Bring It On, 2010!

It's been a rough year for a lot of people but in our home we've managed to maintain the status quo. We're all healthy, employed and happy. Glenn has a great job and the boys are doing very well in school. I can't really ask for more so I'll just have to hope that 2010 brings more of the same.
As far as my knitting goes, I never set goals for myself. I make what I like making and it usually turns out the way it's supposed to. Usually. I have enough yarn in my stash to take me well into the new year so that makes me happy. Doesn't take much really. I'm a genuinely happy person. I hope to do more socks this year and I see mittens in my boys future. That's as far as I'll go for fortune telling for the coming year.
Hope you all have a happy and healthy new year.

Socks & Snuggies

Believe it or not, I actually have a new FO to show you! Two in one week. Whoda thunk it?





These are my Lacy Mock Cable socks. Aren't they pretty? They're knit with Artyarns Merino and were a fun knit. I finished them a couple of weeks ago but just haven't had a chance to photograph them and get them up. I really like them but I'm having a problem. I'm afraid to wash them because I'm scared they may felt. I've washed them twice by hand so far but they didn't seem to come totally clean. I'd love suggestions on how to wash them thoroughly without ruining them.
What you see in the background, the leopard print, is my new Snuggie! If you follow me on Twitter, you should know I was on a mad hunt for a leopard Snuggie. After looking online and in several stores we finally found one in Walgreens. Walgreens of all places! So now we are the proud owners of a blue kids Snuggie, a pink adult Snuggie and the aforementioned leopard Snuggie. I know they've become a national joke but I gotta tell you...when you sit and knit they sure come in handy! I love my Tweeties. Some suggested that I knit a Snuggie. That'll be on next year's to do list.
In other wonderful news, I heard from my niece a few weeks ago. The same niece that's expecting a baby. And she asked me to be her baby's Godmother! I was so excited that I started crying. Yes, I'm a big wuss and I admit it. I think it's an honor to be asked and I'm very happy that she asked me. Guess I better get my ass in gear and get the baby's gifts knitted up huh? Well I ordered the yarn yesterday and I ordered it in a lovely light green so it will be good for either a boy or a girl. I've had a premonition that she's having a boy but she thinks girl. We'll see soon enough.
Oh and for any of you that would love to buy Photoshop but don't happen to have an extra $700 laying around check this out. It's a list of Photoshop-like programs you can use to edit pictures. I've been using Picnik and really like it.
Hope you all have a most happy and healthy new year!

Hands Up, Baby Hands Up.

Hope you all had as wonderful a holiday as we did. We've been so busy and our home so full, I haven't had time to knit much or blog but I'm back now.
Our sister in law came down with our nephew and the rest of her family to spend a day at Rockefeller Center and she was kind enough to leave her son here with us for a few days. He's such a great kid and my boys just love him so it was a pleasure to have him here with us for a bit. Then we had fifteen of us for Christmas Eve so that took some planning. Now the kids are home for another week so I'll be busy keeping them occupied although the bikes they got for Christmas are keeping them out and about.
I did get to finish something to show you.



Glenn asked me to make him a pair of mittens so I did! They were a breeze to do and they're my first pair of mittens! I'm not sure what pattern I used because I renamed it "Glenn's Mittens" when I downloaded it. This is some of the yarn I bought from a guy off Craigslist so I don't know what kind of yarn it is. It goes from thick to thin so and it can get very thick. It's a bit difficult to work with because it's very ungiving but it made a lovely, thick, warm pair of mittens.
Christmas morning was wonderful. Megan sent me a gorgeous Namaste Binder bag which I had asked for this year. It's red and I can't wait to get all my stuff into it. She's a great gift giver and an even greater friend. Glenn and the boys bought me a gorgeous red Laguna and Marilyn gave me a beautiful Namaste Buddy Case. I should be a spokesperson for Namaste I have so much of their stuff! Their products really are gorgeous, inexpensive and serve a great purpose for knitters. I like that they're chic looking and can pass for a purse. Granted a big one but a purse none the less. I've always carried big bags with me so it's not a bother. It sure deterred the mugger who tried to snatch my chain once but I digress.
Marilyn also made me an absolutely gorgeous Ishbel which I so didn't expect. She knits beautifully and, in the last year, has become a great friend. I really wanted one of these and was planning on making myself one. Eventually. I'm glad Marilyn beat me to it. It's got lace. Gulp.
Hope you're all enjoying your holiday season as much as I am!

