You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep you close because you are so softhearted.
You love to be comfortable and warm from your
head to your toes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by

My Taste, so much bigger than my budget...

I bought the new Adrienne Vittadini pattern book for the fall as mentioned before. I decided to price what it would cost if I used the yarn it called for.

The cover purple sweater...$245.05

The Cowl Neck Tank...a relatively inexpensive $137.50

The fountain lace cowl sweater...$187.50

The search for substitutions starts now. I have some Cascade Indulgence, but it's 5 stitches per inch on a 7 instead of the 4 stitches per inch needed in the for the fountain lace cowl sweater pattern. I'm going to have to swatch to see and try it in the pattern to see if it would look good anyway. The yarn used is an alpaca mohair. Indulgence is alpaca angora. If nothing else, playing with it will be fun.

Two-toned sweater still not done...and I'm busy everynight this week. Saturday, I'm volunteering and Sunday I have some errands to run on behalf of my mother so it doesn't look good at this point...for getting done this weekend. The itch is getting to me though. It's getting cool enough to wear so I'm hoping that will motivate me. Not much use in doing it when it's to warm to wear. (Feel free to laugh at me, just trying to be optimistic.)

I need a little optimism in my life this week. The rule for the rest of the week at work - NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO RESIGN. My goal last week was one a week. Now it's just one a day...

Coolest Halloween hat in thw world...

I broke down and got out my halloween stuff this evening. I need someone to have a Halloween party so I can be a witch and wear my cool hat again. It's got feathers and little shiny strips on the brim and it looks totally cool on me. With a little black dress and a black feather boa. I'm the cutest witch on the block! The hat is the back drop for my newly finished sock #1. Too bad the colors don't really show up too well (crappy camera :-(), but it's much brighter in person.

Yesterday, I not only bought the new Vittadini pattern books (love the purple sweater that has been in their add this fall) and then went to the Faust Folk Festival for the Knit out with the STL Knitting Guild. We were far off the beaten path, so mostly we got bathroom traffic. I was in some kind of funk both yesterday and today but I must admit, it was beatiful weather and sitting outside in the shade and knitting was very relaxing. I also helped my sister and her husband paint my soon-to-be niece's bedroom. It was dark by the time we finished, so the lime green was little institutional looking. I think in the sunlight, it will look totally different. Besides, it was still wet when I saw it and it always changes a bit as it dries. My two-toned sweater is still not seamed. Yes, Yes I know I was "going to get that done" this weekend. I just couldn't get motivated. I'll put that on the list for next weekend.

The freedom of ordering off the internet...

Ordering off the internet is all too easy. Keeping with Tuesday night's vow, I ordered a pattern. It was the Bistro Shirt sweater pattern from Patternworks. I've been admiring it for awhile now and I happened to check today and it was on sale for $1.99. Now that's right up my alley. I have to say, sadly, that shipping and handling was more than the pattern.
:-0 I'm also going to buy the Fall Adrienne Vittadini patterns. I've been admiring the purple sweater featured in all the Vittadini Yarns ads in the knitting magazines and Yippee, it comes in a size that will fit me. I'll be at the Faust folk art festival this weekend at the STL Knitting Guild's booth on Saturday from 2-5 pm so come by and see me.

Houston, we have a problem...

I seem to have gotten over my head with the yarn buying. I don't have any patterns for the beautiful yarn I have and it's sitting in a basket taunting me. My beautiful new Classic Elite Tween in Dried Cranberry is just begging to be a winter sweater and the Cascade Indulgence that I got on clearance last winter is taunting me from the end of the couch where it's stored. Not even wound into balls yet. So my new goal in life (aside from my constant search for some navy shoes) is to find some patterns to utilize my stash so I can purchase more yarn. Sounds good in theory I know...but since I'm looking for patterns, I'm not going to find any. It's one of those laws of nature. It's exactly the case with navy shoes. Actually, I'm looking for navy heels with about a 1 1/2 to 2 inch heel. The heel can't be too thin because I'm a notorious clutz and I would kill myself. I started looking last fall. No navy fall shoes. Then in spring I changed my goal to Navy dress sandals that I could wear to work. Here again it's fall and I can't find a single pair of navy shoes that matches my criteria (I'm ignoring the wonderful Kate Spade's I found at Nordstroms for $325. I can't bring myself to spend half a months rent on a pair of shoes. I'm obsessed buy not insane).

I'm in a play knitting phase. Nothing is holding my interest. I tried the Madli again and well, I'm going to put that away for awhile longer. I played with a baby sweater, but it's not looking as good as I thought, so I ripped it out as well. Still playing around with my attempt to do baby thumbless mittens without a pattern. My socks are depressing me for some strange reason tonight. I'm just not feeling the love. I need some inspiration. I need to have 1 non-crappy day at work.

When did my life get out of control???

