I love Sunny Days

It's a sunny Day and I love those. I missed all of yesterday because I was working on placing costume orders for the studio and kept saying, I'll take a walk after I do "this"... by the time I got done at 5:30pm it was dark and I missed my chance. Gonna go do it now, even just a walk around the block before going to the dentist (gold crown... gettin' some bling for Christmas after all!)

Photo is of the hat series I ended up making for Kathy T who gifted me with a treadmill. What a gift! Cabled hat was 1st, turned out to small and too frilly for her hubby. So, 2nd hat which I think will fit unless he has a huge head, and then using leftovers for a hat for 18 month old Austin, I'm thinking I'll have enough yarn, hoping so, as I was going to put in a contrast stripe but none of my woolease really co-ordinates. The yarn isn't photographing well, but it's a pretty slighty varieagated blues/deep greens called "Pines" in Woolease Worsted.

If I could figure out how to do the side board link section on this blog I'd post the pattern for the cabled hat. oh well.
Kim in KCK I appreciate your comments, I thinkyou are one of my 3 or 4 readers but I can't figure out how to reply.
I knit better than I techno.

Family Portrait and Christmas Scarfs

Here we are on Christmas Morning. Not the best photo of me, but what's new? Other photo is of Michaela, Stephanie, Lauren, Irene, and Alex wearing the Scarves I made them. Alex has kidnapped Michaela's Dora Slippers AND has a death grip on his own green bear.

Christmas Scarfs

Well, this was supposed to be a photo of my nieces wearing their Christmas Scarfs, and instead it's Bitty wearing one of them.! Q'uelle surprise!

Christmas

I had a wonderful Christmas, time spent with my husband and daughter turned out to be the best gifts of all.

Got the stocking finished. Used it. Will enter it in the fair in summer, as it turned out pretty good, don't like the Red Heart nearly as well as the wool from Elann.com, but it's indescructible and that's good for a stocking I guess. Will publish a photo later.

Being lazy this morning, surfing the net aimlessly. Will work on costume orders, Lauren's sock, Todd's hat etc this afternoon and evening.

A beautiful sunny day. I know others complain about the weather not being seasonal, but any sunny day is a gift to me.

Snow day

Brrr it's cold! We got between 8 and 11 inches of snow yesterday (depending on who you listen to) so had to cancel all studio activities including rehearsals, NH show and Starfeet party. Had Sid take me to studio to do the computer back up so I could print statements at home and drag home the 100 lb bag of costume books to work on that some more! Dec. 31 deadline is looming!

Knitted, picked back and reknitted on hat for Kathy T's hubby Todd. I could have made 2 hats in the time I've been working on it if I'd just pay attention to the damn cables and which way they are going! A little afraid it's too small, but if it is, I'll just make another one. Got 2 big skeins of the Woolease worsted so have lots of yarn.

Photo is of the Ballet hat I made for niece Lauren. Hard to reach but bottom row says Ballet, top row says Hip Hop. I want to use same idea to make headbands to sell at studio.

Trying to feel Christmasy

I'm trying to feel Christmasy. Bought a tree at K-mart, Hubby set it up while I was gone, lights were defective, took it back for exchange (after all the whole point of a pre-light tree is to not have to mess around with lights!) . It's still in back of my van. I brought up the tub of my Christmas clothing, and I 'm wearing a Christmas print sweatshirt ... it's kind of seen better days, but it's comfy, and I traded my daily dishes for my Christmas set. Maybe tomorrow I'll tackle the mantle mess and put up my village houses. I always enjoy looking at those. Normally, I don't put up the tree until I close the dance studio, but I'm teaching until Dec 22 this year and with Lisette not living at home anymore,...there is no "normally"....have to find new ways to do stuff. sigh... not sure I like this.

Started a hat for niece Lauren just because. Pink Plymouth encore. I'm planning on working in the words dance, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop with black. I've graphed it, and think it will work. Most patterns for encore called for size 8 needles, but that just seemed flimsy to me (yes, I actually swatched!) so I'm using 6's.

Monday, Monday

Well, it's Monday. The Thanksgiving visit went well, I was sad to leave Salina without my daughter, but all was fine. Had a very nice visit with family, no one got upset, food was great, and it was all really fun.
Came home to some dissappointment as daughter had permission to use my kitchen to have a little celebration with some of her friends who also had to work/no family/ etc. Kitchen was a mess, glasses littering living room, and they had drunk all the tequila, opened a bottle of wine, and later in the evening I discovered they had drunk all my kaluha also. I guess she's not as mature as I thought she was. Oh well, I'll know better next time.
We had to put 2 new tires on her car and this morning after doing this post I'm off to do an oil change on her car. Merry Christmas!

During the visit I started and finished my winter hat. I started off with the Koigu pattern, but after 2 inches of the moss stitch I decided that I did not like the way it looked with the striping yarn, so went back to plain knit leaving the moss stitch band as a "design" element. Finished hat in the car on the way home, just intime for cold weather to hit! Also finished a plain scarf in soft boucle for a gift, will get that box mailed off to Switzerland this week, and started a MD scarf in some Red Heart. Not liking it all that much, so it may go on the sale table.

Have lots to do today, so must get to it!

Karim's stocking

What can I say? I'm on the edge.

I'm so on the edge of losing it right now. I have been battling this depression for weeks now. I know it's trendy to be bi-polar or manic/depressive as I first was identified but I am. The highs are wonderful, the lows are not. On my roller coaster life, this is a definate low. I worry in my sleep. My daughter lost her job (got fired) and doesn't seem to be looking for a new one as actively as I would be, she's got less than $3.00 in her checking account and I don't know how she and Tony will cope. There are resources out there for them, but they have to chase them (unemployement, food stamps, medical cards) and seem to be too "lazy" to do it. This drives me crazy and worry's me.
I've lost several hundred dollars worth of students recently, none of them seem unhappy with studio, just "lazy" "stressed with school" "daughter has basketball" etc etc but I was barely making expenses before and this is a huge loss. I'm being really proactive in recruiting new students, starting new classes, trying to think "out of the box", but it's hard, so so so hard.
We're leaving for Omaha today if I can make myself get ready. Lisette can't come and that's killing me. She and buddies are planning a Thanksgiving here and that's killing me. (I gave her a "care package" with everything for Thanksgiving but the turkey) . Even thanksgiving in Omaha will be smaller as several brothers families will not be at moms. The only Thanksgiving I did not go home, my dad died in the spring and I have this irrational fear that Mom will die if I don't go...told you it was irrational.


