Sunday, March 25, 2007

Where I've Been

In the past 48 hours I've been in Delaware, Illinois, and Wisconsin! It has been a whirlwind trip. All because my little brother has graduated from boot camp this weekend! Here is our fine sailor:
This photo was shot just minutes after we found him. We arrived at the ceremony location at 7am to get a good seat on the hard, cold, backless metal bleachers. The event did not start until 9:30. Unfortunately, nobody had told us that this graduating class was ONLY 380 sailors as opposed to the regular 800! Nonetheless, we had great seats. My brother has never been camera shy, so as the weekend went on we got some great photos.
Ok, so his eyes are closed here, but this is a great picture of his girlfriend. She is fabulous and really supportive of my brother. He was soooooooo happy to see her! Doesn't she take a great photo?
This one was taken on day two of liberty. Its our little family spoof on a prom picture! From left to right: Me, his girlfriend, mom, and sister. Yes, we are in a hotel room, and yes, that is the hotel room door behind us. I do have to credit my husband for agreeing to take this super silly photo!

Here are my boys! Posing again next to the bathroom door. We really did take other pictures, its just that the silly hotel shots are all on my camera. We visited a really large mall called Gurney Mills and tried to tour the Jelly Belly Factory. The line for the jelly belly factory went out the door and around the building! Maybe next time....Anyhow, congratulations to my little brother!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Works in Progress

Here are my two major projects. The first is the pair of socks I've been working on since november or earlier I think. The first sock went really really fast. This one drags on and on and I don't really want to work on it. It is done on two circular needles and I'm only part way done with the cuff. So... Here it is:
The next item I'm really working on is the purple chevron shawl which was a gift from my last secret pal. I try to work on this every night. It has grown to massive proportion and takes forever to do one row. I'm planning to add this one to my list of completed projects sooner than later:

Thank You to My Super Pal

Here are some much overdue photos of only some of the things my super pal, Emily, sent to me over the course of SP9. In addition to what you see here there were needles (very small ones, double pointed, straight ones, all beautiful bamboo), a beautiful bookmark, another book called easy knit accessories, and I don't know if I left anything out, but it was all fabulous. She sent two packages in tandem... they came two days apart. Here is a pic of some of the stuff...MASON-DIXON KNITTING!!!! Mister Joe yarn with a pattern for a breathtaking circle sweater (I'm gonna do it...) and Rowan cotton tape (lots more than you see here) for this awesome chevron shawl. I've already started this project, more to come on this one. Its getting sooo big. THANK YOU a hundred million times Emily!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

SECRET PAL 10

Here is my SP10 questionnaire!


1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love anything. I can find a use for any material. Wool, silk, acrylic, even fun fur has a place in my stash :-).


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

A giant tupperware box

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for a few years now. Seriously knitting for at least two, but it might be three. I'd consider myself an intermediate knitter. I can do cables, very basic lace, follow a pattern. I just get bored really ease and quit projects before they are finished...

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love citrus smells, actually I like just about anything that smells like a food. I really don't care for musky smells.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Is the grass green? I love it all. Dark chocolate, heath bars, oreo cookies, anything with peanut butter.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I've recently taken on sewing due to the "new house, no curtains" phenomena I'm experiencing. I'm a creative spirit at heart and will try anything if it catches my eye. Lately I've been hanging out at sherwin williams trying to coordinate paint colors. Oh and I crochet too!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I love music, all kinds. My iPod is heavy on country music and pop music. I love to sing (poorly) and dance (lots of space for that since I have no furniture) and all music is welcome.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love pink and green. In fact, all bright colors are appealing to me. But, pink and green are the all time favorites. I've never actually knitted anything pink and green- I used to be in a navy blue yarn rut, but my last pal cured me of that!


10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a darling husband and two adorable dachshunds.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves, Yes! Hats, Yes! Mittens, Yep! Ponchos, NO! I've tried. It just looks silly. You have to know your limits right?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like items that go quickly, not endless repetition- otherwise I'll quit the project. I've enjoyed socks and a shawl and a small purse. I need relatively quick gratification.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I'm working on a purple shawl that was a project from my last secret pal. It is made with Rowan cotton tape and is phenomenal. I'm actually almost finished with it.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Love them, actually prefer them.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I never was a circular needle person, but I've become addicted to Addi Turbos. I secretly plot how I will purchase my next pair without my husband realizing what I'm buying. I've never knit with bamboo, but I do enjoy straight aluminum needles. (old skool)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No! and have only recently figured out what these items are. I think it is genius. One day, when I do enough knitting to really need one I might invest.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Oh should we even go there? My life is a UFO...In fact, I think my first knitting project is a UFO. I probably have more UFOs than finished objects.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter. Best candy time. Plus it has the best colors. Best meaningful significance.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Besides yarn? I have a beautiful collection of Fenton silver crest glassware. If you know what that is then we really have something in common here. Basically it is white glass with a clear rippled rim. Its a little nerdy indulgence that I've had for years.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I love knitting books and magazines. Sometimes I take myself to Borders and just thumb through the pages and dream of what I would make if I could knit like lightning. I would really love a copy of Itty Bitty Hats, even though I don't have any or know any children. I think it is just adorable. Knit Fix is another book that I think would be pretty usefull. I always thumb through the Interweave knits or crochet magazine, but most of the projects are just too expensive/time consuming/difficult for my lifestyle.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I was having a discussion with a fried the other day about this. I've never felted anything. I need to do this. My next project will probably be a felted item, but I don't know what yet. I'd also like to do some simple lacework.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Officially yes. I made one sock and got tired of the second one about three fourths of the way down the cuff. I do socks on two circular needles though...

23. When is your birthday?

May 20th. Right smack in the middle of Secret Pal.

Things I promise....

1. I promise to blog more frequently. really.
2. I promise to post photos of my sp9 packages, they were awesome, tandem style packages that make me giggle every time i look at them still.
3. I promise to post photos of my stuff, because even though I've been crazy busy, i've been knitting too. It is my last stronghold to sanity.

Here's another list of things that I've done in the past month....

1. Moved to a new house. I still can't find half my stuff.
2. Delivered 10 babies. It is amazing.
3. Covered the workload for two colleagues while they were out sick.
4. Study Study Study because you can't deliver babies if you don't know your stuff.

I think that is enough. I'll post photos soon. I promise...