Isager

I love this yarn. Its lace tweed and I think I found the perfect shawl. I was browsing Ravelry and came across Bendis' Icelandic Shawl. And she did her's true to the book.

But I think Cheryl Oberle's Triangle Feather and Fan will look nice in my three color selection.

I originally swatched in the denim, but decided that the sinfully rich chocolate should be the center. The denim is a true denim if anyone is looking for something to go direct with a pair of jeans. And the golden yellow is beautiful too. You can get your fix at Loop. Thanks Craig for finding this yarn.

Happy knitting!!!

Miralda Finished

Its done and I love it!

Ok, I cast on too tight, like I always do. I used a size 10 needle to cast on, I don't know why ... oh well.

Happy Knitting!

Now I have to figure out what the heck is wrong with my iPod/iTunes music. I can't hear my music while I'm playing on ravelry or blogging.

I think maybe I should trade my Dell Laptop in for a MAC!!

Miralda Shawl Home Stretch ...

I am loving this shawl!





I love the yarn too! Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace - 2 skeins




Ok, I wasn't crazy about those nupps, but I stood my ground. Granted it slowed me down purling those nupps together, but it was definitely worth it in the end, they look lovely. I have two extra balls of this colorway, maybe I'll trade them in for black or maybe I can swap with someone out there in lace loving land. Any takers?


Happy Knitting!!!!

Holiday knitting list ...

Each year around May I start on my holiday knitting list. I add some names or cross out some from previous years and start looking for ideas. I have to admit, by November I'm done with holiday knitting. This year I have a newbie to the list.

I still have a job for now (Thank God) and as a token of appreciation and my hard work, I've been assigned a new attorney. YUP, a Senior Associate well on her way to one day (in the next year or two) becoming partner.

Four days after being assigned to her she went on vacation - YIPPEE - Vive La France. She e-mailed me 10x a day, once branding pictures of the Iron tower.

Every day, for 5 wonderful days, I got 20 e-mails with work to be done - did I mention hard working. While I was here, working for my partner and lateral hire, there was a mountain of work to be done for Sr., so I rolled up my sleeves and dove in - the desk was a wreck, her office a maze, her files - where the heck were her files. What was that pile on the floor I nearly skidded across the office on? What was in that mug ... In between the annoying e-mails (if I was with her in Paris I would have thrown her blackberry into the Seine). Here's Musee d'Orsey, evening, viewed from the Seine. I mustered up the strength to clean up, clear out, find, index, purge, re shelf, organize and file, all the while still loving up my partner and lateral. I got Sr.'s old assistant's desk clear, Sr.'s office clean, files organized, books re shelved, etc. by Thursday, 4p. Now if only I could get rid of her blackberry ... . I managed to keep partner appeased, but the lateral must've gotten restless because at one point she tracked me down (oh did I mentioned Sr.'s office is 2 floors away from me ... go figure).

While away, I was wondering about Sr. Should I add her to my holiday gift list of hand mades? All those e-mails, do this, draft that, get, read because I can't see it on my blackberry, e-mail me the contents of this agreement, no that one, go up to my offices and dig through the piles of sugar honey iced tea on my desk and find that agreement and e-mail me the contents ... I was ready to pull her hair out and pick her icy blues off with sharpened paperclips, but Thank you God, I have a job.

Upon returning I was given a trinket box of French chocolates - oh now I feel bad for being annoyed ... but I'm allergic to chocolate, I won't tell yet. I'll keep the box nicely sealed forever. Hey, how was she supposed to know I'm allergic to chocolate - we've only been together for four days. Its not the gift, its the thought, so I will add her to the list of hand knits, but what? I don't think she does shawls, she doesn't look the type. I don't think a hat would do ever, because one snowy cold ass day in January I was on my way to Borders and we exchanged hellos because we recognized each other from the office, no hat, it was freezing out - but I did spy a full length navy blue cashmere coat - LOL! She always in a gray, black or navy blue suit. What to knit ... what to knit ...

So far, there's the ole list of 23 +1 now, not everyone gets hand knits. My baby sis will get a hand knit, my best friend will get a hand knit, my niece and nephew - books.

More unfinished ...

But first,let me introduce ya'll to my peops: Big bro - Joe - and his youngest - Justin. Justin's 3 and a cutie, so what he needs a haircut, he's adorable! Those big brown eyes just snuggles up to my heart. I have to admit it, I can only take the kiddies in spirts. My lil girl is an old broad named Meme.

