Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #52

UPDATE #52!

Did you read that? Today marks the last update of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects! So, because it's the last update for the year, this is going to be an extremely photo-heavy and link-heavy post...

It's the wrap-up for the year, what did you expect?!

Soooooo...

Here was the first post regarding my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects. Bless me, I was so innocent back then. I had a lot of wiggle room though because there were some items I had listed as "assorted" or multiple projects came with one pattern. 

This is what I wound up with at the end of it all:

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013
10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013
17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013
18. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013; finished August 4, 2013
19. Greyson: started July 5, 2013; finished August 27, 2013
20. Pumpkin Cloth: started September 1, 2013; finished September 1, 2013
21. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started September 19, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
22. Grave Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
23. Franken Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 23, 2013
24. Witch Cloth: started September 23, 2013; finished September 27, 2013
25. Rose's Wrist Warmers: started September 4, 2013; finished October 3, 2013
26. Susan's Hat (V2): started October 14, 2013; finished October 18, 2013
27. Little Man's Pumpkin Hat: started October 20, 2013; finished October 23, 2013
28. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013; finished October 30, 2013
29. Susan's Hat (V2): started November 3, 2013; finished November 10, 2013

I started out my year with four WIPs, which were all finished during the course of this past year:

#5: Icarus Shawl

#11: Mama's Vanilla Socks (V2)

#14: Eat Your Monkey Socks

#1: San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts

That's pretty good: my long-outstanding WIP (the Icarus Shawl) was finished, and I finished up some other WIPs. 

Then I went on a dishcloth kick for awhile because this happened:

At the end of February, we moved into our new house. Hence the dishcloth kick...I didn't want to start anything new and huge and exciting because I had no idea how long it would take for me to find what I was looking for. 

Once the majority of our unpacking was finished, I was back to business as usual...and I finished up the Icarus Shawl. And made more dishcloths...

About mid-summer, I decided I wanted to knit Little Man a sweater. I had purchased some yarn (on sale - shop going out of business) and Greyson happened. 

#19: Greyson Sweater

I also completed another pair of fingerless mitts...but these went away in a swap.I may make myself a pair someday...they were a fun knit.

#25: Rose's Wrist Warmers

I also managed to start and finish a pretty large project this year. That's kind of a big deal for me because it generally takes me For.Ev.Er. to finish anything, especially big somethings.

#28: Freeport Vest

I finally got it on the blocking mats towels. Please ignore the not-woven-in ends. I needed to make sure it would block well before deciding whether I needed to rip out the button band and reknit it. It looks like it's going to work, though. 



Overall, I think I did pretty well for 2013. I finished 29 projects (granted 18 of them were dishcloths), I started an additional five that didn't make it for this year and carried four over from last year (which were all finished). I also frogged a project that I had started. It just wasn't working out so I think I'm going to find a better use for that yarn. I think that means I'm even...or something. I don't know.

Speaking of those remaining four projects...

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
2. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
3. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013
4. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts: started November 23, 2013
5. Milo: started December 25, 2013

I'm close to being finished with three of these projects. My Baby Surprise Jacket has maybe 15 rows left plus seaming. I'm working on the foot of the second Traveling Vines Sock, and I'm working on the second of my Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts. I expect these projects to be finished rather quickly. My Dragon's Egg Socks...well....I'm working on them. I'm going to make at least one big change, which should reduce my time spent working on these. But it's not because I want to finish these in a hurry...it's a function of whether the socks will fit if I don't make this change. So, I'm going to have to make some changes. Oh well. Finishing them sooner is just a bonus :) Also, I couldn't resist starting a new project...I decided it was time to start Milo late on Christmas Day. So, I dug out some yarn (Tasmania by Artfibers), the proper needles and just started. Now, whether I have gauge or not is another story. I think I do but we'll see :)



Anyway, I expect some (more) changes to be coming to the blog within the next year including (but not limited to) changing how I do book and yarn reviews. I tried to make a schedule and it just didn't work for me. I also tried to do one of each every month which also did not work for me. Life just gets in the way sometimes. So, I'm going to do them whenever the hell I want and as I see fit. I have no schedule in mind but I do have some ideas for review :) I'd also like to participate more in things like WIP Wednesday/FO Friday (of course, I have to finish things to blog about them) but that's going to mean some buckling down and photographing things and blogging instead of knitting. We'll see how that works. Also, more photos...of course :)




Whew. That was a bit random and end-of-the-year-ish. 

