Tag: Tami Ami

Knitting

I Do Redo, WIP Wednesday and Grands

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I DO REDO

Mr. Iknead and I renewed our wedding vows last Friday for our 35th anniversary.  It was surprisingly emotional, both for me and for him.  I’m not a crier at all, so to just break down with happy tears was unusual.  We had Holy Communion – again, surprisingly emotional and just special.  That’s the only word I can find to describe it, special.

Aren’t we beautiful! Seriously!

Trio of Blessings

L to R – The Sprout, Babydiva and The Papoose

 

 After pics, we all went out to dinner and it was just joyous…..until the nasty little incident with Babydiva.

Here’s what happened:  we had to wait for a table, not unusual, we were a big group and it was Friday evening.  Waiting for a table with three hungry children had ugly potential, so Babydaddy and Bigmommy took the big girls outside to wait.  Lots of little girl fun, with hopping, skipping attempts, chattering, laughing, squealing – little girl stuff.  During a round of hopping, Babydiva tripped and faceplanted on the sidewalk.  Lots of blood and little girl hysterics, both from Babydiva and the Papoose.  Luckily, no broken or loose teeth, just a fat lip and we were able to get it iced quickly. I think Babydaddy was more traumatized than Babydiva, luckily for them, I just happened to have a Tide pen in my pocketbook and his bloody shirt was taken care of and Babydiva just happened to have some Barbie stickers and what didn’t come out with the pen, she put stickers over.

Poor Baby

Anyhow, it didn’t affect her appetite and by the end of the meal, all were happy again.   Parenting in the Trenches or Never A Dull Moment. : )

ON THE NEEDLES

Slip Stitch Felted Bag

Irina Poludnenko, Designer

Kureyon #352 and Cascade 220 #7801

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Imagination rules the world.  Napoleon Bonaparte

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 6/11/14, Booklike, Pots

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ON THE NEEDLES

I’m coming right along with the Cable and Pleat Tunic, being really close to finishing the front and side shaping.  For once, the color in the photo is nearly, if not completely, true.  Another awesome thing about the patio – it’s a fantastic place  for taking pictures.

image

POTS

Here’s my latest set of pots, which once again exceeded my glazing expectations.

I have one or two left to glaze and plan to go into the studio this weekend to finish them up.  Class has a two week break before the next session and it’s always nice to go into the studio with a clean slate as far as projects go.

BOOKLIKE

This week’s book is a biography of Johnny Cash by Robert Hilburn.  I like it, I don’t love it.  It had parts that are hard to read, it feels like you are in the front row for his self destruction at times.  It also goes into minute detail seemingly sbout everything, which bogs me down sometimes.  This probably won’t be a repeater, it’s a library book, so I don’t feel guilty about just skimming it in parts.  I’m anxiously waiting for my Audible credits to show up so that I can get Stephen King’s newest, Mr. Mercedes.  They should be coming any time now.

AN ASIDE

Mr. iknead figured out how to turn the autocorrect off, but now, I get aggravated at all the typos and have to proofread much more carefully.  I know, gripe, gripe, gripe.  Sheesh!

I’m linking with the Wednesday regulars, Tami, Frontier Dreams and Ginny.

You must train your intuition — you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide.  Ingrid Bergman

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Knitting

FO Friday 3/28/14 or No K1P1 Rib for a While

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OFF THE NEEDLES

My Seafoam Shrug

in Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Cotton, Arctic Ice

There are no words for how over the moon I am with this shrug!  The fit is perfect, I took my photos after I washed it on my washer’s handwash cycle, then dried it low and slow in my dryer and hung it on a hanger.  I’m wearing this baby until it falls apart, and maybe then some.

I’m linking with Tami and KCCO, go take a look at more masterpieces!

It’s good to be just plain happy; it’s a little better to know that you’re happy; but to understand that you’re happy and to know why and how….and still be happy, be happy in the being and the knowing, well that is beyond happiness, that is bliss.  Henry Miller

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 3/26/14, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES

1.  My Seafoam Shrug is now in the home stretch, down to the last bit of ruffle in ( you guessed it) k1p1 ribbing.  At least it calls for only 2 1/2 inches this time.  I’ll tell you, those two 60 row k1p1 sleeves just about did me in.  Hopefully, this project will be off the needles, washed and blocking by bedtime tonight.

