Cheeky Little Monkey pattern in the Winter Knitcircus

I've been a really bad blogger but mostly because life has blindsided me for the last few months. Long story short, I lost my job in July, Thing 1 was hospitalized (he's fine now) in August and my dearest Grandmother passed away in September. Major suckitude to put it mildly.

However, the fog is starting to lift (at least I hope it is) and some good news came my way today. A couple of my patterns were published in the Winter issue of Knitcircus that went live this morning. I introduce to you the Cheeky Binky Ball and the Woobie blanket.

I'm thrilled to be a part of this beautiful Knitcircus issue. They truly were a top notch organization to work with. To celebrate this issue going live, I'm giving away a Winter Knitcircus pattern collection to one of my blog readers. To enter, please take a look at the Winter Knitcircus issue and in the comments, let me know which of the lovely patterns (other than the Binky balls and Woobie) that you might consider knitting. I will choose the winner at 10 am EST on Saturday, November 13th.

ETA - Congratulations, Kris M. you won the Winter Issue of KnitCircus prize!

And if you can't get enough of the Cheeky Little Monkeys, stop by my Etsy shop to buy an original handknit/felted Cheeky.

Long time gone

*Singing the Dixie Chicks song Long Time Gone*

Yes, I've been away from the blog. I'm not entirely sure anyone read it anymore or has really missed me so I have mixed emotions about blogging. I get real time feedback from peeps on Twitter and sometimes on the Ravelry forums but not much feedback on the blog. I don't need tons of comments but it is nice to know if its read or even missed. Lack of comments = not missed in my book and therefore, I haven't posted.

Anyhoo, I've been busy with the now 6 month old puppy. Her name is Twinkle and she's tons of fun, laid back and crazy all in one.



King Thing is (finally) on a weightloss adventure and has been very successful. Thing 1 is driving, has a job, a very lovely girlfriend and will be a senior next year...



Thing 2 had an amazing 1st year in public school and is getting ready for high school next year. Eeep! Beach season is upon us this weekend after a very long and trying winter. We took our first cruise with Royal Carribean to Cozumel and Belize in April. What a blast! No one got sea sick and we're dying to go again. I'm still knitting and spinning and have my job.



I really miss my real life spinning and knitting friends but it seems like life has been crazy for everyone. Hopefully, I'll be able to connect with many of you this summer. If you want to keep up with me, I'm on Twitter (theindigomuse) and would love to visit with you there too. Don't be a stranger. Stop by and say "Hi".

Raise your hand if you're tired of snow...

Um, yeah, I'm over all of the snow we've gotten. Its pretty to look at but its keeping The Things home from schooll WAY too much and they've lost almost all of their school vacations leading up to Spring Break. (((sigh))) Either way, Spring is closer than it ever was before and I'm going to keep my eyes on the prize - warmer weather!

So, to keep myself from going stir crazy, I've been knitting, spinning and nesting for the new baby. Here's what's been happening round these parts...

Southern Cross Fiber Cashmere/Merino spun sportweight on my Majacraft Little Gem...



A new design - Felted Kawaii Strawberry Hottie (hotwater bottle) Cozy. Pattern coming soon...



Look Maw, I'm knitting lace. LACE!!! Traveling Woman shawlette



Cedar Leaf Shawl. A birthday gift for a dear friend...



A Cheeky Little Monkey making snow angels...



Speaking of Cheekies, as part of the Help for Haiti campaign that Ravelry launched, I'm donating 50% of gross proceeds from my patterns sales to Haitian relief efforts through February 15th. AND King Thing's company is going to match our gift dollar for dollar.

I've began offering two of my online knitting workshops as "on-demand". That means that they'll be available anytime instead of having to wait for a workshop to start on a particular date. You simply register with your payment through Paypal and within 24 hours, you will be sent the login link to the workshop website. For more information, visit the site at http://theindigomuse.ning.com

That's it for now. Hopefully, I'll have new puppy pictures next week if the weather cooperates. Can't. Wait!

New addition to our family in February

First of all, I'm not pregnant. 40 and pregnant would not be funny especially when the boys are this close to graduating and starting their own lives. That would NOT be funny at all.

Instead, we're adding a sweet little fluffybutt to our family in February. Another Corgi girl...



