I'm going to needle you now ...

My 2nd needle felting class given at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn is now complete. Four of the ladies from my first class came to the workshop today to do more projects. I got out my color palette bag this morning ...

and created ...

a little sample piece for my winter felted hat, in order to show what can be done with a few pieces of felt and fiber and a very sharp needle. It still needs more work, but it was just a sample created this morning.

Below is what the class did in only a 3 hour workshop at that. Needle felting takes a LOT of needle punching by the way. I would say they are all very talented artists. I know they wouldn't all agree, but someday they'll realize that they really are. I love what they all accomplished. What do you think ... some beautiful work right?

And then I spent all of my money on another bag for myself.

I am officially a colorful "Bag Lady" now ...

A Muse Made Me Do It ...

JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk Yarn Available in 2/18 Lace Weight and DK Weight

Muse in My Yarn
Full of color, yards of magic abound;
In baskets, boxes and trees all around.
Such a feeling I have never enough.
Do I imply that I could need more stuff?
Two or three more cones or skeins wouldn’t hurt,
Not like taking huge helpings of dessert.
Without touching its lingering fine thread
Wonder escapes me in this late, late hour;
My imagination a lifeless flower.
Like a Greek daughter presiding over art,
Morpheus releases my memory,
Spinning my threads like thunderbolts in parts.
But it is not the needles I seek out,
Only the yarn that I have dreamt about.

A sonnet by Kathy Pearson
Cordova, TN. U.S.A. found at KNITBITS

But not everything that came in the mail this week was from my muse forcing me into more stash-ing ... I got this yarn below as winnings from the Campanula Sock KAL contest.

Sock yarn ... Dyed in the Wool Handmade. Oops, I forgot to write the color down, but looking at their colors I think this one has got to be the "Peacock" teals. Such lovely yarn! And a color I don't think I have. [Don't you hold me to that Mafia, in case I have something similar somewhere under the bed, in the closet, cedar chest, bureau drawer. But.I.don't.think.I.do.]

And a really beautiful glass marker was part of the prize too. I'm using it with the DK weight zephyr above in the center of the top picture for my S.P.'s Scarf in the International Scarf Exchange 5 . The yarn color is Iris. Purple/Blue. Just like my garden Iris'.

Hope she likes it.

Creative minds and hands ...

... are not wasted in Salem, MA.

Taught my first class in Needle Felting yesterday and had a great time! Some talented, ambitious and enthusiastic future needle artists joined me at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn on 21 Front Street for an introduction to my love of needle felting. Don't they look happy? I HOPE they are anyway AND that they got a lot out my class too. Some of them have already applied to next Sunday's Workshop or asked if I would be doing this again later. I think I might. Stay tuned. I just hope I can live up to my reputation and the web advertisement for my class.

And even though I didn't get a lot of knitting done since I spent Saturday doing my final preparations for Sunday's class, I do have two FO's to report.

One for little feet which will be for my Munchkin, Jayden for Christmas.

And

September socks for MY feet.

So I'll be dancing in the street ...

I'm in Love ...

with the Modern Quilt Wrap from Folk Style.

If I could stay home and just knit on this, I would!

So soft. So yummy. So beautiful. Well the corners don't line up perfect, but I might work on that with my 2nd wrap. You know ... the one for a gift.

Added Note:

For those who would like to know if I weave or knit in my ends when I change colors; check out Sock pOrn's turtorial on knitting in ends. She gives the best how-to-pictures and I've been knitting in my ends ever since.

And what time of day are you?

Thanks, Sara (FabricNFiberFanatic!) for another quiz to entertain us.

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Since I start my day at around 4:00 am everyday ... how could I be anything but Sunrise?

Helping others to Knit for charity ...

My friend, Dee Martin and I are going to arrange to a get together in October. At the same time I plan to hand over to her a few yarn donations I've collected through the Summer for the RSVP knitters in New Hampshire, like I did this past Spring.

Donate yarn, patterns, and supplies for knitting or crochet to:

SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE SERVICES, INC.

The Community Action Agency for Hillsborough County

Dee Martin, Volunteer Services Director

40 Pine Street, Manchester, NH 03103

Telephone: (603) 668-8010 ext 6022 Fax: (603) 645-6734

dmartin (at) snhs (dot) org www.snhs.org

If you would like to donate to a good cause but don't have the time to knit or crochet the donations yourself, this is a good way to clear out the old stash while helping others at the same time. Since the last appeal, some very good kind knitters and crocheters from around the county have mailed packages to NH Services for the volunteers to continue their charity gifts. They greatly appreciate it.

With Winter around the corner, I'm hoping you continue to donate. A lot of the volunteer senior knitters are shut-ins, alone or living on fixed income. Yet they welcome the opportunity to share their skills by making items for others in need.

That's were your help comes in ... Keep those donations coming.

Lets keep everyone warm this winter!

Thanks to all who continue to help others, no matter how small!

The blocking is complete on the Clapotis scarf.

All I did was soak it in Eucalan for 30 minutes and then squeshed out the water, rolled in a towel to soak up more water. Then laid it out on the blocking board with straight pin wires running back & forth along both sides and stretched out to the width I wanted and pinned.

This is how it looks now. I love it!

I brought the Felt-Tea Farm tea cozy into the Topsfield Fairgrounds today. And now I'm working behind the scenes on a few projects. Knitting and Felting. It's in my blood now.

