Knits For Sanity

Super Secret Project Revealed

Me and Mama, who is going to KILL me for this.  Sorry mom, I like this picture of you. 

This picture was taken a couple weeks ago at a wedding shower for my good friend Lisa.  I've recently cut about 3-4 inches off my hair and also added new blonde highlights.  So it's shorter and blonder.  You actually can't tell how long it really was in this pic b/c it's all behind my shoulders.

WOW!  How in the world did I go off on a tangent about my hair?!  Wierd. Back on track.  Thank you for all of your birthday wishes for my mom.  She says "thank you!" to you all. 

I can finally reveal my Super Secret Project.  I bet you've all been wondering, right?  Humor me.  I decided to knit a Clapotis as a birthday gift for my mom this year.  I decided to use Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, because the colorways are so gorgeous.  Plus I've heard such great things about it and really wanted to have some in my possession, even if the project wasn't for me.  It is a wonderfully soft yarn.  This fall, if time and money permit, I will have to knit a Clapotis from the Lorna's as a Christmas gift.

I started my mom's Clapotis around the beginning of July, once the yarn arrived in the mail.  I really wanted to surprise my mom with it so I decided to knit it in secret.  That meant not being able to post about it on my blog.  Plus since I'm dependent on my parents, I had to work on it when my mom was either out of the house or asleep.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get much knitting done on it on her days off or when she decided to stay up late.  In the end I really didn't get enough done.

So anyway I REALLY tried, but I was unable to complete it in time.  It's pretty sad actually because it's a bit shy of being half finished.

So here's how far I got.  Even though it wasn't finished I still decided to show it to my mom.  I was SO happy that she loved the colorway.  I picked it out online, thinking that it was perfect for her.  Then when it came in the mail the colors where much richer and darker than they had looked.  At first I was a little upset about the colorway but it really began to grow on me.  I really like it now.  All that really matters is that mom said she loves the color.  That's enough for me!

I do wish that I had finished it.  Oh well, right?  It's so hot here that she won't be able to wear it until the fall anyway.  Now I have to put it aside to finish my Sockapal-2-za socks and my Preemie Project donations.  I have SO MANY blankets to sew.  Our first hospital donation is just around the corner, on 9/1.  Exciting!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is Linda Aker's 49th birthday!  She sure doesn't look old enough to be 49 or have a 23 year old daughter.  She gets more gorgeous with every coming year. 

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday dear mama, Happy birthday to you! 

I love you mama.  I hope that the years to come just keep getting better.  My mom spent the day watching movies, knitting and eating whatever she wanted.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Thank You Angie!

I'm reminded everyday of what a great family I have.  I really would be in a tough place emotionally without so many shoulders to cry on.  I couldn't be luckier.  I received another reminder of my great support system in the mail on Friday.

While I was on my little vacation last weekend I visited a lot of family.  Some of them I had seen recently and with some of them it had been at least 2 or three years.  It was so great to see everyone.  It was especially great to see my cousins Jennifer (27), Angela (25) and Valerie (23).  (the girls)  I hadn't visited with them since Valerie's wedding I believe two years ago but it may have been three. 

I was very disappointed that I was not able to really hang out with the girls.  I was actually quite heartbroken that I was physically unable to participate in most of the activities with them like going to the beach, swimming, fishing and boating.  I think the family may have sensed the fact that the weekend wasn't going so great for me.  I tried to hide it as best I could but probably didn't always do a great job.  I was touched that my cousins went out of their way to try and include me in the cabin activities.  Actually I was overwhelmed that the whole family tried to include me as best they could.

Anyhow on the trip I discovered that my cousin Angie is a knitter.  I had no idea and was so excited.  I had wanted someone to gush to about knitting for such a long time.  If you haven't noticed already, I tend to be extrememly long-winded.  As such I think that everyone else in my life has probably had enough of my knitting talk.  When I found out and started to go on and on about knitting, Angie went to get hers.  I thought, "Great, I'm not the only one!" 

We spent one evening sitting in the cabin, knitting and gabbing.  Meanwhile my mom was knitting and teaching my aunt to knit at the same time.  I've been dying to attend my local knitting group but missed the meeting when I left for this trip.  We ended up having our own little knitting party instead.  I had the most fun of the whole trip that evening. 

It was truly wonderful to be able to relate to someone in person who is also my own age.  The fact that it was a family member was even better.  Knitting has been my main, well actually pretty much my only, interest since my surgery August 13th, 2004.  I haven't been able to do the things other 20 somethings are doing.  This frustrating fact has kept me from really relating to other women my age.  I really needed it!

