Vickie's Knitted Things

Lizzie Ford Guest Blog

2011-12-16T00:55:00.000-08:00

Readers’ choice: Top Five Lizzy Ford Novels

This was a really tough one for me to sort out. I’ve had thousands of ratings and reviews with quite a few cheerleaders emerging for all my books. That said, there are definite winners and definite no-so-popular books. Based on feedback from readers and reviewers, I’ve listed the five most popular books to date.

1. “Katie’s Hellion” (Book 1, Rhyn Trilogy)

I’ll admit, I almost didn’t publish this one, but I’m glad now that I did. This book has been the single most popular title to date. It features the story of Rhyn, a half-demon who can do nothing right, and Katie, the jaded and imperfect human meant to be his mate.

Readers’ favorite aspect of this book: flawed, unapologetic, defiant Rhyn.

Readers’ second favorite aspect: the fiery dialogue between Rhyn and Katie.

2. “Damian’s Oracle” (Book 1, War of Gods series)

This one I expected to be popular, maybe because it’s one of my favorites, too! “Damian’s Oracle” seems to tie a lot with “Katie’s Hellion” for being the book that pulls in readers. This book tells the tale of Sofia, a human-turned-oracle lost in the immortal world, and Damian, the White God and her mate, who doesn’t know what to do with a headstrong woman.

Readers’ favorite aspect: Sofia, a strong yet vulnerable woman caught in the warzone who breathes new live into the immortal world

Readers’ second favorite aspect: Damian and his understated power.

3. “Kiera’s Moon”

Another surprise to me was how popular Kiera was among my readers. Kiera was a different kind of character – neither strong nor stubborn like my normal heroines, but more emotionally lost. This one was so popular, I’ve been commanded by my readers to write a sequel, and so I shall, probably for release in June! “Kiera’s Moon” is about a starving artist kidnapped and taken into space by her best friend. In space, she finds her perfect match in an exiled warrior prince with a heart of gold.

Readers’ favorite aspect: A’Ran, the warrior prince, making Kiera his partner when he finds out she’s smarter than he is

Readers’ second favorite aspect: Anshan, the planet A’Ran was from. (Odd, but a lot of my requests from readers are for more information about the fate of the planet!)

4. “Katie’s Hope” (Book 2, Rhyn Trilogy)

I wasn’t at all surprised this one was in my top five! “Katie’s Hope” is book two in the saga between Rhyn and Katie. In this book, both are offered very tough choices that will force them to grow as individuals. Katie must save Rhyn from Death and Hell, and Rhyn must start to accept his place in the immortal society in order to protect her.

Readers’ favorite aspect: Rhyn!

Readers’ second favorite aspect: Gabriel, the death-dealer who is Rhyn’s only friend, and who shows just how good of a person he is in this book.

5. “Damian’s Immortal” (War of Gods, Book 3)

This book has gotten some rave feedback since I released it at the beginning of December. “Damian’s Immortal” is about the White God’s brother, Jule, and the discovery of his mate, the Magician Yully.

Readers’ favorite aspect: That one of my readers named the heroine. I’ve never seen so many people excited about the name of a character before!

Readers’ second favorite aspect: A tie between Yully (the tormented heroine) and Darian (the Grey God and hero in the final book of the series.) Both received a lot of feedback.

About Lizzy

Lizzy Ford is the hyper-prolific author of the paranormal romance series: "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series; and the YA fantasy trilogy, “The Foretold,” all of which launched in 2011. She has also authored multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached the bestseller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK in multiple categories. Widely considered a freak of nature by her contemporaries for her ability to write and publish a new book every 30-45 days, Lizzy attributes her success to a team that consists of her editor, graphics artist, I.T. Sherpa, and her rabid readers. Lizzy’s books can be found on every major ereader library, to include: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Smashwords.

Links to Lizzy online:

Website: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010

Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/106728579413949863215/#106728579413949863215/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4558309.Lizzy_Ford

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Ford/e/B004XTTYOC/

Damian’s Oracle

By Lizzy Ford

Genre: sweet paranormal romance

Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damian’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts – from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.

Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.

While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns.

Damian’s Oracle links:

Excerpt:

Sofia froze as the scene straight out of her vision—the little boy, Cody, spread-eagled in the street near the storm drain—materialized before her. They boy’s mother was hysterical, screaming at once at the driver and her dead son. Coldness seeped through Sofia as she watched the familiar scene before her. In the distance, she heard her cell phone ring. It ceased and began to ring again. As if in a dream, she pulled it free and answered.

“Ms. Fast?” The deep baritone voice pierced her thoughts. “This is Damian Bylun. You left a message with my receptionist?”

Her world was beginning to spin as she realized her vision had come true. Her legs felt weak, and she sat heavily on the curb, struggling to control her breathing so she didn’t pass out.

God, what’s wrong with me? I saw him die …

“Pardon?”

Realizing she clenched the phone in her hand, she locked the screen and sat staring at the asphalt. Someone touched her, and visions flared across her mind. A pretty brunette, mugged in a back alley, raped and killed.

“Hey, are you all right?” someone else asked. As the man took her arm to help her stand, his haggard face appeared in yet another vision. An older man with dementia left to rot and finally die in an old folks’ home.

“Get away from me!” she cried, tearing her arm away. She fled, staggering as she bumped into more people and more visions flashed. She ran until the cold air burned her lungs and the people were far behind her. She retreated to her apartment, breathing raggedly, with cold tears stiffening her cheeks.

She closed and locked the door behind her. She froze when she saw the disaster that was her apartment. Everything was overturned or shredded, from the furniture to the bookshelves to the TV lying on its face. The windows were open and the apartment cold.

Her headache was now a migraine, and she shielded her eyes against the light from the street that filtered past her honeycomb blinds. She all but staggered into her bathroom. She wrenched open the medicine cabinet for the most powerful of the drugs Dr. Mallard prescribed for her and slammed the cabinet shut.

Her eyes were fully silver, swirling and glowing in the dark bathroom. Whatever she was, she wasn’t a normal human.

“What is wrong with me?” she screamed, slamming her fists against the mirror.

Her blood spattered on the wall, and buzzing filled her ears. She sank to the floor. Her phone began to ring again as she slid into a dead faint.

YouTube link: http://youtu.be/4htnduhW46c

About the Author:

Lizzy Ford is the hyper-prolific author of the "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series, both launched in 2011, as well as multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached into the bestseller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK in multiple categories. Through her unconventional online marketing strategies, Lizzy has gone from selling 20 books in January 2011 to around 5000 books in September 2011 and from over 7,000 free downloads of her work in January 2011 to over 40,000 downloads in September 2011.

The Lizzy Ford team consists of: Matt, IT and search engine optimization expert; Christine LePorte, freelance book editor; Dafeenah, graphics artist; and Toni, English-Spanish translator.

Lizzy is considered by most to be the ultimate writing freak of nature for her ability to write and epublish a new book every 30-45 days. She is also a regular contributor for the Curiosity Quills website and is an active member of a small guild of nine passionate, talented writers, the Indie Eclective. Lizzy's books are available from Amazon, BN, Smashwords, iBooks/iTunes, and all other eReader libraries.

Lizzy’s links:

FB: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks

Website: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010

GR: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4558309.Lizzy_Ford

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Ford/e/B004XTTYOC/

Twin-Bred Guest Blog Post and excerpt.

2011-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:00

How I Came to Write Twin-Bred

Twin-Bred owes its existence to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short, or NaNo for shorter). During NaNo, authors or would-be authors all over the world attempt to write a rough draft of a novel, at least 50,000 words, entirely within the month of November. As a child, I had dreamed of being a novelist -- indeed, of being the youngest novelist ever to be published. I was quite unhappy to learn, at age ten, that a nine-year-old British girl had pulled that ambition out from under me. Fast forward several decades. Inspired by my older daughter, who did NaNo for the first time in 2009, I decided to give it a whirl in November 2010.

I have been a science fiction fan most of my life, so when -- at the end of October -- I sat down to come up with some book ideas, science fiction kept happening. (I have since written and published "The Baby," the first in a series of stories based on one of those ideas.) At about the same time, I read an article about amazing interactions between twins in utero, captured on video. The researchers had found synchronized movement, touching, even kissing. Either the article or a comment on the article mentioned the traumatic, often devastating, impact on those whose twin -- identical or fraternal -- had died in utero or shortly after birth.

Straining this information through the science fiction filter in my mind, I imagined a scientist seeking to overcome the comprehension gap between two intelligent species by way of the bond between twins. It would be natural for the scientist who conceived this idea to be a twin. It would add emotional depth to the story if she were a twin survivor. And for added strangeness and interest, what if she had somehow kept her lost twin alive as a companion, who could be a character in the story?...

I have always been fascinated by communication issues and the struggle to understand what is different. I also find myself returning constantly to the themes of family relationships, unintended consequences, and unfinished business. All these threads wove together to form the story of Twin-Bred.

When I started writing, I had only my main character, scientist Mara Cadell, and her lost twin Levi, plus a few notes of possible scenes. I believe I was at least one week into NaNo before I had any notion of how the book would end. For me, the process of writing a novel confirmed Stephen King's description of the novelist as akin to a paleontologist uncovering a fossil, piece by piece. I often felt that I was discovering my plot and characters rather than creating them. (I would add that like many a paleontologist, I was not always sure of the proper arrangement of my fossil fragments.)

I spent much of the next ten months after NaNo 2010 editing and expanding the rough draft of Twin-Bred, and finally self-published it as a paperback and ebook in mid-October. I completed the process on October 15, 2011 -- my novel-writing daughter's twentieth birthday.

Writing Twin-Bred was an immensely gratifying experience. I went on to write the rough draft of a second, unrelated novel in August 2011 during a somewhat stripped-down summertime version of NaNo called "Camp Nano." As I write this post, I have just finished NaNo 2011, during which I completed the rough draft of a sequel to Twin-Bred.

Twin-Bred

By Karen A. Wyle

Can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb? After seventy years on Tofarn, the human colonists and the native Tofa still know very little about each other. Misunderstanding breed conflict, and the conflicts are escalating. Scientist Mara Cadell’s radical proposal: that host mothers of either species carry fraternal twins, human and Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Mara lost her own twin, Levi, in utero, but she has secretly kept him alive in her mind as companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds in obtaining governmental backing for her project – but both the human and Tofa establishments have their own agendas. Mara must shepherd the Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny Levi could not foresee. Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or something else entirely?

