Casa de Maria

Casa de Maria - NM, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

The later part of May we went with our friends the Currans to their family cabin near Las Vegas, New Mexico. The house was full of their family and friends. There were 5 little boys, two little girls and a baby amongst the adults. The kids had a blast and so did we. The cabin was a mile from a national forest so we went hiking one day.

Amy is a knitter as well and she took me to a nearby alpaca ranch, Victory Ranch, in Mora. We fed the alpaca and spent quite a bit of time visiting with the owner about knitting and got some fabulous yarns. They even had a baby chria alpaca that had been born on Flynn's birthday just a couple of days earlier.

This was a much needed family trip and one we will go on again soon I'm sure.

A Knitting Sunday

I'm catching up on some blog posting. I've got to post about some fun things I've done this year. Yes, this was from way back in May, but that's how I roll, so there.

My good girlfriend and old neighbor Amy is my knitting cohort. We had a full day of knitting fun on Sunday, May 2 and it was so much freakin fun. We started the morning with a Starbucks and headed to Guthrie at the SWAK workshop and took a class with Cookie A on reading charts. I also met Jarod Flood briefly.

We then hopped on the turnpike and went to Tulsa to a fiber event put on by their local yarn stores and Make:Tulsa for the rest of the afternoon.

We took another class on Fair Isle to make a hat in MiniMochi. Good thing we just took the chart reading class because guess what Fair Isle involves. I'm still working on this project...only have half an inch done as I'm not that swift holding yarn in my left hand. I will have to get used to that.

The farm where they held the event was beautiful. There were vendors and pretty trees to sit under and knit. It was really nice. It was good to just think about knitting all day and have no other responsibilities for a while.

Cookie A teaching us how to read in her Chart Reading class in Guthrie at the SWAK workshop weekend. She was excellent. It was fun to meet her.

The Knitting Farm

The Barn where the classes and vendors were set up.

Put on Your Party Dress

GirlieShow_poster03, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

It's Girlie Show #6...just a week away. I'm actually going to be in my own show this year. So, yes I've been a little busy planning the show and knitting away on my products for my booth. What was I thinking? I hope I don't kill over from it all. Wish me luck. I know it will be fabulous as usual. And, keep track of us through our updated website: www.thegirlieshow.net. It's lovely!

Hello, my name is...

A Neckwarmer Winter, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

...Erin. Nice to meet you.

You might remember me from when I last wrote on my blog JANUARY! What? That is so sad. I need to catch up with everyone and fill you in on my little life if you are so inclined to be interested.

So, I was all about neckwarmers this past Christmas/winter. Friends and family got them as gifts and I made a couple for myself. They were a lot of fun and easy to make. I still need to post patterns on Ravelry, but you know how I obviously procrastinate. Ha.

I have actually been knitting a lot these past few months. I finished a darling lacey bolero, a kerchief, baby blanket and my first pair of socks which were a disaster in the end and will start a new pair soon with a different pattern. I am currently working on a shawl. I'm totally into shawls right now. That's my new addiction.

My son turned two this past May and he is a happy little hyper boy. We've been having lots of fun going to the zoo, coloring, swimming, playing in the sandbox and chasing the pugs.

This past spring I was fortunate enough to be selected into Leadership Arts. It's a program directed by the Oklahoma Arts Council which gave us extensive leadership knowledge in being advocates for the arts in education and in our communities. It was an unbelievable opportunity. Just the friends I have made through the program has been amazing. We're making changes together to keep arts in the foreground in our fair city.

I've not only been focusing on broad changes but on personaly changes for my own art. My goal is to get some designs together and actually have a booth at The Girlie Show this year. I haven't been in my show since the first one in 2004 and it's about dang time I promote myself again. I've gotta get busy making though. Time is counting down for November 6.

Besides family, my husband's brewery (www.coopaleworks.com) and my work, it's the same ol' same ol' in my neck of the woods. I promise to keep up with the blogging in a more timely fashion from now on!!!!

I Gots Some Knittin' to Do!

Okay, in reviewing what I did and didn't knit this past year, I thought I would look back to see what my goals were two years back.

Goals from 2006:
It looks like I actually did finish several of those projects. I caught up with a lot of this in 2007. And, some of these goals I'm not interested in anymore, but I do still want to make that hotpink mohair shawl and work on some of my hat designs. And, I still have one more wrist warmer to complete but will probably give those as a gift cause I'm over them.

Goals for 2008:
I accomplished quite a bit of my plan for last year in regards to special gifts. Even though I didn't make exactly all of these specific projects, I still made handmade items for my list. The only thing I didn't do was a beanie for dad and a toy for baby, but there's always this year.

Something I totally neglected in 2008...I didn't complete my "Pay it Forward" projects. So, for those of you who signed up to receive a giftie from me (Meg, Kary and Apple) please forward me your mailing addresses and I will make it a priority, I promise! I don't want to be lame in 2009. I think I just got a bit lazy last year.

So, this year I still have a couple of UFOs I would like to complete...you know, a pair of pants that won't fit my son now and a wrist warmer that I won't wear. I can't wait to carry the cute orange totebag. It will feel good to get these UFOs out of my bags and off my to-do list. I might not make gifts for everyone this year cause I don't feel like making so many commitments, plus I want to make a couple of big projects for myself...we'll see, I'm just not making promises, but I'm proud of what I made last year. Everything turned out great. I just really want to do some "Stitch n Bitch" group knitting this year...I will make that goal. I miss doing that with my friends and getting out of the house for a bit.

Merry Christmas to All!

