Knit Project(s): So many... But surely there's room for just ONE (or TWO) more?

So I've finished my Gemini for the TTTKAL and I know that I said that I should really take a small break from knitting to get my "mild carpal tunnel" under control but... I just need to have something on the needles. Well...  at the very least something besides the two or three that I consider "side projects" and really don't have to get done any time soon.

Okay... so... let's review the projects that I am now working on...

1. I have my FIRST lace project that I started a while ago and is ongoing but goes sooo S...L...O...W...L...Y. Because the "spun silk yarn/lace" by Sweet Georgia Yarns feels so soft, delicate and a super thin, I'm going slowly and being extra careful... Plus with the use of smaller-than-comfortable needles I have to take more breaks or else my carpal tunnel makes knitting a bit painful... But it is knitting up beautifully. Just slowly. ^.^

2. ALSO... I have some time sensitive mystery projects that shall remain a mystery until I have completed them. But there are TWO more projects for that...  ~.^

SO what's one... or two... more projects, right? :D

And so there is this... I'm SO in-love with this... 

The Saoirse Shawl by Norah Gaughan

(Pics are from the Spring 2009 issue of Knits by Interweave.)

Norah Gaughan has got some beautiful designs. I am IN LOVE with this shawl/wrap-skirt. I found the pattern in the Spring 2009 issue of Knits by Interweave. The wavy ruffles are so feminine and the colour is fabulous. This shawl was knitted using Berroco Seduce in the "Gris-Bleu" colourway (47% Rayon / 25% Linen / 17% Silk / & 11% Nylon) It looks so amazing! We'll see if I can find the exact yarn... and of course how many moneys it's going to cost us... But I just can't wait to knit is up!

I am also torn between knitting up another Gemini by Jane Richmond (but this time the longer sleeved "modified Gemini") or trying my hand at knitting up another one of her designs... the Grace.

*sigh* Decisions... Decisions... So now I'm off to prioritize these pretties... Woot!

Family: *singing* So Happy (Painting) Together...

To my recollection, I don't have any fond memories of painting when I was growing up. It was one of those things (one of those MANY things...) that I didn't think I was very good at so then I thought it was totally out of my reach. Until now... 

The thing is... I know nothing of technique. I know even less about the styles. I just know that it makes me happy. And I know that Kai enjoys it too! So as we wandered the aisles of the new Target store at Tillicum, we found a Dinosaur Train painting book that we apparently HAD to have!  Then on Thursday we all painted together! I think we did pretty good job don't you think? So forget technique... Forget style and just have fun with it! And in the immortal words of Bob Ross... "Happy Painting!"

Knit Project: Gemini... DONE!

Woot Done! 

I actually got it done today and with a mere 3 minutes to spare!

It's isn't blocked yet but it will be this weekend!

Knit Project: Gemini... Yay! Sleeves!

i think i'm making some progress on my Gemini for the knit along :) the stockinette stitch for the body was getting a bit monotonous so i decided to start on the sleeves. it was perfect because the first ball of yarn had come to it's end so why not? double pointed needles were no where as complicated as i thought it was going to be. after watching a couple of youtube videos (particularly this one) it turned out to be easy peasy lemon squeasy :) so now it's full speed ahead on the body and then... DONE! woot!

one thing i found about the sweater... when i tried it on to check the fit i was shocked at how roomy it was. i'm glad i read the pattern super carefully and found the note about choosing the size that is 4 inches SMALLER than my actual bust size. otherwise it would have ended up huge. but it will definitely be a comfy short sleeved sweater. i'm so excited. i can't wait to get it done! yay!

Me: Just Passing The Time...

So guess what I'm doing!??!

Yup! You guessed it.

I'm multi-tasking :D

I love playing World of Warcraft. But ever since knitting came back into my life I haven't played as much. Then I started missing Warcraft and thought there has got to be a way for me to do both. 

So I booted up the game and looked for spots where I could make time to knit. So I discovered that as I fly from flight-point to flight-point it gets

a little boring watching the same scenery go by... 

So THAT'S when I decided where to catch up on some knitting. I would knit during my flights! It's brilliant! Because let's face it. My Gemini top has got to get done for the TTTKAL. And it's perfect because I've just separated the sleeves from the body and so now it's all knit knit knit for a long long while... Now I have the best of BOTH worlds! ^.^

Family: Where is the time going?!?

Seriously... Time? How could you steal my baby from me?

My baby boy is now about four and a half years old. When the heck did THAT happen? Don't worry... These feelings are nobody's fault but my own. Serve's me right for browsing old forgotten folders on my computer's desktop and finding fun little videos of my darling baby boy as an infant learning new things, as a toddler being goofy and as a kid just plain having fun. There his is... My little one... Helpless... and totally dependent on me.

Now it has come to my knowledge that he has a mind of his own. He has his own opinion of the world around him. And sadly, only ever seems to need his mommy when he needs to be driven places or to kiss his "owies" better. He's growing more and more IN-dependent and I'm having a really hard time letting him make his own decisions and seeing where they lead him...

Basically... I think I'm just having a hard time letting go... *sigh*

Plus... as if THAT wasn't enough of a kick in the gut... :D

Today was the Mother's Day pancake breakfast  at Kai's preschool. Where the teachers cooked chocolate chip pancakes for everyone. Then afterwards each child presented their mom with a gift. A ceramic tile with their handprint on it and a huge card with their hand cutouts representing flowers.

The poem on the card reads:

"I miss you when we're not together,

I'm growing up so fast.

See how big I've gotten,

Since you saw me last?

As I grow, I'll change a lot,

The years will fly right by.

You'll wonder how I grew so quick,

When and where and why?

So save this card in a safe place, 

And take it out each year.

THe memories will come back of me,

When I was small and dear."

Talk about Awwwwww.... :')

Knit Project: Gotta Get Knittin'

Lots of stuff has been going on. So it's been a few days... A trip to the mainland for a friend's baby's first birthday. A congratulatory meeting with friends to celebrate the news of their first baby coming into their lives. And all this crazy sunny hot weather has made it impossible for us to stay inside...

So I have decided... that today... albeit another day with the beautiful sun out in the sky and the nice breeze blowing... Today WILL in fact... be an inside day for us. ^.^ not just an inside day but a quiet knitting inside day!

The thing is... I really do need to catch up on my TTTKAL knitting. Life has been so busy that I'm totally exhausted by my usual knitting time that I'm too tired to get any knitting done. And when I DO try to knit,  Bad things start to happen. I start nodding off mid-row and lose track of what I've done... or I zone out and I've messed up stitches so bad that I have to undo all the work I've done... or I've nodded off and awoken with a start by the fear that I'm about to impale myself with the needles while I'm knitting... :P But... Not today...

I finally got my needles this past weekend. I ordered the Knitter's Pride Comby Sampler Set.  It's an awesome little set with a pair of Symfonie Dreamz round wood needle tips in 4mm size, a pair of Symfonie Cubix square wood needle tips in 4.5mm size and a pair of Nova metal needle tips in 5mm size. So my plan is to try out the different types of needles and maybe see which type of needle I prefer and then maybe get a full set. Right now, I'm using the 4mm Symfonie Dreamz tips on my Gemini top for the knit along. It's knitting up pretty nicely. But sadly I underestimated how slowly knitting with smaller needles is.  So I'm plugging along as best as I can. And honestly? What better time is there than now? The house is relatively quiet (Kai is having some quiet time in his room) and I've got a great big cup of tea right beside me... So my needles say: *clickety clickety click*

^.^