♥ Down With the Knitty Gritty ♥ ™

I'm Moving

2007-12-30T21:24:00.000-08:00

I've decided to do a test drive with a new blog format. So come visit me at my new blog. See you soon!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T14:29:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Scout!

She's excited to see Santa!

But Shawn knows better!

Happy Holidays from Jem and Scout!

And from me too, (I apologize for the crappy picture...my hair hadn't been washed and I was wearing "round the house" clothes)!

Here's to you and all of your families! Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Celebrate!

2007-12-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lack of posts, though I doubt anyone out there is missing my posts all that much. With that said, this will be a picture heavy post of a whole lot of non knitting related stuff. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Friday, December 21st was my little baby's very first birthday! We had such a great day! Shawn and I reminisced about going to the hospital and thinking I'd be sent home rather than deliver. I honestly can't believe it's been that long. Of course, all moms say that. But I really mean it. It doesn't seem like I've changed diapers 365 days a year, or made 6 bottles a day for 365 days, or waken up to her happy smile:

Yup, that's what I get to wake up to! We started off the morning with Mickey Mouse pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Then we did some retail shopping at Beverly's, (Scout needed fabric), and then had lunch at home with Grandma.

That's when the real fun started, opening presents and eating cake:

She played with the boxes and packages more than anything. But the V Tech V Smile laptop was a hit. She loves the music and that it interacts with her.

This is from when we stopped by Shawn's grandmother house, both wearing sweaters I made them. (It's actually been "sweater weather" the past week or so.)

And let us eat cake! I stopped by a bakery on Thursday after my Dr. appointment to get my favorite chocolate chip Delcos. And since it's my favorite bakery I decided I'd rather pay for a great cake, rather than a good cake. And great it was. (We finished it off last night, Shawn and I.)

It started off with one finger.

Then she switched hands.

Then she became ambidexterous.

And then she just started shoveling it in at top speed.

She was a mess, but she loved the cake and we loved watching her.

Happy Birthday boo boo!

I've been staying quite busy with Christmas too. I'm glad I was into it more this year. Last year was just a drag. I was just too tired to do anything. But this year I've been rocking the Jingle Bell Rock. I did a little "extra" shopping for Shawn today. But I wanted to have one really special gift for him from all of us, so I bought a canvas and got to work:

It's a compilation of Jem's and my hands with Scout's little feet walking across.

At the bottom I painted, "We Will Always Hold Your Hand". I know he will love it. And I think it will look great in the bedroom.

I did, eventually, get my sewing machine back. $128.50 to fix the drive shaft and the timing. He also did a quick cleaning. All the same, what a way to start me sewing career. I started making a Wee Ones Peanut the Elephant from "Last Minute Patchwork", (which by the way, I love this book). I started off with some Quilter's Cotton fabric, in pinks and browns.

Here she is so far:

But that's the end of the good, because this fabric is so damn thin that it's actually fraying even though I was sewing on the 1/4" seam allowance. It still did me no good:

That there you see is the undertrunk where the arms meet up.

And this is the underbelly.

I'm really disappointed because I totally began to understand the construction and I was so excited to see it all sewn together. But the fabric was way too thin. I asked a lady at Beverly's why and she told me it was because JoAnn's doesn't always use high quality products, that's why sometimes they don't have the manufacturing labels on their bolts. All the fabrics I have, (of cotton), from Beverly's are way more sturdy and thick than the one's from JoAnn's. That disappoints me as well because I really prefer JoAnn's printed fabrics to Beverly's, (though I do like them, they just don't have as much of a selection).

Needless to say, I'm not giving up. I am going to try the elephant in a different fabric, (bought from Beverly's), and see what happens. And anyway, I feel successful in having worked this one out. Even if the fabric was crappy, I did good.

So that's what I've been doing. Among other things. I did meet with Jem's school staff regarding his IEP/504 and we did work a few things out and made modiciations in the class room. I'm happy about that. I'm also happy that he's washing my kitchen floor right now. I suppose I did something right!

That's all. Really. Knitting has been quite sparse. I had to restart the left front on my Bed Jacket because I increased in the wrong rows a couple of times, (my numbers were off). I picked up my Chevron Scarf at the Drs. office, but I admit I didn't get much done. Bandit ate the sleeve I was working on for Shawn's Cobblestone and proceeded to eat three Crystal Palace DPN's! You can't even imagine how irritated I was. Especially because this is the second time he's gotten into my knitting bag and tried to eat wool. The dog just might become sheep food!

Really Quickly

2007-12-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

Quick update because it's Scouts birthday and I am still taking pictures, (I'll post those tomorrow). I went to the ENT, (ear nose throat Dr.), on Thursday and it turns out that the vertigo was being caused by an ear infection in my right ear. Apparently the fluid is what can cause dizziness. But since I also had headaches and was nauseous he gave me some Amoxicillin for a couple of weeks and said I should have an MRI done if the dizziness and everything else come back. He also noticed that I have a slight hearing loss in my right ear, which both my grandmother and mom have. My great grandpa was Hard of Hearing and almost all the women in our family have had otosclerosis. I guess it's a good thing I know sign langauge huh?

Vertigo

2007-12-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

And I don't mean the movie.

I have vertigo and it's killing me. I haven't been able to knit. Just a few rows for Shawn's sweater on Saturday at Jody's house. We went to Beverly's and I picked up a copy of Itty Bitty Nursery. Scout is no longer a baby, not like that anyway. But the book is absolutely adorable. I also had a chance to check out "Son of a Stitch and Bitch" which I was a bit disappointed with. There were a few new books out there, but none to write home about unfortunately. I don't know if it's just my taste or the book. Either way, I only bought one.

Nothing else going on really, since I can't seem to stand, sit, lay down, walk...Blah. I'll be back.

2007-12-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

Shop Update today. I also listed the necklace, for those of you interested.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

2007-12-12T14:09:00.001-08:00

No, I'm not getting married. Yet.

Actually, I have been a bit crafty lately. Not as much as I want. And not really working on what I need to be. (Like the Cobblestone that is supposed to be done by December 24th. Of this year.)

I have been entranced by these crystals:

8 mm Bicones, 6 mm Bicones, Montana, Light Azure, Blue Zircon, Crystal...

6mm Rounded, Montana, Crystal AB, Light Azure Crystal Drops...

Sterling Silver Daisy Spacers, Sterling Silver Bead Caps, Sterling Silver three strand clasp...

I've updated my shop, though it's a very small update. My sewing machine is still being worked on, so I can not add all the knitting needle cases I wanted. Not yet.

Knitting Wordplay:

And Monkey Face, (my personal fave):

I am thinking about selling the necklace. It's beautiful. And I know I would wear it someday. But I don't think I'd wear it often enough. I don't know though. How can I part with something so mesmerizing? It's very eye catching and time consuming. I've been looking at it every which way. If you are interested in purchasing it, please let me know. If I do put it on Etsy it won't be until next week.

It doesn't smell like gingerbread

2007-12-10T18:37:00.000-08:00

it sure looks like it!

I finished my first "real" gingerbread house. Last year we didn't finish them. Well, I didn't finish mine. I was pregnant and tired. I wasn't in the spirit one bit.

But this year, I'm proud to show you:

The side view of the roof:

And the back of the house:

I really love the house. It kind of makes me want to make real gingerbread. I just might do that.

On The First Day of Christmas

2007-12-09T10:42:00.001-08:00

Alright, so I'm a little early. But I finished my Christmas banner last night and I was so excited to show you. It's been a very long time since I've done anything worthy of calling it "scrapbooking". Last February I started to sell off the thousands of dollars worth of scrapbook supplies that just lay in the closet with a slightly thick coat of dust. Knitting has increasingly taken over my life. While scrapbooking was fun and help preserve the memories, it was also a very expensive hobby. For example, you know that $30 skein of cashmere you covet? Imagine spending $30 on some 12 x 12 cardstock, some Hermafix adhesive, some 12 x 12 patterned paper to match the cardstock, a bag of brads, a set of rub on letters, and if you are lucky, maybe, some distress ink. All that for ONE page. And keep in mind, I'd constantly go back and buy the little ephemera and embellishments if the page wasn't to my liking. You get my drift. I get much more out of knitting. Plus it's portable.

But not all scrapbooking is bad. I still love to make cards and little mini albums for special occasions. Shawn has been gifted a couple of them for our Anniversary or for Valentine's Day. I have been thinking of making one for his 28th birthday, (next month). In any case, I felt it was time to do more than the obligatory lights on the windows. We weren't going to buy a tree this year, but I ended up finding a reasonably priced artificial tree. (Hopefully we will decorate tonight.) My stocking is hung, (my mom is working on Scouts and also has Jem's right now.)

Anywhoo, I made this hanging Christmas banner out of some Blitzen by Basic Grey and some embellishments I had leftover in my diminished stash. The theme is "Joy and Love".

So, that's it. I'm pretty darn proud of it. I like it a lot.

More decorating news to follow.

Just a Regular Day

2007-12-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

I don't have any new knitting pictures, but that's ok because I still have a lot going on. I will say, I have been diligently working on my Bed Jacket from "Knitting Lingerie Style" and I'm already ready to finish the back. It seems that the work is really in the edging, so the fronts won't take very long either. Yay!

