Better Late than Never....

I really should have posted this at the beginning of December, but it just didn't happen. (obviously)
But now, I introduce to you, the last of the Lord of the stRings Sock Clubs:

The Days of the King

Please forgive the horrible photography. It is very difficult to accurately photograph your own feet. Really, it is. Try it. You'll find your feet twist in funny directions rather than being straight up and down!

It is hard to see in these pictures, but the design on the front of the sock is of a tree with seven stars around it.

Inspiration?


“Tall ships and tall kings
Three times three,
What brought thee from the foundered land
Over the flowing sea?
Seven stars and seven stones
And one white tree.” The Two Towers, JRR Tolkien

And the crown of Gondor Aragorn wore in the movie.

I couldn't get the design to work exactly like I wanted. I would have needed a larger canvas than a sock- and more colors too.

Incidently, the colors you see in these pictures are not the colors we wound up with in the club. Instead of the dark grey, the main sock color is a gorgeous royal blue. Black would also work well, but the base yarn of this sock is Sushi Socks, which takes color softly. And, in my personal opinion, no other yarn base would work half as well. This is the best sock yarn I've ever used for Fair Isle work. I loved it.


And so ends the Lord of the stRings. Thanks for the fun.

December

What a crazy month. When I was a little kid, I loved December. It was my favorite month ever. The fact that I had both my birthday and Christmas in a month that I didn't usually have as many allergy problems made it naturally the one I always looked forward to. It was great.

Now? Well, I want it to be a fun month for my kids, but it's no longer my favorite month. Yes, all the reasons I used to like it are still here- but now, it's also a month of responsibility. And have you driven in the city in December??? Yeah, I avoid it as much as possible, but when you live in a city, you have to get around somehow. The commercialization of Christmas has made the entire month of December much more stressful than it was when I was a kid! So now, I just try to live the wonders of December in the eyes of my kids. :D Sometimes I succeed, sometimes, I struggle, but seeing a child's wonder the first time the Christmas tree lights are turned on...... It is priceless.


This December has been pretty amazing in my house. It was Milo's first "real" Christmas- you know, the first one the child is aware of what's going on around him- and it was adorable. We didn't put the Christmas tree up until the night before Christmas Eve, because we knew that it would be impossible to keep him out of it. And it was. And he was cute. And he was fascinated. And he opened presents early- other people's presents....but they understood. (And the tree is already down and put away. He's really into putting things in his mouth. May have something to do with the teething thing that's going on, but I haven't committed to that answer yet.) We had a great Christmas. And I think Milo did too. ;D

In the knitting portion of my world, I learned something new this month....Something I've been saying for 3 yrs I intend to learn.....
Steeking. Literally? Cutting your knitting.
Yeah, not something that is usually considered a good thing in knitting.
But steeking is doing it on purpose, so that's supposed to be okay.

So I read books, looked online for tutorials- then I crocheted 2 rows on where I intended to cut. That's supposed to hold it together so that it won't unravel. I admit I was very sceptical.

After I had my crochet lines, I sat down at the table and wished I had some wine. I don't drink any alcohol normally, but this seemed like it would have been a good time for some. Then I picked up the sharpest scissors I had in the house, and cut. I cut what I had just spent the last 2 weeks trying to knit together.
It was not the best feeling I've ever experienced.

But I finished it. (really, after the first cut, there's no going back anyway). And I cut the entire little adorable jacket. And then, I knit buttonbands on it- and it was better than ever. So it worked! And it looked good! And I am positive that it will feel just as awful the next time I do it.

But steeking was not my best adventure this month. This month, I got to be present at the arrival of a very special little girl.
Meet Sylvia.

Sylvia is my niece. She is beautiful and I love her. She missed my birthday by 7 days, but that's ok. She's here. And she's healthy.


Next year has a lot to live up to.

Books and books, and other stuff.

Can you believe it? Two posts in a week? I must be bored, right?

Well, not really. I don't actually remember the last time I was bored. That must have something to do with having kids. There's always something that needs to happen.

