Comments

So, I know just about everyone who blogs *loves* comments, right?  They encourage us, inspire us and give the encouragement to go on and finish a project.  Our readers can help us through a difficult stage of a project with their comments. 

One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is the relationships I have built with the commenters.  That being said - often people who comment don't have a visible email address so you can reply.  I've set up the reply in my comments section.  But it seems weird to reply to some people via return email and other by a reply in the comments.  It also feels like the people who don't have a visible reply are being ignored - while that may or may not be the case. 

So - help a girl out here.  If you don't mind, please answer the following questions in the comments.  I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle comments and keep everyone happy. 

1.  Do you like getting a response from the blogger about the comment you left?
2.  Do you like checking back on a blog to see if you've heard anything?
3.  Are you feelings hurt if the blogger replies to some (most) of the comments, but not yours?
4.  Do you care if your comment is acknowledge?
5.  Do you comment to build relationships? 

I Bit the Bullett

Handmade Pay It Forward 2011

I like making things.  I also like gifting things.

So when I saw Amy was doing a PIF 2011 I decided to sign up.

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They in turn must post this and send something they make to the first 5 people to comment on their blog. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 recipients sometime in 2011.

No promises what it will be - but it will be handmade by me.  Might be sewn - maybe an apron like the ones above, maybe napkins, coasters, socks or a shawl.  Wanna play?

Patterns and more

Last month Mary showed some great vintage patterns on her blog.  And then - then - she offered to give them away (Mary - I think I owe you postage!).  While we were away last month a box arrived at my door.

I was amazed at how many patterns were shoved into that flat rate box.  The practically burst out when I opened it.

Really lovely, vintage patterns.  However after last weekend of sewing - I'm not sure why I would ever try a pattern other than what I know already fids.  But looks at this one - McCalls 7015.  I adore it.  I think I can take a page from Carolyn's book and just overlay my TNT a-line skirt pattern (Simp.
5914) and use the parts that fit from my TNT and incorporate the design lines from this stunning pattern and end up with a winner.  Right?  Right?

Also in the box was 9 balls of the lovely Lang Golf cotton in a lovely sunflower yellow.  There is 125 meters in each ball.  That should be enough to make a lovely little summer cardi for next year - dontcha think?

Mary said she was sending yarn because she was sure my stash must be dwindling with the all the knitting I've been doing lately.  Mary - JB spewed water all over the kitchen when I read that!  He said - Thanks for nothing!   But it's okay - I love it all.  Thank you.

Packages on the Porch - Part 1

Friday when I got home - I noticed that there were packages on my front porch. Hmm - I was expecting a couple of things - but they should have fit in the box. What could it be? Well it was these lovely hot pads from Debbie! See - I sent her a little part for her sewing machine she was wanting and I had an extra of and in turn she sent me these lovely quilted hot pads. Now she had been making a big deal out of the card I sent with the ankle - but look at the card she sent me! Isn't that adorable? it's an antique sewing machine. But the best part? These hot pads are completely machine washable and they're huge! So no missing the edges and the grabbing the pan with my fingers any more. I used them tonight and even JB noticed. He asked where I got new hot pads. Thanks Debbie this will get lots of use.

Kindness

So - one of the things I wanted to get done this long weekend was to update my blog. Update the photos in the header adding photos of the three things I blog about most - The dogs, knitting and sewing. Obviously - that only partly got done. I did change the background, but I couldn't figure out how to get the photos into the little boxes in the header template. I sent a frantic email to Angie - [but since my kid (The Musical One) and her friend updated my desktop I can't copy and past into blogger anymore - so no links!!] asking her for help adding the photos to the template - because see how cute her header is? Yea - I want mine to look like that.

I recently found a new blog (again no linking) of a woman who knits, sews, is very organized and uncluttered. She chooses a word of the year and focuses on that word all year long.

This year I believe my focus is going to be on kindness - in all it's many forms. I think I do a fairly good job being kind to others although I will say that I'm failing at that at my job lately and that needs work. But really - I'm not very kind to myself. I believe that kindness will bring many rewards.

So - I will continue trying to figure out how to update the header and make the links work on the desktop again. However, I won't be doing a year in review. Trust me when I say I knit alot, I talked about the dogs, and while I talked and dreamed about sewing - there wasn't much of it being done.

Happy 2010 everyone - may the new decade bring all you desire.

