One of Those Weeks

Aghhhhhhhh!!!!

It has been one of those weeks. One of THOSE weeks, where you get out of bed and think, what the heck is going on here? Then, you just get back in bed and cover your head. The above freaky picture was taken by me, a few years back, on a trip to Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari, located in Gentry, Arkansas. The place is a trip...it's a must if you want to really mess with your kids. Ha! It is really a must, your kids AND you will love it. It used to be a favorite trip to take with my friends when I was in college too, so there is really no age limit.

Back to this week, nothing has gone right. Not to bore you with tons of details, but simply, everything I have attempted to do online has gone horribly wrong. I tried to post the chat notes for the AREtsy team chat and it vanished. I upgraded my website so I can sell directly from the site with ease, and it erased my previous website. I worked an entire day on the AREtsy website and it's gone too. I am slowly relearning the new software to update my website and hopefully will have it all back in working order soon.

On a cool note, I have been getting ready for camping next week. It should be a blast! I also started knitting a sun hat to hang out in during the summer. It feels really good to be knitting again, I will post pics later. AND lastly, the yarn shop in Russellville, Knit 2 Together, is OPEN!!! I am planning a small road trip tomorrow. They have contacted me about carrying my yarn, which is very exciting! Will post more later....off to learn a new program with a better outlook! ♥

Day Three- The Tortoise and The Hare

This morning, I opened up the front curtains and peaked in on the baby birds. To my surprise there was a turtle sitting right under the tree. The funny thing is, we have been looking for a turtle forever. In California, they sell box turtles for enormous prices. Like $40 each! Seriously! In moving to Arkansas, we always hoped to find one in our yard. And here it is: Being that we are from California and all, we decide to "tag" him. "Tagging" means to put graffiti on something.
Not really! Come on, we are not THAT strange.

But really, to our shock, the turtle turned around and I saw a peace sign on his back. I was stunned. From inside the house, it almost looked like his shell had formed the sign on its own. I ran outside and picked him up and noticed he had lots of "markings" on him...poor little guy. Seems whoever "owned" this turtle named him Speedy and wrote it right on his shell. I went ahead and put him down so he could be on his merry way.

After a quick refill of coffee, I had another look in our flower bed and there was another surprise. A baby rabbit. It was our very own version of the tortoise and the hare. Quite honestly, my money is on Speedy.
Here are the baby robins today. I am a bit afraid there are only two. I could not get the best photo today, but what I did get, looks like there is only two. Maybe tomorrow, a better view will provide us better insight.

A quick favor to ask, please keep the Hennel family in your prayers. A dear friend of ours passed away from a massive heart attack last night. He has two young kids, who are struggling to deal with this tragedy. Thanks so very much! ♥

Day Two

Here are the three babies today. The Mama Bird has been coming and going and from our dining room table we can see a couple months pop up and get their meal.

I read a little about Robins and learned they only lay one egg a day and only up to four eggs. Rarely, they will have five. So I am thinking the bird underneath is a day behind the other two or just the runt. It looks a lot less developed then the two. I hope it's just a day behind! We shall see with tomorrow pictures. They are totally strange to peak at for sure! I can't wait until the have feathers and look a bit more bird like.

Above is some handspun yarn, I adore it. Totally girly pink and great. It is the next thing I have planned to list on Etsy. Hope you all have a wonderful Friday evening. ♥

Three Babies

For the last couple weeks, the boys and I have enjoyed watching a beautiful robin build her nest and then take care of the eggs. Today we noticed little heads bopping up and the mama feeding them. I very carefully took my camera, on my camera stand...set the timer, and ever so gently held it above the nest. This was the result. Three Babies!

The mama bird and daddy bird have been very busy tending to these little ones! I believe they were born either yesterday or early this morning. The eyes are not yet opened and they are quite naked. I will try to snap a few pictures over the next few days so we can share how they are growing (hopefully a bit better quality).

