visit

Well, I'll start out by saying that I (Muriel/BFFofWendy/lil sis) am substituting today for Stacy since she's been a little down with her RA and migraines.

Up until now, though, we've had a wonderful time this week while I've been here on vacation.  We've not only been knitting, talking, plurking, laughing, making fun of each other and chasing the kids around the house, but we've also been coming up with new colorways!  Yes!!!

As you all know from past blogs, I've recently broke down and started knitting (thanks to Wendy aka Wendyknits).  This has given me a new passion for yarn naturally and a great new passion for dyeing yarn.  Our family has been SO very proud of Stacy and her love and talent for knitting but none of us, up to this point, have really understood that passion.  Well now I can officially say....I understand!!

Ok, so the adventure this week began with me badgering Stacy into letting me be creative and work on some ideas I've had over the past few months.  My first thought was a colorway that would explain our relationship as sisters and friends.  Now understand that all ideas somehow mutate over time, this one was no exception.  We have a very "hot and cold" relationship like most siblings so I thought it might be cool if we mix both our favorite colors into one skein of yarn and have them "Duke it Out".  Well my favorite color is orange and of course hers is red so there we went with black and white "specks" in the middle.  Well if you're from Oklahoma, you know that the most famous rivalry in our state is between Oklahoma State University (OSU) whose colors happen to be orange and black and Oklahoma University (OU) whose colors happen to be crimson and cream.  So now we have the colorway born, "A House Divided".  Well darn!  There went my sisters idea but we still had a lot of fun fighting it out in the dyeing process regardless.  I'll be delivering some of this very unique color to Keely at SWAK in Guthrie on Saturday.  So if you like it, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to hook you up.

The dyeing highlight of my week was when we decided to come up with something for Wendy.  She's been such a wonderful friend to me since she and I met at the knit out that SWAK put on in Guthrie so Stacy thought it would be something very special that I could put some time and energy into while I was here.  She was absolutely right!  Since I already had knowledge of Wendy's favorite color and season, I went to work.  Now remember what my favorite color is?  That's right!  Orange and green are the 2 main colors used and in a unconventional pattern I might say.  Stacy thought it would be especially pretty to add a hint of brown, which it is.  So even though it is a lengthy dye process, it turned out wonderful!  I know this because as soon as Wendy received her skein, I received an email entitled WOW!  Now that's an amazing compliment since she sees and knits with so many beautiful colors.  I was especially blown away when she posted an entire section on it in her blog!  How lucky am I to have such a great friend and smart ass companion.  I can't wait to see what her brilliant mind ends up magically weaving with it.

Oh yeah, would you like to know the story behing the name?  I guess I should first tell you the name (if you don't already know).  I decided to name it "Circle of Friends".  The reason I decided on this name is because I have found such a wonderful circle of talented and funny knitters to call my friends thanks to Wendy and my big sis.  One group, for example, is the SWAK circle of knitters who have encouraged my new obsession and haven't laughed at me too much when I've screwed up my projects.  They're great!!  Of course all my new Plurk friends have been wonderful as well. 

Now just in case you're wondering, I did dye a few more skeins of "Circle of Friends" today to meet the demand we've already had.  I also made sure Stacy watched my unorthodox ways so she can dye some up for anyone else who wants some. Now for some odd reason, Stacy thinks I should let you know that I've kept a few skeins of yarn for myself to start my own stash, I have no idea why she would think that's important! LOL

I won't blog about the reasons and stories behind the other colors we cooked up this week because as you can see, I can really talk a lot if you let me.  Feel free to visit Etsy and spend some of your mad money though!!  I hope you like the colors as much as we liked dyeing them.

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

First things first, today is our 9th Anniversary.  There is just no way to put into words how wonderful, amazing, challenging and happy the last 9 yrs of our life together have been.  I have been blessed with one of the last Knights in Shining Armor.  I am looking forward to spending the rest of our years together.

I think I said something about a bunch of dyeing and spinning that occurred last week.  This is some Dark BFL that Keri and I dyed in the 'Kyrana's Rainbow' colorway.  She has spun hers as a 2 ply and I spun mine and Navajo plyed.  It is amazing how each yarn turned out.  I could kick myself for not taking a picture of Keri's yarn before she left. 

We also decided that we are going to do a little Spin-a-long/KAL, now that we both have our yarn spun we have decided to knit the Morning Surf Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer of Heartstrings.  I would love to include anyone who is interested, let us know if you want to join in and we might just start a pic and chat forum on Ravelry, it doesn't have to be handspun.  I do think that this scarf is wonderful for stash busting and Christmas gifts. I have knit this pattern before and loved it, can't wait to see how it looks in the handspun.

This is the way mine turned out I really am happy with how it looks.  The color is very intense and I am totally in love with Navajo plying.

I have tried it before with very poor results but this time I just got it, and it went beautifully.   

See....I really did put Keri to work.  She was an incredible help and I have to give her credit for the latest Loopy Ewe order get done so quickly.   Thank you!!!!!!

Ok last but not least Bella and Rosie had their first trip to the groomer...OMG I about had a heart attack when I wrote the check, I am used to just one.  I don't know why I didn't think about doubling all the cost.  Duh!!! 

Before                                                                                 After     Sorry for the lousy pics, you have no idea how difficult it is to get decent pictures of these girls.