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!

August 2008

Partay all night!
We had two big events to attend this Saturday night...and Flynn was a social butterfly.

We first attended the Rally on the Alley event at Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery. It was a scooter themed art show. Our bikes were on display. That's me and Flynn sitting on my Vespa. He and Daddy have fun on the patio.

Then we zoomed over to Dawn & Freddy's for a soiree. They had filmed for a design show (Utopia Joe) earlier in the evening and then had the Oh Johnny Girls singing and a movie playing in the backyard. It was too much fun. Wish we could have stayed longer at both, but the little boy was pooped out by the end of the night. It was great to see all our friends out though...at least we got out of the house for a change and socialized like other adult individuals. Good times!

HIP BABY STYLE - FLICKR GROUP

I had been documenting Flynn's wardrobe since he was born...kinda kept track of his growth too. I thought it would be fun since I do the Wardrobe Remix group when I can and since that is only for grown-ups, I thought I would start my own group for the kiddos.

So, in August, I did just that...it's called HIP BABY STYLE.
Go here to sign up and share your baby's stylish wardrobe.

The icon I use is from a scooter rally tshirt a friend brought back for Flynn from AmeriVespa, designed by Modified.

Chevron Scarf - Check

I finally finished my sister's birthday scarf in July. Her birthday was in April. Just as I was getting into the pattern and making some headway, I fell and broke my wrist. So, there was no knitting to be had for some time. And, once I was able to knit a little bit, it hurt really bad and I had the use of only two fingers on my left hand...sucked.

I had plenty of time to complete the project but just couldn't control the situation. Oh well. Things happen. But, I did get it done and hopefully she liked it in the end...part of my "make everyone's gifts this year" project. It turned out pretty cute.

First Trip to the Zoo

We live in the best neighborhood and have made some of the best friends with our neighbors on our block. There are about 6 houses of families that get together and have parties and cook-outs...great fun. Although one of our best friends moved away recently to grow their family in a larger house, we still get together all of us with the kids.

We went to the zoo, Flynn's first trip, with the Oldfield boys and the Curran boys...all close to the same age, with Flynn coming in as the smallest. It was so cute to see him checking out the animals. We saw up close the baby lion cubs, then there were the bears, and of all things, he loved the catfish the most...guess it is a water lovein' thing.

Summer Fun 2008

These are a few of my favorite Flynn shots from over the summer.
-He sure had a great time at his first pool party. The neighbor boys didn't know what to think of all his splashing. He loves the water.
-The 4th of July was fun too...he tried his first plum and devoured it...so cute in his red and blue stripes. We were at our yearly neighborhood party...a can't miss.

-That boy loves to swing at the park and get close to his toys

-Grandma and Grandpa took him to the science museum in the building where I work and he played in the little tykes area, got all wet.
-He learns how to walk by pushing his dump truck
-New birthday swing of his very own in the backyard

-Giggle fest
-playing with his new cousin, Addysin
-having fun with his Dada

Off to Connecticut

I work for a non-profit American Indian cultural organization...in June we have our huge Festival: art and dance event. It's a huge undertaking, but I've done it many times before so it was like old hat jumping into it again. As part of my new post, I am getting to attend some amazing museum (which we also have) conferences.

I won a scholarship to attend the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian exhibit renewal conference. It was at the Pequot Tribe's reservation in Connecticut. I had never been to that part of the country, except for NYC, and it was just gorgeous. It was one of the best experiences ever, plus I have a lot more museum related knowledge under my belt now and made some great friends.

The tribe hosted a lobster dinner one night on the coast just down from Mystic Pizza (shot that out the window as we cruised by). We had a double rainbow view of the harbor. Part of the workshops included mount-making classes. The lower right shot is of the Pequot Museum...gorgeous.

I've taken two more museum courses since, but they are related more to archiving which I find fascinating. Lots to do in the museum now that I'm a know it all.

