Parting is such sweet sorrow.

I'm going to go ahead and make this my last post, at least for a while. (I don't know how long)
We've got lots of packing to do here at PBnJ's House. Preparing to move, getting rid of lots and lots of stuff. Probably almost everything but bare bones....

Thanks ya'll for reading. It's been fun. You ladies that have commented are so sweet. I'll miss you.

((((Hugs))))

I'm baaaaack!

Tee Hee. I crocheted a small bag out of the pink and gold homespun yarn. I may felt it some time. I like how it turned out. (My hope in my homespinning is restored!)

I also started a washcloth out of dishcloth cotton. A white and a varigated. I like how it's turning out - I think I always do, because it's different every time. The yarn does fun things when you work with it. I love how the colors of the varigated yarn changes throughout.

Well, that's all for now. Have a great day!

A visit to the Frog Pond.

I am just finishing ripping out my green LB Woolese sock. Why? You may ask. Well, it was a wee bit tight in the instep. I tried it on again last night and just didn't like the way it felt. (Like cutting off the circulation slightly! Ugh!) I don't feel comfortable dumping my sock rejects on someone else at this point. (i.e. someone with slightly smaller feet) LOL.
I have a theory that this pair of socks was holding up all my other knitting inspiration. I think subconsciously I felt I needed to finish this pair before starting another, yet I didn't want to finish something only to have it not fit. Solution - rip it out. Yay! Now maybe I am free to start something else without any subconscious guilt.
I think I would like to try a toe-up sock, perhaps using 2 circs. Looks like an interesting method. I saw a few links on Cara's blog (January One in the sidebar) in one of her entries this past week for Turkish cast on. Looks like a winner.

Since I wrote last I completed a dishcloth-like object, (to use up the last of the Cottontots yarn) only I added a knitted strap type thing at the top and added a button - so you can hang it up - like on the fridge door or a cabinet door or something. I like how it looks flat, but I'm not so sure it will hang nicely. LOL.
The hat I started for Grandpa. Ugh. Pbbbbbbt! I even added a different color stripe in the middle and still ran out of the gray (main color) yarn. Plus it is a bit snug. Maybe I'll finish it off or maybe I'll rip it out - but I don't think it'll be for Grandpa. Oh well, I wasn't liking that scratchy acrylic. Yuck. Ya know, it takes the same amount of time to make something crappy out of crappy yarn as it does to make something nice out of nice yarn. So I'll be remembering that in the future.
I plied my pink singles, and then plied them with some gold thread for effect. Well, somehow I got started plying the gold in the wrong direction. (which un-plies the other yarn... Ugh)
It just feels that everything I've tried to knit or make the past few days just comes out yucky. Like the stars aren't aligned for me or something, LOL.
Oh well. I'm sure knitting will perk up in the future. Just gotta go with the flow, right?

And just a heads up for those who (actually) like to read my blog... there is a possibility that the House of PBnJ may not keep our internet connection when the next cycle comes up - prob. sometime during the 1st 2 weeks of next month. So, if I mysteriously disappear - I'm probably fine- just not online anymore. So on that note - I just want to say that I've enjoyed meeting all of you knit bloggerly people, especially everyone who's read and commented on my blog. Thank you all so much. I wish I could just hug ya'll. I feel that you've enriched my life somehow.
And to everyone who has held contests - Thanks so much! I'm very thankful for all the nice things people have sent me over the past few months. I would never have been able to have these things otherwise at this time in my life. So Bless You for your generosity and kindness.

Well, that's all for now. I will try to keep ya'll posted if I know for sure we'll be offline. I would like to say goodbye, ya know.

Well, hope everyone has a great day, and hopefully your projects are going better than mine are lately! LOL!

Here's a picture of my spindle. I made it myself last spring. Yay! It is made from a hard wood dowel rod and a craft store car wheel with a cup hook on top. I think it works pretty well, for being homemade, but I've never tried a "real" spindle yet.
And there is some of the fleece I washed this spring, and dyed with easter egg dyes. Right now I have pink on the spindle, this picture was taken a few months ago. Oh, and the quilt in the background, I made in in 1995. I'd love to make some more quilts someday, when I have more time, space, energy, etc.! oh, and when I can get to my buried sewing machine LOL!

More fibery goodness! Yay!

Today a package arrived all the way from Canada, from Dorothy! It contained 2 skeins of beautiful handdyed yarn and some handmade DPNs and cable needles! (Yes, Dorothy made the needles herself! Amazing!) Thanks, Dorothy! Everything is wonderful!

