I Wish I Were Buffy.

School, sick kitties... and BFF toasts.

2012-01-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

I started back to school for the quarter, and already taken a test. That's all I have done - study, study, and study.

Also, poor little Loverbunny is really sick. He is diabetic, and we knew that when he suddenly dropped 5 lbs of weight. He also drinks and urinates all the time. We were doing 4 units of insulin/twice a day, but his last fructosamine level was almost 750. Yes, 750 - that's pretty much coma, DKA, death level. :( So, we've increased him to 6 units/twice a day now.... but it's sad he feels so bad. And he's my two year old's best friend.

I've been waiting for my floss to come for my Dessert of the Month cross-stitch, but in the meantime, I started this cute little BFF Toasts with some floss I had lying around. :) It's not the same colors, but now I can make my jelly grape. ;)

Moving up the social networking food chain

2012-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

Hey! I got myself a twitter! You can follow me @ey_re!

All the social networking seems exciting, but I think it's a hard learning curve (even for someone who has always used computers!)..... I still don't really get what the #ihavenoideawhatthismeans is for?!

Also a little mommy "WHAT?!" for today. My sweet little boy. So sweet, so precious.... learned the word "shut up" from somewhere. (Probably daycare.) We DO NOT say that word in our house. It's a pet peeve of mine and my husband's. We honestly would rather hear curse words than "shut up". How did we know he learned it?.... The cat was meowing, and he turned to the cat and said "Shut up Sam!". My husband and I both spun our heads around so fast we probably put shame to the exorcist.... "WHAT DID YOU SAY"

*sigh* I'm sure it's not the worst thing he'll ever learn out in public, but still...

On the crafting front.. I have nothing. My classes started back up, and I have a test over 12 chapters on Monday. That is a whopping 6 days to study for it, and that's only 1 out of my 3 classes!

I did purchase a subscription to The Dessert of the Month club from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I've never cross-stitched, but this was too cute to pass up, and seems like a pretty good project for learning.

Laundry room is coming along!

2012-01-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

We are turning our butler's pantry into a laundry room....When we moved in, we realized when you flush the upstairs toilet, it came with it's very own waterfall in this room!! *sigh* So, we had to rip out the ceiling to fix it.

The ceiling stayed ripped out until just recently.... We redid all the plumbing finally, and now we are converting it into a laundry room so I don't have to go to the basement.

I will post a final picture when it's done. We still have chair railing, a few bead boards, and painting trim to go.

Coin purses

2011-12-27T09:57:00.001-08:00

picnikfile_qVXaJO, a photo by ey_re on Flickr.

Making little coin purses... after a verbal tutorial from a nice lady at a local quilt shop!

Iphone makes blogging easier.

2011-12-21T18:01:00.000-08:00

While I did not love blogging from my iPhone, I do turn out a lot more pictures thanks to the phone!!

Anyway, during my in bed blogging post, I promised a link to the little mug rug tutorial I was using, and it was from Sew Mama Sew. It's a pretty nice little tutorial, and my little mug rug is coming along nicely. Mug rugs are great practice pieces, and are a much more manageable size.

Also, I have to tell you that I bought some fusible fleece batting. Sometimes, I do worry about my intelligence level, or at least common sense. I wish I would have taken photos of the disaster. I didn't read directions.

I placed my hot hot iron down flat onto the fabric with the fleece showing around the edges and it was smoking and smelly, and got stuck to my iron. So, in my frustration, I just flipped the piece over, then, and stuck my iron straight to the fusible fleece batting. It scorched it. Quickly!

I failed to read the whole - always place a damp cloth over your piece - part of the directions..........
Like I said, I wonder at times. How is it I learned to knit safely?

My two year old loves Goodnight Moon. Our book is falling apart. At night, we tell EVERYTHING goodnight, including the cow jumping over the moon. When I found Goodnight Moon fabric, I couldn't resist it. I had to buy it - although I'm afraid to cut it. It's too cute.

Also, thought I would share a few little views of my little sewing area. It's very humble, but it's my spot.

Totally random, but I bought these children's books in Beijing 10 years ago. I like them. Wish I could read them to my son.

A little kitty love:

Blogging from bed

2011-12-19T18:20:00.001-08:00

Yes, I'm blogging from my bed on my iPhone. It's Monday, and I'm already exhausted.
I spent the better part of last week sick (very very sick). Then, when I felt better Sunday - I went in a run.... I made tins upon tins of peanut butter fudge, peanut butter balls, and peppermint bark. I also started a little mug rug tutorial that I got off Sew Mama Sew. I'll link to it when I'm not on the iPhone. But here is a peek:

I have more to say but iPhone blogging isn't easy. I have tales of fusible fleece disaster and our new laundry room re-do!!!!!! So - I'll blog again soon!

Sewing

2011-12-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

I have been working hard with my sewing machine.

I am learning a lot from many great online tutorials and helpful blogs, but still have much to learn. Things I have learned that people don't always tell you...

1. Don't watch the needle. Watch your material and where you are guiding it. You'd be surprised how long this took me to learn! My stitches are much much straighter now.
2. Change your sewing machine needle - frequently.
3. Using your iron that same amount of time you use your machine, or even more, makes the project look so much better. Press, press, press. (Well, I think people do say that a lot, but it just gets ignored because you don't really want to use your iron. But you better learn to love it.)

Oddly enough, I am really taken with zippers, and I want to be able to do those well. So, I ordered a bunch of zippers.

Great etsy shop for zippers

I am getting to the point where I feel like I know my machine well enough to venture out and take a class. I really want to get to a place where I can have my Etsy shop full of items. :D

Other things I've done is a few ornaments. I love felt. Here's my sweet little owl.

In the midst of learning to sew well, I was thinking about how helpful tutorials are. I am feeling inspired to do a few tutorials on here with knitting...... maybe soon!

Is it Friday yet?

2011-12-06T20:10:00.001-08:00

Deck demolition

2011-11-30T10:26:00.001-08:00

My life is really full with school, work, and having a family.... to the point I sometimes feel overwhelmed!! So, sometimes I wonder why I'm trying to blog - it's just something extra.... But I keep on trying to blog, so it must mean *something* to me.

Anyway, our house restoration has been very slow go lately. It takes this thing called money.... haha! We did, however, tear down our back deck. We will eventually rebuild it, but not this year. It has been rotten and dangerous to walk on since we moved in 4 or 5 years ago. It has gotten continually worse, and we were worried that a heavy snow would bring it all the way down this year. Whoever put this thing up.... they put green indoor-outdoor carpeting on it. So it just held in that nasty rain and weather, allowing it to sit against the wood.

Ta-da!!! It looks weird with that door kind of in mid-air. I wish I had a before picture - I guess I didn't ever feel like photographing it before. Probably because it was so hideous~!

Also, I've always had a sewing machine, and I really can't sew a straight line. Thanks to many tutorials and great blogs - I've started really practicing. I put in my first zipper the other night (crooked, but.... hey...) into a little zipper pouch I made for my two year old's markers. I was proud that it actually turned out halfway decent.

Turkey Headband

2011-11-16T16:42:00.001-08:00

Pottery Barn Kids has these Thanksgiving headbands that I've adored for two years.....Someone from my knitting group makes lots of felt crafts, and so I bought some felt.... and I thought, "Hey, I can make that..." So, I free hand drew the turkey and leaves, and transferred those to the felt. Instead of a french knot eye, I placed a little button. A little embroidery work (which I wasn't concerned about being neat - it's supposed to be child-like and whimsical), a little sewing.... and I had a turkey headband!!!I really enjoyed working with felt, and learned lots of new techniques. I plan to be working with felt a lot more!!

Fall Party Treat Bags

2011-10-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

I signed up to make treat bags for my son's fall party. No sweets like candy or cupcakes.... healthy foods only, are to be brought to fall party.So, some cellophane treat bags in orange... they came with twist ties and I threw those out because I question their safety around 2 year olds. I substituted some ribbon in green and orange to tie around the tops, and curled them with scissors. Then, I fluffed the top part sticking up out of the tied end. I thought it made the bags look like little pumpkins!!Inside the bags: a box of dried cranberries, box of raisins, a package of cheese and peanut butter crackers, and a small party-pack Play-doh. It would be easy to vary the contents for classroom allergies, etc. Happy Fall !

A little knitting...

2011-08-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

I took my last test for the quarter today! Hooray! Now, I have a 3 week break!

I started the Dahlia Cardigan from Interweave Knits, Fall 2011. Using Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin in Petit Poison #5 dark. I have gotten Chart A completed.

When I started, I actually swatched and decided I didn't want to use the size 4 needle I first chose. I went down to a size 2 needle with the swatch and thought it looked neater (tighter stitches). However, starting the chart with size 2, it became quickly obvious that my lace panel was not going to have the openness that I love about lace. So, I ripped it out, and went back to size 4.

I will definitely be putting in a lifeline before starting Chart B though! I made a small mistake in the last rows of chart A, but I "fixed" it enough for my satisfaction. If I made a bigger mistake, though, it would be sad to rip it all out.

Just a few things....

2011-08-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm a terrible blogger. I guess it's better than being terrible at the other roles in my life. Wife, mother, student, nurse, knitter, blogger.... I think blogger is probably the safest to be terrible at.

Life is a lot different for me lately. I feel the most like myself, though, since my son was born. In case you don't know much about that, I will fill you in.

