Other WIPS...

Some other WIPs that really need work. Rough drafts....definitely. But I have been busy looming and creating. I have about six things going right now and about 12 pages of designs that I still have to test. I need my own personal loom knitter. A clone but with a better attitude :) Wouldn't that be cool. Here...I have an idea, work on this for me, let me know how it goes. I'll be over here thinking up some more stuff while you're busy. Oh, dream a little dream...

Getting creative...

Since the Easter buzz has started I've had a couple of people asking about my bunny slipper pattern I have on the website. The free pattern for those are BABY size. I would say about 6 month old size. I have been meaning to make a larger size for quite some time. About a month ago this huge light bulb popped up above my head and I thought, you know, a lot of people want slippers but always complain about how slippery they are. If you read the digests you know people have tried puff paints and such to give some traction to the bottom of their slippers. Well, why not have an actual sole. Cheap and easy is the way I like to do things. So, I went out and bought a pair of flip flops. $2 at Hobby Lobby or you can probably start finding them at the Dollar Tree since it's March and all the stores think you really want to try on bathing suits with your pasty white winter skin! I cut off the straps, made a piece to match the sole and another piece to go across the top of the foot (plus ears) and VOILA...adult size bunny slippers and you won't bust your rear end. I just finished it a half hour ago so I don't have anything typed up yet, of course. The flip flops were size large. I cast on 8 and knitted 28 rows. I then increased one peg on each side and knitted 4 rows, increased one peg on each side again and knitted 4 rows. Then I started decreasing one peg on each side, knitting 2 rows (decreasing, knitting 2) until I only had 2 pegs left and then combined them and removed the piece from the loom. For the top of the foot piece I would cast on 14, knit 12 rows, decrease one peg on each side and knit 2 rows until you have 2 loops left which you would combine (on one peg, ko, cut yarn and pull yarn through loop). Take the sole piece and lay it on top of your flip flop. Take a yarn needle (preferably with a sharp point, trust me, it will be easier then the blunt one I was using) and sew the piece onto the flip flop around the edge. You will need a thimble or something to help you push the needle through. Do not sew too close to the edge. I pushed the needle down through the top, out the bottom, made a stitch about a 1/4 inch long and went back up from the bottom. All the way around. The I took the top piece and matched it at the point of the flip flop and sewed around the edge of this piece making sure the sides were evenly across from each other. EARS...cast on 5, knit 12 rows, decrease one peg each side, knit 2, decrease one peg on one side, KO. Combine the last 2 loops, knit 1, cut yarn and pull through last loop. Weave in all ends. I took some pink fun fur and sewed it on the inside of the ear and used it for the nose as well. I used ww turquoise yarn for the eyes. I used Softee Chunky white yarn and Moda Dea Prima (2 strands of the Softee Chunky and one strand of the Prima all as one). I think if I make another pair I will use a different yarn. I'm thinking the thick Caron soft yarn or some white Grande. And I think I would use the flat stitch which would alter how many rows I would have to do but it will be thicker and sturdier knitted fabric. I like a lighter pink too.
Another suggestion.... I have thought about just using Lisa Sawyer's Scuffie slipper pattern and adding ears to it. You would have a slippery slipper bottom but they would be like a fitted sock and would still be really cute. Besides, I really like that slipper pattern. You can go buy it and use the ear instructions above. I have made her slippers for my kids too, but I substituted a different loom. I used one of CinDwood's looms (the child slipper size or one of the preemie hat size looms 25, 27 or29 peg).
I'll try to put this pattern together if it's incomprehensible as it is. Time, time, time, need more time. And the slipper pattern for the baby size ones still isn't working properly. I tried AGAIN tonight and decided to give up before I woke everyone up in the house with foul language. I WILL conquer this file. It WILL bend to my rules.... eventually :)

sounding off

OK, my stepdaughter Allie got me addicted to American Idol last year. It's the only show I get to watch that is an "adult" show. Meaning it's not a cartoon or on the Disney channel. I am going to rant for a bit now cause I want to. Who in the hell is voting for this Sanjaya kid? STOP!!!!! He's wasting space and I can't believe a lot of the others have been booted off so that he can stay on there. Is EVERY high school girl in America voting for him? I just don't get it. Yes, the boy can sing but compared to everyone else on there, I'm just not getting it. QUIT! STOP! Come on people, he's not really getting any better. PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND WALK AWAY! PLEASE!