Next week will see the beginning of my Third Self-Imposed Year of Projects...and my birthday...and so many other things. Woo-hoo for a new year!

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #25

Happy Sunday! Today's post comes to you by way of Monterrey, California, where we've wandered off to for the weekend. We haven't had any sort of getaway or vacation since we moved into the house and we have a good reason and Monterrey isn't that far away.

Anyway, I'll probably have photos of the trip later this week. Maybe. We'll see if I get around to it.

Today, however, we're here to talk about my twenty-fifth installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. 

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013 
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013

I started and finished up another dishcloth. It's nothing fancy. I wanted something small and relatively mindless and I've been digging in my Barbara Walker Treasuries for some ideas (I have a notebook filled with random bits and bobs at this point, just from the first Treasury). I came across a stitch pattern called a Sand Stitch (the WS is known as a Dot or Spot Stitch). It looked interesting in the book so I thought I'd try it. It's easy to memorize but not always so easy to read while knitting it. It doesn't look the greatest in variegated yarn, either...but it's just a dishcloth so I don't really care. That only took me a couple days, though (not that it was hard, but my knitting time is relatively limited). I haven't photographed it yet, either. I might make this part of my dishcloth collection that I'm working on. Or not. We'll see. 

I also added my Mini Petal Dishcloth to the list. It was done last week and I forgot I had a project page for it...oops.

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013

I spent some time with my Freeport Vest this week. I only worked a few rows (because rows are long and the yarn is bulky) but I'm to the point where I add in the second color. I think I should probably wind some more yarn soon if I am to continue on this trend.....but that means digging out my ball winder and more yarn.

My Baby Surprise Jacket has been kind of neglected this last week. I worked a couple rows here and there but there's not much to show for it. 

Baby Surprise Jacket

I know. It doesn't look like much of anything. That's perfectly fine. At this point, it's not really supposed to look like much. Also, the yarn is showing up a bit darker than it should be. It's more of a sky blue color but the background and sunny day didn't make for the best outdoor shot. But, there it is. 

And then there are my Traveling Vines Socks. I wish I was a bit further along. I got an email this week about a sock design call for one of the craft magazines in the UK. Sadly, I'm just not ready yet. I mean, I could do the swatch and sketch and all that but there's no way I'd have a full pattern ready, plus sample, by the end of August. ::sigh:: It might have been perfect. Oh well. Designing takes me much longer than it should. Actually, no, designing doesn't take that long...it's the testing of said design that takes far too long. 

Anyway, moving on....

I still haven't decided what my next project is going to be. I need to have a good, long, talk with my stash about growing up and find something that wants to grow up into one of my projects. I have some yarn that has been babbling at me but I'm not sure it wants to grow up quite yet...it's telling me it wants to be something for a child...perhaps Milo. 

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Toddler Socks
3. Alvin Sweater
4. A New Sock Monkey
5. Stig
6. Greyson
7. Vested Baby Boy

8. Milo

  

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)




In real-life events, not a whole lot has been happening...well, not that I'm willing to share to the entire internet via my blog. Husband has spent most of this past week sick. He didn't go to work until Wednesday...and he stayed home Thursday (but they can do that anyway) and he came home early on Friday...but that was because we went to Monterrey. 

Little Man is just as much of a booger this week as he was last week. He's a booger all the time, really. He's taken to kissing baby lemons on the lemon tree and he wants to see the baby oranges all the time...but that requires being picked up because the orange tree is full-grown. He also thinks that I want all the flowers off our bushes so he's been giving me those. Silly boy. 

Puppy is now up-to-date on all his shots and tests and such. It was needed but I really didn't want to sit at the vet's office for two hours. ::sigh:: At least it's done. 

Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday :)

FO Friday: Eat Your Monkey Socks Edition

Happy Friday! In the fibery world, it means it's time for Finished Object Friday or, as we lovingly call it, FO Friday.

My last FO Friday was at the end of May and it was the completion of my Vanilla Socks. Today I bring you another pair of socks: Eat Your Monkey Socks!

Eat Your Monkey Socks (project page)

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A
Time Frame: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
Yarn: MCN Fingering from Sun Valley Fibers
Needles: US #1.5 (2.25 mm) - two circulars...32" I think but they may only be 24"
Size: Small
Modifications: I made the small size on slightly larger needles. I started out with the small size on US #1 needles and they were too tight so I ripped them out and started the small size on US #1.5 needles with hopes that I wouldn't have to go down to US #0 needles and CO the large size. Luckily, the small size on the US #1.5 needles worked. I only did five pattern repeats on the leg because (1) I would have run out of yarn and (2) they wouldn't have fit on my calf if I had made them longer. I changed the heel flap to the Eye of Partridge heel (from Hermione's Everyday Socks) and did a Double Gusset Heel Decrease. The foot had six pattern repeats (per the length of my foot)...which isn't a modification; I'm just sharing. I also did my toe decreases a little differently. I started on needle #1 (the needle that holds the stitches that go on the bottom of your foot) and did a K2tog, knit to last two sts, ssk and did the same on needle #2 followed by a round of plain knitting. I worked until I could "close" the end of my toe...which left me 28 sts on my needles and then I Kitchenered them together.
Thoughts: I really like these socks. They fit me perfectly, first of all. The pattern is really easy to memorize and read so I didn't screw up too much if I lost my place. The only thing I didn't like was that I only had a couple choices for sizes and if neither of them worked......well, I'm glad that I read a few of the helpful notes from other Ravelers. Many of them said they went up to US #1.5 needles for a better fit. I was really hoping I wouldn't be working these on US #0 needles... I think if I make them again, I'll try the "no-purl" version (which is not a Cookie A pattern but it's basically the same thing without the purls).

Heel pic!

Something else that I love about these socks is the fact that Jeanette (the purveyor of Sun Valley Fibers) once told me she doesn't know how to make self-striping yarn. I call SHENANIGANS on that because this yarn stripes very well. Maybe not perfectly but it does stripe.

Anyway, for more FO Friday fun, visit Tami :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #24

Hello and happy Sunday! It's been relatively boring in the Bay Area this past week. The temperature did stray into the upper-70s on Friday but it was mostly the same every day. I could really go for a thunderstorm right about now. I mean, where I'm from back in Wisconsin, thunderstorms often mean tornadoes...but I love a good thunderstorm. 

Anyway, we're not here to talk about my love of thunderstorms.......

We're heading into my twenty-fourth week of my second self-imposed Year of Projects :)

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013 
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013

Do you see it?! I finished my Eat Your Monkey Socks last night :) Since I finished them last night, they haven't been washed, blocked, or photographed. I expect I can have that finished by Friday, just in time for a FO Friday post. I also finished another Petal Dishcloth (a mini-version of the other ones). I'm not bothering to add it just yet...well, maybe. I don't know. I think I have a project page for it...

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013

Because I've finished up my Monkey Socks, it means my WIP list is down to three...and none of them are anywhere close to being finished. Oh well. I spent some time working on both the BSJ and my Traveling Vines Socks this week but most of my knitting time was spent on finishing up the Monkey Socks. My Freeport Vest isn't on time out or anything but I just haven't worked on it. I think I really wanted to finish up my socks. 

Unfortunately, it means my WIP list is looking a bit thin and I'm pondering what to CO next. I have a feeling it's going to be something from the "Children's Items" list but I also have a few other things that I'm pondering. Anyone have a vote?

Anyway, it means my remaining lists look like this.......which, now that I'm looking again, seem a bit ambitious. ::sigh::

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Toddler Socks
3. Alvin Sweater
4. A New Sock Monkey
5. Stig
6. Greyson
7. Vested Baby Boy

8. Milo

  

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)

At some point, I need to start working on a project for the Doctor Who Swap I'm doing...but I'll have to keep that one secret. I haven't started it so it's not like I'm keeping it that secret.....

Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely weekend! I should be back on Friday with some FO Friday love :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #20

Hooooooooooooray for Sunday! Things have been happening this week but we'll talk about that in a moment :) Right now, we're going to talk about my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I'm heading into my twentieth week and, honestly, not much has happened...as you'll soon see.

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks : started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013

No. I haven't finished anything. ::sigh:: I wish I could say I had something going on but I don't.

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

I'm still plugging away on my Vanilla Socks and my Monkey Socks. My Freeport Vest isn't on time out on purpose...but I just haven't felt like working on it. Perhaps it's because I'm so so so close to finishing my Vanilla Socks or that I'm finally working on the gusset decreases on my Monkey Socks. Either way, I haven't touched it. I also tried to start one of my designs this week but it just wasn't working. I CO on US #0 (2 mm). Because I was using smaller than normal needles (for me), I CO more stitches...and it wound up being way way way too big. I think once I finish my Vanilla Socks, I'll try again with a more normal number of stitches...or something. I don't know. It's going to be a prototype anyway so I suppose it doesn't matter. However, if I'm going to put that much work into something, I want to be able to use it! So, we'll see.

I've also, of course, been dreaming of my next project. I found out another friend is pregnant. So, I have two friends that are pregnant right now (one with her first, the other with her third - we're all really hoping for a girl on that one)...and I feel like I should make something for both of them. But nothing on my lists are standing out so I've been in search of something else. We'll see.

My lists, for now, still look like this (they might not next week):

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Baby Surprise Jacket
3. Toddler Socks
4. Alvin Sweater
5. A New Sock Monkey
6. Stig
7. Greyson (need to purchase)

8. Vested Baby Boy

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1) (need to purchase)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2) (need to purchase)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag
6. Petal Dishcloth

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby for sure, maybe adult-sized as well)
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

In "real" life, this has been happening....(okay, some of the photos aren't from this past week but, you know)

Helllllllllo Mama!

Is my "cheese" face getting better?

My boys hanging out on the couch.

Snotty dog (he's not really, just enjoying the breeze)

Our little froggy friend

Little Man and I discovered this wee little frog the other day. He hides between the deck and the side of the house. He's maybe the size of a quarter...maybe. Little Man squealed with delight and ran off the day we found him. 

Portraits of a Young Artist Hard At Work. I brought his easel outside and he loved it!

I'm on a boat!

No, really, I'm on a BOAT!

The pool is up, filled, and a bit chilly...but Little Man *loves* it. He's been in there a couple days this past week. We had to do some engineering to the ladder because Husband and I are not tiny people. The ladder is supposed to be able to hold us but, well, it doesn't. We have the end in the pool weighted down with about 100 lbs of extra weight (sand bags and some PVC pipes filled with sand). We also replaced part of the support structure (from plastic to metal). It holds much better now. 

And finally, on Friday, Little Man and I had an adventure. I am not a fan of driving in heavy traffic, especially in unfamiliar places like, say, downtown San Francisco. But, on Friday, Little Man and I drove down to Fisherman's Wharf for a lunch date. See, since I started this blog in 2009, I've gained a small cult following and most of my readers are other knitters/crafters. I also read a bunch of other knitting/crafting blogs (and other types of blogs, too). One of the blogs I read belongs to Tink (you can find it right here). She lives across the land *and* the pond...all the way over in England. Last weekend, she got married and this week, they're on their honeymoon. First stop? San Francisco! So, Little Man and I drove down to the Wharf for a lunch date with Tink and her lovely husband, Jamie. We had lunch at Boudin, which guards it's sourdough recipe (and it's 400+ year old yeast culture) very carefully. It supplies all the sourdough bread in the Bay Area...and beyond. After lunch, we walked the Wharf. We stopped at Pier 39 to admire all the sea lions. Little Man had never seen anything like them really (he saw a couple while we were on our cruise this past winter but he doesn't remember them). I think if I would have let him, he would have climbed over the wall and into the water to hang out with them. We also walked through the shopping area (where you can get swords, socks, magnets, and stuff from Ireland...weird place). In the middle, there's a double-decker carousel. 