My beautiful son was born 2 years ago, by emergency C-section because my fluid was very low. He was delivered at 8 pm on the dot. He was 37 weeks, and he screamed the most beautiful screams when he was born. He sounded strong, he looked strong at 7 lbs, 3 oz. The pediatrician saw him, and told me he was perfect. Then, some time went by.... I asked "Where is my baby?" They explained to me he just needed some supplemental oxygen - no big deal. Ok.... then it's midnight. Still no baby, and he still needs oxygen.... and they are obtaining some blood gases. I'm a nurse. I'm a nurse, and I know all about obtaining blood gases. Even though they are fluffing it up, and reassuring me, I know. I know something is wrong.

At 6 am the next morning, I am facing 4 pediatricians, with concerned looks. They aren't sure what's wrong - they think "... blah blah blah blah blah" (And yes, that's what I'm hearing.) Have I mentioned - I am a nurse. I know, I know, I know in my gut something is terribly wrong. That is when I insist he be transferred to a different hospital. My nurse brain kicked in, I threw out the mother's grief, and I insisted he be transferred. Not only do I insist on this, but I give them my scientific arguments for why this should happen. And they agreed.

So he was transferred. He was intubated and placed on a ventilator within hours of arriving at the other facility. Bilateral chest tubes were placed. Drips were started. My child had Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), or as previously known, persistent fetal circulation. He was sick.

I plan on writing more about this in the future. I actually have a little dream to do a series on it. I have a lot to say about it - a lot of feelings I want to share about it......

The good news is that I have a beautiful, perfectly healthy 2 year old now who has no lasting problems. Unfortunately, I think it left me with the typical postpartum depression, mingled in with a little post traumatic stress disorder. Just until recent months, I haven't felt myself. Nothing off the wall, but just not myself. Finally, finally, I feel like myself again. And I still wish I were Buffy.

I'm moving home.

2010-05-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

I am coming back to blogger, after being gone for a few years. I have no idea if I can transfer my wordpress blog posts, but I will try. If not, we'll start fresh!
Fiber goodness coming soon.

Kroger Trip - Another couponing post

2010-05-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to Kroger today and bought $109.17 worth of groceries for $35.93. I was so excited. It was a day where I needed stuff I didn't have coupons for too, so I was super happy with my final total.

Some more couponing strategies that I use include planning. When I first started using coupons, I didn't always plan, but now that I do - I'm a lot more successful. For example, my coupon for aluminum foil today stated it wasn't good for 25, 30, or 40 square feet boxes, so I wrote that on my list so I wouldn't pick one up, then be surprised at the registar when my coupon wouldn't work. Also, I find that planning and making a list keeps my buying habit in check. I don't walk away with unnecessary things, like extra cookies or candies.

And don't worry. Planning doesn't take all that long. A few minutes here or there. Make a list (I like to use my iPhone notes) of things you think you need as the week goes on. Then, when you are ready to go to the store, look at your list and see what coupons you have that match it. And you'll save time in the store by planning at home. And it gets easier every week once you get the hang of doing it.

And for all my yarn friends who think I've gone off the deep end, I am going to a fiber festival tomorrow, so I hope to provide you with some fun fibery goodness pictures!

Couponing 101

2010-05-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

I said I would post a little bit about this - and I've really gotten distracted lately. My baby got ear tubes!! I was very resistant to it, but glad we got them. He had completely failed his hearing test, and at 9 months old - it's important for his development to be able to hear!! He started really babbling and saying new sounds the day after he got them. So far, I'm happy.

So, on to coupons.

Someone asked about them not being high value - but I actually have gotten a lot of FREE coupons and high value coupons. Right now, I have a coupon for free barbecue sauce and a free package of hot dogs that I got in a package from Kraft. Sign up for samples from the companies, as these often have very high value coupons with the samples!!! Also, coupons.com is a very good site for coupons, and they are almost always higher values. Also, even if they aren't high value, stores often double or have double days. My Kroger doubles all the time for any coupons under 50 cents.

Drug stores are a completely new skill - using their cash registrar reward systems to roll your money and obtain free items when you add to your coupons. For example, this week at CVS, I bought Crest mouthwash, Pantene shampoo and conditioner, Kotex, and Carefree liners and ended up walking away with a profit of $2.00. I will link some sites that are great for couponing 101, and they explain this drugstore strategy.

www.southernsavers.com

www.coupongeek.net

www.pennypinchinmom.com

www.frugalfemina.com

These are just a few of my favorites. Often you can find them on Facebook and friend them, and they update with all the new samples out or coupon deals and you can get it instantly to your Facebook feed.

I hope this is enough to help some of you get started.

Here's to saving tons of money!! (So you can buy more yarn!)

New knitting needles and a (sort of) new hobby

2010-04-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I really am still knitting. Even though I have nothing to show for it. Motherhood doesn't stop you from doing the things you love, it just takes a little longer!

I got some new needles, for socks, and I adore them. I got the Addi Turbo 8 inch circulars!!! They are so tiny, and I love them, but I think you either love them or hate them. I can go really quick on these things, and even the Cookie A. socks I love doing are going faster!

So, I have found something else to occupy my thoughts and mind. Couponing. (You know, so I can buy more yarn?)

I have really gotten into it, and doing quite well with it. I've not bought body wash or toothpaste, but gotten it all free after coupons, and have enough stockpiled for another month! Food is harder to get free - not as many great coupons, but still you can cut the bill a lot lower. If any of you are interested, I might do a blog post with some starter tips.

Oh, and I got my laptop back. If any of you noticed me missing, my laptop died and was getting repaired. I have another OLD laptop, but it's hard to use, heavy, and doesn't have any of my bookmarks. Soooo... yay, my laptop is back!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2010-02-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day, we didn't do much. Went out to dinner last night to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some friends. I got a card, but most of all... I got sleep. I slept until 1 pm today. Oh, it was sooo wonderful. I haven't done that in years.

Sleep is good.

I also have been joining in the Ravelympics, and finished an old project that has been sitting in my knitting bag. Sad and all alone. Olympic knitting is so much fun, and so motivating for some reason!!!

This shawl is from "Knitting Triangles" by Evelyn Clark, and is a mix and match of different patterns to make your own. This book is great, and is more of a recipe book for a shawl than anything. Great book, I highly recommend if you like lace knitting, particularly in triangle form. Malabrigo laceweight, in a really candy cotton pink. My favorite of colors. I'm definitely not girly until it comes to the color pink. :D Size 4 Addi Lace needles.

Damson blocking

2010-02-08T00:27:00.000-08:00

Not much going on here. We've been a houseful of sickness. The baby has been sick, we have ALL had the stomach virus, and I officially tested positive for mono. Whee.

I did get Damson blocked. Thank you Rachel, I used the spare bedroom bed, and shut the door to keep the kitties out and off the yarn!

Lazy Sunday

2010-01-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

I'm practicing a post with my new Wordpress app on my iPhone... It's a rainy lazy Sunday.

A loom and some shawls

2010-01-21T16:07:00.000-08:00

Sometime since we last spoke about knitting or yarn goodness, I acquired this *thing*.

My husband's best friend was at some estate sale and asked what it was, and he was told it was used to wind yarn, so he bought it for me. I had no idea what it was, so I took it to my knitting group. I was told it was a loom. Hmm, what kind of loom? So using Ravelry, I found out it was an inkle loom.

I am really wanting to use it, but have no idea how to begin. I keep thinking that I'll have a day where I can go to the Woolery in a nearby city and have them show me what additional supplies I need and the basics, maybe even a DVD. I just can't seem to find the free day to go!

Other things I've been working on....

I finished my Damson shawl but it desperately needs blocked. My problem with blocking is that I don't have a blocking area. I only have one room with carpeting and the cats would lie on it if I block it with towels on the carpet. Any suggestions?

I started the Aestlight Shawl. In Madelinetosh sock. MMMM... let's talk about this yarn. It's in a "copper penny" colorway, and it is BEAUTIFUL. It does shine like a bright new penny. And the yarn is buttery and wonderful. I love this yarn. I just happened to get it while on maternity leave in a Loopy Ewe update, and I am so happy with that purchase.

The last time....

2010-01-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

The last time I posted I was carrying a baby. He is now 5 months old, and beautiful. Life has changed. In so many ways.

I have wanted to start blogging again, but wow, life is so busy. So, I won't make promises. But, I feel like I have so much to say.

I am working on redesigning the blog. I almost decided on a whole new blog, but I didn't want to lose pieces of me. I may be changed, but essentially I'm still the same. I also need to update my blog list, as some of my friends have moved on to pretty bright shiny new blogs. I am really unsure of my new custom header.... it may still change. Maybe I should take a poll.

So, what's happened in 6 months? I had a baby, a sick baby who spent time in the NICU. He is now healthy and happy and doesn't know anything happened. Two chest tube scars later, mommy really wears the biggest scars inside. It's something that I'll never forget. I am thankful for every smile, every whimper, every giggle. I did go back to work, and I'm still nursing. I am still knitting (when time allows!). I have discovered the beauty of a crockpot and audiobooks. The house is on hold until we see some warmer weather. The cats are still with us, and seem to really love little man as much as we do. Quite frankly, it's a sweet little life.

So, no real promises. But hopefully you'll be seeing me.

Shawl Knitting

2009-06-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased "Knitting Lace Triangles" by Evelyn Clark. It's the most fantastic book!! Well, I'm not sure if it's a book or a booklet... It seems quite small at first, but once you open it, you realize it's not small in content quality. It's spiral bound, which I love. I wish all knitting books were spiral bound! It's more of a recipe book than a pattern book. She gives you the power to mix and match out of 4 patterns to make your own shawl. She walks you through shawl design. It has really made me feel empowered and I've owned this book only for 2 days.

