Wednesday, June 08, 2005


Copper bracelet I made for (and modeled by) my mom. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Ooops...

I tried to correct an error in my SP5 questionnaire post and half of it was eaten. I'm still a newbie in this blogging world. Will republish later. Hang in there Princess Caspian!

Friday, May 27, 2005

Let's try this again

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I prefer natural fibers, but acrylics aren't out of the question. Felt a very nice Caron acrylic last night, as a matter of fact.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

Crochet a bit, and tried a drop spindle recently and would love to try it again!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Cigarettes stink, animals are no problem.

4. How long have you been knitting?

A year and 3/4.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Not yet.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Mild scents, cotton, linen. Peppermint and citrus scents, non-overpowering vanilla, chocolate or cocoa.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes, and many a cavity to prove it!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I doodle with pencils, paints, and wonderful crayons. I garden and birdwatch and make birdfeeders. I make wire things; jewelry and small sculptures. I'm making an earring holder from ocotillo and baling wire.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

MP3s I dunno. CDs are no problem. I am a rock girl at heart (The Who, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Kinks, ELO, The Rolling Stones), but I'm a dabbler, and I love show tunes (Garland, Sinatra, Nat King Cole) and classical (ANY) and I am dipping a toe into new-ish sounds like Social Distortion, Green Day (YAY!), Gwen Stefani and Beck.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love Grey. All shades. I love greens and foresty colors; autumny ones like rusts and reds and rich browns. I cannot abide pinks.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a fabulous redheaded husband, an amazing nearly-eight-year-old-girlie, and a Welsh Springer Spaniel who is NOT a show dog.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

This is an easy one. To be as happy and healthy and as well-traveled as is humanly possible before I die. To stay with the same man forever. To watch my baby girl become a happy, confident, self-assured woman. To see George Bush Jr disappear.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I love wool, but it is not practical here in the desert. I want to start playing with silks and cottons, and SOON!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Slick, plasticky-feeling acrylics. Difficult, tiny novelty eyelash yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

I just finished my French Market Bag and I think I could really enjoy knitting more things for myself. I've given away almost everything I've made, and I've been happy to do so. I plan to continue giving, but it's nice to keep some around, too.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

So far, I've used a simple free pattern for a Fisherman's Rib scarf a couple of times with good results. The FMB came out much as I'd hope, too, and I'm looking into more felting projects.

17. What are you knitting right now?

A hat for a friend and I'm toying with a lace leaf pattern for a scarf. My last secret pal gave me some uber-soft alpaca yarn, and I really want to keep it!

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I made two for my girlie (see archive photos) and she liked them. I saw a very chic Scottsdale chick in a lacy one, but I don't know if they're ME.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I'm a convert, Addi Turbos are amazing, but I still love my wooden and bamboo straights.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo and wood whenever possible, please. They FEEL SOOOOO good!.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Not yet, but I know that's coming up.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Found a book in a wonderful local bookstore (where I used to work) and then asked my Mom to show me how. Thanks, MOM!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a month. I've been really good about finishing what I start, so far.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Thompson and Thompsen ! I also love Bullwinkle. I'm a birder, so I love them all, but have a special fondness for raptors and wading birds like herons and egrets.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Easy question! Halloween, hands down.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Small wooden boxes, elephants, things with realistic leaf motifs on them.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None, but I'm thinking about Knitter's. It's a really nice, complete magazine.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I read almost anything; fiction, non-fiction, some sci-fi, so whatever looks good, I read.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

What am I doing up at this hour?

Well, the French Market Bag is finis! I still love the colors, and overall, I'm quite pleased with it. Alison, thanks for your help with my transition to the bag body--couldn't have done it without you!

I did the base on circulars (now I'm an Addi Turbo addict), and I made the body 10" instead of 8". It really wasn't a difficult pattern.

The night before last, I put it through a 10-minute hot water wash and then let it dry, but it didn't seem quite tight enough. I will say, however, that the texture change in the initial wash was cool. I checked it every few minutes and the difference in picking up a mass of wet knitting at 6 minutes and the far-more-solid mass I handled 2 minutes later was amazing.

