Knitter in Progress

Before I go into my weekly memes, I just have to say that---I GET TO GO SHOPPING TOMORROW!!!! Yarn shops here I come :) Onto the task at hand: Today's SBQ was suggested by Carol (http://carolsxsblog.blogspot.com/) and is: Have you ever participated in a needlework mystery (i.e., a design that you started before knowing how it will look in the end and by which you receive parts of the design via the internet, magazines, or leaflets at spaced intervals)? If so, why did you decide to do the mystery? What appealed to you about it? Did you enjoy it? If you have not done a mystery, would you ever do one? I have not participated in a needlework mystery before. I do not think that I ever would--stitching is so time consuming and it would be a real waste of time if you ended up not being able to stand the final product. I do enjoy seeing others progress on mystery pieces though--it is fun to see the pattern develop. Booking Through Thursday Today's questions were suggested by Christi...

Since the month is almost over I figured I had better post about the red that I live with. Actually there is a lot more than what is pictured--I had thought about pulling all my books with red on them, all my CD/DVDs with red, photo albums that are red, etc. That would have necessitated a lot of time going through boxes in the basement, so I scaled it down a bit. Red(blanket, bedding, coat, backpack, felted bag, phone, comb, needle case, pens/markers, needles, birdhouse, yarn, 2 hats, Rogue, water bottle, plus much more not pictured) My favorite drink: Passion Iced Tea Lemonade And Little Diva's room is done in ladybugs.

Gifties I wanted to take some time to publicly thank Stacey and Cynthia for my birthday gifts. Cynthia got me a gift certificate to a cross stitch shop(and I see some silk/specialty threads in my future) and Stacey got me that luscious ball of Trekking. As you may or may not know I have been having major sock yarn withdrawal recently and Trekking has been at the top of the list(I just love some of their colorways). I want Stacey to know that the Trekking made the trip with me to NY(I just couldn't leave it behind, much like Rage and his blankie I just couldn't be separated from that yarn for a while). I'm so enamored of it that I cannot even begin to think about knitting it up yet :) Thanks to both of you--it really made a tough time just a little more manageable.

Week 13 of 13--can you believe it? REMEMBER: We actually have to make it through Friday, March 31 at midnight--I have the utmost faith in those of you who have made it so far. I will run through the remaining Stashalongers on Saturday, April 1 so if you have any closing thoughts or want to share some yarn purchases made on Saturday then post it or leave me a comment(listing what you have finished--as some of you already have or showing how your stash has decreased is a good start, I think). Thanks to each and every one of you for joining me in this madness(yes, even those of you who jumped ship--you tried and no one can fault you for that). I have enjoyed joining up with old friends and meeting some new ones on this 3 month journey--you are quite a talented bunch! Onto the update: Good gravy people!?!?! I disappear for a week and look at the carnage I come back to?!?! The final moment of silence(hopefully): Kat Kate Margene Nicola Stephanie Susan Wanda Winnie Kim : Let's se...

Last Wednesday(March 22) was my one year anniversary as a blogger--whoohoo!! I think I have come a long way since I started and I still have quite a way to go to get things going the way I want them. An interesting side story to the date of my first post. On March 22, 1985 my husband asked me to "go out" with him--we were in high school at the time. We have been married 7.5 years, but we have known each other forever it seems. Honestly, the date didn't even play into my mind when I started the blog, it just occurred to me as I sat down to write this. Lifted from xsaddict : A is for Age: 37 B is for Booze: Currently, Captain and Coke, but Long Island Iced Teas are fine too! C is for Career: Reading Teacher, Mom, Wife D is for Dad's Name: Robert E is for Essential Item to Bring to a Party: A yummy dish to pass F is for Favorite Songs at the Moment: Metal(Nine Inch Nails) G is for Goof-off Thing to Do: Knit or Stitch(preferably with friends) H is for Hometown: Lockpo...

Stashalongers : there will not be a post this Tuesday and you have my deepest apologies for that. My Grandfather passed away this morning and I need to get to NY. Everything should be back to normal for our Week 13 of 13 post on the 28th :) I know a few of you have jumped off the wagon and I'll have all that in my post next time. Thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes--he passed peacefully in his sleep and I think that's the best way to go. If there is a lighter side to this, my husband will be alone with my kiddos for more than 12 hours for the first time. You have no idea how badly I want to hide cameras around the house to see what goes on. Happy knitting everyone--no jumping off the wagon while I'm gone! Stacey and Cynthia --my gushing post about your very generous and much appreciated gifts will be up before I go--hopefully! If not then it will be up as soon as I get back :)

Thanks everyone for all your prayers and concern for my Grandfather--it really means a lot to me. He's still in the hospital and they are waiting for test results on his kidney function(which should be in tomorrow)before deciding how to proceed. If his kidney function isn't getting any better, then his time is almost up. He's lived a long life(how many people have seen what he has in his nearly 100 years?)and in all honesty he hasn't been happy since my Grandmother passed away 15 years ago. If this is indeed the end of his life, then I hope it is relatively quick and painless for him. It's been hard for my sister(in Texas) and I because we are so far away and aren't really in a position for an extended trip home. We figured the best we could do was have our other sister and our father relay our messages of love to him. We will fly in if he passes away so that we can be there for our father(he's an only child and this is his only remaining parent--it...

