Beadz 'n Yarn Works

May Sarton and Knitting

2009-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

"I look forward with joy to the years ahead and especially to the surprises that the day may bring."

...May Sarton

In this photo, I am holding my 2 week old great grand daughter, Isabella. This is one of the most special joys that I could ever have experienced this week. And, each day brings an abundance of joys.

Today, I started reading May Sarton's book, At Seventy...A Journal. Within a few pages I found that this journal is inspired and uplifting and honest. Last week, I read her journal At Eighty-Two and it was so moving to be a part, through reading, of someone's daily life. I believe this was her last journal before she died. May Sarton can teach us how wo age with grace and courage.

A number of years ago, I had decided to begin collecting books that I wanted to read when I retired. I have a large collection of May Sarton's books on a shelf, as I collected them one by one mostly through purchases on Ebay. In addition to those books, I collected a number of shelves of books of poetry. I have them in alphabetical order on four shelves built on the wall. Each shelf is about 5 feet long, here in my office. The Sarton books are together on a shelf in a hutch nearby. On the other two shelves of that hutch are collections of poetry on tape, by the authors of that poetry. And, there are more books on poetry, writing poetry, and other books that are poetry related. These shelves are probably 4 feet long. I have lots of poetry books. I am wild about good poetry.

On some other shelves, are books by and about Native Americans, and books by and about German authors and Germanic culture. These are all things that hold special interest for me.
And, yet, other shelves hold art books. I am an artist and was an art professor.

Why do I love these books so much? I collected them for years, in anticipation of my retirement from my teaching position at a college where I taught in the Arts and Humanities program. This was to be how I would spend the years of my retirement. I would be reading all these books.

Something unexpected happened to me nearly two years ago. I lost much of my eyesight. Now, I cannot ever read all the books that surround me. At least, I cannot read them with my eyes. But, I love knowing the books are here, surrounding me, and lifting my spirits at just their presence.

I plan to read these books in my retirement, just as I have always planned to do. But, now, the books will be read by listening to them on tape. I have begun this reading project. I have begun by reading the two books by May Sarton that I spoke about in my opening sentences.

My daughter reminded me recently that now I can both read the books, and can knit at the same time. Thus, I am doing two things I love to do. Reading and Knitting. It's great! I find joy in every day, and will find joy in the years ahead and especially the new surprises that today may bring. Thank you, May, for speaking to my heart today.

What I did about it...

2009-08-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

After searching for some kind of help for over five months, I finally got connected with the Bureau of Blindness and Vision Loss in Erie, PA. It did not happen quickly or easily. Two of my doctors had to place several phone calls before I finally got some help and support. Meanwhile, during the five months, I turned to knitting.

I had started working on a sweater for the Knit for Kids Program, through Guideposts Magazine. I had one about half finished when I lost my sight. I picked up that unfinished scarf, and thought I would just TRY to knit again, without vision. It was not easy. I stumbled about for days. Finally, I had to force myself to just close my eyes and begin to let my fingers begin to take the place of my eyes. I had to learn to have finesse, and search the yarn and needles for information to know what I was doing with that yarn and needles. It was slow going. But, finally I began to do it again. What a thrill, when I could actually knit in the dark!

Knitting was my life savor during those five months of waiting and searching for help. I knitted away, finishing SIX sweaters for kids. I was so happy to once again be doing something for somebody else. It made me forget my own troubles and frustrations. I literally spent five months sitting in a corner in a big rocking chair knitting my days away.

Finally, in April of 2009 I was sent to the School for Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services in Homestead, PA. It was a residential program, where I would remain as a student for the next 14 months. Next, I will write about my adventure at the BVRS progeram...and what I faced during those weeks of learning to live as a blind person.

New Beginnings

2009-08-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

It has been nearly two years since I was able to access my blog and to write on the computer. I am so excited to be sitting here at my computer and doing things I used to do with ease. You see, I have had a life altering experience through the loss of most of my eyesight. The cause was Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Yes, I had never heard of such a thing before myself! It is a rare condition, I learned. I have met only one other person who has it, and I will talk more about that the next time. For now, I just want to say that I am very happy to be writing here once again. I will be posting photos again, and writing again. I have NO IDEA of anyone reads my blog any more or not, but I will write anyway. It feels so GOOD to be able to do it.

My sight left in two stages, very quickly. First, on January first 2007 my left eye went. I was at the gym, and I noticed that my vision was blurry. I commented to my husband that "I don't know what is wrong, but I just cannot see today." Subsequently, I went to the doctors and quickly learned I did not have an eye problem, but I had a medical emergency. Blood tests were done to determine if I had a systemic illness or disease. I did not. Then, I had surgery on my right artery in my temple to remove part of it so determine if I had temporal arteritis...I did not. I am so thankful for that. Finally, the diagnosis was confirmed and I learned about my condition, Ischemic Optic Neuropathy!

I was told that most people only have it on one side. I did not need to worry, I could still manage to see to do my work, but with difficulty. I had problems knowing where things were in space. I had problems reading. But, I continued on, teaching my classes and living my life as usual, but with care and a bit of caution.

I searched the internet for this condition. I soon saw that most people DO get it on both sides, and lose vision in both eyes. I had 10 more months before that happened to me. About the end of October 2007 I again had the severe headaches and my vision began to blur. Once again, I was hit by this condition but now in the other eye.

Next, I will write about what I did after I experienced this sudden sight loss. I have told you what happened, and now I will tell you what I did about it to change my circumstances.

I'm BACK...

2009-05-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

In October 2007, shortly after doing my final blog here, I lost most of my eyesight. It has been a long journey since then. I have Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, which is like a stroke behind the eyes and causes vision loss as the optical nerve is destroyed because of lack of oxygen when the stroke occurs. I will write more next time on this journey over the past 20 monrhs. I will write about what happened to me, what I did about it, and what I am learning in the process of it all. It is a new adventure!

The Mystique of Socks and my October Goals

2007-09-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Here are my October goals:

#1 Priority is to Unclutter my home office.
I will ( I mean, I WILL) sort through all the areas in this room and pitch things that need to go. I will begin by showing you my room - this is just the entrance into the room. There it is....all ready for the organizing to begin! Stacks and Stacks of books and stuff.

More books....

Still more books...

Yet, more books and the file cabinets and computer desk, too.

Another view of the entrance into my office....stacks of books everywhere!!!

It is a delightful and sunny fall morning here in Western Pennsylvania. In fact, it is Sunday morning and the last day of September. I am feeling satisfied with the work I accomplished in September. I finished two knitting projects and I organized my fiber studio. I got some wonderful work done on my Sabbatical project, making encrusted bead work. I should be happy, but then I look around this room where I am sitting to write this morning, and here is more clutter that needs to be attended to....soon.

Tomorrow will be the first of October. I was reading some blogs and catching up on some other knitters who write a blog that I enjoy reading. I love to see what other people are doing. Some are taking trips, some have knitted some fantastic things that are beyond where I am at in the craft. Some keep making socks and more socks. When it comes to this kind of sock mystique, well....I just don't get it.

I cannot quite figure out what the allure of socks is, but I can see that it must be addictive. I have knitted only two pairs in my life. I have two more pairs started but they just remain in my Yarntainers, there, on the back burner of "things to do." (I keep all my UFOs in Yarntainers or a basket or bag...all ready to go at any time.) Somehow, socks don't excite me very much...yet. Maybe, the sock mania will hit me one day, but it hasn't yet.

I like to knit things that I can WEAR...I mean FLAUNT....things that everyone takes note of...like sweaters and ponchos and jackets. Things that get noticed when I walk into a room...things with FLAIR...socks just don't get it for me. Maybe someday they will, but not yet.

I was thinking about setting some Goals for October this morning. I looked around my office, here where I sit to type my blogs and other things on the computer. It needs some serious attention. I took some photos just to remind me of what needs done here. I think if I set this as a goal and give myself a whole month to accomplish it, a little bit at a time, I can do it. I need to go through the stacks and shelves of books and sort them out. Just about all of them are poetry or art books in this room. I need to give some serious consideration to them and root out ones that I really don't need to keep.

Why it is that I just can't stand clutter, yet, here I am sitting amid a room full of clutter? Indeed, it is an "organized kind of clutter" and not just "anything goes type of clutter." It is limited to my passion for Poetry and Art. Yet, it is still unorganized and it is still clutter. I gotta do something to get it under control. It makes me feel sick when I look around and see things piled everywhere, yet I still do it. It is a paralyzing kind of feeling. Makes me anxious, and upset.

I sat up late last night working on updating my 2007 list of Knitting goals. I have 31 listed, and to date, I have completed 11 of them.

OCTOBER Knitting Goals:

Finish the second "Knit for Kids" Sweater - charity knitting for Guideposts project

Knit the second "Penelope Blouse" out of Dale of Norway yarn

Finish the Lana Grossa sweater that I started in July, in Germany

OCTOBER Jewelry Goals:

Finish the MTV Dragon Neck Piece. It is a big project so will take the entire month, I imagine. I am not sure if it can even be done in a month. We'll see about it. This necklace is part of my Sabbatical work, part of the group of encrusted bead works I am creating. I started the necklace just a couple days ago. It will have TEN cabochons in it when completed. I have "captured" two of them, at this writing...if you are not a bead worker, then you have no clue what that means. It could be the topic of another blog...later.

Today the bushes outside the front of my house need a haircut so people can actually see that we have a sidewalk and front porch. After today, then the goals for October will commence...

Rings and Things

2007-09-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today the Rings and Things Show came to Pittsburgh, PA. It is about an hours drive from where I live. My grand daughter Brandi and I made the trip there. You only have a short time to shop in an entire room FILLED with delightful gemstones. The show runs only from noon to 4 pm! Yes, you have to get there and make your selections with determination because you have to decide what you are getting since you cannot come back another time.

At first, the room seems to spin and blur. It may be because I am partially blind since January. But, it may also be because of the dazzling of the zillions of strands of beads and there you are smack in the middle of them all. The lights glare down on the beads and you can turn around and from every angle there they are, all those beads. They are just waiting to be picked up and touched. It is overwhelming. I just have to breathe in a little deeper, and remind myself that I can take my time and look around at everything. I just say, 'stay calm, my spirit.'

Brandi and I came home with a bag of stones. I focused on replenishing my stash of Pink Opalites. I have sold most of the jewelry I made with that stone last year. I needed more.
Then, Brandi found a table full of the most far out and zaney beads. Well, I hade to have some of those ones too. They are SUPER bright - metallic looking glass beads - that have such a pizzazz they seems to sparkle from every angle.

Other finds for me today were some very large stones on a strand. Don't know what I will make from them yet, but they were so beautiful I had to have them. After I picked up that strand, I found a table of PEARLS in every color and size. I bought several strands of them in copper, and deep violet hues, and cranberry colors.

Finally, I bought a lot of copper beads. I am in love with copper these days. I guess it is the softness of their color and the warmth that radiates from them. They have a nostalgic kind of feel and look to them. They remind me of something that I cannot quite put my hand on. Something that I love. Something from my past, maybe. I don't know. But I love Copper!

September is for FINISHing

2007-09-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

September is for FINISHING some UFOs...here I am showing off my latest FINISH!
The yarn I used for the blouse is by Lanna Grossa. It is "BASIC" in 100% cotton.

