I can hardly believe that we are almost through the month of March. I usually really enjoy the month of March since it is the last month when we will be seeing temperatures only hitting the 60s for the high. I makes working with yarn in the lap much more comfortable than when it hits in the 90's to the 120's (and yes we do get to 120 in the summer here)
I have finished one spiderman blanket! It was a bugger to figure out all the instructions but I did it and it is totally done. I just need to run it through the washer and dryer to remove all my animal's fur off of it.
I have started another spiderman blanket as well as a "princess" blanket from the same pattern. The princess blanket is all done in shades of pink. I would like to do another one in navy camouflage but don't know how it will look when it is done but.....................might as well try it. Now I have to try and find Navy Camo yarn. I know there is the sand camo, and the green camo but this particular person would really like to have the one they use in the Navy since his daddy is a chief there. Might have to go on line and order some from somewhere.
I have not picked up my sweater in a long time now. I am so busy getting the blankets done for birthdays that I have not had time to even think about the sweater. I know it will be there when I get done with the blankets. HEEHEE
Not much else going on in my life. Same stuff each day...........wake up, go to work, go home, craft/walk dogs, eat dinner and go to bed. Pretty boring right? But it is my life and love it!
Happy crafting.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Oh My!
So much has happened since I last posted here. And it really hasn't been all that long either.
Hubby and I went to Las Vegas for a 4 day weekend. Our son and his wife joined us on the trip. It was nice to get away for a few days and we all really had a great time. We came back with the same amount of money that we left with so I guess that means we are winners.
I have gotten over being bummed about the sweater and have gotten it back to where it was before I frogged it. I have not worked on it for a couple of weeks now, though. There was no way I could take that in the car, with the lace pattern in it, so I started the spiderman blanket for my Godson's birthday. Amazing, that a total of 11 hours on the road can see a person come to within 5 rows of completing that blanket. It is really cute and an easy project once you can figure out the instructions. They were a bit vague but I finally got it figured out with the help of my Daughter in Law.
Lent has started and as is our faith custom we give something up each year for lent to remind us of the sacrifice that our Lord gave for us. So I asked my husband if he was going to give up watching sports on TV and he turned around and asked me if I was going to give up working with yarn. He wins! I have given up some of my "down time" to do more scripture reading and praying. It seems to be making me a bit more centered too.
My mom goes to the podiatrist this week to see if she can finally start to drive again. She got a stress fracture in her right ankle about 8 weeks ago and has been in a specialized CROWS boot since then. So my hubby has been taking her to all her appointments for the past 8 weeks. He has been really a good sport about it too. He as never complained about it at all! But my poor mom is going stir crazy. She is so used to being able to just go when she wants to and where she wants.
Did I tell you I also started another pair of socks? I think they will be for me again. So far I have 3 rows done on them. They will probably have to wait until I get both spiderman blankets done and hopefully my sweater. After all, I won't be wearing socks again for about 9 months. We have already hit 90 degrees here!
That is about it for now. It is getting late and I have to be up early for work tomorrow.
Happy crafting!
Hubby and I went to Las Vegas for a 4 day weekend. Our son and his wife joined us on the trip. It was nice to get away for a few days and we all really had a great time. We came back with the same amount of money that we left with so I guess that means we are winners.
I have gotten over being bummed about the sweater and have gotten it back to where it was before I frogged it. I have not worked on it for a couple of weeks now, though. There was no way I could take that in the car, with the lace pattern in it, so I started the spiderman blanket for my Godson's birthday. Amazing, that a total of 11 hours on the road can see a person come to within 5 rows of completing that blanket. It is really cute and an easy project once you can figure out the instructions. They were a bit vague but I finally got it figured out with the help of my Daughter in Law.
Lent has started and as is our faith custom we give something up each year for lent to remind us of the sacrifice that our Lord gave for us. So I asked my husband if he was going to give up watching sports on TV and he turned around and asked me if I was going to give up working with yarn. He wins! I have given up some of my "down time" to do more scripture reading and praying. It seems to be making me a bit more centered too.
