silent night my foot.........................

Well, just getting over a WICKED migraine so I don't have a ton to chat about BUT have no fear..................at night when I could at least open my eyes, I knitted, and knitted, and knitted..........although, I must confess, I did have one night where I couldn't knit anything at all. It just about killed me :(

I have a feeling it is going to be a looooonnngggggg summer for me and migraines. I had a teeny bit of trouble last year but I can kind of tell already, after 3 days of it kicking my tush, I think more is in store *sigh*

For those who have never suffered from migraines, you lucky SOB's *sheepish grin*. Awww I'm kiddin' you know that. I am really happy that alot of the people I care about don't suffer them. There are several people in my family, myself included, that have suffered from them since we were 16 years old. It's a hard dealing with them for so many years when there really is no sure cure. The doctors have messed for YEARS trying to find some sort of a "cure" for mine, no such luck, not even a good bottle of Jack cures them!

Ok, 'nuff of that stuff. I miss all of my friends, I know my blogging has been sporadic and ya'll always know when I seem to need to hear from ya :) Thanks, it makes me smile every time I know someone misses chatting with me:) You are all thought of daily! Now, onto some REAL blogging content. Here are a few things I have finished in the past week and a half or so....readyyyyyyyyy.... I finished AND had a great chilly day which gave me a chance to wear the Back to School U-Neck Vest from Stefanie Japel. I gotta say ya'll, I just love her patterns. They are a PERFECT fit for me. You have to understand though, I have a REALLY odd shape AND odd taste LOL. I am pretty thin yes, BUT I have WIDE,WIDE,WIDE shoulders and then no hips LOL and her patterns seem to fit relatively flatteringly on me. I REALLY like them. Plus, she writes them well and they are fairly easy to understand. The next up if hers for me is either the "Orangina"....ok, I KNOW Miss Anne is over there cracking up at that cuz she KNOWS how I say it *grin* ummmm, use ya'lls imagination LOL and YES, I truly DID think that was the way to pronounce it heehee. Sooooooooooo without further ado, here is the first little goody!!

I LOVE it. The yarn I used is what the pattern called for, Cascade 220 BUT I used the "Heather ed" line and it did seem a teeny bit scratchy at first. I have washed it and it did soften a bit. It isn't that much of a big deal cuz I wear stuff under it anyways. I made the size small and it fit perfectly (in my opinion LOL) I may make another one

This next little beauty is that Anthropology Inspired Wrap that has been floating all over the net. this pattern was ALOT of fun to do. I had it finished in about a week of evenings. Between working on it and a pair of socks for King1 and splitting up knitting time between the two. Can't help it, I get bored FAST! You can find the pattern at Peony Knits. I do recommend it if you want a fast knit that is cute and likable for all. It would make a sweet gift for someone. I doubled my yarn to get gauge and used a hand dyed wool and silk blend that was a real pleasure to work with. I loved it. I have about 500 or so yards left over from it and am looking for something to jump out and say KNIT ME!! I'll let ya know if that happens LOL I am not a lover of worsted weight yarns but this one is a keeper.

Alrighty then, last but not least, I have the "Short Snort Girlfriend Tank" that I made for Miss Priss. It is a free pattern from Wendy Bernard at Knit and Tonic dot com. If you want a fast (and I mean FAST) knit that is cute and knitter friendly, try it. Miss Priss loves it, although the pattern originally calls for the front straps to actually be one of those little wooden rings sewn to the front and then the back straps run through it, well Miss Priss wasn't having ANY of that. She was TOTALLY against it so I opted to just attached the straps so she would have regular shoulder straps. I have to say, I was a bit saddened that little Miss priss had such an aversion to the original idea since I thought that was what was so cute about it BUT, you know how kids can be *sigh*.

