Are you ready for ....

The next step in crochet?

I'm giving an Intermediate Class on Crochet in February at the Seed Stitch Fine Yarn. Were you in my Beginner's Crochet Classs? Want to take the next step to learn more? Do you know just a little crochet but want some guidance to reading a pattern? Well we'll be doing the Woodland Shawl from Interweave Crochet Fall 2008 magazine. I used Mountain Colors Mountain Goat and I love the way it came out. If you want to take the class and crochet along, Victoria has the magazine down at Seed Stitch for you purchase when you sign up for the class. [BTW, do they call this a CAL rather than a KAL?]

Check it out ...



Didn't have my good camera with me so I'll take a better picture tonight. It's on display at Seed Stitch until after the class so you can even come down and see it in person. Well ... those who live near by that is. I have some friends out there that I'd love to have in my class also ... if only they lived closer.



M-m-m-m-m,
maybe next time I'll make it longer to cover my butt too!

If it wasn't for my Knitting Friends ...

I don't know what I'd do.






They sure know what to do when you're feeling down.
These friends are keeping me going right now ... and petting cashmere is just what the doctor might order. [A neck warmer might be knit from this in my near future.]



So while I sit by the fireside petting my yarn and dreaming of what to knit next, my friends are helping me to keep my mind off of more troubling things for now. Thanks V, SSFY staff and Thursday Knitters!

It's a little known fact ...

That I've always had the desire to do watercolour painting. I've got it in my plans for an activity during retirement. And my style really is a lot like the Impressionists. Who knew?

My result for "What Your Taste in Art Says About You" Test...

Balanced, Secure, and Realistic.

Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects. Impressionist paintings are balanced, use colored shadows, use pure color, broken brush strokes, thick paint, and scenes from everyday life or nature.

People that like Impressionist paintings may not alway be what is deemed socially acceptable. They tend to move on their own path without always worrying that it may be offensive to others. They value friendships but because they also value honesty tend to have a few really good friends. They do not, however, like people that are rude and do not appreciate the ideas of others. They are secure enough in themselves that they can listen to the ideas of other people without it affecting their own final decisions. The world for them is not black and white but more in shades of grey and muted colors. They like things to be aestically pleasing, not stark and sharp. There are many ways to view things, and the impresssionist personality views the world from many different aspects. They enjoy life and try to keep a realistic viewpoint of things, but are not very open to new experiences. If they are content in their life they will be more than likely pleased to keep things just the way they are.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Only time for "Idiot socks"!

That's right. You know the ones. The yarn does all the pattern work for you. You just have to know how to cast on for the correct size ... knit the ribbing, knit stockinette stitch and know your sock sections. That's it. When you're on the leg you can just zone out as you knit, knit, knit, knit.

Just a little more thought goes into the heel but once you round the bend and get the decreases down to the foot, it's once again just knit, knit, knit ... until the toe decreasing.

Why the only brain work will come when you do the kitchener stitch to weave the toe together at the end. But you don't even need to do that if you do the decreases right down to just a few stitches and draw the yarn thru the loops and pull. But I need a square toe section so I'll make the extra effort to do the kitchener.

That's what I'm up to doing right now. Mindless knitting. Nothing serious because my brain just can't take it right now ...

And then I'm thinking ... well now's the time I should confess to my "other" obsession. A stash obsession. But I'm not talking about yarn stash. Not this time anyway ...

It's about BOOKS ...















But why limit myself to just books ...



Well in all honesty, that's just the tip of the ice berg

AND ...

All the time I have at the moment to take pictures of
my dirty little secret.

[what do you mean ... you KNEW?]

For the ABC along ... let's post a U.

U is for Unfinished!

There's a lot of that around here. Do you remember any of these?














And let's not even discuss the "One Sock Sydrome" going on around here!

Yup, you heard what I said ...

No discussion.

My ABC along postings are lagging behind again ...

But here's to catching up. So where did I leave off?
Oh ya ... S was for Sisters. So here's my T ...

Must be T for ...

Tea cozy of course!

And by now you must all know that when it comes to Tea cozies ...



I'm just a "One trick pony!" ... uh, make that a Ewe??

Time flies when life is going ...

Crazy!

Did you wonder what happened to me? After all this time? I've only been posting minor trivia stuff lately right? Nothing substantial. Nothing about what I've been up to. Not much in knitting. Only a hint of the ordeal going on behind the scenes. [Bill is now at another rehab -- one of the best that I could find -- and now only time will tell what God has in store for him ... and me too.] [Isn't it time for another waltz?]

