Thursday, September 10, 2009

Can Knitting actually be BAD for me???

Seriously, I've been considering this for awhile now, knowing full well that there is no way that I'm going to slow down, or stop but I do think that knitting might actually have an ill effect on my overall health and well being. Here you go-you decide:

1. Since my love affair with Ravelry began about two years ago, I have put on 16-20 lbs. Why? B/c of great exposure to so many new patterns that I instantly fall in love with, my knitting/surfing ravelry time has me sitting on my arse way more than I used to.

2. I sit and knit any chance I get. This results in a big arse, laundry piled high, housecleaning overlooked and all of this, in turn, throws off my psyche. As I type, I've got a pile of laundry looking at me, but you don't see me signing off yet, do ya?

3. I would rather sit with a cup of tea and knitty goodness than go for a run these days...not good for the above mentioned ever-growing arse....

4. I've got ADHD when it comes to knitting patterns and lately can get easily distracted. Startitis is strong problem right now as I usually am not like this but right now, I've got atleast 6 projects on the needles and more in my head...

So....what to do?
Any ideas??

Hoping to change the arse bit next week when I join a gym and commit to working out for 1-2hrs while my youngest is in preschool-can you believe by staying in the area of her preschool instead of driving home, even with my gym membership, I'll still be saving $$ that would be wasted in gas$?? Cool!!!
As far as the cleaning/housework/laundry...I'm out of ideas...Folding clothes and vacuuming doesn't hold a candle to yarny good times. While I do know that a little bit here, a little bit there does help to fix my household state of disarray, it could really use a thorough dusting and cleaning...but then there are those 6+ projects....

Friday, August 28, 2009

End of summer...catching up

Yes, on this rainy, cold day, it does feel like summer's ending and it's back-to-school!! Back to the rush of getting here and there and schedules, routines, etc. I think I'm ready, but if you were to look at me, sitting here typing in my pj's (at 11:21 AM!!), you wouldn't believe me!!

So, what have we been up to??

Trips to the farm to pick up CSA share has yielded quite a nice bounty of veggies! And the flowers....take a look:



We also got zucchini's which were then turned into "leprachaun bread"-it was a hit with the girls!


It has been really great getting farm-fresh produce this summer-can't wait for the fall harvesting to start!

As for knitting, I updated my ravelry projects-finally....with all that has gone on with Madi and hospital time, I did get knitting time in, but not much computer time. That is all behind us now though, as she is doing much better. Now we start school, soccer, and whatever else comes our way. I've got 3 hat and sock baby boy sets to complete-using a nice free Jimmy Beans wool pattern to do these. Will post when I'm done!

Until then...happy knitting!

Friday, August 7, 2009

A Comfort quilt...



Yep-I did it. I used stash fabric (for most of it) and girly, fuzzy fabric to back it and she loves it!-that's all that really matters to me anyhow. I needed to provide some comfort to my little girl and of course, something pretty for her to look at as she recovers from upcoming surgery....
Now if only I had made something to comfort my nerves....

Sunday, July 26, 2009

So much for blogging this summer, no???

Yep. I've been absent on here for awhile. Been swimming, fishing, and just playing around outside so much that I've even missed knitting deadlines-personal ones, of course, but still knitting deadlines. I had wanted to have my shetland shorty done for my family's reunion this year (it was yesterday) but couldn't get around to finishing it. My head is swamped with other projects that I want to get a jump on, but so much LIVING is getting in the way-ha!!
So here is what I've got on tap for projects-once the shorty's done and posted on Ravelry:
1. Fast quilt for my daughter
2. Baby dress (like flip flop dress that I made-already on ravelry)
3. Start Christmas knitting! Can I get the head start on this that I've always wanted so maybe I won't be knitting like a freak on 12/24??? Wouldn't it be nice???

We shall see....

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Fashionista in the making...

Yesterday I got a small glimpse into the future and how fun it is going to be having girls that are into fashion and fabrics, color, etc. I'm currently knitting up (and QUICK!!) Summerlin for the girls and before I CO for Madi's, I asked her about the color for hers. Good thing I did b/c she had definite opinions about green. I showed her the greens against the fabric of the skirt and she said, "Mommy, that green is yucky-if I were making it, I do it in a lime color instead." I almost fell down!!! She was so right!!! So, I promptly dug into my stash and found the only lime (so I thought-today found some cotton-ease, but whatever) that I had-Berroco's Ultra Silk ?!? Well, she loved it and loved the feel of the yarn so Ultra silk is what she's getting. I'm very lucky that she's so light on her clothes and so is her little sis, who gets all of the hand-me-downs!! They look brand-new most of the time....

All of this made me think how fun it's going to be when Madi learns to knit and makes things for herself-if, of course, she is interested. She has an interest now so I'm hoping it only grows....with my yarn station downstairs, piles of fabric and a sewing machine that is constantly humming, how can she resist the urge?? It will be fun for sure!!

Pics to come of the finished Summerlins...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Absent-minded....

Ok-it's raining here in NEPA, so you know what that means!! I'm updating my blog!! Been awhile, no???

