catchin' up

Lest anyone think I've been up to nothing (or no good) I thought I'd post some pics of WIPs


The recent Lizard Ridge block in color 148 lot A

I was up in the air about what scarf to make my pop for Chrismtas this year. At first I thought something with a cable to match the hat I made him last year, but I don't have enough of that particular colorway so I opted for something that would compliment instead. It came down to a choice between Grumperina's Shifting Sands scarf and the My So Called Scarf. The latter won out (it fits wiith the 100purewool that I wanted to use better) I really love this pattern, it's a brainless knit. I was going to use chocolate fantasia, but opted for aquisgran instead. This stitch pattern really uses the varigation to it's advantage. I think it would make a great dishcloth pattern too :-) At any rate, I wanted something cozy and soft for him. He's so sensitive to wool. (If you don't recall, I lined knitty's coronet with fleece for him last Christmas)

i did some spinning last night as well. I'd like to finish the Targhee, but the entire fleece isn't ready (still flicking and carding to go) I have 2 or 3 more fleeces to wash (let's not talk about how many need to be carded. And I just 'won' 1 pound of white BFL top off ebay. I'm going to start dyeing the top that I have before I spin it to see if I can make a more interesting yarn. I've been loving what jared has been spinning with roving (check out 8.24.07 entry) from spunky eclectic.

In yarn acquisition show offs Both of these are from ebay:
4 skeins of malabrigo in an olive green color. I see some manly gifts from this... maybe has, mittens and a scarf?

And 3 skeins of Noro, one of which I'll use for Lizard Ridge and the other two????

Slowly but surely, the stash is being put up on ravelry.. it's almost sinful... OK it is sinful. I've started to queue projects, my books are up and my FOs are getting there. Hopefully before too long I'll be caught up so I can play (and knit) more!

Blogiversary

I can't believe it's been one year!

And I have not much to post... One mitten is almost done. I'm working on another block for Lizard Ridge and I've been putting up my stash at ravelry.

In a totally non-craft related thing, today we went to CelticFest. I wish I had remembered to take my camera with me. I've never seen so many men in skirts in one place before in my life. Plus I think the entire Lehigh Valley was there (OK not really, but there were LOTS of people and way more babies) At least the weather couldn't have cooperated more... a gorgeous day. They claim that more beer is drunk there in this one weekend than the entire 10 days of Musikfest... not surprised..the latter has become a haven for teenages, who at last count shouldn't be drinking beer! We listened to bagpipe bands and other Celtic music... the boys petered out (no naps) so I walked home with them (on the wagon) and DH stayed with DD to watch the Irish dancers.

Every day it seems I get this from my garden:
Of course this is what was left after we hit up the basket hard... They are tasty... Wish I had planted sooner, cuz I'm afraid the harvest won't be much longer.

no surprise here!

I am 83% Addicted to Coffee

I'm havin' some joe right now!

how many pointy sticks

does it take a knitter to make gloves?


well this one uses too many. I need to put the unworking stitches on a circular, less points to jab myself with. But I have to say I'm loving those 5" for doing the fingers... works out much easier than with the 7" that I used last year. Yes, E, if you're reading this, it IS your Christmas present... the knitted finger you see is the trigger fingers. The rest will be made for the convertible glove/mitten part and the left hand will be completely convertible. Hope you like them my dear!

Other news.... the plumbing is fixed (cross fingers please) THe plumber has been to my house 4 times in the past 2 weeks. Twice because of back-up in the toilets and shower in the basement and off-kitchen bathrooms, once to check out the leak inthe bathroom tub that made the dining room cieling start to fall (yes... that's fixed now too thank you very much... should have taken a picture when the hole was still there!) and once to put a camera down the main to check to see if there were any problems that could be related to the first and third visits.... He's a nice man, but I hope I don't see him again for quite some time.

ON the LIzard Ridge front, I finished square #2. I was going to frog it, because I wasn't sure I liked all the greens together. But now that it's finished, it's growing on me.... I like how it's almost symmetrical
I almost have enough skeins of Noro to complete this project now :-) All I need is the time LOL

I've been spending way too much time on ravelry, just trying to get my stuff up. I started taking new pictures of the stash, because of the way that whole area is set up. What a great website... have I told you that I love it there?

DD and I went to Michael's to get ribbons that I needed for school on Sat. Serendipitously they were on sale :-) so I had to use my 40% off coupon from ACMoore for something else. I bought Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge. THey didn't have much of a selection and that book has been on my list for quite some time. I also bought a skein of Bernat bamboo yarn (also on sale) to try out.

I volunteered for the crisis committee for our teacher's union. I hope that it is time spent that we really don't need....


And last but not least, my periodic insomnia kept me up last night... at least I worked on this:

just a bit

before bed.

I had to take pictures of the muffins from yesterday before they were all gone. DS2 first complained about the 'rocks' on top, but now it seems he can't eat enough! Kids are so funny. They are really tasty though, I have to say. Here's the recipe:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 5 bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup organic sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup oil (I used vegetable, but you could use safflower or corn)

• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers or use those nifty silicone trays.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven), until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.


