I'm Late

"Talk does not cook rice."

-- Chinese proverb

My Blog Anniversary was Feb. 12...

I have not been as present as I wanted on this blog because life kept getting in the way...but I never totally gave up either.

I have come to realize that my life may always be like this and I want to make sure I have time to do the things I enjoy and be with the people I really care about.

I'm always knitting or crocheting because to me it is like breathing...I need to keep busy creating or I may just fade away.

I have learned so much over this past year. I feel I have really grown as a knitter. My goal for this year is to get my patterns up on payloadz and work on my Master Knitter degree....and learn a whole bunch more.

I'm experimenting with knitting with beads right now...the important thing is I'm having fun.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. So many of you are such dear friends. When I read your blogs or see you have posted on mine it gives me joy. One day I hope we can get together and sit and knit together and share our lives and stories.

Bright blessings to you all,

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

P.S. The pic is from snapshirts.com - they take words from your blog and make a jpeg that you can use anywhere or you can get shirts or other things made up at their site.

I've Been Tagged

In catching up on my blogs I realized that I was tagged by chezchelle to tell six weird things about me. I'm not tagging anyone since most people have done this already...but if you want to play then feel free. :)

1. I hate having a dirty sink. As I sit here right now away from home typing I am thinking of my dirty sink. I ponder if I will have time to wash them in between going home, chipping ice and picking up my son to take to the LYS...do you think I could go home on my lunch hour and do it?

2. I dream about knitting. I frequently have dreams where I will be knitting and drop a stitch or something. I even take it a bit further as I will mentally go through a pattern I've memorized to relax in meditation. If only those rows counted!

3. I love paranormal romance. My bookshelves can attest to this. I write stories about it. It is kind of an obsession of mine. I'm blessed with a very understanding (and most times a very encouraging) DH. ;)

4. I love Pokemon. I really, really do! Pikachu is my favorite while Bulbasaur will always hold a dear place in my heart since he was my very first...and we made it all the way to the Indigo plateau together.

5. I collect sugar packets. I have them from all over the world since I was about five. Everywhere I go I stuff two in my purse and friends always bring them to me so I have quite a huge collection.

6. I've always wanted a llama. Even before I started hardcore knitting I wanted a llama. I was told I was zoned for only one and I thought the little guy would get lonely so I have not acted on this dream of mine. I do frequently buy alpaca yarn...and my sis got me a miniature llama which I just adore.

I know that there are scads of weirder things but I didn't want to give you TMI. :)

Happy crafting and remember the wierd stuff is what makes us all individuals!

Ruinwen
:)

Chock Full of Flowers Choker

Here is another design just approved by the LYS. It is a simple crocheted beaded choker with three flowers.

And...I made the pattern as I went so I actually am ahead of the game...

Anyway...I've been feeling awful about Ms. Ewe all day. I mean I can see her as I type and feel as if I left her down. I was at the shop today and one of the most talented people I know confessed to me hating the loop stitch so much she sewed in loops after knitting. Let's just say I feel tons better about hating that loop stitch now. Tomorrow when I work at the shop I'm going to bring Ms. Ewe and see if I can finish all the fleece. I want to get her done...really.

I have one more promised design to get done before I can return to fair, charity and maybe some knitting for me...

There's still a lot left to this month...maybe I can knock out a few goals too.

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Basking in the Sun

Dragon scarf

Here is DH's dragon scarf. It was fun to make and I think it turned out nice. He likes it which is really what matters.

I was thinking of a dragon hoodie for a kid with spikes down the back of it....but I need to finish some other projects that are due first.

Ruinwen
:)

Scarf for my Sis

My sister's scarf all dropped and airy as a feather.  I love the colors and the fun I had making this scarf!

Drop Stitch Scarf

I made this one for my sis for Val's Day and she really liked it.

This is a drop-stitch scarf that you drop every other row at the end and since it is made with wonderful sproingy (technical term) yarn, then it magically grows to twice its length.

I'm going to make another one with the yarn I Kool-Aide dyed a while ago. Also, sock yarn would work fab.

Ruinwen
:)

Meet Sheep

I purchased three Morehouse Farm kits and I really enjoyed everyone one of them. This is the Sheep Sampler scarf. You can't tell from the picture but there is basketweave stitch, bobbles and then seed stitch up and down the little guys back. My son picked out the eye color.

He loves him and says that sheep's favorite food is pizza with milk.

Ms. Ewe who is not happy with me is bleating softly. :(

Ruinwen
:)

Until Further Notice…Stash Only

For a while, we need to cut back on spending and I want to do my part so I will not buy any yarn until after Fair in May…and then only if I need it.

I mean really I do have enough to last the year through…it’s not like I’m really being deprived of anything. It might even give me a chance to make some of the stuff that I’ve been putting on the back burner…wouldn’t that be nice?

The LYS gives me yarn for proto-type designing classes so there are no worries there either. I’ll be okay folks. Really. :)

Happy Crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Our internet is down for the time being. So forgive me if I don’t post to the blogs as often or have no pictures up. :(

Happy Candlemas / Imbolic / Groundhog Day!

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow for the first time since 1999. So that means an early spring!

January seemed to go by so fast. Here is what I got done.

JANUARY GOALS
* work on sheep - never got to
* work on clapotis for Bridget - I'm on the length repeats now *yeah*
* Finish dishcloth - finished both
* finish intermediate class in crochet - never got to
* start a simple tank top to go with shrug - started and writing up pattern as I go
* start poncho for Spring Fair - never got to

Okay so I could do a little better...I've been working on a scarf for my son for Valentine's Day that looks like a sheep and it is almost done. I have something else that is *top secret* until after Valentine's Day...

FEBRUARY GOALS
* Keep on working on Bridget's clapotis - I try and do at least 2 rows a night, usually more
* Finish both Valentine's Day gifts
* Start that poncho for Fair
* Finish blanket for Fair
* Keep working on tank for LYS
* Do another pattern repeat on QOH shawl

We all know that I get sidetracked...like this month I went crazy with that afghan pattern and still have one on the hooks...I also fell in love with some Schaffer yarn (lambswool) and started on the Queen of Hearts shawl that I've been wanting to make. This is the yarn I earned for classes and could never afford otherwise...I'm in love with the whole project. It will be more of a cape in the end...and I will look like little red riding hood...but who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

I digress...

May the blessings of the season bring you creativity, inspiration and the sweet bliss of crafting.

Ruinwen
:)