Shoes and Yarn

2011, the year in review.

2011-12-29T17:00:00.007-06:00

So, I have been a terrible blogger this year. I've been caught up in work drama, house drama and travel...and just other things. I have been knitting and spinning a lot, including completing the Tour de Fleece in the summer. So, all in all, I think I may have knit fewer items than before, but I did accomplish a goal to knit wiht my own handspun and many of the items I did knit were out of my handspun. So, here it is:

Baby Sweater - 1

Baby Hat - 2

Baby Blanket - 1

Child Mittens - 2

Child Hats - 2

Socks - 2

Scarves - 2

Gloves - 1

Fingerless Mitts - 2

Shawls - 2

Sock Monkey - 1

Favorite knit of the year - Knotty Gloves. I love, love, love them. Followed close by the Roar hats and mittens that I knit for my nephews out of my own handspun.

On the spinning front, I ended up spinning up almost 5 lbs. of fiber. Woo Hoo! Spinning included:

Breaking Black Merino - 4oz

Winterhaven Cormo - 4oz

Winterhaven Cormo/Tencel - 4oz

Dragonfly Fibers Merino - 40z

Electric Blue - 4 oz **Spindle Spun

Natural BFL - 5.9oz

Green Mystery Wool - 3 oz

Natural Alpaca - 8oz

Strawberries Merino - 4 oz

Blue Superwash - 80z

Red Superwash - 8oz

Wild Fibers Special - 2 oz

Wow! Huge improvement from 2010...minus the broken ankle too.

Stitches - The Haul

2011-08-29T20:23:00.003-05:00

Here it is...the Stitches Haul. What you're looking at is:

1.1 oz Bombyx Silk in Black Orchid from Jazz Turtle Creations

4 oz Faux Cashmere in Crape Myrtle from Jazz Turtle Creations

2 bags of Cascade Dolce from Webs

2 oz Real Cashmere in Sangria from Jazz Turtle Creations - Sensing that I love her yet??

2 bobbins for my wheel

4.6 oz Bullseye Batt from Loop in Black Cherry.

3 oz Alpaca Roving from Pajolo Alpacas - Favorite Vendor year after year. Linda rocks@

5 skeins of Plymouth Baby Bunny in Orange For a baby sweater

4 skeins Valley Yarns Northfield For a Harry Potter Scarf

2 Skeins Heron - Green yarn in the back - It's Part New Zealand Possom. Oh My!

2 Skeins Berocco Vintage in Yellow For a Harry Potter Scarf

Spinning out of Control Print from the Sheep Icognito series

3 pattern - Leslie Ellis' Baby Doll Cardigan, Roar Stegasaurus Mittens, Roar Stegasaurus Hat

Hiya Hiya Interchangeable needles in sizes 5, 6,& 7 in the 5" size - which I love!

32" and 40" Hiya Hiya interchangeable cords - because I never have these sizes when I need one

a Wraps per inch tool

Last Knitter Standing game - Who knew there was a knitting game?????

Not pictured - 1 skein of Zealana Willow and 1 skein of Claudia Hand Painted Silk lace yarn. Both of which I got for free! and 1 hat pattern, which they're going to send me.

Whew! what a haul and I got that plus 8 days worth of clothing, business and casual into my suitcase. FTW!

My Friend Colleen also made me the cutest sheep hanging ornament in her newest hobby stained glass. I love him. He made it home without breaking. Woo Hoo!!!

As I mentioned above, I had 8 days worth of clothes with me because I was on a business trip before going to stitches with no break back home to drop stuff off. I managed to miss the earthquake outside of DC while I was in Orlando on business. Then, while in Chicago, I managed to miss the hurricane/tropical storm hit in the area. I guess Mother Nature decided that I lived through my natural disaster for the year early in the Tokyo earthquake.

While in Orlando I did go to Harry Potter world which was cool. Zonko's was the best. Got wants for me and my neice.

Glad to finally be back home. Now, I'm petting my cashmere and admiring my new stash enhancement. Soon, I'll have to put it away and reclaim my family room.

Tour de Fleece - the finish

2011-07-24T20:27:00.004-05:00

So, here it is. 1lb 1.8 oz of yarn that I've spun during the last 3 weeks. It includes from left
to right:

3.2 oz myster green wool

2.1 oz Columbia top - spindle spun

4 oz Cormo wool

7.5 oz Alpaca

1oz wool at the top.

Phew! Now, this story would be soooo much better if I hadn't bought 14 oz of yarn at the Uniquities fiber market on Saturday.

Tour de Fleece

2011-07-17T19:47:00.004-05:00

At the completion of week 2 of Tour de Fleece, I've finished 7oz of yarn, .5 of which was left on a bobbin. I also met one of my goals and finally finished the fiber on my spindle, in the middle. Now all that's left is to ply that.

Up for week 3, 100% alpaca from Skyvue Ranch, which was a gift from a co-worker. His mom owns the farm. I've had it in the stash for awhile and now wonder why I waited so long to spin it because it is all that is fabulous in this world.

I also plan on working on the green mystery wool - one skein plied above and work on the dream batt that I'm spinning on my new golding spindle.

You spin me around

2011-06-12T20:07:00.004-05:00

So, it's time for my monthly post, this time with lots of spinnning pron. Life as usual has been crazy. It was the busy time work for me, so I haven't had a lot of free time, but I have been making good use of my free time...and I find spinning stress relieving. So, above, we have, what was once some plain white roving, that was dyed by a friend, Nanishiori and who dubbed the colorway "Strawberries." I ended up with about 350 yds of aDK weight from close to 4oz.

Up next we have some Dragonfly Fibers merino roving in the colorway Azalea. I love this colorway. I ended up with 544 yards of fingering weight from 4 oz.

Finally, we have more roving dyed by Nanishiori, this this time in the colorway Breaking black. I have a bit more to ply, but so far, I have 155 yds of a worsted weight yarn.

And now, just so you don't think that I'm not knitting any of the yarns that I'm spinning, the Royal Wedding shawl. It's knit from my Blue moon fiber arts Sheep 2 Shoe kit...but it was just too pretty to put on a foot. I started this the day of the royal wedding and it's just beautiful.

Well, there is more knitting happening. I'm making the Amiga sweater from knitty and a pair of socks. Other than that, looking forward Tour de Fleece in July. Hurrah.

Maryland Sheep & Wool 2011

2011-05-08T16:52:00.002-05:00

I think it was the most amazing weather ever for Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend! Beth (Yarnedy) came in from Cincinnati to go with me this year!!! Hurrah! We had a great time. We arrived at 8:30 and didn't leave until 3pm. The sun was out most of the days with just a few cloudy times. I even got a little sunburnt in spite of sunscreen.

So, to the most important information...The HAUL in all it's glory.
2lbs of fiber - starting from the left and up around the circle:
Hobbledehoy - BFL Silk in Fizzy Lime
Winterhaven Farm Cormo Roving.
Hobbledhoy Merino Tencel in Tea Cup
Made For You - Merino - I'm going to call this colorway "Wicked Witch" because of the green/black
Unique Felt Creations 100% Merino - Natural White for dying at Lauren't dying party this summer
Woolgatherings - 100% Merino - I'll call this color Rainbows.
Fiber Optic Yarns - 100% Merino in Besame Mucho
Gales Art (middle)- BFL/Silk - Limited Edition colorway - even prettier in person.

And then my favorite purchase of the day a Golding Spindle. Hurrah!!!! .8 oz with a 2" Purpleheart Tsunami whorl.

You'll notice that it's already got fiber on it because I could not resist starting to spin with it and I love, love, love it!!!! Yeah!

And a better picture of the "Wicked Witch" colorway, which I think is my favorite purchase of the day.

A great time was had by all. Love the vendors and the variety yet again. Love the return after not being able to go after last year because of the broken ankle. Let's not forget love the gyro and ribbon fries. Yum! Can't wait for next year already!

Tokyo - The fun part

2011-04-17T19:14:00.003-05:00

So, here are some fun things that I did while I was in Tokyo...pre-earthquake. We went to a temple. The grounds were beautiful. Here's a picture of me in front. They were actually doing some kind of a ceremony, so inside the actual temple, they had monks and the traditional drummers. It was cool. I did not take pictures of that because it just didn't feel right. After here, Alicia took me to the most awesome pottery store in the world where I bought a bowl, something for my sister and a beautiful sake set. One day we went yarn shopping. Here is the Avril yarn store, which is the home of Habu textiles.

They had soo much neat stuff and...were having a sale!!! I bought quite a lot yarn. It was sad.

We went Karoking one night at Big Echo.

Contrary to popular belief, you aren't singing in front of a whole room of people. The Japanese have even refined Karoke. You rent rooms for an hour at time and you have your own personal karoke tv, mics and tambourine, of course!. At this point, we'd had a few drinks, so needless to say, there were plenty of people peeking through the window in the door at the crazy americans.

One day, Alicia and I went to a Girl's Day lunch sponsored by the Tokyo/DC wives club. It was at a traditional japense home, which was totally cool. The floors were heated! We had an amazing lunch of Cherry Blossom tea, clam soup (yes, I ate it) and sushi. Then the lovely japanese women dressed us in Kimono's.

It's absolutely amazing how much work goes into putting a kimono on. There's an under-dress that you have on and everything you have on is tied on. Someone said that they had to do 9 knots to get out of their kimono. Also, kind of feels like you have on a corset with the obi tied around the waist. I can tell you, these outfits definitely not made with well-endowed women in mind.

Finally, I'll leave you with one of the fashion streets in Tokyo. It was packed with people and was fun to look at all the weird stuff. There was a store that sold socks. I don't know how I managed not to find any...

The Absentee blogger, or I survived a 9M earthquake and lived to blog about it.

2011-04-10T13:09:00.004-05:00

I have definitely been an absenttee blogger. I went on this amazing...and then terrifying vacation and I didn't quite know how to put it into words. I went to Japan for two weeks and had the whole experience including.... Dressing in a Kimono at a Girl's day Lunch... Eating raw fish (btw - the only piece that I ate the entire time I was there as it was all I could do to choke it down)...

And finally, an 9.0 earthquake. The first 12 days of the vacation were fantastic. We saw lots of things. I played with my nephews, celebrated birthdays and had a fantastic time. More on the fun stuff in another post. And then on an innocent afternoon, right as was about to take my nephew out for a walk the ground started to vibrate. It wasn't the first earthquake that I'd felt since I got there so we weren't alarmed. I even remember that my SIL asked my nephew if he could feel the earthquake. And then the vibrations got stronger and the building started to sway...and then the earthquake alarms went off and we knew it was serious. Since I got back people have asked me if I was scared during the big earthquake and the answer is that I don't think I knew enough to be scared. First, we had no idea the magnitude of it. Secondly, I was laying underneath the dining room table trying to keep my nephew calm and feeling safe.

If I had panicked, he would have panicked and I didn't want that, so while the ground trembled, the building swayed and the earthquake alarms blared, we sat under the dining room table and I answered 100 questions from a 3 year old about earthquakes. I think he kept me from being scared every bit as much as I calmed him.

I think it's so funny that everyone keeps asking me about the "Big One" and how it feels to have survived an earthquake of that magnitude, but what really freaked me out was not "The Big One" but everything that came afterward. The "aftershocks" a lot of which were 5.0M andabove. That first evening and night, there were strong aftershocks about every hour or so. It was kind of like waiting for the other shoe to drop and have another big one. I don't think I slept that night or...the next three nights either. Everytime I would just about drop off, we would have another strong aftershock. We were on the 18th floor of one of the newer buildings in Tokyo that is built with earthquake safety measures, so everytime there was a strong one, the building would start to sway. The coincierge said as long as we were swaying, it was good. If we started to go up and down, that was bad.

The next day, I got up to learn that my flight had been cancelled. I rebooked my flight for anther one that day...and then realized another problem...how to get to the airport. The highways were closed so they could check for damage. The trains weren't running. The airport buses weren't running and we couldn't get a taxi. So, I called back the fanatastic people at United and rebooked the next flight out I could get, which was Monday. The United Agent said that the person she had talked to before me was someone who had been in a taxi on his way to Narita airport for 9 hours. I'm really glad that I couldn't find a taxi, because I don't even want to know what that cost him.

It was only on Saturday that we really learned about what became the biggest stressor, which was the situation with the nuclear plant. So, for the next two days, we sat around in the apartment, watched CNN obsessively for news about the earthquake and the nuclear situation. I didn't sleep a lot. I could barely eat there was just this pit in my stomach. I was terrified and not sure what to do a lot of the time. They were making announcements at street level and at times we could hear them, but since we didn't speak japanese, and me not at all, we really couldn't understand it.