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VDVHQ2

Amazon (POD):

http://www.amazon.com/Twin-Bred-Karen-Wyle/dp/1463578911/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Nook Store:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twin-bred-karen-wyle/1106674642?ean=2940013311077&itm=1&usri=twin%2Bbred ;

Smashwords (various ebook formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94490

CreateSpace (paperback): https://www.createspace.com/3541557

Excerpt:

The human colony on Tofarn and the indigenous Tofa have great difficulty communicating with and basically comprehending each other. Scientist Mara Cadell is running a project where host mothers carry twins, one human and one Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Alan Kimball, a member of the governing human Council, is hostile to the Tofa and has inserted agents into the project.

Excerpt #1 from Twin-Bred

Tilda looked at her twins, cuddled close together in the crib. Mat-set had all four arms wrapped around Suzie. They seemed to cuddle any chance they got. Maybe they were glad to be free of separate amniotic sacs.

She looked down at Mat-set and remembered the rumors of Tofa with five arms instead of four. She had even seen pictures, but who knew whether they were authentic. Certainly none of the Tofa Twin-Bred babies had been born with extra limbs.

Tilda glanced over at the big dormitory clock and then back down at the babies. She gasped and staggered a step back. Mat-set was still holding Suzie with four arms. So how was he scratching his head with another one?

Tilda looked around wildly for a chair, found one blessedly nearby, and sank down on it. She pinched herself. Nothing changed. Well, who said you couldn’t pinch yourself in a dream and keep on dreaming?

She got up and walked, a bit unsteadily, to the intercom and buzzed for a nurse. Then she went back to the crib. Of course. Four arms, only four, and what was she going to do now?

She decided to be brave and sensible. If she had really seen it, the staff had to know. And if she hadn’t, and she didn’t wake up, then she was ill, and she should get the help she needed.

The chief nurse tucked Tilda in and watched her drift off to sleep, sedative patch in place. Then she went back to her station and called up the monitor footage on Tilda’s twins.

Well, well.

* CONFIDENTIAL *

CLEARANCE CLASS 3 AND ABOVE

LEVI Status Report, 12-15-71

Executive Summary

Anatomical Developments

Observation of the Tofa infants has shed some light on the longstanding question of whether the number of Tofa upper appendages is variable among the Tofa population. The thickest of the four armlike appendages is apparently capable of dividing when an additional upper appendage is desired. . . .

Councilman Kimball bookmarked the spot in his agent's report and opened his mail program. He owed an apology to the young man who had claimed his poor showing against a Tofa undesirable was due to the sudden appearance of an extra appendage. Apparently the man had been neither dishonest nor drunk.

After discharging that obligation, Kimball made a note to seek further details as to the divided arms' placement, reach, and muscular potential. His people needed adequate information to prepare them for future confrontations. After all, forewarned — he laughed out loud at the thought — was forearmed.

About the Author

Karen A. Wyle long bio

Karen A. Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee. Her father was an engineer, and usually mobile for that era: she moved every few years throughout her childhood and adolescence. After college in California, law school in Massachusetts, and a mercifully short stint in a large San Francisco law firm, she moved to Los Angeles, where she met her now-husband, who hates L.A. They eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers herself a Hoosier.

Karen's childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age 10, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age 9. She finished that novel nonetheless, attempted another at age 14, and then shifted to poetry. She made a few attempts at short stories in college, and then retired from creative writing until starting a family in her mid-30's inspired her to start writing picture book manuscripts. She produced startlingly creative children, the elder of whom wrote her own first novel in 2009, at age 18, with the help of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Intrigued, Karen decided to try NaNo in 2010. She completed a very, very rough rough draft of her science fiction novel Twin-Bred and spent the next ten months editing it. She is self-publishing Twin-Bred with a rollout date of October 15, 2011 -- her older daughter's birthday.

Karen's principal education in writing has been reading. She has been a voracious and compulsive reader as long as she can remember. Do not strand this woman on a plane without reading matter! Karen was an English and American Literature major at Stanford University, which suited her, although she has in recent years developed some doubts about whether studying literature is, for most people, a good preparation for enjoying it. Her most useful preparation for writing novels, besides reading them, has been the practice of appellate law -- in other words, writing large quantities of persuasive prose, on deadline, year after year. Whereas in college, a 3-page paper would require hours of pacing the dormitory hallway and pounding her head on its walls, she is now able to sit down and turn out words with minimal angst. She has one professional writing credit, an article published in the Indiana Law Journal Supplement and, with minor modifications, in the monthly magazine of the Indiana State Bar Association. This article was a "third place recipient" of the Harrison Legal Writing Award. Whatever that means, it comes with money, a plaque, and a free lunch.

Karen has completed a rough draft of a second novel, tentatively titled Reflections, which is general fiction. It has two alternative elevator pitches: "Death is what you make it" and "Do you need courage in heaven?" She hopes to start the sequel to Twin-Bred later this fall.

Karen's voice is the product of almost five decades of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, although she hopes not fatally tainted, by her years of law practice. Her personal history has led her to focus on often-intertwined themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.

www.KarenAWyle.net

Demonsoul Book Tour

2011-11-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Demonsoul
The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon
By Amy Lunderman
Genre: Paranormal YA

Book Description

The people I call family (and I use that term loosely by the way) aren’t the Walton’s by any means. For starters the whole lot of them are demons. Myself included. Who knew right? It’s so bizarre I don’t even believe it. Or want to believe it.

Except, I don’t have a choice.

And I haven’t since the day I was plucked from my mother’s loins. I remember everything as if it was yesterday, and I wish I didn’t. Let’s call it a gift of sorts, my memory, because it’s the only that has kept me alive all this time. Why you ask?

I have a soul.

That’s right, yours truly, Daria Pigwidgeon (a name I gave myself at an early age from a show on MTV my brothers used to watch. And it’s much preferred over scum, which was used often by my parents. Scum Pigwidgeon, not very catchy) is a proud member of her very own soul. And with that came many years of taking care of myself.

Unlike the filthy bottom feeders that are my family, I’m the first one born with a clean viable human soul. The first in generations really. You’d think it’d be a good thing, something to treasure even. Only it’s something that has left me cursed.

And very far from treasured.

The first book in a young adult urban paranormal fantasy trilogy begins when Daria decides to flee her home in Bakersfield, California. With no clear plan she picks a random place, and heads for the cooler climate of upstate New York. Feeling like she finally has a fresh start she takes her life into her own hands, free of threats. Her first adventure, is in high school, as the new girl.

Making friends and vying for normalcy while staying true to herself to NOT use her demon gifted abilities, life is harder than ever. Just when she thinks she might be finding an unexpected love in the boy next door, new comers arrive in town.

Her family. The ones she ran away from in the first place.

Now she must face what it means to be what she is. A demon with a soul. Except, she's not the only one keeping secrets. And it'll shock her to her core when she finds out who and why.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/3aEia9Z1c0c
Get the book at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble

Excerpt:
It’s cold, hard, and damp this slab I lay on that somehow passes itself off as a mattress. Not that I’m complaining, after all this is much better than the floor I’m normally accustomed too. You’d think I’d be pleased to finally have something of my own to rest on at night, but for reasons that constantly give me the chills, I don’t trust it.
Not unlike the witch feeding Hansel and Gretel before she plans to eat them. I just know my mother has her own reasons for finally gracing me with a mattress. Granted, it’s barely an inch off the ground and is so worn I can still feel the concrete below me, but still. Something is not right. Which is why, as the rest of my family lay sleeping a deep slumber courtesy of one sleeping draft cleverly planted by yours truly in this evening’s soup, I’m planning my escape.
I’m sure you’re wondering why a girl would drug her family members and plan on creeping out like a bad dream in the middle of the night. Well, let me tell you. The people I call family (and I use that term loosely by the way) aren’t the Walton’s by any means. For starters the all of them are demons.
Myself included.
Who knew right? It’s so bizarre I don’t even believe it. Or want to believe it. I don’t have a choice. And I haven’t since the day I was plucked from my mother’s loins. I remember everything as if it was yesterday, and I wish I didn’t. Let’s call it a gift of sorts, my memory, because it’s the only that has kept me alive all this time. Why you ask?
I have a soul.
That’s right, yours truly, Daria Pigwidgeon (a name I gave myself at an early age from a show on MTV my brothers used to watch. And it’s much preferred over scum, which was used often by my parents. Scum Pigwidgeon, not very catchy) is a proud member of her very own soul. And with that came many years of taking care of myself. Unlike the filthy bottom feeders that are my family, I’m the first one born with a clean viable human soul, the first in generations. You’d think it’d be a good thing, something to treasure even. Only it’s something that has left me cursed.
And very far from treasured.
It’s a good thing my family is gifted with their demon heritage though. Each one possesses their very own unique ability, myself included. Coincidentally, it’s also the thing that has kept me alive all these years. Before the very first time opening my eyes, I’ve been more than conscious of my surroundings. Alert, if you will. So much so, that I could feel the distain in my mother’s body as she took me in her arms. It was the only time she held me.
Not that I mind, because really, she’s rather frost bitten. I don’t just mean a cold person. I mean she can suck the heat out of the room at will. I’ve suffered my fair share of summer nights feeling like I might actually get frost bite. That was the first time she ever really threatened my life. Not the last unfortunately, but it was the last time I let anyone get close enough to try.
Besides being the smartest toddler, I had a knack of making people forget about me. And not from my winning attitude either. I’m not sure of the exact name for such a thing, mostly because my family never shared personal information. But I’ve been calling it a memory block for some time now. In short, I can cause a person (or demon) to forget they just saw me at will. Which is pretty dang handy, what with my own mother trying to off me.
And that isn’t even the best part. What’s more you ask? Well, courtesy of my beautiful soul ( I think anyways, again I can’t really ask about these things) if I’m threatened in any way I send of a sort of electrical surge. I guess you can say if someone touches me without permission, I zap them. Only if my memory block doesn’t work that is. Which isn’t very often, not that I’m boasting, I’m just that confidant.
Although, lately I’ve noticed that it’s getting harder to use my gift on my family. Maybe they are getting a resistance to it since I use it on them all the time, kind of like people who pop Tylenol all the time for a headache and it stops working eventually.
Just one more reason for me to get the heck out of dodge.
Finally pulling myself up into a sitting position, I gaze around the place that has been an impromptu bedroom the last sixteen years of my life. Technically, my mother was hoping for it to be more of a dungeon when she tossed my down the basement stairs. I’m sure she hoped to locked me in and throw away the key, but then I made her forget. See what I mean, my gift (curse) totally rocks.
As basements go, this one isn’t so bad. A little moldy and damp sure, but it’s better than sleeping outside. Plus, I’ve kept it relatively clean and looked after. I spy the magazine cutouts that grace the walls, and pride myself that I managed to swipe my sister’s teen mags. Not that she would remember me taking them, but still. For such a simple thing, I’m glad I made the best of my room. In a strange way, I know I’ll kind of miss this. Not the having to hide and praying no one remembers where I dwell, but a space that is mine.
See, I do have a soul, it makes me attached.
Praying that I’ll have that wherever I go, I stop myself from feeling guilt over leaving. Getting to my feet, I don’t bother stretching my back to work out the kinks from lying on the mattress on the floor for so long. I got over that years ago, thick skinned that is me. Not wanting to wait longer than I already have, I quickly pull up my waste length pitch black hair and knot it into a bun. After jerking it tight enough to bring tears to my eyes, I’m satisfied it won’t fall out. Then with a sense of urgency I rush out from behind the stairs, which are on the other side of my little cubby. I reach for my backpack that carries the essentials, that rests at the base as I move not bothering to stop.
Tossing it over one shoulder, I can’t resist the need to hunch over as I creep up the stairs. Taking this route more often than not, I know every creak and wobble. I take care with them now. I ease upward like its second nature, only stopping when I finally reach the door. Knowing everyone is out like a light, doesn’t make me rush out the door without another thought. If anything, it makes me overly cautious. A habit, that has kept me alive.
Grasping the brass handle, I make sure I hold it tight enough so it doesn’t rattle. Then I brace myself as I slowly turn it to the left. I can feel the jerks as the knob shifts itself to release the door and I hold my breath the entire time. When the door finally bounces free in my grasp, I let out my breath, grateful that I know the doors habits to keep it quiet. Easing the door outward, I keep my eyes alert for any movement and sound around me.
The hallway is still and silent.
Rather than feeling relieved, I force myself to be more alert as I slowly step out of the door. Clinging the backpack to my side as I do. Once I’m safely out in the open space of the hall, I turn back to the door and again grasp the handle tight enough to keep it quiet as I turn it to the right. Easing it back, I push it closed and start the agonizing process of spinning the knob back into place. I have to remember to keep the door pulled outward to me, otherwise the knob with snap in place and alert anyone. So I spin the knob more than I should, and give it a couple yanks before releasing it.
Stepping back, I eye the door like it’s about to give me away at any moment. When it doesn’t, I shift my pack so that it’s over my other shoulder and nestled against my back and not my side. Straitening, I turn to the left and gaze down the hallway to the bright hope that’s at the end of it.
The front door.
Wanting nothing more than to dash for it and yank it open so I can run through the barrier and never stop, I allow myself a quick pace as I move towards it. The house that has been my home, is dark and silent of the wee hours of early morning (or maybe late night, not quite sure) and I’m afraid if I listen close enough I can hear my family sleeping on the floor above me. It doesn’t make me pause to change my mind though. If anything, it makes me walk into a fast tip toeing jog to the door.
Reaching the end of the hall, I come to a stop and like I’m at a four way road stop, I look both ways before crossing. In the open space between the hall and door, I feel too vulnerable. Now I allow myself to dash for the door, and I can’t stop the way my legs jerk at the conflicting movement. Knowing there aren’t any particulars to this door, I don’t pause in testing the knob before I pull it open with a yank. I salivate in the hot rush of air that rushes at me, even though I’m covered in an instant sweat, it still feels like freedom to me.
Not looking back, I step over the threshold.
I’m free.
About Author:
Amy Lunderman is a stay at home mom, with a passion to write paranormal romantic thriller's whether they be adult or young adult. She lives in Rhode Island with her fiancé and their beautiful daughter. She enjoys writing, reading, being a mom, watching movies and television, having dance party, youtube, and status updates on facebook.