Well, you're just gonna have to take my word for it....



I tried and tried to post some pictures of fibery goodness that arrived at my house this week, but alas, Blogger would not cooperate. :(

From Mandy, I received a gorgeous skein of Lana Grossa cotton sock yarn color 2213 and 2 sets of handmade stitch markers, very lovely.

From Allison, I received a "Knit Tea Party" which consisted of 2 different tins of tea, one is "white tropics" and the other "mango melange". Also 2 Knit Picks Palatte balls - one in the color "Pool", which is a nice cool blue, and the other is "Mint", which is green, of course. I felt like taking the Nestea Plunge when I received that, LOL! Very nice!

And from Stacey, I received a skein of Malabrigo in Red Java, a skein of Knit Picks Sock Garden in Pansy, some Aran Weight silk in a deep purple color, (wow, I've never worked with silk before), a bag of fiber for spinning, a handmade soap, a handmade bag- works great for socks or other small projects, a Mary Kay zippered bag - inside were 2 balls of Debbie Bliss merino aran, a smaller Mary Kay bag with some creams and such inside, a Mohave California postcard - and I think that's every thing! (whew!)

Am I spoiled, er I mean, Blessed, or What?! Thanks everyone!

Also, thanks for all your sympathies on my burning eyeball situation. I was able to wear my contacts the next day, without problem, thank God! :) So everythings fine in that department!
Oh, and I finished another dishrag, and a hat. I made the hat out of Paton's Divine - it's a Mohair blend type yarn- bulky weight, and fuzzy. The hat came out nice and cushy. It matches the shawl I made a while back. I also cast on for another hat - in gray acrylic. It's to match a basketweave scarf (of the same yarn) I finished a while back. These are for Christmas presents for my grandparents who live in the Northeast. Yay!

Well, that's all for now, hope ya'll are having a great week so far!

I'm Still Here!

I plan on posting some fibery goodness when I get more time. I got a couple of very nice packages recently, so I will write about them. Today when I was going to write this blog entry, I couldn't remember my password! Ugh! I was "locked out" of my blog, like, ya know, locking your keys in your car, or something! Well, obviously I figured it out, or you wouldn't be reading this!
On another note...
Note to self -if you are dealing with fibery goodness of the homegrown Anaheim Chili pepper variety....please wear gloves! These peppers aren't that hot, but I didn't wear gloves when I was removing the seeds. Well, that wouldn't be that big of a deal, but I wear contact lenses. You need to use your fingers to take said lenses in and out of your eyes. Contacts do not feel good in one's eyes when they have come in contact with fingers that have come in contact with lovely Anaheim or any other kind of chili peppers ( similar incident about 11 years ago with a much hotter variety!) Even after many many handwashings and an entire day, the chili oil must still be on my fingers. Ugh! So here I type squinting (no contacts) So that explains any typos!
Oh well, I know you didn't come here to hear about my eyeballs. Tee Hee.
I've finished 2 more washcloths, and am half way through with one more, which will probably be the last one out of the Bernat Cottontots yarn.
I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do in the sock arena. I have lost almost all interest in finishing my green LB Woolese socks. If the 2nd one fits, I'll want to frog the 1st one to make it fit just right. But then I reason, why waste my time on that pair when I have better and nicer socks to make!? Out of much nicer yarn that people have given me! Decisions, decisions! I think I have which yarn I want my next pair to be out of, and possibly a pattern....

Well, gotta run for now! Make sure to get enough fiber! Just keep it out of your eyes, okay? :P

We went for a drive the other day and just happened to see these cuties....and lots and lots of their friends. :) (They're llamas, in case you can't tell in the picture)

Long time no blog!

Not much knitting has been done either. I did manage to finish 2 (yes, only 2) warshrags since I wrote last.
I received a wonderful package from Australia from Clare. http://benbahblacksheep.blogspot.com/ Two skeins of slubby handspun merino. It was so heavenly soft as I took it out of the package. I asked her if she'd raised the sheep herself, as I assumed there was a background story to the wool. She replied, "There is a story to the wool. My father had a 'bush block' which was mainly bush adjoining a national park. This sheep missed mustering for several years and so didn't get shorn. When she did show up her fleece was 8" long. As it was too long for the regular wool sales channels he gave it to me. I had it processed and got back 7kilos of georgous fine white wool. This was about 8 years ago and I am still spinning it up. I only have about 2kilos left now. I am being very careful with the projects designated for this wool as I will not be able to replace it. "

Isn't that way too cool?!

