Hugo the teddy bear

This little teddy bear, named Hugo, was missing since he came
back from Argentina, last June (2009). Somehow he ended up
in a bag that had some birthday gifts, that I had bought for my sister to mail later.
Needless to say, I forgot about the bag, and never even paid attention to it. I searched everywhere else.

We had some major cleaning done in our home, clearing stuff away
from the rads, creating a major mess in one bedroom, that now has
become a mess room. Hmph.

We also had a visitor from out of country, and once again, re-arranging everything, and moving things around. No wonder everything was out of place, and so was the bag where Hugo was sleeping. I want to say that he was hibernating, so I won't feel too guilty for not finding him. He needed the sleep.

On Saturday I decided to re-create this teddy bear, once again, my third try. I found yarn that
seemed to be quite similar to what Hugo's color was. I spent almost all day trying to get the new
bear done. I did the head twice, and just in frustration cut it off, and tried again, and finally gave up and decided that this little bear has to do. I named him Oscar. There was no way I was going
to replace Hugo. Funny thing, Hugo has done a lot: He came with me to work, to the stores, he played in the snow, he went to Finland, he came with us to Argentina, and then disappeared.

Oscar and I decided to make one more search on Sunday morning. We both decided that if we
cannot find him now, then he must have gone to bear heaven. We looked and looked, and then Oscar yelled: what's in that purple bag? There was Hugo, and we all danced and sang happy songs.

Here, Hugo and Oscar happily posing, first after the successful search and then tucked in the car under the seat belt. I took them both with me when I went out to the market.


When I came home, later in the afternoon, I remembered that Hugo's
friend Otto, from Finland, had sent him
a Christmas gift (2009). It was still waiting for him, unopened. Hugo was
totally happy to see that he had a surprise gift.

He had received Lapland boots, and he will wear them when the winter comes.





The boots are beautiful and Hugo sends his warm thanks to Otto for the nice gift.

Time for summer socks

I've been knitting my socks for weeks, and got one sock done. It's been startitis syndrome time again. I started new socks practically every day...not really, but sometimes it feels like it.

I ordered some sock books, from Amazon, and borrowed one from Library.
The "Socks Socks Socks" book is from the Library. I have to return in at the end of this month, so I have to be very busy to get all those socks done, Hahah, in my dreams.

I have not started any from this book, though. Too many nice ones.

From the "2 at-a-time socks" I learned the "Magic Loop" method. I did practice with two circular needles, but got tired of the fiddling with needles and dropped the other needle and continued with one. This apparently is the ML technique.


I have not forgotten embroidery stitches. Found two marvellous stitch books at the library. I should go there more often, specially before I am planning to order books from Amazon.

Some other books I have hoarded lately







My son's SIL gave me a gift certificate for Chapters, one of our bookstores. I went and looked what they could inspire me, and found a great book, "Knits from a Painter's Palette" that I almost bought at one of the yarn shows, but my budget didn't allow it. Had I bought the book at the store, my gift certificate would not have been enough, so I ordered it on line, and here it is, my birthday gift from Sarah.

I love that book. I cannot stop looking at those amazing creations.

What's in the agenda today? Going to drive around in my new car, and perhaps get lost in a yarn store near the Beaches, heheh.

My friend Sherri is going to go to Purple Purl, and I am sure that I might head that way, too.
First I need to sort my sock projects, because one of them is coming with me. The one that is finished is the Nutkin sock, that I started a long time ago. The other one is still just a start, and not worth mentioning at this point. It will be a miracle if it ever gets done. I started it on my mini vacation couple of weeks ago.










Some time ago I had a birthday, and the office gang gave me another gift certificate, this time from Purple Purl. I bought loads of Noro Sock yarn to make a coat or something.
My boss gave me a hand-painted, wooden trinket box, which I love. I love boxes...hmmm...and of course I got flowers and a cake and lunch. It was a great day. I did manage to do some work, too.

I found it!

First, on Thursday I received two books from Amazon.com. One was Jenny Dowde's Freeformations and the other was ... oops, I forgot, that means I have to go and look, just a sec.

Yes, it was Yarn stash ideas.

On Friday, I received a beautiful ATC from my friend Janet. She is a master making these cards, but she's also a master with her paintings.


Here is the card:


And this morning, regardless of the stupid fact that I slept until 10:30,

I found the box my hubby and I have been looking for two weeks.

In the box I have yarn, bought from WOOLCO, if anyone remembers that store. One skein cost $1.89, which wasn't too expensive even then. This must be over 20 years ago. I know, because I had not met my now-hubby yet. I bought it when my mom visited me before I met him. Yeeeaaa, so the yarn must be 20 years old. Woolco closed its doors, in Canada, in the early 90's.

My mom made about 45 - 4" squares and I had made 5, different ones. I had also started something from a pattern that appeared in Vogue knitting, 1993. I must have thought that the squares didn't make anything nice.

I need to go grocery shopping, but I would like to stay at home and PLAN, I am good at planning, what to do with this treasure.
So, what, if my hand still hurts. I can plan, can I?

I still have to find a ball of size 20 red Opera thread, and the Clones Lace book. I need to look for something else, and those two will show up. I was looking for the book, when I found the yarn.
It works every time.

Gift from afar

Look what I received from my friend, Janet, it's a beautiful sachet made with felt and beads, and a clever Christmas card with it.

I think it's a beautiful decoration for my tree, which is not up yet.

Janet's creativity shines right thru. I am so lucky to have received such a beautiful gift.

Thank You Janet!