Livin' La Needle Loca

...so long, August. We hardly knew ya! Today's eye candy is from our garden and mom's. First, from Mom's garden, a lily: and a pink rose: From our garden, a yellow hibiscus: I love hibiscus flowers. We have two containers of them in our courtyard, one with pink flowers and the other with the yellow flowers. I can sit in my studio chair and see them through the window. So pretty! Up this weekend: It's a 3-day weekend...yay! The extra day will be put to good use. I need to get a dress to wear for the wedding on the 8th. I need to do some household chores that have been neglected for far too long. (Note to the cats: this means the vacuum monster is coming out of the closet! You have been warned!) In the studio, I need to hang the IKEA panels to hide the washer and dryer (this time for sure!). I also need to finish labeling drawers and find a home for a last few items. I want to re-orient my work table and possibly my studio chair to make the most of ...

...it feels like it just started and now it's almost over?? Normally I'm all over September, it being my birthday month and all. I like to celebrate as long as I can. :) However, this September is a little different.  Over the past few months my vision has been getting worse, making it difficult to do some crafty things, like knitting, and making it almost impossible to do others, like stitching and needlepoint. Even worse, it's becoming difficult to read text on the computer screen, which I need to do for work. Now, it's not unexpected...I knew I had cataracts in both eyes and at some point I'd need to do something about them. Well, I've reached that point for my right eye. So in September, I'm going to have my eyes measured (or whatever they call it), go to my pre-op class, have cataract surgery on my right eye, and go to my post-op visit. Then I'll have to get new contacts or glasses for the vision change. So September will be filled with trips to...

...there have been a few things that arrived withing the last few weeks that I've neglected to photograph. I finally took some pictures today. As I was taking the pictures, I realized why I have ignored a couple of them: I don't like the colors. They are club yarns, so I don't have any choice on what I receive. Oldest first...the Rockin' Sock Club installment for July 2012 (behind the spoiler): I think this is the first installment in a long time where I don't like the yarn colors and I don't like either of the patterns. Let's just say I'm not a big chicken fan nor do I like autumn colors. I'm not sure what to do with this one. Next is the yarn from the Cookie A Sock Club installment for August 2012 (behind the spoiler): This color is a bit better, but still not one of my favorites. However, I do love the sock patterns that came with it. Last is the Loopy Ewe 6th Anniversary kit: and the yarn: This was not a club yarn so ...

...the not-our-garden version.  Here are some pictures from mom's garden. Pink hydrangea: Pink viola: Orange rose: Daisies along the fence: Last night I finished putting the yarn stash away. I think I might have a few skeins hiding somewhere in the house, so I need to track them down and get them into the studio. Up this weekend: In the studio, I'm going to finish the second bench cushion and hang the panels to hide the washer and dryer. I hope to finish the decoupage project, because I'm tired of it. At least I don't have to go back in the house to wash my hands when they are all sticky. (Thanks, J!) I need to start looking for a dress to wear to a friends wedding. I just hate dress shopping...nothing ever fits right. :( Sleep would be good, too... .

...still trying to get back into a routine. I didn't get a chance to post yesterday for a couple of reasons. before getting to the randomness, let's celebrate the completion of my studio sink! The Husband finished the trim work and hung my mirror: We bought a pair of these mirrors in New Mexico several years ago because we loved the tin work. We hung them in this room when it was the Husband's office.  I love that we can use one in the sink alcove, but we have no place to hang the second one. Maybe when we finally make a real guest room I can hang it in there. Randomness: Did you know that some MacBooks have batteries that swell? I sure didn't until it happened to mine. I would have never noticed it if I hadn't packed my MacBook to take to Mom's. My laptop sits on a small stand that allows air to circulate underneath it and, as it happens, allows the battery to swell without you noticing!. I ordered a new batter and installed it Tuesday night.   Did ...

