CatBirdFish Knits

Boot Camp Alaska Style

2011-06-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, in the two weeks and two days since I have been here we have walked, and walked and walked some more.
There is a hike here where you climb Flat top mountain, it is rated as a moderate climb, which we thought maybe was do-able, seeing that my knee is still not super-duper, and my surgeon said no mountain climbing, moderate seemed within range.

It was a very wet, soggy day, and things get a little slick on the ground, there is alot of shale rock on the paths, and it can be tricky to walk on. Spotted this flower on the way up, I still had energy to get out the camera.

Well, this was on the way back down, there was no way, lots and lots of slippery steps and rocky steep slopes. I felt so disappointed in myself, thought wow, should be able to do this, but Doug was smarter then me and put a stop to it, so we went and ate pizza. Found out later a soldier had fallen climbing that evening and had to be air lifted out, maybe before we leave this can be my Mt. Everest and we can get to the top, if not, thats okay too.

On Sat. we drove to Seward which is the most beautiful drive ever, next time will have to take pictures. Seward sits in Resurection Bay and was established in the early 1900 as a gateway for the railroad. If you drive to the end of the road, literally, you can hike the peak down to the bay.

This was tough too, Sofey and I held Doug up a bit, but it is a gorgeous walk, lots of up and up, and then lots of down, there were several of these walkways which gave you a bit of a break.

This is the view of the bay as you reach the top before you start going down, with my hinged brace I felt pretty confident that we could make it to the bottom, and then back up, it was just to beautiful not to see what was at the end.

This is what greets you when you reach the meadow at the bottom, breathtaking, and the water is soooo clear, and so cold. The climb back up took a bit longer, even doug was worn out, would do it again tomorrow.

Does this not look like just what a fishing boat running through the bay to head into the harbour at Seward should look like?

Sofee wants to be a mush dog, dont know if the Iditarod is ready for that.

There is no good reason for this, other than there is a really cute quilt store here, and this involves wool felt and cutting things up. When the man of the apartment came home and saw it he was like, hmmm, wow, thats like, what is it? Answer, a candle mat, the kit said so. Response, much laughter.

It has been along time, since I have tried to paint or draw, really not sure if its something that I should keep up with, but maybe I'll get better with more practice. Or maybe theres alot more candle mats in my future, I see christmas presents.....

Selfishly, I consider this God's gift to me every night before sleep, this is what midnight looks like here, wish you all were here to share it.

My View of Alaska.....

2011-06-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

So, I think that my Alaska feet are finally under me, the first weekend, what with the unpleasantness of the car break-in and all sort of threw me, but now we are just truly enjoying it. This is the view of Cook Inlet out of our living/dining/kitchen area, its a super wierd apartment, but with this to look at, you can deal with it.

These mountains you can see are the Alutians, my son is over there somewhere, is nice to know that the same sun is shining on us both. In the other direction you can see Denali in the distance, it used to be Mckinnely, but has had a name change, hopefully we can make it out there, dont know how in the world you can see everything, theres just too many beautiful places.

This is Miss Sofey's park, she has made alot of friends, especially a little burnese pup that is just so cute, having this so close is the only way living in a city in a apartment is workable with a dog, granted, this city has alot of greenspace and she and I can walk from our place to downtown in about 5 minutes, she goes where I do, and people in town know her name, the lady in the tea shop even let her come in. Anchorage is a nice enough town, definetly a tourist place, but small enough to be easy to find your way around, once I found the starbucks downtown, it was all good.

One thing that I really love here is that down the whole Cook Inlet they have made a trail that goes for miles, its where we walk every day, when the tide goes out it has a huge mud flat, and there are alot of really strange birds and lots of bird watchers. We saw these guys one night, dont they look like emus? They are sand cranes, but just to make doug laugh I told some bird watchers we passed to make sure not to miss the sand emus that were out, he dared me so I had to say it.

