Knitting Resolutions

My goal for today is to finish my sock by midnight. I think I have a pretty good chance - I've turned the heel and am working on the decreases for the foot. And, I'm proud to say, it looks like a sock!

I've been looking over my Finished Objects list for 2007, and I'm really proud of the knitting I've accomplished, but I can't wait to see what what the list for 2008 will bring. I know that it will probably included a pair of socks, a Noni Adventure Bag, and some baby kimonos for friends who are expecting their first bundle of joy. But, what else? DH would like a pair of socks (once I've got the technique down!), children will need hats and mittens, dishcloths are always needed by someone. Plus, I still have my cozy cable mittens to knit and some beautiful lace weight with which to work.

As always, I'm excited about all the other possibilities of the new year. Will my business expand? Will this be the year I find my true career calling? What new skills will the children learn? What will I learn through them? As a teacher, the new year for me always feels like September, but this year, I'm eagerly anticipating wonderful things for myself and my family.

I have some knitting resolutions for 2008:

1. I will not be afraid of trying new patterns or techniques.
2. I will not be afraid to try the yarn called for in a pattern, just because it's $2 more than a yarn I already know.
3. I will not worry if a project takes a long time (although I reserve the right to pause to do a short project - I like to produce finished products.)
4. I will start Christmas knitting in January.
5. I will knit what I want to knit, even if it's not all that practical.
6. I will make better use of Ravelry, including figuring out how to post pictures of my projects.

What are your knitting resolutions?

My real resolutions?

1. I will read my Bible every day
2. I will continue to watch what I eat, and try to walk more every day
3. I will make more efforts to relax, have fun, and enjoy the company of my family and friends.

What are your resolutions?

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry, this message is a few days late.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I pray that everyone has a peaceful and happy holiday season. I am constantly amazed that God loves us so much that He sent us His son.

Our family had a wonderful holiday! My brother-in-law cooked an AMAZING meal for Christmas eve - 7 fishes, including lobster ravioli, stuffed clams, shrimp and scallops! YUM! The little children loved opening gifts on Christmas morning, and I am excited to say, that even though he didn't open up gifts at our house until almost 8 p.m., Big boy LOVED his hat and scarf!

The day after Christmas we headed to Buffalo to be with my family. More wonderful family time, and we will be here until Jan. 1.

DH gave me "101 Designer One Skein Wonders" and I've already started the cross-stitch scarf. I'm also working on my first pair of socks. I got to go to Knit in the Round with my mom yesterday. I can't tell you how much I wish I had a yarn shop with a proprietor like Linda near me. Oh, plus, there was a HUGE sale! I bought some Manos del Uruguay for my scarf and some yarn for projects yet to be determined. It's not too early to start knitting for next Christmas, is it?

Happy knitting everyone!

Last Minute Gifts

So, I remembered that I promised to knit DH's niece a "smitten". Thankfully, my knitting has improved since last June. It only took me a couple of hours to do the thing, although I still have to knit the I-cord.

Also, working on dishcloths for any last minute needs.

Also, need to cast-on for socks for me. I get to go to knitting in the round at Have Ewe Any Wool with my mom the Thursday after Christmas. Stop on by if you're in the Amherst area!

Cozy Cable Mittens - The Beginning

I have wound the skein of malabrigo into a ball, and I've printed out the pattern.

Now, if only I had the energy to cast-on. Is it just me, or have all the holiday activities just made it impossible to maintain any level of energy after 8 p.m.? Today, I made peppermint ice cream, after spending several hours wrapping gifts for my mother-in-law (including my own, I might add!) :) Sadly, the peppermint ice cream lacked something. I think I'm going back to Alton Brown's ice cream recipe. I've had good luck with it in the past.

Happy Knitting (and eating, and wrapping, and enjoying the holidays!).

A Little Less Spa, A Little More Bath

Okay, I finished the basic bath mitt. Here it is:


There's supposed to be lace all around the bottom, and I TRIED. I've ripped, and I've re-knit, and I've frogged, and tinked, and well, I've given up. It's sad to admit that, but there are a limited number of days 'til Christmas. So, I have to decide if I should knit a second cloth or just send the bath mitt as is. What do you think? Accompanying this gift will be Crabtree & Evelyn soaps in Rosewater.

In happier news, I made a peppermint chocolate torte last night for Bible Study.


It was REALLY good.

Happy knitting everyone!

Peppermint Sticks & Spa Time

My day was made yesterday when I found this at Restoration Hardware.



King Leo's Peppermint Sticks are the BEST! I crushed one up over my vanilla ice cream tonight, and I plan on making homemade peppermint ice cream this weekend. And, for Bible Study on Tuesday night, I'm going to make a peppermint chocolate torte - it was on the cover of Bon Appetit or Gourmet last December - I don't remember which. I made it for Christmas Eve, and it was a huge hit.

I've decided not to try and make a shawl for DH's aunt. There's just no way to get it done in time. So, I'm focusing on the spa set. It's from the One Skein Wonders book. The washcloth is mostly done. There's supposed to be a lace trim attached - we'll see how time works out. I'm also debating about doing the soap holder. I think a washcloth and bath mitt should be enough. The yarn is "Saucy", and I LOVE IT! It looks so luxurious.


The picture of just the cloth shows the color better.


Happy Knitting.

More Prizes!

Look what I received in the mail yesterday!



This is my prize from Kristen's blogiversary. And I have to say, what a GREAT prize!


There's some Patons Wool (I really love Patons Wool!), Moose Munch (YUMMY!), some notecards, and some beautiful wooden needles. There's also a beautiful beaded angel ornament (now hanging on my tree, right in front), and the makings for pipe cleaner candy cane ornaments. We used to make them in Sunday School, and I always had so much fun! The kids were VERY excited to see the candy canes - they're hanging on the tree at the moment, but I'll be surprised if they last there very long. Also, an adorable nativity figurine (on top of the TV), and finally, there was such a great book - "Prayers and Promises for Mothers". Boy, do I need to rely on God's promises CONSTANTLY, especially with my kids.

