Alive and Kicking!

If anyone still needed it, here is further proof that I am horrible at blogging.  I haven't been here in almost a year!  A YEAR!!!  I have huge periods of time where I don't post anything.  I'd like to say that will change, but probably not.  I will continue to blame real life (work and knitting deadlines mostly) for my absence. 

It's been a good year for the most part, but some of it has been pretty hard.  I had some health issues during the last quarter of 2010.  My husband and I had to put my little boy, Prince to sleep at the end of April.  Saying that it was like losing a part of me doesn't do his passing justice.  I still expect him to come ambling out of the bedroom at any minute.  Our house was too quiet, so we got a new puppy in July. 

This is Flash the week we got him.  He's twice that big now.  He's another Cocker Spaniel.    

If you have any doubt at all, please know that he is spoiled rotten.  No surprises there.  How could we not spoil such a cute littly boy?!

I've been knitting a lot.  Mainly baby blankets.  I also knit some bookmarks that I need to find the pictures for so I can put them on my computer and post them.  I just finished what I decided to enter into the SC State Fair. 

The pattern is Madli's Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia.  Great pattern, easy to memorize!  I did 9 more repeats of the body than the pattern called for.  While I was doing those extra repeats I thought I was only doing 3 extra because I thought the pattern said 37 repeats.  Nope!  The pattern called for 31.  Needless to say it's quite long.  It's as long as a full-sized bed, a cedar chest and a little to spare. 

I've also gotten involved in a Knitting Group!  We're trying to have a knit night every month until the end of the year and then maybe it will be more often in 2012.  We had our first one this past Tuesday and it was so much fun!!!  So, if you're in the Columbia/Lexington, SC area and knit or want to learn to knit, please let me know and I'll get you the information for it. 



Koolaid Firebird

Hey look!! I've posted twice in just a smidge over 2 weeks! Aren't you proud? I'd like to thank sick leave for having enough time to finish this. It's been a long couple of weeks.

Here are the finished pictures of the scarf in my last post.

Thank you for being my model Della!

Knitting Competition!!

About a day after I finished the Covert Knitting project I joined a knitting competition on a message board community I belong to. I found my pattern, but I had to find yarn. Thankfully, I had just the thing in my yard stash! I chose the yarn I dyed using Koolaid back in July of 2009. I still love it!

Here is a picture from last weekend. I'm about halfway finished with it now.

Covert Crafting, Part 3

And now it's finished. A month and a half late. I'm so proud of this project. I learned a new cast on and I learned how to graft two pieces of yarn together. And even better I am no longer totally intimidated by charts!

Thanks to my guestroom bed and my lovely model Paula!

Covert Crafting, Part 2

A little while ago, I posted about a project I'm making for someone on behalf of another person. I had given myself a deadline of August 30 to finish it and because of some other issues I failed miserably. I'm going to jump back on the knitting wagon and get it finished in the next week or so.

So far, I'm really happy with how it's turning out. I'm excited to see what it's going to look like once it's finished and blocked. I really think the person I'm knitting it for will be very pleased and surprised!

Dragon*Con 2010!!!

We just came back from what appears to be our annual trip to Atlanta, GA for Dragon*Con 2010. We drove into town on 9-1 and left on 9-8. That first night a very old and dear friend of mine, Vanessa, took us out for dinner and to catch up. We had a great time. It's always fun seeing old friends when you have a lot of catching up to do!

I wanted to share the pictures we took while we were in Atlanta. None of them are great quality, but I hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to know who any of the people who aren't wearing costumes are, please let me know.