Have you ever had one of those days when you're goal is just accomplish 2 things from your to do list and you finish the 1st one about the time it's time to go home? I finished #1 on my to do list at 4:45 (everyone clap for Gwen now). I had planned a nice relaxing evening of watching TV, a good dinner, and starting to sew my two-toned sweater together (finally). But, alas, I had forgotten that I had signed up for cooking classes with my sister. Let me rephrase that, I remembered signing up for the classes, I just forgot the dates. Kudos to me for putting it into my Lotus Notes calendar so I got a reminder first thing this morning.

Cooking class was remarkably relaxing, which was just what I needed. The class was "Weeknight Wonders." Where we made Italian meatloaf, pasta primavera, cheesy potato soup, tortallini soup and fritatta. The idea being easy one pot dinners for when you come home from work. Everything was good although she didn't chop the onions as fine as I would have (okay, I would have bought the already diced ones in the freezer section and they come finer minced) and she used a lot of mushrooms and I'm not a big fan. Also tortallini soup was good, but I'd have left out the White beans. Too much mushy with the tortalini. The best was, of course, dessert. She made "Monster Cookies." Mmmm.

I've got to remember we signed up for the Holiday Cookie baking workship next week. They're also opening a holiday dessert class. Hmmm, who can I con into taking that with me???

Lots of cooking, no knitting today.

Gwen & Jeff in DC

My Brother and I at the new World War II memorial in DC on my recent visit and yes, dear family, I stole this off his blog.

New Yarn!!!

Did I forget to mention in this cloud of tiredness that I existed in until yesterday that my exhausted little body came home on Wednesday from NYC and logged on my work computer to download my e-mail. Since I only have dial up, it was taking a long time, so rather than sit there trying not to fall asleep, I logged on to Elann to see what I had missed in the last two days and low and behold, the day's special was Classic Elite Tweed. I've had this fascination with tweed yarns for awhile and so I thought, what the heck, I didn't spend any money in NYC and I just got my bonus so I ordered some. (e-mail still downloading...) God Bless UPS, my package arrived at my parent's house yesterday. See my new yarn. It's in Dried Cranberry.

I can't wait to start a sweater. MMMmmm.

Other than that, I haven't been doing much on the knitting front. I have a big project due at work on Monday so I've been working on that off and on all weekend and I've been cleaning my apartment. I finally hit the allowable mess tolerance yesterday so I had to clean it all. It's all pretty and clean for about 5 more hours in my estimation. Other than that, I've been experimenting trying to make some thumbless mittens for babies. Haven't quite worked out what I want yet.

Walking and walking and walking...

Never ask a cop in NYC if you can walk from Ground Zero to Chinatown. Obviously these guys spend most of their time walking so don't think that 20 odd blocks is a great distance. All I can say is "Oh my god, I thought I was going to die." We didn't have a map. We kept asking people where we were going (Thanks to all the New Yorkers who actually took a second to direct us...). Stupid tourists. The worst thing is, we were walking around town in business dress so people assumed we lived in NYC and we asking us for directions. Needless to say I took the walking tour of NYC. From our hotel to Rockefeller Center to Times Square, down 5th Ave. and back to the hotel. Cab to Ground Zero (more about this later). The long, long, did I mention long? trek to Chinatown and then on to Little Italy for lunch.

Number 1 important thing to know, yes I know you will fall over dead, but I did not buy anything but a post card in NYC. Yes, I walking in and out of stores on fifth avenue and didn't buy anything. I must be sick. I can't believe it even now.

Ground Zero. Even three years later, they are still rebuilding the buildings around it. It's horrifying to see this hole in the ground. At one place there is this twisted steel pillar left that looks like a cross. I could but stare. There were tons of people looking. I read the names and we remembered where we were on 9/11. There was a very poignant moment when I saw a young girl walk up to the fence. She put her hand to her mouth and began to sob. It was all I could do not to cry with her.

Chinatown was fun in a weird sort of way. All of these people keep coming up to you and whispering "Louis Vittan??" Can't sell knock offs on the street anymore so they hide them in the back and bring them out to scam you. Also, never saw so many cheap t-shirt shops with the rudest sayings on them.

Little Italy was great. They were getting ready for a street fair so they were erecting all of these booths along the streets (all closed to traffic). Had a fabulous lunch at Angelos on Mulberry street. One thing, what the heck is a fried oreo? All of these little booths were selling Fried Oreos. We were greatly intrigued.

So, all in all, New York City. Great place to visit, but wouldn't want to live there. There were too many people on the streets and the buildings were to tall and I felt like I was being closed in. Yikes!

Found...one lost sock...

Yes, after bemoaning the lost sock for months, guess what I found tonight. Yes, Kelly's missing birthday sock. UGGHHHH!!! I had looked everywhere. I tore apart my family room. I moved couches. I picked up my bedroom. I searched my dining room, my stash, I emptied my knitting bag several times and no where. Where was the sock you might ask. In the inside pocket of my carry on bag. I don't know where I went that I stuck it in there. I don't remember sticking it in there. I can't believe it. So, I guess I'll give the exra sock to my sister in case her dryer eats one or something...

