Mr Poopers Day Out

Posted by: preita | July 21, 2010

It’s Starting To Look A Lot Like….

It’s mid-July, I have knitting ADD and all I have on my mind at the moment is…CHRISTMAS. I know, it’s too early to break out the baby in a manger but when you craft you have to get all your projects in order ahead of time or you might just loose your mind. First you must figure out who in your family and friends deserves a handknit. Don’t make the mistake of thinkign everyone will love your woolies because they will not, and it will make you sad when you see their baby eating the hand knit cashmere and sea silk handmaiden lace scarf you worked on for two months. Remember, keep it simple. I keep a simple rule in mind, if I would not donate a kidney to you chances are I won’t knit for you.

going along with my knitting ADD I have cast on yet another project. A project I desperately did not need to put on the needles but one that decided to pop up because I made a splurge of a purchase on some fabulous yarn from Ranch Of The Oaks. This is their “Zoo Blend” which is a mix of all animals that get processed through the mill. Every run is different, some are more wool, some are more alpaca, llama, mohair, or what not.

Girl Friday Cardigan (Free on Knitty)

I believe this is mostly a mix of alpaca and wool. It SMELLS like the barn yard but I honestly love it (and so does Tank who keeps licking my sweater when I’m not looking). I’m glad that I decided to knit this in a lace because I think that it might have been too heavy in any thing else.

I’m also almost done on my Goodale Cardigan but I have doubts. Serious doubts that make me sad. 1. This seems to be shorter than I would ever wear a cardigan. 2. it seems too big. I am almost done & will block & pin it into place. If it is ot what I hope when the pockets are pinned then I will have to give it up as “a skinny girls sweater”. Either way, the silky wool is quite fab & I want to knit a sweater for the Mr out of it some day.

Speaking of the Mr, he is such a wonderful man and a quiet enabler. He brought me back these two cones of yarn. It’s from a place called Yarnia up in the great pacific northwest and it’s like Build A Bear for Yarn!!! How genius is that? Brilliant I say, Brilliant!

So now I’m on to knittin’ Christmas. I have two sheep worth of sweaters to spin and knit (our sheep were sheared & the fleece processed) before christmas hopefully, hats, gloves, mittens, socks, and scarves. Wish me luck, I might need to be medicated.

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Posted in Craft, Knitting, Picture, Pictures, Sheep, california, fiber, handspun, knit, photography, ranch of the oaks

Posted by: preita | July 16, 2010

I QUIT! And It ROCKS!

Today I did something I have been dreaming about for the last 2 months. I put in my 2 week notice at work today. I was all ready for it to be dramatic and have to explain my reasons and why and what not. The reality was not as I envisioned. My manager (who I think really actually hates me and thinks I’m stupid and has really singled me out for some serious wrath) called in sick. Who then to tell that I’m quitting? The VP of operations? Good plan but he’s on vacation in Hawaii till next Thursday. The Owner? The CFO? I ended up giving my notice to the very understanding (and honestly a little jealous Accounting Supervisor/ HR handler).

It was very anti-climatic though still very satisfying. I can’t wait to be done for reasons I won’t post. Lets just say that I am on way more mood stabilizers than I should be because of work.

So what will I do once I’m done with work? I will be PACKING PACKING PACKING!!! Yes, the Salyer’s are on the move again. Once more in to the breach dear friend. We are hopping states. The Mr and I are going to Vancouver Washington (well, the Mr is already there working but I am still here in California).

I hope also that in between packing I will be able to finish some knitting projects work on some designs that have been rolling around in my head begging to be wonders of knitting handiwork & spend time with my pup.

I have had serious knitting ADD this summer (I can’t believe it’s 1/2 way through July already because it surely doesn’t feel like it. Maybe because no one was here for my birthday which always marks my mid-way point of the summer?) I have started and have almost finished the uber cute Goodale by the fabulous and prolific Cecily Glowik MacDonald who I have a serious knit crush on.

