Friday, March 30, 2007

Favorite Accessories?


My favorite accessory for knitting is my handy little Yarn Tainer. They are on sale right now at this location, and are 2 for $15.00 which is a GREAT PRICE.

They are transparent tubes, with a lid and handle for carrying my projects. The lid and handle is in colors that are sharp and contemporary. It also has a hole in the top for putting your yarn through. Then you shut the lid and knit, with your yarn neatly contained inside the tube. It's great.

They feel great to carry and the are so practical. Each one holds ONE project. I have several of them sitting about. When I want a project, I just select which one I want to work on and take that little yarn carrier with me. I bought them at JoAnn's and they cost about $8.00 or $9.00 each. But they are just beautiful to look at, very practical, keep my yarn and needles together, keep my yarn from rolling about on the floor, keep the yarn clean, etc. I have bought them for daughters and grand daughters. Everywhere I go, people remark about how nice they are. I love them!!! They are especially nice to carry when traveling and on planes. No more balls of yarn rolling down below the seats of the plane.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Of Course! I AM a STAR


You are The Star


Hope, expectation, Bright promises.


The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised


The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

FAVORITE COLOR SWAP #2


whoooooohooooo.......I GOT my package from my PAL in Canada. My secret pal is Debbie aka Jinxsa! She did such an amazing job at finding things that just suit me perfectly. Can you believe this? I am sooooooooooo spoiled by my pal. I LOVE everything she sent to me.

First off, I cannot stop myself from touching (fondling) the CASHMERE she sent me. It is from hipknits in the UK. OH, MY! it is in a color that I am so crazy about - soft yellow-oranges. This is a cashmere lace weight yarn and I am just thrilled with it. And, if that one was not enough, she also sent me a skein of "Sweet Socks" Merino and Tencil yarn, "Hand Dyed with Love," in the colorway "14 Kt." and this one is from my pal's favorite yarn shop, TheSweetSheep.
These two yarn companies are now on my list of favorite places to shop, too. The yarns are just beyond anything I could have asked for and I am so happy with them.

And, then, there is still so much more in this box of surprises. There is a Boyds M&M bear...so cute. And, in ORANGE. My favorite color. There is an orange covered photo album which I will greatly enjoy using to show off my family photos.

My pal must have found out that I love to make jewelry. She sent me a Photo Bracelet Kit featuring Swarovski Crystals. There is a key chain from Australia, Cadburry Popping Mine Eggs, lovely note cards, lip gloss and wool SOAK for washing my lovely hand knits. And, then there was this nice big candy bar - uh, oh, well, it's gone now.....

Oh, did I mention the very beautiful bracelet she sent me? Yes, I am wild about the color of it. It is in aquas and turquoise glass. Wonderful, I love it.

Permeating this entire package is the scent of Patchouli. My Pal knew I loved this scent and she got me a bar of handmade soap from DoBeClean . It is handmade hemp soap - my favorite kind. I love to bathe in Patchouli soaps and use Patchouli lotions.

This is just the best package ever. I am sure one lucky lady with this surprise package from my pal. Thank you Debbie! I appreciate this all so much.

I have to also say that I am working on getting a package together for my Favorite Color Swap #2 pal at this time. I had a delay due to a death in my family, and personal health problems. My pal is patient, but dear Pal Olie, I am putting it together for you and you shall have a surprise very soon.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Knittin of the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone today.

We, here in Western Pennsylvania, are enjoying our St. Patrick's Day snowfall. It has been snowing for two days and we always get our last big snow for St. Patrick's Day. Spring simply cannot arrive until we have it. Anyone who has grown up around her knows that is a FACT of LIFE...St. Patrick's Day brings SNOW and normally LOTS of SNOW.


Here is a neat site where you can see the history of this day. Find out what is fact and what is pure BLARNEY. It is a great VIDEO, enjoy it.

Today, since I have sniffles and overall not feeling GOOD, I am happily working away on my Irish Green Lana Grossa yarn on the Penelope Blouse by Oat Couture. I am working on the bottom lace and have just finished using up the first ball of yarn. There will be 8 balls of yarn in it. I have tied on the second one, and my goal for today is to finish that second ball.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Trachten Sweater in Translation



Last week, I went to my favorite yarn shop in Sewickley, PA., Yarn's Unlimited. http://www.yarnsunlimited.com

I visit Germany and Austria every summer and I love to buy yarn and patterns from the local Yarn shops while I am traveling. I make sure I bring an extra suitcase along to put my new yarns into for bringing home each year.

What I especially love about this yarn shop in PA is that an Austrian woman works there. My big problem is that I don't read German and I am crazy about German knitting patterns. I had bought a great Trachten pattern (that is Germanic Folkwear) and yarn for a sweater. But the directions are in German and I can't translate. She is translating the directions for me right now, and soon I will be knitting away to my heart's content on the Trachten Sweater I have had for three years. The bag of yarn is waiting for me to begin. I had searched and searched all over Austria as I wanted to make it from Austrian yarns. Austrian yarns are not easy to find, let me tell ya!

I will be in Austria and Germany in June and July, and this is the only time I will be buying any yarn for the entire year. But, I intend to be very selective and keep in mind my stashbusting goals even there. See this blog (stashalong) for more information on how to begin working from your own stash instead of buying new yarns all the time. It's fun and I am committed to doing it.

And, here is another yarn I brought home from Germany last summer. It is by Lana Grossa. This yarn is made in Italy, but I bought it in Germany. Go figure, huh? My own yarn is in the lovely blend of spring greens. It retails for about $5.95 a skein. Each skein has 126 yards, and is 50 grams. I have 8 balls for my sweater. I am now beginning to do a summer top designed by Oat Coutour

Monday, March 12, 2007

Monday, March 05, 2007

The Comfort Shawl




When I wrote about making my Noro Silk Graden Shawl last year, I had no idea at that time of the purpose of it beyond just wearing something that I like and that feels good and looks good. But, last week it had a new significance and purpose. In the days preceeding my Mother's death last week, her family kept watch around her bid and ministered to her. We kept her warm and tended to the needs that she had. I touched her face and head and realized that it was cool. I took off my shawl and gently tucked it round her head and shoulders. The shawl was perfect as it was lightweight, soft, and just the right shape to encircle her head so gently. Nurses would come in and see her laying there encircled with a bright purple/blues scarf and smile. Her doctor came in to tell us he believe she would pass that day. Then, he said "she looks so cute in that." I am sure her image was memorable to everyone who came in to her room and saw her during those final days. You never know when you knit something that it just might have a purpose you never realized as you were knitting.


Today, as I anticipate her viewing and funeral this week, I am beginning to knit a lovely pair of slippers to put on her feet. While my shawl kept her warm when she was living, the slippers will warm her feet for eternity. I am honored today to begin to make my mother's final pair of slippers for her journey home.