Am sifting through stash with an eye to selling some old Prairie Schoolers on eBay over the next week or two. Then off to get a much needed pedi now that it's officially sandal weather. Wishing you all a week of good weather and happy stitching!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Susan Rambo Sampler & Cat Patrol
Another lovely spring day in North Florida....sunshine without humidity, we love it! The cats are on Lizard Patrol, looking through the screen out to the deck where the varmints like to sunbathe. Curtis Willis had his annual checkup at the vet yesterday & weighed in at 11.5 lbs; he felt like 50 in his Sherpa carrier! Didn't much care for his shots but he sure slept deeply last night. What a sweet baby he is.
This is my Susan Rambo sampler in progress. She's an addictive one! I started her 2 weeks ago, using 1 strand of DMC on 32 ct linen in (I think) Clay but I have to confirm what brand of linen it is...can't remember! The original sampler is featured on the current issue of SANQ.
This is the first piece I have ever started in the upper left corner (or anywhere other than dead center). I didn't take time to measure (why?? I don't know!!) so eyeballed it & think I over-compensated.
Am sifting through stash with an eye to selling some old Prairie Schoolers on eBay over the next week or two. Then off to get a much needed pedi now that it's officially sandal weather. Wishing you all a week of good weather and happy stitching!
Am sifting through stash with an eye to selling some old Prairie Schoolers on eBay over the next week or two. Then off to get a much needed pedi now that it's officially sandal weather. Wishing you all a week of good weather and happy stitching!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Beautiful Spring Day!
Today is so gorgeous! Doors & windows are open, the wrens are serenading, cats are basking in the sunshine...life is good! Love a North Florida spring day when the sun is out and the humidity is not. Big fluffy pink azaleas are blooming at our house, and dogwood & redbud trees are abloom all around the neighborhoods.
Maizie favors the front window with its view of a birdbath, but Curtis Willis sometimes thinks he has to depose her from her throne:
Can you see that little scowl on her face? That's the reason I had to stitch this (Olga from Plum Street Samplers); the expression is identical!
Lately Curtis has decided he likes his Kitty Pi (free pattern from Wendy Knits). First he had to show it who's boss by carrying it around by the scruff of its neck for a few days. Wish I had a video of him waddling room to room with the cat bed dragging under his belly!
If my rechargeable batteries would ever hold a charge for more than 2 minutes I would have posted this FO a few weeks ago (Little House ornament):
And the infamous boring gray sock, knit to match the 1st one of the pair, but a whole different size since I failed to remember that Sock 1 was knit with Size 0 needles and this one with Size 1.
This strange piece will eventually be a sweater. The pattern is named Elizabeth & is from a Classic Elite book for their hand-dyed Liberty Wool. Very clever design, knitted side by side and all in one piece. The band for trim and collar is shown at the top. Once that is finished all will be steam blocked & sewn together. Hard to tell but the colors are eggplant, mustard, slate & pale gray.
I have a few other things in the works but have no more battery juice so will close with another cat photo (notice CW's lemur tail) and wish you all a happy week. Thanks for stopping by my little blog.
Maizie favors the front window with its view of a birdbath, but Curtis Willis sometimes thinks he has to depose her from her throne:
Can you see that little scowl on her face? That's the reason I had to stitch this (Olga from Plum Street Samplers); the expression is identical!
Lately Curtis has decided he likes his Kitty Pi (free pattern from Wendy Knits). First he had to show it who's boss by carrying it around by the scruff of its neck for a few days. Wish I had a video of him waddling room to room with the cat bed dragging under his belly!
If my rechargeable batteries would ever hold a charge for more than 2 minutes I would have posted this FO a few weeks ago (Little House ornament):
And the infamous boring gray sock, knit to match the 1st one of the pair, but a whole different size since I failed to remember that Sock 1 was knit with Size 0 needles and this one with Size 1.
This strange piece will eventually be a sweater. The pattern is named Elizabeth & is from a Classic Elite book for their hand-dyed Liberty Wool. Very clever design, knitted side by side and all in one piece. The band for trim and collar is shown at the top. Once that is finished all will be steam blocked & sewn together. Hard to tell but the colors are eggplant, mustard, slate & pale gray.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Presidents Day
The reason for not posting in weeks is, I feel the need to include pictures but today I decided to post anyway. So sorry, no pictures. Batteries in camera need charging but I'm home with a cold & just don't feel like dealing with that. It's a beautiful sunny day in North Florida, temperature around 80 degrees F and even hotter in the sun. The kind of day that calls me to be outside, not inside grasping a box of tissues. The cats are napping & I do wish I could post a snap of how cute they are.
