Ice

We don't get much snow and ice here in Louisville, but in the last few weeks we have had both. Here is a picture of my weeping tree out in the front yard. It was covered in ice on Friday morning. (click for close up of ice)

Thursday while I was at work the powers that be called off public school at 10 in the morning. I received 3 phone calls in the space of 5 minutes.
Mom: "Did you know they just called school off?"
Mariah: "Mom, they just called school off!"
Jordan: "Mom, did you know that school has been called off?"
I called Dave...Honey, is it busy at the hospital, they just called school off?"

He couldn't pick Mariah up they were in the middle of a pediatric case. So I tried to get someone to cover my class so I could go pick up Mariah. After 10 minutes of rushing around and getting things settled I got another phone call from Jordan. "Mom, Chris is downtown, he wants to know if you want him to pick up Mariah?" YES! So a few more phone calls, to Mariah and to Chris(Jordan's boyfriend) and things were settled. Cell phones = Good!

We had to call parents to pick up the preschool and MDO kids early. I actually was feeding my class lunch at 11 when parents started showing up. Mariah and Chris showed up about then too and one of the mom's asked if Chris was my husband. I laughed and said no, he was my oldest daughter's boyfriend. So I now will post a picture of my husband Dave with our goldendoodle Bailey and Bailey's favorite toy: bunny.

For the record Chris and Dave look nothing alike.
Chris wears a hat 90% of the time as he is going bald. Yes.
See a photo of him from Jordan's birthday.

Dave has a lot of hair, even if it is cut short.
Bailey has even more hair and we all want curls like Bailey. Well, maybe not Dave.

Check out my flickr acct if you want to see more photos of ATC cards.http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

Viki

The Speed

Today I went to the local Art Museum (The Speed) http://www.speedmuseum.org/
With my friends Cindy, Ted, and Andrea. (http://www.yarnspinners.blogspot.com/ and
http://blog.farceconsulting.com/)
They have an exhibit from the Victoria and Albert Museum featuring one of
Leonardo's journals. The actual Journal was under glass of course but it was set up so you could peer at it from all sides. They had it opened to an interesting page and that page was blown up and on the wall too.
They also had 2 computers set up with every page from the journal scanned into it. That was fun and we spent a lot of time on the computers.

The art was amazing some of the symbolism was very interesting. I particularly liked the fertility mirror, some of the stained glass, the carved Mary carrying Jesus while stepping on the moon, and the fate sculpture. The wild man and woman were interesting too.

I bought an art deck and a few buttons featuring little bits of art from the exhibit.

Then we went to lunch at Irish Rover. Yummy.
Unfortunately I was driving and couldn't have any beer.

Viki

It's SNOWING!

It will likely be raining most of the day tomorrow, but tonight it is Snowing! Started with little flurries at around 4 this afternoon and by the time we got out of The Olive Garden at a little after 6 there was at least an inch on the ground.

I love it!

I know I'm crazy.

If you would like to see it snowing here in Louisville, KY click on this link:
http://www.whas11.com/weather/cameras/index.html

Which will show you the pretty lights of Downtown Louisville with the snow making it all smudgy and blurry. I do not live downtown, but couldn't get a live feed for this area.

DD2 is of course wanting a snow day. Likely we will only have a school delay.
It is beautiful while it lasts.

I'm going to go knit. I have about 8 inches more to go on the body of this sweater.

Viki

It was 20 years ago today...

I was laying in recovery with a massive tangle of hair on my head listening to the nurses talk about that big beautiful baby in the nursery. They were talking about my daughter, Jordan.

That huge baby (9lbs 1oz) is now this svelte beauty.

Pictured here with her boyfriend. (This is the only picture of him I have without a hat on his head.)

Happy Birthday Jordan! I find it difficult to believe that you are already 20 yrs old. Where has the time gone? Believe me I don't want to do it over...in fact, if I had to, I'd skip your teenage years. All in all, I am glad you are you. May all your best dreams come true.

Love you,

Mom

Wish it would stay cold!

drop cloth Valentine
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

First it freezes then it warms up. Then the molds cause wild allergy symptoms and I get very little knitting done because knitting and cold & allergy meds just don't go well together...well, cables don't work well anyway.

So in spite of the headache and sneezing I've been making ATC's. Here is a picture of one of my drop cloth Valentines for a swap I'm in. I use a piece of watercolor paper as a drop cloth when i am making cards. Any extra paint gets smeared on as well. These "drop cloths" are also used when I rubber stamp on anything and they get a few stamps on there as well.
I made these cards using drop cloth paper for the background and for the hearts. I haven't yet decided if I'll embellish them anymore.

