It's the CAT Holiday :)

It is such a toss up whether today is my favourite holiday, being the Cat holiday and all, or Christmas is. I keep my Hallowe'en decorations - well, some of them - up year 'round. Any of the cat ones, (and I have a couple bats, too) hang around the living room until the one day they get taken out to the porch. I also like to dress up.... One year, I wore a red plaid coat - mostly for warmth, but some of the rug-rats that came to the door decided I was a "lumberjack". The next year, I wore my leather jacket, so I was a "motorcyclist". Then, I bought a witch's hat.... Ever since, I've been building on the witch idea. :)

Ok. Enough of that... On to the craft front... :)

Updates: I finished one crochet afghan, baby size, to be a gift for DH's co-worker. I have a picture in my photo album in the crochet of course album. Also, in the MS2 album is an update of the mystery shawl number 2. Last clue for that, the edging, came out Friday, and I got my printout of it today. Don't think I'll get much time tonight to work on it, though. Besides handing out candy, I get to look after Nikoal :) while DS takes the other three out trick or treating.... He said he's tired of always having to carry one along.... I certainly don't mind getting the little sweetheart for a while :)

Ok, more update: I've been spinning.... I made a smallball of alpaca yarn. Not the laceweight I was hoping for, and rather "slubby", but it happened :) I put a picture of that into a new spinning album :) Last night, I made some more. I made a second ball. Having difficulty with getting a good picture for some reason. I tried to take a couple angles, and took one of the two balls together - but they didn't all turn out. I may try again later... But the second ball has a lot of consistency to it. I'm so proud of myself!! Still not laceweight :( but at least consistent!! I may try one more time - maybe - or I may break down and buy some yarn so I can start the Frost Flower and Leaves KAL....It starts tomorrow. Some people have already started it, and some of us are waiting for the "official" start... Since a lot of us are on the Mystery Shawl list, and others together, we all have some project in the works.... But I really wanted to do the spinning my own yarn for this - an alpaca FF&L.... (oh, should mention, the pattern is from the book, A Gathering of Lace - which is on my "must buy" list - there are TONS of great patterns in there!)

More updates: Way back, or way down on this page, lol, I mentioned a local knit together group. I was talking about how I had no one really to knit with - well, I do, sort of, have someone.... Ok, I need to apologize to my sister. It's just that, well.... OK, of course, by default, she's been knitting longer than me, 'cause she's older so would have learned first. That's kind of obvious - - HOWEVER.... She had problems with wool. She couldn't knit with it. So, for the longest time, she really didn't knit. Much. Until man made fibres became more widely available, and acceptable. I know, there are still people out there that say you aren't knitting if you don't use wool (think I mentioned I actually had someone tell me that). But in general, knitting without wool is becoming more common. So. With some encouragement, I got her back into knitting more often. She now considers me the more experienced knitter, but I know there are things I can learn from her. And I find it truly amazing that even though we were taught by the same person to knit (our mother) we have different styles/methods of knitting....

Another update: I hadn't realized that I didn't update about that sewing machine I bought. I finally got some information about how old it is. Seems that the serial number on my machine starts with the letters "ME". All machines made with the serial numbers starting MA to MY were made between the years 1934 and 1950. So... That puts mine somewhere in the 1940's, early, I'd guess.... :) And it works fine.... It's been plugged in, turned on, and operated - it is smooth moving, and quiet. So. A bit of a plug for Singer, there. Their machines last.

Now all I have to do is figure out a way to afford to buy the instruction book for it, so I can get the right bobbins and see if the attachments from my newer machine (bought in the late 1970's) will fit it.

Ok, I think that updates things for now.

I'm also going to try to update this blog a little more frequently in the future!!

Forgot to mention

That the slight silver lining to spending two hours in a waiting room, meant that I got a lot of crocheting done on the baby gift afghan I need to make for mid-November!!!

Just have to share :)

Ok, first, I had a bad day yesterday... I'm a packrat, I admit it, and I have trouble getting rid of stuff that is useful. But I'm working on reforming - I'm in the process of trimming down, tossing things, giving to Sally Ann - I really have too much stuff. Now, I also seem to have a bad memory - seems that some time back, like, last spring or so, I thought we were low on brown sugar, and so I bought more. Well, I forgot I bought it.... Guess I wasn't so low after all, or something. Anyway, I collect (not in the good way, like the kitty collection, or stash, or anything!) plastic containers - margarine tubs, sour cream containers, etc. Y'know, the free things, that if something dies in it, you don't mind tossing them... or shouldn't mind ;} Well, I have a cupboard FULL of them. So much, that I couldn't close the cupboard door anymore. I keep other stuff, good stuff, in the same cupboard. And, apparently, I discoverd yesterday, I also put a package of brown sugar in that cupboard. News flash: Mice like brown sugar.

