Creatively Dyed Yarn

We made it home safely

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sun, 15 May 2011 22:11:00 +0000

and I took a few days off because after dyeing for months for the show I needed a few day rest. We left for MD after I hurt my ankle so I rode in the back seat of our truck all the way. After riding in the back seat with so junk around me I so wish I had a truck that had 4 full doors not the 1/2 I have now. My truck is a 2008 with almost 112,000 miles on it but superman has kept it in good shape so I intend on putting about about 400k on it if I can.

We arrived in MD and went over to one of friends home then to dinner with friends. I couldn't even eat dinner all I wanted to do was sleep, you see I hadn't slept in 3 days. When I'm coming up on big shows where I sometimes worry if I've dyed enough of this yarn or enough fiber I tend to worry. You would think that after dyeing for 4 months and dyeing more yarn that I carried last year I wouldn't worry. Wrong. I dyed and dyed, made buttons, but more yarn and still worried. I also had to have enough stock to take to my next show KY Sheep & Wool then home on Monday leaving on Thursday for Great Lakes Fiber Festival so I had to dye lots of extra. No time to dye in between shows is very expensive so I had to invest a lot of money at the end off last year so I can have enough inventory for the shows.

Now that MD is over it's time for me to get my order list together for Rhinebeck (come join the facebook Rhinebeck group) because I have to dye like a fool when we return from our only show in June Estes Park Wool Market. I've got yarn arriving almost every day this week so I can begin planning what I need for the fall shows because come August I will be on the show almost every weekend from August to November. Then we begin ordering all over again. I love my job.

I'm going to leave you with a few pictures from 2011 MD Sheep & Wool

So I did it

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:43:00 +0000

I dropped superman's Harley Davidson on my foot just what I needed after a day filled with a migraine and so many other things that went wrong. My mother has already called to many times telling me to go to the emergency room but I don't think it's broken it's just swollen. Just swollen is bad right now when I have so many things to do, I don't have time for this right now. God why do things come in the way when I don't need or have time for them? Is there ever a good time for inconveniences like this no but especially not now when I have the biggest show of the year next weekend?

Yesterday was one of those days that I would love to do over. I woke up with a migraine that I tried and tried to get rid of ice, pills nothing worked so I jumped into our freezing cold pool. It was dirty because we haven't vacuumed it from last year's stuff but I needed something cold on my head to get rid of the cold. Not thinking I forgot to put on suntan lotion so I ended up with tan lines in April. So I decided I would try to dye yarn but wearing a mask and moving around with a migraine was not helping so I took the rest of the day off. When superman came home I decided that I needed to go for a bike ride that's when I hurt my ankle.

I'm supposed to to finished dyeing yarn right now plus packing the trailer tomorrow. Not so good for plans for my biggest show of the year but with my family's help. I still have to pack all 8 racks, dye a few more skeins of valencia, help superman pack the trailer, pack our clothes, get fuel plus in the middle somewhere go back to the dentist on Monday. I hate being in this position but these are the cards that I was given at this time in life so I'll keep playing it.

I have 3 shows this month, MD Sheep & Wool, KY Sheep & Wool & Great Lakes Fiber Festival so it's going to be a busy month for me. Plus princess has her junior prom, I've done all the prep work for her prom because I'm going to be in KY so superman is going to have to take lots of pictures.

Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to dyeing and my polymer clay buttons & shawl pins.

I'm back

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:55:00 +0000

to running and I'm loving it. It's been awhile since I was able to hit the road because my ankle was hurting me like heck. I ran on Sunday and tonight over 4 miles each day. I'm tired and sore but I'm going it's OK because I'm ready to go down another dress sizes. Most of my friends who read this blog didn't know me before this blog existed when I was so much smaller. My weight has given me a lot of different health issues, sleep problems, high cholesterol, bronchitis in my hip, high cholesterol and I'm so proud to say that I've taken the weight issue as a priority in my life.

Here are a few things I've been working on. All the buttons are up and now on the website. New colors of Wool, Silk & Cashmere and oh I'm now selling knitting needles.

ATL here I come

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:15:00 +0000

tomorrow because I'm leaving for Stitches South and I have to admit I'm not ready to wake up at 4:30am to begin my drive. I'm excited to go back to Atlanta for the my west indian food plus I found 2 great places where I can find a few things for my polymer clay. Plus I'm going to have to find a goodwill because I've dropped 4 sizes since I went shopping last, really embarrassing last week while I'm was running errand my pants were falling down. Great problem to have now that I'm at 35lbs lost but I hate having to buy new pants. I decided I'm not buy any shirts until I get down the size I want to be but the pants I'm realizing there is only so much a belt can hold up.

Right now my ankle is killing me and I haven't been able to run, I want to wake up every morning change into my running shows and run run run. But I did the wrong thing before running when my entire body was not ready not this time I'm going to listen to my body and stay off of it when I can. Tomorrow it's going to get a lot of problems walking back and forth as I set up my booth but that's fine I'll go back to my hotel room to ice it every night.

I've been dyeing as much as I can and decided that I needed to order more yarn for my biggest show with that in mind I have to plan according. MD Sheep & Wool is one of the most unique shows I've ever done. I do to several shows a year in so many cities and I have to say that all of them have their on rhythm, they and the attendees who attend they make the show. At MD I see so many people from different states, I get to see some wonderful seafood plus I get an extra dose of my reggae music. In 2 week make a hole because we'll be hitting the road with our big trailer.

I guess I better get to bed but before I go here are a few pictures of new colors of beaches.

