Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

The Ten on Tuesday topic for 11/30 is 10 Favorite Places for Online Shopping.  Most of my online shopping is fiber related for me or gifts for family members.

1) QVC - I am a junky, Kathy Van Zeeland handbags, Denim and Co clothing, etc.

2) The Loopy Ewe - yarn, patterns, etc.

3) Borders, B & N, and Amazon - books

4) The Woolen Rabbit - yarn which is yummy and Wee Bunny Bags - so cute

5) Spunky Eclectic - fiber and yarn

6) Knitspot - patterns - beautiful shawls, scarves, sweaters and socks. Very clear instructions.

7) LL Bean - great items and free shipping.

8) Etsy Shops - Wee Ones stitch markers - so cute, The Painted Sheep (she is local though so I get mine at Spinning Guild meetings), Fearless Fibers - lovely yarn, there are more, just can't remember right now.

9) Elann - yarn, patterns, etc.

10) Woolgirl - I have become addicted to the kits she offers, so much fun.

I'm done shopping except for a few gift cards.  Now to have it all arrive and then wrapped.  I tend to wait to Xmas eve and then just do a wrapping marathon but I think I will try to be different this year and wrap it up as I go.  We work with a local charity at work and have an adopted family.  I did my shopping on Wednesday before Thanksgiving even though I might have saved about $2 to $4 if I waited till Black Friday.  For the first time in years, I did not go to Kohl's on Black Friday.  I really didn't miss it and I liked the shopping I did instead.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Legwarmers pair 2

These are the second pair of legwarmers.  They are for my hairdresser's younger daughter.  They are a relatively quick knit when I actually work on them.

I hope everyone has had a nice weekend.  My niece seems to have inherited her fathers yell at the TV during a football game genes.  All during the turkey dinner and after, she commented at the TV.  It was interesting.  She and her brother left after the game to visit their father so it was quiet in the house and I knit some.

My sister and I went shopping on Black Friday but it was mostly personal purchases for me.  She went shopping early and then I went to her house for 9:30.  We went to the mall that I passed on the way to her house and I bought myself a book at Borders (I can't resist the 40% off coupons).  She went to Macy's to get a gift for my niece.  Then we went to Dick's Sporting Goods (we parked above their store) and I bought her a bike helmet for my parents to give her for Xmas.  After that, we went off to the bead store so she could get a tube of beads, then to Coldwater Creek where we did very good.  I bought myself a tshirt and fleece shirt.  She picked out a sweater for my mother to give her for Xmas.  I got my mother a pair of earrings for Xmas and myself a pair of earrings which my father took to give to me.  With discounts and other stuff, it came to about $40.  We then went to a yarn shop and I bought some sale yarn and some Malabrigo sock which I can't seem to resist.  My sister had heard about a Moebius and wanted to make one.  She picked up some yarn and then Saturday she picked up the needles and she has already cast on.  I made one years ago but didn't have the size needles she needed.  I am mostly done with shopping except for a few gift cards that I will get later on.

For knitting, I finished the legwarmers above and cast on number one of the last pair.  Traveling Woman came off the blocking board today.  I finally cast on for hat number 1 for my nephew.  I think it is all going to work out but we shall see.  I haven't touched any other knitting at all.  Still planning sweaters in my head. 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

There seems to be a family of turkeys that hang out in the woods where I work.  This morning there were about 9 - 12 of them, some up in the tree near where I park but I had no camera with me.  This shot was outside my window a few years ago.

The Ten on Tuesday topic for 11/23 is (no surprises here) 10 Things You Love About Thanksgiving.

1) Turkey
2) Apple Pie
3) Homemade rolls
4) All the family is together, we have a small family - my mother, father, sister and her two kids. Sometimes   
    my ex bil comes over as his wife's a nurse and she works most holidays.
5) Manchester Road Race - it's on TV and I walked it one year with a friend. We met Mary Decker Slaney
    one year.
6) Football - good for knitting time
7) Leftovers - I love turkey and can eat turkey sandwiches for days
8) The quiet after every leaves, it sometimes seems so noisy when everyone is there and after they go it's just
     relaxing to think back on the day.
9) A long weekend from work - we are getting out early tomorrow and I took Monday so more knitting 
     time.
10) Planning my black Friday shopping - reading the ads and planning.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Criminal Minds Mystery Kerchief

This is the Criminal Minds Mystery Kercheif from the Criminal Minds Group on Ravelry.  The yarn is some old Knit Picks yarn.  It was a fun knit with a clue a week for I think 6 weeks.  I actually kept up with the knitting and it was a lot of fun.

Finally blocked Traveling Woman today.  Don't know what took so long, just didn't feel like blocking it. Just started yesterday legwarner two of the first set for my hairdresser's daughters.  I'm on skein two of three for the Collo Wrap so that is coming along.  Haven't touched Acer though I have moved it from it's spot on the love seat.

