RAMBLINGS of a KNIT-A-HOLIC

Mood: stressed / excited
Listening to: TV

     What happened to the summer!!?? I blinked and it was gone and the kids were already back in school! And I sat down today determined to check in and write an entry and realized just how long it had been!!!!! No excuse for such a lengthy absence, except the Chaos Theory of Life! created by the vast amount of details to keep track of in this modern life.

     Apparently in this day and age we are supposed to have more leisure time resulting from all the modern conveniences we have at our fingertips. Yet it seems as though we have just kept adding more and more activities, both for ourselves and our kids, until we have no down time to veg and contemplate the universe. Which brought a vision of the increasing numbers of Yoga enthusiasts trying to unite body and soul. To feel more intune with oneself and the universe!

   So what is the answer to such chaos in our lives!!?? Dont' add more, right!? So what did we do!!?? right...add more!! And so that brings me to tonight. We have decided to re-do the kitchen. In this process of millions of little decisions we finally started emptying cupboards, finding things we had long forgotten and realizing we had made a good decision, but we were hardly prepared for the actual process.

     We are at a standstill this evening and tomorrow begins the real work, ripping out the cupboards,  etc. and as we did I found myself wiping down the countertops so they would be clean to tear out!! I stood remembering the countless meals and memories we have of the kids helping, baking cookies and getting ready for holidays. I almost felt guilty umtil I  remembered that when we moved in how new and empty things felt, and little-by-little we made it ours.

    So tomorrow we begin the next step in this process to build a dream kitchen and fill it with things of this decade and throw out the things from four decades ago! Not all of which will be missed!! And as we paint and prepare for the new cabinets and appliances I am dreaming of shopping to fill them with new pots and pans and bakeware so we can have a tea party to celebrate the new ktichen and start a new tradition in our family.

   So this evening I will turn back to my knitting and try to relax and contemplate my little part of the universe. To work on my current project of knitting a pair of socks for the group "Socks for Soldiers" . So off to my knitting needles and a bit of TV and I PROMISE TO COME BACK AND WRITE MORE REGULARLY!! and to keep you informed of the chaos in our life.

Mood: Relaxed and Happy!!
Listening to: Raise Your Voice ( a HIllary Duff movie)

   I wish I could say I have a really good reason for not posting regularly ... but I don't!!! I have been busy with end of school activities and the GK's Spring Concerts and Birthdays!!!! We have had 6 in the past month!!! So my time and wallet have been depleted! Now to enjoy the beginning of summer and get back on track.

   I have been very busy knitting socks! They are definitely my latest passion! I have finished 6 pairs in the past 2 months and have a new pair started fo DD2. I have even managed to knit some for myself!!!! I now am the proud owner of 4 pairs of hand knit socks! And they are sooooooooooo comfortable!

    I know... people ask all the time ..." Why do you knit socks when you can buy them so cheap!!! My reply... First I LOVE TO KNIT!! and I would be knitting anyway. Second you can only knit so many scarves, ponchos and afghans! So what else!!?? You guessed it !!!! SOCKS!!! and it is practical as well. Once someone has tried on these little gems they are hooked! And the line forms to the left!! And last they make a wonderful gift. Who could say no to a kitten soft pair of socks to slip into... I ask you!!?

   I have also been busy with the newest addition to DD1's home ... a Chihuahua!! What a cutie and soooooooooo tiny!! Of course I am designing a few outfits for him as well!! It is amazing how much stuff is on the market these days for small dogs!! From inexpensive to the outrageous!! What we do for our pets!!

   School is out! YAY!!! and the pool is open! There has been a steady stream of friends and family enjoying the pool.  Can't believe we are planning for the 4th of July already!!!

   I have also started collecting my favorite patterns that I have designed, both knitted and crocheted. I doubt they will ever become a pattern book but I may have to post a few on the blog site. If there is any interest out there let me know!!

