Sox in the Making

While I have free time during our daily outings

this pair of purpley-striped ribbed sox 

are stashed in the console between the front seats and

get a couple more rounds completed each trip.

Eventually they'll get finished

in the meantime my hands are kept busy.

You know - Idle Hands Are The Devil's Workshop

This goldenrod pair is Pointelle 

 and is on it's THIRD beginning

and now being knit using Cascade Heritage superwash wool.

For some reason this particular  pattern is not co-operating with me.

The first two attempts were with Jojoland Melody yarn

and after the second time of ripping them back

I decided that Jojoland Melody was JINXed for 

Pointelle.

So I've begun once again and

 hoping third time [and a yarn change] is the charm. 

This minty morsel is Hedera

Our Rav Cookie A's KAL is a little different from last year's Cookie KAL.

After a group vote, Pointelle AND Hedera are the patterns chosen for this first KAL.

As long as a pattern is begun in January

we have until the end of February to finish either

one or both in order for them to be eligible

for a chance to win [picked by Mr. Random Generator] 

great things

from the individuals who have donated such lovelies as YARN.

Today is a snow day - have 4-5 inches of snow.

Hugs

title

Here I am at b&n sending another post.

LOOK IT IS A NOOK and I am blogging from it!

Swiftly Making Yarn Cakes

Decided it was time to purchase a Swift to make winding those yarn hanks into cakes with lots less trouble.
Though Hubby was patient untangling those messes.
Just took up too much time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Went online to find that KnitPics was having a sale on one of their swifts .  .  . AND free shipping.
So I added a couple hanks of white yarn while I was there .
My order arrived in no time at all.
* * * * * * * * *
Used the gift certificate from DD#1 to Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe to pick on some solid color yarn to use for the Cookie A socks for the Rav KAL.
# # # # # # # # #
Have had to frog Cookie's Pointelle twice already, ugh!
Didn't do something right.
Could not for the life of me discern a pattern after the cuff.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cast on Pointelle once again
only this time switched the yarn to Cascade Heritage.
I think this is going to look better
- more definition -
than the
Jojoland Melody.

Hugs

Another Sew Day and Video Chatting

Yep, today was another Sew Day.

Daughter sewed while I pressed and organized.

Slowly, slowly the scrap strip stash is disappearing.

Today we used up what I think is the last of these leftovers.

So help me, if I find another box of strip scraps ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Here's what DD#2 sewed up.

A couple of placemats and one tabletopper.

These are going to her co-worker.

This was accomplished while I was 'supervising' [actually talking with her on the cell]  D-I-L #2 install Google Chrome and video chat.

We've been waiting for several months for DIL to get the time between  

working and the holidays to install these plug-ins.

Once this was completed, spent time

chatting with her and DS#3 and being taken on a tour of their house in 

Southern California.

We are all looking forward to video chats from now on out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Finish a UFO pair of sox yesterday will post a pic later.

Tonite and tomorrow will be spent knitting on my KAL sox.

Of course not the entire time but as much as I can fit in.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Hope everyone had as nice weather as mid-MO had today.

Mid-fifties. ! . !

Hugs

Happy New Year - 2011

Here it is
another new year ! ! !
Seems like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating the beginning of Twenty-Ten.

Wishing each of you a GREAT 2011 ! ! ! ! !
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Today is the first day of the Knit-A-Long [KAL] on Raverly
for Cookie A's newest Sock pattern book
Knit.Sock.Love
*********************************
Our choices are
Cookie's new pattern from the book - Pointelle

or
a previously published pattern - Hedera.

I've knit Hedera twice already
and I do want to knit from her new book
so I cast on Pointelle this morning
and will cast on Hedera later this month.

The yarn is Jojoland Melody
- it's 100% wool -machine washable.

This pattern will take a little concentration to get it right!
Oh, my, am I in trouble????????

As you can see it is a solid peach rather than
that self-patterning yarn I attempted to knit Cauchy in last month.
Should be a great KAL for January/February !

