Yarn-aholic in T.O....

L'Shana Tova / Happy New Year...

2007-09-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

To Jews everywhere....

....and yes, I do have three other blog posts started....just unfinished and yes I am aware thats it been forever since I last posted. I am being a very bad blogger. The good news is that I haven't been such a bad knitter....I will have pics to prove it....although nothing finished. I did however do some excellent yarn purchases while away in Hailburton....more to come soon.

For today and tonight, I am focused on feeding the entire family and the next two days of solemn prayer and celebration. Health and happiness to all.

Personal DNA

2007-07-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

Genuine Visionary

This was a very interesting 20 minutes exercise which was a little too bang on for my comfort. How do they do that?

I'm way too proper...

2007-07-13T10:02:00.000-05:00

Mingle² - Online Dating

It seems even though I have a foul mouth which occasionally utters very inappropriate and nasty things - I am only PG in real-life blogland. Miss Manners would be proud and I was dinged for using the word sexy. - lol

I so need to just be 'me' more and call it for how I see it. Who needs decorum and politeness.

I am coming to the realization that as I am aging I am becoming prudish. Pretty funny considering I've been teaching sexual health education for years and counselling women around their reproductive choices. What does this say about me and the changes I am experiencing....perhaps this is the "normal" path for women in their mid 30's...either that or I'm coming to terms with being the mother to an attractive 16 year old daughter who is going to start to engage in all life has to offer sooner rather than later. Thoughts???

What finger are you?

2007-07-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

You Are the Index Finger

You are ambitious, driven, and capable.
You aren't afraid to take responsibility for your actions - or place the blame on whoever deserves it.
You are honest, free thinking, and objective. You see things in your own way - and you aren't afraid to let everyone know about it.

You get along well with: The Thumb

Stay away from: The Ring Finger

What Finger Are You?

I normally wouldn't give Vanity Fair Magazine the time of day....

2007-07-07T20:22:00.000-05:00

however, even I was drawn into the Africa July Issue.
I bought the Oprah & Gates Issue after perusing all of the magazine covers trying to find the Maya Angelou one...

I have to admit I have thing for Maya Angelou - her writing, her poetry, how she lives her life - so honestly. She has come from such humble beginnings and has remained such a genuinely human being - with a very gently nature.

Either way I gave in buying what I would normally not consider a particularly intellectual magazine, only to find some excellent stories. I especially liked the interview of Archbishop Desmond Tutu by of all people brad Pitt. Both were thoughtful, honest, and humorous. I also really like the story on Jeffrey Sach's - who seems to be not only incredibly bright, but solution oriented - he reminds me of fellow Canadian and AIDS fighting machine Stephen Lewis - a man with conviction and a dream to change the world for those living with HIV/AIDS.

When reading magazine's like this one, I feel a part of my soul being drawn out - I want so badly to hop on a plane and leave the creature comforts of my life and serve people who so desperately need help. I made a promise to myself that when Olyvia and Taylor have both gotten settled in University to take a sabbatical from wherever I am employed at that time and go to India or Africa and serve some of the women and children living in deplorable conditions. I always come back to the fact that my life is no more valuable that that of any other human on this planet and so when I read these stories, I question the truthfulness of my life. It pushes me to look harder at myself, how and what I spend, how honestly I live and why I am here doing what I am doing.

I wonder how many other people do this type of questioning and how many others feel a genuine sense of guilt for being born here, in this time and place and not in a country where women are treated like posessions to be sold, traded, abused, raped, killed, maimed, starved, abandoned, ignored, like shit. The unequity is astounding and I just want to do my part to contribute to righting the wrongs....however long that takes.

Damn Alpaca! Damn! Damn! Damn!

2007-07-05T07:13:00.000-05:00

OK so I was drawn in by its beauty - that damn blush coloured blue sky alpacas alpaca. Not the company or the wools fault really that it just feels like butter in your hands when you knit it or that its sheer beauty draws you in and makes you want to knit non stop, but I have had a series of unfortunate events occur non-stop since I started knitting with her.

If you remember some time ago (back in April at the DKC Knitters Frolic)I bought eight skeins of the most beautiful blush coloured baby alpaca/silk wool and also purchased a lovely ribbon shell pattern. Now I have been quite excited that a) I would be knitting my very first article of body clothing (not including hats, scarves, socks and the such)and b) that I would be knitting with such a beautiful luxury fibre - how was I to know what I was getting myself into.

I have been happily knitting, albeit slowly, but knitting away this beautiful shell, and even after a small miscount with the front not quite being ample enough to fit my bosom and frogging it back and refinishing it again, I finally finished both back and front and got to start the exciting process of finishing the construction. I really do mean exciting as for me I knew that another few hours meant I would be ready to block, dry and then actually wear something I knit. How wrong I was....

The knitting G-dess seeing me in a state of sheer and utter joy at the thought of finishing an actual garment, decided that now was a good time to smite me (for a knitting lesson). I have finished the border on the collar and then started to work on the border on the cap part of the shoulders. Once I had finished one side I couldn't resist. I had to try it on at least over my head just to see how my beautiful shell was going to look....and then I realized that there was a problem....a big problem....

I am a curvy lady - always have been and anticipate that I always will be. For once I had given enough room for my bosom, however what I noticed was that the beautiful border I just completed on shoulder one - did not allow enough space for my arm to fit and also allow me space to close the side seam. This was something I did not anticipate...my arm was to .....dare I say too big... for my shell. I tried and tried to figure it out and then could only assume that I'd cast off much too tightly and that if I re-cast off the end of my border then all would be good. rather than focus on that negativity I started to knit shoulder two's border thinking I would test my theory rather than manage all that frogging negativity only to find that even with a generous (loose) cast off - it still didn't fit. I am just gobsmacked!!! I've had to set the shell aside again until next Monday's Stitch n' Bitch (where I can seek help from other knitterly guru type folks) as otherwise I am unsure I could trust myself not to turn in a moderately angry and bitter knitter - and really who wants to deal with that. **SIGH**

On a slightly happier note, I am back knitting one of my TTC Knit-a-Long purchases - a shell in Rowan damask in Zircone. I have been trying to knit this since the Knit-A-Long, but have had to frog it a few times. Maybe this fresh new start a couple of weeks later and some perspective will help.

Also super excited that Dishrag tag is starting to pick up steam. Fabulous Dorothy -has just started a team blog . I anticipate good things will come of this. Hope everyone has been enjoying the great weather.

Facebook....

2007-06-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

I am a convert.

My daughter Olyvia has been on facebook since forever...or at least the past two years. She has over 2,800 friends (although I can't imagine how) and is definetely an addict.

I've caught whatever she has and frankly I'm a little frightened by how much I am enjoying it. It's only been a week and I have reconnected with people that I never anticipated I would ever be in touch with again. I haven't seen most of these people since high school and really most of them remember me as the girl who got pregnant and I remember most of them as the people I left behind in that other part of my life.

It's been unsettling how many have reconnected in such a lovely way with warmth, and genuine interest. Most of them are married or getting married and some have started their families. Strange to think they are at the beginning of that time in their lives and I am on the other side with two children who are much closer to heading off to college. Either way it has been lovely to catch up and find out where life has taken them and be able to share where life has taken me...

It's also been very interesting to get a view into other people's (my friends, their friends etc...) lives, groups, interests etc... people share a great deal online...either people are really comfortable in their skin or they are naive. I guess I always remember that this online community is just that - online and accessible to the world. I'm not sure I'm that comfortable or willing to be that transparent online (to the entire world). Id rather save that for something a little more private....like blogging - lol.

34 years ago today....

2007-06-13T20:55:00.001-05:00

At 1:35 in the afternoon I arrived on this planet. Happy Birthday to me. :)

It's been a truely lovly day filled with wonderful people, food, gifts, smiles, laughter and memories. Thank you to ~ Olyvia, David, Taylor, Alex, Justin, Zana, Meredith, Kevin, Wen, Sue, Sandy, Deborah, Colin, Mummy, Miriam, Yvonne, Amy, Dan, Janice, Laura, Heather, Janet, Rachael, Carmella, Margalite and Esther Rochel for making the day so special. It is incredible to be surrounded by so many thoughtful and loving people.

