Howard the Hedgehog, FO

Pattern: Fiber Trends Huggable Hedgehogs
Yarn: Ella rae Classic, Fuzzy eyelash
Thanks to the talented Kai for lending me her needle felting kit for the eyes and nose. No blood was drawn during the process! I wonder if he needs a mouth?

I named him Howard after the Bee Man. Bev suggested he needed a name and after my bee adventure, Howard just seemed to fit.

I'm not sure whether my last pineapple to grow (there is one other) is just starved for nutrients or a different variety. It is smaller, has a different shaped crown, and purple striped leaves. Time will tell.

Happy 4th of JulY!

Happy 4th of July!

Pineapple 3 picked itself, by falling over. I think it is the sweetest one so far. Pineapple 4 is ready already, but I'll pick it tomorrow and share it at work.

The Bee Man came yesterday to study my bees. Unfortunately for them they took up in the wall by the front door and could not be removed intact without major carpentry required. While listening to the bees, he heard a larger critter, darn, probably a rat. Sigh. The trials and tribulations of home ownership. At least it's outside, but I know they get up the double walls into the attic and was starting to get suspicious some had found their way in. Every 10 years or so, those crafty critters find their way in.

I finished knitting and felting Mr. Hedgehog. I want to needle felt his eyes and nose but for the life of me haven't located needle felting needles anywhere on this rock. I bet Isle Knits has them, but Sue is not open today as far as I can tell. Maybe I'll end up with plastic eyes. I didn't have enough brown yarn so made two white feet. It took 10 minutes to felt in the washer. The short row shaping of the back was very cleverly designed IMO.

What ho! The King of Fruit

This is pineapple two on the eve of harvest. Pineapple number one is just a sweet, golden memory. Both were very sweet and even won rave reviews from the discerning people next door (my folks, heh)

The knitting has been very slow as my arm is still not well. My doc offered to give me a shot, but then I would have to rest it. I guess I'm not ready to do that, rest it I mean. So I got a slightly different brace and a massage today. I have x-ray and labs to do, and darn if he didn't order the routine stuff, colon cancer screening and all, sigh.

The politics at work have been a real drain but I'll not bore the readers here.

So the works in progress, Ariann...

I'm up to the part where I start the sleeves. After making parts of two sleeves everything gets joined together and knit to complete. I can't decide whether to do 3/4 sleeps or long. Since the intended recipient lives in Tacoma, perhas 3/4 sleeves will be better.

I'm jumping on the Monkey wagon for Zaruzela's SOS in Trekking XL.
While indulging in some shop therapy over at Isle Knits and I purchased the fixings to knit the Hedgehog. (scroll down to see LilikoiKnits hedgehog) and also picked up some gold Bonsai for Coachella I'm now thinking about all the joins and the warnings about joins in the pattern, so who knows if Coachella it will be?

Yes indeedy...a FO!

Pattern: Child's First Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Koigu
Needles: Knitpicks size 1

This pattern looks similar to Cookie's Pomatomus, or as is said in Hawaii "same, but different". Chris, enabler that she is, roused some of the Aloha Knitters to knit this very attractive sock. They're mine!!! The only mod I made was to stop the instep at row 5 of the pattern so they would fit my "round" feet.

At the rate I'm knitting these days, it may be my first and last entry for Summer of Socks 2007 (and it may be disqualified as SOS hasn't really started yet)


I stepped outside this am to photograph the pineapple WIP and found the white orchid in full bloom. It is a wild orchid that has started to establish itself around the yard. With that many blooms I noticed the fragrance is incredibly strong. Maybe too strong! It is a delicate transient bloom. The purple wisteria and the ornamental bleeding heart was also in bloom. I'm not sure if they are the true wisteria and bleeding heart, but that's what I call them.

The decluttering efforts have resumed. I have one garbage bag full of trash and moved the rubber stamp table to the sewing room to use as a cutting table. I faced up to the fact that stamping and fimo are two crafts that are best left to others. True to form though, the stamps are not in the Goodwill bag yet. I have a collection of screws and computer cables that I just can't seem to get rid of and also lots of little knick knacks, like macaroni angels, bobby pin flowers, and such. Since they were gifts, it's hard to let them go. And of course, there is always the risk I'll buy them back at the thrift store.

