What better than to catch up on old times with the girls with a roast beef sandwich and yarn woo, hoo!! I can't wait for the new movie...
5.23.2008
"The Movie" Countdown
5.19.2008
malabrigo
Look at the incredible Malabrigo Gruessa in Damask it is such a incredible color and without saying a incredible yarn. Not one but two patterns I have had my eye on the Neckwarmer by YarnAbuse and the famous Urchin my dd has been wanting me to make Urchin for her but now I will have to make for me first, smile! I also received a beautiful hand carved wooden button for my neckwarmer, smile! Thank You so much KnitKnerd
5.16.2008
Apron Swap
Look at these fabulous treasures I received in my apron swap, insert a huge grin and a happy dance here. I am embarassed to say I received it two weeks ago and with my chaotic life right now I have not had a chance to post. Shawnee of CrochetCupcake made this fabulous apron for MmmEEEEEEEeeeee..... Its fitted and she said has over seventeen darts imagine that? I think there is more and even more it is reversible one side has a black background with lovely cupcakes and the otherside is pink with lovely cupcakes and both sides have pockets, I lourve pockets and oversized ric-rac I adore ric-rac, smile... It doesn't end there she sent me a booty of wonderful cupcakey goodness recipe cards, bath cupcake sprinkles, a wooden cupcake magnet on my oven at this very moment, a felt cupcake with lotions, insert yummy smells here... and my favorite of it all a ceramic "cupcake button" and it doesn't end there a cupcake recipe cookbook 'now everyone you all should be jealous' smile... it is wonderful and to top it all off as if all of this wasn't enough she custom made a set of rubber gloves, smile... with the fabric from my apron. All I can say is this is a most incredible above and beyond swap and Shawnee you outdid yourself. I am unworthy, you are truely "Queen of all Cupcakey Goodness!" you need a cupcake Tiara BIG SMILE and cupcake hugs.....
5.11.2008
may 3rd 18 years ago
My baby turned eighteen last saturday on may 3rd and we had a surprise party for her. Her brother with a few friends of hers put it together, she still can't figure out how we got away with it. It was so much fun. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
4.30.2008
whimsy and so special
I received this beautiful vintage blue canning jar filled filled with treasures. It has unbelieveable hand spun yarn it is a incredible combination of blue faced leicester wool, alpaca, mohair and silk and it is specially named "Beach Glass" with a starfish adornment. I also recieved sock yarn custom hand-dyed for me in a a soft denim colors named "Blue Jean Baby Queen" big smile here! It doesn't end here theres more lemon mentos and Chowards lemon confections sweeeettt! and a mini-sock blocker key fob, fun cheery ric-rac , Chic chocolate, and fair trade organic Celtic Breakfast Tea and beach scented candle. I couldn't resist I had to photograph it all on a vintage quilt I bought dd a few years ago. It is amazing to me Julie how thoughtful you are and the attention to every detail of what I love there are even a few things you didn't know like Chowards are a childhood favorite my dad would bring me Violet Chowards as a treat, smile and I adore starfish's I just started collecting them.
cupcakes and aprons
Well cupcakes and aprons I have to say do go hand in hand and not just to catch a drip or a splatter. Baking with a fabulous apron on makes it so much more glamourous like having a lovely pair of shoes to go with your outfit. Yesterday I went to order a birthday cake with darling daughter we went to a bakery called Vanilla Bakeshop. Dd picked exactly what she wanted the cake flavor and fillings and since orange is her favorite color it will have orange frosting and orange fondant. This place is also known for the cupcakes and I can say I absolutely have no will power, nope not me! did I buy a cupcake? a cupcake? no I bought a dozen of the mini cupcakes, insert sheepish grin here. The flavors seriously come on now key lime cupcake, its genius and delicious, I love lemons and limes. But I wolfed down in the car, the moms birthday cake cupcake with the cute little posy on the top, in two bites I tell you and thats before I hit the first signal light. My darling daughter is hitting a milestone in her life she is turning 18 and yes I was born pregnant because I am too young to have a 18 year old daughter, just joking smile. I am surprised because it seems like yesterday I had serious cravings I am a foodie to begin with and there are so many wonderful places to eat in L.A. and then there are the landmarks with comfort food. I craved the comfort food, I wanted the french dip sandwiches from Phillipe's fresh rolls with the roasted meats and the au jus it makes me teary eyed. Boxed dozens of taquitos with the tomatillo avocado sauce from Olvera Street. Pastrami sandwiches from the Hat okay seriously I can go on but I wanted to talk about my apron I made. I love it it is so happy and fun and cupcakey.
