Oh yeah...Williamsburg

Yeah, so...i never finished blogging about our trip to Williamsburg. That was only a month ago. Eeep!

So, ok...Dan had invited us to join him and Mom and we were to surprise her. In the few weeks leading up to the event, my Mom kept trying to figure out ways that they would be able to stop and visit us or meet up with us for a visit somewhere. LOL She called from work one day and asked for the address here so she could Google where we live. On the Friday that we were all due to check in, Mom called from the road...the conversation went something like this...

Mom: Hi honey, what are you up to?

Me: Not much. (While i was probably packing my bag with clothes.)

Mom: Well, we'll be on 70 heading into Frederick soon, how far is that from you?

Me: Well, it's about 45 minutes away or so...(and then i add in really quickly), but Deb's working. (I failed to tell her that Deb was due to get off of work at 1pm, this call was going on around 10am or maybe 11. LOL)

After that, i put her off by suggesting that we arrange to meet when they are on their way home the following week. Whew, she went for that! They went on their way.

Deb arrived home around 1:20pm. We loaded stuff into the van and then proceeded to do our last minute errands before leaving town...pick up pay check, go to bank, get gas into the van, get van washed. We finally left town around 4pm. Sigh.

Dan called as they were checking in, he made Mom wait in the car. He asked where we were and how long we thought it would take us to get there. We were in the traffic going around Baltimore. We suggested they go to dinner and get groceries...and take their time.

We continued on our way. We took 95 to something and then to 301 or 310 and then to 17 and then 33 and then 64....blah, blah, blah. We were crossing over the Potomac just as the sun was setting and the color of the sky was just amazing. We made a navigational error on 33. We went East when we should have gone West. We had just turned around and started heading back to correct our error, and the phone rang again with Dan asking us how much longer we would be? It was around 9pm and my Mom had already unpacked Dan's stuff into our room and our bathroom and she had gotten ready for bed and was hinting at how tired she was. LOL! We told him we'd be another 20-30 minutes.

When we arrived, we knocked on the door, Dan answered and then tried to send my Mom to the door. We heard her say, "In my pajamas?!" And he said, "Yeah, i ordered something to be delivered to you and they're four fucking hours late!" ROFLMAO!! So, she came to the door and we yelled, "Surprise!" Too funny! We visited for a while and then i think we were all tucked ito our beds by midnight or a bit after.

Day one in Williamsburg, we did some browsing around. I was set on visiting a knitting shop that Robin had recommended, Knitting Sisters.
I'd been planning the visit for several weeks and had subscribed to their newsletter to get a feel for what was going on in the shop. I already knew that they sold Robin's hand made soaps, so of course that would be one item in my bag! In reading the newsletter, i had learned that they had Jamieson's 2 ply on sale...so i planned to purchase some with the intention of eventually using it to knit some Latvian Mittens.

I ended up buying one of the Knitting Sister tote bags, some black Plymouth Encore for a kitty hat i still need to knit for a friend, some wool wash, a bar of soap for me, Deb and Dan (those sneaks!), and balls of Jamieson's 2 ply. They must've been selling the heck out of the yarn, i had trouble finding colors, but i was still happy with my purchases.

Knitting Sisters is a very warm and friendly shop. I would certainly recommend visiting them if you're ever in the area. There's even a very inviting spot to sit and knit a while, or to wait for someone who might by petting yarn for a while. :)

After Knitting Sisters, we headed to Williamsburg Pottery. The place was HUGE so i waited in the car, i didn't think i could handle all of the walking. Deb only bought some coffee while she was in there and i don't think Mom and Dan bought anything. They described the place as a giant, international bazaar filled with everything from specialty foods to silk flowers...oh, and pottery. I'm glad i stayed in the car, they said it was a mad house.

Our next stop was an amazingly large Yankee Candle store...almost as wonderful as the flagship store in South Deerfield, MA. I have no idea how much time we spent in there, it was more than an hour for sure. Deb ended up buying a dozen tarts in various scents and at the checkout counter she found one of our favorite scents that had been brought back for a short time..."Fireside". Mmmmm.

