Socks that Rock

My first pair of socks made with Tina's famous Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock are complete! These are my favorite by far. They are so soft and comfortable! This yarn is so easy to work with, it is very forgiving. I even used small size 1 needles by knitpicks which are very pointy. The stitch was a basic knit 6, purl 2. They look great, I am so happy! Thanks again to Irishgirlieknits for all her support and skills and gifts!!! I am addicted to this yarn!

Presents in the mail......

I opened the mailbox the other day and what did I find but a package addressed to me! Inside the package was this ....

Yippeee! Sock yarn. Socks too!!! Irishgirlieknits sent me the most beautiful skeins of Socks That Rock, three whole skeins! (One was already wound, so that is already on needles!!!) There was also another skein of sock yarn, a pair of circular needles, several samples of sock soak soap, and a brand new pair of socks for me! You may also see some of Irishgirlieknits moo cards peeking out too. What an awesome box of goodies! She is so good to me! Thank you so much!!!!!

First day of school

Today was Emma and Liam's first day of school. Emma started 2nd grade and Liam started Kindergarten! They were so excited to start their days off! So were their Dad and I. They both had great days. Here is to a fabulous school year!

My Gold Medal!

To justify sitting on my butt for 2+ weeks while watching the Olympic Games, I set a goal to complete this pair of Ampersand socks. I cast on and started during the Opening Ceremonies, I finished up during the US Men's Water Polo Silver Medal game. Before the closing ceremonies! For me that's Gold! I am excited that this pair fits! This yarn was purchased from Woolgirl. Thanks again Jen! I was a bit annoyed with the ways the colors pooled and came out. Yes, this is from one skein of yarn! One looks lighter pink, the other darker pink. I guess that makes them totally unique! What a thrill the Olympics have been! Go USA!!!

Ampersand

Thanks to the Olympics, my first sock of pair #3 is finished! It is a pattern called Ampersand. I named this pair For Ampersand By Me, since the ampersand is &, they are called For & By Me. Clever, right?!? Anyhow, the first is done and I am excited to show it off. I cast it on during the opening ceremonies and twice began and ripped out another pattern. Third time is a charm for this little guy, I finally decided on this pattern and went for it. The Yarn was purchased from Woolgirl is by The Unique Sheep, Foot Prints in Sport Weight, color is Cherry Blossom. More pooling, crazy striping, but all in all, I think is turned out pretty cute. Thanks to Carrie for your support! Also, thanks to The Knit Witch for all her great videos. Today I used the Kitchener (Graft) Stitch video, any stitches you need demonstrated, check her out!

Emma's post

These are my favorite funniest pictures ever! They are of my family. I took these pictures with my mom's cell phone.

This is my brother Liam. He makes funny faces, like Ron Weasley.

This is a picture of my father. The reason I took this is because I love him.

This is my mother. The reason I took this is because my mom's eyes are beautiful.

This is me. I love making funny faces in front of the camera!

....mmmmmmmmmm Cookies!

I have been thinking about these cookies a lot lately. The were introduced to me by my friend Megan (we went to school together from 4th through 12th Grades). They really became our favorites in Junior High School. In fact, they could account for much of the acne. Anyway I was thinking about these, thinking how much Tony and the kids would enjoy them. I haven't talked to Megan in 15 years until yesterday, by way of a little invention called Facebook. We don't need to talk about how I spent ALL day on Facebook yesterday, finding several of my old and new friends! It is a social networking website where it seems all my pals have been having a party without me! I am a little slow! So, yesterday I found Megan and right away asked, "Do you remember the Poo Cookies your Mom used to make?" She immediately forwarded me the recipe and said I could share it with all of you! Yes, we called them Poo Cookies, because that is exactly what they look like. They are actually called Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. Trust me on this one, they are fantastic! Thanks to Megan and her Mom! Miss you guys!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (aka: "Poo Cookies")

1 Package Brownie Mix with Syrup

¾ Cup Flower

6 Tablespoons Cooking Oil

2 Eggs

2 Tablespoons Water

1 12 oz. Bag of Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients, including syrup. Stir until well mixed. Add Chocolate Chips.Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes...Do not over bake! Let cool 2-3 minutes, and then transfer to cooling rack. Store in airtight container..if there are any left!! =0)

Enjoy!

smokers...........

Ah nicotine.... Well just pretend anyway. While Nellie was here we were going to go for a drive, discover Oregon. We ended up in Sandy. (Less than 10 miles away). Nellie found a bakery and old timey store. Tony and Emma found gum cigarettes. Emma's box was called "Black Lung" and was lemon flavored. Tony's box was called "Hobo" and was campfire coffee flavored (which really stunk by the way.) Liam just wanted this gigantic lollipop. Here they are posing with their finds. Emma ended up going out for a smoke with Nellie for the whole rest of her trip!

My First Socks That Rock Sock is Complete!

Yippee....... My very first Socks That Rock Sock by Blue Moon Fiber Arts is Finished!!! I tried a variation on the Plain Vanilla Sock Pattern by Knitty Gritty Thoughts, k6, p2. I love the ribbed look. I want to thank Theresa at Knitty.com for the detailed pictures of the Kitchener Stitch, very helpful Thanks! I love it's ribbed look. Here are a few pictures.

Nellie goes home today :(

I have a huge Teacher Certification Test this week :(

Hope your day is happy!

No other doughnuts like these.......

