The Yarnaholic!

Well, I ordered more yarn......I don't need any more yarn! (hanging head in shame) But, I couldn't help myself. I ordered MORE Lorna's Laces for this..... the Cozy Shawl from Knitty. I am always on the lookout for the perfect shawl! I think they are elegant and versatile and warm in the "in between" seasons. My wonderful Secret Pal friend in knitting sent me the link and exclaimed I just bought some Lorna's Laces and it is going to be so beautiful. Ok, shawl + Lorna's Laces does equal beauty! So I bought......

And I found another Shawl in the book Alterknits!! I especially love this one because it is a shawl AND a scarf attached with ribbons. Perfect for travel. I can just see myself at some exotic locale, with this gracefully draped over my shoulders!!! :) I decided on Knit Picks "Ambrosia" in the "fog" colorway which is a dignified grey tone. Hmmm.. sound slike I will be ordering more yarn again. Oh well, there are worse habits in life. Being a "yarnaholic" is ok.

And I started "Branching Out" from Knitty. I am using the bamboo yarn from the One Skein Swap! This is a fun highly addictive pattern. So, I am working on that while I wait for my yarn.......

My husband remarked today that I have been so into knitting, I haven't made jewelry in ages!! Well, he's partially correct. I did start the Fall Collection, but it still needs necklaces and earrings to round it out.....so I might have to put down the needles for my jewelry tools.......for a little while anyway!!!

Time flies........

Has it really been a week???? I have been knitting but I guess not posting as much as I used to...sorry about that! And if you are looking at the blog and wondering what is going on, I'm changing stuff around...again!!!! I've also been having some bad migraines and sitting at the computer is the LAST thing you want to do!!

This weekend I hope to fix up this sad and sorry little blog a bit!!! It's supposed to be hot hot hot this weekend so sitting in the air conditioned studio is not such a bad idea is it??? I know I spoke of a tutuorial and you might be wondering where it has gone to. Well, the pictures are still in my camera so I will be doing that as well!!!!

Well, I'm off to work........I'll try to be posting with more frequency, so keep checking back!!

P.S. Mrs. Stevens is temporarily gone until I finish fixing the blog up!! :) Just in case you were looking for her!! I might just have to change that around too!! :)

The Delinquent Blogger

Wow, could my last post have been on Tuesday??? YIKES...where does the time go! I am happy to report that I have been a bit more energetic!!! Let's see...I left off with a list of things I should have been doing.....

My One Skein Secret Pal project is finished. I am glad to get that out of the way!! I made the felted clutch from the book, and will add a few extra goodies in it!! It is still drying...have I mentioned it is a humid as all get out here??? My plan is to pack it up and get it out by next week!! I also have a few little gifties for MY secret pal who has been such a good online buddy since June!!! I will get pictures of it all before I send it!!

And I have been inspired yet again to start a new project! My Secret Pal made the Monsieur Cat from the Lucinda Guy book....and I fell in love. Since I have no kids to knit for, I didn't own the book. BUT, I put it in my library queue and picked it up today!! Wow, the patterns are terrific!!! As I sat in the drive through line at Dunkin' Donuts waiting for my coffee, I imagined cats in all different color combos.......guess what my next project is???? Look for pictures soon!!!

It's not the heat...

It's the humidity....I hate when people say that! It's something my parents who are in their 80's say! Or is it hot enough for ya! Well, it is and this humidity is frying my brain! I should be knitting, I should be doing something else...anything, but sitting here doing nothing. I have projects to finish, damnit! I am like a beached whale....I just want to lay there and do nothing.....as long as the neighborhood children do not come over and poke me with sticks or call Greenpeace!

What I should be doing....
1. Fixing this blog so it will be more ME, whatever that is...

2. Finishing my One Skein Secret Pal project so I can get it ready to send!

3. Finishing up the dog sweater, scarf, shawl and countless other object d'knit in the basket!

4. Winding up all that Lorna's Laces wooly goodness into usable balls!

5. Finishing up the cross stitch pieces I started long ago and have not worked on in months!!! (can you tell it is not my favorite thing to do??)

6. Make supper!!!

Well, I do have good news......NO JURY DUTY tomorrow!!! Yay!!! Happy Dance!!!! Maybe I will get around to all the projects.....tomorrow.........

Tutorial on the Way....

Ok, in between working on my Fall jewelry collection and getting more items ready to be shipped to the art gallery, I have been working on the row counter bracelet tutorial!!! To be theatrical, "it's in the can"!!! :) In my camera that is!! I wrote out each step, supplies needed, and photographed it all...phew...it's alot of work, BUT they are better made than just knotting some string and adding some plastic beads!! And I hope you like them as much as I do. While the thought is NOT mine and I am in no way taking credit for it, if the tutorial helps my friends or a fellow knitter, that is great!! My "demo" model will be for sale. And it will include a set of pewter matching stitch markers as well. Knitting has been slow, but I will be getting some projects lined up.....

Have I mentioned that I have jury duty this week?? All I can say is I better be able to take my knitting needles in the "holding pen" with me, or they might see my nasty side! If you are going to make me sit there for eight hours, let me do something, besides read......

I have a good book, some magazines, stuff to work on for my site and blogs, knitting....Mark asked me if I planned on staying overnight..OH God, I hope not!! It's the local court so I don't think there is anything more exciting than traffic violations. Should I wear a contriversial t shirt and wild hair so I look crazy??? Doesn't it sound like I am looking forward to it....

Now everyone say a prayer, think a good thought, send light, whatever......so I don't have to go...I know I will, but let's hope!!!

Excuses, Excuses....

