Year of Projects - Week 5

This is really just a place holder post....my crafting mojo has deserted me...I am not inspired to work on any of my WIPs...and it seems like so much effort to start something else...*sigh*

I may wind up my "If They Kill Glenn" because it's February and it's red and I can just do a vanilla pattern, because it'll stripe...Also The Walking Dead comes back on Feb 14.....

So that is it for me.....see you all on Wednesday, unless I post before then....

found picture at wikia

An Epic Tale

My friend, Laura, posted this on her Facebook page and I asked to blog it, as I think it's absolutely hilariously EPIC!

There once was a Viking businessman

 Who was working on his taxes

 In flew a massive bumblebee

 Hmm, thought the businessman, I can deal with this

 And swatted the bee

But it was not enough and the bee hurt him

And started to chase him

For months and months as the beard grew longer, and somehow braided

The bee finally got bored

And left the Viking at a cave, where he met a sweet dragon pet

In rode a princess to save the day!

The Princess battled the bee...

Cackling with glee, as she did the final jab!

The bee looked yummy, so the Viking cooked and ate it..

The bee wasn't a fan of being eaten

The Princess gifts the Viking the mighty sword

And an even mighty steed

Which he used to ride into the sunset

 While posing for Viking Weekly

In many manly poses

Anything for a paycheck, really

And as the bossy princess wanted a "they lived happily every after" picture for her scrapbook

The end...

Told you, epic! Right?  Laura made the crochet/knitted props, and she wrote the story...businessman played by Laura's husband (who is actually on Ravelry, but doesn't knit or crochet) and her two daughters...

Wrap-up Friday - Week 4

And another week has gone by....what have you wrapped up this week?

I seem to have lost a few more followers in the past week...oh well....*shrugs shoulders*

Haven't finished anything craft-wise....

Nor reading.....so, well...I guess I've got nothing...talk amongst yourselves!

as always, please link back..thanks!

Stitch Along Wednesday - Week 4

Good evening, as it is Tuesday evening....how are you all this week?

I've worked on several things this week.....

My Vanilla mitts

My Espalier socks...finally...

My Zombie Vixens

I know they are crap photos, but it's what I have.....in other news...we did get about 5 inches of snow, no big deal....tomorrow is the end of the marking period...so grades are due.....been busting my butt correcting things....

Not much else going on....as always please link back...and have a great week....

Seeing Red and a Gut Reaction

I know many of you have seen a version of this sign

Which is cute and all, but I still have a reaction to the fact that I'd need my husband's permission.

My husband and I are partners, and while our financial situation has changed over the years....we have always been partners....and, at the moment, I'm the only one working....but he cooks, cleans, does the laundry, grocery shops, and takes care of his elderly parents and occasionally works in seasonal jobs....so it's still a partnership.

But yesterday, this sign popped up on a picture on Facebook (it was posted in a yarn shop) and I kind of saw red......I typed out a reply and then edited it...

Why is it all of HIS money.....and even if the woman was a stay at home, they are partners...maybe she (or in my case, he) does not bring the actual money into the relationship, but the work they do is worth something.....AND, I had a strong reaction to the assumption that a woman is not earning her own money! Really? In 2016!

But then again with some of the political climate in this country, I don't know why I am so surprised and disgusted by the whole thing....

Year of Projects - Week 4

Completed Projects:  I finished a pair of socks and crocheted a quick cowl.
The Dork Socks (technically 2015) 12/31/15
Screw You Rainbows socks (1/6/16)
Quick Pink cowl (1/7/16)
Yoda (1/10/16)
 Bulky Cowl 1/19/16

I needed something quick, as instant gratification project.  So bulky yarn + big hook + couple hours = a warm cowl.

I've also put some more rows on the capelet, as it's an easy knit....worked on my Vanilla fingerless mitts and FINALLY figured out my Espalier socks!  I'm on my way!  Hope you had a productive week...

Works In Progress:    
WIPS: Crochet:

Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.

Tis the Season (11/10/13)

Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14)

 Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) 

Turtleneck Capelet #2 (8/12/14)  

Willow Fields (9/6/14)  

Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15)

Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Johnny's Socks (Jan 2013)

Carlos and Arne socks (July 3 2015)

Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016)

Scarves/Shawls:

Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
 

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in 

 KAL/CALs:
Fire and Blood (5/4/14)  
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  
Downton Abbey (1/4/15)

Misc:

Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt 

Projects In Mind: Gifts/Charity: 
Hats for friend's babies (ongoing) Hats for students (ongoing)
Kimberly Skye's tunic
Two Elsa doll/blanket things