I have been pretty busy knitting and sewing a few things to sell at a store out here and of course, since the weather is better, we've been outside a lot! But today will be catch up on some long-waiting computer stuff and updates on projects, ideas for future projects, etc.

My husband graciously helped me complete my latest and greatest project!!-a dress form!! We followed the directions from Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits
and it came out GREAT!!! My other dress form is around a size 2-4, so atleast now, when I'm making sweaters/tops, I have something a bit more true-to-size...photos to come this afternoon!

I also managed to re-design a bucket hat that my daughter had that was way too big for her (the brim was HUGE) and didn't gave straps! Again, b/c of hubby's great design with my craft station, it's just so easy now to pop downstairs and sew! The sewing machine beckons me, all hooked up and ready with just a switch of the light. I added ties to keep it on her head when we go boating and cut/frayed the brim so it suits her much more....will do so for my other daughter's hat as well....these hats will do until I make the Better Bucket Hat (pattern on Ravelry) for them and me.

I also have been cranking out necklaces based on Annie Modesitt's pattern from her book, "Twist and Loop." I can't believe I didn't blog about this class yet???
In a nutshell, her class was terrific as is she!! She is so funny and down-to-earth. Very inspiring designer and really made everyone comfortable and at ease with what she was teaching. I made quite the first impression on her as I drove the WRONG WAY down a one way street to Mountain Knits and Pearls in East Stroudsburg. She signed my book, "I'm so glad that I didn't see you get killed in East Stroudsburg." We laughed and joked the whole time. I would love to see her again. I brought with me "Romantic Knits" and purchased from her, "Twist and Loop" and her memoir,

GREAT book!!! If you can, get a hold of this book! I love it b/c it lets the reader get a glimpse of the knitwear designer's life-all the travel, juggling around schedules, designs, etc, but it also is so personal-very intimate details of what Annie is going through with her husband's illness of Multiple Myeloma. I admit to not having the first clue as to what that illness was and at first, I didn't want to read the book, fearing that it would be sad, but she writes in such a funny, frank manner that I can't put this book down!! Wish I could have her over for tea and knitting!! -what a great personality...

So, what's on tap besides the hats and finishing up of other projects? Those darn sumerlin dresses for the girls and Coachella (pattern on Ravelry) for me. And of course, some more jewelry making...

And must do this dress again for a friend! What a great pattern!!

Vintage Earrings Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!

Vintage Earrings Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!

I love these earrings!!! So chic!!

Blueberry Pie Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blueberry Pie Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Vintage Earrings Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Vintage Earrings Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Great Grandma's communion purse...



So, here it is. While I was reorganizing my basement (in what seemed like a never-ending task) I came across this little purse that brought back childhood memories for me and again, made me wish I had learned the needlearts crafts from my family memories instead of fumbling along like I did and still am. This adorable little purse was made for me by my non-english speaking Great Grandmother (she was straight from Sicily). She barely spoke when I saw her, only really said my name, "Christina," when I saw her but there was something about her that I found calming. She was a real matriarch and unfortunately, with her death, died the idea of matriarch in our family. She crocheted this little purse for me for my 1st Holy Communion and at the time, I knew it was really special, b/c she had made it, but also b/c she was really old when she did (I wonder how old she really was at the time, but as a kid, I remember her being "really old.") It is adorable with a little rosette sewn in the center, and it is lined in white cotton. I remember when I got it, my mother telling me that it was really special and that I had to take extra good care of it. I'm shocked that I still have it and very thankful that I do, b/c unfortunately, I had and still have a HUGE tendency to be absent-minded and lose things. Thank goodness, this little purse was spared of my faults.
When I look at this purse, it makes me think back to that day of communion-I was so excited to wear my little veil and fancy dress and my mom was going to curl my hair like some lady named Farah Fawcett, and I was going to have tissues and a dollar in my purse for church. I also think about how my great-grandma knew how to both knit and crochet and what skills she had and how all of my older aunts and my grandma could knit/crochet ANYTHING and I never thought to ask them to teach me. I so wish I had...
Someday, I'm going to teach my daughters how to knit/crochet and someday they are going to thank me for that-not that I need that. But hopefully, they will grow to love creating things with sticks and string as much as their mommy does. Someday too-in the next few years, my daughters will use this cute little purse for their Holy Communions and they will know to "take extra special care of it" b/c their great, great grandma made it for them.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Yep-new post, b/c it's raining outside!!

So....in the world of yarn, what have I been up to?
I've been crocheting up a storm!! Finished off another pair of booties and I've twerked so many patterns here and there, I'm thinking that I should probably just write out what I've been doing so that I can do it again. I also have been printing out a billion-I want-this-now patterns, including a few that I purchased from Etsy. Among them are these:

1. Petit Chou yet another cute bootie pattern-this one is knit
2. Stitch Diva Studios-to make the Evening bag with my one skein of Lousa Harding's sari ribbon yarn...and some grecian headbands for the girls...
3. Oma House Slippers-really hoping this pattern is a good one so that I can make some cute slippers for all of the girls in my life! Also bought her Pleated bag pattern and completed it-it is TERRIFIC!! I will definitely make more for gifts and am hoping to make a larger one for my mom's birthday....
4. Shetland Shorty-b/c this little wrap is so cute for summer-I want one in many colors!! Can be found on knitty.com summer o8
5. Coachella-I made one of these last summer and am hoping to make one again using Louisa Harding's Fauve yarn-I've got a bag of it sitting here staring at me. I've had that darn bag almost a year-needs to be used soon....

