20 % OFF with Coupon Code SCHOOL113

Getting there...

Of course I was going to try and post every Monday but it just didn't seem right to post about NOTHING! lol

My mother has come up to visit and is helping me get ready for our 4th of July Family Gathering. We have cleaned and gardened and just sat around talking. :) It has been a pleasure.

Here is our new project. Nothing big...just picking out the weeds and adding some flowers and mulch.

So that is the front garden against the house and then we have a little side garden by the garage.

Here is the half built Compost bins...

So I hope to finish those this week and for what we have left....

1. Stain mailbox post and put in
2. Stain posts for hammock/arbor and then build
3. Raised Flower beds around trees that hammock is going in between
4. Finish mudding Shades room for paint and trim.

Of course cleaning and organizing the house is always on every body's list of things to do...should I have even mentioned that one?


OK so lets get to the fiber arts part of this...

Finished Objects:

Vortex Shawl with my friend Melody's hand spun yarn.

and that is it, but it is a BIG it! lol

WIPS...

Top Down Scoop Neck Cardigan by Knitting Pure & Simple out of Black Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton.
I am doing short sleeves and making it a little cropped so it flatters me a little bit more.

Still working on DH's socks. I'm only about half way down the foot now.

I did start a secret project for a Bride to Be :) I know she doesn't read this but JUST IN CASE. a know? :) Their wedding is on the 29th so i can reveal soon.

Coming Up:

I still have the Calza Shawl and the Faberge Shawl. I missed my Calza Shawl class for short rows but being the AWESOME LYS owners that they are she said I could go in and she would show me what is what :)

I would also like to take some of my hibernating projects out to finish those off. SO MANY!! @_@

FIBER GOODNESS:

As for spinning I am STILL working on that green gradient Alpaca/Silk blend.

For some weird reason I am not even getting excited about TDF :( I think it might have to do with all the stress around here lately. I just don't feel like adding the TDF to it.

SEWING:

NEW!! I've got 1 quilt going and 2 more I want to do. Also some bags I would like to make myself and 3 for Shades teachers by Monday.

No pressure LOL

SCHOOL:

Here is a new section for me too. I will be starting full Time college. I go Tuesday night to pick my classes and the closer it gets the more nervous I get!

Shameless Self Promotion:

I have 3 new hand spun yarns in the shop...please go check it out. With Coupon Code SCHOOL13 you get free shipping for the month of June and if you buy something you get a coupon code e-mailed to you for 10% off your next purchase :)

What's New?

That is such a loaded question since I haven't posted since November.

Things around the house:

  It took a whole day to just dig out the area.

 The border rocks and the stone path are all from around the property. The only thing we had to buy was the crushed blue stone and sand for the path.

Thought ten bags of stone would do it. HAHAHA ...no.

We got the back patio DONE!! WOOT!

 So much better then the mud pit we usually have.




We also put up one of those canvas  storage shed things for the ride on lawn mower, the push one and any of the bigger outdoor tools so I can finally put Heather (my dodge) in the garage. :)

Shades room only needs a little bit more mudding, trim and paint.

Laundry room only needs 2 more pieces of trim.

Other small projects not started we want done:

1. Mailbox and post 
2. Posts for hammock. I am also going to build an arbor over it for some climbing flowers.
3. Raised flower beds around 2 of the trees that the hammock is going in between.
4. Need to figure out/plant the flowers I would like in the front gardens.
5. Build my pallet composter

1,2 and 5 we already have the stuff...just need the time.

So many things I have pictured in my head.... :)

FIBER Arts:

Spinning:

I was a part of the group on Ravelry, 12lbsin2012, I fell short about a pound :( They then turned into 13lbsin2013. Oh Boy! I got to spinning and I now have 70.5 ounces out of the needed 208 ounces. I need to spin some worsted/bulky braids because all of the lace/fingering is holding me back a little. Here are the 2 latest spins...

Friends in Fiber, Merino/Silk, Bulky, N-ply, 248 yards, 4.3 ounces.

I navajo plied this to keep the 3 color sections.

 Friends In Fiber, BFL/Silk, light fingering, 723 yards, N-ply, 4.1 ounces

I have done this braid before and you can see in the pic on the right, from the last spin, on how the color progression goes.

Custom Spin. Twisted Fiber Art, Divine Roving 50/50 merino/cultivated silk, Nymph Colorway, 1,026 yards, fingering weight, 5.5 ounces.

I am now spinning some AWESOME 

Alpaca/Silk from The First Draft...

