Spinning My Wheels

I'm still here...

2009-07-05T13:42:00.004-07:00

Another long stretch between postings. Sorry but chemo kicked my butt! The first 3 months got more difficult each time. I had a treatment every 3 weeks. The first week following each treatment was especially rough. I basically slept for that week then had NO energy for the other 2 weeks. But I made it through. Now I'm on my second chemo med - Taxol. The difference is night and day. No nausea, no excessive tiredness. A little loss of appetite (not a bad thing reallly) and achiness like arthritis, but nothing as awful as the last meds. I think the worst of it is the 2 days of sneezing that follows the treatments. I have this treatment every Friday and have 8 more to go. Then I'm done. No radiation. I'll be glad to have this behind me.

Still no job. I've been applying my heart out. I have had 1 phone interview and one in person interview. I'm waiting response on both. I have been told they are waiting for the person(s) in charge. I'm getting nervous, finances are getting low.

I've done a little knitting. I worked on a couple Barbie items from Nicky Epstein's books. My daughter Rachel gifted me with a skein of Malabrigio Chunky in Navy and Lime. I made this:

It's the Mermaid Neck Warmer from "Luxury Yarn One Skein Wonders". I knit it in an afternoon. I just need to find a button for it and block it. Love the color!

Not much else going on. I'm just starting feel like doing things again and slowly I'm getting inspired to create.

2009-03-20T10:11:00.005-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened since then.

As I stated before I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 12/18/08. I was scheduled for a mastectomy on 01/22/09. To top it off I was laid off from my job on 01/16/09. What a freaking month that was.

I was dealing with the idea that I had cancer pretty well after the first shock wore off. I had arrange to take 6 weeks of short-term disability and working through chemo treatments. Financially we would be fine. I could concentrate on just getting better. Them BAM! out of the blue (but considering the economy at this time it was a total surprise) I was called in to be given the news that my position was eliminated. I wasn't singled out. At least 80 others lost their jobs that day. I believe it was just a really bad coincidence. So no, do desire to sue or feel bitter. What really sucked is that this was THE BEST job I ever had. I worked with great people, I liked what I did and the company culture suited me. It was devastating to lose that.

I made it through surgery just fine. The worst part are the drains you have to carry around for the first week. It was a relief to go to my post op appointment and be able to have them removed. Made recovery more comfortable.

Flowers from my dad and sisters. Very pretty.

Roses from my mom. She remembered that they are my favorite

My oldest daughter flew in from Michigan to spend 2 weeks with me during my recovery. I'm am so grateful that she was able to make it. Jon works nights and Rachel is gone at school and work all day so I would have been home a lone. Jessica kept me company and encouraged me to get out of the house a bit which was a god send.

Jessica and Belle

Jon did take some time off from work. He was at the hospital with me most of the time. He has been very attentive and I am so lucky to have him in my life. I can't imagine any man doing as much for his wife as Jon has done for me.

Jon, my wonderful husband.

Beyond losing the job I felt cheated out of recovery time. In order to continue unemployment I had to start looking for a job 2 weeks after surgery. The good thing is my company set us up with DBM to help us with our career transition. I sat through webinars that helped me update my resume, create a career marketing plan, interviewing skills, negotiating skills, etc. Lots of really good information.

So I've been applying for the required 5 jobs per week to keep my unemployment coming in. I've had a few nibbles on my resume' but no interviews.

In addition I began a course to help me prepare to take the Certified Associate Project Manager Certification that I hope will take my career in a little different direction.

On Wednesday I began my chemo treatments. Initially it was to be finished by the end of May. However, I agreed to be part of a study that evaluated my tumor to determine the probability of recurrence. Mine scored very high. So the doctor decided she needed to use a more aggressive course of chemo. This makes total sense. She suggested another study that would incorporated what she already planned with another drug that has promise in preventing recurrence in breast cancer. I agreed to participate. My course will last at least until the end of August and may go beyond that depending on which of the 3 groups I've been assigned to. I won't find out until the beginning of August.

This is day 2 after my first chemo treatment. I was given lots of anti nausea drugs during chemo and to take at home. So far they are working very well. I can tell if I was taking them I would be nauseous. I was told I might not feel like eating. The night we came home I had the best tasting grilled cheese sandwich I'd ever eaten and great vegetable barley soup. So far food still tastes good and appetite is there. Day two I may a coupld of eggs and toast with an apple that was pretty tastey. Still no problem. Thursday night Jon made open face turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy. Again, best tasting dinner ever! These ideas are from our Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook and so far have been right on.

This morning I woke up at 4:46am ready to take my meds. I could feel the nausea coming on. Once up I drank a bottle of boost and stay up for about an hour until the meds made me drowsy. I ate 2 pieces of toast and honey and a banana. At that point I was ready for bed.

I woke up at 9:30am and had my one allowed cup of coffee plus a lot of water. I didn't feel like eating but felt a little hungry so I had another bottle of Boost.

10:30am time for more meds. The nausea seems a little stronger today but still bearable.

The meds definately make me sleepy, a have napped a lot yesterday and will probably today. I hope tomorrow will be better.

Jon and I took a nice long walk on Sunday and I hope to feel up to walking this weekend. Even though the chemo will last so long I'm still hoping I can do the Denver Marathon again this year. Only time will tell.

Not much knitting happening. I still need to finish Fernando's other sock. It's about a third of the way there. I worked on a couple of scarves for Jess while she was here in January. The i just kinda lost interest, just for now. I ordered to skeins from Yarntini yesterday that I thought were beautiful. I may make a pair of socks for the 2 oncology nurses who made my first day very easy.

Welcome 2009

2009-01-03T11:49:00.003-07:00

It's the new year and I have a list of resolutions for 2009.

Keep active. I am going to walk the half marathon in the Denver Marathon in October of this year and I will better my time from last year. I will Get a trainer for my bicycle so I can ride while the weather is bad and I can't go outside. When the weather is nice take more hikes in the mountains.
Finish Jon's aran sweater that was started 2 years ago. In fact I need to finish several unfinished projects in 2009. I have 2 bags that I designed that need to be completed.
Arrange yarn stash and "shop" there first when starting new projects before buying new yarn. I need to minimize the amount of yarn purchased until my stash is back to "reasonable" levels.
Take golf lessons with Rachel when given the ok from Doctors. This is part of her Christmas present. I bought each of us a set of clubs so we could have a mother/daughter activity.
Take a road trip to Yellowstone National Park to camp for a few days and take hikes in the park.
Continue to eat better and continue to manage my weight so my recovery is easier and faster.

Here's to a healthier and happier 2009.

Diagnosis and holiday knitting

2008-12-29T12:50:00.007-07:00

I've updated my profile. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I will be covering my road to recovery as well as my training, knitting and other significants events as they occur. I had an MRI on December 22. I am scheduled for my pre-op surgery appointment on January 7th, my 48th birthday.

Friday it began to sink in what all of this really means. I'm still in a bit of shock but it's sinking in. Mostly I haven't known how to feel but the anger is beginning to surface as well as sadness. Today is the first time that I feel fear. But I also feel like waiting another week and a half to find out what my options are is wasting precious time. I just want to start the treatment so I can get on with my life. I hate inactivity, it makes feel like we're losing opportunities and that it will take longer than it needs to. Let's get MOVING!!!!!!! According to everything I've read so far, waiting isn't really a bad thing. It's not an immediate danger. It gives me time to research so I can make informed decisions about my treatment. But I'm still feeling impatient.

Treatments have changed a lot since my grandmother had breast cancer (around 1958). We actually have options and treatment is not as debilitating as it once was for most of us. It's reassuring to know that I won't miss much work and I will be able to continue doing most of the things I love to do without long term interruption.

The bad news is my trip to Floriday to run in the Inagural Disney Princess half marathon is not going to happen. It also means I won't be able to run in the Ft. Collins half marathon in May. However, I will be able to do the Denver Half Marathon again in October. I was hoping to run, but I will walk again. If I work really hard I will be able to beat my time from this year.

I've been doing a lot of knitting for the holidays and to keep busy. I made a "Just Enough Ruffles" scarf for a co-worker.

