Knittin' Busy

Day 3 - Nothing to Report

2010-05-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Monday, back at the grind stone, with little to show for the day, at least where sewing is concerned. I tried looking on-line for more ideas for the clothes, but continue to find very little info to the period of 1840-1860(pre civil war). I can find some on the eastern fashion scene, but don't think it transported to the west to much with the settlers. I will dive into the drawers tomorrow.

I did manage to make almost 3 quarts of strawberry jam today. I have been meaning to make this up but didn't get to it before the weekend. I was a little afraid they would be spoiled before I could get to them. I cut the tops of f them all, threw in roughly the same amount of sugar as berries (roughly 3lbs each) and a can of crushed pineapple. Yum! It came out good, and the color is RED! It tasted out-of-this-world great. It was my first time of trying to stovetop method and it came out better then I expected. I started by making the jams in the bread machine which was very easy to do, just had to keep an eye on it so it didn't boil over. I even tried it in the crock pot, but had an over cooked taste. I'll try it again on the stove top later this summer when I have more fruit from the garden harvested. The bread machine is out, as I think it's starting to die on us (it's something like 10yrs old...), and it leaks jam out of the bottom of the bread pan. Very messy to clean up the cooked sticky jam at the bottom of the machine.

Tuesday I plan to work on the drawers for my DD1 and myself. Will let you know how it goes!

Day 2 - Bottoms up

2010-05-18T09:25:00.001-07:00

Well here you can see the petticoat...done. I really like how full it is. It made up nicely! I'm not sure about the drawstring I used at the waist, it was the salvage edge from the dust ruffle. It's kind of bulky. I may have to change this. I thought about putting a pocket or two on the front to hold things(even if it's under my skirt where I can't really access it easily). Sometimes a girl just needs a secret pocket for a few things.

This is nice and lone for me. It hits just at my ankles. Good enough. Now I am busy with other things until next week, so there won't be any progress until Monday or Tuesday.

This weekend is my parents 50th wedding anniversary. WOW - 50! We are heading up to Reno to visit and celebrate with other family members. Everyone should be there but older sister out of state who couldn't make it this time around.

Day 1 - The Odyssey Begins

2010-05-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

So my Daugther comes home last week from school with a piece of paper telling her 4th grade class is celebrating Gold Rush Day, May 28th. They are looking for donations and help from the parents. DD1 tells me she wants to dress for the day, so now begins our current project- make pioneer clothing for her and myself for the day. Since we've been talking to some friends about joining them for an re-enactment group thing for the old west, these would work for that as well, so I thought if we put a little effort into it, we can kill 2 birds with one stone.....

So after scanning the internet for ideas of Gold Rush wardrobe, I didn't actually find a lot. I'll find tons on civil war era, but not gold rush so much. I think if I am for civil war but omit the hoop, I'll be in the ball park. I did find a site that had some brillant ideas about the petticoat and drawers for the ladies. I went out this morning with this info foremost on my mind.

Here I have (#1)The beige floral calico pillow cases (2) I'll use for her drawers. (#2) The blue striped pillow cases (2) I'll use for my drawers. (#3) The small blue plaid I'll use for my dress (#4) the blue dust ruffle for my petticoat, (#5) the white dust ruffle I got for her, but now I'm not so sure I'll use it. It would make a great white petticoat, but I wasn't planning on making her dress floor length, and as it is right now, it would be long...besides, I was going to use a different beige calico (currently in the laundry getting prewashed) for her dress. It was something I had in my fabric stash for years. It would lean towards an off white petticoat made of unbleached muslin more then a bleached white-white petticoat. I may just hold on to this for now... or make it up and wear it too. If one petticoat is nice, two should be awesome...am I right?

I figure we need blouse, skirt, petticoat, drawers, and bonnet. I have roughly 2 weeks to do what I can. I can see DD1 and I hav different ideas about what to do, so what I start out to do and what I actually do will be 2 different things.

Unfortunately I have dance class and GS meeting tonight, so don't know how much more I'll be able to work on this today. I'll have to let you know tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Stop Me If You've Heard This Before

2010-01-25T15:14:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's almost been a year since I last posted. In someways so much has happened- I lost my job (well, actually it ended. The company went belly up), we put the girls in public school ( tuition can be so expensive), and girls scouts are still going strong.

In some ways not much has happened. Now that I am not working, I spend lots of time reading, grocery shopping, working around the house, doing odd sewing jobs...but it seems like no matter how much I do, the progress isn't as obvious. It kind of makes me wonder how I managed while I was working (or were my standards just that low?). Well you know what they say- If you want something done- give it to someone with a job. They somehow manage to get, and their job done.

Right now I'm on a throwing jag. I am going through boxes and trying to get rid of as much stuff as I can. I have quite a few boxes in the sewing room I need to go through and sort out what I really want to keep, and what I should get rid of. I have gone through the garage once, and need to go again. I really need to go through the girls closet, as the girls keep growing and the clothes don't. They have lots of things we can stand to give to goodwill. I am hard pressed to hold onto clothes from the older girl to pass on to the younger. They are 2 different personalities, and 2 different body types. I can hold onto it now on the off chance that they'll fit, or just pass them on and worry about new clothes for both of them as the time comes along.

I have even started going through the fabric to see what I really don't think I'll use. Trying to be realistic. also, I don't have little babies anymore, so some of that can go too. Tastes change, needs change. I guess I'm in a cleaning phase, trying to get my life bck in order. Maybe I could find a job if I could get myself organized....? It's a nice thought.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning...

2009-08-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Oh what a beautiful day. I love these flowers. The Blossoms always looks so beautiful in the morning. It's great to look out the window in the morning, and see all the beautiful blossoms on the back fence.

You can almost see my pumpkin, in the lower right hand corner (just out of the frame. DD2 wanted to try growing pumpkins, so she threww a few seeds into the ground and something actually managed to come up. We'll need to get a picture before we carve it up.

What the ........

2009-04-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what this is?
Do they look like branches?

I worked on the 11 1/2 prs ( 20 gloves total for the show, plus 2 gloves as the sample pair, and 1 botched sample too small for anyone but my 5yr DD) of these for the show along with the leaves.... Streams and streams of leaves for the show.

It was all a big hit with the kids, not so big with my husband. If he was tired of the costuming after working on Poodle skirts and Elvis, then he's downright deadset against me doing more. I spent most of March sewing for the show. It was 66 tree costumes, 7 Toy solder costumes (jacket plus shako/hat). It was a lot of sewing. Sewing and fabric buying. The only good thing about these boughts of sewing is that during that time I try so hard to refrain from buying more fabric. I try not to buy things other then for the school, so as not to mix up the reciepts. I bought so much brown fabric. Of course not all the same shade, so I had to be careful to not mix up the tops and bottoms. I always made sure that when I cut out a top, I cut a bottom as well. Somewhere along the line things got out of whack...that would probably be when I decided it would be a great idea to heat set the wrinkles in to the costume (to enhance the "barky" goodness of the brown fabric). This meant cooking the garment in the mircowave, so things got a little crazy for a few days.

Kids would come home from school hungry, looking for something to eat, and hear the microwave going thinking I'm making something for them.

Them: "Hey Mom, what's cooking?"
ME: "Trees!"
Them: "Oh".

I made it through without completely losing my mind. Yes!. I'll have more pictures here in a day or two...I hope.

I couldn't do it all by myself- I had some good moral support from little Nutmeg.

Times Ain't What They Use To Be

2009-03-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Years ago I worked in fabric stores. Practically lived in them. At the time we could be pretty helpful (or charitable) to non-profits and schools. Now that I am pursuing fabric for trees, I am amazed how little helpful they are. I can get a 10% discount. That barely covers the taxes. This is very disappointing. I could search around more, but I am running out of time to aquire the fabric. I am at the point of just buying the fabric and submitting my receipts. Very disappointing.

I was able to find the elastic /notins at a good price on the internet. I ordered yesterday, let's see how fast it arrives from Portland Oregon (should take a day or two). I am excited, and can hardly wait for it to show up. How often do you get 288yds of black elastic cording in the mail? Elastic and brown thread. Yipee!

Today after work, I will go to the fabric store and pick up 2 yards of brown lycra to make the 10 pairs of gloves/treebranch hands. I want to finish these soon. I will also pick up broadcloth at the store if they have it around $2.99/yd. I can start to cut out the various tree costumes, and I have a parent that will start to sew together. I thought I would tackle the chorus first, because I can pass a lot of it off to the other parent (or at least start to funnel it out and see how fast she works). There are 44 kids in the chorus, the rest are suppose to be main cast. I'm not exactly sure how many kids are in the main cast, and of those kids, how many will be trees. I thought the known first, then plow through the main cast (the hardest part will be the gloves, that's why I want yo finish those first).

I was thinking of ideas for the headpieces for the main characters. It would be nice if we could do something more then just the leaf wreath for them. maybe something more along the lines of a crwon....but what? I have a vague idea or image in my brain, but not sure how to go about it. I am still giving it thought...trying to see where this leads. I was first thinking about a paper mache "hat", but not sure how that would work. Was also thinking of something more like the jester hats for rene faire, but more in the shape of a tree...? Maybe a crown, cut from carboard and covered in felt(or painted), with branches shooting upwards from it. Again, needs more thought - don't want it to look like a Las Vegas Showgirl headress with a ecological theme. Thinking, thinking, thinking. The wheels are spinning (obviously rusty they be).

This weekend is Girls Scout cookies. We have 2 booth sales going this weekend. Saturday morning 9:30- 1:00, and Sunday 9-12. At least the weather should be good (nippy in the mroning, but warmer as the day progresses). I will need to see if the sunbrella fits in the car(can't have the Thin Mints melting before they find a new home). These kind of cramp my sewing style, but I guess I could be cutting leaves while I'm there...Lord knows I've got lots to cut.

Idle hands...and all that!

Cheers!

"She's At It Again..."

2009-03-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? You would think I had learned from the first time around. No, no I feel the need to learn the hard way. I agreed to help with the costumes for the spring production. "A Tale of Three Trees". Actually all the kids are trees. 78 trees... a forest of them (Hahahahaha!). I am still forming the ideas, and my brain is working overtime. On one hand I am trying to come up with strange and exciting ideas for the costume, but on the otherhand, I don't want to get too out-of-hand, and kill myself in the long run. I am trying to think of how best to keep the cost down without over working the whole thing (which means I am way over-thinking the process).

At first the script reccommends using a simple gown as the costume base, but the teacher wanted a 2 piece- top and bottom. I played with it, but to do pants for the boys, it takes quite a bit more fabric (besides, most trees have just one trunk anyway). I made a very simple peasant smock, taking the directions/idea from a renaissance costuming site. Drawstring neck closure, and drawstring waisted skirt for the trunk. These are small kids, so one length of fabric with the seam swn down the back should suffice. I am now on to playing with heat setting in the wrinkle to give the fabric more character.

For the headpiece, they reccommend a laural leaf crwon. I had made something like this for the last production, but we bought the garlands, and crocheted the leaves into a head band and wristband. I am playing with felt scrapes (got lots vrom the poodle skirts). We may just do the felt leaves. Still looking at it.

I am on to looking at the gloves/ hand-covering for the main cast. I don't want to make them for 78 pairs of little hands, but they sure are fun, and would work for the main cast. I am off the meet with the teacher about what I have. I think these are the main items that will determine the costs needed.

Wish me luck.

I said I would show...

2009-01-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

...and here they are. This was my big project for the holidays. The kids school had their Christmas show, and i volunteered to help with costuming. I started on Thanksgiving eve with these leafy headbands and bracelets for the bigger kids(4th & 5th grades). The materials were pretty much on sale at that time, so I started here.
The 24 sets of collars and bracers, done for the 2nd & 3rd grades, was started the day after Thanksgiving, after getting up on Black Friday, to stand in line for over an hour to buy felt, felt felt, and more felt. Oh yea, and some gold material for these. Who knew that was such a big day at the fabric stores! It was a good thing the skirts didn't have to be all the same color, I never would have made it.
Here was the big projects- 25 poodle/felt skirts and Elvis. In a sick way, this was quite fun to do. The skirts were the most time consuming- each skirt took 2-3 hours, and it was kind of hard to think of designs to put on the skirts. The design had to be kind of simple, but I wanted something kind of colorful (and no way could I have done them all as poodles...seamstress does not survive on poodle alone). Each design was stitched down for fear of bored little girls picking and pulling them off on stage(you might laugh, but the attention span of a five year old is only rivaled by that of a gnat!).

Elvis was something else. I didn't get the boys measurements until 3 days before the show. I got the suit pretty much done ( I would gave liked to have done more embellishments, but flat ran out of time)for dress rehearsal, just had to finish the buckle for the show. It might have been a little on the tight side, but was good enough for the show.

When we gave the suit to the young man, he took it off to try on. we waited and waited. Finally we sent someone in to get him, and all we got in return was "He's not coming out".

No, wait. I need to know if there's a problem. "Go tell him to come out here".

"He's not coming out!"

I follow him to where the kid is hiding, "Come on out, I need to know if there's a problem...."

Poor thing, when he finally came out- all the girls started giggling. The Moms all seem to have the knowing laugh (Yea, we remember who Elvis is...). He looked good for an Elvis impersonator...during the show, it was even funnier. The crowd howled! As the young man gained confidence, he began posing in Elvis type antics. A good time was had by all.

In the spring, the school is planning on doing "The Tale of Three Trees". My husband has requested that I NOT help with the costumes. We'll see. When the kids told the teacher what Daddy said, she just laughed and walked away.

Long Time No See...

2008-11-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been 2 months since I last posted. Things have changed so much. My good friend moved away. We've started another year of Girls Scouts, and this year both girls are active (I'm leading the younger girls Daisy Troop). The younger girl is in the school Christmas production, so I volunteered to help with costuming. This Holiday weekend, I will spend my time sewing poodle skirts for her class participation in the show, and accessories for the other kids. Pretty busy.

