Friday, February 5, 2010

My life is a circus...

According to a facebook application the theme song of my life is "Circus" by Brittany Spears. Who am I kidding...it fits.



Life around here has actually been pretty quiet around here. I resigned from all of my volunteer work to make it easier for me to focus on my rehab (for the leg not the wine;-) and get the magazine finished. The jury is still out as to whether this hiatus was a good idea or not. I have gotten a lot of writing and designing done. Yet I am finding myself mind (and bum) numbingly bored at times. I used to daydream about long lunches with girlfriends, shopping and long hours spent Starbucking the magazine like all true writer do. The reality is much different. I have however learned several interesting little things about being home.

Fun little things I have learned recently:
1) The more yarn and patterns you have access to to does not mean you will get more projects done. Why you ask? One word: Startitis. So much yarn and so many patterns can cause an overload that then results in hours and hours of searching for more patterns for each yarn to ensure you choose the perfect pattern for that yarn. In the end you end up with over 500 pattern choices and a nagging anxiety that you will choose the wrong pattern.
2) Being brave and trying to learn a new yarn skill can lead to an unhealthy obession with said skill. When you find yourself mainlining caffiene and staying up way into the night chanting "knit, purl, C6F" "knit, purl, C6B" while listening to Bon Jovi on Pandora radio.
3) Very few everyday people will understand what "Knitting Olympics" are much less why on God's green earth you would be so excited about them. Proclaiming your good "sportsmanship" because you have restrained yourself from starting your project early other then doing your gauge swatch... Because really who would know if you started a wee bit early. Also you will learn just how crazy everyone of your none knitting friends and/or family really think you are. Pointing out that getting drinking (perhaps) too much wine while holding sharp needles attached to hundreds of yards of high priced wool yelling at athletes (sometimes in public) is some how very normal and run of the mill behavior for today's 30 something woman. They will never "get" it and you just may talk your way into a visit to a nice padded room if you keep trying to explain it. Put down the phone and back away. Double this issue if your talking to your in-laws you live in a rather small Midwest town where this puts you above the crazy cat lady on their list of crazies.
4) Wow I need to clean more. Or I need to pick more complex patterns to prevent me from looking around and finding stuff to clean. I'm opting for that idea thus my recent obsession with cabling.
5) being alone for days on end can result in an inappropriate compulsion to talk to any human (ok any living organism). This usually results in very nervous strangers looking for the nearest exit as you attempt to have a conversation regardless to the subject matter or location. Note to self: A)Attempting to talk to an 80 year old woman whilst holding extra long, sharp, metal needles with very loud art yarn while reading a tattoo magazine in a local mall, not the best idea. B) Same goes for guitarists who see you knitting a beret on 5 needles in a dark smoky venue while balancing a cocktail between your knees, holding a crochet hook in your mouth and glancing at the frog shaped row counter pinned to your t-shirt all while sitting in a hot pink wheel chair. Either scenario is going to bring your mental status into question.
6) Add the phrases "Total World Domination Via Yarn" and "Knit or Dye" will not help either situation in #3. Also don't utter these words in the presence of security personnel, law enforcement or military members...you will end up on a terrorist watch list somewhere. This I promise you...I know because I have done all three.

As you can see I have been very productive in my yarn life. Here are some pictures to make up the long rambling.
Weekend survival kit assembled and waiting.


Winter weather leads to more knitting!


  
A boy and his yarn

Halestorm at the Norva

See I am the crazy yarn woman.

The beret that will have a matching cabled scarflette soon!
 "We can't help everyone. But everyone can hel someone" Very true.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Granny Shawl