A pair of "Fetching" mitts for another co-worker.

And a pair of manly socks for yet another co-worker. I've modified the pattern a bit from the original.

Here is Belle safeguarding the Smooshy Sock yarn that I used for this project. It's the nicest sock yarn I've worked with so far. I will be using it more often. I have pictures of the first sock in progress on my Ravelry account (nvandevender)and the notes regarding my modifications. I will post finished socks later. I actually have one more to knit. I wanted to make sure they fit before I finished both. The other will be finished in about a week.

I've also started a Noro striped scarf for no one in particular, just some mindless knitting for passing time. I'm about 50% finished. I need to save the rest to work on next week at the Doctor's office as I will be a long day. They told me about 4 1/2 hours not counting the wait in between the 2 appointments. This scarf will be perfect for passing time.

Great American Smokeout!®

2008-11-20T12:14:00.004-07:00

"Successful and unsuccessful people do not
vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in
their desires to reach their potential."
- John Maxwell

I quit smoking 10 years ago. However, today I pledge to give up chocolate and junk food for 24 hours to empathize with all smokers trying to quit. I know it’s hard I “quit” 5 or 6 times before it was permanent. You can do it! Just like losing weight if you fall off the wagon just get on again. Don’t beat yourself up. We are human we make mistakes. We just have to learn from them and move forward.
Good luck to all of you future non-smokers.

I haven’t been eating as well as I was before the ½ marathon. My legs felt like lead and my stomach felt a little queasy at times during my walk/run. I think it’s a result of my diet. It’s time to get serious about the Paleo Diet. No more processed sugar, dairy or grains. I will have to wean myself off grains slowly. Sugar is less of a problem and I don’t eat much dairy anymore. I switched to soy milk a long time ago.

The Paleo Diet restricts a lot of the foods we eat. It's based on research that our dietary needs are the same as our caveman ancestors. They were hunter-gatherers and did not eat agricultural products likes cereal grains, dairy or even salt. The diet is primarily meats, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, seeds and nuts. To me it seems logical to eat this way.

Tuesday’s workout was 35 minutes on the recumbent stationary bike. I used the cardio setting at level 6 and was able to maintain an 80 rpm cadence throughout the workout. I planned to get up early to do 30 minutes of weight training but woke with a killer sinus headache. I probably should have done the weight training when I got home but didn’t. I don’t really have a good excuse, I just didn’t do it.

Wednesday’s workout was another 32 minutes of 3:1 intervals in the dark. It was really cold last night but it hadn’t started snowing yet. I debated for an hour about actually going out in the cold. I finally convinced myself that if I don’t keep up with these workouts I won’t be able to maintain at least a 16 minute mile pace in the Disney Princess half. If you don’t they pick you up and drive you to the finish. I don’t want that to happen. So, after much debate with myself, Jon and I headed out to the track at 7:00pm. I started by walking for 5 minutes to warm up. Jon signaled me by blowing a whistle when it was time to begin the 3:1 intervals. He signaled me every time I needed to change pace. It works really well ‘cause I don’t have to think about anything but “keep moving”.

Today is a rest day from training but not from knitting. I still have Jessica’s scarf to finish and many other unfinished objects in the knitting queu.

running and knitting

2008-11-17T13:42:00.011-07:00

Today I add running to my workouts. I’ve been holding back trying not to add too much too soon. Now today is the day.

I missed about a week’s worth of workouts because I got my flu shot which gave me the flu. But, thanks to Emergen-C and Zicam it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. But I still missed a lot of work out time.

I did manage to get a 4 mile walk and two 45 minutes walks in last week. My pace was slower than it had been but that could just be because I was sick.

But today I get to start running. The scheduled workout is 5 minute warm up, 3 minutes brisk walk, 1 minute run 8 times, 5 minute cool down. Then weight training. Because the is not lighted I will do 1 lap at a brisk walk and ½ lap run 8 times with the warm up and cool down instead. The times should be about what is prescribed and I don’t have to worry about trying to see my watch. DH is coming with me because he doesn’t like me working out in the dark alone.

I’ve got a little area set up in the basement for light weight training. It will be a very basic routine for now. I’ve been learning about crossfit and crossfit endurance as workout options and plan to incorporate them into my workouts. I’ve read blogs of people who love the workouts and have gotten amazing results. They look hard but because of the variety I think it would keep the workouts interesting.

I have been knitting too. Being sick is a good time to quietly knit when you don’t want to sleep any more. I’m just about finished with Jessica’s scarf. I picked up some Mirasol yarn last year using a gift certificate I won in a knit along. I love the colors! Jessica likes them too. The scarf is already taller than me (5’10”). It will easily be over 6 feet by the time I’m finished.

The scarf is really 2 different shades. The dye lot is the same but because it is hand dyed there are variations in the colors. The tag said to alternate skeins every few rows while knitting to eliminate the obvious variations but I did not pay attention. When I discovered this I decided that I didn't care about the difference and I really don't think it's that big of a deal. It makes the scarf more interesting. Yep. You betcha.

I really like this simple pattern. It's reversible, which is really nice.

I’ve just ordered some Noro Silk Garden to make Brooklyn Tweed's Noro scarf that I saw on Yarn Harlot’s blog.

I've started this one with Kuryeon that I had in my stash. I had 3 skeins so I had to order a 4th to complete the scarf.

Bear has a time resisting my bamboo knitting needles. He loves to chew on them and has decimated the tips of several so much that even sanding them down does not help.

Wool is also a temptation to this guy. He just can't keep his paws off the stuff.

But he's so cute, it's hard to stay mad at him.

2008-11-04T16:09:00.004-07:00

Coach's Notes:
As important as it is to let your body heal, it's just as important to let your mind and spirit heal. Completing a marathon can be a life changing experience. Through the training, you may have had to confront parts of your soul that you never knew you had.

You probably also discovered a strength and tenacity in yourself that you didn't know you had either. You did it, despite the odds. You trained, you prepared, and you were successful. You need time to let the emotional changes set in. If you don't, you won't get the full measure of benefit from your accomplishment.

This is the message in my training notes today. I did it, despite the odds. I trained, I prepared and I was successful.

I am reminded that strong as I’ve become I need to allow myself time to heal from this latest adventure. It’s been difficult to hold back and not train harder right now. I have always enjoyed pushing myself physically and have surprised myself at how quickly I am able to progress, however, I need to give this poor body a chance to recover so I can safely train for my next big challenge.

The most difficult part of the whole process was miles 10, 11 and 12 of the race. The last mile felt great as the adrenaline started to kick in as I realized I was almost finished. The real pain didn’t hit me until after I had finished. I kept walking but it became more and more difficult. I limped through the rest of the day until I had my massage. The most important thing I learned from this is to make sure you get a massage after the event. I could barely walk until after my massage. After the massage I felt no pain and never had lingering ill affects. The difference was truly amazing.

I expect training to become more difficult as I add running to my walks, especially the longer walk/runs on the weekends. In order to make the final miles less taxing I intend to hit the full 13.1 miles at least once prior to the event this time. There are arguments for and against this. I believe that as long as I move to that distance slowly and not increase my weekly mileage by more than 10% and taper enough before the race I will be fine.

I really look forward to my nightly walks. I missed 2 walks last week and felt tired during my walk on Saturday. Last night I felt really good and walked 17:24 minute miles, a full minute faster than I was walking during my low intensity workouts prior to the half. Tonight I’m scheduled to walk for 40 minutes then off on Wednesday.

I'm on target

2008-10-29T13:00:00.002-07:00

I haven’t been able to workout yet this week. Monday I had a doctor appointment and then I had to get food into the house before Jon and Rachel starved to death. By the time I finished it was late and I was tired. Tuesday I had a minor surgical procedure done on my knee. I had to keep off my feet last night and most of today but I have the okay to walk tonight. I need to walk for 45 minutes at low intensity.

I can’t do any movements that involve kneeling like gardening or deep knee bends. I can’t ride my bicycle for about a week. I will just keep walking for now.

The best news is my blood pressure is down to normal. I still have to take my meds but if I keep losing weight and working out I won’t have to take them much longer. I lost 10 pounds in last 5 weeks. I’m on target to lose at least 30 pounds before the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

My hard earned prize

2008-10-26T09:22:00.003-07:00

My finisher's medal.

