MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Here is hoping that Santa left dreams in your stocking for a wonderfully Kreative New Year! Ho! Ho! HO!

So, are you ready for your Holiday Celebrations?

I am getting there - although I have 101 ideas rolling in my head for next year. Truly, what is up with that?? I will be diving head first into fair isle in 2006. (At least as this writing, that is my intent.) Time changes feelings & desires. (Never mind the fact that I have 72 hats to go!)

But - look what my Secret Spindler Pal sent me!!! A Beautiful Spinnable from Grafton Fibers. Isn't it lovely? Won't this colorway look FABulous in fair isle?




Thank you so much SSP .... it an especially glorious gift since these books are finding their way under my tree!




There is still much to do in the 4 days remaining. But, there is always time to CLICK to help animals in need. (Thanks!)

Comments, please!

Things have been hectic. After all Christmas is just around the corner - there is still much to do! But, how I love the excitement and anticipation!!!

With all the running to and fro - I am beginning to feel like I *might* not accomplish my goal of 100 hats for Dulaan!! I figured that I should do 3 a week (minimum) in order to make the shipping deadline. This week, I have only been able to complete one! MoMMa Mia ... may the hat gods be with me!!

At least I only have one more Christmas giftie to do. One of those 'fun fur' scarves for my niece ... other than that, DH's hat is finis! (Remember, I spun the black blend yarn out of our doggie's fur?? AND - speaking of doggie fur - if you would be so kind as to click HERE - it helps animals in need! ) Well - here is DH's new chapeau - Comments, please!

HaPpY Friday to everyone. We are in the midst of a snowstorm - and I am absolutely delighted. What a glorious way to start the weekend! I know there are those who prefer warmer climates and sultry breezes - but, give me a good old fashioned
N'OReaster anyday! (Well, maybe except for Christmas!)

Speaking of Christmas .... for those searching for a gift for the knitter/dog lover ... you must get this Calendar! How cute ... pups posing for charity as well as wee doggie knitted sweaters!

And, while I am mentioning pups - please click HERE! It is fast, FREE, and it sure does help!

Now, just to let you know I haven't been swilling the NOG (all week .... ggg!) ... I completed my 21st hat for Dulaan AND I spun this dandy! "An Angel's Nightgown" contains shredded bits of vintage linens and it is HUGE .... Comments, Please!

Last week, I finished my 20th hat for Dulaan! I am *really* excited. Tonight - I will spin as I just learned, 8 fleeces are to arrive from the processor ANY day now. MoMMa Mia!

Yes ... I should be dyEing & carding. But, to make room in the studio - one must decrease the stash!! So, I will spin, in order to knit. Not so bad.

But, in a shameless self-plug ...AND - for your viewing pleasure .... I would like to present Sliding Down Stars!
I am drawing your attention to my fiber art as I am donating 5% of my sales to Noah's Wish. If you scroll down on the left side of my BloG - you will notice that in 2004, I donated $300+ to Heifer International. In 2005, $300 to Southeast Llama Rescue. I am stuck in the 300's ... so *this* year - I want to kick fiber butt!! I want to donate MORE!! It is always a good time to cyber-shop! Retail therapy, anyone?? Comments - please!

To start off this message - I ask that you CLICK to help the animals!! Thanks!

Now for the post!! December is here!! I am excited as I LOVE Christmas! Over the last few years, I have been searching for ways to recapture that feeling of Christmas from childhood. After school, I would always check under the tree to see if MoM had added any new presents. I knew the location of each brightly wrapped box - and if there was movement (ie: more gifts added!) - I knew.

Since I am the one who now adds those brightly wrapped boxes .... I still know the locations to which they reside. This year, I will find mitten kits AND hat kits all in fair isle! I am still shopping .... WhEEE! ... and still searching for the *magic*!

I was HaPpY to learn that I was a winner in Christine's Thankful Contest! .... surprises are coming! YiPpEE!!

This week I happened to finish my 18th hat for Dulaan!! I am making all different sizes to accomodate all sized heads. Maybe if I conquer fair isle - I can do fancy mittens next year. But, I digress - this year is all about the HATS and I am loving using my handspun! Pictured is hat #18 with a freshly spun skein of romney wool and silk .... comments, please!

The Thanksgiving Holiday was full of family, fun and turkey! Knitting too! I finished up my 15th hat for Dulaan. In thinking about the 85 more ... it is a wee bit overwhelming, but, I breathe and think about all the warmth I will be providing for those who need it most. I have used over 3 POUNDS of hand spun. Good thing too ... look what arrived on my doorstep!



Faith is a registered Navajo Churro sheepie!! Soft is not the word one usually uses when describing Churro, but, Faith is just that! Methinks I am in love!

Since it is Cyber-shopping Monday how about a little Seaweed Stroll? (While 3 pounds of hand spun *may* seem like a lot ... I estimate that I have 30-40 pounds of wool in studio! - Still plenty to dYe and card!) ;)

(If you could .... please click HERE to help an animal in need. It is FREE!)
Comments .... please!