So on Friday I was surprised by a package in the mail from my cousin Angie.  I woke up late and had to rush to a physical therapy appointment.  (Oh but trust me it doesn't look like rushing.  lol!)  I didn't have time to open the package until my appointment was over.  I didn't expect this:

I spoke at length the previous weekend about The Preemie Project.  I thought maybe she had sent a yarn donation or something.  This gift was totally unexpected and so sweet.  Thank you Angie!  Stitch 'N Bitch has been on my wishlist for so long.  I've also secretly been wanting a knitting journal.  Angie, you read my mind on this one.  I love it!  Thank you for being so supportive.  I'm very lucky to have you as a cousin and a friend.

It was great to see you: Heather and Greg, Michaela, Marin and Molly, Mary, Patti. Angie, Valerie and Jenni.  Hope that it's not so long between visits next time!

Happy 28th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!

I want to wish a very happy anniversary to my parents.  It's been 28 years.  I'm so glad they found each other.  I wouldn't be here otherwise!  All kidding aside, I wish them another 28 years of happiness together.

I'm so blessed to have the mom (mama) and dad (daddy) I do.  I would be completely lost right now without them.  They're always there for me no matter what I need.  They're my shoulder to cry on and my rock to lean against.  It's been a very long year.  They've both been right there holding my hand the whole time.  I would be a complete mess without them. 

Thank you mama for getting me out of the house and for all the shopping therapy!  I would be totally insane without you.  Thank you Daddy for taking me to all my physical therapy appointments and being a soft place to land.  I can't express how wonderful it feels to know that there are two people in my life who will always be there no matter what.  There are so many things to thank them both for...to much to even list so I'll just say thank you for everything.  I couldn't have made it through this past year and especially this past month without you both.  I love you!  I wish you a very happy anniversary and many more to come!

Iowa City Jazz Festival

My family and I went downtown to the Iowa City Jazz Festival again today.  Things didn't start out so great.  I should have knocked on wood when I said how great the weather had been all weekend.  Today it poured down rain right as we were parking the car. 

My grandfather was very upset when it started to rain.  My brother, Greg, was supposed to play with the X-tet at 2pm.  My grandfather drove six hours just to see him play.  Luckily the rain eventually stoped.  I couldn't believe it but within an hour the sky was crystal clear.  We ended up having another gorgeous day.  The X-tet's set was cut a little short but they were still able to play most of it.

Here's a shot of the whole band.  I was really impressed by them.  The X-tet and Kenny Garret were my favorites of the festival. 

Greg had a great time.  He spent the whole weekend in charge of the side stages too.  Needless to say we didn't see him much.  He organizes events for a living.  So I think he was right in his element all weekend.

Here's a closer shot.  Greg's on the far right, in a blue shirt, playing tenor sax.  I know I'm probably biased but I thought he sounded phenomenal on his solo.  Considering he has hardly played all year, I don't think he lost a thing.

My cousin, Joe, and my grandpa really enjoyed the festival.  Unfortunately they're going home tomorrow morning.   

I'm really hoping to get down to Kansas by the end of August.  I really miss my grandma and the rest of my family.  I'm planning on traveling to Missouri for a little family reunion of sorts in three weeks.  (with the other side of my family)  I think that things are really starting to improve healthwise!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.   

 

My Grandma's the Best!

Remember how I always say that I have the very best grandmother in the world?  Well I'll prove it to you.  She sent me this for my birthday:

A basket of yarn!  What more could a girl ask for? 

Grandma sent me four skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted yarn in a beautiful deep purple color.  Well, we all know how I feel about purple! 

I'm so excited.  Now I can start my felted knitting bag as soon as my Tartelette shawl is finished.  Heck I could even start it now if I wanted! 

Here's the patterns that my Grandma sent me this past spring.  The patterns are from Two Old Bags, formerly known as Wool You Order.

I am going to knit the larger felted tote bag on the left out of the Lamb's Pride.  I may make one of the smaller ones later.  I've been wanting a bag to tote my knitting around in for almost a year.  What a great birthday present Grandma.  Thank You!  I love and miss you!

Click on this pic for a better look at the color.  It didn't really photograph well.  I'll have to take a pic of the finished bag outside.

One last thing, Karla you asked for the pattern for the cabled clutch I sent to Cindy.  I tried to email you twice but the email was sent undeliveravle.  Perhaps you entered your email address wrong?  I didn't forget about you!  I got that fabulous pattern off of one of my favorite blogs. 