I've been working on my blue Swarovski Crystal necklace as well, but I ran out of 8mm bicones and both colors of the rounded crystals. So I'll be going to the LBS, (Local Bead Store), and buy some more. I think I ran out because I am making my strands longer. I love the design, but there were no instructions. And there were no quantities on the materials list. So we just had to guess. I found this at Absolute Crystal Components and fell in love with Multistrand Golden Copper Bracelet. A plus is that they have some pretty damn good prices for crystals and findings compared to many other shops. I'll price the stuff at the LBS today and see how much they would be. I could totally go for a few of these bracelets in different colors.

Other updates. Well I changed my email address. Long story short, I just needed a new email and I need some extra privacy. That said, I deleted my previous email and forgot to change over the contacts. So, if you want/need my email, leave me a comment and I will get back to you a.s.a.p. I've also had to change my Esty but I haven't set up the new one, so I'll get to you about that later. If you need a custom order, give me a jingle and I will do invoices through PayPal.

I picked up our artificial tree yesterday as well and it's had me in such a holiday mood lately. Last night Shawn put it together, (though we didn't decorate it yet - we will do that this weekend), and I got comfy on the couch in my pj's with my knitting and a cup of hot chocolate. I even listened to the "Holiday Sounds" channel on cable. We chose a fake tree for a few reasons. Most important being that last year Shawn spent $90 on a 7 ft. tree that ruined our carpet. Not only that, but the guy who put the tree on top of the car had scratched the car with the tree stand. This is easier and more economical.

Saturday, Jem has a Holiday Party at his school. The PTA is doing the fundraising and is offering breakfast. They are supposed to have snow for the kids to play in, but supposedly it's going to rain so they aren't sure what will happen with that. Anyway, it's a fun thing for Jem to do. Afterwards we are going to buy our Gingerbread House kit, (no, I don't bake gingerbread...too much work), and decorate that. We talked about going to the mall to see Santa, (for Scout). Scout and I had lunch at the mall yesterday and she got to see him, but not take pictures with him. (They wanted $20 for two 3 x 5's!!! Can you say insane!)

Other than that, life has been...well, life. We are busy, as always. Now that the holidays have crept up on us, we have a lot to do. Scout's first birthday is in 15 days! I can't believe it. She won't be staying this little forever:

I am here, I am alive

2007-12-03T16:29:00.001-08:00

You'd be amazed at what all can happen in two weeks time. And almost every day in those two weeks I've wanted to update. I've wanted to read everyone's blogs. I've wanted to participate in the worst way. But it just hasn't happened. There's been so much to do. Thanksgiving weekend is one of those weekends when there is too much happening. I did all the cooking this year. Dinner was delicious, but tiring. It's hard to believe that so many people, (myself included), spend the entire day cooking to have this one great meal and then when it comes down to it, you really can't eat all that more in that one sitting. Believe me, I tried!

Tuesday, the 27th, was my "golden" birthday. (For those of you who have never heard of a "golden" birthday, it's the age you turn that is the same as the day you were born on. For me, I turned 27 on the 27th...get it?) I won't really get into it, but my birthday was pretty rotten this year. That's all I will say about that.

The rest of the week included:

crocheting with Jody
Open House at Simply Knitting last Friday
dinner at Los Toros on Saturday night, (my birthday dinner)
painting the bedroom, (again), this time in an Aqua and Chocolate combination
buying all our Christmas presents, (well most of them)
a trip to the Bead shop

Of course, there was a whole lot more in between these things. But I guess those were the most important of them all. I haven't had much knitting time lately. I have gone to the LYS, but you know how that goes. You talk a whole lot more than you stitch. All the same, I picked up the yarn I'm going to use for the Bed Jacket in "Knitting Lingerie Style". The pattern calls for Cascade Sierra, but I really didn't like the feel of it. So I chose Cascade Venezia and am totally in love! I love the dark brown. It will make a great jacket!

Jody also helped me to start my Tiramisu by Alicia Paulson. I have a confession to make. I love Alicia. If I could live her picture perfect life, I would. Everything is so quaint and cute on her website. The items she makes are to die for. She inspires me constantly. I can't wait to see what for her book.

Her Tiramisu baby blanket is simple enough, (I had thought it would be harder when I first looked at). I had a few issues with my edging. My numbers aren't right, but since this is all mainly single crochet for the time being, I'm ok with that. I'll have to go back to do the ruffle, but all the same I'm happy that I've gotten as much done because I really am not a crocheter. (Doing one blanket does not classify me as a "novice" even.)

I had to go up two hook sizes, from I to K. The yarn I'm using is Vanna's Choice, by Lion Brand. I wanted to try their new acrylic. And come on, how can you not trust Vanna White? (smile) This color is called Dusty Blue. I'm hoping to have this done in time for Christmas. I'm 9" into it, I need another 27". I can do this!

And beading, oh the beads! I just happened to go to the bead shop when they were having a 20% off sale. Am I lucky or what? (I seriously didn't know they were having a sale.) They helped me pick out some crystals for a design that I saw in Fire Mountain Gems catalogue. It was cheaper going to the local bead shop.

This will eventually turn into a 3 stranded Swarovski Crystal necklace:

There's a mix of 6mm and 8mm Bicones, 6mm Round, and drop Crystals. There are four blues and clear crystals in this version. Plus a lot of sterling silver. I would totally make something like this for my Etsy shop, but do you know how much this cost me? $74 with the discount! That doesn't include the fact that I already had the AccuFlex wire, silver spacers and crimps. But it's customized and it's made by me. So I'm ok with it. Maybe I'll be able to do some bracelets. They certainly are worth it.

I've even gotten a little "scrapbooking" done, though it really isn't scrapbooking per se. About two weeks ago, Jem and I painted a few wooden ornaments I bought from Michael's. Somehow the dog ate mine. My poor snowman. Anyway, I had a great idea to make some Christmasy type crafts. I'm making a little J-O-Y sign out of Basic Grey patterned paper I had bought last year for Christmas cards and some other scrapbook supplies. I've actually had a lot of fun with the altered artwork. I'm a bit disappointed though since I sold all my supplies. Then again, I'm not. Because I don't need yet another hobby right now. I just can't keep up.

And because Nora always says my posts aren't really complete without a shot of Scout:

There's my smiley girl. Can you believe she's almost a year old? 18 more days! She is walking like there's no tomorrow. In a way it makes me sad. This is the time when she will start getting a little more independent and then she won't need me. And I need her! We are calling her our "little walkie talkie". She says "hi" now, (mainly in the morning). And she can say "momma" and "daddy".

So that's my story. The. End.

Well, Let Me Tell You!

2007-11-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

Life here at Casa Fantauzzi has been chaotic. Busy. Hectic. Soul Crushing. Eh, maybe not really soul crushing. Soul consuming is more like it. This week my energy has increasingly betrayed me. One moment I'm ready and rarin' to go. Next moment it's like I haven't slept in weeks. Of course, nothing changed that today. I was up and making breakfast while preparing the turkey. I was answering phone calls and trying to wake up Shawn. I was feeding a fussy baby and doing laundry. (Btw, remember my leaking washing machine that they fixed but two weeks later was broken? It's still leaking. So much so that the leak is trailing into the kids room.)

I've neglected my blog in lieu of getting the sock swap ready. Answering emails from panicky swap participants. Adding links. Checking blogs. It's done. Everyone is paired off. Everyone is happy, (I hope).

Sewing has ceased all together. I wish it weren't so. I've been sewing the panels for Scout's baby quilt. I'd also been cutting and sewing, (and sometimes re-sewing), knitting needle cases for my diminishing Etsy shop. (Not that I want it that way mind you, it's just that this has been a bad time of year for me with all the holidays.)

All the holidays, get this: October 31sy is Halloween. Third Thursday in November is Thanksgiving. November 27th is my birthday. December 12th is Shawn's sons' birthday. December 21st is Scout's birthday. December 25th is Christmas. January 4th is my mom's birthday. January 28th is Shawn's birthday. Tell me where this is fair?

It's so unfair. Especially after making a decision not to do any holiday knitting. But the past few months we've been a bit tight on funds. Now it seems like the best thing to do is to do a homemade Christmas with a few small packages for the kids. I found the greatest Homemade Advent Calendar to adorn a hallway. Though I don't know how long it would take to cut out 25 red and white squares of felt and then embroider them all. Then find little trinkets in each one. I remember my mom would go to Cost Plus World Market to buy my advent calendars. Of course, they never made it to Christmas. How could they when they had such delicious chocolate inside?

Nevertheless I am working on a few things. Like the Cobbelstone for Shawn. I think I'm about 9" from the edge. For my mom I'm making a pair of socks that won't fall off her calves. (She's convinced that handknit socks won't stay up because they don't have enough elasticity. I'm going to prove her wrong.) Scout will be getting her baby quilt. (Once the sewing machine works. Basically I was sewing a few nights ago and a needle snapped and it seems that a piece may have gotten stuck where the needle should be picking up the bobbin. This is all so new to me.) As for Jem, I honestly don't know. He doesn't seem interested in me making him anything.

But aside from all that, I have been knitting a bit. Not as much as I'd like due to all the stress. I don't like working charted projects when I'm stressed. It just doesn't work for me. But this project has a bit of stress added to it. Somehow when I caked the skein it tangled up inside. So my cake is everywhere but in a nice and neat ball.

