Author Archives: Queen Bee Knits

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About Queen Bee Knits

Living in Maine, knitting, baking and loving my family. Please be kind!

What a Difference A Button Makes

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So, I’ve finished the lovely cowl … with my yummy soft Malabrigo angora in a buttery yellow (very bee pleasing) colorway. I went to my local JoAnn Fabrics store the other day – with my cowl – and picked out a few buttons.

The first two are an organic shape and a dark wood. Smooth and simple, providing a striking contrast to the uniform, almost architectural feel of the cowl itself. I love these buttons and I think they are my favorite (which is why I put them at the top of the “list”.

The second pair are round wood, with a swirl pattern in light and dark. Also a contrast to the linear cowl design. Like the buttons but not sure about matching them with this project.

 

The third pair are Celtic knots in a metal finish. (Did I ever tell you how much I love Celtic knots? Aran knits? LOL!) I like these but they don’t pop like I’d like them to.

The last pair are hippie-dippy-color-popping-pink-with-peace-signs. I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d use these buttons on this project. I thought about my actor daughter when I saw them. She just was in HAIR on Broadway and briefly with the Tour and they just reminded me of her. I think I’ll save them for something for Kate.
And then I go and get creative and the last two ideas are a combination of two buttons together … the most contrasty ones, as a matter of fact. I think I like the next one. It reminds me of an exclamation point! (And I like using exclamation points … have you noticed?
This one leaves me unmoved. Why is it that the one above I like while this one is so close but leaves me totally unexcited? Very strange how that happens with buttons.
So, which buttons would you choose? Did you pick the ones that I picked? When I get them sewn on, I’ll get a photo taken of the finished (and buttoned up) cowl … wrapped around my Florida neck. Yes, I’ll do that for you, dear blog readers! But I won’t have it on for very long … at least not here!
Off I go to knit!

Loss of a Mother

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My dear friend and my children’s elementary school art teacher lost her mother recently. Since seeing this on her Facebook page, I have felt an extreme sense of sadness in my heart. My mother has been gone now for nearly two and a half years … it’ll be three years in October … and I miss her so much. I’ve missed her for years longer, though, because she suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for ten years before she passed away.

Here are lyrics for a wonderful song that I found amongst my friend’s messages … it’s very comforting, indeed.

Look for me in Rainbows

Time for me to go now, I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky.
In the morning sunrise when all the world is new,
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.

Time for me to leave you, I won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky.
In the evening sunset, when all the world is through,
Just look for me and love me, and I’ll be close to you.

It won’t be forever, the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again.

Time for us to part now, we won’t say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, shining in the sky.
Every waking moment, and all your whole life through
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.

Just wish me to be near you,
And I’ll be there with you.

Music and lyrics: Conn Bernard (1990). Vicki Brown


The Savages

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The Savages

We watched a sweet, if somewhat depressing, movie last night. I didn’t think it was going to be one that I liked and was surprised to like it at the end. “The Savages” (Click here to read the NY Times review!) is about a dysfunctional family (like there are families that are not) that doesn’t really seem to have any connection until dad’s girlfriend dies and he’s forced by her family to move out of the house that they shared because of some pre-nup that wasn’t really a pre-nup. Anyway, they move their father to a nursing home in Buffalo and the daughter stays with brother in Buffalo through the holidays and they all get to know each other. The scene that “got me” was when the brother tells the sister that her play is good …

I’ve just lived that scene. A week or so ago, I had a voice mail on my cell phone from my brother’s new wife (my new sister). The gist of the message was that he’d found my blog and was amazed that I was blogging and that he liked my blog. Not only had I whooped his butt in Scrabble when we were out in California for the holidays but I was blogging … and doing it well. He said that he had underestimated his big sister! Abbie said that he was completely blown away … and he said that it was good stuff! It touched me right where it counts because I’ve never been told how special I was and just knowing it myself wasn’t really enough. I needed the outside validation from the people in my life who really mattered. Hearing it from my brother (and sister) felt so great – and I’ve saved the message. It’s a healing thing. Healing from never being good enough for my parents because I was just a girl. My father’s famous phrase was, “Pretty good, Monk” never “Good Job” or “I’m so proud of you.” It was “Of course we love you” during an argument not just “I love you” for no reason.

So, just for today I’m relishing the fact that my younger brother thinks I rock … and it’s really good!

Don’t Bee A Queen

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I’ve been hearing a lot about Lady Gaga and yet had never heard any of her songs. Alright already, I’m over 50!