Our next stop wasn't really a stop, it was more of a drive thru. We drove all around inside the Outlet stores so Mom and Dan could see what was there and plan their shopping for later in the week. When that was done, we headed for a BBQ place that had been recommended to us by some locals, we got our food and took it back to the condo. It was only so-so.

The next day was Sunday and we headed to Colonial Williamsburg...



It was much more walking than i could ever do, so most of these pictures were taken by Deb and i really am not sure what the content is. I'm hoping that Deb will have the time eventually to go into my Flickr account and correctly title and comment on her photos.

Here's the favorite shot that i did take...


Deb in the new hat she bought at some General Store type place not in the Colonial area.


An okay shot that she took of me while i was keeping a bench warm, waiting for her.


And, because we are lame...the only picture we took of Mom and Dan together.

The next day was Monday and we stayed at the condo...Deb studying and me knitting. Mom and Dan went and did their own thing and they returned back to a home made taco dinner later that evening.

The next day, we headed for home so that Deb could make it to her EMT class that evening.

Whew. Only a month late, but that wraps up our trip to Williamsburg.

~Suz~

Hey, Sock Knitters

What would you charge for hand knit socks?

Let's say that your yarn would cost $3.79/ball. Each ball is 231 yards/50 grams.

Ok. In my mind...

For a woman's medium pair of socks, i would need two balls of yarn putting the cost of supplies at $7.58+tax. Let's call it $8.00. I've not even cast on one single stitch and already i would need to charge a customer $8.

Now, how in the world do i go about calculating my time involved and what i would want to be paid for it? Truth be told, i've never kept an actual accounting of how much time it really takes me to knit a pair of socks...hour by hour. Have you? Let's skip that for now, shall we?

How much is minimum wage these days? $6.15 here in Maryland?? Let's call it $6 so that we don't have to fiddle with the change. If there was some small chance that i could whip out a pair of socks in 8 hours, i would need to charge $48 + supplies of $8 for a total of $56 for one pair of socks. However, i don't knit that quickly, i'm sure. Besides, isn't knitting a skill? Shouldn't i be paid the same fair wage as a skilled laborer rather than just minimum wage? Yeah, that's what i think.

See? Naming a price on a hand knit item is a tricky business. Recently my Mom tried to gain a knitting order for me. A lady she knows was interested in 10 pairs of hand knit socks. So i struggled with all of these same questions. i came up with what i thought was a fair price of $25 for adult's sizes and $15 for children's sizes. Even at that price, i would not even be earning $2 per hour for my skill. The supplies alone would cost me $7.58+tax+shipping. So my profit would have been about $16, less if the pair was a larger pair and required and additional ball of yarn.

Needless to say, the potential customer, although she admires hand knit items and thinks that i do lovely work...did not think that the work was worth $25 per pair.

Oh well, more time for me to knit Christmas gifts for people who might appreciate them. ;)

~Suz~

Thankful Musings

This one may be a bit long, run to the loo and grab a cuppa, i'll wait...

Ready?

So, i've been thinking about my relative lack of real life friends. When i was a kid and in school i always made great efforts to build friendships. I made calls, set up gatherings, picked people up, planned parties, etc. As the years went on after high school and lives grew busier, it became more and more work to keep friendships up or even to make new ones. Eventually it became clear that i was the one doing most of the work...i was making the calls and the plans. I'm sure some of you out there can relate. Eventually i came to the point where i thought, "why am i bothering?". Did i really enjoy the company of the people i was trying to spend time with? Do i learn anything from that person? Do they learn anything from me? Is the relationship a good give and take?

