Not dead yet.

Just sick. A strange and twisting cold/flu/stomach/thing that has laid everyone (except the Beast!) low. The two older boys were sick for less than two days. Poor B has been miserable for almost two weeks. I've been sick for about a week. I'd really like to go through just one night without a coughing fit. Please?

So while my brain has been foggy my fingers have still been quite busy. I've amassed a lovely list of things to make for people - most of whom are likely not expecting it. Squee! This is happiness. I lovelovelove making things for people.

Here's a peek at some of the things I've finished recently:



There are no decent crochet patterns out there for swords (haven't really found any knit ones I like, either but I thought crochet would be more.. firm? stable?). So I made one up. It looks nice. But is sadly.. floppy. I'd intended it as a birthday gift for the Imp but was so convinced that he'd hate it that I gave it to him right away. So of course he loves it.



This is also for the Imp. I've managed to keep it for his birthday, though. Because I'm hiding it, it is extremely difficult to take pictures. I'm stuck with explosive morning light or the absence of light at night. But you get the idea.



The pattern for this had much bigger ears. I shortened them for looks... and because I was about to run out of yarn and still had the tail and nose to make!



Check out this crowd! The knights are so much fun. The book (Creepy, Cute Crochet) doesn't have anything very girly in it (which I'm okay with) but I felt that a princess needed to be made. I used the body of one of the female dolls in the book and mangled a safety cone pattern I found online for the hat. Overall I'm pleased with her.. though I sort of forgot to put the safety eyes in before sewing the head to the body. And I'm afraid my embroidery is quite bad.

Probably Not Yarn Alonging.

Sickness has struck our house. Last weekend B lost his voice and felt like crap. He's mostly back to normal but with a sore throat and a spot of coughing.

Monday I really started to feel badly (we'll not speak of the weird heartburn I've had two days in a row). It just keeps getting worse.

This morning we were awoken to the Elf frantically exclaiming that he felt like throwing up. Shortly after, the Imp woke with a fever. The Elf has, indeed, emptied his stomach several times. They both have fevers.

The Beast is a bit warm, but otherwise fine (ignoring that he slept several hours later than usual).

So, yes. I seriously doubt I will get around to taking pictures for this week's Yarn Along. I have unashamedly declared today a cartoon watching, video game playing day.

Yarn Along - sort of..

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.

I don't have pictures of my work and my reading together. I'm busy hiding things from the birthday boy.

Reading: Still reading Blood Books volume one by Tanya Huff. There's nothing wrong with it, I just haven't been reading very much.

Knitting: Nothing. Can you believe that?

Crocheting: Oh goodness. Here we go..


(Rav notes here)

This I made on Sunday. B is an avid Android lover. He.. well, sort of collects Android devices. He plays with them, fixes them, installs the latest and greatest Cyanogen. And then sells them. It makes a little extra cash and he seems to enjoy it (even when he's yelling at things for not working). So of course I had to make this for him. He took it to work and made his coworkers jealous.


(Rav notes here)

I also made this Sunday. Or Monday? I don't remember. I know there was a day where I didn't actually pick up anything yarn related at all. I guess I finished it last night. It's for the Elf's birthday. When the Imp saw a picture of it, he declared that he simply must have one. So now I'm making a second one to avoid birthday gift theft. I only have the head (which gave me insane troubles today) and 3/4 of the body done. Hopefully I'll find the time to finish him up tonight (which reminds me that I completely forgot to pick up some more safety eyes).

So there's my not-quite Yarn Along.

It's done!

The dragon is done!



Before you judge let me just say that this is my first *real* crochet project. I tried a ball (which went well enough) and some hearts (also, well enough). But this is it. The first really real project.



It's a gift for my oldest, the Elf, who is turning nine in four days.




I hope he like it.

Projects.

I feel like I've been in an absolute frenzy. I had a good half dozen projects with approaching deadlines and now that I'm finished with a good deal of them I feel a little lost. Adrift. Like I have all the time in the world and maybe I should add a few more projects to my list.

