Last Week's Craft Fair

I did my one and only craft fair of the season last week. It is always lots of work but I did it and I really enjoyed doing the show. I love making and wrapping the soaps, and doing all my other products. I love standing back and just looking at everything I've made. What I don't like is getting up predawn to cart ALL that heavy stuff somewhere set it up, then cart the REST home and have to put it away!

I've been tired all week but I am catching up. My nephew who is in the Navy is visiting for the weekend with a buddy and I am having Thanksgiving here so I have done very little knitting but as soon as the turkey is wrapped and put away I'm giving myself a sitting on the couch and knit day. So far I have the back of my new Cozy Cottage Sweater done.

Here's my latest pair of socks, knit from Lisa Souza's Mardi Gras Sock! I got the chance to meet Lisa Souza at Stitches East and see so many of her other great colorways. I'm doing a craft show myself this weekend. I'll be in Ocean City, NJ Music Pier Sat and Sun selling soaps, cream, lotions, scrubs etc. I hope I sell tons so that I have less to carry back. If the weather is good, this is a great show, if the weather stinks, I get to knit, shop myself and walk around and visit other crafters! Hopefully I will be so busy I just get to run to the Ladies a few times a day and NEVER step out of my booth.

Stitches East

I just spent the weekend in Baltimore at Stitches East. I either feel confident of reincarnation or plan to live forever because I am already at STABLE (Stash At Beyond Life Expectency) for sock yarn and this week end think I also hit it for lace! I'm also nearing it in sweaters lined up for knitting. There was so much beautiful yarn in one place how could I resist?!!!!! I went with two friends from my knitting group and we took two classes in addition to wandering around drooling over yarns, patterns and books.
We also spent some time at the Inner Harbor but certainly not enough! Here's a picture of my loot from Sat. It does not look like much but there are three skeins of STR, some Lisa Souza yarn , some lace weight kid merino, a sweater's worth of cozy cottage wool ,patterns etc.

Let's Try This Again

I've been trying to post forever this morning and keep getting error messages SO I'm hoping this works. I got my Secret Pal box on Friday and I LOVE it. My daughter finally brought my camera back so I even have a picture of it! Cute sock blockers, which I've always wanted, a cute sock shaped purse and sock shaped needle protectors. ALL in blue which I love. I've had a busy weekend, ate out both Friday and Sat. night , went to the movies Sat. to see Man of the Year with Robin Williams, very funny and makes a good point. Sat during the day I did a cream, scrub and lotion marathon to get ready for my November show. Today I'm baking for a Bridal Shower at work on Monday. I made scones and a braided prune filled coffee cake. Later my mother and grandmother are coming to visit SO I need to get off this computer and take a look at this house through their eyes!!!!

My Secret Pal 9 Box is here

I came home on Friday to a nice treat. My box was here from my Secret Pal. As you can see she really knows me. There was a set of sock blockers, something I've always wanted but been too lazy and cheap to make or buy! There was also the cutest little purse shaped like a sock and a set of sock needle protectors. I'm going to use the little purse to store stitch markers and the needle protectors.
I've had a busy and fun weekend. Out to dinner on both Friday and Sat. nights with friends. Sat. during the day I continued the marathon to get ready for my November Show. Made scrubs, creams and lotions. Sat. night I went to see the new Robin Williams movie, Man of the Year. VERY funny. Today I am baking for a Bridal Shower at my school Monday morning, made a big batch of scones and a braided prune filled coffee cake. My mother and grandmother will be over to visit later.
On Friday I get to go away to Stitches. Can't wait!!!!!!

A very quiet week

I had a super quiet week. I went to work on Monday and had a sliding door from a small storage unit slip off its hinge and wack me on the head. WOW, did it hurt but I put ice on the lump that formed right away and kept thinking that the headache would go away. Well, on Tuesday I woke up with a splitting headache, ready to barf and with shooting pain in my neck and in MY KNITTING ARM.
So I took myself to the Fast Track at the hospital and was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a neck sprain. SO in spite of having very nice new yarn around, lots to do for my upcoming shows I have spent the last few days doing nothing but sleeping. I'm going to work tomorrow. I have a meeting in the AM and it will be a nice place to sleep!

Rhinebeck WOW

What could motivate five women to be on the road by 7:30 on a Sat. morning! Rhinbeck This was my first time at Rhinebeck and all I can say is it will not be my last, actually I would still be there walking around if I had my preference! I didn't even buy as much as I thought I might but my mind is full of fibers, fleece and everything connected. The first thing on our agenda (after mandatory restroom visits) was the Fold booth. We got there shortly after 10:00 and the place was mobbed with a line down the aisle for addicts waiting to pay. It was dazzling to see ALLthose colorways right before the eyes. I restrained myself and just got two skeins lagoon and dreidle. The rest of the day was less pressured, relaxing fun. I found a cute needle felting kit to make pumpkins, I'm splitting some beautiful romney blend fleece with a friend and some silk merino lace weight yarn with her mother! I bought something for my Secret Pal 9 and a few skeins of an organic cotton & ecospun for scrubbies and wash cloths. BUT what was really great was just wandering around for hours looking and feeling the most delightful yarns and fibers, meeting people I know, spending time with my knitting friends, eating a delicious chicken pot pie for lunch, meeting the Yarn Harlot and seeing her wedding shawl, getting complements on the shawl I was wearing. I'll get to Rhinebeck next year if I have to crawl. And I also have Stitches to look forward to in two weeks!!!!!

