A New Beginning

Well hello there.  I feel as though I almost have to re-introduce myself since I haven't posted 4 months.  Really it's not you, my lovely readers, it's me.  I have wanted to post a couple times but I wanted to do a re-cap post and that thought was daunting.  Also, I have these fleeting moments where I need to post things but get swept away my work and life.  Anyway, I am using the new(ish) year to start with a clean slate and new beginning.

Hello there!

So no time like the present right?  It's time to stop making excuses and get back to what I enjoy which is sharing with all of you.

Really this hobby is a bit cathartic, I can write out what's going on and just let it go into the world and off of my shoulders.  I have missed that and hope to find a better time to incorporate this into my week.

So what has been going on in my life over the last few months?  Well lots of love and laughter that is for sure.

September:

Joe went to Atlanta for work and brought me back a magnet from the Georgia Aquarium.  This cute little sea otter keeps an eye on me at work.

Cute little sea otter magnet

I was also celebrating new beginnings with Jenn's Bridal Shower.  Her aunt and mom did a lot of the work to design the decor and decorate.  They did such a beautiful job.

Don't forget the Bachlorette party!

Of course you need a selfie!

October:

October ushered in more exciting things including Hockey Games,

 Jenn and Ryan's Wedding,

and Halloween.

Pebbles and BamBam!

November:

There was some general laziness after the weeks of hectic crazy running and before the holiday season ramped up.

And a bit of pampering

December:

Lots of baking and prepping for the Christmas Holidays

So I hope that fills you in on some of the big and little things the past few months.  Can't wait to show you more.  Also, what you don't see is about 5 finished objects to brag about.  Stay tuned

<3

Heather

WIP Wednesday - Anxiety

As a result of the holiday and my surgery I won't have any new posts until January.  

Happy Holidays from Amaryllis Musings!

I really don't know how the past 3 months have sped by so fast.  I feel like it was just last week where I sat in the surgeon's office and talked about surgery and what I would need to do to prep for it.  But now the wait is in the single digits and I am suddenly full of anxiety.  Mostly I am anxious about stuff I can't control.  For example, my insurance hasn't approved the surgery yet and there was some complication with my leave.  And what I have in my control hasn't been very controlled this week.  

I need to lose 3 more lbs for my weigh in tomorrow.  I am a nervous wreck that they will tell me that the surgery is canceled because of 3 lbs.  I wish I could say that I followed my diet but in the face of not eating real food for 2 months, I was weak and didn't follow the plan.  Now I am super nervous.  I always do this.  While I bitch and moan on my blog about stress, really I make my life stressful by procrastinating.  Perhaps I secretly covet the thrill that procrastinating provides.

Never the less, please keep me in mind tomorrow morning when I go to the nutritionist.

In other news, I almost prepared for the holidays.  I have the majority of my shopping done in record time and I just have to wrap.  I still have some baking to do but basically I am almost done.  I even got my nerd wars swap present done and out almost a week ahead of schedule.  :)

Rigging Up the Color Affection

11 rows of lights :)

I have one more stripe repeat to complete and then I start on the short rows.  I had hoped to have that started for this week's post but I wanted to the hat done for Christmas first.  So hopefully I will have a third color incorporated for next post.

Hue Shift Afghan

This is a big welcome back to the hue shift afghan.  I put this aside to concentrate on my White Centered Granny Blanket and now have finally gotten back to this project.  I got two more squares complete and started on a third.  Maybe I will be done with this by spring? 

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Merry and Bright

What a week!  Pitt is technically in Finals but I just have a paper to submit before Friday at 6 pm.  The paper is complete just with my group for a final review.  That out of the way, I am back to my regular schedule and it's a little weird.  I really have lost track of what day it is because I'm not leaving for class on Monday and Wednesday.

I do want to apologize for not responding to comments this past week.  Something is wrong with the embedded comments and I cannot reply.  When I started my blog I promised myself that I would respond to every comment.  I really appreciate your insights and reminds me that there are people out there reading this.  :)

In another bit of news, this one's a big one.  I am having Gastric Bypass Surgery on December 24th.  I have kept things quiet while I was prepping and telling friends and family.  Now that it's so close I am excited but anxious about how rapidly it's approaching.  Please keep me in your thoughts.  With that said, I can't wait to post pictures of my weight loss.  I have lost 25 lbs in 2 months in preparation for the surgery.  My doctor wants me to lose 30 total and it's been a bit of a challenge.

Rigging Up the Color Affection

This is coming along nicely.  I have 8 of 12 stripes complete with only 4 more to go.  This section has flown.  I am also at the point where the stripes are mixing colors.  I like it but it took a while to get used too.  Its a little more muddled than the solid color stripes.  Anyway, can't wait to get it done.

