For the Love of Fiber

Silence Is Golden

Silence is golden except when you write a blog!

As sometimes happens, time has slipped by without a blog post.

Life has been marching on here. We returned from Virginia on January 16th and Andy left again on the 23rd. This time, he's scheduled to travel back on February 1st. So far, the weather has cooperated with his absences by not snowing. As much as I want FEET of snow, I really don't want to deal with it with him in Virginia. The only problem I've had in the snow since moving to Ohio has been in our driveway. The 0.2 mile way to the road has to be snowplowed. Not an easy task due to the drifts across the driveway.

This past weekend, Andy worked a little more in the basement. Most of the gridwork is up for the ceiling tiles. 

I'm working on a second pair of socks for Lil' Bit. I hope to have them finished soon so I can get both pairs in the mail. I love this yarn by Regia. Looks like Monet's Garden - very watercolor-ish.

I finished yet another Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf out of Noro Silk Garden. This pattern is so popular and so easy. The results are always stunning when knit with Noro Silk Garden.

Classes have picked up at Main Street Yarns in Mason. I have a beginner class going and taught a Magic Loop hat class last night. In the works for February - a Felted Bucket Bag and the Multi Scarf (shown here). At Wooly Bully in Springboro - come join me for the third Thursday night knit-along for the Sock Blanket.

The Thursday night spinning group - Common Threads - has moved its meeting place to Barnes & Noble at Fields-Ertel Road. If you're in the area, come join us! Meeting time - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM or so.

Projects

I LOVE having a variety of knitting projects on the needles. 

I like choices. 

I need to have simple projects to knit while I wait in my work appointments. No counting of rows and stitches while waiting in doctors' offices. I might be called back any minute and have to stuff my knitting into its bag. Not good when having to keep up with pattern rows.

I like more involved projects when I want to zone out. I find that the more complicated the pattern, the more I'm able to concentrate on it and get totally lost in it.

Then, there are the "Goldilocks projects" - not too easy and not too hard. These usually have interesting construction. I love these best of all. Projects that are challenging but don't make me want to pull my hair out on a regular basis.

The Sarah James Diagonal Knit Vest is one of these Goldilocks projects. I started this pattern on Saturday at the retreat and have made good progress on the back.

It is an easy knit - so far. It's knit in garter stitch with an interesting construction. For the back, I knit two separate triangles and then joined them by knitting them together. I'm up to decreasing for the armholes. You decrease for the armholes and continue upward toward the shoulders as you fill in the middle of the back. I LOVE the way it looks! No horizontal stripes!

I'm using Noro Kureyon on a #8 circular needle.

Notice the precious little snowman stitch marker that Kathy gave me! Thanks, Kathy! He loves hanging out on my knitting!

I finished a pair of socks for my grand-daughter while at the retreat. I want to knit a second pair and then I'll get them in the mail to Richmond, VA.

I also worked on my Tuscany Shawl at the retreat and it's my take-to-work-appointments knit at the moment. I'm almost finished!! Stay tuned for a picture of it when it's blocked and ready to wear!

Trip to Virginia

Andy and I left for Virginia last Tuesday, the 10th. He went to work and I went to play! 

My last post was about my trip on Wednesday to see Brian, Lil' Bit, and Taylor. It was great to visit with them.

Avis and I had a Knit-In at the Fairfield Inn Wednesday night. It was great seeing here again.

Thursday, I headed to Clarksville, Virginia passing our old house on the way.

KNITTIN' at the LAKE 2012 had its 6th annual gathering at the Best Western on the Lake in Clarksville. Before moving to Ohio, I had this knitting retreat, as well as, several rug hooking retreats and workshops each year at the Best Western. Their conference center overlooks Buggs Island Lake and it's a wonderful spot for friends to

gather and create.

There were only a few of us there Thursday night because the retreat really started on Friday. It was nice to have the extra night, though.

I was able to get a "before" picture and then I took an "after" picture. See all the fun we were having!?!

This year's KATL hosted 40+ attendees. Needless to say --- we had a blast!!! 

Linda and Issy did a great job organizing everything. When we signed in, we were each treated with a project bag made by Issy. Linda kept the tunes rolling all weekend with the best playlists I've ever heard on her iPod. It was so much fun that the whole group sang along to lots of the songs.

Cathy and Rosemarie from Knitting Sisters in Williamsburg, VA set up their wares for the whole weekend. They brought such gorgeous stuff! I know they didn't have to pack up near the amount of merchandise that they unpacked. We all helped lighten their load considerably for their return trip to The Burg! Love us some Knitting Sisters!

A group of us ate dinner at Traveler's Tavern on Friday night. It was delicious as usual. Then, we headed back for introductions. Each attendee had to stand up and tell about themselves - how / when they began knitting, their most challenging / satisfying knit, etc. I enjoyed hearing everyone's story and seeing examples of their knitted projects.

Saturday was vendor day. 

I set up my soaps, creams, wine glasses, stitch markers, buttons, etc.

Daddy brought his baskets. This picture shows what he had left. 

Paul makes beautiful wooden things. His skein winders and yarn ball holders are great! 

