Knitting

15, myPod

January 21, 2015January 20, 2015 mud&string1 Comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Nothing current, but I plan to change that very soon, like within the next hour or so. Yep, you heard it first from me, Tulips are finished, but you’ll have to tune in again on Friday to see the finished product. Mark your calendar. 📅😉

SAY IT AIN’T SO

My close to constant companion for the past several years (besides Mr. iknead), my trusty 160 gig iPod Classic fell ill the end of last week. 😱😭💔 It hasn’t been diagnosed as terminal – yet. Both Mr. iknead and I tried about a 1000 times over the next two days to resuscitate it with no success and I finally gave up and took it to You Break I Fix on Sunday afternoon for a diagnosis. I’m not handling it well. Seriously. I wish I was kidding. Here’s why it’s been traumatic: Apple discontinued the 160 gig Classic in 2009; this means that to fit all my data, I’ll need to buy five new iPods. That’s what I said, FIVE new iPods to house the 2000 or so songs and a couple hundred audiobooks. The guy at the repair shop seemed to think it could be fixed, I hope he’s right.

BOOKLOVE

I’m excited about starting My Antonia. I’m really kind of surprised I’ve never read it before. Once again, my library rocks!

I’m linking with Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today.

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. Andy Rooney

Knitting

Oh No No FO,

January 16, 2015January 16, 2015 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF MY NEEDLES

Nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada.

But – I have a photo of the most precious grandbaby on the planet!

Worry gives a small thing a big shadow

Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday #8, Booklove, You Just Keep Me Hanging On

January 13, 2015January 14, 2015 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

The second Tulip is ready for the heel and so am I. I have raging sock envy, seeing so many amazing sock projects other knitters are working on. This happens on every project, the bright “new” wears off whatever I’m working on and my head is turned by other, “shinier” yarns and patterns. The only thing keeping me from having an untold number of unfinished second socks is my obsession with finishing whatever I start, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon which side of the obsessive fence you happen to stand on.

Tulips

Red Bird Knits

Candyskein Yarn Acai Berry

PAGES

So many books! Here’s what I’m reading:

I’ll Drink to That by Betty Halbreich

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Kentz

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

Genius on the Edge By Gerald Imber

I don’t know if I’ll finish all of these, I’m as easily distracted by new books as I am by new knitting.

THE BUG

Whatever respiratory bug that’s been bugging me is hopefully on its way out, with the cough hanging on. I’m just glad to be feeling better. Babydiva has had the same bug at the same time, glad she’s on the mend too.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today, don’t forget to visit!

Never mistake motion for action. Ernest Hemingway

Curious? Learn more here.

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday #7

January 7, 2015January 8, 2015 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Red Bird Knits Tulips

Candyskein Acai Berry

Just for the record – the top of the sock isn’t really wonky, it was twisted, which I didn’t notice until after the photo. 😋

I HAVE A QUESTION

I’ve tried to start a Wednesday WIP linky party, Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday, since Tami’s WIP Wednesday has gone by the board, with no success. Here’s my question: Are linky parties an idea that has come and gone? Am I doing it wrong? Why no response? What can I do to make it successful? (That’s more than one question, I know.) While the idea of expanding my reader numbers is attractive, I really just miss the inspiration of seeing what others are working on and touching base with other knitters/crafters. So, any answers or suggestions? I’d love to hear them.

Linking with Frontier Dreams and Yarn Along.

We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon. Konrad Adenauer

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Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday Participants

1. Sarah
2. Heather @ Townsend House

3. Plutonium Muffins
4. Jenna K @ HardKnitLife

Learn more about Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday here.

Curious? Learn more here.

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Knitting

FO Friday 1/2/15

January 1, 2015January 2, 2015 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF MY NEEDLES

Here’s the secret knitting I’ve been talking about over the last month or so:

Clefton’s Christmas Socks

Yarn from Spud and Chloe

They fit and he loves them!!!

Wise Hilda’s Basic Socks

Children see magic because they look for it. Christopher Moore

Curious? Find out more here.

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday 12/31/14

December 31, 2014December 31, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Red Bird Knits Tulips, after some cat vs. sock in progress drama, but, it’s coming right along.

