Little Fishies & A Contest

Contest Has Ended! A winner will be selected in the next day or two.

We're celebrating being debt free and I want to pass on the celebration to all my blogland friends. We made our final payment earlier this month so we are now free of debt. Yippy!

I'll go ahead and get the contest details out of the way now before finishing the rest of the post. I'm going to make this simple: Post about your favorite summertime activity.

I'll keep this contest open through the 12th of Aug. I'll close comments down when I end the contest and the winner will be announced on the 13th in a blog post. I will also email the winner. To qualify for the contest you must post your comment in this post only. I'm not going to hunt willy-nilly through out the blog so if you want to enter post here. I'll use a random number generator to determine the winner.

FYI: If you don't want to enter the contest but want to post a comment just let me know in the comment and I won't put your name down.

So you all are wondering what you win! I'm making it easy this time. The winner gets to decide which online shop they'd like to get a gift certificate too, ie WEBS, Amazon, TLE, Woolgirl, Sonny & Shear, your favorite etsy shop.....I think you get the point. The catch is it has to be one that is easy for me to purchase, preferably one that I can purchase online and have it shipped/emailed to you. If you live in the UK I'm not going to call your favorite LYS to buy a certificate unless of course you want to send me a calling card to pay for the call. Lets keep it simple. I'm doing this because it leaves the contest open for anyone who isn't in the US too. The monetary value of the certificate hasn't fully been determined but I can say that it will be at least $25 USD.

Now on to the regularly scheduled blog post.

Shawn was sent down to F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming for a few days so the girls and I have been hanging around the house. I think Zeus is missing Shawn the most. Poor dog keeps looking out the front window expecting Shawn to walk through the door at any minute.

Shawn's due to leave tomorrow morning so he should be back before the girls head to bed. He stated to me that picking Montana over Wyoming was a great choice. He said the housing there is horrible. Most of the housing here is new although some of the new housing is messed up because some moron decided to build them on swamp land. Hello idiots, draining the swap and filling it in with dirt is most likely going to backfire on you. When you build a house on land that was once swamp land chance are the land is going to sink and try to revert back to its swampiness and that's what's happening right now. My next door neighbor is one of the many people who are being moved out of houses that are sinking. Truth be told the only reason we picked Montana was because it kept use closer to the West coast where my family is without having to go broke living in California or dealing with all that Las Vegas, NV has to offer. Living in Las Vegas is enough to give me nightmares for a year. Going to Wyoming would have moved us even farther way so Montana won.

Now on to knitting and all that other good stuff you all came here for.

I'm totally addicted to knitting these little fishies (ravelry) (non ravelry).

I can't stop casting on even though I don't really have any real use for them. I've made three so far. They're to small for dishrags. Maybe I can use a little of that mesh stuff knit in with them to make scrubbies. Bree's been grabbing them from me as soon as I finish them so I have several little knitted fishies floating around the house. Well I guess since Bree likes them then they do have some value, plus they're cute.

I purchase these from Dawning Dreams Etsy shop.

A pretty jewel orifice hook for my spinning wheel and two cable needles. I absolute love the cable needles and contacted Dawn who was fabulous and made me a set of mini cable needles for knitting on smaller things like socks. Here's the mini needles.....aren't they cute!

I'm not big on cabling without a needle and truth be known I can knit cables twice as fast with a cable needle then without one. The orifice hook is a tad to thick for my wheel so it's become a pretty decoration in with my knitting tools and crochet hooks.

I also acquired some yummy Yarn Love fiber from Sonny & Shear. I don't know why I've never bought from them before but I was pleased....great selection and fast shipping. They've got a pretty nice selection of fibers from various dyers not to mention all the different sock yarns.

First up is Yarn Love Marianne.

The color is Cottage Garden and it's superwash merino.....mmmmmm, merino is so soft.

Then there's Yarn Love Scarlett O'Hara.

The color is Blackberry Jam and it's a superwash wool/bamboo/nylon blend.

I picked up the yarn to start a shawl for my mom.

It's Knit Picks Gloss Lace and the colorway is Port.

Then I started my moms shawl after I finished up a sample knit.

This is the beginning of the Whispering Pines Shawl (ravelry)(non ravelry) by Anne Hanson of Knitspot. I'd have to say that she has some of the most gorgeous lace patterns around. Not to mention well written.

I finished my moms Loopified socks.

It's the Halema uma u Socks (ravelry) that came in the 2008 TLE Anniversary kit. As far as I can tell this pattern hasn't been released for sale to the general public yet. The yarn used was also part of the kit and is Handmaiden Casbah, colorway Loopified. This yarn is yummy and I think after the weather cools down my mom is going to love them.

I also received some yummy BFL that I purchased from Perchance to Spin which is Perchance to Knits shop for all things spinning related.

It's 8 ounces of soft BFL in a pretty light green colorway called New Leaf Green. I really love spinning BFL.

I also bought some lovely orifice hooks for my wheel.

These work beautifully with my Ashford Traveller. Fiber Jewels was having a get two for the price of one deal that I couldn't pass up. I don't really have a need for two hooks since I only have one wheel but hey they were buy one get one free.

Project & notions bag made specially for me.

I swapped a skein of yarn for the project and notions bag. The project bag is the perfect size for socks and it has a cool little pocket on the inside of the bag.

I'll leave you with this shot.

My baby had her 3rd birthday on the 24th. I can't believe she's 3 already! Man does the time fly. I'm thinking about starting her in Preschool next year.....yikes, I'm gonna cry if I keep thinking about it.

Oh Look Tomatoes!

Happy crafting!

