Emptyknitster

The Chick That Flew The Coop and NorDakFamily arrived last Tuesday and soon the Easter Festivities began. I had discovered a new game for the kiddos called Tenzie .  The rules and supplies are simple: Each player needs ten dice in an individual color. Everyone rolls the first roll at the same time, decides what number they are going to collect, and after the first roll there are no turns - just roll the dice to collect all of the number decided upon. When the player has collected  all ten of the same number he calls out "Tenzi!".  The kiddos liked playing, there was no pouting from anyone because as soon as one game was played (it took about two minutes) another started! Fun!! I also had some spring sun catchers for them to paint they loved doing them after running around outside and visiting the neighbor's horses. We had Easter early as the NorDakFamilly had to head home Easter morning so egg dying happened on Thursday: This year we used Koolaid to dye the eg...

Growing up I often heard Mom recite this poem when I became a bit of a challenge: "There was a little girl,             Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead.             When she was good,             She was very good indeed, But when she was bad she was horrid." Mom holding me about at about 2 years old Mom said it was a Mother Goose rhyme but recently after seeing a darling little girl with curly hair I did some research and found out that in fact it's a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. The rest of the poem goes like this:    One day she went upstairs, When her parents, unawares, In the kitchen were occupied with meals, And she stood upon her head In her little trundle-bed, And then began hooraying with her heels. Her mother heard the no...

I love this colorway and I seem to be able to duplicate it fairly well! This time I used Wilton's food coloring. English podcaster, Tilly Trout, recommended the pattern which looks very nice in this colorway!  When I'm a bit worried if I have enough yarn I like to do the toes, heels, and ribbed tops in a contrasting color. Pattern: Slip Stitch Lines by La Maison de Saba, Fishlips Kiss Heel Yarn: Cascade Sock Yarns Heritage, Knit Picks Bare Stroll Fingering Sock Yarn Colorway: Turquoise and Poolside Bitch Needle Size: US Size 1

On Saturdays, when the gurls were young I'd often make waffles for breakfast and just for short time called them "Awful Waffles." Until middle daughter, who HAD loved them for breakfast, no longer would eat a single bite! Oh my, it was because I'd been calling them awful for several weeks, and years later she still claims not to like waffles.... I've improved my sock knitting technique in the last few years. When I began this sock knitting adventure they all went into my sock drawer but as I got better at knitting socks, they became gifts for friends and family. Now, as I look at the socks in my drawer, I long for the much improved versions! Kendy, from the WyomingCowboyFamily, has told me on several occasions that although she has been receiving her Birthday and Christmas socks she'd never turn down sock drawer hand-me-downs.  I'm pretty sure that she should be looking in the mail for a package soon! And then I'm adding these socks to my sock...

This weekend my creative juices were really flowing. I decided to try a new dyeing technique I'd read about, ice cube yarn dying. I froze concentrated grape, strawberry and apple-kiwi koolaid into ice cube trays. Then I placed the ice cubes on the moist yarn. I placed the yarn in a low temperature oven for about an hour. The results were horrid, blotchy yarn in dull purple, BRIGHT red and splotchy green. Today I used a technique called tonal dying in an attempt to over dye the  yarn. I used blueberry koolaid and placed the dry yarn into a pot to simmer. I like the result...

Every Christmas I have the blog entries printed into hard copies for the family. Somehow this Christmas my biggest fan didn't get his usual edition. When I was cleaning up Christmas wrap in the fiber room, there was The CaliforniaDreamingFamily's copy hidden under the mess! I didn't miss the opportunity to get it down to California last weekend when Bri was visiting. I was happy to get this photo of The Pirate. I see my fan club continues!

After a LONG winter, Friday brought spring not just on the calendar but also in the weather and my temperament! Friday I cleaned house like a maniac so the weekend could be "my own".  Saturday I did a little "junking." Years ago Mom and I used to do this every once in awhile but I really haven't done it since The Chick moved into her own place and needed a few things to round out the first apartment. ( black paint always coordinates everything! ) I found a frame and original painting dated 1966 of an aspen grove and teepee for $6 by someone I hope never rose to fame and fortune in the artistic world because... I did a DYI project for my fiber room.  I'm going to add a quote on the blackboard after the paint cures a few days. The blackboard paint was so fun and easy that after I made instant Chi Tea and Cappuccino I sprayed the lids and added the name of the contents and amount needed for a cup! Chi Tea 1 c. nonfat dry milk powder 1 c. powdered ...