I have a few knits that I need to get finished up because they are making me feel so guilty about how long they have languished with out completion. I have never been this kind of knitter before. I always used to finish a project before I moved on, lately I want to cast on 4 different things every night.

So life is moving along, different than what I expected but still just as fabulous. The most exciting thing is that the Mr and I are moving to handknit heaven! I can’t wait! The only thing that one of us is going to have to adjust to is the rain. Tank is not a fan of water and I think he’ll be sadder than sad to discover it falls freely from the sky.

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Posted in Craft, House, Knitting, Memories, Pattern, Picture, Pictures, Work, california, handspun, knit, photography

Posted by: preita | July 6, 2010

The Blogger Is Back

In an effort to get back on the blogwagon I’ve been taking more pictures. I realize that I only blog if I have matching pictures. How odd is that? Anyway, I had a fab weekend (well, mostly fab because there was a lot of cleaning going on). I went Sunday to the Ventura Street Fair with my friend Terry and found the most amazing earrings ever. They are so awesome that I actually went back and bought the matching pendant because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t.

Catlin Blair Designs. LOVE

They are river stones with rivets through the middle. I LOVE them!!! On the second trip out I realized something, there is no way to just cruise through a crowd with Tank in tow. I brought him because we were heading to the dog park afterwards and hate leaving him in the car, so off we went down the sidewalk. Now Tank is a very well behaved boy and pretty darn calm for a 1 year old. But people! OMG the PEOPLE! 1. if this is not your dog, do not touch. You don’t know him, you don’t know if he’s friendly (he is) but how would you feel if I reached out and smacked your butt? 2. he is a dog, not a horse and he doesn’t need a saddle. 3. if you are in the way, chances are you will get slimed, I don’t see this as my fault, but collateral damage. It washes off, you’ll live.

Since it is summer after all, I am totally struck with knitting ADD. That means that it’s time to read. I found this book and I haven’t made my mind up yet because I’m not far enough into it.

I have finished an infinity scarf. I love it, it’s soft, lacy, lofty, and wrapable.

Pattern coming shortly for free.

Coming up shortly I will show you all pictures of roving & yarn made from my very own sheep. Crazy right? But also incredibly awesome.

I also have a shawl in the works that I finally think I’ve gotten charted out well enough to start (yet again), a hat design that is completed, and a few other bits and pieces. Stay tuned, the blogger is back

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Posted in Books, Craft, Fantasy, Knitting, Pattern, Picture, Pictures, california, fiber, knit, photography

Posted by: preita | July 4, 2010

A Hat to Celebrate With!

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends. Today marks the day that we officially told Great Britain ”No more!” in maybe not so polite terms. Today I am going to bring the Tankers down to the Ventura street fair and wander the booths. I’m always torn about bringing Tank out in to such public settings because on one hand I love showing off my beautiful happy boy, but on the other I don’t like being stopped a million times and asked what kind of dog he is (he’s 1/2 great Dane and we think 1/2 mastiff).

In other news I finished a super cute hat that is now my most favorite hat ever.

Pattern: Twisted Raveler
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (Frank Ochre)
Needles: US 7 & 8
Verdict: Absolute perfection!

As with most hats the crown decreases are where it’s at for me. I love a good “in pattern” decrease. Which is probably why I’ve knit several koolhass hats & Carmel hats.

In other news I’ve been knitting away at two mostly stockingknit sweaters which I haven’t posted here because one can only stand so many pictures of plain stockingknit. One is an alpaca circle sweater like mine for my dear friend Carol and the other is a light weight zip up hoody for the Mr in celebration of our 7th wedding anniversary. I think it’s a little funny that it’s our wool anniversary. How perfect that?

Well, not much else to update about (at least honestly that can be updated as there are still things going on that I will not discuss yet) so I leave you with a picture Bob who firmly believes that everything is better upside down.

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Posted by: preita | July 1, 2010

Windswept Sock Pattern – Free!

Hey guys,

It’s my birthday today so I’m releasing a new free sock pattern.

