Uli's Creative Corner

It's Friday night and I'm much more relaxed and calmer.  Had a bit of time to cruise the internet and check this out.  Holli Yeoh, creator of Bee's Knee's Knits patterns asked me if she could use one of my pictures of my Candace, one of her designs, in her new web site's gallery.  I cruised around tonight and found it.  Check it out.  My Candace, modelled by Miss Erika is the bottom most square on the left hand side.  These patterns are fun, simple and a great way to make a great looking kids' knit that makes great use of the beauty of self-patterning yarns.  They make great gifts, too.  I'll be working one up in the near future for another baby about to be born in June.

Have a good night.

It's Friday........ oh yes, and I'm happy.  I'm having a tough time at work right now.  I don't try and mix work into this blog too often but I'm just very frustrated today.  A project I'm working on is turning into more of a frustration than a professional success story.  I seem to be dealing with some people whose attitudes are just so weird and so strange............. not supportive at all.  At the same time, I'm pushed from above to continue in the direction I've been going even though I feel like I'm hitting brick walls and slammed doors all the time.  It's very frustrating and very stressful and today I would really just like to run away.  I need a yarn store fix!!!!  Maybe I'll go at lunch time today just to get out.

Gues what, guess what................. all I have left to do is to cast off for the swing coat body.  The body is done!!!  Now I just need to get into sleeve mode.  It is happening.  It will happen.

I've been too busy to do much else.  I haven't even made much of any progress on any socks this week because I didn't get much breaks at lunch time.  Tonight for swimming lessons I'm going in the poos because it's parent participation night and Erika really wants me to come in the water.  So I won't knit socks tonight.  We have to clean up the house.  Tomorrow Erika and I have music class in the morning.  Evan has to head downtown for an appointment at 10:45.  Erika and I (Evan will join us when he's back from downtown) have her first little birthday party to go to at 1 pm.  It's scheduled for 1-3 pm.  It's my Mom's birthday tomorrow.  We're going out for dinner with them tomorrow night and they will be over about 5 pm.  Do you think I'll be able to buy her birthday present between 3 and 5 pm tomorrow?  I have no idea, absolutely no idea whatsoever for what to get her this year.

Enough whining........... Sunday................ nice and quiet............ knit.............. relax................

I had difficulty with my editor this morning so I had to delay my little post about the crochet cardie.  But here it is..... it's finished and I have some cute pictures to show.

Details

Pattern: From last summer's Sandnes Mandarin Petit Cotton book

Size: 4

Yarn: Crystal Palace Baby Georgia - 100% cottong

Made for: Erika

One of these days I'll get a model shot - but isn't it lovely?  I can see my little girl all dressed up in a pretty summer dress with this little cardigan topping it off.

Enjoy the evening.

I thought I wouldn't be here........... now I'm here.......... but because the weather was so beautiful we went to the park.  And when we came home, I actually did about 2.5 rows on the swing coat.  2 rows at a time.  Right?  That in lap........... who could be cold?  Yikes, it's not feeling cold weather anyways.  I keep swearing at it and Evan keeps telling me that if I finish it now, I'll have a nice warm coat to put on once fall arrives.  He is so right.... but just too logical for me some days. :-)

The crochet cardigan is done except for sewing on the buttons.  It's so cute.  I hope I can get some pics tonight.

But what can I show you today?  Okay, I'm turning this into Oooh, aaaah.... see my little cutie.........

Swimming lessons are fun!!!

And after swimming lessons I get to eat a huge big coolie all by myself!!!!!

Time for some lunch!!! Have a good one!!!

Oh, I got the cutest Lorna's Laces baby hat pattern with a skein of LL to make it with yesterday.  For some reason, when I ordered it I thought it was made with the LL Sock weight yarn but it's done up in the the Shepherd Worsted (or the sport......... no I think it's the worsted).  Oh, that stuff is so soft.  I'm not disappointed that it's in the heavier weight yarn.  I wasn't paying attention when I ordered it.  I was just hoping to be able to make these little cute baby hats from some of my sock weight leftovers.  But with some math, nothing would be impossible. Right?  I'm going to needle one of those up really soon.