What should have been a one or two hour tops job (sorting and tossing plastic) turned into a major washing of everything, sorting, and cleaning job. I spent about five hours yesterday on it, and have a lot more to finish up today....

Then, yesterday's mail brought a recall notice for our vehicle..... Made an "appointment" for this morning, at 7:30. The "appointment" turned into "Oh, that's an appointment to drop a vehicle off, not when we work on it". I won't write here what I said there..... Two hours later, I'm home, to do my least favourite household chore.... Laundry. I come in the house, stop at the bathroom, go to the basement, open the washing machine, and the phone rings.... DS wants to know if I'll babysit.... Well, that was enough to cheer me up :) :) :) Ok, need to explain here - I don't like little kids. I don't like babies. I'm not at all a baby person, or a little kid person, or any of that. Someone walks in the room with a baby, and I'm NOT the one that goes, OOO.. Let me hold it.... NO, that is not me at all. Then Nikoal was born this summer.... She's the fourth grand kid. I don't know if it is age, or what, but there is something about little Miss Nikoal. She's a sweetie....

I know I wasn't going to post any more pics here in the postings, but it was so cute when Ashleigh met Nikoal....
On the left, it looks like Ashleigh is saying, "What is that?" And on the right, she's just looking.... And below, is Ashleigh being nosy and licking Nikoal :) Sadly, I didn't get a pic of Ashleigh touching noses with Nikolis - the nearly four year old grandson....

Ok, so now, though, you'll have to go to the album page (yesterday's post has the link) to see my latest progress on the mystery shawl... :)

And, another thing that I almost forgot about, was this link:
http://www.crochetandknitting.com/confederateflag.htm The picture there isn't mine - I still haven't gotten around to taking pictures of all the things I've made before getting the mini-digital camera, but the pattern is mine :)

So. Guess that's my update for today!!

Wips and lately

Well, thought it was time to list some of my wips/ufos.

I am still working on getting buttons listed on the side, and need to create or design one for the yahoo group I'm the mom of. Bet that got you grammar buffs going :)

I also don't know how to do links on the side yet, nor how to do one of those cool analogue style clocks, and I wouldn't mind if I could do my project list on the side with those bar graphs that say how far along I am. But - I can't yet, so you'll have to live with me listing them here in a post.

Oh, and I think, rather than always adding pics to the posts here, I'll just post my yahoo album -
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/catwoman_ac/my_photos
There, now if you want to check out my finished items, or my knit alongs in progress, you can go there, and when I figure it out, I'll put that link on the side bar.

In the meantime:
My current (meaning they are handy to me in the living room) knitting projects:
Myster shawl knit along (clue 3 of 5 done)
Shetland Lace Workshop (I'm working on a scarf, and will be doing a hap shawl next)
Pacific Northwest shawl (frogged, need to find new yarn for)
Heart Illusion Scarf (have changed mind on colour, am just starting again)
Frost Flowers and Lace Shawl (knit along starts Nov. 1, I need to spin some alpaca to make it)
Diamond Shawl (freebee from Lionbrand, using Homespun, have restarted it several times, it was on a "time out" but now that I'm getting really good at lace....)
Popcorn Socks (I had been up to the heel of these, then thought I'd made a mistake, frogged, and realized I hadn't)
Blue socks (basic for DH - not started....)
Brown socks for DH (up to the heel of sock 1)
Citrus Sunrise socks (ribbing of sock 2)
Pink socks for me (started leg of sock 2)
Turkish Toe Up socks (pattern from Lynn H. of www.colorjoy.com)
Knit Sampler (am on square #6 from the Barbara Walker Learn to Knit Afghan book)

I have a few other knit projects, that are the same as the blue socks - the yarn, needles, and pattern are all together in a basket on my couch, but technically are not yet started. In my vocabulary, that makes them a WIP - so, counting those: Lorna's Laces socks, Branching out scarf (s'pose this is a UFO - I can't seem to get excited, or past the garter first border), to be felted hat kit, "Adam's Kitty", wrist warmers, and a second pair of Cascading Leaves Socks. I also have to buy more yarn to finish making a beaded stole of my own "design".

