The Year of the Nutcracker

So it began with a trip to the Houston Ballet's the Nutcracker on Dec. 2. This was Sam's first major cultural experience. Ok, so I'm not counting the Ringling Bros., the Incredibles on Ice, or many trips to the Museum of Natural Science. On a teacher's salary, we could only afford balcony seats at the Wortham Center. They were so steep that dad didn't even go for a snack during intermission! Yikes. Sam and I went to the foyer and had Starbuck's and shared a slice of carrot cake. (LOL I got him to eat carrots!!) Sam was excited about it though. I'm not sure if he was more impressed with the dancers or the orchestra. He was puzzled that no one spoke, but he was able to understand exactly what was going on in the story. We bought a reader about the Nutcracker Ballet and two ornaments for the Christmas tree: Clara and the Nutcracker. During the last 20 minutes of the second part, he got pretty antsy and was ready to go home. Sitting still for that length of time is tough for him, but it ended just in time.

So all that he can talk about it nutcrackers! When a student of mine told me that she was performing in "the Nutcracker on Ice" I knew that he would love it. Sheila is a competitive figure skater and an awesome physics student. She's quite a young lady! The performance was great! It was a recital for students of all ages. There were skaters who had to have been no more than 3 years old who skated as toys. There were many lovely acts by the older advanced skaters. The show ended with Sheila being the last student skater to perform before the guest National champion skater performed. She was amazing!! I hope to get my hands on some footage of her performance so that the class can analyze conservation of angular momentum as she completes the doubles and triples that she made look so easy. The photo above was taken at the entrance to the Nutcracker on Ice. Merry Christmas to all!

Holiday Stress

Well it has hit me again... Holiday knitting deadline stress!! I have a sweater for my son almost finished, a newly begun sock, and a silk scarf on my needles. Yikes! I knit when I am stressed, but I'm stressed and out of time so that has not been good for meeting deadlines. It's a good thing that we are not getting together with the rest of the family until the weekend after Christmas. School gets out on Friday, so I'll have more time to knit after that.

I've put my name on the waiting list for ravelry.com. If you haven't heard of it, it's an online community for knitters and crocheters. However it is in beta testing, so you have to sign up and them wait for your invitation. Right now I am about number 6000 on the list. I think they send out hundreds of invitations on a regular basis, so I'm hopeful that it won't take too long. In the meantime I found a fun holiday knitting site: http://www.weloveholidaysweaters.wehatesheep.com . Design your own gaudy holiday sweaters with as much bling as you can stand. Then add more!! LOL

I was really touched today when a student of mine presented me with the gift of yarn for Christmas. She has been in my class for 2 years now and knows how I love to knit. How thoughtful!! I want to knit the Icelandic shawl from KnittingDaily.com. It is so gorgeous!! But alas, to finish the projects I've already begun. I think I have knitting ADD! No... really it's just a project to fit my different moods and needs. With a busy life and a demanding 5 year old, sometimes I just can't concentrate on an intricate lace pattern. Stockinette is my friend then. :)

Here's to friday!

One down! Many to go!

Well, here it is! I need to block it after I weave in all of the loose ends hidden inside, but I did finish the knitting part tonight. I am pleased with the overall result. I'll start the other one tomorrow. One down, many to go! :0) I got some new software yesterday that I think is going to be really cool. It is called KnitAble and I have it on my pc and my Palm TX. The only thing that I haven't figured out yet is if I can synch my pc and palm files on this program. Kind of superfluous to have to enter the same info on both. I am cataloging my knitting needles first. I find new projects and think, hmmm... do I have that size/type? The other thing is that I am entering projects that I want to do and for whom. You can enter a person's measurements too. There is a Pinwheel sweater from the elann.com website that I want to do for myself, and ironically it is done in a yarn called "Lara" (my name!). I guess it is meant to be! LOL

Fair troubles with Fair Isle socks

Well I am a bit perplexed. I guess I'll go to all of the knowledge of my yahoo group to seek advise as to what to do with the sock. While it looks fine (I'm pleased at least!), I tried it on to judge foot length and I could barely get the leg part over my heel. The threads carried during the fair isle patterns are not tight, but they're not loose either. However, they do not stretch like the normal stockinette stitch portions of the sock. This is not a fatal flaw in this sock because it is a gift for someone with smaller legs/ankles than I do, but I do need to address it for the future.