Friday Jon and I took a short bike ride around the neighborhood so we could get used to being in the saddle again. It was a short ride, maybe 30 minutes. Just enough to work our legs and lungs a little and start getting our rears used to it again. Next week we'll start taking a little longer rides to get back into condition again. A couple of years ago we both were bike commuters and 50 mile weekend rides were normal. It would be nice to get back into that again.

Today we are going for a 40 minute walk. Part of my recovery training. I would really like to start adding running into my workouts now but I'm holding back so I don't cause any injury to myself. It's not easy though. I feel really good. I expected to be sore and tired this last week and I really haven't felt that way at all.

The weather is georgeous today and perfect for a walk. We're going to explore a trail we discovered near our neighborhood. Maybe we'll take our bikes and ride a little too.

In Dreams Awake

2008-10-23T10:47:00.001-07:00

I finished! Final time 4:11:34

_________
It was a gorgeous day. The temp was 49°-50°F when we started and not a cloud in the sky. It never got very hot.

The route was awesome, mostly flat and lots of Denver landmarks to see. We started in front of the capital building. Some of the landmarks we passed along the route were the Pepsi Center (home of the Avalanche), Auroria Campus where my daughter attends school, Coors Field (home of the Rockies), Union Station, Denver Art Museum and a long but pleasant trip through City Park. I looked at the sites more in the first 7 miles but after that I don’t remember much about the scenery.

I walked the first 5 miles at a 16 minute per mile pace. Too fast, I was shooting for 17-18 minutes miles. DD loaned me her ipod and made a play list for me so I had really good music to listen to which helped a lot. At mile 7 I started to feel my muscles tighten up so I tried to take longer strides periodically to stretch a little without actually stopping. My time had slipped to 18 minute miles. At mile 10 another walker, Claire from Fairbanks, AK, caught up to me and we walked the last 3.1 miles together. We were at the tail end of the ½ marathoners and were asked to walk on the sidewalks as they were going to start opening the roads to traffic again. It made walking that much harder because most of the sidewalks were old fashioned and very uneven. At one point we had to walk up and down stairs. Clare and I talked each other through the rough patches. We crossed the finish line together, high fived and congratulated each other. I received my finisher’s medal and started looking for Jon. I ultimately ended up with a little over 19:11 minutes per mile. I missed my target finish time by 11 minutes but I’m really happy with that considering I started training in July, I hadn’t really been physically active in about a year and I am carrying around a lot of extra weight. But 18 pounds less weight than when I started.

I read an article from active.com about recovering after a ½ marathon and tried to follow the advice as closely as possible. I even spent 15 minutes soaking in a tub of ice water. It helped my ankles, knees and the swelling in my hands a lot. Next time I will probably even add more ice. I also scheduled a massage for 5pm that evening. It made a huge difference. I spent most of the day having difficulty walking. Going up and down stairs was really hard. After the massage I was fine. I didn’t have a problem with the stairs and haven’t been very sore at all. Worth every penny.

I began my recovery training with a light strength training workout on Monday. Last night I did a 30 minutes “Biggest Loser” aerobics workout. Friday I will probably do that one again. Saturday I plan to walk for 40-45 minutes. Next week I will add cycling once a week and strength training once a week.

“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.”
Henry David Thoreau

I CAN!!!

2008-10-16T13:47:00.002-07:00

"They can because they think they can." Virgil

The big day is almost here. This Sunday I will be walking my first half marathon in more than 30 years. The time limit is 4 hours which mean 18:19 per mile. I’m confident that I can do it.

Last night I walked for 51:00 minutes and covered 2.74 miles for an 18:41 pace. This was a low intensity walk so the pace is good.

Tonight is my last workout for this race, a mere 20 minute low intensity walk. After all of the long walks I’ve been doing it hardly seems worth the effort but of course it is worth the effort.

I’ve lost 19 pounds during these 16 weeks of training. I pay more attention to what I eat. My appetite has decreased so dramatically that I really have to make sure I’m getting enough calories every day.

I haven’t felt this good in a long time. The first 3-4 weeks was rough. I was tired most of the time. The increase of energy happened so gradually I didn’t notice it right away. It just hit me one day that I am happy and feel positive about myself and my life. I look forward to my workouts and am excited to start the next phase of my training.

After four weeks of recovery training I will begin to add running to my workouts. First I will begin by walking 3 minutes and running for 1 minute during my workout. Gradually I will add more running minutes and reduce the walking minutes. By the time I get to Disney I should be running my full workouts. I will also be adding more cross training to my workouts. Monday I will start riding my bike again and follow up with strength training. After Disney I plan to add at least one day of swimming per week.

My goals for next year are already planned. I know pretty much what I will be working toward and have most of my training in the calendar. I just need to figure out how much biking and swimming to add in so I can do the Danskin Triathlon in June and still train for the Colorado Half Marathon in May.

My race schedule is as follows (I have already paid the entrance fees for all except Danskin and next year's Denver Marathon):
Denver Half Marathon October 18, 2008
Disney Princess Half Marathon March 8, 2008
Colorado Half Marathon May 3, 2008
Danskin Triathlon TBD – June or July, 2008
Danskin Sprint Triathlon

Denver Marathon October 2009

I also plan to run shorter races in November, December, January and February. But haven’t determined the length or which ones. I’m leaning toward these:

United Way 35th Annual Turkey Trot in Washington Park on Thanksgiving Day

Winter Distance Series
Which consists of:
Rudolph's Revenge 5K/10K Run/Walk, December 20, 2008
Frosty's Frozen Five 5M/10M Run/Walk, January 18, 2009
Snowman Stampede 5M/10M Run/Walk, February 21, 2009

After the Danskin and appropriate recovery I will begin training for the Denver Marathon and will aim for the full Marathon. Yep 26.2 miles. I am considering more craziness but I really need to see how the next year goes and if I’m able to maintain the training. I have a couple of really big ideas to celebrate my 50th birthday in 2011. I’m not ready to share just yet but the numbers 50 and 5 will play into it BIG TIME.

I found this quote on a blog I like to read. It represents my life right now.

“Take all opportunities to break old habits and old patterns as this is a time of rebirth and re-invention. Sometimes patterns are hard to change so perhaps the easier way is to discard them altogether. Certainly there will be mini-endings and beginnings around this time, so don’t hold onto the past, allow new situations to be drawn to you and flourish. Evolution, like the passage of time, is not within our control. So go with the flow and allow yourself to be guided.” © Stephen Haynes

Your doing WHAT?!

2008-09-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing? I have been unpacking, organizing, working, gardening and training to walk a half marathon. WHAT!? Walk a what?

Yep, that’s right. I’ve been training 9 weeks to walk a half marathon in October. Specifically the Denver Marathon on October 19th. Why? Besides the obvious mental instability, I am extremely overweight. I have struggled with this for many years. I’ve attended Weight Watchers. Trained for and completed a 75 mile bike ride. Trained for and completed a sprint distance triathlon. Trained for and completed a 50K bike ride. My blog profile picture is me finishing that ride. In that time I have lost 40 pounds and gained 50.

I attended another weight management class and began to seriously think about gastric bypass surgery. I confided this to my manager and during the discussion suggested walking the half marathon as a way to get me motivated again. It has been very motivating to have a goal to work toward.

I’m still losing weight pretty slowly, about 16 pounds since June 3. So last week I met with a dietician to see if she could offer any advice or insight to my eating habits. After getting an idea of what I eat and what my eating habits are she said 1) I don’t eat enough calories for the amount of exercise I’m doing. 2) I don’t get enough calcium.

She suggested I go to Food Pyramid dot com and enter what I eat during the day and get an analysis. And guess what! 1) I don’t eat enough calories 2) I don’t get enough calcium and 3) I also don’t eat enough grains. I was shocked. I am using this web site to help plan my meals now. It’s easy to make adjustments to ensure you are getting the right balance of food. I just started using this site so I am anxious to see if this actually works.

