It's my blogoversary!!!

I have been a lapsed blogger, but I hope to blog a bit more this year. I want to post a blog at least once a week this year.  Let's see how this goes....

She STILL knits.....sometimes

I recently realized that it has been about two years since I last blogged.  As the title indicates, I do still knit...LOL!!!  I just haven't been writing about it.  Chalk it up to busy-ness, lazy-ness, living-ness......

I have learned to do entrelac, which fascinates me.  I have also learned to knit socks!!  I learned from an awesome book Toe Up Two At A Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.  This was a great book and I have ear-marked at least five other pairs I want to make.  Next stop, conquering cuff-down!!

My latest obsession (to the tune of six balls of yarn during the Holidays) are the ruffle scarves.  I have been using Sashay by Red Heart.  Here is my latest WIP:

I really love the color changes.  I have two more balls of Sashay.  I am going to try something a little different with them.  Maybe throw in a row of purls every third row or so...just to see what it does to the ruffles......  But first, a hat for my son!!

Oh well, it's getting late and I'm getting sleepy.  Happy New Year all!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I know that I'm late AND that I have been out of pocket for awhile, but I have been knitting. AND I've actually finished some things!!

Where has the time gone? I did not realize until I logged in that I did not blog AT ALL last year...shame on me, but I had a lot going on and blogging seemed like such an indulgence. Where to begin? Let's just hit the high (or should I say low) points. Most significantly, I lost my dad on Thanksgiving Day 2009. Sadly, we were not very close, but I had hoped to develop a stronger relationship with him. Unfortunately, time waits on no man (or woman) and I missed my opportunity. Please share your feelings with your loved ones while you can. You never know when they will leave you or when you will leave them. I just have to trust that my daddy knows how much I love and miss him and that one day I'll see him again so I can tell him myself.

Secondly, I now have two kids in school. My son is in middle school and that brought growing pains for all of us. He's smart as a whip, though and I'm more than sure he'll handle whatever may come his way. And my baby girl is now a first grader, or as she says it, she's "a bid kid now" :-)

Thirdly, I experienced some serious upheaval in my marriage. I am choosing to view it as a learning experience. It has taught me a lot about myself, my husband and life in general. I pray we can look back on these times one day and see the positive in the experience...


Now to my knitting. I have made quite a few scarves; started some socks (I even finished a pair...LOL); and learned some new techniqes.


Let's start with this:

Yep! I taught myself Enterlac. I love it!! I love the feeling of movement, the way the colors combine and how smart I felt once I "got it" and didn't have to be a slave to the pattern anymore. By the way, this scarf was made using the Entrelac tutorial on Knitting Daily, which is available as a free download. I made it with a random ball of yarn from my stash, so I cannot give the details on the yarn (I know, bad girl), but I do know it was wool. I want to make a few more using different weights/types of yarn. I have some cute sock yarn I want to try and I have some of the Vanna White yarn that I want to try color knitting with. When I get around to it, I'll post it!

Another technique that I've tried my hand at is cabling!! I made a scarf for my son. I always thought it was beautiful; but looked so complicated. A friend told me that cabling is simply working the stitches out of order. With that bit of knowledge, I decided to give it a try. I found a pattern and yarn that I liked and went to work. I thought this pattern was called the Fisherman's Scarf, but since I cannot find it, I am not sure now. [SN: This is just further proof that I need to get my knitting things organized!!] Here are a few shots of that one:

Currently, I'm working on a project that I have had my eyes on for a while. It's the Every Way Wrap, which is available as a free pattern on knittingdaily.com I just adore the pattern. It is not so simple that I get bored, nor so complicated that I give up. I am using Lion Brand's Wool-Ease in Dark Rose Heather. If only I could put life on pause for about a weekend so that I can finish it..... Here is what I have so far:

Please stay posted. I will definitely post more than last year!!

Confessions of a Lapsed Blogger

Is anyone still out there?

I know it's been ages since I've written anything, but I have honestly been very busy. I have been kniting a little bit. I've made some scarves, just a lil sumthin, sumthin to keep my fingers limber. And.....I taught myself entrelac!! I found an AWESOME tutorial on Knitting Daily!! Here's the link:

However, my main focus has been on getting into law school. I've taken the LSAT; I've got a short list of schools; now I'm agonizing over my personal statement. I have to admit that I am feeling a bit out of my element. I haven't done any scholarly-type writing in over 15 years and..... I'm not going to stress though, I have a crack team of editors assembled and I know they won't lead me wrong. I plan to complete my applications this weekend, then the waiting begins...

