Punky Purls

I'm such a slacker!!!

2009-05-05T22:33:00.001-07:00

Hi all just in case you didn't see yet...I am back up and running on ravelry. I haven't been knitting much but I did finish a pair of socks tonight.

Woolgirl sock club 2008 Yarntini sock yarn in "Plum Blossom" colorway

Pattern: from Knitting Vintage socks by Nancy Bush "Gentleman's Fancy Sock"

I've also been doing a little spinning. Here is what is on my bobbins.

Crown Mountain Farms in "We are the Champions" colorway

I am trying to make my first 3ply sock yarn. I think I might be spinning a bit to thick but we will see. I am loving it so far.

I also got my April shipment from the Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club. I love this colorway. It has all my favorite colors in it, especially blue :). It is Superwash Corriedale and 10% nylon...I am hoping to make sock yarn out of this too.

I leave you with a picture of the kiddos. It was so cute. The boys gave Cierra a controller for the playstation...to make it seem that she was playing the game with them. They were actually playing the Nintendo game cube :) Aren't they sweet. Just wait til she figures it out. She will throw a fit!

I will try and post more regularly but like I always say...don't hold your breath you might turn blue :) Thanks for the comments and emails. Happy knitting, spinning and crafting.

BLOGWORTHY!!!

2009-03-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Pardon my french but What the fuck!? I know that it has been months since I have last blogged...with work, kids, knitting, spinning and all that jazz I keep myself pretty darn busy. A lot has happened around these parts since October. And most of my extra time is spent on the Internet drooling over all your lovely knitting and spinning projects on Ravelry. Well as of Yesterday I have been BANNED. I say what the fuck again. My only guess is that I got suspended by being associated with my sister, who,from what I understand has been banned too for being on some political forums. I on the other hand have NEVER talked politics online. Especially on Ravelry. I really don't like to talk politics much at all. I figure between politics and religion those can be some pretty touchy subjects. I choose to stay away from those sites/forums all together.
I was logging on to my ravelry page yesterday and I got on fine. Then my sister said that should couldn't get on and didn't know if there was something wrong with her Internet, so I tried to log in as her from my computer. I got a message saying that she was suspended until further notice. Needless to say she was pretty mad and could only assume that it was because she belonged to some republican group that had been banned or something like that. Then I got off with the phone with her and tried to log back in to my account and then I was banned. I sent an email to ravelry@legal.com hopefully this debacle is fixed by Monday. I have just been starting to fill better after my surgery that I had on Tuesday and I would really love to update my projects and see what all my rav friends have been up too. I just can't believe that I have been banned. Ugh...I still kind of pissed can you tell?!!

Wowwy Wow wow wow :)

2008-10-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

A whole month has come and gone since my last post. A lot has been happening here. For those of you who check out my knitting on Ravelry you know that I have been keeping my fingers busy. I have finished a few things and of course cast on a few more :) What's new right? Here are a few of my latest finished projects.
Another project finished with my handspun yarn. The roving was a gift from my HHHH swap buddy.

I started knitting socks out of this yarn but halfway through the first sock I took a vote on what other knitters thought I should knit. And there was an overwhelming number of votes for me to make mittens. So mittens I knit and I love them. No pattern just my own design knit from the fingers down. Love them!!!
Next I knit some Denmark socks for the Knitting on the Road book. I used the leftovers from my Bird in Hand mittens that I knit for the Ravelympics. I had plenty of STR in Lodestone leftover. I love these they are so soft and squishy.

I have been spinning every time my fingers need a break from knitting and I spun my Spunky Eclectic Club roving in "Thermograph" This was such a fun spin so soft. I love spinning BFL.
more info about this yarn on my ravelry page.
I also got my September shipment from the Spunky Club in "Acadia" isn't it lovely. I can't decide how I want to spin this yet. I am waiting to see how other club members spin this beauty up.

I also got my dkKnits roving from here fiber club. I love this too. I will be spinning this one soon too as soon as I free up my bobbins :)

"hot fudge sundae with real cherries" mmm...my favorite!
I also got my September and October shipments from dkKnits "Wool dye for Ewe" sock club. I have to get alot of my wips finished...hopefully before I cast on one of these lovely yarns.

September "Spinning Addict" perfect name don't you think?

October "taking the kids trick or treating"
I have also been playing around with my camera...My new friend Donna takes beautiful pictures and has inspired me to take advantage of my camera. Donna, the kids and I have gone on a couple of nature walks. Here are just a couple of my favorite shots. You can check out more on my flickr page.

If you are still with me in this long post I also wanted to let you all know that I started my new job on the 3rd. I love it even though it uses up A LOT of my knitting, spinning, and sewing time. Oh well I gotta do what I gotta do to pay the bills right? :)
Sorry for such a long post. Thanks for checking in on me. I will try and post again when more things happen around here. Maybe next week after our visit to the pumpkin patch. Yay fall!

Knitting, Spinning & News (lots of pics)

2008-09-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on here at the Goodwin household. In Knitting news I have been doing quit a bit. I even finished a project. Can you believe it? From Roving to Shawlette. I love it and can't wait to wear it this chilly season.

Roving: Yummy Yarn Corridale in "Woobie" colorway

Spun on Miss Millie. 226 yrds, 2 ply sport weight yarn.

pattern: Little Arrowhead Shawl by Pam Allen, (ravelry link) it's also in Summer 2006 Interweave knits.

Here is a picture of D'Andre being my model.

I also joined the Football Knitting Knit Along and cast on a February Lady Sweater. I love this sweater. It is knitting up really fast. I ripped out my wicked. It just wasn't flattering around my mid section so I am re using the Dream in Color for this sweater.

I have a little bit more knit then this picture shows. I will definitely finish this sweater. In fact I am already planning the next one. I am thinking of Dream in Color in "Happy Forest" but first things first. Gotta finish this one.

In other news...The family went to the Puyallup fair on Saturday. I had entered some of my spinning and Cierra's Baby Shedir in the fair. I did pretty well considering there was a lot of competition.

Honorable mention for my Spindle Spun Spunky Eclectic. Navajo Plied.

3rd place for my first wheel spun yarn. 100% Alpaca Navajo plied. And 2nd place on Cierra's baby Shedir.

I took a picture of the Pavilion where all the lovely crafts were displayed...look at all those beautiful quilts. I wish I was that good!!!

We had so much fun! I can't wait til next years fair. I will be entering a lot more...to help with my chances of winning more ribbons :)

In shop news I finally finished my first wholesale order for knitfitknitter. She will be taking my Punky Pouch Sets and making them into knitting kits (I think) for SAFF. If you are going to SAFF you should definitely check out her booth!

All 10 sets are different. I tried to give her a little bit of everything but you can tell what my favorite color is...oops. I am so attracted to everything blue :)

And last but not least in My news I got a new job, out of the house. We need $$$ :) Living in the States is so much more expensive then living in Germany. Well I guess that it doesn't help that there are so many more yarny and fibery temptations around here :) I got a job working as an Admin Assistant in the CDC here on post. I have done this job before, in fact I have had this job on every Post we've lived on...Go with what you know is what I always say. I don't start til October so that give me plenty of knitting, spinning and sewing days. I will still be doing all of those while I work outside the home but probably not as often.

Sorry for such a long post. I hope that everybody has a great weekend!! Happy crafting.

Schools In Session...

2008-09-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

The boys started school on Wednesday. D'Andre started 1st grade and Kizaiah started Kindergarten. 2 Down and 1 to go :) Here are pictures I took of them on their first day. They loved it and couldn't wait to go back today. The cool thing is the school is just a few houses down. It's practically in our back yard so we don't have to walk far or get stuck in morning school traffic. The bad thing is Kizaiah is only in school for 2 and 1/2 hours a day...what can they possibly learn in 2 and 1/2 hours? Oh well at least he gets out of the house for a while, right?

He really was excited to be in class but this is the only picture I could get of him without someone walking in front of my camera...sheesh.Kizaiah was ready to go to work and write his name. I guess the good thing about the boys being so close in age is that Ki learns a lot from Dre and wants to keep up with his big brother. He already knows his alphabet, how to write his name, tie his shoes and spell Cat. I think he will do fine during his 2 and 1/2 hour day at school.

Hope that everyone enjoyed their summer I know we did, but I am glad to have a little break from the boys. They can definitly be a handful. Especially when they are together :)

Happy Birthday Ki Ki :)

2008-08-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Kizaiah Davonte Goodwin

sweet

Happy
A great Little brother and Buddy

A super Big Brother and Helper

Creative

Smart, Inventive, A wonderful Son...Thank you for being you! Your Daddy and I couldn't ask for more we are truly blessed to have you as one of our sons. You are AWESOME!

Love you and Happy 5th Birthday Ki Ki. I hope that this year is filled with lots of laughs and love. Thank you for being you!

10 days of spinning bliss :) & Ravelympics

2008-08-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all I am in love with miss Millie. Here are a couple of the handspun yarns that I have finished this week.

4oz. of 100% Alpaca at $1.5o an oz. Who would pass up a deal like that. And what better way to break in Miss Millie :) Spinning bliss. Navajo plied. I entered this in the Puyallup fair. The fair doesn't start til 5 Sep so I wont know if I won anything until I go after the 5th.

This turned into this....

approx 23o yard of beautiful dk weight yarn. I love these colors together. The roving was from Yummy Yarn. Corriedale roving in "Woobie" colorway. And after looking up what woobie ment on google, I wish my blankie was this lovely when I was little :)
I am currently spinning some of the roving my Hush-Hush Handspun Hootenanny Buddy sent me. I am trying to get more then 400 yards of sock weight yarn out of it...wish me luck. I will take pictures of that as soon as it's all spun up.
In Ravelympics news, I was really busy spinning. I should have entered in some of the spinning events. But I did manage to finish my entry for Mitten Medley. Here are my Bird in Hand Mittens. They are not without flaws and they still need to be blocked but I love them anyway.

STR medium weight sock yarn in "Aquaboy" and "Lodestone" remember back when I scored that beautiful yarn at the Medrona fiber fest? It feels like so long ago.

I was on such a role with the second mitten that I forgot the little flower on the palm...oops oh well. I am just glad that they fit perfectly.
Oh yeah and my bird is blind. I couldn't get the eye just right on my birdy so I decided that he didn't need any right now. I kind of like him with out eyes. How 'bout you?

I also got my August shipment of Spunky Eclectic Roving. BFL is so soft and I loved spinning BFL for my HHHH swap buddy. So I am excited that I will have some of my very own.

"Thermograph"

The theme for this month was "caliente" and I think that these colors are Hot.
I also got my August shipment for the Woolgirl sock club. Just look at all these goodies. Jen comes up with the best packages!

And in kidlet news the kids are doing great. The boys are excited to start school next week. I am excited too. It will just be me and the little munchin, at least for part of the day, I am looking forward to spending time with my girly.

I can't believe that she lets her brother hold her like a little baby. She doesn't let me or her daddy do that. Silly kid.

Well that's all for now. Sorry for such a long post but I guess that's what happens when I don't post as often as I should.

We will miss you little Nick Nack. You were a great friend. Sorry Mom and Dad for your loss.

Meet "Miss Millie"

2008-08-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

She's here she's here, my Majacraft Millie is here. I got my wheel on Friday and have been spinning away over the weekend. All three bobbins are full :) Now I just have to empty them so I can spin some more.

There are a couple of scratches on her but nothing major.

I have also been watching a lot of the Olympics and Knitting a bit. My Bird in hand mitts are coming along. I will take pictures of those as soon as there is some sun in these parts. I should be finished with them in a couple of days. I am also working on my sock pattern and writing it up and knitting it. I don't know if it will be done before the Olympics are over but maybe shortly after.

I also got some lovely things in the mail this last week. My Woolgirl sock club came. I think this is my favorite so far. If you want to see spoiler pictures you can check here. I also got some Spunky Eclectic Roving from somebody on ravelry. I loved this roving when I first saw it and it was one of the reasons I joined Spunky's club. It's called "Flowering Weeds" and it was the June shipment.

On the family note...nothing really new there. Just the fact that I found out how sneaky my little one is. I went to go check on the boys in there room and I left Cierra in the living room. When I got back to the living room she wasn't there. I called her and no answer. I checked the kitchen and there she was with a box of Goldfish crackers snacking right out the box. She didn't even dump them out. It was too funny! Thank goodness I don't have anything dangerous in any of the cabinets that she can get to...let's just say I learned not to put things down there with my first kid :)

Hope that everyone is doing well. I will try and check back in sometime this week. Thanks for stopping by. Happy knitting, spinning or crafting in general :)

A week in Review

2008-08-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Just a quick post with lots of pictures to review this last week. Hope that you all are enjoying the last days of summer. I know that we are. I'm trying to keep the boys busy so we are out of the house as much as possible.

Last Friday was Cierra's first Birthday. I made her cupcakes. They were so yummy and cute if I do say so myself :) I have been spinning a lot lately and I finally bought my first wheel. A lightly used Majacraft "Millie" for $175. I couldn't pass up a great deal like that now could I?It should be here next week sometime. I will have lots of pics when it does get here.

In the mean time here is a picture of my latest spinning wip on my Ashford spindle. I plan on entering this yarn in the Puyallup Fair at the end of this month. Wish me luck :)

Spunky Eclectic Romney in "Eclipse" Colorway. This is July's shipment. My first of many :) roving shipments from her.

I also got my Hush Hush Handspun Hootenanny gift from my wonderful swap partner Susan. Who is blogless. She sent all kinds of goodies....just look at all I got!

She even sent little goodies for the kids. She is so sweet. Thanks again Susan you are so AWSOME!!! I was cheated out of a box during the coffee swap last October and was turned off of swaps forever, or so I thought. This was the best experience. I think she changed my mind about swaps.

