I'm so excited -- I could just SHE-IT!

Ok So, I am sure you know by now what a fan I am of sock knitting -- but you may not know of the Love I have for Cookie A. -- the fantastic knitwear designer that is the genius behind such gorgeous lace sock patterns as Baudelaire, Hedera and Pomatomus.

(the picture to the right contains my favorite sock shot ever. I fell in love with the picture before I even looked closely at the pattern for the first time - if you click on it, it will open up and you can see it in all its glory!!! I happen to love the sock too although I have been too skeered to tackled the pattern.....yet, it is on my list though. Along with everything else I can find that Cookie has designed -- I have not found ONE dud.)
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Anyway, to get to the point, she's at it again, and this time with even BETTER designs. And I thought that I had missed out by not being able to attend Stitches, BUT, my dear knitting friends, fear not! Cookie has not let us down! She has started her own store!!! YEAH Cookie! And a HUGE thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

You can see her new designs on her brand new website Cookie A Knitwear Designs and please don't miss the Millicent Sock Pattern as pictured below -- please click to enlarge -- look at that sexy foot on that sock! OMG! I MUST try this one. Please send me all the knitting mojo you can spare. I am going to need it!!



Congrats on the new site, Cookie, and thank you so much again for making these available to those of us that could not make it to Stitches to meet you in person (DAMN!)...maybe some day!?

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Tori and Dean Inn Love!

Ok, so I admit it. I have never been a fan of Tori Spelling. I guess I didn't have a reason, just thought of her as a spoiled, rich brat born with a silver spoon in her mouth and I don't have much use for those types.

HOWEVER. There is NOTHING on TV today and I happened to be flipping through the channels and came upon this show. I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised -- she is SOOOOOO NOT what I thought she was. She is either a FANTASTIC actress, or she's actually a truly nice person. Either way, I was WAY wrong!

There is also something I have to admit -- her tendencies towards OCD behavior (ok, ok...you'll see why I put it this way in a sec) and the way she gets carried away with "harming the baby" are so ME! It's like looking in the mirror, if I were a few shades blonder, a few inches shorter and more than a few pounds lighter! Oh, and preggers...which I am not!

There, I've admitted it -- I am obsessive in nature -- as if my yarn addiction wasn't proof enough :)

Anyway, I apologize Tori, for ever doubting you! I am sure you were heartbroken knowing how I felt before today and now you can be healed knowing that you have a new fan!! :::ggg:::

And the way Dean takes care of her is as sweet as can be! You go guys!

CONGRATS on the birth of your baby boy too ;) I hope you are all adjusting well to one another!!

Added 4/1: I have been reading a lot about Tori today -- like she named the Inn after her Dog Mimi La Rue. It's called Chataeu La Rue -- something else I would have TOTALLY done if I were in the position to name an inn! I can't believe how much we are alike!!!! She also named the baby Liam Aaron -- after her Dad who just passed away recently (who, despite what he did and where he did it, I cannot find a single article about him where ANYONE knocks him! We lost a really good man there folks! Imagine, in HOLLYWOOD, and man that is that well loved and respected? I would have loved to have had the chance to meet him as well) -- something else I would totally do to honor my own Dad's passing! Although I know we are not unique there...

You are going to have to forgive me -- in all my 40 something years, I can't recall another time when I have EVER been star struck! This is totally new for me -- perhaps it is because I see so many things in her that are so like me, and I never imagined that to be the case for whatever reason. For those that have emailed, the show is on the Oxygen! Network. I hope you enjoy it! I am sure you will see many things that you will find very familiar as you watch!!

Cammo hat...for the baby!

Ok, so this is really more as a ha ha. The baby's grandfather, my friend David is an avid hunter -- and he eats everything he hunts, so I am sorta ok with it as long ask I don't have to see it...I guess....anyway.

So when I found this yarn in my stash, I just had to make a hat for baby Hayden. It's soooo cute in real life. This photo does nothing at all for it, but you'll just have to trust me here.

Pictures are still crappy -- but I am working on it!

I know they still suck, but I am working on it! I have been reading all that I can find on how to take a good photo and hopefully soon I will be posting photos that look better -- but for now we're stuck with what I can turn out! And it's NOT the camera, it's that I suck at photography!

