tangled bliss...

Rest and Relax

Vases of flowers came my way last week -  I had a little minor surgery (everythign is ok, nothing to worry about).

My Dr. thought it best that I stay home for the week to recover.  I was  looking forward to it :) movies, crafting, reading, though by Wednesday I was so bored; I had watched all the movies TMN had to offer, and my hands cramped from all the knitting.  I wasn't allowed to move around so that meant crafting allowed, as I was couch bound.  Thank goodness Ben came for a visit, we watched Charolette's Web (the old one :)), and I watched as he played with Milo...  Running around, and around, and around the house, holding a piece of yarn with a bell tied to the end of it,  laughing so hard as Milo came bounding from behind.  He also dicovered that my coffee table doubles as a box that opens...  He made himself quite comfortable in it and read Curious George.

 

I finished Ben's new stripped hoodie, yipee it fits!  Well...  almost finished. I want to add a flannel lining to it... should be ready to wear this weekend.  I'll post the pics once the lininig is in.  With that aside I have Jonah's to work on.  Insead of doing stripes I decided to do a 'swiss check'.  I'll do the pattern on the front and back, the arms and hood will be solid (darker blue).  It will kind of look like a vest (at least that's the look I am going for).  And thanks to Hubby the trip to Micheal's for the yarn only took 10 min - he picked the colours for Jonah :)  Good Job!

 

Delivery for me!

Friday evening I was quick to rush home, but first we had to make a stop at Jeremy and Tiff's place for a little din din. They made some fantastic tenderloin sandwiches and homemade pizza - OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

Though it was almost bedtime by the time I got home I was still very excited - the mail had come,  and with it more Christmas presents!  With my gift certificates, a $10 off coupon, my 'rewards' card and additional discounts I was able to a shop for a few of the books on my wish list.

From my bedside pile above I got 30 Colourful Quilt & Patchwork Projects, Simple Sewing with a French Twist, Super Crafty (here too) and Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I'm quite excited to try my hand a few of the projects I flipped by - pictures first, reading later.  I think I might try my hand at the apron in Quilts....  I know of a couple people who might appreciate it for a gift.

WIP - when my husband made up my new craft room, I finally had a chance to go through about 3/4 of my yarn to see what exactly I have - LOTS! is what I have.  I've been dying to knit something, but it had to be quick and simply satisfying.  Something I could take on the train, or I could do while watching  my favorite programs...  I remembered this little hoodie from Nursery Knits...  It was perfect and I had just the right amount of yarn in my stash.

 

I got the back and left front done in a week so, I hope to have it complete before we roll into February.  Because,  I'm using an acrylic I thought it would be nice to line is with some cuddly warm flannel.  Perfect for a valentine's gift don't you think - Hugs from Auntie:)

Blankets for Baby

The days are getting increasingly colder and it reminded me of the baby blankets I had made for my sweet little nephew Jonah. I chose a simply beautiful pattern from Debbie Bliss Special Knits, good for boy or girl.  I used Baby Cashmerino(there's nothing better for baby) in a Butter Cream Yellow.  It turned out amazing!  I am very proud of this blanket, it's perfect for bundling baby on those frosty winter nights.

While out shopping for some drapery fabric I came across this adorable fabric with Elephant Kings on it.  I couldn't resist!  I matched it with blue polka-dots and a striped green flannel.  Put it all together and this is what happened...  Not so bad for my first ever Quilt.  Though I did realize the importance of 1/4 inch seams.  So, with that new knowledge the next Quilting venture (a cowboy theme for Ben) will turn out much better.

 

Winter around the corner

The temperature is slowly dropping...  perfect time to knit up a scarf from one of my very favorite knitting books Scarf Style.  I've been eying 'Falling Leaves' for some time now a perfect project for this time of year as tress are for the most part bare.

I dread knowing that -30 degree wind-chills, and cold wet snow are just around the corner.  :(   But with this scarf knitted up in Berroco Alpaca I'll be able to do some fierce combat. 

July Challenge - Day One

July 01 - day one of the Finishing Unfinished Projects Challenge....  my challenge is to finish the Viennese Shrug, Interweave Summer 2005...  and what do I have to show for the first day .... NOTHING!  Today, started earlier at 6 with a dog walk...  then off to the nursery for limestone boulders...  we spent the rest of the day arranging almost 2 tons of rock to make a garden bed-thanks Mum.  With that almost done perhaps tomorrow I will have time to work on my Shrug...  How was your day 1?