Now-I know, I already have projects on tap like the girls summerlin dresses (cast on but didn't go that far yet-I got distracted) and the clapotis (yawn for right now) but I have knitting ADD for sure-just ask my husband...he gets me...

What I have noticed is the pull of the crochet hook lately....I feel like crocheting more than knitting (GASP) I really NEVER thought that could or would happen to me but it is.....Crochet is just so fun and summer friendly I believe, b/c of it's airy-ness in the stitches and the fact that it really is so much faster! Where knitting tends not to really show off cottons to the best of its abilities, crochet does-those tight little single crochet stitches are addictive!! So, right now, I am experiencing the push and pull of knitting vs. crochet.....we'll see which needlecraft reigns soon enough!!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Yep-it's been a long time...

since I was here. Way too much has been happening for me to be able to keep up with it all on here, so I will give in snippets.

As for knitting, still plugging along with the clapotis, but other teeny, instant gratification-I-need-a-gift-in-a-few-hours projects have popped up and in the way. I also managed to knit up a shop sample for the LYS, 4 Corners of Artful Living (which is now called 4 Corners Yarn shop) in Narrowsburg, NY. I did the Anthro-inspired capelet, basically b/c it's been in my queue forever, I had pretty bulky yarn to use up and show off for the shop and it was a quick two nights of TV knitting to bang out that baby. Nice!! I added a quick crochet brooch to the collar that can be taken off and voila!-Sample done!
I did another pair of Saartje's booties for a friend who had a baby girl-came out cute with little daisy buttons, and also managed to squeak out a crocheted clutch. All the clutch needs is the silk lining that I plan on sewing into it to keep items from slipping out of my single crochet stitches. A little tidbit on the silk.....cutting up a HUGE silk, beaded poncho that I splurged on while pregnant with my 2nd child. This poncho is maternity so it has a lot of fabric to it and it is in such a cool pattern, it had to be used for something good!!! Will post a pic of the finished product as soon as I'm done. The pattern was a freebie from LionBrand and I used cotton-ease....

Now-to vent for a sec....
I approached the powers that be in my private community about teaching a knitting course for kids this summer. Wrote up the entire course-what would be covered, what would be accomplished, hoping to validate why I would charge the fee that I said for the week-long, 2 hour a day course....heard nothing back from them for the last two weeks. I honestly was just getting over the fact that they didn't want me to do it, when my mother calls up to tell me that it is posted in the community newspaper as "Crochet Boot Camp" for kids-what??? Now we all know, only someone not versed in the needlearts could screw up the word crochet with knitting, but what adds insult to injury is that I gave them all of that stuff and they obviously didn't read it. When I spoke to a woman on the phone about it, she said, "Oh Honey, the young moms here-all they wanna do is sit on the beach with their kids and do nothin' all summer-they don't want to knit"-nice....Did she not remember that I AM a young mother and I am offering this to them?? Ugh....why did I bother??

Ok-that's enough of that-hey-anyone see the CUTE bags from hockeyknittingmom on etsy? She's awesome-really mixes fabrics, GOOD FABRICS, nicely!! Check her out...

Ok-hubby's home now-time to cuddle. Enough said.

Monday, April 20, 2009

BWB...

Yep-that's me, "Bad-Weather Blogger." When the sun is out, expect me to be nowhere near the computer, but when it's rainy, I could sit here all day. What's been on tap today?? Well, a good trip to Michaels, where we found the following:
Buttons for booties (little daisies!)
buttons for hubby's costume vest (a.k.a-the sweater that I painstakenly knit for him and then promptly killed in the washer on Christmas Eve-ring a bell??) Yep-now it's being used for his "Bum Costume" in the school musical production that he is in. Nice...
6 lovely skeins of cotton-ease, all in my new summer palette-to be crocheted/knit into many things, but above all else, clutches to be sold at the salon.
Chochke junk for the girls(they were with me after all) and.....
silk flowers-thought I hated 'em b/c they're fake and I love real, but honestly, with the price of real lately, I can't afford fresh flowers every week. And these looked so good, they're easy maintenance when you've got them stored downstairs in the basement at the craft station....
Hey-can you tell which ones are real and which one is fake?? I think these pass for pretty decent looking ranunculous-my new fav. flower, by the way...

Sunday, April 19, 2009

catching up...

Seems like I've been everywhere but blogging lately! So much has happened and been worked on but to type it all seems like it will take me forever!!
First things first....the CRAFT STATION!!!

