Inside A Crayon Box

Spinning yarn is so relaxing and rewarding. It is especially rewarding when you spin something you really love. I have been spinning the roving I purchased from Gale's Art. It is called Crayon Box and when you spin it, it really looks like the inside of a crayon box! Click over here to see the roving in its pre-spun form. I had a lot of fun spinning this. When I was working on the 2 ply process it was cool to see the different color combinations form. When I see yarn like this I always admire it, now I have spun some! So, the big decision is, do I keep it for myself or sell it? It really is my favorite out of the yarns that I have spun but...as difficult as it is, I am going to put it in the shop. I still need to complete the finishing process but once that is done in the shop it will go! I will probably have to keep telling myself that so I actually follow through!

Oh, and I spun some of this yarn while watching Coraline! I got it on DVD this past weekend. I purchased the collectors addition which comes with a 3D version. It is cooooooooooool!!

Cheers!

Happy 4th!

So.....I had a nice quite night alone on the 4th. I can hear fireworks right now actually. At least my neighbor is not firing them off across the street like last year, but it is not 1 o'clock in the morning yet. I remember that last year the 4th was on a Thursday and I had to work the next day. Right around 1 o'clock I shot straight up out of bed because it sounded like I was under attack. I swear scud missiles were flying at my house. Then I realized it was my drunken neighbor and his friends. It had not rained in days and I thought for sure the house was going to catch on fire since we were in the middle of a drought.

Needless to say, I was not a happy camper and it kept me up until 3am, mostly because I was paranoid that he would catch the whole neighborhood on fire and...not to mention the screeching of the firecrackers. This is also the neighbor who's recycling bin fell over and all 3 trash bags of beer cans and bottles rolled into my yard and sat there for a few days and he never did anything with them. So, one morning, on my way to work, I picked them all up and put them in my recycling bin while beer leaked all over me. Hmmm....can you sense my animosity? Well, at least he is helping save mother earth by recycling, gotta give him props for that. Ha!!

Well, anyhoo, I stayed home and had a nice quite evening for the 4th. I updated my blog, had my favorite drink (rum, lime juice and Perrier), ate a skinny cow ice cream sandwich, watched Super Bad, and spun some more yarn. Meet Kate, Lazy Kate. She holds my yarn for me:

The yarn is called marigold. I am getting a bit better at this spinning thing, but I certainly am not perfect yet. I can't wait to knit with it! July is usually when I start making Christmas gifts, just because it takes from July until December to get everything ready. I have not quite figured out what I am going to do this year but I betcha it will have something to do with handspun yarn!

Cheers and Happy 4th!!

Spin Me Right Round...........

Well....I said a few weeks ago that "I think I may see a spinning wheel in my future!" Well, my future recently arrived in the mail. I heard the doorbell ring, which does not happen very often. I thought to myself "who could that be?". I had completely forgotten that the wheel would be arriving soon, even sooner than I had expected. So, I opened the front door and the most magnificent thing was sitting right there! Jeff immediately put it together for me...but, it took him about 2 hours. There are so many parts to a spinning wheel! It is so easy to operate though. I have been hesitant to purchase one because I have always thought there was so much more to it but to my surprise, it is a cinch! Well, I may not be the best at it yet but, I think I know what I am doing and am certainly getting the hang of it. Can you see the cute little birdie on the right treadle?







I have spun some the turquoise roving that I purchase at the Taos Sunflower. I can't wait to spin some more and not to mention knit with it! That will be so gratifying! There is a great magazine called Spin Off by Interweave Press that you must check out. If you are a knitting lover, you will really love this magazine. I feel like a shameless promoter or something. I swear I do not work for Interweave Knits. :-) There is also a fantastic book that has really helped me learn about my wheel and about the art of spinning. It is certainly a must read for any knitting artist. It is called, Teach Yourself Visually: Handspinning. I am very much a visual learner and need pictures to figure things out. This book did the trick!

In the spirit of knitting, here are a few cool knitting websites you should check out:

*Check out Ashley over at: http://www.neauveau.com/

*Taos Sunflower has a blog too: http://blog.taossunflower.com/

*Vicki Howell always knows how to keep it real when it comes to knitting: http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/

*If you are into knitting, sign up for the Lion Brand newsletter: http://www.lionbrand.com/

*Vogue knitting brings the Chic back to knitting: http://www.vogueknitting.com/

*Check out blissful knitting over at Debbie Bliss' web page: http://www.debbieblissonline.com/

*Need a little therapy, Knit Therapy? You can get some right over here: http://needknittherapy.blogspot.com/

Ah, my love of fiber arts is never ending.


Right now I am reminiscing about our little wonderful parties on the patio in Santa Fe and want some of Daddy's fantastic guacamole!

I leave you with a little guacamole appetizer recipe:

2 avocados peeled and seeded

chopped tomatoes, to taste

chopped garlic, to taste

kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste

chopped onion, to taste

jalapeno pepper, to taste

chopped cilantro, to taste

*Mix it all up and dive in! Tostitos Whole Grain Tortilla Chips are mighty tasty!

Cheers!

Oh, P.S. you gotta check out my sister's blog!