I upgraded the WordPress software that runs the blog. Seems like it went pretty well – let me know if you see any weirdness as you’re browsing around.

In the meantime, here’s something pretty to look at: (click to see bigger – it’s worth it :)

It’s too nice out to knit. Although I did knit a bit on a sock on my way into work this morning. :)

I don’t blog much anymore; picture taking sometimes takes a lot of effort these days.  A new camera might help with that; but I do have a few knitting related resolutions I’d like to document.  I have more chance of making these resolutions stick than any others.

1. I resolve to FINISH more projects.  I tend to start a lot of projects; but not finish.  I’m trying to get better about ripping out when I know I’ll never get around to it; and working on finishing what I have started.
2. I resolve to BUY LESS yarn and roving.  I want to work more from my stash.  I do know I’ll buy a bit (esp with a trip to Madrona Fiber Arts Festival in the works for February), and having joined both a fiber of the month club and another sock fiber club (only every other month) I will have my stash grow some. But I’m going to work really hard at hesitating more before I buy.
3. I resolve to knit more socks.  I love my hand knit socks; esp when it’s cold! But in the summer time I usually have NO desire to knit socks for some reason.  One of the clubs I joined for this year is a sock club and I’m going to work at combining #1 and #3 resolutions to work on this one and try and knit the socks up as soon as I get the kits.

That’s it. I’m not going to go nuts. If I succeed in my resolutions; I’ll have finished more stuff while buying less.  If not, you can all shake your finger at me next year.

What are your new year’s resolutions related to knitting/spinning?

Some secret gift knitting going on right now; so no pictures. It’s been snowing where I live, which is odd because we thought we had moved away from the snow! :)  Now that Knit Visualizer 2.1 is out I only have to answer the occasional email on it; and I can focus on stuff like hanging out with the kids while spinning or knitting and of course napping!

Pictures to come soon of the knitting and snow.

I’m traveling to visit my family in Phoenix this week. Here’s a picture I took while driving around today:

I have lots of knitting with me, some spinning too. I’m trying to get this sleeve done:

But I have sleeve #2 to do as well. The body of this sweater was pretty fun to knit; but I feel like the sleeves are torture. I started a new sweater for my daughter on the plane ride out; that I’m ignoring today in order to finish this darned sleeve! We’ll see how long it lasts.

Well; I upgraded the blog to the new version. So far all seems as it should. I need to re-enable a few of the plugins I had (I don’t remember what they did for the most part; but I put ‘em there for a reason). Feel free to let me know if you see something out of whack to nancy AT persistentknitter DOT com.

Update: (So far it seems like Categories are whacked. ugh. we’ll see what we can do with that)

Further update: It seems I had to manually reenter my Categories into the database.  Looks like we’re better now.

Ooh! I was tagged!

The rules are:

*Link to the person that tagged you. (Janell )
*Post the rules on your blog.
*Share six weird things/habits/quirks about yourself.
*Tag six others. And let them know they’ve been tagged!

1) I have written a book that’s been translated/published into German, Chinese & French.

2) I’m terrible about keeping plants alive, but I love Orchids. Luckily these work well with the “forget to water” methodology that I have.

3) I love Pringles chips dipped in Applesauce & Fries dipped in choc shake. My son loves chicken nuggets dipped in caramel – takes after his mama, yes he does :)

4) I was never a cheerleader like Janell was; but I tried out once, and was a bit sad when I didn’t get picked. Turns out it’s probably for the best.

5) I was a member of the “Hardware And Computer Knowledge Society” (aka H.A.C.K.S.) in college

6) I love getting packages in the mail (but who doesn’t; so that isn’t really weird; but I was out of ideas).

Tagging: martaschmarta and anyone else who wants to have some fun :)

So today I said goodbye to my new spinning wheel.  My wheel no longer, it now belongs to Marie.  Rose was beautiful, but I just wasn’t getting along with her as well as I wanted to.  I’m a bit sad, because in addition to being beautiful she had some really neat features, and maybe I should have made a larger effort to get along; but Marie really wanted a Rose, and I was happy to have tuned up her wheel for her; esp as she paid me full price for it (and bought the woolee winder and bobbins as well).

I think we (spinners in general) are lucky to have the ability to choose between so many fabulous wheels; and I’m lucky I have the money to purchase what I like.  A friend of mine is on  more of a budget than I am, but she was still able to find herself a great wheel.   I already have an amazing wheel (even if it clanks occasionally and makes me grumpy), and was trying the Rose out as a somewhat more portable option with lots of capabilities.

So it didn’t quite work out. I think I feel about wheels like I do about cars.  There are different types of cars/wheels and they are each good for a specific kind of job.  I also feel that I like to spend at least a month of solid time with a car/wheel before deciding if I really like it.   A 5 minute test drive in either case isn’t really going to cut it for me.

My next wheel is going to be an Ashford Joy.  Very portable, and I actually got to do the 5 minute test drive already.  I also happen to know there’s a member of my spinning guild who would be happy to take it off my hands if I change my mind after my month long test drive; so it’s a low risk investment for me at this point.  Plus it’s just fun to get stuff in the mail (it’d be nice if I could get one locally – but again, “oh well”).

No pictures yet, because I’m exhausted, and just caught up with orders after being gone all weekend. Lots of KV 2.0 orders; if you want to help me keep my sanity – order the download PLEASE! :)

I have pictures of madrona fun. But won’t post them til later. Here’s the extremely brief run down of my weekend. I took a class with Mother Judith; and my spinning will hopefully improve for it. I spun some Bison. I started a glove. I met the Yarn Harlot, and got a big hug. I also got a picture in which I prove that I’m not photogenic at all; I’ll torture you with that later. I took a class with the Harlot, and learned tons, including being entertained the whole time. I ate salmon, and learned about Bison, and then did more spinning with Mother Judith. I bought lots of stuff; 4-5 rovings, 2 skeins of yarn and a large lot of Kauni in a fit of insanity.

to madrona winter festival that is.  Not even work could get me up this early (usually), but the promise of a marketplace full of fiber and yarn and associated stuff to buy, some great classes; and I’m ready to go.  Now, if I can just find my shoes…