Re: Facebook

Boy am I glad that this is blocked at work. I just spent two hours playing Packrat. WTF? Still, it's great to hear from people that I haven't talked with in over ten, er fifteen years.



Re: possibly shrunken sweater

He's lucky. No bail required. It's slightly shorter but still fits. I can live with that. Plus, I can always undo the hem and knit it a bit longer if I have to...in fact I probably will someday.


Re: Shakespeare
If you are remotely inclined to see Twelfth Night as performed by grade school kids than head over to the Plaza on Saturday evening. My 10 yo is Malvolio and my 11 yo is Olivia. (Actually, she's half of Olivia...not sure how that works - seems they are sharing roles). 5:30 pm and the stage will be set up between McDonald's and Anthropologie. It's part of the Literary Festival so we'll probably be shuffling about a bit early. I have to go by the Apple store anyway because of...


Re: Scotland

Nine days and counting. I need to pick up a converter so I can charge up my iPod while I'm gone. Also, arrange for cell coverage, notify the credit card company, finalize a packing list, and so much more than I can fathom at the moment. It's just now dawning on me that I will actually be out of the country for two weeks. I've never flown over an ocean before and while I'm not nervous, the thought is only mildly unsettling. Still, I know it will be a great adventure and I'm really looking forward to it.

My husband just washed my hand knit sweater in the machine.

It is now damp and drying flat (thank god I rescued it before it went in the dryer).

I can't tell yet if it's smaller. I'm not sure I want to find out.



I am so angry right now that I am probably going to need bail money.

Apparently, I have recurring dreams that I don't recall.

I was telling Jo Major about a dream I'd had last weekend when she interrupted and told me that she'd heard it all before. Which didn't make any sense to me because I'd only had the dream that preceding night so how could I had told her about it previously. But according to her, I'd dreamt it before months ago and told her about it at the time.

I was in bed about to wake up and start the day when I realized that there was a presence in my room. It was a ghost. A ghost that was upset with me and wanted to do me harm. SO it was on top of me holding me down and trying to suffocate me somehow. Sid had already woken up earlier and couldn't hear me struggling. I kept trying to scream for him, but the ghost kept covering up my mouth and no sounds would come out. I finally broke free long enough to scream for Sid and woke myself up as he came into the room and asked me what was wrong and why was I screaming.

Freaky, eh? Yeah, so of course I mentioned it to Jo when we went out for lunch the next day. Which was when she reminded me that not only had I had the dream before but that it was probably my cat sitting on my chest that caused the dream.

A reasonable explanation but I don't remember Tipper being in bed with me that morning. But that's really a very mild dream compared to the truly bizarre dream I had last night.

Sid and I had taken the kids and the dogs somewhere they could all swim together. (yeah right, never in a million years) I was in the pool throwing things for the dogs to play fetch with when I noticed something else in the pool with us. It was my cat Tipper and she was trying to save her kittens from being drowned. They were all at the bottom of the pool and she was swimming down to the bottom and bringing one up at a time and setting them on an inflatable raft. She was struggling and finally her strength seemed to be giving out. I kept going under water to try to help her, but Sid and the kids were kicking around so much, I couldn't see where exactly she was going. I tried to get Sid to get everyone else out of the pool so that I could help her. But by the time I got to her, she had drowned.

Then for some reason, Sid and I were in a very old house working on remodelling it and he had an injury or wound of sorts. We went to the doctor to get it fixed. Except that the doctor was Amber and she saw patients in the office area of her yarn shop. So she took a look at his stomach and asked me to wait in the shop while she stitched him up the hole that was there.

Needless to say, I have some strange dreams. Anyone feel like interpreting them?

Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here

I was bound and determined to finish the sweater and wear it this past weekend to Knitting in the Heartland. I even knit in my car at stoplights!



But eventually, I finished the knitting on Wednesday and then blocked it.



Then somehow I found time to do an attached I-cord edging around the neckline on Saturday night and just managed to steam block it in time to wear it Sunday morning.



I'm very happy with how it turned out and I'm glad I went with 3/4 sleeves. I'm cold-natured and if I ended up with cap or short sleeves, I'd probably regret it.

One of the vendors at the market, Jaye from Classy Glass Designs, created a custom order necklace for me and that turned out just as lovely as the sweater!

I am so glad that event planning is not my day job.

In spite of that, I think that we've managed to put together a really great event. There are many posts in my head right now but my brain has turned to swiss cheese and all I can really say is that if you are a knitter, crocheter or fiber lover, come by Knitting in the Heartland tomorrow or Sunday.