In the meantime, I have to prepare my family for the exit of Hazel and the arrival of student mom...LOL!!! (Yes, I'm claiming it!!)

Stay tuned.....

I'm still alive!!

Just crazy busy. I'm still working on my sweater. I have actually made some progress on it. However, I've set it aside to knit hats for my kids and a scarf for a friend.


I was living under the misguided delusion that my youngest being in school would give me a little more free time - joke's on me!! Nayomi is only in pre-k, but insists that she has homework every night, just like her "Bubba". And I must help her with it; and check it. If she weren't so darn cute, it'd be annoying.


As for me, I've decided that I want to go back to law school. I'm taking the LSAT in December and applying for Fall 2009 entry to NCCU. Pray for me. This will be a major adjustment - I've been out of school since I was (gasp) 22!!!!


My hubby is doing his thing too. He's taken up cycling and rode in the Tour to Tanglewood (it was over 60 miles!!!) I'm so proud of him!!! However, he's getting kinda buff, and I'm gonna have to step up my game..LOL!!!! He'll probably never have expected this, but I gotta brag. My man was almost famous many moons ago. He was in Janet's "Black Cat" video. I loved that song back in the day and I'm posting the video. He's at 2:08, if you're interested:

Help Save A Show

Not sure how many of you watch(ed) Knitty Gritty with Vickie Howell. Well, I say watched because DIY network is no longer producing new episodes and has all but said the show is cancelled. I LOVE this show. Even though there are often items that I could NEVER see myself making; I always picked up some tips, learned new techniques and learned about different designers.

An online acquaintence has started a petition to convince DIY to produce more episodes of the show. Please sign here http://www.petitiononline.com/1234lulu/petition.html

Thanks,

Des

I've Been Tagged

I was tagged by Susan:

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? I was planning my wedding to my wonderful hubby, John.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today? 1. Finish folding the laundry 2. Put said laundry away. 3. Finish the front of my ribbed pullover. 4. Get to bed before 11. 5. Take a long, hot shower and relax.

3) Snacks I enjoy: Snickers, BBQ chips, skittles, peanut butter crackers, Reese's pieces.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Oh my gosh, where to begin?!?!? First off, I'd pay off all our debt!!! I'd set up trust funds for my son and daughter and my nieces and nephews. I'd finally be able to afford to go back to law school. And I'd make sure we take a fabulous vacay every year.


5) Places I have lived: I was born in South Carolina; and thus far, I've lived in New Orleans; Toledo, Oh; Los Angeles; Baltimore; Port Royal, SC; Columbia, SC; Atlanta and Greensboro, NC.

6) Jobs I have had: I don't think I can remember all of them, but here goes. My first job was at Burger King when I was 16; then my freshman year of college, I was one of those annoying kids calling alumnae for donations; during the next 2 summers, I worked at a dry cleaner; I had a work-study job in the Anthropology dept; I had another work-study in Fin Aid; I tutored with Upward Bound; I was a manager of a linen store; I worked at a summer camp; I worked at a Marriott; I worked at Taco Bell; Nationsbank as a teller; Circuit City call center; Sprint; and currently I'm an admin at a pharmaceutical company. WHEW!! In my defense, I'm 36 and most of those were seasonal jobs while I was in school.


7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better:
Delta Purl
Adrienne
Nik
Stacey
Toni

Desireé vs. The Sweater

I was so proud of myself...my needles were clicking away and I was making my first sweater. It was no simple thing, either. It was ribbed AND had cables. Simply stunning. I patted myself on the back...

Then I got to row 57...my cable row was somehow misaligned...THE HORROR!! I could figure it out. I looked at it, but all I could see was "wrongness". So with my heart breaking...I frogged it. All the way to the beginning. First round to the sweater, but I started over; vowing "Baby you can do it. Take your time, do it right..."

Ding-ding-ding ROUND 2.

THIS TIME I moved slowly. NOTHING was going to mess me up. First cable row - PERFECT. I knew I could do this!! I started to relax, got smug, got to row 57 again. It was wrong again. This time I did cry as I frogged it. Round 2 to the sweater.....

I had to step away from it for a while. The bag of yarn sat in it's corner (my bookshelf) taunting me every time I entered the room. I ignored it...I had to get my mind right.

Ding-ding-ding ROUND 3.

