Monthly Archives: January 2012

Midwest Yarn is Almost Here!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by | Comments Off on Midwest Yarn is Almost Here!
Design
The hard work is just beginning, but I'm happy to report that Midwest Yarn, a Cherished Moments company, has filed its paperwork to establish it as a business!  To the right, you'll see the logo I designed, with the help of Vistaprint.

I'm building the website and meet with my first yarn sales rep in a week. The best part is that I am completely overwhelmed with excitement.  I also wrote a lot of the business plan tonight which is a combination of all the notes I've made for myself over the past several months.  I have not decided on a deadline for launch of the website, but I'm aiming for March 1st. 

Even with that deadline so close, I'm still optimistic that I can continue to design patterns, knit, and maintain the Cherished Moments website and etsy.com site in the process.  I'm pretty efficient when it comes to running a business, that's why I am able to keep those things in my life and not get burned out.  Once my website is launched, I'll also be working on setting up my husband's online vintage shop, also to be run as a Cherished Momens company.  You won't be able to access the shop's website yet, but I'll keep everyone posted as it becomes available.

Reboot
My reboot is going well.  I am on Day 5 and have lost almost 5 pounds.  On Day 4, I did have a lot of problems with lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.  While I do believe that it's because of the lack of sleep the night before (Peanut stayed up all night), I have decided to end the fast sooner than the 15-day deadline.  It's unhealthy to lose more than 2 pounds in a week and I definitely felt that yesterday.  The 5-day express program is more realistic for me, which means I'm done as of today.  I'll be repeating this program once every 3 months or so as suggested, just to maintain good weight and results.

With so much going on with the business start up, I don't want to make myself sick to the point that I cannot work.  Over the next few days, I'll be adding in nuts, legumes (beans), and whole wheats, slowly as to not make myself sick that way either.  I'll continue to juice and keep fruits and veggies as a main part of my diet, but I'm sure adding these things back in will slow down my weight loss.  My ideal weight is 125-135 and I'm already at 135!  Wish me luck!

Coming soon
Working on advertising for Midwest Yarn.  You may see ads on Ravelry and other places soon.  I'm also almost done with the test for pattern #2, so look for that on Ravelry as well!

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Review: Little Red in the City

Posted on January 23, 2012 by | Comments Off on Review: Little Red in the City

Post image for Review: Little Red in the City

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First, the facts:

Title: Little Red in the City

Author: Ysolda Teague

Published by: Ysolda Teague, 2011

Pages: 261

Type: Patterns and Techniques

Chapters:

1. Tools for Successful Sweaters
2. Techniques
3. Patterns

KS: Little Red in the City

The In-Depth Look:

It’s taken me longer than I’d like to review this for you, and it’s all Ysolda’s fault. She put so much good information in this book, it took me a while to read all of it.

That’s because there is a ton of good information in here.

Ysolda says in the intro, “Through many conversations about choosing a size, substituting yarns, taking measurements and adapting shaping, the key thing that emerged was that most knitters would like to feel more in control when making garments, like they had a better ability to visualise what they wanted to create and actually end up with what they planned. Before getting to the patterns, the book goes through some things that I hope will help you get the results you want from both these patterns and any other garments that you want to knit.”

Then, as promised, the book dives right into the “Tools for Successful Sweaters” section, which is pretty amazing. A lot of the details are things you’ve likely heard before–the importance of swatching, how to pick your yarn, how to adjust a pattern for fit, how to properly take measurements, things like that. Those are followed by very specific details about technique–cast-ons, short rows, buttonholes, and so on. All this before you even get to the patterns.

And then the patterns themselves–they are a charming variety of sweaters and vests, but they’re not simple little patterns. They go into detail of not only how to make them, but they also explain the story behind the sweaters–why they’re put together as they are, how to make changes, where to make adjustments. They explain why the recommended yarn has all the right characteristics for the sweater so that, if you want to use something else, you’ll know what to look for. There’s lots of detail in here.

