APRIL FIBERLICIOUS GIVEAWAY!!!

Cheers all you good people! Thanks for stopping by!

The photos above are the prizes to be given away in my APRIL FIBERLICIOUS GIVEAWAY!
Prizes offered are:
1. GI Jane, hand spun, hand dyed 2 ply Merino, 50 yards, bulky weight at 6 WPI
2. Hand knit pink head band from acrylic novelty yarns, size 3"x22". Head band will stretch to accommodate a slightly larger head size.
3. Set of 4 double pointed needles by Boye, size 3, 7"
4. Knifty Knitter Loom clips. These clips only fit Provo Craft knitting Looms.

This promotional offering will run from 4/1/09 - 4/30/09. I hope to be able to offer my Monthly Fiberlicious Giveaway each month through 2009. The chosen winner, selected by random number generator, will be announced here and in my shop on Etsy on May 1st, 2009. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO WIN!

To enter the April Fiberlicious Giveaway post a comment to my blog from the e-mail address you wish to be contacted for address confirmation for your free gift! There will be one winner for each month. I will post 4 items and the winner will get to choose one of the four items. The items I have chosen as giveaway gifts are mostly craft items I have in my stash. I will try to offer fiber related items each month, but I might throw in something special I think might be loved by someone that is not fiber related.

Feel free to ask me any questions regarding my April Fiberlicious Giveaway. I hope you win!!! Good Luck!!!! and Happy Crafting!!!!!!
Ny.

I'm still blue........

Well, back to rain/snow/cold..for a few days...should be another beautiful weekend coming up tho, so we are looking forward to that..so we can mow? whats wrong with that picture? anyways..here's what I created today...have a few batts to put up too..but running out of steam..

Am I blue????

Now..Mother's Day is just around the Corner!

Good Morning bloggers and blogettes! I hope everyone had a great holiday! We went and ate fried chicken and then drove out to the river for some bird/peep/dog watching. Beautiful day here in Montana. I can't remember the last Easter that was so nice! Even managed to work a little as well.

Banana Cake for Everyone!

My love for baked goods comes in just second to my love of fiber! Today I was inspired by the very ripe bananas on my counter to build some cake. I thought someone might like this recipe. My mom gave it to me years and years ago..because for the life of me..I could not make banana bread...I am cooking challenged..it is true that when the smoke alarm goes off, the dh knows its time to eat at my house...I just have many more important things to do..or most likely I just wandered off!

Banana Loaf Cake - moist and soft!
1/2 C. shortening
1 t. vanilla
1 1/3 C brown sugar..(I never buy this..I just make my own from molasses and sugar..otherwise it just goes hard in my cupboard)
2 eggs, beaten
2 C. flour
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/4 C. milk
1 C. ripe bananas I used 2 (when my kids were growing up and I was too busy ..I would just throw the 1/2 rotten bananas in my freezer..then when I had time..I would build this cake)
nuts optional
spices..use what you like..i throw in a little bit of everything to include extra cinnamon..cuz we love it so much!

Set oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening, vanilla and sugar with hand mixer. Add beaten eggs. Mix in dry ingredients alternatly with milk and bananas. Add nuts and spices. (study spelling words)

Bake in greased and floured bread pan, for about 1 hour...(check it and it's done when the steak knife comes out clean)

Then enjoy your little biddy! :) Ny.

Merino Tencel - My New Love!!!

What a blast I've had this week!!!! I was very dutiful and reported to my jury duty Mon. 9 a.m. sharp...to find out it was canceled...yes they had called me...did I get the message..well of course not...that would have been too easy. Better instead to work like a beaver to get all my ducks in a row..to include..pulling my Wild Iris down from ilash and plying it with some gorgeous black peruvian I had spun weeks ago...no sense having time with nothing for my hands to do...had to drag out the good old dependable gold lamme knitting bag...lol gawd!...finding my way out of the parking garage was at top speed..almost missed the exit. Then off to pick up our taxes..yes.. no worries now about debtors prison..just the simple fact that because THIS year we didn't pay the "new" $30, we'll save your hide fee...my lawyer will just have to subpeona their snot noses when that day comes...I say to the young girl..."didn't you used to do that for free?"...uh huh..thats what I thought...WHATEVER, I'm a gambler at heart!..I took it. taxes bleck!

The blast part came when I had an order from a special lady in California for her 3rd head band. She wants a lighter weight pink one for spring. I just love her!!!! She reminds me often about how if/when her hair is a mess..but it don't matter she puts her head band on, not a problem...and it kills me because it is just so true, for me too! Some people really can't leave the house without a little primping to the hair..then there's some people who just fly..they just have to go ..and now..and well no time for primping, ok maybe 4 flat seconds. First thing I did was set out to dye some pink..and felted 4 ounces of merino...
I'm fighting a virus...and regardless that kinda irked me. I scratch my head and wonder if anyone would want this..could it be "used" by someone???? make mental note to try and connect with more felters!!! Or stop procrastinating and felt something myself!!! Its 4 oz. I'm tired already! If your reading this and are interested in some cheap dark salmon red merino that is half felted..let me know!
Managed to dye some superfine pink and a pretty salmon..then started eyeing that merino tencel...fun!!! dyed it 2 pinks..and I was off... the photo above is the roving...it's the last that I will spin of this run...the rest is on my spool so beautiful!
I will keep ya'all posted with some pics...

