Confessions of an acrylic addict

Help me. I am sick, really, I am. I have so much yarn in my stash, yet what do I do? Oh yeah, you know,,, I buy more. Can't help it, really I have tried. It's my vice. I quit smoking, stopped buying pocketbooks and shoes. I cut way back on new clothing. But yarn? Nah, not even close to stopping. As a matter of fact after I received this goodie bag in the mail, I went to ebay and bought more. See, I've been eyeing up some other yarn this woman had for sale. 10 skeins of Debbie Bliss cashmerino superchunky in a beautiful blue. I waited for 3 days to see if what I had purchased from her was good yarn. Well, the jury is in.... DING we have a winner. Perfect yarn. Enclosed in plastic bags. No smell. I think they came straight from the factory. I really have to start using some of the yarn in my stash. Finished newsboy cap last night, just have to sew the brim and it will be ready for a pic. Feeling under the weather tonight, just going to hit the couch (after I finish felting triangle)....

time for a project update

OK time for a knitting project update. Currently I am working on a newsboy cap. PLaying around with it. I am finished with the knitting of triangle, now comes the fun part! Sewing! Yeah! My favorite part. (not) But I like to make myself do things I am not great at, as to improve. Yesterday as I sat couch potatoe I made myself knit the I-cords for this project which has been basically finished before I left for India. I made the flower this morning and I will sew it up tonight. Then it's all about the felting. Which my washing machine is not particularly good at.
Next project in the works is the herringbone poncho from hell. I am about 26" long and it needs to go to 58 or so. ALMOST half way there... This poncho has been an international traveler. It will have many stories to tell when it is finally fininshed. I must comment that upon the recommendation of the woman at the LYS I bought this at I used frog tree alpaca. This yarn is lovely and soft, HOWEVER it sheds massively. If you are wearing any dark color and knitting you will be covered in cream fur. This will be a denim poncho no doubt about it. I have yarn on order from ebay for a shrug from interweave press "Wrap Style" . I actually found the yarn on the cheap and hope 5 balls is enough for it to cover my "fit" body. As in, "she's a bit fit" anyone watch Ali G? very funny. Lastly I made this cute from some cheappy yarn on the bottom and a manos yarn want to be teal. I felted it and bought this cute antique brooch. This was going to get gifted at Christmas, but me likey, me likey alot. Stay warm and dry..

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Had a lovely, quiet evening last night with neighbors. Third year running. It's such a nice thing when you don't have to leave the cul-de-sac! I have some more pics to post. I worked until 3 yesterday and then stopped in at Barnes & Noble for a little shoppin' . Picked up a

couple of books. I am of the school of belief that you can never have enouogh books. I want to learn how to do some embroidering. The Complete Encyclopedia of Stitchery contains alot of info on that. It also has crochet, knitting, macrame, sewing and tatting. As my hubby asked, what's that book for? HONING MY CRAFT kids. I want to kick the knitting up a notch this year. The Sonoma Diet book? I'll let you know. I would like to take off about 10 lbs, but some plans are in the works that may negate this. (wink,wink) I'll keep you posted.

I also posted some of my purchases from India trip. These are the 3 saris that I bought. They are so pretty. I wore the brighter blue one for the reception we had in India. I did not want to take it off it was so pretty and comfortable. The light blue is also beautiful. Such detail goes into their work.

So what is the NY resolution? To take care of me this year. Sound selfish? Nah, I need a little TLC. I want to focus more on my spiritual side. Do some Svadhyaya, which is self study, according to Patanjali's yoga sutras; refinement. I am still working on santosha (contentment) I think I have made some major leaps and bounds in this. I don't feel so much I want this and that, blah blah. You can't take it when you leave. All that's with you is what's inside not that prada bag. Besides, who cares what anybody else thinks about me. The exception to this is two fold, God and hubby. I want to be closer to God, more spiritual, more knowledge to share with my students. I want to be a better teacher, so they can be better students, no scratch that, better people, happier people, content people, SPIRITUAL people. If they are more in tune with themselves everything else will fall into place. Yeah, that's it. To teach this I must first work on myself. That is my NY resolution. Of course I must leave you with this last pic, brace yourself she is so cute and sweet she may cause cavities. My little girl..... or should I say...Daddy's little girl, because only he can get her to pose....

Merry Belated Christmas

Merry Greetings people. I have been busy. I was knitting my way accross India for 16 days. Then upon coming home I had a week to finish shopping and bake all my cookies AND cook Christmad day dinner. Now onto New Years which is going to be on the quiet front. I do want to see my friend Dan's band check out his website and listen to his groovy tune @ www.danfordsworld.com
Anyhow, back to India I have some pics to post,so here goes... This first one is my initial shopping excursion in New Dehli. Now, when you shop here they pull out a bajillion things for you to look at(note all the clothing in front of my mil and me. Spent the equivilant of $100 us dollars and bought quite a bit of clothing plus a soft pashima. next pic...
This is mendhi, a henna paste that is artistically drwan onto you. It dries an you leave it on overnight then scrape it off in the morning and it leaves a temporary tattoo that gets darker for about 5 days, then begins to fade. I had this done before my wedding also. They also do your feet. This took about 3-4 hours , and was done by my husband's cousin ketki. As you can see she is EXTREMLEY talented. She is in college in India. We had a lovely chat, and I really like her. Hopefully someday she can come to visit us. All the women have hobbies/crafts/singing,etc... I had a lovely show and tell with my husbands grandmother. She is a VERY talented knitter. She does not speak much english, yet we shared so much. I was knitting my herringbone poncho, which I had to frog 3 times ,dropped a stitch, did not ktbl, which caused the pattern to go in all the same direction,then I dropped another stitch. Nightmarish I tell you. So it should be done by now, BUT a 19 hour plane ride home in which I was told on the phone by airfrance that I could not bring my knitting needles on the plane so I did not. However, I noted a woman in the row accross from me crocheting away for 10++ hours. Hmph are they prejudice against knitters???? Food for thought. This pic is moi and Ketki, then mendhi artist. So, you ask how was India for whitebread like myself? Definetly a life experience. I see alot of things differently now. I think the next trip we be much better, because I know what to expect. I will also pac some Kraft Mac and cheese for days when the tummy can't handle the spice. Otherwise, My husbands family is so nice. Everyone was so generous, and the Chai tea, was delicious!!!! I did look disheveled most of the trip, but trust me, this is hard to avoid. You don't take showers, you take baths. Which are quite refreshing, think buckets of hot water that you pour over yourself. However it's not the best for the frizzy hair. I will leave you with one last photo of the Taj Mahal. Do you know the story? Long story short: It was built by a king for his deceased wife as a tomb. He loved her so much he built this for her. I believe it took 30 some years to complete. It is symmetrical, and it was so beautiful words and pictures do not do it justice. At sunset it turns a goldish color and during a full moon it turns blue? I think it's blue. Looks like a professional photo right? That's my hubbies digital. Have a safe and happy new year. Peace.