I Dream of Knitting

Rain!!

2012-01-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

There are finally clouds!! We needed the rain so bad around here. It started Friday night with a nice storm and heavy wind. I just love that kind of weather. Laying in bed listening to the rain against the roof and the windows, the wind howling past the house, that to me is cozy!

The weatherman is promising us some more today and he better be right.

My thumb is slowly healing and the doc said I could take the splint of every once in a while. It is now six weeks and not being able to do stuff you want to do is slowly but surely driving me batty. Pinterest is addicting but with the downside that one gets lots of craft ideas. I have been knitting, I started with big needles and a few rows every day. Then I moved on to the almost finished projects that I started before Christmas and could not finish.

Only thing missing from these where the buttons, I put them on yesterday and DS delivered them to the neighbor yesterday.

DH wanted a pair of mittens and since I always wanted to do a pair of Komi mittens, these where started last week.

Also finished with only a few rows to go since Christmas, a baby hat. Going to deliver that tomorrow.

And the Votter, also finally finished. These have been in the making since the end of October, beginning of November.

Tomorrow I have another doc appointment for my thumb, hopefully by tomorrow afternoon I can finally say the splint goodbye. Doc thinks that I need some "thumb-therapy" for a while.

Holidays

2011-12-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

From our house to yours,

We wish everybody a good Holiday!

Long time

2011-12-22T15:25:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last blog post, not much has changed ever since. Jeremy is still "King-of-the-porch" and has a habit of following us everywhere if we are outside. He has taken a special fondness to DH who says he does not like cats. He does however give Jeremy a treat every night after their walk around yard.

Knitting has come to a standstill ever since an accident I had at work. Turns out thumbs don't really bend well the other way. Doctor gave me a nice splint and just extended the wear time. It drives me up the wall, crafting and knitting is what I love to do. Watching TV with nothing in my hands is like telling a kindergartner to go sit on his hands while everybody else gets to play with glitter and glue.

These mittens where finished some time ago, together with another red pair and a pair of flip top childrens mittens. The last two pair already are gifted and I (of course) forgot to take pictures.

I DS and me hung the laundry this afternoon. He does not really like to hang laundry with his mom, but you try it one handed! We turned around and noticed that we color coordinated the laundry with the barn. How is that for OCD? I will take suggestions where to hang the jeans......

Tess loves it if somebody comes outside to sit and talk with her and scratch her nose. Every day we have a little session, I talk, she listens. She is a very good listener (if Paco lets her that is). More about Paco in the next post. He is a character!!

Orange

2011-11-17T18:43:00.001-08:00

The leaves are turning all shades of orange on the farm. The weather is still very nice, a bit cold in the morning but with nice warm afternoons.

Nice enough to sit on the porch and with Jeremy aka "king of the porch" as company it isn't at all bad.

And if for any reason you have to leave your chair, the king will take it and do a pretend sleep.

Every morning when we leave for school, he comes running over for his daily share of food (from us, we know he also eats at the neighbors later in the day) He then walks us out and sits at the bottom of the porch steps until we are out of sight.
Wonder what he does all day when we are not watching.

Squirrel....................

2011-11-13T21:24:00.001-08:00

A three day weekend has come to an end. We have been looking forward to it for a long time, imagine three whole days off, no school, no work. Besides the household chores of course, those keep coming, never stop, ever.

But of course I had to schedule my dentist appointment on Thursday and had that pesky molar removed. For the rest of my three day weekend it felt like I had been kicked in the jaw, not to mention the two days of "soft food" while the boys where munching on all good stuff that I could not eat.

One can only handle so much yogurt and soup.

This afternoon we sat outside in front of the school house and watched the ground squirrels for a while. There is a whole family living in the back, maybe even more that just one family.

They have build a whole underground castle and frolic about all day.

See, they make the ground look like Swiss cheese.

While watching them I knitted some on the worlds thickest, warmest knee highs.

Turned the heel on the first one, hopefully they will be done before it gets nice and cold here. (Yes, it does get a bit cold here)

Only 41 days left until Christmas, that means I have to make a start on making decorations. Planning to make one of these a day.

They are called Julekuler (geez, I love that word) and come from this book. There are 55 different kuler in the book, so hard to choose.

2011-11-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

If you are not fond of Spider pictures and get the urge to toss your computer out of the window then run screaming through the house with the feeling of taking the jump yourself then don't look farther then the first pretty rainbow pictures.

There, now you are warned!!

It was a rainy, but not that rainy, weekend. Just perfect, nice temperature small and pleasant showers and to top it off this afternoon a pretty full rainbow over the farm.

We all went outside to marvel at it, I almost was tempted to imitate this guy but it was not THAT intense.

In the mean time I am knitting mittens and knee highs to prepare for the nice cold weather. I can hear my relatives snicker, yeah, we call it "cold" you guys call it a summer day. Never mind, I think knee highs are "da bomb" the only set back is that my legs are long and the knitting really feels like it never ends......

Now for my little spider friend, poor lady almost got smacked in the head with the door (to my defense she did crawl into it her self) Just when I wanted to close the door I saw her, ran inside to get my camera, got her onto a piece of paper and took her to get her passport picture taken.

afterwards I let her go on a tree, DH watching on at a safe distance, he is not that fond of little critters as I am. Last thing to do is find out what kind of spider it is.

The Weather

2011-10-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Above my desk at work is a whole collection of knitted toys that I made over time. I keep adding more but for some reason it seems the shelf never is too full. I could have sworn I made way more than these over the 5 years I work there. Now I like to think that they play together just like the toys in Toy story, but my gut says they don't wander off on their own.

Of course it is time for the all over "catching-a-cold" at work and I got it too.

It got better just in time for the weekend, so I could enjoy a day of knitting with my friends and a lazy Sunday was spend half in the school house crafting and half of the day on the porch.

We do have a new "tiger" that keeps us company. Don't know what it is, he is again not ours but comes over for snacks and food and lately cuddles.

He just like the Black and White tiger in our former home lays underneath our chairs or if one is available on the chair.

He is cute and he knows it.

And he talks, we did have a whole conversation, I know he does not speak human, and I don't speak cat but we get along pretty well.

After knit day I have a severe case of startitis, and there is already this on the needles.
Shawl Maia

and a pair of mittens, one is done and the other one on the needles.

But yet there are more projects I really want to start.

Going to be strong.............

2011-10-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

Planning to spend my day in the school house and doing some crafty stuff. After a very strange, hectic week at work, which I do not want to repeat ever in this lifetime, I also managed to loose my voice over night and have a sore throat.

So being in the school house all by myself and the glorious sound of birds is a good idea. Nobody to talk to but the voices in my head, heeehee.

For now, here is the Diva, she loves the attention every time one wanders into her world, and she is not camera shy either.

Thinking of doing some Christmas crafty stuff, so I can get a head start on the gifts.

Ready for Fall

2011-10-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

After a few days of glorious rain, many don't like the word glorious used in this sentence, but it was lovely to have some rain and colder weather.

The warm weather and sunshine returned, the painting on the barn started.

And this morning a whole bunch of peppers where harvested when I looked out the window.

