Cat Camping

We went camping in the local mountains this last weekend. As usual, we brought our dog and cat with us. They love to go camping! For our cat, Duchess (aka Duchy), it means lots of cat napping. She loves to lay in my daughter's bed in the RV. I got some pictures of her enjoying an afternoon snooze...


Stretch...


Peek-a-boo...


Cool mountain air, sunshine and a cozy place to sleep. Life is good!

Sweet as Honey

These were first two figs of the season from our back yard fig tree. We picked these last week. It was the first of many. Tonight, I picked a whole bowl full and there are lots more on the tree. They're so sweet and delicious! They almost taste like honey was drizzled inside.

Last year the ants were getting into them so badly that we hardly had any for ourselves. I heard that coffee grounds spread around the base of a plant can keep the ants away. I decided to give it a try and, so far, it seems to be working. Yay! I think I'm going to start spreading coffee grounds around my roses and other plants too!

Knitting Goggles?

My current knitting project has me wondering if I need to get some goggles for knitting! Every time I work on it, little fibers get in my eyes. Ugh!


When I used Lamb's Pride before it was just wool. This one has mohair in it and I think that could be the problem. Next time, I'm sticking to wool! Luckily, this is a small project and should be completed very soon. It's a little felted bowl with needle felted sheep on it.

Floral Friday

For anyone who's been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love flowers. It doesn't matter what kind...if it's blooming, I'm fascinated! This flower is no exception. Can you tell what this pretty orb of little buds is?...


Here's one that is blooming...


Check out the size of this thing!...


Here's a hint...


It's an onion!


These were in my mother-in-law's garden. The flowers were so pretty and the onions were delicious!

Wrapped in Love

My daughter is all wrapped in love! This shawl was made just for her for her 19th birthday!


She wanted it large and chose two skeins of Schoeller Stahl Fortissima Socka in a gorgeous tuquoise color.


I used almost all of the 874 yards and crocheted it with a size "I" hook.


This is the third time I've used this South Bay Shawlette Pattern. But, this is the first time I've used two balls of sock yarn instead of one. It sure made a difference in size. After blocking, it is 70" wide at the top by 39" long from the center top to the bottom tip.


Yay! She loves it!


I did a different border on this one. I ended with an odd row of the repeat and chained four, turned and in the chain three space below, double crochet, chain one, double crochet, chain four, slip stitch in the third chain from hook, chain one, double crochet, chain one, double crochet, chain one, double crochet. Then, **single crochet in center double crochet of the next group of three double crochets in the row below, in the next chain three space, double crochet and chain one (2x's), double crochet, chain four, slip stitch in third chain from hook, chain one, double crochet and chain one (2x's), double crochet** Repeat what is between the double *'s across one side. At the center point on the bottom I ended with the single crochet stitch center and at the double chain three space at the tip I did three double crochet, chain one in the first space, double crochet in the center/tip stitch, chain four, slip stitch in the third stitch from the hook, chain one, double crochet, chain one. Then, in the second chain three space at the tip I did a double crochet, chain one (2x's), double crochet and then single crochet in the center stitch of the next three double crochet group and continued on with what is between the **'s across the other side. I hope that makes sense. It's pretty simple, really.

Here's a close up of the bottom/tip...

Knotty Knitting

A few months ago I started THIS vest. It was going along just fine until I started working on the neckline ribbing. I became frustrated and confused and put the whole project into time out!

I decided to pull it out this week and finish it. I tried to get some help with the problems I was having. Which, now, I realize weren't that bad...maybe I should have just left those two little holes...as I was advised by one talented knitter. But, no, I had to try and fix them. From there, everything started to spiral downward very quickly. As I tried to fix problems, new ones appeared. Each problem was worse than the last. Eventually, it was so bad that I considered ripping out the entire vest! Ugh!

I took another deep breath and kept trying to fix the mess I had created. The problems went from things like this...


To..."Oh NO! I was pulling out the wrong yarn!!"...


How did this happen? The yarn went through itself!...


There was no turning back. I had to forge ahead and try to save it...


The problem fixing progressed from trying to fix holes to deconstructing it back to just a front and back, un-seaming the shoulders. The first shoulder went badly but this one was actually working! Hey! I pulled the right yarn this time!...


Whew! The front and back were separated. One shoulder bind off was saved. The other was not...


But...it's on a stitch holder awaiting surgery...


Then, I was on to the back. Three strands of yarn?!! Huh??...




I got it figured out. I even had to take out the bound off sides for the shoulders and rip back a few rows. Now it's on a circular needle waiting for surgery...


I'm sure glad I had my trusty little tool to help me through this disaster! It has a hook on one side and a needle on the other. Very handy!