I also receive a package from Karla http://karlacardell.blogspot.com/- a white cake of yarn - very soft, kind of fuzzy, and cloudlike - 90 percent acrylic, 10 percent wool. I'll have to think of something cozy to make with it!
Oh, and I won on Allison's blog contest! Yippee! I get the knit-tea party in a box....sounds like a lot of fun! Yay!

GOALS?

Please check out Allison's blog http://kniterrant.blogspot.com/ . She's running a contest! Yay! To quote her blog - "To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me about a goal you've worked hard for and accomplished, something that you're currently working on, or something you haven't started yet but are planning to do soon."

So please drop by and leave a comment, and congratulate her on meeting her goals too! :D

I'm trying!

To post a picture! (we'll see if it worked!) (looks like it did! yay!) I want to put a picture of my winning entry on Mandy's blog. http://knitster1.wordpress.com/ She wanted entries of creative things done with yarn or completed projects, etc. Well, the first thing that popped into my mind was to dress up the yarn with eyes, ears, and stuff, like Mr. Potato Head, LOL. Well, I won! :D That was a fun competition.
And since I wrote last, the prize from Bunchkin came (see July 17 entry). The yarn is more beautiful "in person" than it was in the picture on her blog. It's a pretty red German sockyarn. (I don't have my camera with me right now to take its pic....)
I also think I might have been bitten by something. A bug. A knitting related bug. A Warshrag bug!! LOL! I started one yesterday just for an easy knit. I'm enjoying how it is turning out. I'm working with the same Bernat Cottontots yarn as I did the baby bibs. This yarn is really soft. Lilac as the main color, and varigated as the second color. I can envision myself making lotsa these for Christmas gifts, perhaps. :D
Well, I was going to try to post another picture, but I guess that'll hafta wait for another time. It's taking to looooooong! :D

May you have sweet fibery dreams tonite! :D

Surprise Surprise Surprise (in my best Gomer Pyle voice :) )

Today I receive a package from Aija at http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/ for winning her contest. It's a luscious skein of Socks that Rock. It's soooo pretty. I can hardly wait to knit some pretty socks with it. I'm trying to get some great sock patterns lined up to try out my "real" sock yarns with. I like the pattern I've been using, but I want to try some more. I don't think I want to knit any lace socks yet - I live in a place that has somewhat cold winters, so I want WARM socks. :)

In other news, I won Stacey's contest too! :) So some yummy goodness is headed my way. :) And she good relatively good news on her medical tests, so I'm relieved for her. But please keep up the prayers and healthful thoughts for her, 'kay?

About posting pictures on my blog - well, I'm usually in a huge hurry when I DO post, and I have dial-up. And I don't have much patience to wait for a pic to upload to blogger. But I will try again sometime when I have time to kill. :) Sorry to anyone that would like to see pics. I'd love to post some if I had more time.

Well, gotta run. Everybody have a wonderful, blessed, sunshiney (but not too hot) day, filled with lotsa fiber, 'kay? :)

One finished bib

And one started sock

and one POLL - please vote! (and you don't hafta vote for me just 'cause you're my bloggy friends)http://staceyscornercafe.blogspot.com/

But I DO ask that you say a prayer and send your best healthful wishes Stacey's way!! Thanks!

Woo Hoo! Thanks Aija!

Just found out I won some yarn in Aija's contest! http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/ How exciting!! (All contests are exciting, aren't they? Especially if *you* win! )

Socks that rock medium weight in Marbles - ooh it's so pretty! I've never tried it before - should be a very nice experience! :D
I started a baby bib in a cute lilac color (Bernat Cottontots). I just need to do the straps and sew on a button!

That's all for now folks! Have a great night!

One finished sock!

I stayed up way too late again last night. I finished my sock. I like how firm it is, yet I'm not sure if it's a wee tiny bit too snug. Maybe come winter we'll see how it works out. I've also been spindling a bit. It's amazing how much faster I'm able to produce yarn now that I've learned to let the spindle dangle. It took me a long time to do the white singles with the "park and draft" method - where you twist the spindle, then hold it in your lap while you draft the yarn. Yet I'm pleased with the results of my spinning.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I won again - on Dorothy's blog contest - she had originally drawn someone else's name, but they never got back to her, so she drew another name - me! Here's her blog -http://ddrbroderick.blogspot.com/ . And if any of ya'll can help her out - she needs some generous knitters to help out some of her friends who have lost everything. Thanks people, for any help you can give!