Here's a special shout out to Libby of Knit Tibits.  She designed that cute pattern and there is a link to it on her blog.  I love that pattern Libby and plan to make one for myself soon.  That clutch is SO cute!  If anyone wants to see a picture of another one finished stop by Cindy's blog.  She just finished hers and it also happened to be her first project with cables. 

Great job on the pattern Libby!  Also, thank you for sharing it with everyone.  I look forward to being able to show mine off soon.

Happy Birthday To ME!

(Disclaimer: Sorry, no Knitting Content Today!  Well okay, very little!)

I had a wonderful birthday today!  At first I thought it was going to be horrible becauseit started out with a back spasm.  Stupid me, sleeping on two pillows.  Oh They're just so comfy!  Anyhow the birthday gods must have been smiling on me b/c the spasm only lasted 15 minutes.  That's never happened before.  Someone was definently smiling down on me.  Thank you grandma!

I was awoken this morning by a happy birthday from my mom bringing me a bagel and a Diet Pepsi.  Diet Pepsi?!  Oh yes, it's my morning coffee.  I gotta have my Diet Pepsi in the morning.  And yes, I have THE BEST momma in the world.  I couldn't ask for more. 

Once my back was better I decided to check my email before getting ready for my physical therapy appointment.  I was so surprised to have received happy birthday e-cards and happy birthday emails and comments on my blog.  Thank you to everyone who thought of me today!  You all put so many smiles on my face.  The support I receive from all of you is so wonderful.  I can't thank you enough.

As I was getting ready for my appointment the doorbell rang.  My little cousin Michaela came up the stairs with a card in her hand that looked like it belonged with flowers. 

My hometown friend Lisa sent me the most beautiful flowers and a touching note.  Lisa and I went to high school together and lived together for 2.5 years during college.  We have lost touch in the past year or so but she never fails to be there when I really need her.  Today was no exception.

These flowers were such a surprise and they warmed my heart.  I don't know if she'll read this but Thank You Lisa for brightening my world.  You're a wonderful friend.  The flowers are so beautiful.  They look so beautiful in my room.  They definitely cheer up the place!

Also I must congratulate Lisa as she is getting married in August.  Congrats Lisa and Eric!  They make each other so happy.  I look forward to the wedding shower in two weeks and the wedding in August.  It's going to be a wonderful celebration.  There's nothing better than seeing two people who are truly happy together.  I really couldn't be happier for them.

After physical therapy I came home to another surprise.  Janette, one of my Preemie Project volunteers, sent me these goodies:

Thank you Janette!  You're very sweet to think of me.  Janette sent me things to spend a day outside with the kitties.  Everything will come in handy.  As you can see I already ate most of the Skittles.  How did you know about my sweet tooth?  I love everything!  Thank you!

Janette has taken on the task of helping me create a Michigan chapter of The Preemie Project.  She is going to collect donations, help recruit volunteers in her area, and help with some other administrative things.  Janette you deserve a BIG pat on the back for taking on this task.  I know that your hard work will be so appreciated by the preemies and their families.  The work has only just begun!  We have 41 total volunteers and counting.  I look forward to our very first donation!

Then I spent the afternoon at the mall with my family.  I went to the Gap and purchased a cute black dress for Lisa's wedding.  For some reason while I was in the store I couldn't think of anything that I could wear with the dress over my shoulders.  My smart momma suggested that the Tartelette Shawl I'm working on would look good.  Duh Laura!  Thank goodness for moms.  I almost bought a white cardigan to go over it that I didn't need. 

So, now I'm so excited because I have somewhere to wear my shawl once it's finished.  I should be showing a finished Shawl pic in the next couple of days.  I'm almost done with the second skein. 

After the mall we came home and the girls decorated the kitchen for my "surprise" party.  From upstairs it sounded like they had a good time.  When they finished I came down for pizza and cake.

The girls had decorated my "throne" with balloons and streamers.

Here's my pretty cake.  My 3 year old cousin Marin and my Aunt Heather baked it.  Thank you Heather!  Marin choose strawberry cake with vanilla and strawberry icing.  Sound icky?  I thought it would be but it turned out to be pretty tasty.  Never thought that I would eat a strawberry flavored cake.  I guess the 3 year old has broadened my horizons.

Here's me and the girls with my cake!  My identity is revealed!  Don't my little cousins look cute?  They love to pose for pictures.  You'd never tell would you?