Here is a pic:


How nice is that?? Hubby did it all!! He incorporated EVERYTHING that I need to actually get things done in an organized fashion!! And he forced me to re-organize my stash and purge the stuff that I really won't get too!! I was actually surprised that he didn't balk at all the yarn and I couldn't believe that most of it (notice I said MOST) fit into the shelves...I left out some acrylic nonsense for the back shelves of the basement and I actually donated a very large box of it to Interim House-an organization that helps women in Philadelphia recover from drug/alcohol addictions by teaching them to knit/crochet. How great is that??? I love the idea of knitting/crochet helping anyone out of trouble and I think that this organization is great!! It really felt great to send that big box to a good cause too.
Hubby also made this adorable SHEEP CAKE for my birthday-how great is that??


Yep-he's a keeper! He always makes my birthday feel extra special!
We went into NJ for my birthday-for two reasons....I wanted to check out Nona's Yarn Cafe to see what it was all about. I really liked the concept of a cafe and a yarn shop, although I have no interest in doing so at my future shop. And here's why: The owners no longer really run it as a cafe b/c their primary customer (women) are on diets so the food/beverages went to waste. Their cafe section is very small with just a few biscotti and cookies and water for tea/coffee. That's it. I'm thinking they should downsize their advertising then, though since I found them in the Debbie Bliss magazine, with a big ad for their yarn cafe....
Anywhoo-the women owners were very nice-a little assuming, but nonetheless very nice. They allowed me to ask them questions about their business and they didn't blink when hubby came in with the girls. Good. One of them, however, rubbed me the wrong way by asking me "Why do you want to own a yarn shop, huh? What-do you want to get the yarn at wholesale, is that why??" Huh?? Lady, right now, I get my yarn for free by working for a yarn shop, so why would take on such an aquisition just to get yarn at wholesale?? A bit of an assumption, but their business is struggling so I'm guessing she's just a bit bitter....I did manage to buy 5 skeins of gorgeous Plymouth Kudo yarn for my birthday present to myself-my summer clapotis! Love this yarn so far-a mix of cotton, silk and rayon-and multicolored of course...perfect for summer.
Now-back to those business questions-they were very helpful in telling me things that I was already aware of but to hear it live made it sink in. KNOW YOUR BUSINESS AND MARKET BEFORE YOU START A BUSINESS!!! They admitted to going in blind and overbuying bigtime and now being stuck with a lot of overhead. They also admitted to now just starting to go to shows and not really being up on what is big in the market. They stick to what their loyal customers want but they didn't seem to branch out to get new customers. They told me that their majority of customers were women age 50+ but the whole time I was in there, at least 5 women my age and younger walked in with the last group being a group of 3 teenagers. Hmmm??? Maybe some young-looking samples and free marketing on Ravelry/facebook/twitter might help? How about the local schools/colleges-offer a 10% student discount? Maybe I'm just a little over-eager and their enthusiasm is worn out. The owner did say that they haven't made a profit at all during their 4 years in business. That in itself is scary...

So, onto projects for me: Right now, working on a last-minute baby gift and my clapotis, then it's the girls' dresses and some clutches for sale, a hat for hubby (for his show??) and a summer top for me....we'll see...

Thursday, April 9, 2009

They really do multiply!





Yep-these little bunnies were all over my kitchen a few days ago-my daughter's pre-k treat for her classmates. She loved them and I loved making them!-All 30 of 'em....

As for knitting, I haven't really done any, but with my birthday coming this weekend, you know there will be some spending going on for a sweater...possibly from my new Classic Elite books. We are going to in Denville, NJ on Saturday for a birthday treat! Hubby has been working so hard on my craft station in the basement-I can't believe he's so game for this as well. I will try to behave....a little! :0) Full review to follow next week!

The crocheting is plugging along-I'm on my second "Professional Hat"-this one in red, for my youngest daughter. I added a crocheted flower to Madi's-I think it came out great and thankfully, so does she! She wears it everywhere!


Next on the hook will be Baby Mary Jane Skimmers for a friend who's due any day now. I'm using up some soft acrylic in my stash and I'm very proud. Really wanted to go out and by some eco-cotton for it but I'm trying not to do that. I really want to get going on a huge stash-busting project that I actually started last year around this time, but put it down to get shop samples and other projects done-the "Ripple Afghan"-in crochet~! One of my fellow Ravelers turned me on to this project, I believe her ravelry name is tpoulsen(Tina) and she lives in Denmark. She knits and crochet the most beautiful things and her ripple blanket inspired me. LOVE IT!!

I'm definitely "hooked" to say the least!! I do still get frustrated at the inconsistencies in pattern writing for crochet, but hopefully, with time, I'll get used to it! We'll see....

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Hippety-Hoppity....


Easter's on it's way!! Yep, found some un-used upholstery fabric that I had leftover from a small chair that I recovered and the color reminded me of chocolate so.....I came up with these to sell on my etsy shop: www.yarnygirl.etsy.com!
So fun, right?

As for knitting, I finished up the shrugs for the girls for their Easter dresses and of course, my oldest likes hers so much, she wants me to make one for her doll-that's b/c Grandma got her Easter dress with matching doll dress so naturally, they have to match! I'm dilly-dallying with crochet still and while I am getting it a little better, I'm still struggling with it a bit. But I will keep going until I get it!

After the crochet project, I do finally plan to get summerlin on the needles. I would also like to CO for a sweater that I've fallen for from the new Classic Elite books. There's always something!!

