Knitting Passion

so do the FOs . . . there are 6 hats and 1 bag now completed. For those of you keeping up with me here, that is one Finished Object for each of the 7 grandkids! Hurrah!

Now, I am working on - and halfway completed - the Christmas present for daughter number 2. I have plans for the FO for daughter #1, but need to purchase a new pair of needles! Ack! How can that be? How is it possible that I do NOT have the needle size needed? Sheesh - you’ve got me!

It looks like others have the bug, too. I have a Christmas vest, thank you, that I pull out each December for our holiday party at work - gotta love having some fun. Hmm, just might pull out the reindeer ears, too. haha - okay, maybe not. We will, after all, be in a public place.

Did want to share this article with you, though. If you have been having fun making purses - and then wondering how to finish them off - check out these cool leather tote handles.

I am loving this bag:
but I don’t see where a pattern can be ordered.

So, how about all of you . . . did you take the pledge? Are you purchasing homemade or making your own? How’s it coming? Are you going to make it before the deadline?

Off you go now . . . get those needles clacking. Enjoy the fun of making and giving a part of yourself.

homemade, knitting, felted bag, handles, finished objects, christmas gifts

Okay - don’t everyone freak out . . . but . . . there are only twenty-seven knitting days left before Christmas.

ACK!!! I think I just freaked mySELF out! Heh.

I thought I would share a picture of the latest afghans completed for the Share A Square program today.

(click for a larger view)

As you know, I did not crochet all of the squares - many people from around the world (yes - around the world! Australia, Japan, Spain, Mexico, US and more) have joined in on this project - this dream of Shelly’s - to make the world a bit warmer for some kids who have cancer.

So, every “kit” that Shelly sends out to be joined together contains 48 squares from 48 different people who have crocheted (or knitted) and sent them to her.

48 people from different parts of the US - the world - who have felt their heart stirred because of one woman’s dream - and who have put their fingers to the task . . . really, it is beautiful how the different styles and techniques come into play to make a whole.

I love working with the squares - making them all the same size (or as close as possible) by adding the black edge - then joining them one by one, two by two, six by six - seeing a lot of singles coming together to make a whole.

My goodness - it appears that one can wax poetic over crocheting and knitting!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week - and that your FOs are rolling off your needles at an acceptable pace.

As we begin to work frantically to make sure every stocking is filled - let us not forget WHY we celebrate at this season - and maybe, just maybe, we can celebrate HIM throughout the whole year and not just one day.

share a square, crochet, camp sanguinity, shelly, knitting, sharing, finished objects

Okay - Christmas family projects are beginning to get done.

I’ve decided that since the Girl asked for a bag (completed, btw)

and - the Boy asked for a specific hat - now completed (check behind the cut - don’t let him peek, mama!)

well, I would make ALL of the rest something (hats) as well. That’s five more to complete. I finished the Pup’s today and will show a picture of it tomorrow. Well, it’s all but finished. I still have a seam to do at the top and it will be done.

The hat is a cutie - and I just may make it for all of the others as well.

How many others, you might be asking?

Well, I am the proud gramma of 7 gorgeous grandkiddos. The Boy is the oldest at nearly 16 (March). The Girl is next at 13 (14 in August). The Pup is the youngest of that family at 8 (9 in May). They are all Lessa’s kiddos and live just two doors away from us - at one time our other daughter and family lived on our street as well and we threatened to petition for a name change to . . .

Family Way.

Hahahahaha - we crack ourselves up.

Back to the progeny:

Ladybug’s family has D-Man who is now 11 (Nov. 19th), TAT who is now 9 (Nov. 20th), Kinziebug who is 6 (7 in February) and Zaiah who is 3 (4 on Valentine’s Day).

I bought HUGE needles to do the Pup’s hat - size 19!! And, I spent $16 on them because they were the good wooden needles. But, they’ll last forever, right? Now, if I could just find another project for them.

Hahahahahaha - there I go again - cracking myself up!

On to the Boy’s gift . . . Lessa, turn his little head.
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Had to take a quick trip up north to the big city today - a run for the neighbors - long story, but we made it up and back in just about 8 hours. That is truly not bad.

While there, of course, I had to visit the Knitting Grounds to say hello to Zaynab, pick up some yarn lovliness and a new pattern and some other goodies . . . more about those in the days to come.

I was stopped before going into the store by this in the window:

I need this - oh, wait, I guess I have given myself the license already . . . but, isn’t it fun?

