BEST

Its funny when you know you are not the best at something but can't stop doing it. Whether you continue to do this thing out of necessity or desire because you love it.

I love knitting and crocheting. I know I'm not the best or the fastest. It takes me forever to finish a garment and more than not there will be a flaw when my project is complete. However, I continue to knit. I continue to try new patterns, new techniques, and socialize with other knitters.

The social aspect of doing something like knitting can make you feel like you are more talented than you give yourself credit for. I walk a little taller after someone compliments something I've made. I feel more energized after I peruse my favorite blogs or make new friends on Ravelry. And for a fleeting moment I feel almost famous when someone leaves a thoughtful comment on my own blog.

I recently joined the Baltimore Etsy Street Team aka: BEST and while all these ladies are beyond friendly and welcoming, I'm still a little shy. They are all so talented. Their works vary from garment deconstruction/ reconstruction to soap making to unique jewelry design to incredibly well constructed bags and stuffed toys. I've admired their talent for well over a year now and was honored and scared when they accepted my membership to their (IMO) elite group.

I've visited the discussion boards, made my comments, updated my own etsy shop regularly, and even had a chance to meet a few of these ladies in person at the Crafty Bastards festival in DC last month.

Just this week I was reading over the BEST blog and came across the BEST Shop page. This is a place on the BEST blog where they show the team's etsy page and list their favorite items of the week/month. To my surprise, there were my stitch markers! One of my items had been selected as a team favorite. And for one fleeting moment, I felt like the best of the BEST.



Thanks, Ladies!

What have I been working on?

Well not too much in the way of productive knitting.

I started a new job about 3 months ago and other than working, sleeping, keeping up with social commitments, and working on a secret project (i'm not telling!) I haven't had much knitting time.

I did finish this scarf the other weekend though:


I knit it up using the delicious baby alpaca yarn I bought in Colonial Williamsburg a few months ago.

So while I will not divulge what secret things I have been doing lately I will share that this past weekend I volunteered at the Crafty Bastards festival in DC and got to meet and hang out with some of the most creative people I've ever had the pleasure of know!

When I say I volunteered, I'm talking about the 5am to 10am shift here. This means I had to be up at 3:30 in the morning. Can you say exhausted? Yea, its been 3 days and I'm still recovering. But all in all, it was totally worth it!

I got to stuff all the goodie bags!...after I moved heavy-ass tables, fairly light chairs, and helped pop some tents for the craftisians that would be arriving shortly.

This is the early show, it got much more crowded as the day went on.

This was my favorite part of this year's festival. I'm not sure if they did it last year. It was the Make Something Awesome table! They had several different craft stations, embroidery, jewelry making, hand sewing, and a duct tape bowl making station. If you had time or if there was an open seat you could join the table, if there wasn't an open seat at the table you were welcome to walk away with any of the station supplies to try on your own! I got some ready-to-embroider cloths.

Such a good idea City Paper!

Big shout out to all the girls that I met who pulled this off, Heather, Kim, Sara, and Kelly. Thanks for a great day, ladies!!!

Thanks for a great Secret Pal 14!

I'm sure that all of you who don't participate in Secret Pal are sick of my posts about all the yummy gifts I've been given and how great my Pal. Sorry to say, if that is the case, too bad. I have one more thank you post dedicated to my great pal.

This was "3rd" and final gift from my "secret" pal and look at all my yummy goodness!

what could these wrapped packages contain??? Good thing I have post-its that tell me which package goes with which!

I got three knitting patterns, one sewing pattern, 6 skeins of yarn, neco wafers!, hand lotion, and a note pad.

Thank you, Vikingmama!

About my Secret Pal and how great she is!

I realize that most of my posts lately have been about my Secret Pal but that is mostly because she is completely brag-worthy.

This past week was my birthday and my lovely SP14 informed me that she would be sending me a third package as well as birthday present. So when I came home and found this book I was really excited!

But then 2 days later this arrived!

I couldn't photograph it before I opened it, I got too excited~

Then I got all these great gifts! My favorite chocolate, a birthday card, a knitting magnet, possum and wool yarn, and this great Debbie Bliss book, and lastly some beautiful seaming pins!!!

