Making Waves...

I almost forgot... Friday when I got home (early, and sick) I had a surprise waiting for me! It was the new issue of Interweave Knits. I loved browsing the pages and then in the back of the magazine... there is was... (on page 141)

ANOTHER BAG PATTERN I MUST HAVE!!! (and I think I must knit them both!)

Making Waves Bags pattern by Chris Bylsma Designs This is the description for the bags from the web site: Classy felted cables make a statement in the boardroom on an elegant divided briefcase and at the boarding gate on a generous carpet bag. Pack up the laptop, a lap full of knitting or lap dog and go! Briefcase: 15" wide x 12" high x 3" deep Carpet bag: 20" wide x 15" high x 6" deep. Do I need another bag pattern? Of coarse I do! So I ordered it, no stopping to think about it, no calling Sherri to ask if she could get the pattern, I just stopped everything and ordered it!!! Keep in mind here, I was very sick at the time! My mind went into overload and I couldn't stop myself. Good thing I don't get sick very often.

Ok, I'm off to knit before bed!

Getting my ducks in a row

Yes, here I am two days in a row! First - the weatherman was wrong - it was a beautiful day at the beach - NO RAIN!! We had some clouds for awhile this morning, but they didn't stay long.

Ok, with that out of the way, here we go... At last the Guideposts sweater is completed!! I do hear the applause. (one duck in line).

Next duck (or sweater) to get in line... the one button cardigan. This one goes in the charity sweaters box at work.

And yet there is one more...

Let me just say I think I am a dyslexic knitter. Clearly the picture in the book shows the ties on the right, and the sweater overlapping to that side... so why has Shanda put the ties on the LEFT?? I also put a small tie on the inside to match the ribbons on the outside. I think I will try this one again. I'm going to use the Mellon colored cotton fleece that was donated to us to make charity sweaters. I will pay attention this time to the length (I think I will make it longer - and I will lap the sweater to the right side this time!)

Here's another shot of the Kimono and my Ball Band wash cloth... I had it outside to wipe down the table and then left it out to dry, and I love the colors together! I also knit this Kimono as part of the Mason Dixon KAL.

Break time.

Red Bag Done!

Well I've been dog sick for 3 days now, and Payroll must go out, so it's off to work each day I go!! Pitty Party over. I've been pretty busy too with wedding stuff... that's why I haven't posted in some time! Update - 21 days until the wedding! Moving right along... I have been knitting a little bit. Actually I decided to finish up a bag I started in April. I bought this yarn to make a French Market Bag for Marie when she retired and then changed my mind and went back a bought more in Cascade 220. This bag is the Rick Rack Bag (I'm not a rick rack kinda girl, so I skipped that part!) This picture is pre-felted and pre-strings-being-cut-off! (I'm giving this bag to my sister-in-law... although I want to keep it for myself - guess I'll have to make another one for me.) Isn't this too cute! I have a small box of pasta in it to help shape it while it is drying. By the way the yarn I used for this bag is the Lamb's Pride worsted.

I've also finished my Yarn Cabinet (well that's what I'm calling it because that's what it's full of!) I haven't decided on what I want to sit on it. So for now it's just odds & ends. I love my mobius basket with shells, and my double bun mobius with knitting needles. Later after the wedding I'll come up with something wonderful to put on it, but for now this is perfect.

I love the seahorse pull that we found online to put on the pull door. Behind the pull door are 3 drawers full of yarn!! I have one more small piece of furniture to finish up, but it will have to wait until September now. I tried to get the up-close picture of the seahorse to load, and it looks like it is just not going to happen.

I'll have more to post tomorrow, but for now I'm off to get some much needed rest!

It's Raining... YARN!!!!!

Knit Night at The Yarn Corner was great this week!!! I think I might have gotten one row knitted on my T-Top Sweater (Guideposts knit for kids sweater). The rest of the time I was gabbing and looking at yarn, and asking questions about knitting! I love these girls!!! They are all so talented, funny and very eager to help with my numerous crazy knitting questions! I talked to Amber about Kool-Aid dyeing and I can't wait to try that, but for now it will have to take a back (far back) burner. I did make a major yummy yarn purchase and I couldn't get home fast enough with it! On the drive home I told myself, "as soon as I finish the charity sweaters, then I can get started on my Chocolate Cardi" I almost had myself believing that this is what I was going to do. Until I walked in door and starting looking for my needles. Unfortunately, the only size 8 circulars I could find were yucky bent ones that were either given to me, or I picked them up at a garage sale. I didn't even make a swatch first (I will now slow down and do this!). I did knit a few rows on the old ugly things, and then stopped to go to bed. About the yarn... I love this Chocolate color, it's Cascade 220 Superwash. Ever since I saw the halter top that Heather made, I've been wanting something in that yummy Chocolate color. This is another purchase from a couple of weeks ago, I'm not sure yet what bag pattern I will be using, but I couldn't pass it up. I believe this giant skein was 350 yards. It looks so different in these two cute balls. I've narrowed down the FELTED bag patterns to maybe 5. Any suggestions would be welcome! I also purchased more cotton chenille to make flower wash (face) cloths. They will be Christmas presents, so I need to make sure to keep that yarn in my Go Bag! Well I'm off to my first Bridal Shower. My sister-in-law ( the best in the whole world) is hosting it tomorrow for me. She lives up near Seattle, and Cassie and I are leaving the boys (Rick and Thor) for the weekend. Of course I have my knitting with me! I'm going to try to finish the T-Top Sweater. Knit on!

