Warm Heads, Warm Feet

These are very easy two needle slippers - one size fits all. The pattern has been around forever - you can find it here. These will probably go to nursing home patients.

I used the Norwegian Star Earflap Hat pattern on Ravelry for these hats, changing the pattern on the brown one to a puppy dog pattern, and on the white one to a textured pattern instead of using another color.

These hats are easy and fun to make and I plan to make more for Christmas presents.

Flipping Out

Happy Birthday Jacob and Jordyn

Spectacular Seventeens!

It's not easy lighting 34 candles

And not easy blowing them all out!

Love you guys - just wish you hadn't grown up so fast!

Happy Anniversary Diana and Jayson

21 years ago.



And Through the years

You can find an instruction video of this tri-shutter card here.


And another Christmas Stocking completed (except for cross-stitching the name on it)

A little bit of Scrappin'

After being inspired at a scrapbook party I went to last week, I made a dozen of these birthday party invitations for my granddaughter, who will be turning 11 next week. It will be a beach party and sleep over at their lake house.

You pull the tab at the bottom

And the pictures flip up.

Party with Tori! The directions for this "Waterfall" card are on You-tube

Christmas in July Continued

One more stocking finished. I'm calling these finished but I think I'm going to have to line them. There are all those stranded threads inside that stocking stuffers will get caught on. Also have to cross stitch the names on them as soon as I decide who gets which one.

These stockings have been great practice for Fair Isle knitting, and also sock knitting - especially since I only had to make one of each and not a pair!

Christmas in July

I actually finished something! Two somethings actually. These were so much fun to do. (see the details in my previous post.) I have one more to make and then I'll have the grandchildren done. Then, maybe some smaller ones for the adults.

Just finished a book by an author I haven't read before - Richard Montanari, titled The Rosary Girls. Quite gory, but a real page turner that kept me guessing until the end. I ordered the second in the series, The Skin Gods.

Christmas in July

I've been in a knitting slump recently, but then was inspired by these Christmas stockings on the Holiday Mystery Gift-along. You have to join the Yahoo group to get the patterns, but it's a fun group, and there is also a crochet version of the Christmas stockings. Terry, the designer of the knit stockings, and her husband quit their jobs, sold everything, and now live aboard their 50 foot Gulfstar Sailmaster and cruise wherever their vagabond spirits take them! You can read about their adventures on her blog. Terry is an avid knitter and designer and very generously shares some of her designs with her Yahoo Group.

This one is the textured stocking with a snowflake motif and a tree motif done so far. It's really not hard - just follow a chart with knits and purls. The heel might prove to be a little challenging if you have never knit socks before.
This one is the stranded version, with the tree motif and the deer motif done so far.


These stockings are addictive. While I'm knitting one I find myself thinking about which one I'll be knitting next. I'd like to make at least one for each grandchild, and then maybe for the rest of the family.
I've got plenty of yarn (thanks to Roni) and I'm having a lot of fun with this.
I'm still plugging away on my feather and fan shawl. Finished reading Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish, which I loved and would definitely recommend, and I'm now reading P.D. James, The Private Patient, which I am also enjoying. Both of those books are selections from my Whoduknit Group.
Hope you are all staying cool and enjoying your summer!

Knit one, crochet too

I received this yarn in a Whoduknit swap from my swap pal Claire. It's hand dyed merino wool and really soft and nice to work with. The pattern is Lionbrand's Very Easy Ripple Shawl, which is really a feather and fan pattern.

This is "Eva's Shawl" crocheted with Jo-Anns Sensation Ranbow Boucle yarn and a size I hook, instead of the lace yarn called for in the pattern. This yarn is hard to work with but I love the results - a lightweight, soft, shoulder hug that stays on. The yarn was a gift from my friend Layne, and I have enough to crochet another shawl, probably the pistachio Lace-Up shawl. (on Ravelry)

A little progress

I'm still in a knitting slump - but did manage to knit some mindless dish cloths - mostly Grandmother's favorites, with a couple more challenging designs. And, no...I don't do this many dishes. In fact I rarely do dishes at all! But they are nice to have on hand for a little gift.

And, yes, I am counting each one separately for my 52 in 52 because I'm way behind this year!

I finally found the perfect pattern for the Prism Rayon Ribbon that my niece Linda sent me. The pattern is the Panda Cotton Drop Stitch Scarf .

I added some fringe to it to show off the beautiful ribbon more.

And last (and least) is my Voodoo Doll - my own design (can you tell?).

I crocheted this as my project for my Whoduknit Group inspired by our May book, Deadly Night by Heather Graham. As you might guess the book dabbles in the occult - voodoo dolls, reading of tea leaves and palms,

and of course ghosts. It was a fun read. I had fun making the voodoo doll, but haven't decided who to use it on yet.

Prom 2010

Jacob and his date Lizzie on the left in red.



Jordyn and Trevor (on the left) and friends. Did you ever see such gorgeous gowns? Jordyn and the two girls on the left, Kelsey and Sarah were Prom Queen nominees. Jordyn was elected Prom Princess, and the boy in the white tux, Josh, was the Prom Prince.