Thank you so much Kristen. This is such a wonderful package!

Small Child's Hat - DONE!

Hooray! I finished the hat. I still have to buy the Bamboo for the spa set, but hope to do it tomorrow. I've waited, because Fabric Place is having a sale this week. Might start the shawl, but I have to finish Christmas cards first.

There's just so much to do!

Happy Knitting!

Mittens and Prizes

First off, thank you to those of you who commented on my search for cabled mittens. A couple of people mentioned Fetching, but I was looking for regular mittens, not fingerless ones. BUT, please know, I appreciate the suggestions! After looking for a while, I remembered that I am a member of Ravelry, and left a message there. MaryCatherine hooked me up with this pattern. The mittens are so much cuter than what I had going on in my imagination. Now, one child's hat, one spa set, and potentially one shawl to go before I can knit for ME!

I picked up my prize basket from the Jingle Bell Festival (I have to say. all this winning has made me feel lucky, so I bought a lottery ticket.) (I didn't win.) The basket was HUGE!


Inside, there was assorted soaps, lotions, and perfume - some from Crabtree and Evelyn!


There was also pottery and jewelry from a local artisan


And two of the most adorable little lamps you've ever seen!


It was really very exciting!

I'm hoping to finish the child's hat today! I'm off to work on it now; wish me luck!

Happy Knitting!

Oh, How the Day Got Better!

After my whining yesterday, my day improved quite a bit!

I had to meet a client in the afternoon, and the meeting went smoothly. I also VERY MUCH enjoyed the quiet 30 minute car ride there and back. (Can I tell you what it's like to listen to the radio without hearing, "No Mommy, my song! The Sunshine Song!" I like the Sunshine song, but there's only so many times I can listen to it!)

I came home from work, had dinner, and then left again to meet up with my friend Kim. Our city was having it's annual "Jingle Bell Festival" - a nice excuse to block off the streets, have the shops open late, and eat free cookies and ice cream. And get this - I won a raffle! I bought a ticket to support our local family network and won a basket. I don't know what's in it because I never looked, but I'm excited just the same. I should be getting it sometime this weekend. I do feel a little badly that the whole family didn't get to go. But with DH sick and little girl looking rather peaked, it just seemed better to leave them at home. Maybe next year...

Can I tell you how nice it was to have some adult conversation without kids interrupting? SO NICE!

Today, the little ones seem in good spirits. Hopefully, it will last. We're taking my MIL to do some Christmas shopping.

Oh yeah, and the knitting. Here's a picture of the small child hat I'm working on. I'd like to have it done by Monday, but I don't think it's going to happen.


After this, I have a spa set to do, and then hopefully a shawl. But, Christmas decorating and baking also have to get done!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

One of those Days

WARNING: THIS POST IS ONE BIG WHINE

I'm having one of those days, and it's only 10:00 a.m.

DH is home sick, and the little ones are exceptionally whiny. I took them out to do errands, and we came home after one store. ONE STORE! We went to A.C. Moore where little girls ignored everything I said, little boy refused to sit and he broke two terra cotta pots. I just wasn't having it - we came home. I feel like I have so much to get done, and I don't know how it's going to happen!

I should be knitting or something, but I feel like the minute I sit down, the kids are into something.

I'm sorry, I know I'm whining. I'm hoping some of you are mothers and can relate.

I should point out that Big Boy had a great morning, and was actually cuddly after breakfast. Big Boy is RARELY in the mood to be cuddled.

Belated Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I was hoping to post on Wednesday, but it turned into kind of a screwy day, and we traveled to Buffalo for the holiday. But, I wanted to wax on a little bit about the things I'm thankful for.

I'm so thankful the I have Jesus in my life, and that He has given me the gift of salvation. (Curious about this? Ask me more!) I'm so thankful that He has his hand on my life and that I know that ultimately, God is in control.

I'm also thankful for my family. My husband is so the perfect man for me, and my kids are full of fun and blessing every day! Also, my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my husband's family are wonderful people, and it's great to have them in our lives.

I'm thankful that I got to play football in the rain on Thursday morning with my hubby, Dad, and church family.

I'm thankful that I get to work just enough during the week, at a job I genuinely like. And, I'm thankful for the lessons that I learn through working with people.

I'm thankful that I live in a city that offers so much to families, and for all the mom friends I've met!

We have a great Bible study with wonderful people, and I love the community that we have.

Of course, I'm thankful that I can knit, and for the Internet that lets us all share our knitting and our lives with each other.

And, at this moment, I'm thankful that I've won a prize at A day in the life's blog!

Oh, and I'm thankful for early bird shopping on Friday. I went with my girlfriend, and we had TWO HOURS to stand in line and visit. I know, it sounds crazy. But, to carry on a conversation without children interrupting AND getting great bargains - you just can't beat it!

With all the time in the car this weekend, you would think I would have a ton of knitting done! I finished a dishcloth and one small child's hat. One more hat to go, and then I'll evaluate time and decide who else is getting knitterly goodness for Christmas.

I'm looking for a free pattern for cable mittens to make with the malabrigo Anne sent me. Any ideas?

Time for Blogging

The problem with this time of year is that blogging takes away from valuable gift knitting time. So, I apologize if I don't seem to pop around that often. I finished up my knitted something for the Christmas Swap (a nice break from hats for small children.). It's not a big something, but my downstream partner doesn't seem to be on-line all that much, so I haven't really gotten to know anything about her. This is a huge contrast to my upstream partner - we exchange emails a couple times a week, and it's been so much fun getting to know her! I'm in the middle of a small child hat. It's for a VERY small child, and baby yarn makes everything last forever. I also have some other crafty things going on, and sadly, I can't post them or it would give away the surprise.

