The Wonderful Wallaby

It seems as though everyone I know has made at least one Wonderful Wallaby. Except me. I'm knitting for the Afghans for Afghans project and decided that it was time for my wallaby. So, I went in search of the pattern, which I bought years ago. I had to stop looking for it. It wasn't where it was supposed to be--or anywhere else from what I can tell. Off to the LYS I went for a new one. Okay, I bought some booty yarn and a few other things as well. My Wallaby yarn should be here in a few days. Then all I have to do is find the time to actually knit it.

Wish me luck!

Ahhhh

I belong to a charity knitting group; okay, I belong to several. But the particular one I'm talking about is Knitting Hope. Each month a new charity is chosen, and we knit something for them. The August project was potholders/hot pads. For September it's baby things.

Now, I'm not a baby person, and I've never knitted for babies or children before. But I've had so much fun expanding my knitting horizons that I've signed up to knit for other babies and children charities. These are my very first booties!

Tote IV

Another Tote Exchange has come and gone. This time I made two for my partner. The first one, called Sleeveless Bag, is a lightly felted one. I love the button. The second one I call Violette. It makes for a handy key chain.

Virtual Vacation Swap Questionnaire Answers

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why? Maine. Because I want to live in the Portland Head Lighthouse

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why? Australia. I'd like to pet a kangaroo

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries? Yes

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it? No

5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why? I drove from NY to Alabama. Because I did it on my own.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain. No

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker? Museum

8. What's your favorite type of yarn? Alpaca

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn? Don't have one

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet? Shawls, hats. I'd like to do socks.

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation? Needles, yarn, cutters, measuring tape

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet? Bead

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise) Nothing (unless you count bunnies, birds, dust, and cockroaches)

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite? Fav: Purple Least: Black

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)? Savory

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know? I have 7 cats

I've Been Tagged

By Calling on Kahlo. I have to list seven things about me. You can start yawning now. Then I'll have to tag others.
Okay seven random facts about me.

1. I'm afraid of clowns. Don't laugh--it's not as strange as one might think.
2. When I proofread, I do it with an accent. For example, when I proof something written by a French person, the little proofer in my head reads with a French accent.
3. I know knitting is supposed to be relaxing (the new yoga and all), but I often fall asleep while I'm knitting--ergo, my preference for easy patterns.
4. I think chocolate pudding is extremely sensual.
5. I hate shoes--which is why I practically live in my Birkies all year round.
6. I have a serious crush on Hugh Laurie of House.
7. I'm starting a nonprofit foundation.

Latest Lily M Creation

First, I apologize for the photo. I can't get it to load correctly, i.e., small and horizontal.

This is the latest Lily M. creation--the Lily M. Starlight Lily Pad. My fur kids love to drag their blankies around. Oh, and they occasionally sleep on them. Clarence drags his around like a security blanket. I hadn't made anything for them lately, so I decided to spend last night on the blankie. On size 50 needles, it sure goes fast!

Buttons? I Got Blog Buttons!!!

Thanks to Isabelle--Tricotine--I now have blog buttons. And can I hear a Yee Haw!?!?! Please feel free to paste them on your website or blog, but please don't steal my bandwidth.

I've pasted Isabelle's button on the right side of this blog. Take a look and see the wonderful patterns and other things she has on it--including the famous knitting lobstah.

Combining Skills and Young Knitters

For a long time I've been looking for a way to combine my love of knitting with my career as a writer/editor. Okay, I admit that one reason I wanted to do so was so I could deduct the costs of my knitting supplies from my taxes. Well, I've figured out a way to do it.

I've started writing a book about two young girls who become friends over knitting and two cats needing help that live far away. Here's where I need some help. Not having or even knowing any kids between the ages of eight and twelve, I'm not sure what these girls would be knitting. One of the girls is quite skilled, the other is just a beginner. Does anyone have any ideas of what they could be knitting?

I'm also working on a book of Lily M's patterns that will eventually be available at least as an e-book.

A Little Late

Well, with the International Tote Exchange IV about to begin, I decided it was time to post the images of the tote I made for ITEIII. It's the first tote exchange I've ever done, and it was a wonderful experience.

