Tuesday, November 29, 2005


Six felted bags for a Christmas order, barely started by October? They thought it couldn't be done. It's not...yet. No job, one skein of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in grass, and a handy set of circular needles later I am one fourth of the way into bag #4. Go Blue, Go!Posted by Picasa

Monday, November 28, 2005


Arenne asked if she could learn to crochet, so away we went. She really took to it and crocheted most of the evening. She learned to chain and single crochet.  Posted by Picasa

Abbie wasn't as interested as Arenne until she saw how well Arenne was doing, then her competitive streak took over. She put it down a few different times, but kept at it. Posted by Picasa

Here are my girls with their finished projects, Ari's a necklace and something else, Abbie's a headband. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 27, 2005


Here's where I am at progress-wise. Three bags, mostly done, all that's left is half an i-cord, another pocket, assembly, and felting. The pic is a little garish, I had to play with it so you could see the stripes. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, November 24, 2005


Aaaah, I love knitting in the round. Bag #3, about halfway done. Posted by Picasa

Monday, November 21, 2005

To continue with the Oddness

that is me, I am sitting here knitting an i-cord, drinking my Budweiser, and watching the Hawkeyes. Life is good.

Moving on

Bag #3 is begun! I am so proud. #2 is not completely finished, I'm working on the i-cord and need to make a pocket as well, along with felting. I'm knitting bag #3 and plan on starting #4 in crochet. I figure if I have one started each way I can flip back and forth if I begin to get bored. Here's to me knowing me, eh?

The girlies and I had a great time at the craft fair, complete with princess hats for them and puzzles for the boys. I also found Christmas presents for our parents. I believe this is the absolute EARLIEST I have ever had Christmas presents bought. In spite of years working in retail, I always, always put off Christmas shopping until the last minute.

On a funnier note, at least for me, last night I stopped by the convenience store on my way home from work. Up at the counter the guy rang up 1 6 pack bottled Budweiser, 2 small bags of Cornuts-plain, 1 bag of Cheetos Cheese popcorn, and 1 smallish bag of Tato-Skins Cheddar & Bacon chips (my most favorite chips EVER) for me. He asked for my I.D., mentioned that I must be a college student, and then choked on his own tongue when he saw I was THIRTY. Oh who knew a trip to the convenience store for trashy manly type stuff would be so good for the soul?

Felted bags #1 & #2. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Flares are not my friends.

Down for the count, hurting and exhausted. Always fun.

I have however made a little progress on the second scarf, have started and frogged a hat for me twice and am 3/4 done with the second of the felted bags. Now I am off to clean my bathroom, having just vacuumed. Next up is a trip to the craft fair with my girlies. Wooohoooo.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Deep Thoughts with Blue Crochet

Mock if you will, and you really just might. ;) These thoughts inspired by Dazed and Confused. I did hear the audible groan.

When did my life become, well, life? All of those things I wanted to be, all of those dreams, hopes, plans. How did it become this? I wouldn't have thought ever I'd be this at this age of my life. As a teenager I was convinced I'd be long gone, away at college, living in a loft-that I now know to be impossible to afford for a college freshman paying her way through college, pursuing all those things I'd always loved. Writing, drama, english, the written word. Poetry readings, coffee houses, obscure bands, and me reveling in my true self.

In actuality I graduated highschool dating a farmer (seriously, had you known me in high school, in spite of growing up in Iowa, this would've shocked the hell out of you) deciding to stay home, work in the same old retail world I'd lived in for the past four years, and pay my way through community college. Hell, it was better than student loan debt from a way too expensive school, right? Within the year the farmer was gone-really he was a great person we were just not meant to be together. My only regret is that I haven't really known him since and in that old cliched way I think we could've been great friends. I met Mr. Blue at a tedious telemarketer job-verification NOT sales *snicker. After a few trips to the track to run together he asked me to an REM concert. Kismet it was. My favorite band of all time, this gorgeously not quite Adonis man who'd ridden a skateboard and was completely himself, in spite of being popular and all that. As cheesy as it may sound, we really were meant for each other.

