OHHH BAG ME KAL

This is my April bag for Ohh Bag Me. This evening I plan on finishing the beads on the fringe. It didn't turn out totally the way I wanted it, but it will be nice after the bead work is done. More than likely I'll use it for Knit/Felting demos.

Speaking of demo. My demo at Hobby Lobby was interesting. For some reason it was "nail Sandra" day. (no one told me, and I didn't get the memo.) There are some ignorant, hostile woman out there. While driving home I was so grateful that I wasn't related to any of the woman who felt the need to share their rude and evil opinions, who felt challenged by my knitting and crochet work or got upset with me because I wasn't interested it purchasing their tonics to loose weight. LOL. 

A "cheer me up" package arrived today

My yarn arrived for the Penelope Blouse. The other yarn is for a wrap I have plans for and then there are the two pair of Addi Turbo's 32" size 8 and 9 for the blouse and the Rick Rack bag pattern. Still being in a little critical mood, you would think when you pay almost $5.00 for a pattern it would come in a plastic protective sheet. (I'm trying to smile and make that funny) LOL.

I am really excited about making this top. It's been a very long time since I made me something to wear. It will be a lot of fun.

So I'm off to cast on land! 

Saying Good Bye

Warning: this is a rare occasion where I publicly vent.

Sunday, April 23, 2006, my aunt passed away from cancer. She was a heavy smoker and found she had lung cancer 4 years ago when they removed one lung. Since then it's been a terrible and horrific chain of events as the cancer spread in spite of every kind of treatment you can think of. Once it got to her brain about 2 months ago she stopped all treatment. The doctor's could do nothing more for her. So on Sunday, she left this life to go onto her next.

I'm sad, frustrated and hurt all at one time. Her and my uncle lived with me while I was young (3-5 years old). Then they were our neighbors for many years. They didn't have a child at the time, so I was their kid too. Their only son is now 35 years old.

I hope that I haven't offended anyone with his post, that is not my intent. But, (you knew that but, was coming) watching and being in a persons life that is dying, slowly from something that could have been prevented is a frustrating thing. Every time I seen her over the past 4 years more and more of her was gone. Her life was in one room, a good day was walking to the bathroom by herself. She unfortunately isn't the only family member that I have watched slowly go.

My uncle and one of her sisters for the most part were her caretakers 100% of the time. They both smoke.

For 20 years I have lived with an inhaler within reach of me, 24 hours a day. I would love to go a day without having times where I struggle to breath. I would love to never have to use medicines to get through the day. And yet, people like my aunt and uncle daily, decide to take their breath away.

Choices, it's about choices.

My Next Major Project

After hearing so many wonderful things about Oat Couture's patterns I ordered one from Patternworks. Then purchased the yarn from Knit Picks. I decided on their new Shine worsted in Ebony. It's been awhile since I did anything in black and I need a new top in black. It's machine washable which is a must for something I plan on wearing here in the deep south this summer. Hopefully the yarn will be here this coming week. I can't wait to start it.

I've been hiding out working on the newsletter and knitting on my April bag for Ohhh Bag Me. Last night I finished the flap and this morning I started the I-cord bind off. My goal is to get that done this evening. If you haven't been to the blog and joined up with Ohhh Bag me, then do it now. LOL. It's so much fun. For the month of May there is going to be a "contest".

Earlier I mentioned the Newsletter. If you would like to receive Knit Awakening's premier issue, there is a button on the side bar that will take you through the sign up. Issue one will be out the first week of May. I'm so excited and nervous. LOL.

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend and that you enjoy the rest of the day, I'm headed out to play with a bunch of Great Danes. 

Out of sorts

Where have I been? LOL. Well I've been out of sorts. Last Tuesday I woke up with a full on migraine. Yesterday (Easter) was the first day that I was totally pain free, vision cleared and speech cleared. I hate these damn headaches. I've had them since I was 18 years old. Thankfully they don't come as often as they use to.

This week is is catch up week. Everything that didn't get done or taken care of last week has to be done this week. LOL. Won't that be fun? Actually I'm just glad that I can be busy and do anything. You get real "thankful" for everything when you can wake up and there is no pain in your head.

I don't remember if I mentioned it, but I did get the ok on starting the crochet class at Hobby Lobby and those classes will start at the first of the month. It's been funny, I've had to find my crochet needles and start working on some current things. I've made some flowers, a rufflely scarf and am now working on a little drawstring handbag. All the yarn has been out of my stash so that's been good. I believe that the last Saturday of the month I'm going to have a demo for both the knitting and crochet classes so that will be fun.

On the knitting front. I'm on a mission to FINISH everything that I have on needles or frog it. The other day I realized that one of the things that has been bothering me about my knitting is that I feel swamped with "half done" things. It makes me feel completely unorganized and out of control. So today, if I look at a project and my heart isn't into it, you know' that excitement and love you have for the project, it's out of here.