Blog: http://amylunderman.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AmyLunderman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Lunderman/200393960003656

Rafflecopter giveaway Hand Knit arm warmers

2011-10-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is my first rafflecopter giveaway. I am giving away hand knit arm warmers. They are made of Noro Kureyon silk garden sock yarn. Here are the arm warmers. They are so soft and warm here is my son modeling one of the armwarmers

enter below.

today was cleaning day.

2011-10-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

October 6, 2011

Today I just took care of the kids and cleaned. I got our bedroom all picked up. Kenny vacuumed it so that was awesome because I hate vacuuming. My spinning wheel has a permanent home in front of the window. I can now look out the window and spin. I just need to get myself a small CD player to plug in and listen to while I spin. I also need a big bean bag to chill in in there if I am just spindle spinning in there. That would be lovely. I still have to clean out down the side of the bed and everything will be done after that W00t!!! I am happy for having it almost done. I took before and after pictures but decided not to share them.

Vincent was a little pill today. He broke our 150 2 wireless router we bought from at and t. We can;t use the net flix on the Xbox and be online at the same time because of this. I am a little mad about this. well tonight I have videos in my posts. I think I was talking a little to quietly

well I am off to watch the vampire diaries and spin my Lucy in the sky with diamonds fiber. I will have some pictures tomorrow. Leave me comments if you like. See yah tomorrow.

An eventful day

2011-10-05T23:23:00.001-07:00

October 5, 2011

Today was a very eventful day. Weather wise it was dreary and gloomy and I loved every minute of it. Dad came and took me to Vincent's speech therapy. That was nice because it did not cut into Kenny's work schedule. The speech therapist said Vincent did very well for his first day. I am happy.

So back to the weather as soon as we got to Vincent's school it started raining up a storm and the wind was blowing really good. I love this weather. Tomorrow is our last day for rain and than next week back up to the 90's. BLEH That's all I have to say.

This morning I got up to go get the laundry out of the dryer and there was a very large black and white pitt bull in our backyard. I backed up went in the house and called animal control. The dog finally went back to his own yard. It knocked four boards out of our fence. Lovely huh.
Kenny went out there to see where it got in. The dog was back in his own yard but saw Kenny; barked and started coming towards him. We have a very large back yard and kenny was hauling tail in flip flops screaming open the door. I have never seen someone run so fast in flip flops lol. I told him not to go out there. Did he listen to me noooo. oh well. At least I got to tell him told you so. hehe.

Today I did not get much knitting done. Vincent was off the wall and would not take a nap.

I think that is about all that went on today.

just been spinning and knitting taking care of kids same ol same ol lol

here are some pics of my projects going on right now

armwarmers spun with fiber from Sosae Caetano's wonderful store

my coral fiber from Sosae's shop I just recently spun up. I still have to skein it up and set the twist. Vincent is modeling it as well.

and these arm warmers I am knitting which will be available for sale in my etsy shop soon. I am still working on the other one.

Vincent has that oh mom look on his face lol

well thats all for now. leave comments if you wish I love to get em.

a knitting we will go

2011-10-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

October 4, 2011

I have not been spinning for the past couple days just knitting. It has been nice to be knitting again although it feels a little odd. I am not used to the feel of knitting needles in my hands. I am used to the motions that go with spinning yarn with drop spindles. So after a long while of not knitting it feels extremely foreign to me.

I am currently knitting up some arm warmers to go into my etsy store. They are made of Noro Silk Garden and are my own pattern. I will have a completed set tomorrow and will post pictures.

Today was an okay day mostly. I have given up the fight on making Vincent take a nap. I am tired of all the screaming and crying he does. All it does is make me mad and wake up his baby sister so she is grumpy because of no nap.

Tomorrow is Vincent's first day of speech therapy. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

back to knitting.

today was a very long day

2011-10-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

October 3, 2010
I was so tired today. woke up at 245 am Isabella was so fussy. took awhile to get her settled down again. lindsy and the kids came down again. It was so good to see everyone. cant wait till we can hang out some more. i did not get a lot done after they left. i made burritos for lunch yummy. tried like heck to get Vincent to take a nap so I could take a nap. I put him back to bed about 10 times. sigh. got to have a nap for about an hour. kind of helped. my foot is still sore from where I stepped on that transformer and cut it last night.

went to food maxx tonight to get some more baby food. Food Maxx sucks so bad. the longest lines ever. well im off to go watch house and finish my armwarmers. ttfn

this weekend was okay,

2011-10-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

October 2, 2011

I am so finally glad fall is on the way. I live in Bakersfield and do not like the heat at all. Vincent had a good time today playing out in the backyard in the water with the dogs.

yesterday I got to card these two batts up they are merino angora locks and angelina I dyed everything myself they turned out so lovely.

tomorrow I have to contact Vincent's speech therapist and see about setting up his speech therapy. I also have an appointment to get him signed up for head start on Friday as well. than an appointment on saturday. All next week is all about appointments. Last week I walked with Vincent and Isabella down to the Evergreen school. It nearly kicked my butt. I would walk a lot further than that when I was a kid. I got to loose some weight.

I am really looking forward to our cooler temperatures and the rain this week. I love the rain. well thats all for now.

2011-10-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2011

today was a pretty nice day for the first of October. Got up early and did some laundry. went to the yarn store carded up two batts and than core spun karens yarn a little bit than spun on my on some of sosae's fiber a little bit. I will have pictures for you tomorrow of some of the handspun. I am going to try to do NABLOPOMO again this months and not miss a day. I am going to have to write myself daily reminders lol.

hi everyone

2011-09-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

September 28, 2011

I am so happy that we are kind of on the downward slide to fall. I say kind of because it was 92 degrees today. sigh will I ever get to wear any of my winter knits. lol

I have been doing a lot of crafty things as usual. dyed up some yarn and some locks. I am going to card them together this Saturday at the lys.

fiber and my silk n silver yarn i spun this is going to be armwarmers i dyed these yesterday.

my angora locks I dyed yesterday as well. I am going to card them into this roving
I got my locks from

this is the fiber I am corespinning for Karen. there is 7 ounces of fiber there and it is going to be an awesome yarn.

the kids are getting so big. Vincent is going through a growth spurt again

here is Vincent checking out the rain last weekend. he was a little freaked out because of the thunder and lightening storm we had

her are some more pictures of the sky from that day

and a sunset

and a double rainbow you have to look kind of close to see the first rainbow

we have had more thunderstorms than usual this month.

I love it. looks like we have the potential for thunderstorms all day friday into saturday night and than rain next week 50 percent chance w00t!!!! and 75 to 80 on Wednesday awesome!!!!

here is Isabellie

I bet she is walking by Christmas

I am also knitting the hexipuffs quilt pattern from tiny owl knits. it is so much fun. she said you like knit on it for a year and than put it together.

well thats all for now will post more later.

SoftFlexGirl: First Friday Giveaway - Mini Twist N Curl + 22g So...

