tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111993292024-03-23T13:49:44.979-04:00faeriedreamz...life... crafting...knitting...Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-5868327637881421842020-07-07T09:11:00.001-04:002020-07-07T10:05:39.136-04:00Day 2Weighed in at 255.6 this morning. Did 30 minutes of cardio last night. I probably will need to do yoga for a few weeks before starting cardio again. I hurt a bit today. But it's a good start :)Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-78183631227028191522020-07-06T14:54:00.002-04:002020-07-06T14:54:53.431-04:00Today is the first day of the rest of my lifeYesterday I weighed in at 257 pounds. Before I start explaining, let me note that in 2018, I was 299. I've lost over 35 pounds and kept it off for over 2 years. I'm super proud of that, but the journey continues.<br />
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During the stay-at-home mandate, I lost about 15 pounds. Healthy eating, cutting carbs, lots of veggies, protein and healthy oils. But then I gained all 15 pounds back after started eating more "normally". It's a combination of introducing foods higher in carbs and craving sweets so much. (I really think it's the sweets. I wasn't eating a ton of sugar, but i was constantly craving sweet things.)<br />
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Now, since the 4th is over, I'm thinking about how to get back to my healthier life style choices. How do i keep my Calorie intake under 1500 cal/day? How do I implement the healthier lifestyle choices I want, but still sometimes have bread? Can I enjoy breakfast at my favorite joint on Saturdays and still eat "healthy"? If I implement exercise more often, will I able to indulge occasionally without totally rebounding?<br />
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So I thought I'd start here. Maybe I'll weight in daily. Maybe I will post my food intake. Maybe I'll have the courage to share my journey.<br />
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This person on youtube is my inspiration for figuring out how to move forward.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Beatrice Caruso </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qEE7JK20H0-Ot7Mr6ozJQ">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qEE7JK20H0-Ot7Mr6ozJQ</a><br />
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I my goal isn't to lose every pound, or to become super slim... I just want to feel healthy. I want to wear the next smaller size shorts, I want to continue to progress. I have a personal goal - the fat that sits over my pelvis - I want that gone. Some people call it an "apron". Losing that might be enough, or it might help me move to the next stage. This isn't about a number, but instead about feeling like my weight doesn't define me.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-50115979594671803312016-02-19T09:25:00.000-05:002016-02-19T09:25:07.553-05:00Bead crochet is all the rage in my head. It's been a couple of months, actually. During the Christmas break from work, I had a dear friend over to play with beads - she has a small stash, and felt like she wasn't getting enough out of them. I was thrilled to have a reason to pull mine out. She wanted to learn bead crochet, but i started her on the peyote stitch, because my bead collection had been spread out, and it took me a bit of time to find all the bead crochet stuff.<br />
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We never got that far, she fell in love with peyote; but I remembered how i like to bead crochet, and off i went.<br />
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I'll share pictures of those bracelets, and my process and materials as I have time. <br />
In the mean time, I want to share something else... beading of course.<br />
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Over the course of years beading, I have come to rely on the bead mats that are commercially available. The first time I found them, I was at my local bead shop - I have several available, but one favorite stands head and shoulders above the rest :)<br />
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I took home a 9x12 piece of vellux like fabric, and the rest was history. I'm a convert! Someone at the same bead shop even showed me how to fold the fabric to take it with me! However, I'm a klutz, and often in a rush. Taking the time to pack it up nicely didn't always work out.<br />
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When we were at Michaels on Valentines day (because who doesn't go to Michaels on Valentines day?), Brian bought me <a href="http://www.beadbuddy.net/images/Design%20Save%20'n%20Go%20Junior.jpg" target="_blank">this</a>:<br />
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Item is nice, well made, but the hinge is very very hard to open without jostling, and I fear that my klutz will send the bead flying - the whole purpose is not to do that!<br />
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I was determined to take the concept and make it work for me! But how? I can't really manufacture small cases. I started googling, and found this gem on Pinterest! http://itsallaboutcreating.blogspot.com/2009/11/portable-beading.html<br />
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Well the hunt was on! But it's very cold here, and I like to traipse around to various stores on warm days - so I decided to hit the Dollar Tree on the way home.<br />
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They didn't have any of the slim baby wipes cases - and I'm wondering if they have fallen out of fashion! So instead, I bought a screwdriver set with a case, and an Eyeshadow case. <br />
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Here is the updated Eye Shadow case:<br />
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I had to fill each of the individual pockets with a layer of vellux, and then i glued a large layer over the whole thing. It's still drying in the corners, but I am excited to give it a try. I expect I'll make cases out of leftover or cheap plastic cases whenever i can find them. </div>
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I'm still looking for slim diaper cases, so I posted to facebook to see if any of my mom friends could point me in the right direction!<br />
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Happy crafting!<br />
<br />Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-53344373370497992372010-05-21T12:55:00.000-04:002010-05-21T12:55:43.900-04:00Mother's Day 2010This year for Mother's Day, I found the perfect pattern about 6 weeks ago. Now, understand that my mom has lost an incredible amount of weight! This makes sweater building in short time much more doable. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64585278@N00/4595860509/" linkindex="203" title="Untitled by faeriedreamz, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1045/4595860509_43c71be3c1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is Nicole. Her chest is clearly larger than the intended size, but she was checking fit for me while we were out to lunch one day!</span><br />
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This sweater is <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/KSPATTtappanzee.php" linkindex="204">Tappan Zee</a> from knitty.com. I modified it just a hair, and used commerical yarn I picked up at Webs several years ago. (I bought it site unseen, and the color was "scarlet". It's not any scarlet I've ever seen before!) My mods are slightly longer sleeves, so mom can lift her arms without exposing her arm pits - just a comfort thing, and extending the buttons down the front. Mom would have very little use for a cardigan that didn't have buttons all the way down. She seems pretty happy with it - if the pictures can be trusted :)<br />
