Wednesday Blog Along #20

I missed last week's post and today I'm late! Sigh, Husband has started a new schedule which has put me off of mine. I didn't even realize today was Wednesday until about 15 minutes ago:)

I've made some progress with Helix.

They are looking quite well, if I do say so myself. These are the first two at a time with a chart socks I've done and I'm really enjoying working on them.

Remember that design project I was working on? Well, last week I was about an inch away from completing  it when I took a break and started running my hands over my work.You know, the whole "my precious" thing going on. When I noticed at the very beginning there was a dropped stitch, at the VERY beginning of a 50" project! After much cussing, there was so much cussing Husband asked me if all that was really necessary, I resigned that it must be frogged. And I'm glad I did, I've made a few changes once I cast back on and I really like how it's turning out this time.

Chronicles of Nick: Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon was a really great read. I actually did nothing, accept what was necessary to the survival of my household and read this book in two days. I'm really looking forward to her next book coming out Time Untime. And it seems that I'm on a reading kick. Last Dragon Standing by G.A. Aiken has had my undivided attention these last two days. 


So with that, hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things to view more wonderful WIPs.

Wednesday Blog Along #19

Happy Independence Day!

Please, everyone be careful celebrating today. Especially, those living here on the East Coast who've been effected by the derecho storm and heat wave.

I would like to properly credit this image but my browser has lost the link
& I can't find it. Sorry

Finished reading Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon, which is an excellent read and would recommend it. Now, I am reading Chronicles of Nick: Infamous by Sherrilyn Keyon. Yes, I'm a bit of a fan. Okay, I'm a BIG fan of Sherrilyn Keyon. I've been reading her books for years, since the Dark-Hunter series began, I've even gotten my mom hooked on reading her books.

There are no pictures today of my WIPs, not much noticeable progress has been make to really record. I've steadily been plugging away at them just not noticeable on film.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis, who has made her 100th WIP post! And Small Things to view awesome WIPs.

Wednesday Blog Along #18

Like a good little crafter, I've been working loyally on two, yes, just two knitting projects. Recently though, I have been longing for others to the point of distraction. I fought valiantly for days to resist. Alas, I've lost the battle, for the motifs' siren call is too strong.

These crocheted motifs have been silently plotting to find a way to pull my attention back to them. And on Friday they finally succeeded. I knew I wanted to make a blanket with them but not the little details of it. Now, I do and they are my new affair.

Still, I'm reading Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It's a good read and I'm trying to savor the book and not to gobble it up too quickly.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things to view more awesome WIPs.

Wednesday Blog Along #17

Helix is now back were it was before the frogging incident. Yay!

Wow! Color overload?

The other project is coming along nicely. I can't wait to finish it so that I can share. Last night, I tried working on the socks some more but, a combination of poor lighting, dark colors, and dry eyes did me in.

Oh! A Hexipuff update: 54.

I know it doesn't sound like much but, for me it is, with everything else I'm juggling, too. I got tried of counting the hexipuffs so, when I got to fifty I decided to bag and label them. Makes it a lot easier. Wonder how many of these I'll have laying around before it's complete?

Recently, I've made a habit of reading at night before bed, even if it is just a few sentences. This has helped greatly in catching up on my reading and quieting my mind for sleep. I used to do this while I was in school but, over time I have gotten out of the practice.  I'm over half way through Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon and during those brief down times during the day I've been reading my Knitting Traditions magazine.

For more awesome WIP's in action, hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things

Wednesday Blog Along #16

Um...no your eyes are not deceiving you. Why, yes the Helix socks are smaller than last time. Ugh. Started working the chart (which was going great) when I decided to try them on (the benefit of toe-up) and discovered that I was making them way, way too large. So, ribbit, ribbit. Since re-casting on I've not worked on Helix much due to the recital over the weekend.

Daughter's recital went really well. Her dance troop performs the same show four times, including a dress rehearsal. The dress rehearsal was Friday night (and so was her end of school year dance. Yee-Haw), then two shows on Saturday, and one on Sunday plus a cast party. By Sunday evening she was dragging ass and so was I.

But, during all of this mayhem, I did get some knitting done.

Before the weekend, I had just started on the yellow section. All of the rest was done while setting in the auditorium during set up and practice. Yay! for knitting. Otherwise, I would of gone bat-shit crazy.

Much reading has not been done during all of this, so, still plugging away at Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Right now, I'm reading through the section of the hero being tortured and it's tuff to get through.

Oh! I entered the 500 miles in 2012 bike challenge at Fleetly.com in February and completed it yesterday. WHOO-HOO! I'm going to enter it again and see how many times I can complete this before the end of the year. I know, it's not like I don't have enough to do already.

