NoeysMommyKnitsandSews

Double the pleasure, double the fun!

2010-08-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

......and the sewing machine saga continues!

So, my uncle (my cousin's dad) and his second* wife (*will be relevant later in the story!) are coming to visit us for Thanksgiving. Yay! We have such a small family and we rarely see them as they are dispersed throughout the country. They are driving down from Montana, and have graciously offered to stop in Wyoming to pick up my grandmother's sewing machine for me. How nice is that?!

Sunday morning my mom calls and says that my uncle would like to know if I would like my Auntie's sewing machine too. (it belonged to his first wife, who passed on in 2001) She had purchased hers in the late 1950's around the same time that my mom and grandmother got their machines.

AND....my grandfather had made a custom cabinet for it, and would I like that also?

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! I have been wanting a vintage machine for some time, and now I'm getting two!

That will bring my machine total up to FIVE! JD knows about my grandmother's machine coming, but I haven't told him about my Auntie's machine. He's gonna think I'm crazy, and I may have to part with one of my current machines.

Back to reality now, I haven't sewn much at all this week. Summer finally hit here and it's been in the high 90's. The heat and being back at work have sapped all my energy. I have been planning though! (I love to plan!)

We are going to Hearst Castle/Moonstone Beach to celebrate my birthday in January. I'm working on my wardrobe for the long weekend. (Martin Luther King, Jr. and I share the same birthday)

I bought this fabric on eBay. It's Michael Miller Woodland Delight Blooms Brown. (that's a mouthful!)

I'm going to make this dress:

It's Onion 2031. I got the pattern a couple of weeks ago from Denmark. I've read through the translated instructions, and I'm hoping I can figure it all out! I'm not sure if this will be the "Birthday Dress" or the "Shopping in San Luis Obispo" dress! I think the cotton fabric is a little casual, but I'm just gonna wait and see when it's done.

I have been knitting a little here and there. I'm making Noey a pair of fingerless mitts to go with the hat I recently made her. I found a pretty green/brown/cream yarn when we were in Solvang that matches the hat perfectly. It's been so long since I used double points that I had to start and then rip out the first mitt about 4 times before I got the hang of it again!

Thanks to Carolina I have changed my comments settings so now anyone can comment!!

The Sewing Gene

2010-08-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

I come from a long line of seamstresses. Personally, I know it goes back 3 generations, maybe more. My grandmother was born in 1900. She was quite the fashion plate in her prime, and often told the story of going "downtown" with her mother to window shop. She would spot a dress in a store window, and her mother would then duplicate it for her, just by looking at it.

My grandmother, Leah Marie, was quite a seamstress as well. She made the most exquisite clothing, including this dress she wore as the mother-of-the-bride at my mother's wedding.

It is truly a work of art. I love to pull it out of the closet every once in a while to admire it. The details are amazing.

Sometime in the 1950's both my grandmother and my mother purchased Singer 301 sewing machines. My mother purchased hers to take to college with her, and still uses it to this day.

When my grandmother passed away in 1993, we decided that my cousin should take her sewing machine. Both my mother and I had nice machines, and my cousin thought she might give sewing a try.

Fast forward 17 years later...my cousin has never used the machine and asked me, out of the blue, if I would like to have it!! Ummmmmm......YES!!

The only hitch is that she lives in Wyoming and I live in California. We're working on a plan to get it to me, but I probably won't get it until Thanksgiving. In the meantime I have been doing a lot of research, I downloaded a manual, (60 some pages!) and I purchased a buttonhole attachment from Barbara.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig!

2010-08-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

We came home from Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon, and now it seems so long ago!

It was a great trip, perfect weather, and so relaxing. Noey spent as much time in the hotel pool as she possibly could, and her new swimsuit was just right.
(I don't know why she is wearing the skirt so low on her hips!)

We went to the Mission Santa Barbara the first day. California 4th graders study the 21 missions, so Noey has been particulary interested in them this year.

We went to Solvang the second day and, of course, we had to have Aebleskivers! Yummy! (I made Noey's shirt)

and on the third day we went to the Santa Barbara Zoo. A great little zoo in a beautiful setting. (and once again, I made the shirt!)

This is my last week off of work, and I am making the most of it. Noey is off to the Aquarium of the Pacific day camp every day from 8:00am to 5:00pm, so I've had plenty of time to sew, sew, sew!! I planned to make an item each day, 3 down and 2 to go. The first three items I made are t-shirts for Noey.

This one I made on Monday. (Tuesday's and today's have not been photographed yet) I used a women's pattern, Kwik Sew 3338, in XS which fits Noey perfectly. I've made this one a number of times before (the purple shirt above) but this time I used Fold Over Elastic for the first time! It turned out so cute! I also used a twin needle for the hem (first time also!)

The Last of the Mohicans

2010-07-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

(it's a family joke!)

I finished up the last two items needed for our trip. I started out at 9:00am this morning and finished them both by noon!

Noey requested a swim skirt to go with her new bathing suit. I winged it on this one, and it turned out pretty good. I just measured her tummy and hips, and then made a simple a-line pattern. I applied swimwear elastic to the waistband and made a narrow hem, and VOILA!

I haven't gotten her to try it on with the swimsuit yet, but I'm sure it will be cute!

I immediately moved on to my skirt. I tried the straight A-line idea again and this time it worked! I added more at the top and a little at the hips. This fabric is older than Noey, and I have no idea where I got it. It's a medium weight denim and I must've gotten a lot of it because I made a tote bag with it, and some other things as well. (how embarrassed would Noey be if I wore my tote bag with my new skirt?!)

Noey has her art class this afternoon, and then she and JD are going out to dinner. JD does not travel with us (ask questions before you marry!!) so they want to spend a little time together before we leave.

Hmmmm....I wonder if I could squeeze in one more project???

The "Fun" has caught up with me

2010-07-26T19:32:00.001-07:00

and I am exhausted!

We spent all day today at the downtown museums; the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum. We saw the Mummies of the World exhibit. I was a little creeped out by it, but Noey loved it!
I should have known it was going to be gruesome when the guy at the ticket booth gave me the parental warning!

Noey and her BFF had a great time running from exhibit to exhibit (once we recovered from the mummies!) Here they are in infrared.

We also went through the Butterfly Garden and Noey made a friend. Seriously, they tell you not to touch the butterflies, but this one would not leave her alone!

So yesterday, after I finished Noey's swimsuit I immediately cut out and sewed up this top in between playing school with Noey, cooking dinner, packing, and cleaning up the house a bit. I sent Noey and JD out for ice cream last night so I could finish!

It's New Look 6979 in a lightweight cotton jersey that I got from fabric.com. I made this to go with my summer skirt made a couple weeks ago.

I just have one more item I want to make before we leave! A denim skirt in a cute floral print. I've had the fabric for years, at least 10! I have about 6 hours tomorrow before Noey's art class. Fingers crossed!

3 More Days!

2010-07-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

until we leave on vacation! I have been working my fingers to the bone trying to sew up everything before we leave.

Noey specifically asked me to make her a swimsuit for the trip, how could I refuse?

It turned out so cute! I used Kwik Sew 2606 and two coordinating nylon-lycra prints that I bought on eBay. I don't like that RTW swimsuits are only lined in the front or just the crotch area so I lined the entire suit with swimwear lining. Essentially I made a second suit out of lining, then basted the lining to the lycra wrong sides together. I used rubber swimwear elastic around the neckline, armholes and leg openings. Both the lining and elastic came from Sew Sassy.

I'm really happy with the results. It doesn't look home-made, and more importantly Noey likes it!!

In Other News

I have been knitting! I put together some small knitting projects to take on the trip, and thought I would just cast on a hat for Noey, just to get it started. Next thing I knew, I was done!

It's Katt's Brimmer pattern in Lion Brand Wool-ease Chunky. I started it Thursday night and finished Friday night! The hat itself is just a basic beanie shape with 1x1 ribbing at the edge. I really like how easy it is to do the brim. I have enough of this yarn leftover from some other long forgotten project, that I cast on another hat for Noey's best friend.

I've got two more projects I'd like to complete before we leave; a denim skirt and a knit peasant top. I have two days left, and I still need to pack, and we'll be gone all day tomorrow on a little jaunt to the downtown museums. Hmmmm....wonder when and how I'll get them done?

Whew!

2010-07-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

That was a close one! This time yesterday I thought this skirt was headed to Wadder-ville!

I had all kinds of problems with this simple A-line skirt. I wanted a straight denim skirt, so I used my TNT A-line pattern and tried to "straighten" it. I added 1 1/2" to the center at the fold at the waist only. This effectively straightened it out, but didn't give enough room in the hips. So this morning I cut off the waistband and created a new waistband which raised it up enough to make more room for my womanly hips!!

I used my cheap-o Brother sewing machine to topstitch down the side seams but it would not work on the hem! I couldn't get a straight line to save my life. I ripped it out twice before I switched over to my ever-faithful Kenmore.

Oops! I did it again!

I decided to give Simplicity 4076 one more try, and I think it worked this time. I am much happier with the neckline, although the fabric is very lightweight and looks a little pajama-y.

So, those are finished items #33 and #34, both finished up today. No sewing tomorrow as we are going to the beach, then pool swimming with our friends in the late afternoon.

We are officially on the count down to vacation....7 more days!

A 10 year old with a cell phone can be dangerous!

2010-07-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

She could call you up at 1:00am from her sleepover and ask you to pick her up!

Actually I was happy to have her back home safe in her own bed! It was weird to be out "on the streets" at 1 in the morning. Noey thought it was cool, but I was a little nervous! We live in a nice neighborhood, but it's been soooo loooonnng since I've been out past 8:00pm that who knows who lurks about at that time!

Needless to say we are both zombies today. I've got her planted on the couch in front of the TV, trying to make her "rest"! We'll see how long that lasts.

Yesterday, during my 14 hour stretch of alone time I managed to cut out a dress (McCall's 5893), a skirt (Style 2886), and a muslin of my blouse (New Look 6937). I think I will do more cutting out today as I don't think I'm up to actual sewing. (I'm too old to be out and about at 1 in the morning!!)

What Day Is It?

2010-07-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

I've only been off work for a week and I've totally lost track of what day it is. I guess that's a good mode to be in during my time off, but I hope I'm not missing out on any scheduled activities!

I finished up my pink and white tunic this morning while Noey was at her last day of VBS. I'm really happy that I took the time to fix the yoke/collar. It's like having a brand new blouse! I also realized, as I was deconstructing and reconstructing, what a good job I did in the first place.

I took a little break from vacation clothes sewing this afternoon (after Noey's Tap class) to help Noey out with a project.

Noey has made a number of these "not pretty" dolls. (we call them Noey Dolls) This one is for her friend's birthday. We made it out of fleece and used felt for the eye. The mouth and X are sewn with embroidery floss. I love how it turned out!

After some deliberation, I've finally decided what project to work on next.

This fabric and I have been feuding since I bought it, and I think I've finally forgiven it! Last April, Noey and I went on a school camping trip and I was in charge of a cabin of 8 girls. I had to come up with an arts and crafts project for the girls to work on during cabin time. Noey, JD, and I were out and about one evening so I asked if I could just run into Joann's and get some supplies. JD said ok as long as I didn't stop to look at anything else. So as I was running past the fabric, I spotted this gorgeous lavender floral dotted swiss out of the corner of my eye. On my way back to the register I stopped to look at it just for a second. It was so pretty, but JD wouldn't let me stop to have it cut.

