This is something I've thought alot about over the last few days. What do I say? Why has this happened? Why is it the brightest stars in my life are snatched from me? Why do I love so deeply? Why does it kill my soul? When will it feel better? When these things happen I feel like I revert back to about a 6 year old mentality. I get very angry and I cry alot.

Cancer has stripped me of loved ones over and over. A 14 year old family member stolen by Leukemia. A few years later my dear uncle who was like a father to me taken by prostate cancer when my daughter was just a few weeks old. Last year before I flew out to Rhinebeck, I attended the funeral of one of my best friends. Becky introduced me to "good" yarn and taught me to knit. Taken from me way to soon by breast cancer. This year, almost one year later, I lose another great knitter....Dana.

Now I don't know what cancer has taken this interest in the people I love for. But I know I don't like it. I hate it. I hate cancer. I'm afraid of it. I wonder who it has it's sights on next.

I have learned some things through these losses. I have learned to be a better friend. I have learned to be there....all the way to the end, even if it is hard for me to do. I have learned to let the tears fall. Let them fall right on the person. Let them know the depth of your love for them. Let them know how much you will miss them when they are gone. Let them know what an impact they have had on your life. Let them know YOU are a better person for having them in your life for the time you had them. Let them know that you will be there for them until they are no more.

Christmas had a whole different look to me this year. As I watched everyone around me enjoying the festivities. I couldn't help feeling the burning ache in my heart for the loss of my dear friend. It was real life. It wasn't covered in lights and blurred by the holiday. It was a burning hole in my heart.

It was a darkness created by a star in my life that had been snuffed out all to soon.

Let people know you love them. It may be the only chance you have.

London calling....

So I must attend...

This event is being hosted by two of my most favs... Socktopus and Cookie!!!

Guaranteed to be loads of fun!

Top of the line instructors.... Anna Zilboorg, Nancy Bush, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Judith McKenzie-McCuin, J.C. Briar, and many more.... go here KnitNation

Last Thursday morning was a beautiful, sunny, fall day and I was heading out to Mansfield, Ohio to meet up with Cookie A. and Anne . We met up at Doc's Deli for lunch where we entertained with our "knitting party" and in return we were entertained with magic tricks! It was a great little place! We knit for a while and then it was time for Cookie and I to head back to Germantown for the evenings class.

Cookie reluctantly said goodbye to Anne. Anne and I agreed to get to work on an event here in town and to keep in touch. I wanted to load Anne up too.....

When Cookie and I got back to the shop the knitters were in full swing! Kimber from Fiber Optic Yarns came toting LOTS of yummy goodness! We dove right in claiming this skein and that. Cookie found a great skein called Blackbird that matched her and her hair perfectly!

After that....it was time to get class started. Everyone was excited about getting creative with stitch patterns. Cookie was excellent! We had a great evening!

Everyone went right to work swatching!

The next morning Carole and I met up with Cookie for breakfast. Yes Carole was here all the way from New Jersey! It was great to have her attend the event too!

After lunch and some knitting we went out to the gazebo for a class photo!

I enjoyed having Cookie here so much! It was a great time. I wish that I could have hung around Friday night.....but I had commitments and Cookie had quite an early flight. So we parted ways....with me begging her to promise to come back soon.

So now.... all I'm left with is Crumbs. What I'm lovingly calling my sock I designed in class. I can't wait until we meet again......

Okay...so I talked to Abby and it seems I can get more of the Hummingbird....here it is!

3 available

Shake A Tail Feather

50%Merino

45% Tussah Silk

4% Firestar Nylon

1% Angelina Mylar

100% Fab Franquemont

0 available

Sunset Sky

35% Merino

35% Organic Merino

30% Tussah Silk

100% Lovely

16 available

Algae Tweed

50% Merino

25% Tussah Silk

15% Bombyx Silk

10% Cashmere

100% Delightful

0 available
Rosebud

50% Merino

35% Tussah Silk

15% Baby Camel Down

100% Scrumptious

5 available
These are Abby Batts! Contact me here or through Ravelry....misknits

You may also phone orders to (937)475-3502

Look what came today!!!! I ordered these at TNNA and totally forgot about them! It was so fun to open this box!

I so lurve this!

This ones mine.....but more are on the way ; )

Here are some of Abby's Batts that are for sale....from the top center....Lagoon, Blue Steel, Indiana Melon, Tequila Sunrise, Desert Flower.

I'm posting this so there are pictures available for online shoppers! ; )

You didn't think that was the end did you? We're just getting started!

Line up girls and boys...time for a trim!

I love the harness idea. It works out really well. Less wrestling involved it seems.

