Felt Like Knitting

The High Museum of Art

My other brother and his family didn't make it for a visit due to bad weather in Ohio.  So today my mom, Emma, and I went to the High Museum of Art.  I always like visiting the museum and never seem to get quite enough time to see everything I'd like.

Today's main attraction for us was the Leonard da Vinci exhibit.  This featured many of his sketches (among other things) and lots of information about how artists of the day influenced each other.  One of our favorite parts was John the Baptist Preaching to a Levite and a Pharisee by Rustici.  (Sorry for the lack of pictures, but photography wasn't allowed in this exhibit.)

One of my very favorite pieces of art at the High is The Veiled Rebekah by Benzoni.  I probably have already talked about this on my blog, but it's worth another mention.  I just love how the artist captured Rebekah's features through the veil.  It's incredible to me.  (Be sure to click the photo to enlarge it.) 

I hope you have a nice evening ringing in 2010.  We're planning an evening of games, movies, and snacks.  It's time to change into my pajamas and get ready for a night of relaxation!  Happy New Year to you all!

WIP Wednesday - The me edition

           

 

We are all works in progress, right?  Just thought I'd share my new hairstyle with you.  I think this is the trendiest haircut I've ever had.  My old stylist left town so I'm trying someone new.  I really like the cut but may not be able to style it like she did.  I was thinking of starting to color my hair but with this new cut I don't think I will.

 

More important than outside changes are those on the inside, right?  KM recommended a book to me a couple of weeks ago called Crazy Love.  I bought it today and I'm really looking forward to reading this book and seeing how it may change me.  I also bought Forgotten God by the same author. 

 

What are you reading?

Ten on Tuesday

Things got hectic at Ten on Tuesday so there was no official topic, but Carole and Hillary came to the rescue again.  This week's topic is My Ten Favorite Hand Knits of 2009.

This topic makes me laugh and groan at the same time!  At first I thought "I didn't even knit ten things!"  After checking Ravelry, I realized I had accomplished more than I thought but I'm not in love with many of the projects.  Let's see what I come up with...

 

   

     

 

Sorry about the weird placement of these photos.  I brought them in from Flickr and don't have time to edit the HTML code to place them where I'd like.

I guess 2009 was mostly a year of knitting for others and that's fine with me.  But I'm disappointed not to have at least one "WOW!" project.  So for 2010 I'm challenging myself to knit at least one thing that's fabulous (maybe this?) and to take my other projects up a notch.  And I'll have to work on my photography, too!

What was your favorite project this year?

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Good morning, everyone!  If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day.  Today is actually (if I've counted correctly) the fourth day of Christmas and we're still in the midst of our celebrations here.  Some highlights...

-  My brother and my nephew were here for a week and we had a great time!  We visited the aquarium, went bowling, shopped, cooked and ate, worked on a puzzle, played games, went to our church's Christmas Eve candlelight service, etc.

-  My brother liked his mitts!!!  I'm really happy about that!  I made hockey-print flannel pajama pants for my nephew.  My brother is such a huge hockey fan that I bought more hockey material for a pair of pants for him, too.  In fact, his Christmas tree is hockey themed.  Any ideas for knitted hockey-themed Christmas ornaments for next year?  I was thinking of knitting a sweater that looked like a hockey jersey but there is probably something more unique that I could do.

-  My mom is still here and will go back later with my other brother who gets in this week.  We've played several games of Scrabble and are planning on making meatballs and sauce later today.  Yum!

-  I tried out one of my Christmas presents (a skillet) and made potato pancakes yesterday for lunch.  They were made with onion and garlic and were pretty tasty.

-  This is definitely not a highlight...  Emma was sick.  Fortunately, it was a 24 hour bug and she recovered quickly.  Steve's parents were going to stop back in yesterday evening but instead drove through Atlanta.  We were disappointed but also didn't want them to get sick.  I'm glad we got to visit with them earlier this month!

-  I'm still working on Christmas knitting!  Earlier this year I knitted a beret for one niece and am just now finishing up one for my other niece.  I just deleted the photos from my computer so I'll have to take an FO photo later to show you.  (Or there is a photo on my Ravelry projectspage.)  And I've decided that my brother and his wife each need a pair of mitts, too.  They might end up getting the yarn and IOUs wrapped up in boxes!

I'm really supposed to be cleaning for my family's visit so I'd better get back to it.  Hopefully I can keep up with blogging this week.  If not, I will see you soon!

 

Ten on Tuesday: 10 New Year's Resolutions

I'm going to tweak the topic to 10 Creative Goals for 2010.  Ten things seem like a lot, but there is a whole year to accomplish them, right?  Not in any particular order...

