3rd Annual San Antonio Fiber Retreat 2016

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend.  I have so much to share with you today.  This bast weekend was the 3rd Annual SAFR event out at the gorgeous Paradise Canyon facilities.

Before the retreat, Darlene gave me my birthday present early (she said there is still something on the way)......but my favorite gifts from her are always her awesome bags...and boy were these awesome.  They have sheep knitting with either green or orange yarn (mine and Darlene's favorite colors) and on the 2nd pattern, the sheep are knitting clothes for all the  Barnyard animals....How cute is that?  Thank you Darlene, You are the best Best Friend ever!

I also got a mail package from Desert Vista Dyeworks.....I ordered The Westing Game colorway and two mini skeins of black and one mini skein of orange (for some future contrasting heels and maybe toes).

One other thing I did before the retreat was to gauge swatch for a new cardigan I am going to knit for me (No, I apparently do not have enough things on the needles).  The cardigan is called Naima, and I bought Darlene some Wollmeise Blend Yarn in Green and I got myself the same yarn in Tandoori Masala (my favorite orange).....so we are making the cardigan together.

Now at the retreat I got to see some great friends.  There was a goodie bag that Mickie made (one for everyone...Thank you Mickie!) and inside was some sample yarn. stitch markers, and a scented satchel.

And, I bought a skein of MicMar Exploding Gradient from Mickie too!  The Colorway is Tequilla Sunrise....I have no clue what I should make with it!  You got any suggestions?

A while back, I was contacted by a member of one of my local SNB groups....she had some things to give away...I told her I would love some of them to use as prizes and she said she could bring them to the Retreat......she gave me an awesome Jordana Paige Bag, and 3 very nice knitting related books.  The bag has a little snafu on the zipper, but I think I can fix it.  Thank you Akaemi!

What did I knit on at the retreat?  Well, I knit on a few things.....I worked on my Citadel a little (sometimes it was too much thinking).....

I worked on my Weigh it Shawl a little (no thinking).....

I pulled my Sandbank out of hibernation since I also think it has minimal thinking....I know it does not look like I did much, but I did like 5 or 6 very long rows!

And lastly I worked on that new cardigan I told you I swatched for (above).  I am liking the way it looks so far.  Oh, and see that cute yarn holder on the left....that is a medium Owl from Diana Couture...her shop is closed right now for Stitches West, but it is a very awesome yarn holder....she needs to make a bigger one for like Wollmeise Lace or Miss Babs Katahdin skeins....LOL!

My last bit of news is that I am really trying very hard to only knit continental (Yes, I know I have said that before) but I always struggled with the purl stitch.  Well, a friend at the retreat (Melissa H...who we renamed to GENIUS) showed me and Darlene how to Norwegian purl....pure genius I tell you.  So all day Saturday and Sunday were spent Continental knitting....it is slower for now....but I hope to pick up speed soon.  I went to Jaime's for a little last night and even did the 'Continental Thang' while knitting on my socks....that is one of his dogs, Brandy, supervising....LOL!

Well, that is about all I have....here are the pics I took at the retreat (some are stolen from other people that took pictures at the retreat)....we all had a great time!

Happy Happy Happy Knitting!

STITCHES TEXAS 2015

Hello everyone!  I had a FABULOUS time at Stitches Texas.....my only regrets.....not getting enough pictures!  I will take you on my little journey....but first....I have a couple of stash enhancements that are not Stitches related.

I got some Rub a dub to make Antonio a hooded towel.

And, some awesome yarn from The Cozy Knitter called Haunted.....this yarn feels soooooooo good.  I love the base...it is bouncy and squishy!  I am just in love!

Okay.....now for Stitches fun.....first, we were off!  Driving was part one!

When we got to the hotel, I saw some ducks taking a nap.....I thought they were too cute not to share!

Then it was time to catch the bus!  Yes, we were excited!

Look at that line.....thankfully, Melissa had the 3rd spot in line for us to get into the sneak preview Market on Thursday night......Thanks Melissa!

Of course I had to go see my Ruby!  She was showing me some 'Big Easy' Bags......she also had to leave early because she was not feeling well....I hope you feel better Ruby!

There were Jumbo Yarn Bowls......

And here is day one haul.....pretty much all at Must Stash Yarns....Stacie custom dyed me a Penny color that I absolutely love (far right).....the left haul is Darlene's stuff, the right is mine.

We had dinner at a great Pizza place that had gluten free crust....I had a Gyro....but clearly Melissa enjoyed as we take our signature licking picture with her (Yes, we always have to get a picture of Melissa licking her plate!)!

The official PJ party was Friday night, but we did our own PJ party Thursday night in the lobby of the hotel!

Friday Morning, I had my Switching to Continental Knitting class.....one of the supplies was a roller type pen with specific instructions not to bring a regular ball point pen....I wondered what for.....well, it was to color on me to help learn to knit continental!

The class was FANTASTIC....Leslye Solomon is a great teacher....she also has a video that I happened to already own.  It is called "The Absolute Best Way to Learn How to Knit"...I pulled it out last night and I will be watching it for reference soon.  My only problem with immediately switching to Continental knitting....is I have about eleventy billion things on the needles already....and I think going to continental is going to change my gauge a little.....so on the side, I am going to work on a couple of weigh it shawls....and just practice knitting....getting the great feel of the yarn in my left hand....and then watch the video for reference to purls when I am ready.....wish me luck!  I will let you know how it goes in further blog posts!  Anyway, here is my swatch from class!

Okay, back to Stitches....I got some of the cutest sock blockers with Dachshunds on them.....LOVE!

Here are some of the stitch markers I collected on the swap (this is not all of them).

I got a Front Range Bag.....just because it matches my Graces Cases needle holder....I am in love with the Lewe's balloon fabric collection!

Then, it was PJ Party night....now, what happens at the PJ party, stays at the PJ party.....but I can share one small pics of my gals....from Left to Right.....Mickie, Melissa, Tami, and Kim.

Here is EVERYONE's Haul (so far) as of end of day Saturday.....

Then it was off to Tallywackers!

Our view when our waiter helped the booth next to us!

Yes, our waiter is the guy on the poster for Rainbow Pride!

Another view that Mickie got with her phone.....

Then we made our waiter pose with all of us!
Me

Melissa

Tami

Mickie

On Sunday, we hung out for the grand prize drawings.....and of course had to get another one of Melissa's licking pictures....that I just had to get my crazy face into!

Then it was time to go home.....so sad.....but when I got home, I had some fancy sheep PJ's waiting for me.....they are WAY TOO BIG....but instead of sending them back, I think I will see if I can get them (just the pants) to be a bit smaller.

Some final pictures....Here is Darlene's Haul!

And my final haul....see all the stitch markers on the sock blockers...the stitch marker swap was fun!

Well, that pretty much wraps up Stitches Texas......as for my knitting this week....it was super minimal!  All I really worked on was my 'The Wall' socks.....

And I started socks with the new Cozy Knitter Yarn......Now, Melissa and I plan do to a pair of socks every month starting in October.....I think I am going to have to beg her to let me use these as my October socks since I barely have the toes started....heck, I do not even mind frogging them and maybe restarting them continental knitting.....

Yup.....that is it!  That is all I knitted on....pretty sad....but I had a GREAT time at Stitches and I am looking forward to DFW Fiber Fest in April next year!

Since I have picture overload above (approx 40 pics), I will not overload you with more at the end of the post like I normally do......

Happy Happy Knitting!