My mom goes to the podiatrist this week to see if she can finally start to drive again. She got a stress fracture in her right ankle about 8 weeks ago and has been in a specialized CROWS boot since then. So my hubby has been taking her to all her appointments for the past 8 weeks. He has been really a good sport about it too. He as never complained about it at all! But my poor mom is going stir crazy. She is so used to being able to just go when she wants to and where she wants.
Did I tell you I also started another pair of socks? I think they will be for me again. So far I have 3 rows done on them. They will probably have to wait until I get both spiderman blankets done and hopefully my sweater. After all, I won't be wearing socks again for about 9 months. We have already hit 90 degrees here!
That is about it for now. It is getting late and I have to be up early for work tomorrow.
Happy crafting!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Bummer
I am totally bummed out. I was all the way done with the back of my sweater and as I was getting the last row done and putting the neck stitches on my stitch holder (the one I got for $1.49) I discovered that I had way too many stitches. Not a problem. I would just rip it out down to where I made the decreasing mistake. Did it and then tried to commence from that point when I discovered I could not in any way figure out what row of the pattern I was on. So I thought about it for a while. Considered lighting a match to the whole darn thing. Thought about throwing it all in the trash. Contemplated pretending to know what I was doing and just continue on even it the pattern didn't match up. Then came to my senses and realized I was going to have to frog it all the way back to where the pattern started. ARGH!!!!!!!! There goes 13 inches of sweater.
I did that and then I put it gently down in my knitting area and walked away from it. That was on Sunday. On Monday night I looked at it and thought to myself that I would pick it up and start again. Then felt myself getting upset again about loosing a weeks worth of work and walked away. (again) Tonight I sat across the room staring at the darn thing and realized that it was not going to knit itself. I also came to the realization that there truly are not little elves that will come in at night and do your work for you. So I picked it up and started back on the patterned area of the back. I managed to get 9 rows done without mishap. I only have about 66 more rows to go and I will be able to bind off the neck. NO PROBLEM!!!!!!! At this rate I should have thestupid wonderful piece of knitting wonder done by the time it snows here in Arizona again. (that happens about once every 10 years or so!)
On the other hand, I ordered yarn today. I know I promised not to buy anymore yarn until my stash was depleted but this was for a good cause. I am going to make 2 spiderman blankets for two very special boys for their birthdays. One birthday is in June and the other is in July. Since they are crocheted and I crochet much faster than I knit I don't really see any problem of meeting that goal. After all it is already starting to get to the 80 degree mark here in the desert and I will not be needing that cardigan for about 8-9 months yet.
I also found out this is national crochet month and I would hate to not celebrate that with the rest of the world. And the final reason for deciding to start on the blankets ASAP is........we are planning a road trip next week and it will be much easier to work on the blankets then try and keep track of my pattern rows on the sweater. (smart, huh?)
Other than that, the only other thing that I have pulled out to work on lately is one of my prayer shawls that I started several months ago. OK, almost a year ago. It is kind of a mindless work for the most part but not mindless enough to take on a road trip.
Happy Crafting!
I did that and then I put it gently down in my knitting area and walked away from it. That was on Sunday. On Monday night I looked at it and thought to myself that I would pick it up and start again. Then felt myself getting upset again about loosing a weeks worth of work and walked away. (again) Tonight I sat across the room staring at the darn thing and realized that it was not going to knit itself. I also came to the realization that there truly are not little elves that will come in at night and do your work for you. So I picked it up and started back on the patterned area of the back. I managed to get 9 rows done without mishap. I only have about 66 more rows to go and I will be able to bind off the neck. NO PROBLEM!!!!!!! At this rate I should have the
On the other hand, I ordered yarn today. I know I promised not to buy anymore yarn until my stash was depleted but this was for a good cause. I am going to make 2 spiderman blankets for two very special boys for their birthdays. One birthday is in June and the other is in July. Since they are crocheted and I crochet much faster than I knit I don't really see any problem of meeting that goal. After all it is already starting to get to the 80 degree mark here in the desert and I will not be needing that cardigan for about 8-9 months yet.
