Rain Rain Go Away

While I understand and appreciate that rain is an important part of the eco-system. So is too much!

I appreciate all the grand things that water brings.... however, there are positives to sunshine too.

Happy Yarny thoughts

K

P.S.

Remember this:

Well, I tried to get a 3rd skein - nope, sold out and unknown when supplier would have more.

So I changed gears, figured I would make it more of a shrug and add some linen in the same color (yes the match is wonderful) to the end of the sleeves. Still knitting - will post final pic when finished.

Happy Days All

Wanted to check in and say howdy. Will be at the camper the rest of today and Sunday so I will be out of cyberspace and diligently knitting.

See you all Monday

K

Hello All

Flip floppin around I missed a day again, sorry.

Whats new? Not a whole lot of anything. Off to the knit shop last night. Off to the knit ship tonight. Camper later in the weekend (Sunday, Monday).

Balled "Vintage" main sock yarn yesterday. Still in love with the leaves, but I am interested in casting on for the socks themselves. I think that I am going to do them one at a time instead of 2/once -- I am trying to enjoy this endeavor and not make it just a means to an end.

Lissa's socks are continuing - I am getting tired of working on them so I am making an effort to stick to it and Finnish (about 2 inches left before toes).

BSJ is sitting in the knitting bag.

Shawl is waiting for ball 3 of yarn.

I'm getting itchy to cast on something else.... I'm thinking of trying this sweater. I like the part of "fitting a grown ass woman". Like the green that she knitted it in, but I'm thinking maybe a bright blue (go figure).

Haven't tried a sweater before.... adult sized that is. But maybe this is the one to give it a whirl?

Later gaters
K

Its almost over

I have worked the last 7 days.

I am tired.

I am sick of this place.

I am looking forward to being off and heading back to the yarn store.

Progress on "Vintage Socks" - they are going really well. I have a little more than 1/2 the leaves done. I went and did the "toe" leaves so I could start the actual socks. I have to Finnish Lissa's first (about 3 more inches of foot) and than I can start "Vintage".

Than I'm thinking about starting a sweater..... hum..... we'll see.

Later gaters

Karrie

Update Sunday

So I poked around and found more "rainforest" yarn.

There are some things that you know, you just don't want to face..... like knitting 2 skeins of yarn knowing that your probably going to be short.

Whats that called? Delusional :)

K

Little Dress

I found this really cute hat at Target that had frogs on it and thought a coordinating dress for my GF's daughter would be really cute. So while in NY I found this material. I had than heard of a simple pattern from "dresses for Africa" and within a half-hour I had this:

adorable dress. The pattern is super easy. I purchased a yard of fabric, but use less cause the child is only three. Adjust yardage as necessary for height.

Later
K

Thank you!

I want to "thank you" all that have been stopping in, leaving messages, and those that haven't. Believe it or not, I am really enjoying this. Kind of like something that you enjoy doing but just don't get to unless pushed.





In knitting news, I've been working on a shawl/
wrap thing. This is really nice wool in "rainforest" that I picked up in NY - anyways, I did 2 skeins (380 yrds) and its too short.


Pattern


So please take a look at what its suppose to be -- mine is about 2/3 the size - I need a 3rd ball of yarn which is vary hard to get. So, Suggestions? I'm thinking that I might just have to rip the whole thing out and use the yarn for something else.



In other knitting news, I am working on October 07 STR shipment. These are destined for my daughter - and after a start and rip session I am working on the foot. The yarn looked more like her hair before when it was skeined, but I am still liking the way they look.

Chat Soon

K

and more pics

So, the idea of the quilt retreat is that you complete a quilt top in 1 weekend. At this particular one, all the strips were pre-cut. The strips were sewed together and than re-cut, reassembled. Thus we created an "Irish Chain".

I had decided that I wanted to gift this to Lissa's beau, but the fabrics were flowers. Once cut the medium fab no longer resembled flowers, so I added this border to a) make it less feminine b) enlarge the original size and c) tie the colors together. I was really pleased in the gradation of color.

This last pic shows the match slightly better.

Picture Time

So, when my GF from NY visited last summer, I sent her home with several quilt tops that I had completed and hadn't quilted. She just bought a long arm quilter and needed practice.

When I went to visit in May, I returned with several finished quilts.


This is not my colors at all! However, I saw it hanging in a shop back in 05, loved it and bought the kit. The pattern is called "3 bean salad" and is a quick quilt.

My house is primarily red/white/blue. This quilt originally was destined for someone else. However, after seeing it quilted, I decided to keep it for my bed. The pattern is "Yellow Brick Road".

Finally is this stack and whack quilt. I think its official name is "Crazy 9 Patch", but I would have to check for sure. You stack 20 different squares - slice, sew and shuffle, slice, sew and shuffle, etc 6 times. Its quick and cool. Again, I wasn't crazy about this one until I saw it quilted.