4.29.2008
pink
Yes sireee this was the frosting for the fundraiser stuff and honest to goodness it was fabulous darhling......
fundraiser
Darling daughter needed baked goods for school fundraiser so I made cupcakes red velvet, mini cupcakes with extra hidden chocolate inside, mini angel food cakes dipped in chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, and just slices of angel food cake. I just had to taste absolutely everything you know to make sure the flavors were balanced and all, smile... I made these last thursday nite just got around to posting.
4.28.2008
dish-cloth frenzy
I made these really neat and fun dishcloths in various fun shapes and I really have not done
much with cotton I made a slice of watermelon and a half a orange.
and these two fish shaped tawashi are smaller scrubers and I added cute lips and eyes to.
I also made cupcake shapes and fun ruffels but, I ran into a bit of trouble seriously I just went into auto pilot and I blocked them. Well I found out you really don't block cotton dishcloths they get a bit crunchy and well I tossed them into the dryer with dryer sheets and well they look softened like denim. I am a bit sad because I made them special and oh dear recipients I made them special for you but I am used to blocking my knits, just that I should have checked first before I tried to block cotton dishcloths. 4.24.2008
darling daughter is one lucky girl
My darling daughter received this lovely gift from mr I wear a brown uniform and drive a matching truck yesterday. It said perishable open immediately and look at the gorgous gift inside this beautiful appliqued box it had a fresh baked cake and a bouquet of flowers tucked in the center. We have good friends who send lovely gifts to my daughter and just because they are unable to attend a upcoming special event some people send regret reply cards but not my classy elegant friend she send fabulous lavish gifts that come fresh baked from far away places. What if I plan a event for myself can I get a pretty gift like this too? I see my good friends son more than I see her I have not seen her since my sons graduation last year June. Plus I drive past her house everyday no, I am not a stal*er its on my way to and from work. She lives close by and she is the one who encouraged me to email years ago when she got her first big smashy new computer that sits on a beautiful desk, the first time I actually saw live computer chatting was our boys chatting online. See my friend has those rare gifts, class and style. She has a way of of spotting the perfect blouse you wish you had spotted first. A piece of furniture that is the perfect table or comfy sofa you want to plop down on and nap, the fabulous plush towels or the perfect creamer holder pourer she just has wonderful taste and she is not a impulse buyer. She will research something she is interested in to find out if they are a animal friendly or a fair trade company. Her garden I kid you not can be photographed for a magazine without a moments notice she will tell you different though, smile. Want a great meal she can recommend a restaurant and a even a plate to try, trying to sort through your closet and can't decide what to toss or keep she's the one to call she will tell me honestly which is the better fabric and fit and even ask me what was I thinking when I bought that funky top, insert a sheepish look here on my face okay, I am a impulse buyer. She even let me hide christmas presents for my kids one year at her house. She can find the rare pearl or the hidden gem in a place or person she has that gift. But me well its so hard for me to make plans, and punctual well I lack there too, smile... she is organized and can make plans well ahead and carrys a agenda that even has birthdays in it and me well I am scattered here there and everywhere. She is the better friend. But look at the wonderful gift my classy friend who is elegant and proper and a rare gem herself who has fabulous taste, sent my darling daughter....
