Desiree gets MARRIED.. whooo hooo

This is Kevin and Desiree White
Known Dez forever and am so glad she is happy again.
She is one of my Long time homeschooling friends and a wonderful singer. Not bad looking either..lol. Congratulations Dez and Kevin..Sager, Kale and Ashton

Book Holiday

This week I am reading the first of Robin Hobbs 3 farseer novels. I've already read the rest of the series. This is what my mom used to call a "Book Holiday". When you kinda disappear into a book for a week. Its very relaxing.
I am still knitting on the Fronds sweater and am better then half way up the front. The neck shaping is not to far in my future..hee hee..YEAH!!
I also did a bad thing. I went by Village Tea and Yarn and bought 10 balls of pale green Plymouth Encore. When I got home I went searching for the #3 keyplate for my bond knitting frame (ultimate sweater machine). I have had this machine for 25 years. So I could start the pale green sweater...haha!! Anyway, while I was cleaning and digging around I stumbled on the Eggplant sweater (patons Decor) I started last year. AND, I found the #3 keyplate so I finished the back of the Eggplant sweater. It has a pretty berry pattern across the bottom from the book Knitting on the Edge. NOW, I have to make another bottom edge to finish the front. Work work work. What about the green one you ask..I didn't start the green one but I DID draw a design. Terri Shea would be proud of me. I found my notebook that I keep my designs in. I've never published a design but prefer doing my own over patterns in magazines. Wonder why that is? Its not that I don't swatch. I just never make things out of what they call for in the patterns so they never work out like they are supposed to. So, I wind up redesigning them anyway..lol. Sometimes its just easier to do it my own way in the first place..Lol. So, I mostly draw a little picture of what I'm aiming for and then put a few notes in. Nothing that anyone else could follow..I don't think. But, I know what it means.

New Name

Yes, I changed the name of my Blog. There is another Pixiepurls and I didn't wanna step on her toes. This really fits better anyway.
The ladies of the Thirdplace knitter's group were very helpful in giving me ideas on what to name my blog. Terri Shea..in her wonderful sweet way suggested "Crazy Annie's" which I laughed at but rejected. I get called crazy enough in my family.. Oh its just mom.. being weird again. Pfft!! Whatever!

Why Frog lake? Remember you asked!-- Deep breath-- Well, I bought my spinning wheel as a kit. My husband was annoyed at me about buying one..instead of allowing him to MAKE me one (maybe, in this lifetime-maybe not). Everytime I went to mention the "spinning wheel" I had bought we had to call it the something else. It therefore, was known as the "Spinning Frog". So, when I received the kit.. Which passed hubbies inspection (oddly enough)! I painted a ballerina frog on one of the foot petals. As a passive aggressive poke at my Dear, Sweet ,long suffering husband. And, Frogs Lake because its sorta like "Swan Lake" (the ballet) but Green..haha

I asked a bead artist if she could replicate my froggy dancer and i think she did a fabulous job. I'm not sure why, but ,she didn't want me to tell anyone she had made it. I think, she wasn't supposed to do side jobs. So, she will remain nameless. I made the hook from an extra long hat pin. Its one of my most favorite things.

Oh! Lookie!

Caramello Iris
Oh my goodness..thought this one was going to be blackish purple and look what I got! I thought all of these had changed to the lavender blue. Its amazing how many colors I'm getting from these flowers every year. You can't tell from the photos but they are around 4 ft tall. Flowers are Big as your two hands put together. BIG! Not your everyday Iris'
Sorry, I get excited. These seem to be the only flowers in the garden I can't Kill.

Whats new?

The ever amazing changing Iris!
Top is 2005.. bottom from 2004
Did I ever tell you about the beautiful Irises I got a couple years ago? They were chocolate with caramel on top. We had to move it the next year and see the picture on the bottom? It bloomed Purple and white. Then we moved it back to the previous garden and it changed again! Lavendar blue and white....Well........this is the same Iris!! Believe me..I'm as surprised as you!! I did hear that depending on the condition of the soil that the color can change. Especially, with these big ruffle ones.

As far as knitting goes. I have finished the back of the frond sweater and am about 1/4 of the way up the front. I've spun alot of roving..mostly stuff that has been laying around since the beginning of time. So, I'm keeping busy.

What should I make out of this? Ideas Please

spins up SHINEY
Merino Tencil in Pinks and Greys:
Jen brought some of her lovely fibers and yarns to show and perhaps sell from the Maryland Sheep convention. I fell in love with the pink, of course. Started spinning it as soon as I put my bag down when I got home,after knitting on Sat..
I tried to ply it but I didn't like it. I'm thinking of leaving it as singles and making something lacy with LOTS of holes in it. I hesitate to make another flower basket shawl but I may use it for that. I can give it as a gift for Christmas or something. Or, who knows. You can never have to many shawls can you?

spun up singles

Happy Mothers Day

Today All my kids except Jerico, who is in Alaska, came by. Jerico did call,tho.

Happy Mother's day to me. These are My Grandkids (Wyatt and Jyll's kids) Jayda (17mo), Trysten (3+) and Eryka (almost 9)
Miss Jayda- Look She's walking!! Around and around grandmas over grown flower beds.

Eryka, Jayda and Trysten

All playing in the slightly wet sand box. Trysten discovered that slugs are UCK! He's says "MAMA, UCKY!!" as he is trying to give the baby slugs to Jayda to.. I don't know.. eat?
Husband Bill listened!! I got hand held gardening tools!! I've been bitching for weeks that someone lost my "chopper digger". So, he went out and bought me 2 that are wayyyy better then the one I had before..WAY!! I can hardly wait for decent weather.