Did I tell you last week was My Birthday ? ? ?

I love these snowmen!
They never made it out of their carton.

Hugs

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
and the very best of holiday wishes
to ALL of YOU ! ! !

Thanks for joining my blog
and leaving comments, thoughts and best wishes.
This past year has been the very best,
I've been able to Play-It-Forward
with my blog GIVEAWAYS.

And, thanks to those who have giveaways of their own
and for allowing me to enter AND EVEN WIN ! !

Gifts have been wrapped and shipped !
Gifts we've received are under the tree
and we're
awaiting two more sleeps before tearing into those babies.

I'm thinking and sending
Positive Thoughts
toward wonderful days ahead
for each of us.

Thank you all for your Friendship,
the best gift of all.
 


My wall art for December

Hugs

Playtime

This is what I've been playing with

while I should have been doing

???????????

hey, what's more important than enjoying time at the sewing machine ! ! !

This datebook cover used two of those home dec samples from one of our quilt guild members

This smaller datebook used only one sample

I added some pinkish fabric to this sample to make up the size I wanted for this Journal cover

Here's the whole pic of this journal in progress

not much left before it's complete


Hugs

Friday 'round here

Today's temp was at least 62 degrees with sunshine.

By sometime tomorrow those weather forecasters are predicting snow for our area.

So Hubby and I set about getting a few chores completed while we had decent weather

and before any snowy weather takes over.

Our garage really needed picking up.

Several months ago when we had our new windows installed

I had emptied out my ex-darkroom so the workers would be able to get to the window to re-place it.

Yep, all my 'stuff' has been cluttering the floor of the garage all this time, yuk!

It took a couple of hours

 but I have everything picked up.

Since I have plans to paint the room 

and the rest of the garage this coming Spring 

I didn't organize anything

just put it in there up off the floor.

Then we used the blower to clean out the garage

getting rid of the leaves that have been tracked in and collecting.

Then blew off the driveway and the patio.

Things are looking good.

I was pooped.

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

It's been a while since I've shown my sox that have been knit in the car and at the eye clinic.

I really like the color.

They're going to be for wearing in the house this winter, I think.

All Fired Up

& 

Plum Seduction

are in my growing nail polish collection.

Here's a group shot of Matilda and her gal pals.

Still not finished with 'em 

but they are 

lookin' good !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Hubby's day-after check up went well.

And has an appt at the end of next week for an eye chart exam.

He is lovin' his new view and is glad to have had this procedure.

Happy Holiday Hugs Gals 

A Yarn Tale

I'm preparing for January's start of Ravelry's Cookie A. Knit-A-Long.

We're knitting from her second sock book

Knit-Sock-Love

I'm hoping that the wonderful patterns from Cookie will show their glory with these lighter colors.

The Minty Green is Heritage by Cascade Yarns

Sock yarn 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon

The Yummy Pink right below the Minty is the very same yarn content and weight.

The Peachy Apricot

is Jojoland

Melody

100% wool Superwash

That'll be enough yarn to keep me happy for three pair of sox

[well, maybe]

This Luscious Lavenders is by

malabrigo

It's kettle dyed

sock weight

Merino Wool

Superwash which means, of course all four of these yarns can be machine washed.  Yipee ! ! ! !

I don't want to use any yarn this dark for my KAL sox but it is soooo soft against skin

that I decided as soon as I spied it that I'd work this into another scarf.

Come on Winter show us what you got!

I've got my malabrigo to keep me warm.

Haven't pick a scarf pattern yet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hubby's day-after check-up was this morning and everything is going very well.

I think he's happy with the results.

Happy Holiday Hugs

Matilda and her sister . . .

 

.  .  .  .  and her sister

Oh, My ! ! ! !

I don't know her name -  -  -

I worked on her last night.

I just had to have a gal in pink

this is as pink as I could go last night.

Do I need an infusion of new fabric ? ? ? ?

Now before you go all soft on her not having a name yet

let me tell you a little something about this gal.

