A new year old and new projects

I briefly began a sweater last year, because I saw a friend wearing one and LOVED it! Life took hold and took me away from my beloved Hild (Elsbeth Lavold). Determined to make this beauty (and after discovering it in a bag among the mess in my fiber room, I checked it out on Ravelry. Yikes...many comments, not all good, about the making of this gem. Still, I am determined... Here is my progress

I have had a few problems, mostly due to reading subtitles on a movie while knitting dark yarn with a 25 row repeat of varied cables in a not so well lit room. Yes, I love a challenge.

On an easier and wonderful note, I made a couple of preemie caps to donate with our Black Sheep Knitting Guild. What a pleasure to know that a teeny tiny head will be kept warm with these!

For the new year, I have started Pilates at the community center in my town, started cleaning my studio/fiber room, joined my husband in the clay studio and threw pots (clay pots, not actually "throwing" as in breaking, but as in "making") for the first time in about 12 years. I am still aching from the workout. I am doing a little for me and a little for others and trying not to get overburdened while enjoying each day. Whew. I hope that you all can do the same!

Happy New Year!

It already feels like a fresh start! I have been relaxing in front of my spinning wheel, whirling away at some of that luscious fiber stash that has been patiently waiting. To my excitement and amazement, the navajo plying lesson that I got in the fall has actually stayed with me and I am practicing like crazy on what is now my second pound of fiber! What is even better, is that the yarn takes up much less space than my balls of roving, so it seems that there is less in that particular closet, I love the illusion.

I lucked out twice in scoring some anticipated books, Pluckyfluff, Handspun Revolution is now mine after seeking it out and having orders canceled on me when the stock ran out. I have Lexi's newer book, but really wanted to possess this original. Now I do. The new book score is "The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques" by Margaret Radcliffe. It is a beauty, great ideas, colorwork in many ways and with great reference and even some patterns. Happy New Year to me!

After peeking at the forums on Ravelry, I saw a recent post from a guild member regarding how many projects we knit this past year. Boy, I wish I kept better track since I knit like a fiend particularly for the holidays. Maybe after looking at the projects that I have posted and some of the things stashed or noted, I can get a rough estimate. It scares me a little to look at numbers. I fear counting stash, dollars spent, hours spent and actual objects, not to mention skeins spun or dyed!

Just before the end of the year I made:
1 afghan (for my newly married daughter)
3 pair mittens
2 pair fingerless gloves
4 handspun hats
2 lace and cable hats
12 scarves of various lengths and complexity by special request for the holidays
1 grasshopper scarf
2 cable shrug capelets
3 wraps
1 handpun scarf for my hubby
2 baby hats

November and earlier

6 Fletching scarves in various yarns and guages
1 Clapotis
1 Lopi Maria sweater
1 Noro short sweater
1 Monkey socks
5 pair misc. socks
1 Suess like sock yarn scarf
3 piece felted hat, scarf and mitts
1 felted bag
2 market bags
10+ sampler scarves misc patterns and yarns

That is 65 items. I am not looking anymore. I can't even think of it. I have sweaters and socks and mittens to knit, more scarves to try, more shawls and wraps and tons of roving itching to become yarn to become things to wear or share.

I will try to keep track this year and see what 2009 brings for a grand total!
I will also try to keep better pictures and postings to represent my activities.
Isn't it amazing that there is so much to knit? So many patterns and ideas to explore and plenty of fiber to keep our interest, year after year. What a great life!

Happy Holidays!

FINALLY!!! School is out (a day early due to the "big storm") and I am focusing on getting ready for the holiday. There are only three projects on my needles for others, and not due until the new year. I have baked nine types of cookies with about 3 more recipes to finish tomorrow and a ginger crusted lingonberry cheesecake for the family party. Most of the gifts are wrapped...which means, yes, I did manage to finish my shopping.

I finished an angora blend lace hat and scarf, both patterns from the Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders book. If you get a chance, there are some great patterns to go with that pricey skein that you couldn't live without. But please, go to the website to double check for pattern corrections. I learned the hard way, and there are many corrections posted. They must have been in a hurry to get this out for the holiday knitting crowd!

If you are reading this, wow. I have been having a hard enough time checking up on my email let alone write on the blog. It is not that there are not things happening, quite the contrary. So much is happening that I can't get around to sitting at the computer.