Inside the store it was warm and cozy as usual - knitters working away on projects, others seeking help for places they were stuck (just how do YOU teach someone to knit when their first language is Spanish?) and a couple of shoppers . . . one of whom was yours truly.

Zaynab flitted between us - helping or pointing towards help - ringing up sales - scolding her little doggy who was quite upset (QUITE!) when my hubby walked in wearing his cowboy hat. Back to the car with HIM!

I wish I could be up there for one of the Friday Night Knitting Groups held there. But, I am a small town gal these days. That big city life is just too much for me.

My daughter, on the other hand . . . enjoys muchly the big city life. Heh.

You see, I grew up in a very large midwestern city. It is even bigger now and when we go back for a visit I feel quite lost. Back in the day - we lived in a “neighborhood” and it was home. I walked everywhere or rode the city bus to get where I needed to go. That was how we did it back then.

I was part of that life then. But for nearly 30 years I have lived in teeny-tiny small town Alaska and find that it has become as firmly entrenched in my soul as that great big city I grew up in during the 50’s. So, while traveling up to the big city up north is fun for a day or so, and there are LOTS of things up there I like to do and PEOPLE I love live there, too . . . it is much mo bettah to be here.

with you

in this place

so drop me a comment . . . okay? Tell me about YOUR small town/big city life. Are your LYS’s better there?

btw - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yeah, it’s all over at our house, too - only 7 tricksters and we are related to ALL of them. Ah, well. Lots of things were going on “in town” to keep the kids happy and safe - so it’s all good.

But, you and I both know . . . that next year if I do NOT purchase candy . . . there will be 692,000 goblins at my door. Right? Right. The neighborhood my boss lives it? Well, they have the dubious pleasure of hosting every kid who lives in our small town on Halloween. Parents will drive clear across town to that particular neighborhood and drop their kids off - the houses are close together - the streets AND sidewalks are paved - it’s a GOLD MINE as far as candy goes. Yeah, not fair perhaps, but it is the way it is.

In the meantime - here’s a pic of a couple of works in progress.

These are Christmas gifts - the bag on the left was requested by the oldest granddaughter. It is ready to be felted. On the right is a hat requested by the oldest grandson. It’s coming along rather nicely, considering I just put it onto the needles yesterday.

Speaking of Christmas presents . . . aren’t these just the cutest? I can soooooooo see the littlest grandboy toting a few of these around.

And, say there . . . if you are an American Idol fan, and/or you or someone you love has diabetes, check out Diabetes Health Talk today for information on a contest to win tickets to Elliott Yamin’s concert. He is “Inspired by Diabetes” and is helping to judge a contest. You can find the details in that entry.

You know . . . somebody is going to win . . . why shouldn’t it be you?

This should be one I can keep . . . giving home made for Christmas. As the grands have asked for certain things already - and those things being from the needles - I think I am on my way to keeping this pledge already.

I’d like to thank Summer at Creative Mom Cafe for the link and the idea. It’s not too late for you to get in on the fun . . . click on the buy handmade button above and go on over to sign up.

The bag for oldest granddaughter is coming along - but all of that stockinette stitch gets old after a bit - so I have to set it aside to either pick up something else to work on - or come back here to type about the latest projects.

either way . . . heh

If you’re looking for a new project . . . other than Shelly’s Share a Square, that is . . . check out the Jesse’s Branch Charity Crafts site. There are lots of ideas there, including Duffel Bags for foster kids. These are sewn, not knit, but worth looking into if you have time and the capabilities to do some up.

There are also patterns for baby sweaters and Christmas ornaments. How cute are they?!

I sent a batch of mini socks off to a charity that requested them awhile back and have been working on some for coworkers for Christmas gifts. I am thinking I NEED to do some of the little hats and sweaters and mittens, too. Maybe I will take in my Mom’s mini Christmas tree for my office and place some of the ornaments on it! Actually, I think they might dwarf the tree. Ah, well.

handmade Christmas gifts, mini socks, mini hats, mini mittens, mini sweaters, Christmas ornaments, charity

As promised here - I have chosen the winners of the skully dishcloths:

Gillian posted a link in her entry here, and since she is the ONLY one who posted a link - and told me about it - SHE IS THE WINNER of one of the cloths. Congratulations, Gillian. Please email me at:
prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net with your postal address so that I can ship one of these off to you tomorrow.

I had three commenters who mentioned they would like one of the cloths. I wrote those three names down on paper, folded them all up teeny-tiny, then asked hubby to choose one from my hands. By the time I had folded them all up, jiggled them about in my hands, walked into the front room, jiggled them about yet again, and asked him to choose I had ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE who was on which piece of paper.

