Wine, Wool and Whoppers

Try Something New!

2011-09-04T09:41:00.002-04:00

There's this thing called "Blogging"?

I thought I'd give it a try...

Hi. Me again. My computer has been, shall we say, 'fussy'? So, I've cleaned my discs, defragged and done a complete back up; so now, I'll try posting something.

So far, so good. My photos got loaded. Yay!

When last we spoke, I was heading to the cottage with the family.

Here is a shot following the first exodus of people where the children and I enjoyed a quiet 36 hours. This quiet time included driving an hour to go see the last Harry Potter movie and a drop in from some cottage friends, which lead to a dinner invitation. I said 'quiet' right?

My kids and the dog went to sit at the end of the dock and have quickly adapted to the cottage etiquette of waving to the boats going by. We were in a very quiet (no really, we were the loud ones) bay; so there wasn't a lot of waving.

I did manage to knit a little when the crowd dispersed.

And then we were home again.

Some dear friends presented me with a tree a couple of years ago after my mom passed away. My gardening skills are 'poor' at best these days, but this lovely gift is thriving and I wanted to show it off a bit. I smile and think of the lovely women who have been, and who are in my life whenever I see this tree.

These same friends and I went on a bit of a 'Yarn Crawl' upon my return from the cottage where we celebrated the start to one of their Vacations!

I call this, "Yarn on a Mini."

So, there you go. A fly-by post. I hope all is well with all my friends and family who read this and---fingers crossed---the computer keeps going; so that I can post again.

I finished KAL#2. Fiddlehead Mittens. I won this kit in a draw at our Cast-Off Annual Christmas Party. The kit was generously donated by Connie at Pick Up Sticks. (unfortunately, 'fussy', seems to include an unwillingness to create a link)

Thank-you, Connie; a pleasure, as always.

My turn to choose the next KAL project. I'm embracing the 'learning new skills' mandate of our little group and including some 'never seen before' elements.

I KNOW!!! The fun just never stops!

NEWSFLASH!!

2011-07-20T10:31:00.007-04:00

WE'RE HAVIN' A HEATWAVE!!!

So, of course I'm going to show you knitting stuff...

KAL Project #1 completed by four knitting friends:

Same project (Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf**sorry, computer won't let me link!**); different yarns...aren't they wonderful?

KAL Project #2 started by the same four knitting friends:

(Fiddlehead Mittens**still no link!**) in 40 C weather! We're nuts!!

I don't have this one lined yet, but some of the others in the group are working these mittens two at a time; either on the same needles or a little bit of one and then a little bit of the other.

We plan on a photo shoot at the completion of this KAL too.

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I haven't been a very consistent blogger over the past few months...I had great intentions at the beginning of the year...be advised, however, that I will likely not be posting over the next couple of weeks as the family holiday will begin in approximately 48 hours.

I've done little to nothing in preparation for this holiday and thought that today, I better get things moving!

First?

Wind the yarn that I'm planning to use.

Cascade 220 for Christmas presents.

Did I mention 40 C? 48 C, with the humidex forecast for tomorrow!

Yeah, gimme some o' that Cascade 220!!

That's Knitter With a Capital "K"!

2011-07-11T11:59:00.004-04:00

I took knitting on my weekend away and actually did quite a bit of sweater that I had tucked away in the stash. I really would like to make a full size sweater that I'll wear when I'm cold, will look nice and show that I really am a Knitter. Yes, that's Knitter with a capital "K"!

After all my knitting, however, I don't have one stitch to be able to show you. Aww, yes, the negative knitting curse struck again. Here is how it goes...

Pick out pattern, yarn and needles and pack it along with your other weekend treats.

Take new set of interchangeable needles...just because.

Find a comfy, quiet place to knit when away with friends where there is "no judgement."

Cast on specified number of stitches for the back, using the specified needle and knit away.

Reread pattern several times while doing this and answer, "What are you knitting?" many times as well.

After a dozen rows or so, decide that you should go down a needle size.

Rip out back of sweater.

Cast on using one of the interchangeable needles.

Knit a few rows and decide that the cable is too long and change cable mid-row.

Knit another dozen rows or so and determine yet, again that you should probably go down a size again.

Compare gauge called for in pattern to gauge listed on ball band.

Wonder if close is close enough?

Allow the fact that you are still choosing not to knit a gauge swatch enter your reality.

Note at this time, that the interchangeable have an alternate numbering system and the 4mm you think you need will actually be substituted with a 4.25mm.

Cast on for the sleeve.

Knit more than 30 rows of the sleeve to get a true 'swatch-like' measurement and determine that the previous needle size: ie. 4.5mm would likely give a more correct measurement after all.

Rip out sleeve.

Pack up knitting, pattern, interchangeable needles and will to live.

Pour your first (but not last) Margarita of the day.

Wonder if you'll really be able to rip the pattern up and discard the yarn if you don't get gauge using 4.5mm on the sleeve?

Aaahhh, Margarita.

There Are Few Things Sadder Than...

2011-06-12T17:45:00.003-04:00

A blogger who doesn't get to blog about all the wonderful things that have been going on over the past couple of weeks/months.

A couple of weeks ago I went to watch my daughter in the Area Track and Field Meet.

She got FIRST!! So this week I'm going to go watch her at the Regional Track and Field Meet.

Last Friday night, the family and I attended a little event called Relay For Life. My son's school hosted the event for the first time. The kids organized the whole thing. They set up tents so that those who weren't walking all night would have a place to sleep.
I got a yellow T-shirt. I gave a little speech. I did a lap around the track.

We let the balloons we were carrying go in celebration of being a Survivor. My kids helped.

It really was a special night.

Over the past month or so. I've been participating in a KAL with some of my knitting friends. We chose to do a Linen Stitch Scarf. I've made this before and in the post in my head, you would see pictures of the first one I did. I was happy to do it again as I remember it being very much a 'Zen' kind of knit; not 'mindless' but 'mindful'. There are four of us participating and we each chose vastly different colourways---always a fun part of different people working on the same project; seeing how the different colours affect the outcome---here is a photo of my completed scarf. AKA Christmas Present #1.

This photo isn't fabulous in terms of colour representation, it's more black than brown, but look closely...
Cast On? Cast Off? Can you tell which is which? Pretty close match don't you think?

As some of us approached the end of the scarf, so began our discussion as to how to cast off this particular stitch. Some research had been done prior to even beginning the project for tips from others that had gone before us. Every time anybody started stressing about it, or any stitch that wasn't quite perfect, I was the first to lean in to the concerned knitter and clearly and firmly state, "It's a scarf." My intent was to remind them that it didn't have to be perfect; that a blind man would be glad to see it and that if it was something that couldn't be noticed as you wore it riding by on a horse, then it didn't matter.

Then it was my turn to cast off. First I decided I needed another row after the pattern said to stop to balance my colour progression from the cast on. The other's concurred. Then I tried casting off knitwise, purlwise, knit two together cast off, knit one - slip one - pass stitch over cast off and then repeated each of those a number of times. I dug out several of my knitting books. My friend sent me a link from Ravelry. Everything I tried did not give me the look that I wanted, because apparently, it did matter what the cast off looked like.

This really should not have come as any surprise since when doing this scarf the first time around, I chose to work two scarves for half the rows and do a three needle bind off to keep the edges identical. So finally, in complete desperation, I found a crochet hook to attempt a slip stitch cast off. As far as mirroring the long tail cast on edge it wasn't too bad, but something still wasn't right and so back to the beginning for one more try. I worked another linen stitch row using the same colour as previously used, went back to the beginning of that row, worked a slip stitch cast off and....TAA DAA!!! I DID IT!!! I am just tickled with the result and more tickled that my friend at one of my favourite LYS couldn't tell the difference either. HEEEE HEEEEE!!!

Speaking of LYS...

There are few things sadder than a knitter making a last minute decision to go to a yarn shop that is having an awesome sale (that her friends got to go to before she could!) only to find that it is closed for the day.

It all worked out though. It was open the next day.

It's Good To Know I'm Not Alone.

2011-05-27T14:23:00.003-04:00

This is going to be a wordy one my friends; once again reminding you to be careful what you wish for.

I haven't posted anything in well over a month and in reviewing my last post I mentioned that it was going to be a busy week. Well, I guess I meant month.

Yesterday and today I have been purging my basement. ie. Attempting to purge to the best of my Pisces ability, or perhaps to the best of my 'Sentimental/Relaxed Messy' ability. I apologize to my knitting friends who inherited some of my yarn. (They did seem pretty happy about it though.)

My purging however went beyond yarn, in fact yarn is playing a very small part in this round of 'tidy up the basement'. What has prompted me to post today is something that I wrote...just for the sake of writing (long hand) on August 24, 2001. After reading this and then this and then coming across my ramblings, I felt that, once again, I was being sent a message that was not to be ignored.

So here goes; I will copy it unedited as it was written that August afternoon so long ago...

I am a Mother.
Who should I submit article to?
Today I was really trying to be the mother that I thought I would be and the one that so infrequently is seen by my children.
So I made my 4 year old the "Triple -Decker-Super-Duper-Peanut-Butter-and-Jam-Sandwich" that he requested. I said, "Yes, you can finish your sister's Kraft Dinner."
And then I said, "Here's the bag of candy from the Birthday Party---have the piece of gum last."
I had smiled and thought, 'he must be growing a couple of inches today' as he ate the sandwich.
I let go of the "Enforcer" part of me and let him have the candy at will, because, 'surely, nobody else is this regimented'...I still have Halloween, Christmas and Easter leftovers, because there's so much and it seems I allow so little...and I got a Tootsie-pop out of the deal---he shares well.

I am a Knitter.
I have been knitting for 18 years. (like I said, unedited)
My grandmother tried teaching me a couple of times when she came to visit, but I didn't keep it up after she left.
One of my life disappointments is that she didn't live long enough to see me and my knitting---although I do believe she does see.
My mother sat down and showed me again how to knit...but I say to anyone contemplating teaching...yes, everyone who's going to learn must start with knitting, but don't let them go away without PURLING!
Nothing can turn off a potential knitter more than working at GARTER STITCH...it has it's place, but showing someone the beauty of stocking stitch sets a whole world of colour and warmth before them!
My inspiration to take up the craft came from a high school friend's mother...is is now MY dear friend. She was constantly knitting, I mean it...always sitting in the same chair with a HUGE wicker basket...the kind a snake would be charmed from...full of sweaters and/or yarn at some stage of production
She had sweater sales and I modeled some of her creations for the 'sweater shoots'. She has moved from that house where I was inspired and lost virtually all her material possessions...including and amazing "STASH" of yarn (it smoldered for 2 days after the fire) and a beloved family cat.
She still continues to have sweater sales, at 70 years young and continues to enter sweaters in fall fairs. She has been 'suggesting' that I enter some of my creations, for years and finally in 2001, I agree. [Why would I pick now?! I have 2 children, aged 2 and 4, my husband has his own business that we run out of our home.]

I am a Nurse.
Then he comes to me chewing his precious Trident Bubblegum and says, "I want to play outside now", turns and chokes on his own spit. We've all done it. It goes down the wrong way and we cough. I asked him if he was O.K? He turned to me shaking his head no. He was coughing and breathing, so I really wasn't too worried.

So there I sat, while my 2 year old napped, doing some finishing work on a sweater for my brother that I planned to enter in the fair.

Now, this is where my priorities get a little fuzzy I think.

Sean came up to me coughing and gagging. (He was born with a gag reflex about 2" away from his lips! Only those who actually saw this child gag and vomit can fully appreciate the minimal amount of warning before Mt. Vesuvius erupted!) And as the first wave overcame him my hand went up to catch the gum and whatever else came with it, and the words out of my mouth were...

"Not on the sweater!"

O.K., so who should I submit this article to? Mother of the year or Knitters Anonymous?

But wait...There's more!

He's fine. He apologizes for throwing up..."and it's a good thing I didn't throw up on the sweater!"

So, I had to put down the sweater during this precious nap time, to clean up puke! And as I get to return to my knitting the phone rings because somebody can't find a quote that we 'think' my husband left there, but I can't check with him because he's out of town for the night working on a cottage and his phone doesn't work up there! (This is where my sentence structure falls apart, but let's face it...Life IS a run-on sentence!) And with that phone call---my daughter wakes up---early. But you know, advice to young mothers: She was fine in her crib; so I finished the darn Duplicate Stitch! But, didn't get to block.

But you know, that was only lunch and the next 2 hours. There was the morning too; which looking back wasn't that bad...

My daughter who is days away from turning 2 decided to remove her dirty diaper, carry it upstairs to the bathroom to throw the poop in the toilet (her baby sitter does this) and flush, 'Bye-Bye poop!' Cute, nice, no major disaster there...I was in the shower. Sean came running up a few minutes later to tell me the whole story; I told him it was fine..."But, mom there's one poop still there!" He went to his room and wouldn't come out till I cleaned up the poop and then it was safe!
I am a mother=I clean poop and puke.
And I got 90's in math.

I am a wife.
I am very lucky. I married a loving, good, hardworking man. With a good sense of humour. Here's more advice for anyone who might actually read this: Choose a partner with a sense of humour. Life is full of too many disappointments and too much hard work not to be able to find the humour in it. I think that if you have a sense of humour you can see the lighter side of the "Life that happens when you're busy making plans."

Wow. I had forgotten a lot of that story and I'm struck with how much has stayed the same and how much has changed. I've spent the past 2 days down here trying to gain some sense of control over my life because with parenting right now, I'm not feelin' it. But any frustration I'm feeling right now doesn't hardly compete with poop and puke...although now I'm dealing with Boxers and Bras!
Little people; little problems. Big people; big problems.
Really though, the problems aren't big at all; it's more about how I'm handling the 'discussions'. My avoidance method of choice? You guessed it...KNITTING!!!

There's my post. A blast from the past. Maybe next time there'll be pictures.

Mondays! What's not to love?!

2011-04-11T16:00:00.007-04:00

***Apparently we're back to having a post with one run on sentence after another with no paragraph breaks!! Sorry about that---I don't know why or how to make it look like the way I typed it, which is a post with paragraphs!*** Hey there! I had a wonderful weekend and now a great start to the week and by all accounts it's gonna be a busy one! I took my daughter to a dance competition in Barrie on the weekend and everybody did really well! It wasn't far away, so we were able to come home and relax before we were back at it. Most competitions are quite intense with basically too much estrogen floating around in a limited space, but we had plenty of space and not too many studios competing; so all in all, a nice quiet (in the loud tapping and pounding music kind of way) mother-daughter bonding time. Speaking of mother-daughter bonding...I have more Disney photos! Anybody remember Tinker Toys? Half the fun of going on the rides at Disney is waiting in the lines! We used the Fast Pass a few times, but honestly, you miss out on some really fun stuff if you avoid the lines. They're pretty smart down there at Disney. I loved the Toy Story movies and had a great time trying to see all the different elements they brought to the ride. Hollywood Studios was a really fun park; you get to pretend to be a kid and you feel like one too with all the giant sized toys! O.K. here's another Artsy-Fartsy photo and this one was taken at Epcot. I wanted to tell you why today was so nice. I got to have lunch with some of my knitting friends and then we went to visit one of our LYS. We rarely get to do this and it was just wonderful to get to spend more time with these wonderful ladies. We always laugh and support each other in all aspects of our lives and even though we've all promised over and over again to not let each other buy more yarn, because none of us (especially me) need more yarn. We just love and accept each other for our yarn buying weaknesses. I was the only one who fell...well, it wasn't really a fall...more like a trip, because I only bought a little...and it was on sale...and some roving for spinning... but I won't be going to the Frolic and from what I understood there will be some---not a lot, but some---stash enhancement there. We talked about getting together to work on our own Knit-along (separate from our usual knit night; not instead of!) Maybe we could work on some new skills or maybe..... Finish a UFO!! Now that would be something! Here's one last photo for today... I call it, "Hippos Underwater". I've got lots to keep me busy over the next couple of weeks, but I'll try to keep the pictures coming and I hope that even when you're busy you'll find time to spend with your friends; honestly, there is nothing like it.

And Two...

2011-04-08T10:38:00.003-04:00

O.K. Let's try TWO pictures! Our first full day in Florida (yes, I'm back-dating a little) during March...I got to use my new camera and take an 'artsy-fartsy' flower shot. I embarrassed my daughter (that's what a mother's for) by getting into some weird position to capture it, but it had been a long time since I had seen a flower growing in it's natural habitat and I wanted to see how the floral setting on my camera did. Pretty good, don't you think? There will be more I promise you that! We did things kind of backwards on our first day (learning the ropes and all) and had our picture taken by the Disney photographer on our way out of the Park. We're wearing our "First Visit" buttons, proudly!

Animal Kingdom was the first official Park visit of our Disney Adventure. It was a wonderful introduction for what lay ahead for the rest of the holiday.

FYI: In knitting news...I'm knitting fast and trying to be extra creative in my attempts to finish my Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton Cardigan, because I won't have enough yarn to finish it the way that the pattern calls for. I hope it fits and that I like it when it's done; wouldn't that just suck, if after all that it was and "--eh--" when I put it on?

[I have just spent the last 1/2 hour, I guess, looking for a post that I'm sure I posted with a picture of the above mentioned cardigan in progress. I'm pretty sure I posted a picture, because I remember Wannietta commenting on the nice colour. I can't find the post. What I did find however, are a lot of pictures of wool and yarn and projects at various points of completion and that many, sadly, remain in various states of completion.]

Just One

2011-04-03T13:46:00.004-04:00

YAY!! I uploaded one picture! This is my daughter and I enjoying dinner in France! I enjoyed a REAL glass of Champagne; you know Champagne from Champagne!

I also told you about 'just one' visit to 'just one' yarn shop...

There was more than 'just one' ball of yarn came home with me.

As I said to Connie, "It was over as soon as I pulled in the driveway."

Now, let's see if this makes it out into the blogisvere intact; fingers crossed!

Where To Begin?!?

2011-04-02T10:36:00.004-04:00

Let's begin with you imagining some lovely photos of my daughter and I at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We must imagine them because in the last three times that I've tried to upload them to my blog they have disappeared. I'm not sure if it's because I'm working with a file with close to 600 photos in them or the fact that at some point in answering yes to a pop up about how to view photos and/or videos I'm in Quicktime and my Windows is not likely it. Does that make sense to any computer people out there? Speaking of Computer people and blogs and such. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear R., At the bottom of my blog entry you will read a little light coloured item that says (for example) 0 comments (it could read 1,2, or maybe even 3 comments, but let's, for argument's sake, say it says 0). Click on that item; you will be redirected to a small window with a box where you can write your comments. At the bottom of that screen you will be asked to preview or publish? Your call. I hope this helps and works and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Love, Creativehands. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yes, March came and went in a whirlwind of activity! I am taking this weekend to do as little as possible! There's always laundry; so laundry (somehow) doesn't count. Holidays and Dance Competitions are happy, fun and EXHAUSTING times. I've been knitting, but not finishing. I'm very conscious, right now, of just how much yarn and fabric I own, even after purging (somewhat) and buying considerably less than I have been known to. I was even recently in one of my favourite quilt shops and left EMPTY HANDED!! Yay me! Through circumstances beyond my control I will not be attending a number of yarn related celebrations, which usually lead to stash enhancement. (Although today, in my 'doing as little as possible' mode, I hope to get to Pick Up Sticks for their Yarn Tasting. I will do my best, however, to resist the temptation of new yarn.) It is difficult, as I'm sure most yarnies can attest to, because a yarn shop is a place that makes me happy. The people that sell yarn are some of the nicest people I know. If I want them to continue to be there for me they need my/our support; financial support. I have definitely done my fair share of support in the past, but is that enough? To look in my basement you would think yes, but can we know this for sure? I hope that during my self-imposed semi-hiatus from yarn shopping they understand and continue to grace us with all that is yarn and knitting related. O.K. crocheters too. Pretty wordy post huh? Disney was wonderful!! I can't wait to go back! The first dance competition went very well. My part-time job is turning into a bit more than what I signed on for; for awhile anyway. (And that's fine too!) The snow's gone so I can drive my Mini again!! Hehe!! Spring is giving us a taste of what's in store this weekend, with sun and 10C temperatures forecast. FINALLY!! YAY!! So maybe next time there will be photos. Hope so. Bye for now; enjoy your day by doing something that you love to do! **Edited to add: If the content of this post is jumbled in one long run-on sentence, I'm sorry. Again, I tried and the computer and/or blogger did what it wanted. **R. The bottom of the blog may read 0 Comments with Post a Comment underneath it (I've seen it both ways today--on my own blog--) click on Post a Comment if that's what you see. Love you!

I haven't forgotten...

2011-02-28T20:31:00.002-05:00

I know I have a blog.
I would love to blog.
I have photos to post on the blog.
I have to get some sleep!
I will do my best to blog soon.
Bye for now.
Tired and creative in EG.

Among Friends

2011-02-07T14:38:00.005-05:00

I often link to this blog. I check it at least once a day. I often laugh when I read it and sometimes I cry. There are times when I "ooooo" and "awwww". There are the, "I MUST HAVE THAT TOO!!" moments.
Today? Today as I fondly scrolled down the page to enjoy some time with one of our favourite knitters, I muttered something resembling the phrase that any upstanding muggle would utter.

Oh My God!

And once again, I was given an excellent blog entry opportunity.

Here are my needles. I combine my straights and DPN's so that all the needles that are the same size are in the same slot/divider. It looked and worked better when I first set it up before the cardboard had time to slouch. I've thought about reinforcing the dividers...maybe I will someday.

Here's something interesting. I barely, rarely, hardly ever, use straight needles anymore. I have at least one pair of each size. You know, just in case. I too have inherited, been gifted and just plain accumulated a fair number of them and a couple of years ago did indeed do a purge and I know the people that I gave them to were very appreciative.

Actually, if anybody is looking for ideas of where to donate needles...mine went to a local Wellspring group and a few hospitals have knitting centres set up in waiting rooms; so that would be a place to look into. I know that a number of public schools have asked for some as well; they often send the kids to the dollar store, but if you have some needles looking for a home, why not try your local school! They take yarn too. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Anyway, back to me having straights that I barely use; this is because I usually knit on circulars. Most of my circulars are stored in their original cases.

I put this together using an empty baby-wipe container (that's how old it is!). I've entered it in fairs as a recycled item and won prizes! I'm quite pleased with my invention and every now and then I reorganize it. Addi's in front, sorted by size, smallest to largest, next Inox, sorted similarly and then whatever else there is, at the back. My Signature circulars don't fit in here, but they deserve a special place of their own anyway.

Speaking of Signatures needing a special place of their own...
This is where I keep the Signature DPN's in their tubes. (Some were otherwise engaged and therefore unavailable for the photo-op). Behind my Signatures is my pail of crochet hooks. It's a token ode to crochet; I'm not a fan, but the needle roll/hook roll is neat!

This is a shot that I've had in my mind to show you for almost two years. In the spring of 2009 I went through my stash and found these (and more) needles and knitting accessories. Since that time some of been rescued and put into use, but these have remained waiting for the photo op that was promised them.