So far this month I’ve walked 39.9 miles. Including a 5K fun walk/run I did this last Sunday finishing 10th out of 17 women in my age group. I’ve become more confident about doing the half-marathon. I’ve lost 16 pounds since Jun 3. It’s coming off slowly, but it’s coming off again. Maybe faster now that I learned I don’t eat enough calories.

Last night I did some “speed” work at the local high school track for an hour. My husband accompanied me and timed laps. I did seem to move faster during the “walk briskly” part of the workouts. The most rewarding part of the workout was when we got home. While I was stretching in front of the TV watching “The Biggest Loser” he made dinner AND cleaned the kitchen. He is the best husband EVER!

Tonight I get to walk at an easy pace for 45 minutes.

Garden Tour

2008-07-30T09:55:00.004-07:00

Warning! Picture heavy post.

Just wanted to share some of the pictures I took at the Denver Botanic Gardens in June. Jon and I spent a lovely Saturday afternoon wandering around taking it all in. There is a link to more pictures in my Picasa album located under the first photo. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

If you look closely you can see a bee on one of the flowers.

From Denver Botani...

Where have you been?

2008-07-03T09:12:00.004-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post. Life moved into fast forward for us. We began the search for a new house to buy which took almost all of our free time. We looked at houses for 6 months before finding one we fell in love with. We moved in this past weekend and man are we tired. We moved ourselves with the help of a friend. If we ever move again we will hire movers to pack, load, and unload. I don't think I've ever been so tired.

Between looking for houses my oldest dd visited from Michigan. We visited the Denver Zoo, Museum of Nature and Science, had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe' and all kinds of other fun things.

Loved seeing the zebras and other animals in the snow. They were really out moving around. Something you don't see them do much in the summer when it's hot.

Admission was free and there were hardly any other people there at all. The weather was pleasant and Jess and I had a great time.

The visit to the museum was as much for my husband' birthday as it was for Jessica's visit. This group of characters is carved from gemstones. The detail is amazing. There were others just as good, but this is the only picutre that turned out.

Look at the detail in the boat he is holding. Remarkable!

She brought me pictures of my grandchildren. This one is one of my favorites of my two grandsons:

The expressions with the wax lips - PRICELESS!

Not much knitting goin on. Mostly packing yarn and other crafty goodies to set up shop at the new digs. I have room in the basement for a studio! I'm trying very hard to get other important unpacking done before I lose myself in my art.

More pictures soon. Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Aquarium, NEW HOUSE! :)

Happy Holidays

2007-12-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Time sure flies when you are having fun!

I started a new job on October 15th and things have been crazy (in a really good way) ever since.

I started my new job exhausted every night after work for several weeks as I attempted to soak in all of the new information they began craming into my brain. It has been wonderful. I am finally getting into the grove and don't come home quite as exhausted as I once did.

My new position is Asset Management Specialist for a major sporting goods retail chain. I work in the information services department keeping track of software packages, software licensing, and soon I will moving into hardware tracking as well. They are being kind and breaking me in slowly. I've been able to flex my programmin muscles again by writing Server Query Language (SQL) statements to retrieve data related to software and hardware information. I will also begin working on a database design to help track the checking in and out of software CDs. Something I haven't done in several years. It's all very exciting for me but probably very boring to read about, so on to more interesting (i hope) things.

On top of the new job other things I've been up to:
* Received a cute little sweater pin that I won in a drawing related to the purse knit along I participated in this past fall. I met one of the organizers, Yarn Thing, in line at the John Meyer concert youngest daughter and I attended.
* Received a very cute mad knitter pin that I won for knitting the 200th pair of socks for the 5280 sock challenge I'm participating in. I submitted my hogwarts socks.
* Yesterday I was informed that I won a $25 gift certificate to a yarn shop in Arvada, CO. This was for another knit along for holiday knitting organized by the same Yarn Thing, from the purse knit along. If you haven't checked out her podcast you should! It's great!
* Attended youngest daughter's concert at Metro State College of Denver. AWESOME as always.
* Knitted 3 pairs of mittens for my older daughter.
* Began knitting a pair of socks
* started knitting glove number 1 of my first pair of gloves with fingers
* Finally sent my Hogwarts Sock Swap package to my pal. (dreadfully tardy) And I was so anxious to get it out, I forgot to take pictures. However, she has posted lovely pictures of the package on her blog and said very kind words about the package. I'm so happy she liked it after having to wait so long for it. Now all I have to do is post pictures of the wonderful package she sent to me which I was very happy and excited to get. I hope to do that and post other pictures this weekend.
* Getting ready for youngest daughter to move back home at the end of February. She has decided that having to pay for things like rent and food while attending college is not fun and doesn't want to do it any more. I will be glad to have her back home.
* Older daughter will be visiting for 2 weeks at the end of January and beginning of February from Northern Michigan. She's leaving the husband and kiddos at home and taking a vacation at our house. :) Yay!!!! We've lived in Denver for 6 years and she hasn't been able to visit before. Her husband will be on "Lay Up" from the shipping line he works for and has agreed to stay home with the kids to give her a break. He is out on the Great Lakes most of the time for his work and she is basically a single mom. It's hard enough when you have your significant other at home all the time, I can't even begin to imagine how difficult dealing with 3 small children by myself would be. She handles it very well and I'm very very proud of her! My grandchildren are the greatest! She is a fantastic mom!

* Christmas shopping (online)

* I will be knitting fetching for my new manager this weekend to hopefully give her on Monday. I have some black Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that will work beautifully!

Wish me luck!

I will try to post pictures this weekend of all of the wonderful knitting activity that has been going on. Just a matter of getting new recharables for the camera. Youngest Daughter made off with all mine to use in her Guitar Controller for her PS2.

Out with the old, in with the new

2007-10-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Time has flown by this autum season. Without benefit of a high school calendar to mark the passing of the days I am totally out of whack, timewise. I used to be able to keep track by which school activities were occuring during the year. Now that DD is attending college and not living at home, I don't have those milestones. Apparently I'm utterly lost without them. I will figure out a better system, someday, but how long will that take? Eh, who knows.

The problem is that I just realized that I only have 3 weeks to finish my Harry Potter socks and get them to my swap friend (along with assorted goodies). The good news is I have next week off and will have lots of time to knit. They will be finished before the 15th of October when I start my new job. Oh, didn't I mention the job before? Well, let me fill you in.

I have been working for my current company just shy of 2 years. It's been a good job, I've learned a lot about desktop support, sharpened my computer repair skills and even learned a few new programs along the way among other things. The trouble is I was hired because of my inventory experience but because of corporate changes after i was hired, inventory became less a priority. After much soul searching I decided that I really don't want to be a computer technician I want to work with inventory and build/work with databases. So I began hunting for a new company to work for that would appreciate my inventory skills. After interviews with several companies, I was offered, and accepted, the position of Inventory Management Speicalist for a major retail chain. This job description was written, it seemed, especially for me. The interviews went really well and they offered me the position the afternoon of my last interview. WHEW! That was fast.

I start on the 15th of this month. My current company was kind enough to let me work this week but allowed me to take next week off. After I get my home in order, I will have LOTS of knitting time. So don't worry Gabby, I may have lost track of time but I found it again and am ready to finish on time.

Hello Dolly

2007-09-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

My dolls are slowly taking on personalities. I started with 2 using the beginning pattern from Patti Culea's first book, "Creative Cloth Doll Making".
Next I moved on to the intermediate body and head. This head has a shaped nose and incorporates a little needle sculpting into the mix.

It's easy to tell that little planning went into the first doll. I was primarily practicing the face technique and putting the body together as an excercise.

The witch doll also began as an excercise in construction. I used wood beads for her knee and elbow joints. The hands on this doll have separated fingers which to me are more appealing than the first doll's hands. The face uses three pieces and has a shaped nose and with a little needle sculpting adds dimension to her face.

The hat is my original design. My inspiration was a Butterick pattern of some fashionable witch hats. Once the hat was finished I decided it was too pretty for an everyday witch hat. It looked like something worn to a witch's ball, so she needed an appropriate costume. There is still work to be done on her costume. She lacks shoes and a broom. I also see a cape and jewels fit for a witch in her future. I hope she'll be finished by All Hallow's Eve.