Okay, enough whining and wallowing. I did finish Karims stocking, and all the little scarfs for nieces. Working on a scarf for Stefan, as I tossed the modular scarf in the box for Isa, so thought should have something for dad too. I'll work on that in Omaha because it's mindless.
Still working on Lisa's shawl, I think I made an error on row 15 of this repeat and was too stressed to look at it last night, so that will wait until I come home on Monday.
Started a 2nd stocking out of some Red Heart balls in stash, will probably enter that in the Fair. Bought some nice pink and black yarn at YARNS for a dancer hat for Lauren, that I have designed in my head.
Have the Parade hat to work on, since I ripped it out, and will start again. So, I guess I have enough to do in Omaha (Scarf, Parade Hat, Stocking) also taking a skein of Red Heart Variagated and the MD scarf directions for mom, I'll probably start it and then leave it for her.

Okay, got to kick my self in the butt and get going. Trash guys will be here soon and I haven't done litter boxes or trash.

Kim in KCK and any one else who reads this, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Behind in my life

Behind in my life, behind in my blogging...apologies to all, I'll catch up soon- Vivette

Blocking the Madison

I just soaked and blocked Mom's Madison Scarf and boy did that puppy grow! It stretches the full lenght of my queen sized guest bed! Ack! My mom is a short little lady, hope it's not too long.

Nutcracker day today, packing my bag o'stuff, including a fun fur scarf incase I have a moment to sit and "meditate". (Wal-mart has fun fur for $2.50)

MD scarf finished.

I finished my Modular Direction scarf last night. I love the colors but not too thrilled with the look of the skp, hoping a run through washer and dryer fix that. Posting a photo of that scarf and also a cute picture of Frank cuddling with yarn and knitted stuff. I'm wearing the lace shawl right now, as house was a little chilly this am, and Frank keeps looking at me like "give it back".
Heading off to Wal-mart today, as tomorrow is too full of Nutcracker to think of shopping.

Dance Dance Dance

Whoo hoo! Just finished my last nutcracker rehearsal! Show is next Friday. Mary T told me that it's okay to have dancers go to Martinelli's for the dinner, nearly everyone has paid their dinner fee, dancers look pretty good, so I think it's all going to be okay. whew

Yesterday I saw the very amazing Alvin Ailley II peformance. I was in row C and rows A + B were completely empty leaving me with THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!!! They were so wonderful. I didn't care for one of the pieces very much, but even that one was wonderful. It was simply transporting.

Came home and worked on Karim's stocking a little but was tired and eyes were jumping around on the chart, so stopped rather than make huge mistake. It's made of the Peruvian Highland yarn that everyone is talking about the pilling problems with, but hopefully won't be a prob with a Christmast stocking!

This am I ripped out the hat I'm makeing for me...that dimple/pimple at the top was making me crazy and would have every time I wore it. I will reknit it with out the annoying pook. Restarted the modular scarf last night for a mindless knit, and 3rd triangle is behaving itself this time. Yarn is just Red Heart, but it's pretty.

Tonight's dinner is sirloin steak (a splurge!), baked potatoes, LeSuere Peas (silver lable), oh yumm yumm yumm ... just wish I had some good red wine. I always forget to buy it on Sat and Sunday of course, the liquor stores are closed. Desperate Housewives/ Grey's Anatomy on tv....life is good tonight. Good food, good shows, cats to cuddle and interesting projects to knit. It would be better if DD would call or come around more but she's got to find her wings. My mom was a little cranky about the situation this morning, I just need her to stay out of it. Lisette is living with Tony, trying to stand on her own two feet and succeeding most of the time so leave me alone. Do I wish she had finished Beauty School? yes Do I wish she had lived on her own before moving in with a boyfriend? Yes but... it's her life not mine and I need to let her learn things on her own. Off to start the grill.

Another beautiful day

WIP Karim's stocking FO "The Shawl"
It's 80*, I just walked a mile at noon on Nov 3rd in a t-shirt. I'm going to remember this day on a cold January day when it's -15 and I have to put a blanket on my lap to drive to the studio!

Nearly finished with mom's Madison scarf. It's very pretty and very soft. The yarn is really cream colored, not lavendar as it looks in photo! I do think I'll make the pattern again.

I keep trying to move the photo's around, but it won't let me. aggravating.

My favorite Halloween Photo

Isn't she bewitching? My darling daughter Lisette.

Boo!

Happy Halloween! I love Halloween, I love the dressing up and all the silliness for the children. Someday I want to have a real Martha Stewart Halloween party with a "booffet" and lots of fun, maybe next year, when house is in better shape. Of course, the studio is the perfect place..hmmm. Well, I bought mini hershey bars and reeses peanut butter cups, but there are only 32 bars. I have lollipops too (a LOT of them) but think I'll head out to store and pick up another bag or two of candy. In past years we haven't had very many kids, but think I should be prepared for at least 50. Its a bootiful day, sunny, windy of course. It rained a little this am which kind of spoiled my plans to finish planting tulip bulbs today.

I'm wearing my Garfield Got Treats shirt, so happily holiday dressed. A little extra mascara, about the extent of my Halloween makeup though! Studio is closed tonight (who is gonna come to dance class on Halloween, get real), so I can hand out treats. For years Sid did it as I took Lisette around, but now it's my treat.

Went to KC for DMA (Dance Masters America) fall convention. I think I learned somethings which is always the point, had a chance to chat a little with other chapter members. I always feel on the fringes since I don't live in KC, can't make meetings and just in general am not part of things, plus some of these members are getting their 25 yr pins and I'm just a 3 yr member!