There are lots of birds around, also some strange looking ones came by, this is Kiwi. Pattern found here

Skeletons need clothing too!

2011-10-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

I came across the wooden skeletons that I bought a few years back in an after-Halloween sale. The girls where just begging to be dressed up in their Halloween finest.

What girl would not like some tule, ribbon and sequins?

The chickens in Cluckingham palace are not that impressed, only thing they are interested in is food.

Paco on the other hand thought it very interesting, but in fear of the girls (including me) ending up with a nice green snot spit, we stayed at a safe distance.

Tess was only interested in a nice long talk and some behind-the-ear scratching.

Who also moved into the farm is Mona, this lovely monster who likes to dress up for Halloween was a test knit for Anna from Mochimochi Land. Pattern can be found here.

Mona likes her costume, although going out in the fields made her a bit shy.

There is more knitting on the needles, the only thing is that I need to find more time. If you have any on hand or know how to generate more hours in a day, please let me know.
For now we are waiting on that big rainstorm that has been promised to us for days. Finally after a few very warm (hot) things are cooling down.
We are finally settled in here and it starts to feel like home. There is one thing about moving that totally baffles me. I lost things that I know (really believe me, I KNOW) had packed. I even saw the box here in the house, touched it even. And I just can not find the content of it.
My mouse from my laptop is gone, so are my headphones, my fishie vest, my new rainbow socks that I made at Sock Summit and my bead crochet book that I got from Kniterlines for my birthday. The last one bothers me the most. I have the urge to make some of that stuff for a nice little curtain for the bathroom. Have the fabric, have the yarn, have the beads but can not find the book. It is driving me bonkers!!!
For now, I think a cup of coffee is in order and some knitting while I wait for the rain.

Sunset

2011-09-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Just because I don't have any knitting I can show you. There was knitting, and there are finished projects but they are all hush hush. Either gifts or test knitting. So instead here is Yesterday's sunset as seen from the back of the house. We enjoy the sunsets and sunrises a lot.

I think I need to start another pair of mittens with sunset colors for the winter.

2011-09-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Again a whole week of no posts, weeks fly by. By the time I am home from work, there is more work to be done at home. I keep wishing for some kind of cleaning fairies, gnomes or maybe even Dobby wants to come and live with us to clean. Yesterday I finally set up everything in the school house. A nice day was spend behind the sewing machine making Christmas buntings. They are almost done so pictures will follow very soon!!

Living on the farm means constant change, I wonder what is going to grow here.

DS lizzard is growing and is already feeling very much at home, he or she we don't know, already eats out of our hands. We can tell it is growing, to me it is just amazing that in 6 months it should be a full grown Bearded dragon. He/she is so cute!

I also started to make beaded stars for Christmas gifts. Don't know if they are going to be for bracelets or necklaces. For now it is just playing around with the different patterns and color combinations.

Add caption

About Snakes and Chutney

2011-09-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are always cleaning and chores days with no exception today. I cleaned house with the occasional "help" of DS. He cleaned the porch while I cleaned and scrubbed inside the house. Gotta love hardwood floors they are awesome.
Of course I had to multi-task and make some roasted pepper and tomato chutney. It is lovely to have a farm right at your doorstep with lots of veggies and ever since we moved I have been itching to can some of that.
Starting off with the chutney. And after a few hours six big jars and three small jars are filled with the good stuff (I sure hope it is good, it sure smelled really nice)
DS went to talk to the neighbor and on his way he almost stepped on this beauty, he came running back to get the camera, and succeeded in getting these pictures for me.
There are lots of gophers in the fields, so I bet there is plenty to eat for the snakes.
It is also Tarantula mating season, but so far no sightings yet.
For now I am going to enjoy my Saturday night with some pre-halloween knitting and a glass of wine.

A Long Weekend

2011-09-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

We had a nice long weekend, and by now the three days are gone.

This was the first weekend in a long time we where not surrounded by unpacked moving boxes, we just enjoyed the house and it's surroundings, DS had a friend over and the boys enjoyed the farm. Not so much the cleaning of the chicken coop, especially after going to sleep at 2 am!

We enjoyed the sitting outside on the porch, reading a book (DH),

Or doing some crocheting and knitting while enjoying a beer.

Crochet flowers, no idea what to do with them yet, but I had this nice magazine and just had to try some.

Paco was on the lookout for some food.

View from the kitchen window, I watched this little one while I was cooking lunch.

It is also fun to play with the magnetic Bucky balls that DS got a while back. He wants more of them and seeing how fun it is to play with I can understand why. I do have to admit it is not easy to build stuff from in the beginning, they stick (duh) especially when you don't want them to stick together or on another surface.

Tomorrow it is back to work, short weeks for some reason always seem to look longer. Our next four day weekend is not until Thanksgiving, by then it is November and if we are lucky it is still nice enough to sit outside on the porch.

Moving boxes

2011-08-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

It is true one does accumulate to much "stuff" over the years. And it hits you when you have to pack and unpack all that "stuff".

We moved two weeks ago, I can't even believe it is already two weeks.

There where a lot of boxes! We are now pretty much unpacked only the little school house is not done, it is going to be my studio and I can't wait to finish everything in the house and finally sit down and do some crafty stuff.

Moving from the town to the country side also includes some farm animals. They are not ours but petting and feeding is part of the new ritual at our new "digs".

This is Pacco, he is very curious and wants to see at all times what you are doing, and if it involves food.

And DS has to our surprise a big love for chickens, he feeds them daily.

And he sits and talks to them.

We love looking at the sunset,

And take strolls out in the fields

More to come later, after those last boxes that nobody really wants to unpack.

One Yarn's Adventures at Knit Nation London and Sock Summit 2011: Interm...

2011-08-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah at 9.16 it get's really weird, Hey wait, it's me and the viking gang!

Memory lane

2011-08-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

OK, I have to admit I like looking at old pictures, not necessarily mine though. I have collected a whole array of those old black and white pictures over the years. In particular the ones pasted on cardboard and sometimes even hand colored in. I have one from a very stern looking man with a big curly mustache and overly pink cheeks.

My goal is to frame and hang them all (eventually), in the mean time whenever I am at a flee market or antique store and I can find that lonely face that nobody knows anymore, or is just willing to sell or give away, I am game.

Of course I do own some old (and not so old) ones from my own family and long forgotten family members, those are my special treasures.

To me these are history, this is what I am today, my roots.

And then there are these: My Mother, Neighbor Gerrie, girl next door Barbara and my own little Sister. She is the one with the red knee highs and the wooden shoes. And yes, she wore those all the time!! I remember I took the picture, the occasion for the traditional dress was the birth of little Barbara's brother, it was time for the mother to show the baby, in turn for showing the child the "Noabers" (neighbors) would deliver a "krentewegge" and sing songs.

But the picture just is awesome, look at the cars in the back!

A more recent one from my dad, doing something he loves and I miss sometimes. Being on the water, the wind and sometimes even the rain, the sound and the smell would bring me right back to weeks spend on the water.

Whoops, not going to mention who this happy little girl is.....