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I have a limited amount of time, and unless I plan something super far in advance, most people will see me knitting a gift that is for them. I usually refuse to answer questions about it, or deflect questions by trying it on myself when people ask. It doesn't always work, but sometimes. This was one of those times. As mom pulled it out of the basket I put it in, she said, "Oh, I hoped it was for me!"<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64585278@N00/4595886897/" linkindex="205" title=" by faeriedreamz, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/4595886897_050efc0c77.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mom, wearing her new sweater outside my house. She liked the photo so much, it's her facebook photo now! </span><br />
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I'm really proud of her - her weight loss in particular, but her in general. She is an awesome mom, who deserves high praise for raising 2 beautiful, intelligent and well behaved daughters and a clever, intelligent, sweet and loving son. Go mom!<br />
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May me and my siblings children be as blessed by us, as we are by you!<br />
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Happy Mother's Day.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-59698170409449000222009-10-23T08:48:00.000-04:002009-10-23T08:48:15.562-04:00a little bit of sock knittingI haven't started blocking that shawl yet. We got a rug last week, and installed it over the week, but I haven't gotten the shawl blocked yet. :(<br />
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I have, however, been studying and reading Cat Bordhi's new book, <i>Personal Footprints: for Insouciant* Sock Knitters</i>. It's really fascinating. If you are a sock knitter, or interested in a different construction style for socks, you should check out her <a href="http://www.catbordhi.com/PF.html">page</a> about the book, and the successive videos. It's incredibly simple and soooo smart. i will say this, however, if you choose to deviate from Cat's instructions (such as figuring you will mark the lifelines later... ) well, you might regret it. I did! Pictures when i get the sock done... but i think my love affair with sock knitting will continue!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-5778119405373401362009-10-15T09:30:00.000-04:002009-10-15T09:30:46.649-04:00Shipwreck Shawl - or what I spent my summer working onThe largest project I worked on this summer was the <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTshipwreck.php">Shipwreck Shawl</a> from knitty.com. My dear friend at work, Nicole, saw the shawl in the Summer issue. I hestitated because shawls are really big undertakings - especially "Pi" shawls. I haven't yet finished my first "Pi" shawl! I didn't know if I could do it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cH1MxL2DS-bYSqhxyaZ13-E9ZnbmFBa52_4gePH-qotf71nDrU4TBtw18KYek1MCv4au6gzPNdhc7Q8sVTI82gDTGvt0bKIpyX8oWwTe4cjOAM-a2bdIudeDlBGk7x_CuofX/s1600-h/shawl_MG_6602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cH1MxL2DS-bYSqhxyaZ13-E9ZnbmFBa52_4gePH-qotf71nDrU4TBtw18KYek1MCv4au6gzPNdhc7Q8sVTI82gDTGvt0bKIpyX8oWwTe4cjOAM-a2bdIudeDlBGk7x_CuofX/s320/shawl_MG_6602.JPG" /></a>However, I am not above bribery - and Nicole can be very persuasive and also, insistent when she needs to be, and I desperately needed a software license for a problem at work. I wasn't getting one from the contacts I had, so i figured I'd ask Nicole. I offered the shawl as a bribe, and she accepted.<br />
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(You also need to know that this is the woman who rushed me to the hospital when my husband was in a car accident - our only car - and stayed in the ER till 3/4 in the morning to drive us home. Nicole gets bribed with shawls for a reason ;) )<br />
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She took care of my issue, and I started working on the problem. I also started trying to find yarn for the shawl; the grey in the picture was really appealing, and I was hesitant to put an order into KnitPicks. A few days later, I stopped to visit the Sunday afternoon knitting group that meets in the Chili area. Some of the lovely ladies were giving away yarn. FOR FREE. I like free. I can afford free. So, even though I knew I was moving in a few short weeks, I took the free yarn gratefully. I got 5 balls of a lovely heathered gray yarn that was soft and shiny and pretty. I showed Nicole the next day, and she loved it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb_mO_9YbJpp8_a9FB2LMyZpMqlUxy-3Lj2OhbbQZV7INkaoU-lhYfUbKWV0SHkt5INA23G6Z-J0_qH3WTecqaN7CF7uiqF47uRKQ4B7BydLtDosxbGMympA3jR6A27N9Qhav/s1600-h/shawl_MG_6609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb_mO_9YbJpp8_a9FB2LMyZpMqlUxy-3Lj2OhbbQZV7INkaoU-lhYfUbKWV0SHkt5INA23G6Z-J0_qH3WTecqaN7CF7uiqF47uRKQ4B7BydLtDosxbGMympA3jR6A27N9Qhav/s320/shawl_MG_6609.JPG" /></a>I started the shawl. I worked the first 2 patterns quickly... then came the <span class="boldUL">Madeira </span>Leaf pattern. I put the shawl down. i had a brief affair with Kumihimo. I picked up the shawl again. I worked the first leaf in the <span class="boldUL">Madeira </span>pattern. I put the shawl down and worked on something little. I picked the shawl back up and started the second <span class="boldUL">Madeira</span> leaf. About 5 rows into 2nd leaf of the pattern, I realized i had screwed something up. I ripped back. I started again. I knit to about 5 rows from the finish, and realized I had screwed up the pattern. I ripped back. I did a mini-swatch to show myself what the 2nd half of the Madeira Leaf looked like. I liked it. I picked up all the stitches and knit another 5 rows. They were wrong.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspSFh2nazfpqnYAmadKHNXqnMEhotwsZ7itVyF3v3wZkUxQcx5TEqHwo29Wnwg2CDNOhSZzLfDQ-hktPG5S-2ymsMpJBuMycHu-DZcvJbQTiN_vCUC6jkqKG_g9I3561xgA_s/s1600-h/shawl_MG_6605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspSFh2nazfpqnYAmadKHNXqnMEhotwsZ7itVyF3v3wZkUxQcx5TEqHwo29Wnwg2CDNOhSZzLfDQ-hktPG5S-2ymsMpJBuMycHu-DZcvJbQTiN_vCUC6jkqKG_g9I3561xgA_s/s320/shawl_MG_6605.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>I finally resorted to having my husband make me enough metal rings (with an old knitting needle and some heavy gauge wire) that I could put one every 10 stitch repeat. I finished the Madeira pattern a few days later.<br />
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Then, finally it was onto the yo, k2tog section. It's a lovely section, and it is where you can add beads if you like. Nicole didn't think beads were necessary, so i didn't add them. I thought this would be my favorite part because the needle size increased, and the pattern was a no-brainer. <br />
I didn't end up going up in needle size for the first round of yo, k2tog; another result of misreading the pattern. It was for the best, however.<br />
In the picture, that is as far as i could go - I had used 3 full balls, and coudln't find the other 2. I spent a week looking for them. It was rather depressing.<br />
