FO FRIDAY!!!

Just a few things I've finished lately...

For the REDUCIO SOCK Swap:

A Slytherin Stocking/sock


A Griffindor Wand Pouch & Wand


Hagrid's hat and scarf- um really off scale on the scarf length to hat ratio-- oh well!

11/20 Thursday's List

Wednesday's List:
1) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
2) Mail pattern to Mom & Marie
3) Buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers & tweezers I want tweezerman tweezers & they are hard to find.))
4) Wash Pots
5) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
6) Call about new daycare (again)
7) Hang up new pants
8) Work on JET list
9) Deposit paycheck
10)

Well: I knew I wouldn't get much done yesterday. It was JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS.

Thursday's List:
1) Mail pattern to Marie
2) Wash Pots ((REALLY this time))(Quit Cooking Already!)
3) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
4) Hang up new pants
5) Water plants
6) Call Suzi about Christmas Rum Cakes
7) Mail more swap packages (Three to mail today!)
8) Repair table top. (Post about this soon.) (STAPLE GUN????)
9) Motivate MC to work on garland for tree.
10) Swing, holiday tote, highchair? to attic.

11-19 To Do List

From Tuesday:
1) return Library books
2) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left)
3) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
4) mail pattern to Mom & Marie
5) buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers)
6) Dishes
7) Photos for school collage
8) Take out Trash
9) Laundry (ugh)
10) work stuff

Oh No- LOTS left over. But honestly- the laundry & dishes will always be on the list. maybe they shouldn't even get on the list, since they seem to reproduce faster than the machine can run.

Wednesday's List:
1) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
2) Mail pattern to Mom & Marie
3) Buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers & tweezers I want tweezerman tweezers & they are hard to find.))
4) Wash Pots
5) Finish rounds on JoJoLand Hat Pastels
6) Call about new daycare (again)
7) Hang up new pants
8) Work on JET list
9) Deposit paycheck
10)

11/18 To Do List

From 11/17
1) explore google spreadsheet capabilities for sharing.
2) JETs blog roll in/on google
3) make stitch markers that I've committed on Ravelry.
4) Pay Phonebill
5) Return Library books
6) Drop off recyclables
7) Mail off RAKs
8) update blog
9) update project status
10) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left!)

SO-- Now for Today's List:
1) return Library books
2) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left)
3) Mail more swap packages (FOUR to mail today!)
4) mail pattern to Mom & Marie
5) buy batteries for scale (& bread & wetwipes & diapers)
6) Dishes
7) Photos for school collage
8) Take out Trash
9) Laundry (ugh)
10) work stuff

Oh- I'd like to draw your attention to the new photo in the sidebar. Dad took the photo on his porch, daybreak 6:02 am October, 7 1007. I love the hangnail moon. The photo is totally UNTOUCHED- no cropping, color adjusting- just exactly how it came off the camera card. Breathtaking.

11-17 Manic Monday TO-DO List

I'm going to publish some things I REALLY want to get done (hopefully today), or at least work on this week. Maybe by knowing someone else can see the list- I'll be more motivated to follow through.

1) explore google spreadsheet capabilities for sharing.
2) JETs blog roll in/on google
3) make stitch markers that I've committed on Ravelry.
4) Pay Phonebill
5) Return Library books
6) Drop off recyclables
7) Mail off RAKs
8) update blog
9) update project status
10) Finish side 2 of mitten (only thumb left!)

I have more- but I'm limiting my list to the first 10 things that came to mind.

It's gonna match!!!

Side 2 of the mitten is going to match!!!!

I can't believe how the colors are lining up the right way.
But I am now wondering about using a solid for the palms & the ombre for the tops, so the PAIR will match, not just the sides of ONE mitten. Plus, I'm still concerned about the thumb space. If felting narrows it more than slightly- Then I'm in trouble. This might end up being a holiday decoration/stocking type deal.

New Mittens In Progress!

This is the same pattern I tried to make mittens from several months ago, when I decided I needed to focus on my tunisian afghans, because counting stitches and following a pattern was a horrible undertaking.
However, I am almost done with my All Shawl, and I did finish Horse Girl's All Shawl. And I finished the ski hat with the yummy multi colored Jojoland Rhythm wool.

So, Yesterday, I decided to try the mittens again. This time- I chose Patons SWS, in a funky pink colorway called Natural Geranium. Remembering that I've used SWS in the orange, red, purple tunisian afghan I started last winter (where I thought the yarn was a bit splity) I was a bit hesitant.

You see, SWS is a single ply yarn, 70% wool, 30% soy. Oh yes, Soy Wool Stripes. But there is another Patons SWS, Soy Wool Solids. Same look, same fiber content. Just one SWS is multi colored & one is a solid. You will be able to tell the difference in the store, don't worry!