Week 11--can you believe it?! I can tell you that I am reaching the breaking point--I have an overwhelming need for sock yarn--NEW sock yarn. But I haven't caved yet and I'm sure I won't; it's just getting tough that's all. I found a new KAL that goes hand in hand with my personal Stashalong goals: You know the drill--a moment of silence please: Hayley Brianne Justsewcrafty Ronda Kim : Answer me this: Why can't I finish Rage's sweater? All it needs is seaming--not even all the seaming; just one side? That is my mission for next week. Amanda : 5 out 25 for WTW, 2 scarves for WTW, and began a granny square blanket. Andrea : nothing to report. Ann : finished a cute crocheted kitty, wants to start a prayer shawl, and some fingerless gloves. Cynthia : finished her Noro Shrug, is off to NYC for an interview(and possibly and Stashalong downfall), and has 7(or maybe more) WIPs. Deena : still working on Shani(hope the sleeves workout soon), is working on ...

Okay, I'm not really into making my blog a forum for my personal beliefs, but this article is SO true. It really makes me weep for the future of this country. Every parent should read this and think about how things where when you were in school as opposed to how you respond to things today with your own children--are we helping or hurting them? From a teacher's point of view I have one opinion and from a parent's point of view I have another(well, actually they are kind of similar, but it is really hard to put your foot down with your own kids sometimes). I can't tell you how many teenagers I have personally worked with who have ZERO work ethic--I don't intend to have mine join that group. Today's SBQ is: Do you have an organizational system for your patterns? If so, how do you organize them? If not, have you considered organizing them ? I have no organizational system for my cross stitch patterns. I have them separated into stuff I am doing, stuff I real...

Your Irish Name Is... Avril Kirwan What's your Irish Name?

Stashalong --the joyous journey continues. If you are interested in continuing or spreading the madness, I'll have a post up at the Stashalong's new home in the next couple of days. You are, of course, welcome to join up anytime(and in the new format you only have to do a month at a time--which I plan on utilizing when I have a project I really want to get done--but I'll be taking at least a month off first). Two more have sailed off into the yarn buying sunset--so you know what that means, right? Another moment of silence--- Teri Eva Onto the update: Kim : The Sweetheart Gryffindor Hat is done :) Gryffindor Sweetheart Hat(in toque form) Gryffindor Sweetheart Hat(in regular form) and in the background the reason today's post was late :) Amanda : finished Cinnamon, is working on a WTW blanket that doubles as a Project Spectrum project, has a list of projects to be started for this month, finished a couple snowflakes and a meditation mat. Andrea : nothing to report....

The votes have fallen as follows: FOR: 5 AGAINST: 3 Since I said that majority would rule on this I'd say that you can join STR(or any other "club" in deference to Cynthia's comment) without getting booted. That being said, Joanne , Cynthia , and Andrea made me feel really guilty about the whole thing SO I am NOT going to act on the club thing until Stashalong concludes. Thanks for helping me stick to my guns, ladies :)

Today's SBQ was suggested by Cheryl and is: What cross-stitch magazines or other publications (as opposed to blogs) do you read on a regular basis? What do you like about them? What do you not like? What would your perfect publication include? I actually do not read any cross stitch magazines currently. I used to subscribe to "Just Cross Stitch" and occasionally I would get some of the British cross stitch publications, but, honestly, they didn't really have a lot of patterns that worked for me. I've grown tired of cute patterns, kitchen patterns, and simple stuff. I have entered a big a$$ project phase and there aren't any publications that cater to that. I think that at this point I would prefer a publication that had more informative/historical articles--I would rather learn about the history of stitching and techniques than to thumb through pages of tiny, simple designs. Booking Through Thursday Today's questions are from Marie . Thank you! Do you...

Today is a big day at the KIP house. Little Diva turns 6 today! That's right, six years ago today I was in Queens Medical Center in Honolulu with two of my friends in the very beginnings of labor with Little Diva. DH was in Arizona at the time and had to fly back before she was born(if you know how long that flight is you'll understand why it was a stressful situation). He made it with hours to spare as I had to push FOREVER to get her out. Little Diva has school so there won't be much partying today(although she is taking a treat into school). After school we will go out to dinner then it's off the see the Avalanche play! Tomorrow she does not have school SO we are taking some of her friends to lunch at her favorite restaurant(McDonalds) then it's off to Build a Bear workshop. She informed her father and I that she wants inline skates and sunglasses and she needs to pick them out. So we will squeeze that in at some point too. Happy Birthday, Little Diva! Six...

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