OMG, I have way too many projects still on needles. What am I going to do? I also realize I have way too many sets of knitting needles. Oh well. Back to the unfinished buz Misti Alpaca Kimono. Ok I swatched for this puppy with Grace at Rosie's Yarn Cellar, yup you heard me - Grace. Now, she's been gone from Rosie's for about three years now and I had to swatch way before that. Frog time. I'm going to use this for maybe the Box Shawl from Folk Shawls, maybe? Stay tuned.

Now, what in the world is this ...
I remember the yarn, Alpaca I found at Lambs Wool about two years later - I only purchased from Rosie's, Sheep and Wool, and Stitches my first couple years and I spent every Sunday in Rosie's for the first two years of my knitting taking classes - YUP! I think I should have asked to buy stock.

Wow, look what I found - Leda's Dream from Pink Lemon Twist, I actually got it when it was the Mystery Stole. I have the pattern somewhere around here. YUMMMM Zephyr, I have got to get back to this.

Well, I'm exhausted and will blog the rest of the unfinished buz next time. Boy, I had no clue I had all these projects still on needles.

FYI, I now have 419 songs on my iPod which includes podcasts. I'm so excited. I've had my iPod for like 6 years and I'm just learning how to really use it. Amazing! I'm techno slow, but I'm completely hooked on the Knitmoregirls and Under the Tuscan Gun. I think its time I brushed up on my Italian too.

Have a good weekend!

Unfinished Projects ...

Wow, I didn't realize I had so many. Some have been long since forgotten. Let's see:
First up, BIRCH - Sharon Miller, I started this is brushed alpaca and I did something wrong and threw it in the basket and its lovely, but I can't rip it out because it knots up and oh its soft as ever, but I swear I have to pluck alpaca outta my eyes for days.


Now here's my cabling scarf that I swear I love, but hate the cable needle, that sucker keeps slipping out of order. I forget which row I'm on, blah blah blah the yarn is Lorna's Worsted Weight, I forget the color. Lovely. I was going to do Melissa Leapman's Reversible Cable Scarf, one day I'll pick it back up. Maybe ...


Here's the Rectangle Shawl from Blue Sky Alpaca and the yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted. I love this yarn. I'm on the 3rd ball. Ok, I keep this one in the bag on the sofa right next to me and pick it up whenever there's a CSI Miami or L&O Criminal Intent marathon on, I love Horatio and Goran.


Now, Lady Eleanor how are you? Noro Sock, loving the brown, green and teal. Pattern is actually boring. I do about two rows and put it back in the bag on the sofa and veg. I get bored. I love seing the color change, but it soon loses its appeal. I hope it blocks bigger than it appears, I used too small a needles and now I'm thinking, should I rip or just have a nice entrelac scarf? Decisions.

Well, enough for today I feel like knitting. Next time more unfinished projects ...

unfinished projects ...

I've finished some stuff too ...

1. Commission work. Spider Queen (Hex) from Victorian Lace Today. In Habu Cashmere, 5 balls, size 3 needles. Here she is blocking. This was worth every minute, every second and the forever wait to block. It took me about two months to finally get it blocked. I gave the finished project to its owner with instruction on how to block. She had it for about a month and then gave it back asking me to block. Well, it sat in the bag, wrapped in tissue paper for two months. Then my brother Joe and his lil boy Justin came over and someway, somehow it got pulled and stretched while still in the bag. I got nervous and took it out to find it was snagged in spots. I panicked and blocked. Viola! Perfecto!








2. My co-worker Charmaine asked me to knit a set for her grandson. She was easy to knit for, she picked the colors and said, go for it. This turned out very nice. I was a little nervous because the yarn was thicker than I'm used to (hey, I'm a lace slut remember), so it knit up bigger. Baby Surprise Jacket, booties and hat. In cashmerino, three balls, size 3 needles. I actually got this done in three weeks too. The buttons came from Carlins at 8th & Arch.





3. Jasmine's Jade Ramblin Row and Zimmerman Sweaters (I forget the name of the sweaters pictured, I think it was the June project). Size 3 needles, Koigu solids, multis from Loop, and a bunch of millends from Rosie's Yarn Cellar. I did the blanket first, trimmed everything in the green that I splashed throughout. The remaining yarns finished the sweaters.

Next time, unfinished projects ... way too many, but I don't care I'm gonna blog them all ...

