tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23938659071347269882024-02-20T13:54:03.598-05:00Jane Doe Jenn - anonymous musings from someone you likely don't know - yet.Yarn. Family. Life... It all knits together.Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-73810427907885149642013-02-18T18:05:00.001-05:002013-02-18T20:10:43.739-05:00New Years Resolution SwapThis swap was awesome!<br />
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What a great way to keep motivated to stay on your knitting goals! It even helped me get through some of those winter Blahs. Lorraine is such a great partner. She did a great job in finding out what things I like: especially those delightful little goodies that I can't get a hold of here in Canada. Like delicious chocolate and heartwarming tea from Marks and Sparks! <br />
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Here are the pics I took of ml the goodies she sent me. Not only did Lorraine spoil me, but she also sent wonderful goodies for my kids to open. She mailed separate packages for each of my kids to open, because Lorraine knows how much my children love to get their own mail. It was so special.<br />
Take a look at them opening their mail...<br />
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All of these items were wonderfully gift wrapped. My kids had so much fun unwrapping each gift.</div>
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Emma didn't get what the 'buttons' were at first, until we opened the package and she found little chocolate buttons to eat. She loves the puzzle! It comes with a cute puzzle tag on the string handle.</div>
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Emma opened up the colouring pages right away.</div>
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Next was Evan. I made the kids wait till they were done their chores before they could open their packages. I was impressed with how quickly (and without complaining) my kids finished tidying up the living room... they even vacuumed, and put away the dishes. "Ok mom, <i>now</i> can we open our packages?"</div>
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Evan was so fast at opening his gifts that I was barely able to take a photo before he was on to the next one. I made him stop for a minute to say <i>cheese</i> before he helped himself to the chocolates, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Evan says <i>thank you, Mom's friend</i>!<i> </i> for the chocolates and the origami paper. He made us several new origami pieces before bedtime.</div>
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Next was Burk's turn. He was acting all patient, but I saw that smile creep across his face when I gave him his parcel. Wonder what kept him from opening it before his turn? I had it hidden. If I let them open theirs all at the same time, I wouldn't get any good photos. Wouldn't want that now, would we?</div>
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Burk was very happy! Orange Aero!!! He was so sweet, he even offered to let everyone try a piece of his Aero, so he could prove just how much better tasting it is than the commercial chocolate we can get over here. He says, "<i>Thank you very much! The choclates were amazing!"</i></div>
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And then there was the big package, with my name on it.</div>
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The theme of this swap from our Ravelry group is New Years Resolutions.</div>
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The idea is to send each other items that will help us stay motivated to keep on track with our resolutions. You know how you make goals, then three or four weeks later forgot what you even resolved to do?</div>
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One of my goals was to learn some new knitting techniques, like Entrelac. Lorraine sent me a wonderful book that has clear instructions and good photos to guide me through the steps of learning Entralac. It aslo has some really cool patterns to try out once I've gotten the hang of it. Guess which one I will be trying... the fingerless mitts! Can you believe it? Fingeless mitts a la Entrelac! Watch for it.</div>
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Lorraine sent me two delicious dark chocolate bars, only one of which made it to the photo opp. It was quickly <strike>placed</strike> hidden in my knitting purse. </div>
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The whoppers were not kept as safe... they were so fun looking, I had to share. Emma really liked helping me get a whopper out of the little dispenser built into the package. I've never seen candy packaged like that, what a great idea! </div>
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I was sent some Marks and Spencer English Breakfast Tea. I promise that each bag of tea will help me towards my resolution goals. As will the Yummy shortbread cookies! Lorraine sent an adorable little serving tray for my cookies to go on, it reads "Frightfully British. Let's Brew Up". All of these goodies were packed inside a clear pink container for me to use to organize my stash in. I like it so much, I will put some mmmalabrigo yarn inside to look nice!</div>
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Thank you, Lorraine! You are so sweet!</div>
Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-40123091814718765592013-01-05T15:03:00.001-05:002013-01-05T15:23:48.176-05:00Happy New Yarn!Happy New Year, everyone!<br />
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Hope you all had a wonderful holiday this Christmas season. I had a few more days off from work than usual, and it was very nice to spend a few extra days without a schedule to follow. Or an alarm clock, he he he.<br />
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As you probably guessed, I did NOT get all of my holiday knitting done in time. Clearly, I will have to have secret projects started by July in order to have them done in time next year. I disappointed myself more than anyone else, as they had other things to unwrap. And then its not as fun trying to get something finished <i>after</i> the deadline. Like half the fun is sucked out of knitting it. I'm sure I won't feel that way when I'm binding off... I will be delighted, and will gleefully say, "Look! It's done!".<br />
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There are a few inches left to go on the Shapeshifter Shrug, then it will need to be grafted. I picked out some nice buttons for it that have been approved of with a smile from the intended recipient.<br />
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Then there's the dinosaur. While I <i>adore</i> the photos and patterns in the book, Knitted Dinosaurs, I <i>loathe</i> the fact that they are all written to be knitted flat and then seamed up. And I've chosen to do them in stripes, so they will look fun.<br />
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See the <strike>disaster</strike> dinosaur so far?<br />
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So much to seam...<br />
and weave in...<br />
I really hope this doesn't become a UFO up in the closet.<br />
My goal is to finish <strike>jamming</strike> knitting it together, then convert this pattern to be knitted in-the-round. If it converts well, I will be bold and just knit lots of other dinosaurs in the round, instead of how the pattern is written up flat. I was told on ravelry that it should be as easy as omitting the first and last stitch (that is used to seam together) and to keep in mind that the wrong/purl sides become right/knit sides. Should be easy enough, right?<br />