You'll note that there is one set of interchangeable needles there; they weren't in the stash, but they ended up in the basket. I have two other sets of interchangeable needles. (My shoulder's are beginning to slump with the reality of putting this out there for all to see.) And have, on more than one occasion, considered buying more.

Therein lies the story of my needle inventory. I looked around, quite pleased with myself, that save, for all the needles that have projects on them...

WHOLE OTHER BLOG ENTRY PEOPLE!!!

...I was able to quickly locate all my needles. And I still had room for one more photo on my post. Should I maybe post a picture of my buttons that I hadn't shared, but meant to? How about an update on the knitting I've been doing this past week? Maybe show you just what my basement looks like right now and explain how the nice electrician that's coming tomorrow gave me enough notice to move everything away from all the outlets, so that he can make sure that our house won't burn down after all the other people told us they knew what they were doing when they did our renovations...and I did it! Made the outlets accessible, that is.
Maybe I could show you the scarf that I started because one of my knitters asked me why I wasn't wearing one of my many scarves that I have. I started it and I'm using a straight needle. I'm using one of my fancy needles.
FANCY NEEDLES!?!
That's one more photo op.

This is knitting art. It's nice to know I'm not alone. It's nice to know I'm among friends.

Let's Get Together...

2011-02-03T09:02:00.003-05:00

....And Feel All Right.

ONE SOCK,

ONE SIDE

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND FEEL ALL RIGHT

HEAR THE STITCHES KNITTING - ONE SOCK

HEAR THE STITCHES PURLING - ONE SIDE

SAYIN' GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO THE LORD AND I WILL FEEL ALL RIGHT

SAYING LET'S GET TOGETHER AND FEEL ALRIGHT

LET THEM PASS ALL THEIR DIRTY REMARKS - ONE SOCK

THERE IS ONE QUESTION I'D REALLY LOVE TO ASK - ONE SIDE

IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE HOPELESS KNITTER

WHO HAS WAY TOO MUCH STASH JUST TO STOCK HER OWN BASEMENT

ONE QUILT

ONE DREAM

ONE QUILT - WHAT ABOUT ONE DREAM?

ONE DREAM - WHAT ABOUT?

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND FEEL ALRIGHT

AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING - ONE QUILT

SO SHALL IT BE IN THE END - ONE DREAM

GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO THE LORD AND I WILL FEEL ALL RIGHT

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND FEEL ALL RIGHT

Constant Contradictions

2011-01-28T09:40:00.007-05:00

O.K. I need the Glee Cast to put together a Mash-Up of "Hallelujah" and "I'm So Excited!"

Does that sound wrong?

I have tried several times to get this post up. The. Pictures. Would. Not. Load.

AARrrrggghhhhh.

Yesterday, I just shut down the computer, put it in a time out and walked away. Today, while my will was tested once more, we are up and ready to go. So here's my story.

My life is full of Contradictions; so full in fact, that I was struck, all week, by how constant they truly are.

I have many knitting magazines. Too many knitting magazines.

Those are only the ones that made it to the bookshelf.

And so on these cold and dreary January days I find myself going to the mailbox hoping against hope that there will be a knitting magazine waiting to brighten my day.

There have been no knitting magazines; so then I found myself in Chapters...

I thought I only bought three; turns out I bought four. You'll see more of one of these soon...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have too much fabric. I need to sew from my stash. My stash is too big. I need to pare down.

So I start a quilt for my nieces birthday. I manage to simplify my design idea to something that doesn't make my head hurt. After completing the top I thought, "Great. Now I just need to buy backing, batting and binding," which doesn't really help with the whole "using up stash" concept.

(Guess what my niece's name is? And the first two don't count!) Wait a minute though...I had found some accent border fabric in one part of the stash; maybe if I searched another part I would be able to find some backing. There must be something somewhere...

AND THEN SHE DELETED THE PHOTO!!! GEEZ!!!!

O.K. Back again...sigh....

Here is some fabric that I had bought for the same niece another time; found in another area of the stash.

Why Not? While I'm not sure how keen she really is on The White Pig in the Red Dress, I know she still like Princesses. I even found some fabric for the binding.

Yay!! I just need to get batting and that seemed pretty reasonable.

So, for not needing so much stash, it actually came in handy.

Another contradiction associated with this one and I'm sure I'm not alone, is that I don't have a lot of time to complete this. Today is her birthday and Sunday is the party.

So, I'll quickly baste = not enough basting and I'll machine quilt = not faster even if it sounds faster. For one thing, I've had to rip out and try to re-quilt some areas because I wasn't happy with how the backing looked. You know, same old, same old, "More Hurry, Less Speed". I used to visit a patient that would say that to me, and that was back before I had a family to look after!

I don't have enough time to do things I want to do. I won't live long enough to knit all the yarn and sew all the fabric and bead all the beads and design all the designs that I have in my room and in my head.

So why does the universe keep putting things like this in front of me? Doesn't that doll look like she'd be fun to make? (You should see her friends!) And look! When I went to get the batting some stash replacement; not enhancement, came home with me too.

I think I'll just try to accept the contradictions, take each wave as it comes and enjoy the journey. It seems that the only constants are the contradictions, but the journey, that's where the excitement is...if you let it.

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS A CONTRADICTION?

COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET MAKING LIFE EASIER AND GETTING THINGS DONE FASTER!! THIS POST USED UP ABOUT 4 (MAYBE MORE) HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!

Thanks for dropping by.

A Blue Christmas Story

2011-01-21T14:42:00.005-05:00

Once Upon a Time...I went to Pick Up Sticks and bought some roving, Colourway Royal and some roving, Colourway Jade.

I spun singles and plied them together creating "Blue Christmas".

I washed my two ply in Soak and then draped it, in all it's glory, in front of the fire to dry as I wanted to get it ready quickly to present to my wonderful knitting friends at our Christmas party.

I weighed it, calculated how many grams I could give to each knitter and wound it around a kleenex box so I could make nice little skeins for them.

They all seemed pleased to receive a small token of my affections.

Last night I was pleased to see my yarn, yarn that I had made, yarn that I had taken from it's infancy (o.k. maybe just youth) through to adulthood, had become, at the hands of our newest knitter (newest to the group; having just learned to knit in the past few months, but holds the title of "Most Amazing Crocheter Ever!")...

The PINE TREE BOOKMARK (ravelry link). Get it? Pine Tree? Blue Christmas?

This is so cool! I think I'll go spin some more...

Good Day!

2011-01-20T14:48:00.004-05:00

I've posted a few comments on some of my favourite blogs today; so I thought I'd give them something current to read if they stop by here.
Hey! Connie, Laurie, and Wannietta!

In knitting news...

I turned the heel on my sock. I may have come upon a stitch that will provide an answer to my husband's hat demands issue...the swatch will tell...

As far as JSS #5...

I've decided to go with an alternate stitch marker. I've also decided that I'm going to wear this to my daughter's Gala at the end of February. I'm happy with my decisions.

Speaking of Happy Decisions...

I had a "High Five Mother Moment" yesterday and since I have on occasion vented/whined/complained about the 'joys' of motherhood, I thought I'd let you know that sometimes I think that I don't suck at it too.
Let me set this up for you.
My son is in Grade 9. He is ending his first semester and preparing for his first set of exams.
He came down with a cold on Monday.
He is his mother's son, ie. the procrastination apple does not fall far from the tree.
So he stayed after school to try to complete a project that can only be worked on at school and I picked him up after dropping my daughter off at dance.
Shortly after entering the van...the teenage angst, drama, hyperventilating, over exageration, self defeating dialogue...begins.
I try to be optimistic, encouraging, etc., but what do I know?
I did point out that maybe after 40 something years and having gone through high school, that I may know a thing or two. He was at least polite about that one, but I don't think that it really made a difference.
The 'freak out' grows in intensity until well after we are home; it has already been decided that he won't be going to his drum lesson and he was o.k. with that. Right there. That tells you what kind of state he had managed to get himself into.
" I CAN'T RELAX!!!", he exclaims!
Well, I don't buy that for a minute!
I get him to sit down facing me on our kitchen chairs.
I tell him to sit up straight.
I show him how to put his hands on his legs palms facing up and ask him to close his eyes.
I say, "Now, breath in through your nose."
"I can't; it'll sound disgusting." And then he starts laughing. Then the dog comes over to see what's going on and because she hasn't seen him all day and his hands are just sitting there she starts licking them. And he laughs some more.
Now, I was going for calm, relaxed and focused so that he could then, without the aforementioned anxiety, write a list of what he needs to do and to prioritize them so that he is only faced with one task before he moves onto the next.
He's still laughing; so I grab a pen and paper and say, "Quick, just shout out, what do you need to get done. Go!"
"Geography. Wait, do you mean in order? Hahaha"
"No. Just say it, don't think; just tell me what you have to get done. Go!"
And so came the list. He's laughing, which I know releases endorphins and we're getting the information that we needed to get started. By the time he settled down we had a list, a plan and what looks like a reasonable chance that it will get done in time.
I don't know if I ever got him to take that deep breath, but you know what a did get?

"Thanks, mom." And a hug.

It was a good day.

TODAY, (being Thursday and all) has also been good. My son went to school without the weight of the world on his shoulders.
My husband went skiing with my daughter for electives.
Most importantly...
IT WAS SUNNY!!
I feel I put a reasonable amount of domesticity (aka cleaning and laundry) into my day; so I went upstairs to do a little spinning.

And because I couldn't decide which picture I liked better...

I posted both.

Short and Sweet

2011-01-17T19:56:00.004-05:00

I spent the weekend in Niagara-On-The-Lake with three dear friends. We get together every 3-4 months whether it be a quick lunch or a full weekend. We've known each other for close to seventeen years and every time we get together we can't believe that it' been that long!
This time it was a weekend and we LOVE them!
There is always a lot of good food, good wine and good fun. We've all had our trials and tribulations over the years, but these friends are special. We all know all there is to know...And we love each other all the more for it.
Here are some of the spoils of the weekend.

We were all lucky enough to get some gifts (we never get to see each other before Christmas) and we also managed to get some shopping in.
My dear mostly non-knitting, non-sewing friends made sure I got to visit the new little shop in town. bee modern fabrics & yarns is a very cute and friendly store and I look forward to visiting again...when it's warmer!
Here's a little something I picked up near the cash register before heading to the store next door where my "Bee" necklace was waiting for me to rescue it and bring it home.

You may have noticed my blog's "new" look. Early Sunday afternoon when we were trying to delay our departure, our hostess commented on how nice my knitting looked with the sun and cushions and everything. I gave her my camera and put her to work with the request that she give me something "Artsy-Fartsy".
I like it.
So that's my short and sweet entry. I had planned to do this all day. I had planned to write more and to write with more whit. That didn't happen; what did happen is I got my oil changed, my emissions test done, dinner made and four loads of laundry done...well almost, I'm going to go throw the last load in the dryer now.
A weekend away just isn't enough and when I get home it was too long to be gone. It's good to know that all three of my friends feel the same way.

There Really Should Be a Warning!

2011-01-13T17:26:00.003-05:00

Over the past 24 hours it has come to my attention that there needs to be more emphasis on alerting people to the various hazards that are lurking in our own homes.

Hazard #1:

Did you know that due to too much television exposure you can wind up with some really messed up dreams?
I was enjoying a deep REM sleep this morning and upon being wakened by the dog wanting her breakfast, realized that my dream included a variation of Myth Busters and Dinner Party Wars.

That can't be good; it's just weird.

Hazard #2:

I am not a fan of housework. I would rather knit. SURPRISE!!! To that end, I own a multitude of appliances to make the necessary evil, that is housework, more manageable. It is also important to note here that I own 2 cats and a dog.
This is my vacuum cleaner.

A very fine machine, indeed, that copes well with the hurdles before it on a biweekly basis.

Until last Tuesday. Last Tuesday it said, "No. I don't think so. I will turn on. I will begin to make the correct sound, but then I will make a slightly different sound that will cause you to wonder just what is going on with me? Then, while still having a significant amount of power running through my veins I will stop sucking. That's right, I will suck no more and you will be left to your own devices to ascertain just why I am making this unusual sound; why I am refusing to suck and revenge will be mine...mine, I say. All mine!" mmmmHHHHAAAA!!!

So I looked on line. I sent an email. I waited on hold...and left a message. I waited on hold another day...and left another message. I eventually called the store where I bought it to see what they could offer. My best bet? Bring it back to the store and they'll send it out. For me to seek out an authorized repair store had me going to a different town in a different county. SEVERAL days later I hear back from the phone message; too bad I wasn't home when they called. Today I heard back from the email and just because I was feeling optimistic, I guess, I gave them another call. THEY ANSWERED!! WOOHOO!!

Yes, yes, very busy after the holiday...

So they nice young man was very reassuring that I would have my machine up and running in no tim! He talked me through what we (me) were going to do.

Step 1-remove the canister. Check.

Step 2- locate the intake hole. Check

Step 3- We're going to put the hose over the intake hole to clear the blockage (he was confident there was a blockage).

"O.k. let me take the attachment off. Oh! there seems to be a collection of 'stuff' right here.
I'll just put the phone down and dig this stuff (dog hair mostly) out," and then we can go ahead with this whole turning the vacuum on itself thing.

So I dig and I pull dog hair, some small sticks, but there was something definitely caught up there; so I kept at it.

"Oh Wow. This is embarrassing," I said.

When I explained to the nice young man what had been blocking my vacuum cleaner, he said, "Well, that's a first; I haven't heard that one before."

See?! There should totally be a warning on our wine bottles!

"Discard Seals Responsibly! Your Vacuum Cleaner May Depend On It!"

How About This For A Change?

2011-01-12T12:37:00.003-05:00

KNITTING ON A KNITTING BLOG!!

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**I would like to take this opportunity to send a Shout Out to all my hard working friends who read knitting blogs while hard at work.

Yay Multi-Tasking!!**

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When I last posted I showed you a hat in progress, hoping to improve my 0.5 for 4 stats.

Well, here's the hat, my first FO of 2011. And my stats?

0.5 for 5!!

Yup, a hat, a pair of socks and it's 2 or 3 sweaters that I rarely, if ever see worn.

Good thing I enjoy knitting! Good thing I have stash! So I will try again....someday.

But NOT today!

This is a pair of socks that I started for my Mother-In-Law who will be visiting next month. Apparently there's something in the air that made this yarn jump out of my stash and onto my needles. Mmmm.

The pattern is Socks for Grandpa (with an aside to "make some for Grandma [or Baka] too.") from Creative Knitting January 2011. The colour is actually prettier here than in real life; thank goodness for the blue, is all I can say.

I've also made progress on my JSS cape.

You know, knitting is a patient, kind and wonderful thing. No matter how you're feeling, happy or sad; healthy or a little yucky, it's there ready and willing to help you through whatever you're going through. I love knitting.
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So while my time on the computer hasn't been spent updating this blog, I do check my blogging friends daily---actually, several times a day. There's been some interesting topics over the past few days. Glenna, over at Knitting to Stay Sane spoke of Do Overs and was my inspiration to revisit a summer cardigan that I started 3-4 years ago.

A cardigan using Blue Sky Aplaca's Cotton. I completed the back in no time; managed to get the right front done (as you can see from my cute tags), but ended up ripping it out because the pattern didn't match at the shoulders. This was a "Thank Goodness for Ravelry" moment, as I found out that there was an error in the pattern for the right front and not the entire back. See? Good thing. I only had to rip out half a front and not a whole back. It's also a good thing because there's a big chunk of this sweater already done. It will knit up quickly and will do just nicely for my next trip...in March...

Wait and see...

On a more positive note...

2011-01-07T14:01:00.003-05:00

Today when I went to pick up some long forgotten dry cleaning...the lady could not believe that I wasn't 32.
32!!
I laughed, smiled and thanked her many times and did eventually tell her my real age and had to cross my heart that I was telling the truth and that next month I will be 49.
32?! HA! And without makeup; I think she was just trying to get my business.

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I have to make this a quick post...you know, family...

One benefit of that previous thaw was that I got to drive around in my new toy!

I got it just before we went to Mexico and found out upon returning that it does not, indeed, enjoy driving in the snow. In fact, it just plain does not drive in the snow. It sits and spins it's wheels in the middle of a busy street, but driving? It does not.
It's a 2005, in really good condition and the next time you see it I'm sure that it will look quite a bit different. It's a "work" vehicle and will have some artwork done to reflect that. If you look closely enough, though, you will see some knitting references....I promise! I have "the Mini Story" that I will share next time you see it.

O.K. besides the thaw and all that other bothersome whining last post, I mentioned hats and knitting.
This is the had I knit for my youngest niece. I added the corkscrews to an otherwise plain had. There were matching mittens too.

My eldest niece got a (relatively) last minute addition to the Christmas knitting list. She wore it to her first skiing lesson the next day; so I think it was a hit.
Meow.

This was added after the success of my son's had Christmas morning. My love affair with all things Noro continues as I work on a hat form The Love of Knitting Winter 2010 for my husband who admired my handiwork and only suggested that it fold up a little more to keep a guy's ears warm when he's skiing. It's Silk Garden in browns and blacks. The colour doesn't really show up that well here; some photos I took were too dark and others were too light.
This has gone on for longer than I would like, only because I decided to try to surprise him, and then I forgot to take it to knit night and then I didn't have the pattern handy...anyway, the knitting is now done and I just have a few ends to tie in and then I'll wait for a good time to present it. I think it'll be o.k., but you never know; I think I'm batting 0.5 for 4. And yet, I keep trying.
Sigh.

As of December 28, I officially put away my "Knitting for Other's Projects" (which lasted from Dec. 1-27; I swear I only worked on stuff for other people for the whole month) and worked on something for me. I picked up this yarn and pattern at Stitches West 2007 and thought that I should tackle it since Maria (it's number 13 on her list---COOL POST!!) showed me how nice it knits up. I'm using a choral, charcoal grey and dusty mauve colour combination.

It's nice; I like it...even the garter stitch part. Huh.

I've made steady progress on this too and will have more to show you next time. Happy Knitting everybody and thanks for dropping by.

**Happy day! My spell check only showed one spelling error! WooHoo. It really doesn't take much.

We Interrupt...

2011-01-03T12:51:00.004-05:00

...this regularly scheduled "knitting and hat showing" blog entry to show you what happens when a knitter has had it up to HERE with their offspring not doing as they're asked, after a night of very little sleep, after the annual Canadian winter thaw followed by the ever present Canadian Deep Freeze and she goes for a walk!

First, however, she makes a cup of tea, grabs some chocolate and heads downstairs to sort the whole sordid story out.

We had A LOT of snow before and up to Christmas....
and then came the thaw. The forecast calls for more snow; so the skiers around here remain hopeful. Saturday we were blessed with a balmy +12C (no, I don't know what that is the other way) and I enjoyed a little freedom from Christmas holiday home-bodies for an hour or so when I went for a drive. Alone. Just wearing a sweater, well and pants and all the other necessities. No, it wasn't a hand knit sweater, but I got it for Christmas from my brother and I really like it.

Maybe I'm a bad mother, wife, whatever, but I really enjoy my time to myself in my house; even if it's doing laundry, which I'm still doing, and so with every Christmas break comes the promise that everyone will go back to where they belong when the holidays are over. Generally, I try to keep a small happy place inside with that knowledge, but today when I woke up and came out to the kitchen to see that once again, the things that I had asked to be done, were not. Once again, the rule that I had made, was being ignored. Once again, I'm going to have to be the 'bad guy' to try and get some, oh, I don't know, RESPECT!?!
I ask them to do something, I even left a list, because that has worked well in the past and I left a list because I was out buying food for them to eat! They say, "Yea. O.K." and silly me thinks that means, "Yea. O.K.", but apparently it means, "---lalalalala---, and then I'll do what I want." I don't like being the yelling, cranky, mom lady. I am not one of those mom's who's very existence is measured and enhanced by picking up after and catering to everyone around her. IT'S MY LIFE AND THEY'RE THINGS I WANT TO DO!!!
I think of the food, I buy the food, I may even prepare the food, but I will not chew it for you and there's no reason that you cannot open the fridge and get the food if you are hungry! AND THEN CLEAN UP WHEN YOU'RE DONE!!
I don't really don't mind doing the laundry, but again, there is no reason that you cannot bring down the dirty laundry ie. YOU pick it up off your own floor and there is no reason that you cannot take it up to your room and PUT IT AWAY!!
ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE INSTEAD OF WATCHING ANOTHER EPISODE OF SUITE LIFE ON DECK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN OR INSTEAD OF PLAYING SOME KILLING WAR GAME THAT I WAS NEVER A FAN OF ANYWAY!!!
And while you're doing that I could be knitting. And all would be right with the world.

So after I was cranky and miserable to a dear friend of mine who called to see how my Christmas was...I didn't go with 'Bah Humbug'...I thought I better get out of here; no matter how many other things I should and/or want to be doing. The sun was shining and I really needed to breath real air.
I walked to the back of our property to where a Hawk has been perched for the past few days just to see if I could see anything that would catch a Hawk's eye.

I'm thinking he keeps waiting to see if whoever made these trails comes back. It's like there's a whole other world under the snow. There were a few patches like this, but I was only able to get this picture...more about that later.

After I secured our property, I ventured onto our street. We live on a dead end that has a Golf Course at the "end" and so it's usually pretty quiet here in the winter. In the summer? Sometimes it's not worth your life to try to walk with those "Crazy Golfers" zooming past.
I headed north for no particular reason other than to see what was happening that way and once I had taken a few deep breaths and started to look around to try and see some of the beauty in nature and because I'm usually looking down...unless I'm in a city; then I'm usually looking up (very touristy; here come mug me!)...I noticed how the water in the ditch had frozen again after the thaw in a very strikingly, beautiful pattern.

While I was first walking, I was thinking how I maybe should get a bigger, better camera. I've been disappointed with lots of pictures, of my kids especially and mostly because I can't get close enough to "capture the moment". Then I remembered what wonderful pictures my mom and another lady I used to know were able to take with just your basic everyday kind of camera; so I think I'll wait a bit. I was also coming to grips with the fact, on this walk on a crisp winter day, that I'm not a gardener. I would like to be. I enjoy the end results of other people's gardens, but I just don't have it. Not at this point in my life anyway; no matter how good it would be for me. I do enjoy taking pictures of flowers and such though. See the sequoia there?

Here's another close up of winter taking hold of a moving life force. It's like one moment the water is flowing as it wants and then....ice takes hold and everything stops just as it is, a mixture of air, water and movement.

FYI: when you're about to take your camera out for a walk; in fact you went for your walk, saw some neat stuff to take pictures of and came back to get your camera and think, "I should take some spare batteries, just in case." Take the &*^%^ batteries! Taking the ones out that are obviously dying and tapping and rubbing them against each other, while pleading with the battery gods to please, please, please, just this one more (and then this perfect one) only takes away from the peace and harmony that you are trying to embrace.