Mama, Ima ride the bunny!

When do we go?

It's not done yet, is it?

And pics because it totally happened.....

Tink rode the horse!

We survived the drive home and all was well.

Yesterday, I put together yet another bookshelf. You would think that six would be enough but, apparently, that's just not true. ::sigh:: It also means I spent some time unpacking. I'm down to three rubbermaid bins and four boxes that need unpacking. I'm hoping I can knock it out later today but we'll see.

Anyway, it was a busy, though fabulous week. I hope this week is even better! Yours, too :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #19

Happy Sunday! 

It's been a rather pleasant week around this part of "Northern" California. I still don't quite understand how this can be considered "Northern" when it's in the middle of the coast...but, nevermind that. We're here to talk about my nineteenth installment of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects :)

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks : started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013

 

Sadly, I haven't finished anything but the dishcloth that I didn't even bother to put on the list. I feel like I should be getting close to finishing something but we'll see how that goes :)

 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

 

And, sadly (or maybe not so sadly), I still only have the three WIPs. I haven't touched the vest in awhile. It had been too hot and then I was focusing on socks and I just haven't pulled it out. Plus, it's a rather large project. It doesn't necessarily require a lot of focus (except for the decrease rows) but it's heavy to take anywhere. So, I've been working on my Vanilla Socks (and finishing up the dishcloth). I'm past all the gusset decreases...but I was past those last week. I'm almost to the point where I can start my toe decreases. I have maybe another 3/4" before that (which is maybe 10 rows, if that) so I should, hopefully, be finishing those up soon. I haven't, sadly, touched my Monkey Socks. I think once I get to the toe decreases on my Vanilla Socks, I'll start picking up the Monkey Socks a bit more. We'll see. And then I'll have to find a new project! I can't just have one WIP...that's insane and unheard of in my world! Or not. I don't know, I've never done it...

 

So, that means my lists still look like this:

 

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Baby Surprise Jacket
3. Toddler Socks
4. Alvin Sweater
5. A New Sock Monkey
6. Stig
7. Greyson (need to purchase)

8. Vested Baby Boy

 

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1) (need to purchase)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2) (need to purchase)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag
6. Petal Dishcloth

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby for sure, maybe adult-sized as well)
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

 

 

 

In other goings-ons, it's Mother's Day here in the United States. That means a day all about mom.....or something. I bought myself a Mother's Day present (okay, there were five presents, actually) on Friday. As of this writing, I have no idea what Husband and Little Man have in store for me, if anything. We'll see. But, I bought myself something...five skeins of Plucky Knitter. Nine Rubies is one of the few shops where Plucky is sold and they had posted on their website about getting their order in. ::sigh:: I went to the shop and picked up four skeins of Plucky Primo Sport (two in a deep purple and two in an oatmeal color), and one skein of Primo Fingering. Little Man picked out the color for the Primo Fingering....it's basically fire engine red. He likes red, apparently. So, we'll see what it becomes. It hasn't talked to me much yet. The other four are screaming to be made into a two-color shawl of my own design. Yeah. We'll see how that goes. I'm not even sure how shawl construction works...though I had a dream about it on Friday night and I may have sort of figured it out. We'll see. I'll have to swatch the idea first, to see if it makes sense. So, five skeins of Plucky came into my house...but I've gotten rid of a bunch of yarn this week so it's okay if five go in when I've had something like 13 go out over the last week or so.

In other random things, we bought another bookshelf for our bedroom. I was really hoping we wouldn't need a fifth one...but, we do. I think it'll help once I get the other ones a bit more organized and cleared out of *stuff* that I don't need. I haven't put it together yet but that will probably be a project for today. I also need to spend some more time unpacking. I hope to have everything unpacked over the next few weeks but we'll see how that actually goes. 

Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely week and that you'll have a fabulous week :)

Mama! I'm in a tunnel!

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #18

Happy Sunday! Time for my 18th installment of my second Self-Imposed Year of Projects! Let's get started :)

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks : started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013

 

I'm not going to add it to my FO list but I did finish a dishcloth. It's probably going to be a baby shower present for someone...or maybe we'll just use it...or maybe for someone for Christmas...who knows.

 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

 

I've finished the gusset decreases on my Vanilla Socks and am now working to the toes. I've still got a bit to go before I get to that point but at least I don't have to pay attention to decreases while I watch TV or Little Man. Here's hoping to more of that :) I've also worked on my Freeport Vest a little bit...haven't touched my Monkey Socks though. Oh well.

But, as usual, my mind is wandering toward my next project.......projects......?

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Baby Surprise Jacket
3. Toddler Socks
4. Alvin Sweater
5. A New Sock Monkey
6. Stig
7. Greyson (need to purchase)

8. Vested Baby Boy

 

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1) (need to purchase)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2) (need to purchase)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag
6. Petal Dishcloth

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby for sure, maybe adult-sized as well)
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

 

I may have been inspired to try another baby item...quite possibly the Baby Surprise Jacket. See, I went to knitting night at the LYS (Nine Rubies, for the record) and they had a group of people that were all working on the same project. It was a little baby sweater (not the BSJ) and I kept thinking that it was time to do another baby sweater and I've been thinking about the BSJ for quite awhile. We'll see what happens. Also, I'm participating in a(nother) Doctor Who Swap so there will be a Sooper Seekrit project for the swap at some point. But I want to start something new...and I want to stash dive to do it!

 

 

 

And what's with this sudden urge to dive into my stash for a project?! Let me tell you all about it. I was inspired by Unf&ck Your Habitat...lots of people in the world that want to make their lives better by cleaning their domiciles and keeping them that way. So, what does this have to do with my stash? Well......my stash has gotten out of hand and the other day, Little Man was napping and I pulled out a bag from the closet that held yarn. I started separating it into things I was keeping and things I didn't want to keep. Well, one thing led to another and after a couple hours, I had pulled out every bin and bag from my yarn closet (yes, I have a yarn closet, don't judge!)...I went through my entire stash and wound up with two and a half bins of yarn I am willing to part with. I touched almost every skein, hank, and ball of yarn I own that afternoon. I found things and I suddenly had plans for them, I found other things and thought, "What the hell was I thinking when I bought this?," still other things that made me go, "hmmmmmm..." and plenty of things I kept. I even organized said closet. I have a tower of bins that is all fiber (except for one bin that has yarn). I have another tower that is all yarn that I'm keeping (except for a half bin that I'm planning to sell). The third tower isn't as tall but it has two bins of yarn I'm planning to sell...and a bin of yarn, and another one with things like my project bags, containers with stitch markers, bobbins for my wheel, and a couple cakes of yarn that I have out either because they're for a project I'm currently doing or one of my designs...or just because. Because I went through my stash, I found things that inspired me, for whatever reason, and I think I'm going to spend more time stash diving for projects. I really do love my stash. I should use it. I'm still working on getting everything sorted out on my "Will Trade/Sell" page (loading photos, deciding prices, etc.) but I have a good start...

Aside from cleaning out my yarn closet, there hasn't been a lot happening around here. My car started freaking out the other day (telling me that lights weren't working). Luckily, Husband is somewhat car savvy and checked out the fuses. Turns out that a penny escaped from the coin holder, got into one fuse box behind it, causing a fuse in the other fuse box to blow. It was a $4 fix and a little bit of time. If I had taken it in and had the dealership do it, they would have probably replaced the entire fuse box and Bob only knows how expensive that would have been. That was exciting. 

We also spent a lot of time in the back room with the curtains pulled, the little window AC turned on, and the movie screen down. It's been unusually warm here this past week....not the kind of weather you want to be working on a sweater in. The heat finally broke last night. I might be able to handle working on my vest...

Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely week. I hope to maybe finish *something*.......but let's not hold our breath :)