FO Friday, I Do, Wise Words

August 29, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

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

Knitting

Finally A FO, New MOMMs, Challenge Completed

July 18, 2014July 18, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Yay!!! I finally have a FO! I finished the Crazy Monkey socks and they turned out to be fabulous! I haven’t decided whether they will be a gift or whether they will take up residence in MY sock drawer, even though they’re a tad snug. If you missed the details, you can catch up here.

If you’re new to knitting two at a time toe ups or just want to try the technique, this pattern is a good one, well written with easy to understand instructions.

MOMM*/THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT UPDATES

I have a couple of mixed media projects to share, along with this week’s TDL completed challenge. The challenge this week was to add a wish list. My list ended up underneath my project layers, with just a word or two showing.

The bubbles on the facing page just sort of happened when I was trying out new markers and pencils, I love how it looks!

You can read more about The Documented Life Project here.

Here are some “freestyle” mixed media projects I’ve been working on.

I usually just start out with a color that appeals to me, then the layers of whatever catch my eye just happen.

Watch the Birdie

I’ve been a little fixated on birds for a while, so they show up pretty regularly. It helps that the bird shape is simple enough for me to sketch freehand.

Drawing flowers is another recent fixation, I found a photo of a gorgeous calla lily on Pinterest and tried to recreate it.

SOON TO BE BIG SISTER

My precious middle granddaughter and soon to be big sister, Babydiva

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius

*My Own Mixed Media

Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove

July 9, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Los Manos Locos aka The Crazy Monkeys, with just a couple more pattern repeats before starting the cuff. By the way, this is a free Ravelry pattern. You can find it here.

BOOKLOVE

i have two books today, one in progress and one finished. I finished a great one last weekend, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Good, good book, well worth a look. In progress, almost finished, is Gifted Hands, an autobiography by Ben Carson, M.D., a pediatric neurosurgeon. Another great book well worth reading.

OUT OF THE DYEPOT

Here is a look at the fiber I dyed Sunday-

Dyed with Jacquard Acid Dye, Sky Blue

I started spinning this today and so far, it’s spinning up easily and quickly. I really love the intense blue. I’m a little out of practice, but I’m shooting for sock yarn. The spinning bug again took up residence in my head, I didn’t realiize just how much I missed spinning until today, when I started on this roving. I’m glad to be gettting back into it.

I’m linking today with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

PARTING SHOT

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. Helen Keller

Knitting

Abundance

July 3, 2014July 3, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SOUL FOOD

I’ve been sort of hit or miss with blogging these past few weeks, and I’ve missed sitting down and putting my thoughts in order and then onto paper or into my iPad. I’ve been too busy painting or drawing (these are new things for me) or reading or knitting or baking or gardening or art journaling or throwing pots or grandmothering or any of the other things that grab my interest. Here’s the perfect description for what I’m blessed with – an embarrassment of riches. According to (all-knowing) Wiki, an embarrassment of riches is an idiom that means an overabundance of something, or too much of a good thing. All these things do more than keep me occupied – they feed my soul, I guess you could say I have an embarrassment of blessings. With all the above said, I think what I really mean is “Thanks, God, for everything”.

Now, moving along…

ON THE NEEDLES

A pair of Los Manos Locos or Crazy Monkey Socks, a twist on Cookie A’s awesome Monkey Socks, toe up and purl-less.

This colorway is called Java Jive and I’m loving how it’s knitting up. You can find out more about this yarn here.

The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it. Carl Jung

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 4/30/14, Booklove

April 30, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

1) Hitchhiker

2) Socks on a Plane, #2

3) Vivacious Chocolate Shrug

BOOKLOVE

I’m still loving Frog Music as much as I did when I started it; since the story is told backward, end to beginning, the suspense is building and I’m less sure of “who did what, when and why”. I love that in a book – do you? And since I’m very seldom book monogamous, I started Anya. You can read about it here.

I’m linking with my usual Wednesday blogs, Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn Along. Do you have others you’d like to share?

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 4/16/14 and Booklove

April 16, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

Since the first version of Socks on a Plane was way too small, I frogged and started over, this time with a total of 64 stitches instead of 56 (as best I can remember, I seem to have blocked it from my memory) and this time around the fit is much better. I’m glad because it just about kills me to frog something that is so close to being finished. Close as in one inch of cuff and I’m finished and moving on. I did it and I’m glad I did, but still…

Second Go Round

BOOKLOVE

I’m still reading God’s Hotel, which is taking longer than usual to finish since I seem to only read it when I’m on the treadmill. This is a good thing most of the time because if I have a “special treadmill book”, climbing on and walking for 45 minutes or an hour doesn’t seem to be as much of a chore. I downloaded a new book, Frog Music, that I’m looking forward to reading; I suppose you could call it my carrot and stick, since I’ve resolved to finish Hotel before I start anything new.

I’m linking up today, as usual with Ginny, Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO. Inspiration Central, like always.

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. Joseph Clinton Pearce

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 4/9/14, Booklove

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

ON THE NEEDLES

Pleiades Shawlette

Stash Yarn – Cascade 220, Savona Rose

Socks on a Plane are sort of hibernating at the moment as the first one is way too small. I’ve been trying to delude myself that they’re just “snug”. They’re past snug, they’re too small, even too small for Bigmommy, who has teeny feet. Dang.

BOOKLOVE 4/9/14

I’m still reading Victoria Sweet’s God’s Hotel. Very interesting, premodern medicine, I’d never thought too much about it. Learning something new every time I pick it up.

