Happy Birthday Dad...

I think of you everyday. Here we are in the early 60's.  Did you pick out those pants for Mom? 

Charles Emerson Snook

1/31/38 - 3/29/98

I am a Winner...

I just wanted to share my big win.  Ellen, from The Long Thread had a giveaway from Sew Modern and I was the lucky winner.  Here are the goods.

Lauren at Sew Modern sent me a lovely half-yard bundle, including:
Oliver & S Cape Ann Big Flower in Dragonfly Green
Oliver & S Cape Ann Toile in Dragonfly Green
Ann Kelle Remix Dots in Steel
Kona cotton in Glacier
Lotta Jansdotter Echo Choma in blue and gray
Robert Kaufman Essex Linen in Steel

Pretty cool huh?

Thank you Ellen and Lauren!

Sock it To Me...

One of my favorite knitters, Kim of  I'm gonna tell Mom!, knit one pair of socks per month in 2011.  This, combined with my new Magic Loop skills {great tutorial here}, and my husb's Christmas wish list, inspired me to knit socks again.

I am currently working on these.

I use the Adult Basic Sock pattern by Ann Norling, and a US 1, 40 inch cirular Knit Picks needle.  The yarn is Malabrigo Sock yarn {fabulous}. 

Yesterday I finished this pair, knit out of Regia Design Line by Kaffe Fassett {from my stash}.

I finished this next pair of socks before Prince Charles returned to school.  These socks were on double pointed needles among my UFOs... for a loooooong time.  I only had a few inches to  knit to finish the pair {shameful}.  I gave them to Charlie and he paid me the highest of compliments.  He wore them 3 days straight and on the 3rd day, at a party, allowed his friends to try them on.  Now they want me to knit them a pair of socks.  Anywho, these are made of Plymouth Happy Feet yarn.

For Christmas, the husb asked for a pair of socks that weren't too tight at the top.  So this is where my sock story began.  These socks are made of Dream in Color Sock yarn.  To finish these socks I used the "Quick Toe Shaping Method".  A method I created when I discovered at the end of the second sock that I had forgot to alternate knit rows with decreasing rows {duh}.  He'll never be the wiser.

I found these socks on Pinterest.  Maybe someday...

{You can find this picture, free pattern, and purchase yarn at Sweet Paprika Designs.} 

I am a Late Bloomer...

On so many levels... I am a late bloomer.

FIRST of all, HaPpY NeW YeAr... a little late.  Prince Charles just went back to school and I feel like I can finally get organized and begin to hit the new year running... a week late.  Resolutions?  I am keeping them simple....

Simplify, Organize, Finish.

SECONDLY, I have joined the rest of the universe and signed on to Pinterest.  All my friends kept asking me questions about it {assuming I knew}.  I kept denying the opportunity to spend more time on-line.  Then my friend Cindi asked me if she could borrow my Cricut fonts to make Subway Art for Christmas gifts.  I was forced to admit I did not know what Subway Art meant.  She said, "you know what it is... it is all over Pinterest".  Okay, so I do know what it is, I just did not know that it was called Subway Art.  Feeling just a little bit out of the crafty loop, I finally accepted an invitation and I am in...100%.  No more bookmarking ideas, I just pin them and can easily organize and view all that inspires me.  And I keep telling myself this falls under my resolution to Organize.  Right?  Now you can

 

THIRDLY, my cell phone is on it's last... leg.  I am struggling with what to get as a replacement.  My current phone has served me well.  It is however, a stupid phone, as opposed to the Smartphone everyone else is carrying.  I just don't want to become a slave to an upgrade.  It is hard to make it through a dinner out, or casual conversation without someone whipping out their pocket computer.  I don't want to becaome that someone, and I know it will be hard to resist.  I discussed this issue with my son and he said "Mom, you probably don't need a Smartphone at your age".  Oooooh... what's a girl... or oldish woman to do?