Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Why do I have to work?

I'm tired of working. I just want to play with my yarn, buy more yarn, organize my yarn, knit my yarn and have fun. I think I might have been a cat in a previous life, lol.

One of these days, it may take me 10 years to make this idea come into fruition, but I'm going to open my own yarn shop. My idea is that I'll let my kids have my house, if they want it. I'm going to buy one of the old buildings downtown on main street, renovate it and have my yarn shop downstairs and turn the upstairs into an apartment. Then I can play with yarn all day long. My vision is a cute little shop with all types of yarn with all price ranges. (I won't carry Red Heart or Bernat because they can get that at Wal-Mart cheaper than I could carry it). I'll have a big round table in one room for people to sit around and knit, retro couch and chairs in another room, a tea pot with hot water at all times so people can help themselves to a cup of tea.

I may have to win the lottery to actually afford to buy one of the buildings, but that's my plan. What do you think about it? I can't tell you the name I have in mind because I don't want anyone using it before I get the chance.

It's coming along nicely




It's not a fast knit by any means, but it's coming along nicely. I wish I'd have been able to find some other colors, the picture is hard to tell but I have a pale blue and a pale lavendar side by side and they look like the same color and then I also have a deep red and a burnt orange side by side and they look like the same color too. I found the color swish so I'm adding it in my next square and I've got dewberry and drab on the way. I guess I should have waited until I had all my colors to start, but I just couldn't stand it any longer. I'm the type of knitter who can only have one project going at a time. I start feeling guilty about leaving a project and going to the next, kind of like I might hurt it's feelings. I know, I'm just weird like that. I'm the same way with reading books, I've got friends who will say "I'm reading this, and that, and I've just started on the next one, etc" I have to read one book at a time. Plus, with knitting I like to look at the pattern read through it, work a few rows and then just go. If I had 3 or 4 projects going at the same time, I'd have the patterns mixed up and my knit a mitered square in the front of a sweater. Hmmm, that give me an idea for a sweater, just take this pattern, some cool colors and viola! a retro 70's sweater. Maybe I'll make one for the baby.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

New Project


I finally finished my interlaken blanket and I love it. It's so comfy to curl up on the couch and watching tv or working on my lastest knitting project.


I've started working on the modern quilt wrap from knitting daily. (pictured) Isn't it soooo pretty? I'm using kid mohair in all different colors and working mitered squares in different sizes, picking up stitches from one square to another. The pattern suggests using a size 7 circular needle, but it just seemed so tight so I switched to an 8 and it's turning out really cool.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Changes


I was reading some of my old posts and realized alot has changed in a year and a half. Like the animal situation, KC (Kitty Cat, my beloved 17 year old) died last year, his kidneys failed and he went blind all in one day, I had to have him put to sleep which was so hard. KC you are truly missed.
We acquired a new dog, Nellie in February (she was a Valentines present from Brennan to Chelsea).
Beau, our loveable big black lab was killed by the neighbors. I'm not certain, but the neighborhood rumors confirm they did it. He went out one night to go to the bathroom and he never came back, the shotgun blast concerned me, but I thought he was okay. Why are some people so cruel. He was a very sweet and good dog.

The most important addition to our family has been this little man (pictured above). Hayden Michael will be 2 months old on Jan 17th - he is the reason I continue to breath. I look forward to seeing him everyday.

Almost finished


Here it is, this is the Interlaken blanket from Berroco. I used Berroco Comfort worsted weight yarn and size 9 needles. It's really been fun making this blanket. I just wanted to let you guys see it. I'm not quite finished but almost, I need to complete 2 more sections and weave in some ends and it will be complete.
I taught my son-in-law Brennan how to knit last night, he has alot of anxiety attacks and worries about everything. He won't take pills, he says he can't - it's all in his head, but he needs a way to relieve the stress and tenion that builds up on him. So I told him knitting was the best thing to help you relax. I got out a pair of size 13 bamboo needles and some yarn I got on sale for .99 cents and showed him how to cast on, once he had 20 stitches on the needle, I showed him how to knit. He's making a scarf, and doing very good on it, if I do say so myself. He was able to catch on very quickly.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

I'm back

Wow, alot has happened since I was here last. I've gained back all the weight I lost while on NS. I remodeled my house and I became a grandma. I know, I know, you think I'm too young to be a grandma. I'm really older than you think, I'm just aging gracefully! LOL!!! My grandbaby's name is Hayden Michael and he was born November 20th. He's 6 weeks old and very healthy. They've had a little trouble trying to get him on the right formula. Yes, he's on formula. His mommy really wanted to nurse him, but she just didn't produce enough milk, after 2 weeks she just didn't have anything to feed him. He is such a good and happy baby, and he is sooo loved.

So, It's a new year and I'm trying to lose this sickening weight that I've gained back. This time I'm just going to do it the old fashioned way. Portion control and calorie counting. That's right. I've joined a group called SparkPeople, if anyone is interested - check it out. It's free, they offer menu plans, articles to read, message boards, you can sign up with other groups and it's really motivational. Tomorrow will be my first weigh in.

Since, I'm back trying to lose weight, I've picked up the needles again. Right now I'm trying to finish a really cool blanket. It's a Berrocco pattern called interlaken and it's been really fun to knit so far, but now I'm getting antsy to finish it because I'm dying to start a new project with Rowan Kidsilk Mohair, it is a wrap that uses 9 different colors, absolutely gorgeous. We found a sale and were able to get some of the colors for $2.12 per skein, the other colors we had to pay $16.99 per skein - crazy, isn't it. I'm excited and I'll post pictures when I've finished my projects. Oh wait, I wanted to talk about a great find. Ozark Handspun yarn is beautiful and so fun to knit with. It's made by a guy in Missouri and the yarn shop in Tulsa finally got some in and I was able to get a few skeins before it sold out on the same day. It's $27.99 per skein but you can knit a great looking hat with only one skein and it only takes about 30 minutes to complete. Check it out.