Sometimes I Can Be

... a total and complete idiot! I have spent the past several days reposting 3 1/2 years worth of photos to my Ravelry account. Why? Well, I was getting annoying emails from Flickr on a regular basis. Since I no longer use my Flickr account, I decided to delete it last week. Ummmmm completely slipped my mind that until recently I was uploading photos to my Ravelry projects from the Flickr account. Every photo I had was replaced with a horrible Flickr "this photo is currently unavailable" graphic! This little project did force me to clean up and organize the photos on my computer, so all was not lost; however, I do not want to do anything like this any time in the near future. What a pain in the butt!

I have been working so much on finishing up my WIPs, I was beginning to come down with a slight case of startitis. In an attempt to head it off at the pass, I allowed myself to knit up a cute dishcloth. 1 project complete for March!



I have only worked on the first of my March blocks for the 2011 Block A Month Afghan. I will work on the others this weekend. This is about the time of year I got behind on last year's afghan. Really going to put effort into not letting that happen this year.



I have completed all the pieces for Paul's Daring jacket. Didn't get a photo of the sleeves, but since they don't have cabling on them, you aren't missing much. I got a zipper today and plan on sewing it in and finishing the jacket this weekend.






Cast on a cardigan for Max and quickly got the elephants complete. This shouldn't take too much longer to finish up. I can have this done in a couple of days if I put my mind to it. I plan on having it done by next weekend. Just need to find the perfect buttons for it.



Finished section 6 of the Babette blanket and got it sewed on this afternoon. I've been working on section 7 this evening and should have it finished tomorrow. Hoping to have this afghan finished this month.

Quick post before Olympics start!

Finished the Team USA Hat. Too big for me, and I decided I want the one Julia Mancuso was wearing instead of this one, so I'll be making that one next. Yes, I am hopeless, scouring the Olympics for new knitwear!



Horrible photo of the first 1/2 February dishcloth. Uggg I guess I need to learn to use this camera better. None of my pictures turns out well.



Ok, fun time. What do you do when your ass won't fit into your jeans anymore? Besides go on a shopping trip to buy more? You find some horrible fabric in your stash that makes you go "why the hell did I buy that?" and make yourself an apron, that's what? Ok, it's weird but I love it. Now I want a whole bunch of aprons. A different one for every day of the month, just like the collection of mittens and gloves I have.



Lest you think I completely gave up on Ravelympics and Team WIP, I now give you progress!

I finished the Gladiolus vest and even wore it to work on Tuesday. Love this so much. Told everyone at work that I spent 4 days in my jammies making a hippie vest LOL.






Finished the Bustier Top too, and wore that to work yesterday. This fits nice, but the yarn is shedding. Hoping that that will stop once it's washed again.



Finished the Rose Wrap Shell too, but this looks so much better on the dress form than it does on a real body. I do believe it's destined for the trashcan. It's so horrible I won't even take a photo of it on ... ewwwwwwww.




Not bad, 3 finished WIPs and 1 finished new project since the Olympics started. And, now I will confess that I bought materials for a new crochet project and started a new knit one. Sigh, I am hopeless!

Win some, Lose some

I finished the baby blanket!! Yay!! I love how it turned out (even if at the end it did feel as though it was sucking all the life out of me). Paul had an appointment yesterday with Chelsea to get his hair cut, and I have an appointment to get mine done tomorrow. Good thing I finished this blanket up. Chelsea told Paul that they are inducing her on Friday. Wow, talk about getting something done just in the nick of time.



My friend Amanda and I are both creating our own Sock of the Month clubs. Our stash's are chock full of sock yarn, and we have tons of patterns. We will be putting yarn and patterns into bags and picking one out the first of each month. Hopefully I'll have 12 pair of new hand knit socks come year end instead of 12 more WIPs taking up space LOL.

I know it's not quite February yet, but I went ahead and started my February sock anyway. It would have made too much sense to continue working on the January cast on sock until January was over you know. The Olympics are gearing up to start too, and with that comes Ravelympics. I've joined a team that will work exclusively on WIPs so my only event will be WIP Dancing. I am hoping to finish the Ravenna Satchel and Mary Tudor Cardigan during the games.

Of course, this means that at the end of February, I will have two pair of socks on the needles and neither pair finished! Looks like March might be sock month for me.



Also finished up a face cloth about a week ago. I used Knit Picks' CotLin yarn. Rather like it and plan to buy more to make towels for the bathroom with.



As for the "lose some" portion of this post title .....

