Not too long ago, Jodi Green put some stuff up on her etsy site (feel free to check it out and buy stuff… I will be here waiting when you get back)
Specifically, this:

I bought it right away.

And this:

Snatched that up too! A recycled paper small notebook. The attention to detail in the craftsmanship is amazing.
But when they came they came with these:

recycled-paper buttons for me and the cowboy. I love the dumbbell one! That was a sweet surprise.

But the topping on the cake are these:

2 (yes two!) original prints from Jodi signed and numbered. I am blown away.

See… you may know her for this, or this, or some of her other published knit designs… but she is an incredible artist. Incredibly working her way to her MFA degree. Go sister… you are at the finish line!
I am so grateful, friend. It means so much to me to have your work.

Now.. I have been knitting!

I turned this:

into this:

Little toe-up jay jay action in the Sweet Baby Jane colorway from my last update. The yarn is superwash merino/bamboo/nylon and is part of my new Coordinates line (matching heel toe yarn) The colorway is similar to English Roses… with less green variation.

I love them. The Jaywalker pattern is an old friend. I love the ease at which they knit.

Now, peanut gallery, is that enough pictures for you?

It’s late. And, I am tired. That sleepy over-tired feeling that you have when your mind can not shut off but your body is dead-dog tired.

The past few days have been interesting, to say the least, and not so much in a great way. There is a lot of yarn to be dyed, house to be cleaned, 2 holidays this week for us,feelings to be sorted, and wounds to be licked.
But, there is one really great thing that I was reminded of. I have the best friends that a girl can ever wish for. I have the best little family a girl can wish for. And, in an insane way, I have the best job a girl can wish for.

So to D. and the cowboy (who, BTW, must sense that mommy is a tad-bit fried and is REALLY improving and working hard on the keeping his hands to himself thing)and to my friends, I say thanks. Thanks for accepting me for where I am at and loving my nutty self. You really are the things that matter most to me in this life (well… there is yarn too… but that is another love…*sigh*…)

I have some amazingly talented friends. Among them is my friend Bubsy who painted this:

Yes. That is a 23 year-old Mama. It was my first year in Baltimore. I was restless and filled with the angst that a 23 year-old has when they want to do great things and have no idea as to how to do them.

I had went to art school already. I had lived (briefly) in Santa Fe. I had moved so many times looking for “it” that finally I threw a virtual dart at a map and had wound up in Baltimore. (If I had not thrown the virtual dart and made that decision I would have ended up in Oakland by way of the job offer I got the very next day.)

I had made up my mind. The first AmeriCorps program that accepted me would get me. By God I am grateful that it was Baltimore.

I found some direction and found my network. I adopted Baltimore as my home. I switched my alliances to the local sports teams (much to the chagrin of my dad and family). I learned to pick a blue crab.

I was still trying to find my way artistically. I can draw. I am not a great painter, but I do get color. Color is my strong suit. I can weld and sculpt from almost any material I find… but it was not coming together. I hung out with my artist friends. I lived in Gertrude Stein’s old house with an activist, a filmmaker, and a dancer (all women.. veddy cool.) We all struggled in that way the the 20 something year-olds do. We all were trying to find “it”. The elusive soul-filling medium that would make us great.

I Was a barista. I met my D. I fell in love, grew up a little, traveled more extensively, and got married. I worked as a special educator. All the while keeping my eye out for that thing.

I had my cowboy. The nature of what artist materials I could have in my home changed dramatically. The sewing machine, pins, paints, etc. were replaced by big primary plastic exer-saucers and play yards. I needed the portable project.

I learned to knit for the second time with my girl G. She has been a constant source of creativity and friendship for 10 years. I kept knitting. I learned about “good yarn” vs. Red Heart. I kept knitting. I knit my first socks and was hooked. I wanted to know everything about fiber. My soul was filling with creative juices. I felt that I found “it”.

I taught myself to dye yarn and found myself in this place. The place of being an indie artist that produces little watercolors for the feet. Strange that dye would become my medium.

I am in this great place because of all of you. I have an actual studio space to work in because of you. I feel that my actual and virtual “village” is such an amazing network of creative human beings. Human in the best sense of being human. We care. We share our joys and our sorrows. We support one another and go from being “imaginary” friends to real friends via the power of the internet and the gatherings at the fiber festivals.

I thought it would be fitting for my final post in 2006 to be one of gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there. I would never have actualized my dreams as an artist without each and every one of you. Thank you.

Here’s to hoping that peace finds us all in 2007. Health and happiness to us all.

Namaste’.

Ever tell you I am a BIG fan of….

And…. here are the lyrics to one of his songs……

I love everybody
Especially you
I love everybody
Especially you
So if you feel lonesome
Remember it’s true
I love everybody
Especially you

Well…. I have definatley felt the love this birthday week! You all have been so kind with your comments and emails…. I am a little overwhelmed!

My D and my cowboy made a big fuss of mommy on the special day!I got hugs and kisses and cake and this:

It is the PERFECT bag! It has a cocoon for Phyllis, my laptop, and room for my knitting. My D bought me a new briefcase that had room for my knitting. I love that man!

My COCO Swap partner, DMac, sent me this amazing haul.

A HUGE box of godiva truffles (my favorite!), Apple laine sock yarn in a Godiva colorway, a coco scented candle, and a bag of the yummiest coco filled biscuts ever! That bag is empty I will have you know! Thank you friend!
My friend Michelle sent me these beauties:

8 beautiful ounces of crown mountain farms fiber, sweet sheep self stripe, and a gorgeous hank of handspun. Thansk sister!

And my October Birthday Swap partner, Marion, outdid herself!

There is fiber…. there is yarn… coffee… CHOCOLATE!…. a glass sheep ornament…..addi bamboo needles… a colorwork thimble…beautiful red yarn… and two very amazing Estonian mitten pattern books that gives the history if each motif…. AMAZING!

I am using this:

to make these:

I went out the day after I opened the box and got the yarn to start the socks. I love them! Thanks so much! Lolly is dying for a copy of those books….. they are so amazing.

That’s not all folks! Last night my very dear friend CAm threw me a bithday party! Yup…. but mama style… it was a party with a twist… a birthday party/yarn swap. CAN NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT! There was bubbly(ummmm…LOTS for some of us!), great food… and yarn. Oh my!

Here are the ‘weens…. Jolene and Coleen. The cowboy says it JOWEEN and COWEEN…

Joleen knit me some BEAUTIFUL hand knit socks and Coleen knit me a Shedir hat in a gorgeous blue cotton tweed. Love you friends!

Look…. it is Lolly and Jen!

Look…it’s me and my Midge! I think this may be preview of what is to come on the seasocks cruise….Patricia watch out!

My girl, Amie, made this for me….

IT’S A YARN CAKE!!! It was so yummy… and beautiful. Thanks friend!

My friend Ginga participated in the merriment. It was our 10th year of celbrating birthdays together. I love her very ,very much and am so glad that she is my friend!

CAm…. she COOKED for me…. and she doesn’t just cook for anyone. She is an amazing friend and I am so lucky to have her. She is a constant… and has redefined herself in ways to remain close friends with me… and for that I am ever grateful.

Everyone was over-generous in their gift giving:

Thanks friends! I love each and every one of you! This birthday has been amazing… but the BEST gift has been my family and friends….sigh….