I'm super relieved that there's an extra week this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas (Advent starts NEXT Sunday, not the one coming up), and I'm trying to be reasonable about what I'll be able to accomplish.

Now, the little ones are napping, and I'm off to knit on a baby hat!

Happy knitting!

Another Hat Completed!

I finished another hat for a small child. This one for a REALLY small child - he'll be 5 months old at Christmas. His big brother is getting a hat in the same colorway, but with a ribbed bottom and a pompom.



Two more hats to do, but this morning I cast on for my Christmas Swap project. I think I needed a hat break.

In non-knitting news - Little boy has been having temper tantrums because I won't let him play with the vacuum. He drags a chair from the kitchen to the hallway, unlocks the closet door, and takes out the vacuum. Then, mean mommy comes and undoes all his hard work. Life is rough!

Happy knitting!

Random Stuff Meme

I found this on Lynne's blog and thought it seemed like a good post since I have no knitting to report.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Big boy and DH

2. What were you doing at 0800? I was moving laundry

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Making eggs for breakfast

4. What happened to you in 2006? I gave birth to little boy, moved to our current apartment, and worked as a behavioral consultant in a school (not in that order)

5. What was the last thing you said out loud? "You can't sit on me and move around while I'm trying to type. You have to sit still or get off of me."

6. How many beverages did you have today? Diet Coke, Diet Coke

7. What color is your hairbrush? Black and silver

8. What was the last thing you paid for? Groceries

9. Where were you last night? What did you do? Announced to the cranky family that we were "dressing for dinner". Put on slacks and a blouse, put little girl in a ridiculous dress. Cooked with Big boy and little girl, and spent the night talking in a British accent and calling the family Bartholomew, Jerome, Minnie, and Giles.

10. What color is your front door? It's stained, something of a honey color

11. Where do you keep your change? On my dresser in a dish, in the change part of my wallet, and in a tupperware waiting to go through the coinstar machine.

12. What’s the weather like today? It's kind of gray and cold

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Chocolate with more chocolate. (Although, I once had toasted marshmallow chocolate with a scoop of chocolate next to it, and that was pretty stinkin' good!)

14. What excites you? Random fun, DH, holidays

15. Do you want to cut your hair? SO BADLY!

16. Are you over the age of 25? I am.

17. Do you talk a lot? Yes. DH doesn't talk much, so we think we're a perfect match!

18. Do you watch the O.C.? I watched the first two seasons, but then it got too far-fetched for me. Although, I just realized - is the Grandfather from the O.C. the magazine mogul in "Ugly Betty"?

19. Do you know anyone named Steven? I had a student named Steven a few years ago.

21. Are you a jealous person? Not usually, but it does happen.
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Andrea

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kathy

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? DH's ex-wife

25. What does the last text message you received say? It was something from my brother, but it came about a year and a half ago.

26. Do you chew on your straw? No.

27. Do you have curly hair? Pretty straight with just enough wave to be annoying

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? To Buffalo for Thanksgiving

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? It would be rude of me to say. (Thanks Lynne for supplying the answer to that one!)

30. What was the last thing you ate? Scrambled eggs and sausage

31. Will you get married in the future? No, I'm happily married already

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? I just watched "The Holiday" last night.

33. Is there anyone you like right now? There's a lot of people I like!

34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Yesterday. I think I do them once an hour.

35. Are you currently depressed? No

36. Did you cry today? No, but it's early yet

37. Why did you answer and post this? Because I have nothing else to put up on the blog today

38. I am not typically a memer, so I would say, if you enjoy sharing the little details of your life, we'd love to read about it! Post a comment here and let us know to look for you!

Not Much Going On

There's just not that much going on around here these days. The little ones had colds at the beginning of last week, just bad enough to keep us home from our activities. Knitting-wise, I've finally finished another hat for a small person for Christmas. Three more to go, and two are for infants! I used the same yarn as I used for little boy's hat (Red, White, and Blue) so I didn't bother to take a picture of it. It looks the same, although the pompom is bigger.

We did have a great day on Thursday. Little boy had his check-up, and healthy he is! And, I have to say, he took his 4 shots really well! Little girl also got a flu shot, and I think she was more mad at not knowing the needle was coming than she was hurting. Later that day we went out to lunch with my in-laws and my husband's aunt (who has the same name as little girl). We went to the Cafe Escadrille, which is on the fancier side. I have to say, little girl charmed the pants off everyone! She was in a pretty dress with a matching purse, and was very pleased to show everyone her two stickers (from the doctor) and small toy. She ate none of her meal, but very daintily poured milk from her little pitcher into her coffee cup and sipped like a little lady (Mommy knows the tricks to keeping her content at restaurants!) Little girl also chatted very nicely with Aunty, who truly got a big kick out of her. Oh, and when she asked the waitress for more milk she said "please" and "thank you". Mommy is VERY proud! Little boy was very happy smiling at every female who passed by, and he wasn't even a giant ketchup stain at the end of the meal.

After lunch, we headed up the street to the mall. I was hoping they would fall asleep in the stroller, and I could get some Christmas shopping done. Believe it or not, Santa is already at the mall! There was no line, and the mall itself wasn't crowded, so we went to talk to him. Last year, little boy was too little and little girl was terrified of Santa. I figured we might need to start early. However, Santa was TERRIFIC! He won the kids over with candy canes, and little girls even managed to tell Santa she wanted a scooter - a blue one. After that, we hit one store, and than DH called to say he was locked out of the house. That was the end of shopping for me! It's alright - I'm about halfway through the Christmas shopping, and I have ideas for most people who are left on the list.

Hopefully, this week will be more exciting! My goal is to start and finish the two infants' hats.

