Friday, December 30, 2011

Color me..MINE!

INSPIRATION...comes from everyplace, but I have been going to a place called PINTEREST!  I <3 pinterest!  It has a plethora of ideas that you can put together and make something happen!


So, tonight we went to COLOR ME MINE!
We had fun choosing out our bowls.  Tori was set on doing a pho bowl, but I wanted to do something smaller (and less expensive)..I chose this ramen bowl with a hole for the chopsticks!  Tori suggested I use it for a YARN bowl which is what I have been wanting to have her make one for me.....
What a good idea!!!

I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's done!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 
2011 GOOD BYE, AND HELLO 2012

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Secret Santa and Christmas!



Today is Christmas in California, and on Ravelry, I signed up to be in the Secret Santa Group....I was blessed with a friend, Annie, who lives in Visalia, Ca...funny thing, my mom grew up in Visalia!

I love all the things I got for Christmas.  I was Annie's secret Santa, and I wish I would've been able to do more, but this bag was so cute! I love love love it!  HOW cute is this???

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Let's Knit Yarn Shop


OOOH I found another great yarn shop! I have been wanting to go to this store, but never get a chance..and so today, I "stole" a few minutes to check it out!
Address:
16126 S Western Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
Ok, so you sort of need to know Japanese, or at least appreciate Japanese, but it really has some great yarns. I saw this shrug, and it is very easy that they don't even have a pattern. I'm going to make it using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I love that yarn...and of course the sales girl showed me some of the yummy colors....DON'T be intimidated by the Japanese ladies there..they are all very nice and sweet! (and know enough english too).
so I bought some, and then to find out at home my computer crashed...not a good thing.. To spend money on yarn and the find out I have to spend more on a computer...when will I learn?????

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

ElleMyra Shrug

this is my latest project. I love it. I love it! Can you love yarn???

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Knittin Silly






Knitting at the Beach....Huntington Beach...US OPEN Surf Competition...the cute surfers were waaaay out in the ocean...so I'm glad I brought my knitting..it was more interesting (GRIN!)



A group I belong to, told this joke today...thought it was too funny because..yes..I have been knitting too (shhhhh)


A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway.
Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!




Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled,



'PULL OVER!'



'NO!' the blonde yelled back,



'IT'S A SCARF!'


Monday, August 22, 2011

Stitches from the Heart

“Stitches from the Heart” Tea Party Fundraiser
Saturday, Aug 27, 12:00-3:00
Bring your donations of handmade hats, sweaters, blankets ~ we will have a special drawing for participants!

We're having a REALLY BIG sale of donated yarn, and several of our regular yarns will be on sale as well!
We're also having a 50/50 drawing, and if you can't make it, we're also accepting monetary donations!
And let's not forget the refreshments!

Don’t Miss Out!
“Stitches from the Heart”Knit or crochet hats, sweaters or blankets for preemies and babies in need; drop off ahead of time or join the group led by Peggy Baxter from Stitches from the Heart; the Second Mon of each month, 10:00-12:00, here at Stitches In Time YarnStitches from the Heart also needs monetary donations; it costs about $10 for each box that is mailed to recipients!

STITCHES in TIME, Bellflower, CA

Spiral Knit Preemie Hat
Materials: DK weight yarn,
size 5 double pointed needles
Gauge: 22 sts = 4”

Size: preemie; for larger sizes, add stitches in groups of 4, or use worsted weight yarn and larger needles, and work longer before starting decreases

Cast on 49, slip sts from needle to needle until you have 16 sts on 2 needles and 17 sts on 1 needle; arrange in a triangle shape so you can work circularly.

1. (K 2, p 2) around until 1 st remains; this will become the first st of the next round. Place a marker in work to mark the beginning of the round.

Continue repeat ( to ) around and around; the pattern moves 1 stitch to the right on every round,Work until 3” from the beginning (5” for worsted weight yarn) or 4 rounds less than desired length to top of head.

When hat is long enough, stop near the end of the round having just completed “p 2”; move marker to this point.Decrease for Top:1. (K 2 tog, p 2) around, end with k last stitch.

2. (P 2 tog, k 1) around; 1 st will remain, move this stitch to next needle.3. (K 2 tog) to last 3 sts, k 3 tog.4. (P 2 tog) around; cut yarn and sew through remaining sts.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Travels up the Coast





For my birthday, I was taken by my daughter and my mom to Santa Barbara and Solvang area. I love the Central coast of California, and I love the weather, and the drive. Only a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles, and without traffic....it can be a nice get-away!


I have been wanting to go visit the knitting shops in Santa Barbara. It has been the elusive unicorn for me. Everytime I went to SB it was Monday, or a Holiday or...some other event going on like a parade, or fiesta...and so it was closed! BUT..this time, I was able to visit all the stores that I wanted to visit!

 


Loop & Leaf and Knit & Pearl Boutique were two shops I have been wanting to see. I love both of them, but if I had to choose a favorite, I guess it would be loop & leaf. I like the old house and the chairs under the tree. It is very serene... I will show you more photos later of the stores.













But, don't let me tell you that Knit & Pearl is very cozy too. It has the Spud & Chloe line that I love! She was telling me that there s a KAL coming soon for one of the tops I was looking at. If I could afford to get all that yarn for that project, I would've!!! :
This was Rasmussens in Solvang..very nice but you have to go upstairs to see their yarns. It is more geared towards the old fashion knitter, I think, not the trendy stuff, but I liked the NORO yarns...and there was Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, which I bought 2 skeins....I am making some fingerless gloves for Tori in the softest green. Very nice!



