Kat in the Bag

Magic?

2011-11-15T17:49:00.001-05:00

Sometimes magic is another name for miracle...

Want to know what to get me for Christmas???

2010-11-22T19:03:00.003-05:00

Look here for my wish list at KnitPicks.com :
http://www.knitpicks.com/cfCart/viewWishlist.cfm?wishlistid=FEEE93EB-219B-8E23-CC246045796101FE&media=WLBL

Sunday afternoon at our house...

2010-08-24T22:43:00.000-04:00

Mock Cable Rib Socks Pattern...

2010-04-06T18:09:00.003-04:00

Abbreviations:
k2tog= knit 2 st together.
mc2= mock cable 2 stitches as follows: k2tog, but do not take them off the left needle, then placing needle between 2 st, knit the 1st st on the needle, then take stitches off left needle.
p2tog= purl 2 st together
ssk = slip 2 stitches knitwise, then put them back on the left needle purlwise, then knit them together through the back loops.
Cast on 72 st using the Magic loop method. Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Use needle size to make correct gauge of 7-8 st = 1 inch.
Work pattern as follows:
row1- *k2, p2,* repeat * to * around to beginning of row.
row2- *mc2, p2, k2, p2* repeat * to * around to beginning of row.
row3- repeat row1
row4- *k2, p2, mc2, p2* repeat * to * around to beginning of row..
Repeat these 4 rows until cuff section is desired length.
Heel:
Move stitches on needles 1 st to the right, so that pattern starts with p1, k2, ...then ends with ...k2, p1.
With Magic loop, if working 2 socks at a time, heels have to be worked separately from each other.
Working on 1/2 of stitches (36) work heel flap heel in pattern, back and forth (back side will be k2 p2 ribbing) slipping the first st of each row, an even # of rows, for desired # of rows. I used 24 rows as this was an equal repeat of pattern, but this is not necessary. When flap portion is complete, stop the pattern, and work sole with plain stockinette stitch.
Work sole as follows:
row1- sl 1, k22, ssk, turn.
row2- sl 1, p10, p2tog, turn.
row3- sl 1, k10, ssk, turn
Repeat rows 2 & 3 until 12 stitches remain, ending with row 2.
Sl 1 knit 11, then starting with 11th st k, pick up 14 st in sl sts along side of heel flap, then, if doing 2 socks at a time, work second heel as the first.
when second heel is done, resume working in the round. Work sole side in plain stockinette st. When you come to the second side of the heel, pick up 14 more stitches as on the first side. Pick these up on the needles holding the sole stitches. The sock will be a bit skewed until the side decreases are done. Work the top of the sock in pattern as for the cuff, leaving the 1 purl stitch on either side.
When the first row of picking up stitches is done begin decreases.
row1- work pattern section in pattern, then k till 2 st left on left needle, k2tog; k 18, ssk, k to end of needle
row2- work in pattern, then k to end of needle, k all on sole.
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 36 st remain (18 on each needle).
Working instep in pattern, and sole in stockinette, continue to work until sock is 1 1/2 to 2 inches shorter than sole of foot, then begin decreasing for toe along sides, decreasing 2 st on each side, every other row (dec 4 st) continuing pattern till 24 stitches remain, (12 per needle side). Using Kitchener st, graft ends of toes closed. Weave in ends, and block, if desired.
This pattern has not been tested, so let me know if there are any errors.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

New Socks...

2010-04-06T15:54:00.002-04:00

A new pattern for socks with a mock cable ribbing.

I fell in love with the yarn that I found at a craft sale last December. It is Lane Cervinia Calzaterria in an autumn hues colorway. The ribbing makes it look like falling leaves, and is very pretty.

Moving...

2010-02-27T19:07:00.002-05:00

Moved everything around...bone tired...'nuf said...

Old Swingers Pete and Beulah Mae....

2009-05-14T18:00:00.001-04:00

Weasley Hats...

2009-03-05T12:09:00.009-05:00

Love is in the air...
Love is not always joyful and full of hearts and flowers. Sometimes it
is the love that is lost that speaks loudest...

The February 2009 Craft Challenge at Harry Potter Crafts on Yahoo groups:

"Craft one item that represents your favourite relationship in the
world of Harry Potter. This relationship can be romantic(couples)
or platonic(friends)."

When the poll was posted on creative writing as a craft, I pulled up my trusty word processor and quickly wrote this story. I had had the idea in my mind for quite a while to make a Weasley hat, and this story explains the beginnings of this hat.

So, in memory of Fred Weasley, and for the love of his mother, here is
my challenge...

