Birthday Redux and Clearing Out

Anna's birthday was wonderful and lots of fun. It was really simple - the way we wanted it. Anna had a GREAT time, we all did. After everyone went home, the house was relatively tidy again, and the children were all tucked in their beds - I had a mini-meltdown. Special days are great, but part of them (a bigger part than I expect most times) really SUCKs without my Mom.



Sorry to open so somber; on to good stuff. I finished Anna's birthday socks - one toe has to be reworked as I apparently got carried away and knitted it too long - damn CSI!

Friends, my craftroom is a nightmare. It's perpetual state of cluttered, yet manageable has developed into full blown chaos. So, I'm clearing things out! I've already emptied 3 bins (you know the ones - big rnough for the kids to sit in and pretend it's a boat) of stuff and will be emptying out even more as the week goes on. WooHoo! It feels really good.

I've been reading a book (ok I finished it in a day and a half) Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston; it's enlightening. Now I am not one for metaphysics, but this gal has changed the way I look at and think about how clutter (and mess) affects my life. She's got some great insights and I am enjoying the process.

I am planning now for Make-a-Day October. That's my own little catch phrase. The idea is to make something everyday. To sew, and knit, and scrapbook, and cook, and craft with the kids everyday during the month of October. My goals are to finish up some languishing UFOs and also get lots of gift sewing completed BEFORE the holiday craziness.

I want to do this not only to avoid holiday rush and enjoy making things, but also to use up some of the things I have in my craftroom and see what else I can get rid of, because if I am not using it - I don't want it cluttering my mind and my space.

Looky what Andrea made me!



It's a felted pumpkin; isn't it cute? Sorry for the blurry photo - it's still pretty dark in here and I wanted to post the shot.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Happy Birthday Anna!

My girl is 6 today. She''s growing up and changing too fast, I can't wait to see who she'll be tomorrow, but I wish I could.



Not much time for posting today - what with party making, etc. We're just having dinner at home - Chicken noodle soup by request (salad and fruit by requirement) and then presents with Grampy and Uncle Michael.

Cake - frosted
Gifts - wrapped
House - as clean as it's going to get for my dad & my brother!

Now Bring On The Fun!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Blocked Out!

Hey - here's the pink/orange wrap all blocked and ready to go:


And here's what we did this week:

Our first visit to the Georgia Aquarium. It was really nice and lots of fun. The way it's designed you really don't get a perspective of how enormous the place really is, which I'm nt sure is a good thing, but it is beautiful.

Guys don't forget to join Socktoberfest (I'll get my button tomorrow). It's lots of fun and I hope to get lots done.

I was commenting on another blog about Christmas knitting and how I'm not doing it. I've already begun buying giftcards for Christmas gifts. I am knitting and if there is something in the basket that suits someone special then goody for them, but if not - that's ok too. I think this year the holidays are going to be hard enough without adding more stress. Knit for the fun of knitting and for special people - NOT for deadlines. When you knit or craft for a deadline it often sucks the joy right out of the process.

So here's to a happy holiday season for all (yes it's early) with ease and true enjoyment! And forgive me if you run into me in the shop while I'm working and I am all about "Holiday Knitting" - come on it's retail and we've got to pay the rent!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I Finished Something!

I finished the pink wrap - Now I need to block it and clean up the ends tonight (I'll post pistures then). It is really pretty and it was fun to work on; now I'll have to learn how to do ACTUAL entrelac. I am going to make the Lady Eleanor Shawl out of the purple/olive Silk Garden eventually.

I am almost to the heel on Anna's second sock. I'll be finished in a day or two and then wrap them up for her birthday. Then on to Toby's second sock - actually I need to rework the toe of the first one as well so maybe I'll finish those by the weekend.

Do you guys know the Lime & Violet podcast. They are truly laugh your a** off funny in a different way than Knitty D & the City (my faves). I am finally caught up and waiting anxiously for the next one. I LOVE listening to these podcasts - it's like sitting with girlfriends!

I am not going to be at knit night for the next couple of months. I am worrking an Emmaus weekend and the team meetings fall on Thursdays - bah!

Katey, Laurie, and I have some fun things brewing so stay tuned for more information soon. Shhh! It's a secret!

BTW: (totally unrelated) I want one of THESE! I might have to pick one up SOON!!!

I've been planning sewing projects lately as well - like I said before - this is my very favorite time of year and I get really productive. I'll post pics as soon as anything is picture worthy.

I also organized my stash last week and whoa! I have lots o' stuff. Not as much as I imagined, but still... I put everything in large zipper bags along with the patterns and made a list of the projects I have yarn for. I'm not going to bore you with the list today (I'll save that for another post), but let's just say - I'd better knit faster! Might be time to break out my knitting machine and get somethings made up quickly.

One minor confession: I have enough dishcloth cotton to make 27+ ballband dishcloths from the Mason Dixon book. guess what everyone is getting for Christmas!!!

Shameless self promotion to follow:
After ordering 5 skeins of Andrea and buying all that Schaefer the other night please visit my Etsy shop and help me out. I hope to have a shop update in about a week!