Thanks for all the kind words about my Tweedy. I miss his cheerful green little presence.

Dreams of Flowers and Morels and The Cat that Ate the Sock

Seattle was just beautiful last week. In fact it was downright hot on the last day. It must have something to do with the fact that I was there on business, packed an umbrella, and did not bring the swimsuit or shorts. The flowers growing out of the sidewalks, plantings, and bundles of flowers at Pike Market, the University and Ballard Farmer's markets were beyond wonderful. The poppies and peonies were so glorious as were the fascinating array of colors and shadings of flowers I couldn't identify. The conference was right on the wharf and I got the view of the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.

On new sight for me was Gas Works Park

(picture from http://www.seattle.gov/tour/union_photos.htm-wouldn't you know I forgot my camera?)



I would love to go back there and spend some time with the funky old gas works. There is a moon dial at the top of a hill with a panoramic Seattle City view, Space Needle and all as well as Lake Union with it's boats and birds.

I ate at some great restaurants. Icon Grill, Lola's, and The Palace Kitchen" Tom Douglas, the owner of Lola's and The Palace Kitchen was at both places. I resisted running up and getting his autograph. The Palace Kitchen had wonderful food and salads and accommodated me with a side of sauteed fresh morels! Most yummy! The use of all the local fresh produce really made these places unique experiences.





I knit a little on one sock. I was good on the yarn diet, but got some Koigu, 'cuz sock yarn doesn't count. My other purchases included couple books and the smaller size pompom maker.

When I got home, the body of the sock had arrived. Buddy the cat ate a few pieces out of it. I will have to figure out how to fix the holes. The real challenge seems to be the part of the ribbing he ate. I'll have to see if I have any yarn left.


I'm afraid he will just eat the repaired sock. I hope he doesn't have a bezoar

It was great visiting my old friends. We contemplated the aches and pains of getting older, plotted ways to retire, and other jobs we could do, and reminisced a bit. Ebony has grey hair now but seems just as frisky.

Stop here if you don't want to read something sad.




While I was away I lost my canary, Tweedy. I know I didn't write about losing my Cockatiel a couple months ago as it was sudden and I still have mixed emotions about losing her to egg binding. They were both senior citizens in bird years and brought me much joy in their lives. Tweedy with his lovely singing-how can such a little green body generate so much sound?, and his agile flying about the cage. Cockatiel with her curiosity and kisses. I have a guilty feeling sometimes about birds in cages, but it was the only life they every knew.

Very little crafting is going on here. My most recent impulse buy is a fax machine. How wrong is that?



I am enjoying Ariann in the green Karaoke. It is going slowly. I like that the fronts and backs are knit together. The shaping goes along the side seam. I really like the slight variation in the yarn color.

Here are a couple blues. On the left real NZ merino from the blogless one. Thank you! In the middle is Cascade Key Largo. Opal wants to swap these 8 skeins for the almost 4 oz ball of Zephyr on the right. Hmmmm. Seeing how lace and me just can't get along, it is probably the right thing to do. A part of me still wants that Stevie Nicks black shawl. Decisions, decisions.


Bouquets are popping up all over. My modest Koigu stash includes the newest gift from my Wisconsin sisterup front. I love all of them. Thank you!
I've been trying to figure out how to wrap beach glass. Here a few test ones. It's challenging for me.

I'll be out of town for a week on business. I'm just so happy to be away from the office!!!! Have a wonderful week everyone!

7 Random Facts and a bit of this and that.

Thanks for all the nice comments on Ganomy Hat. I really enjoyed making it. I cast on for Ariann in SWTC Karaoke in Forest. It's a almost felted wool/soy silk yarn which will be very warm. My blue Koigu Child's first sock #2 is inching along. The knitting progress has been pretty pathetic. It's suddenly turned quite hot here. It was very muggy day. Excuses, excuses.

The weather did not stop my mom from winning first place in the Jenny K in her flight. Here she is with her medal and leis in front of the prolific gardenia bush.

My sister and BIL have returned to Wisconsin. The last day we walked up Nuuanu Pali drive, where portions of Lost are filmed.

We walked by one of the Morgan's Corners. The owners of the waterfall have gone on a cleaning frenzy and it looks so idyllic now.