I also got my dkKnits "Wool dye for Ewe" August shipment. I think this is my favorite so far. Of course I say that every time but this time I really mean it (or at least until the next months shipment) There is no name for this yarn. Becky is so cool. She has her own version of Knitting Olympics going on for sock clubbers and non sock clubbers. If you are interested let her know here. (rav link)

Speaking of Olympics I have entered in the Ravelymics. I am on team Blue Moon. I have entered in Mitten Medley. I started knitting my Bird in Hand mittens in Blue Moon Sock yarn. "Aquaboy" and "Lodestone" colorways. Loving this knit so far. Wish me luck. I hope that I finish these.

I also entered in the designers discus. I have a sock pattern that I need to knit up and write a pattern for. Hopefully I finish this one. I know that I have teased you all in the past with sock designs coming soon...but this time I really hope that I can accomplish this goal.

I also entered in WIP Wrestling. There are a pair of socks that I hope that I can finish. But we will see. This is the low man on the totem pole if you know what I mean.

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the boys playing at the park. I love when they get along and do "teamwork" That's what they call it when one helps the other. This was a rare occasion where I had a camera to have proof that they do get along most of the time :)

Ki loves some hop scotchI forgot to tell my sister that D'Andre said "Mom this flower is for Auntie Shawna...can we send it to her?" So I took a picture so she would know that he was thinking about her. (Love ya sis)That's all for now. Next post I should have a lot of picture of my new to me wheel :) Squee...can you tell I'm excited?! XD

Happy Birthday CiCi CiCi stinky lady :)

2008-08-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Cierra Petal Goodwin

One year already...where does the time go?

3 days old

3 months old
6 months old
Today :)

Little lady you have brought so much love and joy to our family. You are silly, sweet and oh so loveable. Your daddy and I are so greatful and truely blessed to have you as our daughter. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Your brothers, daddy and I love you very much, Happy Birthday ladybug!

I'm back :)

2008-07-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

The kids and I got back to Washington on Tuesday. I know I am a slacker I should have wrote a post when I got back but I have not really been in the mood to type. We had such a great time in sunny California. We spent most of our time in the pool at my parents house and by the end of the trip the boys learned how to swim without floaties and they could swim the whole length of the pool. I even taught D'Andre how to do the "dead mans float". See...

We also spent a week in Georgia to visit my in-laws. Travis spent his 10 day vacation there and we met him. We hadn't seen his family in 5 years. My father in-law had never met Kizaiah and they both got to met Cierra for the first time. It was a nice week. Travis and I actually got to spend time alone...with no kids. We haven't had time alone in about 3 years. That is a long ass time! We went to lunch together and all we really talked about was the kids but it was nice to eat without having to cut someones food or having a baby to feed :) We will have to do it more often now we just have to meet people around here that can watch out kiddos.

I took a lot of pictures while we were on vacation, too many to post on the blog but if you want to see them you can hop on over to flickr and check them out. I will be adding them a little bit at a time.

I also celebrated my 29th birthday on Friday. My husband surprised me with a yummy cake that he made, it pays to be married to a military cook :) Check out his handy work.

It was so good too.

My parents and Travis are going to be giving me $ to buy my first spinning wheel...do you guys have any suggestions? I am going to be going to my LYS to try some out soon, that is if I don't buy one before I get a chance to try any out. I am so impatient!

Well that's all for now. The next post will have some updates on my WIP's and fibery goodness. I will leave you with a picture of me and the kids. I got my dad to snap a shot of me and the kids before we went out with my grandma.

I know Kizaiah looks crazy but it's hard to get all 3 kids looking in the same direction to take a decent picture.

Talk to you all soon. Thanks for checking in on me :)

Drive By Post

2008-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all this is just going to be a quick "Drive By Post" My family and I are still on vacation. We just got back from visiting the inlaws in humid Georgia and now we are back in Sunny California. I hope that you all are well. I have been knitting and spinning lots when the kids and I are not in the pool or at the beach. Here are some pictures of some footies I finished and some of the kids enjoying our vacation.
My basic footie pattern. Cast on 60 sts. Work 2x2 rib for 5 rounds, knit 2 rounds and start short row heel. Easy and a great scrap buster :) This is a shot that my sister took of me wearing them in the waterfall of my parents pool. She thought I was nuts. (Don't worry no clorine in the pool it's just salt water) Yarn: My sisters leftovers of Yarn Pirate in "Isobel" colorway. I still have plenty to knit another pair if I want or a little pair for Cierra :)I will have a longer post when we get back to rainy Washington. I just wanted to let you all know that we are still alive and haven't melted in this heat :) Enjoy the rest of July and I will write again soon.

Hush-Hush Handspun Hootenanny Questionnaire

2008-06-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself? I have only been spinning since may 3rd 2008 :) so I consider myself a beginner

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)? so far I have created singles and 2 ply
3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)? right now I spin on a spindle but I will be getting a wheel soon....in fact I am going to get one for my birthday next month :)
4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don't like? So far my favorites are superwash merino and merino/tencel. But I am up for trying all kinds
5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)? I love squoosh, yarn pirate and dkKnits. But I would really like to try funkycarolina, pigeonroof studios, bee mice elf and freckle face fiber.
6. What kind of fiber do you want to try? I am open to all kinds of fiber
7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn? I would love to lear how to spin silk hankies
8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn? I don't dye fiber but maybe some day in the future I could try my hand at some dyeing :)
9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber? I would prefer ready to spin since I don't have any fiber tools
10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed? I take lots of pictures of my handspun for now. I am trying to find a great knitting project for my only finished skein
11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)? Yes I am in need of fiber gadgets...whatever you think might be helpful to a newbie
12. What colors "fall into your shopping basket"? Any colors you just can't stand? always blues, I like pinks, greens, silvers, purples...I'm pretty easy
13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now? squoosh falkland roving in "Ice Cream Cone" colorway and dkKnits Sugarspun roving merino/tencel in "Water Garden" Colorway.
14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have? Knitting, Sewing and candle making
15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about? sudoku and fill-it in's I like puzzles
16. Do you have an online wishlist? no but I should make one
17. Is there anything that you collect? yarn and fiber
18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have? not really, and I don't have any magazine subscriptions but I do buy every interweave knits that comes out when I can.
19. When is your birthday? July 25th
20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality? That's a hard question I might have to think about that one a bit
21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)? I am currently living in the Beautifully rainy state of Washington... I am a California girl at heart so the rain is hard to get used to
22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself! Hmm...I guess the fact that all the money in my wallet has to be facing the same way with the one's at the back of the stack then the five's and so on...I'm pretty weird about that I guess. That's the only part that is organized about me :)
Favorites
favorite painting/picture(link): I have a few favorites but mostly picture of the sea and a beautiful beach always make me happy
Candy: Chocolate, Snickers, Milk duds (notice a trend)
Food: Mexican food
Drink: Coffee, Pepsi, Sweet Tea
Movie(s): old 80's and early 90's movies, The Goonies, Overboard, Pretty Women, The Karate Kid...I know I'm a dork :)
TV Show(s): Grey's Anatomy, Samantha Who, Desperate Housewives, Days of Our Lives
Book(s): Can't think of One off the top of my head but I like to read Memoirs and Scary Stories
Guilty Pleasure(s): Staying up til the wee hours of the morning knitting, spinning or sewing when I know my 3 small kids are going to get up early the next day.

Happy Birthday Dre Dre

2008-06-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

D'Andre Christopher Goodwin:

MischievousBrave

Awsome Big Brother!

Sweet

Silly

Smart, Funny a Wonderful Son...Thank You for being you. Your Dad and I couldn't ask for anything more we are truely blessed to have you as one of our sons. You are an All Star. Love you and Happy 6th Birthday Little Man!
I can't believe how fast time flies. My baby turned 6 yesterday. Happy Birthday Son You are Truely loved!

WARNING: Long Post & Lots of Pics!!!

2008-06-12T19:07:00.001-07:00

This is going to be a long post with lots and lots of pictures. Basically cause I have been a slacker in the blog department.

I have added alot of goodies to my stash thanks to the purchases of my lovely customers who have been buying lots of Punky Pouches and Circular Needle clutches and keeping me busy at the sewing machine...I can't thank you guys enough. Here are a couple of my latest goodies that I bought the past couple of weeks with my "Candy Money"

Last week was a Yarn Piratey week and thanks to Ravelry I scored some lovely destashed booty :)

Yarn Pirate Merino/Tensil Sock Yarn in "Patina" Colorway.

Yarn Pirate Merino Sock Yarn in "Kalamata" Colorway.

Georgia updated her shop last week and I scored some lovely roving to add to my growing Spinning stash. 5.2 oz of BFL Roving in "Axel" Colorway. It's obvious that I'm already in love with Yarn Pirate Yarn I know that I will love her roving too :) Can't wait to get this on my spindle.

Speaking of Roving I also got this beauty. It's dkKnits SugarSpun Roving 50/50 Merino/tencil in "Water Garden" colorway. This is soooooo incredibly soft I just want to sleep with it on my pillow. Go to her shop now she is having a Spring Cleaning Sale.I also got my June "Wool Dye for Ewe" Sock Club from Becky of dkKnits in my custom colorway "Punky Plum". This is one of the coolest sock clubs that I have ever been in. She custom dyes each customers colorway. Each one is different and will never be dyed again. I love it Becky Thanks!

Speeking of Custom colorways I had a yarn colorway named after little ol' me. I had a great swap with Jessica of Life in Lilt Creations. I swapped her 2 Punky Pouches for 2 skeins of beautiful yarn. Twist sock yarn in "Punky Purls" colorway

Twist sock yarn in "Fiesta" colorway.

This yarn is sooooooooo darn soft. 400 yards of Superwash Merino. so lovely Thank you Jess. I love it. If you want a skein of your very own I think that this will be added to her shop.

In spinning news I finished my very first usable Handspun yarn. 26o yards of Superwash yarn. I got 19wpi so I think that makes it lace to light fingering weight. Any ideas of what to knit with it?

In other crafting news I made Cierra's summer dress. I made a size 2. My baby is getting so big and I wanted her to be able to wear it for a while. It's Huge...oh well she will still be wearing it Next week when we got to California and Georgia for the month. I think it will be able to fit her for a long while what do you think? Haha look at her face. It's like she is saying "Mother Please!"Speaking of vacation... The shop will be closed from Friday 13 June at 9pm pst - 22 July. You can still place order from now until then so I have time to make the bags and send them out to you. I will have internet access while I am gone, so feel free to convo me if you have questions or would like to order Punky Pouches. I can make them when I get back. Well that's about it for now. Thank you all for reading this long drawn out post. Happy Crafting.

New Bags and some Knitting

2008-05-29T17:23:00.001-07:00

Hi all...I have been doing some sewing and a little knitting. Here are some pictures of my FO and WIP's.

Mini Pleated Beauty Bag. I modified the dimensions on Amy Karol's Pleated Beauty Handbag from the Bend the Rules Sewing book. The one in the book was so cute but I think that it was way to big. This bag is so cute I almost don't want to sell it at the shop. :) I guess I can always make another one. The Sweater in the picture is of my Wicked Sweater using Dream in Color Classy in "Deep Sea Flower" Hopefully I finish it before the DIC KAL is over. Wish me luck.Here is the "Charming Handbag" from the same book. I kind of winged the pattern on this one. It's not the same dimensions but it's basically the same structure as the original. This will be in the shop soon too.

I also started knitting again...when I get tired of sitting at the sewing machine. I cast on for 2 pairs of footies using the scrap yarn that my sister sent me. The first one is knit using size a 3 circular needle and Yarn Pirate Sock yarn in "Rosie" and the second one is knit using a 1.5 circular needle and Yarn Pirate Sock yarn in the "Isobel" colorway. I love how the second one is stripping up...I can't wait to finish these. And I added some more lovely yarn to my stash. dkKnits Technicolor Dream Toes in "Ding Dong Cart Dayz" I love these colors :)

That's all for now I will update again soon. I have a couple more bags that I am going to be working on and some more yarn and roving coming in the mail. Thank you etsy buyers for helping support my habit :)

Thanks for reading & Happy Crafting!

Shop Update :)

2008-05-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to stop by real quick and let you all know that I put some more Punky Pouches in the shop along with some sets. Remeber if you don't see what you want or you want me to make you a set just convo me.

I really don't have any knitting news but I have been spinning a bit. Here is the same roving that I spun before but I am getting much better. I can't wait til I finish it and ply it together. Knitty Gritty Thoughts Roving in "Play Date"

I also added a new yarn to my stash. It's from Fresh from the Cauldron etsy shop. 70% Merino & 30% silk. In "Raspberry Cobbler" colorway. It's so lovely I can't to finish up some WIPs so I can use this lovely yarn. You should definitly check out Jennifer's etsy shop if you haven't already. She has some really great ideas for colorways. Lots of cute themes like "Saturday Morning Cartoons" or "Raid the Frige". She is so creative and she has wonderful customer service.

I did start a couple footies with the scraps that my sister sent. I haven't taken pictures of those yet but I will later today and post them next time. Well back to the sewing machine, hope that you all have a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend.

Socks, Skein, Scraps and Sisterly Love!!!

2008-05-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

I have been busy mailing bags to my lovely customers and I was surprised to get a box in the mail too. I had forgot that my sister said that she was going to send me a box. It is so nice to have a sister who love the same things that I do! I sent her Wollmeise Sock yarn in "Sultan" for her birthday and she knit me socks with it. They fit perfectly. Am I a lucky girl or what? (There is a better picture of the socks that she took and posted on her ravelry page, the sun washed out the color in my picture, check them out I'll wait)I also got a full skein of Rio de la Plata sock yarn and a bunch of scraps. I can totally make a couple pair of footies, good thing I have small feet. If I don't have enough for my feet I always have smaller feet to knit for in this house...Cierra will be one lucky girl too :)

Clockwise: Rio de la Plata, Brooklyn Handspun in Tonya, Yarn Pirate in Rosie, dkKnits - blue square skiing, Lorna's Laces that she over dyed with teal acid dye, Yarn Pirate in Isobel & a little bit of Yarntini in Good to be Girl colorway.

Thanks Shane. Knitting sisters rock!!!

