BOOGLE BOOGLE

Oh Joy!!!!! The boogle purse is finally done and it felted down to a manageable size. A couple friends and I, in the CHAMP group, decided to each make a boogle bag. I had a skein of Crystal FX in these fabulous fall colors in my yarn stash (I can't believe I have a yarn stash-it sure didn't take long to get one of those going!) and my semi-LYS suggested I combine it with a rust colored Cascade yarn and make a "Booble Bag." Well the instructions said to "knit loosely" and I did! . . . the only problem is I knit loose to begin with and while I was knitting this purse "loosely" it looked like I was knitting a sleeping bag!!!!! It was pretty scary there for a while and I don't believe my LYS and the girls in my knit group thought it was going to shrink down enough. As you can see by this before picture my purse is a wee bit on the large size (15" tall by 20" wide to be exact). The pink purse was done by my good friend MPH who knitted hers a wee bit on the small size. Well, miracle of miracles when I "felted" my boogle bag it became a wonderful size. Like Goldilocks says, it is neither too small or too big-it is jusssssst right!!!!!!

I am now working on 2 projects (aren't I gettin to be the brave one) . . . I am still working on the all-in-one pullover sweater for my granddaughter and an really cute little hedgehog toy!!!!!

TTFN

IT'S GOOD TO BE QUEEN OR THE ADVENTURES OF THE CROWN!

This tale began innocently enough on the evening of May 4, 2006 when I had the honor of being installed as the 54th President of the professional association I belong to. That night my association was not only installing its officers for the next fiscal year, it was also celebrating "Boss of the Year." Two very dear friends were in charge of planning this combined event(they also happen to be in my knit group) and these girls not only made this a fun evening for everyone, they made it a memorable one! While my boss escorted each officer up to the front of the room, the MC (who was one of the organizers) gave a brief and humorous history about each officer (I sure hope she made a lot of the stuff up). We were each presented with a symbol of our office and as I was going to be President, the logical choice was a crown (I've been telling them for years at work that I was Queen of the office - yea - finally recognition!) It was a wonderful evening and I was happy to see everyone leaving that night smiling, laughing, and talking to each other as if they were old friends (so okay some of them have know each other forever).

I did discover one very interesting fact that evening about "THE CROWN" (as I now call it-don't ya think it needs a name - I'm open to suggestions), it seems it is not content to stay in one place for too long. Anyway so begins the adventures (and misadventures) of "THE CROWN." I did wear it to work the next day and the clients just loved it. "The Crown" even accompanied me to the salon when I got my nails done that afternoon. However I did leave it home on Saturday, as I spent all day at my semi-LYS knitting. I took a class that morning for knitting an "all-in-one" (meaning no hand seaming) pullover baby sweater for my granddaughter Kyra and somehow I ended up there until 3 p.m. I am knitting Kyra's sweater out of purple Plymouth Jelli Beenz yarn. It's going to be one cute sweater when done.

Anyhoo . . . that's all for tonight's adventure (believe me there are a lot more to come) . . . by the way . . . my SP8 sent me a card via snail mail letting me know she is looking forward to spoiling me and that a package should be arriving soon . . . I can't wait!!!!!

THE BABY BLANKET

This is my granddaughter, Kyra, modeling the blanket that Grammie made for her. Isn't she beautiful (blanket's not to bad looking either) . . . when I sent the blanket I also sent 3 cute outfits with it and Kyra is modeling one of those . . . lavender seems to be Kyra's color . . . it goes so well with her red hair. My daughter said that Grammie's blanket is Kyra's favorite . . . sooooo . . . I am going to have to get very very busy knitting another one as they will be coming out here June 3 for two weeks . . . it will be just one less thing they have to take on the plane . . . hummmmm . . . I think I am also going to have to make some kind of light weight lacy blanket for her to use during the hot muggy summer months. Grandpa and I are so excited about this visit!!!!

IT MUST BE MONDAY!!!!

Today can only be a MONDAY!!! This day started out normal and then it has just plain gone down hill. I took today off from work (this is what I typically do after I come back from attending a weekend conference or seminar) . . . I even got to sleep in a little later than normal . . . I should have known that that was a bad mojo sign! Got up. . . got coffee . . . started my morning shower (I bet you know what is going to happen next . . . now no laughing - don't even chuckle) . . . yes you guessed it . . . in the middle of my shower NO WATER!!!!! Well, the only thing to do now is to find the bottle water and rinse off (I did cover up - didn't want to give the cat a heartattack while on my bottle search) . . . it took 14 of those little bottles of water to get the shampoo and soap off my body!!!!! After 2 years the local water company finally decided to fix the water line to our home (instead of the usual patch job that they do which only keeps on leaking) . . . anyhoo . . . they forgot to notice us . . . they assumed we would be at work as usual . . . HA the joke was on them - I wasn't at work!!!!