"Weasley Hats"

Molly Weasley pulled the jumper from the box on the sofa. It was the
last box of Fred's things that she had promised George she would go
over, and either discard or donate to the Poor Wizards Fund.
She laid it out on the arm of her chair, and smoothed out the wrinkles.
The large letter "F" that she had carefully worked in soft wool yarn,
the softly turned collar, the reinforced patches that she had sewn on
the elbows... She lifted it to her face, feeling the soft scratchiness
of the wool, and the smell of...
Fred.
She still had days when she almost forgot that he was gone. Days when
she saw George and called him Fred. She held the jumper to her heart,
and remembered the day Fred had chided her for calling him Fred, when
she should know he was George, then laughed when she corrected herself
and called him George.
"Only joking, I am Fred!" She had laughed, too, in spite of herself.
The two of them were always making her laugh.
Molly pulled out her scissors and began cutting away at the jumper's
seams. She separated each piece and laid it aside, until it was
reduced to a pile of parts. Two sleeves, a front and a back. She
unraveled the yarn slowly and lovingly, setting each finished ball
into the knitting basket that sat on the floor by her chair.
She took the first ball into her hands and selected a set of knitting
needles. She usually set the needles to knitting by themselves, but
today she wanted the feel of them, of the yarn, running through her
fingers, as if she were touching Fred, George, Percy, Ron, Charlie,
Bill, Ginny, and Arthur.
She worked on through the afternoon, stitch by stitch, and from time
to time a tear fell slowly down her cheek and landed on the wool. It
was deepening into evening when Arthur appeared in the fireplace,
tired and sagging after a busy day at the Ministry.
"Molly?" He stepped out of the fire and stood beside her chair. She
laid down her needles and reached up to touch his cheek.
"Arthur. Is it that late already?"
"Yes, dear," he said, smiling gently. "I hope you don't mind, but I
just want a sandwich and a cup of tea. I'll make them myself, you keep
knitting."
"Oh, all right, dear."
She went back to her knitting and continued into the night. One by one
she laid the finished pieces on the table by the sofa.
Hats, with softly turned brims, and letters on each one. Eight of them.
Part of Fred, one for each of them.

She washed and blocked them on the kitchen table. Then, when they were
dry, she wrapped each one in tissue paper and tied a strand of
leftover yarn around them.
She would not wait till Christmas to deliver them. She apparated to
each of her children's homes and to Hogwarts (Ginny was in her seventh
year) to give them each her gifts.
The Weasley family wore the hats for many years, before they tucked
them, one by one, into safe places. They would take them out every
now and then, and remember Fred, and the love of a mother who took her
sadness and knitted it into love.

For all those who asked for the pattern...

The pattern is amazingly simple.
Yarn is Vanna's choice in desired colors. On size six circular needles, check gauge, it should be 7st=2in. Size is for approximately 22-25 in head. Cast on circular needle 76 st, join and work stockinette stitch, in the round, for 10 rows. On 11th row, let bottom edge of work curl up, and catch the back of the first row stitch, then the 10th row st, and knit these two together. Repeat this around, and this forms the rolled brim of the hat. Continue to work stockinette st in the round for about 9 in. On last row, k2tog all st around, then cut yarn with about 12 inches from last st. Draw the yarn with a yarn needle through all stitches, and gather tightly, and secure yarn by knotting and sewing end in. Weave beginning yarn end into brim to hide. With scrap yarn, work duplicate st initial on front.

BTW- I used yarn from a sweater that my dog refused to wear, so this hat was recycled like Molly's hats!

Catching up...

2009-03-02T12:16:00.017-05:00

I have been a bad girl again...
Well, I have made new socks...

The Second Task
Light green weed stretched ahead of him as far as he could see, two feet deep, like a meadow of very overgrown grass. Harry was staring unblinkingly ahead of him, trying to discern shapes through the gloom...
Chapter 26, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J K Rowling
The next in my series of Harry Potter themed sock patterns.
The yarn is Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton, in Seascape. I like how the colors knit up like the ripples of sun on the water, it works well with the pattern.

Handsome Devil Socks
From Six Sox Knitalong
Made with black alpaca (unknown brand) and Lion brand Sock-Ease in Taffy

The Hogwarts High Inquisitor
He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad...Even the little black velvet bow perched on top of her short curly hair put him in mind of a large fly she was about to catch on a long sticky tongue.
Chapter 8 "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J K Rowling
Another of my Harry Potter inspired sock patterns. The yarn is Lion Brand Sock-Ease in Cotton candy. The pattern is adapted from the pattern of the sweater the dreadful Umbridge wears in the first classroom scene from the movie.

I have also been dying yarn for socks.
I used Knit Picks' sock dye blank, and used my favorite dye, Kool-Aid.
A dye blank is a strip of sock yarn, knitted double stranded, and then dyed in any way you wish. I made dots of blue and several shades of green, then filled in the spaces in between with yellow. It is recommended that you soak the yarn for 30 minutes before dying, in order for the dye to get to every part of the yarn, but I did not, so the dye did not get into every nook and cranny, and so there are some spots where the yarn is speckled with white. I like it!

The yarn is then wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a crock pot to steam for about 45 min. It is then left in the unplugged crock pot until it is just lukewarm. I unwrapped it and rinsed out the remaining liquid (which was clear) in lukewarm tap water.