This is what they looked like when all was said and done! There were nice heat lamps set up in this area that you can't see in the photo. No animals were harmed during this photo session. It looks more brutal than it is.

Shearing Day...

It was March 1st 2009.

It was about 7 degrees F.

I have a retired vet that I'm friends with that owns this flock of sheep. Mostly South Down Finns but there are some crosses. The way I understand the story, this man's family was one of the first to bring the South Down Finn to the United States. He's an amazing man and I soak every second I get with him completely up. It was 7 degrees outside..hello.

So when I got there these little jewels had just been born. They were about two minutes old.

All freshly bathed by Mama. Aren't they so sweet. They were so friendly and had SO much energy. They were literally hopping all over.

This was so cute to see. This cat was like little Mother sheep....she tried to curl up with the lambs over and over....and this one let her.

Next for me to review from Sock Summit....Luscious Silk from BMFA. Thraven colorway. I'm going to knit Socktopus's shawl she just designed! It is gorgeous! I can't knit everything I want right now. I wish I could spin and knit at the same time. Here's a lil peek in the shop. I'm actually standing outside taking this pic. More shop pics to come.

So the lovelies from Crown Mountain Fiber....one has turned into this....a lovely three ply. I'm thinking fingerless mitts. Love (1)

So here I am...finally....again. I have horrible blogging habits. I'm sorry.

I've been thinking about what I'm going to do to be different from what I normally do after an event. So I'm thinking I'm only going to drizzle out bits at a time.

I would like to review the yarns as I knit with them. Most are new for me! Photo one is Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop. This is an absolute delight. A sock just magically flew off my needles. I could hardly lay it down. It's a superwash merino that is handspun. Just lovely. Photo two is Crown Mountain Farms fiber. We got a chance to chat with Klaus, the dyer, and we fell in love with his goodies! Big accident in that booth. The biggest actually. I wanted one of every color. It was tough. Go check them out!

The best part of any of these trips is getting to see "your peeps". People who think the same way, have the same love of your craft, people who "get you", and love that you're wearing your Queen of Beads with patent red leather shoes with your pants rolled up for all the world to see, people that tell you to just go ahead and buy it, seriously, because it may like become extinct or something, people that you can be your true self with. That is what I love the most about these trips.

I love that we never stop going from the time we get together. I love laughing pretty much every second. I love that we find humor in just about anything. I love every single second of every day. I feel so lucky to have been part of such an amazing event. I feel really blessed to have spent the time with the amazing teachers that I had in my classes. I don't think my feet have hardly touched the ground since I left Judith's room. My love for spinning has been set fire. What an amazing woman. I wish I could spend days with her.

Photo three...Socktopus...my BFF. Here for Sock Summit from clear across the pond. I just love that. Any time spent with her is guaranteed fun. See?

I said goodbye to a dear old friend today. I lost Boy to malignant lymphoma at age 7. He was a huge part of our family. His lil buddy Gypsy will be lost.

I think my heart may truly break.

Goodbye Boy.

I'm still working on the Lacy Prairie Shawl...but I've been sidetracked.

I knit it out of Green Mountain Spinnery, Yarn Over. A nice yarn for being bulky. Rather traditional in feel and color. I see a pattern.

If you look closely at the above photo you will see a row of stockinette down the middle of the sweater. Oh yeah. I'm cutting this one....right down the middle.

Now this is a first for me. 

I was a little apprehensive in the beginning. 

But I surely am not the first.

This is a well known, functional, easier way.

I'm all for that.

I brought out the old trusty for a little reinforcement.

That's a good idea. Once I was this far into it. I was just rolling with it. No turning back.

This is what I ended up with. I'm very pleased. It really felt good to just cut right down the middle. 

It still needs it's buttons sewn on and a zipper. I'm also going to try the taping in of the zipper before sewing. Thanks to Samro!

I like the fit. I made it a bit longer. I wouldn't do the decrease/increase exactly the same if I did it again. I think I would try to keep them less obvious. Or just not do them. I think I'll wear this alot. Yay!

I love that someone put this much thought into a gift for me. A knitter of course covering all bases....

a bag

a book

a beverage

a few of my favorite things.

All about me.

Love that.

Thanks J.

This is how I've spent the last two nights. Lacey Prairie Shawl in Fleece Artist CamelSpin 70%Silk 30%Camel. 100% Delightful. Now if only I could pry my nose from the book.....

I can't even say anything to describe Cat...or about quality time with Cat. I'm so fortunate.
Marisol prays to the yarn.....
Moss to match new Moss Mary Poppins bag....thanks Churchmouse!
For the love of all things Crabby....IrishGirlie does this sock belong to you???

I'm still missing camp.

I wish everyday could be camp.

I really do have a 12 year old mind.....