Anyone know where I can buy some time?

I have way too many projects on the go. It is starting to stress me out. Not the number of projects, but the lack of time to work on them. I feel guilty that I wish for nap time so that I can have an hour to myself to stitch. I worry that I'm wishing away the hooligan's babyhood.

Nothing like a bit of mummy guilt.

So - this weekend saw a bit of progress on Makhi and my Papillon Creations SAL. I seem to be focusing on Makhi, and I hope that this will be finished by the end of the year. Of course, I still need to finish the sweater for hooligan #1, so we'll see.

Phew!~

Hello out there for anyone still reading! What a month it's been. I have been busy so I'll give a little update on the projects that have seen the most love.

Here is my Papillon Creations SAL "How Does Your Garden Grow". I am now finally finished the first part and need to catch up the the other stitchers who have finished part three!

Makhi: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

Craziness - I am hoping to join in on Vonna's PS SAL - fabric is ready and I'm poised over the last chart, needle in hand. See this photo for the full effect: the picture that began teh crazy. Did you swoon a little? I did.

I finished the sweater for Hooligan #2. Since he'll be surprised all over again at Christmas, we decided to try it on a bit early and thankfully it fits. Hooligan #1's sweater is underway - I'm about 5 inches up the body.

So - there in a nutshell, has been my progress on a few projects. I really hope to update this blog more often, so please stay tuned!

oinkers

My daughter has the flu (oink oink) - I will not be going away this weekend. I really could have used a break, but I know that I couldn't leave her and that my little guy will probably get it as well.

:sigh:

hmmmmm

So, I'm a pretty shy gal. I've been having major back and neck troubles over the last week and my DH pinched a nerve in his neck a couple of nights ago. We just recently started paying for extended health coverage - which includes a small sum towards massage therapy. Can you guess where this is headed?

His name is Charles and I will be spending a glorious hour on his table tomorrow from 1:30-2:30pm. I'm gonna have to take my shirt off aren't I? It's OK - DH's bliss is named Sandra. Though sadly for him, there won't be a happy ending.

After that? I'm headed up North for my weekend stitching retreat. I'm so excited I'm not sure I'll sleep tonight. It's going to be rather grand. I'll have pictures on Monday!

unfortunately I'll play...

Meme-o-rific

Saw this on another's blog: Type your first name preceded by the word “unfortunately” into Google and see what comes up.

So.....

Unfortunately Caroline:

- unfortunately Caroline's bikini bottoms also got toasted

- unfortunately, Caroline's dreams of a relaxing and healing vacation go up in smoke when the spa's owner, Claudia De Vries, is found murdered in one of her own mud baths!

- unfortunately, Caroline's glorious time with Ridge was short-lived as she was soon diagnosed with leukemia and was told she only had months to live.

- unfortunately Caroline just went through a big growth spurt

- unfortunately Caroline's attempts to settle in Tunisia failed

- unfortunately Caroline died three months later

Well, hopefully I enjoyed my time in Tunisia toasting my bikini bottoms.........

Bread and such....

Have you ever been so proud of yourself and just had to tell someone? Based on opinions around the innernets I ordered this book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. It really, truly was stupidly easy and looks amazing (taste test to come later tonight with dinner) Here's the bread:

We can't wait to eat it!

I'm involved in a SAL with my LNS and we're stitching an older freebie from Papillon Creations "How Does Your Garden Grow?" It's a mystery SAL and our fearless leader is handing out one part each month. I have only a few more days to finish up the first part or I'll be behind - so that's what I'll be stitching tonight. The specialty stitches have been really cool to work and the instructions are very clear.

Happy Monday y'all.

Yellow Blanket

What a week it's been. I had been feeling really out of sorts about all of the projects under way and NOTHING being finish finished. I started my Christmas knitting (more on that later) but needed a cable from another project that had been on the needles for awhile. When I was pregnant with my son I began a blanket for him - sunshine yellow, soft, squishy superwash wool. It was a lace pattern, and I learned a valuable lesson about dye lots (always order extra...) and gauge - mine was off - but it was a blanket right? Who cared about gauge? Well, I worked away for a good 10 months on that sucker - it grew heavy on my big belly, and heavier on my post partum flab and lap. I was so disappointed with it (dye lot differences - I had tried striping it, gauge - it would be HUGE when done - and I have to finish it - you know - even if its wrong) Then I hated it. I couldn't work on it anymore. So, I abandoned it, and I decided that I would rip it out and use the wool to make something else. I couldn't deal with it, so I left it behind a few piles of stuff and tried to forget about it. Then, last weekend I really needed the cable needle that was buried under the stitches of that blanket. You should know at this point that my son's favourite thing in the whole world is his blue knit blanket that my SIL made - he can not sleep without it. He digs knit stuff. I worked so hard on that damn thing that even if it wasn't right - he would like it - and that was the whole point. I didn't even look to see if I was at a completed pattern repeat - I simply cast that sucker off, wove in the ends and presented it to him.

I think he approved. I now think that it's the greatest thing I've ever made.

I also showed Makhi some love.

Then I cleaned out a stash drawer. This is something I stitched last year for my little guy's room. If you'd like the pattern - I'd be happy to pass it on to you - please leave me a comment. It's LHN "Counting House".

Now, onto the Christmas knitting. I decided to make my kids matching sweaters (just the pattern, not the colours) because I've always wanted to - KWIM? I'm using Wendy Bernard's "Drive-Thru" pattern. Dudes - this is a great pattern. Easy even, and I'm a very basic knitter. So, I've already knit the body of the babe's sweater (in the round, bottom up) and now I'm on to the first sleeve. Here's where I have to give myself props. I taught myself the magic loop method of knitting (with the book - awesome instructions...) Wanna know what's so magic? It's one long circular needle, and I'm knitting a tube that won't need to be seamed!!!

SEE?????
So, thank you and good night.