Sadly, not me leavin', but i'm excited to have sent a lovely skein of yarn to Handspun Revolution c/o Pluckyfluff :)

An interesting opportunity to have my handspun join others from around the globe and be displayed in an art gallery.  Tagged and accompanied by what i have termed a "spinning statement" that will also be displayed.
I almost forgot how much i like to spin (and plyplyply) beads.

Also finished this week is my new favorite knit - from my first beaded handspun "stormy valentine" ... here is "stormy heartache" from heart by Kristin Ledgett from knitty.   

i <3 it  ;)

A little insight into me ... wanted to warn the squeamish! I have a rather efficient mind. I don’t always use it properly, but it is the way i am wired. That said, i am not usually one for the easiest path ... so for the few people in this world that know the real me, this should come as no surprise. My favorite knitting project of all times has been on the needles now for almost 2 years. In the Fall of 2007 I was enchanted by lace patterns courtesy of Ravelry. I visited Grinny Possum on a mission to purchase lace weight yarn. I admit to being taken in by the color, but Ann also recommended it ... so i jumped. 1350 yards or amazing was now mine, all mine!!

I chose a pattern based on my favorite wildflower and designed by an accomplished lace maker: Queen Anne’s Lace by MMario.

I cast on at least 10 times, went all the way to 50 some rows and took the whole thing apart to begin again … have un-knit about ¼ the number of rows I have knit … and yet I press on, when the desire strikes. I’ve had a new surge of energy for the Queen, reaching 94 rows where I was placing my latest lifeline … and stitches slipped off as I worked the so-called lifeline. argh.  What to do?  after finishing this post i am going to count stitches, might have only been one - in which case i will fix it.  Might be more which would be cause to fall back to last lifeline ... 10 rows ago (ouch).

Either way, Queen Anne is possibly my most favorite knitting project, ever.  Not to mention, this is wonderful education for when i finally use my handspun buffalo plied with silk of almost 1900 yards ... but that is another post for another day ;)

for those who think it just looks like a yarn mess - when done it will be blocked and the pattern will come to life :)

Something about the new year brings hope, anticipation of what we want ... what could be ... what we want to be.  I vividly recall this time last year and everything i desired to do "right" or "better".  2009 held treasuers I wasn't expecting that i might wax poetic about another time ;)  I have new inspirations, renewed excitement and new plans and goals.

Today is a lovely day to think of all the "new"  with a blanket of snow softening the landscape ... watching lilting flakes accumulate.  New, clean, crisp ...

And, as promised, the 3 ply lovely from last post's singles.  There is a bit more pink to it, but still trying to figure out my new camera ...

I've been knitting Christmas gifts ... more than i planned, but i am enjoying each project :)  But i took a break last week to spin off and on, which i need to do more!   You might recognize these colors from my SIFAF Swag entry.  I purchased 3 batts from Kathleen of B & G Farm.  One gray with smidges of blue and purple, one blue and one purple.  All of them had sparkley pink and iridescent.  I thought of a few methods, and finally decided to go with triple ply. 

I have all 3 spun, fairly thin:

I made the pic a bit bigger to show the hints of fuschia glittery ... can't wait to see how they look together!  stay tuned :)

i have a few projects to share, but i arrived home last evening from a few days visiting family to a terrific birthday surprise (so the projects will wait) ... a box in the mail from Kevin - the soon to be rockstar fiber artist, and my friend.  I also know these pics won't do justice to everything, we had overcast skies today and i waited for the daylight to take pics, but it didn't work ... and i will take better pics -for sure- of the great handspun.  But, without further ado ... birthday swag :)

lovely knit lace circle with button center adorning the card ... and might just become a scarf pin ...

felted snowfolks and a poinsettia my daughter thinks is "beautiful and wavy" ... very nifty!!

an overlook of everything including some plummy handspun near the lace card and red handspun with flags ... commercial novelty yarn, red roving and multi brown roving, blend in sparkle & green, e beads, thread, a bead book ... and i know i'm forgetting things

this pompom is so funky and wants to be an important something, hanging out with felted flower and the sparkle blend in

close up of the plummy handspun, necklace and a touch of the red handspun (daughter dear was helping with pics ...)
WOW, Kevin (aka Shoebridge Studio), you outdid yourself!!  Can't wait to jump in, blend, spin, knit and create something ;)

THANK YOU!!

:)