime this weekend!

And I have a lot of metal to pound this weekend(what kind of hits that will evoke – I just don’t know!) – ALOT – more than a few orders to fill and it makes me happy to see my work out there. It’s been a ride to say the least, but I think I’ve got my footing, thanks to all the supportive people I’ve encountered out there. You know who you are, and you’re the best!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!

A Toast For Amy

Here’s to you Amy!!! From your Knitty Peeps – Laurie and I – many congratulations on the new job – we know you’re doing a spectacular job at it and we wish you the best!!!

We’re sorry you couldn’t make dinner that night, but we sure did out best toasting you, didn’t we Laurie!!!

My order of Soap and Lotion arrived – what a heavenly aroma when you open up a box of handmade soaps! Really, if you haven’t gone over to see Rita’s wonderful creations – go give her a visit – you won’t be sorry!

And there was a box of yarn waiting patienly for me when I crept home from work the other day – I think it was thursday – the days are kinda blurry this week – still feeling on the craptastic side, but this sure did help ease the pain – and so did all your sympathies and words of advice everyone – thank you!
That’s six skeins of Nature spun in Bev’s Bear for Ariann. I cannot wait to get my hands on it and knit – the cool weather has finally sunk in and it just makes me want to get my hands on a cardigan. And after looking through my closet – I’ve really only one that I wear – Ribby Cardy. I’ve decided scoop is going to wait – Spring Time colors – and I need more winter knits. I’ve gotten some requests already for ski socks, beanies and hats from my family, so I’ll have to squeeze in the sweater time – and I decided that I need more handknit socks for me – I don’t have the color selection that I need – Something Red, definitely needs some red socks to go along with her. You get the picture.I did squeeze some sock knitting time in yesterday both on the drive to pick our DS up at college and at the Knitting Meetup at Panera yesterday – the heel is officially turned so now we are in the last leg (pun definitely intended) of the journey. And I somehow wrangled two skeins of beautiful yarn out of Amy’s hands yesterday – more socks. Then I became addicted to the scarf pattern she was knitting – had two skeins of Mano’s in the stash, so that’s now on the needles – Amy – it goes a lot faster on 11 needles!!!

Now, I need to get to my workbench and hammer out some orders – busy, busy, busy!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Baby, it’s cold outside!!!!!

Help Fight Breast Cancer

Please go visit Knit-n-Purl Zen’s Etsy Shop - she’s donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of her Pink Power Yarn sock yarn to the Fight Against Breast Cancer. I’m happy to support her and that most important cause. I think she only had 5 up for sale and I just purchased mine, so hurry!!! Also, she’s teamed up with Playinghooki’s Etsy Shop, where you can find stitchmarkers, darning needles and knitting needles all in support of the cause. Go on over and support both of these wonderful people!!!

DH is Backpacking with a friend this weekend – I dropped them both off at the trail head at the Water Gap yesterday morning. After Stopping at Mountain Knits and Purls for a little yarn fix, I hurried on home to arrange the rest of my day with my youngest son. We decided going to see a movie was the perfect thing to do – and we went to see the Guardian. Bring tissues, people. Really good movie, a little on the long side, but that doesn’t bother me. You’ll Laugh, You’ll cry. But I don’t think you’ll be sorry you saw this one. Then we had to counteract the serious movie with some total stupidity, so we watched Tommy Boy last night over our Sicillian pizza (half pepperoni for him, half plain and half riccotta and eggplant for me – lot’s of left overs). I was ready for bed by 9!!! Managed to stay awake till about 10 and lights out for me. I did sneak a bit of knitting on Everyday Tweed during Tommy Boy – I’m sorry, that movie just makes me laugh.

This morning was for paying Bills, filling out rebates and filing those pesky sales tax thingermajiggs with the state – which I’m sure I messed up completely, but it’s all a learning process. I’m going to get those contest prizes out in the mail, I’ve made a nifty new pin for Something Red, which I’ll probably put up for sale after I duplicate it. I have several orders to fulfill this week so I’ll be busy, but not too busy to meet up with Knitty Peep Amy and Knitty Peep Laurie for some knitting, laughs and food tomorrow night. And of course, I’m totally restraining myself from casting on for the Shrug by Dale Garn made from Svale I purchased yesterday – this yarn is YUMmy!! And I’m thinking I need a shrug for work – see, it’s all out of neccessity. And since I have morning duty at work – meet and greet the kids – I’ll be needing lots of scaves, and mits. It seems like I have quite the list. Add that to socks for the skiiers in the family and various and sundry gifts that I knit every year – I think I’ll be busy!

