...finally..

Bless me father for I have sinned, it's been 3 weeks since my last post. Old Catholic habits die hard. I can't even begin to know where the time has gone. Whatever....

Anywho, I had the pleasure of seeing many so many old friends and meeting some new ones this year at Stitches East. Meet Pam from New Jersey and her funky sock monkey in progress.

She was making it for her son and just happened to have it with her! So fun to see another monkey entering the world!

Here he is with Pam's son Shane.

Shane looks pretty thrilled, not sure what the monkey is thinking. You never know with primates...

Thanks for sharing him with me Pam!

The booth was hoppin' all four days during the show. We had such an overwhelming response to the Traveling Sweater that by the last day of the show we were sold out of the patterns and almost sold out of the yarn to make it. This is no surprise, the sweater is fabulous! I wish I would have had a "clicker" to keep track of just how many people tried that sweater on. I saw it on every shape and size and it looked great on everyone. Once they tried it on....well, the rest was history.

As I've said before, I am very lucky to be able to attend these shows. Tina has a wonderful product and I'm very proud to represent it. If you are in the New York area January 21-23, 2011 stop by and see us at Vogue Knitting Live. This is the next show I'll be at and I'm really looking forward to it. And if you are on the west coast in February we'll be at Stitches West in Santa Clara. I'm a traveling fool. Hey, maybe I should make one of those sweaters......

...it's about time...

So, how did it get to be November 19th? It seems like I was just packing to head to Stitches East. I have a whole bunch to tell you, so I'm going to break up the trip east in several posts.

It started with this:

Yup, that's one of my bags. It just squeaked in at 50 lbs. when I threw it on the scale at PDX. Notice I said one of my bags. The other one weighed slightly less. I had samples, etc. packed in there and thought, "I'll just have the samples shipped home and have plenty of room for whatever I buy!" More on that ridiculous mistaken idea later.

I had a bit of problem with my trip last year. Okay, it wasn't the trip, it was the aftermath. Rest assured that I wasn't having any of that this time around. This,

and a massive amount of hand sanitizer insured that I wouldn't have a repeat performance. I'm happy to report that it worked. Still had to sleep a bunch when I got home, but that was because we didn't hit the hay until the wee hours each night. And by we, I mean we:

These are my special knitting friends from all over. (L to R) Erica; bride-to-be and rep for Kollage from Michigan, Carrie; designer and long time sock knitter friend from California, me, and last, but never least Marcy; knitter, golfer, mom of 4 from Massachusetts and probably one of the best roommates I have ever had. Let's just say that Marcy came loaded down with everything we would need for a weekend of fun. There was wine for sure, but the best thing she had with her were these:

Possible the best cookie I have ever had. Needless to say, I have been searching for these everyday since I've been home.

Day one at Stitches had me meeting up with the great folks from Webs. These people know how to set up a booth! They just get in there and get 'er done. Steve and Kathy really know how to make a visitor feel welcome. The Webs staff was awesome, helping me get what I needed to make our booth great. Here's what it looked like after I was all done setting up:

It was pretty awesome if I do say so myself!

Well, that's all I have time for today. I'm off the BMFA land to help set up for the barn sale. If you are in the area tomorrow from 10-3 stop by and say hi. More on my Stitches East adventure soon....

...blogiversary...

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I began this blog. When I started this I wasn't sure if I'd actually keep it up. I have always wanted to keep a journal, but never followed through after about the first week. This dates back to my days in grade school when I would receive a diary for my birthday or Christmas and promised myself that I'd write in it every day. I would write faithfully for a few days, look back on what I had written with an eye too critical and end up with more blank pages in the diary than those that had been written on.

I have started journals as an adult, only to let them fall away too. Until blogging came my way. At first I thought of this blog as a place to record the comings and goings of my knitting group, "Goddess Knitters". But slowly, and surely it has evolved into a real journal of my life and my times, with a sprinkling of the 'goddesses' thrown in. It has been a very good place for me to vent about, celebrate, and keep track of my life as I go through it. It has become what I always wanted a journal to be for me; a way to look back and reflect on things that have come my way.

Though I don't write as often as I would like, I do write about things that are important to me. There have been many tears and many more smiles in the past 3 years and I am happy that I have a record of them. My kids, and soon to be grandkids will be able to read this and look back at what was going on in my life. I really wish I had this kind of record of my own Mother's life. Maybe that is what keeps me at it.

I have never been the best writer. There have been mistakes in the past writing and there are sure to be many more. But I am past that point of being critical about what and how I write. There are millions of people that are better writers than I. But I don't write this for them, I write this for me. And I like what I see.

...grandma shower...

Time has been flying by and a lot has been happening. I owe you many posts that are waiting in the wings! First up, back in June several friends got together and had a 'grandma shower' for my! What a fun day. Susan and Carol got their heads together, came up with a guest list and I spent the afternoon in the company of friends, food and fun! The shower was complete with cake (red velvet~ a personal favorite of mine), wine (another personal favorite of mine....), and beautiful gifts! Here is a bit of the wonderful things I opened.

Cute clothes:

monkey stuff:

some great things to get my house equipped for the new arrival:

some fabulous books:

and last but not least, some beautiful knitted things.

First up, knitted by my friend irishgirlieknits, this is a beautiful pair of her cotty socks and a hat to match. She knitted them out of bmfa str in the colorway peek-a-boo peonie. I love this color and can't wait to try these things on the new little one. Pictures to come, I promise. Thanks Carrie, you are a gem!

Next up, a darling shrug and hat, knit by my other good friend knittinggolfer.

