Goodies...

I finished weaving in my ends on my new hat - so I am now prepared to show it!











I love how it came out. I just used a basic hat pattern - one inch of ribbing of K1P1 and then I made up my own color work. I did a REALLY basic pattern that I wouldn't even really call a pattern per se - but it was two stranded color work and that was all I was after. My BIL would probably not have cared if I just did the stripes solid - but hey it was an opportunity to try something new and I took it.

(Is it wrong that I'm still proud of myself! hehehe... )


I also finished up a few felted bags for presents. This one is my favorite.
It's the buttonhole bag from Mason Dixon. I used two strands of Cascade 220 for the pink and lime green sections and Malabrigo for the dark green. I love putting two different kinds of yarn together on a felted bag - it gives it an extra dimension because every yarn felts differently. The Malabrigo is dense and soft - perfect for the handle - and the cascade is just a little fuzzy.





I added a pin - I think it really gives it a special touch.





This particular bag was intended for my sis-in-law.... yes I said WAS. I stole it! But then I made another one exactly like it. So much for no knitting for myself this month!

I also received a package from my coffee swap pal. I am so excited! There are so many goodies inside!






Two kinds of coffee that smell amazing.
A mug - with one of my favorite paintings on it
Andies Candies - mmmmm....
Shortbread cookes - double mmmm....
A set of notecards
Awesome yarn - Fearless Fiber in Glorious green - my favorite color! And my favorite thing - a small knitting bag with coffee cups on it.







I can't tell you how much I love this bag. It still smells like coffee and I can't stop sniffing it!

Thanks Anna!




Oh and better late than never - here's a funny pic from Monday's knit night - one phone - many colors to pick from!

knitting in full gear

I am in overdrive this week. I actually managed to knit three - yes three -felted bags this weekend! I am so proud of myself - the self restraint that I have been able to pull out of my *ss is astonishing. I have managed to not knit a single thing for myself in a month. That's got to be a record.

Yes I was told it couldn't be done - but I think I may actually finish my Christmas knitting before Christmas! (Yeah - I know I just jinxed mysefl by saying that) I really only have half a lace scarf and half a sock left to finish. Oh and the stuffed hedgehog.... and a hat for my FIL... ok - I'll shut up now :)

Last night - I met up with the knit nite gals and started on my first fair isle project - a hat for my BIL. I tell ya - I had built up the concept so much in my head that I was actually scared to try it. When I finally took the plunge - it was so easy! If there is anyone out there who has yet to try fair isle knitting or any kind of colorwork - I assure you - if I can do it - you can do it.

I nearly finished that hat yesterday and I was knitting in between browsing books, noshing and general fooling around... so that's saying something! By the end of the evening - I was able to knit without even really looking at the different colors anymore - I just knew where they were in my hands. After only 3 hours people!


I actually just made up the pattern as I went along - I used three different colors (although only 2 at any one time) and I think it looks fabulous! I will post a pic - but not quite yet - I still need to weave in the ends etc. before it's big reveal.

I know it sounds silly to be this proud of learning one silly technique - but for some reason I had it in my head that this was going to be a lot harder than it was. Has anyone else done this with something that turned out to be easy peasy?

Anway - we put up our tree this weekend too - Christmas is coming! I may be getting close with my knitting - but the shopping - not so much. I hate crowds. Online shopping - here I come!

Monkey business

I have the most awesome secret pal ever!




I got a package over Thanksgiving weekend while I was away and inside was the most amazing book - Knitting Nature. I can't wait to make something out of it.


She also got me some Teuscher's chocolate, a santa tape measure, a turtle, and a little something for my pups....

This is Bailey and Hurley playing with their screaming monkey toy

They love it!!!

Thanks secret pal!!

Sedona views

I'm back from vacation! We were in Sedona AZ. My parents were using one of their timeshare weeks out in Sedona and we decided to join them for a long weekend.

We flew out on Thanksgiving day and landed in Phoenix for a beautiful warm Thanksgiving in a beautiful hotel.



We stayed at the hotel for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, and all the fixings. The next morning - we drove up to Sedona through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. We stopped along the way several tiems.

In Phoenix we visited the Desert Botanic Gardens. Everything was sharp! Literally!








Then we stopped at Montezuma's Castle -
Built by the Sinagua Indians the Verde Valley - it was virtually impenetrable.



Next we stopped at Tuzigoot - another Sinaguan ruin.




After a beautiful sunset - we finally made it to Sedona.



The red rocks are beautiful out there.



Many of the rocks have been given names based on how they look - like the Coffeepot rock,


There's also a rock named Snoopy, steamboat, and Madonna and child.

The Madonna and child is near a chapel built into the rocks which was an amazing sight.



Here's the Madonna and Child....






We also took a drive up to the Grand Canyon. Wow... is the only thing I can say...







There is an impressive artist population in Sedona. Everywhere you go - there are amazing sculptures and paintings and art of all kinds.








