What is making me smile today!

Opening windows before 7 a.m. after a long, gentle night rain that we needed so bad! Looking out at the hydrangea bush opening its gorgeous pink blossoms. Watching my Medusa look out the open window at the squirrels in the yard!

COFFEE! Everything about coffee makes me smile,,,the aroma, the taste, and of course the kewl mugs to drink it out of. My goofy cookie jar. Every morning I just giggle when I walk in the kitchen and see it on the counter. It's just GOOFY!

Candles! Candles! Candles! and now Wax Melts. Kristens girlfriend found this burner and the melts at a dollar store and just knew I'd love it as I'm such a candle freak. You put a melt in the top of the holder and then light a tea candle in the bottom. Melts the melt nice and slow and releases the scent slowly. I was quite surprised at just how strong these melts are. Love it! This one is a spring scent so my house smells like fresh spring flowers this morning. Now how could that NOT make you smile! Just look at all the yummies at this site, love the name Candlelicious!

And last but by no means least, getting to the toe of a sock! I am an admitted sockmakingaholic, love them, great projects that are portable, quick, and everyone loves. But just getting to the toe of each one makes me smile because I know it's almost complete and I can start the next one.

I hope you all have an excellent weekend! I've declared it my weekend to do what I want no matter what anyone else wants. WOO HOO!

Favorite Quilt Magazines and a Great Knitting Resource!

My absolute favorite quilting magazines. The McCall's Quilting I love for its diverse projects ranging from beginner to advanded projects, Quick Quilts I love because the projects work up fast, fast, fast and Quilter's Home I am totally in love with for Mark's Posse on testing products out there for us quilters and his hysterical articles that speak to us as real world quilters not the quilt police! You go Mark!

I have been on the hunt for a "knitters bible". Something that has all the basics of 99% of all the techniques you might ever use or contemplate while quilting. My girlfriend found this one and I think it is just what I needed, an awesome knitters reference.

What I've read since Jan 2008 and the GBC!

Thought I'd share with everyone what I've been reading since the beginning of the year as well as an awesome book group I'm a member of, The Good Book Cafe headed up by Pat Sloan. Not only do we come up with some awesome reads and new authors but Pat also provides a quilt block a month pattern that corresponds with that months read. By the end of the year we'll have some pretty awesome quilts! How kewl is that! So here's the list of most of what I've read so far this year:

Soaring Sock Done and a Tip!

Hey Jan, it's definitely a sock not a cast! LOL I finished up the first sock done on two circular needles this morning and I like the technique a lot. I think I'll need to make a few more pair with this method before I consider giving up my double pointed needles but it is a kewl way to make a sock and a lot less stress on the wrists.

Your tip of the day, thank you Pat! I've used aluminum foil for years and years now and one of the biggest sources of frustration for me with the product is that the stupid roll falls out of the stupid container! Well now how stupid do I feel after reading this tip. Did you know that there's a "roll holder" at the end of the carton to hold the foil roll in place once you get it started! I thought, mmmm maybe it's just on the major brands of foil product, nope, checked it out, it's that way on my generic brand as well! Go figure hey! GEEZ!

Much needed down time!

Can you believe this geeky girl took the whole weekend off from PCs! WOO HOO, go me! I promised myself last Wednesday that this long weekend would be one without computers other than checking email once each morning and once each evening. I seldom if ever do that but there just comes a time, about twice a year, when if I don't get away from my 24/7 at a computer I will take a sledge hammer to them and have no more! LOL That's when I know it's time for a break!

I'm going to call my Memorial Weekend 2008 a learning weekend. It actually started Thursday evening when I attended my baby nieces high school graduation ceremony. I learned, she's not a baby any longer and I must revise my nickname for her to Angel Baby not baby Angel! Here she is in her garb and then again with my daughter Kristen and her Mom Elena.

Friday night was crash night for me. I'm a chronic insomniac and after a period of time, 6 to 8 weeks, I just have to crash and when I do it is lights out big time. Got home from work, had some dinner, chatted with Kris and was sleeping by 8 p.m. and didn't come to life again until 6 a.m. Saturday morning! Did that ever feel good.

Of course I then had a weekend full of sports scheduled, along with yard work and laundry besides some crafting I wanted to do. Saturday I got the lawn mowed, bought a weed wacker (haven't figured that out yet), took a nap so I could enjoy an arena football game of a local team here in Mid MI, then enjoyed the game and the company of a good friend. Oh yeah, had an excellent 5 cheese tortellini and grilled garlic shrimp dinner before it. YUMMMMO! I love Olive Garden. I am definitely now an arena football fan, go Sting! WOO HOO!

I will definitely attend the June 6th game, last regular season game and definitely be on the schedule for next season. It is just way too much fun!