Work is still there, but greatly reduced. Just after I last posted in August, my company went through a major downsizing (work force cut in half). Now last Thursday, they further cut the ranks when they decided to close a division that was loosing money. Now we number 12. Where my job wasn't very demanding this time last year, it has bulked up considerably. Although today is somewhat quiet, I haven't been completely handed the reins of the customer service job which I will inherit going forward. I feel so bad, right now I am looking for things to do to stay busy, and just the other day we laid off several good people who had lots to do, but we had to let go to secure company funding. I know this is just the lull before the storm, and next week will be somewhat crazy. It's just very quiet here.

ENOUGH DOOM AND GLOOM!

You can see from the picture above, I have been a little busy knitting. Here is the Jack-O-Lantern, waiting for his head to be attached. I am having a little trouble with the face. When I first did the head, it looked too small to have a face added to it. I made a taller head, that to look at, looks like a nice pumpkin, but when you place that pumpkin on the body, it's way too big. So I struggle with the idea of adding the facial features, and attaching to body.

You might notice I am in the process of working one of the Holiday Gnomes - red body, white hat. I couldn't find the yarn recommended for the beard, so I got another novelty yarn, bit not sue I like it. DH thinks it's great. This guy now has his arms, but is waiting for me to finish his legs. I actually have one in white with blue hat/mittens/boots, and another one green with grey hat/one mitten/no boots yet. They are kind of fun to knit, and DD2 loves to play with them (she's named them already). I will try to squeeze these in a little this weekend, as we need to finish to send out to to their new homes. I will make a few for our home too, just they can wait a little before need to work on those. I have other things more preasing....like lots of poodle skirts. Why did I think this wold be a fun project to take on? What was I thinking?

Wish me luck.

Hello, My Friend, Hello.

2008-08-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Clue one done.

You can't really see it but there are beads on this piece. I tried not to get caught up in this craze, but more and more of the shawls out there are incorporating them into the design...so I finally gave in and decided to give it a try.

I do think the beading part is a little fussy, but I think it would go alot easier if I would just break down and spend the $2 to get the beading needles....

I am still pluggng away on the summer lace sampler from BadCat designs... no picutre right at the moment, but will post something soon.

On The Needles

2008-07-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is a summer project I found on the net. I was trying to get to this project sooner, but better late then never. This is a lace sampler from BadCat Designs. I was browsing around and happened upon the project. Here you can see all of clue 1 and 3/4 of clue 2. Since this picture was taken, I have finished clue 3 and , oh, about 2/3 of the way through clue 3. I like this project. It's not real wide, but depending on how it blocks, I may end up using this as a scarf instead of a wrap/stole. The color is listed as Aloe, but I would call it a soft apple. A little color without being too powerful. dark enough to add a little color, but light enough to over dye if it's not quite right.

I had also strated the Mystic Meadow Stole, almost on time with everyone... but life has a way of getting on the way of things. It is wallowing, waiting for me to commence clue 2. You can't see as much detail as this pattern has. It's a lovely pattern, challanging yet not frustrating. I really like it. I want to get onto clue 2....maybe this weekend.

I have missed my knitting. I need that creative outlet, and for the last month this has been kind of put on the back burner. My company had to move out of it's building, and we didn't have as mcuh notice as most companies need. It was a lot of work for 2-3 weeks before the move, and 2-3 weeks after the move as well. Now with things kind of quieting down at work, I am hoping to get back to some knitting. I know I do have some sewing to take care of first (back to school is right around the corner). But soon.

Pony, Pony Everywhere, But Not A One to Ride

2008-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

DD2 loves to take pictures, and what better subject then her ponies.

I never know what I'll find on the digital camera after it's sat out for a few days...

Careful of the rough-housing there... plenty of room for everyone...

Now hold still...say cheese!

Let's see, is this thing working?

Sparkle

Sparkle-Sparkle.

Sparkle-Sparkle at play....

DD2 at play.

Once A Month, Ready Or Not

2008-06-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's already been a month since I last posted. The time has gotten away from me - with end of the school year, end of the (girl)scouting year, company moving, and the downpouring of KALs.... Something had to give, and unfortunately it was this. I don't even have lots of great pictures to show for it!

This is a little over half of the swatch for the Mystic Meadows stole swatch. It was a smaller piece of the yarn I wanted to use, and from the little bit I did, I think I'm going to really like this choice. i will cast on tonight for a little bit.

My back is acting up right now, so it's hard to do anything but sit and knit...not that I mind. I did want to start work on a dress for my younger daugther- a yellow dress for "Wear Yellow To School Day" (Wednesday). Since it's Monday now, I don't have much time, but the pattern isn't too complicated. I should be able to crawl on the floor and cut out the dress, and maybe even start some of the sewing as well. I have some yellow ginham in the stash that would work wonderfully for this project (I think I better hurry and use up some of this material...both girls are starting to get a bit big for the gingham look...if you know what I mean.

After the yellow dress, I need to think about the older daugther. We have a pirate fair we want to go to this weekend, and she's outgrown her outfit from last year. DD2 is all set with something from the costume bin, and husband just needed some pants. I have a new bodice I'm finishing (need to put grommets in),and some bloomers/bottoms(haven't decided just what yet). DD1 needs new bodice, new skirt, new shift...she just keeps growing. I guess this is what happenes when you feed them :oP

After the pirate fair, she'll be needing clothes anyway. Like I keep saying - she 's a growing kid. She wants to learn to sew, so I will enlist her help to sew some of the things (with proper supervision). She should be able to help with shorts/pants and simple shirts. At least to start out with. She helped some this last Sunday with pants for DH. they were a very simple design and she helped to sew much of them up. I'm hoping for a good summer.

May Day...May Day...

2008-05-09T14:30:00.002-07:00

Things have been kind of up-side down for me the last few weeks. Nothing tragic, just screwy. to cope, I knit. I have been able to finish the monkey socks (shown here in progress) started around the time of the wedding back in March. I haven't worn these yet, I need to finish tucking in the loose ends.

I made my "Incrdible Hulk Business Socks". A shorter, sportier sock. Picture doesn't do justice to the great green color. I haven't worn these either, just haven't had the occassion.

I have been working on swatches for another KAL I want to participate in, but I'm not happy with first swatch. The gauage is a little big, and I knit loosely , so this might not be a good thing.

Here's the Swatch-In-Progress. The color doesn't show, but it is a soft apple green (I think the vendor called it Aloe Vera or something like that). I like the color. Soft enough to be almost nuetral, but still a little color...light enough to oveerdye if the color isn't quite what you want.

What's In Your Wallet?

Here's my bag that I carry my STUFF in everyday. I throw my knitting supplies I take to work with me. It makes me laugh to think about all the knitting "crap" I have in there.

Here's my bag that I carry my STUFF in everyday. I throw my knitting supplies I take to work with me. It makes me laugh to think about all the knitting "crap" I have in there. Yarn (about 8 balls of yarn), knitting nnedles (1/2 doz sets of Dbl pt needles, and several circulars), plus knitting/Lace book...all sorts of stuff. the good thing about it being knitting stuff, it ain't too heavy. Yarn is far more bulky then weighty.

Now as I look at the picture, I find it almost embarrassing to show the picture of the inside of my bag....dope!

2008-04-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

BIGGER Happy Face!

2008-04-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

I did it! I finally finished the Galveston Shawl. FINALLY! Now I need to block. I didn't have time this weekend to get there, but I hope to get it done tonight / tomorrow. I am so glad to finally have this off the needles. I laugh at it a little now, at the color choice. I had used cream colored yarn, as it was what I had in my stash, but I was wanting to maybe dye it a french blue. Now that it's done, I'm not sure I want to dye it, but not sure I like the cream color either. For now I will block it and see what I think.

On another note, I did finally rceive the wool/yarn I ordered at the end of February, thinking I would use for one of the many KALs I've sign-up for. Now I don't remember which I was going to use for what. In most cases, I found something else to use for the project because the box was taking so long from Canada. No worries though, cause we all know something else will come along that this will work for.

Happy Knitting

Happy Faces

2008-04-11T15:59:00.001-07:00

In the morning when I arrive at work, I see a bunch of the flowers looking like this.. not too Happy.

By the time I go home, they looking something like this! Much Happier!

I can hardly wait for the Morning Glories to come into their own! One of my favorite things in the morning is to look out the back window and see a wall of Morning Glory...in all it's "Glory".

And here, you see the Galveston Shawl so close to being done. One small problem...the stitch count came out wrong. I am short by 2 stitches. I need to go back and look at the last edge and see if I can figure out where I "Oops" up. I know there were a few times I kind of zoned out while knitting the edge on, so I may be able to tink back some and correct the problem. Think good thoughts of it only being a small problem to fix ( not too muck tinking to correct).

Have a good weekend!

100 Rows of KnittingTo Go, 100 Rows Of Knitting...

2008-04-10T09:22:00.001-07:00

We'll knit the row

turn it around

and do the same again.

You know how it is when you are so close to the end you start to get SOOOO tired of the project? SOOOooo close you can see the end, and yet it's seems to go on FOREVER.
I am trying to finish this project first. I have started a pair of socks, but I am pushing to get this in to FO pile. I'll figure out where to block when I get to that stage.

On another topic, I can't believe how much more mature my youngest seems these last few weeks. It's like it's sunk into her that she's graduating pre-school in a month, and soon she'll be starting elementary school. the change is subtle, but it's there. I can't quite put my finger on what's different, there's something in the way she talks, or retells her adventure (and mis-adventures) of her day, the way she interacts with her sister and the cats.... something in the way she moves. I guess turning 5 was a good thing for her.

Rounding Third

2008-04-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've rounded the third corner, and heading for the fourth. I can see progress ( well, actually I don't see progess as much as I feel the needle holding all the stitches getting lighter). This will be a big shawl when done. Pretty AND big. I can't wait until I block the bugger.

And, of course I was bad. I started another side (smaller) project. Something portable to take easily in my purse. Just a sock - fat free snack for when I hunger for something to do and I can't take the shawl 'cause it's too big to lug around much. It's a Monkey sock.

I want to purfect my socking skills, so I thought I would try out some yarn that I Navajo plied to get the thickness I thought I needed. It seems to be working out well for me. I'll know better once the sock is done. I tried this yarn just doubled up, but the resulting sock was/is too thin. The yarn was labeled as sock yarn ( must have meant for sock knitting machine), I use it mostly for shawls. I do like how it's turning out. I am hopeful this will be a keeper.

The blue ball next to it, was some handspun I did last year. I was looking for sock yarn in my stash and found this. I think it will be ok as well. I found another pattern I want try using this with. I actually tried a sock with it last year ( soon after I spun it), but I didn't like how it was turning out. So I am trying again, but with a different pattern and a different needle size. I am such a loose knitter, that I am using a size 2.0mm/US 0, and the gauge is looking good. funny how natural these needles feel in my hands, and size 2.5mm/#2 feel huge. Amazing what you get use to in a short amount of time.

Just A Ducky Day

2008-03-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Don't ask what made me think nothing says "Happy Birthday" like little rubber ducks...a moment of weakness... couldn't pass up a bargain... don't know. I saw them on the Easter Clearance table and couldn't resist.

Judging the girls response to the ducks when I got home, I knew I was onto something. They pounced on them and played with all the ducks(and not just in a row). There's something kind of odd going on when you see 2 dozen little rubber ducks milling around on the floor.

The Birthday girl was very excited about the idea of taking all the rubber ducks for her classmates(see picture below, w/ third day of Birthday crown. She's milking this for all she can). I thought I was being clever with the idea of blue icing and rubber ducks ( ok, it sounded like a cool idea until my husband heard the idea and just kind of rolled his eyes. he didn't say "No', or 'Nay", or anything negative. He just rolled his eyes. 'Nough said). Not real elegant, but I thought it would be lots of fun...for the kids. The school is open, but they are in springbreak (which means school is open for the kids who's parents can't afford to take the time off for a proper vacation, so they send their kids to school), so this was something a little different from their everyday fare.

On the "knitting side of life", I have finished the first edge of the Galveston Shawl, and about a quarter of the way across the second edge. Making swimming progress. Hopefully I won't lose too much momentum this weekend working in the yard/garden. I need to weed the planters to prepare for the spring crop of tomatoes.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby

2008-03-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

5 years ago, yesterday......

We had a wonderful time at Chuck E Cheese to celebrate her special day. I'm sure she would have liked a little more...like a party with 100 of her closest friend. Unfortunately, we spent a little too much over the weekend to attend a wedding for my nephew, down in San Diego. The airfare, hotel rates, and car rental (not to mention the wedding dress supplies needed to make the dress for the bride) all took a hefty chunk out of the old piggy bank.

Continuing on my perfect record, I still have to complete a knitting project this calander year. At least I was able to finish the wedding dress(the bride was beautiful), I just wish I had a picture of it. I had taken my camera with me with the express desire to get a picture, but it was left at the hotel while I ran out to help the bride get dressed for the big event. I am trying to find out if any of the family (I had lots of family there) managed to get a picture. I think someone said the photographer was going to post the pictures to his website, and we would be able to order copies from him...so I will check this rumor our. I would like to get a copy just so I have something to remember the episode by (I mean besides all the scraps of white fabric strewn about my sewing room, the small bouquets of roses bought and discarded-again around the sewing room, to adorn the skirt).

On a brighter note, I have started the knitted edge of the Galveston Shawl. I am almost...almost done with the first edge. Then, just 3 more to go. It's only taken me months the get this far! It's looking real good, and will be a fairly large size. I was thinking of dying it frecnh blue, but now I'm not so sure. I just want to be done with it.

I better go, I have cupcakes to make for DD2's class to celebrate her birthday. I need eggs to get the dirty deed done. Happy Birthday, baby! I sure do love you!

