lollipopyarn

Archive for the category “Uncategorized”

15 Jun 2013
2 Comments

Manly Balls

Shop updates on Sundays at 7pm Eastern! http://www.lollipopyarn.etsy.com

The Lollipop Lab is home to all sorts of interesting individuals. From eye poppingly bright hued balls to the more subdued gals, we cater to a cast of colorful, quirky characters.

Lately though, there’s been a flurry of requests for some manly colored balls…I mean more masculine balls, er…uh…scratch that. Oh never mind!

Anyway, if you have (or are) a guy who likes hand knitted socks, or are just a gal who enjoys more natural colored stripes, then this is the update for you!

Man Cave

Man Cave

MAN CAVE

This macho dude likes to get away for a little guy time with the other Lollipop jocks. A few beers, a couple of games of pool, and a whole lot of ESPN make for one happy ball of stripy yarn!

6 rows Jockstrap, 6 rows Brewski, 6 rows  Belch, 6 rows Beefcake, 6 rows Steak

.

Beer For My Horses

Beer For My Horses

BEER FOR MY HORSES

This yummy blonde god is the life of the party! He’s not above hoisting a few too many with his buddies, and is known to close down the bars on occasion.

Still, there’s no one else you’d want as your second than this faithfully handsome hunk of stripes!

7 rows Whiskey, 7 rows Ale, 7 rows Lager, all intertwined with 3 rows Smith & Wesson

Sasquatch

Sasquatch

SASQUATCH

Sas~quatch [sas-kwatch]

Noun.  A hairy beast or manlike creature said to leave huge footprints.  Also known as: Big Foot, Woodbooger, Knobby, Skunk Ape, Wassum Cat.

The domesticated Squatch is often seen standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open in search of grub.

6 rows Big Foot Black, 6 rows Woodbooger Brown, 6 rows Hairy Beast, 6 rows Knobby Nubuck

Bro

Bro

BRO

He’s prone to leaving the toilet seat up and hogs the remote, but down deep this guy’s a keeper.

7 rows Manscape, 7 rows Whassup, 7 rows Dude, all intertwined with 3 rows Bulletproof

.
.
.

Welcome Home

Welcome Home

WELCOME HOME

WOW! Just picture the warm greeting you’ll get from this gorgeous ball after a long day. Wide charcoal stripes alternate with an extravaganza of Browns, Golds, Rusts and Black to make for a comfy, cozy pair of socks!

10 rows Lounge Chair, 10 rows Hearth
.
.

Of course, the brightly colored babes will not be denied their time in the spotlight, so Great Googly Moogly, Walkin’ on Sunshine, Sheer Bliss, Sentimental Journey, and Love Me Do will also be making an appearance (as well as a few others) at this Sunday’s update!

 Image

Posted in knitting, Lollipop Yarn, Sasquatch, self striping, self striping yarn, sock yarn, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
20 Jul 2012

No Time For Knitting – Part II

Those of you who are into sock knitting know that they are one of the most portable projects on the knitting planet.  For someone who is always on the go (see No Time For Knitting – Part I), vanilla sock knitting is a huge blessing.

I’ve knit many a pair of socks at endless, mind (and bohonkus) numbing baseball games.  Not even the persistent caterwauling from Big Bubba Redneck to his erstwhile progeny (“C’mon, Lil’ Bubba! Gitcha another homer!”) can mess up my simple stockinette. 

However, there is one knitting diversion that has brought a wee bit of excitement to my ho hum knitting life.  Balls!

Knitted Baseball

Knitted balls to be exact. I used this Oh Balls! pattern by Marcie Nishioka and modified it to knit baseballs.  For the entire team….  The pictures show the regular version and a felted one.  Both versions were greeted with equal exuberance and as you can see, well loved and used.

Felted Baseball

The knitted one was perfect for any indoor, non lamp breaking activities, and the heavier, felted one good for nailing unsuspecting victims upside the head as they made their way to the ballfield snack bar.  I’ve knitted a total of 16 of the little buggers this baseball season, and they’ve brought much happiness to some cute, freckle faced little boys!

Cute, freckle faced, little boy

Posted in baseball, kids, knitting, knitting patterns, Mom Blogs, mommy, parenting, self striping yarn, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
13 Jul 2012
5 Comments

No Time For Knitting – Part I

      I’m always envious when I read or hear about all you knitters with 10 WIPS (works in progress), massive stashes, hours of knitting time, and actual FO’s (finished objects).  To say it’s not happening for me is an understatement.

