There was a questionnaire going around for SO’s of knitters. I changed it a bit to include spinning. Here goes:

1) What is your favorite thing about my spinning/knitting?
I like how deep your knowledge goes, how you can talk about any aspect I bring up.

2) What is your least favorite thing about my spinning/knitting?
How upset you get when you make a mistake, or get the idea someone won’t like what you are making! Oh, and the knitting till 4 am thing, I’m not a big fan when you are a big zombie the next day! :D

3) What is something I have knitted, that you recall is good?
All my socks are wonderful, especially a brilliant blue one. And the sweater you made last May, I can’t wait for cold weather to wear it! The boys socks are great. Actually my favorite thing at the moment is my mountain hat…it served beautifully in the mountains this summer, it is the best hat I ever had.

4) Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
No, not compared to sailboating, golfing or recreational racing.

5) Do you have a stash of any kind?
If you mean things to use that haven’t yet been used, no, but I have a basement full of climbing gear in various states of repair.

6) Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?
No, I like when you do that.

7) Do you know my favorite kind of yarn or fiber?
Wollmeise yarn. Merino fiber. I used to know more but I haven’t hung around your knitting friends lately!

8) Can you name another knitting or spinning blog?
SSK. And I know Ravelry, the heart of the knitting empire today.

9) Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?
No, but I find it hilarious how woefully unprepared the shop owners are for you.

10) Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
Hmm…to get the feel of the yarn?

11) Do you know the difference between tops and batts?
Thank goodness no.

12) Do you read my blog?
Sometimes, if I think there will be something about me or the boys or something. Otherwise it is “your world” and I want you to fly free.

13) If I didn’t knit, what would be different?
You would spend a lot more on camera gear.
And my socks would be standard issue, made in China, Wal-mart specials.
And I would cry.

14) Anything you would like to add?
You are using knitting as a lens to learn about so many things. I just want you to realize you are damn awesome at it and don’t sell yourself short. You do amazing stuff, dar!

… READING! Yes, I am not joking! How did this happen you may ask? Well, I originally got a recommendation from Jennie to read the Twilight series a few weeks ago and it’s been on my mind, but not as much as spinning.

I am normally not a reader, but when I do read, that is where my focus is. There are not many books that capture my attention enough for me to not spin or knit though. The Harry Potter books have been the only series which I have read countless times and now I can see the same thing happening with the Twilight series. Seriously. It is so teenyboppery and Buffyesque and yet I cannot put this down. Thank god 4 books have been already written because if I picked this up when only one or two were written, it would drive me nuts.

It has been only 3 or 4 days and I am already a quarter through the 3rd book. Dear lord. I think because it takes place in Washington in towns that I have been to, it makes it all that more alluring.

Spinning will resume shortly. I have the 4th book on order… ;)

What do you say to a family who lost their father last year, lost their best friend last month and at the same time found out one of them (my sister in law) has MS? I am at a total loss for words. Saying “I’m so sorry” sounds ridiculous. I want to call them and hug them, but I’m sure they are getting a million calls right now and explaining everything over and over. It is devastating. I want to write an email…but what to write??? Argh!

Yesterday we went to the Theatinerkirche (church) to show my mother in law the beautiful interior. I am not a religious person, but I can appreciate churches and their beauty. They have this table where you can buy a small candle and light it, so I lit two for my brother and sister in law.

All I can do is knit and spin. So I decided to knit her a candle flame shawl out of wollmeise laceweight so that she can be wrapped up in love whenever she wears it. I want to finish it before Christmas, so will you all please keep me honest and if I’m spinning too much and not knitting, give me a kick in the pants, please. Thanks.

Here is the fiber in it’s protective cover

Here they are in their boxes

In the last post, someone asked how I store my fiber, so I thought I’d show you. With my yarn, I just kind of threw them in these bins and that’s that. But with my fiber, I did the same thing until one night I had a nightmare that moths attacked and ate all my fiber. I woke up and IMMEDIATELY took steps to protect myself. And now I do this with all my fiber, yarn as well. I haven’t had any moth infestations so far (knocks on wood).

When I get my fiber, I first oooh and ahhh over it, then take pictures of it on my windowsill studio.

I put all fiber in ziploc bags (22x31cms), if they don’t already come in one. I found some bags on ebay and it’s much cheaper to buy 300 at a time. I think I paid less than 20eur (including shipping). It is probably way cheaper in the states. Best investment ever.

Then I pop it into these storage boxes from IKEA. I really should get the kind that’s airtight (where they snap shut), but just haven’t gotten around to it.

I am up to 3 bins now. After CMF had a sale, I think I will be up to 4. The good news is, is that I’m feeling “fiber full”. :)

That’s all there is to it. With this system, it doesn’t take up much of a footprint, but it’s also not out to admire and pet. I personally would rather have it put away and protected! But everytime I go to start something new, that’s when I take things out and admire! :)

I just want to let you know that I have found the Fiber Stash Queen. I bow down to her! If you think what I had was a lot, check this out! (be sure to click on all FOUR pictures because she couldn’t fit it in one shot)

Then enter here at the Old Red Barn Co. I cannot believe they are giving it away, it really is pretty! But you need to hurry, the contest ends today!

I finally got my act together and took pictures of my destash yarns and put them up on Ravelry. Again, it’s probably not all that great to people in the US due to shipping.

http://www.ravelry.com/people/BockstarkKnits/stash/trade

Spinning, fiber and handspun have taken over my life. I have decided to get rid of yarn to pay for my car repair as well as money for more fiber (ok, it is probably going to the latter). So basically I am getting rid of almost all my yarn. But wait, don’t get too excited, I am keeping all my fiber/handspun, Wollmeise, Hazel Knits, seasilk/silk (laceweight) and gifted yarn, but mostly everything else is going. Take a look in my Ravelry stash (ALL yarns except the ones mentioned above, not just the “to trade” yarns) and let me know if you want anything. It probably isn’t a deal for anyone in the states due to the exchange/shipping. Generally selling for what I paid for it for example, US Sock yarns will run anywhere from 15eur – 18eur.

This made me LOL. Originally found on PhotoshopDisasters.

EDIT: damn, Sears fixed the picture! This is what it looked like originally.

Hiking in Zermatt – isn’t the view amazing???

Finished handspun socks!

We planned this trip awhile ago, and with everything going on I kinda forgot about it, but then suddenly it was here. My family and I (and my parents) went to Zermatt, Switzerland for a week. It was freakishly expensive, but after the initial shock, we learned to live with it and thank goodness our apartment had a kitchen so we could cook all our meals.

We had more good weather days than bad and oh, when the sun shines, it is truly one of the most beautiful places to be. We had an awesome view from our apartment, but to get out there with the boys was really fun. They are hardcore hikers/climbers! They always took the hardest paths and always wanted to go up up up to the top! One of the most memorable days we took the train/ski lift up and walked down. It was about 2 miles (maybe more?) and we were constantly amazed at how well the boys did, considering they haven’t really done much hiking. The whole time I kept thinking, THIS is why we moved to Europe. The accessibility to the outdoors is really great here, and I am ALL for taking a lift up to a mountain top and/or enjoying a hot meal and wine in a hut. :)

The trip back we had some back luck – my wonderful husband read the wrong departure time, so we missed our comfy glacier express. We took the regional trains back home and I think we had to transfer 6 or so times. Yeah, that was fun. But I’m home and getting caught up on stuff.

So, now I’m off to bed, thought I would leave you with some pictures! One is of my family on the memorable hike and the other is my husband showing off his new socks which I’ve named “36 pieces of flair”. Hope everyone knows the reference. :)