HaPpY Thanksgiving to one and all. Even though it is a holiday typically celebrated in the US - we can all quiet our lives for a moment to give thanks to our High Power!

"Thank YOU"! (for family, for friends, for health, for animals, for food and warmth and shelter! AND the amazing first snow that is happening as I type!)

While realizing how truly blessed I am ... I have given myself a goal. (Actually, I prefer the word challenge as I always reward myself when I over come one!) My challenge??? To knit 100 hats for Dulaan prior to the collection date of July 2006. Now that it is in writing and posted to the Universe ... I must start knitting post haste!!

I don't know what I will reward myself with yet .... who has time to think of such things when I have hats to knit!!

(Quick side note: please click HERE to help the Animals for FREE!)

I would also like to take a moment to say a huge "THANK YOU" to my
Spindler Secret Pal! Just look at the wonderful hand spun merino that she spun just for me!! In red, white & blue .... YiPpEE SkiPpEE .... NE Patriots colors! (Not to worry SSP .... I will treasure these skeins for myself .... I am thinking 'scarf'!) And candy to too .... awesome!
HaPpY Thanksgiving to YOU! Commment .... please!

Heroes pass thru lives our lives daily - silently, without notice. We are BOMBarded with doom & gloom - that is what sells, that is what titillates. My hero for the week: Painesville (OH) Municipal Court Judge Michael A. Cicconetti. What a perfect sentence for an stupid, stupid person! Bravo, Judge Cicconetti!!

AND ... you know how I mentioned if I found a perfect 'gift' for the UP coming holidays I would pass the info to you?? Well, check out Native Energy! They fight global warming by keeping tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution out of the air. Peruse the website - you can even figure out your 'carbon footprint'. Buy a snazzy card for $15 and keep a whole TON of carbon dioxide out of the air. Woo-WHOO!

Finally, here are my 10 (thus far) hats for Dulaan. All are my handspun, some have a few snippets of commerical product in them, but, all in all ... they totally hand made! Does a soul good to help a fellow human! Comments, please!

I have just begun my 10th hat for The Dulaan Project. With each hat I complete - my DH says "Where is Mine?" Now, truth be told, he has never wanted anything I have knit before. No sox! No sweaters! No scarves! No mittens! But, these hats! .... He is enthralled with them!

Not that I mind. After all, I am using double stranded handspun, they are Xtra Xtra warm. So, in the quest of marital bliss (and a Christmas gift!) I have decided to knit DH a hat!

Not just any hat mind you - but one that contains my Motu's fur. I carded some of her coat into some wonderful, naturally black shetland/suffolk x. Notice the before and after pix .... I have 5 oz to play with. In reality, it is more black than the photo shows. Guess I went a little crazy with the flash! Comments .... please!

Today, in the US - It is Veteran's Day. Thank you to all the service men & women who have served and are still serving!! I admire you - you inspire me! I thank your families too - the difficulties their hearts bear daily is courageous to say the least.

I will knit today on another Dulaan hat, and my "Sweet Mary Jane". My mind will wander (as it always does) to the
Flickering Flames skirt . I am SO tempted .... but I am also in the mood to SPIN!!! Are you??The Wild Haired Fairy Wonder is looking for a good home! Comments, please!

The Winter Holidays are FAST approaching - and while I may not be the world's most patient shopper - I like to think of myself as a shopper with conscience!

So - in my cyber-meanderings - if I find something that just beckons me to stand up & take notice - I feel it is my consumer duty to inform you of same!! Heck, we all need to purchase (and donate) gifts - I guess it just makes more sense to me to purchase from a company who's capitalistic ideals also include dreams of making the world a wee bit better.

Today, I bring you Zimbawe Twin Dolls! For $15 US - you not only get an amazing gift made by a cooperative of mothers with disabled children - a child in need in Zimbabwe gets a doll too!

Ready, Set .... Shop!! Comments, please!

FINIS! Yes ... I am finished with the Pocket Aran Shawl!! I will admit to loving it ... even though it will be sans pockets. It is not that I don't like the pockets, I just envision myself leaving a trail of chap sticks and tissues when I carelessly toss it over my shoulders. The color of the Peace Fleece used is "Buffalo Browniski" ... I used 7 skeins, but if I had chosen to do the pockets - 8 would have been needed.

Doesn't the scarf look marvy with it, too??


Now, onto other things .... like the Sweet Mary Jane Cardigan. Casted on last night in the "Vineyard" colorway. What a difference in yarn ... from worsted to lace! MoMMa Mia!!

In closing today, I would like to draw your attention to an animal abuse case in GA. The particulars can be found at the Petition Site and 500 signatures are wanted in order to throw the book at this individual. Animal cruelty needs to be enforced - so .... if you would be most kind - I will point you HERE!! Thanks! Comments .... please!

Things have been a bit slow for me this week. While I have wanted to do more - the body has said 'no thank you'. Not that I am holed up in bed, but aches and pains are more prevalent than they used to be. A sign of winter on the horizon? A sign of age creeping up my spine? A sign of to much chill and dampness the last 2 weeks?? Hmmm ..... one wonders.

