Cat in the Hat Socks

I like to wear them on my feet
I really think they're super neat

Pattern: Broadripple
Yarn: Yarn Chef
Colorway: Circus Tent

Stitches 2009

Took the train to Stitches West this year and picked up some goodness.
Yarn from Miss Babs & Creatively Dyed, a portable Knitter's Block from Cocoknits, and some vintage buttons from The Button Lady.
The train ride was fun as always and although Stitches seemed smaller this year, there were plenty of things to fondle and drool over.
My first project will be a beret from the multicolored yarn

Color: Cleopatra
Yarn: Miss Babs Yowza-Whatta Skein! Superwash
Pattern: Twirli-gig Beret

Movie Knits

Last sunday my BFF and I took her daughter to see Twilight. I liked the movie although not as much as the book, and of course fell in love with most of the boy characters on screen. There were many knitted items throughout the film and my first project from this movie will be these
Bella Mittens by Subliminal Rabbit.

The next movie inspired knit will be the Coraline Sweater from the movie Coraline. The website has the pattern hidden in Coraline's bedroom drawer and my daughter wants it finished to wear to the movie, which isn't even a possibility unless I finish this sweater first.
It's Katje by Cocoknits and I want to finish it by the end of February so I can wear it to Stitches.
I'd better get knittin'...

Down for the count

So I guess the Strep wasn't happy invading my body just once this year. Less than a month later it's come to visit/haunt me again. I was struck down Sunday morning and after a visit to the doc on Monday they confirmed it with a positive strep culture. Whoopee!
So Monday and Tuesday were pretty much wasted on the couch with the occasional sit up for more antibiotics and steroids. But today I am trying to move around more so as not to sleep my way in to next year!

On a positive note-
Christmas was mellow and I think everyone got what they wanted, especially my daughter. She loved her new clothes so much so that she wore them most of Christmas day.
She is seen here wearing her new slippers, arm warmers, sweatpants, and apron. Obviously not all meant to go together, but when your seven, why not! She has also been sporting her latest accessory Fifi the stuffed dog. Much easier to manage than her new real puppy.
We also had time to do some baking and I finished this cute little number for her.

Pattern: Anthropologie Inspired Capelet
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Bulky in Mulled Wine

Here's wishing everyone happiness and great health for the year ahead.
CHEERS!

Holy Crap Batman, Christmas is Coming!

Hip replacement, Strep Throat, and a new puppy were the highlights of November. Which seems to have come and gone since my last post. On the horizon are many knitting projects for the holidays, training a 7-year old to train a 12-week old puppy, and assisting a 38-year old to feel confident with his 2 shiny new titanium hips.
Sounds feasible now, but last week while I was sitting in my local emergency room with needles and tubes in my arms because my airway was sealing up and my temperature was around 102, due to a severe case of what they thought was Mono, then turned out being Strep, I had my doubts.
With the help of my parents and my friends, we are all still alive! Maybe a little bruised and battered but it really makes you appreciate the little things when you have so many major things happen in a matter of weeks.
I've been working on hats, gloves, and socks for presents, and I'm hoping to pick up some yarn today for a wrap for my mom. I may even venture into some sewing this weekend. Well, practice sewing anyway. I'm just so afraid of the cash I could drop on fabric.

Happy Holidays

This is my favorite time of the year. The weather is finally cooling down and I get 3 straight days of celebration. Halloween is tomorrow and I'm looking forward to dressing up my daughter, trick or treating and having friends over for dinner. Photos 3 and 4 are of one of my favorite houses to drive by on the way to school. I love how it's not overdone like some houses but it gives you a creepy feeling when you drive by it. It probably has to do with my fear of spiders. And the body encased in a web with little spiders all around it. Ewwwww! But I love it!

The sugar skull and skeleton lady arrived yesterday in the mail and is from one of my best friends in the world. She was visiting from Boston a couple of weeks ago and although we had planned a night of mischief and mayhem, we ended up in the emergency room for some issues she was having. She sent this to our family as a thank you for taking care of her and it will lovingly be displayed on our Dia De Los Muertos altar this weekend.

Everyday is Halloween

At knitting group, we were talking about costumes and how excited we get this time of year to be anything we want to be. I wish every holiday was like Halloween. With the stress of some of the upcoming holidays, how much fun would it be to dress-up. You could dress-up as a Pilgrim or Indian or turkey, okay well maybe not a turkey, but... and for Christmas I think an elf costume or angel would be fun. Things get so stressed sometimes with relatives coming over and preparation for everything that I think dressing up would make it waayyyyy more fun.

This year my daughter decided to be Princess Leia, all on her own even. Her dad is so proud. I think what made the outfit for her was the gun. One of her best friends is going to be a Stormtrooper, it should be fun! The girls in my weekly knitting group decided to do a Halloween Knit-Along, most of will be making these Leia wigs. I can't wait to see how they turn out.
May the force be with you this weekend.