Pittsburgh Panther Hat

This is a hat for my bestie's guy.  Like me he went to the University of Pittsburgh so I decided to make a Blue and Gold hat.  I looked for color work that was Pitt inspired but couldn't find anything so I settled on this pattern.  It was originally Steeler Black and Gold but the blue looks so nice. Since it lacks any logo, it can be worn anywhere.  I made a boo boo and misread the instructions. You're supposed to knit plain for 4 inches before the pattern and i knit 2 inches.  Sadly this is a but of a blessing because I was low on the navy blue so the hat will be predominately gold.

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Mitts and Lights

Hello again!  Welcome to December and all of the craziness of the upcoming holiday season.  I had a lovely Thanksgiving and then did some serious shopping the rest of the weekend.  I fell hard at Candy Skein and bought enough yarn for a sweater.  Now that I finished my cardigan, I want to knit all the sweaters!

Anyway, I have been listening to Christmas carols non stop and thinking about what I am going to get for my family and friends.  I also have plans to get some shortbread made as gifts for my swap partners.  Oh the lists keep on growing!

Ginger Ale Podsters

One down, One to go

I was clearly productive in the time off of work during the holidays.  I went from one cuff to a 1.5 completed mitts.  I have since weaved all of the ends in on the left mitt and started the fingers for the right mitt.  I hope to get the right one done tonight because I still have a hat to make for a gift.  

One thing I can say is that, while I like the finished result, this pattern is riddled with mistakes and some issues.  I followed the size small directions so far an had to make some modifications, thankfully I get the general construction and was able to fix some things.

Rigging Up the Color Affection

Pretty Colored Lights!

I have had a Color Affection on my to do list for ages but hadn't found anything that inspired me to make the shawl.  Now if your a frequent visitor her at the musings, then you know I like me a garter shawl.  Anyway, I was inspired by Candy Affection by Maria of Kiwiria Knits and I found this lovely yarn at the Pittsburgh Indie Knit and Spin Festival.  When I saw the sparkily multicolored yarn from Fibernymph Dye Works I know it had to be a shawl. 

So I picked a lovely grey and went home to check out my stash for the third color.  I had a lovely teal blue in Shalimar Yarns Breathless and knew I found my set of colors.

So as soon as December rolled around I got my needles moving and started this shawl.  I am really pleased so far but I can't wait for the colors to start to blend and meld together.  But the stripy pattern is pretty awesome too!

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - The Holidays Are Coming!

I feel like there should be screaming and pandemonium, when I read this weeks title.  This time next week I will be scrambling to get the ingredients for the side dish I am taking to Thanksgiving dinner.  But for now I am in gift making and buying mode.  I am in two holiday swaps.  One if for our local knitting group and I am just about done with that one.  Muwahahaha!  I need to order something but other than that I am done!  Woot.  The other one is for Nerd Wars.  I am well on my way with progress for that one so yippy.

As far as other shopping goes, I think I know what I will get everyone but haven't had an opportunity to shop.  I usually wait until after Thankgiving to do my shopping but because it's so late this year I may have to start this weekend.  There are only 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aieeeeee!  

Shapely Boyfriend

Arm number two.

I have to say the picture above makes me think of something that was scandalous in Georgian England.  Seriously it's just a bit of shoulder and arm.  How racy :)  Perhaps I need to lay off the historical romances...

Anyway due to swap projects in the works I put this aside the later part of the week.  I cast off the first sleeve last week and got a lot done on Thursday but didn't manage to finish it like I hoped.  I should be able to finish it tonight and get started on the button band.

Mint Ginger Ale Soda

A Sneak Peek!

So I mentioned that I started and finished this guy between last week's post.  I love making hats, so quick and satisfying.  The pattern is called Cherry Soda/Orange Soda and while I call all fizzy drinks pop, I needed a green soda to name my hat.  Ginger ale came to mind but not just any ginger ale but Mint Ginger Ale.  I love this stuff, it totally reminds me of the holidays because that's when its available.  Apparently it's a Pittsburgh thing but this is my drink of choice around Christmas time.  Anyway the pop is Green!  So of course I had to name my project after this favorite!

Ginger Ale Podsters

Little mitts!

So I tried to start these two at a time but that was an epic fail.  I think I got the needles twisted so I just pulled them off and will make them one at a time.  I will try again at some point.  Anyway so a friend made these for her last swap and they turned out really nice so I wanted to give them a try.

I originally picked a different yarn but it had a color that my swap partner didn't like.  Thankfully I was still on the hat so I swapped out the mitt yarn. One complaint with the teal is that it's kinda dark and it bugs my eyes.  I think it will be easier now that I can see my stitches versus just the cast on row.

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather