Chubby Bubby Monkeys

As promised, I present to you baby monkey and classic sock monkey.  For the most part, I stash-busted the worsted weight wools.  I did buy one ball of Patons Classic Merino Wool in a heather-y green.  Ironically I ran out of it before I knit the ears, and gosh darn-it if I hadn't bought the very same shade a year ago for a slouchy beret.  The slouchy beret had been sitting in the basket where knitted projects in progress go to die a slow death.  So I forced myself to finish the beret (which took an hour tops to complete!), and I quickly knit up the ears.  The patterns were fairly simple, but could have been written more efficiently had they incorporated grafting and more knitting in the round.  For example, the green monkey's ears are knit in four flat pieces then seamed together.   It wouldn't be difficult to revise the pattern to save yourself some time and energy by knitting them magic loop and increasing and decreasing and grafting the 'cast-off edge'.   I would also knit the mouths by casting on the lighter wool and decreasing accordingly in the red section and then grafting it closed.  As it's written, you cast on in the red, knit a row, and then turn upside down and pick up and knit the cast on stitches.  This was finicky and tight and all around unpleasant.  Just saying.  Next time, I will trust myself to make those changes and save myself the bother.

O-Ten, not sure if I'm ready for you.  O-Nine has tired me out.  Incentives would be welcome.  I'm going to go work on some goals/resolutions.  Maybe I'll bake a wheel of brie and scarf it down with wheat thins, and I'll quench my thirst with that unopened bottle of white wine at the back of the fridge.  I just have to clear a path to it . . . Who am I kidding?  I'm too much of a wiener.  Hangovers frighten me. 

Wishing you a happy and safe New Years Eve. 

N

Holla-Days

Look at that cinnamon roll.  Just look at it.

See anything new?  After spending weeks researching entry-level digital slr cameras, we splurged and got ourselves (read 'me') a Canon Rebel XS.  I'm having a splendid time tinkering around with it, and in doing so I have spread the love of it amongst my friends and family.   Because if everyone else has one, than it couldn't have been much of a frivolous expenditure, but rather a much needed and common household object.  Right?  Plus I couldn't have possibly been expected to take fuzzy and boring ol' photos of baked goods forever.  Nah, I can't bad-mouth my Fuji point 'n' shoot.  It's done me good.  I plan to keep it around a bit longer.  I also think that a certain teenager would be more than happy to steal it away.

Up next (tomorrow, I hope!) - pictures of finished monkeys for all of you who must be dying to see them.  They turned out wonderfully, and the girls really do love them.  I think they know deep down that the monkeys were a bit out of my usual knitting range.  I like easy, quick, non-finicky, as seamless as possible, more utility projects.  But they were worth every single minute of cursing under my breath for countless nights after they had safely been tucked into bed.

Speaking of which, I must do right now.  It's late!

N

Filled to the Brim

One last turkey dinner to scarf down this afternoon, and then we can start packing up the xmas decorations for another year.  There's so much.  We gots to trim the trimmings.

As for crossing things off the to-do list, Santa has been thanked.

N

Sweets

I am now absolutely certain that if I didn't work outside the home, I would 'make' every day in epic proportions.  Oh yes.   So far on my four days of no work, I have baked dozens upon dozens of squares and cookies, I have sewed up two origami wraps (thank you, Queen of Origami!), made trees for my impromptu winter village, made holiday cards, and knit two fairisle hats with one skein of Briggs & Little.  And I'm reading a really awesome book with very little punctuation and lots of wit.  And I watched Where the Wild Things Are, and tears streamed very heavily when Carol waves good-bye to Max.  There is something very moving about a beast with sadness.   I am pretty sure I had to look away at one point.

Today we're going to get our skates ready for ice skating, and I'm going to brush up on my turkey cooking skillz.  I even bought a baster.  It's as if I'm getting very serious about turkeys.  Watch out, my friends!

N

Off

I didn't mean to disappear from here for a whole week!  We've been busy finishing up school and work for the year, and we've been busy making.  We downloaded the house and the tree patterns for free and got to work immediately.  Hours of fun!  Honest.

Four more days to Christmas!  Eek!  I thought I was prepared, but I sat down and made another list, and turns out I gots lots to do still.  So off I go . . .

N

A Timely Diversion

That dang winter edition of Knitty came out yesterday, patterns were printed, the stash was upturned, and I have cast on for the Citron shawlette with wintry white Malabrigo lace.  This is unwise indeed.   I should seriously be knitting ears and a muzzle.  I only have 9 days left.  Oh dear.

N

Across the miles

On Saturday I packed up some boxes with my hand knits and some holiday goodies and dropped them off at the post office. The boxes are west bound, two are going to my family and friends in Vancouver and another is headed to California to my sister. I was even three days ahead of schedule! This coming Saturday we head to Toronto to spend the holidays with Mr. T's family. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in Canada for a few days. Can you say Swiss Chalet and ketchup chips?!

Because these are Christmas gifts I can't share any photos but I can share that inside each box is my new favourite thing--salted caramels. These are so creamy and addictive that I made up another batch on Sunday for friends in town and a few for me and Mr. T. I cannot tell you how yummy these are. I wont even mind if you stop reading this blog right now and go to the kitchen and make some. You wont regret it.