Happy Halloween

Where did this week go?

Ok, so how did it become Sunday all ready? I knew that this past week was going to be filled with everything under the sun and it was. But, yesterday was amazing.

I had another knitting demo at Hobby Lobby and there will be at least 7 more woman coming for knitting class and 3 others want private lessons. How great is that? I'm pretty happy about it. Unfortunately none of the current students were able to make it to sit and knit with me, but it was still a great time. One lady and her mother (who was a knitter) had never seen socks made and so that was a lot of fun showing her socks on double points and then socks on 2 circulars. Then there was a lady who had read about socks on circulars but had never tried it, so I asked her to sit with me a minute and I handed her my socks on circulars and let her knit a few rows. She was thrilled. She went back and bought 2 pair of circulars and was going home to start some socks. I just love knitters, and beginning knitters they are pretty amazing people. I only ran up on one lady that was a little "testy". Stating to me that everything that I had made on display was a waste of knitting time since it nothing on the table was 100% wool or quality yarn. So I tried to explain to her that my agreement with the store was that I would also promote sales for them, in yarn and needles and patterns, that if she would look in my photo album she would see my other work. But, NNNOOOO, she just went on in front of her sister about cheap yarn. I actually began to feel embarrassed for her because she clearly had a problem and needed some kind of validation to be so over the top to a complete stranger who was just sitting there knitting. I finally told her when she was done that I didn't care if it was sewing thread or rope, there was no such thing as wasted knitting in my life, because I just love to knit. She left.

So I hope everyone has had a good weekend, and is getting prepared for a fun Halloween.

Blessed Be

Sock Heels

If you are like me, you may be tired of the same old sock heel. I do have a couple of favorites, but sometimes I this a different heel would be better on a pattern. Well guess what I found???? A web site that gives you the information to change the heel according to the amount of stiches you cast on. Pretty simple stuff, and I'm so glad that someone put this on their web site. So here it is, for those sock knitters out there, and the soon to be sock knitters. The link to Heels By The Numbers.


Blessed Be,

My Day In Pictures

I came into my office area and seen him. So this will give you an idea of what was on my kids minds. LOL.

My kids took me out to a wonderful healthy breakfast. See the Walnut Carrot Cake and the Grande Non Fat Latte, that's mine for the record. GT didn't want his picture taken, can you tell? LOL. This picture is precious to me because it really reflects the differences in their personalities.

This was the first gift. They gave it to me early so I could take pictures all day.

Here's my Great Dane cake. Isn't it great? I had Scooby plates, and napkins and the candle on the cake is just adorable.

And my other gifts. Do you remember the movie the Ugly Dachshund? The Great Dane that was raised with the Dachshunds? Then my son got me the new book by the Knitty Gritty show on DIY host (Vickie Howell) called New Knits On The Block, and Sally Melville's new book, The Knitting Experience Book 3: COLOR. I've only had a chance to skim through both the books but from what I have seen, I will be knitting up that stash of mine pretty quickly. Check these books out when you get a chance.

And of course what kind of birthday would it be without my own little "Scooby?" Here Gunther is getting in on the action. He had gotten into the dirty clothes and was playing while I was opening presents. GT took some of the bows and put them on his head and Gun decided to stop and pose for the new camera. LOL. What a clown. He definitely made this birthday not so sad since this was my first birthday in 10 years without my Shadow by my side.

It's been a great day. Now the drinking must begin. The joy of having a birthday that falls on a Friday, I can party all weekend. My wish is that you do to! To all of you who sent me birthday wishes, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Though we have never met, I feel like I know many of you personally from your blogs and emails. Thank you again.

I've Been Playing Tag!

Since I really enjoyed getting the "stash tag" I thought I would pass that tag a long. So I tagged Knit Diva and Knitting Virgin. I can't wait to see their pictures.

