Monday, April 11, 2011

Mondays! What's not to love?!

***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.

Friday, April 8, 2011

And Two...

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.]

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Just One

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. Rolling Eyes


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!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Where To Begin?!?

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!

Monday, February 28, 2011

I haven't forgotten...

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.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Among Friends

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.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Let's Get Together...

....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