The next morning I get Noey up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning so that we can be at Joann's when they open at 9:00am. I race back to the fabric......and it's not there! I look all over the store.....not there. I ask everybody and anybody I can find, no luck!! So I bought this fabric instead. I thinks it's just another colorway of my dream fabric, but it's not the same!

Now that this lovely fabric has been sitting in stash for a little while, it's grown on me. I'm finally ready to deal with it! I'm making New Look 6937. Noey is going to a slumber party starting at 11:00am on Sunday (yikes! that'a a long party) so I'm hoping to have it done by the time I pick her up Monday morning.

Tunic Redux

2010-07-15T10:35:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite blouses. I made it last year for our vacation to San Diego. It looks so fresh and summery with a white skirt, and of course it's pink, my favorite color. It's a lightweight "linen look" fabric from Joann's.

But there's a little problem.....

I sewed the collar/yoke wrong side out! I didn't even notice until I had washed it a couple of times and the interfacing started pilling!

So my pretty pink blouse was dumped in the hamper and there it sat....until today. I picked up some Kona cotton at Joann's the other day and decided I would try to fix my error. Noey is at VBS this morning so I have the Kona cotton in the dryer and I just removed the old collar/yoke.

No sewing yesterday as I took Noey and a friend to the beach. It was awesome, 85 degrees! Twenty degrees hotter than when we were there 3 days earlier! (and I have the sunburn to prove it!) Even though I didn't have a chance to sew, I thought about sewing all day. I need to figure out what project to work on next. Noey has one more day of VBS and she's going to a sleepover birthday party this weekend so that gives me two solid chunks of time. I just need to figure out what to work on.

I also need to come up with a knitting project or two to take on the trip. I'll have some time in the backseat of the car and at night. I do some of my best knitting while on vacation.

FO 31 and FO 32

2010-07-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I finally got off my bum, and the couch, and finished up my top. I tried in vain to fix the neckline; I steamed the daylights out of it, then ran it through the washer and dryer, all to no avail. The neckline is still wonky! I thinks it's a combination of the fabric being too heavy and being stretched out too much when I sewed it. It is now destined to be a pajama top!

While Noey was at VBS this morning, I cut out and sewed up a skirt.

Doesn't this fabric just scream "SUMMER VACATION!"? It's a Michael Miller quilting cotton, and I think I paid $9.00 a yard for it! That's a lot for me, especially for a cotton, but I fell in love with the print.

The pattern is Kwik Sew 3373 and it was Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! I lengthened both the main skirt piece and the ruffle. I didn't want too much gathering in the ruffle, so I knocked off about 4 inches.

and now we're off to Noey's art class. She's going to be on TV! The theme of her class is Dogs, and a local cable tv program called "K 9 Corner" is going to come film the class. Unfortunately, it can only be seen in the city of Torrance, so we can't even watch the show!

Update: While Noey was at her art class I popped into JoAnn's to pick up a few things. I found the same fabric that I made the top with and bought some more to make matching pants.

Best Laid Plans

2010-07-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

I had big plans for this past weekend, and none of them quite worked out how I planned!

Saturday morning I had this brilliant idea to cut out all of the items needed for our vacation. (a little over 2 weeks away now!) That way I could sew every morning this week while Noey is at Vacation Bible School. So off we went to Gymnastics and as soon as we got home I was going to cut, cut, cut!

But.....that didn't happen. By the time we got home I didn't feel like cutting out. (my least favorite part of sewing) So I just cut out one top for me and started sewing it up. It's another version of Simplicity 4076 in an interlock knit. I'm not liking the neckline, it's a little wonky, and I think I may have made a poor fabric choice. It's not very drapey. It's just needs hemming and then it's done, but I've lost my motivation.

Yesterday was our beach day with friends. Turned out to be the worst beach day yet! It was cold! and foggy, and even sprinkled on us. But, being the diehard beach bums that we are, we stuck it out! Noey had fun and even got in the water a little bit.

So, now it's Monday morning, and Noey is off at VBS, and I have no motivation to do anything. I could finish my top, or clean my house, (it's covered in sand again!) or any number of other things.....

Meet July

2010-07-09T10:00:00.001-07:00

The Sock Monkey!

Noey stuffed her yesterday at Grandma's house, while I was at work. I worked on her last night until I couldn't see anymore. We finished her up this morning.

She turned out pretty cute. Noey named her "July" since she was made this month. My dad had a monkey when he was a kid named "Tuesday"!

I tried to convince Noey that she shouldn't play with July until our trip, but she's not having that! She's been playing with her all morning!

I got the kit here. I just ordered 4 more pairs of original Rockford Red Heel socks in pink and blue so I can make some friends for July. (each monkey takes 2 socks)

Yesterday was my last day of work for 4 weeks! We're headed to Santa Barbara in 3 weeks, so I've got to get sewing!

We're Making Monkeys!

2010-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

We found this cute Sock Monkey fabric at fabric.com a while back. I'm going to make Noey some jammie pants for our vacation. (because we need all new clothes when we travel!) The color doesn't show well in my picture, it's a pretty light turquoise.

So, since I'm making jammies someone thought I should also make an actual sock monkey!

This is as far as I got today because we don't have any stuffing!

I ordered a kit from eBay, but now that I've got the hang of it, I think I just need some socks to make a couple more. (I might have ordered 4 more pairs of socks to make an entire Sock Monkey family!)

Lots and Lots of T-shirts!

2010-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

Somehow I've been able to sew a lot lately! It seems to be a lot easier now that Noey is 10 years old. (Yikes! is she really 10??) Plus if she's getting something out of it, she's more likely to keep herself occupied!

I picked up 10 or so knits for $1.95 a yard from fabric.com recently and I've been whipping out a couple of T-shirts a week.

The first pattern I tried out is Kwik Sew 3036. Easy Peasy! Two pattern pieces; a front and a back. I used a ladies size XS. Super cute! My favorite is the blue stripe on top. With a pair of white capri's, Noey looks like she's going yachting! (just realized one shirt is missing! must be in the hamper!)

So then I moved onto Kwik Sew 3338. I've made 3 of these now. The black print from my jammies, a light blue one, and this one. (my favorite!) It's easy as well although the neckband took a little patience. I originally bought this fabric for me, but Noey loved it......so of course she got it. (two of her favorite things are argyle and the color purple!)

Next up is another version of Simplicity 4076. One that I will wear out in public! I love knits! Can't believe how easy they are!

It was a banner day!

2010-07-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Talk about feeling productive! I finished garments #28, 29, and 30 today! As well as running some errands, grocery shopping, and going out to lunch.

Item #28 are the pants to go with my new jammie shirt I made the other day. I used my TNT pant pattern, Kwik Sew #2779, and a light weight jersey from fabric.com. They're nothing fancy, but they sure are comfy.

Item #29 is a t-shirt for Noey. I used the leftover fabric from my jammie shirt and Kwik Sew 3338. I'm using a ladies size XS and it fits her perfectly. I think this will be her TNT t-shirt pattern. It also has a long sleeve version. It takes less than a yard of fabric and sews up really fast. And the best part is Noey actually likes the finished product and will wear them!!

And rounding out my very productive day, Item #30, a pair of undies for me using the last bit of the jammie fabric. I've been making my own undies since December of last year, and I have to say I will never go back to store bought. I use Kwik Sew 2908 and they are the most comfortable undies!

So while we were enjoying lunch at Carl's Jr. today, I was excited to tell JD about my frugality of fabric. "I'm like a pioneer woman!" I told him. "I put every inch of fabric to good use!" After all I got 3 items from 2.5 yards of fabric which cost me about $7.00. His response....."Do you really need those?"

Ummmm....yeah! We do! I have a child who grows 2 inches between lunch and dinner. I'm lucky if she doesn't outgrow something by the time I'm finished sewing it. And have you seen my pajamas lately? They're a little shabby! and who doesn't need new undies! Seriously! I doubt if you could get all 3 items at Walmart for $7.00!

A little Vacay sewing

2010-07-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

Noey and I are going to Santa Barbara at the end of this month for a little fun in the sun. Finished object #27 is my new Pajama top for the trip.

I used Simplicity 4076 (very well reviewed on Pattern Review)

I'm new to knits (how come no one ever told me how easy they are!) so I decided to start out with a muslin/pj top first. This fabric is from fabric.com from the $1.95 per yard clearance section. I believe it is a jersey with some lycra. The fabric is cute, but not my style for public wear. I had enough fabric leftover to cut out a top for Noey and undies for me. (Noey says she will wear her top in public!!)

I used Steam-a-Seam to stabilize the hems, and for the first time ever I conquered the Twin Needle! Yay me!

All in all I think it's cute for PJ's. I cut out black lightweight jersey bottoms this afternoon and plan to sew them up tomorrow.

Happy Fourth of July!!

2010-07-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Summer Time.....

2010-07-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

...and the living is easy!

I love Summer!

I love the perpetual smell of sunscreen in our house. I love the constant sand on the floors and wet towels everywhere. I love to see the small airplanes fly over pulling banners. (we live about a mile from the beach)

I love that I get 4 weeks off, smack dab in the middle of summer!

I'm hoping this little break will be enough to get me blogging again. (although it doesn't start until next Thursday) I've been wanting to get back into it for sometime now.

I have been sewing (24 projects completed so far this year!) and knitting. I just need to gather up some projects, take pictures, and start blogging!

Another Halloween came and went

2009-11-01T07:29:00.001-08:00

Noey didn't want me to make her Halloween costume this year. Even though, in past years, her costumes have been better made and more detailed than her friends. (if I do say so myself!)

Gone are the cutsey costumes of the past too. No more Snow Whites, Alice in Wonderlands, Raggedy Ann's.

This year she was a Devil. A nice, friendly devil!

We had an awesome time Trick or Treating with our "posse". Nine kids and 6 adults. I don't drink, but the rest of the adults brought along a little fortification (wine) as we trolled the neighborhood for 3 solid hours!

Noey and I are now munching on candy for breakfast! (the breakfast of champions!)

My sewing and knitting have been practically non-existent this week. I did manage to cut out a "vintage" project. I bought a peasant blouse pattern circa 1979 from etsy and found a "vintage" fabric circa 1985 in my stash. It's a simple pattern but I just haven't found the time to sit down and sew it.

This will be my first "vintage" pattern. It has some interesting methods, which I am looking forward to trying.

Trump!

2009-09-20T18:27:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who just moved to the Trump property in Rancho Palos Verdes. She invited Noey (and me!) over to swim today.

It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. (that's the Pacific Ocean in the background)

The views were spectacular!

and Noey had a lot of fun! (and I did too!)

Strawberry Fields Forever

2009-09-20T11:25:00.001-07:00

or how I spent my Saturday instead of sewing all day!

We drove out to Riley's Farms in Oak Glen, CA yesterday, and spent the entire day there.

We had a great time picking strawberries, raspberries, pears, and apples. We took a hayride, drank fresh pressed apple cider, and had the most delicious raspberry milkshake. Noey got to hold a baby pig (but I didn't have my camera handy) and jump in a bouncer.

