Thursday, October 27, 2011

New for November

In November, I will be listing everything that I have in stock for the shop.  I am having a 50% off sale.  All the yarn must go.  What I have in the shop currently is small compared to what is in my plastic bin. 

Right now I am having a 25% off sale.  It ends at the end of October. 

As for knitting...I am working on a pair of size 14 men's socks for my nephew, Joe.  He has never had hand knit socks before and his mom is a knitter.  So, for his birthday, I decided to go ahead and knit him a pair.  He is so excited. 

I am using Elann's Sock it to Me Soft Focus in color 63 which is a tan, charcoal grey and black medley of colors.  I am knitting the socks on two Addi turbos size 24 inch cord US 2 needles.  I am on the first sock and I have about 4 inches of foot done so far, these are being knit from the toe to the cuff.  They move much quicker than cuff to toe. 

I am cleaning my home as well.  Just the amount of junk I have acquired the 9 years we have been living here is amazing.  It must go, I don't want to take it with me when we finally do decide to move out of this home. 

Now to prepare dinner and to continue working on the sock. 

Friday, October 21, 2011

Friday is a State of Mind

I love Friday...it is my favorite day of the week.  I was born on a Friday.  I guess that is why it is my happiest day.  I love the weekends.  It is sharing time with my family and my hubby.  I love my hubby. 

I am currently working on a pair of socks for myself.  I have a line up going and the sock yarns for it.  I went and bought commercial sock yarns because the yarn I chose is hard wearing yarns and if you have carpet, you will understand.  It is for the most part machine washable which is another plus. 

My line up is two deep right now and I have even purchased sock looms for my most demanding of relatives, I no longer have time to knit them socks.  Face it, my time is very limited. 

I just emailed a dear friend who was worried about me since my blog has changed.  Yep, it has changed a lot.  I am now pretty much in a new blog.  Don't even ask...you don't want to know.  Just leave it alone is what I am saying right now. 

I hadn't realized that I haven't blogged in a while.  Well...here goes...I have been shopping for fabrics and other goodies, this is the year that I actually make something with a pattern.  Holy smoke!  Yep, I am going to put the fabric out and cut it out with my pattern pieces since I have been doing this at my sister's house lately, I thought...why not, I can do this.  I am going to sew myself something that I have made on my own, no help from my sister.  I can do it. 

I will do well at it.  That is my mantra. 

I would love to finish my maternal grandmother's crazy quilt top.  I have it in my closet and it would be awesome to put batting to it and get it done.  Can you imagine how neat it would be considering it has vintage fabrics on it.  Oh it would be so amazing! 

I have been dealing with health issues and well, I am so tired of them.  I started a new vitamin regimen and it seems to be working on the issues at hand.  The foot with it's issue is dormant right now, I think because of the new probiotics I am on.  I am going to keep taking them if it keeps it at bay. 

The one problem I have right now is that my asthma is out of control.  I am on several meds for it.  I honestly think the wild fires that were down the road were the cause and I am still dealing with the issues from it.  I have two nebulizer solutions I have been using, a corticosteroid inhaler, and my usual albuterol rescue inhaler plus my singulair.  I don't spend much time outside because of the asthma issues.  I was outside the other night and I was gasping for air.  It is awful. 

I had to go to the dentist yesterday because one of my crowns was bothering me badly.  I went ahead and went in so, he fixed my bite for me.  I have been grinding my teeth at night and making it worse.  He said it is a natural reaction.  I would wake up with my teeth clenched in the morning.  Last night was the first really good night of sleep in a long time.  I actually feel good.  I didn't clench my teeth or grind them. 

I am slowly getting my health back on track.  I need to start exercising when I get my asthma under control. 

Today I am helping my nieces decorate a hall.  It is my BIL's 75th birthday tomorrow and they are having a huge party for him.  It should be nice.  I will get to see my family members that I haven't seen in a while. 

Now to let my doggies back in and go find lunch.  :) 

Monday, October 17, 2011

S-O-C-K-S

I am in sock knitting mode over here.  I finished the hubby's size 12 gigantic socks and I have moved on to socks for myself.  Yes, I know I have several pairs of hand knit socks but, I am the knitter, it is my perogative to knit for myself.  I am being selfish right now and doing something for me.  I usually knit for everyone under the sun but, now it is me time. 

I chose to use a Elann sock yarn, it is cotton, wool, nylon and elite.  The color is the turquoise, light gray, blue and light turquoise.  It is really pretty so far.  This time around, I am knitting from the toe to the cuff.  I just have to say how much quicker they seem to go doing this method.  I am not one of those people who knit two socks at a time, that just takes the joy out of the whole project. 

I am still researching my sweater pattern.  I have been thinking about it and I need to install the software for it.  I have so much going on in my life that working on my sweater is going to take some time. 