   We have no real plans for travel this summer. What are you up to this summer? I have read a few sites this evening and they talked about their last trip to London and the Ballet !! Boy was I envious!  I can only imagine such travel!

   So if you have any interesting plans for the summer feel free to share. So ...back to my knitting and writing.

   Summer here we come!!!

Mood: Relaxed and quite content!
Listening to: The show MEDIUM

   It has been MONTHS since I last posted and to all the visitors I apologize for being so remiss! It has been a very busy time and I did try to post a few times but managed to delete my entries before I could post! And time goes by so quickly that before I knew it months had gone by. I thought about the blog less and less until the past week. I had finally caught up a bit and was  going online often enough that I wasn't trying to read hundreds of e-mails but actually surfing the web again. And I happened upon some awesome blog sites and reminded myself I had one that needed attending to! So here I am to catch up and hopefully keep up my blog! Here's to blogsters everywhere!!

   I knit and crocheted so much over the winter that I amazed even myself about the amount of items I managed to make! I was in a couple of Craft Faires and did very well, a nice change! And the past month I FINALLY got to slow down and just enjoy knitting for myself and my family again!

   TheWinter knit list grew to 50+ scarves, several afghans, a half dozen sweaters for kids and adults, at least a dozen beanies, purses, gauntlets, ponchos, socks, and the list goes on. In fact I think for once I reached knitters burn-out! But for a change I also got orders that helped to pay for my fiber addiction and a genuine sense of well-being knowing people enjoyed handknit items!

   Now I know I have spoiled my family! They now think my hand knit socks are the most comfortable socks they have ever worn! Since I have never been able to keep even one pair of the socks for myself that I have knitted, I have no first hand knowledge of their comfort!! But I hope to remedy this in the next few months! One can only try!

   We also have a new DGD and she has been a pleasure to knit for! I will try to post some pics the next posting and show a few of the things I have knitted for her! One of the cutest things was a Christmas hat that looked like a Christmas Tree!! VERY CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!

   I have just finished a hot pink childs Poncho in TICKLE yarn but haven't sewn it together yet. And OTN is a pair of Spruce green Kroy sock yarn socks. I finished one pair and am working on the second pair. I also am enjoying a local knitting group and the crativity and friendship is a welcome change!

   So as they say on KNITTY GRITTY ....KNIT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Till next time enjoy the first glimpses of Spring! And a prayer to those that are still in the throes of Mother Nature's weather!

Mood: Tired but feeling good about my finished projects!!
Listening to: Christopher Lowell show in the background!

  Well we survived the 4th of July and a housefull of family and friends!! It was a great day!! We started the day at the Parade downtown and then off to the city park to walk and browse through the booths and actiivities for the kids. The smell of BBQ and kettlecorn filled the hot summer air! YUM!!! and the kids couldn't decide where to start! Being in the low 100's we decided on an ice cream from the cart vendor and then wandered through the booths. I wanted to get a henna tatto, but had a hard time making up my mind. So many beautiful designs to choose from!! Decided on a lotus flower design for my arm. Very pretty!!!!!

  We enjoyed the rest of the day at home with a house full of family and friends. We swam, BBQ'd and had fireworks! I am as bad as the kids when it comes to the fireworks!!! I LOVE the fireworks and everyone brought some to share so it was over an hour of pyrotechnic awe.

  Since my last post I have been trying to finish some projects and start some new ones. I was bored knitting socks and decided I needed a change. I have a couple of pictures showing the things I finished. One of the projects I had seen done on the show KNITTY GRITTY. It was a bag knitted from plastic shopping bags done by Erica Knight. Interstingidea and so I made one and finsihed it with leather strip handles. It turned out so well that I ended up making several more. One with red nylon rope straps ( which DD took as soon as it was finished!) and I have almost finished a 3rd one. A good way to recycle the plastic bags and have a useful item instead of tossing them. I think it would be a great project for scouts or a kids group.

