Lisathemom's Spot

Trying to come back!

2009-02-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted her in a while - had rotator cuff surgery Dec 24th and am slowly making my way back into the real world. Now that the drugs have worn off and I can type with both hands again, maybe I'll do better...although I can now right my name with my left hand and perform other tasks my left hand was not used to doing.

Our wood stove is in! Cosmic Ray got it hooked up before Christmas and I'm enjoying it so much. We used it when we lived in Nebraska to heat our whole house, so you can imagine how warm it makes us in south GA. Good for chilly nights, which we've had more of this year.

Had fun in Destin, FL for a few days in January with my knitting/spinning friends. They took good care of the "crip" and even though I couldn't do much spinning, I had a lot of fun. The girl in the photo with me is not my daughter, even though I would claim her, it's Amy, my friend Cindy's daughter. We had fun enjoying the sun and sand together in Destin.

Soapmaking Day

2008-11-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Had fun this weekend making soap for Christmas gifts!! I made goat's milk with lavender, goat's milk with oatmeal, and the orange-ish soap is brown sugar/pumpkin. I tried to use a little food coloring in the lavender, but it didn't work out....I got most of it out, but ended up with some tiny blue dots here and there. Going to call that soap "Lavender Surprise" because you may end up with a small patch of blue on yourself when you use it.....

More SAFF photos

2008-10-28T16:17:00.001-07:00

Here's more photos from the Southeastern Area Fiber Fair: Jacob Sheep

Cindy and Linda from our Cotton Patch Spinning Group

Tonni, my blogging/Ravelry pal

There were 4 of us in our camper and this is what we bought....mostly....

SAFF - fun at the Fiber Festival

2008-10-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Had a GREAT time at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville, NC! Here's a few pics of what I enjoyed most.

I took a class on how to make this large project basket - finished lashing the rim at home today.

These sheep hats were a riot - the guys wearing them really had "balls"....

I loved the Llamas and Mohair Goats

GA National Fair

2008-10-08T15:52:00.001-07:00

I've always wanted to enter something I've made in the GA National Fair held each October in Perry, GA, but I just never got around to it, or I decided too late and the entry deadline had passed. This year was different - I actually looked at the website and found out when the entry deadline was, organized my entries and got them there IN TIME. (It's a little thing, but a big thing for ME). Here's a few pics of what I entered - the biggest surprise was a 1st place ribbon and special achievement rosette for my handknit Monkey socks.

I entered 3 skeins of handspun in the apprentice division and won 2 third places. Perhaps my biggest thrill was seeing my quilt on display hanging in the giant exhibit hall. At first I couldn't find it, but later located it hanging right over the top of the Chili cook-off competition. The attendant at the door wasn't going to let me in, but I explained I had no interest in the chili but that MY QUILT was hanging overhead and I wanted to see it. She smiled and let me sneak behind the competitors so I could see it more clearly. Later on in the evening, I was able to take some photos. I pieced and sewed the top, and my friend, Sue Shippey did the quilting. We won an Honorable Mention. That's pretty good for this competition where LOTS of quilts are entered and hang from the ceiling all over the giant display hall.

New Wheel

2008-08-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've been suffering with a bad ankle for about 3 years now, and read that a double treadle spinning wheel would be great therapy for my torn ligaments. Janelle in Washington wanted a single treadle wheel, so we swapped!! I got her Ashford Traveller, and she got the Kromski Prelude - and we're both happy. Thanks, Janelle~!

Wool Dyeing Day

2008-08-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here's some photos from our "warped party" dyeing day. It was lots of fun, and I learned alot from the dyeing experts in our Cotton Patch Spinning Guild.

Georgia's Jewel - Jekyll Island

2008-08-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

This place is one of my favorites on earth!! Here's a few pics to make you want to visit here, too!

From starting locks to finished skein

2008-07-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

When I first learned to spin, I bought pre-drafted "rovings" which are already combed and ready to draft and spin....but I wanted to someday start with sheep "locks" of wool, comb them myself, then spin them. I did it! I purchased some Howard student hand carders from Margrett at Running Moon Farm, bought some dyed Romney wool locks from Rhonda at Marsh Mellow Farms, and went to work. Here's photos of starting and my finished skeins.