Work knitting is still Holden till the holiday this week.  I am hoping to finish up the stockinette stitch section and then will leave it home as I plan to add beads to the lace.  Not sure what will become work knitting then, maybe the legwarmers.  Or my nephews hat which I haven't started yet.  I measured him and have it mostly plotted out.  Just need to do a search on Raverly for similar hats in the same yarn to figure out how many to cast on.  I hope to at least do a small amount of the ribbing so I can measure it on him to make sure it is correctly on track.  Then he is going to be surprised by the finished project.  He said he wanted to watch it develop but no, it will be unveiled at Xmas.  He will be surprised as I hope to get 2 done for him, the sample and then the one he really wants.

I have been spending a lot of time searching on Ravelry for ideas to use a yarn or two.  Well, one started with a pattern I found that used sock yarn for a hat.  Then the stash in my room (and in my stash book) was searched till I found a contender.  Ended up at the YS on Saturday and bought 3 more yarns to go with the ones I have.  I now have them grouped up into 2 sets with three yarns each to make a hat, mitten and scarf set from each grouping of yarn.  One is Autumn colors and the other is more of a burgandy, lime, cream set.  These will probably be for next winter.  I did find some yarn I got a camp to make mittens but think I will use that to make a hat if it goes with the current scarf/gloves that I use.  Will have to check that out this week to see how the colors match.  So much to knit, so little time.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

I am not a movie goer.  Usually end up with loud people nearby so I prefer to watch at home on DVD.  The last movie I saw at the theater was Confessions of a Shopaholic and I ended up with some stomach bug that night and missed 2 1/2 days of work.

But, The Ten on Tuesday topic for 11/16 is 10 Movies You'd Like to See in the Theater. Mostly older movies as there usually isn't anything out I want to see.
1) Grease - favorite movie, saw it on opening night when I was in high school. Own the DVD, never actually
     watched it as it is on TV so much.

2) Sound of Music

3) Rent - saw the play, and my niece owns a copy of the DVD so I have seen that, too.

4) Fiddler on the Roof

5) Rocky Horror Picture Show

6) Mama Mia - We watched it at knitting camp and all sang along. Plus, have rented it at home.

7) The Wizard of Oz - ok, I admit, I watch it almost every time it is on and actually have a few Woolgirl kits
    that are Oz related.  I am now hooked on her kits and all because of the Glinda one I started with
    recently.

8) Where the Wild Things Are, my favorite childhood book.

9) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, have seen it on tv.

10) Julia and Julia, have the book, haven't read it yet but would like to see the movie.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Leg Warmers FO

Here are the legwarmers for my co-workers daughter.   The pattern is by Dancerella.  I have given them to my friend and she is holding them till the holiday's for her daughter.  I have finished one fo the legwarmers for my hairdresser's daughter and will probably cast on number 2 tonight or tomorrow night.  It takes less than a week to knit one if I work on it a little every night.  I will have extra yarn from all three pairs so may make hats for next year with that yarn.

My Traveling Woman shawl is done but not blocked yet.  Maybe next weekend I will get to it.  I was cleaning some stuff out to donate this weekend plus other cleaning.  Some knitted items are going to be donated to a homeless shelter.  I still have more to dig out and donate.  I have my favorites of what I have knit and some of these will never be worn so I would rather they get use somewhere.  Work knitting is now going to be Shawl #10 for the 10 Shawls in 2010 group on Ravelry.  It is the Holden Shawlette and will be out of some Classic Elite Alpaca Sox with beads added as I saw one done on Ravelry and it looks like a relaxing knit for my last shawl of the year.  Wasn't sure if I would get 10 done but I should be able to get this one done among the other things I am knitting.

I also cast on a Collo Wrap out of some BS Lambs Pride Bulky that I had sitting around.  Think I was going to make a pair of Bella's mittens but it is not started as this wrap.  Size 15 needles which seem so big to knit with.  Funny thing is, in my needle stash, I have 2 or 3 pairs of size 13, 15 and 17 needles.  Why, I don't know.  I also had cast on an Acer Cardigan about a week or so ago but have only done 2 rows.  Didn't like my needles so ordered a pair and they have arrived so I will be working on that again.

Cassidy has been frogged.  The yarn seemed too soft for the cables so it is going to become a pullover from Intereweave Knits, I think.  I have ordered some yarn from the YS but may also use one from stash, I am not sure yet.  I do still want to make this cardigan.

