Smilia Snow Project

Well the closest thing I made this month regarding SNOW was this snowman hat and scarf set.  I guess if you have ans "Sense" at all when in the "Snow" you'll be smart to sport this set, ya think?

Smilla project

Here's my project for Smilla...a knitted snowflake that I'll add to my dishcloth collection. Pattern is a freebie from Berroco though I made it with Sugar n Cream yarn.

My favorite ornament!

This year I would have to pick my little Blue Crab. I think it is adorable. And that is just what we will be having for Christmas dinner.

Ugliest House Decoration entry

This photo was just taken today. It is of the trailer across the street from me. I think she paid $150 for that santa last year. This year she added the stockings. Any way this is my entry for the Ugliest house decorations contest!

Smilla Project and Favorite Ornament

I made snowflakes for my Smilla project - about a dozen of them from the pattern on the Drops Designs Countdown to Christmas Calender. This one was crocheted with a silver metallic crochet cotton. It has an amythest colored bead hanging in the middle, which is hard to see in the photo.
If you haven't been counting down the days at Drops Designs - go on over and catch up. The patterns are darling, and although I won't get any more of them done this Christmas, I may start on them in January for next Christmas!

And for this year's favorite ornament, I would have to pick this darling ornament made for me by Sharon.

Favorite Ornament

I had a really hard time choosing a favorite, but I finally settled on this little needlepoint angel. I stitched her more than 25 years ago. She reminds me of my three red-headed daughters, all grown now with families of their own.

Joan in West TExas

Project for Amilla's Sense of Snow

Well, this little guy is more whimsical than bleak, but what better project for Smilla's Sense of Snow than a snowman?! He is knitted and felted, with beads for arms.

Joan in West TExas

Holiday Swap

I have been so spoiled by Sharon C.!!!!!!!!1

Look at this adorable ornament that she made for me - It is so precious, I just love it!



And the rest of my spoils...I am totally overwhelmed. The book is Slayride by Dick Francis, published in 1973 (I remember that year well LOL) I can't wait to read it. The recipe is for Light Ginger Cookies - these are my DH's favorites but he's only had store bought until now - won't he be surprised when I actually bake him some? The green you see in the picture is a package of Christmas tree peeps (the package has been opened since the picture was taken) But there is more - much more! The yarn is Zen Garden in my favorite shades of blue. I've never knit with this yarn before and it feels so soft, I've been sitting here squeezing it! And there were two knitting books in the box - One Ball Knits, which has been on my wish list for a long time, and a vintage (there's that word again!) knitting book, Sasha Kagan's Big & Little Sweaters and some fabulous colorwork designs. The kind of book you just want to look through again and again. Okay - I'm not done yet! Some sticky notes in the shape of a J, a Christmas pencil with gingerbread men erasers, a tiny notepad, a needle gauge, Christmas stickers, and a touching note telling me how much she enjoys the Whoduknit group -OMG - like I said I'm overwhelmed. Thank you so much Sharon.

Favorite ornament

Our tree is very eclectic. We have so many ornaments (700+ . . . my very anal husband has them inventoried . . . he is just a tad OCD) that I only buy dated ornaments for the kids each year and only when we find something unusual or special. We bought this ornament in Celebration, Florida, in a tiny little shop. Dave wouldn't go in the store because of the smells (candles, perfumes, etc.). So we found this little room in the back that was Christmas Central. I made the kids go out and get Dave because I knew that he would go nuts. We bought four or five ornaments. This is my favorite:

Thank you Heather!

After reading today that Heather had mailed the box on Saturday I was pleasingly surprised to find the box on the porch when I came back from lunch!

Dont know if you can clearly see everything - Joanna Fluke's Candy Cane Murder (I enjoy all her books so know I will enjoy this one) -a very intriguing calendar Thomas Barbey Photomontages - cookie mix with whisk and dishcloth (will make this for the grandkids) - jergans hand cream which I can use year round but especially now - foot spa (and if you read my blog you will know that I wish I had had this with me this weekend) - tissues for someone jsut finishing a cold! - M&Ms in the tube (such a great storage case!) - lip gloss - and the best of all - a handmade angel for my tree!!

Thank you so much - I feel spoiled!!!

My fave ornament

These are stitchmarkers that I made but I am also using them on my tiny tree as Christmas ornaments. cute huh? Hugs Patt

Ornament Contest Entry

Although not gold plated, or cut from Waterford Glass this ornament is priceless to me, and certainly my favorite this year. It is the hand print of my first grandchild,who is now 6 months old, and this her first Christmas.

Beeba Made

Can't wait for next contest

Ohhhh what a nice box of goodies Vigdis sent for contest prizes!! CAn't wait for the next one.

Hugs Patt

Prizes! We Have Prizes!!!

