Sunday Quotes

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

The translation for the opening comment, "usually, it clear who is chasing who."

An elkie doing what she's bred to do.

FO Friday

This was a busy week, because I was getting ready for Fair. The California State Fair! I am submitting several items for judgment. They include the following:

Violet Stitcher's Toys by Martina Weber of Châtelaine Designs. It's a Nantucket Basket with a number of goodies inside, including a scissor fob, two bags, a needle case and two pin cushions.









I'm not showing the two pin cushions, since they are personalized and therefore not included in the submission to Fair.

This has been a suspended state of completion for a while. I decided, however, that I needed to finish it this year so that I could submit it for judgment. I really want a Best in Show - which comes with a Golden Bear Trophy - and this is my best bet. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Everything was hand sewn, including the lining to the basket and the cording around the medallion. I did, however, have to glue down the medallion. I couldn't get a needle through the basket weave without damaging it.



Be Mine by Maureen Appleton for The Heart's Content. This is so far the only piece of needlework that I have started AND finished this year. It's a one-over-one piece on 40 ct silk gauze. Magnification was needed for the completion of this piece, but most of the stitching was done with my naked yes - no contacts - no glasses. It really was the only way I was able to insure the consistency of the stitches. Of course, I was holding it like 10" from my nose. I thank my iPod for getting me through this. TV was useless for this one.



Itty Bitty Dreams by Ruth Sparrow for the Twisted Thread. This is also a one-over-one piece, but done on 32 ct linen - something I can see and watch TV at the same time. I finished this a while ago, but within the judging rules.



A scrapbook layout - Summer at the Beach! I really like how this turned out and the idea I had for the pictures was a fun one. I even added twine and shell beads for some additional texture. We'll see how I do. It's been a while since I competed in scrapbooking.

Here are some familiar pieces:



Lombard Street that I finished last year.



The Energy Saga - also completed last year.



Lavender Haze - knitting completed last year, embellishment completed this year.

Can you tell I want some ribbons? I love competing.

What did I finish this week? I finished my Summer Fling Bag, but I haven't felted it yet. I will take a picture of that when it is completely done. Here it is as a WIP.



I also finished two snuggles over the 4th of July weekend. Here is one of them. It's twin is navy blue and unphotogenic.



Because it has been forever since I knit a washcloth - I give you My So Called Washcloth #6!



Knit in Coats Creme de la Creme Orangetones.

I also finished a couple more eye masks that Kevin will be trying this weekend. I'll post more about those next week.

Favorite's

San Francisco on a clear summer day.

What's On The Needles

I finished another snuggle over the weekend, but Kevin reminded me that I owed him something.

He doesn't sleep well in the mornings on the weekends because the sun is up. He's a little light sensitive. I, on the other hand, can sleep anywhere, anytime, bright sun or pitch black. It's a gift I inherited from my father. Anyway, he wants an eye mask, a sleeping mask.

I started with prototype G1 last weekend. I'm using short rows to structure for the nose. Most eye masks have a notch for the nose, but I wanted to try something different. I am going to make them in a DK weight and Fingering weight. And since money is a little tight right now, I am going to try my hand at designing. So, in essence, I am creating my first published pattern. I already have an idea for socks that I have been wanting to make and a scarf. We'll see how my career goes as a designer.

Wish me luck!

Thoughts for a Tuesday

It's going to be hotter than Hades today. There is a reason why they named this region Diablo Valley. It's hell's ventilation.

I hate the heat. Really. Truly. Anything over 90 is a recipe for miserable. I knew that when we moved here that it gets hot in the summer, but the last few years we've had more 100 plus days than we have the first 10 years we lived here. I can't remember the last time we were expecting to have 100+ this early in July, and we had it in June too!

This doesn't bode well for the rest of the summer.

Memorable Moments

Sawyer Glacier - Alaska - June 2004 - Our first cruise.

What I like most about this picture is that I am in my purple glory, on a boat, and it's cold. A trifecta of goodness.

I still have the sunglasses, but they have a bad scratch on one lens that is realllly distracting. The sweater I am wearing is an Annabel Fox pattern in a Donegal Tweed. The scarf I am wearing is a wool/mohair blend combined with nylon ribbon. This is one of a handful of pictures of me wearing hand knitted items. You can also see the strap of my precious Canon EOS Rebel that my dear husband presented to me days before we left on the trip. It was an early birthday present.