I've also been collecting old and odd papers for book binding projects I want to do. If anyone has access to old blueprint paper or maps or old workbooks and such please let me know. Thanks.

Viki

Orange and Pink

Orange and Pink
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

Orange and pink are big in our house. No the walls are Not painted either color and there is no orange carpet. My dad did have a burnt orange car at one time that I had to drive.

Anyway, for some reason everyone goes nuts when they see Orange or even hear the word Orange. It is kind of a joke.

So when the daily prompt on Gluebooks, www.gluebooks@yahoogroups.com, was Orange and Pink, I jumped on it with both of my sticky little hands.

In fact I firmly believe that it saved my sanity last week at work. During rest time I grabbed the glue and an old Real Simple and cut out everything I found that was pink or orange. It was...restful. Mindless even. Ahhh a Zen moment with three year olds.
You don't believe me do you?

Viki

FLAK and Enthusiastic Kisses

Enthusiastic Kisses
Originally uploaded by cobweb1st

I worked on my FLAK last night. I knit about 2 inches of cables on the body. I've already knit a few rows today and I think I'm getting into a rhythm again.

I've also been making ATC cards. The one in the picture is for a Valentine swap. The background was painted using the Stencil technique from the Bernie Berlin ATC Workshop book. The picture is from printed tissue paper I bought at Michaels.

Back to work!

Viki

Finished Objects

Unfortunately NOT the FLAK.
These are Jordan's Birthday socks. Finished 3 weeks BEFORE her birthday.
This is that funny looking Noro hat that I just had to make. It was computer knitting for a long while, meaning it sits at the computer desk and I knit on it as I surf. I Finished it last night. It is a little big and kind of Funny(looking & feeling). Click on the picture or go to my flickr acct. to see the actual colors. http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

I also started knitting on another pair of mittens on Tuesday during American Idol. The chart is difficult to follow, so it may be slow going. I only have one other pair of socks in the works and I wont allow myself to start anymore until I work on the FLAK sweater. I must have a mental block on that sweater. I have a horrible time even picking it up. I don't know why, it is beautiful. The yarn is nice and I could use a warm sweater. I keep finding other things to do other than knit on it. ATC's, hand bound books, and reading. I need someone to make me knit at gunpoint or needle point.

Viki

Baby it's cold outside

Okay, so today it is hovering around 34 degrees and we have snow on the ground. Just enough to cause them to delay opening school for 2 hours.

This weekend it was really cold for Kentucky. On Sunday when I woke up the temp was 9 degrees. So I stayed inside nice and warm and finished and blocked my Komi mittens.
(Mostly Mittens pattern number 8 on size 1 needles) They are beautiful and warm.

I also blocked my Ice Queen. The yarn is a merino mohair from Crystal Palace. The pattern is from the Winter issue of Knitty. I used a size 9 needle and all but 10 inches of the yarn. Whew that was close. I did not use beads. When I started this, and it was one of those have to start it now or I will just die moments, I didn't have beads to match this variegated yarn. Still it turned out beautiful. My DD2 was kind enough to put it on for the photographs.

Although she did complain and didn't want her face to show.

I have a noro hat in the works, it is the computer desk knitting, and socks of course.
Have to finish those for DD1's Birthday. What I really need to do is knit on the FLAK.
I want to know how the Yarn Harlot can knit a cabled sweater as fast as she does.
My friend Anita would tell me it is because "She works on it!"
I better go work on it because other things are calling my name...like that Kauni yarn sitting
over there in the bag.
Next post there may be art in the pictures. I am working on Valentines for a few ATC swaps.

Viki

That let down feeling

Christmas is over.
Yea!
No matter what, Christmas is stressful.
And today I am kicking back and knitting and spinning on my New Wheel! and trying to stay awake.
I am so tired.
Maybe I should take a vitamin.

I made out like a bandit for Christmas.
DH got us a new printer/copier/scanner machine and a new Saute pan.
I received new PJ's. Which are in the wash. I HAVE to wash stuff before I wear it.
Just one of my quirks.
My Brother. Bless his heart is fantastic with a list!
I received blocking wires, Selbuvotter by Terri Shea, and a subscription to Sommerset Magazine from him. This year I made it easy and gave him a catalog and a subscription card.
DD Jordan even bought me a gift(down vest). In fact she bought everyone a gift with her hard earned money. DD Mariah also bought everyone a gift, but mostly with DH's money.
The girls received a few small gifts like the PJ's and their big gift was a Nano. Each engraved with their names. No mix ups. Although all you'd have to do is scan the contents. Jordan's would be music and Mariah's mostly books.