We're pretty excited and can't wait to hear barking round these parts again. Its been a little over two years since sweet Mavis left us and we're finally ready for another furry friend. The countdown has begun.

BTW, local peeps: Anyone use a vet in Salem? Not sure I can go back Mavis' vet because of the memories. Might need to suck it up though because they were/are very kind, pet loving people.

I'm still alive though I don't blog much. I don't get many comments or clicks from the blog so I'm not sure anyone reads it anymore. If you want to keep up with what I'm doing daily, look me up on Twitter - theindigomuse . If you haven't already joined Indigomuse's Fiber Workshop, stop by for a visit and register today. January's online knitting workshop offerings and registration information is on the front page.

I've done a bit of spinning, loads of knitting and a bunch of designing. Here are a few of projects that have come off the needles recently...



If you click on the pictures, you'll get more details. I'm not even going to whinge about family, reminisce about the holidays and gab about much of anything self indulgent because I'd rather the energy be positively focused on the people of Haiti. The Yarn Harlot is sending up the knit signal and calling knitters to give again. Anything you can give is appreciated. Together, we can make a difference. Kiss your loved ones and tell your friends and family you love them. Today is all we have. Tomorrow is promised to no one. (((hugs)))

The Cheeky Little Monkeys pattern is available

After a very long wait, the Cheeky Little Monkeys pattern is now available. Visit - Cheeky Little Monkeys - for more information or to purchase. Don't have a Ravelry account? You can click this link - HERE - to purchase the pattern.

Details:

Needle - US 9/5.5 mm

Yarn - Brown Sheep Lanaloft Worsted in dark brown and white

Pattern techniques - include i-cord, increases, decreases, picking up stitches and felting. Pattern includes directions for both knitting flat AND in the round.

Approximate finished size after felting: 7”

Thanks for all of the comments and monkey love you've shown my little monkeys. There will be more monkey madness in the near future. Stay tuned! Have a fab weekend!

Got Monkey?

For long time readers of this blog (does anyone read it anymore?), you may recall my love of all things monkey. Four or five years ago, my felted monkey, Zira travelled the globe and I even developed a smaller pattern that I named the Cheeky Little Monkeys. Well for a variety of reasons, I never wrote up the pattern for the Cheekys and forgot about them. Thanks to a good bit of monkey love that several of my family and friends share with me, I dusted off the pattern, rewrote parts of it and am about to release it and several holiday versions over the next couple of weeks. Here's a preview of the newly revised Cheeky Little Monkeys



You can see more pictures on the workshop site - http://theindigomuse.ning.com . Check back for registration information since I'm planning on developing an online workshop for these little fellows since there are so very many tips and tricks that I can't adequately describe in print. Patterns will be available through the site and Ravelry. Keep your eyes peeled :)

In other news, I've been busy filming/developing online knitting workshops and writing up patterns. Not much personal knitting happening except for Knitspots beautiful Leafprints wrist warmers and I'm actually knitting them out of the recommended yarn - Great Northern Yarns Mink/Cashmere (heavenly stuff). I did have a fab weekend away from the guys last weekend with my Maryland peeps Heather, Ei and Donna. You can read more on H's blog HERE. My Grandma has been in the hospital for almost two weeks after cardiac arrest a couple of weeks ago. Please add her to your prayer list. Poor thing had to spend her 87th birthday on Saturday in the hospital :( We are blessed because this is only the second time in her life that she's been in the hospital and she's actually doing very well. She's in rehab now to get her left arm back up to full capacity so she can go home.

Here's hoping that Thanksgiving is low key and relaxing for everyone.

Online Knitting Workshops

When I originally thought that my job was going to be terminated, I immediately started to tap into my available resources. I approached the local yarn shop - Yarn Explosion - about teaching knitting classes as a stop gap until I could find gainful employment. And then I didn't lose my job but had already started planning classes. See the dilemma? Around the same time, Glampyre started offering online classes and encouraged me to try it too.

And soooooo, I'm pleased to announce that registration is now open at IndigoMuse's Fiber Workshop for my first online workshop - Felted Fortune Cookies. Some of you might remember these cookies from Chinese New Year a few years ago. The pattern is a great skillbuilder workshop where you can practice short rows and use up your wool scraps.

