A New Hat

I'm so lucky to have a knitting friend that works right next door. I find myself looking forward my standing lunch date with Becca every Wednesday and we walk to Twist. Today, on our way, we stopped next door at Hatman Jack's and I found this great denim cowboy hat. It meets all my needs for the love of denim and cowboy hats. An added bonus: I can fold it up in a saddlebag, bend it back in shape, then toss it in the washer and dryer.

Minisweater Obsession

I can't seem to get the minisweater out of my system. So far I've made 4 with one in red, charcoal, black and just finished brown. You'd think I'd be satisfied by now but nope - I'm thinking I still need one in white. Talk about an obsession!

Girls Night Out

It was a "girls night out" when a friend invited me to go with her and some friends to the Kid Rock concert. I have several of his CDs and now have a new appreciation for him as a performer. He sang everything from rap, rock, to country and gave a good show. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to get dolled up in a dress and boots for a night out.

Minisweater Love

Just in case you haven't seen enough of the red minisweater -- here it is again. It even goes well with biker attire and a night out on the town. (I really need to get the black one done so I can give this jewel a break!) Mixed it up with a Miss Me long tee and "L" necklace from the Pink Saloon.

Around Town

The (little red) minisweater gets around town.

Little Red Sweater

I just love this little number. Becca and I met for lunch a week ago and she was making her Minisweater in white Cascade Cotton Rich and I just had to follow. I decided red would go perfectly with my Kippy rhinestone belt and now I'm going to have to make another in black. I just posted mine on Ravelry as the 319th person to make one and everyone in the knitting universe agrees - WE LOVE THIS SWEATER!!

Collections

Do you find yourself collecting things? Some people take it to extremes - I might be just one of those people - if one is good, more is better. I blame it on my mom. Every room of her house is filled with a collection of some sort. If I like something I've got to have every color. Spring cleaning has made me stop and take stock of things. I guess you'd say I really like boots and Born's (to name a few!)

Freebie Dressform

I've debated investing in a dressform for a couple of years now. I've even considering making one but dreaded the thought of asking someone to wrap me up in duct tape (example here). So, you can just imagine how thrilled I was when mom called to say she went to an estate sale and they just gave her this very retro form for F-R-E-E. She was making another purchase but I guess it pays off to go to sales on the very last day at closing time. I picked it up and found that all the critical areas are adjustable to fit my own measurements and then sewed up a nice, coordinating jersey knit cover. I have named my new clone, Norma.

Settled In

I can't believe I'm going on a month at my new job. I've enjoyed setting up my office and this is my desk view. I found some great Keeper of the Plains prints at DPI that take up one corner of my office while golf pictures hang on the wall behind me. I'm thinking an orchid plant would look pretty by the window (to my right) but I haven't historically had good luck keeping them alive so I've settled for fresh flowers in a vase.

Felted Bags

Spring is here and I've got riding on my mind. I guess that's what motivated me to make these felted bags just the perfect size for a pair of sunglasses or riding goggles. I got the idea from a kit and used my own worsted wool, a 7" zipper and sewed on some patches I had laying around. These will work great to protect my eyewear when they are tumbling around in the saddlebag.

Ski Lodge Scoop Vest

When you step into Twist Yarn Shop, to your right, you'll find the most beautiful skeins of kettle dyed Manos del Uruguay 100% wool hanging from the wall. No two skeins are alike so they recommend alternating every two rows from different skeins. Really, not as cumbersome as you'd think and I finished this vibrant vest from the book, 12 Months of Knitting, in just one weekend.

An Office With a View

The old familiarity of working downtown came back as I drove in for my first day at my new job. (The 7 mile drive from my house isn't all that bad). I like this location much better as it sits on Douglas Avenue and my 8th floor office overlooks the Century II fountains and the Arkansas River. I was so caught up in decorating my space and getting settled in that I didn't take a break or lunch all day. Also, I am grateful to be working with two positive and funny coworkers from a previous employer.

Reserved My Seat

Here I go again, putting my knitting down this time around to read the book by Eckhart Tolle. Actually this one is going to be more time consuming as I've reserved my seat for the 10-week webcast class that begins Monday night at Oprah.com. Are you ready to be awakened?

Turquoise Beading

Went to Aspen Traders yesterday and purchased a pair of earrings with multi-colored stones and decided to make a similar pair of my own in turquoise. I always get great jewelry ideas from there and catalogs such as Silpada and Sundance. Made a trip to a couple of bead shops for head pins and a few more turquoise beads to add with my own collection and made up these earring sets. I'm going to share one set with a special someone that likes turquoise just as much as I do.

Old Friends

I got to hook up with some of my old friends tonight for dinner and cocktails. Karen, my old boss (middle - who I affectionately have started calling her pioneer woman because of her cowgirl lifestyle) and I drove out to El Dorado, KS to meet with Tolli (left). Tolli has opened a new coffee house, Scooters, as well as a wine shop. She's one smart business woman who I swear knows everyone in town. (We go WAY back and at one time used to work together). Right across the hall from Scooters you'll find the Pink Saloon clothing boutique run by her friend, Brooke. But I caution you, hold on to your pocketbook when you enter this shop. There's a pair of very pricey, rhinestone True Religion jeans in there just calling my name.

KC Day Trip

Hitched a ride with Laurie for a day trip to Kansas City with shopping on our minds. We made a big loop of the city starting off at her daughter's awesome loft in the Farm & Art District, Manny's for a margarita, through the Plaza and finally ended up at Oak Park Mall for a shopping fix. In the mall, the sky parted and the sun shone in on a sign that literally made me yelp with excitement: Bare Escentuals is coming in April. Imagine, a whole store devoted to the greatest cosmetic line and brushes ever made! Yeah, I know....it's hard to wait. I'll be going back soon, for sure.

Somewhat Unemployed

I quit my job of five years last Friday and now have all this week off (paid!) until I start a new job next Monday. My stress level just couldn't be better and I'm going to take this time to recharge and get back into my cardio workout routine, a couple yoga clasess a day and (of course) some late night knitting. Since starting to work as a teenager, I've never had more than a couple of days off between jobs so this week is going to be a real treat.

Our 18th Anniversary

18 years ago today husband and I got married at St. Anne's Church. Life together has been such a wonderful journey through the different jobs we've had and and the hobbies that we've shared along the way. I am truly grateful to be married to my best friend and to celebrate every day as an anniversary.

Introducing Vinnie Bear

Confession: I am a 40+ year old, married woman who still sleeps with a teddy bear known as Vinnie Bear. Vinnie serves more as a body pillow of sorts but he has been with me since junior high. The history goes something like this: John Vinroe was an older high school boy who gave me this bear as a friendship gift so I named him Vinnie Bear. Vinnie used to have a velvet 3-piece suit but it has long since disintegrated over the years and he desperately needs some new threads.

Today, I received my first Elann.com order of indigo cotton yarn, Den-M-Nit. You know, denim is my fave and now I'm searching for a nice baby cardigan pattern worthy for one special bear.

February Sock of the Month

Twist's Sock-of-the-Month Club is Charade in recommended Lang Jawoll. You'll find a surprise inside the skein - a coordinating reinforcement spool of sock thread. I opted to use it on the heels and toes of my sock. It gives more bulk in those areas but that's okay for my black, more utilitarian sock. It will hold up to miles of shoe friction.