Well, just what have I been doing??? Certainly not knitting, that's for sure!! I have so much to catch up on too!! If you read my other blog, you know I have been in a creative "funk" these days......no jewelry, no knitting, no nothing. I have been sitting an watching movies and just being, well, a blob!! I seem to be coming out of my funk though and have begun work on my Fall Collection of jewelry for my site, West End Designs.

I ordered some beads to create matching bracelets to the Irish Hiking Scarves I have been knitting. My thought, hope and wish, is to finish a bunch of them and make matching bracelets and give them as Christmas (yes, I said that!) gifts!! Handmade lampwork and the gorgeous colors of the Lorna's Laces yarn. Who wouldn't want that as a gift????

I need to finish my final gift package for the One Skein Secret Pal. This weekend.....yes, I must!!!

Well, that's all to report. No new yarn, no new projects...check back next week. :) Have a nice weekend everyone!

Mrs. Stevens

For those of you who know me, you all know I have always wanted a kitty (I guess three puggies is not enough!!). My wonderful husband, still, and probably will continue to say "no" to my polite requests (aka begging) for a kitty!! I do have a "sponsor" kitty at the local shelter, but it is not the same...so...I went and adopted anyway......no, not a "real" one, a "virtual"one...

May I present, "Mrs. Stevens"!!! She will be on the side bar to my journal from now on......I hope you all say hi to her when you are visiting!!

Why Mrs. Stevens??? Well, ages ago I saw an episode of Bewitched in which Samantha turned her Mother in Law into a cat and went running through they neighborhood yelling "Mrs. Stevens" in a vain attempt to find her lost Mother in Law/Kitty. And I thought, what a cool name for a cat...and it stuck. So there you have it!!! :)

Let's see what else I can find to spruce up the journal!!!

I am blown away!!

Yes, I am completely blown away by my One Skein Secret Pal's gift for July!! Wow, that's all I can say!! Thank you so much Lynnea! Here is a photo of what she sent!! I have to show all the goodies off!! Take a look at this!!!


There is a skein of handspun yarn, a skein of Knitpicks Ambrosia, felted beads, stitch markers, 2 knitting magazines and a set of handmade note cards and HANDMADE needles!! Wow...oh and a Cadbury bar!! (Cadbury is my favorite!!!)



I have to think of something to make with the handspun for for right now I am just carrying it around, it is so soft!!!! I love the toppers on the needles ........it says "Knit Happens"!!! Aren't they the cutest??? I plan on making a funky fiber necklace with the beads!!!! They are so much fun!! I need to know how to make them!!!!

Thank you again Lynnea......not only are you a terrific secret pal, you have become such a great online buddy!!! :) I will post what I make with all the goodies you have sent!!!

I am powerless to knitting supplies!

Ok, I should no longer be allowed to surf the internet looking for yarn and knitting related items....no more!!! I am powerless to their spell!! I was thinking of making some knitting row counter bracelets because the ones I have seen are VERY expensive for what they are. Basically leather cording KNOTTED and plastic Pony beads, and a plated clasp for $40 - 50 each...seriously. So, the jewelry designer in me comes out and I decide I can do better......So, I was taking a look at what was out there. I don't think it is something I will sell (unless a special request is made) but while I was surfing......I found this.....Namaste Needles

I remember my Mom teaching me to knit, it was acrylic or wool yarn and metal or plastic needles, that's it. No fancy fibers, no fancy accessories, not even bamboo....until now. Wow, I am blown away!!! I am putting this stuff on my wish list!!! It's GORGEOUS!!!

Oh, and I think I am going to come up with a tutorial on the beaded row counters so you can make your own. Any thoughts????

I surrender!

Ok, I am hanging my head in shame right now...I didn't knit at all over this long weekend!! I know, no knitting......what is that about???? Honestly I TRIED!!! I guess it happens every once in awhile, you sit down and start a project...a mistake happens, you fix it and carry on...then another mistake. I actually kept casting on the wrong number of stitches several times in a row.....that was it. A sign from the knitting goddess to wave the white flag of surrender!!! So, I just sat there, staring blindly at the television watching the Boston Pops and Aerosmith...which I also never do.TV=Knitting and that's just how it is, an equation not to be messed with, like the theory of relativity. TV = Knitting . I didn't dare start anything complicated because the situation described above kept happening with a dishcloth...can you imagine if I started lace, or a sweater???.........I shudder to think of it. Today is a new day and maybe tonight some knitting will happen....maybe......

I mailed my final One Skein Secret Pal yarn package today!! So, the next package is a finished item, and I have a few other goodies planned for her. I don't think she reads the blog (my identity was blown along time ago!!) but I won't say whatt it is, just to be on the safe side (I'll snap a picture of it for here after I mail it away!!). I will say though, it is a project from the book, and it is the only pattern in the book she told me she liked, so let's hope she likes it in person! :) I want to have it in the mail August 1st (it is due anytime in August) because I am leaving on a long weekend trip to NYC on the 4th and I don't want it hanging over my head!!! I plan on getting it all set THIS week.....yes, THIS week!!!! Can you tell I am looking forward to it ending??? I don't think I'm cut out for Secret Pal clubs. Although I will say, the person who has me as a pal is so sweet and I love the things she sends (Hi Lynnea)!!! I might try a knit along next. I can't help it, I am just NOT a joiner.........

I am hoping to change up this blog a bit soon. I have not sat down to work on it....even though I said I was going to but, hey, if you can't knit a simple dishcloth, what makes you think you can play with HTML......my blog would look pretty bad, and that I am sure of.....

I think I will go wind up some of my Lorna's Laces yarn and sit down after supper for some relaxing (??) knitting time.........