Flower hairpins just added to my etsy site. Great for giving mom a lift when all our energy and activities are directed at THEM, you know, the offspring!

It's pretty hot today. But outside in the shade there is a nice breeze. Good for working on craft projects while the kids play dirt, as long as they don't spray the house or me with the hose!

Now kids are getting TV time watching the Mandarin version of Muzzy. I think it's taking. Helps when I can learn some of the words to use with them.

Have about two weeks to finish the kindergarten lei for frenz. Red, white, and blue ones are Kikaida themed. I love using cotton yarn for lei because it is not scratchy against the neck, even in our hot, humid weather. And it is completely machine washable!!! Always a plus with kids.

Pink and white is the one I am working on now. That and more stuff for my shop.

Kid birthday party also successfully completed this past weekend. Had planny food, typical of local style get-togethers. Hubbo grilled hotdogs, chicken, and made poke. Yum! I was surprised everybody ate up the cucumbers and carrots I put out too. Usually my vegees go neglected. I know why, only had grapes out besides that, i forgot to slice the oranges and put them out too. At least the kids had fun and the breeze kept things cool out back.

I think if I quite moaning and groaning about party planning it would go easier. This wasn't that stressful. However, in the subsequent unwrapping of presents later, a card got separated from the gift and I'm not sure what was given. Kid liked all the gifts though! Especially the clothes and girly stuffs. Surprisingly, she readily shared a few gifts with her sister. I have a feeling SIX will be a lot easier to bear than FIVE (in age not number of kids).

Party activities included a modified cake walk, build a bad guy (out of stuffs found around the house that would otherwise be thrown away), coloring pages of Kikaida, Kamen Rider, and bad guys, playdoughing, and sidewalk chalking. The kids here are working on their totally open-ended craft activity of building a bad guy using all found stuffs, some scissors, tape, acrylic yarn, and a hole puncher. I am soooo glad they got into it after a while.

Clay mostly kept my little ones busy the day before while I finished last minute preparations.

Getting ready for end of our 4H year with goodies for the girls.


















Barrette with flowers and beads.

















And progress on soldier sock while watching subtitled movies - surprisingly fast. Most of this was done in one night!

Fourth? blanket panel has hearts. In progress. Oops. Forgot to take a picture.

In search of kona coffee beans for the dedicated soldier sock knitting maven. Looking into Halawa swim classes for oldest right after school ends next month. And prepping to post a few more items to my etsy shop, Yarn Confections.

Have joined the Leeward YMCA. Brand new facilities. HEATED pool! Open til 9 at night. How great is that!

Continuing to knit third strip of Hubby blanket. Going fuzzily. Heart cables with seed stitch inside heart. Pattern from vogue stitchionary cables. Also still churning out bookmarks. Started trying out this cool dim sum pattern. Only made the custard thing in size 10 thread.

Am currently using this lovely but extrememly fuzzy organic cotton, bulky yarn that I got off eBay a while back, to make a multi-paneled blanket for hubby. I'd actually like to make his out of wool, as the stitch definition is clearer, but I had loads of this lying around and it is so very soft, so....

I hope it's less fuzzy after the washing. The fuzz is really bothering my nose as i knit with it. But after just two weeks I am already almost pau with two panels. I think I overplanned when this yarn first came in. Pored over Vogue stitionary 1 and 2 for hours trying to choose just the right designs to go with each organic color. Filling pages and pages in my knit planning notebook with notes and calculations. This time I just flipped though the stitches and picked. I already knew I liked the oxo pattern as the recipient would be a loved one. I want to try a leafy one too, in keeping with the organic theme, but the yarn texture may decide otherwise.

Here is the oxo pattern, unblocked, as it is still OTN.








Next are the two panels side by side; although this is not the final order.
The first, brown panel is in a feathery looking pattern. My kids love how the panels feel and are already trying to wrap themselves up in the strips.

I just bought a yarn ball winder off eBay as my arm got tired that last time I wound the green ball. Now I have to make a swift. YES, I said MAKE.