My dear, non-knitting husband agreed with me that it needed a bit more time in the water, so this evening, I nonchalantly popped it back in for 6 minutes and completely ignored it the whole time. Must be similar to what happens when you have your second child--I became very confident that it'd be fine, and indeed it is.

Take a look, photos are here!

French Market Bag, post-knitting and pre-felting. Posted by Hello

After I kissed it goodbye, I quickly tossed it into the machine with a towel. Posted by Hello

Washing... Posted by Hello

Is it felt yet? Posted by Hello

A randomized, double-blind study has proven that chocolate-covered pretzels DO indeed lower your blood pressure when you're felting. Especially if it's your initial attempt. Posted by Hello

At the end of the wash cycle, a bubbly clot of felted bag... Posted by Hello

Rinse cycle--wow, stop-action photography! Posted by Hello

Welshie red and russet Brown Sheep make a nice color combo, no? Posted by Hello

It's drying! My first FO for ME!! Posted by Hello

Say Aaaaaaaaah! Posted by Hello

Friday, May 20, 2005


Voila! The French Market Bag with 2 of 4 handles complete. I think I may be felting this weekend...... and isn't that a flattering shot of the electrical outlet? Tres chic! Posted by Hello

Monday, May 16, 2005


A great picture of Tim. The personification of cool for so very many reasons. Posted by Hello

I think this is one of the finest pictures I've ever taken. This is the Reader family. They're so much fun. Posted by Hello

Homer. Posted by Hello

Marion and Mrs. Pennell, the world's finest kindergarten teacher. We love you, Mrs. Pennell! Posted by Hello

Here is the baby blanket. I learned many things by doing this without a pattern...but I think it turned out not too badly. Posted by Hello

This is the sad result of my 6" stockinette square bunny. Marion says she loves him anyway. Posted by Hello

Thursday, May 12, 2005

What a Day!

Well.

Reasonable day at work, no doctors. Lots of tidying and relaxing. Chocolate B-day cake for a co-worker. Yum.

Some knitting accomplished on the French Market bag. I am happier and happier with my colour choices. (photo to follow soon). Am on the bag body in the main colour now. Russet. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Seth called and asked me to fetch crabby childie from him at work. Off to Scottsdale with new truck stereo blaring the Kinks (Yay again). Childie is in better mood. (Double YAY.) Kisses to spousal unit and off to see if AZ Knitting and Needlepoint is open at 6-ish PM on a Thursday. Thinking that daughter would do better with chunky yarn for first project ala Lily and Lucy (Kiki and Steve's knitting offspring). Alas, shop is closed. Curses, foiled again.

Heading towards home on the reservation roads to avoid freeway hassles. Pulled over to watch a lovely egret hunting in a small body of water. (Boy, do they ever move slooooowly). As we near the previously washed-out bridge just south of McDowell, we are witness to a nasty car crash.

Small SUV in front of us containing 3 teenage girls (one pregnant, I later find out) is slammed by a woman who seemed to run a red light. Marion is wonderful, sitting calmly in the truck as I hop out to try to lend a hand. One girl has a couple of cuts on her head which are bleeding, but everyone seems ok. I grab some cloths out of the truck and try to help out as we await the paramedics. (This is indeed the one time that I regret being the only human without a cel phone.)

The police come and the medical personnel soon follow, and as everyone seems fine, we head home. I commend my girlie on her bravery and patience and she, in turn, urges me to sit down and take it easy. What a peach.

Another day, albeit a bit more exciting than I'd planned, comes to an end. Night all.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Happy Mother's Day!

I got to sleep late, breakfast in bed, flowers, brunch with the world's finest in-laws, knitting time, and time for long-overdue yard work. What about you?

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

What's up?

I attended my first Stitch-n-Bitch meeting last night, and I want to become a regular. Nice knitters, lovely projects, delightful chat. I finished the baby blanket (fanfare of trumpets, please!) and it found it's way to the handsome recipient today.

Started on the French Market Bag for ME (see it in the archives at
http://www.knitty.com. I'm doing it in charcoal and a mulberry red. Yum.

Hugs to my wonderful not-a-secret-anymore pal, Kim. You've made the SP4 a blast, and I think I'm going to go for #5 if humanly possible.

Our new office is chugging right along. I still don't think it'll be ready by August, but I DID buy a tank-top style two-piece swimsuit just in case......

