enriched

Happy New Year :)

2010-01-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

It's a new year! not news i know lol. But i'm pretty happy to see 2009 go with it's endless illnesses. I'm hopeful this year is better. I know Kent and i are making strides to change a few things so we are doing more of what we like :)
Knitting has not stopped! I finished another hot water bottle cover for Merriman house and i'm halfway through another mohair shawl. Don't know why i love mohair so much - i'm so fat that when i wear it the neighbours set out beartraps. Kidding! not i'm not. Yes i am.
Bear traps are illegal :)

Terrible b&w picture of Kent and i from the webcam:

dec 25th

2009-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

Sheesh can you tell i've been knitting all month? No posts.
Have a merry whatever you are having today :)

ups and downs and old picture

2009-12-12T17:21:00.000-08:00

Here's an old picture of me, 9 months pregnant with Corianne in late November.Alicia is nearly 4 and Jonathan is almost 2. When Kent was 12 lol.

My emotions have been all over the place today, from very happy to sadness. For no reason other than crazy hormones! On the good side i got a bunch of cleaning done that's been nagging at me for a while.Hockey tonight and leftover pasta for supper :). And more knitting! I am beginning to feel like it will never be done.

Still cold with a chance of snow. And KNITTING!

2009-12-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

Ok crazy amount of knitting being done here. I'm hoping to have a number of things finished up soon because i really do need something warm to wear!
The weather predictions seem to be changing by the hour, from snow for the weekend to 6 degrees and rain and then back to a snow prediction again. All i know is that its cold! And the weather network on my google reader is right now saying it's 18 degrees celcius right now lol! Obviously very wrong as it was - 6 C this morning.
Kent brought me some lovely dark chocolate covered ginger today again and i have to say it's frigg'n addictive. I'm going to have to freeze it or something.
Off to try to copy a hat i saw on Glee last night...

Discount Dressmaker Supplies

2009-12-08T17:53:00.001-08:00

So here i am yesterday, on a cold sunny day in Victoria, standing in front of Discount Dressmaker Supplies on Douglas Street. We didn't bring the camera so these pictures are crappy cell phone ones. They make you look like you are 60 lbs fatter than you are trust me.
( And if you do , i have a bridge i can sell you lol). Note the light jacket and fabric scarf. When i was getting ready i realized i have hardly any knits for myself. I am wearing a pair of fingerless gloves i did of mohair. And a fuzzy hat. Believe me i can't wait for Me-uary! Anyhow. There was a sign on the door that said 'back in 10 minutes' but it was so cold we decided to go to White Spot for coffee. Which we did. Yay cause, as i said, it was c c c cold. Shamefully i must admit that i seldom have been out of the house since the summer time and it felt very good to do so.
Discount Dressmakers was the destination because a rav friend needed a 12 inch separable zipper. I'd forgotten all about the store until now. Which is a shame! It's full of things for knitters and of course sewers. And crocheters. And embroiderers. I spent $27 which included all of the loot in the following pictures plus the aformentioned zipper which got mailed pronto.

See the prices on the buttons?! Crazy! I'll be going back for more. I even was able to pick up a .60mm crochet hook for beading on knits. I think it was a whopping $1.20. I could be wrong because everything seems to be discounted. The elderly couple that i am sure are the owner's were very helpful and sweet. He referred to his wife as 'honey' :). They said they are looking to close up in the spring. I wouldnt want to hazard a guess at their ages but lets say well past retirement age. The shop has lace and trims and zippers and ribbon and buttons and scissors and knitting needles and yarn holders and...well you get the picture. They do not take interac so cash is best. If there's anyone out there looking to take over a business it seems ideal. The gentleman did ask me if i'd like to buy it :)

I've never tried hairpin lace but my sister used to do it all the time. And at $3 for the loom i thought i could give it a whirl. The beautiful square leather buttons are for a sweater for me. I think :) .89 cents a card!

I'm so glad i went out. It felt great. Today i stayed in and tried to catch up on the knitting but i'll be out again tomorrow. Opthamologist's appointment at 12:45.

Sunny Monday :)

2009-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Just a super quick post to say i actually went out today :). It was freezing! And i wondered why i don't have a scarf when i am a knitter. Could be because i used to always use my clapotis and my mom admired it so much during her visit in September that i gave it to her lol.
I'll have an interesting post tomorrow about the notions place Kent and i went to today.

Off to bed with a hot water bottle!

sunday..

2009-12-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

Gah freezing here today! And the stupid AS pain is back to my hip again. It's hilarious to hear me walk around the house i'm sure, saying OW!! every other minute.
More seckrits of the knittingness happened as well as excessive tea drinking. I'm hoping i wake up tomorrow pain free since this has been going on in one form or another since the middle of September.

two down upteen to go

2009-12-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

Finished two more presents today. I'm actually doing pretty well :). Usually i wouldn't make so many or even give so many but this year i have the time and i just feel like it. It's going to be fun to post all the pictures after festivus/giftmas/christmas or whatever you want to call it.
We're about to go to bed and watch the rest of the Incredibles from there. The weather has changed and it's very windy and cold ( for here). There's even a chance of a flurry tonight! I've a headache which is what usually happens when the barometer changes.
Kent made a beautiful creamy spinach/shrimp penne tonight . So good!
Actually i think i'll continue reading Ender's Game while he watches the movie. For as long as i can keep my eyes open anyhow..

Pizza

2009-12-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

I love pizza on Fridays. MMmm pepperoni. We used to make our own, we're just too lazy lately.
Kent is still not well enough to go back to work and is getting a little depressed. It's tough because i know just how that feels :( . I keep trying to come up with new jokes and whatnot and he's still laughing which makes me feel less useless!
I finished the largest size hat and will put beads on it tonight. New picture will be tomorrow. I ended up cleaning and organizing the beads and then a bunch of wool and sort of got carried away with it.
Kent got our tiny tree out and put it up. That amounts to bending the branches back down since it's about 2 and a half or three feet high lol. I put little birds all over it and may even put the lights on it tonight yet. I love lights and candles too during this dark month. It's even pretty cold out for here -2 C. I think i need hot chocolate and marshmallows.....

Long day.

2009-12-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

It was a very long day today. Dr's appointments and family things. I'm about ready for bed now. I did a quick stop in at one of the local thrift shops and found some great beads for the smock you later hats.
Right from doing the first one, they for some reason reminded me of these hats my granny used to wear - they had big giant sequins on them. I tried and tried to find a picture on the net of what i remember to no avail. But the ones showing are sort of similar.
My granny was a very interesting person. A very brave woman. Most of her life was really tough, from getting polio at a young age to losing her husband to TB when her children were young. Then losing two of her three sons, one at 18 and one at 23. She was always good to us and always making us something. She died pretty young at 72. I miss her still.

ty's and discovery channel

2009-12-02T22:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks for everyone that's commented about the hat :). I'm working on a large and should have that pattern tested by the weekend. I updated the pattern today as i found one slight issue. Also posted the pictures of the ladies medium.
I posted the following song to a thread on rav where a person is dealing with depression and other things. It makes me remember the good things in the world when i need to .

smock you later hat

2009-12-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

*** NOT TEST KNITTED YET*** Please let me know if you have any problems with this pattern!

Sizes: girls ( shown second from top )
Ladies m (shown top)
Ladies L ( picture to come)
This hat is extremely stretchy! The smaller size would fit from a toddler to an 6 year old. It actually fits my huge head but looks awful when it's stretched out that way. Ladies M size would fit 20 - 22" L 22-24" head

Skill level: easy. You need to know how to knit and purl in the round.

Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in k1p1 on smaller needles.

Needles:size 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm circular needles/dpns ( or whatever you need to get gauge)

Marker if desired.

large eyed blunt darning needle

*Note: I knit this using short circs and two circs when the circumference became too small. It could as well have been knitted using dpns or magic loop.

Pattern note: This hat will look big while knitting,even though the k1p1 rib pulls in.The smocking takes in quite a bit.

Cast on 100 (120)[140] using smaller needles.

Join, placing marker if desired. Knit 1 Purl 1 rib for 6 rounds (8) [10].

Change to larger needles. Continue in 1x1 rib for 28 rows.
Change to smaller needles.
Child size:Decrease one stitch at beginning of next round, knitting all stitches. Knit 2 more rounds. (99 stitches)
Ladies medium: Increase 1 stitch at beginning of next round.Knitting all stitches, knit 2 more rounds. (111 stitches)
Ladies large: Increase 3 stitches evenly spaced over the first round. Knitting all stitches, knit 2 more rounds. (143 stitches)
Begin decrease rounds.
Round 1: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 9.* Repeat to end of round
Round 2 : Knit
Round 3: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 8.* Repeat to end of round
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 7.* Repeat to end of round
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 6.* Repeat to end of round
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 5.* Repeat to end of round
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 4.* Repeat to end of round
Round 12: Knit
Round 13: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 3.* Repeat to end of round
Round 14: Knit
Round 15: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 2.* Repeat to end of round
Round 16: Knit
Round 17: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. Knit 1.* Repeat to end of round
Round 18:Knit
Round 19: *Slip 1, Knit 1, pass slip stitch over. * Repeat to end of round

Break wool leaving a 7 inch tail. Thread the tail onto the darning needle and pass through the stitches on the knitting needle. Pull through to inside and fasten off.

Now the fun :).

Smocking row 1: Thread the darning needle with either the same yarn or something contrasting. Spread the knitting so you can see the stitches easier. Pick a stitch that is just past your edging stitches ( where you changed to the larger needle).Count up 7 rows. Catch that stitch with the darning needle and secure it by looping once around it.

Count across the row from it and catch the 10th stitch to the left.Sew it to the 1st stitch. Bring the wool through to the back of the hat and tie it and the end together.

Re-thread your needle as necessary and count across 10 stitches again . Repeat the same procedure as before. Do this all the way around the hat.

Smocking row 2: Following one of the previously smocked rows, count up 7 stitches . Catch and secure the stitch on the left with the darning needle. Count across 10 stitches to the left and sew that stitch to your 1st stitch as before. Continue this around.

Smocking Row 3: repeat smocking row 2, counting up from the smocked stitch.

Done :)

Score! Nablopomo

2009-11-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well i managed to post every day. Amazing lol.
I got sidetracked to day in Rav by someone looking to see if there was a pattern for the above hat that she'd seen in Target.At first i thought it was a wrapped stitch but then i dragged the picture into paint shop and took a closer look. It's really all done in k1p1 rib with the smocked area done by sewing needle. So i'm in the middle of one right now. It's working up very beautifully. Pattern shortly.
Kent and i got into a funny haiku making thing today.So i'll end with one:

house full, fleece and wool
Kent knitting, i am knitting
peacefully dogs snore

not ready for some football

2009-11-29T15:35:00.000-08:00

So it's grey cup today.I'm not much of a sports person apart from hockey really. But this is the big canadian football championship so here we are watching. And also eating taco chips and salsa. Hmm. Shouldn't we be eating nanaimo bars and buttertarts and drinking beer? lol
I don't know how i'm being so fast, but i finished one kitty hat and handwarmers last night. And we were in bed around 10, so it wasn't because i stayed up all night. Mojo on i suppose.