Either way, they are turning out lovely, (I think):

Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn Clark from "Interweave Knits Favorite 25 Socks".

Close up of the stitch pattern. They are 20 row repeats, very easy to remember.

The heel. I'm proud of my heels. Someone once commented on a pair of socks I made saying that I had excellent gusset pick ups. That person has given me a complex.

The yarn is from the Yarn Pirate. I absolutely love the colors and I absolutely love the feel of the yarn. I know what I'll be getting myself for my birthday or Christmas! (Just a tiny splurge.) How I lived without this yarn before is a wonder. Not quite as good as Koigu, (then again, what is?), but it's second to it. Most definitely.

Thanksgiving here was great. Everything went smoothly. The pies I made were delicious and it made me think why I only make pumpkin pies two or three times a year. It was just nice to have us all here together. I wanted a peaceful holiday and so far I got it. Unfortunately Shawn is going to work tomorrow. He doesn't have any more vacation days right now. So, while Shawn is at work I'm going to play. I'll be at the LYS and quite possibly the mall, (gasp!). Shawn gave me an early birthday present so I could use it to hit the department stores during their Black Friday sales. So I'm off to find a pair of running shoes. I've been wanting to go running, but with my horribly messed up feet, (I had club foot surgery when I was a few days old, years of corrective shoes...Now I'm just left with an insanely high instep thus limiting my shoe shopping), I haven't been able to go without a good pair of running shoes. It's something I've looked forward to, so that's what I'll be doing. I can't wait for Bandit to grow up, (stop piddling), and go running with me. I suppose I don't really need a guard dog, but one never can tell these days.

That's my week(s) in a nutshell. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful that there is someone out there who can fix a sewing machine. I'm thankful that the LYS will be open and ready for my reprieve, however short that may be. I am thankful for whoever dreamed up Cool Whip. I am thankful I have a fat, warm kitty to keep my feet warm at night. I am thankful for leftovers. I am thankful for hot water cause boy do I need a bath. I am thankful that I've been blessed with such a beautiful little girl who gets me through the day. The list goes on, but I do not. I'm having a piece of pie and then off to bed I go.

My Own Answers

2007-11-18T18:55:00.000-08:00

Here are my own answers for the Sock it to Me Twice sock swap. I figured being the hostess I should answer these as well, huh? (Regular post to follow tomorrow.)

How long have you been knitting? Do you consider yourself beginner, intermediate, advanced? I have been knitting for 7 years. I would say I'm between intermediate and advanced.
How long have you been knitting socks? Since February. I've knit about 10 or 11 pair this year.
What are your favorite fibers to work with? I love smooth wools. And I'm pretty partial to soft cotton blends.
What is your favorite color? Blues and dark brown.
What are your current WIPs (works in progress)? I am currently working on a pair of socks from Interweaves Favorite Socks, the Cobblestone sweater by Jared Flood, a Chevron Scarf and Secret of the Stole.
Name your favorite yarns, (brand, fibers, colors, etc.). Blue Sky Alpacas Silk/Wool, Rowan Wool/Cotton, Koigu, Socks that Rock, (lightweight), Karabella, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino...
What are some yarns/fibers that you stay away from. Novelty and most 100% wools that aren't washable. (I had a bad experience with a sweater.)
What is your family situation? (Married, kids, pets?) Hubby, hubby (Shawn), my son Jem (9 years old), and our daughter Scout (11 months old). There's also our furbabies: Dalton (a Siamese cat that loves yarn), and Bandit (our German Shepherd puppy that loves yarn).
Name some of your hobbies. Baking/Cooking, Sewing, Beading/Jewelry Making, Swimming
Name some of your favorite movies? I love mysteries and horror flicks. My faves are: The Godfather, Clue, Murder by Death, the Charlie Chan and Sherlock Holmes movies, The Goodfellas, To Kill a Mockingbird
Do you like to read? I love to read, but I admit I don't get to as much as I'd like anymore.
Do you collect anything? Yarn...not much else than that.
Do you own an iPod or mp3 player? I have an iPod.
What are your favorite type of knitting needles? I used to love bamboo, but I've been using metal more. I love my Inox and, typically, I use Susan Bates. I'd like to try Addi's for lace though.
What knitting notion could you not live without? My sheepy measuring tape. And my knitting stitch markers. Have to have them!
Who are some of your favorite designers? Norah Gaughan, though I haven't knit many of her patterns. She intimidates me. Eunny Jang as well. I'd love to try her Entrelac Socks. And Debbie Bliss. She constantly amazes me.
Do you subscribe to any magazines? (Knitting or otherwise.) I don't subscribe anymore because for a while the issues were disappointing. I'm thinking of picking up my IK subscription again. Not Vogue. They've disappointed me for over a year.
When is your birthday? November 27th
Do you have a "wishlist", (on Ravelry, Froogle, or Amazon)? I do have an Amazon list, blueyedpenny(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com). I also have a big list of patterns I want to try on Ravelry.
Do you have a Ravelry ID? Blueyedpenny
If you had a sheep, what would you name it? Baaaaaad Boy

A Lovely Weekend

2007-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

A lovely weekend indeed.

It started off with homemade carrot cake cupcakes for the SnB at the LYS last night. Carrot cake, with carrots. Get it?

Jem decorated a few with some brown and green Funny Faces:

Bandit had a nice afternoon exercising.

And telling us what he thinks of us:

Jem and Scout played outside too:

Jem and I painted some Christmas decorations, (I'll get a pic of that tomorrow). Bandit got a bath in some yummy Oatmeal Shampoo. I stopped by Beverly's and picked up another package of straight pins so I can work on Scout's baby blanket tonight. Dinner consisted of: Crispy Chicken, homemade Mashed Potatoes, and Cornbread Stuffing.

I only knit about 5 rows of my Secret of the Stole. I'm waaaay behind. I only knit about 2 rows of the Cobblestone Pullover. Looks like I need some extra time. I kind of want to start another pair of socks, but I have to finish the other sock for the Hogwarts Sock Swap. Too many things to do and not enough time = story of my life.

Either way, I had a lovely weekend indeed.

Raven Series

2007-11-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

The new Raven Series from Socks That Rock is up. Definitely not what I was expecting!

I saw the new Holiday Interweave Knits and I have so say that I'm pretty disappointed. Same goes for Vogue and their Holiday issue. I checked them out at Border's last night and couldn't find one thing I liked in either.

There seems to be a lack of good knitting/pattern books and magazines out there lately. Maybe it's just my taste. But I don't think I would look good in Russian, color knit, giagantic rose stoles. Blech!

Instead, I bought a sewing book. French couture and all that. I love it already!

And I Leave You With This...

2007-11-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

I jumped the bandwagon and started Jared's Cobblestone Pullover from the last issue of IK. Last Tuesday, when Shawn and I went to pick up Bandit, they weren't ready to release him, (in fact, he hadn't even been neutered when we got there), so we stopped by the Michael's in Lomita. I'm not a big fan of acrylic, I've used it for blankets and for one sweater. I would say I'm a bit of a yarn snob. BUT, I could not pass up trying Bernat's Satin yarn. It's very soft, even for acryclic. And let's face it, I need something washable with Shawn. I made him a sweater out of Debbie Bliss' Baby Cashmerino and I can not rely on him to handwash that. Acryclic it is. I'm happy to say that it knits up quite nicely. No snags or pilling. And I love the Navy Blue. This yarn would make a great baby blanket.

Last Thursday, (or was it Friday?), I received a very lovely package from my Monkey Swap Pal! She sent me two skeins of yarn, (there are close ups below); a Monkey pencil pouch with matching pencil, eraser, ruler and sharpener; "Twisted Flower" sock pattern from Cookie A.; a Monkey that sticks on glass, (Jem took that); a little Monkey finger puppet; and a Monkey sweater for Scout.

And she made me the best socks! I absolutely love the colors! And they fit perfectly! In fact, I'm wearing them now.

Here's the Opal she sent:

And some handspun:

I really haven't been knitting much. It's a bit tough with a new puppy. He loves to drink water, it's like he's never had it before. But as easily as he consumes it, he releases it. So we are outside a lot!

Dalton hasn't warmed up to him too much. He really doesn't know what to make of Bandit. But then again, Dalton is getting old and doesn't want to play as much as he used to. Especially not with a puppy. Lately he's spent a lot of time in bed with me.

I've been sick. Not sure what's wrong. Just some tummy problems and a sinus infection. Not bad, but not good either. I haven't had motivation to do much of anything. Yesterday I slept a good 18 hours out of the day. It was great. It would have been wonderful had I not been sick. It's been a long time since I had a chance to just lay around in bed all day.

Ready for the great news? Scout took her very first step on Halloween! We were sitting outside, on the grass, when I held her hands while she stood up. I let go and she was still standing. Then she took a step towards me! I am sooo proud of her. No steps since then. This morning was all about toys!

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T12:18:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone!

Lastnight we had a chance to carve our pumpkins. (My mom has a little garden set up at a friends house and grew pumpkins this year, so lucky us - we have huge, and free, pumpkins to use.) Jem carved a spider in his pumpkin. (He ended up staying up til 10 p.m. to finish it.) This was mine:

They call him the Candy Corn Goblin! He's cute. I love those pattern books that come with the tools. They are fun. We still have three pumpkins to carve, so I think tonight I will do one with Scout.