When Vigdis told me that she was sending some things for the Whoduknit prize locker along with something for me to keep - I had no idea she would be sending so much! Her package arrived from Norway today along with a note saying I get to pick some things for myself and put the rest in the prize locker. Just look at all the goodies. There are also some knitting books, cross stitch books, and some of her beautiful stitch markers and dpn holders. Thank you so much Vigdis for your generous gift to Whoduknit (and me!). We Love you! Be watching for new prizes in the prize locker for the next contest!

Swap Goodies from Danielle

I found a moment to take a picture before embarking on a business trip. My goodies from Danielle include:

• The obligatory hand-crafted ornament wishing me "joy"
• A great holly-patterned paperback book cover with built-in bookmark
• The book A Catered Christmas (it's going with me on the plane!) Yummy recipes included in the back of the book.
  
• A bookmark reminding me to be young at heart
• Soft yarn in Christmas-y colors. I don't think I'll have time to do something up this year, but I think a scarf in time for next Christmas. (Too soft and pretty for socks!)
• A great Christmas bracelet that mimics ornaments. I always wear theme jewelry to work near Christmas. This will be perfect!
• Glass stitch markers. These remind me a lot of old-fashioned ornaments or tree lights. I'll be using them all year. They are really pretty.
  
• Recipe for Friendship Squares (mmmm!)

A truly enjoyable package that got me right into the holiday spirit. Thank you so very much, Danielle!

Sharon C.

Dead Until Dark Scarf

Well heck, since we're still posting today, here is my rather uninspired vampire project. Yes, it's another scarf, already tested in the New Jersey cold on a business trip. It does cover the neck all up and toasty warm. No one will suspect your other-worldly activities! (I would have liked to do one of my favorite series more creative justice but just too much travel and work to manage.)

Dead Until Dark Project

Well, I'm jumping on the wagon with yet another neck cover-up, LOL. Mine is just a simple scarf, all garter stitch (I've found that one or two extra shifts a pay period are not very conducive to crafting - or housecleaning, but who cares about that? - so I needed a quickie!). I had this yarn at the bottom of a tote and I only vaguely remember buying it - I'm not a big fan of eyelash yarn but I love the color. And with 4 more inches of snow coming tomorrow, looks like I can use it more than Sookie, LOL. ~ Valerie K

Dead Until Dark Project

I finally finished my Dead Until Dark project. It is a scarf called Love Bites. I found the pattern on ravelry. It is a free pattern. It seems most people want to cover the "fang" bites from the vampires. I decided to embrace the fang bites instead. This scarf consists of two sets holes twice throughout the length of the scarf which represent those fang bites. There are also three sets of dropped stitches. I used yarn I purchased on my alpaca tour this past fall. It is mystery yarn meaning it is what was left over from the large drum carder at one of the farms we visited and it was then hand spun. There was 312 yds 108 gm.

Here is the yarn in a skein when I first purchased it.
Here is the scarf partially finished.

Here it is finished.
Here is a close up of the holes which are yarn overs and knit together.

Oh, No! Not Another Neckwarmer!

It seems as if this was a no-brainer project. Poor Bill; Sookie will have so many neckwarmers he won't be able to get his fangs on her. Mine is made with Malabrigo merino, which is oh-so-soft. I used the My So-Called Scarf pattern. I really like how it turned out, and there was enough yarn left over to make a pair of fingerless gloves (which I left at school). I can see why so many people swear by Malabrigo. It's incredible yarn! Teddy is a sweet model, isn't he?

Dead Until Dark Project & Prize

My project for Dead Until Dark is also a cowl for Sookie to wear to hide the bite marks on her neck.
It should probably be red, to blend in with the blood but It's cream colored Reynolds Baby Alpaca yarn.
This cowl is also the project prize for this book....along with some other goodies....so let's see your projects!

October Project

The time of year is perfect for this! This is a short wrap-around neck warmer that tucks in under your coat lapels or opened jacket zipper. It also serves as a stylish bite-hider. Sookie would have worn this after going to the vampire bar and barely escaping the raid. Even though she and Bill got away, the roving police cruiser pulled them over for being i"n the wrong place at the wrong time." But with this neatly tucked under her coat, Sookie would look cool as a cucumber and warm too. This is knit out of a little less than one skein of baby alpaca yarn. I made the buttons out of polymer clay. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm off to Virginia!

Judy

Project Prize Received - Thank You Vigdis!