A rainbow array of roving is waiting to be posted to Etsy. Most of them are all under an ounce but a few are over. The next few days my shop will be over flowing with colorful yummy-ness once again. I have felt a bit like the baby birds and that my shop was a bit naked and striped down. The shop will grow with the babies!

I do also have several handspun yarns just hanging out in my ready to sell stash. Today, I did get the handspun listed from the roving Jeanetta painted. It had to be named after her, since she did the dye work and all....here is Jeanetta Spun.

Last night's AREtsy chat was great! We covered a ton, and now, I need to weed it down to the good stuff and get it out to the group. Hope you all have a lovely evening! ♥

Cotton Cotton everywhere is Cotton

Save the Planet, use cotton as stuffing. Several months back, I stumbled upon some cotton, and by some I really mean LOADS of it. Pounds and Pounds of cotton that filled up one of my closets. The plan was to spin it, but I really have much more than I ever will need or be able to use. Jeanetta, took some and tested it out as an Environmentally Friendly stuffing alternative and has found it stuffs beautifully!

I now have quarter pound bags listed in my Etsy Shop for you to save the Earth by using. The bags are $3.00 each and I have many of them. If you want more than one bag, please send me a conversation and I will give you a price break and combine shipping.
I am just totally enamored with this sticker. It has a grainy texture and you just have to love the little bird sitting on top of the "Y"
A fellow, Arkansas Etsy Street Team member, dogwoodlane, has started her very own blog: "OnDogwoodLane". I just love her work. Recently, one of her wallets was a must add addition to my collection. It really has room for everything under the sun. I highly recommend her products to anyone!

This is a picture of the wallet I purchased from her and I truly adore it. Check out her Etsy Shop as well.

There is an ArEtsy Chat tonight and I am really excited about all the things planned to discuss. Has anyone heard of SEO before? I have my thinking cap on again and am in full research. I will have to share more on this later. ♥

The New Wheel is Here

Today, sitting on my front porch was a glorious sight. An Ashford Wheels & Looms box. Bet you can guess what was in it... Ta Da! A brand spanking new spinning wheel. An Ashford Joy Spinning Wheel. It was so exciting. I almost cried. Yes, I am a big spinning dork...I know. She is so very pretty! Check her out.
The wheel folds up flat for easy travels. Also has a build in lazy kate. Ashford is engraved on both sides of the wheel.
I love the way she spins too. No fussy treadles and slipping wheel. Just smooth, smooth spinning.

On a different note, just in time for Memorial Day, I am listing some Americana funky painted yarn. Very bulky and super unique. My mail was ever so exciting today. I had a couple cute things sent to me as a special thank you and this was one of them. Cute sticker!

Off to enjoy my new wheel! ♥

Guests are Arriving

Last night, Granny and Grampa Joe arrived safely. Tonight many more family members are coming to help us celebrate Megan's graduation. In the middle of all the craziness...we got a new car, a Toyota Corolla. It already has The Twisted Purl sticker across the back window so if you see it driving down the highway be sure to give a honk! The hub works out of Little Rock and needed a REALLY good gas mileage car, and this one gets close to 40 per gallon. Sounded good to us!

Amazingly enough, I also got some new fiber posted on Etsy. Here is Clown's Hair. Next, a little festival inspired Cotton Candy sock yarn.
I do want to get more posted today...hopefully, in between yard work and shopping I can get some fiber listed. It is just so hard for me to part with fiber. I dream of how gorgeous it will look spun.
This morning, I came across this verse:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:26
It gave me great comfort in my stress and exhaustion from the last few weeks of non-stop action. Like a little reminder that God loves me and is waiting for me to come to Him for recharging. I may name this fiber "Rest" after this verse.

As for me, my resting time is done, I have to mow the lawn and get some laundry moving. Plus, shopping for Megan's brunch tomorrow (at my house) and her BIG party, on Sunday, at Dad's. ♥

Ready....Set.....TOAD!!!

Although Toad Suck Daze is now over and we are in the comfort of our home with our feet kicked up, many memories of the weekend are still being repeated and laughed about in our home.

Our booth was set up right next to the Famous Toad Dome where numerous children came to race Toads.