Knitting WIPS:

I took a sock class at Mothers Of Purl Yarns in Bozrah, CT. I kept getting crap about still using DPNs for knitting my socks so the class was to learn One Sock on 2 16" circs. I also tried out the karbonz from Knitters Pride. LOVE them for my socks/smaller projects. they are lighter than anything I have knit with before, they slide but still have some grip and my wrist seems to be OK with them :)

I am now done my BACON socks, just need to take a pic when the rain freakin' stops. Sock yarn is Done Roving yarns, Frolicking Feet, 100% SW Merino, 480 yards, colorway is Barn Roof but since they pooled I think they look like bacon! Bought at my LYS.

And I FINALLY started socks for hubby after all these years lol and of course he picks the one ball I could snag from a Twisted Limone update. --->

I am also working on the Vortex Shawl in my friends hand spun for the Orange KAL going on with The Fat Squirrel Speaks. and GASP I do not have a pic right now :(

FINISHED:

RIBBED...for your cleanliness! Get your mind out of the gutter! I crocheted some ribbed soap sacks for the hubby and I. YES I am smiling as I type this. 

My Bacon socks as I have said.

I also got done my Featherweight Cardigan out of Claudia Handpainted Silk Yarn. Still waiting for my SIL to take a pic of it.

WAIT LIST:

I bought some Cascade SW Sport for the Calza Shawl. I am going to be doing another class at my LYS for it. Need to get better at short rows. I've done one shawl with short rows BUT I'm not sure if I did them right so I keep shying away at any other shawls that have them. I've had the Daybreak pattern (even started it and frogged it) because I didn't know if I was doing it right.

I also bought some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool for the Faberge Shawl. I have been eyeing that like CRAZY. Thought I could ignore it but it just kept popping up. So I had to take that as a sign.

I am also going to a wedding at the end on June so I am making a cropped, short sleeved cardi to go with my dress. YES I said dress. Stop laughing! I bought some Cascade Ultra Pima for that in black. Nice and shiny and I am hoping will go great with my red dress. WOULD YOU STOP LAUGHING?

NEED TO STOP BUYING YARN AND FIBER!!

1. Because I have enough shit!

2. Because Casey (hubby) and I are BOTH going back to college for the fall semester.

I already went to orientation and TODAY have my placement tests. I am actually not freaking out as much as I thought but my test isn't until 1:30 lol

To help us out I am still keeping the shop open and even have FREE SHIPPING for June with coupon code SCHOOL13.

Thank you!

Hope to see you next week!

Shop

Crayons for Cancer RAFFLE Drawing!

I just want to thank you ALL for getting the word out about Crayons for Cancer. A special thank you to Katie from Knittin' On The Fly and Coggie from The High Fiber Diet who mentioned Crayons for Cancer on their podcast.

We had 7 people who sent crayons in or donated. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Prize 1 is the $40 dollar gift cert to my shop....and the winner IS.....ROZinPDX!!

Prize 2 is a $25 gift cert to Gritty Knits....and the winner IS......JetGirl1313

Prize 3 is a $25 git cert to The Loopy Ewe....and the winner IS....Kathie F.

Please PM me on Ravelry, Plurk or etsy as MonetB56 to claim your prize.

Thank you all again for donating to such a wonderful cause :)

CRAYONS FOR CANCER!!

Nothing really special about Thursday besides it is one day until FRIDAY!!! WOOT! lol So I recently joined Shade's school PTO. I KNOW it's a shocker but I'm trying to get in good with the community that we have decided to settle down in. Last night I vollunteered to help out at the schools open house and got to meet some awesome people. There were also those parents that just wanted to get in and out, and who could blame them. So our PTO is SUPER active and one thing that we do is Crayons for Cancer. And I thought, why not ask all of my knitter friends to donate! Duh! Because we all know you people are freaking AWESOME!! I also know, as a parent, we all have those broken crayons laying around. it also hurts when you step on them. NOT as much as stepping on a lego, OMFG you just want to chop your foot off after stepping on one of those F&^%ers! So I am asking you to PLEASE send me all of your old and broken crayons. You can Private Message me for my addy. Ravelry name is MonetB56 if you would like to pm me there :) and THAT IS NOT ALL! For every package I get I will enter your name into a drawing to win a $40 dollar gift certificate to my shop Shady Fibers or a $25 dollar gift certificate to Gritty Knits.- or a $25 dollar gift cert to the Loopy Ewe This will go all the way until the end of October. Thank you for helping me with such a worthy cause. :)

For Sale

For an easier buying process I put all of my handspun up in my etsy shop. :)

Thank you all for looking!

