The move to California has taken up all my free time and I hardly have time to knit anymore. I am working on a little gift for my "soon to be delivered sometime in October" niece ~ it is a Mariner's baseball. I purchased the pattern from Stitch N' Pitch 2009 from Seattle Yarn. I also need to start thinking about what to knit for Kristin's baby and I cannot wait to find out the sex...part of me wants her to have a girl, but I know she wants a boy. I might try knitting a dress if it is girl...
For now here is a view from my office looking at our backyard hottub/pool ~ boy is the electricity for the pool expensive!

Bardini - I conquer you with the help of long flights!

I took Bardini with Ken & I to South Africa and I knit her on our 9 hour drive from Johannesburg to calm my nerves. I knit her to and from South Africa and I am done with her as of last night. She continues to haunt me as why she was so time consuming? Herringbone pattern will now become seed stitch to me which is something that should be simple that takes forever! I hope Gabi will enjoy this more than I enjoyed making it. I did like working with Linen and it reminded me of knitting with hemp.

Bardini - The Summer Cloche that is making me dislike knitting

Do you ever have a project that you dread picking up to knit? A pattern that you must do because it is a Christmas gift for someone special? Bandini from "Knitting in the Sun" is my kryptonite. I understand the Mini-Herringbone Pattern gives the hat a cool look and great linen tecture...but how long will this take me and how much hand cramping can one person take. It has made me doubt calling myself an intermediate knitter and I try to find something else to do every night instead of this pattern. I do have the boys Halloween costumes to sew or there will be no knights in shining armor. I need a mindless car trip where I am a passenger...I suppose this is "just a hat." If I really have to I can buy one...did I just say that? UGH! I will conquer you Bandidi and I think you were designed by someone with tons of time and patience...a single lady for sure!

Vegetarian Vampire or Plastic Surgery?

My obsession for plastic surgery to get rid of the excess skin that I have from carrying the boys is nearing the need to act upon it. As they get older and my back gets stronger, I will do it! Now I have a new option, since becoming a fan of the Twilight Saga...I can become a Vegetarian Vampire. The simple act of becoming a vampire helps you become a supermodel with pale skin and crimson eyes for the first year..I can put up with that. I would be immortal and see how the world turns out...sounds great where do I sign-up. I would need to meet someone like Edward too...ahhh the joy that would bring. Ravelry has a group dedicated to knitting items from the Twilight series movies and I have to knit something...for now enjoy this eye candy...I know I will!

Guiness Book of World Records - Knitting at the Sock Summit

Yes, I was there and loving every minute of it! I had to be included and it was humbling to be there with all the teachers and people that have been knitting much longer than my meager 5+ years. The touching moment was when I saw children under the age of 10 knitting...it moved me!
http://www.socksummit.com/set_a_world_record/
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2009/08/have_needles_will_knit_portlan.html

Ravelry - hire me?

I have tried to keep liking my job that I have been doing for 10 years, but my passion for Healthcare IT is dwindling. My love for the internet is still there...how can I compromise. I need a job like working with Ravelry that merges my love for the internet with my computer expertise. I could test that website all day long! The Ravelry Party was all the rage and I felt blessed to even be invited. I met Sue that was living my dream of owning a knitting store and I shared the name of my dream knitting store that I wear on my wrist bracelet everyday. She seemed impressed that I had a passion for it, but was honest about how much of my life it would consume. I knew it would be next to impossible to own it while having young children....but sometimes the truth hurts! Back to Ravelry...you have made me days more bearable since you came into my life and I am frequently online at work and your site at the same time. If you ever need a larger staff
, I am willing and I will travel for you as well...whatever it takes!

I Love Socks! Betsy McCarthy

Thank you Betsy! I have always looked at DPN(s) with a growl on my face, although I know have Signature DPN(s) which may have turned me. I wanted to learn one sock on 2 circular needles because Magic Loop never seemed to work for me...so I will give this a try! OMG! I totally got it like a star pupil of a class...it was the method that speaks to me and I was entranced from the minute I learned the basics. It was intuitive, my hands and mind got it! I knit this toddler sock and I am now working on a sock pattern for flip-flops called "Flippant." I have not had a hard time remembering the method or reversing my mistakes. I can make this work for all circular knitting and "French Girl Knits" using this method for knitting sweaters. Betsy you have made me fall in love with socks!