Au revoirs for now.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Long overdue praise

My delightful secret pal gifted me recently (well, a while ago) with a package full of FUN! A book of yummy desert recipes from a "Miss Daisy" (who looks as though she would be able to scrounge through a bachelor's fridge and whip up something delectable with whatever she discovered there), a beautiful hanging ornament with baubles and bottles and beads and twisting, viney coils, and the ultimate delight, two skeins of baby alpaca yarn in an aptly named shade of Moss. Don't know yet what they'll be, but you can bet your sweet patootie it's going to be something por moi!

Many thanks, you dear girl! I have no photo-posting program residing in my computer at present, but know that I am enjoying all the lovely gifties.

I have nearly finished the blasted baby blanket. I am thinking of putting together the pieces with a Sirdar denim/white yarn. I think it'll go pretty well with the Sirdar lavender, and mayhap give it a more masculine touch. I think Kaleb's daddy would appreciate that. Kaleb himself is growing at an astounding rate for a young man who came on the scene a few weeks early. Makes me remember Marion at that age.

Work is better, thank you. Our new office is taking shape rapidly--we have walls and bricks are starting to cover over them. I made a bet with our office manager that I really didn't think we'd be in by August. I felt so strongly about it, in fact, that I told her I'd wear a bikini to the first day we opened if it was in August. I'm torn now, because we really need the space, but I'm starting to hope that the monsoons this summer slow things down just a bit. Actually, I think we'll be in before the end of the year, which would be terrific.

My magnificent in-laws took off for a 10-day Mexican cruise today. They are slowly recovering from Tim's passing, and they're catching up on sleep like crazy. I love them so much. I'm really glad that they took some time to go away and just be. Seth's planning on re-doing some of the TV stuff in their house while they're gone--move things around a bit and get a satellite system installed (as we love ours). Marion and I plan to make sure that the pool doesn't get lonely. The water's at about 70 right now, which I think is great. I don't like swimming in water that feels like soup.

My folks take off soon for Italy and Switzerland! They're taking mom's cousin along, and I'm certain much hilarity will ensue, as it always does. They make a great travel trio.

I'm working on an earring holder. Can't stand having them all jumbled up in a box any longer. I've peeled some ocotillo branches which have dried and seasoned in the yard for a few years (much to my husband's chagrin), and I'm sealing them and wiring them together this evening. If I get the photo program back, and IF it looks anything like I hope it will, I'll post it.

Again, Belated but heartfelt thanks, secret pal. Hope you and yours are well.

Monday, April 11, 2005

P.S.

If anyone from the Stitch-n-Bitch group actually ventures in, I really do have photos of things I've knitted. Please check the archives for proof of knitt-ability. Thank you!

Yes, it's Monday (is there a pattern developing here?)

It's taken me a couple of weeks to get back in the knitting frame of mind, but I'm there. Reading "The Knitting Goddess" and reveling in the brioche stitch. I'm about halfway in the pieces for the baby blanket. It may not be perfect squares, but it's soft and purple and machine-washable, which I figure to be a distinct plus for a new mommy.

I also went and purchsed all the needed ingredients for the French Market bag from Knitty.com. YAY! Something for me! Decided on a sumptuous red and charcoal combo using brownsheep wool. /And my 7.5 year-old daughter who accompanied me on the shopping venture insisted on buying yarn and needles to make her teddy bear a scarf. YAY! Passing it along! She's much like me in that she frustrates easily if things don't go perfectly at first, but I think she'll do pretty well.

Am trying to come up with a nice parting giftie for my secret pal. Any suggestions? So far, I've sent a little knitted pouch with chocolate, a funnel scarf/cowl made of mohair, and a very enjoyable book.

We may be adding to the family with a small four-legged creature tomorrow, but then again, we may not....more on that story as it develops.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Wow! It's Wednesday!

I'm in a total knitting slump. I can't seem to get myself motivated to finish the baby blanket I want to give to a friend's daughter. I can't even get myself to go to the LYS for supplies for the bag I want to make for ME. AARGH!.

Tim's memorial service on Sunday was well-attended (60-70 people) and well-enjoyed. My in-laws are catching up on their rest and planning a cruise soon. (overdue and sure to be enjoyed) I miss Tim and think of him every day.