I'm almost to the toe of the first sock for Jordan's birthday.(she already knows) and I am almost to the thumb on the 2nd Komi mitten. I must finish this mitten before I start another. Hopefully I'll have enough purple to complete it!

Off to spin.
Maybe I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Viki

Happy Solstice!

It is a beautiful day here in Sunny Kentucky. It is almost 60 degrees outside!
We should have a weather change by this evening though. Windy and rainy.
What I really would like is some snow.

I need to go out and finish the Christmas shopping and buy a bit of food for Tuesday at
Costco. All I want to do is stay inside and listen to music and spin on my new wheel.

So far I've spun some creme Blue Face Leicester and Ramboulet in a medium moorit color.
Beautiful.

Here are some recommendations from my friend Sheila:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

and a radio program that is really quite good called Carols for Dancing:
http://www.wgbh.org/article?item_id=3172655

Go to the site and click on the icon and listen as you spin or knit or make paper art, or even cook the evening meal.

I finished the first Komi mitten I've cast on for the second, but the wheel came and well, the mitten was put on the back burner again, as was the sweater, the market bag and any lace or socks sitting around waiting to be finished too. I don't know if I have my priorities straight, but I am having fun.

Viki

It's Here! It's Here!

And I'm not talking about Christmas!
About 5 years ago, give or take a few months, I ordered a reverse enabled (right handed) Canadian Saxony spinning wheel from A. A. Every 6 months or so I would write or call for an update. It took almost forever but today when I got home there was a HUGE package on my front doorstep.
This picture is of me looking happy. No I am not drunk. Dave got on the floor to take the next picture and I was laughing because our Goldendoodle Bailey wanted to play with him.
So Dave took Bailey's picture over his shoulder without even looking.
This is the wheel right after we got it put together. Ignore the messy living room.
And here it is in pieces after we unpacked the huge box and got rid of the multitude of packing peanuts.
It was relatively easy to put together. I have been spinning on it and have about 1/3 of a bobbin of fine white yarn. I have it set up for Double drive. I can also set it up for scotch tension. I haven't spun in ages! I forgot how fun it can be. The wheel works great and I only stopped spinning to post this so everyone can see my new AA wheel and my happy face. Oh and the dog. Lets not forget about the dog. If you go to my Flickr acct http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/
you can see the dog with his head in my lap while I spin. I think he is a bit jealous of time spent away from petting him.

Back to spinning before bedtime!

Viki

Start-itis

I have a problem.
I don't want to finish things I have started.

These mittens are easy to work on in dribs and drabs of time.

This French Market bag is taking FOREVER.
Then there is the sweater I've been knitting for about 2 years. The FLAK sweater.
It is beautiful. The sleeves are done. It should be smooth sailing. Except for my stress levels.

What I really want to do is start New things. Ravelry is my downfall. You join these groups and you see what other people are doing and it is all so exciting. What a place to be enabled.

This is what I want to start next.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTicequeen.html

It is beautiful.

Light as a feather.

It makes me want to justify starting it.

I've been saying things like: "I could make this for my sister-in-law. It would look wonderful on her in an off white with little icy beads."

Lets face it, I'd never finish it in time to give it to her for Christmas.

Of course that didn't stop me from looking for the yarn in my stash. I have a ball of kidsilk haze hidden in the depths of my stash. I bought it LAST December after I finished the scarf for the Ballet auction.

So even my stash is working against me starting this...I'll thank it later I'm sure.

So I'll go knit on one of the other MANY projects I have started. I'll knit as I listen to the wind blowing the siding off the eves. (grrr, roofers messed it up) and the trash cans blowing around the back yard. I'll sip some tea and maybe even put a shawl around my shoulders.

Viki

If it were to actually snow today, we'd have blizzard conditions

The Golden Compass

Mystery

A few years ago I picked up a ball of Artful Yarns Mystery.
On the label there is a 1 ball scarf pattern. Very easy.
Three short rows.
K wrapping yarn twice
K drop extra loop
K
repeat until the ball of yarn is nearly gone and bind off.
Done.

So simple that I keep messing it up. If I don't finish the 3 row pattern in a sitting
I lose track. Such is the state of my stressed mind.

I have not even begun to stress over the holiday season yet. I do need to decorate though.

Ballet I stress over. Latest there is DD2 thinks she wants to quit. I don't blame her. I worry though, going from 5 days to no exercise scares me. (It would give her plenty of time to study though) She thinks maybe she'll try archery.

School, I stress over. DD2's grades have dropped because of the stress from Ballet. Only one 3 week grade is really low, the rest are A's and B's. She evidently did really really well on the Scholarship test at the private school we are thinking about for high school.
DD1 dropped her English class and is thinking about doing an on line course for something or other medical related.

