I'm Very Blessed

Oh My Gosh. I got spoiled so much this Christmas! I feel so bad for being such a Scrooge half way into the month. I admit I was feeling a bit down and selfish and I really regret that now. We did get a few more Christmas cards from family members eventually, just like the Big Guy said we would. So I really didn't deserve all this love from such sweet friends.

From my BFF Julie!

Thank you so much for everything Julie!! The cowl is SO pretty! I love the colors so much! That you took time to make it when I know how incredibly busy you are, it makes it a million times more special! The yarn is from Sunshine Yarns in the colorways Ginny and Hermione! I can't stop petting it and squeezing it, man this stuff is SOFT!!! I don't know how you were able to part with it! I love the cupcake mini bag too! I needed something for all my counters and markers floating around the bottom of my bags! Oh I just appreciate it all so much! Thanks for spoiling this bratty buddy of yours! Next year give me a big block of coal! LOL!!

This ornament was part of the package too and I just love it! My girls think I'm going to break it open! Wonder what makes them think that?? (addicted knitter here...)


A very sweet RAK from my friend Marie in New Hampshire:

These gorgeous felted vases and holders. I don't know how she makes that ruffle, I have to try that one day! But these are just so pretty I just adore them! Thanks so much Marie! I know you haven't been feeling well lately, my prayers are always with you my friend.

From my Knitting Swap Partner in the Knottygroup! Mona!!

Oh My. Mona spoiled me terribly as well. I got some of her homespun yarn (She sells it on her blog!) And she made me SOCKS (where did they go? They aren't in the picture? Ahhhh! I'll have to redo that one!) AND the coolest pink potholders! LOVE them! Plus all these other fantastic goodies! I just love it ALL!!! Talk about a kid in a candy shop!

From My Friend in COLD Illinois: Jeanne!

She didn't have to do that, but I WAS still expecting my standard Christmas card picture of Brody (Which I forgot to get in the pic because it was already downstairs but you can see him on her blog!) Thank you Jeanne for all the beautiful items! I love them all! And I'll use them all for sure! I just love that "book thong". It still makes me laugh!!!

From my Secret Santa Swap Partner Kathyrn in the Fibro Group on Ravelry:

I'm going to be busy for days making more stitch markers! I love my "D" ornament too, it turns and spins! It's so cool! Thank you so much Kathryn! This was so much fun! :) The "Healing Angel" pin is very special too. We all hurt so much with our health issues, I'm going to wear it all the time while I keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank You for being Angels On Earth and showing this Scrooge some love.

Elegant Gauntlets

I REALLY love this pattern. This is my second pair, and while I haven't made them in a really long time, I still love making these. Sally's patterns are so well written. Every detail is there. And I really loved this yarn. Soft, and great colors! If you get a chance check out her Etsy store.

Pattern: Elegant Gauntlets

Yarn: Black Trillium Coraline

Size 2 needles

Modifications: Shortened by a couple of inches in the arm part. We won't talk about how many times #2 gave me trouble because trouble just follows me around and sits on me. I think I swing the door wide open and just invite her in with my knitting. In the end, it all worked out after a few sessions of frogging here and there.

I made these for my friend Kimberly. She's a Mod on the Auto-Immune Board on Ravelry and no matter what she's going through (and it can be a LOT) she's always picking the rest of us up and cheering us on. She's truly a kind, giving spirit and we appreciate her so much. She loved the movie Coraline so this yarn made me think of her. She lives in Southern CA so I figure she can use these probably more for "fun" than for "function". These look really awesome scrunched down a bit around the wrists. I hope you enjoy them Kimberly! Happy Late Birthday!

If you can, please send out Positive Get Well Wishes and Prayers to my BFF Julie's Mom. She's had health issues going on for awhile now, any and all thoughts and luv going their way would mean so much right now. Thanks bunches.

Happy Veterans Day to all our Veterans too. We thank each and every one of our armed forces with all of our hearts and our prayers are with you as well.

Birthdays Can Be AWESOME!

My wonderful Mom sent me some Happy medicine:

THEN, My bestest buddy Julie sent me these really cool stitch markers:

And this (mine, mine, mine!!)

And All of THIS!!:

A gorgeous bookmark she made for me (which I don't know how she knew I needed it so desperately), some Crazy Monkey Creations Gorilla Toes yarn in the Autumn Jewels colorway (should've got that closer, it's very "happy"! AND SOFT!!!! SOOO SOFT!!! ), two really pretty candle holders with some danglies on it, (I LUV shiny things), some lotion for my ever increasing dry hands, and the BAG. OMGosh, THE BAG. LOVE. IT! I want to go to my knitting meeting NOW to show it off! My projects will never want to come out!

Then today I got THIS from my Favoritest California Dawn!! (I know, I know, I'm just too darn lucky!)

Some of her Beautiful smelling Lavender Handmade soap, (Dawn's a seller on Etsy- check her out!) and a cloth to go with it, a cute cupcake magnet set, candle, and notepad, three really cool scarf patterns to decide what my GORGEOUS HANDSPUN YARN will grow up to be!!!! I am now the very proud owner of her Superwash Merino in the Layla Colorway! I just want to snuggle with it!! I've seen handspun on websites but never held any in my hot little hands before! What an awesome job you did spinning this Dawn. If you sell any in your etsy store with your other items, they'll go like hotcakes!

Yuummmmm! My stubborn camera does NOT want to pick up the beautiful varigations of the colors in this. I just can't describe it except it's like "jewelry" or something. Just absolutely gorgeous!