Sid had an Army/Mars meeting Sat am, so we drove up together, I knit half of mom's Madison scarf during the meeting. Got about half of my winter hat knit too, not totally happy with the top, got a little "pook" going on, but I may disquise that with a pom pom. I had frogged the beginning about 5 times, it shouldn't have been so hard to start at the top instead of the bottom! Took about 160 stitches to cover crown of my head. It's always hard for me to do the math on gauge etc and knitting several inches of ribbing and then frogging that because it's too tight is just wayy to annoying!

Naughty kitties!

Scamper with yarn

Living up to his name!

Big orange kitty is named Scamper the Obnoxious Lout. When he was little he never stopped moving, hence Scamper.... now, he's about 8 yrs old, and huge and ever so mellow...except this am... I come in living room to find him sitting on a skein of yarn, looking ever so pleased with him self, remove yarn from cat, wind up yarn, come back to living room about 5 minutes later to find that he has somehow gotten a jar of "Aquari-yums" kitty treats with the LID OFF! and again, is ever so pleased to share some with Miss Mouse. Now, RickyFish spends a large part of every evening knocking the jars of yummies off the table in the hopes that my husband will give her some as he picks them up off the floor, and Miss Mouse has been known to paw a jar in a very delicate manner, but Scamper? that would be wayyyy to much trouble...except this morning! Must be fall weirdies due to the weather change, can't think of another reason for two acts of mischief by the worlds laziest cat within 20 minutes!

Okay....Blogger doesn't want to upload my images...keeps getting stuck....I'll try later to post the photos.

Mittens finished!

I finished my mittens, extra long so the snow won't work it's way up my wrists this winter. I think I should have made the whole extra long part in ribbing, but they'll work. Not a very good photo, you can't se that the yarn changed on the 2nd mitten and left the whole tip grey. You can see that it's black stripe is wider...but hey, they're just mittens! I have yarn to make the hat too.

Finally bought something from my local LYS today. Needed yet another needle I didn't have..this time a 16" size 8 to work on the Christmas stocking with. They had it. So many pretty yarns there, just can't afford to buy anything until I work up what I've got!

I am an addict

Hi my name is Vivette and I'm a yarn addict (Hi Vivette!). Today I went to Hobby Lobby to buy 1moreskeinofyarn for "the shawl"....I saw the pack of 4 round knitting looms at 19.99 and I said you don't need it, you can't afford it and I left with my 1moreskeinofyarn and "something" for Peggy who's birthday I drew. (don't think she's one of the few who read my blog but you never know)...so...I go to Wal-mart (damn that walmart) for groceries and household etc, and they have the same pack of knitting looms but it's only $11.99 so....you guessed it....I bought it...I am ashamed, and would put myself in time out but I have wayyyyy to much knitting to do!

oh well.... I don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't play the lotteryrarely have a drink.... guess yarn is a benign addiction at the least. As penance I plan to use up some of the acrylic lurking in the basement for hats for DVACK the domestic violence shelter.

I Like Fridays

Ooh, I like Fridays! I don't teach at the studio, I don't teach at the middle schools, I get to have coffee with my friends and in the evening I get to sit and knit for several hours! All my new ordered yarns have come in and I am so eager to start new projects, need to finish Lisa's shawl...it's coming along...amazing the difference the huge needles and bulky yarn make!
The never ending shawl is calling for a border (sigh) so it's off to HL today to buy 1moreskeinofyarn for this thing!

I got my tickets for Alvin Ailey II today! Who hoo! Row c seat 9...almost close enough to touch them...I'm so excited. They are offering a master class, but I have rehearsals scheduled on that day and since the dancers didn't look so good at the retirement home show...I hate to cancel on them, just to go watch a class.

Okay, blogger is being strange and doesn't seem to want to upload the photo of lisa's shawl so maybe tomorrow.

New Baby Photo

I have a new photo of Karim. He looks so wide eyed alert and intelligent in this photo. Such a sweetie!

Mom Isa says he can wear the hat I sent, but the socks are too big..oh well, feet will grow.

Today is a beautiful fall day, I think I'm going to put off paperwork long enough to walk around the block. I'm wearing a new sweatshirt that I bought for only $3.00 last year after Halloween. It's black with embroidered candy's and trick or treat bags. I love the holiday themed sweatshirts and sweaters, but saw on "The View" that they weren't fashionable...well, what's new, I've never been "fashionable"...guess as long as I'm happy and warm I don't care.

The Shawl is finished!

I finished "the Shawl"! It needs to be blocked, but it's finished. Whew!
Started same pattern in the homespun it was written for on size 13's for sister in law Lisa. She originally gave me the yarn for a birthday present, so I'm giving it back to her in the form of a shawl. What goes around, comes around, hee hee. Homespun tends to split and catch I'm noticing, but if I watch what I'm doing it should be okay.

Got my yarn from www.Elann.com for the snowman stocking. Waiting on order from www.theknitter.com for the pattern.

Saw on the news that "Katie and Tom" will have a silent birth due to Scientology principles set down by their founder L. Ron Hubbard.... well, you can tell that L doesn't stand for Louise! Only a man would decided that a birth should be silent... give me a frickn break. okay, vent over.

Off to studio to retrieve cane to teach Puttin on the Ritz to Stang Gang. Looking through previous choreography I see that I have 90% of their big spring project allready done, will just need some tweaking! Yay me! Organization and record keeping pays off once in a while.

On my to do list today was pick up living room, and deal with Cellular One...not sure either will happen but... I should at least try.

225 stitches

"The Shawl" has 225 stitches, and about enough yarn left for 4 rows, 1 pattern, 1 purl back, 1 knit and bind off. The end is near.

Ordered Parade yarn from www.Knitpicks.com to make a hat to match the nearly finished mittens to me...just in time too as it's pretty nippy walking my mile in the 40* mornings. My fingers were so cold this morning as I walked that I slipped them out of the fingers of the glove so they would stay warmer. Also ordered a snowman stocking pattern and a Simple stripes to make a sweater for Karim. Coming from www.Elann.com is the yarn for the snowman stocking, and coming from www.theknitter.com is yarn to repair the toes of my socks that are wearing out...just plain Socka.