Oh MY!

2008-03-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

You Are 68% Creative

You are beyond creative. You are a true artist - even if it's not in the conventional sense of the word.

You love creating for its own sake, and you find yourself quite inspired at times.

How Creative Are You?

I was a little curious when I saw this quiz on a blog. Once I started reading the questions my curiosity soon turned to worry, and I didn't feel my answers were too ....carefree?....indicative of me?.....creative? This wasn't as bad as I feared, but not as good as I hoped. I use to be so creative, so "head in the clouds"... now I feel grounded with 2 loving DDs and a husband, 2 cats, a mortgage, a full time job, and all the trappings that can come with life sometimes.

On a good note, I am almost done with the wedding dress for my Nephew's Fiancee. The wedding is at Easter, so it's not too soon. I hope to finish it before this weekend ( I mostly need to hem the skirt).

I have been doing some knitting (mostly during slow times at work). I have finished clue 3 on Secret of The Stole II. I started into clue 4 before I relized it wasn't the same on both edges anuymore, so I need to frog about 10 rows. Not trageic, just slowdown. On the Spring Shawl Surprise, I have finshed clue 4, and over half way through clue 5. I really like this project. Very challenging. As for the other projects, they just don't hold my interest. I feel too much pressure over the wedding dress to really concentrate on anything else. I want to finish the Galveston Shawl ( I only have 4 rows of clue 6 before we commence the outter border. The end is in sight, so I get excited, but the outer edge takes something like half and hour a round, so it seems to take forever). I still need to finish the Mystery Shawl 6(never mind #7 has started, but I am waiting for the yarn to arrive for this project), it mocks me from it's position in the lving room, near my favorite spot to sit and knit. I see it everyday when I sit down, calling to me, begging to be completed. I guess April will be the time of resurrection as I try to breath life into may projects that need to be completed.

Here it is March, and I can't think of one project I've completed yet in the new year. I can think of half a dozen started, but none completed. I guess you could say it's a perfect record......a perfect ZERO!

Well 2 months gone, 10 more to improve my track record.

Ketch-up

2008-02-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

Kind of a ketch-up sort of color, don't you think?

Here's my clue 3 from the Spring Shawl Surprise. I actually finished this last week sometime, and plunged into clue 4. I was hoping to get it done last weekend, but hardly even picked it up. Not for lack of desire, just something more pressing took my attention. I am almost done with clue 4, and if work goes as it's been, I will finish it before the end of the week. Now that I am past clue 2, things are going so much better. It was really kicking my butt, and I have come to terms with it's victory and doubled my efforts to achieve some sense of accomplishment. The group has just issued clue 8, so I am only sort of behind. I can still catch the group if I progress as I have over the last few weeks, and put my head down and just keep pedaling ( I'll be at the top of the hill in no time...if it doesn't kill me first).

BTW, the night out with my Sweetie was WONDERFUL! We went out to dinner and a movie, without kids in tow. My husband is already planning on a repeat in a month or so for our anniversary. It will be fun.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

From my Sweetie.

I actually received them yesterday, and any time you get flowers from your sweetie, well to quote someone famous " It's a good thing!"

I have them at work so I can enjoy them all day ( and besides, so far I was the only one to get flowers at work. OK girls, eat you heart out!!!).

We will be going out for dinner on Sunday, just the 2 of us, so I am getting kind of excited about tghe idea. It's been a long time since we've been able to go out without the girls coming too.

happy Valentine's Day everyone, now go out and hug someone.

I May Need To Re-think This

2008-02-07T16:29:00.000-08:00

I know New Year's resolutions are made to be broken, so I try, as a rule, to not mke them. This year, I decided there were a few things I needed to change so I made "Promises to do better".

1. Be better at paying the bills on time- it's not so much that I don't have the money (although there have been things have been pretty darn tight). Just lazy at sitting down with the bills AND the checkbook at the same time.

2. Post more regularly. Keep better tabs on where I'm at, and what I'm up to.

3. Try to reduce the stash. Any stash. This is my year to de-clutter. Oh sure, I did buy more yarn in January, but it doesn't count (any knitting fiend will atest to that!). But, in general, I want to start eliminating some of the piles I have built up around me, and find better homes for the stuff I am not using, haven't used inyears, and won't use in the foreseeable future.

4. Try to finish what I start. This kind of works in conjunction with #2. If I can finish some of the projects I've started, I could use up some of the stuff I have in my stash, waiting for my attention.

5. Not jump on every boat with the intials K-A-L. I am addicted to them. I have signed up for too many this spring, and now some of them are really kicking my butt!

A - The Spring Shawl Surprise is the first to come to mind. Althought this started at the beginning of January, I am only half way through clue2. I have had to re-start this a few times, them stop in progress to go back and fix things. It's a grewat pattern, but I refuse to let it get the best of me! I keep trying to move along ( just slower to hopefully reduce the mistakes).

B - The Secret of the Stole II -Clue 2 shown above. This one knits up nice. I like this one. Here I have just finished clue 2, and will embark on clue 3. The group has released Clue 3 and will release clue 4 on Friday (tomorrow). The good thing is once I start working on this, it knits up nicely. Fun to knit.

C - Dem-Fischer-sin-fru This one just started up 2 weeks ago, and I am only just casting on ( I was waiting for yarn to arrive). I'm not sure about the hshape, but I like the challange of the pattern none-the-less.

D - Mystery Shawl#6 - half way through clue 4 (so much for posting the completed clue anytime soon). In my last post I showed a picture through clue 3, and it's looking pretty good. I should just concentrate on finishing this off, but I have other things that need to take precedence. This might get shifted to the UFO drawer until later in the spring (at least until after Easter).

E - Galveston Shawl. Yes, I'm still plugging away on this. I am on around row 20 of 34 for clue 6 ( before starting the knit on border). This thing is hugh - before blocking. It will be larger then large once blocked. Although the idea does kind of excite me and makes me want to finish it. i can almost see an end in sight... the thought of completeing something has me kind of giddy. I can't think of any project I'v finished yet since the New Year....started many, completed few.

What is the New Year anyway, but another date on the calander. See if these were resolutions, I would not be making too much progress, but sice they are simply Promises, I feel like I am keeping my own or slowly making progress.

Clue One Done

2008-01-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

Here's the first clue done. It's kind of hard to tell from the photo, but this is a purplish navy, not the "True Navy" it was labeled. I really like it. Since the yarn was very tin, I used it doubled, on a US 2. I started with straight needles, and quickly switched to a circular needle. I am not too far behind on this one. I have started the 2nd clue already, and the third clue doesn't come out until Friday. There's hope...

On the green winter Mystery Shawl, I'm still on clue 4. It's slow going. I am excited to get it done, just lost a little momentum. I really am so close, and all the pictures I've seen of the finished project is beautiful.

I said I would, so here goes

2008-01-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

I managed to finish clue 3 of the Mystery Shawl#6. I actually finished Friday night, but couldn't get to the computer due to DH and DD. They tend to hog the computer for their on-line games. It's looking good. I am just about to start clue 4, and hope to finish that clue by the end of this week. I have already signed up for the next Mystery Shawl that starts in March(? I think. It could be February).

I went to Reno this last weekend to visit Family, and took along my Spring Shawl Surprise. I thought I had everything sorted out and was progressing nicely(after ripping out several rows last week), but noticed something is messed up (again along the right side of the middle design. I tried to un-knit a small portion but had to stop, as it looked like I was messing it up further. I wanted to wait until I had better light and less distraction before picking that up again.

On the good news side, I also took along my Galveston Shawl, and was able to finish clue 5, and start on clue 6 (which seems to knit faster). The sides are getting big, so knitting a round seems to take quite a bit of time. I am getting excited about finishing this off(even though if I stop to think about it, I have about 30 rows of clue 6 to do, then the border around this piece, so we are still talking about a lot of knitting on this project, but an end is insight). As I work on this, I often dream about what color I would have liked to have done this in. Right now it is a vanilla color, but I am thinking of dying it a Wedgwood/french blue when done. We'll see.

I am loving the knitting. It's good to be clicking the needles again after a dry (knitting project wise) holiday. Now after several hours of knitting, I am slowed bu aching hands, bummer, but to be expected ( we're talking 4-5 hours of knitting). I guess one doesn't live on knitting along.....

Better Late Then Never

2008-01-17T15:52:00.000-08:00

I feel like I haven't done much lately, but I do have Clue 2 for the Mystery Shawl#6 to show. I am almost done with clue 3, I hope to post pictures by the end of this week. I am very please with how this is coming along.

I also have clue #1 of the Spring Shawl Surprise done. I had about half of clue 2 done when I found I had a problem that really needed to be frogged back and corrected. Since this meant time and concentration, I had put it aside for about a week. Unfortunately these things done fix themselves (I kept hoping the knitting elves would make a secrete appearance, but to no avail). Finally I bit the bullet and proceeded to fix my problem on the piece. I ended up un-knitting 12 rows of the piece. While i was re-rolling the yarn back on the spool, I managed to knock over my fresh cup of coffee...all over everything on the desk(at least this time I missed my keyboard, unlike last week).

And ii finally found my Galveston Shawl, and slowly am working on this as well. I had it before Christmas, but then couldn't find it for several weeks there ( I had put it one of the Xmas ornament boxes, so it was put back in the garage for the whole holiday period. I was so frustrated, because I had seen it one day, and not the next, and had a vague image of me putting somewhere that made sense at the time (dope. I can't even blame the well-meaning-but-often-clueless-when-it-comes-to- knitting guy. Nope, I'm pretty sure it was me). At least i have it now. I have 4-5 rows to go on clue 5, then 6 and 7 to finish. It is making progress, albeit slow.

As much as I love the holidays, and this year was good-relaxing and fun, I sure am glad it's over and things are sort of back to normal. kids are back to school, and work is going. I am a little worried about work, but I'll either have a job or I wont. You keep hearing stories about the economy going bad, and we sort of see it, but by-and-large, we don't quite yet. I sometimes panic about losing my job then trying to make the end smeet with the kids tuition and the house payment. I just have to calm myself down, and remind myself, we have a little nest egg for just such emergencies. things will work themselves out...one way or another.

Back to the needles for now. I do fine if I take life, one stitch at a time.

Keep Smiling.

Another Holiday Has Come...

2007-12-31T11:56:00.000-08:00

The aftermath, the carnage, Oh it was pretty gruesome! Christams this year seem to go on for days. This was probably just my imagination (that and having to stay home with the kids those few days after Christmas), but now I am almost (choke) looking forward to returning to work on Wednesday.

It was a full holiday season with 2 Christmas pagents for the Kids ( one each), plus parties for friends and family, plus working full time leading up to the day and trying like the dickens NOT to be sick(again) for Christmas. There were football games to go to(I just had to scream and holler for my team...to the point of losing my voice carrying-on such). It was all great fun, until the 2 days before Christmas when the cold hit hard. At least I was slightly better then my husband, who got hit hard with it shortly after me. I was able to cook the Christmas dinner for the family, and try to generally help the kids to enjoy the holiday. In the end it was a good thing I was off for the 3 days after Christmas, to stay home and try and shake the bug.

During all this time at home, I haven't done much on the craft front. My COS shawl is still sitting half way through clue 4(I ended one ball of yarn, and haven't dug the second ball out of the stash pile...). The Daffodil is still sitting around the same place I left it earlier this year. I am just about to embark on several KALs that are scheduled to start at the New Year, but I am wondering if that's a good idea.....

Here is clue one from the Mystery Shawl #6, this group started to work on it back at the beginning of December, and I am only this far along (not bad I guess considering I only started it after Christmas)...

Ok, I have to go, with everyone home, they wait until I get on the computer to decide they need it too. Ugh.

I will try agian later to post more news of what's been going on.

Hope your holidays were Merry.

Let Me See Clue #3

2007-12-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

Clue two down, six more to go! I finished the second clue today,and will start on clue 3 this evening when I get home. I really like this pattern. It isn't difficult, especially when you get the design started. Then it kind of falls into place as you knit each row.

Several people that have completed their stole have made comment about the size ( in all fairness, the designer did warn about trying to meet gauge, as it was going to be pretty large). I am only a quarter of the way through and it is already 18" Long- before blocking. At this rate, I can see this blocking to 96"(or more). That's quite large. We'll see.

I haven't started the MysteryShawl #6 yet. I was thinking of knitting it in a soft grey yarn I bought on-line, but when i saw it was named "Snowflakes", I wasn't keen on the idea of a grey trianglar shawl. I was OK with a square shawl, but soon realized I don't have enough yarn for that project. I am back to looking for yarn for the project. I need to get a jump on it, as clue 1 went out last weekend, and I don't want to get too far behind.

Not much to show for it

2007-11-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

I go away for a week and a half on vaction, and this is all the knitting I have to show for it. I was actually hoping to get quite a bit more done during our time away, but I made the mistake of picking up a book I was wanting to read. I couldn't put it down until I finished.
But who could knit with this to look at?

This was the view during our rain forest hike. We walked around for 3 hours- beautiful, lush scenery, wildlife abound - including the mositoes. Everyone in our group had their own personal cloud of the little pests (yuck).

While we were in Costa Rica, my DD1 had her 8th Bday. This was actually taken on her special day, which we spent in Puerto Viejo, shopping and hanging at the sports bar(the guys needed their football fix).

Here's one of the highlites of the trip - the Zip Line Experince. Here you see them getting the gear on- harnesses and safety lines.

That platform sure looks way up there! I don't have a problem with heights, but the ladders was steeper then they look. We'd climb up to the platform top, they'd hook us up to the cables and away we'd go.

It was great fun to go flying through the air on these cables. I would like to try this again on a more advanced cable run (I heard such tales of more challanging set ups). I was able to pretty much control my positioning without getting turned around, or getting my fingers smashed, or knocking the guides off the platforms...I think that's pretty darn good.