Finish #1 for September is now completed. I finished the "Knit for Kids" Sweater that is sponsored by Guideposts. I have set a goal of knitting TWO of these sweaters this year. I did the same last year and it made me feel so satisfied to know a little child somewhere in the world is wearing my sweaters.

Right after I finished this one, I stared the next one. I vow to get this done before I begin my Christmas gift knitting. My goal for each year is to send two sweaters to this charity project. It is a good feeling to know that a child is wearing one of my sweaters...somewhere in the world.

We spent five days in September on a little holiday in the Allegheny Mountains. Bob and I canoed in the Allegheny River every afternoon. It was so much fun. Then, we came back to the cottage exhausted and had dinner. After that, I was able to knit in the late afternoons and evenings on the sweaters. It was sweet. I got in a lot of knitting time, and I also worked on a piece of encrusted bead work (my "September" bracelet). We gathered lots of wonderful stones along the river's edges and those will be made into jewelry in the future.

My SECOND finish for September was the Penelope Blouse by Oat Couture. I had planned to have it finished by June but that just never happened. At long last, it is now finished. It has been a hard one for me and I spent a lot of time in the frog pond. But, I have learned a lot, too.

Here's to some good finishes for you this month, too. September seems to be a time of new beginnings. Now, I need to set some goals for October.

Happy September 1st

2007-09-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

Happy September FIRST to everyone.

Today I will be traveling up into the Allegheny Mountains of Western PA. We'll be there for a few days, enjoying our holiday on the river in our little red canoe. I am taking my knitting along and plan to finish up my first "Knit for Kids" sweater for this year's donation to that project. The knitting is finished and now I must sew it together. I have already started another one. My goal is to do two for the project.

In addition to my knitting, I have packed up some bead work projects to keep me occupied. I am doing some kick A** pieces of encrusted beadwork and can barely stand to put them down I get so excited with them. This has turned into a passion.

In the photo we are enjoying the beginning of the summer on the Allegheny River. These special times are important for the soul. I find solitude and time apart from my daily routine so satisfying. There is peace and joy in being with family, working in my studio, teaching my grand children how to "make things." And more.

Peace and joy to you.

I was wondering, what YOU do for your soul? I would love to hear from you.

What I Have Been Doing Recently

2007-08-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Esther's Homecoming, Encrusted Bead Work

Twilight Reverie, Encrusted Bead Work

The Eyes of God, Encrusted Beadwork

I am now officially on Sabbatical for Professional Development from my teaching position. After 12 years, I finally applied for a Sabbatical to pursue my special interests and get a break from the classroom. Today, instead of going to work for the first day of school, I am working here in my studio. It's WONDERFUL, I assure you! I began my Sabbatical Project in June, by visiting museums and special exhibits in Austria and Germany.

What am I doing, you ask? My project is the study of the work of Hildegard of Bingen, 12th Century writer, artist, composer, nun, evangelist, and much more. She lived and worked in the Rhine area of Germany. That is such a beautiful part of Germany, in the grape growing and wine making area.

You gotta look into Hildegard - I tell you she is one woman to celebrate. Are you aware that in the 12th Century, a woman was not permitted write? That is because writing was for men only. She had to have special permission from the Pope to write otherwise we would not have her work today to read. And, Hildegard was the first female preacher who took evangelistic tours to preach the gospel. She did FOUR of them, in fact. But, for me, it is her ART WORK that I am most interested in doing research on - she had visions and she made pictures of the images from her visions. I am wild about the Middle Ages iconography, and the use of the MANDORLA as an image for holy purposes. I will be using the Mandorla as a motif in upcoming work.

Along with my study on Hildegard, I am working in my studio on a series of fiber/bead works that will be in response to 12th century sensibilities.

I am posting photos of the first three bead works that I have completed in this series. There are lots more to follow. Some will be using imagery directly from Hildegard's paintings. These pieces I have just completed look like they are directly taken out of a museum of art showcase of work from the 12th Century.

If you have any information you could share with me in this project, I am most grateful to hear from you. I have only just begun to learn and I am greedy for more insight. Information and comments are most welcome. Thanks.

Contest #8 - SP10

2007-06-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

Robyn, hostess of Secret Pal 10 has asked us to post
on a special topic for Contest #8.  Her insturctions to
us stated: 

"Blog/Post about 3 yarns you're just dying to try/get  
your hands on, and why! You have until Saturday,
June 30th, 2007 to post your entry.  This is also the
last day of SP10."

My focus this summer is going to be on Lana Grossa Yarns.
I am about to leave tomorrow for a three week trip to
Austria and Germany.  Of course, I will be visiting
every yarn shop I find on my travels. I have decided
in advance that my mission will be to come home with
some beautiful yarns made by Lana Grossa.

Currently, I am making the Penelope Blouse by Oat Couture,
out of Lana Grossa Basic Print. It is my first adventure
into Lana Grossa Yarns. I love it.
Therefore, I will be looking for more as I travel.

I have THIS BOOK and want to do some of the patterns in it.

Here are the THREE I want to get for making some sweaters.

#1: Pashmina Cashmere Mix Up - for something wonderful for
FALL/AUTUMN - It is a blend of 22% Cashmere and
28% Merino Extra Fine yarns.

#2:  Tocco - because I am crazy about yarns that have a
halo or haze effect. This yarn is 25% Kid Mohair and
20 % Merino Extra Fine, and 55% Microfiber.
I would like to try one of these blends with
microfibers since I have never used them yet.
I enjoy trying new things.

#3:   Terra Meilenwert 50 - Classic Sock Yarn
I am not yet a sock knitter. I have made two pairs,
but I want to do more.

Here are some photos of the yarns I want to try. 
Right now, I justwant to do some work using Lana Grossa
yarns. That will be my focus.
I have my knitting needles all packed, and some
pattern books. I am just about ready to fly EAST,
Across the Pond.

Where are my TREATS?

2007-06-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

Where oh where are my knitter's treats?
I signed up for the Knitter's Treat Exchange.

I sent out my treat package to my Downstream Pal, Brandi.
I have not yet heard from her that the package arrived. It was sent last week, and does not have very far to travel. I hope all is well with the package and it's Treatee.

I visited the Knitter's Treat blog this morning and suddenly I realized that I have heard nothing from my Upstream Pal, and no treats have arrived yet. Hmmmm. I wonder just WHO is my Upstream Pal and if I will be getting a treat?

Where oh where are my Knitter's Treats?

I received a wonderful thank-you for the box I sent to my Downstream Pal, Christine. This was my package for the Secret Pal 10 Exchange.
She even posted the package contents on her blog. Go HERE to see it.
What a neat person she is. I enjoy reading her blog regularly - she is very witty!
I am delighted she is so enthusiastic about her gifts from me. It is always a worry, waiting to hear from your treat-ee to see if your package got there and if your gifts were received with joy. I always hope I got it right.

UFO is now FINISHED

2007-06-06T11:24:00.001-07:00

At last, I have finished this Kimono using Lion Brand "Moonlight Mohair." I love it. It took me over a year, because I put it aside when the weather got hot last summer. I finally picked it up again this spring and got it finished up. I am very pleased with it.

Sequel to "A Clean Studio"

2007-06-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

There is nothing that can compare to the feeling of having cleaned up my studio for the season. I close it down about December when the weather here in Western PA gets cold. My studio does not have heat in it. Then, in May it gets a good cleaning. Here in PA we say we "Redd it up."

Once the redding up is over with, then the fun and the work begins. Often I get visitors who stop by to spend some time with me as I work in the studio. Today, I was visited by two of my grand daughters, Brandi and Angel.

Not only do the grand daughters come for some relaxation and fun in my studio, so do my two cats. My grand daughter Angel is holding each of the cats and rocking them in one of the three rocking chairs that are in the studio. Angel the cat likes to be rocked and he also likes to have you sing to him. His favorite tune is "Rock-a-bye Baby" and you have to say his name as you sing about him falling down from the "tree top" when you get to that part. He purrs, puts his head on your chest, holds onto you with his soft paws, and just relaxes. We have to take some time every day for Angel to be rocked.

Blaise is older and grumpy most of the time. But, today he wanted to be rocked, too. So here you have them getting rocked by Angel this morning. What am I doing during the rocking and singing, I am WORKING on a project. But, I am smiling, so that means I can work and have fun at the same time. Life is good. Dontcha think?

Beginning the Master Knitter Program

2007-05-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

It is very exciting to begin something new don'tcha think?

I like something with a time line.
I like something with a goal to be reached at the end of the project.
I like a challenge.
I like to push myself to learn new things just for me.

I thought about this for awhile and now I have officially begun the Master Knitting Program offered through the Knitting Guild of America. I got my package of instructions. I have bought my binder with the see-through pages that I will fill up as I progress through the program. This will be for my knitting samples as I complete each assignment. It will also be used for my notes and the answers to my questions.

I needed to get some really nice worsted yarn to do the samples for the assignments. I went to my LYS yesterday to buy my yarn to get started. I selectedGALWAY "Pure Wool Knitting Worsted Weight" yarn. This is by the Plymouth Yarn Company of Bristol, PA. It is wonderful yarn. It costs about $6.00 a skein and it's so soft and nice to touch.

I found it on this site.

I have one year to complete part I of this program. There are THREE LEVELS. I am signed up to begin #1, which is the Advanced Beginner level. I am very excited as I love to challenge myself and set goals to work towards. This gives me a goal. I bought the yarn yesterday so I can begin work on it now. I have until April 23, 2008 to finish it all up, for Part I. I would love to hear from anyone else there who might be working on this program, too. Please, please let me know if you are also doing this as I would love a buddy to talk it over with from time to time. That could be you, if you want to contact me. If you want to know more about this program then you can Contact TKGA here.

I will begin my first assignment this weekend. I have 10 UFOs which I have listed on this site and I set deadlines for 7 of those projects. If you want to see what else I am doing, visit these two blogs. Knitty-Prof and Stashalong.

A Clean Studio

2007-05-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

After an entire week, my summer studio is now open for the rest of the year. And, it is CLEAN.

You know how things happen sometimes. You think of doing something ambitious and before you realize it, there you go tearing apart the entire space. That is what I did last week. I started a major cleaning of this space about a week ago. I decided that it needed a good cleaning out, a purging. I had stuff accumulated there from as far back as grad school, which was completed in 1991.

Day after day I tore things apart. I started at one end of the studio and methodically went through every cabinet and drawer taking out the things that I no longer use or will ever use again. I think that over the week I carried out about 10 large bags of unwanted things. Some were taken to the Salvation Army, some to the dumpster, and some art supplies donated to my art room at the college to be used by students next year. A few things were put on Ebay. I had two wonderful French Sketch Box Easels - one never used. And, I had some killer Wood Carving Tools that I used for making my large Wood Cut prints. I don't paint outdoors any longer, and I don't make woodcut prints. I have changed over the years. Now, I prefer to work in fibers and do bead work. I have returned to my first love - quietly working with my hands on things that are small and precious. My work has matured and so have I.

My first project, in my cleaned up studio, will be to make many crystal bracelets. The proceeds from the sale of the bracelets will be donated to the Race for the Cure. I am a breast cancer survivor. This is my small way of giving back. I call it "Crystals for the Cure." I plan to be selling them at all my art festivals this year.
When I left the studio this evening it felt so good to look back and see it all organized and clean. I am anxious to begin my work now.

