Monthly Archives: April 2012

En Français

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I have a French daughter.

OK … so she’s not really my daughter by birth but she feels like she’s one of my children. And she’s really French – born in France, lives in Paris.

Reunion 2011

Last summer Flo and her family (husband, Francois and baby boy, Oscar) arrived for a visit in Maine. It had been years since I’d seen her. Lots of years! Enough time for her to go from teenager to business woman, to wife and then mother.

We had a very sweet reunion in Maine … this picture is of the two of us in Bangor airport. What fun it was to see her again.

Today they’re coming back over and to Florida. I am leaving to meet them at the airport in a couple of minutes and the anticipation is making me crazy – crazier than usual! They’ll be here with us for a couple of days and then they’re headed to Miami and to see a bit of the state.

Boulette 2011

Last year in Maine it was freezing cold and rainy. Today in Florida it’s super hot and humid. Warm enough for a swim! Last year, Boulette was just starting to think about walking and he had a bath in the kitchen sink. This year he’ll be walking and dancing and we have a tub in this house. And a pool (I bought him some swimmies!)

I can hardly wait!

You say April, I say …

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Happy Birthday!!!

The end of April signals a lot of things to people. All over the world, spring is springing … flowers and trees are coming alive after a long winter (well, it wasn’t so long this year!) In my family, the end of April signals birthdays.

Today it’s my nephew’s birthday … Happy Birthday, Reid! My youngest brother, Jeff, turns … well, let’s just say he’s hitting a big birthday next year. And on Friday, my baby turns 22! Three great men (one’s still a boy) who were born at  the end of April.

I wish I had a photograph of the three of them together … but I don’t, so a picture of my son (one of my favorites and likely his least favorite) will have to suffice.

Happy Birthday to all!

Gone knitting!

More Photos of my Nuno Scarf … All Done!

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Finished Product - I love it!

Felted and Fringed ... had to try both!

 

A Cluster or two of Flowers

 

My Wavy Little Bee

 

Around my Neck!

Finished! Yay!

This summer I’m going to take supplies up to our house in Maine and make a few more of these lovelies … maybe with my girls or my sisters-in-law … only time will tell. But I know I have found a new “addiction”! (Thanks, Terri!)

Gone knitting!

Nuno Felting Class

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I spent the day as a fill-in yesterday at the Orlando home of Terri Pike, Queen of Nuno Felting and all things felted. A pair of ladies had signed up to take the class and one needed to cancel, leaving a spot open … and I “nabbed”! Boy, am I glad I did! What a blast!

I’ve admired Terri’s creations over the months that we’ve been knitting together and listened to her felting stories.

We started the day with picking our silks and then choosing roving and other yarns, beads, etc. to use as decoration for the scarves in process! Decorating both sides of the scarves to make a reversible or two-sided garment/art piece.

Side one … my inspiration started out to be a Monet painting. More the idea of one than one in particular. Like a huge flower garden when you’re standing ten feet back and squinting (thank you Leslie for your theatrical perspective!) Anyway … you layer sheets of silk and wool roving and trips to make your design and then you carefully (with plastic wrap and long (I mean long!) pieces of insulation boards) flip it over.

Side two! This is the side that the fringe is on (if you want a fringe!) I decided to try it because I wanted to try just about everything possible to see how it’s done. And, you know, if I were a betting woman, I’d bet just about anybody with a pair of strong hands and a supplies list could do this successfully … IF (and that’s a big if) they were smart enough to use Terri’s videos!

So, here are some more photos of my scarf and Jane’s. It’s really fun to see how two people with the same teacher and the same supplies can make something totally different … and they’re both so pretty! Enjoy!

Jane’s beautiful scarf was on a rose colored silk with blues and pinks. More abstract than mine but I love the white “bobbles”  in the trip and on the other side she used a “sparkly” fun fur yarn as a trim.

 

 

 

On top of bubble wrap and under plastic wrap … getting ready to roll … and roll, and roll, and roll (switch) and roll, and roll ….

 

 

 

My scarf had to have a bee, of course! (There’s actually one on either side of the scarf!)