Once you’ve paid for the workshop, you’ll receive 14 days access to the invitation only workshop site. Patterns, tutorials, felting tips and tricks, forums and live chats will all be posted on the site. Local yarn support is provided by Yarn Explosion. Call (540) 206-2638 for more information on ordering and shipping your supplies directly to your door. Local participants will also have the added bonus of “live meetups” to get assistance, support or to show off finished projects. I’m working with other yarn shops in Southwest Virginia to also provide yarn support for future workshops for participants who don’t live in Roanoke.

You can view a sneak peak of the class below:


Find more videos like this on IndigoMuse's Fiber Workshop


By joining IndigoMuse's Fiber Workshop you're already set to get regular updates of new workshops, specials and other offerings. If you're curious, here are some of the other workshops I'll be offering in the coming weeks:

October 21st - Felted fortune cookies
October 31st - Drop stitch scarf/wrap/cowl
November 4th - Felted fortune cookies
November 7th - Trinity Log Cabin Triangle
November 11th - Getting to know your yarn (complete with “fiber tastings” of yarn)

Be sure to check the events calendar on my Ning site for more information.

Let me know if you have questions or comments and I’ll make every attempt to answer them. Thanks again for all of your great ideas and enthusiasm about the workshops already :) I look forward to "seeing you" in class.

A wild and crazy coupla weeks

The end of the summer is always a little nutty and bittersweet round these parts. King Thing sadly says goodbye to his beloved beach, the kids head back to school and I reclaim the house from its constant state of being overly lived in for four months. Its eeriely quiet, lonesome and blissful all at once.

King Thing hit a major milestone birthday - the big 4-0. I'm careening toward 40 though I get to put it off for a couple of months. Thing 2 started his first year of public school and so far so good. He's loving math, science and spanish so far. I'm keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed that he continues to like his new school. Thing 1 hasn't played in a football game yet but hopes to soon (picture me as scared Mom in the stands).

And oh yeah, the job thing for me. I'm still employed with my organization (insert happy dance) while we rework my position and its responsibilities. I know better than to jinx negotiations until after the ink is dry but if all works out, I'll still have a job after October. I'll keep you posted (still doing happy dance).

I've been knitting like a fiend since we've been home more and on the road less. I finished a drop stitch scarf that I just realized I haven't photographed yet. I made a little wiener dog for a friend of mine earlier this summer.




And I finished the Mandarin collar tank but royally effed up the depth of the sleeves. (((sigh)))



So I picked the collar off, shortened the shoulder seams and just need to reapply the collar. Now I just need a tall drink before I undertake that process. Taking the collar off alone nearly brought me to tears (but I did it dammit).

My favorite new project is by the very talented Stephen West and is called Daybreak.



I'm making mine with Karabella Boise (a yummy 50/50 merino/cashmere blend) and Punta Mericash (a 30/70 cashmere/merino blend). Great yarn, great pattern, not enough hours in the day to finish it faster. I've got a touch of carpal in my left wrist from overdoing it this weekend - ouch!

I've joined the 2nd She-Knits Mystery KAL on Ravelry and can't wait until it starts next week. I get a little antsy when I don't have another project planned as another one is winding down. Not like there aren't enough FOs in my knitting room that could use some attention. We'll just shut the door and pretend that they're not there.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention that I'm Twittering now as theindigomuse. What's your Twitter name? I'd love to follow your tweets too. Have a super week!

Two Teenagers in the house

Another major milestone in the Muse house. Thing 2 turned 13 on Monday.



Its so weird to think that my boys are developing into young men.





There's alot of nekkidness around the house in the summer so sorry for the bare bods. I'm the only chick in the house besides the Piggie (who's in the picture with the Things) so I don't have much say in the matter. I should have taken a picture of them when they both looked so very nice in their polo shirts before we headed to lunch with King Thing. And don't ask me what's up with that hat and Thing 1. King Thing bought it for him after a trip to Canada last year and he's taken to wearing it every night this summer while he plays on the 360. It has a big Maple leaf on the side. What strange kids we have.

I'm still recovering from some sorta flu/virus. I got it thanks to a colleague who sneezed on me during a conference I attended last week. Nice, huh? I hope it was H1N1 because I hear that once you've had it, you can't get it again. I really don't want to be this sick again anytime soon. I say all of that so that you know why I look so hazy in this picture with my boy.



