golden gloves

woohoo woohoo woohoo!

my men's fingerless mitts for my grandpa are done!

i'll get a picture of him in them soon. short and sweet tonight..just wanted to get this posted while i watch the closing ceremonies.

*cough cough cough*

pardon me, i'm so sorry, will you hand me that lung over there?
sick sick sick - that's me. but, the fever and body aches are gone... just this cough remains.

so today will be a house cleaning day for me. at least hubby has been keeping up with the dishes, so that is nice. everything else - oy! you know it's bad when you actually plan a point of attack.

i can tell the family is sick of me being sick feels very sorry for mommy. i got a gift -



oh.my.gosh. there is not one single pattern in this book that i do not want to make!! i LOVE it!! oooooo, i have great plans for a few Christmas gifts coming from this book. i think i have looked beginning to end in this book 20 times! you know one thing that i really enjoyed? they show some of the patterns in multiple color schemes. not sure why, but i really find that enjoyable in a pattern book....*sigh. this one makes me happy.

i'm about 1/3 of the way through my second men's fingerless mitt for grandpa. the only problem with this is that i have hopelessly lost temporarily misplaced the completed one to measure this one by to make sure they are exactly the same... i'm crossing my fingers that it will make itself known as the house begins to show it's floor again. until it is found, i'm at a waiting point on the second mitt.

i'm also stuck on the sock that i've been working on.... why? because the book is hopelessly lost temporarily misplaced...i'm crossing my fingers that it will make itself known as the house begins to show it's floor again. until it is found, i'm at a waiting point....... deja vu?

yeah yeah yeah, i know... i still owe you a new A, a B, a C and a D now..... i will get there. i will! seriously..... i will

1/2 way!

i'm 1/2 way to the finish line!! i've completed (all but sewing in the ends) one fingerless mitt for my grandpa! i'm so excited - not because i'm 1/2 way there, but because it actuallly LOOKS like a mitten!! wooohooo for me! it's in a ww grey wool ease. warmth and easy care... he's a smoker -blech-, so i wanted something that could get tossed in the washer and dryer with no problems. the picture isn't that great, they look kinda funny because they are too big for me, they look much better on hubby.

speaking of wool ease, my friend lenise has asked the question whether or not to use wool ease for socks... pop on over and give her your opinion/experiences with wool ease socks.

for the last 2 days, i've been tending to sickies. strep found it's way into my house - UGH! so far, my oldest hasn't gotten it since his tonsils were removed (last summer) YAY! my daughter was really bummed that she had to miss the Valentine's Day party at school. poor baby girl. hmmm, what else.... OH!

i got another package from my winter wool swap partner! Deneen, you are too sweet!!
she made this great fulled bag and gifted it to me :) i think the coolest thing about this bag is the colors... i don't have a 'cool' colored bag... and now i really need one because last thursday, on my way to our MOPS meeting, i spilled coffee all over my shirt and ran into a store and bought this really great olivey-lime colored tee that is a total match to this bag!!! and she also sent a hank of wool of the andes that i think she dyed herself... i LOVE this yarn!!! ya know what it will become??? Sophie! i've been wanting to make this for myself since before i could knit--- now i can!!!! THANK YOU!

(the colors are actually much brighter in person)

also... see those feet? remind you of anyone else's little boys? LOL

oh, and yes, i know how behind i am on the ABC-along... i'll catch up. hubby and i were doing some research around town for the upcoming letters and decided i didn't do "A" proper justice. watch for a re-post tomorrow :)

one more final little note.... why can't my mother just keep me informed of her health and dr. appts!?! i'm an adult now. i can handle this stuff and i'd appreciate not being left in the dark. grrr.. she just disappears from radar and makes us (my sisters and i) all freaked out 'cause no one knows where she is... turn on your damn cell phone!!.... okay, sorry 'bout that :) breathe.

and we're off! so the torch was lit and the casting on begun.... even mine.
although, my project is nothing of olympic proportions. originally, my intent was to make this:

it's Teresa, in Junior Knits, by Debbie Bliss.

but, after talking with my grandpa the other day, i have changed my mind. he commented to me on how his hands are always cold and that he didn't want to wear gloves, because then he couldn't 'do anything'. soooo, i have decided my next project will be: men's fingerless mitts for my grandpa.

i considered working on them both, but i really want to get these to my grandpa as soon as possible.... and i'm no speed-knitter. you know that because i am still working on my daughter's legwarmer (notice-no S, still working on the first one *sigh).

