Go Kiva!!

OK ... can I introduce you to Rafoat Kosimova??

She need you help too - if her loan goal isn't reached ...... shattered dreams.

Kiva!

I was BloG surfing yesterday. You know how it goes - you stop here - click on there - jump over to this & that and before you know it: vous êtes ici! - ( you are HERE!) or as I like to call it: Kiva!

I became fascinated - almost obsessed with the stories I read. Just when you think this world has no light left ... the SUN shines!

Sadbargul Faizova caught my eye! I hope she catches your eye too as the time to raise her loan amount is ending shortly. For $25, which is some nice wine & even nicer yarn .... YOU can help her make her family's life a little bit better!

Motto for the day: Kindness in Giving creates Love - Lao Tzu

Back to Painting - support EFA!!

As you know -- I am trying to get over my 'fear' of painting again. I am unsure what made me feel so insecure about my art ... but, slowly - those fears are subsiding. It is a constant battle.

With Life being what it is - it is hard to cram everything into an already jam-packed day - let alone make time for something that you fear. That is why if you surround yourself with like minded (creative) people, they help to stretch your imagination and break down those walls that you have built around yourself.

Take Etsy for Animals or EFA for short! They are a group of artists on Etsy who donate time, $$ or their artistry to help animals. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful team!!

Which gets me back to my point on fear, painting & surrounding yourself with like minded (creative) people. Our August challenge became "C is for ..." . Cows, cats, crows, cougars came to mind ... but I was thinking more in terms of collard greens, cabbage, carrots, cantaloupe & cherries. Me, being the little environmentalist that I am, saw those images on a canvas grocery bag .... after a deep breath, VOILA ... I came up with this hand painted OOAK bag! - and pardon while I pull on your heartstrings a bit - BUT 5% of all purchases goes to Pittie Love Rescue. They help one of *the most abused* dog breeds of all times.
Comments?? I would love to hear what you think of this functional piece of art!

Weekend Goal ... Finis!

On weekends - I try to set a goal for my Macuwita sni knitting. I find I am pushing myself to complete 'just one more row' when normally - I would have laid the project down for the evening.

This weekend, my goal was 2 pair of mittens as well as a hand spun skein.

I am proud to say ... I completed my goal!! YAY!!

If obtaining a goal is motivation to do even more ... so are these pups currently in foster care thru the German Shepherd Rescue of New England. Yes ... my heart belongs to my Diesel and the pitbulls, but, DH has always had a soft spot for GSDs. Guess who is becoming a GSRNE member?

So - just when I didn't think I could survive another day of 90 degree F weather ... I plopped some wool into the dye pot for the 4th skein in my Study of Shades & Spots! This salmon beauty is currently For SALE!

Just when you think you can't knit one more row OR stand at the dye pot one more minute - it is nice to know that God created such wonderful things as motivation & inspiration to give you the kick in the bloomers that is needed to make the world a better place.

Christmas in July - again!

This is another posting about Christmas In July! Can you stand it??

While I sit here and sweat ... today is nothing compared to what they are saying the weekend will bring ... high 90's with tons o'humidity.

Ok ... I am a whimp. I can't tolerate the heat ... and I know there are those of you who are snickering as you read. I digress, you won't find me complaining about 10 below ZERO! come December/January. THAT is what wool is for.

December & chilly temps mean Christmas to me! Yesterday, Ravelry asked if they could use my Peace Fleece Christmas Stocking photo. I said "Sure!" I mean, what an honor!!


Here she is - in all her knitted glory! Check out the snow in the photo!! WhEEEEEEE! Seriously, who needs a mojito when seeing SNOW??

In honor of the 'at-a-girl' on Ravelry ... I am offering my only 2
Peace Fleece Christmas Stocking kits
at a 15% off savings - NOW until 7/23 ... or until they sell out.

Yep - those Winter Holidays will be here before you know it .... start one of these beauties now ... (especially if you have AC!)
WhEEEEEEEE!

I thought July was a quiet time??

I thought July was a quiet time.

I thought that with the heat came a simple quietness - a quietness that may be broken by a child's laughter, splashes in the sea, ice cubes in lemonade or, for those that have it ... the hum of the air conditioner.

HA! I say!