Happy knitting everyone!

The Book Thief

The October book for Knit the Classics was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The book takes place in Germany during WWII and is narrated by death. The book thief is Liesel, and she carries her books with her to her neighbor's cellar during air raids. I made her a bag to carry the books in. The gray yarn is Patons Merino Wool, and the red was from my Mom - don't know what kind, sorry. I free-formed the pattern based on bags I've made in the past. The red stripes are placed using the Fibonnacci Sequence, just because it was a way to decide where to put them.


I now have two shorter fingerless gloves, and hope to finish the longer one today. I'm getting a little bit nervous about the Christmas knitting! So much to do and only 49 days to go!

Happy Knitting!

Pictures for Yesterday's Post

Okay, here are the pictures I was too lazy to take yesterday.

Fingerless gloves, of two different sizes. (They're not blocked yet, but they look really nice when they're on my hands.)


Sock yarn bought at Have Ewe Any Wool?'s Anniversary Celebration. I wanted to do some self-striping yarn, but the Celestial is SO soft, I just want to cuddle with it. Of course, I won't be knitting socks until I finish two more fingerless gloves of different sizes, and 4 more hats for small children. You would think the hats would go fast, but the pattern that I like calls for several inches of K1P1 ribbing, which just isn't a fast process for me.


The Norwegian Hat. I'm using Dolly yarn. My mom is having a bit of trouble with the yarn stretching for her mittens, so I'm a little nervous about the hat. BTW - My mom is SO awesome! She bought me the yarn, and lent me her #3 and #4 circular needles!!



And, just because it's so darn cute, here's another look at the Gelato bag Anne made me.



Thank goodness the sun is out today! My little ones need to run around. I think I already mentioned, DH is camping tonight. SO, I'm hoping the kids will go to bed easily, and I can vegetate in front of some ridiculously girly movie with a chicken finger sub. We'll see how it goes!

Happy Knitting!

Knitterly News

I have actually done some knitting.

I finished my project for The Book Thief for Knit the Classics. I'll be posting about that later today or tomorrow.

I started a hat for a small child at the Sabres game Thursday night. (Sabres lost in overtime. Very sad, but GREAT game!) I also have the Wave Fingerless Gloves from One Skein Wonders on the needles, and a Norwegian hat.

Oh, the hat! Okay, so when I was in Buffalo I took a Norwegian mitten class at Have Ewe Any Wool. After getting the technique down for the colorwork, I realized that my stitches were pulled way too tight. So, I was going to rip out the thing and start over. Then, I realized that the way the pattern is written, I would have had to figure out how to move the thumb over to the other side by myself. I decided it was a little much, and thus, I'm going to make a hat instead. Sadly, I haven't had a chance to work on it since getting home. Colorwork requires concentration, and it's hard to do that when the kids are around. This week has been so crazy with Halloween, I just haven't had the energy after the kids go to bed. But, I am thinking about working on it soon.

Three hours later:

Okay, I finished the fingerless gloves. Sadly, one of them is 8 rows shorter than the other. I must have miscounted the repeats. The good news is, I have enough yarn to make two more. One of them, of course, 8 rows shorter than than the other.

Sorry for the lack of pictures - I'm feeling lazy. I'll try to add pictures tomorrow.

DH is going camping tomorrow night with kids from school. I'm kind of looking forward to an evening by myself, but we'll see how the kids are. They've been really hyper this week (gee, I wonder why? Halloween parties and candy and weird nap times, and all.) Hopefully, the weather will allow us to get outside tomorrow.

Happy knitting!

Other Life Updates

I know that I promised to update everyone on our trip to Buffalo. But, three Halloween parties in three days has kept us pretty busy!

We had a great time! I got to eat all my favorite WNY foods - I had a great fish fry, tacos from Mighty Taco, and a Wegman's Roast Beef Sub (which is really a D'Bella's sub). If you don't know what Wegmans is - it's the best grocery store in the world! In fact, they just won a Food Network Award. I mis Wegmans.

We had really great weather for most of our trip, and the kids walked just about every day. My parents live in a suburb with sidewalks with a good 10 feet between the sidewalk and the street, and their area isn't very busy, so it's easy to let the kids walk a lot. Little Girl and I went hiking one day with my Dad on Grand Island, and little boy got his first hair cut.

The last weekend we were there, my two aunts and my cousin came to visit. We all had fun, and one aunt, my cousin, and I visited Have Ewe Any Wool to celebrate Linda's 3rd anniversary as a shopowner. I bought some yarn for socks, and I'm trying to get through my Christmas knitting so I can get to the socks!

The trip home was uneventful, especially since the kids slept through Massachusetts.

TONIGHT - the Bruins play the Sabres, and I'm going to the game! (Is it wrong to wear a Bruins jersey but cheer for Buffalo?)

OH! I got my Ravelry invite today. My username is "Dorothy" (well, it wasn't taken yet), and hopefully I'll have something up there soon!

Happy knitting!

October Hat/Scarf Swap

I took part in Crochetoholic Debb's October Hat/Scarf Swap. Look what Debb sent me!

The picture doesn't show everything as nicely as I had hoped! (Kids grabbing at things -had to to take it quickly!) Debb sent some BEAUTIFUL pink alpaca blend yarn. It feels so warm and cozy, and it's going to look beautiful in the pattern that she sent. There's also a GORGEOUS mug, which I realize is hidden in this picture. There's an adorable Halloween cross-stitch, and a pumpkin bath sponge, as well as 2 bath "squishys". There were also buttons and decorative beads, and these beautiful stitch markers:


Thank you, Debb, for such a wonderful package, and for hosting this swap!

FFBE AMAZING Package

The kids and I got home at dinner time last night, after a really wonderful visit with my parents (more about that tomorrow). I already knew my FFBE package had arrived, and I waited until after dinner to open it, which was hard, but I thought I should give my husband a little bit of attention before attending to yarn-related activities.

