Halloween

followed several bouts of a variety of illnesses. (Yay for working with children and traveling a lot!) I still found ways to enjoy it though. Its funny, I don't like the scary parts of Halloween one bit, but I enjoy the aspect of Fall, dressing up, making things, food and CANDY!

 These jolly guys were a quick project/addition to the library at school. Thank you pinterest! I had special helpers that would help me turn on the battery operated candles inside.

 We actually got to dress up at school and I was Luna Lovegood! The kids either got it or they didn't. It was okay. The kids who "got it" toooootally made it worth it. I confess, though, I was AMAZED at how many teachers hadn't read the Harry Potter books! Seriously people!?!?!

Nervousness and Man Grunting

First: Please pray for me. I'm taking two single subject tests tomorrow. They're not in my field of study and are beasts. Studying has reminded me just how vast the subject is and how little I know. I have chewed my fingernails to nubs. Also pray I wake up on time pleeeeeaaaaase. My track record is not so good.

On a lighter note I recently finished changing out 5 electrical sockets.



Insert ToolTime man grunt here. It's a skill I'm proud to have, right up there with driving a manual car.
Also I know this kid who creates his own origami. This one is from Harry Potter.



Mad skills right?
Also, check out the latest addition to my Lego collection. It's the classic Lego watch on the left. Jay got me the one on the right and I LOVE it!



I'm trying to grow my possible color combinations! All the pieces can separate and be rearranged. Right up my alley. Black and yellow will go nicely with my new batman shirt!!
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I'm No Mrs. Weasley

I got the bug for these mini Mrs. Weasley sweaters.

Which turned into:

Which turned into:

The funnest Christmas ornament/gift tag/Harry Potter nic nac. They're going to live at John and Neola's for a while I think. They look happier on a tree all together!

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Knit Between

I did a bit of knitting in the time I've been gone. My master teachers mother was under going chemo and radiation. I finished this hat for her over Thanksgiving break.

It's a loose slouchy hat so I used a big bowl to block it.

  I made two more of these HP Cowls. (pattern by me and on ravelry.)

   

And Pygmy Puffs! A made up creature in Harry Potter.

   

First introduced here: 

   

Here is Dani enjoying hers. I told her its soft so she can throw it at students. I don't think she will.  

Here is Karen, a true kindred spirit enjoying her cowl and her Pygmy puff.

And guess what!? She's a Ginny Weasley fan!

Lego my Rainboots

Friday: One of my classmates began a baby quilt for her first niece.



My rain boots came!



Lukes response to that picture: "Hahahhajahajajahahahahaha! Those are ridiculous!" I still love them and am now more determined to wear them more around him so he can hear all the compliments I get for them.

I helped "chaperone" an iceskating birthday!



I love skating! Add some 8 year old girls to the mix and we had a blast!
On saturday I took some quilts to the fair! One I entered and some others entered! We decided it's high time we "represent!"



That night Rachie (Rachel) and I hung out and had a mellow night playing legos. She helped my put together part of the Hogwarts castle/bridge.



I have been bit by the lego bug folks. The globe spins, the buildings have connector spots!




It probably helps that they come in every color. And the minifigs...they're totally cute and collectable and interchangeable. What's not to love!
Ok maybe how lose-able they are.
Rachie asked if Legos are my new hobby. I said "tscha!"

Speaking of hobbies. I'm leaving for Quilt Camp on Thursday. Funny how getting ready for quilt camp requires just as much pre projecting as what I'll get done in the mountains. Maybe that's why we get so much "done at quilt camp." we count everything we did before. Today I bought and cut binding for some quilts my mom had made (to sew on at camp) I put a border on a quilt(so I can put another on at quilt camp) I cut out squares of scrap batting and red and white scraps from moms stash (so I can assemble a rag quilt at camp.) The list goes on. Needless to say I'm up way past my bed time so I don't cultivate a cold to work on at quilt camp. It waiting to pounce I can feel it.
Lastly, I'm thinking about starting coffee. I had three mocha last week and regular coffee might have been a better...no...cheaper choice.
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HP Cowl Pattern

I'm on a Harry Potter kick. I re-listened to ALL the books this summer while working on my projects. The last movie came out. I discovered a paper piecing quilt pattern that I'm dying to try! AND I couldn't help but pick up this Gryffindor colored yarn in my local yarn shop, Holly Berry Knits. This yarn is a DREAM to work with! When asked for a good, head warming project, Johanna who was working there that day suggested a hoodie cowl. BUT she didn't have a pattern to recommend. I didn't find one online that I LOVED so I made one up! If you're a knitter and try it out, let me know if you find any errors. I wrote it after the fact.

HP Cowl Pattern

Materials:
· One Skein DK Yarn Color A
· One Skein DK Yarn Color B
· Size 10.5 Knitting Needles
· Slightly Smaller Knitting Needles for Picking up Cast on Edge and 3 needle bind off.

Cast on 54 Stitches

Row 1: Right Side,

K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1 (17 stitches so far)

K20

K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K1 (17 stitches so far)

Row 2: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 3: Right Side,

K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1 (17 stitches so far)

K20

K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K1 (17 stitches so far)

Row 4: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 5: Right Side,

K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1 (17 stitches so far)

K20

K1, YO, K2Tog, K5, Slip 1, Knit 1, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K1

Row 6: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 7: K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K1, YO, K3, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K3, YO, K1

K20

K1, YO, K3, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K3, YO, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 8: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 9: K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K2, YO, K2, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K2, YO, K2

K20

K2, YO, K2, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K2, YO, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 10: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 11: K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K3, YO, K1, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K1, YO, K3

K20

K3, YO, K1, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, K1, YO, K3, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 12: Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Row 13: K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K4, YO, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K4

K20

K4, YO, Slip Stitch, K2Tog, Slip Stitch Over, YO, K4, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 13: Change to Color B, Wrong Side, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 P44 K1,P1,K1,P1,K1

Repeat Row 1-13 alternating colors A and B until you have 4 stripes of each color.

Use another set of needles and pick up 54 stitches on cast on edge.

Then do a 3 needle bind off.

*added Wednesday December 6, 2011*
***My dearest cousin Tanya aka kniftyknittingmom created this chart for the arrow/lace/yarn over segment. Sorry I've taken so long to get it to you!

Also, if using the chart, the cowl looks more like this:
seed stitch (6 stitches), chart (11 stitches), 20 stitches of stockinnette, chart (11 stitches), seed stitch (6 stitches) ***