Tangled Fingers Diary

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

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

And the angels began to sing...

So even though I can not afford anything lately I decided to treat myself when I received my financial aid. I decided that seeing as how I am working my little tushie off trying I deserved a reward. So that reward is a Golding Spindle. I will wait a moment while you wipe the drool off your chin. It is absolutely beautiful! I would show you but the pictures are being held captive on my camera while the battery charges. It is lovely. And it spins like a dream. (yeah I already started spinning with it. Like the second I took it out of the package. Love it!)

Ohhhh yeah *sigh*

Yeah I did some stash enhancement last week. I got this from a woman destashing and selling 6 balls cheap. How could I resist?

Then there was this stuff...

Laceweight, 1,200yrds each. obtained for 25.00. Again, how could I resist?

Roving, Llama black with pink (merino I think should go look) it is soo pretty and soft.

I have a purse coming, the Great American Aran Afghan book, a necklace, some sock needles, and more laceweight. Pictures of those once I receive them. I am done now. I am offically on a yarn diet. I gave myself a budget for spoiling my self and boy did I meet it fast. Make it fun to get the mail everyday. The only thing that I have left to buy is some PVC because Miss V loaned me her Kids Weaving book and there are instructions on how to make a PVC weaving loom. (yes I know I don't like PVC, but i can paint it and making it will be even cheaper than buying a PVC weaving loom.)

Anyway...

In the WIP department...
TJ's sweater from hell is on the sleeves! Yes. I finished the body! Now I am working on a sleeve (about half way through it) the it is on to the other sleeve, the neck and then DONE! So close yet so far away.

And I started a new traveling project. A pair of socks for the Princess. The other things that I am knitting right now are too big to carry around so I had to cast on something!

I need to go hang out with the Princess before I have to go to school so I will talk to you all later!

weakingly,

Dee

It tells fortunes too...

So last night I took my son to the store in order to pick up a birthday present for a little girls party. Well. There was a new toy out. It looks like a compact but it is a little electronic toy.  You push a button on said toy it tells you your fortune. I pushed the button to see what candy sweet fortune I would get and it said...

"You can only do so much"

I busted out laughing because frankly, who would expect that from a toy?! I know a lot of people who really could use that fortune, myself included. So today after I took NJ to his party, Ziggy, the princess and I went here

We ate icecream and giggled a lot.


Yeah so the Princess got a little messy.
I am currently taking a digital Photography class. (practicum is 5 credits and I needed 6 credits in order to get Financial Aid damn college.) The upside is that this class is great. I am practicing with the camera which is why these are black and white.

And who doesn't like to take pictures?!
I will be back soon with some real updates.
A VERY heartfelt thank you to all that donated. As you know, every little bit helps!
icecreamingly,
Dee

Looky... or the I have a lot to say today post...

I have a lot of stuff to show you today! I am working on my second monkey sock, no second sock syndrome for me! These are for mom so I knew that I really did not want these hanging out on the needles for too long. She is going in for surgery sometime within the next month or two so I really need to finish them. Surprisingly enough the second sock is moving faster than the first one did. I have had the second sock cast on for a week now and I am one repeat away from the heel flap.
I know that you are here for the pictures so here is sock one.

No wip picture yet. I made the sock a bit shorter than the one that Cookie A made just because Mom doesn't like the tall socks. She is a notorious cuff folder. So I shortened the leg for her. Beauty such as this should never be folded down.
Notes
Yarn: Lime and Violet The Exes series- Why don't you call meeeeeee colorway.
     I have to say, this yarn is beautiful in the monkey sock pattern! I love the small bursts of dark blues and dark purples mixed in with the white and greys. When I bought the yarn the pic made the yarn look shinier than it is in real life. So when I got it I will admit a bit of disappointment. That was where the disappointment ends however. I adore the look of this yarn knit up! Some yarns just have to be knit up to be properly appreciated! I know that mom will love this. (I hope)   
Needles: set of five size two bamboo DPNs. (I had an unfortunate accident with one of the needles. I am not quite sure what happened but I pulled it out of the bag only to find it broken. So I am currently using four needles. I think that if I plan on knitting any more socks then I will need to invest in a set of metal size twos. Addis maybe? Or some with a good excange policy. I am just worried about breaking the needles which is why I don't carry my sock with me much.)
Modifications: Obviously I messed with the leg length. Mostly for mom but also because I was impatient to start the heel by that time. The fact that mom is not a fan of tall socks is a VERY big bonus. I didn't do the heel flap the same, I did straight knit and not the slipped stitch (K1,P1? I don't remember which I just know that I didn't do it.)
I still don't enjoy sock knitting as much as some do, but I find myself looking at other patterns and thinking that I could knit them. So apparently the monkeys are warming me up to sock knitting.