BOOKLOVE

The Alienist, by Caleb Carr, a library book that I’m enjoying enough to renew. There hasn’t been much reading going on the last week or so. Hopefully this will change for the better this week. I miss reading, but I do have to sleep sometimes! 📚💤

MORE MIXED MEDIA

I started this yesterday.

So far, acrylic paint, stencils, stamps and hand drawn and colored flower.

I’m linking with Yarn Along, Frontier Dreams and Gracey’s Goodies today.

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. Kahlil Gibran

Happy New Year!

Curious? Find out more here.

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday 12/24/14

December 24, 2014August 29, 2018 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

After a bit of drama last night, finding that Big Mac had discovered the Tulip Socks and the ball of yarn that was birthing them, after he apparently went zooming around the den with the yarn trailing behind and getting wound around table legs and chairs, I salvaged what I could and frogged what was left of the socks and started over. I wasn’t really pleased with the toe and the heel also left something to be desired anyway. Actually, this was right on the heels of another wip incident regarding the Mini Mania Cowl I started on Friday. Overcome with the excitement of getting a treat, Josie leaped off the couch and tore into the kitchen with the cowl yarn looped around one of her back feet and the rest, as they say, is history. The needles were pulled nearly all the way out and I decided it would be more efficient time-wise to just finish what she started and cast on again. Oh, and for the record, the cowl called for a cast on of 555 stitches….sigh.

Tulip Sock 2.0

This is Big Mac. He’s not a bit sorry.

BOOKLOVE 12/24/14

I’m still reading Jodi Piccoult’s The Storyteller; I’ve not had a lot of reading time this past week, but I hoping for an hour or two of uninterrupted quiet the next few days, mostly while the grands are napping, or at least pretending to nap. 💤

At Christmas play and make good cheer,/ For Christmas comes but once a year. Thomas Tusser, A Hundred Good Points

Curious? Here’s the scoop.

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday #4, Booklove, Zero to 120

December 17, 2014December 18, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Just in case you missed it yesterday, here it is again: Christmas knitting is complete and with the new crazy beautiful yarn Ms. Postalcarrier delivered Monday, I’m loaded for bear. I briefly flirted with the idea of starting three new pairs of socks since I was having a hard time choosing which to knit first, but had a moment of clarity, shuffled the yarn, closed my eyes and grabbed. OK, ok, part of this is a fib… the reason I only started one pair is because I only had one circular needle that met the size and length the pattern called for. I know!!!! It’s hard to believe that there isn’t at least one more sock needle stashed in the drawers and assorted project bags in (and it’s always in caps) The Yarn Room. Well, that particularly nasty situation will be remedied by the end of today, I can promise you that. Anyway, here’s what I’m working on now.

Tulips

Red Bird Knits

Candyskein Yummy Series, Acai Berry

BOOKLOVE

The Night Circus – if you haven’t read it yet and you like a little mystery/suspense/fantasy on your pages, you’ll love it, I bet. It’s a little twisted (like me) and I had a hard time putting it down.

ZERO TO WARP SPEED

Life with a two year old – The Elf and Babydiva

9:00 a.m.

9:02 a.m.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today. Visit and prepare to be inspired!

Man invented language to satisy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin

I, for one, love to see other projects! Share the love and post your link, then link back to Whatcha Workin’ On. I also love comments, so feel free to leave one if you want.

Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday Participants

1. Sarah

Learn more about Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday here.
Get The Code

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Knitting

In Living Color

December 16, 2014December 16, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

COLOR MY WORLD

I have color!!! 😄🌈🌸🎇🎨🍭. You heard right! Christmas knitting has officially been completed and I’m now busy stalking sock patterns to go with the new yarn that Ms. Postalcarrier brought yesterday. Which will it be???

Acai Berry

Candy Skein Yummy Series

Glacier Mist

Fiesta Baby Boom

Fliederduft

Crazy Zauerball

Would I be nuts to start three pairs of socks today just because I can’t choose?