It was a fun day, even though it was HOT! (100 degrees plus) and dusty, dirty. (we're city folk, okay?) I had to hose off about a 1" layer of dirt from the both of us when we got home! I thought I was looking all tan, but then it turned out to be mostly dirt!!

My lastest sewing projects are two simple A-line skirts made last week. Both fabrics are quilters cotton from JoAnn's. The blue I just purchased recently, the black has been in the stash for a year or so.

I knew my TNT skirt pattern was old and out of print but I didn't realize the company was out of business until I pulled it out to look at the date - 1997!

The two of these together probably took less than 2 hours to make. These are seriously the easiet skirts; just side seams and elastic waist casing. I do hand sew the hem, and that takes the majority of the time. Couldn't be easier.

I would really like to stay home and sew today, but we've been invited to go swim at Trump! Who am I to say no to Trump?!

and speaking of Noey....

2009-09-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

...here she is on the first day of (gasp!) Fourth Grade!

She is quite the grown-up girl these days and doesn't hesitate to let me know that!

We made this delicious cake to celebrate the first day of school.

Interesting.....

2009-09-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

......that my last post (way back in December of last year!) would be about Lunch Bags! That's what my most recent project was - Lunch Bags! Noey started school last Wednesday, and on Tuesday (I work better with a looming deadline!) I finished her new lunch bag, and one for her BFF as well. I used the same Favorite Things pattern that I used for all eight last year. Noey chose her fabric, a quilting cotton, and I used fusible fleece to give it stability. I attached a larger strip of Velco this time around to help it stay closed a little better.

As Noey says " You think the outside is wild? Take a look at the inside. BAM!!"

So now I'm working on a blouse for me. I'm using a cotton lawn that I got from fabric.com awhile back. It's light and airy, perfect for the 90 degree weather we'll have through October. I'm making the 3/4 length sleeves, so hopefully I can still wear it well into Fall.

ETA: I finished the blouse this afternoon! Next up (maybe tomorrow) a simple cotton A-line skirt and then I'm gonna tackle knits!

I have not knit a stitch in.....oh, gosh, I don't know.....6? 8? months. Sad, isn't it? I have a couple of projects on the needles, but no desire to pick up those needles. I have such limited free time, I feel like I have to choose one or the other, sewing or knitting. Sewing has a much better return for me. I can sew a skirt in an evening, a blouse in a weekend. Oh well, when Noey is older I will have more time than I'll know what to do with! (but I don't want to think about that now!)

It's that time of year

2008-12-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

I've been busy. Very busy! So busy that I haven't had time to blog. I'm just about done with all of my Christmas preparations. (yay!)

So here's the rundown of what I've been working on:

Sewed 5 American Girl doll dresses for Noey. (they are so cute!)

Sewed 8 Lunch Bags. (being modeled here by Sophie and Noey. One was gifted already and one was not yet complete when this photo was taken.) We're going to make Holiday Snickerdoodles to put inside the lunch bags. (Noey needs a haircut!)

My shopping is complete and I just have to sew up an armchair caddy for my dad and then the sewing is complete! I'm feeling really good about the season at the moment! (and pretty darn proud of myself for being so organized!)

Here's a fun meme I saw over at Jillian's blog. Made me realize that I have accomplished more than I thought! (but still have a few things I want to do!)

Things I’ve Done (In Bold)
Things I Want to Do (In Italics)
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (in FL and CA)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

It's a Two-fer

2008-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

My 5 hours of free time translated into 1 hour of sitting on the couch doing nothing while watching General Hospital, 3 hours of actual sewing, and 1 hour of house cleaning. All in all a productive afternoon.

Sometimes I just need a few minutes (or 60!) to decompress and relax my brain a little bit. I don't even knit - I just sit there - doing nothing. I'm not an avid follower of GH but I watch it every once in a while. It's good, mindless television.

Once I finally relaxed and got motivated I started working on 2 blouses at the same time. They are both from the same pattern (my good old TNT) so it was easy to do a little assembly line sewing. The first one is a copy of my friend, Cathy's, blouse. It has muslin for the bottom, a cute blue quilter's cotton for the bodice, and it will have a different, lighter quilter's cotton for the sleeves. The second one is a copy of a blouse I saw in the Eddie Bauer catalog. It's made from muslin and has tucks. Hopefully I will find some time this weekend to finish them.

Be Afraid....Be Very Afraid!

2008-10-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

It's the not-so-wicked witch of the West Coast!

Try as she might, Noey just can't look scary with that little angelic face!

We stopped by the Halloween store on the way home from school Monday afternoon and picked up the final pieces of the costume. We were lucky to find a purple hat with purple hair, and a purple broom. (can you guess what her favorite color is?)

I finished up the little poncho I've been working on so today I'm sewing for ME! Grandma is picking up Noey from school and she will stay with G & G all afternoon until after dinner. That gives me a solid 5 hours to sew, sew, sew, and watch my Twin Peaks DVD. I got the complete series for Christmas last year. Noey used to go to G & G's house every Tuesday, so I had Twin Peaks Tuesdays. I guess I'll have to change that to Twin Peaks Wednesdays, since we now horseback ride on Tuesdays. My sewing machines are conveniently located in front of the DVD player, so it makes for a very pleasant afternoon.

The Halloween Costumes are finished!

2008-10-27T09:42:00.001-07:00

Let the Christmas gift making commence!

I finished Sophie's costume Friday afternoon. She was here for a playdate, so we tried it on her, she declared it "Perfect!" and that was that!

This one is Noey's. Sophie's is pretty much the same, except with red details. The dress is a nice, soft stretch velvet, which could become a nightgown in the future. The cape has spider webs and purple sparkley's. It's hard to see, but it turned out really cute! Hopefully I'll get a good pic of the little witches wearing their costumes.

Immediately following the completion of the costumes I started on my Christmas gifts. By the end of the weekend I had two gifts complete. I made The Lunch Bag by Favorite Things. (actually I made 2!) It is so cute! I used an Amy Butler fabric that's been in my stash for a while. I had originally planned to make myself a purse with it, but I'm so glad I didn't. I really want to keep one of these bags for myself.

It's a Dog's life

2008-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've talked about or posted a picture of Chrissy. I have a real love/hate relationship with that dog!

Of course we love her, but....since I am her primary caregiver I get a little fed up with her. (what with all the pooping and barking)

But then I hear Noey talking so sweetly to her, or see her all dressed up in doll clothes, or I find them cuddling on the couch and I realize she really is an important part of our family.

(Noey took the headshot - she's quite the little photographer, isn't she?)

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-10-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

I keep hoping things will calm down, but it doesn't look like it's going to. We have been busy girls! (Brownies, Sunday School, Gymnastics, Horse Back riding, playdates, homework, projects, etc....)

Last weekend as we were driving home from gymnastics on Saturday, Noey said "We never do anything fun!" So on Sunday we went to the local Pumpkin Patch. We've gone there every year since she was born. Noey picked out her pumpkin, petted sheep and goats, and had her face painted. She also went on a pony ride, which surprised me. Since she takes riding lessons every Tuesday, and is galloping, loping, and posting, I figured a pony ride on a mangy, old "horse" tied to a bar, going round in circles, would bore her! (plus it cost $7.00, so I was kinda hoping she wouldn't want to do it!)

Some crafting has been going on around here, just nothing for me! (and it looks like that's the way it's gonna be for a couple of months, what with Christmas coming and all!)

I have been drafted to make Noey and her best friend's Halloween Costumes this year. I actually really enjoy making Noey's costumes. I had made all of her costumes until she hit kindergarten and then she wanted store bought. The girls are going to be twin witches with capes and all. I took them to JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago and let them pick out their fabric. They both chose black stretch velvet for the dress, and a spider web print for the cape. I finished Noey's this past weekend and I hope to finish Sophie's today.

I have also been working on a poncho for a 2 year old that my friend, Sheri, asked me to make. It's the fourth poncho I've knit in as many months, so even though it's easy and pretty fast, it's kind of a drag. It's harder for me to knit or sew for someone I don't know.

I'm feeling pretty good about my Christmas presents. I already have a couple stashed away in the closet, and I've figured out what I can make for all the ladies on my list. I'm going to make some clothes and accessories for Noey's American Girl doll, and maybe some matching pajamas for Noey. For my mom, sister-in-law and niece, I'm going to make lunch bags and maybe slippers. I have a lot of the materials needed on hand, so I can get started right away. Now I just need to figure out what to do for the men!

Instant Gratification

2008-09-12T09:06:00.001-07:00

I love knitting, but it's such a slow process for me. It seems that it takes me such a long time to produce a garment.

Sewing on the other hand is instant gratification. I love that I can have a new outfit in a day or two. Since I have started sewing again I have been concentrating more on quality than quantity, but I can still whip out a TNT skirt in a day, and a TNT blouse in a couple of days.

With both my sewing and knitting I have been trying to be more thoughtful about my choices. I know what looks good on me and what doesn't. I'm not knitting or sewing the latest trend anymore just because everybody else is. I'm also more realistic about my clothing. First and foremost I am a mom, and my clothes need to be easy, multi-functional, and wash & wear. I work in a very casual environment so the mom clothes translate pretty well. I don't have the time or energy to have a work wardrobe and a mom wardrobe.

So........here's the latest addition to my mom wardrobe. I started the skirt last weekend and got everything done except the waist and hem, but then I got side-tracked by the other skirt that I wanted to wear yesterday! I finished this one last night. It's a 6 oz. denim from Fabric.com that I've had in the stash for a while. You can't really see but I double top stitched the seams and hem with white thread. A friend of mine had a similiar skirt that I tried to copy. It's a nice weight denim and really comfortable.

The blouse is once again one that I made before my trip. I bought the fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club. They were not related fabrics and I just kept my fingers crossed that they would match.....and they do! It's one of my favorite blouses and I always get a lot of compliments when I wear it.

I don't know what's next on the sewing front. I have a Teacher's Installation Service at my church/preschool next weekend and I'd like to have new outfit for it, but I don't know what it will be.

Horsing Around

2008-09-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

Noey has recently started taking horseback riding lessons. (just another drain on my fabric and yarn funds!) It was supposed to be a one time deal. She went
with her best friend Sophie a couple weeks ago, just for fun, but when she came home and told me all about it, and I saw how excited she was, I just couldn't say no to more lessons. What 8 year old girl doesn't love horses?!

It was my turn to carpool last week, so I got to watch the lesson. I was so impressed! Noey, Sophie, and another friend, Jacqueline, are so full of confidence with their horses. They are responsible for their horse from start to finish. They get their horse out of the stable, groom him, clean out his hooves, put on the bridle, and even carry out the saddle and put it on. Then they lead their horse to the corral, and work on riding skills. When they're done in the corral they lead their horse back to the stable, take off and put away the saddle, take off and put away the bridle, and put their horse back in his stall. It is just so cool to watch these little 8 year old girls so in control of a huge animal.

Yesterday, while Noey was at her lesson I was able to sew up this skirt. From start to finish it took me two and a half hours. That's the beauty of TNT patterns. Alterations have already been made, I knew it would fit, and I knew I would like it. I've had the fabric in my stash for some time. I originally bought it to go with the old yellow Cotton Ease, (I think the color was "Pineapple") which I still have quite a lot of. I'm thinking of making the February Lady Sweater, and now I have a skirt to wear with it!