I also found out this is national crochet month and I would hate to not celebrate that with the rest of the world. And the final reason for deciding to start on the blankets ASAP is........we are planning a road trip next week and it will be much easier to work on the blankets then try and keep track of my pattern rows on the sweater. (smart, huh?)
Other than that, the only other thing that I have pulled out to work on lately is one of my prayer shawls that I started several months ago. OK, almost a year ago. It is kind of a mindless work for the most part but not mindless enough to take on a road trip.
Happy Crafting!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A quickie
This is just a quickie note to let you all know that I am still here.
I am still working on my cardigan and have 3/4 of the back done. I am enjoying the pattern on the top part of it. It manages to keep me alert but is not so hard that I have to have total silence to do it.
On the back, I am going to have to put 35 stitches on a stitch holder for the neck area. So the other day I was out at WalMart and thought I had better pick up a stitch holder that is larger than the 2 that I currently have. (Plus those two will be used on the front of the cardi.) All I could find were stitch holders that came in a kit along with row counters, stitch markers, straight needles and instructions books on how to knit. I saw no reason to pay almost $10 for that when all I needed was one item out of it. So Hubby and I were shopping later that day and I told him what I needed. He suggested my LYS and I started laughing as they are a bit pricey on things and told him, just the stitch holder would cost that much there. So we stopped in at JoAnn's and I got the holder I wanted for........................$1.59!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was really happy and even did a little dance in the middle of the yarn section. (Hubby just shook his head and walked away. He just doesn't get IT!)
So the crafting continues at my house. And if my little dog would quit tearing up her toys I would have more time for knitting instead of doing suturing of doggie toys and beds! I just wish there were more hours in a day so I had more time to run yarn through my fingers and onto needles and hooks. Even the weekends are not long enough for me.
Speaking of weekends............This weekend (Saturday) we are going to a dinner/auction for the school that is with our church. This is their annual fund raiser and it is always a great time. I have placed about 15 sets of jewelry (ones that I made) in the auction. Last year my jewelry brought in a pretty penny. I could not believe what people were paying for thestuff lovely sets! Some of them went for well over $100. Most of the things I make only cost me around $10-$15 to make and that is for a 3 piece set! I have tried to sell them before but no one seems to want to pay $25-$35 for them. (But give everyone a few drinks and they go crazy over it!!)
Anyway...................I will let you know how the auction goes this year. I usually walk away with something I truly love. Last year I managed to get a cedar chest for my grand daughter for a really good price. Can't wait to see what I get this year!
Happy Crafting
I am still working on my cardigan and have 3/4 of the back done. I am enjoying the pattern on the top part of it. It manages to keep me alert but is not so hard that I have to have total silence to do it.
On the back, I am going to have to put 35 stitches on a stitch holder for the neck area. So the other day I was out at WalMart and thought I had better pick up a stitch holder that is larger than the 2 that I currently have. (Plus those two will be used on the front of the cardi.) All I could find were stitch holders that came in a kit along with row counters, stitch markers, straight needles and instructions books on how to knit. I saw no reason to pay almost $10 for that when all I needed was one item out of it. So Hubby and I were shopping later that day and I told him what I needed. He suggested my LYS and I started laughing as they are a bit pricey on things and told him, just the stitch holder would cost that much there. So we stopped in at JoAnn's and I got the holder I wanted for........................$1.59!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was really happy and even did a little dance in the middle of the yarn section. (Hubby just shook his head and walked away. He just doesn't get IT!)
So the crafting continues at my house. And if my little dog would quit tearing up her toys I would have more time for knitting instead of doing suturing of doggie toys and beds! I just wish there were more hours in a day so I had more time to run yarn through my fingers and onto needles and hooks. Even the weekends are not long enough for me.
