Free People

Now that Christmas is over, I'm going to do some knitting for me! A bag, a vest, perhaps some slippers...hmmm. Whenever I'm gearing up for my next big project, I always flip through the latest Free People catalog, which today happened to be the holiday issue. Be still my heart! Chunky hats, funky mittens, and a bag I must must MUST have! (Please see above...by the teddy bear) Instead of Fairisle, I'm going to use Lorna's Chunky Revelation in the Watercolor, which I picked up at my last VIP visit to The Yarn Grove. I think I can get the same effect as the patchwork fairisle...stay tuned to find out! While your waiting, get inspired at www.freepeople.com.

Hello World!

Greetings fellow stitchers! Jane invited me to join The Yarn Grove's blog spot...yet another benefit of marrying her only son. I've been knitting for about 3 years now, but I'm not quite as adventurous as Jane and Debby. I like short, fast, instantly gratifying projects made with chunky yarns on big sticks. Maybe the new year will bring patience. My kitty, Mona, likes to help me knit whenever she can. Here, she is helping me unravel a ball of yarn that later became Mimi's Christmas present. She's also been known to chew on a bamboo needle every now and then.

Oh for the love of Hats!

Final knit gift .... Done! A kids cabled hat made out of .... yep you guessed it... O-wool! In Evergreen. It is for a 4 year old and I know he will love it. Actually, Debby was here yesterday and she tried it on and it almost fit her. Hmmm, there is a reason besides the "shoes" that her grandkids call her Minnie ...

Speaking of hats, "The Book" will arrive shortly so check our website next week. The Book being the Karaoke Hat Book from SWTC that Debby has a pattern published in. Great book with some fun great patterns ..

More baking today. Yesterday I made 3 doz Oatmeal/Raisin cookies (woo - I am safe from those) and 7 doz. Peanut butter cookies (hidden from myself). Today maybe some Scotcharoos (glorified Rice Krispie treat) and some obscene choc. chip cookies that are my dear hub's favs.

Let me take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May the magic of the season fill your hearts. See you in a few!

Oh Mr. Pieman, how I love thee!

So many of you have asked me if the only thing I do is knit ... I take that to mean as my hobby? Because I do run the household here with an iron fist (I hear Debby laughing now) ... Of course, I quilt as you have seen by some of my pictures - although it is MY version of quilting ... you know that random kind where sometimes the seams just are random instead of together? I see some of you nodding your heads! This was a very fun one which are the only ones I do. Really different fabrics, retro fabrics, etc. This one had a barrage of different funky. quirky fabrics that I used for the piano key border. Actually funky, quirky is pretty much how some of my friends describe me .... of course with a smile ...

Above is a picture of my finished and self named, Mister Pieman. Lots of hula hooping and really crazy far out peace sign loving people... This was a gift to Stephanie. It was intended to be a wall hanging but she may use it for a lap quilt.

Yes, I do more than just knit. I love preserving memories aka scrapbooking. More on that another day.

Well, yesterday, ding dong went the doorbell and I knew it was the UPS man. Oh yeah, another shipment of J. Knits fabulous hand dyed sock yarns. Scrumptious, delicious and gorgeous. This shipment included replenishments of some of your favorites as well as Superwash Me - Light Sock Yarn. Each generous skein is approx. 550 yards and is 100% merino wool. Check it out. I have my eyeball on several but refuse right now until my Hundertwasser is done. (Notice that is NOT plural). So there you have it.

Tomorrow is baking day again. My daughter will be leaving on Friday (boo hoo). I have enjoyed her so much. The holidays are here ... the fire is roaring ... I am knitting ... just one more hat ...

Meet Fifi

Meet FiFi on this her first public debut! Fifi is a retro poodle bottle cover made in Elmore Pisgah cotton from the book, Simple Knits with a Twist by Erika Knight. She was so much fun to knit .She is mine. No gifting out of this one!

As for knitting projects, just have two in progress. One is the O-wool hat which is coming along nicely and the other is my Hundertwasser sock(s).

Gearing up for a boatload of people this weekend... Well, maybe just a small canoe full ... my daughter and her fiance, my son and his wife... I'm gonna squeeze them all until ...

Stay posted at The Yarn Grove. We are expecting new yarns and colors in any day now. ..

