Monthly Archives: February 2013

I Love It When Chappy …

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on I Love It When Chappy …

… stops and smells the flowers.

My creation copyright 2013


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Just cattin’ around

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on Just cattin’ around

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Vote Here for 2013 Lamb Names!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on Vote Here for 2013 Lamb Names!

Help Juniper Moon Farm name this year's lambs!

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get this post up but it’s really your fault. You all suggested so many excellent naming conventions this year that I knew it was going to be a lot of work to sort through all the nominations and put together a poll. So, yeah, I was was kind of lazy but if there had been fewer good ideas, I might not of been. See?  Your fault entirely. Don’t let it happen again.

It was really hard to narrow down the field of nominations so I didn’t. I really just eliminated the conventions we have used in the past. We have more options to vote on than we’ve ever had before!

Sadly, you can only pick one choice at a time but I am allowing multiple votes per computer because I know that a lot of our readers have kids who like to vote as well. (You will have to reload the page in order to reset the poll.)

 

As an added inducement, we’ll be giving the first person who nominated the name that ultimately wins a Full Share in our 2014 Yarn CSA, so you are encouraged to get out the vote. Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry and mighty Pinterest if you have a mind to.

The polls will remain open until 6:00 a.m. on March 1, 2013. Good luck!

 

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Libraries

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on Libraries

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How often do you visit a library? Do you go to borrow books? Do research? Check out the multi-media center? Hang out with the friendly and knowledgeable staff? Are you there out of love or out of need?

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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No One is Perfect

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on No One is Perfect
I often forget that things cannot be as "perfect" as you want them to be, something which causes a lot of stress if I let it.  Today, after finding my son building a fort with the blocking mat pieces I brought home from the shop, in a moment of weakness, I pulled myself into my bedroom and cried for 5 minutes.  

When my husband noticed I had disappeared, he asked, "What's going on?"  I explained that I didn't want cat hair all over blocking mats, which led to him saying that the cats had already had a field day rubbing their faces all over them.  As he talked, I realized, that wasn't the only thing that was bothering me.  So, of course, tears welled up in my eyes again.

"Ok, now what?" my husband asks.  

"That's not the only thing bothering me," I say.  

"What else is it?"  To which I respond with the next thing that happens across my brain - I am a bit overwhelmed with Vincent being so ornery lately.  And Mr. Fix-It responds with, "Well, I gave you a list of day cares and pre-schools, why don't you call and set something up for Vincent?"

I shook my head, knowing that tomorrow I'll feel differently, because I just cannot seem to give up my little peanut.  And then, another wave of tears hits me.  "Did you just save a pile of issues to deal with?" my husband asks.  I shook my head.

"Next thing?"  

"Nothing," I say.  "Same s**t, different day."

"You want another baby, don't you?"  and I sheepishly shook my head.  He smiled, rubbed my back, and made a promise to me - it won't happen right now, but, he'd agree that another one can come along.  Something we haven't been able to agree on for a LONG time.

The moral of the story is...no one is perfect.  

In spite of my fear of losing another battle with anxiety, the anxiety still gets the best of me from time to time.  Right now, I choose to think of it as: I've been working very hard for the past several months, all hoping to find that perfect, happy place.  

Perhaps it's not perfection that I seek, not happiness, but satisfaction.  Satisfaction that my time has been well-spent.  That my son is comfortable and content (he'd be happy living in a cardboard box, as long as it was warm and had mommy and daddy by his side...let's face it, kids are pretty easily amused at age 3).  That my shop continues to grow.

What have I done so far this year:
  • Helped proof a pattern book
  • Released a 2-pattern e-book
  • Gone on vacation
  • Knit 5 projects from beginning to end
  • Finished another project in hibernation
  • Worked on a few designs
  • Hosted my best friend's bridal shower
  • Was Maid of Honor in my best friend's wedding
And the usual day to day stuff...I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Oh well, at least everyone had a good time and things turned out great!  

