Wrapping it up

I did it again...was in a hurry. I took a picture of my finished project at the last minute which resulted to blurry pics in bad lighting. My model (i.e oldest daughter) was fidgety and strongly adamant that she was not to be in the photo...so I complied - after all she wasn't the focus of my attention, the neckwarmer was!!!

But the main idea is to document that I actually am working on projects and finishing them!

I'll soon get over the embarrassment of these pictures...

It's my favorite simple pattern -

CO the amount of stitches of your preference.

Row 1: k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat until end.

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: k2, *slip 1 wyif repeat from* to the end.

Row 4: Purl

Repeat these 4 rows until you reach the desired length.

Towards the end I made 2 button holes.

I have an incredible desire for short wraps around my neck. It's a turtleneck that can not only cover the bottoms of your ears but one you can unbutton and open up as well.

It's small enough to roll into your bag or when worn under a jacket can be like an unbutton collar. It's also my way to splash some color into my usual black attaire.

I set out to hunt for 2 unique buttons so while the girls were at soccer practice I ditched my walk/run around the park and slipped into CostPlus to peruse the earrings - and voila, beautiful round ornate earrings - now buttons!

I wanted to surprise this co-worker. She's my lunch partner so I rolled the neckwarmer into a pastry bag to make it look like a yummy pastry and set it on her desk.

I have just enough yarn to make myself a little somethin'-somethin'. It's the same yarn I used for my other co-worker and since the 3 of us share an office it'll be a symbolic gesture of department unification - ok, ok, ok an adult friendship bracelet, if you will - yeesh!

Next!

P.S What's next?

I had a few days to knit a project for a birthday present. It's the last-minute-Betty act that I play often. I always have good intentions in the beginning but somehow, somewhere, somewhy, things slip through the cracks and I'm scrambling.
When we were out of town for a soccer game, my girls & I went out for lunch and fell upon a yarn store - yeah! Thick yarn, big needles and I was 2/3 the way there!I knew I wanted to knit a scarf and I knew I wanted to knit a checkered pattern. How many to cast-on stumped me and sent me through a few trial & errors until I felt it was right.

I knitted late at night while watching "Brother & Sisters" on the computer...

and while under a shade of an old tree while waiting for my girls.

I never took a great picture of the final product or even while I was knitting the project - time was awasteing!

But I did it - I finished a project! For those of you who know me, yes, I tried it on and, yes, I contemplated keeping it [I know, that's bad] but, instead, I rolled the scarf, tied it with a wide hot pink lace and left it on my co-workers desk.

BTW, she loved the scarf and adored the color - a wonderful green that mimics the color that illuminates from sun-soaked leaves! We appreciated the color for the same reason! In fact, she laid it on her couch and is now wondering about a knitted blanket...hmmm...how many episodes will that take?!

For this one I CO 15 stitches and knitted & purled for 5 stitches and 5 rows. I tried casting on 20 stitches but that was too wide for me. I even tried casting on an even number...so much put into a wee scarf!

When this quick project was completed - when I binded off that last stitch - I was reminded how it feels to have needles in hand and yarn by my side.

Next!

A Twist to Life!

I think I need a party - a celebration - a reason to let my hair down and frolic. I remembering frolicing, I don't frolic anymore. I remember walking down the street with an up-beat outrageous song in my head, like in "Ally McBeal".

Lately I have been feeling so "over" people. I have been so impatient, grumpy & crabby.

Lately I have been void of that laughter that only resonates when friends are enjoying each others company - with or without a cocktail in hand.

Lately I have been missing my friends.

I've been slowly entering back to blogland. I've been catching up on my favorite blogs, A Fanciful Twist never fails to make me giggle. She never fails to remind me to wonder again.

So I have a month to dig about my vintage clothing and my storage of costumes. A mere month to step out with my zanyest of shoes and glitterest of jewels...all in A Fanciful Twist kind of way.

I'm getting out of this crazy funk I've been in.

I'm going to have fun!

Join us!

Knitting projects to consider

I get so silly excited when I find a project I want to knit...but, you know me, will I finish it? Eeep, with all the unfinished projects I have laying around?!! Do I dare even think of starting a project?

But look at this sweater!
I think I've had dreams about wearing a sweater like this!
I even took snap shots of the pattern!

Gasp! There's another one!
I'm going insane here!

I have to gain composure! I have to priorities! I have to be realistic!

I need to finish the 2 baby sweaters and the 2, no - 3, knitted bags first, right?!

I have just finished Stephenie Meyer's 3rd book, "Eclipse". As soon as I completed the Epilogue I walked toward Kaitlin & Breana's bookshelf to grab the 4th book, "Breaking Dawn" completely convinced that the first 3 books could have been condensed to one nicely impact book - same amount of pages - but just one...not three...one.

Now that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the books. I did get lost in some of the writing and appreciated the content, too...but the neediness and lack of life outside of one's boyfriend was a bore to me - although I know, I know, their relationship was what the book pivoted around. It was frightening, too. I would not want any of the young Ladies in my life to live their lives like a lost puppy who needed to be rescued and then never left alone for fear - even if it were just a few hours or even just for the evening - to be abandoned [oh dear!] But because I was told by my 14 old niece and 13 yr old daughter that I must not skip any parts - no matter what - I read through pages of goo-gooing & gaa-gaaing from cover to cover. It was melodramaticness at its best!

It was a perfect catalyst to talk to my girls about unnecessary "wanting" and "needing" and the strong desire to be self-reliant and being self-confidant.

I do appreciate many facets of the books. One in particular is Edward. I especially appreciate his cavalier and gentlemanly attributes - that is most appealing to me.

I started "Breaking Dawn" in the evening but left it at the dining table for the morning. I'm actually curious about that book so intend on finishing right away. Kaitlin tells me it's the best of the four.

So there, "Breaking Dawn" comes highly recommended!