Everyone got into the pumpkin spirit:

For some crazy reason, Dalton ♥ pumpkins. He likes cornflakes and yogurt, but he ♥ pumpkins. Weird-O!

I didn't get Scout's costume done in time, (which kind of makes me sad), so I won't have any festive Halloween costume pictures. Ah, but I'll get over it. Jem isn't trick or treating this year either, so none of him. So we are staying home with Bandit, and hopefully giving out candy.

I hope everyone has a fun, and safe, Halloween!

Smokey and the Bandit

2007-10-30T20:03:00.001-07:00

So, remember how I told you that I really want a puppy. That I really wanted a friend. Remember? Well here he is:

I drove to San Pedro, (big like Will Smith said about Lompoc, "You don't drove to San Pedro, You drive through San Pedro), last Friday. There was a litter of 7 German Shepherd puppies, but only 3 were available. Two girls, one boy. The girls were white/black/brown. The boy was brown. I preferred a boy. And I think he prefers me. We picked him up today, (with a few obstacles in the way), at the vet after being neutered.

He's been very playful too. He loved being outside and playing with twigs. When we walk with him, he looks a bit bow-legged and he loves to stand between your legs.

He's had such a big day of exploring, he's pretty tuckered out.

Bandit, October 30, 2007

Mission Complete

2007-10-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my sock pals socks for the Sock It To Me Sock Swap, (you know, the one I am hosting). Shaemful to be so late. But life, and nature, have been throwing some curve balls lately you know? Anyway, the fact is they are done and ready to ship. Now I just have to find a box!

Heel Flap:
And the finished project:

The pattern is from Charlene Schurch's book, "Sensational Knitted Socks". It's like my sock Bible! This is the Garter Rib Stitch, which I have done before. (Remember the River Socks?) But the ToFutsies was much thinner and, unfortunately, isn't plied very well. Not like Koigu. I made these on US 2's. Yay! An FO!

In other news: We did not get evacuated. The fires have pretty been contained, though they are now doing burns around the area so as to get rid of any fuel for another fire. The winds have died down too. It was 86 here today! I don't get how one week it's cold and rainy. The next is week filled with firestorms and crazy heat. Indian summer in October maybe?

I'm hoping to have a puppy post for you guys too. :) Can't give anymore details than that. Off to work on my Chevron Scarf for a bit!

Monday Update

2007-10-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

So far we haven't been evacuated. Three blocks north of us has been road blocked. Beyond the road block they have mandatory evacuations. Castaic isn't doing better. Neither is Bouquet Canyon, (that's were we went to the Pumpkin Festival last year, and where I hoped to take Scout). The winds are still high, approximately 50 mph. My windows are rattling pretty bad.

I stayed up til about 2 this morning. I couldn't sleep. The fire isn't that close to us, but it's not that far either. And nobody expected 25,000 acres to burn in 24 hours. There would be a lot to burn before getting to us. Unfortunately there are many small stores, a lot of houses, and a gas station. That scares me.

Here's a picture of the fire on the West side, which is right outside our bedroom. (That fire is much further away, but I took a close up.) The little trailer on the bottom is across the street from us.

Sunday, Sunday

2007-10-21T15:24:00.001-07:00

Santa Clarita isn't having much of a week I tell you. Last week it was the rain slickened roads that caused a massive big rig explosion in the Newhall Pass. This week it's the Santa Ana winds, (which there have been reports of 100 mph winds at the beach), and the fires that can't be contained. Every year it's the same thing, we get fires, (and of course, this has been the driest year in a long time), and then the winds pick up and the fires go crazy. Right now there are two in are area, but this is the closest one, (from my bedroom window which faces West):

And this is outside my bedroom, facing South:

We talked about what we'd do if we had to evacuate, because, really, we don't have a plan. These aren't the types of things you expect to happen in life. Shawn said I'd have to leave the yarn. I said we'd have to leave a kid. (Just kidding.) So I started thinking of all the things I couldn't replace, that I would have to bring with me, (besides humans): the cat, my box of pictures, my 5-6 scrapbooks, my digital camera, my yarn, the diapers, the sewing machine, my Kitchen Aid mixer...it's a good thing we have a big trunk, but I still would have to pack clothes and some food. Oh boy. I'm hoping those hero firefighters can stop the fires before they really destroy peoples homes.

Other than nature's many wonders, life here has been somewhat quiet. (I say somewhat because my mother came up here this weekend and one thing she is not, is quiet.) I got Hint #3 for the Secret of the Stole, but I haven't even finished the second clue. I'm only about halfway done. I haven't been lucky enough to get much knitting done lately. Shawn worked overtime two days this week and wasn't feeling too great another. Scout has been staying up pretty late as well. (Our mistake was to allow her to sleep in our bed and now we are paying for it!)

I decided to put the second Monkey sock on hold because I still don't know what happened to it. I did frog it and I will pick it up soon. Instead, I decided to start the Chevron Scarf KAL:

It's Blue Moon Fiber Arts, (Socks that Rock), in Space Dust, (lightweight), and In the Navy, (mediumweight). Last night I wasn't so sure if I liked it, but today I saw it in the natural light and I ♥ the scarf. It's going to be a slow knit since I have to finish all 360/380 yarrds of yarn, but it's simple enough that I can handle working on it for a while.

That's about it.

****Update: Possibility of evacuation where I live. *sigh* There are a few fires breaking out and the flames are very visible from our apartments. So, if you don't hear from me, that will be why. Keep your fingers crossed.****

What are the chances?

2007-10-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

What are the chances that I would knit a sock, on the same size needles, the same yarn, and the same pattern, and it still be too small? I had been working diligently on the second Monkey sock that I started well over a month ago, in Koigu. Last night I finished the heel, did the gusset, did the foot and started the toe decreases. Today I did the last few decreases and finished it. To my dismay, the sock is too small. I don't know what happened. I always copy my notes from the first sock, so that my second sock is the right size. Where did I go wrong?

My choices are:
a. frog the entire sock and start over
b. frog back to the heel and make the heel and foot longer, (which is obviously the problem, but I don't know if it's due to me possibly knitting with smaller needles - I am sure I used size 1's)
c. frog both socks and start over, just to be sure)
d. frog both socks and make something else with the Koigu

What would you do?

For the Love of Beads

2007-10-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Until I started working on the Secret of the Stole, I never used beads in my knitting. Albeit, the use of beads in this project is pretty minimal, I am glad that I tried the technique. (I had to buy three crochet hooks before finding the right size for these little seed beads.)

And I'm very glad that I am using the Arucania Ranco. Months ago I would have told you that I hated variegated yarns. I loved solids. But now? I love both. The stole is coming along. I'm on Row 117 of 164, ( think), for Clue #2. I love the knitting. I love the pattern. I love the beads. I'm quite content with this being my "big" project right now.

I've also been doing a bit of beading, though not much. I have to take turns with my knitting, crocheting, sewing, baking, painting, beading, and reading. I admit, they don't all get as much time as each other. My knitting has been priority one lately, because I am trying to make deadlines on swap projects. I'm late on one swap, (the one I hosted, how lame is that?), and Oct 31 is the deadline for the Hogwarts Sock Swap. My Monkey Socks have been done for some time. I just need to make time to do a little shopping.

Anyway, beading. I made myself a necklace.

I tend to make things for myself, then give them away to people. I know they appreciate the work. But this time I'm keeping it for me, myself and I. This particular necklace is made with base metal headpins, (2" I think), 5mm Jump Rings, Cream beads, and Green/Cream Glass beads.

I love it. I've even made stitch markers to match, they will be on Etsy later on today. Along with another set. I haven't made much for Etsy, because I want to add the knitting needle cases. (But, with Scout's costume in the works, it might be a while. We'll see.)

I also bought the buttons for the Tilted Duster to replace the previous ones. These are made from carved horn. Pretty aren't they?

There Just Isn't Enough Time

2007-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but for me it seems like there is never enough time to do all the things I want to do or say the things I need to say. I attribute this part of my personality to being Bipolar. The first reason is because of the ups and downs/the highs and lows. When I'm "up" I can do anything. And I mean anything.

It's not always a good thing. A trip to JoAnn's for some pins might end up causing me to spend $50 on fabric because of a new project I thought up once I saw how cute those fabric prints were. A trip to the LYS might warrant buying 15 skeins of Rowan Cashsoft because I loved this pattern I saw, forget that I have a sweater, three pair of socks, a blanket and a stole on the needles. It might have caused me to spend hundreds of dollars on scrapbook supplies because I was going to find a way to get the perfect picture to match the cardstock I just bought. It doesn't end there. Here I am. A Knitter. Novice sewer. Baker. Scrapbooker. Jewelry Maker. And I just checked out a few books on quilting. Looks like Quilter might be added to the list. (Note: this list doesn't include being a Mother, a Daughter, a Girlfriend, a Friend, a Cook, a Housemaid and whatever other labels may be included in my day to day life.)

The second reason is a morbid one. (Please don't read if you are easily squeamish or sad.) Ever since being diagnosed Bipolar, my life was been a whirlwind of emotions. Some good, some bad. Depression is not an easy disease to live with. It's hard to explain. It's hard to understand. But I've always been convinced that I won't live to be 100. There are so many contributing factors. Besides emotional, I'd say mankind is one of the biggest reasons. Since the beginning of time, man has done nothing but destroy man.