And then this one, freaky-deaky, a reminder that

1. I should never ever have a perm again.

2. Never make faces anymore, I do look like a cartoon character in a not so good way.

3. Vertical stripes are the worst

Nope, putting it in Black and White does not make it better.

The old tractor at my grandma's farm and the hours we spend riding around on it, plowing and planting potatoes.

It was also used in parades, here my Dad's younger brother gives away a nice impression of a farmer.
And back to reality, this pair I started during sock summit, I needed a simple knit while chatting, the first one was finished on the train. The second one is almost finished, the colors make me happy!! Time to think of the next project to start.

Moaning Myrtle on the train

2011-08-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Home again, bye bye sock summit

2011-08-05T19:01:00.001-07:00

Monday in the early afternoon, we headed over to the Portland Train station. Only four or five stops from our hotel with the light rail and within the free (!!) green zone. Portlands public transportation rocks by the way!!

The station is beautiful and in the process of restoration.

and there where more knitters present!! Guess we are not the only train traveling sock knitters.

Wandering around the station is fun, and I did have a nice chat with a fellow photographer.

there is a bridge that actually goes over the tracks and you can watch the trains up close.

The inside is lovely just the neon signs alone are awesome!

Once in the train we did some knitting, big surprise there, and had dinner in the dining car.

The train rocked us to sleep until it came to a stop in Chico and waked both of us up. I do have to say we both totally missed every stop in between, and in our train riding induced sleep there is no station in Redding.
The sunset is very nice and we said "Hi" to the familiar "marine layer".

The waiters in the train are true jugglers, imagine walking around with a full tray of drinks and food in a wobbly train car.

I did come home to a house with no food (that's what you get when you leave your loved ones home alone) and had to do some groceries. It takes a while to get down from the high of Sock Summit and to process all the fun and new ideas. Going to cast on with my new yarn tonight (If only I could decide which one)

Oh, and I found out one can do a fine imitation of moaning Myrtle when the train goes into a tunnel (they might not let me on a train again)

Fleece to Foot

2011-08-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night we were invited by Chrissy Gardiner to marvel over the socks for her upcoming book. We traveled by light rail and bus and turns out traveling with another group of knitters from Sacramento. There was fun on the bus, lotsa fun, we even cheered when a lady came on the bus and promptly pulled out her needles and started knitting on a scarf. I bet she had no idea she landed smack dab in the middle of a bus full of knitters. Her face lit up when we applauded her.

The Sacramento ladies signed up to do the Fleece to Foot challenge the next morning and were frantically searching for another member. Of course I got wheeled in.................. (as I am a sucker for these things)

So the next morning I checked in just in time to see the start and the shearing of the sheep.

The spinning began, and because I was stepping in at noon, I dashed over to the Marketplace to do some last minute shopping. It was the last day after all and one always is in need of more yarn!!

Our charity, How appropriate, since we are a house of geeks and our son is named after an astronomer!! And to top it off it was Harry Potters birthday too!!

Our fleece lovely color, but we could have done without the "smelly bits" in it.

It was hard to knit, but afterwards (after a proper, vigorous washing of the hands) they where nice and soft from the lanolin.

Also a nice reminder that this yarn is NOT suitable for "spit splicing"

Our sock, not fully complete (only a few grafted stitches left on the cuff)

And look, Harry left his glasses.

And of course a team picture after all was done and the winner was announced. Team World Wide Mash up won, every team did an excellent job and I would sign up in a heart beat for SS13, it was so much fun.

Alas, Sock Summit was over, the lights dimmed in the Marketplace and it was time to have dinner and spend one last night in our Hotel before heading home on the train the next day.

Socks, socks, socks

2011-08-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

After arriving Thursday morning early at the convention center, I decided just to hang out at the tables while my friends took classes. It was a blast sitting at a table and being joined by knitters compare knit projects, talk about classes, what booth to visit etc.

After I sat there almost all morning somebody pointed out the pendulum to me, we where amost sitting under it and I did not see it! DUH, way to focused on knitting.

When we arrived the day before we noticed the little park one block from the convention center and on its fence was an announcement for a farmers market the next day. So for lunch we decided we wanted something healthy and get some fruit for our room to snack on.

There were cherries, strawberries and the most delicious blackberries. And there was the Trolley, where you could buy a sandwich lunch (or soup) freshly prepared.

For the next two days we got our lunch at the "trolley lady" and ate it in the sunshine at the park.

Best deal ever!! For five dollars one can get a trolley special. Soup, Sandwich, Chips and three fresh mini doughnuts, to much to even finish.

Later that night at the opening of the Market place I scored some orange (big surprise) yarn and some rainbow yarn to start a plain sock just because I had trouble keeping up with my colorwork sock while chatting.
We had so much fun with our silly hats!

Look, it is Lucy Neatby sporting a viking hat!

and Megpie, hmmmmm wonder how I knew her name??

And after the opening ceremony we even posed behind the GATE.

Sockie went to the lecture that Stephanie gave.

so did my plain sock! Call it emergency knitting.

And at a late night dinner at Burgerville, I commented on a strangers hat, he promptly put it on my head, the hat maker was attending the OSCON 2011 held in the same convention center. Low and behold the next day he bought a ticket to the Sock Summit and was wandering the marketplace!! Turns out his wife is a spinner and knitter and he was bringing her back some souvenirs to England.

Sock Summit 2011 flash mob

2011-08-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

My dancing skills do need some improvement, and I need a spray tan on my legs.

Train travels

2011-08-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

Queen Sockie, Megpie and I traveled to Portland OR to attend the Sock Summit. Our choice of transportation was the train.

About an hour and fourty minutes later than expected we boarded the Coast Starlight at around 10 pm.

half an hour into our adventure the train rocked us both asleep and we woke up to a beautiful day.

here is Sockie waiting for the train, a little more than an hour waiting on those benches is not the most fun!
Mount Shasta viewed from the train's back window

We made it into Oregon, look it is green and there is water

Eugene Oregon, a "fresh air/smoke stop" where all the smokers would have a little time to get out of the train to get some "fresh air".

A paper mill close to Portland

We arrived the next day only half an hour later than the scheduled time. We trekked over to the Hotel with the help of Portland's wonderful and free light rail system, met up with our posse, checked in at Sock Summit and after dinner we rolled into our beds.

a drive through the hills

2011-07-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

This morning we decided on a whim it was time again to drive up to Mt. Hamilton and enjoy our picnic lunch there. We never seem to get enough of that place.

It has the best little spots to take pictures, never mind how many times we have been there, there is always something new to see.

I just wish I could be there once at night during a thunderstorm, now wouldn't that make for stunning pic's??

Not to mention looking trough one of the telescopes from the Observatory

We took the long road back at the other side of the hill and counted the cattle guards on our way.

Once home of course the black and white tiger was already waiting in the back yard for her daily cuddle.

Chutney

2011-07-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

After watching some cooking shows, I got inspired and made a big batch of Mango Chutney.

The idea was to make enough so we could save some. Sounded great at the time, but there is enough left for one more meal. As usual I did underestimate the eating power of teenagers.

On the other hand if they eat until there is no more room for desert (not right after dinner, we talk again in an hour) than it was good.

