Hose + Water + Dog + Lawn = !!!

Oops... guess what we found out.... Hose plus Water plus Lawn plus iPod the Labradoodle equals MUDD! Yeap... you should see the hole in the lawn from this. This picture actually looks to clean. He is black on his belly, feet, legs, face and everywhere else. But I can say he was having lots of fun! Thanks Jakub for washing him off.

Rainbow Denise Needles! MUST HAVE!

I want I want I want.... Look at what some one showed me. Yes they are colored Denise Interchangeables. This is fabulous. I must have a set of these. I want these for my Birthday HINT HINT. You can get them over at Knittinghelp.com HERE. Check them out! Woo Hoo!

Mystery Market Square Color Start

Here is the restart of my Market Squares. But you will have to stay tuned to see what colors I am using. It is a mystery at this point. I decided to frog my last started market squares because I did not like the colors. Have you ever started a project and decided the colors you had choosen just don't look as good as you would like it to? Well that is what happen to mine and then I saw this fabulous one done by ??? I lost the info. Darn it. But I then decided on some new colors. I have completely changed the colors from the original one that I did. Oh and the little friends jumped into the picture. But I am on Tier 2. Stay Tuned to more of my adventures with this project.

Be Safe

Be Safe BMM! As he leaves for his 2nd Tour. Our Weekend was filled with tears. Here is Dad helping his son check in before his departure of his 2nd Tour of Duty. It has been a hard weekend on Dad. As it has been on all of us. But Dad takes it really hard. Saying Goodbye is so frigging hard. BMM is a fantastic kid and a great soldier. He can do it! He will return to us safely. Dad and his lil' soldier!

Majolica Bag Start!

Here it is. My Noni Majolica Bag Start. I am using the Red and Fuschia as the pattern calls for. Go figure. This is the first time I have followed the pattern color just because I love both of the colors. This stranding is a little hard to get use to at first. I am holding both colors in opposite hands so I am knitting English & Conteninetal. I just have to rememeber to always wrap counter clock wise. Other wise my stitches will be on the needle going 2 different directions. I like the bag but I only have the first 8 rows done. This is going to be my weekend project.

Here is the stranding close up. This bag is going to be rather thick. I now know why the pattern calls for so much yarn. I think it is going to be totally cool. Stay Tuned to see what happens with this project. Woo Hoo!

A frogging we will go!

A sad day to announce. I decided to frog my current Market Squares after seeing someone elses bag. I was settleing on Purple/Lavendar/Mint Green but I just was not happy. I have decided to do it with some other colors so you will have to wait until if is finished. I have an idea and my brain is on fire so I have a feeling that I am going to cast on tonight. Now that I have the colors that I want. Hum.... it will be soo me... I am so excited. Is it normal for a person to become so excited over the colors in a bag... I think so. Stay tuned for more adventures in my knitting world

Lil' Less Knitting and A Lil' More Family

Hey everyone,

Just thought I would say that I am not going to be knitting much this next few days/week. My stepson leaves for his second tour of duty on Saturday and it has hit us all rather hard. It's family time and the needles are just going to have to wait. JRM needs me to be here for him and it doesn't mean to be on the computer, or knitting but to be there for him. As B prepares for his departure this Saturday we need to be strong for him. So all you KAL please bare with me.

Thanks for your understanding!
Janet

Introducing Zoe

Bragging Rights! Here is ouir latest new addition. Proud Grandma here. This is Zoe born 1 month ago today! She is precious. Here Grandpa is very proud also. Her Dad is so cute with her. He will be leaving tomorrow for his second tour of duty tomorrow morning but we have a cute bundle of joy to play with. Be Safe BMM.

Monday Morning WIP

Project 1: Mason Dixon - Kimono out of Gedifra Fiocco. 3/4 the way complete.
One more side to knit and then seam up but I have to have it finished. Zoe is here and I want her to wear it but I need help with the seaming. Not my best part.

Project 2: Bag's A Knitter's Dozen - Market Squares out of Galway. 3 Teirs almost complete.
Not really happy with the colors I have choosen so I think this one is going to get frogged until I can get the right colors I want. Ya I know... Stupid but I would rather be happy with the colors then the actual bag... Is that stupid or what. And after seeing Three Bag's Full version of this bag. I am going to change my colors. There is a BAL (Bag Along) for this bag which is MarketSquaresBAL. Come Join the Fun! The group is starting to do it again.

Project 3: Knitty.com - Pedicure Sock out of Noro Tidiori. Just need to finish the ribbing.
I just am not a sock person. This went together real easily. I was able to make this one 3/4 of the way at the World Wide Knit In Public 2006 in Santa Monica at Douglas Park. But I just can not get inspiared to finish it. Oh well.