Recieved a DVD of the Nutcracker from the Moscow Ballet yesterday, and things are MUCH clearer, including a few mistakes I have made that I will try to correct tomorrow. Will show the dancers the dvd at rehearsal so they will have a better understanding also.

My hotwater for my coffee is ready, so it's off to the studio. Show at Drury Place retirement apts today, without 4 key dancers so could be a weird show!

lazy morning

Today is a lazy morning...not that much that "must be done" so I'm kinda lazing my way through the morning. Watched all of Good Morning America to see Windsor Castle, such glorious sights, the carvings, the paintings, the velvet and that kitchen! What a wonder that would be to see it in person!

I wore my tiger socks again yesterday. They are quite comfortable and came through the washer/dryer process just fine. Hubby does a lot of the laundry and things just have to be able to stand up to it!

Printing off some studio photo's for this years scrapbook, and then will go to Jo Ann's for the satin to make the tops for Suerte. Wish my sewing machine was working better, hate to sew them up and have them fall apart! I'll look at the machines at too. I do need a new one, but want to do some research before I buy a machine willy nilly.

Last night I picked back 2 rows on the shawl...so close to being finished but, there was an error I just couldn't fix with out picking back. I am so anxious to have this one finished! Ordered yarn for a sweater for Karim, a hat for myself to match the winter mittens I'm nearly finished with and pattern and yarn for an ambitious Christmas stocking...probably for Karim. No new photos' of the baby, must nag Isa for some! I picked up a cozy sleeper with a Christmas design for him for only $3.00! I have a small bear with a pumpkin that I'm going to mail to him, thought about doing tiger socks for him, but think instead the remaining tiger yarn will go to favorite niece Lauren.

Saturday

Saw Beauty and the Beast at our community theatre last night. It was a good production. Costumes had been rented from somewhere and were very nice and quite elaborate. Belle was played by a young lady that I have known for years, who was soo shy and self-effacing, 2 years of college seem to have brought a new maturity both in sense of self and in her voice and acting. She's quite a talent and so beautiful, wonderful to see her growing up in to such a delightful adult.

My seat mate Colleen and I were part of a trio that ran a summerstage program for 5 years where we trained so many young actors...many of whom are now teaching themselves. I'm quite proud of what we helped to develop. I was worried about Colleen though as she has had a stroke and due to bronchitus had to stop taking a particular medication which was causeing the stroke symptoms to re-cur such as numbness in her left hand and leg and affecting her balance. I have several good friends that seem to be on a down hill slide and it worry's me. I'm not ready to start losing the people in my life.

Colleen loved the mitten I'm making and commented on a hat so I will try to make her one. I did get 2 rows done on the shawl last night while watching NUMBERS on videotape. Eventually, I'll be done with it and can get onto the same pattern for sister in law (but larger yarn, larger needles, shouldn't take quite so forever!)

Off to work, have some dancers coming in from 9:30-1:30 today, (missing a lot due to volleyball!) then will try to spend some time with my closets finding my fall clothes, putting away summer, and maybe a little time getting the front flower bed ready for the tulip bulbs that are coming! I wanted to fix up the front yard, but lack of funds will prevent that this year.

Tue and Wed

Yesterday was a busy fun day. Taught the sign section for Silent Night to South Middle School Sensations in their teachers absence. Computer drove me nuts with crashes but all is okay. Great classes at the studio including a 50% increase in the Belly Dance Class from 2 to 4! I just think it's so much fun that I didn't mind teaching the 2, but 4 is 2x the fun. Wish I had a few more in my young adult classes, had quite a few register but changed minds as the real world of work interferred.

Came home and knit on my mitten, nearly finished with it, wish I'd done the long cuff all in ribbing though, oh well.

Today while waiting for computer to finish doing something I knit 3 rows on the never ending shawl, correcting 2 mistakes in transit instead of ripping back, yeah me!

and today Lynn in KC asked to publish the poem I put up here in her guilds newsletter. That's fun too!

Tomorrow will not be much fun as Sid and I must go to a funeral for a friend of his. Richard was only 51 and a lot of fun to be around at the few ham meetings I attended. I think his massive heart attack really shook Sid up considering Richard was younger than he is and apparently in better health. Unfortunately, we will be attending more funerals in the future.

sitebuilder grrr

Okay, all I needed to do to the wesite was to add the Moscow Ballet button to the navigation bar, link it to the page, create the photo page, link it and publish it all. Sitebuilder locked up 3 THREE!!! times, crashing computer each time. Finally, I just deleted the blankety -blank page with the audition photo's on it and was able to save and publish...weird and frustrating!

Nearly done with mitten #1, I think I should have done the cuff to thumb gussett a little differently, but I wanted long mittens so my wrists wouldn't get cold when I shoveled snow this winter and I think they will work just fine. Mitten #2 may be a few stitches smaller across the palm, doesn't matter since I wasn't planning on entering in the fair as they'll look worn after snow shoveling this winter!

Nutcracker!

Wow I have been so busy with the Nutcracker auditions that I haven't had time to do much of anything! My 3 readers must be going into withdrawal! (ha!) Having re-knit the toe of the tiger socks several times, I finally have the 2nd sock finished, picked back the toe of the 1st sock and am nearly done with it. I'm really surprised at how different the Opal knit up in this regard than the other yarns (Regia mostly) that I've been using. Still not entirely happy with it but, should be okay. I need to reknit toes in a couple of pair, and was just going to get a skein of Ivory Opal but reconsidering now.. hmmm

YARN OR STRING
Yarn or string, making things
Loopty-loop, through the hoop
Over under around and off
Cats and yarn both are soft
Petting cats you make them purr
Petting yarn feel the fur
Acrylic yarns from a beak(er)
Wool yarns from a sheep(er)
Doesn’t matter which you choose
Only matters that you use
Skills and talents nature gave
To knit, to use, to give, to save

Finished .... not

I finished the shawl last night, carefully measureing out my remaining yarn and determining that I had enough to do 2 rows of plain knit then the bind off...but after much looking and wearing and showing to friends....I've decided that it's not finished, it's too small...so...I'll pick back and continue on...I bought a skein of the woolease in the center band intending to work a border with it, guess I'll cross that pond when I come back to it. Everyone likes it, so I guess it's worth continuing on with the project. The right hand edge looks fine but something is wrong with the left hand edge, must have gotten an extra stitch or something, which is why I wanted the border.

