tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250879392024-03-07T18:45:41.878-08:00Res Ipsa Knit With HerWhere the knitting speaks for itself - well actually I may do some talking too!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-68927873370802771702009-10-07T06:54:00.000-07:002009-10-07T07:14:15.929-07:00Who Ordered the Snow?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAdh4IkXib4AIaqpgyGuLRmsiv5iVX_vES2Ph21W3K7_vtri7eIqARpW4kwAHbbfCpDjEYcsmsN4NVkf-TirBzL9U6hTnRvBzRThFtvKNMeNXsOzsA9ikOoREJJuIERy45bKG/s1600-h/DSC_0509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389857934687549282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAdh4IkXib4AIaqpgyGuLRmsiv5iVX_vES2Ph21W3K7_vtri7eIqARpW4kwAHbbfCpDjEYcsmsN4NVkf-TirBzL9U6hTnRvBzRThFtvKNMeNXsOzsA9ikOoREJJuIERy45bKG/s320/DSC_0509.JPG" border="0" /></a>This weekend I got a wonderful treat. I spent the weekend in Tahoe with eight ladies from my book club! Normally we meet one Sunday night per month and we switch off who hosts. Well this month the hostesses said, "let's all meet at my cabin in Tahoe!" At first it wasn't clear that many folks would be able to make it but ultimately we had about half the group. It was such a wonderful weekend and great to have a bunch of Mom's around! There was always someone cooking something or cleaning up - not like when you go somewhere with your own family and you have to do all the work. I had a fabulous time. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cRowGl9PTcMTYsYO_N3JW91CHYfJzrZRQZ7BpJL04sVC6Je0uuBCYjpWs1vb1nQr5Bm_oLxPpIBuXSMIUeAo1KRdJdB7wxOctaFtj9aiSy0YvtZDaD2cND0QnGfeoIJAOd0h/s1600-h/DSC_0510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389857946768329682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cRowGl9PTcMTYsYO_N3JW91CHYfJzrZRQZ7BpJL04sVC6Je0uuBCYjpWs1vb1nQr5Bm_oLxPpIBuXSMIUeAo1KRdJdB7wxOctaFtj9aiSy0YvtZDaD2cND0QnGfeoIJAOd0h/s320/DSC_0510.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was even a quick trip to a cute little yarn store called the Wool Tree. They had lots of lovely yarns including a fabulous selection of <a href="http://www.trendsetteryarns.com/tonalitaspecs.asp">Trendsetter Tonalita</a>. I was looking at the pretty colors trying to decide what to make and I decided to finally give <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTlizardridge.html">Lizard Ridge </a>a go. I've always wanted to make it but I don't like the feel of Noro Kureyon. The Tonalita is very soft in gorgeous colors so I think I'm going to like this. I didn't get enough for the entire blanket because I wanted to knit a few up to make sure that I liked it. I really do so will now have to hunt down the rest on-line.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0fIC3ueLWwLng4n-PwDDBRlb09aLlaZEfsSgdTESO0-MfJ3mrqfZ017be1qhW0bcvT6g25-ryVvrU56Sk4Irp7UI712aLaB5bc6xG-RXDh58f2XwxZ3uTg92OjNyrm3khyphenhyphenmC/s1600-h/DSC_0516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389857961215014354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0fIC3ueLWwLng4n-PwDDBRlb09aLlaZEfsSgdTESO0-MfJ3mrqfZ017be1qhW0bcvT6g25-ryVvrU56Sk4Irp7UI712aLaB5bc6xG-RXDh58f2XwxZ3uTg92OjNyrm3khyphenhyphenmC/s320/DSC_0516.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br />The weather was in the '60's on Saturday and the sun was shining. But what a surprise when we woke up Sunday morning - SNOW!! We were like little kids on their first snow day. We made snow angels, took pictures and threw snowballs. It was absolutely gorgeous. The only bad part was having to dig out my car . . .<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yLaMQBLBiGxlzQo3IH6y7XI3QmwhsjtQD5LTKH6ZopQDgHIbNwk_vmymtc3idZm1B8UR4xhPFU6lqCRYb3jWVUNUMw0c4piUtS-io-XE0Br-V28Jj8iRFTI50ss8pI0YA-a/s1600-h/DSC_0487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389857952336317938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yLaMQBLBiGxlzQo3IH6y7XI3QmwhsjtQD5LTKH6ZopQDgHIbNwk_vmymtc3idZm1B8UR4xhPFU6lqCRYb3jWVUNUMw0c4piUtS-io-XE0Br-V28Jj8iRFTI50ss8pI0YA-a/s320/DSC_0487.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Oh yeah - and the book? We read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341"><u>The Help</u> </a>which I highly recommend. It takes place in the '50's and '60's in Jacksonville, Mississippi and it's a realy eye opener.</div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-78388328291780649592009-09-28T07:04:00.000-07:002009-09-30T06:52:59.165-07:00Fair Isle Baby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRMQEiUvmdokSZGEm-VVSpSvduxWPFkSwPD9Zva95sxh3BemPaOvIV1qC-UWF6aFRUZXLe3ZhwnbwwU-2o4CkDI8kpYwXYhUo1QnTo_0LSYZ8YJlVjsZuMtewygUHCk65-VI4/s1600-h/DSC_0404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386520308093148626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRMQEiUvmdokSZGEm-VVSpSvduxWPFkSwPD9Zva95sxh3BemPaOvIV1qC-UWF6aFRUZXLe3ZhwnbwwU-2o4CkDI8kpYwXYhUo1QnTo_0LSYZ8YJlVjsZuMtewygUHCk65-VI4/s320/DSC_0404.JPG" border="0" /></a> I FINALLY found a <a href="http://exercisebeforeknitting.com/december-stripes-hat/">hat pattern </a>that I thought would be cute for a baby boy but it was fair isle. To date I have not really done much fair isle and have not been very good at it. But the hat was so darn cute I just had to give it a try. I even had colors in my stash pretty close to the ones in the pattern which I really liked. So here it is - my first ever fair isle baby hat. I must say that this is really easy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">peasy</span> fair isle in that the colors change every other stitch when you are doing the pattern so therefore you don't have the long color runs that mess me up. I even learned to "pick" and "throw" having a different color in both hands. There are definitely more of these hats in my future!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRHqNhMlRrol42tevLFGL6bP9-nWZr9PP9jpZPRzsSNk51uiCErM2RDHP-KH7OzMU2qyesl1og_TFFoE0251FmefClRg_FS8JZJzbvzlmqrUR4wbG1y9c5l71EDr4xMaPJxHM/s1600-h/DSC_0412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386520300590453666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRHqNhMlRrol42tevLFGL6bP9-nWZr9PP9jpZPRzsSNk51uiCErM2RDHP-KH7OzMU2qyesl1og_TFFoE0251FmefClRg_FS8JZJzbvzlmqrUR4wbG1y9c5l71EDr4xMaPJxHM/s320/DSC_0412.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>To see something much more impressive than another hat - go on over to <a href="http://knitaway.blogspot.com/">Jen's blog </a>and see her beautiful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ulmus</span>! Now I'm really put to shame since I suggested we both make an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ulmus</span>, mine is about 6-8 inches big at this point and hers is all done and oh, so gorgeous! Way to go Jennifer! I'm so impressed (and quite envious).<br /></p><p>Finally - I haven't shown you a photo of Miss Molly in awhile. She is almost 8 months now and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rambucous</span> puppy. She is growing like a weed and is a long leggy "super model" as the vet said. She remains a sweet pup who loves to be around people and has the best sad puppy dog look of any dog on the planet (and therefore gets her way a lot!) She has become such a member of the family it's hard to remember a time without her.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEJVF9avmBjaPJNAaP8KFsuzmSXMubkdtGns2aLvZ8wJuG_JdKA4MyyUVdaSt2OMy-QGyJylVzENDWIrIj5SuoTfeCEUw1YSsZBZuc04fH4WXrMW0mvAwGM42uJKq-oh5EfRZ/s1600-h/DSC_0440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386520291774276402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEJVF9avmBjaPJNAaP8KFsuzmSXMubkdtGns2aLvZ8wJuG_JdKA4MyyUVdaSt2OMy-QGyJylVzENDWIrIj5SuoTfeCEUw1YSsZBZuc04fH4WXrMW0mvAwGM42uJKq-oh5EfRZ/s320/DSC_0440.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-65083563601850417832009-09-21T06:34:00.000-07:002009-09-23T07:20:49.498-07:00Surprise Jacket<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hHtHBkF3B6XOOF6kC4tRspd3rDzV1eMLXlB629ObarTmqBXddq12N5o-GHSmrnRCtaxXJGC6kSiQlX1AOr3Cc3ySFEAhaOEpuVwBYTDI7EfuWG17-tRp2c30Ebgh3CbjW1yJ/s1600-h/DSC_0084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383914925541819922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hHtHBkF3B6XOOF6kC4tRspd3rDzV1eMLXlB629ObarTmqBXddq12N5o-GHSmrnRCtaxXJGC6kSiQlX1AOr3Cc3ySFEAhaOEpuVwBYTDI7EfuWG17-tRp2c30Ebgh3CbjW1yJ/s320/DSC_0084.JPG" border="0" /></a>I had to be careful as I thought of the title for this post. I am making the famous Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket but when I sent an e-mail to Bonnie about it I ended up with an unintended consequence. You see she read it on her blackberry/trio/handheld and only part of the title of my message could be seen. Well I think she just about had a heart attack when she got a message from me titled, "Baby Surprise!" No Bonnie - no more babies in my future but plenty of knitting for other people's babies!<br /><br />This jacket has intriqued me for a long time so I finally decided to make one. The pattern comes on an extra long piece of paper with lots of writing, diagrams, etc. But then when you start to make it you realize there are only two paragraphs of instructions and I've got to tell you they are NOT THAT CLEAR! I got started just fine but then I had several questions. Thank goodness for the internet. There are several sites that offer some help (glad to know I'm not the only one who had these issues) and even a 6 part video instructions on You Tube! I love the internet! I'm using some Socks that Rock Heavyweight so we'll see just how big this sucker turns out. I'll keep you posted. In the meanwhile, if anyone else has made this and has some tips for me please send them my way.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y50chRuLgfIahz19HzbMjdMwlJtfmyu1b7_QI3Ozo89nXBhT7dB0P-_K1e-uH_LTo8-wV_QF1wCpWU09QBpXgDyMXFIU3YSGdkb-eFQzzNhKPi-YfggLVQzQYKPGren6Dz6A/s1600-h/DSC_0083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383914916741426322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y50chRuLgfIahz19HzbMjdMwlJtfmyu1b7_QI3Ozo89nXBhT7dB0P-_K1e-uH_LTo8-wV_QF1wCpWU09QBpXgDyMXFIU3YSGdkb-eFQzzNhKPi-YfggLVQzQYKPGren6Dz6A/s320/DSC_0083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA58ZLtepwjeWv1ZMdwYDtJb9ehi4Ls9ZgmyxfnJjAkBLnMxHs9y6QD5BxZuQNK2rWWUY0YRcS5065UK4J4jgQJ4-ahJt43Qa_A1xSsKJXS5-k0iIoeUczN6v83vbKYofKJ_5L/s1600-h/DSC_0081.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-24301597271406572492009-09-14T06:55:00.000-07:002009-09-15T10:34:39.206-07:00Where Have I BEE'n?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqOaOtzm5qhHIGAKB9t5AouW-UdDh50Zwjdm7g4Fug0O4VjclrTBdrAW8ciFcyDF-r3nSNfNqXWOsaF472r_q7AtrAI5119iW159q8KSBa8zoWwzwYHrj14j4BOxmdniEFtB1/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381322827541366642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqOaOtzm5qhHIGAKB9t5AouW-UdDh50Zwjdm7g4Fug0O4VjclrTBdrAW8ciFcyDF-r3nSNfNqXWOsaF472r_q7AtrAI5119iW159q8KSBa8zoWwzwYHrj14j4BOxmdniEFtB1/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a>HELLO everyone! Long time no "talk". I look at my last entry and I can't believe it has been almost two months since I have posted. Where have I been you ask? I wish I had a tale of fabulous travels that kept me away from the computer but it was really just every day life. We did have a nice vacation in Oregon the end of July/beginning of August but other than that I've really just been very busy at work and dealing with three kids going back to school, starting soccer, horses, hip-hop, learning to drive, and the like. I have been stalking your blogs though and enjoying your posts (to the extent you're not delinquent like me!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHdWio4f9QIpwAUJ77CVvDbZ-CAGbr4L6ihYiCQ8zAePvDE4klt4hgBRi8COVvpUaHsEqxXZqAoB5ASMmA3zlR7GaprZsUGGa-Lr_WzpxDAo7DxNTD9S7cRJy94_d7Wzd5dgc/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381322816967791186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHdWio4f9QIpwAUJ77CVvDbZ-CAGbr4L6ihYiCQ8zAePvDE4klt4hgBRi8COVvpUaHsEqxXZqAoB5ASMmA3zlR7GaprZsUGGa-Lr_WzpxDAo7DxNTD9S7cRJy94_d7Wzd5dgc/s320/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My main project of late has been the Girasol shawl which I showed you earlier. I am now at the point where the rows are 640 stitches long so they take FOREVER! I feel like I'm nearing the end but then I realize that I can only get through about 1 to 1.5 rows per night and I have about 33 rows until the edging so that's about 1 month more!! I also continue to suffer from my major knitting A.D.D. and have many other projects going as well. Lots of babies being born so I have been making hats (there's a surprise!) The guy who grows the organic garden near me (where most of my flower photos come from) just had a baby girl. So I made him a tomato hat and also a bumble bee hat. I couldn't find a pattern I liked for the bee hat so I made one up. I am so tickled with how it came out. He named her Eden which I think is so perfect!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjequzq3kr2vRwc3v-CRWAm3BKxwxgOxLLM8uiGX-w7cdU-PK4UIxxoHwws7aqiti13LwN2jsUibs_0sOFEUd-bIZSifoSPMNU8oCDkDX4-R0kjzKSP3V9HddonsCie0JV20ooA/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381322811498447938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjequzq3kr2vRwc3v-CRWAm3BKxwxgOxLLM8uiGX-w7cdU-PK4UIxxoHwws7aqiti13LwN2jsUibs_0sOFEUd-bIZSifoSPMNU8oCDkDX4-R0kjzKSP3V9HddonsCie0JV20ooA/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The problem with most of the other babies are that they are boys. Not that I have anything against boys but I'm having a really hard time finding cute baby boy hat patterns. I find tons and tons of cute patterns for little girls but not for boys. In fact I've even made several for baby girls with no one in particular to give them too! Please let me know if you have any suggestions.<br /><br />On a non-knitting note, the Little Man's school had a cake walk at the back-to-school BBQ. People are supposed to bring cakes which are then judged. After that the kids play something akin to musical chairs and when the music stops they jump on a number. Then a number is called out and that person gets to go pick a cake. Inspired by <a href="http://jarladysrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/06/cake-balls.html"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Janice </span></a>I made cake balls. