Yarn Along

On my trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival this past May, I stumbled upon a little booth. The colors, logo, display and overall feel of the space drew me in. The company was Boho Chic Fiber Co.

I picked up these two skeins in her Wild DK yarn, colors Ocean and Driftwood.

I didn't have a project in mind for the yarn. So when this cowl by Purl Soho popped up the other day on instagram, I thought it would be perfect for my BohoChic yarn.

Casted on and away we go....

Ocean Driftwood Cowl

(the yarn on the far right is from Sweitzers Fiber Mill, another favorite stop in at MS&W)

I am reading All the Light We Cannot See. It's my son's assigned reading for high school so I thought I would read it too. So far I'm enjoying it. I have a feeling he's going to be bored. Not much action in it for a 14 year boy!!!

Joining Ginny for the weekly Yarn Along. 

What are you reading and knitting? 

Hope you're all enjoying this gorgeous weather we are having today at the Jersey Shore!

Knit in Progress

I have a bunch of little and big projects on the needles. We just got some new yarn from Cascade to sell so I knitted up a quick fun cowl using Eco Duo. Here's the result.

The pattern, Sweet & Simple is in 60 Quick Cowls book.

I altered it a bit so it would take 1 skein instead of 2. I just knit the middle section shorter than the pattern called for. I was happy with the result.

I also started a hat using Cascade Cloud alpaca yarn (aqua) and a Merino/Alpaca blend (tan)

Made up a pattern. Here it is in progress...

Update: Here is the finished hat. Calling it Searching for Seaglass.

I'm going to write up the pattern to give away with the yarn purchase at the farm.

Fits an adult or big kid :)

The sun was shining so brightly this morning and this was the photo from my phone.

And of course, Chase. Giving his girls some treats this morning.

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

Yarn Along

Good morning from the rainy and dreary Jersey Shore.

Fall isn't quite as pretty when it's cloudy and dark! Hoping the sun decides to come back out soon.

Joining in with the weekly yarn along, sharing what I am knitting and reading.

On my needles,

Still working on the Rift sweater for my husband.

Knitting this with Beaverslide Dry Goods yarn in a dark gray color.

I have most of the body complete and I'm 2/3 of the way done with the back.

I was able to try it on my husband and it's big! Ahhh!!! So frustrating!

I hope when it's done it won't be too big for him. I went for the larger size because he doesn't like anything tight fitting but this might be a bit too big. We'll see...

The pictures are so dark because of the dark morning we are having with the rain and clouds.

I also am working on a fun quick cowl using Cascade Eco Duo alpaca yarn. We sell it at our store and the cowl is a pattern from the New Cascade Quick Cowls book. I thought it was a fun little knit and I have some knitting customers that might enjoy knitting this cowl.

Darts. I can't get my photo to turn, but you get the hint.

I'm reading The Good Girl. It's very good so far! Just wish I could keep my eyes open at night when it's time to read it!

I want to thank everyone for all the well wishes, texts, emails and words of encouragement as I take on my new job. I'm now working full time as a graphic designer for a wonderful company. It's an adjustment for sure after being home for 13 years but I am enjoying it. It's nice to get dressed up every day and have a clean, quiet office to go to that I can focus and actually work!!! I am cherishing my time with my family more and making the most out of down time with them.

And of course, I had to throw in a picture of my little guy.

Here he is gathering eggs this morning before school.

Have a great day! What are you creating and reading? Please share!

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things.

Blog Hop: Creativity!

Last week, Hege over at Cloudberry invited me to join in with a blog hop. Everyone taking part answers three questions about creativity and then nominates two of their favourite bloggers to do the same. I was so honored to be chosen to participate! You can read about my blogging experience in this blog post.

 

1 ::  What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk/making table in the last week?

 

I tend to knit on my couch in the morning or at night when the kids are all settled and dinner is done. But the nights and afternoons have been beautiful the past few days so I've found myself knitting for hours on the front porch of the farm store (it's in my backyard) I am constantly knitting something. New things, half finished things, dreaming of knits, things for the farm store, things for friends, things for me, things for the boys. This week, I had a few things going.

 

A friend of mine is moving to Germany for the next three years with her 12 year old son.

She's headed there for work and I'm going to miss seeing them so much!

I thought there was no better going away gift than some hand knits to keep them warm while reminding them of home. So, I knitted up an Outlander Cowl in gray alpaca for her and a fair isle hat for him. I'm just realizing now that I never took a photo of the hat. oops. And I gave it to them today. So hopefully someday I'll receive a photo from Germany with it on his head! Hint, hint Rita.

 

   

 

I finished up a teal colored alpaca cowl for the farm store.

 

 

I made some major progress on my Pendulum Scarf (which I've named Strawberry Fields)

I am in the top picture finishing it! I just bound off:) Now I need to weave in ends and block. Loved the yarn for this project. I bought in on my trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival this past May. It's from Marigold Jen. Beautiful fun colors and bouncy yarn that is a joy to knit.

I also got some more rows complete on my "Stole for Fall" scarf.

 

And I just got our new yarn tags in. I designed them for our farm yarn skeins. I'm very pleased with them. Can't wait for the farm yarn to arrive in the fall.

