Polka Dots

While Alexander made a birthday card for his friend, I was busy adorning the present with this crane in matching paper. I didn't get much knitting done today but I did lots of cuddling, wrapping, playing, feeding, etc. (in any order). My sparkling top is growing,though.

To the North and Back Again

We just returned from a family reunion in the Bay Area. Tons of fun, maybe the most fun that I have had with the Ralph Cozzoli layer of K's family.

On our way back south, we squeezed in a trip to Monterey. We were all going to go into the Aquarium, but I decided that my $29.95 ticket fee would be better saved and redirected to yarn $. So, I sent the boys into the watery experience and I went to visit a yarn store within walking distance - The Twisted Stitch. Dawn, the owner, was lovely and she had a selective selection of fiber goodness. Her store is new-ish and I hope that it grows so that the next time that we take our aquarium detour I can enjoy a visit again. I am very excited about her plans to create a knitted kelp forest. I will share more as I learn more. K is excited to begin work on a few underwater creatures. It is nice to have a marine expert in the house.

My little purchase is pictured at the top, Garden Metallic. It is a lace weight (or no. 10)crochet cotton with a metallic thread. I have started this top from Knitscene, Summer 2011. The yarn is way too light but I figured that since the top is lacy and will call for a tank top under, then why not make the whole thing a bit open.

The following pictures are of my make shift yarn bowls. A Bumpo seems to be quite the handy thing even beyond a baby chair.

No DMV Knitting

I love dmv appointments. I got there at 8:45 for an appointment at 9 am and was all done before my scheduled time. I only had time to fix my brioche sts that had slipped off the end of my dpn while having been neglected.

Grandma's Birthday

Today would be Grandma Lecrivain's 103rd birthday. She was a pretty great lady and the most amazing needleworker that I have met thus far (and, due to personal bias, the best I may ever meet). We miss her. Earlier in the week, I found myself wishing that I could have known her when she was my age. I bet we would have been friends. Once she just happily shook her head at me and said, "That girl's brain is always working away." I was glad she noticed.

Helpful

Dante was helping me knit yesterday by chopping up a ball of waste yarn. He had actually just wrapped up trying to cast on with a circular needle and some other scrap. He wasn't happy that his method didn't result in any real sts. Though he is only 3, it might be time to start teaching him for real.

School Year Out!

Today is my son Alexander's last day of school again. How swiftly the time passes!
For about a week and a half, I have been trying to figure out an end of the year teacher gift. Yesterday, I finally found it - Taffy Pull Scarf. Good thing since it was then due today. I was fringing swiftly this morning. I wish that I could have taken better pictures (and Dante engaging in his sport "you take picture of my hand, haha" wasn't helping). This pattern is great (and fast) and I look forward to making another at a more leisurely pace. I combined all stash, hoping for a delicate effect in fingering weight. I wish that I had had time to replace the white with something more delicate, but, once a stitch was made, it was here to stay.

Trying to be Back

Sorry for the lapse. I was busy growing another human being and the third trimester was occupied with knitting and napping. She is approaching 3 months old and I feel like I have enough of a handle on the flow of the day to include blogging again. She and her brothers are a great fit and I couldn't be happier with the shape of my family and home. I would like to say that I will now be a religiously devoted blogger, but something will surely slow me down again. For now, all is good (great, even).

I am doing lots of things these days, classes, designs, projects, etc. My main focus is a self imposed challenge on the store blog, anacapaknits.blogspot.com. I am trying to complete 52 projects in 52 weeks. I have two weeks up and am poised and ready for at least the next two. The reason to care is that whatever yarn I use is 10% off for the week.



Along side of the above project, I have other pots on the fire. I had left over Red Heart from making pom poms for our Relay for Life Booth in a color combo that I am very excited about. I have to say, for what Super Saver lacks in cuddle factor, it makes up for with color choice and durability. And, sometimes, I crave a granny square project.