A Day in the Life of.....

Silly Halloween Sock Swap

Silly Halloween Sock Swap
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

This past weekend friends and I held our second silly sock swap. Now this time it really was silly. My sister had me as her pal and with one thing and another didn't have time to finish my second sock - for either of the socks that she has made me in the past year. The brown, orange and yellow is sea silk and is my single sock from last Christmas. The purple one in the back is also a silk blend and is done in the Eagle Flight pattern (with modifications) and that is my sock for this swap. Now she has already started both of the mates to these socks so I am anticipating getting a pair or two for the holidays. Until then, I will wear both proudly and drive her OUT of HER MIND. Her OCD will kick in big time and will motivate her to knit faster. HEHEHE Love being evil.

She also gave me a yummy Inca Alpaca in a purple heather, dark chocolate with carmel, dragon fly stitch markers some mystery sock yarn and the Yarn Harlot's newest New York Best Selling book. Great swap.

Shawls for Fran

As you all know, Fran, my mother in law, has been ill with liver cancer.  This has caused her to be quite cold one minute and warm the next.  So what is better for that than a handknit shawl. So into the stash I went and came up with some dark purple and some mystery multi colored purple, green and lavendar.  Went on Ravelry and lo-and-behold found the La-La-Shawl(ravelry link).  Quick knit (of course I did it on 15's with dk weight yarn).  Here she is.  Then about a week later, Julie called to say she had something for Fran.  Although Julie has never met Fran she is a wonderful friend and loves to help people out.  Next thing I know, there is another shawl for Fran.  Another LaLa Shawl!   How weird is that.  Of all the shawl patterns out there that she should pick the exact same one as me.  But BOY were they different looking.  Not only is her's in alpaca (yum) and super soft but they look NOTHING alike.  She did her's in the correct gauge while mine was done on much bigger needles, and her's looks much more like the original.  Here is Julie's La La Shawl. Both beautiful, different and loved by the recipent. 

Fiber Sale

Cyndi at the Yarn and Fiber company is running a month long sale to celebrate October and the Salem Witch Trials.  As many people know the Salem Witch trials took place in 1692 here in Salem Mass.  Around this time of the year lots of people flock to this area to see the place where they hanged the "witches".  Cyndi is telling the story in daily snippets and also putting different yarns on sale every day at 12:00 noon (although maybe it should have been 12 midnight, the witching hour).  Check it out and you might even see a blurb about yours truly and my ancestor Susannah Martin.   

The Good and the Bad

Let’s see, what has been happening in my life.  Well first, the good news.  The kids have gone back to school.  YEAH!!!  Mary has decided to sell Tupperware for a while to see if that works for her.  YEAH!!!!  I finished a knitting project – more on that tomorrow.  YEAH!!!

 

Now the bad news.  My mother in law Fran has liver cancer.  Large and apparently in charge. (at least for now)  So Mary is going to move back to her mom and dads house during the week and help take care of her.  She is weak and will get a bit weaker when she starts chemo sometime soon, so it is difficult for her to cook, and take care of things around the house like she is used to doing.  Mary is the logical choice as she is the sister without a full time job or little kids, and there are some things that a mom just doesn’t want her son (if any of them were unemployed) to do.  So off to

Somerville

she will go.  The kids, cats and I will miss her but she will be home on the weekends and Mondays and we will do what we need to.  

 

Little hint on what I knit – it is lacy, used handspun that was a gift (yummy) and shaped like a triangle.  I hope to have pictures of it up tomorrow, and pictures of Halloween.  More later.

Fiber Revival

Brickhouse Merino
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Last Saturday, Mary, Cheryl and I went to the Fiber Revival in Newbury, MA. It was small but well attended and it was a beautiful day to walk around and see friends, animals and some wonderful fiber. I purchased a pound of roving from Sereknity with the intent of blending it with some orange that I have to make some socks for Mary. It is quite yummy feeling.

While there we ran into a couple of friends, saw a very social turkey, fondled yarn by Spunky Ecelitic and gazed in wonder at some super cute alpacas (including a two week old little girl one). All in all it was a fun time and I will go again next year, bring Winnie the wheel and spend the day.

Manchester Knit and Crochet Show

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Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Last Sat. Mary, Cheryl, David and my mother all met up at the Knit and Crochet show. There was some lovely yarn, nice vendors, cool friends, like Julie, Christine, Crystal and Colin and some FLEECE! Mary had her fleece detector on and found me some lovely merino and silk and some kid mohair. We also found a lovely silk cap for my HHHH pal. I am hopeful that they will like it. It is beautiful colors. The skein here is Lorna's Laces, shepard socks that I am going to use to make a baby hat and some booties for one of the women at work. Here are the other goodies that we walked away with. Oh ya, and my lovely wife took a picture of me crocheting on a blanket for a bear that one of the guilds had at their stand. We also ran into Manise, Kathy and Cheryl. There was a ravelry meet up right in front of my favorite LYS, The Yarn and Fiber Company. It was lots of fun, and I am glad we went.

 

Hush Hush Handspun Hootenanny Bobbin

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Originally uploaded by ADITLO

This is the first bobbin full of the yarn that I am making for my swap pal. I will be spinning the second bobbin this weekend and hope to have it plyed up the beginning of the week. I would like to send it out the end of the next week. I am going to have to look for some goodies to put in the package as well, as the other 4 ozs of unspun fiber that I am sending. I am sooooooo excited about this swap. I can't wait until I get my package from my swap pal. More updates as I spin and shop.

Check out this contest and...

 new on line yarn store.  She has some fab prizes available.  Contest is open until July 31.  Here is her blog.  Good luck and may the best person win (that would be me).  Have a great day!

Purple/Brown 33% Alpaca & 67% Corriedale

Purple/Brown Corridale
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

This is the roving that I have been working on getting ready for a swap that I signed up for. I am hoping that this will be thin enough and maybe even enough yardage to make some socks. I only have 4 oz but this is 2 ozs spun up and it is an almost full bobbin so we will see. I am going to do it in a two ply with the other 2 ozs. I am pleased at how thin it is coming out.
This is the swap that I am in.  I found it in Ravelry.  Not on Ravelry yet?  What are you waiting for?  All the cool kids are hanging out there.

Playing with Full Bobbins

Full Bobbins
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Last night I did some more of the fuschia and gray spinning. I plyed some that I had spun at Julies on Sunday and that left some empty bobbins so of course I needed to fill them up again. I am almost done with this roving and will be on to something else. Not sure what yet. Need to stand next to the box of roving and see what speaks to me. I think but am not sure that I will be trying my first pair of mittens with this. If any one has any ideas, I would welcome them. I should have over 300 yards when I am done and it is mostly a light worsted weight. OR maybe some socks. HMMMMMM that could be interesting. Maybe make spinning socks.....I'll keep you posted.