Socks and Gauntlets and Pumpkins... OH MY!

As promised last week, I'm back with many, many pictures for your viewing pleasure!

First up, some of that "festive fall" crap stuff from before. :-) We've had some rain and icky wind that has knocked most of the beautiful leaves off of the trees already, but I did snap this one from our driveway view.

How about a ghostly view of the pumpkins at the Keene Pumpkin Festival last weekend? Okay, okay, so maybe its not so much ghostly as a little out of focus? It was difficult getting any good pictures with it being so freaking overcrowded very well attended and at night. Of course, you know me, I found paw prints...



Socktoberfest is almost over and sad to say, I'm still working on my Magic Stripes. I've put it aside to work on various other projects, but did have good intentions of not only finishing this pair, but a second pair as well in honor of Socktoberfest. I guess I'm not a very good participant, huh? Here's a pic, next to the Smocked Gauntlets that I cast on last week and haven't had a chance to really knit much on since...

Here's a close up of the gauntlets so you can see the stitch detail and the awesome Rock Lobster colorway by Sereknity! So far, these are a blast to knit and I hope to have them finished soon - my hands are getting a little chilly waiting for them!

I've been working on a scarf of my own pattern in a cashmere blend yarn. I'm not totally happy with it at the moment, as its rolling in to a spiral due to the stitch pattern, however I'm hoping it will block out flat when finished. I'm using the Sereknity needles too..

Next to the scarf is a darling little baby bootie. I've been working on doctoring up a pattern to make some for the Holiday Open House at Jenn's and thinking I've finally got it down.

Speaking of Jenn, Nate's hate is finished (woo hoo... hear that, a FINISHED object!!)... I absolutely love the way this navy color turned out (and its Heirloom Breeze, which I love knitting up) and can't wait to see it being modeled by the little guy!

I didn't make it to knitting guild last night, as I've been fighting that nasty sinus pressure and allergy crap. I did plan to veg out and knit at home, but instead decided it was time to switch to my new bag that I bought at the Cirque du Soleil show last month (yes, they now sell some bags and I believe even clothing). Figured half an hour at best, but instead it turned in to a full evening project, with a little help from my 4-legged children. Smell something a little fishy in this picture (hint, I even marked it for you!)?

Isn't it THE coolest bag though? I couldn't resist - its my favorite colors (purples and blues) with an awesome funky lining and cool details... yea, I dropped a bit of pennies on it, but I love it and that's what matters!

Speaking of the children, I wanted to share a few new photos and updates. Zeus' xrays showed wonderful success with the surgery. The spot where the bone was cut through is barely even visible on the xray and everything is healing quite well... the pins and plate are all nicely in place and the knee is stronger than ever! We may put off the 2nd surgery until February / March, but haven't completely decided just yet. Here's the big guy enjoying the crisp fall air and a new toy...

Guess who just turned 3? Our littlest monster, Teutul... shown here "hanging" with his new buddy from Old Navy (the middle of it was a stuffed Halloween Mummy, however the stuffing didn't survive the night, but he loves it just the same)...

And guess who thinks she can knit? The lickmonster herself, Miss Lola, who's been eyeing my yarn and those really cool sticks that go "clickity-click" over her head as she tries to cuddle up in Mommy's lap to watch TV.

Now guess who thinks she might be able to spin? Did you guess? Yup, I finally ordered myself a drop spindle off of ebay and am anxiously awaiting it (hopefully Heather's just as excited to be anxiously awaiting my cries of HELP... thanks in advance dear!). Next week our knitting group is making a trip to Riverslea Farm and I can't wait! I'm quite sure I'll come home with some wonderful wool and roving.

Until next time, try to stay festive and enjoy what's left of fall!

Festive, my arse!

Its been awhile since my "festive fall" posting... but I am here... you know, just in case someone out there was wondering. :) So, I say festive fall my arse... work has been more stressful than one would like and has really been cutting in to my knitting time! Does that really say 7 months til Charlotte at the top of my blog??? It can't get here fast enough!

No new finished objects to report, though Nate's hat is nearly complete, as is my Lion Brand sock #2 and the diagonal scarf. I'm getting ready to cast on Heather's smocked gauntlets in her blazing Sereknity Rocklobster colorway, as well as my 2nd pair of socks. Now decisions... what sock yarn to cast on? Trekking? Step? Sereknity? Oh... I just might have to reach in the drawer and blindly pull out a winner. I'm also getting ready to cast on the Angel sweater and whatever else floats my boat... but I just have to finish this first pair of socks and a couple other loose ends before moving forward (not to worry... there will still be plenty of other unfinished objects on needles throughout the house....).

