My Sister's Knitter

Projects...and yes a Haboob.

All is well on this beautiful Sunday. Thank you for sending emails asking how we weathered through the "Haboob". More on our dusty visitor later. :)

With the scrap granny finished, there was a need to get the hook going again. Since I still haven't received all my squares from this swap, I decided to start another blanket for me. I am telling you, Chawne is going to be responsible for my home being wall-to-wall blankets!

 
After the color flooded granny blanket, I was craving something more "folk". Nova's pattern and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes aided in my new love affair.

 
Thankfully I am still in the sock-zone. July's are coming along nicely and have even traveled to work with me, for some much needed lunch therapy.

 
I know I said I would have some pics of the scrap granny, but once the ends were weaved in, it was immediately given to the sister. She loves granny squares like no other. I was able to click a quick picture, hopefully she will take some for me.

Plans for this Sunday, include a date with my sister. We will be having lunch and catching a movie. Then on to getting ready for the work week. Which involved some serious dusting thanks to Haboob. As a stated earlier, we are all fine. We are just left with layers of dirt and dust on quite a bit of things. Oh and our air quality is a tad harsh right now. Most are walking around with the taste of dirt in their mouths and out of whack allergies. How I look at it , dust is nothing compared to the flooding and tornadoes that has taken so much from so many. Although it looks a bit like Armageddon, our homes and lives are intact. You have all seen the aeriel views of the Haboob, this video was how it was outside our windows. Enjoy! :)

 

Have a great Sunday!

XO

Andi

 

The Conversation goes...

"No, I love you." " No I love you". This goes back and  forth and ends with me winning as usual. "No Sunday, I love you the most!" Sunday resigns. :) It has been one of those Sundays where you sit back and go ..ahhh. What has made it so? Some hooking, reading, cooking and winning.

We will start with the hooking.

 
I needed a little break from knitting. Decided to hook a couple more grannies. When I laid them all out, I realized that I don't have much further to go. Yeah! ( look at all those ends that need weaving, I really need to start crocheting them in as I go)

I picked up a book, that I know everyone has read before me. Sometimes I am late to the game. The movie coming out has prompted be to pick it up. I prefer the books to the movies.

Craving some fresh veggie pasta and baking bread. Although my bread was not the pretty, it sure was tasty.

 
So we have covered hooking, reading,cooking,...oh on to WINNING!

Nova had her annual Novakkah celebration. I won one of her many fabulous gifts!

 
You are wicked jealous aren't you? Heck I am jealous of myself! 2 skeins of Shibui (Wasabi), A skein of Wollmeise (Fratello) and Interweaves Knit magazine. I already have the patterns picked out for the yarns! Nova is most definitely the most fantastic person, to gift on her own birthday. Happy Birthday Nova, you wonderful soul and thank you!

In other news I finally got to see, The King's Speech. Beautifully shot and the acting was perfection. Great movie.

You tell me, what is not to love about Sunday?

XO

Andi

Getting It Done...

Whew, just made it. My April socks were finished last night with only about 2 hours to spare. I have no idea why they took so long. I started these in early March.

Pattern:Menehune Cobblestone Socks    Yarn: Pagewood Farm Alyeska-Bird of Paradise

 
I am still trying to get some of my WIPS done. I have been working on finishing up my Saroyan.As well as turning the heel on my May sock, It is a simple 3x1 rib pattern. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill self-striping. I seem to have a thing for stripes as of late.

What else have I been up to?

• Discovering a fantastic blogger.
• Wanting one of these.
• Cheering on a friend who just finished her first pair of socks.
• Wish I were on this walk with my friend.
• Watching and wondering how much more devastation our world can handle.
• Was anticipating this.
• Caught a few highlights.

 
This felt like a very long week, now on to the next one. :) Enjoy a scene from my favorite movie ever. If you haven't seen the movie and want to don't watch this. It is a complete spoiler.

 

XO
ANDI

 

On a roll...

I am only into my third month of my Sock Goal for 2011, but I think I am on a roll. I am finishing what I am starting and the results are some fun socks for me. My Citrus Striped socks are now completed. I finished yesterday.

 

I wore them all last night! Yeah me. I already started on my fourth pair. I was inspired my this movie. If you haven't see it you really must. Even if you don't have kids, like me, you will be in for a visual treat. It is a nice change from CGI movies.

 
I was also inspired by St.Patrick's day and the beginning of Spring.

The yarn is just amazing and really seems to work well with the simple pattern. The yarn is Pagewood Farms-Alyeska in Birds of Paradise.

I hope the month of March has treated you all well. I will be back on Wednesday to announce the winners of my giveaway. I have really enjoyed reading your responses and now I have some new yarns I want to try. :) Happy Yarning everyone!

 

XO

ANDI

 

Gray Matters...

