Mammoth Lakes, CA - Scenery

I'm currently visiting Mammoth Lakes, CA for my Auntie Ruthie's memorial service. The scenery here is stunning.

A Million Emotions in a Single Minute

I haven't posted a blog here in sometime because I've spent a lot of time on my other blog. I debated whether to post anything at all since I'm going to share something quite personal. I've, obviously, made the decision that sharing this is important for a multitude of reasons.

I have an event coming up that I have to work. This is an annual event and I typically don't buy anything new. I rummage through my closet and try to piece together something that I already own. Afterall, no one is spending anytime looking at me. I just work the event. I should say that this event is cocktail attire. I've worn anything from a suit to a dress.

If you've been following my blog, you know that I had weight loss surgery last October. I don't speak much about it anymore since I've consistently lost weight, but it has been slowly. I don't have any words of wisdom to share about my experience since I pretty much eat like a normal person, just a lot less. Additionally, I've had approximately four fills and they've all gone about the same as I described in this blog except they don't really hurt and I've gone to the last two by myself. Of course, a staff person has to hold my hand and talk me through it. I have 6.5ccs in my band and I'm nearly at the "sweet spot" that they describe as being the perfect opening. I've lost approximately 45 pounds. I feel great. This is a very, very slow process - but, I'm still losing.

I had a fill last Thursday. Yesterday, I headed to Macy's to see if I couldn't find a shrug for the size 16 dress that I have that now fits me... um... from maybe six years ago? It's one of those little black dresses that never goes out of style and it's made by Jones New York, which seems to be a little on the timeless side. I was excited this dress fit, but not surprised since that designer seems to be cut a bit larger.

Once at Macy's, I took the escalator to the third floor where the plus size section is. I'm used to going to the third floor; it's what I know. I haven't needed to buy clothing in a long time. I have a lot of clothing, in an array of sizes and a friend gave me some clothing as well. No shopping for me. I started to peruse the aisles, trying to find a shrug (or jacket) for this dress and nothing. Everything was looking big to me. I don't know why it hadn't before. Even the smaller sizes. I decided to push my luck and head to the second floor. A floor I had never been on, except for shoes.

They had a Jones New York section and since I knew that I could get into my dress - I decided to try on a sweater and a suit jacket. The sweater was cute, but not right for the dress. The jacket fit, but was $200. I thought, well if there is a pair of pants for this suit jacket, perhaps it's a sign. I found the coordinating pants in a size 16 (not a plus size 16, a regular 16) and returned to the dressing room. Tried them on and they fit. That's when I felt a million emotions in a single minute.

I started to cry in the dressing room on the second floor at Macy's. I was on the second floor, trying on something that fit. Was I now only going to shop on the second floor? Should I buy this, what if I gain weight and it doesn't fit? It's expensive, but it fits! All of the shame that I had been feeling about my size started to surface too - I felt a mixture of relief, but of intense fear. Do I look good? What if I still look big and people are thinking, "that girl is fat". More crying. I sat down for a bit and tried to soak in the situation. I tried to have the moment and let it pass. I know that a lot of plus size girls that lose weight have described a sort of comfort that came with being rounder and once they lose some weight, they feel exposed. I felt that too. I felt embarrassed to be the largest girl on the 2nd floor at Macy's, but also excited to be on the second floor!!! I finally calmed down and walked out of the dressing room thinking, "my husband will kill me if I spend $300" - let's see what else might fit and be less money.

I went over to suits to see what jackets I might be able to find. I pulled about 6 suits in size 16 and then I saw this beautiful 2-piece outfit. It had a very structured white wrap shirt with a pair of black pants. I went into the dressing room and started to try the various clothing on. Some of it fit better than others, but nothing was talking to me like that suit, until I tried on the pants and the wrap shirt. The pants were biggish on me (in a correct way for the style) and the shirt was tailored and tapered perfectly. I lost it again. I realized that this outfit needed to come home with me. I bought it and a shrug (for that little black dress) and headed out to the car. I lost it a little more.

I did what every girl does and called my Mom. Speaking to her, I realized that most of what I was feeling was fear and conditioning. It is very exciting, but I still want to move forward in my journey. I don't feel like I'm done yet. I feel like I've just started and that there ARE a million more emotions to feel about this process.

2 Blogs ARE More Fun!!!

I just wanted to mention that I've started a new blog for those of you interested in fiber-related things. I felt like I had enough stuff to keep two separate blogs... so this one is for non-related fiber things and fibergalinphx will be for my fibery stuff.

Thanks to those of you that read my blog, it makes me feel interesting.

3rd Annual Old Friends, New Memories

The 3rd annual Old Friends, New Memories party took place on February 13, 2010.

It was great to see everyone - some I've seen more recently than others. The Old Friends, New Memories party was Leslie and Monica's brain child a few years back. A good way for people to observe the Valentine's Day weekend with some of the folks that they care about the most and have been in their life for a good long time. I've known these folks since the early 90's - over 15+ years!

