Flattery will get you everywhere!

I went out with some girlfriends last night. We've been close for about 10 years, ever since we met at the place I used to work only a day job (a.k.a. pre-children). The one that I am closest to, Pat, is like my surrogate mom. She went with me way back to pick out my wedding dress since my mom is about 600 miles away. She was one of the first visitors when each of my sons were born. You get the idea, she is very supportive. So last November when we were having a ladies night, she said she wanted me to make her a purse. She liked some of the ones I had on my website, but she was more interested in one that I no longer had available, but with some changes. She wanted longer handles, a zipper closure (argh...are you sure, a nice magnetic snap would be lovely!), different colors and such. I really thought she was just trying to support me again, and was not all that into having one of my purses.

So I went yarn shopping the next day and started the purse. I think I knit it up in like a week. The lining and zipper took a little longer than that, but I had until just before Christmas before the next ladies night. Here it is, back when I was working on the lining.

She had her purse with her last night! I knew she didn't just switch it for the occasion since she had come from work. And she had definitely been using it since it had receipts and papers in it too. Things that would not have been put in if she had changed purses just for the occasion. I was so thrilled. It's the first time I've seen one of my own in action!

Hell Week is over!

Phew. It's really been Hell Week and a half.

Oliver is over now. A little bittersweet because of all the preparation that went into it, but we're all really relieved now that it is over! Hubster was great and performed a terrific Mr. Brownlow. In case you don't know, he is the quiet hero (and Grandfather, we find out later) that saves little Oliver from a life of thievery and pickpocketing. So the marathon rehearsals are done and the performances went off without a hitch. Yay!

My mother flew in for the weekend. She needed an excuse to come and see the boys and the play was just that. She enjoyed seeing Hubster in a different element. It was great having her here to distract the boys with some new attention and help lessen the absence of their father. Kidster #1, the 4 yo, really had a great time bonding with her. He misses her already.

The best news of all is that my in-laws are back from their vacation. That means that the boys can do their Monday & Wednesday visits. Double Yay! It was a tough week for them to be gone but we're all putting that past us now, or at least I am!

On a knitting note (finally!), Hubster was hanging around when I was getting this picture of the camera this afternoon. He said, "oh, you started another purse?". Well, that would be the logical thing to say...usually. When I told him it was his retro 70's ski hat he got very excited. "I haven't seen you knit for a while" he said with surprise. He's right, I haven't been knitting during our usual hour before conking out for the night because I have been so tired. I'm still not caught up from Hell Week!

Welcome to my Free Patterns Page!

Click on the picture to get to the pattern
or on the links below for more details.

Braided Cable Handle Tote

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Weapon (Donatello's Bo)

Checkerboard Dishcloth
related blog posts
Ravelry link

Door Thongs
related blog posts

Around About
related blog posts

I hope you make something wonderful!

Finally, a cast 'ON'

OK, I caved. I finally was able to cast on today for a hat for hubster. Kidster #1 (J) wanted to play on the computer while kidster #2 (C) took his nap. This usually works out great for me so I can get a few non computerized things done around here. But I was feeling a little guilty that he didn't have any hand knit love yet. Plus this is his Hell Week. The play is this weekend, and he's got dress rehearsal tonight and tomorrow until pretty late. Then "Oliver" has three performances; Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. That doesn't give any of us time with him for the next 4 days, but it does give me plenty of time to sit at the computer and blog (or maybe do some knitting, hmm?)!

Yarn freeze

It's kind of like a brain freeze of yarn. I can't decide what to cast on next. Oh sure I have a lot of things in my queue. And plenty of yarn to do them with (like that even needs to be said). But I want to get back to knitting purses. Ok, so do it, right? Well, I've managed to make some cold weather gear for both kidsters and myself (all on my ravelry projects page). Hubster got a new coat and hasn't benefited from any coordinated knitting yet. Hmmm...

Ok, here's the real issue...
I'm a monogamous knitter. Is that even possible? Most people I hear from have three, four, even a dozen or more projects going at once. Not me. When you only get about an hour, two if I'm really having a lucky day, then you want to make it count right?

Welcome to my blog...how do you like my neck?

Well, here goes! I hope you enjoy my tidbits about knitting, life, motherhood (I'll try to keep that to a dull, somewhat amusing, roar) and everything else in between. Oh, and I have a website showcasing my hand knit purses, too!

No knitting so far today as kidster #1 was home sick from preschool. In case you don't know how that goes, there is a lot of whining and not being able to find anything at all to do on their own.

I'm going to try to get both kiddos off to bed early tonight (I can hear you laughing) so I can at least get something cast on. Hubster is off at rehearsal (he's in a local theater production of "Oliver", more on that later I'm sure) and I finished my neckwarmer yesterday. And just in time, too. It was 1 degree when I got up this morning! Oh, you just got to love New England, or at least that's what I hear. You can check it out in my ravelry projects, or see my nice warm neck here! Many thanks to ravelry user Kate530 for the pattern, although I did make my own changes.