Fabulous O.F.F.F. Weekend!

O.F.F.F. was absolutely wonderful! I think is was the best one yet for me. I haven't been to many, only 4, or is it 5, well no matter, it was just perfect! On the way in I had to stop on our road and take this shot. Isn't that just cool how the fog has stayed right at the tree line?

Friday's plying class with Ruth was really cool (she owns The Dizzy Ewe) I really learned a lot, thanks Ruth!!! I was also her wheels while she was here too, what an added bonus spending that extra time with her!

The machine knitting class was taught by Judy Sours. Judy was fabulous! She brought some things that she did on her machine(s), all I can say is WOW. What an eye opener! I have 3 knitting machines and just now learning what amazing things that can do with them. I will need a new sponge bar for each one but once that's done I'm ready to go. I can't wait, I have more wheels turning on what I am going to make first.

I also was a helper for my friend Debbie. She taught 2 beginning spinning classes that were filled with eager learners. Everyone left her class spinning and wanting more! She is a great teacher. Then I was my friend Loyce's helper--she is the Chairperson of the Education Committee for O.F.F.F. and what ever she needs me to do, I do! Loyce also taught this year, she is so talented. She is an incredible felter, the things she makes with felt are so cool! She also makes lampwork stitch markers and then there is her spinning, knitting & crocheting. A very cool gal!!

O.F.F.F .this year was packed! I remember last year had a lot of people but this year I think there was more. I know there was more vendors! So many cool things to look at and touch! Here are a few shots of the lawn area

Speaking of vendors, I got to meet Lisa Souza from Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks. I have read her blog for a long now and loved her work. Meeting her was a great highlight for me. Here is Lisa in her booth. And speaking of great work, here are the goodies I could not live without.

The left one is superwash in Evan-Glade colorway; the right is Blue Face Leicester in Deep Sea colorway. Aren't they just beautiful! What about the yarn & needles magnet! That goes on Benni (my Jetta).

Here is some goodies I picked up. Some roving from Dicentra Designs, superwash & Blue Face Leicester both in her Picnic colorway.

Then there's some natural greys of Wensleydale from Bellwether Wool Company.

I also found some old knitting machine magazines, very cool score! There are 35 total Knit King magazines, ranging from 1972 thru 1978. And there are a total of 34 total Alle's Knitting Machine News, ranging from 1976 thru 1979 along with a few odds and ends.

And last the 'Parking Lot Fleece Sale'!

I found some beautiful black Romney lamb & creamy Coopworth cross. They were both dropped off at my processor and I'll have them back in a month or two, washed and ready to spin.

And that was this year's Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival. I had a fabulous time, looking forward to next year and what goodies will be waiting for me.

Fall is here!

I was thrilled when Fall arrived. I love fall. The cool nights (better for snuggling!), hearty soups and a roaring fire. I have been looking forward to Fall this year, more than any other year. Another great thing about Fall is Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival (this weekend!!!!). This is such a great festival, tons of vendors and great classes. I am going to take a plying class taught by my friend Ruth (owner of The Dizzy Ewe). the other class I am taking is a machine knitting class. I have 3 knitting machines and would really like to learn how to use and at least look like I know what I'm doing. Those classes are on Friday, but on Saturday & Sunday, I will be helping my friend Debbie with beginning spinning classes. There will be 1 class on each day so I will have plenty of time to shop! I also heard from a little birdie that my knitting guru Teyani will be down for a class too. Go check out her blog, she is an incredible knitter. I am so amazed how fast she can knit things up.

On a more down home note my baby Cyndir, well maybe not a baby she is 29 after all and weights over 1200 pounds, (she is a horse, an Appaloosa to be specific), has some ouchies that take tending morning and night. Needless to say I'm up at 4:30 AM to take care of her--she is worth it though. Here is a picture of her from a few winters back. Can you find her?




















She is peeking her head out from behind the barn!

If I remember to take pictures, I usually just walk around enjoying the sites and forget I have a camera, I'll post some next week after the festival. Have a great weekend everybody!

Father's Day in Ashland

It was a wonderful Father's Day weekend. D~ was treated to a weekend in Ashland with a play and everything. He had never been to a play down there so it was great to see his face afterwards. He really liked it, even d~ liked it, sunburn and all. We all had a great time. I have always loved Ashland, that is why I went to college at Southern Oregon State College, they now call it Southern Oregon University. Here are some pictures of our weekend.





Here is the Green Show. This is a show that they do before the play at night.



We saw The Comedy of Errors. It was set in the wild west era and so funny. We really enjoyed it!

Here are my boys just before the play.

Here is a picture of the 'Mall'.

This is a very cool jungle gym, for lack of a better term for it anyway, it was made out of nylon rope that have been twisted together. There was I bet 10 separate ropes, or more, twisted together.

