FO Friday: And this was supposed to be a quiet week!

DH’s Birthday, Maplefest (annual local event), Chapters book browsing, seeing Iron Man 3 (which was awesome!) watching Leafs tear your heart out, Craft group, lunch with the girls, Knittin club and Physio followed by lunch out with MiL (who has completely recovered, yay)  and through all this I am beavering away on my Dawn till Dusk Lace shawl, this has indeed been a humdinger of a week…

I’m in the middle of a pile of projects, embarrassed to say nothing done this week. Well started weeding the garden, we dug out 2 dead bushes and filled the planters with fresh soil… and making plans for the big event for my DS (more to come on this next month).

I adopted a couple of new books this week :0)

The Knitting Stitch Bible by Maria Parry-Jones

you can never have too many stitch dictionaries!

and Take-Along Knitting

Found on ravelry: Damask by Kitman Figueroa I liked this so much I bought the pattern one day I will knit it.

I have been enjoying reading other people’s blogs, I’m going to start linking to some you might enjoy too :0)

Blog visiting:  Peacefully knitting with Tina

Inspiration to add to my large collection of what happened next in the Austen novels.

What am I reading? Mr Darcy’s Diary by Maya Slater

Picked it up as a discard from the local library. Very entertaining so far.

Another useful tutorial:

Toe-up socks 2 at a time by Tii Casa (part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

This weeks musical interlude:

The Last Saskatchewan Pirate by the Arrogant Worms another great Canadian band! :0)

Current WIP List (15)

1. Mile a minute afghan 1st crochet project 20% done 
2. Sassy Summer Satchel  MayKal 
3. Piles of Smiles socks a new pattern I am working on 30%
4. Sssydney and friends two more to do
5. From Dawn Till Dusk shawlette / scarf 45% Done
6. Camellia shawlette - A wedding gift (due May 25) 5%
7. Sea of Dreams Blanket 60%
8. Top Down Swing Pullover – Both sleeves done 80%
9. Beryl Blanket – Long term project  (60 hexs)
10. Box of Boxes Blanket – Long term project  (17 squares)
11. Easy Peazy Shawl – almost 90%
12. Ruffle Scarf – for the fall Bazaar so no hurry 80%
13. SPROUT – Growing Roots vest 60%
14. Cozy Winter Shawl 85%
15. Pine Forest Baby Blanket 75%

FO’s 2013 = 36

WIPS 2013 = 15

Used of 37 purchased patterns from Rav = 8 (29 to go)

Stash Used 2013 = 34

Books 2013 = 15 + 1 = 16

Thanks again for visiting,

cya next week :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Weds: Adding a few to the list…

After last weeks craziness, I am hoping for a more restful week… The weather here in Ontario is lovely, and sunny. Good for sitting outside with a cuppa and knitting, while listening to Bach!

Need to move the fire pit and bring down the coffee table. and my netbook works out here too!

The Boyz put up the awning and gardening season is about to begin :0)

From Dawn Till Dusk shawlette / scarf  deadline is coming fast!

The dark pink makers are the half way point, all down hill from there :0)

Must be done by May 25th.

Mile a Minute Blanket This has been a delightful experiment!

Coming along nicely! I have another stripe ready to attach.

 Sassy Summer Satchel  MayKal 

The ball on the lower right has much more of the centre green than appears in this picture.

Piles of Smiles socks  a new pattern I am working on

Really makes plain old stripes dance!

Found on ravelry: OctoCrush Hat by Ellen Taylor. Nice summer sun hat

I have been enjoying reading other people’s blogs, I’m going to start linking to some you might enjoy too :0)

Blog visiting: Of Yarny Notions: Tales of a Nerdy knitter

Another useful tutorial: A Sock Surgeon’s Afterthought Heel Technique I frequently use this technique, or knit in a waste yarn so there are no ends to darn in!

This weeks musical interlude: The Best of Bach (this is a whole album)

And last but not least what am I reading?

The Golden Thread: A Readers Journey Through the Great Books            by Bruce Meyer

A wonderful overview of the seminal works of Western literature and why we still read them. I’ve read this several times and still find new insights. Just finished the Bible and am working on Homer’s Odyssey.

Highly recommend this to literature lovers.

