A Few of my Favorite Things!!!

I am finding some absolutely cool stuff lately.  I wanted to try and share a few of these things. Some are old, some are new, all are great!  I've been looking around the enormous WWW and wow!!!

Favorite new find on Ravelry-- Viktoria Gogolak.  Just take a look at her designs on Ravelry.  Crochetrend

Favorite knit designers-- Nicky Epstein, Kristin Omdahl, Ann Budd.  I know there are more but these 3 consistently hit it out of the park.

Favorite crochet designers-- again Kristin Omdahl, and if only Nicky Epstein would do more crochet designs cause there is no other like her, Drew Emborsky, Yumiko Alexander, Candi Jensen, Doris Chan.  I can name more but there's no room for all of them.   Note: I've been crocheting longer than knitting so I know more of these designers.

Favorite beginner knit book-- Knitting for the First Time by Vanessa-Ann

Favorite knit book-- I have so many but the most recent stand-out is "Knitting Green" by Ann Budd

Favorite crochet book-- I really have a lot of them but I'm going to go classic on this one.  "The Crochet Sweater Book" by Sylvia Cosh.  This book may be a little dated but Sylvia continues to inspire me. If only she was still with us, the things that she would do.

Favorite new blog find--  Mod Crochet .  Check it out she's posting old time patterns!

Well for now this is all I can think of for my favs.  If I can come up with more I'll post them. I just wanted to share the things I am currently excited about. And of course everyone knows my fav LYS Grandma's Spinning Wheel

New Contest at Grandma's Spinning Wheel

By now you all know my favorite place to hang out and buy yarn (when I can) is Grandma's Spinning Wheel.
They are having a contest with a drawing for a $10 gift certificate.  Read the details here Grandma's Spinning Wheel Contest . Good luck to all!

My Name is Susan and I Am a Pattern-aholic

Most of my fiber artist friends are addicted to yarn. Don't get me wrong I LOVE yarn, some of it renders me speechless (not an easy thing to do).  My real addiction though is the patterns, seeing everything you can do with your fibers and sharing ideas. I consider myself an idea bouncer. I like to use the minds of others to fine tune my own ideas. It's always been a great gauge for me. It firms things up for me to kind of run an idea by someone or look through my patterns. The patterns help me most especially when I am stuck or a design is just a vague outline that won't come clear for me.

I will admit though that while there is a practical purpose for my pattern collection, it is probably a bit on the excessive side.  But I love it!  The great things these days is because of all the free online sources, being an unemployed student, I can still add to my collection.

Pride Falls Before the Stitch Marker

I have finally joined the sock knitting band wagon.  Of course I jumped into the deep end with a lace pattern sock. I have been working off and on on my first sock for about 3 months.  Last week I decided I didn't like how it was turning out so being a perfectionist I frogged the whole thing.  OUCH! I started all over, followed instructions very carefully.  I've been crocheting for 23 years and I've been knitting for about 3 years. I pretty much just dive in and go on instinct. In this last year though I have found that by putting my pride and stubbornness aside and using stitch markers (OMG!!!) I save myself so much time and trouble.  It took me 3 days to re-do what originally took me 3 months. Go figure!

I suppose I am not the only prideful stitcher in the world.  Am I?????

BRRRRRR! Are we still in Tucson?!

Last night it got down to 19 degrees here in lovely warm Tucson, AZ. We've had frozen pipes, water is out in part of town, as well as some problems with natural gas. Shane is happily home from school today, due to no water. Greg is complaining because it's so cold but still doesn't look like it.

And myself, well I should be writing a research paper. Rolling my eyes, because I am an accounting major. Anyhow what I really feel like doing is getting some hot soup, tea, coffee, cocoa, or cider. Streaming "Bones" episodes and starting either a knit or crochet afghan. I am caught up on all other reading and homework and I do have a class tonight. I'm going to have to go out in this cold again. Don't I deserve some goofing off time. Actually it's not goofing off, I would be doing something very productive.

Realistically I do know that 1) it will warm up by Sunday and probably won't get cold again till sometime next year and 2) I already have to working on 2 designs and have probably a dozen projects in progress right now. A compromise is I will watch "Bones" but I will pick up the warmest thing I have in progress right now. Perhaps it's a good time to go back to my mukluks (pictured on the side).

Scheduling Issues

I am getting more comfortable with my school schedule but when am I supposed to...........get office work done, organize, blog, knit, crochet, design, family time, socialize. I do long to be one of the uber organized of this world. If someone has an idea or knows of a reference I could use I would love to hear about it. The other day I did get good use out of Economics class sketching a design for a necklace and earrings. And while I was sleeping I came up with an idea for a scarf and have even bought the very yarn I pictured in my head.

Tonight I will be heading out with the girl(s) (don't know how many as of yet). We will have dinner, coffee, talk, and fiber pursuits. Maybe they will have some ideas for me. I am very afraid I will need to buckle down and get a schedule of all things.

What has really made me realize that I need some focus, as usual, is Greg. Thankfully he is here to keep me on task. I dedicate this whole blog to him. Frankly without his love and patience I would NOT be accomplishing as much as I currently do. When I met Greg I wasn't knitting or crocheting at all, I was just stock piling patterns and yarn. Now my yarn and books are organized, accessible, and usable. I've finished countless items. I've made sketches for designs. I've started this blog. I went back to college. I have a social life. Are you blushing yet, Greg? This list is endless. Thanks for being my inspiration!