I got some more sock yarn (I tell you what for someone that does not enjoy sock knitting I sure have a lot of sock yarn) This one is called bellyflop. E gave it to me when I went over to ball up my lace weight. (more on that in a minute.)
Just look at this!

I have no idea what this will be but ohhh man is it pretty. I still have it sitting here in front of me to pet and drool over.

That lace weight I mentioned above?

Drool worthy.
there is roughly 1900 yards here. And honestly? The pictures do not do it justice. There are little bits of light purple and green so pretty. I am still unsure of what pattern that I will use. Right now it is a toss up between the Honeybee stole from knit spot (honestly the more that I look at the shawl variation and this one the more that I like the stole. Although that could change quickly, maybe I better get both. You really never know.) and the stole Leda's Dream Pattern from Pink Lemon Twist. I can't get over how pretty it is, and it is supposed to be for the adventurous beginner so I think that I would have an easier time of it with this one than the Honeybee. Then again there are a metric ton of people knitting the bee so if I ran into problems I would have help... I don't know.

Wheel news...
Take a gander at this beauty...

I am currently using this and if I like it I will be buying it. It is good to have local spinning friends! I am very much enjoying this wheel so far. It is more stable than Babe, the take up is 10 times better than babe and it is not PVC. That is such a huge plus for me. Babe, while a good starter wheel, is not much fun to spin on. It goes off balance so easily, and in order to get the fiber to take up at all I have to wrap the leather around very tightly. Yes it is a Clemes and Clemes kit wheel and in awesome shape! I am spinning some left over wool to get used to it. Frankly I am glad that I decided to do it this way just because the take up is so strong that I really have had problems with not moving fast enough and having the wool yanked out of my hands. I am working with the tension knob so that I can get a feel for it. My only other problem is that it is a bit harder to treadle, however when I use both feet its not a problem at all. So far it looks like the clemes is winning out. If that is the case I will probably sell babe with the bobbins and skein winder (which is useless without the babe so no sense keeping it.) Dad saw the Clemes the other night and is just positive that he could build a spinning wheel for me. I doubt that will happen anytime soon but I can't imagine anything cooler than a wheel made by dad. If he ever retires he will make me one. I just have to be patient. hehe. I am trying to get him to build me a skein winder however. There are plans for a simple one on the net and I would love to have him build me one. (I sent him the plans with the note that his loving daughter would adore it for christmas. I am nothing if not hopeful. hehehe)
I think that I have talked your ear off enough for one day.
buildingly
Dee

Oh but I am weak...

So Lime and Violet updated their store. I had money in my paypal account... well you do the math. I will be picking up some lace weight from Miss V. Yeah. I am weak.

Last night I took Moe to the Fire and Ice Fashion show. (She is really wanting to be a model/actress. Has wanted this since she was 5. After 5 years of begging and dreaming I figured I better let her try.)

Yup we got to dress up. Way fun wearing the black dress and shawl.

Moe cleans up nicely doesn't she?

It was a lot of fun. Long, but fun! Moe got her name out to the local agents and got a couple of business cards. That girl has no problems networking. Me? I clam up with 2 or more people in a room, Her blossoms with more people around. She so did not get that from me.
I will post pics of the yarn when I get it!
Runwayingly
Dee

Still no idea...

I went to wind the yarn into balls this morning only to find that the swift they were put on by the dyers is larger than mine. Mine is a babe skein winder damn thing only has one size. So most of the sock yarn that I have acquired  the past year will need to wound into a ball veerrrry slowly. Needless to say I didn't finish winding them this morning. I just sighed and then wrapped it back up into a hank. Way too much going on today to do it. I am anxious to find out just how off I am on the scarf colors.

Frustratingly
Dee

Mail and stuff...