Born This Way

Anyway … the other day I watched her video on facebook of the song “Born This Way” and found it really  creative and super great lyrics! I would have loved to have been born to a woman who said that I was perfect and told me to love who I am. Imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all raised our children to love themselves as they are!

I’m not sure if this is the whole song but here are some of the lyrics (copied from http://www.metrolyrics.com/born-this-way-lyrics-lady-gaga.html ….. so don’t blame me if these are not exactly right! I’ve hi-lighted the parts that I really liked for your reading pleasure!)

It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
‘Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young
We’re all born superstars
She rolled my hair, put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

“There’s nothin’ wrong with lovin’ who you are”
She said, “‘Cause He made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up, girl and you you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”

I’m beautiful in my way,
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
(Born this way)

Ooo, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
(Born this way)
Ooo, there ain’t other way
Baby, I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be!

Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice the truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey, hey, hey)
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah

I’m beautiful in my way,
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don’t hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Frogs in my Atelier!

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Oh for goodness sake! I can’t seem to knit a thing these days!

I said that I’d brought a few “new” projects out of the atelier closet and started them (again.) Well, now I’m going to be frogging them and starting over brand new … it occured to me that I’d made a rather large mistake – one too many yarn-overs smack dab in the middle of the back of the Noro shawl. Poop! It looks dreadful and isn’t one of those patterns that you can simply fix. So, frog it!

In my process of re-knitting and documenting the beautiful Senorita Lolita sweater that I designed for the Jimmy Beans Wool contest with Koigu KPPM skeinlettes, I have forgotten to write down as I knit – and for those of  you who are over 40, you’ll appreciate that when you don’t write things down and then leave them for a few hours, you quickly forget where you are and what you’ve done. So … frog it!

Starting over again? Well, I start each day, I start (and sometimes finish) books … sometimes I put them aside and start them over, too! So, I’m accepting that I’m starting these projects over and this time, I’ll be more patient and more aware and will write down and focus more on the process (and the shawl pattern directions!)

This Queen Bee is going knitting! (After lunch!)

Progress

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Progress is all around me. The kitchen renovation, my blogs new banner is … well … new and different (if not exactly what I was wanting), my business is progressing, my contacts around my business are certainly progressing, my relationships with my boyfriend (partner, sweetie, man friend – what do you call a 50+ year old man with whom you are living but not married or engaged?), my children, my ex … and none of it in MY time!

But, I’m learning (it’s about time, right?) that it’s alright and I’m keeping my happy outlook most of the time. That is really progress. I’m proud that I’m clear about my direction despite little roadblocks that pop up in my way on occasion. For example, I’ve been taking classes in education which I will use to teach (knitting, elementary art classes, whatever) and this “semester” something got goofed up and I didn’t get signed up for the class which I thought I had signed up for. I believe that was an opportunity for me to spend more time with my girls and to focus on the business and knitting. Randy Pausch says that roadblocks are there to tell you how much you want something. He was a very, very wise man. If you haven’t watched his last lecture, click here. This is a MUST SEE video and it truly has changed my outlook on life. If you don’t cry, I think you’re a “tin man” without a heart.

For today, I’m good with the progress that I’ve made and that we’re making. My heart is full and I have way too much yarn to write any more!

Gone knitting!

Banner Attempt

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Since my last post (today’s post) I’ve attempted something new. Do you see my banner? I’ve tried over and over to create a banner for my blog and my Etsy shop … with no luck. Until today.

Now, this one isn’t perfect on this blog but it’s looking good on the Etsy shop! Somehow this one must be smaller or slightly shorter because it cut off a couple of pictures of my former projects, but it’s close. The color is also a tiny bit (ok, a lot) off … give me some time and we’ll see how I do getting them matched! The ultimate goal is to have all the colors (yellow, in particular) the same … Etsy shop, blog, business cards, the whole kit and caboodle.

Today I worked on a couple of “new” (the quotes mean that they’re only new today because they’ve been hiding in the closet in the UFO basket for way too long) projects. I frogged and started over the Senorita Lolita sweater (second or maybe third time) and I’m pretty pleased with the new tack. I re-started the little Noro shawl that I bought the yarn for last summer in Maine. I don’t like the yarn … or maybe it’s the needles. Whatever it is, it’s not going particularly well and I’m not loving the project. Haven’t gone out to look for some buttons for my yummy buttery yellow angora cowl that is nearly finished but am looking forward to having another finished UFO!

