Happy New Year--18 days into it!

Happy New Year! I hope it has been a good start of the year for you. I was going to post a happy new year post earlier, but Hannah got the stomach flu, and then I did. Kelly, bless him, didn't get it, which was good because he was able to take care of his two limp-rag babies. We're better now, but it did take the stuffing out of us!

I've been doing a bit of spinning. It started at the photoshoot for the Spring issue--I needed to do some step out shots for an article on plying and so broke out some painted top that I bought from Dudley spinner on etsy. I've been spinning a little on it each morning as I wait for my chai to heat up and I listen to the news on NPR. What a nice way to start the day.

I think I may weave a scarf for Kelly with this yarn, though he has scoffed at the idea. He doesn't really wear woolens. But maybe a nice thin scarf to go with his new black coat would help win him over.


I think there is enough fiber to weave him a scarf and knit me a pair of socks.














I sold a bead embroidery kit on etsy and that gave me the funds to buy more fiber. I bought this lovely BFL roving, handpainted by Dragon Fibers on etsy (can you see the trend here?). It's dyed in a Frankenstein colorway. I can't wait to see how it spins up. But I'm sure it will be a while before I can get to it.

I've been making progress on my Dad's sweater--as Hannah winds down for the day, she wants to snuggle--so we sit together as I knit before I take her upstairs to read books and get ready for bed. It's a nice time. She has a circular needle and some yarn that she works on while I'm knitting--some day it will be real knitting.
In a meeting at work yesterday I finished the body to Hannah's sweater. Now I have to figure out how to add the arms. This is more yarn for Hannah's sweater (the orange yarn).
In another meeting at work I made progress on the second beaded scarf--the first one looks like a snowflake after I left it within Hannah's reach with the scissors.
And I've been working on a beaded piece--a commission for a friend. It is a very special piece--from the photograph my sister Julia took of my Grandma Helen holding Hannah shortly after Hannah was released from the hospital after she was born 6 weeks early due to my rupturing appendix. In the photo, Hannah is still on oxygen. Mary and I started talking about this piece before Grandma died in October. I needed some time before I was able to start it and Mary has been very understanding.

I love that I'm collaborating on this piece with my sister who is an amazing photographer. The time that I spend on it feels like time spent with all these people that I love.

Grandma Helen really didn't like that Hannah had to be on oxygen (which is very common in Colorado for premies because of our high altitude) and here she is shaking her finger and saying how she couldn't wait until Hannah was free of the tubes. When I see this photo I can almost hear her talking.