There is still some spaces left in some of the classes and you can register at the door. But the vendor market is free and it's the biggest so far. We have local shops as well as area hand dyers, hand spinners, locally made knitting bags and stitch markers. All sorts of wonderful things and much pretty yarn to fondle.

I am almost done with a sweater that I'm hoping to wear on Sunday, so photos soon when I get to it.

Have a great weekend all!

Part One Here
Part Two Here

So when I last talked about this sweater, I had just conquered the short row shaping for the bust. Admittedly, I was feeling rather cocky about it too. Shortly thereafter, I switched from alternating the colors from every two rows to every two stitches. Thus the somewhat stripey stuff at the waist is supposed to look flattering on the waistline. I'm not sure whether that effect has truly been created or not. I'm starting to wonder if I should have started the stitch pattern a little higher. I can't tell yet if it makes me look stumpy.




Also, I need to make a decision about the sleeves. I have enough yarn so that they could be fairly long...I'm just undecided about how long to make them.



If I had some sort of groovy photo editing skills, I could try to manipulate the pics to see what the sweater would look like in different sleeve variations. We got a new iMac over the weekend and I don't think it came with any photo editing software anyway. iPhoto is not making me happy right now, but that's another story.

So I thought perhaps I'll just keep the sleeves as cute little cap sleeves. While knitting this, many people have told me that would be cute. I was almost convinced until...



...I saw this view. Now I'm thinking I should cover up all that flesh lest I scare small children. And I hate feeling that way. Because I like to think I have a fairly healthy self-esteem and all that. I try not to talk bad about my body and I can't stand it when others talk bad about themselves. A little self-deprecation for humorous effect now and then is one thing, but constantly tearing one self down is another. And I know far too many women who do the latter.

That being said, I may have fallen out of love with this sweater. Don't get me wrong, I still love the yarn and the fabric it's creating. I'm just not convinced it's a wise aesthetic choice for myself. But perhaps this is just a phase I'm going through. A way for me to procrastinate enough to keep me from actually completing the darn thing.

I guess if I decide on short sleeves, I'll be able to finish it sooner. And if I wear it a few times and decide I want them longer...well I still have more yarn. I could always add it on later. Then perhaps I'll stop being so damn wishy-washy and just finish the thing already.

My latest socks are done!


Yeah, they don't look like socks in that photo so I'll give you another.



Not only did I finish those yesterday, but I also finished sewing on 4,237 beads and sequins on to the wedding dress that I altered. The hem had to be shortened, which meant taking of the beaded lace border, moving it up and rebeading it. But it was picked up this morning and all is well. It was a great job to take because all the alterations were fairly simple (aside from all the beading) and the bride was pretty low key.

The best thing about taking on that job is it inspired me to sew some more. I've made a bathmat.



Plus my foster daughter and I are working on making an apron out of some even more colorful fabrics. I'll put a pic up of that when it's done.

So now I'm thinking of making myself some new clothes for my Scotland trip at the end of May. No idea yet what to make...but I'll come up with something, I'm sure.

Okay, I just saw this via wyomingnot and feel compelled to answer if only because of the first question. Those of you who know me...can verify!

Answer with three words only.

1. Where is your cell phone? ( come on, you know the answer already don't you? )

I bought the coolest thing on etsy this week. And since it arrived today, I have to share!



Isn't that the coolest needle gauge you've ever seen? Well, I couldn't decide between two and so I bought them both!





I also finished a pair of blue Koigu socks:


And of course started another pair of socks. But these are made from the yarn leftover from my Adagio shawl. Three strands of laceweight held together, knit on size 0 and 1, knit for about an inch, drop one color, pick up the next. Rinse, lather, repeat and watch the colors merge into each other.

Hmmm, I just realized something. I never posted picks of the Adagio shawl. I knit this in about three weeks last fall. There are pics in my Ravelry notebook, but here's one for all of you.


Anyway, here's the sock in progress using the leftovers:

The changing colors makes it quite an addictive knitting project. I find it hard to go to sleep at a decent hour. I want to keep knitting to the next color change. No, maybe the next one. Oh, I can do one more color change...just one more...

Sick child, work is crazy, and feeling generally overwhelmed.

I'd say more than that...but I really don't even have time for this.

ugh, snow day and no childcare resources sucks...

We're getting two new foster kids tonight or tomorrow.

Now I need to figure out how to juggle my schedule a bit...watch while I try to keep all these balls in the air without dropping them.

Hey everyone, it's a meme

1. Leave me a comment.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your lj with the answers to these questions.
4. Include this explanation and offer to ask others in your own post.
5. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. That's why it's called a meme!

