I survived the holiday! YiPpEE! Now, it is back to work! Seriously - shearing season is here ... and there will be an influx of wool arriving. Might be today - might be tomorrow - but, I know it is coming.

I have been busy both knitting & spinning. Carding & dyEing too. (You can see the fruits of my labor HERE - sorry for the plug, but see above paragraph! :)

The one thing that I haven't been doing is my pastel artwork. I just seems like it is not fitting into my schedule right now. Could it be lack of interest?? Lack of space?? Lack of desire?? Well, I thought I would share an art piece I did a while back ... subtle urging by the general public never hurt. Comments ... please!

I have been busy doing 101 things. Yes - Easter is Sunday and I am hosting the festivities. Not the worst thing in the world - but - all my beautiful fleeces are in 'limbo' until the beginning of next week.

Seriously, how can I dYe a ton of wool *this* week?? I would be a nervous wreck fearing that an errant furball would meet its demise on a guest's dinner plate!!

Thankfully, I can still knit (Irish Hiking Scarf) and spin. Isn't it great that my dog is as passionate as I about spinning?? Comments .... Please!

Nothing cheers up a "krabby" fiber artist (don't ask) quicker than goodies in the mail! My second order from Earth Faire arrived. YiPpEE!

You must stop by this wonderful cyber-store! Ellen is a PEACH! Here are my goodies: Maple Leaf Scarf pattern; Hanging Vines Scarf Kit; Diamond Patch Mittens; and the Lost Points Shawl Kit! This features a red colorway ... perfect for the Knit Red Along - this is to raise awareness of Women & Heart Disease. Do join us! (Did I mention, the shawl will be for ME??)

And check out my progress on the Irish Hiking Scarf. I know - you can barely see the cables! Alas .... but, I am using my handspun which features an Old English Sheep dog named "Rocky". (Thanks - "Rocky"!!) It will be gifted to my neighbor this coming Christmas. (Yes ... I am planning ahead!) Comments .... please!

It takes me a while to climb aboard things. Maybe it is due to procrastination. Maybe it is due to individuality. Who knows?? But, as of the very near future - I will be climbing aboard the ClapotisTrain. Isn't it neat?? Love the pattern and the wideness of it.

I will spinning the yarn for it - so it will be done by NEXT fall. (Notice, I *did* say very near future in the first paragraph!) I still have some suffolk on the wheel that I would like to finish first. But, I have decided to use some wonderful wool that I purchased from The Silkworker 100 years ago. Yes ... this was before I started mine own little fiber biz & something this wonderful should not be wasted. Won't this make a perfect Clapotis?? Comments ... please!

Cold! Cold! Cold! MoMMa Mia has it been cold! Feels more like January than March. Isn't Spring sometime this month??

Since Fiber Fest season is upon us ... my new & improved Cafe Press store is now OPEN !! Shop til you "drop spindle"!!! I wore my official "Be Knotty" T shirt the other day - albeit with a turtle neck underneath - I felt down right whimsical! :)

AND - I did want to show you a FABulous GOTLAND fleece I just purchased from Southwest Trading. This is Clasina - isn't she a beauty?? Comments .... please!

With shearing season upon us - I should be telling you of the wonderful goodies arriving at my doorstep! California Red!, Cotswold lamb! YuMMy! I should be taking pictures - but, at this point - they are traveling onward to the processor. (I do not *DO* dirty fleeces!) :)

But instead of telling you of my wonderful finds - I shall spare you the drooling and will turn my attentions on a wonderful writing class I am taking. It is via email - & it has been an eye-opener! I am telling you about it here - because when
Maitri's book is finis - I am sure everyone will be clamoring for her attentions. I envision an invitation to appear on "Oprah"!! It is THAT good!

I invite you to travel down the road of self discovery - it will be an interesting journey. AND the really cool thing is - you can take the journey in bed slippers! A portion of her proceeds go to various charities (check her BloG!) - giving back makes the Universe sing a little louder.

Feel free to take a peek at Wabi Sabi Writing I am REALLY glad I did! ..... Comments! Please. (No affiliation with Maitri - just a happy student and honored to have her as a friend!)