Best buttertart recipe for when you are in a hurry? Here you go
MMMMmmm

Ok.

2009-11-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

Rereading yesterday's post i see no pattern whatsover. Imagine the millions of knitters wondering what size needle? what gauge? what do i do once i cast on? ( i'm joking of course!) I will get the pattern up once i've got a picture.
Which reminds me - i do have a picture of a vest i knit for Solomon. And here it is, headless but smiling as i haven't asked his mom if it's ok to share his cute face!

Diamond Jim i should call it :). I realize i have this pattern plus about 5 others to upload. I need to get on the ball!
In other knitting, i'm working on a kitty hat and handwarmer set. Handwarmers are a current love of course, but they work so well for the weather here. It's too warm to wear mitts really! I think i'll add a tail at the back of the kitty hat :)

Love affair: fingerless mitts and mohair

2009-11-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

I like mohair. I do not know why. I know other people find it itchy but somehow i don't.
I'm in the middle of making myself another pair of fingerless mitts. These are out of some nice cream mohair. Easy peasy pattern: Cast on 32 stitches ( i do it twice on the same needle with 2 balls of wool so i can make two at a time). K1 p1 rib for whatever amount of time suits your fancy. For these, i'm using a little leaf pattern. Once they are done i'll get a picture and put the pattern up.
I'm not sure how i got addicted to wearing fingerless mitts but i am. And my hands don't seem to get as stiff any more, so maybe there's something good to it :).
I still wonder why i like mohair though...

Shawl and a movie

2009-11-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

I gave another shawl to one of my daughters yesterday. Made from boucle, it was a quicker knit - plain half a dishcloth style - with a crocheted edging. I also got a line on a camera that will do me for a while. I hate not getting pictures! With the shawl i gave her a pair of pocketbook slippers which she really likes. She wears them in bed as they don't slip off.
I watched a quirky movie today "Expiration Date" that i really liked. It was filmed fairly locally ( Seattle). I kept wondering why i knew the actress that played one of the moms. It turns out she was the mom in ET. That knowledge due to Kent's limitless trivia keeping mind :).
I followed a link in ravelry to a cool knit stitch blog "1884 Knitted Lace Sample Book" . If i'd found it earlier i would've used one of the laces for the boucle shawl. I never can seem to find one i like when i need it.
I have one more ball of boucle to deal with though and some matching plain yarn. Resistance is futile! Another shawl begins :)

The 'eyes' have it

2009-11-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

Bah, i'm back to the Dr since my eye is not getting better and kept me up most of the night. Toothache in the eye feeling
Also,i decided to cut my hair again. I've been thinking it over for a while because i've been dyeing it since i was about 25 and i'm very tired of it.I used to admire my Dad's and Granny's lovely white hair, and since i've inhaireted it ( bwhaha?) i'm going with it.
Off to the Dr, and off the computer - the brightness of it hurts!

Carrot Ginger Cashew soup

2009-11-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

On a rainy day it's really great if a guy brings you Carrot Ginger Cashew soup.
MMM i say. He can't eat it, since it has nuts but it's very good.
I knit up a pair of plain black fingerwarmers for Kent today. Size 5mm needles, some Briggs and Little in black. Cast 32 stitches on a size 5mm needle, knit1p1 ribbing for an inch. Increase each end once, stockinetter for 6 inches, k1p1 for an inch. Sew the side at the ribbings only. They fit perfectly and will allow him to knit at the bus stop while keeping a bit warm :)
I have packages to mail that he was going to do the other day and forgot so hopefully they will be out tomorrow.
I'm so cranky today i don't even want to look at people for fear they will think i'm giving them the evil eye
Maybe i am!lol

a little bit of knitting, a little bit of chinese food

2009-11-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

Very long day today. Chinese takeaway for supper ( ty Kent!). Knitting. Watching of movies.A little time in Second Life.
Smells are driving me crazy - the smell of sweet and sour lingers in the air making me feel queazy.
I want to start some kind of big ol' fairisle project. I'm really wanting some colour! Grey is getting old fast.
Speaking of grey, well white in my case, i'm thinking about no more dyeing my hair ( ok the grammar sucks in that sentence). Seriously thinking about it.
Maybe.

sunday with a little sun even.

2009-11-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

I think we saw the sun for about 20 minutes today.Light hurts my eye atm so i'm just as happy to have clouds really.
Kent watched Twilight with me last night. So much teen angst, some of it unintentionally funny ( especially when watching it with Kent of course!) But he spotted the knitting just like i did. Now we're wondering about making Bella's mitts for a couple of people at christmas...
I have this idea for an angel that i want to work on tonight. Yes a knitted angel!Maybe knitting too.There's a canuck's game on at 7, so i better get the thinking part of it done before then. I find it hard to work on patterny things while watching hockey lol.
I'm also working on a vintage pattern sort of mock up of a bed coat. But worn as a cardiganish thing. And i'm finishing up a grey hat to go with the grey handwarmers. I knew learning to knit without looking at it much would come in handy one day.I have to keep the room fairly dark since light is bothering the eye.
Knit on!

Open letter to my body

2009-11-21T17:39:00.000-08:00

Yes i do know you are sick of being inside all the time. Perhaps if you'd give me a break from the AS i could actually go somewhere. The latest movement appears to be an attack of uveitis. Painful and annoying. So i've gone from shoulder pain to hip pain back to shoulder pain and now the eye.
I actually know that i am lucky. A number of people in my family carry the genetic marker hlab-27 just like me. One sister has crohn's the other has fibro related issues and IBS. So have AS with as few problems as i have, relatively speaking, is not so bad.
I'm self diagnosing the uveitis at the moment but i've had it a few times before.I'll go off to the dr. monday. While i'm there i think i will weigh myself 'cause i sure as h e double's need something to inspire me to get off my butt and get more fit.
In the knitting department i'm happily making some more handwarmers from fluffy grey wool :) In a dark room. Cause my eye is sore in the light... and Kent has agreed to watch Twilight with me tonight :)

Yay Friday :)

2009-11-20T15:32:00.001-08:00

Kent took this great picture of a rainbow on Wednesday morning with his cell. It was the morning after a big windstorm -- funnily enough one of the WALLS CAME OFF the building you see to the left and we didn't even hear it! I didn't know 'til i saw it on the evening news lol. With all the stupid things our dogs bark at, you'd think that one would be a wall blowing through the neighbourhood wouldn't you? but no, no barks that night.
For some reason the house just won't get warm today so i'm covered in layers of knitting. I don't think there's anything better than cozy socks. And i'm partial to shawls as well.
I realized today i haven't actually been out of the house, except to go next door, in about 6 weeks. I can't be doing that, it certainly won't help with the depression. So tomorrow off to chinatown for us :)

They call it stormy monday..and tuesday and wednesday and now playing - thursday!

2009-11-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

Apparently we are going to get all our winter rain this week! The ferries were shut down because the wind was too high last night and it looks like it'll go that way again tonight.
I dreamt we had moved our bed out to the street. I woke up in front of San Remo's in the bed lol. Then i woke up for real and thought 'hey, waking up beside a coffee shop wouldn't be that bad! "
Kent is making his pepper soup tonight. He'd intended to last night but got sidetracked. It smells so good - just the thing on a wet windy night :)
Today i looked around the house and have decided what i really need is some proper lighting in here. And some candles and another mirror or two. Just needs a bit of sprucing up what with it being darker every day. Some more light and some reflection would be just the thing.I'm thinking of making some felted bowls to hold balls of wool as well.
No news on the camera yet *SIGH* I really miss putting pictures on the blog!

blustery day pooh!

2009-11-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

We've had a bit of rain ( and much more north of us). And now we have wind warnings. The rosebushes outside are slapping against the windows in earnest. Inside, i am knitting ( surprise! ) and watching tv. Well, when i say watching tv i really mean i'm knitting and there's some background noise. Unless it's criminal minds, and then i'm actually looking up once in a while.
Kent's just gone off to the store to get the ingredients for his pepper stew and i see he forgot the two parcels he was going to mail! Drat. Well, good excuse to kick my butt out the door in the morning :)
I keep wanting to make this bar cookie thing my sister gave me the recipe for. It's certainly not 100 mile anything and not very healthy but it tastes so good.
The ingredients are simple: 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, one box of ritz crackers, crushed and one package of chipits skor chips. Mix them all together, put in a very well greased or lined pan and bake at 325 F for half an hour. Cut into bars.
Anything with sweetened condensed milk tastes yummy to me..i wonder if it was in my baby formula or something?

yay :)

2009-11-17T19:08:00.000-08:00

Got the go ahead to make hot water bottle covers ( and give hot water bottles ) to a local women's shelter. This has been in the works a couple of weeks, we were just waiting for permission. Kent's had someone at work actually offer to donate some bottles too :)
The house is going to give some away and keep some. They have 25 beds so this will be an ongoing project. Not too expensive and fun i think - good use of small amounts of stash as well.
And thankfully, i don't have to be too together to do it. No mailing required and we can just drop them off as we get them done.
I've been having a couple of darkish days so this is welcome news really :)

Contemplating

2009-11-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

Kent's cooking something yummy for dinner and i am looking at knitting patterns. This is our yoga :P
He picked me up some wool at Zellers today - they have some patons soy as mill ends, so $4.50 a pound. Awesome deal and apparently it felts really well. Also heard it pills otherwise so most likely it will become a felted project.
Wool really makes me happy :)
He was at the Dr again today and has new meds yet again. Poor guy is very frustrated with this thing hanging on so long.
Have i mentioned ravelry lately? Even if you don't knit or crochet or spin or dye it's got some of the greatest forums. Love it.

the path of.

