DUNDUNDUN!!!!!!

Had a little bit of a scare today, Piper slipped in some slick stairs coming in from her outside time and she fell and I swear she looked up at me like she was embarrassed. She bounded up the inside stairway fast as she always does (about 15 feet of stairs), got to the top and immediately started to cry and wouldn't put weight on her leg at all. This worried me because Piper is quite the little tank, even after her spaying she didn't show pain. I cuddled her for a little bit then Julie and I went out to run errands. I came home a little while ago and she seems fine, but I'll be keeping an eye on her and making sure her leg doesn't stiffen up overnight. Send positive puppy wishes her way :)

Love, M and P

This week's hand spun yarn!

Parakeet Batts from Evonne


Natalie's Salmon and Strawberry Cheesecake yarns :)


Parakeet batts spun into yarn and plied with peach silk thread.


Pastel Angora Wool (SO SOFT)


Birthday Cake Yarn: Romney wool, real crystals, pearls, coral beads. Silk and sequins.

My etsy purchases for the month:

One whole pound of soft white merino roving for dying and spinning!Donatello wool and silk roving for spinning:

Parakeet batts of wool, silk, sparkle, and locks for spinning:

If my fingertips could cry happy tears they would!

Christmas is soon approaching and I have taken The Handmade Pledge. All the presents I purchase this year will be either handmade by myself or by someone else unless it just isn't possible. Of course I am not going to be hand making bestselling books and other ridiculous things that I think someone might want.

You can find my etsy handmade wish list HERE.

WHY BUY HANDMADE?

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

oh hey, i spun that.

Some photos for all of you!

My first 2 pre-spun dyed yarns. Kool-aide and acid dyes on pure merino wool.

This is how the ball above on the right knitted up.

My frst finished scarf for myself. Took literally 3 days on 17 &19 needles. Feels like butter.

It wouldnt be a post without some Piper.

She sees you!

I've been working on the decor theme for the shop. I'm pretty pleased with the collage below.

And my first hand dyed and hand spun skein. Pure Romney wool.

It knits up very cute.

You know what would be fun? Opening up a knitting cafe/shop. Many of you have heard of my desire to open a bakery but for various reasons, as awesome as the idea sounded and as much as I thought I would love it, I decided that the niche was just too small and that people don't seek out handmade fresh baked goods as they used to. I still loved the idea of owning my own shop, a venture that would satisfy my need to have a very social and flexible occupation, while still (hopefully) making enough to save a little and make ends meet.

Some of you know that I just took up the hobby of knitting and it has exposed me to a semi subculture of knitting and fiber enthusiasts. People who view knitting as a way of life and something they do for themselves to relax and commune with other knitters. Bob and I have always joked about owning alpacas and I never have seriously wanted them more (but thats another scheme). Anyways, I am putting together a plan to open a knitting cafe in the next few years. I have been exploring renting options and locations and also speaking to LYS (local yarn shop) owners locally. In the meantime, I have been working on the internal design of the place. Here are some ideas for you to view below:

This first image is of the inside of KnitCafe based in Hollywood CA. It is such a beautiful shop and I am drawing alot of inspiration from the mood it gives.

This second image is one that I drew up myself with online software. It is based on a shop 34 feet deep and 24 feet wide with a bay window. Alot of little Boston area shops are modeled similarly. I would want multiple little nooks of seating for people to relax and knit, read, eat cupcakes. All availible walls would have built in shelves with various yarns, books, and notions.

I also like the feel of this room. Very colorful but not so much that you want to kill yourself.

I like these colors below as well.

This is the wallpaper I like for the front seating area along the area behind the table so it is seen from the outside window. A floating shelf on it would also showcase various yarns and notions that would change periodically.

I HAVE MASTERED CABLES!!!!!

So as to prevent Winter Blues, I have made myself 4 little world terrariums :)