In shop news: I am steady making more Punky Pouches and Circular Needle Clutches as sets. I will be updating the shop soon.

Thanks again for all your nice comments, convos, and good luck wishes.

Success!!!

2008-05-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a HUGE THANK YOU to those who went to my Etsy shop today. I really appreciate that you took the time out of your day to check it out. I will be posting more bags soon along with some pincushions and coasters. Thanks again for making my first day on Etsy a success. For those of you who would like a Punky Pouch or a Circular Needle Clutch there are a couple left in the shop.
Thanks again!

Grand Opening

2008-05-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody I just wanted to invite you all to visit my etsy shop. There will be a few Punky Pouches for sale and a couple Punky Pouch and Circular Needle Clutch sets on Friday at around 2pm. Hope you stop by and check it out even if you don't buy anything. I would really appreciate all your input! Convo me and let me know what you think. Here are a couple of pictures of what will be available tomorrow.
Thanks for checking them out. I will update the shop as often as the kiddos let me. Hope to see you stop by the shop.

Well alot has been happening....

2008-05-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

First I learned a new craft, scratch that obsession ;) On Saturday I got away from the kids for a little while. My husband is back home so I got a little break. I went to Lambs Ear Farm my new local yarn store. I took a spinning class. I had so much fun learning something new and I have already place my first orders on Etsy for more beautiful roving. I can't wait til it's here. But first look at what I made. These pictures are in order of when I spun them. Each time I have gotten much better. Like they say practice makes perfect right.

I had fun in the class. There was only one other person in the class. She was sweet and I learned alot in that hour.

I also finished some socks that took 10months to knit. I don't know why I didn't finish these earlier, once I cast on for the second sock it was done in 2 days. I also knit the second sock on different size needles not thinking that 1.5 needles would make that much of a difference but it did. Oh well who sees my toes anyway?

The first sock ended up feeling tighter then the second so I washed and put it on a sock blocker to stretch it a bit and that seemed to do the trick. I love them even though they don't match.

Specs: Vesper sock Yarn in "Astro" colorway

size 1 and 1.5 needles haha

Time to knit 10 whole months...goodness

We also got a new car for my husband, out of necessity. His other car was run into the ground. I guess all those years driving around Germany took it's tole on the little Neon. Well He got a Pontiac G6 it's a nice car. Alot of cool features. He likes it, that's all that really matters.

I also got my first shipment from dkKnits Wool Dye for Ewe sock club. Becky is such a sweet heart. She really takes time to find out what you like to dye the perfect yarn for you. Her customer service is excellent. If you haven't bought from her yet you definitely should.

She is so thoughtful in more ways then one. She knows that my husband is a hard working soldier and she wanted to say thank you to him so she sent me some more lovely yarn just for Travis. It's technicolor dream toes sock yarn in "Army" colorway. Very appropriate. I showed it to him and he wanted me to say thanks on his behalf to Becky. I will be knitting him his first pair of hand knit socks. And even though I had a little contest in the last post it was at the end of the post so no one entered to win free yarn oh well maybe next time. My big secret is that I am going to be opening a Etsy shop. My plan is to make "Punky Pouches" a perfect sized bag for small knitting projects like socks. They can also be used to hold makeup and what not. Here is an example of what I will be offering in the shop. I'm just waiting on my washer and dryer to arrive so that I can wash the fabric I bought the other day and get sewing. I will keep you updated and let you know when the shop is up and running. There will also be other sizes of bags, different designs and other odds and ends. Let me know if you guys have any suggestions on what you would want to see in the shop. All your help is appreciated.

That's all for now, Thank you all for reading & Happy Crafting.

Moving, Spring Cleaning, Stressing and a Guessing Game

2008-04-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Well we moved again! Hopefully this will be the last time that we have to move for a while. I haven't blogged in awhile because I had to move, clean, and unpack (I'm still unpacking), & take a child to the ER. Needless to say it has been a busy, stressful and crazy couple of weeks. Travis is in the field and should be home tomorrow, thank goodness! I have taken care of the kids by myself before and have been through alot of stuff while Travis is gone but for some reason these past weeks have been really stressful! Anyway enough about that things are on the upswing and I can't wait for Travis to come home tomorrow.

As I was unpacking the many boxes in my house, I notice that I have ALOT of yarn. So I think it's time for my first destash. Let me know if you are interested I have posted these on Ravelry and I will be adding more soon. All yarn comes from a smoke-free home. I do have 2 small dogs but they don't go anywhere near my stash.

Both of these are Regia Sock yarn. I have started to knit socks with them and have frogged. I am more of an indie yarn kind of girl. They have both been wound into Center Pull balls. I will sell them together for $10 plus shipping.Duet Sock yarn in DK weight. Colorway is "Aubergine Meadows" I love this colorway but I don't think that I will ever knit it up I will sell for $25 plus shipping or Trade for another some Skinny Duet Sock yarn.Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie Sock yarn in "Walking on the Wild Tide" I got this in last years Rockin Sock Club. I started to knit a Diamond Fantasy Shawl but it has since been Frogged and wound into a center pull ball. Will sell for $19 plus shipping***Pending***Here is another sock yarn that I got during last years Rockin Sock Club in "Firebird". I started to knit pomotomus' with it but never finished the first sock so I frogged and wound into a center pull cake. I will sell this for $18 plus shipping.And last but not least Sundara Sock yarn in "Graphite". I bought this a couple of months ago. I have tried a couple of sock patterns with this yarn but can't find anything that makes me want to finish. I will sell this for $20 plus shipping or I will trade for another Sundara Sock yarn or Yarntini Sock Yarn.***Pending***

In case you didn't notice there is actually no knitting content, maybe the next post. Oh yeah and I will have some big new in the next post too. No I'm not Pregnant but let's see if you can guess what my big news is. If you guess right I will send you some sock yarn (none of the ones listed above) and other goodies. No hints yet but maybe if none of you get even close I will put a hint up on Friday. Enter as many times as you want. Good luck. Contest ends Sunday May 3rd ***Special Note**** Shane you know the secret so you can't enter ;) besides I am already sending you some lovely yarn.

Gifts

2008-04-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is coming up and what better way to make your mom happy then to give her what she wants right?! Well my mom wanted a "Punky Pouch" for her makeup and I made one. This is the 3rd bag that I've made and I think I've worked out all the kinks. I also made some coasters for her and now all I have to do is go to the store and fill up her bag with some goodies. Hope that she love it as much as I do.

Well Travis is gone for a couple of weeks and I was tired of sitting around the house so I took the boys and Cierra to the Puyallup Fair gound for the Spring Fair. They had fun. Yay for free military. I guess being part of the military does have some perks. Here are a couple of pictures of the cute little animals that we saw there today. There were so many spinners there too, to bad I was so infatuated with watching them spin that I totally forgot to take pictures of them spinning. Silly me I know. It's been a great mail week this week. My lovely sister sent me some anklet socks. They are so cute check them out here. I haven't taken pictures of them yet but I will soon. Thanks Shane I love them! I also added to my stash. I ordered some more Shibuiknits sock yarn in Wasabi colorway. I know that you have all heard me say this before but I really love this yarn and I really love this colorway!!! Perfect for Project Spectrum, don't you think?

I also got my first installment of my Woolgirl sock club. If you want to see pictures then click here. I don't want to quite ruin it for everybody yet. I love love love this first package. I loved it so much that I had to get the yarn ready and find some needles (notice I had to use dpns, I usually am a magic loop knitter but all my circulars are occupied, that's another story all together. Let's just say I have major startitis

Well that's all for now. Back to my sewing machine gotta make a super cute bag for my sister.

***update...started and finished my sister tote. Pattern is from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. "Simple Tote"is the pattern name. Hope that she likes it!

Lots of WIP's

2008-04-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody...just wanted to show you all what's on my needles. Of course you all know how I am....lots of WIP's at one time, I'm sure I'm not the only one out there Right?! ;)

Dream in Color Smooshy: Happy Forest
Pattern: Twisted Flower by Cookie APagewood Farm Chugiak Sock yarn: Meadow

Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks

Sundara Yarn: Grape over Grey Violet

Pattern: Roza's socks by Grumerina

Vesper Sock Yarn: Astro

Pattern: My own sock recipe 64sts with Picot cuff on size 1 needles

I cast on for this sock ages ago, before Cierra was born. It was supposed to be my "mindless knit" in the hospital. Needless to say it has been sitting on the needles for awhile now and I finally finished it the other day. Now to cast on for its mate. Wonder how long it will take me to finish that one ;)

Dream in Color Classy: Deep Sea Flower

Pattern: Wicked by Sarah and Rachel for Zephyr Style

This is my contribution to the Dream In Color KAL for the Loopy Ewe. So far so good. I love this yarn and the color.

Also some stash enhancement. DkKnits Technicolor dream toes in Hawaiian Hibiscus

Some fabric stash enhancement. My mom saw the Punky Pouch that I made for my sister and wants one to. She said "Hey that looks like it would be a perfect makeup bag" So I went out and bought more supplies.

I also figured that I could pick up a couple of Fat Quarters and make some coasters for her, my sister and myself of course. The pattern is from the "Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts"book.After I finished some of these I decided that I should start my moms bag but realized that I was tired of not having a safe place to put my pins while I sew. I had been putting them on the table. This pattern is also in the "Last Minute Patchwork+Quilted Gifts"The only thing I did was use 4 different peices of fabric instead of 8 and I added a button, just cause I had one laying around in my sewing kit that would match. The fabric is part of a Jolly Pack that I had bought before Cierra was born from the Fat Quarter shop. The pack came with 35 different 5" blocks that I had planned on using to make a small quilt for Cierra for Valentine's day. Well that never happened so I use them for this. I have plenty leftover. Maybe I will make more Pincushions. :)Well that's all for now. Happy Knitting, Sewing or Crafting in general. :)

2 FO's in 2 days.

2008-04-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

I'm on a sewing roll. When I realized that my Niece's 2nd Birthday was coming up I wanted to try my hands a actually sewing something she could wear. (I could have knit her something but there is not much that I could knit her that her momma couldn't.) I bought a pattern for Sadie and Cierra about a week ago. I had planned on making them tank tops for this summer. I changed my plans and made her this cute top.

But what kind of fun can a 2 year old have with a top? So I went to borders and bought "Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts." A super cute book by the same person who wrote "Last minute Knitted Gifts." It has a really cute pattern for a stuffed Elephant toy. His name is "peanut, the wee elephant" He came out kind of wonky but I don't think that Sadie will mind do you?

Well I still have to make Cierra's top but I'm in no hurry.
In other news, My family and I will be moving AGAIN. This time for good (or at least for 3yrs or so) We got a house on post now. Yay!!! My husband is happy that he wont have to wake up at 3am everyday and come home at around 8pm anymore. Puyallup isn't that far away from Frt. Lewis but it's a waste of time and gas going back and forth in the mornings to change after his morning work out with his soldiers. So we will be packing up again in about 2 weeks. We didn't think that we would get a house on post as soon as we did. They had told us at least 6-8 months wait.
Well gotta be going. Next post should have some actual knitting content. Happy knitting or sewing or crafting in general ;)

New Finished object (not knitting)

2008-03-28T18:33:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody. Well it's been crazy around here, especially the weather, and I haven't really been in the mood to knit. For some reason I had an itch to sew something. So I went to Joann's Fabric, which is just across the street (danger) and picked out some cute material to make a couple of project bags. One for me and one for my sister. I started last night after dinner and was done before bedtime. Talk about instant gratification :) one sock in progress. Two socks in progress. Perfect fit.

I started the other one today but haven't finished because we had to go and pick up the other car at the Port of Tacoma today. I also bought a really cute pattern for a sundress for my niece Sadie and my baby Cierra. We are going to California this summer and I want them to both have something handmade with love and I figured that a knit dress might be to hot in July. I am a self taught sewer and the only things I have sewn are quilts, aprons, oven mitts and now these "Punky Pouches" I have never sewn a dress or any other garment for that matter, so if anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it. Here is a picture of Cierra eating her Easter hippo. She is so silly.That's all for now. Thanks for reading and happy crafting

Happy Easter!

2008-03-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

Well I just wanted to stop by and say Happy Easter to everybody and if you don't Celebrate Easter then Happy Spring! Last week, while the weather was nice, Travis and I took the kids to the park for a little photo shoot. I needed pictures to send to the family in their Easter cards. Here a just a couple of my favorites.

The kids got their stuffed toys for Easter. They all loved them. I will take pictures of them with the kids when I get a chance. Here is Kizaiahs Blue Bunny Suffie.
I had been telling the kids that we were going to take them to the zoo for Easter. Well Travis had to work that morning and when he came home that afternoon it was sprinkling. I figured we live in Washington, it rains a lot here and I'm sure that there will be crazy people out and about in the rain right? Well when we got there it started to rain buckets :) There were about 20 people total there but we still had fun. We will definitely be taking them back when the weather is nice.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

My 3 boys waking in the rain back to the car.
My silly husband saying hello to the Walrus :) I love this picture.

The boys "Ninja Turtle"
Cool aquarium. It's hard to take pictures in an aquarium when there is "no flash photography" allowed. This one came out good. Well even though it was raining we enjoyed ourselves in the Aquarium. Next post will have more knitting content. Thanks for reading and happy knitting.

Two down One to go :)

2008-03-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

WARNING LOTS OF PICTURES :)

Well Tums is done. This is Cierra's Easter Hippo. Super fast knit, Super Fun to knit, Super Pattern and SUPER CUTE Don't you think?I added little details to his butt, a little heart and on the bottom CPG for Cierra's initials. Love it to cute. I got this done in One day I love fast knits!Gizmo and Rockie love Him too.When I finished Tums I cast on for Pepto. This one took me a little longer about 4 days but I think it's cause I got a little distracted with new yarn. I made my first trade with Yarnbeans. I traded Vesper sock yarn(I have a skein of LoveSticks in a similar color) for some Posh yarn Lucia in "Pantomime" love this yarn can't wait to find the right pattern for this colorway.Here is Pepto. Another fun, fast and cute knit. I knit this for D'Andre. He wanted a Pink Elephant so how could I resist this cute guy. D'Andre can't wait til Easter He wants him now. I embroidered a star on his butt and DCG on the bottom for Dre's initials. Here they are together.

