TGIS

Thank god it's summer!

It's all about baseball. DS1 is on his league's all-star baseball team. They have a game Tuesday night. They lost their first so depending on the outcome it could be their last or they could play again on Thursday. I'm hoping for the latter. He's done remarkably well this season and I'm insanely proud of him. He was Snoopy in his school's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown musical as well so we had a hoppin' spring.

DS2 played baseball as well so we were at the field almost every night after school and play practice!

I am headed back to the elementary school to teach and couldn't be happier. I need to get started on making awesome lesson plans. The new books are in my car.

My kids have kept me insanely busy with their schedules, but I guess that's what keeps me young.

My latest project that just finished blocking and drying today is a birthday gift for a friend that I hope to see this weekend.

Pattern: Citron

Designer:Hilary Smith Callas

Yarn: my own handspun targhee cross 2 ply (from a raw fleece)

Weight: fingering

Color: swimming pool blues (kettle dyed with BerryBlast Kool Aid and medium and dark blue Wiltons gel)

Needle: US6

Yardage: less than 600

I hope she likes it. It's only my 3rd project that I've made using handspun. The 2nd was this gift for DH for Christmas, which he wears but I'm not completely happy with:

Also not the most clear picture. That was with 3 ply BFL undyed except for the trim which was romney dyed with coffee.

I haven't knit or spun much in the past 2 years being at the JHS... Hoping that will change with the school change this year.

Well my list of summer projects is growing. And we'll have company for 7 weeks or so, so rather than type more I should get cracking.

what season?

the end for baseball
technically fall
feels like winter

Yesterday it snowed all day while I was at work. Here at home it was raining with some snow mixed in. BRRRRRRRRRR
Perfect for knitting.
DD's girl scout troop had a field trip to theLehigh Valley Amateur Astronomer's Society to see their equipment and have a planetarium show. As much as I want to see all those constellations, I just don't get it. I must have NO imagination.
I'm exhausted... don't ask me why cuz I have no clue. But all I want to do is sleep
I've knit 3 cowls this week.


Pattern: Birthday Cowl by Nova Seals
Yarn: Moda Dea Silk 'n Wool Blend
Color: plum
Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm
I tried to start this 3 times last year and put it away... this time it flew off the needles


Pattern: Holland Cow by Jenny Raymond and Chris Church
Yarn: Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed
Color: Deep Red
Needle: US 10



Pattern: Cherry Garcia by Adrian Bizilla
Yarn: Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed
Color: Biscuit
Needle: US11


The above are both free ravelry downloads. If you don't belong to ravelry, you should it's free and AWESOME!

I have another in mind. And I've been working on a reverse log cabin blanket during bus duty from acrylic stash that was donated to the cause this summer. This will go to Linus project. I started it thinking I'd make a blanket from long strips instead of 'squares' but then found a ton of the same yarn as well as coordinating yarns so I used one skein for a side... and then started the large square... kind of making it up as I go. Should be interesting......

I've been spinning chiengora... from a friend's dog... .it's so soft... unbelievable....

oh and GO PHILS!

happy JUNE

where has the time gone?????

I've been busy knitting on the way afghan... although apparently not busy enough because the wedding is this weekend and the afghan isn't even half finished. I'll soon post poicuters of some of the squares.

this weekend was the Moravian alum reunion. I got to see many old choir friends... and sing with our director, which is always an extreme pleasure. I absolutely adore Dick Schantz and he and Monica kept us in stitches as usual. I stoped at my old sorority house and reminisced with some of the sisters about the bygone days.

I must have picked up a bug at school becuase the rest of the weekend I was feeling rather poorly... fever... headache the whole nine yards. I'm still not myself. But the good news is tmrw is my last day of teaching. I really need a break.

And I'm off to South American for a bit. I'll try to post pictures to keep you up to date mom. I want to hit up some thrift shops before I go though to grab what could be the last of the wool for the year until the fall sets in ..
right now I'm frogging what I think to be alpaca. It appears to be handknit and extremely well made.. no tags... my guess is alpaca it's strange though the outside is fuzzier than the inside.. although when frogged it doesn't seem that the yarn is strange at all... such a pretty color. would make a lovely shawl... This one I may be keeping for myslef (or something for a gift... )


i'm going to attempt NaBloPoMo this month as a way to journal the trip. Wish me luck....