We also enjoy our daily visits with Shamu. I just can not resist taking pictures of her sweet face.

She sits outside the door, and talks until one of us comes out to cuddle and scratch her. But DH or me is not enough, she won't stop until DS comes out and plays with her.

The look tells it all "what are you looking at, I am being scratched on my head"

playing with beads

2011-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

The beading addiction continues, I discovered how to cover beads with beads! Maybe a little overkill but so much fun.
I just love the earrings!

I just have to make more now!!!!

Wickie de Viking (Dutch intro)

2011-07-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wickie de Viking, child hood memories!

Sock Summit Helmet

2011-07-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

My version of the Viking hat we all knitted to wear at the Sock Summit in two weeks. It reminds me of the cartoon Wickie the Viking we watched when we where kids and I can not stop singing the tune.

To Market, to market

2011-07-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning after a cup of coffee and a "Happy Birthday" song for DH we went of the farmers market for fresh veggies and fruit.

We eat a lot of veggies and what better way than buying them fresh and local!

Of course I just had to feed the men in my house Broccoli and Cauliflower. One of them doesn't like cauliflower and the other one does not like Broccoli. Me on the other hand I like them both.

And who can not resist orange Cauliflower??

And I just loooooove Apricots!!

We also bought fresh bread and pastries. The pastries did not even make it home!!

Daily visits and beads

2011-07-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Every day we get a visitor (blogged about it some time ago). She is cute and she knows it. She announces her visit at the back screen door, and usually she does not have to wait long until one of us comes out for cuddles and playtime. Even DH who is allergic to cat hair loves her as long as they can play outside.

If we happen to sit outside she comes and sits underneath the table or takes up a spot in the grass.
I wish we could have an indoor cat or dog, but for now we have to settle with daily visits from Shamu.
In between dentist visit and cleaning out closets and old toys from DS, I have spend some time beading and knitting. I started a Cardigan, tried to lengthen it and ended up frogging the whole thing. Starting over with this one and adding long sleeves instead of the short ones.

So besides the freshly printed out pattern there is nothing to show for yet.

The beads on the other hand, there is something to show.

twelve little segments,
turn into this
I don't really know if Shamu loves it as much as I do.

But she might think I am a little "weird".......

Anyway, now I need to figure out a neat way to make this into a necklace.

It is July already!!

2011-07-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Time flies, but not if you are waiting for the fireworks to start....

The weather is warm, a bit to warm for my liking. I have trouble sleeping, my joints hurt. The warm weather is not for me. In the morning and in the evening when it is still cool, or cools down I sit in the garden and knit.
Of course I had to start a new pair of knee highs in my beloved Noro yarn. Who doesn't want to knit warm socks for winter when outside it is even to hot for the birds to fly?

This is my third pair of Noro knee highs, the other two pair where made two years ago, worn a lot by both me and DH, repaired a few times but they need replacement.

Oh, and look I found a bug on the window, perfect to pull out my macro and make some pictures.

Isn't he lovely??

The weeks fly by

2011-06-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

The weeks fly by when you are busy. The first few weeks of summer break are always filled with chores I put off until the break.

My car needed a smog check, and it still needs to go to a garage to have the "weird sound" taken care off. Thing is, one can not do without a car here. It is not a city that has everything within walking distance (or biking distance). For every little thing one needs to hop in the car.

And besides the chores there was beading, sparkling tiny beads in geometric forms.

It is very addicting and I am adding more and more shapes and beads until I run out of daylight and have to switch to knitting. Yeah, I know poor little me having to choose between yarn and beads.

The green Grinch shawl was finished last week and in true acrylic yarn fashion it is slowly unblocking itself.

The answers to the pictures from the last post:

1 Endmund Gwen "Kris Kringle" suit from Miracle on 34th street

2 Bette Davis "Queen Elizabeth I" dress from The Virgin Queen

3 Yul Brynner "King Mongkut" robe from The King and I

4 Costumes from Mutiny on the Bounty

5 Rita Hayworth "Maribelle Hicks" dress from Cover Girl

6 Deborah Kerr "Catherine Parr" dress from Young Bess

7 Elizabeth Taylor "Velvet Brown" racing suit from National Velvet

8 Greta Garbo "Anna Karenina"

9 Leslie Caron "Gigi"

10 Shirley Temple "Virginia Cary" dress from The Littlest Rebel

11 Julie Andrews "Maria" do-re-mi dress from The sound of Music

12 Merle Oberon "Empress Josephine" coronation gown from Desiree

13 Barbra Streisand "Dolly Levi" from Hello Dolly!

14 Mary Astor "Mrs. Anna Smith" gown from Meet me in St. Louis

15 Marilyn Monroe "Kay Weston" gown from River of no Return.

Hollywooooooooooooooood, part two

2011-06-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

Let's play some "guess the movie and actor".

1
2
34
5
6

7
89
10
11
12
13
14: I do have to say, this dress was the most surprising one, I have seen the movie several times and never noticed that this dress is so stunning!! Look at all those leaves and grapes!

The detail is just amazing!!

And although the poster in the back is from singing in the rain, the dress is from another movie, the little nightgown on the right is kinda a giveaway.
15

Hollywooooooooooooooood, part one

2011-06-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Warning!! the following posts are going to be full, and I mean full of pictures.

It will take me days to go through every single one of them look at them and relive the memorie of actually seeing these Iconic pieces in person! By the end of the day my battery was empty!!

And I did not even take pictures of all the beautiful people I met.

A few weeks ago a very good friend asked if there was anybody interested to go to this, on a special viewing date. OMG!! nobody has to ask me twice, I loooooove old movies!!

So, to make a long story short, we both left husbands and children behind and drove to LA.

We stayed with her friend, spend a most wonderful night out in town, dancing and singing the night away.

The next morning the parking fairies were on our side, after we entered the (small) parking garage underneath the building, the attendant shouted at the next car it was full!!

We skipped upstairs, and walked into the world of costumes and props.

Steward Granger's costume from "Young Bess"

Michael Rennie, "Desiree"
Marlon Brando, "Napoleon Bonaparte"

Rex Harrison, "My Fair Lady"
Jean Hagen, "Singing in the Rain"
Marilyn Monroe, "Gentlemen prefer Blondes"

Judy Garland, dress and slippers worn for the first two weeks of filming, "Wizard of Ozz"
Lana Turner, "Diane"
Audrey Hepburn, "My Fair Lady"

Claudette Colbert, "Cleopatra"

Debbie Reynolds, "Singing in the rain"
Judy Garland, "Meet me in St. Louis"

Me and Barbra Streisands' dress from "Hello Dolly"

Hedy Lamarr, "Sampson and Delilah"

Marilyn Monroe's subway dress, Isn't it delicious!

Plenty more to come in the next posts.

Tilly

2011-06-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

Another Monster, we named her Tilly.

And how does one get the teenager to shop?? We went out for some much needed shorts and shirts (everything was outgrown) But he was more interested in a Hat! Well everybody needs to make a fashion statement, and I will be the last one to say "no you can not wear that".

He went home with a Fedora, and has been wearing it ever since (except for school, where they don't allow hats)

He even willingly posed for a picture!!