Anne is a GREAT swap partner! Check out all this stuff:


And then, there's the actual bag:




It's a purple gelato bag, and it's even lined! I can't tell you how much I love the gelato bag. It's not a mommy bag, it's a cute, girly, all I need is my wallet, lipstick, and keys bag. I LOVE IT!

Anne really paid attention to what I like - the frog stitch markers are adorable, and fit right in with my other frog-type things. (They're hanging out with the baseball frog right now to celebrate the Red Sox's win!)



(Hmmm. The photo is kind of blurry - I'll try to get a better one later.)

She sent THREE types of yarn - some Sugar 'n Creme for dishcloths, in pretty purple/fall type colors, blue malabrigo for mittens - I can't wait! I'm so excited to knit myself some mittens, and some lace-weight yarn (Have you seen the new One Skein Designer Wonders book? There's a lace dresser scarf I would love to try!)


And then, there were all the other goodies - candy and candy rings (Big Boy says thanks too!), a cat candle holder, a wonderful fall scented candle, a calendar mousepad (very cool), Halloween temporary tattoos (all three kids say thanks), potpourri (which makes all the yarn smell really good!), a Halloween themed grocery list pad, a knitting pad, and a Caribou who's been out raking. The caribou was especially appropriate, because little girl spent the last hour of the car ride home twirling her hair in her hands and telling me "I'm a moose."

Anne, thank you so much! This package was such a joy to open and look through, and I'm so excited to use the bag, and start knitting mittens! I'm just learning to read a chart for color, so I'm hoping to be able to figure out lace charts soon!

And now, for the final FFBE Question:

How was your experience in the exchange? Did you enjoy the folks you met? Did you just love the bag you received? Please share any thoughts, criticism, and things you loved!

I had a BLAST with this exchange. It's really my first swap that's not just a "Send off a quick package" kind of thing. I've loved reading everyone's blog, and wish some of you posted more! I LOVE the bag I received, and so appreciate how much the whole package was tailored to me (in fact, I was sort of hoping Anne was my partner, after she posted the gelato bag she was making, and I saw the frog stitch markers on her blog. Not that the rest of you weren't making beautiful things, but I REALLY like purple. And frogs. And the gelato bag.) I especially enjoyed the weekly questions, and that this swap was a 2 month affair. I liked having time to get to know my downstream partner before I had to assemble a package for her.

Thank you, Anne. Not just for my package, but for all of the hard work that you've done to host this swap!

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

Hello everyone!

Yesterday, I drove with the little ones to the Buffalo area to visit my parents. We're going to be here for a little over a week. Which, I have to say, is pretty exciting for us. However, it also means that I missed the package that arrived at my house yesterday. I can see it too - just as I pull around the corner, the mail truck stops at my house. So, if, say you are my felted fall bag pal or crochetaholic Debb, please understand why you aren't hearing from me. I contemplated having my husband ship the package to me here, but I didn't think I'd be able to talk him into it.

Also, I don't know how much I'll have to post between now and next week. Although, I am going to a Norwegian Mitten class on Monday at Have Ewe Any Wool.

Have a great week!

FFBE Question 4

My favorite Halloween ever, so far, is this one! We just had a Halloween Party for the kids yesterday, and it was so much fun! Little girl dressed up as a Pumpkin, and Little boy as a puppy. ALL of the kids who came to the party looked so cute, and they had so much fun! I had a ton of fun decorating cupcakes.

My friend Kim made these great popcorn hands.




I always had fun at Halloween as a kid, but I have so much MORE fun as a parent! I think I get more excited than the kids do for their little parties and Trick or Treating.

I've been working on hats for little ones, in between the busy-ness of my life this week!

Happy Knitting!

My Winnings!

Look what I got in the mail yesterday:


I wish I could show you ALL of the designs. I really had no idea that women knit themselves entire dresses in a very fine gauge. I knew they WORE knitted dresses, I just thought they bought them. Here's an example of one of the outfits:


(Sorry about the flash. I should scan the picture, but I'm in a hurry.)

The yarn is a cotton/linen blend, and it's sort of a pumpkin color. Any suggestions on what to make with it?

I finished Big Boy's scarf during football on Sunday (Dallas lost to the Patriots. DH is very happy, I was very bummed. HOWEVER, my Cleveland Indians beat the Red Sox last night! DH is walking around calling me the enemy.) I've cast on a hat for a small child. I'm making matching ones for him and his new brother. BTW - if you remember, I posted about baby Joshua, born too early. Praise the Lord, he was released from the hospital last weekend, and went home weighing over 7 lbs!

Happy knitting!

Diary of a Fall Felted Bag

I received a comment on my blog today that my FFBE Partner got her package! She is going to the Women of Faith Conference this weekend (so jealous!), so you probably won't see anything on her blog for a while. But, I can finally share with you the bag I made!

Days 1-9

I am assigned a pal - Shawnee! I spent a lot of time looking at patterns, and comparing them to Shawnee's bags of choice. She's a fan of the Noni bags (aren't we all?), but I just don't think I possess the necessary skills yet. She really liked the Bobble bag, and then I found this bag from Crystal Palace yarns. I thought to myself - hmmmm...if I used Crystal Palace's Popcorn yarn instead of Dragonfly, I could make something similar to the Noni bag. I also modified the pattern to work it up in the round, rather than having to seam up the sides. Gather up all the extra goodies for the package. Not particularly difficult, since Shawnee likes Mary Englebreit stuff.

Days 9-12

Call a few yarn shops who carry Crystal Palace Yarns. None of them have Popcorn. Finally, Butterfly Yarns in Wakefield mention that they have Bobble yarn by Cascade. I think to myself - that might just work!