Olyvia was the first to wish me happy birthday last night and to give me her gift the new Rhianna CD - which she new I had been seriously Jonesing for. Olyvia - I never could have wished for anything more with you. You are becoming such a beautiful young woman - scaring the hell out of me most days but I love you more than you could ever understand.

My day started with numerous renditions of off-key version of Happy Birthday - thanks: Olyvia, David, Zana, Meredith, Sue, Sandy, and everyone at dinner for singing to me - it warms my all ready mushy heart....and I truly never tire of it. Then there were the e-cards (Thanks Deb), msn messages (Thanks Lauren, Nery and JEM), phenomenal surprise lunch with Sue and Sandy (Thanks for having Indian food for me), David for always remembering to send me flowers (just because I love flowers)

next followed by the giant cookie visit (Thanks Carmella, Margolite and Esther Rochel for remembering)

and the day concluded with an extended family dinner - thanks everyone for coming to celebrate with me - I love all of you.

My family and friends spoiled me a lot this year - in fact to be honest it was a little overwhelming. I felt so incredibly special - and really I just feel so blessed.

This is at Autogrill as everyone was arriving. I think it was possible I was beaming all night.

Thank you Rachael for surprising me and missing some critical exam prep time - as you can tell I loved the flowers - you are always so thoughtful and gracious and we love you like our second daughter...as you all ready know.

Meredith and Kevin - what can I say except thank you. You are two of my favourite people on the planet. Meredith - your like the sister I always wish I had and I love that I can always say anything to you and snicker with you too.
Kevin - I'm glad were getting to know each other better - now that were over our shy period. You my friend, have excellent yarn taste....and I will have extremely sweet yarny dreams tonight.

I removed Colin's picture - because he really doesn't want his picture all over the internet - but he's a wonderl and very handsome guy. ;)

Colin, thank you firstly for coming to share my birthday with David and I - you have been such a special person in David's life for so many years, and I am grateful that we both have you in our life. Thanks you for the beautiful flower that is 'just me' and for the coffee/tea boost for the next few days. :)

This is David's mummy. She had eye surgery today and is always a trouper. Thank you for coming tonight to celebrate with me and for your incrdibly thoughtful and special gift.

...This is mummy's extremely beautiful gift. Hanne - thank you for embracing me into your incredible family many years ago and treating me like your daughter. I love being part of your clan and look forward to making a plum cake on this dish as you would.

Yvonne, Mummy & Amy. Yvonne, Amy and Jason thank you for the lovely pickle dish and super cute pj's (although David hates pj's ;)) You know I will use them in good health and share the pickle dish with all of you sooner rather than later.

Amy, Wen, Olvyia and Taylor. Amy - thanks for being such a great niece - ha ha ha - yes still weird for me too. Wen, thanks for the beautiful flowers and for coming for dinner with the family - as you know you are always considered a member whether you want to be or not. We love how you take care of us and make our home and family thrive.

I can't believe that I didn't get a picture of you both. Janice and Laura - I so love that I got to see and hug you both today. It's wonderful to have a sister-in-law and niece like you both. I love our Mother/Daughter bonding days (although another one is long overdue) and that you both are such wonderfully articulate and intelligent women. I will use the cookbook in good health and will plan to cook you both a meal once I've tested some of the recipes.

Miriam - firstly the girls look fab. ;) Secondly, thank you for a) bringing mummy (although I know she was exhausted) and for bringing Dan who we haven't seen in some time and who gives great big bear hugs. I also love the plum top - and can't wait to see if it fits.

3 of 5 of David and my beautiful babies. Olyvia, Taylor & Alex. I love them to the end of the universe and back.

And lastly, but absolutely not least is my honey David (who hates his picture on the internet and refuses to let me put even one wonderful shot of us up). Thank you for your sweetness, encouragement, love, support, humor, teasing, laughter, being my best friend, lover, pushing me to reach my potential, and being my enduring soul mate. I am so blessed because of all that you do and are everyday in life.

And as much as you hate to give into my indulgences - thank you for spoiling me rotten today. The flowers, dinner and gifts are just so incredibly generous and I am such an incredibly fortunate woman to have you in my life.

International Knit in Public Day & my first TTC Knit-A-Long....

2007-06-10T16:53:00.000-05:00

Is there really a better way to spend the day than with a group of women who love to knit? Me thinks not....well maybe buying some incredible items for my stash....but other than that - not. :)

I was a proud knitter in the North Team - Go North Team GO!!!!

Our first stop was at PassionKnit

Here's us at PassionKnit - Sorry for the bad picture quality - perhaps may swap with someone who got a better one if they don't mind.

This was us at the Yonge & Lawrence Subway on our way to Knit-o-matic after our first store visit to PassionKnit - Thanks Deborah!!!

Next we went to Knit-o-matic - where the Fabulous Haley, cutie bird P???? (I will find his name out - he was so cute) and other fabulous knitter (Need to find her name out too) hosted us.

I was very fortunate as Haley kept me from a near knitting disaster trying to knit the super cute summer top that Peggy (Team Co-Captain extraordinaire) was wearing and encouraged me to knit a also super cute Dale of Norway design with some very yarnilicious Svale - which you can see below. Thank you Haley - I will be back to get help with crocheting the bottom of said top.

In this picture left to right: A____,(Sorry I know I would have spelled you're name wrong)Cassandra and (Team Co-Captain extraordinaire).

Cassandra was my favourite new meet of the day. I all ready felt quite fortunate that I knew most of my travelling companions, but then there was Cassandra. Quiet at first, once Cassandra opned up a bit you could see her just start to roll with the flow of us knitters, smelling yarn, feeling everything and asking lots of questions. Cassandra is a Western University Master's Journalism student who is writing a weekend article assignement on the TTC Knit-A-long, but she is also a relatively new knitter, who I was praying wasn't freaked out by our zaniness. I was thrilled that she finally found some Hotpink Fleece Artist Curlylocks wool at Knit-o-matic, purchased some beautiful clover needles and then started to knit her first triangle shawl. Wonderful knitter Sue helped (as I would always expect) Cassandra learn how to do an increase stitch and off she went. By the end of the day Cassandra had knit a good 5" of her wrap and I would like to think that she had also made a group of new knitting friends. Anytime your back in Toronto on a Monday, please don't hesitate to drop in to the Monday night Meetup group Yarn-a-holics Anonymous- we'de love to see your finished wrap.

Next we went to Lettuce Knit:

The North team en route.

This is a picture (L to R) of Sarah & Christine knitting on the subway. I took spinning with them both at the Knitter's Frollic back in April.

Fabulous (l to r) Co-Captains Peggy + Lisa and Amazing Heather.

(From l to r) Sue, Sarah and Kim.

As we were walking in Kensington Market we came across this:
I realize that after living in Toronto for over 15 years, that I have a lot of still get to know about my city - like how amazing is this community minded art/environmental project? I think its super cool.

Having never been to Lettuce Knit - I just marveled. Not only do they have a really terrific variety of wooly products, the staff are friendly and the best part is that out on the street in front of the store they had set up a ton of folding chairs for people to sit on. Kensington market seems to be a little bit of hippie mixed with the eclectic. It is a community truly embracing the richness of many cultures in Toronto and there were wonderful clothing shops (although I wasn't willing to look to much as that might jeopardize my yarn budget, great food (We ate at the Big Fat Burrito - super delicious) and just a really unique array of shops that one could easily get lost in if one chose to.

Kim in the sun in front of Lettuce Knit.

After some sun (yes I got a small burn) and food and shopping we headed off to the Naked Sheep where North Team mate Sarah works.

(Lto R) Sue, Heather and Lisa.