Taking clear close-up pictures on my camera involves busting out the tripod to hold the camera still long enough for the longer exposure time. Since that is an extra step, I no more FO pics fo' you. However, we did go camping recently and here are some pics from this past weekend and when we went right before Christmas.

It is very beautiful and we are very lucky and I can't thank my friend Jessica enough for all the times she has arranged, encouraged, organized, and cheerled us on to...sleep outside!

Plus a silly pic of me. Wow, that's enough of a puzzle piece to recognize me on the street even!

The weather pixie shows sunny skies but it's been raining off and on all day. Got wet walking into that open all the time exercise place, dropping my kid off at school, picking my kid up from school, getting the mail, moving the car. No laundry hanging today.

Latest, coolest projects: TRIVETS. All-cotton, multi-stranded, ocean themed trivets.
Crab pattern from crochetroo on etsy
with 5 strands and a P hook.
Sand dollar used 3 strands. Free pattern online.
Fish used size 17 needles and 6 strands. Made two and slip stitched them together. Free pattern online.

I gotta tell you, these were FUN! My smart friend K tasked me with making here three trivets of varying sizes, with specific dimensions to fit her pans, and gave me free reign from there. At fist I was going to make the Hot Out of the Oven potholders using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dye. I've been dying to get that yarn! But then I thought about washability as well as thickness, and I came up with using lots of strands of dish cloth type cotton yarn. Using 6 strands for the knit fish was quite a tangly challenge! But the results were better than expected. I worked from fresh balls each time, so as to avoid running out of yarn mid-way and having extra ends to weave in. If you don't use beads, these trivets are squishy soft, thick, and machine washable and dryable - definitely a bonus.

I realize I'm only posting weekly now. Found that in posting more often, I was spending too much time surfing the net instead of doing whatever task I had turned the computer on for in the first place. This way, at least I have planny pitchas to share.

Have also learned that if I'm lazy and don't take the pics using hubby's tripod, the image is not as clear. Just can't get around that in micro mode with the slower shutter speed.

Feverishly trying to finish up lesson 2 of 3 of my TKGA Basics correspondence course begun last May. Got sidetracked by all other knitting and crocheting goodnesss. That and the lack of readily available light colored wool in Hawaii to work the swatches in.

Anyhoo, biggest pair of Big Black Socks, sized 14 after wash & dry are done and shipped off to some lucky big guy.

Bookmarck exchange recipient's package also sent out. Forgot to tack picha.

Hubby ordered bookmarks to send to clients. I chose a freebie octo pattern found online and crochetroo gecko.


The wings are off etsy. Very fun to maker, harder to rig up. I removed middle section and extra cast on stitches after lace pattern pau so would fit my child. That and removed one pattern repeat. This pattern is so beautiful i think i'll make a sweater thing out of it at some point.

BBS

The gigantigous, humongufying supergallopagus Big Black Socks are almost pau. Just the toes of both to finish. Actually just the toe of one. Will kitchener the first one shut when I am absolutely sure they are both the same length. These are size 15. These may be the last pair of BBS is do. My hands really hurt from knitting them after each session. The foot is knit very snuggly in larger yarn than the cuff for more durable wear.

I saw a picture of a widow sleeping in her sleeping bag next to her husband's flag-covered coffin the night before the funeral. And I just felt so sad for her, for the other families who'd lost people in this war. Knitting these boring socks is also a reminder to me to be thankful for my blessings and that my husband is safer for not being military. We don't think about it that much, but as Americans, we pay a heavy price for our freedoms.

We went hiking recently with the little 'un. We got far enough to see strawberry guavas, icky big snails, and lots of mud. She did great!
This is a good family hike.

LOTS TO TELL:

Wow, didn't realize I had not blogged in so long! Have been knitting and crocheting away, of course. Just forgot to chronicle it.
A bunch of bookmarks recently put on my etsy site.Here are two. Simple, easy and fun. Was hoping to send one to my Great Bookmark Exchange buddy but I have not hear neither hyde nor hair from her about her preferences. And only 2 more weeks to go before deadline.
I don't starch my bookmarks because I like the soft feel of the cotton and the slightly uneven handmade look. Thus, I choose patterns that will lie as flat as possible.