As I mentioned during the winter a walk can be a pretty peaceful trek around here. Only a few cars drive by and the odd jet may fly overhead and neither of these sounds caused me any concern, but you know what's scary when you're walking alone on a country road on a quiet, sunny day? The sounds of nature.

Was that somebody in the woods? Did I startle something and is there an animal crashing through the forest? Is it coming towards me or is it running away from me? Is there something about to come down upon me?

Noooo...how about...

Ice cracking away from the earth and trees? You really have to be out in the quiet to hear all the noise that nature makes. And once your heart stops racing and you quick looking around and jumping back so that "nobody gits you"; it's really cool.

Speaking of cool...

I'm not especially a fan of fish mail boxes, but this new one of my neighbours brings a little colour to our otherwise monotone street.
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Funny story to close with.
My husband just came home to get some lunch (see above note about going into the fridge to get food if you're hungry); my husband is not an especially small fellow and is pretty strong as far as I'm concerned. So I'm in the laundry room folding laundry (see above note about taking your laundry upstairs and putting it away) when I hear some sounds of distress from the kitchen. The first time I just put it to something not going the way he liked it on t.v., but when another more exacerbated sound came, I was a little worried and went up to see what was the matter. I asked if he was alright; if there was a problem?
He said, "Yes." and with a glint in his eye, he said, "I can't get the pickle jar open."
I put down my armful of laundry (always the laundry) and asked if I could help?
"Sure!" He did not hide the smirk.
I walked up to the counter, picked up the pickle jar, turned it over, smacked it on the counter, causing him to jump as he had moved on to watch some sports thing, turned it right side up and easily opened the pickle jar for my hungry husband.
And we laughed....
BOY THAT FELT GOOD!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-01-01T20:40:00.002-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I think a vase full of Koigu says it best.

From this may bloom...Charlotte's Web Shawl, two Linen Stitch Scarves and a pair of socks.

I love Boxing Day sales...one or two days after boxing day...with a knitting friend...a decaf cappuccino...even if it was too hot in the store (I mean SERIOUSLY HOT) and there was a grumpy old man in the coffee shop...mmmmm Koigu mmmmm....

I also love Boxing Day sales where I sneak off on my own, pick up some roving and such, and come home to an empty house to knit and to dream of more knitting...

Back to normal on Monday; everybody back to work and school...YAY!!!

FYI...all is right with the world! HEHE!!

Another year; another bunch of UFO's.

2010-12-31T11:10:00.004-05:00

Well, here it is, December 31st, 2010.

Yup, another year done.

This wasn't my most prolific year in a number of field's. eg. blogging, knitting, quilting, cooking, cleaning...and it was, what it was.

I went back to work! Would not of predicted that one!

I definitely accomplished more spinning than any other year; more about that later.

I'm going to guess, that stash enhancement was somewhat less than it has been in previous years. I say "guess" because there is no way that I am actually going to try to document and keep a tally of such an achievement! That would just take up too much knitting time!

Speaking of knitting time...
Here's the recipient of a knitted toque. He wore it most of Christmas morning and has been seen wearing it out and about since then. Yay, a satisfied customer!
The excitement you're witnessing is his reaction to opening this.
One of the top gifts this year.

Another satisfied customer is the recipient at our clinic gift exchange. This was a fun, quick knit and I think that it turned out beautifully. Isn't she cute? She's always cold too, so when a knitter gets a cold person's name for Christmas...well, stand back; there's gonna be some stash diving!

So when I last blogged I was preparing to attend my Annual Knitting Christmas Party and just in time too. It seemed that this was just the evening that many of us needed to get into the Christmas spirit. Good friends, good food and good times was all it took. This was one of the treasures I brought home from that gift exchange.

A cute little knitting Snowbaby. I love him. I took him out the next morning and inspected and studied and look:

He's keeping the yarn (real yarn!) that's he's using for his sock in a bag on his back! Who thinks of this stuff? He now sits in a place of honour on my mantel in my bedroom and makes me smile whenever I look at him. Thank-you fellow knitter.

We were all treated to so many gifts...a lovely knitting bag, a calendar, some chocolate, a "Love Soup" mix (Yum!), a crocheted topped tea towel, Christmas Tea Towels folded to look like a purse and a tool kit! And that was before Secret Santa and the exchange!

Let me tell you a little about our exchange. There's a lot of laughing and a lot of oooo's and awww's, but it's not pretty! It's down right cut throat at times and usually there is a battle over not one, but several of the gifts brought to the party. And you know what?

"It's not a party until somebody shoves yarn down her bra." Just sayin'.

Even then, it's still not safe from those thieving thieves that call themselves 'friends'! I just think that when pretty sparkly yarn finds it's way into a person's bra; then it should be allowed to come home with that person.

I hope the restaurant lets us come back next year.

There were even some "extra" secret Santa gifts and I was lucky enough to be sent home with a bag that read, "Do not open until Dec. 25th". I love getting gifts like that. There are always so few gifts that I don't know what they are and that are really a surprise under the tree. My Avon lady always leaves me something as a surprise and I've joined sock yarn gift exchanges, but then you still know that you're getting yarn and a pattern, don't get me wrong, it was still fun! I made it quite clear that I thought it was time the kids put a little something under there for their favourite mother...my son and I gave each other the same thing. Good times.
Anyway, back to the knitter's secret Santa gift...I was lucky enough to receive a wonderful batt of 50% mohair and 50% lambswool to spin! (Again I'm sorry, but 5 photos is all this blog can handle; so I'll show you another day...next year!) It's a gorgeous charcoal grey that I know exactly what I want to spin it into and what it's going to go with!

Thank-you Secret Santa. Nobody gets me like you. All my family could say is, "What is it?" with that look of serious doubt about my sanity and total misunderstanding of my excitement while hugging and petting and giggling.

I love my knitters.

So much so, that this was my gift to them.

14 grams of handspun 100% Merino that I named Blue Christmas. It's a 2 ply of hand dyed roving one of Royal and one of Jade. I was going to call it Royal Jade, but then it was a Christmas gift and tada! Blue Christmas was born. I'm pretty happy with it, but I think that I'm not spinning my singles tight enough. I keep trying to spin thinner singles and while they may indeed be thinner, they certainly 'bloom' after plying and washing and drying (again, there are some neat photos of this process...for next year).

That sort of shows how Christmas went around here. My dad, my brother and his family came here for Christmas dinner and once again there was good food and good fun.

The title of this post refers to UFO's. What I've shown you, however, are some of my FO's. As of December 1st, I knit only, and I mean, only, for other people. It was gift knitting everyday; all the time and I was o.k. with it, but still did not finish all that I wanted to. I had some gift giving grace due to the fact that one gift could wait until the new year and I thought I might be able to do it too, but then I read the Yarn Harlot. The significance of that post?

I spent the entire day yesterday tidying/playing in my basement/studio/room. I was touching yarn and needles and patterns, but I wasn't getting any knitting done!

Cleaning, tidying, organizing and controlling clutter are not my strong suits. I'm more of an idea kind of girl and it requires a tremendous amount of energy for me to remain focused or even interested in completing these kind of tasks. The only saving grace is that this is my room and when I do clean this one, it stands a much better chance of actually staying the way I left it as opposed to the rest of the house. While I usually end up spending New Year's Day tucked away in my haven, this Christmas had my room just one box away from a Hoarder's Intervention. (Shudder. Can you imagine? A crew just shows up at your door because you've been ratted out as a person who can't seem to say 'no' to yarn? Or fabric?) So, I started at one end of the room and carefully moved through the whole space. I was feelin' pretty good, and then my husband came down and asked what I was doing?

"I'm tidying and organizing," I said, while standing just a little bit taller and grinning, "all the knitters are doing it!" (again, thank-you Stephanie)

"You're just moving stuff from one side of the room to the other. What have you thrown out?"

"--------- "

He decided that he didn't want to go there...again, and went back upstairs.

'Thrown out?' Who said anything about throwing anything out?

I'm not finished, but both kids have noticed a BIG difference and what is left is clean and far more accessible and far less intimidating, but it will have to wait for another day, because today?

TODAY I KNIT!

I WILL FINISH THAT LAST CHRISTMAS GIFT AND TOMORROW I WILL DELIVER THAT LAST CHRISTMAS GIFT AND ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD!

After that I will once again look at my bunch of UFO's and figure out which one to tackle first. How do you decide?

Same Bat Place, Same Bat Channel...

2010-12-16T15:32:00.004-05:00

ATTENTION MY KNITTING FRIENDS...

THE KNIT SIGNAL IS UP!!!

WHO? YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

WHAT? OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER IS ONLY A FEW HOURS AWAY!!

WHEN? AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET THERE.

WHERE? SAME AS LAST YEAR. IT WAS THAT GOOOOOD!!

WHY? BECAUSE WE ROCK!!

HOW? ANYWAY YOU CAN, BABY. ANYWAY YOU CAN.

Attention Cat People!

2010-12-14T20:26:00.003-05:00

This one's for you Transit Knitter!
You know who you are. People who get cats, or at least the cats allow you to be a part of their lives.

But first, Flora. Mexican Flora. I finally got to the point last night where I crawled into bed and said, "Can we please go back to Mexico? It's warm there!"
With the wind chill, we're in the -20's, I don't know what that is in Fahrenheit anymore, but it's cold! And more snow is falling as we speak. I know the snow is supposed to make you feel all Christmassy, but I'm not feelin' it this year; not yet, anyway...I just keep trying to think of ways of doing it, without doing it BIG!

Anyway, Flora.

And Fauna.
This was our resident Iguana. He/she lived right beside our Casita and would come out to get warm (see, everybody's doing it!) everyday. On our first day at the resort, when I was being Joe-tourist by pointing at everything and saying, "Look at that! See that?!" One of the employees told me the Iguana's are "good chopped up in Tacos".
I hope he was kidding. I thought he was, but the more I thought about it, I wasn't so sure.
Eeeww.

So in keeping with the Cat Loving-Fauna theme; if you need a good laugh then I recommend that you set aside a few minutes and go visit Glenna C. Watch the video she found; then, sit back and watch the other's that come up after that one is finished. Be warned, though, DO NOT have a beverage in or near your mouth when watching them. I personally know at least two of the cats that you'll be watching and one of them lives with me now. Honestly, watching these made me laugh harder than I have in a long time! Thanks Glenna; thanks Simon!

I still wish I was in Mexico.

I'M POOPED!

2010-12-10T15:38:00.004-05:00

Thursday's are my favourite day, as you might well know already. There is nothing routinely happening here at Creativehands Central; so I look forward to the day in the week where no body's due here early in the morning and there is nothing booked that I need to rush out to. The icing on the cake, that is Thursday, is that it is also Knit Night.
Yesterday, however, was far from any routine Thursday.
My daughter was in a Volleyball tournament and would I come? Could I drive?
Sure!
Be at the school at 830.
Grrrrr.
I am not what you would call, athletically inclined, but when I was a girl.....
I was on the school Volleyball team...and we wore awful pleated skirt uniforms to play in too!
Anyway, I showed up; ON TIME...I'm really trying to make that more of the usual instead of the unusual...got some girls to the tournament and dutifully sat there knitting and cheering as they lost 8 out of 8 games.

Here a couple of things to make note of as far as our team went. These are junior girls and we had grades 4-6 represented. Have a look at that bench...we had a big team! Everyone of those girls got a turn to play---every game; each rotation meant one girl off and the next one on. I thought that was great. They also improved as the day went on and were playing much better by the last game.

Maybe next year.

Then it was knit night.

Cookie Exchange Knit Night. See? Cookies and Knitting!

For a few years we combined cookies and gift exchange and dinner and....

All on one night! Too Much!

Now we break it up a bit and exchange cookies one week....and everybody shows up.

We plan our dinner for the next week with gifts, etc....and everybody show up.

It's so much fun to have these two get-togethers for fourteen very special reasons.

We even let some mice join the fun. He won't be bothering us anymore though; I took care of it.

This morning I was finally home and alone, so I dug out the Christmas presents that I had put away to get a handle on what I did, and didn't, still need to take care of while continuing to quietly repeat my mantra, "It's not going to be big this year. It's not going to be big this year." Then I wrapped most of the presents, feeling quite proud of myself, thinking, 'I don't want to just survive these holidays' (which let's face it, is the whole month) 'I want to enjoy them and if I'm all stressed and running around all the time..."ENJOY" is not the word that would come to mind.'

Then the power went out. Heck, even before I finished wrapping and tidying up the wrapping paper, the power was out. So I sat down to knit.

Knitting this month is a tricky trick.

There's the knitting for people that you don't live with; so it's o.k. to knit that stuff at home. When other people are home.

There's the knitting for people that you don't live with, but can't knit when other people are around because the knitting is too complicated for outside observers. AKA: Quiet Knitting.

There's the knitting for people that you do live with that you can knit when you are out at knit night or waiting at dance class or drum lessons or dentist appointments or maybe even work.

There's the knitting for people that you do live with that you cannot knit when you are out because it takes more brain cells than you have available at that time. AKA: Alone Knitting. This last one is the trickiest of December Knitting, but I think that I've got it covered pretty well this time.

I made a hat.

It's wrapped so I can't show you, but I like it. Who knows how it'll go over Christmas morning. Do fourteen year old boys like their hats to match their coats? I'm really trying not to dwell on it.

Back to life without power. It is amazing how quiet the house is when the power is off. Luckily I had already turned on the gas fireplace, so I had a nice warm place to settle in and I did knock off a few rows of a hat for somebody that doesn't live with me, but you know what else you can do when the power is off and nobody is here to bug you?

Spin. I spun and I spun and I spun.

My bobbin overfloweth. Sigh.

After awhile the power came back on, I could tell because all the house noises started again, and I went down to finish the laundry that had stopped mid-cycle, wait for the water to get hot, so I could have my bath and have a cup of tea.

I shared this tea with my lovely knitting friends; you know...tea and cookies...and it was a hit...even with the non-tea drinkers! It's a nice festive beverage to drink...that's o.k. to drive after!

You know where else you can have tea and cookies and knitting?

In Mexico and you don't have to lift a finger! (Except to knit)

Catching Up

2010-12-08T15:17:00.005-05:00

Made it to Mexico and home again, safe and sound! The holiday was fabulous and we're looking forward to another one soon...how about now?
Now?

First and foremost...Seascape was finished and blocked and dried in time to make it to the resort. I wasn't especially pleased with my blocking, but I've taken some steps to correct any concerns that I had. (Cough---KnitPick Blocking Mats---Cough---on order---)

I need to be doing about a dozen other things right now; so here it is, a drive by holiday review. I've got some more pictures to post another time...I'll try to anyway.

This is the view from the room. That's right, an infinity pool right outside our door! I would walk that little river, under the bridge to the swim up bar, gather a couple of Raspberry Margarita's (yummo!) and walk back to enjoy a little sunshine in my own private pool.

This is the view from the beach. Here a nice fellow would bring me the Raspberry Margarita.

This is the view from the bar where I switched it up for a Strawberry Daiquiri.

And on our final night we played a little chess. You know it's a good night when your husband ends up wearing your new lace wrap.

I won.

In The Hopes

2010-11-05T15:11:00.004-04:00

In the hopes that fellow bloggers will post something to entertain me (Cough, TDC) I will put a little something out there myself.

The knitting world just gets smaller and smaller...I was reading the Yarn Harlot the other day and enjoyed hearing about her latest sock. I followed her link and considered purchasing the pattern; I still might, but I actually have to check and see if I already did. ;o)
And the story kept running through my mind...mmmm, something's familiar about all this...

Ah Hah! I said. I have that yarn! The name felt good, but really it was the colour that called to me. (I love the names of yarn; sometimes that's about the only reason I buy it; it's not like I need it or anything, but you already knew that.) I decided to make some wrist warmers for a friend of mine; I have the first one completed and have started on the second, but I gotta say...I really like these, and I'm a little doubtful (and feeling guilty about my hesitation) that they'll actually get to the person that I started them for. I'm a baaaad knitter, or maybe just a bad friend.

Seascape Update:

Have completed the 6 repeats that the pattern called for and have begun #7. I anticipate completing #8 before I begin the end chart and blocking. Two weeks to go...I hope I make it. True to Noro form there's a colour glitch and I'm just living with this one. I have, however, taken the appropriate steps to ensure consistency in the rest of the wrap.

Because that's what I do.

Also to be completed in the next two weeks. :o)

"A Bamboo Tank Top" using Dye-Version Bamboo Sock. It's 93% Bamboo and 7% Lycra; therefore, there is a real spring to this yarn. It is absolutely wonderful to work with and I have no trouble staying true to working with it daily.

At this point in the pattern I'm working a simple 4 row repeat, and 3 of those rows are knit. Why then when I sat down earlier did I have to tink 3/4 of a 210 sts. row because I couldn't work the one round of 'YO, K2tog" a few times? Simple right? Geez! I'm sure glad it's so pretty; I was happy to spend the extra time with it.

Hyper and Unfocused

2010-11-03T14:31:00.003-04:00

Must be left over from Halloween! Or maybe this little lady cast a spell on us all...

This will be a bit of a random post in keeping with the "unfocused" theme.

I wasn't feeling well for the past couple of days; turns out there is actually something going around where you're tired, have a runny nose and a headache that makes it feel like your head is going to fall off.

Even if no wine was involved.

So yesterday, after a serious afternoon nap, I actually had some energy to make a decent dinner and I was so pleased with myself that I made sure that I had evidential proof of said dinner.

It's Chicken and Pears with Almonds and Gorgonzola, loosely based on a recipe from the Alive magazine available at you local health food store. When I showed my husband the picture of the original he said mine was better. Brownie points for him.

I invented this side dish of lightly steamed broccoli and cauliflower tossed with leaks and garlic that had been sauteed in the pan used to prepare the chicken dish.

The evening went kind of hairy after that. Later on I was helping my son try to find his ski boots, which we never did, but that led us into some uncharted territory that is 'the crawl space'. I don't often get down there, because whoever built this house saw fit to build a crawl space where you can't stand up straight and it hurts all of our backs to go in there! So stuff gets shoved in there and moved around and forgotten about and added to etc. etc.
This is particularly not helpful for those of us who are prone to the 'hoarding' factor; especially with yarn.
I found yarn in the crawl space. I sort of knew it was there. I sort of remembered that I had it. I just don't ever remember feeling that overwhelmed by it before.
I have my studio stash...which is plentiful.
I have a few (cough-several) rubbermaid containers waiting to go---either to the crawl space or away; again, plentiful.
And once again I've encountered the Crawl Space Yarn. CSY.
**New t.v. show idea: CSI-CSY! Starring....me? The following show contains material that may be offensive to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Anyway, I guess not being able to find the boots and seeing all that yarn that I still actually remember what it was that I wanted to do with it all left me feeling a bit unsettled. Put that together with an afternoon nap, late evening dessert and a snoring husband and you've got a night full of second guessing and self negative talk.
I was setting myself up for quite a tailspin and feeling pretty badly about myself and my short-comings and choices I've made, projects I will never complete...dreams that will never come true. NOT A GOOD NIGHT!!!
So, I got up, made another cup of Bedtime Tea and, "Thank God for Knitting", is all I have to say. I quietly worked on Seascsape and found my rhythm once again. I was able to quiet the voices that tell me "I'll never finish all this!" And shortly after midnight I was able to get to sleep.
This morning I awoke embracing the Hope for Creativity that I count on to get me through the hustle and bustle of the life we are a part of. (This morning's mantra is, "Thank God for Sunshine".) If Hope for Creativity looks like too much yarn to some people, well so be it. I'll get to it someday. (It's funny, that same Alive magazine where I found the chicken recipe also had an article on procrastination, and it was written by somebody that somehow got inside my head and shared with everybody how my thoughts and days go by! Scarey.)
A few hours later I find myself sitting at Tim Hortons checking emails and there is one waiting for me with one of my favourite subject lines:
Knitting Question.
"...What do you ladies do with your left thumb when you are knitting? In particular when you are doing the purl stitch. Does it sit nicely in the palm of your left hand, does it leap back and forth to the needle, does it do something in between? Inquiring minds want to know."

Well, was my face red!! Here I was in a coffee shop, reading an email about knitting and me without my knitting!! I tried knitting in mid air without yarn and needles, but it really wasn't very helpful. I didn't care that maybe I looked like one of those crazy ladies; I just wasn't getting the proper results to give my inquiring minded friend the answer she deserved and needed!

So, here's a picture to put it all into perspective. Mostly my thumb stays pretty much in this position. It might move back and forth a little bit, but usually it sits here to do the job at hand.

I picked up an addition to my knitting library the other day.

I'll tell you more about it another day...maybe I'll bring it to knitting on Thursday...but I have to get going now. There's a dog that wants fed and a girl who doesn't have her dance stuff to get ready for her 3 hour dance class after her Volleyball tryout.

That's Seascape peeking at the corner there. I think I'm going to do a couple of extra repeats on that because I don't see how it's going to block to the given dimensions on the pattern and I think that that's a reasonable conclusion since the yarn is quite a bit different than the one called for.

I've really enjoyed writing and sharing this with you today. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Let's Do The Time Warp...

2010-11-01T15:18:00.004-04:00

Everybody make that sound you make when you're traveling back in time. You know kind of Twilight Zoney.

It's still October. In fact Halloween started on or about the 28th this year; so here's a recap...

I went out and had lunch with my dad on Thursday and stopped at a couple of shops in Shelburne on the way home. Yes, I should have been coming straight home, but I chose to honour my mother and myself and stop at a couple of shops we would've both enjoyed.

Shop #1: Cobwebs and Caviar. I went in for Halloween decorations and found quilting fabric. It's nice how things work out sometimes.

They had quite a nice little selection of cats and yarn fabric...it had to come home with me.

Shop #2: Woolly's Yarns. I went in just to look and to cheer up a bit; it worked! Well, the cheering up part did, but the just looking part? Not so much.

The lady at the store asked me what I was going to make with the yarn? I told her I'll find something in that magazine. Still looking.
The Halloween cat is new this year to my collection. Funny, the ladies in the store where I got it were quite happy to see it go. It plays Black Magic Woman. My husband is happy to see it go away too.

October 29th, 2010. (Imagine some kind of ticker tape noice)
I went to carve a pumpkin with my 4 year old niece. We had a great time and because I was in the area...I stopped at Georgetown Yarn and Crafts. I've been meaning to get there for years, and again, instead of coming straight home I visited yet another yarn shop.

I mostly hit the sale bin there...but not everything makes it to a blog photo shoot, now does it?

Hohoho!

So we're right on Halloween's tail; I've visited two yarn shops and continue to knit for Mexico. You know what else I did, keeping in the spirit of the Big Day?

I spun Orange Yarn. Blood Orange Yarn by Dyehard Yarns, from Pick Up Sticks to be exact. It smells like an orange too, because I rinsed it in Citrus Soak.

It's fine. I know it's fine, but I honestly thought I was doing a lot better on this one. I probably was when I WAS ALONE AND NOT BEING INTERRUPTED EVERY 5 MINUTES!! "What ya doin'?" "Can you take me to Courtney's now?" "How about now?" "That's gonna take forever!" "Now?"