Stop Chocolate Cravings with Unfinished Project

Well I started the South Beach Diet this week - if I can loose 15-20lbs I think I'll be much happier.  I've had success with it before and lost 15lbs but with my Thyroid acting up i was easy to put the weight back on.  So, to keep my fingers away from reaching for that creamy milk chocolate, and away from any type of cookie I picked up a new project...  Well it's not new exactly, I started it last summer-got halfway through decided I wasn't happy with it, and dropped the needles leaving the one complete arm rolled up in the bottom of my stash box.

It's a very pretty shrug from Interweave Knits Summer 2005 - Viennese Shrug.  I'm using Rowan Cashsoft in Bloom.  Ahh... extra fine merino wool, microfiber, and cashmere -- and machine washable!  It's a pleasure to work with.  The shrug is knit from the centre out using the provisional cast on.  That was the reason I dropped it ...  I just couldn't get it right so, I started it like you would any blanket, and when it came time to do the other half it turned out messy.  With a little patience this time I endured the cast on and it's looking great.  I feel so satisfied that I finally got it, and now I will have one more unfinished project finished.  There are quite a few of them... My resolution this year was to rid myself of all unfinished deeds including paint touch-ups, framed pics, new powder room and ridding the house of anything unnecessary....  But this all takes time away from those very happy productive moments when I'm knitting, or sewing, or baking, or doing anything but cleaning and organizing.

Hey Honey what about a maid??

Long Weekend Success

This long weekend was perfect...  the weather sucked which meant I had lots of time for crafting.  The weekend started off great with an early morning trip to the Humane Society,followed by a very quick 'in & out' at the local yarn store - Phil was with Michelle and me so we weren't allowed to linger.  We made it home for a long nap got ready and made our way back to the city for a wonderful meal at one of our very favorite restaurants Thai Magic and then we were off to the b-day party.  Sunday brought more gray skies and lots of time for movies and crafting as posted earlier - I finished my very 1st sofite in memory of Bentley.  Monday I made another denim and felted tote.  This one is much larger, about the size of a diaper bag.  I like to use Paton's Classic Merino on 6.5mm needles and toss in the wash for 15 min.  This makes a very dense fabric that's great for these bags.
     

When I finished the bag I started a new knitting project in this very buttery yellow...  And put together new fabric for my next small tote.

Tuesday i went to go get my hair done...  a cut colour and a few summer highlights as requested by my hubby.  I love getting my hair   Then we went to watch The Davinci Code.

So, all in all a very successful weekend...  I can't wait for the next one-I hope it rains :)

Flower Basket Shawl Complete

I finished the Flower Basket Shawl, it really didn't take that long.  Let me tell you this is the first time I have been disappointed with how a project turned out.  I should have taken the advice of Becky and made the shawl twice as big...  right now it 's barley passable as a scarf....

Let's Reminisce Together

What was your inspiration to start knitting, crocheting, crafting?  What was your first serious or not so serious project?  What would you like to tackle next (other than your significant other ;))?  And last but, not least, if you could give one peice of advice to a beginner what would it be?

My piece of advice would be;
'Don't be afraid to start over,re-tracing one's steps has it's rewards. Sometimes a new beginning is just what you need.'
Susan

Reminiscing - My Very First Knitting Project!

   Finally.... I have acquired photo's of my very first knitting project... It's a little hazy but it's starting to come back to me. It was about 18 months ago... After a few years of crocheting I decided to tackle knitting. I guess it's in my 'bones' - both my grandmothers had/have very special gifts; my mother's mother could knit and sew exceptionally well and was constantly working on something for her own children or one of her many grandchildren. My father's mother does both knit and crochet donating her items to charity bazaars.

I remember my maternal grandmother trying to teach me how to knit when I was very young - using sharpened pencils as needles ( she was teacher - Montessori go figure). I don't ever remember taking to it very well... and lost interest very quickly. Years later as a young teenager I tried to pick it up again - nothing simple like a dress for Barbie - but one of those heavy sweaters, with a zipper and a pattern around the upper half of the shoulders... I got bored and gave it to my mother to finish.... Then about 6 years ago completely out of the blue I picked up a crochet hook , some yarn and 10-20-30 Minutes to Crochet and I was off!!! Never to look back. My first project was a blanket. I continued with baby items, hats, scarves - you name it I crocheted it..... Then for some reason I decided that I need to expand my palate and went out got some yarn and 10-20-30 Minutes to Knit and made this!! The blanket in white with eyelets, a very simple pattern for my cousin Christine's little one Meghan. Isn't she cute :) Christine says it's her very favorite blanket :)

I absolutely love knitting, most of my spare time is doing just that. But now that I have a working sewing machine in the house and fresh new needles.... Embroidery/Crewel, Quilting and purses have peeked my interest..... Who knows what will be next!!!