2011-08-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

SoftFlexGirl: First Friday Giveaway - Mini Twist N Curl + 22g So...: "TWIST N CURL MINI SET Price: $25.95 22 GA SOFT FLEX CRAFT WIRE Price: $3.99 (3 spools in 22g, your color choice) Learn how to use the Tw..."

cupcakes today

2011-08-04T22:43:00.001-07:00

Good day today made 45 cupcakes for tomorrows block party should be a good dayy

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wow

2011-08-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

was revisting a east siders web page saying who had passed away that we went to school with cant believe how many people gone wow. thats all goodnight

NABLOPOMO August #2

2011-08-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

today was just another day. Hung out at home with the kids because I am not comfortable driving my overheating car anywhere with the kids in it. I think it needs a new thermostat. I just finished watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire while plying my yarn.

here is my wizards weazely wheezes batt plied with a orange and black halloween batt.
it is 126 yards of yummy squooshy yarn.

here are the next two yarns I am going to be spinning and plying together

waterlillies for aquaman from knittink (on the left) and polwarth rainbow from knit by design

vincent still has his all these little bumps all over his body from his rash or bug bites which ever it is. hopefully they start going away soon. I think he had an allergic reaction to the peanut butter because I switched brands. well thats all for now. got to post before midnight.

a new month a fresh start

2011-08-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

A new month again. I am hoping all goes well this month. I have seen and heard so many crazy things happening to people's relationships and family life that it makes me happy there is a no drama agreement in our marriage.

I just finished up Tour De Fleece for this year. I did a lot more art yarns this year than last year. I actually spun a lot more yarn last year.

here are some of my spins from this years Tour De fleece

that is just some of my pics from tdf. There are a lot more on my flickr

this past week was kind of crazy in my neighborhood. right around the corner from my house an 8 year old girl went missing. she was found alive but her dad was the guilty party. we actually had a swat team stand off in our neighborhood as well. it was so crazy last week. We had a lot of lookie lous in our neighborhood which meant a lot of traffic. I was so glad when the whole event was over

here is Vincent standing at the sheriffs line

well im off to spin some more. I am going to be doing some yarn bombings this month. whats that you say. well you stay tuned to find out more or google yarn bombing.

tour de fleece day one /NABLOPOMO

2011-07-02T22:19:00.001-07:00

funonionday1, a photo by morgaine24 on Flickr.

today was a good day for TDF got two yarns finished. here is one of this this is a core spun yarn and I love it. After I finish dinner I am going to spin up 6 ounces of alpaca that is a light chocolate brown color., It is going to be my winter scarf. It is the second day of NABLOPOMO I am going to actually remember to blog everyday my drive band disappeared fore my spinning wheel. I think my three year old could be involved in its disappearance:-) I rigged it with crochet cotton for now and it works. well off to spin

tour de fleece starts soon

2011-07-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Tour De fleece is almost here again. About 2 hours and 30 minutes before it starts.

I spun 15 yarns on my drop spindle last year my goal is to spin 20 yarns this year in between my spindle and my wheel. I will start spinning my first yarn at midnight and it will be fun can hardly wait. I will have lots of updates on my blog over the next fifteen days.

Bookish Haven Summer Vacation

2011-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

hi all hope everyone is having a good summer so far and try to stay cool over at Larissa's Bookish Life she is having a Bookish Haven Summer Vacation event going on you should definitely go check it out. Lots to read and lots of fun and prizes to be had:-)

Shattered Glass by Elaine Bergstrom- Bewitching Book Tour

2011-06-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

Paperback: 386 pages

Publisher: Elaine Bergstrom (January 24, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0982970609

ISBN-13: 978-0982970607

Book Description:

Helen Wells, 19, is a gifted painter, struggling to create a legacy before the illness that left her crippled claims her life. Stephen Austra is a brilliant glass artist, and an immortal. When they meet, their passion is immediate and intense. But as their love grows, Dick Wells, Helen's uncle and a homicide expert on the local police department, begins investigating a series of savage murders committed, he is forced to believe, by something not human. Soon all three will be drawn into a struggle with a dark presence from Stephen's past, one that lays claim to the life of the woman he loves and one that, for all his power, he is helpless to control. This novel, first published in 1989 to critical acclain is being reissued in a special updated -- and uncut -- version, and includes 12,000 words not found in the original edition. It is the first of 6 books in the Austra series.

To see more books in the Austra series visit: http://www.elainebergstrom.com/Ordering-Books.html

Knitting A Novel...

Before you write a guest blog, it’s a good idea to visit the site and see what it’s like. And this one is quite lovely with its beautiful skeins of glorious yarns. It was like cloud watching: A couple of photos looked like painted shih tzus, some were poodle-esque, a couple were as Mod as London in the 70s and one looked a bit like Donald Trump’s hair if he were dressing as a clown for Halloween. But my favorite was the starfish fiber. I’d wear it just as it is, but with a bit of work it could be turned into something even more magnificent.

I have a friend who comes to my writing workshop in Milwaukee with her knitting bag. She’s won quite a few awards and she claims that the motion of her hands helps her to concentrate and that she often knits while working through scenes for her novels. I can relate. Though I’ve never learned to knit and though my grandmother tried her best to teach me, I could barely crochet, but creativity is of all kinds. I used to hobby in glass design, and while my hands were engaged in cutting and piecing the patterns, my mind traveled elsewhere, starting the mental process that led to seven novels about the Austra family of immortal glassworkers and their adventures in our human world.

Writing for me is a lot like weaving. There are the heavier yarns of the dialog, the lighter strands that become the descriptions which are added next then the little flourishes – the emotions, the flutter of a hand, the rise of an eyebrow, a sudden averting of the eyes. Like any craft, writing requires practice. I remember that order – dialog, description, emotion – but I need not do it any longer. Today I can write much more quickly and scenes come together fully written. I’ve celebrated the creativity of hands with my Austra family...and In my first novel, Shattered Glass, Stephen Austra describes the emotion all craftsmen feel when he speaks of his first magnificent church window:

“As I walked through Chartres, surrounded by the synthetic rubies, amethysts, emeralds, and other precious tones, I could feel in the darkness the peace, the inspiration, the wisdom all people would discover, and I received a satisfaction from the creation of that beauty, which was so intense that no emotion has ever equaled it. Those windows sang to me in a chorus of light and color, and their voices were magnificent!”

I feel that way about my novels, about Stephen Austra and Helen his beautiful half-human lover, about their children and their kin and their work and the stories of the family that span the centuries from the Middle Ages to the near future. If you love them half as much as I loved creating them, I will be blessed.

I’m getting a glass grinder soon, it won’t take me away from the writing I love...I expect that instead, there will be more prose, created while my hands are occupied.

Bio:

Elaine Bergstrom was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the product of 16 years of Catholic education which, she is sure, has strongly affected her work. Her first novel, Shattered Glass, was among the first vampire romances and created a family of vampiric immortals -- powerful, eternal but with some odd constraints on their natures. It was set in her hometown and the church she attended as a child. It was nominated for a Stoker, received critical acclaim and has been followed by four other related novels, as well as Under the pseudonym Marie Kiraly (her grandmother's name), she has written two Dracula sequels: Mina...the Dracula Story Continues and Blood to Blood. She resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she runs a novel writing workshop, freelances as a TV and film critic and writes grumpy old lady letters to her congressmen and local papers. You can get additional information on her books and upcoming appearances at elainebergstrom.com

The kindle edition of Shattered Glass is the "author's cut" version -- including 10,000 words not included in the original paperback.

http://www.elainebergstrom.com

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Bergstrom/e/B000APQK04

hi

2011-04-09T00:07:00.001-07:00

Well today was just another day at home dyed some silk bells;four of them. Next week I am going to see about order a couple pounds of fiber to dye up and put in my etsy store I am going to be opening soon.

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today was a productive day

2011-03-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

got up and took care of both beans breakfast and bottle. I than started breaking up my bfl too dye

here is a picture of all I dyed today

green blue yellow red and purple.

I am going to spin it into a long repeat of colors yarn maybe I might also card it into a batt not sure yet.

the weather was very windy today here as well so my fiber dried very quickly

well tomorrow my starter for my bread will be ready to break up to make more starter and too bake my two loaves woohoo!!!! I will have starter to share this weekend as well.

well off to bed. I want to read a little before I go to sleep.

today was a lazy day

2011-03-06T22:20:00.001-08:00

Today was a most lazy day. I was up till 6 am. I slept till 2 pm because of this. After I got up I prepped a bunch of the veggies for dinner. I than went to the Walmart for the chicken stock I forgot. I found some good books in the Bargain Bin. I got two books by Liz Maverick called Crimson and Steam and Crimson CIty. I also got two books b Erin Kellison called Shadow Bound and Shadow Fall. They both look good as well. the best part about the books. They were all two bucks a piece. It would have cost me thirty bucks before tax if I bought them in a normal book store. w00t!! I got two new jenkins drop spindles this weekend. I got the delights. The are so wonderful. I love them. I like them better than the standard. One is canary wood and one is bolivian rosewood. I got them at ABC's of Creative pursuits in Bakersfield Ca. They are hands down my favorite spindle.:-)

This is my beautiful Starfish fiber I bought from Sosae Caetano on etsy .

I was going to use it for the SAL on Sos's group but it ended up going to live with Cookie from our spinning group.

I keep on meaning to dye some roving but I have just been to tired mist of the time. One of these days I will get around to it. This week I am going to be setting the twist in a bunch of yarns and measuring yarns that I am going to send to my lys to sell. well I am tired and out of here ttyl.

good day today

2011-03-05T23:29:00.000-08:00

had a good day today went and taught my spinning class and had a good time two new jenkins spindles went home to live with me today. all is good will post more tomorrow

January Phat Fiber Box Chinese New Year

2011-01-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

This months box is so wonderful. I love everything.

here it is in all its purtyness:

froggy fibers

The Alpaca Legacy

60/30/10 Alpaca/Wool/Silk

Lampyridae

Black is 100% Alpaca White is 50/50 Alpaca Merino

Play at Life Fiber

Romney/ Coopworth/Corrie Lamb, Firestar

Boho Knitter Chic

Jade Buddha

Angelina, Silk, firestar, bamboo, superwash merino, bfl, Columbia

Colorbug Yarns

Poppy Colorway is Wensleydale

Moonlight and Laughter

China Dragon Superwash Merino
I forgot to take a picture of this beautiful fiber. Will do it later tonight

Dawning Dreams

L'ejade Superwash Wool Roving

Moonwood Farms

contains merino, super A1 mulberry silk, rambouillet, bamboo(rayon), milk protein fiber, alpaca, angelina, firestar
Gabriel's Message is the colorway I think

this is one of my favorites.

Silk Azalea Kit from out of step dye works you knit with silk hankies. looks pretty cool.