"What's for dinner?"

So enough about yarn (Like there can actually ever be enough about yarn!), here's a question for you.

Who are these people???

Hint: "Out Damn Spot! Out!"

Awww, The Comforts of Home

2010-10-25T14:38:00.006-04:00

Honestly, I just make these titles up as the page opens, and sometimes they're bang on!

So today I'm going to take you back, bring you up to date and back again.

Are you ready?

Get set?

Go!!

A couple of weeks ago...no, too recent, I'm going to go a little further.

Several years ago a dear, dear friend of mine left me. Too dramatic?

Her husband kidnapped her? Too harsh.

O.K. fine. My friend moved.

Happy? Well I wasn't, but thankfully we live in an age where distance seems to matter less and less. Between Long Distance plans, emails, blogs and even snail mail we have kept in touch through the good and the bad of these past few years.

A couple of weeks ago...I received a little of the 'good'.

Chris made me some socks.

Somebody made socks for me.

If you think hand knit socks are wonderful things, well, "gifted hand knit socks" just ROCK THE HOUSE!!

Chris moved someplace where it's usually nice and warm...she says it's just hot. I wanted to send her some pictures of our fall colours. Last week we woke up to something looking a lot like this (everybody I live with was cheering...me? Not so much. In fact there may have been some words unbefitting a knitter uttered); so I was a little worried that I had missed my opportunity.
I took these photos today in my front yard. (I just wrote yarn instead of yard...hehehe)

I'm sitting outside with an Ice Cap (Mocha), I have a light spring jacket on and I think I'm a little overdressed. We're in for a mild week and after that little scare/reminder last week that this wonderful summer will indeed come to an end, we need to make sure that we enjoy every last little morsel of it.

Then I went out back, so that some of the local wildlife could be included in the photo-op.

Chris loves local wildlife, and local wildlife loves Chris. And I do too, thanks Chris, I love my socks. You did a fantastic job. In fact, what cast on do you use? It's nice and loose...in a good way!

O.K. back a little again, I was out for a walk just when the leaves really got into their changing mode and stopped to get a shot of one of my favourite trees on our street. I took this with my iPhone and always try to work around the wires that are right in the way! Every year they're in my way. Huh.

Here's me and my iPhone again.

This was a "stop and smell the roses" kind of shot. I was on my way to work (hehe work---making babies---hehe); was running a little behind (nothing new) and thought, "Oh, what a lovely sunrise this morning. I'm late. I better get going." But as I backed out of the garage, I thought, "NO! Life is all about taking the time to notice these little gems and NOBODY is going to take that lesson away from me." So, I pulled into our back lot, got out of the van and took a couple of shots.

I wasn't able to spend a long time with the view, and here's the kicker; if I hadn't been rushing out to work, I might not have really noticed it all! I'd be staying cozy in my house. So, while I may have appeared to be joining the "hurry up and get to it" crowd, I was actually able to catch something beautiful because of it, and because I'm learning to slow down and appreciate these treasures...that's what I did.

Did that make sense?

Go Here!

2010-10-21T12:45:00.002-04:00

I was hoping to copy and paste a comment that I had left on one of my favourite blogs, but apparently that doesn't work. So go visit Glenna (especially if you're a Cast Off) to see what I had to say.
I would just like to say that I think Glenna and Wendy both rock with their generosity and giveaway fun and that Maria rocks in the "Wow factor" department.
And Wannietta just plain ROCKS!!
I don't have very much energy today and just trying to get done a few little tasks is really draining, but links on blogs are fun and here at Wine, Wool and Whoppers...we're all about fun!
I'm looking forward to knitting tonight (because it's Thursday), but to switch things up a bit, I'm taking my spinning wheel! I tell you, you just never know what's going to happen at one of our get-togethers...spinning, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitch...one thing you can count on though, is laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.
It's good for the soul.

All Wool, All The Time...Except When It's Cotton

2010-10-18T11:17:00.006-04:00

So let's recap.
Saturday I went to a yarn shop. I won yarn. I bought yarn.
Wanna know what I did on Sunday?

I made yarn! And it soooo ssssoooofffftttt....
Fleece Artist Merino Sliver, 2 ply, spun and plied on my Ladybug. It was really lovely fibre to work with, although it didn't go quite as smoothly as I had remembered the first bobbin going, but that's what I get for taking so long between spinning days.

When I had finished plying the yarn and was tidying up and getting ready to rejoin the family...I once again picked up some fibre that I bought in Haliburton while at the cottage a couple of years ago. Everytime I'm spinning, I pick it up, I look at it, think about it, remember that I bought it so that I could practise, because it's really not a colour way that I'm too fond of. And wonder if I'm ever really going to use it, but something about the fall weather and the fall colours wouldn't let me part with it or put it away. So last night, in bed, while watching "The Next Iron Chef"...

I pre-drafted. Doesn't everybody?

The overflowing basket is even somewhat compressed. One long, continuous piece of fibre....oooohhhhh.

This morning after everybody left I decided that I would just do a little spinning.

I ended up doing two passes on the bobbin and only quit because, 1) I had told myself I was going to quit half-way through the first pass and 2) the roving got away from me and broke; so I took it as a sign that it was a good place to stop for today.

All my other spinning has come from batts or those thick braided type samples that you need to divide and then predraft. I quite enjoy working with this long pencil (?) roving; I'm getting a finer single and I've got hours and hours of spinning enjoyment yet to go!

My plan was to alternate spinning wheels so that I get proficient on both my Ladybug and my Bee....So much for that plan!

I'm going to predraft some "Blood Orange" fibre tonight (today) though, to spin on my Bee tomorrow!

FO ALERT!!

One of my finishing projects that I was whining about on Saturday was this top. Hollyhock Ridge from Knitter's Summer 2010 K99 using Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. (The amounts called for were bang on with just enough left over to make some baby hats, I think.) While my dessert was baking yesterday, (Creme Brulee---it was o.k. I've made better) I wove in all my ends and felt really good about the whole thing, because I wasn't "just" knitting; no siree Bob, I was baking dessert!

Just like now, I'm not "just fiddling on the computer"; I'm doing laundry, and planning dinner, and thinking about dentists appointments, need to get new glasses...

Women make the best multi-taskers.

All The World's A Stage!!

2010-10-16T18:47:00.004-04:00

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Today, October 16th, 2010, I...(well, I'm not sure what to fill in here)...

a) Enjoyed a lovely, sunny day?
b) Finally got the fish tank cleaned?
c) Experienced, in all it's glory, the wonderment of being the mother of an eleven year old female ie. preteen?
d) Found out I was indispensable?

If you guessed e) All of the above? Well then you've just earned yourself a Hero Biscuit!

What I had planned to do was go here for this for the day. Not too much to ask for, I don't think. I didn't make it to Rhinebeck (again). I don't plan on going to the Creative Festival this year. And I've bailed on my plans to go to Vogue Knitting Live. SO I DON'T THINK I WAS ASKING FOR TOO MUCH FOR A FEW HOURS AT ONE OF MY FAVOURITE KNITTING SHOPS.

Apparently, I was.

Yarns on Stage unveiling was scheduled for 11; I was a bit late...had to organize the fold...but thankfully did not miss the big moment!

Some beautiful yarns were introduced and a lot of wonderful knitters gathered to share in the excitement. Above are just two of the examples....(that came home with me). You can take advantage of the new yarns by visiting Pick Up Sticks yourself!

These yarns were purchased today (I tried to rotate the photo---sorry) to hopefully complete a design idea I have that also involves this:

I picked this up last time I was out to see Connie.

So anyway, the yarns are debuted and the fondling and enabling began...and my phone rang. "Yes, I'm here. Yes, I just got here. Yes, I know what the children are doing (well, supposed to be doing)."

A short while later, and I mean SHORT WHILE, the phone rings again. "No, I can't get the fish that are hard to get, because...I'M HERE!!! KEEP TRYING!!"
I had been away from the house for less than an hour. Connie encouraged me to turn off the phone, but I didn't.
A little more yarn, (in fact I WON some yarn! Connie always has great door prizes) a few snacks and....once again, the phone rings. I go outside for this call, because all the knitters (me being one of them) were having a good time and it was difficult to hear anybody on the phone.
I pointed out that nobody else was getting called, but by the third call I knew my time away was coming to a close. I had made an error in judgement thinking that the house, family, dog, cats and fish would survive if I went to play with yarn for a few HOURS!!!
Honestly, I had packed a bag of Show and Tell. Some items that needed finishing...just a little finishing. I had packed a sketch book to work out some design ideas. Some yarn that I had purchased on my last visit that I thought I might wind there....because I can't seem to get it done here...and start on a little project. I even threw Seascape in there! All told, I probably packed more yarn than I could work with in a week and here's the kicker....
I KNEW I would be buying more yarn (it's what I do), but I wanted to make sure that I had something to work on; I even made sure I had any needles that I would need!

On my final pass around this Sublime Soy Cotton called to me from the sale bin and...into the basket she went! What a beautiful colour; she was meant to come home with me.

When I came home I dove into (literally) the fish tank cleaning; ended up taking a run into town to get a new filter. All the fish are back in the tank alive and well; it's nice to be able to see them again.

I managed to put together a Spaghetti and Meatball dinner, my mom's recipe, which was my aunt's recipe and it always makes me feel soooo good to recapture that taste/memory.

And now I sit here trying not to hear the 13-16 year olds playing in a rock band upstairs...my son's a drummer. The band always practises at the drummer's house, it's a rule.
I may be sounding hard done by here and I know I'm not! I'm very blessed and am grateful for all that I have, but sometimes.......

Luckily this morning I was able to capture this bit of beauty that I now look for every October...

Two years ago I saw this image when I was recuperating in my living room.

I think it looks like an angel. An angel of light.

I'm once again reminded to slow down and just enjoy the beauty that surrounds us everyday, and that includes fish tank and drums kits.

And a One, And a...

2010-10-06T15:16:00.006-04:00

As promised, here is the Shell from Knitter's Summer 2010 K99 issue. I'm using the specified yarn and have even gone with 2 of the 4 recommended colours! If the store had had the other 2 I would've gone with them too! I'm using my Signature Needles and loving the whole experience!
This is my "go to project" while I'm catching up on Glee episodes. I can knit and tap my feet to the music! I'm a total Gleek and proud of it!

TWO!!

I've completed the second repeat on Seascape, a whole four days ahead of schedule!

This is turning out to be a pretty easy-going pattern. Notice I did not say easy pattern, that would just be tempting the knitting gods too much, but 'easy-going', as in, I was able to take it to an appointment I had yesterday and knit away, using the chart and all, without screwing it up! I found another knitter in the waiting room, a nice lady named Pat (What is it with me and knitting and Pats?) and we entertained ourselves (and a few others too) knitting away in the corner until our names were called. I owe her $5 because I got called first, even though she was there before me. At least that's what she said, we did not shake hands on it or anything. ;o)

Since you now know that row 23 is my favourite row, I thought you might be interested in my second favourite row...it's row #1. These two rows have straight forward knits, yarn overs and k2tog and SSK decreases. I love SSK; it's such a sweet decrease. A stitch that just gets me swooning, however, is a 'Centre Double Decrease'! OOOhhhh, I just get so excited to work those and with this pattern I get to do six on every right side row!

Some of my favourite stitches combined with some of my favourite yarn? No wonder I'm making such good progress!

Countdown to Mexico!

2010-10-04T13:29:00.004-04:00

I hesitated using this title for a blog post for a couple of reasons; not the least of which is, if I say it out loud, then I'm somehow more accountable and in knitting that isn't something that always works out for me. (Cough) What Knitting Olympics? (Cough)

But here goes.

In November my husband and I are going to Mexico; so in true Creativehands fashion I have an overwhelming desire to knit and sew a whole new wardrobe to wear on the holiday. I already found a couple of bathing suits that I'm happy with, but I'll need to wear other stuff too!

The other challenge I face is that fall is upon us here in Ontario and there are a number of previously started sweaters calling to me; not to mention all the bags and bags of yarn waiting patiently to be made into something that will keep me warm and not just fashionably stylish on the shorter colder days that lay instore for us.

Where to start?
Well, I have a tank top from this past summer's Knitters that should be ready to show you in a day or two and I'll talk about how I handled that one then. See? Again with the accountability. Today, however, I'll talk about something that is apparently near and dear to a number of us Cyber-Knitters.
I was catching up with Maria and what should I see?
She's knitting Seascape as well! It's kind of getting spooky with Maria; on more than one occasion we've picked the same project, yarn or fabric. It's really nice to leave her a comment too, because she usually responds back and that makes me feel special. (smiley face)
Last evening, after I completed the first repeat of Chart B (it has to be repeated 6 times) I got out my calendar to see if there was any realistic chance that this could be done; it's totally doable! (Once again, the naive knitter cast on more than she could chew) Even if I only do one repeat a week I still have a week for finishing, blocking etc. I am going to definitely try to get through more than one repeat per week, it's a 44 row repeat of 83 stitches with a purl every 0ther row pattern. I'm actually hoping to complete a repeat every two days! Awww, the exuberance of losing touch with reality. Sweet. There is one teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy problem with my plan.

I'm using Noro.

The love affair continues with their new lace weight Seku, but it has presented some new challenges as well as maintaining the well documented existing ones---hello knots! There is no way to work this yarn as a centre pull. Oh, I guess if you rewound it yourself, but you'd have to wind it off the outside to make a centre pull; so really, still winding off from the outside! I don't usually knit this way and have to keep making adjustments for that. It also has a very tight twist that spins back on itself if you've taken too much off the ball. I've already undone a bunch of my own knots and had to cut the yarn once because I could not undo one of my own knots. Then came the Noro Knot! Wiped out a whole colour sequence! It's a two ball project, I'm just knitting it as it appears, and it would just be silly to buy an extra ball of lace weight yarn.

Buying extra yarn? Who's ever heard of such a thing. What I want to know is though....

Since when does lace weight look like this??? I admit the nubbly quality is one that I find appealing in most of Noro's yarns, but lace? Full, flat and unspun? I'll knit it, but I won't be happy about it.
Chocolate had to be brought in to the mix.

So, after my green tea, my chocolate and a tissue if need be, I'll see if I can't get to row 22 by the end of today. I don't know if this is weird or not, but my favourite row is 23.

Don't you have a favourite row when you knit? Just me? Oh.

I'll keep you posted as to the other projects making it to THE COUNTDOWN TO MEXICO!!

It's Official.

2010-10-02T15:58:00.001-04:00

I saw a Junko. AKA a Snowbird.

And that was my shortest blog entry ever.

October is here...What?! Already!

2010-10-01T13:57:00.003-04:00

Doesn't this just look like the best way to cozy up on a fall or (gasp) winter day? It's also the shot I use for my wallpaper on my iPhone.

I hide my chocolate stash in my Sheep Cookie Jar from Parry Sound. My kids gave up looking (and they never looked very hard anyway, if you angled the package right they didn't even know it was in there) and it was dark, healthy chocolate, but it doesn't seem to matter how much they complain about it, if they find it then they'll eat it.

And my coffee that day was a special treat! I used cinnamon flavoured whipped cream instead of half and half (5%) and then sprinkled it with a chocolate, sugar, cinnamon mix that President's Choice has available. This combination works well on French toast too.

The mug is from a local potter and now it's my morning cup for my coffee. Period.

So, yes, I've been knitting, but nothing really to show you. I apologize Transitknitter for not bringing more show and tell...maybe next week.

I've been busy making babies...my kids are having trouble with that statement...I went back to work at a Fertility Clinic and am having a wonderful time helping people make their dreams of parenthood come true. I am, however, feeling the effects of the busy fall season and think I need to lay low for a few days to make sure that these sniffles just fade away...

October is an emotional month for a lot of people; so everybody?

Share the love and remember that each day is a gift.

Random, Rapid Fire, Catchup! Part I

2010-09-27T15:38:00.004-04:00

There are three posts here people! I shut out the world (after my husband went back to work) and got the pictures and vignettes that I wanted out there! I have now also realized that my daughter stayed late after school for Cross Country practice and I have to go get her...so here we go!

1) I made this apron for my dear friend Sam who had a special birthday last week... I'm not saying how many, but I think you'll be able to figure it out. The apron is reversible and I'd like to thank the Castoffs for their help in helping me work out the finishing details.

2) AND THIS IS WHY I DECIDED TO POST TODAY!!! The Yarn Harlot is reorganizing and wondered what the rest of us did with our knitting books, ie. how they were sorted. Mine are kind of by subject and so I thought I'd show you how it all looks.

This lone one is on my desk, my recently ie. yesterday, cleaned off and laptop usable desk. I hadn't seen the book for a while (see: yesterday, cleaned off) and wanted to keep it close so that it doesn't wander off again.

These are my newest additions that haven't really made it up to where I thought I might be keeping ALL my knitting books...oh, looks like there's a few none knitting books there too...

These are my magazines and leaflet type books. They live alongside yarn. It makes everyone happy. The magazines are filed by type, ie. Vogue, Knitter, Interweave Knits, etc. and on a good day in order; they are only filed here after they've been replaced on my table by the current issue.

Here's my official knitting book shelf. Funny, I remember it being fuller. I guess I should move some of the others into the open spaces here.

I also have a shelf in another bookcase where my knitting fiction lives. That's where the Yarn Harlot books are too. All of them. Autographed.

I have way too much stuff, but if there's one thing that that Hoarder show does do, besides make you want to reorganize. It's makes you realize that you don't really have a problem; those other people? They have a problem.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to go get my daughter and grab some knitting...on 4.5mm Signature Needles!

Random, Rapid Fire, Catchup! Part I b)

2010-09-27T15:20:00.007-04:00

But Wait There's more!!

1) I was working on that table awhile back. It's done, set up and doing the job just fine, thank-you very much. I found out a little secret after all was said and done. Apparently, the varnish does not leave little pink dots on your work if you leave it out to dry. Apparently, when your daughter spray paints pink paint onto your work area you get little pink dots on your work.

2) Damson finished and b e a u t i f u l. You may see this again real soon. It's a shawlette that has looked wonderful on anybody who's tried it on. Love. It.

3) We went to the Hoe Down. Yup. Hoe Down.
Save a horse; ride a cowboy. I said, Save a horse; ride a cowboy!

4) O.K. GADGET ALERT!! Superstore. Right now! $9.97 (I paid $12 whatever; still worth it). I thought it looked like a nice little something to work on in a poorly lit, not firm and lacking in drink setting options kind of place. Turns out that's only half of it! I had to open the back to put the batteries in for the light. It had a flimsy bag of those little styrofoam ball thingies that stick to everything should they ever escape from above mentioned flimsy bag, and I thought, "Hey, what if...."

I stored the yarn to make this wonderful sweater (that I picked up at the Knitter's Fair) and then nobody would see the yarn, it would always be close to be loved and it makes a way better cushion than that flimsy styrofoam stuff.

5) I love it when I find new places to hide stash.

Random, Rapid Fire, Catchup! Part II

2010-09-27T14:07:00.005-04:00

Blogging is a lot like housework. If you just did a little everyday then it wouldn't turn into one great big job that virtually overloads your system.

It's a lot like tying in ends at the end of an intarsia sweater too.

1) Last day of summer Holidays=Last day of Harry Potter Exhibit, and it was amazing!! These four have been friends since the boys started kindergarten together and the girls were 1. It's a pretty easy day out...they've got each other and I've got an Emergency Knitting Kit.

2) I took a sock in progress to the Knitter's Fair with 3 of some of my dearest knitting friends. We had muffins, coffee, laughter and yarn fumes. A day just doesn't get much better. There was some stash enhancement, some fibre enhancement and some gadget enhancement. Oh and books too!

3) I made a lovely Lavender (that my husband grew) and peach dessert from the magazine in the shot. I thought I was showing you the difference that can happen in batches of batter if you overmix one. It turns out I was showing you what happens when you double the sugar in one of the batches. It tasted like candy. mmmmm

4) I was knitting Damson and became obsessively monogamous! I didn't know what could cause such a change in behaviour.

Fun pattern? I have lots of those on the go.

Lovely yarn? I have a basement (cough, more, cough) full of beautiful yarn.

The only new element was the Signature Needles.

OMG!! Sigh. Gasp. Swoon. They make all the difference in the world. Really! They are that good. I now get excited when I find a pattern that calls for 4.0mm and 4.5mm, because that's the only sizes I have right now and remain pretty focused on these projects so that I can complete them and move on to the next! It is sooo weird! I sound, like, I'm totally, 13 or something. Ohmygaawwd!

5) I finished that linen scarf and got it all put together and it is b e a u t i f u l!! I have to agree with the designers, this pattern does work with any combination. To review, I worked to halves and then did a three needle bind off to get a mirror effect and it now has a lovely pink stripe running down the centre and into the fringe. If you need and/or would like to see more of any of these projects just leave a comment and I'll post some other views.

Happy Knitting!

Sorry...and there was shopping!

2010-08-20T08:27:00.003-04:00

Three reasons for the apology:

1) It's been so long since this next installment of my Haliburton adventure!
2) Some of the pictures are posted on their side.
3) I'm Canadian.

So yeah, back to Jan Knits where I picked up the yarn that was actually called for in this Knitty pattern.
Just tilt your head to the right.

And here is some fibre waiting to be spunnnnnn...

Again with the head tilt.

After much debate and a couple (or three) visits to the shop, we came up with this yarn for this sweater designed by Fiona Ellis in the latest Vogue magazine. When I told Jan that I was looking for sock yarn for a sweater she knew exactly which one I was talking about as she too, is looking forward to making it!

Tilting is over now.

Haliburton is home to a number of different artisans and there is a gallery that I always like to visit, where I picked up these gems.

The cup is done by a local potter which is now in my new bathroom...the cup; not the potter. The card is done by fibre artist Jane Selbie. I went to her studio a couple of years ago; it is quite inspiring! Bits of fabric everywhere; no wonder I have trouble letting go of my scraps when I see all the potential that's there! There was another card that I liked that had an old school house on a hill; the different fabrics and textures really appealed to me...and then I saw the sheep. So there you go.

One last bit of Yarn Stash Enhancement.

This year I was lucky enough to be in Haliburton when there was not only the Artisan Fair, but also a quilt show! So, I'm walking around the show (in obscene, stifling heat) admiring some wonderful workmanship...did I mention it was stupid hot? And came upon some yarn, honestly the stuff just jumps out at me sometimes, I recognized the lady, but no sign. Marty's is the local Health Food 'Emporium' in Haliburton; with a yarn shop. I know, those two things go hand in hand in my mind too. Anywho, she had a booth set up with some needlecraft things available to purchase and I found a kit for this purse that she designed. She said that she taught this to her beginner classes and I just thought it was a nice little learning Entrelac project; felting's not a bad thing either...I think I'll line it with some pretty fabric though, you know, because I have difficulty throwing out scraps.

Oh, I also bought a quilt kit for a sewing room wallhanging. Boy it was hot!!