I started a shawl with the Medallion lace pattern, and used an ordinary cast on beginning. I like the garter stitch tab cast on, and have used it before, but find it to be a bit fiddly for my clumsy fingers. The ordinary cast on looks just fine, though, and I am quite pleased with that.

I am using Malabrigo lace in pink, my most favorite of colors.

Pea Pod Hat and Swollen Feet

2009-06-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

My feet are swollen!! It makes me not want to work on any socks. It's just so disappointing when my ankles are so huge! I've had many suggestions on Ravelry, since I can't try on the socks, and they were good ones. It was to get sock blockers to test for size, use other handknit socks for reference, use a friend of mine who has a foot my size.... So maybe I will finish the beautiful Cookie A's I started.

I've been itching to work on something lace lately, but can't decide on what exactly.

And here is another hat I finished for the baby. It's also a Susan B. Anderson pattern, bought from her website. It's just adorable, and not nearly as fiddly as you think. I used Tahki Cotton Classic yarn. I did it in the newborn size.

Ok, that's it for baby hats..... for now. :)

After dropping off the face of the earth....

2009-06-07T23:48:00.000-07:00

It's like I completely forgot my blog. I just couldn't figure out what to write about. Or have the energy!! I've been getting the itch to work on it again though, so let's see how it goes.

I have a few things to speak of - but I'll spread them out for future posts! I am 30 weeks pregnant now, I've been to Switzerland on vacation, I've finished a few baby hats, and our house is in total wreckage trying to prepare for the baby!

I did lose my knitting mojo for most of my pregnancy. I just couldn't bare to do it - it was like I was too tired to move my arms or wrists!

This was the first hat I finished. It's the Simple Baby Hat from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hat book, and I used some Rowan Denim leftovers I had from my Reversible Stripes and Dots hat, also from her book! (If you love baby hats, you truly do need this book.) I also picked up this little piggy button at a yarn shop in Switzerland, with the thoughts of adding it to a hat. I just love little animal things. This button makes me laugh because it's legs are attached with some rope-like cotton and they just kind of swing in the air.

Also, I've been listening to podcasts a lot lately and have two I would love to recommend and share with you: The Knitmore Girls - a mother and daughter team which are great together, and CogKnitive podcast which gives a little knitting talk, a little blather, and lots of psychology.

Things that I will be blogging about (hopefully) in the days to come - Switzerland pictures, another baby hat, baby things, and house renovation!

Big changes!

2009-02-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

I am pregnant. I'm about 14 weeks along. This is why I was on bed rest for a while, I've been having some difficulties, but it seems those are better now.... I was really afraid to tell anyone and get too hopeful. But, I'm ready to tell you now!!! We are so excited - so many big changes!!

And that brings me to a finished object. We haven't gotten to know what gender yet, but since I made a purple ribbon hat, you know it's going to be a boy! My best friend is pregnant too, so surely between us both, one of us will have a girl who can wear this hat!!

It's the Ribbon hat from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hat book. There isn't a hat in this book I dislike. This picture doesn't do this hat justice - it's absolutely adorable. My favorite baby item I've knitted yet. I used some sort of Rowan yarn... I can't remember the name (baby brain already!)...

FO: A Stork's Nest Scarf

2009-01-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

I meant to post the FO the next day after my teaser, but my husband took the camera cord in his briefcase and left it at his office for several days!! It definitely is lace.

This is "A Stork's Nest Scarf" by Nancy Bush. It was in Piecework Magazine Jan/Feb 2008. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, and have been meaning to knit it all year. It was going to be for my mom for Christmas, but when I got sick - I couldn't finish it. I think I'll put it away until Mother's Day. She could wear it in the spring just as an accent and not get overheated with it. I hope she likes it.

I used Malabrigo laceweight, which I love. The pictures are a little more vibrant than the yarn, I think. It's really a more pastel blue, but it has been dark and gloomy here so it's hard to take accurate pictures.

I finished something!

2009-01-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

I finally finished something. However, blocking it may have pushed me past the line of sanity. Seriously, I am the worst blocker ever.

I'll have FO pictures soon! Can you guess what it is before I show you the after effect?

And in other news, I am officially off bedrest and return to work tomorrow.... wish me luck. I'm actually nervous about returning to work. I feel like a little girl the night before her first day of school.

Bedrest

2009-01-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

I'm on bedrest for a week (yes, I'm ok - just precautions, and I'll explain later). You'd think I'd love it... think of all that knitting... but I don't love it. *sigh* It's just making me crazy.

Happy New Year

2009-01-07T00:15:00.000-08:00

I know. I totally disappeared. But I had nothing interesting to say or show you.

I still don't really.

I was in two weddings in December, worked on Christmas day, stayed on the road, and frankly I was too tired to find anything interesting... Oh, I was also sick enough to need IV fluids and miss a week of work.

I did get a Woolee Winder for Christmas from my husband. At first, I was flustered. I couldn't get the whorl from my Ladybug to attach. It wouldn't slide on at all - wouldn't even budge! After some reading, it seems the Ladybug whorls have problems sometimes with sliding on to the original flyer... they are manufactured for a tight fit. Sometimes, too tight. While I had no problems getting it on the original flyer, I could not get it on my WW at all. I contacted the maker, Nathan, and he suggested filing it down with a fingernail file lightly on the square edges. It worked like a charm! Now, I'm spinning high.

And, let me tell you.... I am spinning some alpaca I bought at a fiber festival from Blue Note Alpacas and it's heaven. Soft, spins beautifully. I am in love. And it's gorgeous.

Blogging Sleep Deprived

2008-11-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

I was on call last night, and got called in for an appendectomy at 4am. Then, when I got home I had a hard time falling back asleep. And then when I did, Sam cat felt I should be awake so he knocked all my stuff off my nightstand one by one between his meows.

I am going to a spinning guild meeting this weekend -- I am so excited!!

I am getting ready to frog some of my handspun. I knitted with it about an hour and decided it wasn't fun in the pattern I was choosing. I am nervous about how my handspun will hold up to the frogging... we'll find out.

Well, I wanted to update. I think I'm headed back for a nap.

FO: Swallowtail Shawl (finally!)

2008-10-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the Swallowtail Shawl!!! (I'm sure you are in total shock I finished anything!) It's a tad small, but I saw someone in Ravelry using it as sort of a scarf like thing, and it looked pretty good that way.

I love the pattern, and I may make another one but with bigger yarn and possibly adding a few repeats.

Things I learned with this shawl: lifelines are good, never set your lace down for long periods of time or else you'll forget where you left off, and I need to buy some blocking wires.

I went to the Indiana Fiber Festival last weekend, and had a great time. Bought lots of goodies. Hopefully, I'll have some spinning to show you in the near future!!

I need better pictures.

2008-10-13T01:18:00.000-07:00

One of the reason I get tired of blogging is my picture quality. I am only home it seems when it's starting to get dark, and I have no natural light... plus, my skills just aren't that great. Then I see blogs with pictures that look so professional and perfect!!

I need better pictures. Maybe I should make a light box for yarn pictures?

I got my first Sundara Yarn from the Seasons Collection! I picked the "spring" season, and I received such a beautiful skein of sock yarn called "Beach Glass". It's perfect.

I also bought 2 skeins of laceweight Malabrigo on my way home from seeing my mom after her surgery.

I also picked my Swallowtail back up, after encouragement from the Stash and Burn group on Ravelry. Luckily, there was a lifeline in it so I could rip back to the beginning of a chart. My swallowtail isn't hard, I just got distracted and forgot where I was..... Though, I'm already thinking about another swallowtail. I won't put the next one down mid-way.

I love lace, but lately I haven't had the mind for it. I feel like I'm getting ready to implode. I'm being pulled in so many different directions, and when I get home at night I just feel ready for bed and nothing else. I have two weddings coming up - I'm in one and my husband's in the other. With those comes showers, one of which I'm throwing. My husband quit his job, and we are in the midst of setting up his office so he can go into private business. And our house - our house... always something going on here.

My second handspun

2008-09-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

I finished up my second handspun. It was from Yarn Love roving, and spun on my Ladybug.

(Sorry about the dark photos, I took them last night after I got off call.)

Back from Chicago

2008-09-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

You didn't even know I was going to Chicago? Well, neither did we. I got a vacation this week, and we had nothing planned. Friday night, we decided spur of the moment, - hey let's go to Chicago. We booked a hotel late Friday night, while frantically packing. And so, we left Saturday morning.

The view from our hotel at the Raffaello

We went to the Field Museum and saw Sue.

We walked down Navy Pier.

And viewed Chicago from the 94th floor of the Hancock Building at night. Which I cannot get Photobucket to put in vertically..... but you get the idea.....

And I did some yarn shopping at loopyyarns, and bought some Manos silk and some beautiful Koigu!

It was a nice trip, even if it was a spur of the moment decision!

WIP: House stuff

2008-09-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

I have given up on ever having a knitted FO! Things are just so hectic here lately. Between work, this house, and life... well... *sigh* I barely have time to sleep.

So here is a before:

Here is a now shot:

This is the same room from this post.

Oh, and I do have some yarn happiness. I bought some Wollmeise off a Ravelry person and it should arrive this week. AND I got myself into the Sundara Yarn Club. The two yarns I wanted so badly! Yay!