Oh what a busy but beautiful weekend.  The weather was just awesome and because we had a bit of driving time, I even got a pair of Opal socks finished.  This yarn is from my big collection.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  But today is my first day with sandals and bare feet this year so my sock wearing days might be over for a while except for crummy weather days.

That was my big knitting finish this weekend.  However, I almost did finish the crochet cardigan.  I just have some scallops to crochet around the neck edge and then sew on buttons.  I didn't quite get that finished last night.  I hope I can show off some pictures tomorrow.

I wanted to show you a few pictures that I took on Friday during my lunch time walk.  Isn't it beautiful?  I'm so fortunate that I can take a walk or sit on a park bench and do some knitting watching others walk and get their exercise.

This would be the view from my favourite knitting park bench!!!

This time of the year is just so beautiful.

Busy times this week.  I might not be here tomorrow - but I might try and post tonight if I get the crochet cardigan finished and have something to show.

I wish I could report more from my shopping expedition.  We started at 9 am this morning with a drive to Coquitlam to go to music class.  Erika was high on fruit loops and had a blast.  She is doing very well with her music class and we always have fun.  Unfortunately at the end, after class was already over, she fell and hurt her teeth and mouth.  It doesn't look like she did any damage but we're watching her to see if she complains about soreness as she had bleeding gums and her gums are still kind of bruised and swollen.  We may need to make an appointment with the dentist.  Like a big trooper she kept on going fairly quickly and off we went for our haircuts.  That was all good except that I got water down all the back of me so I was wet for a while.  It was totally my fault, too.  Someone walked up to me and asked me a question about my shirt while I was reclined and getting my hair rinsed.  It was just instinct and I lifted hy head up and raised my body to answer and a big gush of water went down my back.  Ah well, it was a warm day.

Then off to see Great Grandma in Richmond.  We had lunch with grandma and visited for a while.  Then I wanted to go and check out 2 local stores I had been told about.  And please...... please don't take offense to what I'm about to write if you live in and love Richmond........ My husband does not like Richmond at all.  So when we're in Richmond I always tread very carefully about where I want to drag him to just because of this dislike.  He doesn't like the crowds and the amount of cars that seem to be on Richmond streets.  So I tactically avoid anything on No. 3 Road but if you want to do any shopping No. 3 Road it is.  But today we did venture down No. 3 Road to check out a store in Parker Place and Alpha Crafts in Yaohan Centre.  I really wanted to go to Alpha but because Parker Place was first from the direction we came to, we stopped there.  We walked all through the mall before finding a little yarn store.  I would say that you could probably find quite some gems in that little store but it's not something I would find myself drawn to come back to.  I didn't really notice any yarns that I couldn't fairly easily pick up at any other LYS.  Everything was wrapped in plastic bags.  It was a tiny store but quite a bit of yarn.  Lots and lots of bags of yarn.  There probably was some sense of organization but I couldn't figure it out right off the top.  And Erika was getting cranky and tired so we left.  I saw a pretty cotton that I think would have worked nicely for a couple of projects in my mind but I was only in money spending mood if I saw something earth shaking - and I didn't.

Then we headed off to Yaohan to find Alpha Crafts right next door.  We made one turn into what only was the entrance to a parkade for another mall and I could feel Evan losing his patience for battling traffic (he was driving).  We got to the other Centre without any problem but there was not one single parking spot to be had and many, many more cars looking for parking.  That's not something that Evan will hang around for and rather than pushing it, I told him to just get out of there and keep going.  So we headed home.  I wish we had found parking because it will probably be months before we head into Richmond again. 

Now we're home and I'm tired.  I just finished a pair of Opal socks. That's what driving days are great for.  I like them.  Pictures tomorrow or on Monday.  I have to go wind a hank of yarn for the crochet cardigan.  I might be able to finish that tonight.

Enjoy your weekend.

Could I shout out FRIDAY any louder.  I'm glad it is.  It's been a pretty busy/stressful week and none of it has been quiet and relaxing.  I talked about the general knitting malaise and then I read Brenda's post about knitting boredom.  Hmmm, me thinks?  Am I bored?  With knitting?  No, of course not.  Not bored with the idea of knitting and not bored with the act of knitting.  Bored with the fact that I'm placing "must dos", "must finishes" and certain restrictions on myself.  Must finish the swing coat, can't put it away, can't start anything new, must finish something else.  But deep down I want to win this battle.  But, I'm going to take it easy.  No sense in fretting over my knitting and complaining and whining with every stitch I take.