Sunday, of course, is my race day and Memorial weekend is always big due to the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600. Usually the Indy 500 isn't too exciting, this year was way different, man did they have some crashes and the Coca Cola 600, as always, was exciting. Not so much for any spectacular crashes but because you really didn't know til the end who was going to win that baby. Mr. Kahne surprised us all once again this weekend.

Monday was my day. Just me and the animules to do what I wanted to do. So I pulled out my kit for Socks that Soar and started. WOWSER, I do love this technique. A little different and some getting use to but I really, really love it and they do work up Soaring Fast! Below are pics of what I have done so far and the cute stitch markers that my Sock Wars assassin sent with my socks of death. They are just too kute not to use and covet. I found another reason I like this two circular needle technique is I can try them on at any time for sizing. How kewl is that!

I need a long weekend.....BADLY!!!

It has been a crazy busy week this week, no time for anything but work it seems. Ahhhhhhhhh! Hate it when that happens. I did get my kit and book in for knitting on two circular needles and have been able to start a pair of socks over the last couple of days. Got another one of those yarn things I hate, that would be a hank LOL, but it went much smoother wrapping it this time! LOL This book "Socks Soar on Two Circluar Needles" by Cat Bordhi makes it relatively easy to get started and enjoy working with two circular needles.

Cat also has you tube videos to help out.
In my kit from knitpicks.com came 2 16" size 2 circular needles for doing this technique. I have always stayed away from "metal" type needles as they are just so slippery. But I have to tell you, I have easily fallen in love with the Options nickel plated needles as well as the cable between them. WOWSER what a difference they make, they are truly amazing!
Oh and check out the new offering from Lion brand - Sock-Ease! How kewl is this, affordable sock yarn, WOO HOO!
I am hoping to do a lot of sewing and knitting this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that today goes well and fast, fast, fast!

Poor Ruby and Heel Flaps

Isn't this little girl just the most pitiful thing you've ever seen! LOL Ruby Tuesday went into the vet Monday to get the "fix" job done, she ended up having to stay overnight due to the anesthetic and came home yesterday morning with her poor little bandaged belly. She is much happier to be home and with us but she still isn't feeling too good. Although this morning she was wagging her tail when she woke up. Hopefully the bandage gets to go on Thursday but who knows. We may have a pretty pitiful puppy for a couple of weeks and of course she's getting the imperial treatment that the little princess deserves! LOL

So I'm working on my Moms second sock, just a basic sock pattern nothing fancy schmancy, and I have always been irritated with the heel flap directions on most patterns because the wrong side (purl) row first (slip purlwise) stitch is loose, loose, loose no matter what I do so I decided to wrap the stitch on this sock and see what happens when picking up gussett stitches. I'm hoping both sides of the foot at the gussett ridge looks the same now. I'm basically doing the wrongside slip stitch the same as the right side slip stitch, which always looks good on the finished sock. I hold the yarn to the back, slip the stitch purlwise then bring the yarn forward and purl the rest of the stitches,,,,it forms a wrap or bar around the stitch so it isn't loose or stretched out. Hopefully this works because I've hated that one little section of my socks forever now! LOL

Make today a great day, smile a lot!

Knitting Circle - Socks Lesson 1

Oh what fun we had last night at our knitting circle, we all started our first pair of socks and what a hoot that was. My favorite phrase from one of the ladies as she pulls her working DPN out of her mouth as she's still working stitches, raises hand with DPN in it and says "what is this, where did this come from!" LOL mmmmm, move those extra stitches to that DPN and go baby go! Lots of giggles last night. But first we had to have snacks (us crafters so love snacks, snacks, snacks!) and since May is a big birthday month for our group we HAD to have a birthday cake as well! WOO HOO, I love birthday cake. There was also a milestone birthday this month but I'm not telling which milestone (I'll let the card below do the talking so I don't get in trouble!) LOL Happy big birthday Nancy! Lets see, we had Brooke (not pictured because of Addy), Terri, Nancy, and last but not least we had the newest addition over this past weekend Addy (not pictured because Addy and Mom (Brooke) are still in the hospital).

Pictured are Nancy, Marilyn, Wendy, Terri, Linda - missing Brenda (new grandma), Brooke (new Mom), and Addy (new knitter!)

After snacks we proceeded to get our weapons (DPNs) and ammunition (yarn) out to get after some socks. Here are pics of the group hard at work casting on and working the ribbed cuff of the socks! Lots of concentration and fun going on here! We had a great time!

Addy! Addy! Addy!

OK, so what does that title have to do with anything crafty! I mentioned how nervous I was about helping to teach knitting socks to our Knitting Circle group tonight. Wasn't too bad because I knew that our group leader and expert knitter Brooke would be there to definitely get us all started the right way. So what does she do to get out of it, GIVES BIRTH! LOL Saturday night a beautiful little red head was brought into this world by her gorgeous Mother, Brooke! and Addy is her nameo! WOO HOO! So, I started my Mom's second sock to get back into the swing of the basic pattern we're using. This pair is made out of red 100% peruvian wool and it is luscious!