2008 Tour de Fleece

2008-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

The spinning has begun!! Lots of us are spinning our way to victory!! We've all set a challenge and are working hard to finish before the Tour de France is over! We spin on days they ride, and rest on days the cyclers rest....Come check us out on Flickr! Here's some wool I'm spinning from a Shetland sheep named Margaret.

Georgia Peaches

2008-06-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

This is mostly what I've seen the for the past 10 days....after spinning in Louisiana with my spinning guild friends, I came home to Georgia and started picking the June Gold peaches on the farm where Cosmic Ray works. I've picked over 120 twenty-five pound boxes as of today, and the June Golds are almost through. In about 10 days the Hawthorne peaches will start. No rest for the weary....

Spinning in Louisiana

2008-06-01T18:59:00.001-07:00

Just back from a WONDERFUL weekend spinning and knitting with fiber friends near Lake Charles, Louisiana. Eight members of the south GA Cotton Patch Spinning Guild traveled together and had lots of fun laughing, spinning and learning.

We also saw lots of critters on walks after meals to stretch our legs and work off a few of the calories we consumed eating those bountiful meals....

Another pair of socks finished

2008-05-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

Love knitting this Monkey socks pattern by Cookie A. My sister gave me this sock yarn for Christmas and it's SO SOFT!! Petting the socks is therapeutic....

Take my picture, Mom, please??

2008-05-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

Aren't I cute?? I'm sitting here waiting for someone to scratch my face or take my picture....glad someone finally came around....

Smokey meets the kitten

2008-05-05T09:20:00.001-07:00

If I had a better video camera, I would record the interactions between the kitten and rabbit and make millions of dollars...but for now, you can just look at these pics. One of these days, I'm going to get the loom threaded, but it won't be as much for the kitten and rabbit to play with batting the strings.

A new Critter here....

2008-05-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

We adopted a new kitten yesterday -he's a cute little bobtail fella and we're going to call him Creampuff.

Lots of daylilies and irises are starting to bud and bloom - it's fun to walk around the yard and see what's blooming every day.

Planted some new annuals in the front flower bed this week, too. The white zinnias make me smile when I see them.

Shearing Sheep

2008-04-20T18:10:00.001-07:00

Learned alot about shearing sheep and llamas last week. It was lots of work, but lots of fun with my spinning guild friends!

This is a sheep fleece I brought home. Hope to card and spin it myself...we'll see how it goes.

Spring! and first skein from Smokey.

2008-03-21T10:05:00.001-07:00

This is Smokey, my beloved angora rabbit at 8 weeks old - isn't she cute?? She's bigger now, but looks the same.

I clipped her a few weeks ago and spun up some of her fur. Slippery stuff, angora is, but I think it turned out pretty good for the first time.

South GA is a beautiful place in the spring....azaleas everywhere, dogwoods opening, pine pollen all over everything, sneezing, wheezing, coughing....you get the idea. But it beats snow and long winters.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to be a Penn State fan in southern GA?? I think there's 4 Penn State fans within a 50 mile radius. This calls for a membership drive....

Learning to Crochet

2008-03-19T17:39:00.001-07:00

I know, I know...didn't need another fibery hobby. But my friend Jerolee was here from Athens and showed me how to do this. Perhaps I can make baby blankets for all of my friends who are having babies.

Spinning mohair shetland blend

2008-01-14T13:15:00.001-08:00

My friend Elizabeth from Yahoo Death by Socks (she is my very favorite assassin) sent me a Christmas surprise box of all different fibers. I finished spinning the 50/50 mohair shetland blend last night and it turned out nicely. Trying to think of what I want to knit for myself...after I finish the 56 other unfinished projects around here....

The Loom is Looming....

2008-01-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Here's my Union Carpet Loom - inherited it from my aunt a few years back, and recently put it in my living room. Even if it's taking me months to warp it, it's a great conversation piece and makes guests think I'm even more eccentric than they thought...

Well Read Bun

2007-12-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Smokey, my French angora rabbit, really likes magazines....well, really likes to chew on magazines...but her favorites tend to be healthy ones. She like my Curves magazine, and is very fond of Martha Stewart.