The bag was knit in 100 percent wool. Both sides are a slightly different color, allowing the wearing to chose which color to show other people. The pattern is an original Lily M design.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do for ITEIV. I guess it depends what my "secret pal" would like. But, that doesn't mean I'm not already working up a potential design in my mind!

New Addiction

For a couple of days last week, it almost seemed to be summer. The previous week we had an awful winter storm, but last week was in the 70s and 80s. Certainly not an incentive to working on my Einstein Coat.

But, I did want to knit something, so I started scrunchies! Since I have long hair, hot weather is horrible. I don't really have the face for a short haircut, so most of the time my hair is pulled back into a ponytail of sorts. Over the years, my scrunchie supply has dwindled to one, sorry looking yellow one. My yarn stash, on the other hand, has apparently bred among itself--not necessarily a bad thing I must add. So, I bought some hair elastics and went to town making scrunchies. This is a photo of the first three. The design is one of my Lily M's designs.

What's this silliness

about knitting from your stash? If you use your stash, there's nothing available for those late night, wee early hours of the morning knitting urges. Sadly, the 24 hour yarn store is still in the future--well, except for Wal-Mart.

Some ladies on the blog Good-Natured Ribbing have come up with an alternative to the suggestion that we knitters should be knitting from our stash--Expand Your Stash. Click the button on the side of this post, and you'll be taken to an explanation of this newest KAL. I think it's one we all can enjoy.
Ida

I'm back

Ah, yes. I've been reminded that I've not posted in a while (thanks Monica). Things are well. It just seems as though I have been busier than usual with writing and editing books, researching future projects, and yes--knitting.

I've been participating in a Tote Exchange and just today put the final touches on the bag itself. It's mostly my design, or what I'm calling Lily M's after my late knitting buddy. This is my first foray into design, and though this one is pretty basic, it certainly spurred me to think about doing other projects. As soon as my camera batteries are recharged, I'll post a photo.

I've also been working on the Einstein coat. I'm probably not going to get it finished before it's too warm to wear it, but I'm already feeling a sense of accomplishment. This is the first coat I've made.

The Maura sweater is finished, except for putting it together. All in all, I'd have to say that I've had a productive few months, knitting wise anyway.

Peaceful, Easy Feeling

I was looking online for an image for a new business venture (as if I don't have enough irons in the fire) and came across this image. It's so beautiful and peaceful. I know some knitters get very intense when they work on their projects, but that's usually not me. I'm looking for a way to relax. Eventually, after some fits and starts, I get a rhythm going with my needles, and I sit back and let the yarn flow. Sometimes I get so relaxed I fall asleep, but that's just me. Even if the cats are running around the house like lunatics and television is blaring, my knitting and I can be peaceful.

Knitting, Crocheting, and 24

The weather mavens are predicting that temperatures won't make it out of the 20s most of this week. I hope that this will give me the kick in the hind end to finish my sweater. Fingers crossed.

The new Lion Brand catalogue came yesterday. It seemed as though most of the patterns I really liked were crochet. Each knitting magazine I pick up seems to have increasing numbers of crochet patterns in them. I must admit that it irks me a lot. I buy a knitting magazine because I want to knit--not crochet. But, I'm having second thoughts. I used to crochet, but I haven't for many years. Perhaps I should pick it up again.

Tonight is the first part of the season premiere of 24. Yee-haw! Last year I got most of my knitting done during the show. Of course it had to be something easy, since I got engrossed in the plot. The more intense the action got on the show, the quicker I knitted!!!

SP9 Goodies

Greetings from balmy New York--it's January 6 and 60 degrees! The unseasonable weather has certainly not been conducive to me getting the incentive to finish knitting my sweater.

I received my latest package from my SP9 pal. She always remembers the cats, and I'm not sure who is more excited when a package arrives--me or the seven furballs.

Anyway, I got some Cat Butt gum (I smelled it before popping a piece in my mouth) and beautiful yarn that would certainly make some snazzy socks (providing I ever learn how to knit them). I love merino wool, and this purple/blue combo is gorgous. The silk yarn is yummy, too. I just love rubbing it against my skin.

As for Herman, Eddie, Clarence, Purrl, Marlin, Norman, and Phoebe, they got a catnip mouse and a package of Greenies! They are happy campers.