For the hat, she dyed the yarn herself! Can't wait to put it on that precious little head. Thanks, Marcy! Your are the best!

I have said this many times, but it bears repeating. I am very blessed. I have wonderful friends~ Thank you, everyone!~

...go east, young monkey, again....

Tomorrow morning at the bcod (butt crack of dawn) I'm leavin' on a jet plane, heading to Stitches East. I will be there as a rep for BMFA. The last time I was at Stitches East was three years ago and it took place in Baltimore, MD. Since then, it has been moved to Hartford, CT. I'm terribly excited as BMFA will be located in the WEBS booth! Can't wait to see Kathy and Steve! They are exceptional people as is their company! We are sure to have a great time.


Tina is sending a crap-load nice selection of yarn, patterns and samples. Most of these things have been shipped east with the MOTHER LODE inventory and will be there waiting, patiently for you to see. And see them you must!


Along with the beautiful Pond Scum Emerald, I will have this:

This is the beautiful Sasha by Louet. It has been knit in Seduction, STR Lightweight and

STR Silkie. All extraordinary yarns in their own right, but put together.......holy mother of *&$#!

This skirt is amazing. You have to see it to really appreciate it!

And, of course, this has been packed~

We have kits and patterns available for him. He's not quite as flashy as Sasha, but pretty cute anyway......

If you are anywhere near the Connecticut Convention Center on Thursday (evening), Friday, Saturday or Sunday, stop by and see me. I'll be in booths #Booths 301 303 305 307 309 400 402 404 406 (WEBS has a bunch of real estate!). Hope to see you there!

...bff...

I had the luxury of meeting my good friend irishgirlieknits on Saturday for coffee. Not only was it a great visit, but she had a present for me! I love presents, but this..........

is what she brought me. (the socks, not the dog) Monkeys in jabberwocky! I have a sweater in progress in this colorway and love it. But no socks! I so love them....and as you can see, Jake does too!

Thanks irishgirlie, I love you too!

...a very merry unbirthday...

because i have been under the weather for the past few days, i have not been able to show you what arrived from my new B.F.F., tapmouse......check it out....

...she knows me sooooo well, yes those are monkey flip flops! Leslie, your package could not have come at a better time! Thanks you so much! Can ya'll feel the monkey love?

...goddess gathering...

In a few days, or as "tiny dancer" likes to say, "5 more sleeps" the goddesses will be heading to the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon for our annual gathering at Camp Knitty-Ha-Ha. If you recall, this is where the wheels came off and the whole sock monkey thing was born. Things have never been the same since, and I can't believe that is has been an entire year since we all were at camp!

Last evening the goddesses met for a pre-camp planning meeting.....a.k.a. another reason to eat, drink wine and knit together.



Here is everyone from left to right; tiny dancer, hotflash, m.a., heidi-ho, ettamae, dr. susan, lei-lei and of course, tucker. Little does he how that this group never drops food!

There was some yoga (i think?)...

wine (artichoke dip on the glass)...

pedicures...

people waiting for pedicures....

...Jake was not amused...




Well,as you can see by my 2 new t-shirts from hotflash, the fun has just begun, now to start the list of all the stuff to pack...how much wine should I take?

...spoilage...

Every year I am amazed by the wonderful, generous friends and family that I have in my life. And this year was no exception. I give you the birthday spoils........

...many wonderful things from friends and family including a cute gardening apron, a darling wine glass, cute napkins, candles, note cards, a great "monkey" game, old people tattoos, a bumblebee salt and pepper set, and.......chocolate!

...from one of my favorite people...a monkey! Anyone that knows me knows how this gift rocked my world! (the egg he is holding opens and holds my watch, earrings, etc, perfectly!)

...from my Birthday Swap Pal on Ravelry (Laurie) a plethora of birthday goodies including yarn, monkey stuff, and more yarn!!! She rocks!

...from the hubby...the beginnings of the water feature I have been wanting for our backyard. There will be some digging and electrical work involved and I know that once it's up and running you are in for many more photo of this fabulous gift!

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes by email, on Ravelery, by snail mail and here on the blog. I am very blessed..........

a day full of great things

Look what came for me today from my pal irishgirlieknits! This is just the tip of the iceberg!!!

Check it out! She sent me some fabulous things!

A cute tote bag, a darling "gadget" bag, a hilarious cd, a really funny magnet, some perfect stickers, two great monkey buttons and a darling card with a pic of her baby dog "Puddles". She really rocks in the "BFF" department! Thanks, Carrie!

Next, my new project bag from Peggy arrived! It's perfect as you can see!


Peggy, you are the bomb!

And last but not least, I was out at BMFA helping put together these.......

Which turn into this.....

{colorways: henpecked & pondscum}
Needless to say, I am very proud. It has been a very full day.

Camp Crowsfeet

Just when we thought that the monkeys had done it all........along came Camp Crowsfeet and some new friends, both monkey and human...........

Along with the monkey business we had wonderful classes, good wine and alot, and I do mean alot, of laughter. Why do your abs hurt so much from all the laughing but show no reduction? Needless to say, Camp was even more fun than last year (if that's even possible). Here are a few of the many highlights of the week.



...our beloved Rosie....



...one of my new bffs, irishgirlieknits.....


...more wonderful campers, hizknits and his mom, Ann.....


...monkeys enjoying the piano music by Christopher Peacock at Rosario.....


...the mantra repeated at camp all week long.......

I do believe that the following quote (a favorite of mine) sums up the entire week and how surprising it all was.

"If I woke up with my head sewn to the carpet tomorrow morning, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now."

~Chevy Chase
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation




p.s. The Funky Sock Monkey Pattern should be available soon at http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/ .