tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35127077380101714312024-03-13T23:46:32.466-04:00ChristinaPurls...ChristinaPurls: Purls of wisdom (or something like that) about knitting, books, life...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-25581371886621847202012-11-03T18:39:00.002-04:002012-11-03T18:39:12.550-04:00Slippers & Bags and a Month of Catchup!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yikes! A month is a long time not to blog. I've missed it. I'll try to catch you up without typing a Charles Dickens length novel! </span><div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp1TecXsSgY/UJWO-di0azI/AAAAAAAAA10/kzgeJiGLhGo/s1600/pleatedslippers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp1TecXsSgY/UJWO-di0azI/AAAAAAAAA10/kzgeJiGLhGo/s320/pleatedslippers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finished my Pleated Ballet Slippers. Pattern info here: <b><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/pleated-ballet-flats" style="color: magenta;" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. </b>In fact, I'm wearing them now and love them. What I love most about them is that I was able to use leftover yarn from an earflap hat I made in January. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The yarn is Plymouth Encore Chunky Tweed. It's a great yarn to knit with and relatively inexpensive: $13 in yarn for two projects. What a deal!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdzCd5uCPN4/UJWPqRzgK9I/AAAAAAAAA18/sRgpQ-vTMbw/s1600/chunkychulahat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdzCd5uCPN4/UJWPqRzgK9I/AAAAAAAAA18/sRgpQ-vTMbw/s320/chunkychulahat.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chunky Chula Hat by Plymouth Yarn Design. Info here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/chula-hat" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Ravelry</b></span></a>.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, since I used leftover yarn and the pattern was $7, the slippers were practically free. Or, so I told hubby. Gotta love knitter-economics!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we've last connected, I visited the city of St. Louis. Hubby and nephew ran the Rock n Roll Marathon there. St. Louis is a fun town and the weather was fantastic. Here are a few pictures:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6:50 a.m. Waiting for the race to start!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PMc16ErBgg/UJWSDcJQT6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/YqstZZUHmoU/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PMc16ErBgg/UJWSDcJQT6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/YqstZZUHmoU/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nephew Glenn at 13.1 miles. Looks like he's just out for a casual jog!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYCVxuwBGjg/UJWSF4qk0TI/AAAAAAAAA2M/c3f9i1k-ECI/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYCVxuwBGjg/UJWSF4qk0TI/AAAAAAAAA2M/c3f9i1k-ECI/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hubby at the finish line. Beat his previous marathon time by 15 minutes!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxyyqdZnho4/UJWSXvVvfKI/AAAAAAAAA20/GaeRYJaJqEU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxyyqdZnho4/UJWSXvVvfKI/AAAAAAAAA20/GaeRYJaJqEU/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stumbled upon a Rams v Packers party in the hotel bar.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started a new project on the way home from St. Louis. It's a 6 hour drive, so I had some knitting time. I'm making a market bag from sock yarn I inherited from my Grandma who passed about a year ago. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AH6A-5vDwBE/UJWVPernw3I/AAAAAAAAA3E/EL05e2zjnH0/s1600/BigBangMarketBag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AH6A-5vDwBE/UJWVPernw3I/AAAAAAAAA3E/EL05e2zjnH0/s320/BigBangMarketBag.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big Bang Market Bag. Pattern info here:<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/big-bang-market-bag" target="_blank"><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b></a>.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of bags, my 31 venture is going great. I am having much fun being a consultant. I'm meeting a lot of new friends, earning money, and carrying around fantastic bags. Check out the bag I bought to carry my projects. I mean as a 31 consultant I can no longer carry my WIP in Ziplocks bags, right? Disgraceful! Here's a picture of my upgrade:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zipper Pouch. You can shop for this on my website: <a href="http://mythirtyone.com/toppen"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">mythirtyone.com/toppen</span></a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also earning free bags just for doing my job as a consultant. So far I've earned 5 free bags. Here's a picture of 2 of my favorites. I love the consultant exclusive plumb polka dot print!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zbUTewinbLc/UJWSKSc-FtI/AAAAAAAAA2c/ba_G2XNYWA8/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zbUTewinbLc/UJWSKSc-FtI/AAAAAAAAA2c/ba_G2XNYWA8/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organizing Utility Tote & Retro Metro<br /></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thirty-one gives back to the community and rewards its consultants generously with product. So happy I found a company like this to be a part of. Sorry for the preposition at the end of that sentence.</span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay enough 31 talk. Did I mention I love this company? Well, I better get knitting so I have something to type about sooner than a month's time. What's new with you? Run any marathons, actual or metaphorical? Finish any projects? Start any new business ventures? Holiday plans? I love reading and responding to your comments, so please type away! ~ Christina </span><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-14469213900351296662012-10-07T19:21:00.000-04:002012-10-07T19:21:27.660-04:00DK Ribbed Sock Pattern<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9b7mCmEBqQ/UHH9Y1sxtEI/AAAAAAAAAxk/o4a7aiFBZFc/s1600/photo-7+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9b7mCmEBqQ/UHH9Y1sxtEI/AAAAAAAAAxk/o4a7aiFBZFc/s320/photo-7+-+Version+2.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DK Ribbed Socks: Free pattern <a href="http://christinapurls.blogspot.com/p/dk-ribbed-socks.html#.UHING46qDS9" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">here</span></b></a></span>.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a lot to catch up on. Up first and most excitingly: I finished my DK weight ribbed socks last night! The yarn has been in my stash for about a year. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-hr79o5818/UHHaIuhU-DI/AAAAAAAAAw8/W2TgsXjWLQI/s1600/295147_492298180782648_951138167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-hr79o5818/UHHaIuhU-DI/AAAAAAAAAw8/W2TgsXjWLQI/s320/295147_492298180782648_951138167_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My stash</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I keep my stash, minus dishcloth yarn which never counts as proper yarn stash, in this vintage crate from hubby's mom. I had to rescue it as he was going to pitch it. Can you believe it!? Back to the socks. I taught myself to knit socks two at a time. Very excited about this. I used a tutorial by verypinkknits, click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4iD77aJCAw&feature=plcp" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">here</span></b></a>. She has great tutorials about pretty much everything knitting related.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlJh90OfQxQ/UHH_mGw2zAI/AAAAAAAAAyA/_qryMiiATbY/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlJh90OfQxQ/UHH_mGw2zAI/AAAAAAAAAyA/_qryMiiATbY/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two at a time! Fancy filter via Instagram</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again back to the socks. I couldn't find a pattern I liked for this yarn. I didn't want anything busy because the yarn has a fair isle effect - that's fake color patterning for you non-knitters. I also NEED ribbing in my socks or I feel like I have to fight with them to stay up. Who needs to fight with their socks, right? I've knit enough socks that I know the basics: short row heel, gusset, toe shaping, etc. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, why not just make up a pattern? Here's what I did: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent about an hour or so swatching to get the exact number of stitches I wanted and to figure out my gauge, which oddly was very, very, close to the gauge on the yarn band. When does that ever happen? Then I just kept track of what I did, typed it up, and viola! a pattern. I put it on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dk-ribbed-socks" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b></a> and am sharing it for free on my blog. Just click on the first tab under my heading. The pattern hasn't been test driven yet, so if you notice any problems please let me know.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja7Fs92Ow5I/UHIBCaY4OWI/AAAAAAAAAyI/889XHMoVL_E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-07+at+6.22.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja7Fs92Ow5I/UHIBCaY4OWI/AAAAAAAAAyI/889XHMoVL_E/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-10-07+at+6.22.19+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just click the first tab on the left called "DK Ribbed Socks"</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also put my free baby santa hat on a tab too. Since Christmas is coming... but, let's wait until Halloween has passed to blog about it. Oh and the santa hat pattern has been test driven. Try to find the same yarn I used if you can. It's sooo soft and relatively inexpensive for a yarn shop yarn.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first 31 party!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My next exciting news - I've become a bag lady! No pitter-patter of little feet kind of news here. Almost a month ago I joined Thirty-One as a consultant. My kids are older and don't need me as much, and I am a social creature, and I love parties, and I love bags, so this is a perfect fit. Too excited for that not to be a run-on sentence. I had my first two parties this week and am so excited about this company! How many times have I used some form of the word "excite" in this post, I wonder? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a friend was gracious enough to hostess my first party in her new kitchen. Above is a picture. There's not much of the kitchen showing as I was focusing on my bags, but it really is a fabulous kitchen. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a 31 website where you can look at the catalog and see the monthly specials. If you want to do any shopping for the holiday I'm not blogging about until after Halloween, my contact info is on the site. Product can be direct shipped to you or if you live in West Michigan I can combine it with a party and save you a couple bucks toward shipping. Here's the site: <a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/toppen/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">http://www.mythirtyone.com/toppen/</span></b></a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basket weave dishcloth. Fancy filter via Instagram.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also started knitting dishcloths again. I'm giving them as 31 hostess gifts. Who wouldn't want to spend a couple hours with friends and cocktails to get a beautiful dishcloth knit by yours truly? I know. Love this safety orange yarn I found in my dishcloth yarn stash, not to be confused with my proper yarn stash. I dug up my old pattern books so I can make different types of dishcloths.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, this post is getting long and it's a school night so I'll sign off. I'll leave you with a few pictures of beautiful Lake Michigan via Grand Haven beach. We spent a few hours there last Sunday hanging out with friends and watching a kite surfing race.