I squeezed out the excess water, rolled it in a towel to further dry it, then laid it out on a towel overnight to dry completely.

Then I started knitting. I did not want to hide the beautiful colors with a busy pattern, so I used a plain stockinette stitch pattern. The colors, I think, are beautiful! There is some wrinkly texture, because of the curliness of the previously knitted yarn, but I have been told this disappears when it is washed and blocked.
These socks remind me of the colors of newly budded trees with the sun and sky peeking through. Oh, I can't wait for spring...

tee-hee...

2008-10-15T17:58:00.002-04:00

The newest member of the family...

2008-08-23T22:57:00.008-04:00

May I present the newest member of our family, Snert's brother, Mr. Tibbles , Tibby for short.

He is about seven months old, and came to us courtesy of my sister, Barbita. Tibby had been hanging around their place, and as much as they tried to shoo him away to the farm next door, he refused to budge from his shelter under their trailer cart.

They called the ASPCA, but around here, there are too many cats for them to handle, and you have to make an appointment to take one in. They were told it would be at least 2 weeks before they could bring the poor thing in, and in the meantime, he was literally starving to death.

Finally, Barb talked Mom into taking him (after she had sworn not to take on another pet- same as she did before we got Snerty).

He was nothing but skin and bones and fur. Lots of fur. As in shedding fur. At the rate he is going, we reckon he will be bald by Christmas.

He is slowly gaining weight, but is still thin for his age. It did not help any that we had to starve him for a day so we could get him...hmm-hmm...fixed.

He definitely looks a lot healthier than he did a month ago, though.

We wondered at first how Snert would take the new addition, considering his only exposure to cats was the neighbor's brood, which we had done nothing to discourage him chasing away. He seemed all right that first evening, and sniffed him curiously.

But then after Barb and Chris left, we tried to feed the poor starving waif, and Snert went berserk! He lunged at him, growling like I had never heard him do. Poor Tibby hid under the sofa in fear, while we scolded Snerty.

We decided we could not risk feeding Tibbs when Snert was around.

We watched them whenever they were together, and slowly they called a truce. We have to watch out when we feed them, though, as they try to eat each other's food.

When it came time to take Tibby to the vet for the... hmm-hmm...procedure, poor Snert moped around the house all day, looking everywhere for his bro.

When we finally brought him home again, Snert sniffed him thoroughly, as if to say, "yeah, they did that to me, too".

The two of them are fast friends, now, and both of them like to follow Mom around wherever she goes. She says we should have named him "Shadow". Well, wasn't that what the original Mr. Tibbles was, Harry's "shadow"? I think the name is perfect.

Getting there...

2008-07-21T18:00:00.002-04:00

I have been working furiously on the next pair of socks in my Harry Potter series...
All I will say is the color is called cotton candy...very pink...
I am also doing a remake of Luna Lovegood's blue scarf, although mine is in a rich Ravenclaw blue...almost navy. The yarn is Bernat Satin, and it really is satiny.
Another pair of socks are on the needles, using the grey yarn I was gushing about a while ago.
I still gush, it is soooo soft, but the pattern is uninspiring. I can only do one fiddly pattern at once...
I am also working on a felted tote for my SIL, Candy, that I started some time ago...(I just remember it was cold) It is in shades of blue, green, and purple. It will be BIG. It is a variation of the French Market Bag from knitty.com. I am up to the straps, so it will be done soon...

This is LOVE...

2008-07-14T11:18:00.005-04:00

I had a bad weekend at work, and came home whining...
Then I read this email, sent to me by my good friend, Sam.
God and Sam have such good timing...

Father-Son relationship

READ THE STORY FIRST, THEN WATCH THE VIDEO.

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a

marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says

'Yes'.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and

son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his

son's request of going through the race together. One day,

the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which,

his

father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon

ever.

The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile

(3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike

ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast

of the Big Island . Father and son went on to complete the race together.

NOW WATCH THIS RACE:

Hermione's Secret...

2008-07-10T21:37:00.009-04:00

The first of my sock pattern designs based on Harry Potter chapter titles,
in this case, Chapter 21 of HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban...

“But Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain.
He saw a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it.
‘Here!’ She had thrown the chain around his neck, too.
‘Ready?’ she said, breathlessly.”

–Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21 “Hermione’s Secret"

Disclaimer: This pattern has not been tested for accuracy.
If you wish to test it for me, let me know if it is accurate and understandable.

Abbreviations:
st: stitch
k: knit
p: purl
r: row
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
ssk: slip next 2 stitches knitwise, then slipping left needle back into the stitches, knit them together through the back loops.
yf: yarn forward as if to purl
yb: yarn back, as if to knit
w4: yb, place next 4 st on cable needle, wrap yarn counterclockwise around these st 2 times, ending with yarn in place to k, k the 4 st from the cable needle.
The wraps create the middle of the hourglasses. Do not wrap too tightly, or the stretchiness of the sock will be compromised, but tight enough to gain the desired shape. I pulled mine just so the 4 stitches touched each other snuggly, but not so they overlapped each other.