Hampton Artistic Yarns

Pulled Silk fiber

CrochetbyKA

Year of the Rabbit -Also one of my favorites

Merino, Angora, Mulberry Silk

Texas Alpaca Fiber Hand Painted 100% alpaca

and a cute bookmark

Natchwoolie

Year of the Rabbit Loose Angora Fiber

All for Love of Yarn

80 merino 20 other

these patterns

stitch markers from The twice sheared sheep, Exchanging fire, Gloria Patre

and a Stitch marker Bag

and a wonderful
key fob

that is it I love it all and now I am tired I have been trying to get this posted all day

Nook Color Giveaway

2011-01-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Jolly mom is currently having a giveaway for a Nook Color be sure to go to Jolly Mom and check it out. be sure to check out Barnes and Noble as well. this is such an awesome giveaway.

Whimsical Creations giveaway

2010-11-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Whimsical Creations is having a giveaway for either a Mickey or Minnie Mouse ornament. check it out here and say Victoria Barton sent you please.

spinning and doctors appointments.

2010-11-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Kenny and I went to the doctor today for the pregnancy.The baby is definitely doing okay. As of today the baby is head down and is most likely a girl the baby was so big it was hard to tell for sure. They are thinking girl though. Kenny and I got to see the face really well. He said the baby looked like me. lol The baby could could be born anywhere between the 12th and 17th of December. Hopefully it will not be on the 14th because that is Vincent's birthday.

I have been spinning this week a lot. The boho knitter chic spins group on ravelry is having an end of the year spin down your stash event so I am taking part in it. I figure it will be the last time I spin and not be interrupted continuously for awhile. This fiber is from Hobbledehoy fiber on etsy and is awesome. I love hobbledehoy fiber. It is 102 yards and is from Gemmy Batts no 97. It is a 2-ply

I have also been spinning on my Boho Knitter Chic(bohoknitterchic on etsy.com) Lotus colorway. It is South African Wool. I love it. It is so soft. I think it is going to be a three ply. It depends on my final yardage.

Here are some pictures of Vincent on Halloween:
He was Woody from Toy Story.

and here is Vincent at the Condors game. He loved seeing the game:

and here is Vincent in his new Buzz Lightyear pajamas

Ill post again later on this week as I spin more.

Devon Monk Internview and Kindle Giveaway

2010-11-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Bitten by books dot com is currently hosting a question session with Devon Monk and a kindle giveaway. You should definitely check it out. Devon is answering your questions as well which is super cool. here is the link go by and check it out

Friends in Fiber giveaway

2010-10-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Phat Fiber is hosting a giveaway for Friends in Fiber. Friends in Fiber is such an awesome store. Jan and Peg are so amazing with their fiber craftiness.

Here is my current stash of FIF

X2 Eggplant polwarth

Eggplant polwarth all spun up lace weight

I am currently knitting the woodland shawl pattern in the eggplant colorway. it is so lovely.

Cranberry Swirl

Uptown Chessie

so as you can tell Jan and Peg are awesome with their fibers. They do beautiful work. So go on over to Phat Fiber and check out the wonderful giveaway.

Also be sure to check out Friends in Fiber on Etsy

They are currently having a sale right now as well.

rb

2010-08-06T11:41:00.001-07:00

rb
Originally uploaded by morgaine24

My Tour De Fleece spinning

2010-07-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

This year I got to take part of my first Tour De Fleece. I had such a good time with all the spinning and camaraderie. It was an awesome good time.

First off here are all my yarn spun up. I spun 15 yarns on my drop spindles.

This fiber is from Counting Sheep Farms and is cormo, alpaca, and silk. Such a lovely mix. CHF has this for sale in her shop all the time I believe. This one is an n-ply as well.

This is from Counting Sheep Farms as well and the colorway is fire and the fiber content is merino. It is an n-ply

This Fiber is from BeeMiceElf and was from my swap partner. It is an n-ply.

The fiber I made this yarn with came from EverImprovingMe and is the any port in a storm colorway and is Polwarth. Such a lovely spin.

The fiber for the next two yarns came from Boho Knitter Chic. She is the goddess of glorious batts and roving.
Fiber Content: Merino Top this is a single.

This fiber is called purple cone flower and the fiber content is Fiber Content: merino, Angelina, bamboo. it is an n-ply.

Sunset Farm Fiber from Fleecemakers this yarn is a single
its fiber content is f firestar, angelina, tencel and bamboo,
super silky Romney and a finn shetland romney cross
fleece along with dyed mohair

This is a lace weight single and is from Spindies. It is the coral box

This fiber came from Froggy Fibers and is Merino
This is a lace weight single.

This fiber is from Corgi Hill Farms
and is merino, silk, firestar-shimmer. It is n-ply

these little bits are the last I spun from the TDF
this is from Into the Whirled and is a single.

this one was one of my goals. to spin a whole skein on my Jenkins Turkish Delight.
This is n-ply

this is my first and last spin for the tour

I had a good time doing all this spinning and have perfected my n-ply.

here is what I am working on now:

my hamm batt for the Crafty Puppy Lover Toy Story SAL

and my corgi hill farm wensleydale roving im am currently spinning on my Jenkin's Turkish Delight

here s vincent modeling my Jenkins. he is getting so big.

here I am with my drop spindle and my bearded dragon

here I am spinning downtown at the amtrack station in Bakersfield next to the giant globe fountain

Tour De Fleese Day 1 and 2 and fourth of July

2010-07-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

July 5, 2010

I have been doing a lot of spinning lately for Tour De Fleece. I had a fun weekend at ABC's of Creative Pursuits. I got to go play with Karen's acid dyes. It was a lot of fun. I definitely have to get my own acid dyes someday. It is a lot of fun to dye with them.

Fourth of July was a lot of fun. Good food and a good time with family. Little man had a good time and like to run around when the strobe fireworks were going off. It was funny.

well here is some pictures from what has been going on

these are pictures of illegal fireworks people in our neighborhood were setting off. pretty though

this is my tour de fleece day 1 and 2 accomplishments. 200 yards of lace of lace to fingering weight yarn. my hands are so sore from spinning. LOL

I will post more pictures later of some more hand dyed yarn and roving I did this weekend. They are drying right now. I also have some new little man pictures to post up as well. ttfn

here is my acid dyed cascade 220

I was still rinsing here.

Here she is all wound up

I used hot pink, purple, and teal jacquard acid dyes. So much fun. can't wait to do it again:-)

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

2010-04-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate blog party 2010 started today at 5 minutes for mom. It is going to be so much fun. I do not know how much I am supposed to say to myself on here. I have a wonderful two year old named Vincent. In December I will be married six years to my wonderful husband Kenny. I would be interested in winning these prizes:

Tupperware Prize Pack – the winner will receive a box filled with fun Tupperware goodies.
Provided by: Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads

A Salt City Candle Electric Melting Pot with two melting tiles.
Provided by: Stacy’s Candle Closet

Prize package of preschool toys! KOTA & PALS HATCHLINGS – (PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99), TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS CHUCK MY TALKING TRUCK (TONKA/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $34.99), PLAY-DOH Coco-Nutty Monkey (Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99), PLAY-DOH MINI BUCKET (Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $4.99)
Provided by: Hasbro

New Mary Kay Fragrance Free Satin Hands Set for one winner. A new twist on a Mary Kay® best-seller*! Mary Kay® Satin Hands Pampering Set is now also available in a fragrance-free version!
Provided by: Jasmin Collier & Tamisha Mays

47
48
86
105
USC42

MY UBP2010 giveaway is a hand knit beanie in whatever color you choose as long as its not an impossible to find color I can do it.

ravelympics wrap up and other craftyness

2010-03-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

well ravelympics is over and I miss it already. Last time the ravelympics happened I only made one item. I did quite a bit more this year. here are all my projects for ravelympics

my easy breezy hat made from my hand spun yarn
this hat is going to charity.

my lets go shopping market bag I hand dyed the cotton myself. I love this bag

Toast

my licorice twist that I hand dyed using wiltons

my hand spun this roving is from Counting Sheep Farm the colorway id parrotfish. It is 100% merino roving 3 ply 171 yards

This is from Boho Knitter Chic Burlesque Spin a Long
my hand spun yarn is 139 yards and is awesome. I plied it with Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn. It looks so amazing.

this is me with my batt from Boho Knitter Chic before it was spun up. It is huge

so that is everything from this year. I had such fun doing more this year. I had an awesome fun time being part of Team Twilight on Ravelry.

I am currently working on finishing up mt flower power elephant and the anatomically correct knit heart from knitty. I have just one two feet to go on the elephant and finishing up the valves on the heart.

here are some current vincent pics

He likes to hold his toys in front of his face. Than I take pictures of them. He than likes to see the picture. It is so cute.

Vincent wearing the Alpaca Hat I won from Alpaca Farm Girl blog. My package was late getting to me because of all the bad weather. I also received a pair of alpaca socks as well, they are so wonderfully warm. My toes are always cold wearing normal cotton socks. not so with these. I love them. Thank you

This picture of Vincent would have been so perfect if not for the finger. But it is representative of childhood. I love it.
You can see his beautiful blue eyes. I love the expression on his face.

Well that is it for now. I am going to be posting consistently from now on.
hope everyone is having a good day.

Spincerely Yours Wonderful giveaway at Phat Fiber

2010-02-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

Spincerely yours is having an awesome giveaway at Phat Fiber "The Most lushest purple you've ever seen"; quotes Jessie/miss phat fiber and all around awesome gal. Jessie is not kidding either I love purple. My little Honda is even lavender. This is so beautiful. You need to get yourself over to the phat fiber blog and check it out.

February's Phat Fiber Boxh

2010-02-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

here is my feb phat fiber box I love it all. gorgeous. ill edit later to add the other stitch markers and extras and the url's to the store have to go to the bank to put in check

It has been awhile.

2010-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have blogged anything. I was just so super busy with the holidays. Than a scare to my personal health. My doctor's were thinking I had breast cancer. It turned out just to be a bad infection. I still have to get an ultrasound of the lump to make sure. My pathology came back negative of the sample they took. I am happy for that. I can rest a lot easier now. I might still have to have surgery to have the lump removed. I will know more on that later this month. So for the time being I am still here.
I was wondering if you could do me a favor and go to Fluffington Fiber SAL and vote for my handspun. I am number 7. I would greatly appreciate it
here is little man looking at the fluffington farm yarn. I was trying to get him to hold it but he was all about the graham crackers as you can see.

