Don't try this at home!

Monday I decided I needed to add a little lift to the color of my hair so I bought the Garnier kit to add a few little skinny streaks of highlights. YIKES! The gloves were so clumsy I couldn't get little pieces of hair and then a big blob of stuff fell off the application comb and left a wide clump of color instead of a skinny streak. Plus instead of a golden highlight (as described in the booklet) I got orange streaks...ORANGE!!! It was hideous! So after my chiropractor appt. I drove down the street to a shop I've never been to before and don't know anyone who has ever been there, but I took a leap of faith. When I walked into the shop it was bright, clean, neat, tranquil, had a little bar with complimentary coffee, tea, and water with thinly sliced lemons and oranges floating lazily in the lovely silver cooler, there was a hint of classical music hovering in the background. I felt like I was home again! Aaahhhh.....I spoke to the receptionist. Well actually I almost cried "HELP" to the receptionist and, knowing that I was taking a chance, I asked if anyone in the shop had time to do a color repair and a haircut. She perused the computer screen with a combined look of pity and horror on her face. Meanwhile, I was doing my best poor puppydog face. She tried gently to tell me she wouldn't have time to squeeze me in today, but possibly tomorrow. I screamed in my head! I CAN'T GO ON THURSDAY. I HAVE A DENTAL CLEANING APPOINTMENT AND I CAN'T GO TO THE DENTIST LIKE THIS! Okay, calm myself, you can do it Jody....I was prepared to leave and come back the next day when the dear girl asked me to wait a minute. She left to speak to the owner Sherry, bless her heart, came back and said there was a cancellation, if I would like to see Breanna, she would give me a consultation and see what she could do. IF I WOULD LIKE! I almost bowed down and kissed her feet! And I have to say all the ladies in the shop were very tactful. No one pointed fingers and laughed, although it would have been perfectly warranted. And in no time at all, Breanna was hard at work fixing the awful things I had done to my hair. Now one thing I forgot to mention is that it has been about four years since I have been able to find a hairdresser I like. And believe me I have been looking! So desperation makes one do funny things. But I felt confident in Breanna's hands. She was young and pretty (I didn't hold that against her) and I could tell by the way she touched my hair and moved it around that she knew what she was doing. We talked about my ability to style my own hair and I told her the most compliments I ever got were when I cut it myself. And believe me I listened for the snickers as the person walked away and there were none. So I guess they really liked the cut. Anyway, we decided together to go with lowlights and a smooth assymetrical haircut. Two hours later Breanna and I were thrilled with the results! My hair is now back to a normal color with warm, caramel lowlights and the cut is the cutest I have had since my eight year stint with my favorite Kelly (who got married and had kids and moved away, WHAT'S WITH THESE GIRLS? DON'T THEY KNOW THEY ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF US!?) Breanna was so impressed with her own work, she was miffed that she hadn't taken a before and after photo. Not that I would have let her take the "before" version. The best part of all is that I have found a new hairdresser...for now. She just got married in December! DARN!

I found the pattern

I think I found the correct link to the pattern for the Knotted Openwork Baby Hat that I showed in my last post. It's a really easy lacy pattern based on mulitples of three stitches. I'm using Regia Design Line by Kaffe Fassett sock yarn.

http://www.colorful-stitches.com/patterns/detail.php?CatID=46"

I'm thinking this pattern would also make a pretty spring weight scarf in a nice bamboo or cotton yarn. Hmmm....

Sorry about the link not working. Something has changed in the posting procedures and I can't get it to link automatically.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

I'm sad to say we have to say goodbye to one of our Chicks. Karin Maag-Tanchak has asked to be excused because, well, life gets in our way sometimes. She is a busy mom and knitter/designer and is finding it increasingly more difficult to juggle all the responsibilities that go along with that. We loved having you join us when you could, even if we were overwhelmed by the speed at which you knitted, and didn't even look (we're so jealous! LOL!).So it is with a sad heart that all we Chicks say we love you Karin, we'll miss you, but we understand. And know that we will keep a seat warm for you if you ever get the chance to rejoin us.

Happy knitting and I'll still see you at knit night at Panera's!

This week with The Chicks

Our current project is making baby clothes and accessories for a local center that serves young mothers in need. Barbara finished this cute little preemie cap to add to our inventory.

Barb's next project is the February Beret, a little hat she is squeezing in between charity knitting, just for herself. We have to take care of us too!


Elaine is working on a sweet little sweater pattern that she found way back in 2006 on www.knittingonthenet.com

It's an old pattern so you might have to go to archives to find it.

My current project, in between making a baby alpaca scarf for my son's birthday next Monday (don't worry, it's not a surprise gift) is a baby cap with open lace work. I found the pattern online, but can't retrace my steps to where it was. Sorry!


We don't have any photos of the evening knitters because due to weather, health, and family reasons we didn't meet last night. Maybe next week we'll have some progress photos to show. In the meantime, stay warm! I hear it's supposed to reach a high of 9 degrees today. YIKES!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA!

Twenty-eight years ago I looked like this about two months before I delivered my precious angel Amanda. She was born four weeks before her due date and spent nine days in NICU but recovered with flying colors in a short time.


On Mother's Day, May 10, 1981 she was baptized wearing the beautiful gown her Nanny Boo made for her. What an angel! And those cheeks!!! So kissable!


Here is my angel all grown up with a family of her own now. I can't believe she's 28 years old! I hope you don't mind that I told everybody, Sweetie.


God has answered all my prayers by giving me a lovely young woman of whom I can be proud. You are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside and I'm sending you all my love, hugs and kisses with prayers for a wonderful lifetime ahead for you. I love you Manda Panda, my pride and joy! God bless you! And happy birthday!

Rosebud Socks

At the beginning of December I knitted a pair of socks for myself, since I hadn't made any for me since two years ago. I used Online yarn and called them Rosebud because the colors reminded me of my Grandpa's rosebush.

The pattern (called Synesthesia Sock from somewhere on the net)looked to me like the sepals surrounding the rosebud before it opens.

I love how they turned out and I've got the stitches on the needles for a pair of Jaywalkers for me next. I also finished a baby hat called "Sweet Baby Hat" to go with a Baby Surprise Jacket that I'll be donating soon. When it's blocked I'll take a photo to post.

Christmas 2008

Christmas was even more fun this year now that Moose is 21 months old. The only gift I knitted this year was a hoodie for Moose.

It fit him perfectly as you can see and he wore it everyday. I'd say he liked it!

Moose and Uncle Drew enjoyed a couple of DVDs that Santa delivered. I think they both know the whole dialogue from "Finding Nemo".

One of Moose's favorite toys was a tunnel to go with his pup tent. I tried crawling into the tunnel with him and made it just fine. Getting out, on the other hand, was a different story!

Now that 2009 is here, the whole family sends wishes to you all for good health and happiness!