Linking with Tami and KCCO Frontier Dreams, along with Ginny’s Yarn along.

It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis. Margaret Bonnano

Knitting

Purple Surprise, FO Friday 3/14/14

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

SURPRISE

Look what I found while taking sock pics!

Crocus!

About 18 (I kid you not) years ago I planted some bulbs that never bloomed or even came up, casualties of squirrels and a weimaraner puppy. They obviously missed one. This surprise surely means winter is exiting stage left to make room for spring. Just seeing this purple makes me happy!

NEW SKILLS

For the past couple of posts I’ve been trying out blogging from my fancy new phone, which is doable but time consuming because of the teeny tiny screen, and Mr. Iknead’s iPad, which is much better as far as screen size. I am, however, having to relearn how to do things that have become almost second nature, like inserting pictures, adding links, etc. As I have a very low frustration threshold, I have to work on the iPad, then change to the computer every so often to keep from pitching the whole thing out the window. I plan to keep practicing.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Kew, from Knitty Fall 2006

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Flame

Please disregard the ugly muddy background. This is what you get when you start redoing your patio and get interrupted by about 4 inches of sleet.

ON THE NEEDLES

After finishing the Kew socks yesterday, I stalked some patterns on Ravelry and decided on a shrug with 3/4 sleeves, the purpose of the sleeves being to hide what I call toothbrush arms. As in, when you stop brushing your teeth, but your upper arm doesn’t…. OK, back on track. So, I found a pattern with all the required features and then found out I didn’t have enough yarn to start. Oh, lots and lots of yarn, just not enough of any one for my new project. A trip to Hobby Lobby fixed that and I cast on and got started this afternoon. The yarn is I Love This Cotton in Arctic Blue. The shrug pattern is here.

A word to the wise: Never underestimate the tedium of 60 rounds of K1P1 ribbing. I’m just sayin’…..

Linking with Tami’s FO Friday blog.

Take it easy — but take it. Woody Guthrie

Knitting

WIP 3/12/14, Booklove

March 11, 2014March 12, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Kew socks are so close to being finished I can taste it. For once, I’ve held my raging startitis in check and will start a new project without feeling guilty about the number of projects relegated to the “back burner” or in my case, “the bag pitched into the deepest, darkest recesses of my yarn room”.

BOOKLOVE

I finished A Land Kinder Than Home by Wiley Cash and am set to start Paris in Love, by Eloisa James. Enjoyed the Wiley Cash, but didn’t love it. It’s a fictional account of snake handling, murder, religion and what happens when they collide. Entertaining, but probably not a repeater.

GRANDS

This photo says everything you need to know about the Sprout; her cute factor is always first and foremost. I’ve gotten good at changing diapers on the fly!

Linking with Tami and KCCO today.

Indulge your imagination in every possible flight. Jane Austen

Knitting

Go Team Girl, Birthday Swag, More Booklove

March 6, 2014March 7, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

NEWS FLASH

So the big reveal Tuesday was drum roll please a girl, bringing the Iknead grandgirl total to four. Her name is Charlotte Faith, Charlie for short. The name Charlotte carries special significance for me as it was my mom’s name. Charlie is expected to make her debut this August and Mr. Iknead and I are once again over the moon excited to add another precious grand to our collection.

BIRTHDAY SWAG

The Stuttgart branch of the Iknead family got me this guy, along with everything I needed to make him feel right at home.

I’ve named him Snoopy.

The Little Rock branch of the Iknead family got me this, which I’m planning to try out today. Don’t cake pops sound fun?

BOOKLOVE

I’m rereading In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White and am loving it just as much as I did the first time around. I also downloaded a new library book yesterday, The Scar Boys, by Len Vlahos. OK, I’m coming out of the closet with this one – I admit it, I love Young Adult Fiction. There, I said it, my secret is out and I’m glad. 🙂

ON THE NEEDLES

I’ve finished the first Kew sock and cast on the second last night. Since this pattern has kicked my fanny in the past, I’m glad to say it appears to have been conquered and is now marching to the beat of my drummer.

I love my past. I love my present. I’m not ashamed of what I’ve had, and I’m not sad because I have it no longer. Colette

Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and One More Year

March 5, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

HOW OLD???
Yesterday I turned 57. Birthdays just don’t feel like a big deal anymore – but not in a bad way. It really is just a number. My calendar tells me I’m 57, but my internal calendar says something way different. Something more like 35 or so. Sure there are things I don’t do as well as I did; I can’t hear as well thanks to a few too many Aerosmith and ZZ Top concerts and my arms seem to be getting shorter; I’m not as limber as
I once was, but besides those minor annoyances – and that’s just what they are – annoyances, life is better than good….it’s freaking awesome.

ON THE NEEDLES
Kew socks from Knitty Fall 2006 using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Flame.

BOOKLOVE
I just finished The Chaparone by Laura Moriarty. Great book that I’m already planning to read again. I started Death of a President by William Montgomery last evening, a very intense moment by moment account of the Kennedy assassination. Very intense but very interesting.

When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Knitting

FO Friday 02/28/14

February 28, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Catnip socks! Hurray!!

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, in Wonderstone

Now, I’m off to stalk Rav in an effort to decide which project(s) to knit next, maybe a shawl or more socks. You can never have too many of either, you know.

CLOCK WATCHING

The Papoose, who claims, as always, “No nap for me, I’m not even tired” as she keeps an eye on the clock for the end of her rest time.