DD and i were out to buy paper for me to make my awards for school. We found some cute things for their teachers for end of year gifts.I have to get the daycare people something this week as well... it's all coming fast and furious to a gigantic halt.

OK.. signing off for now.. pictures to come!

overdue shots

These have either been long promised or new pictures that need to be posted TONIGHT.

My proof that Martha Stewart has not one thing on me (OK she has a lot more than 1 thing, but this one I thought of before her help) My heart shaped brownies, served ath my DD party on Valentine's Day. They disappeared in a heartbeat


Next is the 16th square for the Lizard ridge and I'll follow that immediately with square 17.

Noro Kureyon 153A

Noro Kureyon 188D

Here are a couple of pictures from DD's party of the girls working on their crafts and them all together showing off their necklaces.

first thing - make the goodie bags


next we made bracelets... DH wasn't taking pictures then. He escaped to the basement. But you can see one of the creations on the wrist in this picture.


The heart necklaces were the last crafty thing. you can see all the girls wearing them here.

Between all the crafts, we ate pizza, decorated heart cookies and ate them, and decorated the heart shaped cupcakes. All this while the girls sang their hearts out to the Mama Mia! soundtrack

Here is the bracelet DH gave em for Valentine's Day. You can see the sheep and ball of yarn.

At the concert on Sunday as I was listening to the choir sing I was playing with y new bracelet and admiring it and it dawned on me that the chain is reminiscent of an i-cord. I don't know if I was able to catch it in this shot or not.


And finally my creation du jour.


Pattern: Ballband toilet paper cover by hakucho
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Colors: hot green and hot blue
Needle: US7

Thanks hakucho, I've had this in my queue forever. Finally got around to it today. Gives me an idea for my upstairs bath to try to make one to match my shower curtain... kind of a jaquard plaid... I'll let you know how it goes.

DH's vest is back to the armhole deccreases again. I want to look at a vest that fits him to see how to go about the next step.

Off to do some schoolwork. Tmrw is a long day for me. Need to get ready for the sub on Thursday as well :-) and prepare for the spinning afternoon.

3 down 197 to go

I made my SIL these 6 cloths. I intended them for dishes but she says she won't use them for that cuz they're too pretty... crazy girl. I used the 365 knitting stitches a year perpetual calender for all of them and lily's sugar 'n cream cotton in white (her preferred house color)

Jan 28 - fagotted lace panel CO 43


Feb 9 - feather and fan CO 4O


Mar 4 - crossed stockinette CO 42


Nov 6 - star CO 43


Dec 25 - rice CO 43


Dec 31 - bamboo CO 41


Yarn: Lily Sugar 'n Cream
Color: white
Needle: US6


No school today because of ice. This is good because it changes the day that Tuesday is next week. Don't ask, it will make no sense... but trust me. I was happy! I could go for a late start tmrw. I'm really not feeling the love there. I feel overworked and underappreciated. But a short week now this week. Next week is my birthday and the concert and then the following week is short because of MLK day and the fact that I took a class this summer for a trade day.

My neighbor is driving me nuts of late. He plays loud music very late. It's almost midnight and I hear wild drumming through the wall (we live in half a double) I'm wondering if he has rockband for PSP or Wii.

I've been pretty good about working out on Wii... missed today though because everyone was home and I couldn't get on. Now DS2 is sleeping in front of the TV so I hate to move him and wake him up and I can't work out there.

Natalie and I got together and worked on the stuff for the spring concert. Earth Day in the park with all environmentally consious songs. I'm excited for it, but want to get the winter concert over with first. I made her a CD of our concert together from last year. I think she was really happy!

K off to do some lunch packing and get prepared for the am... blech. I love my job when I'm with the kids, it's the other adults I can't stand!

some fo's and a prize

first my prize!

remember back here I talked about how I won a prize on the net and I never win anything? Well here's a picture of said prize:

gorgeous isn't it? It's my birthstone in the center.

The giveaway's current prize is a Custom Postman Display Cabinet from Black Mountain Furniture You've got to check it out!

now for the knitting stuff. I left the wild stripes blanket at school by mistake on Friday. So I opted for knitting for a different baby!

Pattern: Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend
Color: Linen Marl
Needle: US6
Modifications: seamed so that the reverse stockinette is the right side!

and


Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch 'n Bitch
Yarn: Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend
Color: Almond
Needle: US6
recipient: grandbaby Smale

I have baby booties on the needles right now to go along with all this. Mom is being induced Sept 22. Of course, the wild stripes baby is being induced Sept 19.. guess the needles better start flying!

