Happy Anniversary!!

Happy(Fake)2nd Wedding Anniversary.






Robert and I got married February 29, 2004 after being together for 8 years and 2 babies.

We wanted to be different so we went with a Medieval/Renaissance themed wedding(our favorite time period). Everyone dressed up except one couple(our photographers), even the JP wore a long dress with shawl. We wanted to focus more on the party than ceremony(only 15 minutes long with our own vows) done in the field behind our home, perfect setting and the weather wasn't to chilly during the day. Like any Medieval Wedding everyone had alot to eat and drink, some more than others(hubby's, wives were the designated drivers), a good time was had by all and to this day everyone still mentions it as the best party they have ever been too. Not to bad for the first party I've ever thrown!

And the Winner is ?

KT from Lookie What I Made!

KT's guess was 52 pair of socks and I have enough sock yarn to make 55 pair(20 pair are with handpainted sock yarn)!!! This doesn't include my weekend purchases and what I received from my aunt this past week!!! Thanks to those that guessed, Wendy you were darn close, I'm now up to 58 pair with the recent purchase and gift. I will be donating 10 skeins to the local senior knitting club who knit socks, mittens and stuff for the homeless and 1 skein of Opal goes to KT.

I think I'm going to make this some kind of ritual on holding contests on my blog. I'll be up to 75 posts in the next month or so, so keep an eye out another skein or two of sock yarn will be up for grabs.

Who's the crazy sock yarn lady

I am!!!!hahahah.

Yes, I have to admit I collect sock yarn, just like hubby used to collect comics. Am I crazy, well no, it will eventually get used and the lower end stuff ie: my patons Kroy will be finding a new home in the next couple of weeks, well some of it will. I have no plans to get rid of any of the good stuff except a skein of Opal for the contest I'm having.

Don't forget to enter the contest, guess how many pairs of socks I can make with the sock yarn I have, not including the skein I bought today. Yes, whip me with a skein of STR, I'll take it like a good girl. I fell of the wagon today and broke down and bought a skein of Regia Brasil. I seen a pair knitted up at the LYS and there was only one lonely ball left so I had to take it home. I also picked up 3 skeins of Sirdar Country Style for a practice shawl in a deep red, also adding to my collection of beautiful wools/blends are 2 skeins of Noro Transitions in a really hard to describe colorway but gorgeous. I also bought 2 skeins of Noro Cash Iroha #93 Deep Green and it's so soft. I also grabbed the new Interweave and some shawl patterns while I was there, big sale 10% off all yarn in the store(means no GST for me) and 15% off the new stuff, which I didn't much care for, lots of fuzzy yarns and acrylic, some cotton, nice stuff but wouldn't know what to make with it.


Today was a pretty busy day, got rid of Justice's bed, now the little guys room seems so huge. Maybe I can finally get some toys out of my livingroom. I also picked out 2 frames, I'm in desperate need of new glasses and I just haven't made the effort to get new ones for the past couple years and with the headaches I've been having I better get to it. I'll make an appointment tomorrow or Monday to see the Optometrist and get my Burberry's. You know I didn't even have a clue what Burberry's were, it has been 6 years since I've been in the optical business I'm totally lost on what's hot and what's not. They are buy one get the second free up to 139.00 so not to bad, way cheaper than the quote I got last year from a different optical lab by 400 bucks! You know how much yarn that could buy, well of course you do, I'm sure many if not all have quite the stash going, sock yarn or other.

Well onto knitting, not much happening in that department. I did finish my SP gift, felted it and just have to add handles, tomorrow's project. I expected to have to put the bag thru a couple of washes but first one did it, it went from 17 inches high to 9 inches high and it wasn't a full wash cycle. Mental note for next time really watch the felting process. My sock is almost finished, I'll try to get it done tomorrow and work on hubby's socks as well as cast on for another pair using my STR.