Current WIP List (15)

1. Mile a minute afghan 1st crochet project 20% done  
2. Sassy Summer Satchel  MayKal
3. Piles of Smiles socks  a new pattern I am working on
4. Sssydney and friends two more to do
5. From Dawn Till Dusk shawlette / scarf 45% Done
6. Camellia shawlette - A wedding gift (due May 25) 5%
7. Sea of Dreams Blanket 60%
8. Top Down Swing Pullover – Both sleeves done 80%
9. Beryl Blanket – Long term project  (60 hexs)
10. Box of Boxes Blanket – Long term project  (17 squares)
11. Easy Peazy Shawl – almost 90%
12. Ruffle Scarf – for the fall Bazaar so no hurry 80%
13. SPROUT – Growing Roots vest 60%
14. Cozy Winter Shawl 85%
15. Pine Forest Baby Blanket 75%

FO’s 2013 = 36

WIPS 2013 = 13 + 2 = 15

Used of 37 purchased patterns from Rav = 8 (29 to go)

Stash Used 2013 = 34

Books 2013 = 14 + 1 = 15

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

FO Friday: My Treasures from the DKC Knit Frolic :0)

I didn’t get much done this week, but I promised to share my treaures from The DKC Knit Frolic in Toronto Ontario Canada April 27th.

Purchased  - 5 skeins from Grand River yarns 

Hope to make a summer tshirt from this.

2 balls of sock yarn

a pattern book

The smallest size for me ;0)

a From Sweet Paprika designs

  Theme and Variations

some smaller odds and ends

Top left clockwise: sock needle storage case, folding bag for shows, plastic safety pins, double ended crochet hook on a ring, 2 sizes of stitch markers.

A new flyer for my Lendrum Sprinning wheel and drive bands and connectors

Lendrum flyer, drive band, treadle connect.

As far as finished objects, this week was a bust…

However the weather has been splendid and Harley and I are out and about

Harley is my electric Geobike, first time out every season is a nail biter for me, till I get used to him again.

Wow!, awesome! Showed the guyz and they said NO! :0( They are no fun… Harley would so love to be yarn bombed, maybe I could start with my helmet :0)

Current WIP List (13)

1. Mile a minute afghan 1st crochet project 20% done
2. Sssydney and friends two more to do
3. From Dawn Till Dusk shawlette / scarf 45% Done
4. Camellia shawlette - A wedding gift (due May 25) 5%
5. Sea of Dreams Blanket 60%
6. Top Down Swing Pullover – Both sleeves done 80%
7. Beryl Blanket – Long term project  (60 hexs)
8. Box of Boxes Blanket – Long term project  (17 squares)
9. Easy Peazy Shawl – almost 90%
10. Ruffle Scarf – for the fall Bazaar so no hurry 80%
11. SPROUT – Growing Roots vest 60%
12. Cozy Winter Shawl 85%
13. Pine Forest Baby Blanket 75%

FO’s 2013 = 36

WIPS 2013 = 13

Used of 37 purchased patterns from Rav = 8 (29 to go)

Stash Used 2013 = 34

Books 2013 = 14

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Weds: It’s a secret, more clues part 3!

Yup, the Yarn Challenge continues and I am making progress!

Another Hint! Can you guess yet? Clue 3,

Clue 3

Clue 1, Clue 2, The readers that guess right win a prize!

Not a Poncho, little bag, or a tea cosy, keep guessing…

Woot! we have a winner!

Yes this is a bunny! Right this is the leg. Karen at
http://nothingbutknit2.wordpress.com/
 wins!

Sea of Dreams Blanket

This little blanket is for a silent auction fundraiser in June.

Love the way this is working up, thanks for the inspiration mrsmommy a friend and a really talented knitter!

Camellia shawlette - A wedding gift

My cousin is getting married in July, so lots of time to make this.

Lovely yarn!

Rereading:  Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

A fanastical Quest, ala Princess Bride, set in ancient china. I read this many years ago. My son just finished it, so I thought I would read it again…Delightful! 

Position is everything!

Jack ran out of naughtiness and fell asleep

Current WIP List (13)

1. Soper Creek Yarn Challenge
2. Sea of Dreams Blanket
3. Dripping with Lace-Your First Knitted Lace Shawl -A wedding gift
4. Top Down Swing Pullover – One sleeve done
5. My Spring Socks – My design
6. Beryl Blanket – Long term project  (60 hexs)
7. Box of Boxes Blanket – Long term project  (17 squares)
8. Easy Peazy Shawl – almost
9. Kelp Forest Shawlette - very close to done
10. Ruffle Scarf – for the fall Bazaar so no hurry
11. SPROUT – Growing Roots vest
12. Cozy Winter Shawl
13. Pine Forest Baby Blanket

FO’s 2013 = 22

WIPS 2013 = 11 + 2 = 13

Used of purchased patterns from Rav = 35 – 7 = 28

Stash Used 2013 = 19

Books 2013 = 9 + 1 = 10

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Weds: Top and Toes

Hello all! <wave>

Guess what I’ve been up to! It has been so warm around here, all the snow has melted off the front lawn. So much for living in the Great White North. I’ve decided to Spring clean in January…

I was looking at my Ravelry Queue and was shocked that it had 647 projects in it, so with a little trimming here and there I am down to just the essential 562 :0)

And Knitting!