What a life?

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:50:00 +0000

I have to say that my life is never boring, also not what I expected when I came to America with that one suitcase full of clothes with holes in it. I never knew that God would choose me to do so many things, that sometimes I would be so disappointed in the path of my life is taking then what seems like a minute later I wonder God why are you so good to me.

I'm not perfect nor have I ever claimed to me, I've made so many mistakes that I'm pass counting my fingers and toes to many of them to count in life and even in my business. When the mistake is either shown to me by God or when someone I respect show me how I could have done it better I always ask for forgiveness. Yet God still sees fit to bless me and for that I'm truly grateful to him. I can't wait to tell God one day how grateful I am for the valleys because when I saw why he had me go into the valleys the hills BLEW my mind.

I've been so busy that I haven't taken the time to write here on my blog in a while since my last post I've been doing lots of polymer clay buttons. I also got bunch of new polymer clay books, gadgets and new colors of clay. I don't know what it is about claying but I love love it and I use it as a downtime. I haven't made much money selling my buttons but it's like everything else it will take time and when the world recognizes what great buttons I create they'll take off.

Then there is my dyeing since I've discontinued a few yarns in order to make room for 2 other lines of yarn. I introduced Mist to you on my last post but have you seen Queen, it's based on one of the characters from our Carnival in my country. There is always a King & Queen of Carnival each year here is my version called Queen. It's a single ply superwash merino that's so soft, it's taken me a year to finally find a single ply that I like.

I will also like to tell you about my new fiber show called Charlotte Fiber Festival beginning in 2012, it's been a dream of mine for years and to bring one to the Queencity is going to be lots of fun. For the first year I'm doing my best to concentrate on the market place and getting as many customers the event. There's so much room to grow that I hope to add a great line up of classes and teachers for the following year but only time will tell how that goes. I have several people interested in teaching classes for the event that's another part of the event I'll have to see if I can make happen for 2012. I already have Knitter's Magazine & Universal Yarn plus I've given a charity close to my heart Halos of Hope an opportunity to be at the show as a dedication to my uncle who died of cancer, friends who died and friends living with cancer.

Yesterday we went to an antique show in Charlotte, NC at the same place we're going to have the Charlotte Fiber Festival there were so many vendors that my feet hurt like heck before the end for the day. I couldn't wear my best walking shoes because the outdoors spaces were on gravel. We were about to go home when I walked by one of the outdoor vendor that had an outdoor figure that brought me to my knees. It was our dog Demetrie that was killed in January I couldn't believe it, there was no way I was leaving that event without him. I still miss him everyday, he would have been seven this May so to find something to put on his grave brought tears to my eyes. At the next antique show I'm going to get a bench from the same person so our other dogs can sit on during the beautiful days when he would love play outside. To mommy's big boy you'll always be in my heart.

Until next time.

Where is time going?

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:19:00 +0000

I've been so busy with dyeing, my new assistant, princess, superman, our dogs lets not forget superman who's been busy himself. Since my last post I dyed over 1100 pounds of yarn and made a bunch of polymer clay buttons. I released my new line of hand dyed cashmere yarn called Mist that my friend and facebook pal named from a contest little did she know that Mist reminded me of The Pitch Lake in my country. The Mist on that hovering over the lake that I can't wait to show you pictures of when I return to my country in July. The cashmere is so soft that Mist was the perfect name over all the other names that came through and I'm grateful for all the people who submitted their suggested name. Melinda won a free skein of hand dyed cashmere for her help.

I'm so happy that decided to hire an assistant, for the past 6 years (lyso now dyer) it's been me. I've taken the responsibility of everything being a wife, mother, small business owner, pet owner, friend and so many other things I finally said it's time. Jenifer has been a great help I can't wait for her to see where all the work behind the screens to see what it's like for our first show.

I've been running around with princess doing open houses at several colleges and I believe it's brought us so much closer. Princess favorite college forever has been orange, she wanted us to paint her room orange when she was younger (Thank God we were wise enough not to) she also has wanted to go this particular college since she was eight. We went to that college and she decided it was not what she imagined and it was so big for her. We've got 3 more schools before we decide which one is a good fit for her, she wants to major in forensic science and it just so happens that our county opened a huge forensic lab yesterday. It's been 7 years in the making and she's already asking if she can be an intern there, I said lets get through high school. We're also working on getting items for her junior prom together, there are so many other proms going on that weekend we have to start work now setting appointments.

Life is going to get even busier as we draw closer to MD Sheep & Wool it's a show where I do a lot of damage to our check book. But such is life. I can't wait because it will also be our first show as a family for the year. I will also be returning to Stitches South in a little over 3 weeks, I thought last year would be my last year but it's a show that's so close to my home and I had so many customers wondering if I return. I can't wait to see everyone again this year and get a taste of my island food.

It's 3:15am and I've been up since getting 4 hours sleep tonight so I better to bed. Please follow me on facebook you never know what you'll learn or what I've got up my sleeves next for contest.

I know it's been forever

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:43:00 +0000

since I wrote but I've been so busy. Here's what's been going on since I wrote last.

I've been doing lot and lots of polymer clay buttons I feel like when I first started knitting. I would knit all the time and if I wasn't knitting I was thinking about knitting. I remember when I wanted to learn to knit my friend who got me interested in knitting she said call your local yarn shop they should have lessons; they didn't. So I took a friend from work and we went to learn at Michael's Craft store, I remember when they gave me the needles I was like what am I going to do with these to chop sticks. Then I got the taste of it and I haven't put it down yet. I love love love to knit then knitting turned to dyeing and you already know how much I love to dye. Now it's polymer clay and I'm hooked.