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Michigan at Grand Haven Beach</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Michigan at Grand Haven Beach</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading and please let me know what's new and exciting in your life. New career ventures, knitting adventures, holiday plans... Please comment :) Christina</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-36151212097152586492012-09-23T19:57:00.000-04:002012-09-23T20:02:24.820-04:00Knitting In Motown<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a great time in Detroit this weekend. Went to a Tiger's game with great friends, enjoyed wonderful weather, saw the sun... And, I had time to knit during the game. They really don't do much of a security check at the gate - so my needles made it in no problem. I was a little worried, even though some of you commented that knitting needles are allowed. Anyway, the Tigers played the Minnesota Twins and won. It was a shut out meaning the Twins didn't get a hit - well, they did hit the ball but the guy batting was out meaning it doesn't count as a hit. So even though the ball was hit, it wasn't a hit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, or something like that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Right. Back to knitting.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also managed to finish the mittens I've been writing a pattern for. Please disregard the preposition at the end of that last sentence. I finished the first one, see mitten on the right, but didn't like how pointy the top was. So... I went back the the drawing board and knit up a second one. I changed the decreasing/shaping and got a more rounded top, see mitten on the left.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, I ripped back the first mitten, re-shaped the top... and, viola! They are both more round. Here is a picture before blocking. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do love the way Noro stripes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I purposely didn't match up the stripes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mittens are currently taking a Eucalan bath. I will post pictures once blocked and share the pattern.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to pick out my school clothes for tomorrow, iron, and snuggle up with my Kindle. Hope you all had a great weekend. I'd love to hear about what you're knitting, crocheting, crafting, etc., and reading. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment! ~ Christina</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-13755912246265637802012-09-17T17:35:00.000-04:002012-09-17T17:35:17.942-04:00Can You Bring Knitting Needles to a Major League Baseball Game? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blueberry Waffle Socks. Pattern info here:<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> </span></b><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/blueberry-waffle-socks" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b>.</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Yikes! I haven’t blogged in a few weeks. Sorry about that. </span>After finishing my Blueberry Waffle Socks, I decided to use up some leftover Noro from a sweater I frogged. Frogged, verb, a knitter’s term for officially giving up on a project and resigning oneself to unraveling and finding something else to make with the yarn. Take a deep breath because here comes a run-on sentence. I gave up on the sweater because I could get stitch gauge but not row gauge and the side had a curve thing going on and the pattern was written for numbers of rows not inches and I tried to wing it but it's very hard to wing a curve thing, blah, blah, blah... hence the frogging. Full-stop and breathe. The frogged sweater is in my Ravlery <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">notebook</span></b></a> if you want to have a look. I’m sure it would have been a very nice sweater. Anyway, here is the vest I made instead. It was also my first seam job - so please disregard the lack of perfection there.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Noro Design 4 Sleeveless Top. Pattern info here: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/design-04-sleeveless-top" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></a>.</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Since I have plenty of yarn left over, I sought out a mitten pattern. People in Michigan can always use another pair of mittens, and the way Noro stripes is really cool right, so why not? Anyway, I found a pattern but the ribbing was too big and it had seams. Why seam mittens when you can knit in the round? Sooo... I’m winging/writing my own pattern. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Clearly, I did not learn my lesson from the frogged sweater mentioned above.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attempts #1 and #2 at pattern-writing. Color filter via Instagram.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have one mitten finished. I’m not entirely happy with the way I decreased to shape the top: too pointy. For attempt #3, I’m knitting the second mitten and trying something slightly different at the top. If I like it, I’ll rip back the first a little and duplicate it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just have two pointy mittens. Such is the life of a knitter who insists on venturing out on her own rather than just knitting from a pattern.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Speaking of venturing out, I’m heading to a Detroit Tiger's baseball game on Saturday. Circling back to my title here, I used to be an English teacher - can’t help but circle back, does anyone know if you can bring knitting needles into a stadium? Hoping not to offend here, but baseball games bore me to tears. I know, I know, why go you’re wondering(?) I love Detroit, we are going with very fun friends, and people watching is usually entertaining. Anyway, I’m hoping to bring along something to knit. Signing off now to grade some papers. Let me know what you know about knitting needles at sporting events. Many thanks for reading and commenting my friends. ~ Christina</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-29092875966517388522012-08-30T22:37:00.001-04:002012-08-31T08:31:32.105-04:00All Finished!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This past week I’ve accomplished much. Here are my feats in no particular order: I helped a friend line my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/quinn-cabled-bag" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Quinn Cabled Bag</b></span></a> (see above), finished my Blueberry Waffle Socks, experienced a Jimmy Buffet concert, celebrated my oldest daughter's 22nd birthday, launched my baby at Michigan State University, and attended meetings and got my classroom ready for 145 sixth graders. I also think I might have prepared a meal as there is a pasta salad in our giant red Tupperware bowl that looks haphazardly thrown together. Since only I use Big Red and the salad is mediocre, I’m thinking it’s my handiwork. Anyway, I’m pretty tired even after sneaking in an afternoon nap today but was too excited not to blog.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My Blueberry Waffle Socks were finished a few days ago, but I just got around to snapping a few pictures today. Since the pattern calls for DK weight yarn and I used 4-ply sock yarn, I really only used the 4 row waffle stitch pattern and winged the rest. You can link to my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/blueberry-waffle-socks" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Ravelry</b></span></a> page to see details if you’re interested. The yarn, Sausalito, is divine. A little splity when knitting but so soft and squishy. Squishy, adjective, used to describe divine sock yarn.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First time ever I tried not to match my stripes. They ended up pretty close anyway.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I say I experienced a Jimmy Buffet concert, it’s because Jimmy Buffet really is an experience. We started tailgating in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin at around 1:00 for an evening concert. There was much debauchery for entertainment, none of which I participated in, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching. The actual concert was great, especially since I knew all but one song. Here’s a picture of our group. Our friend turned 40 on the day of the concert, which added to the fun.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See how well-behaved we were?</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last but not least, we moved our youngest into Phillips Hall at Michigan State University. Her closet, or rather dorm room, is 10 x 13, and she shares it with a roommate. Anyway, she was so excited to have an actual key of her own to her own place. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will be a successful launch. So hard to sit back and hope you’ve taught your kids everything they need to be successful, independent adults. On that thought, I'll sign off with a few move-in day pictures. Thanks for reading. ~ Christina</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All moved in and so grown up!</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-68223921231294223482012-08-22T19:42:00.000-04:002012-08-22T20:08:10.562-04:00Half of a Yellow Sun: A Review or Something Similar<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Half of a Yellow Sun</i> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Disclaimer: This is not a proper book review but rather my thoughts and reactions upon finishing the book. Continue reading if you will. Here’s a brief summary: The book </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">is set in Nigeria in the 1960s and follows a handful of main characters as they become enmeshed in the Baifra struggle (war?) for independence. I should also note that I found the author's descriptions of Africa and her writing beautiful and real. I’d call the work highly readable literature. Oh, and I really liked it. Right, onward... </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For me, the main characters symbolize the nuances and legacy of colonialism. There is Richard, the misguided European who wants so very badly to belong and make a difference but is largely impotent and benign. Kainene is an educated, African profiteer. Olanna, her nonidentical twin, is opposite in looks and belief systems; she is beautiful like Africa. Odenigbo represents the African intellectuals with their visions of independence. Baby, who has a given name which is not used, represents the innocent children of Africa. Children who seem so needy and numbered they become nameless in the eyes of the West. Perhaps the adults become childlike and nameless too... And, finally, Ugwu. Ugwu represents the tribal innocence and trust that was so badly disregarded and betrayed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On a side note here, I fell in love with Ugwu immediately. He is so eager to please and authentic. He is fascinated by his first encounter with running water and the refrigerator. His innocence and eagerness are endearing. And, I still love </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ugwu</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> even though he is changed by the violence around him. Violence in which he eventually participates. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Struggles for independence are often ugly and inhumane. It becomes impossible to be involved, directly or peripherally, without being stained by the surrounding elements, a nod to Cardinal Wolsey of Tudor fame for that sentiment. And, the characters here are no exception.