They gave me a ribbon to wear that said "Birthday Girl" and a crown that said "Princess."  Hey, I'm not denying it!  That's what my dad calls me.

Then the girls played Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  This is the youngest, Molly.  I thought this picture was really cute and had to share it!

Here's Michaela being her naturally pretty self.

Here's Marin with her BIG grin!  She was having a good time.

Then the girls went ouside to swim until bedtime.  This is Marin, the daredevil, diving into the pool.  Don't worry, she landed in it!  Marin was diving/doing belly flops into the pool all evening long. 

We had a really fun visit.  We're supposed to have a family gathering by a lake in Missouri this July.  I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to travel.  I really want to see the rest of my mom's family.  It'll especially be fun to see these little ones again.

They're going back to Kansas tomorrow morning.  We had a really great visit.  The best part was that Molly Grace, the youngest, was no longer afraid of our dog.  She was so afraid of her and everyone else the past two visits.  This time she was her cute little self and I finally got to meet the real Molly Grace.  I'll leave you with what it think is the best picture of the weekend.  I'm definitely going to frame this one.

Me and my sweetie pie! 

I love you Molly Grace, Michaela and Marin!  See you girls soon!

Sunday With the Girls

Today was another fun, relaxing day with my cousins.  As forecasted, it was a hot sunny day.  It was perfect tanning weather.  Yes I know that many of you think I'm crazy.  I just LOVE the summer.  I could sit out in hot weather all day.  I cannot stand the cold though.  I enjoy the change in seasons but the winter just lasts too long. 

Anyhow I worked on my tan while the girls swam all day.  I'm actually not ghostly pale anymore.  You can no longer mistake me for an albino.  Okay it wasn't that bad but pretty close.  Here's the girls looking extra cute in the pool:

Once my mom came home from work we went inside for dinner.  Then we worked with the two older girls on a beading project that we had planned for them. 

We found the cutest box of beads at Walmart.  They're just perfect for little girls.  The beads are sparkly, not too small and some of them are the shapes of hearts, butterflies, stars and flowers.  They also came with some crosses and stretchy cord.  I highly recommend using stretchy cord with children as it is much less likely to break.

I think that Michaela, the oldest, had the best time.  Here she is looking pretty modeling her new necklace.

This is a VERY tired Marin showing off her new necklace, bracelet and zipper pull for her backpack.  I think she was just humoring me!  Can't you tell by that look?!

Here is the zipper pull that I made for Marin.  I made one for Michaela too but did get a pic taken.  I just love the teddy bear charm on this one.  If you're wondering, I purchased it at Hobby Lobby.

After beading the two youngest girls were put to bed and Michaela stayed up with the "big girls" for smores and TV. 

Look at that face!  She cracked my mom and I up when she suddenly looked at us and said, "Hey!  These smores are AWESOME!" totally out of nowhere.  What a sweetie!  Gotta love that face.

Okay so are you saying, "umm, where is the knitting content?!"  Don't worry, today I actually have some solid knitting content.  Last night I decided on a project to knit for myself to replace the aforementioned Jaeger Vest. 

I started a shawl out of Knit One Crochet Too's Tartelette in Misty Mauve.  I purchased three hanks of it awhile back from FuzzyMabel.com.  Just to remind you they had great service and very fast shipping.   

Here's a progress pic:

I'm using a pattern that my grandmother sent me this winter.  I believe that it is a Yarnbarn Kansas original.  The pattern book has a pattern for a poncho and a shawl.  I was thinking about doing the poncho but didn't have enough yarn.  So instead I chose the shawl. 

I really like it so far.  The ribbon yarn has a shiny and matte finish which is really unusual.  It's fun to look at.  I'm planning on using all 3 hanks that I purchased.  That shouldmake it a decent sized shawl.  We will see...

I should almost have it finished tomorrow.  I'm off to watch White Noise and knit my shawl. 

Oh I just realized that it's 12:45 am.  Happy Birthday to me!!!  I have a physical therapy appointment in the early afternoon.  Then I think my mom is going to take me out to do something fun like bead shopping.  Then she has to come home and work on my "surprise" party with the girls.  I just hope that they have fun with it.  That'll make it a good day.  Okay, off to knit!

A Saturday With the Girls

My aunt Heather and my three little cousins came into town last night.  It's amazing how much the girls have grown in just the three months since I last saw them.  We took a walk, well they walked and my mom pushed me in my chair, last night all around the neighborhood.  The middle of the three girls, Marin, collected rocks while the other two walked the dog.  The weather was beautiful and it felt great to be outside among the living. 

