What we did on our long weekend

Okay, so I'm a bad blogger again. Here I sit with all these pictures and I don't blog them. Bad blogger!

Have I been punished enough?

I have pictures :) Does that appease the blog?

Here we are arriving at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

The Sock was welcomed warmly. (That's my hubby's arm in that pic.)

Please note that in order to arrive for the opening which was at nine am. We got up and left our house by 6:00 am. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am SO not a morning person so it speaks volumes about me that I didn't hit our friend Jay at all that day, even though it was his idea to get up that early.

We met a knight (or kuh-niget if you are a Monty Python follower, specifically The Holy Grail)

It isn't really a knight. It was very warm out that day and anyone wearing this getup would have been passed out after about 15 minutes. It's a miniature suit of armor outside one of the many, many fabulous vendors.

We went on the Enchanted Forest/Secret Garden walk through the woods but the sock couldn't get close to the enchanted creature houses.

You can't tell from this picture but this house is about 4 feet tall at it's tallest point. It's absolutely adorable and there are several of these on the walk. There are signs that tell you about them and this one is the Bakery where I think a gnome is supposed to bake all night. It's super cute and even the kids love it.

Also while on this hike through the woods we saw this:

It's a door that leads right out onto a little pond. We walked over a really cute stone bridge over the pond. It's so beautiful and if we hadn't had about 18 children and their parents following us through the trail (please note there were several parents. It wasn't one family with 18ish children) it would have been very peaceful too.

I wanted to get a pic of me and hubby under this beautiful arch

Due to the excessive number of children behind us though, we didn't want to delay too long.

I didn't take a whole lot more pictures and for some reason, I didn't take any of the charming hobbit hole, but I did see some of these:

They had a petting farm with goats (as above) and sheep. One of the reasons they had sheep was this:

It's a sheepdog trial. Although I took several pictures while we watched this, I can't seem to see a dog and sheep in any picture. Oh well, the sheep are what you pay to see huh?

Overall we had a wonderful time. So much to see and so many people in amazing costumes. We are talking about making out own (okay, me making them) for next year. We'll see. No matter what though, it'll be a blast!

Tomorrow, what I bought (sadly, no yarn to be found although there were a few knitted projects but I didn't get any. I can't see spending $22.00 or so on a knitted hat when I can make my own. Sorry.)

P.S. You kinda don't feel as weird for taking pictures of a sock-in-progress while others are walking around in costumes.

New Things, Finally

Since I have this to show you:

It's the sweater for my niece's birthday which is in 21 days and it is DONE, done, done.

A closer picture? Sure. I'm feeling generous:

You can see the colors a little bit better in this one I think. Unless you look at it in very good light, like sunlight, you can barely tell the difference between the pink and the white, it's a very, very light pink. I like this about it. It has a rolled collar, cuff and hem and I think it turned out very cute. It's Red Heart Baby Teri so it's very soft and washable for her parents too. The pattern is sort of one from a Red heart Baby Teri book that I got on clearance somewhere.

Because I have that done and I frogged the diamond socks because I didn't like that pattern with that yarn, I also have this to show you:

It's the Yarn Harlot's Earl Grey Sock pattern. Only mine is for my husband's size 13 feet and it's knit out of Opal solid sock yarn in color: 1261. It's a very chocolately brown and I'm enjoying the pattern enormously.

My Earl Grey/Brown Socks are kinda stuck up though because they are insisting on activities. Tomorrow I'm taking them here: The Renaissance Festival

Wow, they sure are fussy, I don't know if I can keep them interested.