Me, I think it would be wonderful to have more time not running around the city to ballet classes. Less stress might mean I could knit on that FLAK that is still not finished. No it will not be done for any of the Christmas parties.

Off to fix dinner. We haven't had anything but fast food on Friday's for most of the school year.
We skipped ballet today so I'm actually cooking! Yum-o!

Viki

one down

Lots to go.

I Started Calorimetry from Knitty Winter 2006.
http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTcalorimetry.html

I finished on Saturday. A very easy knit, although the holes from the short row knitting really bug me. Also, the yarn it called for wasn't available so I used LLH Magica which actually has 5 more meters than the yarn it called for. I still ran a bit short, but I am a thinking knitter and I salvaged the project.

Still it looks cute and I have a button to sew on and that is one hand knit Christmas gift done.

Picture will be posted at some point.

BTW
Today is my Anniversary. Dave and I have been married for 24 years today. Pretty cool isn't it.

Also, Everyone think positive thoughts and wave pointy objects for my wheel may be finished soon. Now Wouldn't that be a Christmas gift.

Viki

The Sock lady.

I knit socks.

Lots of socks.

I knit them in public. At the ballet school, at the ballet, at the park, at the cafe in the bookstore...you get the idea. Some people call me the socklady, until I introduce them to my friend Anita. http://thefiberartist.blogspot.com/

Today, I uploaded a lot of sock pictures to my flickr site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16932110@N04/

Some of these pictures actually made it to my Ravelry projects page, before suddenly it just wouldn't let me do it anymore. Bummer, I was on a roll.

Back to Anita, go visit her blog. She has 32 pairs of socks that she has knit just for herself.

This isn't counting the socks she knits for the rest of her family. She knits way more socks than I do, so she is the sock lady to me.

Her post the other day on Socks vs. Mittens took me Moth Heaven's blog

http://scrubberbum.typepad.com/moth_heaven/

Yes, mittens are showy. Esp. if you knit highly patterned mittens.

I myself love mittens. I knit mittens. I have a hard time finishing highly patterned mittens.

It is the need for carrying around a pattern and following a chart. It just isn't as easy to knit a highly patterned mitten as it is to knit a highly colorful sock, where the yarn does the job for me.

It may be a little hard for the muggles to see the socks I'm wearing, but they always see the ones I'm knitting and are impressed.

So for me it is Socks over mittens. Unfortunately, because Mariah and I could use new mittens.

I want another mitten book for Christmas. Yes, I want Fancy mittens, but I'll settle for socks.

I guess I could wear them on my hands.

Now where did I put that half finished Fancy mitten?

Viki

FLAK

This is my FLAK sweater. You can't see the sleeves, but they are done. I haven't bound them off just in case I want the sleeves to be longer.
I need to attack this sweater. Afterall there are Christmas parties about a month away. IT would be nice to wear it to at least one of them.

I have to take more pictures of Lots of stuff, socks, yarn, more yarn to upload to Ravelry.
It is a nice site and I can see spending tons of time on there.
Question: If you spend tons of time on Ravelry, when do you knit?

Viki

Trying to post a picture!

This is the sock I started after I finished the $3. socks. I love the colors.

This is the pair of $3. socks I finished last evening for Mariah.

Still not too sure about posting photos. This was really just luck.

Viki

Socks at the ballet school

Last night while at the ballet school I finished the $3. socks. ( The yarn was in a $3. bin at the lys because of a lost label.) They fit Mariah so she was pleased.

Anyway I finished that pair and started another fall color pair(Trekking xxl color 161). The Artistic director stopped to chat, he liked the colors. He also reminisced about being a child in Scotland holding the skeins of yarn for his mother. He held his hands out and did the little rocking motion. After all those years he still had the rhythm down pat.

Every once in a while he stops to talk and lets loose with a little bit of his childhood in Scotland

Also a bamboo needle tip split on me last night. Bummer.
They are brand name ChiaGoo. I can't even remember which yarn shop I bought them at, but I do know they are at most a year old.

For those who are following the continuing saga of Mariah and the ballet teacher...things were better last night. Said teacher actually gave her corrections and said something positive. Such communication has been sorely lacking for the last 2 months. Keep your fingers crossed and wave a few pointy objects that attitudes on both sides continue to be more positive. Thanks!

In other news...frecklegirl sent me an invite to Ravelry.
I'm busy trying to figure out stuff. No I don't have tons of pictures taken. How do you all do that without the proper lighting and a tripod? I have written some stuff about me so far and that is it.
How do you "friend someone?"

Viki