Mamascrapalota-Blogga

Finished up the Blue

I finished up the blue batt, and I plyed them together.  I must say that my right leg is getting a total workout.  I'm not sure that the Ashford Traditional is exactly the best at plying.  It doesn't want to comPLY.  Haha...

Here it is on the swift

And here is a close up

Ok, we are off for a week up to San Fransisco and then to my parent's ranch near Yosemite.  Our friends Paul and Shannon are coming with us.  Paul's Dad broke his arm so our anual trip to Aspen for some Thankgiving SKIING is OFF!  Shoot-dang! (We just found out they had 2 ft. of fresh snow....)  Byron is dying don't-cha-know Can't wait for some good food, good friends and good family. Yes, in that order.  We have a house sitter for the house (What else?) and for Jo-Jo the cat, but our Missy is coming with us.  She'll love the ranch.

Hope you all have a GREAT Thanksgiving! 

Love to you and yours,
Mary-Kay

On the Bobbon

Yesterdy I had this new Batt, made by Maitri from Wabi-Sabi Hand Spun Yarns. 

It is interesting, because there are all of these little balls of something in there which grab on to the spun yarn.  Also there is some cool shiney stuff and some VERY rough hair that keeps it's curl.

It is spun up to this, but the batt is so huge that it went all the way up the edges of the bobbin.  I plan on spinning another batt by Maitri that is in blues and plying them together.  My favorite two colors.

Can you say OBSESSED?!!

New Yarn

This below is my second spun yarn.  You can't tell from the pictures but that is a big giant ball of yarn.  I had it in a skein, for about one night, so I could share it with everyone, but it was screaming, "KNIT ME, NOW!" so I put it on the swift, and on the ball winder and this is what I got.

Then I started knitting it up and it knits GREAT!!! 

Pattern: Misty Garden by Jo Sharp
Needles: Size 10 bamboo straights
Yarn: Hand Spun (by me), from Lorna's Laces "Motherload" roving.

Let me know what you think!

Hope you like it everyone!

By the way,
I took a lesson in spinning (a cool private lesson) by my new friend Wendy of "Spaazilicious" Blogdom.  Google her - her blog is Awesome.  Then click on her store site called Lanas de Libielus, or something like that.  (Again, Typepad is not letting me put anything as a link in here, driving me nuts!  Does anyone know what is wrong!) Anyway, Wendy sells her hand spun, and hand dyed yarns and rovings.  She makes some KILLER colorways.

I LOVE supporting someone local. She is a cute, pixie size chick with a quiet, calm demener (can't spell).  However, I can tell she's got something up her sleeve.  (Wendy, if you are reading this - you know what I'm talking about ; )   )

Ok, that's it for today,
Mary-Kay

Help!

Ok, when I have typed a message in here, then I go and "get" a web address from someone's blog by clicking on their blog, save it, then click back to here to add it in.....MY ENTIRE MESSAGE GOES AWAY THAT I'VE ALREADY TYPED!

It didn't do that before.  Does anyone know what the deal is?  Typepad is about to lose me...

Mary-Kay

Having Problems...

When I try and post a picture or add a link, Typepad is not allowing all the cool stuff to happen.  I am going to try it again....  Give me a minute here...

My first spinning effort

Ok, As you know I have really gotten into this "fiber arts" thing.  And, I bought the wheel.  And, I bought some roving.  And, I started in...

This is my first spinning attempt and I think I do ok.  I'm going to knit it up into a scarf.  It is Marino Wool. (pink and maroon), Columbia Wool with Alpaca (dark brown) and some tiny fibery thing called "18 K" by Knit One Crochet Too, that I spun held together with the Columbia, then I plyed those together with the Marino pink and maroon and ta-da!

Pretty Proud of myself, if I must say so.  I know I probably did everything wrong, but hey, I DID IT!!!

Some Rovings and a new/old Wheel!

 First topic of discussion:
Well, on Wednesday at my "Spinning" class (NO, I wasn't working out, darn it!) someone announced that there was an ad in the paper for someone selling THREE spinning wheels.  Kindof funny, that.  So, this being my second (yes, only my second) class, and having spent every spare moment between Wednesdays attempting to spin on my little hand spindle, I decided that I NEEDED a wheel.  I NEEDED, pretty strong word there.