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I finally found them, in my bedroom, behind something, and I ran through the house shouting!<br />
I made it to the 149th row before I ran out of yarn completely.I had to find a close shade of grey to finish the shawl, and then I found a contrasting yarn to finish the shawl. It is lovely, and I am so proud.<br />
I'll post completed pictures when I have blocked the shawl.<br />
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When I started, i forgot that I was moving into an apartment with all wooden floors. Good thing I need an area rug in the living room... I should be able to block onto that!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-58359123659419531312009-10-08T15:31:00.000-04:002009-10-08T15:31:46.990-04:00creative juices flowingIt's been a busy year. So busy, that I just didn't update my blog since January 1. That is either a) a very busy year or b) a very lazy blogger. We'll just chalk it up to very busy, right? ;) (wow, i just checked, and I had 3 posts I never actually posted...)<br />
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My job is going strong, and I am very grateful to be working; especially as people around me are worried about dropping like flies. My husband is doing well, and his shoulder injury has been completely healed. (His depression too!) We have moved to a wonderful 3.5 bedroom apartment with two full bathrooms and a full sized kitchen! I love it. Our kitties are doing well, and the knitting is going well too.<br />
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A few weeks ago, I decided to dye my own yarn for my very own <a href="http://knitquest.typepad.com/knit_quest/2009/03/shawl-that-jazz.html">Shawl That Jazz</a>. Now, before I tell you the about the dying process, let me tell you about the yarn.<br />
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After buying the much lusted over pattern, I pondered what yarn I would use. The biggest difficulty in this decision being that the sock yarn the pattern calls for is probably between $10-$15 dollars a ball, depending, of course, on where I buy the yarn, and what colorway and so on and so forth. I figured that I couldn't afford the called for yarn, but substituting would still cost me $50+. I just don't have that kind of money for yarn investing right now. But I woke up early on a Saturday morning <b>yearning </b>to cast on for this lovely knit.<br />
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My fate was sealed, it seemed, a yarn store must be visited, and my husband would have to be convinced that this yarn was a *need*... Then it occurred to me that we have a <a href="http://www.craftbitsandpieces.com/">lovely, amazing, and inexpensive craft store</a> in the area I live in.<br />
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If you click on the link, you can read all about the store.<br />
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While this store has never disappointed, finding a sock weight wool would be iffy, at best. They depend solely on donations to stock the store, and when the product is sold, it is gone for good. This is good and bad. It's easy to walk away if they don't have exactly what you want, but it's hard to walk away if you don't <i>know</i> what you want.<br />
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I found 10 skeins of a nice light weight yarn that is probably an icelandic wool... 100% wool, but I paid a mere $16!!!<br />
I was dumbfounded.<br />
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I had to protect it, as some other dyers spotted it <i>in my arms</i>, while i was<i> in line</i> and tried to wrestle it away from me.They were of course, rather unsuccessful, but turned out to be very nice, crazy knitters and dyers, like myself. (Kindred spirits, perhaps?) I, of course, would never try to wrestle someone else's good find out of their arms in a store.<br />
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My husband made me a simple warping board, and I warped this yarn to a full 8 feet. After warping all 10 skeins (several nights of internet tv later...), I gathered all the skiens and tied them together in the same places. I then put 3 pots of dye on my stove, and dipped the yarns in several places. I am absolutely floored by the results.<br />
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My wonderful and caring husband helped me deal with separating the skeins after dying. My techinique was designed to make all 10 skeins close to identical, so I dyed ALL of them at once. While it worked fabulously, the skeins became tangled with each other. We had to take them outside, hang them on the fence, and untangle each 8 ft skein one at a time. Fortunately, the skeins were individually tied, so it wasn't too bad.<br />
We hung each skein separately to dry, and waited.<br />
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I finally got to de-skein a few, and I was so happy with the results. I started knitting on my shawl, and it is the prettiest shawl I ever did see. I am very pleased with it. :) Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-46492183737608816352009-01-01T22:43:00.003-05:002009-01-01T23:09:47.276-05:00knitting with new needles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RRhOBrmwWOLHmcN-r0IU00Kw6GNeGfaRc_ry57iAOOm8cWqa1zmLU_XPr3ZtGVLIa9_h1lvBpiIcA5vrEHWw3lwaIiPSCfQQjP-xdhiv5nWI50mq7YLWm4YPTGV4G5uDcnaD/s1600-h/Photo+193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RRhOBrmwWOLHmcN-r0IU00Kw6GNeGfaRc_ry57iAOOm8cWqa1zmLU_XPr3ZtGVLIa9_h1lvBpiIcA5vrEHWw3lwaIiPSCfQQjP-xdhiv5nWI50mq7YLWm4YPTGV4G5uDcnaD/s320/Photo+193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286541586404009890" border="0" /></a><br />It's a new year and I thought I would share about my beautiful Christmas presents! My new hubby was a good boy, and got me stuff on my list.<br />What was under my tree this year?<br />- Knit Picks Interchangeable Knitting Needles<br />- Knit Picks Interchangeable Wooden Knitting Needles<br />- <span style="font-style: italic;">Jan Messent's Knit a Fantasy Story</span> by Jan Messent<br />- a vacuum cleaner (it was on the list, and it totally rocks)<br /><br />My knit picks needles are super impressive. They are comfortable, the su<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q0MGvmDu6_n3kHJmvhyPHgXmVUlrLUlQU1qPt_QYzI-ul-MBt9rB2x0w3w_3Cin4nWMLMoQRbuL_e9_vhyEjEcPmweZFVzp2tIVdSsdcQdzDyNhgeZp9_naHy5KiXbCFvF8X/s1600-h/Photo+202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q0MGvmDu6_n3kHJmvhyPHgXmVUlrLUlQU1qPt_QYzI-ul-MBt9rB2x0w3w_3Cin4nWMLMoQRbuL_e9_vhyEjEcPmweZFVzp2tIVdSsdcQdzDyNhgeZp9_naHy5KiXbCFvF8X/s320/Photo+202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286541596872957234" border="0" /></a>per flexible cables allow me to make anything without the extra strain on my wrists, and they are sooo pretty!<br /><br />Hubby also took me to the Cultured Purl in Erie, PA. This was a great visit, and I got some lovely sock weight yarns to make <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTmaja.php">Maja</a>. I am not sure it will work, but I am going to give it a try.