Yarn Parade

I spun over a mile of yarn during the Tour de Fleece on Ravelry. I won some fun prizes, too!

Now, to get all of this organized, stashed on Rav, and put away...

Here's some morning run shots:

TDF2011/Finished yarns

TDF2011/Finished yarns, a set on Flickr.

It's a wrap...
1608 meters of yarn spun plus what's still yet to be plied.
That's 1758 yards. 2 yards short of a mile, folks. OVER a mile of spinning, counting the singles spun, just awaiting plying.
A lot o' yarn. A lot o' fun. A lot o' lessons learned and friends made.
There is literally yarn everywhere. Check out Flickr to see the complete set.

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Last but not least.
Today was spent spindling the last of my June Phat fiber samples to complete one of my TDF goals. I also finished a headband with some TDF yarn for a category in the Ravelry group Bohoknitterchic Spins. Tomorrow I hope to do a wrap up and enter some yarn for the TDF contests. Although I've enthusiastically cheered during the last two TDFs, this is the first time I really embraced the experience from goal setting to finishing, and photo documenting every step of the way.
Truly memorable.

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WC Mercantile Phat fiber Sample from July 2011 Art Nouveau box auto wrapped with black metallic.

Bohoknitterchic Harry Potter /Rita Skeeter batt auto wrapped with green metallic.

Busy wrapping up loose ends here. This has been an amazing challenge and I've really enjoyed it. And now, I think I see some Nuno felting in my future...

TDF2011::21 Challenge Day

I've really been looking forward to the Challenge Day. I had some Jacob I carded for a Picto Create entry on Ravelry. The image was "Typists." It was a striking black and white image that inspired 3 yarns. My challenge was to complete my entry by tailspinning the Jacob with mohair locks. I was inspired to try auto wrapping after finishing my tailspin, so I began an auto wrapped yarn. Wish I had red metallic thread, but settled for black as I was down to the wire after a 9 hour car ride home from vacation.

On the ride home I spun my first beaded fiber from Shetibo. Incredible fiber prep. I enjoyed this so much on the borrowed Jenkins spindle. I also finished the Spotted Circus Alien Slime singles, as well as New Hue Handspun Bam Huey in baby blue. It was a great Challenge Day. I am so happy I tried some new techniques!

It was a happy mail day as well. My July Art Nouveau Phat fiber box arrived while I was away. I also received a Rita Skeeter batt from Bohoknitterchic. Woot! There might have been a few more things in the mail, but let's you and me just keep that on the down-low, k?

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Hello Yarn Minerals/coils

Spent all day in the sun with my wheel on the deck while the kids swam in the lake.

This is from a Loop club batt. I did a thread ply using some vintage french thread with cool little gray puffs.

This one just had a mind of it's own. It would just not cooperate. Knitifacts Llama/Camel/Silk.
I accomplished a lot today, which is good, because I will lose 8+ hours tomorrow driving. Then there's the great unpack and subsequent laundry Olympics. Final TDF weekend!!! It's been a great ride.

Morning Runs

I've gotten back into running lately. Me run??? The only thing I run is laundry, right? And kids. I run kids around like nobody's business. I used to be a runner in high school and college, but the baby years have taken their toll. I do think I run a marathon in my head every day but that's beside the point. Surely I run marathons up and down the stairs, don't I? Sure seems like it.
Truth is, when I started a few weeks ago, I needed every second of those 90 seconds to recover from the 60 seconds of running. Heck, I still need to walk/jog my morning runs. But that's not the point. The point is, for me running is so seductive. It always has been. It's like time stands still on a run. Literally, in the beginning it did. As in, time is not moving. This exercise may never come to an end. There will probably always be moments like those. But the ones that get me are the moments of pure undisturbed peace. I can hear the summer sounds. Oh, how I love those summer sounds-cicadas, crickets, chirping birds. It's the only time I can take a deep breath and breathe in summer. You know how I am about summer. I wish I could lasso it and hold fast. I kinda sorta feel like I can do this when I'm out for a run. I can take it all in. Uninterrupted.
It's been a year since my last 5k and honestly I was in better shape this time last year. I'd love to set a goal for another 5k, maybe sometime in the fall. I only put it out there to help keep myself accountable. Anything can happen between now and then and I realize this. In the meantime, I am sure enjoying the baby steps. I see the world with fresh eyes and hope to share with you some views from my morning runs. The pic above is the B&A Trail from 7/16/11.
Here's a couple from this morning:

These are from a country road in Massachusetts. The roads wind around gorgeous lakes. There is so much beauty out there. I'm so very grateful to have the opportunity to take it all in.

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2nd time around~ Hello Yarn Sour Fig nply. Now I have 8 ounces completed for some knock yer socks off socks. Knee highs maybe? I dunno. Thinking I'll knit toe up, two at a time 'til I run out. Just a thought. I will never get enough of this colorway. For sure.

Also spun this up today.

It's all kinds of fanciful. camel, silk, and some other exotic fibers. It's a Cream Puff by Knitifacts gifted to me by Kate last summer. I thought it only proper to spin this on the Jenkins she has loaned me. Oddly, it does not wish to be spun as fine as I envision it. I switched to my very fast flyer. I've learned not to drink beer and spin lace while my precious littles are out tubing on the lake. Waaay too many things needing my attention. Even though another adult was in charge and yet another adult present, they're still my littles and it was their first time. So fun to watch. Hope to get the Cream Puff singles plied tomorrow, cuz I'm running out of time to meet my totally unrealistic but I'm trying anyway goals. The "Ring of Fire" is supposed to hit tomorrow and this ol' cottage has no air conditioning. With 100 degree temps, wool just might have to step aside.

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Just making lemonade with the lemons I get from my iPhone pics and mobile uploads.
Today's spin:
Hello Yarn Sour Fig (2nd 4 oz.) in the n ply stage
Hello Yarn Minerals thick and thin singles awaiting a thrill ride when plied.
So hard to get anything done while on vacation. Gonna need a vacation after the vacation.

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It's a TDF rest day, so I spent time working on this shawl with yarn spun during the tour. It's been challenging without the convenient upload from my Camera to my computer, but at least I've got mobile uploads to share. Just a few more days of TDF!

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Not much spinning today except for a wee bit of time with a spindle. Spent the day driving to my family's lake house.
Here's a pic of a few of the littles. It's a beautiful spot. Peaceful, charming. Time just might stand still this week.

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Hello Yarn June '11 Club
Overfond with metallic thread ply

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Hello Yarn Sour Fig 4 oz. singles ready for n ply
Spunky Eclectic Ribbons jumbo spun and candy striped with black metallic. 1.5 wpi. Like an umbilical cord, of which I've seen exactly 7!
Spunky Eclectic Flannel/Targhee 3 ply
Spotted Circus Alien Slime from June Sci-Fi Phat Fiber

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Spunky Eclectic Flannel

Ever have one of those days when you just can't seem to get it together? Yeah, that was me today. But I will say, somehow I heard the call "Mommy!" in a whole new light this morning. I was out for a run with my little guys when #7 turned to me on his scooter and called my name. I heard it fresh, with renewed joy and marveled at the realization once again that this was my child. This was motherhood. This was my life and it was precious.

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Broken flyer repaired and back in the game. Huzzah!

Spin Up Girl-Grim Lynn
Craftypuppylover-Waldorf Salad
Spunky Eclectic-Flannel
Loop babycake

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Oy. A broken jumbo flyer. Two guilty little boys.
Here's hoping the Gorilla glue sticks.
So, for today, I had to set aside my art yarn plans and switch to my fast flyer and some spindles. Here's what went down:

~Broke into my 2nd dose of Hello Yarn Sour Fig. 1/3 down. 2/3 and nply to go.
~finished spinning a Loop babycake
~started Spin up Girl Grim Lynn from June Phat Fiber Sampler