A Very Productive Week

Last Weekend (October 1) I headed to the yarn store for some yarn to make a hat for my son, and some inspiration. I found some inspiration in the way of Malabrigo Rasta. I purchased this beautiful yarn thinking I would make a scarf for my daughter for her birthday. I also purchased some Black Malabrigo for my son's hat. With this done, I headed home to do some knitting, thinking this would keep me busy for a couple of weeks. NOT. So ON * OFF the needles on Sunday (10/2) the 2X2 Ribbled Neck Cozy by Cabin Fever. So I started the Classic WW2 Watchman hat in Malabrigo black colorway for my son. I hat this finished by Thursday 10/6, so I grabbed by first Handspun yarn I did with the KnitGirllls first Spin a long, and knit another 2x2 ribbed neck cozy. This was finished Friday 10/7. So Saturday 10/8, I once again headed to the yarn store for inspiration. I came home with 2 skeins of Filatura Di Crosa Moda Lame to make 2 scarves, some Alp Dazzle by Feza Yarns to make a lacy scarf in a lovely brown colorway, and some more Malabrigo in Black for another Hat, with some size 7 DPNS by Dreamz. I completed both of the Filatura Di Crosa Moda Lame scarves Saturday afternoon, and started the Lace Scarf with the Alp Dazzle. WOW! That's all I have to say.....

A Beautiful Day

I was awake at 5am and thinking to myself..." You overslept! Wait, the Alarm, it's not set!" Then the realization hit me.....It's Saturday Fool! Awwww the stress of work carries over...So, I'm awake and weigh in....Yeah! lost 10.5lbs!....and then putter around the house. Left Brain gets up and then we walk the Dogs. What a GORGEOUS morning. The temperature was perfect for a long walk. Then Left Brain, made me breakfast, yummy, and now I'm puttering around talking to my son and updating the blog. The flowers pictured here were my daughters and have been on the kitchen table for the last week or two, I didn't take this picture, but when checking the camera this morning I found an array of mysterious photographs of the flowers. So either I'm a sleep-photographer, or pixies have been here using my camera. Oh, well they really are pretty! Unfortunately, I cannot report on any cross stitch or knitting. I've been too busy at work to do either. [sad face]

Inspired

Feeling inspired by Autumn and a half of a stale baguette....Autumn French Toast Bake with clotted cream. OH YUM!

First Felted project!

Awww Sundays.....It's nice to wake up and not feel pressured to run to work, although work invades my mind even when I sleep. I wake up thinking of all sorts of things that need to be accomplished. I hate that. Back to work tomorrow for a regular work week. I will not complain about the glorious short week that has just passed. It was short and productive.

The Falling Knots Scarf is still on the needles, but I have finished the 7th pattern repeat. However, I feel that it should be longer. Even with aggressive blocking, it's not going to be where I want it to be, so an 8th repeat is now in progress. I'm 10 rows into the 50 row repeat. The FLS has seen no love this week, nor has the WestKnits shawl. I did feel the need to do an easy and fast project and while searching patterns for the Plurk Podcast Challenge, I came across the cutest felted pig pattern. My youngest daughter loves pigs, and I though this would be fun. First because I've never knit a toy or animal, and secondly because I have never felted anything either. What a FAST knit. I had the Top piece on and off the needles in a matter of hours, and the rest of the pieces followed suit, the entire pig was knit in pieces in less than a total of 8 hours. Unfortunately I had to wait to construct and felt the pig, but hooray for Saturdays. I have finished the pig! He's so cute, now the question becomes do I embroider the eyes and snout or leave him alone? I think he is very handsome and I think my daughter will love him. I'm ready to do more....

Girlfriends are the Best

Stitching with the BFFs today! I waffled on going, and leaving the house. But you know, when I get there they always remind me of why I need them. Fun, Smiles, Sharing, and Enabling. What in life is better?

ON the Needles: Still on the needles is the WestKnits Mystery KAL. I found a a couple of errors, and alas, I didn't put in a life line, and couldn't live with the errors, that I tore it all out and started over. I haven't even completed Clue #1 yet. UGH. The Falling Knots Wrap is still on the needles, but with a busy schedule at work, I'm only averaging an hour a day (if I'm lucky) to knit. I am past the 1/2 way mark in the final repeat. However, I think I will do an extra repeat for size. I plan to aggressively block the piece. It's beautiful. The FLS is still on the waste yarn, and not back on the needles yet. Maybe Monday. and the Fluke Socks are now a ball of yarn. yes I tore it all out. I just wasn't feeling the love for them any longer. So I can't report anything OFF the Needles. [Sad Face]

Cross Stitch: I did complete my "Girlfriends" Pine Mountain Pillow Kit today. WOO HOO an FO! What a great housewarming gift for a dear friend going through a divorce. Love and Hugs Denise.