The blouse is another one I made before our trip. It is plain white broadcloth that I got at Joann's for $1.49 a yard! Gotta love those sales!

This past year my good friend's 3 year old son was diagnosed with Diabetes. It's been a rough couple of months. Another good friend, Karen, has battled Diabetes all her life. Karen will participating in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes. Please stop by her blog and donate if you can.

Can You Have Too Much Lavender?

2008-09-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know.

I didn't think I would like these two pieces together, but the more I look at it, the more it grows on me. I never really intended for them to go together.

I made the blouse early in the summer before our trip. The fabric is a cotton broadcloth that I got on sale at Joann's for $1.49 a yard. Even with the buttons and thread, the blouse cost less than $5.00! :) I used my TNT blouse pattern with tucks and elasticized sleeves. I love this pattern! (Simplicity 2854) I have a couple more waiting in the wings.

I don't know the origin of the skirt fabric. It's been in my stash for years. It feels like a challis, but I'm not sure. I used my TNT skirt pattern (Simplicity 3827) and whipped it up on Saturday. Noey made a deal with me. If I took her to Kaybee Toys and let her buy a Barbie toy, she would play by herself for the rest of the afternoon. Done! If I had unlimited funds, and I didn't care if she became a spoiled brat, I would buy her a toy every Saturday!

Third Grade

2008-09-03T12:46:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day of Third Grade. I don't know about Noey, but it feels like a huge rite of passage to me. Noey is officially a "big kid". She has recess with the "big kids", lunch with the "big kids", gets dismissed with the "big kids". Nobody asked me, but I don't want her to be a "big kid!"

So off we went to Third Grade this morning. Noey was so excited. She packed her new book bag, and new lunch box, and wore her new school clothes. (aaahhh, the memories!)

I haven't had much sewing time lately but I was able to sew up a skirt last weekend, and cut out two more this past weekend. Cutting out is always the challenge for me. I don't really have the space to cut out, but once it's cut it goes pretty fast.

I'm plugging away on Noey's poncho. (to match her best friends') I'm almost done with the body, and then on to the hood. I'm also working on a tie front cardigan for myself using some Cherry Red Cotton Ease from my plentiful Cotton Ease stash.

Oh yeah, doesn't my mom rock??!! To look at her you wouldn't think she had it in her to be a superhero! She's 70 years old for goodness sake! I just hope if I ever have to save my family's lives I'll be able to. (and always keep a bottle of Diet Coke in your car!!)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part Two

2008-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July. They took Noey and I, and my brother and his two kids to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. My aunt and uncle drove down from Montana to meet us there. It just so happens that my parents honeymooned in the Tetons 50 years ago so it was extra special. (spouses were invited but weren't able to come, which is fine; neither Joe nor my sister-in-law are good travelers!)

Noey and I drove with my parents, and surprisingly it was a lot of fun. We took four days to get there stopping each night at a Comfort Inn Suites where Noey got to swim in the hotel pool. That is a favorite childhood memory of mine - driving all day, hot and sweaty, (no air conditioning in our family car) and then swimming in the hotel pool! We also spent an extra day in Salt Lake City and went to the Hogle Zoo. I got in a lot of knitting time in the backseat. I knit a poncho for Noey's best friend, Sophie, for her birthday.

We stayed in a little cottage in Jackson Lodge. My niece joined us, and my brother and nephew were right next door. We all went hiking a lot, Noey went swimming a lot, we ate a lot, went on a boat ride around Jackson Lake, and we drove to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful. We also saw bears, moose, elk, a wolf, and lots of chipmunks! We had so much fun with our family. It was really special. Even though it was my parent's anniversary, Noey was the center of attention. Her cousins, uncle, great aunt and uncle, and grandparents couldn't get enough of her!

On the way home we stopped at Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden, Utah. Very cool place. The museum part was a typical dinosaur museum with bones and such, but outside there were huge, life size dinosaurs in a park-like setting. At least 20 of them. Noey was in dino heaven!

It was an awesome trip.........until the very last day!

On the last driving day home, just outside of Mesquite, Nevada an empty box fell out of a pickup truck in front of us. My dad was driving and he had no choice but to run over it. We thought it had cleared the car and we kept going. We made a stop in a rinky dink gas station and I bought a Diet Coke and a bag of cookies, and the total came to $6.66. I didn't think anything of it other than that was pretty expensive, but the cashier said "Oh that's bad! That's the devil!" I don't really believe in that, but in the back of my mind I was hoping nothing bad was going to happen.

We drove on for a while, then my mom says we better pull off. My mom gets out to check things out. Noey and I are still buckled in, I'm knitting away and she's playing her video game, when my mom says calmly but firmly "Get out! It's on FIRE! Get out! Give me your Coke!" She takes my Coke, shakes it, and uses it as a fire extinguisher and puts out the fire! My mom! In the meantime I drag Noey across the seat, bump her head on the door and literally throw her out the driver side. We jump out and run over in time to see my amazing mom putting out the fire. Turns out the flap of the box had lodged in the wheel well and caught on fire.

So after checking it all out and making sure the car was ok we drove on home. (It took a while, though, to convince Noey that is was safe to get back in the car!)

My dad took the car to his mechanic the next day and he told my dad "You were very lucky and you have one gutsy wife!" Turns out the fire occurred just below the gas tank, and if it had gone on any longer..........we probably wouldn't be here! Diet Coke saved our lives!!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2008-08-21T18:22:00.001-07:00

Wow! When you line them all up like that it's rather impressive, isn't it?

Since June I have sewn 2 skirts, and 10, count 'em, 10 blouses! Sometimes I feel like I'm just trudging along, not accomplishing much, but then when I actually count.....

We took a 12 day road trip to Wyoming in mid-July, and sometime in mid-June I decided I wanted to make all new blouses for the trip! In a month's time I made 8. Two others and the skirts were sewn when I got home. (I don't sew pants yet - that's next summer)

The two skirts are my new TNT (tried 'n true) pattern; Simplicity 3827. It's a fairly easy 6 gore skirt with an elastic waist. I have 2 more in the queue.

Six, yes six, of the blouses are from another TNT pattern; Simplicity 2854. The nice thing about this pattern is there are so many variations, each top looked unique. I made one with long sleeves, one with short sleeves, one with elastic in the sleeves, one with tucks, one with a ruffle at the bottom of the bodice, one from two different fabrics, I lowered the neckline on a couple. My button holer doesn't seem to work (not sure if it's my machine or the operator) so my mom graciously made all the buttonholes for me. She didn't seem to mind the first few, but after the sixth one she gently suggested I try a different pattern!

I used New Look 6810 to make the next two. I used a dotted swiss cotton for the first one and a poly blend for the second, and the second one only fits occasionally! (when I haven't eaten too much that day!!)

Last, and certainly least, I made two blouses using McCall's 5050. Really cute....on the hanger. On me, looks like I'm 9 months pregnant! Not a flattering style for me, so why I made two of them is a mystery.

A quick update on the rest of the family: Joe is doing pretty good. He has a few bad days a month (don't we all?) with his leg, but he's doing much better overall. He has lost 30 pounds and is now fanatical about exercise, and that's the best thing for his condition. (I, on the other hand, seem to have found his 30 pounds and haven't exercised in....months!) Noey is 8 now (yikes!) and going to start 3rd Grade in less than 2 weeks. She has really enjoyed her summer, but is looking forward to getting back to school. She still takes gymnastics once a week and swimming lessons, and this year she and I joined the Brownies!! (and guess what? I'm the leader!)

Aaaahhhh! It's so good to be back! More about our fabulous trip another time, which will include an updated picture of Noey, and the story of how Diet Coke saved our lives!

Time Flies!

2008-08-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I left the blog world almost a year ago! What a difference a year makes!

Joe had a rough couple of months (hence my absence) but has made remarkable strides in coping with chronic illness.

So.....I'm going to give blogging another try. Since I left last September I'd almost given up knitting altogether. I just didn't have the desire to knit. This past spring I took up a new all-consuming hobby.....sewing! Actually I have sewn off and on since I was 7 years old. I recently started knitting again, so now I'm juggling sewing and knitting, and a very active 8 year old, and a cranky old man!! Good times, good times.

I don't know how this is all going to work out, if I will even have time to blog, but I'm going to give it a shot!

It's Time

2007-09-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

to let go of the blog.

Dealing with a chronically ill (and chronically cranky) husband and a very active (but chipper!) child has proven to be all that I can handle right now.

I may be back in the future.....I may not.

Best wishes to you all.

Too Busy!

2007-08-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

07-25-07 014.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

Too busy to knit. Too busy to sew. Too busy to clean my house. Too busy to think! This child keeps me running! But we're having lots of fun this summer so I really can't complain.

Noey went to Vacation Bible School each morning this past week at our church. (and I helped out) I went to VBS every summer when I was a kid and loved it! I think she feels the same.

Tuesday after VBS she had a playdate at our house with her lifelong friend, Hannah. Then after Hannah left we went swimming with our friends, and had dinner at their house.

Wednesday, Noey went to VBS for a couple of hours and then to her Art Class, and after that to Grandma & Grandpa's.

Thursday after VBS she had swimming lessons and then Pizza Night with 6 moms and 10 kids! (it was loud. very. very. loud.)

Friday after VBS and the big hot dog lunch, we picked up Sophie and her little brother, Jeremy, and brought them to our house for a playdate. Then we went to their house again for dinner. (we get fed a lot!)

This morning Noey had gymnastics and tonight we're going to a Dodger game.

Tomorrow we're working in the church nursery, and then Noey has a playdate with Hayley, a friend from church.

I need to go back to work so I can rest! Actually, I have one more week off and we're planning some big fun for next week.

I am able to knit and sew a little while Noey has her playdates. Knitting has taken a backseat to sewing at the moment, which surprises me a little. I never thought anything could compete with knitting!

Back in Business

2007-07-27T17:05:00.001-07:00

*** Warning*** Lots of pictures to follow!! (in no particular order!)

So I've been off for the last two weeks, I have two more weeks to go. I've wanted to keep busy and feel like I've accomplished things during my time off. Noey and I have been on the go just about everyday; swimming lessons, art classes, gymnastics, playdates, birthday parties, Seaside Lagoon, parks, picnics.....I could go on and on. The nice thing about most of her activities is I can knit while watching her.

As you'll soon find out, we have Sophie over to our house quite a lot to play. One day last week while she was here I made a purse for each of the girls. Now they carry them with them whenever they're together. (which is a lot!)

Please disregard the mess in the background....the girls were very busy that day!

French Market Bag

2007-07-27T16:50:00.001-07:00

07-27-07 014.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

I think this was my first FO during my blogging absence. I had made a French Market Bag from this same pattern a couple of years ago and it has been my most used knitted item.

Pattern: Frugal Knitting Haus free pattern

Yarn: Lion Cotton - less than one skein

Started: June 2007

Finished: June 2007

I think I got the yarn on sale for $1.25, and the pattern was free! (I'll have to mention that to Joe!)

Current WIP

2007-07-27T16:34:00.001-07:00

07-27-07 011.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

Wow, these are posting in wacky order!

I'm currently working on a Cropped Hoodie for Noey. She is a big fan of the camouflage although this is turning out like I thought it would. Noey is really in to clothes and fashion at the moment. Hard to believe it starts this early.