Comments

[leah]

I am so jealous of all the fiber you have! Very lovely! Congrats on being debt free! It is nice...we're almost done with the car payments! and on such a generous prize. My favorite summer activity: being able to work from home. It isn't the most fun then to mention, but is truly something that sets summer apart and I like it. Less stress and seeing the sun shine everyday is awesome. Somehow I never have been able to swing working at home during the school year....too many obligations or not enough self-discipline. Does that count? If not I could have said traveling, but right now I'm dreaming of home...one more week! :)

[tiennie]

No entry from me just wanted to congratulate you on an amazing accomplishment!

[alex]

I loved FE Warren. Then again, our house in MT is worse than WY. I preferred the area and the people, but we liked being close to Colorado.

My favorite summer activity is being away from my stepkids. After that, making home made ice cream.

[Akua Lezli Hope]

My favorite summer activity is gardening. Untended pretty weeds are harvested for paprmaking. Flowers are cut and will regrow, filling the kitchen counter with welcoming blossoms. Congratulations on being debt free!

[Susan]

Oh, such yummy yarn and fiber projects! I think the little fishy should have a thumb and backside and become a mitten - how cute would that be?

Congratulations on becoming debt-free! What a wonderful accomplishment in this recession.

My favorite summer activity is spinning in my sunroom with all the natural light and the sound of the birds to bring me peace.

[knittech]

OMG!! Everything is so AMAZING. I love, LOVE Mom's socks.

Congrats on living debt free!!

[Tammy]

Congrats on being debt free and in financial peace! We're big Dave Ramsey fans, and hit our "debt free except the house" last year - so amazing!

Summer is my least favorite season, because I have allergies and don't like hot weather, so my favorite activity is staying inside in the A/C and reading or knitting. Although heading up to St. Louis for a Cardinals game is also very high on the list!

[Chrissy]

My favorite summer activity is simply walking our dog every evening together as a family. We (along with the dog) get a little exercise and uninterrupted family conversation.

Congratulations on reaching your goal of financial freedom! My husband and I also finished paying off our debt in June. Isn't it a great feeling? Thanks for hosting a fun giveaway!

[Lynette]

How wonderful to be debt free, congratulations. Your yarn looks beautiful, I love it.

[Elaine]

Congrats on being debt-free. What a relief isn't it!

My favorite summer activity is swimming. I've barely had a chance this summer - it's been pouring almost constantly and whenever it isn't, I'm at work.

I love the socks and the color of your Mom's shawl. Fabulous!

[Zaneta]

yay for being debt free!!! :D my parents are working towards that right now!

My favorite summer time activity is being able to relax and knit/crochet and listen to indians games on the radio... its so nice to only work 16-20 hours a week and thats it instead of 30+hours a week plus going to school full time plus playing a sport ahhhhh... i LOVE summer!! lol ;)

Thanks for the giveaway! I love your moms shawl.. its beautiful! :D

Zaneta
superwoman4002 on ravelry

[Walden]

Congrats on being debt free, I am definitely looking into the future for that day for me. Love the New Leaf Green roving! My favorite summer time activity is camping, even though I don't get to go very often.

[Jersey Jessie]

That's a wonderful accomplishment. Personally I never buy anything that I can't afford to pay for right now. It is so easy to sink into debt.

I love your Mom's socks and your daughter's face - how very sweet!

[Jersey Jessie]

Ooops - I got carried away and forgot to list my favorite summer activity - I hope it's not too late to append.

I just love being outdoors!

[Teresa]

Congratulations on being debt free. I am also debt free at the moment. My favorite summertime activity is staying inside where it is cool and eating homemade ice cream.

[Kristen]

Congratulations on your newly debt-free life! It's a great accomplishment.
My favorite summer activity is reading in my hammock in my backyard. Love it!

[dobarah]

Congratulations! Being debt free is a wondrous occasion...we hope to join you someday, but that farm machinery is pricey!
My favorite summertime activity is picking cherries straight from the tree...and I get to do just that this weekend!

[Marlyn]

Congrats on being debt-free! How kind of you to share your excitement with such a great contest. My favorite summer activity? Picnicking at the Hollywood Bowl.

[turtle]

morning! Aside from gardening (so we can enjoy the summer fruits all winter long) my family also enjoys backpacking! I take my knitting, hubby a fishing pole, and just us and the woods!

[Sarah W]

Wow! Many congrats on your recently debt-free status, that's amazing! My favorite summertime activity is drinking iced mint tea on a sunny afternoon, and not doing much else. Maybe reading or knitting :)

[danielle]

My favorite summertime activity? Well, this year is anything that gets me out of the house!!!! I broke my ankle Memorial Day Weekend and have been pretty house bound/couch bound!

[EJ]

My favorite summer activity is sitting outside and knitting and chatting. Our knitting group at work did that today which is how I heard about your contest!

Congrats on being debt-free.

[Sharon Rose]

I love my London Taxi, and a good summer road trip with the windows down is so much fun... especially if the destination is historical or fiber-related. :)

Can't wait to see how you like the Knit Picks lace (such a pretty color)!

[Deb Smith]

I used to live a lot closer to the ocean than I do now. (35 miles versus 1000) and my favorite thing was to go walking along the beach at dawn!

[Carla]

I live about 15 miles from the bay and I love to go walk there any time of year, but summer is the best. Unfortunately it is now contaminated and so it is fenced off ruining the view and the fun of walking next to the water. I see the person ahead of me said she used to like doing that.

Congrats and I love all the photos on your blog. I'm very happy to have found it thanks to my work knitting group! Thanks guys - maybe one of us will win!