I was a little iffy on whether or not I was "into" the top with no ring and then I decided to just pick up and knit a simple crotchet edge around the top raw edges and it finished it off just enough for my taste and seemingly hers too:) here she is sporting it.....next size I will make the 4T-5T as you have already seen with the socks, my kids are how should I say it......not lacking for muscle mass *grin* and the her little rolly poolies are pudgin out around the sides:) sooooo the next size up is a solid vote from me:)

I think I will also make the 2x2 ribbing at the back a little longer, it called for a 1/2 inch and then start the straps but I think it would be a little closer fit with it being an inch to an inch and a half. I really gotta say this is a cutey top. For all that have little ones that can fit this pattern, it is a GREAT stash buster. I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece that I let Miss Priss pick out and it was all left overs from the "hat attack" I had over the winter. I gotta say, I like Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece, it feels nice while I knit with it and some of the cottons have really given me the weeby jeebies knitting with it but I think I'll add this one to one of my fav's pile.

Ok, that's all I got for this post. I have put the one tank I started out of the silkience on hold for awhile, I got tremendously bored with it and decided to just let it take a rest for a bit. I am tossing around the Glee from Zephyr or Green Gables also from them. I REALLY wanna make the Green Gables but I want to use the Brown Sheep Cotton fleece it calls for and it calls for 3 for my size, well, I only have TWO of the color I wanna use (It is a navy blue) soooooo I think I'll just try and figure something else out but not right now, my brain is a bit sore still LOL.

I have a few doctor appointments coming up and may not get time to post but have no fear, I will probably be reading YOURS!!! Remember, life's to short to knit with crappy yarn........so true, so true;)

ahhh 30 day respite?

**WARNING., this posting is kind of picture intense:)**

ok, ok, I know, no excuse BUT....ok, no buts, I took a month off. Ya know, tidy things up, take care of some loose ends, that sort of thing.

I would like to thank all of you for thinking of me, and emailing me to make sure I am ok. I have to say, I truly was very touched. I have met some seroiusly GREAT bloggers/knitters/friends and I think of you all and am sooooo lucky to be blessed by all of you. Now I will get things back to normal here. You know, tidy up the knitting ect.

For anyone who doesn't know yet.....and I doubt there is anyone.....if you haven't checked out www.ravelry.com you simply MUST!! I will eventually have it all figured out but what I know so far, it's GREAT!!

Next up on the docket: what have I been knitting.............nothing.............LOL ok, I lied. I have done a few projects since last posting...first, I knit an adorable shrug, modified from the Fiber trends shrug pattern. It was alot of fun and relatively fast. I knit it out of Luna from Cascade. It's 100% cotton and I really like it. I'll let you know more on the wear and tear after I wash it. I am hoping it doesn't do the usual that cotton does, ya know, stretch out and loose shape. Here is a picture...........sorry about the photo, but nobody was here to help take it LOL:

These cutey socks were a gift for my mom on Mother's Day, she really loved them but I have a feeling my mom would like dirt if I wrapped it up and told her I made it LOL. The yarn is Bewitched from www.WhiteWillow.etsy.com if you haven't tried her yarns yet, you really should, you don't know what your missing. PLUS she is a small dyer and you all know how much I like to support the small business man/woman. She really is a sweetie and she does FAB work. Whenever I go on a shopping spree, you can bet my 2 favorite dyers are on the list, www.crashintoewe.etsy.com and willow. I not only adore their personal customer service, but the quality is superb. The sock pattern is just a basic 2x2 cuff and then straight stockinette. I really like that simple patterns. I have JUST now started with some other stitch patterns for socks. I get them from none other than www.knitspot.com and Anne designs stunningly beautiful patterns. PLUS, they are well written for knitters who don't really have a TON of pattern reading experience like me. I have a VERY hard time with that and am a VERY visual person but Anne's really are great. Check it out, maybe you should go buy some yarn and THEN go get some patterns *grin*.

I am such an enabler. OMG, I almost forgot, you also must try Radiant Twists yarns, she is really great and has BFL that she dies for socks. I made a swap with her (Radiant Twist, if your reading this, can you please email me debbiejusi at yahoo dot com) Anyways, Mr. mann absolutely LOVES the yarn and honestly, I kinda think he might bite your head off if you try and talk him out of it for socks LOL believe me, I tried LOL!

