Birthday at the Coast-Stash Knit Down Part-3

Our friends John and Clare took us crabbing at Cascade Head for our Birthday (my husband and I share a Birthday). It was absolutely gorgeous and we caught 3 keeper Dungeness Crab.
The most impressive part is we did it all from a canoe, who knew that was possible?


We made a lovely Crab Louis Salad for dinner and enjoyed it thoroughly.


I finished my Owls sweater and have been enjoying wearing it in this brisk Fall weather. I'm still sewing the pearl buttons on as it's a tedious process. I will post some modeled photos when I get some.


Morgan performing another tedious (but worthwhile process). Yummy crab meat!

Recession Stash Bust 2009-Episode 2

I thought I better get some decent pictures before I stretch it all out. I have been wearing it every chance I get. It is so soft and snuggly and the color is so much fun!

Pattern: Wicked
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Ruby River

I bought this yarn over a year ago at a store closing sale. I'm almost done with my second sweater from stash yarn this year. I'm so glad I stocked up when I could. More info here for Ravelry users.

Recession Stash Bust 2009-Episode 1

These were actually began before I was laid off but as they are made entirely of leftover bits of sock yarn in the stash they qualify. They are as ridiculously crazy as expected and I can hardly wait until it is cold enough to wear them out.
The pictures are not great as it is difficult to photograph knee socks on oneself and I did not want to interrupt the tireless job searching efforts of M for fear that I may be knitting in a cardboard box some day not so distant.


I started off recording what all the bits of yarn were. I think I have all from the left sock but lost interest and/or wasn't sure about some in the right. The cool thing is I can look at these and remember so many sock projects, mostly for other people. It's like a time capsule of sock knitting that I can wear. Thank Goddess for the stash! I'm off to work on Episode #2. If you have access to Ravelry more details can be found here.

Socks for Chris

Blue Moon -Socks That Rock in 'Dixie Chick'

Socks for Lisa

Pattern: Holidazed
Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock Lightweight in Rare Gem
Needles: US 1 dpns

Welcome Home Henry

Welcome Henry!
Thank you for being such a devilishly handsome sock model.

Thank you momma D for these fantastic pictures which really say it all.

Everyone loves hand knit socks!

Spring (Baby) Showers part I

So, I lost my job rather unexpectedly a few weeks ago and though I've had quite a bit of spare time on my hands I just did not feel like blogging. It took me a couple weeks just to get my knitting mojo back. I have been keeping busy: weeding, planting, pruning, building a new and improved raised bed for veggies, cleaning and organizing the house. I went foraging in the woods for mushrooms and native plants which was especially therapeutic.

My dogs, as you can imagine, are thrilled to have me home. Though the spring weather is hit and miss, they are getting much more regular exercise outside the yard and I am able to spend more time reinforcing good behaviors :).


Fortunately it is raining more than water this Spring. Two important baby showers imposed some much needed deadlines for my languishing knitting projects.
Two of my momma friends are due exactly two days apart, so we had a joint day of celebration and blessing for them. Luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to be outside for messy belly casting and henna decorating of their fecund forms. It was really a wonderful time. Both moms were grateful for the absence of humiliating and idiotic baby shower games and instead we shared good food, good company and the love and support of friends.
Suffice it to say when the husbands came by later they had some choice words to describe our festivities, 'hippy' being one of the least egregious. Some activities are just better off voluntarily gender segregated I guess. We had fun and that's what counts!


Here is one of the baby sweaters I made. It is a very simple cardigan pattern to which I added the skull and crossbones for some tough guy flair (it's a boy). If you are on Ravelry, you can check it out here.


And some very masculine camo baby socks. You may remember the adult version in this yarn. These baby sock blockers are just about the most painfully cute things ever. I keep knitting baby socks so I have an excuse to use them. I bought them at Twisted and they are fantastic!


Here is the second sweater (you can see one of the second pair of booties in the corner there, not sure if I ever got a picture of those together). It is the same cardigan but plain blue with turtle buttons. The buttons actually ended up spread out much more on the sweater but I think I failed to get a final photo of that too. These turtle buttons called to me and at the shower I discovered that turtles were very significant to the recipient and her husband and they share matching turtle tattoos with each others initials. How cute! What serendipity! (or dumb luck depending on your disposition).