Visually, this is one of the most charming knitting books I’ve seen in a while. It’s got photos and sketches and even photos with sketches IN them to make a point. There are little illustrations in the margins, and hand-written headers. Even the charts are a mix of computer-generated numbers and characters laid over a hand-drawn grid. It’s a pleasure to look at. (Kudos to the design team!)

In addition, a purchase of the paper book comes with a free PDF download (using a code hidden under a scratch-off sticker inside the back cover). Talk about making it easy to reference when you’re away from home, or easy to get a print-out of just the pattern you’re working on.

Ultimately, I love this book and only regret that it took me so long to TELL you about it.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

My Gush: Worth the wait

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AWOL

Posted on January 23, 2012 by | Comments Off on AWOL
I've been trying to organize my thoughts for a blog post (and instead tinkered with the lay out....what do ya'll think?  If I could just figure out how to center the top photo...)  and have had as much luck as I have had trying to organize my life!  The last few months have been crazy and disjointed.

Greg has started his new job in Fredericksburg, and is very happy.  He's in a sweet rental in town, on the river and just 10 minutes from work! We had a mover bring him the essentials, bought a new bed and a new recliner.  And now over the last few months I've taken load after load of boxes, (and a loom and fiber...and guitars and amps....) just trying to declutter our house to put it on the market.  How can two people have so much???  It's not Layla.  Her one box of toys is very compact.




While visiting Greg in Fredericksburg I make sure to spend time in my new studio at LibertyTown.





It feels good to be back, surrounded by friends and so much support, ideas always in the air and shoppers too. :) As you can see I've moved my largest loom into the studio. I always plan to sit down to work and never seem to get to it. Setting up at LibertyTown comes with an attendance requirement. So my plan is to get alot more weaving done in the coming year! I'll sell my pottery here too. But still throw pots in a home studio....wherever that might be. Clay just needs so much babysitting.  What I am doing now requires so many steps it's wonderful to have my clay just steps away, to have space for pots in different phases and the ability to fire my own kiln.

While in Charlottesville I am working hard to pack and declutter and update. Our kitchen is so tiny we thought some simple improvements would help a prospective buyer to BECOME a buyer.  So the old countertops were replaced with a newer and more "hip" color (then the wood look alike formica) and now we have a dishwasher!  Of course it was not without it's issues.  The FIRST countertop was delivered in a pouring rain....I did not notice that it was cut a mirror image of what is was meant to be.  And then, of course, there was the VERY dead rat....



I plan to spend this week CLEANING and packing away odds and ends...oh, and shredding the 5 boxes of old credit card bills and cancelled checks that date back to 1989!  (4 large garbage bags and counting...you can't be too careful these days...) I may make my self imposed deadline of February 1 to get this house on the market yet....

Know anyone looking to move to Charlottesville?  Three bedrooms, 3 full baths, big fenced yard and a beautiful studio with AC and heat all located within walking distance of the Charlottesville Music Scene!  And no rats.

Of course I've managed a few trips to Juniper Moon Farm, usually with the excuse of dropping off pots or picking up my own farm product. Some of their beautiful mill spun cormo and FRESH EGGS. They are so beautiful!


Susie bought these calves recently off Craigslist!  Another step towards keeping down the sheep and goat parasites....and they are awfully damn cute. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe.


It's been a struggle to make time to throw pots.  First there were The Holidays. Plus when I'm here it is only for a few days at a time and I'm working on the house. And I've not been able to focus.  But now I have a deadline, Empty Bowls in Frederickburg  this Saturday.  I have been working on bowls, a project for a friend in Vermont (more on that later!) and a couple of commissions picked up through the Fall Fiber Festival show I did last year in October.   Tomorrow morning I will load a bisque, aiming to be unloading and packing a glaze by Thursday night.






