Spinning, Knitting and Cat fur.....

Well not only have i been busy at work...and in my personal life, but I Finally took the time to read Elizabeth Zimmermans book, The Knitters Workshop, and the first project was a hat. I decided...i can do that. Then i decided i would use this Yarn i spun myself (this is what was left after making the hat)

It is one strand of BLF wool(the pretty creamy white) and one strand of my cat Normals fur, spun as you would angora rabbit fur. I did Not cut his hair, i simply collected it as i brushed him and spun the fluff.
Here is Normal

and...the hat...the white part of the cap is just the BFL wool i spun by itself, the crown is the cat fur/bfl yarn.


and of course a few of the cat in the cat hair hat


Normal is entirely too tolerant for his own good....actually, he thinks he's as human as we are, and is a little emo for a cat, always wanting love and cuddles.

So...here we have crafty happiness, i think i'll be making hats for anyone who wants them, as they're fun to knit up. (have already made one for Chris' son, and have started his daughters...they match the scarves i made them:-) Chris decided he wanted a set as well. i am utterly thrilled that my family likes my handcrafts enough to want me to make them things!

Spring is on the way, and i look forward to all that brings.....we have more shooting outings planned, it's the shedding season for pets, so i'll be able to reap Quite the cat fluff harvest...then i'll need to decide what to make with that yarn!
All in all i must say that my life is Blessed with love and a joy i had not known was possible.
love to all....
jen

UFOs and Misc....

Here are my tatting shuttles...although,....i do have another ceramic one coming in the mail from Sherry it has a pin up girl on it and i'm stoked to add it to my collection!!! (pictures upon arrival!)

Well this truely fits the UFO description. Started it last spring, haven't worked on it since! Ack, it is meant to be a queen sized quilt,a kindof oxymoron of a quilt though, It's a pieced block 'crazy' quilt. And we have Normal modeling it and the couch for us.

Here is the big project i have on the go...that i am more or less steadily working on, i'm spinning the wool for the scarf, and have knitted up 3 skeins of my yarn, and have a 4rth on the needles. I may have enough to finish it with the 5th skein on the spinning wheel!

Butterflies...Finished butterflies! however i need to make more of them(for my momma!)the bottom right butterfly is an original design from my friend Sherry(yep, the ceramic tatting shuttle goddess!)
I need to start on my tatting homework for the Spokane Tatting Workshop in April. So, if i have enough time tonight after noodling on the net and getting ready for work tomorrow, maybe i'll have a chance to start. (the workshop is one of the reasons i have the pic of the massed group of tatting shuttles, looking at the collection to determine which will be good for the Workshop!)
Oooooh. my Honiton studies. Neglected. painfuly and dreadfully so. I need to wind my bobbins and prepare my pillow for the next lesson(whic i should have done last week :-( work has been tough on my hand- so that's my story!
love jenn

The 'New' Spinning Wheel

Here it is, i believe it is an Ashford, possibly from the '70s.(previous owner had it 20 years, and she thought it was old when she bought it. I have placed an order to replace several missing pieces, and with this style of wheel- Traditional style(the other wheel i have is called a castle style) you need a lazy kate to hold the bobbins of single ply yarn so you can ply two or three strands together depending on the size/type of yarn you are after. (oops, got carried away there, i also had to order a lazy kate!)I'm considering buying a lace flyer for this wheel, if it performs well with the adjustments i'm making for it(the flyer set up is near 200$) So i would eventually be able to spin super fine lace weight :-)

The boys helping to model the new wheel.

here is another skein and the start of a bobbin of single wool,mohair and firestar, in a pretty lavender for the shawl i'm knitting. It will take Many skeins to complete i'm sure!
I very happily placed orders for the Denise knits knitting needle set(on recommendation of a dear, and quite talented friend) along with Elizabeth Zimmermans knitters workshop book, and two Cat Bordhi books on knitting. Hey- i'll have to do Something with all of this yarn!
Since i will be missing the Lace Guilds meeting tomorrow, i am dedicating my day to the next Honiton piece. I keep saying this and shying away from doing it. Before bed tonight, i look for a butterfly pattern for the exchange:-)
Goodnight all,
love jen