Happy New Year 2010

Here are a few things that have kept me away from my blogging events. The shawls are Revontuli aka. Northern Lights Shawl.
Green vest is my own inspiration using mitered squares pattern. My favorite is the Urchin Beret, here in variegated colors. My friend Riitta sent me the yarn for Christmas. The Teal Color Beret is Pinwheel Beret, and I made two of those, the other is black, and does not show well here.

I have done, and finished other things, but I'll just name a few.

We are already half way thru January and I am enjoying the mild weather we have had on many days.
Mild for me, cold for some others.

I did not make any New Year's resolutions, other than told myself to finish off the projects I had started, and not start new ones, at least in January. Well, thankfully I didn't make that promise publicly, because I have broken it. Many times. I think I have about 5 new projects on the needles. The old ones just wait miserably in
a basket, or a bag. Needless to say, I have not weaved at all.
I managed to read a book, wooohoooo, "Summer on Blossom Street" I read it in a few days. There is another book started by Debbie Macomber "92 Pacific Boulevard" which has nothing to do with knitting/crocheting, which is fine with me. My attention span isn't what it used to be when I read all the books in the library. (that was when we had no television yet, and the boys were not interesting enough, so I read books).

I have decided that this year I am going to spend more time with family, with friends, I try to be more positive about everything. I love my work, I love my hobbies, and I am happy that I am healthy enough to wake up in the morning to get ready with ease to face what is on agenda for that day.

Sometimes I look back at my life, and think what I wanted to become when I was a teenager. I wanted to go to art school, make a career of being an artist of some sort. That was my main goal at the age of 17. I still draw and paint sometimes, but mostly using yarn and needles/hooks to do my art.

What you were thinking of doing, when you were 17?
Do you have a job that you like or love? (or hate?)
Do you have hobbies?
What is your favourite pastime activity?
Do you think that it is important to have a hobby?

Christmas 2007

I have not been in a very festive mood this Christmas time. We don't even have our tree up. I bought a small potted fir from a grocery store, and put some little decorations on it. The tree does not have any lights on it, and it's just as well.

The kids are coming for dinner tomorrow afternoon. We will have turkey and the trimmings, just as if it was still Christmas. I still have to wrap the presents, but don't have too much paper, because I thought I had leftovers from last year, but didn't. So, we have to go to the store in the morning just to get the dang paper, and then wrap whatever I have for the kids. Kids= DS, DIL, DGD, DGS.

I've cleared my work area from my knitting clutter, and hope that when I need something I'll remember where everything is. This will not happen, I know from experience. You see, I do my crafts at the dining table and little by little more and more stuff is brought in to work with, so sometimes there is hardly any room to move around the table.

I worked like a madwoman to get my hubby's vest done, before Christmas. I finished it on the 23rd. I had plans to go and visit my friends at Purple Purl, but I was glued to my chair, and knitting needles.

Then was time for cooking and baking. Baking? I have not done too much baking in recent years, but this time I got inspired because a friend of mine was telling how she was going to make this and that, cookies, cakes and coffee bread. Of course I had to make some too, because I was thinking of the nice smell in our home when something was baking in the oven.
I also finished my granddaughter's pullover and sweater. Pullover needed finishing the seams, and the sweater needed buttons.


Granddaughter has a favorite doll, and I made a mattress and a blanket for a basket that I had bought just for the doll.

Well, now my fingers are sore, and tingling, but I finished almost everything I wanted to finish. Except socks for Ravelry November mystery, but I still have until the 31st to get them done. I am almost finished with socks for my hubby, but he was so happy with his new vest that he said he could wait for the socks. He has to. I am not knitting those this week. I'll finish the mystery socks first.

2 Years

I stopped smoking two years ago, May 1st. I never had a problem with cravings, I don't have a problem with people who smoke, I don't go around acting anal about smoking. The most important thing for me is that I don't smoke any more, and that's it.

So, what have I been up to lately? Working on the never ending vest. I even thought that I might put some sleeves on it, forgetit. I was sure I was nearly done, when I counted the pieces missing, and I almost cried. Here is a sneak peek for my future vest, all in cotton thread:

Would you believe this: I have done over 360 pieces, and need about 100 more. If you hear me say that I am going to make some little pieces to make another garment, slap me.

I was sure I can finish it in two weeks.