2009-11-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

I saw a quote today that i'm trying to get more information on:

Everything that we're teaching here is about you deciding how much grief you're willing to put yourself through before you take the path of least resistance. And we're encouraging not very much grief. We're encouraging taking the path of least resistance really early on. Abraham

When i get more i'll share it. It started me off on a long long thought process today. I've always thought the path of least resistance is 'the easy way out'. But that would be my pathologically defensive voice speaking, always pushing me to be more , do more and give no one reason to doubt me. I've been in defiance mode most of my life. There was a time, a short time that i wasn't. Really only from Dec 96 to summer 97.
You'd think when i met Kent i would've stopped. But actually it's just pointed out to me more how much of a perfectionist attitude i have. One of the reasons i get depressed is because i don't know how to live with someone else when they don't comform to my ideas of house cleaning or daily life projects. Creative projects sometimes too. I've shut my self off from living in a reactive manner but i haven't replaced that with anything.
So... following the path of least resistance at this point has somehow changed in its definition. To me it means to do what i am drawn to. What i want to. To stop resisting my own self and my circumstances. To stop stopping. I tend to let any ideas from anyone else take over my life... to the point i get depressed and shut myself away.
Water follows the path of least resistance,but it flows. And it's beautiful. And it's being water.
Also i'm not drunk or stoned or something lol...this is just the way i process. If you've made it this far in reading you may think i'm a bit crazy and hard to follow. And i suppose you'd be right

In any case, i need to stop resisting my own self and just flow. Give myself permission to do things without the need to be perfect or nothing.

enriched

2009-11-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

en·rich (n-rch)
tr.v. en·riched, en·rich·ing, en·rich·es
1. To make rich or richer.
2. To make fuller, more meaningful, or more rewarding: An appreciation of art will enrich your life.
3. To add fertilizer to.
4. To add nutrients to: The dairy enriched its milk with vitamin D.
5. To add to the beauty or character of; adorn: "Glittering tears enriched her eyes" (Arnold Bennett).

***

There's a reason this blog is called 'enriched'. I intended at the time to do things that made my life better. Instead i've found that depression has stepped all over me the past few years and somehow stolen the getgo i had, so that even in non depressed times i am somehow impoverished. It's become difficult to motivate myself to do anything.
I used to love to socialize more than anything else. I haven't lost the love of it, just the ability to do it. Or have i? Maybe i should just try some experiment of pushing myself out the door every day. Something. Start somewhere, go anywhere.

Friday..the day to sleep

2009-11-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

After waking up WIDE awake at 5 i went back to bed.I didn't get up til 10!! I blame the hot water bottle Kent made me. This afternoon i had a nap as well. I guess the AS flare up i had for the past month took more out of me than i thought!
I really haven't done much today, no motivation really. I putzed around in second life a bit and did some work emails. It turned out to be a lovely day outside but we're due for some big windstorm tonight.
Kent managed another half day at work today, which makes him very happy.Knitting has progressed but its still secret.
I think i'll go to bed early lol. Sweet dreams all!

winter

2009-11-12T22:12:00.000-08:00

As it gets colder and colder in the fall and winter ( and yes i know it doesn't really get cold here) my own body's thermostat seems to do wierd things. I get very cold, bone cold i call it. And it's tough to warm up. It's a weird thing and has happened to me all my life. I wonder if other people go through seasonal things like that?
Not a lot of knitting today although i did get some seaming and blocking done. I worked on some other projects i have going.
It seems like a long day with not much done i have to say.
I am looking at putting up some more free patterns on the blog. A weird thing is someone on ravelry has pretty much my exact pattern for the ruby lace scarf in a different wool and is selling it in rav for $5. I almost want to email her but what would i say? And who knows who's came first. In any case it's a simple repeat of a simple pattern stitch found anywhere.
Maybe i should make some patterns for sale....

So what i should be doing is..

2009-11-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

There's a blog i read that i like a lot. It really makes me think and helps with my current goal of reorganizing and decluttering, not just my stuff but my mind. Todays post over at zenhabits is really excellent. I've decided to work on it over the next month and i'm sure no one who knows me would be surprised to find out i want to do something creative lol.
Googlewave is fun so far. I was hoping to be able to use the bloggy feature which allows for posting to blogs from a wave, but it's only available for developers at the moment. I've long lost the ability to do any sort of coding so i'm not up for that. You can use it to post to twitter though.
Knitting has progressed, another pair of pocketbooks made. Somehow i never tire of the pattern. I think that's because it's a quick knit and the decorative options at the end are plentiful. The latest pair are dark pink ..i'm thinking a black flower on them maybe.
I have this coat pattern working it's way through my head. A lot of nice 2x2 ribbing, a celtic braid..i'm going to pick up some worsted weight to experiment with. In my mind it's almost steampunkish...

Kent was able to work half a day yesterday and will do half a day tomorrow too.He's frustrated with the slowness of his recovery - i'm just glad he's starting to look like himself again!

blogaversary!

2009-11-10T22:01:00.000-08:00

Well thank you Teena, i knew it was sometime this week but i was forgetting to check :).
I've been very busy today because i got my nomination for google wave. It's a bit of a learning curve but one of the exciting things is that there's an app that will post one of your waves to your blog. I like the idea of that plus the ability to work on projects with other people. There's even a cool app involving travel planning. I don't have any invites to give out as yet, but i have people waiting for them lol

I finished another seekrit project today and managed to get dressed before 10am! As soon as i've gotten things in the mail i'll post pix and possibly patterns as well.

Mondays

2009-11-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

Well it certainly is Monday around here. And everything i'm knitting can't be talked about because of the surprise factor.
So that leaves me with..hmm.. pretty much nothing!
Nothing can be a good thing. Once upon a time i lived in Terrace BC and used to love to climb the small mountain near the old bridge and just sit and look at the Skeena River. Well it wasn't the old bridge then, just 'the bridge'. I felt centered and calm there. I've been putting off making a kind of meditation place in our house and just thinking about how i used to sit and not think is reminding me i should get back to that idea.
Our house is really big for just the two of us. Lately we've been talking about how everything we need could really be covered in a place the size of a small mobile home. One day i'd like to have that - just a small place with a garden :)

Sunday coziness

2009-11-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Pajamas all day - but i am promising myself i'll get dressed tomorrow. I've been struggling with a pain in my back ( ankylosing spondilitus flare up) and basically laid around all day with a hot water bottle on it and taking ibuprofen. That's what sundays are for right? I did knit some and watched three episodes of Criminal Minds while doing so. Gotta love that show and back to backs on A&E.
Kent made a great pot roast for supper. And then mashed potatos and gravy and apple sauce and canned peas to go with it. Yes canned peas. I think i was about 16 before i'd ever eaten a fresh pea... so to me they are comfort food. :)
Hoping tomorrow will be bright enough to get some pictures even if it is with the phone again. As soon as there's enough money again, i'm getting another camera. I miss it on a daily basis!

Knitting, rain, blueberries and thou

2009-11-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

We had an indoor day today since a lot of it was rain. We'd talked about going down to Chinatown but knitting and tea worked too :). The pink shawl is done, a hat is cast on. I tried knitting another pair of slippers from the boucle but no dice - it just looks like crap on a stick. Or something. Maybe not crap on a stick but similar :P

We got the rest of the livingroom organized today. Declutter is more or less on schedule. I'll be happy when it's all done but really it's getting better every day. Its amazing how much less stress there is when there are less things laying around the house.

Kent went out in the rain and got me some blueberries and some lovely ginger tea. Whadda guy :)

Tomorrow's plans include getting out of the house, even if it's just down to the cafe for a cup of coffee. I'm getting that cabin fever feeling!

go to pie!

2009-11-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

Hey there's a great comment contest over at Bye Bye Pie . I've been reading that blog for i dunno a couple of years anyhow. She has that one two punch of honesty and hilarity that makes for an entertaining blog :). And she once tried to spend the day naked at my suggestion lol.

Last night i had the hot water bottle on my feet and yet somehow woke up with my feet cold in the middle of the night. This would be because Chyna had settled herself right on top of the bottle and was gently snoring away ! Here's a sorta blurry picture of her and Matt Kent's son from the summer. Two adorables :)

change in plans

2009-11-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Well Kent's not back at work - they've decided he should'nt even try until Monday. He's on the new meds for dizziness which is the symptom thats still driving him crazy - that and the ongoing fatigue that nothing can really be done about.
I finished up the body of the newest shawl but have tried three different edgings today and i don't like any of them. I put it down and will look at it again tomorrow.
I went back in to second life today: i've really missed it and all the creativity there. Some old friends were glad i was back and that was sweet. I'm going to get more serious about selling my stuff in there ( you can bring the money back out via paypal).
Long day and i'm turning in early :). I have an interesting old sci fi to read and the wind and rain are howling outside so early in to bed with a hot water bottle sounds delish!
Night!

progress

2009-11-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Got more housecleaning done today. Kent was off to the Dr. who gave him a new prescription for the ongoing dizziness. He'll try going back to work a half day tomorrow and the next day and then hopefully a full day Monday. He's exhausted still but i'm thinking he looks a little less sick. Runny nose is back though :(
Anyhow, i did get the living room a bit more organized today, and have figured out exactly where to put my wool. I also started another shawl as i found two balls of bernat boucle is my stash in a pinkish colour. It's a quick thing to knit as i just do the main part in a dishcloth style on 15mm needles. I'll pick a nice edging to do that will be more challenging. It's fun figuring out what to do with the wool i do have . I've pretty much decided i'm not going to use the 5 or so cones of laceweight that i have to make lace shawls - to me the time investment is too much. I mean, they are beautiful when done of course, but that weight will make lovely sweaters in crochet and much quicker.
I've been watching quite a bit of CSI, all three series while knitting. Its good to have knitting to look at instead of the gruesome bodies though lol. I've also been watching Criminal Minds which i'm kinda addicted to now. And CSI Miami is pretty funny with David Caruso being all..hmm
well this video can explain it:

love it :)

Dressed !

2009-11-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

I actually got dressed two days in a row! In my heart of hearts i do think pj's are acceptable house cleaning apparel, but i'd have to actually do housecleaning for that to qualify right? And funny thing is i just can't get motivated when i'm in my pjs. They have some kind of death grip on my laziness gene, bringing it totally to the forefront. So dressed is good and it caused housecleaning to happen!

We're in the middle of a big 'lets get organized and decluttered' move here at chez dolan wool & basky. Yesterday i happened upon the 'Squalor Survivors' site. And then last night we came across a show called Hoarders . It was an episode about one older woman who hoarded food ( even very bad very very out of date food) and a family who couldn't seem to throw anything away or get organized. Kent and i sat and watched it and honestly you felt so bad for the people involved. And of course guilty for the mess in our house. We don't hoard anything ( ok i have wool and fleece but it's not in giant quantities. Just check out the stash that other people have on Rav!) but we have let out clothes get out of hand. And we've never really established places for stuff in our house, so we tend to have boxes of things all over. And we're both bad with dishes actually. So we're making a plan and baby stepping our way into organization. :) Makes me happy. When i feel depressed any mess, even just unfolded laundry tends to prey on my mind and make me feel like a failure. It's funny because it didnt bother me when my kids were little. Yay menopause.

I'm knitting and crocheting up odds and ends of cotton that i have. I've made a few dishcloths and some bags. I'm hoping to soon have my stash of wool down quite a bit. Then i can feel ok about getting the rest of the fleece spun up.

Small victories feel good!