I was doing my part,

I gathered fabric, color pencils, wire, straws, dowels,

I mean I gathered everything I needed.

Proceeded to stitch and cut

color and turn

stuff and stitch some more.

Wound her wire legs.

Yes, I got out my 'doll hair stash'.

Now this is where things go wacky. 

Or should I say this gal went all postal on me.

Here I was going with the blonde hair -

well, you know it's common knowledge that they do have more fun.

Got it all in place and attached

AND WHADDA YA KNOW

I took one look at her puss and hair

and she there all looking like she's a

GRANDMA ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Not a grandma my age,

she's lookin' like she could be like MY Grandma.

You know, all old-fashioned [spell that D-O-W-D-Y]

She was showing her true personality and she was steamin' with her eyes all x'd

there, Take a Close Look At Her Eyes.

Postal ! ! !

This is NOT what I envisioned earlier in the evening.

Well, took a time-out had a baklava dessert

and a cuppa Earl Grey.

A time-out to cool off.

Perhaps I wasn't exactly cooled

because I ripped off all those blonde curls.

There she sat bald as a cue ball

-  -  -  there you little tart ! ! !

I'll show ya whose boss 'round here.

No not to be bested by a stuffed postal tart

I chose a little less blonde but none the less blonde

and went about calmly attaching her new hair.

Well, take a look ! ! ! ! !

 

Isn't she lookin' sweet.
[though her eyes are still x'd - what? she's showin' attitude??????


It remains to be seen what she'll be holding in her hands
perhaps this'll tone her down a might.
whatdda ya think?

Right now she's a no-name a-little-less-blonde tart  ?angel?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hubby's cataract procedure went pretty darn good today.
Tomorrow will be a check up and then he's good to go.

Holiday Hugs All

Minutiae

Needlework coasters from my Mother.

Peaks and Valleys from Twisted Knitter

 This scarf is on my needles right now.

 

Perle Cotton

 

Spools

 

Wool Roving

This is some of the small, trival details from here.

 
 
One that's not so trival:

Left Eye                                                                                                    Right Eye

This is how Hubby sees the mini quilt.

Last week's removal of cataract from left eye allows him to see more color

while with his right eye he sees less color

It's been like this for a week now

and after this week's procedure we expect his vision will be bright and colorful.

Hugs

It's been a really long time

I mean a really long time since I've done any dollmaking.
I love dolls.
I know you do too, don't cha?

A few days ago I got the motivation I needed
when
Dutch Sisters shared Corry's Angel Tutorial

This afternoon was just the time to get going.
Got some of my Thimbleberries fabric out,
dug out doll hair,
wire for legs
and I was set to GO!.

Matilda is no angel
but is as sweet as can be.
She must be sweet, looks like she's holding a gum drop for ya.






Whoopee ! ! ! !
I love my time with her this afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the time I would like to acknowledge all my Followers
and welcome those gals who are new to my blog.
I may not blog regularly but I do
enjoy reading your comments
and try to return the favor.
Thanks for visiting.

BTW, Tam you are a
"Tam noreply-comment@blogger.com"
no way to respond to your comment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So many of you are having winter weather and if you are like me
you're wondering when spring and summer will arrive.
Luckily we have been free of rain, sleet, ice and snow.
Just that cold wind from the northwest, brrrrrrrrrrr
I've four or five knit scarves that I just know will get a workout in the months to come.
Have a new scarf Peaks and Valleys from Twisted Knitter  on the needles now
and
will have a photo of it next time.

Bundle Up Gals !
Hugs

SimplyChic Carryall for Crochet

A friend in the U.K. sent me some lovely fabric a while ago.
It took me some time to decide how I could show off the fab fabric to it's best.
I think it's Liberty Fabric ???????

Since I already have a carryall to carry to sewing classes
and one to tote my netbook
naturally I want one for my crochet stuff.

I wanted to preserve the fabric's great print,
Well, duh, what better way than to leave it to speak for itself.
Oh, yes, I did add a bit of bling 
didn't it turn out great ! ! ! 

