Gone Knitting

Pre-Formal Party

"A"'s pre-formal party was huge success! They are such a great group of kids. So polite, full of life and giggles and smiles! What a pleasure!

Homesick

I am in Puerto Vallarta and boy and I am homesick! Ten days here is just too long! Shopping is not interesting and the town smells! We are staying in house that is nice, we have cooks that prepare our meals. Carlos makes great margaritas and Rosa's homemade chips & guacamole are to die for. I can only eat so many chips and drink so many margaritas. All the floors are mopped daily and our bedroom and bathroom are clean. However, I need to ignore how dirty the utensil tray is and the gigantic ants that habitat the kitchen. Really I am not a snob but I like a clean kitchen! The upper living quarters to the house is all open air and bats visit each evening! I am looking forward to a detox and my own pillow when I return home.

Leslie, what a friend! She saved my day by helping me out with the pattern directions for the simple cable hat. From Cables Untangled. So, I am happy and on my way with knitting the hat. It is my first cable hat it is a learning experience.

Just for the fun of it...

I made this little sweater ornament for my mother in law and she did the embroidery. My mother in law is a very interesting woman; she is the foremost American Indian art dealer in the country. Each Christmas she is invited to a party given by a famous Indian couple, which are known for their jewelry. Everyone invited is to bring a handmade ornament and they do a swap. My MIL makes a beautiful needlepoint ornament each year but my little sweater was for her husband to bring. I am always curious to hear about the handmade ornaments that people bring to this party. Considering some of the Indian artists that attend the ornaments really can be treasures and potentially valuable important pieces of art. Someday I hope to go to this party with her.

I got this from Nantucket Knitter. Like Kaet said just because it's fun!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags
Wrapping paper...

2. Real tree or artificial?
Both a real tree and a German feather tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
We buy the real tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. The feather tree I put up right after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down?
The weekend after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, but I never buy it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My pony Bleu.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, ours is kept up all year. It is more folk art-ish made by an American Indian artist. Of course a gift from my MIL. Maybe I will take a photo in the am to show you.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
My Dad and my Husband

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My best friend Jackie.

10. Worst gift you received?
A instant meat marinating device

11. Mail or email cards?
Mail every year except this year I am emailing a card.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Hands down “It’s a Wonderful Life” I just watched it this evening.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
September but if I see something perfect in my travels I will buy way ahead of time.

14. Have you ever recycled a gift?
Yes Wine…

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My grandmother’s homemade raviolis. She died 20 years ago and no one in the family can make them like she did.

16. Clear or colored lights?
Clear

17. Favorite holiday song?
O come all ye faithful

18. Travel or stay at home at Christmas?
Home

19 Can you name all the reindeer?
No I am too tired and I am lucky to remember all my kids names at them moment

20. Angel or star on top of the tree?
Neither, this year it’s Marie Antoinette

21. Open Christmas eve or morning?
Morning

22. What’s the corniest tradition you miss doing?
Sitting on Santa’s lap!

23. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Falling into the commercial side of Christmas and putting too much stress on myself.

24. What’s the worst thing you’ve seen related to Christmas?
The stores write Happy Holidays and try to eliminate Merry Christmas in their ads and paper bags.
That the schools replace the word Christmas in the Christmas songs at the recitals.
I think it is better to keep each Holiday true to it’s meaning and not reinvent it. Sing Chanukaha songs
And sing Christmas Songs.

25., Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees?
I like both. We have a all glass tree for our main tree, then I have another tree with antique and
vintage inspired homey ornaments.


26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies?
I do like both they are my favorite sweets. I prefer them to chocolate believe it or not.

27. Do you like fruitcake?
No, I don’t understand the attraction at all.

Merry Christmas!

I have been knitting all day and I am getting no where. Scarf knitting seems endless... Don't get me wrong I love both of my resent projects but they are monotonous. Well I finally got a shot of the kids but the card will have to be a e-card which is yet to be designed. I'm cool with that we'll save a few trees and cents!