**Update**

I haven't starting knitting any of these purchases. I HAVE, however wound all the skeins into balls. A girl's gotta start somewhere!

Home With A Few Things To Share!

2010-08-09T18:39:00.003-04:00

We had some good weather this time around at the cottage that meant lots of beach time, but I still managed to get some time in for the things that I love to do!

Here's the pieces of my Linen Scarf. Technically, the holiday ended on August 8; so last night I did the final 450 stitch three needle bind off, and so it counts as a completed holiday knit. It's blocking now; I'll show you how it all turns out soon.

I did get to try out my Spinolution Bee Travel Wheel with some fun red Fleece Artist. (move the curser to the far right)

(The pedicure has held up pretty well since last post hasn't it?)

This is the B E A U T I F U L yarn that I made.
I spun singles.
I plied it.
I wound it around upside down table legs (my kids were, once again, freaked out with my resourcefulness...I think the name MacGyver was mentioned).
I soaked the yarn in some shampoo I had.
I hung it out to dry on a tree with a wonderful cottage breeze to dry it.

I wound it into a hank and set it upon the driftwood that is on "Driftwood Beach" and took a number of photos (again the children were watching with looks of concern and wonder. HA!!)

I then started on some Sweet Georgia Yarns BFL that I brought...and it was a wonderful thing.

With my one red hank and my one gold single I went back into town to see the lovely lady at JanKnit's Studio in Haliburton to show off my accomplishments.

I'll show you what I may or may not have picked up while in town....I admit nothing...at least not today!

Still here....a random update.

2010-07-21T20:59:00.005-04:00

Yeah, still here and I knew I wanted to write something, but wasn't sure what exactly so I looked at some of my most recently loaded photos and came up with this random update:

1) Linen Stitch scarf:

I've been asked to teach this class at Pick Up Sticks and decided to make one of my own. I'm using Dream In Colour from my stash. The pattern calls for Koigu and commented that "any colour combination works well," so I chose 3 'stand alone colours' and as I worked the first pattern repeat, I wasn't too sure that I agreed with the "any combination..." statement.

And then I brought in the pink again! Wow!

It's a very Zen like knit and I'm modifying it a bit as I go (because that's what I do), one tip that I did take to heart was the suggestion to put a marker every 50 stitches to help with the 450 stitch cast on and keep the pattern in check as well. I plan to get it finished while I'm away over the next two weeks and hope to get a picture posted around the second week of August.

2)This is my roomy Jenn. She really is my favourite roomy!

Now, why would a married woman with two kids, a dog, two cats and some fish have a favourite roomy named Jenn? Because we are part of the Red Hot Mamas and when we go for our annual weekend away (hopefully a full week in a few years) she and I share a room and it works out just great. This year, as we enjoyed a quiet, rainy day, she says, "I can knit", picks up my sock and knits! She was a little hesitant because she "didn't want to mess up my knitting", but I was so excited to see her (or any of my 'mama-sista-friends') knit I assured her, 'I can fix anything. It's only knitting.'

I love that I've figured that out!

So she knit until she ran out of needle, because this four needle business is a little intense.

And I was very happy; not only was I happy, I was....

Oh Yeah!

**So, we're off to the cottage for a couple of weeks. I have wine, wool, (yarn and rovings), a spinning wheel, but no whoppers....yet. I'll let you know how everything goes. Keep cool and knit on!**

O.K. Maybe This Time...

2010-07-05T20:05:00.006-04:00

I have tried to get a post or two up here before now, but as I've learned the hard way, I guess it wasn't meant to be...

So just to keep things current.

That previously mentioned knitted item is no longer a knitted item; it is officially part of the stash once more. As it turns out, I wouldn't have had enough yarn to finish it anyway; so another time and in another place, with another yarn I may try to knit it again.

And maybe take pictures.

Enough about that.

I used to bake a lot! My husband tells me that's one of the reasons that he married me. (That, and I had furniture.) I've entered fairs and won prizes; I think I may even be more proud of that accomplishment than (well some) of my knitting ribbons. I guess because I can see the competition in the knitting categories, but when it comes to baking...well, we don't get to taste the other entries, now do we?

Anyway, over the past few years it's been hit and miss as to how much energy I wanted to put to work in the kitchen. I used to just "feel like baking" and there would be a batch of cookies, bars or a cake appear, but "I lost that baking feeling" (yes, sing like nobody's listening!) and did what I had to, when I had to, or guilted myself into.

But last week?

BAM!! Betty Crocker was here again!

The other morning I felt like Blueberry muffins. So, I made blueberry muffins (a double batch) AND just because I could, I also made my famous (it's a recipe out of a magazine, but around here it's me that's famous for making them) Date 'n Nut Bran Muffins. Tim Horton's used to have a muffin like this, but they haven't made it for years. Yummy and healthy!

A couple of batches of muffins in the morning? Well, stranger things have happened...

How about a double batch of Brownies the night before???

I love my Brownie recipe. LOVE IT!! I quickly wrapped a bunch of these up to freeze for lunches this week, because the last time I made them...

WHOOOSH!! They were gone.

Back in the day, when I would bake for fun, living alone with nobody to eat this baking, that I did for fun. I would only wish for people to eat my creations and there was a family I would visit whose mom would complain about how people (the kids) ate everything as soon as it was made. I told her I was throwing my stuff out, because there wasn't anybody there to eat it...I'm not sure if she thought about that again, but I know I do whenever the cookie jar's empty...and I don't say a word.

In fact, I still get upset if I have to throw the stuff out!

Now, here's the part that I was trying to post about back in June.

My daughter has taken ballet for many years. Over the past few years we've (the moms and the girls) get together for a lunch or dinner after the ballet exams are finished. It's a pot luck, it's casual, the girls really do work hard to do well and they are all lovely ladies to spend time with-- the moms and the girls.

To reiterate, I like to bake; I bring dessert.

Here's what this years cake looked like:

I love that I get to make a doll cake! The girls all look forward to it now and expect it. My daughter said, they just get better every year.

Wow. A compliment. Wow.

I had each of the girls tell me their favourite colour and then put stars on the skirt for each of them. They used Spanish fans in their exam; so I fashioned fans for them too. The gathers on the skirt were a complete accident, and I love it. I got to spray paint the dress; always wanted to do that! The ribbon, just kind of glitzed it up and hid any boo boos on the bottom and you know what the best part was?I had NO IDEA how I was going to decorate this cake until I started!

I went into Michael's and the Bulk Barn to get some supplies and just grabbed a few things and thought, "I'll figure something out." The white detail at the bodice was inspired by a excess piece of fondant. The fans?! The fans were made out of a round cookie cutter shape cut into four! (Four girls took the exam...well, our four girls) I was kind of stressed about that, and really, it couldn't have been much simpler. We enjoyed the cake and I've already been volunteered for next year! I've made purple dresses two years in a row now (their costumes were purple); I hope we get a different colour next time!

So, we're sitting in about a thousand degree weather and I'm baking and knitting scarves.

I'm soooo Canadian. Cheers!

I Now Know Where To Begin

2010-06-18T13:49:00.004-04:00

First, make a point of going to Fabricland to get the plastic table covering to complete the aforementioned (see previous post) project.
And forget to buy the plastic.
Picked up more fabric to (hopefully) someday become a dress, but forget alllll about the plastic.

Second, decide that enough is enough for all this little, portable, sock knitting and get your teeth into something that will actually turn into something substantial and requires a bit of brain power to complete.
Then screw up 4 rows of 400 plus stitches each and prepare to "TINK" all of the stitches because the project is not conducive to ripping back!

Yeah, I know where to begin; go back to where you started and step back 3 steps. Geez! I think I'll go to the garden. (to eat worms yum, yum --- now I'll have that song stuck in my head all day)

Where To Begin?!

2010-06-16T10:43:00.002-04:00

First, let me say, once again, June exhausts me.

This fact is compounded this year with the Grade 8 graduation of my son and all the shopping that is required. At least with having my boy graduate first I've got a little warmup for when my little dancer moves on to grade 9! I hear the girls are way over the top with preparation; I just "passed", had a school dance that we actually 'dressed up' for and then went on with our lives. But that was back in the olden days, you know, before Facebook.

Soooo, how did everybody enjoy WWKIP? Thanks to my dear friends who stopped by to help me celebrate and the knitters everywhere who make that day special! Go here to have a look at the fun we had!

O.K. let's get back to crafting and fun stuff like that.

Dear Michelle,

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, but "life got in the way." Feel free to hum along if you like. In answer to your questions:

1) The contractor that worked on our bedroom (among other renovations we continually seem to have) made the frame and secured the padded piece into it. He came by and we decided on measurements and dimensions and then he went away cut all the pieces of wood, brought the plywood back to me and went on to build the frame. So, as we like to say around here, "You gotta get a guy." I imagine you could work with a premanufactured frame, but just make sure that it's built well enough to take the pressure of the padding.

2) We (royal we) secured it to the wall with 3 normal hangers mounted to the studs!! This is not a 'put the plugs in the drywall' kind of project; really, do those ever work? He also secured the base of the piece using screws into the bottom because the padding made it stick out a bit, and he wasn't happy with how that looked. And that is what you want from your contractor, make it look good, pay attention to details and secure it so that when the hurricanes come the headboard will still be standing.

Here is another option especially if you're starting out and doing it on your own.

This is the headboard in our "old" master bedroom. This was done by a professional apholsterer, but the premise is the same. Pad the wood as I did, they divided it, but it was for a queen bed, and then it's mounted slightly differently. A piece of wood is diagonally cut across the entire length. One piece is secured to the wall, again, in the studs; so that the angle slopes against the wall. The other piece is secured to the headboard with the angle sloping away from the headboard. The pieces are put back together by sliding the headboard angled piece onto the wall mounted piece; thus resting the headboard onto the wall.

I haven't figured out drawing on the computer, but if this makes no sense whatsoever, just leave a comment and I'll try to get some pictures. That's one of the frustrating thing about Blogger, I can only post 5 photos; at least that's all I've ever been able to post. Anybody know any tricks to fix that?

In current news, today is my friend Christine's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

Here's a blog birthday card (sort of); it's also a picture of this neat planter I found that came home with me (much to my husband's dismay) when I went plant shopping. The girls at the nursery had no idea what a treasure I was taking home with me! I haven't used it to wind yarn yet, but I'm pretty sure I will...

Still no knitting content, but the following is at least yarn related.

For years, and I mean years, I've had this idea of what to do with yarn labels.

I would attach them to a table and have a yarn labeled table top! Genious, yes?

Yesterday, the weather was perfect, because this truly is an outside job. (Step 1, is of course, getting said table out of the basement to the outside working area.) **I just hit some button that made everything here get smaller!!! Geeezzz!!!***

Anyway, so I glued a bunch of labels to my sturdy table top. This is a challenge in itself, because I was never very good at 'random'; I am so much better at 'symmetrical' or 'balanced', which looking at my life most of the time is totally hilarious! But, I persevered and covered (mostly) the tabletop.

I waited for the glue to dry and then weighted down the labels. Embarrassing as this next photo is, remember the name of this blog is Wine, Wool and Whoppers; please also note that we recycle our bottles and after this project I took the empties back and got a nice little bunch of yarn money.

I anxiously awaited a suitable amount of time for labels to be fully compressed. I say anxiously, because I was really hoping that the glue was infact dry so that the boxes didn't stick to the table or labels didn't stick to boxes; anyway all went well.

I then sprayed Varathane on the tabletop.

This worked better in my head than in real life.

The labels mostly buckled from the moisture of the spray. There was also some colour change, but nothing too drastic. But the smooth tabletop that I was looking for, because, this is my sewing table you see, was not to be. So, obviously, I was meant to come up with an alternate plan.

I don't want to put a glass table top on because I don't think that that would be secure enough for the way I plan to use my table. That plexiglass stuff is too expensive. I'm not ripping the labels off---not an option! I'm going to get some clear plastic table covering from Fabricland, wrap it over the top and secure it underneath (probably get to use my staple gun again!).

I hope to try this again, because, I still think it's a cool idea. I still have a bunch of labels (and plan on adding to the collection). I think I would try a decopage product next time and I don't know? Varathane over that? Is Varathane even necessary?

So many questions; so little time!

Excuse For Not Getting A Lot of Knitting Done # 72

2010-06-07T08:14:00.003-04:00

Here's a run through of what kept me from my knitting this past Thursday. (Don't you love a current blog?)
Wednesday I was presented with a piece of plywood that had to be turned into a headboard by Friday because that's when it was being installed.
So, Thursday, after watching my daughter in her Field Events at the Area Track meet, I went to visit the lovely folks at F&K Textiles in Bradford, ON. (There is no website) Whenever I'm tackling an upholstery or drapery issue, that's where I go! They are always happy to take the time to listen and offer advice on how to achieve the look that you're after with professionalism and sincerity. They also have an incredible selection of quilting cottons at very affordable prices and there are many beautiful quilts decorating the walls of the store; all hand made by their mother. I really admire these people, because they outlasted Fabricland, who moved in literally across the street from them and they also came back, stronger than ever, after a fire almost destroyed their whole building!
Back to the headboard.
Step 1: Cut 1" foam to desired size (1/2" within board perimeter) and secure to plywood.
Step 2: Cover with Dacron Batting and secure using a staple gun (almost as much fun as power tools!). Please note the exquisitely executed corner wrap. My mom taught me well.

Step 3: Secure covering, again using a staple gun. (FYI you'll probably have a blister by now; so make sure you have bandaids available).

Step 4: Have installer place frame around padded headboard and mount to wall above bed. Please note, again, the Plaid Silk that I told everybody I was making the headboard out of, turned out to be striped Polyester Taffeta. I still like it.

Stand back, admire, and wait for praises from the masses. Masses that you allow into your bedroom at least.
Probably the best response I've gotten is from my daughter, who came in while I was crawling all over the floor; "It's cool your making it yourself." Brings a tear to my eye I tell you, a tear to my eye.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Jenni in Edmonton,

Thank-you for dropping by for some Wine, Wool and Whoppers! While I made the comment, offering to sell some Bamboo, tongue in cheek, I thought I should dig out the offending party.

Here is what 3 skeins turned into after trying to wind it into centre pull balls (mistake #1); people should refer to this book before attempting such acts of insanity. The fact that I was partially blind from an eye exam (mistake #2) and that the skeins were too big for my swift (mistake #3) probably had less of an impact that I initially thought.

Yeah, Right!!

Anyway, I'm sorry Jenni, but I still find this yarn and pattern very attractive, I've already swatched for it, it's souvenir yarn from Stitches West 2007, and I think it's learned it's lesson from the time out that it's been on since the whole winding episode. So, (for now) I won't be selling it. Have you looked on Ravelry for other people who may have Bamboo to Trade or Sell? I hope you find what you're looking for.

Yours in Yarn,

Lynn

There Must Be Something In The Air!

2010-06-01T21:40:00.003-04:00

I know pictures in blogs make them more interesting, but I'm not feeling it tonight.
What I did want to comment on and share with you are some funnny knitters!
Someone new to my lurking (although, I commented today) is Mary. I found her through Maria. Mary wrote a wonderful blog today and honestly, I want to print it and put it in a folder for prosperity, it was just that enjoyable. Go there, read it, but first be sure that you don't have your mouth full, so as not to spit upon your computer and that you have tissue available to wipe the tears of laughter away.
While you're equipped with the supplies needed to read the trials and tribulations of knitters, be sure to visit Stephanie. I also commented there (you'll have to read through quite a few comments before you find mine, but it's there! I checked.) and thought I should have a recent post so as to entice potential readers to return to Wine Wool and Whoppers! (I'm thinking of changing my blog name; is that allowed?)
My knitting friends, mostly the Cast Offs, may remember the story that I shared with Stephanie. Let's just say, eye drops, Bamboo yarn, and renovations are not an especially good mix. Opening a bottle of wine and/or beer, however, is an appropriate response to any eye drop and yarn situation. I think we can all agree on that.
I have some wonderful knitterly-type ideas rumbling around so don't forget to check back to see what's new. In the mean time you can go here to keep up to date of what's going on.
FYI: Eleven days until World Wide Knitting In Public Day!
I know; I can hardly contain myself as well!
So keep knitting and keep smiling!

Once Upon A Time...

2010-04-28T16:27:00.004-04:00

There was a knitter who took her knitting to Atlanta and asked the nice bartender to bring her something 'native'.

It's called a Bell Ringer or something like a Peach Martini or something very much like a Fuzzy Navel.

Yum.

The Hotel that the knitter stayed at had many signs scattered about resembling this one.

She went to a fancy dining room for lunch and met some lovely people who asked her to do something new and exciting!

She took a class and learned a lot of knitting design type stuff with a lot of other nice knitters.

Oh yeah, she picked up a copy of the newly released book (or three) that had a pair of socks that she designed in them.

And she was very, very happy.

May I present, "Dreamin' of Tulips".

The End.

{And when she tried to blog about it, her family and the dog bothered her and the computer gave her grief as well.} Knit on, my friends, knit on!

A Quick Hello..

2010-04-20T11:42:00.007-04:00

When I was in College and phone home my dad would always say, "Here's your mother for a quick hello." She would get so mad! "I'll talk as long as I want; I don't need to say a "quick hello" Geeez."
Awww, good times.

Sunday I took my wheel out for a spin....

We went here and took a class taught by this lady and had a lot of fun making this.....
(The kids always groan when I take these kind of pictures.)

And then because it was a wonderful spring day and I was trying to decide on what yarn etc. to pack for my upcoming trip to STITCHES SOUTH I took some SIGNATURE yarn out for a photo shoot in the garden I planted last fall on my mom's birthday.
She always enjoyed getting bulbs on her birthday, because she said it was like she got two birthday presents that way. Once in October and again in the spring when they bloomed.

I need to work on my garden photography skills. Practise, practise, practise.

Another quick note here...I have to be quick because I'm leaving for STITCHES SOUTH tomorrow...

You know how when you're knitting something and you think, "Oh good! I only have 48 more rows to go and then I can block this thing," (because it needs serious blocking) and then you count your repeats and realize that you actually have 72 more rows to go?

Yeah, I hate that.

This is the photo that came up when I googled "Official Drink of Atlanta, Georgia".

Yes, please!

Let's Play A Little Game

2010-04-09T09:36:00.003-04:00

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!

WHY?

HERE'S WHY!!!

No, really. Guess!

Knitting and stuff.

2010-04-03T13:56:00.004-04:00

Like a good little knitter, I swatched my new yarn purchase...hey Thursday!

Purchased from Needles and Pins in London, ON: Dream In Colour Smooshy - Grey Tabby, combined with Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Kidsilk Spray, knit on 6 mm needles in double moss (that's what I call it anyway); it will someday (I hope) be 'Workweek', a blazer styled sweater on page 46 of Knitter's Spring 2010, issue K98.

Speaking of Knitter's....watch here for some exciting news in the upcoming weeks...

Here we have a Sunflower Design (Susan Pandorf) being worked and this is what two skeins of sock yarn knit up look like. I'm more than half way done.

When I read Susan's post about this pattern she mentioned that the knitting became kind of meditative after a while and when I started this I wasn't sure I would agree with her, but she was right! Uncharacteristically, for me anyway, I actually want to keep knitting this one! It's my 'go to project' right now and it's a very enjoyable knit. I'm using Tanis Fibres yarn; so that may account for a good part of my enjoyment.

I have a skirt that the colours go with perfectly; so I'm really trying to get it done in time to wear in the short warm(ish) season we get!

Speaking of short warm seasons....here's a hat I made. Yes, made and finished!! Woohoo!

I took Grumperina's pattern and ventured into a bit of Nicky Epstein and used up all of the beads that I bought! I didn't prestring my beads and due to the thicker yarn the crochet hook method did present some challenges, but over all I'm happy with it. And because I finished a project using beads I then allowed myself to visit That Bead Lady once again...you know you're in trouble when the owner of a store is asking about projects you bought beads for (on more than one occasion) that are still waiting for you to even start; so I set myself a goal to finish something before I could go back in there. It was fun to see all the beads again; so much fun, I went back two days in a row!

I was hoping that having an embellishment on one side would make it look better on me, (I have short hair and this style does nothing for you when there's no hair surrounding it) but, um, NOPE!! I tried it on my daughter, but I'll wait until next winter before we'll know if it's staying here or not, she was in a pout when I put it on her so I don't know if she likes it or not.

This is my daughter being a Turtle. Who needs a hat with that outfit?! Can you say 'flexible'?
Good times.

Did I Ever?

2010-04-02T16:23:00.005-04:00

Show you this?

I think I may have...

I made a wrist warmer based on the Yarn Harlot's 'Pretty Thing'. I sent her a photo. She liked it. That made me happy.
The only disappointment of the whole thing is the yarn I used wasn't able to make the cowl and two wrist warmers...so the other hand goes in your pocket I guess.

My Jack Bauer 24 KAL on Ravelry project didn't work out...the sock was going to be too big and after reading Glenna C's posts about Jaywalkers...I changed my mind and ripped it out. It's still waiting for me to cast on again.

I still haven't finished my Olympic sweater, but have started a couple of other smaller projects. I think I will try to post more pictures of Works In Progress and not try to be so much the 'blog writer' blogger and concentrate more on the 'poster of knitting projects' blogger.

And we'll see how that works out. Sigh.

By the way....HAPPY EASTER!!!

Isn't it a beautiful weekend?????!!!!!!! Sunny and Warm: a new phenomenon here in Ontario.

Four Years and Many Knitting Projects Ago...

2010-02-28T13:22:00.003-05:00

...I was finishing up my Olympic Knitting. I had completed my cabled sweater, had my photo shoot and proudly wore it to many post Olympic Celebrations.
There was no question in my mind that this time around I would indeed compete AND complete the challenge I signed on for.

I prepared, as I said I would:

I dealt with and overcame equipment malfunctions (as any true Olympian would):

I patiently waited until the opening ceremonies to officially cast on, because that's what the rules stated.

There was a bit of a restart that first weekend...see the wine glass? Not the only one enjoyed at the ceremony...just sayin'.
I devoted as much time, in all conditions possible, to the completion of my task, and I'm very pleased with my results...

So Far.

I will be awarding myself a DNF for this round of Olympics.

I'm somewhat disappointed, you know like the Canadian Women's Curling team, but while I didn't actually complete my sweater (almost two sleeves and a back did get done, however) I do have a design on paper. I've made changes to my design based on how the knitting looked while being worked up. (I wish that "The Yarn Whisperer" wasn't already taken...although I just went to find a link and while there seems to be a number of Yarn Whisperers, none of them seem especially current. Hmmmm....)

And most importantly, my family and my sanity are still intact.

Maybe next time.

It's Friday...again! And now it's Wednesday!

2010-02-05T15:46:00.005-05:00

Hello there Fan's of Friday!! I've just named anybody who reads this a Fan of Friday, well, because it's Friday and really, who doesn't love Fridays? After the child commuting part of it is over anyway.