Through the years, my friendships have dwindled to just about nil. At this point in my life, i have a wonderful handful of friends back in NW Indiana, i have the few fun knitting gals in my knitting group and i have a small circle of Internet Friends i've come to know and care about...even though i've never met them in person. I know that last bit may seem odd to some, but there's an unmistakable bond that ties some Internet friends. We may not be able to explain it, it just is. We're bonded by common interests and shared experiences. That's how it is with several people who are my online, blogging, knitting, Internet friends. In my mind and heart, i consider them to be friends just like my real life friends. That's just how i'm made.

I recently blogged about the wonderful yarns that JP gifted me with. (He's not blogging a lot right now because he's working hard and due to graduate from the University of Alabama in about 21 days!) Last year i blogged about how Dave gifted me with his spare swift and some books from my Amazon wish list. I've also blogged about the wonderful items that Erin sent me after i did some test knitting for her. I also received some wonderful yarn from Robin M, and from Cookie too . In addition to these things, i've received extra special goodies from some of the contests i've entered and won. I've won contests offered by Michelle (who decided to quit blogging), Lesa, Becky, Robin and Erin (oops, i never blogged about that prize!).

Well, Dave just struck again. He's sneaky, that one! Look what he sent to me.


I am extra giddy over these gifts. It just so happens that i LOVE Moose. I adore Dave's shop logo. And i had recently decided to start collecting totes from shops i buy from and visit. Dave, i cannot thank you enough! You are so incredibly generous and thoughtful, i'm very lucky to count you among the Internet friends i've made. One of these days i'll have Deb cart my arse up to Boston so we can hang out, talk fiber, and share a good meal. I can't wait.

In writing this post, it's dawned on me that there have been two other people who have gifted me with items and being the slacker that i am i think i have failed to blog about and thank one of them and KNOW i have overlooked the other! Gasp! I suck!

Long ago, when we still lived back in Indiana, Kat once gifted me with a box of yarns she was not using. Those yarns were eventually used in various projects and put to great use! Thanks Kat! You know i love you. ;)

And then there's Mia. Mia is one of a kind. Mia has a HUGE sock yarn addiction and she's a fantastic stash enabler. LOL I actually know Mia in person, she's one of the wonderful gals in our knitting group that tries to meet twice a month. There have been several times when Mia has brought wonderful gifties to me. She once brought a giant bag of her leftover yarns...i've used some, shared some and still have a lot left. She's gifted me with this, and some lace weights that i've yet to photograph. Mia has also given me some fun knitting magazines and an adorable frog that she sewed...oh yes, she sews and quilts too. I don't think she sleeps! I really need to take more photos of all of those things. Mia, thank you so much for sharing your yarn addiction and your talents. I appreciate you very much.

See? I told you this would be a long one.

In closing, i'd like to say thank you very much to all of the friends i've made through blogging and knitting. The knitting community may not be understood by all, but those of us involved, know that it's truly a wonderful place. I am very fortunate to have met some wonderful Internet friends and i plan to continue growing those friendships through our blogs, emails and hopefully a visit or two some day. You all keep me sane and mean the world to me.

~Suz~

Happy Thanksgiving

glitter-graphics.com

Oooh Look, FO's

Yep, you read that correctly, some finished objects.

Socks for me...


The yarn is some of the Gedifra Fashion Trend Sportivo that i got from the discontinued section at Webs a while ago. I also finished the first pair of these, but haven't taken a pic with both socks in it yet, Here's a reminder of that colorway...



Also finished, the Dream in Colors - Tulip, baby sweater. Isn't it adorable? I loved knitting it. The yarn is oh so very yummy and i really wish i could buy some more of it! Thankfully i bought the yarn for this sweater in a kit, which made it affordable for me. I hope the baby it's been made for, feels warm and cozy in it.

Notice how Luna looks a little pissed? There's a whole series of pics for the sweater, maybe 5 or 6 shots...where the cat is looking and being nosy and then she just walked right across the sweater and laid on my belly between my chest and the laptop. Hmmm. think she's trying to tell me something?





I've cast on a new baby blanket and am working away on that now.

Happy Knitting!