What a shock, I found the yarnie places, this is hand dyed by a woman here, just thought it was so pretty, someday, it will be a pair of socks. The hardest thing about being here is not really having a ton of stuff to take care of, its alot of open time, which I am trying to sink into and enjoy, because these times dont come very often, and of course I have himself all to myself, which is really wonderful. Next post should have more glacier pictures, and maybe a project or two!

Out of the Tunnel

2011-05-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

What a strange time its been, but maybe finally, things are getting back to where it feels more normal, as normal as it ever gets around here, I could go on, but I think we have all been through a space in our life that just throws us off a bit, the getting thrown off track is the easy part, its finding my way back that has been harder. And people I love just wont stay put, but that is also as it should be too. So a field trip was in order the other day. I found this place on line, it is one of the last real wool mills around, and in between getting to play with my daughter and a really beautiful little girl and picking up my mum and auntie from the airport, finally got to go. You basically get on the 5 and head for the hills, and then turn down a country road and just keep driving. No one was around when I arrived at what was a shed and a couple of really, really big buildings, but you could hear the machines, I have a thing about big machinery, its connected to my dad, they always remind me of him. There was only one door to knock on and when I did she just said come on in. It was a wonderland. Machine from front to back and wool everywhere. She was lovely, and we talked and as she scooted her walker on would tell me about it all. I needed a camera so badly there.

She makes wool batts for quilts, on a huge drum carder that I did not get to see, another time hopefully, This is amazing stuff, what our grandmothers and their mothers would make quilts with, it is so light and so lofty, and it is huge. She explained to me that you can use the batt as is, or peel it into layers to make a thinner quilt. Its all about preference.

My Sis had to have some, had to, so she took me to the shed and we dug through the batts till I found this one, its really lovely, its pure California wool, something that just really speaks to me, where ever Himself takes me across this globe, California is always where we come back to. I so wish my sis would have been with me, she would have loved this more than I did. It is truly old school, this will take time to work with, and time to take care of, I think thats ok, sometimes old school is just what we need.

Of course the yarn had to come with me, alpaca and wool that she spun herself, and the wool is for my niece, cause California is in her blood too, and she makes amaing things. I loved this trip, on the way back out, there was a cowboy out riding, a real one, perfect.

Special Orders Received!

2011-01-18T17:00:00.001-08:00

So, we went skiing on Christmas eve, hmmmm, a few runs into the day, a weird fall and I wind up like this, but very lucky for me, my sis has come to my rescue with two of the most brilliant bags ever! You CANT carry a purse with crutches, and you have to have something to put stuff in so after being very whiney to her, these beauties arrived. The crutch clutch is perfect, the latches allow it to hang two different ways, and you can also hang it from your wrist, and the zippers are perfect, any women who has ever been on crutches really, really needs one!

My lovely niece sent me these. I really love them and am soooo glad gave me some because there is no way I could have figured out how to do them, they are going to stay out all year!

This little bag has truly, truly made this whole little journey so much easier, it can hold stuff while I wander around picking up things, or even better it can hold yarn, it is the perfect size and the clips make it soo convenient. But, wait for this, it will also hold my largest starbucks travel mug, so now I can pour my own coffee AND carry it to where I want to go, amazing! And she made both of these patterns up, yup, I know, I am very lucky to have her!

This guy is from a bit ago, the bear needed a friend, he was really lonely. Who knew a walrus and a baby bear would be best buds.

What came down my stairs and more.....

2010-05-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

This walked downstairs early in the morning, it is most likely the only picture I will ever get of the green monster knitted for my son. It is his fishing sweater, what you cant see is that is has a pouch and a banded bottom, just like a sweatshirt. He likes it, alot. There is a baby version of it, hmmmm.

Finally, feel like this is done, its not very good, but it was alot of fun to do. Have always dreamed of being a sculptor, living in Italy and eating my body weight in pasta, but Rescue and poptarts and some funky tulips will have to do.

These guys are going to go up on Etsy as soon as there are some decent pics taken, photographing wool is really hard, but think these are fun.

The fish is not quite done, he needs some little underwater friends to keep him company!

Was going to try to make this into a necklace, or maybe another fob, this wool is great. Needle felted it and then hot water felted it too.