Okay, so last night at nearly midnight while making a grilled cheese sandwich, I was thinking about the similarities between grilled cheese sandwiches and knitting. Please note at this point that I think there is nothing strange about making grilled cheese sandwiches at nearly midnight nor thinking about knitting in relation to grilled cheese sandwiches at nearly midnight. Anyway, I was thinking that there is a certain art to grilled cheese sandwiches. Part of it depends on the consumer. Some people like them black as ash and very well done. Some people like them just barely toasted. I, personally, am somewhere in the middle. I like it a light golden brown with some meltiness of cheese but not overly toasted. The point and how it relates to knitting? Well, I think that designing knits are very similar. You want it to be interesting but not overly loud. I think we have all seen the awful, gaudy projects that none of us would ever make. But someone out there loves it and loves to knit it. Then there are the plain jane projects that make you want to gouge out your eyes with dpns but honestly, there are people out there who love that straight-forward, plain project. Me, again, I'm somewhere in the middle. I like something to keep my interest and yet, I like to have that plain jane knitting that you can do while watching a movie or something too. Honestly, it depends on so much, my current mood, the amount of yarn I have on hand and some idea of the yarn that will be required. The other day, just to use some good yarn that I have but only have a skein or two of about 6 colors, I almost convinced myself that I liked a 6 color fair isle sweater. Luckily I caught myself in time because unless that was absolutely perfectly designed it would be gaudy and I'm sorry, it was gaudy! That of course is my own opinion (and for discretion, I won't mention the pattern I was considering) Other people might think that my grilled cheese sandwiches are underdone or overdone. It's all perspective.
It got me to thinking that there's something in there about life too, but at nearly midnight, I try not to get that involved.

Huh, deep thoughts for over grilled cheese sandwiches at nearly midnight. Who would've thought?

Icky

I seem to have caught the mother of all summer colds and so, I am planning to lie on the couch with a cup of tea and knit the pink thing until I pass out from exhaustion. With this cold that happens about every two hours. Especially since I am sick of the pink thing and I'm bored with it.
Meanwhile, I tried setting a goal for myself that I would finish at least two projects before I started anything else and then I thought, why should knitting have all these strict rules. It's supposed to be a "hobby" (or lifestyle more like) after all and that implies fun. So, I promptly cast on another project. Pictures later when my head is less fuzzy.
I am, however faithfully knitting the pink thing as much as I can even though I'm starting to hate it with a passion.

Private Shame, now brought public

So, apparently, 'tis the time of year that all bloggers need to come out of the closet about how many works in progress are on the needles. At least I am in good company with this shame so here goes.
1.

What is it? It's a sweater for my niece's second birthday. Since the birthday is coming up in September, this needs to get finished or will not be gifted. The yarn: It's Baby Teri and kinda cute I just have pushed it aside for other things.

Like what you ask? Well, like this:

2.

What is it? It's a Fiber Trends Felted Clog. It's meant for my mother-in-law for Christmas so it is ahead of schedule, but since I intend to knit several more for the other family members on my husband's side and possibly some for my side of the family, I need to get going on this.

The yarn: Lion wool, it's not bad. I like the colors and I think it will look nice felted, I've just gotten addicted to knitting lace and this is the opposite of knitting lace. As it's knitted on size 13 needles.

3. The aforementioned lace:

What is it? The Mystery Stole 3. I am severely behind on this because I haven't been knitting it for weeks and now all the clues are out and I haven't even finished clue 3. Yikes, this needs help. I do want to finish it. I love being a part of a community knitting it all together and I love the yarn and the beading, it just requires some concentration, which I'm not always the best at.

4. (No picture available)

This is the main thing I have been knitting. It's pink and for a friend who just had a baby. It's not huge so I need to hurry up and finish it before the baby outgrows it. I can't post a pic since she might stop by here. I promise pictures when it's done.

5.

What is it? It's a funky knit-the-long-way scarf and hat of my own design. It's very strange and kinda cool, it's just been too hot for me to knit anything big like this. Plus, when it's over 90 degrees fahrenhiet who wants to think about winter?

6.

What is it? The picture is awful, I know. It's actually a toe-up white ribbed sock. I just started it the other day because I needed something to knit at the movies. I only plan to knit this when I leave the house. It's a good take-along, mindless knitting project. The yarn: it's just a baby acrylic that I thought would be nice for a tight-knit sock. We'll see how it turns out.

7. (Okay, this is getting embarrassing.)

What is it? Diamond Pattern socks of my own design. The pattern is modified from the Knitting Pattern calendar. I like them, but you have to pay attention to what you're doing so it doesn't make great take-along knitting. The yarn is Sockotta. It's very pretty and I think the socks will be really neat when finished. These are low on the priority list.