The purple handles are drapery tie-backs that were a buck a piece at Hobby Lobby/

I used vinyl and fabric for the first pocket that will hold my current fave crochet pattern book
the next 'page' is a couple of fabric pockets to hold my current project
with instruction in the larger pocket.

There are pockets with zippers and more with out.

Pockets for my cotton crochet yarn on one page and two zipper pockets on the other page

that holds aluminum hooks in one and my steel hooks in the other.

Here are some of the details on the front of my newest carryall.

Back to organizing my sewing area.

AGAIN

Hugs 

What's Doing

Yes, I've been organizing my sewing area.

Again ! ! ! ! !

Lowes had some shelves

that I thought would help give more storage space

 out where I can see it

and get at it.

A person couldn't tell it by looking at my area lately,

but I work best when things are organized and not chaotic.

It's a work in progress.

as usual

This afternoon I was able to catch my Oldest Brother [boy, is he oldest] on Google Video Chat.

Had a nice visit and was able to see what he's been up to. 

He says he does not like to video chat

but he does stay online with us for quite a while once he gets on.

Nice way to spend part of the day.

As soon as DD#2 arrived for our SewDay we got out our newest GO! Fabric Cutting Die.
This is our Drunkard's Path cut from two FQs.
Only big enough for a quick table runner.
My first attempt on sewing those drat curves.
Really went quite fast.
The die cut a notch at the center of the curves so that alignment is easy peasy.

A week or so ago a knitting pal and I met up and knit for a couple of hours.
This is her little knitting bag - only about six inches from top of handle to bottom of bag -
includes a couple of ball of yarn and needles.
It's so cute and best of all
she gifted it to ME ! ! !
Thank you Paula.

Hugs

It's A Brand New Bag

Remember my Carolina CarryAll made with this

cool Batik fabrics?

I've been carrying since the day I finished it.

You probably know I don't carry bags for very long at any one time.

I change daily, weekly - so to carry one this long is unusual. 

I really like the shape and style and find it convenient to carry all my stuff.

Boy, am I amassing stuff to carry.

BUT,

now I am tired

of carrying the same old bag.

So, Now I Have A Brand New Bag ! ! !

Okay, I know, it the same ol' bag
INSIDE OUT ! ! ! ! !
Yea, another month of my Carolina CarryAll ! ! ! ! !
Hugs

Yummy, yummy, yummy,

so good for your tummy.
Guess what I baked.



Pumpkin Bread,
Corn Muffins
and Pumpkin Corn Muffins.

I bake just like I knit
- - - - I just add the left over [yarn/batter]
to the new [yarn/batter].

Don't think about it, just eat 'em while they're hot.

Daughter is coming over tomorrow for our annual
Turkey Soup Dinner.

This year was my turn to
cook-that-carcass.

I did just that with the addition of carrots, celery, potatoes, onions and noodles.
We'll be ready to fill our bowls.

Pass the muffins, please.

Hugs

FO KAL

It's a Finished Object
for the Knit A Long
Knit.Sock.Love

Cookie A. named her pattern Cauchy
and is the math inequality sign
you know <>

I began the KAL on November first
only to find my first yarn choice stank
as far as being able to decern a pattern in the self-stripping yarn.

So I went to the Stash and found this Icy Blue and Serendipity Turquioise combo
to begin again.
They made with the same yarn as Hubby's Turf Green Sox.
Bown Sheep Co
Lambs Pride SuperWash
Sport weight.
Just finished them this week - I do love 'em.

Hugs

Another Finished Pair

Plain Vanilla Sox
Perhaps you remember this yarn?
Picked these up during this past month and
decided to use
Melissa Morgan-Oakes pattern Raindrops for the leg pattern.
I love this Austermann yarn and
Oh, The Colors ! ! ! ! !

They're a slouchy sock.  Not to be worn with the leg stretched.
Just A  Nice Comfortable Day Sock.

Hugs