One more Dora Doll

While I was on vacation, I made yet another Dora doll. This was for Valentina.

Dora is sitting on a "Jasmin of the Rain" tree trunk.

I made another ATC and that, like the other one, needs fine tuning. Will post picture when that is done.

ASK

ASK = Artist Survival Kit
I got this link from one of my many groups, as I was clearing my e-mails.

http://www.kerismith.com/ask.html
interesting stuff.

I am now thinking of making a few ATC's.
Made one already, and here it is:



The one with a castle and flower is from my friend Janet.
She sent me this ATC.

Back from Argentina

This brown purse I made with cotton yarn and used Tunisian crochet and "normal crochet" stitches. I started the purse a week before we left for home, and finished it at Santiago Airport. The cream colored purse was bought in Mendoza, Argentina.




What a wonderful vacation we had. The weather was nice, hot and only a few days with humidity. Some thunderstorms, twice to be exact. The first one appeared when we were planning a BBQ for our family. We had the chicken BBQ anyway, regardless of the heavy rain.

I want to make a comment about some uninvited friends we had every single day and night: the
incredibly clever mosquitoes. I swear they were after my blood, like vampires. I tried to put some "OFF" every day, but somehow those irritating little ickies found a spot that was not covered, and that is exactly where the fountain of nectar was for them. The only positive thing about this was that I smelled really good most of the time. "OFF" comes in a nice scent. It also kept my skin glowing and soft. I felt young again.

The kids were great. Our granddaughter is smart and very clever in her way of dealing with people. One of the things she had said, when she was bored, and asked her dad what she could do, and when her father told her to go and talk to the fish in the little tank they had on the book self. What did she say? "but daddy, fish don't talk, they swim".

Oh, and another one:

She threw her toy dog in the air. Her grandpa said that the dog was crying and barking in pain.
She said that "that dog doesn't cry, it's made of plastic.

Valentina is 2 years and 8 months.

I could go on and on about her, but I save some for later.

We went to the side of mountains, The Andes, visited a few villages in the area and had tons of pictures taken, and of course had lunch in one of the nice little restaurants.

One day we went to the province of San Juan to see the shrine of Difunta Correa It was an interesting trip. I was awed with the history, and amazed how many people had left things to thank the woman. There is no way I am going to explain this on my blog, there is lots of info in the web.



I got lost in the web, after I found a link to Difunta Correa, I found many more. Then started watching some shows on telly and went to sleep. As if this was anything important.

More later.

Granddaughter

Our granddaughter with her parents came over for dinner tonight.

Here is a picture of her wearing the sweater I made for her, and another picture

paying more attention to cars than dolls. I am going to talk to her about my Mustangs.

She was truly fascinated with the model cars she had in front of her.

Dreams and pen pals

The other morning, I think it was Wednesday, we woke up @ 7:55. If you had seen me run, you would have thought of seeing a lightning, sort of. The shower took three minutes. My trip to work is usually around 20 to 25 minutes. I was at work @8:30. I would say that it was a fast forwarded morning. I also think that people who normally crawl to work in front of me, had decided to stay at home, or go later, or had already snailed ahead of me. None of the normal irritating traffic was in my way. Even the traffic control people were on my side, since I hit maybe two red lights, out of maybe 20. Do I have to count the lights now? It was a good ride to work.

Our local Knitting group had the first meeting of the year. We had a nice crowd, and it was nice meeting everyone. We knitted and chatted, some of the members were learning Tunisian Crochet, instructed by Julia. I didn't attend the mini class, since I think I know the system pretty well.

We also had our regular raffle. I bought four tickets. Wouldn't you know, I did win one of the prizes, which was five 100 gr. skeins of Patons Classic Wool in "worn denim", I thought it was light blue, but then I checked. I think my granddaughter would like another Aran style sweater. Or I might forward the yarn for someone who really likes light blue....heheh. We will find out in February, won't we?

Guess I need to go and get some more of my strange dreams. Like last night I dreamt that I knitted a bra, with variegated blue yarn. The size was A, therefore it definitely was not meant for me. I only got one side done. The yarn was prickly and made my hands itch.

