Craftylilly

Summer of craft

I've been a busy crafter this summer.  Yes, the kids are out of school which sometimes means I can't get a lot of crafting done, but I've been doing projects with them, and have been finding 15 minutes here, 30 minutes there to craft.  It's amazing how much progress can actually be made by lots of short periods of crafting time throughout a week. 

The biggest and most exciting crafting for me these past few weeks has been getting reacquainted with my spinning wheel.  I picked out some red, white, and blue corriedale roving from my stash, and spun up around 300 yards of 2 ply in sport to worsted weight.  I think it came out quite pretty.  Two interesting things came out of this project too.  One, since I did not seperate the colors when I spun it up, the results is a lovely meld of red, white, and blue making much of the yarn a lovely purple.  Two, I spun this up while watching several episodes of Dr. Who Season Three and discovered that the Red Ranger likes Dr. Who as well.  That's my boy.

I've also been crafting with my kids.  Of course this isn't any surprise for those of you who have known me long.  Our latest project was pony bead lacing.  The kids did some basic stringing.  The Red Ranger made a necklace and bracelet, and Princess of Quite-a-lot made a long string of beads that she said could be used for a snake, sculpture, or forcefield protecting her action figures from attack.  I made a simple cuff bracelet closed with a button.  We then had a fun photo shoot to show off our creations.  If you are my friend on facebook, you can check out the rest of the photo shoot which includes the kids' creations as well, and a goofy picture of me with mine.

I've also finished knitting up my Chocolate Lace tank which used the Spidery Tank pattern from the latest Interweave.  I'll post pictures of that later. I've also sewed a top that needs pictures too. Contemplation has begun on taking out the crocet hook again and making a bag.  If you check out Futuregirl, she's got a super cute free crochet pattern for a bag; it's called Starling bag.  I'm thinking of picking up a hook to try my hand at it.  Knitting has begun on a Spring Things Shawl as well.  I've also got a scarf on the loom, but I wasn't the smartest beginning weaver and warped my Harp with... wait for it... mohair.  Yes, woe is me.  It's slow going, but it's going to be so pretty, and it's a gift for a friend who will love it, so it's worth the effort.

Whack of celebrations

I've been really bad about celebrating/acknowledging the family celebrations on the blog.  RM's birthday went without a peep of acknowledgement, then I had a birthday.  But I am managing to post today, RM and my 11th anniversary.  I love you D, and look forward to many, many more years with you. 

(And just so I don't seem like a total web slacker, I did announce/celebrate the aforementioned events on Facebook.  That counts too, no?)

School's out for summer!

PQL had her last day last week, but RR gets out today.  The first graders are going to have Olympics this morning, and then pizza at school.  A classmate has then invited everyone over for a swim party.  There's only one bummer on the day, it's a cloudy and cool day.  I don't think that's going to keep the kids out of the pool though. 

Although I've been caught up in the end of school goings ons, I have been crafting quite a lot.  I'm completed three washcloths, and am working on a fourth.  I've also sewn a simple skirt.  I'm having so much fun with my sewing machine, I plan on trying my hand at a few more skirts and another summer top or two.  The skirt I just completed I just winged, but I just picked up a book called Sew What Skirts that goes over how to draft differnt skirt shapes.  I'm especially interested in drafting an A-line skirt.

 I also completed my February Lady Sweater.  It's been cool lately, so I can still wear a sweater, but I think this little pink number will be spending time in storage until next fall.  I really love this sweater though!  It's so soft due to the yumminess of the malabrigo, and the shape is very flattering.  Here are the specs.

Pattern:  February Lady by Pamela Wynne

Yarn:  Malabrigo in Geranio.  When I first got this colorway, it was a bit of a stretch for me.  In the skein it's a very bright, vibrant pink.  After knitting it up, the color becomes a very rich purpley/pink and is just lovely.

Needles:  Size 8 Addi interchangeables

Thoughts:  This is a simple and cute pattern.  It went pretty quickly aside from being distracted by other crafting pursuits while knitting it.  The lace pattern is easy to memorize, and I like the style of having just a few buttons at the top.  I'll get a lot of wear out of it next fall/winter.

I hope to be around the blog and the blogiverse much more this summer.  I've got lots of crafting planned, and kid crafting in the works.  The kids are working on Pom-Pom creatures, friendship bracelets, decoupage boxes, and we may tie-dye some shirts.  I've got weaving, spinning, sewing, knitting, and I'm going to try my hand at some bead crochet as well.  Too bad summer is only 3 months long, eh?

I'm more active on Twitter (craftylilly), and on Facebook.  I also am having a huge on Ravelry.  I've got a bunch more to put up by the weekend, sweater quantities and several skeins of Kureyon, so if you are interested check that out too. 

