Flowers for Mum

Ok.....so when Mum was visiting, I lost my mind when it came to a few flowers.  I love orchids and I made a few purchases....this is how they're going.

Also, Mum added a beautiful Hibiscus....which has gone nuts blooming....so wonderful to see on the deck.

PS.....Mum look what's growing nicely....what will I do with all the tomatoes....

A Little Spin

Ok....so just a couple more new hanks of handspun. 

The first is a blend of Three Waters Farm 'African Sunset' (merino/tussah silk) and golden thick and thin (rayon/nylon). 

I wasn't initially sure if this would work, however, I thought adding the gold might enhance the beautiful colors....and I was right...

The second is an experiment in combining two different colorways.  The first is 'Olive Medley' from Three Waters Farm and a no name teal/beige neutral from Daily Fibers. 

I love how it blended.  I see so much project potential and a ton of yardage.

Lastly....although I have been very ill, I'm hoping the planets will align so I can be at the Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival this weekend.  Come by the booth Friday or Saturday...say hello to Jan, Michelle and/or myself....we'll have lots of wonderful goodies.

Marbles

Ok.....so it's been a bit since I've posted and I will tell you it's because I lost all my marbles.  I have had to look for them and one by one, I have found most of them....but as you all know, I'll never recover them all.  It's been an incredibly busy time and I had a wonderful visit with my Mum....  I have been doing some projects again and spinning.  So here goes....a bit of a catch up:

This is a merino/bamboo/silk blend beaded.  Spun beautifully and love how it came out....and 665 yards...wow...nice. 

I have finished a pair of socks...no not on size 5 needles...on size 2 needles....very nice, with Mountain Colors Barefoot.  I love this sock yarn and have started another pair.

I'm working on completing my featherweight cardigan in donegal tweed....not so featherweight, but so far it is looking pretty good.

So, the crafting is getting back to normal around here and I'm thrilled to have the will to knit again....

In reference to what has saved me

Ok....this week with work being what it was....these things have saved me...

1.  Jan muffins
2.  Knowing my Mum is coming to visit
3.  Jan muffins.

Thank you, Jan....thank you, Mum.

This Week

Ok....two updates for this week....  First, I did a weaving lesson on Wednesday night at Haus of Yarn which went really well.  Now I do this from time to time, but this time I actually got a photo to post.  Elizabeth was nice enough to let me snap....

Second, a little miracle has been happening at my house.  Many of you know that I do ok with most plants...however, I have an issue with orchids.  Everyone keeps telling me how easy they are....and they appear that way at first glance....but I have never gotten repeat blooms. 

Several books and plans later, I now know what the trick is....nothing.....don't read about it (I'm a reader), give them a drink once in a while and that's it.  I do talk nice to it every day when I make coffee, but that's it. 

Who knew?  Wait....I think someone tried to tell me they were easy, but they didn't tell me to leave them alone.

Spinning Silk

Ok.....newest hank for sale at Haus of Yarn.....merino from Daily Fibers and silk from Great Adirondack. 

Stitch Markers

Ok....just a quick shout out on these beautiful stitch markers made by Michelle....aka hps designs.  They are now available at Haus of Yarn and look for theme at the Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival.  The pictures aren't great, but I think you'll see that the markers are lovely.  Cheers, Michelle....I love them.

 

Second Harvest, Threads and Haus

Threads of Kindness along with Haus of Yarn will host a food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank from April 9th - 22nd.

  

We know the fiber community is a generous one and we ask that you donate 5 of the most needed items listed below,, and in exchange you will be entered to win a fantastic gift basket of yarn-related goodies! This is a great opportunity to give to the food bank at a time when their supplies are low.

  

If you are not already familiar with Threads of Kindness, they are a not-for-profit group dedicated to providing handmade (both knitted and crocheted) items for donation to Alive Hospice , Vanderbilt NICU in Middle Tennessee. and many more groups.  More information about this fabulous group may be found on Ravelry!

Food is a basic necessity of life, but 1 in 6 people right here in Tennessee will go to bed hungry. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is dedicated to providing this essential need to those in Middle and West Tennessee.

Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different. In Middle Tennessee, more than 417,000 people struggle with hunger, and a staggering 1 in 5 children is hungry. These numbers may seem daunting, but there is a way to alter them!

The mission of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. Second Harvest is a member of Feeding America– the nation's largest hunger relief organization – and they partner with more than 400 local agencies in 46 counties throughout Middle and West Tennessee. Their programs provide emergency food assistance, after school, weekend and summer feeding for children, disaster relief and nutrition education for the citizens of Middle Tennessee.

We encourage you to donate (non-perishable) food items to help those in need. Simply choose from the list below and drop your donated items off at Haus of Yarn between April 9th - 22nd. The winner of the raffle basket will be announced on April 23rd.

Most-needed food items:

 • canned fruit, vegetables, soup and stews
 • canned tuna or chicken
 • peanut butter
 • cereal
 • pasta

Thanks in advance for your generosity. We know the donation box will be overflowing!

Fiber in the 'Boro 2012

Save the date!

The second Fiber in the ‘Boro will be held October 19 - 20, 2012 at the Lane Agri-Park Livestock Barn located at 315 John R. Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN. We had a GREAT time last year and we hope you will join us again this October, so mark your calendars now!

The festival will be a bit different this year. We will hold classes all day Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th. We will have a night market Friday night and a full market from 10:00 - 5:00 on Saturday. Also, we will be in the Community Center, a large, secured facility with no wood shavings! It’s directly behind the show arena.

We hope to have fiber animals in the barn for kids and kids at heart to visit, and we are planning other family and educational activities as well.

It's only April and already we have October fibre on the brain.

A Little Briar Lace

Ok....so I have had this pattern in my pile of "I would like to knit this" for 15 years and finally a yarn came along that was perfect.  You know what they say....will use no yarn before it's time (stash) and no pattern before it's yarn.    I know it's what I say to myself to sleep at night in a house full of unfinished projects and yarn.  I picked up this lovely yarn from Briar Rose and the Michigan Fiber Festival last August.  I love it! 

I began the shawl in November and quickly put it aside for other projects....I know, it was sad...but this month, I finished it and I love it.  It's exactly what I had hoped it would be.

Spinning Batts - Day 2 and 3

Ok...here it is.  Finished the hand batts.  Fun.  Plied with some burgundy boucle which has made it even more lofty and interesting.

I also spun some beautiful mauve vintage looking merino from Daily Fibers.  This looked gorgeous on the bobbins, but once I started adding the beads....just stunning.



Spinning Batts - Day 1

Ok...so I assembled some batts by hand and have begun the spinning.  This is day one and my cigar batts. 

I have spun batts before but not many of my own assembly....it's fun and you never know what it will result in, which makes it that much more fun.