See the tiny hourglasses?

Yarn: I used Lion Brand Sock-Ease in “Lemon Drop”
Substitute any fingering weight yarn that gives desired gauge of 8 st/inch (stockinette).
Needles: as needed to obtain correct gauge. I used size 1US KnitPicks Options 40” circular needles.

If you need to make alteration to fit your desired size, I suggest decreasing stitches evenly spaced in row 53. I removed 8 stitches in my demo socks this way, with no discernible distortion. The written pattern reflects no decreased stitches. If a smaller size is needed, the pattern is a 12 st repeat.

Cast on 72 st. Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Work in whatever method you like: DPNs, 2 circs, or 1circ (aka Magic Loop). I prefer Magic Loop 2-at-a-time.

Cuff Border:
Place st marker at begin of row.
Work in 2x2 ribbing for 12 rows
Begin pattern:
r 13: p all st
r 14: *p2, k4 *repeat *to* around to marker.
r 15: p2, *k4, p8,* repeat *to* around to last 10 st before marker, end w/ k4, p6.
r 16, : repeat r 14
r 17: repeat r 15
r 18: repeat r 14
r 19: repeat r 15
r 20: *p2, w4, p2 k 4* repeat *to* around to marker.
r 21: repeat r 15
r 22: repeat r 14
r 23: repeat r 15
r 24: repeat r 14
r 25: repeat r 15
r 26: repeat r 13
r 27: repeat r 14
r 28: *p8, k4* repeat * to * around to marker.
r 29: repeat r 14
r 30: repeat r 28
r 31: repeat r 14
r 32: repeat r 28
r 33: *p2, k4, p2, w4* repeat * to * around to marker.
r 34: repeat r 28
r 35: repeat r 14
r 36: repeat r 28
r 37: repeat r 14
r 38: repeat r 28
r 39: repeat r 14
rows 40-53 repeat rows 13-26

Heel
Work heel over next 36 st, placing other st on st holder.
Work short row heel as in this link:
http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/FEATtiptoptoes.html
This shows the technique for toes, but it is the same as for heels, except for the cast on--you already have your stitches. You can also use this for the toes of top down socks--kitchener stitching the toe seam on the underside of the sock.
I also recommend Cat Bordhi’s YouTube videos for tips on concealing the wraps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yVikAvPuE4
You may also use another heel pattern if you wish.

Foot:
When the heel has been turned, put stitches from the holder back on your needles.
Work in stockinette until piece measures about 2 inches short of the toe ending, and begin decreases.
Toe:
You can work short rows as in the knitty link if you wish, or as follows:
Working from marker at beginning of the rows,
1: k1, ssk, k 30, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 30, k2tog, k 1.
2: k all st
3: k1, ssk, k 28, k2tog, k 2, ssk, k28, k2tog, k1.
4: k all st
5: k1, ssk, k 26, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 26, k2tog, k 1.
6: k all st
7: k1, ssk, k 24, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 24, k2tog, k 1.
8: k all st
9: k1, ssk, k 22, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 22, k2tog, k 1.
10: k all st
11: k1, ssk, k 20, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 20, k2tog, k 1.
12: k all st
13: k1, ssk, k 18, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 18, k2tog, k 1.
14: k all st
15: k1, ssk, k 16, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 16, k2tog, k 1.
16: k all st
17: k1, ssk, k 14, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 14, k2tog, k 1.
18: k all st
19: k1, ssk, k 12, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 12, k2tog, k 1.
Graft toe seam using Kitchener st. Weave in ends.
Repeat for second sock.

Please use this design for personal use only and do not distribute. If you wish to share the pattern with others please do so by directing them to katinthebag1958.blogspot.com to download their own copy.

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Well, not so perfect...

2008-06-30T18:47:00.005-04:00

The gray yarn is beautiful, but the cushiness of it obliterates the pattern I intended to use. So...I guess I have to go back to my earlier choice.

I did finish my second pair of "Fawkes" socks, that I started months ago...

I used Crystal Palace "Maizy" in colorway "Hot Feet". It is an excellent colorway for this pattern, but I don't think I like the yarn itself...

It is not very springy when knitted up. The ribbing expands, but does not retract when released. I think the yarn has a nice warm feel to it, but the texture causes it to catch on itself, not allowing it to return to its original shape. Only when I stretch it in the opposite direction does it go back, and this makes for baggy ankles, which I DO NOT need. My ankles are baggy enough without socks to make them look more so...

So, I guess I will have to relegate these socks to the "cold winter day, stuck at home" pile, and only wear them when no one is around to see my baggy ankles...

Oooohhhh...