Maybe one day I will actually stop making weird stuff and clean my house, then again, maybe not......

Rebel Fish and hi-jacked idea

2010-03-31T15:58:00.001-07:00

Well, hey there Rebel Fish, so glad your here with me! The sound track to my life lately has been Rebel Rockers by Michael Franti, amazing, makes you want to put tons of braids in you hair, throw on a flow-ey skirt and dance around your living room, and it also inspired this guy. I like him.

He's a puppet, but also sorta a stuffed animal, wanted him to keep his round shape, so sewed a insert and made him go all puffy.

He likes to laugh alot.

He's a great swimmer, cause all he really has to do is a few flaps of the fins, and away he goes.

He is not built for speed, just for a slow cruise.

He really likes to show off his fins.

He is sort of vain that way.

He a total vegetarian, prefers seaweed all the time, and pasta.

Time for him to go for a swim.

I jacked this idea from my sis, her blog should be linked in this exact spot, but am not smart enough to do that. Its made from wool yarn and roving.

I have one of hers that goes every where with me, it has gnomes on it, I took it before my mom could claim it.

Thought these might sell on my etsy? Do you mind sis?

Think maybe Rebel Fish will go there too, if my son doesn't claim it first.

I can too!

2010-03-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

So, the other day at work, the ladies who were in class were working on fair isle bags, a really cool technique, a really old one, one I have never tried. One of them said, oh you cant do this can you? Now I dont remember saying this, but its possible, maybe it was more like I've never done this before, and of course when I am told I cant do something, then I must at all costs do that thing. It started with yarn my son brought back from Chile, on the right, it is razor wire disguised as wool, I could knock over any yarn shop in town and they could never catch me as I have no fingerprints left after working with it. The other yarn is Ultra Alpaca my all time fav yarn. So then, of course, the bag was made, its easy, just time consuming and waa laa, a bag was born.

Now in the midst of making said bag, we took my wee daughter to san fran to catch a flight to florida, of course we went for a walk in golden gate park, beyond beautiful this time of year, and then down to north beach to our fav italian resturant, amazing pasta, on the way a woman crossed our path, she was wonderful, and wearing every thing you could possibly imagine that was knit, hat, scarf, leg warmers, gloves, wristies, sweater, bag, it was 80 degress out, I'm sure I am forgetting something, himself looked at me with a expression of terror, he knew this could be me, I am just one ball of yarn away from this..... anyways, back to the bag....

The yarns decided to felt at different densities, it must have been a very angry sheep that produced the wool from chile, it just didnt want to give in. So the purse is a little weird, wonky even.

As you can see it looks wonderful on himself, although he told me it should never been worn in public. Too bad, it was going to be a present for him to carry his computer bag in. Guess this little beauty is mine, all mine.
After our evening workout, I got dressed for dinner, I feel stunning, amazing, and sexy beyond belief, draped in knits from head to toe. I miss my soul sister from sf, we are peas in a pod, her and I, and tonight my husband after seeing me in all my knitted glory is just more than a little afraid, really thought he was made of stronger stuff.

Truth is I am afraid too, and there is more that just couldnt be put on, think, maybe, its time to stop knitting, or maybe its just time to move to san francisco.

He's not mine, but I wish he were.....

2010-03-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

This is Spur, he belongs to our neighbor, a girl Tay went to school with, I want him.She went to a concert the other night, and asked us to babysit, it was a really hard job.

There is nothing on this whole earth as precious as a baby corgi, nothing.

We played, and he got very tired, do you see his little short legs, and really, really big ears??? They feel just like velvet.

The boys bonded, I love puppies, human and animal.

Does he have to go home???

Think maybe he should just stay here.

Silly....

2010-03-10T14:28:00.001-08:00

There was a bit of a sewing disaster this week, there were some not so good dinners, had several knitting issues could not figure out, so just needed to switch mediums. I love clay. This guy is so weird, so out of proportion, and a little mongoosey, but he still says bear to me, and he's not yarn, fabric, or food ingredients.

He was just what I needed today.