Opal has tagged me with a meme.

The rules:
1. Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 7 random things and post these rules
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 7 people and post their names
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here are 7 random things about me.
1. I have a cupboard full of Totoros. I'm sure that comes as no surprise. I once saw a show on TV about how to sell a house. A buyer commented on the owner's juvenile collection. Apparently prospective buyers want to buy from grownups. Since I'm not selling my house any time soon, I guess it's okay to obsess and collect them a while longer. I will have to find them a good home eventually as I suspect my boys will just sell them at a garage sale or give them to Goodwill. Sigh. Poor babies.

2. I call my system of organization the organized pile method. Don't mess with the piles! A neat desk is the sign of a sick mind is it not? I secretly long for the simplicity and an "empty bowl" ala Every Day Sacred. I read about clutter and periodically cull the mess. But alas, then I have to shop to fill the void. It's a vicious cycle.

3. My best friend until sixth grade was a boy down the street. We spent many happy hours catching bass with earthworms we dug up, flying to Uranus in the litchi tree, and hiding in our rock fortress in the "Subdivision". Those rocks are mighty small now...must be erosion.

4. I never spoke more then two words to the first boy I had a crush on.

5. I loved organic chemistry in college. It was a lot like cooking. I even repeated the five hour lab just for fun. I don't remember too much of it now. Analytic chemistry was another story.

6. My kids taught me a lot of things and helped me undo some irrational ideas I got from my parents. Like, just because a person does not like tofu, it does not make them a bad person. And I cannot make someone like peas no matter how much I smile while I'm trying to feed it to them.

7. I'm a process person and not much of a risk taker. Yes I suffer from analysis paralysis. I'm trying to get well. It may take me years to ever own a dog. I have taken tests to see what kind of dog is for me (a Portuguese water dog). I have studied the Dog Whisperer and watched Oprah with her dog trainer. I have taken Ebony, the wonder dog for walks and held the undaunted Cricket on his leash. I have ogled Kai's puppies. But I don't yet have a dog. Like I said, it may be years. Do I need to go to veterinary school before I own a dog? See? It's a disease. I'm starting with houseplants.

Kim. Blogless Michelle-you can email me and I'll post your answers. Debbie, Vron, Angie, Bev, Kai. You are all tagged!

Malabrigo Ganomy Hat

I know I'm not the only knitter out there who obsesses on things. This hat pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Almanac appealed to me because it just seemed sensible to have a a hat that covers the ears, yet needs no seaming. I know there are those who would agree with me. Nevermind that I live in Hawaii where cold is 50'sF.

I was not too clear about how to finish the top and because of my yarn I cast on more stitches then the pattern called for. The crazy thing about this pattern is that it is lumpy on top and EZ says to tie a ping pong ball in the front so if it falls in the water it will float. This is very sensible for someone who lives in the most isolated spot in the world, surrounded by water!

The Malabrigo was oh so soft. It grew a little after it's bath. I was surprised at how little color came out in the wash.

My Wisconsin sister, who is modelling the hat, has taken the sensible hat with her back to Wisconsin. The Malabrigo was gifted to my by her, purchased from The Knitting Tree right there in Madison. I think she will be able to use this hat even when it "warms up to 20". She may have to add the ping pong ball if she bikes around Lake Mendota or Monona, or goes ice fishing.



I noticed the flowers on my pineapple yesterday. The top of the plant looks like a flower when it first get started, but it's the "eyes" of the pineapple that produce the true flowers.

"The fruitlets of a pineapple are arranged in two interlocking spirals, eight spirals in one direction, thirteen in the other; each being a Fibonacci number. This is one of many examples of Fibonacci numbers appearing in nature." (Wikipedia) Fibonacci...new learning for the day!

If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time do not drink beer and knit!

...or take photos

These photos show what happen when I have a beer and try to take photos after. These are actually the best of them, cropped and edited a bit as well. The others were so out of focus! I got those Asian genes...after a couple of ounces of beer I am quite witty and funny (heh, or so *I* think!) and then if I go on I fall asleep. When I wake up I have an odd feeling in my head. At least I don't break out in hives like two of my sisters.

