Creative KJ's Corner

Tuesday's Toot - I didn't expect much and I got...

2009-05-12T11:42:00.007-05:00

This past weekend I participated in the Shepherd's Harvest Wool and Sheep Festival's Alpaca Fleece Show sponsored by Alpacas of MN DBA: Upper Midwest Alpacas. I went into the show with little expectation of winning anything since it was my first fleece show and I am relatively new to raising alpacas. I didn't have any idea of how to prepare my fleeces for show. I called a couple fellow members of UMA and got a little bit of advice. I even contacted my online friend on Twitter, @AlpacaFarmGirl for advice. She gave me a link to a website showing how to skirt a fleece to go to a mill. Of course, without a hands on demonstration, it is easy to miss things and advice isn't always as thorough as we would like it to be. I did the best I could and entered the fleeces anyway. On Sunday I picked up my fleeces from the show and was pleasantly surprised to receive a ribbon on each one! The best part, I designed the logo that was on the ribbons and now I can proudly desplay the ribbons and I get to admire my handiwork too :) Toot Toot

Fiber Friday - Handmade Felted Journals

2009-04-09T12:49:00.006-05:00

Last fall I appeared on the morning television show Showcase Minnesota to help promote the fifth annual Alpaca Farm Tour hosted by Alpacas of Minnesota. On this show my handmade felted alpaca journals appeared briefly but were not left unnoticed. I have received requests for the instructions on how to make these handmade felted journals. I ment to get this tutorial put together sooner but real life got in the way. It took a simple request from my online twitter friend @AlpacaFarmGirl to get my behind in gear and get pictures taken and the tutorial compiled. Click here to download this FREE tutorial to start creating your handmade felted journals today! I hope you enjoy my Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival Entry!

Wordless Wednesday - My kids love having an artist in the house, especially when the face paint comes out!

2009-04-08T10:00:00.004-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here.

I've been bad...

2009-04-07T12:39:00.005-05:00

at blogging that is. Just terrible. I've been micro blogging on twitter so you know I am around. I haven't been busier than usual so that isn't my excuse for not blogging here. I have things to do, of course, but busier days have found me blogging (here). I even joined a 31 day blogging challenge and still I am not blogging. I've been creating things so it isn't for lack of things to share :). Let's face it, I've just been bad to my blog. Then, yesterday I get this email from my friend Brenda. She gave my blog this neat little award:

The PROXIMITY Award is defined as follows:
“This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!”

This award has given me good reason to write! I thought about myself and the nature of what I tend to write on my blog and realized, Brenda is right on. I love to help out. I am an improver. I see a lot of that in Brenda too :)

With all of this in mind, I want to share some blogs with you that I think deserve this award too.

1. Helen at My Heart Exposed. Helen is deserving of this award because she shares freely of her creative designs and owns and operates a successful loom knitting group on yahoo dedicating to helping out fellow loom knitters all over the world!

2. Maria at Loom Knitting and Something Else. Maria is my friend from Mexico. She is a kind and gentle spirit. She is always ready to give a shoulder to cry on. She freely gives out compliments and lifts artists and crafters up all over the world as a Moderator on the DAlooms yahoo group!

3. Dusty from Dusty's Doings is my third nominee. Dusty is the co-ower of the yahoo group Loom Knitting Newbie Beginnings. Dusty has been very busy caring for her 14 yr old grandson Tyler who is Autistic, but she still has had time to offer a shoulder during my own personal crises and she organized and executed a huge Chemo Cap drive for Bev at Bev's Country Cottage.

Please check out these wonderful bloggers and make friends with them. They will offer friendship and lots of help if and when you need it!

Wordless Wednesday - Snuggeling

2009-03-25T07:46:00.003-06:00

More Wordless here.

Raining cats and dogs...and ducks and geese and every other kind of animal you can think of...

2009-03-23T11:14:00.002-06:00

And my 3 year old wanted to go outside. I told her I didn't want to go outside because it was soaking wet out. A few minutes later I told her I was getting in the shower and she said, "Well, it is soaking wet in the shower too!" LOL, LOL, LOL!

My new Etsy name is...

2009-03-21T09:00:00.005-06:00

Since I've gotten some emails lately about my Etsy name, I think I better post what name I picked! I don't want to keep you wondering and voting...

I added my new banner to my Etsy shop and that is about it! I looked at my banner so long I am not sure it reads the way I want it to. What do you think it says?

Will you help me pick a name?

2009-03-11T10:11:00.003-06:00

I am setting up an Etsy shop. My shop will have mostly alpaca yarn, roving, and raw alpaca fiber. I plan to add dyed alpaca fibers and drop spindles eventually. I want my name to be creative and rememberable but don't want to limit it to just alpaca. I want it to feel like my brand name. For many years I used the name "Creative KJ" because my nickname in highschool and college was KJ. Someone added "Creative" to my nickname because they thought I was always so creative. A few years ago I changed it to "Cre8tivkj". My blog name uses it. My pattern's blog uses it. It is my Ravelry ID, my Yahoo ID and now my Twitter ID. Now I am wondering, have I successfully branded this as my name online?

Should I stick with my online spelling of the word creative? Keep it spelled correctly? Change it only a little bit? Forget about the word altogether? Which name do you think I should use as my Etsy store name?

1. Cre8tiveSpin
2. CreativeSpin
3. CreativSpin
4. Cre8tivSpin
5. Spin4Fun
6. Fiber4Spinning
7. Spinning4Fun
8. FiberDreams
9. SpinningFiberDreams
10. Luv2Spin

Wordless Wednesday - My girls tried sneaking into my luggage!

2009-02-18T10:34:00.003-06:00

More Wordless here.

Aloha...I am having a wonderful time!

2009-02-17T13:11:00.005-06:00

Almost Wordless Wednesday - drowning in socks!

2009-02-11T08:06:00.003-06:00

We have 8 people in our family. That is 16 feet. That means we go through 112 socks a week! Folding socks in my house is a nightmare!

Friday Fill Ins

2009-02-06T12:37:00.003-06:00

1. Please don't tell me it is suppose to get really cold here again next week.

2. Can you wake me in the morning?

3. The color of my son's eyes makes me want to kiss him!

4. I have a craving for real breakfast food. I've been following the Morning Banana diet as a test for 3 days now. Sick of bananas.

5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it when I get to Hawaii.

6. Eyes are the window to the soul, right?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hopefully getting some rest since I've been coughing up my lungs for several nights in a row now, tomorrow my plans include giving a marketing presentation and Sunday, I want to start packing for Hawaii!

More Fill Ins here.

A dead giveaway: Yes, I am a fiber fiend!

2009-02-05T12:24:00.003-06:00

In answer to Lime & Violet's question of the week: What's within 6 feet of your workstation that gives away your fiber passion?

Note: I just cleaned this desk off yesterday. It was overflowing with UFOs, FOs, knitting needles, crochet hooks, looms, etc. and I couldn't find anything anymore!

Travel Anxiety

2009-02-03T11:37:00.003-06:00

We were running late as usual. We got to the airport and we saw our plane on the runway ready for boarding. First we had to line up and pick out a barf bag and an oxygen mask and various other emergency paraphernalia just in case. I was thinking to myself, "Man, why can't they just have this all on the plane?" We had to try and carry this along with our carry on luggage. We got up to the gate and were asked for our boarding passes. I looked at my husband and we both had a look of horror on our faces -- we forgot to get our tickets/boarding passes! Back at the ticket counter I realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had also forgotten my luggage and all I had with me was my carry on! In my carry on I only had my computer, my purse, a hat, and my knitting! I was standing there, watching everyone else board a plane I was suppose to be on and suddenly I felt someone shaking me on my shoulder. I awoke to my three year old whispering in my face that she wanted to sleep with me. Arrrrrrrrrgh! It was just a dream! I am leaving in 10 days and the travel anxiety has started!

Solution to Crossword Puzzle and 5 Pattern Package Winner!

2009-01-17T08:07:00.003-06:00

I stumped you yesterday with my crossword puzzle, eh? Well, to be honest with you, I forgot to write down my answers so I had to really think about the clues too :D

The solution to yesterday's crossword puzzle is:
Across
2. Used to indicate points of shaping or rows completed.
stitchmarkers
7. A visual of the pattern.
chart
9. Holds a group of stitches to the front or back.
cableneedle
11. Smooth on the front of the fabric.
stockinette
13. K2tog for one.
decrease

Down
1. A way to join sections horizontally.
grafting
3. A seaming technique.
mattress
4. Adding a stitch to the knitting.
increase
5. Opposite of knit.
purl
6. Used to measure the amount of stitches and rows to an inch.
gauge
8. The edge or border of the knitted piece.
salvage
10. Used in lace knitting for one.
yo
12. Has a pebbly surface that is identical on both sides.
garter

So, how did you do?

And the winner of the blog scavenger hunt? I put the number of correct guesses into the radom number generator over at Random.org and the winner is:

Linda Jones! Congratulations Linda! Lucky you! You are the winner of a 5 Loom Knitting Pattern Package! Drop me a note to claim your prize!

Thank you everyone for stopping by this week and playing my silly games! It was fun seeing everyone and I hope you had a great time!

Blog Party Day 5 - Knitting Crossword Puzzle and Winners Announced!

2009-01-16T08:50:00.007-06:00

Time to get out the cake and icecream! Today is officially my blogiversary!

First things first, I put the numbers into the Radom Number Generator at Random.org and the winner of the Loom Knit Toe Sock pattern from Tuesday's Simple Charting Game is.....

Little 'Ol Liz

CONGRATULATIONS Liz! Thanks for playing! Drop my a note and claim your prize!

There were 25 guesses for Wednesday's Picture Puzzle but only 11 people got it right. I have since realized that if you have a pop up blocker on your computer, you may not have gotten the the solution to the puzzle pop up. The numbers have been put into the Radom Number Generator and the winner is, drum roll please....