Finally, Monday came around. At that point, I had mixed feelings about leaving. I was scared out of my mind and wanted to leave, selfishly, for my own preservation, but on the other hand, I didn't really want to leave my SIL, 2 nephews and my brother there. I felt as is I was abandoning them. Monday morning, we found out that the airport buses still not running from the hotels, so I ended up taking a taxi from their apartment to the Tokyo Air terminal to take a bus to the airport. Then, when I got to the airport, the lines were unbelievable. It took me 2 hours to check in with my luggage. Then another 1.5 hours to get through security and immigration. It was a good thing I left 6 hours before my flight because by the time I got through all that, I had just enough time to get to my gate before my plane took off.

It was an incredible relief when the plane actually took off. While we were sitting waiting to board, there was yet another strong earthquake and I had theis brief thought "Oh God, we're not going anywhere" but we went ahead and boarded an left. About 3 hours after we were in the air, thankfully once everyone was asleep, I found myself crying. Just tears running down my face. I think it was the relief of being away from all the stress. I still didn't sleep. I don't sleep on airplanes. Unfortunately, for my rebooked flight, I had to go through Chicago, so it was close to 20 hours before I got home around 10pm.

I went to work on Tuesday. I couldn't just stay around the house. I figured I would just get through it and rip off the bandaid all at once. I probably should have stayed home because everyone asked questions about the experience and what I felt and I didn't really have an answer for them because I didn't even know how I felt. I'm not sure what kind of an employee I was for that first week. I ended up with a sinus infection and I was exhausted because I wasn't sleeping because of the jet lag. It took me about two weeks to feel like I was functioning. I'm pretty sure I was a complete bitch those two weeks between feel like crap.

It's been a month now. I'm still not sure what I feel about the whole experience. My SIL and nephews are safe in Indianapolis here in the states staying with her parents. My brother, though, is still in Japan. As for me, I think I'm still figuring it out. I'll post another post tomorrow about all the fun I had, and I did have fun, along with yarn and fiber pictures.

My Monthly post

2011-02-06T20:50:00.002-06:00

Since I seem to be posting once a month so far this year, hopefully more one of these days, but at least I'm posting in 2011. So, there has been spinning. This is 370 yds of 2ply Wool Silk from Woolerina. It's beautiful and soooo soft and I love it. I'm thinking maybe a cowl. Something close to my skin since it's sooo soft. Here is the BFL that I was working on in in January. It's also super soft. I navajo plied this and ended up with about 500 yds out of close to 6oz. No idea what I'm going to do with this yet. I'll have to wait for it to speak to me.

There has also been knitting. This is the Sleeping Beauty baby blanket that I made for Baby Kim, who's mother works for me. I mentioned in last month's post, but didn't have a camera. It's out of Yowza Whatta skein from Miss Babs in the Tiffany Colorway and it's sooooo soft and fabulous.

I also finished a sock monkey. Yarn is some Regia sock yarn. It looks so fabulous and I love it. This one may be the favorite of the 3 I've made. It's super cute. It's a b-day present for my nephew.

Finally, I finished the first of the Knotty gloves. Yes, these are a very old WIP that I started about 2 years ago. I don't know why I didn't finish it earlier. I love it. I immediately cast on the second one.

Never fear, this is not my oldest WIP. I still have 2 projects that I started more than 2 years ago in Kansas city that have not yet been completed, but maybe this year's the year...

Other than that, crazy busy at work, still have no furniture and leaving for Japan in less than 3 weeks. Hurrah!

The post with no pictures

2011-01-09T20:18:00.002-06:00

So, I accidently forgot my camera at my parent's house over christmas time. They're sending it back to me, but until then, we will be pictureless.

The first FO of the year. I finished the Sleeping Beauty baby blanket this week. It looks amazing. I will never do another one. With a picot bindoff, I ended up binding off something like 3000 stitches and it took me 4 hours. But it does look amazing and I will post pictures as soon as I get my camera back.

I started a new sock monkey for my littlest nephew's birthday in March. It may be my favorite of the 3 that I've made, but don't tell my other neice and nephew. I've finished the body and and a leg an a half, so it will definitely be done in time for my trip to Tokyo. Hurrah!

In spinning news, I started some mocha blend BFL that I bought at Stitches midwest. It's spinning up to be a light/dark brown yarn. I'm doing it as a navajo 3 ply and it's coming out at about a sport weight yarn. It looks beautiful.

On the house front, I'm mostly moved into my house. All the boxes have been opened. The basement still has quite a few boxes simply because I need more bookcases. I still don't have any furniture in my main living room, which sucks. I've been to most of the furniture stores in Northern Virginia now and I'm getting frustrated. I just want comfy and poufy and something that you could cuddle up in a corner on a cold winter's day and knit. Is that too much to ask??

The countdown to my trip to Tokyo is at 7 weeks. I'm attempting to avoid all ice and stay healthy. Taking my vitamins and eating healthy. Hurrah!

The year that was...the year end review of a

2010-12-31T10:39:00.004-06:00

2010 has been a year of incredible highs and incredible lows. It's taught me a lot about who I am as a person and who I want to be. The first six months of the year were incredibly hard. I had a compound fracture of the ankle where I almost lost my foot. I had 2 surgeries in January, 1 in February, and 1 in April. I went through 6 months of physical therapy so that I walk again. I had never been seriously injured before and have never felt more helpless or scared. I'm always one of those people who pushes forward and moves at a surprisingly fast pace through life. I don't/didn't have time to slow down, but my broken ankle taught me patience and how to slow down again. It's amazing what 2 months of medical leave will do for you. Also, because of my injury, I missed my trip to Tokyo to see my brother and that really sucked. Finally to cap off the worst 6 months of my life, my grandfather died. He was an amazing man of very few words, but he took joy in the little things and I have always enjoyed his quiet nature.

The second six months of the year got better, I got promoted in August and it was something that I had been working toweards for awhile. I got to work on a project that I always wanted to work on, and boy did that teach me a lot, not only about what I know, but what I didn't know. My biggest takeaway from the experience was to listen and everyone can teach you something new. And finally, the biggest event of the year, after saving for the past 3 years, I bought a townhouse for myself and it's everything that I wanted. Yeah me!

The only good thing about the forced inactivity is that I got in lots of knitting and finished some projects that had been on the needles for several years (Lady Eleanor & Tahoe sweater). So, the finally tally for knitting and spinning for 2010 is:

2 pair Fingerless Mitts
4 pairs of socks
2 Scarves
1 sweater
2 shawls
2 hats
4 oz of Party Roving
40z Wildhare BFL
3 oz Bitsy Knits Roving
8 oz Sheep 2 Shoe kit
3 oz of mystery wool
2 oz of Pink and White roving

13 Knitted Items & 1.5 lbs of roving spun. I have several more items that are incredibly close to being finished, but I just couldn't get over the line for this year, including a huge baby blanket for a friend. So, we'll see those in next year's tally.

So, that's it. The year that was. I'm excited and ready for 2011. Tomorrow I'll post about my hopes for 2011, including a rebooked trip to Tokyo!!!

AWOL and back again

2010-09-26T19:34:00.002-05:00

So, life has interfered lately. I've been busy. Work, life, shopping for a new home. I'm looking for a home to buy and it's a lot more difficult than I imagined. The ones I love are more than I can afford. The ones I can afford, need a lot of work. So, finding one that balances my need for a safe neighborhood, a price I can afford and doesn't need a complete makeover has proven to be difficult, but I will persevere.

There has been knitting going on. The first is the superwash merino roving I bought at Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival last year.
It's from Bitsy Knits and is the Goodnight my dear colorway. It spun up like a dream and I'm navajo plying it and it's ending up as a 3 ply fingering weight. I've been trying to get this one at least spun up so that I wouldn't feel so guilty buying more fiber at the festival today. I have a little bit more to ply, but I at least finished the first skein.

There has been more spinning. This is the Alpaca Kaboodle batt that Bethany bought for me at MDSW.

I spun it into a laceweight yarn of about 240 yds.

And finally, this is the Sheep to Shoe kit I bought at Stitches Midwest 4 years ago I think.

It was fun. It came out as almost a light worsted and way, way to pretty to be socks. There are 450 yds, so I'm thinking a small shawl.

So, since I've made so much progress spinning up my fiber stash, I didn't feel guilty...or at least I rationalized buying more fiber at the Shenandoah fiber festival....

It's about 22 oz of fiber added to the stash. Going from left to right:

8 oz of BFL/Silk mix - can't remember who was the vender

4 oz Wool/Bamboo Cotton mix (brown taffy looking stuff at the back) from Gurby Fiber Mill

5.2 oz Merino/Silk blend from Lizard Toes

1 oz Fairy Wing Batt from Bitsy Knits

4 oz Alpaca Sari Silk roving from the Central Virginia Fiber Mill

Now, the real question is between this, the leftover roving from MDSW in the spring, and my Stitches Midwest purchases, what should I spin next???? Hmmmm.

There has been knitting, but that is a post for another day.

Choices

2010-08-31T20:42:00.002-05:00

So, I come back from Stitches Midwest with over 30 oz of new fiber and all kinds of new fabulous fibers...and what do I decid to spin??
This fabulousness is some fiber I bought at the Pittsburgh knitting and crochet festival about 18 months ago, and I've been holding onto it and finally decided to go for it.

It came out on this bluey-purply mix with streaks of pink. I ended up navajo plying it to get a fairly consistent worsted weight yarn.

It kind of looks like you took a dark navy yarn and tried to overdye it florescent pink. I love it. Now, I just need to figure out 2 things...

1. What can I do with 90yds of worsted weight yarn?

2. What am I going to spin next???

Stitches Midwest 2010

2010-08-22T19:28:00.002-05:00

Another Year, another fabulous time at Stitches, but first, here's a sock made from the Tidepool colorway I spun up courtesy of my fine blog readers.
I love, love, love it. The striping looks very cool and natural.

I took one class at Stitches, Bohus Stickning. It was fantastick! I recomend it highly to anyone. And below is my project, a wristlet in the Blue Shimmer pattern with the real angora/wool yarn from Sweden.

I'm going to turn it into a cuff for a glove. Anything that beatiful deserves to be something that I would actually wear, so I bought some blue alpaca/wool yarn from Denmark at the market, pictured below that I'm going to use to do the glove part. Yeah me. I spent last night dreaming of how I would turn it into a glove.

So, onto what you're really interested in...the haul

Pictured above:

Top Row:

A niddy Noddy finally

Red Polar Knit - Polar Fleece yarn. How fun! Soon to be a hat for a nephew if there's enough, or a baby.

Middle Row:

1 Skein Woodbrook from Creatively Dyed yarns in the Benchley colorway

1 Skein Sea Spcl fom Dragonfly Fibers in Red Maple colorway

Mission Falls Silhouette pattern book

2 Skeins Isager 2 Yarn with my Bohus kit

Lower Row

3 key dots

1 package of Stitch Dots

And then there's the fiber (because you know I didn't buy that little...)

So, going across:

Tryst colorway of Miss Babs Merino/Bamboo/Tussah Silk

Enchanted Colorway of Dragonfly Fibers Merino Silk

Old Bay colorway of Miss Babs Merino/Bamboo/Tussah Silk

Mocha BFL From Feeling Ewe

Forbidden City Colorway of Liza Souz's Merino Silk

Gwendolyn Colorway of Miss Babs BFL - Of course I had to buy this!

Across the bottom - Merino Seacell mixture from Creatively Dyed

And the green package in the middle is 1 oz of Soy Silk from Village Spinning and weaving

Whew, my credit card and I are tired. I did have a great time, thanks to my good friends Beth, Colleen and Jenn. Good Friends are the best!

What should Gwen spin next?

2010-07-19T21:57:00.002-05:00

So, I've been an absentee blogger recently. I've been busy working. Our busy season came early this year. There has been lots of spinning. I spun up this beautiful yarn. I bought the roving at Maryland Sheep & wool last year. It's called party roving and has a little bit of everything under the sun.

The way the roving was, it had to be kind of spun from a cloud by picking up bunches and spinning. It was kind of fun. I knit it into a scarf, but that's another post.

I also spun up this. It's about 2.5 oz of 20oz of green wool. It's navajo plied and a light worsted weight. I'm hoping to have enough to make the Veste Evereste by Veronik Avery. It has been on my queue.

I'm halfway through the second bobbin of this. I alternate a bobbin of this with something more fun. Something for fun was some pink/white fluff I bought this weekend at the Uniquities fiber market.

Since I'm almost finished with the second bobbin of the green, I'm already thinking about what I could spin next. Hmmm...

First option if this BFL from Wild Hare fibers in the Tidewater colorway. It's beautiful and I have never spun BFL before.

Next is more BFL from Wild Hare, this time in the greene-eyed tabby colorway. I love, love, love this.

