Tangled Fingers Diary

10 years...

Amazing isn't it?

Meeting in that chat room, Good ol' mIrc.

Getting married, having kids, And all the struggle that goes along with it.

Here we are 10 years later and stronger than ever, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Anniversary Hun.

I Love You!

On this and that...

Yesterday I managed to accomplish a few things. I got some of the material cut and a few blocks made on Sissies quilt. I am enjoying the process so far.

Not at all straight but I love it anyway. I also got some spinning done on Grawk. I think that I am close to finishing up the bobbin so I need to decide if I want to three ply or go ahead and fill another bobbin for a two ply job. I just can't decide. Grawk is beautiful on the bobbin but is rather boring to spin seeing as how I am spinning at night. I looks almost totally black. But then in the morning I can see all the colors that I worked with the night before. So once I am done with grawk I am moving on to some colorful spinning before digging into the Shetland that I still need to finish.
I also go the super secret project ripped and cast on again. I am pulling my hair out on this one. (That or having the kids home from school for three days straight two of those days because of extreme cold, therefore making it impossible to send them out side. Causing everyone in the house to become insanely stircrazy, but I digress)
Remember the Skein winder that I told you about? I finally got a picture of it!

Love it! I am considering painting it or something I just can't decide what I want to do yet. I love it this way as well so I don't know.
On the stash enhancement front I bought one of Cookie A's patterns The German Stocking and the yarn to go with it. I have been coveting it for a very long time and finally broke down and bought it. I feel like my knitting skills are now on a level that I could do this. I just hope that I have the patience to complete both socks. I have also bought three skeins of panda cotton for a pair of socks for T in black. I am determined to knit something that he will wear. (Don't ask me why) He insists that he is allergic to wool (which makes the sweater from hell pointless *sigh*) This yarn has bamboo, cotton, and nylon in it so it is wool free. I went with black because I know that he will wear black. The socks will be k2 p2 ribbed. Simple, mindless knit which with the super secret project I really need. So if i will be making these now is the perfect time. I also bought a booklet with patterns for sewing stuffed animals from Sewing Stars. I can't wait to get this one. Apparently I am enjoying sewing more.
Well off to get the kids busy doing something before I become completely bald.
Baldingly,
Dee

Being (sorta) productive...

Remember the list from last time?

• Sissy's blanket- I have a bunch of strips cut out they need to be sewn together and then cut into smaller strips. Then I will combine them into 12 inch squares.
• The super secret project- I have the gauge swatch finished (I not only knit a gauge swatch, but I knit a big gauge swatch!!) Now that I have the Math finished I need to cast on the actual item. The problem is that I am not sure that it will work yet... maybe I will hold off until I have a chance to discuss with others...
• Mops Wimple- It is almost finished. This should be what I work on but the pull from other things is very strong.
• A pair of socks- I started beatrix (Ravelry link) recently and would like to continue working on it. But again too many other things.

Well. Right after I wrote that post I got called to take the man his lunch. So none of that was started. However! Later that day I managed to cast-on the ssp and knit two rows. (really need to work faster on that. There is a time limit with this one.) Finished Mops wimple! I will photo that one once I figure out where I put the pattern notes. Today I broke out the sewing machine and got some of the strips pieced together.

It's going to be pretty when it is finished I think.
I am sort of at a stand still with the blocks until I can locate the iron. Dear T likes to use it occasionally and then put it in random places. *sigh*
I also started spinning some beautiful Merino/Tencel (Ravelry link) roving that I have and have wanted to spin for a while. Lets just say that it is absolutely beautiful!

Not a great picture but it will give you a good idea of the shineyness and color.

Still not a great picture but trust me, that stuff is very drool-worthy.
Anyway I hear the microwave so it is time to eat!
Productivingly, (heh nothing like freaking out your spell check in one word)
Dee

A Quandry...

I have a TON of different projects that I REALLY want to work on right now. The problem is that I can not decide which one to work on. I am having such a hard time deciding that I am at a stand still. *sigh*

Here is what I am trying to decide on...

• Sissy's blanket- I have a bunch of strips cut out they need to be sewed together and then cut into smaller strips. Then I will combine them into 12 inch squares.
• The super secret project- I have the gauge swatch finished (I not only knit a gauge swatch, but I knit a big gauge swatch!!) Now that I have the Math finished I need to cast on the actual item. The problem is that I am not sure that it will work yet... maybe I will hold off until I have a chance to discuss with others...
• Mops Wimple- It is almost finished. This should be what I work on but the pull from other things is very strong.
• A pair of socks- I started beatrix (Ravelry link) recently and would like to continue working on it. But again too many other things.

