new blog on Monday

Time to move on with a new blog. As much as I love my hubby and am glad he was born, its time to end the birthday tribute and move on to knitting.
I've got enough projects going right now to make my head spin and I'm trying not to turn into Linda Blair because of it. I have 3 different pairs of socks on needles right now. One of them is just outright boring, one of them is pleasant but for some reason just isn't bonding with me right now and one is of my own design and is toe-up so it takes a great deal of energy and uninterruptedness to work on those. For no-brainer knitting in the car I am working on my-so-called-scarf. I also have a sweater for Steven of my own design, a sweater for me from an old creative knitting that I've been jonesing to knit for like 2 years now, and I've taken up a new sweater pattern (for me) from the latest Knitscene (the ahlstrom bodice sweater). The latter of these is a little tricky and I took it down to two yarns since I was getting ridiculously tangled. The pattern isn't that difficult but for some reason my brain can't wrap itself around how this all comes together to be a sweater. So I'd say that right now that project is the source of most of my frustration. Why I do this to myself I'll never know.
I manage to reorganize my downstairs stash of yarn (yes, there is an upstairs closet-full stash as well. Its just that the downstairs stash was taking over the living room like a bunch of tribbles and I was afraid that DH would finally lose his mind if I didn't do something soon). I also took my sons to the library. Our local quilting guild had many beautiful quilts hung all over the place. There was even one up for a raffle (of which I bought a ticket). One in particular that caught my eye was a dreamcatcher quilt. My pictures do not even come close to doing it justice. I wish I could remember the name of the lady who quilted it, but it escapes me at the moment.

Happy Birthday!

Today is the big 5-0 for my hubby. He's a sweet, handsome, supportive hubby who never says anything when we are just about covered in yarn.
A very happy birthday to my sweetie! And take a look at that baby face!!!!

all's fair in love and knitting

I finished my williamsro sweater this morning while watching Patch Adams. Its really lovely lying on the couch. The alpaca blends knit up nicely and its very pretty...... until I put it on. I look like a walking snowball. Its a little better when I don't button it, but the sweater was not designed to be flattering on fluffy girls. But then again, are there any sweaters that are really attractive on fluffy girls? The alpaca blends is itchy on my bare arms which I wasn't anticipating. Not that big of a deal since I won't be wearing it until winter and will have long sleeves on.
Maybe if I lose like 40 pounds I'll look more like a poodle and less of a snowball. I haven't knit myself a sweater in many many years. Might be some more years between me and the next sweater I knit for me. I had started a sweater for the hubby and plan to resume it today. I was on a mission to get this one finished. Oh, notice the button band.... those are buttons that were handcrafted by Brittany of theknitwitch and myself one afternoon when I was on a raw food fast (don't ask). Brittany is holding a contest for her new yarn company so you need to check that out. She's also got some more buttons in her online store if you want to get you some cool buttons!

and we were swinging

This is a picture of our new "swing" that Steven wanted for his upcoming birthday. Its one of those that glides more than it actually swings. About a year and a half ago we saw one in Helen and really liked it. We've had our eye out for one every since. He ran across this one on Craig's List.
Worked the 4th of July and it was busy, busy, busy. I heard the weekend was fairly stable but its supposed to be busy again this upcoming week.
I'm getting close the finish line on my williamsro sweater. Its seamed and I am doing the bottom trim to finish up the last of the knitting. Then I have to put on the buttons and weave in the loose ends. I'm waiting until I'm finished to post any pics of it.
I've been working on a sock pattern that I ran across on Ravelry that's from Interweave Knits. I think its called The Simply Lovely Lace sock.
I'm also attempting to do the Meida socks from 25 Favorite Socks in lorna's laces shepherd sock on size 1 needles. I may go insane. I know Ramone is proud for me knitting on such micro needles but she may be proud of me in psych ward by the time I get them finished.
On a last, but completely different note..... we went to see Hancock yesterday. It was awesome! Whatever you are doing right this minute....stop.... go get in your car and drive to the nearest movie theater and see the movie! Will Smith is awesome and he's a hottie to boot!
http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/contest-time-again.html

pictures coming soon

I had forgotten how much I HATE piecing. Then I was reminded. I'm piecing the second arm on my williamsro. Its taking and inordinate amount of time. Partly because to spread it out like I need to in order to make sure it lines up correctly I have to spread it out on my bed and kneel at the edge of the bed to sew it together. Now being that I've got a gimp knee and am running around looking like a geriatric patient with my TED hose and my knee brace, I don't tolerate this position for very long (Brittany, get your mind out of the gutter. You too, Mr. Man) So I sew for a few minutes and then I have to get up and knit something else. I've loved working on the sweater. I started it at the beginning of the month and am excited to be on the home stretch. I'm even going to be able to use some of the ceramic buttons that I made one afternoon with Brittany and Mr. Man. Wicked cool, huh? So, I do promise pictures soon. I'd like it to be done or closer to done before posting any pictures. I've also started on some Meida socks from the Favorite Socks book. I'm doing them with Lorna's Laces shepherd sock in Buck's Bar (very lovely colorway) on size 1 needles. I may go blind or insane or both before these get finished. the pattern is pretty and easy to memorize but the tiny stitches are torturous..... at least for a geriatric gimp like me.
I'm also working on some trinity knot cable socks that I'm piecing several different patterns together to create this AND I'm doing it toe-up. Damn, I'm just full of masochism these days.

my big fat greek lip

Warning, the picture of my lip is not for the faint of heart. Its, as my husband would say, "iggy".
Also, the title of the blog should be "My Big Fat Italian Lip" since I am not Greek, but rather 1/4 Italian, but it kind of loses the play on words when I get technical.
I went to the dentist yesterday for some routine fillings and also a gum flap removal. My dentist forgot to tell me that the gum flap removal would be sore afterwards and that I would resemble a hideous version of Angelina Jolie. I think perhaps some banana popsicles are in order to help nurse my swollen and painful lip back to its normal self. The pain from my gum extraction runs along my jaw and for some reason is even causing me some bizarre ear pain. I did refrain from going to work today. I just couldn't fathom dealing with my lip and my painful gum flap removal site for 12 freakin hours. Last time I went in to work when I wasn't feeling well, I ended up losing my voice partway through the shift and had to write notes and have our unit secretary answer all questions and calls for me.
On another note, we got back from vacation on Saturday. I only came off with a small turtle sand sculpture that my husband accidentally stepped on before I could get a picture. I did get some good knitting done on the way down and back and have pictures to show for it.

just a blog before i go

I thought I'd share a blog before we go to Cape San Blas for a week on the beach. We'll be camping in our pop up. There will be plenty of sand in the camper and up my butt as well. Last year I made a few low-relief sand sculptures. I'm coming to the beach more prepared this year to build them bigger and better. I don't enjoy being out in a bathing suit in public. I don't try to achieve a tan and I can only handle the salty water for so long. So, its sand sculptures for me.
I've started a new knitting project. I was inspired by somebody else's williamsro on ravlery. I'm not using the noro cash iroha. I'm using Bernat alplaca blends, but I am using the noro blossom for the trimwork. I'm posting what I've done so far in the alpaca blends. This will most likely be my knitting project on the way to Florida. Its been knitting up fast which is a nice treat.
So, hopefully I will come back from Florida with pictures of works of art through sand and no burns or tans. I intend to come back as caucasian as I am leaving for down there.