A whole week already?

Wow! A whole week has flown by and I'm back at work blogging. Sensing a pattern here?

So, I had three days off with the Memorial Day holiday. So I swore I would do nothing but fiber related projects for all three days!! Except for one outing for groceries and one outing to take a friend to our favorite Chinese buffet (Hi Sharone!).mmmm sushi! ..that's what I did....I knit and spun for 3 whole days!

Then back to work and home to knit some more! I worked on the test swatch for the Goddess Knits mystery stole KAL that I thought started on the 1st but actually starts on the 14th!

I also worked on the Voyager Stole KAL that I'm doing with Casey of Knitting At Night podcast fame. Love the podcast and I'm going slow on the KAL but enjoying it!

I also started and finished a last minute gift scarf for a co-worker and finished up a few other small things I had in the final stages... a sock....a scarf...a hat....of course found many others that I need to finish! When did I start all these projects??? LOL! I also did a few hours of spinning. I'm so out of practice I'm back to beginner status!

Tonite my bestest bud Margie will be over to do some fiber-ing and in the morning we will be taking her to our favorite Indian buffet (sensing a pattern here?) for brunch and back home for more knitting and spinning! Well back to work so I can afford more yarn!

Finished socks, more projects to start!

Here is the finished pair of socks! Got up at 5:45am with a NEED to get the toe done on sock #2!
Done by 6:30 with plenty of time to photograph them and get ready for work!
I'm now at work trying to get paperwork out of the way so I can work on my Voyager lace stole that others in my KAL group are 1/2 done with!!! I'm on row 2 of the first of 40 repeats!! AHHHHH!
My 52 Pair Plunge sock KAL and my Mystery shawl KAL start on June 1! Sorry...for those that don't know....KAL is Knit a long--online people knit same project. Mystery KAL's are where once a week (usually) a part of the pattern or chart are revealed. No one knows the final outcome. You have to KAL to find out what the finished project looks like! I've always wanted to do each of these and had to click on JOIN for each one!!!! The 52 pair plunge is one pair of socks per week for a year!!! Wish me luck!!!! Also this past week I finally put some of my finished work in our friends picture framing/art gallery and I sold some things!!! I even bartered a scarf before I left for some art for Abraham and I from an artist who brought in her goods while I was there for an upcoming show! I'll find out everyone's links and post them here later! Well, have to get back to work! Talk to you all later!

Ok...I'm a yarn geek

Happily admitting here that I am a yarn geek! I was taking pictures of the sock in progress to show Margie and I noticed how the pattern was working up with the Royale Hare http://www.royalehare.com/ Freestone Firecracker colorway. Isn't it wonderful?!

Knitting at Work

First there was KIP (knitting in public) now there is officially (at least in my little world) KAW (knitting at Work).

It was on my lunch hour so I'm not feeling the least bit guilty!! This is the Voyager Lace Stole KAL (knit along) I'm doing through (?with?) Casey- one of the most down to earth knitting podcasts out there!

http://knittingatnight.libsyn.com/

or found on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitting-at-night

I had started this a day early as a matter of fact and had to rip it back (take out finished knitting) to the garter stitch rows! No tv while knitting lace for the first time in a long time!!

FINISHED Sock #1 Freestone Firecracker!

Finished the first Freestone Firecracker sock! http://www.royalehare.com/

I made this one a tad roomier as I'm diabetic and never liked tight socks anyway!

The cuff was to be done in a size smaller needle than the sock. I did the whole sock with my

beloved KnitPicks Harmony wood dpn's (double pointed needle) size 3.

The toe is roomier as well. I normally decrease to a total of 16 stitches but this time decreased to 24. Much nicer! Finally I have the dreaded Kitchner stitch memorized! WOO HOO!

Sent a picture to Margie as she's the yarn pusher that showed me this yarn ... her reaction? "Sweet"! I have to agree! I wasn't thrilled with the black at first but it quickly grew on me and now I'm in love with how it patterned on the top of the foot! One of the many things I love about Royale Hare yarn is that it's not striping! Abraham is still of the opinion that hand knit socks wear out too fast. Of course has he ever worn one pair and the yarn wasn't the best. Don't remember the brand but I'm now challanged to make him a pair that will last!!!

Here is a picture of two of Abraham's cross stitch projects on my wall at work. He has amazing patience and his color work is inspiring! The cell phone picture does not do them justice. The larger piece is a very deep purple and bright orange, while the smaller piece is a very royal blue.