"Back " to work!

Studio reopens today! (Not that it was ever closed!) Yay hooray! I am so lucky to love my job! I can't wait to see all my babies again, and all the new babies are coming to play with me today with a Bitty class for 3's and 2 PreK Combo classes for 4's and 5's . What fun!

I'm about 4 rows from ending the shawl, but now I want to add a knitted edging to it. I'm looking for a pattern that will teach me how to do it. I understand the knitted edging but don't understand how to do it...I think that I pick up a stitch from the edge, cast on my number of stitches, work back to the edge, pick up another stitch etc, but not sure.

Leslie says that I have at least 2 readers, how fun, I've always thought I was just typing away to myself!

Lisette and Tony didn't get to come over yesterday and I was missing "family" time, but my brother Eric sent me some photo's from the family get together in Omaha so I felt a little included that way. It's hard being the only one who doesn't live there. I don't feel very connected to everyone. Oh well... guess that's life.

Determined to get a number of things done this am that I have been putting off so I'm off to make a 2nd cup of coffee, and a list and start knocking them off!

Got hired for a "choral-ography" job, easy one, just re-teaching a piece I did last year to a new crop of kids, 3 class meeting will do it, and they want me to do a 2nd piece too, that'll be a little harder being new work, but it's always fun to work with the 8th graders.

"Babies"

Karim, sleeping under a blanket I made. Nephew Alex enjoying watermelon and niece Michaela stealing chips!

Labor Day and Stash Shawl

We worked soooo hard on Saturday, applying 15 5 gallon buckets of black goopy sealant to the dance studio driveway. 8 hours for each of us, although I must be honest and say that Sid did more hard work than I did because I could not lift the buckets so he had to lift each bucket 4 times (off the shelf, into the car, out of the car, onto the driveway) and I hosed the sand off the driveway while he scrubbed the 1st 3 buckets onto the surface. It looks nice, needed to be done to preserve the drive, and thankfully won't need to be done again for 6 years (according to the buckets!). In 6 years I will hire someone to do it!

In the evening and yesterday I worked on the stash shawl, starting the 3rd color. It's 24 inchs long now and I've got enough of the ivory yarn for another pattern repeat. (Takes approximately 5 yards per row) The only other color in my stash that would coordinate is a bright yellow, and I'm not sure about that at all! EV wanted to know where I got the pattern.(I'm always a little surprised to get a comment as I never think anyone reads this blog!) It's Lion Brand Big Diamond Shawl www.lionbrand.com that is supposed to be done on size 13 and with homespun. I started to make one for my sister in law Lisa, but kept getting lost and I couldn't see the pattern developing in the yarn, so to familiarize myself with the pattern I started out with the yellow gold ball, then decided to continue with some gold Wool-ease, then just kept going with the ivory mystery yarn (acryilic I think). I have finally gotten to where I "see" the pattern and when I finish the stash shawl will start on the homespun again...need to get new needles though, the wooden 13 circs I have are way too blunt to do the k2tbl !

I so admire all the beautiful lacework people on townsendknits are doing. Maybe I'll be that talented someday. Just takes practice. I do want to make a beautiful shawl for a fair entry this year. I should buy some yarn from my new local lys, but I want something like socks that rock, not just opal. I'll buy a skein of baby blue from them for baby sweater for Karim.

Nearly done with the gussett of the 2nd tiger sock whoo, hoo, looking forward to wearing them. I'm thinking I'm going to have plenty of yarn left for socks for my favorite niece Lauren.

Studio opens tomorrow and I need to "no-slip" the A room floor (damn laminate, only mistake we made building that building, as soon as I can raise the $2000, I'm putting woodstep marley down in there!) New season will severly cut into my knitting time in the evenings as I'll be home at 10pm or later instead of 8pm, but it's what I love. I'm one of the few people I know that loves her job.

Aug 29th

Walk .6 mile, vacumned, worked on studio website www.vivettesdance.com, went to studio, choreographed 1 dance, came home for lunch, worked on studio website and picked back 2 rows of the shawl, and reknit those same two rows while waiting for sitebuilder to finish "inspecting", went back to studio, choreographed 2.5 more dances, held 2 rehearsals, finished taping down the marley floor, counseled a distraught teen who felt she had made a fool of herself because she didn't know someone already had a girlfriend (and he was a jerk about it)... I'm tired!

Here's a photo of the socks I made for Arlene out of Parade from www.knitpicks.com , very nice yarn, but WARNING yardage is short... if you have a bigger than size 6 foot, buy more than 2 skeins of yarn.

Also a photo of the shawl that is driving me crazy, just because I keep getting off.

Socks n Shawls

This is the Opal Tiger Sock and a not very good picture of me wearing the Garter Star Shawl. I gave it to my friend Shelly. Now I'll have to knit another one for my mom! Struggling with the Lace Diamond one a lot. It seems like I pick back 2 rows out of every ten on the pattern repeat. I must not pay attention to what I'm doing I guess!

Worked on iris bed some yesterday, and will again today. A little at a time is better than killing myself all at once! Same concept with the diamond lace shawl, my goal is to complete 1 10 row pattern repeat a day.

Tuesday

Spent Monday re-arranging studio's Tuesday schedule for fall, spent today re-arranging the lobby after the dancewear sale, finally all cleaned up. Trying to take care of all the details I am suppposed to take care of for other people, mail checks, mail dance notes, order leotards,, lots of little details and I'm afraid I will forget something and dissapoint someone!

Working on a lace shawl and haveing the worst time with the pattern, keep ending up with the wrong number of stitchs, and its not that hard! So, I retyped the pattern with a bigger font, spaced it out better and printed some sections in red and some in blue so I will be less likely to get confused. Using up some scrap balls just for the heck of it...started with a goldy yellow, moved to a gold woolease, then will work with an aran cream worsted, all seem to be about the same weight and the colors are going to blend I think. If it's not big enough when I run out of cream I think a brown might look nice, think I have some of that too!

