Seduction on Vacation

The 3rd project I finished by the poolside (listening to a waterfall).  My first pair of knitted socks, Seduction by Ann Budd. I made them to go with my pink Harley Davidson high tops. They are exactly what I pictured! It was so cool to finish all those projects at once. Unfortunately now all the projects I'm working on are a long way from being finished.

I am always torn though. I love the process and the product.

Revisiting Vacation.....sigh!

As previously stated we went on a mini vacation at Greg's timeshare in Scottsdale.  This vacation I got more done than ever before. Yesterday's post "Carolyn's Wedding Afghan" (put the finishing touches on that) and today's post my earrings.

This month's crochet and knit publications have been fantastic: Vogue Knitting, Interweave Crochet, Creative Knitting and Crochet Today, just fabulous.  I made 3 pairs of earrings based on or exactly the Fiesta Earrings pattern out of Crochet Today. The first pair (no picture yet) were made for and given to Vicky Konecky the owner of Grandma's Spinning Wheel.  My 2nd pair I finished up on vacation but I tweeked the pattern, it's the pink & ecru pair. My 3rd pair I made like the 2nd but did 3 colors ecru, orange, and brown, these looked great with my bathing suit. The earrings are great for the pool, getting them wet does no harm. All the earrings were either made using some old this and that crochet thread I already had or Nazli Gelin Garden thread.

There is more to come on the projects I finished on vacation......

Carolyn's Wedding Present

Last weekend I attended the wedding of an old high school friend. It was like no other wedding I had ever been to and Greg, Seth and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was down to earth and casual and fun!

Of course I made a gift for my friend. Since we are so close I wrote in the note that if it wasn't to her liking she could send it back and I would make something more to her liking. When she got back from her honeymoon she texted me, "I love the gift. Sorry u cant have it back its my favorite of all the gifts." I have never received a better AND worse text.  Greg and I fell in love with it while I was making it.

Since I was on vacation this past week, there is more to come, as I finished several projects.

It's Done!!!

My shawl is done!!! I almost cried when I finished. Greg couldn't understand why. I've enjoyed making this shawl so much. Like when you read a book that is soooo good that when you finish you feel as if you have just lost your very best friend. But I guess I get to WEAR my very best friend.

But I realized something about myself. I am all about the journey. A finished project or meeting a goal is great but the things I do to get there, well that's what really drives me.

A special thanks to Michael Konecky. He took the photos for me and they're gorgeous!

My Inspiration

                                       LINDA HELEN FLEMING  Nov. 26, 1939-Apr. 29, 1999


In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share my Mom, my inspiration.  As you can see my Mom was a nurse, fabulous Mom, wonderful wife, and friend. But what most didn't know (including herself) was she was a talented fiber artist. She sewed, knit, crocheted, but mostly sewed.  My goal is to share some of her work with all of you. Of course, keeping in my mind that my intention was to start all of this the week of Apr 29, so I'm at least two weeks behind schedule. I only have this picture scanned in so far but hopefully this Mother's Day weekend I will get busy.

Linda Fleming is a woman that everyone should know. I have been blessed to have had a very great mother and I still miss her. However, she continues to be my inspiration. When I feel like giving up on something, all I have to say is "Do it for Mom!".

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Continued Craziness

Well here is an update on my library. I have 86 books that are strictly knitting, doesn't include leaflet patterns and magazine patterns. HMMM, 86 knitting books, doesn't that mean I need 14 more?! And then if I get 44 more crochet books.....Oh yeah, I forgot, I'm a broke unemployed college student. SNAP!

Further updates to come on my organized pattern library pursuits.....

Nervous Knitting and Stage Fright

On Thursday night, April 28, I had to give an oral presentation on a group benchmarking report about airlines. In past years, I used to get up and sing or play guitar in front of 100's of people. I have done this many times, so a person like me never gets stage fright?! The answer to that is a big "NO"!  I get stage fright every single time, I am a nervous wreak right up until I set foot on "stage" and then it's like another person just takes over. This is a phenomena I have never understood.

What does all of this have to do with the shawl picture above? Well I have found an advantage to stage fright and a new advantage to knitting. Knitting calms me down and stage fright causes me to get a LOT of knitting done. Not to mention, how much housework got done.  Greg threatened to ask my instructors to require more oral presentation because he really liked my productivity. :D

Stage fright doesn't feel good but at least I've found an advantage to it.