On tap for today-outside play! It's sunny and mild (50's) so we're heading to the playset! Will probably draw with chalk and blow some bubbles too-and count robins of course! Happy Spring!!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Feelin' Ducky....


THIS is how I've been feeling lately-like I'm upside down with my head in the water about so many things that I've got on tap. Finished one of two shrugs for the girls for Easter and I keep coming up with more projects for them!! Ready to cast on for their Summerlin dresses, and I've got another summer dress pattern for them from a knitting magazine that I borrowed from a friend. However-for some odd reason, I've been occupying my time by experimenting with free-form crochet lately?? I've been working on some easy crochet booties-made the pattern up myself and it's working out great! Only problem is that I don't know what stitch pattern Is at all-basically, I have no idea about crochet but for some reason, I can't put it down!!?? Odd, right?

I'm even using valuable Ravelry time searching more crochet patterns: crochet bunnies, booties, dresses, blankets.....what is up with me?? Seems so strange that I would be doing that when I've got so much on tap to keep myself busy (just check out my queue on Ravelry). I guess I've got Spring fever???

Plans are already in the works to do some spring cleaning of the stash. Hubby is busy building me a "Craft Station" complete with room for stash storing, large table for sewing, blocking and beading and of course, workspace for designing. I'm really excited about this as I hope it will get me more organized and able to use my time more wisely when designing. I've got so much stuff all over the place. It'll be so nice to catch up, organize the stash and know where everything is....

On a family note, we have joined a CSA!!! I'm so excited about this-we are going to be doing some volunteer work this summer on a real farm!! The CSA is going to run for 20 weeks and we purchased a full family share. We will get weekly packages of whatever is harvested (seasonal veggies and flowers) and they are possibly going to sell fresh eggs and milk at pickup. Yay! On the farm, the kids will get to play with the goats, chickens, pick some veggies (tomatoes, peas and green beans) and pet the......ALPACA!! Yep, there are two on the farm that are the farmer's pets and he shears and spins their fiber and HE KNITS! How cool is that??? I've already asked to see if he'll let me watch when he goes to shear them this spring-hopefully, he'll let me! We are so excited!!!!

On a sad note, we spent the whole afternoon there, petting the animals, plucking the eggs from the hens in the chicken house and touring the farm. Wouldn't you know, that night, Madi was already congested and wheezing and the next morning, really stuffed up? Today she is really bad, coughing up a storm and cannot breathe through her nose. Her allergy tests came back with being allergic to dogs, cats and dust, but no trees/grasses so I'm a bit boggled by why the trip to the farm did so much damage to her. Yes, they did have a doggie there that she pet, but she LIVES with a dog?!? I'm just out of my mind frustrated with all of this sickness. We are set to go to CHOP in May to figure all of this out. The poor girlie-she can barely breathe today....

Friday, March 20, 2009

Can we say addiction??



Yep-it's official!

I'm officially addicted to:

1. Twinkle Chunky yarn
2. The stitch pattern k1, *yo, k2tog,* k1

I will be making plenty more of these beauties-in varying thickness of yarns for gifts, and for me!! I know just the laceweight yarn that is sitting pretty in my stash for the next one!!! Perfect for spring-it will be!!

Anyway-here's why I'm saying that I'm addicted to this yarn-it's soft, plush and lovely AND yours truly, who rarely knits a pattern more than once, already duplicated the scarf (from previous post) for one for my BFF. Banged this one out in a week's worth of school drop-offs and pickups (those 10 minutes of waiting really do add up to good knitting time!). This baby is done and in perfect timing as I am seeing my BFF tomorrow and will give it to her then!! Hope she will love it-as she does love peachy/pink colors!!

My next project is already on the needles.....simple shrugs for the girls for Easter. Also-just arrived, is beautiful fabric bought from www.fabricsupplies.etsy.com-awesome store-great, fresh fabrics, terrific pricing, and super fast shipping!! I'm using this fabric to make two summerlin dresses for the girls. Can't wait!!




Still debating the charity carpet bag-while it would benefit my daughter's school, I'm not sure I've got enough time to do it now and I really don't want to stress myself out with it.....we'll see!!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Instant Gratification!




Ok-I have a guilty pleasure.....BULKY, pills-while-you-knit-it, designer (shocking sticker price) yarn!!! But-only when on sale!! And boy, was it worth it!!!

To back up a little, I spent a glorious day in Milford, PA, taking a finishing class with Jill Deal, of JillDeal, Inc-a very lovely LYS right in the heart of the quaint little town of Milford. I spent my whole day there (while my DARLING HUSBAND watched the girls!-LOVE HIM!) learning great techniques, eating lunch that was provided by the Hotel Fauchere, and chatting it up with some lovely ladies. There were only 4 of us in the class so it felt like a private, all day lesson! Perfect! Then I sauntered over to the shop (the class was held at the Emerson House of the Hotel Fauchere) for some kid yarn that I need for easter shrugs for the girls and that's when I saw it....Twinkle Soft Chunky....in French grey....at a sale price that I just couldn't pass up. There was one left and I snatched it right up! Jill's very sweet employee (wish I could remember her name-she's always so pleasant!) rang me up and then proceeded to wind my skein into a cake the size of Texas! I told the super-nice employee that I was going to leave it as a centerpiece on my kitchen table for awhile...but i lied!!!

