EnigLdy~SheepFaced

A New Craft

Seeing as we get bored with our knitting, crocheting and whatever else we're doing, I thought I'd search out a new craft for all of us.  Here is what I came up with:

I'm always looking for something cute to wear plus I've found a use for those baby faces in the stash!

Here is something that brings back sweet memories:

When my darling Aunt Ruthy lived on the west hill, she had these aluminum cups in her cupboard.  When you drank from them, the beverage was very cold and you could taste the aluminum.  Very "in" and fun.  It is amazing to see what comes back in style.

I finished a book while I was on travel: The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.  Very interesting and a quick read.  Of course, anything would be a quick read after a Michener book.  Not only are Michener's books about eleventy gazillion pages long, they're printed on rice paper.  This makes it virtually impossible for you to flip through pages as you read.  When I pick up a "normal" book, I always feel like I'm flipping cardboard pages.

Crochet update:  I have let the cardigan marinate way too long.  I need to pick it up and finish the back and start the front.  I also frogged the Amish yarn 'ghan and started it again.  I worked on it while I was in Atlanta and used up all the yarn I brought with me.  I usually bring more than I ever get time to use but not this trip.  I like how it is turning out - much better than what I ended up frogging.

This morning DH and I hit Fry's for more computer memory.  Friday we had the cable guy at the house to diagnose why we couldn't get on the internet - the modem took a shit!  $75 late we were up and running.  DH said we needed to hit the store for "about a hundred dollars of memory."  Why, exactly, is it always double what he guesstimates?  Yeah, $200 later we were out the door.  Not having spent everything in the bank account, I told him I just had to stop at Half Price Books.  Hey, it was in the same shopping center and I'd never been in this one.  I found this book: http://i8.ebayimg.com/02/c/06/f8/12/d9_7.JPG and this book: http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/c/00/c1/ce/ce_7.JPG.  DH came home with 3 cookbooks.  I was happy to remember my 15% off coupon.

Picture Laden Post

My darling cousin, Ruthie, does the most beautiful work and doesn't charge near what her talent is worth.  Lucky for me, she sends some of these beautiful creations.  I had never seen (in person) any of the fabric doilies but could tell by the pictures how gorgeous they are.  She asked me to choose fabric from a website that she orders from and this is what she made:

I am so thrilled with how this turned out and beautifies my kitchen.  For now, it is on the kitchen table but it may move to the island to more "showcase" it.  The reverse of the doily is a light Christmas pattern - all I have to do is flip it over and announce, "Merry Christmas."

Today I must finish up the housework and bill paying so that I can have time to pack.  I head out very early Tuesday morning for Atlanta so today I must hit the list: check Atlanta weather, list out needs for the fair and self, crawl through the attic to the suitcases.  You know, typical crap for a trip.  I'm looking forward to it since I get there around 11 and will have the rest of the day to myself.  I've mapped out some yarn stores and then when Martha (coworker) arrives we plan on hitting the underground.  There is an entire city underground that includes a mall, restaurants and God knows what else.  I've also been told to hit the Coca-cola museum.  It is on the list.

Here is what is awaiting DH when he wakes:

Matching coffee mugs/saucers!  I found these yesterday at IKEA and I even had to steal the display model to nab the blue one.  Plenty of the red but no blues left.  I hope he likes.  He doesn't normally suck down this much jo but he can pour less than the vessel will hold.

I've been moving along the learning curve of spinning.  No, Ruthie, not exercise spinning - too funny that you'd think this butt would actually attempt that.  I had hand spinning class #2 of 2 yesterday morning.  I like the way this all worked out for me.  I bought a kit in Boerne in 2005 and a man walking around stopped me and gave a 5-minute lesson.  I did a little more spinning after that and then started the pining for a wheel, knowing the speed would vastly improve with a wheel.  I got the wheel and then the hand spinning class started the following week.  Michelle, the teacher, had us wind and wind and wind until I wanted to scream.  That evening I played with the wheel and it all just clicked for me.  My hands realized what they were supposed to be doing.  Class #2 had me spinning frog hair on the spindle - it all just came together for me.  No, I'm not a pro but I have greatly improved.  Wanna see my firsts (not many firsts left for this ol' broad so I now takes pics):

The white stuff in the front were my very firsts from the wheel.  After that I got tired of white and started mixing when I started plying.  They're really tiny balls (huh?) but they're all mine.

Why?

This is really fun and DS woulda loved when he was jocking it up.  I do have a question - is the top, middle cake for your son or hubby?  We all like a happy peter but I wouldn't wish out loud for my son to have a happy peter.

Class#2 of hand spinning is this Saturday.  I haven't touched the spindle.  Tonight is the plan so that I don't embarrass myself on Saturday with nothing to show for a week break.  I have produced a few yarns and they're set aside for keeping.  I am improving and am less frustrated --- all downhill from here.  Now I have to purchase fiber to spin.  Another excuse to spend money.

I also want to hit the Joann store over by work.  They're moving the store so all items are on clearance.  They don't have much left but I've always loved digging.  Maybe at lunch today.  I so deserve it and the weather is supposed to be 76 -- a good excuse to slide open the moon roof and drive.