Just because I am now convinced that every post should have a photo here's what happens when you give the 5-year old the camera (it's not flattering):



I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

WIP Friday (and then some)

I've been such a slacker about the groups I've joined, but I'm here now and I LOVE fall. I feel so motivated and energized. I've been working on this pink Mock Entrelac wrap for a little over a week now and I'm almost finished.



It's made from Kid Seta (which is like kidsilk haze or doceour et soie) and a rayon cord from Cascade called Fiesta. The cord either used to be called rio or is now called Rio - I'm not sure, but my label says Fiesta. It's really a very quick knit (if I'd work on it consistenly) and lots of fun. It is sooooo soft!

Also - I had fun at the yarn shop last night. Susan, our Schaefer Yarns dealer (I'm sure I meant Rep) brought her bags and bags of yarny goodness and this is what I came away with:


It's gooooood!
That's 4 skeins of Nancy in an odd-lot colorway to make a cardigan or a basic "sweatshirt" style sweater for yours truly, 2 skeins of Knitty D & Wendy's Favorite :Anne (the only two she had, which will be over-dyed), Another skein of Nancy to make a sweater for my little Toby-nater, and one skein of Soxie by Great Adirondack (not from Susan) in a colorway called "Caution!" It's hot pink and Lime Green with a little orange and acid green - really more pink than my so-so photo shows.

As if that's not enough yarn and money...

I am ordering though the shop ANDREA from Schaefer Yarns. It is gorgeous lace weight silk. This will be next years knitting as I am ordering 5 skeins of it at 1053 yards/skein. Go check out their color pages - they have GREAT colors. I ordered Andrea in Frida Kahlo, Catherine The Great, Gertrude Ederle, Indira Gandhi, and Clara Barton. I wanted a dozen more colors, but well - we have to eat.

OK - I've babbled as long as I possibly can - time to kick my day into high gear and finish up the things that must be done.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I always wanted to be a goddess

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Goddess. You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with reward, you simply want others to love knitting as much as you do. If someone wants to knit miles of novelty yarns, you are there for them. If someone wants to learn short row shaping, you can help. There are no taboos in knitting, only opportunities to grow. Everyone should have friend like you around if they want to learn to knit, and there's a good chance that your passion has rubbed off on a few others.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

I had another image in my mind's eye, but I'll take what I can get!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I found the Noro...

WooHoo! I found my missing ball of silk garden! It was WAY under the seat of my husband's car and he found it last night. Hey - Men who bring you yarn are HOT!!!

I spent some time this weekend dividing my stash into projects, packaging everything up with the pattern, and making a list of what I have in there waiting on me. I didn't log the sock yarn - part time shortage, part denial. The list is long, but really not as long as I thought it would be - Still - I MUST get knitting.

I am working now on a mock-entrelac scarf/wrap in hot pink and orange. It's pouring here so no good light for pictures today. I'll see what I can do later if it ever lets up.

Thanks for well wishes!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

5 Years and 6 Months

I've read many touching posts today remembering September 11. Wendy's is particularly poignant. I too remember the horror and anger and endless sadness of that day - of this day. I remember knowing that OUR world, America's world, was changed forever and wondering what was next. I remember feeling the unity of our nation as we mourned and as we looked ahead; surrounded by the spirit of patiotism. Today I feel very much alone.

Today my mom has been gone from me for six months. I am not one to dwell on the day my mother died - I celebrate her life, not her death. With everywhere I turn focused so much on today's date it's hard to believe that it has been six months; so long, but such a blur.

Little things still hit me sideways, like buying new shoes for my kids and realizing that we can't "go show Grammy." Or wanting an opinion on something before I decide. Or even finishing a crafting project without my mom to show it to. I haven't finished many things lately - Oh I've started, but somehow finishing just doesn't come as easily these days; it will always be changed.

So I've had a difficult day all around. My prayers are with those in harm's way and those who suffer loss or hardship. My freedom and eternal grattitude are owed to such and I am truly blessed and proud to be an American.

Things I love about my country:

My gift of choice, to say what I want, live where I want, worship whom I want, work if I want, and follow the leaders I choose.

My Flag, and ALL that it stands for and the price at which that comes

Things I love about my Mom:

Her Generosity, and the spirit of giving that outlives her.

Her Words, that I hear in my head and heart and in my children's prayers.

I wish I had a better picture to share, but this is one she would love of her with Anna Christmas 2001. She loved my babies so!

Mom I miss you!

Being so vulnerable is difficult for me at best, especially to those I know personally, but I know I can share with you. Thank you for indulging me and for supporting me.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

"Pardon Me Boys..."

Is that the Chattanooga Choo-Choo? Why of course it is! Fun was had by all and little more will be disclosed - it's the "girlfriend's oath" afterall. We laughed and laughed and laughed some more. A few things were determined to be universally true.

#1 You don't need to be drunk to have a GREAT time.



#2 Other people might think you ARE drunk if you're having too good a time.

#3 Starbucks is NOT a library

and last but not least


I'm so glad I went and I'm glad to be home. I so enjoyed my time away and will be knitting and sewing furiously with all the items I bought. I'll have more trip photos tomorrow and shots of the "Loot" from the weekend as soon as I get some decent light - it was overcast today.

I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday weekend (if U.S.).

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe