Preparing for the Winter Season (or Christmas)

This year I am pairing the hats and scarves together as a single item. The only real problem is getting the website up to speed. I hired in 2006, a consultant to set-up a shopping cart on the advice that it was more professional than a yahoo shopping cart. Still 3 years later I can't run the click cart pro application by myself and of course the consultant is long gone. Currently I am reading everything I can to understand the application.

Current projects are dog sweaters. Many of my friends and customers have asked for colorful and fun dog sweaters. Will be posting pictures of them as I finish them. Then will get posted to the website (hopefully by then I will understand the application better).

As always the shipping is free (USPS Priority mail) but, if you need UPS or FED EX overnight shipping is your cost. Paypal is the only option for payment.

If you have a particular style or color you want for yourself this year please send me and email.

For Isabelle....DaySky in Arizona

This view is from the front door looking East. The funny looking peak is actually called Austin Peak. No it wasn't name for my husband or I. We didn't even know that was the name of the mountain (6,000ft) when we brouht the property in 1994. We started building our home in 2002 and the builder said "Did you know that is Austin Peak?" We thought he was pulling our leg so bought the geological survey maps of this area. Sure enough its Austin Peak.

This picture was taken for Isabelle..... she loves to take pictures of the sky.

Catching Up With The World

Well, Hughes.net came on by the house (guy was out of Phoenix and did a service call in Winslow first) put a new antenna up and a new modem in the house. Modem in the house will have a problem come spring with moths that get in the house being attracted to the blue lights. So, many of the machines in the house emit light at night. Coffee maker has enough green light emitting that I don't have to turn on lights to see my way into the bedroom.

Sunday, the local newspaper (Kingman Daily Miner) published in the business section a very nice article by Jennifer Bartlett concerning my internet business www.scarvesforallreasons.com I really enjoyed the article and quite a few people from Kingman have dropped by the blogspot (google analytics).

Still making socks. Finished the set of size 10.5 womens, moving on to the size 15 mens, then finally size 12 double e womens. Also, designing a cotton tank top for spring/summer.

Hope you have a wonderful week.
karen

Crazy week

Monday morning early I posted to the blog regarding the fun fur beanies and that I had finished 2 more pairs of socks. Logged off the system, and 2 hours later came back to NO INTERNET ACCESS. I am totally dependent on satelitte dish from Hughes net to get to the internet. Called and spent 2 hours with "help" desk. They sent me to a higher up tech who said I needed even more help. So, it has been strange using a 2800kps access to even read my email never mind any good stuff. Last night at 7 pm (which is very late for me as I am up by 5 every morning) they called to walk me thru doing a frequency re-set. They wanted to dial in to fix problem and I informed them that we have no land lines for them to dial into the system. Then they were going to send tech help out to house........ I informed them that tech help in our area is from Las Vegas, NV or Phoenix AZ and can take up to 3 weeks to get here. Scheduling problems. Anyway, I am temporarily (sp) fixed.

In the meantime I started 2 more pairs of socks, 2 lovely shawls from Mystical Creation Yarns wool/silk and got my research books for the penny collection.


Hope everyone has a lovely weekend with the playoffs and the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction.
karen

Hats for Boston Hospital Children

Well, being terrible at finding old photographs I can't show a picture of the hats and scarves I sent to http://minisoup.blogspot.com I found this project on blog. Since, I lived in Boston for 5 years during the 70's I thought great project to participate in, and for a worthy cause.

Playoff socks are done. 2 pairs in Opal Feeling. The next big project is a shawl from Mystical Creation Yarns. It is still very cold here. Bearing in mind that Arizona isn't where you expect 12 degrees in the Morning. Was in town yesterday getting truck fixed and couldn't believe how many people had frozen pipes. What a mess.

To all of you in the cold and ice. Stay warm. Karen

Beyond Stash into Horde

Received the final shipment for December orders. This doesn't included any orders received and made up in December. Husband has upgraded my yarn status from a simple stash to a serious horde.

The guardian of the horde HEYA

Furry legs in red done for Michelle

Furry legs in purple done for Danielle

Trekking yarns in blue and purple, Opal Feelings suite, 100% British BLuefaced Leicester Wool in Sienna, Joan of Arc in Sweetheart 50% merino wool and 50% tencel, Regia yarns in red and white, 2 skeins of LYS 100% merino wool sock yarn. The opal feelings and the Trekking yarn came from Astrids Dutch Obsessions

Sarah's Yarn 100% Pure DK Cashmere 4 ply Http://www.sarahsyarns.com
Planned use is for a Tam and shawl in a fair isle pattern.

