Monday, August 29, 2011

Self Portrait Monday: August 29, 2011

Happy Monday!
This past weekend was a long one. I volunteered saturday evening in the beer tent at a local festival. I do this every year. This one was a bit different, though. Usually, I find myself serving the wine coolers, but this year I was on the beer side. Most of my evening was spent in the refrigerated transport truck moving cases of cans onto the conveyor so they could roll out of the truck as needed. When I wasn't in there, I was moving the cases to the tubs of ice they were being held in before being served. All in all, I had a lot of fun. I was a bit sore after, but I am fine now.
I added a couple pages at the top of my blog. There is now a short About Me, as well as a list of all the treasuries I've been featured in. I will be adding more to this Page section as needed.
The other day, I had to restart my Colonnade shawl. I was knitting just fine, and the needle slipped out, and there were ladders starting all over the place. Rather than mess around trying to get everything back on the needle, I figured it would be faster to just restart. I haven't had as much time to knit as I'd like, and I am really thinking I won't have it finished for Iceland. I will bring it regardless. It will make for good knitting while we have down time.
I've finished a couple small projects in the last week. I will try to blog about them before leaving, but I am not sure if that will be possible.
Hopefully, I will be able to post from Iceland. If not, I hope you all stay safe! I will return with lots of fun things to share!

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Colonnade Shawl

There is something I really love about shawls. I don't know what it is, but I find myself wanting to knit them all the time. It might have something to do with Stephen West, though. I fell in love with Boneyard the first time I laid eyes on it. I finished mine in a couple months. I haven't worn it much, but I plan on wearing it as often as possible this winter.
This morning, I cast on for Colonnade. I have changed the yarn used. I am using Ultra Alpaca (Fine) from Berroco. (Now that I think of it, I may have said it was from Bernat in the past. My mistake) It's an absolutely lovely dark blue, appropriated called Blueberry. It's not just blue, though. When you look closely, there is definitely some emerald green, burgundy and plum. I love this yarn, even though I had to wind it into a ball by hand. All 433 yards of it. I am planning on following the pattern to the letter, but making the shawl larger.
I did find that I messed up somehow at the beginning so I had to frog it completely. But, I have the pattern for the first section memorized, so that's definitely a plus.
I should really get to knitting. I am hoping to have this done or almost done for Iceland.
(In the photo, I am reading a silly post from SpillyJane)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Moving Forward

Sorry I missed Monday. I didn't have my computer with me, and I am just now getting time to blog.
In this past week, I have rid myself of 17 skeins/balls of yarn!! They all went to LeeLee Hats. I did acquire one ball though.
Rick and I stayed at his parents for a night, and I underestimated my yarn needs. I only brought about a half skein of Homespun, and I blasted through that really quickly. I picked up one rather large skein from Zellers. I figured it was balanced out with the one skein I finished.

I also made EIGHT baby hats! They are all different. The Homespun was turned into two teddy bear hats. They're not perfect, but I am definitely working on the pattern. I really want to make more of them. The one pictured is the first one I made. The top is a bit pointy, but I think I have that fixed.
The second, rather awful photo, is of all of them. Three all white, two teddies, a white with purple stripes, and then a black and purple, and a white and purple. As a group, LeeLee Hats is taking part in Clicks For Babies. We are making purple hats to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma. I will be making more and bringing them to Tracy, hopefully before Rick and I go to Iceland.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

A Finished Baby Blanket!

The baby blanket has been finished! It was actually finished on Tuesday, but I've been working and puttering around, and I just haven't blogged about it.
I used two and a half balls of the pink yarn, and an equal amount of the white. I have TONS of yarn left. I was totally thinking I would run out. I probably have enough for two more of the same size. Another friend of mine is expecting, and I am waiting to find out what she is having.
I just realized this, but both of these lovely ladies are named Nicole (both different spellings than mine) Crazy, no?
The final measurement is right around 25 inches square. It is cotton, so that will definitely change.
When I do baby blankets, I do them just large enough to be used in a car seat or stroller. I don't want to do anything gigantic so the baby can't tote it around later in life. I never had a blankie, but I know many people who are in their 20s or 30s and still have theirs. I want to help comfort these babies when they start to grow up.

The final tally for this blanket is TWO balls used. Out of the NINE that were purchased. Holy moly, I was hoping I'd use more! It will all get used! Even if I have to make a million dishcloths out of it!

In other exciting news, a pair of my earrings was featured in a treasury today! It's called Let's Go Purchase Something. I am hoping people will do that!
I have been working on some treasuries, myself. I am really hoping that this will help people notice me and my shop a little more. I've joined a couple teams, and I have already gotten a few hearts because of that.