From San Jose to San Jose

2007-11-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

What a great vacation we had in Costa Rica!!! We flew out of San Jose CA, to San Jose CR. This picture above is the view from our window/deck at the first location we stayed at in Corcovado. This is on the upper Northwestern region, Pacific coast. This was an amazing view. It isn't quite beach front(although you can see the ocean in the background), but all the "wild life" visable from this vantage point is amazing. There were a few times we watched the monkeys travel through the trees you see out there (jumping from the tree tops to the next tree tops). Also there were many a times the Tucans were right outside on the trees (once not more then 10 ft away).

The weather was great. We feared it would be wetter( and it was some what wetter on the Carribean side), but aside from a brief afternoon shower the first day, it pretty much only rained at night when you weren't likely to be up anyway. It was hot and humid all the time (even at night), but by the end of the week, you don't notice it as much. The downside of the weather was the lack of ability to dry anything. We'd go swimming one day, any everything would remain damp for ages. We even had the laundry done while we were there, and the clothes were pretty much dry, but still a lingering sense of dampness (sweat like).

All-in-all, we'd like to go back again sometime, maybe to the volcanic region (I was really hoping we would make it there this time, but not a chance. Our tour co-ordinator had us all pretty busy throughout the trip). The people were very helpful and friendly, and patient with us silly tourists.

The food was great. We ate from the high end restaurants and roadside cafes, and always the food was good! The funniest part was that we ended up eating italian a couple of times ( I love italian, but the kids aren't nearly as excited by it as I am, so we don't eat it as often as I want. Who would have thought we'd have to go to Costa Rica for me to gedt good Italian food!). My younger DD loves beans and rice, so she was a happy camper. In general we were all very happy and well fed during our trip.

One thing I liked about the trip was how at the first place we stayed, they had no electricity, so the girls were waking and sleeping with the sun. Towards the end of the week, it was not uncommon for the girls to fall asleep while we were out to dinner. Here you can kind of see not only one but both DDs fell asleep at the restaurant. It wasn't terribly late in the evening, but the day was full of fun in the sun.

I have more pictures from the trip, will try to post a few of the more exciting times to share.

Picking Up The Pieces

2007-11-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Remember this?

I finally picked this back up to finish it. I was trying to see what the daffodil looked like here. I like the pattern and am anxious to see this done. I really like daffodils, ever since I went to Connecticut in the early spring several years ago. The daffodils and the crocus were just popping up through the snow.

My problem now is I'm not sure I have enough string to finish this project. i never think to check the requirement when it comes to doilies, I just plow ahead(besides, I usually don't knit to gauge anyway). I used this color because I liked it, but also because I thought I had plenty with 2 complete ball of the stuff. I will have to dig deep in my stash to see if I can find anymore. I'm not at a stand still, but I can see the cardboard tube the ball is wound on. I'm just getting nervous.

This is not the first time I've had this happen. A few years ago I started a doily in a royal blue color. It was looking real nice when suddenly I found I was out of string. I looked all over, but couldn't find anything to use for the outer rim. I just put it aside for the time being. I think it's still just sitting on the needle, waiting to be completed.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Halloween. This is DD2 in the middle in the flying Unicorn costume. She loved this costume we found at a fund raiser - $5.00. It was pink and a horsey. I wasn't going to go wrong with this one!

DD1 wanted something more Renaissance like - her school didn't do Halloween, but rather Cultureal Day. They were encouraging kids to wear costumes that reflected their heritage. We were trying something Historical (I'm sure there's a little english in us. Her coloriung is more of the Germasn heritage showing through).

On a day like to day...

2007-11-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

how can anyone want to be inside...sitting behind a desk...waiting for the phone to ring?

This it the view outside the window that is behind me. It's a beautiful day today(now that the morning fog/haze has burned off). In the lull after Halloween, and the gearing up for our trip over Thanksgiving week, my mind has left on it's own mini vacation. I find it so hard to concentrate on anything right now.

Hopefully this too will pass and i can get back to work on things.

Lookie, Lookie

2007-10-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's here, it's here!

My beautiful prize from The Vicious Chicken . It came so much faster then I expected. It was sitting there waiting for me to come home from work ( along with 2 very excited girls, wanting to rip it open and see what kind of things a vcicoius chiken would send).

DD#2 was so upset when I made her wait until this morning to open the package ( well I had to take a picture of it, but it was too dark last night to get a good picture - see above). So this morning we took it to school with us, and snapped the picture while dropping her off. Here you can see her excitedly holding the package. Soon after the shot was snapped, she tore into the package to see the cup inside. While it was true I was pretty happy with the cup, she was far more interested in the monkey magnet. I convinced her to put it down with the cup and treats so I could get a pic of it( sorry it's not the best pic, but does show the booty), but that was the last I saw of it. She wouldn't give it up, but instead kept it to show all her friends at school. I only hope it comes home with her as well.

THANK VC, I LOVE IT!

Who's Up For Shots?

2007-10-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

Since we are planning to travel to Costa Rica next month, we needed to see about shots/vaccines for the trip. I took the girls to the pediatrician, and found DDs both needed 2 shots and some oral medicines for the trip. While waiting for the doctor to come into the room, the girls were jumping off the furniture, singing and dancing, demanding they get their shots (secretly I was amused and figured they had forgotten what it was like to get those nasty things). When the nurse came in with the tray of shots, suddenly it wasn't so funny anymore.

The older daughter went first, and panicked a little when discovered it really did involve a needle. Thank goodness the nurse was quick, and did both shots with a minimum of fuss. She was able to give the shots, then slap a band aid on before DD1 was able to make too much drama about her experience.

DD2, now a little apprehensive, took her shots with a little more fuss (but not too much wiggling, so she must have known it would hurt more if she did), but all in all was good. The nurse, again ever efficient, was able to give DD2 the shots, but unfortunately it bled a little. The site of the blood on her sister's arm had DD1 freaking out some. Honestly it was such a small amount, but older sister, already panicked by her shots, was now really panicked that her sister was bleeding (who in turn began to panic herself). The nurse put a band aid on it, and that should have been the end of it, but older sister kept carrying on about how her sister was bleeding.

Let's hope when she grows up, she doesn't pick a career where blood in involved. i somehow think she won't do well. The young girl, I sometimes think she should be a < hren="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Shop_of_Horrors_(1986_film)"> dentist<\a>. She does seem to enjoy the pain (inflicting, not receiving).

Costa Rica, Here We Come

2007-10-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

We are planning a family vacation in Costa Rica this Thanksgiving. DD2 will also have her birthday #8 while we're there. I am so busy scrambling for needed shots/vcacinations, appropriate clothing (long sleeves and loose/comfortable long pants), haven't been able to knit much.

Actually, I think it's more of a stalled-out on the knitting. I don't know quite what to pick-up and tackle. Part of my problem is I know I want to take something with me to work on, but not sure what, so I'm kind of languishing in nothing. But I miss the knitting.

I did work on the monkey some, I have the body/face mostly done, but need to make the arms and ears. My DDs like it and keep asking when it will be done. DH just kind of laughs at it (it is funny looking without ears, arms or eyes). I tried to take a picture, but it turned out funny. I will try again this afternoon.

First There Was This

2007-10-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the start of something beautiful!

Funny Girl

2007-10-10T09:10:00.001-07:00

DD2: Mommy, take a picture of my feet.
Me: Why?
DD2: It would be funny!

Me: Ok, here's a picture of your feet. Can we finish getting dressed now?
DD2: Mommy, take another picture of my feet.

Me: Here's another picture of your feet. Can you put your shoes on? We have to finish dressing for school.
DD2: Mommy, take another picture of my feet.
Me: No, we have enough pictures of your feet. Come on, we need to get moving for school. No, no, no, don't play with the camera, it's not a toy.

Gotta love the innocense of youth.

Although my knitting has slowed down quite a bit, I am making some progress. On daffodils, this has stalled out, but I am trying to pick up the pieces and get it moving along again. I am on row 109 of 168. It looks like to real hard part is past, and now it's a matter of helping it grow outwards. I will just have to be careful not to work hours on end on this just to finish, as I do think this is the one that was bothering my shoulder.

I had started the Secret of the chrysopolis, got as far as row 72 when I ran out of yarn on thie first ball I had. I have found another ball of yarn, so will resume work on this( i hope to post a picture of clue 1 completed soon). The group in onto clue 2 already, so if I don't get a move on, I will fall too far behind to keep up with everyone ( I knnow this is really a work at your own pace, but I was hoping to knit this in a timely fashion, and work on each clue when published).I love the pattern so far. It is very pretty.

The Secret of The Stole has started last Friday, and I haven't begun that yet. I was looking at the olive green superwash wool I had, and was thinking this would be a lovely color to use for it. I have spun up and plied 2oz., which should be enough to get started. It's been good to get back to the spinning again. I forget how fun and relaxing it is to spin. I am bringing my spindle with me more for those few moments I can catch between activities to get some spinning done.

And the worst part is now I am thinking of monkeys. Too much time at Monkee Maker, and The Vicious Chicken . I see that monkey and want one too......

Where have I been?

2007-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

I know what your thinking- This doen't look like knitting. You're right. It's not. I have been knitting like a MadMan on the Daffodil design, but not without it's repercussions. I now have a pain in my shoulder. It started Monday, and it slowed me down quite a bit. At first I thought it was just that I slept wrong, but realized it was late in the afternoon, after a morning of intense knitting.I tried to back off on Tuesday ( it just about killed me NOT to knit all day), and my shoulder felt so much better. I am trying to knit in moderation, and this seems to help. but my progress has slowed so much.

This spinning is my attempt to distract me from the knitting. The movements are very different, but the hands are still busy, so I don't miss the knitting as much. This is some superwash wool I got off Ebay, and am thinking of using it for the stole in the KAL Secret-of-the-Stole. The color is quite nice, kind of a lt. olive. I have a pound of this fiber, not quite enough for a sweater as it is, would need to mix with something else if I'm going to use it for a sweater. But, now that I think about it, I also have a pound of this stuff in a sage green. I might be able to blend these 2 together for a noce color..... I will have to dig out that bag and see what happens.

SSSsssshhhhhhhhh....It's A secret

2007-09-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Finally this has started! I was so trying to not get caught in the excitement, but I couldn't help myself. Against my better judgement, I worked up a swatch last weekend for this KAL, using laceweight yarn I found in the thrift store. You might recognize the stuff from the Victorian Lace Sock. I was really wanting something in Pine green, but sine the budget is a little tight, I figure I better see if I have something in my stash, then dye-it. I will try my hands at dying this once completed. I know, I say that everytime I knit something in the plain vanilla color, but this time I really mean it! The pattern is pretty, so I am excited to jump in (I'm already on row 10, and the evening is young).

8...9...10..."One-teen"...

2007-09-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

I love this, my DD2 was counting horses in her coloring book and when she came to eleven, she said "...One-teen, Two-teen, Three-teen..." I know I should have corrected this, but it was too cute to mess with.

OK, now I am feeling the pressure. My job has changed at work, so I now answer the main phone. I'm feeling very chained-dwon as it was made very clear the phone MUST be monitored at all times. It is not suppse to go into the automated system at any time during the normal work day. One time, about a month ago I was put in charge of the phone ( I can answer the phone, how hard can that be...), but missed a call. I never heard the phone ring, but I sure heard the CEO when he talked at me about it later (it was him calling in). Since then I haven't been exactly chummy with the phone( I'll add at thi point this isn't a desktop phone, it's a wireless portable phone, that allows you to answer the main line remotely, and transfer calls to employees at the building). The button pushing can be a little complicated. Anyway, I am beginning to really dislike the phone. On the other hand, I am learning everyone's extension like I never knew before...

OTN: Daffodils is coming along. I am on row 83, not quite as fast as I would have liked, but still, it growing. If I can keep this pace up, I will be done with this section by the end of the week ( as hoped, to only begin section F next week). I am panicing a little, I fear I won't get it done by the wedding (which now that I think about it, I don't realy know when it is for sure, only that it's in October some time). If I miss the date a little, it probably won't matter much. I know they are going away on a honeymoon, so I can always give it to them when they come back. Still, I am pushing to get this done. I will probably put GALKAL away for now so I can concentrate on this and maybe one or both of the secret stole projects I signed up for. Both of the projects are with Germany knitting groups, so I am struggling a little with the language, but still am excited to try it this way. the patterns will be charted so that won't be a problem (both groups havepeople who speak both languages that can help if there's a problem, so I'm not worried there either). I am excited about them both- altrhough when I joined both groups, I really thought I would be done with thias Shawl by now...bummer I'm not. I have to say clue 4 really take the wind out of my sails...it went on forever.

I haven't even started into Halloween yet. For DD2 , she'll either be a tiger, or a pegasus ( assuming her school allows these characters.. they are funny about what they like and dislike). DD1 wants to be a princess, but I will have to check with the school. For some reason, I recall this being on the list of unacceptable. I can't think of why, I think it had something to do with "Fairies", "Magical", "Scarry", Anti-Halloween Christian thinking. I will have to look into this so I can get a move on. I don't want to be up the night before, sewing her costume(besides, If I let it go too long, all the good fabric will be gone).I know I said I don't want to be sewing it the night before, but I probably will be anyway.

I better get a move on, lots to do, so little time...

Happy Friday

2007-09-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

How can you be sad when you see this face sitting on your desk each day...especially when it's Friday.

Well I managed to meet one of my goals- I was able to complete section D on Daffodils, and have started into section E. It's coming along fabulously. It certainly is yellow.