Just the other morning, I remembered to send my registration for the Black Sheep Knitting Guild retreat. As I drove into work, I realized that I never put the check in the envelope! Lucky for a cell phone and wonderful husband, it was remedied before I even began my work day. The retreat is a big deal. I have been weeding things out of my busy schedule this year, but the retreat is NOT one of them. A chance to bond with my friends and immerse myself in fiber for the whole weekend is just too wonderful to pass up.

I hope that you all have terrific holiday celebrations and enjoy friends and family and even a bit of rest and relaxation. Even if it takes a blizzard to force the issue, a little down time and the holiday spirit surely are the best way to end the old year and ring in the new.

Come one come all! Saturday Art Sale!

Please join us in the studio for Jim & Linda Lutomski's Holiday Art Sale
Clay work, Jewelry, Fibers & Photography
Studio Open House Saturday December 13, 2008
11:00-5:30pm
The Art Annex @ Marygrove College (313) 927-1337
Cash and Checks only please….


Not sure where the art annex is? Ask security at the gate when you arrive at Marygrove.

*For directions to Marygrove College LOOK HERE! (Paste into your browser if it does not connect)
http://www.marygrove.edu/home/campus/maps/index.html

Ho Ho Holidays

Pass the eggnog, please! My daughter was married last week, my first born. She looked lovely and they are so happy. Whew!

Next, general holiday craziness, you know. I got through the turkey and am onto the shopping, cleaning and massive knitting and jewelry making. Each year I have requests from co-workers for items and do a holiday sale with my artist husband at his studio at Marygrove College on December 13. In order to be ready for this, he is making pottery like crazy, and I am framing up some of my photos from my travels along with my sculptural pieces. Email me if you would like more info, come by and say "Hi"!

So when I say crazy holidays, I mean it. As you know, I love the adventure and excitement and general busy atmosphere. I am, however, planning for some down time between the holidays to recover and rejuvenate. That is when I spin for my pleasure and knit for myself (and write report cards and organize the after holiday mess.....).

Enjoy your own chaos this holiday season, it is part of the deal and makes it feel just a little different than the usual routine. Ho Ho Ho

Calm for the Holidays

This seems like a contradiction, calm and holiday in the same phrase. For some reason I am finding peace in everyone else's manic momentum, making mine seem pretty reasonable. I have had a couple of brainstorm ideas for presents that may or may not occur, but I am OK with that. I have not even been to yoga in a while, since my neck fiasco, but am going to look into it, when I feel like it. Evening walks and a glass of wine might have been responsible, but the little bits of chaos that I was NOT enjoying, appear to be ironing themselves out.

I am working on the thrummed mittens from the Yarn Harlot's site, quite enjoyable and I think that they will be appreciated by the recipients when the cold Michigan winter comes blowing in. I might even make myself some. I have so much hand spun yarn that I "sampled" and this will be a great way to use it (not to mention the roving that had not gotten spun and looked better as roving anyway...perfect thrums).

It is Friday and I am in a great mood. I had my massage yesterday that took the painful kinks out of my neck and back (just in time to kink them up with major knitting this weekend, oh well). Tomorrow is the Shop Hop and I am excited to be rambling around in the fiber shops for the day and lunching with friends. And the great news for Sunday is that I mistakenly wrote a birthday party date on this week when it is actually next week. This gives me, dare I even write it, a day with NO specific plans!!!!!! This could be a first. I have to resist the temptation to call people and check local events. My husband knows not to plan anything either. We are going to have a relaxing cottage day minus the drive. Maybe I won't answer the phone, maybe I will stay in my pajamas all day (Please don't come over to check). Maybe we will go to the movie theater. Oh the possibilities!

My glee at the thought of the plan-less day has taught me something. Maybe a little down time and a bit of saying, "No, sorry I can't" can be a good thing. I am sure that I am a better helper, listener and participant when I am in this zen kind of mood, that is truly a good thing. For everyone.

KNITTA makes the NY Times!

I have long admired the Knitta folks, making a public statement in such a beautiful and fun way...and am still waiting to see who starts this excitement in our neck of the woods.....

This article includes many great photos of the subversive knitting behavior, I think you will love it, maybe you are even responsible???