Random Thoughts on a Lazy Friday

My child is asleep in his big bed. It's a beautiful pillow top Serta Full mattress that we spent an obsence amount on. I can't believe how much money mattresses cost. DH and I bought ours back in 2000 so it's been a while except for S's crib mattress! I'm thrilled he is sleeping b/c a cranky 3 year old is enough to make me want to poke a knitting needle in my eye some days!! Of course nearing the end of my 2nd trimester *might* have me a little impatient lately.

So I have time to update now! I have to admit, I've been bitten by the podcast bug. I have 2 that I'm listening to on a regular basis now. Cast-On and Craft Lit. Both are just fantastic. Brenda on Cast-On is lively hysterical and has a great easy going manner that just relaxes you. The time passes so quickly as I listen. Craft-Lit is hosted by a women who knits AND taught English! She chooses a non-copyrighted book (1st book is Pride and Prejudice) and it's read to you, she discusses it and then you talk about knitting!! It can't get any better than that!!!

I'm trying to get into more podcasts, but 2 is all I can handle right now. I'm sure there will be lots of sleepless nights in October that will call for a podcast or 2!!

So I have been knitting while listening to podcasts. First, the bear's replacement turned out to be an adorable and quick little blanket I knit with 3 different yarns, not from stash. I had to hit the store. It's quite thick and definitely too hot for the Texas summer. I'm going to tell the mother to use it as a Lay-Upon blanket instead of a covering one! It's nice and cushy. I'm sure little Iris will love it.

Second, I just finished the BallBan Washrag from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I have a friend in Michigan who just got divorced (which is good for her) and she's now in an apartment with her two kids. I wanted to spruce up the usually boring white walls for her and give her something girly that she could enjoy looking at as she washed her dishes!! So I had this obnoxiously bright yarn in my stash and have done one washcloth. I'm going to do 2 more solid colors and then pack them up and send them off to her!! I hope she really enjoys them.

My darling little S will be getting an adorable sweater this year for winter. Lynn at Knots in a Row saw this pattern and suggested it. It's fantastic and I can't wait to get the pattern. I've had the yarn for a year now and need to use it! Here is a picture from Classic Elite Yarns in there Puddlejumper pattern book.

Finally, we got our June Rockin' Sock Club shipment. I'm not going to spoil it just yet, but the pattern AND yarn are very much my style! I'm going to knit myself a "Get this baby out" pair of socks for my labor and delivery. I thought it'd be cool to have a pair of handknitted socks as we bring baby into the world!

The Bear is dead . .

I repeat the bear is dead. . . I just couldn't do it any more!! Too many little things needing stitching and stuffing!! I think it's pregnancy getting in the way. So . . . the little lady will be getting a mini version of the Patons afghan I made for DH.

Farewell little bear . .. .

SPRING!!!

I LOVE SPRING!!! It's such a wonderful time of year here in Wisconsin. Everything is blooming, my allergies are raging, and my son is the happiest little kid around b/c he can get outside!!!

So it's been 3+weeks since posting. I'm awful at this stuff lately. Maybe it's my preggo brain . . . what is that you said?? Preggo brain. Yes, I'm pregnant again!!!! I'm over half way done and finally announcing it. All those progesterone shots helped me stay pregnant after for trying for a year. We're due in October and I'm over the moon. Now we're going to have to spend lots of time getting the guest room ready for a permanent resident!! If I could only figure out what to knit!!!

Another reason I've been a slacker is getting the handsome King of the House ready to be a ring bearer in my cousin in law's wedding. It was an undertaking finding a tux that fit a skinny 3 year old. He just turned 3 this month and is going on 30! After 3 tries and 2 overnight boxes to Hartwell, GA, we finally had a tux that fit. So without further adieu, here is the most handsome guy in the world looking dashing as ever!! Of course, my DH had the camera while I went back to the hotel room to get dressed. Did he get ANY pictures of his son posing in the tux!!!!???!! NO. . .men, I swear!!

So I obviously finished the garter and handed it off. She loved it and looked gorgeous!! I also finished knitting my MILs Knitpicks bag, I have arms and legs for the teddy bear, and the last sleeve for the kimono. I have all intentions of finishing the knitting and then taking next week to complete all the projects! We'll see if that really happens!!!

Spring is here!!!

Well, spring has sprung in good 'ol Wisconsin! I'm so happy. We've been spending lots of time on our patio that is brand spanking new. We had a playgroup yesterday. Moms and kids had a great time so I know this will be a wonderful summer!

I will confess, I still haven't done anything with my Sock Club stuff. I just can't get into it. The February kit didn't contain yarn I got excited about. The April kit has GORGEOUS yarn, but the pattern doesn't float my boat. I'm looking at my wonderful binder with 2 of 6 fantastic patterns and yarn wondering if I screwed myself out of $210 since I haven't gotten into the knitting yet. Only time will tell. maybe I can do a piecemeal scarf in December to celebrate the 2007 Rockin' Sock club!!

I have been knitting, like a fool though! 3 projects on the needles at once!! Not at all like me.

