Butterfly is oh so delicate…oh so beautiful…oh so I can’t believe I even knit this beautiful knitted piece of clothing!!! I am in love…all over again. Did I mention that I’m in love?

Isn’t she pretty? I had a few problems with the pattern. Once I figured it out…with the help of my Butterfly knitalong friends, it all worked out. This is a pretty quick knit. The pattern repeat is only 6 sts & I don’t have to look at the pattern anymore for the basic stitch pattern.
BUTTERFLY UPDATE...
You all think I am more quick than I really am. This is only the back of Butterfly. I am working on the front now. Still though…she is a quick knit. When I am all finished, I will model her with a camisole underneath. We wouldn’t want anyone getting any bad impressions now… would we!!

Birch Photos...



I just got back from Pilates…so forgive the workout clothes. Birch would look much better with a fabulous outfit!

Photo shots...
The birth of a flower…a Crepe Myrtle flower that is…

The heart of an Orchid…at least that is what I call it…


A White Orchid close up. I’m trying to get the whole middle of the orchid very clear. I think I need to get farther back, take the photo & then crop it. I’ll try that next time.

Workout Update...
Think I haven’t been working out because I haven’t posted about it…I think not! I’m still taking my 2 private Pilates lessons each week. When Rick & I play golf, we have been walking the course using a push cart. Each time gets a little easier. We walked both Saturday & Sunday last weekend. It was a sunny gorgeous weekend. So we probably walked about 5 miles each day while playing golf. Boy oh boy were we tired when we were done. I am improving so much in golf. Getting better makes me want to play more. I could easily play 4 times a week! I’m an obsessed golfer…really I am! I decided, I am at my happiest…knitting & golfing! I’m also working out my weight & doing cario at least 2 times a week. There is one thing I love about the warmer weather…I am much more active. I can’t wait to move where it is nice all year round.

Have a fabulous evening & more!

Birch is all finished blocking and she is ready to show off her beauty. Have a look…

This beautiful Birch was my first lace shawl ever. I used Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Smoke and size US6 Addi Natura needles. Because I went down in needle size, so did the finished shawl size. I blocked it to the measurments…72” by 36”. It was a tough go at the beginning…lots of stitches to cast on, getting the first repeat fininshed to see if you were even doing it right, but overall she was an easy knit. The pattern stitch was extremely easy. I love the KSH and this yarn is light as a feather. Photos soon to come of Birch adorning my body.

Butterfly…the beginning...
I am soooo happy to announce that I started working on Butterfly…

This photo shows the provisional cast on & cast off. The back hem is done and I have already finished 1 repeat on the front.

A little closer view. I had a couple problems at first with one stitch, but I figured it out very quickly, This lace pattern is much harder the Birch’s. I love the way this lace hem looks. It is so antique looking. I can not wait to finish this beautiful canisole & wear her out on the town or even for knit night. Hey…I might even wear this baby around the house! I LOVE it in the Pearl color. The pattern calls for US8 needles and I automatically went down to a US7. I’m loose you know.  I ordered some of the Bryspun needles. I tested these out knitting the lace pattern using my KSH in smoke. They are fabulous needles for lace. The tips are very pointy & they are extremely comfortable to hold. The only problem is I can’t use them for Butterfly as the yarn is almost the same color as the needles. I do believe I need to see the stitches when kitting this pretty girl! Don’t you? Next time though!

Well…that’s all I’ve got for today.
Have a great one!

I didn’t take a picture of her blocking because she is on green towels on the carpet & you really can’t see her all that well. So pictures will be taken.when she is all dry & ready to show off her beauty.

My next project is going to be Butterfly...using this yarn…

This is Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the color Pearl. I can’t wait to start this gorgeous camisole. This cami has an antique look about it which I adore…as if it was handed down from quite a few generations.

I lost it again and bought 3 new colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Look how beautiful…

Liqueur, Marmalade and Jelly. I had to get the Marmalade after seeing Claudia’s Birch & then when I saw it in person…oh my! These colors are so deliciously rich…they are amazing.

Knit Night Again...

Do not let this photo fool you…we knit for about 10 minutes…then we did this…

This may look sedate, but we got pretty wild. We were singing all night. I have this microphone that hooks right up to the TV. I also have a wireless sub-mike & they work together. It is very cool! We had the best time!!!

Showing off our WIP…
Heather’s awesome Everyday cardi, Donna’s gorgeous Lucky & my beautiful Birch.

Donna, Lauren & Heather are so proud to show off the socks they are knitting. Aren’t they purty?

Look at these lovely stitch markers that Lynette sent me…

I LOVE them. They are even prettier in person. What a beautiful shade of blue. Thank you again Lynette!! You are very sweet and talented! I’d love to learn to make some beaded stitch markers.

I will leave you with a couple camera shots I took…

This is a merge of Jordan’s (my son) and my eye. I think I’m really going to have a blast with the combination of this camera & Adobe Photoshop.