...with no internet at Mom's and not getting back to my hotel room until very late each night, I had no time to upload my pictures much less blog!  Driving home on Sunday was the worst I've ever seen it and it pretty much sucked the life out of me for the rest of the day and part of Monday. My side trip to Cambria was quick, but necessary. I went to the cemetery to pay my respects to a wonderful woman who recently passed away. I was unable to attend her funeral service, but wanted to say goodbye.  Then I went down to the beach to soak up a few minutes of ocean before I finished the drive to mom's. It was great seeing the family.  It's always a challenge to try and catch up with everyone's lives when you don't see them for several years at a time. The Spanglish is a little difficult to follow sometimes, but I eventually got back into the rhythm of it. I hadn't seen  my brothers or nephew in a while, so it was really good to catch up with them. And I met...

...because picking up a few WIPs that I've ignored for a while. They don't look marginally different than the last time I showed them to you. I'm back to knitting the Carousel Socks [ Ravelry ] that I started back in March {!).  I'm still trying to knit the second cuff to the same point as the first. Then I can start knitting them two at a time. I set up my Legend cross stitch stand to hold the stretcher bars for the next mermaid. I have about 20 stitches done on the Mediterranean Mermaid by Mirabilia . Only a few thousand to go! I worked on the second bench cushion. It's ready for sewing. I just need to find enough time to finish it. I am not spinning, although it seems very strange not to be.  :) I won't have much time this weekend to work on any crafts. I'm making a quick trip to Mom's for the weekend. She has most of her sisters coming for a visit. It's a perfect time to take pictures of them making tamales, gabbing, and enjoying being to...

...no agony of defeat, but a small agony of the knees and hands! :-) I plied the Bill Compton handspun at Spin-In on Saturday: and the close-up Specs: Started 8/9/12; Finished 8/11/12; Falkland (4.0 oz) in Smoke and Mirrors 1 from The Yarn Wench; 115.4 yds chain-ply, 10 WPI  I finished the Sookie handspun singles on Saturday, let them rest for a couple of hours and then started plying> I finished plying it on Sunday, 2.74 hours before the deadline! ad the close-up: Specs: Started 8/9/12; Finished 8/12/12; Mother of Pearl (4 oz) SW Merino from The Dyeing Arts; 150.75 yds, chain-plied; 12 WPI; The totals for the Ravellenic Games: 7 yarns 6 chain-ply; 1 two-ply 1099.95 yards, WPI range from 10 to 14 Here's the whole set: Not quite sure what to do next! After spinning for Tour de Fleece and then the Ravellenic Games, it feels strange not to be spinning. I know I need to rest my hands and knees for a few days, but I need to do something! .

...I'm treadling as fast as I can!  First, the Eye Candy. A rose: a rogue gladiola growing in the same pot as one of the plum trees: and one of the last stragglers on the salvia bush: Last night was very productive for spinning; I finished the Sam Merlotte handspun: and a close up: Specs: Started 8/6/12; Finished 8/9/12; Falkland (3.8 oz) in Newly Minted 1 from The Yarn Wench; 124.7 yds. chain-ply; 11 WPI I also finished the singles for the Bill Compton and started the singles for the Sookie handspun. Sookie is the last of the 7 yarns I'm spinning for the Ravellenic Games. Up this weekend: Spin-In tomorrow. I need to make a munchie to take...I need to come up with something fast! After finish the last of my Ravellenic yarns, I'm going to give spinning a rest. I've been spinning pretty much since June 30th and it's time to work on something else!  Maybe weaving. If I have time, I'll decoupage the last 3 photo boxes. I have 4 m...

...the recap took me a bit longer than I expected so I need to keep it short. Here are the WIP quick hits. Stitching is alive and well. I worked on the Summer cross stitch project at craft night last night. No updated picture yet. In the "not technically my WIP" category, the Husband is making good progress on the sink in my studio. It just needs some finish work. I have spun have of yarn #5 (of 7) for the Ravellenic games. This one was picked for Sam Merlotte: It's close to Merlotte's green. I hope to finish spinning the singles tonight. While I've enjoyed spinning for Tour de Fleece and the Ravellenic Games, I'm ready to work on something else. Weaving might be nice... .