Right now I'm reading, "A Long Way Gone", by Ishmael Beah. It is his story of when he was a child living in the war in Sierra Leone and how he was once an innocent 13 year old boy, who within weeks because a soldier of war. It saddens me, his story. But it also saddens me that I knew nothing about this when I, too, was a teenager. Children fighting the war of the rebels. And so it goes today. Eighteen year old boys carted off to fight a war they know nothing about. Rebels, terrorists, suicide bombers. We are not safe from ourselves.

And then there are accidents, such as the one that happened yesterday here in the Santa Clarita Valley. I don't know too many details, and I'd like to keep it that way because it's put me in a deep, dark gloom. Yesterday, Shawn, the kids and I went to Target to get diapers. We went to JoAnn's to get buttons, (for the Tilted Duster). We went to Food 4 Less to buy groceries. We went to the bead shop to get beads. It took up 3 hours to do all of this. A good 2 1/2 hours of traffic. If you don't know California, I should tell you now that we have some of the worst freeways in the world. One of them is the I-5. And yesterday was no exception. Yesterday there was a chain reaction crash in one of the tunnels of the freeway. One big rig crashed, then another, another and then another. They believe 15 big rigs and possibly a few cars crashed and were destroyed in a disastrous fire. They don't know how many are died or injured because a few people have been unaccounted for. But when I think about what happened I can't help but think how horrible it would be to be trapped in a car, with no escape. There is no good way to die, but fire...it's all very sad.

Like I said, there just isn't enough time. There isn't enough time to knit up all the patterns that I like. There isn't enough time to cut up hundreds of pieces of fabric to make a quilt. There isn't enough time to buy all the fruits I enjoy every season. There isn't enough time to make the house look immaculate. There isn't enough time to watch every episode of "Law & Order". There isn't enough time to make all the necklaces and bracelets and earrings in the bead book I checked out just last week. There isn't enough time to write my family the letters that I've owed them since July. There isn't enough time to keep up every blog I read. There isn't enough time to read every book I get from the library. There isn't enough time to try every recipe I'd like to taste. There just isn't enough time to do everything that I want to do.

Another One Bites The Duster

2007-10-08T19:06:00.001-07:00

Yeah, yeah, I'm not so great doing play on words.

The fact of the matter in the past 5 days I finished the skirt of the Duster, knit and sewn on the two sleeves and, as of last night, the collar.

Here is the collar that I slaved over, (not really), last night til 1 a.m. As I said on the KAL, I'm not going to keep the buttons I chose on this. They are too small and don't keep the collar buttoned. I'll go button shopping on Friday.

And a horrid picture of me, (because Shawn has no timing when it comes to taking a picture and me smiling):

The skirt is still curling a bit, even after trying to block it out a little. I hope with a little wash and wear it will flatten a bit. Damn those models and the pins they use in the magazines! I love this pattern though. And the yarn, (Berroco Peruvia), is so soft and warm. Here in So Cal we are getting a bit of cooler weather, (finally). Where I live it's notorious for wind. Day and night! (Which reminds me I need to pin down the BBQ cover.) So this will be a staple for Fall/Winter.

In other news: We are still looking for puppies. *sigh* It's not an easy task. I am adamantly against buying from pet stores. (We visited the one by our house and they were trying to sell an English Bulldog for $3,300!!!) And while I'd love to go through a breeder, this isn't really the season for puppies, (number one), and I don't want to pay $1,000 for a dog, (do breeders not know there is a lack of good homes out there?) I've gone through rescues and many don't want to sell to people who live in apartments, (nevermind that I used to be a Vet Tech and that I can provide a good home). So the next best thing? The shelter. And I just haven't found "the one". I would love to get another Australian Shepherd. My mom and I had one for 13 years and he was the best! But Shawn says they are ugly, (who does he think he is?). The next choice is a Golden Retriever. Third choice, German Shepherd. So we'll see what happens with this search.

I'm getting ready to add some knitting needle cases to Etsy soon. I admit I haven't been sewing as much as I'd like. I made the mistake of buying the pattern and fabric for Scout's Halloween costume and now my mom is too frustrated to help and won't stop telling me this was a "bad idea". *sigh* So I'm going to do it on my own. I hope. This year. Maybe. Next year.

As for everything else, well I'm working on my Secret of the Stole. I had to buy three crochet hooks before finding the right size one for the seed beads. But it's looking great. I, like others, am knitting each point separately so as not to be confused. Pictures to follow tomorrow. Maybe. Wednesday?

I wish I could be like some of the other Bloggers out there. You know, the ones who post pictures every day and they are always perfect. No clutter. No disruptive backgrounds. You know who I mean. Those Bloggers who live out of a freakin' Martha Stewart type house, who never have a hair out of place. Even the food they cook looks perfect. Pisses me off.

Welcome Back

2007-10-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

A week has been enough time to, (try to), take a break. Suffice to say, it wasn't much of a break. Jem got himself in a bit of trouble, (I'm being nice here), and we are waiting for his punishment to be given, (we are talking possible expulsion). He's also out of school this week for Fall Break and he's "bored". Shawn ended up getting another eye infection, so he's been home and pretty useless because his eyes are so sensitive to light. Scout is great. She always is.

Today was filled with running errands and getting Dr. papers signed. I even tried to getting some knitting done at the LYS. Did you know knitting is easier when you have your knitting needles? Yeah, I forgot my needles. So I came home. But I was lucky. Awaiting me was a package from my SP11 spoiler. She sent me a very nice, very heavy, Chicago themed package and I think she wants me to get fat.

First, Blue Sky Alpaca 100% Alpaca yarn in a gorgeous Royal Blue. Love it!

Second, Caramel Apples, a bag of Peanuts, Condiments for the perfect Hot Dog, (cause you know, Chicago does have the best):

There was also a bag of Brach's candy, (which is kinda weird, because I just DVR'd the show "Notorious" on the Bio channel, which was featuring Helen Brach, the candy heiress), and a bag of the most delicious caramel corn. Yeah, Chicago definitely has the best food by far.

She also sent me a keychain that is a silver heart and says, "I love Chicago", a Chicago mug, a pack of White Sox pens, a White Socks pennant, (that Jem is using in his room for the time being), and a Bears bib for Scout. She definitely is the best and I really appreciate everything she has done. Thank you so much SP!

Yesterday was an errand running day as well, but I ran down to Santa Monica and did a little, (major), yarn shopping. I bought this Arucania Ranco for my Secret of the Stole project:

I know we probably shouldn't use multi's, but God this yarn was calling my name from the moment I saw it. I'm really not a big fan of some of the stuff Arucania has, but Ranco is super soft and super gorgeous. I love the brown, green, grey, black combos. Very subtle, but not. This is my swatch and I'm going to block it tonight to see if it's lacy enough. If not, I'll go up a needle size. I have until Friday to get my swatch right before starting with the first hint.

And I still need beads. I'll do that tomorrow since we'll be down there.

I also chose the yarn I'll use for the Rhiannon Socks by Cookie A. The perfect brown in Louet Gems. It's called Caribou and I love it too. I know I'll need more, I only bought three skeins. (Don't ask why, I won't tell you what I had already spent once you add three of these, three of the above, a skein of STR, two skeins of Koigu and two skeins of Kettle Dyed Manos...you understand, right?)

I can't wait to start using this, but I have three pair of socks I need to finish first.

And this the STR that I just had to pick up! In the Navy. One of the many colors on my list. There are a few more now that they added new colors. And the Raven Series in November...It's insanity x infinity. I got a great scarf pattern for this:

Someone mentioned on the STR group, (on Ravelry), that the price of their sock club, ($220), could buy you 11.6 skeins of lightweight STR yarn. (I don't think that's including shipping though.) I wanted to join last year but I'm pretty happy that I didn't. While I would love to be part of such a cool group, I want to know what to expect. Last years colors really didn't excite me, (though I did love the patterns). And if I got stuck with exclusive colors that I didn't like, then what? In all honesty, I'd rather take the $220 and buy 11.6 skeins of yarn. I could even give you my list, like that!

Which brings me to Sundara. I've never used her yarn. I've never wanted to wait to weeks before having something shipped to me, for starters. Her colors are very beautiful and I'm often tempted. I had wanted to join her sock club, but decided her costs were a bit inflated. If you take a look now she has the "Seasons" Club in which you pay $52 a month, for 6 months, and you get to choose which season you'd like as your package. The deal? None in my opinion, because while you are getting a skein of her yarn, that's all you are getting. No patterns, no frills.

So what's the deal? Any opinions, ideas, comments?

And because Nora will ask me where's Scout:

Here's Scout in her Sheepie Jammies. She's getting big people! 9 month check up: 30 1/4 inches, 20.3 lbs. And the Dr. says she really is perfect and quite advanced for her age. Oh, and if you remember "Alvin and the Chipmunks", she loves the song "Witch Doctor". (She also likes the song, "Do a deer, a female deer..." from the "Sound of Music" but I'm no Julie Andrews.)

So that's my update. I've been knitting and sewing. I've been stressing and smiling. I've been thinking and dreaming. And, soon enough, I'll read all of your blogs that I've missed!

