Friends and Fiber

What could be better? Friends and fiber are all anyone needs for a grand pick-me-up! Add lunch, dessert, coffee and a bunch of laughs and all is right with the world.

I had spent the first week of my Spring break in my house, dreary grey outside and no car. Better yet, the 1200.00 quote quickly turned into 2500.00 to bring my baby back to the road and my freedom! But she is back...and ready to take us to Philadelphia for the clay conference on Tuesday.

So, the lure of a fiber outing was becoming stronger every minute. No, again, no, I do not need any yarn. No, I do not need any tools or wool of any sort. Yes, I went, yes, I spent.

The six of us traveled to Ohio to the Black Swamp Spinner's Fiber market and loved every moment that we shared. We found a new yarn shop...chock full of yarn in an older home, also chock full of ladies with their yarn, tools, snacks and a dog! But we made our way around and found some goodies.

The Market had less actual yarn than in the past, and I have sworn off roving for a little bit, until the cupboards and buckets and cabinets find spaces for new friends. But it did not stop me from some luscious cashmere from Briar Rose, a fair-isle sock kit, a "pope soap on the rope" (a gag gift for a family member) three beautiful handspun skeins and of course some "happy yarn" for a pair of socks that will make me feel....well, Happy!

I am starting a new sweater with yarn from my stash, good girl, putting aside my cable sweater that is a hit and miss project requiring concentration, and planning the knitting packing for this weeks road trip to Philly.

My mood is up, my car is back and all it took was a day with my friends and fiber!

It is REALLY REALLY Spring!

The sun finally shines (at least part of the days) and my cat is rolling in its warmth as it streams through the windows. I prefer to notice her in the strong beam of light, rather than the dust that the sun highlights during this glorious time of the year. Spring cleaning...hmmmm..not yet. I am just so happy to be able to sit on my porch and read after school, walk into town and, of course, check out all of the new yarn and patterns for spring.

I started another Clapotis with Noro's new cotton blend laceweight, only a scarf width for this one. I got about two feet done when I realized that it was not structured enough to benefit from the unraveled bits, so I frogged the whole thing and began again, knitting the same pattern, diagonal with the ridges, but no unravels. It looks great! I think that it will be terrific with tanks and tees this spring and into the summer evenings (or chilly dining).

My contract for teaching next fall includes fifth grade, so I am doing some extra research into projects that will be exciting for the kids next year.

Only one more week and I hear whether or not I am being awarded a National Humanities Grant for this summer, keeping my fingers crossed!

I am on spring break right now, and alas, no big trips outside of the country. I am excited to be attending NCECA, a clay conference, in Philadelphia with my hubby...like a mini summer vacation where there usually is none! We will be seeing friends that we met on our trip to Korea and I can't wait to spend time with them.

On the fiber burner.....just a couple of possible workshops that combine art and fiber. One is at Miami University in June and the other is at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, not far from our cabin. Hopefully, the next couple of weeks will spell out the reality of my summer plans.

I guess that I have avoided the inevitable dusting for long enough...that sun, that tremendous sun, how it shames me into housework!

Long time, No.....?

I managed to neglect my blog since the holidays. That is a record! Somehow I have even managed to neglect reading my friends' blogs as well.

The excuse is simple. Just like everyone else, I have been busy.

Busy knitting, of course,
but also keeping up a steady exercise routine,
working like crazy,
attending my guild meetings,
going to knitting boot camp and doing (most of) the homework.

Check out my Ravelry page, new pictures that prove that I exist!

I have dyed yarn,
wound and labeled it for the Yarn Harlot's presentation at Detroit Public Library 3/13/10

I attended the Spinner's Flock fiber sale, even bought some hand-dyed and already spun alpaca and yummy roving that looks like a peppermint twirl!

I got out the spinning wheel and spun some of my stash,
spent hours and hours trying to sort and clean one of my fiber rooms (yes, only one of the rooms).

I am listing a cottage for sale and purchased a cabin in the mountains and even a little spare land next door.

My husband fell 9 feet off a ladder onto a wood floor and is fine (was sore and pretty worried).

Now for the taxes, and hopefully, another post before everyone forgets me!