My Favorite FO

This has got to be my favorite project by far. I finished the Coquette tub top from the book Fitted Knits. I used 3 skeins of TLC cotton~plus w/ knitting needles in sizes 5 and 7. I took my time on knitting this because I wanted the stitches to all be even. I was a bit nervous about the fit after reading other knitter's comments. I made this in the xs and hoped that it would not be too big! I used the sewing bind off for this top to get a very loose edging on the bottom. I'm very excited to say it's a good fit. It's still missing some ribbons or an icord for the top but that'll come later. I could not contain my excitement, so here's a photo of top!

And here's a close~up of the lace:

I have so many projects that I want to do. Wouldn't you know it, after posting my photo on Ravelry, I stumbled upon another top that I just love. It's called the Celia Cruz strapless top. It's similar to this top I just made. I had to order it immediately! It's downloaded and now I just have find the perfect yarn to start on that project! I hope to be done with that before the first of July so I can start my KAL on the talia top!

Monte Rio Shell

I finished this crochet shell yesterday. It's from the current issue of Crochet! Magazine. It's a very easy crochet. I rarely check gauge, so of course the gauge was off. I used 3 skeins of Omega Sinfonia cotton yarn in pistachio using a size I hook. I worked on this project along with a knit project, the Coquette Tub Top (Fitted Knits). It was nice switching back and forth, when I got bored with one ~ I switched to the other. I realized at the end, I was getting antsy so I made myself finish this shell. The Tub Top is coming along nicely, the only problem is that I'm running out of yarn. I'm hoping the yarn will be here by Saturday! If not, I'll have to "force" myself to start another knit project. I have too many projects in mind!

Adopted Cat

I took this photo yesterday. It's our neighbor's cat but she hangs out here most of the time. Yesterday, I saw her sleeping in our cooler! Smart cat, she was trying to stay cool in the 90+ temperature! She's sooo adorable. The neighbor's selling their home so I'll miss her when she moves.

We went blueberry picking yesterday. I really enjoyed myself. Hubby dropped me off while he had an errand to run. It was already hot hot hot at around 10am but I didn't mind. It felt so good to be outdoors and picking blueberries. It was great! Hubby got back 30 minutes later and my daughter and I walked around a bit. She even picked a few berries before she got stuck with some briars. After that, she was done and wanted me to hold her. I picked a few more berries holding her and then we hung out in the car waiting for hubby to finish picking his berries. I forget how much fun it is. I love eating food that are organic and buying fruit/vegetables from farmer's market or the farm. I hope the corn will be ready soon so I can buy a bunch from the farm.

I've started another crochet project. Still keeping in the theme of tanks/summer tops. I'm crocheting the monte rio shell from Crochet! Magazine. It's an easy crochet. I think I tend to make things harder than they are. Of course, I had to rip a few times because it didn't look right to me. I was actually doing it right but in my mind I was thinking it should look different. I tend to do that sometimes, over complicate things. I'm glad to say, it's coming along nicely.

I know I said that I don't like to start another project until I finish the last but...I did. I'm allow to change my mind! I also started a knitting project and it has some lace in it! I don't have enough yarn to complete the project so I went on line to order more. Go figure, JoAnn no longer carries that color! I did find it on ebay! I may have to put that project on hold and yet again start another if the yarn doesn't come in on time.

Crochet Shell Top

I am crocheting again! My crochet has been kind of put on hold while I've been doing a lot more knitting. My shell top done! This is originally a dress pattern but I made modifications. (The baby doll dress from Interweave Magazine is on hold until I can buy the yarn I need). Here's the original pattern for this dress:



http://web.archive.org/web/20000510141442/http://www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/v-14.html



The pattern is from 1970. I had intended to make the large size but even with the large, the neck line was too small. It didn't help that I did not check the gauge. Oh well, I figure I'd just wing it from there on. I made some increases along the way, under the arm area. Then I realized that I was not going to have enough yarn to make it into a dress. Just as well, because I don't think I'd wear it as a dress. I had to decide how long I wanted to make the top so I stopped just around my hips. I wanted to add straps and I did sc around the arm area. I'm so excited how this turned out. I added ribbon around the waist area to give it some shaping. I'm so thrilled how this turned out. I really had no idea what exactly I was going to do with this. It almost ended up in the frog pile! I used 2 skeins of Caron simply soft heather in a deep teal color. This was all crocheted using a I hook. A very very simple crochet, done mostly in 2dc and 2sc shells. I did a 8 dc picot instead of the recommended 9 dc for the bottom edging.