8. This is the last thing, I promise. And technically, I don't know if it should be considered unfinished.

The knitting part of this is done. It's my yellow Tesoro Sweater. I love it. So much that even though it hasn't been blocked and doesn't have buttons yet, the other day, I wore it anyway when I was cold. I want to finish it but I want to block it once the buttons are on and I haven't found just the right button yet. I just feel like they should speak to me and I haven't found any that have. The color of this picture does not do it justice. It's the most beautiful yellow you have ever seen. It's almost the same shade as a yellow post-it note and so soft, I want to melt into it.

Well, time to prioritize and figure out what needs to get finished.

Wow, does the time fly

I know, I know, I'm a bad blogger. I have had my days filled with friends' children and then with other activities. I have gotten some knitting done, but not enough to post about.
Meanwhile, we finally got the rain we've been needing for months. So much so that in the southeastern corner of Minnesota there's flash flooding and people have been dying. Scary how we can go from nothing to everything in such a short amount of time.
The only thing that saddens me about the rain is the gray dismal color of the sky for the past 3 days. It makes my energy level go ploosh down into the toilet. I have been sleeping like crazy but I also think I'm fighting off a cold so it doesn't surprise me.
Anyway, not much else to post about right now. Until later.
P.S. I promise I'll come up with some pictures soon.

Sort of a teaser

Stealth knitting for a friend who is actively on the internet and may stop by here keeps me from posting pictures and a number of family events lately has meant that there isn't too much to say about other knitting because I've been driving nearly all over the state of minnesota to all of these events. It's been great but very busy schedule.
I haven't done much on the mystery stole so I have just been setting aside the weekly clues to work on later. I really for sure want to finish it though, so it's still on my list.
In non-knitting news, I got the last installment of Harry Potter last weekend and read it yesterday. Yes, I finished it yesterday. Well, technically, I stayed up almost all night and finished it this morning. Less than 24 hours though. Totally worth being this zonked today. :)
Not much else to say. I'll be back another day with some pictures. Thanks for stopping by.

Whew, it's coming along

Well, I am doing okay on my Mystery Stole. It's actually very pretty.

The yarn itself is a sort of off-white color like a natural unbleached white and the bead I am using are an iridescent green. Kind of a lime green.

I just finished clue #2 and let me tell you that it was quite an adventure. I had finished clue #1 earlier and started clue #2. Then I found a mistake way back and couldn't fix it without ripping.

I frogged the whole thing and started over. Now I use a lifeline. (That's the dark line you see toward the needles.)

I like the pattern a lot. Even though it's quite a challenge for me and probably not something I would jump into unknowing again until I am more experienced at lace knitting. It's so soft and gorgeous that I can't wait until it's finished and I can wear it. Even if I don't have anywhere fancy to wear it, I am looking forward to the possibility.

Clue #4 is out and Clue #5 won't be posted for two weeks so hopefully, I will be able to catch up. I just have to get through 3 and 4. Four is actually two charts so it's almost like 2 clues. Hopefully, I will be able to not mess up horribly again.

Next post, the things I am neglecting in order to knit this lace.

Well, so far, so good

So I've been working all morning on the Mystery Stole 3

I've made it through Chart A of Clue 1.

I did have the 4-row tink of doom (as my husband named it.) when I accidentally got lost on the pattern and had to fix it.

Things I have learned:

1. Homemade stitch markers, while cute and fun should be tightly sealed so they don't catch your beautiful yarn.

2. Beads on lace knitting are very pretty but kinda a pain in the arse.

3. Paying attention to the chart is extremely important and you shouldn't get distracted.

All in all, it's a good experience and so far, I'm not having too hard a time actually knitting it. I'm actually enjoying it a ton. It's so beautiful (doesn't really look like it's knotted dental floss) and I can't believe that I am actually making something this gorgeous.

More later.

New Project

So, I found my new project. It uses this:

What is it?

It's called Indie II from little knits.

It's Cashmere/silk laceweight. It is the most fabulous, soft beautiful yarn that I have ever had next to my skin.