Friday afternoon and a long (loooooong) drive to Nashville were ahead of me. I was going to get this done. I was prepared mentally and physically. I'd figured out that I was somehow getting off track (DUH!!!), but I had a solution; I had tools. Yarn - check; Addi turbo - check; cable needle - check; scissors - check; row counter - check; Post It notes - check. Yep, a sista was saved by the lowly Post It note. This little yellow square with a strip of stickiness saved my sanity. Using the Post It as a line marker helped me to realize that my cable was misaligned because I was not accounting for the decrease when "ribbing to the center". I am currently on row 90!!! Round 3 to Des!! OOH-AH OOH-AH!!!!

The bedeviling center cable





Lesson learned: Make sure that what comes off your needles looks like what your reading off the paper; don't just blindly follow the pattern (or what you think the pattern is saying). Here's the front 3/4 of the sweater....

Monday, Monday

Did you vote?

We had our primary today in NC. I voted...please do the same.

Peace.

I Love This Man!!!!

So, backtrack to Thursday. I realize that I will need one more skein of yarn to finish my sweater. I ask Dear Hubby if he wouldn't mind picking it up for me from http://www.knitpickyyarns.com/ since he was working in Winston-Salem that day. No problem, he came home with the yarn, it was all good, right?

Weeeeell, Friday afternoon he sends me a text at work asking my bust size. Now knowing my hubby like I do (he's crazy!!) I ask what he needs this information for. He says that he and another male manager are buying a shirt for one of his employees that got promoted; they don't know what size to get; and she's about my size. Ok, good enough, I give him the info and think nothing of it.

Fast forward to about 9:00 pm. Me and the kids just finished wathcing "Enchanted" (lovely movie) and I was corralling them into bed. Hubby gets home, we're talking (you know...How was your day? What'd you do?, etc, etc.) When all of a sudden, he says "Ooh, I've got to show you something downstairs." Ok, I'm game...we go downstairs and THIS is on my table:

Yep, BIG green bag from Knit Picky!!!!


I am STOKED!!!! He makes me wait till we get back upstairs to see what's inside:



Details........


That's Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino Collection:


...AND.....

13 skeins of baby llama!!!!!! for a sweater


I adore this yarn...it's so soft I couldn't keep my hands off of it and the color is gorgeous!! Thanks, so much Kim for helping him out and giving him a crash course in Yarnlove 101...LOL!!!

My baby said that he did all this because of the night I was telling him about different yarns, fibers and I told him that I wanted to make something out of cashmere or alpaca!!! I talked about it here: http://queendbw.blogspot.com/2008/03/quick-and-sweet.html Well, it stayed with him!!! He planned to buy me enough cashmere for a sweater, he quickly realized that just wasn't in our budget...LOL!!! Kim helped him pick out the baby llama and it is PERFECT!! I am currently practicing project monogamy, so I need to finish my Ribbed Cable Pullover pronto. That being said, I'm all out of time. Y'all have a good night!!

My First Sweater

I know I've talked about it, but I finally cast on for it Sunday. I'm making my first sweater. I fell in love with the Shifting Rib Pullover when I saw it in the Winter 2007/08 issue of Vogue Knitting and I've finally cast on. I'm so excited!!!


I'm using the yarn I bought on the last NCEE meet-up:

(Cascade 220 Heathers)





I started on it Sunday evening; and here's my progress as of Monday:






It's really coming along!! I am doing much better than I expected. Here's where I am so far tonite:



Ciao, gotta get back to my needles!! ;D

Nearly Perfect Day

I had a nearly perfect day Saturday. I got to meet up with my NCEE (North Carolina Ebony Elite) ladies...who will be known as Neicy going forward (LOL, Stacey). We met in Winston-Salem and had lunch at a great little spot called Sweet Potatoes. The food was GREAT!!! I'll definitely be going back there.

There was an arts fest going on while we were there...great booths and some Awesome shops on Trade St. We did our yarn crawl... We started at Knit One, Smock Too. Great shop and the ladies in there were very sweet. Not to mention my daughter loved the dollhouse they have in there.


Neicy and them at Knit One, Smock Too...



Next we went to Knit Picky. It is in the cutest little house and the comfy, red couch is DIVINE!!! I picked up some Cascade 220 Heathers here...

(obligatory yarn porn....)


The crew again...


Then we stopped for ice cream......

Toni, Deborah and Mr. Ryan...