~Suz~

Long Overdue Thanks

This post is long overdue...

A few weeks ago i was being a bit nosy and browsing around on Ravelry. I decided to peek inside the yarn stash collections of all of my friends. It's fun to see who favors what type of fiber...who likes wool, who likes alpaca, who's hoarding silk blends? This also gives me the opportunity to learn about yarns that i've yet to work with or have never heard of. The gist is that it's big time fun for yarn-a-holics, ok?

So, there i was browsing away, when what do i see in JP's stash (JP on Ravelry)...one of my favorite, discontinued Knit Picks yarns. Parade. By the time i got into knitting and started making purchases from Knit Picks, i only had enough time to purchase two balls of Parade in the "forest" colorway. My second favorite socks are made with this yarn. I was so excited about seeing this yarn in JP's stash and i sent him a note about it telling him that i loved the yarn and couldn't wait to see what he would make from the yarn. JP sent me a note back asking me if i wanted the yarn?!! Oh. My. Yes! I quickly emailed him back and asked him how much he would charge for the yarn and offered to buy it and pay for the shipping too. Well, doggon if JP didn't reply with only the request of my address!!

Within only a few days i received a package from "down South". Ya know, that package was larger than it should have been for 4 balls of yarn. Hmmm. And heavier too. Double Hmmm.

When i finally got through JP's master taping job, my jaw fell open! I thought he only had 2 balls of each of the Knit Picks - Parade colorways. I was wrong...

He sent me four balls of the plum...


and three balls of the blue...


BUT, that wasn't all!!! In a very unexpected turn of events, he also sent...
three balls of Regia Crazy Colors



AND

Two balls of Regia Stretch!



Holy Wow! JP, i cannot thank you enough! You really surprised the heck out of me. For a girl on a budget, this stash enhancement was more than welcome!

Shortly after JP's package arrived, we took a trip to Williamsburg. While we were in Williamsburg, i finished the first of a pair of the "Plum" socks. Like a dope, i had not packed another ball of the yarn, so i was unable to start the second sock. Oooops!

Here's my view from the couch in Williamsburg...

We stayed at Powhatan Plantation which is now acres of Townhouses that are part of a timeshare. My Mom's bf, DanTheMan, had gotten a really great deal on a week's stay and invited me and Deb to join them for a few days. I had not blogged about it before leaving on the trip because Dan had invited us as a surprise for my Mom. It was fun surprising her, even if we did get there a bit late...more on that in the next post.

A few more pics...The view out the patio doors early in the morning.



Geese, just after their morning landing...



A great shot of a Great Blue Heron. Deb took this pic after she woke up.

EDIT: I was calling this a loon, but Kat emailed to let me know the true identity of this fine feathered creature. Thanks Kat!!



~Suz~

Huh?

Ahem.

Deb, is currently in the kitchen making home made grape jam/jelly/preserves from the grapes off of the grapevine out in the back yard.

That is all.

~Suz~

Because Scarlett made me do it...

Five Things

Found in my Room :

my stash
bright red flannel sheets
a red bingo dauber
a djembe and a doumbek
our gifted, lucky horseshoe over the door


I have always wanted to:

visit Poland (but i don't fly)
Meet James Taylor
get a tattoo
be a photographer
write good poetry


Found in my Bag :

keys with attached green leather wallet keychain with DePaul crest on it
a barrette
the current sock project
Tide "to go" stick
"Extra" gum in some watermelon flavor


Found in my Wallet :

picture of Deb from Halloween 2000
Picture of Conner & Julia (my twin niece and nephew)
reminder card for what type of ink my printer takes
my DePaul student ID from 1986/87 and 1995/97
credentials for my handicapped parking prmit



I am currently into :

playing on Pogo
Ravelry, especially the Ravelry Games Forum
Court TV
Forever Knight on DVD from Netflix
knitting


Candidates to tag :

The Pagan Hooker

Molly Knits Sweaters

Kat at Bald Sheep