eeeee-aaaackkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the sound I make when I am behind in writing report cards. Don't get me wrong- I have a truly lovely class with lots of ability-I just hate to mislead, or to not include everything-so I will be out of commission for the next week or so- if I post at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wish me luck-

a contest that looked interesting........

I picked up a copy of a new magazine- named "Adorn" -has all kinds of crafts in it-and there is a contest (on page 12)- It says...."Design a craft or home based project utilizing VELCRO brand Fabric Fusion (note- it seems to be the regular hook and loop tape- but it is applied to fabrics with a steam iron. It also says it is ideal for zipless closures, bonding gathers and pleats, applying trims.......etc) Log on to adornmag.com/craftchallenge.php for entry details." Hmmm- this has me interested- the first prize is $500, AND a Rowenta Professional Focus Iron AND a subscription to the Adorn mag for a year. The applications can be basically anything-even though this is primarily a knitting blog. But I wonder if you folks have any brain waves that might work? I imagine knitting and velcro has some sort of application (although I think the hook part has to stay away from the knitting part). But there must be something. I know I have used the stick on Velcro dots (love those puppies) for just about everything-I even had the kids in my class attach them to the sides of boxes and clean milk cartons to use them as building blocks for some projects we were doing. But iron on? Hmmmmm. The other contest I liked was this one- "One Beautiful Mess wins! To enter, send us a photo of your latest crafting clutter-the messiest will win. Entries must be received by 4/9/07. " Email me if you want the address. Anyhow- you can win something called a goClean- a lightweight vacuum that works on spills both wet and dry alike.





I also found mention of something I would like to try- http://www.louet.com/specialty/hand_dyeing_kit.shtml It is the Louet kit to try some hand dyeing- easy and in your own kitchen, apparently. I have "done" the Kool Aid dyeing-This is some fingering weight that I have done- with about 8 different flavours of KoolAid. But I want to try some of the Gaywool dyes- to experiment a bit. This kit includes yarn to practice on, as well. Hmmmmm. Anyone know of a Canadian source? Edited later: My friend, Ruby, came through with an address-Louet North America3425 Hands Rd,Prescott, ON, CanadaPhone: 613-925-4502Fax: 613-925-1405 email: info@louet.com
Now to ask about ordering. Anyone with me?

Anyhow- back to marking papers- report cards are coming......blech.

A question, a comment, and some progress

A question- I am going to be in the Franklin, Pennsylvania area during the March Break. Does anyone know if there are some yarn stores in the area I should visit?

And a comment- my wee baby girl (okay- not so wee and not so baby) will be turning 9 tomorrow. Oh I can feel the grey hair just a sproutin'.

And progress- I have about 8 inches on the back of the Lopi sweater- is it ever nice-but I am going on a bus ride with a bunch of Grade 7's on Friday- to Calabogie Ski Hill- and I need something that I can knit on the bus. (and a fair isle/ intarsia Lopi sweater with about 9 colours is not that kind of a thing) Sooooooooo- I hauled out some Tivoli Aran yarn-in a warm navy with little tweedy bits-and I am going to make a plain sweater. I edged it with orange alpaca (some of the tweedy bits are orange) and I am knitting in the round all the way up. Then I plan on making the sleeves, joining it all up on one long circular, and then knitting some cables that get closer together near the neck for the yoke. Then some short rows on the back of the neck- a turtle neck collar- and baboom- a "Saturday morning" sweater. You know what I mean- that kind of warm, comfy thing that you slip on to run to the grocery store. Or to slip on under your coat. Or something that looks great with a pair of jeans and a cotton turtleneck.
So that way I can knit on the bus. With little or no chance of losing all credibility with these 12 year olds by losing my breakfast all over my lap. (I can't look down when I am travelling). So- let's aim for a picture on the weekend. [edited later- a picture of the sweater- not, well, you know!!!!!]

By the way- I also do not ski (hello- I have a total knee replacement). So I am going to knit at the chalet as well. And be the "parent figure" for all those kids when they want something. I hope the coffe is good!

Who woulda thought??????