It was all I could do to make his birthday cake without ruining it. BTW, it was a very cool and uber yummy recipe from Hershey Kitchens "Especially Dark Chocolate Cake". You add boiling water to the concoction before you plop it into the oven, go figure. Twas a hit with all of the boys so I won't doubt the process. I iced it with my special buttercream icing that included almost a pound of local Homestead Creamery butter - YUM!!!

Thanks for all of your kind words and words of encouragement. I truly draw strength from them :)

And yes, I'm still knitting though not much since I've been both out of town and sick. I'm working on the Mandarin Collared Tank and am in the home stretch. Let's hope I look good in it.

Another one bites the dust

Well as of August 31st, I will join millions of other unemployed people in the US. Our non-profit has taken some serious hits over the past few months and while I've dodged the bullet for the last three cuts, I didn't make it through this last round. (((Sigh))) So now the soul searching and fun begins as I try to figure out what to do next. There might be some contract work in my field as there are a couple of grants that will come up in September so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In the meantime, I'm going to do some teaching at the LYS Yarn Explosion and try to keep my chin up. At least I was able to get through the summer with a paycheck. I found out right before our vacation but decided that I didn't need to ruin everyone's fun by dropping the bomb on them. I'm lucky to have a nice stash of fiber and yarn so I shouldn't want for any hobby related goodies. Unfortunately, we'll have to pull Thing 2 out of private school to keep our expenses in check. I think he'll be fine but I'm nervous about the world of public school for him. I'm not going to commit to a new job until at least October so that I can focus on the transition with him. So much happening all at once.

We have had a fun summer inspite of the news. We spent the week of Fathers Day, 4th of July weekend and another entire week in July at the beach. On the spur of the moment, we jaunted off to DC last weekend to see Paul McCartney perform at FedEx Stadium (What a HUGE treat! The man played for three hours non-stop!). And we're thinking about getting another Corgi nearly two years after saying goodbye to Mavis.

There has been some weaving and knitting though not a ton. I kinda lost my mojo for a brief stint. I'll post some pictures when I can take some with good lighting.

So what have you been up to this summer? BTW, go show some birthday love to my knit bud Robin(who I REALLY missed seeing at knit nite) whose birthday is tomorrow -August 7th.

Belated Blogiversary Celebration

Whoops! I missed the actual date by a few weeks. Needless to say, the beginning of the month was a blur but things are finally starting to settle down. So June 6, 2004 was the first time I posted in Bloglandia and that first post brought me headlong into the wonderful world of knitting, spinning and the people who inhabit it. I've made some wonderful "real" world friends, learned advance techniques, gotten tips for practically everything and tripped into spinning, dyeing and most recently weaving.

Speaking of weaving, here are a few pics of my first "real" planned project - a wrap - off the loom. Twas a success!









So how am I celebrating my blogiversary? With a little happy dance and another first - I'm PUBLISHED!!! I've been waiting and waiting for my copy of Feltique to arrive from the publisher and it finally arrived.



It just didn't feel real until I had it in my hot little hands. Guess what's on the first page of the book? One of my little felted fortune cookies - SQUEEEE!



The fortune cookie pattern is on page 99.



I also wrote a pattern for a felted floppy flyer (pretty much a felted frisbee but because of copyright issues, we couldn't call it that) that's on page 105.



Feltique is FABULOUS! I love the variety of felting techniques that you can find in this one book and how visually appealing it is. I love books that not only show you the finished product but also shows you how to construct the project. This book is one that I will carefully study and toy with for years to come. I'm so very honored to have been asked to be a part of this beautiful book.

I can't begin to tell you how many hours Nikola and Brookelynn worked with me to tweek the pattern, mailing samples back and forth and fine tuning the technical info. Now multiply that times 18 different fiber artists. That takes dedication. The entire process took nearly two years from start to finish. I must say that I'll never pick up a knitting/craft book and look at it the same way again, knowing now how much time, blood, sweat and tears goes into every picture and project.

If you want to see more of Feltique, please visit the website or check out the Craftzine feature that Brookelynn did on several of the contributors (I'm featured HERE).

Thanks for letting me have a little virtual party here on my blog. My family and non-knitting friends don't "get" it. I'd kinda hoped that being published might validate my craft but they still think I'm on the nutty side with regards to fiber arts. Oh well, guess I'm in good company :)