A Fibery Fun Night

Last night I got out the drum carder to card some wool (that I scoured and dyed a few months ago).
Even the kiddos got in on the fun. Some of them would turn the handle, and another would feed the wool into the carder. They made it into a game - the person turning the handle was the "driver", and the person feeding in the wool was the "fuel". LOL.

I also got to sit up and read knit blogs to my heart's content. THEN, I made some dpns out of skewers. I'll try them out some time to see how they work.
After that, I winded off the singles I'd spun on my spindle onto something else so I can spin some more! I had been doing a white single. Now I am going to spin up a spindle full of pink (Bright Easter Egg dye - pink!) Yay!
I stayed up so late, that it became early. What a refreshing time! (Aside from no sleep. :P) I sometimes crave time like that- to be free to do whatever you want without interruptions or obligations. And really get something done for once, at ONE sitting.....

The Latest

I've finished the gusset decreases, and working my way toward the toe. I was working on this last night, and kind of getting bored with it. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I'm not really sure what I want to do next. I did work on some beaded jewelry last night. I made a necklace and bracelet set. The bead colors are deep red beads, cream, and kind of an amber color. I think they came out pretty nice. Although I might redo the bracelet, because I'd like to include some of the amberish beads in it.

I also found out yesterday that I won on Karla's blog contest: http://karlacardell.blogspot.com/ . Yipee! I'm going to receive some more yarn! Thanks Karla!

I also wanted to say a hearty thank you to all the generous people out there in the world. Like all the knit bloggers who hold contests. Like the little girl who smiled at me today while I was driving and she was taking a walk. Like all the other people who do little or big acts of kindness - thanks! Thanks for making someone's day. Thanks for making someone's load a little lighter, even if it's only by an ounce! You make a difference! You may not know that just a simple smile, or a gift of stitch markers, can really boost someone's spirits. Thanks people - you are an incredible blessing to me!

Rip it!


I just wasn't "feeling the love" for the burp cloth, so I frogged it. In sock news, things have been going much easier since I finished the heel flap. Let me just say this about this sock - I'm sooooo glad this wasn't my FIRST sock! I think I would never want to knit another sock ever again! OY! The Susan Bates needles are kinda hard to work with - I used Baleene needles for my first 2 pair. Plus the yarn has been splitting big time on this sock. Not to mention that I was knitting too tightly in the beginning. But I look at knitting this sock as a learning experience, so it's okay if it doesn't go exactly perfect. Live and Learn...

Oh, and the needle roll from Knitnana arrived and I LOVE IT! Yippee! It's even the color I was hoping for! Pink! with cute kitties all over, and a background fabric that reminds me of yarn.
(I'd post a picture, but at this time, I don't have the time or the patience to wait for pictures to load on Blogger, sorry)

Oh, and I won again - on Bunchkin's blog - http://bunchkinknits.blogspot.com/ . I posted "the Lamentations of the Father" for her contest. She wanted something funny - well, the Lamentations of the Father is THE funniest thing I have ever read in my life! LOL! I guess she thought it was pretty funny too - tee hee!

I'm trying to figure out what to start working on next. I'd really like to get a head start on Christmas gifts.... I'm just not sure what I want to do. I just need a little inspiration, which I'm sure will come soon.

Have a fibery night! :)

Thanks Knitnana!

I just found out that I was one of the winners of Knitnana's http://knitnana.blogspot.com/ birthday contest! She is sending me an Oressa Double Point Needle Case - yay! I needed one really bad too! I am so blessed! Knitnana, if you read this, Happy Birthday - and thanks for making my day! :)
In other news, Real Life has taken precedence over blogging or knitting - I've only worked a few rows on my sock - on the heel flap, and haven't worked at all on the burp cloth since I last posted.
Well, I guess that's all for now!

Happy Thursday!

Since I wrote last I have been working on my AB sock (Almost Bulletproof LOL) And making myself knit a bit looser. I also completed 2 bibs - in Bernat Cottontots yarn. One is a varigated yarn in pinks and white, and the other is all pink. I also started a burp cloth in the pink yarn. Easy, mindless, almost boring knitting.
Oh, please go check out Aija's blog http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/ . She's having a contest to win sock yarn! Plus she has one of my all time favorite blogs! She always posts such lovely pictures of yarny goodness, and beautiful projects she's been working on. Oh, and please don't forget to congratulate her - one of her patterns is in Knitty! ( a gorgeous sock pattern!)

Yarny goodness!