We are seriously into the planning stages of getting out of the US and heading up to Canada. My in-laws would certainly join us, and we'd be happy for their company. I have to do some more serious work on contacting folks in the BC area to find a job offer, but I don't really doubt that it could happen.

On a pleasant note, my honeysuckle is in bloom! It's the white variety, and I guess all the babying and pampering has paid off. There are a few white blooms and tons of buds ready to spring forth. YAY! I am planning on starting work on my gazebo this weekend. (We won't be heading up north for a while yet, and I want to make this summer bearable.)

That's about it for now. Working on finding a nice final giftie for my secret pal.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Monday again???

Yep, I'm afraid so. Allergies are attacking the females in our house; M and I are coughing, sneezing and sniffling up a storm. I'm still poking away at the baby blanket, but it's not really getting anywhere fast. Have switched my usual anniversary gift this year...Most times, I go out to the Boyce-Thompson arboretum with my sweetie and childie and buy lots of plants, but this year, I'm asking for a trip to my LYS for supplies for the French Market Bag featured in Knitty. (Sorry, I don't have the link thing down yet). If it works, it'll be the first thing I've made for me! And felted, too. Hmm, maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew... we'll see.

Work is ugly. I promised Seth I'd spend some time looking into Canadian immigration, and I almost have enough points to make it as a Skilled Worker. I just have to wrangle up a job offer and we should be able to go. My fab in-laws want to come, too, and we know folks with land outside Vancouver, so maybe I'll have a Canadian blog going sometime in the future! I LOVE what I've seen of Canada and also have found Canadian people to be delightful. We watch "The National" almost nightly for REAL news instead of the sensationalist garbage that we get fed in the US. And if Skippy starts up the draft, as it seems he will, I'm ready to go if Canada will have me/us.

Anyhow. Not much else to relate. The dog got a good haircut recently, so he doesn't have ptarmigan feet right now. I still miss my cat, but I'm not quite ready to bring another one home right now. Worked in the yard a bit this weekend, and I may even get some honeysuckle blooms this summer since we've had so much rain. That'd be nice. The wildflowers out front are starting to fade, and I've got to collect some of the lupine seed for next fall. Cleaning up in the summer is such a chore, but I really love the yard in spring (see earlier photos).

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Thanks Secret Pal!!

Last week, while my computer was out having a wash and set, a mysterious package arrived....

It contained a wonderful book, "Zen and the Art of Knitting" and 2 fab CDs loaded with toothsome tunes for toe-tapping and yarn-twirling! I ingested the book very quickly (as I am wont to do) and have been enjoying the ear-candy frequently since its arrival. Muchas gracias, my southern belle of a pal! And also thanks for the sweet card and drawing--I'll get my camera up and going soon to uplink evidence of the lovely gifties. Kiss that young artist from me.

Life is slowly regaining normalcy. My in-laws are doing pretty well. They've planned a big celebration memorial get-together, and there should be a nice piece in one of the local papers on Tim this weekend. Things still feel weird, but that isn't surprising when you lose a family member.

I'm trying gamely to get a blanket done for a friend's grandbaby, and the New Mexico scarf flew away from me last weekend. Hope it's nested safely in AL-B-Q. Was happy to hear and see that the merino scarf made it to my cold-weather pal in time for her to utilize its fuzzy goodness. Found a great, easy-appearing stuffed bunny pattern, and have tried it, but mine came out looking a bit skewed. Marion likes it, even without ears, so I think she'll get the first attempt and I'll give it another go in a bit.

Did get my ophthalmology assignment done just prior to the computer going away, so that's a huge relief. Must remember that precious word, "NO", next time I am asked to contribute. GS cookie time is at an end, as well, and I'm lucky that my co-leader was the "cookie mom" so that I don't have to deal with the math. (aargh.)

Lots of endings, or so it feels. I'm feeling a little steadier this week, and will now go knit. Peace.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Tim Reader, I love you.

Tim is my dear brother-out-law who passed away this past Wednesday night. Never have you seen bluer eyes. Never have you seen a Shakespearean actor who so loved and understood the Bard. Never would you have had more fun at a Dead concert than with this sweet redhead. Never could there be a dearer friend/uncle. We'll miss him terribly, but know that the time was right. Tim, you're the best.

