Look, a contest right now ...

Go check it out on Post #555 Contest at "Shut up, I'm Counting".

Note: some really good advice is afforded to her soon-to-be 17 year old.
Especially this one ... "Take advantage of every moment you have with your family now, when you are still young. Soon enough, you will look around and they will be far away, occupied with other priorities, or even gone forever."

I say, Amen.

... oh, I hope & pray I win those cute little felted sheep markers.

I'm still here ...

Honestly, I am. Just knitting or crocheting. Should do some housework. Should do some exercise. Should balance my budget. Should pay some bills. But NO ...

I'm knitting on the Mystic Light Shawl from Knit & Knag KAL. Finished Clue 4 on Saturday and working on 5 now, which is the last one before blocking. Might take me a week. Each row gets longer and longer. It took me 45 minutes to do just one row this morning before getting ready for work. But I LOVE this shawl and can't wait to see the magic of blocking and then wearing it. It's for ME!!!




I did start and finished a project last week. Pretty Lace Handwarmers from the Purl Bee. I used Sheep 3 Shop Company Yarn as the pattern calls for. It took about 135 yards and I have 190 yards left. I'm going to make another pair for a gift. I'm sure of it. Love this pattern!

And where else have I been? Besides teaching the Crochet Class on Sunday afternoon that is.

Well I'll give you a hint ...








Is that the CHERRY tree in bloom? I dare say it is.



Oh how I love Spring!

A whirlwind weekend ...

is exactly what I had.

Went up to New Hampshire to see the kiddos ...



Love their funny faces and all!

Then the first Beginner's Crochet Class started on Sunday at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn. I'll be teaching the class for the next two Sundays as well. We're doing the Wave Scarf. My test crocheter, Sandy (blogless) from Hemet, CA sent me a picture of hers. Isn't it perrrty?


I'll show you a picture of our progress from the class after the 3rd & last class. There are 7 of us in all. Two hours went by really fast!

BTW, check out who will be at Seed Stitch on May 3rd. Kristin Nicolas, author of Colorful Stitchery and Kristin Knits. I've already signed up for her lecture and workshop. The workshop is on "Learning to fringe while knitting, decorative embroidery, zipper installation, and duplicate stitches."
I'm looking forward to this!

And then of course I had to start something new. Had to buy new yarn for it too. Why not knit up "All Ruffled Up" by Champayne Maker? Seed Stitch just got some of her patterns and there are quite a few I've been wanting to do. So I'll knit this one first ...

Never mind the other WIP's for now, hey.

They're getting done slow but sure. Like the Mystic Shawl ...
I'm on clue 4 now
and this Wednesday is the 5th and last one.

And the others will wait for me. You remember the Einstein Coat?
Not going anywhere.

Heaven forbid that I get this one done ...

After all ... I have plenty of the Tissue Cozies to put together also.

Didn't stop me from buying more yarn at Seed Stitch tho ...

To make these Pretty Lace Handwarmers from the Purl Bee ...

And why not add to my sock yarn from Yarn Chef, huh?


Just because it's pretty AND I couldn't help myself!

I'm obsessed with yarn. Whyyyyyyyyyy?



Well I have more than one obsession I'm afraid!

H = Hawk on my windowsill ...

Every year we watch and wait for the new Hawk fledglings start to fly from their nest here at MIT and around Cambridge, MA. This one time a couple of years ago a young hawk landed and rested on my windowsill while I worked. I just happened to have my camera and got a few shots before he took off again.

Giving me the eye over ... "hey you, are you really working in there?" ... "where's your knitting?" ... "let me see!"

What's in a Name? And Finally an FO ...

Finished the Cashmere Cowl for one of my friends. I put two buttons on it so it can be closed when needed to keep wind out. It's a surprise gift ... for no particular occasion. I just thought she'd like it.

The name I use in this world that is ... the StitchingNut.

Soooooo,

What does Stitchingnut Mean?

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze every aspect of your life. You are intuitive, brilliant, and quite introverted. You value your time alone. Often times, you are grumpy with other people. You don't appreciate them trying to interfere in your affairs. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.

[That looooong list came up when I entered Stitchingnut, honestly!]

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Good Luck!

Mystic Light is shining my way ...

I finished the 2nd set of directions just yesterday morning. Took some pictures right after dinner before the sun went down and this morning the #3 directions just got posted.

I'm in love with this knitting project ...





So you know what I'm knitting on tonight?

Crochet anyone?

So now that I've got the crochet fever back ...

Join me at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn for a beginner's crochet class ... Sunday, April 20, 27 & May 4, 1:00 to 3:00 pm! Room for a few more eager stitchers.

We'll make a beautiful Wave Scarf together ...

I'll even make one along with you in these colors from Cascade:

[I couldn't get that last one to come out to it's true color. It has dark green & blue in it also.]

And before you go ... check out the video at Bella Dia's. It's so important to promote creativity and imagination in our children, I believe everyone should hear this. Especially the educators of our young people, as well as parents.

Speaking of children ... I think I'll go call one of them now.

Oh ya, I crocheted that afghan on the back of the couch ... got it stored away. It reminds me of Flowers in Summer ...
I think I'll go pull it out! It's COLD outside!!

I'm playing with fire ...

Trying not to get burned ...

So I've finished Clue 1 for the Mystic Light Shawl KAL!
It's hot, hot, hot!!



I think I should add from Anna at Knit & Knag who designed this pattern:

"This triangular shawl draws its inspiration from light in its many forms.
From a clear, starlit night to the dancing flames of a warming fire.
Silvery moonlight and golden flames."

So that's why I picked the two yarns that I did. Altho, I should maybe wear it with a touch of yellow on black during a starry night in front of the fire pit while at my daughter & son in law's place this summer. How cozy I'll be, huh? Just add the grandchildren around me!













I tried getting shots at different angles and lighting to see if I could get the touch of orange in it to show up. But not sure if it's working. I do love this shawl so far though. In person, it's even nicer.

So now it's on to Clue 2.

But before I do ... I've got to show you some Yarn Porn.

Brooklyn Handspun's Monthly Sock Club yarn came in. This is for March called "Kiss Me I'm Irish" in Soft Spun. AND ...

I just couldn't resist purchasing this colorway the other day. It's dyed especially for Seed Stitch Fine Yarn by Brooklyn Handspun ... in Soft Spun Plus and called "Seed Stitch" of course.

Oh, be still my feet!

G = Grammy ...

The best part of life is being a Grandparent .... a Grandmother.

Grammy.

I always wanted to be called "Grammy" and these are just a few reasons why ...

Just not enough time to find all the pictures of me and all the honeybugs ...

For better or worse, I love them all! All 18 !! That's right ... Eighteen!

And nothing will change my mind.