I surely miss having my hands in clay!  It's so much calmer then the chaos in the house.  I worry about what the year has to hold for me studio wise.  I've come to the conclusion that once the house is on the market the hardest work will be done.  I will just concentrate on keeping it clean (!) and throwing pots.  The more I can pack away the better.  I am doing one show for sure in October and am debating a second one in September....But once the house sells (please God sooner then later) I can't be sure how long I will be without access to a studio to fire my cone 5 pots.....worry, worry, worry.....

So there you have it!  On paper it does not seem like much.  But mix in a bit of lost motivation and a bit of overwhelmed What should I do first???? and it begins to look like more.

Thanks to all of you for sticking around....I hope to fill you in on things a little more often then just 1 time a month!


Now.  BED.

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Gentlemen, Start Your Tomatoes

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on Gentlemen, Start Your Tomatoes
At last.  I've finally gotten ahead of the calendar and started some tomato seeds indoors.  And if all goes to plan, I'll have many, many more than I can use, so there will be some to share.

I bought one of those trays pre-packed with peat pots that swell up when you water them.  I also got some Martha Stewart organic tomato seeds because, well, they were right in front of me at the store.

 
Those little seeds are tiny, so I used the moistened tip of a chop stick to carefully get two or three seeds into each little pot.


 
Yeah, there's a lot of them.



And Martha's none too generous with her seeds - I barely had enough to fill all my pots.  But we got it done.  I'll post an update when they sprout in (according to the label) 7-10 days. 

Baby 'maters!!






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A Recipe for Change

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on A Recipe for Change
Nope, no yarn or knitting updates today.  Today, I'm talking about this Reboot that I'm doing.  No, not rebooting the computer, my body (in a sense).  I recently watched the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead just for kicks on Netflix because I wasn't in the mood to watch much else.  Imagine that, a guy made himself healthy by changing his eating habits.  For 60 days he consumed nothing but juiced fruits and vegetables.  He called it a reboot.

Basically, it's like de-toxifying your system with weight loss as a side effect.  There are a select few who may gain weight from doing this too.  The website for this craze is jointhereboot.com.  I'm currently working on the Reboot Standard Program:
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
  • 5 days just juicing
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
They don't recommend this before talking to your doctor and I recently just had a physical and bloodwork done.  No risk for diabetes or high cholesterol.  The recommendation on the website is that this particular program can be repeated once every three months if you need it (please, read the guidelines and FAQs if you attempt this).

Today is day one for me.  Weight: 140 (with clothes on).  It took an entire year of dieting and such to lose 35 pounds to get to today's weight.  Last year at this time, I weighed 175 pounds, 3 pounds more than I weighed the day I gave birth to Peanut!  I had put on an unhealthy amount of weight, was considered obese for my height, and my mental and physical health were questionable.  Slowly I lost the weight and can proudly say that I went from a size 14 to a size 8!

Now, I want to lose a few extra pounds and get back down to an ideal weight of 125-135 pounds.  Ideal because when I was anemic I weighed 100 pounds and when I was at the height of my ballroom dancing I weighed 130 pounds.  I seem to be the healthiest and most active right around my ideal weight.

I noticed today that I've been craving bread (my major weakness) and cookies.  What did I actually eat?  For breakfast I had a banana and some green tea.  For lunch, 16 oz of juice made from pears, cantaloupe, and carrots.  For a snack, another banana and some water.  Finally, for dinner I had a salad with balsamic vinegarette and fresh green beans sauteed in olive oil with garlic, sea salt, and pepper.  Excellent tasting food!

Some things to note though...it can increase your...um...bowel movements.  You may notice somewhat of a "withdrawal", which is typical of most diets.  You may have headaches or feel foggy.  I didn't notice any of that today, just the cravings.  We'll see how that goes.

I'll report on the diet again on day 1 of the juicing phase.

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A Recipe for Change

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on A Recipe for Change
Nope, no yarn or knitting updates today.  Today, I'm talking about this Reboot that I'm doing.  No, not rebooting the computer, my body (in a sense).  I recently watched the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead just for kicks on Netflix because I wasn't in the mood to watch much else.  Imagine that, a guy made himself healthy by changing his eating habits.  For 60 days he consumed nothing but juiced fruits and vegetables.  He called it a reboot.