You scored as Harry Potter. You are a very passionate and caring person when it comes to the wellness of your friends as well as others. You're very temperamental and sarcastic, and sometimes you'll flow a little bit over to the arrogant and obnoxious side when your temper gets the best of you. But you're bold and daring and will stand up for what you feel is right with bravery. Sirius Black 81% Harry Potter 81% Draco Malfoy 78% Hermione Granger 78% Luna Lovegood 78% Oliver Wood 72% Ron Weasley 69% Neville Longbottom 69% Albus Dumbledore 69% Percy Weasley 69% Remus Lupin 69% Bellatrix Lestrange 63% Severus Snape 63% Lord Voldemort 63% Harry Potter Character Combatibility Test created with QuizFarm.com

Found this one through Miss Scarlet at KnittinFool.

Today's Forecast

High 4

So- do you think the groundhog was right?

Oops I did it again........

Yup- it was nigh time to start yet another sweater- this one is out of good old Lopi. Yes, it is kind of harsh to the touch, but it wears well, comes in great colours, and I like the weight of it. I am using similar colours to the photo (from Knitters magazine, by the way), except that the blue is not quite as bright, and I have some nice lime green in there, and gold instead of yellow. I think it will be amazing.

Onto other things........................

What if I combine these two together-

Wouldn't Bear be the talk of the doggies on the street?????????? Hmmmm. Maybe not in a good way.

We will be taking the big old boy up to see his other grandparents this weekend, in Kemptville. So I will be knitting all the way!!!!!

Any knitting stores I need to go and see up there?

Any chance of a storm day tomorrow?????

You know, the one redeeming quality about February is that there is a possibility of a storm day. That one elusive "day off". I know, I know- we teachers do not have a day off. We have to get to the nearest school when it is safe to do so. And the school where I work is probably one of the three that are closest to my house. But the reality is- the snow day is a "day out of the ordinary". You are never quite sure if you are even going to have any students who show up! Of course, there are the "walkers"- the die hards who get all bundled up every day and get themselves to the school. And the other "tough parenting" kids- those whose parents belong to the "I had to walk five miles in the snow up to my shoulders, uphill, both ways" line of thinking. They are the parents who will drive their kids to school as soon as the "bus cancellation" notices are heard on the radio. These kids arrive early! And occasionally, you will have a kid who didn't hear the notice, and came to school-it is worth it to see that kid's face when he finds out!
But the day is not usually one of teaching- because over half of your class is away. So you have your lesson plans all done- for the next day- and this day is a little gift. You generally share your kids with other teachers/classes-so you end up getting a little more time to yourself to "do" stuff- either putting up that bulletin board, or getting some marking done, or...? whatever. And you get to have fun with the kids who are there- your day is filled with games in the gym, or movies, or art classes, or visiting the library for as long as you want.
It's a little gift of time from Mother Nature.
So everyone- get out there and do the "Snow Dance"!!!!!!!!

Edited later:
Okay- which one of you didn't dance?????????

my mitts- so far

Lookee lookee-these are my version of the Molas Mittens from the Morehouse Merino Knits Book. This is, of course, Big Giant Poodle Head mitten, and the other one will have my little Butterscotch Baby (the Boufman). I made the mitten itself out of Naturally Merino and Fur, knit at a tight gauge- me likem dis stuff. I haven't put the thumb on yet, since I am using the needles for the other mitten. But you get the idea.

My husband thinks I've lost it.

Little does he know- I never actually had "it".

