One Hand Down

One to go.

Not the best knitting job I've ever done, that's for sure. I actually found a dropped stitch after I was all done blocking it that I had to fix. Yikes! I like the fit though. It's very comfortable on my hand. A few others have tried it on and agree with me.

I'm going to be teaching a class on this in May. It's scheduled for two sessions on May 19 and 26, from 11:30 to 1:30, at CDA Yarn and Fiber. Contact them for registration. Basic knitting skills are required. (No beginners please. If you don't know how to cast on-I will ask you to leave.)

Now, to finish writing the pattern...

Live long and prosper. \\//

Italian Class Begins

Had a great weekend. We went to our favorite hot springs resort and spent an evening soaking in the pools and eating really good food. It was very relaxing. We got home Saturday afternoon. I worked some on the felt Christmas stocking, but mostly I slept after getting home. As relaxing as things were, I did not get much sleep. Tommy woke me up about a thousand times because we were in a strange place. That, and sweet hubbies snoring. I never sleep well in hotels anyway.

Sunday was the 23rd Anniversary of my 29th birthday. Didn't do anything special. I spent the day working on the first installment of the Italian beading class I signed up for last month. It has begun. I did get to eat out for dinner (NO way do I cook on my birthday!), but only after nagging the sweet hubby about it first. He's just not good at birthdays. Most of the time he doesn't even remember when mine is.We went to the Chinese restaurant in Rathdrum. Best Chinese food ever is prepared there. I don't know how we got so lucky to have them come to our town, but I'm sure glad we did.

The first lesson arrived in my email in English, rather than Italian, which was a nice surprise. Not a perfect translation, but adequate enough for me to figure it out. I learned how to make this hollow beaded bead.

It's done in peyote using size 11 delicas, and some 4mm bicone crystals.

I am surprised at how stiff and sturdy it has turned out. I can squeeze it quite hard without it collapsing. I really didn't think a peyote beaded bead could be made this way without some sort of support inside.

I love the colors I chose for it. A lavender with shiny gold metallic, and a cream color that is a satin finish.

The satin beads are kind of hard to work with. They are easy to break. I broke several before I figured out how to treat them. I was so worried about keeping my tension tight I overdid it a bit. I don't need to strangle them to death.

I need to make 3 more of these beads before the 2nd lesson comes (scheduled for mid February).

