I'm Hooked

As summer sneaks in, I find all I am thinking about is lace. I love it...
I finished my Ishbel in just a few days. Well, there was a break in between, due to a mistake, But amount of actual knitting time was quick.
The yarn is Bonnie's Bamboo. Wonderful drape.  I love it! Oh, sorry I said that already.


This summer, unlike last is full of hope and healing. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. God is good, Stage 0 and only and lumpectomy and radiation will be needed. Amen. The genetic test also proved that it is NOT genetic. 

 

Summer Flies,  Is a free pattern. Really quick, no chart. I had this beautiful yarn I purchased, probably 3 years ago. It was for a class. The yarn was and still is, outrageously  expensive. Art Yarn's Beaded silk. Those of you with champagne taste and beer money know of this yarn. I didnt have the cash flow, to purchase the amount needed to make the wrap that was to be taught in class. SO I bought enough to make the cheesey small wrap, that I WOULD NEVER WEAR. Thus the yarn slept for three years.  
I think this shawl wrap will be beautiful this winter with a plain black sweater. It will show off the beautiful over priced yarn.


       We head to Florida in a few weeks, its our "Celebration Vacation". I am going to try to make all the people who gave their time to cook, call, spend time with us during our darkest hours, a scarf. I am hoping to get at least 8 done. I will keep a journal and post as we go. We are driving, so lots of knitting time!!!  
I am off to find scarf patterns. Don't want to bore myself with the same pattern. Have a wonderful day! Happy knitting!!!

Finished! And more to come!!!

Gilbert with springtime bandit
Yes!  My,finished shawl!  It  came out so pretty! I love it! And I have conquered my fears about reading lace charts! I love this and cant wait, well I can wait, (it needs to be cold again) to wear it.   

  
  Yet another UFO, FINISHED!!! 
I got this pattern, at least, 10 maybe 15 years ago. Fell in love with the vintage pattern and thought, socks for my DAD. The socks went to sleep and resurfaced a month ago. I had 1 sock completed and the ribbing and  green line on the mug on my needles. WHAT! Really, you couldn't just finish them! I know, right. But they are now done and hopefully my Dad will like,love them.

My KAL. It's the Day Break shawl, by Stephen West.  My daughter saw the pattern and fell in love with it. I guess making mine will have to wait. This is hers. Its so easy. Except for the increases. My numbers don't add up when he tells you to increase. I had to add stitches to make it work in some parts, and so did my friend. 




Finally, my FYS, had a huge sale. And did I take advantage of the sale??? Does a drunk stop drinking? A drug addict pass up a free fix? NOOOOOOO, nor did this YARNAHOLIC pass up a huge sale!!!! I love, love,love, did I say, Love my yarn purchases..... To the left are few of my purchases. My dealer, makes sure I can't stop by running the sale for a WHOLE week!!! SO, I came in Monday only to get a quick fix and think about all that was there, waiting for me. I bought my CANCER FREE husband pure 100% cashmere yarn for socks. And I got that yarn for 40 % off. I love it. Never felt something so yummy soft. He deserves it. 
So, while the dog is snoozing next to me and the hubby, who is CANCER FREE watches the Pens win the playoff, I am going to KNIT!!!! Happy Knitting

Getting things finished!

Moving through and out of winter has been wonderful! Tonight we have the biggest, fullest moon I have ever seen! Its been 20 years to be exact.


Went to Bloomin  Yarns a couple of Sunday's ago to meet and take a class with 2 very talented young ladies.
Vintage Modern Knits, by Courtney Kelley and Kate Osborn 


Made not 1 but 2 of these lovely hats. Very pretty and very fun!



I also have learned to read a LACE pattern!!! I started this lovely, Springtime Bandit
 and I cannot STOP!
I did make a huge mistake and had to tink a whole bunch!!! Not a good idea to make a mistake in lacework.


AND how pretty is this "Yarn Bowl" I love it!!!  Picked that up today as a little treat to myself.