     Those of you who have children know what I am talking about.  Pre-children, visions of a whistle clean house, made from scratch dinners and Mom and Dad relaxing  in their comfy chairs every evening was my idea of how it should be.  While the children played at our feet,  Dad would be reading the paper and smoking his pipe (ok, that’s a bit much) and I would be happily knitting.  KNITTING!

     Of course, the reality is far different.  Virtually half my day is spent taxiing the he-children to school/football/baseball/basketball/golf/soccer/insert your sport of choice.

    The other half involves the feeding and watering of said he-children.  Did you know that if you stop feeding kids, even for an hour or two, they will cease to grow and will therefore remain under your roof forever and ever? 

     Ok, admittedly, it’s not as if I have NO time for knitting, just no uninterrupted time.  For example, this afghan pattern by Jared Flood, is gorgeous, and one I’ve been trying to knit on forever.  The difficulty level is moderately low, but when you have to rip out a row 4 times due to unending interruptions, it’s time to admit defeat.

     Oh sure, you say, can’t your kids fend for themselves sometimes?  Yeah, they can.  But when your teenager considers 2 cans of Chunky, a whole bag of Doritos, and 3 granola bars a predinner snack, and your little one blows up a bowl of Easy Mac in the microwave, it’s time for SuperMom to step in.

     So, until the Teen Unit and Wee Cruncher take flight from the nest, vanilla sock knitting will be the project du jour.  Yay for self striping!

Posted in house cleaning, kids, knitting, Mom Blogs, parenting, self striping yarn, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , , , , ,
23 Feb 2012
1 Comment

5 Signs that Spring is Right Around the Corner

    

1. The doves have started using my back porch like it’s their own personal pick up bar.  I keep telling them to “get a room”, but apparently PDA’s don’t seem to bother them.

      2.  The yard services have come through our neighborhood and scalped the trees.  Supposedly this helps them bloom better in a month or so.  For the moment, they just look embarrassed. 

3.  Skunk mating season is waning.  Booyah.  While the thought of Mama skunks now gestating the future generation of stink leaves me less than ecstatic, I am pleased to report fewer critter carcasses on the road.  Or not.

 4.  Allergies.  Nothing says Spring like snot flying out of your nose on a morning run.

 5.  I have a hankering to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” while brandishing a ukulele. 

Posted in running, skunk, spring, Uncategorized and tagged , , , ,
07 Feb 2012
1 Comment

Skunk Love

        So, while driving down a country road the other day, I hit a skunk.  Now I know you’re going to need a moment to REALLY ponder the significance of such an event.  Really.

     

      February is skunk mating season around these parts.  I know, I know, the thought of skunk fornication registers a 10 on your excitement meter.  Mine too.

     But here’s the problem – in their quest to get to the other side of the road for a night of skunk whoopee, those handsome, randy, male skunk-studs keep getting flattened.  We’re talking road kill every 500 feet.

     It’s a wonder the skunk population survives.  Unfortunately, they do.

     Anyhoo, having run over (and suffered the consequences of) my fair share of the odiferous critters, I’ve come to appreciate that, like all species, there are many variations of skunk.

     Some have stripes that are bright white, some close to yellow in hue.  Some have short hair, and others have glamorously long black and white locks.

     This has me to wondering – would it be inappropriate to request you spinners out there add some bodacious skunk fur to the yarn line up?

     Might be a market for it.  Just sayin’….

Posted in knitting, skunk, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , ,
24 Jan 2012
1 Comment

Stripes?

     Up until now I’ve dyed the same type of stripe – “Nice Girl Stripes“, about 1/2″ (6 rows) wide. 

Devil With A Blue Dress On

     For those of you who have ever dyed self-striping yarn, you know the prewinding process can be a major pain in the patooshca.  

     And that’s assuming you have the room in your studio (house/apartment/doublewide) to even wrap around a couple (or 6) chairs at least 42 (84!) feet apart.

     I happen to have a really cool basement studio that is ginorous.  The family calls it  The LaBOREatory.  There’s all sorts of room to wrap loooong skeins of yarn, and store a gozillion jugs of various dyes.  Plus, my delightful better half installed a flat screen.  Now I can flip between Downton Abbey and the NFL. Yeah, I know, that’s just a bit strange. 

     Anyhoo, per my 5 Yarny Resolutions #4, I’ve decided to venture into new territory.  “Big Bad Stripes” have made their appearance, albeit briefly.  More to come on those.

Bad Kitty

     Also, the “She’s A Little Bit Odd Stripes” are in the works.  Ok, not anytime soon.  See 5 Yarny Resolutions #5.  But later.  Stay tuned.

Posted in dyeing, football, knitting, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , , ,
17 Jan 2012
3 Comments

Volunteering – Too Much of a Good Thing?