So sorry, the Seafoam link eludes me at the moment.  I’ll keep looking and update when I find it.

 

2.  I’ve just barely started a Woodland Shawl from The Thrifty Knitter.  I stash dove last weekend and got reacquainted with some yarn that I’ve had for so long I haven’t a clue what it is.  All I can remember is that the color is called Papercut.  I’m going to do a bit of research, checking Ravelry to see if by some miracle I added it to my notebook.  Keep your fingers crossed.  OK, uncross your fingers.  No luck with Rav.  I do, however, remember it was a Etsy purchase, so that’s my next hope.  SCORE!!!!  I bought this yarn May 15, 2008 from knitfrontandback, out of Calgary, Canada and it’s laceweight merino.

WANNABE

I have the perfect yarn to knit the Maeva Socks from Knitty Winter 2011 with one big inconvenience.  The charts are so teeny tiny as to be useless for these old eyes.  This means a trip to the copy store to have them enlarged.  I tried printing them at 125% but that still isn’t really big enough.  >squint<

BOOKLOVE

This week I finished The Troop by Nick Cutter, a horror story.  Stephen King said it was one book that scared him, I see a lot of his influence in this particular book.  I won’t share any more as not to spoil it.  Check your local library.  Now, I’m listening to The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider; I love this book!  I came clean awhile back regarding my love for what they call Young Adult Fiction and this book hasn’t’ disappointed. If you enjoy YAF, give it a read.

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

It’s not what you look at that matters.  It’s what you see.  Henry David Thoreau

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Knitting

Purple Surprise, FO Friday 3/14/14

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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

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Knitting

FO Friday 02/28/14

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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.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.  Ray Bradbury

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 2/19/14, SCORE!, Ancient Kitty

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ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of socks, as usual.  I didn’t notice that I was using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock for both, it must be love!

Grace, from Knitty, Winter 2011

LLSS Flame

Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks

LLSS Wonderstone

 WELL WHADDAYANO!

Remember when I mentioned Phat Fiber and their sample box sale that I was going to try to get, along with most of the other fiber fiends on the planet, having come up short the last time I tried?  I blogged it here.  They open the sale twice on sale day – at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and are usually sold out within (no kidding) a couple of minutes.  I struck out at the 10 a.m. sale, but scored at the one at 5 p.m.  I was so surprised when the site sent me to paypal after I scored a box, it took me a minute to realize what had happened.  Now, I’m anxiously awaiting the mailman/Fedex/UPS person to see what’s in this wondrous box.  Check back for updates!

BOAT

This is the Iknead kitty, *Boat.  She is ancient as far as cats go, 19 to 20 years old, as close as we can figure.  She been a family member since 1995 and was about a year old when she joined us.  She’s arthritic, with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart but keeps on keeping on.  Anyway, I noticed her sleeping in one of her preferred spots yesterday and was struck by the sun shining pink through her ear. She was beautiful.

*As a kitten, she was found living on a friend’s boat which was in drydock and covered for the winter.  She started out as Boat Cat, which was quickly shortened to Boat.  We get a lot of funny looks when we tell people her name.

Hooking up this week with Tami and KCCO.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.  Confucius

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 12/11/13, Bee Stamp, Booklove

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NOT OBSESSED, JUST REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED

As so often happens with me, I got a really good idea along with my coffee and newspaper this morning and as usual, I had to pull out all my other crafting stuff and sort through everything to find what I was obsessed with focused on right then.  The stamp I use to identify my pottery projects bit the dust last week and my big idea was to change from an initial stamp (my initials, bc) to a honeybee mark.  So, back to the idea, I found some Sculpey clay, found a honeybee charm in the craft stash and pressed it in.  Then, I remembered I had some honeybee earrings, so I got one of those and did the same thing.  The next step is deciding which one to use.  I’m sort of leaning toward the charm, I don’t want a cutesy bee, more like a zoological print look.  Which do you prefer?

Just realized there is no contest.  The bigger one is better on all counts.  And they say size doesn’t matter :p.  Here is a better detailed photo:

Upside down.  Oops.

ON THE NEEDLES

Tina Martinez’s Fascine Socks, using Fiesta Baby Boom yarn in Sweet Pea.  My only regret is that I didn’t by more of this yarn when I had a chance.  I’m not running short or anything like that, I just love it.

