Misc Crafting

Made a few of these little needle felted pumpkins. After I made them, I made a witch head and a red devil head. The red devil looks a bit like Salvador Dali...

Finished Objects Report

James' version of the Fibercrack blanket is finished. I didn't do the lace bit so the sides are just straight and it's a basic square. I did however keep in the purl bits to give it some texture, and to create an interesting color change since the purl rows were added when I changed colors. He pronounced it "perfect" this morning when I showed him and we immediately put it on his bed.



The detail here shows the purl color changes a bit better.

Holy Hotcakes! I just looked at my list of archives - two more months, and this puppy will be FIVE YEARS OLD!

Speaking of time flying by, look who's three and a half!!

The Loverly Catherine


The Handsome James

TaDa!



This Fibercrack is finished. I used about ten skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in three shades of rose colors. I was going for "ombre" but the last bit wasn't quite big enough. No matter, the little one loves her blanket and has been sleeping with it ever since it was blocked and dried.

Here's a close-up:



Started one for her brother in Lime Light, Caribbean Blue, Jungle Green, and two skeins of white that I dyed in shades of lime/light blue. I've got more of the Jungle Green than anything else so I'm doing those sections bigger; it's in stripes, however since it's knit in the round as a square, the stripes are more boxes of color. I've also taken out the lace bit so it's just straight rather than wavy. More masculine that way. I'm really digging the way the colors look together. Funny thing is, and I so did NOT plan this, is the middle brother (he's the 8-year old) has a woven throw rug and a duvet cover in almost the same colorways. So when they get to sharing a room, they'll be totally color-coordinated.

Finished the blanket. It's about the size of a top of a double bed. I made it in three different pink/rose colors so it looks rather ombre.

I started one for my son (her twin brother) today in greens, only I'm not doing the lace part - it'll just be a big square with stripes (worked in the round, so stripes in square?) in lime light, caribbean blue, jungle green, and some white that I dyed in various shades of lime/green/turqoiuse. That last bit is still hanging to dry so I need to wait now so I can get that incorporated since the other three colors are in there. This blanket is the perfect manic-project.

Started another Fibercrack blanket. I've got a ton of Cotton Fleece in shades of pinks that I'm going to use to make my three-year old daughter a blanket. The one I made for her when I was pregnant is way too small now. Sigh. It was a very cute blanket but I'm not double knitting one to fit a twin sized bed. Entirely too much like work and nothing like fun.

Knitting has been something I try to fit in around life, the kids, and my part-time job. I still very much enjoy myself but there's just not enough hours in the day. Would that I could make a living at knitting. Well, then again, I might not like it so much. I liken it to the time I worked at THE best place in Southern New Jersey to get a cheesesteak. Every night I worked, for about two years, I would leave stinking of cheesesteaks and grease. Made my boyfriend hungry (so I always had to bring him a sandwich), but made me go off on eating them myself. I'm afraid that doing knitting or any of my hobbies as a job would make me tend to like them less.

Just got back from two weeks in the Outer Banks, NC. Bigger house, but same area - Ocean Sands, Section P. It was right across the street from the house we rented last year. We like that it's close to shopping, very close to the beach, and mostly quiet - the neighborhood primarily rents only to families. Some families can be louder than others but for the most part, it's got a nice vibe that you don't get from teen towns like Wildwood, NJ.

Getting ready to be hit by the hurricane traveling up the coast. Our area is predicted to get over six inches of rain. At least I don't have to water my garden. Hope the tomatoes don't drown.

Husband has been gone all week, reporting from the Republican National Convention. He's had a good time, got some good interviews, but he's ready to be home. I'M ready for him to be home. We got home late Friday night, he left early on Sunday. I've been single parenting all week and my nerves are wearing out.

Speaking of Republicans, I took a "quiz" at some website that was "How Democrat Are You" and the sister one, "How Republican Are You." I'm about 16% each - funny, huh? I was impressed, very much so, by Sarah Palin's speech. It's just a shame that her daughter is getting more press; you'd think the 17-year old was the one on the ticket, not her mama. I feel bad for her. I was 21 when my daughter was born and that was HARD. I can't imagine doing it at 17. Oh hell, I can't imagine my 17-year old son getting married because he knocked someone up. But then again, in my world, we are pro-choice and not very religious. There would be no shotgun wedding.

Finally! It's finished.
I used the pattern from Knitting Lingerie Style - at the White Lies Design website, it's the Krista Tee. Instead of the recommended yarn, I substituted Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep. I've gotten loads of compliments. So much so that I have all that cotton fleece in Cavern from that cardigan I tried to make and frogged oh so long ago. I might use that to knit myself another. At the rate I'm going, I'll be finished with that NEXT summer!

Also working on a dress for my smallest daughter - I'm knitting the top in different colored stripes and will attach it to a cotton fabric skirt. It's very cute now. Hope it meets my expectations! I'm writing up the directions as I work it so hopefully I'll be able to pass it along. Or not.

FO Alert! Woohoo! I finished my White Lies Design white lace tshirt last night. From the look on my husband's face, I'd say it looks and fits fantastic! So vavoomy!

It's not like I'm writing and am burnt out on the whole process. I'm not doing much of anything other than being the wonderful, kick-ass wife and mom that I am but blogging isn't all that interesting anymore. I suppose part of the disenchantment comes from doing this for so many years. I started at Open Diary when it was just a frontispiece ("an illustrated leaf preceding the title page of a book") and wrote my little heart out. I wrote about the trials and tribulations of moving across the country to be with the man you met online. About my life, my future plans, past regrets and exploits. My kids, my dogs, my house, my neighbors, my crafting, my hobbies, my family. Nowadays, I can barely manage anything other than a grocery list or a stupid poll on my MySpace page. I did the whole write about my life thing...it's not that interesting

And yes, I know bloody well that I'm too freaking old for a MySpace page. Blame that on my belly dance teacher - she posted the choreography for a routine on her page and in order to access it, I needed to have my own page. Annoying, really.

I am knitting. Currently, I'm working on a piece from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael. It's a cute lacy t-shirt. Out of four pieces, I've actually completed one. I'm halfway finished with the back. Today I got in some LYS time at Uniquities in Vienna, VA. They are having a big sale. Lesson for today is quit trying to take three year old twins into a yarn store. While I think the girl would have behaved and would have taken an interest in the yarn (especially since I was picking out some purples to make something for HER), the boy is just a meathead. Unless there are balls and cars or something on which to climb or hang, he doesn't want much to do with it.

Oldest daughter was home for a few days in between her taking an independent study and starting summer classes. You know what that means: overnight getaway for the parents! I love the Klimpton hotels. We've stayed at the Hotel Palomar in Washington, DC; the Hotel Monaco, also in DC; and the Hotel Palomar in Arlington, VA. Thus far, the Arlington one is my absolute favorite! While there's not as much around there as there is at the Palomar in DC (it's right near Dupont Circle), our room was comfortable, clean, had a great view, and the best bathtub on the planet. I am SOOOOO getting one of those when I have my dream house built. It's just a have-to-have thing at this point in my life! Since the room was pretty much our entire budget, I packed a picnic dinner consisting of grape tomatoes, salami, panini roll, four different cheeses, marinated mushrooms, chocolate, and lots and lots of red wine. I think I took three baths! I'm surprised I wasn't a giant prune when I got home the next morning well rested and refreshed and ready to take on the kids again.

Countdown to summer beach vacation: too many days and counting... August 16th can't get here fast enough! This year, not one but two glorious weeks at the beach!