What am I knitting with it?

Mystery stole3

I signed up before the deadling (July 6) and have just been waiting for the yarn to come in the mail. I have not mentioned it because I somehow felt that it wouldn't really happen. I somehow thought I wouldn't really be able to knit this really fun thing.

The truth, now that I have my yarn in hand (and the pattern printed off and ready to go) I am terrified. I am not exactly a novice lace knitter, but I am not an expert either and this fabulous, beautiful yarn that I hold in my hand (I haven't been able to put it down since I brought it home from the post office which makes it interesting to type) is extremely intimidating.

Like, a lot. I am afraid I am going to mess up horribly and create some ugly, nasty thing out of this beautiful yarn about the size of dental floss. Someone, I need some encouragement!

Tell me, it'll be okay, I'll do a decent job and not end up with one giant "Mystery Knot"

Thank you.

Button, button, what kind of button

Well, the fabulous yellow surprise is done except that it needs buttons. I have to run to the yarn store later this week and find some and then it will be done being blocked and you will get to see the results. I am very happy with it and the only problem is...
I feel a bit lost now. I've finished a big project and I have to figure out what I should do next.
some options:
One of the many balls of sock yarn that I have on-hand
Finishing my niece's birthday sweater
A baby blanket for a friend who's due in a month (I'd actually better get on that!)
An already started hat/scarf set.
A funky yarn scarf with some Bling Bling yarn I recently purchased on sale.
Felted Slippers which are set to be Christmas gifts for many different people.
hmm, the trouble is that if I go stash diving to find the yarn I need for any one of these projects, I will end up with something else and start something that I don't really need to do.
Hmm, I'll keep you updated and get the pictures of the yellow surprise soon. :)

Oops, I forgot!

I totally forgot to post the picture of the completed Dulaan project hats.

Don't worry, they got mailed off in time.

Remember this?

The Beautiful 100% wool Tesoro yarn?

It is becoming something. It is about halfway done.

I'll just leave you on pins and needles until later.

Round and Round it goes

So, I am here and still knitting. As the deadline for the Dulaan Project fast approaches I am busily knitting hats. Since it was 100 degrees fahrenheit here with some butt-kicking humidity yesterday, does anyone else think it's unbelievable stupid to be knitting a wool hat?

This is the current hat that's on the needles.

I am itching to knit something else, I am sublimely sick, sick, sick of hats.

This is double knit so it's extra thick and warm and it pictured with my new Sheep tape measure.

I think he's very appropriate for measuring knitting projects.

I was so excited to do my posting but I just got a message that a family friend passed away and I just don't have the strength to finish this right now.

I will try to add more later.

Bad Blogger, Bad!

I am a horrible blogger. I have allowed life to get in the way of my blogging. No excuses. I was wrong and I need to get back to my blogging. If nothing else it keeps me honest about my knitting (what I've actually finished and what I haven't)

So, what have I been busy doing that I haven't blogged?

This is my cousin's wedding. He and his beautiful bride are dancing their first dance and they brought in their daughter to dance with them.

Sweet huh?

What else?

I don't have any pictures, but I helped a friend set up for a garage sale. (Okay, she's really more like a second mom.) She gave me a whole mess of clothes for my trouble, so I was happy to help and had a blast goofing off and setting up for the garage sale.

I got my hair cut.

It used to be extremely long (almost touching my butt) and I felt like a change so I got it cut.

(Please note that this is an AWFUL picture of me. I took it of myself because I was home alone at the time of the picture.)

Getting my hair cut was also because I was busy quitting my job!

When I got back from my gallbladder surgery, I decided it was time for a change. I have been stressed out with that job and unable to move into another position with that company for awhile now and since my husband works about an hour away from where we live and has to commute every day, we had been talking about what we were going to do. (Live somewhere in the middle, or move up to the other town or what.) It was time for a change.

Now I am taking a non-working break and then I will decide what I want to do with my life. (Wouldn't it be great if I could make a living lying around the house knitting all day)

Meanwhile, I am trying desperately to finish my promised Dulaan Hats. I need to get them out so they will receive them by July 1!