Instead of jaunting off to the loft to live a bohemianly poetic SOHO life, I stayed home, worked three jobs, and went to community college. I then dropped out of said college as to not lose my main job. I met Joe, fell in love, and that was that. We had our babies, lived our lives, and were just us. I've "found myself" in such a roundabout way, and really do love who I am-for the most part. I've waitressed, cleaned houses, and am now working as a supervisor for a rewarding job. It doesn't matter what I actually do, what matters is that I do the best at what I do. I've since published articles, acted in an independent film, built up a local music promotion business, learned to become a pr goddess, built up my yarnishness, and been more succesfull than I had imagined at the jobs I've been in. The most successful thing I've done is to the marry the man who is right for me and have these beautiful children who amaze me every single day. I've overcome things I couldn't have imagined and I absolutely love my life. It may not be the movie version of small town girl moves onto bigger world, but it is the real life version of small town girl becomes who she was meant to be and flaunts it in spite of all the bullshit. Who would've thought all those diary entries ago that just being me would be so...ordinary and great all at the same time?

Now I will end this sanctimonious bullshit to continue a hat I started for myself from Homespun. Night all.

P.S. To make my life complete Mallrats is on. True love I tell you.

Work is seriously

cutting into my freetime, sheesh.

I'm here! The first scarf is done, except for the weaving of ends and I am at least half done with the second. Plain old regular knitting, cruising along, aaaah. I felted the first of the six purses and am working on the second. I foresee a HUGE GINORMOUS knitting/crocheting fest to get them all done. Wheee.

Tonight a freak accident in the Blue household led to a large gash/laceration in my five year old's cheek. I rushed home from work, bundled him up and dashed him off to urgent care, while Mr. Blue stayed home with the other three. The Bubby Man was brave and stoic after his initial tears, as the doctor fixed him up with some fancy schmancy glue in place of stitches, much to my evident relief. I am so proud of my Bubs, he was much more brave than many have been. That child is such an old soul and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to know him, and have him as my child. He is not as old a soul as to not be impressed by having his cheek glue back together. ;)

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

It should just be a scarf.

A simple scarf. I've promised my boys scarves, bought the yarn ages and ages ago-Lion Brand Wool-Ease. My first KNIT scarf, plain old knitting. I have now restarted FOUR times. Yes folks, FOUR TIMES. Gauge is off, I didn't cast on enough, thought about cabling, decided to restart on smaller needles. Now I am thinking I may have cast on too many stitches on the smaller needles. I am only three rows in. My usual mode of thinking is FROG and start over! At this point though, will it ever be right? If I frog once more have I thrown myself into some sort of cycle? Is this some new way of procrastinating?? Do I secretly want to scrap this and start over with a bulkier yarn that will work up more quickly? I am leaning towards just getting on with it. So what if it seems wider than I had planned? My boys won't care! It would just add to the warmth, right?

It should be so easy. And we all know this is just my way of putting off working on the purses.

Sunday, November 06, 2005


This is my sister, Jenny, in the shawl I made for her while in California. Amazing what you can do with Target dollar yarn, eh? Jen is so pretty, I love how these pictures of her came out. Posted by Picasa

It can also be worn around the waist, I love this pic of my sister. Posted by Picasa

The back of the shawl, I almost added more fringe, but Jen liked it just as it was. :) Posted by Picasa

Saturday, November 05, 2005

I think I've recovered

fully from my bout with the flu. Whew. That was awful and horrible and I am so glad to be feeling better again.

Working again, back at the other job, we reopened for a few more weeks. It's been great. Aside from the flu.

I have also officially turned 30. The number seems way to grown up for me. My birthday was great and so far I have adjusted okay to leaving the twenties. ;)

On a yarny note there is sadly not much to report. I am 3/4 through the purse. Yes, still on the FIRST of SIX. GAH! There will be some mad crocheting and felting coming up here pretty quick folks. At this point I am not seeing many other Christmas projects in my immediate holiday future. I do need/want to make hats and scarves for the boys. Trying to decide how to fit them in amongst the paid work.

I do have pictures of my sister in her shawl to get resized and up, hopefully either today or tomorrow. Something's gotta liven up this blog, the poor little nephew man has been doing way too much already. ;)