2008-06-27T22:26:00.006-04:00

Perfect!
I found this beautiful gray yarn at Big Lots, of all places! For $1.00!
It is just what I had in mind when I designed my "Beyond the Veil" socks. It is a slightly larger gauge than I planned... but this is fixable. Sooo...
When "Hermione's Secret" is finished...
It is Schachenmayr Piazza 40% cotton, 30% acrylic microfiber, and 30% polyamid. It has a very soft cushy feel, and I can imagine nice winter socks...

Socks...

2008-06-24T21:41:00.003-04:00

I promised myself that I would knit up my designed Harry Potter socks in book order...but...
The first sock has been giving me fits! Soooo....
I have skipped to the one I like much better...#3 "Hermione's Secret"
The next is...yes, out of order, too...Probably # 4.
Oh, well I guess the best laid plans...yada-yada.
I will post a pic when the socks are done.

Yarn...

2008-06-01T09:10:00.002-04:00

I love yarn, and I have found a new sock yarn, from Lion Brand, called Sock-Ease. The colors are nice, with candy names like toffee and red hots. I have been designing several new sock patterns, and thought these yarns would be great for these socks.
The patterns have a Harry Potter theme (of course they do), and are named after HP chapter titles. The first is named "The Forbidden Forest". As soon as the socks are done, I will post a pic.
I would like to have someone test knit my patterns for me, so if you would like to do this, leave a note in the comment box. I will not publish the pattern to the blog until I get it tested...even I can make mistakes...

Lost friends...

2008-05-16T00:05:00.003-04:00

Along the path of my life I have had many friends, some good, some close, some just in passing. But I have lost a dear friend and I don't know where to find her. Her leaving has left a hole in my heart that at times seems as big as Lake Erie.

She came into my life at work, then when our work paths diverged, we held on to our friendship. She came to this area several years ago, leaving behind a crime ridden, drug infested city life.

She found joy in the close up view of nature like she had never known. She would speak of seeing a deer or pheasant by the roadside, that to me was oh so common in my life, being the country girl that I am. "But I've never seen a deer," she would say, amazed that I should be so nonchalant about it. Her son also would stop by the road to look at the wonders of nature that we country folk took for granted.

But the day after Thanksgiving she called while I was at work, and my mother took the message.

"We miss NJ, and we are going home." They would be staying with friends, and would let me know when they had settled in to a place of their own.

But it is now May, and I have not heard from them, and I wonder if I ever will. She is in her 70's, and I worry that she may pass away, and I will not know.

My heart is broken, and I don't know how to fix it.

Where are you, Janice?

Yes, I know...

2008-05-02T00:24:00.016-04:00

Its been nearly 5 months since I posted last. No excuse.
I have been very busy, craft-wise. I have done swaps, and have not posted here, for which I am heartily sorry.
I did the HPCrafts ATC swap, and this is what I made...

The theme was Valentines. I did a handmade envelope, and a card that was a sheath for a pull out greeting. Outside I did my Ravenclaw house crest which I designed myself, and a motto that was a play on the Ravenclaw motto of "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure", which became "Love beyond measure is a friend's greatest treasure".
I did a Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley shopping trip swap, and sent my partner Zara a knit/felted dragon, which I dyed with green Kool-aid,

some of my HP mini book/notebooks,

some Weasley's Wizard Wheezes treats,

and a cursed "opal" necklace a la Borgin and Burkes, which I made using polymer clay for the opal beads.

Zara sent me the most beautiful knitted and felted witches hat
.

It was midnight blue with crystal beads strewn over it and a crystal and chain band. It fit perfectly and came just in time to wear for my HP birthday party. It is modeled after the hat that Fred and George gave to their mother for Christmas in HBP.
She also sent me a set of potions in a portable carrying case,

some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans -sugar free, a set of beaded knit stitch markers,

and a hand knitted sock bookmark.

Oh, and an antique potion bottle pendant necklace, from Borgin and Burkes.
My sister was really drooling all over it at my B-day party, and let me know (as if I had forgotten) that her birthday was 5 days after mine (hint hint).
Well, I gave in to her whining, especially after I figured out how to make the pendants myself! The necklace went real nicely with the outfit she was wearing, and I do like to give things to those I care about.
I will be participating in another ATC swap for the month of May. The theme is Hogwarts summer vacation. I might do something like postcards from Hogwarts teachers. I have a mental image of Dumbledore water skiing = P.

The Material Girl's 12 Days of Christmas...

2007-12-16T21:23:00.001-05:00

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...a Porsche parked beside my front door.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...two Gucci bags...

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...three weeks in Europe...

On the forth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...four Visa Gold Cards...

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...five gold mines...

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...six shining mansions...

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...seven liveried servants...

On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...eight maids for downstairs...

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...nine maids for upstairs

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...ten full length mink coats...

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me...eleven diamond bracelets...

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love said to me..."Honey, I'm broke."

"Give back the bracelets and the full length mink coats,
Fire all the servants, foreclose on the mansions, and the gold mines.