I hope for everyone a wonderful week, blessed be.

I hope for you

I hope that you have a wonderful Easter.

(of course with some knitting time in there too)

B/day pictures and blog stuff

Is it me or is anyone else having a terrible time with their blog? Things were going to good, and lately it's impossible at times to load pictures, or even comment. Bummer.

GT's birthday was a lot of fun. He got all the "stuff" that he wanted and then a few surprises. He loves German Chocolate cake so Sara got him one at the bakery. I don't think I've ever tasted a German choc cake that was so good. Of course he loved it.

I promised a picture of the birthday boy. LOL. Here he is. This is the best picture I have of him. LOL Every time I got the camera out he hid or went into the other room. (I don't know where he got his stubborn streak from.)

The other off the knitting topic news is that over the weekend my dishwasher went nuts and died. So off to Lowes I went and picked out a new one. Hopefully it will arrive before the weekend and I'll install it before the dog show and Easter. Cross your fingers.

Not much news in the way of knitting. I'm going to have to change that.

Try It Again

Last night I wrote this huge update but when I posted it, guess what, yup, it didn't happen. So today I'll try it again.

Today is my son's 17th birthday. I will refrain from taking you all down memory lane and filling your mind with the motherly cliches'. If you have teenagers that you love dearly then you know exactly what I'm thinking. LOL. I will have pictures inspite of his hatred for the camera. (don't I sound authoritive)

As for knitting, well, I'm still working on the shrug, I have started my April bag for Oh Bag Me 4 times now, each time with a different pattern. I've decided this afternoon to not do a pattern just to wing it. Also I started a scarf. Yes, it's 80F outside in Atlanta right now, and I started a cabled scarf. Don't know why, just wanted to play with some cables. I also have two new books. Mason-Dixon Knitting. I love this book some great stuff, and the second book is Pursenalities. the other day I picked Pursenalities up and flipped through and seen several extra little touches that I want to try with my bags. We'll see how it goes. Today after my knitting class I went to JoAnn's and got 4 balls of Sensations Bellezza Collection Cosetta. It's a wool blend, 68% wool 32% Nylon. I have no idea yet what it will be but I guess I had to replace the yarn from my stash that I'm using for the scarf. LOL. Don't you think 4 balls of yarn should easily replace the two balls that I'm using for the scarf? LOL.

While I was at Hobby Lobby, I got the go ahead to start a crochet class. Mike was really happy that I was going to do it and now we just have to confirm up a date. I'll talk with that person tomorrow. If I can work it out I would love to do nothing but knitting and crocheting and slowly dissolve all the computer work I have to do. Cutting it in half would be wonderful.

Speaking of computer work. I have been working for about a week now changing my web site. I should have it uploaded next week. I am going to use it for the newsletter. I hope to fill it with patterns, links, articles and other goodies. If you have any suggestions for patterns or articles or links you would like to have included please email me.

Now some personal stuff that I have to vent. My friend Betty may be moving out west. Her home sold and her husband may have a job with Fender guitars. (which is great for him, sucks for me) Betty, started out as a knitting student and soon became my best friend. She is one of the few females in my life that accepts my crazy schedule, appreciates my commitment to my kids and doesn't think I'm nuts because I'm a lunatic over a dog. LOL. I know that I'm not the easiest person to be friends with (yes, believe it or not, my privacy issues sometimes get in the way) but that hasn't bothered her from being my friend. In my heart I want the best for her and her family and if she has to move out west it will sad but ok, because she is the type of friend that no matter how far apart we are in miles we will always be able to pick up right where we left. Besides we can always IM. The one thing I do know is that our paths crossed at this time in our lives for a reason and that's a precious thing. Knitting has brought many wonderful ladies into my life, but Betty, the Xtreme knitter, will always be part of my family. She will be missed.

Felted Bowl

Ok, here is what I do with left over wool. LOL. The other day my friend suggested that while I was in a little bit of a funk that I start on another vase. Well it started out that way and by the time I finished the bottom I decided to again, follow a different path and see what happened. About half way through it I got an idea for the finished project and here it is. I felted it tonight after the dog show.

Non-Knitting News: The dog show. It seems that after 2 days of talking, walking, talking, watching, talking, etc with "dog show people" Gunther has too much white on him to show, but the good news is that several breeders are interested in him for their girls, if you know what I mean. ;-) His pedigree is awesome and that's what they are interested in. One man told me, that Gunther was perfect in everyway but the white is too much. Ok, that's cool, there is a ton of obedience things I can do with him to keep him busy, in shape and happy. Now I'm just tired and want to sit and knit.

I hope you had a fun weekend,
Blessed Be