Zen Mama

Sneaking out of the dye pot….

April 13, 2007 · Filed under zen string, zenstring

I am ALIVE!! We’ve been up to our eyeballs in yarn these past weeks… would you believe we’ve sent over 400 skeins out in the past 4 weeks?! I am a bit exhausted, but pleased and blessed nonetheless!

The first round of the clubs seems to have gone off well, I love the photos coming in! This month, I am keeping ONE of every option. I’ve been inspired this month by Earth, and the wild colors she flashes for us. So the sock yarn and fiber stash grows… (eh hem) See what I mean? Here are a few photos taken in the past week or so:

Nope, these aren’t the photos that inspired this month’s clubs. You’ll have to stay tuned for that!

In the knews:

I finished the Morocco socks for Soloman:

My boys have the tiniest little legs and ankles. Despite the ribbing all the way to the foot… these buggers still sag! Eh well, he loves them! Also, do not fret: he is well trained in string first aid. He is not harming any yarn in this photo.

I immediately cast on the next pair of socks for April’s Socktopia:

Lotus Toes in Strawberry Fields forever… this one will be a pair of almost-knee-highs for my 3 year old daughter. She already has all the fabrics picked out for a skirt to make the outfit complete. I have not made much more progress than this in over a week. Again, I’ve been busy with string playing. Next, I have to whip up a matching pair for the 16 month old little sister. THEN, it will be a pair of Jaywalkers for me, with Strawberry Fields Forever on Harmony Fingering. If there is any time whatsoever: I plan on making this lacy nightie out of bamboo yarn I dyed just for the occasion. Zen Daddy approves of the colors, now I just need an extra 2-8 hours in every day.

I joined the Sockapalooza, and am so excited!! You remember my Patchouli socks? (The first, and ONLY thing I ever knit for myself…) I gave them to my oldest. He loves them, and they fit just fine. I guess they just were never meant to be mine! At least this way, I’m assured of owning my own pair of hand knit socks… right?! I can’t wait to find out who my partner is. Speaking of partners: I sent out my L & V partner swap. I went straight into the yarn, and skipped the candy. I hope that was okay!? I’m nervous she didn’t enjoy my picks. If that is true, hopefully she can swap the skeins for others.

Okie dokie… off to dye more solids. It’s rainy here, so solids are a good thing to do. What are you knitting!?

Namaste!
-a.

Don’t forget your Mama on Earth Day, April 22nd!!!

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PSA: Nirvana has landed!!!

March 16, 2007 · Filed under Fiber galore, zen string, zenstring

I know. You could faint. Could it possibly be TRUE!?!?

Yes, friends. It’s true. Nirvana worsted has finally landed after the longest “week” in history. “It will be ready to ship next week.” That week was over 60 days long!

(No, this is not the most yarn I have ever gotten. In fact, this is perhaps 1/8 the amount of naked yarn in my house. See the table? The bins? Yep. Full. all full. ) Sometimes I fantasize that I could casually dye it all up to keep… and swim in… and drape over myself for clothes.

“Look! It’s the crazy naked yarn lady!” “Again!?” <rolls eyes>

Inevitably, there is then a child cacophony that breaks the spell of the wool high. I realize that instead, I must see it all to it’s proper home, where it will be loved… and not made spectacle of.

And so anyway… Nirvana is finally here, and I haven’t been online much. I’ve been ~~dyeing~~ COLORING (Zen Daddy prefers I not announce that I need to dye, or I’m going to dye… can’t wait to dye, etc… says it’s disturbing to hear. ) like a mad mama. The secret lab notes will go out tomorrow, I’m terribly excited to see what everyone picks! There of course will be a contest for each club. I can’t get enough pay it forward.

In ~~dyeing~~ coloring news: I did up 4 skeins of sock yarn for me and my buddy, Kristina. We’ll have matching socks, and we’ll be gay and merry with our precious tootsies! Okay well, we’ll at the very least have some colorful ding dang feet!

If I do say so myself, it’s gorgeous. I’ll have to snap up some photos of the skeins. These were still drying on the line here, thus the weird shifting happening with the wind.

In the knews:

I still have this weird and wretched growth on the side of my finger. It still hurts like a __(something that hurts a lot)___ when I knit with any needle larger than a 3. Good for sock knitting, bad for regular knitting. So.. with that, Morocco in progress:

I’ve actually finished this sock and am a few inches into the leg of this little guys’ buddy. The colors in this yarn are so incredible. I find it almost impossible to get the color to come through the camera. This is my best attempt. They still match Bear’s lovely red cast <grumble grumble>, and he still loves them. All is well in sock land.

This blog post has gotten terribly long! But! I will be back with more shots of yarns and purdy fibers soon enough! I also have to take pictures of the COOLEST swap stuff I got from my lovely swap pal in Seattle! AND I got 2 new books in, must review. We must discuss.

Have a wonderful weekend, take a picture of what you’re knitting this weekend. Send it to me.

Be well!

-a.

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Wanna play, too? (with answers now!)