Good surgery vibes will be gratefully accepted

The Red Ranger is having his eye surgery today.  I'm not concerned about the surgery itself, but I don't like the general anesthesia he'll be under.  We'll all be relieved when it's over.  The poor guy and I spent about 6 hours down at the hospital yesterday (his birthday no less) doing pre-op appointments. 

So... if you have a moment, some positive mental energy sent his way, and ours will be gratefully accepted. 

I'm not the only crafty one in the family

The Red Ranger completed his first school project today.  The assignment was to build a leprechaun trap.  He had to draw and write up his plan a week ago, and today he worked with RM on constructing it.  I think he did a pretty good job.  RM helped him talk through the construction, cut the box, and helped him set up the door, but RR did a lot of the construction himself.  He did a great job. 

Inside you can see the "jewels" that tempt the leprechaun to investigate.

It's an innocent looking room.  The jewels look so tempting, the little guy won't notice the tripwire...

AHA!!!  He's caught.  Now what can be done with a trapped Leprechaun?

Cassidy's debut at the Stitches West

Cassidy had her debut at the Stitches West Market yesterday, and what a debut it was!  I went to Stitches with my mom, and met up with our long-time family friend.  We had so much fun!  I think I had the most fun at Stitches since I took a class with Sally Melville two years ago.

First let me share the Cassidy details:

Pattern:  Cassidy by Bonne Marie Burns
Yarn:  Black Water Abbey 2-Ply worsted in Ocean Colorway
Needles:  Size 6 and 8 circs
Mods:  None.
Thoughts:  I love this sweater.  Of course, every design I've ever knit of Bonne Marie's I've loved and wear all the time (Ariann, Twist).  Her patterns are always well written, and the designs are classic and always so wearable.  I'm slowly working my way through her portfolio.  I also really like the Black Water Abbey yarn.  This Irish yarn is so pretty.  It's a rugged yarn, and not for next to the skin wear, but perfect for a sweater that will be worn over a long-sleeved shirt.  Living in California, this yarn makes a perfect sweater that can be used as a jacket, which is how I wore my Cassidy yesterday.  The Ocean colorway is so gorgeous too!  It's a dark hunter green with a blue tone that runs through it.  So pretty.  Another cool thing about Cassidy's debut, is that I got stopped in the market about 4 times by other knitters who complimented my sweater.  It was fun to have my sweater noticed by other knitters.

I didn't take any classes at Stitches this year.  I just didn't have the time or funds to do it this year.  I never miss the Market though.  The Market is big and can be overwhelming, but this year I went with only one goal, to browse.  I wasn't looking for any vendor in particular, or any fiber/yarn in particular.  Not having a real goal let me just wander, talk to people, fondle yarn, peruse patterns, and dig through buttons.  It was so nice!  I ran into some blog friends (Carrie K, Melissa), and met some new people for the first time (La, the ladies from Purlescence).  Very fun!

I didn't buy a lot.  I did get a fantastic deal on an Offhand Designs Fiona Tote, bought a couple of patterns from Cocoknits, three skeins of yarn from Habu (Cotton Gima), two shawl sticks in bloodwood and Purpleheart woods from Knitting Notions , and 4 oz of Crosspatch Creations blend in Country Girl which reminds me of a Monet painting.  All in all, the real success of the day was the visiting with knitting/fiberloving friends, and seeing all the beautiful yarn and fibers. 

I'm back! At least my body is...

  Our family trip to Disneyland, and other So Cal points of interest went well.  Our car, and RM clocked over 1,000 miles in the car, and we experienced a lot of togetherness, sleeping in the same room as each other for 5 out of the 6 nights, but we survived and enjoyed our time together.  Disneyland was a blast.  It was the first experience there for the kids, and they thouroughly loved it.  The Red Ranger loved the Haunted House ride all done up like the Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Monster's Inc. ride in California Adventure park.  PQL loved Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Monster's Inc. ride as well.  I also appreciated the climb and play area in the Brother Bear area at Disney California Adventure.  I almost fell and humiliated myself on the rather extensive set of rope walkways, but the kids loved rock climbing, swinging on the ropes, and just being able to run around without standing in line.  We were lucky as well, as it was supposed to rain our second day there, but it never did, but rather stayed cool and temperate.  Gotta love that!  After we left Disneyland, we spent a morning at Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, Thanksgiving with friends in Carlsbad, and an afternoon/night with relatives in the San Luis Obispo area.  It was a tiring, but very fun trip.  I'm not feeling quite back in the swing of things though.  I'm not quite ready to be in everyday life mode, you know? 

Although I'm not quite back in the swing of things yet, I thought I'd show the infant cap I knit for Knit One Save One.  I winged a basic roll bottom cap out of some Sirdar Domino that I had in the stash.  One cap is for the campaign, and the other is for one of PQL's friend's mother who is expecting a little girl in January. 