Anyway -- I have been working on a baby a few baby things for our neighbor's new great grandson. I can't wait to meet him!! But here's what I have finished so far:






They really are much cuter in person than they look here -- and they also are in need of blocking. Hopefully I will get a chance to snap a few more pictures after I block them and before the baby gets them -- but you get the idea anyway.

I hope they are still going to fit him! They say he is growing like a weed!! I would like to make a quick pair of booties too -- and if I can find an easy pattern I will -- one that is knit IN THE ROUND! One thing this sweater has taught me is that I HATE SEAMING, and I will avoid it at all costs!!

And I would also LOVE to make him those baby Ugg boots -- but I wonder, are they ok for a boy? I don't think boys wear them when they are older -- but are they ok for a baby? (I don't have kids, can you tell??) I also wonder if there is a pattern out there that has been converted being knit in the round? If anyone has seen one, can you please point me in the direction? Although seaming with chenille yarn wasn't as bad as it was with the wool I used for the sweater -- I have had quite enough, thank you very much! ::gg::

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There's A New Editor At Interweave Knits!

I have been a great fan of Eunny and her blog ever since I began my knitting journey a bit over 2 years ago. Not only is she a FANTASTIC knitter -- she also is a GREAT chef -- something that I have also done a time or two (or for about 25 years) in my life!

Things have been VERY quiet over there for quite some time, and today she made the announcement that she's been appointed to this fantastic new position! I am sure that I am not the only one that is THRILLED to death for her -- she's one of the most talented knitters that I have had the pleasure of knowing, AND, she's kind and generous too!! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us with the magazine!!

CONGRATULATIONS EUNNY!!!! And best of luck to you in your new position!! I know you're going to just love it!!

Here is the link to the PDF file on the Interweave site making the official announcement! Enjoy!!

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Awwww. POOR Puppy!

Can you believe what some people are willing to do to their poor dogs? If I were to do this to the Bean, she would eat me alive! Poor baby! ::gg:: I guess not everyone likes everything I do either, so if you'd like to make this pattern, you can find it at the Lion Brand site -- you will need a free subscription to see the pattern though.

Now, on to The long awaited WIPs, one FO and my first Zephyr!

Well -- looks like my luck might be changing!

Today started out with my being woken WAY too early, and I was NOT a happy camper -- but it gave me some extra time this afternoon to read some blogs that I have never seen before. Which, as it turns out, was a GREAT thing!

While visiting one of those blogs, I found, AND WON, a contest!! Not sure what I won yet, but I WON over at KB's Blog, and I can't help but think this is going to be the start of a new swing in my luck!! THANKS KB!!!! I will wait patiently for my prize to come :)

Seems Mr. KB is addicted to many of the same things as I -- Socks that Rock, Annie Modesitt. The FanFreekingtasticFranklin -- and of course, knitting ;) PLUS, he's a he! How kewl is that? Sure wish I could get Mr. NewKnittingAddict interested again. He used to knit as a kid, but has no interest at all now. I just know he would understand this fiber addiction better if he were knitting too! Maybe once he retires, he will have more time and interest? I can only hope!

Ok, I am going to try to get those pictures taken now, since I read all afternoon, I never did do it while the sun was out -- OOPS! So, they won't be any better than usual!

A new day....

I am feeling better about the whole job thing -- and I think the ole DH is too. He sure seems to be happier than he has been in a very long time anyway?! I know he hated it there -- maybe it's just what we needed? I don't know -- but lets hope this will be a GOOD thing, rather than a bad thing. I just hope we don't have to be long without insurance -- that will be a very bad thing for sure!

I have been a knitting fool! I've turned the heel on two socks, started a third, gotten about 1/2 done with a leg warmer for my Grandmother -- that would have been finished had I not had to frog it after about 10" were done when I realized it was about 4" too big for her skinny little Helwig legs! I sure don't take after THAT side of the family! I have linebacker legs ;) But they are easier to hide than the huge middle and breasts that they were given too, so I am not really complaining!