Now, hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things to view more awesome WIP's in action.

Wednesday Blog Along #14

Y'all, I was a really good girl and finished a project. ~gasp~ I know! So, for my reward lookie what I got to cast on.

Right now the Helix socks are shiny and new. And I love them and want to work on them so much. Wonder how long this infatuation will last?

Oh! Oh! I love, LOVE my new circular knitting needles from Knitter's Pride. They are fabulous!

Yesterday, I went to the Green Valley Book Fair (if you're a great book lover, this is the place you'll want to go) and bought Free Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Started reading it immediately and am enjoying it. Oh, and I finished Ghost Story by Jim Butcher. Excellent book! And I couldn't believe the twist it has. I'm already itching for the next one; I'm anxious to see were Dresden is going to go from here.

Now, I am reading Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon and working on a new design.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things for some awesome WIP viewing!

Wednesday Blog Along #6

I have a huge TBR stack that needs much attention. So, until I cull back some of my new books, I've put my marathon book read of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series on hiatus. Right now, I'm still reading George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones and have started on Josh Gates' Destination Truth, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter. Husband enjoys watching Josh Gates' show on Syfy, Destination Truth. I like watching the show with him because Josh Gates is hilarious! Great entertainment value and so far the book is an enjoyable read, too.

If you let me I can talk about books all day :)

Okay, my latest WIP.

After all the hiccups and false starts on Husband's hat #2, I am happy to say that he likes it (so far). Since taking this photo last eve, I've progressed further on hat #2 and will be starting on the crown after I complete this post. Fingers crossed that it will be completed, approved, and modeled in time for FO Friday. I may have to do some more omelet bribing in order to get my model to cooperate.

Happy knitting/crocheting and reading everyone. Now check out Tami's Amis and Small Things for awesome blog alongs.

Wednesday's Blog Along #2

Swatchin' and froggin'.

I didn't swatch for Husband's first hat because the pattern called for yarn and size needles that I've used before in combination to make other hats with same amount of stitches. So, silly me was all like I've got this. No need to swatch. Yeah, right. What was I thinking. Instead of having 20 sts. per 4" I had 16 sts. per 4" = hat too big. Ribbit. I'm now in the process of swatching for hat #1 and #2. Go, me!

These are the two hats that I'm swatching for, The "Dave" Beanie and Oliver Jogless Stripes Beanie. Both via Ravelry as free downloads.

Daughter's hat 2.0 or what I'm now calling the Smurf hat is back on the needles. I liked the lace pattern of the headband but, had shortened the crown. And though she had liked it she also likes the Smurfs and thought it would be awesome to have a hat similar to theirs. Sigh. The things we do for our loved ones. The pattern for this hat is featured in Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011

This magazine has been well used :)

And in amongst all of this hat making I'm on a magazine kick.

Oh, and I'm still reading Sherrilyn Kenyon's Seize The Night during quiet times in the evenings before bed. Which are very few and far between.

Hop on over to Tami's Amis's and Small Things' blog alongs to view fabulous work.

Wednesday's Blog Along #1

Since I'm participating in WIPWs and Yarn Alongs I am combining the title/posts.

While knitting Daughter's hat, Son asked me to make him a new one too. He doesn't need a knew one but, you know, his big sissy is getting one. Then as I was finishing up her hat Sunday, Husband asked me to make him one too. Now, this is momentous. I made him one years ago, a simple dark green knit hat, he made the right oh and ah sounds, wore it for a few days, but then it has sat in the closet since. After asking me to make him a hat, he even went on line with me to pick out the pattern. On Monday he even went to the yarn shop with me to pick out the colors for his hats. Yes, hats. Two of them. So, my next few posts are going to be about hats. I even pick out a pattern for myself. Why not. Everyone else is getting new ones.

Last night I was close to completing Son's hat and realized that it was going to be to big ( I followed gauge). Even without the crown it would easily cover my whole head. That wouldn't do. So, I frogged it, have adjusted the numbers in the pattern, and have started over.

The pattern is Riley's Skully Hat via Raverly. Son is anticipating it's completion; he has handed me my work on numerous times. What a cutie pie :]

I'm still reading away at Sherrilyn Kenyon's Seize the Night. Unfortunately, I'm unable to hold a paperback and my knitting simultaneously. My reading has slowed down do to all the hat knitting. The Dark-Hunter series is quite long and I'm enjoying reading them one after the other in a continues story. But, my To Be Read Stack (TBR) is being neglected and the shelves are beginning to groan around it's strain. 

And with that I better get back to knitting. My guys are anxiously waiting. Hop on over to Tami's Amis and Small Things to view wonderfully creative people.