BLOGIVERSARY 2 !

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Another year of blogging! Doesn't seem possible I've been doing this for 2 years today! I'm still finding my voice, refining my posting style...each day I hope it improves.



Here's a big fat--


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--to every visitor to my blog, I love my audience! And I'm so amazed, still, that anyone would want to read what I have to say. (Or come back for more!)

So how about a preview of things to come? I am working on a tutorial that will post soon. I plan on ramping it up a bit here with some fresh knitting, and a new pattern.

Hang on to your seats--here's to mo' bettah blogging!

From the Archives....

It's a rainy day here, perfect for lounging and leafing through old mags...

So here is a photo review from my vintage needlework magazine collection. I'm posting them for general inspiration and some of them for laughs =)

(All of these images were taken from Workbasket Magazines from the 1970-71 issues. I will not be posting the patterns, but let the photos give you some great ideas!)

First, lets start with crochet :

Christmas cozies for a tumbler--aren't they kitschy?! They'd look great on a beer bottle too, heh.


Next are crocheted slipper socks--I've never crocheted socks before, but I'd like to try these specifically, I like the way they look. In some fun sock yarn...


More crochet (and this is the kicker):

LOVING the Granny Square Tie!!! Wonder if I could get DH to wear one to work--yeah, baby!


This vintage ad for a "big crochet" book cracks me up--everything old is new again! Funny that "quick" was the draw 38 years ago, just like it is now!


What a cute pineapple potholder, I want to make one of these!


Look at this hilarious chicken egg cozy--it looks more like a puppet! I would probably make this up in worsted weight yarn, super-sized for a kitchen-mitt!!!


Look at this ad from Herrschner's from 1971. It's kinda pretty--imagine making all those bobbles. (Imagine sitting on them...yikes!)


Lastly, a collection of crochet jewelry:
The most basic of crochet jewelry, I think anyone could do this w/o instructions!


Interesting bracelet.


Now for this, I'd need instructions...


Love the idea of a ring!


Here are some knits:

Nice bulky mittens.


One of the cutest bags I've ever seen!


I'm saving the best for last, chicas. I need to make this one because...
(drumroll, please)

...I really want to look like an ELF!

What the?!


Here's hoping you have a creative weekend!

Monday Morning Coffee

How about a little book review? Grab a cuppa Joe--I have been book shopping, as usual, let me share them with you.

I am absolute trouble in a bookstore.

First, the book "Fiber Gathering".

This book attracted me for several reasons, one is that I can vicariously visit many fiber fests across the US by reading this. Another is that there are instructions for all different steps of fiber prep, such as skirting a fleece.




That's kinda cool for a dreaming-of-yarn-farming kind of gal. And a third reason is that there are cute patterns scattered throughout: look at this lovely Ruana

I'm having fun reading through this book. Maybe I'll get to visit one of those fiber fests soon!

Another book I got recently is all about reversible knitting.

Sitting down in the store, and leafing through this book, I thought "I have to get this." It is full of techniques for reversible knitting in all types of knits, such as colorwork, lace, cables, etc.

Did you know you could do this with completely different cable patterns?! I'm amazed...I was especially fond of the two scarf patterns shown here:



Can't wait to work at least one of these!

And I also popped for this book on colorwork.

It has sections on intarsia (which I will definitely refer to if I ever get around to doing intarsia), stranded techniques, color theory,


and even does a little study on the differences you get knitting with multicolored yarns in different weights and textures.

Do I look like I'm preparing for a long winter?! I guess I do...

I am cranking through the books these days, fiction and non. I just finished The Host by Stephenie Meyer--it was amazing as all her writing is, but so strange that it took me the first 100 pages of squirming and thinking I would not be able to keep reading before I finally became empathetic to the main character. Read it, guys, it's good.

Okay, I guess I can face the work week now =) Have to if I'm going to continue funding such a booklover's lifestyle!!!

Have a good week. (Edited for typos and such--I was in a hurry to post before leaving for work!)

Song of the Hoo Hoo Bird

There is a bird in our neighborhood that I always forget about over the long winter months. This bird's distinction (in my mind) is his song. I don't even know what the bird looks like, but you can hear him in the distance in the wee hours of the morning. His song is 'hoo hoo' (like "you-who" in a sing-song voice) and it cracks me up. It's like he is trying to get my attention.

I love the Hoo Hoo Bird. It means that winter is over!

This morning is sweet soft weather, a drizzle that is more like a mist from the Garden of Eden. There is a riot of birdsong, Hoo Hoo Bird included, and the light is muted as well from the overcast. The ground is greening beautifully. Last night was the first night we slept with the windows open. Such a lovely thing to do. And to be awakened by the Hoo Hoo Bird rocks!! =D

It's spring, I'm loving my short hair, my puppy is healthy. I want to get gardening--I may try to get out there today if it doesn't rain any harder than it is now. I love to garden in the cool rain, it makes me feel so vital!

Have you all seen the kimono by Ropeknits on Ravelry? I love this pattern. Ya know, I love just a few too many patterns...like my favs list on Ravelry is about 6900 items long (some are duplicates, I just like everybody's work!!!) I'm so inspired by everyone else.

Or how about Sassymetrical? Cute idea, great name!
And, I'm thinking of knitting up a pair of Mother's Day Cotton Slippers Aren't they cute? Great idea, using cotton for slippers, that should feel so good on the tootsies!

Now, I just found a group on Ravelry for the giant-needle knitting! Remember I bought some size 50 needles from the Bagsmith--I have a burning need to make something with them. So I am now searching rav for the patterns to knit up with 3-5 strands of yarn held together...my girlfriend bought a book from the bagsmith. I might want to get that, too. Or at least from the library. Anyway, here is the link to the search for those patterns on Ravelry--check it out!

Oh, and if you're like me and get real tired of having to sign in to Lion Brand website, and want a quicker way to surf their patterns, here is the Lion Brand patterns page from ravelry. It is a bit easier than trying to browse their webpages.

Well now, the rain has gotten steadily heavier, and the sky more leaden. There is still a lot of bird activity out there, but inside, I feel like curling up with my bagsmith needles and going to town! I hope to have some pics for you soon, I have a lot of lingering projects that are ALMOST finished, but not yet.

--gotta go knit now. May the Hoo Hoo Bird sing in your backyard too!

The Good Stuff

Oh, spring, spring!!! I'm so excited!!! Able to take puppies for walks, although our older dog now has heart failure. But she is doing remarkably well for her age of 14 years.

And even she positively gambols about when it gets warm out finally! The backyard grass is starting to green up finally. Hopefully we've seen the last of the snow--that last blizzard was amazing! And only 5 short days ago!!

I got outside to work in the garden for the first time on April 4, two days before this blizzard. I have 3 large clumps of Miscanthus sinensis that require cutting back to the ground each spring. I found out last year that putting this job off just makes it harder to do later in the season, as the new growth becomes mixed in with the old. Anyway, I feel good I got one of them hacked down! Two to go...

I'm gonna try not to do the weekend warrior thing this year--no more cutting down trees and hauling them around after being completely sedentary! Man, I really hurt my back doing that last autumn. I'm inspired to get moving, start yoga again, and slowly work up to my strength in the garden!

And while in the garden, I can reminisce about my grandfather's prowess as a gardener. He was amazing, and I count it a special blessing that we could help him in his garden as he aged. I'm so lucky to have known grandparents into my 40s--many people don't have that opportunity.

I also am thinking it really fun that DS is taking the same botany class with the same teacher that I did about 8-10 years ago! That was probably my most favorite class ever. Second only to the forestry class I took in high school.

Loving the apical meristem. Yeah.