I have charted out my nephews hat (2 versions from what I found on a website, there is a third colorway but not doing that one) and ordered more yarn for the good one I am making him.  I picked up another skein needed at the YS Saturday and this one is a little different in color and the pattern chart is different.  This one will be the sample as he really wants the other one and I didn't want to knit the same thing twice.  I have to measure his head Tuesday night and then I can start it later on in the week.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

The Ten on Tuesday Topic for 11/9 is 10 Dream Vacations. I don't like to fly so most of mine are around the east coast.


1) A week or long weekend at the Trapp Family lodge in VT. When my aunt was alive, we went up there to take pictures almost every time I was up there visiting.

2) Nantucket - have been here for a few hours, took the boat from the Cape over and back.

3) Martha's Vineyard - never been, want to go.

4) Maine - Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park, haven't been in years, want to go back.

5) Newfoundland - have always wanted to go here.

6) Nova Scotia - I had read about a boat that you put your car on and ride over and I would like to do that though I don't know anyone else who thinks that would be fun.

7) Canada - need to get a passport but I when I graduated from high school, my gift was an airline ticket to Toronto and back. I stayed with a girl in Ontario that I met at my parents cottage (she was in the big brother/big sister program and her big sister had a sister who has a cottage where my parent's is and we
met there).

8) Alaska - if I was going to fly, this is where I want to go with a cruise included.

9) Vancouver and Banff - Vancouver looks beautiful and my sister has been to Banff.

10) Australia, Ireland, Scotland - if I'm going to fly, I went to head off and see the countryside and just explore.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Fiber Festival of New England

I spent part of Saturday with my parents at the Fiber Festival of New England held at the Big E fairgrounds in Springfield, MA.  It was my mother's birthday and it also included lunch at Friday's on the way home which was a place they have never been.

The festival was nice, we got parking very close to the building which was good for my parents.  They walked around and then stopped and sat on a bench and sat there watching all the shoppers till I was ready to leave.  I bought 3 patterns by Stephen West (love his patterns) and some yarn at Creatively Dyed.  Yummy.  I also bought a skein of sock yarn from Spunky Eclectic and 2 more skeins of sock yarn from Decadent Fibers.  I was on a button search but really didn't find what I wanted. Probably for the best to wait until I at least have most of the sweater done in case I decide I don't like it and rip it out.  I had planned to get back to the Spunky booth but didn't.  That's ok though as I can order online or wait till MA Sheep and Wool next year.

Lunch knitting is still the Traveling Women Shawl.  Should be done by next weekend.  At home, I am working on a Cassidy cardigan.  Not in love with the yarn so we shall see how that goes.  I am planning out my nephew's hat and I think my ideas will work so will wind up that yarn next weekend.  I have the yarn out for the next 2 pairs of leg warmers and plan to cast on one pair sometime this week to become my lunch knitting.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

The Ten on Tuesday topic for 11/2 is 10 Ways to Simplify Your Life.


1) Unplug the phone, or just shut off the ringers. We don't have caller ID so this is our only choice.

2) Lose the internet, couldn't do this. I am too connected. I do limit myself to 1 1/2 to 2 hours a night after being on a computer all day at work. I have an ipod touch now so that doesn't help as I can check email and facebook all night from the couch. I have a netbook but only tend to pull that out on a weekend when I want to sit in an easy chair and search the web.

3) Leave the cell phone turned off, this I do. I have a pay as you go and it isn't on unless I am using it or playing a game. At Rhinebeck, I stuck it back in my bag a few times and ended up shutting the volume off. I pulled it out to call my father as I was ready to go and I found a bunch of voicemails from him as they were ready to go earlier than our meeting time and went to the car.

4) Shut off the TV, maybe lose the cable. I'm not sure I could do this, I watch a lot of sports as background noice while I knit at night.

5) Plan my shopping (groceries) as I tend to get to the store and buy what I don't need and then get home and complain to myself that I buy what I shouldn't.

6) Donate old clothes, I do this occasionally but still keep more than I should and more than I will ever wear. I am getting better though and twice a year while switching for the seasons, I do donate clothes.

7) Go through yarn and donate what I won't use. My mother and I occasionally do this and we are planning another purge before the holidays. We bring it to a senior rest home that has a room set up as a yarn shop for the residents. They knit and crochet and weave for their fair. We also occasionally bring it to the Girls Club and Senior center in town.

8) Purge the books and donate them to a place that feeds the homeless, they also get some of the clothes. Goodwill also gets some, plus the local library.

9) Purge some patterns. I have a bucket filled with patterns that need to be organized and also patterns that were printed and will never be used. I plan to also organize and clean out these.

10) Relax more and just enjoy each day. Play more with my cats.

My nephew didn't simplify my life today.  He asked for a hat for Xmas and not the Olympic hat I was planning.  He wants one based on a cartoon character and I have to design it myself.  I have some ideas so it might not be too bad.  He's 20 and doesn't ask for much so this he will get.