Life has been good. Things are so normal. I love it. I hope and pray it stays that way!
Happy knitting

Knitting MoJo

Well, the worry and unknown are over. And it seems that my knitting Mojo has returned full force. I can't stop! Its great. I am finishing projects that were UFOs for more than a year. They knitted so quickly! The mittens were not a favorite color combination for me. That's probably one of the reasons they were sent to zzzz. All the information can be found here. I knitted the one left on a hockey trip and the next day on my break. Wow that was easy!!! So I moved on....

 The pretty orange was next on the list. And it was super fast. Done over a weekend. It's spec's can be found here. I'm not sure I like the way it looks on. Rather wide in the shoulders and under the arms. We will see how it looks on with a nice top and makeup. I was in my jammies when I put it on.  And finally. This really cute vest was so easy to make, I wondered, why did I ever put it down! The information about this pretty little thing are found here. I finished this in a matter of hours. I love it! The colors are wonderful! Hoping the yarn shop has it on sale in another color, so I can make a cardi I saw in the pattern book.
So I am furiously knitting away on a cute little intarsia hat. Pictures soon! And I getting ready to start another big project. One that was put aside, while I helped heal my husband. 
Well, the needles are getting cold, and I got my Mojo going on! Keep the faith. God is good. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today may be the "Super Bowl" and Pittsburgh may be in it, BUT, today is THANKSGIVING in my home!
The oncologist gave us the news 2 weeks ago that Joe was and is Cancer FREE!!! 
In November, he was on a Pic line aka feeding tube. He watched all 25 of us eat Thanksgiving. It broke both my mom and my hearts. So when the news came back as wonderful as it did, we were thankful. Thus the dinner! 
It was even better than November and Joe ate everything!
Miracles can happen, just believe.

Knitting has been Wonderful!!! My nephew asked for and got this fun hat. He loves Japanese art and culture. I got the rising sun graph on Ravelry. 

And this little guy, picked his own yarn and pattern. He loved his new sweater he got today. He knew all the colors and proudly let everyone know each color.  He also told everyone, my Aunt Debi (no more Daubie : (  made this.  


It's so wonderful to have your life back. Have your husband back and returning to work tomorrow. After a year that I don't ever want to re live, EVER!!! I thank God every day for the blessings he has given us. Never ever stop believing. 

A new Year A New Life

                       Merry Christmas!


What a wonderful Christmas it was. The best news, NO surgery!!!
Hubby is mending nicely. It took ALONG time, but it is happening


The picture is of my son on Christmas morning. I made him 
the hat. All the specs are here.  Its a Trapper hat that all the kids are wearing. I saw it a AE and figured, I made this hat years ago, why not again!  He loved it, can't you tell by the expression on his face. LOL!!! He is our hockey player and we are so proud of him.


As 2011 approaches, It is filled with hope, relief and promise. Of good things, happiness and healing. May all of you have a wonderful new year! May God bless you richly, as he has done for my family.  May you feel his love and all your days be good!

Months go by....

 Months have gone by. Seasons have changed. Knitting has been my salvation. 
Surgery was complicated. He came through. But spent a total of 35 days in the hospital. The good news. There was no cancer anywhere in his body. The lymph nodes that lit up on pet scan were false positives. Seems radiation did a number on him.


Are we healed? No. But alive.
He has a blockage. Its scar tissue. Causing cramping and pain. NO food. Just a feeding tube.
Hopefully God will give us a miracle and open it this weekend. 


In the meantime. The daughter has made out. I made the vest at the hospital. I made this cute pullover too. The yarn was yummy soft! I think it will be hot, so she will probably wear it on cold campus days. 

 And this cutie is my nephew. He turned four. He wanted a sweater from Aunt Daubie(Debi). So of course I would make him what ever his heart desired! We went to breakfast and then to my favorite LYS. He picked the brightest yarn he could find. SO very cute!

I have the back done and am getting ready to finish the front. Can't wait to see this little cutie in it!!
If God sees it, I will post next time with happy news of no surgery and a husband gaining weight and headed to back to work.....