I'm still knitting ...

I've finished some projects, for real I did. And as always, I have several still on the needles. I'm a needle hog, I have to start as many projects as I can and then when I'm sick of looking at the needles, I get them done.

Here's my koigu pi. The shawl took me 1 month to knit up. That's right, 30 days; however, that dang border took me 9 to 10 months. I stayed up that final night until 4:30 in the morning, determined to get that thing off the needles. And here's my like #8 top down sweater. I have issues loving the sweaters that I knit, maybe because I'm a shawl slut, or maybe because I see how large the sweater is and I'm like - YIKES is that mine!!! I got this yarn, Wings from Rosie's sale bin about 3 years ago. I've cast on and frogged several times, but this time its actually looking like it will be a good looking, 3/4 sleeved mock turtle neck or maybe a cape? Spring is here really, do I need another sweater? Cape? Poncho?

World News ...

For me and many others in the world today it feels like its been 32 hours in every day ... my jobs talking layoffs! The world is talking layoffs. California, Detroit, Pennsylvania. So many people, no jobs! My heart is breaking.

I'm a legal assistant at a med-sized Center City firm where I've been since 9/11/00. Me and my friends are concerned because hey, times are tough and I keep thinking, I've been working since I was 12, what'll I do with myself. I worked through Jr. and High school, college, only once in my life did I actually quit a job without having something already on the burner - that's a story for another day, I'll probably call that, what the F*&! was I thinking.

Anywho, picture this - My First Job - Al's Deli on 7th & Winton in South Philly. Mr. Al was at least 70 when I was 12, but he kept that store open for what seemed like forever. Oh I still love beef brisket with potato salad on it on pumpernickle bread the way Mr. Al made my sammy. I can smell the fresh cut brisket and bread, just thinking about it. I worked at the Deli part-time after school and summers until I turned 17, then I took a job making lots more money at Dr. Salvatore's Family Medical Practice as, a receptionist on 7th & Snyder. Well, I'll never forget Mr. Al, Mark, Sheeba, Ms. Molly and the Deli.

Back to the story, this particular Saturday afternoon before Easter, around 4:30 I saw a pair of shoes that would change my life forever. I ran home and asked my dad for $7 (that's right, eat your heart out I'm over 40 and shoes did at one point cost $7). My dad shouted, "What do you think I'm made of money?" My heart sank! How dare he, he never told me no. He had the nerve to shout GET A JOB! Well, I hit the door running, straight around the corner (I grew up on 7th & Jackson) and into Mr. Al's Deli shouting I need a JOB! I'll sweep the floors, I'll walk Sheeba (his 100 pound German Sheppard that everyone was afraid of), I'll stock shelves, I need $7 now! He told me to calm down and asked why I needed the money. I told him, I'll work for life for $7 (who knew). I shouted, I have 15 minutes to get back or she'll close and lock my shoes up. He told me to walk Mark to the night box at the bank and then I could have my $7. Well, I shook my head no no no, panting with tears in my eyes, I begged to work for $7, trying to explain I needed the money right that moment. I put my hand over my heart and swore that I'd be back to sweep up and stock the shelves for the "rest of my life" if he gave me the money. He handed me $7 and told Mark to walk me to the store. I ran tugging Mark. I got my shoes! Cream victorian lace up shoe boots to go with my cream Easter Sunday lace dress with matching gloves. I was beautiful, mom put ringlets in my hair and a lacy ribbon! I went back to Mr. Al's and sweep up. I kept my word! Dad always said, my word was my bond and that I had to keep it ...

I had no clue deli's sprinkled sawdust on the floors to make sure nobody slipped. I was sweeping until 6:30 that night and the dust wasn't going anywhere. Mr. Al stopped me, gave me a pint of Half and Half - for my mom, he knew mom loved half and half in her coffee - and had Mark walk me home. I had a grin on my face a mile long that night even if my arms hurt like heck.

Fast forward 3 weeks, my Newfoundland Hound, Sally a 110 pound dog (and I was afraid of Sheeba) ate the tip off one of my shoes (who would have thought), but I got one wear out of em, so I was happy.

Today, I feel like I'm waiting for the bomb to drop. There's a knot in my stomach that won't ease and I think my eyes are gonna pop outta my head.

