Finished!!

There has been lots of finishing around here lately. It feels good to get these projects - especially the gloves that were started in January - off the project pile!! There is a little Christmas knitting to do, but I am getting on that....

Thanksgiving was lovely. We has people over and a good time was had by all. It is nice to finally have the house in good enough condition that we can invite people over - even though there are 1000's of projects for the future...

Back to stockings...
Happy Knitting!!

My PRGE package arrived!!

It was such a nice treat to have my PRGE package arrive yesterday! And I can't tell you how good the box smelled with the blackberry tea!! My pal, Requim, really spoiled me with treats from her home. There were yummy chocolates (good thing I got the photos before they disappeared), beautiful green yarn to felt into a tote - and we all know how bag crazy I am right now, stitch markers for larger needles :) and the yummy blackberry tea. It snowed here all day today, so there was a lot of tea drinking this afternoon... Thank you Kirsten!!

Merlot mitts and almost hat

Mr.sunneshine and I left for a long weekend last weekend. We were going wine tasting, so I decided it was the perfect chance to make the pink and burgandy mitts that had popped into my head. I had some of Vicki Howells silk bamboo that I had purchase, that was begging to be knit so with the pattern from the Majolica childrens sweater in a Fall 2006 IK, I had the mitts finished before we arrived at our destination. They have been worn for a solid week - I forgot to photograph them earlier, oops. Thankfully, I brought another project, too.

I kept looking at all the left over yarn and decided to make a hat with a whimsical pattern to go with the mitts. It looks like, with two skeins of each color, I will just barely finish it :) And as an added bonus, it matches my Northface jacket from last year...

And the trip, was relaxing and wonderful. We rented bikes, rode through town, saw some friends and just decompressed...

Happy KNitting!

Halloween

Halloween was fun! I LOVE this holiday... Being something that you are not able to be every day, giving out candy, cute little kids all dressed up, big kids all dressed up - too much fun!

Here are a few photos from Halloween with some of my co-workers...

There will be knitting soon...

Halloween is almost here!

This is just a quickee...

I finished a market bag this morning - it is a hybrid pattern, and I love it! I have learned a good market bag lesson, though. This projects are darn hard to frog - so they should not travel with me, where my attention could be less or a couple stitches will escape. There are a couple lines where the stitches weren't perfect due to these type circumstances... However, my other experience with these types of bags is that they will stretch and bend and the mistakes will pretty much go away with use. And honestly, for a grocery bag - I will take these over a cloth/paper whole foods or safeway bag any day - mistakes and all!!

I pulled out the Halloween bin today! Its fun to have a few decorations up! And apparently we have an affinity for Halloween candles... I will be working on my costume all day tomorrow - yeah!! The kids come to our offices to trick-or-treat at work... I can't wait!!

Happy KNitting!!

Where does the time go?

Where does the time go?

We had a great trip to Omaha - saw the grandbaby, who turned three - the bounce house was a hit - and a good time was had by all... And isn't he so cute!
While I was there, LimenViolet made me a featured ESotD chum seller on their blog - so I got home to a mad scramble to get the stitch markers off to their new homes...
There was a plane ride, so 1.5 market bags were made. I finished the second one last night. Loved one pattern - the one that you have to purchase from Hempathy - hated the other which was free from a LYS. Figures... Still really like this pattern from Knitty... There is enough stash yarn to make three more bags, but for now I think I am going to take a break and maybe do some felted bags, like these. Plus I have an itch to try to write a sock pattern, and I have been contracted to make a Christmas stocking.
The hat was just a fun way to use up some scraps, and it matches the bedroom rug so well... Not sure who to give it to as it is little kid size.
My PRGE pal, gave me some beautiful wool to make a market bag, so I am thinking that with the three colors, I may do a fair isle felted market bag. I have never tried that and it sounds like fun!
There is still tons of house work being done. We are down to the last few boxes - I spent yesterday getting art on the walls. There are only a few difficult pieces left to hang...
I added a picture of my
Studio, which is still a work in progress - but getting there... And a picture of my boots living above my armoire (yes, the one that broke my foot this summer). I love the way they look with the flag behind.
More soon...
Happy Knitting!!

Bags, bags, bags...

This week, I got the cutest little bag from here on etsy. She let me customize the photo, so my bag is my house... FUN!

