Freedom House or "Lobster Surprise"

Episode 32

1. Production Scheduling
   1. Events
   2. Shipping
   3. Production
   4. What's in my tea pot
   5. Materials Sourcing
   6. After 5
2. Events
   1. Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival http://www.pbbbbghknitandcrochet.com/ February 10, 11, 12 of 2011.
   2. Camp KIP Session #1 will run April 21-24, 2012 The 2nd Annual Camp Kip retreat will be hosted at Cedar Creek Conference Center in New Haven, MO
3. Shipping
   1. Mohawk Hat by Darlene Dale provided free on www.caron.com I did this in Nate's school colors. Not sure if this was as big of a hit as the beard hat was only time will tell... He says he likes it, but he is a teenager.
   2. The Incredible Custom fit Raglan Sweater by Pamela Costello www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html I'm using this pattern B's horse sweater. I finished a sample of the Loopy the Appaloosa Cloth by Rhonda K white.
      1. This one came down to the wire. I did both sleeves in one night.
      2. Ended up finishing the neck with a simple backward crochet edge.
      3. B wears it but the first time he tried it on he yelled “get it off! Get it off!”
   3. Beaded Ornament from 12 Exquisite Beaded Ornaments to Knit published by Leisure arts. In all I finished 6 Ornaments all but one given away as gifts I still have the one made with my first skein of hand spun. I have what I think is Just enough Mohair to make one last ornament for myself.
   4. The Uber Secret Christmas project was of course the pair of socks my mom asked me to knit for her. I used my go to Light Weight sock pattern by Pattons. The leg and heels fir well, foot width is good the toe is about and inch too long. So these will bounce back from shipping into production for next week.
4. Production
   1. Top Down Raglan Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys time to pick up this sweet baby sweater and get some sleeves on it.
   2. Cable Braided Necklace by Olga Buraya-Kefelian this is what I'm using the bulk of my remaining beaded mohair for. The strips are knitted. They need to be blocked before I start the “braiding” process.
   3. To be cast on...
      1. Mittens in Hand spun
      2. The Shape shifter Shrug from Vampire Knits
         1. That's it I have enough of this hand spun. I'll be checking my yardage carefully s and so as not to have another Ruffled and Ruched scarf on my hands.
      3. Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes. I have a Skein of wolmeisse I'm thinking of using for this. But another shawl?
      4. Or Koolhaas by Jared Flood.
      5. I'm Free! No Pressure I can knot what I want!
5. What's in my Tea Pot
   1. Paromi Tea Lemon Ginger
      1. Oolong Tea (Fair Trade & Organic)
         or
         Our oolong is produced in Ambootia, a tea estate in the Darjeeling district.  Nestled in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4000 feet, the gardens of the estate enjoy a unique combination of climate and elevation that contribute to the gentle, flowery aroma of this distinctive oolong.  The addition of zesty Egyptian lemongrass, coupled with the warmth of ginger from Sri Lanka, makes our lively brew one that can be enjoyed throughout the day.
         
         Ingredients: organic oolong tea, organic lemon grass, organic lemon peel, organic ginger, natural flavor.
         
         
         1. Paromi packaged their tea in amber or painted glass. Cracking open the jar in itself was a treat. The ginger lemon Scent is fantastic. I over steeped this a bit so the ginger was string enough to make my lips tingle. This is a well balanced tea the lemon is more of a floral note and is not acidic like the Tazo Berry tea was. This is another good one and I'll be on the look out for more blends from Paromi in the future.
6. Material's Sourcing
   1. Nantucket from Copper pot Woolies. http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperpot is done and plied. I decided it liked the Navajo plied version of this yarn best. I'm hoping to have enough to make the Shape shifter but it's looking doubtful so I'll be calculating up ,y yardage and whop knows maybe another Ruffled And Ruched scarf or another cowl will be in the works. I really love these colors I wish I could have gotten another ball.
   2. Hidden Valley Farm and Woolen Mill (http://www.hiddenvalleyfarmwoolenmill.com) 8 oz of Mary's Lake effect is on the wheel now, I have one bobbin done and the start of the second this fiber is flying! And I love love love these sunset colors!
   3. I got a HUGE bag of fiber from my mom for Christmas in the bag is some more Mohair YAY! And some goodies from Ewenique Fibers in Alliance, Ohio. I also bit the bullet and bought another bat From Copperpot Woolies called toasted coconut which has Cashmere, Bamboo, polwarth, Merino and copper stellina. I may break into that next or I may save it for when I “Suck Less”
7. After 5
   1. Algonquin Spinners a d Weavers Christmas Party
   2. Inventory Bleck!
   3. Freedom House: Project Christmas.
   4. Lobster Suprise.
   5. Christmas Run Down.
   6. Christmas Memory Contest still open until 12/31!