SOLD: Handspun Yarn

#12

 

SOLD

 

Fiber:  85/15    BFL/Silk    Ply: N-Ply(3-ply)

Yards: apx 675    Weight: Fingering

4.3 ounces

 

 

A Beautiful gradient handspun yarn PERFECT for a shawl with 675 yards.

 

$67.50

 

$5 priority shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

SOLD: Handspun Yarn

#11

 

SOLD

Fiber: SW Merino Ply: N-Ply(3-ply)

Yards: apx 351  Weight: Sport

3.6 ounces

 

 

$38.61

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#10

Fiber: Merino  Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 313  Weight: DK

4.6  ounces

 

 

$40.69

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

SOLD!!!: Handspun Yarn

#9

 

SOLD

Fiber: Coopworth/Mohair/Sparkle  Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 143  Weight: Super Bulky

3.7 ounces

 

 

*Not next to skin soft*

 

$24.50

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#8

Fiber: Merino  Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 343  Weight: DK

3.7 ounces

 

 

$44.59

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

 

 

 

 

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#7

Fiber: Falkland   Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 251  Weight: Bulky

4 ounces

 

 

$40.16

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

 

 

 

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#6

Fiber: SW Merino   Ply: N-Ply (3-ply)

Yards: apx 435  Weight:  Sport

4.1 ounces

 

 

$47.85

 

$5 Priority Shipping

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#5

Fiber: SW Merino   Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 658  Weight: DK

8.1 ounces

 

 

$85.00

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

 

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#4

Fiber: 60/40 Merion/Bamboo   Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 556  Weight: DK

5.4 ounces

 

 

 

$72.28

 

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#3

Fiber: SW Merino    Ply: 2-Ply

Yards: apx 155    Weight: Bulky

3.8 ounces

 

 

$35.50

 

$5 priority shipping

 

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

 

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#2

Fiber: Falkland    Ply: N-Ply (3-Ply)

Yards: apx 175    Weight: Super Bulky

4.2 ounces

 

 

$33.50

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

*I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

 

FOR SALE: Handspun Yarn

#1

Fiber: Falkland   Ply:  2-Ply

Yards: apx 375  Weight: Worsted

5.6 ounces

 

$47.75

 

$5 Priority Shipping

 

 

 

 *I do my best to accurately show colors but please be aware colors may be affected by your monitor settings.*

Product Review

As you all probably know by now I am really into spinning.

AND NO. NOT the bike type lol

I just bought THIS WPI tool to help you with your spinning. Thought it would be a great addition to my tools and it does.

What pissed me off was the received product WAS NOT what is shown in the picture.  It was still the WPI tool BUT in the pic you see a nice hard piece of sturdy plastic. What I got was a laminated card.

No, I did not ask for a refund as it is still a useful tool. I did message her to say she should probably change her pictures out as well as change the info so her customers know what they are getting.

If I knew what I was going to get I would NOT have bought this because personally I do not think it was worth the $14.50. If it was still the hard plastic, then yes, I would still have bought it.

I have read her feedback and people do say that it is as pictured but I do not think they were looking hard enough. OR since the 26th of August 2012 (her latest feedback on this product) she changed the product. I'm pretty sure it was the first.


UPDATE:

Ok so apparently the supplier DID change the stuff on her.

She wrote me this:

Holy crap, I had no idea! I had noticed my packages just seemed a bit lighter in this last round, but never made the connection. Now I'm not sure if they just now changed the product, or if it changed with the packaging.

Thank you so much for letting me know!

Absolutely let me know if you decide you want a refund. I'm going to contact the distributor & see what's going on.

And then this:

Okay, just spoke with the distributor & she said they just changed on the most recent shipment. Apparently there was a big materials increase and to keep the old style, they'd have to almost triple the price! What I didn't realize with my last order is that they also lowered the price on the new version, so I can go back and refund my orders from the last batch to make the pricing a bit more attractive.

I'm about to run out for some errands, but I'm going to send you a refund for the difference in the new price this evening.

Again, thank you for the heads up! If you hadn't emailed me, I could be backtracking through scores of refunds instead of just a dozen!

HOW AWESOME IS SHE?

I've written people before about their product not being as described and I got bitched out and was actually expecting it again.

She has now changed the description and LOWERED the price to match the product.

My respect of one more person on this planet is good :)