It Works Like This

Last week when I got home there was a package from Kathy. I wasn't expecting anything - so I tore it open. Funny thing is - while the note was in Kathy's handwriting - it was signed by Lucy! See this is how blogging and ravelry works - you make friends, somebody mentions something you might want (like some templates for adding grippy paint to the bottom of your socks) and then offers to go pick one up and mail it to you. Because you are on a very tight budget (and you like this person, in this case it's Lucy) you offer to send her some orange yarn you have for the pumpkin socks she's wanting to make. She then contacts another bloggy/rav friend who just happens to have an etsy store and voila! you are no longer carrying around your current sock project in a ziplock baggie. Thanks Lucy & Kathy - it's a fabulous bag. Amazing how that works - huh?

Sheepie!

On Thursday when I got home from work - there was a box on my porch. This one was from Channon and it was chock full of goodies. This is what I saw immediately upon opening it - soft and chewy pig ear alternatives and chocolate mint tea. The dog treats are gone and the tea is fabulous. Upon digging further in the box I found these really fun "g" stitch markers. Everybody knows that I sign everything with just 'g.' Next up with this really fun project bag made out of gerber daisy fabric (gerber daisies are my all time favorites - in fact my tatoo is suppose to be a gerber daisy). Can you see the fleece sheep that is appliqued on the project bag? Adorable. Also included was a lovely hank of Dream in Color Smooshy. I had one hank of this yarn and I used it this summer - fabulous yarn - absolutely lovely! I might have spent a lot of time telling Chan how much I was enjoying knitting with it and how depressed I was that the socks I was knitting from it wouldn't fit me. The colors are spot on for me - I love browns, oranges, and the rusty reds that are in this hank of yarn. Now to find the perfect pattern for me (insert evil laugh here). Thanks Chan - I love it all!

Blessed

So a good blog friend is having a big blog bash to reminder herself and help everyone else remember all their blessings. So, as requested - I'll list my blessings here: First - a husband who loves me. We will celebrate our 15th anniversary this year and I think it's pretty amazing that we still love each other and enjoy spending time together. Four great dogs. I can't imagine a life without dogs. I'm blessed that no only are my dogs great - but when something happens - Abby gets hurt or Beau bloats - we are financially stable and able to fix our dogs.

Family - we have had the pleasure of raising two responsible, respectful girls to adulthood. The only thing that could make me happier is if they would reproduce already. But, maybe I could wait until they got married, but still.

We are also lucky to have Miss L. Even though she isn't ours, she might as well be. We can count on her to watch the dogs when we are out of town, she good friends with both The Musical One and The Princess and Dudley loves her best.

And finally - velveteen friends. Real life and blog friends who know me. Who know when they get something that they would know I would love and setting it aside. Since I started this blog I have met many, many wonderful people. I love getting to know them. I also like having a connection to my local friends that I don't get to see as much as I would like.

So - as often as I feel down - I am blessed.

Alabama Fiber Dreams

Over at ravelry I started a group. It's the Stash Sock Club and it was started on the premise that you would knit 12 pairs of socks from your stashed yarn during 2009. Of course there are those that believe that sock yarn doesn't count as stash, however, since it takes up room in my studio - I think it counts. Anyway - I had been doing fairly well not adding yarn and just knitting up the fabulous and lovely hanks that had been accumulated. But I was getting bored. One of the group "rules" was that if the yarn was gifted to you - you could knit it up and count it toward the goal. Anyway - what better way to add to the stash without spending money, getting some fabulous new yarns and getting to know new people - then to organize a swap. So that's what I did.

BubblesKnits was my spoiler and she did a fabulous job. There was a box waiting for me last Wednesday. First her timing couldn't have been better - second it was completely dog themed. Perfect! The box contained 2 half yards of fabric (to make more Momma bags), whoppers!, dog treats, dog themed magnets, Paw's Rule needle gauge, dog stitch markers, a wonderful weekly menu pad, and two hanks of yarn that I have never used before. Numma Numma toasty and some Alabama Fiber Dreams Emily. (Truth be told, I sorta begged her for the Emily and offered to send her a project bag and needle roll in exchange.)

Thank you - it's perfect. The socks I make from this yarn will forever remind me of the scare I had with Beau and the fact that the emergency vet (once again) fixed my heart.