It didn't last there for long b/c I couln't wait to knit with it! I found a great pattern online from Jen Reilly at Sage Yarn Blog called "Super-Fast, Ultra Cozy scarf"-need I say more?? The scarf knit up in 1 1/2 hours and really is cozy!! I think I'll be wearing it a lot!!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Catching up...

So...what have I been up to? Well, certainly not blogging since I noticed that my last post was on 2/22!! Oops. Too much going on to remember to post-sorry. So, what has been going on??

Well, this, for one! Yes-as my daughter put it-we did a "science experiment" for St. Patrick's Day. We made home-made shamrock decorations to hang up around the house and I bought some inexpensive white carnations that we dyed with green food coloring added to the water. Pretty cool, right? I did this in second grade for my elementary school's science fair and I still haven't tired of the results!


So, what else?? Besides knitting little 6 inch squares for an upcoming knitting class that I'm taking, not much knitting is going on. I'm honestly sick of knitting these and I've got at least 7 more to go, but I know it will be for a good reason-this class is going to be good!! I keep dreaming of everything else that I want to knit though, including the following: 2 dresses for the girls for spring/summer (in my queue on Ravelry)-I can't wait to purchase the fabric for these as I'm going to pick something colorful and funky-my girls can surely pull that off!!, a wrap that I just queued up on Ravelry-something light and airy but warm enough for cool spring days...and a charity handbag for my daughter's school's casino night. Hoping to knit that one by 4/18?? We'll see...

On other news, I created something new for my etsy shop that I'm really proud of. I love it when I can repurpose something, especially for knitting and that is exactly what was done with my Recycled Wire Hanger stitch holders. Because of my upcoming class that I'm taking and the fact that I have to have 18 6 inch squares held on stitch holders, I was tired of running to Ac Moore and buying more and more stitch holders. I also loathe my husband's wire hangers from the dry-cleaners and one day, when I was putting away laundry in our closet, I got an idea!! I could make wire stitch holders from my hangers!! Yay!! We have so many that I have decided to sell these at www.yarnygirl.etsy.com It makes me so happy to see these wire hangers finally put to good use! No more wire hangers in our closet!! Now they are for knitting!!! So, check 'em out-they're in the shop!!

Ok-gotta run! Enough for now-more pics to come in my next post....maybe...:0)

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Why do I try, try again???

Despite my very good attempts, I'm aweful at lace-knitting. The problem I have, among other things, is that I love, love, LOVE the look of it. I love the airy-ness, the holes (darn yo's!) and I just love how delicate and intricate it looks. HOWEVER, I lack the focus and concentration to complete lace projects and I think that it all comes down to why I knit.
I knit for the relaxation it gives me after a busy day with my girls. I love how it feels on my fingers and I love that for the most part, I can knit w/o having to think too much. It's like the feeling I used to get when I run (which I really need to pick up again-obviously, all of this knitting is having a HUGE effect on my rear!)-my mind goes to a calmer place and I feel so much better. I can think more clearly and tend to work out any issues/problems that I may have while I knit. I come away with a calmer, clearer head and a project that I made with my own hands! How gratifying, right?
So why then do I go and try lace?? Lace knitting, however pretty it may be, is not the type of knitting I like at all. It requires great focus and concentration and it also requires knowing how stitches work with each other to create a pattern. Mess up this pattern and you'll be sorry. Ripping out lace is like folding a load of whites only to drop it in a puddle of mud soon after.
This is all stemming from a teeny tiny project that I decided had to be done for this weekend-actually today-a wedding garter. Found on the OldLaceKnitter's website, it is a very pretty pattern and I thought would be a quick one. No...no it wasn't. I was knitting with 00 size needles and had to do 22 repeats of this seamingly simple lace. It wasn't. My hands felt huge and clumsy and my level of frustration was building quick. The cotton crochet thread I had chosen was super-slippery and even though I was doing a pretty good job, it was going to require a pretty good amount of spray starch blocking for it to look anything like the picture-IF I made it in time....no such luck....
I gave up on that halfway through yesterday, opting to "design" my own garter instead. I thought I would prefer simpler lines on this garter-thinking that the pattern was a little too old-fashioned looking/cheesy. I switched yarns to some cleckheaton mohair-blend stuff (I know, what was I thinking???) and began again. My intention was to knit it all, block it and then add beads. Ambitious?? Yep...Oh, did I mention also that during all this I am sick with yet another virus caught from my youngest who insists on being super cuddly during the most snottiest of times?? Did I also mention that I still have to finish a pair of booties for hubby's coworker AND a HUGE amount of pre-work for an upcoming knitting class that I'm taking? Yes......ahhhhh....the stresses of knitting?
Which brings me back to my first thought-why do I knit anyway??
I laugh a little when I allow myself to get all bent out of shape and stressed over all of the knitting projects that I place upon myself. Will the world really end if hubby's coworker gets her booties at the end of the week? Is it really going to kill me to knit up 18 6 inch squares by 3/14?? I really need to calm down...
Which is what I'm doing now. My darling husband, who was sick-as-a-dog last week, has taken over the household-he even vacuummed!!! He has already fed the kids, brought me coffee, vacuumed the upstairs and is right now doing an activity with the kids while I lay here in bed typing out this post. Yesterday, I caught him folding the girls' laundry.....God, I love this man!!
So, for the rest of the day, I am supposed to catch up on much-needed sleep, drink tea, knit...read some magazines from last month that I never got to...knit...drink tea.....have soup and sleep. Not bad for a lazy Sunday...
Oh-about that garter...finished it and hubby declared it the most unsexy thing he'd ever seen. Good thing I didn't make it to the shower after all. It was today...:0)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Whoa, the wind!!!