So for a while I have been thinking about market bags. I have been arranging and sorting my studio, organizing my stash - only about half is listed on ravelry, so I need to work on that - and thinking about holiday gifts. There are two see through yarn cabinets in the studio - one holds all my cottons/flax/hemp, one all my felting wool. So as I am looking at all this hemp - and quick, easy projects are appealing, since there is more time dedicated to moving then knitting still - so I have been back into market bags...

The first market bag I knit is this green one. I love the bag, but the pattern (which came with the yarn) was a disaster - the strap was so long and the bag so large, the first time I used it, it was hitting my ankle as I walked to my car... That cured me of knitting bags for a while... I did finally take the handles apart, tie a knot for the join in the straps and it is now getting a lot of use.

The next one, the small green hemp bag, was an experiment to see if I could knit a small but functional bag, for when I walk to my garden and harvest just a few veggies... The hemp that I used was pretty scratchie - but with the hempathy bag pattern (not their yarn, though), it came out quite well. This yarn is weird though, the bag has been washed several times and seems to be felting a little... Since the knitting is far from perfect on it, I am not worried.

So as I have been staring at my cotton - I picked up this tan cotton that was already rolled and made a produce bag off the top of my head. It is knit from the bottom up and I used an alternate stitch pattern from my green bag - k1, k2tog, yo - the bottom and the handles are garter stitch. I haven't used it, as I think I am going to give it as a christmas gift....

Since the produce bag turned out so well, I decided to do a
compagnion market bag off the top of my head. I changed the bottom to stockingette, straps as well. I changed the stitch pattern slightly - p1, k2tog, yo. I would have like to have made it deeper, but it actually works quite well. I ran out of yarn for the strap, however, the length appears to be perfect. I have not used this one either - although I have stuffed it and walked it around the house a bit. I don't want to give away a bad bag... It could used to be blocked, as well.

I bought some hemp from my LYS a while ago, and they gave away a free pattern, I think it was for earth day. I found the pattern a couple days ago and have started that bag in a dark brown cotton - so far, I love it, but it is still only about 4" tall.

Finally, yesterday, while cleaning out some knitting from my nightstand, I found a strap that I made with the remainder of the first hemp bag and decided that I should used my last skein of the green wierd hemp (200 yards) and some pink
flax that I bought for $0.50 a 65 yard skein and make a bag. I found an old pattern from knitty for the stitch pattern - easiest one yet - yo, k2tog - and was off to town while watching the debates... I have one more skein of flax, the bottom will be the green hemp - should make a good bag.

I am teaching a market bag class for our staff knitting group on Wednesday - probably the next few. By the time class is done, there should be a whole arsenal of knitted bags for my grocery use, and some for gifts.... And I will feel really good about getting rid of this cotton (and flax) that I have been holding onto for at least 3 years!

Happy KNitting!!

I have been a bad blogger...

I have had so little time lately. My grandmother fell and broke her other hip last week - so there has been lots of stress and trying to work out schedules. I am supposed to go on Friday to see her for the weekend. If she does not move into a care facility, I will have a weekend of travel and knitting.... I am already rolling yarn in hopes of that!

These two shelf brackets were my awesome vintage finds of the weekend. They will hang in my studio holding up the knitting books. Now I just need two more sets... The studio is coming together. I have opened an etsy destash shop for all those things I was sure I was going to use, and now know that I never will.

There will be knitting to show soon, I just need to weave in the ends...

Off to overnight Dad's birthday card...
Happy KNitting!!

Rudolph

I feel like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer - and we are not even close to Christmas. This cold has been kickin' me around for the past four days - but now I feel like I might be on the upswing! Finally!

The really sucky part is I haven't even felt like knitting!! However, there is some knitting that hasn't been shown here yet. I love my stripy hat - and its actually been cold enough here on a couple nights, I have gotten to wear it! Okay, it may have been overkill, but with my cold, I had the best excuse... And nothing makes me happier then fall and winter clothes!

And the beginning of X-mas knitting - a small cotton grocery bag. I like this bag - but its pal in the next picture is turning out even better! Now I just have to get back to it - and finish that second spectrum scarf!

That's the quick update - there will be more with prettier pictures soon!

Happy KNitting!

PRGE questionnaire

1. Why did you join PRGE?
I love this swap - everyone treats each other so well (punk without the attitude...)

1.a. Have you done other swaps? Are you doing other swaps right now?
I have done bunches of other swaps - the only other one that I would consider right now is the coffee swap that starts again in October, I think...

2. What are your five favorite things? (these don't have to be knit related)
Creating, finally having some space, good food, good hugs and my husband

2.a. Do these things allow any hints into your personality for your punk pal?
probably...

