Cars

Yesterday we went to a sports car show. The boys were in heaven, all four! I have to admit that it wasn't boring for me either. I tried to take some photos, but had just one lens, no tripod and I don't have a decent flash. I didn't like the fluorescent lights reflecting from the cars. And of course the boys wanted to use the camera, too.

I like keeping the pictures simple.
The red paint was chipped.
I don't know the make nor model, but it's an old green car that makes my heart throb.
This one's orange, the only thing I like about it. I prefer the older ones.

Yeah, this is what I like.So where does the airbag pop out from?

My list of "I want" includes a house in the country, a loom, apiary and llamas (alpacas will do, too). I'll just add to it a nice red sports car. I don't ask for much, do I?
I try to find the time to do some girly stuff, too. I knit these socks this spring. Took me about a month, but had to have a break between the two socks since I got RSI. My hands really hurt for almost a week.

A bag

I found a perfect pattern for a perfect bag. Then I found the most perfect Hello Kitty -fabric (not pink!) and red mushroom fabric. Unfortunately my boys aren't really into Hello Kitty, but luckily their girl friend is. She seemed to like her birthday present.

Before and after

Before and after pictures are so fun. It's always nice to compare and see the progress (or regress). Risto rode an ATV (all-terrain vehicle, mönkijä) with Auntie P's husband, Uncle J, and his face go quite muddy. I asked him to wash his face. Before washing. Slightly muddy face. The picture is out of focus, I know.

After washing his face. I should've been more specific and said:"Don't just wet your hands and wipe your face with them. And look in the mirror!"

After. Oh boy, there are 3 of these monkeys in our home.

At Auntie P's I'm always given the opportunity to rest. But what does an exhausted working mother of 3 boys do. Take a nap? No, she has to knit!!! I finished the Sophie bag I started 2 weeks ago, but I made it deliberately bigger with the increases every 20 rows instead of 10. The yarn is from Pirtin kehräämö.This is the bag before felting. My over-enthusiastic boys helping.

Before felting. There is a balloon inside the bag. I knit also a flap on the opening. I plan to fasten with a magnetic snap.

Before felting with the balloon inside.

Usually it takes 2-3 rounds in the washer at 40-60C. I turned my back and Jaakko turned the temperature dial to 90C, almost boiling water. No need for any extra rounds in the washer. Well, I washed it when we got back home. In the first wash there was a yellow rug, too, and the bag ended up being covered in yellow lint. I ran a knife across the whole surface and the braided handle and wanted to give it one more wash to get the surface better.

Finished. Uncle J asked an odd question:"What are you going to do with the bag?" DO? The whole process gave me something to do, should the bag have a function already?!? Good heavens, it's just been born!

UFO's

Ok, due to request, the picture of my cross stich I started 9 years ago. I wanted to have it finished before our wedding in September 1998. I came across the pattern on the internet, and my friend Melanie (Hwyl, fy ffrind) sent me the pattern, floss and the canvas for Christmas 1997. I got pretty far, we got married,but a lot of white remains still after all these years undone. A couple of years ago I said that I'll finish it by our 10th anniversary. I'll be in a hurry.

Joanne, also from the US, gave me fabric for a beautiful log cabing quilt. The fabric is so soft, the colors beautiful and I've started it. But..... quilting (at least for me) is something that needs a lot of concentration. Not something you do with the boys helping. The last time I worked on it I noticed that I had cut the strips slightly diagonally. It annoyed me so much that I had to stop. I want it to be perfectly straight! But once I get the cabinets in my (oops, our) utility room (please note this, DH), it will be a lot easier for me to work there.... and iron our clothes.

A picture of the vintage UFO my mother started in the 60's. I have serious doubts I'll ever finish it.

The edge of the vintage UFO table cloth is very beautiful! And it has taken a lot of time, I guess. My mom should really finish it!

Crafts

I have started to wonder whether or not I'm ADHD. I'm unable to concentrate on one single thing. I start a million projects and 999 999 of them end up as UFO's (UnFinished Object). I think this is hereditary, since my mother gave me a table cloth she started to do black work embroidery on. A quarter of it is done, and that was way back in the 1960's.

I'm surprised that my DH (Dear Husband) has not lost his nerve with me. I took some pictures of my UFO's.... or should I call them WIP's (Work In Progress). This is only a fraction of them...

Before looking at these pictures I want to explain something. I'm not trying to give you a false impression by taking pictures of a tidy, clean home because that is so far from reality. Our house is a mess. Things are piled on tables, the piano, on counter tops, on the floor and all 4 boys do their best to help me keep the chaos in constant motion. People should pay surprise visits to their friends and see the "ugly truth" (hi there, Outi!). Actually what I'm saying that you're welcome to knock on our door anytime (I usually unplug the doorbell since our boys enjoy ringing it too much), you need to knock quite loudly.

And on your left, on top of the oranges, a Sophie bag I started this weekend. And on your right, in a red Christmas basket that has been waiting for 4 months to be put away, a stranded ball of orange wool. I have about 7-8 balls of this orange wool. No more than 2 are in the same place.

This Booga Bag (finished in 2005... yes, I have finished something) contains calbe needles and yarn for a rug (my own design). I bought the supplies in a hurry in September 2006, I wanted to start working on it immediately. Something happened (life, I guess) and started it just a month or so ago.

Inside this yellow bag is a lace scarf I started knitting about 1.5 years ago. I carry it with me to work now. Why? I don't have time to knit at work, I drive to work so I can't knit then.... why.... I guess I'd feel lonely without it.

Corner of the utility room. Marimekko fabrics. I have a cunning plan here. I try to keep it as messy as possible, so that DH would understand that I need cabinets there. Utility room without cabinets.... all I can say that architects obviously don't need them. (I wonder if it was smart of me to tell about my plan. DH reads this blog, too. Maybe he won't notice....)