WIP's and a FO

2011-06-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I posted some knitting projects. Not that I did not do anything, there are many WIP's in progress.

Something I did finish over the last week, meet Nameless Monster. He still needs a name but I am depending on my friends to be creative in the "monster-naming-department".

Nameless is very fond of all the Sand Dollars we found at the beach and every now and then we hear him scream "Dollaaaah".

Of course we gave him the job of protecting the shells and "Dollaaaah's".

He can live with us over the summer but after that he has to go to school just like any young monster.

Than there is the green sparkle shawl I am working on, I was of course drawn to the color and the sparkle and not particularly fond of the quality of the yarn.

It will make a nice and warm shawl for the chilly summer evenings. Make that more like winter evenings with the weather we are having lately.

Also in the WIP's one Artichoke sock is done! I really like the outcome of the pattern and the use of beads in the cuff.

The countdown until summer break has begun, only 4 more school days!! I can't wait to have a bit more knitting/crafting time.

And to treat myself to something fun I ordered some of these in nice colors for more Monsters!

June

2011-06-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

After a walk on the beach and some serious beach combing for Sand dollars, you get hungry and the best remedy is going to Famous Dave's!

Here is my little (ahum) beach comber with the bag full of shells and even a piece of green beach glass.

The weather was perfect, and the clouds too.

For the remaining part of the Sunday afternoon I folded origami flowers for the parent volunteer reception. One more week of school to go until Summer break.

Plain White T's - Rhythm Of Love

2011-05-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

my new favorite to sing along with.

Walking is Fun.

2011-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

It was our annual big walk-a-thon at school always a very interesting day to say the least. A carnaval for the kids is held after a morning of walking.

Lotsa kids, lotsa walking, and I have the feeling I aged 10 years tonight.

Lucky for us it is a three day weekend!!

Nail Salon - Anjelah Johnson - Comedy Time

2011-05-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Exhausted!

2011-05-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Besides Hula hooping we saw and did a lot of things at the Maker fair this weekend.

Can you spot me with a hula hoop? (the boys were totally embarrassed, hah)

There was some smiling though,

The friends put LEGO's on the LEGO car, just because one is never to old for LEGO's.

There was so much stuff to see that after we came home I was on overload!!

Lucky for us the world did not end the day before!!

Hey, it's me in the enchanted forest.....

And look who also was there! testing the Tesla coils

I really need another weekend to recoup from this one.

Shiny old cars!

2011-05-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

A post loaded with car pictures, especially for my dad who loves old cars.

And I have to admit I love these too, there is nothing better than seeing nicely restored cars. By that I mean restored not mutilated in those "hot rods".

San Martin

2011-05-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

There is something about wandering around airplanes (old and new ones), taking pictures, listening to people talk and watching them of course!

It was a bit cold but the perfect day to visit the San Martin airport open house.

The airport is not even ten minutes from our house and we have never visited. They have their open house every year, it was about time we went.

Some strange bird was wandering around too!

Cars!!

2011-05-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

look grandpa boot, we saw old cars this morning!

Pictures to follow of course.

Mothers day

2011-05-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

After spending yesterday at a Math convention for my work and being in the middle of testing season I was so tired and came home with a giant headache.

It does not happen often but I really had to go lay down, close the curtains and pull the blankets over me. After two hours I felt so much better, head ache almost gone together with the nausea.

This morning, the boys woke me up with coffee, let me sleep in a little bit more and to my surprise they went out and got me my favorite Starbucks!!

After that we spend the rest of the morning cleaning house, doing laundry and vacuuming.

In the afternoon, DH surprised me with a bouquet of deep red roses!!

They look lovely and sit in a vase right next to my favorite knitting spot in the living room.

Last week after coming home from work I spend most of the time knitting on the deadline for the Chinatown Jacket. Happy to say it is finished and looks very, very cute!! Now on to find the perfect buttons.

The Osier socks are also finished and are already living with their new owner.

And of course I dabbled some more in tatting, I like it and am getting the hang of it, if it was only already summer break so I could work on a little collection to sell.

On of my favorite flowers are out in full bloom too, gotta love the orange!!!

Happy Mothers day to all the mothers, stepmothers, aunts, grandma's and caretakers!!

Walk

2011-05-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

Me and my camera always trail behind if we have to walk somewhere, on our little walk from the lab to the marine mammal facility there where lots of colorful and weird things to see.
The boys usually walk far in front of me or on the other side of the road, while I make frequent stops, crawl over the sidewalk, cross the road several times, peek in yards and wait until people have moved out of my "shot".

I mean really who can not resist making a picture of this "Posie Potty"?

Or a plastic life size horse on a balcony?

And who does not wonder what will happen to your car if you park it outside this persons house??

Sake, the Sea Lion

2011-05-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

As promised yesterday, here are the pictures of Sake, the Sea Lion we met. She is quite the lady! and super spoiled! We listened to the demonstration, to me it is absolutely amazing these animals get a camera strapped on their backs and let go in the ocean to film and come back!!

And we could even come really close, nothing like going to sea world and sit in a stadium somewhere far, far away.

Sake even was on the Tonight Show

Marine Laboratory

2011-04-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

It is Open House weekend again, if you have never been I can only say that it is worth the visit!

As always I am amazed by the colors. Give me a touch tank full of brightly colored sea creatures and I am entertained for hours on end. The boys have to drag me away from it.

This year we took a little stroll along the harbor to visit the Sea Lion Facility. (pictures of our new friend in another post) I took only about 250 or so pictures and am still sorting through them. For me that can take hours, I love the process of looking at pictures and deciding what is a "good one" or one doomed for the "trash can".

But first there is dinner to be cooked, by boys are hungry!

MLML Open House Touch Tanks

2011-04-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

more from the MLML open house from last year, with the boys of course!!

MLML Open House Trailer

2011-04-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

Our yearly trip to MLML is coming up!! This is so much fun.

And for those who know, look for the familiar face (more than once)

Cat and Dolphins playing together

2011-04-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

Singing

2011-04-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

We saw these in the store today, totally cracked us up.

The things they think of these days!

Reading

2011-04-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

DS has discovered some reading he likes, his Accelerated Reader points are growing steadily.

I am getting old, maybe I need to travel back in time......

Whoops......

2011-04-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

The beading trim addiction continues, this time I wanted to see how it looked sewn on some fabric. So I stitched two fat quarters together, and made the trim for it.

It is heavy, has a lot of beads and I like it a lot. But what can it be??? A very fancy napkin, or maybe some bread basket liner, or, or .......

Anyway, now I need to go on a bead hunt for the right beads and a lot of them too. This stuff is really addicting.
Just in case I did not explode this afternoon, I started a new pair of socks. The pattern is called Osier.

And after two episodes of Pillars of the Earth half of the cuff is done.

A square Granny

2011-04-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

I might have traveled via the World Wide Web to a certain giant bookstore and ordered this. And while waiting for it to arrive, I thought some practice is in order.

Flowers, little itty bitty tatted flowers.

So far spring break has been not such a good one, of course I had to come down with a cold followed by a day of some sort of stomach bug.

Why is it always when there is a week or a few days off, I come down with something??