Santa #3, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

One of Flynn's three photos with "Santa" this year...he didn't care for this one so I sat in with him. The other two were the real deal, but this was fun getting to share the moment.
Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the moment with your families.
Here's to a new and wonderful year to come!

Pardon Me I Didn't Knit That for You!

This is quite possibly the funniest thing ever! If you are a knitter, you have to watch this especially!

He totally posed for this

He totally posed for this, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

This child o' mine is beyond words. Just look at that beautiful posed face. I held him at the front door with the sunlight coming in on him and took a jillion photos. He posed pensively for everyone of them. Crack up!

Happy Halloween from the Gnome Family

We had such a ball Halloween night taking Flynn out to the neighbors and showing off his costume. I knitted all of us gnome hats and pinned flowers to him and myself. I got the rest of his costume as normal clothes from Target and put the dog's collar on as a belt, stuffed his belly with cotton batting and away we went with our watering can for a candy bucket. He was absolutely precious.

Ghoul's Gone Wild Parade

CIMG5452, originally uploaded by craftyminx.

Here's a little teaser from the parade tonight. Craftyminx took this shot...very cool. That's me in the middle waving like a pageant queen.

Ghoul's Parade, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

Here are some more fun shots from the parade...pink hair and all.

7 Year Itch

7 Year Itch, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

The beginning and maybe the end of this round of the anniversary sweater I was knitting for JD for our 7th Anniversary. Traditionally you give wool for 7 years, hence the cleaver name, 7 Year Itch.

I gauged this dang thang and I think it is way too small...would fit me rather than a man. So, I'm sure I will be frogging this out pretty soon.

I do however really like this yarn I got at the Taos Wool Festival. It's really pretty and super soft...will be nice if it ever turns into something of substance.

Table One

We went to the most amazing dinner recently. A chef friend opened his catering kitchen and is doing special 8-course meals cooked right there for you in front of you. He did a unique menu and a just-for-me menu for me the vegetarian. I did however have fish and scallops...no egg though. He paired it with wine and beers from my husbands soon to open brewery. It was so awesome. These photos do not do it justice at all. And, I ate practically every bite.

Taos Wool Festival

Taos Wool Festival 1008, originally uploaded by Knitterista.

We had a ball (or skein I should say) at the Taos Wool Festival during our family trip to Santa Fe. It just happened to be at the same time...just my luck. Thanks to Amy for pointing out the dates. I'm so glad we got to go...I owe JD for him tagging along.

Flynn enjoyed seeing the llamas, sheep and rabbits. I picked up a bit of yarn...didn't overdo it like I could have so easily done. I got some wool for a special project, some that was just plain gorgeous (see in Flynn's grubby little hands..I'm sure they were filthy by that point) and some peaches and cream color that was to die for.

I swear, if you are even thinking about spinning...don't go to a wool festival. It will make you want to pick that up as a project too, cause the have workshops and wool galore to purchase. That's the next thing I want to learn to do...someday...someday. I certainly don't need one more thing to take-up in my life. It was really inspirational being there and getting to be around so many other textile people. I loved it!

The Ravelry crew had a booth at Taos Wool Festival. It was cool to meet the owners...sorry no photo...didn't want to be a total geek. I picked up a couple of buttons from them.

Taos Wool Festival - a shot of some of the vendors. There were probably 75 or so of them...all full of yarn. It was awesome!

It's all about the wool my friends. Here'a a little Before and After action...they did a demo of sheep shearing at the Taos Wool Festival. That was fun to watch.

Bye Bye Little Puggies

They're off to Grandma's house...cause we've got plans.
HINT: Taos Wool Festival...yippie!

The Anywhere Clip

In keeping with my handmade gifts plan, I made Marilyn a beaded flower "anywhere" clip for her 40th birthday. I also wanted to make the 40th gifts a little more special. Dawn got a scarf/fingerless glove combo I had made a while ago for her 40th this year.

You can clip this in your hair or on a jacket or anywhere!!! I had promised Mare a few years ago that someday I would bead her something because she had given me this huge stash of seed beads and wire when she was purging her craft room. So, I came through. I like how it turned out. I usually attach my flowers to a pin back, but this was a lot easier and small enough. I like the option to put it in your hair. I need to make more for myself now.

PS: Please overlook my big giant ear!

Great State Fair of Oklahoma

We took Flynn to his first state fair. I was just dying to go. For some reason I feel as a mother I connect to that stuff a lot more now...the down-home kind of feeling.

He loved the petting zoo. It was adorable watching pet the goats. He also saw the livestock barns with the cows, lambs, piggies and some Clydesdale horses. Those were pretty amazing.

We also saw a sea lion show which was a little different for a fair, but cool. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when the sea lion danced to the macarana. Geez. You know we'll be going to Sea World someday. But, I actually look forward to it cause I didn't get to go there when I was a kid. Now I get to take Flynn to see all the things I want to see. Yippie!

Becky's One Skein Wonder

My dear friend Becky had mentioned that she liked my One Skein Wonder... I'm going to go ahead and stick my neck out here and say, probably 2 years ago...and I started one for her and got nearly complete and for stupid reason I never finished it. I think because the yarn was totally wrong, but I wouldn't admit it because I hate spending time on something only to onravel and start over.

So, going along with my plan to save money and consume less, I was going to finish that darn schrug and give it to her for her birthday. Because I'm also on a kick to finish my unfinished projects.
I just couldn't bear to give her the tan ugly mess, so I started over in a different color that I knew she would love.

And, yes, she freakin' loved it...announced that the purple I choose was her new color for the season and wigged out. And, proud to say it fit her perfectly and is adorable.

One Skein Wonder - CHECK...off the list!