Knitting Through Life

Okay, okay, so I've been gone a really long time...

2009-09-09T17:16:00.002-04:00

What the heck is this????
Originally uploaded by Don't Quit Your Dye Job

But I have a reasonable and rational excuse. You know how sometimes people just say, "Oh, time just got away from me...". Well, in my case, that's the truth. I've had an extremely rough spring and summer. In fact, I spent, literally, half the summer in the hospital. I don't want to go into all the gory details, but after a month in the hospital, I came home able to walk, but unable to lift my leg up steps so I could not even get into my own house under my own steam. Recovery was a bear for about a week, but after that, it has been completely smooth sailing, I'm happy to say.

So while I could do very little, I enjoyed laying in my hospital bed in the middle of my living room, relaxing and knitting up a storm. In between knitting and watching TV, I did have visits from a visiting nurse, a home health aide and a physical therapist. I have to tell you, I CANNOT STAND the thought of being dependent on others, however, if I have to be dependent on others, I could not have chosen better people than the ones that surround me in my life.

I had the help of my good friends Roy and Ilene, who ran over if I just needed help lifting my leg from step to step, but also brought food and clothing (shorts) so that I could have something to wear in my very swollen state. My friend Mary drove right over with a bag of clothes so I had something loose to wear. She also knew my distress about not being able to get up from certain heights (like my couch and my toilet) without assistance, and saved my life by bringing me a commode that raised up the height of my toilet. Peeing independently is a wonderful thing! My friends Frances, Laurie and Linda came over for an afternoon of lunch (yum!) and knitting in my yard; I had angels come in my house while I was in the hospital and they cleaned the house and did my wash (who could ask for better than that?) and then there were my in-laws, Al and Karen. Now most people, when they think of in-laws, get a feeling of dread. I, on the other hand, am so incredibly fortunate to have these two people in my life. Not only do they run over here at the drop of a hat when I need them, but these two wonderful people took my daughter for the entire time I was in the hospital, took her to camp, took her to the pool club, out to dinners, to a show, and kept her calm and content while we were going through this very scary time. I owe them more than I can ever repay and love them both to pieces. Everyone needs people like this in their lives and I am so fortunate to have friends and family like this surrounding me.

So anyway, here's this picture that looks like a puddle of knitting. Any clue what it is? C'mon... take a guess. I'm not going to tell you until my next post (and who knows when THAT will be, hahahahaha) so try and figure it out.

I am a miserable blogger

2009-06-18T13:25:00.004-04:00

and I don't mean to be. I think about posting every day, and yet another day will pass and I don't get here unless I have a reason.

Today I have a reason. I have a cyber friend, Henya. We met years ago in a coop that I run for yarn sales. She is from Brooklyn (I love people from Brooklyn, don't you...? possibly because it's where I lived for 40 years and have a natural affinity for all things Brooklyn, but Henya has earned a place in my heart.) I digress, as usual.

The reason for this post is that Henya announced that she has posted her 100th post on her blog (which puts me to shame) in the short while that she has had it. She, most generously, posts many of her knitting patterns for free and she is quite talented.

In honor of her reaching (and passing) her 100th post, she is holding a contest on her chicken stitches blog.

If you want to see some pretty creative designs and read about her interesting life, her love of her family and just some pretty good stuff, head on over there. You won't be sorry you did.

She did it... she really did it!

2009-05-07T19:15:00.004-04:00

She really dyed her hair purple! My cousin will have purple hair until her red roots start coming in again (that's a scary combo, no?) The things she will do to support her cause for multiple sclerosis are extraordinary. Go Robyn!!!! I'm so proud of you, honey.

Month of May Swap

2009-05-05T12:07:00.004-04:00

About Your Yarn Passion

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? When did you first learn? I do both, but I don't really enjoy crocheting (possibly because I could only do granny squares and it got boring after a while. It's also a pain sewing all of those squares together). I really enjoy knitting and do it every day. I love the assortment of yarns available and the fabric that knitting makes. I learned when I was about five or so and did not knit for years, but I have been knitting consistently now for about the past 15 years.

