Growth

Summer check-in. We have worked, planted, traveled, knit, baked, read, laughed, cried, and more. Doodle is saying so many words now I can't possibly list them all. His favorite word is blue.

I have 4 projects that are in my knitting bag. My main priority is a gift so no details. It is a big project and I have a fast approaching deadline. Second up is Insouciant. I still have a bit to do and the short sleeves. Then a shawl called Rushing Tide. It was a project from a class that had the best information about fixing mistakes in lace! And the fourth item is also a gift. It is sad how long it has taken me. Summer time is not a productive knitting time for me. I spend 99% of my time outside. This picture is from a bit ago, I am almost half way through the next lace section. Just trucking along slowly...

So that 99% outside has all been for good. The garden is not looking too shabby. Some of the raspberries, strawberries, snap peas, and lettuce that I have already harvested. Carrots, potatoes, collard, blueberries, aparagus, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, pumpkins, and watermelons are all going strong. I cannot wait until we have everything ripe at the same time.

We have traveled north to my stomping grounds twice now. I love getting to visit with my gram and mom. Doodle does pretty good in the car even though it is a long drive. We have enjoyed pork chops, butterscotch malts, huckleberry smoothies, the best chai in the world at the Leaf & Bean, time for all of us at a really fun Children's Museum, and a much needed couple weekends of fun. And nothing beats the view of the Big Sky Mountains as you drive east on I-90 to Bozeman.

The 'hood is having a party this weekend. We decided that a ice cream social was in order. I am hoping to make maple ginger (the best recipe from Kate Zuckerman's The Sweet Life) and a double batch of milk chocolate (from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home) with mini marshmallows. We asked everyone to bring a pint and then we will have everything else. Candy, cookies, sprinkles, caramel, chocolate, everything! I am so excited!

Alan even made me these sweet acrylic cone stands for displaying treats. Totally DIY. $1.56 for a piece of acrylic and just drill holes to fit the cones. Then a heat gun to warm up and bend the edges. Sweet!

Not so secret garden...

This is the year. I am starting asparagus crowns that I will harvest in a year. I am starting raspberry canes and wisteria. I am growing lettuce, beans, peppers, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, and Alan is building me up some fancy boxes to do it. We finished one today when it was freezing out.

That and I finished my first pair of socks. Hear that? Two items that match, done.

Cross that of the to do before 33 list (ha, need to finish that list)! I gifted them to Alan so I could make myself some that are longer in the leg and now I just need to decide... Tosh Vintage in Cove or Water Lily? Pictures of the yarn yum are from google images and I am not sure who to credit...

I am in the middle of another fantastic class at the local shop, Insouciant. I went with a double strand of the Habu Tsumugi Silk in charcoal and light grey. I am slow to knit it up but it should be a good summer top.

I have another knitting project that is quite an undertaking. The recipient could be a silent lurker so no details will be revealed until gifted. I know, such a tease!

I have also fallen behind in my book challenge. 50 for this year. I need suggestions so shout some out. And I am not counting cookbooks in the count. :)

On top of life and knitting, I am hindering helping Shirley help a new neighbor. He needed some suggestions for his house (yep, from paint to lights, tile, etc.) so Pinterest to the rescue. I will have to post some before pics, mood boards, and after pics. Have I told you how much I love painting? I do!

Seams, bits, and pieces

I have knit all the pieces of the sweater. All that is left is the class on Sunday where I think we will pick up stitches to knit the collar. YAY!!!!! It isn't perfect but it turned out pretty good.

I am working on seaming all the pieces together, this page on seaming is helpful.

I have a couple of classes coming up, magic loop and a sock class. I have a couple of hive hats and a gift on the needles still.

And in baking news, I think I will make a batch of Roma's cookies, I just got the cutest cookie cutter in the mail from Fancy Flours.

Off the needles...

This project was so quick it was barely on the needles! This hat, Tuft Love, took less than 3 hours. I used 1 skein each of Shibui Knits Baby Alpaca Dk and Shibui Knits Baby Alpaca Dk in Blush. I love it and the best part is the huge pom! And doesn't it look like  recent item in the Anthropologie catalog?!

Off the needles

I finished this a while ago but still don't have very good pictures. I took a class at Blazing Needles for this and it was really fun. The sweater turned out really great. I'm sad that little man won't be able to wear it long because he is growing so fast.

This picture was taken at Brighton. We wandered around and even got to see a baby porcupine wander around too. It was super cute. 

The sweater pattern is Baby Sophisticate. The yarn is superb and I'd knit everything with it if I could, Tosh Vintage by madelinetosh in the colorway Cove. This took a skein and another quarter of one and it is the large size.

We are here just trying to get over a rash of colds. And we are also packing. Little man is about to fly for the first time. Alan and I are excited and nervous. We are packing for warmer weather. Scotty watch out, here we come!