These 3 fellow Aloha Knitters are my enablers. Blogless Michelle, Kim and Chris. Michelle is modeling my Dolce Skinny Scarf as a belt. She just returned from New Zealand, home of many sheep and hobbits. I admired her new earrings, which are nice coils that just pop into her ears. I love pounding silver wire:) Kim and Chris are studying our collective Eleanors. Kim's is just getting started on top, and mine is greedily covering up most of Michelle's wonderfully grand Lady. Her Noro silk garden has a great red in it and she used bits of the Noro with the angora in it here and there for random squares of fluff. She made tassels instead of the fringe. It is wonderfully warm and luxurious!

On the personal creation scene, I find that between family visiting, Mother's Day, a very challenging stretch at work, my bowl is too full for successful creating. This is where sock knitting is all I can muster. It is finite, small, portable, and most likely going to fit. And it ain't progressing quickly! I reap the benefits of the creativity of others!

For all you mothers out there and all of you celebrating your mothers, have a Happy Mother's Day!

It's starting to feel a lot like summer

So many of the blogs are featuring the most amazing flowers. The colors and shapes are so beautiful. I love the roses and pansy's especially. It seems very green here. I have seen some lovely orchids in stores preparing for mother's day. Our orange tree is producing the most fragrant blossoms.

A straggler pineapple is producing a fruit in my patio.

The others are quite large now. I never moved them back after the fence was done. I was afraid they would fall over as they are top heavy. (Well that's my excuse anyway, heh). I hope they get ripe soon.
Of note, the last pineapple canning company folded in Hawaii. A sign of the times. Too expensive to operate a plant here. Growers will be focusing on the fresh fruit industry.

My Knitter's Almanac came and I started the Ganomy Hat in worsted weight Malabrigo.

My sister and BIL are visiting and we did the Hoomaluhi Walk today. It was muggy and warm so we dropped by School Street to get a shaved ice. Then I dropped them off at Ala Moana Beach park while I went to retrieve my Visa card from Sam Choy's BLC restaurant. I was so happy it was found! For a moment thoughts of identity theft and large unknown charges showing up on bill flashed by. There was a Kaiwi channel race at Ala Moana Beach Park and I don't recall when the park has been busier. There were NO spaces, and no one leaving.

Yesterday I stopped by Bella Beads. I just became aware that Brad, co owner or the store recently died in an accident and stopped by give Karen a hug.

While I was there, I met Stacey of Simple Joys. She has been helping out in the store. It was nice to meet a fellow blogger. I'm hoping she'll post pictures of her creations soon.

Waah! It's Monday tomorrow. Back to the grind.

Baby Eleanor, FO

Pattern: Baby Eleanor, adapted from Interweave Knit's, Scarf Style pattern, Lady Eleanor
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, color 244. I'm not sure how many balls as I sacrificed Klaralund to make it

This was an enjoyable knit. I love Noro Silk Garden, the entrelac was fun to do and I learned to knit backwards. The fringe was a bit of challenge, but once I got over the fact that it was not going to be exact, it was easier. As I am only 4'11# and a undertall for my weight (ahem) Baby Eleanor engulfs me. It is quite a generous "scarf" and for me basically a stole.

While looking for eyeballs at Creations by You, I found the magic sign, "50%" off so got a novelty yarn, called Trendsetter's Dolce (75% acrylic, 25% polyamide...GASP!) According to Wikipedia, polyamide "is a polymer containing monomers joined by peptide bonds. They can occur both naturally, examples being proteins, such as wool and silk, and can be made artificially, examples being Nylons, Aramids, and sodium poly(aspartate)." I like to believe my polyamide is natural, heh. I was attracted to the brilliant jewel tones. The WIP is a Skinny scarf with a crossed trellis pattern over 6 stitches instead of the 8 pictured in Shelagh Hollingworth's A Compendium of Knitted Stitch Patterns on size 11 metal needles. The yarn is a ribbon yarn and feels like a silky scarf but it stuck to the bamboo needles I started out with.