Once Sarah arrived she joined Erin (see yarn harlot book launch for a pic)in becoming the hostesses with the mostesses. I had also never been to the Naked Sheep and can only say wow! This store is beautifully merchandised and has a great selection of yarn, patterns, buttons and more. I have to admit after the sun soak at Lettuce knit, my energy was lagging so I only ended up purchasing a Rowan Cotton Tape book. I had no clue (as I am clueless on occasion) that Rowan had decided to discontinue its cotton tape line and now will desperately trying to source enough cotton tape to at least complete two patterns - otherwise the book is useless. {Sigh}

Unfortunately my camera died at this point so I wasn't able to capture some shots at the Naked Sheep. I will say, that it was a lot of fun and that it was great to sit still and knit for a bit.

Once all of the teams had arrived, the team prizes began. And to my surprise I won one - the Most Lascivious. I gather I earned this as while working on starting a pair of socks for Kim I stuffed the needles and yarn in my cleavage for transport safety. Who new this made me lascivious. I actually had to look this word up when I got home - only to find out that it meant I was a little lusty. No big surprise there.

Additions to the stash include:

4 - 50 gram balls of Rowan Damask in Zircone. (PassionKnit)

4 - 25 gram balls of Rowan kidsilk haze in Cream, Grace, Jacob and Pebbles(PassionKnit)

4 - hanks of Louet Kidlin Laceweight in Allspice (Lettuce Knit)

8 - 50 gram balls of Svale in 4427 (Cerise type of colour)(Knit-o-matic)

As well as a Dale of Norway pattern book No. 172, Rowan Cotton Tape Collection pattern book, a long awaited bright green Knowknits.com Bag and finally a set of beautiful Brittany needles in 4mm. {Sigh - Absolute Joy}

I believe that many Knitters continued onto the Goof to continue drinking, and of course knit, however given that David had been occupying the attention of the little ones all day, and given that I was exhausted it just seemed right to go home. I really enjoyed my first TTC Knit-a-long and felt I had done justice in supporting International Knit in Public Day.

Overall the day was a riot and it reminded me that Knitters are a lot of fun and great to spend time with. We understand each other's yarn obsession, are not offended when someone askes "Can I feel that" are very helpful and kind and have great humour - especially when in large groups.

My baby all grown up....

2007-06-08T21:27:00.001-05:00

This is my baby Olyvia out a couple of days ago at her first prom with her date AB (Date not boyfriend) - or so she says...

Olyvia and friend CC - looking fab.

Olyvia with date/friend AB.

{Sigh} - Time flies and now the scary stuff comes.

I've fallen in love with....

2007-06-07T10:21:00.000-05:00

the new Maroon 5 CD - WOW! Super sexy and fun summer music - especially KIWI. Yummy.

Lazy summer days...

2007-06-03T16:15:00.000-05:00

It's been a really intense spring for me at work and through my volunteer commitments. Besides knitting my ribbon shell (which is almost done except for frogging back the front to accommodate my bosom)my next favorite thing to relax and unwind is plant.

Every year, D & I make a major investment in plants and energy planting both the front yard and back deck of the house and usually get a small but plentiful herb and vegetable garden in, which gives me something to do and allows me to feel connected to the earth is some kind of meaningful way.

This was how I spent my day today...
This is a little sitting area right outside of our kitchen deck.
One of the herb garden's.

With a few hours of hard work, we were able to transform our back deck into a mini-oasis in the city. Small reasons to smile.

Here's some pics from arrangements from the front yard:

Happy 1st day of hump month...

2007-06-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

Ok so, yes it is the first day of June - wow this whole 1/2 year of 2007 has gone by in a blur. Now i'm on the B-day count-down...12 days to go...another year older.

Needed something to make me smile and thought I would share this with you all...

Reminds me of cuddling with my kids. :)

I love swatchy...

2007-05-30T20:16:00.000-05:00

Never in a million years did I think it would happen. I have fallen deeply and passionately in love with some yarn. Not just any yarn, but a special handcrafted little something sweet named Swatchy.

I had been reading about Swatchy for some time, but was really thrilled to have met him/her in person recently at you guessed it - The Yarn Harlot's book launch. She/he is even cuter in person than you can imagine and we even got a great picture together - thanks to Swatchy's partner Noricum.

Really aren't we a cute pair. :)

Aurora Borealis - my northern light...

2007-05-30T08:11:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my Northern light - Aurora from Ottawa, who I met at the Yarn Harlot Book Launch for sending along some picture of me & the Harlot, and the Yarn crawl....its keeping the book launch very fresh for me...although, I want Stephanie to do another one - just to bring all of us knitty folk back together.

Here's one of the beautiful Aurora:

Me - prior to the Yarn Harlot's appearance.

Me once Stephanie took the stage and I calmed down a little. (Thanks Aurora for sending me the clean shot - as the original had major boobage)

Can I just tell you, that man does the camera ever add 10 - 20 lbs...ha ha ha. No more Rye and ginger's for me.

This pic is from the yarn Crawl at Alterknits. {Sigh} Looks like I missed a super fun day. The good news is that the TTC Knit-A-Long is happening in T-10 days. :)

If you haven't read through all of Stephanie's comments yet, someone (I'll have to read through to find you again) posed a link to Doug Savage's website for today. Now I can can admit that I have a limited and still developing sense of humour, but I continue to laugh at this cartoon...to the point of tears and peeing and have printed it off to post at my desk to just make me smile. HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! So needed that today...

Excitement!!!

2007-05-29T21:33:00.000-05:00

Here's my list of PYHBLR (Post-Yarn-Harlot-Book-Launch-Resolutions):

a) get back to knitting daily...even if its just a row

b) learn more about Yarn...as everyone around me can always tell me what brand/weight/colorway/gauge etc they are using...and after a year and a half I probably can't call myself a Knitting newbie anymore

c) be better prepared for spontaneous yarn shopping experiences... you just never know when a good yarn sale can fall in your lap, and you really should have a few pattern names/yarn weights/yardages handy just encase...perfect example will be the TTC Knit-a-long

d) identify what yarn I have in my stash - there's nothing like buying more yarn only to realize that you have nowhere to put it

e) finish outstanding projects - otherwise they will never get knit and I can buy more yarn to replace them

f) donate yarn from my stash - that I will never use (mostly because I bought it in the beginning of knitting life when I had no clue what the 'good stuff' was and thought that fun fur was 'cute')

g) be more forgiving to myself - 'startitis' is a disease, thank G-d its treatable - go back to point (e). The more you finish, the more you can start

h) Blogging is good - for the first time, people actually commented (did I mention I am excited and shocked by this), perhaps there is something to the whole effort in = output theory...either that or it was a momentary blip in my blogging world...(I will convince myself that its the first rather than the second point)

i) have more fun with knitters (I nervously put my hand up again at Stephanie's speech when she asked who in the room had more friends now because of knitting. Because of my Monday night meetup group I have met so many new faces and so many terrific new friends. Knitters are such high quality individuals - quirky, fun-loving, outgoing and incredible artisans. I feel really fortunate to have gotten involved with such a dynamic community and look forward to many more years of growth and friendship.

Just to add to the coolness...

2007-05-28T22:20:00.000-05:00

Courtesy the Yarn Harlot's website.

I think this is even cooler that my shot in yesterday's entry - probably because the sock is in it as though it is taking the picture. :)

Work be damned!!!

2007-05-27T15:28:00.001-05:00

Ok so realizing that work has been the all consuming force in my life, I have been very sorely neglecting my blogging and knitting duties. However, I will try to make up for my neglect a little with this super post.

All day Thursday and Friday I spent all of my time getting caught up in the Yarn Harlot's book release in Toronto.(You have to admit that sounds super exciting!!!!)

I had originally started typing this entry some time Friday morning, only to have to quash that idea to you know...finish work. - ARG!!!

The rest of my day flew by and I left work at 3:30 to go to Thornhill, retreive my son, get hime home and meetup with Janet and Shelley by 5pm at Yonge & Eglinton. I arrived at Y & E around 5:05 and we hurried ourselves down to the subway to get to the Manulife Centre & Indigo's encase there was a massive line up. Of course I left the fully charged digital camera at home and so after much procrastinating I finally went and purchased a disposable camera - so I apologise in advance for the graininess of the pictures.

