Our spinning guild decided to try a game of fiber poker. Those interested in taking part drew a card from each of five categories. If you didn't like the hand you were dealt, just like real poker, you could ask for other cards. I think you could do that up to three times.

Anyway, the point is you end up with a handful of cards with "values" and you are to create something to match the instructions on the cards. My description of this game may leave you totally confused but let me try to clarify it by telling you what my poker hand is.

The fiber card drawn says "synthetic, ingeo, latte, etc." So, my project will be created totally or in part of those one or all of those fibers.

The use card says toys. Out of the fiber above, I'll create toys.

The texture indicates that it is to be of multi-ply. Spinners spin single threads of yard and then combine bobbins of spun thread together to create a plyed yard of two or more threads. Do it all the time. Lots of creative possibilities there.

The method card says that I am to crochet these toys.

The last card was color. My project is to include the color copper.

Well, I love to make toys. I love the color copper. I haven't spun much synthetic fiber so that should be interesting. Combining a synthetic fiber with ingeo or latte could make for an interesting yarn with a bit of texture. Crochet is not something at which I have much expertise but that gives me a chance to learn something new.

We have from now until our fall retreat to finish our projects. I have promised myself that I will start this project soon...no last minute stuff this time.

I've a couple of projects to finish and then I can get going on this one.

Is this a creative spinning group or what?

I'll post my progress.

The need to wrap up a few of the many things I've almost, but not quite, finished is burning bright. I have an afghan which is composed of 30 or 40, 9" blocks which is so easy. The yarn is by Noro and the idea for the afghan came from Mason-Dixon Knitting, a wonderful book chock full of very easy and rewarding projects.

The blocks for this afghan are made as follows: using size 8 knitting needles, cast on 38 stitches and knit every row until the piece measures 9" in length. Bind off. When you have all the blocks completed, block them so that they are the same size and then crochet them together and get ready for next winter.

I dashed outside before the sun went down to catch a few pictures of our azaleas. The temperature tonight will be in the mid twenties. I fear our beautiful flowers won't survive two nights of temperatures this cold and I didn't want to forget just how pretty they are.

The pictures on this posting are of our yard and a few of the many pretty flowers in abundance right now. Enjoy.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~ Albert Einstein ~

"Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure? Remember, you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted you cannot get it back."
~ Author Unknown ~