In my handbag
I carry this little bag with knitting stuff at all times never know when I can cast on or finish a little something. I love small little goodies there is even a sewing thing tucked in here. I have this silver vintage needle holder I adore and some small sissors and a thimble and stitch counter and that animal print thingy is my glam measuring tape and there are some circulars tucked in there and a stitch holder and stitch markers and antihistimenes for either of my children because darling daughter likes to say she is allergic to yarn shops and fabric stores. Well I can fix that I am a mom and I carry stuff just in case I need to go get a yarn fix and she is with me, smile. Actually its the dust and fibers floating in air that get her going but she is a trooper she will go with me and keep a straight face even if she has hit the point where she is beyond board and is climbing the walls.
evidence of sewing
I have been trying to sew but its so much work to drag my machine out and all my tools iefor example cutting mat, sissors, pins, fabric, iron board, iron etc, etc, etc...
4.23.2008
Is it real?
My dd made this in art class it is really amazing it is suppose to be her father, smile. But he as a matter of fact does not think it resembles him at all. She even put a v-necked undershirt on him exactly like he wears and she claims to have perfected all his wrinkles, smile. Well is it hard to look in the mirror and see the person looking back at you looks a bit like your parents. Smile crinkles around the eyes a few or in my case a lot of grey hair and I am not saying this for any type of compliment its a fact. I decided a few years ago I was really tired of coloring my hair every 4 to 6 weeks was enough but due to a medication I take daily oddly enough permanent hair coloring especially for grey hair just washes out as if it is temporary hair coloring. So I decided to let my hair go grey I see all those attractive models in the over 40 magazines like More or O magazine and it just looks wonderful okay, I know there is fancy lighting and stylists and makeup artists and it may not all be reality but they sure make over 40ish women look great. Not to change the subject but all those dove soap ads and I think its hanes underwear ads with real women with wrinkles and lovehandles. My family sat me down after about 3 to 4 inches of truely grey hair and said NO. Kinda funny I was questioning it myself do I truely want to admit my age? do I like being asked my age? I have been grey since 17 my kiddos never believed me when I said I was greying as a teen. But some genes do pass and oddly enough yes my son does have his few random grey hairs and we started or I noticed when he was 18. Its odd I look in the mirror and I do see someone else a older version of the person I have in my mind and I think I am in my twenties still. I am actually double that plus a bit but its okay. Will I feel the same way my honey does if my daughter makes a bust of me I don't know but I can say when I look at the pictures I have taken recently, I wonder do I like technology as advanced as it is when I take pictures with these new digital cameras seriously I can see if I have a chin hair and ugh, if I forgot to pluck my eyebrows but also it shows the extra weight I have put on. I don't know if I like the reality of it all yet and the new HD televisions try watching something I video'd on that is another reality you can see sweat and unshaved legs too.
4.19.2008
fruitcloths farmers markets
Do you think it can be a bit silly to make fruit shaped dishcloths? well I do think they are silly fun and a bit of silly happiness to get through the drudgery of washing dishes and I am up for any silly happiness. I cook everyday atleast once sometimes three complete balanced meals. My family well they have their standards set a bit high and I am guilty. I love going to the farmers market and buying wonderful just picked vegetables and fruit. I admit I don't get to the farmers market as often as I would like but it is a special ritual I share with my daughter, a big exhale a big smile insterted here. I have as she is appropriately named my Miss Daisy cart it is one of those vintage wire basket wheeled carts and its old and I bought it at a garage sale. I made a liner for it out of a bunch of vintage shabby chic fabrics and I love her she is the right bit
of ridged strength and sass. I can fill her up and still plop a hard sided basket on top for herbs and soft fruits and tadaah we are in business. My daughter is my inspiration she is brillant and has a wiked sense of humor and she likes to lead at the farmers market ever curious she will ask me whats that and what can you make ( that would be me) out of it, smile. It can be root vegetables turnips, a hoard of potatoes every shape color and size fruit oh how we love the fruit organic and sweet and I love to bake so I try to make sure there is something for my honeys huge sweet tooth. Fresh herbs and fresh salad greens yum, there is one booth at the Santa Monica Farmers Market that has the most fabulous salads mixes and baby spinach the leaves are so tender and sweet and when you walk past the table the scent of the herbs is amazing. There is a table next to it that has fresh cheese and you get to taste a minute piece of each. There are fresh eggs and breads and there is a stand that carries mushrooms just picked from Northern Ca.. There are dried fruits and flowers and it is so inspiring for me. The drive it is quite a ways for us but it has not disapointed me yet. Oh, yeah the dish cloths I am trying to be a bit more green I tried my dish cloth I made and I'll be darned I love it, I cleaned the counters and washed glasses and pans and I want MORE dishcloths!
