Just what I need, another skill. For a while I've wanted to learn how to do wire crochet. So the other week I purchased some 34 gauge wire and crocheted myself a bracelet. This bracelet looks so pretty in real life. It's just a simple inch + wide band of wire and beads. I'm really impressed with it. It is a fantastic piece. One for the Jewelry collection.

I've been a little busy lately. I never realized how much candy people in York County eat for the holidays. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, I like working. But the amounts are staggering. Now that I'm hooked on top quality dark chocolate, I can't imagine why anyone would want to eat anything else.

I'm almost finished with my holiday knitting. I have everyone finished by the Princess and the cats.

Labels: Crochet, holiday knitting., work

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday. Remember, there is always something to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family and friends, and all the blessings in my life.

Now I'm off to eat too much turkey and dessert.

Labels: thanksgiving message

I love recycling yarn. I love taking an ugly sweater and freeing the beautiful yarn trapped inside it. These are sweaters that others don't want and the yarn is perfect for other projects. I'm a regular at my local Thrift Shop; half off days are shoppers heaven for me. I admit it, I'm a needlewoman on a budget (a very tight budget) and reclaiming the yarn from sweaters allows me to work with fibers that I wouldn't normally get to work with. I have quite a stash of reclaimed fiber that I make lots of beautiful things out of. The sweater in a above picture is a men's wool sweater from American Outfiters. It's a lovely, bulky wool that just called to me. I don't know what I plan to do with the yarn yet, but as you can see I have lots to play with. I'm thinking a scarf and mittens and maybe a purse. Not bad for a $2.o0 sweater.

Work is going well. I love selling candy. I swear, adults get more excited about buying candy than kids. Kids will at least wait until they walk away before they open the package and start noshing. It's just cool watching people walking away carrying their purchases (be it fine, handmade chocolates or a little bag of gummy brains) like they are carrying a hard won prize. In addition to fine chocolates (let me tell you the dark chocolate is mighty fine), I sell a lot of retro type candies. All those sweet treats from my childhood are being made again. Yeah! Now all the holiday candies are coming in. The temptations of gumdrops.

Labels: work, yarn

Sorry, no pictures today. I'm working on secret, holiday things and I don't want to ruin any surprises. I love beeing sneaky.

After almost 10 years of being a stay at home parent, I'm back in the work force. It's only a part-time job, but it's a job. Yeah! I'm selling candy at the farmer's market in downtown York. It's a great job. I work 3 day a week and I'm surrounded by sweet stuff. Sadly, by the end of the day, I'm tired of looking at candy and want healthy food. I get my exercise with this job also. 5 hours a day of running around wears this girl out.

Princess's rug is coming along nicely. I"m on the 4th circle. It's fairly mindless crochet and it keeps my hands busy while watching TV. I'm hoping to have it done by January.

I have a new obsession. Podcasts! Until we got DSL, our computer took forever to download anything. Now I can download quickly and I'm getting a chance to listen to all these podcasts that everyone talks about in their blogs. I'm still figuring out what ones I like. I've put an MP3 player on my wishlist. Right now I listen to them on my puter (not a big deal since my worktable is only 6 feet from the puter).

Labels: Holiday Knitting, podcast, Princess, work

This is Harry Potter, post bath. I have to have one of the few cats in the world that enjoys a good bath on occasion. Poor kitty gets dandruff and a nice bath helps control it. It also makes him feel extra soft and smell nice to. I just put a few inches of warm water in the tub, place Harry in the water, and wash with baby shampoo. Afterwards, I make sure he gets a good pinch of catnip (Harry would let me shave him in I would give him catnip afterwards.)

We spent a good bit of Sunday at Nixon Park enjoying the day. Nixon is really cool because it's a nature learning center. I found out that I'm shorter than a moose and a lot shorter than a polar bear. A local taxidermist donated his entire collection of animals to the park when he retired. He didn't want someone to keep them as trophies, so the park uses them for education. The Kodiak Bear always takes my breath away because he is huge. After exploring the learning center for a while we went for a walk in the sensory garden. I love sitting by the meandering stream and watching the water. It was like 48 degrees outside and we had snack outdoors. The perfect garnish to a Autumn day, fresh apples and local apple cider. Princess sneak attacked me with her cold hands and I'm sure they heard me scream on the other side of the county. Princess and her daddy also examined the duckweed in the pond. I'm glad princess has a healthy love of nature.

I did get some knitting done this weekend and a little more done on the Princess rug. I'll post photos as soon as I get them off the camera.

In other news, I've started working. I'm selling candy at the farmer's market downtown. It's a really cool job. More on the job later.

Labels: family, Holiday Knitting, work

Soctoberfest is over and I'm ready to tally the damages. Let's see. I finished the Wine and Needles socks at the beginning of the month (I've also worn them about a thousand times, they are very comfy.) I crocheted Princess a pair of ballet slippers to wear around the house (I think the monster under her bed ate them because I haven't seen them in a while). I cast on and finished one of the Pansy socks and cast on the other. I also worked on Princess' Christmas present. I did a lot of socky stuff this month. Yeah me!

What other yarn-type damage did I do in October? I sorted my yarn in an natural fiber bin and an unnatural fiber bin. I wouldn't want the zombie yarn eating the wool. I finished a lot of Christmas knitting (details after the holidays). And I managed two squares on Princess' rug. Yeah me!

My goals for November include finish the holiday knitting by Thanksgiving, finish Princess' rug, and finish the Pansy socks. I am motivated (talk to me by the end of the month).

Labels: Holiday Knitting, Princess, socktober fest