Shop Update Friday Feb 24, 2017

3 fresh self striping color ways are new to the shop this week.

Starting with the Anniversary Color.  I can't believe it's been 5 years since I opened up shop.  I have learned so much about myself as a person and about running a business.  This color way is 2 compound colors that I have mixed with 2 or more dyes.  So I really feel like its a great choice for an anniversary color-kind of a culmination of skills.

And the other 2 color ways are spring/Easter inspired.  The one on the left is Little Bunny FuFu and is a 4 color repeat.  The one on the right is Peter Cotton Tail and is a 3 color repeat.  Both evoke spring and Easter dresses that I had growing up.  I made myself some socks from the Little Bunny FuFu and they are so cute.  So glad I get to wear them now that I have taken their beauty shots for the listing.

Go to Brazen Stitchery to grab up any of these color ways.

Working It Wednesday Feb 22, 2017

This week, I'm still crawling along on my Find Your Fade shawl.  The marker shows the row that was completed last week.

I am pretty bored with this project, but I think that it's because it is a mega sized project-one of the things I like about socks and hats is that they are almost instant gratification projects.  So I may have to start a smaller project, and keep this one slowly going-maybe dedicate an hour a day to knitting on this and the rest of the time have something nice and quick.

What are you working on this week?

Weekending 2/20/2017

This weekend we attended a funeral for a friend of my 14 year old.

When he called from school last week, I thought he was just calling me about a ridiculous reason, as calls from school tend to be.  And then he said, 'You know Fayth?' (My mind jumps to he wants me to pick a valentine up for her or he's asked her to the school valentine dance as this was Feb. 14) I say 'yeah' and he says 'Her grandmother took her to a hotel, shot her in her sleep, and then killed herself.'

The class sizes at his school are very small so I heard stories regularly about Fayth, and I waved in the passerby sort of way to her grandmother.  Fayth was always ready with a smile and often said hi to my both of my kids as we walked by each other.  And I know that my children will always carry her in their hearts.

Please.  Please.  If you believe that self harm or the harm of a loved one is the answer, please seek help.  PLEASE SEEK HELP.

Suicide Prevention Website
1.800.273.8255

Working It Wednesday Feb15, 2017

This week I am still working on the Find Your Fade pattern.  The yarn that I am using right now is dyed by Gynx Yarns.  This is her singles construction yarn thats a SW Merino/Nylon.  I am really enjoying the color and the yarn.  This pattern calls for 7 skeins, so I was supposed to have added yarn 2, but I've decided to work with this one a little longer.  

  What are you working on this week?

Weekending Feb 11/12 2017-TXOLAN

This past weekend I packed up the family and we went to the TXOLAN Alpaca show which is held here in Ft Worth.  Ray and I really appreciated watching the judging but the kids were a bit bored by it.  It was really cool because the judges talked about why they placed each alpaca and what they were looking for.  

 We sat on the 'female side'.  They judge the males and females separately and judge in color and age categories.  There were some really good looking animals.

 This is my 'is he actually taking a picture' face.  O took our picture.

 Then I handed my camera off and the kids went and walked around for a bit while Ray and I watched the judging for a bit.  Here's one of the pics that O snapped.

Li was funny, he was calling the alpaca 'Giraffe Sheep'.  He's so ridiculous.

I also got to chat with some friends that I don't see very often-the local spinners and weaver come out to show off what can be done with alpaca fiber.  

Shop Update Friday Feb 10 2017

This week, My shop update is Experimental in nature!

I've listed some Heel and Toe skeins is colors that I've been testing to go into a larger color way.  These Skeins are 80 yd and are perfect to add a contrasting heel and toe to a pair of socks if you need to stretch the yardage in a skein of sock yarn.

The other is a 3 color gradient.  I used my Addi King Size Express to knit a tube and then used these three dyes to play with the techniques for prepping, dyeing, and caking up a gradient.  This as well as the Heel and Toe skeins is on my Harmony Base-That's 460 yd of a 4 ply 75/25 SW Merino/Nylon.

Shop Update Friday Feb 3, 2017-Victorian Valentine-

This months theme is Victorian Valentine!

Each Month I've decided to have a theme.  My theme is based on the monthly inspirations of a yarn and fiber sampler box called Phat Fiber.  I am committed to sending samples of my dye work to Phat Fiber for Feb, Mar, and Apr of this year.  So, each month, there will be 3 fresh and original color ways only available until they are sold out.  Each month will have a self striping, and 2 other yarns that are dyed to coordinate in the same project.

I really like the idea of being sort of pushed outside of my comfort zone inspiration and color wise.  You guys should totally check out Phat Fiber - it's such a great way to check out indie dyers and stitch marker crafticians.

Here they are all lined in a row.  

My Dear Mr Rochester: on Sparkle

 My Dear Mr Rochester Regular

 Annabel Lee

 Queen of Hearts

 And here are Annabel Lee and Queen of Hearts shown together so that you can picture what they would do in a project together.

I hope you enjoy this unveiling as much as I've enjoyed dyeing this yarn.

Working It Wednesday 2/1/17

Welcome to the first of February!  

Todays Working It features this years dye lot of My Zombie Valentine.  I have less than a stripe left before I do the heel.

I've been doing the Fish Lips Kiss heel on my socks to try to perfect it.  I am a really relaxed knitter, so I've been having trouble with it being a bit loose, but I'm working on knitting a bit tighter so that I do not get that.

What are you working on this week?