I also found a place to send the chemo cap I knit a month ago.  I'm sending it off to Hat Box Foundation.  The basic mission of the group is to gather and distribute handmade hats to cancer patients and other patients suffering from illnesses who would benefit from a warm handmade hat.  If you don't have a local charity to send a chemo cap, then I think this foundation is a perfect place to send it too.

I hope to have more to share soon!  Much knitting needs to occur in the next few weeks.  Eeks! 

Crack of Dawn

It's official.  My daughter is such a morning person that she gets invigorated by waking up at the crack of dawn.  I am not a morning person at all.  I prefer to sleep until about 8 or even 9AM.  I've been waking up around 5:30AM to have a little no-kid time to get things done like blog, read, and plan for the day.  My daughter has been making this difficult. 

Red Ranger and PQL's usual waketime is 7AM.  RR actually is more like me, and most times he thinks 7AM is an ungodly hour.  PQL though is up as early as 6AM wondering what the day will bring, and when she can eat her breakfast.  On the weekends, this is particularly tough for me, as I'd like to sleep in a little bit.  Well, this morning PQL was up, out of her room, and ready for the day at 6AM.  Unfortunately for me, RR got up soon after, strangely ready for the day as well.  Thankfully, RM took them to breakfast so I have time to blog, but honestly I'd like to be back in bed. 

This did give me a chance to share some knitting with all of you.  I've been working on the Cassidy cabled hoodie and am absolutely loving it.  I'm using Black Water Abbey 2 ply in Ocean.  The true color is hard to capture in pictures.  It's mostly a deep green, but with flecks or a gorgeous blue.  The yarn is slightly heathered too, and the cables really pop.  Knitting this sweater has reminded me of why I love cables so much.  Cables look great, and are fun to work.  The Cassidy Cable pattern is also interesting enough to keep me happy, and yet easy enough that I memorized it quickly.  It's been blissful knitting.  Now if I just could convince my daughter to play quietly in her room so I can get in a few rows tomorrow.   

My pictureless post excuses

I don't take the best pictures, but I don't like to do pictureless posts.  I figure you all like to see what I'm working on, even if the pictures are boring.  Unfortunately for you, I didn't have a chance to take my usual lame pictures.  I've got many and varied reasons for my lack of picture taking, and crafting for that matter.  Here are my excuses presented in handy bullet form:

1)  The Red Ranger stayed home from school for a few days in the past week and a half due to strep throat. 

2)  As a result of this school absence, the RR had a lot of make-up work.  Let me tell you, differences between kindergarten and first grade are varied.  There is a lot more work in first grade, a lot more.

3)  I worked at PQL's preschool two days this week.  Usually I work only once a week, but this week I did double duty.  Interestingly, being around 17 preschoolers for 4 hours can really wipe a person out.

4)  RM has endured a super stressful couple of weeks at his work.  The hours have been longer, and he's been super stressed, and so dealing with that and picking up a some of his chores/jobs at home to take things off his plate hasn't left a lot of time to craft.

So the upshot is, I didn't make too much nor did I have anything to take pictures of.  I hope that things will get more interesting and creative.  The temperatures have been dropping here, and I'm feeling fall.  Fall is usually a very creative time for me.  How have you all been?  Anyone had lots of time to craft?  Do tell, I'm feeling the need to live vicariously.

Roller Coasters, A Killer Whale, Expensive Bottled Water...

It must be a visit to Six Flags:  Adventure Kingdom!  Yesterday, the family went out for a fun day in Vallejo at Six Flags.  Those long time residents of the Bay Area remember this park as Marine World.  Those my age or older remember when Marine World moved to Vallejo from Redwood City.  I have to say, that I'm a bit nostalgic for the old Marine World.  I remember when Marine World used to be essentially several animal shows/encounters.  There really were very few rides.  Now, at Six Flags, there are a lot of roller coasters, kiddie rides, water features/splashgrounds, and much less animal shows.

We did get to see two shows while we were there.  We saw the impressive and gorgeous Shouka the Killer Whale, and an equally impressive and beautiful white tiger named Odin.  We also enjoyed a couple of other animal encounters including a giraffe feeding, penguins, touching a stingray, and a butterfly garden.  For the most part though, yesterday was about the rides.  RR and PQL haven't been on very many amusement park rides.  They were thrilled to go on as many as they wanted.  The favorite?  A small "beginning" roller coaster.  RM and I had sore necks and backs from it, but the kids adored the little coaster.

All in all it was a fun, though exhausting day.  It was a good way to spend the last bit of summer.  Tonight I have to go pick up RR's teach and room assignment, and PQL's school has an orientation night I have to attend.  I'm sorry to see the end of summer, but it will be nice to have a schedule again!