The Russian Spiral

Let's do the....
RUSSIAN SPIRAL







This bracelet is by Janie Warnack and is done in the Russian Spiral. Here is her site for more photos, instructions: http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/janiesbeads/org_basicbeads.html

I attended the Obsessive Compulsive Bead Workers of Pennsylvania meeting yesterday afternoon. It was my first meeting since joining the group last summer. I had a blast there will fellow bead workers and addicts like myself.

The project we worked on yesterday was the Russian Spiral.
I came home so excited because I "got it." Here is a website where you can see the Russian Spiral and get directions. It is so beautiful and I can't wait to work on it again today. http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/janiesbeads/gift.html This is what it looks like. It is a spiral
that radiates around the bracelet or necklace that you create. If you like to read instructions
in Russian, then click on this link for directions for the Russian Spiral. http://www.df.aha.ru/anya/lessons_fiol_shnur.shtml

I just loved learning how to do this and I loved my first meeting of the OCBWP group. I can't wait to join them in February. This group meets monthly and each session involves some teaching of techniques which will be fantastic for me. I wish I could find a group like this for Obsessive Compulsive Knitters, too. I need to be involved with other OC people.

Since today is our national holiday to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. I have no classes to teach. That means I get a holiday to KNIT and work on my Russian Spiral bracelet today. I think I will knit on the two wash cloths I am making out of Lion Brand Cotton in Wedgewood and Spruce colors. I have finished the 2 dish towels I was working on, and now I am making the wash cloths to match. This project is on my list of UFOs that I have committed to finishing up during the stashalong project. See my previous posts on that.

Another project I am working on is the poncho out of Cherry Tree Hill Baby Loop Yarn that I brought home from Vermont in October. It is going slowly, as this yarn is tricky to work with, but it is very lofty and beautiful to the touch as it makes up into a fabric.

I am SETTING GOALS

This information is from the website: http://www.drmercola.com/
Dr. Mercola puts out a daily newsletter that might be helpful to you for optimum health and success in your life in 2007. I enjoy receiving it and wanted to pass along some information I found there today about setting and achieving goals. The goals listed below were taken from a book by Brian Tracey.

Seven Step Process

To Achieve Goals Faster and Easier

First, decide exactly what you want to achieve.

Second, write it down CLEARLY and in as much detail as you can.

Third, set a specific deadline. If it is a large goal, break it down into subdeadlines and write them down in order.

Fourth, make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to have to do ao achieve your goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list.

Fifth, organize the items on your list into a plan by placing them in the proper sequence and priority.

Sixth, take action immediately on the most important thing you can do in your plan. This is VERY important.

Seventh, do something every day that moves you toward to attainment of one or more of your important health goals.


Fewer than 3 percent of adults have written goals and plans that they work on every single day. Hen you sit down and write our your goals, you move yourself in to the top 3 percent of people in our society. And you will soon start to get the same type of results that they do.

Study and review your goals EVERY DAY

to be sure that they are still your most important health goals. You will find yourself deleting goals that are no longer as important as you once thought.

Whatever your goals are, plan them out thoroughly, on paper, and work on them every single day. This is the key to peak performance and maximum achievement.

I truly hope that the steps provided assist you in your journey toward health and in creating the life you choose.

Setting goals is necessary

if you are going to direct your life.

May you be blessed with wisdom and love as you go about setting goals and achieving them!
As stated in the beginning, these goals are abstracted from Brian Tracy's book "Maximum Achievement" It is a book definitely worth purchasing and reading more than once. It will greatly improve your likelihood of reaching your goals.

By joining the Stashalong http://www.stashalong.blogspot.com I have committed myself to setting some knitting and (non)buying goals for two months - January 15 to March 15, 2007. Now, I am going to set down and write out my other goals for my personal and professional life and well being for this year, too.

Looking Ahead - Knitting GOALS for 2007

In addition to beginning the stashalong and working towards getting the UFOs finished that I have listed in my last blog, I plan to begin a number of new projects this year. Looking through my stash has inspired me to think about what I might do with some of the yarn I already have here in my stash. Here is what I have in mind as I look over my options today. I work best under stress - I thrive on it, so my list helps to inspire me to "git er done!"

1.) Feather and Fan Poncho, Wool/Hemp blend yarn by Deborah S. Daniels, of http://www.dzined.com

2.) "ROCKTORP" Jacket, from Cash Iroha and Silk Garden by NORO. This Jacket is in the book, Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Book #2. I have the Silk Garden in my stash, and I will buy the Iroha BEFORE I begin my STASHALONG next Monday.

3.) "FORSA" Scarf and mittens out of Silk Garden, in the CIRCUS color. This pattern is in the same book as #2 above.

4.) 2 pair of socks out of COLORI that I bought in Austria last summer

5.) 2 pair of socks out of Schachenmayr Normotta Trachten Wolle, also brought home from Austria last summer.

6.) Swing Coat, from Cherry Tree Hill Baby Loop - bought it in Vermont last October.

7.) Poncho, from Cherry Tree Hill Baby Loop - brought from Vermont last October.

8.) Another poncho from Cherry Tree Hill Baby Loop - brought from Vermont last October.

