Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Arts and Crafts

Ramona/CC recently went to a friends birthday party, held at the family's home, and the kids all did arts and crafts (butterfly and fairy themed), which I thought was a fantastic, and cost efficient way to celebrate. When discussing plans for her upcoming birthday, I suggested a holiday craft-themed party and she thought it was a great idea! Unfortunately, she couldn't invite the cast of hundreds she had for her party last year (gymnastics) but she confidently narrowed the guest list down to 7 friends...some old, some new...and we sent the invitations out!

Before proceeding with the party plans, I should mention that the invites did not get mailed without a hitch. I wrote out the Smurf invitations in pink marker, as instructed, and looked up the friends addresses the Monday before Thanksgiving. I purposely did NOT let CC seal them because I wanted to remind myself to put the return address labels and stamps on before mailing them the following morning. On Tuesday I woke a little early, grabbed the return labels and sealed them before I left the house. Once I got out of the subway I started toward my office before remembering to mail the envelopes. I pulled the stack from my bag, brought the mailbox handle down, placed them inside and released the bar only to, at the last second, realize I had not put the stamps on! [INSERT slow-motion, low-bellied sounding, "noooooooooo!" here] What could I do? It was out of my hands...literally. I emailed the mom's of the guests later that morning and they all got a kick out of my story. A few days later most of them wrote to say that the post office had delivered the invitations...without marking them "postage due". No wonder the USPS is low on funds! Anywhoodles...

The process of finding easy holiday craft ideas for a party of 8 six-year-olds. And here's some what we've come up with (these are other people's images...I'll be sure to post mine once the party is over):

Reindeer Head (I traced and cut out CC's hands - super cute and fun!)


Snowman ornaments (using sticky foam circles!)


And the piece de resistance...SNOW GLOBES! I'm still working on getting the jars prepared, but I have all the "ingredients" ready to go - these are going to be so cool! [Side note: In wanting to cover all my bases, I did another internet search for these yesterday and it looks like stupid Taylor Swift was featured in People magazine because she's making these for all her friends/family this season. Let it be known - I had the idea first - she stole it from me because it's so awesome.]




My evening agenda for this week:

Monday - go to Michaels and pick up remainder of supplies

Tuesday - begin prep of cut-outs (I did 117 in all!!) and put together goody bags w/ CC's help

Wednesday - go to grocery store and find perfect jars for snowglobes; bring them home, clean off labels and scuff inside of lids; cut more snowman circles

Thursday - glue ornaments to inside of jar lids (and hope they stick!)

Friday - bake a million and a half cupcakes (half chocolate, half vanilla, by request)

Saturday - clean house, ice cupcakes, install plastic sheeting all over dining room in preparation of sparkles/paint/glue + 6 yr olds!!, order pizza, greet kids, throw best party, say goodbye to kids, say hello to grandparents, get MC off to hockey for game, get grandparents in vehicles to travel to said game, see game, get home, collapse!

Maybe I'll get back to some knitting next week :o)

Thursday, November 03, 2011

ISO: The World's Best Yellow

For years, I've been obsessed with finding the perfect "yellow" yarn.

I came very close with The March Hare yarn I purchased at Rhinebeck back in 2009 (or 08?). I used it to make Kirsten Kapur's Snow Drops and Snap Peas shawl...which I love (and all of my friends want to steal).

Then I purchased some Shibui Knits sock yarn in Finch...so much brighter! I made Socktoberfest socks in 2010 and I want to live in them on all the cold days!

I've used...
Jamieson's Shetland in Goldenrod
Berroco's Comfort in Buttercup
Berroco's Pure Pima in Jojoba
Berroco's Vintage in Sunny
Knit Picks Gloss in Dandelion
Malabrigo's Worsted in Cadmium
and even purchased...
St Denis' Nordique in Honey Glaze

But I have a BIG project I need to work on and REALLY want a nice worsted weight in the PERFECT yellow. I thought of trying Cascade 220 (they have a great selection of shades) but I'm afraid the final feel of the sweater needs a little alpaca in it. So then I considered Berroco's Ultra Alpaca, but no one seems to sell the Masa color online. I guess I can start calling around to yarn shops but man, the effort!

Does anyone have any ideas, suggestions, recommendations?

You know I'm a nerd for the yellows...please help!
Cathy!

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

How to count sweaters? (yes, it's a question)

As the end of 2011 fast approaches, my Ravelry project page reminds me that I did not, in fact, knit 20, or 22, or as many sweaters as my friends joked I might. I will have knit, approximately, 15 1/2

But wait...because maybe I've knit a few more...I'll let you judge how to count sweaters!

Sweaters for 2011 (mostly for me, unless otherwise noted, all Adult sized):
  1. Aidez
  2. Abi
  3. Tashmoo (for MIL)
  4. Washington Square
  5. As yet unpublished sweater
  6. Little Blue Sweater
  7. Beatnik
  8. Erin Cardigan (for Erin; CCK Design)
  9. Gavotte
  10. Beagle (for Ken)
  11. As yet unpublished sweater
  12. Owl sweater (CCK Design)
  13. Ramona DRESS (CCK Design; counting this as 1.5 sweaters)
  14. George Street
  15. Nebula
Subtotal: 15.5

Sweaters for CC (kid sized):
  1. Ana
  2. Ramona Jr (short sleeves)
  3. Ramona Jr (long sleeves)
  4. Dagmar
  5. Striped Princess Raglan (lengthened body and sleeves; count as .5)
Subtotal: 4.5

GRAND TOTAL: 19

So you see my dilemma. How to count sweaters? If I push myself to knit a 20th...would it REALLY count as a 20th?

And don't even get me started on shawls...Kirsten Kapur has converted me into a shawl junkie! Ha ha

Happy Knitting Y'all!