Introduce... "Retro"

This one was kind of fun. I used a new dyeing technique that I "made up" (which isn't to say other people don't dye yarn in pickle jars) and dyed this skein of yarn.

I am listing it tomorrow for our stocking at Serenity Tree. It is a semisolid yellow overdyed with blue and green. It reminded me of tie-dyeing, hence it's name, "Retro".

I will list this, "Engine 3", and probably a shirt I haven't made yet (which reminds me, I have to go throw those in the dryer, drat!). I'm going to save my diapers for the next stocking. A friend ordered 2 of 5 different prints, so I'm making 3 of each to have one to spare. I'll post pictures later, and leave you today with a swatch of Retro.

Engine 3

Here is the yarn I dyed last night. It's called "Engine 3", inspired by my dh who is not only an incredibly patient man, but a firefighter. I took colors from both the engine and fire. Engine 3 is his ride. Enjoy!

Procrastinators Never Prosper... Especially in a Snowstorm

We had the strangest weather yesterday. Yes, I know, I live in the Midwest. The weather isn't predictable and often is kind of nasty, especially this time of year. Yesterday was a prime example.

It started out raining in the morning, and turned into sleet and snow pellets. I looked out the window a bit later and it was snowing, only not the soft, fluffy kind of snow, but the heavy, wet flakes that come barrelling toward the ground. It was an angry snow. I looked out again later and it looked like the snow was pretty much done, the sun had broken through and it almost looked pleasant outside. Then it started snowing again and blowing. Swirling, twirling, and COLD.

See, I had to run to the store. I wanted to dye some yarn and get a few other things (like toilet paper, which we were COMPLETELY out of). I also had to return a movie to Redbox. I kept putting it off thinking I'd maybe get the neighbor to watch the kids for 20 min while I ran to return the movie, aah, no, I'll just bring them. So of course I waited and put it off, and by the time I decided I should really go, we were in the swirling twirling freezing cold portion of the storm. If I just would've gone earlier I wouldn't have frozen my little toes nearly off, and I probably wouldn't have had to fight with the car door, which was frozen shut. Good and solid, too. I'm the type that wears flip-flops all winter long, if for nothing but the convenience of slipping them on and heading out the door. It was so cold, I got the kids loaded up and came back inside to change my shoes. That *rarely* happens. Of course I couldn't find both tennis shoes, so I settled for my Keens (mine are lime green), which are also sandals but at least have the toes covered.

So we went shopping, bought brat buns, bread, toilet paper, squirt bottles for holding the dye, and got to the saran wrap. In my head, "Hmm, so 'they' say not to get cheap stuff. There's this, or this. Only two choices? Well, I do have some at home that worked fine last time I dyed. I'll just use that." Check out, run to car, go home. I get myself set up to start dyeing, get out the cling wrap... not enough. Seriously, I was like 6" short. I probably would've skipped the store altogether if it weren't that I wanted to dye up a colorway I had in my head, dh was at work, and I had nothing better (read *funner*) to do. So, I ran over to the neighbor's and borrowed hers. The battery on my camera is charging, so I'll put up a picture later, it turned out okay for my first attempt.

Book Feature

We are stocking specially this month, on March 2nd instead of the 3rd and we are doing a book theme. A lot of the ladies' listings are related somehow to a children's book. It should be fun. I admit, I don't have nearly as much together as I had hoped I would, but sick kids and lifechanging decisions will do that for you. :) I've been preoccupied.

HOWEVER, I do have this little guy all ready to go, he's been ready for a couple weeks and I don't think I've featured him yet. He's my little Rainbow Fish, knit out of some rainbow colored wool I dyed last summer. He has irish knot eyes that were knit right on so they won't fall off and pose a choking hazard... AND it rattles! It turned out smaller than the last fish I knit, I used smaller needles and like the result better. So... here you go!

Funk

I'm in a bit of a funk right now. I have a few projects I need to get done but I just don't have any desire to work on them. Plus I need to come up with some new ideas for the March stocking (book theme), but I'm coming up empty. Well, nearly empty.

I did whip out a felted purse for a friend of mine in a few days. Easy fast knitting. I'll post a picture when I get them uploaded. It was some kind of magic pulling it out of the washing machine, seeing it all small. I had checked on it a couple times before, but still. Knowing it was done was exciting.

We have some life changing decisions to make here in the next week or so, so pardon me if I'm a bit on the sloth-ish side. I think I am just being overwhelmed and therefore having a creativity block. I'll still take any creative pants suggestions. I think I'm just going to use the leftover yarn from the felted bag to make a pair of stripey longies for the second pair. Argh, I never posted pics of the first! Well I'll have to get on that when I get home...

Inspiration

I'm in need of some inspiration. I have a pair of pants I have to knit up for a trade and I have no idea what to do. I am knitting two pairs, one is being lanolized right now. It's in 100Purewool "Chocolate". Newborn size with a fancy cable down the side. Now I have to make a 6 mos size and want to do something nice but am at a total loss. I keep having ideas using fallish colors, but it's almost spring and the baby is due in July. I suppose by the time s/he is big enough it'll be fallish again. Hmm, that might help. Anyway, I need some inspiration. I'm thinking of making a contest out of it...

Will post a pic of the completed longies once they're done bathing.

Trading Talents

Lately I haven't been knitting much for the store but I have been working on some trades like a crazy girl. I've been looking around on DiaperSwappers for people who are in search of knits of some sort. So, I have knit a cat sweater:

The cat and owner seem to like it. I will say, I tried it on my mom's chihuahua twice and my own cat once. Max was less than excited about her clothing debut and had more than a few things to say about it. She hissed and clawed and I made my husband take it off her.

I also knit this hat to trade for some wetbags, which I am more than excited about. I am going to parade my new wetbags around in leiu of my plastic grocery bags.

And I traded this little guy:

for some things from Lil Outlaws. I haven't used any of it yet, but it smells great!

And lastly I *finally* finished this sling for a friend of mine (and I have one listed in the store). I bought the blue fabric something like 2 years ago to make a sling and realized I needed something on the other side because of the embroidery. I have looked and looked and didn't know what to use. Then a friend said the colors they were going with for things were teal/turquoise and brown and I had an epiphany. I think it was worth the wait, it really is pretty!

Other than that I have a few things in the pipeline, I'm going to get working on getting Tweets, Slither, and Intertwined written up. I also have another couple trades, 2 pairs of longies I'm sure I'll be showcasing here, and some slipper socks. I'm getting a Mei Tai and knitting bag out of those. I will say, this trading stuff is fun!

Oh, keep an eye out too, we're stocking a day early in March for Dr. Seuss' birthday and another reading thing. It'll be fun, we're all offerring some items having to do with some of our favorite children's books. Stay tuned!