I HEARBY DECLARE.....

That I am going on a pattern diet on January 1, 2008.

Not a pattern fast... a pattern diet.

What does that mean? Well... It means, that I am going to try to reduce the number of new (to me) patterns that I buy or download. I'm going to try to stay away from all the usual free pattern sites....

I have so many projects on my list of things that I want to make. And I know that I've managed to save/print/etc. multiples of the same pattern, because I browse, and save or print so many, that I forget which I already have sometimes... or I recognize them, but can't recall if I printed or where I saved them, so I do it again....

And worse yet, being a multicrafter, I have done that with lots and lots and lots of patterns....

So. I'm not going to stop entirely getting new patterns - I mean, if I come across a new cat pattern - of *COURSE* I'm going to be saving it... But, since I have so many patterns that I've already started and allowed to become UFO's, so many in the to do soon pile that I've bought the yarns or fabrics or whatever for, and a stack of to do that I still need to assign yarn stash or new yarn for.... That I really don't need any more for a while.

Also, I'm not counting in any KAL's that are starting in January. Such as, the six sox knitalong group - there will be six new patterns from that group next year. And I ended up in a couple Ravelry sock knitalongs... and I've got the shawl and stole mystery knitalongs coming....

I am going to start shopping my stash, shopping my personal library of books and pattern leaflets... (I mean, really, do I need to keep searching the net for free sock patterns, when I bought a vintage sock book - about 40 or 50 pages - from a thrift store this past spring?) instead of browsing the net or the thrift stores or other places I can find patterns at.... Which, of course, is going to be quite the challenge, working in a yarn shop....

But, like I said, it will be a diet, not a fast. I don't think I could go "cold turkey" after all.... :)

Especially knowing there is a book being published/becoming available in early 2008 that I *must* buy....
Kitty Knits: Projects For Cats And Their People
Donna Druchunas

So. Now that I've made public the fact that I'm going to try not to get new patterns, and that I'm going to make every effort to a) use the patterns I already have b) finish the current WIP's and UFO's c) shop the stash for patterns, ideas, materials and d) try to get the patterns that are in my head or on scrap paper into a shareable condition, maybe I'll be able to keep those resolutions for the new year.

You guys can all help me.... :) I've said it publicly, so I gotta do it.

Maybe I'll even throw in some housework and decluttering/dejunking resolutions, too.... Hmmm.....

Better post or else ;)

Ok... so... Work.

I love it!!! It is a great place to work, with great people to work with. And the type of work is truly right up my alley!!!

I can't work in a production line style setting - you know, where you do the same thing, all day, every day.... I can do it for a couple days, if needed, but not indefinitely. I also don't like working in an environment where you have to ask constantly what to do, how to do it, when to do it, where to do it, or wait to be told all those things.... I mean, yeah, one needs to be trained, but in some cases, one is not expected to think for themselves.... they need to only do what the supervisor or boss says for them to do at any given moment.

So - working at the yarn store - there is enough of the knowing what to do and how to do it (stock shelves, check to see that everything is in order, straighten up, put new stock out, etc.) that I can keep busy - no waiting to be told what to do. There is also enough variety - every time a customer walks through the door, it will be different than the last one - to keep me interested.

It is a "perfect" job!!!!

Now, though - my only problem is in the use of the "NAYY" designation.... I mean, even if I didn't work there, I would still recommend the store to others...I'd still shop there, even if I didn't work there.... Which reminds me- everyone thinks I'm going to be buying more yarn now. Truth is - Maybe just a little bit - but I'm trying to keep it down to only buying what I would have anyway. Like I said - I would still shop there when I needed to whether I work there or not. So ....

Mostly, I confess, though - that now that I need to, I'm looking on shelves and at yarn that I never would have bothered to before. So, I'm seeing yarns that would work for "X", or yarns that just call out to me.... I wouldn't have given a second look to the Lopi yarns, for example. I just ever glanced at them before - didn't really look closely, or check the price/value, etc. Now, though - I've "discovered" that it comes in a wonderful variety of colours. There are wonderful pattern books for sweaters that I love to go with the yarns.... I keep hearing them calling my name.... every time I walk near that aisle, I hear them.... when I have a spare moment, I flip through the books.... Which is part of my training/job, to familiarize myself with the patterns/books that are available so I can help customers....

I *must* finish the lace projects before I start a sweater... I *must* finish some sock UFO's before I start a new project... I *must* finish the gansey sweater I started last year before starting a new sweater...

Will I be strong enough? Will I not listen when the Lopi calls out to me? Stay tuned....

In the meantime, progress pics on the shawls:

This is Mystic Waters, pinned out so that one can see that even though I'm using a dk weight mohair/acrylic blend yarn, the stitch definition comes through. I thought I was finished clue two, but turns out that I wasn't - I was half way through clue two. So, I need to get knitting....