2. Do you like using a particular type of needle or hook? (wood, metal, straight, circular) Is there something you've been wanting to try, or a particular size you always seem to be short on? I love the Knit Picks Harmony needles and have many of them. I'd like to try the longer options needles, but not the interchangeables. I just treated myself to several Addi Lace needles and had them shipped from Germany. They are excellent! I am always short of size 8 needles. I usually have five or six projects going at once and they usually seem to need size 8s.

3. What kind of projects do you enjoy making? Any types you just haven't ever gotten into as much as others? I love making baby clothes. They just seem to go so quickly and it's great getting that instant gratification. I find that I knit in cycles... right now I'm into making lace shawls interspersed with longies and hats.

4. What's on your needles\hook right now? What's your oldest UFO (unfinished object)? On my needles currently are a shawl for my daughter's teacher, a pair of longies, the start of a blanket and I'm about to start a sweater for my brother-in-law so I can have it in time for his birthday. My oldest unfinished object is a sweater for my daughter that I started when she was 3 and has outgrown years ago (because she's now 12). Obviously, if it ever gets finished, it will be for someone else.

5. What are your favorite types of yarns? Any you're allergic too, or just hate working with? Anything in particular you've been dying to try? My all time favorite yarn is 100 Pure Wool from Uruguay. I am not allergic to anything, but I dislike working with acrylic. I would love to try Socks That Rock. I just have not gotten around to ordering any yet.

6. What sort of colors do you love in yarns? Brights? Pastels? More muted colors? Variegated? Are there any you can't stand? I love variegated colors, jewel tones, earth tones, the brighter, the better. I'm not a fan of pastels or baby colors. I pretty much like most colors, EXCEPT bright orange or yellow. I dye a lot of my own yarns and enjoy that very much.

About coffee and chocolate...

1. Do you prefer caffeinated or not? decaf for me please... can't handle the caffeine.

2. Whole bean or ground? For what type of pot or press? I use single serve packets for my single serve coffee maker.

3. Do you enjoy going out to coffee shops like Starbucks? What are some of your favorites? I don't particularly care of Starbucks. I think their coffee is exceedingly strong or they just burn it. And let's not mention the cost factor. They are so expensive it's ridiculous. I love coffee in diners and Dunkin' Donuts.

4. What kinds of chocolate or candy do you like? Is there anything you won't eat? I love all things chocoloate, vanilla and caramel. I would never eat coconut. My favorite candy (currently, because it changes often) is Twizzlers multicolored package. Yum!

All about YOU!
1. Do you have other hobbies like spinning or scrapbooking? I did scrapbooking religiously when my daughter was born and right through her fifth birthday and then I let it go. I should pick it up again because it seems as if her life stopped when I stopped scrapbooking, hahahahaha. I like to make my own stitch markers. I dye my own yarns and then knit one-of-a-kind garments from that. I read voraciiously and absolutely love www.paperbackswap.com .

2. Do you collect anything? Books. I buy them as my authors write and then I throw them on my "to be read" shelf in my living room. That shelf is 18' long and now is lined double deep with books waiting to be read.

3. What sort of scents do you enjoy? Any difference in what you like for your house versus what you like for your body? I love the smell of vanilla for both my house and my body. I also love citrus smells for both. My favorite perfume scent is Elizabeth Arden's Red Door.

4. Are you allergic to anything? Nope

5. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID? Yes, it should be dontquityourdyejob but it ran out of space, so it's dontquityourdyej.