It's so bad that superman said I'm spending to much time with the clay than I am with dyeing. I tell him to BUTT OUT because I love learning new thing plus I'm using my color skills to create unique buttons. I've included a few that's up on my website for sale, I'm not as good as some of the other great clayers out there but I have to start somewhere. I always said if I got another hobby my husband would have a fit and he had but this time I'm like some where some how God wanted me to have a slow Sunday at the show last January. He wanted me to jump into this wide world and explore so that's what I'm doing.

I've also gone into another part of our business I've hired an employee. Yes me the woman who has brought the boxes from the delivery driver down to my studio, skeined 1000 pounds of yarn by myself, dyed the yarn using so many techniques that I gave up counting, twisted the skein, photographed the skein, labeled the skein.... Lord I'm getting tired just writing down these few steps because it's not that easy doing everything by yourself.

So I hired Jenifer and she's going to begin on Tuesday, one day I'll have to ask her how she begun to follow me on facebook. She's been one of the people I allowed into my circle of friends since my profile is only visible to my friends. When I decided to say enough I need help, I posted it to facebook, ravelry and twitter then next place I was going was to job service. But I needed someone to help me in order to take my business to the next level I needed help so I did it, after 6 years of trying to do it all myself I hired an assistant.

I have to admit that I'm scared, what if I fail her, what if my expectations are to high, what if we don't get along after all we'll be traveling together, what if what if. My close friends most of them business owners themselves have talked me off the ledge that it's going to be OK. That if it's not as good as fit as I thought it's OK just so that I get some help. Help so I can put some of these techniques that I've got written down on yarn these techniques that I've been dying to try for about 2 years now. I know I'm doing the right thing and that it's going to be OK. So if you see Jenifer at our booth please make her feel welcome because like I had to learn the best people in the world roam the fiber world. That also means I'll be able to write more about my crazy life, superman, princess not keeping her room clean and the 2 most adorable dogs in the world.

On a personal note I've been busy busy busy but not to busy to get off 2 medicines within the pass 3 months. As off today I've lost 28lbs WOWOOOOO can you hear the scream where you are? I've been trying for 3 years to lose 75lbs that I put on due to a medicine I was taking but it's taking a lot longer to get off and it's going to stay off. I begin physical therapy on my right ankle tomorrow to strengthen it as I begin using my bike for exercise also plus I would like to make a routine of running at least 6 miles or more on every run.

So there it is everything in a nut shell.

It's that time again

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:48:00 +0000

another night where I can't sleep or is it I'm still on CA time but it's 1:30 am there surely I would be sleep by now. Anyway

We arrived home just in time for superman to go to bed at his scheduled time, God forbid he goes to be 2 minutes later because this is a man with a schedule. Mess up his schedule and he tends to forget something at home the next day. I did go to bed about 11am but I've been up since 1am, that's 2 hours of sleep and I've been up for over 3 hours and still can't sleep. I've washed my hair, looked at all the fun polymer clay stuff I'm going to do, deleted way to many spam emails (I think my spam filter changed a few rule on me), answered emails, watched a few of my tv shows.... AND I STILL CAN'T SLEEP. But that's OK tomorrow (no today) I go to get my breathing machine that I'm going to have to sleep with every day. It's going to take some adjusting to but I'm at the point where I need it to get some sleep.

How do I sleep when I have so many things going through my head of either things to do, yarn to order, friends I need to get back to, emails to answer.... How can my mind calm down enough for me to sleep?

It's almost 2am and

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:07:00 +0000

I can't sleep. Somehow I got bed at 11pm because my sleep doctor said you have to be in bed by 12am no matter what. I had to go to a sleep doctor because I have very and I mean very irregular sleep patterns. Like I'll get 4 hours of sleep stay up for about 3 hours then on a good day catch a couple of hours of sleep during the day sometimes. Most of the time I survive the entire day on 4 hours of sleep. When I joined the military they told me all I needed was 4 hours of sleep but I'm not in the military anymore. But with all the stuff going through my mind of what I have to do or make I have a hard time staying asleep.

On to what's been going on with here at Creatively Dyed. I've been dyeing up a storm to since we leave for our first show of the year tomorrow. We're off to Stitches West and will be in booth 924, boy do we have lots of new yarn and fiber. Keep checking here for post everyday about our adventures while we drive. We're much better equipped than we were last year and I'm looking forward to smooth sailing.

Our new puppy Rex has been busy tearing up our house, he loves to check on just about everything. He loves to play with his brother and has learned which member of the family will give him more when he gives up his best puppy dog eyes. He's so cute and loves to get on our bed then under the covers playing hide and seek. Sometimes I wonder what in the world we were thinking getting a puppy but he's so cute how could we remain upset when he just ate through another cord, sock, towel, rug..... He's a cutie and loves to get kiss but hates taking a bath.

I better get off the computer and try to get some sleep before my sleep doctor somehow finds out that I haven't been sleeping more than 4 hours because he will kill me. He's one tough cookie that's what I need to get my sleep in order.

Thank you so much

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:51:00 +0000

everyone who sent me emails, pictures of their pets, stories that made me laugh. Thank you for making my day.

Wednesday will be 2 weeks since Demetrie died and our other dog Max was having a hard time. He would look out the window all day waiting for his brother to come home. We rescued a cocker spaniel 4 days ago, his name is Rex and he's a hand full. Max and him are getting along great so we're grateful that they're getting along. We still miss Demetrie every day and nothing will every replace him.

