Posts
6/29/06
6/28/06
Mitered
I got this pattern from my knitting guild. Instead of using different colors for the blocks, I used the same variegated baby yarn. Each square or rectangle is unique so it was fun seeing how they would each turn out. I also got a lot of practice picking up stitches. I added a simple white border and crocheted a crab stitch (reverse sc) around the edge. Of course, I still have to weave in all the ends....
6/26/06
Trouble?
It is SOOOOO hot and humid that I can not even think clearly. Obviously, neither can my children because they have resorted to humiliating the dog:
6/24/06
Doll Quilt
My first quilt! Made on the machine using scraps from the clothes I recently made for P and S. There are lots of boo-boos but I don't think the dolly will mind.
6/19/06
Busy in the heat
It has warmed up considerably. Definitely no "June Gloom" this year. Last week was incredibly busy.
Sarah's Dance recital. She had 2 and 1/2 costume changes this year. Quite an accomplishment!
Mike's 5th Grade "Graduation/Promotion" ceremony. "Hurray!, you finished elementary school. Hope you liked it because now everything else is going to be really hard." I am so optimistic. Please ignore the fact that I seem to wear the same shirt in every picture of me lately. It's been so hot, I don't really care.
Here's some of my crochet buddies. My mom needed some pics for her charity director so now you can see where we meet.
Sarah's Dance recital. She had 2 and 1/2 costume changes this year. Quite an accomplishment!
Mike's 5th Grade "Graduation/Promotion" ceremony. "Hurray!, you finished elementary school. Hope you liked it because now everything else is going to be really hard." I am so optimistic. Please ignore the fact that I seem to wear the same shirt in every picture of me lately. It's been so hot, I don't really care.Here's some of my crochet buddies. My mom needed some pics for her charity director so now you can see where we meet.
6/7/06
Kaleidoscope beginnings
I bought this book for this pattern. The finished afghan is pictured on the cover. The game I am playing is to pick the colors with my eyes closed out of a black bag. Whatever color I pick, is the one I have to use. Should be interesting.
6/6/06
The fastest way to take off fifteen years
At least that is how I feel. I am now officially a college student again. For those of you who don't know my history, I dropped out of college right before my senior year because my college cancelled my major. With some soul searching, school burn-out and the thrill of getting married, I decided to "take some time off". Famous last words, someone told me then.
Life happened and I became married, working full-time, having babies, moving up in a moderate career in Property Management, having more babies, quit job, became stay-at-home mom. Of course, the last decision was the best one I ever made and I think being a mom is the hardest job I've ever done. (and will continue to do).
The co-op preschool that Paige and I will be going to in the Fall is linked to our local community college. You have to become a student there to enroll in the preschool. Future teachers and child-care providers do observation and projects with the Center and the children there. There is a ton of security and clearances ans such so nobody has to get all panicky about that. I think Paige will be a great example for future teachers to see what they are getting into. :) in more ways than one.
I started thinking about how many classes would I have to take to get an "official" degree. I hate that after all the schooling I had, I technically have nothing higher than a HS diploma.
Well, my oldest child will probably graduate before me but I am now an offical student who took her first offical class this evening on her way to becoming a Nurse (R.N.) It is something I have always wanted to do.
I will not have as much time for crafting as I would like but there are only so many hours in the day. Marriage and mommyhood come first.
Any advice, well-wishes, prayers are welcome just no questioning my sanity because it is probably slightly off.
Life happened and I became married, working full-time, having babies, moving up in a moderate career in Property Management, having more babies, quit job, became stay-at-home mom. Of course, the last decision was the best one I ever made and I think being a mom is the hardest job I've ever done. (and will continue to do).
The co-op preschool that Paige and I will be going to in the Fall is linked to our local community college. You have to become a student there to enroll in the preschool. Future teachers and child-care providers do observation and projects with the Center and the children there. There is a ton of security and clearances ans such so nobody has to get all panicky about that. I think Paige will be a great example for future teachers to see what they are getting into. :) in more ways than one.
I started thinking about how many classes would I have to take to get an "official" degree. I hate that after all the schooling I had, I technically have nothing higher than a HS diploma.
Well, my oldest child will probably graduate before me but I am now an offical student who took her first offical class this evening on her way to becoming a Nurse (R.N.) It is something I have always wanted to do.
I will not have as much time for crafting as I would like but there are only so many hours in the day. Marriage and mommyhood come first.
Any advice, well-wishes, prayers are welcome just no questioning my sanity because it is probably slightly off.
