Look another new post!

Holy cow, I actually did two posts in one week! I guess I am getting more organized. Or maybe I just read a friends blog that reminded me I have my own to look after. hehehe. I think it was the latter.

So what I am doing today is looking for just the right yarn for a Sock A Long project, I want it to be more than sock weight, for right now I dont have the patience for tiny yarn and tiny needles. While I've done socks before, its been a while and I need more instant gratification of a larger yarned sock. I dont know whats gotten into me that I cant just sit their and do my rounds but its true. I need faster comfort I guess. I am also on a deadline. =P

So off to Michaels I go today and hopefully find just the right one. I found a pattern I like in one of the sock knitting books I have. I made toe socks from that books patterns. The toes were alittle long, but I did a pretty good job with them otherwise. Now that was sock weight yarn and tiny needles! Hopefully the yarn of my sock dreams will jump out and me and not only that but be on sale too! You never know, I may just get lucky there. Wish me luck!

Oops. I did it again/ Market bag inspiration

Ok, my friends. I did it again, its been too long since I last blogged. My catholic side feels the need to repent, so this is me repenting and blogging for you, and for me too truth be told.

Not too much has happened other than a lot of crocheting! Mostly market bags of my own design, made of cotton yarns that had been collected over time. Some all the way from Oregon's Websters yarn shop in Ashland. That is the pic you see at the top Do you sometimes find that you love a yarn and buy enough for a project and then a year or so has gone by and you still didnt find just the right project? Well that was the case with this beautiful yarn. So I decided to throw both hooks in and use it for a lovely market bag, and it turned out great! I highly enocourage you to try making a purse or tote or market bag with some of your fave stash. Its not the typical hat or scarf that we all make sometimes to de stash, its something different and usefull all year no matter the weather, and it makes you more inclined to go check out your local farmers markets and swap meets and that in turn helps out the local scene. So you see its really a good cycle of destashing. =)

Been away for awhile....

Did that make your think of Colbie Calleit too? Well I have been away for awhile. Not doing anything exciting or vacationing or anything like that, just havent felt the need to blog. Now dont get me wrong, I love to talk, they've said so since I was a wee little one learning to talk. Havent been able to stop since.

But what have I been upto while I was gone? Crafting! (working on my Briar Rose quilt, my Great Granny afghan from the latest issue of Crochet Today magazine, and working on another granny for a cervical cancer awareness group. ) Socializing (going to a scrapbooking meetup with some super cool ladies and ordering some really neat kits that cost me more than I should be spending right now.) Surfing the web (gotta find more cool patterns, gotta keep up with the other peoples cool blogs, got to stay connected with my friends, and starting my own meet.com group http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Central-Coast-Crafters/) Chores! (dude, even bloggers have to do this. Laundry, swifter vac the dog hair off the floor, put clean sheets on my bed, pick the ripe apricots off the THREE trees we have that make an a@s load of fruit, (next up the plum and pluot trees) and playing with my doggie!) So I guess you could say I've been busy. I have a still busy week next week, but I'll try and add more, more often from now on. I'll try and add more pictures too! I used to take tons of pics, but over the past couple of years that seems to have gone to the way side. I really need to work on that even if its just for documentation.

That reminds me, I hope some day to find my digital camera again. I know its somewhere in the house.... Been creeping up on a year since I saw it last. "Sigh" At least I have a good camera phone with a flash and auto focus. And memory card with adapter so I can load it onto my computer. I guess Im pretty lucky actually. To have an alternative to a digi cam I mean. That reminds me again, I need to find a place to process my advantex film. I have a role and CVS doesnt do that kind of film! I think I heard Walgreens does. Have to see.

Well ttfn, blogged my little heart out for the night. See you guys next time.
-J

Kaffee and Quilting

^my initial layout of the Briar Rose quilt^

So I'm joining to things. SSSQ Quilt Along and lion brand creativity contest. I'm excited. And now I have an excuse to buy new fabric! And his new book Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts. Here's more on the contest/quilting bee http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/quilt-along-with-kaffe/
and here is more on the Lion Brand contest http://www.lionbrand.com/yarnImagination/ Give it a go, see what happens. Just dont beat me, I'd be sad and jealous. :)

coffee and dinner

does anyone else ever have to drink coffee while they are cooking dinner?
I'm just wiped out today. A fresh brewed cup of Etheopian really hits the spot. Gave me the motivation to look in the fridge and see what there was I could slap together. This was my train of thought....."oh look, there's some leftover cooked chicken, i could dice that up with something. Oh there is a bag of red potaoes on the table! Ok, I'll do that. " so the coffee opened my eye flaps enough to show me the meal potential. I chopped those babies up, put some olive oil in the pan, added some garlic salt, thyme, basil and mrs dash and set the timer for 15 so as not to forget to turn them. Its been 30 mins on a super low heat and they are almost ready and will be nice and hot still for when my brother gets home. So while not a fiber art, figuring out a nice meal thats quick and easy is an art none the less. And the potatoes? Delicious! Now to go chop up that chicken :D

Spinning and bitching

Well I got a call today. A call telling me that support spindle i ordered is on backorder for a couple weeks. Im so excited to get it and try my first spun yarn and now I'm side tracked. Probably because other people saw the same knit2gether podcast showing how to use one that i did. Very imformative episode and it gave me the confidence to invest some $$ in a spindle more than just ten bucks. I had no idea before that when you're learning to spin on a spindle that chances are you are gonna be forced to stand the whole time. Yikes! After almost 9 years in retail I sure as heck wont be standing for fun for more than an hour unless essential. so thats right. The support spindle I saw on there requires no standing! It has bearings in it to make it spin in this stand. It beyond a support bowl.

Speaking of bowls... I ordered one today from an Etsy seller. I'ts this beautiful off white palest green color. With a little bird perched on the rim. I found the seller while participating in one of the virtual labs. This one was on shop critiques. Here is cedarpockets page link http://www.etsy.com/people/cedarpocket