  I made a couple of scarves using 2 strands of worsted weight yarn and one is finished with a crochetd flower and the other with a knit flower made of worsted and eyelash yarn. The pattern was from a Family Circle Knitting magazine of a year or so ago. This would be a quick gift to make. I think I will make another one with maybe mohair yarn.

  I also made my 2nd Alien illusion scarf from the Stitch 'n Bitch book. It is so much fun to see the pattern develop as you knit! Very clever! and I love to watch people's expressions as they look asnd then take a 2nd look to decide what they saw. I have some ideas for some caps and maybe some purses using the design process.

  I also finished another crocheted afghan. This one was in off-white worsted yarn and was for a gift. I have made probably 25-30 of this particular pattern. And as fast as I finish one I get a request for another. It is a pattern my sister shared with me so not sure of the original source.

  And I still have 2 beanies to finish! I have to graph the designs to duplicate stitch on them and have just kept putting it off! No excuse just that it is going to be a challenge and will take some time to graph them. I have made alot of these beanies and added logos like; AC/DC, FOX, KISS, their names and more. The guys seem to like these the best. One is never enough:)

 I also made up several wash cloths/soap bag sets. The one shown is made from 100% cotton worted weight yarn. Just add a yummy soap like lavender or chocolate!! and it makes a really nice gift. I plan on making a slightly smaller wash cloth in baby colors for a baby gift set.

  Here are a few pictures showing these finished projects:

 Recently I was at a local music store with hubby and saw some bundled  rods that come in different sizes  made of Hickory,  that are used for drums. Not sure how they are used but I had an idea.  I thought about trying to make myself some double pointed needles from them. One problem!! They were $30 a for a set of two!!! As it turned out hubby knew one of the guys personally that worked there and he happened to be  a drummer!!!! So I got an old set of the rods from him and tonite I worked at making my DPN's!! They look pretty good. Just need to finish the points and wax them and try them out!! I will post the results of my efforts and a picture of them when they are done!!

  So it has been a busy month.The kids are home for summer vacation... hot summer days and almost living in the pool... and lots of BBQ!!   And of course SO MUCH TO KNIT...AND SO LITTLE TIME!!!  So back to my knitting and have a great summer!

Mood: Tired but seeing progress!!!
Listening to: The movie UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN in the background

  It seems no matter how many times I would sit down to visit and update the blog something or someone interfered with my down time!  Not to complain really I enjoy my family. So gonna try to get back on track with the blog!

  I have been trying to get about a half dozen projects done!! I had a half finished off-white afghan, a lt. sage green shawl almost done, and pair of pocket book slippers to stitch up and  a couple of beanies to duplicate stitch a design onto. And FINALLY... today I got the afghan and shawl DONE!!! YAY!!!!!!!!! They turned out very nicely and I will try to post a picture of all these next time! It amazes me when I finish a large project how much time and effort went into finishing it and a sense of pride in my efforts.

 The reason I hadn't been able to work on my projects was life getting in the way.  There have been 2 graduations, several birthdays and the end of school to deal with the past few weeks. So not much time for my favorite hobby ...sitting and knitting  and contemplating!! Sometimes life seems to go at a frantic pace!! Time to slow downa nd enjoy summertime!!

 I have, of course, added to my yarn stash!! NOT! that I need any more yarn for sure! But I cannot pass the LYS with out getting at least a bit of yarn, for... say socks! And yes I hid the bag and receipt!!!!

 So for the rest of the evening I am determined to finish those projects BEFORE I start anything else!! Although the "I want'  list from my gang has been growing. And the next project will be a baby gift!

 So back to tucking ends...my least favorite part of finishing projects!! and then to graph the pattern to duplicate stitch onto the beanies and hopefully by tomorrow... I can start a smaller, and MUCH cooler project!! Having an almost finished afghan on my lap in 90 degree weather was crazy!! a real temptation to put aside AGAIN til cooler weather in the fall!!

 Thanks to all who have visited!! Happy knitting!!!