Flynn's 1st Birthday Party

BooBoo's first birthday party was Memorial weekend. We had over 40 people (close friends, neighbors and family) at the house. It was a tight fit but so much fun. It was a vintage race car theme. Flynn wore a tshirt I made for him and we got him the cutest Little Red Wagon race car. He's now getting more into it now that his legs are longer. He also got the blue Pooh Bear car which makes plenty of noise. His party was so much fun. He was startled by the singing of the birthday song but got into when he realized it was all for him. My friend Melissa is an awesome baker...she made his cake to match his tshirt and the cookies too. My inlaws put in landscaping that weekend as their gift to us all. It turned out really nice...we needed it. It really was a perfect first birthday party. Next year...low key.

The invite for Flynn's 1st Birthday Party taken from a vintage children's postcard.

May 2008

A lot has happened in the past 5 months. Wow!
The month of May will be a little ridiculous for me for the rest of my life event-wise. Mother's Day is one weekend, my birthday the next, then Flynn's birthday the next, which is also Memorial weekend. Ugh.

And, to add to it, the Canvas Show is right after that. I wasn't able to go cause it is also the weekend as a huge event that my new/old job puts together. This is the second show and the second pair of Van's I designed for the Canvas event.

I went back to an old job I had seven years ago, but now with more experience and a better title, etc. I started in March, the same day I fell and broke my wrist. hmmm...coincidence is it all? All I know, is it was all bad timing. I had and still have way too much on my plate. Time to say no.

Good grief girl! Where have you been?

Well, gee...if anyone still checks up on me, I am still around. I haven't posted in a while cause I got behind and I hate to get out of order with things that have happened, so I want to start from the beginning, which was in May. So I will just have to do it quickly, so I can get back on track with what I'm up to now. I will make small posts in consecutive order to when they happened.

This is a current photo of my little booger. Flynn is the cutest little boy I have ever seen in my life. He just surprises me everyday with his happy smile and joy in his heart...pure sweetness is this baby!

He has a pop up air machine that makes little balls go up in the air. He is obsessed with it and freakin' loves it. He's taking a break in this photo to get one of his pingpong balls that went across the room.

PS: We call him Shaggy. Check out the hair growth difference from the previous post.

my little stinker

My son will be 1 year old in just 2 short weeks. He kills me with the cuteness. It just gets more awesome everyday. This photo proves it...from our Eames series...photos of Flynn's growth.

ALL ABOUT ME IN 7 RANDOM FACTS

Okay…a month and a half later, I’m finally getting around to doing this. Oops. Miss Amy tagged me with a 7 Random Things About Me, so here are the goods. 7 of you will get tagged too - watch out!

1-
In my early 20’s, I went skydiving (solo) and my mom jumped too, which is a more interesting fact if you knew my mom...totally not her character. She didn’t want me to bungee jump and thought jumping out of an airplane would be safer. Okay? I don’t know if that’s true but it was pretty freakin’ awesome.

2-
On my second date with my husband (in my very late 20’s), he took me up on a grain silo south of downtown Oklahoma City to shoot a photograph of the Skyline for Oklahoma Today Magazine. It was cool and romantic at first…then I learned I was afraid of heights…out of the blue. I pretty much had a panic attack and couldn’t climb down the ladder to get off the thing. It was such an awful and humiliating experience. For some reason the man still married me.

3-
I love sleeping with the windows open when it rains and thunderstorms all night and the cool breeze puts you to sleep.

4-
If I was alone on a Friday night (without the fam), one of my favorite things to do is sit in front of the tv and watch old movies with a bunch of junk food, a Coke, my knitting and a stack of magazines and stay up til 2am. Then fall asleep on the couch with the pugs snuggled up with me and have absolutely no obligations the next morning so I can sleep til noon. Love that.

5-
Pet Peeve #213
I hate sweaty drinking glasses, cans or bottles. It makes me crazy. I have to have a napkin wrapped around them so I don’t have to touch the wet…just feels gross to me.

6-
I love vintage stuff…love love love. I wear vintage and love the hunt.
But, when I go to vintage clothing stores, I get a creepy icky feeling. I don’t like to touch things and I hold my breath so I don’t take the air in...like I'm gonna get cooties. Because in my mind, it’s old and stinky and dirty and has been on someone else’s body from 40 years ago…even though I’m sure it has really been laundered since then. For example: polyester clothes from the 60s/70s. No way…very cute and all…but I could never let that fabric touch my body. I envy those girls who can just throw on a 60s crocheted poncho and be all about it…but ewww! Totally mental. It’s so stupid.

