More Green Please

Yahoo! Made it to Webs today with Jess, her mom, and her sister Amanda, or as I like to call them the Knitting Wallendas! While I was there I figured out that I am really into green right now as you can see from the purchases I made above (or ummm my green blog). There's some Donegal Tweed, Some Kid Silk, and some Valley Yarn mohair in there. I have already started turning the tweed and kid silk into a pair of super yummy leg warmers. I had leg warmers that I used to wear when I was a little ballerina girl many moons ago so I am feeling nostalgic and childish I guess.

While at Webs, Jess and I met Skrilla who holds the coveted job of Web's employee. It really is a small world and I am always amazed at how the blog world connects knitters in the virtual circle we all seem to dwell in. It was nice though to cross that cyber line today and put a real face with the html.

(Right here there should be a group shot of all of us outside the shop holding our spoils...but... although I managed to remember to bring my camera I did not remember to charge my batteries. So it'll have to wait till I get a copy.)

After Web's we all trucked over to the bead shop in NoHo to stock up on supplies for the stitch marker swap. I am making my first set ever for my self(ish) and then I once I figure out what the heck I am doing I'll impose my taste on some poor unsuspecting knitter with my second set ever. Ok. Back to knittin and beadin...

Stitch Marker Swap Questionnaire

Do you prefer shorter or more dangling type of markers?
It's not the length or the size that counts for me...it's the love that goes into em.

Are there any kind of markers that you would absolutely NOT want to receive?
No. I am so happy with whatever someone feels inclined to give.

Colors you like most? Colors you like least?
Right now greens and yellows but I really am a color lover. Bring on your whimsy!

Would you prefer markers for smaller or larger needles?
Now that I think of it I am a 6-11 kind of gal. Though I am not afraid of and will use any size needle.

Do you want your sender to reveal themselves when they are shipped or at a later date?
I gotta know and I don't want to play hard to get games...just tell me who you are in any way you see fit. And, Thanks in advance! Here's to all the knitting lovelies out there!

I got my head on Straight now...I think

Things have been *crazy* busy for me over here in blog la land so I apologize for not posting in a while...I have a lot of catching up to do since I have been TAGGED *twice* by Jess and I haven't done my Stitch Marker Swap info yet. Later, I swear...

One of the greatest people on the planet and my dear friend Bruce was visiting from Ohio and while I was waiting for his train to come into the station I worked up a ribbed hat real quick for him but then was so caught up in our visit that I didn't photograph the hat. Argh. So, I made a ladies version and here it is...



Ok, the picture is rediculous but it's summer here, it's hot, the windows are open, and my neighbor was having a sneezing fit that was so long and loud it was impossible for my DH to take a good picture because I couldn't stop laughing. Tomorrow I am tagging along with Jess and her knitting family. We're heading off to WEBS in NoHo. I can't wait. It's been three weeks since I have been in a yarn store (Not counting Michael's or Joanne's) and I am suffering over here. Suffering I tell ya. Make it all better Webs, pleease...

Happy Birthday Jess!

Wishing you a magical year filled with creativity, joy, and wonder!

His Head on a Platter

So, after a long rainy day I managed to check all those things off my "To-Do" list! I am happy to say that my house is shiny and clean! Well, it's still kind of like an antique mirror with a touch of fog and patina but that's ok, it has character. I decided that I would enjoy the evening by sitting down, kicking my feet up on our coffee table now free from the milk sippy marks, and finish off the hat I started yesterday. It was the first time I made an I-Cord and Pom Poms and it was so much fun. I am really happy with the results. Now I just have to figure out who to give it to. But, I bet you're wondering why I photographed the hat on top of a set of plates...well that's because after all my hard work today and so many loads of laundry I am still bent over from spending too much time in our "partial basement" I walked into our bathroom to find this...



Argh. My DH strikes again! Typically this doesn't phase me. It is really just such cliche male behavior that I felt it needed to be documented for all to see. Seriously, look where his drawers are and where the basket is. This is for real. For a moment though I wanted my DH's head on a platter, after all that energy spent on cleaning just one second of the illusion of perfection would have been nice...just one. And so that is why procrastination hat is sitting pretty on a stack of plates. It just seemed fitting.

...and now back to our regularly scheduled program

Ok. So here's the deal. We just got home late Monday night from my graduation in NJ and we are leaving for NJ again on Friday (yes this Friday)for a family reunion. So I had from Tuesday to Thursday to get many things done that I have been avoiding that desperately need doing. Last night I was feeling frustrated so before I went to bed I made a list and resolved to tackle it first thing in the morning.(See above photo) There are many things that aren't listed, you know, the kind of things you trip over while going down the stairs and say "I better move that soon before someone gets hurt", or shove to the side rather than simply place into the sink...yeah that stuff. The *obvious* stuff. So, what did I do?