Basically, it's like de-toxifying your system with weight loss as a side effect.  There are a select few who may gain weight from doing this too.  The website for this craze is jointhereboot.com.  I'm currently working on the Reboot Standard Program:
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
  • 5 days just juicing
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
They don't recommend this before talking to your doctor and I recently just had a physical and bloodwork done.  No risk for diabetes or high cholesterol.  The recommendation on the website is that this particular program can be repeated once every three months if you need it (please, read the guidelines and FAQs if you attempt this).

Today is day one for me.  Weight: 140 (with clothes on).  It took an entire year of dieting and such to lose 35 pounds to get to today's weight.  Last year at this time, I weighed 175 pounds, 3 pounds more than I weighed the day I gave birth to Peanut!  I had put on an unhealthy amount of weight, was considered obese for my height, and my mental and physical health were questionable.  Slowly I lost the weight and can proudly say that I went from a size 14 to a size 8!

Now, I want to lose a few extra pounds and get back down to an ideal weight of 125-135 pounds.  Ideal because when I was anemic I weighed 100 pounds and when I was at the height of my ballroom dancing I weighed 130 pounds.  I seem to be the healthiest and most active right around my ideal weight.

I noticed today that I've been craving bread (my major weakness) and cookies.  What did I actually eat?  For breakfast I had a banana and some green tea.  For lunch, 16 oz of juice made from pears, cantaloupe, and carrots.  For a snack, another banana and some water.  Finally, for dinner I had a salad with balsamic vinegarette and fresh green beans sauteed in olive oil with garlic, sea salt, and pepper.  Excellent tasting food!

Some things to note though...it can increase your...um...bowel movements.  You may notice somewhat of a "withdrawal", which is typical of most diets.  You may have headaches or feel foggy.  I didn't notice any of that today, just the cravings.  We'll see how that goes.

I'll report on the diet again on day 1 of the juicing phase.

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A Recipe for Change

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on A Recipe for Change
Nope, no yarn or knitting updates today.  Today, I'm talking about this Reboot that I'm doing.  No, not rebooting the computer, my body (in a sense).  I recently watched the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead just for kicks on Netflix because I wasn't in the mood to watch much else.  Imagine that, a guy made himself healthy by changing his eating habits.  For 60 days he consumed nothing but juiced fruits and vegetables.  He called it a reboot.

Basically, it's like de-toxifying your system with weight loss as a side effect.  There are a select few who may gain weight from doing this too.  The website for this craze is jointhereboot.com.  I'm currently working on the Reboot Standard Program:
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
  • 5 days just juicing
  • 5 days whole fruits and vegetables and juicing
They don't recommend this before talking to your doctor and I recently just had a physical and bloodwork done.  No risk for diabetes or high cholesterol.  The recommendation on the website is that this particular program can be repeated once every three months if you need it (please, read the guidelines and FAQs if you attempt this).

Today is day one for me.  Weight: 140 (with clothes on).  It took an entire year of dieting and such to lose 35 pounds to get to today's weight.  Last year at this time, I weighed 175 pounds, 3 pounds more than I weighed the day I gave birth to Peanut!  I had put on an unhealthy amount of weight, was considered obese for my height, and my mental and physical health were questionable.  Slowly I lost the weight and can proudly say that I went from a size 14 to a size 8!

Now, I want to lose a few extra pounds and get back down to an ideal weight of 125-135 pounds.  Ideal because when I was anemic I weighed 100 pounds and when I was at the height of my ballroom dancing I weighed 130 pounds.  I seem to be the healthiest and most active right around my ideal weight.

I noticed today that I've been craving bread (my major weakness) and cookies.  What did I actually eat?  For breakfast I had a banana and some green tea.  For lunch, 16 oz of juice made from pears, cantaloupe, and carrots.  For a snack, another banana and some water.  Finally, for dinner I had a salad with balsamic vinegarette and fresh green beans sauteed in olive oil with garlic, sea salt, and pepper.  Excellent tasting food!