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Now, for the hard part. Anti-procrastinating... here are <i>my</i> resolutions for 2013 (not in order)<br />
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<ul>
<li>blog more</li>
<li>laugh more</li>
<li>take more time for God daily (bible, prayer) </li>
<li>explore more (outdoors, road trips, possibly a yarn store I haven't been to yet)</li>
<li>stop <i>promising</i> to knit things for other people... that only jinxes me to <i>not</i> get it done.</li>
<li>knit more for my family and kids, and not forget myself now and then</li>
<li>actually use my Zumba game this year - it's a lot of fun, when you find the time to do it</li>
<li>Go away on vacation for a couple days with my family. Like, actually leaving the area.</li>
<li>convince my husband that yarn and vacation <i>do</i> belong together. Does your hubby think like this, too?</li>
<li>Oh, and to surprise my hubby with a basement that has been decluttered. </li>
<li>knit from my stash. I'm curious how much of it I can use up. It's not that much, just a few bins.</li>
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Oh, that looks so boring. I will have to rethink this and see what exciting things I can add to the list.<br />
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OK, how about this:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Take my kids Zip Lining</li>
<li>Get to the beach at least twice this year</li>
<li>go camping or lodging</li>
<li>Explore another convention centre event with friends (maybe a spring yarn show in Toronto?)</li>
<li>Take my hubby on a Hot Air Balloon ride for our anniversary... will have to hint and see if he likes this kind of thing before I commit all the way and book it</li>
<li>learn some new fun recipes</li>
<li>host a murder mystery who-done-it theme evening, with a cool theme</li>
<li>Bring my kids to a comic convention (they have one in Canada, I forget where)</li>
<li>knit all the yarn from my stash in time for the yarn fair, then celebrate with new yarn! </li>
<li>Take my kids somewhere fun for a mini vacation, like Fallsview in Niagara Falls</li>
</ul>
There, that's better. <br /><br />Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-9324440191904439832012-12-24T12:19:00.001-05:002012-12-24T12:19:46.430-05:00Christmas Eve wrap upsMerry Christmas everyone!<br />
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If any of you are like me, you might be spending a good portion of your day knitting the last part of those Christmas gifts you meant to complete a long time ago. That, in between baking, chocolate making, and doing Christmas crafts with my kids. Oh, did I mention that my littlest one woke up with a cold today? Trying to help her get rested up web she's so excited about Christmas. I don't think she will be wanting a nap today, but it will be needed. What's on your needles? Any last minute knitting? Or is it last minute shopping?<br />
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My 9 year old boy is vigorously folding paper. He is making origami gifts for everyone. This is something he became interested in during autumn, and has become quite good at it. He asks for my help now and then, which is nice because I get to learn with him. I can also encourage him during these frustrating moments of do-overs that mistakes help us to learn new things. He is becoming much more patient with each new project he masters. And yes, we use tape to sometimes hold it together. I know this doesn't always count as proper origami, but we are in it for the fun. <br />
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My kids are also following Santa's sleigh today, as he travels the world to drop off presents. If you want to see where Santa Claus is right now, check out NORAD at www.noradsanta.org <br />
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At the time of writing this, he was last spotted in Kathmandu, Nepal and is headed toward Dhaka, Bangladesh. Howe cool is that? <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1bhcFSI-1svH-XRpoILA58GJtdM2a3ZKnI-iJBLDdj2wAIqBNHrugTJWidXN6xGy5tI7dZQNPKxLAMklY_HMLNYaJH3w41PHpF1k-m2hfcXlW-jgdcu2cA-4jxbp2ZaDBKMXOpMsO2jm/s640/blogger-image-543383666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1bhcFSI-1svH-XRpoILA58GJtdM2a3ZKnI-iJBLDdj2wAIqBNHrugTJWidXN6xGy5tI7dZQNPKxLAMklY_HMLNYaJH3w41PHpF1k-m2hfcXlW-jgdcu2cA-4jxbp2ZaDBKMXOpMsO2jm/s640/blogger-image-543383666.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHOroIM3JysuXtAFBwwvFj3fXN1tmNAKHuGMAtYBC8A-jFZ8hjykaJ8ND25D3A8uvWTXEaj2S6iDQac7w4ZmtIwemiQsHeDB-K9n2UuyzPSHaUo6J-I0WWmgqSHqnJmWClqG-yfjAaZCK/s640/blogger-image-1500480184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHOroIM3JysuXtAFBwwvFj3fXN1tmNAKHuGMAtYBC8A-jFZ8hjykaJ8ND25D3A8uvWTXEaj2S6iDQac7w4ZmtIwemiQsHeDB-K9n2UuyzPSHaUo6J-I0WWmgqSHqnJmWClqG-yfjAaZCK/s640/blogger-image-1500480184.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fO_aOV3CbGVn2phactxJnkHiHkA9-IyL8tiG_lta0VcCQksbPSfo3sZbCWPy-OM9jJzfov19QYOa2v_c-mSCIQRdYb3kOfWmH-zYyueCr-SmdkHSMKRIwtVdXtwNbGZ2CQ5p4hX8AYAw/s640/blogger-image-494959370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fO_aOV3CbGVn2phactxJnkHiHkA9-IyL8tiG_lta0VcCQksbPSfo3sZbCWPy-OM9jJzfov19QYOa2v_c-mSCIQRdYb3kOfWmH-zYyueCr-SmdkHSMKRIwtVdXtwNbGZ2CQ5p4hX8AYAw/s640/blogger-image-494959370.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDC8sFN3rL9BVg1B1xqL90Nzy24nxOEq-GPF6A7KXgZfUsKzGT-eE-O1JuFO1wsCh_B9sPIYnevj9__jBUi5YlsPdMf33IoVComyBcY9B5UT_8vjME9ubAS1j8fEV7u4B3q8NV8jdpPaK/s640/blogger-image--1899225073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDC8sFN3rL9BVg1B1xqL90Nzy24nxOEq-GPF6A7KXgZfUsKzGT-eE-O1JuFO1wsCh_B9sPIYnevj9__jBUi5YlsPdMf33IoVComyBcY9B5UT_8vjME9ubAS1j8fEV7u4B3q8NV8jdpPaK/s640/blogger-image--1899225073.jpg" /></a></div>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-23905444949174695962012-10-20T11:58:00.001-04:002012-12-24T11:52:10.175-05:00When are you coming home mom<br />
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Edited to add:<br />
Lol, this was my kids trying to email me while I was out shopping. They must have sent the email to my 'secret' blog publishing email addy that was in my contacts. Oops. <br />
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The "when are you coming home mom?" was meant for me. Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-34173514356460672002012-09-27T16:38:00.001-04:002012-09-27T16:38:08.740-04:00I Get It...Today is a crappy day. <br />
Just crappy. <br />
A bad day. <br />
You know, one of those days. <br />
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I went back upstairs to put on my favorite socks. They are just plain grey with light pink soles and toes. They are store bought, plain socks with ribbing. <br />
But they are so comfortable. I looked at them for A second or two, then thought to myself, "this is why people hand knit socks. They know this secret."<br />
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My thing is fingerless mitts. I get so much joy from that looking moment of a newly finished pair of well knitted fetchings. I admit, most beautiful sock patterns I see, I imagine them being converted into fingerless mitts. <br />
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I can see how people feel about their knitted socks, as you can almost wear socks year round. Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-12159203271871572542012-08-22T10:43:00.001-04:002012-08-22T10:43:36.401-04:00Little PiggiesWe are piggies sitting Lorax and Buddy this week. <br />