The other night I woke up to a thought that had come up in my dream: I needed to send a post card to one of my pen pals from my teenage years. I even knew (in my dream) the name and the town this pal had lived in when we were writing to each other. I woke up thinking that I could find the postal code in the web. Strange, since I have not been thinking of any of my pen pals for eons.
I used to have pen pals from Germany, Israel, Ghana, Finland and USA. The ones I remember best was a sweet boy from Accra, Ghana, and the pal from Finland, whom I was supposed to meet at a Rolling Stones Concert. I never made it to that concert. Never met the pal.

Why, oh why, do I have such strange dreams. Although, I think that most dreams are strange for anybody. Maybe I should find a dream book, one that isn't telling any old stuff, but is more truthful than the quick to sell books. Well, I'm going to sleep now. Have nice dreams everyone!

Vest

Another WIP done! I can't believe how productive I have been in the last few weeks. Sometimes the last minute push is all I need, right?

Well, I finished a crocheted vest for hubby's daughter. I used Anne thread and the pattern is from Sirdar, The White Book of Crochet Fashion, pattern C.

Of course, like always, I had to change the pattern a little bit. The pattern is for a top that is closed in the front, and I made it an open in the front vest. More work for me, in a rush, very clever.

I am not going to do this type of rush all the time, but I still have a batwing shawl for hubby's daughter and a summer skirt for our granddaughter. Those are going to be done later.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!

It was a very strange year, that 2006. Every new year I hope that it will be better than the old one. I am sure every person has had their own ups and downs, so I will not get into any of those. Let's just say that the new year could be better.

I managed to get myself to go into the mall this morning. First thing I did was to have a pedicure. I had a guy do my toes this time. He was good and not as hurtful as the girl who did my feet the time before. My feet didn't even get ticklish. I was crocheting and got some nice motifs done, which I might never use for anything, one never knows.

Then I went to Zellers, and found a camisole, in my size, but it didn't have a price tag. There was another one, but different size, and it had a price sticker of $10.00, which suited me fine.
I went to the customer service, just in case someone needed a price check. To my surprise the price ended up being just 5 dollars, plus tax, of course. Zellers had a 50% off sale, and I didn't even notice when I went to the store. I just eyed at the line-ups and wondered what was on sale. As if those huge yellow signs were hanging for other people, other than me.

Anyhoo, I didn't buy any magazines or yarn, I just walked by, can you believe this? Yes, I went to see the magazines and yarns, how can I go to Zellers if I don't go and say hello to yarns?

I came home and started crocheting and frogging and crocheting. It is difficult to follow a pattern when most of the pattern is already being modified, by me, of course. I have smaller thread and more stitches. I finally was happy, and no more frogging, unless I make a mistake somewhere. I have until Saturday to finish this top for hubby's daughter. Hopefully it will be done by tomorrow.

After the top I am planning to make another batwing shawl, and after that another Dora doll, but those are for later, at least a week later.

No New Year resolutions for me, thank you very much. Well, maybe one, I will try to use my stash yarn for new projects. I said I will try, so that is not a real promise, is it?

Everyone, have a great New Year!

Aran Sweaters

It's been knitting full week after Christmas. I didn't do anything else but knit and eat and grocery shop and knit and eat.





After a few starts and some frogging I finally finished the second Aran sweater.

Next on the list is a crocheted summer top for my SD.

I'll be busy again, until the top is done.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Finally done

The sweaters for our granddaughter are done. I am just way too happy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Knit one purl some and then frog

It's been a busy week or two in the knitting department. Oh, I did some crocheting, too.

This Christmas ornament is the ugliest ornament I have ever seen.

It's crocheted with beads, over a silver ball. UGH. and the worst is that I made it. It's sitting on a shelf, and looks very sad.

The Aran sweater needs a button band, the one with holes. The other side is done. However, I decided that I only have a few nights left to finish a pullover for our granddaughter that I started finishing that one. It's almost done. Well, to me almost done means that half of the other sleeve needs to be done and then put the pieces together. I didn't have a pattern for that one, I had just measured a tee shirt and checked some patterns in the web to get an idea how many stitches and how long the sleeves should be.

Work world is very busy, I don't even have time to check my e-mail. Fortunately that makes my days go fast, and I get home faster...at least that's how it feels. We got our bonus cheques today with a letter chocolate. The chocolate is shaped with the first letter of your name. The boss gives those every year.

