Ravellenic Games 2014

Tonight is the night!

I've been carding wool, and tuning up my spinning wheel in preparation for the Ravellenic Games.



This year I will be spinning (and then knitting!) approximately seven ounces of brown Corriedale wool from the fleece that I purchased last summer at the Iowa State Fair.



Participating in the games is a low key and friendly opportunity to set yourself a goal and then accomplish it during the course of the Olympic Games. I am on team Daybreak Dyeworks and team Coconut Two-Sters. The teams are mainly a place to discuss what you are working on and cheer for each other.

Last time I participated, the Summer Games I knit these Blomst mittens, my first colorwork project!



Are you participating?

A Few Minutes to Share

I am still without my trusty computer :(

Actually, I have been enjoying the hiatus - and all the knitting!

Here is the first of many finished objects I have to share with you. A new pattern designed by one of my favorites, Megan Grewal, this one is called Little Willow.



I knit this up is super soft - bright pink - alpaca! SO SO Soft! It is a 3 months size and perfect for the tiny recipient I have in mind.



This was the first time I have attempted a pattern with bottom up design, joining at the underarms to knit almost seamless. It was really fun! Megan's instructions were amazing as usual and this sweater is sized from 3 months to 10 years - so you can bet I will be knitting it again. The buttons are Aunt Tillie's of course.

Oh! And I almost forgot! This is actually my 12th sweater!! Hurrah - finished all 12 with one month to spare. Stay tuned for the finished photos of my girls' sweaters, or hop over to my Flickr Photostream for  sneak peeks of everything!

A Birthday Deadline

With my 30th birthday just a few short weeks away, I am making plans to do what I love best - spend time with my family (it's my mother's birthday too) and shop for yarn!

I will be yarn shopping with my mother at the Madtosh store and hopefully picking out two skeins of Madelinetosh Prairie to make a Simplicity Cardigan for myself. But in the mean time I am hurriedly trying to complete my Citron Shawl in hopes that I will be able to wear it on our yarn shopping outing - as yarn shopping requires the extra finesse of wearing your hand knits with pride.



In order to make this happen I have to knit 3 to 4 rows everyday leaving me about three days to get it washed and blocked. So far I am doing good, except this morning I noticed a pretty obvious mistake a few rows back... I think I am going to have to fix that tonight after the kiddos are in bed - hopefully it won't set me back too far :(  That is what I get for trying to knit lace weight with two kids climbing all over my lap!

And then they were done...

My Ravellenic Games project is complete!



Sorry the photos are a little grey, but I was trying to block the sunlight as it was making the yarn super shiny.



I am so excited to have finished this set in less than two weeks, and I love them! I can't wait to make many more pairs. One thing I noticed was that I was much more relaxed knitting the second mitten, so the left ended up a bit larger than the right... oops! I must remember to pay better attention to gauge.

Is is crazy to think about trying to start and finish another project before the end of the games?

Ravellenic Mittens

I have been busy knitting away to complete my goal of finishing up the beautiful Blomst Mittens before the end of the Olympic Games. I made a few mistakes on the first mitten... a few I left and a few I went back to correct. This is my first time following a stranded colorwork pattern... so it has been a learning experience.

I followed the modifications of a few of the other knitters on Ravelry... mainly leaving out one set of leaves to make them a tad shorter.... to fit my short fingers better. I accidentally made them even shorter by leaving out a couple of rows on the first set of petals! oops. Then I had to shorten the last set of petals too so they wouldn't look weird.  I am trying to duplicate this error on the second mitten!

One of the most challenging parts of stranded colorwork on double pointed needles is that I have a tendency to either pull the unused strand of yarn too tight or not tight enough between needles.  Then the fabric bumps up or leaves a hole.  Ugh.

Right when I was about to bind off the first, I realized that I had not read the pattern correctly for the decreases and the tip of my mitten looked MESSY (I should have taken a picture!).  Too messy for me to live with (I live with mistakes a lot... it is a part of life... and a part of completing projects in a timely manner... it also adds character!). So since I didn't want to live with this mistake, I ripped back the first mitten to before the start of the decreases and reknit it. It looks much better now.

I am much happier with my color choices now, but I still feel the gold is too dark.  I just placed a new WEBS order for a few more colors to mix and match with future mittens! Yay! New Yarn!

Only 2/3rds left to knit on mitten #2! I am well on my way to accomplishing my Ravellenic Goal this year. Are you knitting anything for the Ravellenic Games?

Don't forget about the Mama's Favorite Longies Giveaway - Those are next on the needles :)

Let the Games Begin!

This year I decided to participate in the "Ravellenic Games" (which was once know by the name Ravelympics.... until the US Olympic Committee decided to be lame).

