My Plate is Full

My Platter Is Full

Monsoon season has begun. Yes the rain cloud above my head while not bearing negative energy but stress from the loads of tasks I have on my plate.

The new/old man of my life has become a more permanent fixture in my life. Lets just say we finally figured out how to navigate this relationship together... Or we are just having a good week. I guess only time will tell right? Bf’s birthday is in 17 days and only a few days ago did I decide to make him a blanket for his new place as a present. So I am happily knitting away on this. I am still working on a lacy scarf for his sister however it has been put on hold so I can get his blanket completed.

So on top of knitting this blanket I am knitting a pair of socks. This are my travel socks that I carry around with me where ever I go. Well Saturday I had an evening to my self and since I had just spent a few hours in the heat I wanted nothing more than to put on a good movie and enjoy a bottle of wine. Unfortunately good wine is not easily found in a small country town. At least I had a good book a good movie and some lovely socks to offset the mediocre wine.

What movie did I watch? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Great movie but this is not a movie for everyone. There is a lot of abuse, language and violence. I was really impressed with the movie that I downloaded the book to my kindle. It of course will probably be there for a while as I have many books waiting in line to be read. The author I must plug! He sounds so interesting, someone I would have loved to talk to and just pick his brain, unfortunately he pasted away shortly after finishing the trilogy series. After reading his bio I wonder if the character Mikael Blomkvist is an imprint of the man behind the writing. Oh and I am even more impressed with the Apple Technology they used in the movie. They worked an Apple MacBook Pro like I have never seen. Very pleased! 

Well I think I am going to enjoy some reading and sign off. 

Happy knitting!

Amanda

He is only using me for my knitting....

So my hopes to put out a blog a week has well not worked out. I blame my dating life. I can't seem to have one guy interested in me its always two... this time three. Guy Number One and I went on a few dates and between the dates we kept each other laughing, oh you know. While discussing the many things I am able to knit he asked if I could knit him a blanket. Since him and I hit it off I had no issues agreeing to this new challenge. The blanket I named Lucky 7's after his hockey team. Now here is where the BUT comes into play. Since I have agreed to make this blanket its all he seems to care about. Every phone call he brings up the blanket at least 3 times. Often his text messages are about the blanket. In fact its like I became the hired help and I am required to give him a status check every so often. I think he is using me for my knitting....

Well since I haven't seen him in a few days and well I have lost interest in making him a blanket I started working on a pair socks. I called them my doodle socks unfortunately they looked horrible. The idea was to "doodle" purl stitch swirls within the stockinette stitch I was doing for the cuff. I still think the idea was great, and in my head they looked great. Actually knitted up well thats a different story. They looked like I didn't know how to knit. I ripped the cuff out and began a rib stitch cuff. It was easy to knit up while watching The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Great movie! Which leads me to Guy Number Two. Guy Number Two is getting a lacy scarf. LOL no not the obvious its for his sister. This guy happens to be an ex boyfriend... I know I know but you don't understand he helped me so many times since we broke up and we can't seem to stop talking to each other. Lets just say Guy Number Two is in the lead.

Guy Number Three seems to be taking his time asking me out or even talking to me. He texted maybe twice. Oh I did get a text at 1am from him. He was curious about my weekend. Yeah I don't think him and I will be going on a date any time soon.

Well enough about my dramatic life and on to knitting. I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda

Ballet Slippers

The last pair of ballet slippers are complete. I have given them to two very beautiful girls who looked absolutely adorable in them.

I just made a new purchase. I bought the nickel plated circular options set with case and nickel plated DPNs from Knit Picks. I am rather excited about this purchase and plan to immediately get started on the Bella mittens for my pal Josh. I tried using a pair of circular needles I had but it wasn't looking good, the cord was not flexible enough to do the magic loop technique. I also tried to change the pattern so I could use DPN but grew impatient with it. So $90 later I have a set of new needles that I intend to get a lot of use out of.

Well I am going to make another attempt to add pictures through the picture option on blogger. I hope it works.

Happy knitting!
Amanda

She Bop Socks

I finished a new pair of socks I called She Bop Socks using Serenity Yarn in a pink and grey color way. I love them so much but it has been so hot that I have not had an opportunity to wear them.

She Bop Socks - Project Link

Click the link and you can see the project notes, more pictures and a material list I posted on Ravelry.

Such a great CD. I love Cindy Lauper!! I hope you all enjoy her and the She Bop Socks.

Happy Knitting!!

Amanda

Pictures

The picture problem is now fixed! Though in past blog entries there may not be a picture present all future posts will have pictures!! Yeah!!

