2005 Year in Review

Here is a list of all of the COMPLETED projects I did in 2005. (note the word completed…there are some not-so-completed items stashed away…)

• 1 Crafted Diaper Cake
• 1 SewnFleece “tag” baby blanket
• 3 Crocheted Baby Blankets
• 6 Crocheted Hats
• 19 Crocheted Scarves
• 1 Crocheted Bag
• 1 Crocheted Shawl
• 10 Crocheted Halter/Tank Tops
• 5 Crocheted Kerchiefs
• 1 Crocheted Headband
• 1 Crocheted Baby Cardigan
• 2 Crocheted Ponchos
• 1 Crocheted Hook Case
• 1 Crocheted Candy Corn
• 3 Crocheted Pumpkin
• 1 Knit Pumpkin
• 1 Crocheted Children’s Dress
• 1 Crocheted Stuffed Animal (triceretops)
• 1 Crocheted Flower Shirt/Top w/ matching Granny Square Bag
• 1 Knit/Crochet Bag
• 1 Knit Toddler Tank Top
• 1 Toddler Crocheted Pullover
• 5 Knit Soakers
• 1 Knit Children’s Pullover
• 1 Knit/Felted Bag
• 3 Knit Hats
• 1 Knit Toddler Mittens
• 7 Crocheted Dishclothes
• 1 Crocheted Dishtowel
• 1 Knit Cable Scarf (Irish Hiking Scarf)
• 1 Knit Headband (Panta)
• 1 Crocheted Snowman
• 3 Crocheted Snowflakes
• 1 Knit Clapotis (scarf/shawl)
• 1 Knit Toddler Pants
• 1 Knit Pair of Socks
• 2 Painted Game Back Boards

This is in no particular order and is not my complete list as I only took the stuff that I put up on my blog and I know that I periodically leave stuff off for whatever reason.

oh…and just recently learned how to spin with a drop spindle….though I suck! In fact, the bottom whorl spindle spun down to the ground, hit the ground and the whorl broke off….5 minutes after opening the mail package. Luckily, being that I am crafty, I had wood glue and have glued it back on. Again, lucky…I bought 2 spindles off of ebay, as I didn’t know what I would like/need better so bought this kit with 2 spindles and roving from this lady.

She has nice spindles. However, now that I see what a spindle is and how it works (I am a hands on learner,) I think I can make my own spindles. You never know when this craft woman decides to create something with wood…

Oh, so here is a picture of the “yarn” that I spun with my spindle. Yes, it is “novelty” thick and thin and very slubby yarn. I am too much of a KLUTZ to try and spin the spindle and draft the roving at the same time. So I spin and then stop it between my legs. Then, I draft until it is out of spin. Then, I spin it some more, stop it, draft…etc. It seems to work though. It is better than the first 20 minutes when I tried the spin/draft at same time method and the spindle kept wanting to spin in the wrong direction or stop and then the roving would break and the spindle would fall to the ground….Yeah, that wasn’t so good.

I do get the whole idea of drafting and now am really wanting a spinning wheel.

ps…I bought some BFL Roving on Ebay (1 pound) I read that it is good for beginners to spin with.

So…to end this post and if I don’t post tomorrow…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2006

Another Jaywalker

Another Jaywalker sock…I am liking this one, but the colors aren't showing up right in the picture. That light green is a "mint ice cream green" and it just doesn't look right with the rest of the colors. However, that is just my opinion and I think my mom would love these as green is one of her favorite colors. So, I am pretty sure I am going to be passing these onto her when I am done making them.

Yes, that is Anatomy & Physiology…it is an old book I had, but I will be taking that class this Spring and will be needing to buy current books…figured out I will need over $200 for books for only 2 classes. 10 years (has it been that long?) a new text book would cost about $75. Same text book today is atleast $100.

My Holiday Gift Exchange buddy, mother of all needles, was so awesome. She sent this to me in the mail a few days ago and was such a pleasant surprise! I asked her if she could find me this magazine as I saw it in the interweave magazine and after further investigation found that it had over 30 knit patterns for babies and kids. I could not find this magazine anywhere here. I am so lucky to happen to have a swap partner who lives in the UK. I have already marked several projects from this magazine on my list to do for the next year.