<br /><br />I also made hubby a pair of warm gloves for removing snow from the car, and am working on a crochet scarf for my sister. My mom's <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a> is moving along at a snail's pace. This is, of course my fault, for giving in to the Siren song of much quicker projects - like glo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg021q0sns6-HhbxxS2tq1AWFVigJnkXyCJg1FAHZK4Zc-f9EJnH0G0eGUEZpmWp9RS772lNfo9qq1kjRZCWFCt5poVCVcB9Ze9zXvrkXTmTe3-8zE2XVBithZ6L1j9QVQORv5K/s1600-h/Photo+198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg021q0sns6-HhbxxS2tq1AWFVigJnkXyCJg1FAHZK4Zc-f9EJnH0G0eGUEZpmWp9RS772lNfo9qq1kjRZCWFCt5poVCVcB9Ze9zXvrkXTmTe3-8zE2XVBithZ6L1j9QVQORv5K/s320/Photo+198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286541591692956466" border="0" /></a>ves, scarves, mittens, and hats. So much for the Christmas Deadline I gave myself.<br /><br />Hopefully I will move ahead with that project, now that life should quiet down a bit. The holidays definitely had me moving in 4 different directions all the time.<br /><br />Pictures are of the hat I knit for the Hat Attack 2! competition and my sister's birthday gift. The brown and mint is the competition hat, and the blue is Kari's requested present. Pretty awesome :) Oh, yea, I dyed the blue yarn myself. The brown and mint is Therapi from SWTC. I don't recommend it.<br /><br />That's all for now! Happy New Year to us all!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-30791876778004290442008-02-13T00:49:00.002-05:002008-02-13T01:20:07.610-05:00Socks are Done!I am being relatively productive lately! It's rather a relief to have them done, completely. But I will say that this method of sock making is wonderful! I really hope I get the Cat Bordhi book for my birthday, so i can make socks like a mad woman. I am severely tempted to start a new pair... but before I go on about that... here are some awful pictures of the finished products. Do me a favor and just enjoy that the socks are done.... cus the pictures really suck.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64585278@N00/2262406992/" title="red and yellow mom socks2 by faeriedreamz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2262406992_2a719fb47e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="red and yellow mom socks2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64585278@N00/2262402722/" title="red and yellow mom socks by faeriedreamz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2262402722_5b56e890cf.jpg" width="298" height="340" alt="red and yellow mom socks" /></a><br /><br />I am also contemplating making myself another cardigan. I love the blue one, but it is such a particular color that it doesn't match many of the clothes I wear. I am considering <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTgreenjeans.html">this cardigan</a> from Knitty. I have some lovely plum colored yarn from China, my friend Arpad brought back for me. The only problem is that there is only 500 yards... and the pattern is calling for about 565. My assumption is that it won't really end up mattering all that much... but who knows. I have to get gauge (and then maintain it) first.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-51824822006447385862008-02-04T21:13:00.001-05:002008-02-04T22:03:10.393-05:00not so muchFeeling pretty crappy right now. Missing my trucking beau a bit more than I would like. It's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnnOoD5ZoR_w2PrPwjKrSB5cF1fQIQKbfzFYfOVSCbB8w5wjclPrDK6qURzWDi2DQO9ZKyPEHE5JAGKBjFnyKsr4hFZEjUsdcSfs8Q-57G6gL86_Ef-9YjELYZPO-sQe7FIxK/s1600-h/Photo+182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnnOoD5ZoR_w2PrPwjKrSB5cF1fQIQKbfzFYfOVSCbB8w5wjclPrDK6qURzWDi2DQO9ZKyPEHE5JAGKBjFnyKsr4hFZEjUsdcSfs8Q-57G6gL86_Ef-9YjELYZPO-sQe7FIxK/s320/Photo+182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163322454902421426" border="0" /></a> good that I miss him, but I wish I could turn off the loneliness feeling sometimes. Right now, I am letting school and knitting and work keep me busy. My boss is working on a new book right now, so I am very excited because I get to put it all together, and get templates set up for InDesign and make the equations pop in the right spots... :) So that is generally a thing to be excited about.<br /><br />My Tolstoy class is making me fall in love with Leo Tolstoy. The short stories were not fun, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Anna Karenina </span>is rather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnH2eZXHnCMa6pIub_GIaKhPq3rakgqINmlhyphenhyphenWpzaLoaeGC_MSlBwHyNZzX5g6XAJmptvyseN2MJHK8ub9HhGK4AP6PVt2vX-WNLp-l9MDYI1vu8hyXnGSXrvCHI66oghbQk2/s1600-h/Photo+179.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnH2eZXHnCMa6pIub_GIaKhPq3rakgqINmlhyphenhyphenWpzaLoaeGC_MSlBwHyNZzX5g6XAJmptvyseN2MJHK8ub9HhGK4AP6PVt2vX-WNLp-l9MDYI1vu8hyXnGSXrvCHI66oghbQk2/s320/Photo+179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163322003930855330" border="0" /></a> interesting, and shows what an excellent writer Tolstoy is. Long winded, to be sure, but excellent, none the less.<br /><br />And knitting has been actually accomplishing something recently.<br />This is a gift for Brian's friends, they just had a baby girl. She was born about a month ago, but it will still be useful! I have to contact them to get together and give the blanket to her. Hopefully, it will be well received.<br /><br />I have been working on this silly hat for a while. It is a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTtam.html">tam</a> from Knitty... unfortunately, I am<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5PM7-u7fnXWg31TBcNYKF2LwnOBR-wGehl-J6_fTdGCSqIkzPTM0p8b6ZeXaASfQmHkCJTmfk7fIqz19eMA8SrTh-e1xMEO0qGflXdsXmLMiS7QvPSg6x899p9ghKSZMZGXy/s1600-h/Photo+184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5PM7-u7fnXWg31TBcNYKF2LwnOBR-wGehl-J6_fTdGCSqIkzPTM0p8b6ZeXaASfQmHkCJTmfk7fIqz19eMA8SrTh-e1xMEO0qGflXdsXmLMiS7QvPSg6x899p9ghKSZMZGXy/s320/Photo+184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163323756277512130" border="0" /></a> not that happy with it either. I think it has more to do with my dissatisfaction with the black yarn... it doesn't feel so nice. I can't wait to get to the petals, though, those will be much prettier, easier, and appealing to work on.<br /><br />Finally some mom socks. I got this Cascade yarn on sale at <a href="http://annabananausa.com/">Anna Banana & From Her Hands</a>. She told me recently that they can be shorter than I am used to. Hopefully they will be done soon. I am knitting them top down on one long addi turbo, size 0, I think. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />I am hoping I feel better emotionally, soon... it's not easy being so far from Brian all the time...Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-29513461557033877432008-01-27T12:05:00.001-05:002008-01-27T12:24:05.929-05:00it hasn't even been a month yet!I would really like to be more accountable for my atrocious knitting habits... I was listening to the Lime and Violet podcast and realized that I probably have at least as many UFO's as Violet does. I think that is... impressive. Maybe "impressive" isn't the right word. I should probably do something about that... but I just keep putting it off, and casting on new things. (for instance, last night I wanted to make socks. Now rather than just pick up the yarn for a mate to sock 1, completed in September, I think; I just found new yarn and started a new sock.... yea, that is smart)<br /><br />i haven't spun in ages either. I could blame it on a number of things that are going on in my life, but it is probably mostly due to laziness. When I am free, I just want to veg out and watch TV or peruse the internet. I will probably pick it back up soon... because I do miss it; but I also want to take a class or two so that I feel more confident about what I am actually doing.