Karyn's Purse #2

2007-07-27T16:18:00.001-07:00

07-27-07 005.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

This is actually the second purse I made for myself. (I thought I emailed these in the right order!) So this will make more sense once you read the next post. We had Noey's friend, Sophie, over again yesterday and I made this purse. I purchased the fabric in Hawaii many years ago, I think it's barkcloth. I bought the handles for a knitted purse, but I didn't like the way it turned out.

I'm on a sewing roll at the moment. I made the cutest aprons for Sophie and Noey. (made one earlier in the week and one today.) Sophie's birthday is in August and we also got her the Williams Sonoma Kids Baking book.

Karyn's Purse

2007-07-27T16:07:00.001-07:00

07-27-07 006.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

We had Noey's friend over last week for a playdate and while they were off playing Barbies, Polly Pockets, and Littlest Pet Shop, I sewed this purse. My mom, Noey, and I had gone to the Tall Mouse a couple of weeks ago in search of yarn and I found this Michael Miller** fabric and the book Handle With Style instead.

**One of my best friends growing up is named Michael Miller!

Noey's Bolero

2007-07-27T15:53:00.001-07:00

07-27-07 008.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple #275 Children's Neckdown Bolero

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Brites - Watermelon - a little over 1 skein

Started: End of June 2007

Finished: Beginning of July 2007

I love the neckdown! Fast and easy, and always fit Noey well.

Even though we're having incredibly hot and muggy weather, Noey has already worn this once. We went to her best friend's dance recital one evening and it was a tad chilly.

Whew! I think that catches me up with everything I've been working on during my absence.

Yay!

2007-07-25T20:26:00.001-07:00

07-25-07 010.jpg
Originally uploaded by NoeysMommy

A Picture!! I finally figured out a way to get pictures on my blog! I emailed the picture to my blog via Flickr. Seems a little convoluted to me, but at the moment it's the only way I can do it!

So this is a Beret I made for Noey from the leftover yarn from the Bolero I finished a couple of weeks ago. It's made from Caron Simply Soft Brites (and it is bright!) Noey really does like the Beret, she just didn't want her picture taken. (or maybe she was just unhappy wearing a beret in this heat!)

I have been knitting a lot, but haven't been taking pictures, so now I need to go back, find all the things I've been working on, and take pictures of everything. I have been sewing too.

In other knitting related news I got my Ravelry invite yesterday and have been spending way too much time over there. I've seen posts about how addicting it is and I have to agree! It is an amazing sight. My Ravelry name is Noeysmommy, what's yours?

Question.....

2007-07-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Um. Hello? Anybody remember me?

I've taken a little break from blogging due to the lack of picture posting problem. I just can't get excited about blogging when I can't post pictures of my work!

Anyway, I have one more day of summer school and then I have a month off. Hopefully I will have the time and motivation to figure out how to post pictures again. (by the way I have tried Picasa, Hello, Flickr, and Photobucket, and none of them work for me!)

So in the meantime, I have a question for anyone who is still out there! My pattern calls for a heavy worsted yarn, but has an alternate choice of lace weight yarn. For the lace weight it says to "knit at the same guage" as the heavy worsted which is 4 stitches to the inch. Does that mean to go up needle sizes until my laceweight is 4 stitches to the inch? That's what I think it means, but I just want to be sure.

Well, take care. Hope you're all having a great summer. I hope I'll be back soon with pictures. (although I did seriously consider giving up blogging altogether!)

I'm still here!

2007-06-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

But since I can't post pictures (arggghhh!) blogging just isn't any fun anymore!

Lots of stuff going on here, all that year end stuff times two. (Noey's school plus the school that I work at)

I have been knitting quite a bit; working on a summer cardi for myself and a cute little bolero for Noey. I've finished up the body on both of them and just need to start the sleeves.

I've been itching to start sewing again, so I just purchased 2 dress patterns, one for myself and one for Noey. Like I really have time to sew!!

In other exciting news, my old car, Joe's current car, was totaled! It was parked innocently in our parking lot and someone backed into it, pretty darn hard, and it's a total loss. I feel really sad about the whole situation. First because the person didn't leave a note or anything, and second this was my old car. It was the car we brought Noey home from the hospital in. It had scratch marks on the bumper from her stroller. I loved that car! Is that stupid, or what?

Noey has 6 more days of school, and I have 2 days of regular school, then 4 weeks of summer school, and then I get a month off! Woo Hoo! We're not going on any big trips this summer (Joe can't fly) but I'm starting to think about some little day trips.

What are y'all doing this summer?

Since I still can't post pictures.....

2007-05-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

How 'bout a little meme?

I've been tagged (indirectly) by Rox.

Random Facts

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blog the 7 facts, as well as the rules. Then those tagged need to tag 7 others.

Here goes:

1. I met Billy Barty some 15 to 20 years ago. ( I think he's dead now)

2. I'm a little over 6 feet tall. (which makes number 1 even funnier!)

3. I love water. Love it. Straight from the tap.

4. I was born at Stanford University. (I was born smart!)

5. My brother is a research scientist and university professor. (he's really the smart one!)

6. I can swallow aspirin, or any pill for that matter, without liquid. (which may seem unnecessary seeing how much I love water!)

7. My favorite movie of all time is Yours, Mine, and Ours. The original with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball.

Okay, I am tagging.....any 7 of you who want to do it! (I hate naming names!)

I'm good, how are you?

2007-05-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

I'm having trouble posting pictures again, so here's a pictureless post, again. (sorry!)

On Saturday my pizza mom friends and I walked in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women's Cancer, along with 50,000 other people. Literally.....FIFTY THOUSAND! Shawn, an amazing mom to 3 boys (Dylan, the oldest, is in Noey's class) is a one year survivor of breast cancer. She asked us if we would walk to support her. So Lori, Lili, and I joined her at the Los Angeles Coliseum for this amazing walk. It was very moving to be in the sea of people, all ages, sizes, colors, genders, walking the streets of LA. It was incredible. We entered the coliseum to the rocking tunes of Pat Benatar and the cheers of the crowd.

Mother's Day was a nice quiet day. Noey had spent the night at my parents Friday night and came home after I got home from the walk. So it was especially sweet to spend time with her alone on Sunday. I really miss her when she's not here. We made cupcakes and goodies for my mom in the morning and then spent the afternoon at my parents house. Noey made me the cutest little keychain and beautiful card. My mom gave me some yarn money and a knitting bag she made.

On the knitting front, the Top Down Bolero just isn't what I want so I will be frogging it soon. I don't know why I can't get it together with the Araucania Patagonia. I guess one day a pattern will speak to me.

So with that off the needles, I cast on a Cotton Summer Cardigan with Cotton Ease in white cuz I reeeeeaaalllly needed a white cardigan right now!

Joe went back to work last week. (Thank God he's finally off the couch!) he's only supposed to work "part time" and so far he's doing pretty good.

Getting Back to Normal

2007-04-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

Whatever that is!

Noey and I are trying to get back to our usual routine; Joe is still glued to the couch, although he is able to get up and move around a bit. He's been off work for the past 2 weeks and will be off at least 1 more. That's by far the longest he's ever been off work. (and I have to tell you he's driving me a little bit crazy!)

I have been working on my Top Down Bolero, but now I'm not sure if I like it or not. I'm having such trouble with that darn Araucania Patagonia. It started out life as the Jawbreaker Cardigan, but I didn't like that either! So while I decide what to do with it next, I started Gomasio with Berocco Nostalgia. (picture coming soon) I'm working on both sleeves right now, and it's pretty slow going. I like the yarn, very soft and knits up nicely. I don't like to have too many things on the needles at once, but I'm thinking about starting something else too!

Noey and I went to Open House at her school Tuesday night. They had the "In N Out" truck there for dinner, which we both enjoyed. Then Noey proudly showed me everything she's been working on this year. The school has quite an extensive art program. This is Noey's version of Monet's Waterlilies.

Friday was Pizza Night with our friends. Almost every Friday we get together with 3 other moms and 7 other kids for pizza and fun! It's loud and crazy (especially if you're used to only 1 kid) but it's a good time for all of us. The kids play, play, play, and the moms relax and have adult conversation. I had missed the last 2 Pizza Nights, although Noey got to go to them! Saturday we had gymnastics in the morning and then a birthday party in the afternoon. Today we slept in (until 7:00am!) then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's to play. Chrissy came too and got to run around the back yard. Then we came home and did chores!

Sounds pretty normal, doesn't it?!

2007-04-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Just popping in to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for your kind words and well wishes. They are all greatly appreciated.

We are taking it day by day. It's a long, slow process and I am not very patient! I thought that the medicine would dissolve the clots right away and that would be the end of it, but that's not how it works. It could be weeks or even months before they're gone, and until then there's always the chance they could rupture.

So Joe is home, and permanently glued to the couch! Fortunately we got cable last week. (although I have yet to watch it!) But he is bored, and grumpy, and still in a lot of pain.

I have been knitting a little here and there. I made 2 red cotton wash clothes with hearts on them (although I forgot to take pics) for my two friends who took such good care of Noey while I was with Joe in the ER. They picked her up from school, kept her all day into evening, feed her, and loved her until my parents could pick her up. I've also been working on the Top Down Bolero and I think it's going to be what I want. I really wanted to work on something that didn't need to be seamed, since I have such a pile of unseamed sweaters waiting for me!

We Love You, Daddy!

2007-04-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

We've had a rough week. (and it's only Tuesday!) I had to take Joe to the Emergency Room Friday night for what turned out to be Pulmonary Emboli, or blood clots in his lungs. He is predisposed to blood clots from an infection 30 years ago. He typically has blood clots and thrombosis in his calf which he can treat on his own. His chest was bothering him, but the doctors thought his bronchitis had turned to pneumonia. His leg was bothering him, but he was focused on the so-called pneumonia. By Friday I had enough and took him to the ER. Thank God I did because he turned out to not have pneumonia at all but 3 clots in his leg and 1 clot in each lung. He spent the weekend in the hospital and we brought him home yesterday afternoon. He's on a blood thinner and a medication to dissolve the clots, but it's a slow process. He's in a lot of pain due to the restricted blood flow in his leg, but I'm just happy to have him home! Please keep him in your prayers.

During my 9 hours in the ER (which is a story for another day!) I knit like a mad woman. I brought my Jawbreaker Cardigan and my Gomasio Cardigan and worked on them both. I actually started and finished the right front of Jawbreaker, but it is now no more. I'm just not feeling it. So now I'm trying a Top Down Bolero with the Araucania Patagonia, we'll see how that goes. I really need something that I can just sit down and knit without much thinking. I can't seem to concentrate on complicated matters right now.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Joe and Noey. I took it during our 2nd Family Vacation in Pismo Beach. Noey was 4 at the time.

Week in Review

2007-04-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely Easter. We went to the early church service and then to my parents house for brunch. The Easter Bunny leaves Noey's basket and eggs at my parents house through a pre-arranged agreement! The Bunny spoiled Noey as usual! One of the treats I particularly enjoyed was the Charlotte's Web DVD. (smart bunny!)

Noey is wearing a dress that was mine! I don't even want to tell you how old it is....let's just say it's pretty darn OLD! I think my first grade picture was taken in it. I had purchased two really pretty outfits for Noey to wear on Easter, but she chose my dress. How could I refuse her? It's a Polly Flinders dress and I have to say it's held up pretty well these past #% years!

