Oh Nooo, Mr. Bill!

One of my favorite phrases inspired by SNL claymation of the eighties. If you have to ask, you are too young, or too old. Sometimes, he just sums up life as I know it...

Another Creative Outlet

For my birthday, a group of friends took me to a local bead shop for a fun morning class where I learned to make a necklace Well, two actually.I have a new love. I was captivated by the strands of pearls. I love the feeling of pearls. When it comes to jewelry, I love organic material. I love the coolness of the stones produced by earth. Diamonds are as organic as you can get, honey! Coral, abalone, pearls, agates, crystals, and topaz, to name a few of the delectable stones at my finger tips.
See for yourselves...

Artsy Fartsy

I have always had the urge to create beautiful (in my eyes) objects d'art. Knitting is a creative, meditative outlet that produces functional art. I have, since childhood, been an amateur painter, potter, sketcher, writer, poet, cook, scrap booker and crafter of all types. Time has never permitted me the luxury of indulging myself. I am a process knitter. I just have to do it. It feels necessary to me.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Art has always been very subjective to me. Two people can stand side by side and view a piece (of whatever) and rarely will they have an identical reaction to the item. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Jackson Pollack splatters paint. His process and the orchestration of his creation has value as well as the canvas he produces. You may hate it or you may love it.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not comparing myself to any famous artist, author or designer. I do however identify with the need to participate in the process of creativity. Maybe that is why I have so many UFO's. Maybe, that is why I admire the knitter that finishes every project before embarking on the next one.

I want to finish every project I have on needles. At the same time, I feel compelled to start a new item. Maybe, I decide to learn a new technique. Maybe, a luscious yarn calls out that it must run through my fingers. I look at yarn and see what it will be. Yarn looks at me and says "Here she comes, again." It is a mutual attraction.

I also have a similar attraction to paper, fabric, beads, clay, photographs, paints, ink, pens ....

Wanna Iguana?

This big Iguana was hanging in the bushes poolside.

More Mexican Wedding Pics

Fred and Laura the Bride.




Laura, Brynn and Diane at Dreams Mexican Fiesta! Ole!



















Parents of the Bride in their Dreams suite.

This Tote was Made for Walking!

This tote was made for walking, and that's just what it'll do. This tote was made for walking, it will walk all over you, do-do-do-do! Tori traced this art deco print, hand painted it, and stitched this tote bag all in one session at Starry Night Hollow, my favorite craft cottage in Leucadia, CA. All that gaze upon it, want it. I see a class forming...

Knitwit Know How

Joan shows off her finished Four Seasons Throw.






















We are so proud at Knitwits!

New knitting Challenge

I finished my KAL Four Seasons Throw and it is at the professional finishers. Not because I can't finish it, I am just too busy. When completed I will photograph it before sending it to the Newlyweds in Chicago. I have another throw on the needles for myself. The color is a rich brick red, perfect for the den.

I read three books on vacation, knit one gaiter and cast on a tank top. Friday afternoon I read another book in 3 hours. It made me think how all time stands still while you read. It is impossible to read and do a whole lot else. Laundry excluded. So, I decided to dedicate some time to knitting a sweater and see how long it takes compared to reading. One sweater = how many books?(Based on reading 100 pages per hour).

I received 2 new magazines this week and chose a simple sweater called "Half & Half" from Knitters, Summer 2008. It took 4 hours to knit the first half from right sleeve to middle. Today, I plan to give myself 3 hours to work the other half from left sleeve to mid section. It may take 2 more hours to finish the neckline and button band. The first time through always takes longer. That is why I will often knit the same pattern at least twice if I liked it. That was a question at the site Knitters Review once upon a time. So, in the time spent reading 3 books, I hope to complete this summer sweater in time for the family reunion in August...

Keeping my Cool

Boobs on the rocks. The ice in my bra was the only air conditioning. Then the 100% humidity became blessed rain!

Sunning in Puerto Vallarta

Brynn and Christine sunbathing.

Birthday Musing

In 1927 my mother was born. When she was 27 I was born. I gave birth to my first child when I was 27. He was born on October 7th and we were married 3 years earlier on October 7th. He will turn 27 this year.

My husband and I were born on July 7, 1954. We turned 54 yesterday. He is 3 hours older than me. Turned out to be a day like most others. Unremarkable, in so many ways. Yet, so remarkable...

Lettuce Yarn

Does this look like lettuce to you, or only to the security cop at the Guadalajara Airport???