Life has been so busy since I returned from Vogue Live at the beginning of the month. I've been busy dyeing and working on my new found craft. While at a knitting retreat I had the opportunity to take a polymer clay class with a wonderful instructor. I made the first item, it's a clay shawl pin and I've become addicted. I've made several other patterns since then I've made several buttons. I'll be giving away several of the buttons to my customers at Stitches West who brings in caps for cancer.

I've finally been able to run this week because it was 72 degrees here yesterday so I took the boys out for a walk. My body aches like heck but I can't stop because it's running season.

We lost a part of our family

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 06:41:00 +0000

last week and since then there has not gone a day without tears in my eyes. In the picture from my last post you see my 2 dogs who are mommies big boy (old one Demetrie) and Maximilian the most love-able dog I’ve had. Our boys are part of the family and we treat them as such. Princess thinks I spoil them but I’ve always wanted 4 boys but didn’t have any more kids after having just one child. My mother kept telling me that all she’s getting from me is more grand dogs.Last week princess let the dogs out for a longer time than she normally does so they went further to the street.

When she couldn’t find them before school I went with her to find them to no avail. Max came home about 11am but no Demetrie. I went around driving looking for him, I think I called superman 10 times that day at work with worry. Then superman said at night you might have to understand that he might be dead. I said no my baby is outside in the cold without food overnight, I want him home where it’s safe. He didn’t come home that night but I still had to leave for NYC to attend Vogue Live the next day.

I left with a heavy heart drove to airport Charlotte while on the shuttle bus my neighbor called to tell me that he found Demetrie and he was dead. I can tell you the minute that time stood still for me, no my baby was not dead, he’ll be back tonight, no this is not happening. I know the people on the shuttle bus from long term parking thought I was crazy because I was crying so hard. I couldn’t stop. I checked my bag then called superman to say if I should still go to NYC, he said it was up to me.

I went to Vogue Live in NYC and with the help of my friend Shameka keeping me busy and out of my hotel most of the days. I made it through the days but the nights I cried. He’s buried in our back yard and I can see him every morning when I wake up that way I say Mommy loves her big boy every day. Max our baby dog is having a hard time he hasn’t been eating finally we hand feed him small amounts of food yesterday. It’s so hard as my baby looks through the window every day like he’s waiting on his brother to come back home. I never knew I could love an animal this much.

In memory of our best friend Demetrie we’re have a store wide sale for 20% off the entire store. No coupons needed and a portion of the proceeds will be given to the humane society. I’m leaving you with a picture of one of the most loving dogs in the world, the other picture is dog in the picture is Max. It was the last picture we have of Demetrie alive along with 2 from previous summers. The one with the red car is me driving him around the yard he loves to go in the car.

When the day

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:52:00 +0000

became as long and as crazy as today I wonder how in the world do I go to bed to get ready for another day.

Today started like most of my days where princess when to school and I spent a few quiet moments knitting before beginning my day. I tried my best to take pictures of 23 colors of superwash merino fiber I've been trying to find the right moment for 3 days. I tried again today and nothing the 4 photos I did get had to many shadows so I had to delete them. I was able to dye a few skeins of Voodoo 2 cut it short because I had to run a few errand and take Max (our puppy) to the vet.

My errand ran a little long but I know it was for a reason. While at the vet a lady came in with a dog who was attacked and was losing a lot of blood. It was pure chaos and we were caught in the middle. After hearing the dog crying in the back while the vet tried to stop the blood and it almost brought me to tears. I went up front asking them to if they want me to re-schedule we can come back they said no and soon the vet walked into our room. The first think I asked her is will the other dog make it and she didn't know. Our dog needed some pressure taken off an area on him but when she saw my face she took him out of the room away from me to do it.

I don't know if she saw my face, or she saw how I babied our dog wrapping him in a huge blanket because it was cold outside. I told Max I'm going to have to knit him a winter sweater. Yes I carried him into the vets office wrapped in blanket I keep in my car loving every minute of it. He was so warm and gave me lots of kisses, how in the world did I grow up without a dog as child. Our dogs are so lover-able and have changed our lives heck our entire home. It hurts when they're in pain but he's feeling much better now. He's got a shot, special food, antibiotics and medicine for the affected area.

When we came home princess said there is a water leak in the basement so I said superman will be home soon. When he came home he found water puddles all through the back yard and water every where. We had to turn off the water to the house and I called our builder to help us find the source in the morning since superman has to work.

When it rains it pours and after the rain dries up God has a big plan for our family. Bring it on God and I pray that we can find the source of the leak tomorrow.

Hold on wait

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:02:00 +0000

It can't be 20 days until Christmas was Christmas just a few months ago. This year has gone by fast and it seems that before I know it 2011 will be here.

I've been feeling a lot different lately like I can't even remember the last time I went shopping for clothes that wasn't gym clothes to run it. I did it this week I went out and brought clothes for myself. I found these great pair of Levi's that I loved so much I wore them twice this week. Which is a miracle itself that I went out twice this week dressed up, usually just wear my running clothes every where I go. I think I gave the mail man a head jerk because I've always look like just but not any more. I feel A New.

We've been putting up the Christmas Tree this year I was able to put up an entirely silver tree. The dogs have done so well with it the tree, I really was worried that our puppy wouldn't understand the lights but he's done great. He's just in the biggest jealousy mode lately I can't even pet our other dog without him wanting kisses also, they're so lover able.