Here's a pair of Monkey Socks I've finished for Christmas using Trekking XXL yarn. Love that yarn, and this is a great knitted sock pattern. Have to wash and block them, but hey, the knitting is finished!

Making Cane Syrup

2007-12-01T18:59:00.001-08:00

Today was a BEAUTIFUL south GA day, and a perfect one to make cane syrup. We arrived at the farm a little late for the pressing, but our friend Tracy is demonstrating how it's done with a tractor/contraption that squeezes out the juice into a bucket, while the tractor driver(used to be mule) gets dizzy going round and round and round.

Next, the juice is boiled for hours (and hours) in a caldron and skimmed to remove impurites such as wax from the cane and anything else lurking in the boiling caldron.

It's getting close to time for syrup now, and the way it pours off of the edge of the bucket lets you know if it's ready. (I would need a thermometer to figure this out, but I think I got it by what it looks like....)

It's ready - time for Cosmic Ray and Donald to pour it through cheesecloth and filter out any remaining plant/bug parts.

I had the all important job of moving the empty bottles into position to pour....

Time for biscuits! Yum!

Plan Ahead....

2007-11-19T08:59:00.001-08:00

Aren't these cool socks?? They were going to be a Christmas gift, however.....I'm running out of yarn. And better yet, the company who dyed this yarn is not making anymore at the moment....so, progress is halted on this pair of socks.

Homemade soap

2007-11-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Cosmic Ray is wondering if Walmart is no longer making soap or socks, since I seem to be making both of them at a fast pace...but here's pics of my soapmaking endeavors with Lindsey this week. The soap on the left has chocolate swirled in it, just because I think chocolate is good on the outside and inside of every person. The soap on the right is lavender - nice circles using a Pringles can as a mold.

Smokey gets a haircut...she's slightly embarrassed...

2007-10-31T18:40:00.001-07:00

Smokey has lost her baby coat, and I have 2 ounces of angora wool to spin! She looks a little "sheepish" and isn't quite sure if she likes her new look....she is enjoying hopping around on our new plywood subfloor we're putting in our front room.

Silly wabbit....

2007-10-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Still enjoying Smokey, the French angora. She likes to hop around on the tile in our dining room.

Had fun dying roving at the GA National Fair on Saturday - dyed some merino rovings with indigo. The pot of dye looks nasty - yukky yellow green, but it's a miracle when you pull it out and let the air hit it - it turns a beautiful blue!!

Smokey comes home...

2007-10-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Here she is - I'm now the proud owner of a French angora rabbit! She's 4 months old, friendly and loveable, and I can't wait to spin some mittens and socks from her. She came home with me today while I was attending a spin-in at the GA National Fair in Perry, GA...I wandered over to the rabbit show and was smitten. Stay tuned for bunny updates.

Spinning is a beautiful thing....

2007-09-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here it is - the yarn from Alix the Shetland sheep. I've started a pair of socks with some merino for accents...think I'm going to TRY to knit a sweater, too...if I'm brave enough. But who needs a wool sweater in South GA?? I'd get to wear it once or twice/year...

Here's my newest spinning project - I met a great lady in Newnan who was spinning angora from her bunny. She was kind enough to send me some to try - it is SO SOFT. I now want an angora rabbit...but Cosmic Ray is not being too agreeable....hey, they are smaller than sheep, and don't eat as much....

Tour de Fleece starts soon!

2007-06-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

My family thinks I've totally gone over-the-edge now....but this is a great idea! Spin while those sweaty folks bike all over France! Click here for more info and join today.

Back to spinning the mountains of roving from Alix, the Shetland sheep.

Alix's Fleece Arrives!

2007-06-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Alix, a moorit Shetland Sheep from Sheltering Pines in Michigan, gave me this beautiful fleece. I had it processed in Indiana at Wooly Knob and it's spinning up nicely! Think I'll make a sweater...or socks....or a shawl....or hats....decisions, decisions...

Fibery Goodness for Mother's Day

2007-05-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

My kids and husband surprised me with these beautiful rose quartz merino rovings from Main Street Yarns and Fibers in Watkinsville, GA....they were up in north GA for a 4-H contest and stopped there to by my present...they did good!! It spins up soft like a dream! The sock started on the right is from some yarn I got from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe - it's called Las Vegas Brights and it's very colorful and soft. Hope all mothers had a great Mother's day!