NOW...my last find is...Craft Essentials in Goleta...just north of Santa Barbara off Turnpike exit, is this cute simple craft store. Much like Michaels, and yet has some wonderful yarns! I am going to show you more of what they had inside! hmm...I really could've spent a lot of $$ here!!!  This store is a full on craft store

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Larry Crowne - Tom Hanks Pranks!

Tom Hanks played this practical joke on Julia Roberts... I LOvE it..and so did Julia! Her reaction is priceless! don't you wish you could've been there???


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgexYVCwzm4

(Access Hollywood intro- with Tom Hanks being Tom Hanks)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Seeing Cherries!






I decided to make a jacket/harness for my little precious doggie, Suki. I <3 cherries and so I thought I would 'try' my pattern that I just made to make a sweet harness for her! She's so funny because she loves to wear clothes but she hates trying them on, or have things go over her head...so as I was trying to fit this pattern and the pieces on her, she would run away, and I had to chase her all over the house...




Finally catching up with her was fun, but exhausting!





Well, it's not knitted but quilted and almost done. I have to look for some wide velcro for the abdomen area tomorrow...plus I wanted to make a hawaiian one for her too. It isn't easy to find purple hawaiian fabric at Joanns = go figure that one!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Cosby Sweater Project



The Cosby show...1980's..was my favorite show. I was so bummed when they finally decided to stop production because it was so funny. I love Bill Cosby's humor and his family values. He might not be perfect but he certainly had a way about him that was just too funny and yet, you knew he cared about the kids on his show and "FAMILY".




one of the things they always had, was a sense of fashion too, and sweaters! Finally someone has made a list of the sweaters they wore on the show...I thought it was great..maybe you will too!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

New yarns....



Again Treasure hunting at Tuesday morning! i wonder what store they got these from but they are gorgeous! I love the selction they had..they had several different color waves for this lovely Louisa Harding ribbon yarn, called Kimono Ribbon. Lovely rich colors!





The other yarn I found was Wisdom yarn POEMS...nice 100% wool yarn perfect for felting. They did have another wave that was more turquoise, (5 skeins) but I decided that I have enough yarn...gasp! so I have to wait on these......


Saturday, May 14, 2011

In Memory of ....Lilo

I used to have 4 cats..




this is my shy girl, Lilo. She was the sweetest cat, who just loved to be petted but not picked up and cuddled. She would sleep next to me and she was just so gentle and sweet.




she didn't like the doggie (suki) but I have to say that as she was sick, suki would cry and watch her in the crate.




suki and I both miss Lilo




Now, I just have the 1 dog and 1 cat....little more manageable, but I miss the ones who have left....

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Yarns shops coming back?





Article stated that Yarn shops are slowing making a comeback.....well, I hope so!!!










"Mar 13, 2011 ... Yarn shops that survived the recession, and the unraveling of the knitting boom before that, are casting about for ways to boost sales."










Tuesday, April 26, 2011

More...knitting in the sun....




I just found this cute book and I LOVE the sweeeeet patterns in it! I got it at Borders in San Luis Obispo..and yes, it is still open..I am sad that my local Borders is now closed. It was within walking distance at my work, and I would sometimes go during lunch to look.




This book has cute patterns, that I want to try to make larger. The top in the center, has a lacy collar and cute little designs that are lacy...OH, and it is a top down knit!




Some of the other patterns are top down or bottom up one piece construction, which is way cool for me! I really don't like doing seams. I think they end up being too bulky.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Ball & Skein yarn shop



DO you know where I am??? I love Cambria...the cool little town tucked away just a few miles from the ocean and in a little canyon but it has the cutest feel for it!
Tori and I stopped to give Suki a little walking exercise and she enjoyed the sunshine. It was nice and cool, but the sun felt good!








Of course I had to stop at the local yarn shop!



















OOGLE and oodles :)

didn't buy anything but it was fun to look!







































MALABRIGO! (this is a man wearing this sweater!)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Scarlet Skein - Paso Robles






Paso Robles....I used to go to Paso Robles on the way to my summer camp in June. We used to go to Mount Hermon in the San Jose area (sort of -San Jose...a little south). Anyways, I decided that since Tori and I were driving north from SLO, that we should stop, and visit the park. We didn't stop and I didn't take any photos, but I did stop at this shop. I LOVE it!



There was a cute little lady who was working who greeted me and asked about projects I was working on, and also the yarns I like and what I was looking for. She told me about the sales (Noro, Debbie Bliss!)....



but I decided to get these 4 skeins of Berroco VINTAGE. Love the color!











Now...what am I going to make with this????

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Yarn shopping in SLO county!




So, this time, going to SLO..I went to my favorite shop..Yarns at the Adobe. I went specifically to look for Pure Pima by berroco, and found the yarn..but not the color I was looking for. So, I ended up getting a darker green. hmmm....not sure yet that it will be the look I want but I might not have a choice without buying a skein over the internet! (and paying shipping!)...


So, I loved the sample they had done with this yarn, and took a picture of the doll with the halter/scarf. She did a feather and fan and added mohair to create the darker stripe. Nice!








Monday, April 11, 2011

YARN...and more yarn







DE-STASH...or at least re-examining the stash....

I found a suitcase and boxes and lo and behold..what did I find??? MORE YARN! NOT all was cheap yarn..There actually was some nice lovely wools and cottons from my lys visits...when I still was able to spend money on yarn! I moved some of them to these bedding cases. They do make nice storage for yarn, it breathes still and yet keeps them contained...(although the first picture has a broken zipper!!










and....no, the dog was not in the suitcases or the bags, but she found a comfortable spot on my now, messy bed...with all the yarn and stuff!

Favorites on Etsy - not made by me, but you gotta check it out!!!