Jordyn & Trevor

Jacob and his date Lizzie. Jacob was elected Prom King!

Jordyn (Prom Princess) & Trevor

Jacob (Prom King) & Calob

Surprises

Don't you just love to find a surprise on your doorstep. I received one this morning from my friend Patty. I've never actually met Patty in person, but we have been internet friends for a couple of years now. We 'met' though our interests in knitting and reading. Patty surprised me today with this beautiful shawl! It's absolutely gorgeous and I love it!Thank you so much Patty - you certainly made my day. And I will always cherish this shawl.

Catching Up

I'm way behind on my 52 in 52 for 2010 -have a lot of catching up to do! I received the yarn and pattern for this bag from Bonnie in a swap and have finally finished it.

The yarn is Louet Euroflax sport weight and the pattern is the Ilene Bag by Hannah Ingalls and is available as a free download on Ravelry. I love the bag. It can be squished up small enough to fit in a purse, but can easily hold a 10 lb. bag of potatoes plus more. It's stretchy and strong!

On the needles now - a drop stitch ribbon scarf in pretty shades of blue.

Have you ever visited the DailyLit website? It has a free membership, and
you can choose books and have chapters emailed to you each day (once again
for free). It is an interesting way to read a book without buying it or
needing to visit a library...or even to sample a book before buying it. I'm currently reading Paranoia by Joseph Finder. You can find Daily Lit at http://www.dailylit.com .

Happy Spring

And what a beautiful first day of Spring it was yesterday! Temps almost up to 70! I finished my /Stupidly Simple Scarf/Shawl - needs a little blocking, but I love it! Thanks again Chris for the beautiful handspun and dyed yarn! The photo doesn't really show the beautiful colors off to their best.

I'm kind of in a knitting slump now. Time to put away the scarves, neckwarmers, etc. and knit something springy. Any ideas?

Is this Spring?

Or is this just a tease? There is no snow on the ground, the sun is out, and we are supposed to hit 50 degrees today! I can even see a few shoots coming up in our raised herb garden bed. If you look really close you can see them through the window.

So, thoughts are turning to Easter, which is also early this year. The felted Easter Basket is from the Ravelry pattern A Petite Felted Bag.

I think I will make the next one a little bit shorter. The bunny is a Lionbrand crochet pattern "Best Bunny" Isn't he cute? Quick and easy to make too.

On the needles now is the "Stupidly Easy Triangular Shawl" I absolutely love this yarn. It was a gift from Chris in a Whoduknit swap and is hand dyed Silver Merino and Cormo firestar, silk and Mohair, handspun by Chris from a Romney sheep named J.S. The shading on this yarn is awesome and the texture is just perfect for this shawl.

The Rain in Maine

falls mostly on the Coast! Snow all around us, but bare ground here. It poured, and the wind howled, and if it had been snow we would be buried. Instead the sun is actually trying to come out and the ground is bare. It's a little scary to think what March may have in store for us!






I won a Ravelympics Gold Medal for my baby kimono - the pattern
is from Mason/Dixon Knitting, and the hat pattern is from Last Minuted Knitted Gifts. The yarn is Sugar N' Cream Stripes.
Also received gold medals in the Stash Dance for my Sunray neck scarf and WIP Dance for my sister's shawl. (photos in previous posts).

On the needles and hooks: A felted Easter basket and a crochet bunny to go in it.

On the bookshelf: I just finished a perfectly delightful book, "Aunt Dimity's Death" by Nancy Atherton and enjoyed it so much I've already ordered the next in the series.
I'm currently reading "Perfect Match" by Jodi Picoult. Like most of her books, tugs at the heartstrings. And I'm listening to "Weekend Warriors" by Fern Michaels, where in the tradition of The First Wives Club, an angry group of women take the law into their own hands.

Knitting, Unlike Life......

Knitting, unlike life, can be ripped out and started all over again the next day.

And...crocheting is even easier to rip out! I finished another "Sister's Shawl" by Lisa Gentry - this one in KnitPicks Comfy Worsted, Flamingo. It's a really soft yarn and I love the color. I really didn't do much ripping out on this one since it is the third one I have made I pretty much have the pattern down! Hope the sister this one is for loves it too! There is a surprise on the front so I won't show it for now.

Also reached the finish line in one of the Ravelympics Events I'm doing - the Stash Compulsary Dance - This is the Sunray neck warmer in a herringbone pattern that I have never done before. I debated putting buttons on it but decided it would be fun to change out the pin, since I have quite a collection of pins.

Ravelympics

I'm entering the Stash Compulsory Jump on Team Whoduknit in the Ravelympics and have finally decided on my project and yarn I dug out this great vintage yarn, given to me by a friend. It's 100% wool in a Natural color. The project will be a neck warmer scarf called Sunray in a diagonal herringbone stitch. The idea is to Cast On during the opening ceremonies and to knit the project while watching the Olympics, finishing up by the Closing Ceremonies.