Today we got Lorax out to let him explore. When the kids were sitting patiently and calmly, they got to have a turn petting Lorax. They really liked watching how he fluffs up his fur. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_bOzRL2gFgyFqkuNbg6QwuxJa0yQfTOhbGtjsgdBKOGc7LaAUxzLbxF-FOaXoRaLRr4JkzrhmSuPRxvS_KLfBkJEtlNWtYWEIJNJUMHO_1B6jPt1UcSVZnBXUTpFwWjxAfO0bx66-7JS/s640/blogger-image--1347350301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_bOzRL2gFgyFqkuNbg6QwuxJa0yQfTOhbGtjsgdBKOGc7LaAUxzLbxF-FOaXoRaLRr4JkzrhmSuPRxvS_KLfBkJEtlNWtYWEIJNJUMHO_1B6jPt1UcSVZnBXUTpFwWjxAfO0bx66-7JS/s640/blogger-image--1347350301.jpg" /></a></div>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-86478592193195646752012-08-18T22:04:00.001-04:002012-08-18T22:04:36.017-04:00Time to Celebrate!I did it! It only took four years, but I did it!<br />
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Take a look at my Ravelry project page. See the number?<br />
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I went to update some project details when I noticed that it showed I'm on my 100th project!!!!! Yay!!!<br />
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This is very exciting for me. <br />
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I think my Nanna's shawl has been the most rewarding project so far, because it challenged me the most. <br />
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To celebrate, I'm going to cast-on for my most challenging pattern yet. The Debussy Shawl, which I received as a gift in a Ravelry swap from Angintheeast. It will be lovely when done, and I'm sure it will give me a fair share of rough moments on the way. <br />
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Want to make it even more special for me? If you are a fellow raveller, check out my projects page (Swiggles, if you didn't already know that) over on www.ravelry.com and let me know which one of my projects is your favorite. It would make my day!<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhfMZn6LqlxJViQr_RjeA9zDy98XPMsBPdzfIWg_mwkpI43Pa0eoJze0T2AtA_YuQE_2DRmuQCgRHafwvLx-pJUfnFy50309ZhbCj_h6-xwAYVDMUbJsPl1YhxYPFie8czeESR999Tcdb/s640/blogger-image--549128538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhfMZn6LqlxJViQr_RjeA9zDy98XPMsBPdzfIWg_mwkpI43Pa0eoJze0T2AtA_YuQE_2DRmuQCgRHafwvLx-pJUfnFy50309ZhbCj_h6-xwAYVDMUbJsPl1YhxYPFie8czeESR999Tcdb/s640/blogger-image--549128538.jpg" /></a></div>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-73652996281553536722012-08-12T22:37:00.003-04:002012-08-12T22:37:59.490-04:00Ravellenics Games 2012Welcome to the Finish Lines!<br />
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Today was the last official day of the Ravelry Games, called Ravellenics 2012.<br />
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This was my first time competing, and I had a blast! I found out that I must have improved my knitting speed, or else I wouldn't have been able to knit as many projects in these last few weeks.<br />
<br />Although I did not make it to the Finish Line for all the events I started, I did make it for a few of them. Here are the events that I have earned Podium calls for, thus earning a badge (metal) for my blog.<br />
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This is my mitten project that I am making for my sister for Christmas. I entered it in the Cast-on Mania Trap Shoot event.<br />
The next event for me was WIP Wrestling, which was a big deal for me. I finally finished that shawl I was making for my Nanna's (now overdue) birthday present. I had gotten stuck when running out of yarn right before the bind off row. Now it's finally done!!!<br />
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Next was a project just for fun, entered in the Toy Toss event:<br />
This cute stuffed guitar also happens to be my first knitted stuffed toy project. All my kids thought it was a cool project, and I now have requests from little kids to make more of them.<br />
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My 8 year old was happy to show off the guitar in the photo. Then we added some digital stickers for fun... here is another closer photo of the guitar for you to see. I modified the pattern just a wee bit.<br />
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I entered a teeny tiny purse I made for Emma in the Bag-n-Tote Backstroke event. I call it "Cute Little Yarn Bag for Emma" since she couldn't wait to use it to stuff little bits of her yarn inside. She has her own little mini stash from short snippits of my yarn stash. She likes to put them in mini containers that she can carry around with her.<br />
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I knitted an awesome striped scarf using Noro yarn in the Scarf Hockey event, which I named "Thinking of Calgary".<br />
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Then I used some other Noro to make this felted belt: Emma likes it so much that she would like me to knit her one as well. It was just an easy seed stitch (k1, p1 one row, for 9 stitches, then p1, k1 the next row).<br />
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Last but not least, I frogged this old project that had originally been knitted way to tight to fit properly. Hmmm, I'll bet you're wondering why I didn't check gauge? Well, because until then, I seemed to magically make gauge on all my mitten projects. So I had figured that gauge was for other projects, but wasn't applicable to mitts. Wrong (are you laughing with me?)<br />
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So for the Frogging Trampoline event, I frogged back these mmmalabrigo mitts in order to give them new life as the proper size they deserve to be. Nicole will enjoy them much better when they aren't squeezing the circulation out of her hands.<br />
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<br />Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-43828587773491512662012-06-09T08:57:00.000-04:002012-06-09T08:58:41.021-04:00Happy Knit In Public Day!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpejbbIC2r0mXoJds4fXdDHcOY9YGCMtJfKd4S-jQtrvDcGhzfpekP4-BFCTtUMYyEN0fx8WXGX1fESv4zpfZUrF5Tzx6-Dd-FVnotrtLzyQW2r6C6O-hHEA4iwohj49t_TTBaqg6xA9JH/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIzNTEtMjAxMjA2MDktMDg1Ny5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-721021"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpejbbIC2r0mXoJds4fXdDHcOY9YGCMtJfKd4S-jQtrvDcGhzfpekP4-BFCTtUMYyEN0fx8WXGX1fESv4zpfZUrF5Tzx6-Dd-FVnotrtLzyQW2r6C6O-hHEA4iwohj49t_TTBaqg6xA9JH/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIzNTEtMjAxMjA2MDktMDg1Ny5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-721021" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5752020869208121506" /></a></p>Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless NetworkJane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-56842957232316836842012-06-07T22:15:00.000-04:002012-06-07T22:16:40.523-04:00Knit In Public Day coming soon...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcSFm0zpFNjjZOHgTtwgiJ5v0sWAdxS-r4zwA7LQMgSntKK1VjuCImoKWFmohe1oGiXbvisDYJJF-L8GhurDkjRPmj25KSIw5O1AD5zBQPG4VWrZAxdcr8XjvcrYj_eV8WLqS1LqEBe0_/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIzNDEtMjAxMjA2MDctMjIxMi5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-700525"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcSFm0zpFNjjZOHgTtwgiJ5v0sWAdxS-r4zwA7LQMgSntKK1VjuCImoKWFmohe1oGiXbvisDYJJF-L8GhurDkjRPmj25KSIw5O1AD5zBQPG4VWrZAxdcr8XjvcrYj_eV8WLqS1LqEBe0_/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIzNDEtMjAxMjA2MDctMjIxMi5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-700525" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5751484336966686226" /></a></p>Yay! I love this yearly event!
