Yarn Along 3/28/2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us.

*sorry for the drive-by photo

This week's yarn along finds me in the same place reading wise--I am enjoying The Snow Child immensely and I will be sorry when it comes to an end. Such a nice grown up fairytale. It brings me comfort to read about a couple who have been married for so long and the struggles they have had(even if they are fictional)-marriage is hard sometimes for everyone, isn't it?
I cast on yesterday for my second dress for Phoebe and I am really happy with it so far. I changed the M1 from a backwards loop to a M1left. Did you know that it the one most people use when the pattern calls for M1?
I have a FO! I did finish the cardigan I cast on in February. In was the In threes  . I wish I wouldn't have added sleeves. My hopes are that it will keep a little one warm and I hope brings another momma some comfort.
I have a little sewing to do this week--my boy is turning 8 tomorrow! And he requested a shirt with his birthday number on it.  He also requested STORE bought cupcakes--that is another story.
I can't wait to catch up on everyones projects and the books they have been reading! Thanks for all your comments and for stopping by!

Yarn Along 3/21/2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ *taken from Ginny's blog
Thank you all for stopping by-- your comments mean the world to me! Truly they do! They mean the world to me! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on what I reading and working on.
Yarn Along finds me not knitting a whole lot. I have been crafting and making some Spring goodies to be mailed out this week. More to come next week-- I don't want to reveal anything until I have had time to post them in the mail. But it has been a wonderful, exciting time for my family-- one way or another we have had a hand in making some swap goodies.

This weekend we were very blessed to watch the Eldest play some soccer! It was wonderful! One of my favorite things is watching my children do something they love and if they excel at it, so much the better. We had good weather and lots of laughs. What more could we ask for!

A first place medal!!!

I really am leading up to my knitting--truly, I am! On the drive up to the tournament I started a new book and I love it! I am sad as I turn each page--knowing it brings me closer to the end of the book. It will be a book I buy for my own bookshelf as soon as I can manage. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is wonderful and so magical. Read an excerpt here. I just know you will be hooked! Many years after the birth of their still-born child, Mabel and Jack move to Alaska in the 1920's to homestead. It is based on a Russian fairy tale.

about an elderly couple who long for a child. They build a snow child  who comes to life until the coming of spring when the days become too warm for her to stay.

 It is a beautiful story full of loss and sorrow yet full of happiness and love. If you can snag a copy, please read it. My knitting this week is a dress for Phoebe Mouse. I am not altogether happy with it. The pattern is perfect and clever! I am not sure I like my increase method and I do think I should have gone up a needle size. But when you are trapped in a car and only brought 2 needle sizes you knit with what you got- especially when watching your husband drive makes you nervous! So I will just re knit another one using the right needle size and different increases. After all, Phoebe(my Ravelry link)  should have multiple dresses, don't you think?

I can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Yarn Along 3/14/12

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~From Ginny

Hello fellow readers and crafters. I am back again! I am still working on Phoebe! I have knit 3 sets of ears-that is 6 ears total! At one point my husband said "You are making another ear!" I just can't help it, I said, I am addicted.... I need this Little Friend to be as perfect as I can make her! She is going to a good cause. And  I still playing catch up fpr my daughter and on the side reading  Amazing Women of the Civil War (I am a Civil War enthusiast can you tell?  But can you blame me-- I live in Virginia, after all. ). when I can but I am involved in a Spring Swap from my friend Julie. I am have some ideas in the works BUT I am trying to keep them under wraps for now. Here is a hint.

I am not close to being done but it sure is a delightful way to welcome Spring with other moms and their sweet babes!

I have been on a shirt making frenzy lately. I made one to welcome her to turning 2.  It was a joy to make some delightful gifts... hair clips, a magic wand and a shirt or 2 to celebrate her big day . Yes I went overboard (as usual) but I just couldn't help myself. I should have though....my gift wasn't received the way I expected, which I am sure is my own fault. I expected behavior(from the momma--not the child) for what I would have done in the situation not what I should expected. Lesson learned.

Yarn Along 3/07/2012

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

Hello All! I am back(I missed Yarn along and all of you so much!)-- last week I was reading and knitting but so busy I couldn't find time to get online. We were submerged in Dr. Suess! Lots of reading and crafting.

sorry for the "saucy" smiles and lack of clothing.... And I was knitting (and finishing--woohoo) this:

This week my big ball of wool is back and I am re-reading a book I read many years ago.