Secret of the Stole - I'm dragging a bit on this one. I've got clue two finished here. I'm liking the shawl fine, but trying to knit it without the Lady Ashleigh eating the beads is not easy.... Also, there is a running theme guessing game, that frankly, annoys me. I mean, guessing the theme is fine - but the way it is being done.... each knit clue, there is a "hint". The answer to the "hint", first letter, scrambled, is the theme. So - you have to first figure out the hint, which so far, each hint could have more than one right answer. Then you have to take the first letter, wait for enough clues to come up so you can begin to try to put the letters together to make a word. Really, you can't even begin to come up with anything logical for at least four or five clues.... Then, when you realize that the answer is a nine letter word, and you find that you don't have any vowels, well - you have to go back and try to figure out new words for the hints... Entirely too much time between (one clue a week) and too much ambiguity for me. I have a short attention span, and frankly, gave up by week three. I'm just reading everyone else's answers/guesses, and wondering how they come up with some of them (hint answers to justify their theme guess).

Secret of Chrysopolis!!! Weird picture, I know... It is getting quite large now. Which is good - I want it nice and big and wrappable. And I totally love the pattern. All the clues (8 of them) are out now. This picture shows that I've just completed clue three. WAY behind!! Sort of wish that this was the only one I'm working on, so I could have spent all my time working on it. I just love it. I really do.... So very pretty.....

And finally - I finally picked up again a UFO - The Bellatrix socks!!!

Also, finally took a picture of them. I'm past the heel turn, and working on the gusset decreases. So, here's the pics, and then I'm off, to get ready to go to work!!

Short post good news!!!

Ok - I need to make this really quick...

I think it is more efficient that trying to figure out which groups I need to post this info in, and besides, now I'll see for sure just how many people actually read my blog, lol... (no this isn't a trick to get you to post comments...)

So - I am not going to be just a stay at home housewife anymore... I got a job. It's only part time, I'll only be working a few days a week... But still - it will help. :)

I start this morning - need to leave in about an hour and a half from now...

And, I'll be working for Ram Wools. Wuhooo!!!!

I'll still try to post - at the very least once a week - I mean, like I said, it is a part time job... Besides, I *did* commit to that Project 365... And I'll still need to update pictures and stuff... :)

So - If I'm a bit absent from the blog - at least I have a good reason. I'm going to be paid to pet yarn, lol....

Crafts are my passion, Cats are my obsession: Lest We Forget#links#links#links#links

Crafts are my passion, Cats are my obsession: Lest We Forget#links#links#links#links

Just wanted to again, say that my feelings about this coming Sunday really haven't changed. That I still pretty much feel the same way - I'll remember in my own quiet way....

We Will Remember Them....

Ravelry, and update pictures

Ok...so.... You're going to start seeing a lot more pictures on my blog in 2008. And it is all because of Ravelry. There is this group over there, called "Project 365". The idea is, to take a picture every day for a year. Any subject (though some suggestion of fibre related, since it *is* a fibre related website, etc. was made...but it isn't necessary to have knit or crochet content...) any picture - but one per day. It doesn't mean necessarily having to post a picture a day (I know, some of you are better at those things than me!). But I thought it would be cool to try it. :) Sort of like, "A Year in the Life". And since photography was once an attempt at a hobby for me, I still like to dabble in the artsy type shots....

Start date can be whatever one wants. I think I'll wait, and go for the January first. I mean, it doesn't mean I can't take pictures before that!! It just means, that at that time, I'm going to commit to trying to take a picture every day, that in some way will sort of be a photo journal of my life. It does sound like fun.... Besides, that way, any of you reading this today who aren't yet in Ravelry, or those of you who are there but hadn't seen the 365 group yet, can check it out and maybe join up, too....

In the meantime- I finished clue one of Mystic Waters the other day, after finishing clue two of Secret of Chrysopolis. I should be finished clue two of Secret of the Stole tonight - 11 rows to go on that. So, I took pics of MW and SoC so that I could work on them again after I finish SotS tonight. :)

Here they are:

I do like this shawl... I really do. It is looking so beautiful!!! I wonder if I'd like it as much if I'd made it in thinner yarn? I'm using Briggs and Little Durasport, listed obviously as a sport weight, but it is thinner in my opinion than sport. And it is used for socks.... Anyway - I somehow am not sure if I'd like it as much in a smaller yarn... but maybe I would. I dunno....

I do like it. Really. Lots. I can hardly wait for it to be finished.... I'm only going so slow, because of the fact that I am a tad obsessive (those of you who *really* know me can wipe your monitors and keyboards off now) and I'm making several shawls all at once, and because I have four legged help (Mica is being particularly cuddly these days, taking up lots of lap space for long periods, effectively paralizing me, or laying ontop of the charts....), and because lately we've been eating supper later and doing other things in the evenings, so I've been getting less time for crafting sessions....