Project 4: ABC's of Creative Pursuits - Entrelac Postman ouf of Noro Silk Garden & Kureyon 1/2 way complete.
I am working on this slowely but I try to pick it up every few days. I just find to many more projects to make. Darn it! Plus I am straying from the pattern so it is taking some thinking. I need to just focus and figure it out.

Project 5: Noni Bag's - Dr. Seuss-ish "Cat In the Hat" bag out of Paton's Wool 1/3 of the way complete.
Stripes Stripes Stripes... very simple pattern. Should not take a long time to finish. I have yet to use this yarn before but I want needed to start the bag for the KAL and I needed the colors so I had to settle for this yarn. We shall see how it works. I have seen several bags made of it and I have liked what I have seen but since there are only a few colors by this company I will have to see.

Project 6: The Bloomin' Knitiot's - B-4 Bag out of Noro Kureyon 1/4 complete.
I casted on over the weekend so this should go pretty fast. On the bobble row which takes time. I really like this bag. I will get stuck when it comes to the beads since I don't have any yet. But I have a few rows to go before it get there.

Project 7: Knitty.com - T-Twist ouf of Big Baby 4 rows finished.
I am waiting on the needle. Can't going anywhere until I have that. I have started and finish the twisted hem but I have to join in the round now so it is kind of important to have the circular needle. LOL.

Ok... so there it is. Here is a list of my current WIP's. Stay tuned for more exciting information about these projects and much much more.

~Enjoy

B-4 Bag Alternative Cast On for Seamless Bottom

Hey everyone here is my lastest cast on. The B4 Bag by Trish. I am using Noro Kureyon single stranded on US#10 1/2 (My favorite size of needles: A tad bigger then 10 but not as big as and 11). I started this bag yesterday afternoon before reading the pattern completely. What else is new for me.

On the first attempt with my circular needle, it was just too hard and the stitches were to stretched out. I started over and casted on using 10 1/2 DPN. I did this for a few rows realizing that I was going to have to later seam it. So I frogged this cast on and decided to do it using the Figure 8 Cast On which is explained Here at Knitty.com (half way down the page) or Here at Purlwise.

I started by casting on 24 stitches on each of the 2 DPN. I continued to work pattern as instructed on these 2 needles for a few rows. Until there was enough area (4 or 5 rows) to be branched onto 3 or 4 needles. I preferred to use 4 needles instead of 3 since I could easily put the stitches equally onto 4 needles and was able to do the increases always on the same needle.

I did this as follows:
Original Needle 1 & Original Needle 2 have the same stitch count. Work row as directed in pattern, 3/4th of the way around. Pick up a NEW DPN and stitch remaining stitches of row onto new DPN, Place Marker and work 1/4th of the stitches on the next needle onto this needle. Pick up New DPN and stitch 1/2 of the stitches from the Original Needle#1. Pick Up another New DPN, Stitch remaining stitches off of the Original Needle#1, Place Marker, stitch 1/4 of the stitches on the following DPN which is the Original Needle#2. You now have 4 working DPN's. Notice that the increase spots are now in the middle of the New DPN#1 and DPN#3. Also not that the stitch count on New DPN#2 and DPN#4 will never change.

Continue working pattern on these DPN's. Once you have completed the first 12 rows of pattern change over onto circular needles. HINT: When I do this bag again I will probably work the first 20 rows on DPN's and then switch over to the circular needle.

This is just my way I worked the pattern. I hope this helps anyone who is interested. Email me if you need further explaination.

Happy Fathers Day Dad! I love you! Thanks for being there when ever I need you. Thanks for being there when ever my kids need you! We Love You Dad!

Peach Kimono Progress

Here is my progress of my Kimono. Now I have to have if finished by tomorrow before Fathers day celebration... I need to get my but in gear! I tried seaming the one side that is finished and I found out just how bad I suck at seaming. I really like the way it turned out but I am going to make some changes on next one that I do. Stay tuned to see the progress on this one. Cross your fingers that I get this finished for Zoe! Tomorrow. Woo Hoo!

Tink Bag

Look what I found. Another great Knitting Bag. With my favorite Disney Character on it. I love Tinkerbell since I was a kid. And I was looking for a little bag to put all my rulers, scissors, stitch markers and all my other knitting junk into when I found this adorable bag at our Local Wally World! I scored. Noticed it also says Tink on the larger bag... It was calling my name. For those of you who may not be familiar with Tink... Thanks to the Yarn Harlot for this term. "Tink" is Knit spelled backwards. Which means unknitting stitch by stitch. My mother was with me when I found this and she thought it was absolutely ridiculous to get it but I had to have it. Another perfect Knitting Bag.... I had to hid this one from Johnny! LOL 2 knitting bags in one week... Ok 2 1/2 knitting bags in one week if you want to get technical. Shhhhhhhhh!

Knitting In Public Once Again!