Pam! CONGRATULATIONS Pam! You get to pick from either my Loom Knit Toe Sock Pattern or my Family of Loom Knit Gloves pattern! Let me know which pattern you choose!

Stay tuned til tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, 2009 for the third and final prize announcement! The lucky winner will win a 5 pattern package of my loom knitting patterns! The game is still on so keep playing!

Before you go for today, here is a Knitting Crossword Puzzle for your enjoyment! Have fun, and thanks for stopping by!

Across
2. Used to indicate points of shaping or rows completed.
7. A visual of the pattern.
9. Holds a group of stitches to the front or back.
11. Smooth on the front of the fabric.
13. K2tog for one.

Down
1. A way to join sections horizontally.
3. A seaming technique.
4. Adding a stitch to the knitting.
5. Opposite of knit.
6. Used to measure the amount of stitches and rows to an inch.
8. The edge or border of the knitted piece.
10. Used in lace knitting for one.
12. Has a pebbly surface that is identical on both sides.

Blog Party Day 4 - Blog Scavenger Hunt

2009-01-15T08:00:00.010-06:00

We are gearing up for the big party day! Friday, January 16, 2009 marks my two year Blog Anniversary! If I mentioned earlier it was my one year anniversary, I must have had too much virtual bubbly because I realized my blog is two years old tomorrow!

The picture puzzle I posted yesterday proved to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I was surprised there were not very many correct guesses. I circled the area in the puzzle that, if not put together correctly, would not solve the puzzle and you would not get the secret pop up message:

When the picture puzzle was correctly put together, the message that popped up was: "loom knitting is fun and easy".

I had a lot of people ask me to post the solution for the Simple Charting Game also. Sorry for not doing that! Everyone that posted or sent me their guesses got it right! The hidden message in the chart was "Let's Party!"

Today's game will last all of today and throughout the day tomorrow. I will not post the "guesses" until Saturday morning. The prize for the correct guess will be radomly chosen and announced on Saturday. Don't worry about posting your guess since your answer will not show up on my blog until after the game is over. The lucky winner will receive a copy of each of these patterns:

Perfect Fit Toddler Mitts
Bunnies in Love Dishcloths
Family of Loom Knit Gloves
Loom Knit Toe Socks
Playful Dragonflies Loom Knit Dishcloth

Find these pictures hidden in posts from my blog archives (January 09, March 08, May 08, and September 08):

I don't expect you to read the posts, just look for the pictures, write the title of the post down and comment in THIS post what your guesses are or drop me a message. Good luck and have fun!

Blog Party Day 3 - Picture Puzzle

2009-01-14T07:43:00.006-06:00

NOW CLOSED

The party is in full swing! I am having a wonderful time and I am really enjoying seeing all of my friends stopping by to wish me a happy blogiversary! I hope I didn't tax your brains too much with yesterday's game :) I had a lot of fun putting it together. The game is now officially closed. Not to worry, I have a few more games up my sleeve and more chances to win!

In this post from last year, I wrote about my adventure in meeting Isela, the author of Loom Knitting Primer. I was so excited to learn she was going to be in my area for the Knit Out and Crochet 2008 event at the Mall of America in MN. I was even more excited when I found out I was able to go! Even though I had a tough time with bringing my children along and I didn't get a Keepsake Loom, I was still very honored to meet her and bring home my copy of Loom Knitting Primer with her autograph!

Today's Picture Puzzle contains another secret message. Once again, to keep things fair throughout the game, I will not post any comments until tomorrow morning. I will place a CLOSED banner above the game when it is officially over.

Successful guesses of the secret message will be entered into a drawing for a copy of my Family of Loom Knit Gloves or a copy of my Loom Knit Toe Socks pattern. The winner gets to pick! I will draw a name and announce the winner on Friday, January 16, 2009.

To begin playing, click here! Place a comment in this post or tap me on the shoulder here at the party and let me know what your guess is. Good luck and have fun!

ETA: The message pops up when the puzzle is complete!

Blog Party Day 2 - Simple Charting Game

2009-01-13T11:24:00.008-06:00

GAME NOW CLOSED

The guest are slowly arriving. The h'ordeurves are going around. Grab a drink at the open bar and settle down on the couch or love seat and try your hand at this Simple Charting game I've created just for my loom knitting friends! To sweeten the deal, I am inviting you to post a comment here when you are finished letting me know what it is a picture of and you will be entered into the drawing for a copy of my Loom Knit Toe Sock pattern! If you don't have the ability to post a comment, track me down here at the party and whisper your answer in my ear.

To make the game fair for all, I will not approve any of the guesses until tomorrow morning when this game is officially over! I'll place a CLOSED above the game. The winner will be announced on Friday, my official Blogiversary!

Click here to download the file. The latest version of Adobe Reader must be installed to view this file.

Edited to add: To play the game, download the directions and print the file out. Sit down and place an "x" in the spots on the chart where the written directions say to purl. It helps to count the blank spots on the chart that equal the knit stitches. When you figured out the picture, drop a comment in this post with your answer! Good luck!

Blog Party Day 1 - A Loom Knitting Word Search

2009-01-12T16:21:00.003-06:00

In celebration of my upcoming bloggy anniversary, I have created some fun and games for my loom knitting and fibery friends! Today's game is a Loom Knitting Word Search! Have fun!

BINDOFF
CABLE
CASTON
CINDIWOODS
COLORWORK
CROCHET
DALOOMS
DECREASE
DRAWSTRING
EWRAP
GARTER
GATHER
GAUGE
HOOK
INCREASE
KISSLOOMS
KITCHENER
KNIFTY
KNIT
KNITTER
LONG
LOOM
LOOMCLIP
LOOMKNITTERSCIRCLE
MARKMAN
NEEDLE

Friday Fill-In since I have a bad pain in my neck!

2009-01-09T14:27:00.004-06:00

1. It's January; time to get out the alpaca socks, a deep freeze is headed our way and we are going to have high temps below zero next week.

2. Sleep is what I crave most right now (I coughed all night and couldn't sleep).

3. Cork and wine go together like yarn and a loom (hee, hee).

4. Rest is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to make changes to the new CPSIA law taking affect February 10, 2009.

6. Welcome to my home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early (hopefully I won't cough up my lungs and can rest), tomorrow my plans include celebrating a belated Christmas with my family and Sunday, I want to have a belated Christmas brunch!

More Fill-Ins here.

What I've Done MeMe

2009-01-08T17:48:00.002-06:00

I snagged this from Denise's blog.

Copy, paste, and bold what you have done!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Gone rollerskating

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb and a baby alpaca too :D

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Acted in a play or performed on stage

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business more than one :D

58. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies, no, but I've eaten a lot of them :D

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar, unfortunately, yes, YUCK!

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible once, would like to do so again!

86. Visited the White House

87. Won money

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Loom knitting "knit" stitch definition - let's clear some things up!

2009-01-07T08:45:00.007-06:00

Let me begin by saying I am by no means an expert. I am merely sharing knowledge I've picked up over the past few years. I've technically known how to needle knit for over 30 years -- I learned when I was 8 years old or so. I did not, however, devoted too much time to needle knitting since there were many other crafty sort of things I was more interested in. Loom knitting piqued my interest almost 3 years ago and then I became a lot more interested in needle knitting as a result. I starting truly studying needle knitting and playing around with it so I could convert it over to the loom for my own personal use and to open myself up to more design ideas on the loom.

Over the past several years I have seen the subject come up over and over again on my loom knitting forums about the difference between the regular knit stitch, the e-wrap knit stitch, the flat knit stitch, and the reverse purl. To a new loom knitter, this causes a great deal of confusion! I know, I've been there! When a new loom knitter thinks they have things all figured out they come across a pattern that says they need to use the "flat stitch" and it then it says to knit in stockinette stitch (more on that later) and they get all confused because all along they thought they were doing stockinette stitch when they were e-wrapping and knitting off for row after row after row straight! Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

Just as with needle knitting, there are several ways to make a "knit" stitch in loom knitting. Here they are with a little explanation:

Flat Knit Stitch = lay the working yarn ABOVE the loop on the peg and with the loom tool take the loop and bring it up and over the working yarn creating a new loop (this can be a very tight stitch). Here is a video demonstrating the flat knit stitch on the loom.

U-wrap Knit Stitch = lay working yarn ABOVE the loop on the peg and
slightly wrap this working yarn around the peg and towards the inside of the loom. Take the loom tool and bring the loop up and over the working yarn (this is a way to make the flat knit stitch less tight). Here is a video demonstration of this version of the "knit" stitch.

Regular Knit stitch or what some refer to as the Reverse Purl stitch= lay the working yarn over the loop on the peg and with the loom tool, come from under the loop and snag the working yarn to create a new loop, take the old loop off of the peg and replace with the new loop (this stitch resembles the knit stitch created from standard needle knitting the most). You can watch a video of the regular knit stitch here.

E-wrap or what you may see referred to as the Twisted Knit Stitch =e-wrap all the pegs and then e-wrap each peg again. With the loom tool bring the bottom loop up and over the top loop. Video demonstration here.

All of the above "knit" stitches are used in combination with the "purl" stitch to create all kinds of lovely fabrics out of yarn!

The Purl stitch = lay the working yarn BENEATH the loop on the peg
and with your loom tool come from above the loop and snag the working yarn creating a new loop, remove the old loop and replace with the new loop. Isela demonstrates this stitch here.

When a pattern says to knit in stockinette stitch for "x" amount of inches you can use ANY of the above mentioned "knit" stitches (i.e. flat knit, regular knit/reverse purl, e-wrap/twisted knit stitch). You will want to use whichever one gets you to gauge on the pattern. The stockinette stitch is a series of knit stitches that produce a smooth fabric which tends to curl since there are not any counter balance stitches used.