also, the sock... i'm about 1/2" from starting the toe decrease.
i just have too too too much going on.
i'm almost done with the spinning for elizabeth and the winter wool swap. and (yes, there is still more that is in the 'current' WIP list - you do not want to see the whole list-- it's too scary to think about) i'm still working on some crochet things for crochetme.

so that's that- all my fiber stuff... so now about my real world. my house is crazy today. my parents took a mini-vacation. i agreed to watch their furbabies. all 3 of them! it's nuts. all together, they might weigh 10 pounds. 5 month old schauzer, mini-dauschund, and a 1/2 mini-dasch 1/2 chihuahua, combine these little guys with my great dane and australian shepard, add in my 2 cats, and don't forget my 4 kids. total chaos! oh, and i don't want to leave out the fact that my mother's doggies have never seen cats before - there's been some curious sniffin' followed by some get off me slappin' and then some confused whimperin'. wish me luck - 2 more days of this insanity.

yes, i mean that literally, drop a line and wish me luck or say hello or something..... i'm missing everyone's comments.

little secret

i've been keeping something from you

are you too proud? i am! i want so badly to get my kick it boots done... but the fear of the dpn's was holding me back. so i jumped in and am working on a sock! woohoo! i've got to check the gauge of the yarn i chose and then i can get my shoes started :D

i'm still going on the legwarmer... oh my oh my these are taking forever! i've also been crocheting some super secret stuff for crochet me and still spinning for the Winter Wool swap - but i will finish the spinning tonight so that i can get it in the mail and not be late.... oooo, i hope elizabeth likes what i've made for her!

if i could only express to you the level of frustration i am having right now.... why why why in the hell does ridiculous shit have to go and get all fucked up and ruin shit? what am i talking about? i'm sitting here doing my little post and i like for all my links to be red... why why wont the link for elizabeth turn red?!? i did it exactly the same damn way i did all the others!!! GRRRRR

i'll get some pictures for the letter B today and have those for tomorrow.

okay, i'm done with this today. the battery must be running low on my keyboard, because it is skipping some letters... and i just can't look at that blue link any more.

ETA:
i almost forgot, Sandy, this is for you:
out my front door and back

(clickable)

A is for....

you may have noticed (on my newly updated sidebar) that i have decided to join the ABC Along! i think it will be fun. i'm a little behind, but i'll catch up.
i've decided to do the entire alphabet in theme. all about the town where i live. hope you enjoy :)

Amarillo!

i've lived here and very near here for pretty much my entire life. there was a period of 5 years that we were away for my husband to attend Texas A&M University. other than that...this is it. there are a lot of great things about living here. it's a nice place to raise kids. especially for my husband and i. both of our families are here (for the most part). my kiddos get to see their grandparents any time they like. they are close with all of their aunts and cousins. they have tons of 3rd and 4th cousins - i think that's what they are.... kids of hubby's cousins and some of them even have kids. so when there are family gatherings on hubby's side of the family... to say there are 30 people under the age of 12 would not be exaggerating! they love it! then, on the other hand.. in my family, my kids are the only ones. everyone is completely ga-ga for them. they love it! they've got it made either way you look at it. back to A.... i'm not really going to post any more about amarillo, because i have B-Z to tell you all about it!

Astronaut!

Rick Husband

all fixed (sorta)

well, it seems that my troubles are all in my laptop. for whatever reason it has some cookie issues. so pictures and other things will have to be done from the other computer. which makes it a pain for me... but for you, my dear readers.... i'll deal :)

looky at this gorgeous wool! mmmmm. the decadence is in 'chocolate' and is absolutely delicious! positively the softest yarn i've ever held! i'm going to be getting more so that i can make myself a sweater from it. yum yum yum

there is also 2 hanks of laceweight shimmer in maple leaf. and a pattern for a lovely shawl to make with it!

and... and 2 skeins of sock wt in gardenia. i am SO happy to get this! i love love the colorway!

see. i already had some :) but only 1. and because we all know i am terrified of socks. i didn't know what to do with it... but now - i have 3!!!!!!