Nik, Nayomi and Laila....



Renee, Stacey and Wendy




Great day, right? So why "nearly perfect"? Because Ms. Migraine visited me again. I felt her coming on the way home and by the time I got in the house, my hands were shaking so bad I could hardly hold my cup to take my meds....sigh. So I crashed for a couple of hours to find that my DEAR, SWEET, WONDERFUL hubby went to......

Yes, that's a Ganache box!!!!! He got a turtle cake...YUM!!!!!!!! I love this man!!! So, my day took a dip, but ended up great! Ooh, here's the cake....

TTFN!!

Baby Bolero is finished!!

I did it!!! I love it!! It's sooo tiny, though...It looks like it should fit a doll...LOL! As a matter of fact, I borrowed my daughter's Cabbage Patch to test it out. It's nearing my bedtime, so this will be short and sweet. Here are the pix:

front:


back:






And the money shot!! This is my granddoll-ter, Brown Baby:



Whaddaya think?

Hello!!

I have been B-U-S-Y. We finally finished spring cleaning. I pulled out the steamer and did the carpets last weekend (YAY!!!!) I also finished with my online course, so I've got a break from that for a week. AND I've been knitting!!!

I am making the baby bolero for my friend Lucy's little girl. I love the pattern. It's working up pretty quickly (seriously, I have only been able to knit in stolen moments here and there and I'm almost done - in less than a week). I see many of these in the future for all my friends and relatives that have wee ones. Like I said, it worked up very quickly, but I did get a few shots of the body and sleeves. I plan to put it together tonight. Here are some before shots:

Here is the body with the right front worked:

Here are some shots of the body and sleeves:

I LOVE this detail on the back:

Until next time...

Des

The Nautilus Hat Redux...

Call it my stubborn Leo pride....I just can't let go of that hat. You know, the one from January. http://queendbw.blogspot.com/2008/01/sigh-hat.html I'm compelled to finish it. And thanks to my good friend Nik, nikknits.blogspot.com I can.

Nik had a post last week about Magic Loop with a handy-dandy video!!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=BtBSmxGomPk&feature=related

Tonite, I'm frogging the hat and tomorrow we begin again....

Des

Random thoughts about knitting

I am so excited!! I learned a new skill yesterday, thanks to Knitty Gritty. I can now do double-knitting (so that things are reversible)...YAY ME!!!!

I have also made a test swatch of my next project. I will make the ribbed cable pullover from the Holiday issue of Interweave Knits. This is my most ambitious project yet, so wish me luck.

Also, if you could please take a minute and sign this petition, I'd really appreciate it: http://www.petitiononline.com/1234lulu/petition.html

The first knitting show I'd ever seen, Knitty Gritty (on DIY network) has been out of production for quite a while and we're trying to convince them to produce new episodes.

Thanks and have a Happy Easter!!!

Spring Cleaning

...is my most favorite chore of all (NOT!!) Nevertheless, it must be done. I went through the kids clothes, toys and closets. We'll be making a drop at the Goodwill shortly. Best of all, though, I found a box of yarn (doesn't that sound pathetic) in my closet. Now to explain, we've been in NC for almost two years, but I still had about four boxes in my closet that I'd never unpacked. Three of them were full of books and the last was full of crafting stuff!! YAY ME!!! Now I get to catalog and assign projects for each (cause you KNOW I don't remember what I bought them for...LOL).

We were going to do some yardwork today too. But hubby had a meeting this am and barely beat the rain...maybe tomorrow.

I'm SO glad we're finally letting go of winter!!!!!

TTFN!!

Des

The Neckwarmer Button

I have had several people ask me about the button. I love it too!!! I got it from This & That. It's my LYS here in Greensboro, located on Cornwallis Drive.

This button is listed as "#465 Wood Toggle E3028". But they have lots of great ones...I'll be going back, so don't clean them out!!!

Des

The Neckwarmer is done!!

I finished it! I love it!! I almost don't want to give it to my friend!! Thank you, Stacey, the pattern was a breeze; worked up really quickly. And the blocking was nothing to fear, either. Here's a pic of it:

I REALLY like the button!!! Here's a closer look at it:

I would post a pic of me wearing it, but I'm already in my bed clothes and nobody but the hubby should have to see that...LOL!!!! This will definitely be my go-to pattern for when I need a gift in a hurry. I see that some of my stash will be disappearing too!!

Now if I can just decide what to make for Luci's baby girl...