I’m pleased to announce that Wendy is the winner of the second cloth. Wendy, please send me your postal address so that I can mail it out to you tomorrow.

To Randi and Lisa - thank you thank you thank you for coming by and commenting! I wish I could send cloths to everyone. (maybe next time)

I have just completed day three of a five day workshop - I’m the main facilitator of the workshop which means I get to do most of the talking. It covers some really heavy stuff and it makes all of us (teacher and students) think about the things mankind can do to mankind. It’s not easy being on EITHER side of the podium.

I’m whupped!

Add to that - tonight was the agency’s annual Board meeting. All of the component supervisors had to attend to give a report of the previous fiscal year. Since I’ve changed positions in the agency, my fy07 report was given by that new person and I gave the fy07 report for the person who used to hold my job. Veddy interesting!

skully dish cloth, knitting, dish cloth, comment

Busy week this one - I am facilitating a week-long conference - boy do my ankles hurt! All that standing in front of a class of eager learners - ouch, ouch, ouch.

But, I love my job!

After work, picked up the Girl from her auntie’s and then fixed a quick dinner for her, brother, and hubby and myself.

then . . .

The Girl’s band concert - first of the school year. They did very well. Nothing like a middle school band to keep you listening to GOOD music - you know? I really have to hand it to the teacher, Ms. S. She must REALLY love music in order to work with these kids as well as she does. To think that Miss M (aka the Girl) was once a beginner herself - although she DID own up to at least one of the squeaks tonight. Heh

While waiting for the concert to start I worked on her Christmas gift - the felted bag she requested. It is getting there - looks like I have at least 12 inches - of the 30 inches required.

Finished the two skully dishcloths this morning - the orange one is really a lot more orange than gold - but the camera sees it kind of funny. But, the commenter who wins the orange one? It’s be orange - really.

More like this.

These are just too much fun to make. I have two more on the needles right now - these are for folks here at home.

Have a wonderful week, everyone. I’m off to rest the weary feet and ankles. Remember to comment for a chance to win one of the dish cloths.

skully dishcloth, comment contest, knitting

The Box has been repacked and returned . . . with two lovely afghans stitched together and a couple of surprises for Shelly added also. For some reason the box cost $8 more to return than it did to get here. Didn’t realize that black yarn would weigh so much. Hubby looked at me last night and said “you don’t look right without all that black yarn around you.” Ha, ha, ha. He is a punny fellow.

Afghan #1 . . . and a

close-up of one corner.
Click all pics for a larger version

I edged this one with a blue yarn in between two rows of black.

and, here’s number 2. I used green for this one.

While these are headed back to Texas and Shelly’s overflowing (with love) house, I have started two of the Skully dishcloths. Figured it would go just as quickly - AND get two done in the same time - if I put black and orange on the needles. Pics tomorrow, perhaps.

hmmmmm - who shall receive these spooky cloths?????

Tell you what . . . leave a comment telling me why YOU should receive one of these dish cloths and I will choose from the comments on Wednesday (the 24th) and put one into the mail Thursday.

For a bit of extra fun - mention this in a post on your blog before Wednesday - come back here and let me know via comments that you have done so - I will pick from them and send the writer of THAT blog the other cloth - also on Thursday. (the 25th)

Off you go now . . . See you back here soon.

share a square, knitting, crochet, skully dish cloth, contest

I am taking an annual leave day today - yesterday was a holiday for me - Alaska Day. It just felt GOOD to take an extra day off and I have PLENTY of annual leave to use, with little time to do so . . . so, here I am.

Have worked out this morning - only 23 laps in the pool today. I am still way ahead of where I was just 6 short weeks ago, but I did 3/4 mile yesterday! (27 laps) Daughter, Ladybug, forced encouraged those last two out of me. All in good fun, of course.

After pool, hubby and I took oldest grandson (15) out to breakfast - there is an In-service for the schools today so, no school! (and, his mama is off galivanting around CA with celebrity chefs and all that! Leaving us the delightful chore of watching her babies! - she’ll tell us all about that on her return)

Then we went to a garage sale hosted by an associate of mine - where we found a lawn mower for $40 (now that snow is coming, that is surely a necessity!) and goodies for the Boy and for some of the grands - unopened things that are PERFECT for Christmas gifts! And, I only spent $15 on them. Lessa and Ladybug will be very impressed.

I have been paying bills and straightening up the dining table since then and now hubby is resting from his all night shift and I am trying not to make too much noise - so I am here. Yay!