On Friday we have our Christmas lunch in a nearby restaurant. I am taking Thursday and Friday off, but will attend the lunch. How can I miss a great time with co-workers...?

We have a wild kid in the neighbourhood. He likes to rattle the door handle and then run away, and when we try to catch him, he's already at home. So, what did hubby do? He put butter on the door handle, the boy came, and tried to play with the handle again, but stopped quickly.

He has not disturbed us since then, that was about two weeks ago.

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!

Aran Sweater

The sweater for our grand daughter that I started about a year ago is coming up quite nicely. What a pain it has been. I didn't have any problem with the back, or the front pieces, BUT had with the sleeves. Fortunately I am knitting them both at the same time, now.

First, I started with the pattern and knitted away happily. It was going to be one sleeve at a time, BUT, then I noticed, after the first set of pattern stitches (8 rows...and I had done two sets already) that there were instructions for increases. DUH! I had done none. Why didn't the designer tell this before I started my cable pattern set? I had already cut pieces of paper, to make the pattern a continuous flow of rows, instead of : row 6 same as row two, row 7 same as row 3, etc, what a pain to be jumping back and forth, so I make copies and cut the copies to fit the rows, that way I have 8 continuous rows of the cable pattern. Needless to say, I was just too eager to get the sleeve done (I hate, with a passion, making sleeves), that I didn't notice the increases. I had to frog to the end of the first set of cable pattern.

Well, since I had to start almost from the beginning, I decided to do both sleeves at the same time. My next peeve with this pattern is that with the increases you are supposed to fit the increases into a pattern. Well, I don't want to start re-writing the dang pattern, just tell me.
Now I have, on both sides of the sleeves the same dang cable. When I sew them together, as you are supposed to sew the seams to make a sleeve to a tube, where the arm goes. What was I saying? Yes, I will now have two of the same cables side by side, and that is not how it is in the pattern in the middle. I am not going to frog anything any more. Damn, I am annoyed. Of course the seam part isn't always easily in view, unless the other grandmother checks my work, or the girl likes to throw her arms in the air all the time. Oh, well.

Oh, I almost forgot. This pattern some other irritating points. I started with 37 stitches, and am supposed to add 19 stitches EVENLY after the ribbing. Now, I am not a math genius, and don't really like fiddling with calculations, when I once in a blue moon follow a pattern. Sometimes I understand myself very clearly when I wonder about my lack of "eagerness" to follow a pattern.
So, how do you count 19 stitches evenly, from another odd number to an even number? Of course, after trying to count ten times, I decided to add the stitches to best of my calculations. Of course, you guessed it, I didn't quite make it. I got the first sleeve done, but I had done that a year before, I think, when my brain was a year younger. So, this time I was 5 stitches short, which I added when I started the cable pattern. It is not noticeable at all, unless the other grandmother checks my work. I've seen a magnifying glass floating around on her sewing table.

Not saying that anyone will check, no, that's not I am saying.

The sweater is going to be beautiful. I am missing half an inch from the start of the decreases for the sleeve. I am hoping to get the sweater done by Thursday.

I just checked the starting date and it was January 23rd this year. Haha. Here is the picture of the sweater, the one in the middle:

What nice looking pair of jeans those two have. I think I need to go and buy some jeans.

One more thing, why do people, who desperately want to cut in front of you, when there is nobody behind you? Then they don't drive the speed limit, they drive one mile under.

I sometimes wonder if those people know me and want to punish me, for what? but so far I have not recognized any of them. I usually forgive them when I pass, and look, and realize that there is a reason why things like that happen. Sitting glued to the steering wheel and staring at a ghost on the dashboard, would make anyone make stupid moves on the roads. Where do these people get their approval for driving? Yuck. I met two of them this morning, and there isn't even a full moon, or is there? It was a delightful drive to work. Always something entertaining on the way...I should have told you about the third one, on my way home, but I just wanted to get home, and didn't look who was driving, as if it had changed anything. I am a rubber necker, but only when someone makes idiotic moves, not when someone is stopped by the cops on the other side of the highway, like the man in front of me the other day, I almost hit him from behind, and it would have been my fault. I was watching him rubbernecking. Huh? Taught me a lesson, didn't it?