On a completely unrelated note, I finished my Rogue Roses socks and took some crappy photos of them. They really are nice. I look forward to sporting them with a skirt in the evenings this summer.


So now I really need to get back to some flying sticks and yarn as I try to finish another sweater for a baby shower this upcoming weekend.

My Pet's Pets

My husband, as a measure of his undying love, consented to build a custom squirrel feeder for me. You might think I decided to give the little pirates their own feeder in the hopes of preventing the above assaults to my bird feeders. The rationale that follows is far more convoluted, bear with me.
My dog Pedro loves to watch the squirrels. Mostly he just watches and sometimes he tries to sneak up on them. Occasionally a chase ensues. So far, the squirrels are way ahead of him, anticipating all his movements. It is however, a perilous journey for them to reach the tree from the fence line, requiring either a death defying jump or a run across the canine patrolled ground. I don't want to encourage the hunting of wildlife in my backyard. It is however a very long day for a dog and being that he is unable to read or knit or watch movies this gives him something to do other than sleep ALL DAY!
So to protect the squirrels and provide endless hours of entertainment, they now have a nut box on the fence. The squirrels figured it out within hours of it's installation, possibly due to their presence for the entire duration of its construction. The first squirrel actually opened the lid with his head. I wish M had snapped a photo of that!
They are still treating my seed feeder as a first course but at least now they have a safer option should they be smart enough to choose it.

Monkey in Paradise

This and That

Most of my recent knitting is still top secret but I have a pair of small FOs to show.
Clay's Motorcycle Cowl-finally finished and blocked. I'm still hoping for a photo shoot on the bike but took some photos just in case.

Gratuitous Pedro photo just cause.....

A barely finished in time to photograph in daylight birthday gift for my friend Clare.
Pattern: Mineco
Needles: US 8
Yarn: Red Heart Eco Cotton

I really like the way it turned out. I'm normally NOT a cotton girl but I was so intrigued by the recycled (truly/post-consumer) yarn that I had to give it a go. It was a very nice, economical and eco friendly gift project. I love the texture of it and the drape (not sure if that is only in reference to garments).

I made my own gift bag again and my sewing is ehrr.. improving. Maybe someday I will take a class, and get an ironing board and..no probably not..we'll see.

Weekend Ramblings

We had a lovely three day weekend with cooperative, sunny weather. The dogs got to get out and about as did we.

We saw a lot of wildlife including a Red-tailed Hawk that perched very close to us and eyed the dogs with great apprehension. I was so mesmerized watching I forgot to take pictures.

Quite a bit of cooking and knitting was enjoyed.

Swimming and Fetching

Uh oh! I smell a new hobby on the horizon.

I made my maiden voyage to Fabric Depot. They were having a sale! It's reputation is well deserved. It was overwhelming, full of budget busting perils and really fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!

One of the many things my husband and I share is a love of plants. We both garden outdoors and each had scads of houseplants when we met.

Philodendrons fill our breakfast nook.

I'm partial to the smaller, more delicate and unusual specimens.
Orchids, ferns, succulents.

Particularly those that bloom.

Morgan has a penchant for the big and bold foliage.

Together we have quite the conservatory.

Have a fantastic three day weekend with loved ones!

Queen of Beads

I couldn't help myself. I absolutely had to sign up for the Rockin' Sock Club again this year. I decided that to justify the expense to myself I needed to make a more concerted effort to actually knit the kits as they arrived rather than fondling them lovingly and adding to the stash.
Luckily for me the first kit of the year was beautiful and also constructed in a cuff down manner, mostly familiar to me and without frustration.
I did learn a new cast on (tubular) and knit for the first time with beads (love it!).

Pattern: Queen of Beads by Sivia Harding for BMFA 2009 World Sock Domination Tour
Yarn: BMFA Lightweight Socks that Rock in 'My Blue Heaven'
Needles: US 1, 2.25 mm
Size: Large with minor mods, decreased foot after gusset to 32 sts.