Hello to Summer at Creative Mom who is planning some winter knitting herself.

So . . . here’s something I am planning to do before Halloween - yikes! That is coming up SOON! Is that like FUN, or what?

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

knitting, halloween, creative mom, swimming, garage sale, fun

click for larger view

Well, I’m not clipping along as quickly as I had hoped, but one afghan is now complete. I will show pics of the completed afghans when both are done.

The first - and, really, the hardest - thing I did was lay out all of the squares and mix them around until I had a sort of pleasing array of crocheted goodness. How lovely to see all of the beautiful squares made by so many people for the kids of Camp Sanguinity! I did some changing around as I sewed the squares together, too. All in all, the effect is pleasing to the eye.

An added blessing of seeing all those different names on the squares . . . I was able to pray for each person who had a hand in that afghan. And, also to pray for the child who will receive the completed wrap of love. For, really . . . that is the ONLY reason people would commit to working on such a project, right? Their love for their fellow man/woman/child.

Perhaps that is a bit philosophical for a knitting blog, but there you have it. There really is a connectedness in the internet world. Shelly has discovered many new friends from this project of love - and so have I.

I’m sending out a huge Alaskan hug to all of you out there.

And . . . for the sticklers out there - yes, I know this is a KNITTING blog. But, there is room for all of the different ways to “tie knots” as my hubby calls it. He tells me that “it’s all just tying knots, dear” and grins when I throw a ball of yarn at him - in a totally non-violent way, of course.

Daughter, Lessa, is fixing to leave us for awhile. She is taking a much needed “mommy health” break and running away to California to visit with friends and family. Hubby and I and daughter, Ladybug, will be charged with keeping tabs on her three youngsters. Well, they are getting big enough to pretty much take care of themselves, but we will do the feeding and rassling into bed and making sure they are where they are supposed to be over the next week and a half.

It is a joy to be a Gramma - exhausting at times, but a joy nonetheless.

And, now, my friends, it is time to get the bathing suit on and head over to the high school for my morning workout. Whoot!

knitting, crochet, share a square, camp sanguinity

Hubby had his second cataract surgery Thursday. I talk a bit more about the surgery and staff over at Diabetes Health Talk. You’ll want to check out where we ate lunch before leaving Anchorage. Oh, my!

I like to keep my fingers busy - especially when going through something stressful - like hubby’s surgery - so I took some squares from the Box I received from Shelly’s Share a Square project to edge with black while I waited. Several times the staff walked by and commented on the different squares. Some thought I was REALLY fast to do so many in such a short time. I had to tell them I was only adding the black.

Finished the rest of them yesterday and this morning after getting home. Have just started to stitch the squares together for the afghans now. I hope to have that part done by tomorrow, Shelly. Then I will start on the edging around them. I bought some bright colors - and more black - while in Anchorage.

click for larger view

Shelly has given me until December to finish these, but I would like to finish them a lot sooner - then if she wants me to do a couple more she can send those to me - and, while waiting for those I can work on the requested Christmas items for the two older grandkiddos.

Hubby’s feeling a tad puny today - I don’t think it has anything to do with the surgery, thank the Lord. He got chilled Friday while pumping gas for the return trip home. And, he hasn’t been able to get warm since. He’s in his chair sipping on tea and snuggling in a fleece blanket the Ladybug made for him.

He’s resting up for our shopping trip with Master TAT. Have a great weekend, everyone.

share a square, afghans, camp sanguinity

Yesterday I received a surprise in the mail - okay, I was expecting it, but it was still a surprise. Seeing that there is a key for the package cluster box is always fun.
it was a bit crumpled - but the contents were just fine.

Squares - lots and lots of lovely squares. Enough squares to put together two afghans for Shelly’s Share A Square project.

The ones in the upper left hand corner I have already added black to. I think I’ve done about 20 so far of the first 48. There are 48 more in the bag on the right waiting to have black added to them.

But now i have a favor to ask of all of you . . . It’s the big push, everyone. If you have been meaning to take up that crochet hook and your leftover yarns, now is the time to do so. Come on, you know you wanna!

Grannies are so quick to work up, too, and what a fun way to use up all of those leftover little balls of yarn rolling around in your stash closet. A person can whip up several while watching evening shows on the telly - well, unless you’re like me and tend to fall asleep with hook in hand during the news! The news! Yes, I fell asleep tonight while watching the news and putting black around a square! How tired can someone be to do that? Come on, you can laugh along with me.