Two kids down one to go, now to cast on for Kizaiahs Blue Bunny. Too bad mochimochiland doesn't have a bunny pattern. I love her toy designs
Thanks for reading and Happy knitting.

Happy Easter Hippo

2008-03-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody. I'm still knitting my Oblique Sweater but I have given myself permission to take a detour for some cute little toy knitting. I decided that I don't knit enough stuff for my kids and since the things that I have knit for them they have grown out of so fast, I decided to knit each of them some toys for their Easter baskets. First up Cierra. Since she can't choose what one that she wants I chose "Tums the Hippo" by Mochimochiland.com. I started yesterday afternoon and I am almost done. I just have 2 little legs left to finish and the teeth. Along with the stuffing and sewing closed, I should be done soon.

D'Andre wanted "Pepto the Elephant" by Mochimochiland.com He even wants it in Pink. Haha funny kid. And then there is Kizaiah he wants Stuffies by Ysolda Teague. He wants the rabbit and he wants it in blue. I will post pictures of those once I start them in the next couple of days. Lets hope that I finish these before Easter. Wish me luck, gotta go and finish "Tums"

Happy Knitting!

Actual Finished Object

2008-03-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody....I actually have knitting content for you and an actual finished object see.This is my contribution to Project Spectrum "Fire" element. Waving Lace socks from Interweaves Favorite Socks. ShibuiKnits sock yarn in "Pagoda" I love love love these socks. Yarn and pattern combo is now one of my favorites. Next to my Pirate Penllyn socks.

I now have 2 more projects on the needles. I cast on for Oblique on the 25th of February. I cast off the back today. So far I love how it is knitting up but I think that it might be longer then I want. Guess that's what I get for being short. :) Pattern is a fun knit I might actually finish my first sweater...well let's not get ahead of myself right?!

I am using Cascade220 in Doeskin Heather and a size 6 circular needle. I don't have a size 7 and when I swatched (yeah I know what you're thinking...she swatched?) I didn't like the way that the size 8 made the fabric look.

The rest of our stuff FINALLY came this week. Oh how I missed my bed, couch and stash :) Speaking of stash I looked at what I had in my knitting basket when we unpacked and realized that I should use some of the yarn that I had for a while. So I cast on some plain ol' socks.

Duet sock yarn in "Exclamation" It's DK weight and is knitting up really fast. Love them so far. I don't have any set timeline to finish these. It's just mindless knitting when I get tired or bored of lace.

I also added some lovely yarn to my stash. These came the day before we got our stuff back.

I got these from the Loopy Ewe. I joined the Dream in Color KAL. Here is Dream in Color Classy in "Deep Seaflower"

Also Dream in Color Smooshy in "Happy Forest" I love this yarn color and have been wanting it for a while now. I also ordered my first Sundara Sock yarn in "Grap over GreyViolet" and "Graphite" I wanted the Graphite for Project Spectrum "Earth" element. I will knit this or my Dream in Color "Happy Forest" Stay tuned for that.
Thank you all for checking in. Hope that you are all doing well. Check back in a couple days to see if I finish another section of my Oblique. Thanks for reading and Happy Knitting!

Tooth Fairy came to visit

2008-02-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hi all. I hope that everybody had a great week. We had a very cool event happen this week. My son finally lost his first tooth. He was so excited. That darn tooth was loose for so long, seriously so long. The new tooth was even coming in behind the baby tooth. I thought that it would never come out! The other night we were eating pot roast and it finally came out. When it came out we told him about the tooth fairy and how she would come and give him money and he said, "is she going to give me $1000. Will I have enough to buy a power ranger?" I told him if that was the case then I would be knocking out all my teeth just for the extra money...haha. We put the tooth in a plastic ziplock bag (we are still sleeping on the floor and I didn't want the tooth fairy to have a problem finding it in the middle of the night.) The next morning there was a dollar in the plastic bag and Dre came running in my room saying "Was my tooth a Transformer cause it transformed into a dollar?" I couldn't help but think, sure son whatever you want to believe, it was a transformer. :) It was cute.
How much does the tooth fairy give in your house? Here is a couple pictures.
On the knitting front I am almost done with my Waving Lace socks. I love them. I finished the heel and one repeat on the foot. If I don't finish them today they will be done tomorrow. I will post pictures when they are done. I also ordered some more yarn. Sheri at the Loopy Ewe is having a Dream in Color KAL and is offering a discount on Dream in Color Classy. I ordered 4 skeins of Dream in Color in "Deep Sea Flower". She only had 4 left I hope that it's enough for a "Wicked" Sweater. We'll see. I will post picture of that when it comes. Until then happy knitting and I will blog again soon. Thanks for reading.

Something to blog about :)

2008-02-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

All I have to say is I love my husband. For more reason then one but here is the latest reason. On Thursday I was reading yarn harlots blog and saw that she was in Tacoma. I thought hmm....I wonder what she will be doing here. (I only live about 30 min away from Tacoma) So I did a little investigating and found out that she was going to be at the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat. I obviously couldn't go to the retreat because sign-ups were months ago when I lived in Germany. I went to Madrona's website and found out that there was going to be a Market Place open to the public. So the next day I was talking to my husband and mentioned that I had seen the Market Place being open to the public and how cool it would be to go. This would be my first Fiber Fest experience. He laughed and said haha fly your sister out here (from Florida) and go with her. He was obviously not impressed. I know he knows that I love knitting and yarn but I don't think that he realizes how much. Anyway, I thought to myself "Oh well there will be more fest while I am her in Washington, I will just take myself to the next one." Oh yeah I forgot to tell you I couldn't just take myself to the Market Place because my stateside drivers licence expired while we were in Germany so I can't legally drive.

Well that night we were laying in bed talking about what we were going to do the next day, Saturday. We had already talked about going to Ikea to buy the kids dresser drawers for their rooms. While we were talking about that he asked how far the fest was from Ikea...Me being me, and just in case he changed his mind,I had already investigated that too and found out that it was only about 30 mins or so away from Ikea. He said lets go. I thought that he was just going to drop me off and find something for him and the boys to do while I fondeled all the lovely yarn that was there. But I was wrong, he took me and even walked around with me. Mind you he didn't look as excited as I was...in fact not excited at all. But I had so much fun. I kept the trip short only about an hour or so, trust me I could have been there much longer, but while I was there I did get some lovely things. Here are the pictures of the loot that I brought home. I didn't take my camera inside for fear that my husband might feel uncomfortable with me taking pictures of the beautiful knit wear and all the wonderful knitters and spinners that were inside the Pavillion.

Socks that Rock in "Lodestone" and "Aquaboy" I plan on knitting Bird In Hand mittens with these. I ripped out the other ones that I had started the other day. I am just waiting on my ball winder and printer so that I can knit these. That is if I can wait that long, I might just go to Kinko's and print out the pattern and wind both these skeins by hand. Maybe after I finish these...

ShibuiKnits in "Pagoda"

I know what you are thinking, another project on the needles. But I just couldn't resist. Plus this needed to be started so that I had something to take pictures of for Project Spectrum. This is the Waving Lace socks from Favorite Socks book that I bought the other day from Jo-Ann Fabric Store. I love this pattern and this yarn. Shibuiknits sock yarn is so soft and squishy. This is a great way to spend the day. Watching Dallas and knitting some lovely socks...who knows I might even finish this sock today. (Notice I said "this sock" I'm trying not to get ahead of myself by saying pair of socks :) )

I know many of you have husbands and boyfriend that enjoy knitting as much as you do, or at least understand your love of all things knitty. But this is a totally new experience for my husband. I have only been knitting for about 2 years and my husband was gone for most of that time. While he was gone my obsession has grown dramatically. He knew that I was knitting everyday while he was gone but I don't think he understood how much of the day I have needles in my hands. Eventhough he knew that he wouldn't enjoy the Market Place he took me anyway. Now that's love. Doing something you don't want to do just to make your spouse happy. That is just one of the reasons I love my man :)Now maybe I can get him to love(or even like) it just a little bit so that we can do more things yarny.

Happy knitting and thanks for reading.

I'm Back....Thank goodness!!!

2008-02-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hi all I'm back in action. We finally have got internet and now I am connected to the world again. Oh how I missed my knitting community. I felt so out of the loop and disconnected with you all. Hope that everybody is doing well. I think I have caught up on most of your blogs. There was alot going on while I was away, so many beautiful projects like these, these and this. Glad to be back!!!

As for the move well it's still a work in progress. The movers come today, in fact they are on the way now, to deliver our clothes that we packed way back in December. It seems so long ago! We are living n Puyallup Wa. about 30min from post. Oh the movers are here gotta go and start to unpack.

I'm back...it's 3:30pm and we are not finished with unpacking but I'm tired of it and needed a little brake.

Well not much on the knitting front for the past 2 months or so. I know I suck! I wish that I could be more like my sister and Tiennie and just crank out projects left and right but for some reason I wasn't really in the mood...I must have been sick. Well I will show you what I did knit all works in progress, of course.

1st up my lovely Woolmeise yarn kniting up into kneehighs. I decided I needed kneehighs because I wear uggs A LOT and I hate when my socks (not hand knit socks) roll down into the boot. So I figured that this should solve the problem right? That is if I ever get them done. I don't know what I did, I always knit short row heels but for some reason i have holes in the heel. That never happens, I guess I wasn't paying attention while knitting the heel. I guess I will be ripping this back because the holes really bug me.

Next on the WIP list is my own design, these will be knee highs too, not because of the ugg boots but because I want to see how much I can knit with shibui yarn and not have any left over. I really love this yarn I must buy some more, it is so squishy.Then I cast on for these before I left Germany. I went to the local grocery store and bought some regia yarn and cast on some primavera socks with a little mod of a p1 k2 p1 rib for the plane ride just incase i got bored knitting plain st st. Well you can see the trend in my knitting lately and guess what I haven't picked these up since the day we left Germany.

And last but probably not least I had to cast on for some "Bird in Hand" mittens. I love that pattern. So I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and got some Lion Brand Wool-Ease that was on sale. They didn't have very many colors to choose from but I did manage to find some Heather gray and Heather Pink. So far I love this knit. It isn't easy to knit worsted weight on size one needles but it will be all worth it when I am done. Lord knows I need something for my hands when I go out in this chilly Washington weather to walk the dogs. Another thing that makes it a little hard is the fact that I don't have a printer, so I have to push my laptop screen down flat and turn my computer so that I can read the chart. Damn I wish I had my printer.

Well that's about it, I hope that everybody is doing well. I will update the blog as regularly as possible, assuming that I have something to blog about. I guess I need to be like my sister and stick to one (or maybe two) project(s) at a time. Wish me luck!

Glad to be back....Happy Knitting! and thanks for reading.

part 2

2007-12-31T07:11:00.000-08:00

Hi all I'm back into the swing of things. Thank you all for your well wishes! I feel much better. I am making sure that I take all my antibiotics(if I forget then I get a little scolding from my husband) As for the rest of the story, Well Moving day went alright. The only problem was the language barrier. The movers were of course German. We pointed out what to pack and what not to pack and long story short the guy who was packing the kitchen didn't quit understand. He ended up packing ALL the food in the cupboard. All Cierra's baby food, and the dog food. Remember we are still here for a month. And because I wasn't up to par on moving day I couldn't be there to supervise. I was in one of the rooms with Cierra curled in a ball because I was so cold. All is well though. We went to the commissary the next day I was just irritated that I had to buy formula again. That stuff is not cheap!!

We are sitting on the floor right now. Leave it to my husband to forget to schedule the government furniture. Oh well we will have some on Thursday. Thank goodness we have friends who own blowup mattress's and mats so that we don't have to lay on the hardwood floor for a week.

Here are the pictures that I promised.

"Wollmeise""Deepest Purple"

"Sultan""Suzanne""Krauterbeet"

and last but not least Yarn Pirate Booty Club December shipment "Icicle"

I am in love with my new stash enhancements! To bad I can't wind them up anytime soon, the movers took my ball winder too. Damn it!

edit: I tried to post this entry days ago but blogger wouldn't let me download my pictures. Since this post we have received government furniture and I hope that it's more comfortable then it looks :) Happy New Year everybody may your new year be filled with love and all things Knitty! I probably wont be posting again until we get to Washington and set up house. I will be reading all your blogs though! Take care and talk to you all again in about a month.

Christmas, Wollmeise, ER Visit & moving part 1 (WARNING ITS LONG AND NO PICTURES!...yet)

2007-12-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas in our house starts Christmas Eve. We lay around and watch Christmas movies and open up gifts from the relatives after dinner. Just a totally chill day. This is normally how it goes and it went this way except the fact that I had a fever from 101.2 to 103.3 during most of the day. I had started not feeling good on Thursday. My throat was starting to feel scratchy but I didn't think anything of it until Sunday when it was getting really hard to swallow and I started to get a fever that night, nothing major just a low grade fever. I thought oh well I will have a little cold during Christmas nothing major.....Right? Well Like I said Christmas Eve was chill but then Christmas Morning came. Oh my gosh I felt horrible. I pushed through breakfast and Christmas Morning present opening like a champ, if I do say so myself. At 9:30 ish we got a knock on the door. I was some beautiful Wollmeise yarn that I had order just days before. (More about these later)Around 10am that same morning our friends came over and we exchanged gifts with them. I say friends but they are more like family to us. They could tell that I wasn't feeling up to par (I wonder what gave it away, the fact that I was sprawled out on the living room couch with my sons Spongebob square pants blanket with a cold rag on my head, or the other fact that I really couldn't look at them when they came in the door.) We did our gift giving talked for a little bit and then parted ways so that we could get ready for Christmas Lunch/Dinner at 1pm. NO I DID NOT COOK, thank goodness I live on a Military Base. We went to the Dinning Facility aka Chow-Hall and ate lobster, crab legs, shrimp, turkey, mac n cheese, greens, salads and desert. They had way more there then I could remember. I forced myself to eat something, like I said I couldn't swallow. Everybody enjoyed their meals. I was glad that I didn't have to cook and clean up. All though it was a struggle getting ready and getting me out the house on time I didn't feel as bad as I had earlier that morning. My fever went down the only thing was I had a really bad headache.