The little things that bring joy are trying on a little something for Erika and seeing that it will fit once finished and finding her thrilled with it and running to the mirror.  Her little crochet cardigan is now in the final stages.  I'm almost finished the 1st sleeve - 5 or 6 more rows and the scallop edge.  That took me no time so the 2nd sleeve will take me no time.  So that will be my next finish!!!  A finish this weekend.

And, I will re-cast on for the Dancing Vines and try to avoid the twist. 

I bought the cutest little Denim tote bag at my LYS yesterday.  It's a denim tote with an embroidered sheep and Knitopia as the text embroidered on it.  So cute.  So cool.

At the WW meeting last night a little boy was there with his grandma and he was behind me.  He was so totally fascinated by my knitting.  He would stand right behind me and watch me over my shoulder.  At the end he was shy but his grandma got him to ask me the questions he wanted to ask.  He asked me how long it would be before I finished.  It was my 2nd sock and I was on the leg so I told him I'd finish this weekend and then I showed him the sock I had already completed.  He touched it and looked at it and was just so impressed.  It was quite neat.  And then he saw that I had another ball of yarn in my bag so he wanted to see that.  I was quite touched at the little guy's interest.  He was maybe 7 or 8.

I'm ready for the weekend.  Are you?

All day Tuesday I thought it was Wednesday, all day Wednesday I thought it was Thursday....... today I know it's not Friday.  I now know that I was a whole day off all week so today is like living through Thursday again.  Go figure.  There are numerous people I talked to who felt the same way this week.  Somewhere, somhow, along the way our minds played a trick on us making us think the work week only consisted of 4 days.    WRONG!!!!

General knitting malaise has set in.  And that's because of that darn swing coat.  I'm telling you.... I whine about it every day.  Maybe I should just take myself out of my own misery but there is something stronger than that tugging at my commitment strings and I'm committed to this coat just like I'm committed to my marriage (and that means a lot).  But as a result, I've been barely making any progress.  I got 1/2 row done last night before I cast it aside when Erika wanted me to do read some books for her and then I never picked it up again.  I figure that 20 - 25 more rows will do it.  At this point, I don't really care when it gets done so maybe I just need to divide those 20 rows into small chunks of 2 rows a day or even just one row a day.  I figure adding the sleeves will go fast once that darn body over 360 stitches or more is done.  Instead, once Erika was satisfied with her stories, I picked up the crochet cardigan again.  I'm working on sleeve #1 and I don't think it will be too hard to finish it soon. 

Something else has been holding me back and keeping me from my knitting.  One is the beautiful weather.  I've been going out for walks at lunch time so my socks are sitting there unloved.  After dinner we've been trying to make an effort to go out as well.  Erika has been pedalling her little bike and we get a nice bit of exercise just keeping up with her.  As a result we come back in the house just before it's bath, pajama and bed time.  But also, I've been sooooo tired.  Last night I really felt it............ that tiredness where I didn't even feel like lifting my arms to knit.  The tiredness in the back of the eyes.  Just a real lack of energy.  I know I'm not getting as much sleep as my body needs but come on body........ adjust to the fact that I don't always get the right amount of sleep.  I know, that's silly.  I need to treat my body better than that but like so many of us Moms (and Dads) out there, I'm getting a bit run down by always having to be on the go and always being "up" and ready to go at a moment's notice.  And if I was hoping to get some rest this weekend - not much chance of that.  Saturday is jam packed - music class, hair cuts, lunch with great grandma in Richmond.  The only thing I'm trying to get out of the Richmond trip is maybe a visit to the Yohan Centre and Alpha Crafts to check out what I've heard is an interesting selection of yarns and lots of Clover notions.  I actually don't think we have plans on Sunday but because we'll be out all of Saturday, the chores will be waiting for us with open arms on Sunday.

But hey........ that's life.  And under my breath, I'm saying - just wait until we start digging up the backyard and the front flower bed.  Until we start building that patio and working on the drainage in the back yard..... yup, that's all on the drawing board for the next couple of months. 