7-
I don’t like other people to be messy, but it’s okay for me to be. It’s like my eyes don’t see my pile of clothes that need to be hung or my dirty dishes. They’ve just become part of the décor somehow. But, if my husband’s are there, I know which ones are his and he dang well better take care of it immediately…totally weird.

Aren't I fascinating? But anyway…here are the lucky 7 that are now tagged by me:

-Pinku
-Red Lipstick
-Read This & Tell Me What it Says
-Designer Line
-Blue Rose Knits
-Living to Tell the Tale
-Knit Wit Girly

UFO's

Okay, so I have a lot of catching up to do...and how am I gonna get all of my planned birthday/mothers day, etc. projects done with a broken wrist? Hmmm...don't think I'm gonna make it. I have 18 inches or so more to go on the Chevron scarf for my sister. Yes, I had to present it unfinished...which I so hate...but she understood that it was taking longer with the cast on. I hadn't posted any photos cause I didn't want her to catch a glimpse just in case.

NOTE: I HAVE AT LEAST 8 MORE WEEKS WITH THE CAST ON...OMG...I HATE THIS THING. OBVIOUSLY IT'S TEACHING ME A LESSON OF SOME SORT...WHAT COULD IT BE???ARGH!

These projects in the photos are all taking up space on my needles and so I have no needles to work with (my Denise cords anyway). The One Skein Wonder is for my friend Becky from at least two years ago maybe three..hopefully I can give it to her this year...if they are still in style...ugh. I need to make a second wrist warmer and will probably give those to Dawn for her bday. The orange thang is a bag for me. And, or course the little knit pants for my baby boy...those have got to be done...they probably won't fit him for sure now.

That's what I get for being a procrastinator. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

So not a fashion statement

but, at least it's pink!

I started a new job last Monday. As I was leaving the building at the end of my very first day, the heel of my gorgeous high-heeled black leather boots clipped a crack and I went flying. There was no stopping me. I basically landed on all fours, skinned my knees, sprained my right wrist and fractured my left, hence the lovely cast. This totally suckity suck suck sucks!!!!! In my whole 30-something years, I have never broken anything. This freakin' cast is so claustrophobic I could just scream! Argh!!!!!!

I have a couple of months at least with this thing. Insane!

So, there will be very slow progress on knitting if any at all. And, I was going to get back on my scooter this spring...not happening until this is off, especially since you shift with the left hand. Not a good kick-off to the warm weather ahead.

Otherwise, Sweetpea had a great 1st Easter!

NOTE: there is no product in his hair and it has not been styled in any manner. This ciaos is all natural..the craziest hair I have ever seen, so hysterical!

I'm spying on you little one

Somehow it's like he knows we are watching him. Our little racoon was up to no good one night. We were watching him on the tv monitor... a little spy cam we have hooked up on his bed so we don't have to wake him up with the creaking door every night. It's hysterical to watch him and sometimes he pops up and looks right at the camera. I just can't help but giggle...what a cutie pie.

Veggie Tales

This is what I have been up to in the past week besides knitting a baby blanket...which should be blocked tonight...just gotta weave in those dang ends...ick.

I made a Mexican Lasagna last night with a side of Spanish Rice and tortilla chips. I'm so proud...my husband actually said he would like to have this again. I said, " Well, how about lunch tomorrow." That's what I'm having. It was dang good. I've been getting all of my recipes, except the lentil soup, from those Martha Stewart Everyday Food mini magazines. There are a ton of vegitarian recipes in those and they are really good. This lasagna has a spinach/cilantro mix layered with pinto beans, salsa and pepper jack cheese on corn tortillas. It was super easy.


Also, another thing I'm excited about...a coworker asked me today if I have lost some weight. I can't believe someone can actually tell. Yippie. I've lost almost 10 lbs. This is a good thing! Note: that's a play on words since I mentioned Martha up above...dumb huh?