Conversations in the Locker Room

2008-08-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

This took place in the locker room at work as I was getting ready to leave:
Me: Hi Liz, and yes, I have on two bras. Don't ask.

Liz: We have the weirdest conversations.

I will have photos of spinning stuff later this week!

The World Is Out of Balance

2008-08-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

.. and hell has frozen over...

I joined a gym. And I went. And I hurt.

My First Handspun

2008-08-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

I present to you - my first handspun yarn. I dunked it into a waterbath after this photo was taken. I am going to knit *something* with it. I'm not sure what, but I just have to knit it!

Also, my porch steps were very rotted, and here is a before:

Here is after:

A Funny for You

2008-08-13T02:16:00.000-07:00

I love Natalie Dee. Here's today's:

nataliedee.com

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly to MY Home

2008-08-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

I said I wanted a ladybug, and my husband ordered it and surprised me with it. I didn't know he ordered it until it showed up!

I have never did any spinning, and I used to think I never wanted to learn to spin. I don't know what happened... like I need another hobby!

Here it is being unpacked.

This is where my ladybug sits (sorry about the blurred picture)

I needed help with the tension string, and some really wonderful girl named Abbyknitz on Ravelry helped me out.

First little bit on the bobbin - uhm, I guess it's good I can even get it on the bobbin considering I've never touched a wheel in my life. My first goal was to figure out how to treadle and just use the wheel in general.

Manic Bunny

2008-07-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

The electricians have been here. It's been chaos, random rooms having electricity then the next day not.. And poor Loverbunny has been manic. He had to go on kitty pills for anxiety.

I'm slowly knitting on my Apres Surf Hoodie.

And I have to get on my soapbox a little. I'm frustrated about not being able to get certain yarns. I am working every single day, and I don't have time to check and check for updates (at work they don't let the nurses have access to the internet at all). I keep missing out on Wollemeise and Sundara. The Wollemeise sold out on Loopy Ewe in 3 minutes! I guess I should just get over it, but I just had to vent my frustrations. I think I want it more now that I can't get it....

I don't need to be buying it anyway, because I plan on buying myself a spinning wheel soon. I am thinking about getting a Ladybug. I am a little worried I won't like it and be out lots of money, but I want a nice wheel to learn with. Originally, I was going to try and buy a cheap, used one, but the more I think about it, the more I think I'll be better off with a new wheel.

A quick before-work note

2008-07-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not blogging as frequently now... this was supposed to be mostly a knitting blog, and the knitting isn't happening lately! I want to knit, I'm just busy with the house. I am thinking of making a new blog for the home restoration... I'm not sure.

Anyway, we opened up the back stairs... it had been enclosed by walls, and you entered another door to get to the outside door and stairs. It's gone now! (I couldn't find a before picture so you could see what a dramatic change this is.)

The electricians have been here a week, and they are working upstairs. There is no power to the upstairs right now.

I wanted to wind some yarn to start some socks since it's so hot, but I couldn't get to my ball winder. It was upstairs in a pile of stuff that we moved for the electricians. *sigh* I have been working on my hoodie, but it's a slow go.

Another distraction is that I got Dance Dance Revolution for my Wii. I love it! I never knew I liked to dance so much.

Two WIP

2008-06-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

I really am knitting, though it feels as if I never have enough time to knit!

The first thing is my started Apres Surf Hoodie. It kind of threw me for a loop because I never pre-think anything I knit (in fact, I never pre-think much of anything), and I didn't consider that when I decrease on my waist, I am decreasing every 8 rows, but it's a ten row lace repeat, and well it made for messiness. I started out trying to do it all tidy and mathematically but decided that was too much trouble, so I am just working it out on the fly now - as long as every yarn over has a decrease to make the stitches even, I go with it. I am hoping my seams will hide my multitude of sins.

I am using the Vivid colorway which doesn't get much justice in this picture. It takes on different colors on how the light hits it. Sometimes it seems very purple, and others very blue.

And I haven't neglected the Swallowtail. She's just slow, but I still love it.

I am just drawn to lace lately and I think I need to add in a plain stocking stitch project because I find it impossible to knit lace and watch TV at the same time. (Unless it's a very simple lace.....)

I have been busy watching "Knitting Workshop" with Elizabeth Zimmerman on DVD. It's one of my smartest purchases yet. It starts at the beginning with winding a ball of yarn, and works up to master classes like lace and aran sweaters. Even on the techniques I know, I've enjoyed watching her spirit.

Housework

2008-06-25T01:20:00.000-07:00

First of all, thank you all so much for the comments on Max. We really miss the Pirate cat.

We've been working on the back upstairs bedroom.

Before:

Now:

We plan on stripping the woodwork (we are talking layers and layers of caked paint) and repainted a buttercream, getting the plaster repaired, then painting. We will also be having the wood floor stripped and redone.

I have knitting content soon... but will only be WIPs.

RIP: Pirate Max

2008-06-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

Max had to go over the rainbow bridge today.

All work and no play makes me a dull girl.

2008-06-13T00:52:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been on call every day for the last month. In reality, I haven't, but I'm feeling very tired these days. Get this: I went to work yesterday at 9:30am. I left at 5:30, and was called back in as soon as I got home and ate. Went back in for three hours, came home and went to bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I got called back in. I was able to finally snuggle in at home at 4:00am.
So you will understand when I say, I've been too tired to knit.

So, where am I on the knitting? Nowhere, pretty much. I haven't made any progress with the Swallowtail, but I still love it. I just don't have the mental capacity to knit it after working 12 hours or more a day.

I got my yarn in finally for my Apres Surf Hoodie. Hooray! I hope to swatch tonight.

I bought some yarn on Ravelry for a good deal, and I now have Malabrigo Lace yarn in my stash.

And Michelle sent me the most awesome goodies from her contest that I won!!! (Best thing that happened to me all month, I must say.) They were wrapped individually and it was like opening lots of presents. I really should have taken a picture, but I was so excited I just started opening and playing with all my stuff instantly.

On the house front, stuff is finally happening. We signed a contract with the roofer last week, and he should be starting in a week or two. Electricians should be here in two weeks. The heating and air guy has been here and planning, and will start in a few weeks.

Family members are pitching in with stripping the ceiling and walls.

We ordered an oven, but I'm kind of ticked because they ordered the wrong one, so I'm still stuck without one.

There is a man on his way over to pull out these gas heaters that they stuck in front of every fireplace.

And I bought a rocking chair for $15 at a yard sale!

I think I need a vacation from my hectic life. Sam has the good life - ah, to be a loved cat.

Making nice with lace

2008-05-27T23:50:00.000-07:00

If you read my blog, you may remember when I started the Swallowtail shawl that I ripped out. I started it out of Alpaca Cloud from Knit Picks. At first, I decided that I was going to cast lace out of my life forever. It was my enemy. Then, I got realistic... I know how to knit lace. I knit lace socks, I add lace panels to baby clothes... it wasn't the lace. It was just the yarn. Then, I decided I'd only do lace in fingering weight or thicker. No more lace weight for me. Then, I got realistic again, maybe it was just the lace weight I was using....

So, I started again with Knit Picks Shadow, which I had in my stash. I am loving it!! I think a lace monster may have been born.

I also just placed an order with Jimmy Beans Wool. I ordered yarn for the Apres Surf Hoodie!! I also ordered the Make It Modern pattern book from Classic Elite because they had it available, and I'm worried it'll sell out. I really love those patterns - I want to knit practically every one of those patterns.

Kitty update: We found the kittens mother, and sibling. It belongs to a neighbor a few doors down. At first the mother didn't want to let it nurse, but it seems like she has taken it back in now. We don't know how the kitten ended all the way down in our driveway?

And for a good laugh, here's a pattern for a kitty argyle sweater vest.

Anybody want a kitten?

2008-05-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

Animals that are lost or sick always seem to know where to find us. They know we can not ignore them, and we'll take them in.

This was in our driveway. Sick, and hungry. He is sneezing and has pus in it's eyes and nose.

It didn't know how to eat so I went and got formula and a bottle and fed it a little. I gave it some Clindamycin drops we have for felines.

This is him after we cleaned his eyes out and his face off. My husband will take him to the vet on Tuesday.

We really don't want another cat, though. So does anybody want a kitten? :)

In other news, I went and spent tons of money today. I bought an oven, finally. (No, we haven't had an oven since we moved in.) I'm very excited because I used to LOVE to bake. I can't wait to bake again.

We also bought a new mattress for the second guest bedroom.

In knitting related stuff, I screwed up my Hemlock Ring big time. We are taking a break. Not breaking up, but definitely a time out.

I also knit about 7 rows of the Twisted Tulips sock, and while it's a beautiful sock, I hate it. I ripped it out, took it out of my queue. I think it's just way too complicated to satisfy my sock craving. I like my socks to be intuitive and flow easily. It's my relaxation knitting.

Fiber Arts Guild

2008-05-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

My Fiber Arts Guild had a table display up today at something held at the county extension office. So much talent!

The quilters also had a beautiful display.

Now, I have to go organize and do some more planning. I'll be participating in the World's Longest Yard sale this year, as I live directly on this road. It's the first of August and I already have boxes of things to sale. I think I'll go ahead and price some and pack them up in labeled boxes or I'll be overwhelmed come August.

Fun with Tagging

2008-05-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

Michelle tagged me, so here we go~!

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was 19 years old, working on my art degree. I was having lots of fun. Age 19 was good to me.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

Go to work, ... uhm, that's all. Actually I'm feeling kind of bad today, so just getting through the workday was a good thing, and that's all I needed to do. My husband's making my dinner.