Speaking of weekends............This weekend (Saturday) we are going to a dinner/auction for the school that is with our church. This is their annual fund raiser and it is always a great time. I have placed about 15 sets of jewelry (ones that I made) in the auction. Last year my jewelry brought in a pretty penny. I could not believe what people were paying for the
Anyway...................I will let you know how the auction goes this year. I usually walk away with something I truly love. Last year I managed to get a cedar chest for my grand daughter for a really good price. Can't wait to see what I get this year!
Happy Crafting
Monday, February 14, 2011
Finished project
I did it! My socks are done. I finished them Sunday afternoon and I am so glad to have them off the needles and in my sock drawer. Here are some pictures of them. They are made with Panda Cotton (I am allergic to wool). It is not my favorite yarn to use as it splits easily but I loved the colorways of it. Also, I have several more skeins of this yarn to use up so I will just have to get over the splitting issue and be a bit more careful.
Here they are on the sock stretcher. I wish you could see the pattern on them better. The one in the back you can kind of see the diamonds on the top of the sock. It was a fun and easy pattern to do.
It is really hard to take a picture of your own leg with a sock on it. These feel so good and fit really well!
I like the heel on these. There is not heel flap that you have to do at all. It is one of the easiest heels there is to knit.
So now I am working on my cardigan and have part of the back done. I will continue to work on that until it is finished. It will probably take me some time to complete but it is an easy knit so far.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTheyteach.html
Above is the link to the sweater I am making. I am doing it in a medium gray and a very soft acrylic.
As for the craft room.................well it is about as far done as I can do to this point. I did not get a chance to get in the corner of the room this weekend as I did not get the "down time" I was hoping for. But it is in decent enough shape that I was able to sew 2 chapel veils on Saturday for my Goddaughter. She had outgrown her other ones that I had made for her. She was really pleased with the new ones too. (No I didn't get a chance to take any photos of them. Maybe if she wears this to Mass in the next week or two I will get a shot of them while she is wearing them)
On a sad note...................my little car is really sick. It is at the doctor for new brakes, calipers, and timing belt. We thought about buying a new one but when we figured it out it would be so much more economical to fix it up. There is nothing wrong with the engine and the body of the car is great too. I still have a couple other minor things that need fixing on it (speedometer sticks) but until they see it happen they can not diagnosis it. So I will just have to wait until it happens again. I also have a motor for one of the electric windows that needs replacing and the transmission fluid needs flushing. All in all it will cost us about 4 car payments to fix it all up. And since it is paid for I would rather do that than buy a new car and have that dreaded car payment for the next several years!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Happy Crafting!
So now I am working on my cardigan and have part of the back done. I will continue to work on that until it is finished. It will probably take me some time to complete but it is an easy knit so far.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTheyteach.html
Above is the link to the sweater I am making. I am doing it in a medium gray and a very soft acrylic.
As for the craft room.................well it is about as far done as I can do to this point. I did not get a chance to get in the corner of the room this weekend as I did not get the "down time" I was hoping for. But it is in decent enough shape that I was able to sew 2 chapel veils on Saturday for my Goddaughter. She had outgrown her other ones that I had made for her. She was really pleased with the new ones too. (No I didn't get a chance to take any photos of them. Maybe if she wears this to Mass in the next week or two I will get a shot of them while she is wearing them)
On a sad note...................my little car is really sick. It is at the doctor for new brakes, calipers, and timing belt. We thought about buying a new one but when we figured it out it would be so much more economical to fix it up. There is nothing wrong with the engine and the body of the car is great too. I still have a couple other minor things that need fixing on it (speedometer sticks) but until they see it happen they can not diagnosis it. So I will just have to wait until it happens again. I also have a motor for one of the electric windows that needs replacing and the transmission fluid needs flushing. All in all it will cost us about 4 car payments to fix it all up. And since it is paid for I would rather do that than buy a new car and have that dreaded car payment for the next several years!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Happy Crafting!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Step Four and Five, completed
Ok, I got the sewing table cleaned off and now have a nice place where I can sew and serge to my hearts content. I can not believe the 'stuff' I found on the sewing table either. After all how much velcro does one household need? Seriously, I think I found at least 7 or 8 packages of the stuff. Amazing. I don't even recall ever buying any.