But, seriously, folks. Shelly is working on a really neat project. 140 kids attending Camp Sanguinity next summer will be given their choice of one of the afghans we’ve all been stitching the squares for this fall and winter.

I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they find out the afghans are THEIRS for keeps. And, each afghan will contain 48 hugs from 48 different people. 48 prayers tied up in many variations of colors.

Okay . . . at least 48. But there are other prayers and hugs going into each afghan. Each person who has taken time to edge a square in black . . . each person who has taken time to stitch an afghan together . . . each person who has then edged the afghans . . . each of those folks has breathed a prayer for the recipient.

As I have been edging the squares, I have offered simple prayers to my Lord to bless the person whose hands stitched the square. May He bless each and every one of you who has been working on the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is considering adding to the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is doing something to make your world a better place - whether with this project or your own project.
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Hubby and I are off to the big city tomorrow. He is having his second cataract surgery sometime after noon. We have to be at the doc’s office at noon. Your thoughts and prayers are coveted and we are thankful.

Have a great rest of the week.

share a square, crochet, knitting, charity, camp sanguinity

A very beloved friend of mine and I drove to the big city yesterday. I need new office clothes and we BOTH need (yes, it is TOO a need!) yarn for winter projects. While our local yarn shop offers a variety, B and I needed to get away for a day. So that trip to anchortown was definitely in order.

We talked and talked and TALKED our way through the 157 (or so) miles up the highway. The leaves are BEEE-UTIFUL and the skies were a vibrant blue (once we got past the bit of rain) with huge clouds. God’s beauty in Alaska is breathtaking at times.

After lunch it was time for SHOPPING! And - for meeting a new friend.

Thanks, Linda for permission to share your picture!
click for larger version.

It was a delight to meet you, Linda. Among the other things we talked about during our visit (yarn! patterns! more yarn!), Linda thanked me for writing the piece on Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

And the absolute NICEST thing about meeting you, Linda, is to find a Sister in Christ. My friend and I were delighted to find a sister in you.

We visited for a bit - and shopped for a bit and both of us came away with yarn to add to our projects’ stash. And, then we went off to another yarn store, the Yarn Branch.

So much yarn, so many projects, so little time. Time enough, however, to ooh and ahh, and caress skeins of gorgeous yarns at both shops. Thank you, Anchorage, for the variety.

Next time, B, we stop by Far North Yarn Store and Oomingmak, the Qiviut store in downtown! I’ve not been to either, yet. So, I think some saving of money is in order, as is another trip to Anchorage with good friends!

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone.

While I am waiting for hubby to come home from a meeting so that we can pick up one of the granddaughters to take shopping with us, I thought I would pop in here and have a little chat with all of you.

Hello to my faithful local visitors!! And,hello to all of the rest of you out there. Take a minute and drop me a comment, will you? Thanks!

Shelly has updated the Share a Square page. She is getting near to a stopping (for the holidays) point. And, she is still looking for a few good souls to help with either crocheting and sending squares - OR putting together the afghans - OR helping out with postage costs.

If you can help, won’t you stop by her site and let her know that you are willing? Thanks so much.

Hey! while you’re over there, check out her Name that Tune entry and submit a guess (or two). Let her know you saw the link here.
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I visited with my fried “B” this morning and took her some new dish cloths. I’ll post pictures and links to the patterns either later today or tomorrow. We had a lovely visit (thank you, friend!) and we’re planning a day trip to anchor-town next Saturday. We’ll visit the LYS - Knitting Grounds - and also look for some new office clothes for me.

It’s a 3 hour (or so) drive each way so we’ll have loads of time to talk and share sister to sister. We’ll also stop for lunch somewhere - she’ll need to let me know her “druthers” on that. That’s one neat thing about the big city - lots of eating establishments.

Have been working out in the high school pool each morning this week - this was my third week. Friday my daughter and one of the other ladies “encouraged” me (by encouraged, of course, I mean “nagged” - albeit gently nagged) to SWIM some laps rather than spend all of my time running half laps in the pool.

Well, I’m not a very good swimmer - there’s just something about putting my face in the water- but I can at least do the back stroke and side stroke and a modified breast stroke. So, Friday I completed SIX laps (even in the DEEP end!) in the pool. I alternated with my normal half laps running and swimming. But, people, I did SIX whole laps!

Yeah, I know, exciting stuff, huh? Well, it is to me. AND, after only three weeks I am noticing a change in my jeans. THAT’s some exciting stuff right there, I’ll tell ya.

Have a great weekend. While you’re blog hopping - check out Lessa’s interview with Big Brother’s Jessica.