The bars are coming along.. I’ve fixed a few bugs that I had found, as well as a memory hogging issue, and I’ve got a few people signed up to test them.  If you’re interested in testing them too, please PM me on Ravelry with your email address and API key, and I’ll email you a code snipped to use.  The flash display is somewhat customizable - you can change the color of everything as well as which type of projects are displayed, and I’m working on the ability to change some other things as well.

I got distracted from my Lizard Ridge by a super cute hoodie pattern I’m testing.. I have about 2″ of plain knitting to go on the skirt and then I can do the lace part, then finish off the sleeves and work on the hood.  The test knits I’ve seen so far look impossibly cute - I can’t wait to get a little bit more done with mine.  If i like how it turns out, I’ll probably make a bigger one for Kaia

(excuse the lensbaby shot, it was already on my camera and I didn’t feel like swapping lenses to get a quick progress shot)

I totally had a blast. Lost of people stopped by to see us, and Shelly and I were super busy the entire weekend! I managed to crank out one pair of socks Saturday morning in about 45 minutes, which I then took off the machine but left attached to each other, so Shelly and I could show what a pair looks like fresh off the machine. That worked REALLY well for demonstration purposes - quite a few people commented that I must not know what a foot looks like, since it was hard to make out just how what came off the machine became socks, but it was great to be able to show them all the parts of a sock, and how it all comes together when you separate them and close the toes. Most people were surprised that there was very little difference structurally between the socks we make on our antique machines, and the new ones you can go pick up at any store.

Shelly and I both have a lot of ideas on how to make things go a little smoother next year (or for any CSM demo, really).

sock knitter

Originally uploaded by yi
Yeah, that’s me - I was putting tags on socks!

They like yarn, that’s close, right?

We adopted two kitties Saturday from the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.  We had no idea they had a kitty special going on when we decided to get both of them either (and we were okay with paying two adoption fees).. which for some reason impressed the lady that did all of our paperwork… but it meant that we walked out with two kitties for less than we’d expected to pay to adopt one.  They are both too cute for words.. they camed named from the shelter but I doubt that we’ll keep the names (though we’ve not come up with anything better?  So they might stick… hope not!).

10 week old Calico “Heidy” (she’s the shy one.. I almost wonder if her name wasn’t a shelter employee being silly.  She’s a real sweetheart now that she’s warming up to us - she’s even starting to act like a kitten after just being here a day)

11 week old black/white “Dallas” (she’s a goofy girl.. might as well have a goofy name too?)

Both spayed and microchipped, complete with their first shots… for the bargain price of $75 :)  We had been promising the kids we’d get a cat for months now, so it wasn’t quite an impulsive thing.. though getting two sort of was.  Really we just couldn’t decide, so instead of arguing over it, DH just went and started filling out paperwork.  He’s awesome.

I started on this blended batt a while back (so long I have no idea what’s even in it, though I do remember buying it, at least!) and thought I should go ahead and make some progress on it, since I haven’t touched my wheel at all, in about 6 months!  This is a handful away from finishing the first bobbin.  I’m hoping I’ll have the rest finished and plied this weekend.  It’s a fun blend of blues, greens, purple, and a bit of pink here and there, and some white fibers that I can’t identify - I thought at first they might be silk, but now I’m honestly leaning more towards them being nylon.  That’s not really a problem, I think this yarn is destined to become socks when it’s finished

Mmmm.. fibery

Raffle winners should be announced on Saturday for the Zen String Raffles (we are waiting on Angelina to draw the #’s that will determine the winners).. the raffles did phenomenally well, and we’ll post the totals for entries as well as the final amount raised for Angelina after the last of the auctions end tomorrow.

As our fundraiser to help get Angelina back on her feet is coming to a close, I just wanted to thank each and EVERY one of you out there who either donated items for the raffles and auctions, or has contributed by buying raffle tickets and bidding on auctions, as well as those who have supported Angelina privately - your generosity has vastly exceeded our wildest expectations.  We have surpassed our goal (and then some) for the entire event with just the raffle ticket sales alone.  I am just astounded by all involved.  Angelina is an amazing fiber artist - we definitely miss her tons, as I am sure most of you do too, and we cannot wait to have her back in action.

Georgia’s generous donation of a 6 month subscription to her Booty Club that we have paired with 4 gorgeous colorways from Angelina on various yarns (below - they are awesome, aren’t they?) has without a doubt drawn in the most supporters (and raffle ticket sales) - I don’t think we can thank her enough for that.  I think Georgia herself might be a bit surprised at just how much she was able to help us earn (I think we are planning to annouce the final numbers when everything is finished - which should be Saturday sometime)

If you are just hearing about this now, don’t worry, there’s still time to buy raffle tickets!  Sales end tonight (Friday) at 9pm though, so don’t delay - winners will be announced Saturday.  Some of the auctions will continue into Saturday as well… such as this handspun and hand woven scarf that I donated (yeah, that isn’t a shameless plug for myself!).  It was probably one of my favorite FO’s of all time (next to my most awesome socks, of course)!