Ahhh, Wet Wool, how I love thee...

Right this moment I am in the midst of dyeing a bunch of yarn for All Wound Up Yarn Shop in Edmonds...my house smells like wet wool and vinegar.  The poor Mr. missyinedmonds must put up with this delicate aroma every couple of weeks...and he does it with grace and uncomplaining good cheer.  Bless his heart and soul.

Beautiful glowy evening sky

In the meantime I am knitting my fingers bloody (hah) trying to get multiple Christmas gifts finished, as well as late birthday presents *sigh*, and trying to make time for my Autumn's End Sweater.  My initial goal of having the sweater finished by Thanksgiving is down the drain, in the toilette, a pipe dream, not going to happen.  Not even in time for Christmas I fear. *sigh*

 

On the bobbin - corrie cross hand dyed fiber

And just delivered this evening, fingering weight with sparkly stellina ready to dye

Good things come in small packages...

Knitting tiny today

Pattern from Ravelry - Mini Mitten Ornaments from Pink Argyle

Pattern from 'Adorn' Knit Picks book

Where oh where did the time go....

...because it is now Autumn.  And here I am.

Dear diary,
I had a really nice summer.  How are you?  Emerald Lotus Fiberarts is successful in a very small but sustainable way.  We did 3 Edmonds Saturday Markets and made lots of new friends.  Oh, and sold yarn too.  We are now selling our hand dyed and hand spun yarns in a beautiful new shop in Edmonds called All Wound Up.  Owners Leslie and Nona have been wonderfully welcoming and encouraging.
The new kidney that rules us all is one year old and thriving in Dennis...thank you forever Stephen and Danni.  We love you. Kate and I met our brother for the first time ever, it took us a lifetime to find each other.  He is as wonderful as a big brother can be and we are so happy to finally get to know each other.

Knitting, spinning and weaving have taken over my life in a good way.  So many projects so little time.

Mitts for Marie

Woven scarf for a customer

New color way "Winterberry"

Some travel with friends

More knitting, Zuzu's Petals cowl

Some blocking, Autumn's End Sweater

Selfie, hiking in 90 degree desert heat

And now it is Spring

I think a pictorial update is in order, I'm too lazy to write today -

The husband is thriving, getting his strength back after his kidney transplant back in September

The cat is thriving, maybe a little too much, we are told that she needs to lose a couple of pounds

Spring has sprung and is thriving, we've had unseasonably warm weather for which I am grateful

More Spring in evidence in the Skagit Valley's daffodil fields

Edmonds and it's surroundings are as beautiful as ever, I love living here!

It's time to gear up Emerald Lotus Fiberarts for our summer market dates, need to do some R & D with my partner and sister Kate who is off galavanting in Asia right now


Happy Spring to all!

Collecting New Year's Resolutions

Reading the Seattle Times this morning, I came across some New Year's resolutions that struck a chord with me...

Not that I would necessarily adopt this resolution but I liked it, "I'm gonna raise up and slap each day around like it owes me money".    Danny Bland, musician

This one I will do, "To always let those around me know how grateful I am for their love and support".  Bernadine Griffith, managing director 5th Avenue Theater

And my favorite, "I resolve to remember that we're all in this together, that we are all heading in the same direction, and that each day I can choose to make this shared trip better - by giving a smile, by letting a car merge in front of me, by asking someone how they are doing and listening to the answer".  Nancy Guppy, Seattle's Channel Art Zone host

And a few of my own:
     Have patience
     Enjoy what each day has to offer even if it isn't much
     Pay attention to gauge (knitters will understand this one)
     Stay healthy, be proactive about it too


And on a different note...I think my Mini Mochi Fair Isle Hat might be too small for my head, time will tell but it is looking that way.  So, I will chalk this up to yet another learning experience and move on...it will fit someone and they will love it.

Happy New Year!  

2012 Polar Bear Plunge in Puget Sound with my friend Rebecca

Happiness is...

...a finished project and the start of a new one.  I love how my first color work hat turned out!   En Brekksprut is ready to wear after I block it.

I think I may have pulled my floats a little bit and I'm not sure how they will block out, but all in all a good first try.

Next on to the Mini Mochi Fair Isle Hat, a free download on Ravelry and another chance to practice my color work.  I'm using Mini Mochi Lapis Blue and Feldspar together.  The corrugated ribbing was a challenge but now I'm on to the body of the hat and it is addicting to knit.  This blue is so vivid, I'm loving it!

Not knitting related...we are going solar!  The Mr. has been thinking about this for a few years now and today is the day.  It is so cold out, clear, no rain...those guys on our roof look like they are freezing!  They are so good natured and of course not afraid of a little cold weather.  And happily we are supposed to have sun for the next 2-3 days.  Yay for solar power!

Miss Bibi is a little freaked out by all of the noise and stomping around on the roof, she has stayed close by my side all day knitting with me.  She took my pattern at one point and begged for a little attention.  I complied.  

Back to knitting now, tomorrow I think I'll stand by our solar panel and watch us sell power back to the grid.

Happiness is...

...trying something new.  For me this week, that would be color work aka fair isle.  I have been hesitant to do fair isle, not sure why...I guess it just seemed like too much trouble, too hard, not interested...then I met my friend Julie for coffee and she had on the  En Brekksprut' two color beret and all of my hesitation fell away.  It is very pretty,  and she said that it was a good beginning color work project.  So off to Ravelry to purchase the pattern, off to my stash to find some yarn and off to Hazel Knits online shop to add to my stash.  From my stash I chose a fingering weight Colinette Jitterbug in Copper Beach and then ordered Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Malachite.

This is a good beginner pattern....it's slow going for me but I am enjoying the process.

And because it was a beautiful cold clear day here I got out and got a good walk in...the marina was busy with lots of walkers, runners, cyclists and dogs walking their people.

Edmonds Marina