Edited to say - our house in NOT like those in Hoarders...just disorganized

Day Two. Same old

2009-11-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

Well pretty much the same as yesterday here :). I still haven't gotten dressed which is not really a good thing. I mean i like pj days as much as the next person but it's been about four days of it now - after i finish this post i'm going to put 'real' clothes on.
Raining here, which is typical for November. The dogs have done nothing but sleep all day - i wonder if the weather affects them as well?
Another pair of pocketbook slippers done. We re arranged the living room too, so at least its a somewhat productive day.Some bills even got paid, yay the internet.

I must think of some interesting posts to make, this is boring me too lol.

Off to dress !

nablopomo

2009-11-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Nablopomo
I always feel like i spell and say that wrong. I *think* the last time i jumped on this wagon i missed the last two days of november or something. I do need a push to get back to posting so i've challenged Kent to keep up as well.

On the emotional front, i'm just ok. I think i offended someone and that sucks bigtime. Knitting is progressing quite well - projects will get shown eventually.
Kent is almost back to work - looks like this week he'll try again. It's been difficult for him and frustrating and worrisome for both of us.
I've managed to drag myself back to ravelry too.. it's funny how depression makes you lose yourself and the things you love.
Onwards and upwards :).

I've been making quite a few Pocketbook slippers and i'm not bored yet. You should really take a look at the many many variations that people have been doing ( check ravelry ) Soo cute.

Off to drink a cup of tea and knit somemore. I've promised myself i'll actually get out of pj's tomorrow :P

Depression is a thief.

2009-10-19T14:17:00.001-07:00

I posted this comment on Heather's blog. I should rightfully post it here as well.

I hear you.I've been waiting for this up and down stuff to be over for three years now. Waiting for the old competent laurie to be back.I'd have welcomed the old in denial laurie even, at least she got on with things. .. didn't let her house go to pot or sit wasting the days away.
She hasn't returned. So i'm trying to work out who i am now.Accept who i am now - a person who needs a little help. I don't have a wide circle of friends and or family. I've isolated myself enough that i don't know alot of people anymore. I have Kent, without whom i would've gone over the edge long ago.
I have my dogs and my knitting. I'd like to have myself again too.

evidence of a not dead, no longer in depression mode woman.

2009-09-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Finding Jenn Project - crocheted PICC cover pattern

2009-03-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

I heard about the Finding Jenn project on a decorating blog. CF has no cure at the moment.
Jenn's project was to have people knit PICC covers. Crochet covers work too and let those who only crochet participate in the project.
So i came up with this simple crochet pattern for a PICC cover in two sizes, adult and child. These need to be stretchy and not too big, as people with CF tend to not be too large.

Here's the first one i did. I used some acrylic - this one is child size and as you can see is basically a tube.

Here are pictures of Kent modeling the adult size. I'm so fat his arm is smaller than mine :)

CROCHETED PICC COVER Pattern

Child size

Hook 3.5 mm / US E or 4 / UK or canada 9

Gauge : 4 stitches per inch approximately

Chain 30 plus one for turning.
Starting in the second chain from the hook, single crochet into each loop.
Chain 1, turn. Single crochet into the back loop of each stitch.
Repeat until you have a piece that unstretched is 6 inches long.
Note to beginning crocheters - sometimes it pays to count the stitches as you go so you don’t lose any and end up with a triangle :)

Cut yarn leaving about a 10 inch tail. Sew closed lengthways carefully, being sure to not make bumps. Weave in ends.

Adult size:

Chain 36 plus 1 for turning. Make as child size except make the piece 8 to 9 inches long unstretched.

____________________________________________________________

The one Kent's modelling is made from stretchy sock yarn. Very washable and comes in all kinds of colours. It would be a great use of any leftover sock yarn really.

RAKness :)

2009-02-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while i was bunched up in my chair with my old afghan blankie feeling sorry for myself with this cold, the postman came and wahlaa i had a great parcel from Sue. A random act of kindness parcel :) Its so funny that the multiverse knows how un random random can be :) ( btw has anyone else ever wondered what would happen if Terry Prachett met the Dr?)

Here are some pictures of the loveliness. Extra points if you spy the great cookie cutter and mix she sent us before Christmas - why yes that IS a DAleK!!! Kent was thrilled and hasnt used it yet. Instead he keeps it in the living room to show people lol. We love our DW around here.

Anyhow the dogs were going crazy as Kent brought the parcel in, jumping at it and sniffing it all over. It's like they knew there was something in it for them. The new toy got instant approval. It's in Lola's mouth here but Ed and Rose have had their turns too

Personally i am crazy about that wool - it's destined to be fingerless mitts for me by the end of the day :) Love it! There's something missing in the pictures - a malteser bunny - Kent looks sort of guilty :P. Actually we shared it.

I'm going to put the cat toy and treats into the box again, fill the box with other things and forward it as a rak to someone. It's like seeding the next rak :)

Ok back to drinking cold season tea and getting better. And knitting those mitts :)

Thank you Sue!!

Saturday colds and valentines

2009-02-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Kent and i walked all over downtown and picked up some great stuff including some new essential oil ( mmm eucalyptus ) for me. We bought a new wok in China town and went into Opus and bought some great japanese paper and some 6' x 6' canvases. I have plans for art making. We stopped in at Naughty by Nature where i got served a lovely cup of coffee by Ryan. By the time we got home i was feel pretty crappy i'm afraid. Woke up this morning with a full blown running nose sneezing chesty cough.
Most of the day has been spent snoozing or reading Free Range Knitter which Kent got me for Valentine's ( edited her Wikepedia page to add it. Hope i did it right!) I also got a lovely rose and a great mushy card and am about to eat lobster and steak. Oh wait, first appies of bacon wrapped scallops! I'm spoiled! Notice however, that he did not buy me chocolates which would've really been overkill on the calories today :)
I feel bad that i didnt get him anything but usually we just have a nice dinner. He felt like doing more this year -you can see there're a lot of reasons why i love this guy!

badabing badaboom

2009-02-09T20:17:00.001-08:00

So a quick post cuz i'm very busy but I've lost 19 lbs now and Kent's lost 30! We went back to sparkpeople which is very helpful. Plus that elliptical :) A month ago i couldn't walk for 10 minutes without being very sore and now i can walk a half hour quickly! The knee still hurts but its so much better. I'm so happy we decided to get more organized about our lives.
Knitting continues, i'm babysitting some plus my regular job is hopping. Hopefully i'll find some kind of blogging mojo soon

Goodbye 15 pounds

2009-02-01T18:07:00.001-08:00

Yes believe it or not that's what i've lost this month :) . Happy happy!

Today i went off by myself ( please don't die of shock that i a) actually went out and 2) went by myself ). Kent was watching american football and i'm just not interested in it really. I went down to Chinatown, which is still all decorated since it was just Chinese New Year and the parade was today. It's the Year of the Ox - my body type! lol Well maybe my stubborn personality anyhow.

I went to Knotty by Nature . Have i mentioned how much i love that store? Great customer service and you can touch things all day. I had to stop myself from hiding under a table so i could sleep with the wool :) . I bought some local fleece that i want to spin into laceweight or possible a little heavier. I also bought some ashford dyes to dye the yarn once i've made it. Got some more 16" knitpicks circs as well, as i have misplaced some of my sock needles. Well obviously they're with some unfinished socks somewhere i guess. I came home and Kent made me a lovely cup of chai tea and is now cooking chicken for dinner. And sweet potatoes :). Not that he'll eat them of course. He's a limited vegie lover but he's trying. I'm sure it's the result of being afraid of trying new things as a kid since he ended up being allergic to things.

The camera needs a checkup again. Kent brought it back from Kamloops at christmas only to find all the pictures he'd taken gone. It's so annoying.

I've promised to put up my Work Sock Recipe soon so i'm working on the pattern. It's simple and makes great socks that last a long time. The are also re-footable.

I've been debating wedding vrs travel. Is that strange? Of course we can get married whenever we like or wherever but travel..it's been so long since i've been anywhere. Kent was talking to a friend yesterday who lives in Germany and has a little guesthouse and we've been invited. It took all my strength to not take our money and run!

Speaking of money - last week we had our bank account robbed. Luckily we only had $120 in that account. I'd accepted an email money transfer and immediately afterward the total amount in the account was taken out. Our bank ( nameless but has an eastern province name ) is "investigating' and 'may' give back the money. Seriously - the whole process is supposed to be insured! So we're changing banks.

Dinner is calling, tea has been drunk ( drinked? drunken?) and my spinning wheel calls :)

Loving winter

2009-01-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

Well so far this winter no depression !Very refreshing.
There's been a change on the fitness front too - Kent bought Guitar Hero World Tour and it turns out i can drum lol. It burns about 200 calories an hour but the important thing is we're having a ball :)
We made a trip down to Knotty by Nature on Monday where Kent bought me the book he couldn't find - Nancy Bush's Knitted Lace of Estonia. He was so happy to find it for me... he's so sweet. The store is absolutely amazing! Beautiful fibre. I bought some a new knitpicks circular and a couple of new bamboo needles that have the plastic 'string' ends on them. They're my fav for straights.It was terrific to see Marilyn there too.
I've gone back to Sparkpeople and have lost 7 lbs in the past ten days. I also got an elliptical and it turns out thats the best machine for me. I've had no knee pain at all and my stride has lengthened back out. It's amazing how much less pain i have walking already! At first i felt like such a klutz using it but after a couple of days i got the rythym of it. Starting out i could only do 3 or 4 minutes at a time but now at 10 days or so i'm at 10 minutes a day :) Yaaayyy!!! I couldn't be more thrilled.
We're working on the wedding plans as well and sticking to a budget with help from this great website and the Martha Stewart site as well. There's a good planner there.
It's been all play and busy-ness here but i'm hoping to start on a lace project today. From the new book of course :)

Dog Treat Warning -"Real Ham Bone"

2009-01-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

I saw this on a blog i'm subscribed to and thought it important enough to pass on.
Please read here:
bermuda bluez: Real Hambone Warning

This dog treat is available at Walmart.

I'm off to make dog biscuits for my crazy pups

Scattered post

2009-01-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

The last couple of months i've been reflecting on what is important to me and what is not. I've spent less time on line than any other part of my life in the past 5 years. That's been interesting - wish i'd done that sooner! Although of course there are reasons for everything.. and i've learned from each. This year i think our focus will be home and planning for vacation after the wedding.Our yearly budgeting and state-of-the-union planning is progressing. I love doing that kind of stuff and setting goals and such. And this year is even more fun since we're doing the wedding planning.

Kent went off to Micheals today ( well actually he was taking his son to Future Shop and Michael's is pretty much next door). Anyhoo he brought back some of the on sale Wool Ease thinknquick so we can each make our own pair of comfy thick socks to celebrate Me-uary ( knitting for yourself in January) Toe up pattern of my own devising, both knit at the same time on two circs. Today is Enforced Pajama Day for me :) and we're ordering in from Don Mees ....mmmmmmm

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Thats about everything i have to say today lol. I'm tired, it's been a long holiday season and we still have family here. Trying to figure out what to have for dinner is about all i'm up for.
Wishing you and yours the best in the new year!

holiday hiatus

2008-12-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

Ok too crazy busy to blog! My wish for you all is peace in your family and lots of hugs :)
I'll be back at the first of the year... i'm actually comtemplating challenging myself to blog everyday in 2009.
Happy Holidays!!