Oh, and of course everything was wrapped in purple paper and put in a purple bag. She thinks of everything.

And, completely off topic, Eddie celebrated his 5th birthday on January 3. Not bad considering some thought he wouldn't make it to his first!

SP9 Oops

I forgot to post that I received an e-mail from my SP9 secret pal. It was a pattern for a knitted gnome (or should it be gnitted gnome).
Love those gnomes.

A Year of Knitting

Well, I didn't accomplish all I wanted to do knitting-wise this year. My first sweater still needs its sleeves and to be put together. I still don't know how to knit socks, though I do have a "doable" pattern and plenty of needles.

Sadly, I lost my favorite knitting buddy this year. I still miss and love you Lily and will forever. Though not nearly as attracted to knitting as she was, Norman and Phoebe Thibideux have joined my feline family. Oh, and Clarence still loves to chase those needles.

As for New Year's resolutions, I'm among the majority who find them useless. Still, I really want to learn to make socks--and get that sweater finished.

An early Happy New Year to you all.

Holiday Knitting

Like most years, I had big plans for holiday knitting. And, just as in those other years, they all got pushed to the back burner, where they sit in assorted knitting bags. I can't even get up the initiative to finish a sweater for myself. All I need to do is knit the sleeves and put the thing together. After all, it's been in the 50s and 60s here in Upstate New York, not exactly winter weather--and only a week until Christmas.

I have done some knitting, off and on. I wanted something that I could work on in short spurts, so I'm doing an afghan made up of individual squares that are then put together. Oh, oh. There's that "put together" thing again.

Looking for a knitting way to make a difference?

If you're looking for a way to make an international difference, please consider the following, which was posted on an e-mail list to which I belong:


This is a project to bring warm items to children in
Tibet.

What is needed: knitted hats, scarves, mittens,
gloves, vests, & sweaters. Natural fiber preferred,
wool in particular. Lama Gursum is taking these items
to a small rural school in a remote part of Tibet.

Learning will be so much easier for these children
when they are warm!

Thank you and bless you for your much needed help.

If you wish you can include a picture and or note from
yourself for the child receiving your gift.

Items need to get to Pam by the end of February 2007,
her address is:

Lama Gursum
C/O Pam Zobar
836 East Cinnabar Phoenix, AZ 85020

If you need to speak to Pam her phone # is
602-222-3522.

Knitting, Unemployment, and Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is my last day at my full-time job. Though not by choice, I will become a freelance book packager. Okay, it's what I have wanted to do for a long time, but I would have rather waited until I had a financial cushion in the bank.

So, what am I going to do with the extra time? Oh, I don't know, knit? I do have some writing contracts, so I will be working on those as well. Then there's the cookbook that's supposed to be ready for e-sales in January. Hmm. Perhaps there isn't as much free time as I thought. What I really want is to find a way to combine writing, knitting, and food into some money-making opportunity.

First, there's Thanksgiving! Yea!!!! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. While some kids thought Thanksgiving only meant that Christmas was much closer, I was quite content with celebrating Turkey Day!!

Most of my memories center around smell, and the smell of Thanksgiving can't be beat. The smell of my mom's turkey and dressing was heavenly. For me, those smells had the aroma of pies and hot rolls beat by a mile.

Since leaving college, I think I've missed making Thanksgiving dinner once. Even if it was just going to be me, I made turkey and the trimmings. I was going to skip it this year, though. Finances are extremely tight. But, hey, turkey and dressing can be frozen, and employed or not, I have to eat. So, there may not be as many side dishes, but as long as I have the bird and dressing, I'll be one happy camper.

If you would, I'd like you to take a minute and think about how you're going to spend your Thanksgiving. Many of us are going through hard times of one sort or another, but most of us are able to have that special meal and the wonderful memories we can draw on when times seem the most difficult. If you're so inclined, I'd like you to consider those who won't have Thanksgiving and perhaps donate the cost of a meal to your local food bank or to America's Second Harvest. (To find out more about America's Second Harvest, and to make a contribution, please click on the link at the bottom of this site.) You'll be helping someone make memories and have something to be thankful for.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Ida