The Killing of Pits

I tend not to make my BloG a diatribe about politics, religion or other fun things that cause people to run for cover. There is enough of that on the local news and discussions abound at water coolers during business hours and at local 'watering holes' after hours. Besides ... I haven't met to many individuals interested in my opinions on 'hot topic' issues.

But, today, I digress. I don't live in Ohio and due to impending legislation - I am glad that I don't. Ohio Representative Tyrone Yates has amended House Bill 568 , which, if passed, will prohibit the ownership of pit bulls in the State of Ohio. Ok - without mincing words here, not only will pitbulls be banned, but ALL pitbulls and those deemed 'pitbull mixes' will be euthanized. That is right - Killed. Murdered. It doesn't matter that these family dogs have done nothing - have NOT bitten or maimed or mauled ... OK - they *may* have licked someone or snuggled up to their children - but - Mr. Yates has decided that the good citizens of Ohio and AMERICANS at large - can not choose their pets.
(A copy of said amendment will be found HERE - please scroll down to the bottom to see the latest rewording - it is listed as section 955.111!)

Dangerous dogs are products of dangerous owners. Maybe Mr. Yates should use the criminal justice system to prosecute the owners instead of murdering dogs who have done nothing - except to wear the clothes of a breed he dislikes.

I recently sent Pittie Love Rescue the donation from The Knotty Sheep. I received a beautiful thank you - with an adorable little girl in between her two good friends. What do you think Mr. Yates?? How would you explain your legislation to her? How would you explain killing her friends?

I humbly ask you to write/call/email:

John Husted, Speaker of the House
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us

This type of legislation smacks of everything we, in the US, don't stand for - but we do stand UP to!! Mr. Yates ... punish the deed NOT the breed.

Wool - 24/7

Last night I couldn't decide between spinning & knitting. I wanted something easy - and new fleeces had arrived, fresh from the processor. I thought I might just take a turn at both - but opted to cast on a simple watch cap for Macuwita sni. I seem to have a growing stash of left over yarn balls ... this cap will be made from the same yarn as the English Rib combined with handspun singles. (Photo provided as soon as it is completed.)

Sometimes it is a difficult choice to decide between spinning & knitting - I can't be the only 'out there' who feels that way either .... so ....

Did you happen to see my skein entitled Sunset Sailor? I donated this handspun wonder to Etsy for Animals! I love the colors flowing thorough this yarn .... don't you?

OR - maybe you noticed Just Blushed. These spinnable batts are the palest of pinks! Totally girlie & wonderful. Don't they just make you want to spin - like right NOW?

Ah - choices! Sometimes it is just to much fun NOT to choose and to play with everything that we want to play with! WhEEEEEE!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Short & sweet - the Herringbones are Done!

It took a total of 9 days to complete these babies .... One solid week for the first mitten - 2 days for the second. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together??

These were a nice, fun knit and Peace Fleece will provide a myriad of options for some colorful mittens!!

These "Herringbones" will be donated to Macuwita sni! "Mitten Quest 2008-2009" is going strong. To date, 21 pair of mittens completed - 230 to beat our goal! Feel free to join us ... we want to warm both hands & hearts!

Tired - but still going

It never ceases to amaze me that just when you are *this close* to throwing your hands up in the air and screaming "No more!" - you dig a little deeper into your soul and find that you had what it takes all along.

That is what is so cool about each & every day - it is all about choices. To love - or not. To be patient - or not. To have Faith - or not. To grow - or not.

It seems that everyone is moving a mile a minute. Not good. Not good for the health of each of us nor is it good for the Planet.
Each minute is valuable - this I know. But, it is how we spend those minutes that really count.

There are times when I don't want to spin, or dye or card wool. What keeps me going are dogs. All dogs / every dog that is still in search of their forever homes. Shelter dogs, in particular, have my heart - they always will. My motivation is that just when I feel like throwing my hands up in the air - I think of all those pups who haven't know love. They deserve good homes - it has become my mission to help them.

There are also times when I don't want to knit. What keeps me going here is those that are cold. Those that may not have access to a warm jacket or a home. Those that live without hats, or scarves or mittens - it doesn't seem right that my stash might just actually outfit a small town. So I knit to share - I knit to let someone I don't know - know that someone cares for them. I want them to be warm - both inside & out.

Check out my first completed, unblocked, Herringbone Mitten!

I am making them out of Baghdad Blue & Chickie Masla Peace Fleece. Pretty, yes?? They will be part of Macuwita sni's Mitten Quest.