Child's Rainbow Scarf - Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Made in an adult size 35 stitches using 4 skeins of Noro Kureyon two of each color 196 and 165.

One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
I am using my new Harmony needles and along with my new favorite yarn, knitting doesn't get any better than this! Give yourself a big treat and try out Sarah The Plucky Knitter's Worsted Merino! The colors are amazing this photo doesn't give the scheme justice and I am not kidding when I say it is better than Malabrigo!

Clickity ~ Clickty ~ Clack!

The Men's Rustic Scarf, our Christmas Tree, and one of my favorite ornaments - "Marie Antoinette"

I am trying to knit as fast as I can to finish my "Men's Rustic Scarf" from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for son #one. The Noro Stripe will be for son #two. Clickity - clickty Clack! I need to move on and do other things like a Christmas card! Oh well if it happens it happens breathe Gina~ don't stress out.

I found the prefect gift to give my dad from Quantum Enterprises He has wonderful writing a non cursive variety this site turns your writing into a font.

I hope you all are not stressing too much and are enjoying your Holidays!

A few of my antique Christmas ornaments

Merry Merry!

Sorry for not posting in so long. Other things have been taking up my time. I must admit that Ravelry has been my quick fix to stay connected in addition to rapidly reading blogs without commenting. How rude, I know …please forgive me! Note: I have had tremendous luck in trades on Ravelry. For instance the Noro Silk Garden was acquired all the through trades. What a valuable resource this site is! All of the above is one of a number of things I have been doing while procrastinating on my Christmas List.

The chores I should be doing at the moment are wrapping presents, buying gifts, taking a Christmas photo, and decking the halls. However I am hopelessly addicted to knitting a Noro Striped Scarf. It is a mindless task but the changing of the colors and the anticipation of what the next color that is going to appear has mesmerized me. This will be one of the first hand knits I have made for one of my boys.

I will share with you a couple of great Christmas gift finds that I have discovered on the internet. For "M's" godmother, a long time friend who now lives in Spain and her 3 year old daughter, a gift certificate at Simply Silhouettes. Yeah, I don't have to ship gifts abroad it can arrive via cyberspace! I think the custom stationary, bookplates or a framed silhouette of your child is especially interesting. Another great gift that I have given over the years is iomoi e-stationary subscriptions. $15.00 for a year subscription- it's wonderful how it turns your emails into stationary like documents -check it out! See I am still part on my game here and have bought a few gifts! ;0

Also remember way back when I said I was going to recover a pair of German antique chairs. Well the first fabric I chose was no longer available and finally I have chosen another. I think I am going to go with the one on the far left. Graphic but sort of like a seaweed print or from other angles like a leopard print. Come on squint - can you see it?

Merry Merry!

Evening

Sitting here with my cup of Earl Gray watching "Evening" on "On Demand” it just came out today. Knitting my Clapotis well, my intention is too knit it but I keep on snuggling with it like a blankie instead. This yarn is so wonderfully snuggly It’s like Malabrio but it does not pile. Okay back to this movie it's looking really good so far. Great cast Glen Close, Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Clare Danes, Mamie Gummer, Toni Collette, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy to name of few. The house is just my taste in Newport, RI. Don't miss it even if it is just to see all these gorgeous people and particularly sensational esthetics. Besides for how good everything looks the movie is really sad.

On another note. I never say anything political here but I really do support the writers on strike against the studios. We have been on an ever-changing multi media expressway in the last 30 years. VHS to DVD to Cable to Internet to ipod videos. Why should the giants take all the money without compensating the writers who lay the foundation to every screenplay, series, or show? I am one that rarely goes to the theater anymore. It’s much rather watch it at home so I know they are missing my royalties.

Bravo Ravelry!