I did cast on a lovely cashmere blend scarf using Heather's handmade needles (scroll down a couple posts to see) and they are knitting quite nicely ... and the tips can do some pretty heavy damage to non-knitters are amazingly sharp and smooth (so yea, I might've poked myself once or twice, but I'm used to it now!). If you need to get some pretty needles for a gift your own collection, be sure to check out Heather's lovely items.

Made the trek to Webs and got my blocking board with my wonderful birthday gift certificate! I was pretty darned freaking too well behaved while there and didn't fill up the basket too much! I did get some Artful Yarns Fable in #97 Billy Goats Gruff (and no, I didn't just buy it for the funky name!) to make a cardigan.... a gorgeous skein of Fiesta Yarns Insignia La Bhoeme - check it out, hand dyed mohair/wool/rayon/nylon mix to die for, I got the ruby red for a scarf ... I also grabbed a couple skeins of Gedifra sock yarn and some patterns that were in a big 'ole basket marked with my favorite word FREE! Of course most of the patterns were totally 1980's throwbacks, but I did find a couple of decent sweaters in there. I also got some FREE (there's that word again!) coffee mugs, as they were having a special of "spend $50, get a free mug" and well, I spent enough to get 3 mugs... :)

Zeus update... we just hit 10 weeks since surgery #1 and he is at the vet's office today getting the follow up x-rays. Recovery seems to be going quite well and he's been back to his spunky self for quite a few weeks now... if anything he's acting MORE like a puppy again (ay, yi, yi ... 120 pounds of "puppy!"). We're hoping to put off surgery #2 until spring (also known as tax return time), but we'll see what the good doc has to say tonight when we meet to review his x-rays.

Looking forward to knitting guild tomorrow night... see you there? I'll be back later in the week with pictures... hopefully some beautiful New England fall shots for you to feast your eyes on!

Festive Fall Findings...

Okay, so "festive fall findings" really doesn't mean too much, but I couldn't think of a better title for my entry today and I just had to write several "festive fall savings" ads for work, so its stuck on the brain!

Although, I did have a festive time at guild at A Knitter's Garden last night. We even had a newbie, though as anyone who knows me well knows that I can't remember names to save my life ... but she was a nice woman who I learned lives somewhat near me. I worked on my Magic Stripes sock and we chatted and laughed... and laughed some more! I picked up this adorable pattern and some lilac yarn to make a special little lady a special Christmas gift.

After I followed Heather up to the Manch Vegas group that meets at Barnes and Noble. I've been really meaning to get up there to meet everyone for awhile now and finally did! I had the pleasure of finally meeting Gina, who already feels like a long time friend, as well as Ericka and Chris, Gaye and a few more faces who I recognized from other's blog photos, but again... that whole name thing. If people could just wear name tags for the first few times I meet them, life would be so much easier! I hear there's a trick ... something like when you're introduced to someone, repeat their name as you acknowledge them... yea, maybe I should try that... but do you think they'd run away screaming if I repeated their name 20 times? hhmm.. Anywho, everyone was GREAT and I had such a blast. I worked on the navy baby hat for Nathaniel and I got a big taste of the Manch Vegas world... the laughing and cackling, fun loving, yarn obsessed and completely uncensored dialogue - where no subject seems to be beyond bounds - and I loved it! What a fun group... great people. It was a little different being in a more public group where people are just around browsing for books and such (as opposed to knitting guild at Joanne's which is at her house/shop), but what fun! I didn't even notice any strange looks at the group of knitters either! I will surely return from time to time. I found some wonderful friends.

I forgot to take photos for the blog today, so I'm going to hijack a few from Heather's site so I can show you the gorgeous yarns I got from her last night!

First up is my Rocklobster that I'm going to use to make the Smocked Gauntlets...

Next up, the stunning Vineyard in fingering weight. Most likely a pair of socks will come out of this. The colors are even more vibrant and stunning than the picture shows!

Are you jealous? Don't be silly ... you can get your very own Sereknity yarn here!

Back to festive fall stuff... eh, that would mean back to work... even though with the unseasonably warm and beautiful day we're having, I'd much rather be outside knitting! Hopefully it'll be a nice weekend, as I'm hoping to make it to Topsfield Fair and possibly to Webs, as I received a lovely gift certificate for my birthday (just 2 more days... but, I did get to open one present early as Matt's Dad & Sue came up to visit last weekend -- I got this book and the gift certificate... an extra thank you to them!).

Goodies and Gumdrops for me!

Happy early birthday to me! :-) Yea okay, so its not for another 11 days, but lookie here at the presents I bought for myself last Wednesday night at the Chester Knitting Guild at Joanne's "A Knitter's Garden" shop (she really needs a website so I can link it here, lol)....