I'm so very blessed to have you girls in my life. You made me smile when I really felt like hiding under the covers today. I can't tell you how much you mean to me. Really. Truly.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Biggest Hugs Ever)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.....and I'm off to play with all my stuff......

I'm still in December

I wonder if I'm the only one who hasn't had a "jump start" with the new year? I had every intention of getting things in order and starting "fresh" on a few things, but nothing much has been going on despite my best intentions at the end of last year. Most of the things I wanted to start doing instead of blogging haven't been happening as much as I had planned but I'm still not giving up. I've tried to prioritize my time better and not spend as much time on the computer or knitting. Okay, the Nintendo DS hasn't helped. Yep. Very addictive for sure. The usual Fibro pain is making it tough as well with some days worse than others. (Mainly worse). Things can always be even MORE worse though so I count my blessings everyday. There is a new Fibro drug coming out in March I believe. I'm sure my Rheumy Dr or my GP will see that I give it a try.

Julie sent me a pic of her with her bright red lipstick on and her new Lipstick Lava Lace Ribbon Scarf I made her for Christmas. I'm just now getting around to posting it. Thanks Julie, looks like a great match!
You know how funny I look in red lipstick? You don't want to know...

I made my Mom some more house socks:

Berroco Pleasure in Fuschia. These are WARM little suckers. Like wearing little mini heaters on your feet. I think it's the angora in the yarn.

I made a few chemo caps for a friend of a friend. I sure hope she can use them.
Berroco Chinchilla-Pale Pink. Pattern on Headhuggers.org "One Ball Really Easy Chemo Cap"

Berroco Comfort in Pink - Headhuggers.org "Cold Weather Hat"

Caron Simply Soft in a bright Pink - Headhuggers.org "Laced Edge Women's Hat"

I honestly don't know when exactly I worked these in, life has been a daze lately. I know I made one, then liked another one better, then remembered I had the Chinchilla yarn - so I just sent her all three. Along with prayers and get well vibes in each stitch.

I'm working on some fingerless mitts right now for my cousin. "Three" seems to be my number so far. I knit the three chemo caps, now I'm knitting her three pairs of these things. Never has anything taken me SO goshawful long to do. I have No socks in progress either. So it's easy to see that I'm the only one moving in slow motion this year for some reason. I have NO IDEA why I joined one of the "Sock a Month" groups on Ravelry. January is almost over and I have a sock and a half left over from LAST year (yea, I was going to cheat), but I doubt it will get done in time anyway! It's kind of funny. I'll have to see if I can catch up before I disqualify myself from the group.

I did get a dandy idea to finally get all my different needles organized:

I bought three of these containers, one for DPN's, one for my circs, and one for my straights. (I leave my needles in their original packages normally.) During this "reorganizing" The Big Guy was fighting with loading stuff onto his new Ipod (meaning: BUGGING ME!) and as I went to go sit back down after having to find something ELSE for him I sat down on two different Knit Picks Harmony straights. I think one was a size 6 and one an 8. His fault I have to order more right?

That's about it. If I EVER finish the fingerless mitts I'll have something else to blog about! yay!

Another Big THANK YOU! :O)

After having a day that I'd rather forget (and how!) I got a doorbell ring that brought me this:

My BF in California sent me a Christmas package that I received today. Oh I just love everything! We got a kick out of Chloe (her puppy) all dressed up for the Holidays!! She's such a cutie!

There's a beautiful friendship bracelet, a Friendship votive candle holder and one of my favorite things - The Willow Tree "Heart and Soul" figurine. I adore the Willow Tree items. I've given and received quite a few. They're simple but convey so much feeling and meaning. This one reminds me of all the times Julie and I sat talking (and talking and talking). It's such a relief to know she's there for me when I need her. To have someone like that is such a blessing.

Thank You Julie!! I love and appreciate it so much.

Luv, YBFF

Done & Done

Whew! My knitting made it to it's destinations so I can post about these now.

The minute I saw this scarf made up in this particular colorway, I knew exactly who I just HAD to make this for. My Friend since elementary school, Rhonda.

She loved it! (I told her if she didn't to please send it back to me-no hard feelings-because I love it too!! LOL!)

Lace Ribbon Scarf

Socks That Rock-Lightweight

Pond Scum

Size 4 needles

44 st cast on to extend less yardage

This next one was for my BF in CA, Julie. (Modeled by my oldest Miss J). Rhonda told me this is called a "Hollywood Knot". I had no idea! LOL!! But it's a great way to wear this.

This baby is BRIGHT!! Very BRIGHT! And it fits Julie to a "T". She's a rebel, loves RED and looks SO PRETTY in it as well. She can wear really red lipstick and look absolutely FAB-U-Lous in it. Not many women can you know!

Dream In Color Smooshy - Lipstick Lava

Kept 44 st cast on to make it long and skinny.

Size 4 needles.

ETA: I also used the K2tbl (knit 2 together through the back loop) instead of SSK (slip, slip, knit) on this one. Total "personal preference" thing, it just made it go a tiny bit faster for me.

At a couple of spots in the pattern it was a little tricky but it still looked good IMO.

BTW: I did the extra two rows of garter stitch at the beginning since the pattern ends that way. Just makes for a "matching ends" scarf.

I didn't really "over-do it" blocking these. I know some people really open up the lace pattern with pinning and severe blocking, but frankly I just layed it on the floor on towels and shaped it with my hands while they were still damp. I put a fan nearby and just let them air dry. I love how they came out. I think I'll make one for myself one day. Funny how scarves can drive me insane - it feels like the repeats will NEVER end - and then WHAM! You're done and they're GORGEOUS. So worth it.

Many prayers and good thoughts went into these as well.

Merry Christmas my good Friends.

Miss U both.