Book review and more political pics

Last week I received a special package in the mail. I contained a pre-publication copy of Kate Jacobs' new book titled, Knit Two. If you enjoyed The Friday Night Knitting Club, which I did very much, you'll be glad to hang out with the same cast of characters in the continuation of the story. There is a bit of a time break between books, Dakota is now in college and a few babies have been born and lots of knitting has happened. I've read about 1/2 and am enjoying it as much as the first book. I'm like that though, if you give me some characters that I can identify with, I like to visit them again. I could certainly identify with Georgia, the main character of the first book, who was dealing with all the issues you are faced with when in an inter-racial relationship. The book is to be released in November 25, 2008 so be on the look-out for it and be sure to pick yourself up a copy.

And in other news, this is what I saw when I turned onto my street the other day...I just had to take a picture. We live in a diverse neighborhood, lol and one neighbor likes to create controversy for the sake of fun...can you guess which one? hahaha


This has been the most interesting, most fun, most stress-inducing political campaign I have ever lived through. I wouldn't trade it for anything. My first Presidential vote was for Jimmy Carter in 1976. We live in a great country and this campaign has been an example of how much freedom and responsibility we possess as Americans. 1 more week...

The knitting continues here. I'm rolling along with my effort at a toe-up sock using Cookie A's instructions and a ball of Schoeller Stahl in the Limbo Mexiko #2596 colorway. I'm getting ready to do the heel turn, it's a bit scary!

I'm thinking I'd better get busy if I'm gonna make any knitting gifts for the holidays...anybody got any suggestions for quick/simple/fabulous items worthy of your favorite relatives? I have so many patterns piled up that I'm feeling overwhelmed and could certainly use a few suggestions of things you all like.

Rock on with your week and stay warm and dry. I know in some parts of our country there are some folks that are neither warm or dry. Send them some good thoughts this week as you go through your days. And consider doing some charity knitting for your local shelter.

Thanks for stopping in...I'm off to put a wallet together for a special friend...toodles!

it's Thursday and I don't have much

Tuesday was Sam's birthday, he's 7 now. Livin a dog's life for sure.


I forgot to mention my trip to Quilts on the Grand a few weeks ago. It was the bi-annual show put on by the WMQG and it is always fabulous. They hang the show to raise money for local charities.

A few examples for your viewing pleasure...



I could have spent hours looking at these beautiful quilts but my feet could not take those concrete floors. There were hundreds of quilts and a slew of vendors. I picked up some really nice fat quarters to make a few more of those cute notions wallets.

I've been knitting like crazy on several different projects. I did finish a hat for my friend Marie (click on the "then" tab and you'll see her smiling face) who feeds me breakfast every Saturday morning. Here's the hat in progress.


I'm still working on the Socks That Rock Knitters w/o Borders socks, they're about 50% done and I started a sock from the toe up, that's past the toe now and a couple rows into the foot. I'll post a pic of that next time. I'm also working on another Ring of Cables hat with the remainder of the above pictured yarn.

I noticed that my friend Nichole has some really cute new Halloween themed stitch markers in her Etsy shop. You should go check it out.

I also wanted to give you a heads-up on a great website with crafty fun stuff and a great podcast called CraftSanity. Right now Jennifer has some cute Halloween decoration ideas posted. Go check it out, you'll find some fun stuff there.

Next time we'll talk about the new pre-published book I received the other day. It's by one of our favorite knitting authors...stay tuned...I promise I'll get it on here by the end of the weekend.

Everybody have a safe and happy weekend. I'll be going to the last wedding of the season, yay!

WARNING- Political Area:

I voted today. I'm relieved. Now I don't have to worry about getting sick/hurt and not making it to the polls on Nov 4th. Phew! I have to say that this is the most exciting election campaign I've ever lived through.

I saw this great video today, you gotta love Opie, Andy and the Fonz.

FO: Skully

Well, it's done and I like it!


A friend wants it for her 8 yo grand-daughter who will only wear black, although the other day she said the child was finally open to wearing grey, hahaha.

