It's almost been a month......... yikes........ that was not my intention. I must say I've been a little uninspired and a lot overwhelmed. And the more I don't keep up, the more I have to share and the more I get uninspired because there's just too much. What if I miss showing you some wonderful picture or something like that..... oh, the stress........
Let's just say that between the kids, my work being very busy and extremely frustrating, and me trying to get ready for craft show season, I've been feeling a little blah.......... mostly that's because of work - too much in too little time and when you add feeling underappreciated and not duly recognized, it makes it so difficult to stay up and positive.
Just a quicki knitting update - I finished some 6-ply socks - I love 6-ply because they are quick knits:
I'm a huge fan of the self striping/patterning sock yarn. Still am after many years. They look bright, fun and colourful and are just right for plain vanilla sock knitting. These were supposed to go into my craft show pile but then I put them on my fibre and knitting related Etsy store, Knitter's Nook and they sold. So now, they are winging their way to their new recipient and I know they'll be loved and appreciated in their new home. Better get cracking on another pair.
As for knitting, after craft shows are done, I'm going to focus on all those UFOs.... a few might be ripped but I do hope to finish several of them over the holidays in December and into January.
I also finished what I consider my "show piece" chainmaille necklace. I've been working on this, on and off, for months. I kept running out of the right sized sterling silver rings and sterling silver is expensive. This necklace is done in the popular Byzantine weave, is fairly chunky and as a focal, I slipped this wonderfully stamped sterling silver tube onto the chain. It's beautiful simplicity. It's expensive so I doubt anyone will buy it from me but it will travel with me as my show piece.
Oh, I've done some spinning, too and this is some lovely merino/tencel that I bought at my LYS (Knitopia) some time ago. It's destined to be some sort of a hat. I'm thinking a seed stitch hat.
Well, since Bugsy, the spinning wheel came home with me last June, I've been going a little nuts on the fibre stash buying. Luckily, I've mostly been using my income from my Etsy shops to fund this addiction but I admit, it must stop now. No more fibre buying unless it's really, extra special or something like this. I'll never be able to corner myself into not buying anything at all but I have to cut back. I have to make money to pay for the supplies rather than new fibre. But since I'm a big fan of Etsy and I've had some awesome customers, I'd like to give some of the love back by sharing the links to some of my favourite shops - I've bought from all of these......... some of them multiple times, some of them just once - but each one of them I'd go back to and shop again.
Forest Fiber Works - very lovely seller and I've ordered several things from her. I haven't spun any of my goodies but they are all merino goodness and I love the colourways.
Copperpot - I really enjoy her colours. At first, I was very apprehensive about digging in and figuring out how to spin from the ever so soft carded batt that had been pulled into roving. I've spun one so far and I really liked the results so I'm looking forward to trying my second one soon. I also have 2 more in my stash and 3 on the way.
Allspunup - very friendly and lovely seller. I enjoy being a member of her Ravelry group and I'm participating in the 2nd of 2 spin-alongs she is organizing throug her Ravelry board. We signed up to receive a hand dyed mystery fibre and she dyes the fibre for everyone and sends it all out once we've purchased and then we spin it (and maybe even knit it) and show off pics on the Ravelry board. It's fun, encouraging and motivating. Another cool thing......... the post office really seems to fly between her US location and my B.C. mail box. Aside from my spin-along fibre that just arrived, I have an awesome rainbow merino that I spun up on the bobbin. It's just waiting to be skeined and washed. I'm also waiting for a gorgeous merino/bamboo blend that I got sucked into the other day.
Fat Cat Knits - I just received some very lovely merino from this seller. It came yesterday so it barely has made it in my stash box. The colours look great and the service from this seller was also very good. Quick shipping and all that.
Squoosh - I just love her colourways. I have a few lovely things in my stash from this seller. Always friendly and quick to ship. I'm waiting for a couple of lovely braids - one Alpacca blend and I can't remember what the other one was. Oh, it was a Merino/Bamboo.
Exclusively Linda Lee - Linda was my first Etsy seller who I ordered from. She is always friendly and gives her repeat customers 10% off every purchase after that initial purchase and that initial purchase had a lovely gift in it. As well, when Linda found out that I was just a beginner and learning, she sent me a care package of all kinds of fibres and goodies to experiment with. That was very special.
Girl on the Rocks - I just purchased from her once but I'm sure I'll be back. The colourways I picked up were just wonderful. The fibre was merino. She also has some cool little stitch markers in her shop.
Three by Hand - Lisa has such a wonderful personality and energy. I enjoy dealing with her and I've picked up some lovely fibres from her shop. I haven't seen a shop update in a while but there are still some lovely fibres to be had. I really feel for the Canadian fibre sellers because of how expensive it is to ship stuff, especially within Canada.
Julie Spins - this nice lady has a great sense of colour and lovely fibres. I've got several in my stash but haven't spun any of them. I always enjoy browsing her shop updates.
Beemiceelf - I really like this shop and shop owner. She is friendly and nice to deal with. Her packaging is wonderful. She adds a special touch to her goodies that she sends. I've really been enjoying her sampler collections - here is an example - the Forest Collection Sampler. The colours blend beautifully.
Crazymonkey - I've placed a couple of orders and one of the wonderful superwash merinos I've spun up will be my first sock knit from handspun. Great sense of colour!!!! I wish I had more money. :-)
FreckleFaceFiber - last but not least, another lovely shop with great fibres and colours.
There are many, many more that I have seen on Etsy but not ordered from. Not that I haven't wanted to but..... as I said, my stash has grown probably a bit rapidly and I need not buy any more. For now.....
Have a wonderful weekend.