My daughter picked up 19 Minutes a few weeks back for a school project and after reading it she was very unhappy(having such a hard time) with the ending and had a couple of detailed questions that I couldn't answer so we are having a mother/daughter book discussion.  I feel a little late to the party and I hope she can wait for me to finish reading before she moves on and doesn't "need" my opinion--teens do that alot, I am learning. I am still working on our Phoebe. But I have decided she won't be ours to keep. Now she be knitted up for our Youth Group Silent Auction. I am almost finished(with her body) and I will be knitting up some clothing to accompany Phoebe to her new home in April. Wish me luck!

I can't wait to see what everyone is working and reading!

Yarn Along 2/22/12

Joining the Yarn Along this week. Really just a quick drive by post. I am still reading Home Front and liking it very much. I did cast on another project-- what is with me lately! I have casting on-itis. Lots of UFO's hanging around. I am cringing even typing that- I am admitting something that I don't even admit to my family. I have this thing about starting and finishing one project at a time and it seems in the last months I have ignored my own rule!
In any case, the newest project is In Threes.

I am modifying the pattern (which is something I never do!)  If this was for someone I knew, I would buy a long sleeve top and follow the pattern specifically but since I don't know the recipient I wanted it to have long sleeves. Lately, I am always trying to keep people warm and fill their bellies. And I wasn't happy with what was coming off my needle (the sweater was too thin) using one strand of this yarn so I am holding it double. It is a denser fabric but really soft. I am getting 5 stitches per inch instead of the 4.5 the pattern is written for. The "OCD" in me is getting a bit frantic as I don't have gauge but overall I am happy with the outcome and not having a specific sized person in mind helps with the finished outcome, I think. My fellower blogger Kelly has a charity she knits for through her church and I have been wanting to knit for those in need for a long while and to knit for Little Ones is just an added bonus. Don't you love knitting Little Things. Sorry for the rambling....I can't wait to catch up with everyone. And Thank you so much for all the comments- I love each one!

Yarn Along 2/15/2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

How was your Valentine's Day? We are recovering from our chocolate hangover.

BOY, was it fun!

 Yarn Along this week for me is the same book I was reading last week. I am sorry to say I haven't picked it up at all. Not because it isn't great-- it is! But because I feel like I haven't sat down long enough to read a single word. My knitting is different, though. I finally managed to cast on for our own Little Phoebe from the book Phoebe's Sweater. I was intimidated knitting up a toy but I really didn't need to be- this pattern is wonderful!  Isn't that the biggest ball of yarn! I bought it years ago from overseas-mainly because the price was great and it was the largest amount of yarn (in a single skein!)I could find!

Can't wait to find out was everyone is up too!

Yarn Along 2/08/2012

From Ginny's Blog "Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us!"
Don't you love Yarn Along days? I love that it happens each week without fail. I love sharing about books and wool. I just love it.

This week I managed to to snag a copy of Kristin Hannah's Home Front.  I just love her books- they are on my autobuy or when money is tight my library holds list. I love sharing K.H. with others, as well. I have been reading her for at least 10 years! Winter Garden still stays with me- so haunting and beautifully written. If you haven't read her before, please check her out!
Also an author of a book that I have on my TBR(To Be Read) pile has offered to send readers a FREE copy of her book via PDF. Mindset for Moms, Please check it out- I know I will be! And it's free! Wouldn't it be nice to have a discussion on it-maybe meet up on Ravelry?

Anyway... sorry to go on and on off topic! HomeFront-- it is not what I expected. When I saw it was coming out I chose to stay away from all blurbs and what not concerning this book. I wanted the element of surprise- I wanted to open the cover and just enjoy it. Boy, was I surprised! I did know it was about a soldier- I didn't realize the soldier would be a woman! I am only a couple of chapters into it- It is about marriage and children and the cost of serving our country. I am enthralled!

My knitting is short and sweet this week-- last weeks hand sewn doll did not turn out as planned-- Mason(my littlest) used it as a dart--EEK! So I knit up

These little friends. If you haven't knitted up this pattern please check it out- Flower fairy and witch peg peg pattern. So cleverly knitted and you can really do so much with the basic elements of this pattern! See I made an Root Baby! As well,a Snowdrop!  AND so can you! You can get those pegs at your local Hobby Lobby if you don't have one close by- let know and I will send you some!

My knitting this week is a pair of Dollveralls for a dolly who refuses to leave his clothes on- well I think it is Mason, my son, who leaves our doll naked most of the time. I have knit this guy a pair of shorties in hopes of keeping some clothing ON him but I will walk into a room and there he will be--minus his pants! I like how they are turning out- such a well written clever pattern. I do wish I could stitch up a pair of pants or a shirt but sewing is not where I excel. It would be wonderful to look at a piece of fabric and have it become a pair of pants for my little guys. But sewing, as I am learning is not where my talents lie
I can't wait to catch up with what my fellow fiberists are doing!