I am also about to start on a sweater for Cody's new baby. Or maybe I will just do the easy thing and go with booties and a hat -- since I have never done a sweater, I figure a baby one would be a great way to begin though, so we'll see if I can find a pattern that I think I will be able to follow. I will first try to find a washable yarn in the stash....that is HUGE, so that should not be a problem, and then continue the quest for the pattern -- since there are so many that call for different weight yarns, I would rather match the yarn to a pattern than the other way around.

That's it for now. Pics to come tomorrow, don't feel like dragging the camera out @ 3:30 AM -- besides, I really want to try to start taking better photos, and they say you need daylight for that, something not very abundant at this time of the morning ;)

When it rains....

Wrackin', frackin', sackin'......and those aren't the first words that come to mind either -- but since I am trying to keep it clean here -- it's what I will write...

Just got word that the DH's place of business will be closing and he will be out of a job in 60 days. If it lasts that long.

I don't know what we are going to do....Last time this happened, I was not as sick as I am now and I didn't require all the medication that I do now. I don't know how we will survive not only without an income, but without health insurance. We're toast. And I thought I was depressed yesterday. HA! That was nothing compared to what I feel today. Complete desperation is the only way to describe it. I cannot live without my medication, but there is no way we can afford to pay for it, even WITH a job, it's not possible to pay for it.....Maybe I should go rob a bank and get caught, intentionally. At least my medical care will be paid for that way! Wonder if they allow you knit in prison if you're not Martha freekin' Stewart?

Can anyone that happens to read this that happens to pray, please add a few for us? We can sure use all that we can get. And not to be greedy, but I will take all the good thoughts I can get too. I am going to need them.

I don't have it in my to post any knitting...and may not be doing any for some time either...but I will try, I am sure it will calm be down if my hands stop shaking for long enough to grasp the needles..

So depressed...

I am still sick, and it's really starting to get to me. It's not bad enough that I always feel like I was hit like a bus with chronic pain, but add to that this flu that just will not go away and all I want to do is sleep! I am finding it harder and harder just to get out of bed. It's been almost a whole month - this is enough now! I want to get back to what is normal for me already!!

Knitting is suffering as well. When you spend 99% of the day asleep, you don't get much knitting done! Here is where things stand on the Rainbow Sock...and I must say if I didn't love the way the colors were working on this sock, I would not even have this much done...but it's still pretty damn sad! Aren't the colors gorgeous though?




I was gifted some gorgeous Malabrigo today in a gorgeous blue color -- but I sure wish I could find some of the great colors that Cashmere Blend finds. Look at the scarf he posted today, OMG, gorgeous! And the hats are too, especially the self designed one. Wonder if that will be offered for sale -- maybe I need to go ask, eh?

40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A POP-UP???

This is astonishing to me -- that in a time where almost EVERYONE you speak to, from the 3 year old in the grocery store to your 97 year old grandmother -- is at least semi-literate in computer-ease, and knows that this crap can find its way on to your computer without you ever having to "search it out" -- that there is a court in this country that is actually thinking about putting Julie Amero in prison for 40 years for a pornographic pop-up ad that appeared on her monitor during a class.

Are you freekin' kidding me? How in the world can this be happening to this poor woman!?

There are things you can do to help if you'd like (more on that towards the end) -- but if you would just like to read more you can do so here, here, here, and here.

Admittedly, I have not read ALL the articles about this case yet -- but it looks to me so far that this woman is getting a bum rap! Sounds like there are a bunch of computer illiterate people sitting on the jury here! There is another great piece here by Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.

You can also use the power of e-mail. The State's Attorney responsible for supervision of David Smith, the prosecutor in the Amero case, is Michael L. Regan. You might want to write him and strongly urge he help Smith file a motion to vacate the conviction. An e-mail to the Chief State's Attorneys of Connecticut Kevin T. Kane and Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell can't hurt, either. If you write, however tempting, try not to go on a rant. Use your computing expertise -- and a civil argument -- and you'll likely get better results. (I hope it was ok that I borrowed this paragraph from Steve Bass's site, (Steve, if you by any strange chance happen to see this and have a problem with my using this, please let me know and I will remove it immediately).

Julie, if you happen to come across this site, I wish you all the luck in the world! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that the powers that be come to their senses and realize that this WAS NOT YOUR FAULT and come sentencing day you are set free -- where you belong!!!