LOST & FOUND

It's been awhile since I've laid eyes on this Kaleidoscope Cardi,

pattern by Knit Collage.  

I was searching for something else recently and found this instead.

I'd forgotten how much I loved it 3 years ago when I weighted 25 pds. less.

Ha!

So guess what,

I really want to finish it and loose the weight so I can wear it.

This last month I've been trying to loose some pounds,

even before I found this.

Now keep in mind,

I'm always trying to loose weight.

It's my life.

I've tried fasting, weight lifting, cardio, eating way better,

but nothing has been working like it used to when I was teaching 

and never, ever sat down all day.

So a friend at the gym who recently lost a ton of weight shared his secret.

Walking, counting steps and caloric deficient.

Well I was already doing all those things.

He simple said you aren't doing enough walking.

And he was right!

He said you have to do at least 15,000 steps a day,

everyday.

Eat all the vegies and fruit you want,

and cut back to only 2 meals a day.

Plus continue to lift weights at gym along with sit-ups and leg lifts.

I was averaging between 6000 to 10,000 steps in retirement,

so about a month ago I really picked up my pace.

My children set me up with Audible (books on tape) for my birthday,

headphones and a fanny pack.

And now I'm averaging between 12,000 and 15,000 steps a day

and have lost 6 pds. that I'm managing to miraculously keep off. 

I'm even trying to pick up the pace more by doing a little bit of jogging,

plus lots of hills.

People are starting to notice 

that my upper arms, butt and thighs are looking slimmer.

YES!!!!

But where I'm really noticing it is in my upper stomach,

right under my breasts which no one will ever see again.

LOL

I can't tell you how excited I am.

I'm even noticing that I'm standing taller and feeling lighter on my feet,

and it feels so good.

The down side is it takes a chunk of time from my day and evening.

And discipline,

lots of discipline!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Are you wondering if I allow myself a cheat day?

You betcha.

One day a week I get one scoop of ice cream

but I keep on truckin' on that day as well.

WORKING ON MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

One of my resolutions was to finish my ongoing projects.

This Infinity Scarf was supposed to be done by Xmas,

but I just recently finished and blocked it,

and gave it to it's recipient,

my gorgeous trainer Gelissa

(who enjoys kicking my butt at the gym).

This yarn is from a company called Knit Collage

 which I was recently turned onto 

thru the fabulous crafts store in Ojai ,Ca. called Cattywampus Crafts.

It's been handspun with added bits of lace, ribbon, etc. and is super fast and easy to knit with.

The label on the yarn recommends a size 15 needle but I found a size 19 worked better for me.

I used the Mistaken Rib pattern which is incredibly easy.

You will need an odd number of stitches in units of 4 with one extra,

like 13 (12 + 1), 17 (16 + 1), etc.

I used 17.

Every row is knit the same:

Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, K1.

You always end with Knit 1.

This was one of my students favorite patterns.  

It creates hills and valleys instead of hard ribbed edges.

A gentler Ribbing.

Another of my Resolutions was to post more.

So far that hasn't happened.

Structure is challenging when you retire.

ha ha!!!

I need someone to crack a whip over me or I need a deadline.

But in this case,

the deadline of Xmas didn't even work.

I'm a mess.  LOL

Junior Tristin Eddy - Spinner Extraordinaire - With Her Yarn!!!

One of my favorite aspects about teaching is when my students fall in love with an art or craft, and want to explore it more on their own at home.  This year Tristin caught the spinning bug.

Every year in my Beginning 3-d class I teach the kids how to spin and dye their own yarn using only little coat hanger hooks which amazingly work really well.  And then if the kids get into it they might move onto a drop spindle or even choose from one of my many spinning wheels.  This year Tristin Eddy totally loved the process and came in at lunch and after school so she could learn to use the wheel.  I encouraged her to take it home and she was off to spin up some beautiful roving that she had bought over Xmas break in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  I understand that Tristin's grandfather has a wheel for her and she will be picking it up soon.  That makes my heart so happy Tristin.

Tomorrow I hope to show off Tristin's yarn below. 

And here it is - Tah Dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Can you believe this is her first singles on the wheel???  She's pro already, plus she has started to knit it up into a scarf, WOW, told ya she was gooooooooooooooood  :)

Ma, Pa, Grandma & Grandpa Eddy, look at your girl go!

Baby Uggs - My Work

Just had to share the little booties I made for the newest baby in my life.  My step-daughter Julie's best friend, Oana, had her first little one 2 months ago, so I wanted to make her something special.  I bought the leather ugg forms at my local Michael's, then I used some of my hand spun yarn to knit the cuffs and sewed them in.  I can't wait to see them on Alesia, just wish the weather would cool down so she can wear them before she outgrows them.  LOL

Eskimo Kiss Hooded Cocoon

Top View Above

How could I resist this adorable pattern by Tricia Drake in the recent copy of Living Crafts Magazine.  I already had this gorgeous skein of hand dyed blue yarn in my"Can't Live Without It " yarn drawer, but the contrasting yarn for around the hood I had to hand spin with Lori Lawson's hand dyed roving from Capistrano Fiber Arts.  And if anyone is interested in purchasing my hand knit bunting, it is currently for sale at "The Drawing Board Gallery" in Yorba Linda, Ca.  Just give owner Jamie Kough a call at 714-693-7156 and it could be yours  :) 

Side view below.

Rachel Rilloraza - Student Art

Last week, maybe longer, I posted a picture of Rachel spinning yarn on the spinning wheel. Well I've finally got the finished product to show off. Above is her handspun yarns and the beginnings of her baby sweater. The hand dyed roving came from Lori Lawson at Capistrano Fiber Arts. And the shot below is Rachel's finished piece. Notice how she alternated the darker yarn throughout the body of the piece and along the cuffs.


Below is a close up of the Fimo buttons she made and baked to go with the colors in the sweater. I'm so proud of you Rachel, this is such a beautiful sweater. Miss you woman!

Hand Dyed/Hand Spun Knitwear - Student Art

What's really wonderful about being a teacher is when one of your students loves a project so much that it becomes a part of their lives. Take senior Rachel Rilloraza for example. I've been her art and craft instructor for the past six years here at Whitney and when we did the hand spinning unit in Beginning 3-D art she took to it like a duck to water. In the Intermediate class she was introduced to working on an actual spinning wheel (in first year they use a hanger hook to spin with) and enjoyed it so much that I allowed her to keep one of my extra wheels at her home over the summer so she could spin to her hearts content. She is now in the fourth level 3-D class and these are some of her current projects. She also orders her fibers from Capo Fiber Arts. In the first photo she has spun two different colorways and is knitting a baby sweater with my favorite no seams pattern, and in the second photo are baby socks she spun and knit at the beginning of the year. She is almost done now with the sweater so look for it to be posted in a couple more weeks.

More Hand dyed/Hand spun Knitwear

I'm re-posting these two photos for my craft beginners to see more hand dyed, handspun yarns being used in a project. The hat and booties were my own design and the sweater was from a pattern I use all the time that's super easy to knit up. It's a no seams sweater. Love that! All the fiber came from Lori Lawson at Capo Fiber Arts. Both the hat set and the sweater were knit from the samples that I spun up two years ago for my beginners. It was fun trying to get them to all come together in a pleasing way, and for the sweater to look somewhat symmetrical.