Man! It's crazy windy here today in NEPA. Been a crazy few days, actually, most of the week. Got many things done though, including Valentine's Day gifts for daughter's pre-k class and her teachers. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of any of it so just believe me that it was a whole lot of stuff. The kiddos (29 of them!?!) got crayon heart necklaces, stickers, a valentine notepad, and some hershey kisses. We made the crayon heart necklaces by peeling, breaking, melting and then cutting with heart cookie cutters. They came out pretty and here is a pic of the extra ones...

I also knit up 2 beaded bracelets for the teachers-being a former teacher of little ones, I know and have a lot of respect for people who do a good job teaching this age group-it's exhausting. I wanted them to know how much I appreciate all of their hard work and quite frankly, who doesn't like a little jewelry on V-day?? Wish I had taken a pic but it was soooo busy here-it escaped me! Daughter decorated the box for the bracelets with sparkly stickers-she did a really good job too-but again, no pic.
We also made Valentines for Daddy-here is the one younger daughter worked on. She worked so hard!!

On tap for knitting now is the shop sample hat in Arauncania's Limari, which I am still trying to convince Wendy is NOT ugly. Hope the hat works....
Swatches for upcoming finishing class...
booties to finally sell on etsy (hoping to get these done soon)
bunnies for Easter for the girls...
Oh-been meaning to post a pic of this!! I made this little doggie collar from a book that I absolutely love called, "Bend the Rules Sewing" by Amy Karol! This book actually makes me feel like I can sew!! I have had experience sewing garments, handbag liners but am never really happy with the turnout, but this little doggie collar made me happy! Check it out:

This was given to my sis-in-law for her doggie, Samantha.
Also hoping to squeeze in a little needle felting but that may be awhile from now...
Just finished Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee's book, "Things I learned from knitting (whether I wanted to or not)"-LOVED IT!!! So funny so true!! I laughed out loud a lot!! Highly recommend this book for all knitters who are not too snotty to admit when they've just been idiots with their knitting!! This weekend, I hope to crack "Knitting, a novel by Anne Bartlett. I'll be in just the right setting-heading up to Vt!! I'm hoping to sit by the fire and read...knit...play with friends, eat.....sleep.....wake up and do it again!!
Sorry for quick post but I've still got a lot to do before this!! Yes, FINALLY-I am seeing improvments in the girls' health-knock on wood, ya'll!!!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Painting the snow!!





Yep-this is what we did yesterday on a rather mild 36 degree day here in NEPA. The girls were sick but I didn't think they were too sick to go outside for a little bit of color. They loved it!!

However, this AM proved me wrong (about them not being too sick). One doctor's visit later, and my youngest has pneumonia (!) and a double ear infection (!!) and the oldest has another sinus infection. I'm soooooo sick of being sick. Can you actually be allergic to your home?? Maybe we need to move here?



Anywhoo-going to sit with a good cup of tea for a bit and my needles-hoping to finish the baseball tee asap and CO for that arauncania hat I owe the yarn shop. Here's hoping! At least there is entertaining tv on tonight-AMerican Idol-holds my attention just enough to keep knitting through it. We shall see....

Monday, February 2, 2009

Sick....AGAIN!

Yep-we are!! This time, I believe it's my fault. I've had a very bad cold since last week (actually started two Friday's ago) and I think, due to the fact that the girls are with me all of the time, they couldn't avoid getting it. So, now they are home with green boogies and yucky coughs and I'm so, no pun intended, sick of us being SICK!! If anyone has any tips on how we can stay healthy, please comment! I'll take any tips I can get at this point!

Today feels rather mild out so I lowered the heat a bit and cracked the windows-yes, it's Feb 2nd, we live in Pa, and I have two windows cracked in my house right now. I'm hoping it airs out the germs...I keep checking the weather for this so-called "big storm" we are supposed to have and so far, all it says is, "snow showers???" So what? We get them almost every day?? What happened to "at least a foot or more???" Ugh....I was bankin' on another snow day for the hubby....oh well...Groundhog did see his shadow so I'm sure we'll have more days to come. Today we are going to make groundhog masks and pretend we see our shadows/we don't, make jello jigglers, use food coloring/water/squirt bottles outside in the snow to draw....hoping this is enough to keep them busy!! Pics to come later!

