Uggh Slippers!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did. We learned a new dice game that was very addicting.:) It was just our family which includes Ann's bro and partner, so it was very relaxed. The Turkey on the grill was gorgeous. As I tried to take a picture of it, of course my battery pack had to be recharged. I am going to ask for an extra one for Christmas.

Well, as you can see, Ann's slippers came out UGGGhly. They didn't get small enough, but the cuffs got extra small, so that my son could not even put them on. After tossing them in the yarn room for a few days, Ann got them out and began wearing them! She is such a good sport. I have, of course, began another pair for her in the Ultra Alpaca. The first one is done and I must cast on the second one today. Lesson: do a test shrink for any yarn not used before. Plan: Only use Ultra Alpaca for felted clogs!

I am loving Ravelry! It is a real time vortex. I spent two hours yesterday at work on it and could have been knitting. I already have several friends, including all of you who have read and commented on the blog. And I found a group up at Western WA that gets together to knit and I sent the info up to my daughter who goes there.

In celebration of Brenda Dayne coming back to Podcasting after a looong break, I will anounce the winner of the yarn drawing on the 30th, tomorrow. So if you are new to the blog, comment now and be in the drawing! Have a great day and I will see ya tomorrow! KC

Comment Drawing for November

Please tell me your ravelry name in your comment so that I can put you on my friends list. I am having a lot of fun exploring ravelry. Last night I tried to put my pics into Flicker and drag them over, but was unsuccessful. I will keep at it this week.

The yarn for this months drawing is a merino. It came out heathery with pink and lavender in it. I will draw the winner at the end of the month. Enjoy time with family and friends this Thanksgiving! KC

I am on Ravelry!

Yeah! I got my invite to Ravelry this weekend. I need to spend time on the home computer to add my picture, but you can find me as "Knittincacher". I set up my library, some of my projects and joined the Arizona knitters, the Brother Amos KAL and the Brenda Dayne fan club.

If you haven't signed up yet to join Ravelry, you ought to. It is way fun and soon, after the Beta site is done, you won't have to wait. It really is meeting the goal of being a huge meeting/finding place for knitters and crocheters. It is on the www at ravelry dot com. You sign on to the waiting list and then you can check back on the tracker and it tells you how many people are ahead of you and on the blog it tells you how many they are "inviting" a day.

To Celebrate, I am announcing my third comment drawing. So do leave me a note and I will put you in the drawing at the end of the month.

Ann loves her slipper. I am finishing the second one this week! We had a great time at her party and she loved her big gift from me, a sky caddie. She used it the next day and it really helped her game on a course she was unfamiliar with. She loves golf like I love knitting!

Pictures of the yarn soon. KC

Thanks for voting in the poll!

It seems that there are only a few reasons for me to create yarns for ebay or etsy. And right now I have decided that I just don't have time to prepare dyed yarn or spun yarn for either.
I am getting lots of knitting done for the holidays though! Unfortunately, if I post pictures of any FO's, the recipients may see them.
A bit of really good news is that sales seem to be picking up right now. Which makes a huge difference in our budget. Also, Ann's company, 'a la carte real estate services, is booking all of our properties for the winter. So, if you want to come to warmer Tucson during the cold winter months, check out her website at alacartehomeservices dot com. If you mention that you found her site through me, you will get a break on any properties that are owned by us.
I go to spinning guild tomorrow and then clean the house for the weekend of company and party on Saturday for Ann's b-day. We have 22 people scheduled to come on Sat. night! It wil be our biggest party since the bash of 2006 on 4th of July. Hopefully I won't end up being thrown in the pool this time! LOL.
Happy knitting, spinning or fiber petting! KC

Blue socks done!

I got the blue socks finished and they are good. I really like the leg pattern which is from Sensational socks. I got half way done with Ann's felted slipper yesterday at work, so I am encouraged that I will be able to get them done for her B-day next week. I wrangled the day off for her too! I will spend part of the day with her and then clean while she is golfing with friends. Fun! Have a great weekend, all and I will check in later in the week and update you on the slippers. KC

New Poll, Please Vote!

Hi all, I am considering putting a few fiber items on either EBay or Etsy. I need to know from you which one you may prefer, or any other comments that you would like to share.

As for my research, Ebay costs a bit more, and seems to nickle and dime you for things like extra pictures. Etsy is all handcrafted items, which is great, and it is cheaper, but the site itself is not very search friendly. Ebay is really specific and user friendly.

As for my knitting, I have another pair of Mrs. Beetons nearly finished and am finishing the second blue sock so there will be Two, Two Christmas presents done. HAHAHA (think of the Count on Sesame Street!) Then I will go back to some felted slippers for Ann's birthday which is in less than 2 weeks and hope I can get them done while at work, so they will be a surprise. It is hard to knit for someone you live with when they work at home and you see them all the time.

And David Reidy came back from break! So now I am waiting for Brenda and Heather to both get well. Sending them love and light and health!

Well, back to finishing the blue socks. KC

Happy November!

My goodness, I didn't realize how chubby I looked last year! Or perhaps it is just too early to face myself with only 1/2 a cup of coffee in me. I have lost weight since then, really. To make up for it, here is a picture of the lovely HooDoos at Bryce Canyon. It you haven't been, you must try to go.

OK, I have more coffee and my computer glasses. Sorry about the odor, I just put base coat on my nails. I use Orly Bonder which is rubberized and makes my polish last at least 5 days which is 4 days more than if I don't use it!

Socks are on my mind and in my hands lately. I have the toe ups for Ann going well, and I went back to a pair I had set aside that are out of Tofutsie. I am using the blue color way. I had started the pattern from a mystery sock group, but when I realized the pattern of the mystery only made an ankle sock, I changed what I was doing and began a yarn over cable on the leg. It is a great pattern. When I got to the gusset, I stopped and began the second sock so that I could remember how I did the first one and not be caught in second sock syndrome. Then I put them away. Now I am back to them and, besides having to rip the first one back a bit, they are going well. I have both at the gusset decreases and hope to finish them this weekend. That will be one more gift done!

This morning it came to me to put together a "Sock Notebook". You see, I have so many patterns for socks printed off the internet just floating around, that they need a home. Actually they need a home that goes with me. I have a file folder stuffed full of patterns of socks, but there they languish. I want to have a portable, non crushable, nearly hugable, way to have my favorites with me. I will be working on that today.

The other thing on my mind is "I Miss My Pod Casts!" Brenda Dayne of Cast-On has been in Italy, David Reidy of Sticks andString has been on break, and Heather O of Craft Lit had a sore throat last week. I was sooo hoping this morning that all three would be up, but no. So for the last two weeks I been listening to a new podcast (to me) Forgotten Classics with Julie D. I am really enjoying "The Black Moth" of her early shows. Julie reads a few chapters a week and does a great job picking stories. If you like Halloween, she did several shows last month of short spooky stories!

It still is in the mid 80's here and I can't stand it. I am ready for some cool. At least at night it gets down to the 60's and we can have the windows open. Ohwell, enough complaining. I am off to get ready for work. I will post pics of the blue socks in the next few days. Take care all. KC