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lest you think this book is all gloom and doom or just another accusatory condemnation of imperialism, colonialism, racism, or some other -ism, the main characters are so profoundly human and perfectly flawed you can’t help but care about them, pull for them, and sincerely want a happy ending for them. And, there are some genuine acts of beauty, like Kainene forgiving Olanna. In fact, there are many lessons of forgiveness to be learned from this story. However, like the current human condition in Africa, the story ends with some unfinished business.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks for reading my (hopefully not too) random prattle. If you're into this sort of story, I'd say give it a go. The writing really is superb.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh, and I'm looking for a new book to read. Thinking about <i>Gone Girl</i> by Gillian Flynn. Suggestions? My usual genres are historical fiction and magical realism, but I've been known to stray...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Christina</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-73104194634431077812012-08-20T20:23:00.001-04:002012-08-21T01:13:33.352-04:00Blueberry Waffle Socks<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have returned from vacationing in the beautiful state of Arizona. It was the first time I have traveled for fun without hubby and/or kids. A very liberating experience. I love them dearly and all of that, but it was nice not to worry whether or not everyone was having a good time, who was stressing out whom, etc. I think I did that “who” “whom” bit correctly, always have struggled with that. Anyway, I’ll share pictures in a bit.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-SUCzguV2k/UDLGtM0B7qI/AAAAAAAAAl4/UuAAqFl7l1Y/s1600/sausalito+sock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-SUCzguV2k/UDLGtM0B7qI/AAAAAAAAAl4/UuAAqFl7l1Y/s320/sausalito+sock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I’ve been working on a pair of socks for myself and am 50% finished. In non-math speak that means one sock is finished, and I need to make one more, or una mas for my Spanish-speaking friends, a phrase I usually reserve for beer drinking... Never mind, getting distracted here. The pattern is called “Blueberry Waffle Socks” by Sandy Turner. Pattern info <b><a href="http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/sockswaffle.htm" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">here</span></a></b>. This free pattern that calls for DK weight yarn on double points, so basically all I’m using is the (4) row waffle stitch pattern. I loathe knitting on double points, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">so I’m using (2) circulars.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Is “loathe” too strong a word? Please disregard that rhetorical question. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The other reason I’m not using much of the pattern is that I’m knitting with Sausalito, a 2-ply sock yarn, so the cast-on number is different. Project notes here if you want them </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(size 8 shoe)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/blueberry-waffle-socks" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b></a>.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQx5ww5hvGY/UDLGryIOlyI/AAAAAAAAAlw/tBTrGqDEs4g/s1600/photo-62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQx5ww5hvGY/UDLGryIOlyI/AAAAAAAAAlw/tBTrGqDEs4g/s320/photo-62.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Use stitch markers to denote needles when knitting a double-point pattern on circular needles.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can easily convert a double point pattern to circular needles by using markers to note where the needles would be. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9Bfbtvx1RM/UDLIxTT1RQI/AAAAAAAAAmA/1vkX1oFIRn8/s1600/IMG_2049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9Bfbtvx1RM/UDLIxTT1RQI/AAAAAAAAAmA/1vkX1oFIRn8/s320/IMG_2049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simon singing "Save a Prayer." Sigh. I might have swooned. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On to my vacation. Being the huge Duran Duran fan that I am, I could not resist a chance to see them for the very first time and visit my brothers at the same time. Lucky for me they were happy to tag along to the concert and schlep me 1000 miles or so around Arizona. Our road trips included Tucson for the concert, outlet shopping, Old Town Scottsdale, Route 66, and the Grand Canyon! Here are just a few photo highlights.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--a_uVCeFD_Y/UDLJe7CYfNI/AAAAAAAAAmI/BYxT3EybrLE/s1600/IMG_1995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--a_uVCeFD_Y/UDLJe7CYfNI/AAAAAAAAAmI/BYxT3EybrLE/s320/IMG_1995.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our fancy room at Casino Del Sol in Tucson.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-AD-aQ1dNc/UDLJn_QswnI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/_7YdcuN-jVw/s1600/IMG_2021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-AD-aQ1dNc/UDLJn_QswnI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/_7YdcuN-jVw/s320/IMG_2021.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big Winner! Cashed out after using my free $10 voucher. I'm not much of a gambler.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8BjooHH6rw/UDLJ4h0EXeI/AAAAAAAAAmo/pI3pwqR3UOI/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8BjooHH6rw/UDLJ4h0EXeI/AAAAAAAAAmo/pI3pwqR3UOI/s320/IMG_2144.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With my "little" brother Scott at the Grand Canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ga4RKP-5LQU/UDLJ2p0mXxI/AAAAAAAAAmg/WcS4JUOJIWU/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ga4RKP-5LQU/UDLJ2p0mXxI/AAAAAAAAAmg/WcS4JUOJIWU/s320/IMG_2141.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being safely daring.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qewx8HrJ2Y8/UDLKLh0RHaI/AAAAAAAAAm8/PikcyU90tho/s320/IMG_2206.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vince being less safely daring...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-G3IIyQzZQ/UDLKS5yKFzI/AAAAAAAAAnE/bqRKaO6QC1Y/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-G3IIyQzZQ/UDLKS5yKFzI/AAAAAAAAAnE/bqRKaO6QC1Y/s320/IMG_2235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waited for this buck to cross the street on our way out of the Grand Canyon.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qewx8HrJ2Y8/UDLKLh0RHaI/AAAAAAAAAm8/PikcyU90tho/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Williams, AZ: The last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by I-40.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QJZYRws4yg/UDLR6EH73VI/AAAAAAAAAn4/Y949G-LsVqY/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QJZYRws4yg/UDLR6EH73VI/AAAAAAAAAn4/Y949G-LsVqY/s320/IMG_2258.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love souvenir shops like this one in Williams.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NNF7JBGYgvc/UDLSDYcD25I/AAAAAAAAAoE/RyxAnz9XC5s/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NNF7JBGYgvc/UDLSDYcD25I/AAAAAAAAAoE/RyxAnz9XC5s/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not sure if you can read it, but the sign says rooms start at $3.50. Guessing that was the 1891 price.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With that I’m off to knit that other sock and plan my next blog post. Here's a trailer, like at the movies but without the video and music. Try to imagine that guy with the movie-trailer voice... Today a good friend helped me line my Quinn Bag, my youngest leaves for college this week, I'm off to see Jimmy Buffett, and I bought the iphone app Wooly, which links to Ravelry. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear about your solo travel adventures or your thoughts on Wooly, as I'm just beginning to play with it. Signed, Christina who had some kicks on Route 66 ;)</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-77641403279920005272012-08-10T14:03:00.002-04:002012-08-10T14:06:06.816-04:00Saluting the Coast Guard, Heading to the Desert in August, and Knitting Wool Socks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, a salute to the United States and Canadian Coast Guards. Thank you for everything you do to serve and protect us on the Great Lakes!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Top to bottom: USCGC Neah Bay, CCGC Griffon (Canadian), USCGC Hollyhock</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I live in Coast Guard City, USA a.k.a. Grand Haven, Michigan. Really, per an act of Congress, Grand Haven is Coast Guard City, USA. Anyway, last week we held our annual week long festival/party honoring the Coast Guard. I absolutely love this week. I love that our town is packed with even more tourists. I also love the carnival on the main street, the row of “gut wagons” for glutenous eating, the beer tents, the art fair, free tours of the Coast Guard ships, the town swelling with “Coasties,” the parade on Saturday. I could go on and on and on.... Here are just a few highlights from the week:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Docking the USCGC Hollyhock: It turns in the channel and comes in sideways.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me at the wheel of the USCGC Neah Bay.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coast Guard helicopter fly over during the parade.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone's fav: The Scottville Clown Band. They always end the parade.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Jen and me at the parade.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our beach stick decorated for Coast Guard week.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now onto the other topics at hand. This summer has been one of record breaking heat here in the Midwest. So, after recently returning from a hot and humid week in beautiful North Carolina, I’m leaving for Arizona tomorrow. This from a girl who doesn’t like temperature extremes. I know, I know, it’s dry heat. Or so I keep hearing from well-meaning friends and family. My response: “So is an oven.” My point: hot is hot. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What does one knit on a 3 1/2 hour airplane ride to the desert? This has been more perplexing to me than what I should wear. I’ve (finally) accepted the fact that no matter how many outfits I “pin” to my Pinterest “If I had any fashion sense...” board, I am no fashionista. Right, enough self-deprecation, back to knitting. I want something portable and relatively uncomplicated. The infant sock pattern I’ve written and am tweaking is out. As are the mittens I’m planning which will combine a couple of patterns. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Infant socks from scratch: too complicated</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hmm... In the spirit of the Olympic Games, I dove, not to worry it was a metaphorical dive, into my stash and found some soft, squishy, gorgeous, and very pink sock yarn called Sausalito. I’ve just completed the slip stitch heel on sock one, and I’ve made notes along the way. I think wool socks will be the perfect project to knit on my way to the desert. Irony intended. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberry Waffle Socks. Pattern info here: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/blueberry-waffle-socks" target="_blank">Ravelry</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>I’ll probably also bring along yarn and needles for a dishcloth or two. One of my biggest travel fears, besides not having enough books to read - problem solved by Kindle thank you Amazon - is that I’ll run out of knitting projects. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh, I almost forgot to mention the reason I’m traveling to Arizona in August. Besides spending time with my brothers, I’m going to see Duran Duran! I’m so excited. I’ve had a crush on Simon since high school and have never seen them in concert. I wrangled my bros into taking me to the Grand Canyon, too. Another first! The Grand Canyon not the wrangling: I'm the oldest. Anyway, did I mention I'm excited?