Alright, this sock photo is going to require some help from ya'll. If anyone recognizes this yarn can you PLEASE email me. I got this yarn and have NO clue who it is from, I bought it from another knitter. Anyways, I do know it is merino,bamboo and nylon BUT I am in TOTAL love with the yarn. I know for certain it isn't from my other love www.BriarRoseFibers.net I know ALL of her yarns by heart. Chris has a very definitive look to her yarns and actually, I could pick them out with my eyes closed just by touch and smell. *giggle* hmmm, did I earn a safety *to much info* for that one LOL ?! It isn't as gross as it sounds LOL. I love this yarn and these socks. So if you know whose the dyer, please, I beg you, email me :)

Hmmm, oh, I almost forgot, I just am in love with this next pattern. I have recently learned that I happen to be a HUGE Stefanie Japel fan. I know some of the more experienced knitters and lace knitters are not 100% into her things. Some don't care to knit top down so while they admire her work, they probably wouldn't find as much need in purchasing her boo or patterns as I would. I am knitting the "Back To School U-neck Vest and I just LOVE it. I am using Cascade 220 Heathers and the color which I thought was black, is actually a deep green. No matter, I am diggin' it BIG time. I am almost done and have not had one problem yet! Her knitting Errata is absolutely EASY to find and the pattern is as smooth as molasses. I am very pleased. So much so, I just bought the Orangina of hers and will probably have to rename it to PinkGina LOL I am going to use Rowan 4ply in pink for it as soon as I finish the vest. Here is what I have so far.

Isn't it the cutest? I am so excited to finish it. I hope it looks ok on me, I tend to not wear things like this so well but everyone seems to think the color is great for me so we'll see.

Ohhhhhh, I got to go to the Wooster Fiber Fair AND I got to take Mr. Mann (who said and I quote "This is so fun, I can't wait till next year") I was just thrilled to know not only did King1 like it there, Miss Priss and Mr. Mann had a good time too. I ran into 2 of my friends and King1 took a ....well....shall I say ..fiber length measurement photo LOL it was sooooooooo funny and for those who have been victims of a particular spam email, then they know what it REALLY means *giggle*

The first photo from right to left is Anne from www.knitspot.com, my friend Karen (blogless) and of course me LOL...notice my hand span (kinda like wing span LOL) is longer than the others *grin*

Ok, now this one is of Miss Priss being toted when her leggs grew weary, but then I told her we were going to the sheep barns again and she decided to stick her fingers in her nose to cover the scent LOL Oh now c'mon, how many of ya'll wouldn't have taken this photo LOL

And last but not least, just to prove Mr. Mann did enjoy himself, see how cute he looks sitting there eating. THAT is a hard thing for him to do, first he HATES eating anything outside, it REALLY upsets him..not this time ;)

Now this last set of photo's are a MUST. Those who know me are very aware that my older brother moved to Vegas at the end of last year and it devastated me. He was up over Memorial weekend to visit and check on some things here. He spent the day with us at my house and we got some pictures. I am very,very close to my brother and even though he doesn't live here anymore, I talk to him almost EVERY day on the phone. Its hard not having him close, I miss his support and being able to see him anytime I wanted. He is the coolest brother..........so is my other brother Mark LOL but Mark and I are not near as close, although he is the best brother too!! Ok, here we go..........

Miss Priss HAD to get in...isn't she just innocent looking LOL this is me and Jon :)


This is probably one of my favorites. Sorry, I just am NOT photogenic LOL

This is my dad, mom, jon, me and miss priss yelling trying to get Mr. Mann to get in on the action too LOL.

alrighty then, I think that is enough torture for ya'll this posting. I hope to show you a finished vest and started Orangina/PinkGina next LOL.

The socks that are rolling now are some bamboo/wool/nylon from BriarRoseFibers.net and an ABSOLUTE must for every sock knitter, more on that later!

Bubyes all!