VISUAL DNA for Knitty Prof

2007-04-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Picture of the Soul Sister

2007-04-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are quite expressive and thoughtful. You see the world in a way that others are blind to.

You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds.

You see yourself with pretty objective eyes. How you view yourself is almost exactly how other people view you.

Your near future is in a very different place (both physically and mentally) from where you are right now.

For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Secret Pal 10 Strikes Again...

2007-04-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have received another surprise package from Agent Secret Pal 10 - and it is sure a nice one. Thank you, thank you,thank you, my secret pal for this lovely surprise package. I have really enjoyed it so much. Ummmm, you will notice that something you sent is not included in the photo. Well, it's the candy...ummmm....well, the empty wrapper is in my waste basket here beside my computer desk. I just didn't wait to photograph it before I ate it all up. Sorry, for my greedy lustfulness but this kind of chocolate just cannot be resisted and I have no restraint when it comes to FERRERO ROCHER Fine Hazelnut Chocolates. None at all.

I simply LOVE the two yarns you sent me. ORANGE is my favorite color, so this sure hits the spot. ROARING ORANGE 100% Egyptian Cotton made by Classic Elite Yarns. It is PROVENE yarn. OMG, it is so soft and silky looking. I cannot wait to see how it knits up...maybe something nice for summer? And, the other yarn is JOJOLAND RHYTHM, 100% wool and it is a lovely veregated yarn with oranges, blue-grays, and yellows. I never saw this brand before, but it sure feels nice to the touch and the colors are soft and sensitive. Maybe a nice scarf from this one?

She even sent me an Easter Bunny and some Healing Garden relax therapy Green Tea lotion which I have already used. All so nice.

Thanks to you, my SECRET PAL. Your two packages are such nice surprises and I am far more than pleased with what you sent me.

Beautiful New Designs

2007-04-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have been putting a lot of time into doing some new pieces that feature a spiral weave. Some are done with Japanese and Czech seed beads, and some with gemstone chips. I LOVED working on these new pieces.

The Green one is Aventurine Chips spiraled around a core of Czech beads that are a complimentary green. I call this one my "Spring Sea Garden Party Necklace" because of the watery green effects, and the beautiful brass starfish toggle. I LOVE this one. I plan to make a matching bracelet and the toggle on that one will be a brass fish, to keep with the sea green theme. I have already made the matching earrings for the set.

Next is a bracelet, earrings and pendant that was created in "Beaded Beads." I make the beads out of beads!!! Intersperced with the beaded beads are Czech Fire Polished Crystals and gem stones. Beautiful, is it not? I love the sizzling reds and crystals together. It is a combination of sizzling hot red, with ice cold crystals. WOW!!! This one is called "The Red Hot Momma set."

Midnight Garden is what I call the next one, done in black Snowflake Obidian gem stones. And the core of this spiral is made of aqua Czech beads, with a purple lining. You talk about brilliant glam, this one has it all. Elegant and classic at the same time.

Finally, there is the red and crystal Sweetheart Surprise Necklace. It is done in Russian Spiral weave. I have made a detachable pendant out of Peyote Weave, and that features lots of brilliant Swarovski crystals mingled in with the red and crystal Czech beads. I think it is a very festival and happy feeling necklace. Is there anything in this world that is nicer than Swarovski crystals...well, not much. I simply love working with them and I love the elegant razzle dazzle I get when I weave them into my jewelry.

On Saturday, April 28th, I will be going to the Akron Lapidary and Gem Show, with the Obsessive Compulsive Bead Workers of PA group that I belong to. OMG, a day of looking at gems and beads. I can hardly wait to be there. I always come home from gem shows with so many wonderful new stones to work with. I try never to plan ahead as to what I will be buying. I like to browse around and just wait for the right ones to let me know they are waiting for me. Being sensitive to the stones is part of the process. They speak. I listen. And, I come home a VERY HAPPY CAMPER!!!

Just wanted to share some of my most recent works with you. Hope you enjoyed seeing what I do.

Stashalong is STASHBUSTINGalong

2007-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

I began my commitment to the Stashalong Knit-Along Blog on January 15. My commitment is to buy NO new yarn for 12 months. I can buy yarn to gift to others, such as for my Secret Pals in the SECRET PAL 10 Group; the International Scarf Exchange; the Favorite Color Swap 2.
I have done that. I bought yarn for gifts for the Secret Pal 10 and the Favorite Color Swap2. And, instead of buying yarn to knit my scarf for my International Scarf Exchange Pal, I had three nice skeins of Noro Silk Garden and I have used that.

I am no into month THREE of my commitment. I am feeling so good about doing this. It is freeing to be using up yarn from my stash and not buying it.

Here is what I have accomplished in the past 2 1/2 months from my stashbusting adventure:

1.) I made a stack of washcloths and towels out of Lion Brand Cotton. These will be gifted at Christmas time. I had four cones of this yarn. I still have lots more to get knitted but I am now on cone 3 and 4.

2.) Series of wash cloths in Sugar and Cream, in purple/blues and also for Christmas gifts.

3.) The Allison Bolero out of Paton's Pebbles in Moonstone.

4.) Wick Yarn, a pair of short sports socks. This yarn is 100% cotton and it is from Knit One Crochet Too yarn. I am wearing these socks as I sit here and type this blog.

5.) A Scarf out of Ozark Handspun yarn, bought from Y2Knit at the October workshop in Vermont. This yarn is so unique and I love the textures and colors. It stands out in the crowd. So if you like to be noticed, as I do, check out this wonderful yarn right here.

6.) Socks out of Cherry Tree Hills cotton sock yarn in the color "Wild Cherry." BEAUTIFUL.
Just go HERE for more of this wonderful yarn.

7.) Poncho - out of Cherry Tree Hill's Baby Loop in soft gray/pinks/green
I love wearing this poncho as it is light and airy, yet very warm and soft.

8.) Feather and Fan Scarf - out of Malabrigo in "Cinnebar" color - For ME! I love it.

9.) Diamond Modular Scarf - used Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn, color "Moose Creek" which is very soft pinks/grays. OH, I love this monair and marino scarf. It is silky soft.

10.) a Pair of Slippers for my Mom to wear for her burial. I used a lovely white Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn for this gift of love. It was the final thing I could make for my Mother.

11.) Sand Stitch Scarf - used Vermont Fiberworks, Inc. Yarn is a very soft color called, "Red Wash"

12.) Pea Coat Sweater - I used Paton's Pebbles Yarn in "Sand Stone" color. It is warm, lightweight, and oh so very touchable.

13.) Diamond Modular Scarf - used NORO Silk Garden yarn, and this one is for my Secret Pal International Scarf exchange.

14.) Caryl's Kerchief - out of KPPM-KOIGU yarn in a very soft pink and green colorway. This scarf is a small kerchief for the neck and will be trimmed in beads. I am finishing it up now. Here is a GREAT PLACE to buy it. KOIGU yarn is pictured here - it is wonderful to work with. It is light and airy, soft, and silky.

So there you have it - I have completed 14 projects from my STASH thus far.

Favorite Accessories?

2007-03-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Of Course! I AM a STAR

2007-03-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

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.

FAVORITE COLOR SWAP #2

2007-03-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

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.

Knittin of the Green

2007-03-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Trachten Sweater in Translation

2007-03-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

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

Esther Luella McKinney

2007-03-12T19:33:00.001-07:00

The Comfort Shawl

2007-03-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

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.

International Scarf Exchange Questionaire

2007-02-27T03:48:00.000-08:00

1. Your name. Lynda with a "Y"

2. The name you use when blogging. Knitty_Prof

3. The best email address for us to use when contacting you.
generationsjewelry@yahoo.com

beadn_Prof@yahoo.com

4. Your Blog URL.
http://www.beadznyarnworks.blogspot.com

http://www.knittyprof.blogspot.com

5. Country
USA

6. Where you live. Western Pennsylvania

7. Colours you like.
Russets, Oranges, Yellow-Orange, Blue Violets, golden colors, chocolate brown

8. Colours you hate.
Light Pastels and Yellow because I do not look good in them

9. Fibres you like.
Cashmere, merino's, linen, mercerized cotton

10. Fibres you hate/allergies. fun furs, acrylics

11. Preferred scarf length. Long enough to put around my neck once or twice - I like DRAMA

12. Solid or variegated? either

13. Cables or lace? Sure

14. Are you interested in a crochet or woven scarf? Sure

15. Would you prefer a pal with a blog? Sure

Diamond Modular Scarf

2007-02-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

I have a new project on my needles today. I bought an ArtYarns pattern last year and I bought Mountain Colors Barefoot yarn to make the scarf. TODAY, I got it out and got it started. You can see my ArtYarns pattern at: http://www.artyarns.com/newsite/patterns_main.htm

I am making SCARF # P50.

You might enjoy taking a look at the art yearns website. There are dozens of very beautiful things to make there, and of course lots of wonderful yarns. http://www.artyarns.com
This site veatures luxury handpainted yarns and designs by Iris Schreier, author of Modular Knits. I will be posting a photo of my scarf soon.

This project will use up a skein of Mountain Colors yarn, and the pattern calls for 312 yarns of yarn. Another great stashbusting project in the works!

10 Balls Down - More to Go!

2007-02-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

WOW, just look at what I made out of 10 balls of Paton's Pebbles yarn. I am CRAZY about this Allison Bolero Sweater. It feels so wonderful, soft, and warm. And, I am really excited that I have used up 10 balls of yarn from my Stash.

Since I joined the stashalong blog (http://www.stashalong.blogspot.com), my Stashbusting Attitude is affecting other areas of my life as well. Recently I was at Barnes & Noble for about an hour. I was killing some time, waiting for my meeting of the "Obsessive Compulsive Bead Workers of PA" to begin. I found that I enjoyed LOOKING through all the knitting books but not BUYING any of them. OH it felt wonderful to just look and then have a cup of coffee and then go to my meeting. It is a very FREEING thing, to be able to fully enjoy things without having to own them. I am really enjoying the new found freedom this has brought to my life.

Allison Bolero Sweater

2007-02-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Allison Bolero Sweater

I finished knitting the Allison Bolero Sweater out of my stash. It was not on my list of UFOs nor was it on my list of New Projects for 2007. I guess it is what you have called a "Screaming Stash" project. I was looking through some magazines, and my binders full of pattern. I saw this pattern I had downloaded and remembered the Paton's Pebbles (Moonstone color) yarn in my stash. This yarn is so nice to work with.

See it here: https://secure.webquarters.ca/wooltrends/detailedproducts.asp?pid=20

I have knitted up 10 balls of it by making this sweater. That FEELS GOOD, to know I have de-stashed so much yarn in one project. I still have another 3 1/2 balls of it left over so I am envisioning a scarf or hat. That will be my next project, to finish up this very beautiful and lofty yarn and not return any of it to my stash.

You can find the pattern at http://www.dailyknitter.com/allison.html

I will sew it all together later today and plan to wear it this week to work. I will take photos an post them after it is finished. I LOVE making things I can wear. It feels so good to know you are wearing one of a kind original works of art.

Of course this project has led me to think about another "Screaming Stash" project. I have another 14 balls of Paton's Pebbles in a very light "Sandstone" shade. Now, I am searching through my patterns and books for just the right pattern.