A New Week

2008-11-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hank ( pictured above) has gone off to his new home. Yes i cried a bit but his new family seems perfect for him and they promised to send us pictures.We have more puppy appointments this week so hopefully the rest of the gang will find their homes soon too.
Illness Status: sore throat gone, hacking cough back.Seriously i'm tired of the whole thing and i'm just going to ignore it as much as possible.

Scrabblequeen pointed out a crochet giveaway on Lisa's blog Stop and Smell the Chocolates
Lisa's dad is a great crocheter and she's giving away two of his awesome doilies. I might just have to ask Kent if he wants to learn to crochet too :).

I have about four patterns that i need to write up and share. I'm also smitten by the new issue of Twist Collective As usual i want to come up with my own patterns inspired by the issue rather than actually follow a pattern. Does that make me a rebel? I'm not really rebellious i just like making my own things i guess. There are some beautiful things in the issue - go look!

I've been lusting after Nancy Bushs' new book " Knitted Lace of Estonia". I've mentioned it around the house a few times ... ok maybe a few dozen times. Knitting Daily has one of her scarf patterns free this week so i did download that . But the book would be such a lovely present ( Hi Kent, are you reading my blog? Thank you for the coffee and croissants for breakfast honey i love you so much. More than this book prolly xx)

Notice of intent

2008-11-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

Ok Monday it will be two weeks since i got this stupid frackn cold/flu/sinus thing. This is notice for the germs to vacate. Vamoos, raus!!
On the up side, Kent is feeling way better. Some knitting and crocheting has been done. I may not need to sleep again until 2009. And the Canucks are smacking down the Leafs as i write.
Kent also got the days off he wanted at Christmas so we will most likely be going up to Kamloops. Which terrifies me - have i mentioned that the last two times we went up at Christmas i was sick the whole time? Last year especially was the beginning of the Falling Down that kept me down and out for the first part of the year. If i could just live inside a jar of hand sanitizer maybe i could avoid picking up something on the way up there. No use to get a flu shot now that i've had the flu.
Ok whining off!! I'm actually pretty happy for a snot infested woman :) Time to knit some more and have some nice chicken soup.

truth

2008-11-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a truth i totally agree with. (thanks Rabbitch)

I'm still coughing away here in Hackupalungsville.Did finish baby booties and am working on a hat.
I feel a great need to revise my life.

It's the 12th already?

2008-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Sheesh! I've been pretty much sick the entire month so far. I've been facebooking a bit because that's about the attention span i have at the moment, between coughing bouts.Kent's not doing much better and has to go for a nebulizer treatment today :(
We have a new family member - Tanya and Bill and Brennan had a baby girl on Monday. Welcome Nyla ! She's really cute with lots of hair. I'm just about finished a nice blanket for her and Kent's working away on his as well. Pictures soon.

It is definately November: blowing leaves and rainy dark skies. As soon as we're both feeling better we're going to make some plan for the holidays. We also set a date for the wedding ( yes again! but there will be no life altering stupid things happening this year - i will not stand for it). July 25th. 50's Vegas Theme. My son brought us back a pile of momentos from Vegas that we'll be using. We're really looking forward to it.

Time to throw something in the crockpot for dinner.

Returning shortly

2008-11-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

Ok the ten puppies have held me hostage a long time now but i will be returning shortly. I had intended to post every day for NoBloPoMo again this year but i got sidetracked by a cold/sore throat thing. I'm almost 100% better, just need to get my voice back :)
In the mean time i took direction from Joy's blog today and went over to read Bye Bye Pie I love it! Her writing is similar to Laurie's at CrazyAuntPurl ( in my link list).

Back to lemon tea!

Halloween Fingerless mitts

2008-10-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hallowe'en Fingerless Mitts
Knit or crochet
Size: Children small ( ages 1 -3)
medium ( ages 4-6)
large ( 7-10)
Adults: one size

This pattern is a basic how to for simple fingerless mitts. It grew out of the need
to keep hands warm and decorated for trick or treating.

The mitts are all knit the same way - a knitted garter stitch or crocheted rib stitch rectangle. Then they are sewn together leaving an opening for the thumb. Add any decorations. That's pretty much it - the garter stitch is sideways so it's very stretchy which makes them fit a variety of hands.The crocheted rib stitch has the same properties. They are also insulating as they are thicker stitchs. If you haven't tried fingerless mitts you'll be surprised at how warm you can be even without the fingers.

Example gloves: Pumpkinmitts
Sizes child 1-2 years, 3-5 years, 6-9 years,
Adult one size

Picture is child size medium

I used a small amount of orange Bernat Satin that I had left from a baby project
You can use whatever you have on hand with appropriate needles to get the width and length for the size you need.

Child 1–2 years 2 inches wide, 5 inches long
3-5 years 3 inches wide, 6 inches long
6-9 years 4 inches wide, 7 inches long
Adult 5.5 inches wide, 8.6 inches long

Remember that these are very stretchy. You may want to measure them against your intended victim’s hand to be sure of fit but keep them snug enough not to slide off.

NOTE** All measurements are un-stretched and do not include fringes or edgings.
Knitting instructions
Child size 3-5 years: Other sizes in brackets.
Cast on 10 ( 14, 18, 22 ) stitches using 4.5 mm needles.The work should measure about 2 ( 3, 4, 5.5 ) inches wide. Knit every row until the rectangle is 5 ( 6, 7, 8.5) inches long.

Cast off. Fold the piece end to end. Sew or crochet from each end to the middle, leaving a 1(1.5,1.5,2) inch open space in the middle for the thumbhole.

Pumpkin decorations.
Eyes(make 4): Cast on 1 st. Knit into the front, the back and the front again
.(3 stitches on needle.) Knit across the three stitches. Next row: Increase into first and last stitch.
( 5 stitches). Cast off leaving a long tail to sew the eye on to the glove.
Mouth ( make 2): Cast on 7 stitches. Knit one row. Cast off all stitches leaving long tail to sew mouth on to glove.

Crochet instructions:

Chain the appropriate number of stitches. ( for example 10 for the first size) Row 2: single crochet across Row 3: single crochet across into the back of the loops only. Continue in this manner, ch 1 for turning at each end. Repeat until dimensions are the same as for knitted gloves.Fold the resulting rectangle in the same way and finish as per the knitting instructions.

You can make fingerless mitts to match any costume. In the top picture I’ve made pirate princess gloves. I needlefelted the skulls and used idiot cord for the crossbones. You could find skull beads or cut skulls from felt. I also did a basic crocheted shell edging in pink ( single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, double crochet, single crochet) in every other stitch across.

The ‘punk vampire’ gloves: as I was casting off I let the second stitch from the end drop and pulled it all the way down. Then I cut out bat shapes from some felt and sewed them on with buttons. I used small beads for eyes in the button holes.

The dragon knight gloves were by request. I wasn’t quite sure and had to ask what the costume was. Turns out it’s a ‘dragon hunter lady wearing armour”. Upon consultation it appears that somehow the crusades were involved (!!??) Anyhow I crocheted two strips for crosses on each glove and added beads when I sewed them on. They were made from soft grey fake mohair.

Good luck with your gloves! They’re fun and fast to make and practical for carrying goody bags :)

~laurie
rewselene

Other ideas:

Clown: use garish colours and decorate with outsize bright buttons. Add a fringe of
yarn to the cuffs by cutting 3 inch lengths of yarn and tying them to the cuff area.

Dracula's bride: use black or white to make the basic mitt. Attach a big lace bow.

Princess: use pink of course! Sew on sequins and/or fake jewels

Kitty: use a fun fur that matches the costume to make the basic glove.

where is the time going??

2008-10-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

This month is going by so fast and i've gotten hardly anything done. Mostly due to the pups really. It's amazing how much work 10 puppies can be. Feed. Clean. Feed. Clean. Feed. Take outside. Clean. Feed. Clean.
Here's a picture of Latifa ( brown) and Hank ( cream) attacking their dad. Ed loves them but runs away if more than 3 attack him at once lol

I had a small ankylosing spondilitus attack that left me laying down for a few days. All that's left of it now is a rash all over my face. I'm just thankful that it wasn't for a long time.. once i was like that for 3 months!

Hallowe'en is coming so three sets of fingerless mitts got made. One is for a pirate princess costume, one is for a punk vampire costume. The soft grey with crosses is for my 2.5 year old grandaughter who insists she is going to be a dragon knight :P)
I'll write these patterns up if there is anyone who wants them.

Onward and upward - i've got a million things to get done today..and of course at 6 weeks old, the puppies aren't quite finished with me :)

blog action day - poverty

2008-10-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'm up to my neck in trying to catch up with everything i'm behind on, and the hurrieder i go the behinder i get!
I'm going to send you off to see some other very worthy posts for blog action day - this years theme is poverty
Whats it all about? blog action day

Some interesting posts:

blogher

newsociety

uncouth heathen

yay the Yarn Harlot

2008-10-09T19:46:00.001-07:00

Month of Thanks Day Three

2008-10-03T13:04:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of the first foot or so of the flower garland. It's difficult for me to get good pictures of the delicacy of colour and stitch with my not so great camera and not so great camera skills :) Each little piece is a work of art! I'm in love with the garland and sometimes wear it around the house like a scarf lol. It just plain makes me feel good.How could a person not feel thankful that they've been blessed with such a cool thing :)

On the puppy front - the little beggars are getting bigger and bigger. They'll be a month old on Monday. I've got them eating off of a deep plate now and they are learning to walk to the opposite end of their area to do their business.
Here they are being looked at by BillyBob..er..William Robert aka Liam :)

Month of Thanks Day Two

2008-10-02T18:02:00.001-07:00

Yay Day two! I am late in the day posting but i'm here.I'm choosing things at random to show. Today's pick:

This lovely sock was made by Suzie. Isn't it beautiful? :) The yarn is soft and squooshy and with such lovely colour. It's like a summer day!

There was a day after i began to feel better where Kent and i sat down and talked about how to deal with things. I was very anxious when i went outside of the house. If we even just went to the local grocery store i sometimes got into a panic. He suggested sitting outside everyday in the sun for 15 minutes. It worked :) ..it truly helped me to transistion back to being able to take up the reins of my so called 'normal' life. That's what this sock will remind me of.Thank you Suzie!

Just so all you sock makers and mitten makers know - i've never made myself a matching pair of socks..all of my socks have been fraternal twins :) Mix and matching these is going to be so much fun - i am sock rich!