3. What are your three favorite things that you have made with knitting/crochet?
stockings for the whole family last year, Hush dress, Monster knucks

3.a. What do you tend to make with knit/crochet?
I tend to make a lot of hats and fingerless gloves... oh and socks are running close behind...

3.b. What do you hope to make (or complete that you have started) someday?
My Secret of the Stole 3 shawl - I love it, but it really takes concentration for my to work on it and I haven't had any lately...

4. What five things would you love to see in a swap box someday? Why?
I love new patterns that I have never tried with the yarn, great project bags (since I won't purchase them), chocolate - self explanitory, something that I cannot get in Denver, anything with thought behind it!

4.a. What do you hope to never see in a swap box again (or ever)?
acrylic yarn, silly yarn books, and anything melted...

5. What are your three favorite yarns? What are your three least favorite yarns?
My three favorite yarns are any handspun sock yarn, black wool or cotton yarn, yarn to knit latvian mittens with in colors and any yarn that is pretty, natural fiber and pretty to look at...
Least favorite yarns are acrylic, scratchy, and mohair.

5.a. Do you like solid, self-striping, or multi-colored yarns?
I don't mind self striping for socks, but I don't like yarn that doesn't strip but has color flecks (learned that one the hard way about 15 times), generally though, I really like solid color yarns, I find I actually wear what I make out of them.

5.b. What are your favorite colors? What are your favorite colors to knit with?
My favorite colors are purple, burgandy, gray and black - I will knit with most any color but grey, black, olive, creme and taupe are the projects that I wear... The others tend to get donated...

6. What are your five favorite delicacies?
Good steak, good wine, good french fries, veggies from my garden, and good friends

6.a. What yarn do you hope to one day try and why?
I am not sure... I tend to love whatever I am currently knitting with...

7. What are your three favorite guilty pleasures?
Bad TV, chocolate cake with white frosting, and driving to work

7.a. What are your favorite tv or movie charactors?
I only rarely see movies, though I could be convinced to see the new Cohen Bros. film - I love Chuck, My Name is Earl and The Office

8. What are the five things you look forward to every week?
Going to work, seeing my husband every night when I return home, knitting during staff meeting, cooking on my day off, getting more settled into our new house

8.a. What do you do during your week (ie - work, take care of three kids, race walk)?
I work at a daytime drop-in shelter for women and children experiencing poverty and I love every second of it - great staff, great clients - I also try to commute by bicycle - knit a little - cook a couple days a week - garden and sleep

9. What do you collect?
Everything - but I am trying to quit collecting so many things.

9.a. What collects you?
Yarn

10. When is your birthday?
July 31st

10.a. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas - I love giving and receiving gifts! Halloween is a close second - its just so fun to dress up!!

11. Do you have any wishlists?
I have a wishlist on amazon.com

11.a. Do you have a "favorites" collection anywhere that your pal should know about?
I do have a favorites list on etsy.com

12. Do you have any allergies or health related conditions that your pal should know about?
I am allergic to wheat - however mr.sunneshine benefits from anything that I do not eat, so I never worry about it

12.a. What drives you nuts?
Not much - I am really laid back...

13. What do you do for work and what do you do for fun?
I am the director of programs at work - coordinating programs in health, jobs, education, and art -- for fun, I garden, sell things on etsy, teach knitting, knit, and read...

13.a. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I am not sure - I think I would try to sell my art

14. What would you like your pal to know that is not covered here?
I am super laid back and love swaps - I will love anything that you do as long as there is a little thought to it! That is why I love this exchange - its all about the people! I know that what ever you do, it will be great... Thanks for playing!

14.a. Are you excited for the contests or will you just pretend that they do not exist?
I enjoy the contests - its so fun to see what everyone does - the entries are generally so diverse!

Today it rained...

Today it rained, and rained and rained! There was one 30 minute break... it never happens in Colorado that it rains like this. Its wonderful! This is our second day of steady rain.

I am unpacking my studio today. There is a lot to go through, but I should be done by the end of the day tomorrow, if the rain keeps up. It is nice in the studio while it is raining, good light, able to hear the drops hitting the house and seeing the puddles in the yard.

Went to an Outstanding in the Field Dinner with Britta on Saturday. The dinner was in a field where they had plowed under four rows of sweet corn. Food was amazing - dinner with 150 people, food fresh from the farm, great chef - it was so nice!!

