a good birth date

Your Birthdate: January 11

Spiritual and thoughtful, you tend to take a step back from the world. You're very sensitive to what's going on around you, yet you remain calm. Although you are brilliant, it may take you a while to find your niche. Your creativity is supreme, but it sometimes makes it hard for you to get things done. Your strength: Your inner peace Your weakness: You get stuck in the clouds Your power color: Emerald Your power symbol: Leaf Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I haven't posted anything like this yet-- mostly b/c I usually don't think they fit--or they aren't especially complimentary! ( come on, who really wants to post that they're aluminum knitting needles or that they are "kitchen cotton" yarn-- REALLY! I think I was bamboo and wool? but still-- I want to be rosewood and an exotic alpaca blend.)

I like this one-- it's a bit over-the-top, but it's good stuff, so I'll take it! (I like to think that I list toward the spiritual; I may be more "scattered" than "creative," but whatever it is, it DOES get in the way of getting things done! And Meg was born in November (hey, it's STILL November! I'm right smack in the middle of my power month!), so November is good.) Anyway, if you try it, come back and let me know what it said!

I really like the changes Brynne has made in her blog. Now, Brynne is an excellent knitter, and posts frequent project updates, but she does so much more than just knit-- and now her blog "All this by Hand" reflects her other interests! Just so that no one thinks I'm a total deadbeat, I thought I'd post a few of my recent non-knitting motherly craftings (since I AM almost a knitting deadbeat, and have almost nothing to post along those lines!)

Meg's 5th birthday was last week, and we celebrated for two whole days! On Thursday night (the actual birthday) we met my family at Escalantes (Meg requested Mexican food). Aunt Jane and Uncle Mo brought Caroline (Meg's cousin), Uncle John came and brought girlfriend Kelly, and Gammy and Gindy came. A nearby table had a birthday just after we sat down, and Meg herself asked the waitress if they would sing to her, too!



I love this picture; even though you can't see all of Meg, you can sure see the pure joy on her face! I was always so shy as a kid, and the attention would have embarassed me. Meg, however, is as delighted as she could be!

I spent the NEXT day getting ready for the party at Pump It Up (if you're not familiar, it's a kid's dream come true-- huge blow-up moon-bounce type "toys": obstacle course, huge slide, round jumping thing with a "pillow" in the middle-- totally unaffected by weather. They play for a solid hour, then we get 30 minutes to eat pizza and cake and open presents. Best of all, some really cool high school kids are in charge, so all I have to do is help!) We had a kitty theme, and here's the cake I made:



and the party favors:


These are candy sticks-- I started with a 10" dowel rod, a hot glue gun, a pile of candy, and a few toys. I used the glue gun (low temp) to glue a large piece of candy to the stick, then glued the rest around that. (I had to tie ribbon around the necks of the duck keychains, and through the center of the plastic slinkies, then tie/glue those to the sticks.) Then I tied lengths of curling ribbon to the top. Meg's preschool, St. Peter's, makes these to sell at their Fall Festival, and the kids love them. They took a while to make, but I sure had fun!


(yes, that is a neon green Christmas tree in the background. Meg couldn't wait, and talked Gammy into getting it for her. It isn't totally decorated yet, but it's close enough to Thanksgiving that I figured we'd just leave it up! At least it won't die!)

Knitting Meme

Brynne, here it is! Thank you for the tag!

1. What is your all-time favorite yarn to knit with?

I'm still such a newbie (or maybe it's that there are so many yarns out there!) that I haven't tested enough yarns to name a favorite that I've knitted up more than once or twice! I'm about to finish a chemo cap, for which I'm using Blue Heron Yarn's bulky chenille in "Sunrise." Not only is it delightful to touch, I love watching the colors "unfold" as I knit!

2. Favorite needles?

Addis, without a doubt. I'm much faster with them, and I love the "click" sound (makes me think I'm getting somewhere!) I also love my new rosewood needles. They have a little more grip and they feel nice.

3. What's the worst thing you ever knit?

My mom's sweater. I'm using Cotolina (linen and cotton, which is nice!) but I got my gauge all wrong and had to frog the whole back. I've almost got the back finished for the second time, but when I showed my mom the sample sweater at Yarns2Ewe, she didn't seem too thrilled. I'm stalled. Totally.

4. Favorite knit pattern? The most fun to knit?

My favorite as of now is the sock pattern from the first Queensland Collection book. I actually really enjoy the 2x2 ribbing; once I get into the rhythm of it, it's very soothing to do!

I'm also making mittens from Mission Falls' "Smitten." The Advika mittens-- very stripey, with some crochet and shisha mirrors. I'm enjoying the challenge!

5. Most valuable knitting technique?

I've had to learn new cast-on methods lately. The first socks I did, I used a long-tail cast-on, which wasn't elastic enough. I tried the tubular cast-on (got the rough idea, but somehow ended up with the wrong number of stitches), and will have to practice before I can actually use it. I love the Twisted German Cast-on (now, is it the cast-on that's twisted, or the German? I'd love to know!)

6. Best knit book or magazine?

I really like Interweave Knits. As a knitter who is easily distracted, my current fave is Handknit Holidays(I've gotta do that Santa Hat!). The original Stitch n' Bitch is still my favorite reference.

7. Favorite knitalong?

I haven't really done it yet, but I've been following the Knitting on the Road knitalong for a while, and enjoy watching their progress! Hopefully I'll be able to finish some projects and do the next socks with them!

8. Favorite knitblogs?

I'm pretty slow on the uptake, at least where the web is concerned. I faithfully follow the blogs of my knitting group:
Brynne's (of course!) Knitlet;
Amy's Amylovie's Nuttin' But Knittin';
Catherine's Knittin' Notes;
Sarah's Needles in Motion;
Martha's Yes, I'm Knitting, Do You Have a Problem with That? and
Marlanea's Paramedknit
They're all wonderful, unique ladies with interesting projects and a good sense of humor-- all important qualities in a knitter!-- and great friends, too.

I also keep up with Yarn Harlot and Wendy Knits!but I'm still building my list!

9. Favorite knitwear designer?
Jane Ellison (despite the sweater fiasco mentioned in #3) and I've got some cool Mac and Me stuff that I'm anxious to try!
(oh, and Brynne, too! I know someone famous! I think I'm going to do Samus in time for next Christmas--and I can't wait for the Winter Knitty!)

10. The knit item that you wear the most?

Sadly, I haven't knit much for myself. The items I've knitted that have been loved the most are projects for my girls. Katie still carries around the first scarf I knitted (which was way too wide!) and her bear sported a sweater I'd made until it fell apart. My mom really got some use out of the Vegan Fox Stole I knitted for her.