To create a stitch pattern that is referred to as the "garter stitch" on the loom you will knit one row in all "knit" stitches and one row of all "purl" stitches. A garter stitch pattern is a bumpy fabric and is also a fabric that will lay flat since it is counter balanced from the knits and purls.

To do a one by one Rib stitch you will do the following: *Knit one stitch, purl one stitch, repeat from * to end of row or round. On the next row or round do the same. If you want to do a two by two rib you would knit 2, purl 2.

Creative KJ's Corner Year In Review - Top Blog Post in 2008

2008-12-31T10:07:00.006-06:00

It is the last day of 2008 and I can't help but look back over the course of the year at my little corner of the world wide web and reflect on some of my favorite and my most popular posts. I had a lot of fun blogging this past year! I wish I had more time to blog, but with six kids, seven alpacas, a husband, a dog, and three cats, I just don't have the time to sit down and blog or even formulate coherent thoughts most days. When time allowed, however, there was so much fun, crazy, hectic, and strange content that came from my life with all of those people and animals!

My loom knitting and spinning communities have been so much fun for me too! I have really enjoyed creating my loom knitting how to videos and conducting my loom alongs on this blog! I had a really busy year designing loom knitting patterns and this is where I've documented a lot of this work. I really enjoy designing for my family and then sharing these designs with the loom knitting community! Loom knitting has been such a great creative outlet for me!

Looking back over the past twelve months here are some of my favorite, most memorable and/or most popular posts from oldest to newest:

#1

Are you looming without obligation? In this post I wrote about a funny comment I read from a member of my loom knitting community on yahoo. She was commenting about feeling so inadequate because, although she had been looming for awhile, she still plotted along fairly slowly and felt as though she wasn't keeping up with the rest of her looming community. She would get one project done in a week and she kept hearing how so and so got 5 hats, 10 scarves, and 5 pairs of mittens done in one week... Then I read the most hilarious post from another gal saying she felt the same way..so and so made 1,000 sweaters, 50,000 hats, blah, blah, blah. I had to laugh. It was an exaggeration of course, but it was funny none the less!

#2

What are you loom knitting? In this post, I decided to start a loom knitting meme. I was always reading these needle knitting memes and I wanted to start one just for the loom knitters.

#3

My Best Friend Died Yesterday In this post I opened up my heart and poured out all of my raw emotions. I had just found out my best friend died from cancer and I needed to find my voice to release some of my pent up feelings. This post received a lot of page views and people poured out support to me in my time of grief.

#4

Tuesday's Toot - I am a Top Momma! All of my loomy friends and loyal bloggy friends kept me on the Top Momma front page for 10 days! Thanks for giving me that warm fuzzy goodness of sticking around for a few days at least!

#5

Hubby took a tussle with a deer last night! I just finished talking to my hubby maybe 20 minutes prior. I told him I loved him and would see him in about a half hour. I hung up, jumped in the shower, got the girls ready for bed, and just sat down to rock-a-bye baby with my two year old (she still likes some extra special snuggly times with me before night night time), when the phone rang again. It was my hubby! That's strange, I thought when I picked up the phone. He didn't sound so good. He was breathing a little heavy and I could hear the two kids he had with him chattering excitedly in the background. He say's "Yeah, we had an accident."

#6

Wordless Wednesday - We are expecting a pillow and a teddy bear any day now! In this picture post I captured some of the joys of motherhood!

#7

My jam packed weekend of fiber, fun, animals, and friends! In this post I shared pictures and a little story of me meeting one of my online loom knitting friends!

#8

A Harrowing Experience In this post I shared, what is in retrospect, a hilarious tale of me chasing all over the countryside six alpacas hell bent giving me a heart attack!

#9

Spinning like mad I hate to say this, but I have one of those obsessive compulsive personalities. I usually get completely and totally obsessed with something, can't get enough of it, and eventually crash and burn out on it, sometimes I completely abandoned it and never look back (rubberstamping anyone?). Sometimes something else waves itself in front of my face and tempts me away from my current fascination. Well, something waved itself in front of my face and I hate to say it, but I can't seem to stop playing around with my new found toy. I am now spinning with my drop spindle like a mad woman...

#10

Tuesday's Toot - I was on T.V. Yesterday! I got my 15 minutes of fame!

#11

My Crazy September It was crazy. We had a baby (alpaca - in September). I turned 39 (in September). Went to my highschool reunion (in September). Appeared on T.V. (in September). Had a farm tour (in September). My son turned 8 (in September)...

#12

My Loom Knit Dishcloth Design Published in Calendar of Hope! A very popular post! I was very honored to have my loom knitting design published in a needle knitting Calendar put together to benefit Breast Cancer Research!

#13

At 12:42 AM we were awakened by gunshots at the side of our house... A very frightening experience!

#14

Loom Along with me - Half Finger Gloves on long yellow KK Day 1 The first of a 10 day series of video posts of me making a pair of half finger gloves on my long yellow knifty knitter loom! A very popular series of posts!

#15

My new toe socks on the knitting loom! I shared a picture of my latest accomplishment on my knitting loom!

#16

Memory Lane In this post I shared a great way to spend an afternoon...What memories have you uncovered recently?

#17

What do you think? In this post I shared the saga of our stolen dog...

#18

First Lost Tooth on Thanksgiving Day! Another mile-stone documented!

#19

ETA: My most popular post of 2008: The Bounty I documented my trip to the big 2008 Knit and Crochet Out event at the Mall of America and my opportunity to meet Isela Phelps!

Wordless Wednesday - That's My Girl!

2008-12-24T12:03:00.002-06:00

Photo removed for protection.

Contest of wills

2008-12-18T22:00:00.003-06:00

My husband and I were finishing up some errands this afternoon quick in preperation for my family coming here for our Christmas celebration. He stopped quick at the bookstore (to get me a gift card, I am sure). I was going to just stay in the van and wait but my three year old right away said she had to go potty. I reluctantly got out of the van and headed for the store. My daughter and I went straight to the bathroom and into a stall next to an occupied stall. She right away said she had wet her pants (she hadn't) but she was adament she had. When she gets like that, she flat out refuses to put her pants back on. I didn't have any extra pants in my purse (although there is just about everything else in there :D) so I said to her she had to put them back on, she had no choice. She shook her head fiercely. I again said she had to. She said "No, I don't want to." I said again she had to. She of course got extremely upset at this point and started yelling "No, I don't want to!" I said to her then, "Amanda, you HAVE to have pants on when you go back out in the store rather you want to or not, you have no choice". This got a chuckle out of the occupied stall next to ours. My daughter of course still yelled out, "No, I don't want to." I said then, "Amanda, you can't go out in the store naked!" My daughter innocently looked up at me, tugged at her shirt and said, "But I have a shirt on." LOL!

After the bookstore bathroom incident, we headed to the grocery store. My husband has been battling a cold. He asked me if I had any Kleenix. I reached into my pocket and handed him one. My daughter right away pipped up and said she needed a "Kweenix". My husband told her she didn't need one because her nose wasn't running. She looked at him and said, "I need a Kweenix, I have burgers in my nose!" LOL!

Glittens LAL - Day 4

2008-12-06T19:56:00.000-06:00

How to place stitches on DPNs and kitchener stitch the finger flap:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Cutting it close...

2008-12-05T19:37:00.000-06:00

This is a picture I took of my two year old just yesterday. She is wearing the new Perfect Fit Toddler Mitts I designed recently. Her bangs were the perfect length and she was looking so adorable. I trimmed her hair a few weeks back and it was finally growing in, perfect timing for her 3rd birthday on the 15th.

Here she is now:

She got a hold of the scissors a few hours ago while I was making supper and there is a good 2 inches of her forhead showing! Oh well, at least she has some of her bangs left!

Glittens LAL - Day 3

2008-12-05T16:37:00.000-06:00

How to do the short row on the tips of the fingers:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I interrup my LAL to appease Robin :D

2008-12-03T16:37:00.000-06:00

Here you go Robin:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I will use whatever. I've wrapped gifts in comics, brown paper bags I've rubber stamped, even fabric. I have also used gift bags if they are handy. I am not loyal to either :D

2. Real tree or Artificial?
I love the smell of real trees but don't have the time to give a real tree the attention it truly needs. I have a fake tree but haven't put it up in years. The tree fit in our old house (it is over 7 feet tall) because of the vaulted ceilings. The ceilings in the house we live in now are standard height and the tree would look rediculous in here. So, once again, I am not loyal to either :D...I do however like to put garland up on our deck with lights!

3. When do you put up the tree?
See answer 2.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Answer 2 again.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, I do actually. I've even had it for breakfast :D

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My first walkman!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Starting a few years ago I began making my gifts. My dad is by far the toughest to make for, then I would say my brother. I see a box of homemade cookies in their future again this year :D

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My mother. I can think of a billion things I would love to knit or crochet for her. Then, I would say my kids. It seems lately, everything I design they squeal with delight and can't wait for me to make them a pair or they just plan snatch it when I am not looking.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes I do. I cross stitched one many years ago, way back when cross stitching was my passion! LOL

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Nothing rings a bell. I must have liked everything I've ever received.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart. I cry everytime I see it. Then my next favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, tears for that one too.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Oh, I start designing and making gifts 2-3 weeks before Christmas. I am a big procrastinator.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No, I don’t think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Gingerbread cookies. In fact, now that I write this, I am going to have to make some.

16. Lights on the tree?
Lights, but I prefer just one color. I just love it when I see a tree light up all in one color! Multi colored lights I think look gaudy.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem and What Child is This?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Since Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are always shared between our house and my three step children's mother's house, we couldn't travel if we wanted to.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Of course.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I have a beautiful angel with these cool fiber optic lights, but as I mentioned in answer number 2, I haven't had it up in years.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve after attending church services when I was a child. My husband never objected so I've carried on with the tradition in my family.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Not being able to go to the store to buy shampoo or toothpaste because there are a million people in the stores and you can hardly move and people are just downright rude and obnoxious.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love the old world look.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Pumpkin pie!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
You know, there isn't a single thing on my wish list this year. So, what I really want this year is lots of time with family and loved ones.