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3IFHx4KkU1U8eDMbINdCQ1EzdrOJh0453nwMNnirGRfmyTn8PDDk32YSbnSfWf1WRZLQaP6VBFcq2o-ys22jANqBz9cumXSlH-tbcwRLga6Br4Jkw_0RWSHcbTF4EVy-AjPZ/s1600-h/Cakeballs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381742118792301250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3IFHx4KkU1U8eDMbINdCQ1EzdrOJh0453nwMNnirGRfmyTn8PDDk32YSbnSfWf1WRZLQaP6VBFcq2o-ys22jANqBz9cumXSlH-tbcwRLga6Br4Jkw_0RWSHcbTF4EVy-AjPZ/s320/Cakeballs.jpg" border="0" /></a> The theme was "Kentucky bluegrass" so I made blue and green cake balls. It was something short of a disaster. Trying for colors I went to Michael's and bought candy melts which I thought would be good for dipping but it was really too thick. Then I dropped in some coloring trying to darken the blue and it immediately thickened and was ruined. So I had to make the rest green . . . what you see are the salvaged ones. Anyway - I was totally put to shame by THIS cake. Isn't it amazing? I have no idea what it has to do with bluegrass but it was amazing!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76HUZIXfIANsrjrO4RN2_xvFveJJi8jyDQmBHXNRXC50o1gVgGBxQAN33QR00_jav555oVzIiWskqViogF09yKE7OgathZO4VbRBgIvCrwjNJgbO7IheVPaniV4gaH9vXOlI5/s1600-h/Green+Eggs+and+Ham.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381742111498423682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76HUZIXfIANsrjrO4RN2_xvFveJJi8jyDQmBHXNRXC50o1gVgGBxQAN33QR00_jav555oVzIiWskqViogF09yKE7OgathZO4VbRBgIvCrwjNJgbO7IheVPaniV4gaH9vXOlI5/s320/Green+Eggs+and+Ham.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAMPr6GEhdOaSDkYJ1XzXUQQw__inpcg83f2a_9dMDe_OEeprtcwapZEVK2XdIUWyqpvYw7mBexUDSJ-rRcyP11oAbQJrmbtLaDpDTVNxhC8aqHNeCW1ECsGdncesORJmig5k/s1600-h/DSC_0078.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div>Then sadly at the end of the day the kids picked whichever cake had the most candy or toys on it! When the Little Man finally won it was close to the end and my cake balls were still there . . . . and would you believe that with all these wonderful homemade cakes he picked a carton of cupcakes that came from the grocery store but had little superman decorations on them! I have SO learned my lesson!</div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-38953145626026104922009-07-21T06:32:00.000-07:002009-07-21T06:47:32.200-07:00Never Enough Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIklkAp2AlUFlw9Vio_-2cxSG8hdXfOVNwX0FqZQ1Bz-7zbMvaCM2KSogHoCTR70EX38H8sS-bjlRwweSoafqPlLkWz0Uy06NpwkfePJFeFAUPCyJGh2C-tSu16b7pMnWHwAm/s1600-h/Macro+flower+test+015-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360907129218715714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIklkAp2AlUFlw9Vio_-2cxSG8hdXfOVNwX0FqZQ1Bz-7zbMvaCM2KSogHoCTR70EX38H8sS-bjlRwweSoafqPlLkWz0Uy06NpwkfePJFeFAUPCyJGh2C-tSu16b7pMnWHwAm/s320/Macro+flower+test+015-2.jpg" border="0" /></a>I am continuing to learn how to use my new macro lens and I think things are getting better. I just wish I had more time to play with it and study what to do. The story of just about everything in my life. I wish I had more time to knit, more time to read, more time to photograph, more time to blog and read your blogs and most of all more time to have fun with my family. But I've been trying to make the most of the summer and get home a little earlier and do some fun things. We have a vacation coming up and I plan to bring lots of knitting, books and of course my camera. I do that every year and bring most of it back barely touched but hope springs eternal!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yFq5xPX8UQh5LGBo-BOAAqr7iCrW8Q3X3AHV9QyfIaFeQ84kKW0Dt-it1hfP_e1DlTJuPrUuHpkEwTq4cwKJFK_dc65gLn_YqtVCmzk5xW6UWh-COLFoRuxSpZp69_FlAqNv/s1600-h/DSC_0632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360907116200383010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yFq5xPX8UQh5LGBo-BOAAqr7iCrW8Q3X3AHV9QyfIaFeQ84kKW0Dt-it1hfP_e1DlTJuPrUuHpkEwTq4cwKJFK_dc65gLn_YqtVCmzk5xW6UWh-COLFoRuxSpZp69_FlAqNv/s320/DSC_0632.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the knitting front I continue to work on my Girasole and it is progressing well. I think I'm more than half way done but I'm not quite sure. This is the first time I've started a shawl and wanted to work on it almost exclusively. Usually I flit from project to project. There is one project that I have also been working on, especially when I need something mindless. I have a friend who is going through hard times and I wanted to knit something for her. I couldn't decide what and then one day I stepped in to my LYS and saw this gorgeous new <a href="http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/lustra_sh.html">Berroco Lustra </a>yarn. It just shimmers and comes in all these gorgeous deep colors. I decided a scarf out of the luminous turqouise was just the thing. I tried some lace designs but ultimately decided a simple ribbed scarf shows of the yarn the best and is oh so yummy! It's taking me much longer to make progress on the scarf even though I seem to progress quickly on the shawl. I think it's the knitting in the round!<br /><br />Look who came to visit us last night. He had a friend with him as well. We have several young bucks in the area with their horns still fuzzy. They are truly gorgeous creatures.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyVLZGqJsNSWXSEGDIxw6G3OyG8gl04KFJnnFugucSACLGlPFMmqMcB95lYryewPUA9e0dG7oDNZZMZ1H1yW6bDyYA2KfudFvqUP7ca-vH2VMGG9rKvdRYuwupRnnfRcROYQA/s1600-h/visitor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360907120325894194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyVLZGqJsNSWXSEGDIxw6G3OyG8gl04KFJnnFugucSACLGlPFMmqMcB95lYryewPUA9e0dG7oDNZZMZ1H1yW6bDyYA2KfudFvqUP7ca-vH2VMGG9rKvdRYuwupRnnfRcROYQA/s320/visitor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-68576772532876768962009-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:002009-07-15T06:59:22.083-07:00Round and Round and Round<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMX1RBa7LmBmb2ndN5qzXZXv4uN6POVlZo2q_zKWVa-kDvasJqpaIQk7edKqhPO5cJV-UDS4a3zbtaFFXeNApSwDb14vAkYenl5RQSQn5HfMwgrSVieIqZ-eeBgxZpSNfKQGp/s1600-h/DSC_0582.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358683574136020882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMX1RBa7LmBmb2ndN5qzXZXv4uN6POVlZo2q_zKWVa-kDvasJqpaIQk7edKqhPO5cJV-UDS4a3zbtaFFXeNApSwDb14vAkYenl5RQSQn5HfMwgrSVieIqZ-eeBgxZpSNfKQGp/s320/DSC_0582.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've been working on the <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2008/12/girasole.html">Girasole </a>by Jared Flood and I must say that I LOVE this pattern! It's really quite easy yet it looks so fancy in the end! It is knit in the round which clearly goes faster than having to turn after every row and the pattern continues to change to kee in interesting. It is really quite simple lace knitting and I think both the novice and experienced lace knitter can enjoy it. I'm making this one out of Malabrigo silky merino which is wonderful to work with. It's hard to show you what it really looks like since it is crinkled around the needles but you can check it out on Ravelry to get the full view. I think I'm about half way done now (further than when the photos were taken) but it's hard to say. Also the stitch counts goes up and up so each row is now taking much longer so it's not entirely clear how much longer it iwll take me.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnucgp9zB7h0xmr2k5LvuPZFgstxOJ7mHMBpkNI2sxhHdG602_WPA6rbgaQzUWoMUOYuzzil_5v6DtqkhArk-JZL5Y4IlKy4S1QaLcFpXpq-ntSi7_kYYB1WJpN3jJD_2DNxe/s1600-h/DSC_0447.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358683563588523874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnucgp9zB7h0xmr2k5LvuPZFgstxOJ7mHMBpkNI2sxhHdG602_WPA6rbgaQzUWoMUOYuzzil_5v6DtqkhArk-JZL5Y4IlKy4S1QaLcFpXpq-ntSi7_kYYB1WJpN3jJD_2DNxe/s320/DSC_0447.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have been wondering lately what's going on in the knitting blog world. It seems we're all posting less and commenting less. Does that just mean we're busy? Have people gotten tired of the blogs? Is everyone spending their time on Ravelry instead? Do other people see what I see? Does anyone have any ideas what is happening?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-EtNIBJ3XNJgSuS__RvI78Aj7onuDPvyoFCMt9m3ReF90Ac6QEHxxI5kf0vynQLpxK4tNVJZGeesfNZyLDlOXZuK7k5-uxqJ3lDtB-1LQJESiDENZEn9IHJIfNAKy8p7Z172/s1600-h/DSC_0446.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358683561687729186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-EtNIBJ3XNJgSuS__RvI78Aj7onuDPvyoFCMt9m3ReF90Ac6QEHxxI5kf0vynQLpxK4tNVJZGeesfNZyLDlOXZuK7k5-uxqJ3lDtB-1LQJESiDENZEn9IHJIfNAKy8p7Z172/s320/DSC_0446.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not much else is new around here. I did get a new lens for my camera - it's called a macro lens for taking very close-up photos. I'm still trying to get the hang of it. I'd love to hear from any of you who are experienced macro lens users for your tips and suggestions. We continue to enjoy the summer with the kids and they are very busy with a variety of camps. On any given night I'm down at least one kid and that in itself it a little odd. I want to go to camp! Instead I go to camp work every day. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-55733213124665190512009-07-04T22:35:00.000-07:002009-07-04T22:56:56.377-07:00Happy Fourth of July!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354847724381473874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X2CmwTBWOF6nDF6JwCisZ2_igd15d_hqPJIRQmXnjAgU4FCdSjlDjMGodEffCAZuquMZuwX-8QiKvj4Ue3ypvA8RTxIxL-MWjb_8CHWJH25TXllvg51Eon5ZdEIzDb8j_nJy/s320/DSC_0482.JPG" border="0" />Happy Independence Day to all of you. I hope everyone had a wonderful day filled with fun and family (and maybe even a little knitting!) We started the day with a parade down one of the main streets of our town followed by a BBQ and swimming at our friend's house. We brought <a href="http://jarlady.blogspot.com/2009/06/wwkip-day.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Cake Balls</span></a> thanks to <a href="http://jarlady.blogspot.com/">Janice's </a>wonderful recipe. Horsey Girl and the Little Man helped me make them and they had a fabulous time decorating them. Everyone was very impressed and thought they tasted fabulous. One person even asked where we bought them!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2oCEyODrmV-x2brpupmzcC0E92yGg2vTwwLnKNMXnU5eLDHUxadUrcWgNwDKPJZPTc4ior8giRWG5fNh4rhly_3wsy8sGrAcij6EUkMqThHdwSl1nlQSgPKvrjdK9DMVftEO/s1600-h/DSC_0417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354847706868899890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2oCEyODrmV-x2brpupmzcC0E92yGg2vTwwLnKNMXnU5eLDHUxadUrcWgNwDKPJZPTc4ior8giRWG5fNh4rhly_3wsy8sGrAcij6EUkMqThHdwSl1nlQSgPKvrjdK9DMVftEO/s320/DSC_0417.JPG" border="0" /></a>On the knitting front - I made a cupcake pin cushion for Mom out of the new <a href="http://www.spudandchloe.com/">Spud and Chloe </a>yarn from Blue Sky Alpaca. I don't really understand why they came out with a whole new brand name but it is supposed to be more wash and wear than their other yarns. It was nice to work with but the colors weren't as pretty as they looked on-line. It was a quick knit and I am happy with the results.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW6iNFRXUWVdJjKs53p5OMjU26U3uW1R_sgHAaN92Kft-y2GHUaw3DGXx922KVpOTj1GFhkZOcaJaTEcP128rpjQL8hIfzuz3PBr451fDejNWFWZja7RzqzZ6XpWeYQdhLHPt/s1600-h/DSC_0416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354847712620563266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW6iNFRXUWVdJjKs53p5OMjU26U3uW1R_sgHAaN92Kft-y2GHUaw3DGXx922KVpOTj1GFhkZOcaJaTEcP128rpjQL8hIfzuz3PBr451fDejNWFWZja7RzqzZ6XpWeYQdhLHPt/s320/DSC_0416.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a photo of some of the hats I made for the Realy for Life. I really had a good time making these hats with multicolored brims. Hopefully they will find their way to someone in need and make them smile. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9qFV6KHpViK2BykUe9deuXPqTaIEUiHuaT9vmcLKKbnPfkXYZ3DSOaX8Zufi-AIn78x8W63GRwjLGZKcUn18GsP3O3KsDa4wEkypWp8A16uQI0VYNl5EwRLmh9bIRwVWg8SM/s1600-h/Memorial+Day+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354847733063085938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9qFV6KHpViK2BykUe9deuXPqTaIEUiHuaT9vmcLKKbnPfkXYZ3DSOaX8Zufi-AIn78x8W63GRwjLGZKcUn18GsP3O3KsDa4wEkypWp8A16uQI0VYNl5EwRLmh9bIRwVWg8SM/s320/Memorial+Day+010.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>And of course I have to leave you with today's Molly photo. Here she is decked out for the 4th of July parade and already panting!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPLUBHaycyrAT1qGVQKEywbrMnxFOD-dPCMewZya-Xbqa965M3TNNNnM9IHhN_nOhALQDxmtCs-i90GmaFcx_c8FnL1lLuRqECgTrfFek94dCus7KjCtSO9wO4QHu5skApsIh/s1600-h/DSC_0435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354847721990334866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPLUBHaycyrAT1qGVQKEywbrMnxFOD-dPCMewZya-Xbqa965M3TNNNnM9IHhN_nOhALQDxmtCs-i90GmaFcx_c8FnL1lLuRqECgTrfFek94dCus7KjCtSO9wO4QHu5skApsIh/s320/DSC_0435.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-40829826047736157222009-06-30T08:35:00.000-07:002009-06-30T10:07:59.306-07:00Who'd A Thought<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6lSDNUQZjzCKQbXzmLCE7vqbGEv5rIX-RD43g34nKS0dAdlWT2Co06MF056vP_JESybApwus4JqBrRkrS7vJ4QoUf5GOwFAzUOiG_AbOMvrg3108b8-qbclDMwOu-NC4alFX/s1600-h/DSC_0395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353145845943328770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6lSDNUQZjzCKQbXzmLCE7vqbGEv5rIX-RD43g34nKS0dAdlWT2Co06MF056vP_JESybApwus4JqBrRkrS7vJ4QoUf5GOwFAzUOiG_AbOMvrg3108b8-qbclDMwOu-NC4alFX/s320/DSC_0395.JPG" border="0" /></a>Remember <a href="http://resipsaknit.