Yes. I thrive on stress, it would seem.

First were the critters. Then there was the heart swap that Linda started (these are what I made if you want a peek: this and this). Then these, a pair of longies for an expecting acquaintance and a hat for a dear friend's mother.

During all the craziness I signed up to test a pattern for the lovely Emily of Yarn Miracle.



My kids love this dog.

I'm still working on the dragon for the Elf's birthday (in five days! ack!). I haven't been able to take pictures of it without making a big deal out of keeping him away. Yesterday I spent two hours at a local yarn store with my step-mother working on one of the wings. Yes, this is a labor of love for this mama who doesn't really know how to crochet.

Also, this hat:



I found the softest alpaca/silk yarn and just couldn't resist. I just finished it today.

So where does that leave me? The dragon, the Imp's birthday gifts (his birthday is late September), birthday gifts for a friend in Michigan (her birthday is in October). I'm sure that I'm forgetting something. But.. I could add a cardigan and several pairs of longies to this list, right? And a few crocheted toys for the kids, right? I mean, who needs down time?

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Yarn Along!

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



I'm Reading Blood Trials by Tanya Huff right now. I've read it before, so nothing exciting.

I'm working on so many projects right now but only photographed one of them. Mostly I'm working on test knitting a pattern for a dog doll by the fabulous Emily of Yarn Miracle. As was the case with her cat doll, my boys are absolutely smitten (I rather like the little guy, too). In addition I'm working to crochet a dragon for the Elf's upcoming birthday. I only have the body and one leg done - it's hard to find time to work on it with the Elf being home all the time. There's also another knitting project in the works. But it's a surprise for a friend (who reads this blog sometimes) so it'll remain secrety.

The Beast got me up at 6am this morning and the Imp followed at 7:30am. It's an early start for them - and for me. Here's hoping the day evens out in the end!

Weekending!

Saturday I did very little except run errands. It was insane. I got up early, finished up some striped longies, ate breakfast, and then the craziness began.



First I took the oldest to the library and yarn store (to buy yarn for Sunday's antics). Within an hour I took the Imp to the grocery store. Came home, ate dinner, took the Beast out to buy cat food. Yes. Three trips out, each with a different child - in descending order of age. Oy.

That night I started on a hat for a friend's mother.



Sunday, aside from washing dishes, doing laundry, and making laundry soap, all I did was knit. Seriously. It was crazy.


(Rav notes here)

The hat is actually nicer looking when not on a balloon blown up so big. But it was the easiest way to photograph it. Today I'll be starting a test knit for a dog doll and when the Elf is otherwise occupied, I'll be working on his birthday gift.

Yarn Along!

Visit Small Things to see more yummy knitting (and crochet!) posts!

First, what I'm currently working on:



Longies! I'm enjoying the color combination immensely. I'm not crazy about having two balls of yarn attached to my work all the time, though. I'm rereading more urban fantasy: The Blood Books Volume 1 by Tanya Huff.

And now! The recently finished items. Whee!



What's that? Longies? Who'd have thought? These are toddler sized and a lovely muted orange. They're headed for my Etsy shop when I get around to writing up the description. (Rav notes here)



A heart dish/washcloth. This is for a swap I'm doing. It's only one part, though. (Rav notes here)





Oh man. Lots of stuff here. We have seven critters (raccoon, fox, mouse, otter, squirrel, hare, hedgehog), three acorns, and two mushrooms. The raccoon wasn't part of the pattern set. I used someone else's as a base and cobbled together my own. My lighting sucks, but there you go. (Rav notes: critters, large acorn, small acorns, mushrooms)

The headache that isn't.

Sometimes I disappear. We all do it. We get caught up in life and never find the time for sitting at the computer.

That's not what happened to me.