Knitting In Public. Not a problem for me. Here I am at our LYS knitting away on my Mason Dixon Kimono. Trying to finish. thanks to Kellann for snagging my phone and taking a picture... You Brat!... And please note: it was not my intention to wear a shirt that matches what I am knitting on. Everyone asked me if I tried to wear something that matched what I was knitting... Pure coinsidence.

An other knitting in public... At the Movies. I was able to knit a few rows before the movie started. Johnny took me to see "Cars" the movie by Pixar. I loved it! Love it! Loved! I totally can not wait for it to come our on video. Kimono still being knitted on. I am 3/4 complete I just have the right side to do and then woohoo seam it and give it all by tomorrow. I can do it! Cross your fingers!

Cars The Movie!

Guess what I am going to see tonight... Woo hoo... I can not wait. This is the coolest show. This is the first show that I have gone and seen at the Theater in ages. Let me clarify this. This is the first movies that I have wanted to go and see in a long time. Woo hoo.... Cars there so hot! And if everything goes right I can knit a few rows on my Kimono! Cross Your fingers!

Dr. Seuss-ish Noni Bag - Ready! Set! Go!

Here it is... My yarn is Paton's Classic Wool - Red, White & Black. Needle: Clover US#11 16". Pattern by Nora Bellow aka Noni Bag ~ Dr. Seuss-ish "Cat In the Hat" Shoulder Bag & MP3 Player Mini Bag. I hope to cast on this afternoon. I have to finish a project that I am working on. Cross your fingers... I am so excited about this one! Woo Hoo NONI Bags! ~ Enjoy!

Let the count down begin!

In exactly 1 Month I will be 40! Woo Hoo!

Mason Dixon Kimono Start

I started it... I have started my Mason Dixon Kimono. I love it and I think I can do it. This is for our New Grand Baby Zoe. I am using Gedifra's Fiocco and Crystal Palace Popcorn for the edging. I will also be using a Lime Green Ribbon for the ties. This goes quick. I hope to have it done by this weekend. Cross your fingers.

New Pink Knitting Bag and More...

Well I treated myself yesterday to a morning and afternoon of shopping. I rarely do this but I just decided to take the day off. I started running around getting alot of my earns done and then I decided to go in to Barnes and Nobles to see what's up. What would you know when I walked in I saw this great PINK bag jumping out at me. I just had to buy it. But there was a catch... The catch was that it was 1/2 off if you buy 2 bags. Ok.. then off to the knitting book isle. Now lets see. Hum 14.95 or buy 2 books?? I will buy 2 books. But there were so many to decide on. So... I grabbed a stack and went and found a com-fy chair and curled up in it and then realized I had skipped over the magazine isle... Grab more. Buy time I got donw I had 5 books and several magazines. So then I had to do the enie, minie, moe.... so I ended up with Stitch n' Bitch Happy Hooker and the Yarn Harlots At' Knit's End along with Crative Knitters Magazine. So then I decided to go and check a LCS (Local Craft Store)... I just wanted some needles. Ok... so then I found more to buy then just needles. I am one of those people that love Metal Knitting needles. I think it is because they remind me of my Grandma but I always never seem to have the size that I need so in the LCS I went and came out spending much more then I decided. But lots of pink stuff. Mostly items to make our New Grandbaby Zoe a Kimono and other things... Ya... I know Pink. I LOVE PINK... So if that was not enough I ended up treating myself to Lunch and then over to buy some Bare Essentials "Summer Special". Ok enough spending... well that is for now. LOL Oh I almost forgot I did get some yarn for my Dr Suess-ish Bag by Noni Bags aka Nora Bellows. But that yarn is hiding in the back end of my car. I could not bring it all in. As it was Johnny saw my new bag and said "How Special ANOTHER Pink blank, blank, blank Bag. And it is filled with Yarn!~G R E A T" so I decided to leave the rest of the yarn in the back of my car. Once he leaves for work I will go and get it Out! Woo Hoo! Enjoy~

Noro Silk Garden Felts

Yeap it felts. Here is a booga bag minus the straps out of Noro Silk Garden. For those of you who wonder if it felts it does. The only thing is that it takes twice as long as if you were felting with Noro Kureyon. It shrinks just as much but is much softer then Noro Kureyon. Just thought I would share.~ Enjoy!

WWKIP 2006 & Yarn Porn

Way To Go Los Angeles SnB World Wide Knit In Public Day in Santa Monica, CA at Douglas Park on Wilshire & 25th Street. This is not a very clear pic since this one is from my Cell phone but we had a great fun turn out. I got to meet alot of great women and a guy and Seymor the mascot and a very precious lil' girl who gave us rose petals. It was an all around fun time. Even if I am sun burnt today the day after. I have to say I was even able to get knitting done. Thanks to the Yarn Pirate for organizing and also doing the great drawing for the Lorna's Laces Sock Yarn and the Lantern Moon key chain. So sad I did not win but it was so worht going to. I would also like to thank all you Los Angeles SnB's for letting me join in your group. What a cool group to be a part of. I can see it will be so worth the drive down there.