Upcoming photos include the quilt retreat project, other sewing and knitting.

Happy Sunshine

K

Thankful Thursday - For A Very Good Friend

Well, I've been storing up photos and such for the next few days as I head back to work. Hopefully I won't ditz and screw up my days again.

Thankful Thursday - for answered prayers.

Since the kids are out, I've been enjoying time at the new LYS. In doing so, I have made 2 new friends, Diana the owner and Judy. I look forward to many more pleasurable hours spent with them.

Diana also asked me to help out at a new Sock class. Teaching/helping others to knit socks, what could be more fun!

Off to work now :0

K

Thought for the day

Don't give up hope, even Moses was a basket case.

Later Gaters
K

The Monkey Is Off My Back!!!

Back in Sept I was asked to do some custom sewing for someone I don't know (friend of an acquaintance).

If you hang with me at all you are aware that my sewing anything has been ditched into the trash can much less simmering on the back burner.

The fabric (2.5 yards, of which a table runner and 10 cushions were requested) made its way to the basement where it has stared at me constantly reminding that I needed to do something with it. Yes I just should have said "NO". I have a hard time with NO unless its my children.

Avoidance behavior? YEP I was doing it.

And than the recipient e-mailed me. And I had to face those 2.5 yards.

Explaining that there wasn't enough material, we narrowed the request to 2 cushions and a runner. Simple enough right. Yeah..... NOT.

Sewing for someone is difficult enough. Sewing for someone you have never met........

Anyways, after 8 months of the monkey attached to my back IT IS DONE!!!!!!!!!! Can I have an Amen!

I have finishing touches to apply (Velcro, non-slip backing). But the cushions are made and work. The runner is complete and I have my life back. YIPPEE

Well, my family can't appreciate, but hopefully you can.

Later Gaters
K

Ahhhhhh

I can not remember when I have been so relaxed! There are many things that I don't like about the camper (extra work, little gets done around the house by DH) - but it does have its upside. We spent the last 24 hrs out there and the wonders that it does for my 'tude.

Sat after sleeping in, having lunch with DD, I headed to the new local knit shop. Was a delicious time. Met someone new and we sat and knitted for about 3-4 hours. Just putzed on different projects that are continuing along.

Sun afternoon we headed to the camper. I had decided that I was going to start working on the vintage socks (where I had first seen them at Yarn Harlot). After looking at the pattern I was very worried that this was way beyond my ability. Biting off more than I can chew ---- yes I frequently am guilty. So I thought, maybe when your actually doing the knitting it means more than just reading it. So onward I charged.

I now have 5 little leaves done. They are very cool. Take about 45 min per leaf X 18 leaves. I am trying to work this project out WAY before Christmas. So far, so good.

So for the last 48 hours I have done very little except amuse myself with knitting. No wonder I'm relaxed. Maybe I should try this more often :)

Later Gaters
K

Happy Fathers Day

I was hoping to post a pic of the man. However, I don't have any on the computer. I looked through them all and zippo.


This is probably because he is usually behind the camera, as picture taking is "not my thing" (the children will be happy their aunt is otherwise they would have zippo pics of their childhood).


Anyways, in lou of having any of the complete family, I leave you with the three of us.

DC vacation Summer 07 - the man is again behind the camera.


Happy Sunday
Karrie

The Apples of my eye

This is my Josh

And my Lis

Prom at their church -- Do you remember prom? My first one I now consider a disaster (Junior) - Senior year was better.

oopps, sorry

Well, I fell off the daily posting yesterday (Thrusday).

Sorry, I was sleeping.

8.5 hours of sleep.

It was a wonderful thing.

So. That was my Thursday.

Friday is pretty packed. I'm off to my Quilting Group and actually have something to show! I am than off to a "team" night with people a work with. Will keep you updated and am planning lots of pics again. I'll be off for the next few.

Happy days!!!
Karrie

I remember...

Monday night while I was trying to fall asleep, I laid in bed remembering things from my youth... like:

• "Fishing" with my brother in the driveway puddle, trying to hook leaves with a stick, string and paperclip.
• Walking home from school with friends.
• My kindergarten teacher using my "art" as an example of how not to color and being so embarrassed.
• Playing jump rope in first grade at recess.
• Kevin Duhonic "killing" the flowers on my dresses as he sat behind me.
• Learning about race related hate when I tried to include the boy who was being left out and he misinterpreted my actions.
• The people who touched your life growing up that you have no idea where they are, but will never forget: Bobby Harris, Carrie Gathawat, Kevin Duhonic, Joseph Stratmann, Ty Bittner, Miss Martigan.

The things that run through your mind when your suppose to be sleeping!

Later Gaters

Karrie

Sone days are better than others....

I am really trying to post something everyday, even trying to make it interesting.

