Hippity Hopper

Easter at Mr K's house...

"Basket? I don't need no stinking basket! OH! here's another one!"

Mr K hunts for eggs in the house, since it rained all day. Egg dye would have been running down the streets!

After the hunt... My brother thought he looked kinda sneaky... Notice the monkey on his shirt.

"Are they looking? Laadeedaah... I'm just standing here doing nothing! What. Nothing is in my fist! Honest!"

I send him a card and stickers for every holiday and tell him to share with his friends, then stick the rest on the wall like his Dad use to do. I hope he doesn't have a sticker in that fist! hee hee! :) He looks like a cartoon character to me.

Easter at our house...

"Mom! Look what the Bunny left us! I saw him! He threw everything off the couch! I was pretending to sleep! Honest!"

Whatever. Kamati must be delusional, I'm the Easter Bunny!

Wing 'o the Moth Shawl by Anne Hanson

Rowan Kidsilk Night - Ballerina

Clover Bamboo Needles - 4.25mm or US6

It was a quick enjoyable knit with large needles. I love the slight sparkle and the leaf and flowers on the edges. It tickles the girl in me.

Kelp sighting...

Now I'm working on Laminaria from Knitty. It's Estonian Lace, which I find fascinating. Making 3 into 3... making 3 into 9... I found this Hand Painted Misti Alpaca, which I think is a perfect color. It looks like my lawn with moss. (Don't tell Wooly... he gets obsessive about having a perfect lawn with NO MOSS!)

I showed my friends at work. Mary said I could make it for her... which I was hoping for since she just bought a blue moonstone pendant that I want. She wishes she had bought the bigger one. So, I'm gonna make my 'play' for it. Wish me luck! :)

Down the Rabbit Hole...

So, I followed Lorraine down the Woolen Rabbit hole... What a slippery slope that was! I'm not complaining! I didn't leave empty handed!

I bought the Magic Carpet and Arabian Nights kits. Beads were bought separately from Foxden. I'm so thrilled with the colors! I think that dark purple would make a cool Irtfa'a (Anne Hanson - again - I know.) I'm making the Magic Carpet for Linda (co-worker) who's gonna retire and move to Arizona soon. She makes jewelry and is really good with color. Anytime I doubt myself I ask for her help. I'll miss her.

Spoiled...

So I was showing Wooly all my loot...

Wooly: "How do you spell 'spoiled'??"

Me: "M-E!!"

Wooly: "M-E..?? Medical Examiner? What?"

Me: "Hahaha...! (hit him) No! *ME* "

The sitcom *never* ends! :)

Happy Knitting!

Simurgh

Presenting... Simurgh!

Simurgh by Anne Hanson

Claudia Hand Painted Yarn - silk lace 20/2 - Just Plum

Addi Turbo Lace Needles - 3.5mm (US4) + 3.25mm (US3)

82" x 21" blocked

I enjoyed making this! Great yarn & pattern! The only advice I have is to make the winglets loose. The results are worth all the frustration and agony of running a wire through the tips of the winglets (side edge tips) when you block it.

Simurgh is "the modern Persian name for a fabulous, benevolent, mythical flying creature..." So, what comes to my mind... "Oh, like a dragon?! I'm a dragon too! (Asian zodiac)"

I put it on my head and asked Wooly if I looked Persian. He said, "Yes, Muslim." Now, we don't know anything about being Muslim, but think it looks fabulous, especially with those winglets!

My nephew Mr K, likes to put things on his head too (placemat.) I take full responsibility since that last time I saw him, I put his hydroplane on my head (it really was a hat!) and he bursted out laughing! It surprised me, because I forgot how honest little ones are. I thought about it later and realized the only people who laugh that hard at me are my brother and Wooly.

So, he has our sense of humor. My Mom (grandma) said I need to visit him more often... and make him laugh, after all, life is suppose to be fun. :)

This is the first time I've seen him in a sweater! I'm hoping he will be a 'sweater man' like Wooly. :)

Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

Hope the Easter Bunny brings you something good (and pink!) m :)

Stare Down!

Kamati is my Name...!

Stare Down is my Game...!

You can NOT resist my wish...!

You can NOT resist my wish...!

Wooly: So, you're done with Rain Cloud... but Kamati still has that 'ring' on his head...??!

Me: He's a YARN SWIFT...!!!

Wooly: What??!! A Swift??!!! Haaahaaa! *flip back PEZ head laugh*

Kamati: Damn it! C'mon you guys! NOT funny! Stop Laughing!

Yes, it never ceases to be funny!


Kitty Stare Down

So, earlier this month was my birthday. I woke up, looked out the window, and saw Tuxedo Kitty doing his gargoyle imitation on the fence. I thought, "Oh! What a great birthday present!" Then I looked again... and saw 2 tuxedo kitties on the fence, doing their gargoyle imitation, and one in the yard! I stared. Three tuxedo Kitties?! I couldn't believe it! Impostors?!

"Neener neener!"

So, I go downstairs, pour my coffee... Wooly says, "Happy Birthday! Did you see the 2 tuxedo kitties on the fence?" I said, "Yes, and one in the yard! I think this is Tuxedo Kitty's 'neener neener' birthday gift!" :)

Wooly got me roses...

I bought myself some Filatura Di Crosa - Superior (cashmere & silk) in lavender and a pink one for Kamati (notice no yarn on his head.) Now he wants the tiara! The ladies at the shop were happy and told me I deserved it. I've only stared at the yarn 3 visits in a row. :)

"Ooooooh! My Preeeecious!"