6/1/06
Blending yarns
I am having a lot of fun combining yarns to make new color combinations. I am making "tweed" looking granny squares using only my scraps. It's my twist on a "scrap afghan". I think this is a great way to venture into some color theory. Here are some greenish versions for Project Spectrum.
5/31/06
Gifts that are not appropriate
With a title like that, I should be writing about something more racy than knitting. Paige will be going to a co-op type preschool next Fall so I wanted to celebrate her last day at her current school. I really wanted to make something for her preschool teacher who is also a friend. I had the softest prettiest pink yarn. So I made her a scarf. Even though it's 90 degrees. And it will probably be 90 degrees until next October. I'm sure she's thinks I'm abolutely crazy. Maybe I am. I hope next year when it gets cold for a week, she will wear it and think of us.
More sewing fun.... Note: The inclusion of a certain little girl's favorite Disney mermaid :)
More sewing fun.... Note: The inclusion of a certain little girl's favorite Disney mermaid :)
5/19/06
Adventures in sewing
Okay that's not sewing, but I had to take picture. Camera update: All fixed and FREE! Yes, that's right free. Somehow the damage was covered by a warranty. I think I'm still in shock over that one....
Life is hectic. Sometimes I don't know how I will get everything sone because there are just not enough hours in the day. I mean, there are enough hours if the only thing I wanted to do was clean. I wish I was better at cleaning. I don't like to do it. I would much rather be sewing, KNITTING, crocheting, gardening, playing and heaven forbid trying to bake something before I would want to clean anything.
I decided my economic contribution to the household would be to utilize my "talents" into helping save money for our family. Why buy clothes when I could make them? No sweater is ever purchased in the this household (or at least so I tell everyone) Shoes will still have to be opurchased becasue I am not a cobbler, but flip-flops will do for summer.
My mom even jumped in to help me with my madness. We did "assembly line" sewing. One pattern for each of the girls would equal many summery outfits. (i.e. tank tops and shorts)
Here's some stuff I made:
Now I know why we purchase our clothes.
Our first strawberry from the kid garden. Going to Project Spectrum.
Stray dog that I found wandering my neighborhood and is now at the local shelter. Long story but basically, she did not like Dakota so she could not stay with us more than a day. Very nice dog and I put flyers up around our neighborhood. I hope her owner went and got her...... Otherwise, someone please go and adopt this sweet dog.
5/2/06
4/30/06
Out of the loop
Literally....
My digital camera bit the dust (well, I think a certain little someone dropped it or maybe that was me??) I have sent it to the camera hospital and hope the damage can be undone.
How wierd is it that I am addicted to my digital camera? I think I used it everyday. Now that it is sick at the camera hospital, you would think I have more time to knit.
I have taken some "old-fashioned" pictures with my other (very nice) camera but now must go get pictures developed...
Spring Break was hectic! I took the kidlings to Pasadena to enjoy Kidspace Museum. Very cool and contemporary. We got a little lost along the way and I got stuck on the 110. The 110 freeway in Pasadena is like the original LA freeway because the on and off ramps have stop signs. You can be going 70 mph on the freeway and then when you get off you have to slam on your brakes. Then when you turn around (because you are lost) the on ramp has a stop sign. While you are sitting watching cars wizz past you, you ponder whether your mini-van will be able to do this. The kidlings are oblivious to the danger because they are singing along to "Lady and the Tramp" and talking about puppies. When you see an opening in the traffic, you floor it and hope and pray... How do people do this everyday??? Are there tons of accidents??
We also went camping. Overnight camping. In a tent. No portable stove. With three children and a dog. Enough said. It actually was fun except that we should have brought lots more blankets and maybe an extra flashlight...
We ended the week on the extreme other "roughing it" end and stayed with some friends in their Laguna Beach house. It is built on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We looked at tidepools on the beach. We saw dolphins and seals swimming by. The sunset was gorgeous!
Of course, if I had my camera, you would be able to see what I was talking about...
Moral of the story: Don't give me anything mechanical and expensive because I will probably just break it.
My digital camera bit the dust (well, I think a certain little someone dropped it or maybe that was me??) I have sent it to the camera hospital and hope the damage can be undone.
How wierd is it that I am addicted to my digital camera? I think I used it everyday. Now that it is sick at the camera hospital, you would think I have more time to knit.
I have taken some "old-fashioned" pictures with my other (very nice) camera but now must go get pictures developed...