This project is back in time out! I have spent so many hours working on this over the past few days and I've just gone backwards. I'm going to stay away from it for a few days, at least. I'm hoping that I'll have better luck when I go back to it...if I go back to it. I'm still feeling a bit frustrated with it right now.


I never would have imagined that this could happen. I understand what I'm suppose to do. It seems like it should be easy. It's just a matter of picking up stitches and knitting a 2x2 ribbing. Maybe my knitting mojo is on vacation. I wonder when it will come home?

Crafty Girl

Our craft studio is just about finished. All that's left is window treatments and finishing up the things we plan to hang on the walls. We've been so busy using it that we haven't worked on that stuff much. I'm actually a little surprised at how excited my daughter has been over it and how often I see her in there working on something. Her friends even ask to see it when they come over. They're excited too! Who knew?! I even had a conversation with my daughter and some of her friends about having craft nights once a month or so. We could plan a project and they'll all chip in a little money for supplies and we'll all have a fun evening of crafting, snacking and fun. And, they'll get to learn some craft skills. That's something I've heard so many of her friends say over the years...how they'd love to learn to do crafty things.

Here's a little something my daughter made in the studio, a tote bag. Isn't it cute?!...


She got the quilted fabric on clearance and used things in our crafting stash to make the handles, pocket, and button flowers...


I think she's pretty happy with it because she immediately put it into use and takes it just about everywhere she goes. I love that! :-)

Fun Finds - Knit and Crochet History

This is the last Monday that my favorite yarn shop, Knit N Stitch, will be open. It's also a day that some really terrific ladies like to gather at the shop. I didn't want to miss it. It was a fun day, as always. In between knitting, visiting and shopping I went through baskets and boxes of old patterns and magazines that customers have brought in over the years. What fun! I brought a few home to share...

I think this 1952 pattern booklet is kind of pretty. The "festive" part cracks me up. And..."blouses"??? These are the front and back covers...



Check out this Vogue Knitting Magazine from 1960...


I especially like the ads inside. This one is intersting. Could this have been the beginning of stashing?!...


The ad says: "In the comfort and convenience of your own home you may soon discover the delight of selecting yarns for future knitting projects. But really, you will be sharing the company of over one million women, who have already acquired a Melrose Yarn Folio and, in a sense, created their own personal yarn shoppe. Selecting from over 700 samples in textures encompassing worsteds, mohairs, tweeds, blends and baby yarns requires the timeless consideration and planning so often sacrificed on a hectic, tight-scheduled shopping trip in town. So relax, and set aside a little space in your knitting alcove. After all, you do have to make room for that Yarn Shoppe." Isn't that interesting and a little funny?! I wonder if each box/folio was really shaped like a house and did each "folio" come with a little house inside?...


The title of this one cracks me up..."Mood Fashions"...


Funny moods by the looks of some of the patterns. As if a big green poncho with fringe weren't enough, she's wearing a huge poncho like skirt with more fringe, and a matching green hat. Lovely...


How about this little outfit?! We were all joking around about having a gaucho knit along. lol....


Here's a close up of the top that goes with the gauchos...


This is interesting...a Simplicity knitting pattern. I'm not sure if I remember such things. Although, I do have a fuzzy memory of afgan patterns in pattern books. This pattern is from 1974. I may even try it out because I've been wanting to knit some knee socks. I'll pass on those red pom pom slippers though...


The patterns are on two big sheets of paper just like the sewing patterns. One sheet is all about how to knit, purl, increase, decrease, bind off, etc. I love how it even shows how to hold the yarn. That's always something that beginners are trying to figure out. The pattern directions seem very clear and complete. Very cool...


This one...not so cool! lol I think it's stuff like this that gave crochet such a bad reputation. Lol...


Isn't this yarn/fiber world fabulous?! The fibers, yarns, patterns, people, the history and the future...I love it!

Weird?

I'm trying to find a word to describe my week and just can't settle on one. It was busy, wonderful, fun, surprising, productive, lazy, shocking, sad, and fabulous all rolled into one. I guess the word "weird" might work.

A few highs and lows of my week...

Busy and Productive - I finished another shawl and it's so gorgeous. I can't wait to block it and blog it. Maybe I'll actually find some time this week to do that. I hope.

Busy and Sad - I've been dealing with some stuff with my parents. They've been going through some tough stuff with my dad's brother and his failing health. Plus, my parents are starting to show signs of some age related stuff themselves. It's a little scary and sad. They've also had some car problems that I had to help them with...a toasted transmission, for one. It's fixed now.

Shock and Sadness - One of our next door neighbors passed away from a massive heart attack. He seemed healthy and he was only 52. This has been such a shock. He was such a nice man. He left behind his wife and 20 year old son. So sad. He will be missed.