Life is very weird sometime (and I'm talking about more than the missing sock). I attended the baptism of a baby of one of my friends this weekend. I had never been to her church before and it was very different from my own. What struck me was there was this woman sitting in a comfortable rocking chair up near the "altar" (don't know what they call it in a Methodist church). She sat there and knitted throughout the entire service and baptism., and quite frankly I was very jealous. Comfortable chair and knitting. I was all for it. Anyway, I was wondering what was going on. Did this normally happen. Then out of boredom when the preist started his sermon, I happened to read the little pamphlet they handed me when I entered. There it was in writing "Knitting in God." They finally got around to a program about the Prayer Shawl ministry at the church (which was very interesting) and then the preist (yes I'm catholic and I don't know what anyone else call their churchmen/women) did a little speach about knitting god into your life in lots of little ways, like kniting stitches to bring about a whole. Very interesting metaphor for me a knitter, but I don't know how effective for the rest of the congregation.

Going to New York tomorrow! Yippee!!!! More about that on Thursday when I get back. I've got to wear business dress so, I'm going to be the best dressed person in the yarn store.

FO! FO!

Garter Stitch Baby Hat

Finally a finished object from me!!! Hurrah. I finished the Garter Stitch baby hat from the summer Interweave. I finished it and even wove in the ends at the STL Knitting Guild meeting so I was encouraged to Show and Share (a first for me...) It's kind of cool getting up and showing something and everyone claps for you. My three seconds of fame. At the rate I'm going it's going to take years to reach my 15 minutes. :-) I started the hat right before I went to DC last week, so it didn't take any time at all. I think I'll start another tomorrow for my trip to New York for Shawnna's baby (found out she's having a girl). I have some pink DK dream baby that I think will work. If not, it's easy math to alter for guage anyway. I think I'll make another baby einstein for her as well. I have some more pink yarn for that (what was I thinking buying all this pink yarn? Oh the power of clearance racks...) in my stash too.

Good News, I have a whole morning and early afternoon free while I'm in New York on business next week. Even better news??? My hotel is near Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue and several knitting shops so yes, I can and will indulge my passion for yarn and my passion for shopping all in the same day period. Yeah Gwen!!!

Tiny Shoes

Aren't they cute?? They are shoe pushpins. I couldn't resist them on clearance at Kohls. What a wonderful store. I don't think I've ever paid full price for anything there. Got to love it.

Not much on the knitting front today. I more in the read about knitting on the web rather than knit today.

Why is it the morning after vacation is always the crappiest on record. It took me an hour and 40 minutes to get to work this morning!!!! Ugghh!!! I almost turned around and went back to bed. It was hard enough getting up. To top off my wonderful commute, some idiot cut in front of me and I spilled my much-needed starbucks on my sweater. I finally get to work and my big boss called and said "what happened to the 8:30 conference call" So I'm frantically trying to figure out what 8:30 conference call when in fact it was a 9:30 conference call and she had the wrong time. At least the day flew by. Ugghhh. How many more days til the weekend??? At least tomorrow is KIP night with the girls.

Back from Vacation

Hello, all. I'm back from the seat of our revered government. Thank god, the beloved Mr. Bush was off campaigning so I had the town to myself. Yes, as you can tell, I love our president with all my heart and if his plane went down in a flaming ball of fire, I would feel sorry for all the staffers who travel with him who died so tragically. So, now that everyone is aware of my political views, back to my trip. I had a great time. My brother lives in Virginia and I stayed with he and his wife right outside of DC. I went into town and apparently they weren't expecting me because what I really wanted to see...was underconstruction. Yes, for years I've wanted to see the Vietnam Memorial. I've seen pictures and always thought it very poingnant. Let me tell you, not nearly as effective when more than half of it is covered by wood to protect the names as they install new lighting. I also wanted to see the first ladies exhibit. I was a history major in another life and I thoguht that would be fascinating. Closed because of water damage. Was everyone conspiring against me? Is this because I think that our president has the intelligence of a gnat and is lying to us all??? Yes, I think so. So, we left downtown DC for the burbs. I did have much better luck at the outlet mall near where my brother lives. They have an Eddie Bauer outlet and I got 3 new sweaters for the winter. I can't wait until the weather gets cooler. I didn't get much knitting accomplished. Only the work on my sock while I was waiting to board the plane and some work on the baby hat at my brother's house and again waiting to board the plane in DC. Two things happened at the airport in DC. First and foremost, I met a knitter. Hurrah!! I just love other knitters. She admired my baby hat and proceeded to empty her bag of all of the stuff she had knitted while visiting her daughter for 2 weeks. It was quite the mutual admiration society. Secondly, some gate agent, who was obviously new because he asked a ton of stupid questions that I could have answered and I don't work at the airport and he had no clue, came up and asked "Can you take those things on the plane?" He was talking about the size 2 bamboo needles I was knitting on. Like I could do any damage with them... I looked at him like he was crazy and said, why yes you can. The TSA says that knitting needles are allowable. He said "OH." and walked away. The onetime I could have used my print-out of the TSA stuff and I had decided that I didn't need it because no one had ever had an issue...