i'm making the cutest legwarmers to ever exist! they are (of course) for my daughter. who is, a girly girl and loves to wear skirts and dresses. and because (of course) i think she is the cutest girl to ever walk, i love to dress her sassy and fun. aren't these going to be a PERFECT addition to her wardrobe!?! i'm all a flutter about them and can't seem to put my needles down. although... these are S.L.O.W. going. 3k2p ribbing on sz 2 and then 3 then back to 2 needles. i just can't wait to get them done. i hope i do before winter is oficially over :P

soooo, talking about how long these are taking me... brings me to another thought - notice (on my newly updated sidebar) i've decided to join in on the knitting olympics. i had planned on making the theresa sweater (kinda ballet-looking, ruffle job) from the debbie bliss junior knits book for my daughter. but i just may be making the 2nd legwarmer :P (forgot to say, these are also from the junior knits) we'll see....
well, i gotta get, just got a phone call from the school that precious, beautiful, fabulous girl i was just speaking of barfed. that's the great thing about moms. they love ya even when you're barfing.

difficulties

sorry i've been away for a while. i've been working on the behind the scenes stuff and trying to make my page look better.
has it changed for any of you?
see all the hard work i've done? i also took out some broken links and deleted some old swap stuff..... added some new swap stuff and cal/kal things.
i really really really want to tell you all about the wool i got for the winter wool swap... but i'm having some technical difficulties getting pictures up right now. hopefully i will get it worked out soon.
still haven't heard anything about biggest loser contest *sigh.......

lose big

someone out in blogland asked the question "where do you do it?" although most everyone else answered this a week or more ago... i'm just getting to it.

i most often work in my suburban. you see, i have a bizarre little schedule. my youngest still must have a nap everyday. but he won't until around 1:45 or 2. well, the other three kiddos get out of school at 3. which totally ruins the boy's nap when i have to put him in the car to go. SO- what i do is load him up around 1:45 everyday, drive over to the school of my Xavier and Elizabeth. park under a tree (for shade).... i crochet/knit/spin (whatever i feel like that day) and he snoozes. when school is out, we drive across town to the other campus (where my oldest is). then drive home. arriving around 3:40, so my little one has had a nice 2 hour nap. see, i'm not crazy. a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do - naps are essential for 3 yr old little boys :)

OH.MY.GOSH. ya'll are not going to believe what i did. ready for this?
my town is doing a local version of "Biggest Loser". i applied. yes, i did.
i really really really really really really really really really hope they pick me. they are chosing 3 men and 3 women. the applications are due in by tomorrow. then they are going to do some interviews. i don't know the date they will be selecting the contestants. yes, there are prizes... but who cares! they are giving the 6 chosen a gym membership (with a personal trainer 3X/week), a "diet" from a local place---- woo hoo! what an opportunity!! keep your fingers crossed for me. i'll let you know when i do.
you should see the pictures i turned in with my app.... YIKES!
if i get chosen, i'll show you. if not, forget it

7!

whew! how are you? i'm good, thank you.

so i told you a funny about the youngest. now, one on the girl.
she's 6 and in the first grade. in her school there is a color behavior chart. at the end of the day, you end on a color accordingly. they begin every day on green and move up to purple and then blue for good behavior, or down to yellow, orange, and red for being naughty. every day after school they (my 6 & 4 yr olds) climb in the suburban all excited telling me how they day went. on this day, Xavier was on blue and very excited about it. Elizabeth was only green. so she started to whine and complain about how she "never gets to move to blue!" so Xavier over and over is singing "i was on blue". Elizabeth turns to him with fire in her eyes "YOU. ARE. NOT. HELPING!" he he heee oh man, i laughed out loud!

well, had a conference at the school today with my oldest's teacher. egads. that was no fun. but i believe we got a lot worked out and have high hope that things will get better....
high apple pie in the sky hopes

thought i had escaped, but alas deneen tagged me:

the 7 meme

A. 7 things (i hope )to do before I die:
1. see my children become happy adults
2. travel all the state parks with my kids
3. go to Disney(world - land?...the one in florida)
4. go to Italy
5. finish writing my "supermom" book
6. be 100% fluent in spanish
7. get my durn blog page to look the way i want to
B. 7 things I can not do:
1. walk on my hands
2. anything without a list
3. drink tequila
4. speak greek
5. fly
6. be around flying insects (ick ick - yes, i scream like a little girl)
7. drive a motorcycle
C. 7 things that attract me to:
1. my husband: he loves me
2. my husband: he loves our children
3. my children: they are so damn cute
4. my children: they make me laugh
5. my children: they love me
6. my critters: they love me (is there a theme here?)
7. yarn: it brings out my crafty side
D. 7 things I say most often:
1. i love you
2. stop it! (to the kids and critters)
3. damn it!
4. hey honey....
5. rock on!
6. what happened here?
7. oy!
E. 7 books (or series or genres or topics) that I love: (does this include tv?)
1. The Vampire Chronicles (Ann Rice)
2. Parenting Books
3. tv - 24
4. tv - ER
5. tv - CSI
6. pc games - Halo-online
7. pattern books (sew, knit, crochet!)
F. 7 movies I watch over and over again (or would if I had the time)
1. Made In Heaven
2. Gone With the Wind
3. The Breakfast Club (oh, i'm dating myself!)
4. Justice League (every single episode over and over and over...ugh!)
5. Spinning I
6. Spinning II
7. pretty much any other kid movie on the planet
G. 7 people I want to join in:
1. Julie - i think she's the only one i can not remember having done this yet????
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.