Christmas at my house in November! I am totally stunned - I got the most excellent prize from Vigdis today for my Plains Crazy project. First, there was this gorgeous felted bag, with a cute felted flower and wooden handles - I couldn't have picked colors I loved better! - and I thought that was the prize. But then...when I got it all the way out of the wrappings, tucked in it were 4 skeins of GarnStudio Camelia yarn, 100% wool SW, in a lovely dark golden mustard. And then...there was a book called Ocean Breezes, with tons of beautiful scarf patterns (some of which would look great with my new yarn!). And then...a little wrapped package with 3 beaded stitch markers (and they match the yarn color!). And lastly...a DP needle holder (which I confess my sneaky cat must have seen, as he snagged it out of the bag when I wasn't looking - I got it back from him before any damage was done!).

Thank you so much Vigdis, this is more than I ever could have imagined and I LOVE everything! ~ Valerie K

Nate's life

Second job was slow last night and I had plenty of time to read on my book. I finished New Moon. It is book two in the Twilight series. My oldest daughter is wanting me to read them all. Started Eclipse last night. It is book three in the series. I am listening to Harry Potter six on CD. I have already read the book, but re familiarizing myself with it in anticipation for the next movie. I am also listening to Greg Iles Turning Angel on CD. It is for another book club I belong too. On the knitting front, I finished a scarf and started another one. Nate

Hugh Dunnit Returns Solution

Solution - As most of you figured out - If Mr. Lacy was innocent he would have assumed that his wife was shot when he saw the gun and would not have known that she was clubbed to death with it.


Yes, our famous detective Hugh Dunnit is back to solve another mystery. This time he has been called to the scene of the murder of Lacey Wate who had been fatally struck on the head with the butt of a pistol. The .38 had been found near the body. Hugh Dunnit's brother Howie Dunnit was the first to arrive at the scene. He had already telephoned Lacy's husband at his office and told him to hurry home. By the time Mr. Wate got there the ambulance with Lacy's body in it had already driven off. He rushed up to Hugh Dunnit shouting "What happened? Where is my wife?" "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, said Lt. Dunnit, but your wife was murdered about two hours ago. Your cook found the body in the den where she had been knitting and listening to a murder mystery on her ipod." Howie Dunnit interrupted, holding the weapon wrapped in a handkerchief. "I'll take this to the lab and have it tested for fingerprints," he said. Mr. Wate's facial muscles twitched with emotion as he stared at the gun. Suddenly he grabbed Lt. Dunnit's arm and said "find the murderer who clubbed Lacey to death. I'll put up a $100,000 reward!"
"Save your money," said Lt. Dunnit. "The murderer won't be that hard to find!"

Why not?

E-mail your answers to me privately (grammieknits@yahoo.com) by midnight on Saturday, November 22 for a chance to win a prize!

newbie here

Hello Jane!
Thanks for an inviation to join this one. It is so new to me and I never knew about this and I think that it is so neat to learn new.. wow..
I do love to knit...
I am from Austin, Texas. I love to make crafts with my own hands to keep me busier!
Hugs, Shawn Stewart

Whoduknit (members only) Holiday Swap

WHODUKNIT HOLIDAY SWAP

(For whoduknit members only)

Sign-ups are open for our Holiday Swap. For this swap you will be exchanging a handmade holiday ornament, a holiday themed book, and a holiday recipe with your pal. The ornament can be knit, crochet, plastic canvas, fabric, cross stitch, beaded, etc., or even purchased at a craft fair, and of course the book can be used. You can also include a small treat but you should be able to fit everything into a 'puffy' to keep the postage down. Sign-ups will end November 12, and pals will be assigned by November 15. Swaps should be mailed out by December 15. To sign up E-mail me (mailto:grammieknits@yahoo.com) with your:
Full Name:
Mailing address:
E-mail address that you check frequently:
Blog if you have one:



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Tricky Treater!

I received a mysterious package in the mail a few days ago, and it contained lots of cool Halloween stuff, including candy, a notepad and some candy corn shaped cards. I was especially thrilled with the alpaca sock yarn! It's such a beautiful fall color, and my mysterious benefactor also included a lovely Shetland lace sock pattern. I've since learned her identity, so now I can thank Stephanie! The picture isn't the best, but you can see how spoiled I was! If we had smello-blog capability, you could also smell the pumpkin candles. Thanks for a wonderful swap!

Trick or Treat Swap

I received a great Trick or Treat Swap from Lilli in Kansas. First I had to get the approval of the parcel police.



Once I got past them, I was able to get to my goodies.



Four balls of yarn no less and 2 patterns to go with them. A witch and a candy corn illusion which I'm looking forward to making as I have not tried an illusion pattern. Some scary books, although the husband has reassured me that the Stephen King will be OK. Some Halloween decorations and some candy which I have included in the photo before it gets demolished.

A very good gift box. Thank you.

Maureen

Trick or Treat Swap Picture

Thanks, Danielle, for a wonderful swap! I posted earlier about what was sent, but here is the picture.