Monday, March 07, 2005

Yet another Monday

Well, it's a little better than last week, but not much. 6 out of 10 people in my office are out with the current plague. My brother-in-law is in hospital again. I'm behind on the ophthalmology project I volunteered for (and was to have finished by end o' February). My GS troop is barely limping along , and I'm not really interested in getting it back up to speed. And I miss my cat.

On the non-sucky side...Seth's back is better. It's not 8 trillion degrees here yet. I finished the merino giftie for my secret pal and will mail to her manana. And there is cold beer in the fridge and very appealing purpley Takhi yarn wanting to be an Albuquerque-bound scarf. Must think positively....must regain cockeyed optimism... just..need to.. keep that damn kryptonite AWAY FROM ME!!!!!

Monday, February 28, 2005

Crappy Monday

I am an animal person. I have not been without animals in my house for longer than I can remember. My sweet, near-toothless old cat Homer was found to have less than no kidney function today. (Expletive deleted). Our very kind vet gave him some fluids and sent him home for the night so that we could say goodbye to him and let Marion be with him for a bit, but tomorrow I have to take him back. I have only had to do this once before, and it SUCKS. I haven't been cat-less in 16 years, and I am NOT looking forward to it. He's a black and white tuxedo cat with big green eyes that look like grapes. He snores. He's one of the mellowest cats I've ever had. He's always been great with Marion, even when she was tiny and didn't know that tails and whiskers weren't really for pulling. He's gotten along with every other pet we've had and generally been a big, wonderful guy and I'm going to miss him terribly.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Multi-tasking, or something like it

My dear redhead is still plagued by back problems, so I've been trying very hard to be "SuperMe" and take care of as much stuff at home as possible. Save for a very crabby spate on Sunday, I think I'm managing to keep most of the balls aloft. I really do hate laundry, I must say. It's not the sorting and starting, but I can't abide the time lost folding and putting it away. Seth once said he wished we could all just wear clothes made out of paper and recycle them at the day's end. Hmmm...business venture?

I have two (count 'em, two) knitting projects going. Still hard at work on my SP's large, warmth-inducing gift (as she is in a colder place than I), and I've begun on a baby blanket for the daughter of a friend. All the booties patterns look a bit much for me right now, so I figured, "Hey, who doesn't need lots of blankies?". And the Sirdar yarn was on sale, a lovely lavender, and snuggly albeit mostly acrylic (I figure it's got to be washing-machine friendly as it will be for a first bebe).

Tahki yarn is really delectable! I snagged some for the scarf promised to a certain New Mexican chickie I know, and it will soon be whirling about on my favorite needles to date, my size 13 Brittany beechwood babies. Photo of fab yarn soon to come.

Computer will be going away soon (gasp, sob) to get some brain surgery. One of Marion's games did something unspeakable to the box, and my other half wishes to repair pronto. I've convinced him to wait until next week, at least, as I really am trying to meet the month-end deadline for the manual re-writing project I've been involved with. I've done about half of the work I need to, so will likely be buckling down to it over the next few nights. Will try to get at least one more post in before bussing the Compaq and sending it out into the big, scary world of repair shops. (separation anxiety begins NOW!)

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Late at night

Everyone else in the house is asleep. My sweetie's back is out, the dog is snoring underfoot, the cat has likely shoved his way in through the dog door and is curled up in a cardboard box, and Marion's zzz-ing away after cooking dinner tonight!

Seth got her "The Peanuts Cookbook", which he had at her age. (The book does show it's age a bit as one of the instructions is to "ask your mother to show you how to light the stove") She made Beethoven's Bacon Beans (yummy, and I don't even like green beans a little bit!) and Sally's Broiled Cheese Hot-Dog Sandwich. She really did do most of the work by herself. My folks are in town and she invited them to dinner, which was a great move for her as a new chef because there isn't anything my dad would rather eat than a hot dog! He'll even eat them raw! (Eeeew.)

Didn't get much knitting done today, but I'll probably go and do a bit before bed. Hooray, my secret pal got the package I sent! Thanks to the USPS. I adore Priority Mail--it's cheap and fast. I'm so glad she liked everything. Night-night!