Of course one could tell something had to be really wrong when I broke out the crochet hook this past Sunday and made this:

A giant granny square.

I don't like granny squares or crocheting that much anyway. It reminds me always of that one year our grandmother decided she would make us (my little sister and me, I do not remember if our cousin got one too) a granny square dress.

I don't know what my sister thought of it at the time but I hated the thing.

Mine was green and white, it even had a crochet-on manly looking tie. In my mind I looked like a walking Christmas tree decoration.

Later we got "fur Jackets" to go with them, also crocheted, with giant loops to mimic the fur. Of course we were made to wear this "ensemble" out in public.

To make a long story short, I finished the square (it was supposed to be a pillow case for a large floor pillow we have) and gave up to make one for the other side.

While working on it my cold kicked in with the ever tell tale beginning of a sore throat and sniffling, punishment for making granny squares I guess.

There was also some beaded trim that I made this week, but more about that later.........

Spring break

2011-04-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

It is Spring Break and the weather finally is a little warmer and sunnier. Don't get me wrong I love the rain. Love it, really do but I also like sitting in the garden on my days off and listen to podcasts, watch the birds (and the black and white tiger) go by, and knit.

The Oranges from our little orange tree are again plenty full this year, DS just picked the first batch.
and because some of them where covered with a few spider webs, he gave them a bath

Washing oranges with a few tiny webs on them is a big task for a teenager with a bit of a fear of spiders. You preferably do not touch them with your bare hands until you are sure there is no more web left.

While DS was doing that, for me there was/is some more test knitting to do.

Believe me it goes better while enjoying a beer.

Last week I finished these two, the pattern is called Milo. Very cute and very easy.

twin baby boys have a conversation - part 2 ORIGINAL VIDEO

2011-03-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Unalakleet

2011-03-19T18:47:00.001-07:00

It is finished, blocked and dry! My first stranded shawl.

I have done lace and lace with beads, but never a stranded color work one. It is so different than blocking a lace shawl. Lace is a blob when it comes of the needles and turns into a recognizable shape and its full glory after blocking.

This on the other hand is not a frump when it glides of the needles, you actually can see its shape and how big it is going to be. Of course it flattened out and grew a little and after it was dry I could not stop petting it and showing it off.

And look, the back, almost as beautiful as the front.

Can't wait to wear it!
Now what to cast on for next.............

Caturday

2011-03-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

We have a friend who comes over every day, especially on sunny days when the door is open and she can hear us.

If there is nobody outside, than she comes to the door and demands somebody to come outside.

And we can't help it, we have to go and pet her. I don't know if it is the look or the faint "miauw" that breaks ones heart.

DS is her favorite, she adores him. I think he does give the best head scratches and belly rubs.

Crescent City Takes Tsunami Toll - Video - KSBW The Central Coast

2011-03-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

Crescent City Takes Tsunami Toll - Video - KSBW The Central Coast

shawl

2011-03-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

My test knit is coming along nicely, lots of stitches on the needles and growing every other row.

The yarn is Kauni, I just love the color changes in the yarn and stop and pet my work after every row, checking if there is already a noticeable change in color.

Now the question is, one or two medallion repeats??

Beads and Fabric

2011-03-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

A rainy Sunday and a birth day gift from a friend created a new obsession. I admit, I am already addicted to knitting but playing with fabric is fun too. Especially when I see something like this coming by while surfing the world wide web. Luck would have it that somehow the perfect fabric for this landed in my hands (oops).

And in no time there was a little tea wallet.

After the wallet and the making of a new project bag (one can never have to many) I could not resist any longer and had to try some of those sparkly beaded edges, from the b-day gift book. (Thank you!!)

I did run into a very frustrating snaffoo, of all the yarn in the world, I do NOT have the right one for this, mine is either too thin or to thick. (I think I have to make another field trip) one strand of sewing thread and a size 14 hook is just too fiddly, although the green and black is kinda pretty.

Two strands of sewing thread does not work, it is the right thickness, but I kept loosing one of the two threads.

Bigger beads and thicker yarn, crochet cotton #10, yarn fine, beads to big for my taste.

Stay tuned, I am not done with this yet!!

In the mean time there is a new project bag and it wants a new project......

Back to work

2011-02-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

It is over, our week long break is gone, tomorrow it is back to reality.

What did I do over the week?? I sorted out old clothes, cleaned the garage (sad to report no big spiders where found), cleaned inside the house, finally got our old bed and couch picked up for donation and did load after load of laundry.

The house is squeaky clean, and we can go back to school.

I did manage to squeeze in some knitting, a little monster and a doily just for fun.

Oh, and we went for a little ride in the country side, it is lovely, spring is almost here! Although I would not mind if there was just a little bit more snow.

To top of my week, on Friday after returning from the dreaded groceries there was a package on our doorstep.

My birthday present from my sister and her family!! Needless to say I love it!!

Oh, and a new bag, so "lief", going to tote this thing around every day with me :)

Believe me it holds a lot of yarn and knitting projects (insert evil laugh)

There also was some very nice yarn, will show projects later, and drop (licorice) sadly all the edible items in the box did not make it to this photo shoot *burp*.

They where highly appreciated by the boys and me and did not last very long, except for the Shoarma seasoning, which can't be eaten straight out of the package but one actually has to cook with it.

SNOW!!

2011-02-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

I know, is was not much but it made me soooo happy!!

There really was snow here yesterday, when we went outside to take some pictures and run around in the few flakes (I can hear my relatives snickering) all the neighbors where in their backyards too and we could hear the happy squeals of kids and grown-ups everywhere.

See the proof, real snowflakes!!!

McGuyver

2011-02-22T21:40:00.000-08:00

What to do on a day that you don't have to go to school?? Build something.

Step one, wake your mother at an insanely early hour to ask her if you can use some hangers, rulers, tape, rubber bands and wooden skewers.

Step two, bother her long enough she comes out of bed and helps you. (she also has the day off, but you don't care)

Step three, happily cut up a house supply of hangers, gather enough office supplies to cover all the kitchen counters and stain your hands and clothes with disassembled markers.

And in the end, or after a whole day tinkering, there it is, your crossbow.

and it works!!

What will he think of tomorrow???

Now if you will excuse me I have things to knit, now where is that Ipod so I can count my rows??

New Yarn, new project ooooooohhhhh!!

Bird in hand

2011-02-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Started these mittens more that a year ago, only thing to finish was one thumb. Why oh why, I did not finish them then is a mystery.

Anyway while going trough my UFO's there are not many I have to say.

A sweater for DH, a pair of gloves missing one glove, a pair of socks both socks knitted half way and two lace projects one with beads and one I think I might frog because there is only about an inch or two done.

Yesterday we did go to Stitches west. whoohooo DH, DS and a friend tagged along and the boys even managed to behave (kind of)

just because

2011-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

Just because I have no pictures of knitting to show from the last few days. Yes, there was some knitting but no pics.

But I love taking pictures of random items.

I kinda feel the need to cast on for yet another project tonight.

Pinnacles movies

2011-02-12T20:07:00.000-08:00

Pinnacles

2011-02-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

The weather has been very nice for the past few days, so we packed up a lunch and headed out for a hike at Pinnacles National Monument.