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What are some of your favorite travel projects? Are you or any of your family and friends Coasties? Any favorite festivals in your neck of the woods? High school band crushes? As always thank you for reading, and I enjoy reading your responses. I'm always flattered and humbled that you take the time to comment. :) Christina </span></span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-13475131712237894102012-07-31T09:57:00.000-04:002012-07-31T09:57:59.552-04:00To Pom Pom or Not to Pom Pom?<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While on vacation in beautiful Holden Beach, North Carolina I did a little knitting. I cranked out a dishcloth for a dear friend vacationing with us who was also celebrating her 75th birthday! Happy Birthday Beth!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNFy8T74HYA/UBfY7MG-8QI/AAAAAAAAAbc/fLabV48X_dI/s1600/Grandma's+Favorite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNFy8T74HYA/UBfY7MG-8QI/AAAAAAAAAbc/fLabV48X_dI/s320/Grandma's+Favorite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grandma's Favorite dishcloth: a classic.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also knit a pair of footies. But, first a few obligatory vacation pics. Thank you for indulging me.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are we there yet? (Aren't they so cute cuddling with their iphones?)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_Hja6BcLqQ/UBfbodwQ2LI/AAAAAAAAAb0/_za5J3SAJ14/s1600/HB_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_Hja6BcLqQ/UBfbodwQ2LI/AAAAAAAAAb0/_za5J3SAJ14/s320/HB_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Typical day at the beach: reading, swimming, surfing with family and friends. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My youngest: Where'd she learn to do that?!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Right, back to knitting. With leftover yarn from my Pettine Shawlette, I knit the <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/pom-pom-peds/2008/4/14/pom-pom-peds-the-pattern.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Pom Pom Peds</b></span></a> by <i>Purl bee. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The pattern calls for the top band and a pom pom to be knit using a contrasting color. Well, I just happened to have some leftover Noro Taiyo sock yarn laying around. I think I’ve covered my Noro love affair/obsession in previous posts. I’m not yet seeking therapy, but writing about it does help. Moving on. The yarn was leftover from my Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, which was the second sweater I knit. It’s a great pattern and I wear it often.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Featherweight Cardigan. Click for pattern info <b><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/featherweight-cardigan" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></a></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back to <i>Hamlet</i> or the question at hand. The whole time I’m knitting my footies, I’m thinking about how cool the pom poms will look. A Noro pom pom! Can you imagine the possibilities?! Sorry, calming back down here. Anyway, as I was getting ready to make what could possibly be the most cool pom poms ever, I started thinking about washing these babies. I know. Every now and again, I let my practical side out to play. I machine wash my hand knit socks in Woolite on the hand wash cycle and dry them flat. If I pom pom, using the term as a verb here, I think I’ll have to hand wash. And, I’m worried about how the pom poms will look after repeated washing. So, to pom pom or not to pom pom? That is the question. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What do you think? Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice. ~ Christina</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-3029731311110671732012-07-19T16:13:00.002-04:002012-07-19T16:20:40.750-04:00Brazilian What?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yep, teaser, more on that later... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Npf8KkXGw/UAhcyATJsVI/AAAAAAAAAaM/G_f-gmvY51U/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Npf8KkXGw/UAhcyATJsVI/AAAAAAAAAaM/G_f-gmvY51U/s320/photo-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pettine Shawl Project Details Here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/pettine" target="_blank">Ravelry</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I finished my Pettine shawl over the weekend. It became rather large after blocking (69.5" x 25"), but I am very pleased with the results. I’m still working out the blocking with wires thing. I seem to make extra loops in places where I don’t necessarily want them. I’ll have to surf YouTube to look for a video which will help me sort it all out.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4geVDzNlps/UAhexX9VBAI/AAAAAAAAAaU/2gJwUEcF-YY/s1600/Polevault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4geVDzNlps/UAhexX9VBAI/AAAAAAAAAaU/2gJwUEcF-YY/s320/Polevault.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Took this with my iphone and used Instagram for the fancy lighting effect.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I finished my shawl at the beach, where there was a pole vault competition on Saturday. Very fun to watch and great to see so many people enjoying the ever beautiful Lake Michigan.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7CFbN4dmhU/UAhe0RYBJjI/AAAAAAAAAac/RNHCsDyLndY/s1600/beachknitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7CFbN4dmhU/UAhe0RYBJjI/AAAAAAAAAac/RNHCsDyLndY/s320/beachknitting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See, I really do knit at the beach almost every weekend.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have quite a bit of sock yarn leftover from the shawl. About 90 grams to be exact-ish. So.... I decided to actually knit footwear with it. Crazy, I know. I found a free pattern from <i>the Purl bee</i> for footies with pom poms, <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/pom-pom-peds/2008/4/14/pom-pom-peds-the-pattern.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. And, I have Noro Taiyo sock yarn </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">left over</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">from my Featherweight Cardigan, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/featherweight-cardigan" target="_blank">click here</a>, to use for the contrasting color. I was also spot on with gauge. Since I’m using leftover yarn, I'm calculating the cost via the voodoo economics method and telling the hubs they are free. Not to worry, he doesn’t read my blog. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plenty of yarn AND gauge!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">About that title... Those of you who know me personally, know I have been cursed with naturally frizzy hair. No, I’m not exaggerating. And, my frizzy tangle is not really beautiful ringlet curls that are to die for. I wish. Those who only know me from pictures, have seen me after much time has been spent with flatirons and anti-frizz products formulated by scientists from MIT and Harvard. Not an exaggeration there either. Check out the No Frizz product line by Living Proof: <a href="http://www.livingproof.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.livingproof.com</span>/</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> For years I’ve said, and I quote myself here: “Scientists can return shuttles from space and protect them from burning up in the atmosphere, can they not tame frizz, seriously?!” Well, apparently now they can. Finally, a salon in my sleepy little hamlet started offering </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the Brazilian Blowout (some sort of keratin and formaldehyde cocktail applied with a blowdryer and flatiron)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">. I am, for all my complaining, way too lazy to drive to the bigger city 45 minutes away to tame my frizz. Here are my before and after pictures. The results are amazing! I actually hugged the salon owner, who is a complete stranger, when I saw and felt my hair. The real test will come next week as we head to the lovely, but humid state of North Carolina for a week on the ocean. I’ll report back on the status of the frizz.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before (and somewhat behaved)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fELoQDfSyGY/UAhiVbr5J3I/AAAAAAAAAaw/3fgwt95z9D0/s1600/after3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fELoQDfSyGY/UAhiVbr5J3I/AAAAAAAAAaw/3fgwt95z9D0/s320/after3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After: Can't believe that's my hair!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for reading. Am off to pack and find a few projects for the trip. Keep in touch. I sincerely enjoy reading and responding to your comments :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Signed, Christina with well-behaved hair for the next 12 weeks.</span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-65253071078284391842012-07-11T21:57:00.001-04:002012-07-11T22:13:10.476-04:00Beads?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Favorite Scarf Ever. Pattern info via <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/favorite-scarf-ever" target="_blank">Ravelry.</a></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know nothing about beads. Not completely true. I know that beads are round-ish and have holes so they can be strung. Relevance? Well, a while back I bought some van Gogh inspired sock yarn at my LYS. (Translation: local yarn shop) <b><a href="http://christinapurls.blogspot.com/2012/04/chili-blues-van-gogh-frenchmen-and.html" style="color: magenta;" target="_blank">Click here</a> </b>to see original post. Later, when I was in another yarn shop, having neither the yarn nor a picture of it on my phone, I stumbled upon matching beads at a trunk show. I like trunk shows and when there is a bead trunk show at a yarn shop... </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3IcpsZxm3Y/T5SkBDz405I/AAAAAAAAAOw/MyFKAUPL8bE/s1600/photobeads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3IcpsZxm3Y/T5SkBDz405I/AAAAAAAAAOw/MyFKAUPL8bE/s320/photobeads.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a pic of the yarn and perfectly matched beads.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, the scarf has been finished and blocked for a while, meaning May 24th. So, after a metaphorical nod to my friend procrastination, I decided there’s no time like the present to add the beads. I’ve never added beads before, but I have added fringe, should be easy, right? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzkazgSrLFQ/T_4mFm-UAhI/AAAAAAAAAZc/-xVS5AK4Zng/s1600/colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzkazgSrLFQ/T_4mFm-UAhI/AAAAAAAAAZc/-xVS5AK4Zng/s320/colors.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready for beaded fringe</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not so fast. Due to my lack of knowledge regarding beading along with my disdain for most things math, I paid no mind whatsoever to the diameter of the holes in relationship to the size of my yarn. In other words, the yarn was too large to simply string through the beads. And, the beads were too large to loop and crochet. Thus, my dream of adding beaded, crocheted fringe was not to be. Sigh.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Beads attached to yarn and ready to become fringe.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Again, not so fast. After mourning the demise of my dream for a respectable 5 minutes or so, I dried my eyes and set about making this work. I mean, the beads and yarn are a perfect match. I ended up tying/rigging the yarn with regular thread and using a sewing needle to thread/force the yarn through the bead. I attached with a crochet hook and voila! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Queue the happy-ending music and roll the credits: beaded fringe.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm very happy with the results. Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear about your project challenges and how you overcame them! ~ Christina</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-1085708559581781242012-07-02T22:36:00.002-04:002012-08-07T23:17:42.874-04:00The Perfectionist and the Lifeline: A Story with a Happy Ending<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once upon a time a perfectionist named Christina decided to knit a lace shawl. She had once again bought sock yarn that was far too beautiful to hide inside shoes, and she had given up wearing glass slippers long ago. So, Christina set off on a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">quest with her friends <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b></a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/christinapurls/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Pinterest</b></span></a>, and before long found the perfect pattern. Click here: <b><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/pettine" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Pettine Shawlette</span></a></b>. In no time at all her Visa card was back in her wallet, the pattern was downloaded, the swatch was completed, and her needles were clicking away. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPIQ1LY8t0k/T_JZS7LRn2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/5IzZHO9G0fc/s1600/pettine+swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPIQ1LY8t0k/T_JZS7LRn2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/5IzZHO9G0fc/s320/pettine+swatch.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish you could feel how soft this yarn is.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, alas, Christina was a perfectionist and would notice a stitch here or there that wasn't quite right, so she ripped her shawl four, yes, four times. "At this rate, I'll never finish," Christina despaired to no one in particular, for her family had learned not to respond to her random prattle whilst knitting. Christina pondered her dilemma. The yarn was so beautiful - what with its subtle, nuanced, natural shades, and baby soft texture; the pattern would so perfectly show off its beauty and sit so softly against her skin, but it was proving to be a frustrating knit. Convinced these two were a perfect match, Christina refused to give up. She knew her prince would ride in and, oops wrong story ... Christina was a resourceful, determined knitter and needed no prince. She thought through her previous challenging projects and then remembered lifelines. Yes, lifelines: the perfect solution! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOZQ2Yh7hVM/T_JW8eXJyBI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Hyg0orGXJAs/s1600/lifeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOZQ2Yh7hVM/T_JW8eXJyBI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Hyg0orGXJAs/s320/lifeline.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lifeline: simply thread yarn (same or lighter weight) through a tapestry needle and work through the last completed row. Keep track of which row the lifeline is in. If you have to rip, just rip back to the lifeline and carry on. Genius.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with that, she cast on again and clicked away happily ever after ;)</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-38644337665307249602012-06-28T14:31:00.000-04:002012-07-01T21:36:47.460-04:00Braids, Parties, and Stoles<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNMfGb6z_oE/T-ydhroEEcI/AAAAAAAAAU0/PpJPS4nBu7I/s1600/photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNMfGb6z_oE/T-ydhroEEcI/AAAAAAAAAU0/PpJPS4nBu7I/s320/photo-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bits and pieces of my Quinn Cabled Bag</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I learned a new skill today: how to braid with 4 strands. The bag I’m making calls for a 4-strand, braided, i-cord strap. So... I did what every knitter does when faced with a skill she (or he) doesn’t know how to do yet: I surfed YouTube. How did people craft before YouTube? Never mind. That was a rhetorical question. Anyway, my Quinn bag and strap are completed and just need a Eucalan bath and finishing touches, like lining. The Quinn Cabled Bag by Yvonne Kao is a free pattern. You can link to pattern details here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/quinn-cabled-bag"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ravelry</span></b></a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNGEqqhq09M/T-ye9mgJwWI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jmelM9OoNX4/s1600/Quinn+Strap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNGEqqhq09M/T-ye9mgJwWI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jmelM9OoNX4/s320/Quinn+Strap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 strands of i-cord before and during braiding.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh and here’s a link to the video on braiding 4 strands: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pOEfGKCkaY&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>YouTube</b></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> The video is very clear and easy to understand. Plus the narrator has a cute accent. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This past Saturday, w</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">e threw a successful graduation party for my youngest, Shelby. It was successful in that the weather was perfect, the rented tables and chairs showed up on time, we had plenty of food and drink, the couture cupcakes were a hit, and most importantly we got to visit with family and friends.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shelby - the happy graduate</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFKkTglXWMg/T-yfmaDrpII/AAAAAAAAAVE/n2_qnzMtCvk/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFKkTglXWMg/T-yfmaDrpII/AAAAAAAAAVE/n2_qnzMtCvk/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make your own nacho bar: a big hit!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_guceAbkVN4/T-yfvGqDlvI/AAAAAAAAAVc/vDAOKp1ATuo/s1600/photo-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_guceAbkVN4/T-yfvGqDlvI/AAAAAAAAAVc/vDAOKp1ATuo/s320/photo-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lemon raspberry mini cupcakes. Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did I mention she's going to Michigan State?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lastly, I inherited a mink stole from my great aunt, Charlotte. It’s gorgeous and in perfect condition. Her initials are even embroidered inside and there’s a cell phone pocket. Okay, I’m fairly certain that originally the pocket was not intended for a cell phone. Then again, maybe, just maybe, Aunt Charlotte was a visionary.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWf6TGvR4Iw/T-yhFJh_rxI/AAAAAAAAAVs/irvkuo-xB_w/s1600/photo-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWf6TGvR4Iw/T-yhFJh_rxI/AAAAAAAAAVs/irvkuo-xB_w/s320/photo-11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aunt Margaret and me modeling our gorgeous furs!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Happy summer to you. Thanks for reading! ~ Christina</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-74826952362196662982012-06-22T22:12:00.000-04:002012-06-26T22:29:19.176-04:00Needles!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I should have been cleaning, I played around with knitting needles I inherited from both of my Grandmas...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the blue Mason jars. They came with our house. I hope you had time to play when you should have been working ;) ~ Christina</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-15750754449053221502012-06-18T20:13:00.000-04:002012-06-18T20:13:07.761-04:00Projects!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well I recently finished the most adorable thing I’ve knit so far. I made a blanket buddy for my dear friend’s first baby who will be born on Friday. A blanket buddy is part blanket and part stuffed animal. I’ve never made anything stuffed before. Likewise, I have never assembled stuffed parts or embroidered. The project also gave me the opportunity to play with intarsia (a technique for knitting with colors for you non-knitters). I think it turned out great and stretched my skills as a knitter. Though I did sew the ears on upside down. So, the project also helped me grow in my practice of humility. Knitting does have a way of humbling a person. Click <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/baby-pears-the-blanket-buddy"><b>here</b></a> for pattern info. All this adorableness from a $3 pattern. Can't wait to give it to baby CJ!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZRODGusp_Q/T9_ACjmAaoI/AAAAAAAAATE/NyNf6lwsIl4/s1600/photo-6_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZRODGusp_Q/T9_ACjmAaoI/AAAAAAAAATE/NyNf6lwsIl4/s320/photo-6_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NROEL673SoE/T9_AD-ImjlI/AAAAAAAAATM/bzXqicwhvUQ/s1600/photo-7_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NROEL673SoE/T9_AD-ImjlI/AAAAAAAAATM/bzXqicwhvUQ/s320/photo-7_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out that stellar arm attachment and the ear seams!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For my next trick, or project, I began a cabled purse and am almost halfway finished. One tip about cabling - check your work after each cabled round or row, so if you, ahem, cable the wrong way you catch it right away. I only had to rip 3 rounds so far - not too bad. “Rip” - a knitting term involving pulling a project off the needles and unraveling. My family doesn’t like the color. They say it’s “old lady pink,” whatever that is. I didn’t realize colors had ages, so call me an “old lady,” but I love this shade of pink. The yarn is called Remix by Berroco. It’s been great to knit with. This is a free pattern. You can get info here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/quinn-cabled-bag"><b>Ravelry</b></a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The actual color is a little less salmon-y. I was getting fancy with Instagram (see below).</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;">I also recently finished a book titled “Forgotten Country” by Catherine Chung. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was a journey for me in both history and family relationships. The book is rich in Korean history and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about both. The book also inspired me to reflect upon the complex nuances of family relationships. Oftentimes, family interactions are shaped by role expectations established early in life, but, people evolve and change. And, then factor in misconceptions and misunderstandings - a sticky web indeed. Right. Back to the book. Although I enjoyed learning about Korean history and culture, I did not feel connected to the main character, Janie. She was flat and lacked personality. Her sister Hannah was also difficult to feel invested in, but I did relate to her more than Janie. Oddly, I felt most invested in their father, a complex and unconventionally conventional man. I liked the book but did not love it. If you are interested in the non-Western world and enjoy reading about family relationships, I'd say give it a go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally, I’m preparing for my youngest daughter’s graduation open house this Saturday. Tables and chairs are ordered. The flower beds are weeded, sort of, and need a fresh layer of bark. We just need to finalize the cupcake flavors, buy the food, pray for a gorgeous rain-free day, and deep clean the house just in case...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh and before I go, I’m also now on Instagram thanks to said daughter. You can follow me as christinapurls. Hope all of your projects are going well. Do share details. Thanks for reading. ~ Christina</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-66300202639182004912012-06-03T18:01:00.001-04:002012-06-26T22:26:30.422-04:00Finishing, Starting, and Busy in Between<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First the finishings... My youngest daughter, Shelby, graduated with honors from high school Thursday night. We are very, very proud of her. And, I think we were all ready for this chapter of her life to come to an end. She’s ready to move on to college, Michigan State University, and I was ready to be done with school. My girls are 4 years apart, so I’ve been in high school for 8 years. Definitely time to close that book of fond memories, vigilance, lunch money, dances, swim meets, soccer games, choir concerts, etc.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O67UTfA9zWM/T8vYdX_BFTI/AAAAAAAAASI/wdhxemCRP5Y/s1600/photo_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O67UTfA9zWM/T8vYdX_BFTI/AAAAAAAAASI/wdhxemCRP5Y/s320/photo_2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here's a picture of the happy graduate and me.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As for knitting, I finished my Oaklet Shawl. Click here for pattern details: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/oaklet-shawl">RAVELRY</a>.</span></b> I’m very happy with the finished product, both the yarn and the knitting. It was my first experience blocking points out on wires, and I learned much through trial and error. Isn’t that usually the best way? Anyway, if you look closely, you can see some of the loops made when I fed the wire through the lace. I need to feed and pin those better next time around. One cool thing about working with yarn is that I can fix the loops by getting it wet and re-blocking. Right, I’ll get on that in my spare time.<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my shawl on blocking wires.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lucky for me the weather turned chilly so I could wear my shawl right away. I think I’ve covered Michigan’s crazy weather in a previous post. Anyway, it really is not a huge exaggeration to say you can be in a swimsuit one day and a snowsuit the next. So, below is a picture of me wearing my shawl and long sleeves on June 2, which happens to be hubby’s and my 12th wedding anniversary. No need for a shawl 12 years ago in Las Vegas where we were married. Lest you think the worst of me, we planned to get married there. It was not a drunken-regret-it-the-morning-after-affair. We had a lovely chapel wedding, a minister called Rob, and I wore a shimmery pale pink dress that still fits!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sorry. I’m getting off track. Now for the in between. Finished my shawl on Tuesday or Wednesday, blocked it, and cast on another project. Shelby graduated Thursday, my 29th (again) birthday was Friday, and our anniversary was Saturday. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lQMpb2YiEc/T8vck0JNNaI/AAAAAAAAASw/f_fYOOszxUo/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lQMpb2YiEc/T8vck0JNNaI/AAAAAAAAASw/f_fYOOszxUo/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Which brings me to starting. I began a blanket buddy for my dear friend who’s expecting her first child, Calvin James, the end of this month. This is the same friend I knit the booties and mitts for in April. A blanket buddy is part stuffed animal and part blanket. I found this adorable elephant/blanket pattern for 3 bucks - and, well, did not even try to resist. Click here for pattern details: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/baby-pears-the-blanket-buddy">RAVELRY.</a> This has got to be the most adorable thing I’ve knit yet. Although I think I’ve said that about every baby project.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the pieces so far.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Adorable, right? Thanks so much for reading. Hope your week wasn't too busy and you had time to enjoy something just for you :) ~ Christina</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-11712947324929176032012-05-27T11:46:00.000-04:002012-06-26T22:24:08.731-04:00Unwinding!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First and most importantly, hope you all are unwinding on this long Memorial Day weekend. Thank you to all of our service men and women both past and present for your many sacrifices. Honoring you this weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“What have I been up to the past couple of weeks?” you ask. Or, maybe you didn’t ask, but please humor me here as I catch you up. Oh, and my goings on are in no particular order.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve finished knitting my lace scarf. See the picture above. I am going to add beaded fringe so it’s not officially finished, but it's finished enough to blog/blab about. I used blocking wires for the first time. It does take forever to guide the wires through the knitting, but the result is fantastic. My scarf is light and lacy, and I’m in love with the Van Gogh inspired colors. This is a free pattern. Click here for details: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/favorite-scarf-ever"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ravelry</span></b></a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blocking with wires</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I’m also (still) stash-busting and am determined not to buy anymore yarn until I use up (most of) what I have. With this in mind, I dove into my stash with the intention of knitting a pair of socks. But, just look at these amazing colors. The photo does not do justice. Too gorgeous to hide in a pair of shoes, I agree. So, I did some surfing on Ravelry and Pinterest and found this free pattern for a shawl. I have about 7 rows left and am up to about a million stitches per row or maybe 247. Click here for information: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/oaklet-shawl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Ravelry</b></span></a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DtK0S_JhN4/T8JIw57Z3AI/AAAAAAAAARk/rNeHP7Gz61k/s1600/oakletshawl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DtK0S_JhN4/T8JIw57Z3AI/AAAAAAAAARk/rNeHP7Gz61k/s320/oakletshawl1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last weekend we went to Indiana to see my younger brother graduate from Indiana Tech. I’m very proud of him. He’s been working hard to get his degree and has given up much in terms of time: family time and time for himself. Hopefully he’ll get some time to unwind soon.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My little bro and me</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I’ve also sent in a square to participate in my first ever yarn-bombing. I knit this square using a pattern from the book “100 Afghan Squares to Knit” by Debbie Abrahams. The charity is in Ireland and is raising money to provide service dogs to people in need. I must say I am very impressed with the U.S. Postal Service. I mailed my square Monday and it made it to Ireland (yes, that Ireland - the one across the Atlantic Ocean) by Friday. No more snail-mail jokes from this knitter!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next, just call me Heloise, because I’m about to give you a helpful hint about unwinding yarn. After spending one too many hours untangling gargantuan, colossal yarn knots, I tried an unwinding suggestion from a friend: use a chair. It worked beautifully. Here’s a picture.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No more tangles!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It’s beautiful beach weather here again in Michigan. Spent yesterday afternoon unwinding on the beach with our dear beach friends and am headed back today. </span>Thanks for spending some of your weekend with me. Hope you are unwinding as well. Would love to hear about your goings on. ~ Christina</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-48519059008201768082012-05-11T20:07:00.002-04:002012-07-13T19:57:59.215-04:00Have You Read Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd say my ramblings here are my opinion rather than a proper review. So, you've been warned; continue reading if you will. I loved this book. The characters and plot call to mind a well-written, chick-lit, beach-read - although it was written in the 1940's. Were chick-lit and beach-read genres then? Anyway, the story starts somewhat slowly, but before long I was thoroughly engrossed. The book has been criticized as being frivolous and escapist. But, it has much to say on the limited options of women in the late 1600s. Issues that are still, ahem, somewhat relevant today. I think I was as smitten with Dona and her desire for autonomy and self-fullfillment as I was with the swashbuckling (sorry I had to type that), sexy, French pirate. And, William the faithful (albeit one-dimensional) servant: impossible not to love him. Here's the equation for the story, in no particular order: action & adventure + passion + love + a French pirate (oh, did I already mention him?), + humor + suburb writing = a story that has become one of my all-time favorites. So, escape with <i>Frenchman's Creek</i>, and if you do read it, I'd love to hear what you think of it. ~ Christina</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-80373925921309510612012-05-06T21:40:00.001-04:002012-07-13T19:58:20.564-04:00Busy Weekend!<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s been a while since I blogged, and since it’s a school night I’ll make this short and visual. I can finally show pictures of my secret baby shower gift and write (brag) about my daughter’s graduation from college. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here’s what I was working on for my dear friend who’s having her first baby. Calvin James is due the end of June. I need to make sure his hands and feet are warm and cozy. The patterns are from Sublime and the yarn is just that - Sublime: silk, cashmere, extra fine merino wool. You get the idea. I haven’t done much baby knitting, but I could really like this. The yarn is amazingly soft, the projects take hardly any time, and the finished products are so darn cute!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Little Cyril Shoes from Sublime. Pattern info here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/little-cyril-shoes">Ravelry.</a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfL6-mwK7OM/T6cioNKD3-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/Wm9EUhif8hw/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfL6-mwK7OM/T6cioNKD3-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/Wm9EUhif8hw/s320/photo-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little Cyril Mitts from Sublime. Pattern info here: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/little-cyril-stripey-mittens">Ravelry.</a></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EdvffBEG0KA/T6cip0RggHI/AAAAAAAAAPk/v-QkiYsvTkQ/s1600/photo-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EdvffBEG0KA/T6cip0RggHI/AAAAAAAAAPk/v-QkiYsvTkQ/s320/photo-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And, I even got crafty with the packaging!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now, my big finale, drumroll sound... My oldest daughter, Heather, graduated from Michigan State University today. She plans to be a teacher. She student teaches in the Fall at the elementary school where me, my mom, and my aunts all went. I’m very, very proud of her. Here are a few photos.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">School of Education ceremony at Breslin Center in East Lansing.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3BLaPk5TdE/T6cj8mRwJ5I/AAAAAAAAAQM/fxAmaBDgYpQ/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3BLaPk5TdE/T6cj8mRwJ5I/AAAAAAAAAQM/fxAmaBDgYpQ/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Michigan State is Magic Johnson's alma mater .</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our family - Heather's in green ;)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> My girls. This is one proud momma!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for reading. I'd love to hear about your projects and proud moments ~ Christina</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-46592704658475227122012-04-22T21:11:00.001-04:002012-06-26T22:22:03.210-04:00Chili, Blues, Van Gogh, Frenchmen, and Secret Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You're probably asking yourself what these seemingly random things have in common, right? Well, me of course! I’ve been busy this week. So in no particular order, here’s what I’ve been up to. I started a new project called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Favorite Scarf Ever</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. You can link to pattern information here: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/favorite-scarf-ever"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ravelry.</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDQxrjDnu8/T5SkDqY15SI/AAAAAAAAAO4/ivrTopcngH0/s1600/scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDQxrjDnu8/T5SkDqY15SI/AAAAAAAAAO4/ivrTopcngH0/s320/scarf.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my WIP - notice the scalloped edge.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did I mention the pattern is free? It’s knit using sock yarn in two pieces and joined in the middle. This way each end will have a wonderful scalloped edge (see above) due to the chevron pattern. I found this yarn at my local yarn shop. The colors are inspired by the colors in paintings by Vincent Van Gogh. When an art lover who’s a knitter or a knitter who’s an art lover stumbles upon such a find, well, someone like that couldn’t possibly be expected to resist.</span></span></div>
