a girl knits

geocaches near home

2008-07-25T07:28:00.001-07:00

geocaches near home
Originally uploaded by kelleymc

I can't believe it's been 2 years since I posted here. Actually, since I've been going to school all that time, I can believe it. School keeps me incredibly busy.

The geocache finds have increased, also. see picture.

2006-07-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

May 20, 2006

2006-05-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

We were married on Saturday. This is after the ceremony.

another cache I found yesterday

2006-03-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

Found another one yesterday, on my way home from work. It is too cold today so I probably won't look for anything.

Geocaching

2006-03-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

So... I sorta got a new hobby. It is this thing called geocaching. It is a game where people hide things in public places and then post the lat. & long. coordinates on the website (geocaching.com). Then other people put those coordinates into their GPS and try to find what has been hidden. Some times it is just a log that you sign. Other times there will be items in the container that you can take and replace with something that you brought with you. So far I (and we, the girls have helped look for some) have found 3. I've looked for a few more but haven't been able to find them. I have been playing without a GPS so far but did buy one yesterday. I still have to figure out how to use it.

One of the ones I found with the girls was at the park right by our house. It was hidden by the big "V" (for vandergriff) or as Madison calls it, the big knitting needles. Inside was a log, a wee willy calendar, a travelbug and some coins. I didn't take anything because I didn't bring anything to put in (it was raining that day and we caught a brief moment when it wasn't raining so there was no time to gather anything to put in). The other 2 I found were just logs.

I'm going to start taking pictures of all of the ones I find and post them here, starting with the one that I found today (my third). I may go back to the first 2 and take pictures of them, as well.

The train

2006-03-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we went to Dallas (from Fort Worth) on the train (The Trinity Rail Express). It was a fun trip, 3 of the 4 of us had not ever been on a train before.

We also walked around downtown and saw the JFK memorial stuff and the west end. A great time was had by all. We were exausted by the time we got back home.

2006-02-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

The baby socks are finished except for the sewing up the toe on the second sock. I still need to make a hat in the same pink yarn and then make a set in purple. The ribbon shirt has been ripped back to the underarms and re-cast-on with fewer stitches and then I knit a little more than an inch afterward.

Last week I quit my part time job at the church. Well, I put in a 2.5 week notice. That means I am free to go to a different church closer to my home. Both of the girls are not too happy about this.

I also bought a pedometer last week. We walked to the park yesterday and as my luck would have it, it wasn't counting for most of the way there. I also walked to lunch today (and then ate a chimichonga). I think I'm going to add a mile/step counter to the sidebar. Maybe that will motivate me not to eat the chimichongas.

On another level:
It is 1,209 miles from my house to Las Vegas, Nevada. No, on our way to Dallas on the train (from Fort Worth) we will not go through Las Vegas. Sorry.
It is 238,856 miles to the moon.
http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/edison/000_lightbulb_01.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A839216

See, my girl children, with the power of google your mother really does know everything!

Mail Time!

2006-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

My Gifty 3 package came today!

Those mints in the little yellow box are yummy! They are "knitting girl" sugar free green apple mints. yum yum! The pattern book is one I didn't already have so a great choice for me and you can never go wrong with hot chocolate. Also, one knitting accessory I didn't have was needle holders. All in all, I am very pleased and greatful for my gifty 3 gifts! Madison says the mints are yummy, too! Thanks Raquel! http://www.raqueljournal.typepad.com I'm linkless and clueless right now as to how to make it a link so you'll have to copy and paste for now.

In other mail news, recently I've been getting things in the mail that are addressed to me that I'm pretty sure I didn't order. Like an issue of Interweave Knits. Yes, it is something that I'd enjoy... something that I'd like to have, actually. But I'm pretty sure I didn't sign up to get it. Then today I got this:

I have no idea where it came from but it looks like a wedding invitation catalog.

Now on to the knitting pictures! A very blurry almost completed pink baby sock! I'm finishing it right now as the pictures are uploading.

And one completed Tivoli!

pink baby socks

2006-02-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I've got one baby sock completed all except for kitchenering the toe closed. Is that even a word? lol Anyway, should be able to make some progress on the second sock tonight. And hopefully take and post some pictures, too.

Tivoli is Finished!

2006-02-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the Tivoli last night. It took longer than I had planned because I decided I didn't want the bottom to roll up so I knit a hem on the bottom (one row of purls and 6 rows of knit then bound off by picking up one stitch for each stitch along the back side of the corresponding row and knitting them together all while binding off each stitch). It turned out great. I'll try to post a picture later today or tomorrow. I didn't try to have it finished by friday because it was cold and a bit icy so we didn't go out at all.