Well I did it I signed up for the Friends & Fiberworks Winter Retreat since I'll be here in January and will not leave for NY until the next Thursday. It's close to home so I'll be driving home daily and if it snows superman can get me there. This is the first year for the retreat so we don't know what to expect thus time will tell. As I added my show schedule to the paper calendar (not my online calendar) I wonder how in the world I'm going to make it through the shows in the fall again but I planned better for 2011. I will not have any shows in March or July so I can increase my inventory for MD Sheep & Wool after June I'll spend 3/4 of July dyeing.

I've decided I'm going to my country (Trinidad & Tobago) this July to spend a week with my dad, princess hasn't seen him since she was 8 (I think) and I haven't been to my home land since 1999 when my grandmother died. I still miss her every day and often think of her when I need someone to lean one when this big old world gets tough. I remember one day when I tried to sleep in she came to the window in my room and said "Doo Doo darling it's time to get up the sun is hot." In my country and my family sleeping in was a no no, every Saturday we woke up to clean our house from top to bottom. There was no cartoons or laying around then most of Sunday was spent at church. As you can tell I still miss my home land.

I better get back to one of my many ufos that I'm trying to finish before the 12/31/10 tradition where I frog every ufo I have if I haven't knit on it in 6 months.

It's been an interesting

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:20:00 +0000

Christmas Knitting This is so cute I had to share it.

time at home since I got off the road. I'm not antsy in any way yet ready to go back on the road like I sometimes get after a few weeks home. Right now there is so much yarn to dye and Christmas decoration to put up I'm happy to be home. I'm also beginning to feel like soon princess will be leaving for college and the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree will be delayed until she comes home. Princess and I just returned home from getting a few items for running, it's better to buy running gear for the summer now the prices are great. We ran as a family this morning and I'm happy that we all did at least 2 miles since it's be awhile since we've run. I'm trying to do my best to run a lot this winter so when it's time to buy clothes for the summer I'm going to be a few sizes smaller.

My weight has become and issue a lot for me this year because my hip bursitis has a little more help with the pain patches. I wear the patch for 12 hours a day then 12 hours off, I do feel a little difference when it's off but I can't keep it on all day long. I keep praying that there would be a cure or a miracle from somewhere until then I'll keep icing, putting on the pain patch and more of all running. I have to take princess to the doctor who did my surgery because her knee is acting up, after soccer I don't know how she can even walk.

Tonight's picture is princess playing around in front of the camera after we lit the Christmas tree last night. Tomorrow it's back work for me, I've got about 15 new colors of Calypso already dyed but I want to wait until I have them all dyed before I post the pictures. I've done all new colors with new shades of dye I haven't used before and I know they're going to be good sellers. Plus I'm almost finished dyeing brand new colors of the softest, fluffy, high micron count fiber to die for. Now if I can find time to finish dyeing, knitting all my ufos, shopping for Christmas... I would be superwoman of the year.

End of Season 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:02:00 +0000

has come and I feel like where did the time fly. I've been home for about 2 weeks now and I feel really rested. The last 2 weeks I've been able to get some well needed rest and spend time with my family. I have adjusted my schedule for 2011 so I will not be able to spend that length of time, 8 weeks on the road again. I loved traveling, making new friends and go to cities I've never gone before but by the time I hit week 6, I was exhausted.

This year on the road has been a defining moment in my business and personal life. I've met some wonderful people and made new friends this year that I pray will last a life time. In the first picture you can see I met Debbie Macomber's the author of The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn, Mrs. Miracle to name a few. I've read a lot of her books but never thought I would meet her ever but when I saw her at Stitches East it made my day.

I also was able to have one of my wonderful sample knitter finish this beautiful vest for me. I started it but just couldn't find the time to finish it but I did finish the other vest, this is my 3rd time knitting this pattern I love it so much. I don't know what it is about Designs by Leslie patterns but I've seem to knit them more than once without getting bored. I had the ultimate find was the beautiful mannequins I found to display my models.

I begun dyeing earlier this week and I have to say that's it's great to hit the dye pots again. I created 20 colors of Sami and I have to say that I wanted to keep a bunch of the colors for myself. I also begun dyeing Calypso in a bigger dye lot that I did in the past because I was running out of colors to fast.

Well I better get back to knitting my shawl but I have to tell you about a new great book called Entrelac it has some great patterns. I keep buying more needles so I can cast on new projects without finishing my older projects but my annual tradition of frogging any project I haven't knitted in a month. So I have to knit knit knit to get them finished before 2011.

Here I am

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:02:00 +0000

on another adventure that I have no clue how its going to end. I'm in MA for the Fiber Festival of New England it's the first year for the show and it's almost a 17th hour drive from my home. As most of you know I choose the shows I vend at with a fine teeth comb so I can have time away from home and my dye pots for 8 weeks to vend at this show. I was invited to the show by one of the committee member and I was like no way am I doing a first year show but you see the way the committee member handled my NO helped me change my answer to YES.

Here I am 8 weeks on the road (I will not do this in 2011), yesterday was cold and rained most of the day. When I went to setup today I was able to drive my truck & trailer inside the building then a wonderful young lady came up to me asking if she could help me unload. Now this doesn't happen at ever show so I was grateful for any help, after hours of setting up just the way I wanted my booth to look (the pictures above is proof positive). Most vendors who passed by my booth thought that my booth looked great but I'm a little disappointed in myself because I don't have any yarn to replenish many of the racks. I thought I dyed enough yarn this summer but I was wrong thus next year I'll dye 3 times as much for my fall shows. I've eliminated 3 shows this year so for 2011 I will only be doing 13 shows, I remember when I did 24 shows in one year and wonder how in the world did I do it?