From smeddley
( yarn, movies, best/worst projects, games, drool )

I've been inspired by several of you. There's a bunch of folks that are doing 101 in 1001. Check out the Day Zero spot for more info if you're interested.

The thing is, I haven't come up with 101 things to do yet. I sat down yesterday and jotted a few down and have added some today. So I was originally thinking, maybe I'll start this on my birthday in May. But I ended up starting today so I'll come back and edit this entry as I complete my to do list. So here goes...

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

completed
in progress
not started

1. enter all stash in Ravelry
2. enter all works in progress as of January 1, 2008 in Ravelry
3. complete all works in progress started as of January 1, 2008 (3/16)
4. spin all fiber in stash as of January 1, 2008
5. learn to spin with wheel
6. sew at least two shirts for Sid
7. sew a SWAP for myself
8. make a quilt for our bed
9. make a Norfolk jacket (or period equivalent) for Sid
10. knit the Autumn Rose sweater (use purple Oberle yarn?)
11. make prints of honeymoon photos
12. put together album of wedding/honeymoon photos
13. go through slides and select for prints
14. travel to Scotland (actually happening in June 2008)
15. teach someone to sew
16. finish sonnet piece and frame
17. organize craft room
18. frame Kara's cross stitch piece
19. join health center
20. swim at health center on regular basis
21. take a photo every day within a single month
22. finish curtains for 2nd bedroom
23. open my own etsy shop
24. knit something from leftovers of Strickwear shawl
25. submit one of my designs for publication
26. go to movies with smeddley and cry all over her
27. buy spinning wheel
28. organize laundry/storage room
29. paint laundry/storage room
30. plant vegetable garden
31. open separate savings account at credit union
32. save 10% of income per month (3/33)
33. keep travel journal while in Scotland
34. blog about status of 52 pair challenge
35. reorganize and update my website
36. work with TLC to teach kids in care to knit
37. vote in all local, state, national primaries and elections
38. get a manicure
39. get a pedicure
40. build up leg and knee muscles towards pain-free bike-riding ability
41. ride bike once per week once able
42. take a bubble bath
43. complete knitting two projects before casting on a new one
44. organize my Amazon wishlist
45. check out from library ten books on Amazon wishlist (0/10)
46. get professional photos taken with Sid
47. download blog entries for archiving
48. mend all clothing currently in sewing room (3/?? count these up)
49. limit current mending to one drawer only in sewing room
50. record all my needles and hooks in Ravelry and organize
51. purchase caliper to measure small diameter knitting needles
52. reupholster chair in living room
53. remove wallpaper in dining room
54. paint dining room/office area
55. backup computer to external hard drive at least once per month got new computer and scheduled automatic backups!
56. cook dinner at least 100 times (12/100)
57. take lunch to work at least 150 times (8/150)
58. eat no meat for at least one month
59. go to at least ten arts related events (play, symphony, art exhibit, etc.) (1/10)
60. darn Sid's holey handknit socks
61. attend twenty foster parent support group meetings (3/20)
62. make a will
63. declutter scrapbooking/rubber stamping supplies until it all fits inside cabinet (plastic boxes on top does not count!)
64. buy produce from farmer's market at least 12 times (0/12)
65. visit my sister
66. make list of birthdays of family and friends and mark them on calendar
67. organize office
68. visit eye doctor and get new prescription
69. buy eyeglasses!
70. have coral necklace restrung
71. crochet an afghan
72. update address book
73. bake bread from scratch
74. organize kitchen cabinets
75. clean out laundry/storage room
76. paint laundry/storage room
77. recover chairs in dining room
78. attend a creative conference out of town (Stitches, Knitting Camp, etc)
79. vist my dad at least four times (0/4)
80. visit my mom at least four times (0/4)
81. make bathmats for Ella & Adriana
82. Sew some grocery bags to use









My goal is to have a complete list soon, but I really want to come up with them on in a mindful way. It's tempting to just read a whole bunch of lists and pick and choose from other folks. But I want to choose things that I've thought about doing for a while and haven't gotten around to doing.

Anyway, those of you in Ravelry may have noticed that I posted a bunch of my stash and WIPs today. So obviously, I'm inspired and am on a roll so far.

So the toy I posted yesterday?



I mentioned that it was to be for my sister-in-law's baby that was due in February. Did you see that word "was" in the previous sentence? Ha! That would be because she had the baby yesterday about two hours after I posted the photo. Yep, five weeks early!

Baby and Mom are doing fine. Abigail Elizabeth, 6 pounds, 9 ounces (for those of you interested in the numbers)



Apparently, I have magic induction powers. Fear me.

