Try this! (not for the weak of heart)

This month is National Novel Writing Month. The idea is basic. Write a 50K novel in 30 days. Seems impossible, right? So why would anyone do it!
I don't know but thousands are and so am I. I'm not very far by all means but thats alright for me. I would love to finish 50K words in 30 days but seriously, the 576 words I have already written to date is more than I have done in years. If you want to take up the challenge its not to late. Join the fun at NaNoWriMo.


Another fun thing to try for all you knitting fiends is National Knit a Sweater Month. Goal here... you guessed it, knit a sweater in one month. Check out this post on knitgrrl's blog. I may take this one up too since I have a baby sweater pattern I am supposed to be knitting on. Baby sweater means takes less time, right?


And finally, last but not least, is National Blog Posting Month. Are you the type of person who swears this time they will be a better blogger. I know I am. So much so that I haven't even looked into this because that's a sure FAIL. However, you might do well at this. You may even be a natural at daily blog writing and just really need that extra push. If that's the case then this is certainly for you. Check out NaBloPoMo.


So, if your up for a challenge then there's something for everyone this month. (Outside of avoiding the mad cap crazy crowds at 4 am the day after Thanksgiving.) If nothing else take a trip around these sites and be inspired by those who have time in their schedule to participate in these different challenges. Heck, even leave a comment cheering them on!

Beware the Sith Lord!

Okay, so there isn't anything to be afraid of really. I know. She is just so cute. Pepper had just gotten her bath from being all dirty and was sitting in my husbands arms. We like to wrap her around with a warm towel because she is so small she starts to shiver when wet. This last shot was just so perfect though because she was looking dead on at the camera.
The Darkness is with this one....

Monkey See, Monkey Do!

On Saturday I got my super duper MailChimp shirt in the mail from the Twitter giveaways. I know it was random what design I would get but this one is absolutely perfect!



Since I'm looking for work maybe I can get on at MailChimp by sporting the shirt around. I might just get lucky being not far south of the MailChimp Headquarters . One can dream anyway. =D

Low Cost Tips from the Lilypad #1

Look at this neat contraption. This is my tubing to keep yarn from collapsing in on its self once I take it off the ball winder. This works especially well for sock yarns and thinner weight handspun yarns. Yes, its bootleg but effective. Plus depending on how much yarn your winding, you can get about 3 tubes of cardboard from one paper towel roll but only one for each toilet paper roll. Plus you can reuse the tubing until it starts to get to soft to hold its structure. I have found this to be a good way to avoid tangling up yarn but I do concede that I use a old plastic gallon ice cream container and knit (or ply - when spinning) these yarn from the outside instead of center pull. That way the yarn can turn and bounce in the bucket and I don't have to worry about the center tangling and pulling apart as much.
Its a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle all in one!

cut cardboard tubing from paper towel holders

(This is something new I just came up with today because I found something I wanted to share. As I was writing this post I decided to try to find a new one each week or two to share with everyone.)

PS - Join in on the Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!

Ashfords, Alpacas and AlpacaFarmGirl!

Wednesday I took a trip with my husband to Montgomery, AL to meet the FABULOUS Katy from AlpacaFarmGirl.com so that she could purchase my Ashford Country. It was quite easy to get there even though my husband and I got lost on the way back home. We had a great time meeting Katy and I got to hear all about alpaca raising on her farm. Afterwords I even convinced my husband to seriously consider alpaca farming as a future option. (Although sometimes I'm not sure how much is convincing and how much is smiling and batting my eyes..... j/k)

Part of the purchase was the exchange of these wonderful, soft and gorgeous fibers! I got a little sample of 5 different alpaca fleeces that Katy so lovingly raises. Did I mention they were soft. I love soft fibers and these are soft... it makes me feel like the merino top I purchase is second rate. I totally want to roll around in these fibers.

Here is a close up of a little tuft from Luminescence:


Its a silvery gray color and I think its my favorite color from all the picks. I keep wanting to dig my nose in and rub it all around... don't worry, I haven't.... yet..... but it does make me want to grab up my handcards and brand new spindle and take it for a test spin. This is lovely fiber and I would totally suggest ANYONE purchase alpaca fiber from Katy whenever they have a chance. Did I mention it is soft?

Join in the Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival here!

Fancy Spindle!

Today I sucked up any pride I thought I had and went to the DFCS to ask for some assistance during my unemployment. (Which is by far longer then I expected but even that's hard to say because I don't know what I expected...) Since we have to drive our son to school my husband dropped me off and picked me up when I was through. Graciously (and in an effort to have something to do) he went by our PO box to check the mail. Guess what!

I got a new fancy spindle!


Someone of Ravelry was destashing and I yanked up this Graftons Fibership. It's my first fancy spindle, my others being an Ashford Student top whorl, a Louet bottom whorl and a half dozen hand assembled toy wheel spindles. I'm quite pleased and believe this will only encourage me to spindle more. It is especially good for laceweight so I can practice my patience as well. Completely made my day when he handed me the box as I got in the car. I love that man, he is totally awesome!

When all else fails....

Do a picture post. For some reason I've been feeling kind down so I will just show off pictures of the things I was working on lately... Enjoy!








I will be at the last Wesleyan Market of the season this Saturday, October 3rd 9am - 1pm. If your in the Middle Ga area, stop by and say hello!