Onto knitting news....
Tonight is Scranton sit-n-knit. I think I'm going-as of right now, but we'll see how I feel later. I've been getting so tired (i.e GRUMPY) come 5pm that I don't know if they're going to want me there...I'm currently working on Tracy Ulman's Baby Baseball Tee for my husband's cousin's baby boy and I'm loving it so far!! I've made a few modifications, including a rolled hem at the bottom-I think it looks more baseball-shirt like....also am knitting in the round, using EZ's Knitting without Tears book as a guide. I really enjoy seamless knitting!
Also to be put on the needles:
2 beaded bracelets for DD's teachers at her new school (Valentine's Day)
Hat for yarn shop sample using Arauncania Limari....
booties to sell on etsy
booties for DH's coworkers

That's enough for now....more to come maybe later.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

;Snow Day! Knitting, soup and Popovers...

Yep-yesterday in NEPA, we had a snow day! I was so glad for this b/c we just switched my daughter over from public school to a really great private school and our schedule has been turned upside down. She had been going in the afternoons but now I have to wake her up at 6:30 AM to get ready and we are all not used to this yet. It was so nice to hang out in pj's all day.


So, I managed to get caught up on all of the laundry and some cleaning that really needed to be done. I also made this incredibly easy-but-oh-so-good potato and ham soup from our development's newspaper (yes, our development has a community newspaper) and popovers from this new magazine, called Wonder Time-a family mag that I have really enjoyed reading. The soup and popovers were a hit with hubby and me, but the kids only liked the popovers. For some reason, they are just not soup lovers....yet. I just love soup-could eat it anytime...makes for such an easy dinner too....I'll keep trying to convert the girls!! We'll see...



On the knitting front, I've been making these adorable baby boy sneaker booties from one of Ravlery's free patterns. I love these and will be making plenty more for gifts! These little cuties are for a new baby born in the family. Can't wait to send them along with baby baseball tee -again, a free pattern on Ravelry. Can you tell I just can't get enough of Ravelry?? LOVE IT!!!



Oh-just to mention also-did some work for 4 Corners Yarn store in Narrowsburg, NY. Ordered yarn for special orders and planned their upcoming sale for them. I love doing this work-gives me such good experience w/o any real $$$ responsibility of my own. I even get paid in yarn, not $$ so $$ is never exchanged. LOVE this! The sale will run this weekend thru Valentine's Day and will be a "Buy two, get one free" sale on select yarns-the Classic Elite yarns like Dutchess and Inca Alpaca, Inca Marl-all beautiful, would be my score if I was shopping. Dutchess is so gosh darn pretty!! Hope the sale gets a good turnout!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

hats, mittens and....



a clutch made from scratch! Yep, this one I'm winging-no pattern, just something that has been haunting me in my head for quite a while. DH and I have a "casino night" party to go to this weekend and the dress is "evening wear." So, I'm whipping up something cute, using black manos del uruguay yarn (does it get any better than manos???) and I haven't decided yet whether I will try out my new skills of needle felting or stick to what I know with a big 'ol felted flower in the front. I'm very excited about this clutch-hoping to have it gather even after felting and have a magnetic closure for the inside. We'll see...




Finally finished the mittens for the girls-here are some pics:


Love how these came out! I used Plymouth galway (which felts up so well!) for the top pair and Noro Silk Garden for the bottom-which didn't felt up as stiff as the galway, much to my initial dismay. Now, I'm fine with it-they are warm enough for older daughter so all is ok. She really loved that yarn and I had used up all of my kureyon so it was the only thing left. Been working from my stash anyway (who isn't these days??) so I was proud that I didn't just buy more kureyon.

Been a crazy few days here at home!! Went to Scranton sit and knit again on Monday and was shocked at the HUGE turnout! So proud of Amber who organized it all. I hope she realizes what a great feat she has accomplished! As one who has also organized knitting/crochet events, it is hard to get good turnouts around here...

Today we are home-bound-hoping to get some cute crafts in with the girls, caught up on the laundry/housework and of course knitting with some good hot tea...

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Catching up...

Well, we're finally on the mend here-still have coughs but everyone is getting back to normal routines. Youngest is about to finish her antibiotics and oldest is barely coughing so all is good. Now if only I felt better? Why is it that once they are on the mend, I collapse with symptoms?? My ears hurt, congestion and dizziness and overall, I just don't have the energy for much-but of course, I'm plugging along....like any other mother would. Hoping it'll go away soon....Today hubby and my oldest daughter got a snow day!! YAY! We're going to bake cookies, play with play dough, maybe get a sleigh ride in (down the driveway)...have cocoa....it's going to be a great day!! Hoping it doesn't rain like the forecast is calling for...

Well, to catch up-posted new projects on Ravelry-as usual, I've been knitting my little fingers off! Projects include: mittens and hats for the girls, beret from KnitandTonic who I love...if you don't know, she's knitting designer, Wendy Bernard and I love her designs!! Look her up! Her patterns are clear and precise and always very stylish.


Also, here is a pic of one of the stitchmarker sets that I made for a custom order that I had from Etsy. I love them and it was hard to see them go!


And finally-here is the pic of hubby's winter wreath! I love it!! I hope it lasts a while~~