Long time, no post

It is pretty obvious that I haven't posted in a long time. Althought I really love to read the blogs written by others, I have a hard time writing my own, which is strange since I write all the time. I have been a knitting fool since I last posted and have taken a few pictures for my Ravelry page. Seems like I spend a lot of time at home working and knitting.

We are not traveling nearly as much as we did before since our kids are enrolled at pricey schools. My oldest hated Wake Forest and has transfered to the University of Oklahoma, where we wanted him to go in the first place. The difference in cost is amazing, even though he got thousands of dollars in scholarships to Wake. The ironic part of the situation is that he went to Wake to debate and OU won one of the college national tournaments. We purchased a house, so hopefully the youngest will just plan to go to OU and not make us suffer with the long distance student.

I am working on my second lace shawl from the same pattern. It is the Hyrna Herborgor from a swedish book that I don't have handy. The one in the picture above was knit with Royal Bamboo from Plymouth. Lace at that weight is really enjoyable and quick. I am almost finished with the second using Blue Heron Rayon. My other large lace project was inspired by the Hemlock Doily that made the rounds, but I wanted to be different, so I did the Azelea Doily from Kinzel's First Book of Lace. I used 10 skeins of Debby Bliss Silk Alpaca that I got from a grab bag sale at Webs. It it a pretty pattern, but the shape is a little odd for a lap blanket.

Next post-- assuming there is one-- I'll share more adventures in gigantic knitting.

Secret Pal

I got two packages from my secret pal today. They were pretty interesting and full of stuff. I have mailed my secret pal some challenges. First, I sent lace weight yarn and a lace pattern book. Next I sent sock yarn and DPNs. My final challenge to her was dishcloths. I sent cotton yarn and a pattern book.

I cannot figure out how to put the pictures in my posts anymore. I have taken lots of pictures and done lots of knitting. I have a picture of the Melon Shawl that I finished from the cover of the Victorian Lace book but I cannot post it. I also took a picture of the packages I received but ..... no pictures. I am completely hooked on lace but I think that I am going to try some cables just for fun. I, like the rest of the knitting world, always have some socks on the needle. My boys love those hand-knitted socks.

Late again

Once again, I have let loads of time go by without posting. I have been really busy knitting away on several projects from the new Victorian Lace book. I am currently working on the Melon Shawl, done unimaginatively in the exact same yarn and same color as the pattern calls for. Not too exciting, but I really liked the lime green color and I was able to buy four balls of yarn from a new LYS in Norman at the last football game.

In keeping with my lace obsession, I sent my SP9 person a lace pattern book and some lace weight yarn. I think that she is a fairly new knitter, so I am going to send a "challenge" for her each time. Obviously, the first challenge was lace. The next will be socks.

I got some interesting knitting needles from my pal. I don't think that I have ever seen dpns quite so long. Among other things, there were several sets of long dpns, including some that were huge. I'll have to keep these around for some special project.

I'll try to post some pictures next time. Maybe the melon shawl will be done by then.

Bad Secret Pal

Well, I was a little distracted this summer and did not do right by my "pal" in SP8. In fact, I never sent her anything. I intended to, I really did. I bought stuff. I bought boxes. I bought envelopes. I stacked all of this in my craft room and felt guilty about it. When I finally got my groove back--sending the oldest to college was far harder than I expected-- I put together what I considered to be a really good one time gift.

Then it got lost. And stayed lost. I started buying more stuff. I bought several things while I was in NYC, mostly at Knitty City. I had a great time in New York. Hubby had a one hour hearing that lasted two days. I had two days alone on the streets. I actually met one of my invisible friends from a list that I love. I swear, we were so compatible, you would never have believed that we had never met before.

Anyway, I digress.Today-- the box returned! Two numbers in the zip code were transposed. It went out again today, this time with receipt. The irony was that I had put together a couple of things in an evelope, not nearly enough, and addressed it (but had not sent it). I also packed a little something for my SP9 pal-- timely, I might add. I finished my scarf for the International Scarf Exchange and packed it. I am finally on the ball, at least for this week.

Sp9

Here are my answers to the SP9 questionnaire.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I like almost anything, but love silk. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like ? I HATE ackrylic
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a folding, fabric holdre.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I thought myself as a young child. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?Definately advanced.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?no
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) right now it is Lavendar.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes Favorite candy?Chocolate-- no fruit
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Almost anything Do you spin? Not yet
8. What kind of music do you like? I really don't love music. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) yes
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Right now it is Pink or Leopard Any colors you just can't stand? Orange
10. What is your family situation? Married with two kids Do you have any pets?Two Italian Greyhounds
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Shawls
13. What are you knitting right now? Shawls
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo circulars?
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Both
17. How old is your oldest UFO? ten years old
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I read everything.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Sure
22. Are you a sock knitter? Yes What are your foot measurements? Size 9 shoe.
23. When is your birthday? 05/07

Summer is over already?

Well, despite my best intentions, I have let some more time pass without a post. This is against the rules in the swaps and doesn't make my swap pals very happy. I had a great SP8 pal. She is from Estonia and send tons of stuff-- mostly representative of her country. I got mitten yarn and patterns, post cards and lots of candy. Unfortunately, it was 116 thousand degrees here and some of the chocolate was not in very good condition. But man, was she generous. I was not a very good partner. My oldest son went to college this summer and my youngest spent a month at debate camp. I was really depressed, way more than I had expected to be. I kept buying stuff for my pal all summer and just couldn't get the gumption to put it in an envelope and get it mailed. How stupid is that? Anyway, I got a big package mailed to her this week and I hope it will make up for the long delay.

After the stress of the summer, we went to Cabo San Lucas for a week. The same week as Hurricane John. I have a couple of pictures from the storm that I have to put up, but am not sure where they are right now.

On a knitting front-- I finished my PI shawl that I did with the Create your own PI group. My, in keeping with my past knitting, is huge!! I think I used 6 or 7 balls of Kidsilk Haze. I'll have to look at the yardage, but the thought scares me. I am going to block it soon, then will put up a picture.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a more relaxed fall.

Trying not to be depressed!

Well, once again, I have let months go by between posts. As I say often, I HAVE A GREAT LIFE--but there is just something about writing a blog that brings out the negative side of me. Here is a list of the great things that have happened to me this summer and why I should never be depressed--ever (is that convincing)

1. My first baby has turned out to be a really fine man. He is 18 and will be attending Wake Forest in North Carolina on a debate scholarship.
2. My second baby is 15 and is also turning out well so far. He is at debate camp at the University of Michigan and is doing well--as he tells me often in text messages.
3. I got great stuff from my SP-8 pal. She lives in Estonia and sent me all the stuff to make latvian mittens. I know that there should be a picture here, but one thing at a time!
4. I saw the Yarn Harlot.
5. I learned how to do mobius knitting, and I really love it. My picture is on the web site for one of our LYS--http://www.gourmetyarnco.com/knitting-oklahoma-blog.html --scroll way down.
6. I took classes with Lucy Neatby, Lilly Chin and Cat Bordhi.
7. I have a good job.
8. I love my family and they love me.
9. I had my 25th Anniversary.
10. I went to a fabulous resort in Mexico.
11. I am going to Cabo San Lucas in 3 weeks.

OK-- I feel better now.