Wool Magic....

2010-02-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

I got really lucky the other day, found this sweater at the thrift store, it is the most beautiful wool, in my favorite color, it was only 4 dollars, but best of all...

It was made in Scotland, a place I so fell in love with, would go back to and live there forever.

It came home and promptly got washed and turned into the most wonderful felt I have ever seen. A super handsome scots man could wear this felt while running over the hills and through the heather in a cold scottish rain and never get wet, I know, I pictured it all in my head... he looked like my husband, who has a little scots in him, lucky me.

It got cut up,
and needle felted with some gorgeous wool from my sis,

and is now this, himself says its weird, maybe I don't like him after all.

Meet Bonanza, I love him, he is named this because when something really cool happens that you sorta weren't expecting to work out, you just have to yell out Bonanza!! I learned this a long time ago in Germany.

My boys do love this guy, they both said he needed to be a vacuum attachment to make cleaning more fun. They are weird.

He is happy to be outside, but the wind mussed his hair a bit.
Just had to give a shout out to cotton, organic, hand-dyed, impossibly soft and squishy goodness, just a simple scarf with crochet trim, I tried to make it fancier, but this is what it wanted to be. Yep, yarn speaks to me, if your thinking this girl has lost her mind, well that train left the station a really long time ago!

Her sweater, plus opinions please

2010-02-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

So, my neice requested a cardigan sweater in grey or green, was hoping that this would fit the bill for her. Its made of Ultra Alpaca, just a really great yarn, 50 wool and 50 alpaca, both these fibers bring out the best in each other, and it makes up into a fabric that you dont have to baby, you can just stuff the sweater into a back pack and head to the beach, it can take it. The style is my own, dont do this to be clever, just not clever enough to read a sweater pattern most times, they are just one big story problem!

Am anxious to hear if its to her liking....

Now, if I could please have some thoughts from whomever is willing to give them to me, am thinking of opening an etsy shop, what I need to know is, does anyone like these following things and do you think they would sell???

This is made from Itata, merino, silk, bamboo. One of my favorite yarns, great color, great feel.

This is made from eco wool, have fallen for this yarn too, in the que for making the shalom cardi, when we get in back in stock and after i decipher the pattern (story problem solving).

This baby is pure italian cashmere, needs to be touched, it doens't weigh anything, and is softer than air.

Now this one, Art Yarns silk rhapsody, I have no words for it, it is just beautiful, really, and it has a sheen, and is so soft, 50 silk 50 kid mohair, amazing.

This is a sweater made for my mum for her birthday, itata yarn again, this is not my pattern, its called Featherweight cardigan by Hanna Fettig, have made two, really fun knit.

Another gift for mum, lace shrug out of merisoft wool, feels like cotton puffs, kind of a funky style, himself does not understand this style, he thinks its weird, but I think fishing is weird, so were even.

So throw back some opinions at me please, it would be great to be able to support my obsession a little with maybe selling some things! Thanks!

All about color....

2009-11-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

So, my lovely niece told me about a color, bedford gray, that she had used, I had never seen it, but knowing what amazing taste she had, went and had it mixed without knowing what it was, its beautiful, won't tell how bad this bath was before, NOTHING worked, think it works now. It needed some funky art, was going to buy some, then realized, gosh, think I can do something wierd, forget how much fun painting is. The gorgeous vase on the counter is from the same amazing neice....

Nature know just the right shades, this is my most favorite posession, my tree, it is just perfect.

This is the most perfect shade of blue, dragonscale mitts from purlbee, sort of love them, the pattern is just so pretty and old fashioned. Need to finish the second.....cause there is more yarn waiting to be mitts too!

Make the mountain come to you.....

2009-10-13T09:52:00.003-07:00

So, himself and I finally had a day off at the same time, wow, we were going to go for a drive, get out of town for awhile and see something pretty, I was really anxious to go, then he got sick, then I got sick, I love having my kids come home to visit, but why do they always come home ill? Since we couldn't actually go see any of this in person I decided to create my own virtual world.

These are all the pumpkins we would have seen.