First, here is a trio of absolutely amazing items from the wonderfully talented Heather. She made me this doggy-chic straight needle holder to match the circular one she created a few months ago. I regret not having photoed it open - you have got to see this thing... it is big enough to hold all the needles one could dream of owning HUGE (Heather says "Do I do anything on a small scale?" lol)! Then... while browsing some of her newest crafty creations in the shop, I instantly had to have these size 8 leopard handcrafted Sereknity needles. Aren't they the coolest (hands off - they're MINE and I can't wait to knit with them!). And... last but certainly not least, my very own skein of Goody Gumdrops yarn. I feel in love with this when I saw the photos of Gina's awesome sock - which has been entered in to the Ewe'll Love It sock contest btw -- ladies and gentlemen, vote for Gina!

Here's a closer look at the yummy yarn and needles...

I also picked up these row / stitch markers which my Mom had ordered from Heather... aren't they pretty?

Not too many other photos for you today. Sadly, no new finsihed works... but have plenty "in progress", including these two creations... my 2nd Lion Brand sock and a navy baby hat for my friend Jenn's little bundle, Nate...

I'm gearing up to start on some holiday gifts, but wanted to get these two things finished soon. I also can't wait to start my own pair of Smocked Gauntlets, which seem to be all the rage lately (and congrats to Heather for getting her very first free pattern "published" on Knitting Pattern Central too - you are one cool kat!).

That's all for now - been one crazy and stressful week around here ... which calls for some wonderful knitting meditation hours to come (and hopefully some finished works!).... till next time... HAPPY FALL!

Tomkat Goes to Washington...

As promised, here is proof of my wacky little man Tomkat sighting from The Redskins game on September 11th! I compiled a few photos in to one for your viewing pleasure....

Tom & Nicole's adopted kids (Conor and Isabella) were there. I've just got one word for Katie .... J-E-A-N-S girlfriend! Should you ever have the opportunity to encounter The Great Tomkat and actually speak with Miss Holmes, would you please tell her she should dress more comfortably for a football game? No need to dress like the First Lady and heels are NOT for a football game ... jeans girl, jeans!!! Of course, she and Tom actually looked like they coordinated their outfits and she was attached to him 98% of the time... poor Katie!!!

Here's a couple more from the game...



And here I am at FedEx Field doing my new "stadium pose" (see earlier post from the Patriots game... I'm getting good at this, 'eh?)...

I don't have the yarn shop photos for you yet, but check out what I found when we stopped to take a picture of the WWI monument in Richmond...

Did you read that? BARKER FIELD!?!?! ha ha - LOVE it and couldn't resist taking a photo! I wanted to stop, but Matt thought we might look like stalkers in a doggy park without a leash... or doggy for that matter! :-)

Back From Vacation ... with More for the Stash!

I'm back.... from a fairly well jam-packed vacation which included the NASCAR Busch & Nextel Cup races in Richmond, the Redskins opening game vs Minnesota in Maryland (complete with a Tomkat sighting!), a venture through the 10,000 square foot Yankee Candle store mini-city in Williamsburg (where I purchased "Frostie's Favorite" coffee which sounds like it will be a most delicious knitting companion this winter - a chocolate, butter rum and hazelnut blend - YUM-O!), a drive up and down and back again, darned one way roads Monument Avenue - a very cool and beautiful street (the old architecture in this area is gorgeous!), and what else....

... visits to not one, but two local yarn shops!!!!

Although I was hoping to find some locally spun or dyed yarns, neither shop I visited carried any, though they did have some other wonderful finds.

My first visit was to Knitting Sisters (don't you love their logo?) in Williamsburg - a great shop (plenty of space, nothing crammed in and loads of delicious yarns and notions) that I wish were closer to home! Even during early afternoon on a Tuesday, there were several shoppers in the store. I was greeted with loads of fall colors and amazing textures (they were pricing some new yarns from fall lines that they were literally just unpacking) ... and despite how busy they were, I was welcomed to the store within moments of entering. Trying to "be good" and maintain control, I picked up only a handful of goodies as seen here...

The goods are... 2 hanks of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns from South Africa (100% merino wool, fingering weight) in "just plum" for a pair of socks; 2 balls of Crystal Palace's Kid Merino in "fall herbs" (not sure what for just yet, but I couldn't resist the colorway, perhaps one this lacey scarf); 1 skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "somerset" (not pictured here - I actually goofed and bought only one skein over the summer and have been hunting down a second to make a pair of socks; and my favorite budget crusher splurge, 1 hank of Colinette Tao 100% silk (yes, I said 100% silk!) in "venezia." I'm trying to hunt down an "open-y, skinny" scarf pattern for this since I'm too poor to buy 2 hanks -- if you have any suggestions, please do share!