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Photo-op

Finally got around to getting pictures of the girlie. The hat will soon be winging it's way to DC, but I think I want one, too. Marion wore the winter poncho quite a bit while the weather was cold enough, and I knew I was on the right track when a school chum of hers came to class one day sporting a pink poncho she'd begged her mom to make for her, "because Marion's mom made one for her!" Yay!

The spring poncho was kept small as it is warming up rapidly here, and our time for wearing heavy, snuggly clothing is swiftly declining. It took me a while to be able to do the stitch quickly, but by the time I started on the second rectangle, I had picked up a fair amount of speed.

Current projects are: an unknown item for my secret pal who lives in colder weather and a scarf for one of my true blue buddies in New Mexico.

Lots of these beauties in the yard this year. Posted by Hello

Budding ballerina in the front yard... Posted by Hello

Here's the spring poncho-done in "Marionberry" stitch. Much smaller, and she declined any fringe or edging.  Posted by Hello

This poncho was of the "two-rectangles-joined" variety. Worked very well for our mild-ish winters here in the desert. Posted by Hello

Marion's winter poncho-I couldn't manage the Snowflake yarn by itself, as it's so fine--so I added some Red Heart Bubblegum to it and voila! (Thank you to the kind knitter I met in Craftmart who suggested adding a second yarn-you were so right!) Posted by Hello

I love Floral Splash yarn. Posted by Hello

Marion modeling the trial hat--my first attempt with circular needles! Posted by Hello

Friday, February 11, 2005

Friday! Hooray!

And a Friday payday, too! Hooray squared! And I've heard from my secret pal! Hooray trebled! I'm working on mysterious knitted thingie for my secret pal, and I'm having a good time doing it, too. Will have to put down the needles at some point to get back to the work-related writing project that I did NOT do this week, but this is not the evening for that. Big used book sale in my neck o' the woods tomorrow, so we'll try to get up early and brave the rain for it. It's become a tradition, the Visiting Nurses' Book Sale. Lots of cool stuff; we got a good set of encyclopedias for the girlie last year. Of course, I'll have to look for knitting books this year!

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Knitting up a storm

Finished Marion's shorter, lightweight poncho tonight! Will put it together and trim it and have her model for a photo in the next day or two. Have also completed the in-the-round hat, which came out pretty well for a first attempt. I unintentionally used the inside of the DPNs when finishing, so it came out with sort of a rosette at the top since the stitches were backwards, but it actually looks kind of neat that way. Talk about learning from your mistakes!

Have vowed to spend the next two evenings writing for the work-related manual I agreed to assist with, so my needles will be cooling a bit over the next 48 hours. (I will try to make sure I get my full lunch-hours though, as there's a lovely park near the office where I can escape and start in on goodies for my secret pal and a scarf I promised to one of my dear buddies.)


Thursday, February 03, 2005

Floral Splash is my friend

Ok, I admit that circular needles are NOT tools of Satan. I do still have a bit of trouble geting the stitches to flow easily up the left needle, and am hoping that's because of the inexpensive circs which were a gift from dear peopole this Christmas. I think I'll have to visit my LYS to invest in a pair of wooden ones that have a smoother transition area from needle-to-cord.

Gosh, I actually have two articles going at once! I'm still going on the poncho--have now figured that the first piece is done, so need to bind off and make its companion piece before the temperature soars here. I have used the Floral Splash in my circ trial, and I think I'll decrease it down and make it into a hat for one of my two bestest friends, both of whom live in colder climes than I. The desert is a great place to live for much of the year, but the fact that I can't wear, sleep in , or otherwise swaddle myself in yards of wool year-round is a bitter pill. (wah.)

Will post more photos soon; objects in progress and FOs if I can get shots of those from folks who now posess them!

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Groundhog day

I'll take 6 more weeks of winter. I'd just like to arrange for Pres. Skippy to see his shadow and go hide in a hole, far, far away! I did make contact with my secret pal, but have not heard from the person who has me! Oh well, it's early yet. Time to go wash the childie and work on the circular needles a bit more. They're behaving better the last day or so. Might be able to use them to make a knitted object for my pal. As mother says, "we'll see..."