The goal is to challenge yourself by starting and finishing one or more projects during the course of the Olympic games. There are 32 official "events" from the "Afghan Marathon" to the "WIPs (Works in Progress) Wresting".

I am participating in the "Mitten Medley" and double challenging myself with some (ack!) colorwork! I am knitting a pattern I purchased and downloaded directly from Ravelry: The Blomst Mittens. I love the country-retro feel!


This is my project so far - I started Saturday - I really loved these colors together in the hank, but now that I am knitting them I wish the purple was more red-orange and than the gold was more beige-tan. The green does not pop like I wanted it too, and the purple just looks out of place.... however, I will keep knitting away in hopes that they will grow on me.


The long-term plan for these mittens is to knit them in a variety of color combinations and gift them out to aunts and sisters. The yarn (Berroco Vintage DK) is super soft and comes in a lot of lovely colors so I think I will buy a couple different colors to try out with the leftovers from this pair.

Keeping a List Journal

I have started keeping a journal.

It is not a real journal, but a list. I love lists.

Many stay-at-home moms swear by having a day planner with their list of goals and activities. I have tried this. It does not work for me. Something happens during the day that changes all our plans, or I plan to do three loads of laundry and end up only washing one load and forgetting to switch it to the dryer... then when I look back at my "plan" at the end of the day I shake my head and wonder what happened.



My List Journal is just a record. A record of our activities. A way to look back at the day and say, "hey, we really did a lot today!"

I really want to use it to write down the little things... like what books we read, or something funny Helen said, or how Clare fell asleep - since that changes everyday! I also like using it to keep track of what we ate or what type of activities we did. And since I keep it on the kitchen counter (yes, that is my messy counter!) and add to it in little bits throughout the day, I don't have to set aside time in the evening to reflect... and that is a good thing as I am usually only in the mood to sit and knit by then!

Try it! You might like it!

A New Year and New Goals!

This year I am taking on my most ambitious knitting goal yet. I am going to knit 12 sweaters this year! I already have the preliminary plans in the works and have purchased some of the required yarn. After reviewing the number of projects I completed last year, I really think I can do this. But, in the mean time, I have knitted a bonnet! Isn't it cute?!



So, watch out... many sweaters (vests count too!) on the way.

Because Someone Asked: 2012 Knitting Goals

Here are some goals I know I can keep:

1. buy more yarn
2. start more projects
3. miss more deadlines
4. spend more time on Ravelry
5. love knitting even more, lol.

(my real goals in addition to these "attainable" goals still to come)

Things to Learn

There are a lot of things I want to learn:

• how to make flour and corn tortillas
• how to make english muffins
• how to sew clothing well
• how to hand applique
• how to play the piano better than I do now
• how to grow a successful vegetable garden
• how to prune a rosebush properly
• how to sew cloth diapers and diaper covers
• how to knit fair isle
• how to keep my bedroom clean
• how to make cinnamon bread
• how to lay a stone patio
• how to embroider beautifully
• how to keep Helen's hair in a ponytail long than 30 min
• how to revamp my wardrobe - think classy basics
• how to magic loop knit
• how to make earings
• how to run an Etsy shop
• how to...

What do you want to learn?

A New Year

Photograph by: Jessica Diamond

Last year, I reflected on my birthday about my successes of the past year and my goals for the new.  As I look back on those sentiments, I can't help but get a little tickle in my throat.  The emotions of becoming a mother and realizing all that entails linger with me still, and I expect will continue to be true and strong for the rest of my life.

This year I look back at my goals and feel good.  I feel good that I have done what I can to accomplish the little things that make life beautiful. Things like holding close the people that I love, strengthening relationships with those I care about, and pursuing things that I love in a way that benefits our family and home life. 

As I look forward to this new year I hope to refocus myself as a wife and mother - looking to grow in those God-given rolls (and maybe learn to keep my room clean for the first time in my life - not much chance of that happening!).  I hope to find new ways to make my home welcoming to others, pursue new ways to feed my family nutritiously, and keep up with some of those crafting goals I have set for myself. 

A thank you to all of my family and friends who are ever-patient and ever-loving.  The blessings we receive in life are always so much more than we deserve.

A Sweater for Me

While I have promised myself that I will not begin work on this project until 2011... (please see previous goals).. that hasn't stopped me from commencing the planning and purchasing for this project. Every girl needs a sweater of her own.

The sweater I will be knitting is none other than Hey Teach, a Helene Rush pattern featured in Knitty in 2008.

If you are a member of Ravelry,  please please go view and drool over the many Hey Teach sweaters already worked up (1,872 to be exact).  There are oh so many, in so many different colors.. with short sleeves, and long sleeves, and no sleeves too!

I plan to make mine with 3/4 sleeves using the chart and sleeve instructions provided on the Stash N' Stitch blog.

