I can't seem to help myself

I keep telling myself that I have too many unfinished projects waiting for me and that there is no way I should start something new. I guess I am just so very weak.

I have started the February Lady Sweater and it is all I can think about right now. I am using Super 10 cotton and so far so good. Even though this is all I have so far.

I have one week left to finish the tulip sweater for my mom's friend. Not the same friend as the last one. I think this is sweater number 4. This one I have been doing only with left overs so the colours are very different. It is a good thing this sweater is for a little girl cuz the colours suggest little girl.

I start my ESL course one Wednesday. It has been a while since I have been in school (not teaching it that is). It is sure going to keep me busy cuz we are fitting a whole course into 2.5 weeks. All day everyday! I wonder if they will notice me knitting in the back?

Time Flies when you are too busy to blink

I knew it had been a while since I posted but I really didn't think it had been THIS long. Wow. There was a while when I didn't have time to knit and then there was a while when I couldn't find my camera. Lucky I found it just in time for the WWKIP day.

I was sad that I couldn't stay for more of the party at Pick up Sticks but my aid conditioner was being installed and my family was over at my house. We had planned it for the week before but plans fell through and no one else in my family seems to understand the importance of Knit in Public day. (I think they believe I am making the whole thing up.

This is a group of the gang knitting on the porch outside the store.

Things have been busy with the wrap up of the school year ( I can't believe that there is only a few school days left).

Besides that I'm still trying to get used to having to take care of a house of my own and stop in wonder at how much work it is. Even more work when you are living with your husband who is also getting used to all this living together business and his 19 year old brother. If I had to have a 19 year old boy living in my house it would be him because I know he is trustworthy but he is 19 and leaves his stuff all over the place. Neither of then can wash a dish to save their life.

I also have dug my garden in the weeks that I wasn't posting.

Another first for me. Anyway now that I'm going to have some more time to myself I will have more time for knitting and posting.

Oh and Oscar turned one at the end of may. Here he is in the back seat of my car.

My Birthday came early

*Anyone in my wedding party should not read this post*

This weekend was very busy but it was fun too. Saturday was the yarn crawl that started at Pick up Sticks. Oscar and I went to say hello to Connie but we were not going shopping so we just visited. It was really nice to see Meghan too.

Then we went to Doggy School for the afternoon and worked and played hard. Followed by dinner at my parents house for Mother's Day with my Mom and my Grandma. My mom gave me this cute little sheep figure.

Sunday we were up early to go to Aaron's mom's house so he could go golfing and still spend time with his mom. His sister and her family were over too so Oscar got to play with Miss Magoo.

It was really cute and he put up with a lot from her. She was asleep when she came over and he would go and lick her and then walk away...five minutes later he would go back and check her again and kept that up until she was awake. Then he followed her around and let her pull his ears and crawl on her and put her hands in his mouth.

It was so sweet to watch.

Then Meghann my new sister in law (Magoo's mom) gave me my birthday present early.

They are boxer stitch markers from WeeOnes. Meghann sent a picture of my Oscar Bear and had Oscar Stitch markers made. HOW SWEET IS THAT? Each one is in a different position and they have his markings. It is just amazing. I'm definitely going to check out what else is over there and you should too.

And today I am back on the job hunt and house cleaning and laundry and work and on top of it all I made these little photo albums for my wedding party as a thank you gift. Hence this little note up top.

I also realised that something very important that I wanted to have done tonight for school tomorrow I left at work so I will have to get up early tomorrow to go to school super early so I can do it in the morning. CRAP!

Spring rain and Tulips

What a better way to spend a rainy day (couple of days) then by knitting a very sunshiny baby sweater. I have been working on another tulip sweater for a friend of my mother.

I really do love this sweater. This is my second tulip sweater and it is just as fun as the first. However I think I may have the same problem as the first.

This is all I have left of the border colour. That would probably be enough if I only had the two sleeves but I also have around the neck and the ties. I'm starting to worry.

Of course I will press on and see how far I can get before I either loose my temper or start to cry.

And we froliced!

Well it was a busy day and a exhausting day but it was a FANTASTIC day at the Knitter's Frolic. We woke up bright and early to heard down to the festivities. And they seemed to start a bit early this year. All the more time to shop and explore.

Here is a picture of our booth. I caught Connie at a bad time though as she was finishing her bagel so...look at all the pretty yarn instead. Sorry Con.

