contest

I have once again been very tardy in my blogging.  It has been a long time, and believe it or not I really have been crazy busy.  I thought about blogging, I even had blogs in my head but nothing actually materialized on the computer. You know, what I need is a computer to read my very chaotic thoughts, organize them and then put them where they belong.  That would really make my life easier.

See to your left, there is a beautiful new colorway, really I love it!  Deep dark blues and purples, it is so pretty. However I have no idea what to name it, so if you have a suggestion leave me a comment with a wonderful name and if I really like it you will win a skein.

Ok, now on to all the other wonderful things happening at Tempted.  There are lots of new fun colors and most of them will make thier debut at the SWAK Knit Out '09.  Hope I see you all there!!  Just 2 weeks!!!  Lots more to get dyed before then.

I want to let you know what a wonderful time I had at the Loopy Ewe's Spring Fling.  Kaye and I left first thing Thursday morning. I have to admit we waited until the last possible minute hoping that Del would get in.  We drove all the way up to St. James, MO., where we stopped and had an incredible lunch with Keri of 3AM Enchantments and Tammy of the Knit Together podcast.  There is a wonderful little winery with a fantastic little bistro, called Meramec winery where we had a wonderful lunch and then headed down the road to St. Louis and the Spring Fling.  When we arrived we were greeted by some incredible women, I gotta tell ya, there are a lot of amazing knitters in our little world. 

Check out this little beauty by Kate, isn't it wonderful.  

I believe it is made out of Poison #5 by Wollmeise but I may be wrong.  

It was so great to see all beautiful hand knits.  Seriously, I wish I had pics of all the beautiful knitting I got to see.  

There were socks and shawls all over the place and such beautiful work.  I had several flingers show me what they had knitted with Tempted and wow, they really make it look amazing.

It was truly a wonderful weekend and on top of everything, I learned  a little something about myself too, I love a cosmo.

Last year, my most favorite memory was sitting on the floor at The Loopy Ewe with Cookie and Claudia (Woolmeise) while picking thru a bunch of cashmere.  This year it was sitting at the Ice Kitchen with martini's again with Claudia, Allen of Numma Numma and several wonderful knitters.  It was really amazing sitting and comparing stories and we had an incredible time, of course.  I also got to spend a little bit of time with Wendy.  I am a very lucky knitter, huh?  I did get Wendy's newest knitting book in the mail a couple of weeks ago and, of course, I had to have Wendy sign it.  I love her new book. Tons a wonderful toe up socks.  I wish I had gotten a picture of Wendy and me but alas I have no pics with Wendy, YET, although I will get another opportunity in a couple of weeks.

I will attempt to post more about the Fling soon.

Don't forget to let me know your ideas for names for the nameless yarn above.

I really thought this would be real easy, I would get entries see something that I like and that would be that.  Not near that easy, you guys are really good!!!  I have had a terrible time trying to pick from all the wonderful entries.  After at least 3 hours of thinking and studying I have picked the North Star Scarf and Tam entered by Tammy.  I will be in touch!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered you all had some wonderful ideas, it was a very difficult choice. 

Ok now to share a little about my weekend that just ended yesterday.  I got a surprise call from my baby sister and she and her daughter wanted to come see us.  Wooooo Hoooo!!!!  I don't get to see her very often and since she had her daughter it has become even more painful to be so far away and so busy.

I made my niece a No-Tie baby hat.  I love this pattern, I bought it at Sealed with a Kiss in Guthrie OK.  She had to have tubes in her ears last year and so this will be a well used gift.  In fact I am almost finished with a second one.  Isn't she precious!!!  My sis has definitely trained her for her modeling career, if she sees a camera she automatically says "Cheeeeeese".

Earlier this year I joined in on the Mystic Light KAL.  I love my shawl but this weekend it became something spectacular.... Butterfly wings.

My shawl flew all around the house for 2 days.

It is wonderful to see something that I spent so much time working on, loved and enjoyed so much.

Oh and last but not least she helped me do a little cooking.  I tell you what nothing like cooking with a toddler.  She could do anything, just ask her.  LOL

We made quite a mess but we also made a lot of great memories.  She was such a joy to have here and I even liked my sister visiting too.  LOL

I would love to find out how many of you are wanting to be or are spinners?  What kind of fibers do you want to or have you spun?  

This is the Angora Bunny that I have been working on.  It is so incredibly soft and you can just imagine what a luxury it is.  I bought 6oz of Vesuvius (think that was his name) at Yarn School '07, and am so happy that I got so much.  I spun 824 yds of a light fingering wt yarn, 23wpi.  Now I have to figure out what I want to make with it.  It is a 100% Angora yarn, no memory, and no spring just a smooth, soft and drapey yarn.

I have been thinking a lot about spinning lately, guess it is because Fall is here.  Maybe it's just me, everything seems to come in waves to me, for a while I want to knit knit knit then I want to spin spin spin.  I have a lot to learn about spinning, making more consistent yarns and feeling confident about various yarn wts.  I typically spin sock yarn and I sure do love my hand spun socks but want to make another sweater one of these days and feel more confident about insuring that it will be spun the same at the beginning as it is at the end.  I am in no way an expert spinner, if any of you have suggestions feel free to share.  If you love looking at beautiful hand spun yarns please go check out The Knitting Triathlete or the Tempted Ravelry group.  I love the yarn she spun from the Fiesta roving I dyed (her colorway) a long time ago, seems like it anyway.

Just thought I would share this pic of my spinning buddies, well really one of the only times that they are still.  They did have to learn the hard way about not getting caught under the treadles. 

 Do you have any ideas regarding what I should knit with the bunny yarn?  I think this may call for a contest!!!  

The winner will recieve a top whirl Louet drop spindle and 4 oz of your choice (BFL, Finn, Corriedale, or Superwash Merino) dyed in your choice of colors.  Pretty good prize I think, especially if you want to try your hand at spinning.  Enter as many patterns as you want, should be entered here in the comments and on the Tempted Ravelry forums I will start the thread in a minute. 

The pattern should be able to use no more then 800 yds of a lace to fingering wt yarn.

I will pick the winner based solely on my personal taste and love of the pattern.  Since I will actually have to knit the pattern and I guarantee it will be worn by me this should be a pretty unbiased contest.  You just never know what I might want to make.  (HINT)  It won't be socks, don't think the angora would stand up to the wear and tear.

Oh I have also updated the etsy store, new yarns and fibers.