Red Granny blanket

redgranny 001
Originally uploaded by slichly.

Posted this on Ravelry already but wanted to share it here. Squares are "joined as you go" by making one square and then joining all following squares during the last round. Part of my destashing effort.

Made with Red Heart Strata in Confetti and Caron Wintuk in Carmen.

Favorites for a gloomy,rainy day

1. Bingo Squares, 2. FANtastic Scarf - Crochet, 3. Picture 060, 4. granny sekskant, 5. Modern Quilt Wrap_01, 6. CrocChetQuilt, 7. IMG_2465, 8. Pinwheel back, 9. hexagon close, 10. Silk Garden Mitred Square, colour 228, 11. Lizard Ridge, 12. IMG_1980b, 13. felt necklace - finished!, 14. Original colors, 15. Christmas elves, 16. Easter 2007 variations on a theme

Warshrag

ballband
Originally uploaded by slichly.

I guess some of my southern heritage can shine thru a little bit..

Pattern: Ballband dishcloth, Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Aunt Lydia's Denim Quick Crochet in Oxford and Rose.

It states in the pattern that a dishcloth is not a dishcloth until it has actually washed a dish.

Do you think this will make me want to clean up more? :)

Square 1

So in order to keep my creative juices flowing, I joined a crochet-along that is on Crafster and on Ravelry. 12 inch squares. One per month. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Here' the one for January:

Pattern can be found here: Dreamcatcher

PS: Got into Physiology so I hope my brain does not turn to mush :)

Ravelry

Woo hoo! My membership into Ravelry went thru today! If you are a member, please look for me. My ID is: knitlich.

Camp Fire Candy

Although I haven't talked about it in this blog, Camp Fire USA has been a part of my family for quite some time. I was a Camp Fire girl for several years (a bluebird, too) and Sarah has been in Camp Fire for the last 4 years. Paige will start next year when she is in kindergarten. I am the Co-Leader for Sarah's group because I believe that Camp Fire is important for today's children. Without getting too mushy, I feel attached to this organization because of the values it represents. In the last 4 years, Sarah and I have camped together many times, gone hiking, made crafts, walked in numerous parades, sang songs, but the two major things I love about Camp Fire the most is the environmental education and community service. We have cleaned up beaches and parks and campsites. We studied the stars and went to a planetarium. We started a compost bin in our backyard and learned what will recycle and what will not. How often do kids get to make fires and use hachets and whittle with pocketknifes? Most kids today do not even know how to light a match... Why should they when they have a fancy lighter/candle starter thingie? We have crafted blankets and pillows for homeless children. We have collected hygiene products for the women's shelter. We have sung songs and played games with patients in a nursing home. We have made valentines and personally delivered them to the local VA hospital patients. Sarah is learning how to be a volunteer. When she is an adult, her community will need people like her.

I have seen Sarah mature and grow confident in her skills. Her progression towards adulthood and womanhood will include the belief that she is capable of taking care of herself. Maybe I am more of a feminist than I am willing to announce but girls need to know that they can do it themselves and should not rely on someone else to take care of them.

Now that I have gotten off my soapbox, I will announce that the ONLY fundraiser that she does for this organization is to sell candy. Lots and lots of candy. Now, you may be thinking, this is a horrible time of year to try and sell candy especially since most people resolve to lose weight and become more healthy. That is all in good and I would never want to sway someone to breach healthful living.

The candy is only $5 per box and makes a great gift. Friends, family, neighbors, clients, customers, and employees always like a little pick me up. Where else can you get a Valentine's Day gift so affordably? There are 4 choices: Almond Roca (the original), Mint Patties, Almond Caramel Clusters and P'nuttles (toffee peanuts).

For those who still do not want candy but wish to support the organization, you can buy a box of candy and our Council is arranging for donated boxes of candy to be delivered to Marines returning from Iraq at Camp Pendleton just South of here. So by donating just $5, you are helping two causes: lifting the spirits and showing appreciation to our troops and helping a young girl reach her goals as well as building confidence.

Even if you don't buy candy from Sarah, I hope that you will pause whenever you see a Camp Fire girl or boy or even a Girl Scout or Boy Scout selling in front of a store and help contribute to their goals by buying whatever they are selling.

Paige's cardigan

pinkcardi1108 006
Originally uploaded by slichly.