100 Things About Me

2009-05-05T08:59:00.007-04:00

I've seen this list on several blogs and never thought I'd do it myself because I'm just not that interesting and didn't think I'd have many items on the list to bold, but here goes...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band, well an orchestra anyway
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo i karaoke counts
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (nah, I'd scare too many people, hahahahaha)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I'm assuming Cos Cob counts)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied for a brief, shining moment
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (too many times)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (with dolphins)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (ah, those were the days!)
55. Been in a movie (how about was on TV six times?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (3 of them)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (though I never was a girl scout)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (and Newsweek Magazine)
85. Read the entire Bible (assigned reading in college)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club (see >paperbackswap link above!)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else’s blog to your own (only this one)

My cousin Robyn

2009-04-19T16:39:00.004-04:00

A wonderful thing happened to me when I was five years old, and I didn't even know it. "What was that wonderful thing?" you may ask. That was when my cousin Robyn was born.

Now many of you know that I just turned 55, so why am I waking up now and talking about this? Because sometimes, in those quiet moments when I'm not really busy with anything, or hounding Zoe about something she should (or shouldn't) be doing, I just sit and think about the things that I'm grateful for, and Robyn is at the top of my list.

We have had our moments throughout our lives where we've been extremely close and then other times where we have been out of touch for a while, but that has never diminished our feelings for each other. We've gone through a tremendous amount together.

Anyway, my cousin is a sweet, funny, caring person who is coming into her own and finding herself and I think it is a miraculous journey. Part of that is her discovery of her desire to contribute to the world. She has found her niche. She rides her bike to raise funds for multiple sclerosis

Now why am I giving you this information? Because my cousin has promised to dye her hair purple (permanent dye) if she reaches her fund raising goal of $250. Her goal is a rather modest one and I'd really like to see her with purple hair, so follow my lead and go contribute to her page. I promise to post a picture here with Robyn and her purple hair so you can see what I'm talking about.

Thanks!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-20T12:49:00.006-05:00

Well, I've been thinking for weeks about writing something here and I've had a million reasons not to. First I let my picture trail account go, so I know I've got to coordinate all the missing pictures on my blog and I just haven't felt like doing that. Then, with my health issues (for those of you that don't know, I need a kidney) and I've been slightly overwhelmed going for the seemingly endless medical tests necessary to see if I even qualify for the transplant (I do. Except for my needing a kidney, apparently I am exceedingly healthy). Then I opened a new flcker account to house my photos, but my wonderful kidlet went and "accidentally" broke BOTH of my digital cameras.

Being the type of mom I am, I took all the monetary gifts that she got over the holidays, added a few more bucks of my own, and bought myself a new Olympus that seems very easy to use, but now my Sandisk cards from the old cameras do NOT fit in the new one. Damn, damn, double damn. I have to see if I can upload the photos from the old disks and then I'll be offering the two or three disks I have to the wonderful photographers in my family. For the time being, my blog shall be photoless in the upcoming posts.

So, what have I been doing (other than running back and forth to doctors and dialysis)? C'mon, you have to know... it's my middle name now... yup, yup, knitting up a storm. I've even decided to try my hand at designing arm warmers. I can't wait to get pictures to show you. I love them. Why arm warmers, you may ask...? Well, in New Jersey, we've had, so far, a very cold winter. And since my anemia will not let up, I'm always cold, dreadfully cold, particularly my arms and hands. Arm warmers are important to my mental well being.

Interestingly enough (for those of you that know me, this is a laugh alert), I've even gotten back to cooking. Where we used to eat out four or five nights a week, we have taken to staying home and (shock of shocks) I cook. Now, we're not talking gourmet meals here, but I'm definitely doing foods that my sweet girl loves (think macaroni and cheese, lasagna, baked ziti, tuna & macaroni, steak and potatoes, etc.) I was even considering turkey with fixings after speaking to my sister about her to-die-for specialty, but I beat that idea back into submission... I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet.

I have, since the beginning of the year, finished Karen's Central Park Hoodie, knit several hats, am almost finished with my designing of the arm warmers, have finished three pair of longies that carried over from last year, and am going to start a scarf next. I haven't knit a scarf in about 20 years. I want to make myself a hooded scarf so that the back of my neck, where the air gets into the neck of my coat, is protected. Not bad on the number of completed projects already, huh?