And finally, a roving that I've had for 2 years that I purchased at the Pittsburgh Knitting and Crochet festival in 2009 from Firelizard studies. It's just so pretty.

So, if I have any readers left, what should I spin next???

True friendship

2010-05-02T18:53:00.003-05:00

True friends will buy you fiber in absentia at MDSW and then carry it around in 90 degree heat while they finish their own purchases. A huge thanks to Vicki and Bethany who took my money and brought me back fabulous fiber. Now I don't feel quite so bad about not going.
So, here's the new fiber stash:
Top Row
* 14.5 oz of superwash merino in Cardinal
* Mystery wool - 2 big balls of it about 20 oz or so all together.
*8oz of superwash merino in Admiral
* 4oz of Cormo Tencel roving from Winterhaven Fiber Farm - It's lucious
Bottom Row
*9.7 oz of superwash merino in Loden
* Handpainted silk cap from Spinners Hill - so fabulous!
* Alpaca Kaboodle "Art batts in a bag - It's alpaca, merino, silk, tencel, & angelina - It sparkles and is sooo, sooo soft.
* 1oz batt from WildMeadow - 50% angora, 50% merino/silk/alpaca
Not pictured is 1lb un undyed merino wool.

Altogether fabulous and I never left my house. Now, I need to get spinning as much as the ankle will allow.

Long time, no blog

2010-04-25T20:51:00.002-05:00

So, it's been a long time since I blogged. A lot has happened in the last six weeks. I can walk now, unaided without crutches. Hurrah! I'm back at work. Hurrah! Unfortunately, having more surger tomorrow. Yuck!

I also suffered a loss at the beginning of this month when my grandfather died. He was 92 years old. So, I went home to St. Louis for a brief visit to say goodbye. Crutches, boot and all.

There is still knitting going on. I finally finished the socks in the Opal Harry Potter colorway, Dumbledore. I absolutely love them. They are very closely matched. Just being slightly opposite in some ways. Totally unintentional.
I'm also plugging away at Hey, Teach from knitty. I have the back and half of one of the front halves completed. Hoping to finish it for Stitches Midwest this year. I registered for my course already. Taking the Bohus class that I've been contemplating for several years. Hurrah!

Other than that, it's my busy time at work, so there will be little time to knit over the next few weeks. I have given up my dream of going to Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. My ankle has been swelling and I just don't think I can do that much walking over uneven ground in crowds. I did give money to friends to spend on my behalf, so I will not be totally deprived. :-)

Finished things

2010-03-09T18:34:00.003-06:00

It's amazing how much you can get done when you can't go anywhere. So far, in the last 5 weeks, I've finished a pair of socks, 2 hats, Lady Eleanor Shawl (it was half done), a Clapotis (it was half finished) and yesterday, I finished the knitting on my Tahoe Sweater. Hurrah! Today, I'm blocking the two front panels of the cardigans. The sweater will be blocked over the next several days because I can't use my blocking board extended out. I'd have to put it on the floor and I'm not sure I'd be able to stand up without putting any weight on the broken ankle. so I'm using the blocking board folded in half on my kitchen table, which severely limits my ability to block. I'm just so happy the knitting is done. Yippee.

Now, I've finished all my big UFOs, so I'll need to start something new... Hmmmm... What to do next.

On the ankle report, still have an inch hole in my ankle that hasn't healed and on a better note, going to see the doctor this Friday and maybe I'll be able to put some weight on it. Keep your fingers crossed.

The second oldest UFO now a FO!

2010-03-03T21:32:00.003-06:00

So, the ravelympics has spurred my on a finishing spree. So, behold, the second oldest UFO is now a finished object. Hurrah!!!
After two years and 4 months, it's finally an FO! This is the famous Clapotis, of course. This is the 4th one I've made and the one I will keep for myself. It has been hiding away in a box until I pulled it out last week. It's made out of some Brooks Farm Duet.

Yeah Me!!! Now, back to finish Tahoe. Must take advantage of finishitis.

The oldest UFO

2010-02-21T19:35:00.002-06:00

So, way back in July of 2007, I started the Lady Eleanor Stole....and then I packed it up and moved to DC. In my new home, I unpacked it, but threw it in my UFO box because I had somehow lost my passion for entrelac. Well, thanks to the Ravelympics, I picked up an finished Lady Elenaor. Isn't she beautiful.
So project details
Lady Eleanor stole from Scarf Style
Noro Silk Garden colorway 247
Size 8 needles

There has been other knitting in between nursing visits and trips to the doctor.

First a generic hat that I improvised a pattern for that is for one of the people who rushed out of their apartment to help me when I fell on the ice and lay there in the slush.

Next is the Baroness Beret in Miss Babs Merino/Bamboo yarn. It's more of a heathered purple pink than you see in the picture. For the second neighbor who came to my aid. They're a couple and have been super nice in my recovery.

And finally, the a pair of socks that I finished in the hospital. These will go to a good friend who needs a pick me up.

Since I had such luck finishing a very old UFO, I've picked up another one. I'm working on a Clapotis that I started in November of 2007. :-)

On the health report, got the PIC line out and have transitioned from IV antibiotics to oral antibiotics. Still have the wound vac and still can't put any weight on the ankle. Also started physical therapy this week, which while helping, is at times painful.

Took an involuntary hiatus...

2010-02-03T22:23:00.002-06:00

Last saturday, on my way to join the gym (new year's resolution), I slipped on water covered ice and broke my ankle. I didn't just brake my ankle, but had a displaced compound fracture that required 3 surgies, 10 screws, a metal plate and a 12 day hospital stay to sort of fix. I say sort of because I'm sitting at home in my chair with a wound vac under my boot sucking away and IV antibiotics flowing into my veins. So, the prognosis, surprisingly good given the doctor said it was one of the worst breaks he had ever seen. He managed to get everything reconnected and I should have full range of motion several months downt he road.

I'll be non-weight bearing for 5-6 more weeks. The wound vac should just be on 1-2 more weeks and the IV antibiotics should continue for 3-4 more weeks. Wee Fun. Needless to say I'm not going to be leaving my house for several weeks and should have lots of knitting time. I guess that's the silver lining if there is in this situation.

2009 a year in review

2009-12-31T11:27:00.002-06:00

As I look back on 2009, I feel it was an unusual year. I worked a lot. I did some new things and some old things.

Trips taken in 2009- Vegas (Happy Birthday to me!), Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago, and a couple more to St. Louis.

On the knitting front, I finished 27 objects in 2009, which is up from 2008, but I felt that I took about 4 months off from knitting during the summer, so I must have been prolific in the winter/spring and then the fall/winter time periods.

Hats - 8
Mittens - 2
Dolls - 2
Scarves - 5
Sweater (And it fit!) - 1
Baby Bib - 4
Baby Hats - 3
Shawl - 1
Baby Blanket - 1

Notice what's missing...no socks. I did not finish one pair of socks this year. How scary is that?

Big thing for 2009, I bought a spinning wheel and am learning to spin. I love it. Yeah!

What's on tap for 2010:
A trip to Tokyo in March. Can't wait!
More spinning
Hopefully some adventure!

My goals for the year:
1. Join a gym - been trying to do that for 2 years and just haven't gotten around to it.
2. Continue efforts to eat more healthy. More fruits and veggies. Less take out.
3. Do something different at least once a quarter. Go some where new, learn something new, meet someone new.
4. Stay connected to my friends.

Have a safe and happy new year to all my family and friends.

A very fibery xmas

2009-12-30T22:11:00.002-06:00

Hello, I'm back from xmas and I have a very fiber xmas. Here's the fibery haul in addition to all the other fabulous things I got. Thank you family.
In the picture, It Itches (Franklin's book), 2 Japanese knitting books, Noro Kuryeon Sock yarn, Noro Shikisai yarn, 2 skeins of lace weight yarn, 2 bobbins for my spinning wheel, an arched lazy kate(still in package), Mystery japanese yarn that feels like it has silk in it and 3 skeins of Noro Silk Garden and a sheep ornament, My SIL did very good for a non-knitter shopping in Tokyo. I love everything. Also, one really cool gift is a pendent, down in the left hand corner, that my aunt got from etsy.com. It's 2 microscope slides with fiber in between it. It's really cool looking.

Well, I'm tired. Got up early for one last breakfast with my neice and then went shopping after I got home at 8pm because someone said the snow word. My plans for the new year and weekend include studying for my SPHR exam, knitting, spinning and a Harry Potter movie marathon because I just got the last movie for xmas.

Happy New Year everyone!

Snowpocolypse

2009-12-20T19:58:00.002-06:00

One of my knitter friends deemed this "snowpocolypse" and I liked it...certainly better than "snowmageddon" a la the local news team. So, we got like 20 inches of snow on Saturday. This is what 20" of snow looks like after it blows into deep drifts around cars.
The car on the left is my car, yes the one where you can only see half a bumper. My neighbor to the right made the bold move to clean his car during the middle of the snowstorm yesterday.

I will thank my lovely neighbor, Jenny, for lending me her snow shovel so I could partially dig my car out of the snow bank. After two 1 hour sessions, I managed to clear the snow drift behind the car, the snow off the top of the car and dug the drivers side door out to the point where I can actually open it to get in, should I have the crazy desire to leave my house. The snow on the passenger side is piled up as high to mid-window. I gave up because was freezing and had spaghetti arms before I could get that far. The office is closed tomorrow since the government closed. Yipee. I'd say snow day, but I have plenty of work I can do from home .and .a meeting that we're going to have via e-mail.

Well, the unexpected time at home let me a lot of time to finish some knitting. First, I finished Sabine, which was the second of 2 kits I bought from Bagsmith last year. It's one of those things that will climb the strings as you pull on them. She's super cute. I did redesign the dress to be knit in the round with different yarn, because I liked it better.

I also finished some gloves and a hat for the daughter of a friend. It's the Owl hat pattern on the hat and Jack-in-the Box glove pattern from Knitting New mittens and Gloves.

Finally, we said a sad goodby to a well loved and well-worn pair of socks this morning. I put them on to go out into the snow and "Oh Darn" there was a hold. A quiet peaceful funeral was had in the local trash receptacle. Must knit more socks in 2010. That's like the third pair of socks with a hole and I haven't finished any this year.

Other than that, I ask for everyone's good thoughts and keep your fingers crossed that I can actually fly out on Tuesday to go home for xmas. One of my neighbors drove all the way to the airport this afternoon only to have his flight canceled. Fingers crossed that flights get going out by Tuesday.

2009-12-06T19:59:00.002-06:00

Well, yesterday, we had the unexpected please of a snow storm...I say unexpected because I didn't believe the weatherman. So, since it looked like this all day, I changed my plans from movie and shopping...
...to knitting, spinning and napping...

First up, I finished the Meret Beret. I love it. The yarn is Miss Babs Wool/Bamboo that I bought at Stitches Midwest.

Next up was plying the Cranberry colored merino that I bought from Ellen's Half-pint farm at Stitches Midwest. The yarn is fabulous and oh, so squishy. Still need to work on eveness and I have some little tags of overspun yarn hanging, but all in all I think it looks great for only my 4th go at the spinning wheel. It's about 410 yds from 8 oz.

For those keeping track - I've now used 3 skeins of yarn and 12 of the 20 oz of roving I bought at Stitches Midwest. It's got to be a records of usage within the first year...and it's only been 5 months. I must be getting better at picking yarn I'll use.

On Sunday, I went to the movies, to Target (a mistake) and then knitting later in the afternoon, where I finished a scarf out of Wolle's cotton color changing yarn. I love it. It's very long. It needs to be blocked very badly. For those also keeping track, this is skein 2 or 3 used that I purchased from the Shenandoah Fiber Festival. Woo Hoo! to me for actually using yarn I purchased this year.

Other than that, still need to finish a lot of xmas shopping, but am beginning to fear the stores.

I'm back and there has been knitting!

2009-11-30T21:06:00.002-06:00

Back from the Thanksgiving holiday spent with my family. Had a great time hanging out with my sister and my niece. Shopped til I dropped, of course. Only finished gifts for my brother and family though because those need to be sent.

I would like to mention that I have the most awesome mom in the world. She went to an estate sale in St. Louis and she got me this...
which is 2.5 oz of boysenberry colored Alpaca pencil roving, 2 oz of a wool/angora blend yarn and there in the front, 2 oz of Angora. Yep, and even better, she paid like $6 for the whole lot. She got the good stuff. I seriously love her. She also got a bunch of needles and knitting paraphenalia.

There was knitting on the trip. Here is the Meret beret, which I started yesterday. It's destined to be an xmas gift for a friend. It's out of the Miss Babs yarn I bought at Stitches.

And here is the Sockhead hat, which is a slouch hat, made out of sock yarn...