With SP7 coming up to closing, one month left, I'm finishing off the last of my shopping for my pal. Have to pick a couple things up tomorrow and some wrap and get it ready to ship the end of next week. Shipping from Canada to destination unknown will take about 2 weeks, that means sitting at customs for a week before arriving at its destination. I want to make sure she has it the last week of March for the big reveal. Also sign ups for hostessing SP8 are being accepted right now, I will be on board hostessing next round as well. The ladies I've got in my group have been really great, no major incidents, thank you so much and don't forget about the best SP contest, check the SP7 blog for details.

I called Shuttleworks today to check and see if the spinning class was still going as scheduled next week and yes it is, only 2 of us so far but a nice one on one class. All I can say is Sweeeeeeeeet!

Here's a pic of my Knitting Olympics Branching Out Scarf before I sent it to Rob's mom for her birthday.


Well better warm the van up and go pick up my son at work. We got snow yesterday and it's horrible, not terribly cold but since I didn't get snow at Christmas when I really wanted it I don't want it now. Here's a pic of yesterday afternoon, only a couple hours after it started to snow and before I shovelled.

Not Enough Knitting Time and Contest

What a fun long weekend, NOT!! I didn't get a chance to knit all weekend except this afternoon in between washing, folding and putting away laundry and watching my boys. I did get my SP7 gift finished, well almost finished. I have to felt it which I'll do tomorrow.

I am so bagged, what a weekend. Hubby was off on Friday so we dropped off a bunch of stuff for donations to the women's shelter and yarn(acrylic) to the seniors at the hospital. I went to a furniture store just to do some pricing and see if they had anything I liked for the living room and came out with a couch, loveseat and bunkbeds(heavy duty steel) for the little guys and everything came to $816 including tax. Couldn't resist those prices with 40% off, now if only the LYS would do that.

Speaking of LYS I am on a sock yarn diet, there will be no more sock yarn purchased by me till I knit 20 pairs of socks(does not include gifts, hehehe). Why 20 pairs, well I bought a little cabinet( 48 inches wide x 60 inches high) for my yarn thinking I could hold all the wool except acrylic in it but it is big enough to hold my sock yarn stash, some of my wool, my new roving and dyeing supplies. You know I've only been sock knitting since September 2005 and that is about when I started purchasing sock yarn and what I've accumulated since then is amazing. I just found another box hidden away with 6-50g skeins for 3 more pairs of socks.

I think I'll have a little contest and the prize will be a 100gram skein of Opal sock yarn from my stash.
Here's the question: How many pairs of socks could I make with the stash I have? It includes the 100gram skein up for grabs as well as the KnitPicks dye your own sock yarn(back row is piled up with the 50 gram balls and the good stuff in front).

Here's a little flash of the sock yarn stash to help you out.

SP7 Strikes Again!!

Lookie what I got in the mail today from my SP7, she is the best. I received the cutest card, 2 handmade stitch markers, love them both and they will be going on my socks I'm working on as soon as I turn the heel(sock on 2 circs, and if I don't use markers they won't be looking to hot, lol). I also received a (milk)chocolate bar from Moonstruck Chocolatier in Portland where my pal is from and this is her favorite bar and might I add this is some Damn Fine Chocolate, move over Godiva and Lindt and any other really good chocolate company, there is a new guy in town, mmmmmm. And last but not least, a little pink button with a dark haired girl and a set of sticks. My little guy(Collin) said "look mommy, you're on the button knitting" and once the little guys seen the chocolate I had to beat them off it so I could take some pics. Did I mention this is some of the best chocolate I have ever had. Thank you soooo much Secret Pal, you really made my day and I was in dire need of a chocolate fix. By the way did you make the butterfly on the one stitch marker? You did a great job and the button is now on my jacket. Thanks again.

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day, I received flowers from hubby and since he had to work the little guys and I made cookies and cards yesterday to celebrate "Friendship and Caring Day"(they got that from Dora). I did get a little something in the mail as well, a gift to myself, 7 skeins of Color Your Own Merino sock yarn and some goodies for my SP(not shown, sorry). Now to stock up on Kool Aid and have a little fun doing some handpainting on my wool.