Have the night off, think I'll go knit.

Garter Star Shawl Pattern

Garter Star Shawl By Vivette Ashen-Brenner
Copyright: August 2005
Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky 3 skeins (*or more) (bulky 5) $1.97 skein at my Wal-mart

Needles: size 10 circular at least 29“ long. (* A larger needle will give a looser fabric)

Neck: Cast on 4. Work 16 rows of garter stitch (8 ridges). Pick up 8 stitches along long edge (12 stitches)

Body: Row 1: Knit 6 stitches, place a marker, M1 by picking up strand between two stitches, and knitting into the back of that loop, place a marker, knit remaining 6 stitches. 13 stitches.

Row 2 and all even rows: Knit back across row, slipping markers and working yarn overs as stitches.

Row 3: Knit 1, yarn over, (YO) work until marker, YO, slip marker, knit 1, slip marker, YO, knit until last stitch, YO, knit 1 (4 stitches increased total 17) You will be making a center panel design with the yarn overs.

Continue working the increase row until you have a total of 40 stitches between edge and 1st marker. (81 stitches)

Design increase row: Even row: (same as row 1) Knit 20, place marker, M1, place marker, Knit 20, knit until center marker, slip marker, knit center stitch, slip marker as usual, knit 20, place marker MI, place marker, knit 20 until edge (3 sets of markers with 1 stitch in between) (83 stitches) This makes the pattern design that runs down shoulder line.

Continue in this manner until you again have 40 stitches between the markers.

Repeat design increase row. You will have 7 sets of markers with 1 stitch in between markers and 20 stitches between each set of markers. (Total 167 stitches)

Work until you have 50 stitches between markers (407 stitches).

Ladder design row: now, here’s where the longer needle will be nicer, but you can do it with 29” one. I did, wasn’t easy, but the “problem” only lasts for 2 rows.
Knit 1, yarn over twice, knit 1, yarn over twice, continue across row slipping markers and knitting center stitches as “normal”. Needle will be full, it will be extremely tight and you will think… what was she thinking!

Work back by knitting the knits and letting the yarn overs drop off the needle. Halfway around you’ll be thinking less cranky thoughts, as the stitches on the needle get looser.

Work at least 4 rows plain garter stitch, no longer increasing at markers. (Keep markers on though).

When you are nearly out of yarn, or just plain sick of the project, bind off. Try to keep your yarn extra loose at the points (reason for leaving the markers on) so that it doesn’t cup when finished.

This yarn washes and dries very nicely in machine, softening up considerably. I chose to block mine however. I blocked my shawl by soaking in bathtub of warm water for 30 minutes then patted out onto a towel-covered tabletop. Blocked: my shawl measured 21” from back neck to center point, 45” across from shoulder point to shoulder point.

If you did the work back rows in purl, so that you had a Stockinette fabric instead of garter the shawl would be longer, as garter pulls up. If you use a larger needle, fabric will be looser and have course, larger.

Star Shawl

I finished the garter star shawl I "designed". I put designed in quotes because I just kind of "did it" and didn't work it all out on paper 1st. I think it's kind of neat. I probably should have done about 10 more rows at the bottom edge, but I was thinking A) I'm going to put a border on this, and B) I'm tired of working on it...I want to be done so I can see what it looks like! It's kind of plain, but will be warm I think. I'm going to give it to my mom as she mentioned it would be nice to have a shawl for the evenings when it gets a little cooler. I like the way it sits on your shoulders. The star design kind of surprised me...didn't think it through!

I wrote out the pattern incase anyone would ever want to make one. Like I'm some big shot designer huh? Right now it's wet and blocking, when it drys I'll get Sid to take a picture of it one me.

Working on my tiger socks, I need to finish them as I realize that many of my 1st socks are really disintigrating. I've reknit toes and can do so again, but some of the cuffs are "popping" at the join I think and begining to ladder, and not sure I can do much about that... Problem is ... I like these socks, and hate the thought of throwing them out! Maybe I could unravel, rework as children's socks for charity...that's probably really silly though....however, if my income is curtailed this year as I think it may be, that might not be such a silly option to buying new yarn I can't afford.

Karim!

I'm an "Oma"! Karim was born July 31st to my "daughter" Isa and her husband Stefan. Isa stayed with me for a year in highschool and we'ved stayed in touch. I'm so excited!

Have knitted him a couple of pairs of tiny socks, but need to get busy as a cold winter is coming!

It's Done!

It's Done! The skirt is done! (doing happy dance) I finished in time for the Tri-Rivers Fair! Whoo hoo! (Better than last year when I was still working on my sock entry at 1am the morning of entries!) Some of it I'm not completely happy with... My gauge could have been tighter, I've got some serious puckers from some of the stranding, and I'm not really happy with how the yellow highlighting duplicate stitching looks....but that's perfectionist me. Most people won't see a single flaw, and my daughter who will wear it more often than me (and who I really made it for) thinks it's wonderful. We'll see what the judges say of course. Just to be clear, this is Jodi Green's Hot Tamale pattern from www.Knitty.com. I knitted it from Garnstudio "Paris" a cotton yarn on a size 6 needle.

Busy Busy!

Wow, time is just flying by! Fair entries are due in Wed am, and I still have to finish highlighting 1/4 of the skirt and line it. I'll make it, I'm determined. I'm not totally happy with it, I have some puckers from the stranding pulling to tightly, and I've tried to cut and tie in pieces to loosen it, but there are too many rows to do that, and I'm afraid for the structural integrity of the piece.. oh well, Lisette likes it and I guess I did my best on it, so that's all that counts, isn't it?

Have my next complicated piece picked out, a beautiful baby sweater using Debbie Bliss yarn, will cost about $55 for the yarn, but it will be nice. Hoping Isa has a girl so that I don't have to change the color scheme around!

Still want to make a Kiri shawl as "everyone" on the Townsend list is making them,...so many projects, so little time!

Finishing up

Well, I'm finishing up the Hot Tamale skirt, just doing the highliting.