Knitted Cupcakes

2007-09-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is just too cool not to share.
I recently joined a website cutoutandkeep.net where I found a great article about cupcakes which led me to knitted cupcakes and the tutorial. For those of you who like to bake and knit, a dream come true.

I have been neglectful of my blog, sorry. I am ordering hair for my dolls today and hope to have them properly coifed soon. I have a third doll started. Her body parts are almost assembled, I have one arm to go. She had wooden beads for knees and elbows. She also has better hands than my first two. I plan to finish assembling her by the weekend and begin adorning her properly.

I am planning to make a doll for each of my three daughters and two granddaughters for Christmas. I don't think any of them read my blog so my secret should be safe. I've picked a theme for each one except for the youngest who is not quite 2. I am experimenting with different techniques and ideas and will begin to show them as they are completed.

I won a prize in the Summer KAL-CAL I participated in! Very exciting. A new Holiday KAL-CAL has been announced and I will be contributing a prize myself to this one. I have been making knitting stitch markers and will be giving one away. I actually have several that I need to listed on Etsy, just have to take pictures.

Well that's all for now.

Dolls

2007-09-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

I've been kind of busy this past few weeks. I have just about finished the messenger bag I have been working on. I just need to finish the strap, felt the strap and line the bag. The bag is felted and looks great.

I've started a pink and black bag that I've been working on off and on. I have one side left to finish.

I had to frog my Hogwarts socks back to the heel and start the instep over. That went well but it's time for a short break before resuming.

I have finally pulled out my sewing machine and started sewing again. I forgot how much I love to sew. After putting it away for many years while I immersed myself in volunteer work for the countless musical activities DD was involved in during her high school years I just didn't have time. Now I have a lot of time to devote to my interests.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I have been working on.

This is the first one. She still needs hair and a bit more embellishment. I spent almost a week, working at night after work, on her dress. I used freeform embroidery techniques with verigated rayon thread, bits of fabric, yarn and metalic thread. I originally made this dress for the doll in the next picture but it was too much and didn't look right on her.

This one also needs hair as well as clothes. I plan to keep the colors simple.

Here is a closer look at her face. It's been fun practising drawing faces on paper and cloth. I'm pretty happy with the way they are turning out. The next faces I will be making will be sculpted making them more three dimensional.

I've been using 3 books by Patti Medaris Culea. They are "Cloth Doll Making", "Creative Cloth Doll Faces" and "Creative Cloth Doll Couture". She has another book about beading which I will probably get soon. I used body pattern #1 from "Cloth Doll Making" for both of these dolls. I saw Patti on "Craft Lab" on HGTV and fell in love with the dolls and the process she uses. Patti was cute too.
Well, time to give DD a lift home from work.

My creative limits - a meme

2007-08-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

I saw this on this blog The Frog and the Daisy and I saw it again on Monster Crochet and thought it would be fun to answer. Please feel free to participate.

My creative pursuits and what i don't want to try

1. I have no interest in the following activities.

This is just a list from the top of my head. Some were listed on other blogger's memes and I thought, hey, I don't have any interest in these either. Gardening, scrapbooking, stamping, papermaking, cartooning, flower arranging, gift-wrapping, poetry, storytelling, acting, stage, inventing, video/film-making.

2. Would love to try these things.

Dyeing, spinning, candlemaking, stained glass, pottery, making lampwork beads, making beads from metal clay, making beads from polymer clay.

3. I do or have dabbled in these things.

Music, drawing, tole-painting, faux finishing (painting), crewel, cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, calligraphy, writing, water color, macrame, decopage, papier-mache, photography, cooking, basket weaving (not the underwater kind), leather tooling, making cloisenne beads.

4. Love it! These are my things.
Knitting, crochet, beading, sewing quilts, sewing clothes and accessories, home decorator sewing.

Yarn arrived!

2007-08-07T18:52:00.001-07:00

Here is a peak of the yarn I ordered for my HP sock swap pal. I'm really happy with the colors. There will be a third color added that I will show when I get a little of the sock finished.

I have an idea of the pattern I plan to use. I hope it will work. It should work. I had better get started!

Now the fun begins. Just in time too, I'm at the end of the yarn I purchased for my messeanger bag. I need to purchase some more but that will have to wait until this weekend. This will give me a good start on the socks.

I began this post a week ago and haven't had a chance to finish. Now my first sock is almost finished. I posted a picture of it on the Hogwarts Sock Swap two blog. I may post another picture here later. If I get a chance to take more pictures.

Fun with felting, flowers, bags and hats

2007-08-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

The yarn I ordered for the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2 shipped today. I ordered my yarn from Darmafey's Cosmic fibers on Etsy. My pal is in Gryffindor house and prefers scarlett to burgandy. The proprietor of this fine establishment was kind enough to customize the red for me. I'm so very excited to see it. I have a couple of ideas for the style socks to knit for my pal, but I am reserving final judgement until the yarn arrives.

If you are looking for hand dyed yarn, Dharmafey Cosmic Fibers has some really wonderful yarns that are inspired by the Harry Potter movies, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and the "Rocky Horror Picture Show". I love the colors in Do the Time Warp Again and may have to order some for myself soon. Please check out her shop!

Last year I made the market squares bag from "Bags, a knitters dozen". It was my first try at entrelac and felting. It was fun to knit and a little challenging. I wasn't really thrilled with the way the colors looked before felting. They mellowed out a bit afterward and I am much happier with the result however, I still felt like it lacked a certain something. So it has remained unused for the past year. That is until I received Nicky Epstein's "Knitted Flowers". I fell in love with Sunflower on page 98 and made one with the leftover yarn from the bag.

I'm pretty happy with the result. Now I just need to permanently attach it to the bag as well as the straps then add the lining. I will use this bag this fall for my knitting.

Here is a sneak peek at the messenger bag I'm working on. I still have at least 6 inches left to knit before I bind off one side and knit the flap. This is what it looks like so far.

This is a swatch for the flap.

Which is made with left over Lorna's Laces Bullfrogs and Butterflies yarn in Lakeview from this bag.

I made this bag for my summer kal but now that I'm working on the messenger bag I have decided to wait until it's finished before I determine which one I will enter for my 4th and final bag.

I am preparing a package for my dd and her family in Michigan which will include these 2 hats.

Hers is made from soy yarn, I forget the brand.

His is made with Brown Sheep worsted in two colors. The entire beanie is k2p2 rib using one color for the k2 and the other color for the p2. I like the effect it created. Plus the hat will be super warm for my son-in-law who works as a bosun on a shipping line on the great lakes. It gets mighty cold out there in the winter.

That's all for today. I will post pictures of my Harry Potter yarn when it arrives.

More Harry Potter

2007-07-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post.

First, DD and I went to see the latest HP movie. IMAX in 3D. I thought it was great. DD who is at the age where she is WAY too cool for everything, made sure the lady sitting next to us knew she only came so I wouldn't have to go alone. DH is not interested in HP. He saw the first 3 and decided that was enough Harry for him. lol. I thought it was funny that DD pretends to not be interested. She is the one who got me interested when the books first came out. I keep telling myself she will grow out of this in a few years. Thankfully her older sister isn't too cool for mom.

SPOILER ALERT - If you haven't finished the final HP book you probably don't want to read any further. You have been warned, proceed at your own risk.

I finished the final book Monday night. I believe it was the best in the series. I read a few blogs this past week discussing what people liked and disliked about this last book. Personally I don't like to over analyze. I liked it. I would have like to learned more about the characters as adults. Well guess what, JKR was on the Today show this morning and she stated that she couldn't get it all in the book but went on to explain what Harry, Ron and Hermoine are doing for a living. If you are interested in finding out you can read the interview here

I received my Hogwarts Sock Swap Two pal assignment today. She is in Gryffindor and from Canada. Very exciting stuff!

Not much knitting news. I'm working on my last bag for the Summer Purse KAL and trying to get a sock finished so I can fee up the needles to begin my pals sock. I also started a how-to article that I hope to post in the near future.

This weekend I hope to finally take better pictures of the stitch markers I will be selling on ETSY. Plus I need to make more to list. AND make a set more my Hogwarts pal. It's going to be a busy weekend.