I was so ready to make something after my finals were up. I saw this sweater in my mom's KnitSimple magazine and knew I had to make it. It is worked side to side from cuff to cuff. That is how you get the vertical stripes. I love the colors that Red Heart comes up with, I just wish their yarn was softer. Of course, you can't beat it's durability for a kid's sweater. Click on picture for pattern and yarn details.

Happy New Years Graphics provided by MySpaceGraphicsandAnimations.com

Merry Christmas!

Sarah's school sweater

sbluecarcoat 004
Originally uploaded by slichly.

I finished her sweater for school a few weeks ago but I have been so consumed by finals this week that I didn't get around to taking a picture. Click on photo for pattern and yarn info.

The Mom Song

Beach Old Boys

A teammate of John's made a website for his men's soccer team.

Check them out at Beach Old Boys.

Halloween is in the air.....

We carved some pumpkins. I guess you could say this is my current creative endeavor.
John is such a good sport... He got into the spirit for the elementary school Halloween carnival. He's a "Red Devil" for Manchester United..

oct2707 001
Originally uploaded by slichly.

We were invited to join some friends at a special night of trick or treating at the Disney park, California Adventure. Surprise, surprise, we had Ariel, the Little Mermaid in our midst. The girls had a blast!

I am a Dove fan

Girl power

This is right before Paige scored her first goal! She's at the top of this pic. I like how she's "floating" in the air...

More projects

I made this banner for Paige's soccer team. Next time I think I will order the funky airbrush kind...


My first Art assignment of the semester. Contour line drawing of a still life with at least three objects. Not a very good photo, but I think you get the idea (I hope) Tell me if you can identify what I drew :) Click on photo for a larger view.

bright domino 003

bright domino 003
Originally uploaded by slichly.

Finished a domino knitting blanket (also known as mitered square knitting) for Stitches from the Heart. The colors are brighter than what the camera captured and should make some little one fell happr and cheerful. Edged with garter stitch and trimmed with reverse single crochet. Click on photo for Yarn details in description.

Favorites on Flickr

I have been seeing so many beautiful photos on Flickr recently. Mosaic created from bighugelabs website. Just click on the title to get more information. I think I may have to do this on a regular basis...

1. Poppy Quilt Fini, 2. Gel Pens 1, 3. Map Quest, 4. Revealing Decision, 5. Spiral 2, 6. Flow, 7. FAF page, 8. felt bead necklaces, 9. LED Light Painting, 10. Negro Gato, 11. Croissant beads, 12. hearts, 13. My guitar, 14. Bokeh with the Blues, 15. Untitled, 16. My creation

Summertime

I finally feel like I can come up for air. I finished my Anatomy class (and earned an "A" to boot) but it has taken a bit of a toll on me. I have tried to focus on the kids and getting them to various summertime pursuits. Mike just finished his month long surfing lessons. Before that he had just finished with baseball. Everything and time just seems to meld into one another.

Sarah went to a week-long overnight camp and wasn't even homesick. I know that's a good thing but I sure missed her...She even won 2nd place in the archery contest for her cabin. She is now the proud owner of a silver arrow missing some of its feathers.

Paige is swimming like a little fish (or a mermaid if you ask her). She also lost her first tooth. Her teeth are pretty crooked so she has a hole right in the middle of her mouth. Unfortunately, she was so freaked out about losing it that she wouldn't let us touch her or her little tooth hanging on by a thread of her gum. She swallowed it during the night and had to write a note to the Tooth Fairy explaining what happened. Luckily, the Tooth Fairy is an understanding gal and promptly paid the going rate for a first tooth lost: $1

Tiger likes to hang out on the roof. Ever since Mike "rescued" him, the cat has learned to protect us from all types of things, mostly flies and bugs. A few weeks ago, he presented me with not one, but two dead baby birds on my front porch. Very proud of himself I might add. The girls were quite torn up about it. I guess that means the end to our bird feeder outside Paige's window. I feel pretty guilty. Kind of like I invited the birds in to their doom...

Some recent finished projects:

2 baby blankets: one for Stitches, one for a friend

Easy Breezy blanket made in an worsted weight yarn in an older colorway by Caron








Diagonal Baby blanket made using Bernat Baby Coordinates. Pattern found free on their website..

I'm hanging in there

Just wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know, I'm still around, just not knitting very much. I just completed week 4 of my 6 week Human Anatomy class so my brain has turned a bit mushy with memorizing all the bones and muscles. I plan on posting some summery pictures soon.