Now for some fun news. My dog, Bruiser has started his own blog on WordPress.com. You can find it here: http://bruisersworld.wordpress.com/ apparently, he has a lot to say. HMmmm. I didn't know he could type.

Playing the Wating Game

Ahhh, Wedenesday. Middle of the week. It's like looking down hill at the weekend and knowing it will be an easy decent. I've been busy at work this week, and will continue to be busy for awhile. Hubs and the girls have been really good about helping with dinners, although I can tell they miss me cooking for them while I was home. Oh well, need to pay the bills. The family is coming to visit from Kansas this week, so we will have an equally busy weekend. It will be nice to spend some time with them, as Hubs doesn't get to see his sister often. Unfortunately, I will have to work. No time off for me.....sad face (as my son would say) Son is doing fine in Afghanistan, we were able to Skype with him recently so I feel much better. Now for the good part of the blog.....Here is my knitted Clue #1 of the WestKnits 2011 Mystery KAL. (Squeeee) I'm so excited. I've done some rectangle wraps, but I have not done any shawls. And this is changing colors too! Again, a first attempt on this scale. I have done a hat with a colored stripe, but that's it. So I'm very excited to get to Monday for the next clue. Also, on the needles, the Falling Knot Wrap. This piece is my "At Work" piece and I get an hour a day to knit on it. I'm past the 1/2 way mark in the 6th of 7 repeats. So this is wrapping up. I love this piece, and think I might do an extra repeat or two, as I'm thinking I will gift this to my MIL for Christmas. The Fluke socks are still on the needles without much to report, as is the FLS. Although I did put the FLS on waste yarn this morning and try it on. I think I have another 4 inches to go to reach a length I like. So I think I might try and pick this up in the evenings. I'm thrilled to announce that it fits! Woo Hoo.

ON the Spindle, is Highland Handmades Tigerlily colorway Falkland fiber. It's spinning lovely, but I'm trouble again with my right arm in the shoulder & upper arm area, I may have to get going on my wheel.

And unfortunately, I have nothing new to report on for the Cross Stitch piece. Bummer....I have so much I want to do and no time to do it all! Life can be cruel. So in wrapping up, have a great week. Hugs and Stitches

Yarny Goodness

Good Morning! Yes, it's fairly early here. I'm enjoying my oatmeal and apricot juice for breakfast while I ponder the day at work.

Earlier this week I decided to join my first WestKnits KAL. I KNOW!!! Exciting isn't it. So I purchased my pattern on Ravelry, joined the WestKnits Fan Group, and ordered my yarns. As you can see, my beautiful choices to the right. I knew i wanted the Malabrigo and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Velvet Grapes Colorway, So I selected Damask a lust pink to coordinate with the Velvet Grapes, and Tortuga. Unfortunately, Jimmy Beans Wool was out of the Tortuga (and let me just add, they have FABULOUS customer service) and the rep who called me suggested the Madelinetosh Prairie in the Tern Colorway. Ok, it's a great mix! The texture is a little different, but not enough to really effect the outcome. Now I'm stuck. Yes....Stuck. Originally I was thinking the velvet grapes would be my anchor color, but now I'm leaning toward the Tern. I'm in a quandry at this point as I'm really undecided. So I'm going to continue to pet my yarn, Plurk with the Knitting BFF's and see what materializes. I also purchased size 4 addi lace turbo needles. [Squeeeeee]

Currently on the needles is the Falling Knots Wrap. I'm almost 1/2 way through the 6th repeat. And OH NO, I dropped a stitch. Now I have to figure out what to do....I don't think I can just pick up the dropped stitch, I may have to tink back. I think it's about 4 or 5 rows down [EEEERRRRRR]. So I may have to put it down, until I decide what to do....I still have my Fluke Socks on the needles and the FLS. I don't know about that FLS. In March I was gung ho, and now.....[fizzle] no love for it at all. Not much going on in the way of cross stitch either. So we'll wait and see for next week. Stay tuned, Same Bat-time, Same Bat-Channel.....

Friday Eve, July 21.2011

To coin a phrase that I heard from a new friend, Thursday is Friday Eve. What a great spin on making it through the week. It's all about the power of the spin.

I started a new job on July 11. It's been challenging reaclimating to life with a full time job. I miss being home a keeping the house clean, and cooking fabulous dinners for my family, and spending knitting time with my dear friends. I do enjoy being back to work. The new place is a friendly environment. There is an amazing group of people there, and some familiar faces. Makes it feel like coming home.

