05/31/07: Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Strizzy!

So went to DC this past weekend and got to meet up with an old friend from school who saved Strug from my traffic lateness. Thank You L! And the next day we did a little sight seeing (have pics but those aren't ready yet). And then we went to a wedding, yay!

For now I just wanna say congrats to the happy couple, thanks for letting me share in your joy, and wow that Strizzy can put on a pretty wedding. Look how beautiful the reception was!!!





Oh and check us out at the White House. I look kinda doofy cause I spilled food on my classy self early on in the night. I blame the margaritas! I had to tie my stole thingy around me like a napkin to hide it. NICE! eh well everyone else looked good :)

05/31/07: Another Pair Finito!

So I finished my handspun Candy Stripe Monkey Socks!



Yarn: My Handspun (merino fluff from Spunky Eclectic that I dyed with kool aid and plied with some undyed fiber)
Needles: US 1 (magic Loop)
Pattern: Plain St St sock with Garter short row heel
Count: Pair 3 of 52

Um so I should be at 9 pairs done this weekend. Am thinking I might be at 5 if I am lucky!

05/30/07: Navajo'd Strawberries

Finished plying the purty pink and green Spunky. Just in time since her next batch should be arriving any day now.





I am thinking this will be a pair of gloves someday. Won't be knitting them til it gets colder out though :)

05/22/07: Strawberry Fields Forever!

So I didn't think I would be spinning for awhile but technically I still have the wheel while the sister is out of town. So I got to start on the latest Spunky Club fiber, 4oz. of Corriedale she calls Strawberry Fields. Joy!

05/17/07: Rule of Thumb

Always loved the rule of thumb I learned in my painting class in college, "any canvas larger than 36 inches NEEDS a crossbar." I was told this only after making a few big canvas' that were all bendy and twisty with no support. Good times. I wanna paint again. Hmmmm. Maybe a bit tinier this time around.

You Are the Thumb

You're unique and flexible. And you defy any category. Mentally strong and agile, you do things your own way. And you do them well. You are a natural leader... but also truly a loner. You inspire many but connect with few. You get along well with: The Middle Finger Stay away from: The Pinky

05/17/07: Oh Yeah and Finished a Bit More Spinning

As I try to use up the stash in my sock knitting fever seems I forgot to post about some spinning I finished up a little bit ago.

It started out all fluffy and pretty:



And then became this:



Here is a close up:



This is more spunky club fluff naturally. It is the "Walkabout" colorway. Love pink and brown, and blue and brown. So pink, blue, and brown is even better!

05/16/07: Pair Number 2 Down!

Number 2, hee hee!

Anywho here they are in all their finito'd glory.



Yarn: Online
Needles: US 1 (magic Loop)
Pattern: Knit 3, Purl 1tbl Ribbing with a no wrap heel
Count: Pair 2 of 52

These were knit for one of my Aunts. So off to the post office sometime soon to brave the new pricing craziness.

So far I feel like a maniac speed knitter on the train. That is when all the sock knitting is happening, with a little home time for kitchenering the toes. But it turns out I can knit almost 30 rounds of plain stocking stitch during my one hour train ride into work if I am really awake, not bad. So no more train naps for me, I got some socks to knit!

05/14/07: First Pair Complete!

Voila!



Yarn: Opal Rainforest Tiger
Needles: US 2
Pattern: Basic Sock with a no wrap heel
Count: Pair 1 of 52

I knit these several times for my brother but the size just wasn't quite right on him so I kept putting them on hold. Well as it turns out they are a perfect fit for my father, thus he gets his first pair of handknit socks. Yippy they are done!

Am about to kitchener the second toe of another pair, so exciting isn't it?

05/12/07: Serious Second Sock Syndrome Stops Suddenly

Yup I cast on for a second sock this week, I can hardly believe it!

Now I know I knit a pair of socks back in March rather quickly, but that was a rarity and only because I spun the yarn and was dying to see how it all knit up.

So the pair of socks that might actually become a real pair are #3 in the crazy picture below. The Easter time socks.



What are all the rest of those socks you ask? Well we found lots of started craziness in that wall of mine and so I am laying it all out now for y'all to see. 19 started sock projects there. Well actually only 18, one pair is just a gift I need to start. Still that is ridiculous. So many single socks.

I am not about to go all Harry Potter about this so I have decided to be completely insane and try to catch up and do the 52 pair plunge. It may be the only way I ever finish some pairs of socks. I certainly have the yarn for it so here it goes. I am 6 weeks late but I figure since I have much started I am ok to join now anyway. So by April 1st, 2008 I will have brought 52 more pairs of socks into the world, now there is an April fools if I ever heard one. Alas, I am serious about trying for it. The hubby seems to think I can do it, so wish me luck! (or wish me sanity or something)

05/09/07: My First MDSW!

This was my very first trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival and I have to send a super huge thanks to Alice for driving me even when I was nodding off (terrible navigator in the sun I was). The yarn acquired has upped my yardage to 150602.75 yards or 85.57 miles. Not too bad really because I only bought sock yarn and no sweater yarn, right? Well a lot of sock yarn, I managed to be the big buyer of the group. I just finished 3 single socks therefore I am knitting with lots of sock yarn right now so it's not that bad, he he he. More about the socks in a couple days, for now on to the many pics I have decided to share with y'all.

Here is a shot of the Delaware Bridge on the way there. Purty sunset, but right after that we decided we hate Delaware, stupid traffic!



There were license plates to amuse us while we chugged along waiting to park Saturday morning.



It was early while we waited in the souvenir line so Claudia could stock up on prizes so someone took a little nap :)



Lots of cutie animals:











This is what I bought. I was a little sock crazy as I said. Been wanting to knit the fun Cookie patterns and needed solid sock yarn. Yes I am aware I bought more than just solid sock yarn, oops.



So that is Shelridge farm starting on the left, heathered and apricot, there was a loverly peacock blue too but I already gave that to the lil sis. Then 2 colorways of koigu. Next up are two colors skeined together of sock yarn from The Flock Bransonas. Some Louet Gems in a pretty light green. Tess Designs Laceweight merino (one for me one for my sis). Now for the top left there is Dzined wool/hemp. And 2 colors of Trekking sock yarn. phew!

Also got some spinning fun. Some cormo cause Sil's love for it in yarn form rubbed off on me, first time playing with this soft soft soft fluff. Already tested it out on the hand spindle.



And then some other fluff which I am blanking on where it came from at the moment. But Rosemary said it was lovely to spin so I got me some.



And finally since I have been wanting a bunny I had to get some angora fluff after I saw Leigh's.



Yummy food was eaten, hung out with some lovely ladies, and had a very nice weekend.

This is the Delaware bridge home.



And here we are at the Tappan Zee. Thanks also to Leigh for showing me to the kettle corn, yummmm! It kept us happy on the drive.



And another plate we saw. There was another girlie named one but I didn't get a photo. Naturally only boys were driving these girlie plated cars?



Ok now that is all I have to say about that.

05/04/07: And the Winner Is...

Beth!!! She guessed 147,400 yards. So this Finn will be going to her, congrats!



So what was the real number you ask? 146,040 yards! Beth was really close. It is the same as 83 miles of yarn. As crazy as that seems some of those guesses started to make me feel like I didn't have so much after all. he he he. Yeah I know it is still a lot. Oh well at least now I know where it all is :) Thanks Carolyn for all the help!