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<br>My sister gave me this recycled yarn, so my first yarn-bombing adventure will also be eco-friendly-ish!
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<br>More details to come soon.Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-40140234664887563532012-05-22T12:20:00.000-04:002012-05-22T12:21:29.090-04:00Compost Hill<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqeCnNpi7ogA0N_v2u1I_Yl_EHr1_7wLNjJNqd_lNAg4T_w7hUDDCwPOCfco94ztEK98n4U9IIeYeu5C7MJjx5lq7V2WLcDoT4dZ1Yy7TXmZ7eKiqpuZ4dhLfhyphenhyphenJCM3v0oOC0lLwvDgb-/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIyOTgtMjAxMjA1MjItMTIxOC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-789091"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqeCnNpi7ogA0N_v2u1I_Yl_EHr1_7wLNjJNqd_lNAg4T_w7hUDDCwPOCfco94ztEK98n4U9IIeYeu5C7MJjx5lq7V2WLcDoT4dZ1Yy7TXmZ7eKiqpuZ4dhLfhyphenhyphenJCM3v0oOC0lLwvDgb-/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIyOTgtMjAxMjA1MjItMTIxOC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-789091" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745393604262261090" /></a></p>Today Emma and I are digging compost from the City's free compost pickup site. She loves the giant hill of dirt!Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-89374525328457612652012-05-21T17:36:00.000-04:002012-08-12T22:39:14.360-04:00Another Ball Falls Victim<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vUY58zlyboEq5DcAR95RV0tLUSJXB6xehYb6yENh3n7dJuld8l9ty2Q4lEAakkpfX1qvvUBDzoBJlw4Sq7qDQ-pxxL4VuOCwE89NhLA3rem3V4hCTkZ31c2TuE_h1Wvve6to9lRhG57d/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIyOTYtMjAxMjA1MjEtMTcyNi5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-702051"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745104174265835026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vUY58zlyboEq5DcAR95RV0tLUSJXB6xehYb6yENh3n7dJuld8l9ty2Q4lEAakkpfX1qvvUBDzoBJlw4Sq7qDQ-pxxL4VuOCwE89NhLA3rem3V4hCTkZ31c2TuE_h1Wvve6to9lRhG57d/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIyOTYtMjAxMjA1MjEtMTcyNi5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-702051" /></a></div>
Happy Victoria Day!
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For most of us Canadians, this weekend starts us off to the sunny outdoors with camping, gardening, and fireworks! For many of us, it means the first lawn mow of the season.
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My family has done our first Drive-In theatre movie of the season. We took the kids to see the Avengers, then stayed for the next feature Mirror Mirror. Emma fell asleep on the way, and actually slept through the entire thing.
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In the front yard, we did some gardening together. The kids took me to the plant nursery to pick out new vegetables. We've decided to do lots of edible plants in the backyard this year.
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In my back yard, this meant mowing the lawn. The grass had grown considerably this spring - or perhaps I forgot to give it that last mow down in the autumn?
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Never the less, this meant clearing out all the kids toys from the high meadow-like grass, and mowing away. Like every year, there are a few tennis balls that I missed. They blend in so easily with the grass. And I wince whenever I hear that thwack sound, which is always followed by half a tennis ball being ejected from my lawn mower. Don't worry though, I have a strict "no one else in the yard while I'm mowing" rule. So no one gets hurt, except the tennis ball...Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-57122712081976787642012-04-18T09:18:00.001-04:002012-04-18T09:18:52.527-04:00The Real To Do ListI saw this posted in the hallway at my child's school, and thought it had to be shared:<p>1. Sing<br>2. Smile at strangers<br>3. Keep Learning<br>4. Notice Kindness<br>5. Eat Ice Cream<br>6. Hope<br>7. Count Your Blessings<br>8. Laugh<br>9. Love<br>10. Love Some More<p>Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless NetworkJane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-75857096952720790572012-04-09T16:12:00.000-04:002012-04-09T16:12:27.906-04:00Easter NestingEmma really liked carrying around the big Easter basket. She put her tiny little chocolate foil eggs in the bottom of the green paper shredded grass. Then she decided that she had a better idea for the grass...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7059208751_34e7f9ee1c_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7059208751_34e7f9ee1c_m.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emma decided to make a little nest in the corner of the front hallway for her eggs. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The furnace vent is right there by the corner, so in theory it would be </div><div style="text-align: center;">a great place to hatch eggs -- if they weren't made of chocolate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7059208757_f95fda5d2c_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7059208757_f95fda5d2c_m.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I explained to her about the chocolate eggs melting, and asked her to put them back into the basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She did, but Emma had other plans for the grass...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7059208841_85b8dd81a5_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7059208841_85b8dd81a5_m.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What would make more sense than for Emma to make mommy (me) an </div><div style="text-align: center;">indoor garden with all the indoor grass she had from her basket?</div><div style="text-align: center;">She informed me that the parts of the floor where there is no grass, is the beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/7059208839_271e17b219_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/7059208839_271e17b219_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After we cleaned it all up, Emma gave me a hug and asked if we were ready</div><div style="text-align: center;">to go 'Trick or Tweeting" for Halloween. I'm not sure how that idea got into her head,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but she has twice since then said, "Happy Halloween!"</div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you think of my garden? </div>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-52877801467975617852012-04-09T14:05:00.001-04:002012-04-09T14:05:00.786-04:00Nanna's 95th BirthdayThis weekend we celebrated my Nanna's 95th birthday. And her sense of humour is just as fresh as it was several years ago. It was impressive just how many people showed up. It was great to see relatives I haven't seen for ages.<br />
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My sisters and I arranged to have a special greetings certificate from the Prime Minister of Canada's office. They'll do this at your request, when people reach the age of 90 or 95. We have to wait for her to reach 100 before the Queen will send one. <br />
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I had decided to mark this occasion by making something special for Nanna, as I've been improving in my knitting skills. I decided to knit her a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miami-beach-shawl">Miami Beach Shawl</a>. I had carefully planned out how many rows per day I needed, but didn't pay attention to the pattern when it read, "repeat row 50 until..."<br />
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Although I spent many nights staying up late to work on this shawl, it didn't help that I fell asleep knitting it, and made mistakes by knitting past the short row turning point (a few times). It was at least 3 times I had to frog back and try again.<br />