For those wanting to knit this, although it looks really cute on and I love it, it's 4 inches of 2x2 ribbing and then 9 inches of stockinette on size 2 needles with sock yarn. It took forever! Good Lord. I thought I would never finish. This is an xmas gift for a friend. Yarn is Artyarns Ultramerino that I bought close to 3 years ago.

Lastly, I leave you with a gift given to a recipient.

"Did you sew this for me" she loudly exclaimed as she opened up the package and then she promised not to lose the coordinating mittens, like she had the others. Ahhh. This is why we knit. :-)

Still spinning...

2009-11-01T20:28:00.002-06:00

And knitting. I finished the Green Goose scarf. It's currently blocking on the floor along side another scarf I'm finishing for a friend
I started two new knitting projects today. The first was a baby Albert I'm making for a friend.

I also started another secret project and spun up the most luscious yarn. I'm soooo happy with it. It's still a little think thin, but it was the first time I'd ever worked with this fiber and it was slippier than before. I'm going to have to find some good places to buy roving to buy larger and 4oz because I seem to be going through my supply rather quickly.

My first handspun!

2009-10-27T20:00:00.002-05:00

On my beatiful new wheel anyway...Hurrah! It's mystery roving I bought several years ago in Kansas City. There wasn't a ton in the ball of roving. I'm going to guess 2oz or less. I should have weighed it before spinning, but I wasn't that smart. I spun it onto one bobbin and then wound it into a center pull ball and plied it from both ends. Which was an adventure and probably not the smartest way to ply on a wheel for the first time. I've done it from spindle spun yarn.

It's about 85 yrds of what I'm going to call a dk weight in most places. Yeah me. Now...what can I make with 85 yards of dk weight yarn?

Does spinning on a wheel count as exercise?

2009-10-25T21:59:00.002-05:00

What about if it's a double treadle?? It would be fantastic if it did because I'm a spinning fool. Loving the wheel. Have had some brand new wheel learning experiences. First, needs lots of oiling. Never knew that. But, after reading on-line, not unusual. Thank god for the internet. Second learning experience was lessons in tensioning on the wheel. That was a fun lesson. NOT! Too much tension and it draws too fast. Too Too much tension and it's hard to treadle. To little tension, does not draw in. But, I'm getting a better idea about that and we're moving along more smoothly.

I have two bobbins of singles spun up and "resting" per suggestions from just about every other spinner. Of course, I want to ply it sooo badly, but it's not going to happen tonight or even tomorrow since I have to work late. But Tuesday night might be a date. Yippee.

My knitting is suffering though. Anyone expecting knitted christmas gifts might get gifts of handspun yarn. :-)

My credit card slipped...

2009-10-24T19:11:00.002-05:00

at the Shenandoah Fiber Festival today... Not only did I get all this...
Two skeins of Wolle's Yarn Creations
1 skein of Organic Wook from Crabapple farms
1 skein of Stranded in Oz sock yarn
Superwash Merino Roving from Bitsy Knits in "good Night My Dear colorway
Superwash Merino Roving from Wildhare Fiber Studios
Several pounds of Golden Crisp apples from a local orchard.

For the observant of you, you'll note two bobbins in the haul...hmmm... whatever could they belong too....Perhaps the big purchase of the day????

My fabulous, wonderful new spinning wheel. It's a Kromski Minstrel. It has a custom finish job in Cherry, Walnut and Pecan. It looks amazing. I have not named her, but, I'm working on it. THe only thing I don't like is it's too tall to fit easily in the car. Maybe I need a new car?

Of course, there has already been spinning...

This is come corriedale roving that I've had for awhile. It spins like a dream. I love, love, love it. And, even better didn't have to pay shipping, wait for it, or assemble it. Instant gratification.
Yeah me!!!

Oh, my aching back...

2009-10-18T20:48:00.003-05:00

In spite of throwing my back out on Tuesday, knitting still continued...in spite of a day and a half spent laying flat. Thanks to my sister and her fabulous back stretch, I'm feeling much better.

First, an update on the Tahoe sweater...behold the left front
Although, I must say with the amount of knitting and frogging I did on this on front, I probably could have finished both fronts. I tok lots of notes, so hopefully, front side 2 will turn out the same size...

Almost done with my other working project, the Grey Goose scarf.

It's currently 56" long and I have 1 more skein of yarn that is about 80 yds. I love long scarves, so I'm happy that I'm able to get this to be longer. So,this should be done by next weekend...just in time to go to the Shenendoah Valley Fiber Festival. Hurrah! I'm driving, so the passenger or passengers will be knitting.

Other than that, I spent the weekend trying to stay dry, making yummy beef noodle soup and rearranging family room.

Just keep knitting

2009-10-11T20:43:00.002-05:00

And the knitting continues...
First, I finished the mittens for my neice for her birthday. They are flip top mittens, so all I need is buttons.
I had enough yarn left over to make a hat, so it's just a simple little hat with a rolled brim. I put in some eyelet holes so I can threada ribbon through it and tie a little bow. I think she'll look so cute in it. Hopefully the colors will work for her and she'll consent to wear it.

After finishing that, I had to cast on a new project and while loooking at patterns favorited by friends, I found the perfect pattern for some Organics wool I bought at Maryland sheep and wool in 2008.

It's the Grey Goose pattern. You must have a ravelry account to view the pattern. But I loved and still love the color of this yarn and I'm liking it a lot in this pattern. Hurrah!

Other than that, I've been taking it easy and relaxing this weekend. It's finally turned cold, so I think it might be another soup weekend next weekend. Hmmm. I think Beef Noodle or Minestrone might be in order.

Of dancing camels and FOs

2009-09-26T20:52:00.004-05:00

I was driving down the highway this morning on my way to the mall and I saw the funniest thing. A camel was stretching it's neck as far as it could get out of the back of this horse trailer in front of me and dancing back and forth and back and forth and I just had to laugh. It was hysterical. I wish I could have taken video to share.

The knitting mojo is definitely back. I finished the "Just Enough Ruffles" scarf.
I'm glad I added the additional 50 stitches even if it was a pain to knit the ruffle stitches. It's exactly as long as I would want it to be when around my neck. And the yarn is so luscious. It's currently being blocked and for 2 sundays in a row, my house smells like wet wool.

In an effort to not let go of the mojo, I immediately cast on for another projects.

These are the Jack-in-the-Box mittens from Knitting New Mittens and Gloves in the child size. They'll be a gift for my neice for her birthday. The yarn is from Creatively dyed and I think the way it's knitting up is just beautiful and I wish I had bought more than just the one skein so I could make something for myself.

In other news, I saw Fame today and I'm telling you do not waste your money. I was ready to walk out of the movie by the end of Freshman year. It has none of the charm or fun dance scenes that the original had.

Other than that, it's been raining since early afternoon, so I made chili and napped and knitted. The perfect fall day.

There's crazy and then there's...me.

2009-09-25T21:01:00.001-05:00

So, yesterday was a special kind of crazy...knitting 750 stitches per row. Today, a new kind of crazy...
...casting off 750 stitches. Yikes!

It was the insanity...

2009-09-24T20:39:00.002-05:00

This is 750 stitches...
This is what happens when you knit in the front and back and then the front again of 250 stitches. 250 stitches, which is 50 stitches more than than the pattern calls for...which equals a staggering 150 extra stitches I'm knitting. Yes, crazy is rearing it's ugly head. OMG!

Got my knitting mojo back

2009-09-20T20:25:00.003-05:00

I think I may have done more knitting in the past 8 weeks than the rest of the year. What's this???
Another finished object. It is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. This is a gift for a very good friend. It's 2 colorways of Koigu KPPM and it's fabulous. I will never get over the pure joy of blocking wires. You take a blob that's curling into itself and turn it into fabulousnes. Behind the swift and ball winder, they may be some of my favorite knitting accessory...who am I kidding, they're all my favorite knitting accessories...

Since I finished one scarf...and I only have like 8 projects on needles, I felt I need another...

This is Laura Chau's Just Enough Ruffles. I'm using the Miss Bab's Yowza Whatta Skein! in the Aubergine colorway. I went searching for yarn to make this scarf at Stitches Midwest and so far, think I made a great choice. Love, love this yarn. It's soo soft and easy to knit with. Love, love, love the pattern. I'm almost to the ruffle already and I just started it yesterday. Yeah for a quick knit.

Other than that, I would like to say, happily, that it's fall! I say officially in my world because I made my first pot of soup this weekend. Tortilla soup, which I'll be eating all week long. It's super yummy. I also bought chili fixin's for next weekend because it was on sale. I love fall!

The Haul

2009-09-13T18:39:00.002-05:00

I'm back. I'm alive and I bought a ton of stuff this year, which your saying to yourself is no different from anyother year.... As you can see cranberry/plums & greens were the colors of the year...
So, what did I get:

5 skeins of Brae Tweed in the Berry Heat colorway - It's so incredibly soft. Not idea what I will make, but I could not resist.
1 skein Bamboo Baby in Tulipa from Miss Babs. Yummy Merino Wool/Bamboo blend.
1 skein Merino Bamboo DK weight in Light Grey from Miss Babs.
1 skein Merino Bamboo DK weight in Burgundy from Miss Babs.
1 skein Yowza - Whatta Skein! in Aubergine from Miss Babs
1 skein Woodbrook in the Dan Colorway from Creatively Dyed Yarns
1 skein Shepards Wool from Stonehenge Fiber Mill in Cherries Jubilee
2 skeins of Koigu - the edging for my Tahoe Sweater
1 4kz hank of Merino/Tencel roving from Creatively dyed
1 4oz bag of Merino/Silk roving from Ellens Half Pint Farm in Silver with pink and blue blended in.
2 4oz bags of Merino roving from Ellens Half Pint Farm in Cranberry
A set of the new Hiya-Hiya Interchangeable needles in the red case - If you haven't tried these, they are fabulous!!!! So excited I found them.
Verena Magazine Winter 2009 - Love the patterns
Verena Magazine Summer 2009 - Again, love the patters. I will be subscribing to replace my lapsed Interweave subscription.
Poems of Color - the history of Bohus Stickning including some of the patters. Hurrah, finally grabbed a copy after all these years
And...the best for last...

Yes! Wall hangings in metal of the words Knit and Purl with little charms hanging on them. I could not resist!

Other than that, had a great time with Jenn, Colleen and Beth. It's great to spend time with old friends who know you and even though we've been apart, it seems as if we were never apart...as evidenced by the fact that not even 4 hours after we were altogether we were sitting in massaging chairs laughing our asses off. There may have even been tears of laughter involved. I think Beth and Colleen enjoyed their first stitches and they were a great addition to the fun. I took a class in the Long and Short of alterations and learned to put in some lifelines and cut into my knitting. It was a great class and I enjoyed it, but I do think that one small addition would improve the near heart attack you have when you cut into you knitting...Margaritas would make it all better. I'm not sure the people at Stitches will take my feedback into consideration, but it's out there...

There was also knitting this weekend. I finished the first of the socks in the Opal Dumbledore Harry Potter Colorway and I started Tahoe and managed to almost finish the back.

Yipee. The knitting mojo is back. I'm going to update my ravelry page and quite possible head to bed early. I'm exhausted.

Hapy Holiday weekend.

2009-09-05T19:43:00.002-05:00

I love holiday weekend. Even more than that, I love the holiday weekend tv. So far, I got sucked into a "I love the millenium" marathon on VHI and now I'm watching The Sound of Music.

In anticipation of going to Stitches Midwest, I've been trying to actual finish some kniting projects. Last week, I finished a scarf with yarn I bought 3 years ago and today, I finished a kit I bought last year.
The kit is "Luc" from Bagsmith and since it's a toy and my nephew is named Lucas, I couldn't not purchase it. All that's left is finding the glue to glue on the head. But it's sooo cute.

I have another one for my neice, that I'll have to start. It will be a birthday present for her.

Other than that, lots of cleaning and cooking going on here. I made BBQ beef today, which was fabulouse and corn souffle, which was also fantastic.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Another FO

2009-08-27T21:07:00.002-05:00

The Ruffles Scarf from Scarf Style. One of my favorite patterns.
I'm trying to clear some room in my stash for Stitches Midwest. I've had this yarn for several years and finally got around to making it. Now to finish some other projects that I have in progress.

More knitting happened...