One of my besties bought some new yarn and she wanted me to see it but said, " You are going to hate the color".  It was a wonderful gray tweed color and I loved it. I think I may have given the impression that I hate all colors but pink. Not true, I love most colors. I do not care for blues, for reasons explained in earlier postings. Overall I do love all colors, especially gray. Gray to me, is clean and classy. I love gray because I think it looks beautiful on almost everyone. Since seeing her beautiful new gray yarn I decided that a special "After-Christmas" present is going to be knitted with some from my stash. I can't tell you what it is going to be because it is to be a surprise. (I will tell you more about the "After- Christmas" present next week)

 
 I am knitting away on the gray item, which I know isn't part of the monogamy plan because I haven't finished my Socks of Kindness yet, but since it is a gift I gave myself some slack. I am also still working on the nephews blanket. I have about 4 more squares to go then it will be ready to be sewn together. I want to have it completed this weekend. Which means I really must turn off this movie which is now on its second round of being played via Netflix instant watch on my laptop. I need an intervention because I just can't stop watching it. Oh and the knits in it...insane! I want them all.

It is a beautiful movie that has been out since 2003 but for some reason just won't come out on DVD. When it does I am so there. For now I will just have to keep watching it on the laptop-which isn't bad. All this fun while munching away on my favorite cookies made by the number one little mom-thank you mom!

 

Ahhhh...

Happy crafting friends!

XO

Andi
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

That's what I'm talking about...

Christmas stuff is put away. The home is clean. The home is quiet. That is indeed what I am talking about. There is no better way to start the new year. Taking full advantage of a three day weekend, I am working on the nephew's blanket which is really therapeutic with a good cup of Joe and a movie on the laptop. So what movie I am watching? Before I tell you let me just say this- I may not have mentioned that I love the Brits. (haha) Well, what you may not know is my complete and undying love of one Brit in particular. He is not young, muscular or husband material by any means. It doesn't matter to me, he makes me laugh and I so want to "snog" him! (I finally got to use that word)

I don't care what you say, I love him. So it only seemed fitting that on my lazy day that I should watch a Hugh movie.  
 
Cute movie, nothing outstanding other than Hugh. Overall simple entertainment while I hook away and imagine that I am knitting him a scarf. One cool thing about this movie is seeing Mary Steenburgen knitting in bed with DPNs and Sarah Jessica Parker knitting on the couch.

I know that Sarah Jessica Parker knits in real life. I wonder what she is working on. I also wonder if she has a stash, don't you? Can you imagine what your stash would be like if you made her kind of moolah?

Ah, the questions I would ask her. In the meantime, I think I will make it a Hugh Grant movie day. My all time favorite being, About a Boy. Hopefully the holiday crafting pressure is off and you are just enjoying your yarn today like me.

Cheers!

XO

Andi
 
 

For the love of yarn, jammies, and anything British!

I am quite in love with my Saturday, and why not when it includes my three favorite things?

The sister picked me up some new yarn. Baby Bee by Hobby Lobby, the color is Little Britches. The sister needed some little crocheted flowers. While she is very crafty in her own right, she does not know how to crochet, but does like to include these little yarnies in her crafts.

 
 So I am crocheting away on these little babies, all while in my favorite attire- jammies. I might add that it is now 4:00 in the afternoon. Bliss!

New yarn and jammies are great in themselves, let's add something to watch on the television. Here is my something British.

I am telling you I am addicted to anything and everything British on t.v. Just ask my Netflix queue, it does not lie. The weather today is accommodating nicely with my UK state of mind. It is slightly overcast and cool which makes pretending even better. I don't quite know when my love affair with the Brits started, but I think it may have to do with one of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchey. To add to the desire, I read blogs from Attic24  with her wonderful flowers and pictures of her part of the world. I have made a friend through blogs, and she came to visit Florida and was actually talking about living here. Maybe the grass always seem greener, all I know is that I want to share a pint with the lot! :)

I don't want you to worry that with all these fun things going on that I am not getting my nourishment. I have some very messy drop cookies waiting to fill that need. 

 
No Bake Fudge cookies-Life is good!

XO

ANDI
 
 *****Recipe for cookies being added for my British friend*****

No Bake Fudge Cookies

 

3 Cups of Rolls Oats

2/3 cup Peanut Butter

2 cups of Sugar

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 milk

1/3 cup of cocoa

2 tsp vanilla

 

Combine oats and peanut butter in a bowl and set aside.

Add butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly, heat till

the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove from heat immediately add vanilla, oats and

peanut butter.

Drop onto wax paper. Setting times vary depending on your climate. Mine usually set within

a 1/2 hour.

                                                                                                                                                   

 

Refreshed...

It is Sunday and I feel refreshed! I love weekends where I have accomplished everything I need to and still able to get my knit on. :) Yesterday was all about housecleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. I was able to have some downtime in the evening to squeeze in some knitting and visit blogland. New and fantastic projects in blogland always make my weekend. I also picked up this week's flowers. I like them, they remind me of wildflowers.