No Sheep For You and SP 10

Oh I am so very very excited!!!!! I was over at Knitpicks, just snooping (my sister said that she just sent me a sizeable gift certificate to Knitpicks for my birthday- which is this Saturday- I will be turning thirty-eighteen) AND- I saw the new "No Sheep For You" book in the upcoming titles. AND (bestill my heart) they showed the inside pages- and there-on the first view, top right- MY DESIGN! My bathrobe. Way cool. I really like working for that group. Very very nice.
Now on to other news- I have signed up for Secret Pal 10 (I really enjoyed SP9). And here is the quiz........................................................
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Wool, silk, anything natural (as in from plants and animals) works for me. I love wool and cotton blends. And I would like to try some seacell. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? crunchy cheapo acrylics. I know there are some nicer acrylics out there, but I am still not real wild about them. I am also not a fan of that yarn that looks like it has jcloth and feather tags on it. Or fun fur. 2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Well, a tool box, primarily. I have quite a few. And my really nice ones are in a handblown glass jug. 3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I learned when I was a kid-knit my first complete sweater when I was about 14, and so that makes me a knitter for almost 40 years. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Well, I design for money, and I like to try challenging things. 4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? nope, not currently. 5. What's your favorite scent? Well, I am allergic to just about anything, but I like light florals on me, spicy things for the air. 6. Do you have a sweet tooth? And the pope would be a Catholic person, yes? Favorite candy? White chocolate, coconut things, butterscotch. 7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? embroidery, painting (pictures, not walls) Do you spin?nope- not yet....maniacal laughter.......8. What kind of music do you like? blues, Christmas music Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? Yes- my car loves MP3s.(if your buddy wants to make you a CD)9. What's your favorite color(s)? Brights, as well as black Any colors you just can't stand? beige and ecru. 10. What is your family situation? husband and daughter- one of each One is 45, the other almost 9) Do you have any pets? Yup- Bear- the BGPH (Big Giant Poodle Head) 11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yeas and no (ponchos tend to look like tablecloths on a table on me- yeah, I got me quite a rack) 12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?Lately, anything for me. 13. What are you knitting right now? Um- a modular knit sweater, a scarf, a mitten, a glove, another sweater- I am a bit loosey goosey- very difficult to commit) 14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes- but useful things 15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? either Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Depends on what I am knitting 16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, and yes- they both get a good workout. 17. How old is your oldest UFO? oh my- I actually have a sweater I started to knit my husband in our second year of marriage (hmm- around 1995) Then he said he really didn't like brown. 18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas. 19. Is there anything that you collect? uh- debts?20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Yes- but I will make a list if needed- I could get quite embarrassing. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? just about all of them 21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Uh- continental? 22. Are you a sock knitter? Yup What are your foot measurements? I wear a size 10 shoe 23. When is your birthday? February 10th

This one should be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hot Dog-is it cold!

I know-that is what winter in Canada is all about. But I had gotten somewhat seduced about the whole "warmer winter thing", and the idea of "no snow, not so cold" was an acceptable way of looking at it. But today-I literally gasped when I went outside! And to top it all off, the school where I work was also COLD. We couldn't even use the gym today. A glitch in the new heating system is to blame. But I wore my entrelac sweater (the one that the Yarn Harlot herself admired!!!) and warm knit socks-I was toasty.
I am currently working on some dark navy Naturally Merino and Fur mittens-I knit them using 3.5 mm needles- the effect is almost a felted fabric. The pattern is from Morehouse Merino Knits. I am hoping to put white poodles on them with felt. Yeah, I know. I am poodle crazy. But they should be pretty neat.
Now to go watch "Stargate: Atlantis"! Ba bye!

My next project(s)

Yup-projectSSSSSSSSSS. I can't seem to commit to one thing lately. I want to work on the sweater from the Knitty surprise. It is stunning. AND I have reworked the pattern to incorporate a light worsted weight gauge instead of the fingering weight (mind you, it would be tres stunning in a fingering weight). And I also have the Fleece Artist vest on the needles (see Dec. 28 post). The yarn is Scotia Silk (half silk, half merino) and is very yummy. The knitting part is side to side-you knit one row, slide the stitches back to your starting point on the circular (or swing needles, should you have sprung for them), pick up the second ball of yarn, knit for awhile with that, eventually turn the piece and knit with the first yarn again. Makes for a great way to cut up the variegation so as to avoid pooling and weird jags.

AAAAAAAnd- do you recall Big Blue? She's back out from the marination chamber. I was going to go with no sleeves and make it a vest. Then sleeves. Then no sleeves. Now we are back to sleeves. So I am knitting away on the final sleeve (one is attached, ready to go). By the way. I attached the sleeve into the armhole by picking up exactly the same number of stitches (as the top of sleeve) around the shoulder socket. Then I lined it all up and do a three needle bind off on the inside of the sleeve. Now, I suppose I could do the three needle bind off on the outside- and I would get a much different look-sort of a designer ridge. But when you do it on the inside, you get a tailored, nicely finished edge, and no puckering or silly pinning on the sleeve.

What to do first? Hmmmmmmmmm.

Edited later.........

What do you get when you take a major snowy day, such as this

and add a big goofy four footer?

You get THIS ! (Doesn't Bear have a great smile?)

Click for BIG

Happy Birthday Ruby!!!!

My friend, Ruby, from here- http://gaspe-knitting.blogspot.com/ is having a birthday today. So zip on over there and wish her a happy day (as well as a Happy Groundhog Day) (seems Wiarton Willie popped out, didn't see his shadow, so came on out- I guess that means an early spring?) Every best wish for continuing good fortune, Ruby!