My wish for you today is to find what motivates you. Find what makes your heart GLOW and just when you feel like throwing your hands UP in the air - do so!!
And clap to the Heavens knowing that you have the will & motivation to carry on!

The English Rib is DONE!

For such an easy sweater - this baby has taken me months. TWO months almost to the day.
I got bored ... and I will admit that once that happened, I became lazy too. Unfortunately, I am not the type that can have several projects OTNs at the same time. Little by little, row by row - the English Rib is now completed!

So, here I sit as 'proud mama' of this sweater which will be sent off to South Dakota for Macuwita sni. It most likely will fit a 6 year old child, please, take a peek:

As there is no rest for the weary - a pair of Herringbone Mittens has also been started for Macuwita sni's "Mitten Quest 2008-2009". Since this photo was taken, I am only 15 rows shy of completing the first mitten. Got to love small projects!! WhEEEE!

What are you creating??

Knit Mitts!

It is hard to believe that in these first 2 weeks of May, I am thinking about mittens! 250 pair of mittens to be exact!

Macuwita sni members recently voted upon this goal to help warm the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota this UPcoming winter. You KNOW heating a home will be costly in the colder months - so, we might as well throw caution to the wind and start knitting those mittens NOW! Do join us for "Mitten Quest 2008 - 2009 ... we love welcoming new members!

Of course, even though I have been knitting like a fiend to finish up The English Rib Sweater - I also had time to play in the dye pots. Look at these Scrumble Skeins. Perfect for stripes - don't you think?

Time to go peruse the mitten patterns ..... WhEEEEE!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

A FABulous Day for Pit bulls!

Faitful readers of this BloG know how much I love dogs!

Seriously, my life would not be as JOYful if these 'in the moment' creatures suddenly vanished. I LOVE all dogs! And while it has been 8 months since my senior girl passed - my rottie x, Diesel, still remains an only dog child. There is no replacing my Motu - and I think Diesel is just fine with that.

Over the last several years - I have donated a portion of my sales to different animal organizations. Not only do I feel compelled to give something back - it is totally good Karma!! It does a body good to get (as I like to describe it) ... "One's head out of one's bum." Yep - think of the visual & you will know what I mean!

Why is this a FABulous Day for Pit bulls? The Knotty Sheep has just surpassed the $100 donation mark!! I am tickled - tickled - tickled!! So - to the folks at
Pittie Love Rescue a check will be coming your way this week!

Thank EWE all SO much .... now, being the goal oriented person that I am - I am seeing the next $100 coming VERY soon ..... Be ShoppiEE!!

Diesel waits ....

So today is April 25. By my calculations - April 27 is in 2 days ... gulp. The 27th is the day that I proclaimed that the English Rib sweater would be completed for Macuwita sni. Alas ... it won't be happening.

Try as I might to work a few rows daily - it has been a struggle. I am thinking that it isn't so much my busy schedule - but more the fact that I don't like ribbing for an eternity. I am happy to report that the front is almost done. That just leaves 2 sleeves, the neck, and the seams. NOT *so* much to complete ... but I have mittens & sox & hats & Lopi sweaters to knit!! Never mind all the spinning that I must do.

Just about a month left to my silly schedule ... I do feel the end is in sight! Until then, Diesel waits .....

Of Patti Larkin & Earth Day

This weekend, DH & I were lucky enough to see Patty Larkin in concert with friends who are FUN! A picnic was packed into a wicker basket - libations were stored in a cooler ... and we were treated to great music with terrific company.

I have been SO busy that I haven't taken to much time to relax. Saturday night reminded me that inspirations happen all the time - that sometimes we need to forgo the mundane and break free from the chains that sterilize our minds. The creative process doesn't lend itself to crabby people & daily chores that become robotic. The MUSE needs sparks ... it needs laughter .... it needs beautiful music ... it needs FUN (and a good guitar rift with a respectable sauvignon blanc doesn't hurt either!)

The organic nature of Patty's music reminded me that Earth Day is right around the corner. I decided to be inspired .... here is my interpretation of Earth Day 2008!

I hope you celebrate the Earth - everyday!

A time for Sleepy Clouds

I wastrying to be realistic when I said I wanted to finish the "English Rib" sweater for Macuwita sni by
April 17th. Truth be told, it isn't going to happen. It is possible if I knit day in & day out for the next 6 days - how realistic is that??

I will work my fingers off, instead, to get it completed by the 27th. That is a more appropriate time span. Spring is popping out at the reservation, luckily, the coldest of days are behind the Cheyenne River Sioux for a bit!

