Finished!

My Lynton Cardigan is finally finished. No pictures since I managed to get all the ends weaved in tonight before it was time to go to bed. Too late, plus I need a button that I forgot to get the other night at KnitWitz. I'll have to wait until Tuesday to do that, but it will be worth it.

In other good news, I've got almost all my things packed for the trip. Just have to put in 2 shirts that didn't get dry and my toiletries. Oh, and I have to decide on what projects to take with me to work on. That's always the hardest part! Right now I'm leaning towards taking Little Green Acorns and the SAL some of us have been doing and I haven't worked on in forever, Ye Shall Prosper.

So, that leaves 3 wake ups and 3 days of work before a long weekend spend with friends.

I have pictures...

but I haven't downloaded them. So you'll have to just hear what's happening until I can manage to get pictures taken and actually downloaded from my camera.

First, my hand is feeling better. Thankfully. Although I've been trying not to do much to aggravate it. Seriously, I have to be able to stitch next weekend. That's what ASG is all about. Ok, so it's also about seeing friends, eating and finding the best chocolate desert we can find, but there is some stitching as well. Really, there is. I'm sure of it. I know I've seen other people stitch while there, and I'm fairly certain I've even stitched some myself in years past. Considering how I really want to work on several different stitching projects, and considering how the descriptions of the projects for this year sound, I'm sure I'll have plenty to keep me busy.

But I digress...I've been working on some actual finishing for items I've stitched lately. Had a few minutes this evening to sit down and start putting the braid around one of my ornaments that I sewed up and stuffed last night. Actually sewed and stuffed 2 ornaments last night. Need to make some cording for the other one. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I won't manage to get my "cubie" put together before I leave for ASG next week. Right now my plan is to take it with me to do the finishing in the room. I'm trying to talk Heather into bringing her stitched "cubie" with her and having a finishing party one night. I think it's do-able.

Tonight I had dinner with some friends, kind of a "pot luck" except we all knew what we were to bring. (Yummy pot roast, mashed potatoes - from me, green bean casserole, bread and cheesecake for desert. Oh and a couple or 3 bottles of good wine!) Anyway, I took my Lynton cardi. with me to work on. Managed to get a few rows in while we sat around and talked. Then it was all about the food and talk. Came home and did some more while I watched my beloved Seminoles loose to Wake Forest...sigh...I really do dislike college football on Thursday nights. Anyway, I did knit and I don't think it's hurt the hand, so I'll take a every spare minute to knit on it in the hopes of meeting the goal I set. Stay tuned!

Monday, Monday

I knew it was Monday by the way I felt when I woke up. It didn't get any better either, but that's neither here nor there and is not at all why you read my blog or anyone elses, so I won't dwell.

I wish I had a lot to tell you about all the lovely stitching and knitting I did this weekend, but I don't. I did knit on my Lyton cardi on the way to Tallahassee to see my Seminoles win another football game. My friend Sharon and I went over. Sharon's daughter, Anna is at FSU again this year. She's doing well there and is beginning to really get into being "at college". We took her to lunch before the game and did a little shopping at Bill's Bookstore. The game was fun, even with the 49 minute delay due to storms in the area that had lightening. We waited it out and I'm glad. I have this thing about leaving a football game before the clock has "double zeros". The drive back wasn't too bad, we kept ourselves awake talking and listening every once in awhile to the LSU-Gator game on the radio. Arrived home in time to see if LSU really had scored a touchdown to win the game in the last minute. There's really nothing as exciting as college football! Especially if you grew up in the south.

Sunday I worked on a little piece I hope to have done for my aunt's Christmas present. Not sure if I've mentioned it before and I'm sure I haven't taken a picture. Must do that. It's a fun, easy piece from Silver Needle. It was the Secret Needle Night piece from May 2006 and was a birthday present from my DF Vicky. I never get these kits, but I'm always intrigued by them. They always are so cute and seem to have such great fibers in them. Plus they look like they'd stitch up fairly quickly. This one sure has. I figured it went with this month's theme, since it's supposed to be a gift.

The only other news is about my hand. I think I am developing some arthritis in my right hand. This is especially bad since I'm right handed. I'm trying not to let it keep me from stitching or knitting or other things, but it's a little painful. I don't think all the rain last week has helped. I've taken some OTC meds and that has helped some. Hopefully it will go away for awhile. Doesn't it realize I have a stitching weekend coming up very soon????

Jill has suggested, after seeing the bag of stitched items that I really do need to do finishing for, that I should declare Tuesday's as finishing night until further notice. Tuesday's has been ornament night. I'm not sure I want it to not be ornament night. But I also want to have these ornaments finished so they'll look pretty on my little tree. Last year it was nice, but it would look FANTASTIC with even more ornaments. I'll see how I feel tomorrow and let you know.

SBQ

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What are your favorite online stitching supply sources?

I love, love, LOVE this question because it lets me tell you all about some places that you may or may not know about in the stitching world.