sing with me! (yes, it's still in my head)
High Hopes
Frank Sinatra
Writer(s): Cahn/Van Heusen
Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant?
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant.
But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you're gettin' low'stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant.
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall.
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam.
No one could make that ram, scram.
He kept buttin' that dam'
Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you're feelin' bad'stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram.
Oops! there goes a billion kilowatt dam.
All problems are just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon.
They're just bound to go, "pop".
Oops! there goes another problem
kerplop

my funny boy!

whew! i've been busy :)
a little spinning, crocheting, knitting, shopping.... oh how i enjoy my crafts.

before i begin with my fibery goodness. i have to tell you all a funny.

have you ever played the game feeding frenzy from yahoo? here's the gist: you are a little fish, there are smaller fish you eat and larger fish that will eat you... you grow and levels get harder and harder... it's fairly addicting. pc crack. my three year old is at the desk playing this game [yes, my 3 yr old knows how to play on the computer, work the camera, vcr and dvd]... so here he sits working the mouse; chomping and avoiding chomping and avoiding.... then, in a wicked little voice we hear "come here, my juicy little snack!" oh my gosh! it was SO STINKIN' FUNNY! oh, this boy!

some of the spinning is a secret...... shhhh
what do you think of this?

the color is pretty true, although you can't see the really great halo this yarn has. i don't remember what the fiber is or whether it is superwash or not... so.... i spun to a fingering weight and plan to attempt branching out again.... because noone wants to be a contribute-less member

the crocheting that i've done is without pictures. it's a blanket i started a while back that was supposed to have been a gift for my uncle for Christmas. didn't make it. bought him a really cool 'Abbey Rd' tee instead. i'll post a picture when i get a little further along with it. but the point is that i'm working on it! woohoo! go me!

i have one knit throw that is on a pair of 11 cables. it's mindless work. plain 'ol stockinette stich with a 2" garter stitch border. can't show you a pic of this either, as it is a gift for someone who passes through this way on occassion. i have 2 other projects on needles... i'll tell you tomorrow - i'm such a tease.

and as for the shopping, well, some of what i bought is a secret.
and some is not:
i LOVE this book!!




thank you debbie! i love you! seriously, every pattern in this book is phenomenal! it's all knit patterns for ages 3-10 --- and for someone who has 4 children within this range - the best pattern book EVER! and, there are really great patterns for my oldest son as well as my youngest son! i can not wait to finish up the purse i'm working on so i can cast on for one of these!!! do you see how good i'm being about finishing my projects!?! yay me!

also, i purchased my shoes for the along.

what do you think? see the heels!?! for a chic who's wore (literally) nothing but birkenstocks for the last 2 years - that's a big deal!
to go along with my resolution to take better care of myself, i hope to lose a little weight (read that about 75lbs). i'm thinking that once this starts to show, i'll want to dress a little funkier - so i'm getting started with this!

hmmm, what sounds good for lunch? i'm hungry. think we'll do a grilled cheese.

none broken

(we won't talk about the coffee w/ cream or the coke i had today)
yay for me! so far so good on the resolutions :)
finished up this throw last night.

it is done with 3 strands tobacco colored chenille held together with a N hook. done in diagonal box stitch with just a plain ol dc mesh border. it's nice and warm. it was meant to be a wedding gift for a cousin and his bride... but that was a few months ago... in fact, they're expecting their 2nd child (yes, the 1st was before nuptuals)
and.....

i think i've showed you this before, but it was on the wheel... here it is all 'set'. it's about 11yards varying from lace to super bulky weight. any suggestions as to what i should do with it? yes, i have the supplies to spin more. so if you think of something that will require more.... i can do that.
i know there was more i inteded to tell you than this... but 3 of my 4 children are all begging to use the laptop. what's wrong with the 2 desktops in this house? who knows. so anyhow, i'm gettin' while the gettin's good.