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Oh, I love anything chocolate. I had a delicious chocolate hot fudge cake with vanilla ice cream today. They gave it out at our staff meeting ( I didn't go to the meeting because I was in the PACU working, but someone brought me some). I also have a secret sickness of loving Stove Top stuffing. I freaking love Stove Top, and I would pick it over sweets most days. My husband thinks it's a frightening part of my personality.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I'd finish restoring my house. I also have a desire to work with AIDS patients (particularly children) in Africa, so I'd go do that and wouldn't need to worry about getting paid.

5) Places I have lived:

I've always lived in KY - grew up in Eastern KY, but now live in Central KY. I studied abroad in China, but I guess that doesn't count as a residence.

5 peeps I want to know more about: CTJen, Rachel, sheepishone, FreeRangeKnitter, and MostlySelfTaughtKnitter.

I have been knitting (slowly). Still working on the Hemlock Ring. I'm still not sure about what sweater I want to make. I've narrowed it down to three. The Caitlin Pullover by Pam Allen, Apres Surf Hoodie from Interweave Summer 08 (look at Michelle's GORGEOUS version!!), and the Tweedy Aran Cardigan by Norah Gaughn.

I Need Yarn.

2008-05-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

I have been having the urge to knit sweaters. Everyone knows I don't have much of a stash, but I really don't have any sweater yarn stash! I need to figure out what sweater to knit.... I can't choose!!! Any suggestions?

I also had a birthday on Saturday. I turned 29. I got Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman!!! I was so excited. My husband got me the biggest, sweetest gift of all. He gave me his mom's wedding ring.

Not much of a post today, but I am at a knitting stand-still.

FO: Saartje's Bootees

2008-05-09T01:50:00.000-07:00

I finished up some of these super cute Saartje's Bootees. Sorry about the picture quality, it was cloudy and rainy today. I just snapped the pictures quickly because I took them to their recipient today.

Knitting toys badly!

2008-05-04T00:10:00.000-07:00

I have been on this kick where I really want to knit toys lately. So I attempted to knit Little Knitted Sheep by Barbara Prime with some leftover yarns I had. This is what I have so far. I sewed her head on badly, but maybe I can hide that with a pretty little ribbon or knitted scarf. Also, I ran out of my leftover yarn, and so she won't get arms. Or a tail.

I also have been crazy obsessive today. I went and got some page protectors and started organizing all my printed out patterns. You can see that behind my poor little sheep.

Totally off toipic... I start my allergy shots next week. It'll be twice a week, two injections each time. Yikes. I am seriously allergic to the world!

WIP... uhm... Thursday?

2008-04-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

I see all those WIP Wednesdays, and I always think it's a good idea. But, it seems I'm always busy on Wednesdays!!

I have been knitting, and I do have proof!

I have one sock done of the Embossed Leaves sock from Favorite Socks by Interweave Press. I am almost to the heel of the second one.

I also started the Hemlock Ring. I started the beginning using Magic Loop method. I have to say ... Magic Loop isn't my favorite of methods, but with this project, it was a lifesaver.

And it took forever to get pictures because Loverbunny kept bumping up against my arms and legs wanting attention.

Big Messes Everywhere

2008-04-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

It seems like everywhere I look I have huge messes.

First of all, when one thing breaks, everything else goes with it. First, the laptop. Well, next was my car. It overheated on my way to work the other day.

$400 later.... it's fixed.

Then, today I was looking in the knitting basket I have sitting near my bed. Chaos. It's overflowing with leftovers, yarns I started something with yet never finished, and other misc. stuff. Huge mess.

I got out my ziploc baggies, and started organizing. I labeled each bag with the yarn name. I found a few things I plan on giving away to my fiber arts guild.

I feel so much better after this.

Blast From the Past

2008-04-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

I got on the old desktop while our laptop was out of commission, and found a bunch of old pictures. I uploaded a ton of my late kitty, Amos to my Flickr.

I also found a picture of a gift I made for a family member. It was a little sachet thing of Noah's Ark done in needlepoint. (I used to be a huge needlepoint fan. But, knitting took over, and I think knitting is CHEAPER (and more practical).)

I had a really yucky day yesterday, and so when I got home I did a little retail therapy. I bought some Cascade Ecological Wool from WEBS Anniversary Sale. Whee! Hopefully, I will do the Hemlock Ring Blanket.

Well, today is my allergy test day. It's finally here, and a good thing too, because I spent most of the day with my arms broke out in hives yesterday.

If you don't like it, rip it.

2008-04-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

After looking at the Swallowtail Shawl in my basket for weeks, I decided to rip it out. It's not the pattern, it's the yarn. I think this was Alpaca Cloud from KnitPicks. Just not my type of yarn.

I will make this shawl, but perhaps with something else. Maybe even some koigu sock yarn?
But, I will be giving this particular lace weight away to my friends at my knitting group.

FO: Garter Rib Socks

2008-04-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

And Day 2 of no antihistamines.

I had one particular bad day last week, and to top it off... when I came home, my laptop wouldn't work. The power cord had gone bad, and our battery is sick. So these socks have been finished for a few days. I made them for my husband, and they are a little snug. I'm not sure he likes them... I hope they will loosen up with wear.
They are from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. It's in Handmaiden Casbah sock in Earth. I love this yarn.

This second picture is more color accurate.

And, as I mentioned I am on Day 2 of no antihistamines. I have my allergy testing next week. My eyes are pink and swollen, my head feels fulls, I keep sneezing, and my ears hurt. *sigh*

Yarn Harlot!

2008-04-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

I got to see the Yarn Harlot yesterday. It was a blast. One of our fellow knitters in the KY group made us Ravelry name tags, and so people were wandering around finding out if we knew each other. One of the first things said to me was "Hey you are on my friends list!" and I knew then it was going to be a fun night. I met tons of people on my friends list, and had several more to add when I got home.

Stephanie was hilarious, as usual. Always worth seeing. She seemed tired though, and I felt kind of bad that she probably has the most serious jet lag ever. I mean, she was just in Denver, straight to us, and then she had to get up at 5am this morning to catch yet another flight. Writing knitting humor seems tiring.

I didn't make her wait for me to dig my sock out. You have no idea how long it would have taken me to dig out my sock in progress. Also, looking at this picture, all I can think is I need to go get my hair cut (which I've been planning to do for about a month now). And yes, I wore my Tangled Yoke, which Stephanie complimented and put me on cloud 9.

I also bought some new sock yarn yesterday because one of my LYS had a 20% off all sock yarn sale. I had being wanting some J. Knits for a long time. I had been checking out on the Loopy Ewe. I finally scored some! In the Miami colorway. I can't wait to knit with it.

Oh, I have to tell you about my horror hand story. I had blood drawn for my Thyroid levels on Friday. The girl is looking and looking, and says, "I can't find anything to draw from, but I see something in your hand... can I draw it from there?" The nurse part of me kicks in and says "Sure, draw it from wherever you can find something." As soon as she starts, my vein blows, and the knitter part of me kicks in and I think "My hand is going to be too sore to knit!" My hand hurt like hell for a few hours, but I did come home and put a warm compress on it and that helped. It was very very black afterwards, but it's fading very quickly. And I am able to knit, thankfully.

Charity Knitting

2008-04-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

I finished up a baby hat for charity. They are taking them up at the Yarn Harlot event I'm going to tomorrow. When I finished, my husband said "But you didn't add cutsey stuff to it!" I didn't because I wanted it to be gender-neutral. That's why I picked this celery green, too. I want it to go to whatever gender needs it.

This is the Simple Baby Hat from Itty-Bitty hats by Susan B. Anderson. It's in Rowan Handknit Cotton, which is my favorite cotton yarn. It's fun to work with.

We had our leak fixed in our front porch roof, and it's a good thing. It's raining and raining and raining....

Goodbye old shrubs, goodbye old wallpaper

2008-03-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

I am back to scraping wallpaper. It has two layers of wallpaper, then you get to a layer of blue paint, which has an additional two layers of wallpaper underneath it.

I have a technique down that seems to work. Basically, I spray it down with this DIF wallpaper stripper gel. I strip off the top two layers, score the paint so I can penetrate through it, spray it with the DIF again, then strip off the rest with the help of the steamer as well. It goes slow. Luckily, most of the plaster is in decent shape. There is one spot in the wall that is bad, but other than that it seems smooth. This is the room I'd like to eventually make into a nursery. (And no, I'm not pregnant. But, by the time I want to be, I better have a room in good condition.) The wet spots are just from my steamer... it had not dried yet.

Also, I decided that the textured ceiling in this room is intact, and therefore not worth my current time and effort. I hate the textured ceiling, but it's not falling apart like other things... and unfortunately I need to prioritize. So, I am going to eventually just repaint the ceiling.

My husband cut down all the shrubs in the front. They were not taken care of for years, overgrown, and causing some problems to our foundation and porch. We don't plan on doing any landscaping for a while because we need to fix some stuff first.

Max says "These people don't have a clue what they are doing." (Max is the kitty who came with the house.)

Oh, and knitting. I haven't tossed it completely aside. There are husband's socks. I'm on the second one, almost to the heel. And I bought the new Yarn Harlot book, and I have a ticket to see her next Saturday at the bookstore!!

Time to get started...

2008-03-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

Well, spring is officially here. (Even if it is still freezing.) It's time to get back to work on our house. So, unfortunately less knitting time, but it must be done....