1. Needlecraft Corner - Drema is amazing! I've never gotten to visit her store, but I have made a promise to myself that if I'm ever in the Baltimore area I'm so there. You have to call to order, but believe me you'll love talking to whoever answers. And if it's Drema you'll find yourself having a friendly conversation and getting all the lovely stitching pretties you want. Plus she always has something on sale that you need. Oh, and don't forget to sign up for her birthday club.

2. The Silver Needle - Another great brick & mortar store that has a wonderful online presence as well. I have ordered from them in the past and have always been happy with their service.

3. Attic Needlework - in Mesa, AZ. This is one store I've actually been to, and let me just say it was worth the trip! WOW! The walls were full of great designs and the staff was fantastic. I've never ordered from them over the phone or online, but have a friend that has and had great service. They have a newsletter that's great.

4. European Cross Stitch - I haven't ordered from here in awhile, but it's another great site and I've always had great service from them. They carry a lot of the hard to find European designers, as the name implies.

5. Hand Dyed Fibers (a.k.a. Vicki Clayton) - I discovered VC several years ago and love her silks. Love the prices too.

6. Moss Creek Designs - I love all things Rae Iverson, so this is the site where you too can browse her beautiful designs. Rae and Ron, her wonderful husband, run their business from their home. They also have a lovely event twice a year called "A Stitchers' Gathering". I haven't missed a fall one yet. Rae invites two other teachers to join her and for the weekend stitchers from all over get together to learn, talk, eat, oh and we even stitch on occasion. In fact, the fall event is coming up weekend after next. (I'm actually counting the days until it's time to get on the plane and leave.) Take a look at her designs and the events. I recommend it all. I know, her designs look hard, but believe me, her instructions are some of the best you'll ever see. The only other designer that even comes close to having instructions as good as Rae's is....

7. Ellen Chester of With My Needle - and you should check out her site too. It has wonderful goodies on it as well.

There's plenty of others, but I need to stop and get to bed. Had a hard day today. Migraine that wouldn't play nicely and go away. Hopefully it's been banished though. Finally got out of bed this evening around 5-ish and made some dinner. Then sat in front of the TV and knitted on my Lynton sweater. Which reminds me....I finished the back last night and cast on the 2 front sides. So that's what I worked on this evening. I'm hoping to feel like going to Tallahassee tomorrow for the football game. If so, I'll be taking the sweater to work on in the car since the friend I'm going with offered to drive. YEAH! It looks like I just might make my goal of being able to wear it at ASG in 13 days.

Ever been on a "roll"?

Apparently I'm on one with "cubie"/"All Year Squared". As I stated last night, I managed to finish the Spring side. So with no further ado....
Isn't it precious with the bunnies and the flutterbi-s? I think the butterflies were supposed to be the same color, but that didn't really work for me. Plus, I love the yellow ones we see around here all the time and last year we saw one in that violet/purple color in the yard. Like with the frog, I haven't put the beads on the eyes. Don't want them to get messed up.

Even though I got home late tonight (after a day spent driving from practically one end of town to the other...and in Jacksonville, FL that can be a fair distance), I attempted to start on the bottom square. Let me state for the record that I started watching the PBS series "The War" by Ken Burns. (If you haven't watched this, you should. It's amazingly well done and tells the story of the war in a very different way, very personal, while still giving you the glimpses of the atrocities that happened. I wanted to watch because they talk not just about the European theater, but also the war fought in the Pacific and specifically the events that surrounded the bombing and sinking of the ship my maternal grandfather served on and died on.) So anyway, the bottom is composed of my initials and the year. and then a diagonal upright cross variation over 4 and then the double wrapped stitch around the entire thing. So I thought I'd be smart, and work my first initial, then count down and work some of the outline to figure out where to start my diagonal upright cross variation (DUCV for short). It was really cooking, moving right along, threads flying, needles skimming through the fabric with ease. The PBS show went off. We ran the tape back and started watching "Dancing With The Stars". (This is the only "reality" show I've ever really gotten in to. I mean, DWTS is just cool!) So here I am...stitching away and I get to the point where I can put in my "B", having worked some of the border and some of the DUCV, and what do I realize....yep, I miscounted. Of course it's way back at where the DUCV starts. I added an extra wrapped double backstitch set over 4 threads...I'm not 4 threads off. There's only 1 way to fix. FROG! Hey, at least the "T" was still right!

(After sitting through that little pity party, you deserve something pretty to look at....)Aren't they so pretty all lined up in order? So, tomorrow night I have a meeting and Wed. I always have band. Thursday my DF Jill arrives for the big football doings this weekend here in Jax. (For those not in the know, FSU (Jill & my alma mater) will be playing Alabama (as in "Roll Tide") The game of "dynasties" as some are calling it, although both FSU and Alabama have seen better days when it comes to football.) With both 'bama and the 'Noles looking to achieve the glory of years past (they still revere "Bear" Bryant, and we have our own guy by the name of Bobby Bowden with some glory attached to their names) this should be fun. We're planning some MAJOR tailgating action Saturday. I might even have some pictures. Even with all that going on, I may, just may, be able to finish the stitching on this one. The putting together, that's another story. I'm forgoing work on other stitching projects right now in favor of this one.

