New Knitter

This is India. India came to watch Naia play soccer today and left as one of the world's newest knitters. And she has the distinction of being the very first person I've ever taught to knit.

I took my knitting, rather than crochet, to the game today. India was fascinated, first from afar (she's shy) and then right at my elbow. I offered to let her do a few stitches and she got it on the first try. The girl is a natural knitter; I've never seen anyone pick it up so fast.

Next time India comes to visit, I'm taking needles and yarn to give her a real lesson and for her to keep. I'm still on a high; whoohoo! A new fiber person!

Candy Corn

I've never been a fan of candy corn but I'm making an exception for this bag. I spotted it on the Lion Brand site and knew I had to make it. It took me less than 2 hours with a hook to get this - and 20 minutes in the washing machine to get this - a felted Halloween bag for Addison. I need to sew the handles on once the bag is dry, then off it goes to Colorado. Super fast, very satisfying project. (Hey Wenona, this would look very cute in your house. And you even like candy corn.)

Finishing Touches

Dick finally got some benefit from the home decorating shows I love. As one of the final pieces of the living and dining room remodel, we rehung pictures on the walls today.

The normal process would be for him to hang the picture; me to say it needs to go 'x' inches in 'y' direction; and him to get upset about the now multiple holes in the newly painted wall. Instead, we cut pieces of wrapping paper the same size and shape as the pictures, and then taped them to the wall, moving as needed until we were happy with the arrangement. No fuss, no muss, and no extra holes in the wall. I love having my stuff up on the walls again. This is what the dining room looked like before we started the remodel (red arrows mark the windows we removed): And this is the dining room now. New floor? Check. New wall? Check. New molding on baseboards and windows? Check and Check. I think the wall color (Behr's Sly Fox) and window molding are my favorite parts.

Dick also put new molding around the bay window in the living room. Love. It. Now I need to figure out some kind of window treatment. And Dick? Dick gets to start the kitchen remodel. Isn't he a lucky guy?

Fashion Model

Button shopping was a success - almost too much so; Naia had trouble making a final decision from the large selection - and the cardi is officially done. Naia was persuaded to pose, even though it's over 85 degrees and "sweaters are hot." I know I'm biased, but I think she could have a future in modeling (Interweave, are you listening??)
I left the button choice to Naia. She decided she wanted a horse (of course) and two paint palettes. Perfect.

Fashion Show

We had dinner with the grandkids tonight and an impromptu USC fashion show. Leia had on her cheerleader skirt, which went perfectly with her new sweater. She and grandpa had a long conversation about football and burping etiquette (baby burps, not beer burps). Chris mentioned at the last soccer game that Miles didn't really like hats, so my hopes weren't real high for him wearing/liking his new hat. I don't think I needed to worry.Can you tell he liked the hat? And that he's a ham? Naia gets her own photo shoot tomorrow, after we go shopping for buttons. (Even without buttons, the sweater was a big hit. Hey, it's purple.)

Here We Go Again

This is the first batch of donations for granny's attic at this year's guild Open House. Dick is so happy that it's that time of year again and that our house - specifically our pool table - is again sort-central. Actually, he's being a good sport about it; probably hoping I'll clear out some of my stash for a good cause.

I'll sort and tag this stuff - lots of rug wool and weaving equipment in this batch - then sell it at Open House, with the guild keeping 10% of sales and the remainder going back to the donor. A good deal for everybody.

Mark your calendars! Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild Open House, Saturday, October 18, 9:30 - 3:00, in the courtyard garden at SCIART, on the campus of CSU Channel Islands. We'll have demos, sales of new and used equipment, yarn, fiber, fleece and more. Good times.

Yet Another FO

I made this little sweater for Naia today while recovering from a stomach bug that Dick felt he just had to share. Naia requested a purple sweater; I think this qualifies. The pattern, Giovanna's Cardi (Rav link) by Lion Brand (non-Rav link), is very cute and very easy. It's made in one piece from the bottom up, and the sleeves and yoke are formed with spaced decreases. I love the curvy look of the sleeves. And I love that I started it last night and finished it today, less than 24-hours later.

I added a couple of modifications - an additional 2-row repeat in the bottom section to make it longer; the button-band with 3, rather than 1, buttons; and the row of single crochet trim around the top and bottom. To make the sweater more 'hers', I'm planning to take Naia with me to pick out buttons. Once I'm over this crappy bug. (It could be a lot worse; we've only had the queasy, headachy, no energy version. I think I'll stop complaining before I get the real flu.)

And the purple in the button band? It really does match the yarn in the top of the cardi. Honest.

USC FO's

Matt's a die-hard USC fan, so it follows that his kids are - or will be - fans too. And every fan needs something in their team's colors, right?

So Miles gets a beanie- and Leia gets a sweater - (these are the most accurate colors; all three projects were made with the same yarn.)to go with the shrug that I finished for Naia last week. They'll be the best dressed - and cutest - fans around. Go, Trojans!

PopPop's B-day

Guess who's one year older today? Dick got his present from me last week when we took a road trip to Woodcraft, the ultimate woodworking store in Orange County. The new Ventura store opens Monday and I think Dick is planning to camp out on their doorstep Sunday night. (Kidding, but he does plan to be there first thing Monday morning.)