4.14.2008
A bonnet for Isabella "Izzy"
I made this precious top down bonnet from debbie bliss cashmerino and I added a little flower I crocheted, it is so soft and sweet. My cousin adopted a sweet baby girl and named her after my mother Belle. I lost my mother when I was a little girl and when I found out my cousin named her sweet baby after my mother I was so touched. Initally my cousin and her husband who have three girls already were told it was a boy but, it turned out to be a precious baby girl. Congrats!
Flirty Apron Swap
I am in love, I love this pretty flirty apron I received. I can't wait to wear it. I kinda wish it had a back because I would wear it as a summer dress, smile! I mean it....
Look at the other goodies I got too, lovely candles yummm.... and my partner must have been reading my blog because she sent two perfect recipes a Tango Martini recipe I can't wait to try it out it has all my favorite ingredients woo, hoo! and a Sundried Tomato Torte that has pecans yummers can't wait. Thank you ever so much I am so spoilt rotten! 
so tiny
Look at how tiny those are they are toothpicks not regular toothpicks, tiny toothpicks I can't believe there is knitting on them. Thank you Bernie!
My friend Bernie is a sweetheart!
Look at what my friend Bernie sent I can't believe it. There is so many goodies and I love all of them. If you look on top of the pink needle holder there is a tiny pair of knitting needles with pearls and the tinest ball of yarn and actual knitting on them and it has a magnet on the back it is precious. 
She also sent me a skein of her own hand dyed yarn isn't it beautiful? 
She also sent me dye and look at the chocolate with a sheep on it it is so sweet.
and this needle holder, Bernie how did you know I needled a needle holder? It is made by Country Lou and the combination of fabrics is brillant I absolutely love it!!! Thank you Bernie I Love everything!!!!
4.09.2008
yellow mitered mittens
I am so inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermans style of knitting she is really brillant but I won't get on my soap box about it, smile. I have over some time collected a few of her books and dvd's. I had a few months ago dashed by purlbee and saw the mitered mittens in a lovely yellow yarn. I have lovely yellow malabrigo yarn so it was one of my projects I took on vacation. I like EZ idea of knitting winter warmth during the warm weather and it being a small totable project I love handknit socks and I always try to have some with me or in the car for that down time or appointment that has a longer wait that I expected. I have almost finished them I blocked them and I have to get my thumbs on.
*pod cozy
Well I have had this for awhile and while on vacation I was tossing it in my purse in my beach tote on the towel and well I decided I should make a protective cozy so I checked the stashed sock yarn and lookie look I actually had yarn that matches.
4.07.2008
shades of blue
The shades of blue in this photo are incredible yes blue is my favorite color. We had a wonderful vacation and the food was beyond incredible.
Tulum, Riviera Maya - Cancun
Isn't this incredibly beautiful... We went sight seeing to Playas del Carmen. This is Tulum and the waters were amazing.
Mayakoba - clapotis & listening to podcasts
I was so deliriously relaxed, I was working on my Clapotis and listening to a bunch of podcast I had downloaded. I am almost through the third section, I had read it can get boring but with the podcasts it was really mindless knitting I loved it.
3.28.2008
mellow yellow
I received yesterday from ErikaKnitz my opponet in YarnSmackdown this hat I am naming Mellow Yellow. It arrived yesterday a week after she mailed it to me. It is such a lovely Spring color, but it is ginormous. My baby is wearing it rasta style, she has really long thick hair and there is still plenty of room. My daughter asked me if she could keep it, smile...I love my baby girl! She saw something like it in one of her TeenVogue Magazines. I think it is a combination of the acrylic yarn and needle size that made it so loose and roomy.
Here it is on me and it is super super roomy.
The color isn't posting very accurately. It is a light spring yellow, a very fresh and happy color.
Thank you ErikaKnitz for my YarnSmackdown Mellow Yellow!