Eating and Drinking in Puerto Vallarta

Knitting Needle Alert

We spent ten newsless days in Mexico lounging in tepid water seeking relief from the heat most hours of the day and night. So, if there had been a world wide emergency we were not aware of it.

What has this to do with knitting needles? Well... let me explain. I happily knit all the way from LAX to our connection in Guadalajara with a 3 hour layover. I had a brioche stitch gaiter on my Denise needles that was way over due for my sister-in-law. The pattern had given me trouble and I had torn out and restarted so many times, I had put it away in frustration. Determined to finish it on this trip, I planned to surprise her with the ironic cold weather accessory during the hottest week of our lives. The yarn was a beautiful Italian silk, cashmere and wool blend in a color that matched Rocky and Johns touring Harley. What to wear with head-to-toe leather. I finished and delivered. All was well. On with the vacation.

In anticipation of an equally long and tedious flight home I had packed pale green Cotton Rich by Cascade Yarns in DK weight. The pattern was a free download from Knitting Daily and I brought four different circular needles to perfect my swatch and gauge. In a clear zip bag were some stitch markers, 3 inch scissors, and the round end caps to make my Denise needles into stitch holders.

We sailed through customs and got our boarding passes. We checked four bags and headed to security and our gate. Husband through, check. Daughter through, check. Marsha through, Halt! No knitting needles in the Puerto Vallarta airport. No English from the Captain of security. The family standing past the search area wringing their hands and calling out "We will buy you new needles, quit arguing!" Me, at the end of my rope, standing up for Knitters of the world, refusing to give up my SAFE needles! Waving my TSA print out, I requested an English speaking rep from the airlines and waited for some help. My knight in shining armor showed up.

The problem was they did not see my ticket with the baggage claim stamps on them. The Captain of security assumed I was lying to him about putting the needles in my checked bags and was hell bent on taking everything. He was especially flummoxed by the end caps and thought I was carrying something very dangerous in those round discs. Once he understood that I had checked bags to put my needles in, he let me go with the Aeromex man.

As my family watched, he took me through a hidden door in the wall and I disappeared down a secret staircase to the check-in counter where I had started. He whistled down the conveyor belt and magically my husbands suitcase appeared. The needles went into the suitcase and I rejoined my relived family. They thought I was being taken by the Federal's to a dank prison for crazy knitters. We thought our ordeal was over. I was unhappy and empty-handed. A quick flight to Guadalajara and another wait.

Finally, we were on the way to board our final leg to home sweet home. One final inspection by the security agents took place in the jet way- a first for me. An excited agent started to point and exclaim about food in my bag. Lettuce, a big bag of lettuce was being smuggled in my carry on! It turned out to be my Cascade yarn, of course! The final insult to knitters everywhere. Happy to be home, I remain discouraged that I can knit one way of the same journey in peace and comfort, yet cannot return with the same sense of security.

Knitters, BEWARE. I thought we were over this foolishness. Anyone else having trouble?

Destination Wedding - South of the Border

OMG! Back from Mexico and so many stories to tell. We spent ten days in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding environs with family and friends. We went to celebrate Laura and Roy, as they wed on the sand at the Dreams resort. Some of the cast of "Real Housewives of Orange County" were staying at the resort and were overshadowed by the 75 wedding guests that overtook the pool with the swim up bar. It was so HOT! The pool water felt like bath water- bordering on hot tub. I had my suspicions on why the water was so warm, a beer in-beer out, theory?

The days and nights surrounding the wedding were full of activities. The Mexican Fiesta dinner show was delightful. Then there was the "Rhythms of the Night" Boat cruise. Our destination dinner show is nestled cliff side in a property developed by Hollywood's John Huston. The only access is by boat. No electricity. All lighting is candle and torch. I have no idea what we ate for dinner, but it was very romantic. This event was fondly referred to as a "booze cruise". Did you know that you can pole dance on the deck of a two level catamaran that holds 100 people? Did you know that if you spend 3 hours dancing wildly on the deck of a moving boat, that your sciatica will render you lame for 24 hours? Did you know you could brush your teeth with beer when the tap water is questionable? Did you know that knitting in 95 degree weather with 100% humidity makes all yarn very sticky? Oh yes, there are pictures being developed

The bride and groom maintained smiles throughout. They have been a couple for seven years and this wedding was a real celebration of a relationship people wanted to see culminate in a wedding. We have traveled back to MI for all of the family weddings we could, for the past 15 years. This has involved plane tickets, hotels and all the travel contingencies along the way. By definition, destination wedding. What a nice change to actually go to a luxury resort where heat and humidity are expected and the dress code is bathing suit with optional cover-up. Thanks for including us...