Pure and Simple Top Down Swing Pullover by Diane Soucy

Working on the left sleeve, still to finish body and right sleeve.

Toddler Tootsies (my design)

Toddler Socks for my 2yr blog anniversary, gift pattern coming up :0)

Did you see this on Ravelry:   This week Modjeska Hat by Tracey Grzegorczyk  this pattern was on my queue wish list. texaspurlgurl generously gifted it to me last month. She noticed my Scrap Jar on Ravelry Radar and sent me this treat.  Hope to make it for DH soon.

Book of the week: Mr Darcy takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll

I have read this many times, a great continuation of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. This is the first of 2 books about Darcy and Elizabeth. I like how Linda Berdoll, depicted their evolving marrried relationship. I enjoyed this book so much, I purchased it for my new Ereader. Well worth it as I reread favourite books every few years. This is one of a few dozen, especially after reading “Pride and Prejudice”. (read recently)

Audiobook of the week: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Music Link: Fields of Gold Sung by Sting

FO’s 2013 =  3

WIPS 2013 = 9 + 1 = 10

Stash Used 2013 =  1

Books 2013 = 4 + 3 = 7

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

FO Friday: New Knitting & Notions

Good morning all, hope the week has been treating you well, and you are recovering from the holiday festivities. This is not a resolution, but I am planning to lose 20 lbs. this year. My mother has the right idea, ask someone who has lost weight and kept it off. So I am taking advice and reducing my intake of white foods. Think about it, Bread, potato, rice, sugar, cream… kinda makes sense. I’ll let ya know, I’m a carboholic so this might not be so easy!

Meanwhile I have nothing finished yet. Started a sweater Jan 1.

However I did get some after Christmas fibre related treats from DH and that with some Christmas $$$ he got me this. I think he feels a little sorry about my delapidated state. I have physi-ow today, so things should start to improve soon.

I had been looking at this book for most of the year, a great reference for construction of almost every type of top-down sweater.

7 skeins, including the trade-in, I really hope I have enough.

With Sweethearts permission I exchanged one ball of yarn and purchased the six remaining balls for my Pure and Simple Topdown swing pullover.

and exchanged the larger knitting pattern folder for the smaller one, it fits better in my knitting bag.

Oh, and for after Christmas leftovers a recipe.

It was even better the next day for lunch, must make extra food next time, or limit consumption by guests ;0)

Turkey Dinner Casserole by me:0)

Yes totally simple, using leftovers and adding in, if the guests ate some needed ingredients. Tasted as good as the original dinner! I wouldn’t use Turkey gravy, makes it too oily and heavy, hense the soup… Enjoy!

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

1/4 cup of milk + 1/8 cup left over coffee cream (wanted to use it up)

1 1/2 cup Diced Cooked Baby Carrots

1 cup Cooked Mashed Turnips

1 can Diced Potatoes (none leftover from dinner)

Mix these ingredients together in large Casserole

1 can of Cranberrry sauce spread over top

and spread the remains of the turkey stuffing over top of that.

If you find yourself short of anything you can substitute eg. stove top stuffing or   whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Bake uncovered at 350F for 45 mins to 1hr.

This was a big hit around here!

The first audiobook for this year: Wuthering Height by Emily Bronte

read here

FO’s 2013 = 0

WIPS 2013 = 7 + 1 = 8

Stash Used 2013 = 0

Books 2013 = 1 + 2 = 3

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

Happy New Year 2013!

My DS usually spends New Years Eve with his friends, while DH and I go out for a romantic dinner together. Tomorrow the family will gather at our house for early dinner and celebrate the New Year. We always spend the first and last day of the year with the people we love.

I competed my MiL’s Scarf, it has ended up as a late Christmas Present

  

MiL christmas scarf finished with 2 1/2 hours to spare, New Years eve!

Where to go to see all last years projects on Ravelry.com

And the Jar, from March to December 2012

The Jar Dec 2012

I think I’ll but it in an onion bag in the spring and watch for colourful nests.