As it turns out there were a few knitters all ready there like Erin from the Naked Sheep,

and Tanya and her sister in law (sorry I don't remember your name) from Ottawa.

For those of you who know me, it could be said that I have a gregarious personality or that I am a little tenacious...so when we arrived and no line up was started we asked the manager on duty to start it then because we wanted to be first in line and to be able to get a seat.

It should be said that as expected the mugglish staff really didn't anticipate the amount of knitters that would come to support one of their own and only planned to have a small seated area for 80 people. We kept telling them as the line grew that they really should have planned for a larger space...but as all of us have come to understand - they just don't realize what a large community of us there are.

Janet, Shelley and I were incredibly fortunate (and dare I say happy) as we were able to go in and get first pick of the seats...choosing to be right in front of where Stephanie would be speaking on the left hand side of the chaired section front and centre.

As you can see, I am rather excited about this fact and really the energy in the room made for great build up. (Not that I need much)

As you can see the crowd kept growing and growing and growing until every nook and cranny, every stair and available space around where the Yarn Harlot would be appearing was flled with excited knitters, busy working on some fabulous knitty project.

I found the group very warm, very friendly and a lot of fun - there was a great deal of catching up between old friends, the joy of meeeting/making new friends and a lot of laughter. I tried to capture some pics of familliar faces...

Carol...

(left to right) Nadia, Susan and Peggy...

And new friend...Joey from Ohio.

I also met Swatchy and Noricum although I didn't capture them in picture form. What a treat - thanks for the postcard Noricum!

Right before Stephanie arrived...

The time really flew by one everyone was seated and then Stephanie appeared. It was amazing to hear the crown swell up and cheer. I am not sure if that frightened Stephanie more, but after her introduction, she finally got to the stage.

Stehanie being introduced...

After saying hi nervously, Stephanie did her formal group shots....

I thought it was cool to capture her taking our group shot as I took hers...and yes I know very nerdy.

Then Stephanie launched into what was a very humour packed 30-40 minute speech which had her petting her pet kitty/wool...

...and more or less keeping the group in stiches, really bringing to life the Yarn Harlot as we all know(kinda) and love her.

Once the speech was over, then the autograph session began. I really liked that Stephanie gave first priority to mom's with babies on the outside or the inside. To me that was very thoughtful....and I had the warm-fuzzies.

This darling little one held the sock and let Stephanie capture a few really cute shots of her...I'm sure to appear on her blog some day soon.

Finally it was my turn...

I think I mumbled a bunch of stuff...but can't really remember...besides asking her which beer she would like waiting for her at the Dick.

After some small amount of coaxing Carol, Shelley and Janet we made our way to the Spotted Dick, where a rather large group of Drunken Knitters had all ready arrived and were awaiting the hoards of other knitters. In the picture above with Janet and I, you can see that I have started a project as I had only cast on the first row. This was me starting the back side of the Blue Skies Alpacas "Ribbon Shell" that I have been working on somewhat slowly.

After finishing the front,

I realized I had made a fatal error, not knitting the front high enough to fit my chest...and rather than frog it back to fix it, I decided I would start the back and then once that was finished go back and fix the front.

I am really enjoying knitting with the baby alpacas/silk mix and think I am leaning towards becoming a yarn snob, as it feels like butter in my hands. I can't wait to finish the shell and get the ribbon through it... :)

Also got to see beautiful and blooming Jen from My Sensitive Girl hole. Congratulations again - you are looking fabulous....too bad we didn't get to chat.

So, I left the Dick and got home around 11:30 thankful that David (my partner) had graciously watched the whole caboodle of kids and that I had the opportunity to socialize with such a wonderful and warm group of people. I was a little sad not to be going on the yarn crawl yesterday, but that's life. I had a hectic work week and also took Thursday evening to catch up with dear friend Teresa, eating yummy italian food and seeing her fab not-so-newsish house...so taking Friday evening out too mean that the rest of weekend needed to be family time.

The good news is that Yarnaholic's Anonymous is meeting tomorrow night and I am looking forward to my knitty time again.

Beautiful babies....

2007-05-06T19:56:00.000-05:00

My actual little baby - Taylor who is 11. He's not really little, but at least he's my youngest baby. *sigh*

My not so little 16 year old baby - Olyvia - in all of her natural radiance. :)*Sigh* *Sigh*

Time flies.....

Post Frolic recovery & Spring is finally here...

2007-04-29T11:23:00.000-05:00

Some reasons to smile this morning...

Baby Rhubarb has appeared in my garden...

Our family pet/creature Java enjoying newly green grass...

Our backyard pear tree coming into bloom....

I had sweet dreams about yarn, fluff, high whirl drop spindle's, and other good wooly items...and as of this morning we are 364 days to next years Frolic.

No longer a Frolic Virgin...

2007-04-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

Waking up at 7a.m. on a Saturday morning is never my version of fun, enjoyable in the slightest or amusing in any way, but I have to tell you that after looking forward to the Downtown Knit Collective's Knitters Frolic for more than a year now, I had a very hard time sleeping last night and was really looking forward to touching, feeling, smelling and being around all things woolly.

As I was a Frolic virgin this year, I had planned my day out with time for classes and time for shopping, time for knitting and finally time for socializing...in that order.

I have been particularly looking forward to the workshop with Lorriane Smith (editor of Spinner's Quarterly) on spinning.

The class did not disappoint me in the least. Lorraine's method for teaching was relaxed, informative and most importantly enjoyable.

This was my sad and extremely pitiful attempt at two ply made out of chocolate brown Shetland roving from Ontario.

I played around with all of the roving stash that Lorraine provided as part of the class materials and was really surprised at how differently everything spun. I have determined that I do not like to spin cotton - I was just not made with enough patience for that...and highly doubt that any level of meditation will get me there.

I really couldn't wait to get home and play with the fabulous roving I purchased from Black Lamb.

This is me experimenting with the beautiful hand carded mix plus some fabulous alpaca I got at Creativfesitval last weekend from Helga at Green Acres Farms.

After running in Shelley & Richard and then Janet after my spinning class I was feeling energized and ready to shop. After a good twice through, I felt completely overwhelmed and had no clue where to start or what I wanted to buy. In fact, I was too busy focusing on something else that Shelley and Janet had told me......

It seems that the Yarn Harlot was at the Frolic...and me having a small case of the starry eyes for her in an entirely yarny kind of way wanted to get a picture with her. Janet of course found this quite funny and was looking forward to laughing her ass/relentlessly teasing until the end of time. So after a little while she crossed my path (honestly I didn't hunt her down), there she was....

...and yes that's me looking like I am in shock and stunned and Stephanie looking fabulous!!!....***Sigh****

So maybe not my best look, but they can't always be perfect and as mentioned above I was in shock. I have never met Stephanie prior to today nor have I ever heard her speak. She is a very petite woman, with a very earthy voice and personality. She was very gracious to me for allowing to snap this picture - although she was in a rush to meet up with a friend....thank you Stephanie - you made my Frolic! :)

In addition to some spinning supplies I also bought eight of the most beautiful blush coloured baby alpaca/silk blend wool skeins (Blue Sky Alpacas)

...to make a fabulous summer ribbon shell.

I expected my day to end with a workshop on Crocheting with Cachet - but found the workshop way too challenging as the instructor was moving about 10,000 miles per minute. You absolutely needed to be an advanced crocheter to keep up. A bit disappointing - given the $40 workshop fee, but what can you do except know better for next year.

Overall, I think the day was smashing and I really enjoyed my experience there and would absolutely recommend it to any knitters in Ontario - well worth the drive to Toronto.

A day of sadness and gratitude....

2007-04-18T10:38:00.000-05:00

Where does one begin to articulate one's thoughts around a tragedy such as that which occurred at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. As a mother, step-mother, aunt and cousin to children who attend universities across Canada, I am saddened beyond belief for all of the victims, families, friends, colleagues, and community of Virginia Tech. I send my heartfelt wishes for all of their recovery from such an atrocity and pray for them. I feel grateful that my family and friends were/are safe.