Retail Therapy Rewards

I thought Baby Eleanor would be done by now and I'd have pictures, but I found another ball of yarn so she grows a little more! I managed to finish one Child's First Sock from Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. It's a pretty pattern and I love the blue.
Today I had an appointment in Kailua so I thought I would stop by the Kailua Starbucks and perhaps find some knitters. Never mind that it's the wrong day, and I don't even know if it's the right Starbucks. I figured if I channeled energy, moon and crew would be knitting there. Hah, jokes on me! I knit alone! But, I did manage to cast on for the second sock.
Next door is Ben Franklin, and I decided to do some retail therapy there.

I picked up the Cascade 220 book, the Clover pompom maker and a few odds and ends. I was rewarded by purchasing over a certain amount thus qualifing for 20% off! In addition, when I got home, the mail man had brought me one of my Amazon books, E. Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop. I have been obsessing over Ganomy Hat from EZ's Knitting Almanac. It's ordered too, but didn't come today.

I bumped into Kim at Safeway on Sunday. We apparently simultaneously felt the need to cook. I baked chocolate chip cookies ala Farmgirl Fare

This recipe has no baking soda or powder. The cookies are soft and yummy.

I also made chicken soup, carrot cake and carrot soup (from the Moosewood Cookbook). The carrot soup has a touch of fresh ginger and garlic in it. I also added chopped parsley which is abundant right now in dad's garden and a dollop of yogurt. Remind me next time not to buy carrots at Costco! What with all the carrot cooking the bag is still full! What was I thinking?

Anyone have any carrot recipes to share?

Laid Back Saturday

It seems like I've been working on Baby Eleanor forever. I really am enjoying it. I never thought I would like entrelac as my books always showed each triangle on a separate needle and that just seemed like too much for me.
I like the blue and I'm even starting to like the mustard.
I have saved yarn for the fringe, but I'm not sure I'll do the fringe. It just seems like an accident waiting to happen. When I reached the half century mark, I suddenly became a klutz.
I plan to knit this baby until I run out of yarn, and I'm almost there! Just in time for summer, hah!

That is Child's first sock number 1 in navy Koigu popping out of Mr. Sockfish. I have turned the heel and am inching towards the toe. Oh Koigu, how I love thee! The Knitpick DPs are working really well for me.

These brown orchids have popped out all over my patio. They have a nice scent and last awhile.

Feral Knitter has knit up the most wonderful Fair isle sweater. Not only that, she designed it!. It just boggles my mind!! She calls it Acorn Sweater:) (No relation to me)

I fished some Pingouin Bouclette out of my really old stash (cotton/acrylic) and tried a little bit of Lotus Blossum tank. This yarn has no stretch and just seems lifeless. I'm just not the Bouclette type, I guess. So far I have not been able to connect with it and I have a pile of it. Back it goes, heh. I can't make that many Totoros! Or can I?

While knitting Baby Eleanor...

Chris and Angela surprised me with some more gifts. Chris must think I'm brainy as she gave me the "mensa" sudoku book. I had to cheat doing the beginning book so I'll be lucky to finish one of these. It will be fun trying. The lace weight yarn no doubt will languish in the stash for awhile until I get up my nerve to tackle another lace project. It is a very tempting color, hmmm. The vintage pin is very dressy and I already got some compliments wearing it to work. Thank you ladies:) I made my niece a couple fused rings on a chain.

My niece and her husband visited from Iowa City. I just happened to be on vacation so we walked Hoomaluhia, Waikiki and went to the Bishop Museum. One exhibit was about how the Polynesians have ties to the Chinese of 7000 years ago. The planetarium show was about the Hokulea. The Polynesian Voyaging Society traverses the vast Pacific using the stars and waves. I got a little better understanding of the constellations. It's mind boggling that people in a canoe found Hawaii. If you miss it, it would be 2400 miles to the next closest land mass!

Hoomaluhia was very beautiful. The huge Panama Flame flower was in bloom and the ducks were lined up for their lunch.

Here he is, my nephew-inlaw, the Duck Whisperer!

Sunshine Watermelon Easter Bunny

Pattern: fuzzymitten Easter Bunny. Twisted rib pullover-just winged it
Yarn: Rowans Cashoff for bunny, Sunshine yarn in watermelon

Instructions are easy to follow. I wish it was in the round since my seaming leaves a lot to be desired. Not sure why his arms are in the "surfing" position". I think it's because of the way I knit on the sleeves.