A medium sized polar bear from pattern mentioned on crochetville. Was going to be a baby gift for a one-year old but thought the octo was a better gift and quickly worked that one up. Gotta use all that stash Lion Brand Cotton Ease!
Pattern: Bear Rug Body by Marylou/Meribears
Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun double stranded, 2 balls for body; stash acrylic sock yarn (Bernat?) for face and claws
Hook: G
Time: 2 days?
Cute. My hubby wants to give it to some hunter guy he knows. I'd think a hunter would want the real thing, but maybe he'll give it to his kid? This might make a good preschool nap matt in a much bigger yarn. Although my kindergartner says "No way! That is just crazy." So...maybe not.
Although this yarn is soft and pretty, it is multiple strands that can be tricky. It just takes one strand pulling out a bit to ruin the effect. And this stuff catches on my dry fingers like crazy. I totally have to lube up to work with it. (that so sounds not right, but you know what i mean)

Pattern: MoMo the Octopus by roxycraft.com
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease, 2 skeins; and that same acrylic sock yarn for eyes
Hook: E
Time: 3 days
Another favorite place to BUY patterns from. Her stuff is really cute and very doable for beginner crocheters as well. It's all single crochet! I only make machine washable things for kids and with the little bit of acrylic in this yarn, i love how it works up in amigurumi.

And while crocheting away, i finally got to watch this. I was pleasantly surprised! It is a great romance! Go figure. I had to watch it twice. There is a kiss in there that i just loved. I love passionate kisses like that. It didn't look contrived but you knew it was coming.

Both Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti are exceptional actors. I was surprised by Norton's ability to play a romantic leading man, with a different kind of strength. After M. Night's Lady in the Water, I became a huge Giamatti fan. His warmth and genuineness (? is that even a word?) appeal to me. I like actors that convey plenty while also seeming like the kind of persons I would want to know.

Sorry for the yammering, there's just so much to say! Am also continuing on with my very large, size 15 soldier socks. They look dreadfully huge. Huge, I tell you, HUGE!

Finally, here is the youngest playing with some crocheted puppies and her baby. That's what i like - use! She's actually asked for another baby. My kids don't usually attach to things, I guess because they are so attached to me! So I am very happy to find something they can fuss over instead of needing me so much.

Movie Talk: The Prestige (Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannsen, and Christian Bale)

You have to watch this movie. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT! It is an uncommonly well done movie. I like the kind of movies that make you think about them after. The kind that make you say. after the fact, "Oh...Oh?...Oh!!! Oh my gosh! OH!" Okay, that sounded kinda kinky, but, you know what I mean. So I'm waiting for the book to come in at the library. I'm sure I am at the end of a very long hold list.

The writing. The plot twists. Acting, of course. All very compelling. Hugh Jackman is a hottie but that Christian Bale did a wonderful job. Although less flashy of an actor, he is nonetheless very Ben Kingsley-ish in that he conveys so much without being a "look-at-me" actor like Tom Cruise. I very much respect Cruise' charisma, but it's just a different kind of thing.

I used to really dislike Bale because of the first movies I saw him in: American Psycho, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. He was a BAD GUY in those, and a really good one too. Thoroughly unlikeable. But since, I've altered my perception. Even Batman Begins didn't entirely win me over. I think it was Equilibrium that did it.

My husband warned me not to be let down when watching The Illusionist in comparison to The Prestige. I said, of course I won't compare the two. It's just another magician movie. Of course, I won't think of the first movie when I watch the second. Of course...not.

Well, I haven't seen The Illusionist yet. Waiting for a day when the small kid actually goes sleep before 10 p.m.! With one teensy weensy nap she can go and go until almost midnight if I don't take steps! Like read a book over and over and over and over again. Reading...slower...each...time...until she passes out, without putting myself to sleep first. It's hard to not pass out first! Cuz if that happens, then the kid just pops up and wanders off, and upon rousing from unconsciousness, I gotta start the whole process over again. Most times I'll just get up and try knit or something, or maybe catch up on saved episodes of The Closer, House, or Monk until she comes back in. I know that makes me a bad parent but I feel like I'm fightn' the tide trying to get that kid to sleep.

