The "Me" Knitting...

Well, I snuck in a few things for myself amongst all the other knitting being done!

First is a modular scarf called "ZigZag" Scarf by Iris Schrier utilizing Jen's most lucious worsted superwash wool yarn died to my perfection and appropriately she named it "Lorna's Blue Jeans" -

Also, a pair of socks titeld Broadripple made out of Cascade Fixation in once again (do you see a pattern here?) the Blue Jean colorway (#9030) - These socks are SO nice and soft - and with the little bit of elastic in them make them nice and stretchy! And Yes, that is Bree modeling the socks (keeping in mind that she is only 1/2 size behind me!)

American Girl Doll Day...

It's American Girl Doll knit item Sunday. HA!

I knit these items for Bree's Doll and perhaps to teach at Peggy's should anyone sign up - they are just adorable!

This is a cute little lace up V-neck Tunic made from Encore Colorspun Worsted weight (acrylic for throwing in the washing machine!)

Being Spring, prom must be right around the corner, so I made Bree's doll a Prom Dress - this is out of Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Worsted Glow yarn (same as Bree's Bolero - only different color) - It has a little metallic fleck in it and makes it glimmer - I love working with this yarn - very nice! And with a cute hairdo, this AG Girl is ready for prom!

Then when prom is over and its time to sleep, she's already to curl up in a soft, comfy robe! This is made using Plymouth's Heaven yarn in 2 colors (lavendar solid and a multi-white) - It is a fun knit and is so adorable!

Bree's "stuff" - knitting this time!

It's been a while since I posted pictures of knitted goodies and there are alot of them.. so, I am going to do them in batches...

This one is all Bree's goodies!


These are some soft comfy footies, she just loves this pattern! It's a cotton/elastic yarn in some fun colors!


A cute little top made from some completely lucious baby alpaca with a little metallic fleck in it!


More footwear for Bree (she's growing like a weed and her shoe size in ONLY 1/2 size less than mine - she's 10 for goodnes sake!) This is out of Jen's yarn, a superwash wool!


Again with the cotton/elastic yarn makes for the softest and warm wrist warmers (or arm warmers, elbow warmers, etc..) I converted the Jaywalker sock pattern to fit her arms and it was a great and fun knit!

So, that's the start!

A whole new look...

I read some very interesting blogs by folks who have much going on in their lives. I live a simple existence without much "news" on a daily basis. That being said, it just doesn't leave much to blog about.

My days are very similar to the movie "Groundhog Day" - kind of get up and it is the same old same old.

I would like to ask a question though. What the heck is it with me and "tradespeople"???? (scroll back about the great microwave fiasco).

Well, our new front door that we ordered back in OCTOBER (yes, about 6 months ago) has finally been installed rivaling the microwave installation debacle. But, instead of ranting and raving and spewing like a lunatic which I've done already, I'm taking the path of less resistance and am just posting these 2 pictures.


There is SUPPOSED to be a "storm" door in this picture - but said contractor didn't get to it "that" day...

From the inside:



I am quite amazed at how much light in allows in, yet you cannot see thru the leaded glass - it actually has like an 85% privacy rating! I am excited. Except, now I have to deal with ANOTHER tradesman to do the staining/varnishing etc.. all of the new trim work. I'm not good at that type of stuff - ya think I would be with a tradesman for a Dad... Am NOT looking forward to that step!

Checking things off..

That has been my mantra for this past week:

Finished Beach Bag Class Sample for shop................Check
Finished test knitting Sarah's sock pattern.............Check
Finished 2nd panel for Log Cabin Baby Blanket...........Check
Finished collar for Bree's Little Bolero Jacket.........Check
Finished Designing and knitting water bottle holder.....Check

Finished updating Shop Work Schedule....................Check
Finished updating Shop Class Book.......................Check

Finished and presented 4H Craft Projct..................Check
Took truck to dealer before it completely died..........Check
Met with yarn salesman (and made spreadsheet)...........Check (see Paige someone else who loves my spreadsheets)

Attended Orientation for school gifted program..........Check (Bree has been placed in gifted program now) - I hate the word "gifted" as it has such an odd meaning in my head - I prefer accelerated coursework - but, heck, who am I?

Update Blog (am doing now, so it gets a check)..........Check

Not checked off:

Clean House
Schedule Bailey's Grooming
Clean House
Finish Bree's Socks
Clean House
Schedule Haircut (haven't had one since SEPTEMBER) - Yes, SEPTEMBER..
Clean House

Hmmm.. I see a reoccuring theme here.. Guess I will have to correct that tomorrow

I've had to finish things so quickly for the shop, that I haven't even taken photos - I'll have to steal them from the shop website once they are up!