You can see my 2011 show schedule I've already ordered yarn for Stitches West 2011 which will have all the new base yarns. Right now there is no sock yarn on my website because orders we being placed but my website inventory amounts are wrong so I had to pull it all until inventory is over. I thought I would be able to take a week off with nothing to do but knit. Not I've got so much dyeing that needs to get done and I'm so disappointed that I didn't get the yarn dyed for the Indie Dyer Sock book. Nuppy Diamonds was designed for the book, I'm the dyer for November the yarn didn't come in time me to dye before I left thus I've got to dye those skeins first when I arrive home. The do an entire inventory of my website, order more patterns, plus order yarn and lets not even talk about all the fiber I don't have. I've never been this low on fiber since I started dyeing it 4 years ago, I've got new fiber blends being blended and I'm praying they come soon.

Until then I'm looking forward to what tomorrow brings, I'll let you know how the show goes.

Back in time

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:03:00 +0000

but the past looks nothing like my present. But let me back up.

Since my last post I've done so much that I had to quit counting. This week makes it my 8th week on the road and I know I not do 8 weeks on the road again. I've cut down my shows to 13 shows for the entire year, I will no longer be doing all 4 stitches events only 2. I've also cut out another 4 fiber shows because I need more time to dye for bigger shows like MD & NY. Thus when I return home I will begin dyeing for Stitches West and for MD Sheep & Wool. I know I'll be itching to go back on the road but I'll remember that I need to get ahead of my dyeing so I'm not scrambling as time gets closer to the big events.

I went in to Manhattan & Brooklyn NY yesterday and I have to say I was a little disappointed. First I went into Brooklyn to where my mother used to live after I left for the military, all I wanted a few bags of my native foods. I had to work much further than I had to in the past to find a store still carrying my foods, then I went to the Trinidadian Roti shop where the roties were mouth watering. The roti skin SUCKED and after that begun more and more disappointments during the day. I then went down to the place where I got some of the best Stone Love cds and the entire store closed down so it was back to the train station. Off to another place I used to love in Brooklyn, guess what the entire mall that was gone, it was one of my favorite places to go with my friends after school.Gone. I was so disappointed I didn't even stop for the world famous Juniors cheesecake or their barbecue chicken that's to dye for.

Then it was off to Manhattan where I was determined to find a place that still existed when I lived in the city. I figured that there was no way this place would be gone, The Empire State building and yes it was still there busy as usual. I was so happy finally I will be going up to the observatory, you see I used to work in the ESB as my first job after I graduated from high school before I left for the military. For 6 months I would wake up at 2am to make it Manhattan by 5am to begin making coffee & baked good for our 6am opening time. I never took the time to go upstairs so here I am now many years later using it as a land mark with a breath taking view of the city. I've posted a few pictures here but you can see more pictures from above.

Then it was off to one of my favorite places in the world to shop. Macys on 34th Street close to Madison Square Gardens I was not disappointed there also. I often tell princess that its the biggest Macys in world never did I know that its also the largest store in the world. I spent about 2 hours looking buying just enough that I could carry since I still had to get back CT on the train. Right outside Macys on Broadway they permanently closed off the roads there is art and lots of entertainment. I know why I constantly read I Love NY.

The photos tonight is from Stitches East with Debbie Macomber and photos from the Empire State Building. I'm hoping to visit a museum today but I'm so tired all I want to do is sleep.

The best revenue is

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:13:00 +0000

to live better that was the phase one of my friends told me and it's stuck in my head. When I begin get down about some of the people who seem to what to see me fail I remember those words. Plus I moved on I have so many other things in my life that I can't stay stuck in one place at any time.

Last weekend at Rhinebeck NY was an absolute blast. I got so many hugs, took a ton of pictures and most of all had lots of fun. I did manage to get out to shop for a little while on Sunday, I got a pair of clogs lined with alpaca. I got my festival shirts, bags with the oxford logo plus I got the new set of addi turbo interchangeable needles. Yes I needed another set of needles since I have so many ufo's that I need to finish the only solution was to buy more needles. Plus I got the new Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks! the book is great, I have so many patterns in there that I want to knit it's going to take me all winter to finish them all thus the new set of needles.

We sold quite a bit of yarn and fiber this last weekend so I came home and immediately placed an order for more yarn BUT you guessed it the yarn I want will not be here on time. So here I am scrambling, running around trying to find out if they can spin any of my bases then overnight the shipment to me. I think I might get it on Friday so I'll be dyeing all Friday night after I return from Saff, dye more on Saturday and Sunday then let them dry on Monday while we re-pack the trailer. I will be on the road 8 out of 9 weeks so when I arrive home from my last show I'm going to take about 1-2 weeks off with little outside contact finishing at least one ufo, work on new base yarn and fiber for 2011 and finally get through the 18 gallon canister of mail I've been ignoring.

I'm leaving for my next show on Thursday to set up for Saff and the show runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Then re-pack the trailer on Monday then leave for Stitches East on Tuesday for 2 weeks away from home. Just writing this makes me dizzy but I have to do what I have to do what I have to do to have money to pay bills and buy food until our next show in February.

Tonight's photos are of my friend Julie & I. Julie is a very special friend to me and I love her granddaughter who's name is Sami. Her smile alone is enough to brighten my day. The next photo is my friend Susan of Susan's Fiber Shop with her Teeswater Sheep. Then it's a picture of me in the garden outside one of buildings at Rhinebeck, the next photo is designer Ysolda she's the designer behind the popular pattern Ishbel. The next picture is what all fall fiber festivals should be about kids playing in the leaves, I could have watched them all day.