In knitting news: I finished the knitting of the Classic Cardigan and now it has been added to the ever growing pile of items needing to be seamed. Let's see I think there are now 3 sweaters that need to be seamed. Jeesh...I could be wearing them!

I decided to frog the right front of the Jawbreaker Cardigan, and reknit it. In doing so I found that I had made a mistake on the back. I had the wrong side ribbing on the right side. So that will need to be frogged as well. Other than the Pretty Peplum Cardigan, that's all I have on the needles at the moment. I think I need to start something new. My mom got her yarn yesterday, so maybe I'll start her cardi, or who knows? I'm thinking I'll take a tour through the stash tonight!

2007-04-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

My niece, Megan, wore my dress about 15 years ago! She was 5 at the time and living, temporarily, with my parents. (my brother and family lost their home in Hurricane Andrew) She went to Kindergarten at the same school where I went.

I think she looks a lot like Noey, except with darker features.

Lookie! Lookie!

2007-04-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we got a slip in our mailbox (even though we were home at the time!) saying we had a package waiting for us at the Post Office. I had no idea what it could be since, surprisingly, I hadn't ordered any yarn! (Noey didn't believe me!)

Today after school we went down to the PO to pick up our mystery package. On the way Noey said maybe it was for her, and guess what? It was! (and me too!)

My friend, Rox, the Fearless Knitter, surprised us with Elvis the Elephant, a cute little Pez dispenser, and some chocolate for Noey, and a beautiful bracelet for me! (there was some other chocolate in there, but.....I don't really know what happened to it!) Noey is in love with Elvis, although poor Elvis had to have a time out already! (apparently he was misbehaving in the car!) He's so cute with brown eyes (like Noey) and a cute little tuft of brown hair. The bracelet is just gorgeous, and just my style.

I am so touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness Rox!

One More Time

2007-04-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the darn egg again. I don't know why that happens sometimes.

Noey and I had a nice day together. Her gymnastics class started up again today. She's now graduated to the next level. She was the oldest in the previous level, now she's the youngest in this level. Some of the older girls (9 year olds!) tower over her. But she's really good and she loves it so much.

I was able to work on my Classic Cardigan while watching. I need some fairly mindless knitting to do as I have to keep one eye on her. She always checks after each move to make sure I saw her.

After gymnastics we decided to have a picnic (McDonald's) at the park. That gave me even more knitting time. I'm almost done with the left front. I just have the right front and then I'm finished. One more sweater to seam up! Woo Hoo!

I had set the Jawbreaker Cardigan aside because I thought I was doing something wrong. I thought I was working on the left front and somehow the shaping was all wrong. Turns out I was really working on the right front!

I'm thinking about pulling out the Pretty Peplum Cardigan I started last summer. It would be perfect for Mother's Day. I just have 5 or 6 inches left of the sleeves so I think I could get it done in time.

Happy Easter!

2007-04-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Noey and I spent the last day of our Spring Break having another "Girls Day." We went to see Meet the Robinsons. It was pretty good, although I'm surprised it was rated "G". There were some moderately scary scenes. Fortunately Noey is not afraid of anything and likes the scary scenes. (Noey finally wore her Hoodie Cardi today...she had no choice! It was cold in the theater and that was what I brought! Sneaky, huh?!)

We're now gearing up for Easter weekend. We've got our cookies all decorated, Noey made a little bunny basket for Grandma and Grandpa, and we've both got our Easter dresses ready to go.

I made this Egg Ornament last year. I had forgotten all about it until I pulled out the Easter decorations the other day. I wish I had thought about it sooner, I could've made a couple as gifts.

ETA: Okay, where did my picture go? It was there a minute ago!

Just Us Girls

2007-04-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

Noey and I have really been missing each other this week (she's just too busy!)

So today was our "Girls Day". We had a little babysitting job this morning for Noey's friend, Benjamin, and after he left we spent the rest of the day hugging and snuggling, and then we made cookies! We made bunnies, chicks, butterflies, and flowers with yummy frosting and sprinkles.

It was a perfect day, and much needed.

What I did over Spring Break

2007-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

I knit!

Noey and I are on Spring Break this week, but Noey has been so busy she's hardly been home. She's had playdate after playdate after playdate. So while she's been out and about with her friends, I've been home knitting, and cleaning a little, but mostly knitting! I've been working on my Jawbreaker Cardigan. It's a pretty fast knit. I've finished the back and started on the left front. I actually started and restarted the back several times. The size 11 needles make a pretty loosey goosey rib and I wasn't too happy with it. But once the stockinette kicked in, it wasn't so noticeable. What is really noticeable (at least to me) is the color difference between the front and back. So while I'm ruminating on whether I want to restart the front with a different skein, I decided to pick up my 2 UFO's and finish them once and for all!

I worked on the Bell Sleeve V-neck Pullover while Noey was at her friends house today. I finished the neckline ribbing, and would've started the seaming but my big 7 year old called me and told me she was ready to come home! I was kinda happy to pick her up early.....I've been missing her this week! We're going to spend the day together tomorrow (other than a short playdate at our house in the morning) and Friday we're going to see Meet the Robinson's.

I'm feeling much better, by the way. Thanks for your well wishes!

2007-04-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

This was a 2 day project, well the knitting at least. Getting to the store and buying the buttons took a little longer.

I'm not sure if I like it or not, although the more I look at it the more it grows on me. It needs a lining to hold it's shape, but I don't know when I'll get around to hauling out my sewing machine.

Yarn: Classic Elite Paintbox - less than 2 skeins

Started: 03-31-07

Finished: 04-01-07

Clover handles purchased through Webs, buttons purchased at JoAnn's.

Illness in the House

2007-04-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Joe has every kind of "itis" known to mankind: bronchitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, otitis. Don't feel too sorry for him, he was sick for over a month before he finally went to the doctor. Feel sorry for me! First, I had to put up with and take care of a sick man for over a month, and second, he shared his bronchitis with me and Noey! Noey, fortunately, only suffered for a day or two, but I've been down for a week now. I finally feel better and have some energy today.

I haven't done much knitting, but I did get a nice package to make me feel better! The pink Araucania Patagonia is for the Jawbreaker Cardigan, the Berocco Nostalgia is for the Tie Front Cardigan shown, and the Classic Elite Paintbox and handles are for a Purse. (which is almost done, by the way.)

My mom has been asking me to make her a sweater, so yesterday I took over my pattern books and some sample yarns, and she chose a Knitting Pure and Simple top down zippered cardigan, and Cascade 220 yarn in a pretty Eggplant colorway. Webs has Cascade 220 0n sale right now and since I was there I ordered myself some more yarn!

Getting Closer

2007-03-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like I knit and knit and knit and don't have
anything to show for it. I've been knitting and knitting and knitting the V-neck Pullover and finally finished on Sunday. Since I now know how to seam, thanks to my extensive research, I hurried up and blocked the front and back today, I'll do the sleeves tomorrow. Then hopefully I can seam it up Thursday night, and possibly wear it next week. I may even be able to wear the blue Cardigan too, it's been so cold and windy this week. I've finished both sleeves and just started the left front. I don't know if it's a good idea to do the sleeves first because I kept thinking I was almost done!

That's the little wombat that Sue sent Noey for her birthday relaxing on my blocking board. It's a Steve Irwin animal, and the proceeds go to his foundation. Pretty cool, huh?

I'm still waiting for my Araucania Patagonia to arrive. I'm itching to start something new.

I don't know what happened.....

2007-03-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

To my pictures below, so here's the Sholero.

and here's Noey's sweater

2007-03-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

WIP's, FO's, and such

2007-03-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been gone for so long. Since I couldn't post pictures, I wasn't taking pictures either. Today I gathered everything up, took pictures, and here they all are. (except for the Bell Sleeve V-neck Pullover)

Since the new year I have been trying (keyword: trying) to knit from my stash, have only 2 to 3 projects going at one time, and keep better track of my projects. I'm doing pretty good with numbers 2 and 3.

This is my second WIP. It's a Classic Cardigan using Paton's Shetland Chunky. I've finished the back, as you can see, and one sleeve. This is what is keeping me from spring/summer knitting. I'm determined to finish it, even though I won't be able to wear it until Fall.

In other knitting related news; I have big problems! I have been researching, and reading, and searching the internet on how to make invisible seams, and I finally feel ready to start seaming the Moss Rib Stitch Pullover. Yesterday I got all my pieces together and...........I couldn't find the leftover yarn! It is nowhere to be found. I have searched high and low. I think I probably had so little left over that I just threw it away without thinking. So I guess I'll have to buy a whole skein just for the seaming, but here's my second problem.....I don't have the ball band and I have no idea what colorway it is!

The Sholero

2007-03-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here's the official posting of the Sholero. (thanks for all the nice comments about it!)

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun** Color Grape - less than 1 skein

Pattern: Loosely based on the Anthropologie Capelet by Julsey

Started: March 9, 2007

Finished: March 10, 2007

**I'm not a big fan of the Homespun yarn, however the pattern called for a bulky weight and the Noey called for a purple yarn, so this was it.

Noey's Sweater

2007-03-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

One of the things I finished during my absence from Blogger was this sweater for Noey. She picked out the yarn, she picked out the style, and she picked out the buttons, but....she won't wear it!

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Colorway 134 - about 4 skeins

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Child's Cardigan

Started: January 27, 2007

Finished: February 18, 2007

I figured it out!

2007-03-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

I

I finally figured out how to post pictures! Here's the big 7 year old girl wearing her Sholero.

More pictures to follow!

Thank you Ladies!

2007-03-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm going to try to get pictures back on this blog!

Barbara - here is the pattern I used as a guide for Noey's Sholero. On the right hand side, under Free Patterns, it's the Anthropologie Capelet. I scaled it down a bit to fit her.

I came into a little money (tax return) and after using most of it for grown up responsible things (like bills) I used a little bit to order myself some yarn, and a pattern book or two (or four!). I ordered some Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton from Webs to make the Jawbreaker Cardigan. That'll be my next project after I finish the V-neck Pullover - I'm on the homestretch of the sleeves - and the Cardigan - which is taking a very long time and probably won't be worn anytime soon as it was 85 degrees today!

Another Boring Post

2007-03-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm bored with my own blog due to it's lack of pictures. (more on my picture posting problem later, if you're interested)

Noelle turned 7 last Friday. Seven. SEVEN! I can hardly believe it. I'm telling you time just flies!

Joe and I both took the day off - aren't we great parents? - and we brought cupcakes to her school during snack time. That afternoon I picked up Noey, Isabelle, and Sophia and took them to Rite Aid for an ice cream cone. (I had given Noey the choice of Cold Stone - or Stone Cold as Joe likes to call it - or Baskin Robbins, and she chose Rite Aid!) Then as if that wasn't enough sugar for the day, we went to my parents house for the family birthday party and the traditional chocolate bear cake.

We had Noey's official birthday party on Saturday at

Kid Concepts.

It was FABULOUS! Granted, it's very expensive, but they do everything for you. We had a "party hostess" named Mindy (Joe really liked her!) and an "entertainer" named Brian who was great with the kids. Noey's boyfriend, Ethan, came as well as 8 of her closest friends.

