Best Of Show!

The 2010 Michigan Fiber Festival is over and I won Best of Show in the adult division for my shawl entry. I am so glad it is over and I am so glad that I won! It was a lot of work and when doing something for a competition there is an intensity that I do not have with other projects.















The prize is $50, so that makes the effort somewhat worth it. I spent too much at the festival - glad it is only once a year. Then to top it off, I am picking up a new wheel on September 6 - the Majacraft Aura. Life is good.

The Project Done

It is the week of the Michigan Fiber Festival and now I am starting to feel the jitters of competition. I think that is why I really don't like to compete in this kind of thing. My stomach feels upset, and then I stop and think - what does it really matter? It will be worse on Friday when I drop it off at the competition. I must put it in my head that IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

It has been fun to chronicle the process of this shawl, and I did enjoy making it. There is always a real rush with the completion of any of my knitting projects. Last night I finished a beaded stocking hat, made from a gorgeous purple 100% alpaca yarn (commercial). It went well and I stayed up until almost midnight to finish it. But I got to the point where I just wanted to get it done.

This morning I pulled out a scarf that I had started a bit ago, and I knitted on that. I am awaiting the next clue in the Ravelry Lace KAL. Maggie showed me her progress and it looks so nice. She is using a lace-weight yarn on fairly large needles; I am using a fingering-weight yarn on smaller needles. Mine will be a tighter knit finished item, hers will be light and airy. It is fun to compare the different results of the same project.

I am continuing with the work on my Allegan Cardigan from Clara Parkes book. I have my fingers crossed that I have enough yarn to finish it. I have more of Kar Kar's fleece to spin, but I am worried that the yarn won't turn out exactly the same. That always worries me with hand-spun yarn.

I am also continuing to spin the multi-sheep top that Steve and I had made last year. I am really interested to see what kind of a yarn it will produce. I have several bobbins full and ready to ply; I am still trying to decide whether it will be two- or three-ply.

My next post will be after the judging of my shawl is done. Fingers and toes crossed. Oh how I hate to compete...

Project Complete!

Again, I cannot believe the speed at which time passes. It is almost two months since my last post, and it feels like it could have been yesterday.

The shawl is done! I blocked it yesterday, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I guess I will send in a late registration for the show next month. Now I am already contemplating my next shawl, as I continue work on my Allegan Cardigan. And I am caught up and waiting for the next clue on the Lace KAL in Ravelry.

Life continues. On Father's Day, Rick brought Taylor for his summer visit with us. We spent two weeks basically in the house because of the mosquitoes and rain. Taylor did manage to help with the chipmunk control and got 21 of the rascals. He had fun shooting them with my gun and birdshot. Then for the July 4th weekend, the rest of his family arrived. Brian also came on Sunday. We had a very pleasant weekend, and then Taylor and Alli stayed for another week. We went to see Toy Story 3, played some cards and the marble game, and just hung out. The time flew by and the house seemed terribly empty when their folks picked them up.

But after they left, I buckled down and finished the weaving in of ends on the shawl. I have been doing more spinning lately, and it seems good.

And today, Jim and I hiked our trail for the first time in a couple months. The mosquitoes were horrendous, but at least there was no standing water on the trail like last month. He then went back and mowed it, so now it will be even better.

I guess I better get back to my knitting!

Where did the time go?

Here it is - already approaching the end of May. Where did the time go?

We spent a week in Livonia over spring break this year. It was fun and relaxing. We didn't really do much. I had fun setting up my new computer more, using their high speed. The kids were great. The weather was stinky, but we just basically hung around.

Then a week later, my cast came off. My hand really hurt ( it still does), the bone was not quite healed, but what a relief to have the cast gone. I can knit and spin again! Hurray!

Then we were back in Livonia for Alli's birthday party. We had a post-party for adults and made some new friends. That went on until 3 a.m. - too late for us old folks. But it was fun and I acquired a new favorite alcoholic drink - After Shock. It is a cinnamon liqueur and goes down very smooth.

Anyway, as far as my knitting goes, I restarted the Ravelry Lace KAL with some merino/silk yarn from Knitpicks. I just finished the May clue, so I am now all caught up with the group.

I also managed to fit in a baby blanket to replace the one that I gave to Stephanie - her baby girl is due in June.

Now I can get back to my shawl for the Festival. The knitting is all done, ends need weaving in, then it needs to be blocked. I also bought Clara Parkes book, A Knitters Guide to Wool, and there is a pattern in there, the Allegan Cardigan, can you believe named after a town in Michigan! My Allegan! So the cormo yarn for the aran sweater that I ripped out is now going to be the Allegan Cardigan. I can hardly wait to get started on it. Maybe yet this week. So much to do, so little time.

We spent last weekend at Rod and Beth's house. We had a really nice time. We cooked out on Saturday, sat on the deck and painted our nails (Beth and I did, that is), then played Sequence until the wee hours. After a short night, I made French toast for breakfast. Then Beth taught me how to make beads out of paper - what fun! Then Rod grilled hamburgers for lunch and we headed home. It was a very relaxing and fun weekend.

Today we went to the cemetery to put flowers in the urns there. The weather has turned beastly hot - over 90 every day so far this week. Summer has arrived.

