Knitter in Progress

Secret Pal Package #2 Okay--I just may have the coolest secret pal ever. I got my last package on Thursday, but saved the post for today because of it's theme--Halloween. I got two balls of a fabulous merino/alpaca/silk blend(which may very well become my Log Cabin socks), some DMC floss in Halloween colors, some Jelly Bellys, some tic tacs(orange of course), some Halloween themed hankies, a LOTR bookmark(loving that, by the way), some stitch holders, some stitch markers(which Little Diva loves because she is learning how to read and they spell knitting terms), and possibly the coolest bit of all--all the fixins I need to start beading(what will I be making--stitch markers of course). And she packaged some of this glorious booty in the very cool pumpkin bag(which Little Rage keeps carrying around and yelling, "Scarey!!" at the top of his lungs). You ROCK, Secret Pal 'o Mine!!!

As a reward for finishing my NaNo novel(I gotta have some incentive you know), I'm going to add another project to my stitching list at the end of November(if I make it to 50K, that is). I may need to order fabric and/or get more floss so I'm planning ahead. I'm leaning somewhat towards Motherhood as I already have the fabric for it, but I'd love to hear some opinions. Before you comment, let me just say that I LOVE all three of these, but there is no way I'm starting all three--one is enough until I finish something else. Motherhood: Artist Selina Fenech, charting HAED I just love this picture; I have even thought about purchasing the print. To me, it captures that feeling you have with your newborn--the peace and beauty in having been blessed with something so miraculous. Storykeeper: Artist Selina Fenech, charting HAED When I first saw the print of this, it spoke to me. Reading teacher, recreational writer, English teacher. . .this captures all of that f...

Log Cabin Sock Here's my contribution to Socktoberfest--hopefully, I'll have its partner done by Monday. It's the Log Cabin Sock from Handknit Holidays--awesome book, by the way. I made it with Cascade 220 on sz. 6 needles. These are the men's size--they are for my husband to keep his feet toasty this winter :) Happy knitting, stitching, and reading, aloha:) Today's "Stitching Blogger's Question" was suggested by Outi (http://www.livejournal.com/users/snowprincipessa/ ) and is: Have you ever stitched something as a gift and later realized that receiver doesn't respect your stitched gift a bit (for example it's never on show, or you have other reason to suspect that it may even be nonexistent or at least placed in some dark storage room corner)? I usually only stitch or knit gifts for family and/or people I am sure are going to give the piece the proper respect it deserves. If so, what have you done? If you've been lucky enough to avoid ...

I have been stitching for most of the week and this is what I have to show for it at the end of the weekend. It's not as much as I'd hoped, but it's quite an accomplishment considering that Little Diva was off from school this week and I couldn't stitch everyday. The big revelation of the week for me was "parking" --if you're stitching a monster piece like this that is chucked full of "confetti" then you definitely need to learn how to park(at least in my opinion). I had never tried it before(I didn't really understand the description), but after reading the above linked post, it just clicked. If I hadn't been "parking" this week, I would have gotten about half of what I've accomplished done. I am a parking convert and I will sing it's praises from the roof tops--to anyone that cares about these things anyway ;) Let me put it in perspective, last month I stitched about 2500 stitches(for the entire month)--last week...

9 years ago today my first babies were born. They are twins--a boy and a girl--and they are their mother's only children because she started hemorrhaging after they were born and had to be fixed. I adopted them when they were 12 weeks old. I had done months of research into exactly what I wanted and that's exactly what I got. These two kiddos have really traveled the US--Texas, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, and Hawaii(including an excruciating one month quarantine)--if only they could get frequent flyer miles. They are spoiled rotten and they know it. They have put up with countless hours of screaming and craziness that their human siblings inflict on them daily and they never complain(although they do hide under the bed quite a bit). They were my first big purchase after I got a "real" job. So today on your 9th Birthday I salute you both--Dreamkatcher's Bailey and Dreamcatcher's Kahlua(AKA BB and Cracky(as in crackhead--if you met her you'd ...

I have added yet another knitalong to my list. It's been a while since I have knit socks and frankly I am having sock withdrawal. There are a few that I've had my eye on: Mim's Razor Shell Socks , quite a few pairs from Sensational Knitted Socks, and I'm sure there will be a bunch in the new Nancy Bush book(which should be arriving here within the next week). My newest knitting love right now is handknit HOLIDAYS--what an awesome book. I am doing my Socktoberfest socks from a pair in this book. Anne Woodbury's Log Cabin Socks to be exact--we're not slipper people, but a thick, toasty pair of socks to pad around in. . .that's nirvana :) Don't be turned off by the book jacket of this book--that hood thing on the cover is weird at best--remove the jacket and there is a very decent picture there :) For those of you who didn't know me last year(pre-blog days), I thought it would be a great idea to knit everyone socks for Christmas and I was also kn...