2009-08-16T22:24:00.002-05:00

So, Day 2 of retaking my life. I cleaned the kitchen, started the laundry and worked (yes, still working) in the morning and in the after, I went to a knitting group that met Sunday afternoon/ early evening. I wove in all the ends on my sweater, so it's ready to be worn, which I think I will do on Wednesday so the knitters can see it. I also worked on the Ruffles scarf I'm working on and am more than halfway done with it. I will admit to having a raving course of spinning whell envy. 2 people had their wheels at the knitting group and I watched them all afternoon and it's harder and harder to resist buying one. I'm gettin a little bonus and I'm thinking...hmmm...maybe a spinning wheel...I'll have to think about that. I've been thinking about it for awhile. I finally learned how to spin and produce a balanced yarn from my drop spindle spinning, so maybe it's time to move onto the next level. What do you think?? Several people had their drop spindles and I think that next time I go, I would bring my spindle along. Yipee. Back to work tomorrow, but I do have something to look forward to, I bought my flights to Stitches Midwest.

I came, I seamed, I FINISHED!!!!!!

2009-08-15T19:41:00.003-05:00

After 2.5 years of working on this sweater on and off I finally finished it this afternoon. Hurrah!!!
The best news!!!! It fits!!! I was a bit scared about whether it would fit...because I have been knitting on it for 2 years and have never had a sweater I've knit fit me before in my life. I'll have to get someone to take a picture of me in it, but it's finished. Yippeee!!! So, for anyone going to Stitches Midwest next month, I'll be wearing my sweater.

Other than that, I've been working a lot of hours, went to Cincinnati to see Beth and go to the Jimmy Buffett concert. Finally starting to knit again as I'm trying to rejoin life after working a ton of hours. I feel like I'm coming out of a coma. Working 60-70 hours a week for 3 months is not sustainable. Uggh! Here's to having a life again. Hopefully I will resume regular posting.

Still not dead yet...

2009-08-02T20:57:00.003-05:00

So, I've been working like 60- 70 hours a week for the past two months, but help arrives on Monday in the form of another HR manager and an HR Senior. Hurrah!!!! So, maybe I'll have time to actually knit or have a life. What a concept!?! In an attempt to do something other than work and recover from working, I got up early this morning and went for a walk. It was a little overcast when I set out, but I thought, definitely not overcast enough to rain...famous last thoughts. Mile 1 was fine and then the heavens opened up and I was throroughly soaked before I made it home. Stepped right into the shower.

Inthe meantime, this is all the progress I've made on the Surplice sweater.
The body pieces are all seamed and 1 sleeve is attached. Still need to put on the other sleeve and then seam down the sides, but I will (provided it actually fits) be wearing it at Stitches midwest. Hurrah!!!

I find myself having a knitting dilemna. I've tried to start other projects, but nothing is holding my interest and/or I make some huge error and end up ripping the whole thing out...like 5 inches of a cabled scarf on wednesday night. I'm looking for my next inspiration. Maybe I'll start on the sock monkey for my nephew Eli, only I'm not sure I have the right yarn. Hmmm. Will have to go stash diving before my flight on Wednesday.

Other than that, I'm going on a long weekend mini-vacation next week. Going to visit Beth, and Beth's new House and our annual trip to see Jimmy Buffett. And Candace is going to be there big hurrah! I haven't seen her in ages. And most importantly...I'm going to turn the blinking light off on my blackberry, so I don't know when I'm getting new messages and I'm going to disconnect. I'd turn off the blackberry, but it's my only phone, so that's not really an option.

Hopefully in a few weeks after our new staff get up to speed, I'll be able to have a life again and resume blogging.

Yes, I'm still alive. Part II

2009-06-14T20:53:00.002-05:00

Okay, so, it was the busy time at work. I worked a ton of hours. Got home late, went in early. Didn't do anything besides work, much less knit. But, that's finally over and there has been knitting.

First, another Rainbow Marley hat for a co-worker who is having a little boy. This is my favorite hat on little boys.
I also made a bib, not pictured as part of my gift.

Other than that, the longest knit in the world, is finally making it's way towards the final stages of completion.

Yes, I seamed... Here is the bodice up closer before I attached the back.

I still have to attach the front lace panel and the two sleeves.

I really want to mock up the sleeves first. I wanted to make them slightly longer, but thought I was out of yarn. I have since found another ball of it, so if after trying one on, I can reknit them and make them a bit longer if need be.

Other than that, this weekend was all about me. I got a hair cut and highlights and now I look all cute again. I also got a pedicure, but the experience was not what I anticipated. I went to my normal salon, but they were busy, so I got the most rushed pedicure in the world and my toenails have a crappy paint job. It kind of ruined the whole pamper me day.

Other than that, looking forward to my vacation in St. Louis in two weeks. I'm looking forward to being ordered around by my 4 year old neice. I'm sure she will plan a few busy days for me and I will spoil her rotten. It's a trade off that works well for both of us.

2009-05-25T17:59:00.002-05:00

I have been a total absentee blogger lately. No particular reason why that I can think of. Going through another period of change. Things are really crazy at work, my brother is moving away in a couple of weeks and I just feel like I need to do something different...I just haven't figured out what.

I was considering moving to a new area, but I've decided that's not really going to help anything. So, I need to do something different or to be something different. I guess I'm just bored and need a new outlet. Hmmm. Hopefully I figure it out in the next little while or it's going to be a brutal summer.

All of these is made worse by the fact that I'm not sleeping. Or maybe I'm not sleeping because I'm spending too much time thinking and therefore am not sleeping. Ugghhh! I'm having freaky weird nightmares as well. First, it was zombies...which can in part be attributed to the zombie book I was ready. I'm waking up at 5:30 am too. Doesn't matter what time I go to sleep. 5:30 am. Big Yuck. I tried to go to bed early, but that was actually the worst because after going to bed at 9:30 instead of midnight, I was wide awake from 2:30 - 4:00 am. Even napping isn't working for me these days. Ugghh!!

In knitting news, I finished a baby hat and baby bib this weekend. I needed a gift for a co-worker and it worked as a quick finish knit since everything else I'm working on is a long term project. I knit the rainbow marley hat from Itty Bitty Knits and the bib is the baby bib from Mason Dixon Knitting, the first one. These are two of my favorite quick knits for baby gifts.

Since I've been bored this weekend, I've done all kinds of weirdo things that have been hanging over my head. I flipped my mattress and in the process, cleaned out all the odd things that have ended up underneath it. Missing socks, books, money, etc. I also cleaned out the last of the boxes from my storage closet and then repacked the storage closet and last, but not least...I ironed. Yes, you read that right....ironed. Yes, those shirts that only get worn 2-3 times a year could actually be worn in the next few days. Lets not all fall over dead now.

New Stuff!!!

2009-05-10T19:48:00.002-05:00

Hurrah! Lots of new purchases chez Shoes and Yarn. First we have, this weekends big purchase....the 40" TV. Note the movie for you Austen fans out there.
The sound on my circa 1996 TV has been going out for awhile and before my brother departs for greener pastures, I needed his electronic genius to hook up my tv. Hurrah! I started out looking for a 32" inch, then when I went, I was going to get a 37" and somehow ended up infront of the wall of 40" tvs and took one home. For the potential purchasers out there, it fits in the back seet of a Camry. A huge thanks to my brother, who hooked it up, and fixed my wireless router so I no longer have the snaking cord accross my family room to my laptop. Before you ask, he was amply rewarded with dinner and a movie since his wife is out of town.

My other recent purchase, I'm totally in love with. My trindle.

Close of up the ladybugs

And here's the whole spindle. I love, love, love this. It's currently has some Columbia Top roving that I bought at Stitches Midwest last year that I'm spinning. I'm totally in love with it. You too can order one thought at Trindleman, or you can when he posts some more. Apparently he sold out at Maryland Sheep and wool. Other than the spindle, I bought yarn for two pairs of socks and yarn for the Hey, Teach sweater. but, that was it. I did not go overboard and I'm soooo proud of myself.

Other than that, work is crazy. My Nashua Surplice sweater is currently blocking in my spare bedroom, so I'll be able to start seaming that this week. Here's praying it will fit.

The end of an era?

2009-04-26T21:10:00.002-05:00

I've been a subscriber to Interweave Knits magazine for the past 6 years and my last issue on my current subscription ended today and I honestly don't think that I'm going to pay to renew and this greatly saddens my heart because I so want to support publications like this, but I just feel like in the past issues, there isn't anything I'm dying to knit. I had great hopes when I heard Eunny Jang was taking over as editor, but still not in love.

I feel as if this edition is just retreading designs that have already been done. The Stanwyk pullover reminds me of a lot of Maude (ravelry link). The Elemental boatneck, reminds me a lot of Green Gable. The wrap cardigan has nothing new to offer either. Even the pleat skirt I've seen elsewhere.

I also feel like I missing some of the fun minutia that was at the beginning of the magazine. There wasn't any fun little history story. The new tools was hidden and looked like an ad. The lace article didn't offer anything new either. The knitted art article was cool, but that was it. I still hate that they've done the Vogue thing and stuck all the pictures in the beginning and then the patterns later in the magazine. You loose the can't wait to turn the page feel. Overall, I was generally just blah.

I want to be inspired!!

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:03:00.002-05:00

Happy Easter to everyone! I had a great weekend. My friend Vicki and I went to see Easter Parade at a local yarn store on Friday night. Movies, yarn and friends, what more could you ask for?

Saturday I had an early Easter dinner at my brother's house. I made homemade Vanilla Bean ice cream. My sister-in-law made a fabulous ham for dinner. It was super yummy!!! Hurrah. I need to make more ice cream. The Easter Bunny brought my nephew an automatic bubble blowing animal to Aunt Gwen's house. We love the bubbles and the machine that spit out a whole bunch and he could work was a hit.

Today I just hung out at my house and knitted. I made myself some fetticine alfredo with chicken for dinner and indulged in my one easter treat, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. Why the eggs seem to taste better than the round circles I'll never know. It's got to be the same thing.

I finally have real forward progress on the Nashua Surplice top. I finished the top and have started the sleeves. I should hopefully finish the sleeves in the next few days as I'm making them at the same time and they're cap sleeves. Yipeee!!! Finally!

Froggin' city baby

2009-04-08T20:50:00.002-05:00

So, I was almost at the end of the second half of top of the Nashua Surplice sweater when I came to a sudden realization....I knit the same side of the top twice. UGGHHHHH. Had to frog the entire thing and reknit. I'm about 1/3 of the way through it again. Then 2 sleeves and I'm done.

I left out my blocking board and I think I'll be able to block everything except the sleeves this weekend, so I have something to start seaming. Yeah, after 2 years, I might actually be able to wear the sweater. Hurrah!

THe Magic of blocking wires...

2009-04-05T19:37:00.003-05:00

A lace shawl that looks like this....
Goes to this....

Which really looks like this...

Through the magic of blocking wires. Squeee!!!!

...now, if only my back wasn't killing me from leaning over it putting blocking wires through the entire thing. Man I'm getting old.

Still alive

2009-04-02T20:01:00.003-05:00

I'm still alive after a very long absence. I've been busy and really haven't finished any projects lately...until tonight!!!

Yippee - 11 months, 1200m meters of yarn and finally a finished object!!!
It's the Cozy shawl in Kauni yarn. It needs to be blocked to really show the lace pattern, which I'll do this weekend. Yeah!!!

Other than that, works been crazy. My parents were in town for a week. You know, the usual stuff. Now, what project should I finish next.... I think it's time to dig the Nashua Surplice back out and finish it off.

I'm an Aunt for the 3rd time. Hurrah!

2009-03-02T18:59:00.002-06:00

Baby Ely Jonas was born today at 10:47 weighing 7lbs and 14ozs. He was 21 inches long and such a cutie. Of course, his knitter aunt has already been working hard to get ready for the day (partly why no blogging) and designed and knit a blanket.

You can't tell from the picture, but every other block is a different textured pattern. It came out fabulous and looks amazing if I do say so myself. It's made out of Kraemer Yarns Little Pebbles and is incredible soft. After sewing in a million ends (ugghh!) I had a little bit of time last night to whip up a cute baby hat for him.

Just a simple baby hat with an i-cord knot at the top.

Not to be left out, I finally finished Lucas' new hat, which he loves! Yeah. I forgot to take a picture of him.

It's the turtle hat from Last minute knitted gifts. It is looks fabulous on him. I'll have to get a picture one of these days. He wore it to the hospital to see his new brother.

I was in a homemaker mood this weekend and made homemade beef noodle soup.

And, for my sister-in-law's last meal, a red velvet cheesecake. Huge crack in the middle, but it got covered with Cream Cheese icing so you couldn't tell. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture before we commenced eating. :-) Super Yummy as well.

2009-01-24T20:25:00.002-06:00

Okay, first the winner of my birthday contest. is Jenn!! Yeah! I'll get the yarn in the mail when I can go to the post office. Hurrah!!

Vegas was fabulous. The weather was beautiful. We walked like a 100 miles between all of the casinos. We had good food. We saw the fabulous Bette Midler! And, best of all, I relaxed!!! Yeah!!! When I got home, my brother and sister-in-law took me out to dinner. It was a fantastic birthday.