Comfort Ghan

Here is a picture of a comfort ghan our local crochet group had put together for me, for my recent loss of my father.

The ghan has been created with many talented ladies, and I am thankful for receiving it.

Thank you All!

Snowflakes

I had some Aunt Lydia Shiny thread left after making an angel with it. I made a large snowflake, and then a smaller one, and it looked like I had enough for another small one.

Guess what, I made two more small snowflakes. Gotta love that Aunt Lydia.

Startitis

My friend Sherri has invented that word "startitis", and she is very good at it, too. I, however, follow her steps quite well. I finished a cardigan, minus buttons, for our granddaughter, and started a new one. I was very good at the new one, and got quite a lot done. Only to notice that this new sweater was wayyy too big for a two year old. We are talking here about a small adult.
Another sweater for my step daughter, hmmm? I started a summer top for the other granddaughter, who is going to be 3 in May. I used some fancy Italian cotton, which split like crazy, and I decided to stick to my Paton's Grace cotton, if I ever want to make something cottony.

I also started a top, for that almost 3 year old, and dug up some yellow Grace yarn. It's a halter top, a'la Margaret Hubert.

I finished it last night. It's now Tuesday, November 28, 2006. Next on the list is to finish the little skirt that goes with that halter top. The pattern is with the top.

Never mind the Aran sweater that I had started last year, and frogged the other sleeve to almost the beginning. ARRRGGH.

The list goes on and on, and would get boring, if it isn't already.

On the brighter side of the knitting and crocheting world, there is the office life. I have been taking some days off here and there, since I have vacation time left, and have to use it before the year end. It's difficult to decide on the last minute way when to take time off. I've decided that around the weekend is the best time. Not so, seems to me that no time off from work is good, because it isn't. Don't ask. I still have three days left, and I have decided to take them a week before Christmas. so there and I don't care how much complaining that will cause.

Don't even say it

That Christmas is around the corner. How many days?

I went to get my passport, since the other one expired, a month ago. Got up shortly after six.
It's amazing how quickly one can get up, get coffee going, and shower, when something else than work is in the agenda. The passport office opened at 8, and I was standing in the line-up (I was third) at 7:25 a.m.

My process was quick and easy, because I had all the papers with me, and the application done properly. I didn't have to be late from work, but since WalMart was near, I just had to go and see how much damage I could make into my bank account. I was late only 15 minutes, and had made up the time earlier. No guilty feelings due.

I bought some acrylic and cotton yarns, "seasonal", thinking that I might make socks for Christmas, or little slippers. I saw the cutest slipper pattern in a Finnish blog, but I am not going to post it here, because then someone is going to ask me to translate it, and I ain't going to do that. (I know, improper English, I know, but I like how it sounds, so there)

Yes, the yarn is "Seasons Greetings" by someone in China. It has 95% acrylic and 5% lurex, and the ball is 100 g, and the yarn is red with red shiny stuff making the yarn festive. The other item I bought for Christmas stuff is "Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread" size 3, color white/pearl. I didn't know that Aunt Lydia is in Hungary. I always thought that she was in USA.

I believe it is a Thanksgiving Day in the USA, and I wish everyone a Happy TD! We had ours in October. I am still full, and will not eat turkey, even if I prepare it for Christmas. I will eat meatballs instead. I am such a rebel.

On the knitting table I have work in process for a cardigan, pattern from Cabin Fever, for our granddaughter. Next in line is to finish the Aran cardigan for the same granddaughter. Oh, I need to vent a little bit about that. I am so upset. I had knitted one sleeve, for about 15 cm, when I realized that there should be increases, and sure enough, every 6th row. I had done none. I frogged to the part where I needed the first increase. I am not happy.

That's all for now.

Paisleys in Fall colors

Finished these paisleys today. I was to make 8, but ended with 10. They are for a paisley exchange.

I will continue with my knitting WIP now.

Just went to see what Janet had done today in her art program, and wow, her drawing is full of paisley shapes. At least that's what I think.

MeMe Questions

Visited Janet's pages again, and "stole" these questions from her site, the answers are MINE:

Someone knocks on your door at 2am, who do you want it to be?