So yah, I watch a lot of movies. I knit, don't I? Gotta use something to exercise my eyes and change focal lengths between staring at all those tiny little stitches. It's eye exercise!

My kid is making her own books! How cool is that!!! She is kind of prolific and intense when she gets into something so she'll get in a mood and them pump one or two illustrated, mini-chapter books out at a time. She tells me how she wants the sentences broken up on the page so that there is enough room for pictures.

I am hoping this dedication to her craft continues in whatever field she chooses so that she will be happy AND successful. Not easy for us crafters.

Of course there is the small problem that having a Chinese, sales guy dad, she picks up on certain cues and attempts to hard sell much of her artwork to anyone in the vicinity: library staff, parents, cousins, uncles, family friends, school friends, you name it. She and her friend actually got in trouble at school for atttempting to sell their crafts. Now, I find something wrong with the school pushing fundraisers and SELLING stuff, but frowning on other types of junior economics that have more meaning to the kids involved. I mean, I understand the thinking, but it still doesn't feel right.

Also, a completed puppy for my hubby. He is an amigurumi fan and actually wants one of everything I make. Where he will put them is beyond me.
Pattern: Little Puppy and His Mommy by anapaulaoli.com
Yarn: Red Heart
Hook: F

Wow, I can't believe it's been TWO WEEKS since I last posted! I guess I've been busy with Chinese New Year preparations and trying to do something clever for Valentines' Day as well. The major project I've just completed is bookmarks for the local library staff and volunteers. We didn't give them anything for Christmas or New Year's and I really wanted to show our appreciation. Have also been wanting to use these materials in something simple and striking.

size 10 crochet cotton for most, leftover sock yarn too
size 8/0 beads for fish eyes and bookmark tails
size 11/0 beads in the hearts
size 1.3 mm steel hook
various patterns, both paid and free online

I like this two strand bookmarks tail as it leaves less of an indent in the book, compared to the more elaborate knit bookmarks I usually see. Also, it nicely shows off the variegated colors. Now, I could have blocked and starched the motifs to lay perfectly flat, but I found that I liked the homemade look and feel of a slightly curled motif. These are very simple, wonderful gift ideas for your favorite word-pushers and users!

Also, I've been spending far too much time looking at all the wonderful things there are to see online! I'm on a yarn diet so I have resolved to not even purchase another skein of acrylic until I finish these giant Big Black Socks I've committed to. I decided to cast on 80 stitches in fingering weight on size 1 needles, with a 15" all-ribbed cuff for some lucky size 15 foot soldier over thar.

So no new yarn since...January?

A knit charity organizer recently commented on how disappointed she was in the knitters who had signed up to knit for her organization but then had continued to work on other things and not complete the items to be donated, talking about these other things on their various knit-alongs. She actually scolded them for wanting to knit other things.

Now, I've made several things for this organization and I believe in its mission. I also commend the amazing commitment this person has made to making this thing happen. It is no easy thing. But, when knitting is no longer fun, and becomes an obligation, a duty, a job, then, why knit. Why make those thousands of stitches if IT IS NOT FUN. I've broken up my charity knitting thing with various other very fun things. And, yes, it has caused the thing to take longer than it otherwise may, but, it's my time, and my energy. And I don't want to resent the thing or any person for the handwork that goes into creating an item of love and dedication. That would be counter to its purpose. I do not want to feel like it's a monkey on my back.

So I will continue to occasionally throw in a fun, quick thing while continuing to toil on the charity objects I have committed to. But I do not think anyone has the right to direct or guilt knitter time. It is precious and priceless.

Taking a break from endless rows of tiny, black sock ribbing on size 1 needles, I knit this:
Yes, it's a pie. Needed something completely frivolous.
Pattern: Dad's Blueberry Pie by Jennifer Tallapaneni
Yarn: Red Heart
Needles: size 6
I was supposed to use size 8 needles on the top crust but missed that part when I was going over the directions. I've been wanting to make this thing forever, but couldn't find the occasion. Then my kids were driving me crazy yesterday so I decided to finish it up instead of yell any more at thems.

This thing was so fun, I wanna make all kinds of colors now!