On the business front .... The Knotty Sheep has yarns in a boutique right on the corner of Newbury Street, Boston! How very, very cool!! Isn't OAK just SO incredibly Bostonian?? If you are in the area ... do stop by and pick up some of my one-of-a-kind handspun goodies and tell Keara (the owner!) - I said "hi"!

I did manage to squeeze in a little time at the carder while listening to the Boston Red Sox on the radio. Sleepy Clouds has fabulous dollups of cotton .... one terrific textured yarn will be created once these babies are spun!!

Pretty, yes??

Well, must go 'ball up' some Peace Fleece for the 'English Rib' - yep - the 27th will be here before I know it! WhEEEEE!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

A Sweater for Macuwita sni

I recently selected a Yankee Knitter Design pattern for my next Macuwita sni project.

It will be a fine looking sweater when completed... the pattern is called "English Rib". Yep - rib, as in ribbed, as in RIBBING. I don't know why I chose this ... I have to ask myself, "what was I thinking, a whole sweater in ribbing?" But, I digress ....

I console myself knowing that it will keep someone warm - the Cheyenne River Sioux saw temperatures in double digit negative numbers this past winter - who am I to complain of a little K1 P1? So, here is a photo of the 'almost completed back'. I post it here so I will complete it post haste ...... Wish me luck!

The Beat Goes on ....

I have been really busy. If you know me at all ... you know I am not good at being busy. I kind of roll on thru life - with coffee or wine in one hand and fiber and a dog in my other. In being busy - I find my hands are holding other things - things that I am not used to holding for any duration - I am trying to hold on to everything at the moment. Sometimes it works - sometimes, not so well.

One thing I made time for today is *Oprah*. I hadn't viewed her TV show in quite sometime. (See above paragraph.)~ ~ But today was a must see ... it was about
puppy mills. Suffice to say, NEVER purchase a pet thru a pet store ... check out your local shelters and pure bred rescues. NO dog ... NO LIVING THING should ever, ever live in conditions such as those found in puppy mills.

On a brighter, fibery note ..... Barnyard Chicks anyone?? WhEEEEE!

Swan Kissed Sun

I love the fact that day by day the colors of the Earth are changing. Spring does that - it is her job to brighten our days.

I am finding that colors are usurping my dye pots. How can they not?? The Sun shines longer & brighter these days ... the crocus have been waving at me for a bit and the robins play - looking for juicy somethings that have survived under the thin layer of frozen soil. Life is good!!

Swan Kissed Sun has a pale beauty that I love this time of year. Something gently pleasing that gets one's eye ready for the full force of Nature's springtime beauty.

I suppose Spring's arrival will not be today ... when I awoke - it was 18 degrees F! Did I mention that "Swan Kissed Sun" could be spun to make a nice pair of mittens??

Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Where are the daffodils??

I don't know about you, but the weather here is nuts! One day, up in the 60's ... the next 20's .... some snow, some rain, some sun. It *is* New England - is anything goes this time of year ... but, it is nutty all the same.

Some small crocuses have poked their wee heads to greet Spring with a smile. Haven't seen a daffodil (out side of market vases) as of yet - so, I created my own!!

Frosted Daffodils is my entry for the Etsy for Animals April Challenge. We are thinking Spring while helping animals!!

If you are looking for daffodils too ... look no further than these babies!! 5% of my sales goes to Pittie Love Rescue !! I am totally GIDDY as The Knotty Sheep's total has just cracked the $90 mark!! Woo-WHOO!! So .... here is a wee bit of Spring for all you spinners!!

UGH - way busy!

I have never been good at being busy. I don't like the hectic pace ... I feel not only do I not have a chance to think - I really feel like I don't have a chance to breathe.

Work outside the studio has become an 'all day event'. I admit to liking the larger paycheck in this 'unappealing' US economy - but a price is always paid on the creative front. Playing Easter hostess with over night guests attached and you have a recipe for 'really busy'.

As of today - I hoping that things straighten out and I can return to my fun loving, creative self. I feel like I am breathing already!

Of couuse - there is nothing like a good shot of color to get those creative juices flowing!! I did manage to work on more wee skeins - why dye eggs when you can dye yarn??

Did I mention that The Knotty Sheep will soon be in a Boston boutique? Well - more on that in a bit ... I must go breathe so I may create! WhEEEEEEE ..........