And by the way, I got a haircut ...
and many hairs got cut in the process ! I just might go even shorter next time.

Like the buttons, but not the Vest ...

I don't know why, I just don't like this vest on me. You can't tell in these pictures, but it's not a good fit. To wide at the waist. I even threw it in the washer to see if it would felt a little. But it didn't change much. I do have to finish the seaming off at the top back as you see. I'm stitching it close because it can easily be put on just over the head rather than using the buttons. So the buttons are just decorative. That said ...
I think I'll give it away ... just have to figure out who might like it.

Another one to cast on ...

For the Modern Quilt Wrap ...

Sandi from Knitting Daily was talking about picking color in the last issue. When I took this picture at my computer of the KidSilk Haze that I purchased to go into this wrap... well look at the Hanging on the wall behind them. Except for the purple, it looks like I picked my colors according to that picture. But.I.didn't. It's the recommended colorways by the designer.

I just happen to LOVE this mix of colors!

Don't they look yummy up close?

How interesting ...

Thanks to FemiKnitMafia, I took this interesting quiz.

What kind of book are you?

You're Babar the King!

by Jean de Brunhoff

Though your life has been filled with struggle and sadness of late,
you're personally doing quite well for yourself. All this success brings responsibility,
though, and should not be taken lightly. Life has turned from war to peace, from damage
to reconstruction, and this brings a bright new hope for everyone you know. These hopeful
people look to you for guidance, and your best advice to them is to watch out for snakes.
You're quite fond of the name "Celeste".


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

But I'm not sure if that's really me. So I retook the quiz and this is what I got.

Does either one ring a bell?

You're Loosely Based!

by Storey Clayton

While most people haven't heard of you, you're a really good and
interesting person. Rather clever and witty, you crack a lot of jokes about the world
around you. You do have a serious side, however, where your interest covers the homeless
and the inequalities of society. You're good at bringing people together, but they keep
asking you what your name means.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

AhHa ... and I thought the name "StitchingNut" was pretty clear.

[Well I've given it a lot of thought since Monday and I've decided the first one is the closest to being correct about me. One more piece of the puzzle ... ]

And while we're doing tests ... here's another one.
HA, I like this one!

What Rhonda Means

R is for Rich H is for Heavenly O is for Old N is for Nice D is for Dramatic A is for Arty

What Does Your Name Mean?

Happy Birthday, DH ...

It's tomorrow, September 10, 2007. Would you believe it's his 70th? I can't hardly believe it myself. I know I joke a lot about him, but he really is my best friend and the most understanding about my nutty knitting phase. More than I could hope for. In fact, when I mentioned that I was obsessed with my knitting, he said ...

"But it's just a FANTASTIC obsession." [I'll keep him.]

I took him out to dinner last night at Nathaniel's in the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. A lovely restaurant with a fantastic menu. We enjoyed the meal and the time to dress and go out. Tomorrow he opens his card and then it might hit him ...

That he's now 70!

And I think I'll go change out some buttons on the vest I knit earlier this Summer to something more neutral. I'll get some pictures done later.
But for now ...

I think I'll have another glass of wine.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie! ... [I crocheted the little handbag about 8 yrs ago.]

Clap your hands for the Clapotis ...

I started a Clapotis ... scarf size rather than shawl size ...
And here it is before blocking.

I was told I would love this one. And guess what. I started this last Saturday and finished it last night, Friday. Now I will cast on for a full size one soon. For the full size Clapotis, I'm using Sheep Shop Yarn Company #3. And here's a yummy close up ...

Perfect for the Fall huh?

Have a wonderful knitty weekend ...

When you translate a love story ...

Oh-My-Goodness, you've got to see this ...

http://veryfunnyads.com/ads/25407.html

Just soooooo funny!

Schools started this week and ...

the Lord knew I needed a good laugh!

What color am I?

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Interesting ... I wonder who I know that is purple? I know at least one who might be ... not YOU.

Finish one, start two or more ...

I've managed to finish a WIP ... the Lily Chin Manhantan Convertable Jacket. Not sure if I like it on me. Sleeves feel too short when they're down. I'm thinking I'll tack them up with a cuff and have them be 3/4 sleeves. What do you think? Of course it'll look better once I loose some more weight. Which, as you know, I'm working on. I want this jacket to fit for next Summer...


Here's how it looks wearing it on the long side with the sleeves rolled into a cuffs.



And this is wearing it on the short side with the sleeves down. They don't really come to my wrists and therefore I feel like I need to keep pulling them down. Oh ... Rhonda's trying to give the DH her "come hither" look. LOL, but I think her "come hither" days are over.

I got to the heel on my Campanula socks but didn't get any further because I couldn't resist starting something else.

So even tho I got one project done [and I'm not saying how many more to go], I started two more projects this weekend. Finally, my first Clapotis ... [added note: many of you have guessed correctly ... this yarn is Lorna's Laces. Lion & Lamb as a matter of fact.]

The colors are so nice ...

And Sock Earrings. Of course I started and finished these earrings in about 2 hours. I'm mailing them out to a friend tomorrow. This friend did something nice for me, so this is a "thank you". So watch your mailbox ...
... it might be you!

But this might have added fuel to my "Single Sock Syndrome" ...