March 9, 2007 · Filed under contest, zen string

Here is the scavenger hunt for the mailing list. We have a winner now! Congrats again, Karen! I’ll post her winning prize as soon as it’s ready. I will leave the hunt up for 24 hours, and then I’ll post the answers.

The first Zen String contest is a scavenger hunt! You will find 10 questions below. I have included a list with clickable links to the websites you will find the answers. You may have to click around to find the answers, just keep your eyes open!

1. The Queen needs 2 skeins to complete her. What color does she desire?
The Queen is found at www.knitty.com, and she desires CLOVER.

2.She’s a scurvy hooker, indeed! A recent online expedition landed her fiber and yarn booty. They have the same name. What is the name?
(Yarn Pirate) GEORGIA is the name of both her new yarn and fiber, from me, of course! And now that you’ve been to her site, you must try some yarn!

3. Zen Mama is getting a new book! Green & Purple declare it is the New Best Book EVER. What book is it?
(Lime N Violet) LACE STYLE is the new book… should have it next week! I’ll update the blog on what I think about it.

4. This lady can knit socks faster than I can type! This year alone, 7 pair. What is her 4th most recent completed pair of socks?
(Wendy Knits) This one is actually very interesting! Wendy updated her FO list *after* this email went out! The original answer was BART & LOUISE, but became SLAYER! Both answers were correct, as soon I as I saw the blog.

5. I am soft and full of sheen, with 255 yards in my skein. Who am I?
(Zen String) HARMONY SPORT

6. 4 stripey socks for ewe… What colors make up her pairs?
(The Loopy Ewe) This one stumped the most folks. Loopy is actually the ewe you see in the logo. She wears 4 red and white striped socks.

7. The master shows us how. She’s knitting small circumferences now… how many double pointeds does she use in this picture?
(Knitting Help) She is using FOUR DPNs in the photo.

8. Soloman is getting new socks! What yarn will they be?
(Zen Mama blog) Soloman is getting Cherry Tree Hill yarn in their colorway “Fall Foliage”, but I have named them Morrocco. As long as you mentioned CTH, you got it.

9. Catch it on the newsstands now. I’m a pair of sweet socks, but not Jaywalkers. I look so delightful in periwinkle. Who am I?
(Interweave Knits) ROSA SOCKS by Grumperia, who also wrote the Jaywalker pattern.

10. She’s casting off with new chapters. Who is she?
(Yarn Harlot) STEPHANIE McPHEE is writing a new book! I also gave credit for plain ol’ Yarn Harlot.

What did you all think? Feedback, suggestions for our next game?

The sites:
Interweave Knits
Knitty
Knitting Help
Lime n Violet
The Loopy Ewe
Wendy Knits
Yarn Harlot
Yarn Pirate
Zen String
PS- You can leave your answers in the comments section.

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The scavenger hunt is on..

March 9, 2007 · Filed under contest, zen string

how are you doing!?

I will post the hunt here later for anyone wanting to play for fun. (Prize is only eligible to mailing list members) Have fun!

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Contest alert! Free yarn!! :)

March 8, 2007 · Filed under contest, zen string, zenstring

line, originally uploaded by zen mama.

I have finally finished all the kinks and quirks in the website… AND finalized the permanent mailing list! I’m so derned proud of myself.

Anyway, to the good part…
To celebrate, I am going to start a contest for the mailing list tomorrow evening. I’ll send out an email with the details then. How do you join the mailing list? Take a gander over yonder to the left… see that thar ball o’yarn? Click it. It is your friend.

What could you get? I hear you asking that from here… you will get a CUSTOM dyed yarn of your choice. It’s a wild card, baby… and you’re in charge!

Alright, back to the dyepot….

Namaste!
-a.

PS- I do not actually speak in the idyllic twang as referenced above. But yet, I am powerless against the ‘Belle that must come out. She likes to blog, what can I say?

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They’re done! They’re done!

March 6, 2007 · Filed under Fiber galore, Socktopia, zen string

I have knitting content! Remember the Monkeys? Yes, these dead sods:

They’re finally a pair of socks! Can I confess they’re my first knits???? (knit for me, not my first project ever!) :/ Presenting: my new socks-

(more info on le blog)

Also, I wanted to share with you Inspector #5. She takes her job quite seriously. Every skein must meet her approval, or into mama’s stash it goes! (unless she actually really really loves it, and then again… into mama’s stash it goes! ) She meticulously goes over each step in the dye process to make sure all is well…. as seen here, inspecting the first ever Georgia skeins. Indeed she approves. Mama has a skein now to prove it.

Now that Feb.’s Socktopia socks are finally out of the way… March is in full swing! I present to you, “Morocco”… Soloman’s socks to be:

I cast on last night, not too bad for a busy mama, eh? I am doing a simple 3×1 rib for him. Oh and hey, the yarn matches his NEW red cast! I failed to mention the boy broke his arm again!? Oh well, yes, he did manage to break his arm. again. At least he’ll be sporting flashy socks with his flashy cast soon.

This yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in “fall foliage”. Lovely yarn, I have quite a selection of CTH yarns… though this is my first time to actually knit with it. So far so good! I am using #1 4 DPNs for these puppies. Hmm… not much else to report.