Inauguration Day

My firm setup a television in our Justice Roberts Room and I rushed up at 11:45a. I got there (front row) just in time to see Rick Warren open the ceremony. In December 2008, Barack Obama chose Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Rick caused tears to well in my eyes. He was direct and honest.

As I sat, I got chills anticipating Biden's swearing in and then our 44th President, Barack Obama. My eyes teared as I sat on the edge of my seat. Joe Biden got sworn in around 11:55 and Katie Couric said, technically at noon Joe Biden becamne the President of the United States of America.

At about 12:09p Barack Obama took the stage (I thank God for my eyesight, Barack Obama is one handsome man), to become the 44th President of the United States of America. Words could not escape our mouths, the room was still. My brain shouted, OMG, I'm witnessing history. I am a part of this historic event. My eyes welled, my heart pounded in my own ear. And his words again united this nation. He did it! Barack Obama's my President! FAITH. He knows struggle, he knows strife, he knows fear, he knows God and the brotha is FINE. George Bush set the bar so low, Barack only has to step over it to succeed. This is one amazing brotha as my nephew put it, Auntie he's Superman for real for real!

To close this joyous ceremony, Reverend Lowerly himself, a real poineer from the Civil Rights movement. His benediction was oozing in wisdom and love. Thank you Reverend Lowerly, you put the feelings we all have into words.

Oh and one more thing, Aretha Franklin - Thank you Father for her voice, she's an amazing singer. And thank you Ms. Franklin for wearing clothes that didn't make you look overflowingly silly. And that hat - GORGEOUS - where did she get it?

Here's to our future.

One day at a time.

Howdy!

I've been MIA from blogland, what can I say, I've been reading instead of knitting (oops). Its that dang border on my hugmongious pi-shawl out of the lovely koigu - Sugar Honey Iced Tea, I still haven't finished that dang border. I know. I'll get back to it, this summer, sometime. I also have to take pictures of the finished knitted projects, but I can't seem to put these books down.

I just just - last night - finished "Color of Law" by Mark Gimenez. There I was in Borders, browsing and this book just fell off the shelf right into my hands (seriously). I turned it over and instantly had a flash to one of my favorites - To Kill a Mockingbird. Mark you did good. It was fresh, fast-paced, and the hero was named "Atticus" - what a man! That golf club would have done me proud too and the lil girls - one named Barbara Boo and the other, Pajamae (Pa shu may). I haven't read a book in two days in a while, not even a Patterson novel. Thanks for the rush.

Next up in my hands will be Adbuction by who else, Mark Gimenez, then The Perk by Mark Gimenez (when it hits the shelves in July I'm on it). But while waiting for The Perk, I'll have to read Sail by Patterson - I just can't get enough of Patterson. And anything with the word "shark" around, draws my eyes in like a hawk. I'm love the ocean - I blame my dad and Ernest Hemmingway! Somewhere down the line, they got me hooked on the sea and its world of creatures. SHARK!!!!!

Happy Birthday

April 9, 1933, my grandma Sally and grandpa Robert had a beautiful baby boy. My dad! WFO, Sr., Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday!

Hope you have many many many more!

Have a blessed one!

Ceme

P.S. Meme told me to tell you, why didn't you invite her to the birthday party!

Ravelry

Ok, I typed an entire blurb for my blog and my computer went blank. Why?????

Well, I'm not completely brain dead, I remember writing, I love Ravelry! And, Knitster Chelle was right: when you fall, you fall hard.

What have I been doing? Working, Ravelry, knitting, Ravelry, reading, Ravelry, cooking (oh I made a dish - ok, I'll tell you about it on Ceme Eats Drinks and Shops later) and watching the Complete Jane Austen on PBS. What can I say, I'm an Austen, Bronte, Shelley, Collins, Brown, Dumas, Shakespearean classic book lovin nut, and if you put it on film, I'm there - ok, I know its a lil over the top, but from the mouth of my great grand mom, "you were here on this earth before for sure because my babe's soul is way old."

Now, back to Ravelry - oh my goodness, I learn something new each day. I learned today how to add my pictures to other groups (I'm a lil slow when it comes to technology, but I'm out there is what counts right - LOL!).

What have I been knitting ...

1) EZ's pi shawl - almost done - I'd say I'm at 90%. In Koigu on size 3's. Pictures to come. I have to take them this weekend.

2) Still got the Sampler Shawl from Folk Shawls on needles, I'm bored with all those dang stitches.