So, on to another project. I'd like to finish those ribbon shirts (at least the one that is started) but I think I need to frog back to the armholes and cast on fewer stitches for the underarm area. But I also would like to start on the socks and hat set I want to knit for Jenny's baby. I am going to knit them in pink cottontots but I'd also like to do a set in purple as well. Maybe a pink newborn size and a purple 6-9 months size? We'll see. I think I'll cast on for the pink socks on lunch today being that I brought everything I need for those and I'm really not feeling the frogging the ribbon shirt right at this moment.

Up and running!

2006-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday I went over to my mothers house and picked up my other computer that was over there. It's almost 6 years old but it still works fine. On Sunday I worked on establishing an internet connection (a free for 3 months dial up connection) and Tuesday evening I installed my camera software! No more hard work just to get pictures here!

The Tivoli has a few more rows on it but not enough progress to take another picture.

Progress on Tivoli

2006-02-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Trying to finish in time to wear it on friday. Maybe not though, it is supposed to get cold again on friday.

Look at this face

2006-02-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

At the 100th day of school celebration.

I worked on her ribbon shirt last night and today on my lunch hour and I have made progress. I'm about to the point where I am ready to add the eyelets but I'll have to try it on her and make sure before I start doing them because I want to start increasing a small bit after the eyelets to give it a swing top sorta feel. I drew a picture of the design and it is really crappy but you can get the idea from my non-artistic attempt shown here. Or maybe not. It is so crappy that blogger won't upload it. hrumpf.

Ribbon shirt update

2006-02-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

The ribbon shirt was tried on by both girls this weekend and it just wasn't fitting properly. Some how my math was off - the raglan increases were not in the right places. So it got frogged, re-calculated, semi re-designed and re-cast on. It is now being re-knit. I've changed the raglan increases from k f&b to yo, k1, yo. Since it is a summer top I decided I wanted it to be a little bit more air-y. I also think I will do some "k2tog, yo" all the way around just under the bust area and thread either an I-cord or ribbon through the eyelets.

I just bound off the shoulder parts and will cast on the under arm sides later today after trying it on the smallest girl child (she'll be the only one there tonight as the larger girl child goes home to her moms house during the week). I'm hoping it fits the little one (the one the measurements were calculated for) and then I can just re-calculate with more inches/stitches for the bigger one. So far, it looks to be working better this time.

Tivoli

2006-02-03T12:49:00.001-08:00

Tivoli, about the same amount finished. It is knit with Patons Grace yarn in color Azure with size 6 needles. it is double stranded.

And this is a cable clutch that I made.

Ribbon T-shirt

2006-02-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is the ribbon shirt I am making for Madison out of Moda Dea Ticker Tape on size 10 Addi Turbos. It is not quite half way done. It will probably end up like a swing top.

Finally! Pictures!

2006-02-01T05:58:00.000-08:00

Here is the great Steelers Scarf! And yes, the computer at home is still broken. I went to walgreens and got the pictures put on a cd. More pictures to come later today when I have time.

A FO!

2006-01-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally weaved the ends in on the girly pinwheel blanket so that is one more item moved from the WIP section to the FO section!

Sunday I went to the 5 hour yarn event at Michaels. It was a bit of a disappointment but I did get some Moda Dea Ticker Tape for really cheap. I'm thinking about going back to get more to make shirts for the girls because the stash I bought on Sunday is for ME!

Last week I got some goodies in the mail! One day I recieved the book Last Minute Knitted Gifts that I ordered from Amazon. It was a gift from Easton. I have already knit a blue baby hat from that book and I'm going to knit another in pink. I also plan to knit the Hourglass Sweater some time after the Tivoli and ribbon shirts are done. I'll probably do at least one of the gift bags, too. It really is a beautiful book.

Then another day I received a yarn ball winder that was a gift from him as well. The winder was used this weekend to make 2 lovely balls of yarn (tivoli yarn) - one by myself and the girls winded the other one.

no new updates for a reason

2006-01-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

The computer at home is broken. The camera fell off of the table and busted the battery cover door thingy on Christmas. It still works, you just have to tape it closed. Anyway, today I ordered the new part for it and in 3-4 days it should be here. I have lots of pictures on the card, I just have no way to get them out of there. I'm thinkinig of checking to see if I can get pictures put on a cd from the card or something at wal-greens then I can put them in from work.

On the knitting front, I finished the great "Steelers Scarf" on Sunday. It is just as I imagined it when I designed it in my head. The scarf was an intended Christmas present but I couldn't find enough time to knit without the recipient seeing me knit so it was only about 1/10th done on christmas. I rolled it, the yarn and the needles up and stuck them into a cylindar shaped Christmas tin and stuck that under the tree. You should have seen the look I got when he opened it and saw knitting needles sticking out the top! When I explained what it was to be and why it was not finished (but that it soon would be, now that I could knit whenever) he was delighted with it. Hopefully in the next few days I will be able to post pictures of "The great Steelers Scarf"!

finished projects

2005-10-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

one of 2 pumpkin purses, sans pumpkin face that will be put on soon.