I bought a pattern for the "Trends Peacoat" by Sudha Mehta of http://www.glory-ousknits.com last year. I think it might be perfect for this bulky weight yarn. I am envisioning using up another 14 balls of yarn from my stash and that is exciting!!! It is soft and oh, so, beautiful to work with and the finished product is lovely. I am excited to know I will be able to wear it this week.

With these two projects, I will use up approximately 28 balls of yarn from my stash! Way to go, huh?

Yesterday, in between working on this sweater and another bead work project, I sat down and typed up a list of my UFOs. I have it hanging here with my computer, at my desk so I can view it and keep my goals in mind to stay focused. My progress is slow, but I am vowing to knit from my stash for the next year. Can I do it?

I AM a CENTAUR -

2007-02-10T21:23:00.000-08:00

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person.However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways.You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order.You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatmythologicalcreatureareyouquiz/">What Mythological Creature Are You?

FAVORITE COLOR SWAP #2

2007-02-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

Here is my response to the Swap Questionniare for the FAVORITE COLOR SWAP #2

1 . What are your top three favorite colors?
Russet ORANGE; BLUE-VIOLET; Yellow-Orange

2. What crafts do you really enjoy? Knitting and Bead Work
I am a member of the Obsessive Compulsive Bead Workers of PA

3. What products do you really covet?
Cashmire Yarn; Lantern Moon Needles; Skacel Addi-Turbo needles; Manos del Uruguay yarn;
Cherry Tree Hill Sock Yarn

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things?
I am a motorcycle rider, a Biker Chick

5. Is there anything you collect?
Hazel Atlas Dishes; Zuni Fetishes; Puerto Rican "Santos" and lots more

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol?
Virgo

7.What are your favorite……

scents/smells?
Patchouli and Sandalwood scents

types of music and/or bands?
Appalachian Mountain Music, Minimalist Classical, Germanic Folk Music

…authors?
Contemporary Poetry

…animals?
I love all animals and I am a member of PETA

…places to shop?
Crystal Bead Bazaar, Lawrenceville, PA (Pittsburgh neighborhood)

…season?
Winter

yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies?
Yarn please but no acrylic, fun fur or other novelty yarns

…candies or goodies?
Anything that is good chocolate - particularly DARK chocolate

8. Do you have any wish lists?
No. I have "goal" lists instead. I believe that wishes have to be turned into goals.

9. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope

10. Do you have any pets?
Yes, of course. Two cats named Blaise and Angel; and one dear little guinea pig who wears a tutu and tiara for special occasions

11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy.
I LOVE wonderful beads, such as Swarovski crystal and handblown furnace glass beads.
I LOVE Japanese seed beads. I LOVE wonderful yarns that are natural fibers.
I will enjoy whatever you choose for me. I like not knowing what I am getting as it helps me to see myself through someone else's eyes.

Doing the RUSSIAN SPIRAL

2007-02-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will be going to my monthy meeting of the "Obsessive Compulsive Beadworkers of PA." For "Show and Tell" I will be taking two necklaces I have finished using the Russian Spiral technique that I learned at our last meeting.

The purple one features a pendant made of Peyote Stitch. Hanging from it are four rows of amythist and Swarovski crystals. The beads used in the necklace are done with two colors of purple using the Russian Spiral technique. The clasp is hand blown furnace polished glass.

The Black and Red one features a single faceted tear drop of Swarovski Jet, a Czech Fire Polished cube bead, and Swarovski Crystals.

Secret Pal 10 Questions

2007-02-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love Manos del Uruguay; Lorna's Laces; alpaca, and almost anything by Cherry Tree Hill. Please no acrylic or fun fur or novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have storage containers for them. But, of course I have lots more needles than I have storage. Therefore, I have a nice arrangement of "needles" in flower vases in my kitchen. They look so great in the antique vases.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started knitting as a child, about 8 years old. I am advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? no

5. What's your favorite scent? Patchouli or Sandlewood. No florals and definitely nothing that smells like baking.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Godiva Chocolates or other fine chocolate would be my fav.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I do not like to spin. I weave and knit and I do very intricate beadwork. I am a member of the Obsessive Compulsive Bead Workers of PA...seriously, I am.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Prefer Classical music, and also love Appalachian Mountain music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I don't like pastels or soft colors much. I like strong color.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Been married since 1961. Five children are grown. We have 7 grand children, and 3 great grand children. Two cats (Blaise and Angel), one guinea pig (Sparkles), one mineature bunny (Lunesta). I LOVE animals!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, ykes, yes, and yes.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Things I can WEAR.

13. What are you knitting right now? Multiple projects: Items for Christmas gifts for 2007; a poncho out of Cherry Tree Hill's Baby Loop; a bolero jacket from Moda Dea "Pebbles" yarn; two pair of socks with yarns I brought from Austria last summer; a Kimono jacket out of Moonlight Mohair...and probably a few more UFOs I am not remembering at the moment.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Absolutely!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Lantern Moon needles, and Skacel Addi Turbo needles are my favorites. I only have a couple pairs of them.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes and Yes

17. How old is your oldest UFO? About 10 months or so. I plan to finish it in the next week.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Zuni Fetishes; Puerto Rican Santos; Fine Yarns; Hazel Atlas dishes; Ruby Red Viking Glass wear; ANY Viking Art Glass objects; Green Santa Clause figures; Knitting Needles; and more....yes, I do collect. My oh My, do I collect!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I subscribe to Knit & Style magazine. I love most any knitting magazine and often pick up issues when I am shopping.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? ? Not sure - I enjoy anything challenging.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Not a lot - I have only knitted two pair of socks this year. But, I have 2 more on the needles. I do love them but I also love doing more visable products that I can wear that get a LOT of attention. I wear size 8 shoe size.

23. When is your birthday? August 27th

The Russian Spiral

2007-01-15T04:45:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-01-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

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.

Wrapping Gifts and Making Snow Flakes

2006-12-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

I had help with the gift wrapping this week. Two of our Great Grand Children arrived at 7:30 am. Their mom dropped them off on her way to work. Our goal that day was to wrap all of Great Grandma's gifts. We had a blast. We wrapped gifts, took breaks, had hot chocolate. We even stopped working in the afternoon to make snowflakes for their windows at home. I ironed the paper snowflakes between sheets of waxed paper. I added some shavings from a scented candle. The wax melted when I put the hot iron on the paper. It scented all the snowflakes and made them translucent, too. My grand daughter says they smell so good. What a nice day!!!

How do you like my 1960s silver tree. I have four of them and I am just crazy about them. This one is in our dining room and you can see some of our newly wrapped gifts there beneath the tree.

2006-12-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

Chrstimas MEME

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?

Egg Nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?

Wraps, Wraps, Wraps, and Wraps some more

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

WHITE LIGHTS in windows, no lights on the vintage Aluminum tree

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

NO, I don’t hang anything really. I quit doing extensive decorating a few years ago.

It is much nicer this way. No stress, just enjoyment of the season.

5. When do you put up your decorations?

Around the 15th of December or later

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

ROASTED VEGTABLES

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

SNOW- and the sound of Santa’s reindeer on the rooftop as I lay awake in bed

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

NO. Christmas Eve is quiet here. Our celebration is on Christmas Day with family coming here from all over…our house is lively and fun.

10. What kind of decorations are on your Christmas tree?

Vintage glass balls on the 60s silver Aluminum tree. I have four of these trees.

I guess I must “collect” them.

11. Snow!

Love it or dread it?

LOVE to look out the window and see Snow all over the neighborhood

12. Can you ice skate?

Not really, at my age???? You can’t be serious!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

The doll who got a cracked face shortly after I received her

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?

SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES and having the family come home for Christmas to be with us. And, being at home where I can knit and make jewelry all I want since I have a little break between semesters

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

In my memories it is my Grandmother Kirker’s German cookies, and my Aunt Jeanne’s Orange Cookies with orange frosting, and my Mother’s crispy sugar cookies.

16 What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Making hand knitted gifts for people whom I love

17. What tops your tree?

Nothing. I keep it minimal

18. What is your favorite holiday book?

I like a short story, “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote –
I have the film and a copy of the story

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

“SILENT NIGHT” because I have visited the village in Austria
where it was first perfomed in a very tiny church in the center of the village.

I like most any Christmas music and especially love Handel's Messiah.

20. Candy canes?

I like the candy cane cookies best – used to make them when I had children at home

and before I was aware of the health hazards of sweets.

Green and Red for SP9 Pal

2006-12-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

My SP9 Pal, in Connecticut will soooooon be getting this package, all done up in Green and Red for Christmas. She will cele brate her birthday this week, so I have worked on a whole collection of fun gifts for her. She'll be getting some wonderful Skacel Addi Turbo needles;

Koigu and Wilde Yarns http://www.wildeyarns.com;

a Vogue Knitting Magazine http://www.vogueknitting.com of Holiday items to knit;

lotions and creams and handmade soaps;

a special pair of stitch markers and hand knitted and felted bowl http://www.oneskein.com that I made from the new One Skein book just for her.

There are lots and lots of other items in her box. So, it is all wrapped up now, and my husband has taken over the task of putting it all in a mailing box to be shipped out later this afternoon.

If you are in Connecticut and you are a Secret Pal 9 member, maybe this box is for YOU. Ah, you will have to wait a couple days more, to see if it arrives at YOUR house. I am keeping it a SECRET.

Check out this blog at http://www.secretpal9.blogspot.com

Secret Pal 9

2006-12-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

To my DEAR Secret Pal 9

I am about ready to get your goodies packed up and shipped off to you. Too bad you don't know that though! Your birthday is coming right up and I would like to have this box out in time for you to have a nice Birthday Surprise. I am posting a picture of your box of delightful things just before I ship it off to you. Keep watching, this box just may be for YOU!!!I do hope you will have a really, really nice surprise! My surprise package is traveling NORTH-EAST, up to New England. And, that is all the clues I am giving. Check out this fabulous knitting exchange, Secret Pal 9 at: http://www.secretpal9.blogspot.com

Green Santas Bring a White Christmas

2006-12-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

I spent this afternoon getting my collection of

GREEN SANTAS

out of their attic storgage container. I put most of them on display on the top of the baby grand piano in the living room. I am begginning to think of Christmas, now that my

GREEN SANTAS

are in place cheering me on.

I started collecting them quite a few years ago. I don't really go out on a search to find them. But, one by one, sometimes one comes across my path. Well, I just can't pass them up. I did add one new one this year. I went out shopping on Black Friday. And, there he was, standing there just waiting for my very early morning arrival at his store. He is the tall one dressed in the pea green standing to the left of the tall orange glass vase. Somehow, whenever I come across a

Green Santa

I have this obsessive impulse that I HAVE to have him. I always have the feeling that I gotta get him very fast before someone else comes along and takes him away. Kinda like the same feeling I have when I am in a yarn shop and I am holding a wonderful skein of yarn in my hands...I have to have it!!! I just HAVE to. You understand, don't you?

Early Sunday Morning Reading

2006-12-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

It is early Sunday Morning, 3 December 2006

I had to get up early this morning to get some reading done before I go to church.

The book I am reading is Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. It has 4 1/2 stars (out of 5 possible) on Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Arcadia-Play-Tom-Stoppard/dp/0571169341/sr=1-1/qid=1165152692/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2624831-0896717?ie=UTF8&s=books

It is a play and it's assigned reading for one of the courses I am teaching this semester. This play fluctuates back and forth between centuries and from the Classical to the Romantic temperament. I highly recommend it for some winter morning reading!