We love this place, actually we buy an annual pass every year.

The hike to the reservoir is fun, the views stunning and the caves are great to wander through (not to mention nice and cool)

Of course the boys have mom trailing behind, as always, I have to stop around every corner to make pictures, and ever since the Flip also little movies.

And after a hike, it lunch always tastes very good! By the time we left the parking lot and the overflow parking was full.

Say Hi, everybody!!!

2011-02-10T21:34:00.000-08:00

Useful Dog Tricks performed by Jesse

2011-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:00

Did I ever mention I want a dog???

Could not resist....

2011-02-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

Just could not resist casting on with this yarn, just had to.

The color change is wonderful, only thing I am not happy with that there is not many choice, most of the color ways have purple in them.

All the patterns I want to knit with this yarn are playing through my head, mittens, hats.......

But for now, back to my knee highs blogged here, one is done the second one is just passed the cuff.

February feels like spring

2011-02-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

It was nice outside today, very nice, so nice that I spend the afternoon sitting outside in the sunshine with some knitting of course!

Only down part is that of course the motorized lawnmower/blower/hedge trimmer brigade in the neighbor hood was also out if full force.

Don't they know I want to sit in peace and listen to a podcast or two and enjoy the birds??

The black and white tiger did not come by for a visit either, so I resorted to taking pictures of our grass. Yes I know, our lawn needs work, but I prefer to spend my free day doing almost nothing. Except for the never ending pile of laundry, cooking and some cleaning.

And playing with my new toy, the Flip camera.

And look how beautiful the sky was tonight, spring is in the air!!

Cutest baby booties in the world

2011-01-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

Just a quick knit for a friend, I love these and want a pair for myself if only my feet where not so big!!

Experiment

2011-01-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

Science, I love it, every little bit of it. Well almost, as a parent one gets always dragged into the "making of". At least this parent is.

There was red Jello and black Jello all over my kitchen, not to mention the black Jello spill all over the back seat of my car! Lucky for me (and the person who made that batch) I have black fabric on my seats.

Afterwards I heard that said person's parent did know the batch was no good but send it anyway without warning. grumble grumble.

The experiment went really well, only thing what is left to do is the gathering of the data and the making of a nice display. I am guessing this will also be made in our home.

What really bothers me is that DS is just worrying out of his mind he gets a bad grade because the other students involved don't really care (nor their parents)

Hopefully this is the last time we have to do a science project with a group.

Anyway, afterwards DS was really happy and he put on his "groovy" glasses in the car.

if you really need to go

2011-01-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

awesome!!

OMG!

2011-01-23T11:07:00.001-08:00

Look what I found in the store, this candy is worth its own blogpost.

Coconut M&M's!! I don't think this package lasted more that 30 seconds, it was simply inhaled.

Now the big question is, do they come in BIG bags???

Time flies

2011-01-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

Wow, January came and is almost gone!! And before one knows it, there is a neglected blog.

DS is busy with his science project, this year they have to team up. There are three boys working on this project, or should we say just one and a half.....

I have issues with this, but apparently his teacher does not and is happy to hand out good grades to those students who have not done anything.

Finally (with some intervention *cough, cough*) tomorrow afternoon the boys will come over and I will be hosting the Experiment........ Keep your fingers crossed that me and my kitchen survive!
Last Monday I could not resist any longer and after a search for the perfect yarn in my stash (or better the ones with enough yardage) the knee highs from selbustrikk have been started.

We had the day off that day, and after some episodes of Doc Martin on Netflix, this is what the sock looked like.
Also finished and not blogged yet, my thick lace scarf , it has already served its purpose.

Victorian Farm 17/36

2011-01-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

so addicting to watch, Rabbit pudding, oh yummy........

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody!! May your year be filled with Love, Happiness, Health and Laughter.

Our first day of the year was spend nice and quiet, we did go out for lunch, DS raked the leaves in the pouring rain, just because he was "committed to doing that Saturday", so he could spend the week playing and hanging out with friends.

I do have a picture of his happy face, but being a good mom, I will not post it. (for now......)

We do have these cute birds in the garden that really love the olives that fall from the tree right in front of our window.

I like to sit on the couch in the afternoon and watch them while knitting and listening to a podcast.

Inspired by these little round birds (I have no idea what kind of bird they are) there was a little bird knitting going on yesterday afternoon.

Now I have to go see if I have some grey and yellow yarn and make one that looks like my little friend on the picture.

Thank you!!

2010-12-29T19:17:00.001-08:00

The mail came this afternoon, somebody was very eager to get the mail out of the mailbox, it was like he was expecting something.

whoohooo, he came back skipping and jumping.........

No need to say what the rest of his afternoon looked like. He is one happy teenager!

Thank you Santa, and he is going to write a letter, a long one..........

Rainy day knitting

2010-12-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I started these from the Alice Starmore book. I have had the book for a while now and the mittens where on my "to-do" list for a long time.

A rainy afternoon and two teenagers playing games and watching episodes of Top Gear, gave me the perfect opportunity to sit down, pick colors and start.

The pattern asks for seven colors and choosing those is the hardest part. I really wanted something muted (hey, in my world these are muted colors!)

By the end of the evening, it was late, the house was quiet and I was in knitting heaven, the mitten grew and was after the thumb gore.

There are also these, knitted up last week, very very quick knit, one evening watching a movie and before you know it one is done! This pair is going to be a gift, so ssssst don't tell anybody

Shiny!

2010-12-23T21:16:00.000-08:00

There has been some crafting around here, after cleaning and organizing the loft slash craft room, I was itching to do some beading with new discovered beads. Don't you just love it when there are little treasures to be found when you do some organizing?

In the evening I have been knitting and this morning I just blocked my second hat (more on that tomorrow, it is still wet)
And I made it a brooch to match!! Hah!!

After playing with the leftover blue beads for the brooch, it was time for something more intricate,

enter tiny seed beads and some nice red crystals, making eight little triangular segments, and viola, one beaded bead done!

Pictures are taking with my macro lens and due to the not so sunny weather there where some light issues.

There was however some sunshine and I took my newly knitted hood/hat outside for a test run.

It is nice and warm and I will model it sometime next week if I can find a model or time to put on some make-up and comb my hair. (Hey, I have vacation, I am entitled to a pajama day)

Tomorrow I am tracking Santa on Norad, how about you?

Holiday Spirit

2010-12-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

Over in The Netherlands it looks like this:

I know it sounds really crazy, but I like that kind of weather. It has been so long that one forgets how cold it can be and not much fun if you have to go somewhere on your bike.

It is raining here, and DS is watching movies and reading books while I do chores in the house. Today my craft room got a makeover and a good cleaning and dusting. Now I can't wait until tomorrow so I can pull out the beads and make something shiny.

oops, I think he noticed......

The proof

2010-12-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

See here the proof, I baked cookies, me the never can bake a cookie right person!

They where going to be "glitter balls" with a ginger and honey filling.

Four dozen, so there where eight dozen balls to make because they had to be "glued" together with the filling according to Martha.