And a pinwheel baby blanket that took me about 2 months to complete

more stuff

2005-10-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

The white dishcloth came from Pierced and the yellow one came from BlueKitten. They are from a dishcloth swap that was done by the craft forum at sybermoms. The blue one is one I made and is 1 of 3 (plus fancy soaps) that I gave a relative for Christmas.

more of my stash

My stuff

2005-10-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

So, an online friend asked a group of us about our "stash" being organized. I have several stashes for several different crafts. I like to think it is all pretty organized. See for yourself. First picture is of my satin and grosgrain ribbon which is used to make curly hairbows for my daughter.

2005-10-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

back side of ribbon container with supplies for making curly bows.

a baby hat

2005-09-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

This saturday a baby boy will get this wonderful cotton-ease hat! I hope it isn't too big, he will be just shy of 2 weeks old when I see him on saturday. Oh, baby boy's name is Ethan.

I will be making more hats for 2 other friends that are pregnant, but not until they know what the babies will be. This hat was so easy and knit up really fast!

the first poncho

2005-09-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

And here is Jada wearing the first poncho finished.

2 finished ponchos

2005-09-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I finished the 2nd light pink poncho. The first one was for Jada, this one is for Madison.

2005-03-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

And last, the Rhino baby and his mom.

2005-03-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

Flowers by the entrance/exit.

2005-03-24T19:17:00.001-08:00

Another of that beautiful waterfall.

2005-03-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

so beautiful and relaxed looking!

2005-03-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

what is this? I've got no idea. Maybe some kind of duck. When he raises his head up all of that reddish stuff raises up and it looks really weird.

2005-03-24T19:15:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday Madison's school went on a field trip to the Fort Worth Zoo. I went along and we all had a great time. I'll post some pictures of some of the animals we got to see, including the new baby rhino. I think he was about 2 weeks old or so, not sure.

2005-03-24T19:13:00.001-08:00

Top of same hat.

2005-03-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

A hat I made for Madison. It turned out to be mommy sized. So much for swatching.

2005-03-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

my mitered squares have problems. They didn't turn out to be square shaped. I'm working on figuring out what the problem is.

2005-03-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

The top of my hat. I ended up giving this hat to my brother because it was a bit too big for my head.

2005-03-09T19:57:00.000-08:00

This is a hat I knit for myself. It is a tad bit longer than I wanted but that is ok. I'll figure out how to make the next one shorter (and with a stripe or 2)! Also, my decreases turned out crappier on this hat. I need more practice decreasing.

2005-03-09T19:51:00.001-08:00

top view of hat

2005-03-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

This is the first hat that I ever made.

2005-03-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

back view

2005-03-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

So, a little of what I did last week involved turning beautiful wavy curls into long straight fluffy hair. She loved it but it is way too much trouble for me to do on a regular basis. This was the second time we straightened her hair. To me, it just isn't her. My daughter doesn't have straight hair - it just isn't right. But it IS her hair and I'm not going to fight with her over any hair style that is temporary. Especially one that looks so beautiful.

2005-02-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

The purse. Finally finished! Love it! And so does Madison!

stitch holders.

2005-02-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

Today I decided that paper clips would make good stitch holders. So far, they do. See purse below if you don't believe me!

2005-02-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

This is the front side of the purse that I am making for Madison. The back side is finished, it looks just like the front side. I still need to do the flap with a small buton hole, the strap and sew a button on the front side. I think she (Madison) has a yellow button picked out.

2005-02-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

This is the poncho I made based on the one in OTE's blog. It belongs to Madison, my 5 year old who refuses to have her picture taken after 5 years of LOVING to have her picture taken.

little purse for Madison

2005-02-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

Right now I am knitting a purse for Madison. It is made on size 3 needles with variagated sock yarn. I have one side almost done. I still need to do the other side, the flap and the strap. I am thinking of sewing on a big bright colored button to close the flap with. I'll probably take a picture tomorrow of what I have completed on this project.

2005-02-03T20:08:00.001-08:00

Another hairbow made to match Madison's school uniform.

2005-02-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

Hairbows I made for Madison. The blue/yellow and dark blue/light blue ones are made to match her school uniforms.

2005-02-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

Closeup of the scarf

2005-02-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

A scarf I made for my mom. Lion Brand Homespun

2005-02-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

pink/lavender washcloth for Madison. Yes, I know I need to finish the ends. :)

2005-02-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

flowers my mom painted on her front door.

2005-02-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

crochet dishcloth

2005-02-03T18:05:00.001-08:00

crochet dishcloth

2005-02-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

knit dishcloth/washcloth made out of kitchen cotton.

2005-02-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

I am trying to attach pictures of some things that I have knitted and crocheted. Just some dishcloth/washcloths for now. 2 are knit and 2 are crochet.