Friday, February 19, 2010

Been a few days....or....YOU GOT A PACKAGE!

Here at work I get phone calls from Customer Service telling me "you have a package...it's big/small.....feels like yarn/that stuff you make yarn/string from"...>Today I got...."You have a package....UPS....from your sister....big box!......
I bring the box back to my office and this is what happens:

When a package comes from Mickey and HVS&WCo... That’s Geri in the back telling me that this color goes REALLY well with THAT color. This from a lady that when I started here was polite but indifferent when a package came. In the box is Geanine….she ALWAYS loves the fiber and dives right in trying to find JUST the right color for her skin tone! She also HAS to sniff (more of a full face in the fiber snort) the fiber and smile……..

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Fiberfreek Sends in Substitute for Ravelympics Flying Camel Spin Event

Yep...Had to put the sweater idea on hold.... Too much concentration needed to make sure my singles were consistent! So switched to my butterflygirldesign's "Blue Morpho" batt. Isn't it beautiful! It's even more rich in person! I'm using my Jenkins Turkish Delight spindle, a gift from my beloved friend and mentor Janice Rosema. The spindle is about 5.5" high! Ok...translation for you non fiber folk:...... I am spinning (not on a stationary bike) my own yarn from some fiber ...damn...still not clear to some...Ok....I am taking some sheep hair and bamboo fibers that a VERY talented lady butterflygirldesigns has prepared and dyed in some incredible colors--- I will spin the spindle and add twist to the fiber and make yarn. I couldn't continue with the sweater project because it has to be all the same all the way through so that it knits up evenly. The Blue Morpho will most likely be knit into a shawl or something. Even though it still needs to be consistent in thickness and twist...it doesn't have to be PERFECT!










At the same time I'm knitting a pair of socks from Ravelry's Iron Knitter....where we are to knit 5 pair of socks in a short amount of time....the group is already on pair #3...I'm starting pair #1. I don't think I'll be winning any awards! I'm also knitting a pair of Mary Jane's for a co-worker. More about that later when I have pictures and yarn info handy!

I promised to post more regularly. This is me trying!! Back to the knitting and spinning!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Ummm, yeah...no excuses.....

But lot's of apologies! I've been meaning to get back to this for a while and even have met a few people online who are actually following me! Thank you!!!
So....I'm going to give you a brief update on what I've been doing, ideas that have been presented to me for other things to do and a lot of random pictures that I want to share.
I'm hoping to be better at posting more. I really enjoy sharing....just need to better manage my time! Hope the New Year finds you all in great health, spirit and creativity!!
So...last post was May....wow! Since then Abraham and I have celebrated our 10th year anniversary in December,

We had to say goodbye to one of our 'boys', Aloyisius ("Al") in January and are waiting for our home to sell so we can downsize and get an apartment which will free up more cash for the important things in life.....fiber!!!
Last night I started the Ravelympics which is a friendly competition started on the Ravelry site---a web location/community for knitters, spinners, crocheters to share ideas and information and just be! I've entered the spinning section. You cast on or start spinning during the opening ceremonies (if you could see thru the tears) and you are to finish (hopefully) at the closing ceremonies. I chose to start drop spindling some of the yarn for the Spin Off Anniversary Sweater....never mind that it's been in the stash since Fall 2001!!!! OMG! If you look closely you can see one of my favorite drop spindles. It's made of Lego parts!!
I'm selling these in my Etsy store. They are great!

I've been learning all I can from my friend and mentor Janice Rosema (she's gonna get me for posting this pic!) The hat is knit from handspun yarn and the shawl is one of her designs....I wore the hat
proudly proclaiming "I HAVE HAIR"!

We try to get together every Sunday we can for our spin-in at LisCat....the best LYS (Local Yarn Store) ever!!!
I've been knitting commission pieces....scarves, slippers, socks and have even started a spinning commission or two!
I still work at Gearys in the accounting office and still love my co-workers (most days!) and the company (again, most days!).
Janice and I are planning on getting a booth at the NY State Sheep and Wool Festival in October...a way for me to spend time with family and friends and for us to further expose the fiber world to Janice's amazing patterns and hand spun/dyed yarns and fiber! I'm kicking around an idea of one of my sister's to do an online knitting class/knit along!

I'm going to sign off now so that I can get back to knitting on two orders and a pair of socks for myself and get spinning on the sweater yarn!

I again thank you for stopping in and giving me your time. I do realize how special a gift that is and will do my best to honor that!!! Janice is feeling a bit under the weather so I want to send her a big hug and another one to Margie who is enjoying the glow in the dark cast on her hand!
Love to all! Please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email....I am on facebook as fiberfreek and now that I have a Blackberry...I'm much more active there!!!!

Stay creative!!
Jamie