Surprising and Wonderful - It's been cool to see how our neighborhood has come together over the death of our neighbor. We know some of our neighbors but this is the kind of neighborhood that we push a button, the garage door opens, we drive in, push the button again and go in our houses. We talk but it's not daily. Seeing how we all come together when we need to is wonderful

Fun and Fabulous - We went to a family reunion yesterday in the local mountains. It was a fabulous day. It was great to see family members that we rarely see and enjoy the cool, clean air and beauty of the mountains.

Productive, Busy, Lazy, Fun - The weather is so nice today and we're enjoying having all of our windows open, listening to music, and spending a leisurly day, doing this and that. Hubby went biking this morning and worked one of our cars this afternoon...new brakes. My daughter did some cleaning this morning and is now painting a mirror frame for her room. I've been doing things around the house...including, processing herbs from our garden to use during the winter. I'm trying to start early enough to have plenty. Now, I think I'll go sit down and do a little knitting and try to absorb all that has happened this week before we move on to a fresh, new week...and, hopefully, not another weird one.

Wonderful - I like to try and have at least one picture in each of my blog posts. The picture at the top is an Amaryllis flower that use to belong to my grandmother. The bulbs are still making flowers 35 plus years later. Amazing!

Bittersweet Deals

Yarn shops are so much more than a place to buy supplies. They're a place for inspiration, learning, friendships, fun and a place to go to feel good. They can become such an important and special place in our lives. Finding out that your favorite yarn shop is going to close can make that even more clear.

The owner of Knit N Stitch in Riverside, California is retiring in a couple of weeks and the store that I know and love will be closing. It's become my favorite yarn shop for lots of reasons. I remember going there with my mom when I was a kid (the shop had a different owner at that time). I've always felt so welcome there and the ladies make everyone feel so special. I love that! It's like a home away from home.

When I first heard the news that it was going to close, I was shocked and sad. I ran out that evening and bought some lottery tickets, hoping so much that I could win so I could buy the shop and save it. I didn't win. But, there's good news...it's going to remain a yarn shop! The yarn shop down the street, Designer Handknits, will be remodeling and moving in. Yay! It's been a yarn shop for so long that I think it would be so sad if it went away totally. The thought of that happening chokes me up. I'm so glad that this landmark yarn shop will live on and that I'll continue to see the wonderful ladies I've gotten to know and love! :-)

The Knit N Stitch retirement sale began yesterday and many of us were there bright and early to take advantage of the 35% off sale.

I bought a little yarn. My daughter chose this beautiful Katia Collibri. I knitted a shawl with it last year and loved the results. Since then, I saw a project on Ravelry where someone had woven with it. It was really cool! I'm thinking of trying it with these...


I couldn't resist this CoolSpun Cotton in Baby Pink, White, and Apple Green. I've been working on some ideas to use this with some of my Sugar N Cream collection.


This is one of the first things I wanted to find out about when I arrived yesterday. It's a wicker body to display sweaters, scarves, shawls, whatever. I'm excited to have it because it's a piece of Knit N Stitch and because it might be a great prop for project photos. It was a great deal too...only $3!


I bought a few knitting tools. I got some needles for a knit project I'm about to start (Yup, I haven't forgotten about knitting during my recent crochet frenzy! lol), a 16" size 10 1/2 circular and 10 1/2 double point needles. I got a clicker counter that I think will be very handy and fun to use. I splurged on a pair of size 13, Lantern Moon Rosewood needles. They're something that I normally wouldn't buy because of the price but this was a special event and the sale made them more affordable. They're soooo pretty!


And, I bought this cute little set of rosewood cable needles in a little woven pouch. It seems like the little grooves might make them very nice to use, adding a little grip action to hold the stitches on.


We got a few more great deals at the sale yesterday too. My daugther bought an oval mirror with an ornate frame for $5. She's planning to paint the frame and use it in her shabby chic decor. She got several nice notebooks with clear pockets for fifty cents each that she can use to organize her ever growing collection of harp music. And, I got a clipboard for fifty cents to hold patterns that I'm working on. Instead of a big clip that could catch on my yarn, it has a curved wire that I think will work out well.

I had a special suprise yesterday when one of the ladies brought me a stack of crochet books. She's been going through her supplies and organizing and thought I'd enjoy these. She's so sweet!


I'm especially excited about this one. It has so many beautiful edgings in it that I haven't seen in other books. I'm excited to try some out!


I've been driving to Riverside a lot more often the past few weeks to enjoy every moment I can with the wonderful ladies in Knit N Stitch and enjoy the shop before it closes. There will be an Open House on August 13th and 14th, the final two days. I plan to be there!

I'm going to miss Knit N Stitch so much! But, I'm so glad that it will still be a yarn shop, a place to gather, to learn, to create, and to enjoy the company of wonderful people.