Day 20

Go to Butterfly Yarns. I have to say, I had been there at the beginning of the summer, and I just wasn't impressed. Have I mentioned Linda at Have Ewe Any Wool? The woman understands customer service, and thus, I have pretty high standards.

This second visit was such a different experience! Donna couldn't have been more helpful (I don't know who was running the store the first time I was there). Cascade Bobble wasn't exactly what I expected, but then I discovered Little Flowers. I was psyched! But, as often happens, as I looked over other yarns, and at sample projects, I decided Little Flowers just didn't cut it. Shawnee had described herself as liking crazy bags. When I saw Squiggles, mixing up tealish colors and purple, I knew I had it! I left the store feeling so proud that I had my yarn, and that I was going to use a pattern I had modified all by myself!



Day 13

Cast on for the bag. Love the way the Squiggle looks, happy that it's knitting up fast. I work on the bag during the second monthly Knit, Craft, Snack, and Chat night at my house. Realize there's a lot of snacking and chatting, but I seem to be the only one knitting/crafting.

Day 14

Decide to add an actual bottom, rather than just sewing up a seam. Put stitches on holders, garter stitch a rectangle, three needle bind off, and figure out how to attach the side stitches. Starting to get nervous about the actual felting process. Wondering how forgiving a person Shawnee is, if she gets a bag NOTHING at all like what she had in mind.

Day 15

Knit the handle, attach, and felt the bag. I LOVE IT! It came out so much cuter than I thought it would! Even Big Boy is impressed, and that says a lot! Stuff it with towels to dry.



Open up Excel spreadsheet of projects, and wonder....what will I cast on now?

Too much effort...decide to bask in the wonder of a finished object, and go to bed.

Day 18

Realize I need a box in which to mail all the goodies!

Day 24

Find box. Put package together. Have lots of fun imagining Shawnee opening up the box, with the leaves in it, and finding all the Mary Englebreit goodness AND what I think is one beautiful fall felted bag!

Many thanks to ALL of you who participated in the swap. I had a great time reading your blogs and getting to know you. A special thanks to Anne for all of her organizational work.

Knittiversary

This Thursday, a year ago, I learned to knit! Thanks Linda and Mom!

I've been working on the Give it a Whirl bag - here's a picture, but honestly, it doesn't really look like much yet.



Happy Knitting!

FFBE Question #3

How often do you change the purse or bag you're carrying? Do you change based on seasons? Outfits? Something else? What's your favorite bag in the world (and it doesn't have to be a knit/felted one!)?

I try to use a black purse with black shoes, and a brown purse with brown shoes. I have a blue purse too, but I haven't really been wearing blue shoes recently. I alternate between two woven bags in the summer, and a leather bag and nylony bag in the fall/winter. However, I have a few other non-neutral color bags, and I LOVE when I have the opportunity to use them! My all-time favorite bag is a woven, black evening bag. It sort of resembles the Saks bags, but it has some more detailing. Paired with a little black dress, I always feel super-sophisticated.

I'm so excited that bags are being sent out! I can't wait to see how my downstream partner reacts to the bag I made her, and to be surprised by what my upstream pal made me!

Happy Knitting!

I'm a Winner!

I'm so excited! I won this month's Knit the Classics project challenge. (In the interest of full disclosure, I was the only person who entered a project this month.) But, I'm still very excited! I worked really hard on the cowl, and I'm really proud of it! The prize is some linen/cotton blend yarn, and 3 vintage knitting magazines. I'm particularly excited about the magazines. I've been told they'll be in the mail tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have pictures to share with you soon. In the meantime, you can check out the prize here.

I am proud to report, I now have TWO mittens, and they're virtually the same size! I think they'll be a birthday present for next month. I've cast on for a cotton "Give it a Whirl" bag from Creative Knitting (a Christmas gift) and today, I worked some more on Big Boy's Scarf. For some reason I'm having a hard time being motivated to do this scarf - it's just garter stitch, and should be done in NO time! I dunno, it's just been that project I dread doing.

No pictures at the moment - I'm feeling too lazy.

My throat is still sore, but I do feel better. Thank goodness - the kids and I have an insane couple of weeks ahead of us!

Happy knitting everyone!

Mystery Project Revealed and More

Okay, the mystery project is my September project for Knit the Classics. We read Sylvia Plath's In the Bell Jar.



Sorry for the shadows across the picture. (Although, it looks kind of artsy, doesn't it?)

I've knit a lace cowl for Esther to wear while wandering around the Boston Common. Now, I know it's summer, but since she's feeling pretty off anyway, I didn't think it was a far stretch for Esther to be wearing one winter item. It's a fashionable item, but worn in an unfashionable way. I think the cowl is particularly appropriate for Esther because it's noose-like. She feels strangled by the fashion/expectations of women at the time. Furthermore, it's red, the color of blood. I particularly like that it's lace - there's little loops all over the place. The pattern is from One Skein Wonders.



I'm really proud of this project - I did A LOT of unknitting to make it look perfect. And, on close inspection, everything lines up the way it should. I tried to do a close-up, so you can really see how nice the pattern is - this is the best I could do.

I've also finished the mitten! Not sure that I'll have enough yarn to do the second, but I'm determined to find out by tomorrow. I have a 50% coupon at JoAnn's, and they sell Patons Wool! I know the whole dye lot thing might be an issue, but I've decided not to worry about it - they're only mittens.

Strep Throat - AGAIN!

So, I have strep, again! I just had it in the summer, and now it's reared up again. The good news - the kids don't have strep, although they've had low fevers most of the week. I went to the Drs. right away, and got on antibiotics quickly. Also, I'm on one of those super antibiotics - six pills in five days (last time I was on penicillin - 40 pills over 10 days!). I don't feel great, but it could be a lot worse. Of course, the weather is BEAUTIFUL, and I feel stuck inside!