3.23.2008
malabrigo irish hiking hat
I finished this last saturday but haven't had a chance to post. It is malabrigo and lush and a super knit. I did have to think as I was knitting the band then picking up stitches was a real thinker for me, smile. I was a easy knit and I really like the end result.
Squash Hat
I made this darhling baby squash hat from one-skein wonders. It is so cute and soft and using rowan yarn cashsoft dk make it a lushous yummy quick knit. But two days after I finished it the intended baby boy per a sonogram was a baby girl in fact, smile! so I am debating do I add something girlyish to the hat? or do I knit a new hat? It feels so yummy because of the combination of dk and cashmere. 
3.22.2008
Books & More
Isn't this most incredible package ever ever received? Well I think so it is luurvverly I had never heard of this book Cables Untangled its wonderful and it has fabulous patterns and pictures the pictures are beautiful. This is more of a coffee table book to be left out and drooled over. I really love Gnomes! and the yellow tin had lemon drop mini candies in it. Those chocolate gone I wolfed them them down appropiately quick. Those little balls of yarn are so neat. Look at each one they are all from the same color and dye lot it a new type of yarn a variagated I am sure there is a correct term for this yarn in I don't know it though, smile... I want to thank Tamara you are so thoughtful and I appreciate and love all of it. All the time and effort to send me this Thanks. I am going to try your idea to make the reversable scarf I agree it should look great with this yarn.
3.21.2008
twisted socks
Look my lovely Cookie A pattern Twisted Flower Sock Pattern and fabulous Louet gems sock yarn in the most incredible blue you can ever imagine crystalstitches.com sent it to me so lovererly... this yarn has the most incredible feel to it. If I wasn't so intimidated by the pattern I would cast on for them right away but..... they are so intricate, I am frightened. I actually used the dyeable version of this yarn when I took my yarn dying class with the wonderful Anne of handicraftcafe.com if you are in northern Orange County you have to meet her she is also part of the allthingsstring knitting group.
it dye
3.18.2008
Sewing
I haven't sewn in awhile and I found so many fun fabrics and trims to work with. I wanted the giftee of this apron to have something fun and of course flirty. This is a bib style apron with striped bias neck and waist ties and I used orange grosgrain ribbon for the bow accents. I free hand cut a cute owl from a contrasting blue swirl fabric and added a pocket so a hankie or cell phone can be tucked in. The main fabric is retro inspired with bubbles in red, blue and orange. Such a fun projec.
3.16.2008
hat lessons
I am knitting from the knitting workshop I am amazed by how much I have absorbed already. I am tackling color patterns right now and her guidance is so easy to absorb. Plus I have to say I am having a flash to my childhood. I am also got the dvd as I started watching the first lesson I realized I used to watch her on pbs as a kid after school I heart pbs. I so vividly remember her voice and I remember being so fasinated with all the yarn....
3.13.2008
Knitted Crown
I designed this Red Crown for my daughter. She had a big school performance and she was a fashion captain. I felt she deserved a crown for all her hard work. To watch my baby so brillantly come up with a concept and take it to completion. Her design was the finale costume for thirty dancers. So since she was on the red team I knit a red crown out of Cascade. My babys Red Crown needed some jewels and I had the star seashell buttons.
3.12.2008
Habu Silk Scarf
Yummy yummy is all I can say about this yarn. I was inspired by the Mens Cashmere Scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It is a One row knit next row knit, purl and I am using two strands of Habu Nerimaki Ito. The natural irregularities or slubs of the Silk yarn and it feels like it is bloomimg in my hand, the softness is undescribable. I will be enjoying this scarf.
Camera Cozy
I designed this fuchsia Camera Cozy for my new camera with Debbie Bliss cash merino, its so bright and flashy like the lipstick I used to wear in the 80's. My son asked me to make one for his camera. He touched my heart asking me, his dear old mom to design one for him I am so flattered. I wanted his to have a vintage feel, like a tube sock and I added a longer length of ribbing to the top so the camera would stay snugly inside.
3.08.2008
My first hand dyed yarn
My yarn is so beautiful the colors are incredible and I am so proud! Thank you Anne!
I will post her blog as soon as I get info. Yay!