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

Perhaps Today, Fishies, Very Interesting

December 12, 2014December 12, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

MAYBE TODAY

I don’t have anything finished to post knitterlywise, but have high hopes that by the time the clock shows 12 midnight tonight, I will. I made a crucial mistake this morning. I stalked did some research on Zauerball Sock Yarn online and, well, we all know how this movie ends, don’t we? I’ve been knitting gray for way too long. I NEED COLOR!!!!! Thus the push for gray to be over and done with.

SOMETHING IS FISHY

I’ve been seeing fish everywhere these last few days, maybe due in part to the trip to PetSmart last week with Bigmommy, the Papoose and the Sprout to purchase some fishy stuff for their new aquarium, after winning a goldfish at the Stuttgart Carnival, which promptly went belly up. All this leads up to this new mixed media project –

Acrylic background, handcarved stamps, ink, gel pen, painters tape and bookpaper

I had absolutely no plan when I started this one, other than “I wonder what mixing a bit of black and blue iridescent paint and pouncing it on would look like?”

I love the way it turned out!

As an aside, I’ve been told that I have an “intuitive style”. Having no clue what that means, I googled it and this is what I learned:

Intuitive painting is a creative practice that releases impulses usually corralled by the logical part of the brain to make a work of art. People who use this technique employ their intuition to paint automatically without stopping to plan for the outcome of the piece. Some practitioners like Chris Zydel, who leads workshops on intuitive painting, believe it is a spiritual experience that can help free the mind and heal the soul.

Interesting. I’ve always called it flying by the seat of my pants. 🚀✈️🚁😋

We are all of us imaginative in some form or other, for images are the brood of desire. George Elliot

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday #3, Booklove 12/10/14, Two Weeks left

December 10, 2014December 10, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON MY NEEDLES

Christmas knitting continues, but slowly. Next year, I’m starting holiday knitting in January! My rule of one knitted gift per year will stand, I’m just trying to minimize the stress of “down to the wire” knitting. We’ll see how it goes. Once again, my WIP is this:

BOOKLOVE

I’m immersed in Ann Hood’s An Italian Wife, which I’m enjoying very much and have The Night Circus at the head of the queue when Wife is finished. After that, who knows???

JUST TWO MORE!

I can hardly believe that the 2014 Documented Life Art Journal has just two more weeks, two more prompts and bang, 2014 shuffles off stage and the brand spanking new 2015 project will take its place. Know what I’m most proud of? I stuck with it, even with only the vaguest idea of what an art journal is, and learned more than I ever thought possible. The most amazing thing I learned? I’m an artist and I love art! This is a huge take away for me, who has always had problems with “staying in the lines” and always “marched to the beat of a different drummer”.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today. Visit and be inspired!

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. Lao Tzu

It’s that day again!

Click below to add your link then link back here to share the love!

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Knitting

Dream Vacation

December 8, 2014December 9, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

IN MY DREAMS

I have a confession to make:

I tried hard to make this week’s Documented Life prompt, week 50 if you’re keeping track, about a dream vacation at the beach, I cut out pictures, made a background and arranged everything just so. Except……

My dream vacation isn’t the beach – before I go any further, I need to make this clear – I love the beach, I do, but being the hardcore homebody I am, I confess that my dream vacation is being home, with my family, my pets, my bed and my spot on the couch, the spot where the cushions fit me perfectly and the lamp is perfect for knitting or writing or reading or a conversation with Mr. Iknead. I figured this out when I was putting together a packing list for my dream vacation and noticed that I could put my hand on everything I listed from my spot on the couch — books, knitting, paper, pens and family.

So, that’s my confession. I’m owning it. Most days, I’m living my dream vacation. The only tan I have is the one I get from being outside in my yard, playing with grandchildren or pets, or piddling around my patio and plants. I don’t have a ton of vacation pictures to share, unless you count the ones I take of knitting projects, funny family, art projects and those odd ones you get when you accidently hit the button on my iPhone, I do have a ton of those.

I know this sounds sickly sweet and too good to be true, but it is. True, some days are better than others and I’m happy to see some days disappear from my life’s rear view mirror, but I’m a radical optimist and believe every day holds something good. Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find it, but it’s there, every. single. day.

I am lucky. I am blessed. This is my dream vacation.

HEY!!!! Wanna see some vacation pics??????