I have the second sock of another pair yet to do but have been saving the 2nd sock of these two pairs for Knitting Circle. Below you'll see I have finally learned how to make a ball out of a hank of yarn. This is sock yarn from Plymouth Yarn Company and I totally love working with it, except the hank part. OK, that isn't so bad now that I know what I have to do with a hank of yarn before I can work with it. I took the first hank with me to Chicago at the end of April on business. Figured I could get one sock started. Little did I know that ball winding thing and spent 2 and 1/2 hours untangling a mess rather than knitting. I swear if I hadn't paid so much for that yarn I'd have just file 13'd the bugger! LOL Oh, a new use for my mahogany dining room chairs too. Can't beat that other than they are expensive hank of yarn holders!

Started on tier 4 of my entrelac bag last night. I so love that green stripe, it really is going to make the bag sizzle. I'm working it on a cicular needle from the top of the bag down, dark green rolled cuff at at the bottom of this pic is the opening to the top of the bag. The band I'm working on now is the center of the bag. Next tier strats decreasing! WOO HOO!

Of course, I had to get an animule picture in here as well. It was 70 degrees and sunny on Saturday and then took a nose dive yesterday to a high of 50 degrees. mmmm, and I wonder why my sinuses are in an uproar. Kristen decided to take Ruby Tuesday for a walk yesterday afternoon and put her hoodie on her because it was chilly. Isn't she just the kutest little hoodie wearing dog! LOL She's off to the vet today to get fixed, fixed, fixed. I'm sure she will not be impressed with us this afternoon! LOL

And last but not least! I spent yesterday mornings posting time giving my blog a new look. Anyone who knows me knows I can only take generic for so long. Since I've decided to keep doing this blog thing I figured it was high time I put a little pizazz into it. It'll be changing often I'm sure!

Oh and if Sock Wars III wasn't enough to get my dander up, I joined a Death by Socks yahoo group. Assassin list went out yesterday so I know who my assassin is as well as I know my victim (who I have already begun to email). This group starts June 1. What have I gotten myself into again!

Is there a wedding coming? and an awesome way to be Assassinated!

mmmmmmmm, did that get your attention! LOL No, no weddings coming but looking out my front door on Thursday afternoon/evening sure looked like it. We had a nice spring rain and then the wind picked up and took a TON of blossoms off my flowering crabapple tree to beautifully decorate the front of my house. Man, Mother Nature is just so awesome. Enjoy, looks like this will be the last of the blossoms for this season....

But if there were a wedding coming some lucky guy would get this smart, beautiful, artistic, gorgeous daughter of mine! Granted, I'm a little prejudiced here since she is my "bug in the rug" but I just can't help it, look how photogenic this girl is! LOL

So did everyone miss me without blogging for a day! I am pleasantly surprised that I actually missed doing a post,,,,,mmmmmmmmmm,,,,,I might be blog addicted now. Oh well, one more thing to add to the addiction list, at least they are good addictions and not harmful to anyone including the ol' selfster here. Actually, my day job went to h__l in a handbasket Thursday morning and it took pretty much around the clock business to get if ferreted out. Just glad that is over so I can get back to things I love to do! Of course, helping Kris get things together for a Friday evening jewelry party didn't help things but we had a great time. There were 5 of us total and had a great time playing with jewelry and just enjoying each others company. Lia Sophia is some pretty good stuff and my favorite part is it is so unique.
Bet you are just waiting to see what I've been up to on the crafty front huh, huh, huh! LOL I'm working away on my entrelac bag and loving it. Pics below. And I know you are just on pins and needles to see if my bullet arrived to be assassinated in Sock Wars III. Yup, they arrived and it is the only viable option I can see for being assassinated,,,,get an awesome pair of knitted socks! WOO HOO! Pic below.



My knitting circle is Monday night here at the house. I love when we get together and knit but this one is making me a little nervous because I'm teaching the group or I should say helping to teach the group how to knit a basic pair of socks on double pointed needles. I shouldn't be nervous as I've mastered the technique pretty good but these aren't just "any people" they are my buddies! OK,,deep breath....OK,,I'm good to go! LOL We are using the basic sock pattern from Betsy McCarthy's book Knit Socks. This is just such a fun book. Everyone has their sticks (DPNs), yarn, and pattern. We're ready to rock! (OK, maybe I should say we are ready to Knit Socks!)

Book investigation! A good friend of mine, Lois, sent me a link to a book series I haven't read or investigated yet but they sound excellent. Lumby Books series by Gail Fraser. Then, it just must have been the day yesterday to be turned onto books. My other reading girlfriend is on a mission to get the Dexter series, from the Showtime show, I think I must help her get that series going. Love the show so the books have to be awesome as well. If any of you have or have read either series let me know your thoughts. If you have any of them you want to get rid of let me know that too, will be more than happy to swap with you.