Harry Potter Sock Swap 2 - Questionnaire

2007-07-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

I was accepted to the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2. I received my email invitation this morning. This swap will be great fun! As I mentioned below, you get yourself a Harry Potter type name with the name generator (I have a button that links to the site on the left). Then get yourself sorted into a house. I am a Ravenclaw. Then pop on over to the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2 websit to sign up and join the fun!

Sign up began on July 14th and I understand that new participants are still being accepted. If you would like to participate please visit hogwarts-sock-swap-two.blogspot.com for participation details.

You will be sent a questionnaire to complete and post on your blog. Here is mine.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw

2. Shoe size? 11

3. Foot Length? 10 inches
4. Foot Circumference? 10 inches

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a. Inox double points size 1, 6 inches
b. Inox double points size 2, 6 inches
c. Inox double points size 0, 6 inches

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? Yes
If so, which brand? No preference
Any Size? 0, 1 or 2
Length? No preference

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book?
Do you have a strong preference?
I don’t have a preference

8. Allergies? No Allergies
Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals?
My knitting is exposed to 2 wool loving kitties. I try to keep them out of
it, but I’m not always successful. My knitting will not be exposed to smoke.

9. Are you an international participant (outside US)? No
Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Yes, I am willing to have an international Sock Pal

It's all about Harry Potter

2007-07-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today, thanks to The Enchanted Daffodil's blog I found Hogwarts Sock Swap 2. I am so excited about this swap. I have NEVER done a swap before and always wanted to. I LOVE Harry Potter books and movies. The swap doesn't open to first years until the 16th [sigh]. I can hardly wait.

I've followed the steps to sign up.
Step #1 use the Harry Potter Name Generator. My new name is Cassandra Dolohov.

Step #2 set up an email account with my new name. Cassandra dot Dolohov at gmail dot com.

Step #3 take the sorting quizes to find out which house I'm in. Well I took one a little while ago and was sorted into Hufflepuff but the other 2 say I'm a Ravenclaw. I guess I'll go with the majority and declare myself sorted into Ravenclaw.

Step #4 wait until July 16th to sign up. I realize this isn't far away, but I'm so excited!

My youngest daughter and I are going to see the movie Saturday in IMAX 3D. No better way to see it. We've seen the previous 2 at the same theater, AWESOME!

And if all this wasn't enough Harry Potter for a grown woman, I did pre-order the last book and am set to receive it the day of the release.

I think all my Harry Potter ducks are in a row. Or should I say owls?

I've also signed up for an Interweave Knits knit along. I received the new "Favorite Socks" book yesterday and plan to start with one of these. They are all so nice, it's hard to decide which one. I waiting for a response for my request to join the knit along for the book. Fun times.

Knitting Bling - Sneak Peek

2007-07-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

I finished making several sets of stitch markers yesterday. I plan to post them on Etsy later this week when I can get better pictures and determine the price and postage rates.

All sets come with a wire ring holder than can also be used as a crochet marker with or without "bling". I've included on marker that is different from the rest to be used at the begining of a round. I have also included one marker with a smaller ring and smaller beads for delicate knitting or knitting socks.

Set of 6 Corrdinating stitch markers. Pewter dragonfly and butterfly beads enhanded with vintage black fire polished czech beads. The 5 larger markers will fit up to US size 10 needles. 1 Small marker will fit up to a US size 3 needle.

Set of 6 Red, white and blue millefiori glass bead and blue fire polished czech bead stich markers. 5 larger markers will fit up to US size 10 needles. 1 Small marker will fit up to US size 3 needle.

Set of 6 Pewter Dragonfly and sunflower beads with yellow czech bead stich markers. 5 larger markers will fit up to US size 10 needles. 1 Small marker will fit up to US size 3 needle.

Set of 6 Pirate skull beaded stitch markers. Skull beads are plastic so they are very light. Enhanced with vintage black fire polished glass czech beads. 1 larger marker to indicate the beginning of your round 4 coordinating markers with the same size rings. 1 smaller coordinating marker for delicate knitting. Larger markers will fit up to US size 10 needles. Small marker will fit up to US size 3 needle.

Bear trying to nap on some of my knitting books. Not very happily I might add. They ended up on the floor moments after the picture was taken. He can't believe someone would have the nerve to place anything on one of his favorite sleeping places. Stupid humans.

What I did on my summer vacation

2007-07-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

I took Monday and Tuesday off so I could have 5 days to knit. We didn't go anywhere, we didn't do anything. I knitted, sewed and did some beadwork. My idea of Heaven.

For the past 4 years my daughter has had a music performance on the 4th of July. She marched 2 years in the Greeley Stampede parade as part of the Colorado Masonic Band. The night before they had a patriotic concert and University of Northern Colorado which was always enjoyable. On the 4th we'd rise early and head over to the Masonic Temple and enjoy their pancake breakfast then watch the parade from the steps of the building.

The summer of 2005 she marched with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and marched in three 4th of July parades in the Chicago area. We didn't attend but I spent a lot of time that summer in the Troopers chat room and on the message boards chatting with other Trooper parents and alumni.

Last year she played with the John Phillips Sousa Band of Colorado at a fireworks display in Parker. That particular performance was cut short due to a lot of rain. But it was enjoyable non the less.

This year she is not participating in any musical group and therefore, no performance. It was kind of a let down not to have something to go to. Sure, we could have done something, but it wouldn't be the same. She seems to be taking a break from music for a little while. I hope it doesn't last. I miss watching and hearing her perform.

Anyway, back to knitting. I finished my second entry for the Summer KAL-CAL. I can't find the magazine with the pattern (I know it's here somewhere). I used Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep in barn red and black. Size 7 needles. I think a thicker yarn might have worked better. The bag turned out a bit small for my taste but perhaps one of my daughters will like it.

I finished the knitting the bag for my third entry. I need to knit the i-cord for the strap and insert the lining. I hope to get that done this weekend.

I also made a proto-type for stitch markers and earrings I plan to sell on Etsy. I will have a picture tomorrow.

The planned final entry for the knit along is in progress. It began as a barrel bag, then grew to something larger. I knit swatches, felted swatches then decided not to felt. It's becoming a stitch sampler of sorts in hot pink and black. I ran short of the hot pink and will need to pick more up this weekend. Instead I may decide to use something from my stash and knit or crochet something else.

Purse Round-up submission

2007-06-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted pictures of my first purse round up submission. Here is a sample.

Tomorrow one of my knitting co-workers is going to show me how to make an after thought heel. I knit socks the "old fashioned" way. Double pointed needles, turned heel and kitchner stitch toe. I guess it's time for this " old dog" to learn some new tricks. She showed me her first finished after thought heel and it looks great. No holes and nice neat seams. I think knitting the tube first may go a bit faster than knitting the heel flap and picking up stitches. We'll see.

More Amigurumi-And a contest

2007-06-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post another picture of 2 other amigurumi animals that I completed. These guys hang out on my desk at work at and need names.

Please leave your suggestions for names in the comments. The 2 winning names will get a set of 5 stitch markers made by me, your choice from several designs. Please submit your suggestions by July 15th. Winners will be notified via email. I will post pictures of stitch markers you can chose from by July 4th.

Another Amigurumi Picture

2007-06-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

Not much to report today. I spent most of the morning rearranging stuff in our server room. I'm about to do a physical inventory and we had a lot of junk that needed to be thrown away and a lot of equipment that needs to be organized.

I did manage a couple of an amigurumi penguin I made recently. Bear, one of our cats decided to pose with the penguin. He hates to be left out.

On to knitting.

First a picture of the next bag I have knitted. I still need to block the bottom panel but here is what it will look like when completed. Please excuse the scorch marks on my ironing board cover. It has been through many years of sewing and quilitng.

Here is my most recent yarn purchase. Yarntini in chocolatini and cherry cordial. The colors are georgeous!

I'm still working away on the Zig Zag bag. I have about 7 more inches to go before I get to the eyelets for the strap. I should be able to finish this weekend.

More pictures later.

