Football Bad - Felting Good!

I am currently sucking big time in my fantasy football leagues. I think watching more intently for individual players is more stressful than just cheering for one team. Oh well, can't win them all.
This is the first of the 3 Christmas stockings I am doing this year. This one is for Lori and the other two will be similar, just slight variation in color. I am very happy with how it has turned out. Picture on top is after felting.

Ravelry, Rah, Rah, Rah!

I finally received my invitation to Ravelry and I feel like one of the cool kids. I've already posted a few WIPs and stash items. It is super neat. I just need to take some pictures and include them in my descriptions.

Sunday afternoon

I'm just enjoying the beautiful weather and watching baseball and football today. We had some family visit this weekend and had a great time with them. I've done a bit of ordering items off the internet. I received a pattern and stitch markers from Zephyr Style -- love the personalization option!

Cubs for Kids

I worked this top down raglan sweater in Red Heart camouflage yarn. It was a super easy pattern from the Cubs for Kids website and is being donated through Football-a-long. Everything was worked in the round and I also got to eliminate a skein from my stash.

I am currently working on the striped scarf noted earlier in the blog. Lots of mindless rows. I'd also like to get a picture and description posted on the Auntie-a-long blog this evening.

I'll be starting on the sweaterbabe sweater this week also. I need to get my swatch started to that I am ready to go on Saturday, cast-on date.

How Do You Know You Are Real?

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
- The Velveteen Rabbit, In Humanity
I've always liked this quote but reading it again I realized how much it means to me. I'm Real and the love I have is Real. Sadly, it is ugly to people who don't understand.
Thanks, Lo, for including me in your life -- and tattoo.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer What is your favorite kind of pie? Warm apple a la mode.
Soup Name something that made you smile this week. My niece Zoey. I can't help but smile because she is always happy.
Salad What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid? Lay under the fan with a cool washcloth.
Main Course You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up? Definitely the bedroom. I would purchase a headboard, new linens, and paint for the walls.
Dessert Fill in the blank: My bank says I'm broke, but I really don't care.

Just me and Maggie

Well, it's just me and Maggie hanging out together today. She's mostly napping and playing with her squeekie toy. I am working on my football-along donation assignment. I had some Super Saver camouflage yarn in my stash and decided to use that instead of one of my teams' colors. I really didn't want to go shopping today so I think that being patriotic should be an acceptable alternative.
I also am going to do some web searching for different sizes of split rings in order to make some sets of stitch markers. I'm using the set of Zeccas and their interchangeable rings as my inspiration.
Also on my needles is a Sirdar sweater pattern for the For Me?! knitalong. Again, I didn't want to go shopping so I have 198 stitches shoved on to some straight 10 1/2 needles. It was fine for the 3 rows of garter stitch but I'm not going to be able to enjoy watching the pattern develop on something so narrow. My goal is to finish this project before I go back to school. It is looming out there and I like my countdown calendar seen below.

Baby Bolero and Hat

gift for Marcy's baby

began 07/20/07, completed 08/05/07
Sirdar Bolero and Hat size 3 - 6 months
3 skeins of Sublime in Shade 0011
Size 6 and 7 needles

Back to School

I really don't want to go back but I'll be finished in December -- until I decide what I want to be when I grow up.
I have lots of knitting to complete which is going to require some careful planning and prioritizing. I have some items in my stash that are just crying to come out and play.
This is also the end of my 4-day work weeks so it's back to the normal schedule.

Hearts and Stars Blanket

Gift for Marcy's baby
Adorable Knits for Tots by Zoe Mellor
Began 06/23/07, completed 07/22/07
Size 8 needles with 9 + balls of Rowan Cashsoft Baby DK shade 807
completed size 35 inches x 38 inches unblocked

I am the Corpse Bride

You scored as The Corpse Bride, The Corpse Bride 94% Charlie and The Chocolate Factory 88% The Nightmare Before Christmas 88% Edward Scissorhands 69% Pee Wee's Big Adventure 69% What Tim Burton movie do you belong in? created with QuizFarm.com

True story. Swear.
Phone ringing...
Jen: Hello
nice lady: Hello. Helena, you sound horrible. Are you feeling okay, dear?
Jen: Sorry, this is not Helena. This is Jennifer.
nice lady: Oh, is this the Burton residence?
Jen: No, sorry you have the wrong number. You've reached the (name changed to protect the innocent) home.
nice lady: Oh, I am sorry. I have used the wrong speed dial button again. No wonder I didn't recognize your voice. You are the housesitter. Sorry to bother you.
Jen: No bother. Good-bye.
nice lady: Bye.

Burton residence???? Helena???? She thought I was Helena Bonham-Carter? Shut up! I should have looked through their address book and found Tim Burton's phone number and address. I am a huge fan.

Edward Scissorhands is my favorite but I don't mind being the Bride.

For Me Knitalong Completed Shawl

Here is the completed shawl from my first knitalong. The pattern is free from Crystal Palace and I used Knit Picks Shine Worsted in coral. http://crystalpalaceyarns.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/cameo-shawl.html

This weekend I would like to finish my cabled tank top and frog the striped hat. It's too long even with the gathered ribbon attached.

In unrelated news, I wanted to post a picture of me and my Lo. This is us (really just her) bartending at a family party in San Diego last weekend. The theme was 60's but we slowly shed our costumes. I don't usually wear bright blue eye shadow but it matched my hair.

This is me and my Aunt Marge enjoying the tequila!

Current Projects

Striped Hat and Scarf from Knitscene

Hearts & Stars baby blanket modeled by Maggie

Shells, lots of shells....

Too bad I don't have a photo this week, but trust me, it's coming along just fine. I'm so inspired by the lovely lace garments that if I finish in time I may start another project.
Just another example of my obsessive compulsive tendencies.
I have made a conscious effort to set aside some time each day to knit for myself and am not feeling guilty at all. I'll have even more time as soon as finals are over! Yeah!
Happy Knitting.