A Finished Project!

It seems I have more unfinished projects than finished ones, but I promised I would post a picture of my finished knitted hat.  The pattern was easy to follow and I really enjoyed getting back to knitting.  I loved the yarn I used as it is soft and colorful, however in the future I think I will use a solid color for this pattern.  I'm not sure if I like the self-striping for this particular pattern.  Gotta go!  On to the next project!

And the finished project on model #2

I've taken a long knitting hiatus, but I found Laurie's blog and beside making me pee my pants with laughter, it makes me want to knit (and drink wine).  Really though, the days are getting shorter, the nights cooler, and the treetops are tinged with the most beautiful amber color one could imagine; knitting season has arrived.  So I allowed myself 30 minutes in the yarn store (any longer and I have to visit the bank for a short-term loan) to find something lovely with which to knit a hat.

So the yarn I chose is Chunky Mochi, color #805 by Crystal Place Yarns.  It is 80% merino wool and 20% nylon.  The hat pattern I chose is called "Brimming with Style" and I found it in hats gloves scarves by Louisa Harding.  This is what it looks like:

I'll post my version once its completed.  I'm not a fast knitter, so don't hold your breath while you wait!

Getting Sparked

I recently joined The Gritty Bird Academy and decided to give Becky's Creative Spark Fridays a try.  Here are the sparks for the week of 9/3-9/10:

**CREATIVE SPARK ONE**

•Artistic Theme•

Kaleidoscope of Color

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**CREATIVE SPARK TWO**

•Theme Words, Poem or Phrase•

the kaleidoscope turns

in patterns and colors

a swirl of blend

continually tossed

by each turn of the hand

within the tube are

prisms of light

easily colored

by the direction

it's pointed

and what was a star

becomes a flower

a shape disappears and

becomes a pattern

then shifts again

into the blend

beautiful glimpses

that tumble around

each small piece

a part of the whole

pieces of stardust

pockets of glitter

you know with each turn

nothing much matters

just that you turned

and looked at the colors

admired its moment

and swirled in the blend

- Debby Rosenberg

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**Creative SPARK THREE**

•Theme Color Palette•

You'll notice that the punch of pink in the image is missing from the color palette. I am not sure why it did not come through the generator but I am plan to add into my sparks, so please feel free to as well if you like!

And here's my Sparked Creation:

Golden Memories

I have vivid memories of one Christmas in the early eighties when my dad and uncles gave my grandparents a VCR.  It was the size of today's microwave and weighed 100 pounds!  It was the most amazing thing to me.  Along with the gift of the VCR, came the movie "On Golden Pond."  I don't remember my grandparents ever having any other movies except the tapes my grandma "made" of PBS programming and "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson."  I watched "On Golden Pond" so many times, I think I must have had it memorized.  The other night when I finally plopped exhausted onto the sofa, I was excited to see my husband had run across the movie while channel surfing.  What was a girl to do but watch it one more time.  I must confess after watching, I had to do some web-surfing of Squam Lake to check out the real estate market.  If you are in the market for a little cottage with a $1-5 million dollar price tag, this is the lake for you!

I've spent the last 2 1/2 weeks learning some metal-smithing techniques from Stephanie Lee.  I can't tell you what an absolute blast it has been!  Here's just a peek at what I've been creating.

Play Date with the Cuz!

We had my nephew this weekend for an overnight stay.  What fun to have a little boy around again!

And of course its always fun to have a little girl around!

Start Spreading the News...

I'm leaving today.  I want to be a part of it, New York, New York.

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray.  Right through the very heart of it,  New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep, and find I'm king of the hill- top of the heap

My little town blues, they're melting away. I'm gonna make a brand new start of it, In old New York.

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. 

It's up to you New York, New York! 

Don't you worry New York, I'll be back!