I am so busy, my head hurts! I am so busy, I barely breathe! There are a number of factors - and truth be told, I thought that I had them under control. Households, husband, pets, jobs, gardens and family challenges make the world one non-stop party.

So much for being carefree.

But, Life still goes on and while I don't have a spare moment to think ... thank goodness for the internet! I am filled with gratitude that there is a world and friends out there who are just a click away! HOOray for Cyber-space!

Knitting is still part of my busy Life. My parents, while facing challenges of their own in recent years are still going as fast as they can with the health issues they bare. This past weekend, they came for a visit. MoM was thrilled to shove 11 pair of mittens for Macuwita ani into my arms. How VERY cool!

These mittens, when entered into the database last night - pushed us over the 100 pair mark. Thanks MoM!!

Today ... we hit 110 with these babies:

It just blows me away to know that so many on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation will have wonderful woolie warmth this winter! Thank you everyone .... please keep up the great work.

I will try really hard to "Be Calm and Carry On" ... (thanks Britain for that wonderful slogan!) - I still have much to do and if I can get as much done as my 'mom who is up in years can' ... Life will be refreshing and yet relaxing!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please! http://www.theknottysheep.com

Christmas in July!

Ho! HO! HO! It is CHRISTMAS in July!!

Did I actually type the "C" word??

Why "YES" I did!! AND for a very good reason too!

I am a member of a street team on Etsy called "BBEST". We have quite an eclectic group of artists - who dabble in so many different mediums that I can't even begin to list them all here! We are global too - which adds some spice and constant conversations 24/7.

Suffice to say ... some of us are participating in a "Christmas In July" sale which has begun - and will run until July 21.

I will be adding sale items constantly, so please check back DAILY! Since it is a perfect time to start those Winter Holiday projects - please peek at my wonderful discounted handspun & spinning fibers HERE!

Looking for my latest addition?? Check no further! My second skein in my "Shades & Dots Study" is NOW available for PURCHASE!

As always .... 5% of all my sales is donated to Pittie Love Rescue. With their permission, I am able to use their doggie photos! This is "Weezy" - he is looking for his forever home ... isn't he THE most cutest pup ever?? With each purchase - you are helping pups just like him!!

You can check out our participating members listed HERE!

Shop early - shop often!! Today, help not only pups in need - but support independent artisits!! WhEEEEEE!

Spots. Shades and Mittens

Well, not only have I been dyEing ... I have completed my self imposed Mitten Marathon!!

First, the dyEing!
The Knotty Sheep has begun a new series of dyEing called "A Study of Spots & Shades!" I have been having fun playing in the dYe pots ... WhEEEEEEE!!!! The first color to be released ... TEAL! I think that this is such a wonderful color!!

Second, the Mitten Marathon! I was able to complete 3 pair of mittens for the Cheyenne River Sioux. It would have been 4 pair, but the stripey ones were frogged when I realized that I didn't have enough of the same yarn to 'stripe'. Down to the thumbs they were 'ripped' - sigh! I am quite partial to their cheeriness - they do make me smile!

I think I will start another pair tonight. I am still using up stash like a Wild Woman! Stash-using is a good thing ... I am kind of psyched that I have just a wee bit more room in the studio than I did a few weeks ago!

YiPpEE!

My Mitten Marathon

Part of what I love about the 4th of July is it a celebration of family, friends, country, and Life.

I can forgo the parades - way to crowded! AND the fireworks - way to loud! (... I always wonder what the wildlife think when the night sky turns radiant and the sonic booms reign!)

My long weekend doesn't truly begin until Thursday evening - but I am choosing to begin my Mitten Marathon tonight! Yep - I am just SO curious to see how many pair of mittens I can complete for Macuwita sni!

I have put this aside - without its mate even being casted on:

Hopefully, I will turn this from a nondescript collection of stash into a mountain of mittens!

So - as of today, I am lying low for a while. A good LONG while! I have much to do, much to contemplate and family matters to address! While I will be BloGGing ... and creating ... I will also be hibernating! HaPpY 4th everyone ... and may you be able to celebrate your family, friends, country, and Life - wherever you may be!! May your nondescript stash turn into your very own mountain of mittens too! WhEEEEE!

How could you shoot a dog??