My New Years Resolutions for 2013

1. I will Complete 7 WIP’s that have been sitting around.
2. I will knit both sweater patterns my DH gave me for Christmas 2012!
3. I have given up on organizing my stash, instead I will parcel up 13 projects with pattern,  stash yarn etc that I will make this year!
4. I will make ALL items for the Church Bazaar and craft sales from stash!
5. I will not replenish my stash as it deminishes unless DH approves (well maybe this rule can be a little flexible? I need to get the yarn for #8) (update this lasted for 14 days last year) I am going to see how long I will last this year!
6. Goal this year, significant stash reduction!
7. My studio will be dumped out and made into a haven for Knitting, sewing and scrapbooking!
8. I will complete one handmade gift for each of the 11 people that will be joining us Christmas 2013
9. I will make my DH and DS each a Hat
10. Last fibre related resolution, I will spin more.

Last Years New years resolutions - How they worked out!

I begin the year with 7  WIP’s (Leftovers from last year)

• Beryl Blanket
• Cozy Winter Shawl
• Pine Forest Baby Blanket
• Easy Peazy Shawl
• Kelp Forest Shawlette
• Ruffle Scarf #6
• SPROUT – Growing Roots Cardigan

This year I’m beginning by reading

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte on my new Koboglo. This was a free download. This is an old favourite, I reread it every few years.

I had to share this with you. A friend of ours quipped,

“In 2012, you got an Ebike, and an Ebook, you should tell your Efriends”

Bye the Bye, the Koboglo has been a steep learning curve, however I am beginning to get the hang of it, and like it better than my old Sony ereader. It holds loads more books (2gb can be upgraded to 32gb), needs a lot less chargeing it lasts a month, super easy to load new books on, and Kobo offers a wide selection of free ebooks. I like the self system and connectivity to the web. I wasn’t too sure about the touch screen till I bought a rubber tipped stylus. My hands shake and this was causing problems. I have downloaded  a bunch of knitting pattern PDFs so I can carry them around when looking for yarn or knitting. I also read at night in bed, DH loves the glo feature! No more midnight bed side lamp. I would recommend this  product. Warning, needs patience to get it working, after that it is a breeze. 

FO 2011 = 105  

FO’s 2012 =  78 (I did a few more large projects)

WIPS 2013 = 7

Stash used 2012 = 88 (stunned by this total!)

I will not mention yarn Purchased last year!

Books 2011 = 45  Books 2012 = 48

Well I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, prosperous and productive

New Year

Music to end the year: Auld Lang Syne

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

How to Celebrate Christmas…NOT!

My mother painted this porcelain Nativity set many years ago. I sits on the mantle every Christmas season

I just got over the sniffles, yay!

After of 28 years of marriage, I have spent 21 (now 22yrs) being sick or damaged at Christmas.

I was feeling good, and a little sassy. Nasty cold behind me.

• house clean and tidy, check
• the tree was trimmed, check,
• the food was purchased for the Christmas eve feast, check,
• Dessert purchased for Christmas day Supper, check
• Gifts made and purchased, check
• parcels wrapped, check,
• stocking stuffers stuffed, check.
• Good nights sleep, check

Get up in the morning, shower, dress, looking good, feeling better.

Proceed down the stairs…

Fall down the stairs!

Emergency trip to clinic, wait, wait, wait,

(did I say I had people coming for dinner?)

Trip to Hospital, X-rays, wait, wait, wait, wait

(did I say I had people coming for dinner??)

Emergency dept to see another Doctor, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

(did I say I had people coming for dinner??? panic was setting in!)

Finally Doctor, the place was really busy, and boy did I have pain!

Loads of soft tissue damage to Right shoulder Rotator cuff and Right knee.

Upside nothing broken,

Downside feel like I fell downstairs, and got run over by a bus!

This is what happens when you step around a sleeping Cat!

DH was wonderful, finished up all the little things that needed doing, cooked roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, which was wonderful, and cleaned up.

Then we all went off to midnight Communion at Church. Somehow I felt a little better celebrating Christmas by going to Church. Not my best idea, but this is the part of Christmas that means the most to me, my family all together at church Christmas eve.  The evening was magical, as we left Church the snowflakes were sparkling in the lamp light, dancing in the air. It had begun to snow.

In the morning we had our own little family Christmas, DS, DH, myself and the furry children. Willow and Jack really enjoyed their “Marinated Mice” (toy mice in a container of catnip)

Then packed up parcels and headed over to my families for lunch.