Picture Problems!!

So I seem to have picture problems. I add a picture to my blog for everyone to see and a few days later the pictures disappear! I hope to have this resolved but I have been busy. The site updates are COMPLETE!! Product will be added and soon we will open for business.

I can't tell you all how excited I am! Madelyn has some great colorways and I have had some great spurts of inspiration.

I also wanted to thank everyone for their patience and support.

I am currently knitting up some toe up socks in a pink and grey color way. Superwash Merino Wool, 2ply. I absolutely love the colorway.

Also for anyone in the Park City, Kansas area I hope to start a small group. I love to have anyone interested join me. Please contact me at blog@serenityyarn.com for more details.

Well I must sign off and figure out this picture problem!

Happy Knitting!

Amanda

Sorry Forgot to add pictures of the scarf!

As requested here are pictures of the Bella Scarf.

I will be posting this Project on Ravelry if anyone is interested in seeing more detail. Also I am known as Serenity Yarn on Ravelry if you want to be friends.

Happy knitting!

Amanda

Bella's Baseball Scarf

The scarf is complete! Finally. I really put that project off. It was fun to knit up, I just took my time and as most knitters know once you lose momentum you end up moving onto a new project. I posted pictures on my facebook page for my facebook friends to see and to get a chance to win. Yes thats right I am gave it away. The winner Josh Witt and he is expected to send me some pictures with him wearing it!

Lets see what is now on my needles, well another Twilight Scarf. Rosalie's White Scarf. This one I hope to knit up pretty quickly. Its a simply and repetitive pattern. I posted a picture for everyone to see what scarf I am talking about.

I also painted a few skeins of yarn. These skeins will be for sale as soon as I get them twisted and tagged. Below is just two twisted skeins but I think I will keep for scarf knitting. I have some great socking yarn that I am so excited to share. Madelyn just loves them and has come up with her own colorway ideas for her product line, Madelyn's Lollipop Yarns.

Like I posted on facebook I asked if anyone is interested in seeing something knitted up that they saw on tv or movie to let me know. I would love to knit it up and I would love the challenge. Well I am off to knit!

Happy knitting!

Amanda

May Day!

I can't believe it is May already. Serenity Yarn site is moving along and I have added product. Right now I am busy dying some beautiful yarns I look forward to sharing with everyone. Madelyn has started her own product line called Madelyn's Lollipop Yarns. I am so amazed with her. She puts together the most beautiful colors.

I have been so busy that I still haven't sewed the blocks for the Bella Scarf together. I am actually pretty disappointed in myself for this. Hopefully here soon I will get it done. I was looking at the Rosalie Scarf and I think I can knit it up pretty easily. A simple pattern but a beautiful one.

Summer sure has taken its time getting here. I haven't decided what summer knitting projects I want to work on so I am defaulting to knitted socks... however I have a crazy notion to knit a wild bikini, maybe with yarn that I hand painted myself.

Well I have some yarn to paint. Happy Knitting!

Amanda

Knitting Myself Some Hair

Cast On Podcast had a beautiful story called Knitting Myself Some Hair. In 2006 Diane went into the hospital for what she thought was asthma related problems only to discover she had a tumor the size of a grape fruit invading her chest cavity. She asked herself what am I to do? She did what I think I would do, vow not to leave this world until her Icelandic sweater was finished. As she shares more of her story I realize that this women like myself finds more joy in giving a knitted item to someone than the actual knitting. I was deeply moved by this women and felt she needed to be honored for her bravery and her generosity. God truly used her talents and her cancer to touch others and he healed her, and in 2008 she went back to the hospital to thank the staff that saved her life not realizing how she had touched their lives. I see God at work in this women and I am just filled with so much joy listening to her testimony. I tried to find more details maybe her story posted online, and found nothing, which made the desire to share her story more intense. If you ever get the chase please go to iTunes and download episode #76 of Cast On to listen to this women’s testimony.

As for what is on my needles I am on the last knitted piece for the Bella Baseball Scarf. Tomorrow I hope to finish it, block the pieces and sew together. I’ll post pictures. I’m pretty excited to finish this project and compare to the movie scarf.

Hmmm what to knit next....

Amanda

Clutter

Out with the old in with the new. Clutter is starting to take over. It all began when knitting took over my life... Ok not just knitting, reading, church and friends are priority in my life. Well today I am making the clutter number one. Let me start by listing what I am getting rid of.