So, when last I wrote, I had shown you the quilt I had started. Here's a pic of the next stage in assembly, as it happened:

My mom taught me the just keep sewing the pieces together as you go. I thought it was the coolest thing when I saw her doing it. I was probably about 12 or 13 and I didn't know that you could run the machine without fabric in it to sew! I remember her at her sewing machine working away at making quilts for a shop in Hamilton's Hess Village. I've found that I feel close to her when I'm sewing and I can only ever hope to be as talented as she was. Quite honestly, though, I'm not even trying to be as good as her, I just enjoy spending the time sewing and feeling her presence.

Quilt making, at least piece quilt making, is very much like an assembly line...or maybe it would be better to say that, this quilt, that I'm making, right now...is very much like an assembly line project. Now, because I'm a numbers and pattern kind of person, and also somebody who likes to take notice of how things work out the way they do, even without our manipulation; I found it quite interesting that I chose to divide my assembly line tasks into groups of three. I was working with 192 triangles and so it worked out that I put 63 triangles together 3 times. '63 triangles' does not sound like a typical way to organize your work; let me back track here. I did not do any math prior to beginning the assembly process of said triangles. That's just how many I pieced and then I went for some more and then the third time around they were all put together! Do you know how that was decided? Do you know how funny it felt to sit back and realize that it just worked out? It was decided...

...by the number of pins I have! I just started pinning and when I was done it turns out that the universe gave me just enough pins to work my groupings 3 times...and I do enjoy it so much when things work out evenly!

(ring, ring...I have to get that, it's my dear friend C and I'm not going to miss a chance to talk with her!)

Wednesday Feb. 10

This is what happens when the phone rings and your kids come home from school and then the weekend and then, and then, and then...I have to admit though, with the amount of kudos I was giving to the Universe there on Friday and then to have not been able to get back to this until now...I'm wondering if I was supposed to post this post?

I'll take my chances and see how it goes....

So, to continue, I was all keen on posting this blog entry (last Friday), because I had just spent the last two days reading a new magazine (among a few other treasures) that I picked up on Wednesday while I was waiting for my son to finish his drum lesson. Artful Blogging is a wonderful magazine! I had thought that I would only kind of leaf through it and then pass it on; I don't see that happening. First off, I read every single word in there front to back! I enjoyed all of the photos and was inspired by some of the ideas. One of them, which I'll have to try for maybe next week, is "Most Favourite Photo Mondays!" A blogger, and I'm sorry I'm not getting the link to you (not now, anyway) posts whatever picture strikes her fancy on a Monday. Old, new, light, dark, whatever calls to you on that Monday, no topic, don't worry about how you want to tie the picture into a story, just post a picture that makes you happy;

I LOVE IT!!!

So, yeah, I picked up some books.

And I had an idea!

My parents always laughed at how my 3 year old son would come up with "an idea!"

It's not quite a new idea, but I'm still feeling pretty clever about it!

A few years ago, and I believe I've written about this before, I loosely set a schedule for myself, so that I might at least accomplish some part of the various disciplines that I had hoped to someday complete. ie. I've collected fabric, yarn and various needlecraft kits and and instead of getting overwhelmed (HA!!) I thought if I just set aside certain days for certain crafts then I might actually get something completed.

In theory, this should work:

Monday: Knitting

Tuesday: Knitting

Wednesday: Sewing

Thursday: Knitting

Friday: Finishing...whatever might be at the 'finishing' stage, could be hand sewing or it could be sweater blocking

Saturday: Sock Knitting

Sunday: Cross Stitch or other embroidery type projects.

I have more knitting projects on the go than anything else...so four days devoted to knitting, WHEN TIME PERMITS IS THE UNDERLYING PREMISE TO ALL OF THIS, makes sense. I stuck to it for a little while and did actually complete some things...anyone remember 'waste canvas'?

See that 'HA', up there? Right after the word 'overwhelmed'? Yeah, well all the planning in the world doesn't help when you hit the end of your rope and then, well, it's everyman, woman or knitting, quilting project for themselves!

It's my schedule and I don't have to follow it if I don't want to! Yes, maturity did not make an appearance in my schedule...so maybe a 'suggested list' would be a better description.

So here we are in 2010, yes, it's already a month and a bit into it, but stay with me...

In my "Suggested List of a Schedule" I've allotted Fridays for Finishing.

How about we make 2010, The year of the F.O.?! (Just to clarify, F.O.=Finished Objects)

That's Right! "Let's Make 2 Oh 1 Oh, the Year of the F.O.!"

Does starting a group on Ravelry sound like a good idea? We could maybe come up with a point system...you know, so that there is real incentive to address that second sock syndrome!

For those of us signed up for the Knitting Olympics? Well, that's one project in February taken care of! You see, one of the beautiful things about this idea...is it doesn't matter how many projects that you cast on, how much stash enhancement happens...I'm not talking about a yarn diet here, just a fun little attempt to use this year to inspire those of us who have a eensy-weensy problem committing to a project through to the end...to tally up the F.O.'s

Let me know what you think? These are the F.O.'s that came off my needles this past Friday! I started the Brown sock in 2006...yay me! The knitted squares are for a charity project that's been in the works for a couple of years too, but this year will definitely be the year that it finds its home.

Sock It To Me!!

2010-01-28T11:47:00.003-05:00

A.K.A. Thursday Night is Cast Off Knitting Night!

My friend E is getting quite clever at coming up with some fun knitting related gems/play on words etc., among all the other clever things she does.
So, yes, last week it was decided that this week we would once again look at the wonder that is sock knitting. Our group has given it a shot a few times and those that like it, still do it; those that don't, well, not so much. Tonight, however a proposal has been put forth that anyone wishing to work on a sock can...bring in that UFO and have one of us tell you where you are exactly in the pattern, try again using 2 circular needles instead of the dreaded DPN's, determine what size needle will best suit your chosen yarn...and no sock yarn is not a valid excuse...we've got that covered too. Who said stash is just yarn taking up space? Oh wait, that would be like a thousand and a half (make that a bazillion and a half---there are a lot of knitters in this world) husbands out there.
We've even planned something for the seasoned sock knitters, and that is to learn how to do Three Needle Grafting. No more excuses for not knowing how to or not liking to graft; no more using the standard Three Needle Bind Off and leaving a seam inside your toe! (shudder) No, tonight we will all learn something new and wonderful! Yes, in my world learning a new way to finish off a sock is wonderful. I really am pretty easy to please.
But first, a wholesome and complete breakfast...
Do you like the hat thrown in for colour, texture and pure knitting content? How much do food stylists make?
I first heard about these Steel Cut oats, again from my knitting group, but was hesitant to try them, well, because it's oatmeal. Luckily, however I was able to spend some time with a dear friend of mine who had a batch on the stove and I decided to be a big girl and try it.
IT WAS GOOD!!! WHO'D OF THOUGHT IT?
Now, I've kind of worked out my own system here. I make a full batch of the oatmeal (and I bought that kind because I liked the can---it's what I do) and a full batch of Bob's Red Mill Apple Grains. They require different cooking times; so I cook them separately and then combine them, put them in a container in the fridge and take out as much as I want when I want and reheat it in the microwave. Add a little brown sugar, milk (and blueberries for the photo shoot) and you've got a wonderfully 'feel good about yourself' kind of breakfast.

In preparation for tonight's workshop I've been committed to getting some knitting done. Here are not one, but two socks that will be ready for tonight's lesson. As you can see, I don't mind the dreaded DPN's.

Yea, so they don't match.

I can make another pair just like it later, and nooo, I'm not going to count how many socks I have on the go; nor am I going to count sock yarn stash.

Sock yarn stash....doesn't count; everybody knows that.

Let's Catch Up, Shall We?

2010-01-26T12:26:00.004-05:00

First off here's a little something I like to call, "Spend a Day in My Shoes". This is what I managed to knit while watching 5 hours of 24. Really it's only 4 hours of knitting because I had to rip out after the first hour and start again. I'm likin' it!

I'm having a lot of fun on this knit-a-long on Ravelry. The comments and jokes from the other 24 fans are a riot!

Last Friday was a lovely sunny day here in Ontario and when you get a sunny day around here, you say good-bye to laundry and hello to road trip! My husband had to tie up a few loose ends up north and invited me to go along...laundry or yarn shop? Oh, yea!
Lynn at the Purple Sock in Coldwater has a quaint little shop. It has yarn, fibre and a myriad of teas! She offers sit and knit times, sit and spin times...and there's something else too, but I don't live close enough to keep track of everything there. I do like to support any and all yarn shops and brought home these little treasures.

I haven't tried knitting with wire yet, but hey, what's one more obsession among friends?

Saturday found the four of us joining a big group of friends in a day of Curling. None of us have ever curled before, but it sounded like a neat way to spend the day. Really, at this point in my life, if I haven't tried something (that's at least relatively legal) then I'm gonna give it a shot. I'm Canadian, I should give Curling a shot.
O.K. so I went, I tried, I fell on my bum. I got up again, tried again, fell on my chest. I got up again, walked into the lounge and knit. Now, that's a Canadian Sport that I'm good at!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!
Sunday found my son and I huddled in the basement most of the day.

His class was given an art assignment to crochet a hat. He tried. It was painful; not only to his fingers, but to anybody watching him! After much encouragement he finally asked the teacher if he could do something else? He wanted to design and make a drumstick bag. (Not a Man Purse, a Satchel. Indiana Jones has one.) He didn't like any of the fabric that I had on hand (aka stash) and his father suggested jeans. Three pairs of cut up jeans later (could've done it with two, but he didn't like the button on one pair) he produced this.

I let him run the machine (except for the really heavy seam sewing) and I made him draw, cut and sew by hand...this was his! I'm really pleased with how focused he remained while putting this together, and from what I hear, it was a hit! It folds over and buttons shut; so the back pocket is on the outside and the front pocket is on the inside. Neat, eh? (See? Canadian, eh?)

Hey! I finished something!

It's a lap quilt for my daughter (except for her it's like a whole body quilt and not just her lap); she LOVES it!! She is a sock monkey nut and when I saw this fabric at Evelyn's in Newmarket I knew I wanted to put something together. That was close to a year ago (or maybe even a little more) and for me?! That's freakin' amazing!! There's things I would've done differently, if I was so inclined, but two important things stick with me here.

1) I learned a few more things about quilting, for example, I like to use flannel(ette) for my backing, and apparently that could make my attempt at machine quilting more challenging.

And,

2) IT'S DONE!!!

And since we were talking about WIP's at knitting last week...

I started sewing this quilt.

I cut out the pieces in 2006. I used only fabric that I had on hand. It's the Dreamcatcher Pattern from the quilt shop formerly named Jillybean's Pride in Oakville. I'm calling mine, "The Pink and Green Dream".
I should be knitting.....
Catch ya' later!

The Other Night...

2010-01-17T19:43:00.003-05:00

The other night I was checking out the 24 Fanatics group that I belong to on Ravelry and found something that caught my eye. A Jack Bauer KAL 2010. You choose your project, work on it only when the new Season of 24 (that's Season 8 for anyone counting) is on air.
To review, that's one project, 24 hours. No swatching---that's for sissies. Be fearless and trust no one.
First, prepare your tool kit, man purse or satchel...whichever way you lean, and assemble only the bare necessities of what you might require as you knit and save the world at the same time.

While I intend to use the traditional DPN's which could absolutely be used in self defence or to stop a nuclear bomb, I have included a circular needle in case I need to strangle somebody; while I quietly whisper in their ear, "Don't fight it."

Now, I prepare my materials; making sure that they are in good working order. Too many good agents have been lost due to carelessness.
Note, the colour selection; this is no accident! The black, gold and rose represent Jack's strength, optimism and sensitivity. These are also the qualities that make him irresistible to so many women, and I will terminate them if necessary.

Finally, I prepare for my journey. I have my communication device, however, should you attempt to contact me during the specified time frame I will have no choice but to ignore your warnings and go rogue on you!

This is a covert operation with the code name:

SPEND A DAY IN MY SHOES

Tick, tock, tick, tock....

Hello

2010-01-15T14:38:00.004-05:00

Yeah, I'm still here.
Last week I had an appointment in a small town north of us that is quite well know for its antique stores; it was a nice sunny day, so I visited a couple of them and look what I found!

I guess it's true that everything has been done before! The wheel on the miniature spinning wheel really turns; it's very cute.

Again, last week, (O.K. let's just clear something up here. This post is made up entirely of old news. Maybe next week I'll be able to catch up to this week.) I was lurking over some of my favourite blogs and Maria got me to wondering about the 'blooming' of yarn. Well, it just so happens that I too was working with Great Northern Yarn (thanks to Pick Up Sticks) and was able to clearly show the beauty that she would enjoy once the blocking was done.

See, lovely smooth yarn to knit, and when its turned into something to snuggle against your cheek or hands, and after you carefully block it, you just get a wonderfully soft bloom of knitted perfection!

I have to tell you I am having a little trouble staying focused on writing this post. I bought myself Volume 1 and 2 of the Glee soundtrack and get totally caught up in every song that comes on! I put it on to cook, and as it happens, it also means that I dance while I cook. I'm counting it as exercise.

O.K. more knitting content. There has been quite a lot of discussion out there about the upcoming Olympics and to what extent knitting will be involved. I participated in the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics last time around and challenged myself to begin, AND COMPLETE, an aran sweater (well, it has cables o.k.?), in the designated time frame. I truly believe that my biggest challenge was actually sticking to one project and completing it, but I did it, and I enjoyed it!! I had a lot of support from, of course the knitting world at large, and, my dear knitting friends, the Cast Offs. Upon completion of the event they presented me with a medal that I proudly wore around my neck. I'm so glad that I have friends that 'get me'.

I assumed, and I'm not sure why, that these upcoming Olympics would bring the same challenge to the world of knitters. I've been trying to decide what project to attempt for the event. I've got yarn that has been in my stash, with a specific project in mind, mind you, for...well, some of them for 10 (maybe more) years. Should I go for seniority? That might not address the 'challenging' aspect of the criteria. Some of them, challenge or not, just cannot be completed in the allotted time....pretty sad that one, ' so why even bother starting?' One of my concerns was that once I decided on my project, while it was clearly stated that swatching was part of the 'training' that all Olympians must do, I was going to have a hard time waiting until Feb. 12 to begin! The conundrum just kept coming back to me again, and again. I looked through my stash, I looked through patterns, I did want to be prepared! And then, I saw this:

This lovely collection has been moved more times that I can even remember, never mind share. In my mind there is the most beautiful sweater, full of memories, love and appreciation. There are some sketches, some photos for reference, some notes, some samples, all waiting for the time that I will sit down, figure it out, write it down and...
GET BUSY!!!
And that's when it hit me. That's the one! I can use this 'training period' to design the sweater that has been so patient as to wait until I was able to give it the respect that it is due. I can swatch for gauge, I can measure, I can plan, I can chart...I CAN DO IT ALL!!! And intarsia is making a come back! (interesting note: one of the spell check options for intarsia is Ontario.???)
---oh boy.
There's one little thing though. Ravelry is hosting the "Ravelympics" and the last day to sign up is today. (Hey! Current content! WooHoo!) The Yarn Harlot isn't sure if she wants to set something up again, this time around, which I completely understand, because I'm sure it was a whole wack load of work!! Now, while I certainly can come up with a project to play along with, it doesn't necessarily mean that I have to participate, or that I have to choose only one Olympic event to participate in! Since I'm a Pisces, and have trouble making up my mind and I don't want to miss out on any knitting fun I'm leaning toward the 'choose both' camp.
This of course may be a mute point, as I said, the Yarn Harlot hasn't decided yet if she will lead us. Bottom line, if I want to participate in the Knitting Olympics, then Ravelry is the way to go and now is the time to do it!
Thanks for listening guys. I just had to think this through a bit, and seeing it here in black and white gave me the answer I was looking for. I also want to thank the Harlot, because she not only inspired me in my knitting Olympic goals, she also reminded us the there are "no knitting police" and if when it's all said and done, and I don't finish or I'm not able to participate the way that I want to....well, that's o.k. too.
I also want to address (you know, if I posted more often, I may not need to write so much when I do!) the support that knitters are offering to the agencies offering assistance in Haiti. The Yarn Harlot (again) has done wonderful work setting up Knitter's Without Borders in support of Doctor's Without Borders. Glenna C has posted that she will donate 100% of profits from the sale of her patterns...well, just go see. It's a good thing that they're doing; help if you can.
I'll try to get back soon. Be well.

Now, THIS is the most wonderful time of the year!

2010-01-03T22:02:00.004-05:00

O.K. 2010, you're here. yipee.
I'm not sure what you have in store for us, but a few years ago I started a knitting blog...with a side of wine and chocolate...and now the truth is out.
1) Time management is not my strong suit, otherwise I would have more blog entries and more knitting to show on those blog entries.
2) I don't finish many/ a lot/ enough of anything to show off. Just be thankful that I don't post all the wonderful ideas, plans and schemes that I come up with, buy supplies for, obsess for a day (and night) or two, and then....abandon....or rather, allow them to become yet another WIP.
3) There has been a sharp decline in the amount of chocolate content in my posts. It's sad, I know.
4) Wine? Oooohhh wine. I've said it before, I wish I could enjoy the flavour of it without the alcohol issues associated with it. My husband thinks I'm nuts when I make a statement like that, but it's the flavour and atmosphere that I enjoy; not so much the buzz.
Please note: I said alcohol issues; not alcoholic issues.
Santa Marguarita still rules.

So, when last we spoke, I eluded to perhaps having some knitting to show you. I finished my Christmas knitting and was looking forward to putting my mind and needles to work on a little bit of a challenge that I would be proud to show you.
I was knitting. Happily knitting. The yarn is wonderful, it has mink in it...and I just have to go where my fingers take me. It's not me, it's my hands, they want what they want and they want the mink!
Now, it seems that I have a tendency to take what someone else has done in the knitting world and use part of their design to see what else it could become. A vision comes to me! This vision does not come with gauge, needle, stitch count or even yardage suggestions, but it looks so wonderful in my head that it could, and should be, well, you know, easy!
That's how it was with the mink, take a little of this pattern, insert this portion here, use this instead of that and....Tada! After 1-2 weeks of knitting and thinking, thinking and knitting....
This is what I've got to show for my latest design endeavor.

I hate it when I've had a negative knitting day. Yesterday, I was pushing it that last little bit. You know, "Just a few more rows and I'll be finished! I know it's a little tight now," (who see's where this is going?) "but it will block out.

Mmmm, maybe I didn't have to add that extra repeat.

When I do the next one," (because I need two) "I'll try not to have those two stitches next to each other and that will look better...the devil is in the details. Lalalala.

Yea, that's going to bug me, and I'm not sure that I'm going to have enough for the second one, after all...so, I better just take it back and work it shorter; that'll be all right."

Frogity, frogity, frog.

"O.K., so not finishing it tonight. Make sure I write all these changes down, so that I can write up a pattern and boy this takes a long time to write out. How do those designers do this? I'm not a real designer, so I'm doing this the long-hand, old fashioned way. That's o.k. I'm enjoying the whole thing, I will get better with practise, I just won't be a prolific designer; I will try for thorough." See how I was being gentle with myself there? I will get better...it's getting finished that's a challenge!
'The devil is in the details.'? That probably wouldn't make a very good company name, it's probably already a blog name.
You know, I bet this would look better if it was done on bigger needles. It still is a little tight. What about this way? That way?
Face it. You have to start over; just rip the thing out and start again tomorrow...on bigger needles.
Should I go up one size or two?"

Three cheers for following a pattern!! Hip, hip, hooray!!
I knit a pig!

And a couple of medallions (again---I reinterpreted the design---oh, that does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it? rrrreeeinterrrpreted)

Now, I've told you all of that, shown you all of that and all I was going to post was how wonderful it is that kids are back at school tomorrow (although, my daughter's been down a couple of time complaining about stomach 'issues', so that's kind of taken the wind out of my sails!). I don't have any urgent laundry to be done (took care of that today). The house has been put back together after all the Christmas upheaval (not my best year this year). I had hoped to get downstairs, tidy up a bit (please see Christmas knitting and reference to Christmas upheaval above) so that tomorrow would be....quiet. Just quiet. No kids. No machines. No going out....ANYWHERE!! Just me, my knitting, my dog and my cats...

Thursday seems to have something in mind......

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!

Pot meet Kettle

2009-12-29T08:21:00.004-05:00

So, I'm sitting here thinking I don't really have time to sit here...I'm taking the kids to go see my brother play in White Christmas at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton and one kid isn't even at home, the other one is sleeping and I'm still in my jammies on my first cup of coffee. Thanks to Santa, it's a HUGE cup of coffee!
I'm also going through all my favourite blogs and feeling more than a little disappointed that there haven't been more recent posts on a lot of them; hence...
Pot meet Kettle.

Here's the last (I think I said that before ;o) shots from the cruise.

I took some time last night, as I finally finished a hat for myself, to reflect on how amazing it was that I finally took that cruise that I've dreamed of all my life.

Yeah, that was pretty freaking amazing!

So, that's my quick post. Maybe there will be knitting next time. Maybe next time will be sooner than later. You just never know.

People! People Who Need People...

2009-11-19T12:10:00.002-05:00

Are indeed the luckiest people in the world!

This should about finish my Cruise update (for awhile...or, this time, at least!)

Some of the wonderful people include...

Our waiter, who made sure that there was always enough chocolate at our table to save us the trouble of deciding which dessert we should order! The smiles say it all!

The Chefs who create some of those wonderful chocolate treats!

Oh....and......KNITTERS!!!!!!

Some of the lovely ladies that I met, shared meals (wine) and knitting time with.

Let's see, anything else?
Well, how about....

Our friendly knitting designers and teachers, Debbie Bliss, Nicki Epstein and Carla Scott. Thank-you ladies, we all had a wonderful time and it was truly a pleasure meeting and knitting with you. The knowledge and friendships gained will not be long forgotten.

This is....

2009-11-12T09:56:00.003-05:00

What you do when you're waiting in line at the airport. In the "Checked In Online" line. People who don't knit get very cranky when they have to wait an hour or so in the "Checked In Online To Save Time" line.

I was happy; I got my sweater finished that I wanted to wear on the plane.

(The sweater that when I realized that I was going to run out of yarn three days before I was to leave, found a knitter who had the same yarn in the same dye lot on Ravelry, who lives in Toronto, who met me in the lobby of her apartment building, IN TORONTO, so that I could buy the one last skein that I needed!)

Knitters Rock!

The picture you take when you're walking along Ocean Drive in South beach the morning before you get on your cruise ship.

The picture you take in Costa Maya to show your daughter that bananas really do grow on trees in Mexico.

A picture you asked a complete stranger to take as you celebrate Zip Lining over the Rain Forest in Belize.

Yes, of course it's a Margarita!!

Just a taste of the surprises that lay in store for you on a Cruise ship!

I hung it in the bathroom when I left just to mess up my Stateroom attendant.

Hehe.

Happy Thursday everybody...it's Knit Night!

Home & Doing Laundry....SURPRISE!!!!