Today has been a little quiet. It's like the calm before the storm. LOL. I'm just waiting for the storm. LOL. Actually I guess tomorrow could be considered the storm since it's my birthday. The only thing I hate about birthdays is the age thing. Thank heavens I don't feel my age and probably never will. Unfortunately I live in an area that socially doesn't accept that. If I had a dollar for every time I have heard how I need to act my age, not only would I be a millionaire, I'd have my own yarn shop and probably live in the back. :-)

I have got some knitting done and undone. I frogged the Leaf Lace shawl and restarted it today. It just wasn't looking right, so I changed needles and I like the results better. I also have started on the second sock on the 2 circulars and finished one of the socks that I have on double points, so things are progressing.

Hobby Lobby has set up my classes for "on going" status, so I must be doing pretty good. And I have another demonstration on the 29th. I'm thinking about have a few of my students come and sit and knit with me during the demo. It would be a lot of fun for them and I think for the ladies who have questions about learning.

Well I'm off to Target,
may you be blessed with a life filled with your favorite things,

Satori

THE STASH HAS ARRIVED!!!!!

Here it is, the stash has arrived. I am so glad that Diana tagged me. I had forgotten about a few of my "have to" purchases. My son helped me get all of it out and his cute little one liners about all my yarn made our time together a hell of a lot of fun. (by the way, his humor is like a cleaned up version of George Carlin and Ron White). Anyway I will be jumping around the blogs to tag a few people myself. Oh I just had a thought, wait till my knitting class sees this post. I can't wait to hear what they have to say. LOL.

Thanks Diana for the tag!
Everyone have a great day,
Satori 

I haven't forgotten

I must apologize for my delay in the fabulous photo of my stash. The past week has been a flash and I can't hardly believe that it's Saturday all ready. So instead of promising a specific time and day, I will say that I will get to it in the next day or so, how's that?

So Coming Soon, the tagged stash photo. ;-)

Have a great weekend,
Satori

I've Been Tagged!

Ok, this will be fun, Diana, tagged me, and for this tag I get to display the stash of yarn. This will be so much fun. I always find yarn that I've forgot about. LOL. So today while Gunther the Dane (10 weeks old and 22 pounds) naps, I'll get the yarn out and play "yarn store."

I would also like to thank those who left comments and emailed me directly about Shadow Walker. Shad was an instictive dog and we were always on the same wave length. I hope that I will have that same connection with Gunther. It will take time as it did with Shad.

On lighter note, last night was knitting class, and again I had a great time. There wasn't as many ladies, but a few called and said they would be there next week. Anyway, we toured the knitting area of the store, (touched all the yarn, looked at all the goodies for our knitting bags, and course checked out all the patterns) and got some knitting done. These ladies are great and so excited. And the big news is the little girl I was telling you about came back and she was knitting! I was so happy for her. I do realize that the next session I will ask for 2 hours instead of the 1 1/2 hours. We talked last night about the next level of knitting class so I am also going to find out about what other night is available for the "next step" class.

Sad News

This morning at 9:45 AM my German Shepherd, best friend, protector and divine keeper of all my secrets, passed away. He was almost 11 years old. He had a great spirit and taught me so much about life, focus, love, and commitment to people and to actions and the power of truth. This is one of my favorite photos. Shadow Walker's mind was perfect, but his body let him down. In his pedigree there were several K9, search and rescue and therapy dogs so he came from good temperament breeding. Unfortunately he had dysplasia in both the hips and his shoulders. He lived 5 years beyond what the vet wanted. He is free and happy now and I will always love him.

Ok this is funny

Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

My daughter will be so proud. LOL.

While taking some more business cards to Hobby Lobby today I thought I'd do a quick run through the yarn. Well I came out with these. LOL. The black is called Marbled Onyx by Yarn Bee from their Icelandic Jewels and the other is also by Yarn Bee, Highland Thistle and the color is called Shetland. On the way home I of course rationalized the purchase as needing it for class, (smile) I have never used Yarn Bee yarns before but am looking forward to seeing how it knits up. I'll probably do MD scarves so that I can take them to the class and show the ladies. :-)  

I haven't forgotten about the Leaf Lace Shawl. Actually it's been sitting here glaring at me for awhile, so I picked it back up and did some rows. It's been one of those times for me where I have really enjoyed just relaxed knitting. Shawls I love to do when I really need to focus and forget about what's going on around me. Besides, my knitting time is scheduled around Gunther's naps so now that he is on a good schedule, I can get into a little more concentrated knitting. So let the repeats begin!