2006!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

hubby and i rang in the new year with the kiddos. only the girl didn't make it. my 3 and 4 year old really surprised us and made it all the way to the ball drop. i knew my oldest would. he's too stubborn not to :)
speaking of... the boy asked me for a red and black hat. and well, because i am the coolest mom in the world (hey, this is MY blog!)... i did just that

the yarn is RH i had in stash. the pattern is tychus. the adjustments i made were: went down a needle size, knit 4 wedges instead of 5, used only 1 strand of yarn instead of 2. he's pleased. so am i.

ya wanna know what else i'm pleased about?
THIS:

i knit cables!!
want a close-up!?

the yarn is LB wool ease thick N quick in pumpkin (i think that's the color name). the pattern is cable knit purse. the adjustments i made were: i used sz15 needles instead of 13 because of my choice of yarn. it didn't even take a full skein! i'm so happy with it. yes, i know it's not completely done. but i'm going to have to buy handles because i don't have any in stash and couldn't wait to post about it :)

oh, and apparently i wasn't as good as i thought. santa did not bring koigu. :(


on to the resolutions for the new year:
1. read more (read period)
2. finish projects that have been started that i truly want to see finished and frog the rest!
3. spend more time learning (knitting techniques - spinning novelty)
4. design! (crochet)
5. take better care of my body

pretty reasonable list, i think.
and no, i didn't put anything about being a better mother or wife because that is not something i think should be a 'new year resolution' it is a daily committment.

Happy New Year to you all!

Traditional Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Merry Christmas

Dear Santa,
i've been a very good girl this year (as i'm sure you are aware)
please send koigu ;)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

happy birthday, mom!

not a bad way to start the day. a little blog/board reading, cup of freshly ground coffee from my french press (thank you sherry!) with a fun crochet project in my own hand-spun wool :)
so, that was my first 8 minutes of the day... before the pitter-patter of little feet. soon to be followed by their favorite thing to say "i'm hungry!" and then, "why did she get the red bowl? i don't want the yellow one!".. i'll spare you the rest.

today is my mom's birthday. this is what i made her:

i needle felted him and crocheted his hat and scarf. her Christmas tree is decorated in snowmen, so i think he will fit in nicely. he's about 3 inches tall. rather cute, if i do say so myself :)

yesterday, i had all these things in my head i kept thinking 'i need to blog that' - and today - nothin' poof! it's gone. this is why i have a so many stinkin' notepads and a palm zire full of notes - from what size shoes my kids wear to what type bag my vacuum cleaner needs. i forget stuff!

the new yarn swap is about to begin at Crochetville
this time it is Winter Wool

i'm pretty excited about this one. i sure hope everyone follows through and ship good wool to their partners.
i must get.... have one last gift to complete

my new trick

looky looky what i learned :)
short-row shaping in knit.

it's the multidirectional scarf i posted about the other day.
i LOVE it! i know the colors are a bit strange, but i have an olive green coat that i'm making it for. the yarn is: elizabeth austen = andes in colorway 05 ForestMoss. soo yummy soft :)
it makes me happy :)
zero progress on anything else... yup a big fat NOTHIN'!
am i worried? nah. my kiddos are off school for the holiday so i'm planning on doing much work during the next few days. my days are usually full with my little guy, but his 3 siblings will keep him busy.
i did a bit of spinning today. filled 2 bobbins of the gwape wool and plyed them. also did a half-bobbin of some experimental spinning. i'm using, coopworth and cotton, mixing in jean threads and pieces.

it's fun. i'm anxious to work with it. i'm in process of a handbag from one of the interweave press mags (i don't remember which) with some other wool i spun (don't think i ever posted about it - it's red and black). i want to see this complete, and then make up my mind for sure, but for right now, i'm thinking it is going to be a good pattern for this yarn as well. we'll see. look at my baby girl. helping mommy shred the jeans.

i'm pretty sure i'm going to make something for her with it
(ickola - do you see her two black nails? they got squished in a door at school several weeks ago. owwwieee!)

damn murphy!