To Do List

1. Finish Frond Tee - cotton fleece from brown sheep
2. Yoked cardigan-Jo sharpe and knit picks yarns..I've been collecting.
3. Lace cardigan..shawl collar-Vogue knitters sum/spr 2004.
4. Sockies for my honey
5. Pink woolpeddlers shawl- from wool I picked up at WW for Mothers Day.
6. Lavender something.. the Rowen yarn I picked up for mothers day at weaving works.
7. Rug yarn crocheted into .. duh.. a rug. I inherited a ton of yarn when my Dad passed away.
8. Finish mitred square throw -combo of homespun and other yarns
9. Finish the Sari Silk/Merino SWEATER.. AHHH!!
10. Henry's attic- Cuddles yarn cardigan

some of my projects in waiting

The BLUE room

My Corner
When Marshall moved out, I took over his room. I've been gradually redecorating it. Its a nice cozy place to spin in front of a nice bright window. Haven't done anything with the walls yet but I'm getting to it. A little more everyday.
I went shopping for pillow shams and prints for the walls but after getting the pillows taken care of and looking at the prints available, I think I may do a large painting. Maybe, something with ladies sitting around a table knitting.. and spinning. Now where have I seen that before?? mmm...Maybe, I'll put Roger in a hat with big feathers!! Joking Roger..I need to capture your high forehead...lol.
Now, I have to go buy a canvas and some paints..like I need another hobby!! Well, we shall see. Maybe, I forgot how to paint? LOL.. wish me luck.

The Other side of the BLUE room
Bill bought this Tapestry when he was stationed in Germany. It used to hang on our Living room wall about 23 years ago. When we remodeled the living room and removed the wall that it once hung on. I don't think that Marshall has seen it anywhere except in pictures. It was always one of my favorite things.

Progression of the Rich Fronds Sweater

Rich Frond
Its coming along!! Honestly, I can't believe how easy this pattern is. After doing two chart repeats I put the magazine away. I've had to change it some. Its only 10 inches from pit to waist! I'm at least 14in. and I hate the little cap sleeves so I decided to knit it straight (drop shoulder) and add regular shortish sleeves. About 6 in long. Covers up the flappy underarms. LOL. Don't want a beautiful sweater showing off your worst features!! Otherwise..its coming along wonderfully.

Your Inner European is Italian!

Passionate and colorful. You show the world what culture really is.

Who's" Your Inner European?

WANTED

my favorite sweater
Handspun and knit. It took me months and 2 lbs of special roving ordered from Dyeing for fiber..which is out of business. I was so proud of it.
My first all handspun sweater is gone..Lost or stolen. I had it Monday and may have left it at a restaurant but they say its not there. Bill and I have searched the house ..its not here!! I cried..I did..I'm so sad!! But, at least I have a picture of it. It was very pretty. I hope it comes home or is especially loved by who has it. Sigh

Rich Fronds Tee Shirt

Rich Fronds
Isn't it Pretty? From Creative Knitting, May 2005. Going to make it with Lambs Pride cotton in a turquoise color. Had a horrible time figuring out the pattern. The first 2 rows kept referring to an A B C & D and there wasn't any on the chart. I'd almost given up till I checked their correction page. There it was.. ABCD on the chart..THANK YOU!! Now I can worry about my brain not the pattern. I can deal with that!
Had a lovely lunch with Liza today, who promptly explained the first 2 rows to me. Now I'm several into it and its so easy ... THANKS LIZA
And yes, it is another deviation from the Sari waste sweater.

Knit Club.. gotta watch this

This was Hysterical .. Check it out

Knit Club Requires Quicktime

What I've done this Week.. ahem.. nothing

I knit so much the last couple weeks that I took a week off. Sitting and enjoying the sun. Playing games and generally doing NOTHING.

Did better then I thought

English Genius:
You scored 85% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 80% Advanced, and 80% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!
Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!
For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

Sweater? What Sweater..not making a sweater??

Baby Blankets for Jami
So, I dusted off the Bond knitting frame and here with a little knit and crochet ruffle are the products of a days work. She will probably get all the blankets etc that I knit for Jyll but you can never have to many little blankies.
There is also a hat in the works .. we'll see if I finish IT!!

One decent picture of me in one of the Shawls

Annie's Shawl
So, I got one decent Picture of me in my Pink Alpaca shawl. Flash went off in my face but you can still see its me :) and can see my pretty shawl.

Flower Basket Shawls

both Flower Basket Shawls

Lots of hard work but they are both finished and blocked. I tried to get a good shot of them on me but I can't seem to not make a mess of it. I have such a horrid urge to make another...thats sick,huh? How many of these things do I really need?

The Pink one is Alpaca from Knit picks lace weight doubled. The other is from Australia..sent by Sascha (a long time E-pal) who sends me the coolest stuff every Christmas. Wish I had a webpage for this yarn company but they are not on the web as of yet. sigh!!

Guess I have to work on the Sari waste/Merino sweater now. Unless I find something else to make.

Latest Projects

The merino/sari waste before its spun
I'm working on the Flower Basket shawl in pink alpaca from Knitpicks (Below)
and a white one out of wool from my friend Sascha in Australia..a Christmas present.
Next to finish the sweater from the merino and sari waste. Just have to make the sleeves. I'll do them on the Knitting machine (Bond knitting frame)