Remember the Orchid top I was crocheting that was so close to being finished? Well, I bought the buttons for it finally this weekend and finished the edging on it. Tried it on before finishing the sleeves ..... and the bottom looked awful! Too much flare in the back. It looked like a giant ruffle on a giant butt! Uggggg to the frog pond it went. I had to frog it back to the beginning of the flared portion. Four skeins of yarn! Half of the sweater! I was hoping to have that sweater done this weekend, but looks like it might not be done before the Olympics start :-(

Today was cooking day. Last weekend, Paul bought me the Julia Childs Cookbook set. Couldn't wait to make Boeuf Bourguignon. I cannot possibly describe just how wonderful my house has smelled all day. This very well might be the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life. And, I can't believe I made it myself (well, with Paul's help!)



Doppler sure wanted some!



And, what better desert to top off Boeuf Bourguignon than Creme Brulee?



Yum!

Lots of Progress

No photos of the baby blanket because they would just be more of what I posted last week, but I have made a lot of progress and should have all of the blocks (including the borders) done next weekend.

I'm really liking the Bacchus socks and can't wait til the baby blanket is done so I can devote more time to them. Should be turning the heel of the first one next weekend if all goes as planned.



I'm hoping the bobbles on the foot aren't uncomfortable inside shoes.



The Orchid Top should be complete pretty soon too. A few more rows on the body, a bit of lengthening of the sleeves, and the border is all that is left.



Even though I have quite a few projects in progress, I decided to start a new one this weekend. This is the beginnings of the Apres Surf Hoodie from Interweave Knits Summer 2008. I am using lavender Lyndon Hill cotton/silk that has been in my stash for over a year. Really like working on this so far.



Another new project started is a block a month afghan crochet along I joined on Ravelry. Below is the 12" square for January. I'll be using this as a destash project to use up a bunch of Patons Classic Wool I have.



I've finished four of the blocks for the Yarn Forward Mystery Blanket I started last summer. Haven't done much work on it lately, but maybe that project will come out of hibernation once the baby blanket is finished.












Lastly, I finished up the first dishcloth knitalong projects for 2010.

Swap Package Received!!

Before I get to the goodies, let me share a few finished projects.

I finished up the Mid Month Dishcloth pattern on Sunday morning. Pretty soon I'm going to have to quit making these. My kitchen is full and there's no more room in the bathroom basket for more face cloths. Or, maybe I just created my entire Xmas gift list for next year lol.



Dairigon was finished up yesterday afternoon. She is too cute!



And, I whipped out this tree ornament in record time yesterday too. I'll be making a few more of these for friends and family. I love the little paperclip blades.



I received my Great Knitted Purse Swap package today. I love the bag!! My partner did a great job on it. She knit it using Noro Kochoran. Yummy wool/angora/silk. I didn't get a photo of the lining, but it coordinates beautifully. I tried to get a good photo of the cabling, but it just wasn't to be.



She also packed the box full of goodies.



There is yarn (dyed by her in the colors I said were my faves, I believe), stitch markers, and an adorable puppy tape measure to add to my collection. Lots of Mary Kay "purse essentials", including body lotions, eye primer, lip mask, lip gloss, and nail polish. Two kinds of Burt's Bees lip balm.



The Huggable Hedgehogs pattern from Fiber Trends which I keep wanting to get, but just never have. A felted hat that fits perfectly and makes me feel like a Gabor sister. I need to make some felted mittens to match this!



And notice that little bag beside the hat? Yeah, the one with the obvious puppy dog paw prints on it. Well, it is filled with the yummiest looking cookies dipped in "chocolate". Or at least I thought it was. I totally blame my lapse of logical thinking on the fact that I am suffering from a severe case of medicine head and it's Monday to boot.

I posted my thank you and show off post in the Ravelry group and mentioned I couldn't wait to try the sweets after dinner tonight. Good thing I went to bellydance class before eating dinner. When I got home, I had a message from my partner which read "I don't know how to tell you this, but the cookies are actually special dog treats." LOL sweetie that she is, she sent goodies for Doppler as well as for me. He's drooling and begging for more, and I am happily munching on a chocolate chunk macadamia nut cookie that I got at the store when I picked up my meds today.

I am soooooo close to finishing the Lowry Pullover. And drat it all, I'm going to run out of yarn!! I guess it will be tomorrow night .... that is if my LYS has a ball of what I need, otherwise I'll have to order it. There is no way I am going to find the correct dye lot, but I'm not going to worry about that. I only need enough to do about 6 more rounds of the collar and seam it up. If I ever contemplate making a monstrous mutant man sweater that calls for 32 (but actually needs 33) balls of yarn to complete, I sincerely hope someone smacks me upside my silly head with a sledgehammer!

Next up to complete on the never ending WIP list are the Aran Tree Skirt and the Feather & Fan Throw.

Photo Intensive!

I've been meaning to post for about 2 weeks now, so I have a LOT of photos built up.