The course I teach is Humanities 303, a course that spans the time periods from Romanticism through Post Modernism. I have to say, PoMo is my favorite so this PoMo play is enjoyable for me to read and to teach.

Meanwhile, I am grateful for all my "knitting breaks" and knitting friends throughout every day that keep me grounded with my feet on this planet.

Sparkle is a Cavie

2006-11-26T07:18:00.000-08:00

Guinea Pigs are called Cavies and they are so neat. I thought you would like to see a photo of Sparkle. We just adopted her over Thankgsiving. I had her in the bathtub this morning while we cleaned her cage. She loves all the dried flowers and plants that I have on hand. I like to gather wild flowers and things like this for teas for winter time. She is eating them up and she loves them. Well, I can see I have to dry a LOT more plants next summer just to keep her well fed over the winter months with things she really enjoys eating. Have you ever gathered flowers and made teas from them? Oh, it is wonderful. We especially love to gather large red clovers, Heal-All flowers, Mullen leaves (for colds), and Spearment. Sparkle is crazy about them as you can see. Isn't she a cutie?

Thankful

2006-11-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.riversongs.com/cards/thanksgiving-day.html

Here is my Thanksgiving Card to you, my knitting and artsy friends.

I am THANKFUL today!

Our Thanksgiving Day was really wonderful. Three of my five children were able to be here, with their families. We had a house full of happy people, lots of tasty foods and treats, even some of the family pets came along for the day. We adopted a little Guinnea Pig, Sparkles. She arrived in time to be with everyone for the holidays and she is sooo cute. Sparkles was a pet of our two grand sons, Matthew and Stephen. But, as they grow older they did not have much time to spend with her. So she is now with us and we will enjoy her.

My daughter Ilsa and I joined my sister-in-law, Debbie, and her daughter Penny Rose for a day of shopping on Black Friday. What fun we had, leaving at 5:30 am to go shopping at a mall. We went out for breakfast around 9 am, and after that we returned to the mall for one more hour of shopping before we headed back home with the back of Debbie's Jeep filled to the top with packages.

In the middle of the holiday festivities, I am managing to get some knitting done, too. I have been working on Christmas gifts. I have now completed five scarves, one sweater, some dish cloths for gifts. I have some other things on the needles that will be Christmas gifts, too. I will keep at it and see just how much I can get done before Christmas. I think I will really enjoy seeing my family members open hand knitted gifts this year. I am happy that I can do this.

For the UFO list:
First, there is a sweater for my great-granddaughter Delaunay that is nearing completion right now. It is done with Moda Dea Yarn - Sassy Stripes which is made by Coates. I am using the free pattern that on the display with this yarn. I hope to complete the sweater today and then begin work on the hat to match it. I can't wait to see her wearing it. I think she will be delighted when she opens it up on Christmas day. If I get it all finished in time, maybe I will even get a scarf done to match the sweater and hat. Check the site out - http://www.modadea.com The Color for the set is No. 6946 and It is beautiful.It is in the red colorway.

Second, there is my kimono http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/merinof_kimono.html
I am making it out of Moonlight Mohair. It is getting there. I have completed all the pieces for it and just have to sew it together and then knit in the short sleves. A couple of days, and it should be done. Maybe that is something I can work on over the winter break when I have a couple weeks off between semesters. I LOVE this pattern, don't you?

Third, a sweater for a great grand son. It is started.

Yarn Crawl in Vermont

2006-11-10T06:50:00.000-08:00

My friend Chris and I went on a week long YARN CRAWL all over the state of Vermont recently. (That means I was on a MISSION to buy "YARN" and was driving around visiting every yarn shop I could find.)

We had registered to be part of the 5 day long Y2Knit Workshop http://www.y2knit.com that started on October 25. That is a Wednesday. We flew from Western PA to Burlington, VT the Sunday prior to that. It gave us three days to do a Yarn Crawl all over Vermont before we arrived at Shellburne the afternoon of the 25th.

We visited some wonderful yarn stores and already had bought a suitcase full of new Vermont yarns before we got to the workshop. Then, at the workshop, there was an entire room set up at our bed and breakfast, full of yarns from the Y2Knit shop which is located in Funkstown, MD. Of course, we did more shopping there, too.

In all, I came home with 55 NEW skeins of yarn. I have now organized it and put it in my stash. I do have specific projects in mind for all the yarn I bought. I have already started working on a pair of socks with some wonderful Cherry Tree Hill http://www.cherryyarn.com/ cotton yarn. One sock is finished, and the other is started. There is the link to a wonderful sock pattern by Cherry Tree Hill...I am going to make that one next.

All in all, the workshop was the best imaginable. And the YARN CRAWL, well, I was in heaven. I think you "get it." Right?

Wrapped in Gold for my ISE Pal

2006-10-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello to my International Scarf Exchange pal, Judy Hodges, who lives in Marietta, Georgia. Yes, inside this box, wrapped in gold, are your surprises. I made you a lavender-pink scarf, and I included lots of other little surprises for you. I have wrapped all your packages in gold metallic papers and put lovely iridescent ribbons on them. I hope you will like your surprises. I loved making this scarf for you, Dr_Leonesse, and hope you enjoy it.

Gathering Violets in the Fall

2006-10-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am a
Violet

What Flower
Are You?

My fondest memories of my childhood is gathering violets on my way home from school. I passed a large farm field, and I would stoop down and gather them one by one in my hand. I would not stop until I had a nice fist full to take home. I love violets and was pleased to be a "violet" when I took this test. It is true, it takes me a long time to let someone know me. I don't just take to people at all.

I am a TRENDsetter!

2006-10-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Kellie Pendleton for this lovely scarf! This is what I received from the International Scarf Exchange last week.

http://scarfexchange.blogspot.com/

I love it and it is just in time for our cold weather here in western PA. There was ice on the water outside this morning.

This is not a super photo of me as it was taken very early in the morning before I left for work. I asked my hubby to take it for me, and he has to be "directed" in taking photos so the result is not the best. I am trying to tell him how to take the photo...he has absolutely no skills with a camera. But, it does show off my wonderful scarf and that is what I wanted to do.

Secret Pal 9 - Answers to Questions

2006-10-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

Here are my answers to the secret pal questionnaire...

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love soft variegated wool yarns and silky blends. I absolutely love kid mohair in vibrant colors. In fact, I am in love with any good mohair yarn. I am crazy about Noro yarns in brilliant colors. I am wild about Mountain Colors yarns. I don't much like fun fur or this type of yarn but I do play with it in some of my art projects, like felted bowls.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Everything is stored in a see through container with a lid on it. It is the kind of thing you get in Walmart for storage. I have them all neatly arranged inside of one container so I can find what I need when I need it. I like things organized. It makes life so much easier.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I’ve been knitting for over 50 years, since I was around 8 or 10 years old.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? – No

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

Patchouli is my all-time favorite scent. I love the Kiss My Face products in Patchouli scent. I use handmade soaps exclusively. I like Eucalaptus, Green Tea, etc. My favorite perfume is Angel.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, but I keep it under control. I work out at a gym several days a week and try to not eat candy much.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I majored in fiber arts as an undergraduate, along with painting. I learned to spin, but I hate it.
I would much rather go buy the yarn I want to use. I make jewelry from sterling silver and wonderful stones and I sell it at art festivals year round. I am a professor of fine art, so I am always making stuff.

8. What kind of music do you like? I like different kinds of ethnic music. I always buy local music when I am traveling in Austria, Germany, Puerto Rico, etc. I love Appalachian Mountain music and Bluegrass very much.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love Russets, Oranges, Yellow-Orange, Red-Orange, Lime Greens, and Turquoise type colors. I like COLOR. I do not wear gray or any bland colors. I hate colors that are neutral and without strong personalities. I like my color rich and vibrant.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married and have 2 cats. We have been married since 1961 - I guess that makes it about 45 years now. Wow, time flys. We have 5 children, 7 grand children, and 3 great grand children.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I love them all

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I like to wear the things I knit - clothing. I enjoy knitting for other people, a gift of love.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Lots of things! My first pair of socks. I have one done, and started the other one. I am working on three scarves for Christmas gifts. I have a number of other things going that I will wear, such as a jacket designed by Lilly Chin, and a kimono.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I use both straight and circular. I prefer bamboo or aluminum.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes and yes

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 6 months. I started a kimono out of Moonlight mohair in the late winter. Then, when summer came I put it on hold till cooler weather. I am about to finish it up in a few weeks.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I enjoy them all. I especially love Christmas, though, because of my large family.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yarn; Gem Stones and Jewelry; Green Santa Clause figures (they are dressed in green instead of red); Zuni Fetishes; Puerto Rican Santos; Viking Glass from the 19950s; Hazel Atlas dinnerwear from the 20-30s. And, more!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?I have a subscription to Knit & Style that will begin soon since my grandson was selling mags for his school fund raiser. - I love reading knitting mags and am always on the lookout for really cool patterns. I love Vogue Knitting and would like a subscription to that one.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Yes, I would like to learn many things. I am going to a workshop with the Y2Knit group in Vermont later this month and hope to learn finishing techniques there. I am doing my homework now, for it.

22. Are you a sock knitter? Just learning to do it. I am shoe size 8.

23. When is your birthday? August 27. Since I am not a car, the year does not matter. I absolutely hate to hear people talking about their age - how boring is that! We are not cars, but human beings and we have a timeless and ageless "spirit" so why bother with the birth date???

Mason Baby Blanket

2006-09-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

I have completed the "Mason Baby Blanket." It is my own design, and was done in celebration of the birth of my nephew's new baby, Mason McKinney. It is a very soft "Baby Blue" and done in Bernat CottonTot 100% cotton yarn.

Wednesday with Grandma

2006-09-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

I am one lucky lady. Wednesday is knitting with Grandma day here at my house. I happen to be the grandma. And, joining me today for some knitting in the morning, were my two grand daughters, Brandi and Angel. Brandi started working on a hat for herself out of fun fur and Homespun yarns. Angel is working on a scarf out of two strands of fun fur. We had lots of fun together, knitting. How could a day be much nicer than this one!

It is MY Lace, anyway!

2006-09-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

I have THREE WONDERFUL THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT TONIGHT.

First, Whose Lace is it Anyway? http://laceswap.blogspot.com I am very happy to say, it is ALL MINE. Yes, my package arrived yesterday from my secret pal, Lorinda Carbonara. You can find her blog by going to http://lorindarants.blogspot.com

Here is the PURE PLEASURE that was packed into a box and mailed to me by Lorinda. It is chock full of alpaca lace weight yarn, a beautiful shawl pattern, and oddles of things that an artist would appreciate and cherish. There was even some fantastic CANDY in there...all for ME!!! Thank you Lorinda for making my day so bright. When I came home from a very long day at school, the box was on my front porch waiting for me to find it. What a delight it was.

Second, I received my hand knitted gift from my Secret Pal from the One Skein Exchange. Here it is, a lovely bowl in soft shades of pink and oranges. My favorite colors! Thank you so much, Robin Geller from Chicago. The bowl now has a place of honor in my "pink room." That is where I knit and visit with family and friends. Here's the felted bowl...