Four Visa Gold Cards won't pay for Europe,
Or the Gucci bags..."

But if he thinks that car is going anywhere, he's got another think coming,
'Cause the Porsche stays beside my front door!

Thank you, Scarlett...

2007-12-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

...for another great swap!

My Secret Santa is Scarlett, who was my last swap partner. She sent me so many wonderful goodies...

BTW...That yarn is to die for...

I am so blessed by my new friends at Harry Potter Crafts at Yahoo!Groups. I never knew I could have so many friends that I have never met. Their encouragement and idea sharing has been a source of almost daily joy!

I have enough project ideas to last me till the next millenium!

I always thought those who looked for friends online were desperate, lonely people, but I think I have misjudged. The internet is a tool for expanding one's friendships. There is a vast pool of people out there that we may not ever have the chance to meet, but through the miracle of online communications, we can stretch out to places we will never go, and "meet" people we will never see. Shared interests can bring together a world of friends that can be found in no other way.

So, this Christmas season, I have a whole new world of friends, and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and may you be blessed as I have been.

Secret Santa Revealed...

2007-12-09T21:46:00.001-05:00

I can now show you all what I sent to Linda, aka woozelmom. I must admit I did not want to send all those goodies. I wanted to keep them for myself. Now I have said it and you know of my selfishness...
Well, anyway... I sent:
3 boxes of ornaments from Doodad and Frippery, Diagon Alley

2 boxes of candy- Droobles Best blowing gum--

and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Skiving Snack Selection--

1 candy jar from Honeydukes Sweetshop--,

filled with Sherbet Lemon drops, candy canes, pop rocks (a quaint muggle candy) and Gummy Frogs.

The ornaments were:
--Mini Weasley sweaters-- in red, green, blue, purple, and one Chudley Cannons in vivid orange.

-- Mini socks-Harry's dirty sock complete with mini Tom Riddle Diary (including fang holes and ink stains)

--The two socks Dobby gave Harry for Christmas-- one red with broomsticks, and one green with snitches

--The other sock Dobby wore with Harry's sock that was orange and pink striped
--and a stack of mini hats like those Dobby wore when returning Hedwig to Harry from Madame Grubbly-Plank, complete with knitted Hedwig on top.
--I also made 6 snitch ornaments.

All of this was packed in a box I got from WaldenBooks when I got my copy of Half-Blood Prince.
And I am so glad that Linda liked all my stuff, and it made her day brighter.

Now I have to go out and wait for my gifts... (sigh)

I Scrooged my Dad!!!

2007-12-04T22:56:00.001-05:00

Check it out!

http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1170645855

ROFLMAO

Santa secrets...

2007-11-30T14:54:00.001-05:00

It is almost December and we are all focusing on Christmas...

I am focusing on my secret Santa swap on Yahoo! Harry Potter crafts group. I can't tell who is getting the loot, but I can say I think he/she is a lucky witch/wizard. There are sxxxxx and oxxxxxxxx and a cxxxx xxx full of cxxxxx (can't tell what yet either...don't want to spoil the surprise!). I had lots of fun painting, printing and knitting, and am about to go to the post office to send the lucky recipient their gifts. So the household in XX will be receiving this goody box soon...

No, I can't show you anything else yet...

Thankfulness...

2007-11-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

I see its been almost a month since I posted...hmmm...well...yeah. But today I want to talk about thankfulness.
I work in an adult mental health unit, and as such, I get to listen in on some of the group sessions. I have said that I get free counseling as a perk of my job. I have used some of the advice I have heard given to patients, and I am thankful that I can. There is not one of us who can't use a bit of free advice now and then.
Today, in one of the groups the patients were to write down what they are thankful for in themselves, and to thank themselves. I had never thought that way. I have always been thankful to the source of things outside myself, but never thought to thank myself for what I have done for myself. So, here goes...

Thanks for your creativity...it has been a source of great enjoyment.
Thanks for your caring spirit... it makes me feel needed and appreciated.
Thanks for your faith...it has sustained me through some hard times.
Thanks for your cheerfulness...even when I am not really cheerful, I act it and it has made others see that I care.
Thanks for your singing...it has cheered others who needed a bit of song, and has helped me share my faith.
Thanks for believing in me...even when no one but God did.

Most of all, though, I am thankful to the giver of all good things, my Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Without him, I would not be creative, caring, faithful, cheerful, singing or believing. All I have is a gift from Him, and without Him I am truly nothing. Thank you, Lord.

To all of my family and friends, I wish you all good things, and I am thankful to have you all. I am a lucky woman.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Organization...

2007-10-26T21:36:00.000-04:00

I wonder why my seemingly organized mind balks so at organizing my possessions. I am so haphazard at times, that I can't find that set of knitting needles, or magnet strips, or beads, that I know are there somewhere.

That old adage that "there is a place for every thing, and every thing in its place" seems to be lost on me. I know that the thing I want is in the room, but where?