On the top when I opened the box was a pattern for a Seafoam Lace and Eyelets Scarf, which is lovely. And the yarn to make it is three colors: orange Knit Picks "Vacation" (I've never used Knit Picks yarn before, and I'm excited to work with this), a multi-colored orange/yellow, aqua Knit Picks "Get Away", and Bernat glow in the Dark (my knitting DD promptly held it under the light then hunched over it to see if it really does glow in the dark, and it does). These colors are my youngest DD's absolute favorite colors, and I can't wait to make the scarf for her.

There is, excuse me, WAS, a popcorn ball, and a Pez jack-o-lantern candy dispenser (back to my childhood I go!), some Livermore mints, a cute little coin purse (maybe to hold the stitch markers when I'm not using them?), a candy corn comedian which is a stuffed candy-corn that tells jokes, a ghost pin and some adorable ghost stitch markers, which, I found out when I was putting away my knitting for the evening, also glow in the dark. There is a very sweet crocheted butterfly magnet, a very cute Thanksgiving pumpkin decoration, which now adorns my decorative shelf in the kitchen, and two books by one of my favorite mystery authors, Leslie Meier, Trick or Treat Murder (how perfect is that?!), and Turkey Day Murder (looking ahead to next month).

Danielle, thank you so much! I feel very spoiled, and I love it! Oh, and there is one more thing, a little glitter sign that says: Best Witches!

Trick or Treat Swap!

I received my goodies on Monday last week, from Joyce L. . Sorry if it took this long to post. Life seems to always get in the way!

There was Chocolate goodies. A pumpkin potholder and a towel. A spicy pumpkin Yankee Candle, my favorite. Some lip gloss and a ghostly figurine. Little shakers to put in some nutmeg and Cinnamon for coffee. A lovely skein of Noro to knit the pattern, which is a tea cozy, and some stitch markers. Some holiday socks I wore on Halloween. And two books I haven't read. I hope I didn't forget anything!! Wait a minute, I did... Thank You!!!

Swap

Hi, just wanted to put in a quick thank you to MaryLynn for the great swap package. I'm on my way to Philly right now and just found out the the pictures I took before I left are all blurry! I will retake the end of the week when I get home. There was a pumpkin cloth (so cute!), chocolate!!!, beautiful mohairy (?) yarn and an amulet scarf pattern, a book (can't remember the name...) a gorgeous batik knitting bag that is going with me to Philly, adorable litte spreaders...and, notepads! Someone must have told you I have a paper fetish! Little note pads all over. Thanks again, MaryLynn!
Jrlaurie

I'm back! This photo is much better than the one I took before. Thanks again, Mary Lynn!

HALLOWEEN PHOTOS

Here is a costume BUT it isn't me. HEE HEE. It is my feline furtoddler Solara who was an elephant tonight. She didn't seem to mind to much tying it on and posing when I put it on her on Wednesday evening.
BUT tonight this is what she thought of the idea of dressing up.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!!

SEPTEMBER HARDY BOYS PROJECT....

....I am sorry I cheated. I read the second in the series, The House on the Cliff. In it Mr Hardy gets taken captive and there were NO cell phones in those days to call for help. His sons find his hat and it has BLOOD on it. So I thought Mr Hardy needed a new hat. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to knit one so I bought one. I got a newsboy cap in black which I hope I can eventually use but it may be too small. AND here it is.
A front view.

A side view.

September Project

My project this month started out as a throw only - I found this fun fabric and got a solid yellow backing for it. The fabric kind of reminds me of sock monkeys, which remind me of the '50s, around the time the Trixie Belden series started (although sock monkeys were being made in the '30s, the company making the red heeled sock did not include a pattern with their socks until the '50s). I used this handy dandy tool I found on the net called a Skip Stitch Blade - it fits on a regular rotary cutter and pierces small slits along the length of fabric - perfect for crocheting on an edge or sewing it together (I did a blanket stitch on this one). A couple of weeks ago, I went back to the store where I got the fabric and they had the same fabric in the remnant pile - just big enough for a nicely sized pillow to match. So that's on the burner now, too! ~ Valerie K

Trick or Treat Swap

On Tuesday I got my WhoDuKnit Trick or Treat package from Patty, who did a great job with the cute wrapping thing.
(I fear that my wrapping jobs may leave something to be desired some days!)

 

She sent treats that included chocolates, warm and fuzzy socks, Halloween music, and some autumn candles.

 

Of course there was yarn and books as well, since this is an online Knit and Read group! Three great sounding books, at least one of which Hubband will probably read when he is done with his latest Terry Pratchett. There is some really pretty Peaches and Cream dishcloth cotton with a pattern I haven't seen before, and some great looking fall colored sock yarn with a pattern as well.
Thank you Patty! This was a great treat and I am looking forward to making the dishcloth as soon as my shawl is done (which means it will be going on our trip tomorrow just in case).