On to my Sunday. Is there any better way to start your day then with a cup of coffee with a dear friend? Add to that, your friend brings a brilliant new project. Let me preface this photo with a text message that I received yesterday morning from the dear friend (guru) exclaiming, "You are going to freak when you see my new scarf", she wasn't kidding...

Sorry I didn't get the pattern link, but as soon as I do I will post it. As she worked on this beauty I was thinking of ways to distract her and take off with it without her noticing. he-he. No, I was continuing work on my lace leaf scarf. Progress is going quickly, can't wait to get this baby blocked. In other knitting news, The Mystery KAL is still going on and since I can't show pictures till it is done, I will just tell you Clue #2 is done.

I am loving this summer of knitting! Who would have thought that 112 degrees would actually increase my need to knit? Knitting tonight will continue with this show on television, thanks to Netflix.

The weekend is drawing to a close. For once I am o.k. with that. It was a very long and trying week. I have a friend that left this world this week. I am not mentioning this to receive any condolences, quite the opposite actually. I am mentioning this because I learned a lot about the people I surround myself with daily and the importance of telling people how much they bring to my life. It will not always prevent them from leaving at least they know that they mattered. This year I have broadened my friendship horizon through my passion for yarn. Through emails, pics, and blog post I have made some truly amazing friends. So I want you all to know how much your friendships mean to me. I value each and every one of them and I am so grateful!  So, thank you. 

Have a happy and wonderful Sunday evening!

XO

ANDI

***** Link for scarf that the dear friend is working on-Norwegian Snowflake Scarf****

 

Day For One's Self...

It is Saturday and that means new flowers for me. I couldn't pass up these loves.

Flowers to me are the equivalent of a nice spa day. They calm me and bring sunshine into my sometimes confusing world. I needed flowers this week. I had a short week at work due to some complications with my health. My recent visit to the hospital was due to "Woman Issues" that I have had for a while, which have just recently worsened causing me to have to make a decision I did not want to. I am not trying to get the "poor thing" reactions, only to share that I have come to a realization that everything truly does happen for a reason. Sometimes things are put in our path to divert us on a new and more fulfilling road. During these times I am never surprised how amazing my family and friends are. 

On to how my Saturday is coming along. I told you earlier that I joined a potholder swap and a 12 in" square swap. I have made sure that I am ahead of schedule so that none of my swap partners will receive late treats. In addition I signed up as an angel (someone who is able to fill in for people who are not able to make their squares for one reason or another). So I received an angel message last night that one group was in need of a square, so away I worked last night.

The top one with pink is my angel square. I loved that the recipient wanted something feminine and pink-I was all about that.:) The bottom one is for my 12 in" swap group July member. This members wanted a semi-solid square with earth-tones. I found both patterns on-line thanks to Google, pink and earth-tone.

When I  not working on 12 in" squares I am flipping through the pages of a new book from the sister. She calls it her selfish gift. (She has already gone through and decided which ones she wants)

Sounding like a nice lazy Saturday so far? Just wait, it gets better. Still need to add food and a movie to the schedule.

How about some fresh delicious fruit to nibble on with a sweet chick flick?

A Saturday for the soul indeed!

XO

ANDI
 
 

P.S. Lucy ZigZag Blanket still under construction, still waiting on some more yarn to complete it. :)
 

 

Eye Candy Wednesday!

What could be better than some beautiful new yarn to help you over the hump of the week? Since I am adamant about finishing my WIPS, I am having a hard time not casting these yummies on. First up...

This is Lorna's Laces Worsted. Yes I said worsted, for those of you who know I do not like to use anything over Dk weight. :) This yarn is for my 15 year old nephew who has been requesting a new blanket. Who I am I to deny my love a blanket? I am thinking a crochet ripple blanket. I am also going to be ordering some darker colors, to help "man" it up a bit.(I am thinking Charcoal) Luckily he is okay with color. I had to go to a couple different places to get the colors I was after, Eat Sleep Knit and The Loopy Ewe.

I added a few skeins of Sock yarn to my stash. (again from ESK and The Loopy Ewe).

 

You know I had to add some pink in there. :) The top one is Drama Queen and the bottom Cotton Candy. I love those names.

Tonight will be about weaving in ends on my Malabrigo Granny pillow (It is so close!!) and a little work on the sock yarn blanket. My goal is to have as many WIPS done as possible before my Mystery Shawl KAL starts at the end of this month. Wish me luck. While weaving I am going to treat myself to some Chicken Curry and a movie.

Has anyone seen this? I have heard a lot of good things.

Enjoy your Wednesday hopefully your doing something fun to get over the hump!

XO

ANDI
 

BTW- Flickr has some amazing project pics posted lately. I think I will share some of my favorites on Friday.