Thought I would share another message from my tea. My tea is wicked smart! I always try to follow it's advice, because as I stated it is smart. Seems messages are being sent to us from so many different sources, this one I found quite amusing and this one delish.
I followed my own advice this week and made time for my craft. When my thoughts are all over the place, brain's overworked, and plain ole's stressed out...I reach for my yarn. Not only do I dish out these pearls of wisdom to myself, often times my family received them as well. While they do not play with yarn, they have their own crafty goodness to partake in. Shouldn't everybody?
I also made time for ice cream. One should always make time for ice cream. See, now I am sending you all an inspirational message. :)
Short post this week, as I may have mentioned my brain is a tad fried. Today will be about rebooting my body's computer. I think it is important to do that sometimes. How do you refresh your mind and body?
Have a lovely day. Hope you enjoy this cute and creative video.
Yarn: KnitPicks Stoll Solids-Agate and Sunrise Fiber and Company-Orchid
Needles: 5 3.75 m.m
This shawl taught me so many things about perseverance. It was a lot of long rows of garter. At times I thought they would never end. The end result was so worth it, as it is with anything. I would not call the pattern boring, it was the perfect project for some much needed mindless knitting.
This week mindless knitting has been much needed with all the pain and suffering our world has been through. Whatever your craft or hobby is, I hope you are finding comfort in it.
I enjoy the video series,Fifty People/One Question. I enjoy this one in particular and ask you...Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?
It has been a nice enjoyable Sunday. How about yours?
A comment on one of my images on Flickr got me thinking about my knitting environment. That is the best way I can think to describe it. The comment on Flickr asked if I was a multi-tasker, knitting and reading at the same time. I can knit and read at the same time, usually only when I am working on a basic sock. Most of the time I do have to be watching T.V. or listening to a podcast while knitting. Something always has to be going on in the background in order for me to really get into my project. I work best in noise. I remember when I was in school, I had to have the radio on when studying. It felt too difficult to focus if it was quiet.
So what sort of things do I like to watch or listen to when yarning?
Stockinette Zombies is one that I knitting a long to frequently. I enjoy that they are knitting while podcasting. It makes me feel like I am at my knitting group.
Audio podcasts
Doubleknit Podcast. Always great projects going on.
How about it, what type of envir0nment to you craft best in? Do you have favorite podcasts or shows you would like to recommend? I will leave you with a lovely video that you can knit to. :)
Happy Sunday! I can't believe I didn't let this Sunday go without a post, as this week seemed to get away from me. How about if we start off with an FO. I know it surprised me too.
Yarn: Biscotte & Cie Felix sock yarn in the color Loopy Elves
Needle: Size 1.5
Maybe it helped that I stopped casting things on? Who would have thought that would work? heh! As I mentioned last week to help me get things off the needles, I tried to work on finishing one project at a time. Since one of the five socks has been finished, work on this Hitchhiker has begun again.
Once the grey started, I was uber happy. Grey yarn just has that affect on me. So there you go a short progress report, but still progress.
In other news I received a sweet and unexpected gift on Love day. BTW, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's day and felt the love. Okay back to me...hehe!
My dear friend Jody sent me some lovely yarn and the best card. Way to perk up your week! Is there anything better than the gift of yarn? Okay maybe a load of cash, but still yarn is still right up there.
Okay..now back to you. How was your week? Anything special, exciting, inspiring happen? Basic goodness happens here all the time, therefore this week was no different. I have been craving a casserole. Not sure what kind, just a good comforting casserole. Any recipe recommendations?
I am going to head out, and will leave you with yet another inspiring video. I just love the art of creating and those who create. Have a lovely week!
Hey there! Happy weekend all. Took a short unintentional break from the blog last week. Nothing wrong, it just seemed the week got away from me. How about if we catch up on some current projects and knitting woes?
Super fun socks are on the needles. I know, all sock knitting is fun, but this pattern is really fun.
Work has been slow and sleady on my first cardigan. Of course me being me, my cardigan is being knit in fingering weight yarn, which makes progress snail pace.
You may remember that for the last couple of posts I have been KAL'ing with this fun group. I posted this progress pic, which was the last repeat before the edging.
Above is the knitting before. Below is the knitting woe.
It is ugly and if you would like to hear what happened, you can read it here. Boo! It has been a couple days since the incident, so I am over it. Have you experienced a knitting mishap such as this? If so share, so I won't feel so alone. :)
A perfectly timed gift from my dear friend Katie, was received in the mail. It is too sweet not to share. I may have mentioned a couple hundred times how envious I was of the snow images on her blog.
Short and sweet post. On to enjoy the weekend and what will hopefully be a great Superbowl games tomorrow. I will be back next weekend to share some serious blog loves. Enjoy this lovely video and have a fantastic weekend everyone!
Because I need more socks! Yah, right. As many of you know I have a slight addiction to knitting socks. I have come to terms with this, and now I just knit them without a care in the world. It may read on my gravestone...crazy sock lady and I am o.k. with that.
This lovely pair was started well before the New Year. They were a test knit for my talented friend Robin. The pattern has since been released and it is free. Wonderful, clear pattern with beautiful results. If you are thinking of knitting up some pretties, choose these, you won't be sorry.
Yarn: Sweet Georgia Toughlove Socks in the color Orchid
Needles: size 1.5
Next pair finished are the socks that Football playoffs knit. I may have mentioned I cast these on because I needed something to keep my hands busy, while I wanted a nerve wracking football game. Once I began, I couldn't stop.