An awesome trip with many memorable moments.

Sunday Quotes

Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

Since my birthday was this week, I thought this was an appropriate video. Thankfully, there is no recorded evidence that I ever had such trouble blowing out candles.

4th of July

Thank you to all of the firefighters from near and far that are helping with the crews in the Sierra Foothills, Big Sur and Redding fires. Many have given up their holidays with family to give their assistance. We are deeply grateful for your sacrifice.

And to all those serving in the armed forces, I thank you for your service. May you all be granted a safe return to your loved ones.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Favorite's

Waterlilies.

What's On The Needles

I started a new bag. I'm calling it the Jewel Bag.



Lamb's Pride and Trendsetter Yarns Pepita.



Not too bad, so far. I hope it will felt nicely. I'm using US 6 needles. The design is basic, but I plan on adding embellishments and a leather handles.

I probably won't be blogging finished items this week, since the 4th of July is Friday.

Thoughts for a Tuesday

Here's a thought - why is everything I really love to eat really bad for me?

Memorable Moments

This is how I celebrated my birthday in 1970 - my main gift was a bike!

See that slide to the right? That was the staging area for my attempts at recreating paratrooper training. My friend from next door and I were jumping off the top of the slide for fun. I didn't want to jump anymore, so she pushed me, causing me to land "awkwardly". Compound fracture to the tibia. That was the first of many visits to the emergency room over the next decade or so. I was neither graceful or athletic, but the injuries were in line with an active and sporty youth.

I don't plan on breaking anything today.

Sunday Quotes

The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.

George Carlin

Saturday Night Movie

Here's one of my dirty little secrets. I like Bollywood movies. There's something about the musical pieces that are just addictive to watch to me. So here's a video I found on youtube that is - to me - a total throwback to the 80's a la Michael Jackson.

FO Friday

I have a few things to catch up on, since I didn't do an actual FO Friday last week.



Rowan Big Wool Fusion Baby Hat, as sported by my very large plush Gromit. I love these hats - they are quick and thick!



Detonator #3 from Sock Wars III. I finished the 2nd sock only, not the entire pair. It was interesting trying to match gauge, but it worked.



Detonator #4 - I finished the foot and toe on sock 2 only. It gets better every time!



Berlin Muster from SKP2008. These were done in Regia Tweed 4-ply. The yarn is scratchy, but the fit is good. I like how these turned out and how quickly they knit up!

So that's it for Finished Object Friday. Have a great weekend!

Favorite's

A quick favorite this week - and it's sorta silly. One of my favorite things are my contact lenses. I've worn contacts since I was 15 because my glasses were so thick that I had difficulty breathing through my nose! I am fearful of lasik, because I have known a few people where the surgery didn't go as expected. I'm glad that I've been able to wear them all these years and that I have my sight in general. There would be a lot of things I couldn't enjoy without them!

What's On The Needles

This week there was another Detonator sock, but I finished that last night and sent it off today. I only had to finish a foot and toe this time. Can I say that I'm tried of the pattern and want to die? Sock Wars III certainly has been a long experience for me this time.

I finished Berlin Muster yesterday, the second pattern for SKP2008. I started it on the 17th and they went very fast.

I cast on a new pair of socks yesterday, that I am calling Blue Marble.



The yarn is OnLine Supersocke 100 Walking Color 845. I'm using a Basic Rib leg and plain stockinette foot, I think. I'll let you know what I decide.

That's all for now. See you back here with finished stuff on Friday!

Thoughts for a Tuesday

I wish there were more hours in the day. It seems that there is less time to do what I want and need to do. Sometimes it the simple stuff like laundry and dishes that get behind, or sorting through the mail. Sometimes it's email, and not having the time to get through it all. And now it's also learning this new job, and all the new language.

When we were young, summer seemed to last forever. Now it seems to pass in a blink. It seems like yesterday that we were looking at a New Year and hoping for better things in 2008.

I guess it just seems like time is speeding by and I getting worried that I won't be able to do what I want to accomplish before I hit a certain time or age.

It would be nice to be 15 again with the whole summer ahead of me. Endless summer.