Milk Jug Luminaries or "Peace On Earth"

Episode 31

1. Production Scheduling
   1. Events
   2. Production
   3. What's in my tea pot
   4. Materials Sourcing
   5. After 5
2. Events
   1. Camp KIP Session #1 will run April 21-24, 2012 The 2nd Annual Camp Kip retreat will be hosted at Cedar Creek Conference Center in New Haven, MO Only 4 months and 6 days to go!
   2. Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival http://www.pbbbbghknitandcrochet.com/ February 10, 11, 12 of 2011.
3. Production
   1. Mohawk Hat by Darlene Dale provided free on www.caron.com the crocheting is done all the fringey bits have been attached to the mo-hawk strip and all that’s left to do is attach the strip to the hat. I started to attach it and was having second thoughts about how to go about it. I'm worrying about getting it centered. Finishing really is not my best thing. Perhaps the next class I take should be one on finishing.
   2. The Incredible Custom fit Raglan Sweater y Pamela Costello www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html I'm using this pattern B's horse sweater. I finished a sample of the Loopy the Appaloosa Cloth by Rhonda K white. I've finished the horse detail on the sweater and have the arms on waste yarn. I think it will start to fly now that I can auto pilot and not have to concentrate on the horse pattern.
   3. Uber secret Christmas project: a bit past the 75 % line. Every thing is back on the needles and is running smoothly. Dear Lord I hope this fits it's intended recipient.
   1. What's In My Tea Pot
      1. Honey Bush Vanilla from Adagio Teas
      2. According to the International Ice Cream Association, Vanilla is by far the most popular flavor, getting a full 23% of all ice cream consumption. Inspired by this love, Adagio has created Honey bush Vanilla, combining the rich, warm dark sugar aroma of vanilla with the honeyed aroma and gentle earthy quality of honey bush herb from South Africa. Soft, sweet and very 'beany' vanilla fragrance (like warm sugar cookies made with fresh vanilla beans). Light, airy finish and lingering honey and warmed sugar aroma. A comforting, caffeine free treat.
   2. Material's Sourcing
      1. Finally finished the bobbin of the Nantucket from Copper pot Woolies. http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperpot. A lovely mix of merino and corriedale in peacock colors
      2. Riding in the car today I asked B how his day at school was. He replied it was fine and asked me how may day at school was and I told him “Oh, I had to go to the factory with the big trucks today.” …
   3. After 5
      1. HECTIC... Hockey, Guitar, shopping, Still no tree, wrapping, work, Baking AHHHHH!
      2. I recreated the cookie! I used the cream cheese cookie dough recipe on bdough before hand and kept it in the fridge. In the mean time I soaked a package of dried apricots in apricot randy over night. (Just enough to cover), the next day I rolled out the dough 1/8 of an inch thick and cut it into circles. Place an apricot on each one and folded it over with the apricot sticking out the top, sealed with fork and baked according to the dough recipe. When cool I glazed them with a simple confectioner’s sugar glaze. Confectioner’s Sugar mixed with small amounts of the soaking randy until I liked the consistency. They're gone now so they must have been good!
      3. Gingerbread cupcakes - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gingerbread-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting/ YUMMY
      4. Next Up Fudge and Rum Balls
      5. DAR Christmas Meeting.
         1. Hearing what others remember about the holidays.
         2. Candles-
            1. Silent Night
            2. Christmas Eve Luminaries
         3. Contest Prizes!
            1. 20.00 gift certificate to Knit Picks
               bbb
            2. 
               A teapot themed sock project bag and a set of Chiagoo Red Lace needles from Slipped Stitch Studios.
            3. 
               
               A set of Pins and Needles earring and a square bangle from Sassafrass Creations.
            4. 
               A skein of Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock (Large Skein) in Amy's Vintage Office.
         4. Remember contest winner's will be drawn on the 31^st! Right now there's about 14 entries and 4 prizes those are good odds!