We heard every child name his Toad and each time the Toad Race would begin the announcer would proclaim "Ready.....Set......TOAD!!!!!" and the race would be on.


















With all the preparation that went into the booth, the boys did not get to go out and hunt for their own toads. We were very pleased to find out you didn't have to bring your own toad, they would be provided.

Above, the boys are getting their very own racing toads.

They then got to name each toad and race them as well.


















It was quite amusing hearing all the children name each toad over the three day festival. There were girls racing their toads with gorgeous names like Precious, Rainbow, Sunshine, and Pretty. Boys had Toady, Warts, Harry Potter, and Speedy. The name that had to take preference with all boys though was Luke Skywalker. There had to have been at least 30 Luke Skywalkers. Toads like to use the force ya know!


















A parade went by the booth while Debbie was helping. She has this strange history of taking her picture with the Chick Fillet Cows...not sure why...but next thing I knew I had my camera in hand and we were stopping the parade for a quick photo shoot.
























And lastly, there was Face Painting! Here is Brady, showing off his rocket ship. All and all, the festival was a blast! If you are in the area next year, do not miss it!

My sister graduates Hendrix College this weekend. YAY!!! We have loads of family coming in and it will be an absolute blast. But with that comes the house cleaning. G'ah...I so wish we had a maid. ♥

With A Little Help From My Friends

Toad Suck Daze 2008 is OVER!!! *does a dance* I had an absolute blast meeting and talking with folks as they walked by my booth. There were some rather tense moments...but overall the weekend was a success.

I could not have done the weekend with out the help of my friends. My sister and her boyfriend, Matt, Jeanetta, Debbie, and of course my awesome husband Todd. When I did have help, I was able to go out of the booth and spin yarn. I was so very pleased to see so many kids knowing what on earth I was doing! It was awesome to see their parents looking at me like I was an alien and saying "What on earth are you doing?" and to hear their kids say "She's spinning yarn!" Too cool!

Jeanetta of Splendid Designs on Etsy was a tremendous help. I would spin yarn and then as I was spinning it, she would explain how the wool would go from the sheep (natural wool) to processed roving, then painted, and then spun. This is the yarn we used to show what the roving looks like spun up. I just love this set, I may have to knit it up myself.

Our painted silk scarves looked lovely on the first day blowing in the breeze looped through the back wall lattice. Of course, my hubby had the coolest seat ever. The wind continuously blew him some fine locks of painted silk hair.
Speaking of wind! The start of Day Two was a nightmare! The wind had blown so very hard during the night a lot of folks lost their tents and had a mess. We had put up Wind Shield Walls. The wind blew so hard the wall blew in and we came into the entire inventory and cubes all in a pile on the ground. Thankfully, none of the yarn or roving was hurt.

Debbie, my wonderful step-mom, rushed out to save the day! Within minutes of my desperate call for help she was there assisting me in the clean up and soon enough we were back open for business.

The day was still pretty windy and there were some pretty tough moments. I was very thankful to have Matt holding up the wall by sitting in the chair for awhile.

Here are a few pics of the layout of the yarn.

And spinning fibers! Yay! I have a ton to spin still. This was just two of the cubes. We had six cubes set up of fiber alone.
The Conway Paper interviewed me too. Here is a link to the article if you would like to check it out. CLICK HERE Also, a very nice man from Conway made a video of me spinning and talking about what I was doing. Who knows, it may just show up on my website.

Today has been a bit strange. I feel like I need to go back to my booth and work. Strange, I know...I really love the convenience of selling my yarn and fiber online, but honestly, I love talking to people in person about the craft. It is just too cool to meet other yarn-a-holics and understand their need to touch every fiber and dream of all the things they could make. I enjoyed each and every moment of Toad Suck Daze. It makes me want to do it more often or open up a shop. There's a time and season for everything (God's time...God's time!)

There is still so much more to share about the fun that was had during the festival, but for now, I must get my house back under control...image what your house would look like if you left a man alone with three boys for three days. ♥