March - Revisited

March 15 - the Ides of March. Et tu, Brute. Aunt Ede's birthday - she would have been 87 this year. The day I slipped on the stump outside the back door and chipped a bone in my hand.

So now I am typing one handed (well, maybe cheating a little and using my left hand a bit).

The morning started out with a trip to the bank to get my retirement papers notarized and sent in. Also got more nickels for playing cards. Then to McFarlands to return Paula's book (Knit Two - it was good). The to the furniture store right in Allegan to buy a new chair and side table. We got the chair home and were moving my old chair out when I stepped, empty handed, on the wet stump, and WOW! My feet went out from under and I put down my hand to catch myself. I didn't really think it was that bad. So I came in and changed my clothes that had gotten messed up in my fall, and then off we went to Kalamazoo to Best Buy where I bought a new computer (which I am using right now!).

By Tuesday morning (March 16), my hand was swollen and painful, so at the advice of my friend Suzie, off we went to the doctor's office, then to have x-rays, and then the cast.

I am now over two weeks in the cast - no knitting, very little spinning, not doing much of anything. I have read a couple books and have been hiking the trail a fair amount. And we did go down to Char's to see her new sheep when she was taking fiber samples from them.

But the past two weeks have not been all smiles and laughter. I had a few minor meltdowns (Jim threatened to call 911 at one point because I was being irrational). Partly due to problems getting the computer set up and running. I don't know what I would have done without Maria - my personal computer wizard. I count my blessings that she was willing to step right in and help me. That is one of those pay it forward things - she helps me, and in turn, I am called upon by others to help with their computers. I have learned so much from Maria.

Anyway, Jim has been a super-sport in helping me. I can't even get dressed without help. And he is in charge of all household chores. The problem is that I don't feel bad - I just can't do anything.

So my shawl sits waiting. I will be glad to get my cast off. It will be good to get back to normal - whatever that is. I am looking forward to playing cards and dominoes with my grandchildren next week during their spring break. And then the countdown to getting this cast off!

March?

Where did February go?

I can hardly believe that the whole month of February and a good portion of March has gone by since my last post. But February has been exceptionally busy for us, so that must be why it has gone by so fast.

I completed my two pairs of socks for the Ravelympics. It was okay, but not really fun. I couldn't go from one project to a different one while the socks were looming over me with a date to finish. I did finish with several days to spare, but it was not really fun. Just something different to do. Elizabeth finished her sweater - she brought it to Steve's shearing - and she did a very nice job on it. I am still saying, "Wow!"

I have completed the February pattern for the Lace KAL that I am doing. Interesting to do a project that bunches of other people are also doing. I have enjoyed it so far and I am looking forward to getting the March pattern when it comes out on March 14. I was going to do the whole thing again in a different yarn, but now I am reconsidering. I think my time would be better spent working on getting more yarn spun.

I went to three sheep shearings in February. I got Diana's fleece from Char, then I bought 3 Polypay fleeces from Shady Side Farm north of Holland, and last but not least, I bought 5 fleeces from Steve. All but the Polypay are washed and ready to card. The Polypay is going to go out to be processed. I am anxious to get started on the cormo from Char and Steve. Those fleeces washed up better than I had done on cormo before.

As for my shawl - it is off the needles and into the finishing part of the project. I have lots of ends to weave in and then it needs to be blocked. I am already missing the knitting part of it and it makes me want to get started on my 2011 shawl project. But I will finish this one first. It turned out good, but not take-your-breath-away. I will have to decide after it is blocked as to whether it is good enough to enter at the Festival this summer.

A Wintery January Day

The snow is blowing, temperatures are hovering around 10 degrees and it truly feels like winter today.

The shawl is progressing better than I could have hoped for. I am on the bottom lace edge and getting closer and closer to a completed project. I love how it has turned out so far, but I am not sure if I will enter it in the fiber festival. I will continue to think about it.

I am getting ready for the Ravelympics - I have signed on to knit two pairs of socks - one for me and one for Jim. I have sorted out the yarn and I have the pattern ready to go. Only Elizabeth and I have signed up to knit anything for TeamBackRow. She is going to knit a sweater - wow!

I have joined a lace KAL on Ravelry and I have completed the January pattern. I am using store-bought yarn, so it really won't be anything that special. I went as cheap as I could, but still getting decent yarn. If it goes good, I may spin yarn to repeat the pattern at some future date.

I am also starting another lace scarf pattern. I think I will use some of the leftover yarn from my shawl for this, so it will be a lovely ivory cormo in 2-ply yarn.

I am going to get spinning on the yarn for my next feather and fan shawl - it will be from the multi-sheep top from 2009 that Steve and I had done. I have rainbow dyed it with sapphire blue and vermilion, and it is ready to spin. I am planning on a nice random 2-ply yarn.

I am immersed in an upheaval that I am just getting my head around. A disturbing turn of events. Do I feel bad about it? Yes, I do. Will I get over it? Maybe eventually. Sometimes things happen for a reason.

I finished Breaking Dawn today - the last in the four books in the Twilight series. I think I enjoyed this last one the most.

I think now I will go knit for a while.