Anyway, I thought of making a resolution to write more frequently on the blog, but I did that last year and we all see how well that went, so this year my resolution is no more resolutions.

Hope to catch you again soon.

D.A.N.G.E.R. -- Will Robinson... Heavy picture post ahead

2008-08-20T19:45:00.002-04:00

Okay, I finally got to upload off my camera. Don't ask why, I've been doing this for years now, but it always gives me fits, so when I get around to it, I'm usually uploading 200+ pictures at a time and it takes forever.

Thanks to my brother Marc, his deck, his fence, his beautiful yard and a gorgeous day, I think the pictures are "post worthy."

Anyway, here's the pictures of the purses that Gypsy knit from my stash. I'm posting them here and then I'll establish the etsy store so I have somewhere to get them out to the public.

Let me know what you think of them. All comments are most welcome and, please, if you don't like them for some reason, please, please feel free to say so. We're all about honest opinions here.

Thanks in advance!

Music... it's all about the music...

2008-08-18T22:55:00.003-04:00

I just spent several hours looking on youtube to find videos of my songs that I adore (at the moment). I've been spending a lot of time in Mamma Mia land and loving every minute of most of the songs, so I decided to put them on the blog.

It's been quite some time since I've written. Two months to be exact. Man, how fast the summer has gone, no? I've been knitting non-stop and my dyeing of my yarns has suffered because of it, but I just got some canning jars to experiment with dip dyeing and I plan to start on that very soon.

I dyed a very long skein (the width of my living room) last week and I was going to post it to show you, but I couldn't resist the call to start knitting with it, so it's already on my needles. I'm making a pair of baby longies (don't know why they're called that, since they are really just a pair of small pants, but okay, I go with the flow.) I'm going to call them my punkin patch pants because the colors scream out fall and pumpkins. They are yellow, a light orangey squash color and a deeper pumpkin color. They were supposed to be reds and pinks with a dash of bright yellow, but sometimes there's no accounting for how things will look when they get rinsed after they dyepot. I love the way the colors came out, though, and am very happy with the way they are working up. I'll get a picture of them up once I'm through knitting them.

On the other side of the knitting front, I'm thinking of opening an Etsy store. My sister has been shopping in my stash for a while and went home with some pretty fabulous yarns. After about six weeks, she returned them to me in the form of nine assorted sized/shaped handbags, and even a bag perfect for a sports bottle. I'm going to make a store to sell her creations. It amazes me constantly what someone can do without patterns, just from having an idea in their head. My sister is one creative chickadee.

As we spent this past weekend at my brother's house (my most adorable twin, that is), I took all of the bags out onto his back deck (that he built himself) and humg them from his wall, using the wall and his rear garden as my backdrop. I'm very pleased with the pictures and will post them shortly (just have to get them off my disk and I have to recharge my camera in order to do that.)

It is always so great spending time with my brother and my family. I come from some great stock and love the way we interact together. My daughter had a great time seeing her older cousins and hanging out with the guys. We love being upstate. It's just so relaxing and the best part is always being with family. I want my daughter to understand and know the importance of how much family means. I'm happy to say she's really getting it.

We love taking road trips too. From the minute we get in the car until we get where we're going, we're singing and talking the whole way. As she's getting older, she's expressing herself so much better and in the most interesting ways. She can certainly be a challenge, but she is rather interesting and funny too. She's great to hang around with. And the bonus is, I get to hear her sing. All the time. In the car, in the house, in the shower, out the window... it doesn't matter. If the tune is in her head, it's out her mouth. There's nothing better than that.

So here I sit, listening to "Slipping Through My Fingers" with tears running down my face and knowing that in a few years from now, as she passes into adulthood and goes out into the world, I will have all of these wonderful memories of this time we have right now. It's all good.

Well, I'm back

2008-06-17T17:21:00.004-04:00

It's been a terribly long time since I've posted. Since I saw you last, I've been doing many things, but taking no pictures. (Sad to say, huh?)