Kool-aid - more than just a fun drink....

2007-04-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

I've been dyeing some superwash merino rovings with Kool-aid and having a great time!! The colors are bright, it's easy and the kids like helping...

Spinning, spinning....

2007-04-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

I've got a new addiction, er hobby....spinning with my Kromski Prelude spinning wheel. I spun this blue-faced leicester wool into a double ply skein last week. Now I'm trying to decide whether to dye it, or knit it into something as it is....it's so soft, I feel like knitting it into a stuffed animal....

I spun some wool rovings from the Sheep Shed Studio, plyed 2 singles together and knitted this hat for my daughter. She loves it!

Zokni Socks

2007-03-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

My mother's family is from Hungary, and I thought it would be fun to make a pair of socks with a Hungarian connection - Zokni means "socks" in Hungarian. This pattern is found at Pepperknit.blogspot.com I'm using Lisa Souza sock yarn in the Violets' Pink Ribbon color and the yarn is gorgeous and soft...can't wait to wear them, but I think my oldest daughter is claiming them for herself.

Monkey Socks Finished!

2007-03-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

Loved this pattern from Knitty.com! Worked up nicely in Lorna's Laces Iris Garden yarn on #1 double pointed needles! Daughters are fighting over who gets to wear them....

Monkey Socks

2007-02-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

I love this pattern!! This is the Monkey sock pattern in winter edition of Knitty, a great online knitting magazine. My cat, Mocha, loves this sock, too....actually she loves anything I knit, and loves the yarn before I knit....cats are funny that way.

Chain Link socks finished and others started...

2007-02-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

These chain link socks from the Nov/Dec SixSox knitalong group on Yahoo were fun to make! I used Trekking XXL yarn and size 1 needles - hope my sister likes them! I'm also making the Thuja sock from Knitty for my daughter - these are working out beautifully with KimiK sock yarn I bought on ebay. Great colors!

Sampler Quilt Blocks

2007-01-31T17:49:00.000-08:00

Finally!! These quilt blocks have been hanging around my laundry room for a few years, and I finally decided to sew them together. I'm going to look for a darker fabric to put around the outside, and get it machine quilted soon. This is the year of finishing the unfinished projects!

Death by socks....

2007-01-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

I've been killed...but what a way to go!! My Death-by-socks assassin, Elizabeth, got me with these socks today - and I love them! I've been wearing them since they came in the mail, and everyone I've showed loves them, too! This yahoo group is fun and what a great pattern.

Here's my unfinished sock that goes back to Elizabeth to finish for her next victim...

Snowing in NE Pennsylvania..finally....but not enough for me

2007-01-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

I guess when you visit Pennsylvania in January, you expect it to snow, but it's still exciting when it happens....especially when you live in South GA and it NEVER snows. I'm spending time with my parents as they recover from hip replacement(dad) and spinal stinosis injections(mom) and this snow was just what I needed for MY therapy. Even though the wind chill was 3 degrees, and the actual temp. was 19 degrees, I took a 2 mile walk just to enjoy the snow and the deep

blue sky.

Chain Link socks finished

2007-01-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

This pattern is fun! From the yahoo group six sox knitalong, we knit 6 patterns/year and have lots of fun. These are for my sister, whose favorite color is purple. I knit them on #1dpns using Trekking XXL yarn - one of my favorites.

5.17 miles of sock yarn

2007-01-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

Just finished laying out my sock yarn stash and discovered I own MILES of sock yarn waiting to be knitted into socks....I signed up for Limenviolet's sock marathon and discovered how big my stash was....and it doesn't include partial skeins or alpaca I'm not sure what to do with yet...

Heading to PA in a few days to help take care of my dad while he has his hip replaced - hopefully I'll knit some of this into SOCKS!

New Six Sox knitalong

2006-12-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

This pattern is SO cool! The slipped stitches really make it look like a chain! These are a Christmas present, if I get both of them finished...maybe one sock this year, one sock next year....

Using Trekking XXL yarn on #1 dpns. It's fun!

Christmas Projects, cont'd....

2006-11-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

Embroidering 15(!) of these for our Smith Family Christmas. I'm 1/3 of the way through....I love my Viking #1+ Embroidery Machine - it's 11 years old and still going strong.

