I will be back soon!

I will be able to resume posting and if it goes well...podcast. Mycomputer completely died and i have a new one coming tomorrow at last!!I have been reading and minimally involved.via a Nook tablet or my netbook. Neither of these have enuf capacity to produce a podcast. I have a lot to catch up!

After I get set up and have my data transferred I will be in business. Look to talk of what we to you all then and postvsome pictures of whats been on the needles,shuttles, and wheel!
See ya!

Boy it's a shame ya missed the "Real" video

I tried to upload a full vodcast last weekend but it just was not gonna work for me.  It was not too bad either!!

Still working same projects this month.  Will soon have FOs to show and picture.  Here is a smale sample of the video though...Beware...its raw un-edited...but shows my prgress.  The demo refers to the fact that this is new and unedited

Wow...I need a facelift!!

Well....I THOUGHT the computer was fine.....

But I was wrong.  The power source helped but it has still not been good.  I do have this NetBook from Dell, but I don't use it for posting the big stuff like podcasts.  I think it is now ok, so I am going to attempt a 'cast as soon as possible.  I lost the last two attempts I made since May episode.  The good thing is I have LOTS to chat about!

Also lost cell phone this week so I am waiting for a iPhone 4. Nah, I can't wait for the "5".  I poured coffee in my Blackberry Bold which I really liked.  I need a better device for medical stuff for work though...so I busted out the money and it should be here soon.  I hate spending money on a tele!  It is like car buyer's remorse!!  Argh!!

I have pics to post later...am making progress on tatting without pain.  YEAH!!  I was MONTHS before I could touch it!

So, until a bit later.....See ya!!

Tatting Revamped and Knitting Like Crazy

I am Sooooo glad I am well again and tatting and knitting is going great!  I was sick off and on all winter with bronchitis then as if that wasn't bad enough, the computer broke.. Had to replace the power supply, but it all seems better now.

I this episode I finished my review of...which simply means I told you...again...how much I love it!

How I Spin from Rita Buchanan http://www.interweavestore.com/Spinning.html?SessionThemeID=23&a=iwpsite
See new colors....I want I want!
Lizbeth from Handy Hands http://www.hhtatting.com/

Threads from Lacemaker http://www.lacemakerusa.com/default.html

Lacis http://lacis.com/ and others!!

I also really loved this months CMF May Columbia fiber (pics will come later.

I am tatting bookmarks galore after a month hiatus to rest hands and let tendonitis heal.  Things seem better now.
I am still working on Maltese rings, and Clunies and looking to expand into some other "new to me" techniques!!

I finished Fountain Pen Shawl from Interweave Summer 2009 http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2009_spring.asp

And am now making socks from Favorite Socks Waving Lace Socks, and some wash cloths
Reviewed Signature Needles...DPN, Single Points and Circulars...Luv them!!
Welcome back to regulares, welcome in to newbies...Be back soon!!

Computer Crash + Illness = No Podcast

Just a brief note to tell ya all I am hoping I can do a podcast soon.  I was sick with bronchitis most of April and was unable to talk for long periods without wheezing!  Now I am better....

Computer broke down and this netbook is not the best for podcasting.  I am going to try to put up a little one from here...this weekend.  A LOT to talk about!!  I had made a video cast I will try to get up here.  I have not figured out how to "get it out" of the camera.

I have more knitting done thab tatting but am still on an Iris project and am sooo itching to buy a new shuttle!!

Stay tuned

March has come in AND out like a LION but it seems better now

FIRST!!!....Apologies for the repetitive uploads...First, I had a track overlap with another...fixed it.  THEN, as I was fixing it I seem to have loaded two version of the same cast!  Yikes, What is with THAT!  I swear I only deleted the old then reloaded the new .  I hope they all didn't make it to ITunes but they might have.  Oops!  Sorry, if it made a mess on your MP3s!

 This is the scarf I made from the fiber shown in the previous posting..Celtic Glow from Crown Mountain,  Turned out very soft and warm burt as it is just a cowl...not too warm.  Below is what it looked like blocking. Liked the patterning and have had a couple FP residents try to steal.

Bottom picture is March fiber...Coopworth, Finding Rainbows..  First 2 ply in a while...again, not sure I love it as I like how the Navajo Ply preserves the color transitions,

I will post a picture of my revised "Gloria" from Iris Niebach book of edgings.  I think I might like it better in the larger size butterfly.  We;ll see.