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-memorial-day.html">this</a>? I showed you the two yarns I had picked to make the <a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/designs/2009/04/ulmus.html">Ulmus </a>and I KNOW that some of you were thinking, "Ewww - has she lost it?" Well it's just so amazing to see how colors look once you combine them. I thought the colors would look good together but sometimes I would look at them and worry that perhaps I was crazy. Well lookie here. I'm thrilled with how this is turning out. I definitely recommend this pattern as it is quite easy but turns out a beautiful shawl. There is one point I will make though - when you slip the stitches it is always WYIF. I made that mistake at first only having the yarn in front on one side and not on the other. The pattern uses different symbols depending on the row even though it is for the same stitch (slip with yarn in front). I can't understand why they did that but once I figured it out things are going smoothly. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEWjrAfFECIUkq-v_ej8ha4JSc_IsM3B8B-jvN3gu-MtLmukyW3JKqpXzDTSA1OPQkBM9kopoQDgITQYoCG0cDNY1TYnVdN0e28N5OThUxgzCMmYnneuzrOJZNqOs_M4fySAD/s1600-h/DSC_0401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353145852519174370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEWjrAfFECIUkq-v_ej8ha4JSc_IsM3B8B-jvN3gu-MtLmukyW3JKqpXzDTSA1OPQkBM9kopoQDgITQYoCG0cDNY1TYnVdN0e28N5OThUxgzCMmYnneuzrOJZNqOs_M4fySAD/s320/DSC_0401.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>I'm also working on a few other things that I will share with you soon. It's been a little hot to knit lately so progress is slow. On the summer front Miss K is off to camp for 2 weeks and I miss her already. It is so weird just having 2 kids instead of 3. It gives me a little glimpse in to what my life will be like in two years when Horsey Girl heads off to college. I must say I am NOT looking forward to it. I'm not a mom who is eagerly waiting for her kids to leave home. I think I'll be the one hanging on their legs as they walk out the door!<br /></div><div>I leave you with the obligatory photo of Miss Molly who is getting longer legged by the minute. I hope you all have a wonderful family, fun and fiber filled FOURTH! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItgJGILvFxjDTorjlsoe5auA9DhOw7eqJxAlSUf6HEkyi6Zo3upOHfyPApZS_W9n0HjIyFVMaHPRGASVjQAKn-kP3ql37eQfgVJYKYUfUrHrpAZ-ttzBxWuif7gnEfnbJJBH6/s1600-h/DSC_0390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353167815323229602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItgJGILvFxjDTorjlsoe5auA9DhOw7eqJxAlSUf6HEkyi6Zo3upOHfyPApZS_W9n0HjIyFVMaHPRGASVjQAKn-kP3ql37eQfgVJYKYUfUrHrpAZ-ttzBxWuif7gnEfnbJJBH6/s320/DSC_0390.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-5665915780266579802009-06-14T22:15:00.000-07:002009-06-14T22:40:26.724-07:00Earth Baby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2SGv-sJZTrN9SEE2NCyM62cUyOLXbzakMR5gdk-S5BxeK-nqqjE5v97m-HX96o6NDrD9yrBFv8HO19S3KG7xPT9MeGlf7JdPEjehMkh6wgV1J25_SOH5-kRHQE_PCaWkIDfY/s1600-h/DSC_0345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347420535243894578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2SGv-sJZTrN9SEE2NCyM62cUyOLXbzakMR5gdk-S5BxeK-nqqjE5v97m-HX96o6NDrD9yrBFv8HO19S3KG7xPT9MeGlf7JdPEjehMkh6wgV1J25_SOH5-kRHQE_PCaWkIDfY/s320/DSC_0345.JPG" border="0" /></a> As I mentioned <a href="http://resipsaknit.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-memorial-day.html">before</a>, the Little Man's kindergarten teacher is expecting and we Mom's decided to have a baby shower for her at the end of the year. At the last minute I decided to knit a baby blanket for her. She loves earth tones so I skipped the normal pink and baby blue and went with teal, brown, tan and sage. I had three criteria when I went to pick out the yarn. It had to be earth tones. It has to be able to go in the washer AND dryer. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQDcIdDIfM7IQyj7Uhx1GdGoisARolMBi-j8Ik9glIjMOOiTrSiqNCtJl8MkQsg4Cmg14StqzhAMS9wDSPxGIV8uLRyzK88nNs2yCwgn9RrsnAkTx7PO8ZjZ3sgWr-iUqLc_k/s1600-h/DSC_0344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347420527069668274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQDcIdDIfM7IQyj7Uhx1GdGoisARolMBi-j8Ik9glIjMOOiTrSiqNCtJl8MkQsg4Cmg14StqzhAMS9wDSPxGIV8uLRyzK88nNs2yCwgn9RrsnAkTx7PO8ZjZ3sgWr-iUqLc_k/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" border="0" /></a> It had to knit up quickly! I went with Universal yarn Classic Worsted. It is 80% acrylic and 20% wool. I knit the blanket on size 11 needles so it went quite fast. The pattern is of my own design. I was thrilled with how it turned out as was the soon to be mom. I hope she ends up using it often.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9t_Jv5HPg_FPcrlNYtvqTDDRaIlnS1f9e-cIPJCoBp1RfZW4QpYzs01Ub1KWmAKQqxuxMtuM1OrXKt7cNN5foCaL_X4MtxViv9m06U23x8ISokcEvPcqWPA9j8dBOdWdh4xI/s1600-h/DSC_0343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347420524148481138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9t_Jv5HPg_FPcrlNYtvqTDDRaIlnS1f9e-cIPJCoBp1RfZW4QpYzs01Ub1KWmAKQqxuxMtuM1OrXKt7cNN5foCaL_X4MtxViv9m06U23x8ISokcEvPcqWPA9j8dBOdWdh4xI/s320/DSC_0343.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSooJiMdMDwpAXuAwWMoBTL_yhA0yhiBB7AWAVwrWdTveSF7eT-BndFb5jeVPMxoVF3uPqBRx3RWUHZHC-3ZDv6MIwJUJZZtB0dQgWl75u8JgVcY5yJVrTL3b_oy77q8x71vDm/s1600-h/DSC_0299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347422505810692898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSooJiMdMDwpAXuAwWMoBTL_yhA0yhiBB7AWAVwrWdTveSF7eT-BndFb5jeVPMxoVF3uPqBRx3RWUHZHC-3ZDv6MIwJUJZZtB0dQgWl75u8JgVcY5yJVrTL3b_oy77q8x71vDm/s320/DSC_0299.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>The kids are all out of school and summer camp season is about to start. My oldest has gone on a college tour in southern California and my middle is already bored, bored, bored! Maybe she could walk the dog . . . . <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uGgWS_mLR4aFCmZxGPqmwpIYGZDDdYYyZjSCv-37OFtrNcG1CYW4aVa0uKd9hdbWLjpgEt9SVi6ZXcSvAHBiu9zwzWRbrKd3y_gKcGC0xkAwsXHnFZINeZQMbhYMgDbRMuvp/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347422497743619538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uGgWS_mLR4aFCmZxGPqmwpIYGZDDdYYyZjSCv-37OFtrNcG1CYW4aVa0uKd9hdbWLjpgEt9SVi6ZXcSvAHBiu9zwzWRbrKd3y_gKcGC0xkAwsXHnFZINeZQMbhYMgDbRMuvp/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uGgWS_mLR4aFCmZxGPqmwpIYGZDDdYYyZjSCv-37OFtrNcG1CYW4aVa0uKd9hdbWLjpgEt9SVi6ZXcSvAHBiu9zwzWRbrKd3y_gKcGC0xkAwsXHnFZINeZQMbhYMgDbRMuvp/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"></a> </div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-9758101537913134382009-06-04T06:18:00.000-07:002009-06-04T06:33:54.978-07:00What's a Girl to Do?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343464103286044002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDo0GTTSDxXGZzpGDr6eUDVpIBoWAxcfUKu3qy-RufPB5HUPwteO5tbrjNvqPPLn46-MN1zIO0W_kvneDSzPQYmYvE-5iLpUFUNwgv84h8zHZcuz50JPLG1T8nJdeY5Bm_O4s/s320/DSC_0096.JPG" border="0" />There is a new yarn store in the vicinity of where I live. It's called <a href="http://www.greenplanetyarn.com/">Green Planet Yarns</a>. I've been hearing about it but it's not that close and it's in an area I don't tend to find myself. Recently Horsey Girl had a soccer game at a High School that was only 3 miles from Green Planet. So what's a girl to do? I volunteered to drop her at the game since she needs to be there half hour early to warm up. Mom was with me and we snuck on over to the yarn. My plan was just to check it out quickly and then get back for the first quarter. Well you know what's next! We did at least make it back at half time and at luckily BEFORE hubby got there so he never had to know! <div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh5UIWaWv4c8Wx4yWnaLz3dLgU6GWcdeUPfX0m8Au8Aqrewg9cJJUFG_X2MTHG_W7EGrrWXWdojrNxz4_ChtmjsFUrF8D6xGWRmQ2qXb-BbGdfS44g5J9vV03fDoM3pOC_mma/s1600-h/DSC_0097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343464113653043170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh5UIWaWv4c8Wx4yWnaLz3dLgU6GWcdeUPfX0m8Au8Aqrewg9cJJUFG_X2MTHG_W7EGrrWXWdojrNxz4_ChtmjsFUrF8D6xGWRmQ2qXb-BbGdfS44g5J9vV03fDoM3pOC_mma/s320/DSC_0097.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>There was so much to look at and so many yarns I'd never seen before! I didn't think that was possible since I've spent so much time in yarn stores and looking at yarn on line. I was "forced" to buy something. There was this gorgeous bamboo yarn in bright, bright colors. I decided to get it for a baby blanket. I don't know what baby yet, but maybe by the time I finish it someone will be pregnant! I'm loving this yarn. It is so soft and the color is not disappointing!</div><div> </div><div>I leave you with a photo of one of our kitties. They are getting jealous that Molly is getting all the attention!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvfns0CmIcqRDwKB33vAdWzkE6GwqvTtjn4v8yCHiWaDx6MJ2ejdr7HjG1eThwT04HWgeS3EFITE_wxEwULnblLxo-4GbWKzwW7eGWt_RCeHlQxVtEQEIDEjJg3d52PbCajuw/s1600-h/DSC_0226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343464093445300770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvfns0CmIcqRDwKB33vAdWzkE6GwqvTtjn4v8yCHiWaDx6MJ2ejdr7HjG1eThwT04HWgeS3EFITE_wxEwULnblLxo-4GbWKzwW7eGWt_RCeHlQxVtEQEIDEjJg3d52PbCajuw/s320/DSC_0226.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-14099017306448036482009-05-31T07:56:00.001-07:002009-06-01T06:43:09.199-07:00Cacophony<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvk7nzum2cNtOkQBWEm0eBcrN8MC6hDLveO12bSBhRrKqmr0B7Ad0VJ1vL5U23bjGHSmm2lLHpYjdaWhbvI0rcXnI-xjNS8vf5ux-vNNmOvtS8rUiDrFcvbsa4fePV7M8BvL4/s1600-h/DSC_0106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342346700763106562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvk7nzum2cNtOkQBWEm0eBcrN8MC6hDLveO12bSBhRrKqmr0B7Ad0VJ1vL5U23bjGHSmm2lLHpYjdaWhbvI0rcXnI-xjNS8vf5ux-vNNmOvtS8rUiDrFcvbsa4fePV7M8BvL4/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have three kids. One six year old. Two teens. A puppy. And a very hectic schedule. So when my parents come visit on the weekends it is like a three ring circus. Everyone is talking, moving, interacting. To finish a thought is a luxury. To complete a sentence - unheard of. And it drives my father CRAZY! I have realized that my knitting is much like my life. A cacophony of fiber each wanting to be heard. The beautiful yarns talking over one another. Competing for my attention. The projects fighting to be heard. I hear a bit of this conversation and a bit of that . . . Maybe that explains why I have yarn stuffed in every nook and cranny and projects in every bag. I've decided to stop feeling guilty about it. The conversations will keep. I'll return to them later. Occasionally the subject matter will have changed and it may be time to scrap a project and that is OK. The point of knitting is to enjoy oneself right? So stop the guilt. Start the knitting and ENJOY!<br /><div></div><br /><div>I have been conversing from time to time with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/necco-wafer-hoodie">Neco Wafer Hoodie </a>from the Spring Twist Collective (there is a new issue out tomorrow!) I'm making it for my friend's daughter and I love the bright colors. Now that it's Summer maybe I don't need to worry about finishing it until Fall!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY6jene621FBOFjxQT5Umk5eX17aqisfPJ0bd3g9nZtuvuykfy2HdY_a34cNj58lCDUUlHs2-za9cAinTxRUtP-F39ayOBuqTW32A_kL0Kk_Q9_5GLLHdNdptZf1lwwS_zpNB/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342346701626332594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY6jene621FBOFjxQT5Umk5eX17aqisfPJ0bd3g9nZtuvuykfy2HdY_a34cNj58lCDUUlHs2-za9cAinTxRUtP-F39ayOBuqTW32A_kL0Kk_Q9_5GLLHdNdptZf1lwwS_zpNB/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I did finish the helmet liner for the soldiers in honor of my frined <a href="http://k1p2yossk.blogspot.com/">Brooke's </a>son. It is really long but that's what the pattern calls for. I guess they like to have some extra room in the helmet.</div><div> </div><div>And to leave you with a Molly photo - here she is with Grandpa who was visiting last weekend. Doesn't she have the perfect puppy eyes?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC8OqvTLyYWY4BBkWedbuyMmG1a9w8cGha0yP4698_mGpNZQ6HsG3AkAcTby-KZ6nmpOaMjx1LacIIWG04cK8VghT7-r_GSIWmDJFUwrVUAB_umtT7aQAYXnBxx2fKVAd0p8j/s1600-h/DSC_0144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342353752700426146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC8OqvTLyYWY4BBkWedbuyMmG1a9w8cGha0yP4698_mGpNZQ6HsG3AkAcTby-KZ6nmpOaMjx1LacIIWG04cK8VghT7-r_GSIWmDJFUwrVUAB_umtT7aQAYXnBxx2fKVAd0p8j/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-36855149858380201782009-05-25T23:16:00.000-07:002009-05-26T06:48:53.217-07:00Happy Memorial Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBkxbCsXXqAXen8OHMufST-5KDWgVC3VDwd0OFSMTzKbwq_xmfS3CEdtHFQLI-3ECs6hU3WlJ8ftiWSTZQ1R-2hdwZ9G3r1p6Zuwc7WD307hA_tucvox16p-nqomVmpy0ok0k/s1600-h/Memorial+Day+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015007178603090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBkxbCsXXqAXen8OHMufST-5KDWgVC3VDwd0OFSMTzKbwq_xmfS3CEdtHFQLI-3ECs6hU3WlJ8ftiWSTZQ1R-2hdwZ9G3r1p6Zuwc7WD307hA_tucvox16p-nqomVmpy0ok0k/s320/Memorial+Day+013.jpg" border="0" /></a>I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. Ours was pretty mello but very enjoyable. In the spirit of Memorial Day, I finished the helmet liner I am knitting for Socks for Soldiers. It is in honor of my dear friend Brooke's son who fought in Iraq and passed away in December. The pattern calls for you to knit for 7-8" before decreasing so the hat seems huge but there must be some reason for that. They are very picky - you have to use a certain type and color of yarn and follow their pattern but I got it done and will be shipping it off momentarily.