A little detail

BY THE BOOK

Driftless, by David Rhodes

Linking today with Tami, Frontier Dreams Keep Calm and Craft On and Ginny’s Knit A Long.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination circles the world.  Albert Einstein

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Knitting

Winter Trifecta, FO Friday 12/6/13

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BRRRRRR

The long promised winter weather is here.  We have the trifecta – sleet, freezing rain and snow.  It’s a perfect day to hunker down, drink your hot drink of choice and knit or spin or read or (insert your favorite activity here).  The Iknead clan is warm, fed and happy.  We have a lot to be thankful for.

From the Iknead front door.

POTS

I spent part of yesterday in the studio and pulled my stuff out of the damp box, getting ready to trim.  I was surprised at how many pots I’d thrown.

A couple of these ended up in the clay recycle barrel, but overall, I’m pleased.  I’m getting a little tired of bowls, though, and will probably start trying some new shapes when I can get back into the studio.  The next ones have been bisqued and are kind of uniform:

  I like the way the look stacked.  As soon as the weather lets up a little, I’ll get them glazed and fire them one last time.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Scapula scarf from Quince&Co, done in Lark, which is 100% American wool, the color is Bird’s Egg.  Very, very pleased with both the yarn and the pattern.  If you haven’t yet, head over to their website and check them out.  Really awesome stuff.

This is a really, really long scarf!

I’m linking with Frontier Dreams and Tami today.  When you’re checking out Quince&Co, trip on over to these guys.  Even more awesome stuff.

The cure for boredom is curiosity.  There is no cure for curiosity.  Ellen Parr

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 10/09/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

Christmas knitting is going like gangbusters.  One more evening of knitting on this particular project should wrap it up.

Les Miz scarf/shawl is moving right along, although when I took it outdoors for a picture I noticed that somehow one of the needles has pulled out, so that will be today’s Les Miz knitting.

Yesterday was a day of galloping startitis, so I caved and started Hilton Field Cowl, designed by Kate Gagnon Osborn, in a book called November Knits .  I’m using Cascade 220 that I found in the sale bin at Yarn Mart, in the colors I love.  Does it get any better than sale yarn in favorite colors?  I don’t think so.

ON THE BOBBIN

This

is in the process of becoming

this

Merino from Diamond B Sheep in Greenwood, Arkansas

Linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams.  Visit them for inspiration overload.

Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.  Ella Williams

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 9/11/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

Freebie Lacy Rib Cowl, CEY

Mini Mochi, color #113

and

Moonfire Handknits Blue Day Socks

Fiesta Baby Boom Sweet Pea (which I’m a little nervous about because my calcs come out about 20 yards too short); thinking positive thinking positive thinking positive.

BY THE BOOK

I finished Orphan Train yesterday, a little disappointed with the ending, but a great read overall and am planning to start Stephen Gallagher‘s The Bedlam Detective today, with a couple of others that are waiting in the wings, Life of Pi and The Devil in Pew Number Seven.  I’m trying to be patient, I’m at my 10 book checkout limit and so must wait until the next two books expire.  Yet another instance of Mr. Iknead’s austerity plan, which, I have to admit, is good practice for me.  I don’t consider myself really impatient, more, umm, excitable would be a good word.

The Bedlam Detective: A Novel

Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Yarn Along today.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.  Joseph Addison

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Knitting

FO Squared

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OFF THE NEEDLES

Got a twofer today.

Botanical Cowl, using the Mini Mochi from Destin

I’m a Mini Mochi fan now, this turned out prettier than I’d ever imagined!

Woo Hoo!!! I finished the Ruffled Tank and even got Bigmommy to model.  This is the yarn from Knit One Crochet Too.  Again, it turned out even better than I’d expected.  I think it’s the first sweater I’ve knit that actually fits!

So that does it for my souvenir yarn this year.  I’ll be making a yarn run in the next few days.  I haven’t visited Yarn Mart in a while and like I said, I’m a new fan of Mini Mochi and am anxious to get more.  TGIP (Thank goodness it’s payday)!

I’m linking up with Tami’s FO Friday blog again, be sure and pay her a visit!

Laughter is the closest distance between two people.  Victor Borge

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