On the knitting front, I finished the boring gray sock, which is larger than the first one in both length & width. Arrgh! I knit the 2nd sock with size 1 needles, and the 1st sock using size 0. Why didn't I discover that when I finished casting on?? Now I have to knit one more of each size. It's my fate for knitting a boring sock in the first place. These socks will be donated to Afghans for Afghans when the pairs are finished.
Started a side-to-side sweater using Classic Elite Yarn in beautiful hand-dyed Liberty Wool. Shades of brown, eggplant, gray and gold. I'm in The Local Needle's KAL with 4 other knitters. It will be fun to see how the various colorways play out.
Stitching - I've lost momentum on my Merry Cox online class project but will catch up later. Working on the Just Nan birth sampler distracted me...so many clever little animal and bug motifs in specialty stitches...who could resist?
Finished a book that brought me to tears more than once: Learning to Die in Miami by Carlos Eire. True story written by a man whose parents sent him from Cuba to Miami during the Pedro Pan airlift. I'm drawn to most any book about Cuba, having made 6 mission trips there in the last 10 years. Great insights into life there, life here in the 60s, family relationships and spiritual relationships. I recommend this book.
We are now in the season of pollen aka spring. All vehicles are coated with it. the birdbaths have yellow rings around the water, and I'm pretty sure it's drifted inside the house near any open window.
Next time - pictures!
On the knitting front, I finished the boring gray sock, which is larger than the first one in both length & width. Arrgh! I knit the 2nd sock with size 1 needles, and the 1st sock using size 0. Why didn't I discover that when I finished casting on?? Now I have to knit one more of each size. It's my fate for knitting a boring sock in the first place. These socks will be donated to Afghans for Afghans when the pairs are finished.
Started a side-to-side sweater using Classic Elite Yarn in beautiful hand-dyed Liberty Wool. Shades of brown, eggplant, gray and gold. I'm in The Local Needle's KAL with 4 other knitters. It will be fun to see how the various colorways play out.
Stitching - I've lost momentum on my Merry Cox online class project but will catch up later. Working on the Just Nan birth sampler distracted me...so many clever little animal and bug motifs in specialty stitches...who could resist?
Finished a book that brought me to tears more than once: Learning to Die in Miami by Carlos Eire. True story written by a man whose parents sent him from Cuba to Miami during the Pedro Pan airlift. I'm drawn to most any book about Cuba, having made 6 mission trips there in the last 10 years. Great insights into life there, life here in the 60s, family relationships and spiritual relationships. I recommend this book.
We are now in the season of pollen aka spring. All vehicles are coated with it. the birdbaths have yellow rings around the water, and I'm pretty sure it's drifted inside the house near any open window.
Next time - pictures!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Is Anything More Boring Than a Gray Sock?
This morning I finished the Lacy Baktus scarf/shawlette that I had decided to lengthen. And happily wore it to work today! The photo shows it in its first finish state, made from a skein of Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn. I then acquired a 2nd skein, so ripped back a goodly way & started over, making it quite a bit longer overall. Very pleased with the result.
Knitwise I'm off to a slow start in 2011; had expected to have several things finished by now. I have pulled out a very boring gray plain stockinette sock that I started several years ago. It's the mate to a finished one that's been stuffed away in the stash closet. I'm forcing myself to finish this gray one before starting anything new and colorful. The sock pattern is "Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock (with Dutch heel)" from the Nancy Bush book entitled "Knitting Vintage Socks". Full of great patterns & I highly recommend it, but this is the most plain, ordinary sock in the book. Made the "Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern" for the mister & had leftover yarn which I why I started my own pair. Boring or not, they will be extremely warm & that's a good thing! Yarn is Heirloom Argyle, discontinued, found on eBay for a great price. Pics to follow.
Most work nights have been dedicated to reading. Just finished "No Way Down - Life and Death on K2" by Graham Bowley. True story of a deadly 2008 climbing season on the 2nd highest mountain in the Himalayas.