Than there is today.

I don't feel good, am looking at the start of 3 12's (T,W,TH) and just want to crawl back in bed.

I'm whining.

I'm sorry.

We'll try for something better tomorrow.

K

Busy Hands

Lately I've had this interest in producing baby items. There are NO babies in my future, and only 1 person I know is currently pregnant. A cousin recently had one, but as I was not invited to the shower or received an announcement, I don't feel the need to send a gift. However, babies sweaters is where I'm stuck. This is the Baby Bolero from 1 skein. Cute and quick I whipped this up out of cotton I purchased on my Lansing trip.

I thought that it was so cute, I than whipped this one up as well. I included a hat with the pink and have enough yarn to do a hat in blue/white also. Baby items waiting for babies, that's the way I like it.

:) Karrie

Some yarn....

So, while in NY we did visit 3 yarn stores. The first was Black Sheep Knits where I purchased the Green/Blue Malabrigo. This will be a hat for my son for Christmas. (Good excuse for yarn purchase... Christmas presents, this can be used repeatedly).

We than went to another store on the north side of the island - really nice owner. There I purchased the purple and blue Malabrigo - a silk combination that is just heavenly. I am thinking about mittlets for my GF and myself. I also purchased a red/white/blue combo yarn that makes socks that look like flags. I am a BIG patriotic person, so I couldn't let that yarn languish. It has joined my sock stash (what a wonderful thing a sock stash is :) :) :) :)... ). Finally I picked up two skeins of worsted weight from Rupelstilskin Knits that I am going to use for a shrug. Its a light green color. I had them wound into pats, so I'll have to hold pics until I use it.

This yarn I picked up at shop #2. Its a very pretty baby yarn that I am using for a Baby Surprise Jacket. Yes this makes 3 or 4 that I've done up, but the pattern is so nice, its an enjoyable quick knit.

Quilt pictures to follow later this week. Along with pics of other FINISHED works.

Happy Monday

Karrie

ISE 6

My wonderful upstream pal "Crafty Bernie" sent me two wonderful shawls. This first one will be great when the weather does get cold again to wrap around either inside my jacket to add warmth both around my neck and shoulders or outside my jacket to add interest when its blah outside.

This second one will be delightful now for those times when you enter those establishments that want to recreate the Arctic. I hate freezing in the summer!, I do enough of that from Nov till March.

She also included some stitch markers, a lovely bar of soap encased in its own wash... thing and a skein of yarn from project number 1.

Tomorrow I will post images of some of the yarn I bought in NY.

Until than all :)

Karrie

Thankful Thursday

Your probably thinking, its no longer Thursday.... I haven't been to bed yet so I declare its Thurs until I get some sleep.

This Thursday I am Thankful for....

Summer, which has finally made an appearance. While there is much to be said for how it arrived, I will take it 90 degrees humidity and all.

Kindness in strangers. There is still so much good in the world if you care to look for it.

My health.

The ability to see that my attitude is a direct result of my perspective and that my perspective greatly effects my attitude. Some people would change their lives if they could harness this process.

Happy Day All, see you tomorrow.

Karrie

Two days in a row -- don't faint!

Well I suppose anyone can do something two days in a row huh?

I uploaded a few pictures which will be gracing you over the next few days as I am posting while working, so yes I cheated a little. Than again does pre-planning constitute cheating or being well prepared and knowing the subject (me)?

We are recently tieing up International Scarf Exchange 6 and while I hope to join ISE7 I hope that it doesn't start too soon as I was having trouble garnering interest in making a scarf when were headed to warm weather here. I didn't take any pics of mine that I sent off (wasn't that organized, you can see it here. I used a variation on January STR lace pattern. The yarn was Alpaca, so soft and wonderful!

In excahange, Crafty Bernie from England sent me this wonderful surprise.

Not one but TWO (2) pieces pieces of lace (individual pics to follow), Cool Postcards, a skein of yarn and a need soap holder/washrag.

I do enjoy these swaps.

Chat soon - Karrie

30 in 30 days....hummmmm

Leah just finished a 30 posts in 30 days challenge and while I have already fallen off (if you will) I think I am going to attempt this challenge.

Therefore, from June 2 until July 2, I'm going to give it a whirl. Some days might not be much or very coherent (12 hrs shifts you know), but we'll see what I can get accomplished.

So, check in, say hi, we'll see what the next month brings.

Karrie

New York, New York

I am back from the Big Apple and had an excellent time. As of this post, I am still relaxed though the family is working to change this.

Finished a quilt top and purchased additional material (which I didn't need) and yarn (which I only think I need).

Pics will follow once I unpack the suitcase and find the camera.

Apologies to those I was unable to see - after 12 years away I had a hard time fitting things in. I never did get my NY pie, however the bagels never tasted soooooo good!!!

Later - Karrie