How blessed I am

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:49:00 +0000

has been put to the test this week. You see there are some people on Ravelry who have nothing else to do with their life that try to make others unhappy. It's hard for me to remain unhappy at a situation because I have the worlds best friends ever. All I had to do was post on facebook about someone being nasty to me and they jumped in to help me move beyond the situation. I got emails, pms and lots of love. It's so invisible I don't want to take up any more time needed to move on with my life.

Then I come to Rhinebeck this weekend and I'm like is anyone going to like my hand dyes since I stepped out of zone. I decided to do a few colors of the trees that we see every year when we've come to Rhinebeck. We're going in early to put our new colors of every yarn then it's time to pack up and come home in time for Saff next weekend. It's close enough home so I don't have to stay into a hotel.

I've brought some of the greatest books and I'm Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting, Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns
Goals! How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible , Knitting it Old School: 43 Vintage-Inspired Patterns, . Vogue Knitting Stitchionary , Design Your Own Knits in 5 Easy Steps, Super Stitches Knitting: Knitting Essentials Plus a Dictionary of More Than 300 Stitch Patterns, The Stitch Collection: A Box of Portable Guides to Knit Stitches....

Thank you for caring

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:13:00 +0000

and the love you have shown me. My eye is doing much better and I think I can make it through another day. Life since I've returned home is way way much relaxed. I've been running around doing errands like getting my allergy shot (new formula that's really strong), taking princess to get her flu shot and tonight I finally made it to the grocery. We went to Public grocery store for a few items and left with 3 plastic bags that cost us $54. I was upset because if I went to Aldi I know that $54 would have gone a long way. The last time I went to the grocery was I think August my family has had to do a lot of things for themselves since I've been on the road for 4 weekends.

Today was my first Saturday off since the beginning of September and I have to admit it feels good. Last night we tried to watch a movie together and we all were falling asleep before the end, I guess waking up at 6am and working like crazy all day is catching up with us.

Since I came home I've been dyeing yarn like crazy plus we getting as many orders for patterns in and ready to go when we pack the trailer on Sunday. We have to re-pack every rack then re-pack every canister. We also went shopping for warmer clothes for next weekend, for the past 2 years I've froze my tail off and it looks like today is going to be just as bad. We're going to leave early so I can go pick up my suitcase at the hotel where I left it in VA. I can't believe that I left my huge suitcase that weights according to my family it weights 100 pounds at the hotel.

I better get back to work because I have lot of yarn left to dye and dry before we leave.

How much can one person

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:20:00 +0000

take without totally saying enough God, I think you've give me more than I can bear, please stop? Tonight's pictures are FO from several of my customers. But let me back up.

After being the mother who has had to say enough to many times to a teenager who thinks she can be talk back to me. I wanted her to come with me to the show last weekend but when I told her she was coming with me she pitched a fit and to keep my sanity I said I would go alone. I really needed her with all the stuff that happened last weekend and next time I'm not taking no for an answer.

Let me tell you about my weekend and I know some people might say what else can she get in next. Well here it is; I woke up at 5:30am on Friday and was out of the house by 6am. My drive was none eventful for the 6 hours on the road then I got to fair ground. I drove through the gate I've driving through for 4 years now then I stopped close to my tent so I can back in my trailer to the open entrance and my truck would not move. You guessed it, I didn't realize that I was in a puddle of water since it had be raining there for days. Nothing worked, cardboard under the wheels, being pushed by 4 people, rocks under the wheel....

I decided to leave the truck and trailer where it was to empty the trailer while I wait for another truck to pull me out. Then my tool box which is on wheels got stuck so I gave up trying to unload the trailer. Then another vendor had strong rope to pull me out, yeah I can go on with the day. The grass was wet and while I was pushing one of the racks one of my wheels went down in the mud stopping the rack and one of the pegs went into my right eye. It hurt like heck because the pegs are solid steel and I thought I lost my eye. Instead my eye area became swollen.

With my eye still hurting I continued unloading my trailer then I heard a loud crack. One of the wheels on my heaviest rack broke that was it enough. I got help to move rack to my booth and I gave up, Friday was just not one of those days for me. I said I've had enough issues for one day I'll finish setting up my booth on Saturday morning so I went to my hotel where I thought nothing else could go wrong. Well it did the entire contents of my cooler spilled on the front foyer of the hotel, it was only water since all the ice already melted. A short time later I was in my room, thinking I need something to eat. My hotel was next to Ihop so I went for lunch but it was 4pm, I ordered x and the waitress brought y, the wrong item.

Saturday will be a much better day and it was. Sunday was another great day and I tried to make it home by 1am since for the past 3 years but I just couldn't do it. I was so tired and it was raining so I checked into a hotel. I'm home now then princess ask me where is your suitcase? You guessed it I left it at the hotel from last night.

Did you hear the enough part God?

I've been missing in action

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

but for a good reason, this weekend will be my 4th weekend on the road in one month. I'm tired but like my friend told me today that she sees a glow or a smile come over my work when I talk about my friends in the fiber world. That I love what I do and even though I'm not the richest dyer out there in the world but I love what I do. I love meeting new people, I love hugging friends I've met in the past or the smiles of our future fiber enthusiasts on the faces off children at the festivals.