Can't wait until end of April, Long weekend for Easter and another the next weekend as the family and I participate in the career fair at DDs school (NP, CAD drawing, interior design, teacher)  Then Bradley and I are continuing on for our Spring Break...Driving to Cleveland, and maybe into New York again chasing flowers!!  I am soooooo in need of a vacation.  We go every year in the Fall and the Spring.

Stay tuned!!  Keep Tatting, spinning and Knitting!
Arlene

New podcast up today...Getting over bronchitis and what is on the needles...spinning and shuttles!

 This is my Crown Mountain Farms, January Fiber Club in Celtic Glow all spun up.  Waiting for inspiration to start to knit it ...I think a Cowl as I got about 260 yard in Navajo Ply. 

Below is the spindle I bought at Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival held a few weeks ago.  I am so frustrated I can not remember the maker.  She is on Ravelry but I don't remember her name.  I love the sheen and it spins very well.  The last photo is a Jonathan Bosworth. It is Big Leaf Maple on a Cochin Rosewood shaft.  LOVE it!!

Yeah to my High Speed Flyer

I was ever soooo lucky and was on Ravelry almost at the very second this gem came up for sale.  I hit the Buy button before my reality told me not to!  Well, I have been pondering it for quite some time and the price, as when I got my wheel when it was on a rare promotional sale!  I think it is just destined to be mine!

Well, said gem of a find arrived today and I practically knocked my old mutha on her ass to get to it!

Since them, minus a few seconds to realize I strung it wrong...oh so THAT's what the hook was for!!  I am thrilled with it and know it will get endless use! 2ply lace and 3ply DK here I COME!!!

Picture later...Blogger...had to log off then on again to upload these pics.

New STEELERS yarn

Well, I just got this today to start...What?  Don't know yet...It is self striping of course but not sure how much.  I think I will check Ravelry to see if anyone has knit it up yet.

And do ya seeeee my first clunies...Ok, tell me again...is it really worth it?  So, after a few hours I think I am getting to be better at this.  Again, Blogger is crappin out on me so I will put it in later to show ya all how wonderful I am doing.  Thanks for the encouragement

Cluny's or BUST

Well, I really like this pattern...only showing a snipet for copyright purposes...so I better like those darned clunies.  Ok, well I don;t really disilike them, I just am not all that committed to them!  So, today on my sick day, I sat on the couch and tried all darn day.  I now feel I can do them so we will give this pattern a try.  It still hurts my left 1st MCP joint though so I might not continue...That is medical speak for I am too old to learn something new to do with these hands!!

Here is my first effort   added 2/2/11
Funny Miss MimiD thinks if I use something bigger than "nose hair" (my word not hers) I might have better luck!  That is a really good point.  I did try it with bigger and am getting it easier...this thread was actually 40g Lizbeth.  I should try one of my 20s.
Arlene

I am Late Because the STEELERS won!!!

For those of you who do not care about football, cover your ears because I am screaming "Steelers Going to the SUPER BOWL!!  Yeah!!  I was intended to podcast last weekend but realized it was a football game and so...NO...no podcast for you!!  Sooooorrrrrrryyyyyyy!  It was a grreat game and I am very excited for them.  I do hope WE win but I am not sure.  I do have lucky socks so that should definitely help, right?

I finished the Wendy Johnson socks..Heart to Heart socks in the red.  Now I am working on the Diamonds and Cables Socks in a purple Knit Picks Gloss as seen on the right.  I am very much enjoying these patterns and will no doubt do more from this book.  I will say the only thing I truly dislike is Short-Row heels...ick..but practice makes perfect.

Tatting, I finally sewed on the edging to the hanky that DD gave me.  I currently have allowed it to live under a glass (EAPG) bowl made by my GrandFathers old place of employ. It really looks nice there for now.  The old antique bowl with a vintage hanky.  What could be better?

This month I will be working on hearts from

Ruffled Heart Pattern Vicki Clarke

Tat's Amore, Martha Ess  scroll down the page

Tatting Hearts, Teri Dusenbury this is an Amazon site.

Spinning, I reviewed

Drafting: The Long and Short of It, Abby Franqemont Interweave site

Next "cast I will review

How I Spin, Rita Buchanan also at Interweave

Until then....Enjoy!

Sheesh! What a long week!

Phew!  What a tough week.
I heard this week on CBS Morning show that it is difficult to stay positive when it is cold and dark and wintry...NO!  Really??