In Crochet, there is:
A baby afghan I need to make before mid November
A "bear" afghan - granny squares shaped like a teddy bear
Blue white motif doily
square doily
romantic doily
bonbondoily
mom's crystal doily
peggy's doily
dahlia doliy
fan and fantasy doily
tulip doily
the doilies listed here are the names on the patterns, all available on the net free, not one's that are for people in particular :)
a brown poncho, a thread froggy, a thread kitty, some doggy booties, a chenile shawl and a poncho for my sister, (she knows, so it isn't a surprise) a granny square afghan, and a book cover. Phew!!! In some ways, the crochet projects are sort of all UFO's, 'cause I've been in a crochet slump for a while, and haven't touched them. I had to force myself to pick up a hook to make the baby blankie before the baby is born!! DH wanted me to make it for a co-worker of his...

Next up: Quilt list - I'm trying to make a Teddy bear holding balloons quilt for my GS - from a Quiltmaker magazine some months (ok, year or so) back - wanted to have it finished for his b-d last year. I *might* make it for this year (Dec.) I only have to put on borders, then quilt it....
I also want to work on an applique quilt for Christmas (Not this year, but some year!), and a penguin quilt, and a blue triangle quilt. The penguin was a freebie of the month from a few years ago now, Claudia's Quilt Shoppe. The Christmas and the Triangle come from my favourite magazine, Quiltmaker.

Also wanting to do: Ufo status (meaning the necessary stuff to make it is in the craft room) Stairway to Cat Heaven, House BOM, Blue Sampler, Dear Jane, and Baltimore Album.

Next, I guess, I only have one latchhook project downstairs. A kitty rug I started some time ago, and want to finish. I have a little kit to make a woven bag - am having problems for some reason with it, but am determined to finish it. I *do* know how to weave, I *do* like the little kit, and it *is* for a small coin purse/amulet bag size.... I also bought enough stuff to make myself some beaded knitting stitch markers....

Cross stitch: A little card that is an embellished kitty (printed cloth, and you only stitch part of the design), a kit for "Bag Ladies", and I know there are a couple others that I really want to do/finish.... I had relegated most cross stitch to UFO status due to failing eyesight, but am slowly picking it up again now that I have bifocals :)

Phew!! That's a lot of projects... We won't talk about how much physical space they take up -

I'll keep everyone posted on my progress :)

I'm Ba-ack....

Well, the Turkey dinner was great. We got the cabin all closed up for the winter.

And, I actually added a button. With a lot of help, lol.... But I did it!!! The Frost Flowers And Leaves group....

There is a gorgeous shawl pattern in the book, "Gathering of Lace" by Meg Swanson, and there are a bunch of people who are going to work on it as a knit along, starting November 1. I'm taking the plunge, as it were, and plan to spin some laceweight alpaca to knit it with. I'm a novice spinner, but that never stops me from trying something :) And besides, the shawl is for me, so if it isn't perfect, so what? Right?

Now that I know how to add buttons, maybe I'll add a few more! Not necessarily today, but soon - very soon.

In the meantime, I'm trying to clean up my messy house, now that I'm going to be hanging around home a little more often and I'll be able to sort out all my ongoing projects and UFO's.

Oh, and gotta brag a bit - yesterday I was at the local Salvation Army Thrift store, and picked up a sewing machine for $20. Singer.... My favourite brand. I have a sewing machine already, but it has a built in stretch and sew feature that I don't always get along with. So, I'd been on the lookout for an older machine.... Now, I thought that with the model number, and internet and everything, that I'd be able to figure out the age of the machine, and a few more details about it, but am so far coming up empty. DANG.

But, it works, and with a little effort, I can probably get enough accessories (maybe even interchange with my newer model) together to get it sewing! :)

So, hopefully, my next update will include some more buttons to some of the groups I'm in, and some listings of some of my projects.

Weekend coming....

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. I'll be away until Tuesday, having turkey dinner with friends... So, I won't be back to update till at least Wednesday.

Short post here, due to the fact that I make a couple sweet potato pies for the dinner :) Been a yearly get together for a few years, now....

So. I have pets... Still don't quite have pictures, but I have pets, lol.

And I have to thank a great friend of mine, also a blogger, for helping me to get those pets up and running - check out her blog (she's very talented at knitting, flower raising, cat mommy-ing, and friend helping, too...) http://knittinggrandma.blogspot.com/



Oh, cool... I figured out how to add a pic to my post!!! This is Mica, the black tabby (1.5 yrs old) and Ashleigh, our newest family member.





And now, here's Roxy - taken earlier this summer, in the porch. She's 17 and a half, and we were afraid we'd have to send her to the "Rainbow Bridge" 'cause she's losing her hearing. So we got Ashleigh to keep Mica company.... And that gave Roxy time to adapt. So, we're keeping her around a little longer.