A month of Thanks - Day One

2008-10-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

This month i'll be posting each day in thankfullness to everyone who helped me climb back up from the depression of the first half of the year. There will be pictures each day of the beautiful gifts given to me by members of Ravelry . Here's the first - i usually hate pictures of myself but this one is special to me - my head wrapped in the flowery goodness of the garland sent by some of the Thom's afghan group. Kent and i have decided it will adorn our head table if we finally can manage a wedding this year :) More details on the individual flowers in upcoming posts!

Quote from my 'depression blog'
"I completely lost myself. I've struggled with depression most of my adult life yet remained an upbeat person with a sense of humour. These past six months seem to have taken that from me. I'm not abdicating personal responsiblity - certainly there were things i could've done to make it so i didnt lose my self respect. But losing my self respect and joy for life seems to have been the goal" June 17/08

The joy is back :) I am back in my normal crazy form :) . I have changed a bit however, i'm more appreciative of small things, routine and sunshine.

One of the most important things that helped me, outside of Kent and my oldest daughter Alicia, was the response from members of Ravelry. I'd messed up with a swap and doing my bit for Thom's afghan... and one day woke up needing to fess up and just get the guilt off of me. So i made a post there and what did i get back? Nothing but love and understanding and encouragement. Becky had given me many yahoo hugs and told me to come back and not worry but i was afraid. She was right ( thank you Becks Love you!)

Once the afghan project was done, the group decided to give me something. Two sets of somethings :) There were rumours that it was pasties and a thong lol.
This month i'll be posting a picture a day of the great things they mailed me. I don't think anyone can know how much it meant and what a part it played in helping me. I'd never talked to anyone about how i felt about depression before. Its a self defeating cycle of despair and self loathing. A pit of hell that you don't want to name or discuss for fear of believing it will never go away.

The acceptance and love i was given in this truly healed something and has forever changed how i will deal with this kind of thing should it happen again.

is it possible?

2008-09-22T14:33:00.001-07:00

I'm starting to wonder if it's ever going to be possible for me to be not sick for longer than a couple of days!! I got over the very bad sinus cold/headache/sleep all day and was well for a day or so. Then i woke up with a sore tummy..by the next day - well lets just say i was happy the sink and the toilet are close in the bathroom. Immodium helped some. Kent got it right in time for his 4 days off again but luckily we were able to figure out he should get on immodium right away. I hope his day at work goes well. Personally, i couldn't have worked an hour while i had it. The house is a mess but luckily i have this view from my bed ( i've just seen the camerastrap or whatever that is in the way, but i'm too tired to go back and re take it. please forgiveme)

The darlings are starting to open their eyes :) I'm not taking many pictures - oh i forgot! my camera did not die! It was batteries. We did try two sets of new right from the store batteries which didnt work. But my son reminded us it's not impossible that both sets could be dead so we tried a third time Tadaaaaaaaa :)
Er. Where was i? Yes, the eyes.

And in a week or so they should be trying some semisolids so that should cut down on the extra feedings i've been helping with. There are not many pictures because i don't want to use flash until their little eyes are completely open and working. ( i've read the flash can cause permanent damage, and i've been too sick to cart them outside as yet)
Back to bed. I'm wiped out.

Couple of Puppy Pix

2008-09-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yes the camera died with perfect timing..Kent went out and bought new batteries. They lasted long enough to take one picture. He tried the second two in the pack, one more picture. He went out and bought more batteries. Same result. Very annoying! Tomorrow we'll get out the old crappy camera again for some more pix.
I have to say i thought Lola would have four puppies not TEN.TEN!!! See the picture of her nursing three? at that point there were still SEVEN in there..

They are all behaving very well, eating all day. Lola is also eating lots and getting yummy things like salmon to keep up her calcium. She's a great mom so far :) She's left them a few times now to go outside but doesn't go far before running back in the house.

Eddie loves them, he whimpers when they cry and just wants to be right in with them but Lola forbids it so far. We did show him a couple and he bout wagged his tail off and licked them all over :)
You can see Lola did not have them in the bed provided. But at least she didn't have them on our bed either. Our room is pretty big, so we set everything up there. Did we think about being woken up by crying puppies ? Duhno. Lol, oh well they are soooo cute. We've named one Captain Jack after Captain Jack Harness in Torchwood. No other names as yet. Her labor was pretty quick, she only pushed about four times for the first guy to come out. She did cry a tiny bit but she knew just what to do. We have 7 boys and 3 girls - Kent's loving the male majority :)

When my kids were small we had a couple of daschunds and bred one of them. She usually always had three and i thought Lola would have maybe four. We're still kind of in shock about the ten! It was an accidental mating and most likely we'll get her spayed fairly quickly. But wow they are really really cute. Two are creamy white, one is white with black spots, one is white with brown spots, one is black, one is dark grey ( that's Jack) and four are a beautiful toffee brown. I'm really tired after staying up really late last night for the deliveries . Ok now i'm just rambling..but Puppies :)

Birth Announcement

2008-09-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

10 puppies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In lieu of

2008-09-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting like crazy on the sweater for Indigo Moon and soaking up a ton of old Dr Who at the same time.

In lieu of a 'real' blog post i offer this result from the BBC's ' What am I like' personality quiz
found here

Results

Your answers suggest you are a Mentor

The four aspects that make up this personality type are:

Summary of Mentors

Warm and lively people who focus on the needs of others
Bring people together and encourage group participation
Think of themselves as intelligent, outgoing and sensitive
May become overbearing in their quest for harmony

More about Mentors

Articulate, lively and enthusiastic, Mentors spend time and energy fostering relationships and encouraging personal growth in others. They are extremely sensitive to people's needs and play a central role in families and social groups.

Mentors have changed jobs least since leaving full-time education, according to a UK survey.

Mentors love to bring people together in harmony and enjoy busy, active lives. However, their warm nature may mean they have trouble making tough decisions that affect others negatively.

In situations where they can't use their talents or are unappreciated, Mentors may focus too much on the needs of others. Under extreme stress, Mentors may be troubled by unusually critical thoughts about themselves and others.

Mentors readily see the best traits in others, but may have trouble recognizing personality faults.

Mentor Careers

Mentors are often drawn to jobs where they can help people develop their potential

****
Well..not really a surprise
Back to knitting! Hopefully pictures tomorrow, this yarn is way gorgeous and the pattern ( my own) is coming along nicely

Holiday Indolence

2008-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

A picture of an altered art/found art piece i did a while ago. I took a gum package and painted it and added pictures. Inside the gum areas ( when you turn it over) are little bits of interesting wool. I left this one on a bus window ledge.

Puppies update: not yet. although Lola looks like maybe they've dropped. It's so much fun to be rubbing her belly and have a tiny paw kick your hand :)

I'm feeling so laissez-faire today.. no ambition! We have a few things to do and of course i have the sweater to finish. It's top down and today i'll be working on the sleeves. Kent is off today as well. He's got a radio show to do online and then we'll get on with our day. No big plans just a movie and some gardening and cleanup at the hall.

It's cool outside and the sun has lost its summer heat. The air is fresh but doesn't yet hold the urgency that autumn seems to push ... it's the last day off before the rush of phone calls that will happen this week as people hurry to get bookings for the hall. We'll also have to do planning around travelling and budgeting and knitting but will do that tomorrow before Kent goes off to work. For today, the last hurrah of summer :)

Is no one going to sign up for the Pay it Forward Exchange? I know there are over a hundred blog views each day, perhaps you are all too busy .....

Saturday night bird, sunday morning knitting

2008-08-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

Last night at sunset, one of the baby seagulls flew over and seemed to be watching Dr Who with us through the bedroom window. Kent got these cute pix of him all backlit by the fading rays. Yes that lot is the part of the view from upstairs at the back - building should start on it in September. It should improve the view but probably we won't have so many birds , butterflys and dragonflies i guess.

No puppies as of yet but Lola has become, if possible, even more licky. Apparently it takes three hours to clean off her tummy. Ed is still not understanding why she won't play wrestling with him, and has taken to attacking our arms instead :)

Knitting is progressing, Dr Who and Torchwood both are progessing. I'm planning the next two small shawls in my mind as i knit on the sweater.

Knitting to a deadline

2008-08-30T09:38:00.001-07:00

Today i have a lot of things to get done: gardening and fridge cleaning among them. My stomach's acting up ( oh hmm did i eat even a single 'regular' meal yesterday? er ..no.) In any case i also have to finish up something i'm knitting for Trish at Indigo Moon. Deadlines loom! Therefore knitting comes first today.
I was trying to take a good picture of some of the wool Trish sent me but just can't get the colours right. See the picture above? lovely green. The picture below is what i get. Wrong Wrong and Fail! The beautiful purple doesn't show right either, it's a gorgeous dark purple grape colour in truth, not this bright popsicle colour. And the teal ball on top is muted and lovely. Ah well.

Today i shall knit with Season Two of:

Yay Friday !

2008-08-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today i managed to get to a Knit'n'Cafe. Yesterday i missed the thursday group because i had to be at the hall in the afternoon. I did get a heck of a lot of knitting done though, so it wasn't all bad.
Here we have Tony ( haven't met him before so i don't know his last name ) with his blanket - part of the Blankets for Canada effort.

A lot of people were interested in the group today including:

This adorable child ( Sarina who's mom allowed photos for blogs ) came in wearing a beautiful aran set sent from friends in Britain. She was soooo charming :)Thank you to Marilyn who helped me remember her name, for some reason i thought it was Serenity?

There are so many great and interesting knitters in the group. Each time i go i feel like i yack too much! I'd love to go on a retreat and just sit and knit and listen to each person talk about their lives.

But of course, i can't do that at the moment, since Lola may need me :) I think she's pretty much due and i'm excited! She's very calm and is needing more cuddling. I can relate to that having felt that way when pregnant too. I fed her and Eddie raw liver today and they were happy dogs i can tell you. He never seems to keep still and he needs a haircut!

This weekend is the Saanich Fair. I've been feeling so much better the last couple of days that we might just go. And next week is dyeing class out in Sydney. I love the autumn, it's always been my favourite season.

Kent's going to finally be off for three days after having worked 12 straight so i'm going to see if he will help making jam. He's been blackberry picking out back everyday and i think we have about a gallon of berries.

There's salsa dancing at the hall tonight, i'm going to sit upstairs in my room and knit and listen :)

Still no signers on for Pay it forward - anyone?

Pay it forward Exchange

2008-08-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hey i'm in the middle of a time sensitive knitting job with beautiful Indigo Moon yarn.
I don't have any blogworthy news really that i can share (yes there are two secrets that i'm not telling about yet!), but i did sign up for Pay it Forward. I saw it on Grace's blog and when Marilyn joined in i figured i should sign up, since we're both actually in the same city :)

This is what the PIF Exchange is all about. I’ll be sending a knitted gift to the first THREE people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join PIF.