Actually, I had a minute, I am sitting at the computer, and I thought I would write (well, type) something. I don't know that I have anything important to say, but do I have to have something important in order to say something? If that were true of all people, there would be much less news and much less books, and I'm sure much less blogs. ;)

Speaking of books (yes, this is stream-of-consciousness typing), I've been reading this book, "Honey for a Woman's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. I've been enjoying it; although, as I told Joel, I've discovered that reading about reading is somewhat stressful for me- because I'm reading about all these great books- I want to read them- but I already have shelves full of books I haven't read that are patiently waiting their turn. Well, some maybe not so patiently. Or is that just my imagination?

Anyway, this book, I recommend it if you are a reader. Well, even if you are not a reader. If you want to be a reader. Well, maybe even if you don't want to be. Ok, I recommend it. Back to the point- I am enjoying it because it gives me the answers I could always feel but never put into words with Joel would ask me why I like to read so much. It also provides a fabulous (and huge) book list. Which I intend to utilize. As soon as I finish the shelves of books that are sitting there quietly and requesting me to read them. Ok, some not so quietly. ;)

When I get too stressed out wanting to read this massive list of books, I set aside the reference book, and pick up something lighter. Right now, I've started "The Hobbit". I love Tolkien's writing. (betcha didn't know that! ;D) When that is over, I think revisiting "The Lord of the Rings" is in order... and then, well, then, I have shelves, like I mentioned, and this list....

In the meantime, I knit. I'm over halfway done with one set of secret knitting, and I am luxuriating in that while I try to catch up with the other set that I am behind in- as well as scheming out some more designs for Unique Sheep clubs. At least, I'm trying to. Chasing an exceptionally busy toddler seems to cut in on my knitting time somehow. ;)

On a complete subject change (that happens a lot in my house), I can't believe it is only 4 weeks to Christmas. What happened to this year?! Wow, Babybug is over a year old and about to experience his first (well first that he is aware of) Christmas. What does one get for a toddler that can't sit still? He's already got a slide, and all of his siblings toys that he can't swallow....Somehow I think it would have to be a pretty amazing toy for him to be interested in anything that is approved for his age after having had a year to play with things that are meant for older kids. ;) He thinks he's older. :D

Well, dinner is on the table and the Babybug is hungry. End stream of consciousness ;D

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. It is definitely my favorite holiday. Yes, even more than Christmas. 15yrs ago, I would probably not have said that, but as I get older, I appreciate Thanksgiving more.



I love remembering and talking about good things. I love having family and friends in my home enjoying remembering and talking about good things with me. And of course, making, sharing and eating good food is really fun too. :D



Looking back over the last year, there are so very many things that I have to be thankful for! I'm not sure I could list them all. But the things that top the list?

I'm thankful for:



My Savior and Lord, Jesus. :D

My amazing husband

My beautiful, smart, busy children

Family and friends that walk through life with us and share the good times and the bad.

and so much more. My mind is so full of the wonderful blessings I have that I can't seem to get them out....



from this last year,

my husband's new job that he actually enjoys,

my little Babybug that arrived safely and healthy just over a yr ago.

finding an old friend again and being able to continue our friendship

finding a good curriculum and being able to homeschool my sweet kids- not having to miss out on any time with them. :D

And yes, I'm thankful for knitting. :)

and more......



"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him." Ps 34:8



"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and you shall make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures." Ps 36:8



I hope you all have as happy a Thanksgiving as we have been. :D

October Sock Clubs

2 of my patterns were released in October (I know, I'm a month behind. Let me tell ya, it is BUSY homeschooling 3 kids, chasing a toddler, getting them all to swim lessons on time, and designing for 2 full books!!! But I'm loving it. :D ).

This one is Down the Rabbit Hole from The Unique Sheep's Wonderland Club.
I'm pleased with how it turned out- although I was originally going to use cabled ribbing, and it looked so cool....but there was another Wonderland club going from a different company- and I didn't want to look like I was copying their sock; which it did with the cabled ribbing. So plain ribbing it was. I frogged the cuff of this sock at least 3 times before I settled, and I still think if you're going to knit this sock that cabled ribbing would look cooler.