Here's some of my favorite photos from the night:

Leslie & Karen

Ryan & Danny

Dan and his girlfriend (who was lovely, but whose name escapes me at the moment)

I love this series of photos of Dain and Sherry-

Sara & Yanko

Karen & Danny

John was giving such "good face" that night

Sheldon & Sarah

I'm surprised that I didn't manage to get pictures of a few other peeps... thanks to Renee, Ed, Heather, Patrick, Sammy, the one who shall not be named, Ben and Nick for attending too! I had a blast and love all of you and I didn't even get upset when (the next day) when my husband and I didn't observe Valentine's Day. You made my weekend!

Help me win!!!

It's my first SAL (spin-a-long) and I really want to win!!! You may recall my last blog that described my Fairy Candy yarn. It's time to vote and I need your help to win! Please vote! My yarn is #8. Voting is open until 2/11. Thanks all!

Fairy Candy for an SAL

It's hard to believe that fiber has become an integral part of who I am only within the last year. I can't imagine myself not playing with yarn in some form or fashion- whether it's spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing, etc.

I recently participated in my very first SAL (spin along) and it was a ton of fun. I was a little intimidated, initially, since I'm a newer spinner and people (I don't know) were going to be judging my yarn.

I purchased the fiber from Fluffington Farms on Etsy. When it arrived, I knew it was far different than anything I had ever spun and that was exciting. A mixture of ribbon ends, glittery tinsel, bamboo, silk, mohair, thread and a whole lot of other stuff - I wasn't sure how to tackle the endeavor. I asked around and a friend suggested that I hand card it into some lovely pink Pagewood Farms BFL that I had bought from TYF.


I spun it up on my Lendrum (my spinning wheel) into a thick and thin single.


Then I took a Regia sock yarn (a commercial yarn) and used it as a core to make coiled yarn on the Country Spinner wheel at TYF. The Country Spinner is a wheel predominantly used to make thicker yarn.




I'm calling the yarn "Fairy Candy". I ended up with 56 yards and still have more fiber to make more, if I choose. Yum!

LOOMing Possibilities

My Mother would be mortified over what I'm about to do. I'm about to show you pictures of a room that finally knows what it wants to be and is a bit of a mess. These are the before pictures and I see endless possibilities and potential for this space.

This, my dear readers, is a spare bedroom that never had a purpose. At one time, my father stayed in this room for a few months. Another time, it served a roommate well. It was the "harp" room for several months. Now... now... it's going to be my fiber sanctuary. Here are some before shots.


Note the bookshelf in the next picture. My Dad made it out of scrap and it's been in my bedroom since 1994.


This is my stash on top of a box that my brother made to contain a wedding gift. I figured it made an ok surface for plastic bins.


I plan to paint the room, get some new furniture and make it a really special place. I can't wait to blog about the "after", but it might be a while. My Dad is helping and I am grateful to him.

Did you notice something LOOMing in all of these pictures?


Yes! It is my new loom. Her name is MacSally and she is a Macomber 24" wide, 10 treadle, 8 harness loom. She is also affectionately known as a "baby mac". How is it that I came upon this wonder?

Sam and I took a rigid heddle weaving class at TYF and had a wonderfully good time. I've been keeping my eyes open for a rigid heddle loom only to purchase it if it was a "really good deal". Otherwise, I knew I'd have to wait to buy a new one. Buying a new rigid heddle loom is not a bad thing, they are a good price and they hold their value. I was wandering around craigslist one night and happened to come across a posting for my new girl. I don't know a thing about floor looms. Was it a good deal? Could I learn to weave on it? Did I want to weave? All signs pointed to "yes" with the help of my fiber-enabling friend Debi. This was the deal of the century and I just couldn't pass it up.

So, the morning of New Year's Day (1/1/10, can you believe it?) came and Debi and I went to go meet Dana, the weaver from Carefree. It was love at first sight. Here's a photo of Debi, Dana and MacSally.


Debi was kind enough to lend me a couple of books and a video to get me familiar with my loom. She also helped me set the treadles up, which almost drove us both to drink. As much as I wanted to go home and start-a-weavin' - we had to get to TYF for the annual potluck.

Here are some fabulous photos of the potluck:
Yes, we were bad and got kicked outside. Just kidding! The shop was so full and the day was so lovely that it was a great opportunity to be outside!

Debi weaving a scarf on her cricket.

The shop was packed ;)

Look at all the food!


Such a blast! TYF is the greatest LYS (local yarn store) and all of us are so grateful to them for hosting such a wonderful day.

Now, for some FPs (finished projects):
This is Sam's Cabled Bella Mitten. They were a gift for someone. Don't ask me about the pattern, I think she found it on ravlery.


I finished spinning up my BFL ballerina-colorway by Dicentra Designs



I finished knitting a hat for everyone's favorite Argentine, Mauro, and managed to give it to him ON Christmas. The expression on his face is priceless. That's his new viola in the background.


I also managed to finish knitting up a town & country shawl (pattern at TYF) out of my handspun with some novelty yarns. My Mom was in the hospital and I gave it to her there on New Year's Eve, which she appreciated. Thanks to my model, Ben, for "showing" it.



It's been a good turn of the year. I hope to do more blogging, get some more projects done and complete my fiber sanctuary. Here's to 2010!