Plus my Local Yarn Store has reminded me that it's less than 200 days until Christmas. Talk about freak out! So, I am planning Christmas projects and what I will do once I finally finish the hats.

Fleece Artist as promised

So, does anyone remember when I said that I finished my purple fleece artist socks? I really did. Here are some pictures (finally)

You can sort of see the gorgeousness of the color in this picture.

I did manage to get a little cheapie digital camera so hopefully my pictures will improve.

Here is another picture of the socks:

You can see the pattern a bit better in these pictures.

It is from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush.

It's the Lichen Rib in the beginning of the book.

I am very happy with them. They are wonderfully soft and pretty.

I have been having some personal crises lately and so have not had a whole lot of time lately to complete other projects.

I promise, I will get better.

Hmm, Interesting

kalkette -- [noun]: A beat poet working the streets 'How" will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Sigh

So, you may be asking, what have you been doing lately? Here is a sample:

These are my socks in progress at the doctor's office.

This was prior to the surgery.

I had a picture of some other socks that were on a pillow, but they seem to have disappeared.

Meanwhile, I started some gorgeous Pomatomus socks.

Here is the first one to where the heel should start.


The cup is filled about halfway with some really strong coffee. I tend to agree with the Yarn harlot that when you are frustrated with the pattern, drinking a lot of coffee (or beer) helps you to figure it out.

Since it's eleven in the morning, I thought coffee would be safer.

It helped me to figure out the pattern.

Here is a close-up:

These were taken with my new digital camera. It's not a good one though, just a little cheapie, but it has gotten me started.

Now if I can just find out how to take some decent pictures with it.

I don't really think it's meant to take pictures of knitting. (Too close up)

At least you can sort of see the pattern in this pic.

The problem is that they won't fit. I absolutely cannot get them on. That's why they no longer have needles in them.

I have to rip it.

Grrrr!!!

That's why the title of the post is "Sigh" I am frustrated. That's why I took a short break to come and post.

Anyone have some more pain pills? I may need them. The ripping is gonna hurt.

I'm still here.

So, I am still here. I am recuperating from my horrific loss :) Just kidding. The surgery went fine so I am spending a great deal of my time knitting socks and resting.
I'll come over and post some pictures soon enough.

Not a nice surprise!

Good morning all! I am not having a good day. It started at about 12:30 am when I woke up from my one and a half hours of sleep with severe back pain. I didn't know what was wrong, heartburn or back pain, but I couldn't get it to go away. I took Rolaids, I tried stretching it out and laying all different ways. An hour after I took my Aleve and it still wasn't better, we decided to go into the ER (I just got home and it's 7:00 in the morning!). After urine samples and blood tests and x-rays and ultrasounds they found out that I have gallstones. My gallbladder will probably have to be removed. I have to go see my regular doctor for that though. Since I'm not supposed to go in to work today, I am gonna try to get in to see her today. It kinda freaks me out because I have never had any surgery of any kind but it's a fairly easy procedure so it should be okay.
Just a minor freak out
AHHHHH!
Ah, much better now.
Meanwhile I am on a no fat, bland diet. With plenty of fluids.
Talk to you later. I'm tired so I need to go get some shut-eye.

Mail Surprises

So, I went to the post office after work today to check my mail and what did I find?

The Summer issue of Interweave Knits and my first issue as a subscriber. It's so pretty and full of things I'd love to knit!

What else was in the mail?

This! It's the Socks that Rock Yarn in Lemongrass. Beautiful non?

Not a great picture, but I think I am getting a bit better at this whole pics with the cell phone thing.

I also need a bit of assistance.

I have 870 yards (10 balls) of this:

What is it?

It's JoAnn Fabrics Sensations Bellezza Collection. The Tesoro. It's a beautiful lemony, buttery yellow color and it's so soft it makes me want to weep.

It's also 100% Wool.

I am coveting this and I want to keep it for myself, but then what to knit?

Suggestions welcome.

On the way home from the store, I put this on the floor between the seats and I don't recommend putting new yarn in arm's reach while you're driving because I couldn't keep my hand out of the bag feeling it.