Monday Monday

2007-06-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid I can't post pictures right now. My camera was recently crushed. I need to bribe my daughter to come over and take pictures with her phone for me. Maybe if I offer food......

I finished my first bag for the Summer KAL-CAL yesterday. The SoHo Sling from "Bags, a knitters dozen". I used Noro Silk garden yarn. It took almost 2 skeins. I lined the bag with some cotton fabric I had in my quilting stash that matched the green tones beautifully. The strap is twisted yarn that also turned out very well. The only issue is I stitched the lining too close to the zipper teeth and it keeps getting caught in the zipper. I will probably take it out and re-stitch as it is hand sewn in place. It took me about 30 minutes to put it in, so not earth shattering. I decided not to bead this bag or embelish beyond the button in the corner. The colors are pretty enough without extra sparkle.

My black and red bag is pinned to the ironing board as we speak. I need to dig into my stash to find a lining for it. I will probably finish assembly during the weekend.

The 3rd bag I am working on is the Zig Zag bag also from "Bags, a knitters dozen". I am using Lorna's Laces Bullfrogs and Butterflies in Lakeview. The challenge of this bag is to get the colors to "stack" on each other to create a zig zag colorway. I got to 280+ stitches before I realized I passed the point where the colors stacked. This meant I had to frog back 31 rows. Now the colors seem to be stacking nicely. A few more inches in and I will know for sure.

Yarntini (www.Yarntini.net) yarn was received today. The colors are beautiful! Cherry Cordial and Chocolatini fingering weight, 430 yards per skein. They are too pretty for socks. I may have to use them more creatively.

I promise to post pictures as soon as I can get my hands on a camera.

Update 6:30 pm

My camera does work - Just the screen in the back is broken. So, as promised, more pictures! Yay!

My first three amigurumi animals

Last 3 Amigurumi

SoHo Sling
It's difficult to see clearly in these pictures, but this bag is made so you can change the appearance by using the button and loop.

John Mayer and knitting

2007-06-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday I attended the John Mayer concert with my daughter. We scored VIP passes which allowed us to go back stage before the show and meet Mr. Mayer. What a thrill! He was very quiet and didn't say much but was very nice.

While waiting in line we met a very nice young lady who was knitting. We struck up a conversation and had fun talking about knitting. Her name is Marly and she has a blog called Yarn Thing. Turns out she is co-sponsering a summer knit along/crochet along. It will be a lot of fun with some really great swag! I encourage you to join if you like to knit and/or crochet bags.

Check it out: Summer KAL-CAL

More pictures of finished objects to be included later this week.

Let's start again

2007-06-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

I will try to keep this blog up to date this time. [Did I see eyes rolling?] No, really I intend to stay current.

I've been knitting and crocheting a storm lately. For this time of year, that's unusual. I don't usually work with yarn in the summer, I prefer sewing or painting. This summer is the exception. Beading is becoming a new obsession as well. Not only to make jewelry but for embellishing my finished objects too.

Right around Easter, I started making amigurumi items and have a blast making them. My 18yr old daughter actually asked for more when I presented her with the first 3 that I made. She hasn't wanted any of my handmade items since she entered her teenage years.

Ebay and Etsy have been a great source of Japanese patterns and American versions that have inspired a new love of crochet for me. I am also very lucky to have a co-worker from Japan who has been kind enough to translate a little for me. My first attempts are shown below. I will post more more soon.

Bags have always been a favorite of mine. And lately they are becoming almost an obsession. They are fun to knit/crochet/sew. Leave lots of room for creativiy and don't take forever to complete. Am I right? Recently, I finished all of the pieces of the diaper bag in the May 2007 "Crochet!" magazine. I plan to make a lining using the pieces as a pattern before assembling. I used the Caron Simply Soft Brites listed in the pattern. One of the few times I have followed a pattern to the letter regarding my yarn choice. I like the way it looks, very colorful. It is destined to become a knitting bag so I left the changing pad off.

Saturday I started the SoHo Sling from the book "Bags, a knitters dozen". I used Noro Silk Garden yarn. The colors are so pretty. I finished knitting it Sunday afternoon. I plan to bead it up before inserting the zipper and lining. I found the perfect fabric in my quilting stash to use for the lining and have beads that work very well with the yarn. I just need to decide the layout of the beads. That will take a little contemplation.

Sunday evening I started work on the "textured-squares bag" from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine "Knit It!". I am using Brown Sheep cotton fleece in barn red and black. The textured spares side is red and the other side will be black. It will make a nice handbag. I've never worked with this yarn before but like the way it feels. Much softer than I expected.

Pictures of my latest projects will be posted as soon as I can finish taking pictures. Hopefully later this week.

Tomorrow I will tell you about my first concert at Red Rocks. John Meyer.

It's been a while

2006-11-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post and many things have happened.

First, I absolutely LOVE The Lamb Shoppe! The ladies there are so friendly and helpful. Besides the Aran Knit Along I'm doing I find myself going back to just hang out, drink a latte and knit awhile. It's a wonderful place. The selection of yarns is terrific.

Next, my knitting prote'ge', who has far surpased her mentor over the past year, and I have been sharing our love of knitting with co-workers. We have converted 3 and have one ready to jump in. These women are doing a fabulous job. We started them with a 2x2 rib scarf with size 8 needles and Cascade 220. They are in various stages of completion but they all look wonderful. Our star pupil has moved on to her first felted bag (Oregon Tote) and has started a second scarf in a basketweave pattern. I'm really excited about recruiting more members of our little knitting cult.

We have become a group with no name. We knit at lunch when everyone has time and we've begun attending a knit social at Tea With Tina hosted by Colorful Yarns the second Tuesday of every month. We also have a shop hop planned for December 2.

I'm leaving on the 16th of November to visit family in Michigan for the Thanksgiving Holiday. My college daughter is traveling with me and will probably do most of the driving which gives me lots of time to knit! I have been knitting hats like crazy to pass out to my grandchildren, my daughter, and anyone else who would like one. It should be a wonderful trip with visits to at least to yarn shops on the itinerary.

Recently finished objects are 5 hats. I felted "My Constant Companion". I still need to sew the pocket on, but haven't felt like it was a priority. I recently purchased a new digital camera and will have pictures to share this weekend (I hope).

My major project is an aran sweater for my husband from Black Water Abbey yarn. The pattern is Halcyon Aran and I'm using natural color yarn. I have two more repeats of the main pattern left before I can move on to the front. I have my next knit along session on Saturday so I'm concentrating on this project more than the others right now.

I also have a sock that is not very far and a wrap that I started a couple of years ago. I plan to spend time on these in the car, along with another hat or two. As they don't take very long to work up.

I haven't gotten any bike riding in. My bike is here at the office and I haven't found a good evening to ride home. I plan to bring the car rack on Friday and take it home so I can at least try for a ride this weekend, if the weather will cooperate. I missed a lovely day last weekend.

Socks and a new yarn store

2006-10-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished the I-cord for both my felted bags. I just couldn't bring myself to work on the dreaded socks. Then I had an idea, the class sock in "Sensational Knitted Socks" on 2 double pointed needles. I gave it yet another try. I guess third times a charm because I made it work. I got as far as turning the heel then went to bed.

Today I'll be working on the dreaded burgandy sock on my lunch hour. I will finish this pair of socks.

I discovered a new yarn shop not too far from my office, The Lamb Shoppe in Denver. I plan to swing by after work on Thursday night (I'm comuting by bicycle the next couple of days and the traffic between here and there is more than I want to deal with after work). I saw on their website that they are offering an Aran Sweater knit along. Since my husband has been asking me for one this winter I thought it would be a perfect excuse to start one for him. I'm looking forward to this as it will be my first knit along.

The Lamb Shoppe opened in April and it is a combination yarn store and coffe shop. Two of my favorite things! One of the major complaints I have of most of the yarn stores around this area is the hours they are open. Most close when I get off work and aren't open on the weekends. Lamb Shoppe is open until 9:00pm Monday through Thursday. Yay!

I will report on the shop after Thursday.

2006-10-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

I scrapped the socks and started over. I don't like how the second try is turning out any better than I liked the first. In between, I did the class sock in "Sensational Knitted Socks" to reinforce my sock knitting skills. It has been a year since I knit my last pair of socks.