And a basket of apples and pears that we would have brought home.

And a little squirrel that we would have laughed at, having a vivid imagination comes in handy at times like these.

Some one wanted to take the squirrel to work today, I said no, he needed to be here for company for me.Maybe not as fun as the real thing but it made him smile, mission accomplished.

2009-10-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

Sorta Dr. Seuss

2009-09-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Cast this on last night, kinda knew the direction I wanted to go in, started knitting, threw it in the washer, and waa laa, it was just what i wanted it to be.

My sis happened to call this morn, and since she is the intended victim for this odd little thing, finished while we were gabbing, didn't know it would have a pansy on the back till I heard her voice. Now, the question would be, does one really need a oversized pod-ish pin holder, quess the anwer would be no, but just maybe the answer could be yes too.

The last of the peppers, they are really giving it their best for this last hurrah, habanerros, when they go red it is the best shade of that color ever.

when you should be someplace else....

2009-09-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

So sometimes life feels like your on a really bad taxi ride with a driver that just wont listen to where you want to go, I am supposed to be far, far away now with my sis and her family that I love very much, but instead, am here..... so after some serious wallowing, started thinking, what do you do when someone sends you a flurry of beautiful snowflakes?

You make some earrings that sparkle like crazy that remind you of winter in Germany.

You send your sis a field of snow back, alpaca, so soft, funny thing is its not stretchy when its dry, but when wet, will stretch like mad, so am just thinking how come when little alpacas out in the wild get rained on, why dont they get all stretchy too....

Put in the same box some cowls, its a simple design, but my own, beige one is merino that feel like silk, striped one is silk and wool that feels like both.

Another Noro wool, silk blend, bigger yarn, more subtle colors, and a organic hand dyed cotton from peru, feels like a cloud.

And this one, yak down, once my sister and I were talking about raising musk ox for their fur, well, my yard is too small, and even though yaks and musk oxen are different, I feel they must be related some how, so this is for her, super soft and a little springy, almost makes you want a yak to cuddle with on the couch, almost.

And then maybe you wallow somemore and think forward to when you will be able to go and step into her life and be with her family and meet all girls she works with and enjoys so much, and then grab the cat and knit.

Dont do's and do's while you are avoiding swine flu

2009-07-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

So, for all three of you avid followers who actually read my blog, thought I'd post just a tip or two about how to spend your time when you are waiting out something like sf, and being so thankful it hasn't been worse than it has....

Do not by any means waste any time dusting, it will just come back, worse than before, instead...

think about what you are going to make with the yarn your son brought you back from Chile before he contracted said dreaded sf...

Take this pretty floss and cheap bracelet from hancocks and after spending two hours wrapping it and approx. ten dollars, end up with something you could buy at cost plus for two.

Dont clean out this cubby, it has been like this since September, it will be like this till the my children go back to school, when the doors are shut, no one knows the evil that lays within...

Do pick a tomato, the first big one, and put it on a bagel and eat it.

Dont bring in the laundry, it will be there tomorrow morning, and it will smell like fresh morning dew....

Do appreciate something someone gave to you a while ago, I love this little bag, my sister gave it to me.

Dont clean up the mess on the table, the juice will get drunk, the hat will get worn, and maybe at some point the sweater will get knitted.

Do make a purse, really happy with this, especially the little turtle buttons, found them at maiwa in canada.

Most of all just be happy that I am sitting here avoiding all the work around me and doing lots of things I enjoy!!!

just a few things.....

2009-07-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

So, just thought I'd throw a few things up that have been going on around here, put these bags together and hung them on my art room wall in hopes of containing the knitting chaos, eight bags, eight projects, it kinda sorta works....

My wonderful sister sent to me the best wool I have ever seen/felt, the colors are amazing, put them all in our mema's flour jar between working on it, think it looks like the best candy, the project with it is going to take awhile, but should be alot of fun when it is done, very under the sea themed.

Alaphabet peppers, habaneros, need a really good salsa recipe, if you have one pass it to me please!!!!