26. Who is most likely to blog about this?
It's anyone's guess.

27. Lights, blinking or always on?
Always on. Blinking lights are in that same category of multiple colored lights, I find it gaudy.

Glittens LAL - Day 2

2008-12-02T18:40:00.000-06:00

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Glittens LAL - Day 1

2008-12-01T12:37:00.001-06:00

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First lost tooth on Thanksgiving Day!

2008-11-28T08:30:00.000-06:00

My daughter came up to me in a dark room to show me. She insisted I take her picture with my camera phone. She was so proud. All those little milestones! And on Thanksgiving Day, 2008, none-the-less! Congratulations Paige!

Mini LAL Loom Knit Christmas Ornament Day 3

2008-11-27T08:41:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! So sorry I didn't get this last video posted until now. I have been very busy the past few days. Enjoy!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mini LAL - Loom Knit Christmas Ornament Day 2

2008-11-25T10:07:00.000-06:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mini LAL - Loom Knit Christmas Ornament Day 1

2008-11-24T20:31:00.000-06:00

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Glittens errata, and a new LAL video series coming soon!

2008-11-19T11:44:00.000-06:00

If you purchased my Family of Loom Knit Gloves, please download a new file (if you still have your download link) or please download the Glittens Errata file here.

My Loom Knit Half Finger Gloves LAL video series was so popular and I received so many wonderful comments! I had a lot of fun doing it too! I am a visual learner and know how frustrating it is to read something over and over again and it just doesn't click! That is why I will be having another LAL right here on my blog! Next up, Glittens! Stay tuned!

Little Stinker!

2008-11-18T09:56:00.000-06:00

Remember last week when I mentioned my soon-to-be three year old threw my contact lenses away? Apparently she doesn't want me to see at all. Yesterday she threw out my glasses! I had a heck of a time finding them since I am very blind without any sort of visual aid! I mean, I am blind as a bat! I have to put everything right under my nose to see it. How miserable trying to find my glasses without glasses! I had to ask my husband for help when he came home. He finally found them stuffed into the garbage! She must have grabbed them off of my end table while I was sleeping. What a stinker! Needless to say, my day wasn't very productive yesterday!

Toe Sock Test Knitter Needed!

2008-11-17T19:37:00.002-06:00

Remeber a few weeks back I posted my toe sock prototype? I am almost finished writing up the first draft of my pattern and I would love to have you test knit it for me. If you are interested in giving this pattern a shot, please contact me for further details! You will need either a long yellow KK loom or the long pink KK loom, two sets of loom clips, a loom tool, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle, and a skein of worsted weight Lion Brand Wool Ease or worsted weight Lion Brand Wool. If you decide to make your toes each a different color you can do that! If you want to add stripes, you can do that too! Have fun with the pattern. Don't forget, I would love to see a picture! I really would like this pattern test knitted no later than Sunday the 30th of November.

The dog saga continues!

2008-11-14T09:50:00.001-06:00

It gets better. My eldest stepdaughter called her mom as soon as she came home from school yesterday and asked her mother where the dog was and when she was going to bring it back. Her mom denied taking it. She even demanded she speak with her other daughter to tell her she didn't take the dog and that she was mistaken! I thought to myself, "Oh, that's a good one, first you teach them it is ok to steal, now you are trying to teach them it is ok to lie!"

I turned to my other stepdaughter and asked her what she really saw and she broke down in sobs. She said she saw her mom take the dog with her own eyes. She said she put the dog on her lap in the van and they drove off with the dog. She even said she begged her mother not to take the dog. She then cried out to me that her stepdad (her mom's husband) didn't want her mother to take the dog and said it wasn't a good idea. She clearly didn't want her stepdad to get into trouble too for her mother's actions!

When my husband came home from work, my eldest stepdaughter right away ran up to him and told him that her mom claimed she didn't take the dog. He said he spoke with the sherrif and that the sheriff spoke with the kid's mother. She said she knew she was lying. The officer said she believes the kid's mother gave her false information and if she does not return the dog she will be charged with that. The officer also mentioned she would stop by in a day or two to see if the dog is returned or not and question the children. This was horrific news for my stepdaughter that witnessed the theft. She dropped to the floor on her hands and knees and just sobbed!

My son handed me this yesterday when he came home from school:

He loved that dog! He used to come home from school and run around the yard and the field with her. On the weekends he would play outside with her for hours. When he handed me the artwork, he had a sad look on his face. He said he made it a couple days ago at school and now he doesn't have his dog anymore to play with.

What do you think?

2008-11-13T13:06:00.000-06:00

About a month ago we woke up and spotted a puppy out on our back deck. We asked around the neighborhood if anyone lost a dog and no one was missing one. We decided someone just dropped her off at our place in the middle of the night abandoning her here. She is a perfectly lovely dog. We blieve she is part Healer and part Coon Hound. She is still a puppy. We estimate her age to be around 6-8 months or so. She is already a big dog. I know dogs do not reach their full size for a year to two years. She is going to be much bigger and hasn't grown into her large paws yet.

The weekend after we aquired her, my three step-children's mother came and picked up her children for visitation. She spotted the dog and instantly wanted the dog. She insisted the dog was just what she was looking for. She kindly called us and asked if she could take the dog since the kids told her the dog was abandoned at our doorstep and we hadn't gone out and purchased the dog. At this point, we had already decided we were keeping the dog. The kids live with us and they see the dog daily. Their mother lives in a tiny little trailer in town with a very small yard. We live in the country on 40 acres. We didn't feel her tiny little trailer was anyplace to keep a dog, especially a dog with the potential of getting much larger than she already is. We told her no, she couldn't have the dog.

Over the course of the past weeks, my step-children's mother has made increasingly more persistent and nastier demands that we give her the dog. She even went so far as to leaving a threatening message on my husband's phone last weekend about the dog. She then left him a second message apologizing and saying she has no rights to make demands that we give her the dog.

Last night the children once again went with their mother for visitation. My husband and I had placed our three youngest children in the care of my husband's brother while we went into town shopping. We were not home when their mother brought the children back home. She promptly loaded the dog up into her van and took the dog home with her!

We were not made aware of this theft of our dog until this morning since the children were all in bed sleeping when we came home last night. It didn't occur to us the dog wasn't there when we came home. She usually would come running up to us wagging her tail in greeting. We got home late and we were tired. We didn't even realize she wasn't there.

My husband woke me up as soon as he heard the news from the kids this morning. We discussed it and decided we needed to call the police and report it.

At first the police officer didn't understand the situation. She assumed the dog was a mutually owned dog between the kid's mother and my husband. She assumed they had recently split up and that the dog was owned by them together. She tried telling my husband that there wasn't anything she could do and that there wasn't anything wrong with her taking the dog. He right away had to correct her. He let her know that they had not been "together" for almost 10 years! The dog was ours and we got her about a month ago. The kid's mother never owned the dog. He informed her about the threatening phone message the kid's mother had left on his cell phone and then the message after that apologizing for threatening him and saying she was going to take the dog.

So far we do not have out dog back. We felt calling the police and reporting this theft was the best message we could send to the children. We do not feel the children should be allowed to see their mother make demands on something and when she doesn't get it, to just go ahead and take it anyway. This message she was sending the kids is a very strong message that it is ok to just take something you want even if it isn't yours and you do not have permission to do so. My one stepdaughter didn't feel it was a problem. She got very angry at us this morning when we said we needed to call the police. I sure hope this situation works out for the better. In the past when we have had to call the police for things my step children's mother has done, she has gone nuts and has tried getting back at us and has tried making our lives a living hell. It really is unfortunate she made this move since over the course of the past few years things have really settled down between our two households. It was best for the kids and for both families.

What do you think?

Not seeing very clearly...

2008-11-12T12:10:00.001-06:00

...because my soon-to-be three year old decided to play in the bathroom this morning while I was doing chores outside and dumped the contents of my contact lens case somewhere, nowhere to be found, especially since I don't see very well with my glasses that are over six years old! Breath...1, 2, 3...breath...4, 5, 6...breath...7, 8, 9, 10...breath...

Bad Habits - When your two year old get's nasty!

2008-11-11T13:28:00.001-06:00

My soon-to-be three year old said to me this morning, "Mommy, you're stupid!" I did just what I wasn't suppose to do according to the article I read here. I swirld around from the toaster and asked her in a stern voice, "What did you say?". She grinned and said it again, "Mommy, you're stupid!". Of course I know where she got that, her older brother's and sister's are always calling eachother stupid. I hate it when they do that. No matter how much I get after them, they still treat eachother that way.

The above mentioned article also mentions something else my two year old is doing right now that drives me nuts. She insists on picking out her own cloths (inappropriate for the wheather they may be), I allow it. Lately though, she has become obsessed with tags. I don't think there is anything left in her closet that has a tag on it, but she still hollers and tears off all of her clothes and claims it is hurting her. She wants to run around the house in the buff! I personally don't know how she can stand it since it isn't very warm in the house since our weather has turned cold and snowy. Usually she picks out shorts and a tank top. Sometimes her swim suit. I just can't get the child to wear a sweatshirt or a sweater! I know I am cold, I know she has to be. But, according to the article, she is exerting her independence. Oh well, I'll concede for now. Too bad they don't stay independent! But, that's another story...

Memory Lane

2008-11-09T22:37:00.000-06:00

My digital camera is a Sony CD Mavica. A big beast of a camera my husband bought for me 8 years ago. It takes these mini cds that when you take a picture, the image burns right onto the cd. When the one-time-use cd is full (or when I am ready to get images off of the disc), I finalize the disc, pop it out of camera and pop it into my computer. Since I've had this thing for so long I have mountains of these little cds piled up in my office, piled up in my yarn stash closet, piled up under my bed (oops, did I say that?)...well, you get the idea. I usually am in a hurry to get the images on the cd onto my computer so I don't bother with writing on the cd what exactly is on the cd. In fact I am terrible at recording what is on the cds. After time I always archive the images I've placed onto my computer and shuffle them off somewhere without a label too (I know, I am terrible).