Throughout the rest of the week, I got little tags on my door because I had packages at the apartment office (darn thing closes at 5pm and who can get there by then???) Today, I finally got the the apartment office and picked everything up.

Yippee. I got sock yarn from my fabulous knitty friends in Kansas City.

It's Heritage Handpainted sock yarn from Cascade. It feels super yummy and in person, looks more purple than blue like in the picture. Thank you!!! I would just like to say though, where's my chocolate??? That card was just cruel.

I also got Free Range Knitter, the latest Yarn Harlot book from Beth. Thank you! Thank you! I've already read half of it. :-)

I got another package as well, but it was clothes I ordered and wonder of all wonders, everything fit and looked cute. So all around a great package day.

Thanks everyone for my birthday wishes and cards. I love you and and miss my St. Louis and Kansas City and Cincinnati frinds a lot.

Happy Early Birthday to me means a gift for you!

2009-01-13T21:33:00.003-06:00

Happy Early Birthday to me
Happy Early Birthday to me
Happy Early Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee
Means a blog contest for you...

I'm headed off Vegas for my birthday this year and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... So, while I'm away, my readers can play too.

I went to a session on Generational Differences recently and the speaker was talking about how he knew all about what was going on in his daughters life by what was on the playlist in her ipod. So, my readers, what are the top 3 played songs on your ipod. Personally, I'm just looking for some new music.

My top 3 are:
Sattelite - Guster
The heart of the matter - India Arie
Island in the Sun - Weezer

Not sure what that says about me...

So, up for prize, one skein of Tess' Super Sock yarn, my favorite sock yarn.

So leave me a comment with your songs before Monday, January 19th at noon and I'll draw a name that afternoon for the skein of yarn.

I'm not dead yet and the first FO of the year...

2009-01-06T21:12:00.003-06:00

Ugghh!!! Spending the new year sick was not my idea of how to start off a new year well. I'm just starting to feel normal. I had planned to do a lot of knitting while I was off for 4 days, but didn't end up actually finishing a lot of stuff.

I did finish a few baby shower gifts for some co-workers. To baby bibs from Mason Dixon Knitting and a hat. For the hat, I took the Basic baby hat #1 pattern from Itty Bitty hats and then knit a few inches of i-cord and tied into a knot. Nothing too complicated, but it turned out cute.

Now, the real question is which of my unfinished knitting projects should I pick up??? The Tangled Yoke Cardigan?? The Cozy Shawl?? Lady Eleanor Shawl?? Ms. Lambert's Shawl?? The Clapotis??

A Year in Review...

2009-01-01T20:52:00.002-06:00

Another year down and I look back on what 2008 brought me...

Trips to St. Louis, Chicago, Cinncinati, Kansas City to visit friends and family.

A new car in September after the convertible suffered multiple car part failures and had to go.

My first ever trip to Disneyland and it was "Magical"

On the Knitting front, only 17 items completed this year. I obviously was working way too hard this year. I need to work on that for next year.

2 Sock Monkeys
1 pair of socks (Only 1 I can't believe it...)
1 Log Cabin Blanket
1 Market Bag
1 Baby Sweater
4 Baby Hats
4 adult hats
1 pair of Mary Jane Slippers

So, what's on tap for the new year. I'm going to keep it simple with some principles for the new year.

1. To be open to new things. I think I got stuck in a rut and comfort zone this year, so I need to be open to doing new things.

2. Continue to eat better. I started eating healthier in September and I'm going to try to continue that. It seems to be working well for me.

3 Spend more time for myself. To leave work at a reasonable time so I can have a life. Go to the Gym, knit, anything. This one loops back to being open to new things as well.

Happy New Year everyone!

Secret Xmas Projects

2008-12-29T17:21:00.004-06:00

So, I'm back from the holidays and I brought back some fantastic gifts and a not so fantastic cold. I'll have pictures of my favorite gift after I retreive it from my brother's house later this week. Until then, I thought I'd unveil my secret holiday knitting projects.

First, there were the Funky Monkey's. Both made from the Two Old Bag's Mr. Ben pattern.
This one is out of one of the Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn and had embroidered eyes so they couldn't be eaten off by a little boy who still likes to put everything in his mouth. It was much loved at Christmas by my nephew who immediately hugged him. It was too cute!

The second was for my neice and was made out of Trekking sock yarn with Pearl Button eyes.

I love them both.

The second gift was a hat for my brother to replace the one I made my brother years ago.

Other than that, a great christmas was had by all. I'm looking forward to the new year and sleeping late this weekend. Yeah!

2008-12-18T22:43:00.002-06:00

Twas the night before I left for home and all through the house,
The dishwasher was washing, clean dishes tonight!
The bags were packed by the door with care
In hope that the cab would soon be there.
The blackberry was tucked all snug in it's holster
While e-mails accumulate all through the night
While I in my jammies, no spouse to be a bother,
had just settled in for a tivoed show before bed.

When out in the parking lot, their arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was a matter
Away to the sliding glass door I flew like a flash
To Twist the rod and open the blinds.

The parking lot lights, on the blacktop light
Gave the appearance of midday to all the tired apartment dwellers
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
A fire engine, an ambulance and 2 police cars

With a very loud siren and lots of firemen
I knew in a moment, this was serious.
Out of the engine, the flew like a flash
Sirens, and shouting, the called as they came

....it's midnight and I've lost the ability to think...

My bags are all packed and I'm catching a plane tomorrow night. Hope everyone has a great holiday!

Hats! Hats! Hats!

2008-12-16T21:40:00.003-06:00

What does one do when you think you've "finished" your holiday knitting?? You decide to knit hats for other people. Yep, 4 and counting... I'll post in the future, but those over on Ravelry can see them.

In other news, I also bought myself a Nintendo DS. I've wanted one for over a year, so when I was buying gifts at Best Buy, one magically came home with me. Imagine that??? Ever since then, I've been playing Brain Age 2 and Super Mario Bros. Will need to get more games.

Is there anyone out there that watches The Big Bang Theory?? I have to say that Monday's episode was the best that I've ever seen. I laughed so hard I cried. I saved it on my DVR to watch again. Love it. Sheldon definitely deserves an acting award for that episode.

I have 1 more hat to knit before I go home. I need to do laundry and clean my house and I have 2 days. What are the odds I'm going to get this done??

Ummmm...now I need to learn how to crochet...

2008-12-07T21:23:00.002-06:00

So, I'm making a hat from my favorite book of hats for children, Itty Bitty Hats. It's the Painted Turtle hat. If you'll scroll down, you'll notice that it's an orange hat, much like this one below, so beautifully knit by me...
With the addition of cute crocheted turtles, which unfortunately mine doesn't have yet. I was trying to read the directions for crocheting them. Please note, that my crochet expertise barely lends itself to a single crochet along the edge of a sweater or somthing else. I'm going to have to play around with this and see if I can figure it out and if all else fails, take it to knit night and see if someone will take pity on me and help me. :-)

I had a great weekend. Saw two movies, both of which were better than I had expected...Quantam of Solace and Transporter 3. Both with handsome leading men, which a penchant for taking their shirts off. What could be better??e I think that was my quota of fighting action movies for now.

I also made 8 dozen pecan tartlettes. 6 dozen were for a cookie exchange and, of course, had to have extras to give to my brother and test out to make sure they tasted okay. I'm taking the cookies from the exchange to the office tomorow so I don't have them here tempting me. I've tried a few tonight and they are way too yummy to keep around for just me.

I'm not a joiner

2008-12-05T22:25:00.002-06:00

So, everyone wanted some pictures and I finally located my camera. This is a stocking that my grandmother had knit for me when I was a child. It has a santa on one side and a christmas tree with wooden toys and babies attached to it.

My mom made a new stocking this year. It's a shopping snowman and it's totally me.

I came to another realization this year. I'm not a knitting joiner. I've joined KALs and the minute I join a KAL, I lose all interest in knitting whatever it was I was so excited to make in the first place. Well, apparently it also applies to sock yarn clubs. Last year for my birthday I joined the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock club and here are all six skeins lying together in a row...

...which can only mean one thing....I haven't knit a single solitary pair of socks from the sock club all year long... ARGHHHH!!!!! I love a couple of them and only seriously question what I will do with one colorway. I would have probably bought a couple of the colorways on my own, but something has been holding me back from knitting them, much less knitting them in the accompanying patterns. It was fun to receive yarn and anticipate what might come in the mail, but I think I will forgo this year since I didn't knit any of them last year.

2008-12-01T21:10:00.002-06:00

Several people have asked to see the sweater, but alas, since I might have purchased a few things while in St. Louise...like a new winter coat, 2 sweaters, a shirt, 2 pairs of shoes and the glass pieces...I had to make some unfortunate decisions about what would and would not fit in the suitcase... I even had to leave my half finished Tangled Yoke Cardigan in St. Louis as it wouldn't fit in the suitcaseeither. OOooops! I thought I had them with me when I posted last night, but after unpacking the suitcase, it wasn't there.

2008-11-30T18:19:00.002-06:00

Myparents have been on a decluttering frenzy. They're cleaning out years worth of junk. Which is awesome and very needed... So, I come home from the holiday weekend and went through 1 box of my old stuff and what did I find??? My diary from 1985... It was the funniest reading I've done in a long, long time. Usually 1 to 2 sentences, I went to a picnic. I went swimming. I was also boy crazy. Boys, I don't even remember all these years later. It was hilarious reading I tell you. Amongst the junk, I also found my Holly Hobby doll, my retainer(ick!), and 2 sweaters my late grandmother knit when we were very young. One looks like an EZ pattern and the other is this beautiful cabled cardigan.

Darn...

2008-11-14T21:30:00.001-06:00

RIP Trekking 100 socks. How I loved thee...

FO! FO!

2008-11-06T21:52:00.002-06:00

Lots of finished objects!!! Finally!!!

First off, the too many RPM socks.
I love them and they're going to a new home tomorrow.

And, Harry Potter knits!!!

A scarf and a hat out of the left overs. Yeah! They too will go to a new home tomorrow.

2008-10-26T21:09:00.002-05:00

I finished the knitting on one of my secret xmas projects. Yeah! Those of you on Ravelry can see it. Other than that, I have been knitting on the Harry Potter Scarf I'm knitting for a friend.
It seems like I knit and I knit and I knit and the only way I can tell I'm making any progress is by changing stripes.

Oh, the disappointment...

2008-10-20T21:14:00.002-05:00

Got my mail, opened it up...

Oh look, It's a flyer for the New Spinoff. Wonder when it arrives... Oh, wait a second... That's not a flyer. That's the front cover... OMG WHere is the rest of my magazin. I want to read about the "Great Spinning Wheel Roundup." I want to see Handspun Baby Surprise Jackets in honor of the 40th anniversary of the patttern...

I want my Spin-off...

2008-10-13T21:32:00.002-05:00

Soooo, I finished a project this weekend, the toomanyrpm socks and you'd think I could go and work on one of my other projects already in process. The special xmas gifts for my niece and nephew, the Nashua Surplice top (too cold already), Lady Eleanor, Cozy, the Clapotis, Tangled Yoke cardigan. Any of the above listed, but not, what do I do???

Cast on new socks in the Opal Harry Potter Yarn. Dumbledore!!!
I totally love these. They don't look like much, but the subtle pattern looks awesome on your foot. I'm love, loving these. Yeah!!

FO! FO!

2008-10-10T21:22:00.002-05:00

Finally a Finished Object! The Too Many RPM socks are finished.
The socks are two slightly different colors. The one on the left is darker and the one on the right is a lot lighter. But, I still love them. I've been working on them hard core since last weekend...and why you ask???

Because I ordered these and needed the sock needles...
Yes, the Harry Potter sock yarn. I love, love, love it!!! I thought my favorite would be Tonks and Ron would be my favorite when I bought them, but I actually like the Dumbledore best and am going to cast those on immediately. Hurrah!!!

The temptation totally got to me...

2008-10-06T21:57:00.002-05:00

Yes, I ordered the Opal Harry Potter sock yarn...ummm 4 skeins to be exact...

Ron
Tonks
Hedwig
Dumbledore

Yeah!!! Can't wait til it gets here...

Plus, I got a gift certificate to a yarn store for finishing some items for a friend here. Even more yarn... Hmmmm...what to buy, what to buy.

Yes, I'm still alive...

2008-09-28T19:37:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged for over a week. It was TV premier week and I've been immersing myself before starting to make some viewing decisions So far, here are Gwen's ratings:

Love:
True Blood - "Sookie's Mine" and I just melt.
NCIS - Always love Mark Harmon and the surprise villian at the end. Off to a good start.