I have only a slight idea of what i will be sending. You may not receive it tomorrow or next week, maybe not until 2009 but you will receive it within 365 days. The only thing you have to do in return is then to 'pay it forward' by promising to do the same on your own blog (and following through with the gifts, they don't have to be knitting, it can be whatever you like) You'll need to have a blog of course

~rewselene

Leave a comment to sign up..this should be fun :)

Getting by with a little help

2008-08-22T09:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Kent went off with Matt and bought me some organic dried pineapple and candied ginger. And panda licorice. Not exactly local food but I do think it helped! He and Lola-in-waiting are shown here playing on the bed :) How much longer can it be before we have Puppydom? Her poor tummy is so big now. She sleeps alot and is ravenous.

I've been working on trying to design some lace in my non sleeping moments. That and listening to Neil Gaiman's Stardust. I keep falling asleep to his voice though, haven't made it past chapter 3.

A little less sleep, a little more conversation

2008-08-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

I'm still awake! and it's 11 am..meaning i got up at 7:30 and havent had a nap yet. This is progress in the land of StrepThroat. I may even knit today.
In the meantime go read this . Boggles the mind eh?
Last night i dreamt Franklin moved into an apartment under ours ( we live in a house though..) and i was over there helping him hang pictures. No Delores or Harry appeared in the dream which is too bad as i love them both dearly :P

Ok tired. May have to sleep. Kent is off with the boy buying me some organic dried pineapple and ginger too which will hopefully help my throat some. It's not quite as painful today.

I leave you with this picture - i think it's been on the blog before. It's myself and my sister Linda ( of yesterday's picture) when i was about 15 months old and she was a newborn. I still feel the same way about her :)
~laurie

sleep sleep drink post sleep

2008-08-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Bah humbug on strep throat. I've got meds and i'm sleeping alot. Listening to James Lee Burke's 'Tin Roof Blowdown"
My sister sent this picture of her wearing Rubylace, i have no idea why she looks so ...staring?
She doesnt take great pictures, she's very beautiful irl :)
That's it, thats all i have for the moment. Time to chew another piece of fresh ginger and take another nap.
rewselene

Dye Dye my darling

2008-08-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Marilyn and i had a little dyeing adventure over on the patio that belongs to her marina. Well not technically hers. Here she is coming up the ramp to the patio, her boats in the back ground. Typical west coast scene.
I brought all of the dyeing things we needed and she supplied some lovely spun wool from Saltspring.I think it was even organic.

See the sock? funny story - on the way to her place we stopped so i could pick up the koolaid and spices. Coming out of the store i found that sock laying on the ground. It was a sock blessing :). Anyone out there have a sock mia?
The dyeing supplies included koolaid, spices , alum ( well, cream of tartar), wool spinner ( read ex-salad spinner) and some recycled 'solar dyers'. In other words, those party trays that are black plastic on the bottom. Also some plastic gloves and garbage bags. I've seen solar dyeing that takes place with each colour in a trash bag but my idea of the party trays is that each one is re-usable and it only takes one garbage bag for a few. And because the garbage bag isnt full of dye usually, you can re-use it as well.
The idea is to stack the trays up inside a garbage bag in full sun. Depending on the day/heat/sun it will take a couple of hours to a couple of days to get the insides hot enough to set the dye. Because the day turned cloudy Marilyn's 'solar dyers' went to the boot of her van to cook afterwards. Mine came back to the porch deck of my house.
We soaked the wool for spice dyeing in a mix of water with some cream of tartar added. We also soaked some of the wool for koolaid dyeing with a little soap in the water. We did try some 'dry' dyeing on the koolaid but the wool had too much lanolin still in it and didn't absorb well.
Here we have Marilyn working on her beautiful koolaid dyed wool.

You'll have to check with her to see how it turned out!

I love the colours :)
I decided to do some spice dyeing with tumeric and paprika. Soaking the wool with the cream of tartar /water mordant worked well. You do have to keep in mind that the colour from tumeric isn't particularily colourfast. It's best used on something that will be out of the sun, and not washed too much. I probably will knit a tea cozy from the wool, and will just redye if i feel its so faded i hate it . I did the outside of my wool pie with the paprika and did the tumeric on the inside bit. You basically mix up the spice in water, filter it and then pour it on.

And there you go :) We had a great day! If Marilyn ( Skipper on Ravelry) ever invites you over - GO! Thanks Marilyn, lets do it again soon.

Today i'm a bit stressed out, i've got what i suspect is strep throat :( But I'm working away on a lovely pesto green Ruby Lace Scarf which i've added a bead trim too. This time i cast 76 stitches
on to size 4.5mm needles using laceweight. Thats 7 pattern repeats plus a 3 stitch border on each end. The scarf is about 20 inches wide somewhat stretched. Its working out just the way i'd hoped.
~laurie
rewselene

Ruby Lace scarf (or stole)

2008-08-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

I realized i'd meant to get this pattern written down so finally here i am.

I made the scarf/stole for my sisters 50th birthday. She loves it..she said when she opened it up she smelled it right away to see if it smelled like me :) I hope that's a good thing lol.

I used Zephyr in Ruby and knit on a 4 mm needle. Used approxiamately 400 metres. I didn't measure for gauge - six repeats of the scroll pattern gave me about 14 inches wide. I cast off when it was about 62 inches long ( which blocked to 65 inches). I'm going to make it again with four repeats and add beads as well because i think it would make a pretty stole.
I cast on 62 stitches ( 6 x 10 +2) .

Scroll pattern: multiple of 10 plus 2

Row 1: K1 *yo, k8, k2tog: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 2: P1 *p2tog, p7, yo, p1; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 3: K1 *k2,yo, k6, k2tog: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 4: P1 *p2tog, p5, yo, p3; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 5: K1 *k4,yo, k4, k2tog: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 6: P1 *p2tog, p3, yo, p5; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 7: K1 *k6, yo, k2, k2tog: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 8: P1 *p2tog, p1, yo, p7; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 9: K1 *k8,yo, k2tog: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 10: P1 *yo, p8, p2tog tbl(thru back loop); repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 11: K1 *s1 k1 psso, k7, yo , k1: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 12: P1 *p2, yo, p6 p2tog tbl; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 13: K1 *s1, k1,psso,k5, yo, k3, : repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 14: P1 *p4, yo, p4, p2tog tbl; repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 15: K1 *s1, k1,psso,k3, yo, k5, repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 16: P1 * p6, yo,p2, p2tog tbl(thru back loop); repeat to last stitch, p1
Row 17: K1 *s1 k1 psso, k1, yo , k7: repeat from * to last stitch, k1
Row 18: P1 *p8, yo, p2tog tbl; repeat to last stitch, p1

There, i've checked and rechecked my typing so hopefully i've got it right!
I'll test knit it later to make sure since i'm going to cast on for another :)
Edited to say, yep it checks out fine :)

organica

2008-08-03T20:55:00.001-07:00

This weeks organics delivered to my door by the lovely Diane. She brings things down from her and her partner's farm in Cowichan Station.
The raspberries are sooo delicious, and are frozen already. This week she may have everbearing strawberries ready. The weather's been very hard on strawberries this year. In the mix , swiss chard, spinach, basil,rhubarb and broad beans. Delicious!
I really miss having a proper garden but obviously we aren't starving for good veggies :)
Kent bought me a pasta maker yesterday ( on sale at London Drugs for $19.99 if you're looking for one) Tomorrow i'll be making basil pasta and will post the recipe and pictures. Jonathan was down today and somehow magickally found our good camera!

Crazy Granny Chairs

2008-08-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

We're still working on changing the house around..some days it's overwhelming.But there's fun too. I want to buy a new table and chairs set but there isn't any money in the budget for it at the moment. What i do have access to are these perfectly servicable chairs that are just wanting a bit in the decor department. And somehow i got given a lot of acrylic
So yesterday i got this crazy idea...

The colours aren't true at all..the pink and yellow 'clownbarf' is much brighter. The granny square is lovely shades of green and the black chair's poofy border is actually bright blue - but you get the idea right? I need to make cushions for underneath the 'seatcovers' but i'm pretty happy with them. And i'm making three more. I like that they are all different although i bet it would look neat if they were all granny squares too.
A good use of leftover acrylics or crazyiness?

I also was gifted with this lovely item

which i think is perfect for a knitting bag while on the bus. No one gets poked by a needle, it's rainproof and sturdy. I love it!

Here's a picture of the inside with the Lovely Gravid Lola asking " I can beez lawyuh?" :P She's such a lovely little dog.

That's pretty much it for the last couple of days. We are knitting, we are watching movies, we are listening to audio books. I'm comtemplating a lace project and am spinning cashmere for a smaller project.I'm also reading Agatha Christies Biography..it's really interesting and has a picture of her AuntyGrannie wearing fingerless gloves!

Posted this on July 18th on the MassHypnosis blog by mistake :)

2008-08-01T20:22:00.001-07:00

It's summertime slow blogging over here at Chez crazyhouse. Kent's son Matt is about to arrive for the rest of the summer and my daughter is about to move out.
We're going to completely change around the rooms in the house. The big news being whats presently used as a living room but used to be the dining room i guess is going to be our Studio.:) We're going to build shelves for the walls, have the spinning wheels in there, the wool and all of my art stuff. There might even be a bit of room for Kents stuff :>. I don't know why we didnt think of it before.
I'm still searching for the camera: i did find the old crappy one and may have to resort to using it for pictures of the shhhhh knitting i've finished and the fleece i'm spinning up. Stand by!

Tally of the Tour de Fleece

2008-07-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Kent took all my skeins next door this morning to our friendly corner store lady Susie. She let him weigh it and it came in at just over two pounds/1 kilo. I'm really happy with that amount!
This is a little hill i built of the skeins on our deck table :)

I'm sorry about the quality or nonquality of the photo - still using the crappy old camera. Here another picture though - the top skein is a full louet bobbin plied and the bottom skein is the ashford. What a difference in amount..twice as much i think on the larger louet bobbin. I totally love the colour gradiations and think that when i get to the dyeing part i'm going to finish with some really nice wool.
I'm so happy i decided to partipate! And i can see a big difference in my spinning from the beginning to the last skeins - much better.

Lightning Knitting and the RubyLace scarf

2008-07-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I found our old old digital camera today - it's not the greatest but i'm happy to have found it anyhow. In celebration here's a picture of the scarf i knit for my sister's 50th birthday. It's in ruby zephyr and made in the 'scroll' pattern. (click the picture to get a closeup)

Over at Lovin Comfort Knits Grace has posed this question ( and there's a contest so go comment there!)
"When you are knitting and using metal needles like Addi's or Options and it starts to thunder and lightening to you put your knitting down?"

I really hate lightning storms. I've always wondered why as i grew up where they were common. Also hate humidity so there you go i guess.