I had a headache for two weeks. A constant ache in my head that would increase in waves. B finally demanded that I see a doctor (back story: my mother died of a ruptured brain aneurysm after complaining about headaches - my complaints freak my entire family out). I've always had headaches. Once it was low iron. Recently I started taking magnesium (perhaps it's helped?). Anyway, my doctor didn't bother to see me - I saw his nurse instead. She told me that it sounds as though I have "classic tension headaches" and should take muscle relaxers. Um. No? Still breastfeeding two little guys. I'm not going to live on pain medication, thank you. So she gave me a referral to a physical therapist that I can't afford. Brilliant!

When I got home, B had me make an appointment for a massage therapist. This was Friday. My appointment was Monday afternoon. Let me say, first, that B has been amazing - rubbing my shoulders, trying to field the kids when I just want to lay down. So Monday comes and I go into the appointment without expecting much (I've had a massage before - it *hurt*). Mandy was amazing. When she was done I didn't get up so much as pour myself off the table. I've never felt so relaxed and at peace.

Of course, I can't afford to see her often, either. I'm hoping that we can find a way to afford every other month. Even if my neck and shoulders seize up again in another week and the massage didn't really fix it, it was so very good for my emotional well being. Seriously, it was.. bliss. It was calm. I always joke about not knowing how to relax. Only, it's not really a joke.

Okay, so this wasn't the post I was going to come back to blogland with. I was going to Yarn Along. And I still might - if I can manage to get things photographed. These past few weeks all I've done (besides moan and complain) is knit and read. Which leaves me piles of dishes and mountains of laundry. And more than a few unanswered emails.

But here I am. I'm back. And my head is wonderfully free of pain.

Yarn Along - Knit and crochet!

I decided to participate in the Yarn Along I've read about on several blogs. You can be a part, too. Stop by Small Things to read about it.



So. Of course, after my previous post needing help with crochet.. I almost immediately was able to find a video that *finally* made the magic ring make sense. Now I just have to figure out how to decrease..

Crocheting: Pichu. Maybe. Mostly I'm just playing to see if I can do it. Because obviously my yarn isn't the right color.

Knitting: Longies! Of course! I will finish this pair eventually.

Reading: Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance. It's book.. two. I think. Yes. Two. I love this series. And Borders recently had a coupon for 30% off all fantasy novels. I went with the intention of picking up books two, four, and five (because I'm crazy and already owned one and three). But they didn't have four. So it's waiting at the library for me. I know that I've read through three before. Likely I've read book four. But I know that five will be new to me. Whee!

Crochet help?

Okay. Some background. I can knit. I cannot crochet. I didn't learn to knit the "proper" way. After learning the long tail cast on and the knit stitch I tackled this as my first pattern. I Googled for videos to describe everything I needed to know for it: knitting in the round, magic loop, picking up stitches, short rows, purling. That's how I learn. I find something I want to make and then I work my way through it.

I want to crochet this (among many others) for my two older sons for their upcoming birthdays. Only.. I don't know how to crochet. So I've tried to approach this the same way I did with knitting. But crochet seems more complicated. Crocheting flat versus in the round versus joining rounds and continuous rounds. I'm so very lost.

So my question is, can anyone point me to a good starting place for this pattern? I know how to chain. I can find videos for single, double, etc crochet. But.. magic ring? That can't be like magic loop because it's just a single hook. Do I chain six to single crochet in this supposed magic ring?

So. Lost.

If only I had some local friends who crocheted! Of course.. I think I'd need local friends in general first, wouldn't I?

Right Now I'm Loving..

A baby (perhaps I should be calling him a toddler now) who is learning to fall asleep on his own. Even if it is only for a few minutes. And while he ought to be awake, at that. But it tickles me that he can go from this:



To this:



To this:



And all in the span of about ten minutes.

A giveaway!

Over at This Cosy Life you can enter the Meltdown Monday Giveaway where you can win this:



It's a six inch doll that I made using the Wee Folk Art pattern (adapted to be in-the-round).

Here's hoping we can avoid a meltdown at our house today!

Weekending!