My pictures don't do this sock justice. The colors are so fun. This is a gradiance colorway, and on it are flecks of color. It was fun to knit with the little bits of color every so often.
There are 3 sets of cables on this sock; a simple cable down each side, a more complex cable down the front that morphs into a set of doors inside each other on the foot (get it?), and a slightly more complex cable on the back that utilizes various stitch textures. The idea there was to illustrate the things Alice fell past on her way down the rabbit hole.

“Either the [hole] was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything: then she looked at the sides…and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves: here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed: it was labeled “ORANGE MARMALADE,” but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar, for fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past it.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland


This is from the Lord of the stRings sock club, series III. This is the next to the last of my LotR designs. One more in December (one of my faves. :D)

Fangorn.

This design was inspired by Fangorn Forest on the edge of Rohan and around Isengard. The home of Treebeard, the Ents, and the Huorns. One of the oldest forests on Middle-earth, it was instrumental in saving Rohan from Isengard; and ultimately destroying the power of Saruman.

This is another gradiance colorway (I love the gradience, it is so fun and so pretty!), that perfectly shows the different colors to be found in an old forest.



I love the way the lace on this sock looks like tiny trees from up close. And the patterning on the heel shows bark-like texture. Sometimes the designs just work out perfect. :D

A Birthday

Last Saturday, my Babybug became a one year old.
He "helped" with his cake.

It was a slow realization....

But it came....

He liked the batter. :D

Not only is he now one, he is also a TODDLER. He still walks a bit Frankenstein-ish, but it's very cute.

A whole year. He has grown so fast. I am so thankful that he is a very happy, healthy, busy Babybug.

Brief Update

Bet you thought this blog was obsolete! hahah, I'm back. :D At least for today ;)

I have been so busy. Yes, knitting- although that has taken a back seat for a little while. School started in September. And I am teaching 3 this yr, as well as dealing with the busy little Babybug. And he is Busy with a capital B!!! I don't know what I will do when he goes to only one nap per day, as I only accomplish tasks when he is asleep. He is constantly on the go. And So Very Observant! I cannot believe how fast he learns. Example: one morning this week, he watched me kiss Joel goodbye; he spent the rest of the day kissing everyone that would come close enough for him to reach. It was so adorable! The kids loved it- he got lots of practice. :D

School so far (almost 4 wks into it now) is going better than ever before. I think we may have found the curriculum that works for us. It's called Weaver, and it's from Alpha Omega. It is Unit Study, and the lessons are pulled right out of the Bible. Besides that, it is very hands on and active, so of course the kids are thrilled. They LOVE it. They are begging me for Science and Math now. Although, they think any "experiment" is Science- they have no realization that we are also doing Social Studies, History, and Health at the same time. :D It's great.

Joel's new job is going so very well. He is loving it. God is so very good! Perfect job, perfect timing. :D Joel is pretty tired, as he is doing much more physical work than he has for the last 2 yrs, but he is enjoying it, and that helps. Although the tiredness sometimes causes forgetfulness..... last week, Joel left the sliding door to his work van (Work Van= FULL of tools for work! Expensive tools!!!) open all night. O_O Not intentionally....but still....However, The LORD is so incredible! NOTHING was missing. NOTHING. I'm still amazed. It had to be God, this is a very busy street even at night.

In other news, as I said before, I am knitting. It's very exciting knitting..... I have signed 2 book contracts!!! (one of those is the super secret knitting mentioned before ;D) They won't be coming out for over a year (or over 2, depending on which one you are referring to....), but that's good, as I need all of that time for knitting in b/w being a wife, mother, and teacher!! Also, for those of you that enjoy sock clubs, I am designing for the 2nd Wonderland club as well. (yes, I'm good at biting off more than I can chew!)

It's a busy life, but a good one! And that's as long as Babybug will let me not look at him.... ;D