Monday night I fell asleep with the kids, Tuesday night as well after a late meet the teacher night. Tonight I think I'll stay awake... lots to knit and grades to do!

happy mom's day

to all the mother's in the world. Cherish your babies... no matter how old they are.

My kids surprised me yesterday with these beautiful flowers. I love them, especially the Galliarda daisies.. wish I could get them to grow in my garden. Unfortunately, I have a kind of black thumb.






After that surprise, they also handed me these hortensia (in Spanish), better known here as hydrangea or snowball bush. The flower comes in many colors and can change depending on the make-up of your soil. I planted one of these last year and managed to kill it. DH tells me that the florist said they like their feet wet, which makes sense because in Argentina they grow to huge sizes along the Tigre River delta.

This morning I had 4 cards made by my cherubs, a hand written book and a heart shaped potpourri DD made at after school care. AND a gift certificate to yarnmarket.com. I'm not familiar with that store, so I'll have to check it out later.

Mom loved her hat, so now I can post a picture of it. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera along, so you'll have to tolerate it being modeled by me. It looks particulary beautiful with my purple hair don't you think?

Pattern: Felted Hat by Arlene Williams
Ruffled Rose by Y2Knit
Yarn: Paton's Classic Merino
Colors: Rich Red and That's Purple
Needle: US11
Bead: from Oriental Trading red flower glass bead kit

She has a red hat meeting tomorrow at lunch so it's perfect timing as her only other red hat was a maroon baseball cap by brother gave her!

We also gave her a miniature rose bush that I'll plant outside her patio (and yes I forgot to get a picture of that as well)

Mom gave me a boatload of pictures of dad to make a collage with for the luncheon next week. I think I'll scan the ones I want to use then put them on a disk and print them so I can cut them and arrange them artistically.... got to spend some time on that!

in the rotten news, I think the dvd drive on my computer is shot :-( It won't play DVDs and won't record CDs... I should look into fixing this (should have done it months ago, as the warranty prolly *just* ran out :-p )

snow, beautiful snow

it's falling from the sky. School was dismissed early today :-)

This morning I looked out the window and saw this:
red sky in morning, sailor take warning

I finished another block for the lizard ridge blanket I'm making.The colors aren't exactly true. I want my old camera back :-( I'm loving that pattern, but I really need to do it when I can finish the whole 'row' and not be distracted or else i get lost in all the short rows.

I have to put together the V-day presents for the teachers... They'll look like this
picture to be added

And there are 2 cloths on the needles right now... a v-day gift and one for me. Here is one of the gifts I just finished tonight:

Pattern: Valentine Candy Box Feb KAL Monthly Dishcloth Yahoo Group
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream
Color: Red
Needle: US6

Once again, the picture is too dark. Another angle shows the color better, but not the pattern.

And the last picture. This is what DS2 is taking to his teachers/caregivers at daycare.Hope it's yummy for them. Filled with chocolate candies. The felted hearts are filled and wrapped as well for DD and DS1's classroom teachers. Their reading teachers are getting the same thing as the daycare people for DS2 and I miscounted by 1.... hmmmm now what should I do with that one?

hearty wishes

the basket is knitted.. well basket #1 that is. I dyed the wool on Saturday night and CO on Sunday evening after the kids were in bed, whcih came after I got home from visiting the folks. Then I finished knitting last night (after the grocery store trip and putting the kids to bed) Now to knit #2 so that they can be fulled at the same time. Unfortunately there isn't enough of the handdyed wool left to knit another, so I guess I'll hit the stash. I think I have some pink Paton's classic in there and it takes less that 100g total. I can't wait to see them after they're fulled (and filled with candy of course!) One of these days I'll knit for myself LOL

Happy crafting

Miracles DO happen

Well mom is in her new digs. Dad is SO much better... thanks to all of you who held him up. They moved him out of CCU yesterday to the telemetry unit. His BP is stabalized without meds, his kidneys are fully functioning with drains in them to 2 bags because both ureters are blocked (which explains why he wasn't urinating... hard to get it out) So his potassium levels are great now instead of deadly and the creatinine levels are good as well. He does have MRSA in his bladder, which needs to be dealt with but it's really a miracle that he made it through all he did. Praise the Lord! Pop said to me Friday night he guesses he has something else he has to do in his life.