Some things to note though...it can increase your...um...bowel movements.  You may notice somewhat of a "withdrawal", which is typical of most diets.  You may have headaches or feel foggy.  I didn't notice any of that today, just the cravings.  We'll see how that goes.

I'll report on the diet again on day 1 of the juicing phase.

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Trinity Circle …

Posted on January 19, 2012 by | Comments Off on Trinity Circle …

On the island of Martha’s Vineyard - in the town of Oak Bluffs- in the Methodist Campground - is Trinity Circle and Trinity Park.

Sharing Trinity Park for 133 years are the Tabernacle (erected in 1879) and Trinity Methodist Church (built in 1878).

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Both have undergone major changes.

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A look inside the Tabernacle and Trinity Methodist Church.

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Looking at the Tabernacle from inside Trinity Methodist Church… I love this picture.

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Trinity Park is a perfect place to enjoy some quiet time… to indulge in some contemplation, read, maybe snooze, enjoy a game of catch, or wander around with a camera.

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According to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Assn. website:

“The original layout of Wesleyan Grove was a simple formation of a circle enclosing the preaching area and the society or church tents.   In 1859 a road, now known as Trinity Circle, was built which encircled that area.   In 1864, the Association purchased the 26 acres it had been renting.   As the area continued to expand (additional grounds were purchased in 1866), it developed in a radial-concentric pattern which was little used in America at that time.   Paths radiating from Trinity Circle led to smaller circles where large groups of tents had been located – County Park (Wesleyan Grove), Forest Circle, Washington Park (Victorian Park), Cottage Park Avenue (Cottage Park), Crystal Park (Vincent Park), Washington Avenue (Butler Avenue), Rural Circle and Clinton Avenue, which, at one time, had been the main entrance to the Campground.   The smaller circles, some surrounded by larger circles, had small paths radiating from them leading to other circles or parks.   The method of the grounds layout was an additive one of discrete neighborhood units, each built around small various shaped parks.   Some street and park names (current names are in the brackets) have been changed for various reasons over the years”.

Here are some links:

Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Assn. website

My ‘Bells Are Ringing’ Post

The Tabernacle

Trinity Methodist Church


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Skipping

Posted on January 19, 2012 by | Comments Off on Skipping

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I saw this article the other day that asked, “Are you ashamed of skipping parts of books?” Which, naturally, made me want to ask all of YOU.

Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?


Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!


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Farm Survey

Posted on January 18, 2012 by | Comments Off on Farm Survey
It's been too long since our last walk around the farm together, so I snapped some shots of critters who would love some virtual scritches.

Judah and Tella vie for attention

Social grooming bonds this working pair

Tella is such a beauty.  A busy, mischievous beauty.

The ewes and lambs are shaggy and plump

Rachel is brave, behind the fence

Phineas eats and dozes on Shadrach's back

Shad and Mordechai get fresh water

Ms. Smokey shadows me on my rounds

Ruthie is always alert.  Except when she's sawing logs.

Boaz enjoys the sunshine

This weather is heavenly to the alpacas - cool mornings and sunny, mild afternoons

These Ameraucanas are trying to make a break for it.  Patience, girls.

Ice overnight will give way to spring-like temperatures by afternoon

How does our garden grow?  Our patience has been rewarded.  The seeds have germinated and new sprouts are coming up in the protected environment of the greenhouse.  This provides good wind protection, and a bit of temperature mediation.  Even though it's not airtight or heated, the cover makes a big difference for these cool weather veggies.  My next plan is to get some onion starts to fill up the vacant plot in the greenhouse.  I'm also starting some tomatoes indoors.

The spinach has sprouted in the greenhouse

Baby turnips

A row of young lettuce
I'm putting together the next farm newsletter, which will be chock-full of news about the very cool plans we have for 2012.  If you're not on our list, sign up via the link in the left margin.  I think you'll like how our calendar is shaping up.

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