Nurse Nancy is Still Gonna Happen!

Sweet jesus in heaven I made it through this semester! I cannot believe it! I had the worst exam of my academic career! (that is no small statement!) But I passed and will be moving on next semester! Two of my study buddies just about had a nervous breakdown after the exam. I put them in my car and gave them the options of exercising, buying yarn (luckily I am the only knitter or I am SURE I would have ended up with with too much cashmire) shopping or food. The immediate and dare I say obvious choice was food. Not just anyfood but real comfort food...Cracker Barrel. YIKES! But oh my my my what a beatiful thing a table full of carbs and fat is when you are about to lose it! So if you need to reach me I will be the one drinking and tinking for the next week....I am not kidding!

Send Me The Good Vibes!

I am on the home stretch. This semester has been ROUGH and I have had a lot of personal stuff going on too. But I am about to meet with some of my study buddies and look at Pharm AGAIN. Then hit the stack of typed pages that is about 1.5 inches thick for the next test. SO on Monday at 1 then Tues at 9 are my finals. Send your prayers, good thoughts, spidey sense vibes whatever it takes so I can do well enough to pass this semester. May the Force be with ME!xoxo

I Won Some Yarn!!!

Hey! I am pretty excited and send a big ole' THANKS to Anni from Sockamania! I posted a pic of some socks I made with one of her patterns and won the drawing for the month! I tried to lift the picture from her site, but she already took it down. I will be getting some bamboo sock yarn called Missy. It is a dusky blue and purple mix.
Yea!!!

Okay, so like OMG!

One of the secret projects is complete. My friend Kourtney (who just started knitting and comes on Friday's to Knitch FYI) is from upstate New York. Every year, she and her husband go back and go to the State Fair. So this year, I asked if they had any roving. I thought maybe it would be cheap and my spinning friends could totally make out like bandits. But alas, my yarn hording buddies of course are up to thier arm pits in roving. BUT Claudia said "Hey Nance, if you want me to spin it for you I will." So I thought hmmmmm, sounds interesting. So I got some cream colored Romney and some brown something. Then it occured to me....Kourtney's big 40 is the end of December, I will make her something from the roving that she is connected to. It is a SURPRISE!!!!! So one of the adventures that Claudia and I had this past Sunday was dyeing the yarn. She finished spinning it on Friday, right in front of Kourtney I might add. I feel so SNEAKY! So check out Claudia's blog for the picture. It totally ROCKS and I think it will be an awesome gift!

A Bit Meloncholy I Guess

I was sitting here tonight thinking how wonderful it is to have my Friday Night Knitting friends. I met them when I was having a tough time in my marriage. The way we laughed and they got my jokes and didn't mind that I was/am a bit loud and crazy and added a bit of adult humor made me know that we would all be friends. So two plus years later, I love them more than ever and some have made permanent places in my heart.
Even when our friendships were first starting, they promised to knit me every night if I left my husband. That was just the extra boost I needed to make good choices for myself.
Now I am only 3 semesters and 5 weeks away from being through nursing school, alone again, my dad is quickly progressing in the last stage of Alzheimer's, and sometimes when I just feel so overwhelmed and down,I know that Friday night is a comin and I am sure to feel loved and have some laughs. I think a good motto is that you don't have to feel great to come, but you will probably feel better when you leave. So here's to you my fabulous friends at Knitch...you know who you are....thank you for the wonderful addition to my life.

What Magical Personality Are You?

I'm a Satyr!
What are you? http://www.llewellyn.com/free/mpq.php?tab=intro

Your Q Score is: 1The Q score ideally should be as small as possible, indicating maximum agreement among elements. However, even a tiny Q score may not mean optimal functioning, since all four elements may in fact be relatively undeveloped.

Your Primary Mythical Creature

Water TypesThe main strength of the Water types is feeling. The second element indicates the most probable focus for this emotional expression.
SatyrWater with EarthAstrologically associated with Scorpio and the Eighth HouseSatyr types are warm and sociable but also enigmatic and mysterious. They are sensitive to others’ feelings and moods and are extremely insightful and perceptive. They feel a need to relate intimately with others and they often do so through sensual pleasures. However, they also have a tendency to be cautious and guarded and they need to maintain their privacy. This behavior confuses others and makes them appear unpredictable and capricious. They want to control over themselves and others in order to feel secure. They also want to merge with others to feel a sense of unity. They are frequently attracted to art and design, especially if it involves the natural world. They have a deep love of nature. They are imaginative and enjoy combining their creative urges with sensual pleasures in a productive way.

Ketchup!!

It's been a while since a post, but I am doing better!!!

This is an awesome pattern! Shamus from Knitty. I made only a couple of changes....I made a frog closure from Nicky Epstein instead of the ribbon and hooks idea. It was my first celtic braid and I am tickled with how it turned out. I used Cascade 220 tweed. Can't wait for it to get cold enough to wear it!!! Ahhhh knitting in Atlanta!

This is Brett and Claudia on the steps of the Stover House where we all spent a wonderful afternoon in honor of Claudia's Irwin.....she has the right idea!

This is Claudia and me at the gathering. I am sporting a lace shawl that Famous Steve made. LOVE IT!!!

It all starts like this....
Then you open the kool aid...
Mix it with vinegar....
Microwave....
get more help from Claudia...
And bingo presto! A Very Jerry wrap is on the way!

National Talk Like a Pirate Day

In honor of National Talk Like a Pirate Day, I am posting on my blog!
What does that have to do with knitting you say? Well, I don't know.
But, I found a cool video on MSN and thought I would share it.
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=f24f5de2-fd6d-4d8f-925c-625235e0cd5d&playlist=videoByTag:tag:viral:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:mk:us:vs:0&from=MSNHP&tab=m137&GT1=42003
Is your name in the book?

Holy Smoke

Wow I can't believe it was the first of May since my last blog! But summer school is over! Stats and Abnormal Psyc out of the way! Also, I spent 8 days being a sort of nurse at a camp for kids with organ transplants, kidney disease, etc. Before you go awww don't think for one minute that these kids are high energy crazies. I had seven 9 year old boys. Good grief! But I am back and realizing how rusty my knitting skills have gotten. I am starting a project for a friend's birthday. You know how knitting on a time line is, BUT after my 3rd start on the freaking thing, I have high hopes this round is the charm! HA! Also, I am in my new apartment and really liking it other than it is a bit hot. But it is July in Atlanta afterall. So if anyone is even reading this anymore, drop me a note and let me know what is shakin!

Free At Last!!!

By now you have probably heard me shouting from the rooftops! I am finished with my first year of nursing school! I have 3 B's for the semester and that makes me happy! I haven't worked this hard for B's since graduate music theory classes! Anyway, I am excited to have some time to knit. I spent most of the afternoon on Sunday outside and knitting. I have made peace with my red tweed and have gotten in the continental purling groove. I should be finished with the Samus sweater pretty soon. I have the right side completed and most of the back and left side. The braids are all done, so I will just have to do the sleeves. I am still trying to think of something cool for the closures. The pattern calls for grograin ribbon and hooks. Not gonna happen. After seeing the tiny cable on Doug's squeeze cheese, I am considering some kind of cable that overlaps and has button holes. hmmmm....

On the HOME STRETCH

Okay, I really have no idea where that saying came from. Anyone know? But I have only 2 weeks of school left. Yes that is correct only 2 *&%$@#^ weeks and year one is done! I will go to summer school, but that is beside the point!
I gave the tomato hat and booties to my classmate. She was just beside herself and promised a picture once the baby is born. It made me all warm and fuzzy and stuff.
I am working on a sock now from Sockmania. It is the April pattern. So I will post a pic soon. Also, I still working on the red sweater with the Celtic braid at the bottom. It is so freaking boring now because I am just on the knit 216 stitches then purl 216 stitches. If I could just sit in front of drying paint, my night would be made!
Send me good thoughts for lots of studying and remembering!!!
Tootles!

yea pictures!

My sister Lynne has a friend who knits these little cutties. It was a birthday gift to me! (Dec)
My first attempt at entrelac. I really liked it once I got the hang of it. I gave it to my niece Brandy for her birthday. Noro silk garden light.

These are from the Sockmania patterns. It is hard to see the details in the pics. This is yarn the Lou brought me back from Fiber Fair in Fall. (say that 3x's fast!)

And last but not least the little tomato outfit! Sorry the stuffing is bumpy. It is not a growth! And the shuhe pattern is from Claudia. LOVE IT!!! And just for the record, I took some time to knit before my last big exam and made a better grade. Just a little FYI :-)

Tomato, Tomahto

I just finished the tomato baby beanie and even a stranger in Caribou stopped by to tell me it is the cutest thing she has ever seen. I am just beside myself. I took a break from studying, watched Dirty Dancing (believe it) and started the hat. Then I am using Claudia's Oma's Baby Schue pattern to make matching booties. That pattern is so fun to make and you know I just love that it has been passed down through the generations. The booties are red with a green chain stitch string. I have finished one and when the other is done I will put pics up. There is a girl in my classes that is having an unanticipated bundle of joy this spring. All I needed was an excuse right! xoxoxo

Hey!

Hey all! I hope that your Easter was fun and full of chocolate. I got in trouble for not posting so here you go! I went to Bama and hid eggs for my precious little pumpkin nieces. A little kid lovin' goes a long way with me. I just love getting hugged on!

I have an idea and am sure some of you must have tried it. I wondered about using the egg dying kits to dye yarn? I got some from the bargin bin at publix. Any advice???????

I finished one of my petra hand warmers. The thumb was a little funky, but you know I can improvise! I was NOT going to have to redo any of the braid, so I of course winged it (should that be wung?) Anyway, I have started the other and am totally cook-coo for that Malibrigo silk blend. It is almost obscene! (Well, aren't we all?)

I am trying my new goal of getting to Knitch at least once a month. School only has 6 weeks left and of course 5 of those have an exam. boo hoo for me. But my first year will be done baby! I will be Nurse Nancy before you and drop a needle!

Let me hear from you! SWAK

She's Alive!

Okay, by now probably no one is even bother to check this blog since I have not written since October. What can I say? I have still been knitting only now it is when I can no longer focus on studying. Funny, I found that when I hit the wall studying, knitting a few rows can get me back on track. Amazing to me! I have made some scarves, ripped that freaking Vanilla Spice sweater (pattern was making me nuts!) done some cables and hand warmers. Taught some more folks to knit. I revamped the pattern for the Son of Stitch and Bitch reversible argyle scarf that some of us are doing the knit along. Well those of us who didn't wienie out! I am doing my first entrelac and am surprised at how much I like knitting that pattern. And here I just thought Steve was crazy...well that's another story all together now isn't it!
Drop me a comment and let me know how things are. I am just trying to keep some sanity throughout theses 16 fun filled weeks of Nursing School Hell!!! mwahaha