<br /><br />In other news, I have become obsessed with obtaining <span style="font-style: italic;">New Pathways for Sock Knitters</span> by Cat Bordhi. I have two problems in this regard. 1. it costs money. 2. It costs money. Right now, things are tight, and extra money is a rare commodity. I owe my dear frien<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYAQrC3qyVweF_WfXQq-p_15RbSULl-Uu9wPNqRt2LsDKUoEkD7peQULLj0KeOdBIhxhXE19aCZZIncGAM59agYywokR8uAp3MBK7k-HQCcFCLOKbYDhpPNfoviog82Ekvgt6/s1600-h/mittens+together.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYAQrC3qyVweF_WfXQq-p_15RbSULl-Uu9wPNqRt2LsDKUoEkD7peQULLj0KeOdBIhxhXE19aCZZIncGAM59agYywokR8uAp3MBK7k-HQCcFCLOKbYDhpPNfoviog82Ekvgt6/s320/mittens+together.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160206627927865234" border="0" /></a>d arpad 2 steak dinners about now, for all the times he has covered me... and it has been hard. So i can't justify spending $30 dollars I don't have.... BUT I WANT THE BOOK...<br /><br />It is coveteousness... it really is. :( <br /><br />Now for pretty pictures. Here are the mittens I made for Lizzy and Audrey from church. they haven't seen them yet, so don't spoil the surprise!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-35764476193326877592008-01-15T17:20:00.001-05:002008-01-15T17:29:30.041-05:00Mission: Possible 2008Ok, so random blogging, but I really like this idea... Julie from <a href="http://scrubberbum.typepad.com/moth_heaven/2008/01/mission-possibl.html">Moth Heaven</a> posted about it. It's called Mission: Possible 2008. I guess you figure out what 12 ufo's you have, and you get to it; committing to one UFO per month. I guess you can do more with this... learn new skills and all, but I prefer just to stick to the UFO problem. I have plenty of those.<br /><br />1. Amigurumi Doll... I have 2 legs, and the start of a body.<br />2. knitted gloves posted on ravelry<br />3. mom's jungle socks (One is almost done... )<br />4. Judy's Celtic shawl... started but not worked on recently<br />....<br />Right now that is all I can think of that I actually intend to finish; however, I know that there are many more. I will post them as I come up with them!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-80794104058279780752007-12-25T20:19:00.000-05:002007-12-25T20:47:49.871-05:00fabulous banana breadA few weeks ago, when i was sick, Brian brought me some Bananas. He got funky little bananas; they were cheap, and there were a lot of them. They were called Nino bananas. Now bananas are not something I enjoy a lot, and I tried this banana, and it was just too sweet for me.<br />Brian wasn't happy with it either, thinking that it was a grassy banana.<br /><br />It didn't take long for the bananas to darken, so we decided to make banana bread, and it is highly praised. There were about 12-14 bananas on the bunch, so I made a big batch.<br /><br />fabulous banana bread!<br /><br />2 cups sugar<br />1 1/2 cups brown sugar<br />2 cups margarine<br />4 eggs<br />8 cups of flour<br />4 teaspoons of baking soda<br />2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice<br />grated cinnimon (off of a stick)<br />shake or 3 of salt<br />3-4 cups mashed nino bananas<br />1/4 cup milk<br /><br />Cream sugars and margarine. Add eggs and mix in. In a separate big, big bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and spices. Mix together.<br />You can mash banana's by hand; or you can use a blender or magic bullet. Add the 1/4 cup milk to bananas to add some hydration. (I really pureed my bananas to death.) Mix into wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until blended. <br />Grease and flour several pans; I made 5 mini loaves, 2 regular sized loaves, and 1 big loaf of banana bread; all of the loaf pans were the disposable aluminum pans from the store. Fill loaf pans 1/2 to 3/4 and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour.<br /><br />If you make it, let me know if you like it!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-4865871489371658662007-12-03T16:54:00.000-05:002007-12-03T17:21:41.771-05:00i finally found my camera batteries and charger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKJ9Fz61GJxylomw2qhlayFcx6xwwZmC-o6vt_4LYdhFKwZ6IB8CpbHp19XdvKOK7TNYHb7Cg41CIlRagzCKzwaFsazcuwSb4iUQKECQPbrBcvuF_YAkuByUVphAwbCOkS-63/s1600-r/stephanie+hat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPbSw4j3UJzNjCnDzgBZggg6zacKLKtKRMocC0q5SqMgAyJDCJXRgR8rXKN09G77KRV465Pgb1D9VFPFtkTx57hu7ptsUwp972ryKrymW7SM4bmsvCPj3flxSVy5cwmYU5b77/s320/stephanie+hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139870564454861298" border="0" /></a>but don't think that means you'll get pictures. because while I have all that awesome stuff, it's not with me. Maybe you'll get a shitty computer-camera pic.... I'll check and see what I can find.<br />Anyway let me explain what I am showing you. First up is the hat I made using the StepYou are so lucky! You get halfway decent photos today. But only half way- don't be expecting too much! I'm having that time of the month. hanie Pearl-McPhee <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/11/06/an_unoriginal_hat.html">pattern</a>. It is the second hat dubbed "tele-tubby" by friends (read: jerks). I got a bunch of heavy thick acrylic yarns from Jen, and honestly what better way to use them<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9xCfVCmWrbBU2RThL8q-xdiN9oF9KZvqm0jjmHrLrTWHxERQ9QYEX11M-ToU2a9jt6z2Fn_aZjiBhE9gI21xOFI-PDq9bl9j4ozcs4GcmAxjJtp5R8gZRcGa7BdkTokfDt9p/s1600-r/Judy+shawl+-+aran+braid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlmPLjbtCoxuQdTv8n-qkIPVlxfE6s_fjHMbt18-4pGp8jRxMnpFbOF13Xl_hLXYXlFvTMNOvtT6yGmpSZBUpj02Ts5wKt3tUCT-Qqz_tynQkIZfMgKwG0fwYHOiAJMGvUNsY/s320/Judy+shawl+-+aran+braid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139870568749828610" border="0" /></a> then to make big pretty hats and give them to charity. I only wish I could dye acrylic... the white is so... boring.<br />Second up we have a picture of the poncho/prayer shawl I am working on for a friend of the family. She requested a poncho eons ago, and I agreed to make it... but the yarn is aweful, and I can't bear to work with it. So, instead, I found some offwhite wool and dyed it the right-ish color. I love it. My mom thinks it's perfect, so hopefully our friend will love it too. I am making a centered cable down the front that will be the center of the cape/poncho/shawl and my idea is for the cape to open with buttons at the front. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFZgAL6EsyzJKjysLbXOujRuGRU217U9Ft9Sh7rJGhucjzkzbOH-A9Qtt2uTgVB3-QVU3P1NLwAX7aTGhsGMYCqOxofQc35TodPOJu5UA17pCzciKBxz-M1yHUtytgaGUchN0/s1600-r/handpainted+glove+yarn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66pVLkrOtdRAAeofiwcsjnCnkVhG8K8G_0p6-XREfylqL0m0oO91538-3R8cBe8IW4RO6omCYMQ9i8S9lL5G2E1pfzGztKqZqtprA4Js1-9tWL6RhWsFcqjjXzmXlMnUpo1T2/s320/handpainted+glove+yarn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139870573044795922" border="0" /></a><br />Next up is my new favorite project. I found it on Ravelry first. It is simply called "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5154376">Hand Painted Gloves"</a> but it should be called, SUPER AWESOME Fun time! Because I am so inspired and excited. I bought the pattern on etsy almost immediately after seeing it because I was so enamored. And Karen, the designer is super awesome too! She was so nice, and the layout of the pattern is so cute! Very well produced, and very much worth the cost. What really really drew me to this pattern was the fingers. They are so detailed!