Doesn't feel like I did much, but Bree was off from school on Monday for the holiday and then home sick on Tuesday (just a touch of stomach flu) and then I filled in at the shop Wed, Thurs and Fri (and today)... So, that really didn't leave time for much else...

The Bus is PARKED... Oh yea!

Well, the GOOD news is the sock is DONE, DONE, DONE and delivered to Peggy's for photos! Should be up soon on her site - http://www.strandsofheaven.com

The bad and good news is that the stuuuupid freaking microwave installers called last night and (who I now know as the "owner") said they would be here between 9am and 11am today. Can you SEE where this is going?

Well, at 11:12AM they still had NOT arrived.. Insert many, many curse words here.. So, I call the cell phone number of the guy (who I now know as the "owner") and he says - "Oh, they're on their way, be there in 10 minutes" - Uh-huh. .Yea. Sure.

They showed up 20 minutes later. So, now, it's um, 11:30am. They install the micro and the one guy says "gee, look with 5 min to spare" - I originally told the lady that I wanted it installed BEFORE noon. I gave this guy my best damn evil eye and said. Yea, just 17 days and 55 minutes late. Can you believe that shit? So, the OTHER guy fills out the paperwork and prints and signs his name.. I look, I read... SAME last name as the woman I spoke with - want to bet he's her husband?

Want to bet they PURPOSELY were late and made me call and ran over from their shop (which I have since found out is 6 YES 6 miles away from me) once I called as "retribution" for being an "upset" customer to his wife?

Huh. Well, I WILL have the last laugh. I plan on going to Sears ANYHOW with my guns loaded and blasting and plan on getting at least PART of my installation fee refunded. Screw them. Oh, and for anyone in Illinois, Chicagoland area who purchases an appliance from Sears - DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow TOP NOTCH QUALITY (isn't that a joke) APPLIANCE installation service install your appliance.

Trust me.

The Wheels on The Bus Go...

Round and Round, Round and Round.. The wheels on the bus go round and round all thru the day... That's what I am sitting here singing while knitting round and round on the foot of Sarah's new sock pattern that I'm test knitting - 55 rows worth (and on size zero's I'm wondering if I'm half way..) so, let's do some math (one of Sarah's favorite things) - 55 rows x 72 stitches.. um, let's see, carry the one, screw it -hang on - opening up my calculator.. ah, ok 3,960 stitches SO FAR... So FREAKING far.. I feel like I've been knitting this sock forever (when I started it on zeros just last Sunday - but had knit about 2 inches on ones realizing it was too loose)

I will say, however, I LOVE the pattern, I think its her best yet - (my biased opinion since I test knit the other 2 as well). The yarn is Jen's fabulous hand dyed softest stuff (thus the zeros) and its in a super wonderful eye loving colorway and will be kit up in the Peggy's Strands of Heaven sock club release coming later this month (http://strandsofheaven.com) - which Bridget (the owner) had better damn well be updating the site today (as she told me she was when I nagged her this am). The "goodie" along with this sock club release is a really neat Della Q silk drawstring project bag - way cool! I am HOPING beyond HOPE that I have this sock completed by Wednesday (at the latest) so I can move over to finish the other shop sample I'm working on... (and maybe the last sleeve of Bree's Bolero) - saying the "last" sleeve makes it sound like there are 9 of them - ha - ok - the OTHER sleeve may be more grammatically correct- but you know what I meant. I know you do.

Then, I really (unfortunately) need to finish BOTH sleeves (hmm.. I think I have a thing about sleeves these days) of the Gawd AWFUL yarn AG Doll robe. I get the shakes just THINKING about that yarn - maybe, just maybe, I'll have something else come up that I have to knit in a hurry to put that off - yea, that's the ticket..

Brriinnggg, hold on my phone - "Hi Bridget, what you need me to knit the Everlasting Bagstopper for a shop class and sample?" "Why YES, I think I can do that as soon as I finish this sock and other shop sample?"

Well, that just solved that problem, now didn't it.. Today is a good day!

PS - the microwave lady called me on the day of my last post stating that after she spoke with me Wed am - she twisted her ankle in their warehouse and hadn't been "in" since - Hmm.. I guess their business just SHUT DOWN and everyone had to go home because she wasn't there to schedule new customers, get orders ready to go, etc.. I'd hate to see what would happen if she was hit by the "proverbial" bus (not wishing any bad will here folks) - just making a point... Hrumph - Like I believe that stupid ass story.... She's making "so-called" special arrangements for me - to have it installed tomorrow MORNING - "special" - Hurrrmmph - If I ever treated my clients like this (when I had them) - I'd be unemployed - oh, wait, I am... Oh well, it was worth a shot...