CoffeeYarn

Coffee Yarn is on the West Coast to visit DTY (in case anyone besides me has ever wondered - Daughter the Younger). Anyway - DTY is a short train ride from me. So CoffeeYarn hopped a train bringing a camera and her overnight bag. I put her up in my very messy guest room. I have been reading her blog for about 15-18 months now and in that time I have never seen a photo of her on her blog. I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't know who I was looking for at the train station, but I arrived before her and sat down to wait and knit. She was wearing a Ravelry t-shirt. Made it pretty easy. We walked back to the car and then go lost on our way to Pike Place Market. A quick call to JB verified what I already knew - I was too far south and west to get there. Eventually we did find the Market and the tea. We even got back to the car to dump stuff and found So Much Yarn, Cost Plus World Market and Weaving Works on our way back to Houndville, USA. While I resisted at So Much Yarn, I did purchase Mo's Bacon Bar and after a quick dinner we snuck it to JB without telling him what it was. Before getting back to the house for dinner - we made one more stop at Weaving Works where I managed to add to my stash as well as get shown some lovely hand-woven dishtowels. The pictures of the pretties? Well first up is CoffeeYarn herself. Then the lovely snack she brought for Beau - it's a lovely handknit dishrag, I've promised not to drape it over the sink. Finally - being modeled by Hank the Heron - hand-dyed variegated coffee yarn. this is going to be so much fun to make into socks :)

something cheerful . . .

that's what the note said, something cheerful . . . . first, can I just say - who has note paper with their dogs on it? Seriously - love it Y. My friend, Purlin'Goldens sent this lovely Ty-Dy Socks. her note said it made her cheerful and she hoped it would do the same for me. She stared as a virtual friend and then I got a chance to meet her when we visited North Carolina in October 2006. Then she stalked me on ravelry and made a comment about a pair of socks she really, really liked. Since she doesn't knit socks (seriously, she sold off all her sock knitting supplies) do you think it was a blatant hint? Miss Y (Purlin'Goldens) also mentioned that she really liked these clog socks (rav link- seriously, what are you waiting for). I have messaged the knitter but have yet to hear back from her. So I think I'll just play with the slip stitch heel a bit and see if I can figure it out. I think I remember that Y wears a size 7.5 shoe. Apparently my goal to knit 12 pairs of socks from yarn I haven't paid for is actually 12 pairs for people other than me :) Thankfully, I can knit this yarn right up and have it count toward that goal, ant this pair will make that goal. To date I have knit 17 pairs of socks in 2009, 16 from yarns I either had or were gifted to me in 2009. I have only bought enough yarn to make 3 pairs of socks this year, one has been knit already. Of those 16 pairs of socks, 5 have been for me and the rest are for others. Of course JB has made out like a bandit receiving 4 pairs.

Blogger Meet Up

My friend Camilla decided to read a book or 4 about vampires and got a little bit obsessed. What started out as a get together for sock summit turned into the "dorks in Forks" tour. With Cami bring with her to Seattle three of her Indiana natives: Melly, Mandy and Noemi - the change came about because of Herr Becher's schedule and it's all good.

On Tuesday, JB and I went down to Pike Place Market to meet the Indiana contingent that came to Seattle (I'm pretty sure the city will never be the same). We met up with them at the Alibi Room and had an adult beverage and some little snacks. Then we headed into the market. One thing you have to do if you are visiting Seattle is catch a salmon. Not that she's shy, but Camilla didn't want to chat up the guy and catch a fish - so I threw her under the bus. Seriously - click on the photo and make it bigger her face is priceless and she did good - she caught it :) Although the fish did have revenge by scratching her.

After Cami pulled off the amazing fish catching feat - the rest of the gang climbed behind the fish counter for the photo op. From left to right in the front is Cami, Noemi, Mandy and Meli is in the back.

After tooling around the market for awhile - JB and I followed the girls back to Meli's sister's house were we had pizza, more adult beverages and tons of great conversation. I had a fabulous time -

bloggers really are some much fun.

many thanks

after a long last day at work, I got home to a clean house by JB who is still off work thanks to his slowly healing shoulder. there was also a box on the bench by the front door. the box was from Coffee Yarn. she had offered to send me a copy of a pattern that she has a duplicate of, it's the rambling rows afghan. Ms. Coffee Yarn decided to put a lovely box together for my family. Yep - the whole darn family. there was fresh homemade bread, puffed corn, the pattern, a cookbook, some lovely embroidered hotpads, treats for the dogs, knit banana slugs and some lovely trekking for

me since I've been on the "Abby Diet" this year. look at how sweet these tiny little slugs are. slugs are the bain of JB's existence and he steps on them all the time. I will make sure these cute little guys are safe. although Beau did try to eat them already. also in the box were two tissue wrapped packages, one was labeled JB and one for me. the one for JB contained a nicely made reversible apron. it's a BBQ style apron made out of a fabulous dog print. there are bloodhounds and a dog named Abby on the print. There was also a fabulous reversible apron for me - but I have to save something for later. Thanks again Ms. Coffee Yarn you really surprised me and lifted my spirits.