Off the needles

I (finally) finished a knitting project a bit ago. It is a pattern from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas called Mohair Bias Loop. The yarn is Malabrigo Baby Merino Lace in the color Velvet Grapes.

I'm still working on this sweater for tiny guy. I better finish it by fall or else he won't fit in it! I also must admit that I have not finished my summer t-shirt that I took a class to learn to knit. The class was really good and motivating. I just need to decide on what edging I want and finish it! Then I can wear it. :)

Planning for Frankie's first birthday is in full swing. As he is only one, there isn't much he understands about parties, so it is for the adults to celebrate. I do have some ideas in mind for entertaining him too.

The Table - Done!

Well, the table is done and in use. We have had several meals sitting at it and it fits perfect. I'm not sure my hands/wrists/arms will ever recover from fabric stretching and stapling all 8 chairs. I think it was worth it though!

Picture from Start at Home
She sells furniture, go see!

Also, we got lucky and found a hutch to store some of my milk glass pieces in.  This is the photo the nice lady (Brooke) posted on KSL classifieds. I have it loaded up with too many pieces so I'll need to cut down on my collection. How we managed to find a hutch that goes with the table in style and color, I'll never know!

The finds so far this summer are awesome!

Table stats:
Found at a garage sale
Repainted by Josie at The Old Flamingo
Chairs reupholstered by me

Hutch stats:
Found on KSL classifieds
Painted by Brooke at Start at Home
Filled with my cake stand collection

The Table - Paint and Fabric

The plan for the table... We picked the color fairly easily and quickly. Alan thought it would look good to be similar to an accent wall in our house. We then asked for some white highlights on the legs of the table and the chairs. We ordered the fabric but Fabric.com sent the wrong one. It took couple days to get it straightened out (by the time we received the (wrong) fabric, the fabric was then out of stock). They promised to send it next day air but for what ever reason it didn't happen. Blah, blah, blah...

:)

The paint job was done really fast and we had help bringing it back home. So with the table here, we were pressed to get the chairs done!

1. Fabric for chairs 2. Curtains 3. Color of the table
4. Chair 5. Table 6. Arm chair

Oh Martha...

I noticed this project in an old Martha Stewart magazine. I tore out the page so I can't be sure which month but I think it was last September. Anyway, here is what you need:

1. Spray the tiles the color you want your lace to be first. I chose Lagoon. Wait 20 or so minutes until dry. If you want your tile color to show through as your lace color then skip this step and proceed.

2. Spray the lace bit with spray adhesive and place on tile. Use tweezers to fiddle with lace to get it straight.

3. Spray over the lace with your next color. I went with matte gold. Wait at least 3 minutes before you remove your lace piece. I found I could reuse the lace with spray adhesive 4 times before it got 'blurry.' Let dry 20 or so minutes before moving.

4. I found some rubber feet to put on the bottom of the tiles so they won't scratch furniture. I am betting you could use cork or large felt pieces too.

Enjoy your new tiles!

strike 2

Word on the street is that the winners of Knitty's 2008 Calendar contest have been notified. Hmmm. Bummer.

Current projects consist of the never ending scarf project (no mistakes yet) and a Sheldon the Turtle. I need a good baby gift for a friend. I was thinking of a blanket to go with it but need a good pattern. I'm thinking 24" square. The colors I decided on for Sheldon are Sirdar Baby Bamboo in Willow and Ming.


Oh, don't forget Science Pub is soon. Next topic is From Sputnik to Spirit: What We've Learned About Our Solar System
When: Thursday, October 11
Where: Luna, 30 E. Broadway, Eugene
Presentation begins at 7:00pm and will last around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Science Pub

Oh yeah! I just received the announcement about the next Science Pub at Luna. I am so there!

Particles, Energy, and Our Mysterious Universe with Professor Jim Brau, Ph.D., Knight Professor of Natural Science, University of Oregon Physics Department and Center for High Energy Physics.

Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m.
Luna
30 E. Broadway

Presentation begins at 7:00pm and will last approximately 2 hours.

The Eugene Science Pub is held every second Thursday of the month and is open to anyone and everyone. Ask your friends and colleagues to join you! No RSVP is necessary.

For a description of upcoming Science Pubs, please visit the website.

Also, I'm still working out the final details of my new knitting design. It is knitting up nicely. I am also still working on the never ending scarf project and no mistakes yet!

The never ending project

So at the Stitch 'n Pitch I tried to knit and I actually finished about 20 rows BUT I made a mistake and had to go back to where I had started that night and do it all over. This is the third attempt at this project. It isn't difficult but I just keep messing up and it is obvious. The previous 2 times I tried to go back I couldn't get the yarn back on the needles correctly so I had to start completely over... :) not fun. I just want to wear the scarf already!