 

 

 

 

My scarf has been rolled (for nearly an hour and a half!) All the plastic wrap has been removed and it’s time to get it wet. The design is covered with a bit of netting while we get it wet!

After wetting and rolling and rolling, we shocked the piece with really REALLY HOT water and rubbed it by hand (more like wet felting). Then it was time to rinse!

What a great day!

Terri can bee (ha! Freudian?) found on Facebook and on the internet. Watch her videos, buy her e-book. Check out her website!

Gone to trim my fringe!

Future Knitting

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I haven’t been doing a whole lot of knitting that I “want” to do … rather, it’s been knitting that I have been doing for others. Often for work. And I’m so grateful for the friends and family members and even some perfect strangers who have bought my work!

This summer, I want to do some holiday knitting and crafting. I also want to make a tea cosy or two … just because I really like them. I may even be able to design one for my shop! But I’m starting to think about what yarn I need (and what I could use that I already have) for these projects!

I love new projects!

Gone knitting.

I need a Lesson in Forgiveness

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How do you forgive?

I know it’s not good or healthy for me to harbor anger and resentment and I’ve been working to release those feelings but they’re sometimes still hanging on and hanging in. I resent those people who have intentionally hurt me, who tell people things that are not true. Whose behavior hurts the people that I love. On some level, it’s funny to think that someone is so nasty and biting and has these preconceived notions about who I am without ever having gotten to know me. Someone who makes me the scapegoat in the failure of a marriage in order to be blameless themselves. Especially when the marriage was based on lies and secrets rather than love. Someone who blames me for the disintegration of their stability and their financial ruin and won’t be happy until I am broke too, perhaps?

I’m ready to move on. To move forward. To live with an eye looking forward and not back. Certainly not with regrets. I’ve done the best that I knew how every day. I’ve been honest with myself and others. I’ve been generous and given without strings.

So, tell me … how do you forgive?

GINORMOUS Purple Socks

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I’ve finished another project today. This one is for my Etsy shop. Have you visited my Etsy shop yet? If not, please do! I’d be delighted to give you a tour – and soon, I’ll be heading out on a little vacation and all of my items will be expiring and there will be nothing to buy until I come back!

Use coupon code “FREESHIP” and you’ll enjoy free shipping on some of the loveliest hand-knit items ever. I really love what’s in my shop!

But I digress …

Today I finished the second of a pair of soon-to-be-felted slipper socks. These are in a lovely lavender (how’s that for alliteration?) I think I am going to go buy a bit of roving and needle felt something on these slippers once they are felted and dry. I was watching my friend Cindi at knitting on Thursday and it looks like it’s a blast. So, we’ll see!

Happy Feet Slipper Socks by Queen Bee Knits

My goal is to get one more pair knitted up before I leave on vacation … a multicolored pair just like the ones I made for my friend Erika. I really loved the way hers came out – and, coincidentally, so did she!

The pattern, once tested, will be available on my website and Ravelry. How exciting is that!?

Gone knitting!

Today’s Completed Projects

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I wrapped up a couple of projects today and it feels good to get things finished. No pressure, for sure, but good to finish none the less. Here’s my story about one – or at least it’s a partial story!

I’ve made a twelve inch square for a group gift that my group will be assembling for a special member. I’ll explain more after it’s been presented but here is my square …

"The Candle Tree"

I didn’t want to do just a plain square. Tried a couple of stitches that I was unfamiliar with and then found this one in one of my stitch books – Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (if you want to buy a book of stitches, this is one of the ones to buy. Clear concise directions and a ton of different patterns. The only “problem” is that there are more than one treasury … so start your library!)

The pattern (on p. 290) is called “The Candle Tree” and it’s a panel of 35 stitches. I liked the idea of the candles as a memorial – I’ve explained my love of the Jewish tradition of Yarzeit candles before in my blog and that’s part of why I love the pattern. The tree is a symbol of family (think “family tree”) and strength (think “mighty oak”) and perhaps also a bit of the natural circle of life. and the tree as a symbol of family and strength. When I can tell you more about the gift that we’re giving, you’ll understand why this patch or square is significant!