I did the starting chain with my 6.5mm hook, 'cause I chain too tight & that was the only alternative hook available (read: the one I keep at the office!) Then I switched to my 4mm Clover soft-touch hook.

Now, I don't know if the combination of the clover hook and SWS made the difference, or if it is the increased attention I was able to pay to the project, or if it is just tangible proof that my crochet skills are improving, but I got one side of the mitten finished-- The SAME DAY I started it!

And as an added bonus, I only ended up one stitch off in my counts! Well, One stitch on each side, but I was able to keep track & get my increases and stitch changes in the right spot each pass, so I'm okay with that.
On the down side, I made the Large size, which was listed as (8-9) while the Small size was listed as (6-7). But the photo shows a young girl- teenager maybe? and the mittens looked tight. Now, I'm a fan of mittens, and I like to be able to ball my fingers up together inside my mittens, I figured I should make the Large size. So, I don't think the numbers show well here, (scanner + metal ruler= not a good idea!) but these are 10 inches top to bottom.
But another bonus, SWS FELTS. I just hope the thump space is going to be wide enough after felting, because it looks like it's gonna be a tight fit at the size it is now. Plenty of room in the length for felting, but kinda skinny. So if anyone has any experience felting mittens (crochet felting experience is extra appreciated) please let me know if I should add to the thumb width before I felt.

Horse Girl's Cape is done!

Horse Girl's Cape is done!

Well, it was done about two weeks ago, then only waiting for a button. She wore it last week to church. I think she liked it. She twirled bunches, which is always a good sign.

The cape took exactly one skein of Patons Bohemian yarn, I had about 2 inches left! The yarn is super soft & petable, and loads of people commented on it. This is the FIRST WEARABLE OBJECT that I have EVER completed from yarn. Yeah!

Reducio Sock on Ravelry

I'm doing something new this month. I've signed up to participate in a swap on Ravelry. The group is called Reducio Sock is is based upon Harry Potter & Hogwarts & the plan is to make a mini sock & another mini item & send it to your partner. (mini- think Christmas Tree ornaments)

I've NEVER EVER made a sock, although I did make a patchwork stocking out of felt for my niece, but that was 15 years ago.
My knitting and crochet skills will be tested with this project. I hope my partner isn't disappointed by my newly acquired skills.

I was a bit worried about who I would be getting as a partner, but I actually HAVE the right house color yarns in my stash. Which is good, because I really don't have extra cash in the budget for yarn.

More Mommy Time

I need more Mommy Time.
No, not more time for myself, but more time to be a mommy.
Lately I feel like I've run my legs off. Between shuttling the kids to school & birthday parties & soccer. And cooking dinner (heating something up, anyway) and changing the sheets and and and.
The other day I realized that I don't have much time to BE with my kids.
So, in an effort to be more like the mom I used to be, I've decided to MAKE the conscious effort to BE with my kids more.

As much as my six year old finds chores "boring" my two year old loves to "helpyou." So, last night, after having the 6yo pick up toys and school papers from the living room I had the 2yo "help" me vacuum the carpet. Then he helped me fold the towels. I should have started him sooner on this as the 6yo started at 18 months.
So what if they are more lumpy than when I do it? It's just a side towel that will most likely be used to clean up spilled lemonaid on the kitchen floor.
MC still has to empty the dishwasher, and will be promoted to folding her own clothes. (She has been doing some of her clothes, but mostly they are wadded into her drawers.)

I'm afraid I've let things slide a bit- as our time home was stretched so thin. BUT NO MORE! I decree that we WILL get back to our reading and writing schedule. We will reinstate the toothbrushing chart. We will fold the laundry before the creases are permanently set. We will have crafts time together.

And on that note, I've been following a few blogs where they participate in an "Unplugged" challenge. A topic is posted & then participating bloggers run with the idea for events to do with the children. It seems that mostly homeschooling families are the ones doing it, but I'd like to steal some of the ideas.
Like grating up crayon stubs (what? you don't have a box of those at your house?) and melting between waxpaper and framing with construction paper leaf shapes.
Or making Tub paints with baby shampoo and food coloring and cornstarch. Oh and fingerknitting. MC needs to start developing her yarn/knitting/crochet/handiwork gene. I want to do it with the loops used for making potholders. You know the thick cotton loops from socks.
Yep. My kids are gonna hate me for making them do more chores. But come bathtime, oh yeah. They will LOVE me for letting them fingerpaint!

Oh. And despite my good intentions to include lots of photo. camer card always seems to be left in the other pc. So enjoy the new widget in the upper left corner- MACRO photos. (That means close up images!)

Finished Objects!

Just a few Things I finished in the past week or so...

3-D Flower Hotpad


Horse Girl's Cape


Some Dishcloths


I've done a few more things, but I need to take more pictures.
Have a Happy Day! =)