I think that I just need to randomly pick something and start working on it. There will eventually be time to work on all of it.
And now so that you are not totally without a picture here is the most recent family photo.

Cute, no? (Yes it says proof. I borrowed the online image to show ya'll)
Lovingly,
Dee

Ahhh the snow...

I am rather tired of the snow. I miss the days that I could walk to the kids school and pick them up rather than driving a few blocks because it is 10 below.
I finished T's hat. (That he never wears)

The back to show just how bad I am at making hats. I will never understand why I always mess up with hats. Socks I can make, sweaters, mitts, shawls! But hats? Not without a billion mistakes and a poorly decreased top. (bad pics courtesy of the cruddy weather)

Front of the hat with a milk mustache to complete the look. I still haven't taken the time to take a photo of the skein winder that my dad made yet. That isn't to say that I haven't used it, I just keep forgetting to photo it. oops.

I am almost finished with Mop's Wimple Although you won't be able to see it for a while. Why? It's a secret. There is also a super secret project on the needles that i am very excited about. I can't wait to show all of it off.

Well I just got a call to come in and sub!!! So sign language interpreting for money tomorrow. :)

Wish me luck

Signingly,

Dee

well...

So I got a pretty great christmas present from my dad. I asked him for a skein winder that he built himself. I will be darned if I didn't get it! I will show you a pic when I remember to take one. Its big made from Maple using the instructions here. It is a bit rough but I love it!

Using my new skein winder I finally took the time to wind the cone yarn I have into a hank and wash it.

All washed and much better looking and soft! Get that oil stuff off of it makes a huge difference

I am working on the wimple for the MIL, and a hat for T. He has given me permission to set aside the sweater of Doom for a while so that I can make his poor bald head a hat. Again more pics soon. It is looking good however. I am using the Mission Falls that I bought a while back to make mittens (turns out I didn't buy enough yarn for mittens so it has just been sitting there waiting for a different project to come along) thankfully T likes the colors and is happy with the look of the hat so far.

I picked up some lovely Malabrigo in sunset recently and am now turning it into a wimple for Mop. I didn't like any of the wimple patterns that were on the web so I improvised. It's looking good so far!

Anywho I got stuff to do before I pick up the little'uns from school.
I leave you with a picture that Sis and I drew together...

Drawingly, Dee

Happy New Year!!

     Sparkling grape juice toast

May you all enjoy a better year than the one before
Filled with much love and silliness.

Toastingly,
Dee

The Christmas Takeover...

So this Christmas is finally over. I love me some Christmas but now that I have kids it is full of boxes, wrapping paper, shopping and all that annoying stuff. For me Christmas is being with family, and eating too much. Ah well. We went to Moms first. The trip? LONG. Driving down there takes 4 1/2 -5 hours normally. We finally made it to Moms after 9 freaking hours. Why did it take that long you ask? We got caught in a blizzard. They actually closed down I-29 near St Joe because 40 some Ass-hats can't drive in the snow but decided to try any way. Yup car pile up.  So we took the long way around St. Joe and finally made it to Moms. Thankfully no one in our vehicles were hurt in any way(although the kids probably thought that they were being tortured.) The kids got money for Christmas from mom (as did I, Here I come EZ DVD's!!!)
Lots of good food and loads of family time.  Once back home we spent the time unwrapping Santa's gifts and trying to weed my way through boxes. Then we made it to MIL's house where TONS of  gifts  were given (just when I thought that I would be done cleaning  up wrapping paper and boxes. Ugh.  Thankfully the takeover is done and the kids are starting to calm down.

One thing that Sissy got was very popular with Mother and Daughter...

yup, a sewing machine.  We are currently working on making a doll from Doodle Girl. I promise pictures as soon as the doll is complete. I still like my machine better but this one is pretty simple to use so it will give her a great starting point.
The princess got a tutu from her mama that is adorable...

picked up from here. She put it on and then promptly decided to vacuum...

I think that house work would be much better wearing a tutu. Don't you?
For stash enhacement I got some Orange colored Malabrigo for MIL's scarf. I know you are thinking Why? I have decided that I really would rather use Malabrigo since that is what she requested in the first place. I just have to decide if I want to sell the BMFA skeins or keep for a later project.
And finally. I got my hair cut! Took off 9 inches and donated them to the locks of love. My hair feels so much better now.
Look...