I've been seriously depleting my yarn stash, both through knitting and through giving or selling yarn out of my stash. And still I manage to look like I haven't made a dent.

My newest kick that I'm on is making hats. I guess because they are quick, portable and give almost instant gratification. I am, however, yearning to make a blanket. I've been putting one together in my mind lately and it's screaming to get out, so that may wind up being my late-at-night, sit-up-in-bed-and-knit project. I also have a couple of shawls floating around in there, and they could be my when-I-wake-up-at-an-unreasonable-hour-in-the-morning project. Do any of you have those types of projects?

I promise I will make a serious effort to get some of the pictures on my camera off the cards and onto this blog soon, just not now. I'm only sneaking in a quick post to let you know I'm still alive and ~~kicking~~ knitting.

Hope you all are well. Happy knitting.

Haven't had that much to say lately...

2008-03-14T14:08:00.001-04:00

But I keep thinking about posting, so I should be getting a little more regular with this soon.

I've been dyeing yarns and knitting up a storm and will have some pictures to post soon, but in the meantime, I found this little item:

What Debra Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.

You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.

People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.

You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.

At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.

You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.

Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.

You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.

You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Diego is Done

2007-09-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

Well, I've never knit something for someone that they specifically asked me to make, but when my nephew (whom I absolutely adore) called and asked me to make something for his son, my adorable Eason, ~~I panicked~~ I said, "sure, of course, I can figure that out, I'd love to do it." GULP!

I have never knitted something custom before and I've never knitted a vest at all, but that was what he wanted for his son. My thoughts? "How long could it take me?" After all, he's just turning 4. Even if I make mistakes along the way (I didn't, yay!!!) who would know besides me?

So I took out my guitar and I smashed it against the wall, I smashed it against the floor,... oh, wait, I've got Jim Steinman in my head, let me get back to this vest. Yeah, the vest. I took out my knitting needles (hand made ones from Costa Rica, that I think are gorgeous) and pulled out some stash yarn and set about designing a vest for my adorable grandnephew.

This is what I came up with for the pocket area:

and this is another view:

and look at a close-up of the patch I found that I had a good friend hot stamp on fabric for me so I could sew it onto the vest:

And here's the back of the collar (that was a little tough for me. I didn't know how to do this and it came to me in a dream. Really. I did not work from a pattern for this and you won't see it anywhere else. It's mine, all mine, until I give it to Eason).

I hope he likes it. It's made out of wool and camel that I had in my stash. It was the closest thing I had to the color the vest should be. It was really fun to design this for him.

One of these days I have to take notes on what I'm doing so I could possibly duplicate something if I wanted to... ah, well, that's for another day.

Headin' up to Boston

2007-08-05T16:56:00.001-04:00

Well, in the morning I'm heading up to Boston. I love road trips, don't you? I'm helping out a friend and going along for the ride.

Boston is one of my favorite cities and I hope I get to see some of it. My friend is going in for a small surgery so I'll have some time on my hands. Should be fun.

In the meantime, in my last post I promised some pictures of my finished shawls, so here you go:

If you recall, I made four shawls during the period from March through June, and they were all intended for gifts for very special people in my life. I met my self-imposed deadlines and presented four very wonderful women with the shawls I made them.

This is a picture of the Diane shawl, made from sock yarns that I bought from Beth at Socks That Fit. Beth has a gorgeous collection of hand dyed yarns and will dye to your specifications, up to six colors per skein. Check her out! I chose all the blues that I saw in the ocean in Cancun and she managed to put them into this shawl.

This light blue with yarn overs shawl is a picture of the Linda shawl, made from yarns that I got from DDK Yarns LLC, a great internet only yarn vendor. They have great customer service and they are constantly adding to their stock.

This is another shawl, the Dina shawl, also made from yarns obtained from DDK Yarns. This pattern is one of my own creations and I just loved the way it came out.

This is the Emily/Isa shawl.

