FO Friday - 9/23/2016

It's really Saturday, but if I don't get back into the habit of my regular features on this blog, it will vaporize and cease existence.

I finished my Lone Star State Knitters KAL project:

Pattern: I used one of the lace charts from Renee's Lace Class Scarf and made a washcloth.

Yarn: Cascade Ultra Pima

Comments: My online knitting group is hosting a KAL. We were given a pattern and we could make the pattern as written into a scarf, or use a part or parts of it and make whatever we fancied. 

Since the ongoing theme at Chez Merry Karma seems to be upheaval, I picked the simplest motif and made a washcloth.

I wanted to have at least one other thing finished by now, but since I have four projects on the front burner, that didn't happen. Oh well...there's always next week.

Here's hoping!

MK out.

Movie Monday - 9/19/2016

I watched a movie in an actual theater last week!

We were in Branson, MO visiting relatives and Sully was playing at the IMAX. Tom Hanks stars in this film based on a true story. He plays Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who landed a disabled airplane into the Hudson River saving everyone on board. The movie focuses on what happened after the incident, when the NTSB was investigating the incident. It was really good.

That's all for now,

MK out.

Start Something Sunday - 9/18/2016

I was feeling so accomplished yesterday. I finished a project and I was down to six WIPs. SIX!!!

We were out of town and got back last night. I was going over all my different TLE challenges. I am caught up with all the knitting projects (I'm going to do - I'm skipping one because it didn't float my boat) for Monthly Mixers except for September. AND a new semester of Loopy Academy just started. The assignments this time are a pair of gloves, a toy and something with bobbles or popcorn stitch in the pattern. Since we are "back in school" this month, the September Mixer challenge is to make something using the color or colors of one of the schools we've attended.

Y'all do know where all this is leading, don't you? (If not, the title is a big hint.)

I had originally planned to make Rabbit Toy using The Loopy Ewe Solid Series in Ice and Slate Blue.

I wound the yarn today, loaded the pattern into Knit Companion and got started. I soon found out that I don't really like the way the pattern is written. I went back to the drawing board and found Opal Sock Yarn Bunny, bought it and got started.

I can already tell that the pattern is more to my liking. 

For the September Monthly Mixer, I decided to make Liesl. I've been wanting to make that cardi for a long time. I am using Malabrigo Rios in Azul Profundo - it's a navy color and very appropriate because I attended UT Southwestern Medical Center and the school colors are navy and white.

The WIP count is currently EIGHT.

MK out.

FO Friday - 9/16/2016

While I have been working on those two projects that I showcased the other day, neither are finished yet. I do have a little project that I finished this week though.

Pattern: Basic Knitted Washcloth 
Yarn: Cascade Luna
Comments: Sometimes, a body just needs a quick or portable project to fit the situation du jour. And since I am trying t work through the oddball stash, this project was perfect on so many levels.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 9/14/2016

When I last wrote, I had 7 projects on the go...SEVEN!, People. I've since started and finished one and have now started another one. That means the number is still seven. 

Today, I would like to show you the two I am trying to focus on for now. One is a pair of socks.

I started this project in May. It's only the second pair of socks for the year. I'm kind of bummed because I have several skeins yarn I really want to bust out to make some socks, but I just can't seem to get it together. Oh well. They're not going anywhere, and a body can only wear one pair of socks at a time. I think I'll be okay.

I'm also trying to finish a baby sweater.

I don't have a particular recipient in mind. I've been wanting to make this sweater for a while, and I've had this yarn for quite some time. Then, I had a bout of startitis. Well, put it all together and that spells seven WIPs!

I think I'll go knit now.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 9/12/2016

I didn't go to the theater in the last week, but I have watched two DVDs recently that were of note.

Back in 1973, PBS aired a documentary series called An American Family, which basically consisted of following around and filming a California couple and their five kids. Bill and Patricia Loud were considered overly permissive parents and their marital issues were too much for television. The series was met with much criticism for depicting the worst of society back then. Cinema Verite is an HBO film that is a fictionalized account about filming the series. Diane Lane, Tim Robbins and James Gandolfini star in the film. It was interesting

Once I saw Cinema Verite, I researched more about the original show. An American Family, Anniversary Edition is a compilation of the most dramatic and salient scenes from the 12-part series. I remember knowing about the series back then, but I don't think I watched any of it. It was also interesting.

That's it for the week. Some good movies have and are coming out these days; so, I hope to get out and see them.

MK out.

FO Friday - 9/9/2016

Well, well, well, my pretties. I have a couple of recently completed items to show you.

 
Pattern:  Up and Down Summer Scarf
Yarn:  Dream in Color Everlasting Sock 
Comments: This project was part of a KAL that ended June 15th. I finished it August 8th. Don't judge. 

I like the yarn and I enjoyed working the pattern.

Pattern: My own design
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima
Comments: The Loopy Monthly Mixer challenge for August was to "Knit or Crochet a pattern that is Olympic-related, or that uses the colors of the Rio countryside." 

I was down to (up to) six WIPs, plus I had a big non-crafting related project with a hard deadline by the end of the month; so, I designed this washcloth. Quick, easy and it used stash!

That's all I got.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 9/5/2016

Lord have mercy, but time flies. Much has happened in the Merry Karma household in the last month. One can only hope that the dust will settle quickly and we can all resume our adventurous lives. One can argue that the events that have transpired are part of the adventure, I suppose, but that's a story for another time and place.

Youth is an interesting film. Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel play two best friends spending time at a spa in the Swiss Alps, pondering their pasts and futures. Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano and Jane Fonda. It was alright.

I loved watching Meryl Streep in the starring role in Florence Foster Jenkins. It's based on a true story about an American heiress who dreamed of being an opera star, but couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. Hugh Grant plays her devoted husband, who tries very hard to keep her dream going. Simon Helberg also stars. At one point, I leaned to my friend and whispered, "I love how Meryl doesn't take herself too seriously," and she agreed. We also marveled at her range of roles. It's a really good film. I liked it very much.

Maggie Smith plays a homeless woman living in her vehicle in playwright Alan Bennett's driveway in The Lady in the Van. It's also based on a true story and the film is adapted from Bennett's play of the same name. As in real life, the two people form an unlikely friendship and the movie tells about the quirky circumstances that bring the relationship about. Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent and Frances de la Tour also star in this dramedy, that's mostly drama. It was very good.

The gang playing the Enterprise crew in their younger years reprise their roles in Star Trek Beyond. While on a rescue mission, the ship gets torn apart in an ambush. It's up to the crew to make everything right again. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho and Anton Yelchin star in the film. It earned lots of praise from the Merry Karma family.

That's all for this week.

MK out.