Windswept is a fun and interesting sock pattern that from afar looks like simple stockingknit but up close you can see the swirling of the stitches around the foot and leg. This sock is perfect for those looking for a little extra warmth or cushion because the fabric is wonderfully squishy.

Left and right socks are knit so that they mirror each other.

I hope you enjoy.

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Posted in Craft, Knitting, Pattern, Picture, Pictures, california, knit, photography | Tags: free sock, free sock pattern, mans sock pattern, sock pattern, windswept

Posted by: preita | June 29, 2010

Pre-Birthday Fun

I had the most wonderful weekend. The Mr was in town for the weekend and we went up to our friend’s Jim & Carol’s place. It was fantastic and much needed.

The Mr had his first crop of carrots to harvest and I have to tell you that they were probably the most fabulous carrots ever. Yes, those are purple carrots mixed in there.

I’m a huge fan of men in the kitchen This weekend Jim went all out for an early birthday dinner.

There were amazing steaks, fresh roasted veggies, lobster tails, cheesey rolls (which are almost the best thing in the entire world!), and cheese potatoes (see the big bowl of cheese? Yeah it was that awesome).

They got me the most awesome cake ever! I was really overwhelmed by all this because it’s been a long time since I’ve had friends do something for a birthday (because when your an adult your birthday usually falls on a monday )

Carol knit my Post Modern scarf and it came out great. She used a worsted weight alpaca and I think that this will be lovely for the colder mountain winters.

There is much more knitting on the horizon and a few new patterns I’m working on. Hopefully soon I’ll have another knit heavy post

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Posted in Cooking, Craft, Knitting, Memories, Pattern, Picture, Pictures, fiber, knit, photography

Posted by: preita | June 25, 2010

Scarves & A Free Pattern

I have been knitting like mad lately and all I can focus on are scarves. Weird huh? First up, I have a new pattern available. It’s an infinity scarf that’s light as air and perfectly warm. Perfect for that one skein of special yarn you have laying around.

Post Modern Infinity Scarf

Post Modern is free and available in any weight or gage of yarn.

I have also fished the Echo Flower shawl in a lovely orange worsted weight yarn.

Last weekend Sandy, Becky and I headed to Santa Barbara to visit Loop & Leaf. A beautiful shop in a shady quiet neighborhood with in walking distance of State Street. They have an amazing selection of Madeline Tosh yarns. The colors and amazing textures made me want them all!

Becky & Sand @ Loop & Leaf

I managed to restrain myself and only buy a few things.

Tosh Sock, Worsted, & Pima (in my favorite green ever) and some purple, grey, black kuani. I’m thinking at least 2 shawls are in my future.

I have also broken out the spinning wheel lately (since the Mr has been out of town). These are next up.

Thylacine Shetland

I love that these are grey based dyes because they are more heathered and not so BLINDING. I think overdying grey is pretty brilliant & unique. I’ll be watching The Thylacine for more updates.

Thylacine Shetland

I experimented a little bit and created a bulky 3 ply but now I don’t know what to do with it. What does a person do with 60 yards of bulky weight yarn?

Close up

Things are going well at home too, a little bit lonely with out the Mr around but he’s coming home this weekend and I can’t wait.

Tank has amazed me by burying his bones and treats in the back yard. I’ve never seen a dog finish the process from digging the hole, placing the bone, and covering it up. Not only does he bury but he remembers where he puts it (which is one up on me for sure.)

Scarves & Lizards

Not much is really going on (that I can freely talk about) about these parts. I have been having a serious case of knitting ADD and have been struggling to finish one project or another. Right now I’m just looking for small victories.

Like turning this

Bee Mice Elf merino roving

Into this…

a plain stockingknit scarf to show off the lovely color changes as much as possible.

I really love this scarf. It’s so light and airy and LONG. Perfect for the transition weather or just adding a little extra warmth.

I have also finished this…

This is Shaelyn and it was an A++ knit. It was easy, fast, and satisfying. Not one glitch in the pattern that I saw and a fun knit.