Debby, you went and Dippity Doo'd it!

Debby accepted a challenge from Jonelle of South West Trading Co. sometime back. Jonelle decided to have yarn shops from around the globe participate in a Karaoke hat book. All Debby had to do was make up a hat pattern with some Karaoke. (Debby's hat is on the left)

Now, if you don't know what Karaoke is, it is NOT singing Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf at your local pub, or bellying up to the bar and listening to your best friend sing some rendition of a song that makes you order another Red Snapper ... Karaoke is luscious 50% soysilk and 50% wool and happens to felt like a marvel as well. Debby chose Dippity by SWTC and the journey began. I can't tell you how many times I heard ... I don't know about this ... oh my gosh, this is so hard for me... I told Jonelle I would do it and I'm not backing out now ... I don't know how Amy does this ... (Amy Polcyn who is a dynamite designer and has had many patterns published - great blog too). I don't know how Anni does this either (Anni from Anni Designs in the UK -beautiful knits)...

One thing about Debby is she is one determined gal. She kept at it - even though it caused great "brain pain" at times! And I might add I am mighty proud of her - and the book is Fabulous! In yarn shops soon.... Some great hat designs in there - both felted and not.

Way to go my friend ...

Color, Glorious Color

I have started on my Hundertwasser sock from Opal. I am very pleased with it so far and am doing quite well on the toe up. Right now I am beginning the heel flap. Have a couple of other projects I am blocking for gifts so can't show those just yet. But one of them is made with O-wool Organic and might I say again, that is fabulous yarn!

Check back next week because we are hoping to get a couple new shipments of goodies in...

Today has been a very interesting day in my home. First of all, for all Christmas' past, I have always been the one to decorate the outside of the house. Yes, that is right, me. Now I have always used those tiny white lights that just twinkle at the first sign of darkness. This year my husband decides he is going to get some of those old fashioned colored C-9 lights that I call big honking lights. All day long he carefully hung them all over the front of the house, up 4 large pillars and across the double car garage and into the bush.

Not to be outdone, I decided to add to the spectacular show. We now have some of what I call, Jane's big ass lights in the front. It looks like Candyland. They are a giant size C-9 light bulb, approximately 2 feet tall and line the walk way up to the front of our home.

I feel like I am in a scene from my all time favorite movie - Christmas Vacation - I have seen it so many times, I quote it... So it is almost dark ... and I my blood is pumping ... my husband is outside as I write this ... I better go... I think he needs a drumroll...

Ahhh, Kaffe Fassett

I have the pattern book by Kaffe Fassett & Zoe Hunt called Family Album, More Glorious Knits for Children and Adults. Stunning sweaters and such which are works of art. Kaffe learned to knit on a train back to London from visiting a Scottish wool mill - armed with 20 different fabulous colors of yarn and some needles. His very first design was featured in a full page spread in Vogue Knitting.

Knitting is an art and Kaffe Fassett has the gift. It is shown in his knitting creations as well as his fabrics. I fell in love with his fabrics sometime ago and just wanted to show one of the quilts I have made from Kaffe Fassett collections... The pinwheel quilt I made for my daughter last Christmas and all the fabrics were Kaffe's.

If you love color and unique knitting patterns, check out Kaffe's designs...

Why don't they know what I mean?

Well, tomorrow morning, The Yarn Grove will be on our way to Marketplace.

So, I am a casual dress person - Chico's is my favorite store. I wear their jeans all the time and on my feet ... for 2 years ... are Crocs. I do have a favorite pair of "slides" that go with my favorite "butt pants" (that really is the name of them from Chico's) but they are flats.

I enjoy "dressing up" once in a while, however, it has been a long time... I mean - really dressed up. Tomorrow night is a black tie preview and all vendors have to be open from 6:30 - 9:30 . So, outfit set but oh my gosh, what am I going to wear on feet? And panty hose? You've got to be joking... Here I go this week shopping and I start trying on "heels". That was a hoot! The nice lady brought me several pair of black heels in various stages of height. But then ... I found them ... Excuse me lady, but how much are these Brightons? $165.00 but "they are made with real Crocs". Whoa - my crocs are plastic - I see - she means the Crocs with teeth. Forget that - I don't support those Crocs on my feet.