Here's a photo:

Summer Funnel Knit Top

I completed my Summer Funnel Knit top today. I must admit though, that I didn't get much sleep! I was up approx. 1 am and my daughter was up around 4 or 5am. It gave me more time to work on my knitting. While we had breakfast, i finished seaming up the sides and the straps.



I used 2 skeins of the Bernat Satin yarn for this project and a size 9 knitting needle. I bought this yarn on clearance in a pink color called maitai. It's super soft and shiny. I honestly did not like this yarn, the color and sheen to it. I almost put the project on hold but decided that I was not going to start another project until I completed this. I ran into a little snag because the funnel neck was not working out. It's for the best because I don't think I'd wear it at all with a super high neck line. Too hot to wear a turtle neck in 100 degree, Georgia weather! What I decided to do is keep the high neck line, sort off and add some straps. I crossed my fingers and hoped that it would be a good fit. With great satisfaction, I'm glad to say that I really like this top! I even ended up liking the yarn. It's super soft, softer than Caron's Simply Soft and the color is actually nice. I'm so glad I didn't give up, once again! Now I can start my next project...I'm really leaning towards a crochet project, yes crochet! I am so inspired by Crochetgurl's baby doll that I may have to make one for myself. I LOVE the way her dress turn out!




So far so good on the work out fronts. I was sooooo sore after my 1st work out doing Tae Bo. I ran the next day and did Tae Bo again yesterday. I'm not as sore today so that's good. I'm going to keep up with working out regularly and eating a little less! I really like to loose about 5 lbs, at least and be more trim and fit. I'm keep you all posted on my progress! That way, it give me motivation to keep working out!

Hot Days of Summer

It's going to be a scorching 100 degrees today! HOT HOT HOT. I bought a little pool for my daughter which we put on the porch. It's so cute to see her playing in her little pool. We really enjoy being on the porch, watching our daughter and looking out on the lake. Hubby and I use to get out of work early and get on the jet ski or the pontoon boat. Soon enough, we'll be able to take our daughter with us on the jet ski!

It's hard to believe I've been home for over a week, almost 2? Wow. I didn't get a chance to run in the road race but that's okay. I had a cold the 2nd day I was on vacation and it kind of put my running on hold. Besides, I think we were to come home. Next year, we'll plan for it and I'll have plenty of time to train for it.

I worked out for the first time in a long time this morning. I did about 30 minutes of Tae Bo. I had been doing some running (but sometimes life gets in the way, lazy or just busy). I need to get back into shape. Being pregnant sure does change your body! But, it's been almost 3 years since I gave birth so I can't use that as an excuse any more. No more excuses, I have to work out and get back into shape. I can do it! I have to stay motivated!

I lost some steam in my knitting. Maybe I'm feeling a little burnt out. I've been knitting so much. I'm still in the middle of a project though, I'm making the summer funnel sleeveless top from here: http:///www.girlfromautie.com/patterns/clothing/summerfunnel/summerfunnelphp.

It's a cute top, I think part of it is the yarn. I realized that I don't enjoy using acrylic yarn anymore. Of course, I ordered a bunch of cotton yarn from JoAnn's. I think 5 colors in all (14 skeins). I also have some cotton yarn in my stash and some that I ordered from Elann's to try out. I want to jump into a new project but I know if I do, I will not finish my current project. I do not like to have unfinished project! So I'll force myself to finish this current one before I start the next. While I'm on the topic of knitting, when I returned from vacation I decided I wasn't happy with my lelah top. I think the elastic made it look too tight on top, so I ripped the elastic off. I still wasn't happy but I couldn't decide what to do. After almost a week, I decided it was time to finish it. I by-passed the straps and put 3 rows of ribbing on top. Now it's a perfect fit. I'm very very very pleased with it. It is so much better because I didn't' give up after countless try of trying to get it right! Anyways, here's my re-worked top!