While it’s hard to believe that it’s already July(!!!) – it’s not hard at all to believe that it’s been 5+ months since I’ve posted here.

I was taking a class at a teachers conference about using Blogging in the Classroom for Education and Activities… and was reminded that I have a blog already. Silly me- it’s funny how things slip your mind.

The Fiddlehead Mits that I talked about last month are more than just skeins of yarn and a pattern these days. They’re actually two mittens- that just need a lining knit it. They were a fun knit.

The last real FO I created was my Frog Prince. He was a blast. I love small detailed work – gives both instant gratification as well as detailed work that keeps my interest.

I was looking back at my first post of the year- and thought I might update you (me) on my Knitting Resolutions….  while I did already explain to you all the ways I would get around my resolutions – I should probably refresh myself anyways with my ideas.

Resolution #1 – Knit something for my self using my stash yarn.

Progress- I haven’t knit anything for myself this year from my stash.  HOWEVER- I did organize my stash.

Resolution #2 – Only buy yarn for specific projects.

Progress- I’ve only bought a few skeins (a few being less than a dozen) of yarn this year in total. All but a few of those few have been bought for specific projects.  I’ve missed yarn shop crawling-  but can’t justify buying yarn to stick it in a bin.

Resolution #3 – Learn to crochet.

Progress- I still have July, August, September, October, November and December to learn.

Resolution #4 – Knit for charity, once a month.

Progress- I still have July, August, September, October, November and December to knit. If I double up… maybe I can consider this a success!

So all in all… I haven’t been knitting very much lately.  Think I should fix this …. soon!

So six weeks or so have gone bye and I have been swamped.  Between work and work and more work… I have had little time for much else besides family and friends and a little bit of knitting.

I’ve been working on some traveling scarves… which are starting to wind down. I can tell this because the scarves keep getting longer and longer.

I went off yarn shopping last weekend and ended up at the Yarn & Fiber Company .. where I found this pattern and yarn.

It was love at first sight.

I must also say- thank goodness for February Vacation!!! It’s only the first day… but it is appreciated.

Off to knit…. keep smiling!

Happy New Year! 

A new year brings with it loads of new things. 

Resolutions, lists, calendar events, birthdays, anniversary, diets, yarn… the list goes on and on. 

I’ve never been one who really makes many resolutions… mostly, because I know that I will cheat. So as I write this post today- I have still yet to come up with any resolutions… except with my knitting. 

My knitting resolutions are as follows…

1) Knit something for myself using my stash yarn.

2) Only buy yarn for specific projects. 

3) Learn to crochet. 

4) Knit for charity, once a month. 

So, now that I have listed my resolutions- I should probably tell you how I have already decided I will get around them…

1) I will decided that nothing in my stash is good enough for me. (Translate- trip to the yarn store to buy more yarn.)

2) If I keep joining traveling scarf groups I will need to continue to find just the right yarns for  someone else’s scarf.  (Translate- trip to the yarn store to buy more yarn.)

3) I will have to shop for crochet hooks, and while shopping, I will decide that the yarn I have is really better suited to knitting, not crochet. (Translate- trip to the yarn store to buy more yarn.)

4) Charity is all about quantity, I will use all of my good yarns knitting for charity and will have nothing left to choose from to knit for myself. (Translate- trip to the yarn store to buy more yarn.)

So- there we have…. Resolutions and cheats. Guess I know what my resolutions really need to be…….

As many are probably saying – I can hardly believe that  it’s 2009. Wow, time flies. 

I was meaning to get around to posting my end of the year knitting since the beginning of December- but just never got there. So I figured before my  ’Welcome 2009″ entry  - I would like to give  a last hoorah to my December knitting. 

Most of December was spent knitting a blanket for a friends mom – and my traveling scarves. 

This was my largest knitting adventure to date. I thought it came out great and was sad to send it on its way to Maryland. 

For traveling scarves- I saw quite a few in December.

My favorite scarf section belongs to the finished scarf of Shebear29, in the Think Pink Group. It was a created for one of Sheila’s friends…

Here are a few of my other additions.

So now on to a New Year of Knitting……

For the first time in many years, I didn’t go out shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving at 5am. Nor did I stop in at 6, 7, 8, or 9 am. Matter a fact, it was well after 12 o’clock before I even made it into a store. The real gasp here, is that I spent a measly $30 and found nothing I had to buy for Christmas presents. I was quite surprised myself.