And, since I'm sharing....
Here's Spud, the sheltie cross (she's 11 yrs old already!) and Bear, the Border Collie (he's only 8)


Ok, so that's the fur family :) Will try to write and share some crafting type pictures next week :) Happy Turkey Day!!

Well, time to update... :)

I'm still working on figuring out the picture stuff, and all that. Will try more later, have a friend who is a blogger too helping.

So, last night, I went to our local Chapters store, where once a month some local gals have a knit together. I love that.... Laughing, knitting (well, last night I worked on a crochet project) and talking - nice to have friends!!!

My mother taught me to knit, way back before I started school. She also taught me embroidery and latch hook, as well as basics of weaving, but for now, I am going to talk knitting :) Anyway, my sister is also a knitter, but hadn't done much knitting until recently. I got her back into it! But, since Mom passed away, I was really somewhat of a loner for knitting or crafting of any kind. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I taught myself most of the other crafts I do. Some time around 1990,* I had recently quit smoking, and had finished University but didn't have a job, and decided I'd like to learn to make a quilt. Quilting was not quite on its full upswing (crafts seem to go in popularity waves) yet, and I had difficulty finding anything in the magazine section in the store. I did find a mixed craft magazine, mostly knitted sweaters, that had a few variety patterns, including a couple quilts. But also some cross stitch and crochet. So, I taught myself those.... Cross stitch is a variation of embroidery, but really does belong in a class by itself - same with needle point and petit point. Anyway.... Because I didn't know anyone else who did any of these crafts, I had to teach myself. Although, back then, I could still talk knitting with Mom. Since she died, though, I was a loner. I tried to find out about guilds... But I didn't know how to find them. I've since learned things like a) they cost money (which I really don't have in large supply!) and b) they don't really exist here... We have a "crafts guild" which has all the different crafts under its umbrella, but not an individual knit guild, or quilt guild, or crochet guild.... I've also heard that they are a tad "elitist", too....Not my kind of group at all!!!!

I like to laugh.... And I like to do the best I can. No yarn snob here.... No _______ Police here, either - you know what I mean, the ones that say you can't do something? Or you're not doing it "right"? Like the ones that say if you knit holding the yarn in the left hand vs right hand or is it right hand vs left hand? that you knit wrong? Or that you aren't really knitting if you use acrylic yarn? (I had someone tell me that on an email list once!!!!)

So, all that digression was to introduce the fact that I had a blast last night! Got to spend time with people who share at least one interest with me, and sometimes other interests, and some differences - but we could all talk and laugh together and get along - and help each other out with suggestions, etc. Boy, what I've been missing all these years!

*boy, that number looks weird now!! wasn't that long ago, but it feels like I'm talking about a century ago, lol

Frustrating

I still can't seem to figure out how to add things in. On the side.... Like other people have clocks, and pets, and projects - and buttons and links to other groups they belong to....

*SIGH*

One of these days....

second post, and hopefully.....

I can figure out all this blog stuff. Yes, me, who doesn't think they are self- important enough to have a website....

No offense to other bloggers, of course. Just my opinion.... Anyway.

I'm going to try to add some cool stuff, like a pet or two. And maybe a link or so.

I tried, in the personal profile thing, to list most of my likes and stuff. Only it didn't work they way I wanted it. It was supposed to come up something like "cats, knitting, cats, crocheting, cats.... You get the idea. I love to craft - it is my way of relaxing. Started many moon ago when I first quit smoking, so the crafting became the stress reducer. Now, I can't sell my crafts because then it's work, not relaxation. I can give it away, just not sell.

But cats - now they are definitely something to keep my sane. A few years ago, when we painted the living room, I had my "kitty collection" packed up, and discovered just how upsetting it was not to be able to see it.... I need my kitties around me!!

Someone, on one of the craft email lists I'm on (which are many, and I've left some over the years for a variety of reasons) once made referrence to a word - "tharn" and tried to explain the meaning. I don't recall everything she said, but it had to do with rabbits, the book "Watership Down" (good one, read it if you haven't) and the sort of panic feelings that one sees in rabbits.... that discussion took place around the time of the painting, so I truly feel that I understood the concept of "tharn" - quite a disturbing feeling....

Ok, enough of that, let's see what else I can add to this blog :)

New blog

Ok, I did it. Finally did it... I got a blog. I'm a multicrafter, primarily in the fibre arts, and a cat lover.

Now, to remember how all this works, and to update....

Later....
Catlady