Anyway, one of the coolest women in the spinning class decided she would go along with me and take a look at what they were.  We walk to the front door of this little man's house and she discovers that he and his wife were students of hers.  Anyway, long story short, I bought his old wheel.  She is an Ashford Traditional (brand new approx. $350-$400), filthy dirty, with old disgusting yarn on her one and only bobbin. He told us that it had maybe only ONE hour of use in her 35 years of age.  I'll bet that old stuff on the bobbin was the original spinning attempt left on there to rot.  I got her for $150, took her home and gave her a bath, and oiled her up.  Good as new!

Cool!!!!  It is EXACTLY the same as made today and is GREAT for beginning spinners, however, that being said, about 5 women in my class have this wheel and have been spinning on it for 20 + years.  It is Ashfords best seller, they still make all the parts and I'm good to go.  With little or no expense...  Until I went and bought roving, and bobbins, and the large flyer, and etc......

Her name?  Abby Ashford.  I have to name her.  May be dorky, but, she NEEDS a name.  In this house of straight lines and angles - she looks a bit out of place, but does look like a venerable matron, in charge, and knowing what possibilities might come from her.  Wow, I've given her a full personality! She is just waiting for me patiently to discover how well I can spin. 

Nothing spared for all my art endevers...And here she is sitting next to my cool Lexie Barnes knitting bag  =======>>>

Second Topic:

On-line I bought some Lorna's Laces "Motherload" roving.  First pic is of a small pile of it already pre-drafted and ready to go.  The second pic is of my lame-o attempt at spinning it.  Since I don't have a way to ply it, Erica and I held it between us and twisted it ourselves - s  l  o  w  l  y   and patiently.  Fun though!

This roving below is some I bought up in Torrance at a cool conference last Saturday (not sure of the name).
I was hoping to try out some wheels, but there weren't any to try out.  Oh well - I got Abby instead!

Lastly I bought some cool Marino on-line and this pic shows the yummy-ness of it all... Very hard to spin yet, but I'll get it.  Right now I'm spinning something easier, but I sure wouldn't put it on and wear it!  Glad to be back on here!!!!

 

Hey it worked!

Here are some more photos of last Saturday.

This is my knitting buddy Lisa.  We are wearing our scarves that we made to match the items that our dogs are wearing.

And, here is Missy's "Saddlebag" that matches my scarf.  Funny, eh?

This is my dear friend Christine.  She has a BIG heart for people - I can just tell.  She also works at my favorite LYS Knitting in La Jolla.  I am bummed that I don't have a pic of the store owner, Suzanne.  Another awesome woman.  It is cool to find woman who have the same interests.

Alrighty, I'll have other things to update, for now, it is dinner time.

Chat ya later!
Mary-Kay

Check, check, 1,2,3

Last post I had trouble getting photos on here.  This is a test.  It is only a test (smile)  If it works you will get to see some photos of "Knitting for Dogs".

Hey, it worked!  The Author Kristi Porter is on the left.  My totally cool knitting teacher.  Her friend Marnie is on the right with her dog Panda.  Marnie is a famous knitter in her own right.  She is a really fun and cool girl.  I can tell she is VERY calm and cool and collected. 

Ok, sending this off to posting land.  Lets see if it works.  If so then I'll have more.
Mary-Kay

Knitting for Dogs

On Saturday Missy and I went to my local knitting store called Knitting in La Jolla and were in a "Fashion Show".  Haha.  Anyway, my friend and knitting teacher, Kristi Porter wrote a book called Knitting for Dogs.  You can buy it at Amazon.  I think my friend Wendy, who has two of the cutest little Chi-wa-was, and also knits (can't spell that), should knit up her pups some of these sweaters.  Totally to die for if you are a dog lover and want to put sweaters on them.  Anyway.  Here are some pics.

Well, Typepad doesn't seem to be cooperating.  I've tried to upload these pics several times now, but I'll just wait till later.  Nothing doing.  Sorry folks.

Mary-Kay