Sweaters:
Test Pattern Sweater (in magazine)
Car Coat (in magazine)
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller
Wholehearted
West End Scarf  
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf 
Fraxinus 
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
Bedford Springs  Shawl Brush Creek Cowlette   Watershed   Waterkant The Brownstitch gradient Leftie   Bigger on the Inside Oeste   Out of Gas   Sweet Potato Twist   Nefertem   Falling Bobbins  Danielle Shawl   The Doodler
 
Hats and Mitts Lace Kelly (soakbox) Isabeau Mitts 
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching  
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat    Transitional Color Mitts   Almond Comfit   Lady Violet's Dinner Gauntlets   Wurm   Autumn in Garrison Baa-ble Hat
 
 Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame
Firebird
Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks Wizard of Oz socks

Black Widow's Socks

August Pocus

Waterkant 

Watermelon 

Monkey

Dalekamium 

Knit From Stash patterns

Dr. Who socks

 Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse
Circular Felted Bag

Wrap Up Friday - Week 3

Hey there wrapper uppers!  How was your week?  I'm so very tired....I can't even remember if I finished anything...and then, oh, yes...I did....two quick cowls...

I made this the other night, a couple of hours....bulky yarn, big hook....

and the other one, I do not have a picture, so I'll have to share that next week....

We are getting ready for our first major snowstorm....or not....of the season...we've had some snow about three times so far, but hasn't amounted to much and is usually gone the next day....this was suppose to be a major storm and will be for someone...just looks like not us...

No reading has been done this week....a bit of correcting...I need to spend some time doing that this weekend, as grades are due next week....

Oh, I did sign up for this.....and Madcolor's Mad Posse...all about Bad-A$$ Women this year! And a self striping yarn club....

So how about you?  What are your weekend plans?  As always, please link back...thanks!

Stitch Along Wednesday - Week 3

Hello!  How are you?  We finally got a decent snow, but it was mostly gone the next morning...waiting for a storm coming in Friday night...but it is face freezing, bone-chilling cold!

I dabbled here and there on several things this week....

Sunday morning, I had to work on Johnny's socks...

I pulled back to the cuffs...I have now knitted farther than I was before...the yarn is red and it's late, so it'll be hard to see....there are beads in it, representing tears......

Then I worked on my Outlander shawl, my capelet, and I made a quick cowl on Monday night to wear to school on Tuesday...bulky yarn + big hook = quick cowl

How about you?  What have you been up to?  Please link up and link back...thanks!

Knit Your Library - Week 3

*SIGH*  I am getting nowhere with this fast.....

Almond Comfit has been a bust...I just cannot figure it out.....

Then I tried my Knit From Stash, Espalier sock.  I'm stuck on that too!  See my problem is the chart...I normally would read the written directions, but they don't seem to make much sense to me....and I'm not great at charts...I don't learn that way...my brain doesn't function that way (you should see when I have to teach my students charts and graphs..oy vey!) It takes me awhile to understand what I am reading...

So I messaged the designer and just heard back, so hopefully it'll help...if not I will ask for help from one of my many sock friends...I know of one who has actually made the pattern....

I think I may just say "screw it" right now and cast on those Dr. Who socks....Quaere Fiber used the Rye pattern from Tin Can Knits..and they are turning out great....but I have to wind the yarn..and not feeling that right now (it's a bit of a thing to set up the swift and winder)

I did wakeup on Sunday with my brain screaming that I had to work on my Johnny's socks...so I picked those up again after about a year....and am plugging along on them...so maybe I'll just do those.....

Secret

I'm going to share a secret I have been afraid to admit...(no it's not my yarn obsession, that is not a secret!)...It is this....

I just spent about an hour rolling this skein into balls....why do I have so many little ones?  Well...
this...

Carpet beetles!  Everyone talks about moths, but my problem has been carpet beetles.  (We get pantry moths, because we have birds, but they rarely get into my yarn)

I think we got them when birds started nesting in the bathroom air vent....I've been battling them for a couple of years.  They are not as frequent as they used to be...but are really hard to get rid off, unless we replace the carpet (not feasible at this time) or fumigate (the aforementioned birds makes this difficult)....so I battle...

This was my first indication...

My Seedling hat...it had fallen to the floor and been unnoticed for a bit...when I finally found it, it had several holes....I have held onto it, although it's been about 3 years since this happened...I can't bear to throw it away...it was my first knitted hat and I love the yarn!  A crocheted hat also was munched on...I tossed the stash and found a couple of skeins also had been dinner, including the one above...

After that ALL my yarn goes into plastic bags when it comes home, I buy in bulk now..

and then stored in plastic tubs....(as I have read they can eat through the plastic bags)

I take great pains that nothing falls to the floor...on occasion, it happens...and I have found some larval husks in my woolens drawers (which are also all separated and kept in plastic tubs....but I spray the drawers with perfume and keep pieces of handmade soap in the drawers and sachet bags...they don't like strong smells)....I regularly go through my yarn and the woolens drawers, as they don't like to stay someplace that is disturbed often....

