Cowl

This is my first attempt at a cowl.
 I cast on 79 and stitched around 11 gauge circular knitting needles.
Until I ran out of yarn.
I only had one skein of this yarn that I purchased in a lovely shop called Twisted while in Portland, Oregon last April .

Zoey

In December I brought home this basket.

The idea was to put my knitting things in it.

Well for Christmas my wonderful husband gave me this amazing basket for my knitting.

And the other basket was down-graded to a catch all of sorts.

It had some diffident threads and scraps of fabric.  Even my large clunky headphones wound up in this basket.

Then the other day Zoey decided that the basket was for her.

She laid right on top of all the other things in the basket.  All the hard uncomfortable things.

So, I gave in and took everything out except the fabric scraps.

Now Zoey can lay in the basket in comfort.

Book Gods

 Oh, how the Book Gods are taunting me.  It has only been a week since I last purchased a book, but I feel the need today more than others.

I know I sound like an addict and well there are worse things to be addicted to than buying books, but I don't want to be a slave to my passions.

Today my story goes a little like this...

I was being good going to the library to return two books and order two more from another branch. What do I find when I get there?  A book sale!  To benefit the library. Oh, Book Gods how you torture me.  So what is a girl to do?  What I did was text Steph at Hope Sewing is Genetic.  I really wanted her to come over to the library and buy a book while I was there.  Is that so wrong of me?  This plan backfired since I have sworn off the book buying so has she in solidarity.

Shaking that off I go to the local yarn store to use my $20 gift certificate I received from my secret Santa at work.  I was being so good.  I walked in straight to the needles. Since my plan was to just get in and out with twenty dollars worth of needles.  Easy right?   No looking at the books or their evil cohorts magazines.  There was no one else in the store this will be easy I though as I was picking out my needles. However, right as I finished picking out my choices (see picture below) someone swoops upon the counter in front of me.  No worries I am strong.  Then as I watched the counter person wind the yarn for this counter swooping person my eyes wonder and fall upon the rack of knitting magazines.  Before I know it I'm picking them up and looking at them.  Thinking this one would be nice to have and maybe I'd like to spin my own yarn someday so I should get this other one.  Just before it was my turn I realized what I was doing and promptly put away the magazines I was just about to purchase.

You see what I mean, the Book Gods are devious in their allure, but even though I wavered today I did not give in. 

 Book Gods today I am the victor!

 

Baby Alpaca wool

For Christmas Alex got me this beautiful Baby Alpaca wool. 

 It's so soft and the color is beautiful.  

Sunday

Day 11

Oh sweet last day of my weekend, how fast you have come.

I spent the day working on my sister's Christmas present and catching up on Bones.

Having majored in Anthropology in College I feel an affinity for this show even through it is not entirely accurate.

I also my hair got a much needed trim from my dear friend Dana.

We are going to start knitting together.

I'm very excited to have a knitting partner and someone who will trim my hair. Happy Dance!

Back to my sister's present. Zoey was in a helping mood.

This is the result. Enjoy.

First she didn't want the yarn in the basket.

"One out. Time to get the other one."

"Maybe I need to sharpen my nails on the basket?"

"Maybe I need to get into the basket?"

"I win! No Yarn in the basket."

"Mommy, I brought you some thread."

"Look I make a good fabric weight. See how I keep it from blowing away."

Day Ten

Day Ten

Laptop is back into action. Hard-drive has been wiped clean and everything re-installed.

I am hopeful that this will help with our card problem. Tonight Alex's computer gets it's cleaning. Both the insides and outsides.

Other than that it's been a lazy day. I've been watching Hell's Kitchen and trying to get the crink out of my neck.

So I'll just share with you some photos I've taken recently.

Here are the magazines I've been reading recently.

Yarn

And here is the progress I've made on my niece's scarf.

That's all for now. Happy Weekend.

Friday

Day Nine!

I had today off. A three day weekend is just what I needed to relax. I plan on doing some reading, some sewing, and some knitting.

However, I spent today loading all my photos onto Flickr, so that Alex can wipe my hard drive in case I have some malware hiding.

So, I have no photos for you today, since I'm still loading as we speak.

In other news I started on the scarf for my niece. Though I'm unsure that I'll be done by Christmas.

I also want to make something for my sister. I will not mention what since she might be reading this. (I love you sissy!)

Happy Friday!

Maroon Scarf

Day Five

I did it I finished my second Scarf. Isn't it grand?

I used baby alpaca wool. In this beautiful maroon color.

I cast on 16 stitches.

Then I knit every row until I though it was long enough.

Now to start on the scarf for my niece. It is suppose to be her Christmas present we'll see.

Thankfulness Week Two

This week was a little more stressful than the last.

I'm finding it harder to find things to be thankful for.

But here we go.

Steph Mabry from Hope Sewing is Genetic.
She and her husband are always there for me when I need them.

Here they are pictured on their Wedding Day.


I am also thankful for my mother-in-law.
I hear so many stories about horrible mother-in-laws and mine is divine.
She is the mother I never had while growing up and I would never trade her in for anything.

Here we are pictured at my Wedding Reception BBQ.


And finally...

I'm thankful for my new knitting project with baby alpaca yarn.

It is coming along quite nicely.

Here is a picture from about a week ago.




So tell me...

What are you thankful for today?