Another flower from my Butterfly bush

I forgot what this flower is called. This flower bush has gotton so large and full. It is gorgeous!

I know you had mentioned that you like to see photos…I just hope I don’t get too carried away with my new fantastic camera. Ha ha, he he, ho ho!!!

Make it a great reat of the day!

I caved in and bought this…

I’ve had a 35mm SLR for years. Since digital cameras came out, I have not even touched the big one. So I finally decided to go for it. I am in love. If it wasn’t for Cara...I would have never known about how great this camera is. I would really like to get into Macro photography. It is amazing the amount of detail in flowers, bugs, leaves, nature, everything actually. Here are a couple practice shots I took…



By the way…I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July!!! I love seeing Fireworks. This is one of my test shots. It needs some work. Next time I’ll use a tripod.
Here is another photo that I took…

These are some plastic grapes that are on a 3 tier display that I have in my kitchen.

Birch Update...

I have 14 repeats to go! I have been so busy with the holiday and plenty of fun times that I have not knit very much. I still love Birch though…not sick of her at all…already thinking about my next shawl to knit…after an attempt with Rowan Butterfly. Ohhhhh how I love this camisole…yes I’m going to knit the Cami…not the dress. How cute will that be over another cami & some jeans or a skirt?

Workout Update...
I have been super dedicated to my workouts. Last week I did weights twice, cardio 3 times, Pilates once and golf 3 days in a row. I had lost my swing…but I got it back yesterday. I got a 106!!! Woohoo!!! Last year I bought 2 push carts (you put your golf clubs on it & push it) for Rick & I. We decided to test it out yesterday. On my…was that hard. We ended up walking about 4 1/2 miles…up hill & dale. We were so sore & tired when all was said & done. We were totally drenched as it was very hot and humid. One thing I know for sure…we are walking all the time from now on. It is great excercise. I’m sure we will get more used to it as we do it more often.

I got an email a couple of weeks ago from Rob Maran. They are sending out this book to select members of the knitting community at no charge and I got picked. I just recieved the Knitting & Crocheting book today and it looks like a really great book. It has lots of projects in it with tons of photos and techniques. I’m really looking forward to going through it…after I knit a little on Birch.

Make it a fabulous night!

Laughter is one of the healthiest things you can do yourself. Laughter is actually supposed to be good for your body & mind. Well I surely hope it’s true because I sure laughed a ton last night. Now who can guess what last night was? Not sure? Need a hint? Alright I’ll tell you…It was Knit Night!

Lauren, Heather, Me and Tanya. We finally got to meet the Muse. She is simply fabulous. We had the best time. See the kooky face I’m making…well Tanya was laughing so hard that she made me laugh hard & I was trying to calm down just a bit to get this picture taken. We went to the Rams Head Tavern for some drinks and dinner. We all decided that our waiter was mundane, monitone, dead, a zombie, no personality…you get the picture. Our food was blah, I got my meal for free, plus we got 10% off the entire bill…but we still managed to have such a fabulous time. And we LAUGHED a lot!!! Now, who doesn’t love to laugh. We even got to knit a little. We went outside in the courtyard after our meal & knit & talked & laughed. It was the most perfect day and night yesterday. Here’s a couple more photos…




Meet Zira. I’m sure some of you have seen or met her. Zira Is the monkey that talented Tanya hand knit. She is holding little pink mommy monkey, who is holding little pink baby monkey. I am in love with these monkeys. They are adorable!

Birch Update...


She’s looking purty isn’t she? There are 209 stitches remaining. Wow…is that all I’ve knit?

As of late, I will leave you with a couple Flower photos...


Such beauty!!

Have a great reat of the day!

my airy, fluffy, light, fuzzy, soft, fabulous, beautiful Birch...

Hanging high & proud
I have NEVER in all of my 4 years of knitting been so addicted and in love with a project I’m knitting as I am with this one. I’m totally smitten!!!

Waiting patiently for me to pick her up and finish her

Up close and personal…she is not a shy one…but one who wants to be seen out and about everywhere!
Did I mention to you that I’m in love? Oh…I did? I am definately going to give Rowan Butterfly a go now that I feel a little more comfortable knitting lace. All I can say is thank goodness for stitch markers. I could never have done this without them. Also a big thank you to Jacqueline She gave me a couple very important helpful hints which has made knitting Birch much easier and more bareable. And to another Jacqueline She had a couple links posted that really helped me out…big time! She also knit Birch in the same color as I did…Smoke. It’s smokin’! Go take a look.
Today was the first time I worked out in a week as I was a sicky. I am much better now and was able to make it to Pilates this morning. After a week off, it felt great to do something besides sit around on my butt!!!

Here are a few flower photos I’ll leave you with…as I have got to get back to Birch. I’m having withdrawel symptoms already…

This is to show you how tall my Day Lillys are getting compared to my mail box.

A close up of our Day Lillys

This is a beautiful flower from my Butterfy Bush.

This is a pink Cone flower. Flower Power!!!

Birch is calling…gotta run…Have a fantabulous Day!!!