Here's the completed Eagle's Flight socks made from Cherry Tree Hill mill ends with #1dpns. They are for one of my nieces - planning to do a sock swap ( like an ornament swap) with my 2 daughters and 3 nieces for Christmas.

Here's another pair of socks...never enough socks....will it ever end....

These are Jeanie Townsend's Cascading Leaves socks made from the Austermann Step yarn with aloe. I'm making them for my mother-in-law who likes ankle socks...just starting the heel flap. I'm going to make another pair for myself with Lorna's Laces yarn and a higher leg...

Back to knitting.

Trying something new....

2006-11-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

Working on this sock for my husband...he really likes it so far!! Using Patons wool yarn and a pattern I found in Knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy. Hope to finish them soon!

Christmas Knitting...

2006-10-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here's 2 pairs of socks of the 5 I need for Christmas gifts....the one on the left is Laura Gallagher's Fluted Banister Socks from the Yahoo groups Six Sox knitalong, and the one on the right is Eagle's Flight by P T yarns. Eagle's Flight is made from Cherry Tree Hill yarn on #1 dpns, and Banisters are made from Sockotta yarn. off to knit.....

Love Jeanie Townsend's patterns!

2006-09-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

I love these Pretty Petal Socks! Almost finished with the second one, too! These will go in the Christmas stash for my niece. Hoping to knit a pair of socks for my 3 nieces and 1 nephew for Christmas - guess I better get knitting!
Finished the maple leaf socks, too! But I'm keeping these for me!!

The yarn to the left is from Lisa Souza in a color called "canta-loupe"....can't wait to make another cool Jeanie Townsend sock pattern with it.

Sock in Progress....

2006-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

One Maple Leaf sock finished, heading down the foot of the second sock! I LOVE this pattern! And the Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn is SO soft.

I've also started another Jeanie Townsend sock - Pretty Petals from the yahoo groups knitalong. I'm using Opal Petticoat yarn and size 1 dpns.

This Opal yarn is very soft, knits nicely and the colors are pretty with this pattern. These will probably be a Christmas present for one of my nieces...if I don't decide to keep them....

One Maple Leaf sock finished!

2006-07-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

One Maple Leaf Sock finished....I love the Cherry Tree Hill Sock Yarn! Used a garter stitch short row heel, and grafted the toe. Off to start the second sock before second sock syndrome hits....

Succeeded at Sixth Sense

2006-07-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here they are - another pair of Sixth Sense socks - modified from the original pattern with a short row heel and non - garter stitch toe. They were made on #2 dpn's with Calzetteria sock yarn. My son loves them - they are very comfortable and I hope to steal, er...borrow them them from him occasionally.

Back to work on the Maple Leaf Socks...they are taking longer than I'd hoped, but a fun pattern to knit. I'm using #1 dpn's and Cherry Hill sock yarn. Plan to start a pair of Hedera socks soon, too.

NBC VBS OnMission in Long Beach, MS!

2006-07-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here's some photos from our awesome VBS workers OnMission in Mississippi last week! 6 kids prayed to receive Christ! To God be the Glory!

New Yarn...more stash...

2006-07-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Cherry Tree Hill yarn just BEGGING to be made into Maple leaf socks...Austermann with aloe begging to be Sixth Sense socks....Trekking XXL for my husband...so much yarn, so little time. Crafty Hands in Bowling Green, KY, is a GREAT shop with friendly staff and lots of sock yarn. Can't wait to visit there again.

Here's the modified Sixth Sense socks I'm working on...didn't do the garter stitch heel and toe on these, just a regular short row heel and stockinette toe.

Now, back to laundry and all the other stuff Mom's do....

VBS - ARCTIC EDGE is here!

2006-06-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of the year - VBS WEEK! Here's some photos of ARCTIC ADVENTURERS this week.

Camera-less

2006-06-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

I've sent both of my daughters off - one is in Zambia, and one is in Las Vegas. A far cry from South Georgia, but they are with good people and I know they are having a great time. However, I've got several great projects going on double-pointed needles, and no camera in the house to take photos...so, I'll keep knitting away while I miss my girls, and post photos later.