I was sick all through Christmas week and am now starting to feel slightly human again. Hurrah! So in the interest of catching up with some things I've been up to, I give you some adorable children wearing pajamas and robes that match their American Girl dolls.

( Beware of the cute! )

One of these socks has been missing for a while. I finally noticed it behind the washing machine and Sid obliged by pulling the machine away from the wall and retrieving it for me. I suspect that moths got to it. Or the dryer gods were so angry for not having any hand knit socks sacrificed to them that they finally took matters into their own hands.

Woe is me.

Anyone know of someone who needs one wool sock out of Cherry Tree Hill?

Perfect opportunity for this icon. Thanks smeddley!

Part one here

I've recently picked up this project after abandoning it for a couple of months while I focused on other things like Halloween costumes and various spinning and knitting projects. I had managed to get myself just about to the point where I needed to start the short row shaping for the bust and then put it away until I could decide how to manage it.

Since I'm alternating the colors every two rows, short rows are more complicated. If I do them the usual way, I'd end up stranding the yarn across two rows and a few stitches each time. Not really the end of the world, but not the best option. So I ripped back on my original swatch and tried it out. (really should have taken a photo of that attempt now that I think about it) The short rows looked good and the stranding was fine. However the colors of the yarn pooled in such a way as to look like concentric rings around the bust area. My bust line is obvious enough that I don't really want a target on it. (Not on garments worn in public, anyway.)

So I ripped that swatch back again and tried another method. Which was basically following each short row with a complete round picking up the wraps as I went. Each subsequent short row is longer or shorter depending on what the shaping calls for at the time. The results of this swatch? Again, I'm photo-free on this one, but it turned out much better. No noticeable target which meant I was free to jump back to the sweater and move along.

And here's the current progress...



Those things that look like bizarre piercings are actually stitch markers to help me keep track of where to turn my short rows. It looks better on my dress form than me right now because I had a hard time taking a photo of myself without it rolling up.



Of course the clashing shower curtain behind me probably doesn't help either. But what the heck, I'm making progress and happy with this decision hurdle so far. On to the next decision, when to start the stitch pattern for the waist shaping and whether to continue it down to the hemline.

I've been making Halloween costumes for so long and I'm not giving up anytime soon. I started when my cousins were little and I was in college. I've made all sorts of outfits from cute to scary, sparkly and hairy. But this year was a bit different.

For the last couple of years, I've been making costumes for my nieces. They've usually picked something that I recognized. Little Mermaid, gypsy, Dora and Diego, Harry and Hermione.

This year, they wanted something a little different. Molly and Lavagirl.

Huh?

Well, Ella has an American Girl doll named Molly and she wanted to look just like Molly's Halloween costume.


As you can see, she's wearing a sweater. So naturally, I knit her a sweater. She already had a grass skirt and my sister made her a lei and the trick-or-treat bag.


So on to Lavagirl. Apparently, there's some movie about Sharkboy and Lavagirl and Adriana loves to pretend she's Lavagirl. She'll walk up to you and put her finger on your arm, make a sizzling noise and tell you that she's burning you with her lava. Adorable as all get out. Here's what Lavagirl is supposed to look like.


Here's my interpretation on my five year old niece.


It's hard to tell in the photo but the costume has a lot of glow-in-the-dark neon paint and glitter paint all over it. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and Adriana loved it so all is good.

Another successful year of Halloween fun!

So the new Interweave Preview is up at the Interweave Press website. There are some really lovely items to knit, I tell ya. It's my favorite knitting magazine and it seems to have a consistent variety of great designs every issue.

My faves so far:

Eunny Jang's Ivy League Vest A great Fair Isle pattern that's fresh as well as detailed. However, if I ever knit this one, it won't be for me. I'm much too busty for this to be flattering on me. It would look great on my sister, but I'm not sure if she'd actually wear it.

Veronik Avery's Collette Pullover Love, love, love. It's a stranded color sweater with raglan sleeves as well as waist shaping. I enjoy knitting raglans and they look good on me as well. I would probably make the placket a bit deeper and adjust the width of the collar a bit. But it's a definite consideration for a future project.

Pam Allen's Refined Aran Jacket Very nice lines on this item. I love the little collar, the shoulder detail and the cables. This could easily become a wardrobe staple type of sweater. Sleeves would have to be full length though...I'm not a big fan of bracelet length sleeves.

There are a few others that I like the designs but I know I'd never knit them. The lace henley is very interesting and might be fun to knit. But there's no way I'd ever wear it.

But honestly, I have plenty in my project queue to keep me busy for quite some time.