So I ended up with a pair of heels and this is going to be a riot. These shoes are so pointed that they will arrive in the room AT LEAST 33 seconds prior to the rest of me!! I am not kidding . Next - to the pantyhose dept. Holy moly ... Here comes another nice lady. 'Can I help you'. Yes m'am, I am just looking for pull ups. She said pull ups? Now, I am known for not calling things by their right name but didn't she know I meant Knee Highs? I'm not wearing full blown pantyhose. Oh no, I only want the pull up kind! Heels and pull ups - that is as far as I can go! With a smile on her face, she brought me some Spanx "pull ups".

Marching on ... in my high heels that are non-adjustable ... and I hope I don't kill myself in them ... we'll talk later ...




I promise to take pictures

A Sweater Fit for a King ... Sort of

Junior's first sweater. I made it out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted - Blackberry. The pattern is Fiber Trends - Dandy Dog Sweaters which has many different sizes and 3 different patterns. The one I chose to do was Mock Cable in an XSmall. It really fits him great and he actually did not mind wearing it! Which was a little different than trying on his first collar yesterday ... that did not go so well... If you are looking for a quick fun dog sweater pattern, this is a great one.

What I need to be doing is finishing getting ready for our Gainesville event this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Whew .. everytime I turn around there is something else we want to do! It is going to be a lot of fun and if you are in the area of Gainesville, GA Civic Center, please come to the Marketplace which is open to the public on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4th. Debby and I would love to see you! ... My feet hurt already but that is a story for another day...

He taught me a lot ...

Almost 2 years ago, my daughter Stephanie, rescued a Silky Terrier from a neglectful situation. His name was Charlie. He lived with her for 4 months and then when she moved to Florida, he came to live with John and I and joined 2 cats and a lab. Why not? He's little... He was approximately 10 years old... quiet with liquid brown eyes. He moved right in ...
He soon earned the nickname from me of: myittybittylittlebittyittybittypuppy.
I called him that all the time and he seemed to smile when I did.

Well, he quickly stole our hearts. He was smaller than Wooley Bulley, our 21 lb cat who thinks he is a dog, but Charlie got along great with all of them. Charlie taught me to love little dogs, although, he was a big dog in a little body. He was the perfect dog - except for the trash picking habit he picked up from our lab, Lucy, and then he started begging, just like Lucy. It was funny to watch... I took him everywhere with me. He was so compact. I couldn't help take him everywhere with me - he followed me everytime I left the room - a true Silky Terrier.

Then on Tuesday, August 29, 2006, I came home early afternoon, gave everyone kisses and sat down at the computer. Charlie came near me and acted like he was vomiting but there was nothing. I thought, maybe he has something caught in his throat? This went on for a couple of minutes and I soon knew something was wrong. I immediately called our vet and ran him over there. Dr. Parnes took one look at him, and took him downstairs while telling me that his stomach is bloating and this is very serious. Wow - I knew something was wrong but this??? .... Can you fix him for me please?

She soon came back upstairs and after explaining lots of different things to me and showing me xrays, etc., I made the decision (of course, with my husband on the telephone as well) that the best option for him - based on all factors we knew at that time - was to put him to sleep. Oh my, I told her through my tears, this certainly hadn't been on my list of to do's today!

This all happened within one hour and 15 minutes. Start to finish. My head was spinning - I was so sad. I said my goodbyes to my little soul mate and he was put out of his pain. Dr. Parnes seemed as mystified as I - even though Charlie had been on prednisone for a month or so for other issues - the only thing this could be was ulcerated stomach, or worse.

45 minutes after I got home - my eyes literally almost swollen shut (of course all the excess loose skin I now have on my lids didn't help), Dr. Parnes phoned me. I had asked her to autopsy (if that is what you call it) and she did. He was FULL of cancer. Absolutely took us by surprise. NO symptoms whatsoever. She said he had a large tumor that looked like it had started on his lung, grew and went to diaphram, pushed stomach over and attached itself to muscle and his spine. His spleen also had nodules and was so swollen it was almost ruptured. I could not believe it. It did validate our decision a little more but doesn't help my broken heart right now.

Thank you Charlie. I learned a lot from you in the short time you lived with us and I will miss you every single day. You moved into my heart and that is where you will always stay. I love you and will see you again someday...