Tea Cozy

Today is a cold, rainy Fall Saturday and the FedEx fairy arrived with my new teapot from ebay. What a perfect day it was to drink hot tea and knit this Tea Cozy out of Sugar'n Cream cotton. Must.Use.The.Handknits!!

Knit Picks Order

My first Knit Picks yarn order came in the mail today. Can you say WOOOO HOOOO?!? It's such a high to come home to a package of reasonably priced, high quality yarn for a new project! Knit Picks suggests substituting their Wool of the Andes yarn for the Chanel-Ish Cardigan Jacket pattern from Greetings From Knit Cafe. I'm stoked to start it but have a few other projects to get done first. If you're keeping track, I'm at a stand still on my Tempting II sweater. I purchased the Calmer yarn in Texas and came up short so I have to wait for their shipment of one more skein. Lesson Learned: When purchasing yarn out of town for a big project, be sure to buy an extra skein---you just never know.....

Woofstock & Surprise Party

We started the day by going to the annual Humane Society fundraiser, Woofstock at Segwick County Park.








Sassie and Sheba strutted their stuff with hundreds of other dogs of all breeds and sizes. This was Sheba's first time to this event and for a Pit, she was very well behaved and only really disliked the couple friends' dog that went with us (not pictured).


Who would've known turning 40 would have been such a big event. Later, my friend Melanie picked me up for what I thought was going to be dinner with another friend and turned out to be a surprise party of 70 friends and family members. Husband and her had planned it out for months and totally had me fooled. Even my neice, Amy, flew in from Chicago. Guests were provided with ribs, chicken and beer. It was quite embarrasing to be such the focus of attention --- combined with the bikini picture of me posted at the front door!!

The BIG 40

Well....it's here and I bravely faced my coworkers today to be greeted with confetti, balloons, cards and gifts at work. That was great but I don't think it was necessary for them all to wear black today!! I'm told 40 is the "new 30" and that I've lived the lives of two 20 year olds--that's just great. Going to have sushi for lunch with hubby and momma's fixing me dinner. I think I still have PRINCESS status.

Pig Trail in Rogers, AR

Our last road trip for the season took us to the Blues, Bikes & BBQ rally in Fayetteville, AR over the weekend. We took in an evening at the rally and a day in Eurka Springs. The new Harley dealership, Pig Trail, in Rogers was well-worth the stop -- it's huge!! Hanging out with our friends, Razz & Stacy.

Tempting II

I saw a sample of this Tempting II top at Loops made out of the recommended Rowan Calmer. It's a very soft yarn and the k1, p1 rib is going to lend to a great fit. Of course, I choose my staple color, brown and have put unreasonable timeliness on myself (see below). Gee, I wonder why I'm stressed out so much of the time???

Day Three:









Day Two:









Day One:

Suss Fishnet Shrug

Purchased this pattern and 2 skeins of Suss Yarn (53% acrylic/30% nylon/17% Alpaca) at Loops Yarn in Tulsa. It's a simple 3 piece pattern on #9 needles in stockinette st. I know, what you're thinking....Lanora-aren't you tired of brown yet???

Moderne Log Cabin Blanket

What a relief to finish!! Finally, completed the Mason Dixon Knitting blanket for a finished measurement of 60" x 50". I have good intentions of using it as a light blanket perfect for napping but in all reality, it will end up balled up under a dog, covered in dog hair.

For those who haven't followed this project, I used the cheap ole Sugar'n Cream.

More Warshrags

I'm on a roll here with the cotton warshrag thing. Made a couple sets to use as facecloths matching my bathroom color schemes. Selfishly, I'm making them up for myself then will focus on making them for gifts if I don't burn out...

Smitten with the Warshrag

For the love of Mason Dixon and the vintage knitted dishcloth! I've joined the bandwagon of Ballband Dishcloth knitters. Go to the MDK website and you'll see the fascination with this inexpensive, functional resource that just may shut down the paper towel industry. Must.Use.The.Handknits.

Another Bunting

Just couldn't get enough of the first one. This one is for another coworker, Jamie, who received her first grandson. Obviously, this is going to be a standard for baby gifts.

Brooks & Dunn Long Haul Tour

Mom and I spent the night in Oklahoma City for the Brooks & Dunn concert. Of course, we had to make a stop at Toby Keith's Bar & Grill then off to the concert. (We had the choice of going to Kansas City or OKC and I prefer OKC). As always, they put on a good show but I found it shocking that Ronnie forgot the words to "Neon Moon"....of all the songs to forget...that one's a classic. Their background projection screens get bigger and better each time I see them. Mom agreed with me, this was the best show we've seen them put on to date.