It was meant for Emily, but Isa wears it more than her mom does, so I'm in the process of creating yet another Emily shawl. This next one is being created in Kauni yarns, an exquisite yarn that has very long color changes and the changes are so subtle you can barely see when they are coming. All of a sudden, you realize that the color has shifted. It's so interesting, I can't wait to get more. The picture of this shawl is not quite ready yet, but will appear in a future post.

I'm still working on Jaylyn's baby blanket, but I will finish this during the week so that it can be lined and wrapped for the baby shower on the 11th. Don'tcha love deadlines (self-imposed or otherwise)?

So now you see what's been keeping me so busy. Can't be blogging if I can't stop knitting, now can I?

See ya when I'm back from Boston...

I'm Baaacccckkkk...

2007-07-19T13:15:00.000-04:00

After taking yet another two month hiatus, I decided that it's time I poke in again and tell what's been happening.

Let's see... Zoe is moving on to 5th grade (quite the accomplishment after all the missing homeworks), and we've had a couple of good summer trips so far (Canada, Saratoga, Long Island), with even more coming up (camping in August, Williamsburg in November).

My knitting has been progressing nicely. I finished all of the shawls I had set my self-imposed deadline to meet and I was pretty happy with the way they came out. The recipients seemed to like them well enough. I think, after the one I'm working on for Emily, I will take a break from shawls. There are so many other beautiful things to knit.

I'm going to, very shortly, try my hand at dyeing. I've just about gotten everything I need to get started. Now all I need is the time. I've even taken up reading again. I read in spurts, but when I do, I read the book all the way through before I do anything else, so my knitting has been taking somewhat of a back burner every now and then.

I've been on a yarn binge for quite some time now and I know, for a fact, that I ~~could not possibly knit all the yarn I have in this life, or the next,~~ have enough, so I need to slow down, but there's so many gorgeous fibers out there for me to try that I just ~~can't~~ don't want to stop!

I promise to come back shortly, in the next day or two, and put up some pictures to show you what's been happening. I have to ~~plow~~ sort through the 350 I just uploaded yesterday, categorize, dump and display as appropriate.

In the meantime, I hope your summer is as much fun as mine has been so far. It's off to the pool club for me.

Time does fly... and so does my daughter

2007-05-20T19:16:00.000-04:00

I can hardly believe that the last post I made on here was in late March and here it is now, mid-May.

This morning, as she was playing with one of our pets (I like to say he's a moose in cat's disguise), the cat started chasing her. She ran into something in her room and slashed her toe (deeply). We wound up spending four hours at the hospital.

My little drama queen is playing this one to the hilt! She not only charmed the entire emergency room, she strolled out on a pair of crutches (in my opinion, not necessary, but I'm not a doctor and don't play one on T.V.) clutching the note in her hand that gets her out of gym and field day this week. Ah, the life. It's amazing what a little glue (no stitches for my princess) and a pair of crutches can do to boost a kid's feelings about themselves.

On the knitting front, after going from the emergency room to X-ray, back to the emergency room, back to X-ray, I took out my mystery shawl #3 and worked like mad on it. A skein and a half left to go and I can start mystery shawl number 4. I can't believe I set this goal for myself and it's actually going to happen. I'll post pictures after they're all completed and blocked, prior to giving them away.

I am so looking forward to giving these to their intended recipients (who are, at this point, TOTALLY clueless). I'm particularly proud of the one I created in my own design (absolutely accidentally), but it has given me the courage to try and write my own pattern for a new shawl after my "crunch time" is over. Come the summer, I'm getting out my colored pens and my graph paper and I'm gonna get it done.

Until next time (and hopefully it wont' be another two months).

Knitters Rock

2007-03-26T14:04:00.001-04:00

I stumbled across this blog today, in search of patterns for felted bags. Through her blog, knitandrip.blogspot.com,I met Devon. Her blog is great and she is wonderful.

I posted a question to her and, literally within minutes, had the answer I've been looking for, for months.

