Mama Llama Knit Party!

Hi everyone! I would like to celebrate 2 years of fiber goodness with a meal, knitting and friends. I have been posting on ravelry the past couple of days about planning a get together. I want to keep it informal b/c I'm really not sure how many of you are interested in coming!

Here's the Plan:
When: June 28, 2008 5 pm
Where: Email me at mamallamaknits@hotmail.com for location. (privacy reasons)
Why: Mama Llama is 2yrs old, come celebrate with me!
You will be responsible for your own check.... Our waiter is going to hate us ;)

Reserve your goodie bag! There will be a special sock yarn colorway and stitch marker set to celebrate this event that will never be duplicated again! Take advantage of this great price! $12

I will only make as many goodie bags as are reserved....... Make sure you don't miss out and click the paypal button to reserve yours! It will also give me an estimated head count.

I will send out reminder postcards one week prior to the event.
I will be using the address on your paypal account to do so.

Thanks everyone I hope to see you there! I'll bring the camera!

Worth Mention

One Skein Wonder, Rowan Calmer

Juliet, GGH Samoa
6 Balls

Secrets Out!

I've held it inside for so long I think I'm exploding! If you go look here you'll see what all the fuss is about.

I feel like Ann- Margret when she heard the news that she was the lucky teenager hosting famous rock star Conrad Birdie in "Bye Bye Birdie". One of my favoite childhood movies. What was that? You weren't raised on MGM musicals? You know those movies.... Singing in the Rain, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Meet Me in St. Louis, so on and so forth.....
hmmmmm, did I get off topic again?

Oooo yes, the "secret". Well have you clicked that link yet? Sweet knitters have contacted me sending their compliments. It is really nice to have that affirmation. Especially since I only slept 4 hours a night for 3 weeks to get it all done in time! Phew!

In the midst of all of it I managed to join the Hand Dyed Yarn Swap. My partner is from Finland and I received the best package from her yesterday. I am totally impressed with the fact that I got gifties from the Arctic Circle! Not to mention Jaan is a really great pin-pal. We have a lot in common; we both have young children, and we knit! what else could I as for in a long distance friendship ;) I will post pics next time of the awesome goodness! My camera needs charging. AGAIN!

Autism Yarn: It will be for sale very soon at Woolgirl.com, proceeds going to autism reasearh of course.... Autism Speaks (which joined with CAN a few years ago and I was supportive of.)

Health conerns:
My Daddy and our family could sure use ya'lls prayers. Found out he has caner last Thursday. The good news is that its centralized in one part of the body so we can all take a deep breath that the survival rate is extremely high.

Say a little prayer for my silly heart again please. Its really no big deal but my cardiologist wants me to follow up with an electro-cardiologist or Arrythmeia specialist? (Not sure on the spelling or proper name for that specialty.) I'm having terrible dizzy spells....... And my Holter reading sucked, again!
I probably need different meds to contol the constant "fight or flight" feeling I have during a normal day ;) that would be pretty cool! hmmmmmm, to actually have a good Poker hand on Friday nights and not have the Tell-Tale sign of a heeving chest and grabbing at my heart like the guy from Sanford and Son! ....... Muhahahahahaha!

Inspired

I am very thankful for the publicity that Autism gets now-a-days. I was inspired to dig into my dyes and come up with this colorway. Its name is simple, Autism...

This ones for you Hillard ;)

I asked Lisa to chart a pattern for Autism Awareness month. What she came up with is fabulous. I can't wait to show you guys next week when I complete the first sock.

Spec's: 300 yds varigated, 100 yds solid (for heel and toe)

bamboo/merino/nylon blended yarn

A little Bit of This

One Skein Wonder..... I hope my 1 ball of calmer will stretch to fit the yardage needed for this pattern. This is such a quick knit.... I've only worked on it for about 2 hours and I'm nearly done... love it when you can get a "quick fix" garment! ;)

Speaking of Quick fix garments I've chosen a lot of tank top patterns for summer knits.... And its no surprise that all of them are larger guaged items. Phew! I have them Queued on Ravelry if you're curious!