<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16.8px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M77JRjBSj7U/T5SmKZV-fzI/AAAAAAAAAPA/X8eMLgXX-qY/s1600/805_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M77JRjBSj7U/T5SmKZV-fzI/AAAAAAAAAPA/X8eMLgXX-qY/s1600/805_0.jpg" /></a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a picture of the yarn from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Opal's website.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Click </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.sockenwolle.de/product_info.php?info=p805_Opal-Vincent-van-Gogh-Col--5431.html&XTCsid=a1bn6pccofjcna9ff7auvbmr51"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> to link.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And, now a helpful hint when you need to split your skein:</span></span></div>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xjiwpEGbuM/T5Sj-ENIocI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ejF5yq_kFdk/s1600/VanGoghYarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xjiwpEGbuM/T5Sj-ENIocI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ejF5yq_kFdk/s320/VanGoghYarn.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To divide yarn for a project like this, use a food scale. Wind yarn until it's half the total weight, then cut.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Thursday, who can believe my luck, I stumbled upon beads that match this yarn in another yarn store, and I didn’t even have the yarn with me. So, I’m going to add some beaded fringe. I can’t wait to finish this project.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you believe how perfectly these beads go with the yarn?</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16.8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday night I curled up with the classic, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Frenchman’s Creek,</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by Daphne Du Maurier. I’m just getting into it, but I loved her book, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rebecca, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">so</span> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know I’ll love this one too. This is the first paper book I’ve read in about a year and a half since getting my Kindle. Holding the book and turning the pages came right back to me, just like riding a bike! Although I do miss reading hands free with my Kindle propped up on a pillow. Not to worry though, I’m sure I’ll persevere.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">H<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">ere's a picture of my library book</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19.2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturday we went to a local chili cook-off with friends that features blues music. The name of this event is appropriately: Chilly Blues. The contest is held at a restaurant on the channel that leads to Lake Michigan. Gotta love West Michigan; you just pitch a tent and bring in some heaters and you can have events like this all year long. The weather was sunny so it was a gorgeous albeit chilly day</span></span>. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here we are in the tent. The tall thing behind us is a heater.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, I was invited to the baby shower of a dear friend. The shower’s in a couple of weeks. So... I began a knitting project that I can’t really talk about yet or it will ruin the surprise. I’m about halfway through the first item, and I think it’s about the cutest little thing I’ve ever knit. And, the yarn is Sublime! Really, that’s what it’s called: Sublime. Check out the composition: 75% extra fine merino, 20% silk, and 5% cashmere. Let’s just say it’s a good thing what I’m making would never work for an adult or I’d be tempted... scratch that, I’m sure I can find something to make for myself with this yarn ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, I better get back to clicking my needles so I can make some progress on these projects and still have time to read before hitting the sack. As always, I’d love to hear about your projects and latest reads. Thanks for following along! ~ Christina</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-7751429458213100122012-04-15T19:39:00.000-04:002012-06-26T22:21:15.430-04:00¡Mexico, mi amor!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Huatulco, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your semi-tropical climate with eternal warm winds and hot days.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your nine bays home to turquoise water and tropical fish.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your coarse sandy beaches where seashells roll to and fro with the rhythm of each wave.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your majestically brown mountains.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your spiked cacti reaching up to greet an azul sky.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your musical language and sensual food.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love your beautiful people.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mostly, I love your ¡hay no problema! way of life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ve been on vacation and so have not blogged. I took a vacation from the US, my smart phone, and knitting. Yes, even knitting. I needed to rekindle an earlier love - reading. For 6 days I sat by an Infinity pool nestled between the </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains and</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the Pacific Ocean and just read. (See picture above.) Well, in between aquarobics, snorkeling, and walking the beach, I read. I finished Dr. Zhivago - a Russian classic I’ve longed to read. Not much to say about the book: it’s Russian and it’s a classic. Two qualities I love in a book and well worth the challenging read. I also consumed a book called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Yellow House</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, written by Patricia Falvey. This historical fiction novel takes place in Ireland before, during, and after World War I. As I followed the life and loves of the main character, Eileen, I learned about the history of the violence between Protestants and Catholics on that island nation and its struggle for freedom from the British. To say I was sucked in is an understatement. If you love historical fiction and a strong female character who is flawed but lovable, you must read this book!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now on to the other aspects of my vacation. We stayed at a resort called Dreams in Huatulco, Mexico. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Dreams Resort</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Huatulco is a region in the state of Oaxaca (near Guatemala) developed by the Mexican government to be a tourist destination. This was our second trip to the resort and I highly recommend it. Not many Americans have yet discovered this region. The staff speaks little English, but knows enough to meet your needs and is endlessly patient as you recall and practice your high school Spanish. The tourists at the resort are largely Mexicans, with Canadians and Americans comprising just about half. The sound of Spanish fills the pool areas and restaurants and the general attitude regarding anything you should need: it’s no problem. I think I could live there!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Here's a picture of our room at the resort.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lastly on to knitting, since I’ve been home, I finished my Ericka Scarf. Pattern details can be found here: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/the-ericka-scarf">Ravelry.</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vr8dOwBqfWE/T4tZqWxmApI/AAAAAAAAANY/Td9ntYbKe-A/s1600/ErickaScarf4:14:12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vr8dOwBqfWE/T4tZqWxmApI/AAAAAAAAANY/Td9ntYbKe-A/s320/ErickaScarf4:14:12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a picture of my scarf before blocking.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ll leave you with just a few pictures of beautiful Hautulco. Adios mi amigos ~ Christina</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The girls at one of the Infinity pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The ruins at Copalita, about 2000 years old!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Shelby and me all snorkeled out!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tropical fish - underwater cameras are a blast!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow! Another gorgeous week in West Michigan. The temperature was in the 80s a couple of days here in Grand Haven. To celebrate this summer-like weather I have decided to knit a scarf. Yep you just read that. Actually I’m stash-busting, which in the knitting world means using yarn you bought once upon a time either for a project you never made, or because it was sooo soft, or because you were in a new yarn shop and had to buy something, or because the colors were too beautiful to pass up, or because it was on sale and yarn is NEVER on sale, etc. You get the idea. On a side note to the definition of stash-busting, the knitter’s significant other may know about the stash but usually has NO IDEA how much cash is tied up in it. There is no need to disclose this information. Think of how upset he or she might become. There is no need to inflict this sort of anguish on a partner. Best the knitter suck it up and carry the load alone. It’s the right thing to do, really. Sometimes, ignorance really is the kindest way. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-6lTXEhHzc/T2-lWVjj2dI/AAAAAAAAALw/TwmRxpQAiu0/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-6lTXEhHzc/T2-lWVjj2dI/AAAAAAAAALw/TwmRxpQAiu0/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a couple pictures of my scarf. Click for pattern information: </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/the-ericka-scarf" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ravelry</b></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My scarf is knitting up nicely. I started it on Thursday and am probably about halfway finished. The colors in the indoor picture are the most true, but I had to get outside and enjoy this weather, so why not take a picture in the backyard? I am loving the way the colors are coming out, and yes, the yarn is Noro. Silk Garden Sock to be exact. Imagine me having “extra” Noro laying around. All I can say is it’s hard to let go of your first yarn love. I’m using size 5 needles with sock yarn so the texture is coming out lace-ish or meshy. The colors and texture will make for a great Spring scarf, assuming Mother Nature lays off the fast forward button and we have some Spring weather.