Having grown up in Nuuanu, I always think of Hawaii as being cool, wet and green. I remember returning from college in Kansas and stepping off the plane into the lush greenery of my valley. No doubt that is why I returned here, right back to where I grew up. My folks built a new house in the back for themselves, and my dad still tends his garden at 87. My mom has thing about the cardinal in the photo. She thinks it's "her" bird and gets mad when the doves steal her bird's food. Heh. It's a control issue, I think. (click the picture to enlarge)

I found the Project Spectrum bush on my walk around the neighborhood.

Project Spectrum Totoro

Totoro
Yarn: Woolarina Handpaint, left over from Ella
Needles: size 2

Acorn pattern from Amy Gaines Etsy Store.

Some say this could never happen...a hat that fits!

They Call Them Pirates is a wonderful pattern by Hello Yarn and as a warm up, before going on to such a detailed pattern, Gina's Skull Hat was just the ticket. I believe the yarn is Cascade 220. I messed up the first part of the pattern, but as it is uniform it just looks like a "design element", heh. Thanks,Gina for sharing the pattern and Dipsy Doodle for leading me to it:)

Klaralund has been sacrificed for Baby Eleanor. I loved knitting Klaralund, but the Michelin tire-look was not my favorite. I was talked into Lady Eleanor by blogless Michelle and after a sputtering start have embraced this fun entrelac project from Pam Allen's Scarf Style The Noro Silk Garden color changes are still thrilling!
Blogless Michelle also gifted me with some Ganpi abaka tape and some pretty Zero Markers.
I also received some vintage beads and lavender sachets from Kim. They will make great stitch markers!
I feel so blessed to have met these wonderful, witty, and talented generous women.

Swell, FO

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and for the comments. Even with a small project I can tell my arm is not well yet, but I can't help it, Malabrigo calls!



Pattern: Knitty's Swell by Kimmie Kemper
Yarn: Malabrigo chocolate brown and natural
Needles: size 5, Addie turbo 16 inch, and clover dp

I wanted to practice the two color knitting and use the Malabrigo. I loved, loved, LOVED, the Malabrigo. It is so soft and such a pleasure to knit. I wanted a small project with a small amount of two color knitting for practice. When it comes to throwing, I'm challenged, so I just invented by own way carrying the yarns behind and dropped the contrast throwing yarn when I wasn't using it. Not very efficient but worked out okay. Did I mention I loved the Malabrigo?

I didn't pay attention to gauge and so have a toddler sized hat even though I knit the large. I'm quite happy with the result. Not as many puckers as my first mitten project.

Aloha Knitters had it's biggest turnout ever. Jill was destashing, and I scooped up some Halloween Vesper and some lovely Claudia handpainted yarn. When I ordered my Malabrigo natural, the bulky was sent instead of worsted. I decided to keep it as I have developed a Malabrigo fixation. Just what a gal who lives in the tropics needs as the warm season is starting up! Help me, Obiwan Kenobi;)

Some Bunny's Suprise

Thank you everyone for your well wishes about my sore arms. I want to get knitting soon and think I'm nearly there.
Some Blue Tototos gathered for a final photo in observance of The Incredible Lolly's Project Spectrum For them, it was all about the blues.


I found a nice squishy package in my patio from the Fed Ex dude or dudess. A lovely surprise from Some Bunny's Love! How she managed to take time out from her incredibly busy schedule to put together this suprise for me is just amazing. Inside I found 3 skeins of Reynolds Garden Tweed in a colorful mix of greens, rust and olive and black sheep tape measure.
In addition there was some caramel chocolates (hmmm, guess where they went to, yum)and the the coolest orange knit sack. I had to explain to the Totoro that it was for knitting but he insisted on trying it on for size.
Thanks so much, Kimberly, for your cool and thoughtful gift!

I'm sure there isn't anyone out there who has fallen prey to buying yarn that marinates for years in their stash (wink, wink), but I once bought a whole cone of white cotton yarn with the thought of making those wash cloths. I decided to try and use up the cone by knitting them on my Incredible Sweater Machine. I made four. After fiddling for a while, I found I was only happy with stockinette squares with crocheted edges. I made four but have more then half a cone left! I think it's a never-ending cone! They didn't come out very well and I have a new respect for those who make all those great looking wash cloths!