Secret Pal 9

2006-09-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

NOW is the time to sign up for SECRET PAL 9 http://www.secretpal9.blogspot.com
if you want to be involved. Sign ups will close Sept. 30. Visit this website and take a look.

My secret Pal, Melinda, http://mjmknitting.blogspot.com
from the Favorite Color Exchange http://favoritecolorswap.blogspot.com told me about it and we have both signed up.

If you enjoy exchanges and swaps, this should be a lot of fun. I love doing them.

Let there be ROARange Bliss

2006-08-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

My birthday was yesterday, but my big surprise came in today's mail from my Secret Pal in the Favorite Color Exchange. My package was delivered this afternoon when I got home from my first day back at school.

I decided to savor the surprise and not open it for a few hours. It is nice to just contemplate a gift sometimes, not be in a big rush to open it all quickly. So, after I had done a number of tasks I went back down to my dining room to begin opening the gifts.

Everything was enveloped in my favorite color - orange. OMG, was it wonderful to see so much of that color all in one package. Here are the BEFORE and AFTER photos of my gifts from Melinda McCaffrey, my Secret Pal. http://mjmknitting.blogspot.com/

What was IN this package????
Patcholi Soap, made with fair trade and organic ingredients. My favorite scent:
2 balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton dk - never had any DB before, and I am so excited with this orange color; Lip Smackers Starburst for my luscious lips; a Post-it cube and a Twinkler's Jiggly light up pen for my desk at the college; a new journal with an orange cover; an artist canvas becaue I am a painter; mango licorice because I love exotic licorace; Peach Daquiri Nail Polish, six Stitch markers with orange crystal made by Melinda herself, and a wonderful CD that I am listening to as I write. This package has something for all the senses, taste, touch, smell, sound. What could be more wonderful than that?

How can I possible express the joy of receiving such a personal and thoughtful gift from a person who has never even met me in person? You are amazing and I thank you, Melinda. This is bliss.

My Secret Pal who loves purple

2006-08-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

This one is for my Secret Pal , Valerie Cheel, in the Whose Lace is it Anyway exchange. As you can see she loves purple so everything for her package is in shades of purple. I sent her purple lace weight yarn from http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/lacewght.htm , a lovely pattern for a lace shawl, a book of poetry with a purple cover (authored by me!), a book marker, lavender handmade soap and bath salts, a piece of pottery with purple glaze, by a PA artist and some cdelicious candy I brought back from Germany...I wrapped it all up in purple and send it off this week. It is delightful to send off packages to a Secret Pal and it was so much fun shopping for this lovely lady. I hope I did a good job for her. My cat, Angel, is taking a look at the contents of this package. I think he was hoping that I had some catnip in this package but instead it was the fresh lavender he sniffed out. And, I can't wait to ge MY package from MY Secret Pal, too. You can visit VALERIE at her blog to see what this very talented young woman is doing. http://trilliums.blogspot.com

Retro Red Fuzzies

2006-08-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have completed my first projects made from the One Skein book. OH, am I excited!!!
Here are my three felted bowls. I never did anything like this before and I am so thrilled with my first attempts, I am now working on more of them. My family members love them and so I plan to make some for Christmas gifts this year, too. What do you think?

The one that is BLACK and RED was made for my Secret Pal in the One Skein Exchange. She is Shelly and you can read her blog here http://theyarntart.blogspot.com Her kitchen is RETRO in RED, BLACK, and WHITE. I decided she needed a very wild RETRO felted bowl to match her kitchen. She said she thinks she will use it for her ball of yarn when she is knitting. It is one wild thing for a gal who is one wild thing, too. Enjoy your stuff, Shelly.

Red is the color for my Secret Pal

2006-08-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

OK, I have FINISHED my shopping for my secret pal in the FAVORITE COLOR SWAP. Her color is RED and I have hunted for lots of things in RED for her. I created some things that I think she will enjoy. I searched for things that were made by other Pennsylvania artists, too. I selected some things at various arts festivals over the past month as I was gathering. And, I selected a nice yarn for her in REDs as well as I gathered some other goodies for her to enjoy. Here are the photos of the selection of gifts and then another one of how this package looks before I sent it off across the big pond to a land far away. Bon Voyage!

Right On the Money!

2006-08-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent.
Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art.

You would make an excellent:

Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor
Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer
Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer
Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor

The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

I took this little test and the results are above. I am an artist and art professor, so I would say it was accurate in my case. The worst career options for me are a bank teller and a secretary. No kidding! You definitely would not want ME to be taking your money at the bank. Lord knows, I have a hard encough time just taking care of my own finances. I would much rather be making stuff.

I have to admit that I was a secretary once - for three weeks. It was pure hell and I did not even want to get out of bed in the mornings, and I lived for the lunch break. After three weeks, I decided I would rather starve than make my income this way. My spirit was dying by the day. It was a time in my life when I really needed the job and the money, but I could not live my life this way. One day, after my lunch break, I went to the owner of the little company and said, "I want to turn in my resignation." It was one of the smartest moves I have ever made, when I acknowledged that I did not have what it takes to be a secretary. It was a living nightmare for me. I can't see myself doing any kind of job that requires standardization and doing the same thing every day. I thrive on change and changing and changes.

Thank God, I am doing the work I was created to do. But to think, I could have spent the rest of my life in a job I hated. I refused to do that. I just wonder how many people are doing a job every day that they actually hate. I think there are a lot of them out there. I say, follow your bliss and do what you love.

What's Your Ideal Career?

Lace Swap

2006-08-04T04:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a swap that should be fun.

You meet some really neat people by participating in the swaps and knit-along groups.
http://laceswap.blogspot.com This is a LACE SWAP. Since I have never knitted lace (at least not much) I decided this one would be good for me to do. The idea is that I will begin to TRY to do it. I even bought a new book at my LYS last week that is all levels of lace knitting. I think I will pick out an "easy" one to do.

Here is what you are going to do if you participate in this swap.

You will get a "Secret Pal." That is your DOWNSTREAM Pal. Then, someone will get YOU and that is your UPSTREAM Pal. (I like the idea of an Upstream and Downstream Pal. Makes me think of kyaking or something adventurous like that.) You will send your "ownstream Pal" the following items:

1200 yds laceweight yarn (broadly speaking we're talking cobweb to fingering here)
A nice pattern or needle to knit it
A little treat - chocolate, candy, whatever you feel like sending

The Adminstrator says, "I guess it's hard to come up with something for a total stranger. The rule I use is that if I'd be happy to recieve it, or I'm proud to send it, then I've done my best." That is what I intend to do. I will shop as though I am shopping for me.

~~ Here is my response to the questions for this swap~~

1. Would you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate or advanced? A raw beginner

2. What shape of shawl do you prefer - square, circle, triangle? I love them all! You can choose for me. I will be delighted with your choice

3. Favourite colours? Russets, Violets, Greens (but not bright green)

4. Solid colours or variegated? solid

5. Is an international swap pal okay with you? yes, I would greatly enjoy doing an international swap

Irish Hiking Scarf

2006-08-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

I have FINISHED my first Irish Hiking Scarf. I joined the knit-along to keep me motivated. Now, I am showing it off. Here's the link if you are intersted in knowing more about this pattern. http://irishhikingknitalong.blogspot.com/
I made mine using Gedifra Fashion Trend Stripe in a lovely warm blend of burgundy reds. It is so soft. I made mine about 67 inches long so I could wrap it around my neck and have ample scarf to hang down.

Favorite Color Swap

2006-07-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

OK, I joined a fourth knitting thing. It is the Favorite Color Swap. http://favoritecolorswap.blogspot.com/ This one is a SWAP and not a knit-along as the others are that I am into. You find out your Secret Pals' favorite colors then prepare a package of gifts that are in her favorite color(s) and they are chosen to fit with her personality and her interests. I thought this sounded like a lot of fun. I got my "downstream Pal" this morning and immediately wrote to her to begin our conversation. She lives in The Netherlands. Now, how cool is that! I am delighted to have an international pal for this project. I have sent her the list of questions so I can begin to think about her gifts.

I will post the questions here, along with MY responses to them. Now, my "upstream Pal" will be consulting my list and she will be shopping for ME. I think this sounds like so much fun. I love surprises and I love to give gifts and receive gifts. I will really enjoy this project.

Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire

1. What are your top three favorite colors?

At the TIP TOP of my FAVORITES LIST is the ORANGE family. I love the color and I love the word. I like every shade of orange that is imaginable. But my all time favorite color is YELLOW-ORANGE. But I love the entire range from Yellow-Orange to Deep Russets.

Second on my list would be AQUA. I love Aqua Blue colors such as in Turquoise stones from Arizona.

Third on my list would be BLUE-VIOLET.

2. What crafts do you really enjoy?

I really would never call myself a “crafter.” I am an artist who likes to knit and I approach everything from a fine art point of view rather than a crafter view. There IS a philosophical difference between crafting and art and it is a very deep one. For me, it is Knitting, knitting, knitting. I have been knitting since I was a young child and nothing captivates me like knitting. I love knitting, weaving, working with beads (weaving them).

3. What products do you really covet?

Fine yarns. I could go crazy shopping in a yarn store because I want to buy everything I see there. I can’t stop touching them all and looking at all the colors. I am the same way with luxurious beads such as Murano glass from Venice; Swarovski crystal from Austria; Bohemian crystal and Amber from Czech Republic.

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things?

I have two studios.
The largest one is for beadwork, painting, and bookmaking. In this one is all my canvases, beads, paints, and papers.

The other is for weaving and fiber art. I have a Macomber loom in this one, and my sewing machine, and my STASH of yarn.

5. Is there anything you collect? My OH My! Do I collect?
Here are a FEW of the things I collect:

Zuni Fetishes, Puerto Rican Santos, Art (paintings, pottery, sculpture), books of contemporary poetry, books on African American poetry, books on contemporary art, Hazel Atlas dinnerware, Viking Glass…and more.

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol? Virgo but I am not into that at all.

7.What are your favorite……scents/smells?

Favorite scent for bathing is Patcholi,

Favorite Perfumes are Estee Lauder’s White Linen, Cool Water, and Angel…

types of music and/or bands? Classical, Appalachian Mountain Folk Music…

authors? Annie Dillard, Robert Bly, Yusef Komunyakaa, Rita Dove…

animals? Griffons…

places to shop? Neiman Marcus and yarn shops…

season? Winter…

yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? Kid mohair yarns are my favorite.
I love the bloom of them.…and the feel and the colors

candies or goodies? Expensive chocolates and licorace from German Candy shops

8. Do you have any wish lists? I turn my wishes into goals and go get them. Nothing comes to mind right now that I can think of. I am pretty content with life at the moment and really don't have any strong desires or wishes. Contentment is good.

9. Are you allergic to anything? Don’t think so

10. Do you have any pets? Yes, I love my 2 cats, Angel and Blaise. I am definitely a CAT person. I like dogs but have no desire to own one, at least not right now. They require far too much attention and human interaction.

11. My greatest passions in life are in the fine arts. I am wild about art and poetry.

It is so worth it!

2006-07-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

First, my One Skein Secret Pal, Shelly, sent me photos of her wonderful yarn room with her yarns stashed neatly on shelving. I was envious of her organization. http://theyarntart.blogspot.com And, I kept thinking that I needed to be more organized. All my yarns are scattered about the house in overflowing baskets. They look nice, but it's hard to know what I have and I keep adding to my stash on top of all the yarns already in the baskets.