Oh man, this weekend was full. There was:
- knitting a teeny cat and a pair of longies
- 30% off all fantasy books at Borders? Score!
- one-on-one time with the Elf while planning herbal studies for "school"
- used book store finds (classics for the Elf)
- hair cuts - homemade style
Before:


After:


- finding a learning tower on craigslist for $60!





- finally got through a backlog of emails (though now I have new ones to respond to!)
- Brooklyn style pizza for Sunday dinner

Shamless promotion

I have finally added the longies/board shorts from last month to my Etsy shop. I'm also half done with a pair of pumpkin colored longies. I haven't decided if I'll sell them or keep them, yet. Whee!

A Wee Hare

I spent every free moment of my day knitting a hare. I'm crazy, I know. I'm working on a set of woodland critters for someone. I tried out one of the patterns to make sure I could do it (Ravelry notes here. Turns out that I can. I think the critters will look nicer with bigger eyes (I used embroidery thread because it was handy).

This was the best photograph I could get of it.



Because this kept happening..



And this..



So at least I know that it's loved!

Yarn Along!

I decided to participate in the Yarn Along I've read about on several blogs. You can be a part, too. Stop by Small Things to read about it.



I am knitting a teeny cat body to go with my teeny cat head. Actually, since taking this picture I have finished the body and am knitting a teeny cat paw.

I just started reading The Backyard Homestead. No opinion yet as I've only read a few pages. Whee!

Weekending!

Oh! This weekend was packed. With knitting!

This is what I have to show for it:



The pattern is written by the amazing Emily of Yarn Miracle. I cannot tell you how much fun I had knitting this guy. And my Beast *adores* him. He played with each and every piece (well, except for the body) prior to them being sewn together. His eyes lit up when I handed him the toy all completed. This cat has seen a lot of action and he's only a couple of days old.

Of course, the pattern is written for bulky yarn. I used worsted. Which got me thinking. And plotting. So Saturday on the way to my youngest niece's birthday party we swung by the yarn store where I pictured up some lace weight yarn. I've never knit with such fine yarn before. It's.. interesting. I clearly need better lighting and eyesight for this sort of work.

Regardless, now I have this to show for it (I did say that it was taking me longer):



I'm most of the way through a book that keeps getting more interesting. It's called The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Someone had posted about it, but of course now I can't recall who (does this prove that I read too many blogs?). In any case, I'm really enjoying it.

Hmm. What else? I made yummy pizza and the Elf is reading books again with little grumbling. His Singapore books (I bought them used from a yahoo group) arrived today. I've been putting off working on his curriculum, but I'm going to have to tackle once I'm done with this cat. Oh! And he officially passed third grade - he had his evaluation on Friday.

And now a baby has awoken from his nap! Whee!

Not Quite A Yarn Along

I missed the Yarn Along again. Melissa + deadlines (recently) = at least a day late. Oops.

Here's what I've been working on knitting-wise:

A knitted cushion/stool. I used a seriously freaky thick cotton yarn that I bought from someone in a yahoo group. I found size 19 wooden needles on sale for $2 and used about 260 yards of yarn. The stuffing is: one king sized feather blanket, one twin comforter, and three pillows. My kids *adore* it.



Shorties! Of course. I hope to get these into my Etsy shop soon (where I've lowered a lot of my prices because nothing is selling and buying curriculum pieces is *expensive!*).



A cat! Oh, I am having so much fun with this one. I've cast on the body and will hopefully get some time to work on him today. B asked me why I'd made a cat with entrails (the yarn tails hanging from the neck). Since then my boys have completely latched on to this idea. Yes, I most definitely have boys. This cat head has seen a wicked amount of play already. In fact, the Beast wandered off with one of the ears while I was knitting the second one.




The eyes are very special on my cat head. Seaming, sewing, and embroidery are just not things that I'm good at. You can see the second eye better in this picture (with Surreal, one of our younger cats).



Also, you may see this guy (the wooden house is just there to prop him up) in a giveaway at one of my favorite blogs. I'll post about it when/if it happens.