2009-11-10T13:53:00.003-05:00

O.K. Short and sweet.

I'm home. We're all fine. I plan to show more pics over the next few days.

I want to go have a nap.

Amen Sisterfriend!!

Here she is in Costa Maya.

This is me. Climbing a very big hill in Belize. Why am I climbing? Why am I wearing a helmet? What's all that fuzzy green stuff in the background?

The fuzzy green stuff is the rain forest. (It's fuzzy because I was shaking from having to climb)

I'm wearing a helmet so that I don't get a head injury. (What you don't see is the harness and gloves that I'm also wearing)

I'm climbing so that I can sail over the trees of the rain forest on a ZIP LINE!!

OMG!!!! IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING!!!!

That's a "having a blast laughing" smile, combined with, "Oh my God, I hope I don't have a heart attack! And they called this the 'Moderate' climb activity!" Geez.

Yup. Helmet diving.

They put the helmet on, pump air in and send you down to swim with the fishes.

Very Cool.

Standing on my balcony the last day of sailing at the moment that there actually was sunshine, while trying to outrun a hurricane. They kept telling us that it was a cold front from the north that was giving us problems.
I saw the map. That hurricane was biting us on the butt!
Pretty neat for self portraits huh?
Oh yeah, and there was knitting.... more soon.

There's Only So Much They Can Do.

2009-09-29T17:27:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was in love with the French Curve and as I started to do some sewing today (because I finished the sleeve I was working on yesterday! Yay!) I thought, "Here's another 'Best Tool Ever'!"

This is my chalk/pen/marker that I now use for marking my patterns. I've stressed quite a bit about marking patterns in my lifetime. I used to do a 'Taylor's Tack' is what I think it was called, using needle and thread to mark the dots...and hated it. Usually I just tried to fudge my way through and kind of eyeball them as I got to them...not the most successful method of sewing.

Years and years ago I found this really cool chalk and needle marking system that I LOVED! Apparently, I was the only one who loved it because I haven't been able to find refills or a replacement for quite awhile.
Now, I've found this sturdy chalk marker and I've relaxed in my whole marking/matching endeavors. Once again, patterns are 'suggestions'. It's an art; not a science, so if the marks are in approximately the same general area and the overall appearance works...well, 'Bob's your uncle and get going sister-friend!' Life's too short for worrying about matching dots exactly.

Speaking of Life being too short...

My sewing Angel was watching over me again today.

This is me finding just enough scrap material to cut the facings. Again. Because I, again, reversed them when I cut them out the first time and therefore didn't match up when I went to sew them into the jacket/top. Are you getting that this is not something new in my life? So, while there's only so much an Angel can do for person, I was very lucky to be able to make this work!

Continuing with the whole 'silver lining' theme...

At least I got to practise my button holes, and when I did do it the second time, I took my time and paid attention to every last detail. Yay.

So....do you think it looks like old lady fabric?

Rulers and Rules

2009-09-28T15:32:00.003-04:00

See this? Do you know what this is? (Yes, I can see that it says French Curve right on the package).
This is the greatest invention EVER!!
Do you know why it is the greatest invention EVER?!
Because it is something that you can use to alter sewing patterns, that you already own, so that they fit you the way that you are now and not the way you used to be.

Sad thing is...I used it today to alter the brand new pattern that I bought yesterday (on sale at Fabricland), because....well I obviously haven't figured out that if you continuously need to add an inch (or two) to the patterns you have at home; then if you buy the same size, AGAIN, then you will have to alter it AGAIN!!! The multi-sizing group was bad; you know, because you're the smallest size in the bigger grouping...well, that still looks worse than maybe being the larger size in the smaller grouping.

Love the French Curve.

O.K. Some Knitting Rules.

First, let me explain...

This is Yarn Barf. Yarn Barf is the mess of yarn you get when you try to pull the centre from the ball to start knitting (or crocheting, if you're so inclined) and you get a bunch of yarn and not especially the end that you were looking for.

I abhor yarn barf.

Rule #1: Yarn Barf cannot be left as is.

I cannot rest until I have knit the entire yarn barf down to the point of a nice slim line of yarn emitting from the centre of the ball.

Rule #2: Knitting must be left with right side facing for the next row.

You can tell me we have to go, start locking the doors, stand there tapping your foot...I will only stop knitting when I have completed a wrong side row.

Rule #3: When working a sleeve or any other piece of knitting with intervals of increases, or decreases, the work must be left with a straight knit row to be worked when work is taken up again.

This is the only way to almost ensure a consistent slope in your work; if you are expected to remember to increase or decrease when you next pick up your knitting, then you will spend more time tinking (the act of un-knitting) than knitting. Leave your work so that you can just jump in and after you've completed a couple of rows you'll stop. Lay it on your lap. Admire it. Count what you've already accomplished and then it will come back to you that you should probably increase (or decrease, as the case may be) and then you're back in the groove!

Now, since I've cut out the adjusted pattern (I'll save the lining for another day) and dealt with the yarn barf, I will now get showered and feed my family. Oh, I got the laundry done and the sun is shining and tonight is my favourite t.v. night! I guess it's a good day.

Any knitting rules you'd like to share?

"Do You Spin?"

2009-09-22T13:24:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, as it turns out, was International Day of Peace.

I wish I had known that yesterday.

I didn't think that I would have done anything especially different...until I read the September 21 entry from my "Never Not Knitting" calendar.

Who can argue with this wisdom? And I quote:

"Gandhi, that great man of nonviolence, maintained that every person should spin thread for 30 minutes a day. He had taken a vow to do so, and kept this vow even while in prison. Gandhi believed that the practice of quiet, structured, peaceful work would promote those same qualities in the people who did it...."

Do I spin?

Rochelle asked a simple enough question.

Welllllll....

I have books (doubles, if you want to know the truth!)

I have stash.

SURPRISE!!!!

I have accessories. The Red Hot Mama's are all about accessorizing.

I have a really cute wheel. As I recall, it runs very smoothly too.

And I really like where my Ladybug is.

I would love to have the qualities that Gandhi spoke of.

"...kept this vow even while in prison..."!?!?!?!

Well, I wouldn't exactly call this a prison. So....

WHY NOT?!?!?!

Tuesdays are for spinning you know.

It's always the way.

2009-09-18T22:00:00.004-04:00

Wednesday is this year's "Fright Night" (scroll down).

Unlike Sandi, however, I just go with it and have pizza...used to order it; now it's Delisio Rising Crust Pizza!!

After pizza I load both kids in the van along with all their paraphernalia and head out to tackle "the loop". I drop one at the music store for his drum lesson early, because music lessons and dance lessons start at the same time--- in different towns--- at the same time. We live in yet another town.

Now, the dance class goes longer than the drum lesson; so after I deposit my dancer at the studio I pop back into the van to head back to pick up the drummer.

Let me share a little side note here. My daughter and I were on our way to yet another dance class of hers today, when a commercial advertising diapers came on the radio. (They're on sale at Baby's-R-Us) The lady mentioned just how many diapers a person might change in one day. My daughter asked me how many times I had to change diapers when she was a baby? O.K.

1) I don't remember.

2) I do remember addressing this very issue when my kids were babies. I didn't keep track of how many times I had to change a bum. A bum needed changing, it got changed. If I was lucky somebody else did it, but usually it was me.

I think that if you start keeping track/score, especially when it comes to parenting, well you're just setting yourself up for a miserable time of it. I think it's much more productive to keep track of the few gems that keep you smiling in the midst of all those diapers. Not that I always follow my own words of wisdom here, but really what good can come of counting dirty diaper changes? It just makes everybody cranky.

The same holds true later in the parenting adventure when you become the official taxi driver. Don't think about it. Just immerse yourself in the task. Don't think of all the other things that you could be doing. Don't think about the gas. Don't think about all the other running around you do in addition to these evenings where you're touring around the county, with the added enjoyment of the arguing that you get to endure when they are both in the car at the same time. Just be one with the commute.

Don't think about it...just keep your eyes open for that Yarn Shop whose neon light shines an ever welcoming OPEN sign above its door.

Don't think about it...when you remember that you were looking for another 3.75mm circular knitting needle. (Don't remember exactly what project it was for, but there's always another one).

Don't think about it...when you realize that you've already been to one yarn shop today...

Just take your van and your ever-drumming son into that parking lot, turn the engine off, get out of that driver seat, breath the lovely night air and go in there and buy those Addi Natura 3.75mm (and a couple of patterns...but no yarn!!). Then continue on into the fading light of the Wednesday evening to finish the last of your pickups and get everybody home safe and sound.

So, fast forward through Thursday...there was knitting and laughing...how much better can it get? Now, it's Friday morning and enough is enough!

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WITH MY STUDIO!!!!

I begin to shift and sort some piles. I won't kid you, it was a big job, and I got carried away a few times, and I'm not anywhere near finished, but look what I found?

THE FLOOR!!!

I know there's still a lot of stuff surrounding the floor area, but look what else I found...

Well, that's two. I'm sure there's more somewhere!

This...

2009-09-13T21:28:00.004-04:00

This is what I knit.

This is what I saw.

I know, I know..."A blind man would be glad to see it."

This is what I did.

Then, I did this.

Now...

I'll be able to sleep tonight.

I hope.

This is difficult to write.

2009-09-12T07:55:00.003-04:00

Today is the Knitter's Fair in Kitchener Waterloo.
I'm not going and that makes me very sad.
I'm not feeling well enough to go a Knitting Fair and that just makes me feel worse!
I remember when I was 18 I got a cold/cough thing that was a doozy and may have interfered with my school schedule a bit, but in no way was it going to interfere with my social life! Besides I always felt better once I got out and enjoying myself.
I was invited out to a bar where some friends were playing in the band (that was back when smoking was allowed everywhere) and I was sick. I ummed and awed, I even asked dad what he thought I should do? (He lives for stuff like that.) I was shocked by his answer, "I can't tell you what to do. You'll have to decide that one for yourself." I remember that like it was yesterday.
So, I went.
I was 18, what else was I going to do.
I'm sure I had fun. I'm sure I felt o.k. while I was there. I'm sure I didn't meet the love of my life which was pretty much why I did everything when I was 18.
The next day I felt like crap (no hangover) just shouldn'thavegoneoutwhenyouweresick, crap, and I'm sure the virus hung on a lot longer because of my decision.
Well, I'm not 18 anymore...at least not physically...
I've got more responsibilities for one thing. Hopefully, I'm a little more practical and I'm starting to learn that yes, I actually do have to look after myself. me. nobody else. I do know what's best and sometimes that means making some very hard decisions.
I'm tired of making hard decisions; this should be an easy one...Knitting Fair? I'm there! Done. Easy.
Stupid cough. Stupid surgery. Stupid this. Stupid that.
See, now look, I'm whining. It is an absolutely gorgeous day and there have been plenty lately and more on the horizon, ie. weather forecast is good. I am blessed with wonderful, healthy, happy children. I have pets that give me unconditional love. I have a hardworking husband that makes sure we have a safe and warm home. I have more yarn and fabric than anybody should rightfully own! I have friends that love and support me, who are better at looking after me than I am, because they keep telling me, "take it easy; rest."
But, it's the Knitter's Fair....
It was part of the plan....
There are people there (besides the many knitters that I already know and love), strangers, or maybe, 'yet to be friends', that 'get' me.
The fumes.....oh, I love the fumes...
There will be new stuff and I'll miss it!!! I hate missing stuff!
THAT'S IT!!! I hate missing out!!
My whole life I didn't want to miss anything, and now that I've found my passion, it cuts me deep not to be able to immerse myself in it always!
So today I will stay home and knit and maybe sew. I will take my daughter to her dance class.
I will rest.
After all, I need to be ready for the Vogue Knitting Cruise! See, tough decisions!

Today

2009-09-10T17:18:00.004-04:00

Was not especially productive...a few rows of knitting completed.
All the same, though, a very, very exciting day!
I saw a stick bug.

I don't ever remember seeing a real-live stick bug. The only one I really remember seeing looked like this.

I have to say though, I think it was his lucky day.

I like knitting with circular needles; not straights.

hahahahaha

Productive Day!!!

2009-08-26T17:05:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd show you what I've been up to for the past couple of days...

Flannel. Birthday Flannel.

My daughter turns 10 tomorrow and she's a ballerina!
We have a pond, so......

Ballerina Frogs!! Soft, cozy, dancing, ballerina frog pajamas! Don't they just make you smile?

I also completed a sock. One sock. My idea (that I came up with this morning) is to present my girl with the one sock....
and then, she can tell me if she wants a sock to match that one or she can choose the colours that she wants for a co-ordinating sock! Takes the pressure off me and involves her in making a fashion choice for herself and she finally gets the hand knit socks she's been after. (I sure hope she doesn't take the scissors to them! Stranger things have happened.)

I followed up on some emails and phone calls. (more party planning)

Did a full, FULL load of dishes by hand (the kids dried) because my dishwasher gave up the ghost yesterday and that darned dish washing fairy didn't come by last night a look after the dinner dishes! It's getting replaced tomorrow.

Managed to have a little bit of a nap because I'm trying not to let this cold and cough take full hold, but had to get up because my little darling decided she needed to clean out her desk in the room next to mine and apparently that involves a lot of banging and crashing...I haven't had a look at it yet; better check that out.

And finally finished something that my husband has been after me to do for a couple of months now.

Baby Blankets. Stop it!!! We're too old for that nonsense!

He needed one for a gift for a special little girl and I finally got around to putting something together for him to choose from. I made five, so the next time he says I need a blanket, (he works with a prolific bunch) I'll say, "Here, pick one!"

So, you know what happens when you have such a productive day?

PIZZA FOR DINNER!!!!

And maybe paper plates too.

Mama Called The Doctor...

2009-08-24T17:44:00.002-04:00

{And while she was on hold she said, "How many more days until school starts?"}

So, I thought I would try to get some sewing done today. Maybe get a few flannel items crossed off the to-do list, and of course, because I'm down here trying to get some birthday jammies done for her, my daughter decided that she needed to work on the sock monkey kit that I gave her last Christmas.
I really wanted to foster this kind of mother - daughter bonding and showed her how to do a whip stitch. Encouraged her to thread the needle, "Yes, I know you've tried fifteen times. Try again." Shared my polyfil with her, "No, you don't need that much, put it back. Put it back. Put it back." Tried to keep her focused, "Don't touch that. Put that down. Stop poking that. That's not what that's for. Yes, that's my candy. I don't know why they don't make Turtles look like Turtles anymore. STOP STABBING THINGS!!!"

While I haven't been the most patient parent/person when it came to passing on the dying arts of cooking, baking, knitting and sewing to my children, I do, on occasion try. I don't cope (I just made a typo of 'dope'---maybe a little Freudian thing happening there) very well with the sloppiness and mess associated with teaching my children a new skill. Which is totally surprising, because I am so not a neat freak! I tend to use the, "Here, let me do that," approach; you know, "it's just easier if I do it", etc. etc.

I'm not proud of it, but that's the way it's been.

I've tried to teach both my children to knit. My son? It's not his thing, but I'm proud to say that he did give it a, albeit small, shot. My daughter? She's pretty good, that is, when she stays still long enough. I was hoping that giving her a skill that required her to sit still might encourage her to, I don't know, SIT STILL??? She's affectionately known as our "Whirling Dervish" Quite honestly, she has always moved so quickly from one thing to another that the only clue you had that she was about to move onto something new was when you heard the one word that filled our family with dread.

"Oopsie."

"Oopsie", covered everything from spilled milk, candle wax poured down a sink, sneaking chocolate, falling into a Bay, any number of broken fragile items to jewelry going down the toilet.

Well, that was when she was a little girl. She's soon turning into a big girl and we know this because her vocabulary is expanding. No more "Oopsie"; no siree. Now we're going to hear (as I did earlier today) "Uh-oh, that's bad."

AND THE DOCTOR SAID,

WHY IS THERE A NEEDLE STUCK IN THAT MONKEY'S HEAD????

X-ray, stat!

Just a Little Bit

2009-08-23T14:57:00.004-04:00

Here's a muddled look (on purpose) of some top secret knitting.
It's lace.
Lace uses very tiny needles (well, bigger than socks, but stay with me on this one).
Lace yarn is very, very fine...finest there is, as it turns out!
So even when you knit and knit and knit and knit for hours it looks like you've only worked 'just a little bit'. The ball of beautifully handpainted yarn you started with, looks relatively the same after all those hours and hours and hours of knitting.

Not that there's anything wrong with that....
And then one Thursday evening, after an especially long and difficult few months, some friends who love and care about you, drop by, braving the tornado warnings and winds and rain, to share 'just a little bit' of time with you.
They don't want anything from you.
In fact they come bearing a gift that only a chosen few truly know how much it will mean to you.
They bring their own lemonade and they make their own tea.
They share their triumphs, their worries and their joys; one joy we all share, is the joy of yarn.

And how nice it is to knit 'just a little bit' of yarn (one ball) and accomplish this much!

Thanks ladies, I needed that!

WWKIP

2009-06-13T08:26:00.004-04:00

Happy World Wide Knit In Public Day!!

I'll be back!

She CAN be taught!!

2009-03-07T12:44:00.005-05:00

Yesiree Bob! I checked my last ball of Noro and low and behold...look carefully now...Two segments of purpley-pink!

So I says to myself, "Self, that doesn't look right; I bet you there's a knot," and unwind I did until...

A lovely little Noro Knot.

While I can obviously be taught (at least some of the time), I do, however, still need some help with the skill of reading.

Did you know that when a pattern reads, "Repeat last four rows 14 times" (one of those rows included 2 decreases---one at each end---not rocket science), that a completely different amount of yarn will be required should you decrease a total of 14 stitches from the beginning of shaping, and then move onto the next set of instructions?

Did you know that failure to work the decrease at the end of the row where you worked one at the beginning of the row will mess you up quite a few rows later?

Did you know that when you stay up past midnight catching up on The Young and The Restless (poor Sharon), and reknitting all the knitting that you previously Frogged and Tinked due to above mentioned reading 'brain-farts' and the power goes out...that it's REALLY DARK!?
I MEAN PITCH!!

So this morning I completed the knitting of all the major parts of my Haliburton Noro, having to add more yarn to complete the last 1 & 1/4 rows and to castoff. Oy.
Gotta say again, I'm quite pleased with my attention to keeping true to the colour progressions (as much as possible).

With body and sleeves completed, I'm quite excited to see about getting this puppy put together, so I sit with the pattern.

I read the finishing instructions of the pattern.

I get more coffee.

I look closely, really closely, at the pictures of the sweater.

I read the pattern again; this time from the beginning to make sure that I didn't miss anything when I started this sweater a year and a half ago. I read it again and again and again.

I don't get it. It doesn't make sense to me.

So I do what any learned knitter/quilter/married person would do (because they too have 'been taught') who's been faced with similar frustrating situations.

I walk away.

I go take a shower.

I have an "AHA moment" in the shower, where suddenly the fog clears from all their convoluted instructions! I can put this puppy together!

All I have to remember is to trust. Trust and blindly follow the instructions exactly as they are written.

And prey.

But first, let us block.

An Update

2009-03-04T09:01:00.002-05:00

Here's yesterday's deleted photo:

"Please, it's not time for another haircut is it?"

This, my friends, is what a skein of Noro Silk Garden WITHOUT A SINGLE KNOT IN IT, looks like knit up.

And Now...

More Powerful than a Bunch of Knitters at a Yarn Sale...

Faster than a Collection of Addi Turbos...

Up in the sky...

It's a Shopper...

No, it's a Knitter....

No, it's......

And The Winners Are...

2009-03-03T10:32:00.002-05:00

Without further adieus, here is the Grand Prize Winner of the Think Outside the Sox Contest.

These are one of the pairs of socks that my Tulip Socks were up against! We told you, fierce competition! This knitter knit and DYED her socks (not sure which came first the sock or the dye...either way, WOW!!)

Winning the Adult Lace Socks with Cuff's:

These socks won out over my Aurora Borealis. I do like her "creative entrance" (that was part of the criteria).

Here is the "Inspired By Knitter's Magazine" winner.

I would've liked to see my Angel Socks here. This knitter was inspired by Issue #63 page 29. (Note to self: Look up K63 P29)

Now, for your viewing entertainment, have a look at the socks that won the Under 18 Category:

When I saw these while viewing the whole collection, I was hoping that whoever designed these would offer the pattern, because I thought they were so cute.

A ten year old girl designed and knit these wonderful socks! WOW!

I'm spending this frigid morning tidying up after the excitement of entering this contest (pattern writing still to follow) and organizing for my Mindful Knitting Retreat. I still hope to get my Diamond Cardigan finished in time, which will require actually spending time knitting today too!

[ I just deleted a really cute picture of Thursday...and there isn't an "undo" button on this thing! DARN!!]

I'ld like to thank.........you!

2009-03-02T08:40:00.005-05:00

The results are in and unfortunately I didn't take any prizes home...this time!
Over the past 7 months or so, I've kept images of the socks that I entered in the "Think Outside The Sox" contest close to the chest, so as not to jinx anything. Well, it is what it is and these are my socks and the images that inspired my designs.

Entry #1:
TULIP SOCKS knit in Dream In Colour Smooshy yarn.
These socks were inspired by a sweater of the same name.

Entry #2:

AURORA BOREALIS knit in Collinette Jitterbug.
These socks were entered into the Adult Sock Lace Cuff category. I used beads and twisted stitches and an unusual toe make-up to tie into the theme and yarn colourway.

Entry #3:

ANGELS PATHWAY knit in Trekking with Angora and Metallic accents.

I entered these socks in the "Inspired by Knitters Magazine" Category. The first time that I bought a Knitter's Magazine was to make an Angel that they included in their projects (no, I haven't done it yet!). A number of years later I bought the XRX book "Angels; A Knitters Dozen", which was packed full of patterns for Angels and bells and all things Angels! This past spring I attended Knitting Camp in New York and learned about a new way of knitting socks from Cat Bordhi (shout out---Happy Birthday Cat!). With all of these resources, I set out to design some fabulous socks that were truly inspired by Knitters...from the first magazine that I ever purchased to one of the most recent issues where Cat Bordhi was interviewed and her new approach to knitting was explored. As I created these socks all the stitches just seemed to find their home. I had an idea, I looked up the stitch and then I worked it. More often than not, the pattern came together like it had been done a thousand times before; it just felt right.

I really enjoyed this whole process and gained so much from the experience! I now know that YES, I can do it! I am pleased to have shared the stage with so many talented knitters, and I am thankful to friends and family that supported me throughout this venture and for getting their votes in for the "Knitter's Choice" award.

Tomorrow, I will post the pictures of the socks that beat me in the categories that I entered and a couple that I just plain found interesting! I also plan on making up patterns for my socks and I am on my way to entering yet another design contest...

Why Not?

And remember....

Could there be a better reason?

February 26, 2009

2009-02-26T14:54:00.003-05:00

To me...

To me...

There's wine chilling in the fridge...(winewoolandwhoppers/chocolate---get it?)