I have been doing a lot of spinning and a little knitting. Here are some pictures of some of my spinning:

this is alpaca,cormo and silk from
counting sheep farm. I won it for being the
crazy cast on guru.You should have a look
around. lots of beautiful things to spend
your money on.

this is a single of alot of different phat
fiber samples.

this is my first ever three ply yarn I am so proud of it. it is so pretty and sift. the fiber is from paradise fibers in oregon

this is some 2 play I spun up. I love the color

this is from some samples of december's phat fiber box. I love the purples.

here is the blanket I am knitting for my friends baby that is due in may

here are some new pictures of little man the first picture us before his haircut. he
was starting to look very much like a little elfin child with the longer hair.
the second one is with his hair cut. His daddy cut it with the flobee. worked great

busy day today but a good day

2009-12-21T18:24:00.000-08:00

Had an awesome day today. Waited around for the mail man. My Bella Merce Twilight inspired jewelry came today. I love it so much here is the picture I took on my new Canon camera I won last week.

Here is the Bella Merce Package before I opened it. I love the packaging.
here is the package after I opened it.

Tells me about my necklace and how to take care of it.

and here is a close up of my necklace:

I love my necklace so much. Thank you to Womb at the Innsane and Bella Merce for the wonderful necklace. You should go check out both of these web pages they are both good. Bella Merce makes all kinds of hand made engraved jewelry.

Here is Vincent at the park today. He had a good time:

Is this a sunflower? It popped up out of nowhere last week after big rain. I thought at first it was a funky weed

My giveaway will be coming up soon.Once I reach my 200th post. Oh yeah and looking forward to phat fiber box at my house this month:-) If you don't know about phat fiber you should go here Phat Fiber and read all about it.

the year is almost over . it sure went quick

2009-12-19T03:17:00.000-08:00

Another year almost done. It went so quick. There is a lot going on this month as well. Little man's birthday was December 14, My anniversary is December 22(5 years and there better not be an earthquake. The earthquake in Paso Robles which killed two people happened right as my husband started saying his vows to me. We have the earthquake at our wedding ceremony on tape. ),Christmas is December 25 friday which means we will be at my MIL and FIL for Christmas.

This week has been both good and bad. I am still getting over my cold. I sound like a frog croaking when I talk. Little man is coming down with it as well.Just a little cough. I. received my camera in the mail which I won I will blog more about that whole experience later on today.
here are some pictures from my new camera:

Here is Vincent wearing my felicity hat. Up until the crown its made of noro and the crown is nature wool. He loves red.

I am going to be having a contest coming up when I have reach my 200th post. You will like it I think.Phat fiber box drop was yesterday. Can't wait to get the box this month. It is going to be awesome. Aurora Borealis is the theme this month. I have to get to work on my samples for next months box. I should be able to get all of them done this weekend.

I saw Avatar yesterday. It is so epic. I want to see it again in 3D. My husband and I and Dennis and some of his friends went to see it. My mom and dad were supposed to go but because did not want to deal with the drama. Well that is all for now. I will have another post tomorrow of some finished projects hopefully.

its already been an iffy week

2009-12-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

my husband left the lights on all weekend to my car and totally killed the battery. he had to have the car jumped twice in this horrible weather today. i feel so bad for him. what a crappy day to have happen. so after that I was going to leave and go to my cousins house. i locked myself out because I grabbed the wrong set of keys. yeah me. so kenny took his dads truck and came back to let me in. he left the car keys with his dad so he could drive my car if he needed to. so no keys to get in the house lol. I took off to my cousins house and was like oh crap.no bank card no gas.*slaps forehead* bank card is in house. so went to cousins house and than went home made it thank goodness. got gas en route and than was like oh no locking gas cap in which the key is on the keyring I left in the house. I lucked out and my gas cap wasnt locked all the way down thank goodness. something went right today. so got home and relaxed with the bean.

it rained alot today. I was in my car seeing if I could get it to start. started right up no problems:-) I was very happy. ran it up and down the freeway a couple times to make sure the battery was charged a little bit.

so tonight I played copy cat with my crafts. I made my own skein yarn stitch markers like the ones that Yarn Demon (go here and by hers) made. The only difference is hers are handmade and mine are made with an extruder.(I was lazy)I also will not be selling mine unless she says I can because it is her design. I just loved them so much I had to make my own. here are some pictures of them. I still have to add the head pins and split rings as well as bake them.

so I just signed up for whrrl it is an awesome way to put together a picture slide show with text and share it. here is my first whrrl my family went to this holiday festival at the kern county museum. was alot of fun and vincent got to see horses and trains.

well as holidays approach Im thinking of my grandma who passed on on october 2, 2009. she was such an awesome grandma. whenever I was out of town or she was out of town we would sometimes call each other and talk about the weather or I would write her about the weather. If she was here today I would be telling her about the rain and how windy it was today. I miss her and her chocolate gravy and her deep fried chocolate pies.

It has been a great week.

2009-11-29T00:46:00.001-08:00

This week has been so nice. Thanksgiving was a little hairy. Little man usually has the run of his grandparents house as far as having no other kids around. My husbands cousin was there with her little ones. At one time or another one of them was screaming because they kept on taking toys from each other. Vincent is almost 2. Her girl I think is almost 5. Made for a long headache filled evening. I was so happy for bedtime.

So now it is Sunday and im up late as usual. The only time I can get anything crafty done sometimes. I made these polymer clay buttons last night:
Some of these are going to be sent in as samples to phat fiber this month. I need to make some more tomorrow.:-)Let me know what you think.

So this week I won some really awesome prizes. The first one that I absolutely adore and cannot wait to receive is this:
photo courtesy of Bella Merce
This wonderful artisan makes jewelry inspired by The Twilight Saga. Isn't it shiny:-)
Womb at the Innsane had a contest for whoever did the best promoting of Bella Merce web page won this wonderful prize. I posted on forums, facebook, and did lots of blogging and tweeting about it.

The second item I won was from The Cats Paw. A yard of Christmas Material. I love it. I think im going to make a stocking out of it maybe . Barbara has lots of wonderful material. If you sew you should definitely go check out her online storefront. Here's a picture of the beautiful material:

This item is so cute and functional as well. Vincent is still a little young for it but it will come in handy when he is ready It is called a Shandle. It clips onto the toilet seat and from the looks of it boys can use it to left up the seat so they do not have to touch the seat. It also has a hand washing reminder on the side when the toilet seat is up. Too cute!!! I won this from Work out mommy reviews. Thank you so much:-)

I was working on knitting my husband a Bokaclava mask. Just type in demon at ravelry.com and you will find it. I got so mad at the wrap and turn rows just threw it down. I hate wrap and turn. I am thinking it is going to get frogged. I will give it one more go tomorrow when the bean is at the grandparents. If it is a no go its out of here.

Here are all my samples spun up from Novembers phat fiber box:
I will post a picture of it on the niddy noddy tomorrow. So you can see all the colors.:-)

This is my hat which is going to be going into my etsy store soon for 9.00 plus shipping:
The yarn is Cascade220 for both colours. I hand dyed the cherry color.

well that is all for now and im out.

JollyMom is giving away a HP touchsmart computer

2009-11-22T22:58:00.000-08:00

Jollymom is giving away an hp touchsmart computer this computer is so awesome check it out here at HP and also go to Jollymom to enter.

Bella Merce video by me

2009-11-22T18:11:00.001-08:00

hello everyone here is my video telling you about Bella Merce twilight series inspired jewelery. She has such wonderful jewelry. If I do not win I am definitely going to buy me some or request some for Christmas. without further ado the video

Bella Merce twilight series jewelry

2009-11-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

Bella Merce has some very amazing twilight series jewelry you should check it out here because it is awesome and beautiful and its SHINY.

here comes santa clause contest

2009-11-21T23:58:00.000-08:00

here comes santa claus contest starting nov 23 2009 on go graham go and jolly mom check it outu

vincent pictures for today

2009-11-19T17:22:00.001-08:00

extreme close up

super excited im running at you vincent

the fun thing today was Frisbee.
little man like playing with the and hitting me on my eye with them. ouch. he lost them after that

vincent playing with my glasses i love these

phat fiber, family and other things coming soon!!

2009-11-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

November has been quite busy. A little bit of travel. Learning lots of polymer clay techniques.

I received my phat fiber box today. Everything is just gorgeous. Here are the pics

here we have
Giffordables Through the Woods

Natchwoolie

and Boho Knitter Chic's Turkey Stuffing

Knit it Up

Extreme Spinning

i love this ruddawg bag so cute.

such a cute box for this month.

here are some buttons im currently working on made out of polymer clay:
let me know what you think

this is the center piece of my necklace that I am making to wear to tomorrow's new moon premiere there are matching beads as well

this is my brother and his oldest son Matthew

This is my son Vincent(closest to the camera) and his younger cousin and my brother youngest son Tristan

This is my dad with his flip mino. I have one and so does my husband. We got them from the 12 days of Christmas show that Ellen does every year.Awesome little video camera

these are a couple of old nuclear cooling towers close to my brother house. It is kind of weird to see these. My dad said a park is built on the same land because these are not used anymore. Who want's to go play at that park??? Not me. I'll pass.

well thats all folks ttyl

Local Gringos, and other things

2009-11-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

I have been not blogging because I have been doing other things crafty and kid related which did not give me much time to blog.

I was one of the lucky winners of Darcy's and Local Gringos lotion giveaway. This lotion is so terrific. I have only used the one sample called Hippie Chic because it is my favorite. I have not tried the others yet. I put the lotion on in the morning and washes a lot of dishes and gave little man a bath. I could still smell the lotion and my hands were still really soft. Very nice. I love it. Can't wait to get a full size bottle. I am really looking forward to trying the Cinnamon Cider next. Cinnamon is my next favorite smell. I also have a grapefruit blossom and tall cotton to try out.

here are my chocolate chip cookies stitch marker one of the ones i sent in for phat fiber november home for the holiday box these will be available for sale in my etsy store tomorrow

this is little man's christmas ornament this year I made him a gingerbread man

I should have my sock a little bit closer to being completed tomorrow. Ill take a picture and post it up.