Even Chalie got a present!

And my final present!

This has been on my Amazon list for a year and now I finally have my own pestal and mortar! I can't wait to start grinding herbs, knitting possoms, and eating chocolate!

Colonial Spinster

Due to the lack of internet at my house (big shout-out to Verizon here, may your company fail), I have not been able to update anyone who may read this blog about my recent trip to Williamsburg.

The BF and I took our first couples vacation. We chose Williamsburg, VA because it was a car ride away, within our price range, and we thought we were interested enough in history at this age to enjoy...for the most part...the historical town.

We did many "colonial" things:

we claimed the town for Britain.


I built a colonial stick fence to protect the town.













And we helped Jefferson write the ol' Declaration of Independence.

While all of these activities were important to help the colonial town I believe my favorite part was a little more selfish and less of a public service. I learned to spin raw wool into single ply yarn! The great Williamsburg offered a spinning class behind the lumber house (ie: modern day ticket house). My teacher was great, detailed in explanation, very patient, and sweating like a colonial beast (we all were, it was 102 degrees!)

I've attempted spinning two other times. These unsuccessful attempts have left me with lots of roving and no yarn. However, third times a charm and I finally got it!

Thank you Colonial Williamsburg, for you fifes and drums, colonial grub, brick streets, and spinning classes!

Happy Knitting!

Secret Pal 14 Surprise

This has been such a great Secret Pal experience for me! In the past I have had good Secret Pals but none that have spoiled me this much!



Saturday I stopped home between running to the Farmer's Market and the State Fair only to find I'd been spoiled a 2nd time!

Naturally I grabbed the camera just in time to photograph everything before I impulsively ripped it all open.

If there is a way to nominate my Secret Pal I'm going to do it. She has done such a great job sending me things that I mentioned I liked or would like. She's incredibly thoughtful.


Just look at all my yummy treats! How sweet to get me the It Itches book from my Amazon list (+10 points), and Circus Peanuts, which are all gone by now (+5 points), and check out this great UK crochet magazine!!! (+20 points, I love UK knit and crochet mags). Her friend, Kai created a crochet lace shawl pattern in here. Lastly, you cannot see it in the photo above but inside the magazine was postcard from her home town to add to my collection!

Thank you so much SP14, I can't wait to find out who you are!!

Happy Knitting!

An Announcement of Stitches and Markers

Hello fellow fiber lovers,

I have a confession to make, my knitting has slowed down. Its not that I have lost my love for knitting or crocheting its just that I've been distracted.

I have to be sincerely honest here, it started last December. I visited a different kind of store see? And well, things kinda snowballed. This was not a LYS (local yarn store) but a LBS (local beading store). I had intentions of just making some earrings for friends and family for the holidays. But the tools were so fun! And the pretty beads kept calling my name. So I just gave in.

As a result I've made countless pairs of earrings, some bracelets, and just recently...a line of stitch markers for knitting.

Oh yes, you heard that right, stitch markers! FOR KNITTING!!!

They are themed around the things I love to do while knitting, crocheting, and crafting in general which is to watch television, movies, and listen to books on my IPOD. I feel there are many like myself, I know I'm not alone here. You pop in a favorite old movie or a television series on DVD that you love and have basically memorized. This is glorious because you really need to be paying attention to your knitting anyway. Then you just sit back and kinda watch but mostly listen to the familiar.

While catching up/ becoming hooked on Mad Men the other day I was inspired to make stitch markers that reminded me of the show.

Aren't these just too divine, Darling?
(details)

Then I was watching Gilmore Girls while knitting Wicked and I thought of these:

They just remind me of Lorilea and Rory, both strong and feminine.
(details)

Oh and I have to mention these! The other night I was listening to Julie & Julia on my IPOD and got completely inspired again:

Now, you cannot eat these, but don't they look delicious?!
(details)

Since my head is full of many other ideas I wanted to share them with you. So I set up an Etsy shop, Sara Kirby Designs, containing stitch markers along with other various odds and ends I whip up when inspired!

The shop has been continuously growing and evolving all year and I'm in the process of a revamp but please feel free to stop by, say hi, and see if there anything that inspires you.

Happy Knitting!