Spring Break was hectic! I took the kidlings to Pasadena to enjoy Kidspace Museum. Very cool and contemporary. We got a little lost along the way and I got stuck on the 110. The 110 freeway in Pasadena is like the original LA freeway because the on and off ramps have stop signs. You can be going 70 mph on the freeway and then when you get off you have to slam on your brakes. Then when you turn around (because you are lost) the on ramp has a stop sign. While you are sitting watching cars wizz past you, you ponder whether your mini-van will be able to do this. The kidlings are oblivious to the danger because they are singing along to "Lady and the Tramp" and talking about puppies. When you see an opening in the traffic, you floor it and hope and pray... How do people do this everyday??? Are there tons of accidents??
We also went camping. Overnight camping. In a tent. No portable stove. With three children and a dog. Enough said. It actually was fun except that we should have brought lots more blankets and maybe an extra flashlight...
We ended the week on the extreme other "roughing it" end and stayed with some friends in their Laguna Beach house. It is built on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We looked at tidepools on the beach. We saw dolphins and seals swimming by. The sunset was gorgeous!
Of course, if I had my camera, you would be able to see what I was talking about...
Moral of the story: Don't give me anything mechanical and expensive because I will probably just break it.
4/12/06
Yellow means Spring
This is my first rose of the year!
I love the idea behind Project Spectrum because it is really forcing me to look for colors that I don't ordinarily like or are am drawn too. This month's colors are orange and yellow.
Daisy's special $1 collar.
P.S. I have been knitting and crocheting, just nothing finished so I don't have anything to show right now.
3/31/06
My first socks
Well, driving to Vegas can be a little boring. This is what you get to look at for about 4 and 1/2 hours. 
Here's what you can make while talking to your hubby about his convention stuff. I stopped by Gail Knits in Vegas and they were kind enough to show me the Kitchener stitch. That was one that I could not figure out on my own. I also joined a new KAL called Project Spectrum where we get to play around with different colors each month.
Here's what you can make while talking to your hubby about his convention stuff. I stopped by Gail Knits in Vegas and they were kind enough to show me the Kitchener stitch. That was one that I could not figure out on my own. I also joined a new KAL called Project Spectrum where we get to play around with different colors each month.
3/23/06
Fuzzy hat
Another item from Kid's Knitted Hats. This one is too small for any of my kids so I will probably donate it. Made with Lion Brand Fun Fur and Cotton-ease. I especially like the tassel on top.
3/19/06
Redecorating
Just a note to let you know I am "redecorating" my blog and my links and ring codes will be up again shortly....
Bribery
Okay, I will admit, I use bribery too much. Maybe I'm teaching my children the ability to negotiate. Maybe I'm just fooling myself. Sometimes I am just not in control. The powers of motherhood are nothing compared to sugar.
This is my latest creation. I will name it after it's ability to coerce a wiggly child to sit still for half a second so that I can snap a picture.
I give you, The Lollipop sweater.
Stash busting at its finest. Lion Brand Jiffy yarn that is maybe at least ten years old. Isn't it nice that yarn does not expire?
This is my latest creation. I will name it after it's ability to coerce a wiggly child to sit still for half a second so that I can snap a picture.
I give you, The Lollipop sweater.
Stash busting at its finest. Lion Brand Jiffy yarn that is maybe at least ten years old. Isn't it nice that yarn does not expire?
3/15/06
Granny fun
I like to make granny squares. I think they get a bad rap. They are easy and quick.
I wanted to make some 12 inch squares for the Crochet Dude and his favorite charity,Heartmade Blessing. Going thru the "ol' scrap" bag, I decided to blend different variegated yarns to see what happened. I REALLY like the results. I think it gives inexpensive yarns like Red Heart, Caron etc a handpainted look... My best results came from yarns that looked totally different from each other. I recommend trying it..
3/6/06
Back from Camp
Just a quick note to let my family know Sarah and I returned home safe and sound. Maybe a little bit muddy and tired, but had a great time.
I am so glad I made this set for Sarah before we left. It was so cold! Especially to us thin-skinned Southern California people. We went to a family ranch camp called Lazy J with her Camp Fire girl group. I used leftover Wool-ease from the Knitting Olympics project #2 and it turned out okay. The mittens were too large, but that was my mistake not the pattern.
Patterns are located here and here.
I am so glad I made this set for Sarah before we left. It was so cold! Especially to us thin-skinned Southern California people. We went to a family ranch camp called Lazy J with her Camp Fire girl group. I used leftover Wool-ease from the Knitting Olympics project #2 and it turned out okay. The mittens were too large, but that was my mistake not the pattern.
Patterns are located here and here.
2/26/06
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