She also sent me some "funky" yarn. It has these "feathered ribbons" on them. I envision this being a little bit of jazz added to another yarn to make a funky scarf. Will have to see. I do need to get my hook out. I feel guilty I have been doing so much knitting and not enough crocheting. I like knitting…a lot! I like crocheting too. I do this. I will get into one craft for awhile and everything else sits on the shelf while I explore the newness of my new craft. My hooks are not forgotten. In fact, I have been drooling over this hook that 3 olives received from a Crochetville member, Jimbo. I really want one of these, size G/7 or H.

This weekend, to end my frappr map contest (ps…did you sign it yet?) I have decided to pick 1 name for every 10 names on my Frappr Map. Right now we are at 28 (counting me,) so I will pick 2 names, but if I get 30 I will pick 3…see where this is going? pss…thanks everyone for signing it. It really has made my day! I know I have numbers of people coming here, for whatever reason…I know it is hard to "de-cloak" yourself…but it is fun for me to see who is reading this thing.

I will post the whole story on how I started to crochet and the beginnings of all of this. It really wasn't that long ago, but I must say I think I have found my niche.

Last but not least, my Christmas Elf sent this gorgeous pink and yellow baby wool yarn (it is Asian,) a Christmas dishcloth, a pretty cool sparkly pen, and a Christmas Card. Thank you Elf, you know who you are. You know how much this made my day.

Oh…and because I didn't get a spinning wheel for Christmas, I bought this off ebay. Hopefully it will come in the mail today.

I slept on the couch again today and woke up feeling pretty good. No pain. I guess I am going to be saying "Adios" to my bed. Any suggestions on beds?

I joined a new swap for the Spring. http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18926

By the way, did I mention my new favorite song? 3 Doors Down, Landing in London. LOVE IT! I also like Vertical Horizon Best I Ever Had.

Happy Anniversary!!

to me and Tony….4 years of marriage. Although, we have been together a lot longer than that (almost 8 years.)

Today his nickname is Thunder and not for the obvious reasons….he got a little sum’ton for his Christmas present….a really big Subwoofer. I don’t know why he felt like he needed one, maybe to get revenge back on the neighbors. I think I would have been happier seeing him get woodworking tools so he can create things….something he has wanted to do in a long time. However, he is happy and our house during waking hours THUMPS …..(help!?!?!?) Ha ha!

Bad Day

I woke up this morning and could not get out of bed. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. I have to get xrays before the appointment and couldn’t do it today. I guess I will try and go tomorrow. This sucks and is really bad, I am barely walking and couldn’t even get milk out of the refrigerator. Well, I am going to back away from the computer, so if you don’t see me bloggin or out in internet world…you will know why.

Girls had a great Christmas. Tony’s huge present is in shipping right now. My Christmas was “okay.” It isn’t really about me, anyways. I just hope husband puts a little bit more thought into occassions as I will survive if he doesn’t, but…

Our Anniversary is in a few days.

Sock present for mom

Pattern: Jaywalker Socks
Like a few other people…this pattern was not friendly towards me. I ended up frogging this 3 times. The socks did end up a little tight, but they fit (and went over the heal) so that is good. This was my first pair of socks. I didn’t have any problems with the concept of turning the heal or anything like that. I could never quite figure out how to measure gauge in the zigzag pattern. I casted on 84 with size 1 needles, then worked the rest of the pattern in size 3 needles. If I were to do my foot, I would have needed to cast on more stitches.
Yarn: 2 hanks of Claudia’s Hand Painted Yarn in Pink Posey
Needles: size 1 (for cuff) and size 3

I never did get time to block them…they literally went off the needles and into a gift bag. My mom loves them and that is all that matters. She lives in a climate where wool socks are nice to have. Maybe when I recover from the holidays I will make her another (more simple) pair.