It is only 2 more weeks till my first spinning class!!!!! I'm so excited, I've been researching like crazy on the type of wheel I'll get, right now I'm tossed between the Louet double treadle or the Ashford traveller. Hubby's still hoping I won't be that interested and will take a pass on the wheel but I don't think so.

On the knitting front, I've casted on and have done 3 pattern repeats on another Branching Out Scarf, 90% done my SP7 gift and 80% done my socks. Pretty good, I'm hoping to get the 3 done plus hubby's socks by the time the Knitting Olympics are over. Can you hear the needles clicking away...than f*@*@ another dip in the frog pond, that is me doing the Branching Out Scarf and knitting the pattern on the wrong side. Yes, I did that to many times to count on the first one and at the last count it was over 20 dips into the pond. It was a learning experience and now I'm very fond of lace work and I'm trying to choose a lace shawl pattern that I won't get discouraged on. Any suggestions??

Time to do some knitting.

Extra, Extra, Tammy takes home the Gold!!!!

Yes, it is true, never thought it would happen in a million years but it did. I finished my very first lace project in 4 days!!!!!!!(jumping for joy)

I finished at 2:30pm this afternoon and the Branching Out scarf is ready to hit the tub for a soak and then blocking. I didn't think I could do it, especially the first pattern repeat took 4 times to get started and I was almost ready to scrap it and start a pair of socks!! I know that was something I could finish in 16 days but I pushed on and here it is, the scarf of the hour, drum roll please.... Tammy's very first lace project "The Branching Out Scarf"(preblocking). I'll block it tonight after the boys go to bed and more pics to follow.

Since I still have 12 days left for the Knitting Olympics I'm going to cast on for another Branching Out Scarf, yes, I'm feeling a little cocky and who knows maybe get 3 done if I push myself. I do have 3 more skeins of the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool kicking about, "Branching Out scarves for everyone", lol. Watch, with this new found confidence I'm bound to fall flat on my face but I do have one lace project under my belt and that is something to be proud of. I'll take it to Knit & Knatter on Friday and show it off.

I'm so giddy, I better get another skein balled up for later, maybe the purple I bought months ago for myself.

Good Luck to the other knitters participating in the Knitting Olympics. Weekend news to follow.

Olympic Progress and other stuff

Here it is, after knitting most of the morning I have completed 9 repeats of the pattern on the Branching Out Scarf, that is 95 rows including the 5 rows of garter stitch. All I can say is Swwwwwwwweeeeeeeeetttttttt!!! I haven't even had to frog since last nites dips in the frog pond. I am still using life lines too, better to be safe than sorry.


On Thursday I received my kpixie order and here they are in all their glory, introducing the twins from left to right in pic 1 are:
Artyarns Ultramerino4 col#129(for my oldest son), Artyarns Ultramerino4 col#117 and Claudia Handpainted "plumicious"(I have been wanting forever).

Pic two we have from left to right:
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport #46 jeans and last but not least the big boys,Bartlett Glen Tweeds "granite". Everyone is happy in their new home and looking forward to becoming a new pair of socks for moi.


Yesterday I went to Knit & Knatter at the LYS, had a great time, it has been 2 weeks since my last visit. Showed off my STR and my kpixie yarns and they were fondled by everyone.

I'm all signed up to take my for my Beginners Spinning course at Shuttleworksfor the first two weeks of March.

Well that's all I have.

Olympic Start(Late!!)

Yes, I was late starting my Knitting Olympics Branching Out Scarf.

At 2pm yesterday I was shuttling my oldest son around getting his "new" bank account set up and buying shoes for his very First job at Burger King. So after all that was taken care of and he was dropped off at orientation we came home and I finished my crochet squares I had to send out for the exchange this month. They are now in the care of Canada Post and out of my hair.

Here is my Olympic update:

First pic of the cast on and first 5 rows of garter stitch, looking good!

Second pic after doing the first 9 rows of the pattern, I suck but it was only the first attempt.

Third shot of the second attempt pre-frogging! I was on row 9 and moved my paper over to look at the pattern notes and when I looked back to continue, I continued with row 7.