I'm hoping it won't be too small. It's really small though.



I used baby yarn, since that's all I had in my stash in these colors. It was just for practice after all. The gauge is way off though since I used that skinny yarn. It doesn't even reach the top of my ears, lol

I hope she likes it.

Socks and friends old and new...

This past weekend I got to spend some time with Cookie A...and my favorite shop owner, Lorilee...just for fun at the Late Nite Yarny Party @ City Knitting...and Saturday I took Cookie's toe-up sock knitting class. I like how her designs come clear in my brain without great difficulty and the end product is very nice. We knitted very small socks,

mine is Cascade 220, a blue heather color #4005 and I want to make a pair of socks to fit my foot with this yarn.

Anybody out there ever knit a pair of Jil Eaton's clog socks with Cascade 220? I'm wondering how well it will hold up just schlepping around the house.
The LNYP was great fun, as usual. We even got to play a cheesy contest where we had 3 min to bite a sock out of a slice of cheese. Emily's husband even stopped in to enjoy some of the fun.

BethanyG was the lucky winner.

Kristen and I were also lucky enough to be picked in the drawing for free Cookie A sock patterns. Here's what I picked...


Millicent could prove to be a monumental project but I do like some knee socks, lol. Think I'll do them in white, do you have an opinion on what color they should be? Not red, I don't think.

It's always fun to spend a Saturday with Rena at CK. Love you Rena! Hey to everyone who's nice enough to stop in and look around. I'm off to work on a new design today, a new style wallet for the knitting bag...after a great brain-storming session at CK Saturday morning I'm on a mission.

Thanks for all your input on the notions wallets and the encouragement to open my own Etsy store...it's definitely under consideration...stay tuned...you never know what might happen. And if you have any ideas about something you would find useful in your knitting bag, leave me a comment and I'll see what I can come up with.

Have a great day!

It was awesome!!!!

They estimated the crowd at upwards of 16,000


I was so excited, I had to fight tears a couple of times, especially while singing the National Anthem, in the open air, with those thousands of folks - all with one goal in mind, electing the next President of our great country.

I told The Saint it was almost as exciting as waiting in the lobby before The Lion King, lol. No, I'm just kidding, really.

To see this many people on Calder Plaza was amazing

We got "yellow" tickets so we were able to sit in the bleachers behind the stage, The Saint's hard work on the campaign is paying off

It was a perfect place to see what Barack was seeing while he was speaking

When he finished speaking we got out chance for a good look

doesn't he look Presidential?

And here's a shot for those among us that have a great appreciation for his "body-man" Reggie

mmm-mmm-mmm, I may be old and happily married but I can still enjoy the view, LOL

Edited: To revise crowd #s as published in today's local paper

I'm too excited to sleep...

I'm having a dilemma about what to wear tomorrow, we're having a special visitor in GR.
While searching through my shirts and buttons I realized I have collected quite a few...
shirts...
and buttons...
I wear the buttons on my knitting bag since it goes pretty much anywhere important with me.
Here's a closer look at the buttons if you wanna see em...
I guess you could say I'm a big fan...
I'll be back tomorrow with photos from the rally...
we're supposed to have tickets to get on the stage!
O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma!


Knitting is happening here too! I've had a serious case of start-itis and start-over-itis, lol
Yet another incarnation of CanKnitian's Helping Hat
and a great hat designed by kvp that she calls Parrotfish. Her pattern is based on Pomatomus by Cookie A. I'll be taking a class that Cookie A is teaching on toe up socks at City Knitting on the 11th and I can hardly wait!
Do you like the color? And since my 16" #3 Harmony circ arrived in the mail this week from Knit Picks I frogged back my Skully and started over, I was not liking all the mistakes I had made trying to use those crazy little dpn's. I love my new Harmony circ. It's so pretty and teensy.
My friend Grace had a birthday this week. Stop in and tell her happy birthday if you have a second. Thanks

Everybody have a great week! Welcome to Autumn, the leaves are beautiful here right now. Wish you were here, we'd share a cuppa joe or a glass of wine and chat.