<br /><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eNP3vnrV_qkJQFqPFdLL1B5eyVvmF6SYO6D2BTh4TLoRo0l2TuXB8nDVHyYf01AifAguKJpyiIraeam7juz-dAM9W_FIOUT-bWOaZ5I6WiO8GbCd6RqGY4Oxa-pAkwU27Af0/s1600-h/DSC_0199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014988748025778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eNP3vnrV_qkJQFqPFdLL1B5eyVvmF6SYO6D2BTh4TLoRo0l2TuXB8nDVHyYf01AifAguKJpyiIraeam7juz-dAM9W_FIOUT-bWOaZ5I6WiO8GbCd6RqGY4Oxa-pAkwU27Af0/s320/DSC_0199.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I also just found out that there will be a shower for the Little Man's kindergarten teacher who is expecting a baby in July. She is expecting a boy and she loves earth tones so I made this little veggie hat for her and I'm working on a blanket. The hat was VERY quick and a great and easy gift. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl2LIFR9asE-MazUIgM21ulz5A8V1gbic-SwK5IGji3cXCO9eo7haUvctK1UP30D_0muanLFzGIIdfJQ7UnguUgXN29kC0W06hBt2KpBZbGQ-nAIim-mKVc1yMOanZ3meaFT9/s1600-h/DSC_0196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014979004750242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl2LIFR9asE-MazUIgM21ulz5A8V1gbic-SwK5IGji3cXCO9eo7haUvctK1UP30D_0muanLFzGIIdfJQ7UnguUgXN29kC0W06hBt2KpBZbGQ-nAIim-mKVc1yMOanZ3meaFT9/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><div><div>To continue with my "start-itis", I am thinking of knitting the <a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/through_the_loops/2009/04/ulmus.html">Ulmus </a>and have been trying to figure out what yarn combination to use. This is what I came up with and I need to do some swatching to see if these colors look right together. It's always so hard to find the perfect combination. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nsAlZ1nLxuhvtBrZ68aUCDCN5G2FtREHGsfPnzMclPxvdJFRpLds4ld2yh3jo80Zo_PIbcGPnn68N8ZGifef0lsU5EMsDpXpPxR1dUPZs2LyQqVI4dXMvQ45Vid3hfarVytI/s1600-h/Memorial+Day+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015014668053362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nsAlZ1nLxuhvtBrZ68aUCDCN5G2FtREHGsfPnzMclPxvdJFRpLds4ld2yh3jo80Zo_PIbcGPnn68N8ZGifef0lsU5EMsDpXpPxR1dUPZs2LyQqVI4dXMvQ45Vid3hfarVytI/s320/Memorial+Day+007.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>My good friend <a href="http://dayinthelifeof531.blogspot.com/">Kristin </a>nominated me for an award.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLejueZXYWitEpq1h24a1NsdZ1G-BLH8gv80kHXaLxZhpomm3_9i9D1BnJvtOXvDVpOOR4jBgYOQY_M1x-0KKZRDrBn9F6Lcv3D89YY_Mhj2As9IMTy_qhKUe-9OQiH4dnRxf6/s1600-h/imagination.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340123832720208578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLejueZXYWitEpq1h24a1NsdZ1G-BLH8gv80kHXaLxZhpomm3_9i9D1BnJvtOXvDVpOOR4jBgYOQY_M1x-0KKZRDrBn9F6Lcv3D89YY_Mhj2As9IMTy_qhKUe-9OQiH4dnRxf6/s320/imagination.png" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Here are the RULES: you must resend this to 5 bloggers and you must tell 5 things about your crafts you like the most...what inspires you to make home made gifts.</div><div> </div></div><div></div><div>1. I love the relaxing feeling of sitting and knitting something, watching it grow and seeing the end result. <div><br /></div><div>2. I love experiencing all the different yarns out there these days especially the really soft ones and ones with amazing colors.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>3. I love the community of knitting that exists on the web and in yarn stores.</div><div> </div><div>4. I love to be able to make someone a gift that they will know truly came from the heart.</div><div> </div><div>5. I love the possibilities knitting offers as can be seen from my ridiculous stash and pattern pile - if I knit them all I'll live forever!</div><div> </div><div>Now for my fab five of inspiration - I decided to make sure I had five folks that I've never mentioned before. These are 5 people who don't know me at all and don't know that they have motivated me to knit things so let's let them know!</div><div> </div><div>1. <a href="http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffff66;">Susan</span></a></div><div>2. <a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/"> <span style="color:#33cc00;">Kristin Kapur</span></a></div><div>3. <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/">Brooklyn</a><span style="color:#3333ff;"> Tweed</span></div><div>4. <a href="http://mustaavillaa.blogspot.com/">Mustaa Villaa</a></div><div>5. <a href="http://kodymayknits.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffccff;">Kody May</span></a><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>And OF COURSE I have to leave you with a photo of Miss Molly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeghjLhqy1qbRt58Rpj-1KSNEkQD95M7b312RQ-FRnjehKnVdSYN81DTVnE2fOq3Tn5U1vLEBk4pYDHX-yiD7dAOaw9D11fxUw2w-KDV3xnGOuT4yzKyOweS9vek261Cqit9D/s1600-h/DSC_0200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014997713467538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeghjLhqy1qbRt58Rpj-1KSNEkQD95M7b312RQ-FRnjehKnVdSYN81DTVnE2fOq3Tn5U1vLEBk4pYDHX-yiD7dAOaw9D11fxUw2w-KDV3xnGOuT4yzKyOweS9vek261Cqit9D/s320/DSC_0200.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-24613876883795104282009-05-17T18:47:00.000-07:002009-05-17T19:23:23.885-07:00Knit On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepHHWedjd5rHw4lvsxlTi2FamOdfd6aplVWD4ZGFviJKFLJx2NYBnn76uQIjKn5J5QWaLRmriNUeDTlVA7OVZl8sH76GsjrsVgv_wPNpLSPs1slvlCXCnnh_N_v21OS5Fl6vV/s1600-h/DSC_0117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336976316752073186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepHHWedjd5rHw4lvsxlTi2FamOdfd6aplVWD4ZGFviJKFLJx2NYBnn76uQIjKn5J5QWaLRmriNUeDTlVA7OVZl8sH76GsjrsVgv_wPNpLSPs1slvlCXCnnh_N_v21OS5Fl6vV/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" border="0" /></a> I thought I'd share some actual knitting with you. I HAVE been doing some knitting although mainly I've been starting things. I have serious "start-itis" and not enough "finish-itis". I keep thinking of things I want to make and yarn I want to purchase. I have been trying hard to restrain myself although I'm not have much success. I have continued to work on hats for Relay for Life but I thought I'd show you something other than a hat for a change. <br /><br />Awhile back I purchased some Crystal Palace Iceland yarn at a LYS sale. It is a very bulky wool in seriuosly bright colors. I had no idea what I wanted to make with it I just knew I had to have it. Recently I have been considering making the <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Kiki_Mariko_Rug_Pattern__D31120220.html">Kiki Mariko rug </a>from the new Mason Dixon book but just can't quite bring myself to spend the time to knit a rug. So instead I decided to use the concept to knit a felted bag. I only had 4 colors and the pattern calls for 8 but I decided I would just give it a whirl. I'm learning how to knit fair isle 2 handed and it is going reasonably well. It definitely makes things work better and tangle way less. I put a skein on either side of me and off I go. It's slower than regular knitting but hopefully I'll get faster the more I try it. So stay tuned for my Kiki Mariko bag - I definitely see more things out of this "pattern" in the future! I may just find myself making that rug . . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DJ4w2TS2zdVRd9t6_a3YrOgdSwb93yK-yYkK3sj6Gi_fwHwg36NLGDQ-O1EaIZvW1X8zDi8SGWmhH90iT14yk9ZNgzBeC-T7S5ex9DoeH7rL89-zXBesXJSX_F9WFd2FnKwC/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336976310689890498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DJ4w2TS2zdVRd9t6_a3YrOgdSwb93yK-yYkK3sj6Gi_fwHwg36NLGDQ-O1EaIZvW1X8zDi8SGWmhH90iT14yk9ZNgzBeC-T7S5ex9DoeH7rL89-zXBesXJSX_F9WFd2FnKwC/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />How's Molly you ask? How sweet of you to inquire! She is doing well. The potty training is going quite well with very, very few mistakes. She has started puppy class and can sit, down, stay and spin in both directions (not quite sure the point of that one but it's fun!) Our town had our annual pet parade on Saturday and she was a star. It's such a cheesy event and I love it. Half the town walks in the parade and the other half watches. There were dogs, cats, lizards, goats, ponies, horses, fish and a bull mastiff dog that is the biggest thing I've ever seen. She has never walked that far before and all of the excitement wore her out. At the end she totally flopped and we had to carry her to the car! Look at those long gangly legs! It's still very hard to photograph her. The deep black of her coat for some reason makes it really difficult but trust me - she's GORGEOUS!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvis1PH4Fz4RAHAPKxpoJ99i9DtYdydFkWybQzSIzvVJ8XGOHvtWbv9a9UK-rp4n3lRoCTtHKKWbViJjhCsPY99SSYEApMu0l8sGkAhwmw1hGS5_vpguV5qmRSrdurxivKN0WO/s1600-h/DSC_0089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336976314269069666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvis1PH4Fz4RAHAPKxpoJ99i9DtYdydFkWybQzSIzvVJ8XGOHvtWbv9a9UK-rp4n3lRoCTtHKKWbViJjhCsPY99SSYEApMu0l8sGkAhwmw1hGS5_vpguV5qmRSrdurxivKN0WO/s320/DSC_0089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-44636370280435001042009-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:002009-04-29T10:15:20.825-07:00The Rumors of My Death<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojZhTLhMTN7UM-AUCiATA-UhmyF8oJSh6KeMLxkatCF9QWuf_vPpSeZ2FLpQ9h0UBDMJOFDnetKWzKuNgkHNcfNfRA6LesuD4lXcimtJ0gB2U6mgI4RubGM8_6jWujhTJaW1e/s1600-h/DSC_0069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330161765670925394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojZhTLhMTN7UM-AUCiATA-UhmyF8oJSh6KeMLxkatCF9QWuf_vPpSeZ2FLpQ9h0UBDMJOFDnetKWzKuNgkHNcfNfRA6LesuD4lXcimtJ0gB2U6mgI4RubGM8_6jWujhTJaW1e/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" border="0" /></a>The rumors of my death have been greatly over stated. I am still alive and kicking - barely! So here's the summary: Caribbean cruise*granny, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">grampsie</span>, sister, BIL,niece, nephew*family fun*San Juan* shopping*bingo*fun in the pool*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fru</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fru</span> drinks*St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Maarteen</span>*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">snuba</span> diving*fancy dinners*disco nights*shopping*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mexican</span> train*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">fru</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">fru</span> drinks*submarine ride*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Labadee</span>, Haiti*sunburn*water park*water slide*zip line*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">fru</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">fru</span> drinks*Miami <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Seaquarium</span>*digging out at work*<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">cleantech</span> conference*pneumonia!!!*puppy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">playdates</span>*sleepless nights*soccer*volleyball*t-ball*little tiny bit of knitting.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqcpa1jFmdZ8pQRONnCf_yf3eLAKc5O8-CJceJp5zpzN0TPaNO-Ot3jh0yB8fhYunG7jCWY5urxNe5CDpj49vGocuF7xYxUYLRUgSl8mvf1IGQ1ZAXgTApXDfKcGbdktjQYtD/s1600-h/P4251012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330161000410625042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqcpa1jFmdZ8pQRONnCf_yf3eLAKc5O8-CJceJp5zpzN0TPaNO-Ot3jh0yB8fhYunG7jCWY5urxNe5CDpj49vGocuF7xYxUYLRUgSl8mvf1IGQ1ZAXgTApXDfKcGbdktjQYtD/s320/P4251012.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div> </div><div>As to the photos - no I have not totally lost my mind and gotten a second puppy. The yellow lab is Molly's brother Riley who is owned by some friends of ours. He came over this weekend for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">playdate</span> and a great time was had by all! They even shared a stick to chew on.</div><div> </div><div>On the knitting front I'm trying to finish things but not feeling a lot of the knitting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">mojo</span> these days. I am working on a helmet liner for Socks for Soldiers in honor of my friend <a href="http://k1p2yossk.blogspot.com/">Brooke's </a>son who passed away. I figure it's the least I can do. Other than that I'm making some squares for a blanket out of sock yarn. <br /></div><div>That about sums up my last 2.5 weeks!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330160988833021634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHrGMJqZBZfVOnrOZIz5g4ZrtKe-UTUPF_3Z5Jrv_Flk0ONPCTxurun5recU1j9k4dM6UfUQyCFBHNPrONxeS5pT5-TgsqPvHEjeb_7qK3kW4R6khbr2uqvv5kCzbHyFsqITl/s320/P4250980.JPG" border="0" /> What have you been up to??</div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-23225339615216160302009-04-09T19:39:00.000-07:002009-04-09T20:05:20.039-07:00No Knitting Going Down<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9HJbRJxcI9QocVbGi73q2eiJ74UqSP-wI0_52yb0US-2nY80rW5L1nGaFz42YFH7GKZatw0NwJ80Y_pB7dokybNBH1nkePnLdE3r7jty1FolMrUzZ-1ovSTamx3aEnFXr_WD/s1600-h/DSC_0064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322888374439454962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9HJbRJxcI9QocVbGi73q2eiJ74UqSP-wI0_52yb0US-2nY80rW5L1nGaFz42YFH7GKZatw0NwJ80Y_pB7dokybNBH1nkePnLdE3r7jty1FolMrUzZ-1ovSTamx3aEnFXr_WD/s320/DSC_0064.JPG" border="0" /></a>There hasn't been a lot of knitting going on around here lately. There has been a lot of playing, barking, snuggling and pooping if truth be told. Meet Miss Molly, the latest addition to our household. She is a 9 week old black lab who has quickly found her way in to our hearts. The kids are crazy about her and she thinks that the Little Man is one of her litter mates. She loves playing with him and follows him all around. She has one blue eye and one brown eye (photo not so great) but it is not clear that the blue eye won't yet turn brown. We are hoping that it doesn't. She is sweet and playful and fairly mellow. She only has one flaw. She has serious separation anxiety leading to messes I wish not to discuss. But we are learning how to deal with it and find ways to make her more comfortable when she is alone. It's amazing how helpful a puppy trainer can be. Just when I'm ready to throw in the towel she looks up at me with that sweet puppy look or snuggles up with me on the couch and all sins are forgotten. I know what <a href="http://jarlady.blogspot.com/2009/03/puppy-for-sale.html">Janice </a>is thinking - I warned you!