Yay! Today 2 boxes arrived. First it was the Trekking from The Drunken Monkey. Such beautiful soft gray yummy sock yarn! Later I discovered that the yarn from Lisa at Black Sheep had arrived. It is really nice. I'll have to think of something really great to make with it.
Melissa asked what sock pattern I'm using. I have a book called Knit Socks. It's shaped like a sock. I don't remember the author's name right now. There's a pattern that has a little cable pattern. I really like it. I made my last pair in that pattern. However, I think my needles are too small. I knit really tightly anyways. I'm afraid these socks will be "bulletproof" LOL!
So, I decided to start a baby bib, ala Mason Dixon. Chris and Chaos put me over the edge, lol. She's been making baby bibs and Chaos has been modeling them. Too cute! I just love that kitty.
Speaking of kitties, Knitter Bunny has the cutest pictures of bunnies and kitties on her blog. And she posts lots of yarny goodness too!
Well, gotta run for now!

Hello Friday!

I cast on for a sock last night. I am using Lion Brand Woolese. I'm still not ready to use my "fancy" sock yarn yet that I've won in contests. I feel I need more practice on the cheapo stuff to make sure I won't mess up too badly when I do decide to use my special yarn. :) You see, I come from the world of craft stores and acrylic yarn. LYSs are foreign to me. I've never been into one. Using wool is new to me. So to me "real" sock yarn is special and fancy - kinda like gold, lol. So I want to savor it and use it wisely.

On another note, Deb is holding a contest on her blog
http://fearlessfibers.blogspot.com/ . See if you can guess how many stitches are in her gorgeous shawl!
Have a great day!!!!

I'm still here!

Tuesday I worked on some beaded jewelry for a swap with Trek.
I also decided not to put cuffs on the legs of the soaker and just use it as is. The leg openings are a bit tight, so I'm considering tinking and making it a little bigger in that area.
Oh, and I've also been winning again!http://blacksheepknitting.blogspot.com/ Lisa held a random drawing from everyone answering her quiz, and I won! Yippee.
Well, gotta run!

Just a quick post

I won another contest today. It was on Liz's blog http://blog.yarngeek.com/ . I was completely surprised! This must be my week or something - hee hee! Thanks Liz - oh, what did I win? Yummy yarn, and Koigu to be exact! Yeah, I'm so excited - I've never even touched the stuff - now some is going to be mine, all mine! Bwa ha ha ha!

Oh, and I got to meet a Llama yesterday. The family and I went to a Freedom Festival. There was a petting zoo with lots of cute little animals including a brown llama. I went up to him (or her) and peered into it's deep brown eyes. Then its face drew closer to mine. I didn't know what it would do, but then it took a big "Snuff, snuff". Oh how cute that was! I wish I'd gotten a picture of it! :)

Hey, I won a contest today!

I had entered a contest on Brooke's blog. http://drunkenmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/ and I won! I totally didn't expect to win. Yay me! LOL.

I finished the i-cord on the soaker, but still need to finish the legholes. Nothing else new here.....
Have a great evening!

Current Project

I'm working on a pair of soaker shorts for my littlest peanut. I've been using All In One cloth dipes, so acrylic yarn works fine for my use. (I've been using the heck out of the first one I made a few months ago. Need some more!) (Someday I may make some out of wool. But I need to use my squeaky stash! LOL!) I have the main part of the shorts finished. I just need the i-cord for the waist and to finish the leg holes. It's very plain jane, and beige vintage acrylic too. LOL! But I don't care, it's just for practical use.

I learned to knit from my paternal Grandmother. I was probably around 10 to 12 years old. She gave me a little craft kit with plastic needles and such for a birthday gift. Later on I learned to crochet from my other Grandmother and her sister. Just a simple double crochet and a granny square. I was probably about 13. I made an afghan out of acrylic yarn in browns, beiges, tans, white, and the like. Just one huge granny square. I still have it, and in winter it graces our bed. It brings back lots of fond memories.

As time has progressed, I've always considered myself a knitter and crocheter, but never really grew in my skills. Last spring I had what seemed like an epiphany - there was so much more out there to learn! I became intensely interested in wool and spinning and so many other things I'd never held an interest in before. This past month I learned to knit socks. I had always scoffed at the idea in times past, but now I'm totally hooked on it! It's so much fun. I also knit a shawl (simple garter stitch in Patons Divine yarn) for a friend's upcoming birthday. Recently I also washed my first fleece. Then dyed some of it with Easter Egg dye, carded it, and am in the process of spindle-spinning it.
I've also begun making beaded stitch markers and hemp jewelry, and knitting on Knifty Knitter looms. And I really want to try some polymer clay projects. Making things is so fun and addicting!

Oh my. Happy Blogday to me. LOL. I've never done this before. Should be interesting.