Organizing the Fiber-Arts Library

It is finals time for my Spring Semester. And as if a 30 page Benchmarking Report, Oral Presentation, Accounting Homework, Final Exams, loads of reading, housework, bookkeeping, KAL's, etc. weren't enough.....  I had the brilliant idea to, for once and all, index my immense Fiber-Arts library.  I have finished the Crochet only part and have a total of 156 Crochet books, this doesn't include magazines, freebies, and leaflets. Needless to say, I am a crazy woman and fiber/pattern addicted. Once again I stand up and say, "Hello my name is Susan and I am a fiberaholic!"

Best Day Ever!!!! Yumiko Alexander Trunk Show

This past Saturday April 16, 2011, I had the best day ever!!! I got to meet someone that I have admired for a long time, Yumiko Alexander.  It always a great thing to meet someone like this and find that not only are their talents to be admired but that they are also a gracious, wonderful person.

When I woke up on Saturday I told Greg this is my Christmas. It's like if he got to have lunch with his favorite rock star, Dug(that's how he spells it) from King's X. Then he got it.

My day did not disappoint. It was a wonderful day of going through the patterns, seeing the designs up close and personal, visiting with friends old & new, and of course getting some knit/crochet time. I worked on my Coquille Shawl, can't forget it has a deadline.

Yumiko was nice enough to allow me to have my picture taken with her.  We are both holding our own version of her Bamboo Leaf Bag, it's crocheted and felted. You can find all her patterns at DanDoh, Etsy, and don't forget your local lys  Grandma's Spinning Wheel.

Coquille KAL

On April first I cast on for Crystal Palace's Coquille Shawl KAL. I will post pictures of the progress.  The pattern is gorgeous!  The yarn is even more gorgeous-er!!!

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!

Just wanted to share something

I have been so busy with homework these days, makes it hard to post or find the time for fiber pursuits. Although I did find myself sketching a new design for a necklace and earrings while sitting in my Econ class. Is that a bad thing? Anyhow I was taking a little, much needed study break, when I found a way to share my FAV e-zine with everyone. Tangledness


This is by far the best, in my opinion, online right now. I give it a big thumbs up.  Check it out!


Well back to studying. Hopefully I will find more time to write something this weekend.

Weekend Kid Free!!!

I just wanted to post the great pics Michael took of my friend Krystal in her new hat. I am really pleased with the colors I chose for her. She loved it! I also want to thank Krystal for her belief and support in my abilities. And thanks for the pics Michael.

Fortunately I need to run I only have 24 kid free hours with Greg. I don't think I will be doing much with my fiber arts during that time.  Lucky me!!!

I Just Wish......

I just wish--
I could knit as fast as I crochet.
There were more hours in a day so I could have enough time to study, work, keep a clean house,spend time with family and friends, read, knit, and crochet.
All the UFO's could turn into FO's.
I had more money for yarn and patterns.
I had more storage for said yarn and patterns.
But I won't waste all day on this list cause it could go on forever with every bullet point having to do with fiber based pursuits.

I just think I am feeling a little frustrated. It's the first week back to class and I'm trying to figure out how to schedule myself so that I feel balanced and keep from getting stressed. Thursday through Friday is a particular challenge. I start Thursday early with Microeconomics, then home by 10:30 to do homework, housework, any business stuff Greg needs, cook dinner and if possible some free time prior to 6:30 p.m. At 6:30 I head back to campus for Business Organization & Management and I'm there till 9:55 p.m. (but great class loads of positive energy). Predicament #1 I need downtime when I get home but I have to be up by 7:15 a.m. to drive across town for Intermediate Accounting. The given in my stress management is that come hell or high water Wednesday night and Friday afternoon I get myself to Grandma's Spinning Wheel. This is especially important when studying for a big test, my brain would turn to mush if I didn't get a knit/crochet break.

Now here's some great news for everyone else.... if you want to get another prospective on what it's like at Grandma's Spinning Wheel they have a blog now too, it's....you guessed it grandmasspinningwheel.blogspot.com. Take a look. FYI Wednesday night's group is more wild and may contain adult content, parental discretion advised under the age of 21. Friday afternoon is normally more mellow but equally enjoyable.

PS The hat for K is done and she loved it. I'm pleased too and there will be pics to come. Michael took some for me on Wednesday.

Car Shows, Boys, Hats & Scarves

MLK weekend is our annual trip to Scottsdale for the Barrett-Jackson Auction family day. Last year I got my pic taken with Alice Cooper. This year no celebrity sightings but I guess Greg and I with our boys must've looked like the all American family. The Cox cable cameraman followed us around for a bit, keeping the camera on Seth (7-yr old), who's a bit of a character. We had loads of fun, saw lots of great cars, and ate good food.

