Inspiration | Making Time

As I look back through the last few months of blog posts, it seems as though I haven't had a lot to say, but it's actually quite the opposite. Unfortunately, the winter months are extra busy for me because that's when we (knitters) knit (a lot), so that means that things are chaotic at the shop as I play the endless game of catch-up to avoid ending up buried in what I refer to as my "box fort" of deliveries and keep up on shop/class samples. I've been trying hard to find time to make time for the things that make me slow down and feel less frantic, so I've been trying to cook, knit (shocking, right?), sew, spin a little and read more.

Sometimes, it happens...

This basket of loveliness came home with me last weekend because I needed some inspiration to make that creative time for myself and it did the trick - it was also just really pretty to look at. Art Gallery Fabrics is a recent addition at Firefly Fibers and this cotton has several plans in its future (more to come on that soon) and the yarn is going to be swatched for potential projects (more to come on those soon, too).This is some secret knitting for the next Knitalong and I've really been enjoying it - other than the knitting in secret part because I really would prefer to share. Really, I don't like keeping secrets. 

I'm sneaking in a bit of secret knitting before heading to @fireflyfibers for the day. #secretknitting #wishicouldsharebuticant #knittersofinstagram #igknitters #fireflyfibers

I've also been spending more time in the kitchen... If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you're probably aware that I cook a lot and may have noticed that my diet has changed over the last few months. Last summer, I spent a fair amount of time not feeling well and missed time with family and simply enjoying life because of it. We're still working on a diagnosis, but I'm now eating gluten free and feeling much better.

This change has been a lot of work and has meant that I'm spending even more time in the kitchen because eating out is no longer a simple task, thankfully I LOVE cooking and my family has been so very supportive! I'm lucky to have wonderful friends that have shared some great resources and tips with me and, because of them, I've added some great cookbooks to my collection:

Sometimes a few new cookbooks are a well-deserved treat. #makingourselves #glutenfree #againstallgrain #homecooking #paleoThese 3 are my newest additions and I'll share more on these and a couple of my other faves soon. Rest assured that my new cookbooks are getting a good workout.

And of course, we need an update on these guys...

The brothers hanging out... #gsd #husky #rescue #humanesociety #adopted #dogslife #dogsofinstagram

Logan and Rollo are both doing well and Rollo is settling in nicely after 6 months with our family. We still have moments, but those moments could be adjusting or just the nature of a husky. Lol!

Hubby is in Arizona for the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training - lucky - and the weather is gorgeous there. This is what we've woken up to twice this week in Wisconsin and it's not quite the same, but spring will come. I'm trying to remain optimistic.

Good morning from snowy Wisconsin! The boys are excited about the weather, I'm ready for spring. #winter #isitoveryet #snow #gsd #pawprint #dogsofinstagramI woke up this morning and opened my birthday package from my dear cousin - it's always a little like Christmas when her gifts arrive. This year, she kindly tucked in this photo that she found when cleaning out my grandparent's house. Talk about making a lady feel old. LOL! So... here I am, 39 years ago...

IMG_20150327_073858

To celebrate, I wound yarn for Very Shannon's Gilmore Girls Knit Along and this project will be for me! *squee* It's Friday morning Open Knitting and the shop is buzzing with the chatter of knitters, so I've successfully negotiated with the "boss" and I'm off to cast on!

Cheers!

Simple Knits | Spring Giveaway

Spring and warm weather are right around the corner, so I think it's time to celebrate with a wee giveaway for our Simple Knits Knitalong!

SimpleKnitsKAL

We have two prizes for our Simple Knits Knitalong'ers from Firefly Fibers...  are you ready?

The first prize is one of my absolute favorites, a Milk & Honey lotion bar!

Milk Honey 1

These lotion bars are perfect for getting your hands into (or keeping them in) shape for knitting after a long winter and perfectly soothing after digging in the the dirt. The limited edition heart bar is not only a special shape, but it's also a special scent... Lavender+Rose+Geranium!

The second prize is a new - and super popular - arrival at the shop... Stripey Fine by Spud & Chloe! Spud & Chloe hit it out of the park with their new 'stripey' version that mixes up delicious ice cream colors of Fine and we've got a skein of the Mint Chip colorway up for grabs!

Mint Chip2

I LOVE this yarn and can't wait to find time to knit with it myself, but with my current knitting list, the winner of this skein will most likely get to test drive it before me. *wink*

So, how do you enter to win? It's simple! Our KAL is being hosted in the Firefly Fibers Ravelry Group, so just join our Ravelry group, knit up that month's Simple Knits project and post an FO photo in our Simple Knits thread! You can join whenever and knit whatever projects you like - it's all about having fun and knitting a few small projects for yourself or others throughout the year. 

The winners for the spring giveaway will be randomly selected from the FO pics in our Ravelry thread once our March project wraps up, so you can still participate (and be entered to win) through the end of March.  

This month's project is the Clayoquot Toque from Tin Can Knits and I'll be casting mine on this weekend! I've already knit 2 for the shop, but I know there is at least 1 more on the horizon for me. It's a fairly speedy knit and it probably takes me more time to decide on colors.

Clayoquot Toque by Tin Can Knits

The pattern is free here on Ravelry and it's great for stashbusting or you can get started with fresh yarn and start a collection of colors to mix and match - the shop favorites have been Kenzie, Felted Tweed DK and Acadia. The pattern is sized from baby to big and with the non-gender-specific motif, you can make one for everyone in the family!

Many thanks to everyone that's been participating! I hope to see a few new faces in the shop and on Ravelry as the year progresses. Also, thank you so much for the lovely feedback that you've been providing, it's been so much fun knitting along with you and sharing projects!

Here's to more Simple Knits in 2015!

Cheers!