I've been doing more crocheting lately. This is called Earth and Sun by Lisa Gentry and is the February Contest Project on the Lisa Gentry Ravelry Group. It's meant to be a baby blanket, but I think it will become a lapghan for me instead. It's crocheted with some more of the vintage wool gifted to me (thanks again Roni!).

Six more weeks of winter?

If only! I'm afraid it will be more than that for us! The weather has been freezing, and it is snowing again today. Since I'm not a skier, snowmobiler or other winter sport enthusiast - what do I do to get through the winter - knit and read of course!

I knit up this little bear sweater for one of Tori's build-a-bears and added the heart that I made for the "Lisa's Designs" contest on Ravelry. I love knitting miniatures - much faster than the real thing!

I'm almost finished with the vest I'm making for DD - I will have her model it for a photo when it's finished - I think it may actually fit her after being blocked!

I've joined the Ravelympics, Team Whoduknit, on Ravelry and I'm entering the Stash Compulsory Dance. I haven't quite decided on my project yet. I'm thinking about an afghan using up all those partial skeins of wool in my stash, but not sure I can make it to the finish line on time with such a big project. It might end up being a stash busting scarf instead.

Recent reads - Murder on a Girl's Night Out by Anne George, Black Hills by Nora Roberts, Shall We Tell the President, by Jeffery Archer (the February Whoduknit pick) and I'm currently reading Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark.

Raining in My Kitchen

We had a wild and woolly rain storm last night - the wind was howling worse than I have every heard it before. As I was getting ready to go to bed I heard something that sounded very unusual - was it raining in my kitchen? Sure enough, when I when in there water was pouring down through 4 different places in the ceiling. I got out all the pots and towels I could find, and when we looked out the front window we saw the problem - shingles littered the front lawn. This morning it didn't look so bad - seems to be isolated to just one part of the roof. Hope so, because it is raining again today. On the upside - the rain has cleared off all of the ice from the front walk and driveway and we can actually walk on it now.

I finished another shawl - not quite sure what I'm going to do with this one. It's knit with some hand dyed yarn I received in a swap - it's from Fat Bottom Girl politically incorrect fibers and yarns and is spun from silk and merino in a fingering weight. It's the "Foulard" scarf from Moorehouse Farms Merino knits. There is also a pattern for a case to put it in so you can carry it with you for those cool days when you just need a little something, or put it on your head on a windy day.

On the bookshelf - I'm finishing up my second Nelson DeMille novel - this one is Plum Island. His novels are full of fun historical facts and I can't wait to see how this one comes out. His hero is a chauvanistic pig - but does turn out to be a softy when it comes right down to it. Next, I have another Southern Sister's novel - Murder on a Girl's Night Out by Anne George which will be a quick, fun, light read. Also still listening to Jame's Patterson's Honeymoon. Sometimes it gets confusing listening to one book and reading another! But I can knit while I listen and can't usually do that while I'm reading.

So Proud!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting ready (these are the scarves I talked about last week- Wild!)

Their theme this year was "All Eyes On Us" - And they were! Watch the Video! Victory Parade!
BANGOR, Maine – The Sumner cheerleading squad has been on the precipice of an Eastern Maine championship for the last two years, but could never get over the hump.

The Tigers from East Sullivan finally did Saturday, as they won the first Class C regional crown in program history at the Bangor Auditorium.

Coach Monica Chipman’s squad compiled 132.4 points to out-distance runner-up Houlton, which tallied 123.1

The top six squads will head to the state championships on Feb. 6 in Augusta, so that means Washington Academy of East Machias, Central of Corinth, defending regional champ Dexter and Orono will join the Tigers and Shiretowners.

Sumner’s difficult routine featured a little bit of everything, from dynamite tumbling from senior Jacob Backman — the lone senior on the squad — to three double-down twists, high basket tosses and clean backtucks.

The Tigers are made up of Ashley Andrews, Backman, Josie Barker, Brianna Bishko, Whitney Doughty, Sarah Frost, Emily Ingalls, Jordyn Knowles, Maria Lockhart, Kelsey Martin, Jalisa Patten, Brooke Raynor, Jordan Rivers, Haley Sandstrom, Ashtyn Thomas and Alexandria Tracy.

Tigers Rule!

You won't often see my sewing machine out on the dining room table, it's usually hidden away in my closet. It came out of retirement yesterday though to make scarves for my granddaughter's cheering team. They are the Sumner Tigers so we made Tiger Scarves. My DD cut 60"x7" strips of black and orange fleece and I sewed two black and one orange together down the middle. Then she cut fringe along the 60"sides. We made 22 of them - and the girls loved them! Here is one being modeled by little sister.

Of course they don't wear them when they are cheering - just something for fun to wear when they walk into the gym. They also have tiger bows in their hair and tiger bloomers.

Aren't they cute?

And flexible?

And....FIRST PLACE WINNERS!

They were awesome!