I enjoyed having a wander around. My life has been so busy that I was starting to forget what it is like to be a part of something like this. Us knitters are a really interesting bunch. I said to Connie that you look around and see all these people that you know even if you haven't met before or if you met last year at the same knitting event, or you stood by each other when you go to hear the Yarn Harlot speak. We don't all know each other but we are a close knit group (hehehehe).

Ok so on to the really good stuff. The shopping. I was very well behaved this year. I had to be with the wedding and the house (and now my 19 year old brother in law living with us for 4 months) but I still found some really great stuff.

Some Soak wool wash. I have some aquae already but I never want to use it because I don't want to run out. Silly because Connie has Soak to but....I'm a silly kinda girl.

I bought a Lexie Barnes bag that I have been eyeing for a while. Picked it up from The Naked Sheep. That is the second tulip sweater pictured with the bag. I making one for a friend of my mom's now.

This is some beautiful and soft silk yarn from Oceanwind knits. I have been petting it continuously since I bought it.

And I bought one of these cute needle felting kits from Fibre Art by Wendo. They had a really big one with so much detail in it. That is what made me want one but I need to start small. My kids at school would get a real kick out of a big ol' dragon in the reading corner. For now though it will be a little red dragon.

And Connie bought me this cute mug as a present so this morning as I go through my purchases and sit down to enjoy some knitting I can enjoy my morning cup with a fitting mug.

Is this a knitting blog or a dog blog

Two of my favourite things in life are knitting and my dog. I have been working on a lot of things and playing with Oscar and getting a few things done around the house along the way.

First of all here is the Prism bag when it was finished being knit.

And here it is after felting. It didn't quite get as small as the pattern says but I used smaller needles and my washing machine doesn't get super hot so....Overall I'm happy with it but of course have not finished the lining and all of the other finishing details.

And of course I have to put something about my dog in here too so....

Here is Oscar and his Daddy watering the lawn.

Well I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to go to the Knitter's Frolic this weekend but....I will be there! With Connie and Lisa from Pick up Sticks. I'm excited because we had such a great time last year. Come and see us there.

I have been starting to get back into my routine of things now that the wedding is over. Aaron and I did a big house clean and did some organizing that showed me just how many projects I have on the go. My husband is really quick to point out that the project he bought for me is still not finished three years later and he is never going to buy me yarn again. (I don't think I should point out to him that he bought me yarn at Christmas).

I started the Prism Noni Bag after the wedding and have finished the knitting and have felted it as far as it would felt. It is a few inches bigger all the way around than the pattern says it should be but I also didn't have the right gauge and my washing machine was not as hot as I would expect it to be. So with all that in mind I think close is pretty damn good.

So now I have the finishing to do. I went to fabric land yesterday to look at lining and have to admit that I found one of the ladies a little less than friendly. The other one I talked to was very helpful. I think I know what I'm going to use but I did not buy it yet because I have other steps to do first before I do the liner. I hope that when I go back that not so friendly lady is not there.
(I did try to explain that my sewing experience is very limited..I'm a knitter after all...although now that I have my grandma's sewing machine I would like to learn.

I have some pictures that I hope to add soon but for some reason my computer is not recognizing the camera when I plug it in so I have to use another computer and save the pictures to a memory stick before I can put them on my computer. Anyone with any ideas of what to do about this? Please let me know.

Back to the snow

Wow was Jamaica ever fantastic and so very warm. We have been back for almost a week now and I'm still not used to the cold again.

We stayed at the Sandals Ocho Rios on the Manor side. Here is what the resort looks like from beside the pool.

This is Aaron and I at dinner one night. We ate at a restaurant that they set up on the beach.

The food was so good and they had so many different kinds of food at the different restaurants that we never ate in the same place twice for dinner.

We went snorkeling and shopping, climbed Dunn's River and went on a jeep tour of the country side in St Ann. It was so interesting. Beautiful in some ways and sad in others. When you live the way we do in Canada and then go to a resort where they look after you every way they can and turn a corner and see how some of the people live there.

But they will tell you there are no problems in Jamaica only "situations" (like no bartender at the bar- which was open at 10am)

It was such a great time. I enjoyed it very much. Aaron told me he was surprised he didn't see me knitting. I did take a sock but only knit it on the plane. I haven't knit much since before the wedding but since Wednesday night at Pick up Sticks I have been keeping myself in stitches. I have some pictures but when I was uploading the Jamaica pictures the computer froze and now it won't read from the camera. Any suggestions what to do about that little "situation"

Wedding party time

Saturday was the BIG DAY! It was fabulous! I'm still very tired and am trying to reorganize things around the house but I hope you can enjoy some of these picture to get an idea of how our day was.