A ghost, or a person who knocked on the wrong door. There will be some shouting involved in this case.

Your boss tells you he/she will give you a $20 raise if you'll do your job naked. Do you stay and take the raise?

Are you nuts? My boss gives raises once a year, and you don't have to be naked. $20 ? an hour, or a year?

Put yourself in a nutshell.

How big is the shell?

Ever see a ghost?

I think so, I had brutally high fever, one time when I was a kid, and I could have sworn that I saw someone by my bed.

Happy with your body?

It's still working, so I suppose so.

A reason to move to Iceland.

They have glaciers, and nice sweaters. I would love to visit, but not stay forever.

A place you've lived that you miss.

Does living on vacation count? I miss Mendoza, in Argentina.

A job you'd never do, no matter how much you were paid.

"Working girl"

A band/group you thought was cool when you were 13.

I think The Beatles had started around that time. When DID they become famous?

You have a nightmare, who's the first person you think to call?

Nobody, I just go and have a glass of water, and go back to sleep. I might cry a little bit, and that would wake my hubby. But I would not call him on purpose.

Wanna have kids before you're 30?

Been there, done that.

A memory from high school.

I got detention for not attending poetry reading by some old poet (I was 14-15 at that time, so anyone over 30 was OLD)I thought the man was disgusting. Our principal was in love with him, and he came at least once a year to read poems to the whole school, and if you didn't go, you had to stay in class and a teacher had to stay with you. My teacher was the principal, for that class period, and she was so angry with me that I got detention. Oh, the crushing hatred that woman had towards me, already, the fact she didn't get to go and drool over the poet didn't help. I was not a very nice student.

Ever had a crush on a friend's parent?

No, but I had a crush on my math teacher, big time, so much so, that I purposely got such low math marks that I had to take private lessons from my teacher. I didn't learn much else but he had beautiful brown eyes, and a wife. I was 14 FPS.

Do you look more like your mom or dad?

My mom

Something you've always wanted to learn to do.

Drive a race car.

How you'd like your life to be in 10 years.

Without worries.

Something you learned this year.

Never use hotel phone to call long distance, I did and paid dearly for it. Ask about the phone usage, when you chek in. Some of the hotels charge outrageously when you use their phone.

What do you want for your birthday?

Chocolate layer or cheese cake.

Name 4 things you did yesterday.

1. Went to Michaels

2. Went to WalMart

3. Knitted

4. Cooked dinner

Last item you bought yourself?

Circular needle, size 5 mm, 73.5 cm long.

What did you have for breakfast?

Bagel with cheese and coffee.

Name a celeb you crush on.

Right now? No crush on anyone, but I do like Mandy Patinkin.

Name the last 3 songs you heard.When? I heard a Christmas Carol on TV commercial, and I heard some classical music in the car when I went out.

How many hours of sleep do you get each night?If I am lucky, 6-7, but now that I am on vacation (one more day) I have had like 4-5 hours.

What do you wish you were doing right now?

Having great time with my family in Mendoza.

Who's the first person in your phone book on your cell?

My hubby.

Last time you witnessed a fight?

I didn't.

Name 3 places you'd like to travel to.

1. Argentina

2. Alaska

3. Nova Scotia, Canada

Do you know how to ice skate?

Yes, I do. I used to be pretty good on it, too.

Name something you like that's out of the ordinary.

Out of the ordinary by whose standards? I like to go to Formula 1, Grand Prix car races.

Is bigger really better?

Depends what is bigger. Bigger piece of chocolate cake is better than a small chocolate cookie.

What do you think of Brad Pitt?

Thinking just escapes me when I should think of him.

What color are your toenails.

Toenail color.

Do you own anything with a skull on it?
Does my head count?

Traveled to Europe?

Oh, yes, MANY times.

Last movie you watched?

Something about a Princess, Julie Andrews was in the movie, too. It was on TV, and there was nothing else!!!

Where were you when you had your first kiss?

If I remember correctly: on a haystack.

Last board game you played?

Scrabble

Leather or lace?

Lace, if I crochet, I love crocheting Irish Lace. To wear, if I had to choose, Leather.

Ever had a black eye?

I don't think so, black thigh, though.

Oh, wroooongg. I would have a black eye, or two black eyes, if I forget to remove mascara before going to sleep.