This problem aside, I am rather happy with the overall look of the sock. I varied the colors slightly from the pattern, but I am happy with the switch. I've enjoyed knitting by the pool while Sam is taking swim lessons. I can cheer him on and knit like a yarn ho! LOL

Fairisle Socks

I am working on my first true pair of fairisle socks, and I am loving it. I feel so accomplished when I get another part of the patter finished! Yippee! This sock is from a book that I borrowed from the library: "Knitting on the Road". It is full of great sock patterns! There are lacy solid color socks and awesome fairisle patterns as well. I would buy this one. :) I hope to have a finished sock in a few days to show. I'm not really that slow of a knitter, just a busy busy mom! :)

My Socklet

Ok, now my feet just feel cute in these! They are definitely not your run-of-the-mill sock, but I like 'em! The sock yarn is a hand painted wool/spandex blend that is SO comfy!

Rambling again

I really am rambling... in my knitting that is. I have several things started, but they are for other people. I wanted to do something for myself. Selfish? Ok. I guess so, none the less...

I started yesterday on some sockless footlets to wear under my mules or flip flops. I should be finished soon, and I'll post a pic. I find it nearly impossible to find sock yarn without travelling across the city to a not so "local" yarn shop. I've been really happy with the yarn and needles that I ordered from KnitPicks.com so I think I may order some from them. Maybe I'll knit socks for Christmas gifts. I really love knitting socks, and I've collected a lot of cool patterns.

I went to Half Price Books today and bought 3 knitting books: Hand Knits for the Home, Country Knits, and New Baby Knits. I'm fascinated with fairisle here lately. I think I'll do a pillow to reflect the changes that I've made downstairs (painting, new curtains, etc) Hmmm... can you see what I mean? Rambling...

think I'll get back to my socklets!

Lara

Stretching my artistic brain

So summer is flying by in its glorious freedom. My first weeks weren't as carefree as I'd have liked because Sam was really sick. Poor thing ran fever around 105 for 3 days. The fever finally went away after a week and 2 visits to the pediatrician plus meds. Now he's back to his usual spunky self (albeit a bit more ornery than usual). He's excited to start swimming lessons next month, and we've gotten into the deep section of the splashpad pool for the first time. He even went down the water slides twice!

Well my students laugh at my drawings and I have always wanted to learn to draw properly, so I have taken up lessons through www.drawspace.com . I am starting from the beginning and am surprised at how technical drawing can be. This is a good surprise because I am trained in drafting and CAD so looking at objects in a like way makes the artistic ideas less scary to me. I guess I've always been a bit leary of drawing because it seemed to require too much of the right brain. I prefer fiber arts because if it isn't right, ribbit! There are patterns to follow and stitches to learn, but now I endeavor to draw. So cross your fingers for me and prepare to see me with a sketch pad in hand.

I am knitting as well. I'm still working on an aggie baby blanket of my own design. Its a little number that I'm knitting on the diagonal. One half will be maroon and the other white. I hope to have it done in time for football season. LOL Why do I keep putting so many irons in the fire? I don't know. Nature of the beast. I've always been this way.

I swear to try!

Ok, so I swear to try!! What do I mean?? I will follow through on this blog. Really!

So today my summer has officially started. Sam and I have big plans for "building contraptions and going to the splash pad." I'm hoping to accomplish a few more things (as witnessed by my Summer TO DO list Google gadget).

I'm working on a classic diagonal baby blanket for a neighbor's new baby. I finished a self-designed baby bib that I used intarsia to insert "lil aggie" onto it. I also have a crochet afghan to finish for my niece that has alternating squares that are done in pink eyelash yarn and look like butterflies. I'll be posting pics soon, but I just had to get started blogging tonight.



Sam is calling me to help him build a castle with his moon sand. Very cool stuff.


May 25, 2007