What I really wanted was Luskentyre, but they're 'sold out.' I emailed Carolyn and mentioned it . She heard they'll be restocked in April. I hope they had a cold winter so those sheep have lots of wool! I don't have the pattern/book and like the cardigan.

Best present!

My nephew gave me the best present of all... A Happy Rock card!

My brother said they had a great time at the beach finding the happiest rock... then it was time to get back in the stroller! He should have named him Wyatt... then he would be Quiet! ;)

Instead, he got Yellin Kelan!

How's that for a cool Irish name? (I think they spelled it 'uniquely') Wooly is hoping he lives up to his name and plays the bagpipes. We know he has good lungs! He looks at Kelan's hands every time. I just hope he has good common sense!

Keep your eyes open! The best gifts are free!

Happy Knitting!

Autumn Oregon

Presenting... Autumn Oregon Oregon Autumn Cardigan by Alice Starmore
Vogue Knitting Holiday 2007
Jamieson Spindrift
Turbo Addis - 3mm + 3.25mm

I have to thanks my hero Anne for the Jamieson's colorway. Jamieson's is thinner than the Hebridean used by Alice, so I made a larger size and ended up with my size. It was fine with me, it meant more leaves and trees! It's mild where I live, so thinner is more wearable.
The only thing I forgot was that 'she' places her buttonholes off center. Wooly thinks it's so the band doesn't flop over. There was no way I was going to rip back. Only knitters like me would notice though, so I'm letting it go.

This was another 'shaping without fear' for this year. I was thinking of changing the V neck into a cardigan, but decided to be brave. I'm happy that it's not a huge V, so I know I'll wear it. The colors really pop. Wooly says this is his favorite of all time. I'm feeling lost now that it's done.

So, what's next?! I dug up Marina and found I had buttons tucked inside the box, so I guess I had plans to make it! I haven't started yet, because it's 71cm or 28 inches long. I'm only 62 inches tall. Do the math! I might just make it as written and use it as a coat. It'll be very warm.

Looks like I'll be busy winding yarn. Wonder if Kamati will help me? I've got a bribe in mind... we'll talk about that and other silliness later this week.

Happy Knitting!

Silver Lining

Presenting... Cologne!

I started with Rain Cloud, went through a Storm of Determination, and ended with a Silver Lining!

Cologne by Marie Wallin

Rowan Magazine 42

Rowan 4 ply soft (merino) - Rain Cloud

Alchemy Haiku - Sugar Mountain

Rowan Kidsilk Night - Fountain & Thunder

Addis Turbo Needles - 3mm or US2

I was going for a casual, fun look. It reminds me of wisteria, pansies & iris', so I used these silver flower buttons.

I made this as part of my 'shaping without fear' goal.
I didn't take into account that I was shaping lace! LOL!
I'm so glad I weathered it out and finished it.

Yes, I would make another one!
No, I'm not giving this away!

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining...
Don't you just love happy endings?! :)

Swift Storm

Remember Rain Cloud, pain in my headache, Cologne?

It turned into a Storm of Determination, and I got this... "Mom, are you sure all the pieces are here? Can you remove my crown now that you're done with Rain Cloud? What? I'm a 'swift'?? I know I'm a fast runner... what does that have to do with my yarn crown? Stop laughing!"

I got excited that I was almost done, then realized I needed sleeves! :) Half way through the first sleeve, I thought I was going to run out of yarn, so I knit faster. On the second sleeve, I thought, "Gee, this is fun! I'm gonna make another Cologne..." At that point I caught myself and had to laugh out loud. :D I would have never thought I would be so in love with this project.

I used Sugar Mountain doubled for the knit edging. I'm surprised and pleased at how 'solid' of a color I got. I liked it so much, I did the first crochet edging around the entire sweater & sleeves in it.

For the second and third crochet edging, I've got choices! I'm leaning towards Fountain & Thunder. But I keep changing my mind.
Meanwhile, Kamati is pouting and staring out the back door singing...
"Where, oh where has Tuxedo Kitty gone? Oh where, oh where can he beeee? With his big white shirt and his two white socks... Oh where, oh where can he beeee...?"

He wants Tuxedo Kitty to live with us so I'll pick on him instead.

Look who I saw sitting at our neighbor's front door! Now we need to find out if he belongs to them. Wooly thinks it's a different cat because he looks smaller... DUH! He's across the street! Hope you're having a 'knitting storm' at your house too!

Happy Knitting & Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Fat Cat

Wooly's birthday is this week!

He got this card from his sister Poohla.

"Whoop-de-freakin'-doo."

Wooly: "Who's this suppose to be... Mischief?"

Me: "No, I think it's YOU! Large and in Charge!" LOL! :)

Wooly: "No, it can't be..!"

Me: "Yes, look at those green eyes...!" LOL! :)

I love that card! It's so 'Wooly'! And his family's attitude towards birthdays.

In Knitting News, Oregon has a sleeve and I started the second sleeve.
It's still a joy and I will be sad when I'm finished.

We had a Snow Day on Monday! I love snow covered trees.
After the Rain Cloud pain in my headache (Cologne),

Kamati reminded me that I have Simurgh and Anne Hanson knows how to write a lace pattern so that all you have to do is follow directions. Oh! and I just bought Claudia's Hand Painted Yarn - silk lace - in Just Plum. So, on my Snow Day I celebrated and casted on!
The Large Feather section. What a joy! I think this is my new favorite lace yarn! I was thinking of giving this to Poohla for Christmas, but I might just keep it for myself. :)

Celebrate everyday! Give your 'Fat Cat' a hug! :)