2 :: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
---

Everywhere! Too broad? Ok...let's narrow it down.

I mentioned last week that we were struck by lightning and lost a bunch of things including tv.

I love tv. I'm not one of those people that thinks tv rots your brain. I enjoy it. Yes, I do.

However, we have not had tv for a week now. So I entered the podcast listening world on my phone.

Oh boy. A whole other level of knitting dorkiness!!!! I have discovered the Knitmore Girls and I've been listening non stop while I knit. They inspired me to finish up my half done projects while they compete in the "stash dash". It's helped! 

For other inspiration, I am constantly viewing Pinterest, instagram (a lot), Ravelry (too much), blogs, anything Brooklyn Tweed (hint, hint...hire me) and most of my inspiration comes from my surroundings, the alpacas, the fields out my front window, my yarn stash and colors surrounding me.

 

3 :: How important is being creative to you and how do you blend this with your work/life/family balance?

 

 Luckily, my job is a creative job. I am a graphic designer by day which forces me to be creative even if I'm not in the mood. Knitting keeps my creative juices flowing. I also love to embroider when I can.

Being creative is a part of my every day. I need it. It's a part of me. I can't imagine not having a creative outlet. However, my house tends to be less than organized and tidy. I blame the creative brain. :) So balancing it with my family and life is just a part of our life. My husband has learned that sometimes we can't eat at the dining room table if I have something blocking. And sometimes I have to spend a few hours crafting to keep me sane. I think my family "gets it."  I know my creative friends and sisters "get it." It's just a way of life for me.

Now, on to my nominated bloggers:

I nominate: 

Andee @ Matchthepictures • Andee is my middle sister and her blog is full of beautiful photography, her knits and my cute nephews. She is designing her own patterns now and they're amazing. I do not have the math brain, but she does. So hop on over there and visit her. you'll enjoy it!

I also nominate:

Lori @ lori times five

I know that Lori is going on the dream knitting trip to Shetland soon, so she may not be able to participate in the blog hop for next week, but I don't care. Her blog is beautiful, inspiring and full of beautiful knitting, photography and more. Hop on over there and you'll love it too. I promise.

 

 Thank you again to Hege for nominating me. I am honored.

Happy Knitting friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yarn Along...After the Lightning

Hello!

Well, it has been quite a week around here. The Jersey Shore has been slammed with thunderstorms and extreme rain the past few days. We have had more rain in a short amount of time than I can remember! And the lightning and thunder! We were the unfortunate people that were hit by lightning.

Yes. I said it. HIT BY LIGHTNING! Ok...maybe not direct hit, but VERY CLOSE!

It hit my parent's sprinkler system (it's attached to their house) and blew it up across the yard and in the same strike we lost all power, a blown up lightbulb, killed tvs, satellite, internet. My parents lost a tv in the process too. SCARY! But thankfully we are all ok and the houses are ok.

The computers were all safe. THANK GOODNESS!!!! I need my computer for work and I have so much info an photos on here. Makes me realize that I REALLY need to back this thing up!

Wow...I'm using a lot of all caps. Sorry. 

Ok....so anyway....it's yarn along day.

And thanks to the nice Verizon repair man that visited this morning, I now have a new functioning modem and back with the online world. So I can share in the yarn along fun with everyone else.

Here goes....

I finished another Outlander Cowl. I used gray alpaca yarn from the Coop.

And new knitting. Using the remainder of the gray skein, I casted on the Standing Stones Cowl.

My dear friend and her son will be moving to Germany in a few weeks for work and she'll live there for 3 years. So, of course I needed to make them some knitted gear to remind them of home and keep them nice and toasty.

 

I also enjoyed listening to the podcast of an interview with Jared Flood. I really enjoyed hearing the process of dyeing the fiber and his painting major background. Gotta love other art school peeps.

 

Fresh flowers that Chase and I collected from the farm this week. In a small pottery vase that I think Lizzie made in college.

Still working on this book...........just not loving it. But many of you have said to keep going. So I am :) I am not giving up....yet.

 

Wishing everyone a good week. Join in the fun over at Ginny's Blog for more yarn alongers.

Back to Reality....Sort of...

Happy Monday folks.

Vacation is over so it's back to reality. Well, sort of! My older boys stayed at my inlaws for a few extra days so they could have a chance to hang out with their older cousins that we don't get to see very often. They're having a blast. I think they've completely forgot about us.

They'll be back tomorrow and then a loud crazy house will be the norm.

As most of you know, my sisters, myself and my dad also work other jobs besides the alpacas.

My mom is the full time alpaca lady and my sisters and I help with the farm store and care when we can. I'm a graphic designer and have worked as a freelancer for 12 years now. (am I really old enough to have had a career for 14 years?! yikes) Anywho.....my DREAM FREELANCE JOB is open.

Jared Flood and the Brooklyn Tweed team are hiring a freelance graphic designer. My heart nearly stopped when I read this job posting. It is close to my home, most work is from home, it's my absolute favorite company, which if anyone has ever read this blog will know that I am in awe of everything Jared Flood. So, the application has been sent and my fingers and toes are crossed. Can you imagine? The honor of working for such an amazing company?!!!! I am praying that I will be considered for this. If any of you know Jared, you can always give him a nice shout out for me. Just saying....!