Like:
Fringe - Pacey's back and playing Pacey who's older.
Mentalist - So far so good.
Heroes - the Sylar Surprise

Not as good as I thought it would be:
Grey's anatomy - Not enough action. Too slow. New Doctor is cute though.
House - After last seasons disapointment, thought this season would start off better.

Other than that, have been working on some secret projects that you won't see for awhile.

I did take some time this weekend to go to the Crafty Bastards craft fair downtown today, after brunch with a friend. Bought some beautiful yarns and a roving from Woolarina.

The green yarn is superwash merino. The pink yarn is Superwash BFL and the roving is a merino/silk blend that is soooo luscious. I can't wait to spin it.

Sure signs of fall...

2008-09-20T20:12:00.002-05:00

Cooler days...
Darker mornings...
My bi-annual closet cleaning...Yep. Kitchen is still a mess, but the closet has been cleaned out. I always go through the previous seasons clothes. Get rid of anything really worn. Separate out clothes that either no longer fit or that I haven't worn to give to goodwill. Ahhh. I feel better now. It officially feels like fall now.

Still working on my second spindle full of singles. I hope to be able to ply tomorrow. The special projects are still coming along as well.

Went to see Burn After Reading tonight. I had not heard great things about it, but I think it was hysterical. It's dark. Very dark. After that, my brother and I went to for steaks and they screwed them both up, so we got free meals. Yeah!!! All we paid for was the beers from the bar we had while waiting to be seated. We're cheap dates. :-)

Help me choose?!?!?!?!?!?!

2008-09-14T21:13:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm at a crossroads in the first Funky Monkey. What colors to make the muzzle. First of all, I'm making the Mr. Ben Sock Monkey from Two Old Bags. Below is the body of the Funky Monkey....
So far, loving it...now, I'm to the two-colored muzzle. But what colors to use??? I have a selection below. I need two contrast colors. Color 1 will be the outer muzzle, top of head and feet and hands. Color 2 will be the inner muzzle.

So, what colors to use:

Green

Dark Navy

Lighter navy

beige

brown

So, my readers, what do you think?????

2008-09-07T14:37:00.002-05:00

For a short week, last week was insane. Whew! Glad it's over with. Now, packing to go back to Florida. The side not supposed to get hit with the hurricane... Which is the good news. Hopefully it will be fun and I can get some work done in my off times.

Unfortunately, has not been a lot of knitting going on this week. Some spinning, but not a heck of a log of knitting. Too much work going on. I did take today to relax before I packed and went back into the fray. See everyone next week.

There has been...

2008-08-31T20:49:00.002-05:00

Spinning!!! My first product. Plied and fairly good balance.
It's about 65 yards of what will probably be a light worsted weight yarn/heavy DK weight. I'm hoping to get enough out of the 4oz to make a scarf. I think I'll call it Electric Blue. Yeah! More of it already on the spindle. I did an Andean Ply on it. Did not realize how much I had packed onto the spindle. It took forever to wind it off onto my hand. Great way to ply the yarn though.

There has also been knitting. Here's an updated picture of the Cozy Shawl in Kauni
yarn.

Now that I more of the gradiation, I'm really loving the way it looks. This is a little more than 3 ft of the shawl. Now, I only hope that the yarn softens when I wash to block...

I also started a new project (heaven knows I couldn't pick up one of the 12 UFOs lying around my family room...). It's a secret project...

...but those on Ravelry can get more information...and no, it's not a sock. The yarn is Regia Fingering weight. It's in one of the new fall Kaffe Fassett Colorways. So far liking it a lot.

I went to see Mama Mia the sing-a-long version last night. It was hilarious. It's even funnier when half the audience is singing along. The other half was too embarrassed or laughing too hard. Unfortunately, after seeing it last night, I woke up to "Waterloo" and haven't been able to get it out of my mind all day long. Yes, if you're counting, that's the third time I've seen Mama Mia at the theatre and I'd go to see it again.

Finally!!!

2008-08-28T21:39:00.002-05:00

I bought a car. Yes, I went out tonight and just bought a car. Hurrah!!!! I bought a 2009 Camry in dark gray. Yeah! I'm totally excited. Now, I can spend all weekend knitting and spinning. Woo Hoo. By the time I finished buying the car, it was dark out, so no pictures until tomorrow. Yeah!!

Stash Enhancement Exercise

2008-08-24T19:51:00.004-05:00

Back from Stitches Midwest. Yet another year when I learned alot...inside the market and out...but more about my stupidity later...

What you're really interested in "THE HAUL."

I will say, it's less than past years. I've bought more on day one in years past, but I think I'll call this the year, "The year of the pattern." What's there:
3 skeins of Granada from Textiles A Mano
4 oz of Romney Roving with Glitz
1 Ornament Kit
1 skein Alpaca
1 skein baby bunny from Tess Designer Yarns
10 vintage flower buttons
8 skeins of yarn - 3 in the new Kaffe Fassett colorways & 2 coordinating solids.
7 patterns - 3 hats, 1 toy, 1 baby sweater, 1 adult sweater and a shawl
2 Norah Gaughan Berocco Pattern books
and a Pooper Weight from our favorite Venders Pajolo Alpacas

Whew! I'm in love with it all

What did I learn?? I took Spinning for Knitters with Marike Saaranit and she's a fantastic teacher, I'd advise anyone to take spinning from her. I kind of knew the spindling a bit, but Behold...

Balanced Plied yarn. Whoo Hoo. It's a mixture of stuff she gave us to play with in class, Wool, Alpaca, Wook with Glitz, etc. Loved spinning with the Alpaca. It was heavenly. I'm now inspired to play with my spindle even more.

What Else I learned outside of the market...You should always, always, always checker your itenerary, because if you say...accidently book your flight home one day earlier than you thought, it would probably be a good idea to figure that out before 9pm after flight left at 4pm. Very expensive lesson... Learning number #2, you should really go and buy a new car before it decides to really really bit the bucket one piece at a time...like when you put your window down and it won't go back up. You can't reach the glass to pull it up...so it's sitting out in the parking lot with the window open and there's not really anything you can do on a Sunday night... Yeah, that's going to be an expensive lesson as well. I can't decide whether to fix it and pay the $400+ or just take myself off to the car dealership tomorrow (on my day off) and just bit the bullet and buy a new car. Ughhh!!!

So, all in all the trip was fun. Beth and I had a great time, learned some new skills, acquired some new stash...and a reminder for me that...Shit happens. Ughhh.

The Pooper Weight

You know it's going to be one of those days when...

2008-08-18T21:10:00.002-05:00

...you get into the office and realize that you left your laptop is still sitting in it's bag right inside your front door...

...someone sets a mandatory meeting for 4pm and you have a follow-up appt. with your eye doctor at the same time...

...You cancel your eye doctor appointment and reschedule for 3:45 on Wednesday, which is incidentally shortly after the rescheduled time for the mandatory meeting that someone forgot to tell you was rescheduled...

...you call the Eye doctor and they've already given away your 4pm appointment..

I just keep telling myself "You can't steal my joy" I'm leaving for stitches on Thursday. Yippee.

The suitcase is finally unpacked and ready to be packed for Stitches. Oh, the decisions....

2008-08-17T21:06:00.002-05:00

So, I finished the baby blanket, so did I go back to work on some old project still unfinished??? Of course, the answer is no... I'd post pictures, but hardly any done yet and if finished it will be a christmas gift...

I had a good weekend. Relaxing. Saturday I went to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and then went shopping. Before I knew it, it was evening. Haven's shopped like that in forever. I even bought a new knitting bag to take to Stitches. Yeah Me! Pictures tomorrow.

2008-08-15T22:43:00.003-05:00

Back from the most magical place on earth. It was fun. Even the whole work part was great, but I will have to say that Florida in August is very close to Hell. OMG the HUMIDITY!!! I was pretty sure I never want to live in Florida, that clinched it. And, what it did to my hair, we con't even want to talk about. It was as if I should have walked out of the shower and not bothered to dry my hair.

I did see several amazing speakers. The first was Fareed Zakaria, who's an editor at Newsweek and he was gripping, which is hard to say about economists, but I'm headed out to buy his book. And the second was Keith Harrell, who spoke about attitude, and from now on, I'm going to try to be more Superfantastic and less of everything else. The third is a perennial favorite, Reggie Butler, no not the linebacker, but he's a speaker on diversity and generational differences. I've taken several courses in diversity from Reggie and this year, it was 2 hours on generational differences.

Whew, am I exhausted though. I don't think I got more than 4 hours of sleep a night the entire weekend. I got home about 3pm today. I worked for a couple hours. Ordered a pizza and went to bed and napped from 7pm - 10:30. Then, I was unfortunately wide awake, so I'm blogging. I think this weekend I'll go see a movie and do laundry because Stitches is next week. Woo Hoo!

FO! FO!

2008-08-09T16:52:00.003-05:00

Finally a Finished Object to report. I began to wonder if I would ever finish anything again. That's what comes from knitting on large projects rather than small. Takes much longer to actually finish them. So, here it is.

It's the Mason Dixon Log Cabin Blanket in 8 colors of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. About two skeins of each color. I have enough left over to make a matching Rainbow Marley hat from Itty Bitty Hats. Just in time, the baby shower is next week.

I bought a new suitcase today. I needed something in between huge and carryon, so I bought a new suitcase. It's red. Yeah!! The house is cleaned, the floor vacuumed & mopped. I'm ready to go...

2008-08-08T22:07:00.002-05:00

So, the clothes are washed and ready to be packed. I've been watching the Olympics and cleaning during commercial breaks. Dishes, miscellaneous picking up, making bed, etc. I can't stand to leave a dirty house and after spending a week out of town at meetings, the last thing I want to do next weekend is clean up a mess that's been sitting there for a week in my hot apartment.

Left work early today and went to get a pedicure. I think every Friday should end with pampering. Tomorrow it's a hair cut and a trip to Target. Yipee and then mopping and vacuuming and I'll be all done with the cleaning. Then all I have to do is pack, and it's a good thing because the cab is coming at 7:15 Sunday morning. Ughh!!

Baby blanket has 1 more row to finish and then binding off. I hope to finish it before I leave. Still haven't decided what knitting to bring with me. I'm thinking about my Kauni Cozy shawl and Zen Garden sock yarn for one of the sock patterns in the New Interweave. Hmmm... Decisions, decisions...

2008-08-05T21:46:00.004-05:00

Okay, I'm 34 years old and I'm going to DisneyWorld for the first time in my life this weekend. Yes, my parents were not Disney parents. They were fishing/camping/car trip parents...which left us with some wonderful childhood memories/nightmares (camping in the snow, car rides in no air conditioning in 100 degree weather through South Dakota...on the same trip). I'm excited.

Unfortunately, only Sunday in the Magical Kingdom and then a weeks worth of work in Orlando. Oh, the trade offs we make.

Then next week Stitches. Yeah!

2008-08-04T15:56:00.003-05:00

#3 thing that costs signifigantly more in DC....

Contacts & eye glasses.

Yes, after more years than I care to count, I'm replacing the glasses I bought in college and getting some that are my prescription...and yes, my eyes have changed a lot! And, can I tell you...even though I have eye insurance, the final price even shocked me. Good Lord, that put a crimp in my yarn money for Stitches. Thankfully I invested in the Healthcare savings account this year. That just spent all my $$s though. I won't be buying glasses for another 5 or so years...

Written while sitting in the dark because I look like I'm strung out because I had my eyes dilated. "It should wear off in an hour" my foot. Ugghhh!!!

Update: 9:14pm - pupils still huge. still in the dark. Wear off in an hour my @ss...UGHH!!!

Aa a reminder, #1 Rent, #2 Hair cuts.

A good evening

2008-08-02T21:44:00.002-05:00

The ingredients fora good evening...

1. Pride & Prejudice. BBC version with Colin Firth, of course!

2. A good Knitting Project - aka the Log Cabin Baby Blanket
3. Homemade Blackberry Crisp. Yumm!!!

I also saw Mama Mia for the second time this afternoon with my SIL. Still just as funny and Pierce is still a bad singer, but oh, so attractive as long as he leaves his shirt on.

2008-07-26T21:18:00.002-05:00

I went to see Mama Mia today and I thought it was good. And I have to say that thank god Pierce Brosnan is still so attractive, because, man, he can't sing at all. I just love how everyone threw themselves into the roles, which was necessary. I will definitely see it again. I think if you're going and you've seen the show on the stage, you've got to divorce yourself from that and go in cold turkey.

Other than that, I got a lot of knitting done today. First I went the other way to my brothers house, which happens to be the way that is the entrance to Redskins Training camp. Big Mistake. Needless to say, my car sock got quite a bit of knitting done on it. Good lord. Then I babysat my sleeping nephew and knitting on the Log Cabin Baby blanket. I think just a couple more panels and we might be ready for the edging. Yeah!