They before baking you roll the balls through "Dusting Sugar", never knew there was such a thing as sugar for dusting.....

We had Yellow (was supposed to look Golden) and Multi glitter.

And there they are, my balls compared to the magazine picture. Yeah, don't say anything.......

Most important though, the boys and even I agreed they tasted good. And the packaging was cute too, the perfect diversion to the "I-am-not-a-pastry-chef" cookie exchange.

2010-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Two glorious weeks of no work, only home chores to do, the vacuum cleaner, the washer and dryer never get a vacation. Nor do I in the "home-keeping" department.

But It does mean more time to do some crafty stuff, watch movies and read a book.

And today was the day of the cookie exchange (pictures of my cookies in a later post)

I thought I could disguise my baking skills with a cute wrapping of said cookies.

So I knitted cute little mittens as toppers for my baggies.

Here are some of them, after two or three plain ones, I started playing, there is one with beads, one with two colors green and a striped red/white one. After those adventures I did decide that they looked way better plain.

Maybe next year I'll knit myself a garland of mittens, so cute!!

Here is the pattern.

It is very easy to memorize and if I had to stop I used my trusted Ipod Stitchcounter, I listen to podcasts a lot while knitting, very relaxing!!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

2010-12-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

This one is so much fun!!

Countdown to Christmas

2010-12-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

What I did over the weekend beside dancing the night away on Friday?

Taking Santa pictures, waaaaaaay to many Santa pictures.

What followed in a Sunday (and half of Monday) editing the pictures in cute frames with snowflakes.

Almost done and almost ready to be printed by our parent club tomorrow.

To top it of I am getting another cold, my nose by now is just as red and glowing as Rudolf's.

And I have three more little "thingies" (tell ya later, with pictures of course, otherwise I spoil the surprise) to knit.

Not to mention the cookie exchange that is looming over my head like a dark cloud.

Pompoms on your head

2010-12-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

Because I forgot to blog about the felted hat I made with the Mohawk that changed ownership so lightning fast that pictures where not taken at all.

This time just before this hat changed owners, I remembered to take pictures, even though they are "crappy" (out of the mouth of teenagers.....) But that is what you get at 7.30 in the morning.

So here it is the Mohawk with "balls", I think the next one is going to have flowers and beads!

Sinterklaas

2010-12-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

It was December fifth today, and Sinterklaas forgot to stop by in the US. Not that it really matters, we just wait until the Saint changes out of his "European" outfit and steps into his Santa suit.

We did decorate for Christmas this afternoon, I love all the little lights and want to hang the whole house with them (on the inside so I can actually enjoy it, without getting cold)

But it seems that most of my light strands have decided that being couped up in a plastic bin for eleven months is not that much fun and they rebelled against me by not working!

And on another note, even when taken the most care by winding them all neatly, why do these things want to tangle up in one big bunch? where is the Christmas light inventor when you need him?

So for all those handy people out there, we need Christmas lights that light up when put in the appropriate outlet at any given time of the year (sometimes hanging them outside in the summer is fun also) and how about inventing tangle free lights while you are at it?

Oh and when I have to ask for one more, please give us suction cups that actually suck! My little snowflakes at work won't stay up because the cups don't suck (oops, that does sound kinda dirty)

On the crafty front, I have been busy with making little gifts and while I still not have started on Christmas cards, they are going to be send out soon (promise)

In the mean time, I missed calling my parents on skype this weekend, and I do hope opa was not taken to Spain by Sinterklaas en Zwarte piet because he was "lief ondeugend"

Look I have the proof, he is never ever mischievous, ever!

Official BURLESQUE Trailer - In Theaters 11/24

2010-12-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

OK, I know I have said this about other movies, but this one is the best EVER.

Oh, and I wish I had a figure so I could wear some of those costumes! (hey, a girl can dream....)

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Flash Brindisi" at Reading Terminal Marke...

2010-11-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

Awesome!

GLEE - "Hey Soul Sister" Full Performance (airing 11/30)

2010-11-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, yes I am a Gleek!!

Quick knit

2010-11-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

Made these cuffs over the weekend, just love them and can't wait to wear them with my jean jacket!

For those interested, here is the pattern!!

Baking.....

2010-11-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

I have to practice my cookie baking skills, upcoming is the cookie exchange from work.

And I am not a baker, never been and obviously never will be. For some reason it just never turns out the way I envision the baked goods. Maybe because I want it to look like those awesome pictures in the cookbooks, you know, the ones where your mouth already starts watering by only looking at the picture.

I can bake sugar cookies, plain, don't start with me with frosting, I want it to be perfect. Never going to happen!

This time I was going for biscotti, with chocolate chips, only we did not have chocolate chips in the house, instead we had butterscotch chips, oh well........

The batter was made, the biscotti twice baked (Duh)
I did not care for them, but then I just don't really have a sweet tooth (just give me a bag of potato chips) But DH and DS liked them. Pfeeeww.

Now the only thing there is left to do is to have the cookies look like those that came straight out of the cookbooks.

Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa

2010-11-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

Who's got a big red cherry nose????

Distracted

2010-11-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

I am so easily distracted, I went to sit in the garden to enjoy the last rays of warm sunshine before the winter. Not to mention I really want to finish the second clue of the SKA mock sock before the next one comes out tomorrow.

I look up, it is a little spider that is floating around on its single strand of web.

Run inside to get my camera, it takes a while because I have to put the macro lens on, come back and of course spidey is gone.

So I went to venture out in the garden a bit, I mean who can resist the colors this time of year?

Our last roses are in bloom.

And who knew that weeds can be this beautiful??

For anybody who does not have one of these lenses, get one and go exploring it is so much fun!

Only downside, there was a very brave spider that climbed onto my arm, that is a big no no, I like to take pictures of them, but let this be a warning to the spiders out there, do not climb on me.

Sadly to say he/she is now in spider heaven.

A long weekend

2010-11-13T17:33:00.000-08:00

I love long weekends, four days long was/is this weekend and besides doing the groceries on Thursday and doing some chores at home I did some well needed relaxing.

The black socks where looming over my head, knitting with black yarn is no fun, unless you do a basic sock with no pattern. I love the pattern on these socks and the challenge said it had to be either black or white yarn with black or white beads.

White socks are a bit scary, so I went for black. Next time I choose black, tie my hands or hide my needles please!
Last week this little lamb (or is it a dog?) rolled of the needles, a bit to small for my hands but very cute! Planning to knit some more of these for school and family, but with a different size needle so one can actually play with it.

Here is my "hand model" enjoying himself goofing off while I try to make pictures.
He also tried on my glasses this morning, looking sharp if you ask me.

Don't tell him though, these are after all the "teenage years". Ha!

The fingerless mittens I made for him a few years ago are still going strong and he wears them daily. I think it is time to make him another pair.

Sinterklaas en Pieterbaas in Enschede

2010-11-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

At 41 seconds, who drives by, in the A-Ford firetruck?? Yes, Opa it is you!!

Sinterklaas is in town, it is official. Going to put my boots out in front of our fireplace. Wonder if the goedheilig man makes visits to the USA

Dog and deer in love!

2010-11-11T16:46:00.000-08:00