JollyMom is giving away a HP touchsmart computer

2009-11-15T23:35:00.000-08:00

Jollymom is giving away an HP touch smart computer I would love to have one of these someday they are so awesome!!!!!!! I just checked out the spec on this and they look awesome. so go check out Jollymom.com to get your early entries. Early entries are not accepted after Nov. 22 2009

yarn mavens meet up today

2009-11-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

Today was an excellent day! Had a good time at the meet up at California Pizza Chicken. I did not eat but it all smelled so good. Sabrina; owner of Anzula Fibers came down from Fresno so we could look at all her pretty fibers and buy some. I walked away with 3.5 ounces of llama fiber so soft and pretty:

This is the yarn I got today also:

Knit sock samples of Anzula's Yarn:

Sabrina talking about her roving while Suzanne admires some BFL:

Thank you Sabrina from coming from Fresno. I had a wonderful time as did everyone else:-)
Darcy knitting on fingerless gloves the name of the pattern is toast I believe

this is for darcy she wanted to see my stitch markers:

here are chocolate ship cookies and sheep balls lol they are not fired or wired wrapped yet but here they are. If I feel motivated I might do some tonight.

truffles at my brothers house

2009-11-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

truffles at my brothers house and a pretty leaf

October has come and gone and Im so glad

2009-11-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

October has come and gone and I am happy for that. October is my favorite month of the year. I dress up I decorate none of that this year. Worst October ever. But we had a good Halloween little man was not to thrilled about wearing his costume. After we got out and started getting candy he was happier. here is a picture of him in his costume:

he is so tired. it was almost 8 o clock here.
His Grandpa Robinson got him its the great pumpkin charlie brown dvd. that was cool.

So my dad had a bad Halloween as well.some guy ran into my dads car twice and than stopped. My dads roommate was handing out candy out front. wrote down his license plate and called the cops. the guy than left. so he took out the back tail light. I am so glad I don't live in Oildale anymore.

fangtastic book giveaways

2009-10-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

fangtastic book giveaways this gal is giving away the first and second season of blood ties tv show along with some other books. awesome check it out here

mmmmalabrigo fingerless mittens and vincent pics

2009-10-30T01:18:00.000-07:00

man I am so glad October is almost over. Next month had to be better I hope. I am so tired of stuff going wonky. This has been the worst October ever. It used to be my favorite month. Next month New Moon comes out. They are also showing Twilight again for 5 bucks. What a steal. I went and saw the midnight showing of twilight two years ago(has it been that long? my timing might be off) Newho. The sounds was all wonky and the picture was too dark. I hope it is better this time.
here are pics of my malabrigo fingerless mittens they have kept my hands snug and toasty heres the pattern just have to finish my other thumb and weave in the ends and all done.

little man sleeping he gots his vaccinations yesterday and was running a slight fever today so he was sleeping it off I think this was taken with natural light coming through the window

here are some pictures of little man he got new jammies from his grandma and grandpa barton:

update 21-22

2009-10-25T02:20:00.000-07:00

updates 21-21

twilight finished

pages read 1059

currently reading magick in the blood devon monk

four fav books

2009-10-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

links to four favorite books

Interview with the Vampire

Where the red fern grows
Jacob Have I loved

Bridge to Terabithia

picture of me and my clapotis

2009-10-25T01:01:00.000-07:00

this is a clapotis a drop stitch shawl I out in 2 months of knitting to finish this and I handspun most of the yarn for this project. the handspinning of the yarn took five months. this projects nickname is affectionately called "The Clap"*LOL

update 20

2009-10-25T00:40:00.001-07:00

updates 20

on page 412 of twilight

pages read 974

pic about twilight for contest

2009-10-25T00:20:00.001-07:00

here is my entry for twilight its kind of wacked but hey its after midnight and everything just blury

updates 18-19

2009-10-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

updates 18-19

on page 375 of twilight

pages read 938

my drabble on neil gaiman's books

2009-10-24T22:10:00.001-07:00

I love to read Neil Gaiman's books. They are well versed and extremely entertaining to read. Sometimes when I am reading them I feel like I am hiking up a very tall mountain. This is because I am dyslexic. Sometimes reading a book is like butting my head up against a rock because I feel like there is this giant barrier in front of me I cant break through. I started reading American Gods and the prose took so long to read because once again the wall was there and I just wanted to cry. I really wanted to finish.

update hours 12-17

2009-10-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

update hours 12-17
on page 301 of twilight
pages read total 864

five favorite childrens books

2009-10-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

the fire cat by ester averil my favorite book as a kid still one of my favorites need to get another copy

a swiftly tilting planet Madeline L'engle

super fudge judy blume
tales of a fourth grade nothing Judy Blume
where the re fern grown wilson rawls

Deweys read a long

2009-10-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

this is my first time participating in the read along and I am having a good time although I am reading through slitted eyelids because I am tired. I just wanted to say thank you for starting the read a thon. I will definately be doing this again next year.

death cab for cutie meet me on the equinox

2009-10-24T18:00:00.001-07:00

listening to this because im reading twilight and hadnt had a chance to listen to the new soundtrack

Meet me on the Equinox
Meet me half way
When the sun is perched at it's highest peek
In the middle of the day

Let me give my love to you
Let me take your hand
As we walk in the dimming light
Or darling understand

That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything ends

Meet me on your best behavior
Meet me at your worst
For there will be no stone unturned
Or bubble left to burst

Let me lay beside you, Darling
Let me be your man
And let our bodies intertwine
But always understand

That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything, everything ends

A window
An opened tomb
The sun crawls
Across your bedroom
A halo
A waiting room
Your last breaths
Moving through you

As everything, everything ends
As everything, everything ends
As everything, everything, everything
Everything, everything, everything ends

Meet me on the Equinox
Meet me half way
When the sun is perched at it's highest peek
In the middle of the day

Let me give my love to you
Let me take your hand
As we walk in the dimming light
Or darling understand

That everything, everything ends

mid event survey

2009-10-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

1. What are you reading right now? twilight page 152

2. How many books have you read so far?2

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? neil gaimans neverwhere

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?no

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?just bathroom breaks one every 2 hours or so

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?the awesome prizes

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?no

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? pick different books

9. Are you getting tired yet?im exhausted

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?pick shorter books

update hours 1-10

2009-10-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hour one:
pages read:52
books read:0
a touch of dead charlaine harries currently reading

Hour two
pages read: 102 all together
books read :0

Hour three:
pages read: 208 all together
books read: 1

Hour four:
pages read: 258
books read 1
currently reading Dune Frank Herbert

Hour five:
pages read: 434
books read: 2
finished reading shel silverstein where the side walk ends. changed to memoirs of a geisha

hour six:
pages read: 534
books read: 2

hour seven:
pages read: 584
books read 2

hour eight:
pages read: 604
books read: 2

hour nine:
pages read: 633
books read: 2

hour ten:

pages read: 653
books read: 2
switched twilight by stephenie meyer

hour 11:

pages read: 673
books read:2

Creative Fly Designz Giveaway

2009-10-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Creative Fly Designz is giving away the most beautiful necklace it is a hot pink white and black wire crochet necklace so gorgeous proceed right this way to enter

Phat Fiber October 2009

2009-10-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

here is my phat fiber box for October 2008 I love everything. Lovely.

my lovely sucker

yarn demon stitch marker I have wanted one for awhile. I love it.

Giffordables Folk Art and Fibre

Dawning Dreams 100% Wool Mill Ends

Blue Mountain Handcrafts Charlie Bucket and the Golden Ticket

Anzula Fibers

The Fox Hop Local PA Rambouillet Locks, BFL wool, Soy Silk, Cotton, Firestar, Angelina

Spinners Candy

Moonlight and Laughter Ghosts and Goblins forgot to photograph this one. camera battery is dead will take a picture tomorrow when camera is charged.

Rule Out Fiber Addiction NOS Pavarti Patil

Larkspur Funny Farm

Ambrosia and Bliss Jareth Mini-batt

Carly Original Pirate Colorway

Natchwoolie Pumpkin Guts Kid Mohair

Lightbrown Hair

Jackalope 80% superwash wool 20% nylon
Jackrabbit 100% superwash merino wool
Artic hare 63% superwash merino wool 20% silk 15% nylon 2% silver fibers
March hare 100% superwash merino wool
Mountain hare heavy worsted weight wool

Ruddawg KIP bags love these little bags just ordered one for my swap partner. this is a batik butterfly bag

such a lovely box this month can't wait to knit up some little projects as well as buy myself some lovelys on friday.

my yarn from the boho knitter chic SAL

2009-10-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

here is my yarn from the BOHO Knitter Chic SAL I set the twist today and it is awesome has a wonderful drape to it:

its the weekend yeah me

2009-09-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

so its the weekend and the bean(vincent) is heading over to his grandparents. big bean(husband) is going to Lengthwise to bring back a growler of beer and some super stinky fries(french fries with garlic and gorgonzola cheese Yummy!!). I really love stinky fries and the deep friend twinkies they serve there. So good but majorly fattening. I don't get them too often.
well here are some pictures I took of little bean today:

so theres all the pictures of the little man and one of him and i together it was a self portrait so pardon the quality.

I received two great free samples this week.
The first sample is eos. I was at first disappointed because when I was selecting my sample I chose the sweet mint flavor. I received it in the mail tried it and actually ended up loving it very much. I guess my mind already knew what I wanted. I have always like mints. I received my little eos(stands for evolution of smooth) lip balm. I was just happy to see the container. It is a little sphere that you open by turning it. It almost feels like a neoprene container and is completely gripable which I like because I am always dropping things due to my carpal tunnel. I opened it and I could smell a wonderful mint smell. I applied the balm to my lips and my lips were instantly tingly from the mint. I love it. The most wonderful light feeling on my lips . I do not like waxy balms that feel heavy and this one is heavenly. The eos is an all natural, 95% organic smooth sphere lip balm. They are sold at Rite Aid. Here are some additional web pages to check out:
EOS
EOS2

My second favorite item is my new Zum Frankincense and Myrrh soap made by Indigo Wild. Last week Zum soap on twitter gave away free bars of F&M soap. I received my package on Saturday. They are fast shippers. I was so happy to see this package as well because Zum soap smells so good. When I opened up my package from some I was a little reluctant about the F&M because I thought it would be a little bit strong. I was wrong and I love this new scent. I give it an A plus. There newest catalog just came out and it it gorgeous. I love it. I also received a coupon for another free bar of soap as well. How generous is that. I cant wait to order some soap from them next month. Check out their web page here

here is my camera that i am selling. it is an Asahi pental k1000 with a 35 mm lens as well as a pentax macro lens. I am including a flash and a cable release. I am asking 150 dollars for my camera but am willing to take offers as well. If you are interested let me know and I can do up a paypal invoice. It will be 10.00 for the shipping because I was to make sure it is insured and I don't ship out of the us sorry. my camera works very well I have taken extremely good care of it over the years and I am only the second owner
here are some pictures:

so all in all a good weekend besides being under the weather. Off to make some stitch markers for november's phat fiber box.