On the GAL KAL,well, at least I have the weekend to work on it. I have finally completed clue 4 and jumped into clue 5 last night. this clue is a little more difficult, I had to knit each side of the square at least twice on the first row of this clue. The design changes, so you have to really make sure you didn't drop/miss a stitch from the row before. I know that sounds silly, and you're probably think 'Duh", but wait- it's harder to tell because the previous design was something like a 11 st repeat, but this new design is more like an 8 or 9 st repeat. So things didn't always match up. The good news was once you had the base row done, things progressed nicely. I will tackle this and see if I can't finish this clue before the end of the weekend. It will sort of keep me on track. Clue 6 is also only 34 rows, so If I run a little short this week, I will definitely try to catch up next week. It's so nice to see progress and to finally finish clue 4 ( it really did seem to take forever. I know several others from the KAL said something along these lines, but where this might have happened in the past, I didn't always agree with the complaint. This time I agree with the complaint).

I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can

2007-09-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Maybe, just maybe, I over estimated my ability to knit as much as I hoped.....

On the Daffodil Design, I am able to keep up with my projected section this week- I'm on row 67 of 72. I have made marvelous progress. I just need to keep plugging away. It's kind of like when I'm cycling up hill, I don't look at the top of the hill, I just put my head down and peddle, peddle, peddle. I get to the top soon enough ( or die trying...).

The color is really beginning to grow on me(or maybe my brain is just so excited that this really bright color is getting used and removed from the stash box...ya'think?).

As for the GALKAL- I was hoping to finish clue 5 by the end of this week- and I still have time, but I don't think I'll make this goal. All I had to do was finish clue 4 last weekend, but failed to do so. I can't tell you what I did instead ( sometimes the days run together), but I am on the last 2 rows of clue 4, haven't even started clue 5 and it's hump day. I will try, but doubt I'll make it. I would have to average something like 9 rows a day to meet this goal. Well, I guess it's link riding a bike uphill, don't look at the top, just peddle, peddle, peddle.

As for the mystery Shawl, I guess this one is really out of the question at this point. I so want to finish this GALKAL, and need to finish the Daffodill if I'm going to give as it's intended gift. So far, it looks pretty, and someday I'll have to try it.

For now, I will just put my head down and spin.

I'm Pacing Myself

2007-09-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I figure I have to do a section/clue a week on my projects so I've got my work cutout for me.

Daffodils- This week I need to finish section D- 20 rows. No problem...except I'm not sure what I did with my book. I had it Friday at work, and thought I put it in my box of stuff to bring home, but I couldn't find it. I will look more tonight when I get home. I'm not as worried about this, I'm pretty sure I have my 4 rows of section D done for today.

GALKAL - the Galvestan Shawl. I am trying to finish clue 4 ( 6 rows to go), then I need to finish clue 5 by the end of this week. No problem, this clue is only 34 rows. 34 divided by 5 days- that's almost 5 rows a day. I can do this at night while watching TV with DD2.

Mystery Shawl 5- The first clue was given on Saturday. I was hoping to join in this one. I can jump in if I get my daily clotment done, but I won't push as hard on this project. Clue one is 60 rows, in a triangle styled shawl. This would go quickly. I am still thinking about whether I want to join the Halloween Shawl project or not. I wouldn't really get to work on it this month, it would definitly have to wait until I'm done with daffodils, before I could jump on that one!

I think when I break it down to these little goals, it's lots more do-able. Daffodils will continue to be worked on at work during slow times. GALKAL will be done mostly at home, as it's getting pretty big ( even if it's worked in the round on circular needles, it's still getting kind of big to travel with. And the MSG-5, well we'll see. I much prefer the square shawl to the Triangle, and I need to make up my mind on this one.

I only hope it's not too much for my hands to handle. That's a lot of knitting. I don't want to work my hands into soreness, it's just no fun ( not to mention the slow-down it causes).

Got lots of knitting to do.

Finally, Friday!

2007-09-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, It seem to take forever to reach the end of this section. Here we are as far as section C. I started on 4 dpns and moved to 6 when things started to get kind of cramped. Now, I'm thinking I will try to move to a circular, as this would make things a little easier (well, less prickly anyway).

This is fun to knit, though. I like to watch the flower unfold as the project grows. I try not to look at the whole picture yet, it's a little daunting. but, if I look at one section at a time, I feel like I can do this.

Hump Day

2007-09-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, still tired from last weekend. Raise early, Up late... long days. This morning was difficult to get up. Yesterday, DH stayed home to rest up. My DD2 was having a bad day, I hope it's just that she's tired(It's so hard to tell sometimes whats at the root of all their troubles). I am trying to spend more time with her, especially in the evenings. i know sometimes she feels lonely in the evenings when DD1 is playing computer games with Daddy.

Well, I finished part B (rows 17-32)on "Daffodil", started on 4 dpns, but now have switched to 7 needles. I will start on part C (rows 33-50)soon. Still look at the color and just think "Wow, that's bright!!"

On the GAL Shawl I am slowly making my way through clue 4. I am on row 36 of 68.

Springtime in September

2007-09-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is the dioly I am kicking around for a co-worker. I'm still not sure about the color. I was disuccsing this with DH, and he was amused when I showed him a picture of the pattern with the daffodils."I'm sure someone will love the yellow doily with the daffodils, you should go ahead and make it". Not exactly a glowing endorsement, but I guess I'll give it a try.

On the Galveston Shawl, I found a smaller partial ball of yarn, and was able to complete row 29 (of 68) before running out of yarn again. Irolled up another ball on Sunday, but wasn't able to sit and knit. I will resume tonight and plug along. I feel like I'm making progress and just want to finish this out. I have several new KALs starting later this month, so I better get busy and finish this one to be better prepared for the other projects.

Friday Finishings

2007-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, I won't really finish today, I'm only really into clue 4. I am almost done with row 16 of 68), but ran out of yarn until I go home an get another ball. This is an easy knit, just goes round, and round, and round.

I am also looking at starting another doily (oh, not another project!) for a co-worker getting married next month. I was thinking it would be a little something for the couple. I was looking at some yellow crochet thread I have. I was thinking about doing the "Daffodil" design from Marianne Kinzel's Second Book of Modern Knitting. A few years back I went to Connecticut in early spring, and just loved to see the daffodils popping up in the snow. Such brilliant yellow flowers. This crocheting thread reminds me of it... but as I look at it, it does seem a bit bright...I will think on it. The book says it would be Tea Cloth size, roughly 38" across. I would knit this on size 00 needles, so it make turn out a little smaller. I was considering using white thread, but I am drawn to the yellow. maybe I can play with this a little this weekend and come to a better decision.

Too Much To Do, So Little Time

2007-09-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

The problem with being so craft minded- you think about crafts all day. You dream about crafts at night. There is so much you want to do but you can't find enough time to scratch the surface before your mind spirals off in a new direction. there is so much I want to try but between family, home and work, there just isn't enough time.

As I surf around the internet, it's amazing what ideas are out there. So many sewing ideas- it makes me want to go back to the fabric stores again... the yarns out there, makes me want to knit... the patterns out there, makes me want to knit... the wool out there, well you get the idea.

I guess I'm just restless for something new...I must have attention-span issues. I can start a thousand ( at least a few dozen) projects, but the key is just finishing one.....I can dream, right?

More Doily Madness

2007-09-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

See I said I had finished...and I did. This is the eight-pointed Star doily I've been working on for the last 2 weeks - Not that it's been that hard to knit, but rather it's too easy sometimes to put it down ( something about bad eyes/bad lighting and very fine needles..).

This isn't really how I typically block doilies, this was mostly so I could see what I had when it was done (I knew the bamboo skewers would come in handy for something).

I like this doily, simple, uncomplicated. A little tedious on the longer outer edges.

** I did 2 rounds of crocheted loops to use a bit more of the string. I couldn't bring myself to throw away the few extra yards of string, but had no problem throwing away the few extra feet of string once I finished the second round. I think it looks nice with the 2.

Tough Tuesday

2007-09-04T11:03:00.001-07:00

I know it'sTuesday, but it sure feels like Monday...of course a 3-day weekend only adds to the effect.

Not nearly as much "ME" time as I would have liked, but I guess that's to be expected. I got to do lots of laundry, some house work ,and some dishes (Oh Joy!). I need to get into my sewing room, and to finish some knitting projects, but this will have to wait for another time.

Finally, a picture taken. I've had this sitting on the wires for 2 weeks, while I try to get the picture before moving on to the next clue. I was kind of waiting for the longer needle that was being used for another sahwl too, but mostly waiting for the pix. This is the Galveston Shawl, started a few months ago, but progress has been up and down. I want to get this done off the needles.

I also finished the eight-pointed star, but DD1 ran away with it to give Bunny a cape. I have no way of knowing where it's at. I do want to find it and try blocking for photos, just so I can close the book on this. I guess it's time to go pick-up their room.

I've Got Nothing...

2007-08-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Friday before Labor day weekend, happening to co-incide with month end closing...leaves my brain mush. I am pre-occuppied with knitting project and physical inventory( I have to check everything before posting to make sure I didn't miss something).

I am working on asmall stuffed lamb for DD2. I found a pattern somewhere as a guide line to start, but now that I have make the legs and have started into the body, I want to rip it our some and try one more time. It looks great ( I wish I had a photo to show, but I guess this is really a secret still until I have something a little more concrete), I am using some dk rose ( DARK) New Zealand wool I bought for felting purses, and I am combining it with some Eye-lash type novelty yarn I received from a friend ( a partial skein, I hope I have enough..). I was going to knit it up on big needles, then felt down, but this great w/o the felting, so I ripped out the one leg I had done and started again with smaller needles. This looks even better. Instead of knitting the 2 legs as seperate pieces that would be sewn to the side of the body, I knitted them up and just contiuned onto the body with no break. But now he looks a little fat in the hips ( and not in a good way). I will look at it some more before really deciding. I think what I will do is just stop where I'm at on the legs/body, and more on the arms and head. I am mostly worried about running out of the eye-lash yarn before getting these done.

Once this critter is done, I will try to make a little bunny for DD1 using the same base pattern (apparently my love for each child is measured by just how much effort I put into the toys for the kids). I have one more ball of the eye-lash yarn, this time in a tan taht I think will work real good.

Oh I am so looking forward to this weekend. Iknow, I know, it means lots of "Honey-Do" projects (clean the garge, get new phones, do laundry, do the yard, check the kids bicycles...) but the weather has been hot, the homelife caotic as we start the new school year, I just want a day or 2 to kind of unwind a little. Knitsome, maybe even get into my sewing room (ok the last is much more a wishful thought).

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.

More of the Madness

2007-08-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Here's my (one of many) current project(s). This is another one of those "only at work" projects. I am currently on row 43, and hope to finish this soon (only 61 rows total in the pattern). They had quite a few doily patterns here but I didn't see any pictures, so I decided to start working them slowly, one-by-one.

This scarf is a little something I am working on for me. Last year I realized that I (Me), someone who has knitted for years...had no scarf for the colder winter months. This is kind of funny considering just how much knitting I do... only most of it is for other people. I saw the unspun fiber on ebay, and thought it wuld be very pretty to make a scarf with. When I received the box in the mail, I was a little dismayed to see it wasn't as red as the picture I saw on ebay ( I know colors can vary from monitor-to-monitor, but still I was hoping). I spun it up into a simple 2 ply fingerweight piece. It's a blend of Alpaca/Silk/Wool. Pretty stuff. I was wanting to make a simple moebius, so I wrote up a simple pattern, knowing whatever design I use will have to be reversible. I already used up the first ball of the yarn, now need to dig out the rest of it from my stash to finish this up. I'll need this for September 10th - San Francisco 49ers home opener. I know it's only September, but I think Mark Twain said it best "The coldest winter I ever saw was Summer in San Francisco.." or something like that. It can be very cold at some of those home games ( this is an eveing game on Monady Night Football. I'm excited just typing about the game ( don't ask me who they're playing - don't know/don't care. It'll be a fun game!).

Doily Madness

2007-08-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't this pretty? I finished this long ago, but finding the space and the time to block is so difficult. I found this pattern in a Anna Mag from Germany. As I recall it was simple to knit. Blocking was a little difficult, as I couldn't seem to pull the doily out far enough to get rid of the lettuce edge. Finally managed to get it looking pretty good.

These last 3 photos are of all the same doilies, but I was trying to get a good picture that would show the detail a little. The 2 smaller light pink doilies was just using up scrap string left over from some other project...this was some string I received from my Mom last year. She works at a daycare center and they were throwing this and sveral other away. I had already used some on other small projects, but still have quite a bit to go. I am trying to build up my stock of doilies again. the girls love to give these as small gifts for their teachers, and with school resuming, I better jump on it for the holidays.

The middle sized one ( the dk pink one) really needs to be re-blocked. I ran out of pins, But I think I will re-block as a octogon on blocking wires. looking at the picture, you can kind of see what it would look like that way. This doily was knit on 00 or 000 needles, and the string was size 30, so it's pretty fine and hard to see. It really needs to be stretched better to open it up.

Now if only I could find time and space for the shawls I finished and haven't blocked.

Who knew...?

2007-08-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Who knew Cotati was so big on accordian music? This was quite to hotbed of the accordian world!

This was a fun little festival. Lots of Sun, some great food, and lots and lots of accordians (with and without players). It was a little over priced for what you had, but it was labeled as a fundraiser for the youth groupd in the area....and the music was unbelieveable. This is not the drinking the blues sort of music. This is celebration music. You couldn't help but tap your feet and hum along.

And then there's Sunday at the S.F. Rene Faire in Golden Gate Park.

This is DD1 ( with Bunny), after a day of running around the faire. She got her face painted when we first got there, and she managed to not mess it up too much. She had a great time. The other DD....#2- well we'll just say it wasn't exactly her day.

Here I am with her after a meltdown. Big sister was trying to comfort her, but I'm not sure it helped. DD2 wanted some prize at the games booth, then cried when she didn't get it. To her defense, the Lady running the games booth wasn't very helpful either. She was more intereded in something she was trying to do then taking our money or showing the girls how to do it (DD2 is only 4yrs., she hadn't been around much to understand how the game was played). Then as we were leaving she decided she had to get her face painted ( when she was very addiment earlier not to have it done). It didn't help taht we had bought lots of school supplies for Big Sister, but she didn't get school supplies.