Then, I was talking to my daughter, Heidi, on the phone and told her I needed to organize my yarn stash and my fibers studio but that it seemed to overwhelming. Heidi is a bead artist and painter and has a fantastic studio in the PA mountains. http://www.geocities.com/sassifrasshill Heidi told me that it is a lot of work to get things organized in the studio, but in the end "it is so worth it."

I remembered her words and they became my inspiration to begin the job. It has taken me a few days but now I can stand here and look over my neatly "stashed" yarns and things related to knitting. I think I could put my finger on most anything I want right now. And, yes, it is so worth it. Thank you Shelly and Heidi for helping me get motivated to get my stash in better order. Of course, there are still baskets around with yarns and that is because they look so pretty and make my home look cozy and I like them!

Lilac Yarn

2006-07-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

I received my JUNE GIFT from my SECRET PAL for the One-Skein Secret Pal Exchange. http://www.oneskein.com

The photo is of a skein of FEZIA Kid Mohair, made in Italy.

I absolutely LOVE my gift. Thank you, Secret Pal! You could not have chosen a yarn I would enjoy more than this. This color is so soft and luscious with a shimmer of silver running very quietly throughout. The yarn is so soft you want to reach out and just touch it. I have never worked with a "kid mohair" before and look forward to making something from this skein. I am thinking it will be a "feather and Fan" lace scarf.

Want to make a FEATHER AND FAN SCARF? Here is the pattern for it.

Materials:
YARN - worsted weight, 2 skeins
NEEDLES - US size 7 needles
GAUGE - 5 sts per inch in pattern st.
SIZE - When finished and laid out flat, the piece measures 7 in. wide and 80 in. long.

DIRECTIONS -
Cast on 36 sts.

PATTERN -
Begin pattern. Pattern is a multiple of 18 sts.
Row 1: (RS) knit.
Row 2: purl.
Row 3: *(k2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times* rep between *s to end. Row
4: knit.

Repeat rows 1-4 until scarf is 80 inches long or desired length. End with row 4 of pattern, and then bind off knitwise. Weave in ends and block.

Blog Membership

2006-07-15T04:52:00.000-07:00

These are the three BLOG Knit-Along groups I am participating in right now. I decided I wanted to do cables, so I thought the Irish Hiking Scarf would be the place to begin. I am making progress daily on it and really enjoy doing the cables. http://irishhikingknitalong.blogspot.com/ -- - - - - - - - - -

I bought the One Skein book, joined the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange. It started in June. I have sent my packages to my downstream "Pal" in California. I really enjoyed shopping for her for both packages and enjoy communicating with her so much. I am working on my August gift to her. I started it when I was in Austria in June/July. It is a challenge, I had to frog it several times, but I think it will turn out really nice. I have also heard from my upstream "pal" and will be recieving a skein of yarn from her soon. Both ladies are really enjoyable to talk with and I am so glad I joined this challenge. http://oneskein.blogspot.com- - - - - - - --- - - - -

I joined the Year of the Sweater to keep me motivated and making sweaters this year. I have two on the needles right now. One is a Lilly Chin designed sweater that I am knitting out of two yarns that I have combined to get the look and feel that I wanted. The other is a Japanese Kimono style sweater that I am doing from Moonlight Mohair. Talk about soft! http://yearofthesweater.blogspot.com- - - - - - - - -

A Year of Creativity

2006-07-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

I am very slowly reading the book by Brenda Mallon, A Year of Creativity. I really started it about a year ago. It is one of those books that has to be read in very small doses, then dwell on what you have read and let it settle into your soul awhile. I love this little book. I have no idea how many years it will be before I have finished it. Sometimes, I read only one paragraph and have to spend days on just the thoughts I have from that one small paragraph. Other times, I don't even look at the book for weeks on end.

I have decided that I will begin a year of daily artmaking on my birthday, August 27th. I will do one work-on-paper each day for an entire year, to celebrate my 63rd birthday. I am thinking now about how I will do this and I know this book will be a central part of what I will be doing. Stay tuned for more on that in the next few weeks as I get ready to begin this year long project.

On Page 27, the author lists a number of exercises to teach us how to recognize the inner Muse. As an artist, it is critical that I am in touch with the Muse. Daily mundane activities often intervene and make us forget our intuitive link between who we are, what we see, and how we feel. This little book brings me back to who I really am, a created being who is a creative person.

"Our inner Muse speaks

when we are willing to listen."

The challenge Mallon makes is to turn off the tv and radio for a week. Stop reading newspapers and begin to listen to the sound of creative silence. You will begin to hear the inner Muse. Listen, and take notes!

I remembered this advice today and decided to take my knitting outside to the patio instead of listening to music on the stereo or turning on the television. Instead of the electronic sounds surrounding me, Nature came to visit me and what a delightful time I have had.

As I sat there knitting away, a number of birds came by to take a look and gossip about what was in their garden. There was quite a bit of bird chatter, calling back and forth about this "something" new that was on the patio. We feed the birds and other wild animals every day, so there is always a gaggle of things moving about out there in the shade of the Hemlock trees and giant old Maple. First the brave Blue Jay landed within five feet of where I sat. He did this a few times, testing the waters. You see, there is cat food on the patio and he wanted it. But, there I was right by the cat food. He would land nearby, take a quick look at me, look around, then fly off to a nearby branch. A few times he circled so close that I could have touched him, hovering above the cat food.

There I sat for a couple of hours, knitting away so quietly it seemed like magic. I could feel the smoothness of the needles passing quietly in and out of the soft cotton yarn I was knitting. They seemed to glide like a pair of skaters dancing on ice. Smooth and quiet with just a very soft sound that I could feel in my hands as I moved the silver needles in and out of that yarn. I am making kitchen towels to give as Christmas gifts to my granddaughters. I like to think that in some way this magic will be knitted into my gift.

I looked up to see a squirrel hanging upside down, looking at me from a nearby tree. Many black birds, cardinals, morning doves, sparrows, and other small birds were coming and going like planes in an airport. And, meandering about in the thick ivy were a number of rambunctious little chipmonks darting about. They chirped and got my attention a number of times. They seemed to be playing joyfully with me. The English ivy was shaking vigourously as they scurried about underneath the broad deep green leaves, giving away their presence. Occasionally, I would see a head or tail pop out. I continued the rhythm of my knitting. Knitting to the sounds of nature in a landscape that surrounds me was a delight.

It was a glorious morning of knitting there with the wild creatures in thier world. I highly recommend knitting outdoors, absorbing the rays of light as our bodies were created to do and getting a good dose of Vitamin D from the sun at the same time. I will make this a daily habit during the summer months and into the fall. I would bet the Blue Jays will soon just drop by, eat the cat food and pay me no attention. They seem to be rather fearless birds and they are so curious about this new thing knitting in their garden.

Find you own way today to get in touch with the silence of your inner Muse. Time will stand still as you enter into a state of timelessness.

Lilly Chin Shawl-Collar Wrap

2006-07-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

I have started a sweater jacket that is featured in Better Homes and Gardens Hip Knits, 65 easy projects from hot designers. The design is by Lilly Chin and it is called a "Shawl-Collar Wrap" in the magazine.

I am using yarns I purchased at the Pittsburgh Knitting Festival from a vendor who was there, Newton Country Yarns of Anaheim, California. The yarns were purchased separately and then I made two different yarns into one yarn by using a yarn winder.

One yarn, the solid orange one, is Italian Cashmere (60%) and Merino (40%). It is very fine and thin and the color is a bright & clear orange. The yarn I mixed the solid orange color with is called "Puff-and-Stuff" and I was told by the vendor it is a wool yarn from Paris. The colors of this yarn are a muted orange and blue gray mix. It is a little bit squiggly with blurbs of color mixed throughout.

I love this soft mixture and the colors I created. I have the back finished and am now working on both fronts at the same time, on the same needle so they will move along slowly but they will both be finished at the same time. I like that idea! Here are some photos of this yarn and how it looks as I am knitting it up.

Yarn Shopping in Austria and Germany

2006-07-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here is some of the yarns I bought while traveling in Austria and Germany from June 20 to July 6. I visited my two favorite yarn shops in the little Alpine Village where I live and bought sock yarns. I have never knit socks yet, but I plan to give it a try soon. I also bought the suggested double pointed needles that the lady in the shop recommended to me. I plan to gift one of the sock yarns and one set of needles to a friend I work with who I think will be very surprised and glad to have them.

Then, while in Germany I found a wonderful yarn shop where I bought some Lana Grossa BASICs yarn , hp No. 31 to make a summer top. I could have bought much more yarn, but I kept thinking of having to carry my suitcase so that put a stop to my gluttony.

Italian Yarn bought in Austria

2006-07-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

I have just posted the progress I am making on the Irish Hiking Scarf on that blogspot. This is one project I started in Austria, worked on in Germany, and will finish up here at home. I love this yarn, Gedifra Fashion Trend in Stripe. It is very soft, made of 49% Acrylic and 51% New Wool. I found it in a small shop in an Alpine Village in Austria. I highly recommend it for it's wonderful feel, softness, and it's elegant colorways. http://irishhikingknitalong.blogspot.com/

Arrivals and Departures

2006-06-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

I arrived home on Sunday evening after spending most of the week at the West Virginia State Folk Music Festival. What a wonderful time I had there. It is my second year to attend this festival in Glenville, WV. I am one of the artists who has a tent and participate in the artist's market, selling my handmade jewelry. My calendar is already marked off for next year's festival. It will be the 58th Annual. I met another knitter there and we had a number of friendly chats about our knitting. She spotted me sitting there knitting one day and that led to a wonderful conversation with a new friend.

Another arrival to report - my new knitting books had arrived while I was in WV. My great granddaughter and I anxiously opening the boxes and took turns looking through them. It was Christmas in June!

I will depart tomorrow for a trip to Austria and Germany that I do every summer. I have my bags packed and my knitting projects ready to take along. I have knitting ready for taking on the flight over in my carry on bag. And, packed in my check in bag is the directions and needles for the Irish Walking Scarf. I will buy the yarn for it when I arrive in my village and begin working on it there. I joined the knitalong for the Irish Walking Scarf recently so I intend to post photos of my progress on that site once I get it going.

Joyful Frogging

2006-06-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Katia Florida"Wildflowers"

This yarn is so beautiful - I love TOUCHING it!

I have been knitting the Katia Florida Summer Top (see blog below). Today, I decided it was not going to fit me properly and that sent me back to look at my pattern instructions. Seems I must have had a lapse of thought when I started this because I was using the wrong size needles! Nothing to do but to begin the frogging process and start all over again. I was using size 6 needles, instead of the size 10 that the pattern calls for. I am back on track now, and the frogging fun is over for now. It does take patience and tenacity to knit, doesn't it?

The second photo shows my progress on the Katia Florida Summer Top that is on the needles. This is the one I started again, after I frogged the first one. I am nearly finished with the back and will begin the front tomorrow, hopefully. I want to wear this sweater when I leave on a trip in two weeks. If is so nice to touch and I think it will feel so good to be wearing it. I am crazy about this yarn from Elann.com

Shopping For Shelly

2006-06-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a wonderful adventure with my artist friend, Myrna. We had decided to meet for lunch and then I wanted her to go with me to a fantastic yarn shop, Yarns Unlimited in Sewickley, PA. It was our dessert for the day. We touched everything that caught our eye and we just went from one stunning yarn to another, throughout the entire store.