The entire California branch got together tonight for dinner at Mimi's. Sure wish the Colorado branch could have been here too. Naia ended up missing soccer practice, but I think she was OK with that since she was obviously having a good time. And she got to hang with Gary, who is currently her very best friend (major crush going on here.) Miles played peek-a-boo with the camera and insisted on seeing every shot as it was taken. I love digital cameras - instant gratification for me and great entertainment for the younger set. With those gorgeous eyes and mischevious grin, he's going to be a heart-breaker when he's a bit older.

Leia - 7 weeks old today! - slept for a little while, (isn't she cute?) then fussed until Dad picked her up. Can you tell that Leia adores her daddy? And doesn't poor daddy look tired? Poor daddy is definitely sleep deprived.But he sure has a cute family.

Happy birthday, PopPop - and many, many more!

Ganma

Cutest baby video ever.

Addy learns to say 'grandma'.

And yes, I am biased. Why do you ask?

Warping and Wefting

Warping today took a lot longer than I expected; another 4 hours to thread the last 36 threads and work out tension issues, broken threads and more. But it was worth it. Once I got everything going - with lots of help from Deborah - I love how my scarf looks. I tried the green weft first but didn't like the interaction with the brown warp threads. The brown on brown looks much richer and more Fall-like. I'm 36" into the 72" I need for the scarf. I should have a little left on the 4-yard warp to play with other colors of weft. And I bought more chenille - navy, light blue and white - from Deborah so I can tie on another warp (without having to re-thread heddles and re-sley the reed) and weave another couple of scarves.

Chenille deserves its reputation as a pain in the b*** to weave; but the finished product is so soft and pretty. Hope I can master it enough to make something wearable.

Back To Weaving

I haven't done much weaving lately. Actually, I've done nothing since taking the color gamp class back in July (it's still on the loom, half finished.) But I want to get back into it, so this weekend I'm taking a scarf weaving workshop using rayon chenille.

The instructor weaves professionally, and almost exclusively, with chenille - and her stuff is gorgeous. Friday afternoon was an overview and yarn selection. This afternoon was spent winding the warp and putting the fiber on the loom (through the reed and heddles); tomorrow we'll start the actual weaving. Although technically, it's all weaving; maybe I should say tomorrow we'll start 'wefting'*.

Sorry for the crummy cell phone photos.

I wanted something in Fall colors, so my warp colors are chocolate brown, muted orange and a tiny bit of bright yellow. The weft will be a warm green. It will be interesting to see if the color interaction turns out like I'm picturing it.

*For Wenona - ;-)

Grand Babysitting

I don't want to jinx it, but after 12 hours it looks like this stuff may be a miracle cure. Dick and I have been grand-babysitting Naia and Leia since Tuesday while Matt and Chris are out of town. Almost the entire time, poor Leia has had terrible gas, with intermittent (constant might be a better word) projectile spit-ups. Tuesday night she was uncomfortable; I got 2 hours of sleep. Wednesday night she was miserable and there was nada sleep.

Acting on Rachel's recommendation, Dick went to the store this morning and came back with Mylicon infant drops. Bingo. It took about 4 hours for most of the gas to get out of her system. Now we're getting normal baby burps, no spit-ups, and a much happier little girl (and grandparents). Dick and I have been splitting the duty. Since I'm a night person, I'm handling the nighttime feedings and fussings. Dick, being a morning guy, is getting Naia up and to school, then taking care of Leia while I sleep. It's worked out pretty well and the girls seem to have enjoyed their stay. Even if we did tell Naia that yes, she still had to do her homework. (Which she did every day without a fuss. Such a smart kid.)

Happy 34th!

34 years ago today - To celebrate, we went to dinner outdoors at the Music Center - I loved watching the fountains and the people while we waited (and waited) for our dinner - and then to see the new play, "9 to 5, The Musical" at the Ahmanson Theatre. When we bought the tickets we didn't realize this was the opening weekend AND the world premiere.
The play is GREAT. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, who has a wicked sense of humor; starring Allison Janney (I loved her in The West Wing), Stephanie Block and Megan Hilty (both of whom had starring roles in Wicked, one of the great musicals of all time. IMHO, of course.) Lots of humor, visual, verbal and musical, including a guy in a hospital gown with his bare backside hanging out and a fantasy sequence using the happy, chirpy birds from Disney's Cinderella. Trust me, it was funny.

Great evening, great company. Can't see what's in store for the next 34.

Saturday With Grands

Grand kids, that is. We went to Naia's soccer game again today; another victory - yeah, Cheetahs! Watching little girls play is so much different from little boys. Gary and his teammates never stopped to apologize and hug an opposing player when they accidentally kicked him/her above the shin guard (and I don't think the boys knew it was supposed to be 'accidental'.) I love the beaded front braids in Naia's hair, with two pony-tails hanging down her back. Very soccer-esque. Leia missed the first quarter of the soccer game. She started 'concentrating' just as the game started and Dad had to take her to the car for a change of everything - diaper, dress, socks and blanket. As Matt so delicately described it, she 'pooped half her body weight.' Such a little angel to be such a mighty stinker.

Miles was again disappointed that he couldn't play. But Chris told him he gets to play 'next year'. He's not sure when 'next year' is, but he's very excited about it.

Boy with powdered donut face.