What's Wrong?

2007-08-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

How about I forgot to load the picture!!! ~~Old age~~Blondness is catching up to me.

In the meantime, isn't this a great picture of the 2dd's and the youth group going to Raging Waters? A fun time was had by all...and a few sunburns too!

What's wrong with this picture?

2007-08-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

What's wrong with those toes? It looks like I forgot to wash my feet this morning, or maybe out stomping the grapes this last weekend. Alas, it is the remnants of a spranged ankle. Last wednesday I sprung my ankle while not watching what I was doing. It swelled pretty severe, and hurt something fierce. Now, although the swelling has gone down, the color is scarry and fascinating..purples, blues, black, greens...wow, all the colors.

OTN- haven't beeen as busy knitting as you would think with a "keep off you feet" type of injury. Some work on the I Love Gansey, but not much. I mostly dug out my sewing room this last weekend, so I could sew more. Unfortunately this room has become the "I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-it, so-I-will put-it-there"room. Very cluttered. I took several boxes out to the garage, so of course I now have to clean the garage. Lots of clutter. Need to start throwing things away, or helping them find a new home.

Still struggling on the Mystery Shawl3(Midsummer). I'm on row 147. Plugging along. Someday I'll be done, but for now I am just plgging along.

Brief Interruption

2007-08-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up with the intention of working on the pattern you see...a wedding dress for my nephew's bride-to-be, but was sidetracked with this little bit of wool. I have 1 ounce that I carded, spun and plied. Since it's only 1 ounce, it's not much to do anything with, but I have an idea....

But now that this piece is done, I better get back to what I started to work on before I was lead astray by the fiber.

Sock-it To Me

2007-08-07T10:41:00.001-07:00

I started the new sock project for the six sox group, with something from my stash (not pictured here). It was nice little number- striped yarn in navy, and greens. After getting about 3" or so into it, I decided it was way too busy for the detailed design to really show up. I've had this yarn for awhile, but I remembered it as being more faded, but the colors, while nice combo, just don't work for this sock. I was thinking about the denim blue superwash I have to spin up, and thinking this would look real good in this pattern, if I can get it even and thin enough.

When this didn't work, I headed to the next project- Modified Orbits Socks. This might not have been the best choice in yarn (again), but (again) it was sitting in my stash, so I plowed through. The pattern as posted wasn't quite working for me, so I had to change it a little, but for the most part I tried to stay close to the original pattern.

Done!

2007-07-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, So at last I've finished the Victorian Lace Socks. I tried to get a good picture, but again, I failed. Same sock, 2 different looks. The color is really somewhere bewtween these 2 pics. Nice pattern, we'll see how they wear before I make another pair.

Kind of fun making the sock blockers from coat hangers. I made them from some hangers I had at home, but after I bent the hangers, I found they were on the small side. Well, for blocking socks, I guess the size isn't as important, besides, I knew these were on the smaller size as far a coat hangers go. I had bought them cheap for another craft project. I might try these again with "normal hanger"(whatever that means).

Didn't get nearly as much done on my other projects, I spent most of the weekend making the drapes for the window ( I forgot to get before pictures, so the impact of the after isn't as transforming as could be. I did take on another small project which did cut into my knitting time anyway. I am making this sweater/shrug for DD1 in a heavier varigated yarn I bought a long time ago. The color seemed like it would work with a skirt I am sewing for her, and wanted a little something for her to keep warm in the mornings - It's the middle of summer, and she's not warm enough during our walk to school in the mornings. What did Mark Twain say....somelike" the coldest winter I ever saw was summer in San Francisco...". Well, we're not exactly in S.F., but pretty dare close ( at least close enough for the morning fog before it burns off). When she's tried it on a few times, she's said it's really warm. Because it really only covers her arms, I'm hoping it's not too warm for her. If this works out, I'll make her another in Navy that she can wear at school this year. She goes to a private school, where uniforms are required. Although they aren't very strict rules (or so we hope), they do limit her tops to Blue,Green and Khaki, and bottoms to Blue and Khaki. Last year she seem to often be cold in the mornings, and lot of the day while in the classroom.

Well, obviously DD2 is something of a ham. She sure loves to get her picture taken. Whenever I have the camer out, she wants her picture taken. I don't always, but I do try to do it more often. I am terrible about taking pictures of the girls, and want to get better. I don't have lots of pictures of myself as a kid to show my daugthers, and almost nothing of my husband. It's fun to show them pictures of them as smaller kids and babies, and tell them the story about what we were doing when we took the picture. Someday I'll actuaaly get the pictures into a photo album...someday. For now, I just continue to collect them. With smiles like this, no need to worry about cloudy days. She knows how to bring the sunshine.

Nothing Says Loving...

2007-07-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

like a good cat cleaning. I wish the picture was a little better, but I think you get the idea. This is Nutmeg cleaning DH. He often does this, to make sure his Man-pet is clean. I love how the claws dig in a little to hold him better. Maybe if the cat had opposable thumbs, he could just hold him by the ears ike the rest of us.....

Knit-On!!

Mittens On My Mind

2007-07-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is where I stand.....somewhere after the fringed and braided cuff, but befor the real knitting begins. I had an idea when I first strated this mitten, of how it should look, but now I am beyond that and then some.

I've been surfing aound, looking for something (not sure what), but found these techniques and couldn't help but try thrm out. Pretty cool, if not a little confusing at first. Strings everywhere. I need to think about this some and plot out a new path.

Monday, Monday.

2007-07-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I had such a great weekend as far as knitting goes. I was able to finish clue 2 on the Galvastan KAL. I am only working on this at work, so this week, I will tackle clue 3. When I had strated this before, I only got halfway through clue 2, so I'm already further then that ( I feel ahead of the game). I was able to complete this last Friday night as I expected, and hurried to put the stitches back on the needles before losing too many stitches. I like how this looks, and the stitch definition is nice. You can see the design well.

I also finished clue 3 of the Mystery Shawl. It's looking good. I didn't measure this when I had it stretched out for the picture, but the size to my untrained eye was OK, so I will push on to clue 4. I am anxious to finish this, as the next mystery shawl starts this weekend (first clue issued 7/28). I don't think this will be completely done, but a good jump this week, will make next week easier, as the first clue is usually small and done quickly with lots of time before the next clue.

I wasn't able to start into the Mystery Stole yet, but that will come in time. I have a small side project that needs attention first. Corbin must have shoe for the faire, so I want to knit up a pair of these ( the green ones in the middle). Corbin likes to kick his booties off, so we need a pair of booties that tie on. I will try the pattern out and see how well it knits up. There are a few other styles I would like to make, but want to make sure they fit, and the pattern isn't too complicated. I have some dk green New Zealand Wool I bought a couple of years ago, that would be great. I will also need to dig out the shift my girls used as babies(it won't matter if it's a boy using it, as it would be the same for either sex). I had a simple tie on cap I used for DD1, but I don't think I have that anymore, so I will see if I can't sew one up real quick to cove his tender head....we'll see.

Eureka!

2007-07-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

I found my knitting bug again. I was kind of languishing in the puddle of UFOs, but after calming down, catching my breath, I was able to start swimming again. I have picked up my Mystery Shawl# project again, after stalling out when I ran out of balled yarn. I am better thewn half way through clue 3, and am excited to be knitting again. I hope to finish clue 3 this weekend, and will post a pic ASAP! The next shawl starts July 28th, and I've signed up for it...although I don't know if I'll be working at it the same time as everyone esle. I may have to start this one late.

I am working on the Galvaston Shawl when it gets slow at work. I had started this once before, but wasn't happy with how it was looking, so I ripped and started again with the old stand by wool (my Thrift shop speacial). It is looking pretty OK. I posted Clue 1, and now I'm almost done with Clue 2. I should be able to post a pic by Saturday.

I haven't given up on the mittens yet, I am just thinking about the technique needed. I had started them the other day with a braided cast-on, but wasn't happy with how that was working. I know it has something to do with my technique of knitting with the 2 colors together. I strated it again with more stitches to try and make it bigger, but still wasn't happy. I've casted on a third time, and there it sits. I am contemplating wether I really want the multi-colored cuff as I invisioned, or just the one color.......hmmmm. Thinking. I have plenty to keep busy with for now anyway, with the 2 shawls I am currently working on. I haven't even started the Mystery Stole. I want to jump in, but hesitate while I work on the shawls. The moderator is posting a larger clue today (clue 4), to last the 2 weeks until the 5th clue comes out. As Harry Potter comes out tomorrow, she wanted to give everyone a little extra time to read the book and get caught up alittle beofe proceeding. I want to take advantage of this time to jump start the stole....I just need to figure out what yarn to use.

So much to do, so little time.

J+R=Love

2007-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Raquel drew this picture of Jacob and her playing together. I love how she has them holding hands. And I think she really captured the true essence of Jacob...and Raquel. That ponytail Hairdo is her. Very cute! She started to write his name at the top before she realized she forgot how.....

So I was trying to clean up all my woolcarding mess from this last weekend, and where I thought I had all of the scraps from that Stash Lot, I found I missed another 1/2 dozen pieces still in the bag. Ugh. I had already spun up the batts created, and even plyed one of the bobbins of singles created. In fact, as I was spinning up the last of it last night, I was thinking about dying one of the bobbins full in maybe a magenta color, something to co-ordinate with the other bobbin. I decided to stay up late plying so I could maybe dye tonight. This morning I found a small skein I can use instead. It was a sample of yarn dyed in the locks then spun up to see how the color blends when the purple dye split. It looks like it will work real well with the other piece. I hope to look at this a little more later and maybe get a jump on it.

Tonight is DH Birthday, so going out to dinner is in order. I'm not usre yet what he'll feel like, but I'm sure anything will be more fun then me having to cook! I also want to try and go to the movies this weekend as part of his birthday celebration. There are a few movies out we want to see, so I'm sure we'll find something. I'm leaning towards go to see Harry Potter. I was thinking we would go see it in IMAX, but not sure if it's offered in our area. We'll have to see what we can do.

Happy Birthday, Tiger. 'Sure do Love you!

And Another Week Begins

2007-07-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

I had a little fun this weekend, blending up some smalll pieces into one larger batt. I'm not even sure why I bid on this from ebay. Where was my mind? Anyway, I got out my carder and just started feeding this through. It really was a mish-mash of scrapes, and I thought this was a clever idea to combine them all into one, so I would have enough to do something with.
Not the best picture, but you kind of get the idea. It blended into a mauveish-grayish piece. It had one small piece with lots of colorful nubs in it, which got dispersed all over, so now there are bits and pieces of yellow/green/orange nubs throughout. It's not a strong enough anyone color over all, so I'm not exactly sure what to do...I think I'll try making some mittens with this stuff.

This is the monthly style for the KAL group. I want to try knitting these, but split the mitten in half, colorwise. i.e. the right half this stuff, the left half another color....only, I have to think of what color would work with this. The resulting wool is a little scratchy, so I hesitate to use it against the skin for a scarf, might work good as socks...but I still come back to the mittens. Maybe I should just make the mittens in a single color....I'll have to look at this some more.

Smile

2007-07-12T12:27:00.001-07:00

Here's my baby, building forts in the living room... Just over her shoulder you can see the sample I was trying to photograph. That is clue 1 from the Galvastan Shawl KAL I joined. I had tried a few times to start this, but couldn't get into it (not that I didn't understand the directions, my brain just wasn't into it. Now I've finished clue 1,and am working on clue 2...hope to have photos to show soon.

This is worked in double strand of a lace weight cream colored wool I found on the internet. It's too fine to use single strand, but works well double...in fact, most of the shawls I've been working on have been made with this, as A) I have lots! B) It's wool, and light colored, so I can dye it a different color when done, and C) I have lots! I found these 2 spools of the stuff for roughly $20, and I've already knitted 3 shawls from it, and only slightly dented the masses. I think I orginally bought for doilies, as I was going through a doily stage at the time I found it, but this is a little too fuzzy for doilies(the stitch difinition would be lost), but it works great for shawls.

One last shot of my crazy girls. DD1 had spent the day at a party with a friend,abd came home to share with DD2 her treasures. I love you girls!!!
Happy Knitting :oP

Happy Birthday

2007-07-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

No, not mine. Happy Birthday America. A whopping 231 yrs. Wow, the big 2-3-1.

We had a relatively quite 4th, stayed at home with the family, played in the water, cooked a little, and knitted. I didn't finish anything really, mostly playing with a bunny buddie. I've seen some cute bunnies on the internet, and thoought maybe I could come up with something on my own. I have the 2 legs and body done. I will try to start the arms later today when I get home. It's quite fasinating to try and construct the body. I have a picture in my mind, and now I'm just trying to eek that image out my fingertips to my needles.

I have hit a stumbling block on the fingerless gloves I was working on for the mittenskal for June. I have one done (I will post pictures later today when I get home), but I'm not sure I like how the fingers are. Now I know what your thinking..."what fingers? This is FINGER-LESS. As in NO fingers. Well the palm covering comes down to about the first knuckle. When you use your hand, the finger bridges inside the mitten, pull pull on the outer fabric and I don't like how that looks. It puts dimple where I don't think they belong. Short of leaving them out, I'm not sure there's anything that an be done. I am currently about half way done with the second one, maybe'll try it out w/o the bridges, to see how it feels/wears. If they seem fine without, I may go back and remove.

The wool I'm using for them is some millends from Sheep Studio. It was a small clump in the bag of mixed roving. I love the burgandy colr, and alway thought it would make beauty fingerless gloves for my friend(don't know why she alway came to mind in regards to this wool. She really favors greens, not burgnady). Which now makes me think again about those dimples, if I really don't like them, it ultimately doesn't matter if I give them away....right?