Yes, I'm more than happy to add a newborn into the mix if and when the time comes, but for now, I'm working on being content with my work and staying healthy for all the things I have in front of me.  I'll even continue to shower Peanut with hugs and kisses every day while we enjoy our daily dance party in the shop (it's a great way to start the day or break up the monotony of a slow day).  :)

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Yarned by You: Herriot Gallery

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Comments Off on Yarned by You: Herriot Gallery

Looking through projects on Ravelry made with Juniper Moon Farm, I was drawn to the Herriot projects. Maybe it’s because I was cold all day today, or maybe my mind is just fixated on the Berzelius Crochet Along starting March 1st, but I just want to snuggle up in some accessories made with warm alpaca yarn!

vehuddle knit this Coriander Hat in River Birch. I love the traveling stockinette stitches!

vehuddle's corriander hat

This Pressed Rib Muffler was knit by magilson in Travertine and with the ends in Granite. All that ribbing looks very warm!

magilson's pressed rib cap & muffler

Walnut and Ghost Fern were used to knit this #08 Fair Isle Hat. I definitely admire Musicknitter’s colorwork skills!

Musicknitter's 08 Fair Isle Hat

The undulating waves of Livviknit’s Lamar Scarf (knit in Travertine) remind me of a pretty basket!

Livviknits Lamar Scarf

jnelson modified Westward to be an earwarmer (seen still on the needles). I’m pretty sure that the dark tan is Bullrush.

jnelson8705's Westward

This is the knit answer to Berzelius. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that Berzelius is the answer to Egbertine Cowl since it was designed by Caroline Fryar for the Fall 2012 yarn and pattern line. Both use all ten colors of Herriot and alternate colors in a delightful way! This Egbertine Cowl was knit by BlissYarns, which is located in Tennessee.

BlissYarns' Egbertine Cowl

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Oona in the Farmyard

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off on Oona in the Farmyard

A pictorial essay of Oona “helping” with evening chores.

02.20.13a

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02.20.13d

02.20.13e

02.20.13f

02.20.13g

02.20.13h

02.20.13i

02.20.13j


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Fishy borders

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off on Fishy borders

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The borders took a little longer. The pattern photo shows 6 blue background colors but it’s written for only 1 so it took a bit of figuring out. I have 4 background colors. I used a multicolor binding the first time around but this time I’m planning to use a mix of the same blues I used for background. I took a trip out to the quilt shop and bought a large flowery batik backing in turquoise shades. Now, I have to think about how I want to quilt it.

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Green Dreams

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off on Green Dreams

Luna

Churchill

Grazing Lamb

Feenat

I’ve been looking through some old photos this morning and I can’t get over how green the grass is in these. It seems perfectly impossible that grass could ever be so green!

I go through this every February. It’s the point at which Spring starts to seem like a story someone made up. But before we know it, it will arrive in all it’s verdant glory.

Any time now…

 

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What I’m reading now.

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off on What I’m reading now.

I have been bingeing on Agatha Christie books for the last few weeks, though I’ve read most of them a dozen times or so. The thing about Agatha Christie is, even when you know who did it, the writing is really good. I find something new in her books on every reading and the characters are so well developed. To me, that’s the mark of a great book.

I also appreciate that the murders very rarely happen “on screen”, as it were. I’m interested in mysteries but not gore.

These are the ones I return to again and again.

Mrs. McGinty’s Dead

Murder Is Easy

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

A Pocket Full of Rye

A Murder Is Announced

I just received three new knitting books that I am super excited about:

Scottish Knits: Colorwork & Cables with a Twist. My friend Kris and I are going to Scotland in July and I consider this book research. Look at all that gorgeous color work! I am completely obsessed with fair isle right now and you can expect to see lots of it in our Fall 2013 collections.

This book is just plain fun! Medieval-Inspired Knits: Stunning Brocade & Swirling Vine Patterns with Embellished Borders is as lovely as it can be, and I give mad props to Anna Karin Lundberg and Trafalgar Square Books for putting out such a daring title in the current publishing climate.

Shades of Winter: Knitting with Natural Wool

 

Knit to Flatter: The only instructions you’ll ever need to knit sweaters that make you look good and feel great!

Okay, this book isn’t going to be released until April 2nd but I have already ordered my copy and you should too. Amy Herzog is a knitwear designer who has created lovely, wearable patterns for ages, and her book is going to be a smash hit!

Stylish Dress Book: Wear with Freedom

I would really like to become a good (or even competent)garment sewist, but I never seem to have the time to sit at the sewing machine and work at it. On the other hand I have plenty of time to drool over the Japanese pattern books by Yoshiko Tsukiori. Her simple design make sewing look so easy! Maybe one day I will find out if they actually are.

Are any books inspiring your crafting these days?

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