Have a Great Day everyone! Happy October!!

I’m in Love and Why I think I might Strongly Dislike Blogger

The Strongly dislike part:

I just lost a whole stinkin post. So this would be my WTF Wednesday. Really, blogger dudes, get your stuff together – this is happening more and more and I’m sooooo seriously going to jump ship if you don’t get your ship together.

So, here we go again.

The I’m in Love Part:

Run don’t walk over the Mississppi Moon Natural Soap Co. Rita makes the most wonderful, lucious soaps and lotion bars and sticks I think I’ve ever used. I started my day with one of her Raspberry Jam Scrub Bars – with little poppyseeds in it to exfoliate – wonderful! Super lather, great softening afterward. Just amazing. Go get thee some!

And that soap was very comforting this morning as I’m in a little “flare up” of the Fibro. You know, that elusive of all elusive syndromes that for the life of me I can’t figure out how to turn the clock back and get rid of. I hurt from my neck to my ankles. And I don’t usually complain, or whine or feel too sorry for myself, cause let’s face it – it could be worse and it’s not going to kill me. But to be in pain all over, all day? Dayum. Sucks big time. And I know I’m fighting off the youngest’s cold, too, which is probably adding to it. Sigh. So I ran right home today after work, didn’t pass go, certainly didn’t collect 200 hundred dollars, no motor vehicle stop either. Home. It’s was the only thing I could think of to help me feel better – and all that other stuff – it can wait.

I’m loving Something Red – wore it to work on Monday and had many nice comments – if it didn’t warm up (stupid weather) I probably would have been hard pressed not to wear it everyday – that’s how much I’m loving it. But no. It got warm – 78 degrees! Disgraceful. Didn’t someone tell the weather people its OCTOBER??? Now, I’ve made it to the “working in the round” part of Everyday Tweed. And I’m hoping it’s going to be constraining enough for one thats, shall I say, needs to be constrained in the endowment area? I don’t want any poppage going on. We’ll see. I’m hoping. It looks like it should give enough coverage.

I’m also thinking I need to knit a neutral color sweater for work – to go with some nicer blue jeans – I really like the blue, neutral combo. Any suggestions – it can’t be a really heavy knit – so I would appreciate your input…..

And The Winners are………………..

We had our fancy, schmancy drawing (I just don’t like using a random generator when I have so much fun having my youngest pull names out of a bread basket) and First Prize goes to……..Lorena of Snarkland! Second Prize goes to………Rox of Fearless Knitter!!! Chickes I’m emailing you to find out your preferences and the the packaging will commence. Thanks so much for Stealing my Button and participating everyone – I love having these contests – and I hope you do too!

Red is officially blocking after having a good long soak in the wool warsh. Good and long because I went with DH to That HOME store, to buy wood to make a new TV stand for the new TV we brought home yesterday – now we can see the TV from our bed – yes, for years we did not have a TV in the bedroom, but we are getting old and lazy and like our kingsize bed to snuggle in and watch the good TV stuff – you know, Mike Rowe. Well, for me. I don’t think my DH like Mike Rowe as much as I do, but he does like the show. And when you’re not feeling well and want to just take the time to rest in bed – well, what the heck are you gonna do without a TV to watch?

I shall begin the knitting on Everyday Tweed today – I’m hoping it’s not too scoopy for the woman that I am, I need a big more coverage than the average bear. And if it is too scoopy – well, I just have to wear it socially and not workally.

The weatherman really screwed up the forecast this weekend – yesteday was supposed to be nice and today was supposed to be rainy. Well, yesterday was rainy and now it beautiful and sunny out – and maybe some thunderstorms later, but that’s all ok. Enjoy!

Secret Pal 9 Participants, Special Offer!

If you are participating in Secret Pal 9, this is a special offer for you! Free Shipping in the US and Canada on anything you buy for your pal at my shop – just put “SP9″ in the notes from buyer upon check out. This offer will run from October 15th to January 31st, so get to know those pal’s of your’s and do a little shopping for them! And have a great time!