I also picked up my special order Cascade Sierra Yarn in Moss from the local yarn hangout here in town.  Bless Julie and her buy one get one half price sale!  So now I wait for the new year... and it is possible that I will be picking up my needles at 12:01 to start this one!

A Pocket Full of Goals

With the encouragement of my sister-in-law as well as a budding group of knitting mommy friends (that's you Knit While They Nap girls!) I have begun rethinking my crafting goals.  One thing I have always known about myself is that I love to start projects, but I rarely finish them - does anyone relate?

So, this dear sister-in-law was a good example and shared her crafting goals for the year with me, and quite frankly, I was blown away! She is going to finish all of that by the end of the year! wow! And what am I going to finish?  Well, at that point... not much.

Not to be out-done, I pulled out unfinished project after unfinished project and did a personal review of the state of my mess.  I didn't bother counting, so don't ask how many there were... let's just say it wasn't pretty.  And while looking at all those projects, I thought to myself - which of these are really important to me, and which of these should just disappear? - Here is some of what I found:

Things I plan to finish this year (2010)

• Helen's Monster Pants - at this point these where barely started (see previous post: On My Needles).  Now these are finished and I am feeling great about it.
• Megan's Morning Mitts - from the "Maine Morning Mitts" pattern, these charming fingerless gloves I began as a birthday present for my sister (her birthday was last March.. oops) but, hurrah! I cast them off my needles last night and they are ready to be posted about and shipped to the great white north where they can be used and loved - happy belated birthday Meggers :)
• Mother's Turtleback Sweater - still plugging away on this one, but it is so slow going that I am tempted to give it up.
• Helen's Christmas Stocking - She is ready to celebrate her second Christmas, and poor girl still doesn't have a stocking.  I am currently finalizing the pattern details and colors on this one... she will have a stocking this December - I am determined.

Things I plan to finish next year (2011)

• A Sweater for Me - believe it or not, I have never made myself a sweater... that is about to change.  I have chosen the pattern, ordered the yarn, and am patiently waiting until 2011 to start this daunting and exciting task.  More on this "Dream Sweater" to come in a later post!
• Applique Table Runner and Window Valences - During the summer I drew up plans for the perfect table runner and Valences for my sweet little kitchen.  And, I already bought the fabric.  Have I started? No.  I am still hesitant about the whole applique part, but one of things that I love about crafting is the wide range of new things to learn! So, I bought a book on applique techniques, and I am determined to make this project happen next year.
• Sun Dress for Helen - this is another project that I already have all the materials for, and the deadline is really spring for it so that she can wear and enjoy it before she grows out of it!  A side goal for this one is that the process of making this dress will help me learn how to better follow sewing patterns... something I have never been very good at.

Projects I will not be finishing and may use the yarn/supplies for other things

• Helen's baby shrug - she is already too big to wear it.
• Helen's knit jumper - see above.
• 500 million knit washcloths - I just don't like using them so why knit any more. (I have several of these done, just need ends sew in - any takers?)
• Nathan's Sweater - sorry little nephew... it just never happened. Maybe I will try again sometime with a different pattern.
• My shawl/wrap thing - I just don't have much use for it, and it is boring.
• Baby Jacket and Pants - the baby this was for is now almost 3... a little late, and they turned out ugly.
• and Many Others not far enough along to even mention.

It is good to have goals, and nice to have people to tell about all the crafty goings-on of life. I am already seeing the fruits of my "finish-it" mindset.  Thank you.

Life Unplugged: A Family Experiment

So, the conversation went like this:

Me: So, do you know what's on TV tonight?

Him: American Idol

Me: We have to watch it.

Him: I'd rather practice cello.

This ity bity conversation made me realize something... I should not feel like I HAVE to watch anything. Anyways, I can barely remember who won last year and I spent many hours watching it. There are many things I would rather do as well. So, I decided something... a little experiment.

I will not watch it... or any other TV for that matter.

Now, there are some stipulations... a few exceptions. Mainly to make this achievable and enjoyable. This is not a punishment to myself. This is a freedom. A choice to do something other than commit to TV shows... primarily in the evening hours.

We can watch Hell's Kitchen (though who knows when the new season starts).

We can watch the news if needed (primarily for bad weather updates).

We can watch the Cowboys (sweetie wouldn't have it any other way).

We can watch our Netflix and other movies from our home collection when desired.

Things I hope to get out of this experiment:

- find new ways to relax in the evenings after work

- spend more time talking to sweetie and playing with my daughter

- have more time for the things I really want to be doing (crafting, cooking, reading)

- in general get more out of the evening... sometimes it feels like my time at home is over before it even starts, and then it is time to go to work again...

So, this is the experiment. Time to take a vacation from -Must See TV-.