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I was so disappointed to show up without a completed shawl, especially after I had told some of my relatives I was making her one. They didn't look impressed when I showed them the shawl in my bag, still on the needles. I promised to come and visit my Nanna soon, to deliver her shawl. <br />
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Guess how close I actually came to finishing it? I even worked on it during the car ride to the restaurant, as I knew it would be a close call. I ended up being only 6 rows away from finishing! I wish I could have stayed up longer the night before, but once you start to fall asleep at the needles, bad things happen. <br />
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But on the bright side, I can finish it properly and block it. So it will hopefully look stunning when I go to present the finished shawl.Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-62964170161000755502012-04-08T16:16:00.000-04:002012-04-08T16:16:19.087-04:00Spring Scavenger Hunt SwapOur ravelry group, Happy Blue Year, is in the midst of an awesome Spring Scavenger Hunt.<br />
I'm just about to mail my partner's parcel off to her, as I've finished her hand-knit item. Don't worry, it's not on my project page yet, so there's no peeking.<br />
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To my surprise, my parcel came in the mail this week! Beverley mailed if early, as it was coming here from England. What good timing, it arrived here just before Easter, and right when I needed some really good chocolate. I'd been having a slightly stressful week, partly because I was anxious about my knitting deadline (to get that shawl done in time for Nanna's birthday, which sadly I did not complete in time for the party), and partly due to my daughter going through a Curious George phase. She's three, and gets into more mischief than both my boys put together, or any of my daycare clients. For example, she wants to be helpful by feeding the fish. She'll construct things to climb on to get at the fish food, but takes the lid off and shakes it all over the room. I can handle a bit of fish flakes, but too much really bothers my nose. I have a suspicion that I might be allergic to this flake fish food stuff, so I wash my hands whenever I'm done feeding the fish. I had to hold my breath as I vacuumed fish flakes off the bed covers and floor, then laundered the sheets. She also draws on the walls, and puts pretty stickers on the floor. Standard toddler things, but there are days when she pulls stunt after stunt. Then she bats her eyes and gives that cute little smile that says, "I'm too cute to get in trouble". It's soooo hard to keep my poker face on as I put her on time out. But I have to say, her behaviour improved right after a time out. If I let her go with too many <i>almost</i> time-outs (when you say 'next time' there'll be a time-out) she is sure to test me to that promise very soon. This is a girl who likes to know where her boundaries are.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6911181832_0b299a1887_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6911181832_0b299a1887_m.jpg" /></a></div>Here is Emma, delighted to help me see what is in our parcel from Snazzyb. She's holding onto the little silver notions bag that says Jennifer on it. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wow! I got spoiled!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not shown above are the gummy bears (they were soooo good) and the chocolate orange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snazzyb wrote me a nice note about the local things in my parcel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To the right of the card, is some of the wonderful Cappuccino chocolates that were included.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hid them very carefully, in my knitting bag. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/6909753446_76046c2b74_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/6909753446_76046c2b74_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the beautifully hand-spun yarn?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/6911181730_8a850e2b86_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/6911181730_8a850e2b86_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beverley also gave me this pattern for using small bits of yarn to make a cool scarf!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was pleased to learn that she designed this pattern herself. I've been thinking how neat it would be to be able to make something with all my little bits after a project is done. This is such a great idea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/6911181818_fd27f49277_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/6911181818_fd27f49277_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was also given a great starter kit for learning to make my own stitch markers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which I've been interested in doing for quite some time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6911181820_e4aece17c4_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6911181820_e4aece17c4_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And she also made me some stitch markers to use right away :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6909753414_cb72d9d171_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6909753414_cb72d9d171_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the blue yarn - I haven't decided what it will soon be, but it's so soft and squishy that I'm sure it will be a delight to knit with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll start a project page for it on ravelry, so it will be ready to go when I cast-on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5113/6909753408_16d0063eec_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5113/6909753408_16d0063eec_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/6911181726_1db380687a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/6911181726_1db380687a_z.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>And there's the rest of my chocolates, which I'm holding off on opening. Saving for a chocolate emergency, when they will be fully appreciated. The blue box is a neat little thing; a sliding pencil case with knitting tools inside such as a mini ruler, some stitch holders, and more chocolate!<br />
Thanks again Beverley, you really spoiled me! I love it all!Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-49512168814782856982012-04-08T15:38:00.000-04:002012-04-08T15:38:56.625-04:00New Swaps, New UpdatesHas it really been this long? It feels like Spring is bursting with action this year! Not in my garden, anyway, but on Ravelry. As I took a bit of time off swapping during January and February, I was quite ready come March to get going again.<br />
<br />
Magic Yarn Ball Update:<br />
Here is a photo of the gorgeous fingerless mitts I made with this yarn. The pattern is called Filigree, and it's an open lacework pattern. I still haven't uncovered a mystery item yet, though some are poking through. I'm going to make it my goal to knit the rest of it this month, to become either a scarf or another wonderful pair of fetchings. Probably in a new pattern, or maybe in my favourite Palm Readers pattern.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Swiggles/73483193/6110206851_6167d1613f_m_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Swiggles/73483193/6110206851_6167d1613f_m_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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What's on my needles right now:<br />
