Cosmos

A quickie for the gift pile. Yarn is BunkyBobo's Worsted in Cosmos. Made up the pattern as I went along. I am going to dye more of this colorway. What do you think?

Rocky Mountian Log Cabin of sorts

Here is the blanket. I have 2 more squares done but you get the idea. as you can see I have a ways to go. Which is why I cast on a new hat and a new sock yesterday. Opps.

The PhatFiber order went out yesterday. I can not wait to show it to you. I tried something new and I want to do more.

Henry

Henry V

2 skeins worsted weight wool

in the shop now.

Wollmeise Baktus

Here is the Wollmeise scarf. The pattern is called Baktus. The knitting is super easy. I love it. it shows off the yarn really well I think and I used the whole skein. I had knit a blankie square as a swatch so this yarn will make it into the scrap blanket too. I had maybe 6" left after I cast off. talk about cutting it close. The great thing about this pattern is that it will work with any yarn and any gauge. I am planning at least one more for the gift pile. With Bunkybobos hand dye.

The PhatFiber order is done. It is still not dry. I will send it off Monday. No spoilers until Jessie sees it. I can't wait to show it to you. for some reason blogger spell check is not working for me today. I hate that.

Update and some news

The Wollmeise scarf is almost done. So close to the end now I am not going to post wip pics. I should have it done by the time I go to work tonight.
The Rocky Mnt log cabin goes on. I am bored to death with it right now. Pictures when the block otn is done.

and now to the news. I am working on a special project for Jessie over at PhatFiber (link in sidebar). No spoilers just yet but I am really excited. I will be dyeing a new colorway that will only be available from PhatFiber. I was thrilled when she asked me to do it. BunkyBobo's may just take off this year!(fingers crossed)
speaking of BunkyBobo's, I am not going to list anymore BunkyGirl Lip balm. I am going to keep making it and sending a free balm with all orders. There are so many lip balms on Etsy and mine just get lost in the crowd. I love the stuff though and my customers like finding a little something extra in their package.

In politics: I was thrilled to see President Obama sign an order to close Gitmo. I have long felt that this was a stain on our country. I am glad to see it go.

Worsted

The first of the worsted yarns went up in the shop today. Here is Ares. Deep reds and oranges. There are two skeins of this one. I have 2 more colors to take pictures of. Should have those up later today or tomorrow.

A new day

So I have just watched our new president take the oath. He spoke beautifully about what America can and and must do, what we all must do to move forward in a new age. Many others will write far better that I about the new President. I will tell you I have a bit of a crush on the Obama family. Michelle is poised and smart. She also strikes me as the type of gal we would like to have at Knit night, fun to be around. And how cute are her girls? They seem like well rounded kids and you can tell they are proud of their Mom and Dad. I know what all the little girls will be wearing next week. Purple and black. Pink and orange.

I was struck most by the crowd. Every type of person all packed in. Happy and hopeful. I have never seen anything like it.
I wonder if I will look back on my life and tell my Grandchildren that this is when real change started in America? Will this be the time? Sure feels like it...

Saying Goodbye

Goodbye to George W Bush. Please allow the door to hit you firmly on the ass on your way out. Thank You.

Yarn!

220 yards worsted weight wool

Colorway: Cosmos

Only one skein of this one but 2 more colors tomorrow.

Thank You Lorena!

My friend Lorena sent me this skein of sock yarn for Christmas. Isn't it pretty. It is the Hanks shop brand of hand dye. Colorway: Gingerbread. Very pretty! Maybe Christmas socks... I hope one day to get to Florida and see Hanks for myself. Thanks Lorena! I love it!

Inside the indie Studio

So I started writing a feature for Lime & Violets Daily Chum. Inside the indie Studio. The response so far has been good. I have a stack of e-mail from people who want to play. It is sort of a fiber arts version of Inside the Actors Studio, With James Lipton. I personally feels he gives one of the best interviews on TV. Check it out. Next weeks guest is Adminnie of L&V fame. Big Fun!

The knitting of the acrylic afghan for Mil and LtCol is underway. I am doing a sort of knit a quilt kind of thing. When I have a few more blocks done I'll show you. I wanted to start this one early because I can so easily get bored with it I wanted to have a long time to finish it. I have until Christmas 2009 to get it done. No worries right? I'm calling it Rocky Mountain Log Cabin sort of.
I got 3 14oz skeins of this yarn at Michael's on sale for $3.50 a skein. so total cost is $10.50! I love that. Mil washes everything almost everyday so I wanted this to hold up.

I started a scarf out of one of my skeins of Wollmeise. I do love this yarn. I wanted to make a scarf to show it off. I have about 2 inches done. It will be the perfect thing for our summer trip to the Rockies. I need a lighter scarf there. It can still get pretty cold up there at night in June.

I made a mistake in the Gansey socks and had to frog. Only 5 rows but still.

7 More days until we have a new President. I hope he can live up to the hope he has given people. I have to believe that he can. He has a huge mess to deal with. I wish him luck and really good Secret Service people. I have a feeling Obama is going to need them both in the coming years. He will also need help from us and the Congress buts that a whole other kettle of fish isn't it?

One more week and I can wave a gleeful goodbye to GWB. I may even buy a bottle of wine.

This could take a while...