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_G6B0oB7v1GAar48w__ADT69kfVr_4h74nx3498JshTieFV9cg_lp25DB0k2yR27oJiMp5gXBuM7P6mYyEYcQbUNrUFpmsZhTDMXiHauRIA02IyddiTR87ewf0MrPmWhpXaa/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322888378585349986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_G6B0oB7v1GAar48w__ADT69kfVr_4h74nx3498JshTieFV9cg_lp25DB0k2yR27oJiMp5gXBuM7P6mYyEYcQbUNrUFpmsZhTDMXiHauRIA02IyddiTR87ewf0MrPmWhpXaa/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><br /><div>There is some recently completed knitting in the hat arena. I do make other things - just none that are finished or photographed. I promise next time to give you something better. But I am starting my stash of hats for the Relay for Life in June. Once again if any of you want to donate hats just let me know. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRUowgGPbE0lKqrW3JITiWwzeGNda-iCqYQWj46Hg9fQUuXadKQ-EGJJi9ouOLnPIPIBrRjYN4l2zqL94vZ2jWtoLopg5NEtKcr-wTmJs6OlPgBLUSONTz4vAdWPgdxpGJE-r/s1600-h/DSC_0070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322888382022630146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRUowgGPbE0lKqrW3JITiWwzeGNda-iCqYQWj46Hg9fQUuXadKQ-EGJJi9ouOLnPIPIBrRjYN4l2zqL94vZ2jWtoLopg5NEtKcr-wTmJs6OlPgBLUSONTz4vAdWPgdxpGJE-r/s320/DSC_0070.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRUowgGPbE0lKqrW3JITiWwzeGNda-iCqYQWj46Hg9fQUuXadKQ-EGJJi9ouOLnPIPIBrRjYN4l2zqL94vZ2jWtoLopg5NEtKcr-wTmJs6OlPgBLUSONTz4vAdWPgdxpGJE-r/s1600-h/DSC_0070.JPG"></a></div><div>First we have a cabled hat from <a href="http://worksforyarn.blogspot.com/">Monica's </a>pattern with some Tonalita yarn I got at Stitches. I'm very happy with how this one turned out. I love her pattern. It is quick and easy but yields a great result. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDvYfS23CnK0pOubjr1uUb-gaiurYMWTBrUhvRg1KewhpFa5o7nXvdbUyJ3P_KVTr7ADIzCcdy0dgVEAeK3cf3RG_4tR2wyrs9FbwoElAnJQqxERweNuci23fI13lgllb0-Nb/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322890598992034130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDvYfS23CnK0pOubjr1uUb-gaiurYMWTBrUhvRg1KewhpFa5o7nXvdbUyJ3P_KVTr7ADIzCcdy0dgVEAeK3cf3RG_4tR2wyrs9FbwoElAnJQqxERweNuci23fI13lgllb0-Nb/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Next up I've been making hats using scrap yarns of various colors. The two finished ones have the band with the wrong side facing out and the one still in progress has the right side out. I just can't decide which I like best. What do you think? <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Uz9ZnP4RdNCa81cf_nmZ-ajVtYUV9DUFIP2EPRDESqJLrhUYu2G8C6G3Cj9yEZBJPiVEoW3liXZTweZTBlvD8o2NaBnMrMLg2AgoDbTWoD8yfzNDlH6naWQ3LXTNx51YZOZB/s1600-h/DSC_0078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322890604712771026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Uz9ZnP4RdNCa81cf_nmZ-ajVtYUV9DUFIP2EPRDESqJLrhUYu2G8C6G3Cj9yEZBJPiVEoW3liXZTweZTBlvD8o2NaBnMrMLg2AgoDbTWoD8yfzNDlH6naWQ3LXTNx51YZOZB/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><div></div><div>Finally I made another Amanda hat with some pink and grey Katia Mexico yarn. I'm not so sure about the colorway but hopefully someone will like it. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322888388426702994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbqOmcaOuvy42xg6Vpu5mo_10qDCCdmUmoMiAmnfSjSLeMrXS7VcNMQAIHFdy4seEPLsBwz-rXJnMkYr5WAidbIiW4cr-TeDmqOHOc6XWsEFiG8hRCGRl-5Z4kZdg_FQek5xk/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Well time to walk Miss Molly!</div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-2856730334075534842009-03-22T21:03:00.000-07:002009-03-22T21:29:22.860-07:00You Can Never Have To Many Hats<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQUgFTwW2omjdDop0q7pN25n2wxAAhQbzQRhIom5qw_nAWRlcMSy90A60YYSLbVCoCkOmN1pAMOOuhwV_hUCxIEU8c6G4EfgvUKys8A1fTwu6J0J_kdpRe8aGB-ABD1mIIla/s1600-h/DSC_1040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316230609708572402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQUgFTwW2omjdDop0q7pN25n2wxAAhQbzQRhIom5qw_nAWRlcMSy90A60YYSLbVCoCkOmN1pAMOOuhwV_hUCxIEU8c6G4EfgvUKys8A1fTwu6J0J_kdpRe8aGB-ABD1mIIla/s320/DSC_1040.JPG" border="0" /></a>Can you? Well maybe you can. But if you give them away then you don't have too many do you? This is my latest hat - the <a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/Thorpe.pdf">Thorpe </a>pattern made for a friend who is going up to the snow. It's a great pattern that knits up quickly. I decided that instead of doing the garter stitch at the bottom and on the ear flaps that I would use seed stitch instead. I also used the same yarn for the crochet border because I thought there was already enough going on with the multi-colored yarn. I like how it turned out. I used Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted but the pattern called for Malabrigo chunky. I think a chunky weight probably would be good to make this hat have more body. I think another one of these cuties is in my future so I'll try a thicker (or doubled) yarn for the next one. The long braids are really fun too.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpHsET82KhC3ufiNVBt2BZL_k5EhVvORjR3dVHzFQmFVn742HTo_f4gxhW6YJae-PoTMHSzhAsyHhQbRt472LHyVLBcOvknW4CcqMh6CC8teYViHVuol6euFtcJdLN8ObcWzu/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316230585682959490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpHsET82KhC3ufiNVBt2BZL_k5EhVvORjR3dVHzFQmFVn742HTo_f4gxhW6YJae-PoTMHSzhAsyHhQbRt472LHyVLBcOvknW4CcqMh6CC8teYViHVuol6euFtcJdLN8ObcWzu/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div> Continuing with our hat theme I knit another Amanda Hat from the Katia Mexico yarn I got in Lake Tahoe. It's a beautiful, vibrant yarn that knits up nicely. I think it's just perfect for this hat pattern. I made it for the daughter of our friends who invited us to Tahoe but when Horsey Girl saw it she just had to have it. How could I say no? I'll make another one for Tahoe Girl. I tried to find some more in this color online, eBay and Ravelry with no success. I guess I'll just have to keep my eyes open.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioREuQ9zCy3wXPGmHiEBn5rWOflIQQUMP8P2KFhu_Damvd36RPiinbm9OXdfbJsoz4ntgreRy6JEwIo4u9JRjVbVgLaKR4xXMi_n7gnIZx9B_ni3JniNr5UTNo__vNM91SXHWo/s1600-h/DSC_1039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316230604339785970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioREuQ9zCy3wXPGmHiEBn5rWOflIQQUMP8P2KFhu_Damvd36RPiinbm9OXdfbJsoz4ntgreRy6JEwIo4u9JRjVbVgLaKR4xXMi_n7gnIZx9B_ni3JniNr5UTNo__vNM91SXHWo/s320/DSC_1039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEagcNIwKAHvdNEQK-IJTl9VBAREbqDqMWyJGrvG8plPGCXh4KiZNWT65g7wcCtigkw8wNX5Sp_H9N6yTcetD4d5s_cnzpcu_-FRUg513WmKQCf9OHiLRVORQtoc5PtCyGAzA1/s1600-h/DSC_1038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316230600145507986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEagcNIwKAHvdNEQK-IJTl9VBAREbqDqMWyJGrvG8plPGCXh4KiZNWT65g7wcCtigkw8wNX5Sp_H9N6yTcetD4d5s_cnzpcu_-FRUg513WmKQCf9OHiLRVORQtoc5PtCyGAzA1/s320/DSC_1038.JPG" border="0" /></a> I just love the way the Amanda hat comes together at the top.<br /><br /><div>And in the most important news . . . . look who may be coming to live with us soon. Isn't she adorable?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwqDZ7LhLukWlOIFz3aOQPkk0UZpJuNe8xT8ZdOHb1EMHWpjuwxfnT2q18gJuKQHE2x0ctkyYrDqi4Psl2oxDnsjgjJreLQjCXHFHHsjJPWTaMRe0hmu31ApYBApZhRU2ww-t/s1600-h/DSC_0036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316230579598959906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwqDZ7LhLukWlOIFz3aOQPkk0UZpJuNe8xT8ZdOHb1EMHWpjuwxfnT2q18gJuKQHE2x0ctkyYrDqi4Psl2oxDnsjgjJreLQjCXHFHHsjJPWTaMRe0hmu31ApYBApZhRU2ww-t/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-28584032977418505402009-03-15T17:25:00.000-07:002009-03-15T18:24:12.129-07:00Hodge Podge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSDl3d9cC8j7KTo83sU-VAlvRD4s9Rg83WjdYlGAI1XhVskK42Zo1yqztlWkNBSCLe9xNqY0ZKxq4jrzXoQTsJKUE433QnAIwhYDFsNr4rDxRTiYpL2belP82UrOS1Kqt1-AA/s1600-h/Kreativ+Blogger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313578413173322274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSDl3d9cC8j7KTo83sU-VAlvRD4s9Rg83WjdYlGAI1XhVskK42Zo1yqztlWkNBSCLe9xNqY0ZKxq4jrzXoQTsJKUE433QnAIwhYDFsNr4rDxRTiYpL2belP82UrOS1Kqt1-AA/s320/Kreativ+Blogger.jpg" border="0" /></a>Before you read any further you HAVE to go to Wendy's blog and check out <a href="http://plumpknitter.blogspot.com/2009/03/boob-scarf.html">THIS</a>! It is just hysterical. Remember to come back though - I'll wait for you . . . . .<br /><div><div><div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>OK so you're back. Did you love it? It just cracks me up every time I look at it. She always finds the wildest things to post on her blog. Next I want to belatedly thank <a href="http://plumpknitter.blogspot.com/2009/03/boob-scarf.html">Wendy </a>(you're already seen how awesome her blog is if you obeyed my first request :-), <a href="http://tresbonbabble.blogspot.com/">Bonnie </a>(check out her adorable quack hat and booties) and <a href="http://smariek.blogspot.com/">Marie </a> (check out her blog for the most amazing cabled scarves, bracelets and more!) for nominating me for the Kreative Blogger award. I feel so special. Thank you ladies and I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post about it. I guess I'm just behind in about everything these days.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the rules for this award:</div><div><br /></div><div>Copy the award to your site.<br />Link to the person who nominated you.<br />Nominate 7 other bloggers and link to them on your blog.<br />Then leave a message on their blog notifying them you have nominated them for this award.</div><div><br /></div><div>It would be easy to list more than 7!! I did not list the wonderful ladies who nominated me (since they are linked above) and that gives me a chance to really have 10! What can I say, I'm a lawyer and like to find ways around the rules. So here goes:</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://knitaway.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffcccc;">Jennifer</span></a> - is one of my best knitting buddies and is an enabler who often leads me astray.</div><div><a href="http://worksforyarn.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffff00;">Monica</span></a> - is about the most prolific sock knitter I've ever seen and writes great patterns too.</div><div><a href="http://jarlady.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Janice</span></a> - go check it out - you're going to want to move in with her!</div><div><a href="http://lisamidwifeknits.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#66ffff;">Lisa</span></a> - check out her most recent awesome sweater and hear all about life in Alaska.</div><div><a href="http://dayinthelifeof531.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff99ff;">Kristen</span></a> - is one of my more recent knitting buddies and manages to juggle work, home schooling and knitting!</div><div><a href="http://theaddknitter.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Brooke</span></a> - is one of my buddies from a long ago SP. She's going through a tough time - please go give her a virtual hug.</div><div><a href="http://theaddknitter.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">ADD Knitter</span></a> - this is a new one for me. I don't really know her but found her through links on friends' blogs. I just HAVE to love someone who makes that many hats!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtGRyIkg4JeNnO4XDYJEj8tu0xLXXc2XBN-lTYufkTT502Y2p0cEAURLMvBtx9p0I-UULGx3rWnK9lhJaFlC76EPkpMXQSih8yJWghoy8o_3AOcd16mUJoAQvMWyfBxdUCFn/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313579869271357858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtGRyIkg4JeNnO4XDYJEj8tu0xLXXc2XBN-lTYufkTT502Y2p0cEAURLMvBtx9p0I-UULGx3rWnK9lhJaFlC76EPkpMXQSih8yJWghoy8o_3AOcd16mUJoAQvMWyfBxdUCFn/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I also haven't told you about Stitches yet! Boy am I behind. Mom and I went to opening day for Stitches West in late February. The theme was Intarsia and it was so fun to hear all the different speakers. There was Nicky Epstein, Lucy Neatby and several others who I can't remember. They each showed some Intarsia knitting and their pieces couldn't have been more different. It shows you how many different interpretations there are of this kind of knitting. Then we took a class from Nicky which was interesting but I was a bit disappointed because even though it was a 3 hour class she really only had 1.5 hours of material. Also I guess I was hoping for some secrets to Intarsia but really didn't come away with any. However the next day Mom took a class on Shetland shawls and she can't stop raving about it. They made the cutest little shawl and then the teacher said they had all the basics and could now make a big one. I'll try to get it from her soon and post a photo for you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQkZtU4kN4FhoXPKqMERxBL7vBczEAZxu3RlLxuTo8agbv7u3y-i6DPuEVlQ-8ulUaz7EISiKMT7W1zUf2xg2GRxRjiUBv0pajAVeG-kMtB2mT4gSTk1ZuKbRoruqy3UiuxF/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313579865614843842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQkZtU4kN4FhoXPKqMERxBL7vBczEAZxu3RlLxuTo8agbv7u3y-i6DPuEVlQ-8ulUaz7EISiKMT7W1zUf2xg2GRxRjiUBv0pajAVeG-kMtB2mT4gSTk1ZuKbRoruqy3UiuxF/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Then of course there was the market. There seemed to be fewer booths this year due to the economy but I'm happy to report that it was very busy. I'm glad for the vendors as I want them all to stay in business! I tried to do my part but didn't really buy that much. I got the mohair above to make the <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/patterns/archive/2008/04/20/spectrum-scarf.aspx">Spectrum scarf</a>. I've been toying with making it and now decided to go for it. The one thing the photo doesn't show is that the light colors are silver/creme and a great soft lavender.