When we got home I took something for my headache and went to the couch to lay down a bit. 7pm-ish that night it started to really kick in again, the fever that is. And around 10pm my husband decided that 3 days of a fever higher then 103.0 can't be a good thing so he took me to the German Hospital. All well in good, I thought okay they will check me out give me something and send me home. Boy was I WRONG. I forgot what Country I was in. Germany is infamous for keeping Americans in their hospitals because they know that they will be paid,if you have lived in Germany as a military member you know what I mean. The nurse in the ER was nice enough that wasn't the problem, the ER was packed with sick elderly people, drunk people and who knows what other kind of problem people. The nurse took me to a room that I shared with a Homeless drunk guy. My husband stayed to only until they took my blood and did an EKG because German hospitals are strict about "visitors" After he left I laid in the bed in all my clothes and shoes and waited to fall asleep. This of course didn't happen. I wont get into all the nasty details lets just say that they halls were filled with SICK patients, one patient cussing and yelling at the nurses the whole night and my roommate was SICK too and attached to an IV so every time he had to go use the restroom to well you know he had to walk right past my head and bed. I thought that I was one tough cookie until that night. I wanted to get up out of that bed and walk my sick ass home. At around 1am the nurses came into the room and said that they were going to take me to a different floor, "thank you, there is a God" is what I though "finally some rest." They wheeled my bed into a room that I was going to be staying in. There was an elderly lady there asleep in her bed already. All I cared about is that I wasn't in that DAMN ER anymore!!!

After I got to the other room thhe night went pretty smoothly I did get some sleep. They gave me something for my fever to go down, the only down part was my roommate would wake me up with a loud grown in her sleep every once in a while but nothing like the hell that was going on around me earlier that night. The next morning I felt much better, my fever was gone and I was eating a little better. It still was hard to swallow but I could deal with it. I wanted the Dr. to check me and give me some meds so that I could get the HELL out of there. I had to go home regardless of what had happened the night before, the movers were coming to get our furniture and stuff to send back to the States. The Dr. came in after breakfast and took more blood and told me that I need to stay in the hospital at least one more day. I couldn't believe it. She claimed that they didn't know why my fever was so high and that they wanted to start me on Antibiotic injections. I argued with here and said that I couldn't stay that I was going to have to check myself out so that I could pack clothes and other necessities like yarn (I didn't tell her the yarn part...I don't think she would've understood the need for that) before the movers came the next morning. Well she was trying to convince me to stay I just laid there looking at her like "this can't possibly be happening","what a day for this crap to happen" She told me to think about it and that she would be back in a few minutes. In those few minutes the nurse came in because my roommate who was bedridden rang the nurse bell to go to the restroom. Well like I said she was bedridden. The nurse got the big Silver bed pans, more like big salad bowls, and placed them under her bottom and left the room. She did her business and let me tell you I started crying. Everything hit me all at once, I flashed back to the night before in the ER and now this lady is doing her business in the bed and it's not going quickly either and its cold outside you don't want to open the window and well you get the picture. Then in the midst of my tears my husband and baby girl come in. I really start to loose and I tell him " I'm going home, I don't give a shit what that doctor says, I am not staying here!!!" He asked "What's wrong." I said "she's taking a shit in her bed and they say I can't leave this place." He went and talk to the DR. and told her that I was going to check out. About an hour later they had discharge papers in hand and a Dr.s note saying that I had "Tonsillitis" (remember earlier they didn't know what was wrong with me)so that I could get a prescription from the American clinic.

"DUH" I could have told them that. I used to get that all the time when I was little. Like I said before they just wanted to keep me there to make money. They wanted to do Ultrasounds, draw gallons of blood and do EKGs for days. Long story short, haha, I got the hell out of there at around 1:30pm. I took it easy most of the day after I found all our passports and important documents before the movers came in the morning. More of this long drawn-out story and pictures of pretty yarn to come...

Finally a Monkey off my back!

2007-12-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

I know I know I did it again. I am such a looser!!! Well not much going on here really. I finally finished my moms Christmas gift. She wanted a scarf and gloves so I had to oblige:) Here is the Montego Bay scarf and Picot Edge gloves. I hope that she like them. I didn't add the fringe to the scarf I didn't think that it would be practical for golfing. That's when she plans on wearing it. I knit the Scarf to 5 feet and when it was blocked it was well over 7 feet. I love the way that it looked after it was blocked. The gloves were based on the Picot edge glove pattern. It's free check it out here.

I am so glad that I got these done. I was supposed to finish them last week before Tuesday to get it to my mom by Christmas...Well that didn't happen. I sent them out this Wednesday, maybe she will get them by New Years :) The patterns were very easy. They came out with great results but the only problem was on my behalf. If you haven't noticed already I hate project monogamy!!! Hate hate hate it. I know that a lot more gets done that way but I get bored. Like my friend Sandrine says, You just knit to knit. Not really to have a FO in a couple days time. Oh well none the less I hope that she loves them and now I can get back to knitting whatever I want whenever I want :)Project Specs: Rockin Sock Club colorway in Lenore.

Speaking of knitting whatever I want whenever I want, I got my Christmas present from my sister about a week ago. (This was another reason why I kept getting distracted with my moms gift) Shawna said that I could open it as soon as it came. She sent me some ShiBui Knits yarn in "Mulberry" colorway. I have started knitting with it as soon as I finished the before mentioned FO and I am designing my own pattern with it. I will show pictures of that soon. Of course it is a sock. Maybe my sister will be a test knitter for me and I can give the pattern to you all for Christmas/New Years :) We'll see.

As for the family we are all doing well. Trying to get used to everybody. It's kind of weird to have Travis back. Don't get me wrong I'd rather him be here safe at home then downrange in harms way. There is just an adjustment time. Last weekend we went on a little family get away to Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. I don't have many pictures but I did get a couple of the view from our room. It's a nice military Hotel nestled in the Bavarian Alps. We have been there quit a few times in the past 4 years and love it every time that we go. This might be the last time that I post for a little while. After Christmas sometime. They come and pick up our household goods next week. 2 days after Christmas we will be furniture-less. Then it's on the the Good ol' United States at the end of January. We will be PCSing to Washington. Can't wait to be back in the States and find a real LYS. Now my LYS is the internet. Maybe I can join a Knit night or something. Happy Holidays to Everyone. Merry Christmas and Happy Knitting. Sorry once again for the delay in posting!!!

Damn it's been a long time

2007-11-28T05:08:00.000-08:00

Wow I can't believe what a slacker I have been. There hasn't been much news to report around here. I hope that everybody had a Wonderful Thanksgiving and at as much turkey as their pants would let them :) My family and I had a great Thanksgiving. We went to my friends house, they made the turkey and my husband made the Ham. We made homemade mac n cheese it was so good I will be posting the recipe soon. I made 2 apple pies, one with a crust on the top and one with crumble topping. Here are a few pictures. The camera is not playing tricks on you that is a GIGANTIC turkey a whopping 22lbs. Funny story about the turkey cooking....It set of the fire alarms. It was making so much juice and the pan that it was in wasn't deep enough and the juice was dripping on the burner in the oven...Talk about a lot of stinky smoke. The turkey was delicious though!

In knitting and yarn news...I received a couple of wonderful packages last week. One from the Loopy Ewe. I love that store. This was the first time that I've ordered from them but definitely not the last. They have super fast shipping and great customer survive. If you haven't checked out their page yet you should!!! I love the new wish list feature on their page.

Dream in Color Worsted weight yarn in "Cocoa Kiss" this will be for my Koolhaas hat. ShiBui Knits sock yarn in "Peacock" I can't wait to cast on socks with this lovely yarn. In the package she sent the coolest little cards to keep track of all my needles. Lord knows I could use these to organize my needle stash before I buy more.

I also received my Rockin Sock club yarn. Love this Lenore colorway. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time. My mom requested a scarf and gloves for Christmas. So I cast on for the Montego Bay scarf from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 on Wednesday of last week and I am about 50 inches in. Only about 10 more inches or so to go. She wanted a scarf that she could wear while she golfed. I am glad that I am almost done with this scarf. It's an easy mindless knit but it's starting to get old ya know me I don't like one project monogamy :) But I have a deadline. Gotta get it done!

Started decorating for Christmas. I got the tree up today while the boys were at school. I haven't decorated our tree in 6 count them 6 years. I had forgotten how small our tree was. This will be the first Christmas in 5 years that I wont be going home for the holidays. I miss you mom and dad. We decided that we were going to stay in Germany this year because we will be moving to Washington in a couple of months and we can see our family once we get back to the good Ol' US of A I can't wait!Well I know I was a slacker the past couple of weeks, I will be posting again as soon as I finish my moms scarf and cast on for here gloves (hopefully before Christmas comes!!). Happy Knitting all sorry again, and thanks for reading.

Oh yeah I forgot one more thing...back in October I won a Halloween contest on Sock-a-holic's blog. She sent me the most wonderful goodies and yarn. I just received it last Monday when I got all my other goodies. It was sitting in my CMR since October 22nd. I check my mail almost everyday and they told me that I didn't have any packages. Guess they need to look harder next time. Oh well better late then never right?! She send me some of her fantastic LoveSticks self stripping yarn, a cute little key chain a duck dressed like a mummy for Halloween, and some beautiful post cards with pictures of her yarn. Check out her shop here. Talk to you all later

This weeks happenings

2007-11-09T02:27:00.000-08:00

Well it's almost been a week. Goodness how time flies. I do have a FO that went kind of wrong. On Sunday I decided that I needed a break from socks, what was I thinking? I looked in my stash and found some Knitpicks bare. I went to the commissary to buy some kool aid. I picked ups 10 packs of Black Cherry. Dyed it up and it turned out more like Strawberries n' Cream. The color grew on me and I figured that once I knit it up and I still wasn't completely happy with it I could always redye it right? So I cast on for the Koolhaas hat from Interweaves Holiday magazine. Love the pattern but something when wrong. I don't have free Circular US size 8 so I didn't try it on as I was knitting. Finished the hat this morning tried it on and it's WAY to short. I like my hats to come over my ears and this one just hit the top. I should have done about 2 more repeats of the pattern. Oh well lesson learned. It fits my 5 year old sons head but it's way to girly for him. Since I now have a girl in the familynow, I put it on her head. She still has plenty of room to grow but I think that she is going to be the lucky recipient of this hand knit hat. I will be buying some yarn for my hat soon.

As for the Killer Drunken bees socks. This is what happened. A trip to the frog pond. Oh well, guess that I will be knitting plain ol' socks with this one maybe for the boys.And did I mentioned that I am so glad that my hubby's home. He surprised me the other day with these...ain't he sweet!

Well that's about all. I did get my haircut and colored yesterday. Maybe I can get Travis to take a picture so that you can all see. :) Happy Knitting and thanks for reading.

The COOLEST THING!! (Caution lots of pictures!!)

2007-11-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hi all- The COOLEST THING happened to me the other day!!! I go to school everyday to pick up D'Andre and everyday I notice this lady with her two little boys. They are always wearing these beautiful hand knit hats. On Wednesday of last week this lady wore a beautiful Entrelac scarf. I saw her scarf and thought to myself "She must be a knitter"Then I looked at her a little more closely and she looked really familiar to me but I couldn't place where I had known her from. On Thursday she was wearing a "my so called scarf" and her boys were both wearing beautiful hats. I decided to get up the nerve and ask her were she got the yarn that the boys hats were made of and she said that she spun it herself. Then she asked me "Are you..." and I finished her sentence and Said "Punky Purls on Ravelry?" She said "Yeah, I thought that might be you but I wasn't sure."

What a small world. I love Ravelry and Blogland. You meet so many cool people online with the same interests as you. As most of you know I live in Germany on a military Post I never in a million years would have thought that I would run into someone I chat with on the Internet who lives on the same post right around the corner from me and our kids go to the same school. How crazy and cool is that? Come to find out She has an Etsy shop. And has the most beautiful hand dyed and Hand spun yarn for sale. Go and check it out. Here's her Blog too.

I told my husband about what had happened and that she had a shop and he said "that's cool at least you will save money on shipping!" To funny.

In other news, the kids, Travis and I had a great Halloween. The boys both dressed up as Power Rangers and Cierra was a Giraffe. Here are some pictures.

I also got may Yarn Pirate Booty Club Yarn in the mail on Halloween. What a great treat!! I started knitting it up yesterday. Here are some pictures.

Colorway: Killer Bees
Pattern: Drunken Bees

My Name for this Project: Killer Drunken Bees. (To frog or not to frog? that is the question)

I also sent out my Knitter's coffee swap partner all her coffee and goodies yesterday. Hopefully she will enjoy all her stuff. It's all things German. with the exception of one of the yarns and one of the coffee's. Kim, it's on it's way.

Also I wanted to Thank you all for the messages on the Post about my Husband being home. I have been slacking on the email front but I wanted to let you know that we both appreciate your comments and Well wishes.

Happy Knitting Everybody! Off to go enjoy a nice cup of Chocolate Truffle Coffee.

Happy Halloween!!

2007-10-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all I just wanted to stop by and say "Happy Halloween" There hasn't been any knitting in my house since my husband got home on Sunday night. But I did get an awsome package in the mail today. I can only show you part of it though. The other half of this package is for someone who has probably been reading my blog lately.

Well like I said earlier my Hubby is home. Thank God. 15 months is a really long time. Now he is home for good.....well at least until the next deployment. Here are some pictures of his homecoming.