Today I sat down with the hopes of finding a recent picture I took (from this past spring) and starting popping one cd after another into my computer and reviewing the contents. What a treasure trove of memories! I found pictures from 6, 7 years ago...the kids were so young then! I sat and looked through pictures of my 5, soon to be 6 year old daughter's birth...pictures of my two year old's first steps...pictures of our puppies we had when we lived in our old house...pictures of a baby fawn my husband found curled up in the tall grass at our old place, lying so still, not moving a muscle, waiting for it's mother to return....

I never found the picture I was looking for. What I did find was a great way to spend my afternoon. I kept calling the kids into the office to come look at this picture or that. They laughed so hard at themselves. My two year old kept pointing at the cute little baby which was really pictures of herself :-)...

What memories have you uncovered recently?

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-11-07T13:15:00.000-06:00

1. My blueprint for success includes a great deal of hard work.
2. A mini Milkyway was the last candy I ate.
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is my own facial oils -- LOL, I don't need to use moisturizer.
4. Loom Knitting a pair of gloves, glittens, or half finger gloves can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about my alpacas if you really want to listen.
6. My lips are my strongest characteristic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the newest Survivorman, tomorrow my plans include test knitting my loom knit toe socks again and Sunday, I want to see my hubby when he gets back from hunting!

My new toe socks on the knitting loom!

2008-11-04T08:54:00.002-06:00

What do you do when you have insomnia for days on end? Well... I made a pair of toe socks on my knitting loom! Last year when I came out with my first glove design, Bethany over at GettingItPegged.com asked me if I could convert the design over into toe socks. I determined the design was too much trouble so I set the idea aside for awhile until now! Using the same technique I created for my new half finger gloves (and full finger gloves) on the long yellow Knifty Knitter and the new Loom Clips from Provo Craft, I sat down and quickly knitted up my first prototype:

Ok, now I need to put my glittens design back on my yellow loom and finish that pattern up!

Friday Fill-Ins - Halloween 2008 Edition

2008-10-31T07:13:00.000-06:00

1. My favorite food seasoning is chocolate.
2. Trick or Treat is music to my ears.
3. Lucky is the kid that gets the last piece of candy.
4. Pumpkin carving is something I take very seriously.
5. Many people will be out past dark tonight.
6. A Spiderman costume was the last thing I bought at the store.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trick-or-treating with the kiddos, tomorrow my plans include sleeping an extra hour (yeah!) and Sunday, I (will) want to hide all the Halloween candy from the kids because they will be sick!

Wordless Wednesday - May the force be with you this Halloween!

2008-10-29T08:24:00.000-06:00

Loom Knit Half Finger Glove LAL Day 10

2008-10-26T08:27:00.001-06:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Copyright 2008 Karen Gielen

The entire video can be purchased on DVD to be played on your t.v. Click here to order your copy today!

Pattern now available for purchase! Click here to purchase your copy today!

Thanks for joining! This was fun!

The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe

2008-10-26T06:49:00.000-06:00

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Loom Knit Half Finger Glove LAL Day 9

2008-10-25T16:31:00.001-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My video camera is charging, will post another video later today...

2008-10-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

...until then, check this out. Click on the photos to make them larger. Whoa! Just too weird!

Loom Knit Half Finger Gloves LAL Day 8

2008-10-24T11:28:00.001-05:00

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Loom Knit Half Finger Glove LAL Day 7

2008-10-23T09:13:00.001-05:00

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Loom Knit Half Finger Gloves LAL Day 6

2008-10-22T09:46:00.001-05:00

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Loom Knit Half Finger Gloves LAL Day 5

2008-10-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

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Loom Knit Half Finger Gloves LAL Day 4

2008-10-20T10:04:00.001-05:00

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We've aquired a Dog!

Sunday morning my hubby spotted a puppy out on our back deck. He went out and of course, he just had to pet her. He said he couldn't help himself. She must have been dropped off in the middle of the night since no one came looking for her all day yesterday. She looks slightly malnurished (poor thing). She howels like a coon hound. At first we thought she was from a farm up the road since she does howel like a coon hound and they have coon dogs for hunting. She looks half rottweiler, half coon hound. She is approximately 4 or 5 months old. She will be a big dog based on the size of her paws. The kids were all away for the weekend and of course when they came home, they all begged to keep her. My youngest is terrified of her though since she is much bigger than her and she wants to lick her face. She won't leave our poor cats alone either! Hubby said this morning we may as well keep her. I will have to make a run into town and get her some dog food. We weren't looking for another expense and I am sure she will be a big eater. I'll post some picks of her hopefully tomorrow.

Loom Knit Half Finger Glove LAL - Day 3

2008-10-19T16:56:00.001-05:00

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Loom Along with Me - Half Finger Gloves Day 2

2008-10-18T14:33:00.002-05:00

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Loom Along with me - Half Finger Gloves on long yellow KK Day 1

2008-10-17T15:50:00.004-05:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Copyright 2008 Karen Gielen

I am new at this, so please be patient with me. My videos aren't as fancy as Isela's, LOL!

Video to be continued...

At 12:42 AM we were awakened by gunshots at the side of our house...

2008-10-16T08:59:00.001-05:00

...someone thought it was infinately funny to plaster the side of our house and front windows with a paint gun! Both hubby and I sprang out of bed. Hubby is so fast, he was out the front door and saw the tailights rounding the bend in the road. We went out into the yarn and inspected the damage. Paint was splattered all over the yard and all over the side of the house. The offenders even had the nerve to drive back by. The turned off their headlights and raced by.

Luckily the paint came off with a powerwasher the next morning.

Ha, ha, very funny. What goes around comes around, is all I can say!

Edited to change PM to AM (I didn't have my coffee yet).

My Loom Knit Dishcloth Design Published in Calendar of Hope!

2008-10-14T18:51:00.001-05:00

My loom knit dishcloth design was published today in the Calendar of Hope now available for purchase at KnitPink.com! Mine is the cloth (group of three) in the lower righthand corner! The design can be either loom knit or needle knit.

I was very honored to be included in this calendar! I am on cloud nine! All proceeds benefit Cancer Research.

My New and Improved Loom Knit Gloves and Half Finger Gloves

2008-10-13T11:13:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to improve on my glove and half finger glove pattern I released last year for the Knifty Knitter. Here is the pattern for the old version of my Knifty Knitter version. The old version was just way too bulky when made with super bulky yarn which was used based on the gauge of the loom. Because of this, it was uncomfortable to wear. I didn't really like the version I made using elastic thread either. I also didn't like having to seam up the sides of the fingers! I even went so far as to try and get my hubby to make a new loom for me that had some sort of a slider to make the fingers in the round. When Provo Craft came out with the new loom clips a little lightbulb went off and I just knew I could make my glove patterns better for the KK. As you can see the new version has a very nice gusset on the thumb just like needle knit gloves. You can also see that the knitting seemlessly goes into the fingers and is very consistent with the knitting on the hand portion. The best part about this new version, it is knit completely in the round so NO seaming needed! The only stitching that needs to be done is in between the fingers when you remove it from the loom. With the introduction of the loom clips it is possible to make this glove that will fit a child, a medium/large glove for a woman or a older child and for a large adult or man.

My Loom Knitting Primer Book grew legs and walked off...

2008-10-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

...or, someone (me) could have taken it to the library accidentally since it was in the stack of books ready to go back and now it's gone missing. The worse part of it is, it was a signed copy! Remember this? I worked hard to get that signature! I contacted the library but haven't heard if it was ever found (it's been missing for months). I turned my house literally upside down looking for it!

R.I.P.

You were loved, and will be missed dearly!

P.S. If anyone checks out the Loom Knitting Primer book with the above handwritten text in it, it is mine!

Wordless Wednesday - Not Funny!

2008-10-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

Are you spending too much?

2008-10-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

That is what my daughter pipped up and said to me yesterday after school. She was watching a few mintues of t.v. and came up to me and posed the question. I had no idea what she was talking about. I asked her, "Spending too much of what?". She said, "Too much of your money." I said, "Yes, I suppose I probably am," thinking to myself about the current state of the economy and how expensive even the most mundane things have become. She says to me, "Then maybe you should just call or click!" LOL! Apparently she had just watched a commercial for some sort of service (I am assuming a cellular service) and they referenced other plans that were more expensive, they must have given out a phone number and a web address and she only understood or caught some of it. Kids say the darndest things!

My Crazy September

2008-10-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

It was crazy. We had a baby (alpaca - in September). I turned 39 (in September). Went to my highschool reunion (in September). Appeared on T.V. (in September). Had a farm tour (in September). My son turned 8 (in September).

Paula with her new baby

My daughter Paige, me, my daughter Amanda

Paige, me, Kim (my stepdaughter), and Amanda

My husband and I at my highschool reunion

Here I am on T.V.

Kim with Tanner at the Farm Tour

Kaden with b-day gift

Me having fun with Kaden's b-day gift

Grandfather having fun with Kaden's b-day gift

Amanda having fun with Kaden's b-day gift

Whew! No wonder it took me a whole week to recover! LOL!

I wonder wonder who, who-oo-ooh, who will win (the new wonder sock loom)?

2008-10-04T14:54:00.001-05:00

Image copyright DALooms.com
Tell me, tell me, tell me Oh, who will win I've got to know the answer!

It could be you! Blog about the new loom and drop Isela and Sam and note over on the DALooms blog and you could be the winner! No blog, not to worry, you can still leave a comment and be entered to win! Oh, and don't forget to mention Karen from Cre8tivkj's Corner sent you!

