I haz a finish!

I crocheted this hat with some Jojoland Quartette that I received in a swap on Ravelry. I love the colors. The hat was a pattern I made up and fitted as I went along. It is just double crochet and then half double crochet for the band. It's pretty snug, but I like that. Since the yarn is 20% cashmere/80% merino, it is very soft!

Today it's beads....Tomorrow, who knows?

I went to my first bead show on Saturday. It was such fun, why? Because I spent the day with two of my best friends, Danae and Deidre. Danae has done some beading and Deidre has an interest, so I asked if they wanted to go...

We bought alot of beads....well I bought alot, they bought some.....

We had some bad burgers and shopped and shopped and talked and talked....It was a great day!

Deidre even drove my car, as she has a bit of a control issue with driving ;) and they both have large vans/trucks, so we took my zoom-zoom....

We are planning a beading day up at Danae's cabin in Vermont, that should be a BLAST!!!!!

The Restaurant Project

Today at school was the second grade Restaurant Project. It is the highlight of second grade. The students prepare the food and do all the jobs, with adult help. They fill out a job application and have an interview. There were four choices, I chose to eat at the Irish Cafe. I had Beef Barley soup with soda bread and chocolate cake! (In the past it has been a larger meal, but the economy...) It was delicious! I forgot to take a picture of it....They also had a museum and the picture is of one of the students (posted w/permission) She was a museum docent. She told her mom that they talk alot and she likes to talk, so it was the perfect job for her. But she was very tired, as she had to walk back and forth alot.




All the art work was for sale and I bought two clay pots. It was a wonderful day...

There is also a shot of one of my students being a snake at recess, slithering through the bars and also a couple of shots of the fourth grade garden.




Yes, I teach in an urban school. Yes, there are many challenges, but I love it and don't want to teach anywhere else.

What else....

Besides my love of yarn and crochet and my beginning understanding of knit, I also enjoy beading/jewelry making....

This weekend is this: Bead Show I've never been to one, so I'm excited about it...I am going to look for interesting "findings" and charms and such...

I don't have pictures of anything I've made, as I can't take good jewelry pictures..

Off to start my day, as I am ready way early!

Sometimes Ya' Gotta Laugh About It....

I just can't believe the audacity of some people. Not going into specifics, as it has to do with work, but really????? Two years later?????? It's just ridiculous!!!!!
Whatever..............

Now I have no fun fiber related things...wait let me take a picture of my knitting attempts....




Now the green thing is a scarf (I guess) on Katia yarn. You can see many mistakes, plus it splits pretty easily. This is my first attempt. I went to a class, but never went to the second part....

On the circs is the J Knits pattern I picked up last weekend. I really like this, but all I've done is cast on (several times) Can't remember how to knit, need to review a video. Next step is to K1 st, place a marker, work in the round to K2, P2 ribbing until piece measures 1"...so this means I Knit 1 and Purl 2??? I've only purled once at a demonstration....hmmm another video to watch....

I actually really like the circs, had trouble with the straight needles.....maybe should go watch those videos now...or could go back to this....
a hat, I'm making up as I go along....decisions, decisions....

I'll Keep Him

Today I came home to this:


Hubs likes to buy me flowers. We both like fresh cut flowers, but for a long time, we didn't get any. Then I started reading Lucy at Attic24 and decided I needed flowers in my life again. So I have bought a few new jugs to use as vases (a la Lucy) This new one I bought on Saturday. It's been sitting on our dining room table all empty and forlorn looking. Today it is a happy jug!

Oh and the Hubs also planted me flowers, so I will have fresh cut flowers of my own to bring into the house...I think I'll keep him...

WIM's

As you know, I buy alot of yarn...Sometimes I buy it because it's on sale, many times I buy it because the color or texture drew me to it. But sometimes I actually buy it with a project in mind (WIM = Work in Mind)

I have been stashing both yarn and projects on Ravelry. I try to work on it a little each day. Not all of my projects are stashed, but I've made a good dent. I also put up some the WIM with the yarn I bought intended for the project. Because alot of times, I find the yarn and try to figure out what the heck I bought it for.

Like this, I bought a long time ago for a pattern in "Crochet Fantasy" I still like the pattern, so maybe I'll make it...I've got the yarn...


When I started stashing I came across 4 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in Bone and 4 in Off-white. I don't tend to use Simply Soft, as it splits and can be frustrating. So why the heck do I have 8 skeins of it? Then I came across this and remembered I bought it to make this pattern. I have put a hold on all clothing patterns for myself, as I would like to lose a few pounds, but I don't think it would matter with this pattern.

But it's a great feature on Rav, that I can now come home with yarn and stash it with the pattern, cuz that's how I'm using it. It'll be there when I finally get around to it.