Check the Flickr album for alternative shots, and update your blog!

Blessings,

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It’s Friday, I’m exhausted!

March 2, 2007 · Filed under Fiber galore, zen string

Of course I’m still in love, too!

I am finally finished for the store update. At least I hope so… there’s always 11th hour surprises!

For Yarn Smut Friday:

Neptune merino/tencel yumminess!

Some handspun! I’ve had the BFL (aqua colors) for a while, waiting to be plied with something. The other plies (sometimes 2, sometimes 1!) are random bits of fiber I had to spin because it was sitting looking pouty and unloved. So, out the spindle came while I watched the kids and Mr. Zen cooked dinner. I may make a stuffed octopus for the Bee. There isn’t much here, but I do like it, despite the obvious snags along the way!

That’s all the updates for now. Off to check the mail, and relax for the next hour before the store update! Be well!

-a.

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still here!

February 28, 2007 · Filed under Fiber galore, zen string

I’m still here! I’ve been busy busy busy! The Loopy Ewe will be restocked next week, with Bart & Louise in the Garden!! Keep your eyes on Sheri’s wonderful blog for more detail.

I have also been preparing for March’s 1st stocking. Hoooboy, it’s a doozie! Besides opening up the FIBER CLUBS (ohmygawd!!), I’ve dyed up several pounds of spinning fiber, added a new yarn line: Harmony, formally introducing the Serendipity line, and made up several new colorways, too! Spring fever is getting to me, I can’t stop thinking about color, and reveling in the process!

Of course I will be back to update with gratuitous fiber smut. The sun is perhaps starting to peek through, so perfect shooting conditions! Happy today to you all!

Namaste-

-a.

EDIT: Here ya go! Gratuitous fiber smut:

(Just a tiny sneak peek of the fibery goodness to come:)

Georgia merino/bamboo

Iris BFL silver:

Iris on the new Harmony fingering

Lufaloo BFL silver:

Mermaid’s Tail merino/tencel

Spring merino/bamboo

Summertime Rolls BFL silver

And that’s just the tip of the iceburg! Tons more… I need a nap!

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Wheel lust…

February 21, 2007 · Filed under Fiber galore, Socktopia

It’s no big secret that I have been lusting after a wheel for a good long time now. Sure sure, I love my spindle… it’s gorgeous and spins like a dream. BUT if I am short on anything in this lifetime, it is TIME. So, while I may love giving it a whorl every now and again, it just doesn’t quite quench the fiber thirst. ya know?! While waiting to order my Louet S51DT to be ordered (and then delivered)… I am building up my very own fiber stash. You saw the Koi BFL from the earlier post? Well, I’ve been busily dyeing up a ton of fiber for the next store update. (no, I’m not telling you when here… you’ll have to keep up on the mailing list. ) Look. at. this. I am in loooooooooove:

Meet “String Theory”. I adore hir. This is a hair shy of 7 ounces BFL silver… and while I had planned on selling the top, I just can’t part with it. And these photos don’t even come close to the amazing depth of color that is the real thing! This little silver has made me a teeny tiny bit afraid of the looming new “collection”… fiber. Currently, I only have about a pound of personal stash. A few more like this, and I’ll be drowing in fiber AND yarn! Speaking of fibery goodness… tomorrow my good buddy (not really) the FedEx man will bring to me many many pounds of new spinning fibers. Did you say bamboo? tencel?

Knitting updates:
Remember the monkey socks? Here they are as of 2 nights ago:

Yep. I frogged the little monkeys! As I was almost finished up with the foot it became clearer and clearer that I would not have enough yarn to finish another sock. How did I manage such a giant snafu? Didn’t I read the instructions… didn’t I have 4 oz of yarn?! Well, yes, and no. This yarn is sport weight… so I dimly carried on with the pattern, assured that I got 8 stitches per inch on size 1s… but failed to take into account that my yarn will go much less further with the tighter fabric. (d’oh!) Oh sure, sure… I suppose you’ll just remind me kindly that I have an “in” with the yarn supplier for these puppies. Yeah… but… I have lots more yarn that needs attention.. what kind of yarn care provider would I be to neglect the other thousand skeins? Nope. Redyeing is not in the cards for this skein… besides, I retired this colorway! So, I am now on the heel turn of my comfort food knitting: stockinette socks. I MAY turn out a pair for this month’s Socktopia after all. No worries, folks… I have a few other skeins planned for Monkey.

Yarny things:

I’ve dyed up a few new colorways… including this one: Georgia

That’s all you can see for now! It will be up for sale tomorrow evening at www.lilypadlanding.com. If there is any left, I will put it up at the store update. Also, just for fun… a picture I love from the same round of dyeing:

Enjoy your evening, folks! A friendly reminder from your local blog addict: please update daily, and include gratuitous fiber smut.

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Silly

February 18, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

I’m off to the Austin Knitty circle! yeah!! We’re having a book swap today… can’t wait to see what the ladies bring! I’ll update more this evening. Enjoy your day!