This is where my good friend from college, Kris, works. This is a great shop! It's got everything for the fiber junkie!

They are DONE!!!!

Well I've done it! I have finally finished them. Granted it has taken me quite awhile to finish them, but they are finally finished! WOO HOO!!!




SEE!!!


I have found some screw-ups, but you know what? I don't care, they are mine and I deserve the right to screw-up on my first ever pair!



I am now starting on a pair of 'sleeping' socks for d~. I'm now trying to knit 2 socks at the same time on 1 pair of circulars. I have just finished casting both on. I have to get back to work now so I can't continue.

I leave you with another look. They feel wonderful!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!

It's official, I made another lap around the sun.

Ya, I'm 1 year older--ugh. I'm still trying to figure out what 30 is suppose to feel like and now I'm way over 40. I had a great weekend with my boys though. D~ took me to a fabulous little beach house in our favorite town at the beach called Manzanita. This was a very small house, 2 story and quite narrow but perfect for us.
d~ was going to go on a camp out of his own but he had come down with a cold with a real rough cough so he went with us. We all had down time, I knitted by the window and read 'A Good Yarn', D~ read his latest book and d~ was able to play on the laptop or lay on his bed at watch some movies. We even had Sandy the dog with us.

The one very cool thing about this house was the sitting area. Look at the view we had!

Can you see me knitting those socks [still!]? I wanted to finish them over the weekend but didn't make it--I had to frog about an inch or so. Isn't that the best view of the ocean? There is the street right in front of the house, but you can't see it unless you stand up and look down.

Manzanita is a small town with the best pizza spot and a coffee/donut shop within an easy walk. It is a little touristy but not bad at all, they had a yarn shop but it's gone. Just up the road is Cannon Beach and they have a great yarn shop call Coastal Yarns. I picked up some great sock yarn [of course I don't have them with me so I can't tell you what they are] and a collection of sock patterns in The Little Box of Socks.

Here is a picture of the whole beach from Neahkahnie Mountain, miles of beach!

All in all it was a great weekend!

This is Spring Break?

I had heard that the snow level was going to come down to 500 ft the other day but I thought the weather guy was nuts! This is Spring Break! We should have sunny weather so the kids can play outside in the sun. But not for us on the Ridge! We woke up to this!!!!

As I took these it began to snow, again. Granted it was small wispy flakes but as I sit here I look out the window and it's just coming down hard!

Nice big flakes and lots of them.

This is really beautiful that's for sure.

It went from a dusting......

to this -->






See the flakes?


Here is an update on the 'sock'. I did take a little detour and knitted that beret. The beret was fun, but I'm back onto the sock(s).

The Lastest Happenings....

It's the weekend and I'm glad it's here. I was very productive yesterday on the housework so today I'm able to get this updated. Let's see where to start? Well I suppose the first thing I can say is that the new loom is wonderful! There was an unused warp still wrapped on the back beam and I decided to use it to practice with. I'm not really sure if it's linen or what but it's OK with me. I dug out one of my Handwoven magazines and started hunting for a good, easy pattern to work with. I did find one article that had exactly what I was looking for. So I threaded it up and began to play. Here is the progress so far.

The great thing about an 8-harness loom is that the possibilities are endless, well for me at least. This is going to be a sampler of different patterns and I'm going to make a wall hanging to hold my shuttles--good use I thought.

Next on the update list is my socks. I suppose I should say sock, seeing as how I'm still on the first one. I had such a tough time with the heel turn. I think I had to frog it 5 times or more but I finally got it right and I'm on my way again, see!

Now for Madrona Fiber Arts. I was able to dash up there and have lunch my friend Teyani. She's an amazing knitter and dyer. It was great to see her!

I was also able to see another fiber friend; Ruth who owns The Dizzy Ewe. Here she is at her booth.

Here is another booth just down from Ruth--can't remember the name, figures. Teyani is there, right side in the yellow sweater.

And here are the purchases! Yes, I couldn't resist sock yarn--I'm hooked on socks now. They are very easy to take with me where ever I go!

These are beautiful. The one on the left is superwash merino called Purple Rain from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The one on the right is merino and silk called Haida also from Blue Moon, this skein will be a pair of socks for D~.


This is a wonderful skein of Lace Wing. You can't really see it very well but it is purple and blue superwash merino called Deep Ocean from Angora Valley.

This is a lovely pile of Mill Ends from Bare Mountain. I hope to get 2 pairs out of it. We'll see!

I do have something on the wheel but I didn't get a picture. I'm teaching myself how to Navajo ply. It's not an easy venture. Once I've gotten the bobbin full I'll take a picture and post it.

Have a wonderful week!