Here is a cake that I baked him. He wanted yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I tried to squeeze all the special events that he missed during the past year on one cake. Haha looks funny but tasted great!!! It says Happy B-day x2, Valentine's, Anniversary, Merry x-mas and #1 DAD for father's day. ON the side is says "Welcome Home" with 2 yellow ribbons and Love you. He got a kick out of it.

Next, Here is a sign that I painted on a cheap plastic shower curtain.Here is Cierra waiting for her daddy to come. Her bib says "I'm the present that my daddy gave my mommy when he came home for R&R" haha well at least he came home long enough to give me her! Here are the boys in their shirts. The say "I am here to pick up my daddy"

And here we all are finally reunited. Ah...not the best picture but at least we are all together again. I will probably pick up my knitting again in a couple days. Hope that everybody is doing well. Happy Knitting and don't eat too much candy!!!

Knitters Coffee Swap 3 Questions...

2007-10-25T04:05:00.001-07:00

I'm in. My first swap and I am so excited. Here are the answers to my questions for my buddy Kim.
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? Both
2. Fully-loaded or decaf?Both
3. Regular or flavored? I like them both
4. How do you drink your coffee?Hot
5. Favorite coffee ever?German coffee that I get here called Kronung by Jacobs.
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Any bean will do
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? pastry's and yarn
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?No I'm pretty open to try anything
9. Yarn/fiber you love? Sock yarn
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? I don't spin so any kind of fiber, I wouldn't know what to do with it :)
11. What's on your needles? Socks Socks and more Socks :)
12. Favorite colors? Blues, Pinks, Greens
13. Allergies?No
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I will be happy to receive anything I am really easy to please

And also I wanted to thank everyone for the well wishes. I am feeling much much better and really getting excited about Travis coming home. He should be here sometime this weekend (hopefully) if things don't change again.
Happy Knitting all. I will post pictures in a couple of days.

Goodie Goodie "Ghost Dots"

2007-10-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

Today was a GREAT mail day!! I got my Yarntini sock yarn in the mail today. "Appletini" and "Merlot" I ordered them last week along with a della Q project bag and Twisted Flower sock pattern by Cookie A, from Yarn4socks. The shipment was supper fast!!! I will definitely be ordering from them again! I also got my "Good to be Girl" stitch markers aren't the darling. Little watermelons and a Bird, nest and Egg stitch marker and an extra little goodie "Ghost Dots". To cute. I also order the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts magazine. There are some really cool projects in this book. Especially the "Koolhaas Hat" (for me) and the "classic teddy bear" that I will be knitting for Cierra. If you haven't picked yours up yet I suggest that you do. Great project ideas in there! That's all I've got. Not much knitting. I am still feeling a bit under the weather today. I finally took my butt to the Dr. today after 5 days of feeling sick to my stomach. The Dr. said that I didn't have a virus but that my stomach problems have been caused by stress. He gave me something to help with the nausea and cramping. I guess raising 3 kids for 15 months by myself is finally taking a toll on my body. I don't know how single moms do this all the time. Thank goodness Travis should be home for good in about a week. So much to do around the house to get ready for Travis to come home so I don't know if I will be getting much knitting time. So if you check back and I haven't updated for awhile I apologize in advance. Until next time...Happy Knitting.

"Great Googlie Mooglie" they're done!!

2007-10-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

Ki's socks are done. They were kind of slow going. I could have finished them earlier last week but I got sick :( and had really no desire to knit. I finished them last night and he wore them to school this morning. Yes they are that bright :) He loves them! Now to cast on for D'Andre's. Hopefully they don't take as long. He wants ankle socks which is good for me. I will keep you posted. Have a great Day and Happy Knitting!

In knitting news

2007-10-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

This wont be a very long post I've got a lot to do today. Grocery shopping laundry you know the normal end of the week stuff. But I had said that I was going to update the blog with progress pictures so here goes. First up One down one to go on the "Firestarter" Love this pattern but I am not totally thrilled about the flash of color at the ankle. I guess it really doesn't matter because these are for a friend and she loves them so far.

Next up we have a plain stockinette stitch sock for one of my boys. This is Vesper sock yarn in "Great Googlie Mooglie" I am loving this color combo and my son keeps bugging me to finish these. Guess I'd better get knitting!!

And last but certainly not least Socktober Fest challenge. My very first kool-aid dyed sock yarn and my very own pattern. I think that I will call these socks "Cierra Mist with a Twist" what do you think? It's kind of a play on words. The colors do remind me of Sierra Mist soda and my daughters name is Cierra and the twist well they are twisty :) I am loving the way that these are turning out. It took me a while to figure out what pattern I wanted to do and a lot of frogging but I am loving these. Can you tell I am kind of proud of myself. Maybe if enough people like them I will offer the pattern on my blog we'll see.

That's all I have time for now I will check in again soon. Have a great weekend everybody and Happy Knitting!!!

Tag I'm it.

2007-10-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Cool my first tagging :) Heather is the one that tagged me. Look out you might be next. Here are the rules.

1. Link the one who tagged you
2. Tell 7 truths about yourself, something funny/different
3. Tag 7 people at the end of the blog
4. Leave a message in their blog telling them that they have been tagged

Here are the 7 truths about myself.

1. I met my husband through my cousin when they were stationed in Germany back in 2000. I was living in California. We met on April 1st 2001 and were married on April 25, 2001

2. I hid my marriage from my parents for about a month. (sorry mom and dad) We are still married and have 3 kids. and my Parents love him, now. :)

3. I am not one to think about what is going to come out of my mouth before I say it. I tend offend people. I have the language of a drunk sailor.

4. I am very stubborn if I think that I am right about something I will fight for it...even when I am wrong (which never happens haha)

5. If I see something that I have to knit I cast on right away, this is a problem because I have sooooooo many WIP and not enough needles. oops.

6. I am not the most patient person in the world. I guess I am most like my mom in that way.

7. Like Heather I am a semi slob for the same reason. My house is presentable but my bedroom is a disaster area!!! No joke. This will be changing soon though. My husband might want to sleep on his side of the bed when he comes home from Iraq.

Here are the people I am tagging...hope that you ladies don't mind.

Shawna (my sister)
Tiennie
Esoteric Knitter
Miknits
Peaknit
Alison from the Blue blog
Sock-a-holic

There you go, looking forward to seeing who post this on their blog and see 7 things about each of them.

I will be posting sometime again this week to show you on done firestarter and my kool aid dyed sock yarn knitting up in my own pattern. see ya later, happy knitting.

Fun Stuff!!!

2007-10-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

I got my Knit Picks package in the mail today and had to try my hands a dying yarn with kool aid. What do you think? Here are some pictures of my 1st dye job. At first I wanted the yarn to be a semi solid blue so I used 2pks of Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade. But the dye didn't get distributed evenly. I guess I didn't use enough. So I looked in my cabinets and found 1pk of Wild Watermelon Kiwi, and there was still some white spots so I over dyed it with 1pk of Lemonade. I like the way it looks so far I just can't wait to see how it knits up. It's Knit Picks Bare 100% Superwash Wool in DK Weight. I am planning on designing my own sock in honor of Socktoberfest. Wish me luck I will keep you all posted.
I also got some other lovely things in the box. I ordered some yarn for Cierra's Pinwheel Sweater and some Circular needles. I love knitting in the round using magic loop but the needles that I have I hated. They didn't have a smooth join so I finally broke down and bought these and I LOVE THEM and I will NEVER go back to Wolle Rodel circular needles!!!
Hope that you are all enjoying the Socktober season. Can't wait to see what you are all knitting up this month. Happy Knitting.

Look me up!!!

2007-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

IT CAME, IT CAME!!! My Ravelry invitation came yesterday. That is what I have been up to in my free time lately. Updating and checking everything out. My name is Punkypurls look for me and add me as a friend! Happy knitting to all and see you on Ravelry :)

STASH ENHANCEMENT

2007-09-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to stop by and show you some of the yarn that I added to my stash.

These are Vesper sock yarn in "Serendipitous" and "Great Googlie Mooglie" I will be knitting me and the boys matching socks out of the "Great Googlie Mooglie". I had to get this yarn for 2 reasons. One, the boys loved it when they saw it and Two, I loved the name. I use this phrase ALOT with the boys, so I thought it was very appropriate. :)

And my Yarn Pirate Booty club September's colorway in "Butternut" arrived today to. Now I just need to figure out what pattern to knit with it. Any ideas?

In the knitting front not much happening. I have been jumping from project to project but there has been no real progress. Maybe next week I will have pictures of a finished "Firestarter" sock. We'll see...but for now happy knitting to all.

I'm the "Firestarter"

2007-09-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

Hey all it's been a while. Well I have another project on the needles. I couldn't resist. I loved this pattern when I first saw it on flickr. It's Yarnissima's "Firestarter" pattern. A FREE pattern that she will email to you by request. I love how it is turning out. I am gifting these to a friend who helps me out with the kids. She was a HUGE help when I was in the hospital having Cierra. She kept my boys for a week. I will also be knitting these for my friend that was with me during labor. She loves the pattern as well and she was a great stand in coach. She stood in for my husband who is deployed. He missed the birth by 2 days. Here are the stats.

Yarn: Yarn Pirate Booty Club "Calamity"

Needles: 2.5 mm circular

Sockblockers: Made by me out of a plastic placemat.(placemat was 50 cents...can't beat that!!) tutorial here.

As for my Tomato sweater it's coming along. I am knitting the body of the sweater now. I haven't really picked it up since I started the "Firestarters" though.

Now to leave you with a sweet picture. Me and my daughters in our matching Yarn Pirate Penllyn socks...I love this shot!

Mommy & Me Matching socks=LOVE!!

Hope that everyone has a nice day...happy knitting!

Petit Pirate Penllyn's and Other WIPs

2007-09-09T05:14:00.001-07:00

Here is just an update to show you all what I have been working on this last week...

First Up Petit Pirate Penllyn's. I knit these using the leftovers from my Yarn Pirate Booty Club Sock yarn in "Rum Runner" I modified the Penllyn pattern to fit my Daughters tiny feet. I cast on 40 sts and worked the pattern accordingly. (I would tell you how but I don't want to break the law.)

Next up we have Tomato. This is a pattern from the "No sheep for you" book by Amy Singer, it's also a free pattern for the lucky readers of Knitting Daily. Join now if you haven't already...I'll wait :) I modified the pattern a bit...well just the colorwork really. I decided that I didn't want the herring bone pattern so I changed it to hearts.

Here is also another free pattern that I started knitting. Its Hello yarns "Top Down Baby Bonnet" I am Knitting it in LoveSticks Sock yarn (go to her etsy shop now...she is fabulous she has beautiful colorways and her customer service is OUTSTANDING!!) in her "Vegas Baby" Colorway. I am loving how this his turning out. It looks like a Giant Toe up sock but it's really not I promise.

That's about all on the Knitting Front as for Family life here are a couple of recent pictures of the boys. D'Andre is now officially a Big Boy. He started Kindergarten this week...And here is a picture of Kizaiah after his first Soccer game eating Ice cream...boy what a mess!!!That's all sorry no pictures of Cierra My camera battery wont work I guess it's off to the Shopping on the German economy to find another one...WISH ME LUCK!!! (These pictures on this post are courtesy of my neighbors camera...Thank you Sandrine :)

Stash Diving and Colorwork

2007-09-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody just wanted to show you all a new WIP and the progress so far on my Chevron Scarf. There is also a picture of one of the new lovelys I just added to my collection.

Here is my inspiration for these, I cast on 64sts and Ktbl, Purl cuff for 1". Hopefully they turn out to be some cool socks. Even though I live in Germany I don't read or speak German...good thing the pattern has a chart :) I am loving the way that they are turning out so far. I am using Regia Sock yarn in a Mauve and Teal color and size 3mm Dpns.

Here is a couple days worth of work on the Chevron Scarf....it's coming along but there is a long way to go.

and last but not least Zen String Bambewe fingering weight yarn in "Summer Rolls" this picture is a little dark I will take another one when there is more light outside. This yarn is so squishy and soft I can't wait to cast on for the perfect project...Now to go hunting for it. That's all I have to share with you all...Enjoy Your Labor day and Happy Knitting!

New WIP...

2007-08-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the new WIP. I went to the library the other day and checked out Last Minute Knitted Gifts and yesterday I received my Rockin' Sock Club sock yarn in "Flower Power". So I decided to jump on the Chevron Scarf Band Wagon. I went Stash diving to see if I could find a yarn that would work well with "Flower Power". I came up with this...What do you think? Its Yarntini sock yarn in "Pure Fall", I won this skein in her Halloween contest last October. That's about all on the knitting front.

I also receive my Yarn Pirate Booty Club package yesterday too...here are some pictures. Enjoy and Happy Knitting!

Pretty Pirate Penllyn's...Done!

2007-08-19T02:17:00.000-07:00

I'm done....and I'm in love!!! Here are my finished Penllyn's. What do you think? I knit these for the Sock a Month Knitalong 4. I'm glad that I got them finished in time...didn't know if Cierra would allow me the time to knit...she is a really great baby thank goodness! Here are some pictures and the specs.

Yarn: Yarn Pirate "Rum Runner"

Needles: Size 1

Pattern: Penllyn

Cast On: July 26, 2007

Cast Off: August 19, 2007

Pattern Modifications: Short Row Heel

Highly recommend this pattern!!

Pictures taken by my husband...glad that you are home babe!

Happy Knitting now to cast on for my September socks :)

Oh and one little added note here is a recent picture of the little sweetheart who let me finish my Pretty Pirate Penllyn's :)

Cierra 2weeks old

Coming along...

2007-08-07T08:49:00.001-07:00

Well My Penllyn sock is coming along. I am knitting this pattern for the Sock a Month Knitalong 4 as well as for my Yarn Pirate Booty Club. This is such a great knit. I am trying to get it done on "down" time but for some reason I start to fall asleep when I am knitting. I guess we can chalk that up to Cierra's crazy sleeping schedule. :) Here are pictures hope you all enjoy. I will update these again in the near future. I should be done with sock #1 within the next couple days.

