American Beauty Rose

"A little rose that laughs upon its stem,
one of the sweets with which the gardens teem,
in value soars above an eastern gem - if tendered as a token of esteem."
Allan Cunningham - poet

American Beauty Shawl - by BadCat
JaggerSpun Zephyr - Cassis
S/L Gold AB beads & heart beads size 8/0
3.25mm or US3 Turbo lace needles
65" X 35"

I joined BadCat's KAL for her birthday. She wanted American Beauty Roses for her garden. The real color is a dark magenta. I made mine pink. (Top photo is closest pink)

So, what do I love best about this shawl?

The knit on front side edging?

The rose motif with heart beads?

There's also roses on the shoulders (top photo), where my wings would be.

The lacy bottom edge & shiny beads?

If I had to choose, it would be the last. It's hard to photograph (the human eye is really irreplaceable). It's really lacey & the beads shine & I can't stop touching or looking at it.

You know growing roses takes a lot of effort. This shawl is much easier & you'll have roses all year long.

Thanks BadCat! Another beautiful design! :)


Asian Beauty

Spring has arrived.

The skies are blue, the cherry blossoms & tulips & daffodils are coming out.
Wooly is coming out too.

Saturday morning we were drinking coffee & he jumps up and says,

"OH! I have to tell you what happened at the grocery store!

I was pushing my cart out to the car, when I looked up, and there was the most beautiful Asian woman I've ever seen! She had long flowy black hair... red tube top... and she was STACKED... white short shorts... and the most beautiful, perfect legs I've ever seen! Not a blemish anywhere! OH! and high heels... not too high, but you know, 2 inches. I looked around and everyone in the parking lot was staring at her too. She was with a real normal looking guy, kinda scruffy... I swear, she was an Asian model, you know, the kind in the Asian magazines! I wanted to tell her to wait there, while I go home & get my camera so I could take a photo of her! She's a REAL ASIAN BEAUTY!"

As you can imagine, he was really animated, and so excited about his Asian Beauty sighting.

You all know I'm Asian, right? It's a good thing I was able to laugh at him being so silly.

I went upstairs to get ready for my day, then went back down & found him making breakfast. I put on my pouty face & said, "OH! UGH! I'm no longer your Asian Beauty. Oh! I'm so old. I don't have perfect legs, boohoo..." He consoled me & told me I'm still hot... especially when I'm not wearing my pajamas.

So I went to lunch with my mom. You know my mom... lots of fun & animated too. I told her the whole story, just like I told it here. She was screaming with laughter. At the end, she says, "Michele, you missed your chance! You should have put on your short shorts & come back down the stairs!"

I told her, "I don't have perfect legs... you have better legs than me!" which lead to more screaming with laughter.

I came home & Wooly asked how it went with Mom. I told him I told her about his Asian Beauty sighting. He put his hands on his head & said, "OH NO! You didn't!!!"

So, now I've told the whole world. Neener neener!

He told me who she looked like... I'm not impressed. But, now I'm not cutting my flowy black hair... it's all I've got. :D


Easter Bunny Sighting

What happens when Smoothie sees the Easter Bunny on tv...

"OH! Easter Bunny! What a beauty! *Faint*"

"Bunny! Get up! You're on my leg! Dad! Put that camera down & get bunny off me!"

"Wow, what a beauty! Those long white ears... pink nose..."

"Whatever. You hurt my leg."

Beauty is subjective.

Physical beauty doesn't last... neither do roses.

Enjoy it while it last! :)

Or make yourself a shawl!

Live in the Present

My birthday was last Sunday (3/1)...
Mr K sent me this...

What a cutie! Someone got his haircut! Such a heartbreaker!

Mr C sent me this...

Yeah, my birthday was kinda sucky. At least he wasn't giving me the 'bird!'
Wait for that next year. ;)

In the Bag

So, since this is my birthday post, I'm going to talk about some of my favorite things.

"Live all your dreams in the present"

"What's in the bag Mom?!"