<br />Then I found the <a href="http://glovekal.blogspot.com/">KAL</a> and realized all the things I could do with this lovely pattern using<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF_oEbgJ3E0BGZRt70EqkJ4Mv4lJG3zX-znqC4CJu0AoLKecIFo7BSe4NTNLZszySoeP8rGIzssFGX8zLUVxJxqQvGH7wp1AT0JC2EReiFN5wNFtShgaajTA0ffftC9GSdIUG/s1600-r/handpainted+gloves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXraIvj2nxE2_naidChhm_rHOII2hnrSUG-MU3aeSqaylBE77ipiR7IhXSJDZalCxv02hIL7muzg5yK_R5KqmLE-ARayxiGhnKGaCK3Nykx1iBtO3_Eyx2F56hUcAU11SCyqu/s320/handpainted+gloves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139870577339763234" border="0" /></a> different yarns... I went stash diving and realized that I purchase handpainted multicolored yarns, almost exclusively. Rarely do I get solids... and so I justified another trip to the yarn shop. The green yarn has aloe vera in it, and was 390 yards, and only cost about $12. I got a pink too. I am making one pair as a Christmas present, and the second pair should be for moi!<br /><br />I have been knitting on the knitting machine too.. Did you know that I have a knitting machine? Well I do! But those are secret projects. Maybe I will take pictures and post after Christmas! Maybe not!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-31553844337676295942007-11-25T23:35:00.000-05:002007-11-25T23:43:40.220-05:00ThankfulThanksgiving was wonderful, and I have much to be thankful for. Firstly is Brian getting a job, and secondly is finally moving out, and thirdly is rent money! The knitting front has been good. Made two quick hats out of the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee hat I linked to in the last post. The second hat I added earflaps and a loopy top too... My friends decided it looks like a teletubby. I hope that it will fit whomever gets it better than it fits me tho. I must have a "large-ish" head for a woman. <br />The Flower City Raverly group is having a meet up on Tuesday Dec. 4th at SPOT Coffee. I hope I can make it. I would really love to meet some of the other knitters in Ro-cha-cha. I forgot to go to the WestSide Knitters group on Wednesday because I was busy baking pies and apple crisp. I remembered about 8:15, and by then it was too late to think about trying to attend. As it turns out, however, I don't think anyone else ended up going either. <br /><br />My roommate works on campus in the "OCASA" The off campus apartments and living space. Anyone can join or use OCASA, which is awesome. And if you bring your own mug, the coffee/hot chocolate/tea is free. The super awesome thing is that her boss has given her permission to have a Wednesday Craft/Movie night. So if anyone from RIT is looking to knit with friends, Wednesday night may be your night. <br /><br />I am working on two Prayer shawls for two different people. Hopefully I will get my sh*t together and post some progress pictures sooner or later. It might not be a bad idea to scan in my ideas either... I will have to work on that :)Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-52634791884657327072007-11-12T15:25:00.000-05:002007-11-12T15:49:41.975-05:00an update, finally<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpOFZRKzvEoXxMxhOU2JHpdwMb1DVC_XtapJxaNVVUnlVfNOIt3BF1ihDL8-IHRB5VnuREzlxO9Vo0iaowdDDQu4DcfG7IdYL3_JMtsVc2YUOAOLR_UL3mjqhWPTJ6B7eqNHz/s1600-h/kaylee_is_cute.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpOFZRKzvEoXxMxhOU2JHpdwMb1DVC_XtapJxaNVVUnlVfNOIt3BF1ihDL8-IHRB5VnuREzlxO9Vo0iaowdDDQu4DcfG7IdYL3_JMtsVc2YUOAOLR_UL3mjqhWPTJ6B7eqNHz/s320/kaylee_is_cute.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132058484046974914" border="0" /></a><br />Wow, look, I forgot to blog!<br /><br />(BTW, the super kitten on the knittin' is Kaylee, my sister's baby kitty.... I just had to throw some love in there!)<br />Big surprise... anyway... It's finals week. Brian is over the road officially. He came back for a week to visit (YEA!) and then went out again. I expect to see him around Thanksgiving; should be fun times. Things got so much easier after those first few days of missing him, and school got MUCH more busy (or did I loose my focus?).<br /><br />I finished an entire project, but took pictures with the wrong camera, and don't have copies to share. I also did a <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/11/06/an_unoriginal_hat.html">quick chunky hat</a> thanks to the Yarn Harlot, and am onto a second one.<br />I am also working on a small prayer shawl for a friend. It is fashioned after the Interweave Holiday Gifts <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/holiday/holidaygifts/gifts_preview.asp">Candy Stripes Kerchief</a>. I can't wait to finish it. I also pulled out some socks for me to work on. They were supposed to be for Brian, but it has been so very cold that I would almost prefer to be selfish about it! He hasn't complained of the cold yet, but he didn't take his handmade socks with him either. Ah well. I am not too concerned.<br /><br />I am also contemplating the Persuasion Afghan from Lion Brand. Not in the colors pictured, of course... ( I would link to it, but you have to login to look at it, and it isn't that exciting. ) It's mostly a mitered square afghan, only crochet instead of knitting!<br /><br />We'll see what actually happens!Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-58238719913799193432007-10-13T23:46:00.000-04:002007-10-14T00:51:32.956-04:00sadEver feel really really sad when you know you should be happy?<br />Well, that is how I feel today. Brian left yesterday for N. Carolina. He was hired by Maverick, and while I am so excited about him driving and going around the country... my heart is sinking because I already miss him so much.<br /><br />i feel like someone has ripped a hole inside me. A big hole. You know what sucks the worst... he is doing this for me. For us, so we can have a future... and I can't get a hold of myself enough to shake the sense into me and remind myself of that. <br />this job means that we have a future. It means that my husband will be able to marry me and become my husband. It means that he loves me enough to leave all his comforts and do something that he can enjoy and be paid well for.... and instead of being grateful that things are moving, and that we can move forward, I am crying my eyes out because my gut hurts were I feel empty. <br />I feel like an ungrateful wretch.<br />i feel like i want to die. <br /><br />And he misses me at least as much as I miss him... I know he does because he called 6 or 7 times today... And it was hard to talk to him because all I wanted was to be held or kissed or cuddled... holding hands... but I didn't want to make things any harder for him... ... I am such a selfish wretch. <br /><br />I knew this would have to happen. It isn't as if someone strung this on me suddenly. I just never realized how difficult it would be for me to have him be gone... again. At least this time I know he will be back withing 6-8weeks. That is a super plus.<br /><br />God, please make this work for me. I can't do it by myself, and I can't depend on leaning on him... He needs you as much as I do... be with him too, please.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-28572931533492424622007-09-25T18:04:00.000-04:002007-09-25T18:26:29.366-04:00excitement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMegpOdujma9fKqatOkxYxZCmT6liCtVHjB0z6qlGpyVZ_O7-eX7F2DPg6puNl9EaIRoxa5b5AlLAU3wmREqBF3NYTrss7cmodWXBmjFtyPgSvfXTqBokhJPOciymV1WecBqU/s1600-h/Photo+166.