Also finished "The Most They Ever Had" by a fav author, Rick Bragg. True stories about the lives of people who worked in the cotton mills in Jacksonville, Alabama. It's heart-wrenching. And "Acres Away - A True History of NAS Mayport" by Joe Abb - a fascinating history that took me by surprise...about the woman who was a wealthy suffragette who moved from NY to Florida and founded a resort, only to eventually have it taken by eminent domain when the Navy wanted to expand its naval base. Anyone who loves the beaches in Jacksonville and/or enjoys local history should read this one! Next up on the Kindle - "Colonel Roosevelt" by Edmund Morris, 3rd of his 3 excellent books on Theodore.
So many projects, so little time! I've stitched a bit but have no noticeable progress to report. How are YOU doing with your projects this year?
Most work nights have been dedicated to reading. Just finished "No Way Down - Life and Death on K2" by Graham Bowley. True story of a deadly 2008 climbing season on the 2nd highest mountain in the Himalayas.
Also finished "The Most They Ever Had" by a fav author, Rick Bragg. True stories about the lives of people who worked in the cotton mills in Jacksonville, Alabama. It's heart-wrenching. And "Acres Away - A True History of NAS Mayport" by Joe Abb - a fascinating history that took me by surprise...about the woman who was a wealthy suffragette who moved from NY to Florida and founded a resort, only to eventually have it taken by eminent domain when the Navy wanted to expand its naval base. Anyone who loves the beaches in Jacksonville and/or enjoys local history should read this one! Next up on the Kindle - "Colonel Roosevelt" by Edmund Morris, 3rd of his 3 excellent books on Theodore.
So many projects, so little time! I've stitched a bit but have no noticeable progress to report. How are YOU doing with your projects this year?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
January - It's Not for Wimps!
Wow, did anyone else feel like this weekend would never arrive? Work seemed to move in slow motion and be 100 times more challenging that usual. Gah!! Guess that's what some folks call 'paying the vacation penalty.' I missed staying in sweats all day & doing things at my own pace. Well back to reality! And our chilly weather is back here in Northeast Florida. Although it's nice to get a chance to wear handknits, we don't like the expensive heating bills and having to bundle up! Boo!
I did manage to finish this book - "The Warmth of Other Suns" by the very talented Isabel Wilkerson. I won't attempt to write a book review; you can read this one:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/books/31book.html
What's on your Kindle/Nook/nightstand?
Knitting news - I rewound 1/2 of my Lacey Baktus knitted from Jitterbug, for 2 reasons. One, I was lacking a couple yards to finish it properly (so one end was a nub) and two, I bought a 2nd skein from a lovely Ravelry seller, allowing me to start again. Went back to the halfway point and extended it before decreasing for the 2nd half of the scarf. This will yield a larger scarf, which I wanted, and allow both ends to taper off to a normal point. Unfortunately I seem to have lost my ability to count above 10 and had to rip back multiple times to have symmetrical sides.
Also managed to snap of few pix of unfinished cross-stitch projects, most long-neglected. And I'm starting an online Merry Cox class called Tend Thy Sheep which is so exciting!
If you're interested in reading my list of 2011 project goals, please hop over to this website:
http://workingtofinishin2011.blogspot.com/
It was created by Teresa, a fellow stitcher/knitter. Many of the stitchers in our Azalea House Guild are contributing and it's open for anyone who cares to to post. Please join us!
Thanks for all who've left comments and read my fledgling blog!
I did manage to finish this book - "The Warmth of Other Suns" by the very talented Isabel Wilkerson. I won't attempt to write a book review; you can read this one:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/books/31book.html
What's on your Kindle/Nook/nightstand?
Knitting news - I rewound 1/2 of my Lacey Baktus knitted from Jitterbug, for 2 reasons. One, I was lacking a couple yards to finish it properly (so one end was a nub) and two, I bought a 2nd skein from a lovely Ravelry seller, allowing me to start again. Went back to the halfway point and extended it before decreasing for the 2nd half of the scarf. This will yield a larger scarf, which I wanted, and allow both ends to taper off to a normal point. Unfortunately I seem to have lost my ability to count above 10 and had to rip back multiple times to have symmetrical sides.