Sometimes......

I got an unexpected email and it kinda makes me mad. Why can't parents talk to a teacher BEFORE they go to the principal??? It makes me so mad...I'm being called into a meeting, and the parents have never even spoken to me this year (I don't have their child, except in an afterschool program that was their choice!) It is not something I needed right now....

Now today I had some errands to run, and have not done anything fiber related. Now I am too keyed up and upset to do anything...maybe I'll stash some more....

Maybe I need to go stroll through People of Walmart again, something to make me laugh...

Well I just pushed Peanut's stomach and he went "Jeffffaaa Dunham dot com" which always makes me smile...

I Am Really Hopeless

I am a yarn addict....I don't mind admitting it, but I really thought I could go more than 12 days without buying yarn. The Hubs says it's nothing to be proud of...I have gone longer, but I had an itching to visit an unvisited LYS. I am making my way through all the LYS' in CT. I have been to 16 (2 of which are no longer open). I've liked almost all of them. I judge them on crochet friendliness, knowledge and tools, beside the all important YARN stock.

So I had to go to Torrington yesterday to pick up the amber that I had set in a silver pendant. (It's really cool, with bugs in it!) I have been to both Torrington LYS, but stopped by "In Sheep's Clothing" again to take some pics. Sadly, the owner was out, as her dog was sick (it was a sad day for dogs) But I took a few snaps and found some cool glass buttons! So then had to get some yarn to match. Bought some Ella Rae Classic. Thinking it's gonna be a cowl or a fall purse that I'll felt..


Then I headed out to Washington Depot. I have never been there. I went along 202 and boy is it Antique h***. Every third or fourth place advertised antiques. I stopped on my way back at one in Bantam and got a cool German painted pitcher. It'll look nice as a vase.
The rooster cracked me up! there were several!
Finally made it to The Village Sheep. A great store! I will definetely go back! Maggie, the owner, is incredibly friendly, as is Nate the store mascot. I bought some Cool Wool, which was the first store I have seen it. Also got some Regia Kaffe Fassett, that I have drooled over online, and a skein of Queensland Haze, made from corn viscose. Also bought some buttons and debated on another Namaste bag ( I have Zuma and Laguna) but didn't buy one. Instead I bought a small bag kit from J. Knits - mainly for the bag. But I liked the yarn inside and decided to try my hand again at knitting, but an actual pattern. Maggie got me the circulars I needed and said it was good pattern to start with. I cast-on last night and did a good job of it. I frogged it several times, as I want to put it into my muscle memory, but am also making it too tight...So today I will cast-on again and maybe get further than that...

I spent the day there and bought a book at "The Hickory Stick Bookshop", had a panini at a cute place (forget the name) and bought a belated birthday gift for a friend. It was a wonderful place and I'm sure I'll go back...





But, as I said, I am hopeless and set a new "Haven't bought yarn since" date....as summer is around the corner and there are many unexplored CT LYS, ya' never know!

Goodbye Sarah...

Last night I stopped at my friend's house. I decided to take a few pictures of her dogs, Sarah and Phoenix. I love Sarah, she was just so sweet and loving. A really good girl. Phoenix is still a pup and very excitable. Today, sadly, Sarah has passed away. She will be missed....My heart goes out to the family...
Sarah is the black dog with the lovely gray face...

Sunny Days

Okay so nice sunny days are hard to get going too....I am going to be late if I don't leave soon, as I hit a ton of traffic....Really would prefer to stay home, but 3 day weekend here I come!!!!

Ravelry

I used to belong to another online community, but rarely go there anymore. There was a whole nasty blowup and I felt some people were treated unfairly. I have been venturing to Ravelry more often. I don't tend to post much...was for awhile on the Completely Arbitrary thread, but need to back off from the swaps and purchasing of yarn. They were baaaaaadddddd influences! But got my first Wollmeise through them (had never heard of it before)Now I tend to visit the Blog Hub the most. I've made some new blog friends there. I am still writing this for myself, but it's nice to know someone has stopped by to read and leave a comment...MOM - there at the bottom!

I have been logging my stash and am trying to keep up with it. Now I am onto my projects. But it's hard sometimes to remember yarn, etc. for older projects. I also lost a bunch of pics when computer crashed a couple months ago. Thankfully many were on photobucket...

I am stashing and logging at the moment, since there is no Survivor on right now (yeah Sandra!)

Rainy Days...

I am always so tired on rainy days...yesterday was a perfect example. I did not want to get out of bed, the sky was grey and yucky. But kids could care less, here are some feet shots from recess yesterday...Today I sat on a bench with a child snuggled up to me, as she did not feel good. Strep is hitting our grade level right now, wonder if she'll be there tomorrow...It was gorgeous, with bright blue skies, but I sat with the child who needed some snuggles.