3) I swatched for Princess on size 2's with peach zephyr. I think I need 0's. Oh well, I got ahead of myself.

4) My top down sweater - frog! Classic Elite Wings on size 4's in dark olive. I cast on to tight. (For those who know me, I know, I know - LOL!)

5) Landscape - I have frogged the Lorna's Laces (something didn't look right) and now have Sea Silk. Shawl pic to come.

Well, that's it for now. I have got to go, the lil leprechaun is after me. I leave you with a picture of Meme waving

What's going on?

Congratulations Courtney and Max! Clyde is just as nice a name as Cecil. But I was kinda partial to Cecil - :o)

Why am I knitting less?
Why don't I feel like playing with my yarn?
Why don't I pick up my needles?
What is wrong with me? Please - NO ANSWERS - :O)
I check my favorite knitting blogs every day, but I'm not inspired.
And by the way - Knitster Chelle need I say it - ;o)
And Lace Maven - please, I'm totally addicted - ;o)

Well, at least I've been somewhat productive.

I finished reading:
Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides
Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula Deen and Sherry Suib Cohen
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
You've Been Warned by James Patterson
Third Degree by Greg Iles
Christmas with Paula Deen by Paula Deen

On the table to be read:
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See
The Deen Bros. Cookbook by Jamie Deen, Bobby Deen and Melissa Clark
Invisible Prey by John Sanford
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Well, for those of you who haven't reached a stalemate, happy knitting!

Ceme

The complete baby set

Well, I finally have all of the pictures from Corey, Jr.'s baby set that I (with the help of Knitster Chelle) knit up real quick this summer. Isn't is adorable! Now, I have to do a pink Baby Surprise jacket (maybe I can convince Knitster Chelle to do the hat and booties) by x-mas ...

Baby Surprise Jacket








Rambling Row blankie








Knitster Chelle Hat and Booties








Ceme

Princess Shawl

I've placed my ordered - isn't it lovely (drooling)

look ...

Soon!

Ceme

Coffee/Tea Swaps

Ok, I have good news and not so good news:

First Good, look what I got from Kathy, my Tea Swap partner. Stunning -
I love everything. Thanks Kathy.

Now, the not so good, I haven't heard back from my coffee swap partner with her questionnaire answers. I'm starting to worry because in order for me to get something that I know she'll like, I should at least be able to refer to her q-answers. Oh well, I have until 11/17 to get the package out - hopefully the Coffe Swap will go as nicely as the tea swap.

Ok, if you get a chance, check out Ceme Eats, Drinks and Shops. I've been taking cooking classes (not because I don't know how to cook, but because I want to entertain more and have a broader selection of recipes) at Williams-Sonoma. And see what we did in class ...

Enjoy!

Ceme

TS4 Questionnaire

Restrictions on type of tea? Only green, black, herbal etc? No restrictions, but I'm not crazy about raspberry tea unless its blended with something else like Earl Grey or something

Loose or bagged? Either

Treat preference? Butter cookies are my norm, but please "no" chocolate

Yarn color preferences? Anything in the browns and green family are to my liking. Actually, I love to try workign with a dark cranberry color.

Sock knitter? No

Any allergies or things you want your pal to know? Chocolate makes me itch, coconut makes me ill, mohair makes my eyes itch

Do you collect anything? Teapots, cup & saucer sets

What are you knitting right now? three shawls, rambling row blanket, top down Ceme Design sweater, my second baby surprise jacket for another co-worker.

Coffee Swap 3

I almost didn't make it. Coffee or Tea - I like both! Here's my answers to the CS3 questions:

1. Whole bean or ground? Ground
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully Loaded
3. Regular or flavored? Flavored
4. How do you drink your coffee? Creamy with Equal
5. Favorite coffee ever? Blueberry, Hazelnut, Toasted Almond
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? FUSSY
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Butter Cookies or Custard Tarts
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Please "no" chocolate
9. Yarn/fiber you love? Lace weight - Habu, Alchemy, Misti Alpaca, Zephyr, Jade Sapphire, Helen's Lace, Schaeffer
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Chunky, fuzzy or hairy - oh my
11. What's on your needles? Three shawls - Sampler, Spider, Ceme's Design and a Ceme's Design top down sweater
12. Favorite colors? Greens, browns (cranberry is a color I want to try)
13. Allergies? Mohair drives me nuts. Chocolate makes me itch.
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
I really dislike flirt, fur, fuzz or fluff yarns.