An Etsy Life

This past weekend, I took a look at my bedroom only to discover that most of my artworks & 'pretties' have been purchased from members of Etsy. That brings me incredible JOY to have someone's hard work; their talent; their God-given gift; present in my daily life. I celebrate each piece, knowing that a part of their grace has entered into my home.

I like selling my yarns & fibers there too. The Knotty Sheep had a banner weekend ... it was record breaking! For that, I am extremely grateful! $86.90 has been realized thus far, from sales, to donate to PittieLove Rescue - thank YOU dear customers ... I just tingle knowing that these funds will benefit dogs in need.

So many wonderful people on Etsy make up what Etsy is all about! Pam at Bags & More by Pam is one such person! She, like I and many others, are members of the BBEST team. We are very chatty AND recently, we had a goodie swap. Today, I received my swap gift from her ... and dear Pam - thank you!! It is a beautiful crocheted bag in red!! I love red!! Not only that, but as some of you know - I carry a small basket to work which houses a spindle ... Pam's bag HOLDS not only the basket & spindle & wool - but there is plenty of room for my notebook too. (Just in case I get a creative inspiration ... I can jot it down!) This bag is more than perfect as I have started to walk to work and now, I can carry my spindle basket easily. I LOVE IT!! AND thank YOU, Pam, for a most perfect gift!

Do visit Pam's store ... I think you need one of these hand crocheted, LINED bags too! Did I mention that it is perfect for carrying your knitting project too? WhEEEEEE!

Little Wee skeins!

I love little skeins. I have been known to take snippets of yarn, ply them, and have teeny-tiny wee skeins just an inch or two long. They are fun to make ... wonderful to view in a small vase ... but, difficult to put into skein form. Ah ... the challenges of the fiber arts!

I just finished a batch of what I call "Scrumble Skeins™" I love their colors and the fact that for short money - you can have a brilliant bouquet of hand spun lovelies is a delicious bonus! Perfect for stripes or weaving or freeform crochet ... they truly jump-start the Muse! What do you think of Lot #5? WhEEEEE!

Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

The 'Gapish Scarf'

If you are like me ... you have 101 little balls of remnant yarn that sit in a collective basket just waiting for some love & attention. There isn't enough of any one color to do a whole hat or scarf. I think that is why 'stripes' were created. Call them whimsical, call them bold, call them trendy - I call them a necessity in the world of knitting.

Behold ... my 'Gapish Scarf' (think Big Store Chain) for Macuwita sni. It will take me some time to complete it as I decided that it needs a crocheted trim. I think that will tie everything together nice and neat. Not that it looks fragmented by any stretch of the imagination - but a crocheted edge would soften it as well as make it look 'UN-Gapish'. You know - like someone actually took the time to create a masterpiece and not some mass-produced piece of 'eeewwww' for "$$$ OUCH!"

I will keep you up to date of said "Gapish Scarf" and it's long journey to completion. That being said ... the kicker is - I don't crochet! Wish me luck!!
WhEEEEEE!

Going to the Post Office

Ah ... it is Friday!

Today - I get to make a trip to the post office. Yes - a bill or 2 needs to be tossed into the mail box, but, I also get to mail some handspun/handknitted warmth to a few kids on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. What *could* be better?

I don't know about you - but I am SO tired of hearing about the bad stuff. The news is filled with gloom & doom ... people seem to be frightened of the environment, the economy and even their neighbor. I say ... get your head out of your TV and make a difference! You want the World to change ... change it!

You want the environment to get better ... carry your own bags to the grocery instead of using those AWFUL plastic things! You want the economy to get better ... purchase from a artist instead of cheap, big box discount stores! You want your relationship with your neighbor to get better ... say "HELLO"! ~ I don't get why we make it so hard ... but, we do. Sigh .... Time to jump on the "HaPpY Bus" and make a difference.

Since we are always looking for new passengers to take a ride - here is the link for Macuwita sni O - in my box to the reservation?? 2 hats / 2 scarves.

Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Stop the World - I want to get off!

Yes ... things have been that crazy & hectic.

It is all good though ... I have been spinning up a storm and drooling over new yarns to make a zillion pair of fair isle mittens. Suffice to say - I must work through some of the stash first. :)

That goes for the fiber stash too. You know when you have wool, yarn, needles and pattern books in every room of your house - it is time to implode the stash mountain!

So - here is my latest carding adventure ... Cheap Sinks #2! These would be AWESOME spun finely & knit into sox!!

Off I go ... the World is still spinning .... and I need to spin some more too! WhEEEEEEEE!

Do SHOP at - &hearts 5% will be donated to Pittie Love Rescue!! &hearts