Just finished my learn new things project by doing 2 socks on 2 circular needles, working toe up, with an afterthought heel. (That's four new things !). I hated it....felt like I was knitting wearing handcuffs, stitches kept falling off needles and it was damn near impossible to repair, the ladders are bad, unsightly holes! grrr. .. oh well, guess a baby won't notice them, lets hope his mother is so delighted with her child that she doesn't look closely at his or her feet!

Finishing up bulky green vest.

Worked on Peggy's handwarmers at Santa Fe Day meeting. Got the thumb figured out and am nearly out of yarn so that hand will nearly be done!

So....today yarn arrived from the yarn fairies! (Well, truthfully I ordered it from Knit picks but yarn fairies sounds better!) Pinks and purples for Arlenes cold feet and some that I thought were more "christmasy" than they turned out to be, but it will still be fun to knit. Also the 1st knitting book I ever bought...yes, it's true, cheapskate V bought a knitting book... Debbie Bliss Baby knits...had the prettiest sweater in it that I thought I just "had" to knit..... next years big fair project, I guess.

And I still want to do the Sun and moon stranded socks ,and my two skeins of Opal rainforest arrived in zebra and tiger...and I should really do some CIC socks with that donated yarn and.... well, we only finish to begin again, don't we?

REALLY NICE SUPRISE TONIGHT! A call from Steven who was my "guy" in senior year out of the blue. He happened on the 1970 Westside High reunion in Omaha (that I was not at) and since I wasn't there...he called. We had a delightful conversation. He's a gondola owner now, of all things! www.heartlandgondolas.com

My Mom

My Mom and sister in law Lisa at Christmas. Just trying out the new Blogger images icon. Wow this is soooo much easier than blogger bot! Love it!

Happy Anniversary Sid!

Today is my anniversary, married 22 years to my husband Sid, who is a very good man. Does laundry, mows lawns at home and studio, and doesn't complain when work takes too much time and I don't cook meals. Love you bunches dear!

Today I will spend time at the studio for registration, hoping that someone will come in. Last year only 2 people came in, most prefer to do mail in registrations, but I do this each year just because.

I am working on a 2 socks at once on 2 circular needles, toe up, with an afterthought heel... not really liking it at all .... only advantage I see is that when working with scrap yarn both socks can match more easily... Perhaps if it was a top down as I usually do, oh well, one must always keep learning new things, sometimes if only to discover that you really do like the old way best!

I think it's kind of comforting in an odd way to know that absolutely no one reads my blog. hmmm

Frank with the tiny Bastille Day sock

Working on the decreases

Hot Hot Hot!

It's soo hot that sitting inside the A/C and knitting is all I want to do! Decided to change the "stuff" on the walls over the sofa, so took down all the little country knick-knacks, put them for sale on EBay and bought a nice print of a french market at Hobby Lobby. I'll get an inexpensive poster frame at Wal-mart and things will look a little "fresher". Saw a print I want for the bedroom, don't know why I didn't buy it too...oh well, Hobby Lobby will be open again on Monday and I can get it then.

I'm at the top of the Hot Tamale skirt. Yay! I couldn't do the decreases as written as DD is much shorter than the original designer, but I think it's working out okay. Will go buy the lining material (also on Monday), and should have it finished in time for the fair entry. I will have a little yarn left over, wonder if I'd have enough to come up with a halter, hmmm.

I made a tiny sock for my grandbaby to be out of the Bastille day sock yarn. It's so cute!

Isa and Stefan

Isa is my "Swiss daughter". She stayed with us for a year in high school and we have kept in touch over the years. She has recently married and is expecting a baby near my birthday. So, I am to be a long distance grandma! I'm excited!

Isa and Stefan

Hot Tamale skirt through row 48

Holiday's over, back to work

Well, the long weekend is over and it's back to work! Actually, I spent part of the holiday weekend working, printing off pages for the fall registration packets, filling in names and classes etc. Need to run a few errands this am then off to work!

My "daughter" Isa, who lives in Switzerland emailed me that she got married June 17th! I'm quite excited over this. She is expecting a baby soon, making me a long distance grandma! I've sent over a package with a baby blanket, some bibs and a little pj, but not knowing yet if it's a boy or a girl I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm sure my needles will be busy soon.

Nearly done with the flame work on the Hot Tamale skirt and it looks like there's not a lot left after that so it will go quickly! I just couldn't work on it yesterday in the afternoon, felt too guilty I guess knowing that I had work to do.

Worked on a dishcloth at the fireworks last night, just a plain basketweave in some yellow/white sugar and cream that I had laying about...dishclothes are good for mindless knitting and make nice gifts too. Green shell/vest is coming along, the color is pretty, hope the top will be too, it's so much bulkier than the delicious glamour yarn I used before!

Holiday weekend

July 3rd and I'm just relaxing away...Today I printed lots of pages for my dance studio registration mail out but I've run out of paper and am waiting for hubby to go with me to Sams because I can't lift the carton of paper! I watched SpiderMan 2 and knit on a sage green shell for myself of Bernat Softee Chunky, that will go with the new green pants I bought the other day. Kinda went wild at K-mart, bought the green pants, pink pants and matching top, a green silk top. white pants, a pink top and 2 swim suits (which were the real reason I went to K-mart to begin with!) I'm trying to upgrade my look and look more "adult"...sigh.. at my age you'd think I'd have figured it out by now.

Working on Hot Tamale skirt, but just wanted to watch the movie and not count chart x's.

Finished book 5 of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series...they are so fun! I was going to sit in my little baby pool and read this afternoon, but it's getting so over cast and rainy looking that I don't think that's gonna happen!

Progress

Well, as you can see from the photo, I'm up to round 32! Whoo hoo! It's going much faster now that I have learned to hold the red yarn in my left hand and the black in my right. I'm sure my guage is much looser than it should be, but it doesn't look bad, so I guess it's okay.

Finished my mom's socks in plenty of time, need to get them mailed today. Got some Sage Bernat Softee Chunky yesterday at Wal-mart for $1.47 a skein. I'm going to make the same pattern as my glitter vest. Should have gotten the pink/grey/white for the girls sweater for my niece, but I decided to try the vest 1st.... oh selfish selfish me!