On to knitting, which of course is kind of the purpose of the blog.

Cloths for the rents new apartment:

Pattern: Zigzag lace by Maile Mauch
Yarn: Lily Sugar n Cream
Color: Potpourri Ombre
Needle: US7
This doesn't look like the example on Maile Mauch's page at all. But it is really pretty



Pattern: Tuscany Tile Roof by Maile Mauch
Yarn: Lily Sugar n Cream
Color: Potpourri Ombre
Needle: US7



Pattern: Carlsbad Flower Fields by Maile Mauch
Yarn: Lily Sugar n Cream
Color: Potpourri Ombre
Needle: US7




Pattern: Mad Dash by Maile Mauch
Yarn: Lily Sugar n Cream
Color: Potpourri Ombre
Needle: US7

The center of this cloth is completely screwed up. I was knitting this at the New Year's Eve party when I got the call about dad and tried to knit it off and on in the hospital, when I wasn't holding his hand.. but I really wasn't concentrating on the pattern and it's obvious when you look at the cloth!

And finally, the last installment to my SIL's Christmas set:

Pattern: Snowbird by Sue Schaefer at Harvest Moon Designs
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N Cream
Color: wine
Needle: US6

the concert's over

and my kids did a great job... yay chorus! I am so proud of you!!!! While I was gone my own children trimmed the tree.... there were only a few casualties.

Part of DH's present was attempted to be delivered yesterday so the kids and I had to go to FedEx and pick it up after school. I was hoping it was my LittleKnits order. But that was waiting for me on the porch when we got home...some Noro for the Lizard Ridge that was on sale, and GGH velour which is like the LionBrand suede yarn.. thought I'd make belts for gifts (and dh and me) and some Queensland Collection Uruguayan DK: a blend merino, alpaca silk that was on sale and I couldn't resist. Pics are up in ravelry (ID = craftycarole)

Tonight I fulled the Lopi tote. It only took 1 time throught the washer and came out beautifully. I also chose some fabric to line it... we had this sheet in the basement that has a green strip that matches perfectly. The sheet we used as a drop cloth, so I can certainly cut out enough to make the lining and really think it will be perfect!


Late last night I cast on for the peekaboo mittens for my bestest friend. This is all I got done before my body gave in to the tiredness.... I'll stay up late and work on them tonight along with my sub plans for Friday. My own kids have their parent student teacher conferences Friday afternoon. Hopefully, I can sneak in a bit of shopping in the AM before they have to be picked up at 11:30. HO HO is pretty slim this year.

Lastly, here's a picture of some wool I reclaimed from a sweater I got at a tag sale that was hand knit in Uruguay. I felt so bad frogging it because of the beautiful two color work in it, but it wouldn't fit anybody in this family. So... the one sleeve gave me 150 yards... the colorwork is white that is duplicate stitched over the blue, so it's time consuming to frog.... but I think it will be worth it

catching up

Thursday was DD's Fine Arts night for her school. Everything was held at Lehigh University Zollner Arts Center. The art work was in the lobby and the concert in the main hall. The kids did a fine job. They sing very well in tune and were cute to boot! This was DD's exhibit in the art part of the show, Queen Nephretete. If you look closely, you can see her name written in hieroglyphs in the lower center of the sarcophagus. Funny how she made her with blonde hair... my WASPy child... and her school is pretty diverse, guess the art teacher didn't show pictures of what the Queen may have looked like in real life!


This is some of the Lincoln Longwool that I've been spinning on Patti's Ashford drop spindle.. I've taken it in to school and the kids are fascinated. Maybe I'll bring some along on my journey of historical living. It was so funny because all week I was wearing different long tie dyed dress (made by moi) and spinning.. I must have really looked like a hippie to them. LOL

And finally, my portion of a combined gift to a retiring colleague. Well my part is the knitted part (what a surprise). The eggs inside aren't going to her, but there will be two others that my dear friend has made (she made the two in there right now) This woman will be sorely missed... in so many ways... we love you Rhoann!