Tuesday

Tuesday was my birthday....yippee, woohoo...who cares! Anyway, it was also the birthday of my cat Granite. He turned 14. He was born on my birthday the year I graduated from high school. He was just a ball of gray fluff when he was a kitten...still is a ball of gray fluff but a total sweetheart. He is my logo as well. Happy birthday Granite! Love you big guy!

Wedding Pictures

These are definitely not in any sort of order. This is my cousin Sarah's husband, Tom showing his sister, Sarah and my cousin Jen and friend Marcia some dance moves. Here is Dennis dancing with Allie.
This is Ella playing with her fairy dolls before the wedding and before she ruined her hair by running around.
Ella with my Mom and Allie blowing bubbles at the reception.
A completely HORRIBLE picture of me (the purpose of the shawl was to hide the tattoo) and the beautiful bride Jess.
Caleb and cousin Skylar checking out video game magazines.
The girls dancing...




My cousins Sarah and Jennifer (sisters) with Ella.

Sarah spinning Ella.
My cousin Rob and his daughter Katie.
My cousin Robert doing the YMCA with Jen.



Jess and her Dad Louis having their father/daughter dance.

Sarah dancing with Granny.
The entrance of the bride and groom, Jess and Matt.
Jess and bridesmaid Sarah.
Jennifer, Jess and Sarah.



The beautiful bride, Jess.

The bridal party before the wedding.
Flower girls Sydney and Ella with Jr. Bridesmaid Carly and Jess.
The wedding was really beautiful and Ella did so good. I told her she had to go to rehearsal the night before to practice and she informed me that she didn't have to practice cause she already knew what she was doing! (I told her she had to go anyway to prove me wrong LOL) She knew what she was doing, she proved me wrong. She didn't freak out about everyone looking at her. Acted like she was a professional. So much for my worries. I just wish she hadn't run around so much beforehand and ruined her hair. I've been sick all week and fighting with her to sit still long enough to curl her hair is a chore. She's 4, she's got better things to do with her time, right? :) The ceremony was beautiful, reception was beautiful. Everyone had a wonderful time. I just wish I could've been healthier or at least had a nap. I went home and slept for 12 hours. I don't know what is going around (as far as a virus) but this isn't fun.

Little Princess

The wedding is this Saturday and so I decided to do a trial run on fixing Ella's hair. She has way too much hair! It took forever and she was not exactly one to stand still the whole time either. I'm thinking hairdresser. I'm sure they would do a better job and be able to get it to stay the way it should the whole time. She does look cute though. She's all full of herself right now. As if you couldn't tell by the pics. I just hope all goes well Saturday. She's been sick so I'm hoping she doesn't have a coughing fit in front of the church and disrupt the whole wedding but there's really nothing I can do about it if it does happen.

Sadie collars

I've been really trying to get more done here lately. I managed three collars last night for the donation to the shelter. I have to take Socks into the veterinarian tomorrow so I think I will ask them where it would be best to take them. I want a NO KILL shelter. I'm going to make more, some pink froo-froo ones. I have some neat white fun fur stuff but as a pet owner I just don't think white is a good color for a dog collar. At least not my dogs. Maybe if someone had an indoor only dog or a REALLY pampered one it wouldn't matter.

I made up a bunch of diagrams I am testing out. Made some other small things I hope to make into patterns here soon. Still looking for a friend from school to inquire about the website. This requires going through a bunch of old address books and since we moved I have no idea where those would be! Moving sucks. I have to find all my paperwork and files on CD too. This is going to be FUN (not).

On the subject of the new e-zine for Loom Knitters. I didn't realize it was really actually set up like a magazine. Their submission and advertising set up is exactly like you would find in any other magazine. I thought that as a loom knitting magazine it would be full of resources for anyone looking into or already into loom knitting. Since it is brand new I think it will take time for that. There's a ton of information and many more vendors and designers who need to jump on the bandwagon and promote it. I honestly thought it was just another site to promote just one vendor but I was wrong and apologize for that assumption. Let's hope it gets the word out about the craft we all love. I'm sure it will. The editors in charge know have the know-how to get it out to the right people in the knitting industry.

Some happiness through the clouds...

This weekend my cousin Jess and her fiancee Matt will be married. I am very happy for them. I think they are truly made for each other and very supportive of each other. I expect the wedding to be very beautiful as well. I have made the flower girl baskets for her and I also made her favors which were bookmarks with a picture of the two of them walking hand in hand down a wooded path. They chose three different quotes and placed one at the top of each bookmark with their names and the wedding date at the bottom. The are very pretty. Ella is going to be one of the flower girls and I'm kind of scared to see if she will actually go down the aisle with everyone watching her. She is very excited about wearing her beautiful dress as any little girl would be. I just don't know if she realizes how many people will be watching her and such. We'll see at the rehearsal. Keep your fingers crossed! I will post more pics from the wedding when I get them...