Finished Pants

Pattern: Wonder Pants by Pamela at Wooly Wonders Forum
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino - Royal Purple (difficult to photograph.) (approx 1 1/2 balls)
Accent done in Patons Classic Wool Merino – Winter White

I did the wrap short row method, but didn’t like how it looked. So, I embroidered lazy daisy flowers over the top of anything I thought looked funny. I think the pants turned out cute.

The next time I attempt these pants, I am going to try the YO short row method.

Sorry for the bad pictures, I didn’t have good lighting and it has rained all day here.

Frappr and Prizes

Every day I get an email from Frappr telling me that Sandy has more friends than me. When I first signed up on Frappr maps of assorted blogs, I never got an account, so didn’t have to deal with this email thing. However, I got the “not so bright” idea that maybe I would like to see where my readers are from also. So, I set up an account. Bron, bless her, was my first Frappr chick (aka signer-uper.)

Then, it was just me and Bron for a few days and I kind of felt sad, but was also in denial…like, maybe my readers are busy or something…it just couldn’t be that I had so few readers. So, like any brave little blogger would do, I went to some of my dear blogging pals and “whined” on their blogs to come over to my little ol’ blog and sign the map. Luckily, a few did and so the numbers grew to 8 (and yes, that is including myself.)

8 is nice, until I got the email one day telling me Sandy has 8 people sign up with her in one day. I figured out, once you set up an account, when you sign someone else’s Frappr map then it emails you anytime someone else joins the map. I think I have Frappr-Envy.

Here is the ultimatum:

Sign up on my map before the end of December. On January 1st. I will be drawing names from off of that map and will be giving out a few prizes…. I think right now I will keep the prizes a little secret and might reveal them right before the deadline.

Remember…sign up on my map by December 31. On January 1st, I will be drawing names from the map for PRIZES.

Thank you to the 8 readers who have signed my map.

ps…

• I signed your Frappr maps.
• I read your blogs.
• I comment on your posts.
• I envy your talent.
• I lust over your spinning or crocheting or knitting or designing.
• I join your yahoo groups
• I join the knitalongs or crochetalongs or _______alongs
• I call you my friends.
• help a girl out and you will be prize worthy

Silly Shrek

My newest favorite song is 3 Doors Down – Landing in London….love, love, love this song. Um…if you have not heard this song…then you need to go here and listen!

White elephant gift exchange with my family was a blast. I think Tony and I blew it this year and need to do better for next year’s exchange. With Tony getting paid the day before the party and then us hosting the party, it was a lot of work….oh, and did I mention all of my Christmas knitting? I made a clapotis, a pair of jaywalker socks (didn’t get a picture…but hoping to remedy that soon) and an Irish Hiking Scarf, all in about 1 months time…that was a LOT of work!

Tony got a Shrek Chia Pet in the white elephant gift exchange… We are soaking it, and hopefully Sierra will get to spread the seeds tomorrow.

Had to have a Panta

Yep, you read that right. I noticed on another blog (would give you the link to the blog, but bloglines is down…and frankly, can’t remember of the 100 + people that I am subscribed to.) …this Panta…and had to make one. I used just a smidge less than 2 ozs, the remainder of what I had from making the clapotis. Easy, easy project. Took about 1 night to make.

I wish I coud say I made this gorgeous sweater….I bought it at Dress Barn this weekend. I rarely dress “cute.” I think it is a nice upgrade from the t-shirt and jeans look I normally sport. No, Panta doesn’t match…still had to try it on, though…

Pattern: Panta (aka…really cool headband.)
Yarn: Brooks Farm Yarn, Four Play, Damsel 3 approx 2 ozs
Needles: Size 5
Time: about 1 night of good solid knitting.

Secret Knitting – Clapotis

Here is a picture of the clapotis I made for my sister. I gave it to her yesterday at my family Christmas party and I think she likes it. I wish I would have got a picture of her wearing it. She has wanted a scarf forever. However, she said she wanted black and I thought of black just being so dark and that just isn’t her. Also, does anyone else find black a difficult color to knit or crochet with?

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Brooks Farm Yarns – Four Play – Damsel 3- approx 2 1/2 hanks (6 ozs)
Needles: Size 8 (straights)
2 weeks of knitting (on and off…)

I am will be making another sometime this spring.