Of course, the trip wasn't all about boys and their cars. The drive up gave me some time to whip up a hat for K. She saw one I made last week and ordered up one for herself. I promise I will post pics of both hats, when I finally get some time. This hat turned out great, I added some extras (purple & lime pearls) and with a little playing around found that this hat can be worn a different way. It can be sun hat or flapper cloche. I will meet K tomorrow to give her the hat and we'll have pics taken of her wearing it.

After the drive up we went to Greg's timeshare for swimming, unfortunately they were full up so we didn't get to stay there, had to go to a more humble abode. The boys swam all day Sunday. I made half a sparkly scarf and caught up on some reading. The car show was Monday. All of this was a nice last break before classes started. It's Tuesday and my nose is back to the grindstone. I am still determined to make time for what I love though.

Here is one pic of my famous hat. I am poolside at the time share.

An Amazing Experience

Last night I went and picked up L to go to Grandma's Spinning Wheel for knit night. Tucson's been going through a tough time. Greg called while I was driving to get L. He had to tell me that he just watched the President's cavalcade leaving Davis-Monthan AFB on their way to the President's speech for all those who were wounded or killed 01-08-11. Our night was filled with this incident.

When we got to the knit shop we did the usual socializing and showing off the latest projects. At 6 pm though we turned on Tucson & America: Together We Thrive. Together we listened to the amazing speech Obama gave. It was then that I realized what a community we are. Usually we are a rather rowdy bunch on Wednesday nights, but last night we cried together. I quote LizzieK8, "our tears made the yarn sparkle." There truly is no other bunch of people I would rather share my moments with.

Someday I'd like to introduce them all. This is an amazing bunch of people. When I look at them I see my strong Grandma Helen, my sweet slightly zany Mom Linda, my lovely group of Aunts, my sister, sister-in-law, and friends. These ladies and a couple of guys now and again are my inspiration.

Fiber Pursuits

Haven't been able to post in a couple days. I've been busy with fiber pursuits, catching up on work for Greg's business, and catching up on housework (Spring cleaning early). I want to get it all done before school starts next Tuesday. Time to get 4 more courses under my belt-- Intermediate Accounting I, Computer Fundamentals, Microeconomic Principals and Business Organization & Management. I get tired just thinking about it.

Last night I went out with my friend L for a quick bite and then over to a coffee shop for knit and crochet. We were hoping V could join us, missed you V. When we sat down for coffee, I had to fish out my latest FO's. I got a little treat other than L's approval, the lady at the next table was excited about my FO's too. It's always good to have enthusiastic input so you know you're on the right track.

L got to go to TNNA in CA last week so she had lots of news and a couple things for me to look at. I am very excited about a new needlearts newspaper-like publication called Spool. I will probably subscribe even though I need another subscription like a hole in the head. Those who really know me, know my dark secret. I have a serious pattern addiction. I will not be seeking help for this, there's no cure, and people will have to learn to accept it or look the other way.

Well have to cut things short, it is knit night at Grandma's and I for one don't plan on being late.

Twist & Turns

It's funny how a day can start out one way and end up going in a totally different direction. Yesterday I went to Sock Club at Grandma's Spinning Wheel. We had a great time, planning what we might do next month, sharing patterns and ideas, talking about the projects we were working on, and admiring the new cabinets being put in. Not at any other time in my life have I enjoyed better fellowship. I always know that I can go to Grandma's to indulge my addiction for fiberarts. But it's more than that, it has become a place I can go to share my joys and sorrows. No matter my mood I have found I can go there and it's OK.

While we were busy in our indulgence and conversation, some really bad news came in. Gabrielle Giffords had been shot at one of our local grocery stores. We'd even received erroneous reports that she had died. Thankfully  Gabrielle is still alive as I write this. Some are trying to put a political slant on what happened as if one party came out against the other. This isn't about politics anymore. Six people died because of yesterday, including a 9 year old girl. This little girl knew what she wanted to do when she grew up, she no longer can follow those dreams. However, now that I think about it, her true dream was to help people. If we can take something from what happened yesterday, if we could be more understanding of others and put ourselves in their shoes......well maybe that little girl is helping, helping us to be better people.

My prayers are with all of those that were there yesterday, both at the shooting and at Grandma's. I'm glad that when I got the news yesterday I was with my girls at Grandma's, there's no other place I'd rather go to share my sorrows or joys.