We hired a man to work on the roof of our porch on Saturday. If he does a good job, we will definitely get him to fix the roof/flashing on the addition as well.
I have a list of things that keeps growing that I need to get done.

must finish stripping wallpaper in rear bedroom

strip paint off fireplace tile in front master bedroom (yes, someone painted dark blue over gorgeous tiles)

figure out how much work it is to scrape off a textured ceiling

take a billion things to the recycle center from the basement

paint the new side door

plant flowers outside

This is just a list of things to accomplish before we hire electricians. After we fix our electrical problems, my list grows exponentially. (Going back to the porch for a minute, I plan on having the electricians put in ceiling fans in our wrap around porch. I have this dream of sitting on my southern wrap around porch, with the fans going, sipping my sweet tea and knitting.)

I have an appointment with an allergy specialist on Tuesday. After that, I am going to try and score the Yarn Harlot's new book at the bookstore for comfort. Yay.

Loving the Knitty Funnies

2008-03-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Today's Natalie Dee comic made me laugh. Had to share!

nataliedee.com

Buttons!

2008-03-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

I got some buttons on Tangled Yoke, and took a better photo!

FO: Rosebud Hat

2008-03-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

This hat is the cutest hat - I will probably make another one.
It's made of Rowan Handknit Cotton. From Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson. I made the 6-12 month old size. I only used two colors for the roses: two shades of pink. I also used less rosebuds and leaves than the pattern called for. I used the "celery" colorway for the leaves instead of the recommended green. The rosebuds knit up very fast, as does the hat! I even enjoyed the assembly of the hat, and usually I hate the finishing up.

I had a great day off. I went to a knitting class about altering your patterns, and it was very helpful. I learned a more accurate way to measure my gauge swatch, and how to approach your patterns when altering, and how to think about the pattern in a more general way.

Fun stuff! Knitting classes and baby hats. It can't get any better, right?!

One More Day

2008-03-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

Can I make it? I miraculously have a vacation day on Friday (for a knitting event, even better) and thank god I do. It has been the week from hell. I'm not even sure I can make it one more day.

One good thing in this week from hell: New Knitty!

Casting On Multiples

2008-03-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

I spent a lot of my weekend untangling my Handmaiden Casbah. It was on my swift, when the clamp came undone, and it all fell off. It was sooo tangled it took me two days of going back and working on it (and a lot of ugly language). I finally have 3 wound balls, as I had to cut certain parts due to tangles. I did get it all untangled, even if in segments, and had it been any other yarn - I admit, I would have thrown it in the trash.

I am going to cast on for my husband's socks tonight with the Casbah. I am still debating between patterns...

I also casted on some lace this weekend, my first lace with actual lace weight. I cast on for the Swallowtail Shawl. They say lace looks like a mess until you block it. I hope that's true because right now it looks like a big mess of yuck.

Yes, that is dental floss I am using as a lifeline. I am very pleased with how that works. The waxy coating keeps it from tangling with the fibers of the yarn. Thanks to David Reidy for that tidbit.

I also worked on some little knitted rosebuds for an Itty Bitty hat. I had mentioned on Susan B. Anderson's blog that my rosebuds didn't look like hers. She was so sweet to reply to my blog, and give me tips. I just rolled the bud tighter and finessed it a little bit, and that worked. I have the black hat made, and I want to get a contrasting rose color to finish it off.

I am not sure why the sudden need to cast on for so many things. I'm not going to question it. I'm just going to do what makes me happy!

March Snow

2008-03-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have always thought our house looks pretty with snow on it.

Looks like it's going to be a good day to curl up with some knitting.

Tangled Yoke - The End

2008-03-05T00:14:00.000-08:00

Well, sort of the end. I don't have buttons, yet, and won't be able to get them in the town I live in. So, it'll be at least a week. And I can't keep my enthusiasm in. (I may even wear it tomorrow without the buttons because I'm so excited.)

My second adult sweater is done, and I love it! It fits the way I wanted, it turned out better than I could have wished. So, despite the dark dreary night, we attempted photos.

You'll probably have to suffer another Tangled Yoke photo shoot with natural light after I have buttons.

Caught in the act of being cute...

2008-03-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

Sam says you must enjoy his cuteness while the Tangled Yoke is blocking!

Once.

2008-03-01T01:22:00.000-08:00

I love this movie! I was alone tonight, and thought, I'll rent this through Itunes. (yes, you can rent movies through itunes. which is so awesome because I don't have to get cold to rent a movie.)

I am downloading the whole soundtrack. (I'm not a soundtrack kind of girl, either.)

And be prepared, I couldn't take my eyes off the film, so it's not a great knitting movie. It is beautiful in every way.

Go watch Once.

Words, words, words

2008-02-26T01:57:00.000-08:00

I know a lot of people don't like blogs without pictures, but I have none today. So if that's what you came for, sorry! I will have some as soon as I see sunlight again (which lately seems like never).

I seriously need a mental health day. Besides some random stress, I've had some health issues. Friday my heart decided to beat a little, ahem, fast, and oh, be in an irregular rhythm. It seems as if some sinus medication plus some headache medication together could have been the culprit. So, they want me to go off everything for sinus, no more headache meds, and no caffeine. (Beat me now - no Coca-Cola?) I had the worst headache Friday, and I've been having some severe long-lasting headaches that I believe originate from sinus problems. I had a cyst in my sinus cavity a few years ago, and there is some question that I could again, so I'm on tons of antibiotics now. I whined about no meds for my headache, and they gave me something that wouldn't affect my heart. Also, before it was my choice not to take allergy shots, and now they are saying I sort of need to.

Needless to say, between being knocked out and an irregular heart rhythm, I didn't really do any knitting lately. I went back to work today and I feel a lot better - so I did start the collar of the Tangled Yoke tonight.

OH! We did house stuff this weekend. (Well, I didn't, my brother in law did while I was upstairs knocked out.) We have a new storm door on the side now!! Hey, progress is progress, no matter how small!

Tangled Yoke Progress Despite A Knitting Injury

2008-02-17T19:54:00.000-08:00

I've only got two rows left of this Tangled Yoke chart. While knitting this, I just kept being so surprised and so happy with the loops and turns.

I'm far enough along now that I am fussing over how to do my button band (I had to add rows...) and how I am going to block this. I think I may soak it in cold water for a while before blocking. (I'm not very good at blocking.)

I have been doing all this despite a knitting injury. I have a callous on my middle left finger. I tried to cushion it with a band aid, but it doesn't really help.

Knitting classes have never interested me because I usually like to teach myself most things. I've always been this way in every subject. However, I signed up for a knitting class at long last. I took a vacation day in March for it. It's called "Adapting Patterns". I am supposed to bring a pattern I want to alter in some way and some graph paper. I have no idea what pattern to pick!!! I've thought about The Pewter Coat by Shirley Paden from IK Winter 2006, since it only comes in two sizes. But, I have my reservations since it is a huge knitting investment with both time and yarn/money. Any suggestions on other patterns I might be interested in changing up and knitting?

Speaking of Interweave Knits, I did get the Spring 2008 issue. There is nothing in it, I must admit, that I am burning up to knit. I think it's a good issue, but not one for me. I like the Drawstring Chemise, but it seems to me you need a pretty flat or small chest to wear it successfully. Maybe I'll be proven wrong by some Ravelry folks, but for now, I'm thinking it's a *don't* for me.

One last thing, David Reidy mentioned on his podcast Y Knit. Y Knit is a new podcast by two guys about knitting. Their first episode had Debbie Stoller on, and it was a great episode. I think it will be a new favorite for me!

From tornado to ice...

2008-02-14T01:49:00.000-08:00

Between the tornado, the recent ice storm, and other un-fun events, I have been down in the dumps. Not knitting dumps, just dumps in general.

I have been knitting and buying yarn. To keep my spirits up, of course. I bought 2 skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton. Any guesses on what I started? (Hint: pink and black) The Tangled Yoke does continue on, of course, but I have limited myself to 1-2 rows a work night. I get tired and mess up, so if I feel tired, I don't knit on it.

I did take some pictures of Tangled Yoke in progress tonight, but they were so dark, you couldn't make anything out. I will attempt to take some other pictures I can share in the near future.

Molly says "Geez, you are boring!" (Sorry, Molly, your owner has to work to buy you premium cat food since you are so picky.)

Tornado sirens in the middle of the night

2008-02-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

I woke up at 1 AM or so to the tornado sirens. We turned on the TV to see the news, and immediately went downstairs to shelter.

The elementary school roof was blown off, two restaurants are totally damaged, our fairgrounds building is destroyed, several homes are either gone or have no roof. An apartment for the elderly has no back wall.
We were very lucky, we only lost a shutter than we know of. I had trouble getting to work today. My normal road was blocked. Apparently, there was a power line down in an almost flooded road.

I think I may go out and take some photos later. I will post them if I do. It's just so unbelievable. And we are supposed to have these winds again tonight.

Edited to add pictures.... (There are more on my Flickr page)

My heart is with the many who lost their lives in several states.

Rip it, Rip it.... Tangled Yoke untangled

2008-02-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

So, I started on the tangled yoke chart, and while it's a chart I can handle... it's not a chart I can handle when I'm watching Lost. I know better than to knit complicated things while watching TV. But, I somehow always do it anyway.

So, I took a deep breath this morning, and put in a lifeline... (and put on an episode of Stash and Burn that helped give me courage to rip)

Have I mentioned Sam has started to really love this sweater? He wants to sit on it and tread it.