9.) Wash Cloths out of four skeins of Peaches and Cream that I have in my stash.

10) One Wash Cloth out of one skein of Egyptian Cotton that I have in my stash. It was a gift from my One Skein Exchange Pal last summer.

Stashalong for 2007

I have joined the Stashalong project for 2007. I think it is a GREAT way to begin the New Year. You can find information on this way of dealing with your STASH here: http://stashalong.blogspot.com There are three different levels of involvement. I have chosen a combination of #1 and #3.

First of all, for level #1, I am designating a two month period where I will purchase NO YARN at all. (GULP....BREATHE DEEPLY...BREATHE AGAIN, DEEPER YET...) Yes, I CAN DO THIS. I am SURE I CAN DO THIS...OK, I pledge to NOT BUY ANY YARN between January 15th and March 15th.

Now, for level #3. I will work on getting my wife's finished up over the next two months when I am not out shopping for more yarns. Here are the UFO's that I plan to get finished up:

1.) 1 pair of "Canal du Midi" socks. They are in the book, Knitting on the Road, by Nancy Bush. My socks are being made from "COLORI" yarn that I brought home from Austria last summer. I have just started the knitting on these socks, and they are on size "0" needles, so they will take awhile. I think they will be well worth the effort and time. This yarn is AMAZING.

2.) 2 Kitchen Towels made from Peaches and Cream Cotton Yarn. The towels are in the "sand" stitch and gets so tedious for me and then I get bored and quit. I resign myself to finish these towels and move on to make some wash cloths out of the same yarn for Christmas Gifts, 11 months from now. I am just thinking ahead.

3.) 1 pair of "Fortissima Socka" Cotton Socks, yarn by Schoeler & Stahl. It is a very lovely and soft yarn. The pattern is Climbing Vines and I got the yarn and pattern from http://www.TheKnitter.com The pattern is by Rebecca Perry. I have one sock done, so I am now working on it's mate.

4.) Kimono Jacket, made from Lion Brand "Moonlight Mohair." This is the jacket: http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/merinof_kimono.html I have it nearly knitted and just have to sew up the sides, put the color panel on the font, and knit the kimono sleeves. A few days of concentration should do it. I WANT to wear this jacket very much.

5.) Diamond Modular Scarf. Designed by Iris Schreier. I am making it from my FAVORITE "Mountain Colors" yarn. I LOVE this pattern and can't wait to wear this very light pink/peachy colored scarf when the weather gets warmer and Pennsylvania is moving towards spring again.

6.) Caryl's Kerchief, designed by Marian Nelson. This beautiful scarf is made from KPPM KOIGU Painters Palette Premium Merino, only one skein needed. It is very lacey and soft. I will put a beaded edging on the scarf as I knit the final row. It is elegant.

There you have it - my two month committment. I am not sure I can get all the knitting done in the next 8 weeks, but it is something to shoot for. BANG!

Knitting Runs in My Family

Here is my daughter, jewelry designer,

Heidi McClure, wearing the beautiful poncho she just completed. She used JoAnn's yarn in this brilliant jewel color and put a contrasting edging around the bottom for accent. Everywhere she goes people want to touch her poncho. At one party, she said, everyone wanted to try it on. It is truly HEAVENLY, and made from ANGEL HAIR yarn.

Two Top photos are my Great Grand-daughter, Delaunay, age 9 who is a young knitter.

She keeps her yarn and needles at my house, and another set at her Grandma's house so she can knit every time she comes to visit. Delaunay began learning to knit 2 years ago on an Easter Sunday when we had nothing to do. We hopped in the car and went out to buy yarn and needles. I spent the afternoon teaching grand-children and great-granddaughter Delaunay how to begin to knit.

In the photos she is wearing two of the outfits I knitted for her for Christmas. The red one is Moda Dea yarn. The Black and pink set is made of a soft and thick boucle yarn.

Knitting Makes a Difference to a Child

Did you know that you can knit sweaters that will be sent to needy children all over the world. I have completed two sweaters that I will be sending off for the Knit for Kids project, sponsored by Guideposts Magazine. You can see this project by visiting the website. http://www.dailyguideposts.com/help/sweater.asp

One of my new year's resolutions is to knit at least two sweaters this year for a child who needs one. These are the two sweaters I have ready to send out. One is size 10 and one is size 4. I can't wait to begin a new one and get started on my goal.

Maybe you would like to be involved in knitting for a child, too. I hope you will.

Sparkle in her Tutu

I thought you would enjoy seeing our guinea pig, Sparkle, wearing her Tutu and Tiara for Christmas. My daughter Heidi brought this "outfit" for her on Christmas day. Heidi is holding Sparkle in this photo. Just a little fun, ya know!

OK, my next blogs will be on knitting. I have some nice things to share with you.

Happy NEW Year to my knitting friends.

SP9 Thank you!

I have received my package from the SecretPal9 Exchange. It is a beautiful assortment of gifts that are just perfect for me. I do beadwork, so there is a wonderful two level storage box and it has a lot of beads inside, too. Then, there are the rosewood knitting needles and three skeins of very brightly colored yarns. This was my pals first exchange. I think she sure did a great job of it, too. Thank you, Shanna Crabbe from Michigan.