Month: August 2014

Family · Knitting

FO Friday, I Do, Wise Words

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OFF THE NEEDLES

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Honey Nectar Cowl

Tosh Chunky in One of a Kind Nectar

This yarn was much prettier after it was knit up.  The colors seemed sort of, I don’t know, blah, I guess.  I’m so glad I stayed with it to the finish.  I love the soft, subtle colors now!

I DO RENEW

Mr. Iknead and I are renewing our marriage vows this evening, with our sweet son in law officiating.  It’s very low key, just family, the kids and their spouses and the grands, in front of the fireplace here at home, with dinner afterward. The past 35(!) years hold so much laughter and love, along with some tears, of course, but the love and laughs far outweigh anything else.  So, yeah, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.  Pictures to follow.

A WORD TO THE WISE

When your paper carrier leaves your paper right on top of your sprinkler system, do not, I repeat, do not attempt to dry it, the paper, not the carrier, in the microwave; or at least, don’t get distracted and walk away.

I didn’t know paper would ignite at around the 20 second mark.  Yeah, my attention span is about that short.  Burned clean through the first section and about halfway through the second, FYI.

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.  Henry Ford

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Knitting

How’d It Get To Be Thursday Already???

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SO YEAH

I truly don’t know what happened to my time this week.  I’m just surprised today is Thursday already.  We watched the Papoose and the Sprout once this week and had dinner out with friends, last night, I think (Taziki’s, yum) but aside from those things, I’m at a loss.  My story is that I was abducted by aliens, everyone knows that when you’re abducted by aliens, you have missing time, right???

ON THE NEEDLES

Apparently, I was able to grab my knitting on the way to the mothership (see above) and started a new project, Honey Cowl. Details here.  i had a skein of Mad Tosh in a one of a kind colorway, Nectar, which is working up nicely.  If all goes as planned and I don’t have another appointment aboard the mothership (see above), it will be off the needles in time for FO Friday.  It’s not the most exciting project, but it works up quickly and easily enough.

Honey Cowl

SOME WOULD DISAGREE

I read somewhere a day or two ago that nothing dates someone more in this day and age than putting a double space between the ending punctuation of one sentence and the first letter of the first word of the following sentence.  It just screams “Hey everyone!!!!  I learned to type in the 1970s (or earlier)!”  Know what?  I don’t care – not even a little.  Mrs. Frachiseur’s typing method rules and will continue to do so.  FYI – Mrs. Frachiseur was the typing teacher back in the day at good old DeQueen High.  Hey Mrs. Frachiseur!! I’m so happy to know it’s not the gray hair or the laugh lines giving me away.  It’s the dadgum double space!  

1/4 GRANDS

The Sprout

  

 First Time Painter

 

 MOMM*

My newest mixed media project, with modeling paste, ink stamps, postage stamps and acrylic paint.

 Always be smarter than the people who hire you.  Lena Horne

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*My Own Mixed Media

 

Knitting

FO Friday, What To Do Next?, Pretty!

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OFF THE NEEDLES

My Guernsey Wrap

It’s unblocked and I’m sure the stitches will really pop after blocking, but I’m so excited to have something finished for today  that I couldn’t wait.  I’ll post another photo, I promise.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

What next? Socks maybe? Another wrap? A sweater?  Maybe one of each?

SHINY!

This is my anniversary gift from Mr. Iknead. We’re renewing our vows next week with son in law Clefton officiating.  Thirty-five years and he’s still my best friend.  (I’m leaving out the lover stuff because it grosses the kids out.) He’s getting better at his gift giving, but he still needs more practice ;).  I saw this when we went to get our wedding rings cleaned and resized, and I loved it. I never dreamed I’d have it on my finger!  I can’t stop admiring it!

Knitting

Ouch!!! Successful Sling

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OWWWW

I woke up Sunday before last with a toothache, just out of the blue.  It was strange, just coming on like that.  No problem with my regular evening’s brushing and flossing Saturday night.  Anyway, I had a root canal this afternoon and with any luck, I’ll be back to normal toothwise tomorrow.  OK, whine over.

SLINGING THE BABY

Look what Babymama and I made!  The sling, I mean; I had nothing to do with making the baby.  Wait, Mr. iknead and I made Babydaddy, so I guess I did have something to do with… never mind.

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The first official wearing of the baby sling Babymama and I made.  It looks great, doesn’t it?

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I’m having some challenges with WordPress/BlogPro.  Here’s hoping I can settle these.

Well done is better than well said.  Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES

Though it looks the same as it did last week, I have made progress on My Guernsey Wrap and hopefully will have knitted the last stitch in time to post it as a FO on Friday.  If I didn’t jinx it by saying that, that is.  You can read more about it here.

BOOKLOVE

Man, I’ve been burning through the downloaded library books this week.  So far, I’ve finished Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg, Grey Wolf by Simon Dunstan, Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld and started Delicious, by Ruth Reichl.  All great books, but I  think my favorite is going to be Delicious, but really, it’s too soon to tell.