So now I am dressed and sitting down in front of the laptop checking emails (while composing a message to send to my SP my computer screen went black . . . had to do my message all over again) . . . I also decided to do a little office work (I have been out of town for 4 days and was home the 2 days before that because I pulled a muscle in my back) anyway everything is going along smoothly . . . or so I thought . . . well you guessed it -- another bad mojo is about to happen . . . after I finished my work I went on line and I went to make a response to a friend's blog and my sign-in name and password were not reconizable!!!!! . . . well I went to check my blog site and all my profile info was gone and I could not even make corrections . . . UGH!!!!!

4-1/2 hours later and many messages going back and forth between me and the blog people the problem has been corrected . . .I have absoluately no idea what I did to screw up the site but I can access my site again so all is right with the world for the moment . . . I do however have to spend some more time putting back in my profile info (it's out there somewhere in never never land and I am tired of looking for it) . . . so please bear with me . . .

I am signing off for now . . . it has been one exhausting MONDAY . . .

so here's wishing everyone a wonderful and relaxing MONDAY!!!!!

OH MY ACHING BACK!

Boy do I feel old!!!!! . . . while getting dress for work yesterday I sneezed and did something very painful to my back (I recommend that you try not to sneeze while putting on pantyhose) . . . inched my way to a telephone - called doctor - had drugs delivered . . . I am feeling better . . . staying home today and laying around (drugs make me not only dizzy and sleepy . . . they are making me loopier than ever so please excuse the spelling and sentence structure) . . . who knew that a little sneeze could cause so much pain . . . I am leaving tomorrow with two other friends (who also are in my knit group) to attend a professional conferece for the next 3 day in middle California . . . we are of course going to check out the yarn shops in that area (I will also be checking out the scrapbook stores) . . . so TA TA FOR NOW!!!!!

SP8 QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS

Wow . . . SP8 is beginning and as you can see from the picture I am so excited that I dropped everything to complete my answers . . .

1. WHAT IS /ARE YOUR FAVORITE YARN/S TO KNIT WITH? WHAT FIBERS DO YOU ABSOLUTELY *NOT* LIKE?

I do not have a favorite yarn, I like all of them, but fibers are another story. I do not like eyelash yarn, the fibers keep on falling out so you end up leaving a little trail where ever you go or stand or sit.

2. WHAT DO YOU USE TO STORE YOUR NEEDLES / HOOKS IN?

Right now they are being stored in a little fabric bag that school kids use to put pencils/pens in. I guess that one of these days when I have free time I will have to see what is out there in world for this purpose.

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN KNITTING? WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR SKILL LEVEL TO BE BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE OR ADVANCED?

I have been an on-again / off-again knitter since I was about 10. My aunt taught me the very basics at 10, I made a crazy sweater that no one could or would wear. I stopped knitting during my teenage years (it was not the "COOL" thing to do) and took it up again when I had my son. I kept on knitting through my daughter's baby years and then stopped. I picked knitting up again last year when scraves were all the rage. I consider myself a basic beginner, quickly becoming a beginner.

4. DO YOU HAVE AN AMAZONE OR OTHER ONLINE WISH LIST?

No I do not. What are they and how does one get one?

5. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SCENT (FOR CANDLES, BATH PRODUCTS, ETC.)?

I am an earthy kinda gal. I like anything that contains citrus, spice and cinnamon. I usually buy Camilla Beokman "Oriental Spice" products. I am not into the flowery smells unless they are the roses from my garden.

6. DO YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH? FAVORITE CANDY?

Boy do I ever! I like any kind of candy as long as it does not contain dark chocolate or peanut butter (peanuts are okay).

7. WHAT OTHER CRAFTS OR DO-IT-YOURSELF THINGS DO YOU LIKE TO DO? DO YOU SPIN?

I am into scrapbooking big big time!!! My craft passions are scrapbooking and knitting in that order. I have crafted all my life it seems and have tried just about every type of craft out there, so whenever the need arises I will craft what has my interest at that time.

Spinning . . . no I don't do that (neither wool or bike).

8. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE? CAN YOUR COMPUTER/STERO PLAY MP3S? (IF YOUR BUDDY WANTS TO MAKE YOU A CD).

I like mostly easy listening music, broadway show tunes, oldie goldies, swing and light jazz. Yes my computers can play MP3s.

9. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? OR DO YOU HAVE A COLOR FAMILY/SEASON/PALETTE YOU PREFER? ANY COLORS YOU JUST CAN'T STAND?

My favorite color is green. Some years ago I had my "colors" done and I found out I looked best in the "fall" season and I have pretty much stayed in that color range for clothing and furnishings in my home. I do not have anything in the "PINK" range in my life because I personally do not like the color (coral is as pink as I get), however I do give pink gifts to people if that is the color they love. Also I wear gold jewerly . . . no silver jewerly.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY SITUATION? DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

My husband and I have been married 36 years. We will be celebrating our 37th anniversay on July 5th. We have two children . . . our son 33 and our daughter is 29. In January of this year our daughter gave us our first grandchild . . . a girl. Right now it is only my husband, myself and our two cats living at home.

11. DO YOU WEAR SCARVES, HATS, MITTENS OR PONCHOS?

I wear scarves, hats only in very cold winter, gloves/mittens all the time. I do not wear ponchos, I don't know why, I just don't have any. Hmmm....guess I should try one one of these days.

12. WHAT IS/ARE YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS/S TO KNIT?

Felted purses. Actually its any kind of purse. I also like to make things for my granddaughter to wear.

13. WHAT ARE YOU KNITTING RIGHT NOW?

A felted purse (did I tell ya I like purses). I am almost through knitting the purse and have started to knit a baby sweater (from the neck down) for my granddaughter. I am going to be taking a class this Saturday to learn to knit flowers (some may even have leaves).

14. DO YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE HANDMADE GIFTS?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

15. DO YOU PREFER STRAIGHT OR CIRCULAR NEEDLES? BAMBOO, ALUMINUM, PLASTIC.

I prefer circular needles and will use them whenever the pattern does not require straight. I have started purchasing "TURBO" circular needles and most of my other needles are bamboo.

16. DO YOU OWN A YARN WINDER AND/OR SWIFT?

No the neither item, but I forsee somewhere in my future where I will purchase a yarn winder.

17. HOW DID YOU LEARN TO KNIT?

I was ten years old, staying on my grandparents cattle ranch for the summer when I aunt and uncle came for a visit, and my aunt thought that knitting should be added to my "basic housekeeping skills" training. Like I said earlier, that was the strangest sweater anyone ever saw.

18. HOW OLD IS YOUR OLDEST UFO?

5 months now and aging more and more every day. 5 months ago I took a "glove" class and got the cuff almost done when the class was over so that I at least went home with what I called "a puse warmer". Well needless to say at home I did some kind of boo boo, riped everything out and started over again about 20 times . . . never saw my pulse warmers again . . . have put everything except the needles in a bag in a drawer that I hardly ever open. Some day I will get back to them . . . right now I am into purses!

19. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY?

I like them all, but I do love Easter. After the gray of winter everything is bright and colorful again. My favorite season is Fall (bet you thought I was going to say Spring).

20. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU COLLECT?

LADYBUGS big time!!!! Ladybug clothing, jewerly, decorations, shoes, umbrellas, pens, pencils, paper; you name it. I also have an umbrella collection. My kids gave me my 1st one when they were little (its Mickey Mouse-his ears pop up when the umberlla is open) and they have added to him. I now have 16 unusual umberllas.

21. ANY BOOKS, YARNS, NEEDLES OR PATTERNS OUT THERE YOU ARE DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON? WHAT KNITTING MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS DO YOU HAVE?

Well as I am basically new to this again and do not have alot of knitting stuff yet so I will make my answer simple . . . I want everything . . . I want it all!

I do not have any subscriptions to any knitting magazines yet. I am still purchasing them at the store, waiting to see which one I like the most before I start subscribing.

22. ARE THERE ANY NEW TECHNIQUES YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN?

The exciting thing about knitting is that everytime I start a new project I also learn a new technique or two.

23. ARE YOU A SOCK KNITTER? WHAT ARE YOUR FOOT MEASUREMENTS?

I haven't attempted to make socks yet (ankle warmers) . . . I want to do my gloves first. I wear a 6-1/2 shoe.

24. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?

All Saints Day, November 1st.