Nellie is in town. If you know Nellie, you know we are eating lots of treats while she is here. She wanted a "tour" of Portland. Where else would we take her but the World Famous yet Wacky Voodoo Doughnuts?!? Click on the link and check out their menu! This place is the definition of hole in the wall, and it always has a line out the door! Each and every one of these is tasty. We tried this Maple-Bacon for the first time, it is DELICIOUS! So, if you aren't a resident of Portland, if you ever do visit, you must stop by this place.

The cereal topped ones are my favorite. The one at the bottom called "Dirty 'ol Bastard" has chocolate frosting, Oreo cookies and peanut butter. Yum! Also, my kids loved saying the name!

They are complete!

The first pair of socks every knitted by yours truly are complete! Emma is modeling them for you now. Yeah! They would not be complete without the help of Irishgirlieknits taking my knitting 911 calls, and Shannon over at my LYS Twisted who helped out in a pinch. Thank you so much ladies!!! Now I am rocking and rolling on my STR pair. There will certainly be a post when the first one is done :)

Coming right along

My second pair of socks is coming right along! I absolutely LOVE knitting with this STR by Blue Moon Fiber Arts! Thanks Tina! Sorry it took me so long. I decided to go with Neuroknitter's and Irishgirlieknits's suggestion of k6, p2 for the ribbed sock. I love the design. Thanks!

I just turned the heel on the second sock of the first pair, aka Emma's socks. I am having fun!

p.s. Liam passed to level 4 at Swimming Lessons and also started arm strokes today so we celebrated with dinner at Red Robin's! Hooray Liam!

Knitting isn't my only craft

I am a master of many crafts (if I don't say so myself!). Here is one I have been perfecting the last year. It is a tote/bag/purse. I have one myself and have sold and gifted a dozen or so. This particular one was commissioned by my friend and cousin, Jen. She has been waiting a while for me to complete it, so I am extra excited about it. It is made from Amy Butler designer fabrics (Irishgirlieknits is also at fault for my love of Amy Butlers fabrics too!) I put a couple of pockets and a key fob inside. I think it is just cute and wanted to share. Enjoy!

Inside

#1 is done!!!

Here it is, my first sock is complete! It only took me a week, most of a week, OK the whole entire week. It is a snug fit. It fits Emma perfectly. She is thrilled she gets my first pair of socks! I already have the second one knit to a bit past the turned picot edge. I am ready to rip through that one because I am absolutely loving my STR sock! Thanks for all the input, I did decide to do the ribbed k6, p2. I got a good jump on it during tonight's "Family Movie Night" Nacho Libre.

Have a great weekend!

...Getting ahead of myself

Now I have heard from more than one of you that I am a true knitter because I have started my second pair of socks before finishing the first sock of my first pair! I am not totally new at knitting, maybe someday I will catch you up on what I have accomplished up to now. However, I am new to sock knitting. I am also new to these fancy, EXPENSIVE sock yarns. They are so nice and soft and pretty! How could I not get started on the next pair? Besides, this second pair is a BMFA Socks that Rock!!! If anyone out there recognizes the color please share with me what it is. Irishgirlieknits brought it home from her visit with the Wizard. It has no tag. She believes it is a mill end but it is just so pretty I can't imagine it not having a name. Next up it what pattern to follow. I was thinking of taking the plain vanilla sock pattern and doing the k6, p2 version. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the comments, I'm feeling the love! Happy Friday!

"You mean OUR blog"

Top and side views of my first sock

First thing this morning I get up, turn on the computer and click on this blog. To my daughter, (7) I say, "Emma, look this is my blog!" She replies, "You mean OUR blog." I couldn't stop laughing.

You see, since Irishgirlieknits has had her blog we have been checking it pretty frequently. She has been talking about me starting a blog for forever, and this weekend Emma has decided she wants her own blog. So, I said we could share one. I guess I forgot about that. Ooops. Hopefully, someday soon, she will be adding her two cents, although I am not sure what quite about. Maybe I will just share some other quotes from her. Here's another, "Mom, I think you love that more than us." (referring to pictures above, my first sock.) Clearly I have been a SAHM too long!

I also wanted to shout out a big THANK YOU!!! to Shannon at Twisted, she helped me in a pinch. I twisted then dropped a few too many stitches than I could handle so I ran right over there and she made me and the kids feel at home. Thanks again, I am loving that store! BTY, that is where my first sock yarn was purchased, Zen String - Serendipity - Sport - Sedona. Although I have a little bit of pooling, not the perfect stripes I was after, I am still thrilled with how they are coming out.

Welcome to my blog

....so my BFF from High School, Carrie, aka Irishgirlieknits, has been on my behind for years now to start a blog (drum roll) here it is! This past weekend she was up for a visit and has immersed me into the world of sock yarn. Granted, it didn't start this weekend, but it was nothing but yarn, yarn, yarn, knitting and hand knit socks this weekend! Let me just put it this way, after we visited Twisted and meeting Shannon on Friday, I had my first sock cast on that night. By Sunday I was knitting with two professionals, Woolgirl and Neuroknitter! (Talk about celebrities!) Monday, my ears were burning from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Tuesday morning I had my first Socks That Rock cast on. (Yes, I am working on my second sock before my first is finished, crazy huh?!?) I am about 4 inches away from the end of my first sock, so I am off to finish. Please check back with me, I intend to post a picture or two in the near future. Thanks for reading!