Happy Knitting!

She's Here She's Here....

2007-08-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all just wanted to stop by and show off our New FO. It's one of the three Best projects I could have ever made. Introducing Cierra Petal Goodwin. Born 01 Aug 2007 @ 10:20 am German Time. Weight 6lbs 4oz and she was 19 3/4 " long. We are home from the hospital and doing well. Got some knitting done in the hospital but haven't taken any pictures of that since Cierra has been here. My camera has been to busy taking pictures of her. Here are just a few. Enjoy.

It's been a little while

2007-07-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all hope that life is treating everybody okay. Not much going on around The Goodwin household. Just waiting for the arrival of the baby. Due any day now. If she doesn't come before the 10th of August I will be induced. Here are a couple of pictures of Goodies that I have recieved in the mail. The first couple of pictures are of some yarn I ordered from Etsy. My first order from there and I would have to say that I will definitly be ordering from this shop again. Its LoveSticks fingering weight yarn in "Surf & Turf" and "Vegas Baby". Her customer service is awsome and she shipped so fast. I live in Germany and got it in lest then a week. Now that's fast!And a couple WIP's. The first is Vesper sock yarn in "Astro". It's a regular sock with a pretty Picot edge. Just some mindless Knitting if I go into labor and need a simple project in the hospital. And last but not least my Yarn Booty. I joined Yarn Pirates Booty club. So far I love the first shippment and have cast on the Penllyn Sock pattern from Wildhorse Farm Designs. I am totally in love with the pattern and yarn combo. What do you think? It's a super fun and fast knit with really cool results. Looks harder then it really is.
I will keep you all informed on any baby news along with Knitting news when anything exciting happens. Hope you are all enjoying the weekend. Happy Knitting!

Just a couple of pictures...

2007-07-14T00:16:00.000-07:00

Baby Shedir is finished, here are just a couple of photos. I will have more when I have a little model to help me show you all the lovely cable details. Free pattern found here and modifications for the baby size can be found here.
Hope that you all have a great day and happy knitting.

A Couple of WIP

2007-07-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hi all just wanted to show you a couple of works in progress. Just trying to get ready for the impending arrival of our daughter. I will be induced on the 10th of August. I can't wait. Hopefully my husband will be able to be here for the birth. He is currently in Iraq and I asked my doctor if I could be induced so that we could try and get him home. Wish us luck!!! The first project on the needles is a Shedir cap. But with modifications to fit a new born. I should be done with this sometime tonight or tomorrow. I will update the blog with more pictures when it is done.

The next project is a quilt, it's almost done. I just have to finish sewing on the binding by hand. Here are pictures anyway. I used Fresh Cut fabric and Minky dot fabric on the back and for the binding.

Thanks for checking out the blog...and happy crafting.

Oops I said I would update the blog

2007-06-30T01:59:00.000-07:00

Three days ago oops....sorry. Here are the finished Monkey Socks. Knit in Yarntini Sock yarn Colorway 4-8-15-16-23-42. Knit on a 2.5 mm(metric measurments I live in Germany and went to my LYS, I guess it would be a size between US1 and US2 haha they don't make those in the States) Circular needle, using Magic Loop. Only Modification is the Short Row heel.

Next sock project on the needle....another Cookie A. Pattern (I love this girls patterns, they make you think and they are definitly not Boring!) The Pomatomus, I am using the new Rockin Sock Club Colorway in Firenbird. A bright and sunny mix of red, orange, yellow, magenta and pink. I love it.

Hope that all is well...Happy Knitting!

It's here it's here!!! (CAUTION SPOILERS)

2007-06-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all just wanted to drop by and show off my new package for the Rockin' Sock Club 2007.......I love the colors. So sunny and bright and Lord knows that I could use some sun out here in gloomy rainy Germany!!! I like the pattern but really don't feel like using a cable needle so I just might make something else with this....what's new right. :) Oh well I'm sure I will use the pattern sometime in the future. Now I just have to find the perfect sock pattern for this lovely sunny yarn!!! Enjoy the pictures and happy knitting.

Oh yeah I will probably be updating the blog again sometime today or tomorrow to show off my finished Monkey socks....I am on the toe decrease of the second sock....Yeah...exciting!

Baby knitting progress(caution picture heavy post)

2007-06-12T03:19:00.000-07:00

Just a short little post to show off some of the recent baby knits...well at least the ones that are done. Enjoy.

Mary Jane booties free pattern found here

Daisy Cardigan knit in Bernat cotton tots a little more then one skein and embroidered in DMC embroidery floss. Free pattern found here

All knits from top left to bottom left...Shining star hat by Kate Gilbert, Yarntini socks in Pure knits colorway cast on 40 sts. Baby hat my own pattern and baby socks using elanns highland wool embroidered with same daisy pattern as on daisy cardigan, Daisy Cardigan, and Mary jane booties.

Stay tuned for more baby knits, I am designing a lace Cardigan...my first attempts (wish me luck!) and there are a couple more projects in the works.
Enjoy your day and happy knitting.

Knitting...Knitting...Knitting

2007-05-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

A quick, easy and satisfying project...Mary Jane Booties. Pattern found here. I used some sock yarn from Regia in my stash and US size4 needles. Only took a total of 3 1/2 hours with knitting and interruptions from the boys but they turned out so darling and I can't wait to put them on the little ones tiny feet. Now I just have to find the perfect little buttons. Enjoy the cuteness and happy knitting.

Finished Pink things and a Quilt...

2007-05-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

Well I have been crafting away getting ready for Our Little Girl to arrive in August. Here are some pictures of the sweet little pink things. I knit a hat and some matching socks using some leftover yarn from this project. I cast on 20sts using a US4 a regular 2x2 rib and short row heel with a regular decrease toe. I cast on 52 sts and worked with US4 dpns for the hat. I knit a 2x2 rib for 1 1/4 inches then switched to st st for 2 1/2 inches before I started the decrease. Hat measures approx 5 3/4 inches from top to edge. I hope that it fits. I embroidered a little daisy on the front of the hat using the template from this pattern.

I also knit some cute little socks to match these socks that I started for myself. I cast on 40 sts and used a basic 2x2 rib and short row heel and a regular decrease toe so that the stripes

would stay in the same order. The yarn is from "Yarntini" in the " Pure Knits" colorway. Chibi pictured for scale

I have also been busy sewing here quilt. This material is so beautiful I love every single square. It's Heather Bailey's "Fresh Cut" material. I bought 2 Jolly packs of squares from here. This is just half the layout I will be posting more pictures of this project as time goes by. Hope that you all enjoy all the pink. Happy Crafting!

New WIP

2007-05-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all just dropping by to show one of the latest works in progress. I received my Rockin' Sock Club yarn in "Walking on the Wild Tide" but I decided that I didn't want to knit a pair of socks with this lovely yarn. I decided to cast on a Diamond Fantasy Shawl. So far so good. Started today and I am done with Chart A & B. The pattern is wonderfully written and is one of my favorite shawl patterns, but I'm not sure if the yarn and the pattern belong together what do you think? Here are a couple of pictures.
Well just wanted to show you this and see what people think....Have a great night and happy Knitting.

My yarn stash is growing faster then I can knit...

2007-04-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

but I love it. So many options. Here are the latest lovelys added to my collection. Enjoy the yarn porn. :)

from left to right Exclamation, Aubergine Meadows & Summer Picnic

I can't decide which one of my new Duet Sock Yarns to cast on first. To many Wonderful Choices. I will keep you posted.
Here is my new Vesper sock yarn that I recieved for my 6 year anniversary...enjoy.

from Left to Right Astro, Strange little mama, and Muddy Waters

I have been knitting. I have been uh....can we say obsessed with socks a lot lately, seems like that is all I knit now a days. No finished pairs yet just one lonely Vesper sock Knit in "Muddy Waters" colorway (and a couple wips but more about those later). I used this pattern. With a couple modifications but nothing drastic. Just short row heels and a regular decreased toe. I didn't want to knit another 2x2 rib, 3x1 rib or just plain stocking knit st sock....even thought I love plain ol' socks.

I should be receiving my Socks that Rock Sock Club sock yarn any day now. I will post those pictures when it arrives.

Happy Knitting to all!

A Perfect Pair....Almost

2007-04-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

Hi all just some (a lot) of pictures of my finished Vesper Socks in Wild Berry. They are almost perfect. Only one row off at the top but the stripes match up pretty well. Let me know what you think. Now time to cast on for some baby size socks for Cierra....matching Mom and Daughter socks how cheesy am I? Ha ha. When those are done I will be sure to post plenty of pictures.

My 6 year Wedding Anniversary is coming up soon and I was lucky enough to score 3....count them 3 hanks of Vesper sock yarn...Strange Little Mama, Astro, & Muddy Waters. How lucky am I? I should receive them in a few days will keep you all updated on those when they come in.

Hope that everybody had a lovely Easter and Happy Knitting.

Who need Easter Candy?

2007-04-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

Not me....my husband got me some Vesper sock yarn for Easter. I love love love this yarn and I love love love my husband. It is the first time I've used Vesper and the colors are so vibrant and bright. The colorway that I managed to get my hands on was "Wild Berry". A combo of Pink, Red and Purple self stripping yarn. With one sock done and the other waiting to be cast on I can't wait to show these babies off. :) Here are a few pictures of the yarn and the 1st sock done.

Specs: Vesper Sock Yarn, Wild Berry

Size 1 dpns, my usual basic sock pattern (great page for help here) CO 64sts.

Enjoy & Happy Easter!

One Down...One to go.

2007-03-26T05:04:00.000-07:00

Well I did it and with very little trouble. Alot of people on the Rockin' Sock Club have said that they had issues with knitting these socks. Well for me so far so good....but they were right about one thing, the leg of the sock is rather tight. While i was knitting it i could get it on and off my leg fairly easy but now that it is off the needles its kind of hard to get it over my heel. Here is the pictures of the first sock done. Enjoy...
I have also been knitting another pair of socks. Just a boring 3x1 rib. I plan on making matching socks for the baby...but for now I am just loving the stripy goodness. I am using Yarntini yarn and the colorway is "Pure Knits" I love the Neapolitan colors it's making me crave ice cream. :) Gotta go and serve myself up a bowl. Happy knitting to all.

2 Days late...oops...

2007-03-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

Ooops well I said that I would update the blog a couple of days ago with pictures of my Rockin' Sock Club pictures and well....I forgot to do it...sorry. Here are a couple of pictures of the yarn in a ball and my progress so far.

all wound up and no where to go but "inside out"

side one....2 days in

side 2...almost to the heel. Thank goodness I have small feet:)

Well I will keep you updated on my progress as I chug along. Take care everyone and Happy Knitting!

IT CAME!!!! YEAH....

2007-03-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

It finally came...my 2007 Socks that Rock Sock Club package. I can't wait to get knitting. I have seen on other blogs what to expect....and I didn't think that I was going to be this excited about socks but I am. The other pictures on the other blogs don't do this yarn any justice. It looks much better in person. I will take pictures tomorrow when there is some daylight outside. Happy knitting gotta go eat dinner.

Savons Blanket...and yarn

2007-03-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of a quilt that I made this week for my friends baby. I ordered the material from ebay.com a couple of weeks ago. I hope that Savon enjoys it.

and I broke-in my new Wool Winder....I absolutely love that thing...It definitely beats winding a hank by hand or by the makeshift method of using a hand mixer...don't even get me started on that whole ordeal! Now there isn't a ball of yarn that I wont wind. Here are just a few of the hanks that I wound today.
Enjoy and happy knitting got lots to knit....Just so everyone knows We are expecting a little girl this summer so I will be having lots and lots of cute baby knits to come in the future.

I can't believe It's been SOOOO Long!!! Sorry

2007-03-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all dang it's been a long time...sorry. Lots of stuff going on here. One reason I haven't blogged in a while is because I don't have a charger for my camera so no pics. :( I did manage to have enough battery juice to take a couple of pictures of my latest projects. In the last few months I have finished my pinwheel sweater for my niece which I love. My sister hasn't sent me any pictures of her actually in it but I am hoping that she is putting it in to use. Who knows how much she will be able to use it in Florida. Here is a picture of it.

I picked the same color way and yarn as AnnyPurls did....thanks for having great taste. And a couple little projects for the new baby in the building....No it's not mine yet...But it is for a close friends new little boy.

These were knit in a couple of hours with some Caron yarn laying around my house...

Well I'm going to go but I promise to update this darn thing more often :) Happy Knitting.

Wow it's been a while...

2006-12-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say Hello and Happy Holidays to everyone. I also wanted to say Hello to the lovely knitters of Knitty Bloggy Baby Bumpers. My Husband came and surprised us in California from Baghdad. And while he was home we uhh.....well you know and after he left to go back to Baghdad we found out that I was pregnant with # 3. Due in August. We are soooooo excited! I have 2 wonderful and crazy little boys and I hope that the new baby is a happy and healthy addition to our family and I also hope that is is a girl. :) But we will be happy either way. I just joined a blog that focus' on growing baby bellies and baby knits. Seeing as I have only been knitting for a year now I didn't knit stuff for my first 2 kids when they were little. So I am really excited to start knitting things for this one. Its also a web page for people who love knitting for babies in their lives. Even if you are not pregnant and love to knit baby things see if you can join. It should be fun.
Things in California are good. We had so much fun while my husband was here. We took the boys to Disneyland and went shopping, lots of shopping. Now that he's gone back to work we are just kind of hanging around the house and enjoying time with our family. In knitting news I have started a couple of projects. I received my sock yarn from Yarntini and I love love love it. Can't wait to start knitting beautiful socks with it. I still have one hank to wind but want to buy a ball winder...or maybe I'll get one for Christmas. Ha ha. While Travis was here he and I wound one ball up with a hand mixer. That sucked!! I ended up winding it by hand. I Don't want to have to do that again!!! Its a yarn experience that we can both look back on in the future and laugh at. Here are a couple of pictures. Talk to all you later and keep you all informed on the knitting and baby news in the future. Happy Holidays to everyone. May it be filled with love and all things knitty.