I’m also trying to attempt something new in my life and get to know me – and see what I love, like, want … it’s a really new thing for me and I have made some choices that I wouldn’t necessarily make again. Already. The unfortunate thing is that you can’t always undo what you’ve done. Once you make a choice, you have to move ahead having made it – good or bad, right or wrong. Sometimes it’s too late before you’ve made the choice. People are not perfect, people make mistakes. I am a person. I can only say I’m sorry … sometimes only to myself … and move on. What’s done is done. Move on.

Passion … fruit?

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My baby RIPE Pineapple

I love to “cook” (translation – bake) and wanted to share a few recipes with you that are my favorites in this blog. While this isn’t actually a baking recipe, it’s one of my favorites!

Pineapple-infused Vodka

1 fresh, ripe pineapple
1 bottle cheap (or pricey) vodka

Peel and slice the pineapple and place the good stuff in a large plastic or glass container with a lid. Open the vodka bottle and pour the contents over the pineapple. Put the lid on the bottle and stash it in the refrigerator for no less than two weeks. Strain vodka, toss out the pineapple (taste it, it’s nasty now!) and keep refrigerated.

(I love this over ice, equal parts of pineapple vodka and pomegranate juice with a wedge of lime, squeezed.)

LOL!  … guess my priorities are enjoyment.

Lesson 1: I like to have fun … a cold beverage is lovely at the end of the day and I do enjoy one  … or two.
I am a (mostly) happy person and embrace life with an open heart and an open mind … and am truly blessed.

PS – the little pineapple grew in a pot at our front door. Right before we were to leave on vacation, we picked it and ate it. It was good. Thank you pineapple!

Renovations

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2011 I declared to be a new year full of new challenges and it has been so far. I’m really challenging myself to stick to a work schedule (not doing too well the last couple of weeks with the kids here) and to kick up the business and designs (going well!)

Here are some more renovations going on in my house …

My atelier has been re-organized since the master suite is now complete and all of our clothes fit in the master closet. So my yarn and supplies are in the atelier closet and I’ve got a comfy chair to knit in.

This is our old kitchen. Notice the lovely ceiling treatment … complete with a lovely light and fan that wobbles if you dare turn it on! And, careful if you’re cooking … the range hood will crack you in the chest!

Kitchen renovation started today and it’s getting completely gutted. I am so excited to see the new cabinets and floor. The wall behind the fridge and the wall behind the oven are all going away to make the pantry more accessible and to expand the room and add an island. Today, day 1, they’ve demo’ed the tile floors in the living room, kitchen and front hall, and gutted the kitchen. Messy and noisy but it’s going to be so cool!!! I’ll keep you updated …

I can’t help but think how cool it is that I’m helping to rebuild a kitchen and at the same time, I’m rebuilding myself. I loved being a wife and mother, a community volunteer/school volunteer, au pair coordinator and fundraiser. Now, at age 50… (if you saw me I’d be saying my age and at the same time covering my lips and mouth with my hands – LOL!) .. I’m so fortunate to be able to say that I’m deciding who I want to be now. My childrearing is as over as it’s going to be and I did a great job raising three fantastic kids who I’m totally proud of. I am choosing not to pursue fundraising right now although if I were to find the right fit, the non-profit world is something that I can picture myself doing again. I have always dreamed of having a “yarn and puppy” store (a yarn shop where I can take my puppies) and it still may happen  but likely not in Florida. Meanwhile, I’m knitting and designing and blogging and getting to know myself – perhaps for the first time.

Ah, silence … end of day 1. It starts again at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Grrrr!

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Cranky day today … why is it that lately I loose my patience at the drop of a hat – or a wet measuring cup? My sweetie isn’t being very sweet today and I’m not feeling the love. If it weren’t for the return of Kate, there’d be very little to look forward to today. All I can think of is a bath and “Calgon, take me away” … although I won’t use Calgon because it would make my allergies go crazy. And it’s too freaking hot for February. Air conditioning already? Ugh.

Not sure when the kids will arrive but I wanted to make a lemon pie for dessert tonight (and it will go so nicely with the strawberries we picked) and some blueberry muffins. No oven after today so it’s my last chance for awhile. Typically baking calms and centers me … but doesn’t seem like it today – could be the grumpy kitchen packer or the crazy non-stop licking cushingoid dog. All I can say is “grrr”!