Taking Vacation Time

2007-09-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Not literally, because you can't stop being a mom, cook, maid, girlfriend, daughter, friend, etc. But I am taking a blog break because my depression has been high and low and it's causing a lot of mental chaos. I'm overwhelmed. There's too much to do, not enough time. There's not enough to do, there's too much time. There's bills to pay, boxes to ship, gifts to buy, carpets to clean, closets to organize, babies to wash, lunches to make...the list goes on. So excuse my absence for a few days, weeks, (months?). No, I won't be gone that long. I will continue to read your blogs because many of you inspire me and many of you I admire. I'll talk to you all quite soon. *smile*

What I've Been Up To

2007-09-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

Usually I'm pretty good about updating, but truth be told I haven't been doing anything of interest lately. I've been busy. But I haven't been interesting. There is a difference.

About two weeks ago I stopped by the library to pick up my books on hold. These are just a few of what I checked out. The lady at the desk was pretty surprised. There are actually four books missing from this pile, though the other four weren't all craft related:

The sad part? I'm returning all of them without using them. I went through them. I perused the basics. I perused the patterns. I perused the techniques. Nothing I didn't already know. (Not to say that I'm a know-it-all.) But they aren't very useful to me. I will say that "Family Knits" and "Chic Knits for Stylish Babies" have some neat patterns, but I'm not interested in, (another), all cabled sweater or intarsia knits for a 12 month old. Too much work with too little wear in my opinion.

Though I haven't been using the books, I have actually been doing a bit of craft:

This is one of the needle cases I'm working on. I'm thinking of calling it, "Dog's Life". The wrong side is a dark brown corduroy. As you can see, the right side is a bunch of cute doggies. I still have the seaming and pockets to do though. I did finish the pink and brown one for one of my sock pals though and I'm quite pleased.

I've even been knitting, though when I timed myself to see how long it took to knit one row of the Tilted Duster skirt I was shocked to see it took 10 minutes! I still have another 53 rows to go, which means 530 minutes, which means approximately 8.8 hours of knitting - just the skirt!

There's something funky going on, on one of the increase sides. I'm hoping it will block out.

I've also started my Hogwarts Sock Swap socks. I started them two nights ago and worked quite a few rows watching "Vacancy" on DVD last night. I'm almost to the heel. Four more pattern rows and I should be there. They are awfully pretty and Shawn even said he wanted me to make him socks out of the yarn. Looks like I'll have to order more.

It's a pattern from "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch, though I don't think you can really see the pattern until it's on the foot. I have decided to make a fold over cuff with a picot edge. I think they will make a really cute pair of socks.

AJ's thoughts on:

cats: Pepper has disappeared. She's been missing since Wednesday. Dalton hasn't really gone out looking for her, so I can only take that as he's happy she's gone. (She really antagonizes him.) We've all gone out calling her name and looking for her, but to no avail. She's probably living it up at a neighbors, who don't have kids dressing her up or babies making her sticky. I hope she's alright.

rain: It, (finally), rained here in Southern California. And a lot. Oh it was nice. It started on Friday night. Shawn ended up falling asleep pretty early. So, Dalton and I kept each other company on the balcony watching the rain come done over the street lights and watching the short lived lightning. I love falling asleep to the rain. I'd really be ok with it raining on a daily basis. I love it! (Perfect hot chocolate and chili weather, which we did Friday.)

sewing machines: they suck! I snapped a needle the other night going over some corduroy. The good news was that when I went to JoAnn's to get new needles I learned that they offer sewing classes. They are $40 for four 1 hour classes and they work with you on the basics. Which I need. So I'm hoping to sign up in a week.

money: I never have enough! I blame the yarn stores, the bead shops, the miles of fabric...I blame artsy fartsy kind of stuff that I think I need to learn. I'm repainting the bedroom. Enough said.

Me and my damn ideas.

Busy As a Bee

2007-09-18T11:21:00.001-07:00

I've had a few busy days this past week. And I admit, I really haven't been prioritizing very well lately. I think this is where I fluctuate and am on a high. I have too many creative ideas. There are too many things I aspire to do. I want to do it all. And I try!

It started with a trip to downtown LA, (which if you don't live here, you will know it's not really the place to go). But there was a very good reason for me to go down there, (and drag poor Shawn with me). She is the reason:

Yes, I had a chance to see the Yarn Harlot. It was so much fun and she's such a hoot. I would have stayed longer to meet her, but we had gotten to LA at 1 p.m. and went down to the Garment District, (which is basically blocks of stores that sell fabrics, sewing machines, notions...). And I think by the time we were done at the auditorium, (which was at about 3:45), Shawn was ready to go. (I should say neither of us had eaten yet that day, because we woke up late and rushed to get downtown.)

When I got home, my Sock It To Me Sock Swap Pal sent me a very lovely gift of socks, a handsewn bag, candies, yarn and Bath and Body Works yummy stuff:

Thanks Jennifer!

And I did manage to get some knitting time in to work on this:

It's the bodice for the Tilted Duster. Actually, I worked on this at the SnB at the LYS on Friday night. Plus I started my second Monkey sock there too. Sunday I had to go back to the LYS and get some help working the shoulder seams. I hate stair stepping edges. They look horrible. So I ended up taking them out and doing a three needle bind off and now my shoulder seams look wonderful. I prefer the three needle bind off to seaming any day!

So since I got those three pieces done, I decided to skip the sleeves for the moment and work on the ribbing for the skirt. I'm about 2 or 3 inches into the ribbing. I need 16. Maybe longer. It will depend on how I like the length when I try it on.

I've also been doing quite a bit of sewing. And quite a bit of spending. Why didn't those of you sew tell me how terribly addicting buying fabric is. I gave up scrapbooking because of this. And here I am, a knitter, a beader and a sewer. What next?

This needle case still needs pockets. I haven't decided if I am doing DPN's or circulars yet. But this is for my Sock It To Me Pal. She likes pink!

I am hoping to do a few this week and add to the shop soon. I am doing an update right now on stitch markers. I sold a few at the SnB and there are a few new ones leftover. Take a look!

And a bit of sunshine for those cloudy and dark days:

Nora, this picture goes out to you!

What I Might Be When I Grow Up

2007-09-13T13:47:00.001-07:00

Silly as it sounds. The other night my mom and I were talking about what I would do when Scout is old enough to go to school. I said, "I'll home-school her", but I doubt that I would do it. My patience runs awfully thin. So I was thinking about what I would do, maybe use the Interpreting degree? Maybe? Or something else. All I've ever really done was work with animals, as a dog groomer and a Veterinary Assistant.

I could be a baker:

This my friend is a most delicious Buttermilk Frosting that goes on top of Buttermilk Brownies.

I could most definitely be a chef or baker with this:

My brand new GE stove. Oh it's delicious I tell you! They installed it today after we complained about our previous oven, (that must have been here since they built these complexes), wasn't working properly. (Gotta love having friends in management huh?)

Or maybe I'll be a seamstress:

My first sewing project since the 7th grade: A DPN Needle Case for my Monkey Sock Pal. I used the needle cases my grandmother made for me as a template and designed them for double pointed needles. (It is a sock swap you know.)

A close up of the lil monkeys.

And a picture of the backing which is a dark brown courdoroy, (sp?)

I'm happy to say that I am very happy with the needle case for a few reasons. One, my mom looked at the one my grandmother made, (mind you they have a very strained relationship), and all she could say was, "oh, she's gooood". My grandmother is a professional seamstress. She's been sewing since she was a little kid, of course she's good! Anyway, we finally figured out how to do it, and I was good. Cutting fabric, pinning fabric, cursing fabric, sewing fabric...

Needless to say I'm addicted to fabric already. I bought enough fabric to make three more cases when I bought monkey fabric. But then yesterday, I went back to JoAnn's because they'd give us oodles of 40% off coupons for fabrics, notions, containers and craft items. (Mind you, last week I went to Michael's and bought $30 worth of Halloween ornaments and paints, crayons, and other stuff for Jem.) Anyway, I left JoAnn's spending about $60!!! I bought more cord, some cool dog print fabric and a few yards of Pooh Bear baby blanket fabric for Scout's baby blanket. (My grandmother made me my baby blanket which I had until 7th grade when I lost it on Halloween night. My mom made Jem his baby blanket which he still uses, and she made me this really cool blanket too. One side was fuzzy Raggedy Ann and Andy prints and the other was a sheet that matched my bedset. My friend borrowed it and never gave it back and now my mom refuses to make me one. So I'll have to make Scout's and one for me!)

In other news, I got my sock project bag from Momma Monkey, in the mail yesterday and I totally ♥ it! I really wanted one with Siamese cats, but I know sometimes specific fabric is hard to come by. But these cats were just too cute to resist! So if you need a small sock bag, this is most definitely what you need to get:

Check out her Etsy shop!

And my Koigu Monkeys are coming along nicely:

I was worried they weren't going to fit, the stitches were a bit tighter than I'd like, because I used US 1's. But they fit comfortably, so onto Sock Two I am going.

I finished the back to the Tilted Duster, but it's awfully ugly just sitting there, (all the bind offs), so I'll wait til I get the fronts done before showing you a picture. The good news is that while the Peruvia is a bit fuzzy, it doesn't bother me as much as I'd thought.

And that's about it. I have a lot of blogs and groups and swaps I need to catch up on. So I'm off!