Fourth pic and a very proud moment,it was beautiful, the crowd cheering, well hubby was. Everything came together, and I remembered my life line on row 7(but did not need it), it looks great. 1st repeat officially done and called it a night.


Here is this mornings progress at 6:00 am(boys were up at 5 am), before having my first cup of coffee!!! I don't function very well till I have 3 strong cups in me, and this update is full of errors, so please forgive the poor grammar or spelling mistakes you may come across, lol.


I have a new found confidence and plan to tackle more lace projects in the future. Will give you an update later on the new sock yarn I acquired and other BS.

Knit On!!!

I did it, I commited to the Knitting Olympics!

I am such a joiner. Yesterday, well it started last week, I've been contemplating whether or not to join the Knitting Olympics. So last night I signed up 2 hours before cut off and what you ask am I making, well we are going to "try" the Branching Out Scarf(if it is wearable it will go to my MIL for her Birthday). I will be using my Elisabeth Lavold Silky Wool in the Teal I purchased last week. Waahoo, I'm using some of my stash, now I can justify my purchases(or some of them) I made last week. I haven't tried lace except for the small attempt on my Dublin Bay socks and it did work. Many trips to the frog pond but they are done and wearable, actually more than wearable, I'm damn proud of those babies!!

Here's my attempt at training, no swatching will be done for the branching out scarf, I'm working on speed over the next few days. I started my SP's gift, a popcorn bag which will be sent as the last gift. The bag is going alot faster than anticipated and I'm looking forward to the felting(first time). I started the bag while making supper yesterday and worked for a couple of hours and a couple of hours today. I've been to busy reading SP blogs, cleaning/laundry(so I won't be bothered doing it on Friday, as per usual). Here's a pic and also casted on for my second sock on 2 circs. The first sock fits perfectly.











And here's my little guys ready to cheer mommy on as she sets out to take on the Branching Out Scarf.

Recap my Recap

Well due to the blogger outage over the weekend I lost my Friday's post(insert fist shake and foul language here)!


Here's the recap, first of all I would like to thank my SP7 pal for being so generous, Thank you soo much, you really gave me a great start to the weekend. On Friday I received a box from Amazon and inside were 2 books, Nancy Bush's Folk Socks and Knitting on the Road!!!!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet is all I can say. I have been thumbing threw them all weekend and hubby even took a glance at the Folk Socks. He finds the history interesting but is still not interested in learning how to knit. Imagine how many socks we could make a year if he was. Oh well, my pal did say she is a Huge Nancy Bush fan and has made some of the socks in the Knitting on the Road Book.

I'm thinking I'll try the Conway, looks great and I've seen it on many blogs and I'm ready to move forward and try some more difficult patterns. I've been avoiding any intricate patterns because I'm one of those people who don't like to swatch. I really should and that is another reason why I haven't made any sweaters yet. Maybe I'm a little lazy or what I like to say it is because a Lack of Interest. I'm one of those jump in head first kinda gals and what happens happens and with knitting I can do that and the only consequences I will suffer is a dip in the frog pond or if I make a pair of socks to small I have 2 little guys who are more than willing to fight for them.

I also joined the "Buy More Yarn, you know you want it" along since I couldn't commit to the Stashalong even if my life depended on it. I am week, must buy yarn. So for those of you who have joined the stash along, you can live vicariously threw me. I'm more than willing to help out a fellow knitter/crocheter.

I did some online shopping this past week and weekend. Found some really great stuff for my SP and while I was online anyway and having to pay for shipping I picked up some things for myself too. Pics to follow as the packages arrive.

I'm signing up on Tuesday for a beginners spinning course at Shuttleworks. It's 1.5 hours away but it will be worth the drive especially to hubby. He's really wanting me to take this class(2-4 hour classes) to find out whether or not I am really interested in spinning my own yarn or will I be content dyeing the stuff from KnitPicks. I'm excited, the class includes the use of a Louet wheel and fiber, who knows since the class is on March 4 & 11, my birthday is on the 16 I just may be coming home with a Louet wheel(or other brand) the following week!!!

Have a great week everyone!