Ride Safe Melanie

My riding buddy, Melanie made an overnight pit stop at my house before heading out of town for the weekend with her sister. They are both beautiful, strong, independent women. Two hot babes running wild and free.....ride safe Melanie and I hope you stay dry!

A Bunting for Jennifer

My administrative assistant at work, Jennifer, is expecting a baby girl next month. I find it funny that she comes walking around the corner and you see all belly before she rounds the corner. She's absolutely adorable pregnant with a cute waddle. I completed it just in time for her shower this Sunday. This bunting with legs pattern by Plymouth is totally functional with two ways to button it. Fits newborn to 6 months from 3 skeins of Plymouth Encore.

Riding Destination: Sturgis, SD

We left Wyoming on Friday to spend Saturday at the Sturgis Rally. It's hard for me to describe my fascination with the annual rally in Sturgis. It's a homecoming and familiar destination with many great memories made over the past nine years we've attended. The unpredictability of the elements and riding in the Black Hills always keeps things interesting. Then there's all the bikes and people on center stage on Main Street to watch. The trip ended with a bang (literally) when my tire went flat 200 miles from home. I guess if things are going to go bad, it might as well happen on the last day. A friend came to the rescue with a trailer and we finally made it home Monday morning at 4:30 a.m. Sure was hard to make it in to work that day.

Riding Destination: Jackson Hole, WY

Husband and I took off on a 9 day, 3,500 mile motorcycle road trip with our first stop in Cheyenne and on to Jackson Hole the following day. (We had rode to Yellowstone a few years ago but never made it down to see the Teton Mountains). The moment was right and I ended up having a few too many Corona's while sitting in the saddle at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar during our one night's stay in Jackson. We rode through the Teton Grand National Park and stayed 4 nights at Togwotee Mountain Lodge. They provided us with a guided trail ride, chuckwagon dinners and a float trip where we saw bald eagles, elk, beavers and a moose! We had a view of the Tetons from our cabin window -- it was awesome.


Knitting Confession: I deliberately did not take ANYTHING knitting related on this trip but halfway through the week (like a true junkie) I suffered from a severe knitting withdraw and we had to make an emergency trip to Knit on Pearl to get me what husband called "a project" so he could have some napping peace. An easy sock pattern, dpn's and fingering yarn helped this city girl to slow down, relax and enjoy the cool mountain air.

Thank You Mason Dixon

I was absolutely thrilled to receive my Amazon box last week that contained my Mason Dixon Knitting book. I actually bought two, one for myself and my friend, Celi for her birthday. The front cover of the book says it all, "Created for knitters everywhere who share the give 'em hell spirit of just picking up the needles and making stuff." After curiously watching Jackie knit a log cabin blanket for her children out of cheap 'ol Sugar and Cream cotton yarn ($1.27 a skein when not on sale at Hobby Lobby), I was intrigued to make my own creation of some kind. I've opted for the Moderne Log Cabin Blanket and substituted Sugar and Cream in colors to match my western spare bedroom. This is what I have accomplished after 17 hours of knitting. Thank you Mason Dixon for helping a yarn snob overcome her fears of cheap yarn....it's working out beautifully!

A Flock of Sheep

Before Felting







After Felting

I'd seen the Fiber Trends A Felt Flock pattern many times before but didn't give it much thought until I saw a sample of two felted wool sheep displayed at The Needle Niche in Joplin, MO. They were adorable and I was determined to make my own flock to decorate my knitting space and show my love of fiber. Sheep can be any size so any weight of yarn can be used. Mine are shown in worsted and chunky wool/alpaca. Wouldn't it be cool to shear your own sheep, spin it, dye it, and knit something fabulous? This is as close as I'm going to get to having my own flock.

A Shower Gift for Allison

My KIP friends, Lia and Jackie had a baby shower for Allison. I had aspirations to knit a baby blanket but didn't start in time for the shower so last week I made up this easy pieced teddy bear in alpaca from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies. This morning before the shower, I made up the booties. I always seem to work better under pressure. We had a great time with baby games, gifts and then painted and decorated wood picture frames for Allison's baby room.

Loops Yarn Store

Just when I thought I had already found THE best yarn shop in Oklahoma, I found Loops in Tulsa. It's tucked into Utica Square with shops like Ann Taylor and Saks. It was a breath of fresh air busy with knitters and filled with mannequins sporting beautiful, inspiring hand knitted sample garments. Found they had yarns and patterns hard to find in these parts by Suss and Alchemy. An added touch, the owner, Shelley and her staff are very helpful and friendly. It's really the knitting "boutique-like" shop I crave and well worth a trip to Tulsa. Can you say, "Road trip, ladies???"