So that is step four done. And step five was cleaning out the lovely little cart that got misplaced when we got the new family room furniture. That is also done. I don't know what I am going to do with the cart. Seems that there really is no room in my craft room for it. I was so hoping there would be too. So it is all cleaned out and everything put in it's place. Maybe I will have to sell the cart at the neighbor's garage sale. Jury is still out on that.
I also kind of did a step six too last night. I have an older computer table in the room that I use to attache my knitting machine to. I did straighten that up last night too. But alas there is really no other place for me to put a lot of the 'stuff' that is on that table. There are all my jewelry displays sitting there and since I am going to be needing them in a couple of weeks I decided that I will not disturb them until after the auction at our church. There is of course all my bags of jewelry there too that I have made for the auction. So I guess once the auction is over I will need to find a place for all of that to be stored. (Maybe in one of the empty cubbies that I still have open)
So all I have left to do is one corner of the room where there seems to be a collection of books that my DH uses when he teaches classes at our church. Those are going to find their way into our bookcases very soon. Then I found a box in there from somewhere else in the house and that is going to be gone thru and emptied out also. If I can get that corner cleaned out then I will have a place for my lovely little misplaced craft cart! I really don't want to get rid of it as it is just perfect for holding patterns, finished projects, projects in the making etc. But I feel so good when I walk into the craft room now. There is a floor, tables, organization and the list could go on but I won't bore you with all of it.
I won't get to work on the room tonight as we have a meeting at our church. Tomorrow morning might be a good day as DH is going to help a friend replace some porch posts and I will have some VERY quiet time. Plus if he is out of the house I can get those books put away without any extra eyes watching me. So I have until around 2 tomorrow to complete the job. If I do it I will be posting some pictures on here next week of my favorite room in the house.
Happy crafting.
So that is step four done. And step five was cleaning out the lovely little cart that got misplaced when we got the new family room furniture. That is also done. I don't know what I am going to do with the cart. Seems that there really is no room in my craft room for it. I was so hoping there would be too. So it is all cleaned out and everything put in it's place. Maybe I will have to sell the cart at the neighbor's garage sale. Jury is still out on that.
I also kind of did a step six too last night. I have an older computer table in the room that I use to attache my knitting machine to. I did straighten that up last night too. But alas there is really no other place for me to put a lot of the 'stuff' that is on that table. There are all my jewelry displays sitting there and since I am going to be needing them in a couple of weeks I decided that I will not disturb them until after the auction at our church. There is of course all my bags of jewelry there too that I have made for the auction. So I guess once the auction is over I will need to find a place for all of that to be stored. (Maybe in one of the empty cubbies that I still have open)
So all I have left to do is one corner of the room where there seems to be a collection of books that my DH uses when he teaches classes at our church. Those are going to find their way into our bookcases very soon. Then I found a box in there from somewhere else in the house and that is going to be gone thru and emptied out also. If I can get that corner cleaned out then I will have a place for my lovely little misplaced craft cart! I really don't want to get rid of it as it is just perfect for holding patterns, finished projects, projects in the making etc. But I feel so good when I walk into the craft room now. There is a floor, tables, organization and the list could go on but I won't bore you with all of it.
I won't get to work on the room tonight as we have a meeting at our church. Tomorrow morning might be a good day as DH is going to help a friend replace some porch posts and I will have some VERY quiet time. Plus if he is out of the house I can get those books put away without any extra eyes watching me. So I have until around 2 tomorrow to complete the job. If I do it I will be posting some pictures on here next week of my favorite room in the house.