I used 1 skein of Socks That Rock medium weight in 24 carat and love the results!

In other news it’s lizard breeding season apparently in my part of the country and I am having the most fun watching these little lizards battle over who’s the toughest. They arch their little backs, bounce around, and bob their heads.

The cats love it because they get to watch LOTS of lizards all over the place. I swear every step I take scares a lizard.

Tank is still doing quite fabulous. He has taught me a lot about how I project my energy and how I need to calm down and think rationally a little more. He’s taught me that not everything is a disaster and that if I just relax everything works itself out.

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Posted in Craft, Knitting, Pattern, Picture, Pictures, Spin, california, fiber, handspun, knit, photography, spinning | Tags: scarves, shaelyn pattern, shaelyn shawl, shawls

Posted by: preita | June 3, 2010

A whole month has gone by with out blogging and I’m totally ashamed. I used to be an every other day blogger, but honestly, I blame it on Tank. I spend more time with him than doing anything else so I don’t have much computer time anymore. Here is a quick rundown of what I’ve been up to so I can get caught back up in the blogworld

My friend’s ranch had shearing. It was easier than I thought because they have fewer animals and are a well oiled machine!

Alpacas are not the best customers when getting shorn, they tend to scream quite a bit.

The alpaca’s are done laying down and the llamas are done standing up because they are such larger creatures.

I seem to have developed a serious case of knitting ADD because I can’t seem to focus on one project at all.

: Alpaca elbow length gloves

I’ve also been working on another circle sweater for my friend Carol. This is alpaca from her own animals and it’s so beauitful! After I’m done with this sweater I will be publishing a recipie for this sweater for free because it’s a wonderful usable sweater that’s so darn beautiful.

(Tank is a fabulous model)

Tank is doing super well, he’s so fanatastic that I feel so blessed to have been able to adopt him. He’s such a sweet loving animal that I can’t picture our lives with out him.

Tank Toes!

In other exciting news it’s been lambing season which means we have two new additions to “Two Sheep Farm”. A little ram and a little ewe (both nameless) were born to Muusta. Oreo stayed true to her prudish self and proved that she never let Hawk the ram near her. Oh well.

These are not my lambs because my lambs were camera shy

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Posted in Knitting, Memories, Picture, Pictures, Sheep, Spin, california, fiber, handspun, knit, photography, spinning

Posted by: preita | June 2, 2010

A blast from the past…I thought this was Posted!

Well another few weeks have gone by and I have something (or many things) to show for it. First of all the in-laws (SIL, BIL, & niece) just left after a week of visiting. We all went up to June Lake, CA for a week of fishing, and mountaineering and it was FABULOUS!

The niece caught her very first fish ever and we saw a crazy ice sheet go all glacial across the lake!

I’ll tell you that Grandpa was seriously proud of his 3 year old grandaughter catching her first cut-throat trout.

Here’s a link to the video of the lake glacier!

Fishing was the main event this trip. The Mr & the FIL went out every single day and the BIL was right in there with them.

I can tell you that I probably wouldn’t be able to do this with my family but with the Mr’s it’s pretty easy. (not to say we don’t squabble, but it’s never mean).

I’ve also finished some seriously knitting. It’s sock season so here they come!

Hand spun, Hand dyed, Hand knit socks!

These are the very first socks that I have knit from my handspun yarn! I dyed it with kool aid too!

I also finished my first major crochet project!

Sunshine Afghan

I crocheted this for the niece but honestly, she wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. It cracked me up because you can’t be upset by a 3 year old not caring that you spent 30 hours crocheting a damn afghan for them. Her mom liked it and honestly, that’s all that matters.

I’ve also knit these socks. The pattern is Kalajoki and they were beautifully perfect to knit! I love everything about them.

I finished another pair of socks from Cookie A.’s book Sock Innovation. This time it was Devon and I LOVE them! They were easy to knit (much easier than they look), even though I made my fair share of mistakes.