It's not helping that my oldest daughter emailed from Zambia and told me about the 5 1/2 foot black spitting cobra that was killed outside of her tent....and that workers saw another but didn't get to kill that one....makes for a rough night of sleep for this Mom.....but I can't wait to see all of the photos (I hope she's taking photos....since I can't take any photos...) of what she's seen in Africa. Only one more week until she's home.....

Sock Needle Case and Coffee

2006-04-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out how to combine 2 things I love - knitting and coffee. Mom is visiting from PA, and today we made a case to hold my sock needles from some coffee fabric I purchased at a local quilt shop a few years ago. It turned out great! The bag folds in thirds and secures with a lavender tie. I LOVE IT!

Alpaca Socks Finished!

2006-03-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

They are finished!!! My first pair of men's socks for my husband!! He loves them, and although it's almost too warm here to wear them, he promises he will. They are made from Frog Tree sport weight alpaca, and they are SO SOFT!! My cat loves them, and you're seeing part of her in the photo....
I used 56 stitches on size 2 dpn's and roughly followed the Beginner Sock Pattern by Knitting Pure and Simple. That pattern is the easiest for this sock novice to use...now I'm off to finish another UFO...

Knitting Sock-a-holic....

2006-03-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

Here's what I'm laying out trying to decide what sock to knit next. I LOVE the LORNA'S LACES Shepard Sock yarn on the right - just touching it makes me happy. I've already wound the second skein into a ball. The colors in the Regia are great beautiful blues...the Sockotta is soft, the tweedy Trekking XXL is for my husband. The skein is misshapen because I started a sock with it and didn't like the pattern so I pulled it all out and rewound it....if I don't knit something twice, I don't feel like I've knitted it....

This is my current sock on size 1 dpn's. The yarn is another Regia self-striping, and it's working out great so far - almost time to start the heel. I'm using a Knitting Pure and Simple Beginner Lightweight Sock pattern that's easy to follow.

Just joined the Six Sox knitalong on Yahoo Groups and am looking forward to starting a new sock pattern April 1st. Check back later for updates.

My sock yarn addiction....

2006-03-12T19:08:00.000-08:00

It's here - after coveting, er..., wanting some Lorna's Laces sock yarn, I finally have 2 skeins. It's Shepherd Sock yarn in the Seaside colors, and it's GORGEOUS. It's SO SOFT, I just pick it up and hold it in my hands. I might even put eyes on it and make it like a stuffed animal and not knit it into socks....I want to try a pair of socks with it, but I've got 2 different socks on the needles now, and it will have to wait. Since there's no store nearby that sells small double pointed needles, I'll have to either order another set, or wait....waiting is SO hard.... and there's so many more COOL colors of this yarn I want to purchase. I think I need one of those 12 step programs for my yarn addiction....either that, or an addition onto the house to store it.

I've decided I have startitis, the disease that makes you want to start something new every few days. I am trying to stay focused and finish what I've already got started and today made progress in that direction. As long as I don't get any more yarn, I think I'll be ok.....

Going to do a sock yarn search on ebay.....

Anyone have these patterns??

2006-03-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

I was wondering if anyone had these patterns. The 2 color slipper was made for me by my next door neighbor when I was a teenager - I got a new pair every Christmas. She's dead now, and I'd like to knit these for my kids. The gray slipper I found in a gift shop in Lititz, PA and my daughter is wearing them out. Thanks for your help!!

Here's the Knitting Olympics Medal

2006-02-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

Here it is - the coveted Knitting Olympics gold medal. I DID finish a complete sock, and maybe going OnMission to the coast of Mississippi for 5 days at the end did deter me from finishing the second sock, but the work I did in Mississippi had eternal benefits, not olympic benefits...

I did see a Knitting Olympics team button that I should upload, but won't...it's team, "What the _____ was I thinking???"

I do plan to finish the second sock this week! Off to knit on it now...

Olympic Misery....

2006-02-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

I've failed....thought I'd finish the second sock and earn my gold medal, but I didn't get it finished. I chose to spend the last 5 days of the Olympics on a mission trip to Long Beach, Mississippi to help Hurricane victims. I thought I'd have time to knit at night, on the van ride, etc., but every moment was busy and I slept most of the way home. The news media has failed us in showing Katrina victims in Mississippi and even now, 6 months later, folks are STILL living in tents or waiting for their FEMA trailers. We helped Central Baptist Church put a new roof on (insurance company decided NOT to pay...) and delivered household items to folks in FEMA trailers. The Olympic knitting competition was great fun, and I hope to compete again in 2 years.