</div><div> </div><div>Next I got some <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/CrystalPalace/MiniMochi.asp?gclid=CI7H3eOjppkCFRFWagodyVQrqQ">Mini Moochi</a>. It's a new yarn by Crystal Palace that is supposed to have colorways like Noro. I really don't like the feel of Kureyon but I love its colors. So I thought I'd give this a try. They folks said it is selling like crazy and they can't get enough of it. It is very soft and the colors are vibrant. These are two different colors to make the Brooklyn Tweed <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html">Noro scarf </a>I keep seeing everywhere. Mom bought some too and has already started a scarf with it and it's oh, so soft.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDXrsXsb9yNaL2KRzmb7uyijDBB0roYV68sF1TC1om2x5tU2XD-TuLDq_7FxTyFodgQg2WVkRVDnQlA0EdWsjj5Ok4ZODQJeHUQOenxvrt85as4uy7NNjlRoadyGUvzXJufha/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313579876412645026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDXrsXsb9yNaL2KRzmb7uyijDBB0roYV68sF1TC1om2x5tU2XD-TuLDq_7FxTyFodgQg2WVkRVDnQlA0EdWsjj5Ok4ZODQJeHUQOenxvrt85as4uy7NNjlRoadyGUvzXJufha/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>I also got some <a href="http://www.trendsetteryarns.com/tonalitaspecs.asp">Tonalita </a>yarn which is a soft and colorful yarn to make scarves or hats or something - yes - I know - I should have a pattern in mind first but they were so pretty!<br /><br />I leave you with some more signs of spring. My orchid is blooming again and that always makes me so happy.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt63f_YHif7x9755yeWnx5K9NFuDSlEk_f10mOhvFeHveE-vN6BAHGV8j1ohqSDN1KnAgIxx5hIffZiW-qjy86BIbHTduBjG-fw47TdWoNpGddW1ExnpLg_ZFfG9NyuvhTFATi/s1600-h/DSC_0013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313579886058289906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt63f_YHif7x9755yeWnx5K9NFuDSlEk_f10mOhvFeHveE-vN6BAHGV8j1ohqSDN1KnAgIxx5hIffZiW-qjy86BIbHTduBjG-fw47TdWoNpGddW1ExnpLg_ZFfG9NyuvhTFATi/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-6617922631645295842009-02-28T22:12:00.000-08:002009-02-28T22:37:07.180-08:00Oh Baby Baby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx_fVjMYbyEMJ7iEexo39F3k0YFaODI4QoWQlBPnTBjqv7TjzcUw182o7-watnQCBMaDcdJ_PcGAQ93ZfEazadYNdVDVJkQ2vGllPzMf40LQHi6Ou1pSQDig0-iGgsNG4dB-A/s1600-h/DSCN0221.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100853900020002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx_fVjMYbyEMJ7iEexo39F3k0YFaODI4QoWQlBPnTBjqv7TjzcUw182o7-watnQCBMaDcdJ_PcGAQ93ZfEazadYNdVDVJkQ2vGllPzMf40LQHi6Ou1pSQDig0-iGgsNG4dB-A/s320/DSCN0221.JPG" border="0" /></a>Miss K's 6th grade teacher from last year had a baby in July and we have been meaning to visit her ever since. I made the <a href="http://resipsaknit.blogspot.com/2008/06/yeah-me.html">pink sweater </a>and hat for her baby shower. I realize it is pathetic that we haven't seen the baby until now but at last we got a chance to meet her today. She is absolutely gorgeous. Big blue eyes, a bit of blonde fuzz on her head and a smile that could melt a glacier. I took a break from knitting hats to make these adorable <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21639883">mary jane sock/shoes </a>for her. I made the 6-12 month size but unfortunately they came out fairly large.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOYGV0ohyphenhyphenUYAjc5tqWSfWjRgc9a-631XYSSMNiEtLxoIzpLIJzdOsr_HT76iGLWJRD08nYpOPsoRghSsNuIMAqqOVMVzAolAusBEqte0HJkSgrTKnS-e8ZRZkVSWNlPvPiMyR/s1600-h/DSCN0223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100857615129730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOYGV0ohyphenhyphenUYAjc5tqWSfWjRgc9a-631XYSSMNiEtLxoIzpLIJzdOsr_HT76iGLWJRD08nYpOPsoRghSsNuIMAqqOVMVzAolAusBEqte0HJkSgrTKnS-e8ZRZkVSWNlPvPiMyR/s320/DSCN0223.JPG" border="0" /></a> Oh well, she can hopefully wear them when she is about 1 year old. I found these cute litte flower buttons at Joann's fabrics. Aren't they perfect? While we were visiting Mrs. R I saw this fabulous throw on her chair. Her MIL made it for her and I just loved it. The color combination was fantastic but I don't know how to crochet. Makes me want to learn! Does anyone know what stitch this is?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlBal2OrLxnXNt2iT6Obr6IMQ5CC6yP_n9shOv6UpDouHVa4WubwpL1bMcSeV5gPz0_n525tfuBhvlZ3LNUj61pBAGD2h1beMGvVDkUbSp7coCtjw5KsDnMxN9L42-AgftFdk/s1600-h/DSCN0246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100861156725618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlBal2OrLxnXNt2iT6Obr6IMQ5CC6yP_n9shOv6UpDouHVa4WubwpL1bMcSeV5gPz0_n525tfuBhvlZ3LNUj61pBAGD2h1beMGvVDkUbSp7coCtjw5KsDnMxN9L42-AgftFdk/s320/DSCN0246.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I spent a good part of the day driving the kids hither and yon and enjoying all the flowering trees letting me know that spring is in the air. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHEYPMgCZwg9bW_7Jjn9WqHg55qrhJp5jB8DZx_8230FhvLTTBPGmKunTiVAKItmbImhSQA9c_En4oWjM1R5yiDwfBAcyypLM5p50KPFlDKGznX8381mxhbKKNfORGTqBrVC/s1600-h/DSCN0252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100868174828658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHEYPMgCZwg9bW_7Jjn9WqHg55qrhJp5jB8DZx_8230FhvLTTBPGmKunTiVAKItmbImhSQA9c_En4oWjM1R5yiDwfBAcyypLM5p50KPFlDKGznX8381mxhbKKNfORGTqBrVC/s320/DSCN0252.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFknJDokFi1MoqUb2YHW8_3mZEGfE2CwvKORAxneDTmndP2H0qWKM5Np-iXP6pCA24MuwM4HPWmF3shdyBwsZ-hdt7-xPFbW8AeG7Qf0w-ZxoL_Wxy_Im-rDSAw1r4z6T-bJK5/s1600-h/DSCN0255.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308100869881576306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFknJDokFi1MoqUb2YHW8_3mZEGfE2CwvKORAxneDTmndP2H0qWKM5Np-iXP6pCA24MuwM4HPWmF3shdyBwsZ-hdt7-xPFbW8AeG7Qf0w-ZxoL_Wxy_Im-rDSAw1r4z6T-bJK5/s320/DSCN0255.JPG" border="0" /></a> I just had to stop and take a photo of this gorgeous pink tree which was surrounded by daffodils along the bottom. When I got home I finally planted the bulbs that have been sitting in my garage. Yes bulbs! They should have been planted in October but I never got around to it. They have started to grow in the bag so I figured I'll stick them in the ground and see what happens. I'll keep you posted!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-88935517101139085432009-02-24T22:23:00.001-08:002009-02-25T06:20:16.653-08:00Hanging at the Lake<div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618162051904866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6lp0x1SsdLH5jB8CZ9xnBkiaoxokMEjcPYEC6jGirQJF05Gjip5QYoZNa9uW2fM-DOJIWP4TZGFFgJAegIh8nI98216HhWoehzw0_k-zktSzjd4WgnEXFrKrqw3qrPz9mndy/s320/DSC_0964.JPG" border="0" />The kids had the entire week off so we headed up to Tahoe on Thursday night. We have some friends who bought a cabin in south shore over a year ago and they have invited us up many times. Unfortunately we have never been able to make it - until now. I must admit the drive on windy Highway 50 was a bit scary at night but it was well worth the trip.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzUtm_4-x7VkmuP93x5K7NHpXRRGx3_pRCs8Cb7TE1DMWLXDmbx5Rh7ebsBmoZy-mAfrt54PUci8nbRk0X4l-VoADrsT4yU69JY8rz3KnJeBE-r3rU-34Pn3sIx_pm-AT6UA0/s1600-h/DSC_0904.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618145213698050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzUtm_4-x7VkmuP93x5K7NHpXRRGx3_pRCs8Cb7TE1DMWLXDmbx5Rh7ebsBmoZy-mAfrt54PUci8nbRk0X4l-VoADrsT4yU69JY8rz3KnJeBE-r3rU-34Pn3sIx_pm-AT6UA0/s320/DSC_0904.JPG" border="0" /></a> The weather was amazing - crystal clear and 47 degrees! The snow was piles of powder and a fabulous time was had by all. The girls snow boarded with their friends and the Little Man took two days of ski school. It really helped and now he is making pizza (snow plowing) down the slopes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-ZSLGfxv_sa_AXCNhb23ZbOEenRXCnm38KYvRda6jVBlKhJjyFlrJKO1sBGiaVfT6G4znWPu4p-7skH6dgtOnDVxtcjHbvbwthYgFACIm9V8tSvaKRSyP-MrU8Ct7j4wlwJ6/s1600-h/DSC_0915.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618150087128674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-ZSLGfxv_sa_AXCNhb23ZbOEenRXCnm38KYvRda6jVBlKhJjyFlrJKO1sBGiaVfT6G4znWPu4p-7skH6dgtOnDVxtcjHbvbwthYgFACIm9V8tSvaKRSyP-MrU8Ct7j4wlwJ6/s320/DSC_0915.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div><div><div>I did not end up skiing on this trip. I had to take a conference call for several hours on Friday and Saturday I decided to hang out with my friend (the cabin Mom). She can't ski because she tore her knee last year. Instead we managed to find an adorable little yarn store called the Wool Tree where I bought yarn to make hats for her kids. We also found a great little scrapbook store where I bought stickers to add to my piles of unfinished scrapbooks! Someday, someday.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnbwrVTS9nuIMP_7L9W1VuowkhO80d_yeqEfWUBDHB1YtV4cQOCsj6jrt-XmwqmSYRdjnnNHKy8OE0coIFUtTBaoSHqsfjt5uRfsh73EjrBbgVFKpPpS9xTsZn4HyaIV6b9Dt/s1600-h/DSCN0220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618933517991522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnbwrVTS9nuIMP_7L9W1VuowkhO80d_yeqEfWUBDHB1YtV4cQOCsj6jrt-XmwqmSYRdjnnNHKy8OE0coIFUtTBaoSHqsfjt5uRfsh73EjrBbgVFKpPpS9xTsZn4HyaIV6b9Dt/s320/DSCN0220.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnbwrVTS9nuIMP_7L9W1VuowkhO80d_yeqEfWUBDHB1YtV4cQOCsj6jrt-XmwqmSYRdjnnNHKy8OE0coIFUtTBaoSHqsfjt5uRfsh73EjrBbgVFKpPpS9xTsZn4HyaIV6b9Dt/s1600-h/DSCN0220.JPG"></a></div><br /><div>I found a little time to knit and I finished up my <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTcalorimetry.html">Calorimetry</a>. (That's Horsey Girl's dirty hair in the photo - not mine :-) I had searched around on Ravelry beforehand and found that many people had said it was too long and too wide so I cast on only 100 stitches instead of 120 and didn't do as many repeats. I still need to find a button but I'm very happy with how it turned out. Now I have to go back to the cold so I can wear my matching headband/scarf set. The really weird thing about this pattern is that when I first came across the pattern on Knitty.com about a year ago I realized it was designed by the girls old swim coach. What a small world!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjXR0W0-Cxb98RJd4lhHRMY0yegRortvGf3qHPZzfD3WIpdpv6P5IQNgOuaVOUawx8RDbM_pyHH48IdzJEXQUyzbDGZwNyyPUoMmMaBFWYXZCVGQQvuV1HUh5kFeS1UJf9Elt/s1600-h/DSCN0219.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618925618553346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjXR0W0-Cxb98RJd4lhHRMY0yegRortvGf3qHPZzfD3WIpdpv6P5IQNgOuaVOUawx8RDbM_pyHH48IdzJEXQUyzbDGZwNyyPUoMmMaBFWYXZCVGQQvuV1HUh5kFeS1UJf9Elt/s320/DSCN0219.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I also made another hat for myself, with some black feathery novelty yarn at the base and I used some gorgeous red yarn from the stash. The color doesn't show well at all in the photos. It is really more of a deep claret color. Then since I still had some of the red left I decided to make another <a href="http://racheliufer.blogspot.com/2007/10/robins-egg-blue-hat.html">Robin Egg Hat</a>. Of course I ran out of the red so I had to mix in a little black to be able to finish. This hat currently is homeless but I think it will find a home soon.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHm3ExyivirVHTp3pXHZG2RyfligQT4gdFA1jjnuxKyS2nex7Heojyar8cudKBVtM6RSUxyOeuYcc7JTg9U4YgIJpM7JrboGTjt3xs98ax0m1Raxnja5-Q2ELfvqd-kdwzi4W/s1600-h/DSCN0217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618927607108546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHm3ExyivirVHTp3pXHZG2RyfligQT4gdFA1jjnuxKyS2nex7Heojyar8cudKBVtM6RSUxyOeuYcc7JTg9U4YgIJpM7JrboGTjt3xs98ax0m1Raxnja5-Q2ELfvqd-kdwzi4W/s320/DSCN0217.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmFMh6PSnbY-Z97EpMGoHOBUh0XmkWb8ijZOtHQiguj_E1HKHhheQjAQ8zmBNGpatnBKbXg6wMoKUFX0pK75w5YfAMi3T9zno5VjPAdPWSBmzJ8GLT0yZSt0kJKpyf42F8aHY/s1600-h/DSC_0933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306618152446827586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmFMh6PSnbY-Z97EpMGoHOBUh0XmkWb8ijZOtHQiguj_E1HKHhheQjAQ8zmBNGpatnBKbXg6wMoKUFX0pK75w5YfAMi3T9zno5VjPAdPWSBmzJ8GLT0yZSt0kJKpyf42F8aHY/s320/DSC_0933.JPG" border="0" /></a>I did find a little bit of time to read so I started the new book for my book club. It is called <a href="http://www.annpatchett.com/belcanto.html">Bel Canto</a> and I am really enjoying it. I highly recommend it and for the first time since this book club began it's a book that is less than 500 pages!</div><div> </div><div>Also THANK YOU so much to <a href="http://tresbonbabble.blogspot.com/">Bonnie </a>and <a href="http://plumpknitter.blogspot.com/">Wendy </a>for the Kreativ Blogger award. I'll do that in the next post so stay tuned . . . </div></div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-19693362060517840022009-02-19T07:01:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:16:42.537-08:00Bon Ami Scarf<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_Ek4_hSzJHsUpSY0YyqAhUmnHi8WdphqEogfjFHAbjS83IJTMNEovOzOSjCwMyvErlM-dpnbq76e6oTBxJwXYLs7gsWNp_6kzDEL4yaWsOX5h2BQD9dYTGm50Y5oFMeHs_ZN/s1600-h/Ojai+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304525496458331474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_Ek4_hSzJHsUpSY0YyqAhUmnHi8WdphqEogfjFHAbjS83IJTMNEovOzOSjCwMyvErlM-dpnbq76e6oTBxJwXYLs7gsWNp_6kzDEL4yaWsOX5h2BQD9dYTGm50Y5oFMeHs_ZN/s320/Ojai+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> I finished my scarf and I'm naming it the Bon Ami scarf. Why? Well this is the scarf I made with the yarn <a href="http://tresbonbabble.blogspot.com/">Bonnie </a>and I bought when she was <a href="http://resipsaknit.blogspot.com/2009/01/psycho-internet-friend.html">visiting San Francisco</a>. She finished her scarf recently (check it out - it is so cute!) and named it the friendship scarf. However she said she wasn't that happy with the name. So I thought about it some more and since her blog is "Tres Bon Babble" I came up with the Bon Ami scarf. Sort of a play on words. I'm thrilled with how it turned out. It is so soft and I'm happy to have an off white scarf since it's not a color I normally pick. I cast on 27 stitches, used a size 9 needle and knit in mistake rib until it was along as I wanted. Then I decided it needed a little somethin somethin on the end so I added a slight ruffle. I knit in to the front and back of each stitch doubling it to 54 stitches, knit one more row and then bound off. In the photo you'll see the cast on edge is still straight but I later went back and picked up stitches on that and added a similar ruffle. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsKFxPPJhTesowKB0t_c56uoLC9tErazgnXxNxvp383AfNCIAsVsp99Hc99SwQtCMJi2Ln9B01TMUnURe_RF82xR5mVibJ-LBjv5A-NpMQivt84kvFoAs8toDUX0CSJ3EEMSX/s1600-h/Ojai+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304525503953553650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsKFxPPJhTesowKB0t_c56uoLC9tErazgnXxNxvp383AfNCIAsVsp99Hc99SwQtCMJi2Ln9B01TMUnURe_RF82xR5mVibJ-LBjv5A-NpMQivt84kvFoAs8toDUX0CSJ3EEMSX/s320/Ojai+065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I finished it last weekend when we went to Ojai for a horse show. We really got lucky. The weather here has been extremely rainy lately and I was worried that we'd have to drive down the 5.5 hours in pouring rain and then spend the horse show slogging through the mud and trying to hide under whatever cover we could find. But the heavens smiled on us. The weather was glorious on the drive down. Blue skies with rolling white cotton clouds. The drive is spectacular as you pass rolling green hills, golden fields of mustard flowers, horses, cows and ultimately find yourself driving along the ocean on the Santa Barbara coast. I wanted to stop every mile and take a photo (but I restrained myslef)!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2bzadSPHwZkro9olg9ovFQSIxdGZmSUJTRk2BipgSsLyEEOAwTKjY-hD5GS5TKSJRyrHMr616dKSj08ZuBT9y0LLh6_rgbxnCLVPPjn2SPAmVDZg5gxc9LF8pTknAH_5g2-L/s1600-h/Ojai+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304525498845452194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2bzadSPHwZkro9olg9ovFQSIxdGZmSUJTRk2BipgSsLyEEOAwTKjY-hD5GS5TKSJRyrHMr616dKSj08ZuBT9y0LLh6_rgbxnCLVPPjn2SPAmVDZg5gxc9LF8pTknAH_5g2-L/s320/Ojai+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We stayed at a cute place called the Blue Iguana Inn which has lizards and iguanas all over the place and is decorated in south western style. It was Mom, Horsey Girl, the Little Man and me. Hubby was in New York and Miss K was smart enough to find a friend to stay with for the weekend. We had a 2 bedroom unit with a cute little family room. It was great. Saturday night the Equestrian team all met for dinner and when we arrived we were shocked to seem them all sitting on the patio of the restaurant - in 35 degree weather! However there were some heaters, I went back to the car and got every jacket I could find and we ended up having a lovely dinner.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignKbOuygVJwCnxy4YY67WW6hlNjXsEZ1ye2smlEpGuTKfc54WT6E8UuXDHoR0hQJvNpq_GJpPPiYqmi-Hzd27RPvIfb3fbMFmvsywQ1vrwj6RAuEjDwW1C_f0reoVVKky2KKU/s1600-h/Ojai+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304525504930141666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignKbOuygVJwCnxy4YY67WW6hlNjXsEZ1ye2smlEpGuTKfc54WT6E8UuXDHoR0hQJvNpq_GJpPPiYqmi-Hzd27RPvIfb3fbMFmvsywQ1vrwj6RAuEjDwW1C_f0reoVVKky2KKU/s320/Ojai+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The horse show went well. Except for the fact Horsey Girl had to be there at 6 a.m. and it was only 30 degrees. By the time she had her first ride (around 9:30 a.m.) she was shaking so hard she couldn't stop. But by the end of the day she had earned enough points to go back for the regional finals at the end of March. <br /><br />Now that my Bon Ami scarf is done I'm again working on my "<a href="http://resipsaknit.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-beginnings.html">re-do" scarf </a>from the yarn I frogged in Oregon. I'm much happier with it this time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTohHKl8VENQU8yzsXjPCTL4yUXopYUI2g4p4oqfmr_GoS1gls1BDNQTuGm8RcfOtbk2D1jMOB49uVllg0GvdtiGN40DbyN7BRSC5j4kmPTmiS9ELFCTrxNgl6jxTvQk4SdA9p/s1600-h/Ojai+069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304525508243494226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTohHKl8VENQU8yzsXjPCTL4yUXopYUI2g4p4oqfmr_GoS1gls1BDNQTuGm8RcfOtbk2D1jMOB49uVllg0GvdtiGN40DbyN7BRSC5j4kmPTmiS9ELFCTrxNgl6jxTvQk4SdA9p/s320/Ojai+069.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-90713493937776831372009-02-14T07:42:00.000-08:002009-02-14T08:08:58.714-08:00Spring is Springing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7cjzwn8xBXyhVE1JSxy79DNdIIBVwkwFdmNq0_8rVV1Sk2A1d3l22-DIK8ixreyKWxWjjJDtITx2f8BDxmxiA-y67AX1fGBnDhvvGuunT62TVThsvH_2UwMR6nvG6LctkKag/s1600-h/New+Camera+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302680255507693762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7cjzwn8xBXyhVE1JSxy79DNdIIBVwkwFdmNq0_8rVV1Sk2A1d3l22-DIK8ixreyKWxWjjJDtITx2f8BDxmxiA-y67AX1fGBnDhvvGuunT62TVThsvH_2UwMR6nvG6LctkKag/s320/New+Camera+008.jpg" border="0" /></a>We are starting to see many signs of Spring in California. I think it is because we had some warm spells in January but I fear that now that we are having a normal winter with rain and cold it will knock all the buds off the trees. Here is a picture of my cymbidium orchid which always thrills me when it decides to bloom. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302680247361344594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s320/New+Camera+006.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Frdoag1PHpGi9paURCzjESXZvzjkPv_pGrHSPE-5ecaKsHDGslfQhGo2AbsHZsbG28RJFKn-DhCrE6PfJT2UkSZCg0tSEv3j_ivQcvPhaGMx3HBLkILxF298yI5079p8L6h/s1600-h/New+Camera+006.jpg"></a><br />I have been knitting several scarves which I hope to finish and show you soon. In addition, I made this <a href="http://racheliufer.blogspot.com/2007/10/robins-egg-blue-hat.html">Robin Egg hat </a>for my friend. She has invited us to her house in Tahoe next weekend to go skiing so I thought it would be nice to show up with a gift. Not only will it keep her warm in the snow but I made it in the colors of the San Jose Sharks hockey team because she is a big fan. I love this pattern. It is quick and really makes an unique hat. Funny thing is my friend <a href="http://knitaway.blogspot.com/">Jennifer </a>also made one and we hadn't even mentioned it to one another! Hopefully she will like it. Horsey Girl gave it the nod of approval so I think that's a good sign. She even said my friend's teenage daughter my steal it - I take that as the ultimate complient.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbayIQNQnv8YVoyTWsG5_OqAvEe7ZlKfXZNVvM7BM3-EMcSF8dwKPg5C2EREJ1x9D80APqJwH4ibCCBsXZQ3ZEc8uXoiffCGa8kHRB8YjHVkk-82vOEc3q51_euN7zKbcLv0-o/s1600-h/DSC_0778.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302680245959651554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbayIQNQnv8YVoyTWsG5_OqAvEe7ZlKfXZNVvM7BM3-EMcSF8dwKPg5C2EREJ1x9D80APqJwH4ibCCBsXZQ3ZEc8uXoiffCGa8kHRB8YjHVkk-82vOEc3q51_euN7zKbcLv0-o/s320/DSC_0778.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here's a hat I made for the Little Man when we were in Oregon over New Year's but I forgot to post. When we got up there I realized he didn't have any hats made by me - only store bought ones! I couldn't let that be the case so I found this great Diva yarn and whipped up this little diddy. It went perfectly with his olive green jacket (not planned but a happy coincidence) and he loved it.<br /><div><div> </div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-29733440688046271852009-02-02T06:51:00.000-08:002009-02-02T11:48:50.675-08:00Tote*ally Awesome<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2pFN05vko_060ltJA5rK9fW-YTX03hDupnNuU5EgsncrBrW7mJ3Bho7gCNcXF5DlpZ859kFOtyuF4J-8hCJaNs-cYSy6kymp29kztfFqtsyLKVXyD1GKo6FKqQIxLbD-zzQB/s1600-h/Granny+Bag+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298213879278377218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2pFN05vko_060ltJA5rK9fW-YTX03hDupnNuU5EgsncrBrW7mJ3Bho7gCNcXF5DlpZ859kFOtyuF4J-8hCJaNs-cYSy6kymp29kztfFqtsyLKVXyD1GKo6FKqQIxLbD-zzQB/s320/Granny+Bag+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here is my favorite Christmas present. A gorgeous tote that Mom made for me. Isn't it awesome? You may wonder why I am showing it to you now but it took a little while to find it's way to my home. It wasn't quite done for Christmas but Mom did finish it early January. However after all the work she just had to show it to her friends at the guild. Wouldn't you want to show it off? Then it did find it's way to me about a week ago but I finally had a chance to photograph it this weekend. I wanted to be sure to have a bright sunny day so I could show it in all it's glory. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMTAXKiajrq7A133GMUmhQD1wAXCpwxSqRNCknmLjtdpjZ0Cvk9KJOCgeDsQ6lo0n3FF3xZi6q5bUlVZzZypSWOHo_fR5IRNtnMG3FtZxHfBP17woYSVyyeOoo1i1-1x1qtMF/s1600-h/Granny+Bag+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298213881566139314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMTAXKiajrq7A133GMUmhQD1wAXCpwxSqRNCknmLjtdpjZ0Cvk9KJOCgeDsQ6lo0n3FF3xZi6q5bUlVZzZypSWOHo_fR5IRNtnMG3FtZxHfBP17woYSVyyeOoo1i1-1x1qtMF/s320/Granny+Bag+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The story starts even earlier than that. You see Mom and her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">freind</span> went to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">PFQ</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">PQF</span>?) Well a big quilt show that is like Stitches and there they found this really cool tool to make cords. They were so enamoured with it they decided to buy one to share. My Mom's friend had it first so she brought me a magazine that had a photo in it and a bag where the handles were made with the cord maker. I of course fell in love with the bag! Mom looked around and found fabric that looked almost exactly like the bag in the photo and viola! I got my favorite present. Look at the cool dragonfly lining!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DtQerP7eZT_igwORzLt0rlMtskHslVyFG8ndzIyXZ9UGYizhRIg8Jm5UF3G-xbrL7ER52f6hu4TET6wLZLIp6XGq4bN07mCP9o7a_ebnPuR7DTSWZCHHZ19dhtl0z0uaFIRm/s1600-h/Granny+Bag+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298213888654401122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DtQerP7eZT_igwORzLt0rlMtskHslVyFG8ndzIyXZ9UGYizhRIg8Jm5UF3G-xbrL7ER52f6hu4TET6wLZLIp6XGq4bN07mCP9o7a_ebnPuR7DTSWZCHHZ19dhtl0z0uaFIRm/s320/Granny+Bag+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In knitting news, I made this yummy purple scarf. I got this yarn when we were in Oregon for New Years. It was just one skein of about 150 yards. I think they had made it with odds and ends of fabulous purple yarn. Since it was three strands together I decided to make a scarf the long way using size 17 needles.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ctd2oCUemzJ_f-F4jWc3Fb7j-CZx_DLsis88vlDTAcj8nDV9lFsgpld7x3vqI8jA83YfdplObrYmsPI4Bap1ZxvcQNOVWnYd5ZI4BnBLze1F4MiPcuAJAV0YeHrNLWRCBwr6/s1600-h/DSC_0781.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298213875594591842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ctd2oCUemzJ_f-F4jWc3Fb7j-CZx_DLsis88vlDTAcj8nDV9lFsgpld7x3vqI8jA83YfdplObrYmsPI4Bap1ZxvcQNOVWnYd5ZI4BnBLze1F4MiPcuAJAV0YeHrNLWRCBwr6/s320/DSC_0781.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've rarely made anything using needles that big and it was so cool how fast it goes! The scarf was done in a jiff and it is long and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">snuggly</span>. In fact so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">snuggly</span> I must send it somewhere cold so it can get the wear it deserves. I'm sending it off to my mother-in-law in Delaware for Valentine's Day. Hopefully she will enjoy it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5AAtznfL-boIjlFOZArE5qGxepcHZ7FBlTygGBlzIDlSexaKMKBT629SD-h8CEs4Rso9JCVfEnB5EFoPbdvzx2a6N5qiwrG25SbWHbnJ4t924JwN4SN9TdComoEQVqfNjrU5/s1600-h/DSC_0850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298213874724497970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5AAtznfL-boIjlFOZArE5qGxepcHZ7FBlTygGBlzIDlSexaKMKBT629SD-h8CEs4Rso9JCVfEnB5EFoPbdvzx2a6N5qiwrG25SbWHbnJ4t924JwN4SN9TdComoEQVqfNjrU5/s320/DSC_0850.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-11270190110988545742009-01-27T20:02:00.000-08:002009-01-27T20:15:00.587-08:00Let's Make A Deal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJgk41yTEqc3TGgCQpVmQ6clykqOa1clmw72Rrrp39Edtv1WXs8yUIrIsfcjpratr4ikEJH9p3ez4furVjpAt9-z0c3wSDw592SDv9jLlMme9oYHFEHeCGbrvOEDmaML4IIDe/s1600-h/sr2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296190552868812754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJgk41yTEqc3TGgCQpVmQ6clykqOa1clmw72Rrrp39Edtv1WXs8yUIrIsfcjpratr4ikEJH9p3ez4furVjpAt9-z0c3wSDw592SDv9jLlMme9oYHFEHeCGbrvOEDmaML4IIDe/s320/sr2.jpg" border="0" /></a>At last photos of the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTicequeen.html">Ice Queen </a>I made for my sister for Christmas. I finished it in December but it has taken me awhile to get the photos up and posted. I hoped that she would like it - she e-mailed me the pattern in September and asked if I would make it for her! At first I said no - I really don't like knitting with beads and the lace looked fussy. But then the idea grew on me and I remembered I had yarn and beads left over from my Secret of the Stole so I really had no excuse. This is actually the first time I was able to use leftover yarn to make a "real" project. I was very proud of myself! It looks great on her and I hope she will enjoy wearing it.