First the wedding garter is finished. It didn't turn out exactly like I planned. I thought Fixation would be more stretchy. I'll have to basically sew her into the garter, so it doesn't slip. I have some wonderful blown glass beads to add this weekend and a charm I found that I think will really add to the whole thing!

Pattern: Ruffled Wedding Garter

Yarn: Cascade Fixation in White

Needles: Size 4 dpns

Other: glass beads, organza ribbon, jewelry charms

Next it's a Cotton Kimono for a new little addition to a friend's family. I can't put too much b/c she'll figure it out. It's a wonderful Lion Brand pattern and with some Patagonia Cotton from my stash it really took off. First, what a wonderful yarn to knit with. I'm in heaven using this yarn. I still have a tie and a sleeve to go, but it knitted up in a weekend. Not too much trouble at all. I did cotton since they live in hot weather, so anything except cotton would have made the baby sweat!! I should be finished this weekend! Seriously this yarn totally rocks!!!

Finally, another friend is having a baby and I'm doing a teddy bear!! It's from Simply Baby by Debbie Bliss. I'm using some Oatmeal Wool-Ease from stash too. I'm so proud. I need to make room for the STR yarn!!! It's my first attempt at toys so it's interesting. There are a few new techniques I'm learning because of the different shaping requirements. The pattern is easy, but I have to read things a few times to really get a good sense of it.

So far I have one side of the body done and I just started the head! I can't wait until it's done!!

Finally a FO!!!

WOOHOOO!!! I'm so excited to actually finish something for the first time in FOREVER!!!

Kelly's purse is finished and delivered! She really seems to like it and that gives me all the warm fuzzies in the world! I really do enjoy knitting for others. I like having it for myself, but the smile and the sparkle in someone's eyes really just makes knitting my "thing".

The bag is adorable. I highly recommend it for a quick gift. MIL is getting one. She loved Kelly's, but wants a black or dark brown. I think I'll do dark brown b/c it'll look great with the bamboo handles!

Pattern: Knitpicks Chunky Cable Purse

Needles: Size 13 16' circulars (Addi Turbos of course!!)

Yarn: Dale of Norway Hubro

Others: Silver snaps and handle hinges, 9x9x3 canvas bag for lining, bamboo handles

No changes to pattern!

I have been working and about 90% finished with the wedding garter. The bride is about my size and it's to freakin' big!! I must swatch differently than I knit. It the only want to explain why my swatches are to gauge and most of my knitting isn't. I'm having a HUGE problem with my sock o' the month from February for just that reason. It's driving me CRAZY!!

Speaking of Socks that Rock . . . it's SSSSSLLLLLOOOWWWW going for me. I've been working on it (not everyday, but enough) and I'm still only on the foot of the FIRST sock! I'll be knitting with my 2007 kits well into 2009!!!!

A sock on vacation!!

We're back from Key West! I have to highly recommend Sunset Key Cottages by Westin for your next family vacation!! Private island, family fun, full kitchen, 1-2-3 bedroom cottages. It was like heaven on earth. R took care of S the ENITRE time and I just had to sit back and enjoy knitting!!

I started my 1st Rockin' Sock Club sock, so I'm a bit out of the loop on our knitting rings! YIKES. Anyway, I got plenty of strange looks as I wrestled a porcupine at the pool everyday. No one asked about my knitting. I think they were scared of it all!! Luckily, I hadn't started the cabling yet! Can you imagine 6 needles going at warp speed?????

Here is the sock's vacation picture. It is on a pool lounge chair enjoy the sun:

I headed to Michael's today with S before his art class to get the supplies to finish Kelly's bag. It's been almost a month since it was completed on the knitting side of things, so I've just been lazy. I found everything but the canvas bag insert. Guess I'll hit JoAnn's tomorrow!! UGH! I just want to finish this thing!!

So on the needles I have a felted bag, Kelly's purse, the socks and waiting to be casted on is the wedding garter. I now have a month and 3 days to get that done! The Cascade Fixation is SO hard to get out of the center pull, I think I'll have to wind it on my own. The garter should only take a few days. I'll try to finish that at SnB this week!

Long time no post

It's been a LOOOONNNNGGGG time since I posted. Lots of stuff has been going on including trips, weddings, nice spring days and other things!!

I wanted to let you guys know that I'm still around!

I haven't picked up my sticks in a few weeks so the Felted Bucket Bag and the Cabled Bag are still sitting in my knitting bag. Kelly's birthday is Thursday so the Cabled Bag MUST get finished. I honestly have completed the knitting, it's the other stuff I don't want to do (sewing!!!)

My cousin-in-law's wedding is in 6 weeks, I MUST get her garter done. I've been bragging about doing it since she got engaged!!! So it's a little bit of a must!!

I haven't even begun my Rockin' Sock Club February socks yet. The yarn is still in a hank!! YIKES!!! I'm quite unmotivated lately. I'll take L's at Knots in a Row phrasing and I'll say I've lost my mojo!! Not a good thing when knitting is your peace of mind. Maybe I'm just going crazy!!!