Unexpected Road Trip

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. Me and my favorite guy, Greg, took a little road trip to get supplies for his business. I spent almost the whole day in the car and loved every minute. What a nice peaceful trip, no chaos!!! Between the two of us we have or are still raising 5 boys, 2 being out of the nest.

Greg spent his day driving from supplier to supplier. I sat in the truck and went through a stack of patterns to get inspired. This is a crucial part in my creativity. Everyone gets inspiration in different ways. I find that when I spend an uninterrupted day going through patterns. I will go to sleep that night with pictures of colors in my head.   At that point shape begins to form and before I know it I have a complete design(s) in my head. I design from all of my senses.

After all of this inspiration and Greg's shopping, we went and had a bite. Stopped at Swensen's. It's no longer what it once was but I still like the place. After some food and conversation, it felt like we'd just been on a date. Unfortunately, our lives do not arranged that occurrence as often as I'd like. This time though I found myself living in the moment, that doesn't happen much either. I am a worrier, my secret is out.

Lying in bed last night, although I wanted to get on with the designing, I found myself not wanting to sleep. I realized it is one of those rare moments when you are happy AND you know that you are happy. I just didn't want it to end, so like a kid I thought if I just stay awake......

Enjoy the magic while it's happening!!!

PS I missed my knit night and I guess they missed me too. I got a text from one of them checking on me. That made an already wonderful day even better. Grandma's Spinning Wheel!!!

Resolutions & Desires?!

I don't believe in making New Year's resolutions, cause resolutions we make, break, and feel guilty. I prefer to make a lists of wishes, aspirations, dreams, hopes, desires. They used to say that words are just words but I believe that words are powerful. Finding direction in our lives is important and making these lists helps find direction. However, I don't want to set myself up for failure, so I change the wording from a resolution to a desire.

2011 DESIRES:

1. Finish my degree.
2. Finish a pair of socks, not just one.
3. Find a way to harness my ideas so I can keep up with them before they are gone.
4. Design more in crochet.
5. Design something in knitting.
6. Become just a little more organized. I'd settle for a 5% improvement every year.
7. Spend more time in the actual activity of crochet & knitting. However....
8. Making an interesting blog interferes a little with #7.
9. The usual lose weight, get healthier.
10. The most important thing of all, spending more time with those I love and showing them how much I appreciate their love and support.

Whew!!! Looks like I need a 36 hour day, and more storage, and more hands. Well maybe I could survive on 4 hours of sleep.

Stuck in a color rut?

On Wednesday nights and Friday afternoons I crochet or knit at Grandma's Spinning Wheel. The Wednesday night group is admittedly wild, rated R, and loads of fun. Friday afternoons are much more peaceful, equally fun, but is a time to talk about the kids and so forth. But both groups seem to believe I am stuck in a color rut. I'm not so sure they are right.

Most guys are stuck in color ruts: shades of black, shades of white, shades of blue, and some but not all shades of green. I like earth tones, muted shades, when it comes to bright colors only orange/purple/green (not necessarily together). The only colors I don't do are a true crayon red and never white. Black is reserved for accent. However being a redhead I do mostly work in Fall colors.

If I think about it maybe all of us are stuck in color ruts. Hanging out at a knit shop so much of the time, I can see that with most people, you can almost pick out their yarn for them once you know them well enough. Heck, we are probably in a texture rut as well.

I think that from now on I will embrace my ruts because frankly it's all about finding your bliss. If I crochet or knit with a color or texture I don't like then I don't enjoy it. Essentially enjoyment and stress reduction is what it's all about. Why else would we do it! So if you want to do everything in black cause it makes you happy, then I say just do it!

Starting Points

It's late at night and I am a very bad sleeper. With the start of this New Year I want to make some changes, find my bliss. I have already taken the steps towards improving my ability to make a living but now I would like to take some steps towards improving my creative life.

I have recently embarked on completing a degree in Accounting. Now I would like to expand things in the fiber arts, crochet and knitting. I need and crave the balance of using both sides of my brain equally. This is a journey that is well overdue for me. I'm mostly done raising the kids and it is time for me to focus on something for me and maybe even others.

I have designs swimming in my head. Sometimes they wake me up at night. Mostly it's handbags. I have always wondered why Knitspiration comes at 1-3 a.m. instead of mid-day. I am itching to get started with all of this. I figured if I write about it, it will help me focus and organize my thoughts. I see so much color and texture just waiting to be turned into a scarf, hat, purse, socks...... Where will all of this lead me?