Well, over the course of the past week, I have been organizing my stuff. New sets of those Sterilite drawers in all shapes and sizes have been filling my bedroom and storeroom/office. I have been sorting, and labeling, and resorting and moving stuff around, and, happily for my mother, throwing stuff out.

I have a bit of a problem throwing stuff out, and have stuff I bought eons ago, that has been gathering dust, because I might want it someday. Never mind that in all of those years I have never once wanted these items...

Well, I hope all this organizing has been the start of a new life for my stuff. I hope I can someday say, "Gee, what did I do with that beautiful wool yarn I bought?", and I will say back to myself, "Its in the drawer marked 'wool yarn'!", and I will go there and find it. Of course we won't talk about the fact that I talk to myself so much.

My yarn, by the way, fills seven of those large Sterilite drawers! I knew I had a lot, but seven drawers? Oh my! Oh my! I had no idea! (in the voice of Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh)

Well, my vacation is over, and I went back to work today. It was a day I would not care to repeat. Suffice it to say, I am glad it is over. I am on call tomorrow, and they notified me this evening even before I left work, that they needed me tomorrow morning. So onward I go.

I hope you all have had a good day, and enjoy the weekend!

Its been too long...

2007-10-23T21:50:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted lately, and I have no real excuse. I am on vacation and am spending it cleaning, mostly. I have been doing some major reorganizing (actually they were never really organized to start with) of my things.

I received two tear-jerker emails today. The first was from my cousin Jeannie's husband, Jerry. He told of Jeannie's passing on Sunday. She was one month short of her 61st birthday, much too young in this age of 70-80+ lifespans.

Jeannie was my 4th cousin, and I came to know her in the course of our genealogy work. She sent me a fat letter with the return address labeled"Your cousin Jeannie..." I had no idea who she was at the time, but I had emailed another cousin a few days before about an inquiry he had made at the local historical society, concerning mutual relative he was researching. He in turn contacted Jeannie, and she sent me pictures and copies of documents that I would not have been able to find without her.

My aunt Betty and I went up to her home just north of Buffalo, and she pulled out dozens and dozens of newspaper clippings and photos that her grandmother had collected over many years, concerning family and friends. It was a true treasure trove!

Jeannie was a truly delightful woman, and a very family oriented person. She and her husband looked after their parents with such devotion. Jeannie's Mom is still living at nearly 97 years old, and I am sure Jerry will take good care of her, but Jeannie won't be there.

Though I did not see Jeannie often, I will remember her with fondness.

The second email was a sappy one from my neice, Mandi. She is not one to write sentimental stuff, but at the age of (almost) 21, she has been taking stock of her life, and reached out to her friends and family to express her love. She has been through a lot in her life, and has come through it to become a young woman that I am so proud of.

By the time I was done replying to these two emails, I was a drippy ball of tears, as you can imagine.

Well, now, it is getting late, and my bed is calling me...

Miserable...

2007-10-13T13:59:00.000-04:00

I feel miserable. I have a head cold that is making me sleepy(medication or loss of sleep?), out of sorts, and just plain cranky. I am still getting used to the new work schedule, so my sleep is still out of sync. I do find myself waking up at about 8am on my days off, so I am getting with it physically, but I have been an evening person for so long, I am having trouble telling myself to GO TO BED!
I do some of my best work in the evening hours, and that is when I am most creative. It was a bit of a problem at work, because I was getting great crafty ideas, but was not at a place where I could follow my creatve muses.
I took to carrying a small notebook in my pocket, and would write down ideas I had. When I was sitting doing close observation on patients, my mind would race with ideas, and I would plan out craft projects, knitting patterns, shopping lists, stories, and sometimes just intricate patterns (doodles).
I am on notebook # 4, and that is just since last winter. One of them was compromised when I fell in a creek (don't ask...it was stupid...), but the others are still in pretty good shape, despite being in my pocket day after day.
I went shopping at a LYS (Local Yarn Shop for all you non-knitters) the other day, and am proud to say, I got enough yarn to satisfy my cravings, and kept the purchase under $60. I bought some Taos wool for a felted bag...pattern yet to be determined. I got some Panda Cotton in nice variegated blues and green, and some Panda Wool in a pretty teal. Both are for socks, the teal for a pattern I am designing myself, and the other for a generic sock.
I found a skein of Panda Cotton in a color called Red Cinnamon, but there was only one, and I needed two for socks. I wanted it for a pair of the Socktopia pattern called Fawkes, after the Harry Potter phoenix. I am going to see if I can find any online...

Sorry it took so long...