5 Days, 4 FO and a day at the Pool cont'd AGAIN!!!!

2006-11-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

*** Sorry for so many posts I wish I could've had them all in one!!!!!!!***

Pre-Blocked

Blue Blob Bath

All in a row

blocking

Amongst the leaves.

Hope that you enjoyed the pictures. The specs are...I knit this with Wolle Rodel Mohair in lt. blue. I use a little more then 4 balls in total. I started this project about 4 times til I got it right. Needless to say it went into the naughty pile a couple of times. But all in all I loved this project and can't wait to wear it home.

Have a great day and once again sorry for all the posts today!

5 Days, 4 FO and a day at the Pool cont'd

2006-11-08T05:12:00.000-08:00

***I don't know what happened during my last entry when I was downloading pictures so here in the continuation from the last post....
Here is the picture of the scarf.

Also on Sunday the boys and I got tired of staying in the house. I didn't really feel like going out to play in the gloomy weather so I took them to the pool. In case you were wondering it's and indoors pool. Here are a few pictures of them playing in the water.

Monday was a normal day, I hung out with the kids and also tried to finish my Kiri shawl. I didn't finish it that day but I did finish it Tuesday night and blocked it this morning. Here she is in all her glory.*****This is going to go on another post blogger wont let me upload them again....Damn thing!!!!!!!!!!!****

5 Days, 4 FO and a day at the Pool

2006-11-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

I started my weekend with a new project. On Friday I realized that I was going to be away from my "hairy children" while it was snowy in Germany. I thought "I Can't leave my babies here to freeze" so I knit Gizmo a sweater. Started and finished in one day. My own design using some yarn from my stash. The blue is Caron Yarn and the Black is Red Heart Yarn. This yarn was purchased as practicing yarn only 11 Months ago, that is when I first picked up needles and taught myself through books and wonderful World Wide Web. Here is a picture of him.

Now I need to make one for Rockie...It's a good thing I have small dogs I only have 5 more days til I am in California. Also on Friday at 11pm I decided that I needed a knitting tote for the plane ride. I knew that I didn't have any spare wool on hand nor did I really have the luxury of time so....I went to my closet and discovered that I have 3 wool sweaters that I can no longer wear...wash and dry wool...Oops. I know its a sin but that happened before my knitting days. I picked up one that was my least favorite of the three and cut and pinned and sewed and this is what I came up with 2 hours later.

I want to make the other 2 tonight so that I can decide which one to use on the plane. I will find material for it when I get home for the lining. So I guess you could say they it's not a completely done projects but it is usable.

On Saturday I knit a little here and there but no FO to count on that day.

On Sunday I finished a scarf for my friends daughter. My friends mom is a knitter but has problems with her wrists...I feel her pain...and she brought me a bag she found in her basement with some pink "homespun type" yarn. I don't know what the content of the yarn is but it knit up really well and fast. Here is a picture of the scarf. My own design a simple one alternating Knit and Purl rows.

Aprons and Hot Pads....DONE!

2006-11-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

Hi all just wanted to make a quick post and so you that I am making great progress on my X-mas projects. The aprons and the Hot pads are officially DONE!!!

Well maybe...I haven't decided if I am going to make one for my Grandma or not. I still have a few more days to decide. Speaking of a few more days, I have 12 days til I am back in sunny California. Two months of California weather, even if it's rainy, is better then the cold weather that we are experiencing now in Germany. The weather changed so fast this year. I am freezing right now. I guess I'd better go and make me a cup of tea. Happy crafting all.

I won I won!!!

2006-10-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say thanks to yarntini....I won some beautiful yarn for guessing her Halloween costume. Thank you soooooo much. I am so looking forward to using that yarn. I already have a project in mind. I will keep everybody updated. As for Socktoberfest, well lets just say not so good. I finished a total of 0 count them 0 socks...haha but I did cast on two different types. Here is my progress. Hedera from Knitty using Regia Sock Yarn in "Splendid Color" Light blue and tan. And Alison's ankle socks using Bernat Sox Yarn in "Hot Tamale"
I will finish these. I need to they are going to be x-mas presents. They will be a good in-flight project. I leave for California in exactly 14 days and I can't wait!!! Can't talk anymore gotta get the boys ready to trick or treat.
Happy Halloween and Thanks again Yarntini!!!

Update....Had so much fun with the kids tonight here is apicture of them in their costumes. Hope that everyone and a fun and safe night~

I'm cranking away...

2006-10-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a quick update on my Christmas projects. I have finished 1 of 3 of the aprons and hot pads. Take a look.
I have all the material cut for the aprons and one hot pad almost done. just needs to be sewn together and tassel put on. They should be done by the end of this week. I am also doing pretty good with the Hedera sock. I will have a picture update of those on the next post. Gotta go now and get some rest. Happy crafting all. Oh yeah and in Honor of Halloween take a look at what my 3 year old painted.

Ta Da...It's finally done!!!

2006-10-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

Yay...Sadie's quilt is done. I am so very proud of myself! Even though I had some issues with the binding I figured out how to make it work. I think its so pretty. I just hope that my sister thinks so too. So that is one project off my list. I started to aprons but now I'm having issues with those. I followed the directions to the T but I didn't think that they were going to be as long as they are. The ladies in my family aren't the tallest in the world. I am only 5'1'' and my sister, mom and aunt are only right around if not an inch taller then me. So I have to make modifications to the length. Other then that they are coming along really well. They shouldn't take me too long to whip up. Gotta go...have lots to do while the boys are down for a nap. Have a great day!

Sock # 2 for Socktoberfest

2006-10-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here she is...Hedera.
Cuff done, and 2nd repeat of the patterns. 12 more repeats to go for the leg. I am hoping to be able to knit the heel in the short row method. Any hints on how to do that? I know how to do the short row heel but only when the pattern is written in that way. I don't know how to change the pattern so that I will get the right amount of stitches in the end. Help is greatly appreciated.
I also got my material in the mail today so that I can make aprons and hot pads for all the lovely ladies in my family. I will keep you posted on that progress as time goes on. Only 4 more weeks til I need to have all my sewing done and most of my knitting done. Knitting is not quit as crusial. I can do that while I am in the States I'm not planning on taking my sewing machine with me :) but I guess you never know.
Well I guess I should be going and get some of these projects done.
Happy Crafting!

Hello Socktoberfest...Sorry I'm so late to join!

2006-10-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Socktoberfest 2006 questionnaire.

*When did you start making socks? February 2006
*Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?I kind of taught myself using the wonderful invention called the "World Wide Web" Thanks to these sites for all your help. Here and Here
*What was your first pair? Just a basic sock using chenille type yarn. Here is a picture. They were a little loose but hey they worked for around the house.

*How have they "held up" over time? So far so good, they wash up well.
*What would you have done differently? I would have used a smaller needle to do the cuff.
*What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? Well I only have a few options around here in Germany. But my favorite here is Wolle Rodel. I am really looking forward to get some Lorna's Lace though.
*Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I love to use DPNs. When my non-knitting friends see me knitting with them they are so impressed.
*Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) I really like sort row.
*How many pairs have you made? uh...4 pairs so far. Not including the one on the needles now.

Finishing objects

2006-10-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

In honor of Socktoberfest I finished my sisters ankle socks. Free pattern here. Really fun and fast to knit. I started them a while ago but though what a perfect month to finish them :)

As for everything else, I don't have much time left. I leave in exactly 30 days and need to have a good chunk of my xmas knitting done so that I can send it on ahead to California. Sadie's pinwheel sweater...well lets just say 2 steps forward and 1 huge step back!!! I ripped the I-cord edge back and started it over again. I was half way there when I decided I didn't like it. It was way to tight. It was warping the whole sweater. Instead of 6 sts to the I-cord I knit 12 and so far so good. Its looking more like a loopy edge then a twisted, tight one.
I have been making good progress on my Kiri shawl I will update pictures of that project next post. I am so addicted to knitting lace shawls now that I started another Kiri in white and am planning on starting a shawl with some sock yarn that I just purchased. I couldn't find anymore free designs that really appealed to me so I am taking a leap and charting my one lace shawl similar to the triangles within triangles shawl. I am trying not to spend anymore money till my trip to the States in November. Wish me luck. Ha Ha.
I also wanted to knit my mom a pair of ankle socks or boot socks I haven't decided yet. We'll see that might be my project on the plane. Seeing as it will take me almost 22 hours in travel time and lay overs. But who knows by then I might have started something completely different.
As for Sadie's blanket....I am have trouble with the binding. It is in the naughty pile for the time being. It needs to come out of time out soon, like I said I don't have much time.

I also have been waiting for some material that I ordered from eBay so that I can make my Sisters,Moms,grandma's and Aunts aprons and matching hot pads hopefully that comes soon. Tick tick tick the count down begins. Well since I have so much to finish I guess I'd better get a move on it. Have a great weekend and Happy Socktober!!

Sadie-Wadie's Blankie...#2

2006-09-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

Quilting time. I love love love this Minky fabric on the back. I am almost done hope that she likes it, or better yet hope her Mommy loves it.
I am sure that she will. Other then that I have been neglecting my Kiri shawl. I have been totally frustrated with myself...hippity hoppity foggy frog. I feel like I have been doing this throughout the entire project. Oh well, its in the naughty pile for a while at least until I get the nerve to knit it again.
I have a million and one project to get finished before I go home for the Holidays. I started my sister other ankle last night sock so she can have a pair and not 1/2 of a pair haha...Sorry Shane. Here is my progress on that. I also ordered some material to make aprons and hot pads for all the ladies in my family. Hope it gets here soon I don't have much time. D Day is 14 November. Well instead of blogging I guess I better go and get some work done....Wish me luck!!! Have a great day and Happy crafting!

Pinwheel Progress...

2006-09-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Been knitting away on my pinwheel. Overall a pretty easy knit. Fun too. I have also been sewing or planning on sewing some material for another quilt. We will see how this one turns out.
Have a great day...and happy crafting!

We have and Artist in the Family...isn't he cute!!!

2006-09-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

The other day I gave Dre and Ki some paints and white paper to try and keep them entertained longer then 5 min. Well the trick worked on Ki but not so much on Dre. Dre decided he only wanted to paint for 2 min but Ki painted 3 beautiful pieces of art work (at least I think its art) In this picture he is painting a picture of all of us...isn't it fabulous :) He is a genius at 3 years old.

Have a good day all and happy crafting!

Got Squares?

2006-09-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at quilting. What do you think? Well it was originally supposed to be a lap quilt for my couch but I didn't have enough squares. Live and learn. I will order more from eBay next time. I like it and I hope that my niece will too. Have a good night and happy crafting!

Finally updating blog...Sorry it took so long.

2006-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well I have been keeping busy the last couple of weeks. I have been trying to keep the boys entertained while daddy is gone. Otherwise they would drive me nuts! I finally got my shipment of yarn from elann.com. I guess that I didn't give them a complete address so it got shipped back to them oops...I got it on Friday, it is the Peruvian Collection Highland Wool for my nieces Pinwheel Sweater. Thanks to Annypurls for making my yarn choice super easy. I used the exact yarn that she used for hers. Here they are.
I have been cranking along on my pinwheel all weekend and here is my progress hope that you like it. Gonna go now Happy Knitting.

New Toy

2006-09-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I finally did it, I broke down and bought my very first sewing machine. The last time I sewed was in junior high. I made myself a needle roll and tote by just winging it. Here are some pictures hope you all like them. I am so proud of myself.

Nothing going on here...

2006-08-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Not much going on lately just cranking away on the Kiri shawl I am on the 6th repeat on chart 2. Its looking pretty good if I do say so myself. I am also waiting for a package to come in the mail of yarn from elann.com I guess they didn't have my complete address...Hopefully I get it soon I want to start the pinwheel sweater for my niece. Free pattern is also available at elann.com and a knit along at annypurls.blogspot.com. Well not much to talk about today maybe in a couple days. Have a great day!

A work in Progress

2006-08-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here it is my very first Lace project. It only took me 5 times starting over and almost 1/2 a ball of kid mohair ...but I finally get what I was doing wrong. To top it off I ran out of ink in my printer so I had to write the pattern and chart out free hand. Its well worth it. I am having fun knitting lace. The pattern is Kiri. You can get the pattern for free from www.alltangledup.com . The yarn is kid mohair 80% mohair, 20% polyester from Wolle Rodel. So far so good. Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions that will help make this project extra special. Thanks and Happy Knitting.

Welcome to Punky Purls

2006-08-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody welcome to punkypurls. I have been wanting to start a blog for a while and with a little of encouragement from my lovely sister here it is. This blog will mostly be dedicated to all things crafty, mostly knitting and crochet but I also like to scrapbook and make candles. Haven't done much scrapbooking or candle making in a while I have been stung by the knitting bug... I love love love to knit. I have only been knitting since December 2005 but I am completely addicted. I taught myself through books and internet, gotta love the web. My friends think I am nuts! I try and explain but they just don't seem to understand my passion.
I have been crocheting off and on since the age of 16 and I am currently making a baby blanket for my niece. I started this darn blanket in February but my mind keeps going back to "what can I knit?"...Poor Sadie might not get the blanket til she has kids of her own. Just joking Shane I wont make her wait that long :) Here is a recent picture. I am halfway there, 3 more rows to go.

There are a few projects that are finished under my belt, but the majority of my knitting is unfinished. I guess I get excited when I find a project that I want to knit or a yarn that I want to use. I don't know if anyone else is like that. My friend tells me that I should finish 2 of my projects before I start a new one but I just can't help myself. I guess I like variety. Most of my finished projects are socks or hats or bags, quick knits I guess you could say. Fast and satisfying. Ya Know? Here are a couple of my finished projects.

(sorry about the pictures being off center I cant get it any better...I will keep tinkering with it later.)

Well enough of this for now I will be back in a couple of days. Thank You for visiting my blog I hope to see you back!
Happy Knitting!!!