Graduation

The future lies before you,
Like a field of driven snow,
Be careful how you tread it,
For every step will show.

--Author Unknown

Sok It to Me

School's out, so it's one distraction after another. Needless to say, I haven't got much knitting or crocheting done. But what I have accomplished, however, is completing my first sock-- YEAH! Here it is...

Gifts from Near and Far

Maile Mauch from closeby sent me the cotton threads above for designing "Purly Shells."

Then International Delegates from Japan and Korea came and left us a few gifts. We threw them a gathering on June 20, 2009.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

See people rockin' yeah people chantin'

Feeling hot hot hot

Keep up the spirit come on let's do it

Feeling hot hot hot

--Hot! Hot! Hot! by Buster Poindexter

Purly Shells Bookmark

Purly Shells Bookmark by Mylyne De Jesus

Copyright © 2009

Supplies Needed:

South Maid (Shades of Blue) or other equivalent No. 10 cotton thread

US#2 (2.75 mm)

Size 9 (0.85mm) crochet hook (or any size that would fit through tassel loop)

Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

Seed st = Row1: knit, purl, knit. Repeat this row.

Yo = yarn over

Wyif = with yarn in front

LH = left hand

P5tog = purl 5 stitches together

P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

Directions:

CO 15 sts.

Bottom Border: Work in seed stitch for 2 rows.

Side Borders: Work first 2 and last 2 row sts in seed st (k1, p1 for the R border and p1, k1 for the L border) throughout pattern unless instructed otherwise.

Pattern:

Work as follows:

Row 1(Right Side): K.

Row 2: P.

Row 3 to 4: Work as Rows 1 and 2.

Row 5: K.

Row 6: P5, k5, p5.

Row 7: K4, (k1, yo, k1) in the next st, k5 wrapping yarn twice for each st, (k1, yo, k1) in the next st.

Row 8: P4, k3, wyif sl 5 sts dropping extra wraps then insert LH needle back into these

5 long sts and p5tog, k3, p4.

Rows 9 to 24: Repeat Rows 1-8.

Row 25 to 30: Work as Rows 1 and 2 to prepare for the next step.

Top Border:

Work in garter stitch.

Decrease right and wrong side rows by working end row stitches as follows: K1, p2tog, k up to last 3 sts, end p2tog, k1.

Continue working decrease pattern until 5 sts remain on needle.

P2tog, k1, p2tog-- 3 sts remaining.

Then p2tog, k1, pull last st through loop.

Leaving a 12-inch tail, break thread. Cut 3 threads (of the same kind) measuring 24 inches each and thread through same loop as top border tail end and knot altogether. Trim to desired length.

Weave bottom tail at back of work.

Block as needed.

Workshop Scarf Clip

The objective of this workshop is to make a scarf clip with a bear motif. Each of the workshop participants started crocheting tiny bear heads with even tinier bear ears.


After sewing the head parts on the wire-stuffed arms, it's starting to look like a bear scarf clip.

Paying attention to the details, make the face come to life. The eyes are the first to be sewn on the face.

Working on the muzzle features like sewing the nose on and the lips give the bear a distinctive personality and the scarf clip a cute finish.

Seafoam, Seafoam

Visions of those shores embedded in my mind,
Are now just fragments of dreams,
That only my subconscious can bind.
One day I will return to that sea.
Until that day I will continue to dream,
Of sea foam waves crashing over me.

from Sea Foam Waves by stormyskye,

http://www.bestlovepoems.net/member_love_proses/sea_foam_waves

The seafoam stitch was first introduced in the Interweave Knits Summer of 2001 as a chenille towel pattern. Which is why adapting it with a shawl of

Moda Dea yarn is not that difficult in fact it seemed that the stitch and the yarn appeared as if they were made for each other as you can see from the picture above.

Only a mere five more balls are left remaining of the stash for this shawl. Did I mention that the Dream yarn is also of a chenille type yarn and is so unbelievably soft that I can hardly wait to get this shawl off the needles.


I purchased some sky blue balls of boucle-type yarn some time ago and finally decided to use a drop-stitch pattern for this and what came to mind is none


other than the ever-trusted seafoam stitch as it not only reveals a stitch pattern in and of itself, but also show-off the yarn texture at the same time.

Seafoam Stitch
Cast on on a multiple of 10 stitches + 6.

  row 1 - k6, *yo2, k1, yo3, k1, yo4, k1, yo3, k1, yo2, k6*, repeat from *
  row 2 - knit across, dropping all the yarn overs as you go.
  row 3 - knit across
  row 4 - k1, *yo2, k1, yo3, k1, yo4, k1, yo3, k1, yo2, k6* repeat twice from *,
  ending in a single k instead.
  row 5 - knit across, dropping all the yarn overs as you go.
  row 6 - knit across

Off the Hook

It was a long and slow detailed work, finally the Easy Potholder is done.