I am angry at the easy accessibility of handguns around the world and this event only strengthens my convictions that gun-laws need to be reinforced for the safety of all humanity. I also feel tremendously sad for the family and friends of Cho Seung-hui,as I am sure that no amount of time or space will allow them to have understanding and peace for the actions of their child.

Watching the events as a shocked spectator, I was so moved by the actions of Liviu Librescu - protecting his students to the end. I was proud to be a Jew in that moment. After surviving atrocities of the Shoah that none of us can truly imagine, Mr. Librescu truly lived a life dedicated to the service of others - his family, friends, students and peers should feel that proud as well.

Pondering the ' We don't leave our sons behind campaign'...

2007-04-10T17:26:00.000-05:00

So yesterday, as I was sitting in synagogue as part of the seventh day of Pesach, I was thinking about the 'We don't leave our sons behind campaign' that the United Jewish Appeal has put out this Spring.

I have to admit that since doing my conversion classes (I was once Roman Catholic) that I have a heightened awareness of current events and world issues especially as it pertains to Israel and the middle east. Seeing these signs and billboards up the past month have made me feel a tremendous sense of compassion for people living within Israel and the surrounding areas as well as for those families who have had a child lost/taken or not returned during the war. As a parent to five children, including three who are Jewish by birth - being confronted with the reality that perhaps these could be my step-sons, or sons of other Jewish mothers I know causes me to feel a combination of emotions including anger, resentment and sadness.

Upon reflection, I know that any mother would feel this way if their child's life was sacrificed during a war, including those of the Palestinian people, Iranian people or any people for that matter. I have been thinking that I was proud that Israel has a proactive approach to not leaving their soldiers behind, however my world was shook yesterday as my Rabbi discussed in his congregant speech about how the Israeli army will sacrifice healthy/active soldiers to retrieve the bodies of the slain/killed/captured soldiers and that this in fact is a very controversial issue within not only Israel, but for every Jew regardless of where they live.

This shook me because I had felt proud of Israel. If I was a mother to one of these children - I would want them home, to be buried in peace and have closure. I hadn't really thought about sending someonelse's child in a high-risk situation to retrieve my child. That's something else - and I have no clue how you work through the moral/ethical dilemma surrounding that issue.

In the end, I feel...I don't know how I feel...except maybe torn.

Mother Nature is S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y confused....or...

2007-04-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

has an awesome sense of humour. It snowed this morning. I was shocked as I settled into a volunteer-a-holic-catch-up-a-thon, which largely means dedicating some serious time to my volunteer commitments, I was in awe at how mother nature never seems to surprise me. It sure was pretty that flash snowstorm although I hadn't realized MN's full-mental breakdown until I went outside - damn it got cold.

Thank goodness my day only involves, completing expense reports, identifying faculty for a fab new program, creating lesson work plan's for the same program, creating a board agenda etc...none of that involved going out. That was until my almost sixteen (next Sunday boo-hoo!) asked to get dropped off at a friends house. Recently said teenager has been exhibiting some seriously hormonal behaviour which has me her hormonally challenged mother worrying a great deal more than normal. I have been spending a lot of time since January coming to terms with the fact that she is not a child anymore, that she is growing up, that she needs some space and that I need to step back a little and give her some freedom to move about, make mistakes and generally experience life.

I always thought I would be a cool, laid back mom, but it seems that I have turned into a mother like many generations of mothers before me...overprotective, over concerned, over involved and under needed. Its a sad day for all mothers when they start to come to terms with what they feel is the end of their role as the director in their child's life-play. I now am stuck like many others in that awkward state of 'I don't want to talk to you, I'm fine, nothing's going on' state of being where our daughters turn against us and no longer see us as an ally, a friend, a confidante, someone whose widsom can save them from a great deal of pain. It sucks! But I shall endure.

On a slightly sunnier note, I found two great new blogs today with some really really beautiful knitting on it...the kind of stuff that makes you smile uncontrollably and desperately wish you could jump right through your computer monitor to touch their beautiful knitting. It is honestly that beautiful. The second blog has the most incredible vegetable dyed eggs I've ever seen - just lovely and springy.

My day overall was a quiet one. I am still in Pesach/Passover recovery mode. The last two weeks have been a major blur for me with balancing client travelling with trying to get our home ready for Pesach. I got home Friday, March 30 at 10 pm from a couple of days in sunny and extremely pretty North Bay to land myself in the midst of Passover meltdown as my house was still yet to be finished getting Kashered for Pesach. This is a laborious process which always throws me for a loop and involves removing chametz from your house as well as changing over all of your meat and dairy dishes/cutlery/pots/pans/etc and cleaning every single spot in your home/car etc...that might have chametz in/on/near it. Anyways I got through the Kashering, got down to cooking for about 40 people and preparing myself to be charming and entertain all of those people over two days. When I woke up on the second seder day, this past Tuesday, Mother Nature had started to get in a mood and I knew this because I had a splitting headache. Given that we had 9 people coming for dinner, I had no choice to get up, finish cooking, prep the dinner table and be ready for a fun-filled night. Overall, it was a very nice evening, but by the time I had gone to bed a tornado couldn't have awoken me and Wednesday was another day filled with migraine hell. I am not sure what has gotten MN is a tizzy, but man Thursday was a very long day and I just couldn't look more forward to a second long weekend. And then as mentioned above - snow today.

The good news - is that is was a perfect day to stay inside, to get a lot accomplished. And that I did. Overall not really such a bad day after all. My reward for a very productive day - knitting time tonight. :) I am still working on my cherry tree hill socks and I'm using the Yarn Harlot's never-fail sock pattern int the hopes that I will actually be able to finish a pair fo socks. I will say this - its been slow going on 2.25 dpn's....man they're small.

Newbie Knitter Fun...

2007-03-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

Friday night Olyvia and I went to the sneak peek, premiere of The Rocky Horror Picture Show being put on live by Can Stage. Besides being a midnight show - well past my typical Friday night bedtime, it was a blast. Olyvia and I spent our time marveling at everyone is costumes having fun. It was great for the two of us to spend some quality time together and she really seemed to love going on the opening night. Lifelong memories.

Last night David, and I had a quiet night alone as Olyvia was at a girlfriends house for the evening. We had a romantic dinner out and then came home to watch a couple of movies. We only made it through "Stranger than Fiction" - which was a charming and comical story, where I actually enjoyed watching Will Farrell on screen.

I had gone out earlier in the day to Knitomatic to treat myself to a yarn winder. I have been searching online to find one, but just decided I didn't want to wait to buy and have it shipped as I had all of the yarn from the Knitomatic sale a few weeks ago and just badly wanted to wind it. So all during the movie, I balled hanks of yarn - and had a blast. I know sounds kind of sad, but really it was a lot of fun...even with the occasional knot or series of knots.

Here's the finished product:

Yes above you should count 12 balls, plus I also, wound a my hank of cherry tree hill sock yarn (in colorway: Quarry Hill)- which makes 13 balls, as I have been having fantasies about knitting with it. This was actually the first yarn I used my winder on and ended up spending a good 1.5 hours having to undue the million knots...as I wasn't used to the over-the-chair method of holding the hank while you wound. Thankfully I had it finished about 10 minutes into the movie, which meant the other 12 went by in a flurry of activity. David was as marvelled as I was at the efficiency of this little plastic machine, although he couldn't understand why the hand painted/dyed hanks didn't come pre-balled and after trying to explain to him "handpainted yarn" let it go and just said because it would be too expensive.

This morning, I couldn't help but start a new pair of socks with it, as it is just so lovely to knit with.

Its' going to be a crazy week of travelling for me, but at least I accomplished something at home this weekend and can take a new and very portable project with me while I'm busy away this week.

On an unrelated note - they have broken ground on the property behind us finally. It was strange to come home after being away for a weekend to find the house imploded and now to have the ground broken. I am anticipating a long-summer of banging, dusk and construction folk while this house gets built. The only good part about it is that new houses continue to help develop the area and increase the value of our home. Many small reasons to smile.