I didn’t get the tree perfectly centered but it’s now blocked and ready to go to the assembly team (of one?) I am excited to see the end result – and if I do say so myself, it’s a really thoughtful gift – and see how its recipient likes it. I think she’ll be very touched.

I also did some baking today. Needed to attach my feet to the ground. I love this recipe which I found on the Internet … Levain Bakery’s Oatmeal Scones. I have been making this recipe for quite some time and my brother once said they were the best scones he’d ever eaten. I use a gluten-free flour and craisins in lieu of all-purpose flour and raisins. Today I even threw a few currants in because I didn’t have quite enough craisins. They are so delicious. You really should try them! And it’s easy to make scones – I mixed all the ingredients together and then added the diced butter and mix it all together with my hands until crumbly and then add the milk/cream/buttermilk and quickly mix it together with my mixer. Rather than mess up my counter, I use an ice cream scoop and have perfectly shaped, similarly sized scones that freeze really well … and we can warm up one or two each morning! I love Turbinado Sugar as a sweet and crunchy sprinkle on top! You could also make a little “frosting” with confectioners sugar and milk or orange juice and drizzle on top. Try it out!

Gone knitting (well, walking first and then knitting!)

Terrified

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I’m writing this today (4/12/12) and have no intent to publish it until I have the test results back and have nothing to be terrified about. Here’s what’s happened … happening and why I’m terrified.

I went to the doctor/OBGyn for my normal annual check up a week or so ago. Everything normal, no history of anything (me or my family) and feeling good. Happy, healing from the ravages of a divorce, ready to move forward and working to build a new life. When she “felt my belly” (my words, not hers) I had a tender spot on the lower left side. To be safe, a sonogram was scheduled. I have had fibroids before but never anything to worry about or even think about.

Sonogram day arrived and after the procedure met with the nurse practitioner/midwife who I’ve followed to a new practice because I liked her so much. Fibroids were still there. Still small. No big deal but there was a thickening of the endometrium – “normally” 4mm, mine, 1.4mm. To be safe, we’ll check it out with a biopsy to rule out the nasty big C. As in CRAP, could I have cancer?!

For the last couple of days I’ve been trying to conceptualize a diagnosis of uteran/endometrial cancer … and it simply doesn’t fit. I’ve never been really sick. Had a bout years ago with depression but have worked that through and feel great. (Dumping an alcoholic, over-spending, dishonest husband has helped a lot!) My sweetheart and I are in a good place, a better place and are learning how to navigate the rough spots in life together. My knitting business and teaching are starting to fill in and take off and I’m excited about what the future will bring. I’m so full of gratitude for having been so healthy. I’ve never been sick and really would prefer to stay that way!

Today was my biopsy. The process wasn’t so bad. A bit of cramp stuff when she clamped my cervix. I couldn’t read the magazine uncomfortable but I could still look at the photos. Hearing about the woman “the other day” whose cervix was as tight as a rat’s ass … well, truth be told she was tight as a rat’s ass, too) made me smile. My cervix cooperated and I was done in 5 minutes or so. Now the hard part – waiting for the results which will be a week or so.

I have been a wreck waiting for the biopsy appointment. It feels like my body is on high alert (and maybe it is!) Fizzy, energy running through my veins, high alert. I know I’ve done all that I can do and I can’t control the outcome. I am just learning to take better care of myself and am learning to speak my mind and have an opinion after years of stuffing it all down in favor of someone else’s opinions. I’ve parented well. I have handled myself well – honestly, with grace and dignity. I have no regrets but I know I can continue to improve and do better.

I have had no symptoms. My doctor feels like this will be nothing. So does my old Roomie. I’m trying to be positive and know that whatever God has in mind for me, I can handle this, too, with strength and grace and I’m learning every day just how strong I really am. As the old adage goes, I just “wish She didn’t trust me so much!”

Crossing my fingers and saying my prayers. I’ve never felt quite so terrified!

Gone knitting!