Think about getting a head band..they are awesome!!!

Thanks to those who signed up for the drawing!! I've received your info, and your in! Keep checking ilash designs for new listings. I'll be back at the dye pots as soon as I put down my loom, (and get to feeling better..grrrr!) and the BIG NEWS is...I have an artist in the works for my new store banner and other graphics..and it is so cool!!! I am so excited!!! This is just not ANY fun at all! I will feature him here, when it is done for anyone who's interested in him. I think he's a terrific artist!!

You all have a good day! Till next time...keep on keeping on! :) Ny.

Baby Pearls and Soft Baby Pearls

Greetings fellow fiber/craft lovers! Please sign up for the new APRIL FIBERLICIOUS GIVEAWAY, by commenting here on my blog and leaving me your contact info., or convo. me thru my etsy shop. There is a detailed listing in my shop you can read, outlining the gifts you can choose from if you are the April winner! Good Luck!

Well it's sunny, and beautiful, and I have too much to do..so I better go get to it! I listed some Superwash Merino Tencel in my Etsy shop today...it is the softest fiber I have ever touched I think! ...wonderful! I can't wait to dye more. It was hard to even get it to stay in the basket..it wanted to ooze out like melted chocolate...amazing!

Happy crafting! Have a good day everyone! :) Ny.

Big Winner of my March Fiberlicious Giveaway - Playswithclay!

Congratulations Playswithclay! Thanks so much for entering my March Fiberlicous Giveaway! Check her out everyone! She has a nice Etsy shop with super cool wares! Great profile read too!
Good Luck with your Etsy sales!

FEATURED ITEMS FROM PLAYSWITHCLAY

Lil Mini Dishes - ... playswithclay $14.00 Lil' Dish - Two... playswithclay $15.00 Lil' Dish - Hap... playswithclay $12.00

views listed on price Lil' Dish - Beautiful blue posey by playswithclay 9 04. 02 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Cuppa teabag holder by playswithclay 76 04. 02 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Two birdies in love by playswithclay 191 04. 02 2009 $15.00 Lil' Dish - Being married makes me happy, happy, happy. by playswithclay 74 04. 02 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Happy Easter with Egg and Flowers by playswithclay 54 03. 31 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Happy Easter with chickie and flowers by playswithclay 103 03. 25 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Happy Easter with a cute bunny by playswithclay 98 03. 10 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Cuppa by playswithclay 48 03. 09 2009 $12.00 Lil Mini Dishes - set of three, bird, fern and cupcake by playswithclay 127 03. 03 2009 $14.00 Lil' Dish - Simple Daisy by playswithclay 56 03. 02 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Luck o' the Irish by playswithclay 66 03. 01 2009 $12.00 Lil Dish - Blue swirls by playswithclay 57 03. 01 2009 $12.00 Lil' Sign - Shhhh...children dreaming by playswithclay 66 02. 28 2009 $12.00 Lil' Sign - Live green by playswithclay 58 02. 26 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Zoom to the moon in your rocket. by playswithclay 68 02. 24 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Play by playswithclay 61 02. 24 2009 $15.00 Lil' Dish - my gum with a sheep in pink by playswithclay 76 02. 24 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Go by bike. by playswithclay 63 02. 23 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - Being married makes me happy, happy, happy. by playswithclay 59 02. 23 2009 $12.00 Lil' Home - Is it a fairy house... by playswithclay 135 02. 11 2009 $12.00 Lil' Dish - XOXO in red by playswithclay 80 02. 05 2009 $10.00

Happy April Fools Day!

Yesterday brought the end to my MARCH FIBERLICIOUS GIVEAWAY! Thank you all for participating! I appreciate your interest and peeks at my works. And now the winner for March picked by random number generator is:
playswithclay!
Congratulations playswithclay!
I hope you enjoy your free gift, and I also hope you will be agreeable to a small profile here on my blog where I can showcase your shop and goods.

EVERYONE, please sign up for the new APRIL FIBERLICIOUS GIVEAWAY, by commenting here on my blog, or convo. me thru my etsy shop. ilashdesigns@etsy.com

And on to other news:
Well, it's official..we are doing the tax countdown. We always wait until the last minute..why? I ask myself why every year, swear not to do it next year and do it anyway. Like some oppositional child...well, I guess at least we pay them...unlike some potential cabinet members..or wait..all potential appointees. my gawd. If that were you or me? We'd be hauled off so quick it would make our heads spin. The rich really are different. ha ok on to a less SOUR note...

I'm blog challenged..as you can see..not many posts.. I will try to do better. I have been very busy working and doing fiberlicious things, and alas have been called for jury duty next week...just terrific! I've been called for jury duty so many times it's ridiculous. I wish my random chances for winning the lottery were as good!..random..right! Now in the town we live in..they call you on the phone..instead of mailing you the notice. I think that speaks loudly..and I've got that number now so next time..tee heehee, we will see. Better be an interesting murder case is all I can say, but I won't hold out too much hope.
good lord fred

Ok all you good people, keep on keeping on and I'll be back to post more I promise!
:) Ny.