Scarf

It's finished. My very first knitting project modeled here by my dear husband.

Yarn Studio

It seems like just about every Saturday or at least every other Saturday I drag Steph from Hope Sewing is Genetic out of her house where she is happily sewing quilts to go out with me.

Sometimes we have breakfast.

Sometimes we go to the craft store so she can check the discounted remnants bin.

Sometimes she even watches me clean my house.

But not today.

No, today I made her accompany me to a yarn store.

Someplace where she would never have gone on her own.

This place was a knitter or crocheter's dream. Row after row, room after room of yarn. Anything and everything one could need for any project.

I left with only one skein of a beautiful composition of 50% Rabbit Angora, 25% Merino wool, and 25% Polyamide.

I'm thinking of making a matching scarf and cap for my niece for Christmas.

I'm planning of going back when I have more projects in mind.

However, I think I should finish knitting my very first project before I do that. It actually might be done by tomorrow. Wish me luck.

I almost forgot the best part. They wound my yarn into a ball for me. On a fancy wooden machine that looked like this on one side.

Image found HERE.

And this on the other side.

Image found HERE.

I know I'm sounding like a little kid, but that was so cool!

Now another picture of Zoey with the yarn.

Happy Saturday!

Waiting for Rain

I know that it is still summer and most people are holding on to the last visages of the heat, but I'm waiting for the rain.

Rain, for me, always makes life seem so much easier to handle. I sleep better. I have more motivation. I can get out my winter coats. The cats grow back their fluffy fur. I can start stacking blankets on my bed.

But for now...

I'm just waiting for the rain.

Meanwhile...

Works in progress.

Queen Quilt

I've decided to quilt it with buttons.

Knitting

I'm almost done with my scarf.

And I'd like to start knitting this blanket.

With this yarn.

We'll see how that goes. I'm not daunted, yet, by learning how to knit.

Things I'd like to do before 2012

1. Read the George R.R. Martin Game of Thrones series. I've been hearing wonderful things about the T.V. show, but I'd like to read the books before I watch it.

2. Make the emmeline apron from Sew Liberated. I love lines of this apron. It is simple and yet complex with its reversible nature. I'm not sure of the color or pattern scheme I'm going to make this with, but I'm sure something will strike my fancy.

3. And make the Sew Liberated mischievous gnome messenger bag. It's the perfect size for all my needs. Again I haven't found the color/patterns I'm going to use, but I'm excited about making this bag.

4. Finish knitting my scarf. I started this thing it seems so long ago. I'm still unsure of how to seamlessly transition between the colors. As you can see I've just been tying knots on the side. I'm learning, slowly, how to knit.

5. Make a black shirt for work, Decades of style 4005. I've been planning on making this particular top for some time, but the recent change in my work's dress policy has me reeling for black shirts. So I think this would be a cute blouse to liven up my black on black day to day wardrobe.

6. Make a classic vindaloo. I've been searching high and low for the final elusive spice. As soon as I get my hands on it I'll be cooking up an Indian storm. I love Indian food, and today because I've been craving it so much lately, hubby and I went to the local Indian establishment. I was sorely disappointed. I'm hoping my home attempt is better than they were.

7. Make a reversible hooded play cape by Sew Liberated (Growing up Sew liberated page 81). One for each my niece and nephew. They are just so cute here playing nicely together.

8. Make a Reversible Tote with a flat bottom (Stitch by Stitch page 109). I'm always needing tote bags and with the possibility that plastic bags will be going away in my state I'll need to be more diligent with having lots of bags to cart around my groceries.

9. Apply to grad school. I know this is a big one, why is it number nine on my list? Well I'm feeling a little nervous about the whole endeavor. Is this the right choice for me? Are we going to be able to afford school for both of us and to live? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? See so many questions not a lot of answers, but I figure I need to try and that way I wont have as many regrets later in life.

10. Make more dishes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I'm loving the French food, but I think hubby is on the fence about it. My goal is to try and make him a lover of this fabulous food. Wish me luck.

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Knitting

I got up early today to go to a wedding of a person that I haven't seen in three years. The bride was beautiful and the wedding sweet. The food was best part, chips and salsa, a taco bar and cheese cake for dessert. Delicious and affordable.

After this early day (11 am) wedding I came home and worked on my knitting. This is what I've accomplished so far. It's about 8 inches long. I'm hoping it turns into a scarf someday. This started off as a Stitch Nation free project called Full o' Sheep Cable Vision, but this was too complicated for me the beginner.

So I've decided to knit every row and alternate colors. We'll see how it all turns out. I'm still not sure how to tie off each transition, but I'll figure that out later. I'm sure I didn't do the transitions right, but it's working so far.

Knitting

So one of my goals for this year is to learn how to knit. I've purchased the following book to help me on that road. Additionally yarn was on sale at the local craft store and I purchases four different colors in a medium weight to begin with. With me luck for I will most definitively need it on this new adventure.

Knitting

So I've been contemplating on whether or not I should learn how to knit this year. Yes add to my ever growing list of projects and whatnots. But this is something that has fascinated me for some time. When I was young my Grandmother instructed myself and my sister in how to crochet. Though I've never had the inkling to pick that up again. I like the sleek elegance of the Knitting needles as compared to the holiness of crochet.

So I think in the near future I will pick up this kit and maybe by Christmas this year knit some stockings.

Wish me luck.