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMegpOdujma9fKqatOkxYxZCmT6liCtVHjB0z6qlGpyVZ_O7-eX7F2DPg6puNl9EaIRoxa5b5AlLAU3wmREqBF3NYTrss7cmodWXBmjFtyPgSvfXTqBokhJPOciymV1WecBqU/s320/Photo+166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114267975220645842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8K3Tuj2eZnTfZx7-i7hrd1d8Y6xQaFl5AUJrdeq4BlTA3jHhyRM3eYZRcu5Q3qxi-NIe_mic9DVlle9Y0ZQwy8OYQ1KOMWPovBDYtYzOVYKADeIhGJM2quPD3LNgNvaElzZU/s1600-h/Photo+167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8K3Tuj2eZnTfZx7-i7hrd1d8Y6xQaFl5AUJrdeq4BlTA3jHhyRM3eYZRcu5Q3qxi-NIe_mic9DVlle9Y0ZQwy8OYQ1KOMWPovBDYtYzOVYKADeIhGJM2quPD3LNgNvaElzZU/s320/Photo+167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114267979515613154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnk1CmX046eljuKabWxwKZ-dx1ssy5hkQoB0EsA9qdEMuv4DgA163rYOoW7HmyTdO4gJedPw2GjNYvhTLB104CkqryDM0B09o4X_CYHtIW7ONlr6lFvWEpqrL1se1LXS2iQfb/s1600-h/Photo+168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnk1CmX046eljuKabWxwKZ-dx1ssy5hkQoB0EsA9qdEMuv4DgA163rYOoW7HmyTdO4gJedPw2GjNYvhTLB104CkqryDM0B09o4X_CYHtIW7ONlr6lFvWEpqrL1se1LXS2iQfb/s320/Photo+168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114267979515613170" border="0" /></a><br />Brian passed his CDL-A today! He is officially a trucker! He sent out an email with all the details to our friends and family today and I helped him. At this point I am just so grateful that he has passed, and can now take one of the jobs he has been pre-hired for. My hope is that he will get the Rochester area job, but honestly I don't care. Either one will work.<br /><br />In knitting news, I am almost done with my mom's birthday sweater. I think I forgot to post a picture, but it was almost done on her birthday. I sewed in one sleeve on Sunday and half of the other. All that is left is the inset neck adn weaving in ends. When I have access to a camera and halfway decent light, I will take a picture.<br /><br />For school I have been working on 2 socks on one long circular needle. I have done two mittens before, but this is the first time for two socks. As you can see I haven't gotten far, but far enough. I did top down this time, and worked with the heel gusset, usually not my favorite type of situation, but I am pleased with it. The last picture is the decreases which will lead back into the foot. I did a double decrease by knitting on each side of the extra section, and got that nice triangle shape. What's better is that the sock fits fairly well now. The hideous hot pink is a throw back from my acrylic/Lionbrand days... and while I am not opposed to it... well it IS hideous. I am hoping to get it to take up some dye... just enough to kick the neon out a bit.<br /><br />I have also decided to stop complaining. I am tired of listening to myself whine, and I think that if I stop, I will be a more pleasant person. There is actually a campaign to stop complaining... <a href="http://ccunitykc.org/">here</a>. (Look for the purple bracelet.) I don't want to be fake, and I am not going to pretend I am happy when I am not happy, but I am going to try to find a way to stop being so negative. I think that I need to work on contentedness, and stopping complaining is one way to help me do that.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-16515628989630548592007-09-18T08:45:00.000-04:002007-09-18T10:01:04.206-04:00Getting my school onSeptember is one of my favorite times of year. September is when the weather breaks. This happened on Saturday. Friday it was 85/90 degrees, and on Saturday I don't think it got over 50 degrees. This, while sad in a summer sense, makes me happy in a fall sense. I like the cooler crisper air, and the fact that the leaves are chanign colors and falling. I like watching the beauty of the season unfold around me; and there is something wonderful about that first cup of Hot Cocoa or first spoonful of homemade soup that warms you right down to your tippy toes. <br />Am I sad to see summer go? Not really. Not this time. It was a beautiful hot summer, but me and my friends took full advantage. We went to the beach at least every other weekend. We had parties at the boys apartment, we spent the lazy evenings lying around in the A/C... It was a good last summer. <br />But this new academic year promises to be exciting, full of adventure and fun. My friends and I moved out our parents homes and into our own wonderful home. I love that I love to be home. I desperately want to get home at the end of the day's classes; I love to be in my room, or my kitchen, or my living room, or visiting with my friends in their rooms. <br />September heralds the cold season, whcih heralds Christmas; and that is exciting too. I am thinking about all of the things I could make for friends and family for Christmas, and while I am not ready to start decorating, I am starting to plan. <br />This year things will be different in many ways. Money is tighter because I have to pay rent, but I love being home, and don't need to spend as much on fast food or hanging out a bookstores. Time is tigher because I have to work my 20 hour weeks, but at the same time I have a full day off on Friday - so I can sleep in and get a three day weekend! <br />This is the most exciting fall I have ever experienced, and I wake up excited (and tired) each morning of it.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-78106281271490191522007-07-29T20:52:00.000-04:002007-07-29T20:53:08.206-04:00the golden compass<object width="450" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://goldencompassmovie.com/goldenCompass_blog.swf?id=202279"></param><embed src="http://goldencompassmovie.com/goldenCompass_blog.swf?id=202279" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" menu="false" width="450" height="400"></embed></object>Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-13909149646253351752007-07-27T01:11:00.000-04:002007-07-27T01:50:43.884-04:00Buuzzzz....Bee Shawls all around!<br />I just received my kit for <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/?p=428">Knitspot's Bee Shawl</a>! So wonderful! The pattern is super detailed, and the yarn from Wooly Wonka Fibers is heavenly. What a lovely color (I went with Anne the designer and chose Tupelo Gold)! I am so excited. I don't have pictures, but perhaps tomorrow I will snag some. I am definitely putting this up in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">ravelry</a> account. I was invited recently, and have started making friends and posting. I doubt I will have a chance to get projects up in there until I am closer to moving out/in. The new apartment deal is exciting, and soon, very soon, I will know when we are moving in. Ok. I lied. I took some pictures with my "ibooth" built in camera. They aren't the best ever... but they are pictures and everyone likes pictures of wool! (What, you don't like pictures of wool? Well, what's wrong with you?)<br /><br><br />MS3 is well... I was going to say coming along, but the truth is, right now it is at a grinding halt, and I am not sure when i will have time to work on it again. Mostly it is that I reached row 100 (finished Clue 1) and now I can't figure out what is wrong with row 101. I have been tired this week, and I am sure I need more sleep if I am going to be successful. Once I have a few rows of Clue 2, I hope to move along at a better speed, but we shall see.