365.191 Just as you are. Right now. Today.

365.191 Just as you are. Right now. Today., originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

Mary Heather (rainydaygoods on Ravelry) posted on Flickr a super sweet photo of herself for Operation Beautiful. Like quite a few of us who do the whole project 365, I was quite taken with it and decided to do one myself as my 365. I scrawled out a quick sign on Dory's art paper with her crayons and dashed out the door with Jack to the park where Dory was in camp to pick her up.
Once I had her, I set up the camera, set the timer, let the lady sitting at the table behind the camera stare at me all puzzled, and made the mad dash back to the kids before the timer set off.
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. What a wonderful thing we women need to be reminded of!
However, unbeknownst to me until yesterday, this photo became my very first to hit Flickr's Explore! I'm in shock. Floored. Who knew? I won't begin to try to understand why or how the Explore really works with it's mythical 'Interestingness' factor... but I'm so honored. So I just had to share with you!

See?!? Here is page #22:

More knit designing news!

I won another contest. Ok, I think I might get it now... I'm not too shabby at this. Blue Sky Alpacas ran a design contest for their new yarn line release, Spud & Chloe. I entered, and was one of the winners! (Ravelry link, sorry Non-Rav peeps) The contest was for a design with any of the regular BSA line, in anticipation of the S&C release... with a arm full of the new yarn as half of the prize. My pattern will also be highlighted on their website for a month sometime soon.
I have already released Traveling Bivalves over on JonquilMom.com as a free download.


Also, as I hinted at a few entries ago, I have agreed to license several of my patterns to Buffalo Gold. In order to switch gauges and pattern nuances over to their yarns... a sweet box of sample yarn landed on my porch this morning from Ron at Buffalo Gold. (Pretty sure the yarn will be my 365 today... how could it not be?!?!) Since I didn't feel like I could ethically license one of the patterns they were interested in, I'm cooking up a new pattern for the Mythology Series. :) I'll let you know when it's released and it will be available from me as well.

Anyway, I'm a wee bit excited with the recent career path that seems to have come from thin air.

MalabrigoYarn.com

It's been a while since I announced Chimera's win, but about a month or so ago Malabrigo added it to their site... the front page!

I just thought you all might like to see. ;)

Kitting for Kiddos!

Ha! In a grand return to blogging, I thought you might like to see some recent pics of Jack and his brand new sweater that has sat in the sidebar for what feels like forever. He was not thrilled with my photo session since he had just woken up from the nap he took on the way home from Church on Sunday. I am so stinking proud of this thing. I think it looks great. One of my favorite things about it is the buttons. They are of the 3 billy goats Gruff, Puss in Boots and Rumpelstiltskin! Completely cute little boy troll fairy tale buttons. I got them at Purls in Asheville.
There were a ZILLION ends to weave in. It will be a long time before I do anything striped again. That was murder. What possessed me to think a striped sweater would be a good FIRST sweater? GAH!

--
Bob sweater, by by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan
The Fibre Co. Savannah DK, doubled, in Lime, Bleu Marine, Linen, Marigold and Rum Raisin (a linen, cotton, wool and soy blend)
US8 needle
--

This just proves there are pictures to be had, even if I have been bad about putting them up! More to come, I promise. Think fall leaves.

Cliodna: Mythology Series #2

I am proud to also finally debut Cliodna, also entered into the Malabrigo contest with Chimera. Much more reserved in structure, but with a similar beautiful pattern, Cliodna is available in two sizes, snug and loose. It is a quick knit, using about half a skein of Malabrigo Worsted.
Also available in my Etsy shop.

Via Ravelry with PayPal

Chimera Won! (and finally debuts)

The Chimera pattern was selected by my fellow Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry as one of several winners for the Designing Junkies 08 contest.
What does this mean for you? IT'S NOW FREE!!! See? We all win. :D
Click through the title link for the Ravelry Download of the PDF -or- click the PDF image below. (There are benefits to using Ravelry directly, of course.)
It is fully charted, with chart overview and 3 pages of ready to print zoomed charts. 6 pages and full color.

Christmas Knitting

Wow, I ever understood why knitters started their Christmas Knitting (yes, uppercase 'K') months in advance. Mainly because I had never thought about it in any real sense. I didn't really intend to knit for people this year, but then, well, money was tight and I figured handcrafted goods would be well, good!
So far, it's coming along nicely, but I have no real drive to get it all completely finished right now, which is NOT GOOD. Especially with only a few days remaining. I know I am over half way here though. So, I truck on. Of course, there will be pics here after the gifts are given, but if you are on Ravelry, feel free to click through the links as I am adding pics as I go behind the pretty wrapping.
<3 Jen

Jack Attack... finally!

At long last, I finally put the Jack Attack up on Ravelry as a free download. I do not have the pattern hosted here like I do the Mabel and Patty - so if you want it, sign up for Ravelry. Enjoy!

From Ravelry

All Fun and Games... until...

After everyone else left the party, we still had fun. Pile 'o kids style. Until Dory decided she had enough, of course. Such a big fuss for a little bump. More bruised ego than anything. Jack and LJ (Monkey) were having a blast though!

Happy Birthday to Bailey, as well. It's why we were over there playing, not that we need any excuse.