Alpaca Yarn Destash!

2008-10-03T08:48:00.005-05:00

My alpaca farm tour is over and I have lots of very nice 100% alpaca yarn left over. All the yarn is produced locally. Each skein is very soft and luscious! Each skein has been stored in a smoke free and pet free environment. I accept PayPal only. Please send me an email (k j gielen at g mail dot com - spaces removed) if you are interested and let me know your zip code so that I can calculate shipping accurately. Thanks for looking!

~~Off White/Ivory~~
- ~~Each skein is Sock/Fingering Wt.~~
- ~~Skein 1 is 4.3 oz $21.50 plus shipping~~
- ~~Skein 2 is 4 oz $20.00 plus shipping~~
- ~~Skein 3 is 3.9 oz $19.50 plus shipping~~
- ~~Yardage unknown~~
- ~~Yarn works very well with fine gauge or extra fine gauge looms!~~
Sold

~~Black~~
- ~~Each skein is DK Wt.~~
- ~~Each skein 2.3 oz and 100 yds~~
- ~~$12.00 each plus shipping~~
- ~~Yarn works very well with fine gauge or extra fine gauge looms!~~
Sold

~~Rose Grey~~
- ~~Each skein is Lt. Worsted wt.~~
- ~~Each skein is 3.2 oz and 100 yards~~
- ~~$16.00 each plus shipping~~
- ~~Yarn works very well with fine gauge or extra fine gauge looms!~~
Sold!

Grey
- Each skein Lt. Worsted wt.
- Each skein is 3 oz
- $15.00 each plus shipping
- Yarn works very well with fine gauge or extra fine gauge looms!

ETA: Alpaca is 5-8 times warmer than wool and up to 3 times stronger. Alpaca does not contain any lanolin. Non-irritating, hypoallergenic for most people. Light-weight, lustrous and silky natural fiber. All skeins above are soft as cashmere. Each skein is the natural color of the animal. No dyes or harsh chemicals were used to produce this yarn.

Tuesday's Toot - I was on T.V. Yesterday!

2008-09-23T14:52:00.001-05:00

I haven't particpated in a Tuesday Toot in a long time. Mostly because I've been too pooped to toot! I've been working my tail off getting my farm ready and helping to promote the Alpacas of Minnesota 5th Annual Farm Tour this coming weekend, September 27th and 28th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Which brings me to my toot for today, I arranged a segment on a popular local television program called Showcase Minnesota to help promote the farm tour for the entire state of Minnesota! On top of it, I got to appear on the program to demonstrate the dropspindle! You can see the video of the segment here.

Alpacas of Minnesota Farm Tour September 27 & 28, 2008

2008-09-19T07:55:00.000-05:00

On September 27 & 28, Humming Hills Alpaca Ranch, LLC invites you to join us for the 5th Annual Alpacas of Minnesota Farm Tour. Our doors are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day!

What is an alpaca? Alpacas are members of the camelid family, which means Llamas and Camels are their cousins. They’re very gentle creatures with a wonderful disposition. They’re approximately a third the size of a llama and produce one of the most luxurious and strongest fibers in the world. Their cashmere-like fleece is 5-7 times warmer than wool and does not contain any lanolin. For people who have sensitive skin, allergies or cannot wear wool because it’s too itchy, alpaca fiber is the perfect alternative. Alpacas are also the only fiber bearing animal that comes in 22 different natural colors and variations.

In addition to educational sessions, children’s activities and fiber related demos (drop spindle and wheel spinning, crochet, loom knitting, needle knitting, and machine knitting, needle and wet felting), Humming Hills Alpaca Ranch, LLC will also be selling alpaca related products, jellies and jams, jewelry, and lots of gift items. There’s something for everyone in the family - raw fiber (used in fly tying), yarn (hand and machine spun) and garments made from alpaca fibers, alpaca toys, make-and-takes, photo opportunities, and more!

Come and enjoy the autumn colors, refreshments and the soothing sound of our humming alpacas!

Wordless Wednesday: Home raised, handspun, hand (loom) knit, done!

2008-08-27T12:43:00.000-05:00

Pattern here. More wordless here and here.

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-08-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

1. Dancing to the music of laughter while visiting with my friends makes me happy.

2. The last time I doubted myself I nearly gave up, but I persevered and everything came out just right.

3. When I drive I love to sing to songs on the radio.

4. I saw our beautiful alpaca Samson standing out in our pasture this morning and I couldn't get over how handsome he is.

5. Give me fiber, give me a drop spindle, give me yarn.

6. Next week I am looking forward to working in the Alpacas of MN State Fair Booth, promoting alpacas and the Alpacas of MN Farm Tour, hope to see you there!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to creating paper mache manaquin parts to display my alpaca garments, tomorrow my plans include creating more manaquin parts and Sunday, I want to visit with my sister who is recovering from surgery!

More Fill-Ins here.

Wordless Wednesday - I finally got around to designing a logo for our alpaca business!

2008-08-13T16:16:00.000-05:00

More Wordless here and here.

Funny for the Day

2008-08-10T07:29:00.000-05:00

We raise alpacas and when we shear our alpacas I say it is time to give the alpacas a haircut. Once the "hair" is off of the animal I call it fleece. I work with this fleece in many different ways such as spin it into yarn and make felt out of it (for slippers, mittens, rugs, etc.). My youngest daughter knows I call it fleece, and she apparently picked up on me saying we give them a "haircut". Well, I gave my five year old a haircut and threw the hair in the garbage in the bathroom. My two year old went potty and spotted the hair in the garbage. She yelled from the bathroom to me, "Mommy, is that Paige's fleece?" Hee, hee!

Whoo, hoo, yipeeeeeee!

2008-08-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

So excited, I got my Hatshaper today! I can't wait to make a wet felted cowboy hat out of my alpaca! I can see a knit and beaded band around the brim. Just had to share, I am so excited!

I know, I am easily amused.

She made me do it, I just had to post something on my blog today!

2008-08-07T17:44:00.001-05:00

A while back Denise had a shout out for suggestions on things to write about on her very cool, and always educational How-To's Tuesday. I had some things I was interested in learning more about so I gave her a suggestion or two, such as How To Pick a Good Substitution Yarn. This is a great one if you have an allergy to the yarn used in the pattern or you have a gorgeous yarn in your stash and you would love to use it. She offered up a link to a website with a database of yarns that make a no-brainer of picking out a suitable yarn substitute for your project.

I have to say though, the How-To's Day post I learned the most from and have put to use the most lately is How to Measure Your Mystery Yarn and her post How to Figure out the Weight of Your Mystery Yarn. Since I've become obsessed with spinning, I have a lot of yarn I need measuring! I of course don't have the benefit of a label, I have to do all the work myself in order to figure out how much of each skein I have. To me, this How To's Day post is priceless!

Now, to make her How-To's day even better, she dreamed up a sweet contest! Go ahead and hop on over there and look through her previous Ho-To's, leave her a comment about your favorite one in her contest post and you just might win yourself a $25 gift card to JoAnn Fabric! How cool is that?

Wordless Wednesday - Oh, Amanda, where are you? Oh, there you are, in storage!

2008-08-06T14:02:00.000-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here and here.

Garden Themed 70th Birthday Cake

2008-08-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

On Friday I mentioned I was designing a birthday cake for my mother-in-law's birthday party today. It turned out just darling and I wanted to share some pics with you! My mother-in-law loves gardening and flowers so I decided to go for a garden themed birthday cake.

Friday Fill Ins

2008-08-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to when I was just a little girl and watch my grandmother knit and crochet and try and bring back some of that information to today so I can become better at these two things.

2. Give me sleep or give me coffee (sorry, I only got 2 1/2 hours of sleep last night).

3. I am listening to my two year old singing.

4. Somewhere, someone is thinking does this woman ever post anything other than Friday Fill Ins and Wordless Wednesday? Well, yes, I do! As soon as five of my six kiddos are back in school, I'll be able to post pics of all my creations and I will be able to write all about my creative endeavours.

5. I'll always be creating something until the day I die.

6. My idea of a good time includes peace and quiet! (I must be getting old).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to baking and decorating the birthday cake I designed for my mother-in-law, tomorrow my plans include attending the Alpacas of MN meeting I was responsible for organizing and Sunday, I ~~want~~ am going to the birthday party that above said cake was made for!

Wordless Wednesday - This is what alpaca poo does to a garden!

2008-07-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here and here.

I am a little late to the party, but hey, at least I made it :D!