These are the first of the the squares for the scrap blanket. Who knows when I'll finish such a thing. Each square is knit on the bias to 40 stitches. I have tons of scraps and mill ends and it seems likely I will just keep adding to them. I figure I can just keep adding squares forever if I feel like it. Its has been a fun way to revisit yarns I only have a tiny ball of. So far we have Cherry Tree Hill, Jitterbug and Lorena's Holiday yarn.. I am getting 2 or 3 squares from each ball. The fun part here is that if I get bored with a yarn I can toss it back in the box and come back to it later. Short attention span knitting at its best.

Just can't keep my mouth shut

I just wouldn't be me if I didn't comment on whats going on in the world lately.

The governor of my home state, the great state of Illinois is a schmuck and needs to go. Selling the Senate seat aside the schmuck withheld funds from a children hospital until he get campaign money from members of its board. What an ass. he needs to go.

I really hope the press is done following the Obama kids around. Poor things, it has got to be hard enough for them without 800 cameras in their face everywhere they go. Leave them alone!

Larry Flint wants a government bailout for the pron industry. Em really? I think the Internet has hurt porn more than the bad economy. Why pay for something you can get for free?

The congress needs to work together and get the country moving and spending again. I don't understand why some folks there don't want to spend money on building new roads and such. Don't we need those?

Sarah Palin needs to shut up! It is not Katie Courics fault she looked like an ass in her interviews. Maybe if she were smarter (or came across as smarter) I would feel sorry for her. And it is not wrong for the media to report things that are true. Your daughter is a high school dropout and so is her boyfriend. I don't mean this as an insult, its the truth.

Dick Chenny is a creep and I will be happy to see him as far from the seat of power as he can get. You helped get us into a war we have no business fighting Mr VP. I for one think you should pay for that. Oh and just because you say everything you did as VP was legal does not make it so.

This new war in Gaza is a mess. We westerners need to understand that this has been going on for hundreds of years. I just don't think I will ever see peace there. Both sides have a very good point but religion is the problem here. If we all just believed what the druids believed. Namely that all Gods are one God the world would be a better place.

11 days from now GWB will be out of office. I for one hope he fades from public life and I never have to see him again. I am afraid if I ever did meet him face to face all I would be able to do is spit in his eye.

Felt good to get all that off my chest. I promise my next post will be all about the knitting.

Macbeth

Here is a little video of Hubby in the final fight scene from Macbeth. This was shot in 1997 at a theatre here in Omaha. Don't worry He and Scott are pros at this sort of thing and no actors were harmed in the making of this video. I can't even begin to tell you how many hours of practice goes into this kind of thing. Hubby has been doing this stuff for years and only been hurt a few times. Please do not try this at home!

and by the way, Hubby is Macduff. Its good to see him win.

Updates

I have been in a bit of a funk since the new year started. I am still knitting away on my Gansey socks and working on squares for a blanket. The blanket is made from my sock yarn leftovers so that is a long term project. i figure socks will wear out at some point so the blanket will serve as a reminder of beautiful yarns long since gone. I just have not really felt like knitting anything but socks lately. I'm sure I will snap out of it soon enough.
Bunky went back to school today. She was not really happy about getting up early this morning. I am sure she will be happy to see her friends again. No one called her over the Holidays and her calls went unanswered. Now that break is over I am sure things will pick up again. Monkey Boy is happy to have Mom to himself again.

In other news: Future, a wonderful Yellow Lab who was my Mom first Guide dog passed away yesterday. She had been GAL's dog since she retired from guide work a few years ago. It was her time. She was over 100 (in dog years of course) and had a very full life. She was much loved by all of us and will be missed. Mom got Future right after I got married and I will be forever greatful. She was a good friend to Mom and GAL. I remember when Bunky was a baby Future would sit at the top of the stairs so the little one could not tumble down them. She seemed to understand Bunky was a baby and made it her mission to check out every person who came to the house before letting them near the baby. She was also fond of licking Bunky's toes. Bunky loved this. I will miss her. I am sure Moms current guide Jan will miss her buddy. We all love Jan just as much as Future, But Future will always be special as she was Moms first guide. Just knowing Mom has Jan with her all the time makes me feel better. In honor of Future here are a few tidbits to remember if you ever encounter a guide dog.
It is important not to pet a guide when they are working. Most of the time they will not really respond to you because they are working. If you would like to pet always ask the person first. Remember the guide has a job to do and can't do it if they are distracted.
Most guide dog owners are happy to answer questions about their guide. Mom loves to tell people about Jan.
Never offer a guide dog a treat or people food. They are on a strict diet.
A guide dog can go anywhere you can go, on a plane, in a store anywhere. The Americans with Disabilities Act allows for this.
One more thing. If you go out to eat with a guide dog in tow you will likely receive wonderful service. Nothing like a big friendly dog to make the wait staff extra attentive.

Goodbye Future, you will be missed by many. We love you.

Happy New Year

Wow 2009 already? Seem like not so long ago we were all worried about Y2K. 2009 is bound to be a year of big changes. Our country will swear in a new president, one that seems like he may really get things done. Here at the Fun House 2009 will be the year I rejoin the full time work force and Monkey Boy starts school. True both of these things will have to wait for fall but still it is bound to be a busy year.

Happy New Year to all of you! May it be everything you hope for and more!