Remember when I said that I got mail on Saturday?

I got my Magic Yarn Ball from the Lime and Violet MYB swap!

This is how it came...

Once I got it out of the box...

Finally I got it open and ...

After what seemed like hours of unwraping...

That picture does not include the notebook (so cute), paper crane (that thing is so tiny I LOVE it), or the super nummy cookies that my pal sent me!

In the pic?

• Lotion called Sea Spa (This stuff is thick and works wonderfully I am always on the hunt for good lotion!! my are always so friggin dry.

• Yummy hand dyed yarn dyed my pal herself! (Sissy claimed it hehehe)
• Stoneware buttons that she made(!!) They are so cool!
• a Chibi so now I have real darning needles!
• A tin of chocolate dipped mints that are soooo yummy! (These were inspired by my login name, mintdee)

Needless to say I got spoiled. I love the entire package.
I also got a letter from my letter swap!

It was so much fun to receive a letter in the mail that wasn't a bill! I will be writing her back very soon.

In knitting news I finished the tank for the princess. I adore it!I will get pics of the top and the non pictured things above when it is not grey and rainy outside. I am still working on the shawl a little at a time. I am enjoying having something to knit that doesn't have a must be finished by date. Yes, I am still knitting on the sweater of doom its just going to take longer now because it is summer. Too hot to knit on unless I am knitting in the air conditioner. I can not wait for the day that I get to post that as a FO!

And now for Becka...

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere. You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant. From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?
This one quite fit me. What about yours?

Mailingly,
Dee

Must check it out

Go to Woolgirl's yarn shop and buy from her. She is a misplaced Husker who has great customer service. (Yes I bought another skein of yarn. Its red white and blue people Sissy has a birthday soon. I. HAD. to.) It is newly opened this week and she needs some love. So all you three people go check her out! Now I am off to bed and will post more very soon :)
Hugs and squishes!

Woolingly,
Dee

Artful...

So I have become obsessed with getting a painting for the princesses portion of my room (yes our house is small enough that the princess sleeps in her bed in my room) Anyway all I want is something that is small with a princess theme. (I am aware that us thinking of her as a princess is very typical but she so is!) I found one on Etsy but the woman only has one feedback so I am debating. I saw a bunch of cute pictures at Target but I have become all about the Indie artists lately so I cooed over them and then walked away. I would love to "Girl up" her portion of the bed room. Maybe I will buy that small painting.
Knitting news...
Remember the Koigu that I told you I bought?

Ohhh yeah. It is very pretty. Now to find a shawl pattern that has a very simple stitch pattern so the colors look good and not muddy.

The batt below is from The Bellwether I entered a contest she had awhile back to name her newsletter. She loved the name so awarded me this oh so beautiful and soft (!!!) batt and a sock blocker keychain kit.Cutest thing ever.

Next up is the yarn I got from the Knit Happens sale. It came a full day early! So pretty and so squishable. Oh yea.

This will be beautiful as Seraphim I do believe. Not to worry there are four more balls of this stuff in the stash. I am cheap not stupid.

Now for something totally different. I have been cleaning out the basement as you know and yes it is going very well. I am to the part that I only have like three (maybe four) loads of laundry left to do before I am caught up. And I am planning Sissies "room". I still don't have the dumpster yet. Must kick that man into gear. Must finish while I am still going full steam! Anyway, during the cleaning/decluttering (I took 14 bags of clothes and stuff that we no longer use to the Goodwill yesterday. Then threw out all of the clothes that didn't make the Goodwill pile. There are 3 of thoes garbage bags. sheesh) I unearthed these two pottery remnants from back when I was into it. I made these years ago right after I finished High School. I actually forgot about them. I love them! There is a snake down stairs that I made around the same time that if I can find it I will snap a picture of it for you. It is very cool.

Anyway here is my bald man. He looks rather sad doesn't he? His base got chipped but he is otherwise unharmed.

Then there is

Melting man. (So named by my 5 year old 10 mins ago. He said "Mommy you made that man melt!") I actually made him drown in a whirl pool or that was my aim. So drowning man would be more appropriate but who can argue with a five year old.  Sometimes I think that i missed my calling with pottery. I loved it and still think about doing it again.

Potteringly

Dee