After making Sam move, I began to rip it out.... Look at what a mess.

And now, my stitches are back on the needle (happily), and I am back to where I started.

While I am not happy I had to rip back, I am very happy that I have gotten to a point where I'm ok to rip things back. Before, I would have fudged, lived with wrong stitches, and just sucked it up. Now, I'm at a place where once I put time into it, I want it to satisfy me. And I can rip back successfully to do that. I think that's progress.

Also, while I had it off the needles, I tried it on, and I believe it is going to look nice. That made taking it off my needles worth it.

Well, I need to go take a break from knitting and my computer. My parents are coming tomorrow, so I need to do some serious cleaning that I've been neglecting.

On Fire-Spitting Hair Dryers and Scary Winds

2008-01-31T02:18:00.000-08:00

My hair dryer spit fire at me just now. Big blue sparkling flames with a red glow at the end. I think that means I need a new one.

We had wind gusts up to 60 mph where I live last night. I was sitting, happily knitting, when the tornado sirens went off. I turned the news on to see there was a storm three counties away heading at a quick pace our way.... So, I got up to get a quick shower, and as soon as I stepped out, the power went out. I ended up going to bed since it was pitch black (and cold), and the wind was making such bad noise I had to fall asleep with my ipod in my ears. This morning, I got to see that the only thing that saved my car from being crushed by a huge ice box was the railing on my back porch. The ice box was barely caught on it, and could have smashed my car in at any minute.

So, this is a good time to tell you what blogs make my day (especially during weeks like this!):

My Boring Life has given me this really sweet honor!! (And her blog is delightful and her life is not boring! She really does make my day!)

I am supposed to pick 10 people to give this honor to.... and they are in no particular order...

1. CTJen

2. Knitterella

3. Kathryn Ivy

4. Mostly Self Taught Knitter

5. Wendy (and Lucy)

6. MLE Knits

7. Knitting Like Crazy

8. Stash, Knit, Repeat

9. Knitter Boy

10. Susan B. Anderson

There are many other beautiful blogs I read, as well. And truthfully, they all make my day.

Tangled Yoke - Sleeves Are Finally Done

2008-01-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

I finally finished living in the sleeve hell of Tangled Yoke. If this cardigan doesn't turn out, I think I'll scream after all the work I've invested in just sleeves!

I've also been thinking about my mistake mitten, and I believe it should be knitted on size 3 needles anyway... so I do plan to rip it all out and start over after all. But, I am tucking that away for a rainy day (and until I own size 3 Brittany needles).

My husband keeps complaining about how I have yarn for his socks, but I haven't started them. So, those may take priority over the Endpaper Mitts.

I got a phone call from my dad a few days ago when it got really cold. He wanted to let me know that the socks I made him for his birthday were on his feet and he might not take them off. I made them for him in April, and he had not worn them yet, saying he was waiting for it to be cold enough. Now, I think he quite enjoys hand knit wool socks in the dead of winter. :)

Heath Ledger found dead

2008-01-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

It is a sad day. Heath Ledger has been found dead at age 28. That's my age....

The article can be found here on CNN.

Ugh!

2008-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Why did I cast another thing on? Especially a charted something, when I was distracted? (Ignore the bad photo - it's dark and gloomy here. And cold, did I mention cold?) I decided I needed to start those Endpaper Mitts while I was watching my FAVORITE Buffy speech. I messed up the pattern, on one segment. I even circled it for you. It sticks out way worse in person than on this picture, trust me.

(My favorite Buffy speech is when she is telling the Watchers in Season 5 that there will be no review. "I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them." Best. Speech. Ever. (And I enjoy the sword throwing too.))

Also, nurses: I have some scrubs for sale. You can see them on my Flickr acct. Also I have a Bose stethoscope for sell for $50. It's actually the DRG with Bose acoustics. I'll include some antimicrobial covers.

One more knitting thing: most informative blog ever: TechKnitter. You must read her stuff - great info and illustrations.

Piecework: A Must Have Magazine

2008-01-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

I purchased Piecework magazine today. The Jan/Feb 2008 issue is devoted entirely to knitting. It has amazing articles, and most articles will have a pattern of a reproduction piece for the item being discussed. The article on Knitted Rovaniemi Mittens has a pattern for Fingerless Rovaniemi Mittens at the end that are absolutely a must-have. So cute. In fact, there isn't a pattern in this magazine that I wouldn't want to make - they are all beautiful. I am so thrilled to have discovered this magazine.

On my own knitting front, it is slow. I have been feeling very tired recently, unusually tired. I have a thyroid disorder, and even on medication, I have moments where I have no energy. I came home last night, went to bed at 7:30 pm and slept through until 9 am this morning. So, forgive me for the blogging boredom.

How to do nothing.

2008-01-15T00:06:00.000-08:00

I have been BORING these last few days! I didn't do anything this weekend. Seriously, I left my house ONCE in a two day period. Sometimes, with nursing, I get very tired of people in general, and feel like I want to be alone. I think I get tired of doing the happy smiley thing 24/7. I'd like to sometimes just be - not mad, sad, happy, or anything... just be.

(On a happy side note about nursing, I've had three patient compliments in the last month that have been sent to my supervisors. The last one commented that I was "awesome". One very sweet person said I was "the best nurse" he's "ever seen". It makes me feel good to know that I'm connecting to people in that way.)

Anyhow.... I had started on Foliage, and promptly ripped it out. My attention span made me cause so many errors that I decided to rip it. Then I worked and worked on my last Tangled Yoke sleeve. (I was re-watching season 5 of Buffy this weekend.)

I also learned how to do an Italian tubular cast on, so I could work on those endpaper mitts soon. I practiced on some scrap yarn. This video to teach you this cast on rocks, and made it seem really simple. Thank goodness for the internet.

~~And how do you make those mosaics of your knitting for the year? I want to make one, but haven't a clue how.~~

Loopy Ewe Package!!

2008-01-11T20:28:00.000-08:00

I received my first Loopy Ewe order today!! It was fast fast shipping. I ordered Tuesday (late I think) and it arrived today. The packaging was perfect and protective. She includes a hand written note. She also included some samples of Regia Bamboo and Silk, and a needle inventory card.

I ordered Hand Maiden Casbah sock, in Earth. This is for socks for hubby because he's been feeling left out of the sock love. I also ordered some Shibui Knits in Honey, which is gorgeous. The picture does it NO justice.

I know what I plan on doing this weekend!

Come on Friday...

2008-01-11T02:11:00.000-08:00

It has been a long week. Not a bad one, but long, and I'm tired!!!

My kitty, Sam, loves to sleep on the radiator when I take a shower. He gets extra nice and toasty, plus he gets the bonus of being in the same room with me.
After getting out of the shower tonight, I said, "Sam, you think it's time to get into bed?" He said "Meow" and jumped down and ran to the door. Even Sam is tired.

I must say I love my knitting group. They were all supposed to bring finished hats tonight, and I was all ready to take pictures for you... but none of them finished. I think Christmas and gift knitting became priority! We had our meeting today and it was so much fun.

One of them is making the Baby Surprise Jacket, and I must say -- it's very hard for me to understand. I must confess to all knitters, I have never read an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern until tonight. *hanging head in shame* And I'm wondering - are they all that difficult to understand??

Magic Looping and Casting On

2008-01-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I went to my favorite yarn store. I told the store owner, Jane, that I planned on trying socks on two circs. Then, she showed me her sock on magic loop....

I always thought Magic Loop would be harder than that. (If magic is in the name, it has to be hard and mystical.) So, I promptly came home and tried my hand at magic loop. I am using the Simple Sock pattern from Socks Soar on Two Needles so I don't have to try and manipulate a DPN pattern on my first try.....

I also wound up some yarn this morning. Some Malabrigo Worsted for Foliage from Knitty, Fall 2007, and some Louet Gems Fingering for Endpaper Mitts, by Eunny Jang.

I am also happy to report that I cast on for my second Tangled Yoke sleeve!! I decided it would be my TV knitting since it's simple, and then it would get done!

Thanks for all the nice comments on my Pomatomus socks. I was really happy with them, and wore them yesterday!

First FO of 2008: Pomatomus Socks

2008-01-05T00:41:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Pomatomus from Knitty, Winter 2005

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

I started these socks in November on the flight back from the BVI. Then, I sat them down and forgot them until Tangled Yoke drove me back to them. I absolutely love this pattern. It's not very hard, you just need to pay attention and be aware of your charts. There are two charts: Chart A and Chart B. Chart B is for the foot, and if you aren't paying attention, you could get into the *wrong* flow of things. However, it's just knitting through the back loop and purling through basically all the pattern!

(I love Koigu. It's so squishy and pretty, and it makes me so happy.)

I have a happy announcement to make: My friend, hoosier nurse, has passed her boards and is an official RN. Congratulations and I always knew you would pass with flying colors!

Happy New Year to you all!!

Three Good Reasons to Love Life

2007-12-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

This is how I spent my day. Sitting beside these three kitties, knitting. (Notice my wonderful total tote in the background!!!)

I've been wanting to take a look back at 2007, and honestly - it wasn't my best year. I noticed looking back at blog posts, I was sick A LOT. I think some of this was because it was my first year of nursing, and my immune system was overloaded... Also, among being sick, I had a job for the 1st 6 months that I hated!

So, I will look forward to 2008... and let's start with some knitting goals.

1. Double knitting.

2. Socks on Two Circs.

3. Magic Loop Knitting.

4. Finish my Tangled Yoke!

5. Buy more yarn. (No, I'm not kidding!)

What are your knitting goals for the next year?