2007-10-08T13:01:00.000-04:00

I am now working a new shift schedule, and as such, I am a bit out of sync, so to speak. I am now working 7a-7p, instead of 3p-11p. I have just had a rough weekend at work (in an adult mental health unit) and am just coming out of my stupor. So, forgive my lack of posting here and elsewhere. I sent off a package of goodies to my swap partner, Scarlett, and she received them safely last week. I sent:

a Gryffindor scarf/hat set,
a Molly Weasley crocheted bag,

a crazy quilted tea cozy,

some Weasley's Wizard Wheezes brand Ton Tongue Toffees,

a cauldron pincushion,

a set of Harry potter dishcloths

in two Mrs. Scowers' Magical Mess Remover canisters.

I received her package to me on Wednesday, and it was full of cool stuff!

A Ravenclaw project tote,

a replica of Hermione's beaded bag,

a chocolate frog box and card,

key chain charms,

a crazy quilted handbag,

a framed photo of the Weasley family on vacation in Egypt,

and a letter from Hermione Granger-Weasley.

This is my first swap, and I am glad Scarlett was happy with what I made her. I think I had as much enjoyment in her reaction as I did in mine. I look forward to more swaps, an hope they are all as much fun as this one has been!

Well, Scarlett?

2007-10-02T21:28:00.000-04:00

Did you like them?
Can I show everyone now?
Hmmmm?

A box...hmmmmm....

2007-09-28T11:43:00.000-04:00

It's Friday, and I have finally finished Scarlett's swap items. They are packed all safe in a big box that I am sure she will appreciate. It waits on the dryer, by the back door, and I will go to the Post Office before work this afternoon.

No Scarlett, I won't post pics of what is inside till you get the package. Saying you won't peek is not good enough. And I don't know how to do a Confundus Charm like you did, so the box is all I can give you!

I am excited and can't wait for the packages to arrive! I think I am more excited about what you are getting, than what I am! That will come soon, though.....

I would love to, but...

2007-09-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

Its a bright, sunny, fall day here, and I wish I could go out for a ride. My sis-in-law called and asked if I wanted to go to Erie shopping with her and my nieces. I would love to, but....I have to be to work in an hour and a half, so I can't. (sigh) I guess I'll go knit something....

No pics yet...

2007-09-21T23:05:00.000-04:00

I want to post pics of my most recent craft projects, but I don't want to give away the surprise for my swap partner, Scarlett. So, no pics yet.

I guess I can talk about what I have been reading, as that is my other passion. I just finished "The Rule of Four" by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. I liked it very much, and expect that this pair will go far if they keep on like this one. I would call it an intellectual thriller, along the lines of Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose" and "The Quincunx" by Charles Palliser.

I like stories with historical settings, and although this one is set in the modern day, it is all about history. I would recommend it to anyone who likes deep, thoughtful plots.

I am just starting "Bridge to Terabithia" and have had several "over the shoulder reviews", all of them good. I love children's literature, for many reasons...but that is for another post.

2007-09-15T12:47:00.001-04:00

I am busily working on projects for my swap partner, Scarlett, in the Yahoo! Harry Potter crafts group.

I started with a pile of fabrics from my stash (which is more extensive than I had thought!).

I cut them up in pieces,like this:

Then, I went to my sewing machine...

but that is for a later entry, as I don't want to give everything away!

Finally Felted!

2007-09-08T12:54:00.000-04:00

My bags are finally felted, and the look awesome! I was very satisfied with the cable bag. I could have felted the small bag further, but I liked the way the subtle stitches showing made it look more heathery.

Shown are pics l-r: unfelted small bag. felted cable bag, and felted small bag.

The bags are not dry yet, but were dry enough this morning to take pics of them, and I couldn't wait to share!

Dimensions:

Small bag: 4.5"w x 5"h

strap: 18.5"

Cable bag: 13" w x 11.5"d

strap: 40"

All knitted...

2007-09-07T00:18:00.000-04:00

Here is a progress pic of my soon-to-be-felted bag. I have leftover yarn, so I'm making a smaller bag to hold my new mp3 player.

I couldn't help myself...

2007-09-03T23:24:00.000-04:00

This is my bag...

2007-09-03T21:20:00.000-04:00

I am working on a felted bag at the present, and it is a pattern I designed myself. It is made with Paton's Classic Merino in a beautiful heathery light blue. I have bound off the top edge, except for the stitches that will be the handles. I have begun one of the handles, made as I-cord-5 stitches.

There are cable panels in front and back. I have never felted cables before, and I am looking forward to doing this one.

I knit to relax and destress, and it has kept me sane over the years, not to mention it has kept me in bags, scarves, hats, socks and other fun items. I have even made a couple bucks selling what I make.

My friend Snert...

2007-09-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

My First Post...

2007-09-02T21:58:00.000-04:00

...on my beautiful blog.

I'm not sure I have much to share that the world wants to read, but if you do, welcome to my place. Leave a word or two, and let me know what you think (no flames please). The pic is my best friend Snert.

I am a crafter, mostly knitting. I lurve Harry Potter, and make replicas of items from the books and movies.

I am an amateur genealogist, and birder. I love the outdoors, and almost any kind of artwork/craft.