Miami Beach Shawl, using Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton. I've been knitting it for my Nanna's 95th birthday. This yarn is like butter, so smooth, and slips nicely off my needles, which is why I don't put them down for a split second without their handy little rubber sock protectors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6987518505_e246178763_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6987518505_e246178763_m.jpg" /></a></div>This was my first time doing SL2-K1-PSSO's, as well as having to learn how to do short rows.<br />
I have to say, short rows isn't nearly as difficult as I first thought. I found some handy videos on You Tube, which were so helpful. I did make a mistake that put me back in my time deadline, which was when I miscounted the stitches to the middle before doing my short rows. I noticed after a few rows of garter short rows that the shawl was off-centre, then frogged back and double checked the correct spot to start the short rows. The author of this pattern was also nice enough to post a discussion group on ravelry, as well as a knit-along. There were several helpful hints on there, which I was happy to read.<br />
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Then I joined a beginner shawl group on ravelry, as well as a lace knitting group, that were both suggested to me by one of the members of the techniques discussion board when I was asking for help on reading the instructions for short rows in this pattern. It makes perfect sense, now that I know what I'm doing. :)<br />
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And here is a photo of my kids, when they realized we have gotten a parcel from Snazzyb in England. It's been awhile since we've had parcels, so they were thrilled!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7057505011_dac4514378_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7057505011_dac4514378_m.jpg" /></a></div>My boys LOVE Terry's Chocolate Oranges. It was so funny, watching them act so silly as soon as they saw the orange box. Burk took the box and was holding it up high, and Evan was trying so hard to jump high enough to get it. After a few minutes of teasing and wrestling, and laughs (it was all in good fun), Burk shared the Terry's orange with everyone. He saved the rest for later, as he knows how rare they are to be here. Thank you so much, Beverley! <br />
More about my new goodies in the next post...Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-10307352318341729712012-03-17T20:50:00.001-04:002012-03-17T20:50:28.367-04:00Would you believe ny boy is 15?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbnMrGkxyV_QAxEnEAg6GLDMj94CTTOR1fdhHN0__Bac5hBVWlC7ikKogMgnEAPPIDsrpMtjvuZR0nfBzMWI1JbXD3ylmN8qvpo0mMAG9eAE_8Mne-qLVivvGbacalNADk63J3CjT1PNp/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIwNDUtMjAxMjAzMTctMjA0OC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-728368"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbnMrGkxyV_QAxEnEAg6GLDMj94CTTOR1fdhHN0__Bac5hBVWlC7ikKogMgnEAPPIDsrpMtjvuZR0nfBzMWI1JbXD3ylmN8qvpo0mMAG9eAE_8Mne-qLVivvGbacalNADk63J3CjT1PNp/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDIwNDUtMjAxMjAzMTctMjA0OC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-728368" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721033144731031906" /></a></p>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-65799244698663564632011-08-20T20:31:00.001-04:002011-08-20T20:33:17.187-04:00Catching some Zzzzz's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6057658189_e992670f8a_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6057658189_e992670f8a_m.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 7 year old son. He fell asleep on the couch during the afternoon - yet he thinks he's too old for naps, ha ha. Yet, he fell asleep holding on to my kids book of knits, <u>New Knits On the Block</u> by Vickie Howell. It made me laugh and think to myself that it almost looked like he planted the book there to hint for a particular gift, but that's not his style. This was a gift from one of my clients, and has some awesome project to make for kids. I love how it's all categorized in such a fun way - "weekend at Gramma's" for example, means you can knit that project up while your kid's away at Gramma's for the weekned. I'll be casting on to make a rockin' guitar in black and red. When I showed the pattern to another client of mine, she was so excited about it that she went out of her way to go get me the supplies I would need, including the stuffing! That was so nice of her. And this weekend, I'm doing something nice back for them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6062925859_0bb286a00f_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6062925859_0bb286a00f_m.jpg" /></a></div>This is the project I've just finished for her son. It's a Crayon Caddy I've knitted as a big brother gift, because he became a big brother yesterday. We were all so excited! I'm going to deliver it tomorrow, but will make it a quick visit because they need their rest. I am very happy with how this one turned out: I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton, in green stripes. He loves green, and it was so easy to make! It's basically knit in stockinette for about 17 rows, then garter stitch for the rest and fold over the stockinette for the front. Then just sew together lines where you want the crayon sleeves to go. I made an extra crocheted chain to loop around the button for an easy toddler closure. Note: I'm going to go back and shorten the chain a bit, so it's not a choking hazard.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6063482188_f192201274_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6063482188_f192201274_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6062931021_6777ddbcb9_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6062931021_6777ddbcb9_m.jpg" /></a></div>Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-38524813671326719292011-08-19T16:14:00.000-04:002011-08-19T16:15:38.231-04:00Casting on today - Filigree<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtX7DkGHQc0sduRRkFGJCF1-IHG8RbuBFm0UaIg0tj1AHmBRUCATP7w1v4oDrtnxE3TzLFs7Wn_ib4UgQRhHsIsSJAVs3Q7fWGjMdB148_7TZoN_Nd1DJqJ_I2RcS861-SUDlzQzYYuJ1/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA4NzQtMjAxMTA4MTktMTYwNS5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-738232"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtX7DkGHQc0sduRRkFGJCF1-IHG8RbuBFm0UaIg0tj1AHmBRUCATP7w1v4oDrtnxE3TzLFs7Wn_ib4UgQRhHsIsSJAVs3Q7fWGjMdB148_7TZoN_Nd1DJqJ_I2RcS861-SUDlzQzYYuJ1/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA4NzQtMjAxMTA4MTktMTYwNS5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-738232" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642663345853181714" /></a></p>Today I'm casting on to knit with my magic yarn ball. A friend of mine came by to see if she can peek inside the yarn, curious as to what's inside. But no, this yarn is well wound. No peeking.
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<br>It was a close decision, between this and a really neat beret some of my ravelry buddies suggested (which I will knit later). I also was thinking of using this for a shawlette, as there is enough yardage. But instead I will knit Filigree mitts by Robin Melanson. It's from her book "Knitting New Mittens & Gloves". The pattern calls for cotton yarn, but doesn't actually mention the WPI/thickness of the yarn. I guess I could go over to ravelry (since I spend so much time there anyway) and look up their suggested yarn for gauge, but I feel daring today. So I will live a little risky and just start knitting it up with this fingering weight yarn and see how it comes out. After a few rounds, I will measure for gauge or just slip my wrist inside to see how it fits.