The wool I dyed yesterday is dry. So I took the opportunity of being awake and feeling a bit better to wind it into cakes. I'm calling this colorway "berries in the snow" I think it will make a beautiful shawl for mom. I'm between the clapotis and spunky eclectic's show your colors... guess I better decide since it's on the to do list for a Christmas gift.

I'll take pics of the other goodies I got later (maybe tmrw) since I should try to get *some* sleep tonight.

Happy crafting

socks 2

Well I finished the second pair of socks Saturday evening.

Pattern: Yarn Harlot's Sock Recipe from Knitting Rules
Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta
Color: 6669 Fair Isle
Needles: US2 DPNS

Note to self: when using self patterning fair isle yarn, DO NOT do ribbing... it loses all the effect. At least the toe and the bottom of the foot look good! At least they're comfy and I do like the colors.

I've been putting my stuff into ravelry and looking at other people's which has been sucking up computer time like crazy. That site is completely amazing though. I really do *heart* ravelry

I have a picture of my poncho that I took for ravelry. It's nowhere near finished, but almost halfway. It will eventually be a long rectangle that I'll sew the one end to the opposite side. Clear as mud? Then hopefully pick up stitches around the neck to make a mock turtle. That's my plan at least. Remember, I'm making this one up as I go.

DD and I were home sick today... fever and aches... nothing serious, but enough to put a damper on work. I kept DS2 home from daycare as well. I got a burst of energy at about 12:30 and made banana muffins and dyed up some laceweight wool....then I petered out. Thankfully DH went to collect DS1 from school.

Oh and the mailman has been very good to me of late :-) My love2knit dishcloth exchange package came today. Opening day is the 15th so you'll see it then. Also got some yummy wool that I bought from ebay.

I'll post pics of the wool and muffins tmrw. I'm packing lunches, cleaning up the kitchen and going to bed.

happy crafting

Ravelry, I love you

and spend far too much time there. I haven't gotten all my stuff up yet, but I've been perusing as much as I can. This is such a fabulous place for we fiber freaks. My id is craftycarole there so give me a holler if you're on!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow

cuz I think my ravelry invitation will be here then:

You signed up on June 29, 2007
You are #11554 on the list.
86 people are ahead of you in line.
20134 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far


crossing my fingers... not like I have any time before the weekend to do anything about it though....

Happy Birthday Mom!

You deserved a great day. Hope there's many more healthy ones for you!

This is yours:

Pattern: Birthday cake by Kim for Monthly dishcloth KAL
Yarn: Lily Sugar and Cream
color: Wine
Needle: US6 Bamboo

This has been a super long week and I'm too tired to write about it..just suffice it to say that there was enough stress this week to drive me insane! Glad the week is over.....



Happy crafting!

patience...

wish I had some. I think mine is all spent between my kids at school and my kids at home, that there isn't any left for tedious projects of my own. Like figuring out what the heck I did to make this:


Pattern: my own invention
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Color: Pumpkin (how appropriate, no?)
Needles: US6 (I used my KPOs... should have used bamboo)

So I made it up as I knitted and since much of that time was while I was holding the door open for the cherubs at the school I work at, or while watching a movie with DH.. I didn't write it down as I went and I'm either too lazy or just don't have the patience to figure it out now...... I thought I would, but I don't I tried twice and frankly, I'm not that interested! Maybe the mood will hit me before I mail it out, but I kind of doubt it. Of course, I could just keep this one and mail out another cloth that I have to her. hehe I just finished it tonight. Now to finish the food item.... I want to mail it all out on Saturday so I can get back to the regularly scheduled knitting and life! Do you think it's worth the time to sit down and count the knits and purls so I can replicate it? or should I just make it up again later?

Two meet the teacher nights this week... UGH... I drove 80 minutes and sat in my room for another 80 for 5 parents to visit on Tuesday and 3 to visit on Wednesday. I ask you, is it truly worth it? Not to mention the havoc it wreaked on my family Tuesday evening....

DD has been complaining of headaches but only at school... is it a ply to get out of class or is there really a problem?
DS1 is worried that he's going to 'get in trouble' His teacher says he's doing great....
My kids want me to homeschool them and I so wish I could. I think they have the fantasy that it would be all play though... and lots of TV and movies.. They'd probably want to go back to their regular school after a day with me as their teacher.

We started listening to Holst's The Planets today. He's my composer of the month since his birthday is the 21st. What an incredible composition. I can't decide which is my favorite movement... although I'm leaning toward Jupiter. The diversity of that movement sets my imagination soaring. Venus is my sleepy time music.. I should play that before I go to bed every night. Just so beautiful..... Thank God for music!

flying free

Butterflies are free to fly, fly away. High away. Bye Bye.
- Candle in the Wind by Bernie Taupin

After everyone saw the butterfly this morning and I took a couple parting shots, we all got dressed and went outside for the release (except for DS1 who was angry about something)

You have to look carefully at the beginning, cuz this butterfly wanted out in no uncertain terms. DH tried to follow it, but not very successfully so don't bother with the end of the video. (OK... have to figure out how to post this here.. anybody have some tips?)