That's right, I did tell you I was going to the Kaffe Fassette Lecture that Seed Stitch Fine Yarn was hosting. So I'll start there ...


Would you believe I forgot my camera? Sure did. Can't imagine where my head was at. BUT, I did finish the Grace Shawl from the Colourscape Collection. So I won't keep you waiting any longer to see the finished knit. Here it is ...

I finished it on the very day of the lecture and steamed blocked it. It was a very cool evening so it turned out to be the perfect thing to wear that night. I love this yarn so much that I have other projects planned as well. Why stop at just a blanket size shawl right?

So there's the Tainted Scarf ...


and the Ombre ...



And would you believe that it only took one skein? And the pattern called for TWO skeins which I bought ... so I made a second Ombre ...



That being said ... do you wonder if there was a skein left after knitting the Grace Shawl?
Sure ... ONE skein. So why not make an Ombre to go with my shawl?



Why I love this yarn so much ...



I've started the Valour Vest as well. This time in the colorway: Ghost.

Does any of this stop me from starting other projects? You know, like the Mystery Sock with Through the Loops?

Or buying yarn and making plans for another Knit Poet design by Champagne Maker called the Undertow?

Or ...

The Warm Palette Fingering Yarn Sampler Kit by Knit Picks ...

Never mind the fact that I've started another scarf for the Beginner's Crochet Class I was teaching this Fall [last class was this past Sunday] ...

Or the crocheted Stole from the book "Plus Size Crochet: Fashions that Fit & Flatter", I'm making for Seed Stitch Fine Yarn to put on display in the store ...


Yup it's Crochet!

And another crochet project is in the works for February. Only this one is for the Intermediate crocheter. Have you seen the Woodland Shawl on the Interweave Crochet magazine? I fell in love with it. I started it on Sunday afternoon and I'm about half done now. I'm using Mountain Colors in Wild Raspberry and Alpaca SOX in Granny Smith green.

Ooooooo, just wait 'til you see it. Don't even ask about the other stuff I've started ... 'coz I'm just not going there until next time!

Well maybe I'm a Doris but does she knit?

My result for "Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else?"
Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Doris!

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.


• * Share fun times with me.


• * Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.


• * Let me know that I am important and special to you.


• * Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships

• * Reassure me that I am interesting to you.


• * Reassure me often that you love me.


• * Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Doris

• * being able to relate easily to people and to make friends


• * knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better


• * being generous, caring, and warm


• * being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings


• * being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Doris

• * not being able to say no


• * having low self-esteem


• * feeling drained from overdoing for others


• * not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish


• * criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should


• * being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them


• * working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings

Dorises as Children Often

• * are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism


• * try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding


• * are outwardly compliant


• * are popular or try to be popular with other children


• * act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention


• * are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Dorises), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Dorises)

Dorises as Parents

• * are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)


• * are often playful with their children


• * wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"


• * can become fiercely protective

Now it's your turn ...

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Have you Voted yet? No, I don't mean for President ...

While I'm getting my DH settled into a new rehabilitation center please check out the Need A TECH makeover website from Intel and give your vote if you haven't already ... yup, voting is still going on.

MVFiberFarm ... go Sheep!


Isn't this guy just the cutest thing?

I Voted for the Sheep! (and an additional message)

Rosemary-go-round posted about this ... It's about MV Fiber Farm, and you can read about it here and vote.

Yes, yes, I voted! Tell all your friends to vote too!!

Now I want to invest in yarn on the hoof ...

Added Note: Wait. Come back and read about Through the Loops' KAL ... for those on Ravelry, come join the Mystery Sock KAL. There'll be prizes!!
But I love a good sock and mystery anyway ...

Was I ever a kid?

My result for What Kind of Kid were You Test...

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

3 Cute, 2 Alternative, 7 Nerdy, 2 Popular, -1 Rebellious, 5 Wild!

You were the one who always was first to raise you hand when the teacher asked you a queston. Or maybe you were too shy for that, but you certainly knew the answer. You loved to learn. You hated gymnastics at school though.

Your social skills probably left something to be desired, but there were always "uncool" kids like you, for you to hang out with. And you knew how to have fun in your own way.

Take What Kind of Kid were You Test at HelloQuizzy

I do remember being a little "Nerdy" ...

wait,

that's what I am now ...

A Knitting Nerd!