...let's hear it for Tour de Fleece and Ravellenic Games! Otherwise, I wouldn't have finished anything. Finished: 7/1 Brown Yak-Merino handspun (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Part of  a 3 oz Yak Survey sampler from Tactile, a Fiber Arts Studio; 39 yards 7/2  Cream Yak-Silk handspun (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Part of  a 3 oz Yak Survey sampler from Tactile, a Fiber Arts Studio; 52 yards 7/4  Brown Yak handspun (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Part of  a 3 oz Yak Survey sampler from Tactile, a Fiber Arts Studio; 33.5 yards 7/8 Tidal Pool handspun (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Baby Camel-Silk top from AVFKW 180 yards, fingering 7/17 Sierra Sunrise handspun  (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Corriedale from Judy's Novelty Wool; 176.8 yards; DK 7/17 Cafe Mocha handspun (Spinning) [ Ravelry ] Alpaca-BFL from Knitifacts; 152 yards, chain-plied 7/29 Jessica Hamby handspun [ Ravelry ] Goth Chick (4 oz) Duo from The Dyeing Arts; 195.4 yards,  chain-plied; 13 WPI; Books: On the Prow...

...I might make my 7 yarns by the end of the Ravellenic Games. I ended up not spinning at all on Friday.  I decided to stay out of the studio for one night and be a little sociable.  Of course, I ended up falling asleep early. LOL! I have finished two more yarns, putting me over the halfway mark of my goal.  I decided to spin singles for two yarns.  Then I plied one on Sunday and one last night.  I'm spinning these a little thicker so I get done faster. It's a nice change from trying to spin as thin as I can. Here is Eric Northman: and a close up: Specs: Started 8/2/12 Finished 8/5/12 Falkland (3.8 oz) in Garnet 1 from The Yarn Wench 167.5 yds. chain-ply; 12 WPI For: Handspun Heptathlon, Team True Blood, Ravellenic Games 2012 This is Adele Stackhouse (AKA Gran) and a close up: Specs: Started 8/5/12 Finished 8/6/12 Merino-Silk (3.9 oz) in Arcadia 1 from The Yarn Wench 124.7 yds. chain-ply; 11 WPI For: Handspun Heptathlon, Team Tru...

...that hasn't happened in a while! I finished plying the Godric handspun: and a close up: Specs: Started 7/29/12 Finished 8/2/12 Falkland (4.0 oz) in Sunglow from The Yarn Wench 221.5 yds. 2-ply; 14 WPI For: Handspun Heptathlon, Team True Blood, Ravellenic Games 2012 I immediately started the Eric handspun, yarn number 3 of 7 for the Handspun Heptathlon. I think I'll limit how much I spin tonight to give my knee and hip a breather. Eye Candy Friday is a bit sparse today. There weren't many flowers in bloom this morning and it was too overcast to get a decent sky pictures. Here's what I found in one of our hanging baskets: Of course, the Husband couldn't remember the name of the flower and there was no tag. [sigh] Up this weekend: The Husband is working on my countertop and sink. If he doesn't finish it today, I'm sure he will finish over the weekend. We need to assemble my replacement bench. I hope this one is intact and has no g...

...and Happy August! Today's WIP is the Godric yarn I am spinning for the Ravellenic Games. Last night's Olympics was pretty exciting and I found myself spinning quite fast. So fast that I finished the singles for Godric: (So fast that my knee and hip are complaining this morning. I might have to take a rest day before I start the 3rd yarn.) The plan was to make a 2-ply yarn from these singles. However, I didn't weight the fiber when I split it in two and it looks like there's more on one bobbin, meaning that I'll run out of one bobbin before the other. Usually when this happens it's only a few yards and I can get by with using Andean ply on the excess. This time, it looks like there will be a lot more than just a few yards. I need to think this through before I start to ply. (I also need to remind myself that this is what happens when I start something new at 10pm...the brain is not firing on all cylinders then.) I took a picture of the bench cushion...