I am in fear that the many things I make will be munched on eventually...and am pretty militant about storing them away....

This is my big secret....do you have any craft secrets?

Year of Projects - Week 3

The only thing I completed was Yoda.....I did add rows to several other projects...

Completed Projects:  I finished a pair of socks and crocheted a quick cowl.
The Dork Socks (technically 2015) 12/31/15
Screw You Rainbows socks (1/6/16)
Quick Pink cowl (1/7/16)
Yoda (1/10/16)





So I worked on my Capelet #2, adding another red stripe and another blue stripe...I'm just making it up as I go along and just going to go until I run out of yarn...

I woke up at 5:30 this morning with my brain telling me I HAD TO WORK ON JOHNNY'S SOCKS.  So I grabbed the project bag and tried to figure out where I was in the pattern, it's probably been close to a year since I worked on them...I ripped all the way back to the cuff, because I couldn't figure out where I was...

Saturday I pulled out the Outlander shawl to work on...I'm on the third section (of four), so almost done...the crossing of the slipped stitches is happening...my stitch count is off...but I don't care...I'm just gonna get it done!

Works In Progress:   I tried several times to start the Almond Comfit, but still haven't got it...
 
WIPS: Crochet:

Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.

Tis the Season (11/10/13)

Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14)

 Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) 

Turtleneck Capelet #2 (8/12/14)  

Willow Fields (9/6/14)  
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15)

Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Johnny's Socks (Jan 2013)

 

Carlos and Arne socks (July 3 2015)

 
Scarves/Shawls:

Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
 

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in 

 KAL/CALs:
Fire and Blood (5/4/14)  
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14) 

 
Downton Abbey (1/4/15)

Misc:

Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt 

I am fighting startitis - I think about several of these projects on a regular basis...but tell myself I must finish something else first...but seriously, I may have to cast on to something new soon...especially since Almond Comfit has not worked out...
 

Projects In Mind:
Gifts/Charity: 
Hats for friend's babies (ongoing)
Hats for students (ongoing)
Kimberly Skye's tunic
Two Elsa doll/blanket things

Sweaters:
Test Pattern Sweater (in magazine)
Car Coat (in magazine)
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller
Wholehearted
West End Scarf  
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf 
Fraxinus 
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
Bedford Springs 
Shawl Brush Creek Cowlette  
Watershed  
Waterkant
The Brownstitch gradient
Leftie  
Bigger on the Inside
Oeste  
Out of Gas  
Sweet Potato Twist  
Nefertem  
Falling Bobbins 
Danielle Shawl  
The Doodler
 
Hats and Mitts
Lace Kelly (soakbox)
Isabeau Mitts 
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching  
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat   
Transitional Color Mitts  
Almond Comfit  
Lady Violet's Dinner Gauntlets  
Wurm  
Autumn in Garrison
Baa-ble Hat
 
 Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame
Firebird
Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks

Wizard of Oz socks

Black Widow's Socks

August Pocus

Waterkant 

Watermelon 

Monkey

Dalekamium 

Knit From Stash patterns

Dr. Who socks

 Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse
Circular Felted Bag

Wrap Up Friday - Week 2.5

So, yes...week 2.5...why?  Because everything else is Week 2 and this would have been Week 3 and that is just confusing!!!  It's because of where in the week the new year started...so let's go with Week 2.5, so next week can be Week 3, same as the Stitch Along Wednesday and the Knit Your Library....

Whew!  That's explained...hopefully doesn't cause you too much anxiety....

It is 8:30 and when I finish this post I am going to bed.....I am beyond tired at the moment....knackered....exhausted....you get the drift?

And, oh Alan Rickman died today...I found out at a lunch scroll through Facebook...I'm not on any social media usually during the day...occasionally, during lunch, I scroll through Facebook...I was so very heartbroken...and one of the other teachers didn't believe me...thought it was a hoax, she called her husband...he told her to check her voicemail....Colonel Brandon, Alexander Dane...and Snape...those are the roles I loved him for...."Always" ...*sigh* I may have to make some Slytherin socks...not a fan of Slytherin, but loved the colors...and well....Snape....

Found on Pinterest, can't find original, so can't give credit..sorry..

So what did I wrap up this week....well the week, first and foremost....it was a long full week back...wasn't sure I'd make it!

And, hey Yoda...

Yes, he is in front of a Star Wars Jelly Bean dispenser....they do something good, they get a jelly bean (don't judge, you can get a lot accomplished with the reward of one jelly bean!)...(his left eye looks weird, kind of popping out...really doesn't do that, it's the angle...sorry)

He is pretty cute, if I do say so.....

So what have you wrapped up?  I need to go to bed...so talk amongst yourselves...and I'll catch you later...