• Recliner
• 2 vacuum cleaners (apparently I thought having 3 vacuum cleaners was necessary!)
• 3 bags of madelyn's old toys. (oh there will be more by the end of the day)
• 2 bags of clothes (a small number yes but only because a project has come to mind).
• My car is completely clean, washed and detailed.
• My email inbox… yes more of a personal declutter but it needed to be done… I mean how many people have 2gb of emails…
  

Have you notice that I am not getting rid of any yarn. Yeah I have projects in mind for all the yarn I have so I have decided that I am not buying any more yarn unless it is for the store. I will use the majority of the yarn I have until I have brought down the stash level to that of a more respectable level…. Hmmm so what is a respectable level?

Even though I am cleaning up and organizing my house I am still happily knitting. I have started on the Bella Baseball Scarf. Now the scarf colors in the movie are purple shades with black I changed the colors and went with pink shades. I will post pictures when completed; right now it is in pieces. I will also put the scarf on etsy for any Twilight fans. Well back to work.

Happy Knitting,

Amanda

Polly want a scarf

Yes that is what you see a hat and a scarf on a Parrot. Madelyn requested a scarf and hat for her pet robot parrot. It was rather entertaining to knit this while her watching over my shoulder. It had to be just right!

So I haven’t knitted much lately. Been busy updating my system to the new Snow Leopard OS. Yes I finally did it.... A few minor changes but nothing big for me. Of course I had to backup my system before I did the upgrade. Yes I bought the new Time Capsule. It is an amazing thing! Wireless and automatically it is backing up my system as we speak. Oh Apple how genius you are! Now if only my Quickbooks will come in so I can start the sync testing with the website. I don’t anticipate any problems but only because I have an amazing webmaster who can fix all. Yes Josh I am talking about you!

I also have product just waiting to be sold. Beautiful sock yarn and alpaca yarn for winter scarfs and some fun and flashy eyelash yarn. I am having a hard time not touching the super merino wool that looks amazing. Hopefully we can go live May 1st assuming the sync goes well and then all will have access to this beautiful yarn.

I’m writing also to ask for prayers. I have been praying the Serenity Prayer that helps fill me with hope, reminds me of what I should always know and remember. I was reminded that God has already set things in motion to achieve his purpose. His purpose is my purpose... I just happen to veer off task... A lot.

I hope I get this building I am pursuing. It will be the perfect store front for my business and I have a good feeling about it. I pray and ask for prayers that God makes it happen.

In all things I acknowledge you God.

Sweet Serenity,

Amanda

Oh Baby Socks!!

Sorry I know it has been awhile since my last blog post. I have been crazy busy working on the site in hope to open May 1st. I received my first shipment of yarn and I couldn’t be more excited! The colors are great and the yarn is soft and gushy and to die for! I love the Alpaca! It will be difficult seeing it go....

The baby and toddler socks I just completed are absolutely adorable.... No my opinion isn’t biased... Well maybe a little. The socks are the same pattern with a simple cable stitch. I used a size 3 double pointed needle (DPN) for the toddle sock and a size 0 DPN for the baby socks. The DPNs I use are bamboo and as most knitters know size 0 is the smallest needle available. Well bamboo DPNs are not that sturdy and one of the needles broke in two. Fortunately I was more than half way finished with the sock.

I will post more pictures on Flicr and Facebook. Feel free to visit my picture gallery at

http://gallery.me.com/amanda_lee#100091

Soon as I finish posting this entry I plan to get to work on the kindle case. It is completely knitted just need to do some sewing. I have a feeling my kindle will not fit snugly in the case, I’m hopeful and it is an impromptu design I put together. I will post pictures of the finished product soon.

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures and if you want more details about the baby socks send your emails to blog@serenityyarn.com and I will be happy to send the pattern to you.

Happy knitting everyone!

Amanda

So my hopes to add product to my store have been delayed. Certain (money) situations are delaying it but I have hope to start up soon. I did try to sign up for an Etsy account and while the screen names I was throwing in were always available once I hit submit... Access Denied!! Not a valid user name! AAAHHH I threw so many screen names and nothing would work. So I am frustrated but ok.

Lets see what is on my needles. I am plugging away on the kindle case. I hope to have pictures up soon but I need to consult with my amazing Webmaster about doing this. Apparently there are many technical things I can’t do... I was checking out lining for the kindle and found some really juicy and colorful fabric. Oh I am so excited!! I hope to sell these on etsy.com but you know....

Madie is making flat Stanley’s in school!! We are enjoying some crazy coloring time. She will send her flat person “somewhere” <-- Madie’s words not mine. I can’t wait to take our flat person around... I wonder if they will enjoy knitting???

Well thanks for tuning in!

Amanda