spent the weekend away

with JB and had a lovely time. We had lots of fun, sun and met up with our old neighbors. We had a lovely room at a Bed and Breakfast in Wenatchee. We saw The Soloist, we visited local gardens, yarn shops and parks. On our way over on Thursday, we stopped in Leavenworth - a Bavarian themed town and dawdled around by the river, strolling, holding hands and talking. We tried to visit their yarn shop (but she's closed on Thursdays). Anyway, I suppose you are wondering what the pictures have to do with the commentary? Well, when we got home on Sunday, there was a box on the kitchen counter. Channon is constantly on the lookout for the perfect bag and she is a lover of Vera Bradley. Since she has drooly dogs and likes her bags to look nice, this one wasn't the perfect back for her. But it's fabulous! The print is so bright and cheerful and she offered it up for sale on her blog, along with the matching wallet. Well - she wouldn't take my money. Not only did she send the bag and matching walled - she included a sock (that's a story for another day) and treats for my houndies. Thanks Chan - it's lovely. I'll be switching over to it soon.

I'd Like to Introduce You

to my newest project. These are the Grape Leyburn socks (all the details can be found on Ravelry - and all the cool kids know how to get there). The yarn is malibrigo sock and it's soft and lovely. I think it might be too soft for socks, but I love it and I will finish them. The pattern is lovely. While I'm not following the pattern directly (I'm really not that sort of girl), I am using the stitch pattern. It's easy to memorize. Easy to see where you are in the pattern. And, most importantly, easy to execute.

These are going quite quickly - I started them for real on April 7th and I'm just about ready to start working on adding the gusset stitches. I'm going to do the toe-up gusset and traditional heel flap.

Also - for anyone who likes to win neat stuff - go check out Ally B - she's having a contest and giving away a super cute notions wallet and a ball of tofutsies. Tell her I sent you :)

Passing Along the Good

Finally! I've finished this book. I got this book from Sue (scroll down on this post), who got it from Golden Tracks who got it from Monica who started passing this book along back in January. Betsy Greer (who authored this book) gives insight into the personal and social benefits of knitting as well as the emotional reasons for why we knit. There are a few patterns included in the book, but this is far more about why we knit and why we should knit. Here are the rules for the Book Pass Along: 1. When you receive the book, please go to Monica's blog and add yourself to the world map she's installed, so those interested can see where the book is. Please add your Name, location and your blog address, so we can visit, and for those who want the book, to leave a comment on your blog. 2. Read the book, enjoy it, let it inspire you, then do a draw, so you can pass it on. Best to copy the rules to your blog post with a link to Monica's blog, (so others who know nothing about her can know what's going on.) She glued a page into the book with the rules. It would be nice if the book did not lie around too long at any one point Well I kinda blew the not lie around too long part. I'm not sure how long I've had the book - but I read it and I'm ready to pass it along. Leave a comment if you're interest. I'll get it out this week. I have finished the book and am ready to send it to the next reader. If you would like to share in the Book Pass Along, leave a comment on this post. I will have Fudge select from the comments (he'll be fair, he can't read) and I will notify you that you have been selected. Once you have been selected, you can contact me with your address and I will send the book on to you.There is a list inside the book for each person to sign when you receive it. Where will it go next???

I am Blessed

When I got home from work last night, JB was sitting on the loveseat playing on the 'puter. There was a box on the coffee table beside him. He looked at me and said, "What did you order now?"

"Nothing." I wonder who the box is from. So I grabbed it and tore it open. (I left one pretty little pendant/charm out of the photo shoot completely.)

The box was from Angie. Go check out her blog. She makes lovely clothing and is a huge Battlestar Gallactica geek. I don't get into

those sci-fi shows so I don't get it, but I won't knock it either. She is absolutely charming and she has a basset hound named Stella. Not that Stella ever gets blog time. Anyway - inside the box? Tons of stuff. Some fun yarn - which Lucy is dying to eat so I'll have to be careful what I make out of it. But it's really soft and fluffy and will make a great scarf.

Next there was the beautiful Pampered Pooch charm square package. I have learned lots of things from Miss Angie using charm squares including the woven coasters and the tissue covers. So there will be some dog themed treats in my future. Although JB suggested a quilt. There was a lovely sign which I will hang down in my studio. It's just a lovely reminder to let inspiration in. I needed that.

The last (or actually the first) thing was a lovely wind chime. JB has wind chimes all over the yard and this one will soon be joining them. Someplace where we can hear it while we are lounging on the deck :) The top is a coconut shell and I'm not sure what all the parts are made out of but there are angels, doves and hearts and gently bouncing together to make a lovely sound.