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Of course, I had to buy a book of patterns with which to stash-bust. Such are the mysterious nuances of knitters and their stashes. My new book is titled: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> edited by Judith Durant. The book contains 101 patterns using sock yarn. There are patterns for everything from socks to baby sweaters to bags to mittens to shawls to home decor, etc. I’m using the phrase “home decor” loosely here, some of those patterns are a little out there. Anyway, I picked up the book at my local yarn shop and as you can see have several pages marked for future stash-busting projects. I even color-coded them by type of project. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a picture of the book should you want to pick up a copy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, this fine weather is bringing some May flowers before they've had their April showers. I am joying see crocuses (or is it croci? too lazy to consult a dictionary) in bloom, which I never see due to the abundance of rabbits and deer in my city. I guess the weather is confusing the wildlife too...</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a picture of crocuses/croci in bloom.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back to knitting for me, then off to bed. It's a school night after all. Have a great week and keep in touch :) Christina</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-54381345657480047222012-03-18T20:30:00.000-04:002012-06-26T22:19:55.868-04:00Yep, Spent St. Patrick’s Day Afternoon at the Beach!<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow, what a weekend here in West Michigan. Carpe Diem! Beach weather Saturday and Sunday - and it looks like more is on the way. Spent St. Patrick’s Day afternoon at the beach. Definitely a first for me in my, ahem, 40-ish years of living here.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of feet - mine and a friend’s at the beach yesterday.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s me dipping my toes in the Big Lake. Yes, it was cold!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of the beach scene in Grand Haven St. Patrick's Day afternoon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some brave, for lack of a better word, souls were even swimming. Gotta love teenagers! After an afternoon at the beach and a brief stop at a local watering hole, I spent a lovely evening star-gazing with a new app, SkyView, in flip flops in my backyard. In March! Have to keep typing that because it is beyond belief. Sorry, no pictures of the constellations. Could be my iphone camera or it’s operator, (probably the latter) but the pictures were black with a few dots. Nothing to blog about, oh wait, I just did.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh, and about my knitting. I finished a pair of socks for my Aunt Karel. The pattern is called Windjammer Socks by Jennifer Tepper Heverly. Found the pattern in a book I checked out of the library called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Knitter's Book of Wool. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pattern was pretty fun. My first chevron experience, and I love to knit cables. This pattern has both. You can click <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/windjammer-socks">here</a> for more pattern information. Just have to soak the socks in Eucalan to soften them up. And, of course go out to dinner to gift them :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of Aunt Karel’s socks modeled by my daughter, Shelby.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, I’ve been reading Russian Lit again. I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy this genre. First, it’s challenging so I can’t let my mind wander. And, it’s Russian so it’s filled with the rich history and unique nuances that are Russia. I love that Russian authors are so blunt - never hesitating to call a buffoon a buffoon. Almost forgot to mention that I’m reading </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dr. Zhivago</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I’m about 37% of the way through, according to my Kindle. Spent a few hours in the sunshine with this book collecting tan lines. Yes, tan lines! In March! Sorry, am I overdoing the March weather thing?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, I’m always in the market for a good book, so I’d love to hear about the pages you’re perusing. As always, thanks for reading! ~ Christina</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah, the weekend we lose an hour of sleep for some reason I have long forgotten but I’m sure made sense to some number of bureaucrats at some point in time. Last year I learned that Russia has cancelled Daylight Savings Time because, among other reasons, it confused the cows with respect to milking. Just a little something to think about.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I missed a week of posting and so will catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I have found a new yoga studio and have fallen back in love with the practice. Oh, how I’ve missed the balance, the peace, challenging my body, the connection to the Earth, interacting with other people who practice yoga, feeling strong physically, etc. I could go on and on and on but will spare you. Anyway, very happy to be back.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also attended a conference for a couple of days on using technology in the classroom. I gleaned many new ideas I can’t wait to try out on my unsuspecting 6th grade students, who I have missed and am looking forward to seeing tomorrow! I enjoyed spending time with colleagues outside of school too, something I don’t get to do very often. While wandering through the exhibition booths and shamelessly indulging in the free chocolate, I had time to take a picture with Sparty. And, since Michigan State won today, and I have a Spartan daughter, here’s the picture...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFwN7dvH_5c/T11QY305bAI/AAAAAAAAAKs/iEAgLvFRv6c/s1600/sparty_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFwN7dvH_5c/T11QY305bAI/AAAAAAAAAKs/iEAgLvFRv6c/s320/sparty_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a picture of Sparty and me</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, I've made HUGE progress on a pair of socks for my Aunt Karel. This is the project that I’m knitting using yarn from my grandmother who passed away last Fall. I found a great pattern with cables and chevrons so ditched making up my own pattern, for now. Anyway, the pattern is called Windjammer. You can link to pattern information via Ravelry </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/windjammer-socks"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. It’s another pattern I’m knitting using a library book.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of the first sock. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I just need to finish up the foot on the second sock, another 50 rounds or so, plus or minus. The best part of the project will be giving them to my aunt, as that will involve going out to dinner.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, I have been springing - into losing an hour of sleep, into getting back in shape, into sharpening my teaching skills, and into finishing a project. I would love to hear what you’re springing into knitting or otherwise. As always, thanks for reading! ~ Christina</span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512707738010171431.post-41678644233587923502012-02-26T19:54:00.000-05:002012-06-26T22:18:27.862-04:00Always On My Mind<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sorry Willie Nelson you’re not on my mind - family is. This week my mom, a couple of aunts, and my grandmas in particular. I finished up my mom’s mittens by soaking them in my favorite softening formula: Eucalan and Aveda’s Smooth Infusion hair conditioner. I just fill one of those little pink tubs you get at hospitals with warm water, a teaspoon of Eucalan, and pump of conditioner. I swish the mixture around while the tub is filling then add my knitting. I soak for 30 </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">minutes or so, then rinse lightly, just enough to remove any clumps of conditioner that didn't dissolve. If only life’s rough edges could be softened with wool wash and salon hair conditioner, sigh. Enough philosophizing, back to blabbing, I mean blogging.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my mom’s cabled mittens. Isn't the color great? Click </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/lofty-wool-cable-mittens-2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> for pattern and yarn info.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This weekend I was able to deliver both the mittens and the socks I made for one of my aunts. I borrowed a pair of footies from her this past summer and replaced them with a hand knit pair of socks. She says she got the better end of the deal. I enjoyed making them for her.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my aunt’s socks. Click </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/a-nice-ribbed-sock"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> for pattern and yarn info.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My current project is a pair of socks for my only aunt on my dad’s side. I lost my grandma (her mom) this past Fall. I’m using my grandma's sock yarn to make the socks for my aunt. I’m also using this occasion to write my first sock pattern. I'm writing as I knit, so I’ll post the pattern as soon as I test it by knitting the second sock. I’m thinking of calling the pattern: “Grandma’s Slouchy Ribbed Socks.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sr5jBcSB-U4/T0rQrIepbkI/AAAAAAAAAKI/8IN3RGZ5sl0/s1600/sock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sr5jBcSB-U4/T0rQrIepbkI/AAAAAAAAAKI/8IN3RGZ5sl0/s320/sock.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my first sock so far. Click </span></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ChristinaPurls/aunt-karels-ribbed-sock"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> to follow my progress on Ravelry.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And, to complete the family circle, I picked up some goodies from my other grandma (my mom’s mom) this weekend. She passed away in 1992. I still miss her and think of her often. Among other things, she taught me to how blow bubbles with bubble gum, shop for dresses, make Christmas cookies, and respect my elders. My grandpa out-lived her by a number of years, and my mom and her sisters are finally cleaning out their home, which is sort of like stepping into a time machine. Having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, my grandparents saved everything! While I was delivering my homemade wares, my mom and aunts let me take a set of vintage sheets and some costume jewelry. The sheets bring back fond memories of staying the night, and they’ve been well-cared for so they’re in great condition. Although, if they’re now vintage and I slept in them, am I....? Never mind, let’s not go there! I’m excited to take apart the jewelry and create something crafty with it. My grandparents were the ultimate recyclers, meaning they reused everything from milk jug caps (cat toys), to Kleenex boxes (Barbie cars), to banana peels (garden), so I know they’d approve of my up-cycling the beads. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2b1tCKp--Hw/T0rRuNSTj1I/AAAAAAAAAKg/MyFtvr33FKs/s1600/sheets&necklaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2b1tCKp--Hw/T0rRuNSTj1I/AAAAAAAAAKg/MyFtvr33FKs/s320/sheets&necklaces.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s a picture of my new to me goodies :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’d love to hear about your adventures with yarn, up-cycling, crafting, or otherwise. Please share and thanks for reading! Christina</span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02424894022559578681noreply@blogger.com4