Babies, Babies Everywhere

My friend, Maris, did not make it back to Toronto in time. Little Sydney wanted to make a New York debut and two weeks early at that. Maris was in New York City visiting family and friends before heading back to Canada. I have to commend her. This is her fourth (1-2-3-4!) girl! Simone, Sinclaire and Sierra will be ecstatic to see the gift their Mom and Dad are bringing them. As much as I wanted to knit her a gift, time was not on my side. So, I put on my design hat and created the announcements for her. I will also mail them for her so that it's one less thing she will have to worry about. We also thought it would be a cute idea to create announcement cards for the girls to give their friends introducing their new baby sister. I think that is a perfect way to get them involved since they were not here for the actual birth. Maris is a fanatic about crafting as well, so I know once she is settled the girls will be in matching outfits in no time.

I have also been setting up shop getting ready to knit a ton of baby gifts.

The Sweet Pea Pattern and the Bobbi Bear pattern arrived from Jimmy Beans Wool last week and I ordered the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino from Yarnbow in color 02. However, I think I need to order one or two more skeins. The skeins that I have now I will use for the garment. If you haven't done so, check out Yarnbow on eBay. She has great prices and SUPER fast shipping. I LOVE it.

Knitting for Two by Erika Knight, the book I found on Amazon from ultimate Discount Book Source for $1 arrived yesterday. I lucked up on this one cause it is in perfect condition. No bent pages and no wear and tear. Woo Hoo!

Lastly, the lavender yarn I picked up on a trip to Smiley's is Filati Cervinia Genova. It was on sale for $1.50 (can't pass up a bargain). I was thinking about knitting the baby hat in the book One Skein, for a gift. However, the yarn is acrylic and not as soft as I would like it to be. Although I love the color, I think a nice cotton would be a better or ... I can always order some more cashmerino. =-)

Summertime

summertime and the living is easy ... fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high - George Gershwin - Porgy and Bess

I've been at it again. Trying to make this blog an extension of me. The last couple of days in NYC has been helluva hot and humid ... and being the summer baby that I am, I LOVE IT.

Work has slowed down some and I have been thinking about the purpose of my blog lately. I toyed with the idea of doing away with it because I haven't been devoting much time to my knitting and sewing as I would like to. However, just when I started to press the delete button, my heart started to palpitate. I just couldn't do it because as much as I hate to admit it, other than me being a closet writer (and incessant dreamer), I have grown quite fond of my blogging friends. So, now that I am here to stay, I made another choice to share not only my knitting and sewing endeavors (when they do happen) but some of my other creative endeavors as well.

On the knitting front, I came across a real bargain. I have been looking for some baby patterns for my cousins. One is expecting in August and another in December / January (see previous post). I have had my eye on Knitting for Two by Erika Knight for awhile. While cruising the internet, I found a seller on Amazon that was selling a copy for $1.00 ! The shipping cost more than the book. The description said the book is new. The seller is trying to liquidate its stock. I can't wait for it to come in. Of course my skepticism started to kick in after the initial high wore off. But for a dollar, I just couldn't pass it up. Woo Hoo!

Oh, and before I forget, I want to give everyone a big hug and kiss (**smooches**) for supporting the Knit On! products. Look for more items in the future.
Have a great weekend everyone & stay cool!

Joy Comes in the Morning

Joy comes in the Morning. I remember the pastor belting that out one Sunday when I was younger. To amuse myself, I would try to think all the possible reasons why Deacon Roberts always had a sour look on his face. My mother told me once that he didn't eat enough prunes, but as observant as I was, I knew it had to be his wife's offensive smelling perfume. It was the kind that lingered a long while after she was gone. After service had ended and everyone was gathered outside or in the basement to buy a fish dinner, all you had to do was follow your nose and you knew exactly where she had been during the day. Her perfume was THAT strong. Eeeewww! However, when the Pastor made that statement, for the life of me, I could not understand what he meant by it ... until now.

The past couple of weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for us.

First, we received a call that my husband's aunt was in the hospital. She had a series of strokes after complaining all week of headaches and not feeling well. One proved to be fatal. At first her prognosis looked bleak. She was unconscious but she was breathing on her own. Her church has been putting the prayer line into over-drive and family and friends have been holding a constant vigil by her bedside ... but ... Joy Comes in the Morning! On Thursday she finally opened her eyes. The doctors are not sure how much comprehension she has and they are constantly doing neuropathic tests. Right now, baby steps is all we are asking for and we are taking one day at a time. We just want her to take her time and heal.

The day after we were informed of Aunt Gertrude, my Mother called me to tell me my Great Uncle Henry lost his battle with colon cancer. We were aware of his illness but I guess we didn't realize just how sick he was. When he was diagnosed, he was already in stage four and not given much time. Uncle Henry was the one you would call on when you needed ANYTHING and never complained about doing it either. My mother was devastated and as her oldest, I helped her gather her things and hopped on Jet Blue to Florida. We take solace in knowing that his last days were spent surrounded by his family and grandchildren ... and that he has to suffer no more. ... and ... Joy Comes in the Morning! The day after his death, his daughter, my cousin found out she is pregnant ... AND ... the baby is due on her father's birthday (excuse me while I break out into a Mahalia styled hymn).

After returning home, I've been searching for the perfect baby pattern to knit. Because she lives in Florida, I want to make something in cotton and either in yellow or green. I love this Sweet Pea set from Knitting at Knoon.
You can order it as a kit from Jimmy Beans Wool and it calls for Rowan's RYC CashCotton 4ply. I really like the Limon color and may pair it with white to do a striped blanket. The baby is due after Christmas so I have some time, but I want to start now . . . just to give myself some time. I am going to be patient though. Can't rush this one.

Winds of the Storm

It's all Beverly Jenkins' fault. Who told her to write the most captivating historical romance novels!? Her characters draw you in with their strength and perserverance at a time when the United States were at odds with each other. She enlightens you to the struggles of the race and the accomplishments made to reach the state we are at today. Further more, who can help being intrigued by a handsome, debonair, sophisticated man and a equally matched heroine, whose affairs with each other are often hot and s-t-e-a-m-y.

Winds of the Storm is the latest novel from Beverly Jenkins. Here is the excerpt from Amazon:

Archer Le Veq owes his life to the woman who rescued him from certain death at the height of the Civil War...a woman known only as "the Butterfly." Now, in the dark, waning days of Reconstruction, he needs the courageous and beautiful former spy...in more ways than before!

Zahra Lafayette thinks her days of intrigue are far behind her, until she is asked to go on one more mission. Posing as an infamous madam in New Orleans, Zahra must gather information to ensure the safety of the South's freedmen. The last thing she expected was to see Archer Le Veq again. He is as arrogant as he is handsome, but there is something about this dusky and debonair hotelier that sends her senses singing. Zahra knows she will need to guard her secrets, but no peril awaiting her compares with the treachery of Zahra's own heart -- for, Lord help her, she burns to taste the man and to lose herself in his powerful embrace.

Whew Chile! Can you resist?!? The best thing is her novels are intertwined. So, if you need to add some books to your summer reading list, start with Indigo then move onto Through the Storm and follow up with Winds of the Storm. However, I must caution you, you will get ABSOLUTELY no knitting done.