Mystery Quilt Finished...an olympic diversion....

2006-02-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

I've finished it!! The mystery quilt from Planet Patchwork that I started Super Bowl Sunday!! It's for my daughter, Sally, and she really likes it. My friend is going to hand quilt it for me as a gift to Sally.
Now I must get back to the Knitting Olympics and finsh that other sock!! Why is the first sock in a pair so much more fun than the second....

One sock down, One to go....

2006-02-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

One sock finished with 7 days to go until the Olympics are over! The toe is a bit pointed...tried the kitchener stitch to finish the toe, and I don't think I did it quite right....but Cosmic Ray likes it and is ready to wear the pair. Here's a photo of him modeling - think he's ready to be a foot model??

Saga of the Olympic Sock....

2006-02-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Work continues on the sock...after messing up the heel and taking it out TWICE, we're finally making forward progress again. On to the instep....only 9 days to go until knitting olympics GOLD medal at the end of the Olympics~~!! Hopefully my husband will have 2 socks by then....

Happy Knitting,
Lisathemom

Olympic Progress....

2006-02-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

Work is progressing on the Olympic knitting project - alpaca/wool socks for Cosmic Ray. A few stitches have been dropped and recovered, and I abandoned the pattern I was trying to create in favor of the straight stockinette look. Just an inch or so to go, and I'll be turning the heel...going to make it plum like the cuff. Better get back to work! I WANT THAT GOLD MEDAL!

Let the knitting Olympics Begin!!

2006-02-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

Just after 2 pm today, while the opening ceremonies were beginning in Torino, I cast on for my Olympic Knitting project. I'm making a pair of socks from alpaca/wool sports weight blend of deep purple and gray. I have 16 days to finish these socks, and I'm off and running...er, knitting....with over 4000 of my closest friends, most of whom I've never met, but with whom I share a close bond of craziness and knitting. While other athletes are testing the limits of their endurance on slopes and skates, I'll be testing my limits to knit with sticks not much bigger than toothpicks. Hopefully I'll experience the "thrill of victory", and not the agony of defeat...

Later,
Lisa

Turned another Heel

2006-02-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

I think I'm finally getting the hang of making socks. A good pattern helps, and the Beginner Lightweight Sock pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple is a good one. Now if I can get the sashing strips to line up right on my current quilt project, it will be a great day....

Getting ready for the Knitting Olympics which will begin tomorrow. I'm going to attempt to make a pair of socks from some lightweight alpaca yarn I found 2 weekends ago at the Main Street Fiber and Yarn shop in Watkinsville, GA.

Later,
Lisa

Socks I have knitted

2006-02-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

My first pair of knitted socks. I'm very proud of these socks, even though the one on the right might fit an elephant's or hippo's foot. I'm getting better at learning what "gauge" means and how important it is for knitters to know....

Knitting Olympics

2006-02-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to be in the Olympics, and now it's MY turn! The knitting Olmpics!! I will cast on a project during the opening ceremonies, and finish before the end of the closing ceremonies. This, of course, will mean that several of my unfinished objects (UFO's) will remain unfinished, but who's counting those...unless the UFO patrol decides to scope out this place and report me to the UFO authorities. Has anyone ever been reported or checked up on for not finishing their projects? Between the knitting projects and quilting projects, I could be on the UFO's MOST WANTED LIST! But I WILL finish this project during the Olympics and earn a special seal for this site.

Until tomorrow,
Lisathemom

2005-10-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

When I grow up, I want a Mini Cooper S convertible! Here's one with JoePa's photo on it in Penn State colors!

2005-10-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am at Penn State - Borland lab, home of the Food Science dept. and the best ice cream in the WORLD!

Lisathemom's Spot

2005-10-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Georgia!! I'm mom to 3 wonderful kids and wife to Cosmic Ray, an agricultural research scientist. I'm also a Penn State Food Science grad, and love cheering for my Nittany Lions!!