For this one, the Mystic Waters, I'm using a dk weight mohair blend yarn. It is hard to see, but really the lace holes are showing. You *can* see the pattern in person.... I think it is because of the colour of the yarn on the turquoisey colour of the floor mat.... (mental note - need to buy more of this mat, if it is still available...the cats keep eating them...I have two, but we'll be ripping out the carpet soon and going with a wood laminate floor, so I need new scatter mats anyway.... I like this one...it has cats on it... I wonder if the design is still available? I was at the right store yesterday - oh, that reminds me.........)

Ok, so now that I've finished posting pictures... I bought myself a new toy yesterday.

I had been thinking about buying a smallish desk lamp, so that when the lightbulbs burn out in the overhead lights and I don't have time to change them, or find out that I don't have the right replacement bulbs, instead of sitting in the near dark (and limiting the projects I can work on - not many beyond some basic socks that I can knit with my eyes closed anyway) I figured a lamp would be nice to have. So, anyway, I was at Wal Mart yesterday, picking up a couple things I needed, and thought, well, I'll go look down the lighting aisle. I was looking at some pretty smallish desk lamps (students/teen would no doubt love them) in the ten to fifteen dollar range, when I saw one that was only 20 bucks - it has a round flourescent bulb (thankfully they last a long time; I hope it isn't a nightmare to find a replacement) and in the center of the light head, is a magnifying glass!!! I've seen similar lamps before, various sizes, clip on ones, long adjustable arms, etc. But this one is a nice compact desk size, yet big enough for checking small charts and fine print on patterns :) Not to mention, will come in handy for sliver removal, finding tiny beads, inspecting dog noses (or being inspected by dog noses, lol)

Anyway - I'm very happy with it :)

Hallowe'en post

Ok, first I know it is not Hallowe'en anymore...And I know I should have posted this yesterday, or at least this morning... And I know that I shouldn't be on the 'puter like this right now, I have a million and one things that I *should* be doing....(Ravelry is cool, but sure takes up a ton of time!!!)

But - I didn't want to put this off till next week. So - first of all, there was this newsblurp on our local news program at 6 pm on Hallowe'en - they showed a "doggy day care" place that had a party for the dogs - they did things like "bobbing for weenies" (instead of apples) and they had 19 of 20 dogs that came dressed up - which is why I'm writing this: One of the smaller dogs was actually wearing a cat costume!!! It was hilarious! had the back covered, (like a standard doggy sweater, I would think is the best description) with a tail and everything - all black.... and it had a head cover, complete with little pointy kitty ears!!!! Of course, it would never fit on my doggies, but it sure looked cute!!

Speaking of cute...

Ok, so you guys know that in the two year history of my blog, I've avoided any pictures of myself, except for two occasions...one was our Mexico trip, and one was when my dear friend Laney passed.... Well, you're going to get to see one today. Last Saturday, we got invited to a costume party. I kind of like how one of the pictures of me turned out - the other one isn't that great, DH is not the best picture taker. Even though I like the pic of me sitting, where I had my hand on Mica, she decided to pounce on my broom just when DH snapped the picture... Which is why my hand is kind of hanging there....

How did DH turn out? Well, see for yourself...

Hallowe'en night, the grandkids and their cousin stopped by on their way out trick-or-treating. In the first picture, you'll notice the oldest one wearing a pair of green mittens. I knitted those - I made them from a chunky acrylic yarn, especially to wear when I shovel snow. See, I've found that most of the time, hand knit mittens, done in stocking stitch (or stockinette, if you prefer) are often too slippery to get a good grip on a shovel. So, I knitted these with a garter stitch "patch" on the palms. Worked great. The other day, while sorting and getting ready for the winter clothing season (and looking for a black touque {hat} for DH to wear with his costume) I had made a mental note to look for the green mitts that weren't with the rest of the stuff - guess it is a moot point, now.... I have no idea how they ended up with the grandkid... Guess I know what my next project will be, don't I?

Next oldest grand kid:

Coming next - The grandson.

Going in age order, the next one is my kinda/sorta/inaway grandkid. Ok, aside here: when my son got married, DIL's sister said to me, "you know, this means that now we're kinda sorta in a way related now". DIL and her siblings are quite close. So, ever since, it has been a "thing" between K. and I - We do get along great anyway, and she has a kitty collection, too :) Anyway - here's the pic -
She is a couple months younger than Nikolis - He was born December, she was born the following March.

And, (saving the best for last) the youngest. Now, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - truth is, that I'm not fond of little kids. I like them when they get to be about 10ish. Anything younger, and well... I am not fond of them. But, I've also mentioned in my blog before about Nikoal. She's a real little sweetheart. Something about her.... She's my favourite. OK, I don't "play favourites" - everyone got the same thing, the same amount, they all get treated equal. But there is definitely a special place in my heart for this one. And besides, who could resist this great little smile?