Greetings From Sunny Florida

Well Estes was fabulous (I'll have to blog more about all the lovely roving I purchased there later...Christy was right about my inability to restrain myself). But on to the present, I am in lovely Fl. The Keys, Islamorada to be exact. I did find a yarn store in Key West and must go there since my dd broke her Denise needle. (that is the 2nd one that has now broken). I am also eager to show them my fish and beach themed markers. I also managed to get some beach knitting in today, ah nothing like knitting under the shade of a palm tree. Pictures will come when I return. Until then happy knitting.

Knit Knacks is my new home

Have I mentioned that I am in total and complete love with this store? I could wax on poetic regarding my new love interest but the honest truth is that it is before noon on a Sunday and my fingers and brain are having enough trouble with coordination in order to type never mind producing meaningful witty prose. So instead I will just post a bunch of pictures. Arvada Knitters at Knit Knack this past Tuesday.

Leanne is deep in thought, over what remains a mystery. I think Christie is cackling about my thrifty ways.
Beautiful yarn made by Mary Kay and named Sheep in the City after Stacie's blog. Stacie bought them all. I need to hang out with her more, she makes me look sensible in my spending. I did purchase 5 skeins of Mary Kay's yarn which I will post pictures of later. It is luscious.
Leanne taking a picture of me. We are so silly.

The front of Knit Knacks on Sat at the festival in Olde Town Arvada. Geri had a nice little sale going on and I somehow resisted.

Oooh Alpacas! They are getting sheared this week and the owners are bringing the fleece to the Wool Festival in Estes this coming weekend.
Isn't he cute? They had a pet parade and contest and hula boy won my vote. Aww.

Oh the joy a ball winder can bring! The kids got me a gc to Joanne's for Mother's day and I ordered this lovely ball winder. I can't express what pleasure I derived from the simple act of winding balls of yarn. So much in fact that I spent the next week winding my stash into pretty little yarn cakes. Ooh and I also decided on a pattern for the lovely purple mohair blend yarn from Los Vigiles. The Belle Epoque from Knitty will be a perfect match for the gorgeous fiber. Now I just have to buy three more skeins when I see them at the Estes Wool Festival.

Here is the finished feather and fan scarf blocking on my couch. I used Knit Picks Shimmer in Morning Mist. I am really pleased with how it turned out and my mom (the recipient) likes it as well.



I was going to post pics of the finished socks, but pretty much they look like the one I already posted, except now there are two of them. I am almost done with the Rowan denim mock turtle neck. I am hoping to finish it tonight! Hooray for FOs! Pictures from Arvada Knitters coming soon!

Notice something missing???

I finished some items...the socks and the lace scarf. Pictures coming shortly.

Tagged by Nicole

Seven Random strange facts about me:

1. I have changed adult diapers when I worked with the developmently disabled in college, it wasn't my favorite part of the job to say the least, but the rest was rewarding.

2. My friends and I spent an entire Sat. my freshman year memorizing the lyrics to Paul Revere by The Beastie Boys.

3. I used to have hot pink hair. I miss it.


4. I have been to a Barry Manilow concert.

5. I met Perry Bamonte from the Cure and he came over to my apartment to see my son in 1992.

6. I used to be called a wet noodle in high school not for being stodgy but because I was so flexible and could bend like a spagetti noodle.

7. I am an avid fisherwoman and atver despite my girly girl disposition.

Flaming Needles, Spinning Kitty and more...

So I am going to follow the pack lead by Nachaele and make a Jawbreaker, just as soon as I finish my socks (more to come on that). For the Jawbreaker I bought this gorgeous variegated cotton from Over the Rainbow Yarns on ebay. This is my second purchase from them and I am once again thrilled with the value and quality
And on the sock front, the First sock is done and I am knitting the heel flap on the second. Hopefully I will post a FO shortly!!!
Yesterday I added Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins to my customer list! Yay!! I love the selection of roving they carry. I purchased some beautiful silk/merino in a lovely blue that I am using with the small spindle I bought to spin some lace weight for a shawl. Apparently my Pablocito likes spinning as well. Awww.

And a public service announcement. So if your kitty decides to chew your addi's and they are too rough for the yarn to pass over smoothly, here is what not to do.

1. sand cable

2.coat with nail polish

3. light on fire trying to melt the plastic

But it did work and I can still use them, I just don't recommend this course unless you really don't want to wait to finish knitting until you can purchase a new pair.

Last but not least on my list of misc. items that must be blogged this Sat. This is the great bag I found at Tuesday Morning. It is a diaper bag but works beautifully as a knitting bag. It also has a cute matching baby that holds my cell phone and wallet for knitting excursions.
This was included and is perfect for notions.
The whole ensemble.

And this little cooler is just the right size to hold a ball of sock yarn and needles. Great for slinging over the wrist and discreet knitting.

Happy Mother's Day to all, may you be able to knit to your heart's content.!