Thank you Angie - It was a lovely pick me up at the end of a long day.

Thank You!

Both Marjie and Carolyn gave me this award and I feel very honored to have received it. Thank you both.

Now, the rules of this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post - done

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! - see below

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. - again, see below

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. - getting to it

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award. - done

So - this nominating is the tough bit. I don't want to hurt any feelings. There are tons of blogs I read and enjoy. I have conversations with them via email and consider them friends. Some of those people have already been bestowed with this lovely award. So - I'm going to give it bloggy friends who I haven't seen the award pop up on this blog. In no particular order: 1. Sue - who has helped me more than she'll ever know. 2. Jessica - a good friend who's visit I'm looking forward to. 3. Angie - who makes me laugh or at least smile every time I read her blog 4. Teri - a lovely woman who's always encouraging 5. Yvonne - who never has a mean word to say 6. Chan - who is always positive and supportive 7. The Princess - A lovely young woman I am proud to tell people I raised 8. Lucy - a new blog friend 9. Michelle - an inspirational and supportive friend 10. Jessi - funny, funny lady - even though she's a cat Thank you all. I love the friendships that blogging has provided me.

I Feel So Honored

This award has been making it's way around blogland. I am thrilled to say that someone (thanks Teri) nominated me by name - as well as the random if you are blogger, I'm awarding this. Here are the official rules: 1. Copy the award to your site - 2. Link to the person from whom you received the award - 3. Nominate 7 other bloggers - 4. Link to those on your blog - 5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated. This has been going around blogland for awhile now and I've been slow on posting this. So, I'm going to award to the following people, in no particular order: 1. Jessica. She is a friend in real life. We went to visit her in April and she is a lovely woman with a wicked sense of humor. She blogs about her dogs, her life in New York, and her avoidance of doing her homework. 2. Chan. Miss Chan blogs about her dogs, her knitting and everything else that composes her life. She's busy working and amazingly enough we have alot of the same thoughts on things. Although she doesn't sew or like vanilla - it's okay, we still like her :) 3. Camilla cracks me up. She has 5 children that she homeschools. Awhile ago when she couldn't find what she wanted for her crafty needs locally, she decided to mortgage her home to the hilt and without any bank loans whatsoever, she opened a fabric and yarn shop. That takes guts. 4. Golden Tracks or Miss Y. She is a knitter, weight watcher, and dog lover - not particularly in that order. She doesn't always blog regularly, she will often let life get in the way. When she does blog you can see the love for her dogs as well as her enjoyment of knitting. 5. Sue. Sue is an awesome woman. She has a passel of dogs. She is also a crafter, she knits and sews. She spends alot of her time crafting for charities, either children or dogs. You can't fault a person for that. 6. Leslie. I originally found Leslie's blog through another blogger who no longer blogs. She makes incredible knitted items, isn't afraid to figure out how to make what she sees in her head and share the instructions. There are times when she shares her cookie of the week. I have found a couple of very good recipes through her. And finally I would be in big trouble if I didn't give the last award to: 7. The Princess. Many of you have figured out she is my daughter. So, even though it's obvious I'm biased, I think she is a lovely young woman. She knits, but mostly she is a full-time live-in Nanny. She blogs about The Littles in her life and finds creative ways to show them in their activities without showing their faces. She can be funny. Okay - that was a nice way to get a blog post in when I didn't really have anything to say. Thanks so much to everyone who stops by and leaves comments. You have no idea what a difference it makes to my day.

What I Love About Crafty Blogs

Have you even noticed how the crafty and knitting blogs have contests and Swaps? I love that. I love that it encourages people to make friends ~ even if it is virtual. I love how it brings a group of people together. I love the bloggy friends I have made, I look forward to emails from blog friends and the meeting up when I can actually get to their neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong - the sewing blogs do the same thing. You will see the same pattern being made by lots of sewers. You will see bloggers sharing fabric sites, books and pattern information. But mostly the sewers are about sewing. Which I love. My main love is garment construction. That being said, occasionally I love making something crafty. I enjoy putting together a box of goodies for someone I have never met. I enjoy the process of shopping, making, having JB wrap, filling a box and then shipping it. To that end, I am playing along with the Sassy Apron Swap. Ever since my cocktail party in December 2006 I have wanted a great apron. Something that would look fabulous over a cocktail dress. I made several aprons in 2006, but I didn't keep a one! If you are so inclined - click on over and play! I'm looking forward to filling another box :)