A Year Older

I have had a great couple of days since I last wrote.  I went to my cousin's daughter's baptism.  It was great to see the family again and meet the new baby.  She is adorable.  I was eating celery that was part of the vegetarian food platter and she was staring up at me.  It was hilarious.  Perhaps, I chew louder than I thought.

I knitted baby Shannon another sweater and sewed up a box bag as a present.  Lexi is doing a final inspection.  The last photo is the most true to the actual colour.  I included some budgie shots. 

It was the quietest birthday I had in a long time but I really enjoyed it.

Knitting and Cake

I have a bit of birthday knitting to do yet.  Still slugging away and it is all late.  Lucky for me, the birthday folk are flexible.  Weird year for birthdays.  Our family's birthdays come in clumps and mine is the last one.  The July-August group have 2- 3 weeks between each.  Usually by the time my birthday comes around, we are all fed up of cake and borderline diabetic.  One year, there was so much sugar in the icing/frosting that none of us could sleep the full night until the cake was finished.

This year, my mother didn't want a cake.  My brother is crazy busy at the moment, so we will celebrate or I will make him a cake when he gets time off.  I don't think this soon to be birthday girl (me) will be having a cake as well.  I am trying out the Autoimmune Protocol Diet this summer.  Anytime, I try and go back on any of the no list, I am not well.  As much as I love cake, I don't want to be sick on my birthday.  It is mad to think that this is my first year without a cake but it is a worthy sacrifice to feel good.  (Not 100% easy all the time)

This is a raglan that I am working on and hope to finish soon.  It is actually a remake.  I followed a pattern that is one size fits all.  I must of made a mistake.  Not to worry!  I finally ripped it out a few months ago and finally started cracking this summer.  I have a lot of projects on the go.  I love starting new projects the most.  Trying to finish more projects!!!!

The mitten is knitted with some Studio Donegal and some of my handspun from batts I made myself a while back.

Birds, Box Bags and a Pup

The world is mud-luscious and puddle- wonderful.

- e.e. cummings

Box bags, Cosmetic Bags, and Pencil Cases, Oh My!

Here are more box bags, cosmetic bags and pencil cases that I have made.  The name of the game is to have a box bag for every sock project on the go.  Also am making pencil cases and cosmetic cases to house all my pens and bits and bobs.
Been practicing on some upcycled pillow cases and beloved fabric collected through the years.  It has been fun putting them together.  The purple satin fabric is a print I designed years ago and had digitally printed.
Am supposed to be finishing off thumbs on mittens that I have been working on.  The plan was to watch Cider House Rules and knit but I have it paused and have been distracted and pottering around.  Might take a quick stroll with Lexi (my dog) and come back and knit mittens.

I hear winter is coming.

(The photos of Lexi are of her recovering from a walk yesterday.  We got drenched!)

Reindeer Paperchase Box Bag

My lovely sister gave me this set of tea towels from Paperchase a couple of Christmases ago. I never used them because I thought they were too pretty for doing the dishes. I cut one up and made a box bag. Love the thought of having Christmas box bags for Christmas knitting. I know it is too early to be thinking about Christmas!  I love Christmas!  Last night, I watched When Harry Met Sally! 

Mint Julep

These are simple socks knitted with Merino yarn that I dyed with tan commercial yarn that I had in my yarn stash for ages.  I finished these on my holiday in Rome with my family in March.  I didn't weave in the ends for ages.  Love the colour.  Sea Foam was my favourite Crayola crayon.

Many Socks On The Go

One of my favourite things is hand knitted socks.  I pretty much only wear hand knitted socks.  I am going to start photographing more of what I am making.

I knit socks every morning after breakfast while reading my kindle and drinking my coffee.  I love reading and knitting my kindle.  I found it difficult to knit and hold a book open as I knit.  MacGyver could have learnt a thing or two from me, I tell you.  I was getting very creative with ways to keep the book open as I read using hair bobbins and whatnot.

I started sewing box bags so now I have more happy homes for my sock knitting.  I have big plans of starting socks and have the top, ribbed bit down and ready for a trip in a car or to the cinema.  As my 7th grade Social Studies teacher said 'Organisation is the key to success.'  I have a few pairs always on the go.  Can't wait till the organisation embraces other avenues of my life.

The pink socks were finished and photographed in Rome.  Was there in March 2013 on a family trip.  The green pair are modeled by the lovely Lexi.  I had 3 skeins of this yarn that I dyed.
The pair that Lexi is wearing was for my father.


I am going to cast on another pair of socks for my brother soon, as soon as I find a pair of needles not in use. I got a nice thank you on Facebook from him. He was delighted to put them on after work after coming in from a typical rainy, Irish winter night.

I have opened an <a href="http://http://www.etsy.com/shop/EllieAndAda?ref=search_shop_redirect"></a>Etsy shop called Ellie and Ada.  At the moment, I have some stitch markers for sale.  I am hoping to have more products for sale soon.  Have a Fun Friday!  It is sunny day here in Ireland, a rare and welcome gem!