Of course, since I don't really have energy to clean the house or anything, I've been knitting! I finished my second pay it forward project, and now I'm starting on some mittens. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be knitting hats. But, there's a slight chance I'll be taking a Fair Isle mitten class later this month, and I thought I should make sure I can make regular mittens. Plus, this skein of yarn just won't get used up. (Now watch, I'll only have enough for 1 1/2 mittens!)


If you live somewhere where the weather SHOULD be chilly, but it's really warm - run around outside for me, okay?

FFBE Weekly Topic #2

The colors of fall tend to be oranges, yellows, crimsons, and other 'leafy' colors - what is your favorite "Color of Autumn" and where do you see it?

This is rough. I LOVE when you see all those colors mixed together on the trees. And, in my mind, there's a beautiful yarn that blends all those colors into something perfect for a hat and scarf. But, I probably wouldn't wear it. I'm not a big fan of wearing orange, and I feel like that's a dominant color of the season. (I have to say though, my high school colors were orange and black - Go Tigers! - and I wore a lot of orange back in the day!)

Okay, I've got it - when they're outside playing in the yard, my kids' cheeks get apple red (for real, APPLE- I think it's the Norwegian in them). Rosy cheeks - that's my favorite color of autumn.

Their cheeks get really red when they're tired too - it's like a little meter. The more red, the more tired is the child!

Happy knitting!

Knitting is actually going on...

I haven't posted in a week. I wonder, does anyone miss me, the way I miss people whose blogs I read?

There has been knitting going on - I've finished the mystery object, and all will be revealed by the end of the week. It took a lot more time than I thought it would. The pattern repeat wasn't difficult, but it required paying attention. I think I unknit just as much as I knit!

I also finished little boy's hat in the "Americana" Superwash from the football swap. I'm so tickled with it! I plan on knitting several other hats this month as Christmas gifts for little ones' friends. I already have most of the yarn I'll be using in the stash, so I just have to get to knitting!



Today, I cast on for one of my pay it forward objects. I hope to be done soon! I also have received my partner for the Christmas Around the World Swap. I've made contact, but haven't heard back from her yet. I have heard from the person sending to me (I never remember - which one is upstream and which one is downstream?) I'm VERY excited for this swap!

Happy Knitting, all!

New Swaps

Hi all!

Check out the swaps that Crochetoholic is hosting. They're all fun, create-a-package ideas. I'm particularly excited about the Hat/Scarf swap.

Hope to see some of you there!

FFBE Weekly Topic

As of this weekend, the season has officially changed on the calendar - but what makes Autumn feel like Autumn to you, and why?

My husband is a teacher, and I was too before kids, so autumn starts the first day of school, regardless of the weather. But, it REALLY feels like fall when there's that crisp in the air, especially in the mornings. The kind that makes you want to bake bread or an apple pie. The best mornings are the ones when you need a light jacket to take a walk (and it's still a little chilly, but you know it will warm up soon), and you crunch leaves as you walk.

I can't wait to read everyone else's responses!

Secret Current Project

I know the picture is kind of blurry, but I've tried to give a hint of the pretty pattern without giving away the project. I wasn't going to post it, but I feel like I haven't shown any knitting off lately.

I actually haven't been knitting all that much. The kids have been kind of stressing me out lately, and I'm lacking energy to knit. Which isn't good, because Christmas is coming!

I am excited about the above blurry project, although I'm a little concerned that it will be too small. Also, it's contributing to the lack of knitting. The lace pattern isn't difficult, but it does require attention, and it's hard to work on unless everyone is asleep.

What's going on in your knitting life?

I am Mohair

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.


What kind of yarn are you? Take this quiz to find out.

Football Swap

Look at all the great stuff I got in the mail today from Kristina!



Merino superwash from Lavender Sheep in Buffalo Bills colors - which I'm going to use to make Little Boy a winter hat. I'm sure there will be extra - maybe even enough for a hat for me! A Buffalo Bills antennae topper which I am so very excited about! Stitch markers and point protectors, all handmade by Kristina, and perfect for all football related knitting. And finally, some very nice hot chocolate.

I LOVE IT ALL! Thank you so much, Kristina, for your thoughtful package!

Random Questionnaire

This seems to be floating around a bunch of blogs involved in the same swaps I am.

1. Were you named after anyone? Two great aunts.
2. Birth place? Denville, NJ
3. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead? Read
4. What are your nicknames? Does Mommy count?
5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Rarely
6. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why? Italy or France - I love to cook!
8. A Person you look up to most? My parents
9. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? Lack of patience with adults
10. One word that describes you? Capable
11. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple
12. What is the weather like right now? Raining
13. Last person you talked to on the phone? My husband
14. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it? A Mom - and yes, I am!
15. Favorite Drinks? Diet Coke
16. Favorite sport? Baseball
17. Favorite Food? Chocolate, ravioli
18. Last Movie You Watched? Movie on cinema? Um...I don't know
19. Most money spent on 1 pair of shoes? I once paid $80 for a pair of sneakers - they were so worth it too! My feet were very happy in them.
20. What Book Are You Reading? I just finished The Bell Jar for Knit the Classics. I try to read from my Bible every night.
21. Computer Screen Wallpaper? My kids
22. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? Burn Notice on USA
23. Favorite Smells? Lilacs, baking bread, warm chocolate
24. What's the farthest you've been from home? Arizona, from the East Coast
25. Where is your favorite knitting spot? Club chair with feet on ottoman

I worked on Big Boy's scarf last night - straight garter stitch gets boring, so I've decided to do one block for every project I finish. I have to decide if I'm going to cast on for my knit the classics project or a pay it forward project. (Or, maybe I'll combine the two - or is that cheating?)

FFBE Bag is FINISHED!