<br /><br />My spring cleaning continued this weekend. I really need to clean out my closet but every time I go in there it overwhelms me. So I decided that I will remove 10 pieces of clothing per weekend. That shouldn't be that hard right? Just 10 items? I figure that over time it will get cleaner. The first 10 were easy. I know that it will get harder each time but I have to try something. I also photographed my bag of yarn for eBay and plan to list those items this weekend. I only hope my motivation continues long enough to make a dent!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AygQ_pkClmKsS4RCBQevUYBwgIwYLLYnT8QKab7-v8H0crei4yNPju0WodlvXohlHjofZ9WIIDpAQWHX4mivSgmt9h9XvBSyxQrPoiTHQskGFgYnZcL_3qXgZJhFtR93uJ9X/s1600-h/sr1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296190548072458210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AygQ_pkClmKsS4RCBQevUYBwgIwYLLYnT8QKab7-v8H0crei4yNPju0WodlvXohlHjofZ9WIIDpAQWHX4mivSgmt9h9XvBSyxQrPoiTHQskGFgYnZcL_3qXgZJhFtR93uJ9X/s320/sr1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the knitting front I promised myself that I will finish one UFO before starting something new and that I will knit from the stash for at least the first few months of the year. However I already find myself making deals with - well - myself! What if I start something new out of the stash? That shouldn't really count should it? Do I have to finish something before knitting from the stash? Also there is a yarn swap at one of the LYS' this weekend. If I swap yarn does that count as not buying new yarn? I mean if it's a net balance it shouldn't count right? What do you think?<br /><br />I have been working on my scarf. It is now 42" long. Check out <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTicequeen.html">Bonnie's</a>. It turned out beautiful!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VlwNdPtCYOs6BQopOa_LRajPmYkS-IDbpcbmUrJaFNVBDWtbpRRsEu0ka2trGPFEGAic2NPsuTGAkpRXELj-xIfhGI8fTWOo1qHEWL93HbSlWMqOpodDpR5Q__055Eb34Q7j/s1600-h/sr3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296190557330645778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VlwNdPtCYOs6BQopOa_LRajPmYkS-IDbpcbmUrJaFNVBDWtbpRRsEu0ka2trGPFEGAic2NPsuTGAkpRXELj-xIfhGI8fTWOo1qHEWL93HbSlWMqOpodDpR5Q__055Eb34Q7j/s320/sr3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-44380480379804149752009-01-18T16:14:00.000-08:002009-01-18T17:51:53.378-08:00How I spent my Sunday<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqk6ac9CE6yNEcAxKh4o9f_zptzBE_xI-VQ00vQq9wQSOpjlhyVxmiU2gOaYDenE_yYsK7yGSyYR0b1A0PdzPhDhWoGBqcENgWchPUWSQjeRqGKrUQjCk6WFxytDnYYHqg84f/s1600-h/DSC_0895.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292792695227728434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqk6ac9CE6yNEcAxKh4o9f_zptzBE_xI-VQ00vQq9wQSOpjlhyVxmiU2gOaYDenE_yYsK7yGSyYR0b1A0PdzPhDhWoGBqcENgWchPUWSQjeRqGKrUQjCk6WFxytDnYYHqg84f/s320/DSC_0895.JPG" border="0" /></a>The weather on the West Coast has been unseasonably warm. Perhaps that is what lead me to start some spring cleaning. Or perhaps it was because everywhere I turned there were bags, boxes and piles of this, that and the other. I should have felt pretty good. My Christmas tree is down, the ornaments and decorations have been put away. My friend's tree is still up! But the piles are beginning to get me down. This is the first weekend in a long time that we've basically been free and at home. So I decided to put it to good use and try to make some headway on the disaster that is my house. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimk7IUXUvYPaBbvAymCSzjlJnGKQIV7rSPEoAe7rcVHUUsciyTpmTp23KUaZahf01JAesKR466KBckCfdlFrnnflau3luYtVv3NAJ6aMc5wM9dKlWWAc9DJEgOeYkCFMuMFPf/s1600-h/DSC_0901.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292810627331271138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimk7IUXUvYPaBbvAymCSzjlJnGKQIV7rSPEoAe7rcVHUUsciyTpmTp23KUaZahf01JAesKR466KBckCfdlFrnnflau3luYtVv3NAJ6aMc5wM9dKlWWAc9DJEgOeYkCFMuMFPf/s320/DSC_0901.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>On Saturday I worked on cleaning the Little Man's room. He is growing like a weed and quickly outgrowing his clothes and toys. We cleaned out 3 garbage bags full of stuffed animals, almost 2 laundry baskets full out out grown clothes, a basket full of toys he no longer plays with and 1-1/2 garbage bags of - well - garbage! His room looks much better although I could probably go through the entire drill again and find more stuff!</div><div> </div><div>Today I decided to take on the stash. I didn't go through the entire thing - but I got a few new storage bins (thanks Mom!) and I wanted to try and put things away in some form of organization. What you see here is only about a third of the stash. I had bags and bags of yarn stuffed in various corners of the house that really needed to be properly stored. I think to properly organize things I would have to pull out everything and that is not something I can face. But at least I made a little progress. I truly have reached SABLE (stash accumulation beyond life expectancy) probably for my life and my kids! I did come up with a bag of yarn to sell on eBay and a bag for Goodwill but they are fairly small compared to the volume! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnd2WLvp77rPgnMdlwkRQxpWvaHhZT4AZ1zY-t5oPQUaxsxosfN_OzoV93WC06d4keA_tnZSlylk7pq_30b1P7Xg4cKRrq8Cybj5IHA6G5kmntpAvcygcs9hEJOsY7Qez7z5V/s1600-h/DSC_0899.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292810622225019522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnd2WLvp77rPgnMdlwkRQxpWvaHhZT4AZ1zY-t5oPQUaxsxosfN_OzoV93WC06d4keA_tnZSlylk7pq_30b1P7Xg4cKRrq8Cybj5IHA6G5kmntpAvcygcs9hEJOsY7Qez7z5V/s320/DSC_0899.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>The photo above is a bin or feltable yarn. I really love the tie-dye yarn and need to think of something fabulous to make with it. Next we have a bin of Malibrigo and Jasper. Most of the Malabrigo is single skeins but I have a few colorways where I have 2 skeins. Next we have a bin of cotton. There are lots of fun colors of Sugar n' Cream but those are below the other skeins. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQJOif8fTSLpRrcGbElDi_JNpPDEkuX_xY_mjfgcZmTF12yX8qcK6DCzOPA3IlIg7Q7YlLMqwW63RByS5PX44O4jFrj4ETSThEbH3hSDLOVjZIHkyhJ2YTl1XR9PryBqee0WE/s1600-h/DSC_0897.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292792700035374114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQJOif8fTSLpRrcGbElDi_JNpPDEkuX_xY_mjfgcZmTF12yX8qcK6DCzOPA3IlIg7Q7YlLMqwW63RByS5PX44O4jFrj4ETSThEbH3hSDLOVjZIHkyhJ2YTl1XR9PryBqee0WE/s320/DSC_0897.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>We also have a bin filled with Iceland yarn in fabulous bright colors. 2 skeins each of 4 gorgeous hues. I think I'll make a huge bag with those. Any other ideas? Snuggled next to it are several skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca in multiple colors and sizes. I have no idea what I'll make out of those. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWKTYNRJsYqkcu41g4cJ1A30Jw3r6MRcEdHUNaf4JPzOigr0dK4m8On5PxWouUpjrtO505gDGMwYN9uw7aO1dx3QA1dqN6aJvHytId1Ay1DgxGFGIVHEMNtPFNPTf-vcam9an/s1600-h/DSC_0898.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292792710075658274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWKTYNRJsYqkcu41g4cJ1A30Jw3r6MRcEdHUNaf4JPzOigr0dK4m8On5PxWouUpjrtO505gDGMwYN9uw7aO1dx3QA1dqN6aJvHytId1Ay1DgxGFGIVHEMNtPFNPTf-vcam9an/s320/DSC_0898.JPG" border="0" /></a> A beautiful bin with lots and lots of Socks that Rock and a few skeins of miscellaneous sock yarn. I love all of this yarn even though I don't knit socks. Really makes you want to start doesn't it!<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCbZ35ByJwrpV4vZ4o4IiPiRVpK2bXwrNILFxWRwtwCnIW2kaaFozjaZP-ZpmZtOIR-A4trw0dugMdgbY3pA_WzhDojS8iMOBoBpMJMGLsEPX7jdVqgZkts4YyWogPEKyVvyP/s1600-h/DSC_0896.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292792697546111698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCbZ35ByJwrpV4vZ4o4IiPiRVpK2bXwrNILFxWRwtwCnIW2kaaFozjaZP-ZpmZtOIR-A4trw0dugMdgbY3pA_WzhDojS8iMOBoBpMJMGLsEPX7jdVqgZkts4YyWogPEKyVvyP/s320/DSC_0896.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And last but not least the bin of left overs. I actually managed to throw a few bits away. I told myself I could only keep what would fit in a single bin. It was tough. The bin is chocker block full and I could barely close the lid but I managed to stick to one bin! <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1s1if4m0YM_EO0BNgpZyjtSLqCLJx2y_1MThi9UrAzfAIxfhTBj6yOKS4vvB6gWP0gsScA-aOmrkY6Dib_bQxjJ9t3boDVt4-bjpJgEZ6mMEFbC7EOhh8HQi4n9y8PxkmfIp/s1600-h/DSC_0900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292810625419288226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1s1if4m0YM_EO0BNgpZyjtSLqCLJx2y_1MThi9UrAzfAIxfhTBj6yOKS4vvB6gWP0gsScA-aOmrkY6Dib_bQxjJ9t3boDVt4-bjpJgEZ6mMEFbC7EOhh8HQi4n9y8PxkmfIp/s320/DSC_0900.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><div> </div><div>If I keep this up my house might actually be clean by spring!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1s1if4m0YM_EO0BNgpZyjtSLqCLJx2y_1MThi9UrAzfAIxfhTBj6yOKS4vvB6gWP0gsScA-aOmrkY6Dib_bQxjJ9t3boDVt4-bjpJgEZ6mMEFbC7EOhh8HQi4n9y8PxkmfIp/s1600-h/DSC_0900.JPG"></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25087939.post-84596550830087629082009-01-14T22:09:00.000-08:002009-01-14T22:26:33.124-08:00Psycho Internet Friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM6CnxpO_mDscNECKG9SR5CjRD5NQXkYCTrFNs3vs_T8-p9JHUNv3MBVpdoBqKJWGpYZO-dLn3EpBielkw0Wk_KAJlTjgZOBddNb83yYyta2VoMVDcz1lcx6CEuYT_A-uTG3d/s1600-h/DSC_0589.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291401641714275938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM6CnxpO_mDscNECKG9SR5CjRD5NQXkYCTrFNs3vs_T8-p9JHUNv3MBVpdoBqKJWGpYZO-dLn3EpBielkw0Wk_KAJlTjgZOBddNb83yYyta2VoMVDcz1lcx6CEuYT_A-uTG3d/s320/DSC_0589.JPG" border="0" /></a>One of the best parts of the holidays was that I finally got to meet my friend <a href="http://tresbonbabble.blogspot.com/">Bonnie </a>in person. Bonnie and I "met" a few years ago after the International Scarf Exchange when we were introduced in cyberspace and we started the International Tote Exchange. We instantly hit it off and became fast friends who had never laid eyes upon one another. We all know how that goes out here in the knitting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogisphere</span>. We had been wanting to meet for awhile and came close about a year ago but finally the opportunity presented itself. Bonnie, who lives in Cincinnati, was coming to the San Francisco area with her daughter for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cheerleading</span> event. I was so excited! We arranged to meet for lunch in San Francisco near a yarn store of course! We had a fabulous H<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">unan</span> lunch and then went down the street to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><a href="http://imagiknit.com/index.php">ImagiKnits</a></span>. Everything was perfect (except for the parking ticket Bonnie got . . . .) We got along really well and hope to see one another again some day. I feel so lucky that we got to meet each other in person. So why the title? Well my daughters thought it was so weird that I was meeting someone I had "met on the net." I tried to explain why it is different than my continual warnings to them about meeting people on-line. I think they understood but they kept referring to her as my, "psycho <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Internet</span> friend." Bonnie was a good sport about it and doesn't seem to mind now when I start my e-mails, "Dear <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">PIF</span>"!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcWbYX_CcKUPU1C0G_KNe8x923Iuihbh9qjFYckntqBrjdUNKcdk6RPPTrr7ING1wJrANHeWdkjXClLAZgTVSU162RroE08Ymq4P-16STpjVOwm99AhlSEa5Tqhc3lvQWBxr2/s1600-h/DSC_0587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291401638972171218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcWbYX_CcKUPU1C0G_KNe8x923Iuihbh9qjFYckntqBrjdUNKcdk6RPPTrr7ING1wJrANHeWdkjXClLAZgTVSU162RroE08Ymq4P-16STpjVOwm99AhlSEa5Tqhc3lvQWBxr2/s320/DSC_0587.JPG" border="0" /></a>At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ImaginKnits</span> we decided to both buy the same yarn. It is <a href="http://www.knittingfever.com/c/yarn/araucania-azapa/#t">Azapa </a>by Arunca Yarns and actually the photos on their website do NOT do it justice. It is very soft and sort of rustic. I got an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">off-white</span> color and Bonnie picked a soft turquoise blue. We are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">both</span> making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">scarves</span> and I can't wait to see hers. She is doing 2x2 rib and I am making mine in mistake rib.<br /><br />I also bought some gorgeous yarn for which I promptly lost the label. They told me it was from the Black Forest in Germany which sounds very exotic. I just fell in love with the vibrant turquoise and white colors and immediately set to work on a hat for Horsey Girl on our car ride up to Oregon. I made up the pattern myself and unfortunately did not take in to account how tight and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">unstretchy</span> it would be. As you can see I got very far along but have ended up tearing it all out and starting over. I do still really love the colors.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepmS88f3h5rXcsLyvOAh3JrJtUelNWW_VcdXtJzhe3zcnzlvP5DHhTCQBoP8uY7w5OmSs1O6R3SSXqEibfBOcqdAKtOMzGEML_AaLveHd4U7lGejQYyP6rB6bXzCgeae04vy-/s1600-h/DSC_0584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291401632223070882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepmS88f3h5rXcsLyvOAh3JrJtUelNWW_VcdXtJzhe3zcnzlvP5DHhTCQBoP8uY7w5OmSs1O6R3SSXqEibfBOcqdAKtOMzGEML_AaLveHd4U7lGejQYyP6rB6bXzCgeae04vy-/s320/DSC_0584.JPG" border="0" /></a>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06232308105480608440noreply@blogger.com5