Merry Christmas!

I'll post some knitting soon, I promise. I just wanted to show you what I'm most grateful for this holiday season.



Merry Christmas!

I Finally Finished Something!

I was looking for something to make and realized that I didn't have a really warm hat to wear this winter. I think that's the case with a lot of knitters. We're so busy making for others, we forget ourselves. I have my cool funky weed selling slouchy hat but I wanted something a little different. I was looking through Ravelry and found the Flurries Slouch Hat by Sandy Bingham and thought it was adorable and I had the perfect yarn for it! I had the Cash Vero I'd gotten earlier this year at Wool Gathering and I knew it would make a lovely hat.





Isn't it sweet? It took me just one day to knit this up. And, if you read here regularly, you know I'm all about the quick and easy.
I'm just finishing up a pair of socks and then I'm going to be looking for more sock patterns I think. I have oodles of sock yarn I'd like to start using so I'll be on a hunt for small projects. I still have Pat's sweater to finish then I have to get the yarn for my niece's baby's set.
Lots going on with the holidays coming as I'm sure is happening in most homes this time of year. I love Amazon. One stop shopping for gifts. And like I said, I'm all about the quick and easy.

Early Christmas!

FedEx just came to the door with a present from Megan! I thought I'd wait till Christmas to open it but nah. It took all of .24 seconds for me to realize there is no way on God's green earth that I could wait another three weeks before opening this box so open it I did. And oh man am I happy I didn't wait. It's more gorgeous than a photo could show so I will try to describe it to you.
It's red and rectangular in shape. It's hard on the outside which makes it really easy to zip open. It's got two zippers that open around and down so it can lay flat when opened. Inside are three binder rings so I can round up all my patterns I've printed and get them in one place. On both inside walls, there are zippered compartments. There are four inserts: two zippered pouches and two needle holders. I can also purchase other inserts for the bag if I need them! It really is just a beautiful bag that fills a niche I have. I have needles, patterns and knitting tchotchkes that are all over the place which I can never find when I need them. Now they will have a home. A gorgeous, easily accessible home I might add.

Back To Knitting

I just looked back at my last few posts and realize there wasn't a whole helluva lot of knitting on my knitting blog. We now return you to your regularly scheduled knitting.




Here's the beginning of my Lacy Mock Cable Sock. I think I started these once before (if you really care, you can search my blog for it) but didn't like the yarn I was using for this pattern. This yarn is just perfect for this pattern. I just started this sock this morning and have been knitting on and off today but seem to have gotten quite a bit along on it. For me anyway.
This is Artyarns Ultramerino 4 color 128 which is a pink and white yarn which I got on the Ravelry Destash Group. This is really a great group where you can find all different yarns to purchase for decent prices. It's also a great group to join if you happen to run short of a yarn you need to finish a project. You can put up an ISO (In Search Of) post and you may be able to find what you need. The women are really nice and very helpful. Some will even find the yarn you're looking for!
All my knitted Christmas gifts are done. I just have one knitted project that I started a long time ago that I have to finish. That's right. My sister's sweater. I got it out of the closet today. So far so good. Al's coming over tomorrow and I'm hoping to get this thing finished with her help. Maybe I can even get it done by Christmas. Who am I kidding? Her birthday's in August. Let's shoot for that.

We Have Nothing To Fear From Love & Commitment

Senator Diane Savino rocks. Hard.