Studio is going okay, we're getting started on our new competition routines, Moscow Ballet is starting to come into focus a little better and now we've added "Salina Moves" a showcase for the local dance studio's in March to be held at the Stieffel, a beautifully restored vaudeville/movie theatre from the 30's.

Not doing anything special for the 4th of July, wish we did but Hubby just isn't interested...so, guess I'll sit and knit!

Row 32 front

Mom's Bastille Day sock knitted at the 2005 River Festival.

Wet weekend!

Well, another River Festival is over! This one was pretty wet with lots of rain, but still I got to listen to much music, saw beautiful art works, bought a new art piece for the studio (a drawing of a ballerina in pinks and purples to co-ordinate with last years art pieces) and knit a whole sock! I couldn't possibly work on the hot tamale skirt, not with the charts and getting interrupted so often to go look for either a lost mom or lost child, so worked on the Bastille Day socks for mom. I hope they are plain enough for her to wear. You know, "Oh they're too beautiful to wear, so I just leave them in my sock drawer to look at"... sigh...

Rows 1-7 from the front side, some pattern starting to show

Rows 1-7 the back with ugly floats

Wed June 1st

Did 3 more rounds on the flame skirt last night...decided that I had to anchor the floats, so I'm anchoring them every 10 stitches or so. The back side looks sooo sloppy, thank goodness it will be hidden by the lining! (See Photos if I can figure out the photo posting two days in a row. )Not much time for knitting tonight, but maybe can get another 2-3 rounds in....there are 58 rounds of the graphed area, so it could take a while! Drooling over the feather and fan shawl on www.knitpicks.com but must hold off until I have finished this skirt! Would be nice if I could enter it in the fair just to add some pizzazz to what I suspect will be mostly garter stitch eyelet scarves.

Have some drop in end of the season parties at the studio today, bought cookies and drink yesterday, just have to go buy pop and ice this am. No video to show which is dissapointing but that's the way the ball bounced this year. Looking forward to starting on next years songs and dances for both the competition teams and the class dances, it's always fun to make a fresh start!

The replacement monitor started doing the weird edge thing last night and the double cursor, meaning that the problem is in the computer not just the monitor. Buying new computer while expensive is not such a terrible problem, but the thought of transferring everything I "own" to a new one is daunting to say the least!

Back side showing "dreaded awful" long floats

Front side rows 1-4 of chart

Photos of the Flame skirt

WIP photo's of the Hot Tamale flame skirt www.knitty.com . This is through row 4 of the charts showing front side and back side with the dreaded awful long floats.

Recitals over and Relaxing at camp

Well, the recitals are over. They went so well, and so smoothly and were such fun that all the small crises of the weeks leading up to the recitals were nearly forgotten.

Spent some time at a scout camp while my hubby and his buddy worked on the camps locks. I just sat and knit and read and relaxed. Didn't even have to worry about meals as Carol fed us quite well!

I'm working on the flame skirt from www.theknitty.com but I found an error! I just did what I knew they wanted instead of what it said and all is okay. Had to rip out and restart after 6 rows (doesn't sound like much but there were 530 stitches!) as I had twisted the stitches when I joined inspite of my care. So... the 2nd time I worked the 1st three rows back and forth so that I could see better when I joined. That worked. Photo's to come.

Dancing vs knitting which is winning???

Yesterday I wrestled with balky computers, irriating cd players, knitting 24 rows on a "quick baby sweater" while waiting for things to do what they were supposed to do. I'm using a skein of Red Heart I had laying around, and I'm not too happy... don't know if it's the yarn, the pattern, or my gauge or what....possibly a combo of yarn and gauge. We did two nursing home shows one of which was bedeviled with a cd player with a short in it or something, had to hold our breath just right to get it to play the music! But the 2nd one was fine.... and at both shows the residents were pleased to see us and appeared to enjoy our performances. Two more shows today.

work work work

Well my day off turned out to involve a lot of heavy garden work...but the mailbox garden is planted at the studio ... and if it turns out the way the pictures are in the catalog it should be really pretty!.

Lots of paper work, music editing, photo editing etc going on today. Got a few rounds done on Sharons' second sock(Magic Stripes, size 1 needles) while waiting for cd's to burn. Figured out how to save playlists in Windows Media again (used to know then "they" changed it).

Day off

Today, I have a rare day off! I have worked on reknitting the toe of a sock (why re-knit? .. I guess I just hate to toss out any of my socks if they can be saved, so I reknit the toes, this time in a cream yarn that sort of co-ordinates since I no longer have the orignial yarn, having used the remainder for a faroese shawl for a doll.) I am currently working on the 2nd sock of a pair for a friend in Magic Stripes. I really don't like the coloration at all, so Sharon gets them! Just have to sew up the Glamour Shell. Finished the cascading leaves socks and blocked them, working here and there on an Amy Fong Sheer Poncho. Off to buy a bag of dirt to fill in the gouges people have left in the yard at the Dance Studio by their careless driving.

Tuesdy is another Monday

Easter was nice, saw the family, discovered a very good wine (Piesporter Michelsberg), knitted a Charity Bears, knitted on my evening shell. Drove home from Omaha with no incidences save a raging headache from a very stiff neck by time I got home.

Monday was filled with endless paperwork and wayyy to many "to do's" for the studio as Newsletter/statement day often is... nice part of day was when DD treated me to a cup of Cappachino Chunky Chocolate from Braums where she has begun working.... enjoyed it while watching Vegas and Medium taped from earlier in the evening. Worked on the 2nd charity bear. My goal is 20 of them. I have lots of scrap yarn, so they will be colorful.

Today I'm printing the photo schedule, trying to repair two costumes, wrestling with the competition schedule which really isn't too bad except for one dancer with conflicts with the school play...I don't know why these drama teachers don't consult me when they schedule things. (ha, don't they know I am the Queen and all things revolve around moi?) Got to go buy more paper to print stuff on, thread to replace the spool that disappeared, and drop a tiny deposit off at the bank to stave off checks bouncing. Broker than I thought but oh well... that's the way it goes I guess. Tonight I'll knit on the socking cap as I need to finish that up and be done with it.

Frank