Commercial

Car tune up and full tank of gas...........$100.00

Packing, laundry and unpacking..........blood, sweat, and tears

Groceries and alcohol.............................$300.00

Spending the summer in paradise with your Grandparents.......PRICELESS

Which Way?

Remember the Salt Water Taffy Shawl? Wait, here it is for you to see.

 I designed this a few months ago for the lovely ladies at Decadent Fibers. They made up kits and off to the shows they went. My lovelies, wanted to see if I could rework the shawl a little to use a little less yarn and therefore open up the market on the shawl (less yarn = less price!) I set out to work and I came up with this.

The new shawl has one less panel and I originally wanted to shorten it, but I didn't because I love the long flow of this shawl. I love that you can wear it over a jeans jacket for even more warmth (and rockin' style - if you ask me!) The Spring and Early summer here in New Jersey has been really chilly, so I wore the original quite often!

The original wraps all the way around your back and hangs down your right shoulder. The newer version does not. The newer version has a longer sleeve, and hangs over your left shoulder - you need a shawl pin (ooh! another excuse to buy something!) to hold it in place.

So I am leaving you with photos how to wrap them. You decide.... which would you prefer?? I say, go for them both!

First, put the sleeve on your left arm and place the fabric that hangs down up on your right shoulder. Next, wrap shawl around across the front of your body and over your left shoulder (for shorter version, leave and place shawl pin on your left shoulder.) For longer version, continue wrapping shawl around and across your back to your right shoulder, pull forward and add a shawl pin to your right shoulder. There you have it!

 

Father's Day

Yesterday Dumplin' and I were in the car going to the yarn shop. "This is the last time we will be going to the yarn shop until the Fall" I tell her. "We are leaving for the beach next Friday" That prompted a barrage of questions that ranged from Will we ever come back to the yarn shop, to Are we going to take 1 car or 2 to the beach? I told her that we would be taking two cars because Daddy has to go work and we will need our car during the week. She informed me:

"Not Papa, he's a house dad. He stays at home all the time"

"Yes, that's right, Papa stays at home - but he used to work when I was a little girl, he worked a lot. In fact, he worked so hard and saved his money that now, we get to spend the whole summer with him in paradise - aren't we lucky?"

"We sure are lucky Mom! We are so lucky he is home all the time so he can give us boat rides!"

I love you Daddy, and I love your boat rides. I will see you on Friday.

Bony

Free Pattern

Yesterday I was minding my own business, looking at my email... when, BAM!! I opened my Redheart.com newsletter. I was smacked in the face by a design I had forgotten about! What a surprise..... I really liked the way this capelet came out, and it is quick to do! The original is made in Lustersheen, but I think I may make another one in malabrigo sock, or something like that... we shall see what I come up with. Here is the official photo, I hope my hair is that cool when I grow up.

I am taking an online course about crochet garment design, we are covering areas of the design process that I really procrastinate with (because I don't like to do them). We started this week and I have completed 2 homework assignments. Last night I went to access the files I need, and I couldn't access them... I freaked out! I felt like that dream where you are in college and all of a sudden you are on your way to the final and you realize you never went to class! All is well though, I finished my assignment on time. It makes me think that if I were this interested in my studies in college, I would have rocked college - don't get me wrong... I graduated college, I just rocked it in a different way!! Time sure flies.... I graduated college 17 years ago, Holy Cow!

Speaking of time..... can someone explain to me how this was 5 years ago this Sunday (June 14th)? It was one of the best days of my life!

Sick Monday

Well, the little ones got me this time... I have the cold that two of my children had last week! I am feeling quite under the weather, so I will just show you what I have...

I made this shawl for my SIL and gave it to her on her birthday this past Saturday, she liked it! It is called My blue jeans shawl I made it in Malabrigo sock yarn in the colorway Impression sky. It was a quick and easy project with beautiful results. The shawl is light as a feather and will be the perfect thing for her to wrap herself up in at the beach!

I received a few copies of this booklet last week and I was excited to see a baby pattern I designed made the first page.... It looks so cute! 

I am finishing up the Salt Water Taffy shawl re-do - It should be blocking this afternoon.... I just have to finish the sleeve and the edge. It all depends on if my nose stops dripping long enough for me to be able to look down at my knitting!! Nice, right?!

Always wear clean underwear

Last night was the Spring concert at Son #1's school. Now, I have to say that a lot of parents complain about going to these. It's hot, it's late on a school night, there isn't a lot of seating and the content is......well......OK. I do admit, with two sick children home, it was hard to get out of the house for this concert. Look at how handsome he is!

I looked like crap. No makeup, tee shirt with pasta sauce spots on it, flip flops...... and you know what happened?!!! I was recognized for being an outstanding parent (for volunteering my time) and had to stand up in front of the whole audience and my Son presented me with a flower!! Are you kidding me!!! Makes me think of the saying.... make sure you have clean underwear on.

Anyway, during the performance little Grace (who was sitting - well she never was sitting - behind me) had a hard time focusing, she was flitting about and her mother was losing patience. I am reworking the Salt Water Taffy pattern for the ladies at Decadent Fibers and was knitting away enjoying the show.... I turned and asked if Grace would like to knit for a bit... she only had to be shown a few times, and off she went... knitting like a pro. After a few rows on my shawl she went visiting about and came back. I think we have a future knitter!!! Just doing my part!

Here she is (we took this picture together) holding my Addi clicks (not to shabby to learn on!)

I have to say that I LOVED the show, I am so proud to be his Mom.

PS. When he handed me the flower, he kissed me in front of everyone....that's a good boy.