Well the last butterfly shot. It really was a beauty!

emergence

as in butterflies not emergency! It seemed earlier today that the cocoon would winter over. I was wrong!

DH and I were in the family room tonight catching up on our Netflix rentals with The Queen and DS2 woke up crying. I went up to get him as he was coming down the steps from the second floor. After the movie we came up to the living room/dining area where the butterfly garden hangs. I sat in my corner with DS2 nursing a migraine and DH checked the garden as he usually does (he still can't wrap his head around the cocoon stage) and said "OMG! There's a butterfly." And sure enough there is!

DS2 I'm sure doesn't get the enormity or excitement of this event, but woke enough to witness it. As I was snapping photos and googling what we could put in for this creature to eat, DD appeared awake enough to take a look see as well.

I promise better pictures tomorrow of the release. It's hard to get a great shot through the netting of the garden. I wound up putting in a chunk of watermelon as I seem to remember the hole in hadn butterfly man who was once at our school saying that they will suck the sugar from that as if it were nectar from flowers. I hope it's enough to sustain it until the morning.

I only wish we had all seen it come out of it's cocoon... that's truly a sight to behold!

Oh I forgot

Last Sunday we were visiting my folks and mom gave me some stuff she found:
#1 very long and flexible Boye needles
#4 9" Berkalin needles
Assorted wool and mohair blend (mostly leftovers but hey it's free!)
a bit of acrylic (I'll use it for school in March)
A 'book' of scarf patterns. It's actually not a book but leaflets that fit in this nifty holder with a magnetic closure.


Thanks mom! Love ya!

diet? who said diet??

OK... there's lots of yarn p0rn pictures to post.

Noro from littleknits(came Thursday):


5 skeins Classic Elite Renaissance (a couldn't pass up purchase from ebay (came Friday):


And the piéce de resistance, my S.E.X. from Kraemer's Yarns in Nazareth, who was having a 50% sale off EVERYTHING but their own name yarn, starting today. Unfortunately for me, (but good for my wallet) I got there in the afternoon instead of when the doors opened as I wished.
21 Plymouth Fantasy (I should have bought them out):










3 Butterfly (which is supposedly made along with Tahki Cotton Classic but off name and a bigger 125g skein):



7 Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy:



2 Paton's Classic Merino and 1 Paton's Soy Wool Stripes:



2 Bernat Camoflauge in Outback:
This yarn is for my brothers Christmas gift. He wants glittens for hunting. I saw this and knew it would be perfect. And it's washable which is good cuz I'm sure he'll get them dirty!



Sock Yarn 1 Plymouth Sockotta and 4 Regia Stretch:
For DH (solids) and me!


Jeanie by Kraemer Yarn. This yarn is 80% Superwash Merino Wool / 20% Nylon, Super Fine 3.5 oz./ 100 Grams approximately 480 Yards for U.S. Needle #1 - 3 with a gauge of 6.75 - 8 stitches = 1" This is regularly priced at $9.45/skein but I got it for$4.65/skein cuz the coloring isn't perfect. I'm gonna dye it anyway, so it was a brainless deal. Shoulda bought more!!!!!!!!
This will make mom's present with about half of the quantity leftover. If you're reading this mom, any specific color you'd prefer?


My sum total was much less than I expected.
I saw their Sterling yarn which has 63% superwashmerino/20% silk/15% nylon/2% silver. Yes, you read that right, real silver. Has a beautiful sheen. I coveted that baby... someday I will own some. They had 2 cones that were dyed in this gorgeous blue/purple blend... YUM

What I didn't find because I was too late was Cherry Tree Hill Sock Yarn or other higher end sock yarns Maybe you got it all Mrs. B?

What have I been working on? Well... not enough. I am all but finished the knitted food for the Love2Knit Dishcloth Exchange and today I decided that I may try to design my own cloth pattern to go along with it. If I can't do it, I have one that I've knitted and have in my exchange stash that would work fine as well. I started sock 2, but am not far along.

I'm expecting that I'll be getting my ravelry invite in less than a week. I've been watching and it seems they invite about 150 people a day, so....
You signed up on June 29, 2007
You are #11554 on the list.
639 people are ahead of you in line.
18502 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far
If the math is right that's about 4.2 days! I can't wait!

I had off from work on Friday. Of course at about 10:15 DD's school nurse called and said she had been there twice with a headache DH answered and offered to pick her up. I would have suggested acetaminophen, but... I went and got her, brought her home and then took the 'baby' out shopping with me to get the older 2 more clothes for school. I also picked up some things for my classroom (those tubes you swing around and they whistle, the faster you swing, the higher the pitch - I use them for something different though) and got DH some stuff he needed for his women's chorus.

Thank goodness we have off Monday. Maybe I'll get some knitting done!

Happy Crafting!