This leather bag in one of my faves, made it from some leather from salem glove co. and some linen, want to do anther out of this lee jofa fabric and brown velvet, do you think the aqua linen works??? Want to use the wood bracelets to connect the handles to the bag, think there should be a zipper too.

This is out or Noro Iro, the best yarn ever, love the cable pattern, want more of the yarn....

New fave hat, made from the simple pleasures pattern on purlbee, out of baby suri and baby alpaca lace, snuggly enough to keep you warm, loose enough to avoid hat head.

My first real sweater, love it, out of merino wool that feels like silk, it is the perfect through on over a cami do.

Monster squash, this is what happens when you cant find squash because the plants are soooooo big.

These are some kinda spicy peppers, made my eyes water just sitting on the table.

So this is a little out of order, bedroom shot with really cheap ikea lamps that i glued paper onto and then strung with crystals, table painted red by himself, (these are the sort of nice things your husband will do for you when they are laid off)

This is the other nice thing your husband will do for you while he is looking for his next job, he will grow the most beautiful garden in the world, this is an oasis, it is a treasure hunt every day to see what is out there, and if only I could capture a picture of the bumble bee who lives here, it is massive, and so bumble beeish it just doesnt look real at all.

a tiny something

2009-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

So this is the first thing I've made that actually came out sorta the right size, guage, who knew it was so tricky. Think this is about a 6 months size, sort put two patterns together and added a little something of my own. Favorite thing about it is its done in the round with no seams, and the yard, cashmere and merino, am hoping it good enough to put up in the shop, now am trying to make one in a big girl size for me!!!

project and way too much me

2009-05-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

So, many apologies in advance for the abundance of me, should of had corrie be the model..... this happens to my favorite yard panther, she loves to smell the herbs and hide under the bar-b-que, but mostly the noisy traffic really scares her.

The star wars cowl, its weird, but i sort of like it, you cant see the cyrstals on it though, figure it needed stars on it if I was going to go to the planet Endor wearing it.

A couple of the shrugs i made, doug calls them booby huggers, he is a weird man, got alot of shrug love when i wore it to services on Sunday, personally i love them.

This shawl is made from 100 percent merino and it feels like silk, currently my most favorite yarn, button was one of mema's from the button bucket.

A little felted bag made from plymouth bocu yarn, not my most fav, but it felted up really pretty and used my most favorite stitch, a i-cord.
Several women came into the yarn shop today and wanted to make the shrug, thought that was cool, they guy who came in who liked it, well, he was just a little scary!!! Have several hats going, found a really cool guys hat pattern, thought I finally made one big enough for himself's head, but am on try number two, tay will love the first one!

for my sis

2009-03-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

So this beautiful peasant blouse pattern popped up on tayo's fabric website this morning, and as I was going to be in the area and cannot resist a peasant blouse in any form, had to go, had to buy, isn't it sooo pretty, love all the different things about it, the fabric is Charisma by chez moi for moda, I love it so much too, hopefully can get working on it soon, pattern looks simple, has a side zipper, would be a fun late night project. Peasanty shirts always remind me of my sister.

And by the way sis, when you get a extra second or two, could you make me a quilt that looks just like this???

Herd of Frogz

2009-03-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Think spring is finally here, and with it came a little gathering of frogs, dont know why, when I saw them on Purlbee, they were just cute, so there you are.

This one is my fav. Then of course had to try the beach balls, these were just fun, and of course being a round circle make me weirdly happy.

Made this collage for my bedroom, if theres one thing more funner than circles its ripping and cutting paper up to put together again.

Made this cami for myself out of blue sky alpaca skinny cotton, very simple garter stitch with i-cord strap and some simple crochet trim, wear it over a white tee and its pretty cute, wore it to my job at the knitting store and even got a compliment!

My first lilac, if there is any smell on this earth that says spring to me, this is it.

Project in the works, thought of this one while I was at work at dsw, the most insanely huge shoe store ever, which should be a good fit for me, but my mind wanders, and it wandered here, lets just hope it works out, but with sharpies you can never go too wrong.

too much junk in his trunk

2009-03-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

So, this is the newest little creature to come visit me. I think I sort of love him, but as you can see, his trunk is just a little too big for his baby body!!