I hope all is well for all of you! There are just a couple weeks until we leave for Iceland now. I am getting really excited now!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Self Portrait Monday: August 15, 2011

It's Monday, and I'm having leftovers for lunch. Rick and I went out for fish and chips last night, and I am attempting to eat my coleslaw. I am really not a fan, but I wish I was! I also have a few fries left, so that's the other part of lunch.
This past week was pretty awful for the most part, hence the lack of blog posts. I considered just shutting the blog down entirely. No warning, just hitting the delete button. Then I realized I wasn't thinking clearly, and I am glad I didn't delete this!
I've been knitting exclusively on the baby shower gift. I couldn't keep a secret, and I showed the mother what I had done so far. She loved it!! I can't wait to finish it and give it to her. I'm two balls in for the pink, and I have no idea how many more I will be using. Another lovely lady I know is expecting. If she is having a girl, I will likely knit her a blanket out of the pink I have left, with another colour. Who knows, I might even have enough of the white remaining!
Later today, I am helping my friend Jodi paint her new office at The House. That should be a load of fun. She is the one that taught me how to spin. I am hoping to bring some of my hanks to have her help me wind them once she is moved in fully.
There are only 19 days until we leave for Iceland. I am getting nervous and excited.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Self Portrait Monday: August 8, 2011

It's Monday, once again! Hope all is well with all of you.
Rick and I are starting the Master Cleanse today. We're two glasses of juice in, and it's not that bad. I like maple syrup and lemon, so other than boredom, I don't see any issues.
I am cranking through the yarn I bought for the baby gift. This is all that remains from the first ball. I should have it finished in less than an hour, and have the second one started right away.
I have also rid myself of three skeins of yarn, two of which were about the size of my head. In addition to those, I gave LeeLee hats another five hats. I am determined to get this stash to a manageable size.
I finished a dishcloth this morning, as well. I have almost enough dishcloths to fill my basket for craft shows! If I could make a dozen more, I'd be more than happy.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Two Steps Forward, Nine Steps Back

I won't sugar coat it, I have purchased more yarn. Nine more balls, to be precise. All of these are for a baby shower gift, so they will be used fairly quickly.
I don't want to post photos until I have given the gift to the recipient, because I am not sure if she follows my blog. The two colours are white and hot pink. This particular shade of pink is  my absolute favourite.
I have to start knitting the gift soon. The shower is in the middle of September, just after we come back from Iceland. Between now and the shower, I need to finish the gift, and get my Citron Shawl finished. The plan for that is to finish it up on the plane to Iceland, and have it ready to wear for the trip. That plan is not set in stone, but we shall see how it all works out.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

An Update on Charity Knitting

LeeLee Hats has a goal of putting a hat on every baby that is born at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. With the number of volunteers that have joined this group, I can see that happening within a year.
I've been knitting with LeeLee Hats for a while, and donated quite a bit. I am up to 47 hats for the babies in the NICU. I have also donated loads of yarn, which has helped other members knit and crochet so many more. I am nowhere near as many hats donated as some of the other volunteers. They often bring in 30 hats at a time, to every meeting. There are meetings every two weeks. Some of those ladies, and their husbands, are machines, I swear!
I've posted a photo of my first batch of hats already, and it's time to post the rest.
There were a couple more that I've made, but they were grouped with some other hats knit by other members. Just pretend you see two more hats than are pictured here! I also still have about 4 or 5 hats to sew up and donate.
I am pretty sure we are over 2000 hats given so far. As soon as I talk to Tracy, I will find an exact number.
We have quite a few events coming up in the next few months that will help us get even more hats made and donated.
LeeLee Hats is at the forefront of a international day of knitting. On Friday, September 30, everyone is encouraged to knit as part of Knit-A-Thon North America. There are some really neat events being organized in different parts of the world that day. I don't know of all the details, but I do know that Ireland has something to do with it.
I will certainly be posting more information as I get it.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Self Portrait Monday: August 1, 2011

Holy flying time! I can't believe it's August. Only one short month until our Icelandic vacation!!!
But, between now and then, there is still much time.
Twenty-two dishcloths! That's how many I've made recently. I've tied in all the ends, now I just have to trim them.
About half of them are spoken for (between my Mom and Sarah) and the others will be for sale. I am still unsure about putting them in the Etsy shop. There are so many sellers that have them available, it will probably just a waste of a listing fee. I think I may just put them on the Facebook page, and they will be available for people local to me to purchase.
Since the last update, I have finished two dishcloths. One of them is the purple and white here, and the other is for my mom. That one finished up another skein. The purple is getting pretty low. One more cloth will finish it off, for sure.
I have also finished a few hats for LeeLee Hats. I think two more of those. I did finish one skein of brown with those. When I finally get to another knit club meeting, I will be donating even more yarn.
I am starting to realize how much yarn I have that I won't ever use, for whatever reason. I will donate it to this group so it can be used.