just saying that i was going to post a pic daily of the evil blankie invited murphy to keep it from happening, didn't it?
ya know what else? i think i'm gonna say 'forget it' anyway, i'm only about 10 inches in..... i'll just pick something up for her at a store. i just don't know what.
ya know what else? i think i'm just gonna frog that whole blanket. i've got about 20 skeins of this yarn, sooooo - i think that should be enough to make my dad a stockinette blanket with seed stitch edging for his chair. he tends to fall asleep in it and has become quite the cold-natured person (seems like that started when he got pnuemonia really bad a few years ago). not a Christmas gift - maybe father's day.
my crafty Christmas list is down to 4.
one is almost completely finished - one more good hour and it's done - my mom's
another just lacks 2 or 3 hours. - grandma jane
a filet project has gone to hell and needs some frogging of serious amounts - i'm really upset about my mistake - hours and hours of work - going to the frog pond. perhaps i'll show this tomorrow.
and lastly, a smaller project for my dear friend sherry - who is a reader so no details :)

speaking of sherry; please take a second and pop in to her blog and give her a shout of encouragement. she has joined us all in our fiber fetish and has started knitting. yay :)

these final 4 projects are all crochet. the only project i have on needles is a multidirectional scarf. it's not a gift, so it is on the backburner....
okay, i must get for now.

my kiddos got out of school at noon today for the Christmas holiday break. i'm gonna go read them a book :)

big needles

thank you all so much for the great comments on yesterday's post. it meant a lot to me.

on to today.... i'm stealing an idea from julie

i am going to start a daily posting of progress on the evil knitted blanket for my sister-in-law.
using a pattern from Big-Needle Knit Afghans, it's being made with LB chunky USA in navy. yes, scoff if you must, 100% acrylic. i'm not about to sink money into this project. i'm already giving my time... sounds ugly, but she hates me. she's hated me for 12 years and i'm not expecting this blanket to change that. do i think she'll even give a rat's ass that i took the time to give her a hand-knit gift - no! so why do it? because i love my husband.
so here it is: (lavendar mist, pagina 52)


ummm - not exactly very big. only 12 days until Christmas. shut up! don't ya think i know that!!
yes, if i would have chosen to crochet instead of knit, i'd be halfway there.... but my wrist has really been bothering me. i've been speed-crocheting a special project and wanted to save my wrists for that.
my little mister is being great this morning ...drawing happily and loving the legos.
Sesame Street is just about to come on, so i'm gonna sit next to the boy and knit a bit.
it's cold. i wish this blankie were larger so i could cover with it while i work.

grandmother's treasures

as Christmas gets closer and closer, i think more and more of my grandma. the holidays were so great with her. Every Christmas Eve, we would go to her house, have dinner, sit with family and open some gifts. my grandma was such a wonderful person. so fun. i really miss her. she told the funniest stories of her childhood - the drawstring coming undone on her homemade underware while getting on the schoolbus - burying her sisters doll because she was mad at her. and the best thing of all "Jimmalee" she would call my grandpa when he was in hot water.

she was so beautiful.


so today i thought i'd share a few silly little things that once were hers, and now mine.



isn't this cute? it's small....might hold 6 quarters. it's an old cosmetic jar. it has avon in the glass on the bottom. i have no idea what used to be in it.... several months ago, i found it at grandpa's house. i thought it was charming - cute. i wonder why she kept it. it was empty. but for whatever reason, she couldn't throw it away.... so it sit's atop my jewelry box in my room.



this is a tablecloth. my great grandmother embroidered 4 roosters - one in each corner. my grandmother later added the crochet edging. it hangs in my kitchen. i love it.




grandma also gave me the gift of crochet. she taught me when i was a kid. although i put it down and didn't start again until after she died, i still remembered how. i haven't been able to put it down since. grandma could knit, too. although this is something she never taught me, i knew one day i wanted to learn (and have) so i took her hooks and needles when grandpa offered them. i love knowing they were once hers.


one other important thing grandma gave me... her name. Elizabeth is what i chose to name my daughter. after her, of course.

better apart

well, ya'll i was too quick to judge. yesterday's handbag definitely looked better yesterday. i did all the seaming last night. i don't like it at all - humph! it's too floppy and the front/back sections are way too short. i do plan on lining it, so that will take care of some of the flop... but i haven't decided what to do about the too short problem yet. i'm not even close to being a good enough knitter to attempt picking up stitches and adding on......SO, i guess i could crochet a bit.... i just don't know. suggestions?

anyone ever make clothing from caron simply soft? how does it hold up to the wear? i'm considering making a gift from this and have hesitated because i'm not sure. i've never used it before.
i crocheted this scarf for my friend, amy. it's done with LB imagine in black

detail:
i also knit a scarf for her daughter... but i can't find a picture of it right now. i remember taking one.... hmmmmmm odd.

just how classy am i?

red wine with beans. there ya go.