Blog Catching Up
A mighty quick recap since I feel like I’ve been blogging all day…
Halloween
Jane Goodall, and A Hairy Eyeball, and why not?!
Knit Crochet Party-Nov. 16th
Thanks to everyone who came. It was so much fun, and relaxing. It was great to break in the new room.
Grandparents Visits in November
Ella’s Sweater Photo Shoot in October
One of my favorite pictures from Ella’s photo shoot.
Current Project Updates
Really Bill, I’ll finish this before you die.
A cardigan for my new niece.
This project isn’t done yet. I WILL finish it.
Whew! All caught up. Now maybe I can be a better blogger. I blame Ravelry.
Tight Tangled Yoke Neck
OK, so I owe the blog two finished projects now. Blame it on Ravelry. I’ve posted the finished items there, but not here. Oh, and I’ve been traveling, checking out yarn stores, and then there’s Rhinebeck…bad blogger I know.
(I hate taking late night blog photos. But I’m digging the multi-mirrors we have in the bathroom now.)
But anyway. Here I am knitting away on my Tangled Yoke when really I should be sewing a hairy eyeball. But the soon to be eyeball is sleeping and I can’t measure him. I think I’ll have to do some pre school measuring in the morning. So I bound off for my neck and it looks to be too tight. Crap! Double crap! That was a tedious bind off. So I’ll live with it for a day or two before I decide to take it out and do it over. Because you know I’ll end up doing it over anyway. Who am I kidding. But I can’t face taking it out tonight. Despite the tight neck that’s puckering…I love this sweater. It fits just right, good length, sleeves not too short. I am so excited to wear it soon.
And a photo from the weekend…budding weaver, no?
Costume Time
The kids have told me what they want to be for Halloween this year. Ella wants to be Jane Goodall, not a problem. But Liam wants to be a hairy eyeball. Any suggestions as to how to come up with a costume for that!
I was up way too late working on the gloves. Here’s a peek:
I’ve got one good glove and then the monkey glove that I should just rip out. I’d like to do another if possible. We’ll see. Right now I just want to sleep. Well off to work I go.
3 Twists Too Much
I’ve started the sweater and got past the cable ruffle. But putting it up to Ella, it’s too much. I need to rip back past one cable twist. I think that’ll work much better on her.
And because of the funky way that iPhoto works, when I delete the most recent photo, I keep seeing this.
She wasn’t always a tall 8 year old. I can’t believe she was ever this small. That cable ruffle would take up half her torso as a baby.
Holy Moly! Four finished projects in one week.
Proof that my full-time job really is getting in the way of my knitting-—I finished up four projects this week, two of which I started last summer—2 bags, a wrap, and a cat toy. I’ll have posts for those soon.
Minnesota was wonderful, too much to write about now. Highlights: 6 yarn stores, Joe winning the Great American Think-Off, fishing with my brother, a personal tour of MPR, our college reunion, finally finding great fitting jeans, Minnesota’s crazy every-changing weather, and of course all of the great time we got to spend with family and friends.
I bought something at nearly every yarn store. A lot of lace weight. Let’s take a look.
First, the loser of my purchases, Blue Sky Alpaca Double Point Needles. I’ve been in love with the case. But it’s just enough too short that it won’t fit any of my other double points, not even my 5 1/2″ ones. And take a look at the points, inconsistent and quite blunt. And the finish is a bit on the uneven side too. Now I haven’t actually used these yet, but I’m not pleased. And the cases come taped shut, so you can’t even inspect the needles until after you’ve bought them. Expensive to boot! Oh well.
Oh, but there was some nice yarn. I resisted buying any of the Habu yarn I kept running into. I’m saving that for my next NY trip.
Heaven by Yarn Palace, 3100 yards of lace weight merino/tencel that I just had to have.
Misti Alpaca Lace in a brown that the store of course doesn’t carry. But it’s the perfect brown and now it’s mine.
100% Extrafine Lambswool in the perfect color.
And some light purple Nature Wool that will go well with my Nature Wool Stash. I feel another log cabin project coming around the corner.
Of the yarns stores that I went to, there were two I would actually go back to again: 3 Kittens Yarn Shop and Needlework Unlimited. There were lots of interesting things in both stores with friendly, helpful staff. And both had cozy sofas that made you want to stay awhile. At 3 Kittens, there was a sign by the register that said, “Your husband called and said you can buy anything you want.”
One more thing, I figured out a place to hang a warping board in my house and wound my first warp for my new loom.
The open shelving in our pantry makes it easy to hang the board. I still have no idea where I’m going to store a warping board. But I’ll figure it out. Maybe after our addition this summer, I’ll find room.
Yoga Kids
This is how I can get work done at home during vacation week. Ella and Liam decided to do a yoga session, all on their own. I couldn’t resist sneaking a few photos.
Whoa! And now they’ve decided to practice their violins, without any prodding. Ella loves being the teacher.
Amelia Earhart
One costume down, one more to go.
The Giant Treehouse
This is what Bill and his brother were busy building over the weekend. We’re all quite excited. All it needs now is some permanent ladders installed and a bit of roof over Liam’s super secret hiding spot.
Focus on a Cool Dad
In the latest issue of Cool Mom Picks‘ newsletter was an article about Ella & Bill’s radio show. They make me proud.
Special: Focus on a Cool Dad
Bill Childs
Every working parent’s dream: A job that allows you to bring your child with you. Bill Childs has just that, or at least he does once a week. He’s a law professor Monday through Friday, but on Saturday mornings, he and his 7 year-old daughter Ella co-host cult radio show favorite, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child on WXOJ in Northampton, Massachusetts.
One-time violinist, former college radio DJ, and ex-indie record store owner, it was only natural for Bill to start seeking out great kids’ music when he became a parent. Thanks to an open slot at a community radio station, Bill was able to parlay his passion into a volunteer job and soon had a regular show.
If you have listened to the broadcast then you know that Bill and Ella are quite the team. They work together to pick out the music–kid stuff as well as kid-appropriate grown-up music. Ella does almost all of the engineering, which has been a lesson in patience for Bill. (A dad giving up control of the electronics? Sounds like an urban legend to me.) But overall, they have fun dancing in the studio together, interviewing in-studio artists, and enjoying each other’s company on and off the air. In fact, the commentary is just as entertaining as the music they play.
The radio show is not limited to musical artists. Bill has taken the show “to the next level,†inviting Ella’s first grade class to read their poems on air. He’s also started connecting with local artists as well a possible collaboration with the Eric Carle Museum of Picturebook Art.
And don’t be fooled. This isn’t something Bill drags Ella to do on every Saturday. Aside from her favorite tasks, including “pushing the buttons and talking and playing the music,†Ella said that working with her dad is decidedly “fun.â€
Based on what we’ve heard, it’s fun for us too, Ella.
You can listen to Spare the Rock live on Saturdays from 8 to 10am at valleyfreeradio.org, or download podcasts of past shows at sparetherock.com.
Traction Man Is Having a Bad Day
Even Traction Man’s trusty sidekick Scrubbing Brush knows the knitted romper doesn’t work.