On the knitting front, I'm working on the Falling Knot Wrap. A beautifully designed piece by Maryam. You can find it on Ravelry. I'm using Cascade Heritage and a US size 6 addi turbo lace needle. (I love these) I also have a pair of socks on the needles. The Fluke socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. And finally, My FLS is still in process although stalled. I have some measuring to do, and just haven't gotten a round to it yet.

In the Cross stitch world, I pulled out an old piece by Loose Feathers, and am working on that. ONly a little at a time as I'm really trying to complete my knitting. I'm thinking the Wrap might be a great gift for the MIL for birthday or Christmas this year.

Sorry no pics to share just yet, but will post some soon.
Hugs and Stitches

All's Quiet on the Home front

Now out of work and at home, I'm keeping busy with everything EXCEPT knittng. What's up with that? I've cleaned, cooked, baked, gardened, visited, looked for work, and the list goes on. I've spent some time on Plurk. Of course the computer is a GIANT time suck. I can hear it coming for me. With all of that, I have managed to work on my February Lady's Sweater which is still on the needles. Off the needles is my Katia Tul yarn ruffled scarf. Oh, I love this stuff. It looks great in this pewter gray colorway. I have a ton of other projects waiting to be cast on...because as of right now I only have 1 thing on the needles. What should I start next????Socks? Hat? Shawl? Scarf? It's time to play with the yarn.

PIctures are Here

Spent the day stitching in the Park. What a BEATIFUL day to be with dear knitting and stitching friends in the park. I shared my finished Waterfall Shawl and everyone gave the appropriate oohs and aahs. Life is good! Here are pictures.

Moving on....

As I continue to mourn for my monkey socks, I am struck by the idea of what to do with the little shriveled socks now? Wait to give them to a child? throw them away? turn them into something? On the other hand, I have already re-ordered two skeins of the same yarn to remake them. As I move on from this tragedy, I do have some good news. I have finished my Waterfall shawl for my mother's birthday. It is blocking in the other room. I hope to have one of the girls model it tomorrow for pictures and will post them. Woo Hoo

Sad News

I write today with a heavy heart and to remember a dear friend. Although we weren't friends for long, the time we spent together was filled with warmth and lightened spirits. This friend brought me hours of pleasure, weeks full of comfort, and months worth of pride. Today, I say good-bye to my monkey socks. It was a tragic accident that took you from me far too soon. My loving and devoted husband although attempting to be helpful and kind to me, was heartless and tortured my devoted socks as they ran through the washer and then.....gasp.........*wimper*.............the dryer. They felted and shriveled and shrunk. I say good-bye to my third pair of knit socks, but the first pair I made for me. Rest in Peace dear friend..... boo hoo

A story worthy of the Knit More Girls - When knitting Attacks

No picture please! It's tough to cope when your beloved knitting attacks you. This was an all out vicious attack on me by my knitting. The knitted object under arrest? The Waterfall shawl from the book Nature's Wrapture. The very book the KnitGirllls previewed an episode or two ago. I finished it, completely, and that is wear the story begins. I sat down at work yesterday to read the pattern and determine when the best time to unravel the edge would be, before or after the blocking. OMG, did I read that right? I wasn't supposed to bind off ALL the stitches. #$@*, ok, so I undo all the bound of stitches. Did I mention that I'd already woven in the ends? %%^$ *&%$#@. Ok. I can do this....(Did the thought that I shouldn't start this while at lunch at work, or I should wait until I get home, enter my mind at all?) So I carefully Undo the bind off (all the way) Re worked the bind off saving the last few stitches to be dropped as instructed. I think this will be easy. So everything is going swimmingly until I get about 1/3 of the way down the scarf and a knot happens. I'm thinking...why is there a knot? Duh! I wove in all the ends, so while untangling knots I actually UNDID a knot that was a joined thread....need I say more? OK....I will....OOPS lunch is over, and back into the bag. When I got home....my tangled mess had completely unraveled to the 1/2 way point and into the stitches that were NOT supposed to be unraveled. It was completely unrecognizable. And nothing to do but undo it all and rip all the way back to the mess and then try and find out what row and where to pick up the stitches. The story ends fairly well....I have the yarn re-skeined and the shawl back on the needles...all that's left to do (beside re-knit the whole darn thing) is to TINK back to a recognizable row and continue on from there. UGH!

why are they called monkey?