I feel that if I do not harm someone it will be miraculous because I keep running in to things...big bruise on my knee, keep wanting to "smart-off" to someone!  It is soooo tough to be positive when a  patient berates you for saving them more than 100.00 ....when they wanted it to be free....REALLY?

Ah...well.  It is Pennsylvania and I am pretty sure we will have sunlight no later than July 4th!!  We are constantly diagnosing Vitamin D deficiency here to which I, once again reply....REALLY!!!???  WE HAVE NO SUN!!!

It is so funny to see our fam practice residents from sun-drenched states such as California complaqin that there is no sun here....REALLY??  LOL!! Enough with the reallies!

No 'cast this weekend...coming up next week.  On the needles is still the socks for my DD that I need to rip back yet again.  Maybe I will let it slide.  I have spun a bit but not as much while hand heals.  Tonight I plan to spin and watch more of

Drafting: The Long and Short of It by Abby Fanquemont

and

How I Spin by Rita Buchanan

I will review them next time...So far I am LOVING the 50.00 I spent on myself to get them.

Until then...Happy Friday
Arlene

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to every one!!  What a great holiday season we had here...snow, good food, and time to knit...spin...tat!! What could be better.

To the top left is the scarf from handspun finally done!  It went over well with the recipient as well as those she works with.  Below   my youngest DD hand sewed every stitch in this bag that is currrently  

 carrying my knitting projects.  It is really beautiful! Over to the upper right is the Lady and the Stone navajo plied and now making a scarf from Oceanwind Knits; tweed scarf.  I think I found it via Ravelry.

Below that is the January fiber from Crown Mountain. It is South African Top in the colorway "Celtic Glow".  Really pretty fine fluffy fiber spinning so far on a spindle until my hand recovers.

Thanks to StephieJo the winner for December.. I have sent her her goodies.  I still have not heard from "Anne"...let me know gal and we will chat.

Thanks to NewfieCatt Catt's Craftiness for her messages to me this week.  Check out her site for a nice story and some great crochet and knitted goodies!

And Thanks to "Amy" A Joyful Mom who is on Ravelry and stopped by here.  She liked the video in November.  I think I will make more to see if I can add more info for those who might like to try it the "old-fashioned" way.

Finally, our newest member of the menagerie is Shiloh, a 1 year old Labrador!!  I will add a picture later!  It is My DD's birthday present to herself...So far, the kitties are mortified but surviving.  Shiloh is not going near them but their tails are permanently fluffed.  Sigh.

And the Winner IS.......

Thank you to my wonderful listeners for the site hits and downloads! I seem to be growing.
My podcast incentive winners posted both on this (podbean) site and on the Blogger site. They can notify me at gjdiwpx@aol.com with title podcast winner and give me info regarding wether you like tatting or knitting things and what colors you love or hate!!

Winners are...Anne

                     StephieJo
More to come tomorrow after I edit my photos.  I will add them in as an edit!!
Thanks for listening!!
Arlene

Taping tomorrow...BUT....A winner has been drawn....drum rolls!! To be announced with the podcast going up this weekend!

Well!  I put most of my message in the title for heaven's sake..!!
I had my DD draw a name tonight and the winners are......not so fast!!!  You will have to wait until the podcast goes up!!  It looks like they might both be tatters but if not the deal is the same...I will post the winner's here and in the podcast...drop me an email at gjdiwpx@aol.com and I will ship your package.  You may choose either a tatting prize or a knitting one...your choice so if you do both you'll have to ponder!

On the shuttles are snowflakes, snowflakes and more snowflakes (pictured prev episode).  I have a new pair of scissors from Bagsmith.com..I bought for my birthday...Ok, so I love scissors!! Note the paw paw trying to get them while Lucky sits on the ironing board. A second later they you would have seen them on the floor!

On the needles:  Christmas presents I can't talk about but might podcast...Don't listen girls.  I gave a vanilla pair I am going to start tomorrow for grandson..his request was white with one blue stripe and one orange one.  Huh?

Spinning:  This is finally that darned Lady doing somethin or another with the damned stone...also known as
The Woman and the Stone from Crown Mountain Farms.  It is not as I thought it would be but I do like it.  I am doing a scarf...not sure I will continue with this pattern but I might.  Until later....Arlene!!



Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday (to me!!), and a tale of 5 Kitties

This is episode 25 and I am so happy to be here. Today is my 55th Birthday and though I think it sucks eggs to be in menopause , I am happy to be here!