My Knitter Tea Swap 2 Arrived

I must be the luckiest swapper in the swap! My swapping pal Amanda from PA was just wonderful spoiling me. First I got a great handmade card with three fragrant tea bags on it just to let me know that great things were coming. The box came yesterday and it was so great. I still don't have a camera so I'll just have to paint the picture of this jam packed box with words. First there was a Rooibos tea sampler from adagio, six tea varieties in charming green tins, then a Yankee candle in Tea & Honey fragrance. More tea related items were a metal mesh tea infuser, a really cute black and white tea bag holder and the sweetest ever handknit tea cozy, made from Noro Silk Garden. It fits just perfectly on a blue tea pot that I love to use. I also got great snacks, three varieties of New Tree Chocolates, Rejoice, Pleasure and Renew, AND some great Gardener peanutbutter melts and chocolate covered treats AND a crunchy biscotti AND a bunch of honey sticks. You would think that this is enough but there was also a delightful set of tea themed stitch markers, a tea pot, cup and tea caddy. AND tiny tea pot leash to hold stitch markers AND in the new Scaponia color a skein of SOCKS THAT ROCK yarn. I could not be more thrilled with this box. I certainly cheered me up on a cold rainy day. I brought it last night to my Monday knitting group and it is getting another outing to be shown off at my Tuesday group.
Thanks AGAIN Amanda

Secret Pal 9 Contest Questions

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
My favorite knitting spot is curled up on the couch with a hot cup of coffee, the cat near by, the dog out of the picture and some nice company, or it might be the comfortable chair at my weekly knitting group!
2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
I would quilt, or read.
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
I would travel to England and see all the spots I read about in the English mystery novels and knit for a bit in each one.
4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
I wanted to be a doctor but I wound up being a teacher and I absolutely love what I do. I am not in a classroom anymore but work as a math staff developer. Who would have guessed as a kid, I didn't even know this type of work existed!
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I still LOVE a good vanilla.

Soap fest continues!

I can't believe that I let another week pass without even one little post BUT with the week I had, I should be excused! I had a four day week at work but feel like I did six days of work there. Stayed late every night and I'm getting too old for a series of 14 hour days! Somehow while cleaning my laundry room last weekend I unplugged my freezer. So on Wed. I was faced with a whole freezer full of defrosted and rotten food. What a mess.
This weekend I had a workshop all day on Sat. then friends for dinner. On Sunday I wrapped and trimmed about half my soap for my November show (I'd take a picture but we all know when my camera is), and now I just need to squeeze in wrapping the rest. So now, I'm going to sit and knit on my sock for a while.

Soap's almost made! Now I can knit!

This weekend and the two previous I've had to spend about half of the weekend making soap for my Fall shows/season. Today after I run out to buy poppyseed for peppermint poppy and I make my last 4 batches I'm done making soap, now all I have to do is cut, trim, wrap, price then sell it! As soon as the witch brings back or sends back my camera I can post a picture of the mountain of soap waiting to be wrapped etc! Then I start lotion, cream, scrub and lip balm marathons.
I have to admit all I want to do for the rest of the weekend is sit on the couch and watch movies and knit. I'm working on a pair of socks in Lisa Sousa's Mardi Gras color way and I really love the way the colors are knitting up. I'm doing them as a modified KAL from the JustSocks group. The leg will have a simple lace pattern called Dublin Bay. Well, more later, I can't get too comfortable here, soap does not make itself.

Secret Pal 9 questions and answers

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?I love knitting with wool, silk, alpaca. I hate crunchy acrylic yarns.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? A pottery jug
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting since I was a child. My grandmother taught me.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? no
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)patchouli, karma, vanilla
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have a serious sweet tooth. I love chocolate, the darker the better.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I love to quilt, and do redwork. I have done some spinning and I'd like to start again. I make cold process soap, lotions, creams and scrubs.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)I love classical music and still love Simon and Garfunkle.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love blues, greens, purple. I can't stand neon colors.
10. What is your family situation? I have two college age children a son and a daughter. My husband of 24 years passed away this summer.
Do you have any pets? I have two cats and one dog, the ruler of the house!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats and mittens. I leave ponchos to the younger, thinner people!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I am addicted to sock making.
13. What are you knitting right now? a pair of socks and a fir and cone wrap
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I love receiving handmade gifts!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circular needles. I have lots of addis and just got a set of Knitpicks Options.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have an old winder, no swift.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? About 25 years old.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
19. Is there anything that you collect? Boleslawiec polish pottery, yarn, quilting fabric, books!
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have most of what I want!
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? knitting and purling backwards, entralac.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I knit socks compulsively! 9 1/2 inches from toe to end of heel, and 9 1/2 around!
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) August 5th 1951

Quite last few days!