Hooray! I knit up the handle this afternoon (with the "help" of little boy who kept grabbing the yarn and running off) and felted it after the little ones went to bed. I am TICKLED with the way it turned out - I might even make one for myself!

No pictures yet though - I want my Pal to be completely surprised! Once she gets her package though, I'll publish the bag's diary.

I just ruined a cable purse that I had made. Literally, ruined it. We won't discuss it, except to say, I am a moron. And the thing is, I really wasn't sure I liked it until today. But then, I was loving it. And then, I killed it. Poor bag. I'm going to tell myself it's a learning experience, and then let it go.

You know, that's something new about me since I've had kids. Things just don't bother me the way they used to. For example, I'm playing softball this season, and the first game, I made an error. Not a game costing error or anything, but something that would have bugged me the rest of the game. At the end of the inning, my coach offered me some encouraging words, and I seriously had to think about why he was telling me everything was okay. I had forgotten that I made the error three minutes after it happened!

Don't get me wrong. I think I have a healthy level of competitiveness, and I always want to do my best. But, I just can't spend a lot of energy beating myself up for mistakes that aren't all that important. And I mean important in a really, deep, eternal kind of way. My family is healthy, and I believe they are in good places regarding their relationship with God (because to me, that's the most important thing EVER. Curious? Ask me - I'll tell you all about it!) And so, I don't think it's right to worry about the small things. Really, it's not right to worry about anything. I SHOULD be trusting God to take care of it all. He promises that He will!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25,26,33,34

I'm not so great at not worrying at all, but being responsible for children really helps to put some things in perspective for me, and I think I worry less about small things.

So, I'm bummed about the bag. But, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Christmas Around the World Questionnaire

I bumped this up so people wouldn't have to search for it.

1. Are you religious? Yes. I'm a Christian, so Christmas is a religious holiday to me.
   
2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? I've been knitting for almost a year. I'm definitely a beginner, edging my way toward intermediate.
   
3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I like to cross-stitch, but it's hard to focus on large projects with the kids around. I love to cook, and I enjoy playing tennis and softball.
   
4. Favorite color(s)? Hmmm. I wear a lot of red, blue, purples, and pinks. I don't have an actual favorite color.
   
5. Do you collect anything? Frogs
   
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? I'm allergic to cats
   
7. Do you have any pets? No. Big boy has a fish - I ignore it.
   
8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate!
   
9. Cookies or Sweets? Either. Primarily sweets I think.
   
10. Do you knit socks? No, but it's on my list of things to learn!
    
11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) I've been knitting a lot of hats lately. I don't know what my favorite knits would be quite yet - I'm still learning so much!
    
12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? We do! It's such the Charlie Brown tree - it's older than I am! We also put up lights, and wreaths, and all of that.
    
13. Favorite holiday treats? I make Chocolate Crinkles. They're just a chocolate macaroon, but they are SO GOOD!
    
14. Favorite holiday smells? Cinnamon, holiday spice, and hot chocolate melting on the stove.
    
15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I think a pretty traditional way. DH's family is Italian, so Christmas Eve is a big seafood feast (that's new to me). Christmas Eve we go to church, and Christmas morning is spent with the kids around the tree.
    
16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Making krumkake and chocolate crinkles with my mom. Decorating the tree with my dad. Christmas caroling, and walking around looking at people's outdoor lights. Baking up a storm. Singing along to classic songs, especially "O Holy Night" - I just love that song!
    
17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” Celebrating the greatest gift ever given - love personified
    
18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? A shepherd - so undeserving of all I've been given
    
19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? I have received so MANY wonderful gifts. One of the best one's I've ever given - I gave the grandmother of an ex-boyfriend metallic mugs with gold swirls all over them, along with some really great hot chocolate and high quality chocolates. I painted the tissue paper in the box to match the mugs, and found a box to match.
    
20. When do you start your Christmas? Well, I've already started my shopping and knitting. but I think it really starts the day after Thanksgiving.
    
21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? Yes, I buy them.
    
22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? Chocolate crinkles. Hmm, that might not be a dish. Chocolate pudding pie? If that's not a dish, than just Mom's turkey dinner.
    
23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Give them hot chocolate and/or candy canes. And ask if I can join them.
    
24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning
    
25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Well, when I lived with my parents, I would eat Christmas dinner with my family in the afternoon, and then again with my best friend's family later. But, now I live too far away. I think I celebrate with family and friends, but spend the actual day with family.

FFBE Contest #2

1. Here's the yarn for my bag. I'm inspired by one of the bags on my pal's blog, but I had to modify it to fit my level of knitting skills.



2. I've tried to visit everyone's blog once a week. But, Alana and I seem to be taking turns visiting each other's blogs and getting to know each other.

3. Done!

4. Done!

Hooray for Grandma!

My Mom left this morning - very sad. :( However, we had a great visit! She arrived Sunday night, and she bought presents:

The red is leftover yarn from a sweater she made me.

We had a great time, hanging out, playing tea with little girl, shopping, and knitting. With Grandma's help, I have finished the Wonderful Wallaby for little boy. It fits him perfectly! Which means, of course, he's getting it now, and not for Christmas.



I made the sleeves and the body 1" longer than the pattern. I probably should have added 2" for the body, but it will do. I really enjoyed knitting the Wallaby and plan on doing another one soon. I just have decide for whom!

Tonight is another Knit, Craft, Snack and Chat night at my house, so I have decide if I'm going to FINALLY cast on my felted bag or work on Big Boy's Scarf (all garter stitch - not difficult to work on while chatting.) We'll see what I'm in the mood for tonight.

It's always a bummer saying goodbye to my parents. I really, genuinely, LOVE hanging out with them. I'm really blessed though - the little kids and I will be there for a week next month, we'll all be there for Thanksgiving, and we'll leave the day after Christmas for another week with them. Not bad for living 400 miles apart.

Happy knitting, everyone!