Reflection

I have been extremely busy and have a lot going on. I am very overloaded right now and have neglected certain things over others. I'm still hoping for my buyout date from Ford to come up soon. I miss my daughter as she has to spend the week at my Mom's while I work night shift. I don't get to take her to school and only get to spend a couple of hours with her a day on the days I work. I have a stack of classes to start on so I can finish my Bachelor's degree and that is gathering dust fairly quickly as well. I wish I didn't need sleep, I could get so much more done. And then the loom knitting. I miss it. I haven't had much time for it either. I've managed to do some gifts for people but as far as creating new things, there hasn't been much time. I still have quite a bit of things I have to finish up from projects I started in the past. I realize I haven't been part of the groups for quite a while either. I miss the encouragement I used to get from all the wonderful people on there. I feel left behind and forgotten but I know that is my own fault. I need to find a way to manage my time better and ask for help when I need it. I am not Superwoman. If anyone has any good advice or ways to help with time management please send it my way!

On the subject of the loom knitting...I have noticed that there has been a stir about making gloves on the loom. Last October I made my own set of looms specifically for the creation of gloves. I am posting a picture of the first glove I made on them. It still has a few quirks but I hope to soon be able to work those out and be able to offer the pattern. I am hoping to be able to have the set of looms available for purchase as well. I have decided that I will either sell the pattern with woodworking plans so that people can make their own set of looms or sell the pattern with the actual looms already made. I haven't posted pictures of the looms because if I did, then someone else would be selling a replica in five minutes. I cannot afford to patent it. The initial cost just to file for a patent runs up to $500. Then the cost for a lawyer to research for you runs close to $10,000 or more. Of course, I could do research myself but like I said above, there just isn't time. So, I'm sure someone else will take the idea and make their own version as well.

I have also come to the conclusion that I am being ostracised by several people in the looming community. It was brought to my attention that a new online loom knitting magazine was going to be up and running soon and that they were asking for pattern submissions. I was never asked or even hinted to about it at all. This all goes back to many moons ago when I first started my website. I posted some techniques which others felt I didn't have the right to do. I asked permission and now have the instructions on there. I feel it ended up being a very catty situation. It is all very ridiculous to me to be truthful but there is nothing I can do. My aim with my website was to provide as much information about loom knitting as possible so that everyone involved: vendors, designers, beginners and anyone who loves loom knitting as much as I do could find the information they need. I do sell my patterns. I pay for everything myself, I don't have sponsors or any yarn companies throwing yarn at me. I pay over $50 a month to keep it up and running and truthfully make (if I am lucky) $4 a week from patterns. I don't think anyone can say I'm out for profit, that is just not happening. I am very glad to see the creation of this magazine and hope they add a lot more to it in the future. The more we put out there the better our loom knitting world gets. More people with more ideas and ways of doing things. I just hope that others in the looming community were not ostracised as well. There are other vendors and designers that I did not see on there that I feel should definitely be there. Maybe they just decided not to participate, I don't know. We'll see. I guess this just means I'm not putting forth my best effort in providing what I need. So I need to step up. My plans as of right now:

1. find someone to help me organize and spruce up my website as I don't know how to do alot of the fancier tricks with the web pages

2. organize all the instructional pages into one downloadable booklet which would be free for anyone

3. figure out how to place web movies on the site with my new camera and make videos of a lot of the basics

4. add more information about books on loom knitting that are available

5. add more links to blogs and websites with instructions

6. find more designers who may be interested in adding their patterns on the site as well

7. and of course produce more patterns. I would like to make booklets for specific areas (baby, toddler, preteen, adult, home and pet patterns). I have all the ideas in my mind and a lot on this computer, just not complete, organized or ready to be put out there.

8. USE this huge stash of yarn I have sitting around the house before my husband has a coronary

These are my goals for the loom knitting part of my life. I still have to outline my goals for my classes and getting the house, barn and pastures up to par. If I could only duplicate myself. And last, find the time to be with my daughter the way I should be. She's growing up way too fast.

Catching up....