It's so soft and pretty!

Teaser

So, to keep you occupied while I don't show you what I am actually knitting, here is a picture of my cat. His name is Pheebs (like from Friends) and he is a bit lazy. You can tell that by the fact that we played a game of chess on him one day.

Yes, on him. We set up the board and the pieces and he didn't move until we actually moved the board about a half an hour later.

Satiated? No?!

Well, here is a tiny teaser of what I am currently knitting.

Gorgeous non?

It's the Fleece Artist Purple yarn. It's not a very good picture, hopefully it will look better when I show you the finished product.

On pins and needles?

Oh well, you'll just have to wait.

Still Here

Well, I am still here and still kicking. I have just been very busy. I went garage saling on Saturday and had a blast and got a bit of sun. Considering my very, very fair skin, I didn't do too badly. I'm only slightly pink.
I did get some knitting done, but I don't have any pictures yet.
Let's just say that it involves that purple fleece artist yarn.
You'll just have to sit on the edge of your seat until tomorrow.

Progress

Well, I am making some progress. Even though our nieces are here.

This is how far I am on the camo socks.

The colors are not lining up at all, but I think it's turning out okay anyway. I am past the heel turning and have just finished the gussets. I'm getting pretty far, despite my "helper". This is our niece Emma. A future knitter.

She "helped" me by pulling out a needle in the few seconds she had this in order for me to take the picture. Don't worry, I managed to get it put back in.

Well, I'm off to play now.

Distractions

So, today I was going to post a list of things to keep you occupied and keep you from thinking about knitting since I have been pretty boring lately. I have been mostly feeling better since this afternoon, but I am still really tired. I have a tooth that is hurting now. I can't believe it. I guess I will have to try to find a dentist. Meanwhile I felt a bit lost since I didn't have a current pair of socks started so I did this.
It's a pair of socks for my brother-in-law. It's made out of just boring old Red Heart yarn but it's in camouflage colored yarn because they are going to be for hunting. (I am also using acrylICK because they have two children and I doubt they would be super careful with not drying something in the dryer.)
I think this picture turned out much better than I have taken before. I may be getting the hang of this.
Notice that I am using 5 needles. I have tried the 4 style, but I always get ladders, no matter how careful I am, so I just use a 5 needle set. I kinda like that anyway because I can try them on and make sure they fit in progress. That doesn't really work if it's a triange.
We have our nieces over the weekend so I don't know if I will have time to post at all, so have a great weekend!

Weenie Wednesday

Well, since I have been sick and don't have any new interesting knitting (I am knitting dishclothes since that seems to be the only thing my puny phlegm addled brain can handle right now) I thought it might be HIGH time to show off the sweater I knit for my husband. He did get it before Christmas and it's not my best work, but he does like it. This is an extremely bad picture of him wearing the sweater.

Again, I apologize for the crappiness of the pictures I am currently taking. My next purchase will be a digital camera. It might even come before yarn at this point. Just so you can see the color close-up, here is another picture.

This one at least shows you the colors although it's still pretty crappy.

I am calling this post Weenie Wednesday because I am wussing out by showing you an old, finished project.

I frogged the self-patterning yarn socks again. I just can't get them to come out right. In the meantime, you will just have to hear about my boring cotton dishclothes :)

What day is it again?

Well, I'm still sick and I stayed at home again today. My phlegm has developed into a hacking gross cough that may be turning bronchial. I can't tell yet. Enough of the gory life details though.

If I can just get one uninterrupted night of sleep, I might be all right. (I'm sure I'll be all right. I'm just being a wuss right now.)

As promised here is the picture of the sweater I am knitting for my niece's birthday. It's not a very good picture. I will completely admit that. It's made of baby teri and it's got a white rolled hem and a pink body and then the sleeves will be pink and white striped. It's not exactly the way the pattern calls for. I am making it pink and white instead of mint and pink. It's a pattern especially for the Baby Teri that it is knit from and it's very cute. It will be even cuter on the young lady who will hopefully not outgrow it before I can finish it. :)

I should have realized that I am still sick when I tried to cast on for a new pair of socks and started over four times because I didn't like the result. I think they are okay now, but I am not sure. It's self-patterning yarn and I have seen the way that it should look and even though I'm getting gauge, I don't think it's coming out right.