The First Class

Last night was the first knitting class at Hobby Lobby. 10 ladies came with yarn and needles in hand. This was a great group of ladies. None of them had any knitting background. It was so much fun. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. The little girl that I had posted about earlier came and being young she got pretty frustrated a few times, but if she sticks with it, she'll be knitting in no time. Learning anything for the first time is so hard, and so I really applaud the ladies who came to the classes.

There had been a scheduling error at Hobby Lobby so we didn't get to use the class room, but we did get to use the break room. And actually that worked out fine. There was a soda machine in there and a table and lots of chairs, so the ladies had to sit kind of close to each other and I think that helped everyone relax and make friends and help each other.

I'm really looking forward to the next one.

The Sock. (smile) well I've made it this far. The heel flap and turn went well the gussets went well. So I'm a pretty happy camper with this new way of doing socks.  

It's the beginning of a whole new sock experience! Honestly though I have put off learning how to do socks on circulars, just because I really enjoy double points and knitting with ALL those little needles. Knitting on double points was the inspiration behind my learning to knit. When I was little I'd seen my great-great grandmother knit socks and I was facinated. Anyway, since I make sssssoooooo many socks I thought what the hay, I'd try something new, see how I liked it, and go from there. I've heard that making socks on circulars is a little faster, so that is a good thing. So sit back and watch as I jump into a new pool of knitting. LOL.  

I Had The Best Time!

I'm home from the Demonstration at Hobby Lobby. What a great time. They put a table right in the middle of the walk in area, and I got to sit there and knit and talk. LOL. I met some wonderful women. And what was really cool was talking to some of the older ladies who came by and told me about their mom's and grandmother's knitting. I am so glad that Mike, (the manager) said I could do the demo's anytime, because I'm all ready looking forward to the next one. I will probably do one toward the end of the month for Novembers classes.

This is a cute story. Most of the women are my age, but there is one mother who is sending her daughter to the knitting classes. They walked in and right by me, I spoke, they spoke and then I heard the girl ask her mom if she could learn how to knit. I didn't hear the answer. They went on about their business and when they came back, the mom asked several questions. I answered them and the girl was just so excited. She has LOTS of yarn and is very creative and has wanted to learn to knit for awhile, so her mom said she could. Like lighting, she takes off for the knitting needles and comes back to me with a beautiful pair of bright purple size 8's. She checked with me to make sure they were correct, then Her mom got them for her and you could still feel the excitement from this 11 year old as they left the store. I will keep everyone up on her progress. Hopefully I can get a few pictures for the blog of the class.

For display I took both the MD Scarves, both pair of the Chevron Socks, a shawl that I made about a year ago, before blog time, a man's scarf made about 1 1/2 years ago. the Magic Stripe Socks and the pair I have on needles now and the beginning cuff of the ones on the circulars. I picked things that weren't too over the top, but were within the beginner to intermediate beginner level. (at least I thought so.) (smile) The one item that got the most attention was the MD Scarf made out of the Surf and Turf. Even the men that walked by liked it. I was waiting for someone to offer me some money on it. LOL. (it would have been at a new home tonight if the price was right.)

Speaking of the classes, I'm guessing but it looks like there could be 10-15 there Monday night. Monday's can be a little crazy being the day back to school and work, so we'll see how it goes. There were several requests for more specific classes, so after I left I had about 30 minutes before I had to pick up Sara at work and I kind of put together some ideas about an Intermediate class focusing on stitches and stitch patterns. (cables, bobbles, etc.).

So Monday night 6 - 7:30 (Atlanta time) I'm going to be with a great group of ladies, possibly one man, sharing with them something that has brought so much to our lives. How great is that? I am totally psyched about it.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend, and having some time to knit.
Blessed Be