The weather outside is frightful - but the woodstove is so delightful! I LOVE our wood stove ... it makes these New England winter nights cozy & comforting. Yes - we received another blast of snow. Not to much - just about 5". I am wearing 2 sweaters - a pull over I knit a few years ago from North Islands Designs - and a cardigan that was bought in a mall kiosk at an 'after Christmas sale', also a few years ago. You know the type of sweater I am talking about: thick, bulky, scratchy. It was knit with something tantamount to airplane upholstery fabric. Heck, made shoveling the driveway bearable. I actually broke a sweat!

Tonight - "24" is on. Woo-Whoo! I will be sitting near the woodstove, spinning some merino & silk with sleeping doggies at my feet. I hope you N~joY your night too! Comments .... Please!

February has come in with a bang! After receiving almost 3' of snow last month - Mother Nature gifted us with another 6" yesterday. I am glad the water tables will be 'topped off' for spring/summer gardening. I was thinking of gardening today while shoveling ... guess I have tomatoes on my mind.

Tonight, will be a toss up between knitting & spinning. I started sox on the way to the Superbowl last week - and I have only completed about 4" of one tube. (The 'Spiral Tubes' from Socks! Socks! Socks!) Weird - but they are actually in Philadelphia colors - what WAS I thinking???

Tomorrow will be spent carding & dyEing. After all, vacation is over! If you are feeling Shoppie - I am really proud of "A Song is Born"!

Comments ... please!

HaPpY February!

In all respects - where exactly did January go? So, it was cold, dark & snowy - but it still flew by. C'est la vie!

I will be starting some sox this week!! Straight out of the "Socks! Socks! Socks!" book. Something EZ PZ ... a totally mindless venture. I have chosen the simple 'Spiral Tubes'. My mind is in a flux ... simple pattern, no heel - this should suit me for the upcoming week!

Do I have to remind anyone that the Superbowl is this coming Sunday??? Woo-WHOO! Two words ... "GO PATRIOTS"!!

Over the next few days - I will be headed to Florida to cheer the Pats on. NO! I don't have tickets to the actual game - just a cheapo flight & a nice room on the beach in St. Augustine. I hear the Fountain of Youth is there! YiPpEE ... maybe if I jump in I will get carded when I hit the bar! Comments ... please!

Verizon decided to 'wig-out' - so, at this time, I am pictureless. Seems kind of weird to look at those little red x's and know that they are hollow shells of what WAS there. Sigh ...

Well, I have counted ... as of this date - I have 10 fleeces coming this spring! YiPpEE! Haven't even used all my stock from LAST year, but that is ok. All in good time. Did I mention some "Paco-Vicuna" is coming to live with me?? YiPpEE, again!

My friend, Maitri, has created a Fiber Ministries BloG where you can reference all sorts of interesting tidbits! Do stop by - the world could use a "Woolen Hug" from you. Comments, please!

I have to say ... I am *SO* excited that The Patriots won their game this past Sunday!! Payton Manning?? Who *is* that?? (Of course, he is the NFL MVP - with a ton of nice stats & a huge paycheck to boot - but I ask you ... where is his Superbowl ring??? Hmmm???)

'Nuff said!

Been busy doing all sorts of fibery things! I mailed off 2 hats for "Afghans 4 Afghans" - spinning - dyEing - carding and knitting! Yes siree .... before Christmas I received 10 orders for my scarves. Three more just came in! (YiPpEE!!) So - here I would like to present "Hot Flashes"! Well ... what do you think?? Comments please!

I am going to do something wild & crazy in the "Shoppie" department this year: to satisfy said shoppies for myself and others by purchasing on eBay! I won't hold myself strictly accountable for ONLY purchasing on eBay - but, it is such an amazing GLOBAL retail force.

Since I have decided that my mantra for 2005 is to "Enjoy Every Moment" - I can best enjoy each moment if I don't deal with malls & mall traffic. I like shopping in my slippers! And the ideas that come from all the wonderful things I see .... MoMMa Mia!!! (Of course - I *do* sell on eBay too - but, that is a different story!)

Check out the Colinette I just bought (off eBay) ... doesn't it scream seaweed to you?? Comments .... please!

A belated "HaPpY New Year" to you!

With each passing year - the time flies by! MoM was right, the older you get, the faster it zooms. C'est la vie.

I hesitate to admit to any 'resolutions' - they are nothing more than unobtainable wishes. Instead - I commit to the philosophy of "Enjoy every moment"! Life is to short NOT to comprehend the nuances of each precious second ... especially since the devastation a world away.