Pre-Wedding busy!

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I have not been knitting all that much though. I have been busy every night and every weekend with things for the wedding and now things are getting busier with two weeks left...yes that is right 13 days until we get married.

I'm very excited but already very tired. This week I have to work on and hopefully finish my report cards so that will be one more things knocked off my list but I also have my facial this week I have to make an appointment for a trial for my hair and another fitting for my dress to see that all the alterations are done ( Did I mention I love my dress??)

I do have one finished object to show. It has been finished for over a week but here it is!

I just needed someone to knit it for

I have wanted to knit the Tulip sweater for a long time but didn't have a reason. So when my fiance came home from work and said that his friend had a had a baby girl I immediately thought of it. He suggested a baby blanket like I knit for my cousin and for his sister but I said....."I will see what I can do" well this little sweater is it.

The countdown is on for the wedding and I'm getting a little flustered. I Think I just want to do it now. I was excited to do the planning thing at first but now I'm just ....ready to do it! I feel like time is flying by and I don't have time to do anything that needs to be done in my life as it is. All my bridesmaids are getting together this weekend for a dress fitting and for a girls night.

Here is my baby trying to get the yogurt off of his nose. He loves his yogurt.

Boot Camp's a B***h

Like I said I'm not one for new years resolutions. I have always wanted to try kick boxing. When I was in high school my mom told me that girls don't do that and it was too violent.....so...Aaron and I have joined a gym for martial arts. All different kinds. You would think we had joined the army (only they are a lot friendlier at this place I think) we are doing drills and sit ups and push ups and crawling across the floor. It is a lot of fun ..... but it is HARD!!! My muscles are very sore. I can hardly stand up and sit down (today I had to use the wheel chair handles in our staff washroom to get myself up) They keep saying it will get easier but ...WHEN? They obviously don't know that the only exercise I get is walking the dog and that I am very out of shape. Oh well.

I won't be going to kick boxing tonight because I will be knitting and resting my legs. If you aren't busy I will be at Pick up Sticks in Bradford. I am going to bring Pam's Christmas Sweater.

Pattern: Lucy in the Sky
Yarn: Dream in Color, Classy
Colour: Cloud Jungle
Needles: 4mm

But before I go tonight I'm am going to have a nice bath with a Marathon Bar from Lush. I am addicted to some of their stuff. Haven't tried this one yet but they say it is good for after you exercise for painful muscles. We shall see.

Happy New Year!

I am excited for a new year and for new beginnings. New attitudes and a new look for the blog. I thought the other was getting a little dark for me so... we will give this a shot.

I am far from the best when it comes to keeping resolutions but I have a few things I hope to do differently this year. Some are knitting and crafting related and some are work and home related. Some could apply to both.

Lets think of this list as some promises or plans for the new year. I think these four sort of cover all the things I hope to do for myself.

1) Finish things you start

2) Clean up the small messes before they become big ugly messes

3)ORGANIZE YOURSELF! - plans for yourself, your house, crafting supplies,work, etc.

4) Don't procrastinate!

So to start off the new year I have one finished project right out of the gate.

I have to get a picture of it now that it is all done but this is Lucy in the sky on December 29th. Today I have the buttons to sew on and the blocking to do. It is a little small for me so I hope it fits Pam. She is a bit smaller than me so I could be ok.

Can you give away a present you love?

I am working very hard on my maid of honour's Christmas present. I know it is a little late but I saw Connie working on this sweater and had to make one myself ..er..for my friend (Why is it that happens? Monkey see Monkey do)

Now I'm wondering if I really want to give this sweater away. I love the yarn and I love the fit of the sleeve so far. I might have to make another for myself because after all it is for my friend who has stuck by me through my whole life.


Get to the sweater you say? Well it is Lucy in the Sky from Cosmicpluto! I love the pattern!

I am knitting it with (of course) Dream in Colour Classy in the Cloud Jungle colour. It is a little hard to see because the lack of sun has really imposed on my picture taking.
I am being productive on the sweater regardless of all the other stuff that is on my plate. I need to track down a night stand (in my price range) that goes with my bedroom set. We bought ours and it was a good deal because it has been discontinued and it only came with one nightstand. Any tips for the hunt?

I remember when being on my Winter Break was like this....