The Tree at Mom and Dad’s

Everyone else arrived for dinner. Lovely visit with everyone!  My brother and his family were sorely missed, as my nephew was not fit to travel from the states after his knee surgery. Maybe next year…

This year everyone received a knitted something, scarves, socks, and washcloths. This was last years New Years resolution! Everyone was very happy with their gifts :0)

DH and DS gave me some lovely knitting related gifts

and some patterns

I intend to knit both of these this year!

and

BiL gave me a knitting book (well $ to purchase one)

received bunch of dvd’s, (Casablanca, Gone with the wind, Singin in the rain, A streetcar named desire, Dr Zhivago, Showboat, Anne get your Gun, Kiss me Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) the family knows I have a thing for old movies. :0)

MiL gave me a Koboglow, not sure how it works yet.

and a set of new everyday dishes, from Mom and Dad. Our original set is looking a little dog-eared, what is left of it.

Well it is Boxing Day, and the guys dragged me into every Electronic store and I nodded and smiled, about gigs and ram and rpg, then they took me to lunch, so fun was had by all.

I am healing up but still pretty uncomfortable.

I want to thank everyone for making this Christmas a merry one in spite of everything.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Next Year

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Weds: Good news and treats!

Good morning all!

First of all, I am delighted to report that the St.George’s Craft Sale was a great success. We made more that ever before. We are well on our way to a wheelchair ramp for the church hall. Our small group is very pleased, and we are already thinking of having another in the New Year. :0)

Things are improving on the cold front. I was very disappointed that I could not attend the Craft Sale. I am recovering slowly, but bugs seem to like to hang around and tire me out. My fellas are both better, and taking great care of me and Willow and Jack have been snoozing with me.

Meanwhile I continue on my WIP’s

Ruffle Scarf #6

Not much progress here

Picot-edge Baby Blanket

This is working up very nicely!

The Hobbit: Bombur’s Travelling Socks

Special features: Toe-up, spiral toe, with after thought spiral heel. Chart and video references provided. The sock for non-sock knitters!

In honour of the release of the Hobbit, here is a new pattern free to my Blog readers. It will be going on Ravelry sale on the 14th. 

Merry Christmas enjoy!

Ravelry page

This weeks Book: Cold Days by Jim Butcher

#14 in the Dresden File Series

Was a really good read! Like usual from the frying pan into the fire. Harry has to save everyone, he has only 24hrs to do it, and only his magic and his brains.

FO’s 2012 =  76

Patterns from my own Library = 6

WIP’s 2012 = 2 + 1 = 3

Stash used 2012 = 84

Beryl Blanket Hexes = 48

Books =  42 + 1 = 43

Thanks again for visiting,

cya on Friday.

WIP Weds and Friday’s at Tami’s

For links to my blogwalk come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Wed: Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone! Happy Halloween

Where more pumpkins come from!

I hope everyone out there that had a brush with “Sandy” is ok. We had 87km winds and a lot of rain here along the north shore of Lake Ontario in Canada. The boys put everything that might fly in the garage. Lucky we have a new roof so we were warm and dry. Very short lights out. Some trees came down and some people had basement flooding. Unfortunately, a women was hit and killed by a large glass sign that blew down in the wind in Toronto. We are still very wet around here… liquid sunshine till friday.

The Bazaar on saturday was a great success, in spite of the cold and rain. The hot lunch went over very well. Business was steady all day. (sorry I was too busy to take pictures) Everyone did a great job, and it was nice to see so many people who braved the wet weather.

I was very pleased with the response to my FO Friday post, about Contemplation on the “To do List”. I have made a big change in my gift giving. A few will get a larger handmade gift every year, others will get a small handmade gift, yet others will get one once in a while, and more than a few will get something special via retail. This relieves the pressure and allows me to enjoy the creative process and allocate my time more effectively.

I have been working away on my Drop stitch Scarf

Just about done, maybe tomorrow. The marker in the middle shows progress today.

Have to block the Oaklet shawl. Hope to have it for friday.

This weeks Music:  Last Rose of Summer - Singers: Hayley Westenra, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha

This weeks Book: Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan

Second in the Sea Haven novels, so far so good. The premise is that a group of women who are elementals, each has an affinity to some element. I liked the last one “Water bound”. hoping this one will be as good.

FO’s 2012 = 59

Patterns from my own Library = 6

WIP’s 2012 = 4

Stash used 2012 =  67 

Beryl Blanket Hexes =  48

Books =  33 + 1 = 34

Thanks again for visiting,

cya on Friday

WIP Weds and Friday’s at Tami’s

For links to my blogwalk come join me in the blogpond :0)