Portal Socks from "Twisted"..... I have made these as a gift for my best friend Jenn. I hope they aren't too big for her. Every time I make her socks they always come out loose! Shes wears the pairs I make her, until they fall off her feet. Knitters always love getting knitted gifts :)

I was gifted an amazing pair of Socks from my good friend Lisa. She is really an awesome designer and I sent her a skein of Mama Llama Monterey and this is what she came up with. I love wearing these socks!

Weight update: Well, my new eating habits amd exercise routines are working out for the best. I started a sweater in late December that will be too big for me when I finish so I've decided to put it to rest. Whats the point of finishing a sweater that will be too big? I've decided to go ahead and account for weight loss in my tank top projects.... Just not sure how many inches I'll end up "bust-wise" when all is said and done.....

If you want to know the link that I find most healpful for small weight gaols its this:

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/health/caloriecounter.html

Fill in the fields and follow the suggested caloric intake.... It really works! But to get a realistic calorie intake you have to exercise regularly...... I do 140 mins. activity/week and I consider that "moderate" exercise.

I document all my calories and exercise minutes on Sparkpeople.com

They even have a Ravelry group! yey!

take care :)

Reclaiming

You might wonder what the heck is she going to babble about this time! I didn't make any resolutions this year, I had the attitude "why set myself up for failure?" If you know me, or if you have spent and extended time around me you'll notice I'm probably one of the perkiest people you'll ever met. My Mom likes to call me "PollyAnna". So the word failure rarely comes to mind. I've become much of a recluse lately, not sure why? I've avoided friends and many social activities. I haven't read blogs in months!

This is when the reclaiming comes in, I am reclaiming my social life, my knitting and my body!

I have lost 2.5 inches in my waist, 2 inches in my hips and 1 inch in my bust! i'm loving my rowing machine! The scale is not my biggest supporter.... I've only lost 8pounds.... grrr.. But i'll take muscle over fat anyday. Beggers can't be choosers ;) Even Chris is loving the rowing machine!
This sudden body change has motivated me to start thinking of spring and summer knits...

Giotto for the "Waterlily Top" from Interweave


My current project. Portal socks from Twisted..... I bought two skeins of this yarn but 1 skein will give me a pair of socks. So i think i will sell or trade the second skein..... Interested?


Take a vote!

Should I make a Clap with this Mama Llama Caspian? Or a "Lace Tank"? let me know what you think!

Obviously I'm feeling better about myself, so I hope that cures the blues..... Wonder if the blues started when Carmen moved to Brasil? I probably shouldn't have stopped teaching knitting.... I really enjoyed that too.

I joined a handpainted swap and I love my partner... She is from Finland and has the same color taste as me..... I love to dye (obviously) so this is going to be fun :)

take care guys!

All in a Family

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for there kind emails and comments about Hillard, you guys are the best. And he was a virtual chatterbox last night! We only understood about half the things he siad (through sign language and speech) but we still had fun playing together as a family.

---

You guys may remember my birthday is coming up soon. Its not something I really like to broadcast b/c I hate that awkward feeling of people thinking they have to get me something.
Its going to be a really tough birthday since Carmen won't be around to celebrate with me. This is the second birthday in 34yrs that we won't be together and I'm thinking it will be just as hard as the first. (I had moved to Northern California 2 weeks before our birthday in 2000)....
To make this year a little less painful and hopefully tearless Chris is making a big to-do by having My favorite kind of party....A Crawfish Boil....!
The best part of this was the invitation email he sent to the family.... It was PURE CHRIS!

Hello All!

As I am sure you are all aware, on Sunday, February 3rd there is a big event worthy of an even bigger celebration. That is the day before Catherine Peddy Kerth and Carmen Peddy Rinehart gracefully pass into their "mid-thirties". Since they'll probably be crawled up in the fetal position on Monday, Feb 4, as they realize how old they've become, I figure it's best to celebrate their special day one day early. ; )

For this momentous occasion, I would like to invite all of you to a crawfish boil at "blank". All of the details should be included on the attached invitation. Obviously, Carmen, Richard, Thomas and Patrick will not be able to attend, but we'll all eat a crawfish in your honor.


When upon receiving this invite almost every member in the family was in hysteria with laughter. I think I even heard Carm Laughing all the way from Rio, Brasil ;)

I Leave you with this:

I'd like everyone to prepare for "Brandon's Creations". Yes, apparently the dyeing bug has bitten my youngest and he can't get enough of it!