I started working on the sock for myself last night, I was able to knit about 4 inches of toe and today I am going to work on it in between doing laundry and whatever else needs my attention today.  If I can turn the heel, I will be so ecstatic about it.  I have been trying the sock on and it feels so wonderful.  I love this yarn.  It is so soft and silky feeling.  After this pair of socks, it will be time for Maribeth socks.  I am going to rip out the cuff I have started and start them from the toe as well.  I am back to knitting socks from the toe to the cuff.  I had stopped because my bind off always was too tight.  I have now learned to be patient and take my time with my bind off. 

Patience makes it all work out.  I just have to keep this on my mind and not be stressing when I am binding off. 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

In a Foul Mood

Well Rice Harvest Fest was a total bust.  I sold one item and then it poured on Sunday so, we were forced to pack it in.  My sister sold 5 small items and one of her aprons.  Needless to say, the economy sucks and it is hurting small businesses.  Now I saw the news last night and they said small businesses are doing better...Fing liars!  It isn't good at all. 

I am having to rethink my business strategy and whether or not Drooling Over Yarn will continue.  I love my job but, it is getting harder and harder to sit and watch it not make a dime. 

I had several people ask me over the weekend where I get my yarns from...my answer...my wholesaler.  How do they expect me to answer?  I am telling them the truth, my yarns come from my wholesaler.  No one else.  I guess they wanted the name but, that is none of their business. 

I am battling a nasty stomach virus that seems to be going around.  Yep, it is just me, I get all the crap over here.  I am trying to remedy that situation...I have a whole new vitamin regimen I am taking.  Gary looks at me while I pull all of my pills out of my pill case.  I am out of two of them right now and I am waiting for them to make it here.  I ordered them and they aren't cheap but, it is helping out my niece, Meagan.  She now sells Amway.  My niece, Sabrina sells Avon so, I buy my makeup from her.  I wish someone would buy yarn from me. 

I had bought my niece, Kate a sock loom I found at JoAnn's last week.  I gave her some hand painted yarn to go with it.  I will be buying another sock loom for Meagan since she looked like she was interested in it.  :)  If it will help them get interested in knitting, I will do whatever I have to to make it work.  Knitting saves. 

After I finish my mitts for the charity, and send them off, I will be finishing up Gary's socks.  I am on the second one and in my misery, I knitted on it yesterday and managed to get really far.  I am so shocked about this.  I looked at it last night and honestly I don't remember working on the thing at all.  Call me crazy but, I guess I did do it since I am the only one who knits around here. 

I am going to knit myself a sweater this year.  There I said it...that is my plan.  I have to go find a pattern that I like and I will be working on the thing.  I want something nice.  I have to find my software for sweaters.  I have it and I will plug in my measurements to figure out how much I will need to cast on and how much yarn I will need.  I want to pick a design I actually like for the body of the sweater that won't make me look bigger than I am.  I plan to knit it in my favorite color of purple.  :) 

When I dig my camera out of my purse, I will take a picture of Gary's gigantic socks.  They are freaking huge. 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Knitting Socks

I am currently in a project of sock knitting.  This is for the hubby.  I had him try the sock on last night just to see where I really am in the leg portion of the sock.  These are toe up socks which I haven't done for a couple of years.  It is a challenge to change up my sock making these days. 

We had a conversation when I first started the socks and he tells me he wants the leg to be 9 inches long.  Say what?  Yes, 9 inches long.  So, I am trying to convince the man that 6 inches will be enough for the leg...no, he wants those 9 inches.  I get him to try the sock on last night and I have 6 inches of leg done, he tells me they are perfect.  I wanted to smack the crap out of him over this....we have been arguing over it for the whole time I am knitting this king size sock.  Now, he tells me he wants the 6 inch leg.  Grrr! 

I then asked the important question of if he wants k1, p1 ribbing or k2, p2 ribbing.  Eye roll.  He chose the k2, p2 ribbing.  I haven't made a pair of socks with that particular ribbing in about 5 years.  So, he will get a unique pair of socks with his own custom measurements. 

As for anyone else wanting socks...NO!  I have to make Maribeth a pair and then I am not knitting anyone else socks.  I am closed where socks are concerned.  I have plans to get my niece, Meagan a sock loom.  She can make her own socks.  I have pretty much put my foot down where this is concerned.  I am tired.  My hands are tired.  I don't want to knit anyone anything. 

I have to finish my charity mitts and then I am done with that.  No one else is going to get anything out of me for the rest of the year. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Killer!

My right hand is killing me.  I have been cutting fabric for my sister to get her ready for this weekend.  As far as I know, she is still working on her aprons.  My feet even hurt from it as well.  I have been standing on them for about 4 days straight and well....they aren't used to that kind of abuse anymore. 

I just finished dealing with patterns and kits.  I am ready to go on that front.  Gary has to pull my mdse tubs down for me.  Everything is stacked in front of the office and ready to go.  Tonight is set up and then I can come home and get my cooler full of food ready to go in the am.  Wish us luck. 

I am raising money for a new set of tires for my car.  I am looking down the barrel of a $1000 price tag for those tires.  Ouch!  It is a big hit for me. 

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Columbus day weekend.