FIXED

I had a challenge or two with my last post with a couple of pictures missing.  It’s fixed (I hope) and if you’d like to give it another look, it’s here.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along, Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.  Booker Washington

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Knitting

Grape Jelly, Pots and Paper

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JELLY GIRL

This photo is so totally cute, so totally Sprout, I have no words…..

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POTS

This little guy started out as pinch pot practice, then it grew on me and I added some coils and I just this second saw a funky face on it.  Does anyone else see a face?  Not sure I like what I’m seeing.  Freaking me out a little to be honest.

 

This one slid in under the radar, for some reason, I have no notes on it at all, so I have no idea what it’s glazed with.  Salt celadon, maybe?

 IMPULSE BUY

I saw these on my latest trip to Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple on a whim, a pack of watercolor and one pack Bristol.  Here’s a couple of things I’ve been playing at –

The top two are spray inks, the bottom left is watercolor and Pitt pen and the right is Pitt pen and Copic marker over watercolor.

By the way, I finally broke down and got a couple of Pitt pens and I love love love them!  They’ve totally lived up to my expectations, why did I wait so long???

One today is worth two tomorrows.  Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

*MOMM Finally Shared

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FINALLY SHARED

I can finally share the mixed media project that I put together for Charlee.  I wanted it to be a surprise and since Babymama reads this blog, I had to keep it on the down low, even hiding it in the house whenever she came to visit.

I think this is my favorite piece so far, all full of girly.

I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.  Pablo Picasso

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*My Own Mixed Media

Knitting

WIP Wednesday

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ON THE NEEDLES

Guernsey Wrap

I’m just a little over halfway finished on this project and it’s been a surprisingly quick knit and the yarn, which I bought mostly because it was on sale, has been perfect for the pattern, both in texture and color.  Even though I don’t care much for shades of orange, I’m looking forward to finishing this and wearing it as the weather cools.  I have project details here and pattern details are here.

I’m linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams today.

As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others.  Robert Schuller

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Knitting

Hey, I Know You!

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GETTING TO KNOW YOU

 

Getting Acquainted

Without planning it, Mr. Iknead and I have four photos that are practically identical, one with each of our grands on the day they were born. Whenever I see these pictures, I fall in love with him all over again.

Beautiful mom, beautiful big sister, beautiful baby.

Our son and his new daughter.

We are so blessed!

 Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  Chinese Proverb

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Knitting

Meet Our Newest

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CHARLEE MAKES FOUR

Meet our newest grand, Charlotte Faith, but you can call her Charlee, born this morning after 17 hours of Hard with a capital H labor, weighing in at 7 lbs., 9 oz.  Isn’t she beautiful???

Can I provide a little backstory about her name?  She is named Charlotte, after my mother, who passed away last October.   My father, who passed away two years ago in July, was named Lee.  Babymama and Babydaddy decided to call this little one Charlee, honoring both my parents with the little twist on the spelling.  I think Mom and Daddy would approve.

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Each day provides its own gifts.  Marcus Aurelius

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and Waiting

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ON THE NEEDLES

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Guernsey Wrap, designed by Jared Flood

Classic Elite Yarns

Brooklyn Tweed

Color #5012

I’m really enjoying this project.  It’s the perfect balance of complicated and simple – complicated enough to keep me engaged, but simple enough that it doesn’t interfere with whatever I’m doing at the same time.

3 7/8 GRANDS

We’re still on baby watch here.  Charlee’s due date was Monday, but she doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to vacate the premises.  Babymama, on the other hand, was ready for her to vacate a week ago.  She has an OB appointment this afternoon and the best case scenario would be for her doctor to exclaim “Oh my goodness!  You’re fully dilated and must go right to the hospital!”  Then, Babymama pushes once or twice and Charlee is here.  That’s how it would play out if I were in charge, anyway.

BOOKLOVE

I’m currently listening to Snowblind, by Christopher Golden, so far, it has a great beginning chapter.  I plan on really getting started on it this afternoon, since it’s too hot to do anything but sit around under the air conditioning and wait for Charlee.

Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.  John Adams

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Knitting

Pics and Pots

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THROWING THINGS

They had a big firing at the pottery studio last week and two of my pots made it into the kiln. Both turned out really well, but one is amazing.  Funny thing, working with clay.  Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the best pieces.

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I’m not sure what happened to this pot, I think I bumped it when I was taking it off the wheel and having a really thin spot didn’t help, so it sort of collapsed.  I really liked the shape, though, and decided to keep it.  The shape reminds me of a calla lily.

For the glaze, I did a total dip of Rhodes Turquoise with a rim dip of Tin Purple.

I can’t remember what glaze I used for this pot and I left my notes at the studio.  I have to run something back to the art center, so I’ll duck in and grab my notebook while I’m there.  This pot isn’t as “catchy” as the other one, but I love its simple lines and that it has just enough texture to make the glaze interesting.

FUN WITH MIXED MEDIA

These are a couple of backgrounds I’m working on, incorporating modeling paste and spray inks.

As usual, I’ve been a busy bee and have a new knitting project on the needles to share tomorrow, stay tuned!

I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting.  Marc Jacobs

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