I've spent the last few days at home. Friday, I stayed home to have a repair done here. I wish things could get fixed at night or at least on the weekends! Bob was always home to take care of these things. Friday night and most of today Caroline and a few friends of hers and I had girls night. We watched most of Grey's Anatomy Season 1 and 2! I still have season 2 going. Well, now one sock is done from the August STR club yarn. I'm up to doing the gusset on the second sock! Hanging around at home does get knitting done. I should be able to finish up that cuff at a family birthday party on Sunday. I have some Lisa Sousa Sock! calling my name AND the latest STR yarn. The daughter is getting a new camera this weekend so I will be getting my camera BACK!!!!

Great Boxes Came in the Mail Today

I wish I had my camera to show the treats I received in the mail today! My one skein partner sent me a BEAUTIFUL pair of cozy cable footies. They are a delightful violet, and I just love them. What beautiful work and the very first pair of handmade socks that I have had made for me by someone else! THANK YOU Violet. And Violet also slipped in two votive candles in a butter caramel fragrance. I'm burning one now and it is scenting the whole house! AND Libby, who worked with me last year as a literacy staff developer,( I'm a math staff developer )sent me a two skeins of sock yarn from Austria. She and her husband are teaching in Vienna for a few years. The skeins are only sold in Vienna because they are the colors of Vienna's football team. So, I the least sport minded person around will be wearing Vienna Football socks!

what flower are you?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Check this out to see what type of flower you are!

Knitter's Tea Swap 2

Well, I received my Tea Swap buddy this weekend and received a message from the person who will be sending to me. So in honor of the tea swap I've been drinking tea all weekend. So far, I've had vanilla bean tea from the sensuous Bean, in NYC and an unlabeled Chai Tea which I love and can't remember where it came from to replace! I also made a pitcher of cold green tea flavored with a bit of lavender rosemary honey. It sounds strange but is a great combo. I'm also almost finished with my sparkly tan and gray socks. They are VERY fraternal really close to just cousins! I did one either at the hospital or rehab with Bob and I can't remember exactly what I did. Reading the stitches is more trouble then it is worth so anyone looking at these sock cuffs is in for a surprise. I'll have to be sure to wear long pants with these and photograph them with a disguise in mind! The camera is still in the land of lost stuff taken to college by Caroline. Maybe she will let me borrow it back.

Where does time go?

I keep thinking that I will post at least once a week-- I used to think I could post every day! For some strange reason, maybe being back to work after a busy and stressfull summer,(and being very busy at work) living alone for the first time in 26 years, or some such nonsense-- time keeps on getting away from me! I noticed today that I passed almost two weeks without a post.It is cool and rainy here in NJ so when I got up early this morning I made myself some baking powder biscuits for breakfast and started poaching a chicken for pot pie and soup. AND I've broken my soapmakers block and have three batches in the works with plans for the rest of what I'll need to make for my abbreviated Fall/Winter season. It felt good to make a batch of lavender soap again. This must be the longest I've gone without soapmaking since I learned how! Caroline is away AGAIN with MY camera or I would take pictures. I may need to buy her a camera in self defense.

Flowers

So many of you fellow bloggers show beautiful photos of flowers from your gardens. I would have to buy flowers and hold them up with bamboo sticks to get a shot of anything in my current garden. BUT I did have beautiful flowers to enjoy all weekend from Denise and her family. I took the arrangement apart and had upstairs and downstairs flowers.I'd show a new picture of the fir cone wrap but my progress is so slow you might as well go back and look at yesterday's shot! Well off to knitting tonight.

Batteries = Pictures

I finally went to get some batteries to take pictures of the fan & feather scarf I finished last week. I also took a picture of the fir cone stole from Wendy Knits. I frogged it so much last week end that I should have twice as much as I have finished. It is going well now. I just joined a knit along for the Swallow Tail Shawl from Interweave Knits. I love the look of triangular shawls but I was having trouble with that one! This weekend I got back into cooking. I even have meatballs simmering in tomato sauce all day! Yesterday I made cream scones for breakfast and a beef stew with homemade rolls for dinner. This morning I made cornsticks for breakfast. I've got meals frozen to take to work now. It's too expensive to keep eating out and I have a house full of groceries to use up. Bob ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at home and I just stopped cooking when he went into the hospital and rehab. It has been fun to getting back into it.

Quiet Weekend

I've had a quiet weekend. My back has really been bothering me so I spent lots of time on the couch with either the ice pack or heating pad. I also used the meds the Dr. gave me so about half of what I've knitted this weekend got frogged! Caroline went back to school today and NOW the house really, really feels empty. Next week will be super busy at work and that will help the empty feeling but might not help with progress in my projects! I started a stole from Wendy Knits blog. It's called fir cones and after a few false starts it is working up nicely. Now I hope I don't jinx myself. Can't show pictures as Caroline left for college with all the batteries and all my laundry baskets and probably most of my good clean towels!