P.S.: I sold a number of stitch marker sets last week at the LYS and made a bunch more for the SnB tomorrow night. Whatever doesn't sell will be posted in the shop on Saturday. Be on the look out, there are some great new markers!

100 Things

2007-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

I was born on November, 27th, 1980 which was Thanksgiving that year. (My mom calls me a turkey.)
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
I was named after my great, great, great grandmother Arminta on my mom's side, (the A), and my grandmother, Josephine, on my dad's side, (the J).
My son, Jem, was named after the main character in "To Kill a Mockingbird". (Jem is not short for Jeremy like it is in the book.)
My daughter, Scout, was named after the other main character in "To Kill a Mockingbird". (Scout is not short for Jean Louise.)
My first pet was a gray tabby cat named Buster. My mom took the L to the foster home that he was living at when it was pouring rain, the day before Easter. He jumped in her lap and she knew she had to bring him home.
We moved to California in May of 1985.
I hate it here.
I was a scrapbooker before I became a knitter.
I'm slowly becoming addicted to beading and jewelry, (though it's not replacing knitting).
I have been riding horses since I was 2 years old.
I won blue ribbons for gymkhana contests. (Jumping, racing, and show.)
I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano.
I can play the first few beats of "Fur Elise".
I can play "Greensleeves".
I love English History.
I have read every book by Lilian Jackson Braun, author of "The Cat Who..." series.
I can't fall asleep unless on my stomach.
I have had two C Sections.
Since the age of 16 I've moved 6 times and been homeless once.
I earned my AA in Sign Language Interpreting, but haven't used it.
I speak Italian.
I'm double jointed in the legs.
I played softball for 6 years.
I was asked to play on the All Stars team my last year.
I was asked to play on my mom's friend's adult softball team when I was 14, (and I have to say I was a lot better than some of those adults at the time).
My first concert was the B 52's and the Red Hot Chili Peppers ringing in the New Year for 1990.
My grandpa was my most favorite person in the whole wide world.
He died on May, 5th, 1997.
My first crush's name was Zachary Horn.
The first hard liquor I tried was Berry Schnapps, (on a campout).
The last hard liquor I had was Southern Comfort.
I clip coupons.
I covet those 40% Michael's coupons in the Sunday paper.
I love Disneyland.
When I was in first grade we went to Disneyland and I was too scared to go in the Haunted Mansion and I made my counselor leave with me.
Big Bear is one of my favorite getaways.
I used to walk our dog, Ruff, in the rain.
I was a Girl Scout for a looooong time.
I love mystery shows like "Murder, She Wrote", "Matlock", "Ellery Queen", and "Diagnosis Murder".
"The Godfather" is my favorite movie of all time.
I've always wanted to go to England.
I got caught shoplifting a box of crayons from the grocery store when I was in first grade.
I hate snakes.
I hate bugs.
I hate ugly bugs.
I love the fall and winter.
I don't drink coffee, not even Starbucks.
I don't have many close friends.
I've always wanted to go to a fancy Halloween ball where everyone dresses really elegantly.
I hate driving on freeway overpasses.
I hate clutter in the house. It makes me feel discombobulated.
I rescued my baby Dalton from the Veterinary office that I worked at in 1999.
I have 9 tattoos.
I love to bake.
I would love to make an Angel Food cake one day.
I love the comic "Get Fuzzy", he reminds me of Dalton.
I helped a goat give birth.
I named one of the kids, Rex.
I have three friends in jail for murder, two in California and one in Texas.
I am still in search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
I have only had three serious relationships in my life.
I know pretty much every word of every song sung by Linkin Park.
Scary movies are my favorite.
I love going to the beach, any time of the year.
I want to have a dog again, (I miss Scarlett a lot).
I've broken my ankle twice.
It needs surgery.
I'm Bipolar.
I'm artistic.
I consider myself overly ambitious.
I suffer a bit from agoraphobia.
I'm a little OCD, (all my clothes are on white hangers and are in color order, ROYGBIV).
I think President Bush needs to take a hike.
I believe that Princess Diana was murdered by the Royal Family.
I don't believe in sending our boys to the war.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
I've been a parent for 9 years.
I've been a daughter for 26 years.
The largest library fee I had was for $47 when I was 12. I don't remember what books they were or why they were so late.
I love Shawn.
I wish I lived in simpler times.
I've never had a bedframe for my bed. (Just two nice, cushy mattresses.)
I love French Bread.
If it rained everyday for the rest of my life, I'd be happy.
"Little Einsteins" is Scout's favorite show. It's slowly becoming one of mine.
I love watching paternity tests on "Maury".
I stopped drinking sodas, except yesterday I bought a 12 pack of A&W Cream Sodas and they are almost gone!
French Fries have been my favorite food since I was 2.
I never tasted chocolate until I was 2 years old.
I can't grow flowers. I'd like to. But I can't.
I have a huge Sean Penn crush.
All the "Law & Order" series are my favorites.
I prefer a night in with a movie and homemade dinner. Candles are nice too.
I love candles. Vanilla. Yum.
I've always wanted a really fancy bedroom like the ones you see in magazines.
I hate raw onion.
I really want to learn how to bead, (like peyote stitch and things of that sort).
I am definitely a dreamer.
And a knitter.

I Got The Blues

2007-09-07T15:49:00.001-07:00

First, I am fine. My back was hurting a bit yesterday, so my mom gave me a couple Vicodin and I'm not feeling much of anything. The car wasn't damaged that bad considering the thing is made of steel, but it is quite a big dent. Shawn is dealing with her because she doesn't want it reported to the DMV or insurance companies. Shawn doesn't want it reported either because the insurance company will say that the damage is more than the car is worth, and we can't afford to give up the car since it's not worth much anyway. So we'll see what happens.

I have not spoken with the professor, but I've decided I won't be taking the class. It's not a class I need, and honestly I don't want to deal with a teacher who is so rude. Most professors take into consideration that there is no parking the first two weeks of classes, so they give you time. And most professors I've had take into consideration that life happens. This is not so with this teacher. I don't want to put any more effort into to it. So, that's that. I'll finish the last class I need next semester, (it's only available in Spring), and that will be it.

I'm happy to say that not all of my luck has been bad. Today I got a very nice surprise in the mail:

My Secret Pal sent me a very nice gift indeed! Inside was a skein of Artful Yarns Shakespeare, (100% wool), that would make a very soft scarf. There was also a cute notebook, which you can never have enough; a big bag of Werther's Hard Candies, (which I will definitely be hiding from Shawn); and a sachet. It smells great!

There was also a skein of this yummy sock yarn, that I think she hand dyed:

Pretty huh? Definitely going to make some nice socks with this! Oh yes!

But that's not all. Yesterday I received this in the mail:

It's Shelby B's Designs Superwash Sock yarn in Ravenclaw. I intended on buying her last skein last week, but someone bought it before I could. She was very nice and dyed this for me as a custom order. I love the colors and now I'm wishing I bought two skeins because this will be used for my Hogwarts Sock Pals Socks. I'm still searching for the right pattern.

And then the day before that, I got this:

It's Berroco Peruvia. I got a very good deal from Ebay and decided to buy the 9 skeins I needed for the IK Tilted Duster. I cast on last night:

I obviously didn't get much done, but I'm very happy with the stitch definition. Which is more than I can say for the Wheat Ear Cable Yoke. I think I'm going to frog it and go one needle size smaller. And if that doesn't work, well I'll find a different yarn.

Oh and my Monkeys:

Koigu. What else can I say? Perfection? Yes. I love the colors and you know me, I'm not a pink person, but the colors are grand! I don't know if these will fit me though. I had to go down two needle sizes and while the leg fits, I don't know how the foot will. If they don't fit I'll gift them to my old neighbors mother, because I wanted to knit her a pair of socks and her socks are smaller, so I guess that's the perfect scenario!

The weather has finally cooled down, I'm talking 70's here. So, I'm thinking that tomorrow we will take a ride to the beach. I have an ulterior motive though. I joined the Secret of the Stole KAL. I know, I know, I need to stop joining stuff. But I can't help it, they are fun! Anyway, I have a skein of Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere that I want to use, but I need another two skeins and I'm thinking that a trip to Wildfiber is in order. I've never really done lace, I mean the Charlotte's Web and Koigu was sort of lace, but not the kind you think about when you hear "lace knitting". So this was my incentive to join. Plus it involves knitting with beads, which I've yet to do.

And I also joined Sock Wars. *sigh* Will I ever learn?

Crash Into Me

2007-09-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you a little story.

A story about a girl who really wanted to learn how to speak French.

After my 4:30 appointment for my post op check up, (which by the way went fine, except that they said that there are lesions on my left ovary and they want to do a pelvic ultrasound, blah blah blah), I had a quick dinner with my mom at her work and then off to school I went.

After driving around for 30 minutes I decided to go back down this one particular lane one more time. As I am making a right hand turn, the car in front of me at the stop sign backs up and CRASHES into my car. Now there's a big dent behind the back drivers side door, but in front of the gas tank. And the paint is peeling. (Lucky I was in a 20 some odd year Lincoln Town Car huh?)

Anyway, the girl was very apologetic and didn't know what to do. I don't know what makes it worse, the fact that she crashed into me OR the fact that she had just got a ticket from the campus police and then crashed into me. What do you think?