Fabulous new Badge

2007-03-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

Click here to check out
The Yarn-a-holic's Anonymous T.O. Knitting Group!

Welcome to the World Teagan Joan...

2007-03-18T18:54:00.000-05:00

I am feeling rather nostalgic today...maybe its just mid-life mommy hormones and a serious lack of sleep. ;)

Today my extended family (through my boyfriend) formally welcomed into the world their last of three, but newest little addition to their family - Teagan Joan. Teagan is a bright eyed, four month old who was proudly shown off today by her mom Whitney and dad Michael to their extended family and friends. It was a lovely up-town type of event at the Richmond Hill Country Club, and was very swish all the way around. Teagan looked especially adorable in my favourite colors -pink and brown.

As usual, almost all of the extended family babies get given to me at some point, as I think I radiate "desperate and waiting grandma". I anticipate it will still be many years before that happens to me naturally, especially and hopefully given that my oldest child Olyvia is only turning 16 in a few weeks. I do have a much older step-son through my partner, however I think even he is a few years away. Almost all of the family babies eventually end up cuddled in my arms to let me work my mommy magic on them and help lul them to sleep. Its an absolute joy for me and allows me to have those fleeting moments of "baby-want" fulfilled.

Teagan was born just prior to Hanukkah last December (early in the month for those of you who have no clue when Hanukkah falls)and unfortunately was still too small to come to the annual family Hanukkah party. So, I have been waiting patiently to be formally introduced to her. She is an absolute beauty of a baby, and lit up the room with her coos and smiles. It completely warmed my heart.

Although, we brought along Hanukkah and welcome gifts to Teagan at the Hanukkah party, I just couldn't not come prepared with something today, since this was her coming out party.

I knew I wanted to knit something special and so spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what I could make in relatively short period of time..and pitifully the only thing I could think of was a baby blanket. So much for creativity.

This is while it's still in progress

This was almost at the end.

And ofcourse, I forgot to take a picture of it finished, but I think it turned out beautifully...snuggly and warm...just perfect for Teagan. Hopefully she enjoys it.

On another completely unrelated and yet funny note, both of our family pets have been captured this weekend in particularly cute fashion.

This is Mila in the kitchen climbing the sliding doors as though she wants to go outside for a run in the snow.

And this is beautiful Java, snuggled in my bed on her favorite pillow napping after too much fun on St.Patrick's Day...see she still has her green bow to prove it.

Avoidance...

2007-03-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

Dear blog...

Yes, I can admit it...I have been avoiding you. It's not that you don't amuse me anymore, its just that you always want me to be creative, original and have clever things to say. You expect me to put out regularly, and I just can't always be in the mood.

This past weekend, I thought of you often, especially while obsessing over the fact that I hadn't written on you for a number of days. I realized that you likely felt neglected, unappreciated and completely taken for granted, especially since you have been a joy to me allowing for a creative outlet and space to share my knitty joy.

Instead, I have to admit, that I have been cheating on you...I was busy Saturday at the fabulous Knitomatic Sale buying a small and ever so reasonable amount of fun, joy-filled yarn.

Almost all of these were 'sale items'.

These two photos are of my first Cherry Tree Hill...unfortunately not on Sale.

What lovely folks I met in line, they kept me utterly distracted from thinking about you at all....however, I did feel mildly guilty later in the day, especially when i realized that I hadn't yet captured all of that woolly goodness to share with you.

I admit it, I am still new at this...learning how to be a good little blogger. It's challenging, perhaps if you gave me more feedback, critique, comments... I would feel compelled to keep you posted with little stories, life events and humour...OK so I am humor challenged, but at least I try. Haven't you heard it better to give than receive...well its a lie, I need you to give a little...maybe then I'll be in the mood to put out.

The winter blah(s) phase...a.k.a. a little winter kvetching...

2007-03-07T21:47:00.000-05:00

So it's been a crazy week; I am feeling like my head is spinning from all of the activity and I am trying to just slow down a little and get my bearings. And to top it off I have a nasty case of the winter-blah's - you know that evil sad state we sometimes get in when we are vitamin D deprived and just need to be surrounded with a little sunshine and joy.

Most people would likely say that I am a relatively-high-energy-happy-go-luck kind of soul, but lately I am feeling just blah...and uninspired. I did have a brief moment of joy today as I finished Stephanie's "Yarn Harlot" book only to find that my next book on the list "Knitting Rules" had arrived via post from the on-line bookstore. My brief glimpse of joy was then overshadowed by major projects looming and the need to dedicate myself whole-heartedly to completing them, which potentially will mean a) no reading time and b) most importantly little knitting time.

I am currently in my resenting-everything-but-knitting stage and although M has reassured me that this is normal and so-to-shall-pass, I am just not convinced, and so go through my week counting moments down to be solely dedicated to my yarn and time alone or group knitting. It's funny, I don't mind sacrificing knitting time alone to be with a knitting group, in fact some wacko part of me loves being surrounded by all of that woolly goodness and other folks who seem to appreciate their art as much as I do. So, I am left today counting down moments to group knitting on Friday (if I can find the energy) and Stash shopping and amazing Yarn Sale at Knit-o-matic on Saturday. Not that I need yarn [or so I have been told], but perhaps feeling, smelling, rubbing,. holding and buying some new yarn will be just-the-pick-me-up I need to get re-inspired.

I am off to go and do some knitty reading before bed...here's hoping all of you have knitty-good-night dreams too. Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it, so I'm going to do my best to awaken inspired and joyful. Perhaps if I count sheep.....

The Yarn Harlot winter quandry...

2007-03-02T15:11:00.000-05:00

I just ready the Yarn Harlot's most recent entry and had a hearty chuckle as I just had to use some warm woolies inside my rain boots to shovel myself out of my driveway (thanks Toronto city workers for sumping more snow there) and have to say - they are really quite warm. My daughter Olyvia stole my good Timberland boots to go out this afternoon so I had to find an alternative.

I don't have quite so much water as you do Stephanie, but warmth is key to surviving this icky weather, which seems to have started up again for mother nature's revenge episode two just a few moments ago. GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRR.

Ick!!!

Ick - Canadian Winter. Thank goodness for Yarn. :)

2007-03-02T14:16:00.000-05:00

OK, SO while I love being Canadian, I certainly do not love Canadian winters. Ick!! Yesterday, mother nature in her infinite wisdom decided that Toronto needed to be covered and fluffy blanket of snow goodness. Now, while quite pretty, it was a nightmare to try to drive home in from work (like 35 minutes longer than normal) and poor David (my spouse) has three and a half hours of winter driving hell, which left him in not such a lovely and giving disposition. This picture below just doesn't capture the winter bluster quite as much as it should have.

Thank goodness he got home when he did however, as I was starting to think the snowdrifts outside our house might bury us in for good and I would be left to fend for Olyvia, Java and I alone. Thank goodness for the happy yarn stash and fireplace to keep me company. :) Now given that David likes to be anonymous on the Internet I have smudged his face out (don't you love technology), but wanted everyone to see how wintry it truly was last night.

Last night was a night for staying in, and giving some serious contemplation to what my next big project should be, especially since I am in sock avoidance. I have decided to start my lovely Colinette blanket, and it is all ready bringing me such joy, especially since the wonderful scallopy shape has all ready started. What simple, blissful joy.

Before:

After:

Really this blanket even in its infancy makes me smile a whole-hearted smile...I can just tell its going to be snugly and warm and be a perfect lap blanket. :) Even just looking at it is helping me cope with what I awoke to this morning.

I realize for you not exposed to a Canadian Winter this may not look too horrible, but that first picture with the family van had 3/4 of an inch of freezing rain on top of it and left my more little car "Chava" stranded in the down-facing driveway and she just couldn't get up which left me to work from home for the day...thank goodness the Internet is working.

Oh yes, I have to say that my other little piece of excitement last night (beyond my decision to start the blanket) was emailing back and forth with Larisa from Headwater Yarns as she is shipping me my first pair of Addi Turbo needles. Yippee!!!

