Once again it has been awhile since I posted.  On December 15th, 2011 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  She is now my life and takes up all of my time...which is why I haven't been blogging :)  Motherhood is such a joy.  I never believed I could love someone so entirely before.  She is growing so fast though :(

Besides that I have been spending a lot of time with my grandma.  She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is currently undergoing chemo treatments.  I get to see her every day and she loves spending time with Bela.  Bela absolutely adores her too :)  She is doing very well so far and I hope she has many years left with us.

I have re-started Weight Watchers.  I have about 16 pounds left to pre-baby weight and then I will see if my old clothes fit.  If they don't I will be shooting to lose more.  I refuse to buy new clothes so whatever I have to do to fit in the ones I have is the goal.

My knitting and crochet goals for the year are way behind.  I just don't have much time to work on projects.  I'm still in the House Cup though and so far I've managed 3 classes and detention this month.  I'm working on a 4th class so we will see if it gets done before midnight.  And with that I am off to knit :)

September

Term is going good so far.  The first few days were hard because there were a million OWL proposals to go through.  I literally spent over 10 hours doing approvals in the first 2 days!!  Luckily that has slowed down and I now have time to work on my projects.

I finished a pair of fingerless mitts that will be handed in for DADA.  I might add a coordinating item though so I haven't handed them in yet.  I started a dress for Anabela and a monster in Green Bay Packers colors.  I also have the Green Dress done except for finishing.  I've started 2 of the blankets for my OWL and both are going great so far.

Speaking of the Packers, the first game of the season was Packers vs. Saints at Lambeau.  Since it was the first game I got to see it on tv here in Colorado.  It was such and exciting game.  The team is looking great so far this year!  We won by the way :)

It is finally starting to cool off here and I am excited.  It has been far too hot here this summer and I really didn't enjoy it.  This is my first fall here so we will see what it brings.  Hopefully I will be able to wear some knits soon :)

So excited for this term

Many Tower mates and I recently purchased The Big Book of Knitted Monsters and we are planning a monster a-long.  Also, probably in November there will be a Barbie Yule Ball Gown duel.  I'm pretty sure I won't win but I am really excited to make a pretty Barbie Ball Gown for my newest barbie.  I really want the new shoe pack but I just can't justify spending the money on it right now.  I also have lots of projects that I'm pretty excited about.  Now I just have to work on WIPs until September 1st......that is a bit difficult :(

I am a terrible blogger!!!

It has been awhile!  And a lot has happened!

The past term of HPKCHC went very well.  I enjoyed being an OWL examiner so I am going to do it again this term :)  I failed my own OWL and I wasn't nearly as productive as I wanted to be....but I have a good reason :)  I was so tired in the month of June I could barely knit or crochet.  Turns out I'm having a baby!!

I'm due December 20th so I'm at about 5 months right now.  At least 2 others in Ravenclaw Tower are pregnant, TriGirlJ is due in December as well and Sleep2Dreamer is due in February.  I also have 2 friends from Superior that are due in October, one in Florida due in March, and at least 4 friends from high school that have had babies in the last couple of months!!  Talk about baby time :)

Anyway, lots of baby things planned for this term and some cardigans for myself :)  Let's hope I am more productive this term.

New term starts soon!!!!!!!

I can't wait for May to start!!!  I have so many projects that I want to do.  I just want to cast on right now and I am impatiently trying to finish up some WIPs to give my hands something to do.  I just bought a bunch of yarn that I shouldn't have :)  I have plans for it all but I feel bad because I have so much yarn already.  I figure I will just have to knit/crochet a lot and use it all up!  I'm planning a CoMC OWL this term composed of 3 sweaters and a small pouch.  I'm really excited for the sweaters.  I'm also an OWL examiner this coming term and I'm really excited about that.  I can't wait to see everyone's proposals :)

There is a Butterfly Spin-Along in Ravenclaw Tower.  I bought the Butterfly kit but I also bought a bigger spindle and plain fiber to practice on because I don't want to ruin the pretties.  I'm doing pretty good so far.  I have one single done and balled up ready to ply with the second single once I get it spun.  It is a bit uneven but not too bad for my first try :)

The Ravenclaws (and anyone else that wants to stop by) are also doing a Steampunk-Along.  I had no idea what steampunk was until they started the thread and now that I know I love it!!  We even chose steampunk names, I am Lady Estella Storey Wheelingham V!  I ordered my yarn and will be knitting Transatlantic by Stephen West.  I really like his patterns and it makes me want to move back to Europe.  Who knows, if things keep going the way they are now I just may move there :(

One of the girls at work wants me to make her some baby hats to use for her photography business.  She has a few friends that would probably be interested in some crafty stuff as well so hopefully I can make some extra money.

I have some many projects I want to work on this term and I am so tempted to go in the class threads in the Staff room to see the prompts but I love being surprised on the 1st of the month so I am resisting the urge :)  I have so many things that I want to make that I know I will be able to fit things in no matter what the prompts.  I will be able to start with my OWL and Transatlantic too so it isn't like I won't have anything to do :)

Barbie Clothes

Isisonearth got me interested in knitting Barbie clothes.  I went out and bought 2 barbies and a Ken doll.  I am on my second dress now and it is so much fun.  I even earned a badge for my Fawkes Babydoll Dress from Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop on Hogsmeade weekend.

I am playing around with my Fuschia Tea Dress now to figure out waist shaping because there is none in the pattern.  Here are my notes (note I am knitting using magic loop):

On the round beginning stst:  k4, ssk, k6, k2tog, k4 on each needle.
Next round:  k4, ssk, k4, k2tog, k4 on each needle.
Stst for 8 rounds.  (next time would do more rounds here (3) and fewer after increase round)
Next round:  k4, m1R, k6, m1L, k4
Stst for 12 more rounds.
Start sleeve round:  k16, co 6sts, take the cable and pull a loop through with 3 sts on each side (3 sts should be at the end of the k16 and 3 sts should be at the beginning of the yet unworked stitches of the 2nd needle), k16, co 6 sts and do the same as for the other co sts.  The beginnig of the round is now 3sts in on the first needle where the round always began.
Work 7 rows 1x1 rib.
Cast off and weave in ends.

Go Packers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just have to wish my dear Packers good luck tonight in the Super Bowl!!  I will be heading out to Double Tree to have some dinner and watch the game.  I really wish I could be in Wisconsin tonight because I'm sure it would be much more fun.  Oh well, I just hope there aren't too many Steelers fans here in Colorado.

It snowed quite a bit last night so I don't think I will be taking a nice long walk today, but I will force myself to go for a short walk and I will get some knitting done today until the game starts.

GO PACK GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!