Happy Birthday to me!

LIFE IS LIKE A BALL OF NORO!

2009-02-25T08:08:00.004-05:00

With all due respect to Forest Gump...Chocolate aint got nothin' on Noro!

Life? Life is never constant....And neither is Noro.

The colours of our lives flow into one another and sometimes you see a beautiful sunrise and sometimes you're met with the view of the town dump. Sometimes you get to knit with the gorgeous blue or teal or pale green and sometimes you get that murky washed out brown and that "yucky green".

You may plan your life and you may plan your knitting, but the Universe, (and the Knitting Gods --- they're all in cahoots you know) is what controls both these ventures. It really is best just to surrender yourself to be open to how the skein unwinds.

You can make choices. Minute choices, such as, what to wear, and God help us, what to have for dinner, AGAIN!! (N.B. I LOVE Pancake Tuesday. At least one dinner has been decided for me there and at least the children and I are happy. My husband, however, is confused...EVERY YEAR, HE'S CONFUSED...as to why we are having breakfast for dinner?) The major decisions, such as where to live, where to work (inside or outside of the home), to what medical treatment is best suited to you and your family. The choices are endless! So too, we choose a type and colour of Noro yarn, we select a pattern (not necessarily in that order), needles and we cast on, hopefully we've made the right (?) choices. Only time will tell.

The one constant that you CAN count on in Life and in knitting with Noro is that there will be glitches to the plan, there will be decisions to be made, there will be tears and there will be joy, but at least in Knitting there is always the option of the "Do Over".

Here is my Haliburton Noro before yesterdays knitting time. I had set aside two balls for each sleeve, but that wasn't quite enough, and so I went searching among my left over bits. I am a tad obsessive when knitting Noro; wanting to stay true to the colour shifts...I may have mentioned that before...and not one of the left over bits sang to me. When I began this project I thought I was going to be in charge of how it all came together; after all, I was the one knitting it.

The ball that I had started the I-chord with,(See? Ball band labeled with an "I" because I "planned" for the skeins that would work for each part of making this sweater. Hahahaha!) that has been in limbo since the inception of this sweater held the answer! So I pulled out the centre of the ball to a point that I could continue on for the completion of sleeve number 1.

As I will likely encounter the same problem with sleeve number 2 (again, note that ball bands have been labeled "S" for sleeve and "S1" for the skein with which to begin the sleeve!) I sift through my left over bits and "plan" for the inevitable.

I left renewing my Health Card until the last possible moment, but I made sure that I knew which ball of yarn to use for the next sleeve...yup, I've got my priorities all set!

Left over bits organized with enough (I hope) to actually complete the sweater!

So here's the thing. I pack everybody away. I make the cut to the I-cord skein. I settle in to knit and congratulate myself and tell myself how wonderful I am to make the effort to ensure this aimless shift in colour from ball to ball. I'm knitting the only slightly "yucky green" into the orange, and I'm pulling out the yarn to continue knitting, and I'm looking at the colour shifts that have occured earlier in the sleeve, and I think, "Oh, look at what colour is next!", and I look at the skein as I'm completing the orange and beginning the transition into dark teal green and I see...

---Please take the time now to go back to the first picture that I posted to see if you can find the clue as to what happened next in our story---

Another clump of Orange.

And I sit and knit, yet am a bit bewildered. How did they do that?

I continue to knit.

"I bet you there's a knot!", I say, to no one in particular, and keep knitting.

Yup, a knot. Another stinking, making me cut the yarn, AGAIN, or work with a knot in the middle of my work, which is NOT acceptable, and have an absolutely funked out wrong colour progression, KNOT!! Had I looked more closely at the skein I maybe would have picked this up, but Geez! You know, it's like a relationship that you've been working on over and over. When is it time to accept that it's just not working? To admit defeat and move on to another courtship that doesn't involve sooooo much effort!

Not today, my friend!

I cut the yarn, I finished the sleeve, I packed it away and I took this beautiful picture of the fronts and back of my wonderful Haliburton Noro sweater!

It really is better just to go with the flow. I think I'll go buy a Box of Chocolates!

Today, for example...

2009-02-18T20:32:00.004-05:00

One of the reasons that I started a blog was because sometimes I write emails to my friends sharing with them the joys of my days; the ones that go over best tend to be in a list format.
Today, for example:

I was down at TGH ALL DAY today for a 10 am appt. I left the house at 8. I got home at 3. It wasn't totally a hospital system glitch, however...

1) I missed the bus.
2) The GPS sent me on this funky trip down Dufferin to get to Yorkdale.
3) Couldn't find parking where I usually park at Yorkdale.
4) Found parking outside the movie theatre and then WALKED all the way to the subway (in rain/snow).
5) REALLY had to pee since part way down Dufferin.
6) Decided to H#$% with it; went pee AND got a coffee before heading up for the appt.
7) He's running behind. SURPRISE!!!
8) I look through my magazines, I sketch out some knitting design ideas, I start, yet, another sweater.
9) I get called in and get to flash any number of people.
10) I am firm in my conviction 'not to settle' and that I was told BY MY SURGEON that I "can be as picky as I want" and elect to have a little bit more Day Surgery before we move on to the purely aesthestic part of the whole ordeal.
11) Start the paper work. Complete the paper work. Wait for yet another person to come in, because THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD TO DO!!
12) More waiting.
13) It's 1 p.m. now; I go out and find somebody to see if anybody else is really coming to see me. They're not.
14) At 1:15 I get to go pee again and eat lunch. I call M to let him know that I won't be running anymore errands today and that I'm just going home.
15) The dog has been locked up all this time (he didn't get home to let her pee) N.B. Peeing is the big theme today.
16) Subway back to Yorkdale was uneventful, except for these two annoying young women gossiping; very LOUDLY, the whole trip. (Did get a message that M went home to look after the dog. phew!)
17) Stupid ^%^%% GPS took me across the 401; then I misunderstand and ended up going up Yonge; then turning at Sheppard, and then it wanted me to go back to the 401 to go to the 404! I just stayed where I was.
18) Got home at 3.
19) Went to bed.
20) Got up after 5 and asked M to take the kids to dance and drums tonight.

Soooo, how's the new job?
See you Friday...Coffee?

And now? To bed with a cup of tea and a book.
Maybe there will be pictures tomorrow.

Another day---maybe

2009-02-17T20:15:00.002-05:00

The best intentions...
I sat down here and I was going to post some photos and stories...yes I was...
As far as I can tell...there's one picture out of five floating around out there.
So, it wasn't meant to be, not today.
I'm going to grab my knitting and catch up on the Y & R.
I'm a little stressed because it seems that I've missed recording 24 last night.
NOOOOOOOOOO.....Not Jack!
I guess I'll see what I can catch from the website. Stupid, non-mind reading PVR!
Good night all.

It's Not You, It's Me

2009-02-16T12:18:00.006-05:00

Dear Blog,

You are always on my mind. Wherever I go I think about you; what I want to show you and the stories I want to share with you. I take more pictures than I can possibly show you (for one thing, how can I post more than 5 photos per entry? Anybody?), I kick myself when I forget my camera and I also beat myself up when I've procrastinated posting a wonderfully, witty story only to later think that I've lost the opportunity and just skip it until the next one comes along.

Well, not today, my friend!!

I am playing a little catch up here, and hopefully will post more of the stories, (although maybe a little out of date), if not somewhat 'random'.

I think I'll start back and move forward.

I went to spend a few fun filled days with some loving friends last weekend. A girls' weekend. I just gotta say, (I know I've said it before) Girl Weekends are the BEST!!! These friends aren't especially knitters, but I'm working on it; we do, however, enjoy many varieties of wines together. D found an organic winery right there in her backyard and when I heard the name...Oh, we are so going there!

FROGPOND FARM

ORGANIC WINE

So I bought some souvenirs (and a T-shirt), and because I'm such a knitting geek (for lack of a better word) I told the poor young girl working there about knitting and frogging and frogponds!! I did it quietly so as not to embarrass my friends too much more than I already do. They really did wonder about my sanity when as we were leaving I just about jumped out of the moving vehicle (yes, REALLY) to get a picture of the perfect ending for a knitter who visits the Frogpond Farm:

ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL??!!

All I kept thinking, besides how much I love my friends for taking me to this wonderful place, is I wonder if the Yarn Harlot knows about it? It would be right up her ally, don't you think?

After we left the Frogpond we went over to Anna Olsen's new Cafe where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch, aaannnnddd got to talk with Anna a little bit! WoooHooo. Beside the restaurant there happened to be yet another winery, (It is Niagara you know) that just opened in November and as it turns out is also Organic. The proprietors of the Ravine were very knowledgeable and we learned quite a bit about the history of the area as well as the grapes and the wines while enjoying just a few samplings...hehe.
I have pictures from that weekend, but they'll have to wait for another day.

I've also been knitting.

I've got the back, one front done, am making progress on the other front and have a cuff started for the sleeves; which of course I'm altering, because that's what I do, take a pattern and "tweek" it. Hopefully, the changes to the sleeves won't have much of an impact. I was a little frustrated yesterday as the ball of Noro that I was working with had some 'hidden' colour change issues that I did not appreciate! I love Noro yarns and there colour schemes, I do however, find that there tend to be a fair number of knots, but it's something I choose to live with because of the joy that I find when there are no knots. Well, yesterday, I had to rip out the same diamond, three times! First time, I started a new ball and a short time into it found a knot and wasn't going to be happy with the colour placement if I restarted after the break; so ripped it out and started a new ball. The second ball worked up fine until there was a colour change that did not 'merge' as it had for the rest of the sweater. I was working on this lovely green and then there was a quick twist and into the 'ugly' (I read about that here) part of the ball; it didn't fit, it wasn't a smooth transition and after I worked it another inch or so (we all do it) decided that that too, was going to bug me, so out it came. Once again, I pick up the stitches to work that diamond and, you guessed it, an inch or two in, boom, a knot! Honestly, that ball of yarn had more bits cut out that I can hopefully use later in the sweater, than I used to actually knit. Geez! I did manage to get a complete diamond finished and am hopeful that the next one goes a little more smoothly.

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. My family and I enjoyed time with friends and I explored some new shopping (new to me) territory and ventured up to Barrie to explore the shops on Dunlop. I will go again! There was a nice variety of stores and the people were lovely to visit. My girlfriend and I hadn't seen each other in quite along time and it was a nice afternoon with a wonderful lunch too! The knitting/wool gods were smiling down on me again and hiding on the bottom shelf in one of the stores that we went into was this:

Yarn at half price! I'm hoping you can catch the sparkle in the mohair. It really is a bright and cheerful yellow and that's why that's the package that got to come home with me.

I'm hoping to organize my studio/room today.....

hahahahaha

One load of laundry done (to keep me honest). Check

Blog entry written. Check

Got out for a walk. Check

Mending? One thing (so far) Check

Dishes. Check

Shower? I will ---too much information?

O.K. I'm hoping tooooo.....enjoy the day, whatever it may bring. I hope you do too

Let me make this perfectly clear.

2009-02-03T17:33:00.003-05:00

I received an email today from a dear friend. She was forwarding something that had been sent to her and was concerned and looked for input from her friends.

Go here: POPCORN

Luckily, I had already received the above mentioned email and had this to share with her:

My dear J.
Did you send this to many of your nearest and dearest?
Please be advised, and feel free to advise as many others as you want.
It doesn't work.
Now, you've met my knitter friends, right?
Picture a Thursday evening in a room over a skating rink with 12-15 women of varying ages and beauty. We coordinated our efforts and made sure that we had enough cell phones and I brought the popcorn! (Orville Redenbacker of course) We set up the phones, we arranged the popcorn, we called all the phones several times and in several different arrangements (signaling some curious on-lookers to stick their heads in OUR room to see just what was going on? Because, and this should come as no surprise; not only were there numerous ring tones going on and on and on; there was of course, much jocularity!) and it did not work. Our findings were further confirmed by those knitters who had tried it earlier at work (we're a hard working bunch).
So, in conclusion, and as one of our more scientific knitters pointed out, "Honestly, don't you think we'd all be dead by now?"
I love Thursdays.
L
p.s. I'm quite pleased with this editorial and I think I'll just move it on over to my blog...no worries, I will change the names to protect the innocent.

February 2009

2009-02-02T13:19:00.003-05:00

February is a full and busy month here at Creativehands Central; you know, not like all the other months. Cough.

We have a birthday or two, an anniversary, Valentine's Day...and that's the time that we knit for love. (again, not like the rest of the time)

Here is the latest new cast on. It will be the Bolero worn at the wedding in May. I knit it for the love of a grandmother who won't be there, in body anyway, and for the love of friends still with us.

How do I know it's love, you ask me?

Can you say, "100% Polyester"?

~~~~shiver~~~~~

More love knitting includes knitting for Charity. A group of us who are mourning the loss of several friends; yet celebrating their time with us have gotten together to complete a project in memorial of one of these friends, especially.

This is a the start of a square from here. I've done this Grapevine Pattern a few times now and it still enchants me; I see using the same stitch in another project in the future.
It's really amazing how much more quickly your knitting works up on 5 and 5.5 mm needles as opposed to the 2.5-2.75 mm that I've been primarily working on for the past 6 months!
So that's my love knitting, but today is not Valentines Day (only 12 more days for anybody looking to surprise their loved one with Dark Chocolate---for the health benefits only)!
Today is Groundhog Day.
Here's my shadow.

Here's Chloe's shadow.

So I'm assuming that the Groundhog saw his too. Now, based on previous experience, six more weeks of winter is what we're gonna get, regardless of what Wiarton Willy saw. In fact, if we only get six more weeks that would be a bonus! (I personally won't put any of the winter stuff away until after our April snowfall; there's ALWAYS an April snowfall.)
This however, was not what spoke to me today. Today, when I read my inspirational message from "Never Not Knitting" I was reminded of a sweater that I began two summers ago. A warm, woolen sweater, a sweater for me that I have yet to complete and wear! (Actually I have more than one on stand by, but this one waves at me more often than the others.)

Six weeks of winter?!

With Knitters as my witness, I will complete this sweater in six weeks!

I can do that. I completed an Aran sweater for the Knitting Olympics!

Working a few more diamonds and a couple of sleeves with yarn that I just adore will be a piece of cake!

I WILL KNIT FOR ME!! I WILL CREATE AN F.O. (think what you will!)

I DESERVE TO BE WARM AND PROTECTED FROM ALL THAT IS THE BLACK CLOTHING OF WINTER!

And in six weeks, I will wear my sweater, and I will be the envy of all that gather to share in the Mindful Knitting Retreat!

"Envy" probably doesn't go well with the whole "Loving Kindness" thing does it?

I have so much to learn.

O.K. Then...

2009-01-30T09:33:00.003-05:00

Don't you just hate it when that happens?
You go out for a bit or get up for a drink of water and BOOM, somebody's taken your bed!!
If you look closely you can also see the numerous body parts of snowmen and a gingerbread man strewn about...Oh the inhumanity!!
I tell you, never a dull moment around here.

On the knitting front...

The "must complete knitting" complete. Check.

Three pairs designed, knit, cast off, and blocked. Check.

Socks in the mail! Check.

Email sent pleading the judges not to start the proceedings before they get my socks. Check.

Overkill? Check.

Just wait until they read the entry form! They did ask why I thought my socks should win, and I wanted to make sure that they truly understood all the nuances that were included in my creations. Unfortunately, they didn't really leave me enough room to share all that my socks mean, and, well, they'll have to turn the page over; or refer to page 2.

After the contest I'll post pictures and the full story and not the condensed version that the judges got. :o)

Sooo, got some new stuff:

A lovely BIG, pink laptop; the screen is big enough for me to see everything and best of all---I mean BEST of all, there's a number keyboard (I don't know what you call it; it looks like an adding machine) built into the side of the keyboard. Yea!

Oh, I figured out the picture loading thing----no problem!

Got the co-ordinating messenger bag and best of all...the pink mouse. It's so cute and streamlined!

Funky little sheep----well, just because---he's got this wonky little smile and is sitting beside me right now waiting to see what I'll knit next and if I will use the new Addi's.

You know what? The next project that I'll be casting on (no time for WIP's---oy!) is for a friends daughter who's getting married, and won't really work well on an Addi needle---the yarn is too slippery; so, Harmony it is. Finally, a project that I can show you (pretty sure the groom won't be checking my blog and see part of the bridal outfit before the big day) as it progresses...and it will progress, because there is a deadline!

I'm quite honoured to have been asked to make this jacket. Her grandmother and I were very dear friends, but we lost Carole a few years ago to ALS. A horrible disease. Horrible. I miss her everyday. This jacket brings us together again in knitting. I'll be knitting all of a grandmother's love into this project and know that Carole will be smiling down on a beautiful bride in May.

Now, because I'm posting on Friday....

Beautiful Friday. (and knitting)

HAPP---PY NEW YEAR!!!

2009-01-22T09:58:00.004-05:00

You know, just in case you forgot that it was still a brand new year for us all.
I'll have to keep this short, because:
1) Son home sick from school.
2) Getting quite a bit behind on Must Complete knitting.
3) Want to stay on task of today being a DAY OF KNITTING!!!
4) Can't show you pictures of anything, because....I'm working on my new laptop and haven't figured everything out yet or transferred the stuff that I do know from the old one. (working on it dad!)
5) I have to seriously sort out the things I need to do, the things I should do, the things I want to do, and the things other people want me to do. Yesterday was a busy day and I'm feeling it today.
6) Last, but not least, I think the real reason that I have to keep this short is...
I need more coffee!!! Food would be good too.
Have a great day everybody; sorry I haven't posted sooner...I have excuses, but it doesn't change the fact that I didn't post and for that, yes, I'm sorry...because, I like to post.
I like to read other blogs and if they haven't posted in a while, well, I'm disappointed.
While I don't have an especially large following...well, I'm a first born and feel overly responsible and worry that I'm letting people down if I don't do all that I need, should, want or feel that others expect.
And yes, coffee, knitting, wine, it's all therapy. Sigh.
Will try to post soon.
Really that's all I can do and all that anybody should expect. (I'm saying that for my benefit, more than anybody's) Sigh, again.
So there you go, a little dismal on a dreary day, and a bit long winded for keeping it short...but you know what?
My new laptop is fuuunnnnn!
And it's PINK!!

Looking Back/Looking Forward

2008-12-31T10:52:00.005-05:00

Thank-you for your kind words and thoughtful wishes. It's always hard to loose a pet.

I did also mention that I was Celebrating my own kind of anniversary and I thought I would share with you just what that looked like. This year.

First, you check into a hotel/resort ALL BY YOURSELF and walk briskly to the Spa for your Pedicure that you're actually just on time for (which really means, you're late).
Then you go to your room, and enjoy the surprise fact that they've given you the King bed that you wanted, but had been told that you would get two Queens. Of course this is the cue for the photo op. I have a wreath sticker on both big toes and the polish colour is called..."Don't Toy With Me". At least 50% of my decision as to what colour of polish to wear is based on the name.

After that, one must unpack and set up for the two night stay of knitting time that will only be interrupted by Spa time.

It was pointed out to me that I (again) brought more projects that I could ever complete in two days. (My son had to carry the luggage to the car for me!) I brought the "Must complete" project, along with the "should get that done for her" project, followed by the "should make that for him" yarn, and let's not forget the "who this getaway is actually for" projects that include two WIP for 'moi', one with a good two year seniority on the other, finer, recently cast on sweater. Some magazines and books were also included should I find myself needing something else to do.

hahahahaha!!

I did, however, in my rush to get out the door, forget to bring wine.

I KNOW!!! I hate it when that happens.

Thank goodness for room service. Note: I did not forget the chocolate---thanks mom and dad!
Here's something I learned during my little adventure:
If you stay up until 1 o'clock in the morning the night before your planned getaway catching up on the shows you've PVRd over the past few days and procrastinate packing until the day you are going to leave and then rush around trying to get just a couple of more things done before you go, rush out the door, having only eaten...I think it was a granola bar...drive for an hour in fog and rain, go directly to your pedicure, check into your room and at 3-3:30 realize that you haven't eaten anything substantial all day, but don't want to spoil your dinner (yea, I'm a mom) and you order a lovely cheese platter with a glass of Chianti and sit back to enjoy said platter while knitting a pretty simple little lace pattern on the cuff of your recently cast on sweater (see list above). It doesn't matter how much water or tea you drink...
you're gonna need a nap.
And when you wake up from the much needed nap, you will then have to rip out that lovely little lace pattern and do it over before more wine comes with dinner.
Just, you know, if you find yourself in a similar situation; then you'll know what to expect.

I didn't complete the "MUST COMPLETE" project, but was able to complete it when I got home so that I could send it off to the "Think Outside the Sox" contest being held by XRX Inc. and Knitters Magazine. I've been planning my entries since the spring and wanted to work within my stash to enter some designs. I only had to purchase one skein for one category (and well, another 'replacement' ball when I fudged the first design), but over all was pleased with how things were going. I was set to send two pair along (having initially thought I would get five out there), so I went on line to down load more entry forms, confirm that the entries would be accepted with a 'postmarked by December 31, 2008' status and was surprised to see that they've extended the deadline until January 31st, 2009! You know what that means, don't you?

December 30th I swatch and December 31st I cast on.

BRING ON 2009!!

2008

2008-12-29T16:53:00.003-05:00

It has been a very eventful year.
There have been many Celebrations and sometimes those Celebrations haven't necessarily been especially joyful.
Too many times this past year I've had to Celebrate someone's life as they are no longer here to share future Celebrations. At least not in body.
I've lost two friends to cancer this year and yesterday I Celebrated my second cancer-free anniversary. I took some quiet time away to reflect and to re-energize.
I've made plans for the future, but have come to acknowledge, that all we can really count on is what is happening right now! We cannot change what will happen, but we can hope and look forward to a future that is bright and full of friendship and laughter and love.
We can also remember, knowing that it was indeed a past that is done.
Fifteen years ago, I was living in Collingwood, ON. I was soon to purchase my first home. A semi that had been immaculately renovated and decorated by a hard working European couple. I moved in with my cat and my dog.
A short time later a nurse that I was working with, heard about a stray kitten that had been found and needed a home. I went to see him.
He was about four months old and a bundle of energy.
I took him home; how could I not?
Next, he needed a name.
At that point in time I was in my Kenny G phase of music appreciation and one evening while driving around town it came to me...
Kenny C---the cat from Collingwood!
My dog loved him! I remember watching them play and Bailey coming over to me to, well, thank me for getting her that kitten!
My husband and I had been dating for a few months when I adopted Kenny and they became quick buddies.

Kenny enjoyed being outside and sitting on the hot tub was a great way to keep warm!

Visitors were often greeted with this pose and Kenny was always ready for a belly rub.

The past few months though, our fourteen year old Kenny had been fading.

Today, I came home to find a sad, sick, old cat. He wasn't having a good time here anymore.

The kids and I said our good-byes and while we Celebrate the wonderful cat that he was...we're sad and we'll miss him.

Good bye Kenny.