Happy New Year 2011

Woo Hoo! Totally awesome experience! We did it! My son and I and a few of my friends did the Polar Bear Plunge at North Ave Beach-Chicago on Jan.1,2011! I repeat- A totally awesome experience!

I was the first to disrobe and plunge into Lake Michigan.

This is me climbing from a layer of ice into the water.



That’s me doing the “plunge”!



That’s me coming out and my friend Pam going in :0) Notice the “ice cubes” floating in the water!



Here’s my son climbing up the layer of ice after his plunge.


I have to do this again!
Carpe Diem -Seize The Day-Happy New Year Everyone! Who's going to join me next time? :0)

Happy Knitting/Crocheting New Year 2009!

I have a list of new year's resolutions! One of which is to knit and crochet from my stash. I guess I am going a yarn diet. I have enough yarn to keep me knitting and crocheting for the next twelve months.

Here are pictures of my knitted Christmas 2008 gifts.

I knitted six Lady Eleanors starting in April 2008 and finally finishing in December 2008. I named each with my sisters' names.

Lady Jewell

Lady Niecy

Lady Sharon

Lady Lynne

Lady Karina

Lady Celeste

I also knitted hat and scarf sets.

For my Dad

For my son

This is less than half of the family members I had on my Christmas knit list. The Lady Eleanors took up most of my knitting time. Next year's Christmas knit gifts will be on a smaller scale so that I can knit for more people. I am thinking about felted items such as purses, wallets, slippers, etc.

Happy Knitting /Crocheting New Year 2009!

Brrrr!!!!

It is very cold here in Chicago.

Had to interrupt my Christmas knitting and knit me up a thick, quick warm hat.

I found this pattern on Ravelry: Brangelina Hat by Laurie Perry.

I knitted it in one afternoon. It is so warm and cozy.

Well back to my Christmas knitting. I will post pics of my finished projects very soon.

Congratulations to all Ravthletes!

Ravelympics 2008 have come to an end.

This Ravthlete is still working on her projects.


Congratulations to all Ravthletes for a job well done!

Let's get ready to rrrrRUMBLE !

I am reviving up for Ravelympics 2008.

Here is the starting line up for my Team Chicago/ Sweater Sprint Event.

I am knitting Santa Cruz Hoodie from Knit 2 Together.

In center court are 6 skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers. The hoodie will be two toned with contrasting colors. The main color is sort of a purple-ish/red-ish color and the contrasting color is sort of a brown-ish/red-ish color. I am knitting with Knit Pick Options Interchangeable needles sizes 7 and 8.

Since Cascade 220 is not as bulky as the yarn in the pattern, I have to do some math to determine the right amount of stitches for the gauge.The websites listed below have useful tips on how to substitute yarn and how to calculate to determine the number of stitches for the appropriate gauge.

http://loomknittinghelp.com/intro/yarn/subyarn.html

http://knittingcrochet.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_substitute_yarns

I am also a ravthlete for Team Hopelessly Over Committed/Work In Progress (WIPs) Wrestling Event.

I will be finishing 2 Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole during this event.

Yarn: Silk Garden Lite

Needles: Denise Interchangeable size 6

BEST WISHES TO ALL RAVTHLETES! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!

Take me out to the ball game!

Today is Stitch N' Pitch℠ day here in Chicago.
(Click on the logo above it will take you to the website)
My knitting buddies and I are going to have a "ball "knitting at US Cellular Field!


Chicago White Sox vs Detroit Tigers.
Got my ticket along with a hot dog value meal coupon and my WIP- I'm good to go!



I had a nice view of the stadium from where I sat.This picture was taken before the game. The field is being prepared.

Lynette and Frankin pose for the camera.

A night of knitting with Lisa, Angie, Barbara, Anna and Lynette.

In the middle of her knitting buddies is Vicki from Loopy Yarns

White Sox win! Sox 5 Detroit 1

A souvenir of Stitch N' Pitch 2008!

Teachers Who Knit Swap

Hello and welcome to my post which features goodies sent to me from my new buddy yogicknitter from across the "big pond" (I like saying that!)
Thank you yogicknitter!

Double Decker Bus

I love this double decker bus shaped postcard. One of the destinations on the bus is Hyde Park Corner. What a coinky dink -- I live in Hyde Park, Chicago. Yogicknitter writes a nice greeting on the back of the card. She also encourages me to start a blog. Well here is the humble beginnings of my blog.

Wallet and buttons

I love the wallet with the neat pockets for stashing knitting tools. The teacher related buttons are adorable. I can get real creative with those.

Ahh! Relaxation Time!

The fragrance of roses is my weakness. Yogicknitter surprises me with rose scented shower cream, foaming bath cream and candles.Yum - I love CHOCOLATE . In my package is Galaxy hot chocolate mix and a coaster for me to place my mug of hot chocolate.The writing on the coaster says, "Life's too short. Don't just sit there, knit something. " LOL! I like that.

My favorite colors!

Yogicknitter captured my favorite colors: green, pink and lavendar. The Knitting magazine features my favorite color pink. This magazine included a supplement that features baby knits. Lots of gorgeous patterns are waiting for me to knit them up. Thank you for the beautiful lavendar color soft tweed classic yarn and the unique looking green hand dyed 100% silk laceweight yarn from hipknits.

Pamper my hands and feet!

My busy little hands will love the Elemis Intensive Hand Repair cream.My often neglected feet will breathe a sigh of relief when I treat them to a pedicure using the Vanilla Foot Softner and pedicure tools.

Yummy Recipes

Ooooo this is my favorite item in the package. This is so special. This is a collection of recipes from the parents and teachers of Orleans Infant and St Stephen's Junior Schools. The illustrations are provided by the children. I am going to make each one.