Quirky Bits n Pieces Design Team

The fabulous Kristen over at Quirky Bits n Pieces sell gorgeous dyed fiber locks, handspun yarn, woven scarfs, and yarn bowls.  She put out a Design Team call for artists to create beautiful things with her lovely things and blog / post in social media about them.  Well, isn't that exactly what I already do?  lol  I had to submit my application!  I was so happy (and still am!) to find out that I was accepted onto the team!  (I think the official page is still being built so I'll link that for you when it is ready.)

Well, I am in the first round of artists to receive her goodies.  Oh. My. Goodness.  These locks are SO beautiful!  Her color combinations are phenomenal!  I didn't capture all the shine that they have in this quick snapshot but I hope to get better pictures as I work with them more.

What a cute business card!

She gave the extra touch of doodling on the package. :)

I'm drooling over here!

 
You want to know where my mind is going? So here's a peek into my head: 

I want to spin semi-smoothly onto wire and knit fairy wings. That's been a goal of mine for a long time. :) I also want to play with jewelry shapes, with smoother texture and with rougher textures. I also want to lock spin (remember that blue mohair?) and ply that onto the wire for some thickness and texture to make something chunky / significant presence. I also want to incorporate the locks themselves into a piece, either by lock spinning, or tying, or some other way to feature them. (Similar to those FABULOUS necklaces she's been featuring). And lastly, I want to do something soft to exhibit the shininess of the wool.

And for the next three months there will be MORE to come, too. :D  So keep out for it!

Mystery Yarn Game

Are you ready for some laughs at your next knit night?  Try out my fiber-themed game!

Some 2016 Yarn-Related Goals

I posted some de-stash goals in a Ravelry group earlier this year.  I'd been thinking about it more recently as I've been making progress on dishcloths.  I have other yarn related goals as well so I figured I'd share my list with you all here. :)

• Two major commitments at a time should be my limit this year:
• 1) the MKAL I’m running [still in progress]
• 2) my pet ferret'€™s health [done!]
• 3) Working on next pattern
• Write at least 2 more patterns
• To try to use some of my current lovely yarns for my new pattern designs
• Spin enough of my stash to knit myself Awilda B.’s In Time and Space [starting combing]
• To start to sew together larger hexagons out of my itty bitty hexis for my the beekeeper’s quilt
• Continue to use up the excessive amount of acrylic yarn in my stash
• Make a stash of dishcloths out of my existing stash of dishcloth cotton [Current count is 4]

Is life going the way you thought it would?

A friend asked me a random question today. I felt moved to share my answer with all of you:
"Is life going the way you thought it would?"

I hadn't thought about it for quite a while but I immediately knew how to answer:
  
My life in general? Nope, not even close.  I thought I would be working full time at some graphic design place, living middle class.  Where am I actually?  I'm a full time homemaker taking care of my special-needs kids, homeschooling my oldest while my husband works very hard at a job that covers our basic needs.  Anything extra we have to work doubly hard at.  Both of us have tiny businesses that we are trying to get going so we can improve our situation.

Have I been disappointed in my life? Many times yes, many times no. 

What it comes down to is that God has a plan. I made my own wishful thinking as a kid:  "What do *I* want to do when I grow up?"  Instead I should have asked: "What does GOD want me to do?"  Once I stopped fighting his vision for my life it got a lot easier. :)  

Because this what me wants me to be: flexible, creative, a helper.

How can I be available to help people the way he wants me to if I'm busying working a 9-5 job?

He gives me the gift of learning. I can pick things up pretty quickly and learn entirely new skills. If I was well-off would I have practice being so resourceful?

As for helping; he gave me a heart to help others. Sure I get hurt a lot, but I also gain huge satisfaction and love by building relationships with others. smile emoticon




This is *my* journey that he has sent me on. Each of our journeys will be different.  Your
walk will look very different than mine.  They're supposed to!  Embrace the plan the Holy Spirit is whispering to you and you may find rich satisfaction and joy in your own life.

 

Sale!

Hello, everyone!  

I'm in a generous mood (not rare) and feeling un-modest (very rare.).   ;)  

I know my designs are fun and enjoyable otherwise I wouldn't have bothered making them.  lol  I have a high standard for myself and have included ALL the goodies in these patterns, including how-to videos on all the techniques required.

I want you to be able to join in the fun, too!  So to that end, I've made a code "LUCKYME" that will get you 25% off any/all of my patterns on Ravelry though St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.  

(This won't get you a discount on Etsy, though, sorry.)

I am half way through the MKAL for Stitch & Story: The Case of the Missing Yarn.  It is a mystery knit along like no other; there is an actual accompanying mystery story!  

Rachel's Cozy Knits & Designs on Ravelry