Live long and prosper. \\//

My Classes

JULY-AUGUST

No classes during the summer.

~~~~~~~~~~

ONGOING

Private Lessons

When: We'll talk about it.


Where: CDA Yarn and Fiber


Fee: $15.00 per 2 hour session.


Class size: limit 8 students.

Registration in advance is required. 

Register at:

CDA Yarn and Fiber
2433 N. Government Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID
(208) 209-5273

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2010

Well, we're cuttin' it kind of close, but we finally got the Coeur d'Alene World Wide Knit in Public Day organized. It will be held on Saturday, June 12, 10am to whenever (I'll be leaving at 1pm) at the Ramsey Park which is in the 3500 block of Ramsey Road north of the freeway, next to the Croc Center. We'll be in the picnic area. Bring a chair, a project to work on, sack lunch, beverage, and possibly you'll need sunscreen. We welcome crocheters and spinners to this event too.

Yesterday was a really busy one for me. But I got a lot done. I had 2 students show up for my knitting class. I really enjoyed them both too. I had to go into Spokane Valley to return one of the DVD's I bought at Best Buy last week because I accidentally forgot to make sure it was wide screen (it wasn't). I traded it and some cash in on a car charger for my Nook. I need it for our road trip.

I managed to get a significant amount done on the first Judy Monkey sock.

It is raining again today. We did have sunshine yesterday, so I guess I shouldn't complain, but when it rains, it really rains. Some of my friends replanted their tomato plants lost in the freeze we had a couple weeks ago only to have them drown this week. Rumor has it that we have drier days in our future.

Yesterday afternoon, since it was dry out, I took advantage of it and replanted the 40 marigolds I lost in the big freeze in the flower boxes on the deck. Since my boxes have good drains, I'm not worried about them drowning. I didn't get any tomato plants. I've given up on that for the year. I got some more dahlias instead.

For those who are interested, I will not be doing any more knitting classes until after I get back from our road trip. I've scheduled July 15th for the next class. I'm not leaving until June 18th but the shop is going to be closed next week.

Now for some birds. I now have 7 pairs of Evening Grosbeaks devouring everything that isn't nailed down in the Parkarosa Bird Buffet. They are also getting used to me, so it's easier to take pictures.

Here's a female. See her blue beak? They shed the skin off their beaks in the spring so they are blue like that. Eventually they will turn to the usual yellow color.

Here is a male.

His underparts are such a bright yellow!

Have a great day.

Stuff

When I got up this morning the first thing I did was check out who was at the buffet (which has been refilled since these photos were taken). Yup! The tree and ground were loaded with Red Crossbills. I stopped counting when I got over 20 cos it seemed pointless. Here's a couple of the photos I took.

There are actually 3 males and one female in this pic.


Thirteen Crossbills and 1 Junco on the ground working on cleaning up the mess they made.

Of the trillion pics I took, those two were the best. It is hard to take pics of these guys cos they don't stand still for very long. Most of my frames were either empty or not what I was aiming at cos the birds had popped out of the scene before the camera clicked-which is saying something cos my camera is pretty fast.

Had my first Knitting Clinic class today. No one showed. However, I kind of expected this to happen. It's tax time-the slowest time of the year for a yarn shop.

I finished another Lunabead last night.


This time I used 4mm dark gold druks, 4mm dark red firepolished crystals, size 11 Japanese seed beads in a smoky transparent AB, size 15 in silver lined red and gold metallic.


Of all the bb's I've made, I like this one the most. (Can you tell I'm in a red mood?)

I have added 2 books to my stash.


If you are a seriously addicted knitter, you'll love this book. It's full of funny cartoons about knitters.

This is my other new book, Shaped Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald.


I ordered this one from Borders, sight unseen. I am a little disappointed in it. I know Ms. Fitzgeralds talent and I found most of the shape patterns in this book are available on the internet for free in one form or another (written by other folks). I was hoping for some of her more spectacular designs. Oh well. I will be able to use it for some things.

The sky is a gorgeous blue and the sun is out today. I find it hilariously funny because the weather prediction was for a raging snow storm in our area. I'll take snow storms like this any time! We did get a little bit of snow last night but nothing like they were predicting. Spring is starting to win the war.

Man, I'm hungry. I think I'll go make some popcorn.

Have a great day.

What I've Been Up To

In no particular order, here's some of what I've accomplished this week, so far-in no particular order.

I have finally reached the point where I've edjumacated myself enough that I feel confident to start making the flowers for my daughters wedding bouquet. I'm starting with the carnations.
These are just the first pieces for the first flower.


I have about 5 more pieces to make and I can put it together. I am planning to make 5 carnations at the moment. However, I've been asked to make flowers to put on the wedding cake too, so a couple more may be in order.

Finally, after tinking the heel no less than 5 times, I got it RIGHT!


Now, after getting the gusset going I've discovered I made a mistake in the stitch pattern back about 3 inches after the ribbing. There's an extra row in it. ARrrrrrrghh........ I am not tinking that heel again. The mistake is now officially a design element. I may even put it in the second sock just to be ornery.

I went grocery shopping. They had fresh raspberries. In February!! This is a first for my favorite local food foraging center. They're one of my most favorite fruit in all the universe! I could not leave without enough to make a pie. I emptied the checking account for this pie.



It didn't even come pre-baked or anything. I had to make it myself, from scratch. So add the cost of labor Although close, this is not the most expensive pie I've ever made. I just wancha to know that.

Yazi shots earned so far-4.


Baby sweater is coming along nicely. I'm almost to the armholes.

My days are getting busier. Especially Wednesdays and Thursdays. It's a good thing. I get to interact with other humans. One of my projects in the works is a weekly knitting class that will be held on Thursday mornings, 10:30am-12:30, at CDA Yarn and Fiber. I'm aiming for the class to start near the end of March.

I'm thinking of naming it Workshop with Linda Jo. Basically it will be a class where students can learn anything they want about knitting. You want to learn how to knit socks? Come to the class. Tell me, I'll teach you. Cables, fairisle? I can teach you that. Never knit a stitch before? I love teaching beginners. Wanna do some bead knitting-come to me baby. Bought a kit and need someones hand to hold? Come see me. I'm really good at hand holding. Everyone will probably be working on something different, but I've done that sort of thing before so I know how to handle it.

When I had my own store, these were the classes that I had the most success with. Trying to get a class going for a specific subject is hard. This way if someone asks Andrea if she has a class on a particular thing she can say yeah-we have this one.

I will make an official announcement here on the blog when we get all the details ironed out.

Oh look! Sunshine outside." Hello my lovely. Long time no see......"

Have a great day.