There is some minor knitting going on, but I'm going to have to buckle down on the Lynton sweater. I'm stalled on the back. I think I only have a couple of inches to go until I can bind off, but I need to measure. I didn't take it with me today when I went with my dad to the cardiologist. Took the August dishcloth instead. (Yes, I'm well aware it's almost the end of Sept., but I started a month late, so technically I'm not really behind...yet.) If, and this is a BIG IF, I can get the stitching done on "cubie", then I can knit on the sweater on Sunday while I watch football and racing. That should put a dent in the sweater.

Wow, the month is almost gone and I've not touched a couple of items on my list, not to mention I need to start thinking about October...and ASG...and seeing friends!

Another entry with no pictures

I know, you're disappointed that I didn't get any pictures taken. Sorry, you'll have to deal with it the best way you know how. I had a day that ended well, after not starting out all that nicely. But we won't dwell on the bad.

The good was going to knit-in. It was relaxing and we managed to break rule #11. If you don't know what the rules are, then you should stop by KnitWitz some time and check them out. (Or maybe Kathe will post them on her blog after she gets home from training next week? Yes, that's a hint, do with it what you will.) I managed to work on my mate for the 1st pathway sock from Cat Borhdi's new book. Have I told you how much I like her book? Have I said how I absolutely love that she teaches you something new with a pair of tiny socks? You may be asking yourself what you'll do with all those tiny socks for babies. I'll be storing them to put with baby shower gifts. I mean, they are perfect for that. Just one idea. I also worked on my Lynton cardi. Came home and worked on it while watching t.v. I'm still working on the back, but I'm shaping the armholes now. There is definitely an end in sight. I actually think I might have it finished by my deadline. That would be so exciting!

I have a couple of other deadlines to work on this week too. Must get those finished. Must find some energy to do them all. Perhaps going to sleep would help. I'm very aware that it's currently 1:20 AM or so at my house. I'm also aware that I really should get up fairly early in the morning to run to the bank since I didn't get to make my deposit this afternoon after waiting for over 40 minutes. Something about having only 1 teller and a computer problem. Oh, and then there's football tomorrow that must be watched. The worst part is my team won't even start playing until 10 PM my time, it will be a few hours earlier where they'll be playing. At least the game will be televised. I can knit while sitting in bed, right up until I get so tired I become scared I'll poke my eye out with the needles. We'll have to see how well I can stay awake for that game. We'll also have to see how well they play this week. There are so many reasons I'm not too sure they'll win, but that won't keep me from cheering for them, so.... GO 'NOLES!

Weekend Round-up...sort of

Friday Night I managed to finally get out and to the knit in at KnitWitz. I've been so sporadic with going what with work, being sick and just stuff. Glad I went Friday though. Managed to purchase the new Cat Bordhi book "New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One". There were only 2 copies left and I snagged one when I figured out what it was. Let me just say this book is so very cool. So very different...and so very totally making me want to sit and knit socks. So, Friday night when I finally got home after knitting and eating fabulous Mexican food, I found a single skein of yarn that I was fairly certain would work and did my little gauge swatch like she tells you to, well almost like she tells you to, and then started the 1st of the practice socks. I worked on it Saturday and then finished it Sunday evening. Between the book and working on my HP year 2 Sock Exchange sock, all I did was knit from Friday until Sunday. Actually I only knitted yesterday for Labor Day (what a funny name for a holiday...Labor Day and we get it off, well some of us do at least.) Anyway, it was an all knitting long weekend.

But back to the new book....I highly recommend this book. It has great pictures to help those of us who need visual aides as well as great written directions. I haven't quite figured out that very cool cast-on she shows you, but I'll get it eventually. I was too excited to really sit down and concentrate. Just had to get started on this first pathway sock. I've started it's mate, so it will eventually go to some deserving child. Just have to figure out which one.

In other knitting news. I also put together my Eliza Tank on Friday at the knit-in and got to ring the bell! I haven't posed for pictures with it on yet, stay tuned for those. Finally I did work on my Lynton cardigan yesterday while watching football. At least I managed to do something constructive during a game that for at least half of it I was not feeling the love, or the football for that matter. Let me just say that I have hopes that the rest of the season will go a bit better now that they have that nastiness out of their system. But I'm a realist and know that an almost entire new offensive coaching staff and a few months does not a National Championship make. But like my Michigan friends I have other things to look forward to in the season and I'll set my sights on those little tidbits of possible football joy. (BTW, yes, I did graduate from Florida State, so I earned the right to be a 'Nole. I fully believe that if you graduated from any school you have the right to be a huge fan. But that's another post, for another time.)

A quick stitching note. September is "September Smalls" month, which means working on any of those small projects that have accumulated in my WIPs/UFOs/Stash. I deviated from the normal Tuesday Christmas Ornament stitching to pull out "the cubie" and have a go at it. I have fall and winter side done, so opted for Summer, since hey...technically it's still summer. Managed to get a bit done. I'll try to take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

I think that does it. Happy knitting and stitching!