But I just know that he will grow into it.

He's been out rolling around in the mud which is why he has so many colors on him, or maybe he just got into my paint stash...

He fits perfectly into my husbands hand, which I think is just the right size for a elephant you will be keeping indoors. I wonder if he and the mouse will get along?

mini mini and they're to big for me

2009-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

So, needle felting, there are no words for how much fun this is, truly, its just magic. Some beautiful dyed wool, a couple of needles, piece of foam, and a really thick glove, and off you go. This guy came out as a baby, thought he was going to be a grown up, his feet are way to big!!!

The mushroom came before the mouse, and he was lonely, so had to make him a little friend.

My insane cat on the kitchen table and under what is a christmas project, should a animal really make you this happy???

All over the map

2009-01-29T17:17:00.001-08:00

It certainly feels like we have been on a long trip, even though for alot of it we never left home... my man and me went on a road adventure, there was the most coolest shell store in morro bay, this little guy is a real beauty, and from so far away. Just a few projects, another hemp dishrag, I consider these like the little guys in the midst of the really big endeavors, this other pic is from a trip to a really cool fabric store with my mum, didnt try to buy stuff with circles on it, it just sort of happens, these are for next christmas, if they turn out.......had a fun day with her.

Another alpaca cowl, tapered this one much more so it is cozy around the top and then slouches down, love making these, added a button so top would be obvious, its looking for a home.

Socks are the newest trip, if I can get past the heel it would be really exciting, just love the thought of making socks, makes me feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder, my hero. Also is my first attempt at a fingerless glove, these are fun!!! Himself calls him my Micheal Jackson gloves, no vision I tell you.

All during our trip we were sick, and tried to ignore it, we finally had to give in, but we did have great fun, tried to work on pair number 2 of fingerless gloves in alpaca, gorgeous, just not smart to work in a diesel on a bumpy road in the middle of nowhere california, had to put these away till we got home!

Doesnt our counter look like we are running a pharmacy???? Sort of felt like this guy that was way up on the rim of hearst castle, sometimes life really feels this way, like you are running around buck nekked with the world on your shoulders!!

Took these pics for my sis and jess, shouldnt the elephant be standing on something???? The lion was holding a really, really big candlestick, it was in the dining room, I could have helped him spend his money with he was building the castle, would have given the poor elephant a foot rest.

California dreaming.......

This guy has been keeping me company for sometime now, every morning when i open the curtains and am waiting for the coffee to brew, he is there, having the most wonderful feast, and I just wonder how did he know to come to my yard??? Sometimes I just miss the obvious, and make things way too hard, perfect can sometimes be right in front of your face and you dont even know it. It was a great road trip, we got sick, we froze, we got to see our kids, life now feels like I have stepped off the end of the ruler that I have measured my whole life by, and while its really scary, its okay.

Woo Hoo All Done!!!!!

2008-12-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

So the last of the projects are done and in the mail, well at least three of them are! Now just have a few other little odds and ends to play with, and made the last batch of marshmallows today with Corrie, think I have a problem, love making marshmallows, its just magic! These little book bags are for three of my favorite little boos, one of them will have to "grow" into hers, but it wont be long.... I made them from fabric my sis sent to me, jitterbug, love it even more now that I have worked with it, has such a great feel, and washed up perfect and they way it all goes together, makes what is a very simple bag look way more special!

Kitchen is done!!! This was the most easiest ( I know thats not right but it fits) home project we have ever have done, and think it was really effective, looks like a totally different kitchen, and love the pulls, clearance bin at Lowes, love that, anyways, inspires me to be in there way more, the color is devilsfood, appropriate huh?

This is for my mum, love how this came out, once again the fabric raises up a simple thing to sorta cool, its from Hoffman Fabrics, instead of calling them jelly rolls they call them Bali Pops, the colors are just so incredible. Its for her to put all her yarn in for the projects she makes for next Christmas!