I made Noey a cute little shrug/bolero that I like to call the Sholero to wear to her party. (trust me, it's CUTE!) I had seen the little girl from Little Miss Sunshine on the cover of Parade magazine a couple of weeks back wearing this sholero, so I kinda winged it and it turned out great. I ordered a heart clasp from Patternworks and it showed up Friday! Perfect timing.

Other than the Sholero, I made 2 dishclothes for my friend, Shane, and I've been steadily working away on my V-neck Pullover and my Cardigan. Hopefully both will be done soon, and I can start on some Spring and Summer knits

So here's my picture problem. In the past I used Hello/Picasa to post my pictures to my blog. I've never been able to post through Blogger due to speed I think. Anyway, after I switched over to the new Blogger I wasn't able to use Hello/Picasa anymore. I have removed Hello/Picasa from my system, and thought about downloading it again, but haven't had the time.

Does that make sense? Any suggestions?

P.S. A big THANK YOU to Sue for sending Noey a birthday present all the way from Australia! I wish I could show you a picture of the cute little wombat and book she sent.

Happy March!

2007-03-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

It is a beautiful, sunny day today. (as was the weekend) Birds are literally chirping right outside my office door. The sun and nice weather are making me happy!

Because this is a knitting blog, I will give you a little summary of what I've been up to. Use your imaginations because I still can't post pictures!

First up I finished a Hooded Cardi for Noey. I used 6 skeins of Noro Kureyon in colorway 134. It is so cute, if I do say so myself. (you'll just have to take my word for it!) The colors are bright and brilliant. Noey chose abalone shell buttons (they all match this time!) and they add just the right touch. It fits her perfectly, but now it's too hot to wear!

I finally blocked the Moss Rib Stitch Pullover. I had to do it in 2 sessions because my blocking board is not big enough to accomodate all the pieces. Now I just need to seam it up.

I started a Cardigan for myself a week or so ago. I'm using Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed in Sea Ice. I've finished the back and I'm working on the first sleeve. I decided to work on the sleeves before starting the front, as I'm in Sleeve Heck with the V Neck Pullover.

Speaking of the V Neck Pullover, I've been knitting both sleeves at once, a trick I learned from Bron. I guess I'm about half done with both sleeves, but it just seems to be taking FOREVER. I made a mistake, or rather an error in judgement early on, which means the error was made in both sleeves, so I frogged them both and started over. I was trying to make the sleeves longer, but I should've waited until after the decreases and increases. So now I'm back on track, but lingering in sleeve heck!

Noey's birthday is next Friday the 16th. My baby will be 7 years old. I can't believe it! I don't want her to grow up, but I have to say she is so much fun now. She can read anything, and writes me little notes all the time. She has a great sense of humor, and makes up jokes that really make me laugh! She loves to "help" me so grocery shopping and other errands are a lot easier these days. (she reads me the list) It just keeps getting better and better.

The car is doing great. His name is George. I feel like I really earned this new car. We had so much trouble with that other.........car, all those trips in tow trucks and such. I'm really not a material girl, I just want a reliable car to transport my child in, but if someone's gonna buy me a cool new car, I'll take it!

Just call me Gangsta Mama

2007-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

I got my new car today.

Finally.

Joe came home and said "What are your plans for the evening?" When I said nothing, he said "Would you like to go pick up your new car?" I couldn't get downstairs fast enough! I've been driving around in his little, 2 door, no air conditioning, 12 year old Honda Civic for the past 2 + months. He's been wheeling and dealing to get just the right car, at just the right price. (he's a natural born negotiator)

Unfortunately, due to my picture posting problem, I can't show you my actual car. But if you click

here

you can see it. We got the dark blue one. Isn't it pretty?

This may be a little too hip for me. Back in the day I ran with the hip crowd, before the child was born. Back when I had the time to be hip. And the money! Now, my only criteria for the new "mom car" was 4 doors, air conditioning, power windows, cd player, and enough trunk space for a bicycle and a scooter. Notice that "hip" and "cool" were not listed!

It really is a nice car. I can't wait to drive it tomorrow. Joe wouldn't let me drive it tonight, but he let me sit in it! We've been briefed on all the new car rules - no food or drink in the new car, no feet on the seat in the new car, no dog in the new car, no talking, singing, or humming in the new car!!

P.S. Thank you to my buddies Karen, Katt, and Sue for your kind words about my sad, little pictureless blog! And speaking of Sue, she sent me a lovely package for my birthday! Two skeins of PINK sock yarn, which is oh so yummy, and some cute little sticky notes. Thank you Sue!

I'm Still Here!

2007-02-20T13:15:00.002-08:00

I really am! My lack of posting has nothing to do with a lack of knitting or a lack of things to say. It's due to problem posting pictures. Ever since I switched over to the new Blogger, I can't post pics. My blog was boring even with pictures......I don't want to make it even more boring!

So, I have been knitting. I even finished up a few things. Noey is doing great! Chrissy is doing great! I'm doing great!

Hopefully soon I will figure out how to post pictures again!

Brrrrrrr!

2007-01-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Baby, it's COLD outside!

40 degrees in the daytime is pretty darn cold for Southern California! I know, I know....we're wimps. My uncle, who lives in Montana, calls 40 degrees "shirt sleeve" weather!
Fortunately Noey has this cozy sweater that Sue knit for her to keep her warm! Can you see the X's and O's in the pattern? It's just so cute! Noey's been wearing it when we take Chrissy out for her morning walks. (the cowboy hat is a new addition to the ensemble!) Of course Chrissy has been wearing her hand knit sweater too. I'm starting to think Chrissy may need another sweater!

2007-01-13T20:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't gotten around to blocking and seaming the Moss Rib Stitch Pullover yet. (so much for wearing it on my birthday!) About the only time I could block it is after Noey goes to sleep, but by that time I'm just too tired to deal with it! I ordered The Big Book of Knitting to help with the seaming. (hopefully soon!)
So I've started a new project. It's the V-Neck Pullover with bell sleeves. I've finished the front and started the back. The "V" seems very deep at the moment but hopefully with the ribbing it won't be too much. It's a Paton's pattern with Paton' s Decor yarn, and I'm really enjoying it. It seems to be going pretty fast.

The Emergency Socks are coming along. I'm at the toe decreases of the first one. I'm sure I could finish it tonight if I really wanted to. (I'm kinda obsessed with the pullover right now though!) I've been wearing my one and only other pair of hand knit socks a lot lately due to the severe weather!! I don't normally wear socks so this is big for me.

A functional finished object

2007-01-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

It's done! It's fits! and it's cute! I'm counting this as my last finished object of 2006. The knitting and weaving in of ends was completed on December 31, 2006. I installed the zipper on January 1, 2007. The actual installation of the zipper wasn't too bad, but I'm not crazy about the color of the zipper. Both my mom and Joe said it looks "fine".

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Hooded Cardigan

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky - Color - Grass

I've had this yarn in my stash since I started knitting over 2 years ago, not sure now what I had planned to make with it. I have enough left over to make Noey a hoodie as well. I followed the pattern to the letter except I made it a little longer.

I started this hoodie because I could not find a suitably warm jacket or sweater for the frigid Southern California weather! I've worn it twice now, and can report it is nice and warm!

I also finished the Moss Rib Stitch Pullover. It's just waiting patiently to be blocked and seamed. I'm nervous about seaming, so I ordered some reference books from Amazon which should arrive tomorrow. If all goes well I'm planning to wear it on my birthday, one week from tomorrow. I share my birthday with Martin Luther King, Jr, so I get the day off. Joe and Noey will be off too and we're planning a little outing.

The "forced to knit" sock wasn't happening so I ripped it out and started a basic ribbed sock which is going well, I'm on the home stretch.

We're back to school and work tomorrow after 3 weeks off. I'm both looking forward to and dreading getting back to our old routine. It seems like I had a lot of knitting time over these past three weeks, I'm gonna miss that!

Cuteness

2007-01-07T19:59:00.000-08:00

I promised myself I wouldn't let the dog overtake my blog, but.... I just can't help myself! It's not the dog so much as the cute little girl with the dog!
Noey is in heaven. She loves playing with Chrissy and taking her for walks, or runs I should say, Chrissy doesn't really walk. I think we're all finally getting used to having a dog underfoot, (although I'm very particular about where the dog can and cannot be) and we've got a routine down. Even Joe is becoming attached to her. I catch him talking baby talk to her.

Forced to knit a sock

2007-01-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

I was planning on posting about my Hoodie Cardi which is complete and was worn today. But I couldn't get a picture of it because I got home too late. Why you ask?

Last week Noey, my mom, and myself made a trek out to the Tall Mouse Craft store. I was gifted a Tall Mouse certificate by my mom for Christmas which included yarn, gas, and child watching. It's only about 30 miles/45 minutes away but you can't just pop in when you need something. They have an eclectic array of yarn from Lion Brand to Berrocco, but I ended up buying a book and 2 Yarntainers.

Well, the Yarntainers just didn't work out so I decided to return them today. My lovely lemon of a car* started acting weird on the freeway, and finally died in the Tall Mouse parking lot. (if your car is going to die what better place?)

Knowing that I would have some time to wait I purchased some Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn, some double points, and ended up with this much of a sock. (I used the pattern on the ball band)

I sat in my car for a good 2 hours, but I really didn't mind too much, except that it was hot and I didn't want to take off my new Hoodie Cardi because it was just too cute!

The good news is I made it safely from the freeway to the store, Noey was not with me, I got to start a pair of socks for myself, and I'm finally GETTING A NEW CAR!!! I told Joe I would not drive, ride in, look at, or talk about that car ever again.

*I had never in my life been in a tow truck until we bought my junk heap 2.5 years ago. Since then I have been in one or called one 7 times!!

The Knitting News

2007-01-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

First up, the beautiful things Sue made for Noey. Two fabulous sweaters and a hat. They are all so pretty and so well made. (of course I turned them inside out to look at the construction!)

2007-01-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Sue made me a knitting bag and matching needle roll. Aren't they cute? and my favorite color too!

There were lots more goodies in our packages, but they have now been dispursed throughout the house!

Thank you Sue! We love our pressies!!

2007-01-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, I've crossed over to the other side. I now knit for a dog!

Well...it's cold in the morning when I take Chrissy out for a walk. She's now sporting a fancy turtleneck sweater to keep her warm!

Pattern: Knit Sweaters for Small Dogs

I used the basic construction of the pattern, but modified it quite a bit. I wanted it to be more of a "midriff" rather than a full, four legged sweater. I'm very happy with the results.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease in Red - about half a skein. I used the same skein to make Isabella's Ribbed Hat.

and a HAPPY New Year!

2006-12-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas, and Santa was very good to all of us.

I have lots of knitting news to report including several FO's (one for the dog!) and some lovely gifts from

Sue .

My Hooded Cardi is finished, blocked, all ends woven in....all that is left is the zipper. I am determined to finish it this year so I plan to be up late tonight working on it.

Noey lost a tooth two days after Christmas ( the top one that is sticking out) so we had a visit from Santa and the Tooth Fairy in the same week!

We are having a great time with Chrissy. She is a good little dog, but it really is like having a 2 year old in the house again.

We wish you all a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas to all!

2006-12-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

Joyeux Noelle!

An Addition to the Family

2006-12-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

Meet Chrissy. Noey and I adopted her today!

She's about 2 years old and we think she is a daschund/chihuahua mix. She was rescued from a County Animal Shelter, where she was going to be put to death!!