I also commit to involving myself more with others. I need to get out of my own way - and out of my own head - and into the lives of others. It is only with sharing of ourselves that we truly receive the gift of humanity. With that - I have joined two lists which have evolved out of love for our sisters & brothers! Wanna join too??
All Crafts 4 Charity accepts a wide range of knitted/crocheted items. First on their agenda - woolies for "Afghans 4 Afghans"! I can *do* that!!

Artist Noreen Crone-Findlay has started recruiting fellow artisians to create dolls for sale with a portion of the proceeds being donated to various charities (ie: The Red Cross, Americares, etc) - I have never really made a doll before -but, I am willing to try!!

Be alive in 2005!!

OK ... I know it has been 100 years since I have posted! The Christmas Frenzy has been alive & well. As usual, THIS was the year that everything was supposed to be done. THIS was the year that cards were out in a timely manner! THIS was the year the individual presents were bought/made with the receiver in mind! Yes ... THIS was the year that MARTHA would be proud. Well, she is in jail and so goes my theories of THIS Christmas!

I *did* manage to finish 10 novelty scarves and one poncho. The poncho is for my niece. I used tidbits of left over novelty yarn to compliment the plain stockinette stitch. While you can't really see the crocheted flowers - they do add a nice touch! Merry Christmas!

YiKes! I can not believe that ThanksG is less than 2 days away. I am pretty prepared - we are hosting - and DH cooks the meal. So, my job is basically cleaning & grocery shopping. I feel like I have been doing THAT since Saturday. C'est la vie! Now that I am following FlyLady , there will be no more CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) for me!! Do try it!

I also came across this petiton to help save the Wolves . A noble undertaking to be sure.

This week, I bought this really nifty Mannikin!! I would like one of those fancy 'dress forms' one day ... preferably a nice antique. I thought it to be an interesting concept to treat my finished knits like the ARTwork they are!! Well, I haven't really found a form that suits my tastes or fits my budget - but finding this funky soul on eBay is pretty cool! Isn't it a hoot?? The sweater - in the spirit of ThanksG - will be given to MoM this Holiday. Hope you have a GREAT celebration where ever you are! Comments, please!

Today was a *good* mail day! I received my Llapaca order!! Yes ... this is fiber from a llama/alpaca x. And - to be even more specific ... it is from "Pearl"! She is a favorite furbaby of mine.

I might just have enough stashed away for a little lace goodie for me. The problem is time ... I do NOT have enough of it!! Ah well ... maybe in my next life!

If you would like to try some wonderful fiber - and if you are feeling shoppie ... visit

Fiber Jewels from Missouri. My friend Nancie raises STUNNING fiber, furbabies! TAG Me ... You are it!

I am just TICKLED that the Red Sox have won the World Series! How cool!! No more late nights .... for that I am both happy and sad!! The good news is - I can finally wash my BoSox sweatshirt. (Superstition does play into these types of events, you know!)

But, even with all the time in front of the tube - I managed to complete my Halloween 2004, "I FELT That" needle felted sculptures!! Yes - the lunar eclipse last night *did* have a tinge of RED and since the Universe was in phenomenal alignment - these sculptures quickly were a sell out! Woo-WHOO!!

Now, back to the Aran .... winter *is* coming! Tag ME ... You are it!

GO RED SOX !! Good luck in tonight's game # 7!!

Recently, while on holiday - I completed a needlefelted pumpkin. Yes - I know it was in the current issue of "Spin-Off" - but that really didn't have anything to do with my desire to make one. It *is* Halloween this month. Thought you might like to see my latest creation! TAG ME ... You are it!

YiPpEE! First FROST last night! I am just tickled about it! I wore a handmade sweater to work today - and it felt wonderful! There is something about being wrapped up in something that was handmade that makes my spirit soar!

Playing with wool this time of year is magically delicious! The trees are turning, the air is crisp & the woolens are out of their closets. A decadent slice of heaven.
My surroundings inspire ... Who can resist Punk Rock Pumpkins??

Hopefully, you are playing too. I have been working on the Aran. I have about 16" done (out of 26") on the back. Now that I have mastered the pattern - it is just flying by. Although life is ALWAYS busy - I try to do at least 8 rows a day. Keeps the pattern & symbols fresh in my mind. This is what it looks like, as of today ....

TAG Me ... You are it!