Tour de Fleece is going well :) I'm keeping up a steady pace and sometimes even getting more done than i need to. ( like when i decided to spin on the Louet as opposed to the Ashford and still spun two half bobbins and plied them. Thinking it took soooo long and then remembering that the Louet holds probably twice what the Ashford does.

Tour de Fleece update

2008-07-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty happy with how the tour is going - for me anyhow :) i haven't actually watched it the last few days because i chose to do my spinning out on the deck instead. Spinning out there is great as long as i stay in the cool breezy shade - last week i was in the sun for 20 minutes and got a burn. When my face peeled i told Kent i was just going to tell people i had a chemical peel :) I am a bit worried because i read on the harlots blog today that plying before allowing the singles to rest may be a nono..i'll half to look into it more i guess.
The skeins are piling up and i'm just loving that. It's proving to me that a little bit each day can make a huge difference. Now to apply that to recovering from depression!

The summer is lazy and fairly calm. Kent's son arrived on the weekend and he and i sit around yakking and playing games and eating too much junkfood while Kent's at work. It's great! He's a very thoughtful almost 15yrold with a wicked sense of humour, just like his dad. He's helping us with changing the house rooms around too. We're making the big central room into a 'studio' where all the fibre and arty stuff will be. It's part of our 'honouring who we are' decision. I may even go into selling some of my dyed rovings online..we'll see.

up and down

2008-07-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a weird few days of up and down ness. I had an almost panic attack day before yesterday. I was able to calm myself down. Today i've been fairly anxious all day and couldnt even knit properly without losing my place in the pattern, so i instead i spun twice as much as yesterday. I love the way the wool slips through my fingers ..very soothing. Hopefully now that it's dark i can sit quietly on the bed, watch an old movie and catch up the 18 rows of lace scarf i promised myself i'd knit each day. So far i've done pretty well - it should take another week or so to be finished.

My anxiety seems worse in the day time when anyone can call and want something. Somehow at night it seems like i'm safer.

It's no wonder that people who don't understand depression think we're just crazy...

Tour de Fleece Day One

2008-07-05T18:02:00.001-07:00

The challenge for me in this, my first year in TdeF, will be to spin every day. I have this whole romney fleece ( i'm guessing it's 3 to 5 lbs) that needs to be spun. Well about of 1.3 of it still needs washing too. My basic goal is to spin wool. Nothing fancy, just the soothing feeling of wool sliding through my hands as i draft. Today I did a full bobbin on the Ashford, in two parts and then plied it. It's presently drying after a lovely wash to set the twist. I think i'll try knitting a swatch up with it tomorrow to get some idea of how it looks and feels. I might want to make it a 3 ply as i really want it for a winter cardigan or possible a ruana.

I watched the Tour de France repeat on OLN while i spun. There were quite a few accidents but the scenery was beautiful. Narrow roads like in Ireland. It actually starts at 5.30 am pacific but since Kent has gone on to afternoons i don't get up so early anymore.

Friday's unoriginal blog title

2008-07-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

Late in the day for a blog post what?

I just want to mention a few things i am thankful for..lest all my whining make people think all i do is sulk and complain.

I love fleece, i love how beautiful it looks after washing and cleaning. I love how it feels as it slides through my fingers while i'm spinning it.It's soothing and cheaper than drugs :)

I love $3 scratch tickets. Yes yes i do lol. For some reason the scratching of many tiny boxes brings me pleasure.

I love old movies on tv when i'm all anxiety ridden. Lately its been tcm in the late afternoon and early evening..they have a story and they are fun to watch to see how much society has changed..and remained the same in some ways.

I am ever so grateful for Ravelry and knitting/crocheting in general. There is no better 'hobby'.

And i love Kent. He is the best partner anyone could want: loyal and considerate and gorgeous :)

I am very happy that the depression is lifting :)

returning

2008-07-03T16:56:00.001-07:00

I am planning a return to blogging. Yay. You can get more info from my blog on Ravelry if you are there :).

Today i signed up for the Tour de Fleece. My goal is to spin up a whole fleece i have from Heritage farms. I bought it from Anna Runnings and i'm in love with it really. Hoping to get two sweaters from it.

Midmonth checkin

2008-02-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

Voice? - no not really, off and on, squeaky at best
House guests? - yes still 6. Loudish. Crowded.
Private time? - uh no, see above.

Happy? more or less...it's Valentine's Day and i know i have a present coming :)

I got a new laptop which is totally throwing me, wrecked some programs tryng to transfer them to the new puter. It will all be fixed on the weekend when my wonderkind has a chance to look at it
*le sign* hope to be back to normal by Monday. Please?

Return to sender

2008-02-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Well i promised myself i'd at least get back to blogging as of today. No, my voice is still not back to normal. But my eye is getting there and i'm not so tired out.
The family stress is still here but i'm kind of used to it now :P so i'm coping. And even though we have two adults and four kids staying in the house we've managed to keep things happy.
Ravelry's been fun what with the Bobby's and This Week in Ravelry. It's been a scramble for me to keep up but honestly being busier is better for me.I do want to get out of the house sooner or later though! I've gotten precisely Not Much Knitting Done this past month. A few Calorimetrys and a couple of hats and that's it. Probably spun about 10 yards too lol.
Ah well..this month i'm going to be better damn it.And i'm going to get back to my regular posting as well. Onward!

Not quite better

2008-01-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

As i said in this comment on a friend's blog:
M'damn :P
I too have been sick. Are you familiar with strep that attacks your throat then your sinuses and finally gives you such bad laryngitus that you don't talk for two weeks? This began on the 24th of December. Plus AT THE SAME TIME CUZ FATE IS AN UGLY BITCH - i've had an attack of uveitus ( a fun eye thing that feels like someone is stabbing a knife into your iris..for days) The vision in my left eye is still messed up but i'm at least able to get on the computer again without falling to the floor in a crying heap of mucous)
Miss you
~laurie
(rewselene)

Pretty much says it all - i still can't talk much, the eye is slowly getting better. I've decided to set a goal of being back to normal by Feb 1: this should give me a slight chance of making that goal. Of course, Kent and i were supposed to start exercising and eating better this month but so far my food intake has been ginger tea and Halls.....and if i do more than walk to the bathroom i have a coughing fit. My main goal is to sleep through the night once.
Bleh.
And blehity bleh too....

ow

2008-01-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

A quick note as i'm suffering with uveitus - it's something that i get once in a while because i have ankylosing spondilitus. This time it started on the way up to Kamloops and i thought it was eye strain at first from the snow but by Christmas Eve is was very painful. Christmas day was worse but i kept thinking i'd wake up and it'd be gone. The last time i had it was 7 years ago. Anyhow it's not gone and my eye is very blurry and still light sensitive. I'm hoping to be able to post by the weekend in detail.It was a great trip other than being sick :)

unpictured post

2007-12-12T12:40:00.001-08:00

Well hmm things have been pretty busy around here lately - tis the season for the hall to be used for a jillion different parties/weddings/events. I've been trying to get a few things knitted up, some baking done as well as keep up with some spinning.
Poor Kent got some awful flu thing again ( i think thats 3 times since august :( ) but he's doing better this week. Except for twisting his ankle. Er, and his tennis elbow thingy.

This is my done list:
cars vest
clapotis
ice queen
4 hats

Almost done list:
chenille shawl
lace trim for Kent's mom's shawl
2 pairs of socks for Solomon
one pair of special mittens to remain nameless at the moment

I'm still thinking of knitting these and these and this and this

I had an order go into Epicure and got some extra mulling spices, hot buttered rum mix, tiramisu mix, turkey rub - actually a whole bunch of stuff that will go into gift baskets for christmas. It smells great in the house :).
If i could get Jon and Kent to stop eating the baking it'd be wonderful!
Pictures tomorrow of finished stuff and perhaps some baking too as i want to make pretzels :) mmmmm

well i tried...

2007-11-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

So do i get points for trying? :) I didn't get back online to post last night - we unexpectedly had the house to ourselves for a change. It was great to spend some real time with Kent but i completely forgot about posting..waaah.

The good thing is that i've gotten into a way better groove for blogging. And i've spent time thinking about the how's and why's of my blog too. These are all good. So i'ma keep it up for the rest of the month. I do think that afterwards i'll go back to posting about 3 or 4 times a week again. The pressure is too much to post daily lol

There has been knitting and spinning and thanks to Becky there's an almost finished Lightening McQueen vest done. Yaaayy ! Pictures tomorrow most likely.

chinese food and ex wives

2007-11-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

We had a great dinner out tonight :) First time i've had shrimp wrapped in a wonton and them deepfried - really nice and light and not doughy like the usualy deep fried shrimp/prawns.
It was a good night until we got home. Kent talked to his ex about having his son for Christmas this year. He has spent exactly no holidays or birthdays with us ever. Ever. And she's saying she doesn't know if it can happen. Seeing Kent's face sad really bugs me :(

--------------

On the other hand, knitting is coming along well, as is spinning. Had fun at the knitting group yesterday and the ravelry thank you day worked out great.

Somehow i still feel a need for ice cream....

grrr

2007-11-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

I could not post this video last night..so here is my nov 22 post ...

(Sam Proof demo'ing how to make an 8 page tiny 'zine from one sheet of paper)

Why not make these just to print your opinions? Leave them on the bus or something :) I'm going to do up some knitting ones. It's pretty easy as all of the printing goes on one side of the paper
I'm totally in love with the idea and will get some pix of the ones i do

The love on Ravelry has been so much fun - even if you don't knit or crochet or whatever you'd love it ... go join!
RAVELRY

Hockey and spinning

2007-11-21T18:27:00.001-08:00

Why is it that if i knit while watching hockey i drop stitches and mess up patterns..but if i spin i'm fine? Spinning seems to be in it's own little world or something. Right now i'm still working on the multicoloured amalgamation of gift rovings. It's turning out well which makes me happy :)

It's chilly here which makes me want to bake. I'm hoping to get some bread done tomorrow before going to the knitting group, but i'm not holding my breath either. Lately i've somehow morphed into a person that takes a while to wake up. Previously i'd always been able to get up and get all my work done before sitting down to the computer or knitting or painting or whatever. I gotta get that mojo back..i just feel lazy this way.

Poor Eddie has a flea. At least i've killed two fleas on him in the past week, which is every one i saw. I hate to put some kinda poison on him..we're going to try feeding him brewer's yeast and garlic and see if that helps. At least he's stopped trying to lick off his..er..appendages. I swear the day they dropped he thought ' what the heck are these things?! i've got to get them off my body!" Sometimes he was so loud doing that at bedtime that we couldn't sleep!

My clapotis is more than half done so a new picture will be coming soon :)

One sentence blogging?

2007-11-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

Some days things are way too busy and then you see someone on Ravelry talking about one sentence blogging and suddenly you feel less guilty and more like you could possibly make it through the 10 days of blogging left for Nablopomo without resorting to all other manner of crazy blogging behaviour.

love
laurie