Short & sweet .... How could anyone shoot a dog that is NOT attacking - NOT maiming - NOT - mauling anything or anyone?

It this day and age - it happens. My heart would like to believe that stuff like this is isolated - my brain tells me 'not so much'.

Gage was a seemingly happy, carefree, well trained & socialized pit bull . Yes ... he slept with his family & YORKIE dog siblings. He wore Santa Hats & Christmas bows in his hair. He danced in splashes of water and snoozed in afternoon sunbeams. Ah ... such is a dog's life.

Then, why, may I ask will I be wearing this shirt in honor of his memory this coming Saturday??

Well, seems like Gage's neighbor didn't like him. Didn't care about his Christmas bows & Santa hats. Didn't care about his social skills or dances with the waves. He saw a FREAKIN' pit bull and decided it was time for target practice. SHAME ON YOU, Mr. Neighbor!

Please consider a donation to Gage's family as they are battling legal fees to get said neighbor's unfriendly, ok, murderous Gluteus maximus into prison where it belongs! Go HERE - to view how a pit bull is also a son & a brother!

Diesel would appreciate it. Yes - he has donned his share of silly clothes and silly poses ... but, as a dog who is half rottie, can I show you how much he hates thunder??

God Bless Sweet Gage & his family.

to knit or draw?

Some long time readers of this BloG remember that I am an 'artist' - at least I think of myself as one. Pastels are my medium when I long to put images on paper. I like to think that I am half way decent in this foray too. Like knitting & spinning - there is always room for improvement, and the more time one makes to develop a talent, the more talent they seem to have.

There in lies my problem: putting the time into drawing once again. I really, really, really want to draw - but, I am nervous. O Heck ... I am actually afraid. There, I said it ... I admitted to the world that I am afraid to draw! What if I lost *it*? What if I can't translate what I *see* on to paper??

This weekend, as I attempt to complete a pair of sox for Macuwita sni ... I will also attempt to draw.

I found this sketch from 18 YEARS ago:

This pastel was created about 5 years ago:

Sadly - there hasn't been to many paintings since .... sigh!

So, I ask you to send me 'creating vibes & calming energies!' This weekend, I wish to painting something ... wish me luck!

Socks

I haven't knit socks in a while - but I have had a skein of "Lakeberry" that I had purchased from Ray at Knitvity a while back.

I casted on Saturday ... and the with Celtics playing a LATE game once again tonight, I just might finish the first sock. I would be SO happy with that. After all, SSS (second sock syndrome) doesn't happen to me all that often, but I want to make sure it doesn't happen here since I am in the throes of using STASH. Yep - only 57 ounces to go .... YiPpEE!

Well, here is what I have completed thus far .... and "GO Boston Celtics!"

One mitten note: some readers have requested the pattern for the mittens I displayed in a previous BloG post .... Well, HERE it is!! Have fun .... WhEEEEE!

A Mitten Weekend

I am having a difficult digesting that we are in the middle of our first heat wave. YiKes!

My garden lettuce is wilting ... Diesel is wilting ... and I am just plain melting. Seriously, it is ONLY the second week in June and temps in the mid 90's makes this New Englander quite crabby! Sigh ....

I did manage to complete 3 pair of mittens for Macuwita sni over the weekend. Yes - it was quite warm to knit ... but mittens, like sox, are EZ PZ in the heat. They are small - they barely touch you - and while you are sweating off water weight - you know come December they will being warming the hands of someone who hands just might have been terribly cold last winter.

So ... here they are!! The trio was made from stash yarns. A truly nice way to reduce my mountain of yarn! WhEEEEEE!

Diesel Spins

Once again, busy, busy, busy!

It is all good and it makes me reflect on my time management skills or lack thereof. I feel like I haven't been that productive - although to look around the house & garden - I have accomplished a bit.

As always, there is still much to do.

I recently put a notion into my head that says: "You can't purchase any yarn or wool until you have knit and/or spun 5 pounds of stash!" Yep - 5 POUNDS!

This is going to prove difficult as there as SO much that I want. Yep - want - I don't need a thing. Sigh .....

So, by my calculations 80 oz of stash must leave the studio in some way, shape or form. Currently, I have 70.6 ounces left to go .... O Diesel ... can you help me??
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

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!