I've Got That "Shopping Feeling"

Whoa-oh-whoa that shopping feeling
Take back that shopping feeling
and it stays, stays, stays
whoa-oh......

I do have a shopping feeling, I will need to shop the stash when I get home...

Now it's off to work in my school sweatsuit, cuz it's cold, rainy and grey and I can roll like that!

It has our old school logo on the shirt and the name of the school going down a leg. I love it! So comfortable...

and I'm sneezing like crazy already...have a great day all!

Yarn Review

I've been thinking of doing a weekly yarn review. I love yarn and have plenty of it. Most yarn reviews seem to come from knitters, so thought I'd offer my hooker thought on things...I'm gonna review high-end, low-end, independent and small farms yarns...Whatever strikes my fancy...and when I have no new projects to show...

I'm gonna start with the old workhorse Red Heart...Red Heart has been a staple of my yarning years, as it has many others. It is 100% acrylic and can be very rough, but gets softer with washing and use. It seems to have gotten rougher over the years. The variegated colors tend to be a bit softer. I am using Red Heart now. Why would you use Red Heart? Well it's sturdy and durable. It also has a good range of colors. I am using Peruvian Print and some coordinating shades because that's the closest colors of the nursery.
Now many people claim this is "baby melting" yarn. But has a baby ever been burned by it? I don't recall hearing of any stories. Don't natural yarns burn too? I understand that acrylic burns and melts, but if any blanket on a child was burning, the child will be injured. It's easy to care for and that's why I use it for some items. Although my husband is annoyed by the squeak it makes on my aluminum hooks, so I try to use my bamboo hooks with it.

Now another yarn that I love (I don't necessarily love Red Heart, but it has it's place) is Creatively Dyed Yarn, who is an independent dyer. I first bought some of this yarn at last year's Rhinebeck Festival. I had caught part of a conversation on Ravelry and decided to check her out. She was polite, nice, laughed alot and seemed to be overwhelmed by the response at Rhinebeck. I bought more of her yarn at Stitches a week later. I have only used her Beaches yarn. It is a Fingering 4 ply 100% merino. Very easy to work with. The color that I chose is a multi. I walked by it earlier in the day and it caught my eye. It was the only skein. When I came back later, it was still there, so it was destined to be mine...It has all of my favorite colors, autumn shades, in it. It was a color that she did for Rhinebeck and does not have a name.
I have made a pair of wrist warmers and a cozy for Hubs nook. He picked out the yarn. I still have a good sized ball left. Maybe a hat to go with the wrist warmers, hmmmm. I have some other CDY waiting in the wings. I also gifted some in a swap. I think I had about 6-8 skeins at one time. Can't wait to try Woodbrook next. She was my first independent dyer.

Ole Homestead

The Hubs has borrowed my camera a few times to take pictures at his parents house. At one time they had about 36 acres, but they have been selling off parcels of land. The house lot is still quite large. The building is the goat barn that Hubs built in high school. He decided to raise goats and did it for a couple of years. His parent's place would be perfect for alpacas. However, it's much too small for all of us to live there, as his sister lives at home and helps take care of things. The Hubs goes out once or twice a week to help. He is there now doing some kinda domestic/agricultural things. It was either making pies or I think something with the driveway. Here are some pics he took last week.





The rhubarb is growing!

And what I'm working on now...the blanket to go with the bear..

Baby Shower Gifts

I've made lost of items for baby showers lately. Today I had my friend Keira's shower. I am making her a blanket, but it is no where near ready, as I just started it. I had previously made her a sweater and today I made a bear. The room has a bear theme and I wanted to make something else since the blanket is not ready. I started it this morning and finished it with an hour before I had to leave. (Mind you I still was in pj's, so had to shower and get ready) It came out cute and will match the eventual blanket.




The expectant parents....

The eventual blanket:

"I've Got a Golden Ticket

I've got a golden twinkle in my eye

I never had a chance to shine
Never a happy song to sing
But suddenly half the world is mine
What an amazing thing

'Cause I've got a golden ticket"


I won a Golden Ticket at the debut of my niece in "Willy Wonka Kids." I won a box of Nerds, but traded them to her for her chocolate bar.

I love Willy Wonka. I've read the books and I enjoyed both movies - although Johnny Depp's Wonka was creepy! I also love musicals.

It was alot of fun and the students did a great job! She was an Oompa Loompa, with some pretty cool socks, that she got to keep....


She is in the middle of the picture with the pink hat and pigtails:



It runs in the family - here is her brother, at age 4 (I believe) in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" My all time favorite and a favorite of his...

This picture ran in the newspaper.

Now he is with his mom and sister after we went for ice cream. I love these guys and love spending time with them..