Felting fever and other FOs

The vine lace socks are now a happy couple. The brown yarns have turned into this lovely chocolate bag for Mom. Funny how the finished bag looks lighter than the yarn in the picture. The turquoise bag is a little one I made especially for the cruise so that I can walk around with my phone, camera and IDs without bothering to carry a larger purse. I have a pair of capris just this color! I did alter it after this photo was taken. I didn't care for the beading just above the button. It was a good idea gone bad. I know the beading around the flap looks a bit wonky but it is "handmade" after all and my first attempt at sewing on beads. Steph and I bought the button at Joann Fabric this afternoon after our sushi lunch at Yummy Sushi in Henderson.

I actually have another little bag done that just needs to be seamed and felted. It is a mix of the brown and turquoise that will have little i-cord bracelets as handles. It works in theory. Let's see if it works in reality. Pictures to come.

I'm getting nervous about this cruise. Have I mentioned that this is my first? I have always wanted to go but get terribly seasick so didn't think I would ever actually chance it. I'm going with 3 of my girlfriends that I used to play Bunco with. My friends have told me to start Dramamine 24 hours prior, which I will do faithfully. I'd hate to spend all this money and mess it up just because I didn't start the Dramamine early enough. I'm also worried about how everyone will be dressed. I don't want to look out of place. I can't do "before cruise shopping" like some people because as Bernie reminded me today, I don't have a job any more. Good thing I paid for all of this right after I quit. Will you all think I'm too hokey if I told you I've been dreaming of the Love Boat for the past couple of nights? My friends and I are meeting for lunch tomorrow to go over some details, which I appreciate. Dang it! You'd think I was some hick who has never been out of Dodge before. I have been traveling the world since I was born. It's just this whole "cruise" thing that has me going nuts! Everyone I know who has been on one talks about them like they're part of some super secret exclusive club and since I've never been on one, I, the ignorant uninitiated fool, would never understand the power of the cruise. If I was a man, I'd be packing my polo shirt, plaid Bermuda shorts, black socks and sandals right now! Woohoo Bertha! I'm ready to party!

I'm allowed to post on my own blog! Yippee!

Yesterday, I was poised and ready to post some pictures and drone on and on as usual but I got a message from Blogger that their robot has determined that my blog was a "spam blog" and locked me out! What the f*&%? Oh yeah, I love SPAM, which happens to be the state meat of Hawaii, but I don't send spam to all of my lovely friends out there. I was upset to say the least. Now I don't know what the hell to write about since I just found myself able to post to my own blog once again. More pictures, less rambling to come...promise!

Brrr...what a way to welcome spring!

I've always wanted a shot from Anthony's school. These kids have the best view of the whole valley. It was a much more dramatic sight this morning at 7 a.m. when I dropped him off at school as it was still snowing pretty hard up in the mountains. We usually don't get snow on the side of town where we live. On the left of the photo is the Las Vegas Strip and on the right is Downtown Las Vegas, though you can't see it. The Stratosphere tower is that tall thing. From this shot you can see the newest addition to The Strip - the Wynn Hotel & Casino. Isn't it huge? It's beautiful on a clear sunny day as the glass is a deep bronze color.


Funny thing, spring. We get more snow in the spring than in the winter here in Las Vegas it seems. I'm not complaining. I'd rather have this little bit than have to shovel my way out of my front door every day. This photo above is the view from our driveway.


Above is the view from our backyard balcony.


What's this dark thing at the bottom of our pool, you ask? Bernie and I were upstairs and heard the rain coming down. He loves the rain so he looked out the window, which happens to be right over our pool. He said, is that a squirrel at the bottom of the pool or one of the kids' toys? I don't think we have squirrels here in Las Vegas but I think we do have either prairie dogs or chipmunks. Poor thing must not have seen the sign telling him not to run in the pool area because it's slippery when wet. I told Bernie to give him mouth to mouth rescucitation but he refused. He's off duty.

Here are the vine lace socks I just completed. I don't have a pattern for them. I got the vine lace pattern out of one of my old pattern books and just adapted them to my generic toe up sock pattern that I normally use. They're a bit loose as I had to go up a few stitches for accomodate the lace pattern, but since I plan to wear them as house socks I don't really mind all that much. Not enough to frog them and reknit.

The pattern is worked over 9 stitches + 4 and over 4 rows. Here are the instructions for knitting flat:
Row 1: k3, *yo, k2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2, yo, k1*. Repeat from *to* to end, k1.
Rows 2 & 4: Purl
Row 3: k2, *yo, k2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2, yo, k1*. Repeat from *to* to end, k2.

If you're working in the round, don't add the "+4" stitches. I didn't know this and found out the hard way. You'll be left with a 4 st column of stockinette stitch going up the length of your sock.








I think I have enough of this yarn left for a pair in the Blueberry Waffle pattern. I'm working on one right now and just turned the heel. Pictures to come.

Mr. Volcano Head

This week is Nevada Reading Week and at Christopher's school they are celebrating Dr. Seuss with Wacky Hat Day. I told Chris that I could make him a hat that looked like a volcano spewing molten hot magma and he went for it. I love my 6 year old!!! I was working on a shawl (my in-the-car project) in this red-orange-purple yarn that reminded me of flames. It inspired this whole volcano themed hat.