Oh, So Santa Fe

This Mitered Moss Poncho by iknitiative was a breeze to knit and is perfect for my upcoming trip to Santa Fe, NM. Although, right now, it's kinda hard to be excited about a wool poncho when today's temperature was a record breaking 96 degrees!

Blocking Poncho

The poncho panels are complete and now laying out to dry. I blocked and sprayed with water and the wool was smelling a little "sheepy" so I added a little Bath & Body Warm Vanilla body splash to the water bottle spray. I'm hoping the finished poncho will fit as good as it smells!

New Hair-Do

Believe it --- I cut about six inches off my hair. Growing out bangs has given me so much grief that I decided to even it all up so growing it out wouldn't look so shaggy. I know it's short -- but my hair grows fast.

Felt Clogs

Here's one of my most favorite things. I've probably made over 20 pairs as gifts for family and friends over the years. This is the third pair for myself. I've lost one pair at a hotel and I wear my grey and charcoal ones just about every day so I felt the need to make another pair to match all my camo.

Phase I: Knit from 3 skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted wool

Phase II: Shrink to fit with two agitation cycles in hot water washing machine








Phase III: Dry and trim up mohair fuzz with clippers

Yoga Socks

The temperature in my yoga class is always set at freezing so these yoga socks from kpixie are perfect. I doubled up sock yarn to get the required gauge of 5 1/2 sts to the inch. How about this display of flexibility??

Girls Just Wanna Shop

My awesome friend Melanie invited me on a road trip weekend of shoppping in Oklahoma City. We tore up Penn Square mall and dined in true honky-tonk style at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Bricktown. Sure would've been nice to have seen Toby (by the way - he's great in concert). Looking at our hotel room you'd think a tornado passed through -- no, that's just Melanie --that's why I love ya, girlfriend! Thanks for the invite and soon we'll be "In the Wind".

Tabi Socks

How fun are these? Knitted the Tabi socks (Japanese split socks) in about a week out of 100g of Fortissima cotton from Not Just More Socks. Decided to make them in white to match my somewhat large collection of flip-flops.

Poor Daffodil

Why so down, daffodil?? Just when spring fever starts to kick in we get punched with a spring snow. That's life in the midwest for ya.

Flea Market Baskets

My friend, Jenn and I went to the Flea Market this morning. My mission was to find some more baskets to keep my knitting projects organized and easily accessible. Mission accomplished--found two Longaberger deals to add to my collection. Now I've got quite a project pile in my knitting nook corner of the rec room.

New Projects from Wildflower

Went to Manhattan today and visited my favorite shop, Wildflower. I think I've said this before but Kennita is the nicest shop owner around. I just get a good, creative vibe in her shop and always walk out with several projects. Also, she has the largest selection of sock yarn I've found. Ponchos may be on their way out but I thought this would be perfect for an upcoming trip with my mom to Santa Fe. The evenings are cool and I could bunch it up with a turquiose belt. Talk about being in Noro heaven!

The other project is one I've been debating for several years from Mission Falls. I'm going to tackle the tank first and then try the matching Bolero jacket. There was a time this cotton was discontinued but demand brought it back.

Hot Water Bottle Cover

Let me explain...there's something nostalgic about a hot water bottle so I was compelled to make this cover out of Opal sock yarn. I've never used a hot water bottle but I'm almost looking forward to my next backache. It just seemed like a luxury item I thought would be nice to have around. Why do they call it a water bottle anyway? Isn't it really just a fancy plastic bag?

Made in Connecticut

Blocking my socks I made during my trip.

Wool Connection - Avon, CT

After a week of being cooped up in a classroom and evening social dinners - I was ready to shop!! Wool Connections is located about 30 miles from the Hartford Bradley Aiport. Since this shop is also one of my favorite mail order catalogs for great kit projects this was a "have to" destination. I spent several hours with the friendly staff and ordered a capelet kit that can't arrive quick enough. Also purchased this unique recycled sweater knitting bag by Susan Todd. Check out their website in the above link!

Knitting in Connecticut

I just had to share this moment from the Marriott outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Nothing like knitting on a plane all day and then calling for room service. I'll be occupied the rest of the week attending a financial brokerage workshop. On a positive note, I should be able to complete a pair of socks on this trip.

Wrist Warmer Burnout

It's official. I'm burn out on wrist warmers and need a break. After seeing the movie Eight Below and feeling sentimental toward my dog(s) - I think I'll knit them a sweater. How long can Sassie tolerate a wool turtleneck??

Happy Valentine's Day

I love my Valentine!!

A Hat 4 Amy

My darling neice, Amy, joined me for a yoga class and then sushi on Sunday. I made her this hat from Hip Knit Hats. (There are many errors in this book so be sure to check the attached link).

What a great 3-day weekend to clean out closets and drawers for a garage sale/DAV and part with the old stuff. Got to do Flora's yoga class three days straight!! It feels so good to train with weights, do cardio and then top of with stretching and breathing. The pressure's on to get in shape for summer.....

A Scarf from Aunt Janine

I received a package in the mail to find a wrapped Christmas gift from my Aunt Janine in Portland, Oregon. My aunt is new to knitting and I SOOO hope she knitted this with loving thoughts of me! My fellow knitting "goobers" know who you are -- we put so much of our feelings into knitted projects for others.

Fun at Work

Another New Year's resolution I made to myself is to enjoy my job and have more fun doing it instead of being so stressed out all the time. So this time, instead of driving at 4:30 a.m. to get to a new client in Kansas City by 8, I decided to leave a day early, have a nice meal and spend the night. Stopped at a knitting shop in Olathe called Knit Wit and guess what I purchased -- more sock yarn--Regia Silk. It's OHH so soft. Also picked up the 2nd series book, Not Just MORE Socks. On the cover is the Japanese split sock named Tabi that are worn with flip-flops. Gotta make myself some of these! Topped off a great day with a sushi dinner at the Sushi House in Town Center. Cranked up the heat in my hotel room to 74 for a cozy night's sleep.

Super Bowl Wrist Warmer

I had the best seat in the house at my sister-in-law's Super Bowl party. Snagged the leather recliner by the fire and knitted this one lone wrist warmer.