Today was another day with the girls.  The girls swam in a little pool in the front yarn as I slept in.  It was too cloudy to get a tan so I stayed inside for the morning/early afternoon and caught up with emails, blog reading and such. 

Then it was on to knitting and watching the 2nd season of 24 on DVD in my bedroom.  I worked on a hat for The Preemie Project.  I've also been sorting through and working on my donations for The Preemie Project.  I wasn't quite sure how much or what I had finished.   

I've been working on my donations for about the past two months.  I've had phases of just knitting hats and phases of just knitting booties.  I learned today that I should have been concentrating on making hat and booties sets together.  I thought that I had a lot of sets done but dug through my donations to find out.  

Well let's just say that it didn't look as good as I thought it would.  I peiced together what I could and found that I had a ton of booties that needed their seams sewn.  Every single pair of booties still needed ribbon too.  Somehow I just never got around to finishing them.  I also found that I really didn't have as many hat and bootie sets finished as I thought.  I have a lot of booties and a lot of hats but very few sets. 

Now my current task is figure how many booties and hats I need to knit.  That way every hat will have booties to go with it. 

These are all the sets that I've finished.  (I actually have 7 b/c one is not pictured)

  These are sets that just have booties needing ribbon. (4)

These are all hats without booties.  (16?)

These are most of the booties without hats.  (I have some that aren't pictured)  They are also all unfinished, obviously.  I tied them together by size and color.

So I made a rule a couple days back: Half of my knitting time will be for The Preemie Project.  I have actually stuck to this rule believe it or not!  Now I have another rule to add to the aforementioned: Any Preemie project knitting will be devoted to knitting hats and booties to match and finish these sets. 

I did start making some green hats this week.  I finished one and I'm going to knit two more.  Once those are done I will not start any other colors etc until these sets are finished.  I figure if I state this here then I'll have to stick to it, right?!  yeah...we'll see!

I also found another volunteer to help me out.  My wonderful mom, Linda, is going to help me finish these sets.  She's wanted to start knitting again but didn't have a project.  Well I had no problem giving her one!  Every night I tell her " let's go sit and knit and watch TV!"  Then when she takes me to a physcial therapy or a doctor appointment I remind her to bring her yarn.  She teases me and calls me a slave driver.  Well, I guess I just might be!  I won't lie!  She has actually already finished a pink hat.  She knits a lot faster than me.  She's also decided that I must be wound tight b/c my knitting is SUPER tight compared to hers.  Well that just might be true too.

I had some wonderfully sweet helpers today:

These are my cousins (left) Marin and (right) Molly.  Marin is 3 and Molly is almost 2.  They sat and watched The Incredibles on my bed while I was sewing bootie seams.  Marin's favorite part was when I added the ribbon.  She said "I won't touch those b/c they're for very sick babies."  How cute is that?!

I'm so amazed at the intuition of my little cousins.  They're wise beyond their years.  Marin was so proud to be able to hold the bootie "for sick babies" in this picture.  She held it like an egg as if it would break in her hands.  This is a little girl who often doesn't know her own strength.  So precious. 

It's so much fun to have cousins who are b/w 18-21 years younger than I am.  It's almost like they're my neices.  They call me "cousin Laura" almost as a sign of respect.  We're having a wonderul visit.  It's really a great pick me up.  It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow so I am going to lay out while they swim.  It'll be another fun, relaxing day. 

I'm planning on starting a new project for myself tonight.  I promise to have progress pics tomorrow.  Why would anyone believe me with how bad I've been about that lately?!  You're just gonna have to take my word for it!

My Cousin has Arrived!

  I have a newborn cousin.  Emma Carol Aker was born on 4/6/2005 at 5:59 pm.  She weighed 6.9lbs and is 18.5 inches long.  She was supposed to be born yesterday, on my dad's birthday, but they had to do the C-section a week early.  My aunt's blood pressure went up last week causing the C-section to be done early.  Anyway, Emma is very healthy with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.  Unfortunately she lives a 6 hour drive away from me so I haven't seen her yet.  I hope to be able to travel to see her in May.

  I just boxed up some things I knitted so they can be sent to her:

I'm sending her the baby blanket, and baby set I made for her awhile back.  I also decided to send her two more pairs of booties in pink/white and purple.  I can't wait to see how cute she looks in everything!

  In other family news I need some good thoughta for my wonderful grandmother.  She has to have her toe checked for melanoma.  We're all keeping good thoughts and a little more positive energy never hurts. Thanks!