Happy crafting.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Step two and three, done
Step 2 is done. I got the bags of yarn to the shawl ministry and it was so nice to have that done and off my mind. Although I think they were a bit surprised when I brought in the bags. I had told them I had 9 bags filled. I think they thought I was talking about grocery bags. I guess I should had told them they were the kitchen trash bags that were full. (oops)
I looked at the cubbies all bare and kind of felt sad that so much of my stash left the house but then this makes room for the type of yarn that I am using all the time. :) (I know, not until I finish all my UFO's) And speaking of UFO's.......I have counted that I only have 8 UFO's to my name! That is pretty amazing to me. I have about 30 rows left on my socks and they will be done and in my drawer. I have 3 prayer shawls that are over half done. I have an afghan for one of my grandson's that needs a bit more work on it. (ok ALOT of work on it). My short sleeved cardi that I started about a month ago and the scarf that is to match my hat and mittens. There is something else there but I can not remember what it is and since I am not at my home right now it will just have to be a mystery for all of us.
Step 3 DONE! I cleaned off my beading table last night. I got everything put into organizing containers. I now have a lovely desk where I can sit and do all sorts of stuff without worrying about knocking something off and loosing it forever. Infact I did just that as soon as the table was cleared off. I mended 6 of my dogs toys. She thinks she is a surgeon and is constantly "operating on the toys and removing legs, tails, eyes etc." So I got them all fixed up for her. She was so happy to have all her favorites back again in her toy box. (glad I can please her so easily)
I also started cleaning off the sewing table. I have moved all the thread onto thread holders. I have taken the material and put in on some of the cubbies. I have wrapped up all the ribbon and put it in the ribbon drawer. There is still more to do on that table but it is shaping up nicely.
I will not have time to work on the room tonight as I have to take the grand daughter to her dance lesson and then I go to Mass and then out to eat with some of our dearest friends. But there is always tomorrow night as well as Friday night.
And if you are wondering.............yes my grand daughter was thrilled to be helping me in there again. Although I did loose her to her polly pockets after about 20 minutes but she stayed with me the whole time. Infact she helped with the repairing of the toys!
More pictures will be coming along as soon as I get it all done. I don't want to spoil the surprise for y'all.
My neighbor will so pleased when I go knocking on her door. She holds garage sales several times a year and I have LOTS to donate to her sale. Maybe I can convince hubby to make a little trip over to her house sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Happy Crafting!
I looked at the cubbies all bare and kind of felt sad that so much of my stash left the house but then this makes room for the type of yarn that I am using all the time. :) (I know, not until I finish all my UFO's) And speaking of UFO's.......I have counted that I only have 8 UFO's to my name! That is pretty amazing to me. I have about 30 rows left on my socks and they will be done and in my drawer. I have 3 prayer shawls that are over half done. I have an afghan for one of my grandson's that needs a bit more work on it. (ok ALOT of work on it). My short sleeved cardi that I started about a month ago and the scarf that is to match my hat and mittens. There is something else there but I can not remember what it is and since I am not at my home right now it will just have to be a mystery for all of us.
Step 3 DONE! I cleaned off my beading table last night. I got everything put into organizing containers. I now have a lovely desk where I can sit and do all sorts of stuff without worrying about knocking something off and loosing it forever. Infact I did just that as soon as the table was cleared off. I mended 6 of my dogs toys. She thinks she is a surgeon and is constantly "operating on the toys and removing legs, tails, eyes etc." So I got them all fixed up for her. She was so happy to have all her favorites back again in her toy box. (glad I can please her so easily)
I also started cleaning off the sewing table. I have moved all the thread onto thread holders. I have taken the material and put in on some of the cubbies. I have wrapped up all the ribbon and put it in the ribbon drawer. There is still more to do on that table but it is shaping up nicely.
I will not have time to work on the room tonight as I have to take the grand daughter to her dance lesson and then I go to Mass and then out to eat with some of our dearest friends. But there is always tomorrow night as well as Friday night.
And if you are wondering.............yes my grand daughter was thrilled to be helping me in there again. Although I did loose her to her polly pockets after about 20 minutes but she stayed with me the whole time. Infact she helped with the repairing of the toys!
More pictures will be coming along as soon as I get it all done. I don't want to spoil the surprise for y'all.
My neighbor will so pleased when I go knocking on her door. She holds garage sales several times a year and I have LOTS to donate to her sale. Maybe I can convince hubby to make a little trip over to her house sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Happy Crafting!
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