Christina and Nancy displayed their glass items for sale.

Issy had her Issy Sacks and bags available.

Mary sent her gorgeous earrings and pins for sale.

We shopped and knit and shopped and knit. 

We also relaxed ---- a lot!

Friends, Walter and Paula, drove down Saturday night. Fun to visit and catch up.

Sunday came way too fast and it was time for me to leave to pick up Andy and head back to Ohio.

We encountered snow on the way home. Here are pictures taken from Lover's Leap. The view was spectacular!

While at the knitting retreat, I started and finished a pair of socks for Lil' Bit. They're so cute! I want to knit her a second pair so I can mail two pairs instead of just one. I think I'll make the second pair just a hair longer in the foot section.

I also started and made very good headway on the Diagonal Vest. I will post pictures of both projects this week.

 

Proudness

I'm in Virginia and made a quick trip up to Richmond yesterday.

Got to visit with Brian and Lil' Bit. She's now four months old and growing like a weed. She's found her feet and is getting more active. 

I also had a nice visit with Taylor. We enjoyed a great lunch at Mekong - Vietnamese cuisine. Loved that ginger!

I can't show you pictures of Lil' Bit because of her parents' wishes but here's another "baby" that's being born  ---

Taylor's restaurant!!!!!

Construction is underway and moving along. The restaurant will seat 150 people and the plans look spectacular! 

The Berry Burk was once-upon-a-time a prominent men's clothing store. Look for the interior to reflect the building's history.

I'm nervous and SO proud! I can hardly wait to be one of 525's guests!

I'm Away!

I'm away - away down south in Virginia!

I had four days left from my 2011 vacation allotment that I had to take by January 15th. So, here I am. 

My trip just happens to coincide with KNITTIN' at the LAKE 2012 in Clarksville, VA. I started this annual retreat back in January 2007 and handed it off to Linda and Issy of the Richmond knitters when I moved to Ohio. They've kept it going for the past three years. I can hardly wait to see everyone!!! I'm also looking forward to seeing Dorothy, a former rug hooking student, rug hooking group member, now turned knitter. I haven't seen Dorothy since I moved to Ohio in 2009 and look forward to spending time with her this weekend. 

If you want to read about past KNITTIN' at the LAKE retreats, you can click here and here for 2007, here, here, and here for 2008, here, here, and here for 2009. I loved looking back at the photos and reading the posts from these previous retreats. Such FUN times!!!!

Pictures to come!

Knit & Nibble

Yesterday was a day full of knitting!

Well, with one exception. My day started with an appointment to get the windshield on my car replaced. I had two little dings on my front windshield from being struck by rocks while driving whenever and wherever. I checked on having the biggest of the dings injected with patching compound but was told that it would only put pressure in the ding and make it expand. He said not to worry, it wouldn't shatter and would crack downward if and when it expanded. It finally happened. I noticed it Thursday - the windshield was cracked all the way across.  I figure the cold icy temps this week and the defrost helped egg the ding on to a full-blown crack. So, now I have a nice new windshield and the best part --- my insurance covered it 100%!!!! Now, of course, they'll probably raise our rates or drop us! Let's hope not! If anyone in the area needs a new windshield, I highly recommend Mel's Auto Glass. They'll come to you of you can go to them. Great service!

With my new windshield installed, I headed to Dorothy Lane Market for Knitting at Noon. We had a good crowd of knitting peeps and some really cute finished items. 

Lynn finished this hat and fingerless mitts. And look - those are my polymer clay buttons! The pattern is really cute - Button Flap and Fingerless Gloves by Knotty Knitter Designs.

MaryAnne had THE cutest little jacket! It looked like a snow bunny jacket! Just tooooo cute! I can just see a little person tucked / snuggled inside this precious sweater. It was a Lion Brand pattern but I can't remember the name. I think it might be this one - Favorite Hoodie - but I'm not certain. I'll check with MaryAnne to make sure.

Karen finished her Drop Stitch Scarf. This is such an easy and pretty pattern. Just about any yarn can be used.

Elizabeth made these fingerless mitts - her own design. I love the colors!

Last night, I hosted a Knit & Nibble. We had such a GREAT time! There were seventeen of us (I think) scrunched into my living room. We knitted and we nibbled! Had fun doing both! Wish I could have gotten everybody in at least one picture. Next time, we'll have to take an official group shot.

The knit menu was scarves, boot toppers, baby jackets, shawls, dishcloths, etc. Everyone was busy, busy, busy!

The nibble menu was mulled cider, veggie tray with dips, gingersnaps and pumpkin dip, blackbottom cupcakes, yogurt covered raisins, sesame sticks, and open-face mitten sandwiches with olive spread. 

The olive spread recipe came from Mom and it so salty good! Here's the recipe so you can whip it up at home.

Olive - Nut Spread

Combine 6 oz. cream cheese (softened) and 1/2 c. mayonnaise in a medium bowl and mix well.  Add  2 tablespoons liquid from salad olives and a dash ground black pepper and mix. Then, fold in 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1 c. chopped salad olives. Store in a container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Spread on white, French, sourdough bread or crackers.