2008-07-27T21:19:00.000-05:00

My good looming friend Bethany is having a party over on her blog to celebrate her bloggy anniversary. She's having a question and answer round robin type game happin' right now. If you stop on over, copy and paste the questions into your own blog and link back to her, who knows, maybe you'll score a cool prize? Here's my answers:
1. What was your age when you first discovered your love of yarn? I was eight. What (or who) was it that introduced you to all that fibery goodness? My grandmother was an occomplished fiber artist. She knit and/or crocheted all of her gifts for every birthday and every Christmas gift. I suppose it all rubbed off onto me :-)
2. If you could sit down with anyone in the world to have a little knit along, who would it be? I think I would choose Denise. Why? Besides having a great sense of humor, she also has a great creative mind that, as she said once about someone she admired, I would love to mind meld with her for awhile.
3. What is your favorite comfy place or position in which to work with yarn? I usually sit on the couch next to my laptop and my side end table (where I keep all of my yarny supplies). I like to have quick access to the internet in case I need to do research on a technique or I need to write a quick question on yahoo or Ravelry or go look for inspiration.
4. Like our heroin in the story below, do you ever dream about soft fuzzy goodness? Or how to do a particular technique you’d never thought of while awake? Oh, I am always dreaming about creating something or other. I have been dreaming of spinning lately and that doesn't get anymore yarn related than that!
5. What type of loomer/knitter/crocheter are you? Do you like long involved projects, or quickies full of fast satisfaction? Quick and near instant gratification!
6. Have you ever guiltily postponed dinner due to your involvement with a project? Oh gee, everyday?
7. What is your ultimate goal in your yarn life? To be able to spin perfect yarn. My current goal is to spin enough alpaca to make sufficient projects I can sell at my Alpaca Farm Tour coming up real soon September 28th and the 29th.
8. Do you have a favorite snack you like to munch while working with yarn? I actually find I don't eat when I work on my yarny crafts. I miss my meals and everything. I of course get food for my kids, but I don't take the time to eat when I am in the middle of working on something I am trying to work out or something that I am getting close to finishing. So, I would suppose the answer to that question would be no.
9. What is your all time most favorite yarn tool/accessory that you absolutely could not live without? My drop spindle.
10. What is your favorite movie? Walk the Line (what a true love story from one of my favorite musical artists)!
11. What is your favorite book as an adult…and what was yours as a child? They are the same: The Holy Bible
12. What are you working on right now with your yarn? Oh my goodness, what am I not working on would be easier! I am crocheting numerous hats with my handspun, this dress I am making with hairpin lace for my highschool reunion, slippers I am wet felting, jewelry I am making out of wetfelted beads from my handspun yarn, this shawl from hairpin lace from my handspun, I have a sweater I am designing and loom knitting that is something like 2/3rds done, and a loom knit dishcloth I designed for a Breast Cancer Awareness Dishcloth Calendar. I also have lots of projects I've completed but haven't stitched up yet or felted yet.
13. Is there a special project that you’ve been just dying for someone (or yourself) to design? I have lots of designs I have drawn out and even computated the stitches but have not had a lick of time to work out (i.e. socks). 14. Did someone invite you to join in on the party today? Why Bethany did!

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-07-25T09:42:00.000-05:00

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you now sits in your body and will eventually rear its ugly head someday and cause cancer or some other deadly disease.

2. If you're good at something, turn it into what you do for a living because it will be the best job you ever have and you will never feel like you are working.

3. Why so silly?

4. Something is out there, it's obtainable for those that set their minds to it.

5. If my life were a ~~sitcom~~ soap opera, it would be titled All My Children.

6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see our back 40, the alpaca barn, and sometimes I see the alpacas grazing in the back pasture.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing up a dishcloth design I am doing for a calendar for Breast Cancer Awareness, tomorrow my plans include going to a family picnic and Sunday, I want to get back into the garden!

Hankerin for hairpin lace and a petition to save Knitty Gritty

2008-07-21T15:53:00.000-05:00

I have recently taken a fancy to hairpin lace. I even purchased this most amazing, beautiful dress pattern by the very talented Jennifer Hansen from StitchDiva.com. It's to be my dress for my upcoming highschool class reunion later this summer. I am totally excited and am well on my way to making this gorgeous dress. As a customer of stitchdiva.com you also get a monthly newsletter, and in the most recent newsletter there was a petition to save a great show that I personally believe has taken knitting from being an old and stuffy craft to being a hip and vogue art for many young women and yes, even men. It has made knitting cool. If you think the same and you just can't bare to see it go, please stop on over and sign the petition to save Knitty Gritty!

Friday Fill-Ins, whew, it's been a tough day!

2008-07-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

1. If I could be a fly on the wall I wouldn't be since I hear enough whinning and complaining from each of my two stepdaughters talking about the other.

2. Jealousy is driving me crazy in my family! My two stepdaughters are so jealous of eachother, they fight constantly and I just can't stand it anymore.

3. When I see a shooting star my wish would be that everyone would love and respect everyone they meet and love and respect themselves too.

4. I'd rather be happy, happy, joy, joy than angry and upset (like today) any day!

5. Certain songs when I hear them make me wanna cry.

6. If time were in a bottle I'd pour it out quickly on days like today.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to time away from my two fighting stepdaughters, tomorrow my plans include still more time away from them (hee, hee) and Sunday, I want to do something fun!

Friday Fill-Ins and a pretty rainbow

2008-07-11T08:40:00.000-05:00

1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a drum carder.

2. The milk usually is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator.

3. I never leave home without my purse.

4. If I were a condiment, I would be mustard because if you spill me on your cloths, on the table, or anywhere, I leave a permanent mark.

5. Food crumbs on my kitchen floor is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was oh I hope we don't have a tornado warning during the night.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to getting safely to my brother's house in southern Minnesota without running into some terrible storms, tomorrow my plans include visiting with my mom and dad and brother and Sunday, I want to get back home safely to see my kiddos and hubby!

We've had some rocky weather lately. I took this photo a few days ago after a particularily violent storm passed through:

Wordless Wednesday - Daddy playing with the girls after he got home from work!

2008-07-09T11:32:00.001-05:00

More Wordless here and here.

So I am an angel after all?

2008-07-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

I found this over on Isela's blog. I would have thought I was more sinful than this, but apparently I am rather close to Godliness (yeah, right!) From the looks of it I I should go exorcise some demons from the Purling Dervish.

You Are 20% Evil

You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm.

Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want!

How Evil Are You?

M is for Meme since I've been chasing 6 kids and spinning like a crazed lunatic!

2008-07-03T14:13:00.001-05:00

Yes, I feel like a dog chasing it's tail in more ways than one lately...having all the kids home from school all day everyday gets me no where fast and I am getting overly dizzy and awefully pooped out. Man, they have a lot more energy than I do, I'll be 40 next year! Plus, I am spinning like a crazed lunatic and if you stare at that wheel or whorl long enough, you'd get dizzy too :D

I looked forward to summer all winter and spring and now I can't wait for fall. My farm tour will be over and done with and I can take my time spinning and truly enjoy it. The kiddos will be back in school (only one little one will be left at home all day) and I can maybe complete a simple thought. I have had a lot to say lately and no time to say it or I lose the thought all together. I started a couple posts and ended up trashing them since they were out-of-date. So, memes are where it's at for me this summer. I found this one over on Boogie Knits, she tagged all that read the post so...

Until fall:

1. Where was I 10 years go.
I was an Art Director for an advertising agency in downtown Denver, CO. Oh, I loved the job! So much creative stimulation!

2. 5 things on today’s to-do list
- Clean the house
- Make fruit pizza for 4th of July party
- Make veggie salad for 4th of July party
- Finish the mounds of laundry
- Finish up the rolags I made last night in order to ship to mom for hats she is making for the farm tour
- Clean out Paige's cloths bin and sort out cloths that doesn't fit and put in goodwill boxes and then use the bin to clean out the living room closet filled to the brim with toys
- Make supper
- Do alpaca chores
- Go to bed at midnight?

Oops, that's more than 5 things!

3.Snacks I enjoy
Popcorn; cottage cheese and mandarin oranges; carrots; peanut butter toast; nuts; fresh fruit

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire.
Travel; travel; travel

5. Places I have lived.
Minnesota; Nebraska; Colorado; Minnesota again

6. Jobs I have had.
Graphic artist; website designer; illustrator; Art Director; Marketing Assistant; Sales Assistant; Mother; business owner/co-owner; Alpaca Rancher

7. Who would I like to know more about.
All of you. If you read this consider yourself tagged or not. Just let me know in a comment if you decide to do it.

Wordless Wednesday - To My One and Only!

2008-06-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here and here.

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-06-20T08:01:00.000-05:00

1. A smile is universal.
2. Scrabble is my favorite board or card game.
3. I would love to have more relaxation in my life and less stress.
4. When I think of the Summer Solstice, I think of playing red light, green light as a kid in the yard until 10 pm and listening to the frogs in the creek and seeing the fireflies come out when the sun finally went down.
5. I just remembered I need to make a salad for tomorrow (see #7).
6. One of my favorite song lyrics goes like this:
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck with a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And grin,
And say,
Oh
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
Tïll tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to going to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater and seeing Married Alive, tomorrow my plans include going to a graduation party and then going to a birthday party for my brother, sister, and brother-in-law (yes we have three birthdays right in a row) and Sunday, I want to visit with my mom and dad before they go back home!

Wordless Wednesday...fresh out of the oven!

2008-06-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

More Wordless here and here.

Friday Fill-ins

2008-06-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

1. Getting a drum carder is high up on my bucket list.
2. My favorite quote is Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight; it's from Proverbs 3:5-6.
3. Denise@knitchat.com inspired me to start blogging.
4. Strawberries are best fresh from the garden.
5. I was spinning in the last dream I remember having.
6. The most enjoyable time to go for a walk is in the evening after it cools down and the sun is setting.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to keeping an eye on our new addition to our alpaca herd

Awwwe, isn't he cute???

tomorrow my plans include spinning more of our freshly shorn alpaca and Sunday, I want to celebrate Father's Day!

More Friday Fill-ins here.

Spinning like mad

2008-06-09T19:20:00.000-05:00

Basket of goodies.

I hate to say this, but I have one of those obsessive compulsive personalities. I usually get completely and totally obsessed with something, can't get enough of it, and eventually crash and burn out on it, sometimes I completely abandoned it and never look back (rubberstamping anyone?). Sometimes something else waves itself in front of my face and tempts me away from my current fascination. Well, something waved itself in front of my face and I hate to say it, but I can't seem to stop playing around with my new found toy. I am now spinning with my drop spindle like a mad woman!

First off, I have been completely obsessed with figuring out how to use my drop spindle. There was just something about it that fascinated me to no end. I love the idea of being able to bring my spinning with me whereever I want to go (can't do that with a wheel). Thanks to Nancy, I finally know how!

Second, I needed to know how to wash my alpaca fleece. I was terrified of ruining the best stuff (I ruined some the first attempt I made at washing a batch). Thanks to Teresa, I now know how! I filmed her prepping a fleece and washing it. I will be making that into a DVD soon (I just need to get through some of my fleece first since I have lots of it now).