Oh well, another day, another try.

Finished and loved project

Well, it's Monday and I think I may have survived the weekend. I'm not really sure yet as I haven't left the house in three days. Normally, this would have me feeling like a cooped up wild animal of some sort, but since this cold has knocked me utterly on my tuckus, I am mostly trying to just survive the day. The hacking cough and phlegm preventing me from breathing through my nose is lovely, let me tell you. I won't go into further details as it's rather disgusting. Suffice to say (In best whiny voice) "I don't FEEL well."

To keep you all updated and not bored. I will share a picture of the newest pair of socks. They are knit with Trekking XXL yarn on size US 2 needles.

I call them my harlotty trekking socks because I specifically went to the yarn store to find yarn that I thought looked "harlotty" to knit while going to the Yarn Harlot event. I tried to make them match and quite obviously (despite the poor color of the picture) they don't match. I decided I sort of like them that way. They are "quirky" Anyway, I love them with a kind of passion I reserve only for socks that don't match but that I have created for myself. They are beautiful and I will wear them with pride. Although maybe with pants so they don't show. Hee hee. (My workplace is an office and I feel these may be a bit too "unique" for the people that I work with.)

Stay tuned for a boring picture of the sweater I'm knitting for my niece's birthday in September.

Maybe if I just keep starting projects, I will have a reason to survive this phlegm and continue on with life.

Alive and Knitting

I am still alive and I'm here, still knitting. I have just been knocked flatter than a pancake by a nasty cold. I spent all day yesterday lying in bed knitting my little fingers to the bone. I thought I had better come back and give the photo I promised. Of the Fleece Artist yarn from the Yarnery (www.yarnery.com) It's so gorgeous and the picture doesn't even begin to do justice to the amazing colors of this fabulous yarn. I also bought a skein of lace yarn but I can't find the picture of that right now.

This yarn is so amazingly gorgeous I may just eat it instead of knit with it.

I almost started a pair of socks with the lovely purply plum one but I almost don't feel worthy of knitting with it.

I will eventually, never fear but I almost just want to hoard this and made it my little pet yarn. (hee hee I just typed yarn as yearn. Was that a Freudian slip or what). I'll keep you posted on the progress of these skeins as I decide what pattern to use for them. Meanwhile, wait on the edge of your seat for tomorrow when I show you the Harlotty trekking socks that I finished yesterday. (I call them this because I knit them at the Yarn Harlot event)

Firk, ding blast

Well, we went down to the twin cities in the nasty snowstorm in order to go to a funeral of a friend's father. The funeral was yesterday and my wonderfully talented hubby (I'm not biased or anything, I swear) sang. It was very sad and everyone, including him, cried when he sang Wonderful World. (Like the one by Louis Armstrong). I brought my Harlotty goodness socks along to knit in the car and they are coming along nicely (photos will come soon, I promise) but here's why the title of this post is Firk, Ding Blast! I think I may have lost my Baudelaire sock. The one that's finished. I had it in my overnight bag in a ziploc with the partially completed one and now the done one is missing. I'm hoping that I just left it here in the house somewhere but I'm very upset. It had better not be gone entirely!

In order to distract you from the very irritating fact that I lost my sock, I shall instead regale you with a picture of a quilted table topper that I made for my mother.

Her favorite color is fuscia and her kitchen is sage green. The colors aren't quite right in the picture but it's kinda neat and she loves it. It sits on her island in the middle of her kitchen.

Anyway, I'd better go. I'm off to a friend's house for some weeknight gaming.

It's FREAKING April Mother Nature

Apparently, it's April Fool's on all of us here in Minnesota as this is the current view out of my dining room window.

It's snowing like freaking no tomorrow and we are actually in a snow advisory!

It's craziness huh? Apparently I made some kind of mistake with the photo of the yarn because I never got it and so now I have to wait for the light to be better so I can post it.

I guess I'll just keep you on pins and needles til then.