*You can make this recipe with just olives and no nuts, too.  Also, I used the whole package of cream cheese since it comes in 8 oz. and not 6 oz. size. I just added a little extra mayonnaise.

Today, I'm in work and clean-up mode. I hate to take my winter tree down but am thinking about doing just that today. It's a live tree and I'm heading out of town Tuesday. So, I kind of hate to leave it up when I'm not here. I SO enjoy it with all the white lights and snowmen and we haven't even had a good snow yet for all the snowmen to see. I'll just see how the day goes.

Finally!

It's snowing!  

The ground is white.

Could be deeper but I'll take this as a promise of more to come.

The Christmas tree is now officially the winter tree and snowmen rule!

I'm off today and I am NOT checking messages or turning the work computer on. 

Warmed up some Cheesy Crab Chowder from Dorothy Lane Market and it was really good. Have chicken thawing to make this recipe from January 2012 Southern Living Magazine - Slow-Cooked Barbecue Chicken.

I am knitting today. I started this Tuscany Shawl from No Sheep For You fall 2010. It got put aside to make way for the marathon of baby knitting. Time now to get it finished!

And, maybe I'll spin later. Need to get those bobbins of singles plied.

Feels good to be doing next to nothing.

Another thing that feels good ---- the sound of power tools coming from the basement. Andy is down there working! Yippeee!

Happy day, everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Everyone!

I'm looking forward

to a year full of blog

posts with my

internet friends.

Wishing all of you

good health, good

friends, and lots of

opportunity to be

creative in the

new year!

 

 

Holiday Lights

Andy and I went to Clifton Mill in Clifton, OH last night to see the holiday lights. 

What a sight!

We arrived early and wandered around, had hot chocolate and birch beer, and waited.

We toured the toy and Santa collections.

It was a dreary, misty rain kind of night but I wasn't going to wait another year. People have been telling me about Clifton Mill since I moved to Ohio. They told me it was a "must see" place.

They were right!

When they finally flipped the switch, 

this plain view (above)

became 

THIS spectacular sight!

Everything was covered in lights!

The ground was blanketed with tiny lights. Everywhere!

There was a light show that was focused on the covered bridge and the surrounding area. The lights were synchronized with music. When that finished, the lights stayed on and people walked around to view everything. 

There was a log cabin that was decorated, a nativity, and a miniature village that was great. Everywhere you looked in the village, there was something going on. There was a drive-in movie where a movie was actually being shown on the tiny screen with the sound coming from real drive-in speakers, an ice skating rink with skaters, a football game where Ohio State University was playing, a drive-in restaurant, a wedding chapel where the couple was exiting to their waiting car, a Christmas tree lot and one house where a family was taking their tree inside, a replica of Clifton Mill, a car show, etc. There were cars, trucks, airplanes flying around, a couple of hot air balloons, and trains zipping along the tracks. If you looked closely and quickly, you could catch a sight of Santa and his reindeer flying through the air.

If you missed seeing Clifton Mill this year, be sure to put it on your holiday list for 2012.

Almost Done

2011 is slipping away. I say this every year - but WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE?? They say time flies when you're having fun. 

Andy drove back to Virginia to work on the 27th and Mom, Daddy, and Lily headed back to Virginia on the 28th. I was left with a very empty house. I don't really mind being alone but after so much hub-bub, it felt extra empty. Andy got to come home several days earlier than expected and arrived back last night.

I've kept busy. I took myself out to the movies Wednesday night and saw "We Bought A Zoo". Cute movie.

Last night, Susan and I went to Fiberworks in Beavercreek and took a felted snowman class with Esther. There were six of us in the class. All the snowmen turned out so cute. Susan gave hers a hat with a felted pom-pom on the end. I gave mine earmuffs. The class was really about making a snowman pin but I made an ornament and came right home and added my man to the Christmas tree. The other snowfellows welcomed him.

Need a turbo project? I finished both of these scarves over the holidays. They are knit with Berocco Link yarn on a size 36 needle. Yes, you read that correctly! Size 36. You can knit one of these scarves in no time flat! They are super warm but do fuzz up a bit with wear. I like mine coiled around my neck.

Today, I'm going to try and tackle my clothes. I have so many clothes that need to be weeded through and donated. That will be a task and a half!

I'm also going to make my Mom's cheese wafers. We ran out of time when she was here and didn't get a chance to make them. I'm going to make some plain and put a pecan half on some. 

Here's another picture of those candied orange peels. They were absolutely delicious! I found one recipe that uses orange, lemon, and grapefruit peels. They call it candied citrus peels. Same recipe as Mom's that I posted on the blog on 12/25/11 but with a mixture of fruits. I think the different peel colors would look neat. 

Now, a couple more pictures from our Christmas together.

Mom and Daddy amongst their gifts and Lily is getting a Christmas treat from Daddy. A spoiled rotten pup!

Tomorrow is Knitting At Noon - the last one for 2011 - at Dorothy Lane Market. What a great thing to do - knitting with friends - on the last day of the year!