Morning Surprises!

First, where is the sun?

Well I've once again made the watering rounds, and look what I've found. We had company for dinner. Those beautiful deer, that all the tourist love to slow down and look at, came by to eat my flowers! And did the dogs bark, or growl, or say anything to chase them off? Their bedroom window is right in front of the now eaten deer smorgasbord!!! What worthless (cute) dogs we have, and now they want treats?!?! Yes! It worked... here is stage one of my yarn dresser! It really is light blue.

I'm off to find out why Rick isn't getting ready to go fishing, and find my much needed coffee!!

Knitting in the Sunshine

I woke up today to an awesome sunny morning! Watered the plants about 7:30am, started a load of laundry, played with the dogs, read a few blogs and was out in the sunshine knitting by 11:00am!!!! This was truly a perfect knitting day in the sunshine.

All my favorite items are present in this picture... RIO (for listening to a new book I just started today, The King of Lies by John Hart. I use Nintendo DS earwear because the earbuds that came with my RIO aren't very comfortable and I really like the way these stay on my ears.) Iced Chai Latte, and the Baby One Button Cardigan for charity. I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I love the way this feels! I think I'm going to have to think about making me a wonderful sweater someday using this or the Cascade that is the same 80% cotton and 20% wool. It just feels yummy. Now on to the next project of the day! My dear friend (and knitter) Patty gave me her old dresser set and I've totally striped them down and I'm giving them the "Beach Feel Treatment". Today I dusted them really well and began the painting process.

I have tried to download my dresser picture 5 times now... it's not working!! Picture will have to wait until tomorrow!

It looks white in the pictures, but it's a very light blue. I've already finished the tall piece, it's the same light blue, light aqua and another light blue/green. All three shades are so close it's a little hard to tell the difference. I'm not sure yet what fun things I want to do to this piece tomorrow when it's dry, but I'm sure it will come to me. I'm going to scuff it up a bit to make it look weathered, and we bought some cool hardware for it. Although we haven't found the hinges I want yet. So the door will have to stay off for a little while longer. This piece will go in our entry way. I can't remember what we talked about putting in this when it was finished, but now all I can think of is it's going to be a great place to keep yarn!!! I'm sure this will go over well with Rick! I'm thinking about maybe fabric to line the drawers, but not sure yet. It will come together slowly like everything else I imagine.

I'm praying for a second day of sunshine tomorrow. Rick is going out fishing and still on my "to do" list for the weekend are:

• get the two lavendar plants I bought into the ground (deer don't eat them!)
• finish painting and scuffing my yarn dresser
• finish baby sweater ( the one button cardigan)
• make more bobbles
• address more wedding invitations
• wash and vacuum sand out of car
• fold clothes (do you see how low this rates on my list!)

Enough for tonight. Sweet dreams of sunshine (and little wind)!

Happy Fire Crack'n 4th

Last night we visited friends that were camping near by, it ended up being a very long night, with lots of campfire smoke. Everything went straight into the washer when I got home. I love the smell of a campfire, but only when I'm outside sitting around it! Just a couple of updates... 46 days until the big wedding! (I mean the small, easy and simple, no stress wedding day!) Things are progressing nicely... no stress here! Flower Washcloth... I've started another one! This is the first one, with my new Go Bag! What a wonderful combination, everything for the washcloth fits right in the cute little bag! I can take this one on the go to the beach with me, and no sand in my yarn! Baby Hat... I need to hurry and finish this today, because I'll need the needles to complete my Flower Washcloth (I use two sets of circular needles, because dpn scare me!) Bobble Bag... It's been sleeping in a bag just waiting it's turn. I may bring it to work to finish making the bobbles at lunch time. Baby Sweaters... I now have two, make that three half done sweaters. Well, one is my Baby Kimono, and I've still to sew it up. I MUST do that today! Then I'll find some ribbon for it. I also have a One Button Baby cardigan that's more than half way done... I'm afraid I'm going to run out of yarn, and I picked up the yarn at a garage sale!! urgh!!!!!!! How silly am I? The third is another One Button sweater that I'm making for a very small baby, it too is not yet half way done. Wash Cloths... I'm finished with the 5 charity donation cloths!!! Don't you love to say "Finished" or "I have completed that project" ! Makes me smile too!!! I forgot to post this... I started it this morning and now the day is done and I'm finally going to bed at 1:25am (July 5) I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th!!

Charity

I've discovered that it's just as much fun to knit for someone else, as it is for me! A group of us from work "GHC Cares" have decided to knit (and crochet) wash cloths for a charitable organization called "Loves Many Cloths". I have a box that sits on the corner of my desk that we are filling. (about 18 so far). We also decided that it would be fun to knit baby sweaters, hats and blankets too! So needless to say my Bobble Bag has been put on hold, but just for a short time. I've knitted numerous wash cloths, and the baby kimono (the one from the Mason Dixon book!) and now I'm working on a Debbie Bliss baby hat pattern. Oh yes, I did take a short time out (a one night project - a LONG one night project) to knit the flower wash cloth for myself. It's from the Weekend Knitting book. My friend Lauri made one and I saw it at The Yarn Corner and loved it. So I tried it, and guess what...I really, really love it!! Something so simple, and yet it makes me smiles, it's soooo soft. (cotton chenille). (I'll post pictures tonight when I get home, mine is pale blue). I think I should make many of these for Christmas presents, so they can love one too! I've ordered wonderful soaps to give as gifts with them. I'll post more later!