I told the friendly sales lady why we were shopping - we were looking for just the right yarn for Shelly, my California "Secret Pal" for the One Skein Knit Along project. Not only did Myrna and I engage in touching and feeling in our quest of the "right" yarn, the sales lady joined us in our adventure. There was lots of giggles and breathless ooooohhhhssss and aaaaaahhhhhhs while we worked our way through that shop. We would carry some skeins around for awhile, thinking that just might be "the one." Then, we would find another one that seemed even more like what we envisioned Shelly might like. We think a California lady might like "bright" and "happy" colors.

Finally, after nearly an hour of serious selecting, we made our decision. It will be flying all the way from Western PA where it is rainy and very dreary today, to California where I imagine the sun must be shining, the sky cloudless and still, and the birds singing with joy in the springtime.

That is all I will say about this yarn for now. I would not want to ruin a surprise.

Elann.com

2006-06-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is the Katia Florida Summer Top that I started working on today. Katia of Spain is the manufacturer of this beautiful yarn. This photo is from the website http://www.elann.com The yarn I chose for my sweater is a soft peachy color called "Wildflowers." It has peach, ivory, and pale lavender in it...all very soft. It will be so perfect for traveling to Europe this summer. I am hoping to get it finished up in the next two weeks so I can be wearing it as I take off for Munich on June 20th.

The yarn feels so good as I am knitting it. I began the knitting right after I opened the box that arrived from http://www.elann.com I have never ordered from them before and when I found the website I was excited to see the beautiful things available and I immediately knew I had to have a couple of them. The order arrived very quickly and the packing is the best possible. Shipping was very quick. I am delighted with the yarns I received.

I had ordered yarn to make two of the sweaters on the website. The patterns are free and I ordered the yarns suggested with the patterns. I will take photos as my sweater progresses. I just can't tell you how silky soft and nice this yearn feels as I am knitting. And, the colors are so luscious. I am a satisfied customer and expect to be a return customer in the future.

WhileI enjoy walking through a local yarn shop and feeling and touching all the yarns before making final selections, it was still very exciting to order a yarn I had not touched and had no idea what it would be until it arrived. I am pleasantly surprised. I am very glad I just took a chance and ordered the yarn because it is fantastic.

More Knit for Kids Guidepost Project

2006-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is the second sweater I have knit from the Guidepost's Knit for Kids pattern. I did this one as a Christmas gift for my great granddaughter and will just keep it till then. I had decided to knit as many gifts as I could this year, and this is my first finished project. I plan to do two more of them for two great grandsons, too.

Meanwhile, I have begun a second one that will be sent to Guideposts for this project. I would like to do several of them and send them off in the fall so that other children will be blessed with a nice handmade sweater next Christmas. I am using Red Heart Super Saver yarn since it is 100% acrylic and washable.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com/help/sweater.asp

Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton

2006-05-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

- The Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Project -

It is around 11 p.m. and I have just finished the SURSA shawl that is in the book, Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Hand Knitting Collection, Book Number two. It is knitted out of Noro's Silk Garden with a ruffled edge out of Cash Iroha. The pattern specifies that double yarn is used throughout the entire piece. It moves along rather fast when you are knitting it because it is on Size 15 needles and the yarn double strand.

I first saw this piece at the Pittsburgh Knitting Festival ( http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06052/658522.stm ) last February. One of the yarn vendors was wearing it and I just had to have one for myself. As I searched through a table of books at the festival, I found the pattern in the Hamilton book. Later on, I visited one of my favorite yarn stores, Yarns Unliminted in Sewickley, PA where I found the Noro yarns I used for this shawl. (http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20031207ggyarnshopsp8.asp)

Knit for Kids

2006-05-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Will I be knitting any gifts this year?

Yes, I have already begun thinking of Christmas gifts for family members. I have started a sweater for my great grand-daughter, Delaunay. She will be 9 years old by Christmas. I am making her a sweater from the

- Guide Post's Knit for Kids project.-

I knitted one to give away for that project, and I liked it so much I wanted to do another one for Delaunay. She will be delighted with it and the one I knitted to be sent to a child through Guide Post's project will be happy, too. And, it makes me happy to know that two little girls will each have a nice new hand knit sweater next winter.

At the top you can see what this sweater looks like. I made this one to send off to the project. Family members loved it so much that they want me to make one for them, too. This sweater is one of three different designs designated to be done for this charity project. It felt so good to be making this sweater for a child I will never know. You can get information on how to make the sweaters and how to send them to children who need them at this site

http://www.dailyguideposts.com/help/sweater.asp

I plan to organize a group of knitters where I work to make sweaters as a group project this fall and send off to children who need to be kept warm this winter.

Vertical Netting

2006-05-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

During the past few months, from February through April, I took a number of beading classes to learn some new things. I have had so much fun learning to do Vertical Netting. I began to do the white and gold one in the class I took AT cRYSTAL BEAD BAZAAR in Pittsburgh. www.crystalbeadbazaar.com

Then, after that class was over I came home and spent the rest of the day and into the evening working on it. I think I finally finished it up about 3 am. Then, the passion has remained alive as I have now completed two more. One is is blue and pinks; One is red and purple. I just completed a fourth one in soft pewter silvers and spring greens. Number 5 is now begun, using cotton candy pinks with brilliant reds and opalescent beads.

Here are some photos of the Vertical Lace Netting that I have been doing. It keeps me up into the late nights. There is something about doing this pattern that really excites me and motivates me to keep on going with it.

I can see my tendencies taking over as I envision more and more patterns and color combinations in the future in this type of bead weaving. I think I have just been won over to the Seed Side of the discipline. I find myself shopping for more and more Delicas and other wonderful Seed Beads and a few months ago I never even knew what that meant.

The next thing I want to begin to explore is combinging beads and yarn. I love to knit, and I love to make things using brilliant and sparkling beads.

7 Questions

2006-05-12T11:13:00.001-07:00

7 Questions from One Skein Secret Pal Exchange

1. Which yarn is most like my personality?
I recently made the scarf in the photo. It is done in the FEATHER and FAN pattern, using Cascade Yarns Bollicine Etoile. I absolutely loved working with this yarn and this scarf feels so wonderful when I wear it. I am wild about the brilliant spring greens and the softness of this yarn that is 70% kid mohair and 30% acrylic. It's wonderful!!! The scarf is much, much more beautiful than this photo shows. You just cannot capture it in a photo.

Currently, I am wild about Noro Hand Dyed Silk Garden Yarn, Noro Kureyon Yarn, and Mountain Colors Bearfoot Hand-Painted Yarn. I love Brilliant Color! I made a beautiful scarf in modular knitting out of the Noro Kureyon.

Right now, I am finishing up a lovely stole out of the Silk Garden yarn. And, made a modular knitted scarf from one skein of Bearfoot. It was exquisite. I gave it away to someone who is very ill and I told him it is a "comfort scarf." He said he could sure use some comfort. I intend to do another modular knitted scarf from the Bearfoot for myself out of soft pastel colors. I normally wear strong colors and very seldom have anything on that would be pastel.

2. What is my favorite color of yarn to knit?
I tend to favor the earthy colors of golds, russets, and brilliant oranges and bittersweet colors. I imagine that is because those are the colors that look best on me. And I also favor brilliant and clear colors like lime greens and fuscias and indigo blues. I NEVER wear pastel colors and I don't like wimpy colors. I like color that is strong and stands out in the crowd, just like me.

3. Do I use verigated or magic yarns? Heavens, Yes!

4. What fibers do I favor?
I am just wild about mohair. I like any blend of mohair and wool. I am very fond of Moonlight Mohair currently. But, anything with mohair in it just compels me to touch and feel it and buy it.

5. Do I prefer to work with pull skeins or hanks?
I do a lot of yarns that are in hanks. I use the yarn ball winder and enjoy spending a few hours in mediation while I am making the hanks into usable balls. I like to stack them up and see them just waiting to be made into something. Thre is something that I like about making the hank into a ball.

6. Have I worked with organic yarns?
Not yet. But, I did buy some skeins of organic yarn at the Pittsburgh Knitting Festival in February and I plan to do a poncho out of it. Soon. I am always willing to try most anything.

7. Wow, what projects have I made in the past year?
Can I count them? I don't record my work anywhere, I just make things. I have made many, many scarves. I am finished up a kimono right now out of Moonlight Mohair. I have made ponchos for a number of family members and two for me. I have made myself three Shrugawls that I really enjoy wearing.

There are 7 more questions. I will answer them in my future posts. Seven is enough for now. Besides, there is knitting to be done yet today.

My FIRST EVER "Secret Pal"

2006-05-10T21:10:00.001-07:00

I am very excited because tonight I received my "Secret Pal" from the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange.

My new pal is Shelly, from Stockton, California. I wrote to her immediately to introduce myself. I visited her blog and scanned it over when I received the letter from One Skein. It is late at night right now, after midnight, so I will take a better look at her blog tomorrow so that I can get to know her. I did drop her a little email letter just to say hello though. Ah, I see she is also owned by her two cats. We have that in common. I love cats and could not imagine my life without a cat friend or two.

Well, it inspired me to visit Shelly's blogspot tonight. In fact, it urged me to begin to take my blogspot seriously and to begin to learn how to post there. I have finally figured out how to put a photo up on my blogspot tonight. I chose one of the Untersberg (mountain) in clouds. It is in the village where I live in the summers, near Salzburg, Austria. Anyone who visits me here will see the mountains I love as an introduction to me. I will figure out how to photograph some of my art, knitting, and jewelry and get them up on this blogspot in the near future.

The other thing that inspired me when I got Shelly's information is the fact that someone has received MY information, too. So, somewhere out there in cyberspace, I have a new pal, too. That is really amazing and I can't wait to hear from my secret pal as well. I decided I better learn how to do this because someone is probably looking at my blogspot to learn more about me just like I learned about Shelly tonight.

My friend, Chris, also joined the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange so I can't wait to see her tomorrow morning at the gym to see if she received her new pal's information. This should be a lot of fun. And, I am glad I have a local friend to share it with.

Beadz 'n Yarn Works

2006-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

You have arrived at the blogspot of the Knitty_Prof.
I believe we can create art "out of anything."
Crazy about Beads and Yarns?
Obsessive compulsive about Beads and Yarn?
Do you keep adding to your stash, like a magpie lining her nest?

Me too!

In this place I will be posting creative works in Jewelry, knitting, art, and poetry.

Right now, I am excited about the newly published book, ONE SKEIN. I have joined in the One Skein Knit-Along project. Have you heard about that? We'll be knitting projects from the book, or other projects that require only one skein of yarn. It's a great way to use some of the lonely balls of yarn in your stash. Or, you can go buy only one skein of a beautiful new yarn, and then figure out what project you want to do with it.

For my first one-skein project I think I will do a scarf done in modular units using Mountain Colors, Mountain Goat yarn in a lovely pastel of pinks and blues that I just bought. I rolled it into a ball yesterday and will begin my project this weekend. What can you do with only one skein? Why not join the Knit-Along and find out?