<br /><br />Part of the reason that I ordered the Bee Shawl kit was because I expect that by the end of MS3, and the swallowtail shawl, I should be pretty darn good at this lace knitting thing. So I don't know when i will start on this, but it probably won't be this summer. :(<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAnX2tbgKH-WEp1KaIFFgQeOV5EkhXbKbLXqt98ktUqu2WmPDmWbNrXLnfR8y7g338tbjDfkNUZ2n5v5xgNBdPjayfC7JcVK4UboDNIoxhJAb9SRU2dymccPODVzivgr7WVVe/s1600-h/Photo+164.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAnX2tbgKH-WEp1KaIFFgQeOV5EkhXbKbLXqt98ktUqu2WmPDmWbNrXLnfR8y7g338tbjDfkNUZ2n5v5xgNBdPjayfC7JcVK4UboDNIoxhJAb9SRU2dymccPODVzivgr7WVVe/s320/Photo+164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091744570069573938" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzsSMKwMjqLFLxcsjvn2NmdEwSbP7gM7egM27QUTnRBy4E62vVq6SvJMhr-UPBEheQxQUgOIkFFIfUNGqRZBVHLtOWnVWKCP_CsGO9CfkUS5vurYLknF49DDe30UYvGtLYfHj/s1600-h/Photo+165.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzsSMKwMjqLFLxcsjvn2NmdEwSbP7gM7egM27QUTnRBy4E62vVq6SvJMhr-UPBEheQxQUgOIkFFIfUNGqRZBVHLtOWnVWKCP_CsGO9CfkUS5vurYLknF49DDe30UYvGtLYfHj/s320/Photo+165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091744574364541250" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-25613649970696673072007-07-24T00:38:00.000-04:002007-07-24T16:52:53.366-04:00Mystery Stole 3 update!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zYf2LAvyCzzpzWlNm6N8rY5cTANM8i1MYg5NPhb-OiQ_DXY5ZgT1gOQO40nc3ID9LIzUbXzZ2qIC7OU_aVHjGSUgsQDDJosKOKf_H3Q039UWM010mqPP284d6YO47LAdyeHw/s1600-h/Photo+147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zYf2LAvyCzzpzWlNm6N8rY5cTANM8i1MYg5NPhb-OiQ_DXY5ZgT1gOQO40nc3ID9LIzUbXzZ2qIC7OU_aVHjGSUgsQDDJosKOKf_H3Q039UWM010mqPP284d6YO47LAdyeHw/s320/Photo+147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090618824781553954" border="0" /></a><br />Surprise surprise, I am actually working on my Mystery Stole 3. I should be working on a million other projects, but I decided to work on MS3 exclusively. I think that part of my determination is that I feel I should be much more proficient at lace than I am. In order to make myself that way, I decided that I could only carry around my MS3 stole materials from now on. (Making life much more complicated for me! ) I have to have devoted knitting time to get this done. However, I have been at least mildly successful.<br />I just completed the first chart, and rather than tempt the knitting fates, I decided to wait until tomorrow to start chart 2.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-71499895381892351562007-07-06T09:33:00.000-04:002007-07-06T10:00:50.575-04:00starting new projects left and right<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91bt0nUcNQznPfARy0v9HsfP8P6JuEJw9VY-osqwrh69pisA3kE6dkhDRpuKmD8qZrmtXQMG2v99xOknG7bTH6SoFC5Z_a8TY1l7D5KQ7YlJrpWZ6ez93KH1qgZoDexCvBgBP/s1600-h/kalcal6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91bt0nUcNQznPfARy0v9HsfP8P6JuEJw9VY-osqwrh69pisA3kE6dkhDRpuKmD8qZrmtXQMG2v99xOknG7bTH6SoFC5Z_a8TY1l7D5KQ7YlJrpWZ6ez93KH1qgZoDexCvBgBP/s320/kalcal6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084077602321033698" border="0" /></a>My last purse was such a success that I am raring to start a new one!<br />I have the colors gathered, and that is start, but I'm not sure how I am going to handle it, or what the pattern will be. I am in love with the chevron look, but I want beads too, andMy last purse was such a smashing success that I can't help but make another! I have some yarn to I think that might be too much. I will keep you updated as I work, I might decide to go for something altogether different!<br />I also decided that I need more tank tops, because I am severly limited in my choice of cool summer tops... and I have the yarn for it. I am<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaD2S1Yf4fdR86FCFbIsBsJaMapkPL09qYVNUVPnlsjgc0ZhyphenhyphenosYjKfMdRBck4b6-utA7FGw_wO4_fsmZkBbCu7k5rgkweRJRkQFRT49G-mTjbZk64GVB5d205DkQxjL6YfnL/s1600-h/new+project.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaD2S1Yf4fdR86FCFbIsBsJaMapkPL09qYVNUVPnlsjgc0ZhyphenhyphenosYjKfMdRBck4b6-utA7FGw_wO4_fsmZkBbCu7k5rgkweRJRkQFRT49G-mTjbZk64GVB5d205DkQxjL6YfnL/s320/new+project.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084077602321033714" border="0" /></a> still in the swatching phase, and I have decided that I am going to make this pattern my very own, including the idea that everything is going to fit me. No standard pattern, but some useful information from <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/">Knitting Daily</a> about bust darts, and I should be all set. And actually, as I wrote this post, I realized I could use the chevron pattern on this! It might just work! Swatch first, however, because I want this to work out right! . It is From Knit One Crochet Too, it's called Angora Soft, and it is 45% Nylon, 40% Viscose, and 15% Angora. It was in a Webs sale, labeled as "crimson" so I bought it thinking it would be much more... red. But it's not red, it's salmon pink. I was annoyed, but on the other hand, its a lovely color, and it will look good on me.<br />Lastly, I read the <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/07/05/warning.html">Yarn Harlot's</a> most recent post, and I fell into the trap as well. I have 1200 yards of laceweight green yarn, and today by midnight was the last night to sign up, and I want to play...and I have tons of beads... <a href="http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/2007/06/mystery-stole-3-let-madness-begin.html">So now i am doing it too</a>... We'll see if I manage to accomplish anything! <br />And did I mention... I am drawing again? ;)Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-45880971013687382772007-06-29T12:54:00.001-04:002007-06-29T12:54:54.053-04:00too lazy to crosspostso just check it out <a href="http://summerkalcal.blogspot.com/2007/06/first-post.html">here</a>Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11199329.post-64571054977431381022007-06-27T11:10:00.000-04:002007-06-29T12:56:38.907-04:00just a quickieSwallow tail shawl on hold for a few days... err weeks. I just knit a purse out of single ply left overs... I need to get the pics off my camera before I post it. I also just realized how easy it is to put buttons in the side bar in the blog! I could swear that it wasn't that easy before now... maybe it wasn't. Now I just have to figure out how to set up an RSS feed and blog on a bi or tri weekly basis, and we will be all set :) Oh wait, RSS is automatic... so now i just have to post regularly!<br /><br />I am currently working on a dishcloth (easy smeasy simple pattern) and some jaywalkers from ages ago. I am glad I started the second one as quickly as I did, it will make getting the set done easier. I haven't actually finished either sock, however.<br /><br />I also recently finished a green sock with blue stripes. I have the yarn ready for the second sock, but I haven't cast it on yet. I am dying to try <a href="http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2007/06/sidewinders_the_1.html#more">Nona's new Sidewinder pattern</a>, which is tempting me to buy more sock yarn... but i really don't want to make any more purchases.<br /><br />I am still up in the air about finishing the little purple, pink and white baby cardigan I started a while back. The yarn is hard on my hands, and I am wondering if a larger needle size could fix that problem, but I am not sure if I care to try. But the yarn, being largely cotton, would be an appropriate weight for a baby, and I am sure it will soften with wear; so I should probably do it, and soon.Sharahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555036553301173950noreply@blogger.com0