Teddy bears...and other knitty goodness

2007-02-25T22:38:00.000-05:00

Who knew.... what a little ray of sunshine a cute knitted teddy bear could bring. I know I didn't until this beautiful little bear was finished tonight. (see below for before assembly and the final almost done - except for his face.) Thank you Barbara Prime at Fuzzy Mitten.

Today in Toronto, was a sunny beautiful typical Canadian winter day, it was lovely. It was a wonderful day to spend inside warm, balling hanks, fiddling and unwinding yarn that was once in knots, and finishing cute and adorable teddy bears all the while chatting with one's dearest friends.

This lovely bunch of delicious yarn is all of the yummy goodness I will need to make a scalloped Colinette blanket. This blanket kit was purchased late last fall in Belleville at a charming quilt/knittery store that was selling off all of its yarn (Yes, I know very wrong) for a whopping 50% off (Yes, I know amazing. An I was able to purchase enough sock yarn, mohair and hand painted hanks that the owner after a little haggling agreed to sell me this Colinette kit for 50% off too. Yes I scored...but its been sitting in its bag awaiting time to ball all of the hanks, because otherwise it could be hand-winding hell...and I didn't want to hate the Colinette blanket before I started, but know there is no excuse. The next pictures you will see of this yarn will it being knitted into a wonderful blanket.

The day is wrapping up with a blustery, cold finish leaving Toronto covered in a white blanket. I am happy to be crawling into bed for a snugly sleep. Sweet dreams.

What's up with Britney Spears????

2007-02-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

So here's my question - Why would this self made young woman a) marry such a loser as Kevin Federline and b) why in G-d's name would she shave her hair off?

I found the recent publicity surrounding BS, quite disturbing probably because a) she had everything going for her, b) she obviously found the disolution of her marriage quite damaging c) she has been doing a lot of irrational and obviously ill-thought out act - a bit of an attention seeker and d) has slipped inot a repeat-offender self destructive individual. I feel sad for her, only because she has lost her grip on reality and this may potentila affect her kids, and they didn't do anything to deserve that. Hopefully she willcheck into another rehab soon and deal with whatever is eating her.

All of this just makes me want to knit her a pink hat. :)

Feel good knitty goodness...

2007-02-20T22:36:00.000-05:00

Look up...way up (for those of you who are Canadian and of a certain generation you know the Jolly Giant), above is the fabulous Yarn-a-holic Anonymous Monday evening Meet-up gang at Meeting No. 2.

What a wonderful group of ladies, they don't seem to mind my over-enthusiasm and organization tactics (yes, I am referring to the name tags and table-top sign)and even more, last night we had a show & tell event and people seemed to enjoy sharing knitty horror stories and triumphs (mine was my single squirrely mitten - seen below.

Even more interesting to me was the realization of how much I adore the company of other women and how our lives weave together like intricately patterned and colourfully knitted blankets. We all have our stories, common experiences and have the ability to guide those of us at varied stages of life experiences through in an incredibly supportive matter. I feel truly blessed and enriched by this new experience and am looking forward to nurturing it and watching it grow.

On a bad day...knitting is sanity.

2007-02-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

So as usual, the weekend has flown by and another week is coming on full steam ahead. Time is something that when taken for granted flyes by in a blur and leaves us wondering where it has run away too. **Sigh**

Today was an especially awful day, filled with board financial literacy training - cause that just how you want to spend half of your Sunday; cranky mean-spirited children; general family snappiness and finally emotional outbursts resulting in drastic parenting actions - which then leave the remaining uninvolved family members feeling off and slightly down. I do realize that all families have days and weekends like this...but I really didn't need a bad day. Thanks G-d for knitting!!!

I have been busy working on bear, Suzie bunny's cousin, and although its coming slowly...its coming. Thus far the body and legs have been completed, although not stuffed yet. And yes, I have realized upon previewing this post, that I have not matered the art of digital photo taking, unlike many of my blogging expert counterparts.

I am not quite sure why,b ut knitting these little toys bring me a great deal of joy, I can only assume because they are simple to knit, they don't take a lot oftime, and when your finished, you have a wonderful finished product who can't jelp but to make you smile.

This to me is sunshine at the end of a long grey day. :-)

Knitted toys...bring so much joy for a simple yarn-a-holic like me...

2007-02-13T13:43:00.000-05:00

teAfter many many days of ooogling and admiring of Julie's blog - see little cotton rabbit link to left of blog, I finally decided to hunt down a knitted bunny and teddy pattern. Fortunately for me I stumbled upon the amazing Barbara Prime of FuzzyMitten fame on Etsy and came across the most beautiful bunny pattern ever.

So excited was on last Friday that I rushed down to Romni wool early'ish on Saturday to have some one-on-one wool bonding time. I think I would like to sleep n that store one day and just feel and smell all of the yarn and read through patterns. To anyone who is a yarn-a-holic like me it is an irresistible store. I covet everything in it and one day hope to retire near it. HA HA HA. At a minimum weekly visits will be planned.

I was able to purchase a cone of 100% yarn in a beautiful shade of oatmeal and a second large ball that came off a cone that is a wonderful colour of cafe latté - yummy. I figured this way I could test my bunny and see how I liked her. All I had to do was wait for my patterns...

Finally, I was able to sort out my technology newness (with Paypal) and then the wonderful Barbara send over the PDF patterns. It seems like a long time since I was this excited about a project and I couldn't wait to start knitting.

I worked on Bunny about 2 hours on Saturday and another 2 on Sunday and finally stuffed and sewed her up late Sunday evening. Olyvia was so excited to see her almost done that she has demanded that bunny be hers...we'll see about that.

Bunny went on her first outing last night - to the first Yarn-a-holics Anonymous meeting. It was a lovely evening of knitting, baby admiring, hot chocolate sipping joy and bunny got her fare share of admiration. I have started to work on her dress and am hoping to have it done soon as I am quite eager to get knitting her brother bear. Here's a picture of her:

And yes, I know Susie bunny does not have a tail as of yet, but she is coming to the next Monday Yarn-a-holic's Anonymous meeting to get help in creating her pompom tail.

TGIF!!! and other motherhood rambling...

2007-02-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

I cannot put into words how grateful I am that it is Friday. It has been a rather freakishly weird week - that has flown by in such a hurry that I am left wondering where my time went and feeling sad at my lack of knitting accomplishment.

For those of you who are mothers to teenagers, I am sure you can understand my angst in meeting my daughter Olyvia's first boyfriend. Now technically she isn't supposed to be dating until she sixteen...which is in another 65 days (yes we are on the countdown, however after coming to terms with the fact that she is "dating" this boy, I decided to meet him. Although, not the typical cute preppy person I would have personally perhaps chosen for a partner, Levon seems to be a nice enough young man and after giving him the usual "you hurt her, I hurt you" speech that all mothers must give we settled into a natural rhythm of get-a-long ness.

All I know is that TGIF- because this weekend makes for a quiet one in my house - given that the three boys are with their other parents.

David and I have no major life committments except to celebrate our fabulous neice Laura's birthday on Sunday, which means I can make some time for dedicated sock knitting. I am determined to finish this first evil sock...still not finishd from a number of posts ago and vent to myself about the trials of mothering your teenage daughter as she discovers the joys of 'relationships' and dating. **sigh**

Yarn-a-holics Anonymous is growing!!! :)

2007-02-06T22:30:00.000-05:00

So, I have to tell you how excited I am. Yes, my best friend Meredith is probably still rolling on the floor laughing her ass off at my over enthusiasm, but I am truly thrilled by the warm reception that the knitting community is giving to my new little 'meetup' group. I do like knitters - such a friendly group.

So in less than 24 hours hours we now have 11 members and hopefully will get a small but reasonable turn out to the first 'meetup' event next Monday. If not, I am all ready busy planning the next few meetings just to ensure that things don't slow down too much. I think it will be great to meet people who like to knit as much as I do and am looking forward to the new faces and knitting expertise.

