Thank you, Murfreesboro!

A big THANKS to everyone who stopped by my booth at the fiber festival today in Murfreesboro! This was the first time I've sold "face to face" in a booth at a festival, and it went surprisingly well. I had a great time, saw a lot of old friends, met new friends and was able to connect faces to Ravelry names. I was really nervous and everyone was wonderful and supportive. Thanks for stopping by!

If you have any suggestions on what you'd like me to sell, please let me know. The silk hankies were a huge hit and I apologize for not having more. I've got another batch on order and will post them in my Etsy shop.

I'll have photos to post tomorrow. I can't find my camera. Hopefully, it's in one of the boxes that's still in the car. Unpacking will happen tomorrow. I hear a glass or two of Chianti calling my name.


And for those who didn't make it (you know who you are), Carol and I talked about you. Ha!

Fiber Festival Alert!

This Saturday (10/24) is the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro. Bring your friends! Bring your family!

It starts at 10 and goes until 5. Come early, stay late!



p.s. Did I mention I'm a vendor this year? EEEK!!!

For your prayer list

Please keep Alan, Vicki, Melissa and John in your prayers. They live in my neighborhood, and their house burned down tonight. Luckily, everyone, including Coco, is safe. I don't know what to do for them right now other than send prayers their way and ask you to do the same.

I've never seen a house burn down before and I'm shocked at how fast it can happen. This is a good reminder to check smoke detectors. Make sure you have both kind...the kind that detect a slow smoldering fire (lots of smoke) and the kind that detect a quick burst of heat (flash flames).

Be gentle, it's my first time

My first paid Ravelry advertisement! How's that for just too darn cool?

Not typing much tonight. I smooshed my finger in a car door today. Yes, it hurt like hell. I have this lovely little black spot under my finger nail. If I lose this nail I'm probably going to vomit a little every time I look at my hand. (I lost a toe nail once and let me tell you, it was totally nasty! After the nail fell off (gag) I opened a door and my toe was in the way...right over the toe...a whole new level of pain and uglyness. I couldn't get a pedicure for a year for fear that I would freak out everyone in the nail salon and be banned for pure grossness.) At least with a toe I could hide it in a shoe, but my right index finger? I may have to knit some gloves...or a finger condom.

(That last comment will probably hurl this innocuous little knitting blog right into adult content land! HA!)

Tulips in October

Tulips Cardigan by Lindsay Pekny is finished and ready for delivery! Yes, it's just as sweet and cute in person! I purchased the kit for the cardigan at Stitches Midwest last month at the Elegant Ewe booth. A friend's daughter had a baby last month and this cardigan was on my shopping list. As my sister was admiring a baby sweater at the Stitches Market, a fellow shopper said, "How darling! Doesn't it make you want to ovulate?"

Yes, the sweater is very cute and I'm sure it will look very sweet on Avery, but it does NOT make me want to ovulate! As if!

In other news...in case the new banner isn't obvious enough...I've taken the plunge and started advertising my Etsy shop on Ravelry in the group forums. (If you're a knitter/crocheter/spinner and not a member of Ravelry, you need to be. Go. Join.) I have been hesitant about the advertising because I'm not typically one to call attention to myself. And advertising is the epitome of yelling, "hey! look at me!" into a crowd of people. I'm nervous.

And finally, my latest investment (the shorter one on the right). I like to call this Lawn Boy x2.

I seriously considered buying a couple sheep to tend the lawn, but there's that whole poop issue. I realize the one on the left poops too, but he's toilet trained. (I'm so dead if he reads this...one of the reasons he won't "friend" me on Facebook!)

Any resemblance to actual events...

Let's examine the concept of making certain items of a personal nature "gratis" after a certain time of night.

Gratis: out of kindness, free, charitable

For example, let's say a woman enters a grocery store at a very brisk pace at, say, 11:20pm, heads straight to the feminine products aisle (purely an example) and seconds later approaches the checkout lane with a big extra OMG large package of products from said aisle. In my opinion, the woman should be able to head straight home and bypass the entire checkout process. Especially if register 1 is closed (even though the light is on) and the surly young man lounging by register 1 says, "he'll get you at register 5." The woman knows the clock is ticking and register 5 might as well be in Chattanooga...and where in the hell is the cashier for register 5? Oh, he's at the front desk making a "I'll be right there" gesture. (Again, just a "for instance".) Shopper discount cards need not be scanned, item(s) need not be bagged, debit card need not be swiped. No need for chit chat. No need for the pleasant "did you find everything you were looking for?" (As freakin' if!) Time is of the essence here!

But like I said, I'm just presenting the subject for debate.

Any similarities to actual persons, surly, living or dead, or any resemblance to actual events, past, present or future is purely coincidental.

Other items to consider as "gratis" after 11pm:
Baby diapers, formula, pacifier, etc.
Preparation H
Pepto Bismol
Bandages
Dark chocolate

On a serious note, here's my feedback to the cashier: Dude, DO NOT ask a woman who has just plunked down a massive package of feminine products on your checkout lane at 11:20pm if 1) she is having a pleasant night and 2) if she found everything she was looking for. The proper greeting is, "Good evening, ma'am. There is no charge for your purchase tonight. May I offer you this complimentary slab of dark chocolate as well? Would you like to hit me? Please...if it will take the edge off."

Just sayin'...

Oh Fabio!

My latest finished object!

Drop Stitch Scarf
Knit with my superwash hand-dyed in "Oh Fabio!"
Pattern by Laura Bryant
Published in Spring 2009 Vogue Knitting

Initially, the pattern comes off as rather fussy. A lot of "Row 9 as Row 2" then "Row 16 as Row 9", but once you get the hang of the pattern repeat you can pretty much go on your own.

As for the name of the yarn...it's named after Fabio, a gorgeous peacock who struts his stuff around Three Creeks Farm.