Miss Babs Blog

Getting Ready to Go into Space! Fibre Space, that is!

Babs

I am getting ready to go to Fibre Space in Alexandria, VA. Danielle Romanetti, owner of Fibre Space, has been a strong supporter of mine since opening over a year ago in the Old Town section of Alexandria. This will be my second trunk show at her store. I will be setting up this Friday, September 17. There is a reception on Friday night with folks who have tickets (no tickets required!) (But only so many people can be in the shop at one time! so you may have to... Read More

Recovering is a Process

Babs

Haven't written any for awhile as I have been running as fast as I can, and it feels like I am running in slow motion. This post is going to be a think piece. I am going to do another one right away so we don't have to dwell on this, but I just need to share some thoughts I have had as I continue to recover from what has been a major loss. Some of the thoughts are random, some not. First of all, I have much more understanding... Read More

Love Seeing the New "Stuff"!

Babs

This post is mostly pictures as I need to get out to the studio! Here's yesterday's wall of fiber and yarn - yummy! [caption id="attachment_424" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Wall of Yarn from 8-9-10"][/caption] Here's some Windsor Sock yarn on the rack: [caption id="attachment_426" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Fresh! Windsor Sock Yarn"][/caption] And last but not least, a new sample made with Bamboo Baby, which is our show special. This is the Citron Shawl from "Knitty". [caption id="attachment_429" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Citron made with Bamboo Baby"][/caption] That's it for today! Oh, and the wedding chapel... Read More

So Much for the Grief! Let's Move On!

Babs

So much seriousness, so many tears either shed or wanted to be shed, so much effort! But now the reality is that life really does just keep going on in spite of all efforts to have your best temper tantrum, your best whine, your best pot of self pity. Here are some pictures and the words to go with them: About a month ago, I went into my bathroom and saw this bug hanging from the wall (we always called them mosquito eaters) with its foot in what looked like... Read More

This Day, Today

Babs

This day, today, my heart is hurting. I am feeling grief over the loss of so much work. I am one of those folks that has delayed reactions to loss as I am a "get up and let's do what needs to be done" kind of gal. Over 1000 skeins of Sock yarn went to the dump. Over 700 skeins of Sport yarn went. And a good amount of Yowza, plus other stuff. Just a lot of work. You may think of it as yarn, but I think of it... Read More

Getting Back to Normal ?!?

Babs

Okay, so you know the old joke is that normal is a cycle on the washing machine...and well, maybe that's what all this feels like, swish, swish, back, forth, washing the dirt out, getting everything clean! My studio has never been this clean...this uncluttered...this unencumbered, except when we are gone for shows. But even then, there's always been a bunch of stuff on the shelves, leftover, half done projects, leftover ideas of how to make things work in the business. Now, well, there's just the "going forward stuff" in the... Read More

Starting Anew!?

Babs

Well it has been an interesting month, and an especially interesting week. Interesting is probably not a good word for it, but I try to stay positive...so keep that in mind as you read on. This is also going to be a long post. This morning, as I was making my coffee, I was trying to figure out what "lesson" or "gift" I am supposed to pull from this week's experience. This on top of the experience 2 weeks ago when my trailer broke down on I-84 just at exit... Read More

It's June Already!

Babs

So what are we working on? Jen has been working on a Lacy Baktus shawl that she started using the Windlass Shipwreck in Windsor. Really like this!! [caption id="attachment_355" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lacey Baktus Shawl in Windlass Shipwreck"][/caption] And I have started the Annis shawlette that was published in Knitty last week. Susannah IC from Germany is the designer. I am using the Tuscan Clay color. There are already 160 projects on Ravelry! [caption id="attachment_356" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Annis Shawlette in Tuscan Clay "Yet""][/caption] Plus we have been busy with trying to... Read More

Spring Visitors

Babs

Babs here: The other day....a grey day at that...we had visitors outside the studio. [caption id="attachment_348" align="aligncenter" width="334" caption="Pileated Woodpecker Searching for Dinner"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_349" align="aligncenter" width="271" caption="Profile of the Pileated Woodpecker"][/caption] I love these birds. This is one of a pair. I almost had them both in a single shot and then I must have moved and startled them. Read More

My Knitting....

Babs

Babs here: Well, I am an erratic knitter. By that I mean I start a lot of projects and don't finish them. That means I have about 10 socks still on needles, a sweater on needles, a scarf or two that are about half done. I often call myself a serial starter. But why do I do this?? My justification is that I need to see how a colorway knits up, or test a yarn and see how I like knitting it. But honestly the cabinet and shelves littered with... Read More

Return from the West Coast & is Spring Coming?

Babs

Jen here: It didn't look good as we came down through a snowstorm at the Charlotte Airport. It didn't look good as we stepped off the shuttle at the long term parking lot into slushy puddles. It didn't look good as the Rav 4 warmed up and the wipers pushed the frozen snow off the windshield. Had we really left ALL signs of spring back in San Jose? We did leave a jolly good time, a great show at Stitches West, and gorgeous green and blooming spring. We left a... Read More

Moisture Matters!

Babs

Jen here! This has been a wet week! This is not a complaint, merely an observation! After 2 years of drought, with our spring running dry, facing the choice of laundry OR showers, and 75% of our foundation plants dying...I will not complain about what has been falling out of the sky! But, that clarified, we have had a little bit of everything! We had ice, rain, fog, sleet, freezing rain, frost, slush, and lots of different snows. I like to look at snow like I look at popcorn...its all very... Read More