Just thought I would share some recent knitting projects that I did this week as well as a few photos from our little get-a-away.

Tomorrow I'll be back with lots of alpaca photos and farm fun!

4th of July was rainy for most of the day. How unAmerican. So I did what any good American would do, I knitted the day away. I casted on the Standing Stones Cowl using Baby Alpaca/Merino blend yarn that we sell at the farm. It's a great teal color and I think it's perfect for this pattern.

Vacation also meant lots and lots of guilt free knitting time. Coffee and knitting every morning on the front porch of my inlaws. This is my Strawberry Fields shawl. Slow going. I forgot how long garter stitch with fingering yarn takes!

 

 

I finished another Outlander Cowl. This time using a light gray alpaca yarn.

Using the big needles again, this cowl is so soft, loose and drapes beautifully. 

A few vacation shots....

We had a chance to visit our favorite seafood joint in Cape May.

H&H Crabs is a great little place. They bring the crabs and lobster right off their boats, into tanks right outside the restaurant. You order up what ever you want, they pick them out, cook them and serve them to you in a big bucket dockside. It's a byob and lots of fun.

Chase's reaction when I told him he couldn't put his hands in the crab tanks.

It's tough being two.

Among many fun things we got to do last week, I think I had the most fun catching frogs in the yard.

There was plenty of frog catching to be done!!!! I am the champ.

Alpaca pictures tomorrow! I promise  :)

Have a great week all!
-Leanne

Yarn Along-Vacation Style

I am very, very, very lucky to live by the beach. I never have a day where I'm not thankful that a trip to the beach consists of a five minute ride and a beach full of friends.

But it is nice to get away. Between the baseball schedule and work, we were able to get a few days away at my inlaws house (who also live at the beach) It's a great get away and the kids love it down there. So I of course took my knitting and reading with me and got a lot done while away.

I finished up another Outlander Cowl. I'm obsessed, I know.

My sister, Andee (AndeeKF on Ravelry) designed it and I'm making them as fast as I can to sell at the farm this fall and winter. This one was done with gray alpaca yarn.

Finished up this book. Hands down, one of the most well written, laugh out loud, make you cry, can't put it down for a second book that I have read in a long time. I loved it. It's going to be a movie and it's going to be awesome. Can't imagine it being bad!

 

My inlaws live next to Atlantic City. My husband and I got away one night just the two of us and stayed at the Revel. I spent a little time in the morning knitting on the deck. I totally didn't fit in!!! But who cares!!!!???!!! I also realize that I stink at having time to myself.

I feel guilty at all times and don't know how to relax and enjoy if I don't have a little person asking me to make them food. Pathetic. But we did have a nice time.

We took a day trip to Cape May to visit the zoo and the town.

I picked up a new book...I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

and I spotted a yarn store! Had to stop in. Bought yarn from a local farm.

 

BIG NEWS FOR MY SISTER, ANDEE!!!!....

For the yarn festival junkies out there, Miss Babs will be selling Andee's pattern of the Standing Stones Cowl at her booth now! She'll have one knitted up on display. How cool is that?!?!?!?!?

So exciting!

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

Have a great week. Stay Cool!

Yarn Along - Finished Outlander

Happy Yarn Along Day!

From Ginny Sheller's Blog...

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? -

My sister, Andee (AndeeKF on Ravelry) designed some new patterns.

I just finished up knitting the Outlander Cowl last night.

It's waiting to be blocked, but I couldn't help myself to get out in the alpaca fields this morning and photograph it! Of course those curious little creatures came to check it out.

I think they approve.

I knitted this with 1 1/2 skeins of Cascade Pure Alpaca Yarn (220yds/skein)

The color is a yellow, green, buttery, springy HARD to photograph color!

But it's lovely in person :) We sell the yarn at the farm.

 

Knitted on 10 1/2 circular needles (bigger than what Andee suggested) caused my gauge to be on the big side, which I love. It created a beautiful drape. Super soft and comfy. However, it made my cowl pretty long, so I didn't do all the lace repeats. Next time I'll go with a smaller needle so I can get all those pretty lace repeats in.

 

The new baby girls checking out this funny looking person wearing a pretty cowl!

Who's the cute dark brown cria on the left you ask? Oh...that's the new baby girl, Wenge. 

We're calling her Winny for short. 

(Wenge is a kind of wood and most of the alpacas born on the farm get a wood name in honor of my family's woodworking business)

I really love this pattern and can't say enough things about it.

And my sister is the designer, so that's the coolest part!

Hop over to Ravelry to see my notes and pattern link.

Outlander Cowl Link

And for reading? Well, Outlander, of course.

Andee loved it and named the cowl after it, so I thought it was a good choice.

I checked a WELL LOVED copy out of the library this week!

I always say it's a good sign when a book looks like this. You know it will be good, right?

Happy Wednesday! I hope you have time this week to do something you love and knit/crochet/craft/photograph/play and learn.