The daily dose of Bliss

I just spent the last our trying to "accomodate" everything in my blog, so I really don't feel like writing much. But because a picture is worth a thousand words, I will leave you with yesterday's daily dose of Bliss:

 This is 2 ounces of "Goblin Market" which I acquired from the ever-wonderful Josette, from Enchanted Knoll Farm.  From another angle:

What is a WOOLAPALOOZA?

I was asking that to myself on friday. There was nothing going on this weekend, and there was a WOOLAPALOOZA at Drumlin Farm (http://www.massaudubon.org/). It was 2 hours away in Massachussetts, so I decided to give it a try.
I knew there was going to be shearing, fiber arts vendors, and, of course, sheep (duh!). But I didn't know (although deeply hoped) if there was going to be fleece, fiber, or anything spinning/weaving related for sale. Well, there was none.

But it was fun. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that is thinking of having a farm (like me). About the fiber arts vendors, there were just about 5 vendors: The Green Mountain Spinnery, which was selling only knitted items; a lady that was selling angora (rabbitt) yarn; a gentleman that was selling wooden items (spindles, shawl pins, etc), another yarn vendor, and a jewelry vendor.

They also had a tent with activities for the children, where they had roving, pipe cleaners, beads, among others, so they could do "spiders"... In that same place, they had a bunch of other things, like a little table loom, and spindles for the "children" to play. I tried my hand at the loom, since I have one coming my way... Don't ask me how did it go :P I will just say that I need to practice.

I think someone who is thinking about starting on spinning or weaving would have been happy they could try it before hand.

Also, I caught hubby in fraganti:
He was very into this spinning demonstration. Inside me, I know he really would like to try his hand at it, but his mexican macho ego does not allow him... Some day honey, some day...

We also watched the shearing demonstration:

Yes, he is using SCISSORS!!! How crazy is that! I just couldn't believe it. So overall it was fun for all of us. So now, when you hear about a woolapalooza, you know what it is :)

REVAMPING TUMI FIBERS

Hey folks,
I know, it has been forever since I've posted here. Between work, college, family, knitting, spinning, and dyeing, time flyes. But oh well. Here are some pictures of some stuff that I've added recently to my shop.

Wonderfully soft Superfine Peruvian Alpaca












Don't forget to stop by http://www.peruvianpride.etsy.com/ to check out my wonderful fibers!

XOXO,

Gigi

PUERTO VALLARTA... HERE WE GO!!!

It's only a couple of days until Big D and I fly out to Puerto Vallarta! I can't wait to go on vacation. I really like Mexico. I've been there just once, but it's lovely! The real reason why we are going is because our cousin Javi (Pato) is getting married... But we will take advantage of the trip and we will be going to Club Meza del Mar, an all-inclusive hotel with great rates. Hubby and I will be staying there for 4 nights, all inclusive (YES, ALL, even alcoholic drinks) in an room with Ocean View, for only $344 dollar! Isn't that amazing?

Well, on the other hand, you may be wondering what I've been doing all this time... Well here is a brief summary of what I've been done:

1) Lil D's Sweater, from the Peace Suit, from Knit.1 winter 07 issue. Just waiting to be blocked and pieced together:



2) My Rowan Sweater, in Little Big Wool from Rowan, from the Arabesque book. Just waiting for blocking and to be pieced together:



3) My swatches for lesson 2 from "Basics, basics, basics", a correspondence course I am taking with TKGA (The Knitting Guild Association):



4) The back of the pattern in the cover of the Summer 08 issue of Cast On:



5) Here is my new "love", my Louet S10, double treadle:



6) I casted on for my first socks! Monkey, from Knitty Summer 08 issue. I will be knitting it with my handspun from Spunky Eclectic fiber club May 2008. And it will be the lucky one that will go with me to Mexico :) :



7) And finally, these babies who are waiting to be taken to a good home:



Yes, I am dyeing roving now. Pictured are some 100% alpaca fiber, 100% domestic wool, and 100% corriedale. Hopefully, when I come back from vacation, I will be opening an etsy shop. The name of my store will be: "Tumi Fibers: A budget friendly fiber shop".

"Tumi" is pronounciated: "too - mee". Wondering what does it mean? Leave me a comment with what you believe it means! I will tell you on my next post! (Which hopefully will be when I come back from Puerto Vallarta).

Later,

Gigi

Single Cable Big D's scarf: check!

I know, it has been a while since my last post, but he life of a Navy-paralegal-knitter-mommy-doggy PO (PO = Petty Officer), is quite hectic. Also I was working on my appellate brief, which will be considered as my final exam... Wish me luck! Well, so I finished a single-cable scarf for Big D (AKA hubby), and it came out precious! I used Farmhouse yarns in "Storm". I just love Farmhouse yarns, they are so unique... and I can be 100% sure that nobody will ever have the exact same scarf. Thanks Carol! On the other hand, I started Lil' D' (AKA Babyboy) camouflage sweater. I usually don't like to use acrylic, but this new "camouflage" from Bernat is, to my surprise, super soft. It feels really nice, and the prints are awesome. I got a couple of pics, I hope you like them. Also, I went to Mystic Yarns last saturday and, as always, they had some yarns (Rowan) with 50% off, as well as some Rowan magazines, sitch n' bitch nation, and the little box of sweaters, all of them at 50 % off. Amazing uh?

Finally got a chance to upload pics...

Well, I've been quite busy lately... I had to prepare a court brief for one of my college courses... busy, busy, busy!... But thanks God I am done... Now I have to write an appellate brief... But that is my final paper. Well here are some pics of my latest projects. One is a pink scarf that I made with Lumpy Bumpy of Farmhouse Yarns, red heart and Fun Fur, just for the heck of it. I had just bought my "speed hook" and I wanted to try it on. The second one is the front piece of my Knit.1 mag leaf pattern tank top, in cotton-ease from Lion Brand. The third one is my orange glove with "salmon" from Farmhouse Yarns. I love it! but it came out a little too big, I am going to try the other hand with the reduced measures, hopefully it comes out right.

Also, I just joined the "Knitting Circle", a local group of fellow groovy knitters... Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, November 27th at Borders in Waterford. I know I will meet a lot of cool people there.

Well, enjoy the pics!

Busy day at the office

Today was super dooper busy at the office... Lots of things going on. I couldn't wait to come back to the house and get going with my new project: a pair of orange gloves. I love the yarn! Is just so perfect, looks like a leaf that just fell out of a tree... It is orange but has this little hint of yellow, very subtle... Also, today I received my holiday issue of knit simple... I love the "going coastal" designs... When you get your issue, you will know what I am talking about. Well, gotta get going, I owe you some pics of my green leaf tank top and the new project.

XOXO

Gigi