My second stop was at Got Yarn in Midlothian. She was actually having a semi-going out of business sale, as of today she will be an online store only (be sure to check it out - she promised below retail pricing now that she would not have retail store overhead). The shop was very small and a bit crammed, but with the 25 - 40% off sale, well worth the visit! My major disappointment was that Tootsie was not present when we visited (yes, I do realize that I may just be the only insane knitter who would show up at a yarn sale and be disappointed that a dog was not there!). Feast your eyes on the small stash I picked up...

The goods from this purchase are... 2 hanks of Classic Elite Inca Marl (100% Alpaca) in color "1195" (mixed blues and grey tones) - not sure what I'll do with it yet but it is SUPER soft and was 40% off; a ball of Berroco Suede in black also 40% off (not pictured - got it in case I needed something to combine with my 100% silk, though I'm leaning towards trying to find a pattern to keep it all silk); 2 hanks of Koigu KPPPM in color "P142" for a pair of socks - I've heard some of my sock knitting friends rave about Koigu and since it is a bit pricey I took the opportunity of getting this at 25% off and throwing it in the quickly growing sock yarn stash; and finally a hank of Lorna's Laces Sheperd worsted (100% superwash wool) in "Tuscany" for 40% off - I feel in love with this gorgeous, deep hues, a "fallish" colorway (even though I typically go for pinks, purples and blues). Here's a close up of it with our leaves that are beginning to change color...

Not sure what I'm using it for yet, perhaps socks (question for my "sock knittas" out there - is 1 hank of this enough for an adult pair -- I finally got it down that I need approx. 100 grams of fingering weight for adult socks, but of course this is heavier and I'm still a sock newbie, lol)?

I did take photos of the storefronts, but they are on the regular film camera, so those will be for later. I also haven't had time to download the digital pics yet, which include the Tomkat pics. Yes that's right, we spotted Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at the Redskins game during the pregame warm-ups. They were standing right down in front of us, though we were up in the nosebleed seats so we'll see how the come out...

Time for dinner... and another weekend of racing - the Chase is ON at NHIS this weekend... til next time, KNIT ON!

I finished sock #1!

Look Ma ... no hands, just feet ... lol! I did it... finished my first sock yesterday! I was so excited I wanted to move on to "bigger and better" (aka nicer sock yarns), but I did cast on the 2nd Lion Brand Magic Stripes sock (you can even see the first round or two in the photo of my big footsie).... after all, I don't want to catch "second sock syndrome!"












So what do you think? No comments on my large feet necessary ... just the sock!




Over the rainy long weekend, we ventured up to Meredith, NH to meet family for dinner at Hart's Turkey Farm (YUM-O!) on Sunday evening, so I took the opportunity to leave a bit early and trek an extra 20 minutes North to Center Harbor to visit Patternworks (Matt was a good sport too - he even came in and poked around!). It was my 2nd visit - an okay shop, but definitely smaller than expected and the ladies who work there are not the most friendly or warm-welcoming (read: go on in, poke around a little, if you know what you want or what to browse, you're all set, but definitely don't expect any warm & fuzzies or much help). I went looking for some small DPN sizes in mind and picked up 0, 1 and 1.5. Of course I couldn't walk by the sock yarn (my new obsession!) without looking... or buying for that matter! I picked up a skein of Fortissima Disco Colori in grey and a skein of Sockotta in a vibrant mix of red, yellow, blue (think its "5613" in the bold stripes).

I happened to notice a copy of "Magic Loop" next to the sock yarn display and grabbed it (Heather was talking about this technique at knitting guild and it definitely sounds like a good one to learn -- anyone tried it? Thoughts? I'm in search of a booklet on knitting 2 socks at once method also if anyone knows of a good one!). I also scored a fun book called Hollywood Knits in the clearance bin for just $5.99!

Not a whole lot of other knitting going on (plent of WIP's though!), but I did finish up 6 baby and toddler hats to send up to Jenn today for Spafina Boutique in Rockport today.

Planning to take a couple hat projects on vacation with me, since they are easy to work on the plane and in the car traveling ... and there will be a lot of car time on this trip. We're staying in Richmond, which is where the NASCAR races are, but we plan a day to Williamsburg and possibly a day to DC. Also, we just got tickets to the Redskins vs. Vikings game for Monday night too and that's in MD. We just might cover 3 states on one trip! And yes, I do have my list of local yarn stores in Richmond and Williamsburg to hunt down (and one of them in Richmond is closing on the 15th - perfect timing!!!)!