I needed to know how to use my hand carders to make rollags, and thanks to good old Ravelry.com and youtube.com I soon had a basket of goodies ready to spin!

Using the easy to follow directions in my copy of Spin It, I even made my stepdaughters drop spindles using old cds, rubber grommets, a dowels and an eye hooks. They each picked out a photo to make it their own.

We all sat around spinning most of the day. We almost forgot to eat! My youngest reminded us in a hurry that it was well past meal time!

I've even managed to go from super duper bulky to worsted weight in less than a week! I am aiming for DK or sport weight so I can make a pair of alpaca socks!

Until next time!

Friday Fill In Meme

2008-06-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

1. Idle hands are not mine, I have them doing something all the time.
2. I love to hang my hanks of handspun up in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when I can do my arts and crafts.
4. The last tea I drank was yesterday, I had spiced chai.
5. I like to go boating in the Summer.
6. My mother always said I can do whatever I put my mind to.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to spinning, tomorrow my plans include spinning some more and Sunday, I want to spin some more(can you tell I am completely addicted?)!

More Friday Fill-Ins here.

Wordless Wednesday - Shearing day was a success, fleece now for sale!

2008-06-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here and here.

Friday Fill In

2008-05-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

1. For me logic and critism is are the opposite of creativity because when we are criticized, the left side of our brain takes over. The left side of our brain has to do with logic. We create with the right side of our brain. If someone is overly critical of themself, they will hinder their own creativity.
2. "Call of the Wild" was the last excellent book I read to my son.
3. I like fill-ins because it is very fun and interesting to see how many different answers people come up with and it is fun to blog hop and meet new people.
4. In nature I like looking at water.
5. I plead the 5th on who I think should win the US elections.
6. The last time I laughed with all my belly was last weekend at my two year old, little ones are so funny!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being alone with my husband (date night), tomorrow my plans include getting up bright and early and heading down to southern MN to go to an All About Alpaca Fleece Seminar and Sunday, I want to work on my alpaca rug I am hooking with hand carded alpaca fleece and loom knitting some more on my latest design!

More Friday Fill-Ins here.

Wordless Wednesday - The progress on our cabin.

2008-05-28T08:28:00.001-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday here and here.

100 Things About Me

2008-05-27T10:45:00.001-05:00

1. I've been to 10 of the 50 states in the US.

2. I have six kids that live with us full time. I also have 1 stepdaughter that has never lived with us and she has a son so that makes me a step-grandmother.

3. I am 38 (and will be 39 this year).

4. I am obsessed with learning how to use my drop spindle (I understand how to use my spinning wheel but the drop spindle is aluding me).

5. I LOVE cats!

6. I live on a 40 acre ranch.

7. I have never seen the ocean.

8. I changed my major from English Lit, to Journalism, to Fine Arts, to Graphic Arts and went to two schools before I graduated.

9. I was student of the year when I was in 8th grade.

10. I love photography and even won an award for a picture I took way back in highschool.

11. I broke my left hip when I was a kid and had two surgeries on it. First I had a pin put in and then the pin was removed the following year. I now suffer from terrible arthritis in this hip.

12. I like dogs, and used to own a dog that now lives with my mother and father in law up north (he was a problem to our neighbors). Then we got another dog but she had problems with her front legs and had to be put to sleep. Before she died, she had puppies, two survived. We had trouble with them and the neighbors so we had to get rid of them too. We no longer can have dogs.

13. I have tried just about every craft known to woman.

14. My favorite colors are purple and green.

15. I used to work in downtown Denver at an advertising agency.

16. I grew up on a farm.

17. I would love to learn how to mix essential oils to make my own perfume.

18. I was married to my husband in Las Vegas, NV.

19. I love books and reading, but have not read a novel (geared towards an adult) since before my first child was born. I miss reading. I've read many books to my kids. I do read lots and lots of how-to books or reference books and magazines.

20. I have a love-hate relationship with cooking. Sometimes I really enjoy it and other days I can't stand to do it. It depends, I think on what I am doing before I need to prepare a meal. If I am doing something I don't want to put down, I dread making a meal.

21. I hate winter (which sucks for me since I live in Minnesota and winter doesn't seem to want to let go this year, it was only 39 degrees this morning).

22. I wish I knew how to play piano.

23. I think all problems can be solved with prayer.

24. When I have a clean house, I get obsessive compulsive about keeping it clean (this is difficult and stressful when there are six kids in the house).

25. I taught myself how to do website design and taught myself how to hardcode a page, I even taught myself some CSS.

26. I HATE having dirty dishes in the sink.

27. I don't mind getting dirty, even out in the barn.

28. I am frugal. I am a saver. My husband is a spender. We clash on this.

29. I rarely watch T.V.

30. When I do watch T.V. I watch shows related to realestate and/or interior decorating or remodeling. I never watch any of the mainstream shows most people watch such as "Lost" or "American Idol".

31. A clean floor is VERY important to me.

32. I hate folding socks (probably because I have 16 feet in my house and folding socks for 16 feets takes several hours a week).

33. I like to make things, in fact, I am obsessed with making things.

34. I like to entertain.

35. I used to work for a magazine.

36. I am currently teaching myself how to do punch needle rugs. I want to make one for our cabin we are building (slooooooooowly) up north. Plus, I want to learn how so I can make some with our alpaca yarn to sell at our Farm Tour that is coming up this fall.

37. I used to be obssessed with rubber stamping, but haven't done it in several years. I had an impressive stamp collection.

38. I used to make my own soap.

39. I have dabbled in house planning. I designed my own kitchen in the house we have now and did a lot of the floor planning in our cabin.

40. A food I could not live without is the potato.

41. I used to be terrified of driving. Now I love it.

42. I can not live without my hair dryer or curling iron.

43. I am a night owl. My husband is an early bird. We clash on this.

44. I read the Holy Bible.

45. I had all four of my wisdom teeth by the time I was 16. They were impacted and had to be removed. They made me very sick.

46. I dislike wearing dresses.

47. Pantyhose and me do not mix.

48. I've moved 10 times in my life.

49. I am grumpy in the morning and do not wake up until I've had my coffee. Don't get between me and my coffee if you know what is good for you.

50. I am allergic to milk.

51. I hate being late. My husband is always late. We clash on this.

52. I avoid confrontation.

53. I am a summer girl.

54. One of the best years of my life was when I was 30.

55. I would rather give than receive.

56. I am a perfectionist.

57. I like learning new things.

58. I love being up really late at night when everyone else is asleep.

59. I love to sing.

60. I would like to visit the Holy Land, Greece and Hawaii before I die.

61. I have poor math skills.

62. I didn't learn how to read a ruler until I was in college! Isn't that just terrible? Now I need to know how because I am a graphic designer. Good thing I mastered it.

63. I can eyeball something onto a piece of paper right smack dab in the middle and make it perfectly straight too!

64. I did not learn how to drive (really) until I was 22.

65. I am maticulous.

66. When I was in Kindergaten, I spoiled for everyone that there wasn't an Easter Bunny. We went for a walk and came back to our classroom, there was a big Easter basket in the middle of the table. The teacher made a big production out of it being the Easter Bunny, I piped up and said that it wasn't the Easter Bunny because there wasn't any such thing and it was just the janitor!

67. I could draw a perfect circle when I was in Kindergarten.

68. When I was in Kindergarten I also spoiled it for the others when the teacher used to blow up a letter (like a beach ball only shaped like letters). She would bring them out into the classroom and tell us they came from outer space (what the heck?) so I piped up and said that they were all in a box in the back room all uninflated. I don't think my teacher liked me much.

69. I went to a private school until I was in 9th grade.

70. I had very blonde hair was I was little. Almost white, it was so blonde.

71. I played the Good Witch in a production of The Wizard of Oz when I was in school.

72. I also played an old lady in another play in school.

73. I sang my first solo in church during a Christmas Pagent.

74. I write poetry.

75. I've had a couple of my poems published.

76. I wanted a dolphin when I was little.

77. I also thought it would be neat to have a monkey.

78. I would love to own a horse.

79. I hate my hips.

80. I hate my stomach, it used to be so flat but after having three c-sections, it is shot to hell.

81. My children are my greatest accomplishment.

82. I wish I lived closer to my parents.

83. I would like to learn how to weave next.

84. I love the smell of burning wood. It reminds me of my mother. We had a woodburning stove in our house when I was little to heat it. My mother was the one to stoke the stove and this smell reminds me of her because of it.

85. I think the tiger is the most beautiful creature.

86. I have never had a tatoo.

87. I would like to see more plays.

88. Fresh cut hay smells wonderful to me.

89. The most beautiful scenery I've ever seen is when I used to work in Boulder, CO. I was driving to work one day on a perfect fall day. The night before it had snowed in the mountains and the Flat Irons were capped with snow. The sky was clear and sunny. I looked over into this lush green field toward the mountains, the aspens were peaking and glistening in the bright sunshine, the mountains were snow capped, and the field was filled with wild elk. Breathtaking!

90. I once came face-to-face with a Moose only a few hundred feet away from me.

91. I also came face-to-face with a giant rattle snake.

92 I love vegetables.

93. I hate white bread.

94. I will only eat whole grain breads.

95. I use whole wheat flour and not all-purpose.

96. I cook with olive oil.

97. I clean my house with chemical free cleaners.

98. I recycle.

99. I believe in creation.

100. I do not tan, I burn instead.

Kids say the darndest things!

2008-05-25T09:22:00.000-05:00

In the wee hours of the morning, my two year old started crying for mommy. I groggily got up out of bed and went into her room. She refused to lay back down in her bed so I hoisted her up out of her crib and layed her down next to me in our bed. She yawned and stretched and closed her eyes for a few minutes. Then she started to whimper again. I sleepily asked her what was wrong and she said, "MY weg hurts." I said, "Your leg hurts? Why?" My two year old said matter of factly, "It hurts because it is broken."

LOL!