It's my bag

Everlasting bagstopper....
I love the name of this bag, I love this bag and I love that it won't be delegated to a grocery bag as it was originally planned to be. It is now a bag for anything nice I want to carry, like knitting or books or whatever. It is also a door decoration.














Why is it so special?

I may never wash it either.

Now the disclaimer.
Is this how the bag is supposed to look? Well, not exactly.
Did I use the yarn suggested? No.
Did I follow the pattern exactly? No.
Is any of this intentional? Yes and no.
I used a different yarn because I had it in my stash and I wanted to start the bag. This is also known as frugal.
The bag does not look like the picture because I didn't follow the pattern exactly but it was a TV watching project and every time Jack Bauer gets in a tight spot I tend to loose my place in my knitting. And since Jack gets in a lot of tight spots I get lost a lot. This is also known as taking creative license.
I plan to knit more Everlasting bagstoppers and I may have to let Jack sit the next one out.

One of the babies is here

Avery Nicole arrived Thursday evening. For the first time ever, well at least in recent memory, the gift was done before the baby was. Photographed, wrapped and waiting to be delivered. What the stork brought me was a BAD cold so I can't go visiting, holding, ooooing and ahhhhhing until the cold is gone. I have seen pictures and grandma is floating around at work. The kimono is from the book "Mason-Dixon Knitting" and the hat is called Baby's First Hat, designed by Abigail Goss of Crotiques. I found it online but I haven't been able to find it again.
Miss Avery is barely 6 lbs. so she will probably need to grow a bit before wearing this. I had baby sumo wrestlers so was very thankful for gifts that were a bit larger.

Ravelry Invitation

I got my invitation today! I need a user name and some time to play.

Ravelry

Some interesting numbers. I guess I will be invited to join by the end of the week. I won't be home most of the weekend but I will get to play later. I've heard so much about Ravelry I can't wait to check it out.

9/21 I sent in my info. and I was #34627
10/16 5123 ahead of me and 9984 behind me
10/17 4200 ahead - 10,650 behind
10/18 3527 ahead - 11,028 behind
10/19 3228 ahead - 11,483 behind
10/22 1905 ahead - 12,506 behind
10/23 1204 ahead - 12,937 behind

This is going to be HUGE! Any one already a member? I have heard there is so much incredible inspiration in this one spot. I can hardly wait.

Podcast & Contest

Monday Vickie Howell posted a contest to celebrate the launch of her Podcast Craft. Rock. Listen. Just for linking to the information on her website she would send a skein of her new yarn. Even though I don't think I really know how to do that properly yet I linked to her web site and today I am listed on her blog and I am watching the mailbox for the yarn. How cool is that? A skein of yarn for just a couple minutes of trying to figure out how to do something.
I also entered the contest for some free books but I didn't win any of those. Congratulations to those who did.
Check out Vickie's site for information on her podcast. She has some great guests lined up.

Finished and their stories

Catching up on a few things that were recently finished. The bib goes to a long-time friend for a grand baby to be born soon. The multi-color baby hat is preemie/doll size and doesn't have a home yet. Neither does the pink/lavender one though it has a twin that goes with a kimono that is almost complete. The kimono and hat will go to a baby expected any day now. I guess I had better get the ribbons on the kimono so I can photograph and otherwise prepare it for delivery to the new little one.












This prayer shawl has a sad but "it's a God thing" story. I made the shawl several months ago. It is black Lion Brand Homespun and lots of different pinks, variegated and shades that coordinate with pink. I just loved the feel of it and I couldn't seem to get it to the church office to be used as needed. A week ago Wednesday I also had 5 prayer cloths I had made and intended to drop off at the church office after my Prayer Shawl meeting but the door was locked. I didn't take pictures of the cloths. On with the story. The very next day we received word that a niece in her early 30's with 4 small children and a husband has been diagnosed with breast cancer. That saga continues with the possibility that the cancer has spread.
I immediately knew where this shawl was supposed to go to live. With Kelly. Why did I have 5 prayer cloths with no home? Because Darrin and the 4 beautiful kiddos needed something to comfort them as well. It certainly is a God thing.

Scribble shawls

I have completed two scribble shawls from the book Mason-Dixon Knitting. The first one pictured here I sold right off the needles. I had no intention of selling it. What's a girl to do when someone offers money, enough money to seriously consider selling something you love? 1) Make sure there is enough yarn to make one for herself. 2) Plan on spending the money on more yarn. SOLD!


The second scribble shawl, you can see part of it in the picture below, ended much too soon. The balls of yarn were deceptive and there was not enough of the blue to make the shawl long and swishy. So, it has hung out in my "studio" for the last couple of weeks trying to inspire me to do something with it. Since it would be IMPOSSIBLE to frog that is not an option. A trip to the button box proved the spark to complete this project, I hope. Folded in an uneven rectangle it resembles an asymmetrical shrug that needs something to hold it in place. My plan is to construct a brooch of sorts on a recycled lapel pin with buttons that coordinate with the shawl.
First, a test piece out of white buttons to make sure the glue will hold and my idea will work.

While the Chiefs are trying to loose again, and Clint Boyer is on rain delay I am gluing buttons, deconstructing a sweater and finishing a baby kimono. Hold the phone! The Chiefs just tied the game. Go Chiefs!