Knittin' while we walk.....

Hello all! Been a few days...just working and knitting! I'm trying to finish my socks and get going on the two lace projects I have in my very near future! Today Abraham and I went to the Beverly Hills Art Festival. Lot's of great art of all types! We ran into a favorite vendor, saw many pieces we wish we could afford! I got a few great reactions to the sock I was working on as I walked. My favorite had to be the gentleman who said as he passed "I'll take a size 12!" Almost handed him my business card!! LOL!

Started a Lace Stole KAL

here is the pic of the Voyager Lace Stole KAL (knit a long) that I started last nite.....Abraham was reprimanding me because the start date was actually today!!! The yarn is from Mickey at http://www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/ and is a much deeper blue than the picture shows! I had to re-learn how to do a crochet provisional cast on!! Much cursing before the "a-ha" moment!!!

This is the sock I started yesterday while waiting for Brenda to have her cataract surgery. She's doing great! This yarn is Freestone Firecracker from

www.royalehare.com

Day off hanging around!

Here is my friend Brenda working on another of her amazing art projects. I'm sitting here realizing how many talented people I have in my life!! I'll have to post a "gallery opening" and show off some of their work!!

Today is a day off from work, started the day by running errands and then home to do such fun things as fix the toilet-no more dripping sound- finish taking out the false ceiling in the bathroom-now scraping and painting to do! I am now starting another pair of socks which I'll post later!

Important people...

Just wanted to add a few more pictures to say hello to those in my 'inner' circle! It takes a lot to get there and even more to stay!!

First....my best friend and life partner Abraham...

Here is my sister-friend Mickey at work...I'm so jealous!!

www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/

Here is my bestest bud and fiber mentor Margie in character as Auntie Pita at Renaissance Faire selling her wares.... yarn and spinning fiber of course!!!

www.auntiepita.blogspot.com/

http://www.royalhare.com/

A closet fiber addict or What color for my gift?

Here I am at work having my lunch thinking about something I heard the other day.

How many of us smell the yarn or fiber as part of the introduction process? My buddy, Geanine, gets just as excited as I do when a package of yarn or spinning fiber comes to our office. The first thing she does is smell the fiber, thrilled when it shares the smell of the animal and the farm from where it came. The best part? She isn't a knitter or spinner - unless you count the many hundreds of miles she does in her spinning class...the other type of spinning!

Here is a picture of her 'trying on' some yarn my sister sent. http://www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/

A night out with my best friends!

Here is our oh-so-excited friend Gisel checking out my blog!

We were doing the monthly Downtown Long Beach (CA) Art Walk and found this great coffee house with free internet service! Gisel graciously bought drinks for Abraham and myself and agreed to become part of my blog! I'm going to start 'borrowing' some of the wonderful photographs she takes to share with everyone!

I'm at work again....just finished payroll and am taking a much deserved break! I'll get back to the paperwork in a minute! I also have to send out an email to my sister Valerie in New York. HI VALERIE!!!!! Haven't been that good with the communication and want to send her a link to this blog!

So...back to work....then home to get some knitting and spinning done!!! More on that later!

Have a great Mother's Day!!!

Last minute add!

Hello all!
I'm about 15 minutes from starting to end my work day. I work in the accounting department of a great family owned store in Beverly Hills, CA. www.gearys.com I've spent my day doing paperwork and listening to Casey's podcast "Knitting at Night" www.knittingnightly.blogspot.com

I have to tell you I'm addicted! It's like hanging out with a good friend sharing ideas! Sure helped make the day go! Of course now I'm feeling terribly inadequate with my knitting production! I've been in a bit of a slump lately and am just now coming out of it!

My sister Mickey, referred to as Sister-Friend, just sent me an update of her boss's website http://www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/. I'm so jealous of Mickey! She works at a small fibermill in upstate NY where we grew up and most of my 7 siblings still live. I'm the rebel that moved across the country!

Ok...have to go close the registers! I'll post more later!

Happy knitting!
Jamie

I HAVE A BLOG!!!

Hello there! I'm setting this up because I've been told you aren't somebody until you have one!

I'm a 45 year old guy living in Long Beach Califorina with my partner Abraham and our "kids": Dogs Al and Brillo (Breeyo) and our Cats: Diablo and Rutherford.

I'm a compulsive knitter and fiber-stasher and Abraham does amazing cross stitching.