As Creatives - at some point - each of us suffers from a Nemesis of some sort. It might be a UFO, or a commissioned project that doesn't sing to our soul. It might even be a deadline that was both long in reaching yet very short incoming. Ah ... the Nemesis!

Suffice to say - my current nemesis is the Dubblemossa. It isn't like it has just been started ... I only have 28 pattern rows left (and then, of course, the multi inch stockinette in steel grey for it's innards.)

Words of encouragement are appreciated ... as well as the proverbial kick in my knitted bloomers!
Wish me luck .... Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Spring was in the air today. I must admit - the fresh air smelled like heaven and the sunshine was a total delight.

While I love all the seasons - Spring is just energizing! Could be the longer days ... could be the fact that I can work out of doors comfortably ... could be that I love hanging laundry on the line and having it dry! The list goes on and on ... I like that.

I know Spring has greeted many over the last several weeks and while Easter is upon us - I can't help thinking that Summer isn't very far behind. That, scares me! I mean, when did it get to be the end of March?

(My mother was right - time flies as you get older ... but, I am not older .... YET!)

Yes - Spring is here ... and I thought I would share a wee bit of Springtime with you! Meet MayBelle! WhEEEE!

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

I bet your dogs are as lucky as mine. If you don't have dogs - I am pretty confident that if you are reading ARTsy/knitting/spinning BloGs - any animal in your care is treated as a valued member of your family. YAY!

Over the course of the last week, I have been horrified by the way Pit Bull dogs are treated/handled/discriminated against. Actually - they are profiled. I know the horror stories too ... I find it unfair that we label a whole breed as 'bad' just because that is what the media wants us to believe. Sensationalism sells.

Well, this coming weekend - I am putting my $$ where my mouth is and I am going to meet a few. I just can't wait - seriously, I am overJOYed at the prospect! While we can not add to our present family (please read, Diesel doesn't want a sibling!) there will come a time when I would be honored if a pit bull would come to live with me!

Now Diesel being the 'good boy' that he his - does feel a wee bit upset at his inability to share his home ... so, he & his sister Motu are putting their $$ where their mouths are too - They are sponsoring "Maxwell Smart" - you can't tell me that this pup isn't the cutest thing EVER? Maxwell Smart is the top pup on the sponsorship page! Maybe he could come live with you?

While I have been enthralled with Pit Bull research - I am still getting some carding done! Take a look at Flying Cowgirl!

Giddy UP! Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! AND - please try to adopt a pet before you buy ... there are so many that need forever homes. Comments, please!

Balance is such an important thing. I am working on ways to find 'better balance.' It sounds easy - it is proving to be a challenge.

I have to much stuff. To many dishes. To many Tshirts. To many spices that have been in the cupboard for years. And I won't even begin to tell you how many bars of hotel soap are in the linen closet.

So, while I am learning to appreciate the small moments in life - I am also learning to practice 'better balance'. No *new* tshirts can enter unless some older ones are either rehomed or made into cleaning cloths. No new dishes or glassware until some overly used ones are recycled. No more hotel soap ... I just can't use it all in one lifetime - I have actually banned it from entering the house.

Traveling the road of 'better balance' is good. Of course - one usually stumbles upon a road block here & there. Luckily, some road blocks are sweeter than others. Such is the case of "Sweet Pea", a beautiful jacob fleece

She can come to play with me as I am releasing some yarn into the Universe in the form of a hat, a pair of mittens and baby sox (the other soxlette is on the needles and will be completed tonight!) I just LOVE knitting for Charity!

Isn't *Balance* the best?
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please.

Now that our clocks have changed - I feel like I am getting more completed. I do believe that it is all imaginary. I am not doing anything differently than I was last Tuesday, but I feel more energized.

That is good ... I will take it. More time is always a gift from the Heavens. Time is one thing I know I take for granted. I am working on this as I know all time is way to short. Do we really have enough time in the day to create? To knit? To love? To do chores? I suppose we do, if we manage it wisely and don't let the 'junk' creep
into our souls. (Sorry, I really don't care that Britney is bald or that Paris hasn't been in the news for a bit and why-o-why are we still speaking about Anna Nicole's sad demise? These tidbits belong in their lives & in the lives of those who love them.) But, I digress .... time is what we make of it and I am really sure that ALL time is meant to be enjoyed.