Monday Woes

Okay, so I lied. I still haven't shown you the gorgeous colors of my new yarn. I took the pictures but they haven't come through my email yet. Stupid camera phone and it's junkiness. A digital camera is next on my list of absolute necessities.
I had a very busy weekend and I'm exhausted so I won't say much.
I finished the sock I was working on at the Yarn Harlot event and it's really exciting to think that I will always think of that when I wear the socks.
I gave my niece who is ten and my mom both knitting lessons this weekend so I'm surprised I was able to get any of my own knitting done.
This week will hopefully be a bit quieter. I could use a bit of rest. In the meantime, keep knitting!

Chock full of harlotty goodness

Well, I made it down to St. Paul for the Yarn Harlot's talk and book signing. http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/ It was absolutely amazing. Living like I do out here in the boonies of Minnesota, I feel like I am all alone but being in a room with 400 knitters made me feel like I was really a part of a community. It was so awesome. I had the most fun knitting ever. I got done with work at 2:00 and raced in the wintry, windy weather down to pick up my mother. I should note at this point that I thought I was dragging a crocheter into a large group of knitters (possibly to be mauled) simply because I wanted to have a navigatory in urban traffic. We streaked down to the spot and found a parking space. We walked the two blocks over to the yarn store that was sponsoring the event (The Yarnery, very cool store. If you're ever in St. Paul, definately stop in.) and I talked myself out of spending an obscene amount of money on yarns that I can't find in my very teeny local yarn store. We walked out of the yarn store in plenty of time so that we could walk back over to the auditorium where we would be seeing the Harlot. It was extremely cold and we stopped off at Starbucks for a cup of coffee on the way. We arrived at about 6:00 and the talk was scheduled for 7:00. Thank goodness that we were there early because we hadn't realized that we were supposed to have R.S.V.P.'d we got on standby. I got number 7 and my mom got number 8. We sat quietly in the hallway and waited to see if we could get in. I thought that even if we couldn't, we would at least still get to hear her from out in the hall and I could still get my book signed. I was feeling like, I hope I haven't driven all this way for nothing, but then we heard about two lovely ladies who had driven in from Boston. That's right, freaking BOSTON for the event. I didn't feel bad about maybe not getting in then.

We did get in and sat in the back. It was so much fun. She's a funny and realistic person. My mom even had a blast laughing and joking with all of us. After her talk and the questions, we stood in line to have my book signed and waited super patiently for that. I started to get really excited when we could see her at the front of the line.

She had her amazing bohus sweater with her and we got to see it. When she talks about fine yarn on tiny needles, she's not freaking kidding. I think I would have gone blind trying to knit that. Holy Cow!

I got my book signed and my picture taken with Stephanie. She is a super cool person and she seems like the kind of person that we would totally be friends with. (She's down-to-earth and loves coffee and chocolate, what's not to love?!) It's a bit weird to finally meet her in person because it feels like you already know her if you read her blog.

Tomorrow, I'll show you the yarn I got from the Yarnery. In the meantime. Here is the picture of me and the Yarn Harlot.

It was a total blast and made me feel like a part of something bigger. What an amazing feeling.

Time keeps on stitching, stitching, into the future

Well, it's already Tuesday and we're into April. Although, if you lived here in Minnesota, you would swear that it was January and not April. We got snow and sleet and nasty biting cold winds today. I swear someone tricked Mother Nature into believing that it is still winter. I am very excited because tomorrow I am leaving work early in order to drive down to St. Paul to see the Yarn Harlot (http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/) I have been reading her blog and books for awhile so I am super duper excited about this. I have even talked my mom into going with me even though she's not a knitter (only a crocheter).

I have been working on many projects including several pairs of socks like the Baudelaire Sock from Knitty.com. I love it. I am doing it in a stretchy pinky purple sort of yarn that I love and one sock is finished. I love it and can't wait to finish the other. As you can see though, I haven't gotten very far on the second one yet. I must be having "start-itis" right now because I just keep starting new things instead of finishing what I have started. It's just too much fun when you get new ideas.

Oh well, such is life. Until later.