Pattern: Chakalaka by Wendy Wonnakott for the Garter Belt
Yarn: Peace Fleece
Color: MirAtlantis Periwinkle
Needle Size: 10 bamboo dpns

I was contemplating felting this basket when it was finished. I did change the pattern, in that I moved up on the needle size, mostly because Peace Fleece is such a heavy worsted yarn. Other thatn that I followed this pattern exactly. I'm sure I'll be making it again, for it was super easy and fast. I love how the stitch looks up close. If you click on the picture it will open an enlargement that allows you to see some of that ;-)

More later.. gotta run!

finally a FO

here's a little peep I made for an easter basket. I'm still thinking about putting feet on it. Obviously it's for DD.. I have 2 more to make for my kids, but I'm debating about making some as gifts... they're a quick knit and I think cute too!

Pattern: Easter Peep
Yarn: KnitPicks Crayon, Lily Sugar and Cream
Colors: Pink, Hot Orange
Needle Size: 5
Stuffing: various wool lint from spinning or yarn cuttings

On another knitting note, mom's felted slippers are too big. So back to the washing machine they go. DH took them to her today, she tried them on and returned them. So I'll put them through again this weekend. Guess they'll be Easter slippers after all.

My aunt is home from the hospital after her surgery. The prognosis is good. They feel as though they got all the cancer. She has a couple of blood clots in her lungs right now, but is on blood thinners and they expect them to dissolve within a month or so. Continued prayers are appreciated.

On a very sad note, a dear friend's DIL (who is only 40) died in her sleep just Wednesday evening. I don't have any of the details, but I'm sure it was a shock to the family.

OK... off to bed I go (I was there before, but awoke at midnight to do some schoolwork then stayed up listening to old CAST ON podcasts and knit up the little chick!)

Snowed in

We had snow FINALLY. Not as much as predicted, but the weather was enough to keep us home from school [insert happy dance]. Of course DH had to go to work, so I didn't get as much done as I'd like craftwise, but... those are the breaks. I was out shovelling for a couple of hours yesterday. The neighbor on one side shovelled our front walk in the morning when he did his (so sweet) and the guy on the other side ran a pass with his snowblower on practically the whole block (another sweetie) so I went out did the side walk and back to the garage, and then cleaned up the front of all three houses so when (if) it melts the run off will go into the ground instead of freezing on the sidewalk. While I was out the girl 2 doors down came home and got stuck in the snow. When her DP came out they shovelled a spot for the car and then she and I pushed while he drove. It was my first time to finally meet them. Nice young couple, I could like hanging with them, but they're so young and I'm so old!

Well, this post is long overdue. Some pictures of my recently FOs and some spinning stuff.

I forgot to take a picture of the wooden box we decorated for DD's teacher for Valentine's day. But I did take a picture of the bookmark I made for her reading teacher.


Pattern: Monthly Bookmark KAL February Bookmark
Yarn: Paton's Grace
Color: Viola
Needle size: 5
Bead: Glass Heart

I hope she likes it!


This is the cloth that I received from my exchange partner in the Love2Knit_Dishcloth group. Thanks Dorleska. We got our partner's names in January and had to mail the cloth out by Feb 1st but weren't supposed to open until Valentine's Day. I was a good girl and waited.


Here are the slippers I made DD for her birthday (last Friday) I just finished them yesterday and felted them. Actually they are still a bit damp so she'll have to wait a bit before she can use them. She chose the color combo and I really love it... nice and bright for a dreary winter.


Pattern: Knitting at Knoon family of slippers
Wool: Peace Fleece
Colors: Perestroika Pink with Firebird orange
Needle Size: 11

I've said before how much I love this yarn, but I really do. I can't get enough of it. And as you can see it felts beautifully!!!!!!!

And finally, a picture of how my dyed rolags are coming spun. I'm very pleased with this wool and will definitely buy this fleece again. Fluffy is turning out so well. Now I need to decide what she will become! I'm thinking maybe a hat and mittens for ME! (that's a switch, I've yet to finish a project that's earmarked for myself.

Last night we decorated the valentine cookies for DD's school party that was supposed to be Wednesday. I thought it would be today because as of last night they hadn't cancelled school. But perhaps it will be Friday.

We may try to venture out this afternoon, although I'm a bit afraid of taking the van out of the garage for fear that it will get stuck in the snow in the alley. They haven't plowed there yet. DD's little girl bowling party is tmrw afternoon and I have to buy the stuff for the goody bags. She has a half day at school tomorrow. If I don't go now, we may wait until I drop her at school in the morning. I hate to leave things for the last minute though.

Wishing you warmth and fun crafting.