The Giving Flower

I’ve been tagged. In fact, I’ve been tagged by Jessica and Amanda for quite some time but haven’t been able to think of anything that would be remotely interesting, so after some self-analysis, this is what you get.  Sound exciting?  It’s not and sorry in advance for boring you. If you move down the page a bit, you’ll see some sock yarn. That might be a tad more entertaining.

Here is how it works: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I find it terribly hard to throw things away but every once in a while I get a desire to clean up and then I go crazy throwing and throwing. It’s such a wonderful feeling when things have been sorted out.

2. I used to wear a belly button ring. Well, I can still wear one but I don’t. I don’t think anyone needs to see my belly button after having two kids.

3. I still sleep with my teddy. Hey, who ever said I have to grow up?

4. I love to snuggle and I rub my feet together when I’m cosy. I always have.

5. I got the Chickenpox just a few weeks before I got pregnant with Alexander about 7 years ago. That was hell. Childbirth is a breeze compared to the Chickenpox when you’re too old for them. I still have a scar on my chin from one that I didn’t even scratch!

6. I hate pantyhose or nylons or whatever you call them. I find it such a waste of money to buy them when I know they are just going to get a run as soon as I put them on. Yuk! I much prefer nothing at all or if it’s cold out then I’ll wear those thick winter ones.

7. When I first came to Germany and was studying at the University, I sold Tupperware on the side. I wanted to practice my German, get to know the Germans better, get into peoples’ houses to see what life is like here and to get over my anxiety of talking in front of people. It was three years that I will never forget. I’m still using all that Tupperware I bought.

Speaking of Tupperware, I saw on Elemmaciltur‘s great blog that he is making yarn bouquets and has asked for others to take pictures of some of their bouquets. Well, I haven’t made any bouquets but I have had a fruit bowl on the table for about a month. This is for you, Elemmaciltur!

I just love sock yarn and I usually buy it because of the fun colors it comes in, so I decided to display it for everyone to enjoy. I change the yarn around every once in a while but this is what’s in season at our house. My poor kids, will they ever know what a real fruit bowl looks like? The trials of having a fiber-obsessed mom, I guess.

Now I’m supposed to name 7 blogs that should do the same as me. I want to first apologize for not getting around to commenting on blogs lately, I’ve been quite sick. I finally went to the doctor on Friday and came home with a different Cortisone spray than the one I’ve been using, some antibiotics and some organic medicine to try to clean out my poor lungs. I can’t wait to feel better again, and as you can see by my jogmap, I haven’t jogged in a week. Horrible!

Here are just a scant few of the blogs that I haven’t gotten around to lately but are definitely worth reading.

Must be Karmah
Friend Sheep
Greeting Arts
Knitting by the Sea
Slateblu
Trail Mix
Pointed Shoes Punk Rock and Purl

I have soooo many more but I’ll hit these people for now. I’m off to sleep and knit. Life is good and can only get better.

We’ve been having some wild storms here the last few days and yesterday we even lost our computer and telephone for a bit. Here’s a before and after picture from our balcony.

Oh and don’t ever leave your new shoes in the hallway unattended or someone might try tying them.

Over and over again. Unfortunately, Alida can’t quite get the bow part down yet, although she sure loves trying.

Crochet has become an obsession. Look what I’ve started

in blues and off-white which I think should look pretty.

I’m still knitting. In fact, I’m knitting where no man I have never knit before, or at least where I’ve never thought of knitting before. I’m knitting a skirt.

It’s from the 2005 summer issue of Vogue in Regia silk sock yarn. Alianne is at fault here-she made one first which reminded me about this issue of vogue that I had bought just for the skirt on the cover.

I don’t know why I’m drawn to patterns that are a bit unusual. I usually don’t wear these kinds of things, although I do adore knitting this and I can’t wait to see how it turns out and how it fits.

Yesterday I told you about the needle case I made for Tamina. Well, last week at our knitting meet she gave me this bracelet.

After she made one of these from Knitty.com and I told her how much I liked them and how I really wanted to try my hand at knitting one, she knit one for me. See, I told you she is very thoughtful. It’s in my favorite blue and feels so cool to wear. Thanks, Tamina!!

I also helped Nicole correct a toe-up sock pattern she had translated from German into English, so she gave me this cute little sock as a thank you.

Alida has yet to get her hands on it. Thanks so much, Nicole!!
As I’ve said before, I’ve brought my wheel into school to show some the kids a bit about fiber. Well, this month I went to two of the four 3rd grade classes tell them all about wool and spinning fiber. Now I’m teaching those that would like to learn how to knit. Marianne of Marianne’s Opalwolle has been absolutely wonderful. She and I wrote emails back and forth for two days before we finally settled on these kits for each student. Marianne ordered everything and quickly sent the package with 35 caringly-packed boxes for each of the students.

She also included some little goodies and even wound the yarn in 50 gr. balls for me. Thank you so much, Marianne!!!! If you need anything online, Marianne is fabulous to work with and will do everything she can to get what you want, so go check her out. Vielen Dank, Marianne!!! The kids are so excited to get started and every time they see me that’s what they ask-when are we learning to knit?? I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thank you for your well wishes. I’m feeling a bit better today but still not the best so I’m off to bed to get some more of that much-needed rest. I do hate being sick, life is too short to have to slow down.

I’m so envious (in a good way, of course) of all of you who have your own sewing rooms. I dream of the day when I can just walk to my machine and start sewing. Right now, living in this small apartment and having very little space for all my fibery goods, I have to use the table in the living room to sew. This means taking everything off and setting up which can be rather time consuming. While I’m sewing, my fabric and patterns are strewn across the living room leaving little space for anything or anyone else. I then need to take a break to feed the kids who want to eat usually shortly after setting up on the same table. On most days I just don’t have the energy for it all, so I sit and knit or spin instead.

A few Sundays ago I found a bit of that sought-after crafty energy and was able to get some sewing done before we went for our family run. I made this lovely Dora pillow for Alida. Lovely is her new word, don’t ask where she got that one but I do like it.

I found this fabric, or should I say Alida found this fabric, last summer and had to have it. I decided to make a small pillow case and Alida has crowned it her lovely pillow. She just adores Dora.
Oh and speaking of lovely, I’m so glad Alida talks to me in English and to everyone else in German, after having Alexander only speak German, it’s nice to hear a little voice speak English.

Once I started sewing there was no stopping me, so I also made these two cases.

One is a double point needle case and the other, as you can see, is for my ever-expanding crochet hook collection. What a great excuse to use the fabric I adore. Did you see the Giving Flower tag on the dpn case? I’ve started using my new logo for cards that have care info on the back for things that I give to others. That needle case was a gift for Tamina from my knitting group. She is always doing little caring and thoughtful things for me and for others, so I thought I would make her something made with love to thank her for being a wonderful blog and real-life friend.

More tomorrow if my throat stops hurting and this headache goes away. No jogging today, I’m off to bed.