-  Participate in the Knitspot Group's 2010 KAL and knit 12 scarves for the OFA Red Scarf Project.

-  Knit 24 hats for 7 Bridges.

-  Continue to improve my sewing/fitting skills by sewing at least one clothing item per quarter.

-  At the end of each month, look at the next month's birthdays and get cards ready.  I do a terrible job of sending cards out and I'd like to fix that.  Make at least one card each month.

-  Continue to blog regularly.  Having the new schedule has been helping and I hope I can keep it up.

-  Learn a new knitting technique.  A new cast on, a new heel for socks...something to expand my skills.

-  Knit a Christmas gift for each of my parents.  I've known what I want to knit.  I've had the yarn.  I just need to make up my mind and do it this year!

-  Knit/sew a Christmas gift each month.  This works well when I keep up with it.  Keeping up with it on my blog helps, too.  greetingarts told me she likes to see the sidebar when she visits my blog.  I also like seeing it but it's better when it's up to date! 

-  Clean my sewing room...again.  It's hard to create when having to step over and around piles.

-  And another repeat goal...finish my hat pattern.  It's written and I've knitted it several times.  But now I have to reacquaint myself with it, tweak it, have it test knitted, etc.

Monday morning chat

Good morning everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Here's what's been happening around here...

-  I may have already mentioned this...things are starting to blur together.  :)  Beginning last Tuesday, we will have different family members here until January 2.  I think they are placing bets on how long I'll remain friendly to them all.  :)  I'm very excited to have them all visiting us!

-  I decided to finish the mitts for my brother.  One is done (except for the thumb) and the other is 1/4 done.  He has seen me knitting on them but I didn't tell him that they are a gift or that he's the recipient.  It turns out he keeps his thermostat set at 53 and wears gloves while he's on the computer.  So he might really love these mitts!  Thanks for all your input on the decision!

-  My mom and I watched Julie and Julia last night.  I enjoyed it and thought it followed the book pretty well.  It makes me want to cook and blog.  :)

-  We hosted our small group on Saturday evening.  We ate fajitas, played Texas Hold-em and had lots of fun.  It's a good thing I don't try to make a living playing poker!  Fortunately we were just playing with chips and not money.

-  Have you gotten in on the Snuggie craze?  I personally don't care for them but Emma got one for Christmas and was very excited about it.  To each his own!

-  Going from the musical this fall to Thanksgiving to Advent prep and activities, now Christmas...well, I've had to let some things slide.  No Christmas cards going out (maybe after New Year's), no cookie baking except for that reception at church, no worrying about whether I have the right gifts for everyone, etc.  And I'm okay with it.  I can only do so much and it's more important for me to be here for/with my family.

-  Time's up.  I just realized that we left the drinks out on the deck Saturday night and we had a hard freeze last night.  Hmm, wonder what I'll find on the deck?  I'll leave you with some parting thoughts from yesterday's sermon at church:

The joy of Christmas is that Jesus showed up.  He didn't have to.  He could have stayed in heaven where everything was great.  But He chose to come to earth.  So whether you feel like expressing your joy by hugging those around you or by breaking into song... Rejoice!

Have a great week!

C'est fini!

This Friday's finished object is Emma's dress.  The picture doesn't show you how much the dress has changed from the original concept, how many muslins were sewn, how many times the sash was sewn on then taken off...

I am so glad it's done.  I actually feel a bit shaky right now.  Weird, huh?  Trying to get it perfect under a deadline wasn't fun.  I'm disappointed the sparkly organdy didn't work out, but Emma is still happy with the dress.

What I learned...

• Satin is more forgiving than I thought it would be. This material was fairly heavy and it didn't shift around on the machine, for which I was thankful.
• I love using glass head pins. They are very sharp and don't leave holes in the fabric.
• Lining the bodice is much easier than using facings.
• Carole's friend Lois has dressmaking skills and was so nice to answer my questions. And Carole was so nice to contact Lois.
• Start on the prom dress in January!

Have a great weekend!

WIP Wednesday: December 16

Most of you are probably in bed by now and figured that I didn't get around to posting today.  Not so!  I just spent the whole day working on Emma's dress.  It is still a WIP but I'm not going to post a picture until it's done, which should be very soon.

 

I was able to snap a photo of some mitts before the sun went down.  The pattern is Dashing and I'm finding it to be a fun knit.  They are for my brother and I need your opinion.  Here's the scene that caused me to doubt if he'd wear them. 

Me:  I'm knitting these mitts for Tim because he keeps his house so cold.  He can wear them while he's on the computer.  Do they look too girly? 