We had a crisis last night that's a cute one to share.  I got Erika to go upstairs for bed time and stories with her Daddy for once.  Yeah for me.  I settled in to watch the American Idol result show (what's up with voters anyways?) and soon I heard screaming and crying.  What was that all about?  What could Daddy have done (or not done) to cause such a tantrum?  I didn't check into it until a frustrated Daddy came to the stairs saying "we have a major issue because I can't read Erika's book "Die Kückenschule"".  Well, yes, it's one of my old, old German children's books that my Mom saved all these years and gave to me when Erika was born.  It's in great shape.  It ended up in Erika's book basket and she pulled it out a few days ago.  I've always wanted her to grow up with both languages but I never worked very hard at speaking German with her so she gets exposed to the language by virtue of me talking it with my parents and my parents speaking with her in a mix of languages but that's about it.  So I wasn't sure what she'd think of the book and me reading it in German.  Well, she's loving it.  We've been reading it every night (at least twice) for the last week.  So when she wanted Daddy to read the book and he tried to oblige by making up a story from the pictures, he was less than happy with him and got very upset because he couldn't read it to her properly.  So I had to come to the rescue!!!  It's quite funny.

Hope to at least get some sock knitting done at my WW meeting tonight.  Have a good one.

Sunny days are ahead.  I'm loving it.  I'm loving this kind of weather.  Oh but then there was the Swing Coat.... heavy wool yarn.  I got 4 rows done last night - the extent of all my knitting time.    3 more inches to go........... on the body..... I figure about 20 more rows.  Maybe tonight with Survivor and the Apprentice - oops, nope, not Thursday yet.  I've been messing that up all week.  Maybe tonight after our walk then, I can get a few more rows done.  Ah well, it was a nice thought. 

I should stop whining and just get on with it.

The sun is here so I feel a twinge of a sore throat.  Erika has had the sniffles and general malaise but she's better.  Someone at work had severe strep throat.  Oh, there's so much going around.

I hear the coffee is finished and since I'm really short of anything to say - that swing coat is the most boring project ever to blog about - I'll leave off here.

Have a good one!!  What day is it again.......... oh yeah, it's Wednesday only.

When all else fails........... knit socks. Right?  Well, that's about how I felt last night.  I didn't get a chance to touch anything else and since hubby seemed to be stuck on the computer upstairs and Erika was downstairs with me, there was no point in pulling out the swing coat.  I did notice that a bunch of stitches had come off the needle.  Yikes.  They looked undisturbed and unharmed and I feared taking them out with a child around that was up to lots of trouble and not having a moment's peace and quiet to rescue the stitches would mean more than disaster.  So I left them undisturbed and hope that the cats won't get into my knitting basket today - they don't often get into that kind of trouble.  It's warming up, it's warming up, spring is here......... and that coat is still sitting there.  I want to forsake it, run off without it but something is telling me to just keep going before it gets even warmer.  The evenings are still nice and cool and I still wear sweatshirts and sweats around the house so I won't quite complain so much yet of a warm blanket covering my legs as I bring this project to completion.  But oh, the pretty spring cottons are calling to me.

Speaking of spring cottons.......... I really don't have a lot of spring/summer type projects in my line-up.  I have a few cute patterns but not the yarn for them.  I also want to stop buying so much yarn.  If I stay true to that, does that mean I'll be knitting winter projects all summer long?  I don't know.  I'll probably go out and buy some more cotton.  I'm not lacking little girl's projects and Dancing Vines could probably turn into my entire summer project all in one go around.  I have some light blue cotton and some other stuff waiting int he wings.  Heck no............. I don't really need to buy any spring yarns.  Well, I won't commit one way or the other way but I really am trying to be reasonable about my purchases and to cut back a bit.  It's sock yarn that I just can't resist.  I would like to make a little short sleeved cardie.  Wait and see....

I need to run to the library and return a book tonight and because it's nice, Evan will be firing up the BBQ.  BBQ time gives me a break from cooking.  Or at least I only have to deal with the side dishes.  Works for me.

Enjoy the spring weather.  I hope it's nice where you are.