No, you don't have to send the kids away... it's not that exciting...

"Kamati has to stay away! No hoofs or horns!"

No, it's not cheese, but I am going to whine about it.

If I had to choose one type of knitting that's my absolute favorite... it would be Heirloom Knitting. As you remember, I'm definitely cursed.

This is my gossamer merino Princess Shawl. I've only been working on it for over a year and am through row 150 (each row has 860+ stitches) & ready to start the 3rd border chart.

In my defense, when I first started this, I wasn't thrilled about knitting it in white and wanted some silk in it. But, there were few choices, and I didn't want to use Cashsilk because it's too fine - just call it thread.

Well, now, I'm thinking about starting over... (WHAT?!) because I found some 2/48 cashmere/silk in light blue. I don't like the way the merino is looking. I'm waiting for it to arrive so I can swatch and make a final decision. You know blue is my favorite color... and this is a 'before I die' project, and with how much time is invested in this, I might as well love it, right?!

"What's in the shiny bag Mom?"

Another one of my favorite things is Coach purses.

I'm definitely still a tomboy, and never carried a purse until last year when I purchased by first Coach leather purse. I got some birthday money & decided it was time to dethrone the "Queen of Self Deprivation" once and for all. After all, unless you spend it right away on yourself, you end up using it to pay bills, right?!

"Follow the White Rabbit...! We're in the Matrix, right?!"

This pink & silver purse was screaming at me & jumping up & down. I couldn't walk away from it or the white rabbit with the cute fluffy tail. I absolutely love it... and tickled pink! LOL!

When I got it home, I realized that I broke every rule I have about purses... (has to be leather, classic shape & color, in other words - boring.) Ask me if I care!!! I'm living in the present!

Clap your hands... this is huge for me! :)

American Beauty

I didn't get any roses or flowers for my birthday, but I did knit a few.
This is chart B2... now we have 3 roses on each side of the triangular shawl and lots of shiny beads.

One of Wooly's bagpiper friends came over on my birthday. He didn't bring me cake or flowers or gifts or CAKE... so, I almost threw him out. ;) But, he didn't know & came to visit Wooly. I managed to reluctantly put on a bra & shirt, but stayed in my pajama pants. I asked if he wanted something to drink or a sandwich, he told me to "just keep knitting... Wooly is taking care of that." What a Prince!

Finally

Remember last year I wanted Luskentyre for my birthday, but they were sold out?

"ooohhhhh pretty!"

I finally got her! I was worried about the Whin & Golden Clover colors, but I think they're strong enough tones to look good on me (Right Lorraine?) Remember! TOMBOY! That's why everything in my closet is BLUE!

What's revealing is that these are the kits I have... Luskentyre, Abalone & Marina.

Do you see a pattern here? Remember, it's my birthday, so I'm also a Pisces...

All water themes... of the sea... sea shells... my name is Michele... get it?! Weird!

My buddy Bev tagged me for an incredibly long meme. Even though she worships the ground I walk on (her words, not mine... really!) It's my birthday! So I'm passing on it. I couldn't answer any of the questions without being sarcastic. Anyways, I think this post reveals a lot more about me.

So, sing with me... "I just want to CELEBRATE one more day of LIVING! I just want to CELEBRATE one more year of LIFE!" :D

Live in the Present!

Windsor Wonderland

Princess Michele of Miyamojo,
with her prize winning Gemsbok, Sir Kamati Swifthead

Photo taken by Prince Wooly Bagpiper


Windsor Waistcoat by Lorraine Condotta
Jamieson kit from She Ewe Knits
3mm & 3.25mm needles
size s

You're right! I can wear amber. :)

The only change I made was I didn't increase after the rib. I just continued on with 288 stitches. My Ransom vest had 280 stitches, and fit perfectly.

And I didn't do the back & forth knitting, just continued steeking on top.

The great thing about vests is... no sleeves! (quick knit) And that it shows off the fair isle pattern (because there's no button band.) And perfect for our mild weather.