More Pictues of the fellow Knitters and "LA is my Bet"

And more pix

Ok... so now on with some Yarn Porn... I was able to get some yarn shopping in before I went to the gathering in Santa Monica. I stopped in at Valley Village's "The Stitch Cafe" for some well needed Stash Busting. I am proud to say that my Cascade 220 is now beaming with new colors. Along with some awesome new patterns that seem to be all the rage "Noni Bag" patterns... woo hoo!


Stay tuned for more adventures with Knitapalooza!

I love You Dad! Happy Birthday

My Dad! I love him so. We celebrated his 78th Birthday and Fathers day all at once this past weekend at a friends resturant. We love going there since we take over the back room. We had so much fun. Lots of Margarita's and Chips and food... but this topped the day.... When you celebrate a birthday there they make you wear this funky hat. If you notice the guy leaning by hind is Johnny tring to give the peace sign... But more important is the fact if you look closely at my fathers hand one of his fingers is starting to close... Instead of a Peace sign he gave the bird. I think we had had enough Margarita's. It was so great to celebrate it. My Brother from Alaska and his wife and most of my kids and my other Brother and Sister were all able to make it. Even Lopz aka "Gomez". It was a great celebration. We were all there. I love you Dad!

Am I burned out?

Well lets see! Am I burned out on knitting??? Heck! NO! is that clear enough?

Some of you may only know me for less then a year but I feel the need to explain who I am and what I am about!

First I suffer from 3 cronic illnesses that can kick my butt! The worst time of year for me is the beginning of summer. Mainly because I can not tolerate the heat, my body can not take the sun, and my pain level elevates above what I can usually handle. I am not asking for anyones sympothy. I am just explaining who I am. When it was told to me that others felt that I am burned out on knitting ~ it hurt to my soul. Knitting and yarn are my life right now and have been since I discovered knitting. I have crochetted since I was little but since I discovered knitting I have only tapped into the realm of yarn obsession. I might not be as productive as I am in the previous months but I am still knitting. I might not have as many projects going but I am still knitting away.


Am I burned out?
Why? Because I am not buying alot of yarn? Well, my yarn stash has become so enormous that I need to sort it out and figure what I am going to do. But who has time for that when there is more yarn to get. Or more patterns to find... Or more projects to start.

Am I burned out?
Why? Because I have decided to think before knitting? I previously would start a project and then another one and then another one and so on.... Noticeing that finishing was not getting done. So after RE-EVALUATING the situation I decided to be more causious about casting on. I have also starting knitting for children. But I am still felting.

Am I burned out?
Why? Because several of the project recently have KICKed My Butt? Ya I have been working on patterns that I just have not been able to figure out. I am working the kinks out but I will not let them defeat me.

Am I burned out?
Why? Because my posting on my blog are few and far between? Heck No. I have had computer trouble. Yes... I have had to turned to my Computer Cense's but still they are unable to figure it out either. 2 computers down along with maintaining lets see.... 12 computers just for my immediate family... (parents, siblings, kids, johnny's and my own).

Am I burned out?
Why? Because family seems to be in the way of knitting? Well, first off family is a major part of my life. Kids, siblings, parents, partners and pets have and will take up alot of my life which usually means the knitting needles have to be put aside but this does not mean that I am burned out!

Life can get you down but I am one that usually does not let it but that does not mean that I am burned out!

I love knitting!
I am knitting!
I am not burned out!
I love knitting!

A Right as an American!

Yeap... I did it yesterday. I voted. I can proudly say that since I have been avaialbe to vote I have yet to miss one election. This is a fantastic right. Growing up I can remember always going to the polls with my parents. My father happens to be a retired Navel Officer and a retired Public Official. Growing up, politics happen to always be a part of my life. Voting was always a great big deal in my family. I am not saying what party I am since my family consis of both Republicans & Democrats. It was so much fun going to the polls growing up and then to election central to watch the counting of ballots and then to the canidates headquarters. I could not wait until I was able to vote. Once I was able to vote it took on another journey. To Never Miss any Election. That's right in over 20+ years I have not missed one election. My family also trys to see who can be the first at the polls... My father usually wins. LOL I am just very thankful that we have the choice to vote and the ability to vote. I am very proud to be an American and very proud to have the right to vote. To explain my family we are all very out spoken and when politics get talked about in the house...well lets just say there are some big debates and some large discussions but we all respect each others views. I am not sharing this to make any political statement. I am just sharing a part of me that is important to me. The right to be an American! An Proud of it!