Off to do more sewing!
Happy New Years!!!

Holidayingly,
Dee

Christmas is practically here...

And I really need a few more weeks days to finish things up. I have a lot to tell in not a lot of time so I will make it a random list post.

Things I bought in a moment (or 2) of weakness

• I got the BMFA raven series (not the whole series I do have some restraint sheesh) I have 2 beautiful skeins of Valkyrie and a sheep 2 shoe kit in Grawk. I could not love this yarn more!
• Also in the BMFA line I picked up 2 skeins of seduction in the Oregon Red Clover Honey colorway. The color is not something I would normally choose for myself, however, I love it now that I have it. I actually got it for the MIL (making a wimple for her) so I will have to admire it from a far.
• 4 skeins of Classic Elite Blithe to make the Blithe striped scarf (ravelry link) for the Brother in law Brain. He deserves it. Really. He has been a huge help this year.
• A skein of handpainted orange yarn purchased from Dragonfly Fiber Designs just because I wanted it. Cheap and pretty. How can that be wrong?
• A bunch of stuff from Miss Violets Stash sale. That stuff is a lot harder to resist when it is in your hand and she is talking about all the potential that yarn has. That and I am weak. 3 carded batts (drool worthy!!) some Merino Tencel roving, an ounce of silk hankies 2 skeins of sock yarn...I think that is it...
• A needle felting kit from etsy because I obviously do not have enough to do.
• A sock kit from Merlin the Cat Yarns that is so pretty...I should go take a picture...later. Anyway it is one of those kits that has the sock bag from Mama Monkey that I love(!!) so when Momma Monkey closed down her etsy shop I ran to Merlin the cats shop to see if there were any more kits. There were and I snatched one up. I have coveted those bags for a long time now so it would have been criminal to let it go. (shut up)
• I got some to die for roving (seriously go to ravelry and look!)
• I got a weave it off of ebay. This thing is fun. I think that I will be making a something for mom with it.
• And a set of Clemes and Clemes handcards. (they are starting making spinning supplies again!)

I think that covers it... oh yeah I also bought my first fleece (7 pounds worth) from a wonderful woman. That covers it. See, I was weak. Whew.

I am almost done with BIL's scarf, I am working on Moe's scarf (pink and black striped in novelty yarn. Thank God it is going quickly.) And I am down to one arm and a neck on TJ's sweater. I am so close!
Also. The big news!
I graduated! I have to wait a month to get the damn diploma but I did it! Last saturday I walked across the stage in full regalia. It was awesome.

I will post pictures when I have time. Now I need to go fight Christmas shoppers to get my babies some dress clothes for their Christmas program tonight.
Merry Christmas All!! I hope that you will have a good holiday full of family and love!
Graduatingly,
Dee

Its a sickness...

Halloween was fun. We went to my sisters place and trick or treated in the neighborhood. (the kids made out like bandits. We started late in an area that didn't have many trick or treaters so they got handfuls instead of one piece each.)

The Princess felt witch-y and even had a wart on her nose. (its on the other side of her nose)

That black speck on her nose is not dirt on your screen.

NJ enjoying being Lukes Father. (Push button breathing with the suit, makes for an AWESOME costume apparently)

My Pirate girl Sissy. She ran around brandishing her sword and yelling "Aaarrrr give me all yer candy!" Gotta love that girl.

Then there is the Dead bride. She has a hat that goes with it but she didn't want to wear it until her Aunt Sissy commented that she thought it was very cool. Kids.
That mime behind the girls? That is my Ham of a father. Every year for Halloween we get together for dinner after all the excitment of trick or treating.
And finally  Ziggy

There is my Ninja boy! He didn't last as long as the other kids. About halfway through I decided that the Princess had enough candy so I took her to my sisters house to wait for the older ones to get their fill of candy. Ziggy decided that he was done as well and came with me. Key then followed us in her Brittany Spears get up. (she swears its not Brittany Spears but come on. Look at her! hehehe)

I finally decided to pick up hand cards! I found a woman who was willing to sell me her cards for 25. since she had a drum carder now. So I now have a set of LeClerc Hand Cards For a really good price. I am planning on carding some of the roving that I got recently that is annoyingly compacted. (I may have just recently bought 2 lbs of fleece that will need carded as well but I am not telling)
I am also selling Babe. I just can not keep it. It was good starter wheel but I am very much enjoying the Clemes and Clemes so that will be my wheel. Now to get a skein winder.

Yup its a sickness.
Cardingly,
Dee