Welll, things are still pretty gloomy around here. The weather doesn't help much either. It's raining, windy and most of the time you never know if it's going to be cold or not. So, everyone ends up sick with a cold or allergies. My little Sadie still has not come home after I've posted signs and asked all the neighbors and went to the local shelter. I guess I have to face that she will not return. I have decided to do something in her honor though. The local Dollar Tree and Big Lots have dog collars for a dollar and I've decided to make up a bunch of my dog collar covers and donate them to the local no kill shelter so they can sell them and keep the proceeds so other dogs can have a better life. I think if she knew, she would like that. I have also passed on the alpacas. I am very sad about that as well. Tesaro, Sabado and Smiley deserve better than what I can give them right now. I don't have the stalls or pasture set up to the point where I think they would be happy and comfortable and safe. I also don't have the time I need to properly care for them. I hope to be able to have some alpacas later on but I know that right now is just not the time. I am very thankful to Linda for being understanding about it and I hope she has found a good home for them. One of Allie's bunnies has passed on as well. And Dennis's grandmother passed away last Thursday. She was the same age as my own Grandmother. It just makes me think of how short time truly is. February is a month of remembrance for my cousin Bradley as well. My cousin Christie has written a letter about the day she lost lost him to ALD (Adrenoleukodystrophy) which is the same disease that the movie "Lorenzo's Oil" is based on. I'd like to post it on here to share:

A Month Remembered

On a recent Sunday morning I got this letter in the bulletin asking us to share a story, same as everyone else did. I was thinking do I share a funny story, there seem to be a never ending supply here at our house with the boys. Then I thought about it being February and wanted to share a story very dear to my heart. Many of you know some of the things we have been through, and some are new and do not. Never the less, I don’t want to make this a sad depressing story but one of hope. So I start by saying that February was the month my son Bradley was born in 1994. It was the month my boys were diagnosed with a horrible disease in 2003, and the month my son Bradley died in 2004. With that said, my focus is usually on these things during this time of year.
What I want to tell you about is the night Bradley died in 2004. Bradley & Gabriel had suffered and fought this disease for a year. Gabriel had been able to have a bone marrow transplant, while Bradley had not. I remember back to the Wed prior to his death and how he was doing. He could not sit upright all his muscle strength was gone. We would make him as comfortable as possible with a mattress on the floor. The nurse came to visit him that day and told us he may have as long as 4-6 more months. He was watching his favorite movies that day Lion King 1 & 2. He always laughed in part 2 at the beginning when they held the little lion up and said "it’s a girl" and Tumon and Pumba said "A GIRL". I still see him giggling about that.
I had his lunch for him chili, one of his favorites which I had to blend up so he could get it down. Usually he did ok with it, but on this day he choked and was having real trouble. It scared me. That night and all the next day he seemed uncomfortable and whined in pain, so I gave him some morphine which had been prescribed and rarely used up to this point. It did little to easy his discomfort, or my aching heart. Friday morning when he was crying and I could do nothing but cry with him, I called the nurse to come and see him. When she got there the morphine was finally helping and he was resting on the couch. She gave him another pain shot and took his vitals while I sat there and cried.
She told me his body was shutting down, she could barely find his pulse and his breathing was shallow. She told me it was only a matter of hours. We called our family to come see him, and everyone dropped everything and came to say goodbye to this dear little one.
He never regained consciousness but I sat beside him on the floor and whispered in his ear, sure he could hear me. His nanny sat beside him, his papaw and aunt was there too;
along with his brothers, and his g'ma and g'pa. As I whispered in his ear, I said what I had told him many times before. "When the angels come for you, go, don’t look back, when they call your name, go". Today in my devotion it said "do not fear for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine" Isaiah 43:1.
Shortly after that Gabriel walked into the room and did a strange thing. If you don’t know, Gabriel is legally blind, but he looked right at this particular point next to the couch and walked around it to sit on his daddy's lap. He asked us "whose that man standing there" and we said there's no one there. He insisted and pointed" that man right there, who is that"? Now I can definitely say there was no one there I saw, but I can also definitely say there was someone there. It may have been an angel or it may have been Jesus waiting for the Father to give the exact right time to call my little boy home but I know someone was there. It was about an hour later, and Bradley stopped breathing in one breath and was gone. He didn’t linger, he just went. I am so very thankful for Gods' mercy in showing this secret to us at a time when we hurt so immensely. It has brought me great comfort, and peace. It has been a testimony to those who were present and to those who hear the story. It is my prayer as I share this story with you that you will TRUST AND BELIEVE in what you don’t see, and that you will be comforted by our loving heavenly Father and his blessed Son Jesus in whom there is all HOPE!