Progress on the Mystery Shawl 3 has stalled. I was doing good for the first 3-1/2 weeks of the project, keeping up and all. Then something happened...ran out of balled yarn or some small crisis, and came to a skidding halt. I haven't been real interested in finishing. I want to get back at it, maybe I just need to push myself a little to get it done. From the finsihed pics I've seen, may need a little extra repeats somewhere to enlarge slightly, but I haven't decided where yet. This one also has a beaded edge option...which could be a nice technique to try. I've always kind of steered away from beading, not wanting to get to involved in that(I have enough small objects - toys, scattered around my house to where I don't need more).

I was trying to get back into the sock knitting, so I revisited the Six-Sock KAL, and started the sock for June - a Lace Victorian design. I am using Lisa Souza, laces weight in Buttercup, double strand. It is such a soft yellow. I don't care much for the color, but it was a great thirt store find, and this sock called for such a delicate yarn. I had started it with some denim blue handspun, but it just looked bulky. I found this stuff in my stash, and thought it would be a better match for the project. I have the first one done, and about half way thru the second. I hope to finish these up here soon. This is a small enough project that I can often work on while walking home....in the heat...along busy streets....UGH!

I want to work on a "Red Scarf Project", and rolling several idea thru my head for this. Needs to be unisex, and red. Hmmmm. I can feel an idea coming on, but still planning while trying to finish up a few on these current projects.

Happy Knitting

2007-06-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Well my baby DD2 has finally passed from the “Baby” stage to the “Big Girl” phase. Ask any Mom and she’ll tell you that their child seems like a baby/toddler until one day you look at them and realize they’ve lost their baby “glow”. That’s what happened to DD2. We started the girls at their new school ( just around the corner) this week and the difference in her is amazing. She feels like such a big kid because she’s taking a lunch box (apparently only big kids take lunch boxes). She didn’t want to put it in her back pack- then no one would see her lunch box, hand carry only! I was kind of worried about her starting at a new school were she didn’t know anyone (there have been times this last year where dropping her off at school had been very difficult due to separation issues), but she’s been great. We go into class, she greets everyone and usually joins right in with whatever they’re doing. She comes home all excited about how her day went.

DD1 was more of a surprise for me (although in retrospect, I don’t know why this surprised me. She has always had a thing for the dramatics). She has turned all shy and uncertain of what to do. I’m sure a big part of this is leaving all her friends behind. When we get to school in the morning, I have to hang around a few minutes until she feels OK . It’s getting easier, but will take a little time for her to adjust.

OTN - I'm still plugging away at the Mystery Shawl 3, Clue 3. I'm not even half way through and the next clue comes out tomorrow ( although I don't usually get it until Monday mornings). I won't get much chance to knit tonight-too much going on this weekend to prepare for, but maybe later this weekend....of course it would probably help if I didn't keep adding new projects without finishing what's on the needles now. I have a whole closet of UFO from lack of attention.....

Happy Knitting.

2007-06-05T13:59:00.001-07:00

table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellspacing="8"> My Fortune Cookie told me:
You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

2007-06-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

I spent quite a few hours in the sewing room last night. I haven't been there for a few months. I am trying to get re-aquainted with my machine and stuff, as I promised to sew Alley's wedding dress for next March.

This last weekend I went to the fabric stores to find swatches to send Alley, and I could have almost cried when I walked into the fabric store. Everythig was the same and yet so foriegn, all at the same time. I have missed it. Apparently my family has too, because now that they see me looking longing at my room, they are finding projects for me to do (like I need to find things to do!).

DD2 wanted a dress with ponies on it. So this last weekend, while DD1 was in her cheerleading camp, we checked out the fabrics stores, not only looking for the bridal swatches, but also "horsey fabric". We found one, rather ugly ( looks more for home decor then garments), but this was the one for DD2. I tried to talk her into something different, but nothing doing. She wanted this one. Well we brought home 1-1/3yds, and a simple dress pattern. This was one of the things I sewed last night. It came out cute ( for ugly fabric), simple yet horsey like. The construction wasn't difficult ( oh sure, I did try to put the bodice on inside out, but that wasn't too difficuly to correct). She's pleased. I might even have enough lft to make her shorts as well.

DD1, not to be left behind, wanted something Hawaian like for spirit week at school. I found something kind of tropical ( OK, mostly just bright abstract design), and made her a wrap-around skirt. She's happy for now. I like the pattern, it was one I had done all those years ago for my little sister when I worked in the fabric store. I still can't get over how grown-up she looks sometimes. She's only 7, but she looks older sometimes, and sure seems to think she knows EVERYTHING ( small annoying trait she must have inherited from DH). I'm sure she'll have more projects as the summer progresses.

Then there's the DH. He wants a new pair of pants for Rene Faire, and some pants hemmed ( I don't even know what pants he's talking about, but he assures me I have them...right. I'm sure they're somewhere in the black hole I call my sewing room). This weekend I will investigate what's needed for his Faire pants. We are hoping to go to the faire in 2 weeks. I certainly have the fabric ( if not all, then most of it and only a small amount of additional material would be needed).

Mostly it's been good to be back in the sewing room. I have been wanting to get back in there. I need some new clothes ( even thought I'm in a transitonal stage- weight should be going down soon as I stop driving to work and only walk or ride bike). I was hoping for some skirts for the warmer weather. I just wish I could find some styles that tickle my fancy. That was something disappointing, I just wasn't inspired by the patternbooks - although DD2 made it difficult to look as she was too pre-occupied with the crafts and things she could get into, and I had to keep a constant eye on her. I will look around some more. If one thing is certain, it's that fashion trends will change if we give it a little bit more time.

Not much OTN, Since finishing the MysterShawl2 over Memeorial weekend, I have been kind of kicking around MS3 ( I have almost finished clue 1), maybe knitting up some socks, plus spinning some more of the superwash wool. I'll keep you posted.

This time for sure!

2007-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Oh, I've been busy...and not, all at the same time. In this last month I had all the following:

Broken car
Sick Child
Broken Husband's car
Sick Husband
End of School year wind down
End of year wind down - Girls Scouts
Sick Me

Oh sure there's more incidentals in between as well. This time of year is always so busy.

I so want to get back to sewing. I am beginning to miss it. I know the girls are starting at a new school here soon, and they will still need the uniform, but they also need clothes for the summer, and I would like to make them both a few dresses. I need to get back into it anyway, as I promised to make Ally's wedding dress for next March,a nd I know it's only June, but time will fly by quickly, and I need to get the material picked out, swatches sent to the bride for approval. Lots to do. The last 5 years or so it's been real tough to get to the machine for any length of time because the girls usually want to get in and help me...wether I need/want it or not. They are getting bigger, and a little easier to redirect when they decide they need to get right in the way. I just have to dig out my sewing space and find my niche in that room. Hopefully this weekend I will accomplish something, as I have to spend some time at the fabric stores looking swatches.

The dress Ally picked is interesting, in many ways a typical strapless wedding dress, but the skirt has some hitches in it ( to bunch up the fabric in spots as part of the design), but she also wants it trimmed in red. I am trying to picture this dress with the red trim and trying to think of what the best way to approach would be. I will be giving this some thought.

I spoke with Ally yesterday, she was planning to be up in the area in July, and I want to try out the pattern, so I was thinking of making a sundress with the pattern to see how it goes together. This way i can try the fitting, to see how close I am ( I know she's trying to loose some weight for next March, but for now, it would work to see if I'm close. I expect to have to make adjustments anyway.

I just need to put down the knitting...pry it from my sore old hands. I am so close to finishing the Mystery Shawl. I have 2 of the 4 corners turned on the outer edge. I am knitting like a man-woman to finsih it off (this weekend in Memorial weekend, I am hoping to block it this weekend at work when no one is here. I don't have the space at home, so I was really hoping to do it after hours, and let it sit Sunday and most of Monday undistrubed). I have the first shawl done, but haven't blocked it yet - but now as I think about it, I wonder if I should dye it. It's cream colored (ebay special)....maybe I should just block it for now and see how it looks. I keep thinking I should dye it blue, in a graduating color from light on the edge to darker in the middle. I will think about this a little more, as I do have some time before Sunday to dye it if I'm going to.

I am getting ready for another shawl that starts Saturday. It will once again be a triangular shawl, and I do still feel like a square so we'll see what I do. I found another group making a mystery shawl - Galveston Shawl - and this has the option of going Square or triangle, in 3 sizes. From what I've seen of the pictures, the square interests me the most, but it looks like so many of the people are knitting the square, and hardly anyone is knitting the triangle. Maybe I will work on spinning up some of the dark brown wool, and use that to make this shawl... it's something to think about.

I better go- lots to do.
Happy Knitting!

April's almost gone

2007-04-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

April's almost gone, and I still ahven't planted tomato plants. I tought I'd get some from Mom for Easter, but she said they weren't quite ready yet. Now here we are, a few weeks down the road, and still no plants. I guess it's time to head over to the store to get a few plants for the yard, and see if Mom has something next time she comes to town.

Haven't accomplished much with the stuff on the needles. I ran out of fuzzy aqua yarn for the baby blanket, and haven't had time to go to the yarn store to look for more. I did start the Mystery Shawl, but the pattern wasn't what I wanted, so I'm thinking of a few ways to change the construction to fit more of what I was feeling like doing. I was just using the plain vanilla colors wool yarn, same as last time. I have tons of it, and I think it will be dye-able once completed, to a better color ( or at least it's a good neutral color now).

I've progressed some on the booty bag. I have finished the bottom portion, and have turned the corners to start working up the sides. It was more time consuming then I expected to pick up the stitches along the other 3 sides of the bottom flap. I am pleased so far how it's turning out. A great brain twister using both colors at once. I'm sure it will ge real interesting once the design of the Skull and crossbones comes up here in a row or two. Colors are a nice contrast, and it's quite fun to knit the 2 layers at the same time. It does make me excited to try the 2 socks at once idea again.

I have got to get a camera! I received an anniversary present from the employer, and I should get a camera with it. I'll need to talk to the DH and make this happen!

Happy knitting.

One down, so many to go

2007-04-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I finlly finished the MysteryShawl. I haven't blocked it yet - tryting to figure out when I can do that. 2 Kids, 2 cats and 1 DH makes for crowded diggs, I will have to wait a little. I'll try to post a picture before blocking, just to get an idea.

I have started in earnest to work on the baby blanket in the fuzzy aqua yarn. I haven't gone too far, and sometimes it seems to drag on, but I must persevere. It's a nice feather and fan pattern. I haven't found the other baby blanket I was working on - ROE in white. I have the center part done, now starting on the outer boarders. iT was getting too big for the circular needles I was using, so the progress at the time I was working on it last was very slow. But the baby isn't due until June, only the baby shower is this month.

I have played a little more with the double knit bag I was thinking of as a diaper bag. I have lots of red and blue New Zealand wool yarn. Too scratchy for clothes, but perfect for felted items. As I mentioned, this is double knit, so we are working the inner and outer layers at the same time. At first I was trying to carry both yarns as mentioned somewhere on the internet as holding one yarn in each hand. This was a great brain twister, but somewaht cumbersome. I finally figured out how to hold both yarns with the same hand so I can knit faster without having to stop and wrap te yarn around. It gets to be kind of fun as you get into it. I am still only working on the bottom, but I figure a little here, a ittle there, why I should be done before the kid graduates from college...right?

Happy knitting.

April Showers

2007-04-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

I've started a baby blanket for the april Showers expected mid-month. I had some auqa yarn ( Thrift store special)- soft and fuzzy, probably acrylic. I started a feather and fan type blanket on size 9 needles. I didn't get real far, but now that I have started, I'm determined to finish.

The other day while looking around the internet, I found some cute patterns for baby hats that I was thinking of trying - lil' devil, Vikings, Frog, Bunny. I was thinking this would be a cute idea for Corbin (Chris and Darne's baby). They would have a great sense of humor about what to put on their kid, so I think this would work. I know I have plenty of yarn to make them. Now I just need to find the time.

As for the MysteryShawlAlong Gourp#1 - It's done, I just need to bind off the edge. For some reason my brain farted and I can't remember how to do a simple bind off for shawl edges. I left the instructions at work, but was off for 2 days with Mel, she had strep throat. It looks really pretty, I'm sure it will look even better once I block. I was hoping to finsinh this before really starting MysterShawlAlong #2, now that I finally got access to the files. At first I was going to go ahead and strat it beofre, then try to finish #1 when I couls, but I had troubles access the group. Now that Clue 3 will be posted tomorrow, I am more inclined to wait and see what developes while I work on a few other projects before diving in. I know it was going to be triangular, but I thought it was starting at the neck and working out. Now I see it is starting at the bottom point working up. The design is pretty enough, but not quite what I was looking for. I'm thinking I'll wait a few more days to see how it developes and decide what yarn/needle combo to use. What stategy to follow.

Still no progress on the doily - it beakens but I just don't feel like working on such tiny needles right now.

I am feeling like spinning something, I should spin some of the superwash I received, but can't quite jump in. I keep telling myself I should knit for baby, but I'm not real excited about that...or not as excited as I should be.

This weekend is easter, and I'll be getting together with the family at brother John's house. We'll try egg dying on Saturday. It will be a busy time. BIL Joe had his birthday Wednesday, Amy has her birthday Daturday, and their twin girls had their birthday sometime between, plus Emma is in here somewhere( I never know when, she's just always been in the Easter Birthday crowd) so we'll have lots to celebrate on Sunday. I need to run out and go shopping for the gifts sometime on Saturday as well.

I also need to go through yarn stash and see if I have anything I am willing to part with that Rai may want. I'm certainly not using the acrylic yarn like I use to, so no point in keeping it. I want to keep in mind that Darlin's daughter also board knits, so if I find anything good I don't really want, I can pass it on to her as well.

Lots to do and so little time.