Noey has been wanting a dog, so we've been looking into "rescue" or "shelter" dogs. This morning we drove to Long Beach to meet Chrissy and a couple of other dogs. Noey fell in love with her the moment she saw her, and I think Chrissy felt the same way!

Now we just have to get used to having a dog in the house. The rescue lady told me it's just like having a 2 year old.....

2006-12-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your well wishes for Noey!

She is feeling much better today. In fact she was well enough to go to school and participate in the Holidays Around The World production. The first grade class sang Arre Mi Burrito and Up on the Roof Top. Very cute! Unfortunately I could not operate the digital camera and the video camera at the same time, so I don't have any pics. (but I do have video if you're ever in the neighborhood!!)

And since I don't like to post without pictures, I give you a nice family shot from our "mini" vacation last month. We stayed at Paradise Point on Vacation Island over the long Veteran's Day weekend.

Joe was attending his annual MRM conference, so Noey and I had plenty of time to "play" at the resort, go to the beach, and visit with Megan and Dario.

Sick Child = Lots of knitting

2006-12-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

I hate it when Noey is sick. There's just not a lot I can do for her. I've been running the humidifier, giving her medicine when she'll take it, and trying to have her rest. She's bored and uncomfortable.

We stayed in our jammies all day again today. We've read lots of books, drawn lots of pictures, and watched lots of DVD's.

But some good comes of it. For one thing, Noey is incredibly sweet when she's sick. She wants lots of cuddles and kisses, and tells me at least twice an hour "I love you, mama". Who wouldn't enjoy hearing that all day?

And the other good thing is I have lots of time to knit.

I finished the Fingerless Mitts for Joe last night. I've knit this pattern so often now I hardly need the directions anymore.

Pattern:

Fingerless Mitts

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Black - less than 1 skein

I made the felted Pin Cushion for my mom. It took about an hour from start to felting. The longest part of it was the drying. I used some Elann Peruvian Highland wool I had in my stash.

So, now I have 3 gifts left to knit.....I think. I have a little more shopping to do, and some baking, but all in all I'm in pretty good shape for the holidays.

I've been working a lot on my Hoodie Cardi (especially today). I finished the body this morning, and am working on the hood now. Maybe, just maybe, I can have it done for Christmas???

(the socks are still calling to me!)

Another Christmas present finished

2006-12-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

Five more to go!

Noey requested that I make a pair of Fingerless Mitts and matching Hat for her friend Sophie.

Unfortunately this is not them! I've gifted them already, and didn't have time to take a picture. I was supposed to pick Noey up from Sophie's house yesterday at 3:00. At 5 minutes to 3:00 I finished weaving in the ends, threw them in a gift bag, and gave them to Sophie.

They are pretty much identical to this set, except for the colorway.

I made these for Noey last year. She wears the mitts quite often, the hat not so much.

Noey has been sick all week, so today we're staying indoors in our pajamas all day. I got a lot of knitting done this morning, including a felted pin cushion for my mom, which is now drying, and I'm almost done with Joe's second mitt. Hopefully I'll have more finished objects to show tomorrow.

(still fighting the urge to cast on socks!)

I have been knitting - Part IV

2006-12-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

The last in a 4 part series!

This is the last of my finished objects. When my niece was here over the Thanksgiving weekend she saw the Panta I made for Noelle last year. She's from Miami and now lives in San Diego. Poor girl is cold all the time! So she asked for a Panta, and how could I refuse? I used the same yarn I used to make her fingerless mitts last March for her birthday. My model was being temperamental and wouldn't put it on, hence a flat picture.

Pattern: Panta - found on Craftster

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease - Blue Mist - less than 1/2 skein

Once again this was a 2 day project. It is now winging it's way to Miami. Megan and Dario went home for Christmas. (boo hoo)

I wore my Sitcom Chic to work today. It's the first time I've worn a knitted garment in public, other than scarves and mitts. I was a little self conscious.

First I was quite surprised how bright the hot pink Bubblegum Cotton Ease is in sunlight! My friend Shane, who is brutally honest, assured me it wasn't "neon"!

Then everyone kept asking me if I had knit it....as if it screamed "homemade"! Everyone who asked knows that I am a knitter, and they all followed up with how much they liked it, but still!

I'm currently working on a pair of Fingerless Mitts in Black wool for Joe, and a pair for one of Noey's friends, as well as my Hoodie Cardigan. My new sock yarn arrived yesterday, and I'm so tempted to cast on! I mean really, how long could a pair of kids socks take? Must.maintain.self.control.Christmas.18.days.away.

I have been knitting - Part III

2006-12-04T19:34:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please!

May I present my first official pair of socks!

I finished them a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't be more pleased with myself! They are not identical, but I don't mind. No one will see the toes anyway. They are a little thick, I think worsted weight yarn. We had one week of cold weather when I could have worn them, but I didn't. I don't want to wear them, I feel like they're sacred or something. Now the weather is warm again, and I'm wearing sandals all the time.

Pattern: Basic Ribbed Sock from Spun Magazine

Yarn: Moda Dea Sassy Stripes - little less than 2 skeins.

I did a three needle bind off for the toes, which seemed to work just fine. I didn't have any problems with the heel and picking up stitches, no holes!

Now I'm hooked. I just ordered two patterns, and some yarn for myself and Noey. (not to mention the sock yarn I already have in the stash!) Unfortunately I still have more Christmas knitting to do, so I can't start anything new at the moment.

I still have more knitting to report. But that will have to wait until Part IV.

I have been knitting - Part II

2006-12-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Noey has a friend over, and they are happily playing in her room, so I jumped at the chance to post again.

Our friend, Isabella, turns 1 year old tomorrow. She lives in Chicago with her mom, Amanda, and her dad, my childhood friend, Michael. I thought she might need a hat! So last Sunday while we were out having a nice family day, Joe graciously offered to let me stop at JoAnn's to pick up some yarn. (Joe is not a big fan nor supporter of the knitting, that's why it's worth mentioning!)

Pattern: Just Your Basic Beanie - size 12 months

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease in Red -less than 1/2 skein.

It was another 2 day project. Love that!

It looks tiny, doesn't it? It's a 2x2 rib so it stretches a lot.....hopefully!

Off to make Christmas cookies with the girls - Part III ......maybe tomorrow?

I have been knitting - Part 1

2006-12-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Earlier on, like late October-early November (when it would have been a good time to start Christmas knitting) I had decided I wouldn't knit any Christmas gifts this year.

But then for some unknown reason I decided on Thanksgiving Day, that I needed to knit some Christmas gifts, and promptly got to work.

Over two days of the 4 day weekend I knit this scarf for my Aunt Betty who lives in Montana and needs a nice warm scarf.

Pattern: Potato Chip Scarf (free from Knitpicks)

Yarn: Patons Divine - a little more than one skein

It is so soft and warm, and really pretty in this yarn.

I've finished two other presents, and have several more on the needles. Updates to follow in "I have been knitting - Part 2."

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2006-11-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

I try to take time each day to appreciate all that I have, but sometimes I get overwhelmed.....like this past month.

I am so thankful for:

- my beautiful child

- my wonderful, hard headed, strong willed husband

- my loving and supportive parents

- my niece, nephew, brother and sister in law

I am grateful to have friends, both in person and in cyberspace, who encourage me and keep me sane.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends if you celebrate Thanksgiving. If you don't, enjoy your family this weekend!

My niece, Megan, took this picture last time she was up visiting. She's quite the photographer! (she even won an award when she was in high school - I'm a proud aunt!)

While the cat's away

2006-11-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

The mice will play!

My boss is at a conference today, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update the old blog. (but no pictures!)

I've finally come to the realization that life NEVER slows down when you have a child, work, try to keep a home, and have a very needy husband.

Since I posted last I have:

- been to San Diego twice

- finished my first pair of socks (yeah!)

- finished the front, back, and first sleeve of the Moss Rib Stitch Pullover

- frogged the Summer Cardigan

- cast on a new project

- finished up my surprise package for

Sue and Isabelle

- been to numerous playdates and birthday parties, gymnastics, and Pioneer Kids

I'm really looking forward to the long Thanksgiving weekend. I desperately need some down time. My niece and her boyfriend are driving up from San Diego and will stay at my parents house for the weekend. Noey is so excited to see Megan she can hardly stand it!

I'm hoping to get in a little Christmas shopping this weekend too. I have done none to date. (and that is stressing me out too) My niece and I used to always get up at the crack of dawn and be at the mall when the doors opened at 6:00am on the day after Thanksgiving. That was our holiday tradition. We'd shop for hours on end, and knock out all the gifts in one day. Since Noey was born we haven't been able to that. My mom has offered to watch Noey, but I don't know if she'll let me take Megan away from her for a couple of hours.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

We just got home from Trick or Treating. We're tired, our feet are sore, and our tummies ache from too much candy!!! But we had a great time!

Updates and a Finished Object....finally!

2006-10-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

I've finished Isabelle's bolero/cardi. After much trial and tribulation I finally achieved what I wanted. Noey tried it on for me (after I bribed her) and it looks so cute on her, but she wouldn't let me take a picture. (maybe she'll let me before I mail it off next week)

Now I just need to get started on Sue's present. It won't take me long, I just need to find the time. My mom is going to pick up Noey on Tuesday after school, so I should be able to work on it then. (my parents have been gone for the last two weeks on a car trip to Montana so I have not had my Tuesday alone time!)

2006-10-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

I'm furiously knitting along on The Moss Rib Stitch Pullover. (or whatever it's called!) I've finished the back, and I'm almost halfway through the front.
I had wanted to finish it by the time we go to San Diego for Veteran's Day weekend, but I don't think that's going to happen. I keep giving myself deadlines, and then the knitting becomes too stressful, and no fun at all. So, if I finish it in time, that's great, if not, that's okay too.

I've been reading a lot of laments about the Noro yarn; the strange striping effects, the thick/thin strands, and all the "kindling", and I've found it all to be true. You can really see the funky striping on the back section. Even with all the complaints, I'm still happy with the result.

2006-10-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Socktoberfest, but too timid to join, I've been secretly knitting a sock!

It's going pretty good, I think...I've turned the heel and I'm on the home stretch.

I'm using Moda Dea Sassy Stripes and a simple rib pattern I found online. I've tried it on a couple of times and it seems to fit. I'm not sure how to finish the toe, I guess a little research is in order. I plan to cast on the second sock as soon as this one is off the needles.

2006-10-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

We took our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday with our friends Ava, Hannah,and their mom, Debbie. The girls rode the ponies, feed the sheep and goats, and picked out a pumpkin.
We met Hannah and her mom when the girls were about 6 months old in a Mommy and Me class, and we've gone to the Pumpkin Patch every year with them since then.

After the patch, we all came back to our house for pizza and play time.

A Surprise Package

2006-10-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

I found this package in my mailbox when I got home today from Donni. It was wrapped really cute with the little butterfly on top....but I didn't get a picture of it because I was too excited to open it up!
Aren't the dishclothes beautiful? They're just too pretty to use. I saw the yellow one on Donni's blog and hoped it was for me! and the pink one.....just gorgeous!! The little butterfly pin was for Noey, and we also got a little cookbook, and new yarn!!

I would say the Dish Cloth Shuffle was a huge success!