A New Year

It seems only natural to sit back today to reflect on this year of my life... today is my birthday, and boy has it been one amazing year!

First - having my daughter, learning to nurse and care for an infant, has been life-changing (I guess everyone was right :) I think the whole experience has made me a bit softer, a bit calmer, and a bit more ready to love in general.

Second - continuing my education, going back to college to learn something new, has given me great respect for people who are constantly trying to better themselves, trying something new, or willing to accept change in their lives.

Third (or maybe First) - recognizing (again and again) what a wonderful husband I have... one who is ever-ready to try to make my life easier and more pleasant... always ready to help... always ready to work harder for our family... always ready to give of himself...

This new year I want to:

Make more of the time I have in my pursuits and my career - remembering why I pursue what I do.

Make more of the time I have to myself - doing things I love - crafting, cooking....

Make more of the time I have with my family - showing them love.... just having fun with my dear sweetie and darling daughter.

Four Days to a Cleaner House: Day One

DAY ONE:

Thursday Night - Tidy and Toss
Thursday's goal was to sort through all the mail that has been collecting on the counter tops, on the piano, on the coffee table, in my purse, and in various other locations. I mainly wanted to make as big an impact in as short a time as possible, so I walked around with a paper bag to toss the recycling in and another for shredding. It is amazing how quickly this stuff accumulates - especially when sweet baby's daycare sends home a sheet or two of "how was my day" on top of all the regular mail and paper we get constantly.

I really thought this would be a fairly quick and easy process until sweet baby herself wanted to eat and be talked to, so she ended up being carried from pile to pile with me.

Then, I discovered the best way ever to inspire yourself to vacuum the whole house... let a couple of muddy dogs inside without wiping their paws. Janeway and Dax barrelled into the house and did their normal "run around" to check everything out and left a trail of footprints through every room of the house. Oops. Luckily our vacuum is awesome so you can barely tell it even happened.

So, tidy and toss turned into tidy, feed, toss, talk, carry, and vacuum. All in all a good day one I think :)

First Day of Failure

So, first of all, I am going to blame it on the Republican National Convention.... we slept in... til 6... and did not exercize. No that it is officially out, I don't feel too bad about it, I have been a little sore from the past 3 days, and probably deserved a little rest. :)

I will however be doing my weighted ball exercizes tonight. And I will try extra hard to wake up tomorrow. Oh well.

Knitting club was GREAT! I just love the ladies that I meet with on Wednesdays during my lunch. They meet in a very idealic location... a yarn shop loft above a gift shop on the cute sightseers dream town square. It is lovely. Everyone works on something different... quilting, knit, crochet, you name it... they've done it. It is so much fun to show them what I am currently working on and see their projects in progress. Community is nice.

The Happiness Project

I recently discovered a new blog: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

She is an author who decided to take a year and try every "happiness plan" on the market for her soon to be published book of the same name. I mostly have enjoyed her wednesday "tip" day where she gives out life tips she herself has developed or that she has found. The range from how to motivate yourself to exercise or not shop excessively to my favorite, her look at Pope John the XXIII's list of tips on how to lead a better life:

Ten tips for living a better life, one day at a time -- from Pope XXIII.
http://http//www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2008/02/this-wednesda-1.html

The greatest thing about this list, a Gretchen points out is that it is a list for today... just today... tomorrow we will try again, make adjustments, etc... but, today we will try.

UPDATE ON MY GOALS:
- yesterday I only drank one :) soda
- I completed my weighted ball exercises last night
- we woke up, exercised, and said prayers this morning
- I am ready for a wonderful day: knitting club... a chance to work on another goal of completing my project!

Ready to Make Each Day Count

So, sweetie and I have discussed it, and we've decided that it is time to put productivity into hyper drive. Far too much of our time recently has been spent watching tv and being inactive (and in effect unproductive). Sweetie is a great motivator, and is definitely leading by example. He has been cleaning up the breakfast dishes pronto every morning... and I couldn't be happier with such a nice and tidy kitchen.

Last week, he suggested that we retrain ourselves to wake up an hour and a half earlier than normal so that we can really enjoy our mornings together, and always have time for breakfast and our Liturgy of the Hours.

I decided that this is awesome (and has been great), but still not quite enough, so we are adding the exercise that we are always avoiding to the mix. I rearranged the sun room furniture to require no daily moving so that we can get out there and exercise every morning. So far so good, we put in a good 25 minutes of cardio this morning and I feel great!

On a personal level, I have also decided to incorporate my many unfinished projects into this whole thing. I am going to start with the practically complete yet set aside bunch first... in hopes that I will be able to complete one each week.

This week I am concentrating on my newly begun and soon to be complete crochet project. Then I will pick back up a tiny sweater project that is 75% there already.

Here goes...