I'm so blessed sometimes I wonder why God had to put me through a few things of the past to get me where I am today. One person told me so I can appreciate what I have now yet I still say God why. I'm grateful that I'm able to do the job that I have right now and I appreciate every day that God gave me the talent I have. When I think of a hank of yarn I think of a painters wall where I use each hank as my wall. Now up to what I've been up to.

Since the beginning of September I've been to WI, OH, VA and this weekend I'm going back to VA. I love Fall Fiber Festival for all the history the state has to offer and for the wonderful friends I have who live there. I've Montpelier (James Madison's home) and Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) and this time I intend on visiting Ash Lawn-Highland (James Monroe's home). I love history and see where our ancestors got ideas or the lack of technology in the homes or what they would think of our lives today.

I'm off since I still have lots of work to do tonight before I go to bed. In the mean time tonight's photos of new colors of shawl sticks and panyard (a new Silk & Wool blend) plus I want to knit at least one row before I go to sleep.

It's been forever

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:24:00 +0000

and a day since I wrote my thoughts here on my blog. So here it is; what I've been up to. Since my last post I've been to WI and back, I returned from OH today and all I've done is sleep. Driving is not very hard but it wears me out sometimes so I usually have to spend the good part of a day sleeping to get my strength back. The sadist thing I saw last night minutes before I passed by the van before hit a deer. When I passed by part of the deer was on the hood on the van and the rest of the deer was in the center lane, all I could think of was Bambi. Driving with a trailer you have to be aware of your soundings at all times so when there's an obstruction and you have to make a quick decision to change it's a matter of accident or not.

Doing a show every weekend for 5 weekends straight is going to catch up with me soon. I've been leaving home on Thursday setting up on Friday then returning home on Monday then doing over again the next week. I get to see my family maybe about 2 days a week but they understand and look forward to the gifts I bring back for them, even the dogs get a little present. I don't have much time to dye but I squeeze in a few hours every time I'm home.

These pictures are Finished Objects that my customers took the time to bring for me to see and of course I had to take a picture. I'm off to sleep because I'm tired.

One the road again

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:28:00 +0000

I'm so excited to get on the road again. That's true but I will miss my family and my dogs but I have to do whatever I have to do to put food on the table for my family.

Wisconsin here I come and I've got long sleeve shirts. The shirts and shoes issue because I brought these beautiful new sandals to wear this weekend but their temperature is in the 60s & 70s. We're still in the 80s & 90s so I can't wear what I've called the perfect shoe. Oh well I'm excited to see my friends again, we're even having a Ravelry after party I don't know how long I'll stay since I'll have to break down the next day.

Not much has been going on around here besides me dyeing a new base yarn that I need to tweak a little before I post pictures of the line. I got a bunch of new shawl pins, I've got another new base that I'm working on a sample right now for and can I just say beautiful. Oh and then there is my new design, yes me and I've already sold the pattern it's called Furbelow. Princess is my model and all I could say when I saw the pictures was my baby has grown up.

She's energetic and had her own poses she wanted to do poses she wanted to do. Superman is in charge when the boys begin coming around because if it was up to me I would keep her looked in her room until she's 30. I know she's going to make her decisions as she gets old and I'm going to see her grow up even more. I'm doing another design and I have no clue when I'm going to release it. I've got a few items going right now so only time will tell.

Oh I wanted to tell you that I signed up to be a vendor at Vogue Live in NYC in January. I know I'm going to freeze my behind off and probably get upset with all the traffic driving into the city with my trailer. Since I signed up the show I will not be able to take a break after my last show in November and I'll be gone every weekend beginning tomorrow until November. I've got 1 new show I haven't done before Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival else I'll get to see some of my pals and have fun.

Yeah I'll get to run tonight since a few antibiotic helped my cold. I'm excited because I haven't run in a week look for pictures soon from WI.

We made it home safely

noreply@blogger.com (Creatively Dyed) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:02:00 +0000

and I'm ready to hit the road again. We had a great time at Stitches Midwest then it was time to leave. We were smarter this year and left before 8am traffic in Chicago, last year we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours. Since our return I haven't done much dyeing but I decided that for the next year I want to begin designing my own line of patterns. Let me tell you that I gave extra extra props to every one who has ever designed a pattern.

Here's the thing all I want to design is simple scarf then a move onto a shawl or even one day creating a garment. All I can say is it's going to be a long long time before I can create a garment. I started with a stitch pattern from my hundreds of stitch pattern books and I thought I have brought over the years. Finally I post on Twitter that I was going to give up and you guessed it my friends jumped in and gave me the support I needed to give it one more chance. Currently I'm knitting a lace scarf and I'm proud to say that I finished an entire repeat Yeah!!!! miracles still happen.

Tonight's picture is one of my new Finished Objects knitted for me by one of my fiber friends Cheryl. She did such a great job that I sold out of patterns for the jacket at Stitches Midwest. Can I tell you something, when I dyed these colors I did it so would match the color of my countries flag. I love love love the jacket, I'm been so blessed to have wonderful friends.

The other picture is the water in my country with my dad, niece and nephew last weekend at the beach in Trinidad. That water looks so inviting, I'm hoping to go home to my homeland soon because it's been since 1999 when my grandmother died since I went home. I've got so many cousins I haven't met, I have a huge family back home and it's about time I go home. I pray that we can make the trip within the next year.

Today was a quiet day for me but I have to get back to work soon. I'm hoping to get a photo shot at a few historic places this weekend since princess has nothing on her schedule. I might also get the opportunity to see baby Jordon, she's one of our friends baby who was born in July and I made her a blanket. I can't wait.