Also managed to snap of few pix of unfinished cross-stitch projects, most long-neglected. And I'm starting an online Merry Cox class called Tend Thy Sheep which is so exciting!
http://workingtofinishin2011.blogspot.com/
It was created by Teresa, a fellow stitcher/knitter. Many of the stitchers in our Azalea House Guild are contributing and it's open for anyone who cares to to post. Please join us!
Thanks for all who've left comments and read my fledgling blog!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Enabler Strikes Again!
A BFF whose name I won't mention but her initials are Wooley Thoughts emailed me this morning to let me know that our LYS had just received 2 boxes of Madeline Tosh yarn! Woo-hoo, I was out the office door and had my hands on the laceweight in 10 minutes! Could not resist the gorgeous Pashmina sport weight, so 2 skeins of Wren came home with me along with a skein of Lace in Graphite. So much for my yarn diet in 2011!
I hesitate to post my other ambition for 2011 but it might help me stay on track. Going to the gym at least 3 times a week seems do-able. Working my way up to 2 miles/visit on the old treadmill, and some weight-type exercises as well. So far this week I've been twice. Why is that so hard? Is it that we'd rather be home knitting?
No pictures this time but will post photos of the new yarn soon.
I hesitate to post my other ambition for 2011 but it might help me stay on track. Going to the gym at least 3 times a week seems do-able. Working my way up to 2 miles/visit on the old treadmill, and some weight-type exercises as well. So far this week I've been twice. Why is that so hard? Is it that we'd rather be home knitting?
No pictures this time but will post photos of the new yarn soon.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Hangin with the Katz
This is day 3 spent housebound while our wonderful handyman installs French doors between our dining area & the little sunroom. He is a perfectionist, making everything square that was not square, making sure there are no gaps or nail holes. He's over 70 & has that old fashioned work ethic! He's great! This was not a must-do, just a want-to-do project.
Working from home for 3 days has given me the opportunity to get some cute snaps of the kittehs, Curtis Willis and Maizie. I adopted CW from the Humane Society in May when our dear old Siamese succumbed to cancer. I wanted us to remain a one-cat home but Maizie found us. Her teeny little head was poking out of an opening in my husband's boat, parked in the carport. He heard her mewing & long story short, we rescued her & kept her. She was just 2 lbs then, in late July. She's still tiny & has a special place in my heart; they both do. And they are great pals. Curtis is so curious & bright that we're glad he has a little pal to play with because we'd never be able to keep up! They were entwined like a pretzel as I went to snap this but they moved just a tad. Look at that fuzzy belly on Curtis:
Their close-up:
This is typical Maizie...big stretch & ready for her belly rub:
It's such a warm & pleasant day in N FL we can finally open a few windows. Right now a Carolina Wren is fussing at Curtis through the front window. We keep the feeders full and have lots of wrens, finches, cardinals, various woodpeckers & other birds to watch.
Guess I'd better get busy & figure out a new cross-stitch project to start on 1/1/11. Not doing the 'start 15' challenge in January; opted for the 'finish 11 in 2011' so both knitting & xs projects will be included.
Wishing you all a peaceful end to 2010 and a very blessed 2011.
Working from home for 3 days has given me the opportunity to get some cute snaps of the kittehs, Curtis Willis and Maizie. I adopted CW from the Humane Society in May when our dear old Siamese succumbed to cancer. I wanted us to remain a one-cat home but Maizie found us. Her teeny little head was poking out of an opening in my husband's boat, parked in the carport. He heard her mewing & long story short, we rescued her & kept her. She was just 2 lbs then, in late July. She's still tiny & has a special place in my heart; they both do. And they are great pals. Curtis is so curious & bright that we're glad he has a little pal to play with because we'd never be able to keep up! They were entwined like a pretzel as I went to snap this but they moved just a tad. Look at that fuzzy belly on Curtis:
Their close-up:
This is typical Maizie...big stretch & ready for her belly rub:
Guess I'd better get busy & figure out a new cross-stitch project to start on 1/1/11. Not doing the 'start 15' challenge in January; opted for the 'finish 11 in 2011' so both knitting & xs projects will be included.
Wishing you all a peaceful end to 2010 and a very blessed 2011.
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