Not the best picture, but they never made it the blocking stage. Instead these puppies jumped right on my feet!
I may or may not have two more pairs on the needles. I am not telling for fear of being ran out of town as the crazy sock lady. Not everyone is as understanding of my condition as me. :)
Okay, now I have to add this complete and total fan girl moment I had today. Actually a few minutes before creating this post. My friend Melanie and I have long had a friendship crush on Jolie from the blog Joeycake. I am not ashamed to say there are time when we discuss Jolie's posts as if she were our best friend. There are even text messages between us, where the topic will be , " Did u c Joeycake's blog post 2dy. omg u hve 2 read it, I almst p'd my pnts!". We have even gone so far as to say, things like, "Can you imagine if she were our friend?". Please don't judge us, we are good people. There are just people out there in blogland that you feel a connected to, (not in a creepy way). Getting to the point, she commented on my blog! Which resulted in an immediate text to Melanie! I will spare you the message, since I am sure you get the idea from the previously mentioned texts.
If you have never visited her blog and are looking for great recipes and some serious laughs, go now. Topping my favorite is this post, and this one where she met Carole King.
I will stop shoving me and Melanie's new BFF in your face and leave you with a video. Happy Knitting and have a great rest of your weekend!
Not sure why, I just can't seem to get into the holiday this year. I know every year, it feels like the Holidays are here before we know it, but this one really feels like it came out of nowhere. Working on ornaments and Christmas knits this weekend has helped somewhat. Unfortunately it leads to not a lot to show you guys.
Here are squares that I can show you. I am continuing to work on squares for Sam's project.
That is it..for projects I can show you. Yawn! Sorry there has to be some element of surpise for the gifties on Christmas. :) How about instead I share with you some yarn that I am smitten with?
I mentioned this yarn last week after completing a shawl with it. Beaverslide Dry Goods is family owned and ran company in Montana. I discover and fell in love with them after seeing Lori knit up this beautiful PI shawl. Not long after she followed it with this lovely Dancing Reindeer Shawl.
It is hard to describe why I love this yarn so much. There is something "natural" about knitting with this beautiful rustic yarn. After knitting up this shawl with it, I am forcing myself to continue on with Christmas knitting and not cast on something else with my Beaverslide.
With my Sunday just beginning, I have plenty of light hours to get projects done. Maybe I will put on some Christmas music to help things a long. So is it just me or are you late to the Christmas spirit this year? Working on Christmas knitting gifts or ornaments?
Enjoy this holiday video and have a wonderful day!
Despite the tantrums, despite almost giving up...I fell back in love with my Quill.
What changed? The border. I have loved working on this border, even if it took me quite a few reads before understanding the genius concept. Lesson learned, sometimes if you just stick with something, you may be surprised. As usual Jared Flood's pattern is amazing.
Helping to renew love with my Quill project is knitting on other things. After casting off these stripeys, I found myself craving another pair. I needed some purse knitting anyway.
This yarn is Desert Vista Dyeworks in the color Grunge. The name sold me. Many people my age look to the 80's as a fun time their life, the 90's were my glory days. I loved Grunge music and the outfits that went with it. Yes, I did wear Doc Martins and the black outfits layered with a nice flannel! Oh, and I loved me some Eddie Vedder. :)
How about I share some other loves around blogland?
It is no secret that I have a slight obsession with stripes right now. Therefore it will come as no surprise that I adore these from Bethany.
I am smitten with Dr.Who and there is no better costume than this little man.
Here is where my dream home can be found. I did ask if they have room for me, alas they do not.
When I need a virtual getaway, I visit this blog. The image, the life and the knits just make me feel relaxed.
Bethany featured this video on her blog. It is just beautiful! FYI, Bethany often features great videos every Sunday on her blog. You should check them out.
Happy Sunday to you! Hopefully many of you will be enjoying a nice three day weekend, allowing for time with family, friends and maybe some yarn? I know I will. This extended weekend I find myself with plenty of knitting time. Thank goodness because I am participating in two new KALs this month. Meaning I need all the three day weekends I can get.
This gray yarn will hopefully become a full grown Quill when done. This shawl is for the Friends of Butterfly Bush yarns and fiber group on Ravelry. It is the Warm Up Winter KAL and since I am such a huge fan of Ruth's yarn, I had to join.
Then in a effort to knit down my stash of sock yarn, I joined the personal sock yarn club KAL for the traveling sock knitter group.
With this KAL you select twelve skeins of sock yarn and knit up some fab socks. Right up my ally right? Really how can I go wrong with the support of other sock knitter addicts? I will be packing up these twelve skeins into 12 project bags with a pattern and drawing at random monthly.
Not usually one for being such a "joiner", the fact that I am participating in two KALs this month came as quite a suprise to me. I am looking forward to it. Perhaps that means I will get more things done..hmmm...you never know.
Okay on to loves. Amazing love these week around the internet. Go visit and enjoy!
Sometimes sweet and simple posts just make my day.
Anyone who knows me, knows my mouth hit the floor when I saw Robin's beauty.
What, you want another shawl to love on? Okay how about Bethany's Ashton?
This post goes to show that knitters will knit anywhere and anyhow, just to get their fix. Makes my heart melt!
A friend designed a lovely fingerless gloves pattern.
Before I leave you, I want to let you know that next weekend I will be posting a giveaway on my blog. So make sure you stop in, because you know I have some yarn on the agenda! Have a great weekend!
