and a HAPPY New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas, and Santa was very good to all of us.

I have lots of knitting news to report including several FO's (one for the dog!) and some lovely gifts from

Sue .

My Hooded Cardi is finished, blocked, all ends woven in....all that is left is the zipper. I am determined to finish it this year so I plan to be up late tonight working on it.

Noey lost a tooth two days after Christmas ( the top one that is sticking out) so we had a visit from Santa and the Tooth Fairy in the same week!

We are having a great time with Chrissy. She is a good little dog, but it really is like having a 2 year old in the house again.

We wish you all a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas to all!

Joyeux Noelle!

An Addition to the Family

Meet Chrissy. Noey and I adopted her today!

She's about 2 years old and we think she is a daschund/chihuahua mix. She was rescued from a County Animal Shelter, where she was going to be put to death!!

Noey has been wanting a dog, so we've been looking into "rescue" or "shelter" dogs. This morning we drove to Long Beach to meet Chrissy and a couple of other dogs. Noey fell in love with her the moment she saw her, and I think Chrissy felt the same way!

Now we just have to get used to having a dog in the house. The rescue lady told me it's just like having a 2 year old.....

Thank you for your well wishes for Noey!

She is feeling much better today. In fact she was well enough to go to school and participate in the Holidays Around The World production. The first grade class sang Arre Mi Burrito and Up on the Roof Top. Very cute! Unfortunately I could not operate the digital camera and the video camera at the same time, so I don't have any pics. (but I do have video if you're ever in the neighborhood!!)

And since I don't like to post without pictures, I give you a nice family shot from our "mini" vacation last month. We stayed at Paradise Point on Vacation Island over the long Veteran's Day weekend.

Joe was attending his annual MRM conference, so Noey and I had plenty of time to "play" at the resort, go to the beach, and visit with Megan and Dario.

Sick Child = Lots of knitting

I hate it when Noey is sick. There's just not a lot I can do for her. I've been running the humidifier, giving her medicine when she'll take it, and trying to have her rest. She's bored and uncomfortable.

We stayed in our jammies all day again today. We've read lots of books, drawn lots of pictures, and watched lots of DVD's.

But some good comes of it. For one thing, Noey is incredibly sweet when she's sick. She wants lots of cuddles and kisses, and tells me at least twice an hour "I love you, mama". Who wouldn't enjoy hearing that all day?

And the other good thing is I have lots of time to knit.

I finished the Fingerless Mitts for Joe last night. I've knit this pattern so often now I hardly need the directions anymore.

Pattern:

Fingerless Mitts

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Black - less than 1 skein

I made the felted Pin Cushion for my mom. It took about an hour from start to felting. The longest part of it was the drying. I used some Elann Peruvian Highland wool I had in my stash.

So, now I have 3 gifts left to knit.....I think. I have a little more shopping to do, and some baking, but all in all I'm in pretty good shape for the holidays.

I've been working a lot on my Hoodie Cardi (especially today). I finished the body this morning, and am working on the hood now. Maybe, just maybe, I can have it done for Christmas???

(the socks are still calling to me!)

Another Christmas present finished

Five more to go!

Noey requested that I make a pair of Fingerless Mitts and matching Hat for her friend Sophie.

Unfortunately this is not them! I've gifted them already, and didn't have time to take a picture. I was supposed to pick Noey up from Sophie's house yesterday at 3:00. At 5 minutes to 3:00 I finished weaving in the ends, threw them in a gift bag, and gave them to Sophie.

They are pretty much identical to this set, except for the colorway.

I made these for Noey last year. She wears the mitts quite often, the hat not so much.

Noey has been sick all week, so today we're staying indoors in our pajamas all day. I got a lot of knitting done this morning, including a felted pin cushion for my mom, which is now drying, and I'm almost done with Joe's second mitt. Hopefully I'll have more finished objects to show tomorrow.

(still fighting the urge to cast on socks!)

I have been knitting - Part IV

The last in a 4 part series!

This is the last of my finished objects. When my niece was here over the Thanksgiving weekend she saw the Panta I made for Noelle last year. She's from Miami and now lives in San Diego. Poor girl is cold all the time! So she asked for a Panta, and how could I refuse? I used the same yarn I used to make her fingerless mitts last March for her birthday. My model was being temperamental and wouldn't put it on, hence a flat picture.

Pattern: Panta - found on Craftster

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease - Blue Mist - less than 1/2 skein

Once again this was a 2 day project. It is now winging it's way to Miami. Megan and Dario went home for Christmas. (boo hoo)

I wore my Sitcom Chic to work today. It's the first time I've worn a knitted garment in public, other than scarves and mitts. I was a little self conscious.

First I was quite surprised how bright the hot pink Bubblegum Cotton Ease is in sunlight! My friend Shane, who is brutally honest, assured me it wasn't "neon"!

Then everyone kept asking me if I had knit it....as if it screamed "homemade"! Everyone who asked knows that I am a knitter, and they all followed up with how much they liked it, but still!

I'm currently working on a pair of Fingerless Mitts in Black wool for Joe, and a pair for one of Noey's friends, as well as my Hoodie Cardigan. My new sock yarn arrived yesterday, and I'm so tempted to cast on! I mean really, how long could a pair of kids socks take? Must.maintain.self.control.Christmas.18.days.away.

I have been knitting - Part III

Drumroll please!

May I present my first official pair of socks!

I finished them a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't be more pleased with myself! They are not identical, but I don't mind. No one will see the toes anyway. They are a little thick, I think worsted weight yarn. We had one week of cold weather when I could have worn them, but I didn't. I don't want to wear them, I feel like they're sacred or something. Now the weather is warm again, and I'm wearing sandals all the time.

Pattern: Basic Ribbed Sock from Spun Magazine

Yarn: Moda Dea Sassy Stripes - little less than 2 skeins.

I did a three needle bind off for the toes, which seemed to work just fine. I didn't have any problems with the heel and picking up stitches, no holes!

Now I'm hooked. I just ordered two patterns, and some yarn for myself and Noey. (not to mention the sock yarn I already have in the stash!) Unfortunately I still have more Christmas knitting to do, so I can't start anything new at the moment.

I still have more knitting to report. But that will have to wait until Part IV.

I have been knitting - Part II

Noey has a friend over, and they are happily playing in her room, so I jumped at the chance to post again.

Our friend, Isabella, turns 1 year old tomorrow. She lives in Chicago with her mom, Amanda, and her dad, my childhood friend, Michael. I thought she might need a hat! So last Sunday while we were out having a nice family day, Joe graciously offered to let me stop at JoAnn's to pick up some yarn. (Joe is not a big fan nor supporter of the knitting, that's why it's worth mentioning!)

Pattern: Just Your Basic Beanie - size 12 months

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease in Red -less than 1/2 skein.

It was another 2 day project. Love that!

It looks tiny, doesn't it? It's a 2x2 rib so it stretches a lot.....hopefully!

Off to make Christmas cookies with the girls - Part III ......maybe tomorrow?

I have been knitting - Part 1

Earlier on, like late October-early November (when it would have been a good time to start Christmas knitting) I had decided I wouldn't knit any Christmas gifts this year.

But then for some unknown reason I decided on Thanksgiving Day, that I needed to knit some Christmas gifts, and promptly got to work.

Over two days of the 4 day weekend I knit this scarf for my Aunt Betty who lives in Montana and needs a nice warm scarf.

Pattern: Potato Chip Scarf (free from Knitpicks)

Yarn: Patons Divine - a little more than one skein

It is so soft and warm, and really pretty in this yarn.

I've finished two other presents, and have several more on the needles. Updates to follow in "I have been knitting - Part 2."