The best intentions sometimes fall by the wayside in times like these. I wasn't able to dye and card as much as I would have liked, but I did get to play with some Sari Silk!! YuMMy!! Quiet comfort on a damp day. This colorway is actually called
Out of This World!



But, wool aside - one thing I can do in the chilly dampness with sore legs & a bad back is to march for a good cause . Got to love descending on the Capital in droves to make a statement!! Join me in letting those in power understand that Global Warming should only mean knitting sweaters & blankets for those in need. Comments, please!

I completed my lacey scarf!!!

It took me a week - and the final measurements (blocked) are 9" x 74". I still have about a half a ball left of 'Portrait' - just didn't want the scarf OVERly long. My wish is for a piece which compliments - not OVERpowers!

Now, all I must do is to finish the Pocket Aran!

I am also in a quest to spin AND card a pound of wool each week. So far, not even close. (My closest totals being 14.4 oz spun & 5.8 oz carded.) Don't cha just love challenges??

I leave you a picture of Miss Lace. Comments, please!

In addition to the Pocket Aran Shawl and it's Lacy Scarf counterpart, both on the needles, I have been spinning. I have tried to devote at least an hour a day to it. My wheel feels loved, I am producing some wonderful skeins and it is decreasing the wool stash. Granted, I haven't even made a dent in the 'wool pile' as of yet, but, at least I *feel* better and DH sees some tangible evidence that I am working on deSTASHing. (Yes - that does mean I will buy more!)

This is what I did over the weekend:


Add that to my basket of skeins that need to be dyed and/or 'twist set' - and MoMMa Mia .... I am looking a tad productive! Comments ... please!

Last night - I just HAD to start something new. I had just finished plying a 3.8 oz skein of a marvelous silk & wool blend and I just couldn't bring myself to work on the Pocket Aran Shawl.

I still have 9 pattern repeats - so I *am* closing in on it's completion - but I just wasn't into *it* last night. Enter the Lace Scarf to match said shawl!

What can I say?? It was something new, a different texture, a way different pattern and since I am only using 27 stitches on sized 10 needles ... this baby will be done in a flash! I love the Artful Yarns / Portrait that I am using. What colorways! I indulged in Fazio's Mistress - oo la la!!

The EZ PZ lace pattern can be found HERE.

How many of these things do I *need* anyway??? The colors are so YuMMy!! Comments .... please!

While it has been dark, dreary and rainy for almost a week, I think it is important to keep focused on being creative. It is easy to wallow in the drudgery. Not much inspiration to be had when color is no where to be seen. It is very grey outside!

Yes - I have been dyEing and carding wool. That lends to sparks of color - but I needed a quick fix!

Today, I purchased the BEST book for sketching. (No - not colorful now, but *think* of the possibilities!!) It is leather bound with hand made paper. While a tad on the chunky side - it's rustic beauty has blown me away. It looks as though it is straight out of DaVinci's era and as soon as my new pencils arrive - DaVinci, move over!! I feel some major artwork coming on!! Barnes & Noble .... who knew there were such treasures?? Comments ... please!

I am in WICKED destash mode. I think it is because I am more into "spring cleaning" in the fall. Of course, this is due to the fact that once the cold and snows arrive, I huddle by the wood stove and play with fiber.

Suffice to say, I just don't like to be in hibernation with a bunch of clutter.

Not that I am admitting that tidbits of left over yarn and bags of wool are clutter - I am just thinking that I am claustrophobic and it has got to go. (Shearing season *will* be here again before I know it!)


The Dulaan Project is working wonders for me. Some charities specifically want knitted items to be made of acrylics. As a spinner ... no can do. I have to much wool. Therefore, I am knitting away with 2 strands of wool! I like to say it is because it produces a warmer item but, truth be told, I am also thinking of the destash factor. Admittedly, I LOVE the color schemes that get produced - free spirited colorways that take no prisoners.

I will be keeping a destash total under my "Dulaan" tally on the left side of my BloG. So far .... 3 hats ... just over 8 oz used. Currently, I am knitting a scarf with left over Peace Fleece and sock yarn .... makes a fun sculpture don't you think?? .... Comments, please!

Back from sabbatical!!

It was fun and relaxing AND I had a 'lightbulb' moment. Seems that I am spending way to much time doing things other than creating. Well, D'uh!

In some respects, day to day living can bring tidbits of inspiration. Words or pictures can strike a chord within and rise to become a masterpiece. But, day to day living can get in the way of JOY - it goes without saying *that* happens only if it is allowed.

Being on sabbatical is a necessary component to my muse. While I may not be able to take them often, having an "Artist Day" weekly (as per Julia Cameron) seems like a given.

(Just for the record though ... I did spin almost a pound of wool AND I knit 3 watch caps for The Dulaan Project last week! WhEEEEE!)

Hey, did you happen to see THIS? Sigh ... it is in the queue! Commments .... please!