I love this vest! It looks great with my camel coat & my dark brown coat.
All dressed up & nowhere to go! :D

Back to the Beret

What a difference a good block makes! It's now adult size!


It covers my ears and doesn't feel like it's going to pop off.

Thanks to Halfmaennchen/Monika, who took a photo wearing hers & posted it in Ravelry for me. (I still like hers better!)

Wooly told me I shouldn't post/Ravel my failures...

I told him, "This is real life knitting dude! Not everything turns out perfect every time! Besides, others can learn from my mistakes..."

So, if the pattern says to block it over a plate... let the beret totally dry over the plate before you pull it off! Trust the pattern!


American Beauty



We got Chart B which included a rose pattern. Smoothie is pointing at it with his nose.

"Smoothie! Scat! You're ruining my shot!"

"but.. butt.. Kamati, Mom said to point at the rose!"

"That's 'Sir Kamati' to you... you smurf... I mean surf!.. serf?! you 'not of the royal class bunny'!! I don't want nose juice on my rose cape! Scat! MOM!"

"Okay, BOTH of you need to hold still & stop fighting, or I'll send you both to the dungeon!"

It's not easy being the Princess of Miyamojo.

You don't want to miss out on The Ball & turn into a pumpkin, so get your Twisted Traditions patterns today! Before you have to pay outrageous prices because they're out of print. (You KNOW what I'm talking about!! and YES I'm bitter about it!! Especially now that I'm in Ravelry & able to see what I'm missing!! YARN & BOOKS!!)

Breathe.

Until next week... may all your dreams come true. :)

Feeling Pink

I'm not sure about this beret...

Am I suppose to wear it like this?

Is it too small?

Or is my head & hair too big?

I need some sunshine!

Selbu Modern

Jamieson's Navy & Spice

2.75mm & 3.25mm

Pink Valentine's Day


Wooly came through with these pink tulips! I love them, they're my favorite color for tulips!

I really didn't want to get dressed up, so I was glad when Wooly said, "How about Mc Donald's?!"

We're such a cheap date...
I had the Chicken Sandwich and Chocolate Sundae & Wooly had two Double Cheeseburgers from the Dollar Menu.

We ate it at home. :)

Knitting Pink

BadCat is doing another KAL. This time it's an American Beauty Rose theme.
She's using Silver lined gold AB beads. I asked what the beads represent...pollen?... why did you choose that color? She said they aren't pollen, she chose that color to make it pretty... like morning dew.


This is my third KAL with her. I've learned that it's important to do what she says! I bought the same beads, but went stash diving & found this Zephyr - wool & silk - in Cassis. So, mine will be a pink rose. I hope you can see the beads. True American Beauty rose is a dark pink, almost red, like what she's using.

I always learn something from her, like this one has a fancy dpn start & you're knitting the edging along the way.

I was going through lace withdrawal, so I'm glad she started this.
You're right, it's not like I don't have any lace in my queue! HAH! :D

Meanwhile in Mr C & Mr K's world...

"Where's my brother? Where's my bonnet?" Day 5


"Everyone in the pool"

Okay, it's not a pool. My Mom uses that to dry her hand wash clothes.

If I were there, I would find all the animals & throw them in the pool with Mr K & Kermit!

Which would result in Mr K screaming & giggling with delight, while throwing all the animals out of the pool! Then Mom would scold me. :)

Speaking of animals...

Wooly was in the kitchen on the phone when he suddenly yells, "HEY Michele! QUICK! There's a coyote in the backyard!"

I dropped my knitting & ran to the back door & saw him leaving.

He was a real good looking one, with a spring to his step.

We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard before... raccoons & cats, but no coyotes!

The next morning, we were drinking coffee & Wooly says, "Do you hear that? They're back! Birds singing!"

I guess Spring is coming! Hooray!

Now that I said that, it'll snow! LOL!

Until Next week... Happy Knitting! :)