Pinchable? Absolutely. Kissable too.
As you can see, she just loved wearing her new hat(insert Ravelry link, of course). LOL

All Quiet on the Eastern Front...

I've been working like crazy the last week getting 2 patterns written up for release on Ravelry as a part of the Malabrigo Junkies board October design contest. Both have been, or are in the process of being, test knitted and are really close to being ready. So, I'm sorry for the silence, but nearly every minute has been consumed with the process that is so new to me. I've really been enjoying it though.

Watch out for the Jack Attack hat and the Chimera 'thingie'. Necklet? Cowl? Dickey? Scarflet? OH, who knows... false sweater 'thingie'.

Also: Becky, welcome to the knitting world. Get thee self onto Ravelry posthaste.

Shiver me timbers!

It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Here be my Ravatar on Ravelry. Arrr....

Happy Birthday Grandma Patty!

Jack and Daddy had a good time in the kitchen - Jack is quite the Monkey Man now, and will climb anything and everything! The age two antics are in full swing as of this last few weeks, its easy to see his birthday is right around the corner. We had a great day over at Grandmas house, and have all sorts of things coming up to do with Grandma still. ;-) Like a Tea and Chocolate pairing benefit Thursday evening!
John is leaving Wednesday for his annual Fish and Chips with the guys. He says he's going to be in a tent while the rest of the guys (other than Ted) will be in a cabin. Good luck... I bet he'll fall prey to temptation! Anyway, Grandpa is babysitting so Patty and I can attend the tasting/pairing. I'm pretty excited about it.

Dory painted Grandma two teacups and I knitted cozies for them. I drew frames around the pictures and even added a tiny plaque on the lower right hand side... then made them "Gallery Series" numbered editions on the bottom. I am super pleased with how they came out. They don't look like the traditional hideous kid scribble all over and actually seem pretty cool to me. But, I could be very biased on that. I don't know! Grandma loved the cups and said the only problem was that the cozies covered them up... of course!

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Adding the pattern to the Ravelry Database. Direct PDF download is here. Enjoy Patty's mug warmers.

Blue Sky Alpacas Swap!

Oh, how exciting! I got my BSA package today from Chris (Chrispy) Church! 2 beautiful skeins of worsted alpaca and wool blend hand dyed in a tan color, fave chocolate, more chocolate, pizza crust mix, bread mix and a pattern for Prickle that I have been dying to knit up. What a package! She went for a loose theme of comfort, and certainly hit the nail well. Pizza for supper tonight!!

Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma Swap!

A package from Delaney'sDuds came in yesterday. She sent me some lovely gifts! Some beautiful blue wet spun linen yarn form the Kangaroo Dyer. I'm in heaven! She also sent me a sweet little light for in the car when it's dark and John is driving, a handmade wristlet bag for small projects and a pattern that I love for the yarn. :) Very sweet package... Thank you!!!

2 turned heels

No, not ankles... heels.  I *finally* turned the heels in my socks!  Two pretty nice short row heels are finished.  It took from about 8pm until 11pm along with getting the kids to bed to get it done, so I'm pretty proud.  They look good, but I still learned a few lessons.  Just like my toes are a bit wonky, my heels are too.  They are too pointy, I think I turned 2 stitches too many.  Oh well.  I have NO intention of fixing them.  They are, well, loose fitting socks. Certainly not tight.  I do not know yet just how sloppy though since they are my first.  I guess we will see.  But... I have two turned heels!

BO

Noooo, not Body Odor... I'm Binding Off, on the Hemlock blanket! I made it to row 82 and with the prodding of a few others decided I best call it quite unless I wanted to buy another skein. The BO on this blanket is unlike any other I have done and is supposed to take about 4 hours to do. That's unheard of for you non-knitters! BO is a really quick and simple thing usually! But nooooooo, not for this bad girl... she's got to have crazy loopy edges that take an eon to finish....
But, I'll give my love and time and finish her right. I'll be happy to move onto new projects, and I didn't end up going so long that I hated this project. Maybe sometime I will make another....

Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma

(Ravelry Link, again)
I got it! I got it! Thank you Linda! :D

This fab package contained:
Fleece Artist Curlylocks 450m of boucle kid mohair in Lupin - a striking blue,
2! Avery Allison Yarns Premium Hand-Dyed Yarn - Fingering sock yarn in Autumn (an awesome teal running through it),
TeaRen Hibiscus Spice teabags,
Olive soap and lotions,
a tin of Mary Englebright cards (I love her illustrations),
The Yarn Harlot’s At Kit’s End (Love her!),
2 Regila lace samples (? I think) in red and a dark, dark green,
KP sock dpns in size 1 (woot! I had been wanting to try these!),
another set of larger green dpn (measure to be size US10),
a blue H8 crochet hook (I’m just learning!),
a sweater pattern (not on Ravelry or I would link),
yummy divine smelling specialty roaster coffee beans, and… the chocolate is already gone. It was my favorite too… Endangered Species Dark with Cocoa Nibs… I <3 nibs.
:D WOOHOO!!!
Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!
I sure hope your partner spoils you silly!
_____________________
For the rest of you non-knitting non-Ravelry people... the sweet lady who mailed this to me is a CPM (long live the CPMs!), has her own dairy cow, garden, 13 kids - the youngest has Down's, lots of grandkids, and is super, super sweet.