Starting a New Year

Well, 2007 is certainly starting out very different than last year. Quiet New Year's Eve (hard to wake the neighbors when we are in bd at 8:30) and a quiet New Year's Day. First thing on tuesday that happened was a sock order, President Ford's Funeral, and phone calls regarding accounting. All the accounting calls were past urgent.... so, raced (30 miles one way) into town to help out people. Got, a new accounting client so I get to do accounting work 4 times a month not including my own books.

Received a large order of sock yarns from Astrid at AstridsDutchObsessions.com I got the Opal Feelings collection, and some Trekking yarn for some socks that people asked for in December. So, knit knit knit.

The Shop addition exterior is completed, the interior walls are now completed, the doors are on the shop, and now the lighting is being arranged. Husband is slowing down a little in the frantic race against cold weather.

We have heard from all our family and everyone is doing well which is a miracle much appreciated.

Have a great weekend.
karen

Greetings to 2007

With the gift of the diamond to the dragon as hope for all to have a beautiful New Year.

The Guardians of Gargoyles to chase evil away from your homes and hearts

With the Gargoyles guarding the front door and the Dragon receiving his gift of diamonds in the dining room window we are set and blessed for the coming New Year. May all have a guardian against evil, a great treasures from a loved one, light, love, and harmony in the new year 2007.
Karen, Ron, RD, Heya,and Nikki.

End of Year Sunsets

The husbands stained glass gazebo with the rain not making it to the ground The clouds were so impressive and the gazebo so beautiful I decided to share again. (becoming abore and need to show other stuff)

This is taken down the Round Valley where the sun is breaking out is Hackberry on Route 66 and Laughing Jack Peak on the Grand Wash Cliffs which are part of the Western Grand Canyons. Where the weather is clear (most days) we can see to the peaks just before Lake Mead. Lake Mead is the largest man made lake in Unites States.

In the meantime (or back on the ranch) getting the house ready for New Years. Dusting, cleaning, and putting away things.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WE Wish YOu A Merry Christmas,
Sing around the piano all our songs of love, joy, happiness, faith and hope and know that prayers count.
Karen, Ron, RD, Heya, and Nikki

Sock Saga Continues!

Got more orders for socks, socks, and socks. The baby socks are for sell on www.etsy.com and the blue socks are from Mystical Creation Yarns midnight celestial yarns also available on etsy.com
Finished the christmas cookies yesterday and started delivering them to friends in Kingman. Here is wishing all of us through out the world a very Merry Merry and a Happy Happy karen

Sunset in Arizona

The night sky over the mountains west of the house. The stained glass gazebo was made by my husband (the roof is stained glass also) he also did all the rock work. But, the real beauty last night was the painting in the sky. The Power and The Glory Amen

Christmas Spirit

You can't see the lights well but, the tree is dressed up for the season. I am almost done with the last of the christmas presents. Today, my husband and I have to attend a Mohave County Zoning Board meeting. Why? The next door neighbor (1 mile from house) is trying to start a swap meet. Oh, exciting? Well, there's no police, no fire dept, the emergency services within 30 miles of property. There is only a dirt road (not unusual for Arizona) with no trash service ... no postal service, and no phones. So, not the safest thing to do with property.

Tomorrow, I am driving back into town to see some friends and wish them well for the holidays. Then I would go back into town until next Monday or Tuesday for the mail.

So, Happy Holidays!

karen
www.scarvesforallreasons.com

Remembering knitting teachers part I

In 1963 my father was transferred from Hawaii (where we had lived for 4 years) to the Naval Annex. We stopped in California to visit grandparents. My fathers mother was the grandmother I was the closest to and she had a pioneer spirit. She was born in Fall brook California as the last of 6 children. When we visited she taught me to embroider on flour sack cloths. Because she insisted that my backs were as neat as my fronts I learned from her the care in handiwork. I didn't actually learn to knit until 1967 when we moved to upstate New York. My mother bought size 35 needles and an instruction book. From the pictures she taught herself enough to knit a bulky sweater for my father (He was 6'3" and over 250 lbs). From my mother I learned to knit simple things scarves, stocking caps and mismatched mittens. I would take my allowance to the 5 and dime store in Endicott and buy yarn for mittens. When I was reading Harry Potter books I just loved Dobby's socks and the fact they didn't match really brought home the memory of mittens...I really needed mittens as we had horses and caring for them in the winter without mittens wasn't very warm.