Ravelry has consumed me for last few days. I became a member last July but I really didn't get the chance to log in all my projects and stash. What a brilliant idea this website is! A big thank you to the Ravelry folks who have worked so hard to make our online knitting community more enriching. I love the way they identify what projects you have in common with others and they log the library of books you have used. Fascinating! All the statistics on which yarns and patterns that are currently in use is so engaging. I have spent hours looking at what others are knitting! Did you know that Cascade 220 Wool is the most used yarn with 4261 projects recorded? Lady Eleanor is on my list to start soon and I have been perusing the yarns others have used. Of course I have found this obscure yarn that is sold at Wal-Mart of all places but I guess not in Southern California. Leave it to me to be after the most difficult to find. Check out Marihana's lovely colorway in Sean Sheep Armytage. By the way I am GoneKnitting on Ravelry.

I have started a smaller clapotis with The Plucky Knitters- Yarn Mulled Wine Worsted Merino which is a lovely yarn. Sarah ~ The Plucky Knitter's hand painted yarns were chosen to be featured this month on Ravelry check it out- here.

Happy Halloween!

Miss Tree with Beehive slept like Marie Antoinette, I wrapped with her hair with care to avoid any tussle. There was a lot of scurrying about this morning to get all the details in place. Swarming bees and bundles of branches were hot glued to a really cute dress from Zara. I resigned to that fact that it would be reuined. "A" who is 17 now wanted to be Ace Ventura. It has been one of his favorite movies since it's release in 1994 ~he was four years old. After a stressfull morning of trying to understand E X A C T L Y how Ace wore his hair ~ I finally "aced" it and enjoyed my much needed coffee.

I promised long ago to show my new garden. It really is young and it will hopefully improve over the year when the germander hedge becomes more defined. I need to plant some bulbs now for spring bloom. Another thing to do!

I have been on a scarf knitting streak. Clapotis is finished. Mountain Color Mountain Goat in Juniper Green
3 skeins on size 8 needles. This will not me my last Clapotis I loved knitting it and I really enjoy wearing it!
I have a Shifting Sands on the needles in Malabrigo Frank Ochre from Yarnzilla and I am playing with a stitch pattern using Mulled Spice by Plucky Yarn's Worsted Merino for another scarf. On my list to knit is Danica using Patons SWS Natural Earth colorway I like this one at Words and Wool, Men's Rustic Scarf (pictured), and a Chevron Scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, by Joelle Hoverson I am having fun with knitting different stitch patterns since I have been so straight forward with all my previous knits.

Happiness

Someone asked me what makes me happy? What do I like to do? My reply was simple so simple I questioned myself. I like to hang out with my family, play tennis, travel, knit, cook, and entertain friends. Watching my kids play sports has been my main source of entertainment for the last 16 years and I rarely miss an event. I enjoy decorating my house, hunting for antiques and gradually making improvements to our home as funds permit. I must admit that I am a shopper - I like fashion and nice things. I like to be taken out to dinner and whisked away on romantic getaways but it doesn't happen all that often. School age kids need to spend an essential amount of time at home doing homework, having meals, and just getting grounded. I prefer to add something special to what I do at home, putting extra effort into making things look good or taste better allows me to have fun. I take pride in my creativity and my talents in domesticity.

The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket from Yarnstrom just arrived from AmazonUK today. Jane is a genius in my eyes and the most articulate woman! Home life and her chosen way of life is what our world needs more of. I am sure I am preaching to the choir here for most knit bloggers enjoy creating a special world of their own. Over at “a Friend to knit with” Leslie’s daughter Libby summed it up when she said, "Mom, it is like some of the stuff you make. Not really necessary, it just makes life nice." I am sure Leslie smothered her with kisses! This is what life is all about in my world and it is truly what makes me happy! Domestic life is the core of who we are. Its where memories are made, comfort is given and where we take shelter from it all. As so many have lost their homes this week here in California it makes me think of their discomfort and how displaced they must feel. I count my blessings and the privileges we have at our home today.