Stacy

Ok, so I have yet another obsession that has now taken over to go along with the knitting and photos of Ivie!  Stitch Markers!!!  I bought a beautiful set of hand-made stitch markers from SWAK about a month ago.  Kary (aka knitwitchick on Ravelry) made them and they are absolutely adorable!  I loved them so much and I used to dabble in jewelry making so I thought I'd get out some of my old beads and such and try my hand at it.  At the same time, Courtney was looking for more stitch markers and came upon the same idea, so we've been enabling each other for the last few days.  Here are a few of the markers that I've done so far.

I've also made a set for Stacy and Wendy along with some for Laura (aka sprout and Biomaj5), Mary (yobeach) and Courtney (Yarntramp).  I'm hoping to get the markers to my local girls very soon.  Of course Laura already has hers since she'll actually brave the long drive to Guthrie to come see me. LOL Just sayin'!

Ivie decided to help me yesterday and lets just say that I spent the better part of an hour rehabilitating my beads.  You know it's my fault though.  It's not like you can expect a 2 year old to be neat and tidy all the time, right?  Plus she's so darn cute that I could never could stay mad at her.  Especially when she's saying, "I'll be a good girl, Momma" and "I'm sorry!"  But as you can see, she was pretty proud of herself.

I had to trash most of my tiny little seed beads but I was able to save and re-organize the bulk of the rest.  I'm really having a great time playing with them though and even got a few more sets done last night when insomnia crept in to keep me from my beloved sleep.  Time well spent though, I assure you.

The progress on my girasole is going pretty slow because I mostly only knit on it when I'm with more experienced knitters so as to "try" not to make any serious mistakes.  The progress on hubby's sweater is coming along nicely though.  I'm not too far away from shaping for the arms on the back side.  I'm really enjoying watching those cables appear!

All in all, I have to say thanks to all of you.  You've managed to pull me in and make me a happy knitter along with the rest of you!

Well since Stacy took most of the photos available to me from Logan and Cody's going away party at SWAK, I'll have to come up with something else to talk about.  Although, that's what I had in mind to talk about. *Sticking out my tongue at Big Sis*  Anyway, I thought since Stacy has been talking about me on her site off and on for last couple of years, I would let everyone know about me from my own point of view.

If I ever get the opportunity to talk to you, and trust me I do talk A LOT, the one thing I will never forget to mention is my little Ivie Bear.  She is about 2 1/2 years old now and is by far the most exciting part of my life.  She is funny, smart, beautiful and an absolute joy to be around.  Now of course I am a bit bias where she is concerned.  Don't think that I don't see the fact that she's still a kid and she can mess up from time to time though.  Trust me, she knows how to push Mommy and Daddy's buttons very well!  My husband's name is Steve and he is a wonderful man.  I won't post his picture because I value harmony in my marriage.  (He's not very fond of me posting his pic, if you can't tell)  He is a VERY hand guy to have around.  The only part of our home remodel that he didn't do himself was put in the granite countertops in the kitchen and lay the new carpet.  He loves to learn new trades and is a true adrenaline junkie, aka. former bullrider, Marine, etc.

Now I have to say that I'm a country girl.  Yes, I adapt to most situations regardless of the venue, but I feel most at home on an acreage with lots of room to play and not have to worry about city codes and ordinances.  I love the fact that we live on 8 1/2 acres and our neighbors are far enough away that I can walk around the house in a towel and not worry about someone seeing me through the window!  Otherwise, trust me, I wouldn't do it!

We've recently acquired a new member to our family which already included 2 dogs (Great Pyrenees) and a 50 gallon fish tank holding 4 fish.  His name is Okie and Ivie absolutely Loves him!  Sometimes she loves him too much and he runs away to her chagrin.  He does really enjoy her as well, just not necessarily when she's awake.  Okie is a lot of fun and plays well but I have to say he just might be the loudest cat I've ever had.  You never have to wonder where he's at or if he's out of food that's for sure.