A Good Christmas

2007-12-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a good Christmas!

Mine was filled with knitty goodness. I received a Total Tote, which I'd been wanting! In chocolate. I added seriously to my knitting book library, with Mosaic Knitting by Barbara Walker, Favorite Socks, and Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi.

I also got a pink I-pod, which my husband says classifies as knitty goodness because of all the podcasts I listen to!

This is the end of my first year of knitting, and knitting has been very good to me. I can't imagine not knitting - what did I do before all this? I am looking forward to year #2 of my knitting, and looking forward to seeing what others create in 2008. The people I've met in my one year of knitting have been amazing, fun, and a blessing to meet.

Warmer house, warmer hearts?

2007-12-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

We got a new side door!! Our back staircase was always FREEZING because the door that was up let in all the winter air. It showed an inch of daylight or more at the bottom, and as we found out when we took it down - it was hollow! We got a new door, and wow... does it make a difference. It made the staircase much warmer. It will be painted in the spring, but until then, I'll just enjoy keeping the cold air out.

(Yes, our side stairwell is painted a lime green. There is no point of me fixing it until electricians come....)

One of Molly's eyes always looks super-dilated and dark. Here is a picture... can anyone tell me if it's just the way her eye looks or if it's a problem? She seems to see just fine.

My husband has asked me to knit him a pair of socks. Any suggestions for patterns? I told him they would have to wait until spring because I have too many things on my needles, but I would make him some.

I keep jumping from subject to subject - I know. My brain has been working that way all week. I have been doing a lot of planning and plotting for projects (house and knitting) , but not really a lot of DOING.

If I don't blog before then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Some sock progress

2007-12-18T23:44:00.000-08:00

Well, getting my attention off Tangled Yoke was a good thing. I've worked on my Pomatomus sock, and I feel like I am close to returning my attention to my last sleeve for the cardi.

I taught a knitting class!! I taught a little about short-rows, and my knitting group (those who wanted to) printed out the Short Row hat pattern and brought it with them. We started that, and I went around and sort of helped out those who needed it. I think provisional cast-on was new to many of them, and that was fun to teach. Next month, they are supposed to bring back their finished hats to show off, or bring their hat for help if needed. I hope to take some pictures and post them!

A bit more of a sad note.. I have found out my friend has Lymphoma. I am wondering what I could make her - and I am considering the Hemlock Ring Blanket that could be used sort of as a security blanket when she is feeling her worst. I am just worried I won't be able to make that quickly..... Does anyone have suggestions of other patterns I might use?

December has never been a good month to me. It was a year ago this month that my baby, Amos, passed on. It hurts even now. Also, last year, I lost my cousin on Christmas Eve to a massive heart attack. I had opened her present and was calling to thank her as she was being rushed to an ER.

I wasn't planning to end this blog post on such a depressing note. I just have trouble being happy in December. I thought that might change this year, but it hasn't...

Oh, wait, maybe I can end with a good note. My beautiful cousin will be induced on Dec. 26th if baby doesn't come before then! We can't wait to welcome baby girl in the world!

The Knitscene Preview!

2007-12-13T01:36:00.000-08:00

I love Knitscene. It's my second favorite knitting mag (first being Interweave Knits). Have you seen the preview for Winter/Spring? (Or am I late to the party?!) Anyway.... I love the Norah Gaughan bag. And if she doesn't quit designing bags, I'll never finishing knitting them all. She never comes up with a design that I don't love. Also, I love the Four Corners Headbands - cute! I am also in love with the Apothecary Raglan and Pebble Hoodie.

What a great knitting world we live in - we definitely are not desperate for beautiful and genius patterns!

A little Tangled Yoke Frustration

2007-12-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

To be quite honest, I'm tired of it. I finished a sleeve, or so I thought, but realized it's too short. I need to add about an inch. Which isn't a big problem, but I just can't bring myself to pick it up and do it! If I could just finish the darn sleeves already, I could move on to the yoke, and the cable, and the challenge. I've found that I'm the type of knitter who just doesn't like it if there isn't some little challenge involved.

Maybe I can pick my socks back up for a day or two, and then I can face Tangled Yoke again.

I also bought yarn for some Endpaper Mitts for myself, and maybe I'll start those. A very pretty red and black yarn.

Also - a little announcement to my Blogger friends - I am still reading your blogs. I just can't figure out how to leave you a message now so that you know it's me -- Blogger changed the way you leave comments? Does anyone know?

The Almost Moon

2007-12-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

I haven't been knitting. I started reading "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold. It was slightly morbid, in a fascinating kind of way. Once I got started, I couldn't quit. She also wrote The Lovely Bones, which is excellent - and I highly recommend.

I don't think everyone would like The Almost Moon. I think you need a bit of a dark side. It is a dark, haunting glimpse into mental illness (and pure madness, I think). It begins with "When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily", and that is how you are introduced to Helen, our main character. I enjoyed the way Helen loves her mother so deeply and hates her so passionately at the same time.

Other than reading, not much has been happening. I passed my Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Oh, and in case I don't get around to blogging tomorrow.... Friday is my friend Beth's birthday. Happy birthday! Beth is also a nurse, a wonderful friend, and a shoulder I can always turn to. She understands my craziness, and embraces it. May we live long long lives of friendship and joy.

Happy December

2007-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't got much of anything to post as far as knitting goes. I've been sick this week. (I felt too bad to knit or to watch Pushing Daisies if that tells you anything.)

So, some cute kitty pictures. Molly always looks grumpy - here she looks at least slightly intrigued. That's the most emotion I've seen from her in a while! The second kitty is Loverbunny. It's a miracle to get his picture. He is scared of his own shadow. I wanted to take pictures of Sam too, but he thought otherwise.

And, last but not least... my new shower pictures. It was freaking expensive, but at least I have a shower. However, I have to buy a new riser because the person installing it didn't measure correctly and cut a riser too short. Due to it's instability until the new riser comes, I can't even use it. (Yes, this caused me to almost lose my head yesterday. I was very upset.) Ignore the dirtiness look from around the new faucet - it's from the old faucet and it scrubs out. I just need to buy a toothbrush to get in the little nooks around it. I bought this conversion kit for the claw foot tub from Clawfoot Supply. They are very fast with shipping, and while expensive, you get what you pay for -- it's good quality. (And please ignore the ugly wallpaper. I haven't redone that bathroom for good reason! There isn't any electricity that goes to it, and it just recently got in working order. It used to flood the floor below it, but it doesn't anymore!! And for light, I use a battery powered light.)

FO: Brea Bag

2007-11-25T22:36:00.000-08:00

You can't believe it's finished?! Me either!

It's a delightful pattern. And quick (if you finish things..). I had this done a long time ago, but kept dragging my feet on getting a handle, then lining it. It is my first lined bag. I cut out three pieces of fabric: the front, back, and gusset. I sewed those together, then turned the bag inside out and pinned it in. Then, I whip stitched it in.

I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca (2 skeins), and I love love this yarn. It's soft and beautiful. The pattern is the Brea Bag, a free pattern from Berroco. I got my handle from Webs. My lining was bought from a local quilting store.

Also, my blogging and emailing are slow this week because my laptop died. (I think {hope} it is just the battery/power cord.) So, I finally set up my desktop downstairs, but it's very cold down here!

Some works in progress

2007-11-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've finally got some pictures of stuff in progress. Nothing that fantastic, but proof I've been knitting (at least some!).

The beginnings of a Pomatomus sock. This was after I ripped out three different patterns on vacations after I knit practically each sock. My husband was really rolling his eyes about that.

A tangled yoke body. I've started on the first sleeve now.

I am off now to order a shower-tub attachment thing. It attaches to the old claw-foot tubs so you can shower. It's expensive, but I'm tired of not having one. Hopefully, I'll have pretty pictures of that in a few weeks!!

In the knitting dumps

2007-11-15T01:15:00.000-08:00

I am in the knitting dumps. I took socks with me on vacation. I had half a sock knitted in the Drunken Bees pattern by domesticat, and ripped it out because it didn't suit the yarn. (Beautiful pattern, though, but needs a solid colorway.) Then, I knitted different patterns with my yarn with several false starts. Finally, I settled on Pomatomus. I am not even halfway down the leg. My husband just kept trying to figure out why I kept ripping out these socks - and honestly I don't know why either. None of them suited me. I could have had a pair of socks knitted by this time if I would quit frogging what I started.

I am also in the knitting dumps because I'm so tired this week - all I do is sleep when I get home. I also need to pass a certification in Advanced Pediatric Life Support on November 27th, so I'll be studying, studying, studying from now til then, which cuts into my knitting.

No time or energy for knitting - just puts me in the knitting dumps.

On another note, my cats have been driving me nuts since we got home. Sam, the one we bottle-fed and is now 6 years old, is our huge baby, and he now stands beside me and cries until I hold him. I think I traumatized him by leaving so long - even though we had two people coming to the house to check on them twice a day!!

I will be getting some vacation pictures up on Flickr soon hopefully. And I promise some kitty and knitting pictures soon because I know a pictureless blog is a boring blog!

I'm back...

2007-11-14T00:33:00.000-08:00

and here is some eye candy while I rest up. I promise more pictures later! This is the view from right outside our villa.

This blog is on vacation...

2007-11-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

I will be gone for the next 7-8 days. I will be soaking up some much needed sunshine down in the British Virgin Islands.

When I come back, I hope to have lots of pretty things to show you!