Have you ever worn fishnet stockings?

No, I left them for people who fish.

Knitting and knitting

Been busy with needles. With circulars, straights, dbl pointed and broken ones. I broke one circular needle. Or it just broke by itself. Fortunately it was the one I had bought at a dollar store, not the one I had spent 42 (including tax) Canuck dollars at the Needlework show about a month ago. Well, that needle came apart, too, but I can fix it with crazy glue. I hope. I haven't done it yet. It irks me too much.

Running from Michaels to WalMart to a private yarn store, looking for circular needles. Not that I don't have any, I do, but not in the right size. I have tons of 4.5 mm needles, but only one in 5 mm, and 60cm lenght. I forgot what that is in inches, sorry.

Where was I? Yes, I finished the Jeans Jacket for our grandson, and today I finished a sweater for his older sister. My fingers are screaming, but I am happy.

Friday Blues

Our office was closed today, due to Remembrance day, which is tomorrow. During this week I have walked by some old men, sitting patiently at shopping malls, holding boxes of poppy pins in their wrinkled, sometimes shaking, old hands.

I am wearing a poppy pin, and am thankful for the men and women who were fighting for our freedom. Thank You!

I went to the office, to do some "work"! Office work, that is, yeah. I had to mail a parcel to a friend, and I had the box, paper, and heavy duty packing tape at work.
I also paid some bills, and sent a claim to insurance company for my prescriptions. I was very satisfied of my "work" day. I spent an hour in the office. It was nice and quiet, no phones, no irritating interruptions from other staff members, no sounds from any annoying radio stations. Mind you, I can turn my radio sound down, but when I walk by a desk of someone else, I can hear the music. Not that I hate music, I just don't like loud music when I try to work. Actually I love music, and specially a variety of it. Almost anything goes. I could list the ones I don't like, easily, but I really am not in the mood for that.

OK, then I went to the post office, mailed my parcel, went to a magazine store to look for the latest knitting magazine from England, which was not in yet. I must wait another week or two, or what ever, to get it. Why does it take a month to get a magazine from England to come to a store here, when I could get it within a week if I subscribed to it?

I know, I know, airmail thingy, and the boat thingy, big difference. I didn't think that anything comes by boat any more. Or is it a cargo ship-something. I suppose they still bring important items, like knitting and crocheting books and magazines from overseas. Yup. That reminds me of a good friend of mine, from high school, he was a really nice guy. I heard that he is a captain of a large ship, somewhere. I hope he will bring my magazine soon, if he is steering that ship. That was a silly thought.

Came home; started preparing meal for the night. I made stew. It was not bad, but not the best stew I have made in my many stewing experiments. I don't think I am a good cook, normally, but sometimes I will surprise myself, and hubby! Today I surprised myself for not having a stew that was out of this world, it was just stew from my kitchen. Leftovers are for lunch next week. Had it been an extraordinarily delicious stew, there would have not been any leftovers.

I have done zero stitches today, although I had planned to finish the jeans jacket, that has been my WIP since last week. I have completed the back, fronts and one sleeve. Left to do things are: the other sleeve, button band, collar and pocket flap, plus finish some yarn ends. It' looks quite cute, if I may say so. I might get the other sleeve done half way tonight, but that may be just a "might".

Are there such things as empty thoughts? I think I have a remarkable collection of them.

STEW

Hamburger meat

leftover tomato sauce, with herbs and seasonings

carrots

onion

onion soup mix (optional)

garlic

green pepper

celery

pieces of cabbage (optional)

potato (peeled)

water

salt, pepper (if onion soup mix not used)

Put everything else, but potato in a pot, and cook about 45 minutes. stir the hamburger meat, so that it blends well with other ingredients. We don't want a big blob of hamburger meat in the stew? Of course stewing beef could be used, too; help yourself to choose your meat, or no meat.

Half an hour or so, before you are ready to eat, add potato into the stew, make sure you have enough liquid to cover the potato. Leave the pot open, otherwise your stew becomes a soup. We need some of the water to evaporate, don't we.

I did not include amounts of ingredients, because I don't usually measure things, I just add, look and taste. It's the same when I make scrumbles for free form stuff. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they just are.