It's definitely a Dark Knight...

2008-07-22T21:35:00.002-05:00

I saw The Dark Knight this evening and my god was it dark! I walked out of the movie feeling very tense. I almost went and bought a ticket to see Mama Mia so that I could have some happy ABBA music. Whew. I loved it though. It was good...or what I saw of it through my fingers...the guy next to me was laughing. All I can say is wow. It was almost 3 hours worth of on the edge with some shockers. BTW, you don't need to stay til the end of the credits there's nothing. And Heath Ledger. OMG Unbelievable. If I hadn't known it was him, I wouldn't have believed it. Amazing, Just amazing. Also, hat to say this, but I wish Katie Holmes had come back as Rachel Dawes. She played the cool aloof better. Maggie Gyllenhall, whom I like so much better than Mrs. Cruise, played to young on the screen and too warm for what I thought the character should be.

I'm so going to have nightmares tonight.

back to work...

2008-07-21T19:41:00.002-05:00

Well, have to go back to work tomorrow. Glad I took today off, even though I didn't do a whole lot. Got up late, lazed around in bed. Went to Target and the grocery store and then spent most of the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out how to install printer drivers for my new printer (Thanks for pushing me to actually go buy one Beth!). What a pain, but I've just been procrastinating buying one.

I also made myself a good dinner. I had the Trader Joe's Chipotle Chicken Skewers with Yellow Rice and Corn-on-the-cob. Yummy. And for dessert, I'm going to make myself a Chocolate Malt, thanks to the fact that I picked up some Malt powder in Cincy. Yeah! It's unbelievable that you can't find that anywhere in the DC area and I've checked 4 grocery stores. I'll just have to import it.

2008-07-20T21:28:00.003-05:00

Hello! I'm back from vacation!!! Hurrah!!! Had a fantastic time with Beth and her Cincy crew. We were all over the place and the consensus is we may be too old to continue at that pace, but a good time was had by all I think.

First off, the Jimmy Buffett concert was awesome this year. First off, NO RAIN. Hurrah!!! We got there earlier and were down by the "real fans." I must have been having a good evening because I got kissed by two weirdo old guys and I kept getting pulled into pictures by people I didn't know...and I wasn't even dressed up... It was a great evening and Jimmy was great, as always.

The next day, we spent recovering...or...umm shopping a bit..., time spent at the GAP Clearance outlet (the outlets outlet) and the candy outlet, Lunch at Penn Station (YUMMMY!!!!!) and then we hung out knitting and then had a girls night in to watch movies, knit and eat Beth's yummy dip.

Saturday we went on a yarn crawl and then to the Reds game for Stich'n'Pitch and all I can say is that it was HOT! Let me say that again IT WAS HOT!! Whew! But, it was a day spent with friends and meeting, quite possibly, the fatest cat I have ever seen in my life.

So, the total score was 3 yarn store, no purchase, Restaurants not in the DC Metro eaten at 4 (Penn Station, Graeters Ice Cream, O'Charley's, & Sonic), purchases (1 pair of shoes, 3 pairs capri pants, gifts for neices and nephew & chocolates). In total a fantastic time was had.

For those of you who know me, I turned off my Blackberry and did not turn it back on until this morning. Really! I swear! Beth will tell you. Honest. I did go through withdrawl symptoms at stoplights that were long, but managed to work through it. I also, didn't watch tv other than the movies at girls night and didn't look at a computer until this afternoon. It was a true vacation. Now, I still have off tomorrow to recover from my vacation. Yeah!!!

2008-07-15T21:07:00.002-05:00

The bags are mostly packed. The knitting has been selected. Hopefully I remembered to pack the pattern, but I can't find it around, so it must be already packed. Just need to clean a few last things up at the old apartment so everything when I get home.

Sadly, tomorrow, I have back to back meetings until I have to leave the office and then I'm taking a conference call from the airport while waiting for the plane. Ugghhh! I should be able to get 3 full days off after that.

This is it from me until Sunday or Monday. Yeah!

2008-07-13T19:59:00.002-05:00

Man, it's amazing what weekends can be when you're not working or exhausted from working. I think I'm slowly coming out of that work coma. I should be even better after next weekend after spending the weekend in Cincinnati with Beth. I'm so looking forward to seeing her, meeting the adorable Sadie and hanging out. I've even told everyone at work that I won't be accessible by Blackberry. Yes, I really did that... I'm washing my clothes and starting to collect things to take to Cincy with me. As usual, the hardest decision is always what knitting to pack...

I took a remarkable step this weekend towards embracing living in DC...I got my hair cut here. Yes, I went to a salon and tried out a stylist. Before now, I've been getting it cut/highlightedevery time I go home to St. Louis. Even better, because my stylist was running late, I got a free manicure. Whoo Hoo!! Now, the only thing between me and feeling like a true resident of NoVa (Northern Virginia) is to get an EZ pass for the toll road. Then I could stop saving all my quarters...

Because I wasn't working and I only worked 50 hours last week, I wasn't exhausted and I actually had time to knit this weekend, so here's some progress on my Nashua Surplice top.

This is the top back section. I have about 3.5 inches left to go before doing the neckline. I've been alteratining between the Stockinette of this project and the garter stitch of the log cabin baby blanket shown below.
I'm at 20 inches now, and I want to go to about 32 inches accross, so still got a ways to go. Still like this a lot.

Now, you can see my issue in selecting travel knitting. The baby blanket is at a point where it's too bulky to travel. The Surplice is getting to the finish line. Hmmmm...What to do...What to do...

The end of the long weekend...Sniff!

2008-07-06T19:59:00.002-05:00

So, tomorrow is Monday and I have to go to work. It's hard to believe that a 4 day weekend passed so fast. I never did accomplish everything I wanted to get done. I certainly didn't buy a car. I did go see a movie, spend time with my nephew, clean my kitchen, sleep and knit, which will have to be enough I guess. So, one full week of work and then I'm going to Cincinnati to visit Beth. Yeah!!!

So, I did finish a project this weekend. It's the Saturday Market bag by Jodie with modifications from disdressed.
I made it out of a skein of Cotton-Ease I had in the stash.

I'm also working on the log cabin baby blanket, but no new pictures yet. It's made out of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, which I love, love, love. Every time I see it on sale, I buy a ton of it and then just keep it in the stash for moments like this.

2008-07-04T21:30:00.002-05:00

It's amazing what a full day off and some sleep will do for you. No, I haven't yet cleaned my house, but I did get up at 7:30 and go walking. Then I knitted and watched USA JAG Marathon before going over to my brothers house to spend the afternoon with the two of them and the wee one, who really isn't all that wee anymore. But, man is he a cutie.

I started a new project, but I'll have pictures tomorrow. I'm too lazy to go take pictures tonight and it will look better once it's farther along. It's a last minute birthday gift for a friend.

Tomorrow is cleaning day, but hopefully it's not raining and I can take another walk tomorrow morning. I think it was good for me.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July.

Back from the dead...

2008-07-03T21:42:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm amazingly still alive. I could probably use about 24 more hours of sleep before I'm fit to hold intelligent conversations, but I am done with the crazy hours. Yeah!!! Our office closed for the long weekend yesterday at 3pm. I left at 2pm and came home and took a 2 hour nap. Then I went to the local knitting meet-up. I hadn't been in a month. It's amazing what happends in a month... This morning I got up about 8:30. Knitted a little. Went to lunch with my nephew and SIL and then to Trader Joe's. Got yummy chocolate covered bananas suggested by my SIL. Came home, napped for 3 hours and then actually cooked my self a real dinner... I haven't done that in a month either. Baked marinated chicken breast , potatoes (home grown by one of my co-workers) in a butter parsley sauce, and peas. Yum!!!

There has been knitting. I'd like to say that I've been knitting something that was already on the needles, but I'd be lying.
Instead, I started a new baby blanket for a co-worker who's having a baby shower in a few weeks. Tomorrow my plan is to get up, clean a little (now there's a concept), knit some more, watch a few movies. Just a very relaxing weekend. No working.

Nature's beauty

2008-06-23T20:45:00.002-05:00

I saw double full rainbows this evening...albeit out of the window of my office, but it was absolutely beautiful. I can't even remember the last time I saw a full rainbow, much less 2 full rainbows. One was very vibrant and the other muted. Yes, I made my wish...

I have this crazy desire to buy these shoes. The more I work...the more I shop, because "I deserve" it because I'm working so hard... 12.5 hours down today. Ughh. Is it Sunday yet??

PS. So far have managed to resist the lure of the shoes...if they were on sale, it would be another matter entirely...

The knitting needles still lay still...

2008-06-22T21:19:00.003-05:00

I saw a full rainbow today. Haven't seen a full one in a long time. It was beautiful. It was really weird weather afternoon. It was thundering, lightening, raining and sunny all at the same time. It was weird, the sky was pinky/blue.

Did not even pick up the knitting needles once this week. Worked a grand total of 68 hours this week including 9.5 today. I did take a day off and went to Brewfest with my brother, SIL and the baby, who's really more of a toddler these days. Got sunburnt in a little triangle on my arm where I missed the sunscreen. A good time was had by all including the little one who loved waving at all the people and trying out his new walking skills up and down hills in the field of tall grass.

Next week is the last of the heavy weeks at work. Yeah! Life will resume in July and then I'll be traveling to see Beth and Jimmy Buffett mid month. In August I'm going to Orlando, FL for work (yes, Orlando in August) and then the week afterwards, I'm going to meet Beth again in Chicago this time for Stitches Midwest. Yeah me again! My co-workers and I going to Orlando, are thinking about going down the weekend before and going to Disneyworld (I've never been) and then the weekend after, going to Vegas to celebrate one of the girl's birthday. So, conceivable, I could go from Orlando to Vegas, to DC for 2 days to actually work and then to Chicago. I am a traveling fool.

Still alive...

2008-06-18T22:17:00.002-05:00

Still working crazy hours... I knitted a couple of squares for the infamous sock yarn blanket this weekend. Garter stitch squares were just mindless enough to work for me.

Next wednesday I'll be done and able to relax. The company I work for gave us July 3rd off as an extra day this year. Yipee! My plan for 4th of July weekend is to relax and go car shopping. Yes, back to car shopping. Hopefully more knitting too...

2008-06-06T19:25:00.001-05:00

No knitting...lots of work...70.5 hours of work... Not a lot of sleep... I'm about to crash... maybe more later.

A good weekend...

2008-06-01T09:14:00.002-05:00

Friday night, after a work party(Which wasn't the good part) I came home to a surprise on my doorstep! Yes, the Socks that Rock sock club yarn came. Of the 3 so far this year, this one is my favorite. Woo Hoo! I won't post pictures for those who haven't receive theirs yet, but I love, love this colorway.

Then on Saturday, I went to see the Sex and the City movie with a bunch of women. It was wonderful. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I want to see it again. Then we went to one of the women's house and drank cosmos and ate pizza and talked about all the bad dates everyone has ever been on. It was a blast. So, everyone who's a Sex in the City fan should definitely go see it.

I'm home and Knitting ADD continues...

2008-05-28T20:51:00.002-05:00

I'm home from St. Louis and I had a great time. If any of you out there in knitting land have little girls, there is a book called Pinkalicious, which seemed to be a big hit with my neice...as evidenced by the fact that I memorized it in the 3 days I was home. Still it was better than playing Cootie. I also visited with friends (Jenn & Colleen) at a great BBQ and went shopping. I took a pair of shoes to my sister and managed to come home with 2 pairs of hers that she gave me and 3 pairs I bought. It's amazing how that happens...

I also started a new project. It's the Cozy Shawl from Knitty.com. I'm doing it in Kauni yarn.
I love the way the colorway changes gradiations. The yarn is a little more scratchy that I would have thought, but either it's getting softer as I knit more or I'm just getting desensitized, because I really like it. The yarn is very good for this shawl, the pattern is easy to remember and it's flying by so far.

In other news, I may have bought my last tank of gas ever under $50. I paid $49.98 tonight.

2008-05-20T20:23:00.002-05:00

So, I'm headed to St. Louis this weekend. Yippee!! Someone asked me today if I was going to relax over the weekend and I think that's a relative term... I'm going to hang out with my sister, play games with my neice, hang out with friends, get my hair done, go to dinner with family. I've packed a lot into the weekend, so relaxing, not so much the word I would use.. On the other hand, it will be so good to spend time with my family and friends, which should recharge me and prepare me for the month of June which will be insane.

I got some special stuff for my niece. I don't think I could spend 4 days playing Cootie, so I took steps to remedy that. :-) We should have fun.

On another note, have any of you seen any of the Smart cars?? These things look so goofy tooling down the road along with the rest of the cars. I saw my first one today on the highway going home and they look so strange.