I wish I had some profound or deep statement to open this entry...well, I don't. I don't know what to say, maybe I just need more coffee. I finished my Monkey socks by Cookie A. These were for me. I finished, blocked and wore them already. OOOH I love them. Why are they called Monkey? I have no idea. They were a fast and fun knit. Apparently I don't suffer from Second Sock Syndrome. I finished the first sock, then couldn't wait to start the second sock. I was disappointed that they were finished. They were such a fun knit. I cast on my February Lady Sweater on Feb 1. I did the first buttonhole and am so unhappy with it, I have to tink back. I just haven't done that yet, so I feel a little stalled. I'm working on my Waterfall Shawl. I'm hoping to give that to my mother as her birthday present next month.

Boo Hoo! The weekend's nearly gone!

What's a girl to do? Football on the tube, the weekend's almost gone......I know.....KNIT, KNIT, KNIT.'

Off my needles: Diaganol Scarf using Rozetti Soft Payette in colorway Alexandrite, and a multi colored Pink and purple Cha Cha yarn. Love it!!!! It's so me.

On the needles: The silvery/gray shawl for my mom, Monkey Socks by Cookie A in Jungle Rain colorway Aslan Trends Santa Fe Sock Yarn, and beginning next week...February Lady Sweater in Naturally Caron.com "Country" Merino Wool blend yarn in colorway Foliage.

I'm doing the February Lady Sweater as a KAL with the Knitwits Podcast. Looks like a ton of fun. I begin swatching this week.

Stitching with the Gang

There is nothing better in this life, than the precious moments spent with cherished friends. I forget, sometimes, just how much I need the interaction with my stitching girlfriends. They inspire me in so many ways, and treasure every minute with them. Thanks Laides for being the wonderful, caring , beautiful women you are!

Hooray for Birthday Weekeds.

Yes, that's right, I desreve a whole month of birthdays, but since other's wouldn't agree, I'll settle for the 4 day Birthday Weekend! It's the Weekend of Jeannette. LOL. Not unlike the summer of George. My 4 day weekend began yesterday on my birthday, with scones and presents. Continued last night with the most amazing dinner at the Mystic Fish. (if you've never been, it is delightful. Great Food and Exceptional service.) This morning I had a left over scone, yummy, and walked with hubby and the dogs. I have a day planned of watching the Tudors & Weeds, and knitting, and stitching all day. I may surfice for something to eat on occassion. Then tomorrow, I leave the family behind for a day with the most wonder girlfriends on the planet for some quality stitching time!, Then Sunday will be..................are you ready.........................PAJAMA DAY! Yes, I'm not even going to get dressed. Ha Ha, ! I may spend some time working, but it may be sewing day, I'm not sure what I will feel like. Happy Weekend of Jeannette everybody, the Diva says.

Happy Birthday to me

Warm cream scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Hot steaming tea. My Birthday morning breakfast....mmmm.....yummy.

Darling Daughter #1 got me some gorgeous South African Top Roving in the colorway "Awakenings". Hmmm, I need to learn to spin and I need a spinning wheel. How much yarn will 4 oz get me? Off to shop for spinning books. FUN! No anyone who gives lessons?

Today's Observations

I'm struck by the fact that it takes minutes to create a New Year's Resolution, only seconds to break it, yet hours of suffering feelings of remorse and/or guilt? What is up with that???? This is why I do not do resolutions any more. I choose to live a life free of self loathing, guit, remorse and regret. It is what is.....Live life with ferver. Love and be kind and tolerant. And remember, everyone has a bad day from time to time. I am the only person responsible for my happiness. Love, peace and prosperity to you all.....Happy 2011!

Happy New Year

Well, here it is, 2011. Wow, how time flies. It's time to reflect over the last year, and plan for the new. A lot has happened in 2010. My son joined the Army, my youngest daughter graduated from High School, and started College. My oldest daughter came off her medications, changed jobs, and has found a major in college that she is enthusiastic about. 2011 promises to be a year full of challenges, as I prepare for career change, and attempt to make a living following my dreams, my son will go to Afghanistan, and my oldest daugther will complete her AA and transfer to a 4 yr school to continue her BS. Exciting times to come, no doubt.

I'm finding inspiration all around me. I read an article on a family living like nomads since 2008 and will begin following their journey as they inspire me to take a leap of faith. I'm not ready to sell everything and let the wanderlust take hold, but I'm intrigued at the idea. It may not be my dream, but what I find inspiring, is how they chose to follow their dream. What can I learn from them?

Off the needles: Another Beanie Hat, in USF school colors, this one is primarily gold with 2 green stripes.

On the needles: Currently is the Yoga Socks. I've completed sock 1 and now more than 1/2 way done with sock 2. The shawl is in slow progression. I've lost my place, it fell of the needles, and now I need to rip back and start again. So needless to say, I haven't looked at it. I haven't picked up any cross stitch, but I have items in process, and I have things I want to sew with my new sewing machine. Maybe next weekend.

Happy 2011 to my friends and family.....