Taco's for Santa or "Blessed are the Cheese Makers"

Episode 30

1. Production Scheduling
   1. Production
   2. What's in my teapot
   3. Material's Sourcing
   4. After 5
2. Production
   1. Ruffled and Ruched Scarf by Pam Powers Last week I ran out of yarn for this scarf. I have side B torn back and bound off. Side A is next I had a brain dead moment this weekend and had myself convinced the because of the provisional cast on I wouldn't be a able to tear back side A. Earth the AJ the cast on is in the center!
   2. Christmas Kitting: I think it's finally sunk in that there is only 21 day to Christmas this week. My Christmas knitting has gotten a ton of love.
      1. Mohawk Hat by Darlene Dale provided free on www.caron.com the body of the hat is complete with the ear flaps attached. I have the base of the mohawk strip crocheted and I'm in the process of attaching the fringe which is a pain in the keester. The pattern calls for 6 eight inch strands of the mohawk fringe to be double and pulled though one stitch and fastened by passing the ends through the created loop. That's a ton of yarn to be fitting though one tiny stitch. I'm about a ¼ of the way through and the strip is starting to curl. I'm beginning to second guess myself. I may take a second stab at this step and see if possible adding the fringe in 2 or three rows is better.
      2. The Incredible Custom fit Raglan Sweater y Pamela Costello www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html I'm using this pattern B's horse sweater. I finished a sample of the Loopy the Appaloosa Cloth by Rhonda K white. I used the cloth sample as my gauge swatch to get the stitch counts to enter into the worksheet for the raglan sweater. Even in my semi brain dead state today I was able to get the neck for this sweater cast on. I do not care for how the neck looks on this sweater. I don't mind the dropped front but the edge looks unfinished. I think i when I'm done I'll go back and pick up the neck stitched and put a more finished edge on it.
      3. Uber secret Christmas project. I had a lot of time to devote to this project this week and wouldn't you know it I managed to screw it up. I was out and about town this weekend to it and was knitting on this a lot. SO much in fact I ran about an inch over the point where my pattern shifts to another section. So I had to tear back an inch. And rather than tink back 8-10 rows I pulled it off the needles. Big Mistake! The yarn is really splitty and I'm having a heck of a time getting it back on. SO as of now it's cooling it;s jets until I can find ,my magnifier glasses and get back into the right frame of mind to tackle it. I was almost in tears earlier...
   3. What's in My teapot
      1. Joe's Choice this week is Passion from Tazo tea. A few weeks back Joe suggested that he choose the tea in the tea pot. Which I didn't mind because it makes me try things I wouldn’t normally buy.
         1. So Joe picked passion by Tazo and I asked him “What made you pick this one?” In true Joe style he said “ It says passion on the box. There's nothing bad in this equation for me.”
         2. Tazo Passion Back of the box.
         3. Berry, Juicy, Wine Like, Merlot, Sweet, earthy, and dense.
         4. Pretty good. I don't taste mango, I do taste berry but there is a really sour note. I checked the ingredients and I see there is extra citric acid added. Not a fan of the citric acid but otherwise pretty good.
3. Materials Sourcing
   1. Still working on Nantucket from Copperpot Woolies. http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperpot. A lovely mic of merino and corriedale in peacock colors.
   4. After 5

1. Nate, B and I got the chance to be in an upcoming web series. It won't be out until February or March so I'll post links to it when it comes out. B has a small line he said thank you to a nurse, Nate “puked” in a bucket, ( I was taking B home while his scene was taped so I missed it! I here it was excellent and they got it in one take. I was originally just an extra I was tot to sit in the waiting room and knit. Sweet! That I can do. This is where I over shot on my Christmas knitting I have about 4 hrs of straight knitting time on it. It ended up that I got a line and a short scene where I hep up a man on crutches who gets knocked to the floor.
2. Christmas Cookies. It's that time! Time to dust off the kitchen aid and get baking. I started a thread on the Ravelry board for Christmas cookie recipes. Posted up right now is the recipe for the toffee bars my mom makes and that I hide from the family when they enter the house. :) I also posted that I'm looking for a recipe for a cream cheese dough cookie. I think I found the recipe for the dough on www.bigoven.com. I made a test batch tonight and boy are they bland! They defiantly need the brandy glaze. But the dough may be right... Worth more testing. Feel free to share any holiday recipes in the cookie thread.
3. Christmas memories Contest is still running winners will be drawn on 12/31/11 the video cast will be more of a post holiday round up which will give me time to focus on the family and still get everything together for prizes and all the things necessary for me to go video. bThere are some really great memories up on the thread one or two had me looking for my Kleenex. Keep those memories coming!
   1. So In that vein another holiday memory. Christmas at the photo studio.
   2. Tacos for Santa.
4. Knit group today was Sunday brunch with the Knit group. I was able to finish my Loopy the Appaloosa swatch during Knit group. My winning Mojo was back in effect and I won a door prize! Woohoo a crochet a day calendar. No sooner did I open my calendar I reach over to grab ,my coffee and the cup smooshed in on it self a bit and I spilled my coffee all over my leg and down the project back of the lady sitting next to me. T Once again I humiliate myself in public. I carried sippy cups in my bag for years for B until just recently maybe it's time to start carrying one for myself.