The class sock turned out fine. So I started the new sock and chose the 8 stitch, ribbed lace pattern after prompting from my husband. He thought it would be good practice for when I knit his sweater. Somehow I botched the pattern halfway through. I'm going to continue on and finish it. I just can't make myself start yet again. I think if I had knit it on 2 circulars instead of 4 double points, it might not have messed up the pattern. I will try it on the second sock and maybe I'll have enough for a third. Only time will tell.

I was hoping to finish this pair and the other blue sock from a pair I started last spring for Socktoberfest. I also wanted to at least start a pair of Pirate Aaaargh-yles from Moth Heaven. The yarn has been orded and the patterns have been downloaded.

I finished "My Constant Companion" bag. I need to knit the I-cord handles and it will be ready to felt. I knitting friend showed me her finished bag and she made a lining for it that looked terrific. I may try that myself. It would make a really nice bag for my knitting.

I have only a few inches left on the I-cord handle for my "Market Squares" bag. Then they will be ready for felting too. I have to work this Saturday, but maybe I'll be able to felt it all on Sunday before my daughter's concert.

Now what am I going to write about?!

2006-09-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'm was working away on my socks last night and finished the leg. I should have gone to bed but I was anxious to begin work on the heel. I should have gone to bed. How could I have screwed that up. Did I mention that I should have gone to bed. Luckily I only worked two rows before I realized that I screwed it up. I'm not crazy about the pattern I chose so maybe I'll just rip the whole thing out and start over. I think a cable pattern would be better with this yarn. I need to think it over. In the mean time, I brought My Constant Companion to work for my lunch knitting.

I left my knitting bag in the back seat of the car and now my daughter has the car. What am I going to do? I guess I could finish the second handle for my finished Market Squares bag. The bag is felted and I have one handle finished. What's keeping me from finishing it? I like that bag but not the colors I chose. They look better than they did before I felted it, but I'm still not crazy about it. Oh well, the handle doesn't take long.

I took some pictures of more finished projects. Not the best pictures and I will change them when I get a new camera. Right now I'm using my phone.

Socks one recently finished pair.

One sock down, one to go

Strawberry cap for my grand daughter.

I joined Socktober fest and have at least 2 and 1/2 pair to complete, my goal is to finish them this month.

My first post

2006-09-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

I plan to share my bicycling and knitting experiences and thoughts here. I don't know why, but I feel the need to write about this stuff. I am also on a weight loss journey that has been frustrating and rewarding. Bicycling and knitting have a lot to do with that journey.

I love to ride my bicylce and I love to knit.

I learned to ride a bike when I was 5 or 6 and from that point until I was in college, I rode a lot. That was a vital mode of transportation as a kid. Not so much once I got my drivers license, but I still liked to ride through the countryside in the summer for fun. I started dreaming of long tours on my bicycle when I was in the 6th grade. I'm now 45 and planning my first long tour from Escanaba, MI to my daughter's home in Rogers City, MI with her. My youngest daughter will drive our support vehicle and carry our gear. She doesn't want to ride a bike but wants to be part of the adventure. So for my first tour I won't have to carry my gear. A perfect first trip. I will keep you posted on the details as we get closer to the trip which we plan to take the summer of 2007.

I started riding a bike again about 3 years ago. I ride as much as I can. I commute to work when I can, usually twice a week and more when possible. It's 8 miles each way. I'm fortunate to live in Denver which has a wonderful network of bike paths and bike routes throughout the city. I live close to one of the paths. It's a quick ride across the street into a subdivision where I hop on the path and ride it to within 2 blocks to my office. The whole ride in the morning takes about 35 minutes door to door. The path gently slopes downward as I ride toward downtown Denver which helps with things like speed and ease of peddling. Most mornings I average just under 15 mph with my maximum speed sometimes hitting 23 mph. The ride home is a little more labor intensive, I am riding slightly uphill and it takes about 45 minutes to get home. My average speed is usually slower. I'm also carrying about 10-12 pounds of "stuff" on my bike (both directions). I use a panier (saddle bag) on the left side of my bike which causes wind drag and in the afternoons I am always riding into the wind. And to add to the wind resistance, I weigh 290 pounds and am 5'10". I am sharing my weight with others in case you think you are too big to do something like that. You are not! As Nike says "Just do it". I will get into how I started and what it took to get to 130 miles per week another time, but believe me, it's possible for anyone. If you like to ride, don't let anything stop you. If you can't find bike clothes, let me know, I wear 2X-4X depending on the manufacturer. I have found many sources for big girls. I'm off my soap box now.

My husband commutes to work too. We also ride on the weekends when the weather is nice. Usually long rides, 40-50 miles. We ride downtown to REI and have coffee at the Starbucks in side the store, a favorite stopping point for cyclists in Denver. Then we either ride south down the Platte River trail or head north. We're "in training" for our dream of riding our bicycles west to east across the US. The route we intend to take was created by the Adventure Cycling Association and is called the Northern Tier. We are planning to take this trip in 2009. Stay tuned.

My maternal grandmother taught me to knit the summer before I started the fourth grade. My parents had just divorced and my mother moved me and my two younger sisters to a new town. One closer to her family. That summer I stayed with my grandma during the day while my mom worked. My sisters went to day care. They were 3 and 4 years younger than me and my grandmother was not in very good health. She couldn't watch all three of us. I was 9 at the time and didn't need a lot of tending. One days during that summer she pulled out a ball of red yarn and a knitting book. She showed me how to cast on, how to knit a stitch. After knitting a lot of rows of garter stitch. I decided to make the Barbie dress in the knitting book. It had pictures of how to do the stitches and grandma helped me when I got stuck. I remember carefully working it and my Barbie actually wore it! I was basically a tube with holes for Barbie's arms but I thought it was beautiful. I didn't do much more knitting that summer but I did knit off and on throughout my childhood. Mostly I just practiced by making a few scarves. That is until I was 21, I discovered "McCalls PatternsNeedlework and Crafts" magazine and fell in love with a bulky sweater that had a huge cable running across the front from sleeve cuff to sleeve cuff. I had to make it!

Finding needles were easy, I don't remember the size but they were large, maybe 11 or 12. I couldn't find the yarn called for in the pattern so I had to substitute a cheap yarn as that was all I could find. I spent 3 months working on the sweater, working on it during my lunch breaks as a waitress at the local Big Boy. I finally finished it and it was beautiful! But it was too small. 2 things contributed to the small size. First, I don't think I checked the gauge, that's something I didn't really understand then and grandma wasn't around to help anymore. I didn't know anyone else who knit, so I was totally on my own. The second thing was that I was pregnant with my first baby (she is now 23). I found this out shortly after the sweater was finished. I was already 4 months along! Now you may be asking yourself, how can she have been 4 months along and not know she was pregnant. What about morning sickness? What about missing her period? Wouldn't she have noticed the lack of that? Before I had Jessica I've never been regular. Missing a period or six was nothing new. I've never had problems with morning sickness either. Once I realized I was pregnant I new that the week I thought I had the flu was actually morning sickness. So there you have it.

I never got to wear that sweater. I gave it to my mom, but I don't think she liked it 'cause she gave it back a year later, said it was too bulky. I held on to it for a while, but it disappeared at some point 'cause I don't have it any more. Oh well, at least I have the memories.

I knit a lot these days. My favorite thing to knit is socks. I love the portability and the ability to finish them quickly that gives me the gratification of a finished project while I slog along with larger ones. I am currently knitting a pair of socks from Sensational Knitted Socks.

I am also working on "My Constant Companion" a tote bag that I started last spring for a felting project.

I tend to not knit in the summer because of the heat. So I've just picked up where I left off last May. It's been a great way to get back into the groove because the stitches can be less than perfect.

I'm always dreaming about my next big project. I'm debating between an aran sweater for my dear sweet hubby or a lace shawl for me. I will, of course, make lots of socks and throw in a couple of hats, some mittens and scarves. I had better get busy!

So now you have a little introduction to me. I will continue to update as I can and share more of my knitting and cycling adventures. I hope you will come along for the ride.