Boy this blog is all sorts of out of order!

2008-12-11T14:52:00.001-08:00

2008-12-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

So, its been sooo long since the last post seems I forgot how!!! Just wanted to thank everyone who is linked to my sisters blog, when I couldnt craft, you all were my outlet and inspiration with my morning coffee, you all are very talented! These are just a few silly pics of me and my crazy fam, corrie and I on the dock at Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe and some beautiful little ducks, I adore ducks, just dont know why the guys get to be so pretty??? The little hat is for a very sick little boy who we go to worship services with, you were there were more you could do for a family who is facing such a hard journey, the little bag is for his big sister, its the last of the moda basic grey that i had, love that fabric. The Big hat is for my big/little boy, its from pattern from knittingonthenet.com, its a skull cap pattern that people make and send to her and she distributes them to the military, (on the top of my list of things to do). The scarf is out of 5o lama and 5o silk, my new favorite yarn, really soft but its got a bit of a tooth with the slub of the silk, the pattern is from purl bee, their mistake pattern, really fun. So, everything else is off limits and in a box in the mail. Have a few more projects to finish and then its making marshmallow time, you've got to try it, just a blast!!! and amazingly wonderfully delish, use Alton Browns recipe from food network, way better then martha stewarts recipe. Happy Mallowing!!!

Thanks and some projects

2008-12-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

chloe sells seashells.....

2008-10-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

So I have a visitor from afar, and she is the best houseguest ever, she asked very politely to get to stay with the seashells and it is just the perfect spot for her. So glad she is mine. My sister also sent me the jitterbug fabric, am just a total nut about it, it was the first thing that was put out on the shelf, one day I will be brave enough to cut it, but for now it just makes me so happy to see it there and to think about my wonderful other-half-of-me sis who sent it to me!

Silly reasons to smile...

2008-09-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist these earrings, their long, have round circles and are blue, they were at the art gallery here, so glad they could come home with me.

Okay, how cool is this, coffee bag from the gas station/bakery/coffee shop/ice cream/wine store, love the colors, the print is this years print from pt. roberts, both will go in the kitchen, think they will look good, wall art for under 10.00, gotta love that.

The flowers are from right outside my door, the colors are just beautiful.

Please welcome Maggie, the jack russell and Timmy, the corgi, they are husband and wife and belong to a lovely woman here who has a boat charter business, and who is kind enough to let us play with them, there is just no way you can look at a corgi face and not smile with your heart.

Paws and a pillow

2008-09-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Slippers paws, I love her feet, she is happy as long as her head is under and her feet are out....

This is the pillow after being felted, I was so excited it worked, shrank over 8 inches, it was like magic, then put the circles to mimic the Kaffe (pronounced coffee in my head even though I know its wrong) fabric on the back.

Luckily the grocery store here on the point is like one stop shopping, they had really cheap camping pillows, it fit perfect, imagine that.

So, this is really kind of awful, but a fun exercise in pastel, thats one thing I would really love to learn how to use, someday....

Beach Treasures

2008-09-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

So these are some of the amazing things we saw , thought these rocks were cool, notice the circle rock....

These jelly fish were everywhere need to find out what kind they are, and they are really big, like two feet around, wanted Doug to pick one up but he didnt, dont know why.

These berries grow wild all over the Point, should really pick something and cook something yummy, or maybe just do what the bears do and eat them as I go.

Back to Perfect

2008-09-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

So, after a moving day that lasted 3 lifetimes, we have arrived back at Point Roberts, although this time it is without our children. For the first time in a really long time it is just my man and me, not a bad thing, just weird. We left behind us belongings strewn through two states and one foreign country, and dont really know how much of what got left behind that is needed, the only thing that might be missed is the rope I used to have a slight grasp on, think that is somewhere on I-5 not too far from salem, that can be done without for a while too, just float through the next couple of days untethered to any responsibility at all. Only thing in the near future is some beautiful yarn, and a pillow project, think it might just turn out!!! Oh, and trying to master putting a picture in the right spot on this post, maybe if I knew how to use a computer!!!