Pictures of the 3 hats I've done from ruths pattern. Made a couple of changes on 2 of them:) Yarn from Handpaintedyarn.com

computer worries, woe is me:(

Despite Norton internet security I appear to have picked up something nasty on my computer. I can't use outlook express and can only see limited emails via virgin website. I've had 2 days of hell with the flaming computer and this afternoon was all set to throw it through the window. Til DH mentioned that double glazing precluded my doing so. I am not at all technically minded I'm sorry to say and anything beyond blogging and emailing is pretty much a hard task for me. When things go pear shaped it throws me and upsets me which is totally stupid. That the mog could be thrown by technics, goddess forbid. I'm hoping someone will be able to assist tomorrow and we will see if that is the end of it. I never NEVER download attachments or unknown emails. 2 from names I didn't know where in my mail box last night both with attachments, virgin reckon thats what has maybe done me even though I didn't open them,. Things are better on the knitting front though. I've almost finished my 3rd hat from Ruth (Woolly wormheads) pattern and changed 2nd and 3rd somewhat to add to the fun. Once I'm online properly will upload pics., I'm also up to heel on 2 socks so we will see how that adventure goes.

more stitch markers made

here with a few more stitch markers. They are lapis lazuli(the blue) aventurine (green) need to check what the white speckley and the tiny brown are in my gemstone book. Willing to swap for yarn:)

Olympics, do I get a silver for effort?

first photo a sock on 4 DPns . Second pic a hat on 5 DPns from a pattern of Ruths (Woolly Wormhead). Yarn for hat from handpaintedyarn.com, yarn for sock Lornas Laces. Do I deserve silver? I didn't finish an item but my aim was to learn to use both 4 and 5 DPNs and I have:) I prefer 5 the hat is knitting up speedily and easily. I'm so pleased with how its going on more than 2 needles especially after all the moaning I did.
On the pain front only 2 pills today and pain is just about manageable. Starbucks White chocolate mocha helped a lot at the time when I'd have been taking next pill. Trouble is can't do that every day can I?

Pain page

Journal page on pain
Day after day I live with my PAIN
I work with my PAIN
I use it, I abuse it, sometimes I even confuse it.
I make it cower - as it does me.
I dey it, mystify it,
Its only PAIN
Its only PAIN.
It only has power if you let it have.
PUSH it AWAY to the back of your mind,
a little compartment all its own.
Label it PAIN headquarters
Ma\ke it feel important but confused.
It grows in stature by feeding on the negativity it creates.
LOCK it in its own padded cell.
Occasionally give it an airing,
Call it PAIN day.
Celebrate the awful intensity then lock it away until the next time.
(c) amber moggie - not that you'd want to lay claim to it, if you did you'd have to take the pain as well:))
Phew, rewriting that reminded me that I can overcome it, even if in bite sized chunks of time. Goodbye pain, you've had your day

pics of stitch markers and pain pain go away

picture of loki a little grainy but he moves fast. Three pics of the stitch markers to give you an idea what I've come up with, one set with hands, 1 set of agate 2 sets of amethyst. Final picture is the Noro bag finished but minus the knitted flower. It didn't look quite me. I'm going to felt this along with the other one I made earlier(shades of Blue Peter there) Just need to pluck up the courage to actually shrink it, shock horror!! I'm thinking of edging the top with some amethyst chips when I've finished hopefully it will look ok. Really yuck day today, pain is almost too much to bear. I'm trying to do without pain killers for a few days if I can. I've been taking the maximum for a while now and to be honest I think they have lost their effect. It seems to be a shorter period of pain free existence in between doses and I also think they aren't good for me all the time. I am determined to try a spell without if I can manage it. I'm going to have DH do more aromatherapy massage and see if that can help. And hey I believe in alternative methods so I'm also going to try more positive thinking and chakra work during my meditations. Goddess willing I'll keep away from the pills then when I do have to go back on them they will hopefully work again. Trouble is that I've had so many different kinds of pain relief and most of them affect my stomach. Thats the aftermath of having this da%%%d illness for over 50 years. It takes it toll. A while ago I did a journal page for a swap I was in and used the subject of pain. I did the background in shades of bruising and anger, dark blues purples red and some yellow. Will find it and continue post

making stitch markers

I decided to make some stitch markers today. Partly because I wanted to send some as a gift for my SP7 and partly 'cause I could:) I've done several sets using gemstones, amethyst, amber, dalmatian jasper. Also done some helping hands ones using some tiny hand charms I've got. Pictures tomorrow. I thought they would be good for swapping with people maybe. Bad day today, way too much pain and I just couldn't get comfortable at all. One of those days where the doing stuff didn't take my mind off the aching. Its been an awful few hours, everywhere I moved it hurt. I'm going to go and finish the noro bag, I'm on the handles now so not much more to do. Think I fancy a change after this, maybe a cushion or two. My sister has a large gipsy caravan and I thought some colourful cushions would look good in it.

bags done and in progress

first is bag from Noro Knits book, I think its a little too baggy so this may be the time to do my first felted bag:) I'm pleased with the Kureyon, it does knit well and I love the colours in this particular one. Second is first half of bag from another Noro book, this one I am thinking of customising with gemstones hanging from the top edge. I've also been to a SnB last night where one of the girls helped me with casting on and starting knitting my sock. I think(fingers crossed) I may have the hang of it now. It was mainly knowing how to hold the darn needles. I haven't any ladders this time either. One thing I did notice, and I'm not going to pull sock back because of it, I can't keep to rib, it turns to moss stitch for some reason on part of the band. Seems like 1 needles worth has gone moss stitch. But as I said it doesn't matter, this is a learning curve and I will wear them:) I've just been going through my needles to see what I had as they were in a mess. I've way more of some than I'll ever use so have put them on ebay. I'm still looking for circulars in several sizes elsewise a good mix of sizes now. I also need to find me some good stitch markers, I've lost the new ones from the knitting magazine- can't find them anywhere. The girl who helped with the sock lent me a stitch marker as I hadn't thought to take any with me, not that I could as they have gone walkabout. the bobble said he'd make me some if I get some jump rings, after all the gemstone and crystal stash is still exceeding large so why not use some? I got some nifty knitter frames in the mail that I'd ordered from ebay. Thought they may be fin to play with. Thing was they were 3 times the size I thought so quite a shock when I opened the parcel. Not bad for $5 though:)