Knitters are a great bunch of people. Thanks, Devon!

Someone new is being added...

2007-03-25T17:12:00.000-04:00

to my family and I just finished her gift. My niece is due to give birth in the 3rd week of April and I was rushing like mad to finish her gift. Guess what? I did it!

You have to understand, I adore my nephew and his wife and I am simply thrilled that they are giving my grandnephew a sister next month. They are a wonderful, loving, young family and deserve the best life they can have.

In honor of my grandniece's impending birth, I wanted my gift to have more meaning than the simple things I usually make, so I got a little creative and did a striped blanket (hopefully they are not reading this and will be surprised) where each stripe has meaning (at least to me).

The pictures are hard to see, but here goes:

Stripe number one is the "Tree of Life" stripe because I hope they all have many long years together as the loving family that they are;

Stripe number two was just an easy stripe because my hope for them is that she is an easy baby and they gets lots of rest.

Stripe number three is the Love stripe (you have to look hard to see it). It represents the love that this baby will be enveloped in.

Stripe four is the winding cable stripe because that's how life is. It winds around but it just keeps going.

The final stripe is the heart stripe to represent the love that is in their nuclear family and those of us in the extended family, showing how we feel about each other.

I hope this has as much meaning for them as they use this gift, as it did for me when I made it.

How about this for visual DNA?

2007-03-15T16:50:00.000-04:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

And just in case my hug does not keep me warm...

2007-02-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

I have completed my arm warmers!

They are made from the very luscious Henry's Attic Inca Cotton in the Desert Colorway.

I decided that wrist warmers would just not do it for me. So I continued up to my upper arm.

Man, these are warm and toasty. And I think they are gorgeous, if I do say so myself. See for yourself. Here they are, laying on my very beautiful, new, kitchen floor, and modeled on my own arms (makes for awkward picture taking, but that's okay):

I'm wearing my hug...

2007-02-22T17:09:00.000-05:00

Somebody loves me, yes they do!

Ever since I lost weight, I'm cold all the time. Even in the summer when people are sweltering, I barely break a sweat. Well, this winter has been terrible for me. I waited and waited for the snows to come (I love to look out my bedroom window at the snow covered trees) and now that they have, I can't get warm.

I had a bridal shower to go to last week, in Manhattan, somewhere I rarely go unless I've got tickets to Broadway. After the shower I decided to stop at my sister's and surprise her, see if she were free, and have supper with her.

I did, she was, and supper at the Polish restaurant we chose was absolutely delicious. The only problem was, through the entire time in the restaurant, I was freezing. I kept my coat on over my shoulders and my hands in my pits and still I could not get warm.

On the way back to drop her at her apartment, she says to me: "Do you remember the gray sweater I knit daddy all those years ago?" I sure did. It was the most magnificent cardigan I had ever seen. It was worn by him, with pride, for years. It was well loved. When daddy passed, it went to mommy who continued to wear it with pride. It was still well loved. When mom died and I cleaned out her things, it was gone.

For years I searched everywhere to find a copy of that pattern. I was on a mission to find it so I could make it for myself. It is now many, many, years later and my searching has proved fruitless. I have never been able to find the pattern and, therefore, never able to duplicate the sweater. But I digress.

She went on to say, "Stay right here. I have another one and I'm going to give it to you." She ran upstairs to her apartment and was back moments later, bag in hand. In this bag was an almost identical version of the sweater she'd made my dad all those years ago, but this one is beige. Her best friend George gave her this wool years ago and she created this sweater from it. It's magnigicent. And it's mine.

I photographed it the night I brought it home. I planned to start wearing it immediately, but then the weather warmed up. It was almost spring-like yesterday. So it sat on my couch all day looking lost. This morning, it was supposed to be warm again, but there is a distinct chill in the air and I heard it's going to be 18 degrees tonight by the time I leave my friend's house. I pulled it off the couch and threw it on. I've been wearing it all day and, let me tell you, I feel like I'm wearing a hug. I know that we love each other very much, but I'm wearing her love on my back and it feels so good.