It inspired me - now that we are at the garden time of year
where dinner can be dictated by what is fresh - we have started with wonderful salads, great fresh herbs in everything and it all tastes so good! Plus it is so nice to go to the store, looking for something to go with what is in our (old) yard. Looking forward to getting back to cooking for Girl's Dinners this fall!

There will be knitting soon!!
Happy Knitting!!

Look mom, finished knitting!!

Everything even has its ends woven in!!
So there has been knitting here! And I need a larger sock drawer!! It just seemed that during the moving - and currently the unpacking, smaller projects were more managable and so we have a basic pair of ribbed socks made out of Collinette Jitterbug, the Naive Socks from Spilly Jane made out of Mud Creek's beautiful handspun yarn (I loved knitting with this yarn - it was heaven in my hands and always beautiful to look at the delicately plied colors - plus the finished socks are matchingly unmatched - which I love!), the monkey socks in a longer length which worked beautifully with Tiny Toes from Interlacements and finally the Spectrum Scarf made with Malabrigo and Fino Alpaca - wish that I would have looked up the pattern on ravelry before I started, as there was a major correction - however it turned out well...

There is knitting on the needles right now - orange socks that are being knit during the Olympics (I will admit there has been more watching then knitting during the watching lately) - one more Spectrum Scarf for me - and still my sweater that I will get back to next week...
Right now the studio is done, but I have not had time to really move in, so maybe this weekend....

Happy Knitting!!

And we're back...

And we're back! There is DSL, the great sort and put away is still going on - but the house is livable and I have no illusions that it will take until at least Christmas for us to really be settled. And even longer to get the furniture that we want and have the art hung on the walls that make us love it. Right now, it is nice to sleep in the new house, have a place of our own and think about how we want our life to look and flow with the house - and to have an air conditioner in the bedroom!

I worked the Mile High Music Festival a couple weeks ago. This was what The Dave Matthews Band would have seen from the stage mid-show. I don't know how many people were there, but it was amazing to me to not be able to see the end of the crowd!

There are socks soaking in Eucalan, I will photograph them soon. Yarn that has arrived and socks that are close to being off the needles. I will post all of those this week. Also, the PRGE sign ups have opened for PRGE v.4. Now that I have (or almost have - the workers should be done in the studio this week) a dedicated knitting space. It is time to get back to PRGE - to spoiling - and to dedicated knitting time.

Happy KNitting!!

Next week...

Our DSL service will be active at the new place next week! I had no idea how spoiled I was, until it was gone...

This weekend is major sorting and putting away - there is light at the end of the tunnel! We got screens for the doors and windows today - that is major. Tile guy comes on Monday to get the knitting studio tiled - yeah! Then I can really settle in...

Back to the great clothing sort - see ya soon...

And the work begins...

They guy that we bought our house from was a SLOB! How in the world do you have beautiful wood floors and you tape on them, slop paint everywhere because you are an "artist" then just carpet over it for 23 years - this does not even take into account what the cats did...

Sunday, I spent my day gently removing paint and tape and cat stuff - this is a sample typical before and after. Coit is doing restoration on the house for one more day and the movers come on Thursday... Its nice to have all the elbow grease be worth it - the floors look beautiful... This house really just needed some love!

Since the new house is becoming a reality - here is one thing that I will miss about the old house. I had painted poetry on walls, here and there... I can do this in the new house, but it will need to have a little more thought and purpose... Mr.sunneshine has given his permission, as long as we discuss it first - ideas for favorite poetry/quotes/sayings suggestions are running wild... Stay tuned... The quote below is a favorite from the book Ahab's Wife by Sana Jeter Nasland...

And once again, there is no knitting - I can't seem to coordinate the camera and the yarn - it will happen soon, really!!

Happy KNitting!!

Knitting Studio

The best part of the new house - and the one that really made us love it (keep in mind we had been looking for over four years without ever making an offer...) - is THE KNITTING STUDIO!!
Mr.Sunneshine could not be happier - the knitting will now be contained in one room - and I am so excited to have a dedicated art space that is beautiful! Well, except for the floor...
The Studio will be the first room to get some love - our hand tile mosaic dining room table will be deconstructed to become the center piece of the floor with white tile around - new shelving and cedar yarn cabinets have been ordered - 6 weeks on the cabinets...
Here are the photos of the knitting studio, in its current state - and a photo of my view out the windows into the back yard.
There really is knitting to show - maybe tomorrow with more house progress photos... We have been working very hard...

Happy Knitting!!