Bad Blogger!

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a while. Life keeps going, ya know? My son turned 18 last month (phew!) and everyone started school, including my Munchkin. He is now reading the Cat in the Hat by himself and knows his math addition 1+ all the way through 8 (he surprised me with that one the other day). We've been working on 1+ through 5, but he surprised me my knowing 1+8=9!

Pirate Day at the dentist; his first tooth cleaning!

Along with the family's schooling, I am keeping busy with plenty of projects! I will be starting necklaces and acrylic jewelry charms to earn extra money for Christmas, you'll have to check them out! Course, I'll have to get them posted... lol.

I have crossed a few items off of my Year of Projects, another pair of arm warmers,

a hat (have to figure out how to finish the bill) and a scarf from one of my books. I have successfully completed 2 pairs of socks and am now taking on the challenge of actually trying to make them fit my foot! Since I have a size 5-5.5 shoe, the patterns for the size 8 tends to be a little big.... ha. SO - I have purchased the materials that I need and I will be casting on soon! I will keep you updated.

I am finishing a Where's Waldo hat for my older son, and starting a dreadlocks hat for him as well. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Although the pattern for the dreadlocks hat isn't very clear, so I will have to do some experimenting to get it right. I guess that is how we learn, right?

I have made 1 of 2 toddler sized socks, and this toddler has got to have long feet! ha, they are a bit long. I need to learn the art of adding in another color, particularly in working with stripes. I get a funky jog in the color change and sometimes more than one... hmmm

I finished my dreamy strozzi necklace, it turned out very well! I would highly recommend the pattern for anyone looking for a gift to make. I used the baby alpaca.... oooh, so dreamy soft....


More pictures to come!

Well, that is all for now... I will sign on again soon!

Whew! time to breathe...

Rachel's necklace using washers and beads

Well, birthdays, birthdays and more birthdays! I've been busily making gifts for birthdays and graduations. It's been fun! I tried my hand at jewelry for the first time and I do believe they turned out rather well! The date on my camera is incorrect - you'll have to ignore that part for now... ha.

It's been a while since my last post, I have to write an update on everything going on!

I finally put the finishing touch of ribbon on the booties and delivered them to their new owner, baby Keely! they turned out very cute, if I do say so myself, although I didn't get a completed pic to share. Maybe I'll get one with her wearing them...

Audrey's boa scarf turned out well, and I think she liked her necklace and her purse - again, didn't get pics of everything, you'll have to take my word that they all turned out so cute!

I have finally figured out what was going on with the leg warmers! Two things: I was getting mixed up and knitting the wrong direction and I was forgetting to knit the alternate round! Once I figured out my mistakes, I whizzed right through the pattern and now the second leg warmer is half completed. wahoo! I guess I can cross that one off of my blog along list! Although, there is a second pair that I want to make that is already in my ravelry queue - I'll add that!

I'm just completing my third sweater for the Erin Bears. These are so cute and super easy! I can hardly wait to make them for the little munchkins in my life!

oh! and I found the easiest pattern ever for a stuffed toy! you basically just knit a square, then seam off the head, arms and legs, and stuff! adding whatever tail or ears are appropriate for the animal - the first I made was a bunny, all I have left to do is finish the ears and attach!

 Not too bad for my first one!

 I've also started a pair of socks. I'm using two patterns, as the original pattern I found was too confusing, and the second pattern I found online to help me understand the first, is vague. Putting the two together, I think I can knit a simple pair of ankle socks! I'll keep you updated and post pics in my next blog.

So, my list for the blog-a-long (which I've kind of already started) consists of  a few specific things I would like to make, and will choose the pattern along the way. What I want to make this year - not in order:

1. socks
2. baby booties - jelly beans
3. baby maryjanes - ravelry pattern
4. red and black striped hat for my older son - ravelry pattern
5. hat for younger son
6. scarf, headband and gloves combo (for Gramma)
7. blanket for my older son (multiple patterns in different squares)
8. a toy
9. leg warmers
10. sweater
11. fingerless gloves
12. shawl
13. something lace-like (Larisa shawl or Just Heavenly shawl)
14. bag or purse
15. baby blanket
16. gifts, gifts and more gifts

talk to you soon!