March Madness... of sorts

2007-03-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Boy, I'm not averaging very well, am I? It's been over a month since I last posted. Let's see what do I have going?

1) New slippers - after my dismal start on this project, I have put it aside for future endevor. I still want to make them, but I got so frustrated when I found out I was using the wrong size needle(yes I swatched, but it still seem to come out way bigger), and 2-ply instead of single ply. Now with the weather getting warmer, my motivation has waned.

2) New Scarf - sounds silly for someone who does as much knitting as I do, but I don't have a scarf and this last winter I rally missed having one. I found some alpaca/llama/silk blend on the internet, but was disapointed in the color when it arrived. I thought it would be much more red. It's darker, more like a maroon. So I spun it up, but haven't found a pattern I like ( haven't looked very hard either)... I don't know, maybe I'm waiting for something to really jump out at me. I was thinking of doing something moebius with this, but to do that, I need a longer needle to do that special technique. Again, now that the weather has gotten warmer, my motivstion has waned.

3) Doily - I started an pink varigated doily awhile ago. It was just some short ball I had, and wanted to make a little something quick. I can't even remeber what the pattern is, but I should really concentrate on finishing this. I have maybe 3 or 4 rounds to go then bind off. It's pretty, what I can see of it, I just put it aside ( my new glasses, which I thought would cure many og my vision woes, has solved some problems, but not everything).

4) MysteryShawlAlong group #1 - I signed up for the group in January, and just kind of watched the progress of the few members. I lurked and thought about doing it ( the design was pretty enough). Well, 2 weeks ago I finally couldn't take it any more - I casted on the needles, and finished the first 3 clues in the first weekend. Now i'm on clue 4, and it's taking a little bit of time. It's not too bad really, it's just that I came late to the orogram, and now they are starting the next shawl ( a whole other headach in it's own rights!!). I started the shawl on size 6 needles for clue 1, switched to 7 for clue 2, advanced to size 8 for clue 3, and now I'm using size 10 for clue 4( I couldn't quickly find my size 9 needles). It looks great. I can't wait until I finish and block. I am using some fine wool I got off e-bay last year. It's way too thin singlely, so I use 2-strands at a time. Once done, I am toying wiht the idea of dying this. I 'm thinking a pretty wedgewood blue. I just feel like some blue. I am trying to finish this before plungging into the ...

5) MysteryShawlAlong Group#2 - the first clue was posted last weekend, but I can't get to it yet. First I had a problem (well the vendor actually had a problem) with the connection to paypal, so I went direct to the vendor to pay (she received the payment last weekend), but I am waiting for the permission granted to join the yahoo group so I can access the files. I can read all the posts, and it doesn't sound like anything major as yet, but I want to et the file. I was thinking I could get clue #1 so I start when everyone else does, and it wouldn't take long to get it done and out of the way, then contiune with the first shawl, as I am on repeat #4 of the recommended 6.

6) Dye experiment - I bought some purple Wilton's dye to play with. I had some med brown wool in various stages of porcessing, and I wanted to find out what the differences would be to dye at different stages. A - in the lock, uncarded B- carded wool C- spun wool.
I have the first 2 parts done, but need to finish with the final step. I will have more of this to report soon.

7) Baby stuff - I have 2 friends expecting babies in a few months, and I wanted to make them something. They are both expecting boys - one chose "pirates" as her theme, and the other chose "under the sea". I have a great idea for a blanket/quilt for the pirates, but when I explained to my DH what I wanted to do, he poo-pooed the idea. I'm still thinking this over, haven't given it up yet, just reconsidering. It would be really cool, but would be a lot of work. I don't know if it would workout the way I want, and my time is precious.... whine, whine, whine. I did find a washcloth with a skull and crossbones on it, I thought was cute, so I may do that anyway. I also found a bag - "Queen's booty bag" that is knitted and flted. I thought this would be a cute diaper bag. I was thinking of making this up, and if it didn't workout, I could keep it for myslf...it's suppose to be reversable, so I was thining of using red/blue combination of yarn. If I do this, I know I can do something similar with a fishy theme, maybe using green/yellow combination. Still thinking on this.

Well, as you can see I've been sort of busy, but I just haven't finished anything yet. You know, I started this blog to document my progress on various projects, but what it's turned out to be block for blogging, as I get a little embarrassed at how little I finish. Life has a way of getting in the way, so progress can be slow at times. I just have to remember it's not how we finish the race but that we DO finish!

Get the picture

2007-02-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

I need to get anew camera! Our old one isn't convenient to use- bulky so less portable. I want a new one, and a printer to go with it, but money is something of an issue right now.... if I slowed down on buying other things ( wool/ fleece, yarn, pattern books, girl scout cookies...) I might actually save a little to put towards it.

Just a thought.

I haven't done too much on the spring cleaning. This last weekend, Presdient's Day weekend, we did get outside for a while, and do some yard work. Cleaned the rock bed in the front ( it had accumulated lots of dirt and debris amonst the rocks, so it was getting harder to see the rocks). It took quite a few hours, as I got the bright idea to pick the rocks out, clean out the crud, then put them back. Oh sure, it looks great now that it's done, but it took quite some time to accomplish. DDs said they'd help, but about 15 minutes into the project, they quietly disappeared to go ride their bikes. I felt kind of bad the DH was doing all the real tiring work- raking the leaves, sweeping the walkwys, while I sat on the ground sorting rocks. My back was sore ( don't know what set it off), so movement was pained. Sitting in one spot was easiest for me. Besides, I consoled myself with the knowledge that he doesn't do the tedious things well. Pulling weeds, or edging the grass was never his thing. He'd rather mow the lawn, rake the yard, or sweep the walkways. I think the idea was that he wasn't doing it alone, and all the work is needed to make the yard look nice.

I did get a box of fleece cleaned 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to work through it to card for future use. It's a nice chocolate brown, and OH SO SOFT when fresh off the drum, rolled into a fluffy batt. I'm not sure what I want to do with it yet, but I have about 4 lbs of the stuff. Have only carded up about 6oz., so I have quite a ways to go.

As for spinning my wheels, haven't had too much activity on that front. I did manage to finish the 4oz of Llama/silk blend I got of e-bay, intended to use for a scarf ( a nice accessory I lacked all winter, and kept thinking I should make one, but never got busy). I was a little disappointed when it arrived, as the color wasn't as red as I had hoped. Still, it was pretty, and soft. I managed to spin it up into a nice 2-ply yarn, and will be starting a scarf here shortly. I am just trying to decide what stitch to use. I have a felling it won't matter too much, as this stuff seems to be a little fluffy now, and expect it to only get fluffier, so I don't think a fancy pattern will be needed. Something simple. I'll look around, and hopefully come up with some ideas.

All for now, will post again soon (I hope).

Rainy day dull-drums

2007-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I have the spring cleaning bug. At least, I think that's what ails me. I am restless with my current project - a sweater made from some grey wool, not very exciting (I'll try to post pictures soon). I am itching to get back to my spinning wheel and spin something. I even want to get into my "sewing" room ( the junk collecting room in the house), and try and dig out my sewing machine. I will see if I can't get started tonight, by removing some of the boxes we know we want, and stack them in the garage for the time being.

I have several boxes of fleece I need to see if I can't do something producttive with them. Maybe start cleaning the fleece, so I can card the stuff to spin. I certainly have enough fleece to last awhile, and MUST STOP bringing home orphaned wool. At least for the time being.

It's raining today, and expected to be wet all weekend. Unfortunately ( or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I have a birthday party to take a child to. Each DD has a different party to go to, so DH and I will split the duties. Bowling or jumper house. I think I'm heading to the jumper house. Wheeeeee! I guess if it's gonna rain this weekend, I should be happy I have an activity to take the younger child to that should be good at wearing her out. It ain't pretty when the girls get stir-crazy!

OK, let's see what I can get done. I need to reduce the clutter in that room, or at least better organize the stuff so it's not falling all over the place (of course the cats don't help by climbing the piles, causing them to topple over... That's my styory and I'm sticking to it). Wisk me luck, I'm going in.....

Where has all the time gone?

2007-01-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, here it is, a week later, and I have hardly anything to report! I started the slipper as promised, but after almost finishing, I realized I had a few problems going....

The are reasons why this was looking so hugh. 1). I was using size 13 needles, not 11. The gauge was close, and as I was going to felt these, gauga often means nothing to a felter. At the time, I think this was the only pair I could find that was larger then a 5. For some reason all my circular needles were/are hiding from me. Maybe the cats are taking them to play with....heck, they play with a lot of my "tos". Darn cats!!!

I digress.

The second reason these are so hugh is that I was using 2 strands instead of just one. In my brain, it made sense, as I've done felting with one strand and two-strand projects. I think I was trying for a thicker overalll affect. I am about 10cm from finishing the first slipper, when I realized my problems. This has stalled out my progress. I don't kow what to do- proceed as I was and see what happens, or just undo and make as instructed? I have plenty of examples where I altered a pattern in some small way and the end result wasn't quite what I hoped. I am a little gun shy this time(which is kind of funny considering how much of this wool I have on hand, and even if this doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world....or IS it?).

I must admit, I have also been kind of pre-occupied with spinning lately. I have some wool I am in the process of spinning up so I can try dying it another color. I am much more excited at this prospect right now. It's kind of a brownish-white blended roving I got from SheepShack. I want to try overdying it with some red wilton's dye. But now as I think about it, I have some grey wool (same source) that is just about all spun up- most of it done in a 2-ply. Still have a few singles that need to be plied up, but wouldn't take long. I could go home and finish this first, then try overdying with some green Wilton's. I don't know if it will take the dye much, but it might be fun to see what I get.......hmmm the mind is already spinning off in that direction.......

Toeses still freezing...

2007-01-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Progress is slow on my new slippers. I have started them, am about 1/3 done with first one, but let me tell you, this is huge! I will knit one, then felt it up to see how it goes. If everything works out ok, I'll knit the second one. If not.... either way, Ill post before/after picture so you get an idea of how it looks.

I received my Christmas gift from BIL, and all I can say is " WOW "! 3lbs of Alpaca, in a beautiful russet brown. I am surpised how little this stuff smells(actually it smells clean but is still pretty dirty). I thought it would have an "earthier" smell to it, but not bad at all. I did pull some out to play with a little, but I want to clean it up before doing too much with it. I will try an wash the stuff this weakend. Too bad it's not spring/summer, the stuff would dry quick and easy, but the way it is around here, it's taking a little bit of time to get things to dry out. Oh well, good things come to those who wait. I can wait a little longer if it means really good alpaca!

Cold Toesies

2007-01-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Well, I found my first project of the year. As I was walking around the house the other day, I thought something was stuck to the bottom of my slipper. When I went to remove whatever the clump was, I found it was a part of the slipper itself. The sole was falling apart. When I spin, I kick off my right slipper, so I can feel the wheel better. I would often walk around the house with just the left foot on, so I must have managed to wear that slipper down faster then the right one. Drats! I found a cute slipper to try. It looks simple, warm, and practical. I have plenty of wool in my stash that would work great for this....(think big box of NewZealand Wool in corner of sewing room...ebay gone awry).

I have some aegen blue yarn that work great for this.

After that, don't know. I got some great dk brownish-grey yarn from friends for Christmas, I think from their recent trip to Ireland. It's a little bulkier then I've used in awhile. I am scouring the internet, looking for ideas of what to do with it. Nothing decided yet. Also received some great dk yarn from another friend, that's a greenish-black sock yarn. I don't know for sure howe much I have, but it sure looked like a lot of skeins ( I just didn't get around to counting it yet). I want to find a feminine styled sweater to wear at the office. This year I want to wear more dresses to work. Last year I wore a dress/skirt onve, so it won't take much to achieve this goal....I've been feeling like dresses lately (until I go outside into the cold, then think maybe it's not such a great idea), so I want something for the office. It may be time to head on a field trip to the fabric store...just me and my yarn. Sigh!

And so it begins....

2006-12-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Another year has gone, and now we prepare for the New Year. 2007. I hope to fill the year with lots of fiber projects. I can't seem to find enough time in the day to play with the fibers- yarns, roving, materials.... especially with 2 daughters, ages 3 &7. Many times it's late in the night when I finally find some time (and energy) to play with my stuff. This is the gift I give to myself this year. Time for my "stuff".

Current projects...do I have anything at this time? Let me see, there's the baby blanket I started for some friends a few years ago, but for one reason or another, it was never finished, but now I have a different recipient in mind, and think it will do well to go home with them when it's done. I will dig this out, and see if I can post some pictures of it. I also have some wool I received for Christmas from dear friends, and want to do something good with it. It's a little on the bulky side, but I think it would make up into a sweater/coat, or thick sweater. The color is a natural dark brownish grey, and I'm wondering if it might be better to dye this another color. Something with more brighter, or rosier. I'm still thinking.

I also have some roving I am trying to find a good sweater pattern for. It was some roving I bought and have spun up (mostly by spindle), I love the look and feel, just looking for the right project for it....looking.

2006-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome
A new year, a new resolution. Come on, let's all chant together...Bust That Stash! Bust That Stash! Bust That Stash!

I have a whole room in my home devoted to my crafts- sewing, knitting, crochet, spinning. I need to down-size the stash some, it's a small house, and my 2 girls are growing...we need some room. This year, I want to use up before buying. Ok, realistically, that won't happen, but I can try to use one from stash before buying.....right (hey, a girl has to have her dreams)? Also, want to check local schools to see if they have some kind of sewing program, where they might be interested in a donation of fabric...like 8 boxes of fabric. I tried several years ago to donate fabric, and was amazed how hard it is to find group/organizations that would be interested in it.

I know I have some yarns in my stash I won't use. I need to try and weed those out and help them to find a new home. Maybe I'll make a list, check it twice, look to see what naughty and nice...then put them all up for adoptions to new homes....that's an idea worth looking into. Hmmmmm.