I have been busy knitting more charity goods as well as spinning and dyEing. I have discovered that I actually have more time than I ever thought I did. I can knit an EZ PZ ribbed hat at work in the brief snippets of time that become available. While others may be able to do a more difficult pattern, K2 P1 works for me as I work with kids and have my attention diverted frequently. I don't have to concentrate on the pattern - it just flows ... the kids like to look at what I am doing & they ask questions - which is great, and someone, somewhere will appreciate the hat's warmth! I love the fact that I am also keeping sheepies very busy - producing the beautiful wools that I use. HaPpY Kary - HaPpY Universe!

Did you want to have a peek at the dyEing? I think I have captured another sunset in Celeste
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

Very rarely do I post on Sundays. Weekends for me are just that - the end of a work week ... it is time to relax, recharge and spend some well earned quality time with DH & the pet kids.

I know that I am *the* luckiest girl in the world to have such a wonderful family. I really, really am!

I also know that my pups are pretty lucky too. I am ever so honored that they were entrusted to me ... tonight, I send out the call to the Universe that "Bella" needs a forever home - RIGHT NOW. All the info is HERE!

If you could pass this info on ... maybe on your BloG or maybe to your email list ... the Universe will appreciate it. I will appreciate it. "Bella" will really, really appreciate it.

Only 28 more pattern rows left in the Dubblemossa! How very cool. Of course, in the scheme of things - I still have about 9" of stockinette left to do as well - but, that should fly by once started.

I find it amazing that my attention span can be so .... minimal. Who knew?

Anyway, one thing I am loving is knitting my charity hats. These 2 babies weigh in at 9.3 oz! Does a heart good knowing that someone somewhere will be a little warmer because of a few sticks, some wool and a little effort.

Remember the Navajo Plying? Well, the hat in the background is knit from that yarn. Fun stripes, yes?? I did combine it with a handspun milk chocolate blend as I knew I would not have enough of the NP yarn. Today, I will do recon of the patterns once again .... I am in the mood for more charity knitting this weekend. The Dubblemossa will have to wait until Monday!
Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

I have been both feverishly working on the Dubblemossa (yes - it was supposed to be a Christmas gift for BIL - it will now hopefully be an Easter gift instead!) and charity knitting projects.

Yesterday, when going thru my handspun stash - I came upon 2 skeins of Navajo plyed yarn. I make these skeins when I have stocked piled various colors of hand carded batts.

Navajo Plying is easy - although the concept itself can be a wee bit confusing when digesting the written word. If you can visualize "crocheting a chain" - there is the concept behind NP. It really is a great way to keep colors distinct. Because the final yarn has a 3-ply thickness - my yarn is usually classified as a 'bulky weight'.

Suffice to say - I began knitting a charity hat - breaks of color add such excitement & cool striping! I miss Navajo plying as it has been a while since I had extra batts lying around for *ME* to play with. Hmmmm .... I wonder how long I can wait on the Dubblemossa? Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!

My fascination with overdyeing is still going strong. There is no rhyme or reason to it - it is just spontaneous & unpredictable. I like that.

Many times, I think that we lose our sense of fun & wonder as we grow older. Thing become stagnant, mundane. Sure - I can measure dye with the best of them - but right now - I am just having way to much fun being 'spontaneous & unpredictable'!

Color elicits such emotion & attitude. One person's favorite color is another person's 'ick'. Another person's red is another person's pink. Isn't it neat that something SO simple can create such passion?

Here is a skein I overdyEd still in the pot. It might become a charity knitting project as it is a worsted weight. (BTW - I finished my 10th hat this week - it will be headed to Dulaan..... YAY!) Isn't it pretty? Remember .... Inspire Art! Create Art! Buy Art! Be ART!! Comments, please!