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<br>This colour is going to look amazing! And with the remaining yarn, I will make either a scarf for a cowl, whatever I have enough yardage for. I always say that, and then end up making another pair to give away. Oh, maybe if I only have a bit left, I'll make me a headband to cover my new botched haircut. :)Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-3860745066898219382011-08-18T19:55:00.000-04:002011-08-18T19:55:07.320-04:00Time to Unwind Some Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6057141914_6af3688e74_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6057141914_6af3688e74_m.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>Well, now it's my turn. My magic yarn ball arrived in the mail this week, and it turns out my partner is Sassysmom. This was a secret partner swap, and she was very good at keeping her identity a secret. I had no idea it was her! Here are some pictures of my little girl helping me unpack it from the box.<br />
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The color is a bit off in the photos, as we had just been taking sunset photos outside and I forgot to re-adjust my settings. <br />
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This yarn is a blue dream - lots of different shades of blues, as well as some purples mixed in. Sassysmom actually got it bare from Knit Picks, then hand dyed it herself. I just love hand dyed yarn, I find it such a joy to work with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6056944919_3884c42b7c_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6056944919_3884c42b7c_m.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6057500128_fc6d04c5f6_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6057500128_fc6d04c5f6_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6056943543_33323b5f7a_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6056943543_33323b5f7a_m.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6057498206_b74e98e7ca_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6057498206_b74e98e7ca_m.jpg" /></a></div>I spent a good deal of time staring at this yarn, trying to decide if I will unwind it all now to see what's inside, or get the 'real' experience of discovering each item as I knit... and call me silly, but I think that's the best part. So, do I unwind it now, and see what's in there? Or do I pick a pattern and see what comes out as I knit? Decisions, decisions... what do <i>you</i> think?Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-75939897069744087632011-08-10T18:40:00.000-04:002011-08-18T19:11:06.724-04:00Magic Yarn BallsThis summer, I participated in my first Magic Yarn Ball swap. <br />
I had a lot of fun getting my partner's yarn ball together for her, and she really liked her goodies.<br />
I was pretty excited when I first heard about this: you take a skein of yarn, buy some knitting notions, goodies, sweets, or just about anything you think you can manage to wrap inside the yarn ball, and wind the yarn around each item until it eventually resembles a ball. Sure, it will be lumpy and bumpy, but for the most part it will look like yarn. When your partner receives your magic yarn ball, the idea is that as they knit something with it, things are revealed as the ball unwinds... or so I thought. In our swap group, everyone so far has been too excited to wait and actually <i>knit</i> with their yarn ball. They are so thrilled to have it arrive that they immediately unwind it to find their little surprises, then wind it back into a ball. I feel glad that my partner GuapaM got to unwind and find lots of great stuff, but I feel bad that she had to go through all that unwinding to find it. I'm talking <i>all</i> the way to the end of the yarn for that last item (custom large buttons from my local yarn store). I ordered her a cone of fingering weight yarn, and according to the swap requirements we had to do a minimum of 100 grams. I ordered 150 grams of yarn, but saved 15 grams for me to do a swatch with (for a future order). Which left me with over 700 yards of yarn to wind, if I did my math correctly. That took me quite a while to wind. Here is what her yarn ball package looked like when it arrived there:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://oi51.tinypic.com/15hhgmr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://oi51.tinypic.com/15hhgmr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I sent her some of my favourite coffee from Tim Hortons, as well as a Noro Coffee Cup cozy that I knitted myself by hand. I love knitting with Noro! It's a pleasure knitting with this yarn, but it's even more fun to be able to give it away to someone who will enjoy using it. This really does keep your coffee warm, and feels great to hold. The Dare Bear Paws crackers are something I chose because my GuapaM likes crackers, especially cheddar; and I was sure she hasn't tried these yet. They are fairly new on the market. Here is the other picture, which shows all the stuff she managed to unwind from her yarn ball:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://oi51.tinypic.com/21nnlt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://oi51.tinypic.com/21nnlt2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I can't wait to see what she ends up knitting with the yarn I sent to her! She is such a talented knitter.<br />
Wait a second... that yarn looks like it's been wound up with a ball winding machine - now I don't feel so bad about making her unwind so much yarn, ha ha ha! Not bad, eh? Look how much stuff I had hiding inside that ball of yarn! I think I've impressed myself, too. Sadly, there was no way to wrap the cracker box in yarn. If you can accomplish that, you have my greatest respect.<br />
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Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-24296396215217083992011-08-02T13:04:00.000-04:002011-08-02T13:05:16.917-04:00August finished knitting #2<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF6eFoJc_ZoDMWOCg3eTh0RPmLdUbk-Xbx7DxNWvzk-0Hpnf3YY3tlFf-L1fsnwgb7iC_KCxNG0bsmL4URMWfNPJdGRQ5Eo4M2-t41PCjGTphK7AbIAVqG2Y948OqgfCK73rGvmjBht0e/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA3NzgtMjAxMTA4MDItMTEwNS5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-716918"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF6eFoJc_ZoDMWOCg3eTh0RPmLdUbk-Xbx7DxNWvzk-0Hpnf3YY3tlFf-L1fsnwgb7iC_KCxNG0bsmL4URMWfNPJdGRQ5Eo4M2-t41PCjGTphK7AbIAVqG2Y948OqgfCK73rGvmjBht0e/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA3NzgtMjAxMTA4MDItMTEwNS5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-716918" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636305844785423570" /></a></p>Ha ha ha, it looks like I mismatched the photos when I sent them in via email. Oops!<br>So this is the picute of the fingerless mitts I was just blogging about. The other picture in the previous post was of the Noro Kureon coffee cozy. It has become my favourite coffee cozy to make so far, and certainly the easiest. I love how it shows off the colours!<p>I made both of these for a friends birthday that was yesterday. She loves to drink tea, and also carries her own water bottle around. This cozy does a great job of insulating both warm and cold drinks. <p>I think she'll like them. I just have to weave in the ends and I'm all done!Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-16821278723295434272011-08-02T12:55:00.000-04:002011-08-02T12:56:19.811-04:00Newly Finished Objects<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJbCg1erIKJRXw9fxzAO-TIvGDEnih2dM-5u5sjPvJZhvu97zr4yLfiI5scKbkNGpY5TESV_ZN5WeK_lDrvcmqb34WEq7L1ePPBhu3KFSoBm3G7OP0-w_iECaZtEIJZEdFny86NzT-6YX/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA3NzctMjAxMTA4MDItMTEwNC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-779812"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJbCg1erIKJRXw9fxzAO-TIvGDEnih2dM-5u5sjPvJZhvu97zr4yLfiI5scKbkNGpY5TESV_ZN5WeK_lDrvcmqb34WEq7L1ePPBhu3KFSoBm3G7OP0-w_iECaZtEIJZEdFny86NzT-6YX/s400/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HMDA3NzctMjAxMTA4MDItMTEwNC5qcGc%253D%253F%253D-779812" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636303538501428594" /></a></p>I've just finished up 2 new projects this past weekend. One is a pair of fingerless mitts - the pattern is designed to show off malibrigo yarn, so I will try it again sometime with my beautiful malibrigo skein. For this one though, I chose to use Universal Yarns with gradual changes in green hues, with a tint of blue thrown in here and there. A blend of wool and acrylic, this yarn was easy to work with and I would be happy to try it again in other patterns that show off it's colours. I think I have just enough of it left to make one more pair of fetchings, and since my little girl kept wanting to try them on, I think I might make her some arm warmers for fall. <br>Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless NetworkJane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393865907134726988.post-65013366357238425672011-07-15T23:56:00.000-04:002011-07-15T23:56:28.617-04:00Thanks Angela!This is the really cool parcel I just got in the mail today from my friend Angela on Ravelry.<br />
Here's my first item out of the box: an awesome market bag! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5942023906_1045981fda_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5942023906_1045981fda_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepIJ5NRb_u0IAnZcKesytM93Ua_sW1VFAfNKMo6C-I-5koZy0nb1mFSbyusuGQ_cZFd620oFMrj5aBEHVihRI3EK1zf5oHHBzSx7dX6f4u0DZtfGG5nAwGMCaB6dpSCRFXPI_ZJpjVcB0/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepIJ5NRb_u0IAnZcKesytM93Ua_sW1VFAfNKMo6C-I-5koZy0nb1mFSbyusuGQ_cZFd620oFMrj5aBEHVihRI3EK1zf5oHHBzSx7dX6f4u0DZtfGG5nAwGMCaB6dpSCRFXPI_ZJpjVcB0/s320/IMG_0428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This bag is so cool, it's made of rectangles, and actually looks like it's somehow knitted together without seams. I'm going to have to ask Angela how she did it. My friend was visiting when I opened it up, and I thought she was going to try and leave with it! She kept holding it and turning it around and around, checking it out. I barely got to hold it, until I got her to take a photo of me holding it! :)<br />
Inside the bag was amazing blue yarn, with changing shades! How does everyone else score so well in finding these shades? I'm so spoiled! Angela could have easily ended it there and I'd be a happy camper. But wait, there's more...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5941455079_0970e09829_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5941455079_0970e09829_m.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These blue stitch markers she gave me are a perfect match to my new yarn,<br />
it's like yarn jewelry!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5941455767_691a4a8cfe_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5941455767_691a4a8cfe_m.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She didn't just spoil me, she also spoiled my kids.<br />
Here is one of the books she gave Emma. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was also a Princess ABC sticker book, which Emma loved pointing to the letters she can name.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuIR-f8MyNkgMxiphrosNE0Iim4xO3vScx3blO-vFGCm-FCIci5BqXze3jNDmU_FETSe7ra-b1IRLMs2PEtZ7nfGuTbNeJQ_uu2PGhZ4RN8ZANTxY9cPASSotPvepujVFae-HMi1njsku/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuIR-f8MyNkgMxiphrosNE0Iim4xO3vScx3blO-vFGCm-FCIci5BqXze3jNDmU_FETSe7ra-b1IRLMs2PEtZ7nfGuTbNeJQ_uu2PGhZ4RN8ZANTxY9cPASSotPvepujVFae-HMi1njsku/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Evan got a cool Hot Wheels emergency vehicle, which is interesting to him because we had to call 911 the other day to help a nearby car collision. We were first on the scene, and it was our first time calling 911. Ok, I'll fess up - I actually called them when I was 6 years old to see if it really worked. It did, and boy, did I ever get in trouble from daddy! The kids also got sticker books, tattoo stickers, and water balloons!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5942100016_ebdde27797_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5942100016_ebdde27797_m.jpg" /></a></div>Next out of the box were more goodies for me: A shiny pair of scissors for my projects, a package of summer themed buttons (Emma and I played a matching game with the shapes already), some dpn holders, and wooden dpns. Looks like a lot of them, eh? That's right, I got spoiled...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5942103140_01ee6f9c0b_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5942103140_01ee6f9c0b_m.jpg" /></a></div>I got so many dpns that I could make a peacock with them! Angela was paying attention when I mentioned how I have gone from a one-at-a-time project knitter to a several-WIP's knitter. This means that I would run out of dpns often and have to either <i>finish</i> a WIP to use the needles again, or get some stitch holders for my WIP's. Now I can do lots and lots of fingerless mittens on the go! One WIP in each purse, yay!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-Rg0WcZrdMUntpYQVBy20VQCiK5A5Aj4WmIU7c0Zt0LX_jepc4i2mh_3bjxLPIzAEzEslVg2nyOmA5wH8l0XqU1QtmAifQBhsO56cOAOI2nWKLoJrbnDFtjKLzHeRTh2uKEqN-tOCUWC/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-Rg0WcZrdMUntpYQVBy20VQCiK5A5Aj4WmIU7c0Zt0LX_jepc4i2mh_3bjxLPIzAEzEslVg2nyOmA5wH8l0XqU1QtmAifQBhsO56cOAOI2nWKLoJrbnDFtjKLzHeRTh2uKEqN-tOCUWC/s320/IMG_0450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Poor Evan, thought these were for him. In my defense, he already has a cool pair of camoflage slippers I bought him at a bazar last winter. Now I have my own, and they are quite comfy! They are a darker blue than the camera is showing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvTTfNd-HDQpHyaQXLyuasb1-JmohFRjuDGP7RuFPfJe5zYt13b5BpdJhSnzGOSiooW6Ux8MrfQlyGCjfBeUeKN5zKyhAfg9oe0H-yCZLjoh_z2667kfczOj_CJz3Nlem4h7YhB0lgomK/s1600/IMG_0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvTTfNd-HDQpHyaQXLyuasb1-JmohFRjuDGP7RuFPfJe5zYt13b5BpdJhSnzGOSiooW6Ux8MrfQlyGCjfBeUeKN5zKyhAfg9oe0H-yCZLjoh_z2667kfczOj_CJz3Nlem4h7YhB0lgomK/s320/IMG_0448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Last but not least, Angela was so kind! She heard I had started a free beginner's knitting club at my local community centre, and donated this set of needles for their use. Now that's paying it forward!<br />
Thanks for all the goodies!Jane Doe Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02419430077616811394noreply@blogger.com1