In this episode I have re-introduced listeners to my cats and the naughty things they have been doing. I also talk about my Thanksgiving dinner plans and I might put a picture in tomorrow as an edit!!

My stuffing is really good...if I must say so myself! I am also making a pumpkin cheesecake and a gravy-less turkey. All New recipes! I do that all the time....Living on the edge and all!!

Knitting is the same but I did buy some Cashmere5 yarn to make some mittens. I will edit the pictures in later as well...I am charging the battery in the camera. I am tatting like crazy on the ornaments and will put the pictures in for that as well...I just wanted to get this up since the podcast was later than I wanted. I am now in love with my Polwarth Lady and the Stone and am thinking of doing a hat and scarf with it.  I don't really wear hats but I can make exception.

Murray Lincoln's Tree as mentioned...very nice.  I love making golden (or silver) colored ornaments as well. This tree is very beautiful and gives me good ideas.

 

THE BIG NEWS....a contest!! In the next two weeks via a posted message on iTunes (prefered), here or on podbean will get the winner some yarn (I am buying it new...and probably some Lizbeth tatting thread for the tatter. So...let me hear from you! The drawing will be announced with the December podcast so it will run either 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Arlene

This was edited 12/10/10 to add the pictures!!

This is the promised video showing how differently my tatting looks.  Do you know anyone who does this as well?  It is from an EARLY book and I have been doing it this way for 30+ years!  Very fast as well.  The video is not the best but not bad.

Long weekend leads to tatting and knitting productivity!

 I had a long weekend for no reason and was able to tat, knit and today spin my way along.  These are the socks I finished last week or so ago...the Straight-laced socks from Knitty Winter 2002. 

On my trip to Sewickly, I bought these yarns to use in some Christmas knitting.

The yarn is from Yarns Unlimited...Tosh Sock, in Pheasant; Regia Design line Kaffe Fassett in Clay; Belgium sock from Around the World in knitted Socks in Classic Elita Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace;

 Frog Tree Alpaca in the Blue.

 

Tatting this week featured a snowflake mentioned by Ingred, Marty, and Jon. The snowflake is Quantiesque at Jon's site.

 

Mark Myers has been at it again doing some really phenom videos!! If you have not seen then for Pete's sake...why not. His site Tat-man Lists many opportunities to see, learn and oogle! A must see if you are a tatter!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is the Tatted Tree from Be-Stitched.com.  I workrd up in Sulky Green Holoshimmer and 80g Lizbeth.  It was quick and easy and hopefully will look good on a package.  The shuttles are new from Shuttleshop.  Tulipwood Hearts.

Until next time...Take care.  Post a comment on itunes or here to be entered into drawing this month...Next podcast will be the details.  Stay tuned

My Fall Trip to see the Leaves and How many bridges do we need to see?

Our fall trip to upper Pa and New York could not be complete without a trip to see one of the bridges Brad's company help design repair.  He is a Drafter (CAD) and the company makes bridge decks, rails and railroad rails.  These bridges go ever the Erie Canal in a couple of small towns in New York.  They were pretty neat lift bridges, actually.  This water fall is at Taughannock Falls.  It is a gorgeous cricular "cut out" made by the glaciers.  Very beautiful. This picture below depicts one of the Finger Lakes.  Look at the tree in the foreground.  Below is the spooky cemetery at Cornell University.  None of these stones appeared to be after late 1800's  though I thought I saw a few WWII markers.  Spooky but  beautiful.

Yarn spun from Lady in the Stone from Crown Mountain.  Also one of the snowflakes and awareness patches I have been making.  A very busy week.

A visit to see Alpaca Farm and Poor Meat stars in my Dreams

Highland Alpaca Farm, Grove City, PA  Oct2 was the open to the public day.  What fun we had looking at and patting the animals!!  Can I have one?  Please?  I promise to be good...No?  Well, ok never mind!

I bought some wonderful black alpaca from the farm and am tempted to buy more yarn..Very soft.  I will post pic of sock I made from Socks From The Toe Up...Diamond Gansy.  The guy in the lower pic used to play bass guitar with Bob Dylan.

Started another pair of socks from Nore Silk Garden Light (Col2018)     is    now a discontinued yarn for some reason...Kinda splitty according to some; I have not had problems.

Tatting on snowflakes with new thread from Fuji...glow in the dark of coarse.  Also bought three from Robison-Anton in white and pink also for glowing Christmas ornaments..Do you see a theme here.  All I can tell you is that acquiring larger numbers of these on your tree is really an amazing sight...after the lights go out!