Our Visit to New Mexico was sublime. Our first stop was at this breathtaking canyon and bridge over the Rio Grande. The view below was dizzying but spectacular.
Alongside the parking were vendors offering beautiful pottery and jewelry far more affordable than what is found in Taos and Sante Fe. They rivaled the scenery and we were fortunate enough to indulge in both. Linda, myself and Mariah
The patio in front of our rooms was so serene. Upon arrival we each had a lovely massage and then took an dip Ojo Caliente's magnificent pools. So soothing and relaxing. I love the way New Mexico transports me from my everyday life and bestows a spiritual awakening and rejuvenation mere hours away from home.
These are the cute Pueblo suites across from ours and our beautiful view.

After a delicious dinner at the Artisan restaurant on the property we were joined by Jen and had a fabulous time soaking in a private pool along side a kiva fireplace. Wine and conversation were followed by a good night's rest.
Bliss.
Jen, Myself and Linda in Taos Town Square
After a morning soak and mud bath we headed to Taos on Monday. We had the opportunity to visit LaLana Wools and also partake in some other retail therapy including a visit back to the vendors by the Rio Grand Gorge. We had a lovely lunch at the Taos Cow in Arroyo Secco and I managed to find a summery orange bag for my knitting. Imagine that. We returned to enjoy another evening at the resort including dinner, private pool and more wine while watching Real Women Have Curves snuggled deep in our cozy beds.
On Tuesday after a last dip and another massage we departed and Mariah and myself headed to Sante Fe. Along the way we stopped by Los Vigiles Living Arts. The fiber studio I had visited the month previous. I am happy to say they are now on my customer list and I was able to acquire more luxurious yarn and some gorgeous mohair/wool roving ready for dying.
Once in Sante Fe we visited the Georgia O'Keefe museum which I had somehow failed to experience in my previous travels. We also had the opportunity to see this marvelous staircase in Loretto Chapel. It is truly an example of ingenious engineering.
Mariah and Myself
We searched high and low for Needles Eye (a local LYS), but gave up after circling side streets on foot under a big umbrella. The weather ended up being pleasant despite forecasts, except for Tues. in Santa Fe there were a few showers and a little hail. However it was refreshing to take in the clean smell of spring mixed with the rich earth.
The Church was awe inspiring and while there I took time to light a candle for Keith.
And alas after a few days of indulgence, massages, fine cuisine and escape it was time to make our way home.
I can not thank my most wonderful husband enough for giving us this opportunity to recharge. It is the best Mother's day present one could ask for and I am so glad I was able to share it with such wonderful friends. I hope we are fortunate enough to return again.

My final serial post will be a confession

Well I have been really bad this month as far as the yarn diet goes. I really
am enjoying meeting at KnitKnack, however my wallet feels differently. I somehow managed to justify the 1st and maybe the 2nd purchase by offsetting it with Geri's stitch marker purchase, but the 3rd and 4th purchases really have no justification other than the yarn is soo pretty. Well I did have to purchase another hank of the Araucunia (the first three would be my first purchase) in order to have sufficient yarn for the intended project.(which I am still waffling on). And the sock yarn was purchased because I had to learn toe up and Turkish cast on. And well I couldn't just buy one skein of yarn, that would be ridiculous. So I bought the yummy purple and the ice cream yarn in my previous post.

And the red stuff, I can't even remember what it is, some sort of delicious wool blend. I really needed that to go with the cashmerino I already have so I can make a contrasting cable waist band on the sweater I am planning to make. (sometime in the future).Oooh and that blue shade of mystik could not be resisted. I mean everyone was drooling over it and Allegra bought the rest Geri had in stock because she too was entranced by its beauty. So that is perfectly understandable since I was not the only victim.

Hmm...now that turquoise Berroco Twist, well that matched what I was wearing this past Sat. while at the store. As did the decor at Bliss , even their website matches. I knew I should have used my orange purse that day, I would have blended right into the walls. Wait, one does not wish to be a wallflower, does one? Lastly the black Debbie Bliss, well I need need need to make the shrug I saw recently and basic black should not count for anything. It is a necessity. Right?

And keep in mind this was all over the course of three visits, and I don't have to confess the Debbie Bliss book or Addi needles, since they don't count? So really, my purchases are all easy justified. I need to go make some more stitch markers stat.

Ooh new skills are fun!

I love this Turkish Cast on that Leanne taught me! It is such an easy way to make a beautiful seamless garment. I am hoping to knit up to the heel flap by tomorrow night so she can instill her wisdom on me of how to do the heel flap toe up. This yarn is so yummy, but something about it makes me crave ice cream. mmm.

More Tales from the spindle

I have been having a blast with my
new spinning skills.
I love the pretty turquoise yarn that
I plied with a lovely
black mohair and blue lurex yarn I bought
on ebay. The hank is the roving I acquired at
Mew Mew's as is the peacock
colored ball that I am currently spinning.
I am about 2/3 done with that project and can't wait to knit with it!