Granny Shawl
Materials: Worsted weight yarn and a size J hook, or any other weight and hook to suit your needs.
CH- Chain
SC-Single Crochet
DC- Double Crochet
Shell = 3 double crochet in space indicated. Corner = Shell, chain 2, shell in Chain-2 space.
Directions:
Chain 4. Slip stitch in first chain to form a circle.
ROUND 1- Chain 3, make 3 double crochet in the ring, chain 2, then four more double crochet. CHAIN 3
and turn.
ROUND 2- Make 3 double crochet IN BETWEEN the first and second double crochet of the previous row.
Skip three double crochet, work in your chain 2 space the following: (Shell, chain 2, Shell), SKIP NEXT 3
double crochet, make 4 double crochet in the space BETWEEN the 3rd AND 4TH double crochet. Chain 3
and turn.
ROUND 3- Make 3 double crochet in space between first and second stitches, skip 3 double crochet, make
a shell in the space between double crochets, skip 3 more double crochet, and work in your Chain-2 space
the following: (Shell, chain 2, Shell). Skip next 3 double crochet, shell in space between double crochet,,
skip next 3 double crochet, shell + 1 double crochet in same space. Chain 3 and turn.
ROUND 4- Skipping 1st double crochet, shell in space between double crochets. Work (*skip next shell,
make shell in next space between shells*) until you reach the Chain-2 space, then repeat from * to * until
you get to the lastshell+1 group. Skip first 3 double crochet, then shell in between this and the last double
crochet. Skip next 3 double crochet, shell + 1 double crochet in same space. Chain 3 and turn. Continue
working in established pattern until you finish the triangle you want.
Copyright 2009
www.lifeloveandyarn.com

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Happy day!!!

I am so happy today!!!! I received my prosthetic brace that is basically an insole that has a brace that comes up the outside of my ankle and goes up my shin, almost to my knee. It helps in three ways. 1) It stops my toes from curling up when I put on shoes as I am unable to flex my toes. 2) It adds stability to my outer ankle which is still paralyzed. 3) The part on the shin helps me utilize my front thigh muscle more to create a more natural step by utilizing my front thigh muscle more effectively. And the shallow vain part of me is ecstatic to be able to wear my shoes again! LOL Now I am knitting myself a leg warmer to go under the brace to help prevent chafing. Happy happy day!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I'm still not boring...

At least to other people I'm not ... for me I am mind numbingly bored... I wanted to do a "day in the life of" type post but realized that moving from the couch to the kitchen and back would be pretty bland after the first 3 times. I suppose I could photograph the canine kids or perhaps the dust bunnies whom I have named after The Fraggles. But even they seem annoyued by me following them around my 3 room digs playing paparazie. They actual hid upstairs today so I would give up. Smart little bugger huh!?!

It is a brand new year and the yarn shop I teach at is bustling again. I had 9 students in my beginer crochet class and two students in my sock class! Next month I am offering the Cap Sleeve Sweater  and the Lily Chin Shawl classes in addition to the beginner crochet. I am also hoping to start doing some finishing work as well. Just think you can make all your cool stuff and not have to worry about finishing it up! I will block and sew your sweaters and put together that giant basket of granny square you had forever but haven't made into a blanker or table cloth yet.

Ok I am off to play with my yarn and watch some Big Love on the DVR! But I will leave you with a bit of yarn porn!


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Tracy Ullman's Knitting Story!

View video here! I love the book!

Yarn CO-OP!!!!

For all our yarn loving friends lets face it we are going to buy yarn anyway so we may as well look for the best prices. And we have found a way to get those prices Life Love and Yarn has created a yarn co-op. Here is how it works. Life,Love and Yarn will find online yarn shops that either sell yarn at a deep discount or are willing to make a special offer for our co-op. I will personally handle all orders. Simply go to the store of the month and choose your items by adding them to your cart but DO NOT COMPLETE THE ORDER! Simply Copy your cart and paste it to an email and send it to lifeloveandyarn@gmail.com. You can even paste it into your pay pal note section. Another option is to use your print screen option and email me the jpeg.
Payment can be sent via pay pal to lifeloveandyarn@gmail.com . All payments are due no later then 11pm on the last date of the event.

I will confirm all orders with in 48hours after payment has been received.

Now without further delay this months yarn shop is: www.smileysyarns.com

Not only do they have amazing yarns for pennies on the dollar but they also are willing to wave the shipping for our co-op order. We are still required to place the minimum order of $50. That should be no problem with several people ordering.

Happy Shopping!!!!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Love this!!!

This  blog has awesome decorations!