I started seriously knitting while in high school. I would knit during class lectures looking back fairly rude of me but, that way I would listen to lecture. I knitted the ugliest variegated purple sweater for my brother Joe (6' 5") and bless him he wore it out.

When I met Stephanie (she was my daughters grandmother) in 1973 she was the one who had the patience and time to answer my questions regarding yo etc. I loved and still do love fisherman sweaters. I was still knitting in acrylic yarns and she taught me to appreciate wool, silk, and cotton yarns. When she died in 1977 I lost a good friend and knitting buddy. She had at the time of her death 22 knitting bags for every room, her car, and her class room. She introduced me to Penguion Yarns, and their beautiful magazine.

I stopped knitting for many years, only to start again when my daughter was a teenager.

If you stop by here..... and have a story or two of your knitting teachers ... please feel free to post.

ps finally finished the 8 pairs of socks I started the weekend after Thanksgiving. Good thing I really enjoy knitting socks.

Merry Christmas
Karen

Climbing ladders

The addition to shop is coming along nicely. The only problem is that I have to climb up the unto the roof to help. So, I have been working on socks for an hour, then climbing up the roof, repeat as needed.

It will be a wonderful shop for husband. He can work on his stained glass windows, and hot rods.

Only a few days left for free shipping on winter scarves, beanies, socks, shawls, and stoles. Be sure to find a great Christmas Gift.

Karen Austin
Scarves For All Reasons

Busy, Busy, Busy

Been busy on an order for basic socks (4 pairs) that is about 8 days work. But, everyone says it is worth it as the socks are great to wear and always make great Christmas gifts.

If you are interested please email me basic adult socks are 35.00 a/pair.

Have a great time getting ready for the Holidays

Karen
Scarves For All Reasons

Christmas is Coming (Or the Sky is Falling I Have NO GIFTS)

Christmas is coming with the required shipping days, you have from today to December 15Th to buy at Scarvesforallreasons.com and receive free shipping for ground or USPS Priority Mail. What could be a nicer Christmas present than a wonderfully hand-made scarf, or socks.

Anything special you would like made up for a christmas present leave us a message or phone us (contact page on website).

Karen Austin
Technorati Profile
Scarves For All Reasons

Candlelight Scarf

Finally, we are home again. Spent the last two weeks driving to Carson City Nevada, and Sebastopol, California. Saw family, and said good bye to Granny Varner. Started working on the Mystical Creation Yarns replacement scarves for the website www.scarvesforallreasons.com. Finished listing again, Turtle, Enchantment Scarf, Eclipse Scarf, Juicy Scarf, and Peaceful Scarf. Finished a new color Candlelight Scarf, such a cheerful color combination. Just what you need for the long winter nights.

Hope everything is well with you
Karen Austin
www.scarvesforallreasons.com

Scarf pictures from Mystical Creation Yarns

Mystical Creation Yarns has begun posting on Etsy.com search for Mystical Creation Yarns. Several of the yarns have a picture of the scarf I knitted so you can see how beautiful the yarn is made up. The listings for Turtle Scarf, Enchantment Scarf, Eclipse Scarf, Juicy Scarf, and Peaceful Scarf are already back on the Scarves For All Reasons site. They were removed while MYC was getting photographs and scarves for pictures now that I have re made these scarves they are being re listed on the site. As each colorway is done I will list.

Meanwhile, November starts with another long drive. Hopefully this will be the last long drive until the end of the year. Although, we need to drive to LA but, that is only a day drive.

Still working on the christmas vest from Fearless Fibers Yarns. Coming out big enough for me (Juno sized).

Have a great week!

Karen Austin
www.scarvesforallreasons.com

I am glad October is done

What a month! I am glad I started a christmas vest as Wednesday evening my husband and I received notice that "Granny Varner" was dying and we needed to see her. SO, we started driving thursday and arrived friday mid morning. My husband got to see Granny and tell her good bye and she passed Friday in her sleep. We left Saturday late morning and just arrived home today. Friday we will leave for northern california for the service and burial and drive home so another 26 hours worth of knitting in truck.

Please, post a note or something regarding christmas projects. I am interested in knowing if other people are doing special articles of clothing for the holidays.

Best wishes for a good November

Karen Austin
www.scarvesforallreasons.com