Let's start with the hurricane force winds that Ohio endured Sunday evening. Paul and I were watching a football game when it started. We had to close the bedroom window because the winds were blowing things around! Then the lights went out. Uggggg no more football.

Paul had to go out back to try to secure our back porch awning. The wind ripped part of it off and it was flapping around making all kinds of noise. I was afraid a good gust would pull the whole thing off and it would go flying around the neighborhood and hit someone.

Next thing you know, crack CRACK BOOM BOOM. I ran to the front window and couldn't believe what I saw.



Look how close that limb (ummmmm that's the understatement of the year, both of them that fell were as big as some of the trees in our neighborhood) came to the cars. Both cars were brushed by the smaller limbs, but no real damage to either. The Caddy has a couple of scratches on the bumper that we feel pretty sure will buff out, and the Lincoln came out unscathed.





Here is a view from across the street which shows the size of these things a bit better. You can't even see our whole house or either car in this shot.



And my favorite shot of the size is Jenn goofing off. We have fantastic neighbors who went from house to house on the street. Those with chainsaws cut up the fallen trees, those without helped haul the cut pieces to the street. I consider myself very fortunate to live where I do. The city sent crews out to gather up everything that was piled up by the road ... high taxes come in handy at times like this.

Our electric was restored by 6AM Monday. There are still quite a few here in Central Ohio who are doing without power. Our office power was restored at some point last night and today was our first day this week in the office.

Now on to knitting/crochet projects. I've been inflicted with a horrible case of startitis this month, but I'm not doing a whole lot to get rid of it. I have a few goals to meet, and as long as my bright shiny new projects don't seem to be keeping me from attaining them, I plan to start whatever I feel like.

I discovered a great amigurumi designer about a week ago and ordered 2 of her patterns. Although this looks like nothing more than a black ball, it will soon be an adorable football player for Paul. I am doing him in the Atlanta Falcon colors, and will embellish him with Tommy Nobis' name and number.



One of the knitalongs in the Crochet on Ravelry group is the Turnberry Cardigan. I found some yarn in my stash (originally slated to become a skirt I have since lost interest in making) which worked up a great swatch, and will start on it in full earnest once the first of my September goals is met.



Speaking of the first of my September goals. It is now in sight and I am once again excitedly knitting away on the Lowry Pullover for my stepdad's birthday. My goal is to have it finished by 9/25, but it looks like I just might have it finished up this weekend. A few extra days off work did wonders for my progress!



Another newly started project is the Sweetie Pie Cami. Once again using stash yarn which had been sitting neglected in the craft room. It is working up quickly and should be done by month's end.




Yet another newly started project that worked up quickly is the Cable Car Hobo bag. It worked up so quickly in fact, that I never did get to post an in progress photo of it. I am inordinately pleased with the way this turned out. The embellishments on the straps are leather strap bracelets that I found at JoAnn's, and I bought some "charms" to add to them. I added a closure since I'm not so keen on having a purse that is so open all the time. It's not much, but the weight of the glass pendant bead is just enough to discourage someone from slipping their hand into it.








Yet more crochet. I've been on an amigurumi/toy kick lately. They are all so darn cute I just can't resist myself. Below is the first of a series of dragon projects you will see in my blog.



All my crochet projects are really helping to clear out the stash. Below is a project from Sensual Crochet ... the Rose Wrap Shell. The yarn coordinates with that I'm using for the Sweetie Pie Cami and hopefully the two will go well together. As long as I don't lose interest in the Shell weaving all those ends!



I had Paul get a photo of the Flickering Flames Skirt when I wore it to work. I really love this skirt and might make more lace skirts in the future.



As if I didn't have enough projects to keep me occupied, I fell in love with the Ravenna Satchel and bought yarn to make it. I can't wait until the Lowry Pullover is finished so I can really concentrate on this project. If you've never seen this bag, check it out at www.tinkknit.com.



I guess I've gone bag happy as well as crochet happy lately. Below is the only photo you're allowed to see at this point of the fabulous bag (even if I do say so myself) I made for the Great Knitted Purse Swap. I have photos to post once my partner receives her package. I just knew I was going to love this bag, so purchased yarn to make myself one too. Haven't gotten a photo of that yet, but will once I allow myself to cast on.



Poor little socks haven't gotten much attention yet, but they will soon. Only about an inch done on the Nutkin socks I am making for my mother's birthday. I'm hoping to have them done by 10/25 when we have a spa day planned.



And, last but not least, the Schoolhouse Dishcloth, which was the September Dishcloth KAL pattern.



I think that's it in the knitting bags beside my bed for now. And, if I'm lucky, I won't wait quite so long to post again. Organizing all those photos was a pain and took up too much precious crafting time this evening!!