They say that Sedona is full of magical healing places or vortexes - well I can't say I experienced anything personally - but it was a beautiful place indeed.

Lazy Weekend

I had a nice relaxing weekend. The main reason for this is my husband was away :) He was at Summit Point racetrack driving his car really really fast. Ladies - I highly recommend this place to you - your husbands will go away for a while and leave you home to knit! The one downfall is when they come home - you have to endure endless stories of how he "took that turn like he was on rails!" or how "did you see how tight the line was" and other such nonsense. Just nod your head and smile - it seems to work! (Kind of like what they do when you talk about knitting!)

Anyway - in my free time this weekend - I enjoyed several knitting related (kind of) events. Friday - I went to celebrate the holidays with Mr Mike - owner of Lakeside cafe where we have sit and knit. He graciously invited the knitting group to come to his annual holiday party. There were treats and drinks and I met up with all the knitter gals and had a great time!

Saturday - I went to see a friend's show at Savage Mill. My friend Sheila is an amazing knitter and can crank out a hat in record time! She was in an invitation only art show at the Queen's Ink in Savage Mill. She was selling her hats, stitch markers, magnets, yarn, and other great goodies. I bout a "K1P1", a "knit" and "yo" magnet as well as some yummy green heathery yarn. While I was there - I ran into some of the other knitter gals and we again sat and chatted and watched an elf put on a magic show :) He was actually quite good!

Sunday - was all about the knitting. I finished one one of my Dad's Christmas socks and almost finished a stocking for Mr Mike. (We knit him and his employees stockings to hang over their fireplace). I took the doggies to the dog park and let them run around for an hour or so. That seemed to do the trick - because they slept the rest of the day and left me in relative peace and quiet :)

Holiday Knitting time has come!

I started my holiday knitting this week! I hope to get all of my holiday gift knitting done by Christmas. (Here's to hoping!!)


What are you attempting to make for your friends and family this holiday season? Show me see your list so I don't feel so overwhelmed and alone! Here's mine:

1. Hubby - Socks out of Trekking XXL (Started - one sock almost done)
2. Dad - Socks out of Rowan Tweed DK weight (Started - only about 1 inch done)
3. Mom - Branching out scarf out of Cascade 220 (Started - about 6 inches done)
4. Mother in law - Felted Buttonhole bag out of a skein of "dyer's choice" yarn I picked up at Stiches from Interlacements booth - Done!
5. Sister in Law - Felted Buttonhold bag out of Cascade 220 - (Started - halfway done)
6. Father in law - ? no idea - need some help here...
7. Friend - Hedgehog toy for my friend with 5 hedgehogs (yeah - 5 - she started with one that then had babies!)
8. Brother in law? - again no idea
9. Cousin Kelly - some kind of purse - not started yet

Nine things to knit and only a month and 11 days to do it! Christmas is coming!!!!

Let's vow to only knit holiday gifts for the rest of the year (and it would be a bonus if we actually finish them all!)

No matter your religious affiliation - I think we can all relate to the rush and pressure of holiday knitting. So - let's take some of that pressure off by starting now.

Join me as a Holiday Knitter! Post this button to your blogs and encourage others to get started on their holiday knitting too!





If you have a better button idea than mine - by all means send it to me! You can email me at javajem at yahoo dot com.



Here is the only finished item I have so far.... My mother in law's felted buttonhole bag. She loves Green and Blue - so I hope she likes it.





I actually used two different greens for the middle part and then just one green for the handles. I thought it gave it a nice variation.




I really love how this yarn felted. You can still see the pattern in the colors...





When I felted the bag for my MIL - I also threw in the mitered square bag I finished ages ago. Made from two colors of href="http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/merino.htm">Malabrigo. I could maybe give this to someone for Christmas. I just need to add handles...




I also finished a Lace Bookmark made from Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in Iris. This was my first ever "blocked" project. I don't think I did a very good job. Although it is nice and flat - I need to redo it so it's not so uneven around the edges. Another possible Christmas gift.








As if knitting doesn't take up enough of my time - I also made some cards with Giantsknitter. She took me to her monthly stamping group and we made these cute gift tags and card tote. These will be reserved for the recipients of my hand knit items!












And finally - To help get you in the Christmas mood - I'll close with a picture of my Christmas cactus. It's actually blooming this year!! yeah!! (By the way - look out the window - do you see all the leaves out there!! - yikes!!)

Clapotis is finished!

After many many hours of knitting I am happy to report that my Clapotis is finished. I absolutely love how it came out.

I used 2 skeins (about 750 yrds) of Brooks Farm Riata - Fiber Content 48% Wool / 36% Kid Mohair / 16% Silk - Worsted weight on size US9 needles.

Since this yarn is hand dyed - the two skeins were not exactly the same but I still love the way it came out.

Here is my Clapotis photo shoot!