    Giving back.  It’s something we should all do.  Money, time, whatever.

     I volunteer for a variety of things, but mostly my kids’ school related stuff.  Volunteering makes me feel good.  Warms the cockles of my heart, though I’m not sure what a cockle is, exactly.

    I’m a can do kind of gal.  Give me a job, any project, and not only will it get done, I’ll take it to the next level.  Ratchet it up a notch. Ok, maybe 10 notches.

    But without the drama.  It will just get done.

    So here’s the problem – once you show your stuff, you are toast.    You make it look too easy, so clearly you need more to do.

    The General:  ” Hey, you seem to have that Food Bank project under control, how’s about heading up the March Fundraiser?”

    Me:  “What about Marjorie?”

   The General:  “Well, Marjorie is in charge of the Teacher Box Identification Progam.  She already has soooo much on her plate.  (Yeah, running that label maker can be a real drain.)

   Me: (Thinking) “Marjorie is an idiot.   All she does is whine and moan. ”  

    Bingo!  So who’s the idiot?

    Um, me. 

    So to  hell with the cockles.  Less efficiency, more bitchin’ and moanin’.  Thanks Marjorie.  You are the smart one.

Posted in knitting, Mom Blogs, parenting, Uncategorized, volunteering, yarn and tagged , ,
08 Jan 2012
4 Comments

5 Yarny Resolutions

Kaboom

     2011 was an enormously satisfying year personally and professionally.  I am incredibly blessed to have a terrific husband and 2 healthy, energetic boys.  The Etsy shop  took off faster than you can say Hootenanny, and I have enjoyed immensely keeping up with all the requests and coming up with new colorways.

     That said, there are a few areas where I could stand some serious improvement.  Without further ado, here are my 5 Yarny Resolutions for 2012:

1.  Participate in Ravelry more.

      Confession: I don’t always “get” Ravelry.  Yeah, I can keep track of all my needle sizes, but that still doesn’t mean I actually know where they are.  Plus, I spend so much time dyeing, volunteering, and mothering that there’s barely time for any social media.  Pinterest? Forget it!

     But I had the opportunity to hang out on The Rav one afternoon and found not only a wealth of information, but some fun folks hanging out as well. No convincing needed – this is one cool site.

2. Make time for knitting.

     There’s always a “to do” list.  No more excuses.  KNIT NOW is my new mantra.

3. Go to a show/festival/retreat.

     Too busy. Too many family obligations.  Too many excuses (see #1 and #2 above).  No more.  I will attend SAFF in Asheville, NC.  Maybe Stitches South.  Any other suggestions?

4. Work on new stripe patterns.

      Up until now, always the same old Nice Girl stripes.  Even rows – about 1/2″ wide.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the Nice Girl stripes.  But sometimes a

Beach Baby

girl just wants to be a little bit Bad.  Stay tuned….

5. Build up an inventory.

     Yikes!  Who knew?  Could have sold tons more at Christmas and beyond if I had been prepared.

2012 – Will be a Yarny Year!

Posted in dyeing, knitting, ravelry, resolutions, Uncategorized, yarn and tagged , , , , , ,
31 Dec 2011

To Clean or Not to Clean? That is the Question.

     So we’re having a party.  I highly recommend throwing parties regularly.  Not only are they a “buttload of fun” as my 15 year old likes to say, nothing makes you more aware of the state of your household mess than the thought of a gaggle of busy bodies (I mean, friends) checking out  your closets and dustbunnies.

     A frenzy of cleaning for the past 2 days has left me ragged and cranky (ask me how I know-better yet, ask my husband).  And there is still more to do.   

     Where’s the cleaning lady, you ask?  Yes, I can afford a housekeeper, and have had a few in the past.  But growing up “without” has left its mark, and I’ve always been uncomfortable with hired help.

       I always ended up cleaning the baseboards along with the cleaning lady, happily chatting away with her, despite the fact that she spoke Portuguese  and I did not.

     So, I am cleaning…..  Having 2 boys, the level ratchets up a bit.  Toothpaste on the bathroom cabinets.  Blue marks on the wall where my 9 year old used his newly acquired sled to practice sliding down the stairs due to a lack of snow.  Pee where it shouldn’t be. 

     In the end, it will be worth it.  The sparkle.  The smell.  Totally worth it.    I will welcome guests with pride.

     Oh did I forget to mention that kids are invited to this party?  A few hours of fun, and the house will again resemble the pre-party mess.

     Sigh.

Posted in house cleaning, kids, parenting, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment

Post Navigation

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 767 other followers