iPhone gone Android with Samsung Galaxy Note

Yes, you heard it here first. This Apple girl has gone Android! No, I'm not abandoning Apple. I just feel that this particular phone is a better fit for me at this stage of my life.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Samsung Galaxy Note:

This is a huge phone, but its more than just a phone.  Its a tablet hybrid. Its a stunning 5.3" vividly bold screen with stylus (called an S-pen).
Its a camera. Its an e-reader, its thin and light and... well, big. But I love it. I recently gave my iPhone 4s (so long Siri) to my son and sold his iPhone 4 on Craigslist to purchase this. I haven't looked back. I still have my new 3rd gen iPad which is great but being wifi only I'm always searching for a free wifi signal. With my iPhone and my ATT unlimited data plan I had internet access but only on my small screen. Now with my Samsung Note I have the best of both worlds: a single web enabled device with a big screen and phone capabilities for no
additional monthly expense. Who wouldn't love that?

Yes. Its big. Yes, I do put it up to my ear and talk on it like a "normal" phone. No, I don't care who stares...

My new Golding spindle

Look what arrived today! I absolutely love this little Golding spindle. It spins like a mini tornado. My "Motherland" themed spindle collection has increased from 1 to 2 :)

A great Knitting machine information and pattern resource

Be sure to check out Britlady52's very generous collection of free knitting machine patterns and manuals online. Theres info for dozens of machines. Thanks Britlady52!

http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc184/Britlady52/

It Spoke To Me, I Swear!

Perusing Ravelry's "for sale" groups is dangerous business...

I should have been getting ready for bed, but instead I chose to check out the "Used Knit and Spin Equipment" group on Ravelry. I'd recently sold one of my Golding spindles through the group, a pretty Celtic design that I purchased at Rhinebeck from its maker, Tom Golding. It was much more of an impulse buy than a need and I just never bonded with the little guy (I mean the spindle, not Mr. Golding). So, I sold it to a 1st time Golding spindler. I hope the two are happy together.



While checking out the group I happened across several Goldings listed for sale - this intrigued me because Goldings are usually NOT so readily available for resale. Perhaps my listing set off a chain reaction? Perhaps the taboo of reselling a Golding was temporarily lifted? I'm not sure, but I saw about three others listed for sale. This particular one caught my eye and stole my heart:





It's an "African Mother and Child" ring spindle with antique sterling silver ring and accents. I learned from the seller that it was purchased on Mother's Day last year. It's so ironic that a year later it should become my Mother's Day gift to myself.

KnitKing 4000 / KnitMaster 4500-esque

My new-to-me knitting machine has arrived! It's a KnitKing 4000 (at least that's what my research suggests), which is very similar to a Knitmaster 4500. It's the perfect machine for intarsia knitting. I simply lay the yarn across the needle hooks and slide the carriage across the bed. Changing colors is as easy as grabbing a yarn end. It's that simple and I love it.

Here's a sample I did about a day after receiving he machine:



The machine came with some great tools too. Having two of each triple and double transfer tools make for easy cable knitting.



Multiple transfer tools: this one capable of handling 33 stitches! The other is an adjustable needle pusher capable of pushing up to 33 needles in any configuration.



And finally, the piece de resistance! A Knittax pattern cam that slides across the needle bed to select needles for patterning. It came with a set of 4 cams ( one is loaded inside):





Although the machine did arrive with some damage and the incorrect needles (which I repaired and the seller rectified) I'm delighted with this new machine.

Ferdez Craft Club - Origami

Every 3rd Thursday of the month my craft club meets to chat, chew and craft. We have show n' tell and focus on a new craft for the night. Last week was quilling - Nhi, a wonderful quiller, showed us how to create beautiful paper quilled flowers. More recently, we had an origami night. Magdelena taught us the meaning behind "one thousand cranes" and showed us how to make origami cranes, hearts and (my favorite) beautiful paper boxes.

Wow. Where have you been?

Ok, the real question is, where have I been... All over actually, with the exception of this blog.

I've been preoccupied. I've been machine knitting and rollerskating, sewing and spinning, crocheting and weaving, juicing and snacking. I've also discovered Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram and Viddy - all after saying goodbye to Facebook.

Yeah, I've been busy exploring other parts of the Internet. Its good to be back. Now, what have you been up to?