I still have a lot of cotton yarn in my stash, but I dare not make another one like this. Maybe I'll try another geometric pattern like this old fashion potholder. And hope this one doesn't get old too soon. Anyway I'm eager to use the one above in the kitchen and see how good it works.


Another one that's off the hook for some time now is a bear amigurumi. Not a miniature one, but still not for child's play. I got the pattern from a Japanese Amigurumi book I purchased from Kinokuniya Bookstore. I tried to stay close to the color of the bear, using substitute yarns that are available at the LYS.
Then A couple of things came in the mail a few days ago...


...an orange laceweight yarn which would make a pretty lace neckwarmer or cowl.


And a pretty green fingering weight yarn with which I am currently knitting a


sock using a pattern called Keukenhof Sok designed by Anne Hanson from knitspot, which is my very first sock project. I'm happy to report that the instructions are clear and the pattern-- easy to remember and follow.
I also have a couple of WIPs that are on the needles so next time, I'll be posting about these too.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Source

This product of the drying of grapes have been around since 2,000 B.C. in Egypt and Persia. The ancient Romans were said to highly value raisins and used it to decorate their places of worship, as currency for barter, and as prizes for sporting events. Today, raisins are prized not only for their sweet taste, but also for its many health benefits.

Studies show that raisins:

• are rich in potassium which may help reduce the risk of stroke and some types of kidney disease
• contain fiber and tartaric acid which prevent constipation and protect against some colon diseases resulting in healthier digestive and may prevent colorectal cancer
• rank among the top foods rich in antioxidants which may slow down the aging of the body and brain thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer
• contains oleanolic acid which inhibits organisms responsible for periodontal disease thereby preventing tooth decay and gum disease
• with a low fat diet, can effectively lower cholesterol and "bad cholesterol"
• are rich in boron which is important for bone health in women

The Wilen Sisters have discovered that a certain type of raisins relieve arthritis pain. The recipe for this amazing remedy follows.

The Amazing Gin-Soaked Raisin Remedy

1 lb golden raisins

gin (approximately 1 pint)

glass bowl (Pyrex^® is good—crystal is bad)

glass jar with lid

Spread the golden raisins evenly on the bottom of the glass bowl and pour enough gin over them to completely cover. Let them stay that way until all the gin is absorbed. It may take 5 to 7 days.

When the gin is absorbed, transfer the raisins to the jar, put the lid on and keep it closed. Do not refrigerate.

Dosage. Each day, eat only 9 raisins as specified on page 13 of Bottom Line's Secret Food Cures.

References:
http://www.sun-maid.com/en/healthyliving.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=33
http://www.raisins.net/
http://www.calraisins.org/raisins_home/
http://www.bottomlineintl.com/store/mags/order_sfc_mag.html

Good Beginnings and Better Endings

It started with a ball of ladder yarn that looks like this


then transformed into...








...a "Ladder Yarn Lariat!"

"Shaken, Not Stirred..."

Source

...so goes the famous line of the dashing, Brit agent 007-- Bond, James Bond. But this post isn't about him, neither is it about red martinis. It's about living along the Pacific Ring of Fire and being shaken by a "4.7...no, a 5.0...no, a 4.7" magnitude temblor says Caltech. What do they know? Where I was it felt like a 6.9 or some big number like that. It also lasted 15 seconds which translates to "forever!"

I was in the bedroom checking emails when it happened. When it did, I was waiting for the floor lamp (above) to stop shaking. After it seemed like forever and still not stopping, I decided to run to the dining room to see the over head lighting (below) swinging away.

Despite that, I felt a little reassured finding my DH and DD, the only one who remembers what to do during an earthquake from all that drilling at school and took cover under our dining table (below). By the time my DH and I decided to join her, the ground stopped shaking.

There were a couple of aftershocks following that event, but our knees were still wobbly that we didn't feel them. All that mattered to me at that moment was my darling family and that they were okay.

The Sound of Silence

Source

True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~William Penn

Ahhh, silence-- if you don't count the chorus of waterfowl on and around the lake. A few ducks waddled by me hoping for yummy handouts, of which I didn't have. But it seemed okay with them anyway as they later took a nap next to the bench I was sitting.

There still was a haze by the lake. It actually was an overcast day a perfect day to take pictures and to go fishing. DH did just that as I crocheted away.

It was early that day that, apart from the ducks and a jogger or two and DH, I have this side of the lake to myself to reflect on moments past and listen to the sound of silence.