I am one of those people who has to be inspired to buy a gift. Now, don’t get confused with that meaning that I am a scrooge – as that is far from the truth- I tend to go overboard – all the time- but I have to “feel” the gifts.

Gift cards are my least favorite thing to give. Don’t get me wrong, they are the most practical gift for someone who has everything or is saving up for a large ticket item. I believe that the fun of holiday gift giving is in the challenge of finding the person that has everything that one new thing that they can’t live without -or- buying the big ticket item just to see them smile.

As one of those creative types that has everything she could ever need and buys it all for herself if she finds something she can’t live without – I can understand why I typically get gift cards as gifts. I will never admit to being someone who is easy to shop for.

So, when I went out shopping yesterday afternoon, I continued to be confuzzled about not feeling inspired to buy for anyone other than myself. Four pairs of shoes and two sweaters later, I only had one gift in the car (fabric for a tree skirt I still have to make.)

Which leads me to wonder…

Why am I suddenly only inspired to do Christmas shopping for myself?
and
How amazing is it, that I am actually not feeling too guilty about it.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.
– Author Unknown 

Today I am thankful for…

Happy Thanksgiving. May you have much to be thankful for.

Not to be confused with scarf blocking… I think I may have scarf block. 

I think that being in  groups – Pink, Purple, Noro & Teachers – has me on overload.I currently have four scarves (one from each group) sitting on the back of my couch. Until last night- all of them have been sitting patiently without new stitches begging to be added.

In creative scarf block frustration I was determined to complete a scarf while watching something from the dvr and sat down with the first scarf I grabbed (or rather the one that hit my back as I plunked my big ole booty on the couch in front of it) and my Vogue Stitchionary- Volume One – Knit & Purl. I looked through the hundreds of stitches much like I have quite a few times since purchasing it and nothing – NOTHING – jumped out and said knit me.  So I did the next best thing I could think of – I stuck my finger in the pages, while closing my eyes and was determined to knit the first pattern I landed on…

and happily I  landed on this…. 

Scarf one of four is happily in its envelope ready to go on it’s next journey.

With optimism- I shout  ”My Scarf Block is Gone!!”

I finished my latest Traveling Scarf for Group 29 last night… its for BrooklnIrishGirl.

I did my first Celtic Cable… and think it turned out beautiful. I frogged back so many times I started to wonder how it would turn out…. fourth time was the charm I suppose!

I am off to send my package to my swappee…. hope she likes what I am sending- here is a spoiler …

One acronym NKOTB.

Be-dazzled goodness.

It was like being 13 again.

21 days later… I return to blog land. Full of useless information that has been collected since my last post…. lets see- what is there to share?

At work… things have been rather busy. I love my classes and time is flying by and going well.

In the extra-curricular world- things are just as exciting.
We’ve had two meetings of the GSA & Newspaper. I’m excited about both- but really excited that we have 25 kids who came to out last GSA meeting- GSA stands for Gay Straight Alliance. This is my first year advising for GSA- the former advisors both stepped down and while I have no idea what I am doing- I didn’t want the GSA kids to be left out. I have a great co-advisor which is helping. I’ve done more research about Gay/Bisexual/Queer kids in the past few months than I ever thought possible. As for newspaper- our core group has returned and we are hoping to have our first issue out the first full week of October.

Last night was also the first school dance of the year- it was an 80’s theme- and guess whose students got them to poof her hair again…. yep. Maybe a picture will follow.

In life-
I’ve the queen of cake making… Heidi, Kylah & Nana Weezie all celebrated birthdays this month… the following cakes belong to them.

Heidi wanted a Nick Jr. – more like my nephew wanted a Nick Jr. cake and she was happy to share. Kylah loves princesses- so what better than a crown. And Nana Weezie is love- plain and simple.

I also went apple picking with my cousins (Mindy & Carrie) and TJ (my honorary nephew & Mindy’s son) We picked a full peck of apples and manage to get the good ones way up at the top of the tree.

In the knitting world- I have been working on traveling scarves most of the month.

The last scarf belongs to woodysgal.. and I added on a pretty pink section. Atleast I think it is pretty.

I’ve also added on to pgurls scarf.

Once I find my camera cord- I think its in between the couch cushions…silly me… I will add some more photos. I found it I found it

In other notes…
My favorite yarn store is going out of business… Actually- its more my favorite fabric store that also happens to sell yarn to. But I will miss the Fabric Place! But I have been stocking up on some staple yarns- which is always a good thing!