Okay, so on to the knitting aspect of things.  I know that's really the part that everyone is most interested in.  I've completed a few projects since I started knitting just a few months ago.  A few scarves, 2 Ipod cozies (one for Emily's 12th birthday) and a neck warmer for Steve's hunting trip.  I'm currently working on a baby blanket for a co-worker and yes, I've taken the girasole challenge from Stacy.  I'm about 75% done with the blanket and have only barely begun the girasole.  Although I have to say I wouldn't be that far along on the girasole if it weren't for Sherry at SWAK.  She is a wonderful teacher and much more patient with me than what Stacy is *lol*.  I really have a lot of respect for Sherry and she is a joy to just sit and talk with while you're knitting.  I hope to have the blanket done within the next couple of days and I know that Stacy will have projects lined up for me for all of eternity so I'm not real worried about what to start next.  She'll have Knit-A-Longs and sister's ideas galore now that I'm sharing in her fiber obsession.  I have to say that I really am enjoying it though and I actually go to sleep thinking about what to do with the yarn I already have and what yarn to purchase for the patterns I have, not to mention all the patterns I search for on online.  Yes Wendy, I am following along in your footsteps, although I don't possess your talent, just the unstoppable thoughts of yarn and everything knitting.

Hmmmm...well I guess I can start out this time with a response to Stacy's challenge on the girasole.  See the picture below for the color of what will soon be the start of mine.  Yes, she has a way of bullying me into doing just about anything.  Or is it guilting me?  Which ever it is, I'll be taking the challenge and trying it out since she's already dyed the yarn for me!  I don't know how long it will take me, but I'll eventually get it done, even if it isn't quite as beautiful as hers.  Now to just get my "beaches" on board with me! You know who you are girls!  SWAK will be hosting a mini trunk show with the Tempted yarns to start out the knit along for the girasole this Wednesday night at the City store and also to see of my new buddies Logan & Cody to the big life in New York.  I just love these guys!  I also hate to see them leave.  They are so much fun and quite the knitters!!  In fact, Cody taught me the cast on that I've used for preactically every project I've done so far. 

Speaking of projects and Cody.  I finally finished my Fish Net scarf and I'm pretty happy with it.  But nowhere near as happy as Cody was when he saw it this past Wednesday during SnB at SWAK.  Just look at how wonderful he looks modeling my labor of love!

I think he might have been going for a Grace Kelly/Audry Hepburn type of thing.  Either way, he looks absolutely devine and I'm honored that he felt so compelled to give my work the hype that it deserves!  Thank you Cody! (aka, Yarnboy, lovingly named by the beautiful and talented miss Wendy Johnson)

I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone Wednesday night!  Stacy, Emily, Ivie and I will all be there with bells on (figuratively, you wouldn't want me to wear bells, I promise!).

Well I've decided to Hijack Stacy's website!  That'll teach her to give her little sister access and acutally expect that I'll be good. *Evil Laugh*  I will say it hasn't been as easy I first thought.  This website thing can be quite a challenge.  For example, this is the second time I've tried to create this post!  I hit preview and *poof* it all disappeared into cyberspace. Maybe that's the punishment for...what did Courtney and Mary call it?  Oh yes, Hasselhoffing I believe is the term.

Anyway, the "Cricle of Friends" yarn has been dyed and is ready to be sent out.  I have to give Stacy a lot of credit for being able to duplicate this.  I didn't exactly listen to her when she said, "Now remember to write down how you're doing this so that we can dye more if anyone else wants it". To be perfectly honest, I didn't think I could come up with anything that this many people would like!  So thank you for approving of my color scheme, but Stacy really put in a lot of time and I don't know how many skeins of yarn trying to get that green right.  I guess it just isn't as easy as it first appears.

No matter how wonderful a dyer she is, I will still be holding her most cherished and nostalgic Raggedy Ann doll hostage until she gives me MY skein of "Circle of Friends" back!  I mean really, the nerve of her.  She lets me go crazy with all her yarn and dye and she doesn't even have the decency to give me my own product of creativity.  You just have no idea how hard it is being related to her!

But don't fear for little Ann.  She is more than comfortable on my guest bed surrounded by a variety of colors and fiber.  And if she happens to get bored, she can throw off the loose bonds of soft handknitted scarves to start playing with a sock pattern or two. I feel I've been very kind, she even has access to my needles! (That Stacy got for me)

I guess I should go and organize that mess of a room.  Since Stacy has introduced me to Wendy and Keely, I can't seem to keep it organized.  All that yarn!!!  Yes...I've been pulled into the obession as well.

Until the next hijacking............. unless she changes the password!