Steve:  He won't wear them.

Me:  What, are the cables too feminine?  The mitts are brown, that's a nice manly color.  Would you wear them?

Steve:  I'd rather turn on the heat.

That gave me a good laugh even if I didn't appreciate his lack of enthusiasm for my project.  So what do you think?  Would a man wear these fingerless mitts?

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things You Love to Eat/Drink During The Holidays

Since there is no official Ten on Tuesday topic this week, Carole and Hillary have decided to talk about their favorite holiday foods and drinks.  Sounds good to me!

1.  Sailor Duff - This is a steamed pudding (cake) that is covered with warm vanilla sauce and whipped cream.  My grandmother made it and I think of her every single time I make it.  The recipe is even in her own handwriting and I feel blessed to have it. 

2.  Sauerkraut - Because of my German heritage, we eat sauerkraut for good luck on New Year's Day.  This is the only day of the year that I get to sit down to a serving of sauerkraut.  Yum!  (On a side note, I had the best dip at Saturday's party.  It was like eating a reuben sandwich.  I'll share the recipe with you when I get it.)

3.  Stuffed shells - And because of my Italian heritage, we have Italian food for Christmas Eve each year.  My favorite is stuffed shells.  The best part is having leftovers the next day.  It's always a relaxing Christmas day!

4.  Spiced anything - I love the taste of spiced cider/apple juice/whatever.  Here's a recipe I don't make very often but I love to drink:

Hot Cranberry Punch

2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 tablespoon whole allspice
12 inches stick cinnamon, broken
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 cups hot water
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups canned unsweetened pineapple juice
2 1 lb cans jellied cranberry sauce
a few pats of butter

Tie cloves and allspice in cheesecloth.  Combine spice bag, cinnamon, brown sugar, 1 cup water, and salt.  Bring to a slow boil.  Add juice and 3 cups of water.  Crush cranberry sauce with fork (or put in blender with some of the water).  Add to mixture and bring to boil again.  Simmer 5 minutes.  Remove spices.  To serve, put in warmed punch bowl and float butter on top.  Decorate with clove-studded orange.  Serve with stick cinnamon.

When I make it, I skip the punch bowl, butter, and clove-studded orange.  And I don't serve it with stick cinnamon.  I usually let it simmer on the stove but a crock pot would work great, too.

5.  My grandma's candy - This is something I don't get to eat anymore.  My grandma's family had a candy factory when she was young and she was well versed in how to make hand dipped chocolates.  When I was little, she would make and sell her candy at Christmas.  Our family would get a box of it for a present.  My favorites were the chocolate covered cherries and the peppermints, but it was all the best candy I've ever eaten.

6.  Microwave toffee - This recipe came from Southern Living  magazine many years ago.  It's easy and delicious!

7.  Peppermint stick ice cream -  So delicious!  Since I can only find it this time of the year, I stock up on it.  But with Emma also loving mint, the ice cream doesn't last as long as I'd like.  :)

8.  Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's - These are fabulous!  I love the minty taste of the cream filling.  And they're more like DoubleStuf Oreos because they have lots of the filling.

9.  Candy Canes - I only like Bob's.  Other kinds don't taste right to me.  Do you know that fake peppermint taste?  Hate it!

10.  Christmas cookies - It wouldn't be the same without some Christmas cookies.  And they can be so pretty!  I'm not even sure that I have a favorite because they are all so good.  What's your favorite?

Make mine caffeinated, please!

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Today is "finish Emma's dress" day so I need to make this quick.  Hopefully you won't mind bullets again!

The robotics team had their competition on Saturday and did great!  They took home 1st place in Robot Performance and the 1st place Champions Award.  Yea team!  It was much easier to watch the tournament with Emma not actually competing.  (She's the assistant coach this year.) 

Saturday night we had a Christmas party to go to.  I stayed to help clean up and got home about 12:30 or so.  Then I blew up an air mattress for Emma because her friend was sleeping over.  I think I got to bed around 1:45 or so.  Do you think I got up at 6:00 Sunday morning when my alarm went off?  :)

Another very enjoyable event this weekend was a concert by the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Ludwig.  These middles school musicians are so talented.  There is no way I sounded like that when I played my violin in middle school!  Unfortunately I didn't hear much of the concert because I was preparing for the reception that followed.  30+ cookies were gobbled up in very few minutes.  :)

Last night I fell asleep on the couch.  And I found out that Steve's parents are coming tomorrow and I thought it was Wednesday.  My cup of tea this morning will have to have some caffeine in it!  Have a great day, everyone!