I feel like I'm finally making some progress. I know that every time I knit I am making some progress, but when I actually finish a part of something THEN I feel like I am really progressing :) One Sleeve Done I'm limping along on my second Rogue; it's only taken me, what, two months to complete one sleeve. But that's okay; I raced through the last one and I really don't mind taking my time with this one. Little Rage's Sweater(back) I finished the back of Little Rage's sweater this week. It's a Debbie Bliss pattern from one of the "Knitting on the Go" books. I wasn't sure if I liked the cabled rib on the top but it's kind of growing on me. I'm using Plymouth Encore; I love this yarn for kid's stuff. It's not too expensive, it knits up well, and it holds up to washing well. This week will be mostly a stitching one--I'll knit if I need a break :) Well, it's off to get some haircuts. Let me just fill you in on t...

I got a box from my Secret Pal today!!! Let me just say, it was AWESOME!!! I got the cutest card(even the envelope had a sheep on it!), an awesome hula girl postcard, some post-its with my first initial, 4 tropical ocean blue stitch markers(I'm a total stitch marker addict), A Treasury of Rowan Knits(I've already found about 15 things I love in this book and that was just on a quick flip through), and 3 skeins of NORO!!! I have been wanting to knit a booga bag and now I have just enough yarn to do it!!! This was way above and beyond my expectations--thank you so much! aloha:) Thanks bunches!

I know it's only the middle of October, but already I am thinking ahead. About Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping, holiday weight gain. . .Nope(well maybe a little). I have decided to take part in the mental marathon also known as "National Novel Writing Month". Which means that my posts in November will probably be less frequent than they are now: (1)because I'll be using my computer time to write, (2)because I will have minimal knitting/stitching progress(see #1), and (3)because my family will need some time to bond with their sleep deprived, caffeine fueled, zombie of a mom/wife(see #1). I figure that most of my writing will have to be done at night after the kiddos are in bed; so it's time to stock up on coffee, tea, and diet Pepsi. But what an accomplishment it will be if I can complete the challenge. Any other aspiring novelists-to-be willing to take the 50,000 word leap? Today's "Stitching Blogger's Question" was suggested by Outi (http...

Okay, there is no knitting or stitching content in this post--I just need to blow off steam. There are two days a year I like snow--Christmas Eve and Christmas Day--that is it. What am I looking at right now on Columbus Day? At least 6 inches or more of snow!!!! I HATE SNOW!!! I have hated it ever since I had to trudge through feet of it to go to school(elementary through high school), since I have had to brush it off my car 2 or more times a day(when I started working), since I have had to drive through lake effect(also numerous times), and since I have had to shovel untold feet of it on numerous occasions. The only time snow is cool is when you get to look at it but don't actually have to deal with it. Moved to Texas in 1996--no snow and if it "slushed" which really, people, is what you see in Dallas; everything closed--so I didn't have to go out in the snow. Moved to Hawaii in 1998--well, duh, totally no snow there. Moved to Utah in 2000--lots of snow in the m...

Sirius Stern Ramone Black Here is my Sirius Black--I went a little crazy with the hair--I used almost a whole ball of Patons Cha Cha. I was just having too much fun to stop. To me he looks more like Howard Stern or Joey Ramone, but I'm sticking with Sirius. My Little Diva has commandeered Sirius as a "husband" for her shoebox doll that I made earlier--they are quite the pair: Sirius and Ribbon(her doll's name). So the hardest things for me are faces--it is really hard to put a good looking face on a knitted item. I really kind of like making dolls though--it lets you experiment with things on a smaller scale. Anyone besides me getting anxious to see Goblet of Fire? Isn't it supposed to be out next month? Here is a picture of my feet for Miriam --she'll have to explain why she wants them. Can you see the tan lines my Birks leave on me feet(not that anyone would want to look that closely at them)? my feet So on this week's needlework horizon: Cros...

Preemie Pumpkin Patch My preemie knitting is done, boxed, and ready to head out in the mail tomorrow morning. I knit the 3 smaller ones first and when I finished the biggest one(sized for a newborn)it felt HUGE! It was so much fun; I only wish I could see the ICU with all those preemie pumpkins Halloween week :) In a few weeks I'll start the holiday preemie hats. Anyone who is interested in knitting preemie stuff feel free to join us on the preemie project(link in the sidebar). Happy knitting, aloha :) Today's "Stitching Blogger's Question" was suggested by Bea (http:// beastitching.blogspot.com") and is: When you have almost finished a pattern and start thinking about the next one to stitch, how do you select it? (a list, most recent purchase, etc.) Well, usually I don't wait until I finish one project if I want to start something else then I do--I mean check out everything I have in progress it's getting a little ridiculous :) I usually am draw...

Arwen and Aragorn have made an appearance this week. This is my first month's progress(mind you, I have not worked on it everyday; I have aimed for a couple of days a week). I have (almost) half of page 1 done--hurray!! It would have been the whole half page but the single thread over 1 combined with a large area where a color is used only once has really slowed me down. Celebrate the little victories, I say: 10/2 Progress This week is going to be a knitting week for me. I want to work on most of my works in progress. With Rogue, all I have to do is the shoulder shaping and I'm done with the first sleeve. My Sirius Black needs arms, a leg, hair, and a robe(which I'll have to make up as I go along--the doll itself is a modification of another pattern). Little Diva's "Queen of Hearts" scarf will see some action--so I can keep up with my two handed knitting skills. Preemie knitting will be slipped in there and I'll be sending in my pumpkin donation by ...