Well, I did what every obsessive knitter would do and I opened my Last Minute Knitted Gifts book and started a hat for a little girl. Thing is...I have a son! So why do you ask am I knitting a hat for a little girl...well, because I'd rather knit something than tackle the things on that list. But wait! It gets worse. I told myself that I would do all "that stuff" after my son goes to bed. And what pray tell do you ask happened after the little darling headed off to the land of Nod? Well I did the obvious thing...I met my friend Jess at Barnes and Noble to knit and talk. I am almost finished with the hat and tomorrow is a new day so I'll leave the list out on the kitchen table and put away my knitting books and see what happens...stay tuned!

Let's Celebrate Celebrancy (for a minute)!

It was a really hot day and the boathouse of Verona Park was packed to its maximum capacity with Celebrants-to-be and their families. The big crowd made it really difficult to take pictures and I don't know if Greg intentionally took this shot but as an offical Celebrant now part of my job is to infuse the lives of my clients and my own life with symbolisim and meaning. This photo is my favorite of the day because although it is by no means an award winning shot it is symbolic of the threshold that all the Celebrant graduates, myself included, are about to cross on the final leg of our studies. Here we all stand as fledglings anticipating with both humble fear and excitement all the possibilities that our future independence will hold for us. Though unlike a fledgling who must do this on his own all Celebrants stand together in caring support of one another.



As we stood listening to Charlotte Eulette, the National Director of Celebrant USA, guide us through our graduation ceremony most of the people I was standing next to and with were complete strangers to me on one hand and familiar soul friends on another. Every area of the United States was represented people from the East Coast, West Coast, the North and the South all traveled to take part in this rite of passage. We studied together via computer/online classes but being able to physically congregate in this room was remarkable. Celebrancy is real and there are now over 100 Celebrants in the USA whoses hope it is to assist people in creating meaningful ceremonies and rituals that mark the very special and powerful times in their lives. Our lives are ours to celebrate, our successes are ours to celebrate, our challenges and losses are ours to call upon our community of friends in support and acknowledgement. These transitions can and should be tailored to suit individual needs, that is what a Celebrant helps their clients to do. This day, this graduation ceremony, felt unique and historic.



So, like most of the decisions I have made in my life I am not quite sure yet where Celebrancy will take me. In the same way that a college graduation simultaneously marks the completion of years of study and asks the young graduate to cross the threshold into adulthood and the unknown, the completion of my studies are just the begining of a new vocation I have chosen. One that is in alignment with all the things I believe and fight for on a daily basis. So I ask for your support and warm thoughts as I embark on this path and over time create a thriving Celebrancy practice.

I couldn't stand it...I had to knit something while the slippers were felting. So I cast on two sets of mittens, one for my son and one for me. Jorns are done. This is a super easy and *quick* pattern from Bev's Country Cottage It is the first pair of mittens I have made and they are knit using only two needles. They are very homemade looking and snuggly. Jorn wore them for about 1/2 a second so this was the best picture I could get with them "in action".



Here's a close up. I'm off for the weekend with Hubby and child to my graduation from the Celebrant USA program where I have been studying ceremony and ritual for the past year. On Sunday I will offically be a certified Celebrant able to assist in the creation of uniquely beautiful and meaningful ceremonies of all kinds. I am nervous, thrilled and looking forward to this journey. Have a *great* weekend everyone!

could they possibly ever fit?

Each time I have felted something the before product has just boggled my mind. It seems like the magic will never happen...these things are big enough for a giant or my head or a cat blanket (kitty wouldn't stay still for the pic). Naughty Obie. So, the big question is what happened to them when I ran them through the wash? Well, you'll just have to wait and see!

It was one of those beautiful Berkshire summer mornings with a slight chill in the air so my son and I snuggled up and headed outside to ball some yarn I have in my stash that was still in hank form.




The only problem is that I couldn't get past completing two balls before I decided to cast on these soon to be felted scuffs. Argh. Focus people Focus.

I knit this up for my Grandma who lives in Florida so she can take the edge off the air conditioning if need be. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and I worked two scarves from one skein of Kid Seta. The picture is of the second one in the works.



Here's another version. Same pattern. Different yarn. I as still happy with the results.

Cable me Crazy

Here are some pictures of the Boogie Vest from Knitty's Spring 04. This project knit up so quickly that I barely had time for an on the needles shot. I started it while waiting for the gates to open at the Bob Dylan/ Willie Nelson concert Hubby and I went to on the 23rd and bound off the last stitch on the 26th.



I have never been a sweater vest gal so I have already started adding sleeves. I really want to like wearing vests but for some reason I can't.I like them on other people and this one looks great it's just that I feel like a Barbarian warrior or something with them on. Oh well. Its a great pattern though. I'll add pictures of the vest turned sweater as soon as the sleeves are done!