Fun! Although funny enough, David my partner is all ready complaining and I haven't even gone to a meeting yet. Funny. :)

Yipee! I set up a new meetup group - Yarn-a-holic's Anonymous in T.O Knitting Group

2007-02-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

OK so I am definitely becoming very tech savvy! HA HA HA....

Not really just exploring and getting rather fascinated by how technology can further your interests - like mine to meet other people who like knitting. As I have eluded to in other posts knitters and most people that I have meet who like wool just seem like down to earth and humour filled folks. Almost all have seemed normal except for the occasional wacko who is over the top even for me....which is hard to do.

So I came across the Stitch n'Bitch in T.O meetup group, but they only met on Wednesday's which is probably one of the only nights of the week that truly sucks for me to out as I have a wonderful night with my family and especially my son Taylor who comes for his mid-week visit. It also happens to be a wonderful night to ask the teenage mutants to stay in compared to Shabbat (Friday) when keeping them in usually ends with one of them telling me "You are ruining my life". So this was my long way of saying Wednesday's were out.

So after being inspired by the Stitch n'Bitch in T.O meetup group, and coming to terms that it would be very hard pressed for me to join them ever, I decided to start a new meet up group called "Yarn-a-holic's Anonymous in T.O. Knitting Group.

Hopefully I won't be one of those seriously weird women who create blogs that no-one ever reads (like now) and sets up meeting groups that never gets people out. I guess time will tell. For now I am happy to remain in delusional land and believe int he power of networking to bring together community and will hope for the best. Yes - my glasses are seriously rose coloured and yes my glass is bloody full. At least for now.

I got two new members to join the group which was super exciting - although one of them is my sister-in-law Miriam....but its a start right?????

the true EVILness of first-time socks.....

2007-01-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

So I have been searching all over the place for Toronto knitting blogs (to find knitting circles) and came upon a few really fabulous sites and even more interestingly (is that a real word?) web rings to a whole lot of amazing Toronto based knitters. Now to those of us who are much less blog savvy like moi, this was perplexing and peaked my feline like curiosity.

Kind of like me and first attempt at socks - see above for a picture. I figured that since I was able to knit my first nordic mitt (see below)- yes mitt not mitten that I could likely knit a sock or socks.

So I tried my first sock with a ball of Austermann Step wool with jojoba :) as you saw above and got realtively happily along until I hit the portion of the pattern ( a lovlely free Patons basic sock pattern)where you have to shape the heel. I think I have eluded that I am a newish knitter, but to be honest I thought I had come along enough to knit a sock. After seeing the beautiful way the sock should look from the Austermann website I realize I have a long way to go. :( So I have frogged this stupid heel numerous times to try and get it right and finally am now on my way to knitting the proper looking sock. I will continue to update as I hopefully get closer to the finish line and even more hopefully get closer to the ideal sock. Wish me luck!

P.s. Thanks to the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee for a)using the term frog/frogged and making me curious enough to figure it out; b) writing such an easy to read and engaging blog and c)after I sent my first ever blog comment she sent a thank you email. :) Knitters are polite.

Yippee! It's done, it's done!!!!!

2007-01-10T22:09:00.000-05:00

OK so I don't think I could be much more excited, I finally finished my knitting guru Meredith holiday gift - yes I know very late, but that's what happens when you have to rip apart 90 rows of the body and re-start - ARG!

However, here are some pics from the fruits of my many many many long days of labour. -

And yes, I know I have some colour pooling, but this is a) my first major knitting project and b) my first felting project and to be honest I am rather proud of myself. :) This handbag was done in Canadiana 100% wool and was a blacksheep design - although I did not do it justice.

The fortunate or unfortunate part was that Meredith the sweetheart that she is also knit me something. Not just anything, but the most beautiful and fabulous chocolate brown and pink mohair swirly scarf - see below being modeled by my super cute dog Java. I have been wearing everyday since as the weather has gotten freezing cold and get complements daily. I am not so sure Meredith will be getting complements on my handbag - but hopefully she know it was made with love and many torturous hours of knitting and re-knitting and re-knitting. :)

The holiday season

2006-12-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

OK so this picture is of Olyvia and I out shopping just before Christmas at the mall. We both look tired and a little cranky...mostly me - cause I was definitely cranky. Why is it that the holidays always make me feel a little down? Probably reminiscing to horrible memories from years ago....baggage - ick!

Thank goodness for new years which seems to be less than a week away - YIPPEE!!!

Sheer Frustration....

2006-12-21T16:26:00.001-05:00

So I have spent the better part of last evening and this morning trying to track down code to add a calendar on the right side of my blog. Not such an easy task I have found. If anyone has a simple boxed in calendar with some navigation, please leave me a comment with a link to the code.
I think I have determined that I will need to spend some time learning either basic html coding or CSS....otherwise this might drive me crazy.

My first techie accomplishment

2006-12-21T16:25:00.000-05:00

OK so I can officially can myself a techie geek...Ok well maybe not - but certainly an over achieving individual with way too much time on her hands. :)
After spending too much time this morning chatting with our internal IT consultant Ken, it seems I have a lot to learn about html code and CSS if I want to have fun with blogging. Well if nothing else I can pat myself on the back and go way to go girl!!! - I have officially added a link to my blog - Sandy's Knitting - which is a way too fabulous site. :)
Hopefully over the holidays I will get into the swing of things and start to have some serious fun sharing ideas and learning more so that I can chat with other fabulous and more experienced bloggers.
If anyone has advice for me on how to learn quickly how to adapt my blog layout - please email or leave a comment below. Thanks :)

Knitting fun... nordic mittens for Taylor

2006-12-21T16:24:00.002-05:00

OK - so I think I previously mentioned that I love knitting - Thanks again Meredith. :)
I decided to knit my first pair of mittens about 6 weeks ago - of course picking a great free pattern online from http://www.elliphantom.com/images/SquirrellySwedishMittens.pdf. I will take a picture of "mitten one" this weekend to share with those who love to knit, but have to tell you I have found it hard to keep the momentum up as far as my interest in concerned to finish "mitten two".

I am also knitting a holiday gift for good friend Meredith who is my knitting goddess/guru which I will share post holiday gift giving - as I wouldn't want her to get wind of it. I forgot my original reason fro blogging was to connect with other knitters - so I will be happy to share my first major knitting and felting project. Hopefully my wonderful knitting sisters & brothers can find it in their heart to be supportive and not laugh. My technique is still pretty new (7+ months), but finishing a project is everything.
Cheers. :)

My family

2006-12-21T16:24:00.001-05:00

So here are some new pics of me and my beautiful famille. The first one (on the left) is a recent shot of me doing one of the things I love to do best - KNIT in Las Vegas. David (who asked to remain anonymous on the web) and I went as his 50th Birthday gift. What a city and weekend. It flew by much quicker that I ever anticipated, but was filled with a lot of fun, laughter, gambling, a little adult fun :) and sleep. I had forgotten how much fun it was to be free from all responsibility. LOL!

This beautiful pair of girls are my daughter Olyvia and her best friend Rachel (who is like my other daughter) I can't believe how quickly they are both growing up - it makes me a little sad and scared - its flying by. Tonight ~ Rachael came over to celebrate Chanukah with Olyvia and I and exchange gifts. Have you ever heard the term little white ghetto girl - well that would be Rachel - she loved the Ludacris CD we got her - although after to listening to it for a bit - I have to tell you I never expected her to be listening to such garbage. Definitely not my speed. I think that makes me old. HA HA HA!.

The ones beside the girls are pics of our kids that are still at home. Alex, Taylor and Justin. So as you can see we have our hands full. Most of the time we laugh a lot - occasionally we cry, but mostly we survive like most blended families - by just getting through one day at a time. I often take time to reflect on how much we have all grown together over our last number of years together - its been hard - but worth ever minute of every day.

I do realize as I am almost forgot to add a picture of our most beloved family member - Java. This little toy poodle - brings so much joy and cohesion to our family - even on the most dysfunctional day - she is a very special dog and much loved puppy-loo (as she is affectionately called).

My beautiful daughter - Olyvia

2006-12-21T16:22:00.001-05:00