Boho Knitter Chic's Spin along

2009-09-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

I am so excited I just got through my first batt. One down one to go here are some pics on the drop spindle as well as skeined up. I have not set the twist yet. That will happen tomorrow when its over 100 degrees and I can set the skeins outside to dry. shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. anywho onto the pictures:

My next batt I am going to spin up some of the extra's into it. Should be fun. I am done spinning for about a day I think. My fingers just about fell off from spinning that first batt. I hand spun for four hours last night and 4 today. I am glad little man was mostly good today.:-)

here are some pictures I took of some flowers in my back yard:

today is a good day

2009-09-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

well as far as getting things in the mail its a good day. Vincent and I are still sick and feeling crappy. I received my phat fiber box today and I received my SAL batts from Boho Knitter Chic happy day made me feel better since I dont feel that well.

okay here is my phat fiber box pictures:

alaskan sass princess and the pea hand dyed merino top

Extreme Spinning's The Princess Bride organic merino

Desert Garden's Bippity Boppity Boo made of merino, icicle, and angelina

It's a colorful life The Nightingale made of merino. blue faced leicester tussah silk and firestar

WC Mercantile 100% Wensleydale Wool

Serendipity's Myth and Magic Club Batt Color is Midnight Elf and I love this so much 50%mill ends wool with a touch of mohair and 50% carbonized bamboo

Plum Crazy Ranch and Fiber Art Snow White Alpaca Silk Merino Angelina

Into the Whirled colorway Minotaur Merino Wool Top

Natchwoolie Brownie Organic Merino

Twice Sheared Sheep 100 percent mercerized cotton

Mama Judes Plant Dyed Stuff 85% wool 15% merino

Melissa's Kre8tions

Serendipitous Ewe Gray Matter 100 superwash merino wool

A Sailor's Girl 100 % merino wool worsted weight

Knit it Up Yarns Sleeping Beauty Curvy 98% merino 2% nylon chunky weight

Sheepshape Spinning Princess's Gown Sock Yarn 20 yards 75% wool and 25% wool

Knit Witch Yarn Celestial Cloud Capricorn 100% Superwash Merino Fingering Weight

Lampyridae cute stitch marker

The Twice Sheared Sheep

Munchkin Punchkin

matchbook notebook with needle sizes and wpi on the back

Wine Makers Sister

so thats that I love everything it is all wonderful. I will post my SAL from Boho Knitter chic later tonight as well as post about the rest of my crazy day.

So much to blog about to tired to do it

2009-09-22T04:18:00.001-07:00

Wow what a month little mans been sick twice this month. This time it started last monday and has carried on into this week. Bad congestion and so on so some days he has been up tilll 230 am sigh so needless to say ive gotten very little sleep ugh so i am still awake in between having mosquitos munching on me in the house this one stupid big dog that always barks and vincent being up at 1240 am when ive already put him down for the night have only gotten 1 hour of really light sleep which was interrupted by afore (Is that even a word?)mentioned dog i am beat i have some new things to sharw craftwise but too tired will write a post over the course of today and will post later tonight if i finish well going to go lay in bed and pretend to sleep and maybe it will happen:-)

what ive been up too

2009-09-04T10:54:00.001-07:00

so I have been playing with the polymer clay as will as still knitting and spinning. I have my project for the phat fiber contest done the spinning that is i am submitting my tree frog merino from Corgi Hill Farms:

I am going to submit this for the spinning and than I am going to knit something from it maybe a mini clapotis ans submit that. should be nice.

stay tuned for more pictures in my next blog post and I will have some new products in my etsy store by mid September if everything goes as planned.
the pumpkins up top are going to be my phat fiber submission for this month if i get them all sanded and done. time to buckle down. let me know what you think please.

yarn demon giveaway at darcy's knotty knitter

2009-09-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

watermelon cover tape measure giveaway too cute check it out here at Darcy's Knotty Knitter

Little man

2009-08-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

WC Mercantile Giveaway via phat fiber

2009-08-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

wc mercantile via phat fiber check it out here

rocket yarn phat fiber giveaway

2009-08-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

phat fiber is holding giveaway for rocket yarn giving away some nice roving check it out here

what ive been up to is actually quite alot.

2009-08-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

this was an awesome weekend! it was overcast almost all weekend but too muggy. It spit a couple of raindrops for like five minutes this weekend. wish it would have rained more.
So I spent all day with my parents and our polymer clay teacher. she taught my parents and I how to make polymer clay canes. I made a leaf cane which turned out awesome and so beautiful. here are pictures:

Thursday I went to a small farmers market and I picked up some wonderful jalapeno bread made fresh by a local bakery and some wonderful asian pears from a local grower. so yummy look:

I also made tandoori chicken on friday with traditional indian rice which has a jasmine smell very light and fragrant rice and naan bread. my naan bread didnt turn out right. I need to try a different recipe I think. Next week I think Im going to make chana samosa maybe those are yumm also. here is my picture of our yummy dinner:

twas yummy. well im out for tonight going to go read some new moon before bed.

Calizonia Designs giveaway at phat fiber

2009-08-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

Calizonia Designs Giveaway at Phat fiber check it out here

pictures

2009-08-20T00:29:00.000-07:00

vincent not even a month old yet

vincent 19 months old

me with the chic fil a cow im rocking the hand knits the entrelac scarf is made out of noro kureyon and my hat is made out of malabrigo. my dad and I camped out for 24 hours for free food for a year from chic fil a. the one day and night we decided to do this it was freezing and it rained for almost 24 hours straight. that was in march 2008 it never rains that much here. and than we had cold wet fog overnight. i was so cold.there was rules alos had to check in every hour and stuff like that.

here is some of the little tent city. look how nasty the sky looks it stopped raining for about 2 minutes and than started pouring again.

you can see all the fog in the background by the street lights bakersfield is like tule fog capitol of the world lol. we get bad fog in the winter when we have alot of rain.

my dad rocking the dead fish hat I made for him he loves his hat

this is my favorite picture of all time i won tickets to see tori amos play in a private concert only 100 people were let in. I am the one standing next to her in the Relapse Trigger shirt. she had her hand on my shoulder so cool. was an awesome day. tori is such an amazing pianist and singer.

here i am with Ray Bradbury. He signed my copy of farenheit 451 and something wicked this way comes. he is extraordinary and very nice. his publicist took pur pictures with him because we forgot our cameras and mailed the pictures to my mom. how awesome is that. I was still very weak here because I had had emergency surgery two weeks prior to going down to the borders book store at the grove to see him. yes i ws really that pale at the time. bakersfield to la. i was so tired when I got home.

another pic of my dad from chic fil a day i love this picture he is in his rain gear

my dad was a scoutmaster for many years so he knows how to make his opwn rain gear quite well. lol

well im out have a nice day going to go to sleep now. i think my eyes are red. chriss angel is on tv. looks weird because he has a full beard and looks so scruffy weird

Isabella giveaway at Darcy's Knotty Knitter

2009-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is gorgeous. Darcy is hosting this giveaway for Sandra Singh. Sandra Singh is a talented and wonderful individual with whom I had the pleasure to meet at one of the meetups at the double tree. I had to but a skein of yarn of course. It was too pretty not too. LOL With this giveaway you have a chance to win the kit to make the mitts. The yarn included to make said mitts is 2 skeins of Malabrigo(yummy-a-brigo in my book)in colors Hollyhock and Marron Oscuro and the pattern. So gorgeous!! You definately need to check this contest out here and enter!!!! Here is a little enticement:

isnt this tempting?

Dodge Creations and the yarn i dyed last night

2009-08-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

my wonderful yarn I won in a drawing from Dodge Creations Group
here are some pics of hand dyed I did last night

relaxed day

2009-08-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Today I am having a nice relaxed day. I went to the dollar store to get some household items this morning with the bean. I like the dollar store in Oildale. The store is very well stocked compared to the dollar store by my house. They already have some decorations for Halloween for sale:

I also found a compilation of fantasy call Fantasy The Best of the Year 2008. I was happy about that. I needed some new reading material.

here is some spinning I did on the kiwi wheel at my LYS I am not good at spinning yet. I think I like the drop spindle better because I can control it better. Everything becomes with practice. So I imagine after I have my own wheel it will make a big difference because I can use it whenever I want.

Here is a picture of little man under his new quilt. This wonderful quilt was made
Wendy from Land of Poling Blog She did a wonderful job and Vincent takes it everywhere.

here is the bamboo roving I just got
this is with a flash

This is without flash
I am going to dye this up as soon as I order some more on friday. this bamboo is so soft. should be fun to dye!!!!

This soap right here:

is wonderful, awesome stupendous I won it from East Coast Tropics They have some awesome soaps. I am going to be getting some for my mom and mil for xmas. I think they will like them. Every month they give away a bar of soap. The Lavender Herbal smells absolutely heavenly. It makes me want to grow my own lavender and make soap. You should definitely check out their web page and there blog as well. well im out of here for now. I am going to post another blog later today with some very pretty yarns from Dodge Creations Group. Stay tuned.

moving day well not for me

2009-08-01T00:34:00.000-07:00

today I helped my dad move some of his stuff to storage with the truck. was a good day. not to bad. I just finished up my stitch marker contest today. I hope everyone enjoys there stitch markers. I dyed some yarn today. The type of yarn I dyed is called Licorice Twist 100% merino wool. With the Licorice Twist yarn the two different plies of yarn take the dye differently. The yarn looks really nice. Here is a pic:

I have 560 yards. Cant wait till it is dry so I can knit knit knit w00t!!!
here are some pictures of the bean:

well I am all tuckered out for the evening so I am out. Will write more tomorrow or the next day

Stitch Marker Contest Winners!!!

2009-07-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please!!!!!! Here are the winners of the contest!!!
1. Chia
2. Tami
3. Daniela
4. knitsewquilt
5. Debbie

Congratulations to everyone who won. Chia will be the first person to pick the stitch markers of her choice. Tami second, Daniela third, knitsewquilt fourth, and debbie fifth. I will contact everyone after the person before them has picked their choice.

Contest update

2009-07-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Just letting all my readers know i will be doing the drawing tonight for the stitch markers shortly after eight o clock and will post the results. Sorry if this is funny looking im posting from my phone

going to be offline for a couple days

2009-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

the cord for my laptop finish breaking and shorted out on me. I got shocked a little ouch. so I should have my desktop computer up before friday so I can do the drawing for the contest. if anyone has a dell inspiron B130 power adapter there not using email at vbarton24 at gmail dot com. Ill pay for shipping. sigh what a bummer good laptop crappy power broken supply makes a laptop a paperweight :-( vic out

july's phat fiber box

2009-07-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

here is my phat fiber box for july everything is awesome!!!
i know its not a very good picture. my battery died on my camera as soon as its charged ill post again.