Back of Sweater

I've decided...

2007-02-18T19:07:00.000-05:00

that when I really need to think, I knit. Haven't quite figured out why that is, but I know I do my best thinking and figuring things out while I knit. Some of my best advice, to myself and others, comes through knitting times.

I often wonder why, over the years, I give it up for such long stretches of time. My current fascination with it has already lasted longer in this one stretch than it ever has before. I also know that I'm a much more talented knitter and way more creative now than I have ever been in my history.

Lots of things are on my mind right now... how certain friends and family are doing. Wishing I was geographically nearer to some when I feel they need me the most. I find that I knit a lot for others (way, WAY, more than for myself) and it's my way of giving them a hug when I can't physically be there for them.

So, my loves, (you know who you are), if you are reading this (and I know some of you do), please take this post as being directed at you, know that it's coming straight from my heart and understand that this is the hug and the shoulder that you need right now. I'm here for you in whatever capacity I can be. Stay in touch.

I couldn't help myself

2007-02-05T21:05:00.000-05:00

so I started a new project last night. I'm so cold I can't stand it. It was in single digits here today for most of the day. I had to start arm warmers for myself. I found a pattern that is exquisite and the perfect yarn jumped right out of one of my boxes, screaming "use me! use me!" so I did.

I'm using a beautiful beigey (is that a word?) white mixture from Henry's Attic. It's a thick and thin and is so amazingly soft and luscious. I can't wait to finish these and start wearing them. I'm about half-way through with the first one and know that I will finish these quickly. Once I'm done, I'll post the pictures. I think the cable gets somewhat lost in it, but I don't care. I think they will be gorgeous.

Also, I saw this outrageously beautiful sweater on a blog the other day and I want to figure out the pattern. Seems the pattern is only available on a certain yarn retailer's site, and only if you buy the yarn from them, so I'm determined to figure out the pattern and then knit it from my stash. I'll post that picture once I figure out how to write the pattern for it.

Seems like this year will be the year of multiple projects for me. I'm jazzed.

Now that I'm done with two major projects...

2007-01-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

and although I have about four projects already going, I'm itching to start something new. I know I will complete the ongoing projects, but I have yarns ~~jumping off my shelves~~ screaming my name in order to get knit.

I have to complete at least four shawls between now and June, as well as assorted projects already on my needles. Do you think I'll make myself crazy if I start a few more things that I can rotate as the boredom strikes? Right now my favorite thing to do is knit while catching up on Boston Legal and Law and Order.

Oh well. Gotta make up my mind. In the meantime, I think I'll go put that package together to get in the mail tomorrow...

To my sockret pal

2007-01-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

It's been so much fun shopping and knitting for you. I've just put together your final package and I'm so excited. I hope you really enjoyed this swap as much as I enjoyed preparing each package for you.

This one (I think) is the best one yet. Once you find out who I am, I hope that you'll post your comments about the final package here. I think it's really great.

Here's what your socks look like...

You said you like jewel tones and this was the closest I could get to those colors:

Here's a close-up of the heel.

The toes seem a bit pointy when they are off the foot, but I had my 9 year old try them on (believe it or not, her feet are bigger than yours) and they are perfectly comfortable when on the foot.

I hope you enjoy them.

The rest of your goodies will remain a secret until you get the box. I'm mailing it tomorrow, so you should have it by no later than Thursday. This has been so much fun!

Can anyone help me? (Again)...

2007-01-17T20:27:00.000-05:00

I really want to put in the graph or chart type stuff that measures your progress on the projects you do so I can see where I stand with all my unfinished objects (way more of those than I ever had in the past). I've googled every topic I can think of that might offer me the setups, but all to no avail.

If you stumble across my blog and know how I can put up progress on different items, can you please leave me a comment on this post telling me what to do, or, if we know each other well enough that you have my e-mail address, can you write me? I'm becoming obsessed with this.

Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give me.