I'm alive and I guess I should count my blessings. But, the impact of the accident has given me quite a head and neck ache. I'll be seeing the Dr. tomorrow I'm sure.

What makes the whole situation terrible is that I got to my class 40 minutes late and was locked out. The teacher wouldn't open the class for me to come in. And that really upset me because I just drove 30 miles to get to the school, sat in parking lot traffic for over 40 minutes, get into an accident and all I really wanted to do was learn French.

I don't think I want to take a class with a professor like that though. And I sure don't want to put in the effort of a semester of work knowing how rude she is. I'd definitely hold it against her.

Some good news? My Berroco Peruvia came in the mail and now I can start the Tilted Duster from Interweave Knits. I'll see if I can wind the 9 hanks tomorrow. Oh, and my Monkeys on US 1's fit me, but then again I haven't finished the heel. Cross your fingers!

Squirrels and Pearls

2007-09-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

Not a very fascinating weekend to tell you the truth. Last night, Shawn and I went to Red Robin and grabbed some burgers, (I tried their A1 Peppercorn Burger and I have to say it was the best one I've had, and I'm pretty pick when it comes to hamburger), and then we went and saw the new "Halloween".

It was a good movie, but I'm a bit disappointed that Rob Zombie distorted the original background. (n the original, Michael Meyers kills his sister for some unknown reason, goes to a psychiatric hospital and doesn't talk for years. In the new one, they focus a lot on his childhood. A childhood of a stripper mother, a no good live in boyfriend who has the hots for the slutty sister...basically your white trash family who parents this kid into being a modern psychotic killer. While there's a lot less killing in the first one, I really think they had to add more to this movie because they were lacking. I mean, most scary movies don't need a dozen or so murders because the story is decent enough. So I really don't know where I stand. It's so hard watching a remake of one of your favorites. I don't think they ruined it, but I don't think that they bettered it either. Anyway, go see for yourself. Apparently it's #1 in the box office, making way more money Labor Day weekend than many.

Today was a lazy day.

As was yesterday. But yesterday, my mom brought this lil guy over:

The place she stays has a big yard and a lot of cats. This guy fell out of a tree and couldn't find his way back up. So her friend came over to my house to pick him up because they didn't want him running around and getting chased, (and very likely, eaten). Cute, huh? Shawn wouldn't come look at him, let alone pet him. He doesn't like rats. Or mice. Or hamsters. Or rabbits. Anything he'd classify as a "rodent" and he won't go near it. Then again he's deathly scared of horses and donkeys. He called one a mean name one time and the horse gave a loud whinny. Serves him right!

Between all of that "excitement", I've been working on my beading. I found some great jewelry, stringing, and beadweaving books. It's kind of like knitting, hard to find a great resource book that will give you all the information you want and need about the craft. But I found two, out of six, from the library that really helped.

And with some of this new information I made this:

Freshwater pearl bracelet in pinks and silver.

I really like it. I just wish I liked pink enough to have something to wear with it, because I would keep it. Unfortunately, I am a blue girl, so this beauty will be going on Etsy, so if you are interested that's where to go.

On the needles is my Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Sweater, about 12" for the back. The tension is better and I think if there are any problems with definition, I'll be able to block it. So I'm happy that I didn't have to frog yet another good piece of fabric.

I finished the Monkeys, as you can see from the last post, but I'm swatching Koigu for another pair. I just love the pattern. And the yarn? I mean, H.E.L.L.O, how can you go wrong?

I've been wanting to cast on for something but am not sure what. I have four WIP's, two of which are hibernating until I decide I want to work on them again. My yarn for the Tilted Duster hasn't arrived yet, so I guess I could wait...but it seems like it will be sooo long. So maybe a Jellyfish? Or more socks? I just want to knit!!!

Monkeys Needing a Home

2007-08-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

And I don't mean Jem. Though he's getting close!

I finished my Monkey Swap Pal's Monkey Socks.

I ♥ the yarn. Shawn didn't like it, but what does he know?

Anyway, they are done and now I have to do a little Monkey shopping. Etsy has loads of great stuff. I ♥ Etsy. Just not sure what I want to get yet.

What makes it worse is that I found the cutest Owl Pins. Why is that bad? Because I have the cutest green/blue/cream Owl 3/4 sleeve sweater from Target. And then today, of all days, I go back to Target, (a might dangerous place), and I found another Owl sweater. This one is cream, but on the inside are mini pink and brown owls. So I bought it. There are owls everywhere! I blame my grandmother who loves everything owl. And I blame Target. They enable me. And Etsy too. There's just too much good stuff out there.

Anyway, that's really about it. I ordered my yarn for the Tilted Duster and joined the KAL. More enabling! BUT, I got a pretty good deal on the Berroco Peruvia so I can justify it. Especially because I've put the Cabled Tunic away for a while. (It's in a good place right now.)

Oh, and just so I can make you jealous because so many of you have done it to me: I am going to see the Yarn Harlot in two weeks! Yippee! She's speaking at one of the libraries downtown on the 15th and I, very luckily, grabbed two spots. (Someone on Ravelry posted that they called but were told there were no more spots, so I think I called just in time.) Needless to say, I am very excited.

I need some excitement here in this 110 degree heat. I'm wilting away.

Take a look at this Monkey

2007-08-27T11:27:00.001-07:00

I finished it last night, after updating my blog. I told you I was further along then the pictures showed. And I have more than enough yarn. Shawn found his scale and we measured. I was really worrying that I didn't have enough. And you know, looking at a wound ball doesn't help. Anyway, it's done and waiting for it's mate:

I'll definitely be making myself a pair. This pattern really knits up quick!

A Productive Weekend

2007-08-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday and Sunday proved to be a bit productive.

I worked, a little bit, on the Wheat Ear Yoke Sweater from Interweave Knits. I am working the sweater on US 6's and 7's, instead of 7's and 8's.

I'm not too sure about the stitch definition though. I really think it would look better if I went down another needle size and just make the largest sweater size. I have enough yarn. But tell me what you think? (When I stretch it out a little, it looks 100% GREAT...so I guess the blocking could make all the difference.)

I also made a lot of headway on the Monkey Socks. I am using yarn from my stash that I bought on Etsy a while back. I went up a needle size, (from 2's to 3's). They are a bit loose for me, so that's a good sign. Cause they aren't for me. I'm actually further along then the pictures. (I'm almost to the toe shaping.)

This is a great pattern.

The heel flap was a bit long for the pattern, but that's probably because of the change in needles. I will definitely be making myself a pair of these...quite possibly in some Koigu.

And because she's driving me crazy, I thought I'd post a cuteness picture.

She's not so cute when she's munching on grasshoppers. Three this week. Gross.

I'll be updating Etsy later. There are a couple Amethyst sets I'm adding. (Just in case you ♥ purple.)

That Sweater is Wicked Yo!

2007-08-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

I finished Wicked last night while watching "Dead Silence". Not that I had much to do, just finish the second sleeve. All the same, it's like Second Sock Syndrome, but more like Second Sleeve Syndrome. I get to the second sleeve and man, oh man, the project takes a windfall in priority status. But I did good.

That's the crossover rib pattern for the collar.

An arm shot. I decided to do sleeves to my elbows. So it's somewhat like a T sweater.

And the seed stitching on the hem, which I think was kinda weird for the pattern since the collar and sleeves all had the crossover pattern. But the seed sitch gives a little, so it's all good.

Sorry there's no modeling shots, but it was hot here today and I enjoyed a nice, cool, air conditioned aparment hanging out with Scout! She even let us have a 2 hour nap this afternoon! (Much needed as I'm sure you all know!)

I'll take pictures of it on me this weekend!

And now, for the Wheat Ear Yoke...so far the 7's are keeping a good stitch definition. I need to do a few rows of St St to see if I have the right measurements. Otherwise I'm going down another size in needles and I'll do the largest size in the pattern.

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish

2007-08-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

Strange as it sounds, I've rediscovered Peanut Butter. I actually don't care for PBJ. But I do like Peanut Butter. And I do like Jelly. Yesterday I was wanting a snack and decided to have a piece of bread with Creamy Peanut Butter and it was like I found an old friend. Odd, ain't it?

Jellyfish. Well they are neat, aren't they?

I found this guy at Hansigurumi's Etsy. The pattern was sitting in my Favorites for a while, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to knit a toy. (I haven't had the best of luck in the past.) But, I still want to knit Sheldon and this Jellyfish was too cute to pass up.

I want to make Sheldon for both Jem and Scout for Christmas. (I know, I said no Christmas knitting, but these are for the kids so it doesn't count.) And I want to make a few Jellyfish and maybe an Octopus or two and make a little sea creature mobile for Scout.

Ambitions.

Speaking of which...Wicked is <-> that close to being done. I am on the second sleeve, I decided to do 3/4 sleeves, so these are whizzing by.

And I restarted the Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Sweater. I am starting with US 6's and hopefully trying to do the US 7's as my main needle. I may have to work with only the 6's. And I may have to up a size for the sweater. I don't know. But I do know that I will probably have issues with this.

Let the knitting commence.

(BTW, I am feeling much better. I'm still sore, but I'm getting around. Scout and I have been having a wonderful time with the boys gone.)

There's My Girl

2007-08-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

It seems like it wasn't that long ago when I posted about being pregnant. Or that we had gone to our ultrasound and that we learned we were having a girl. It really doesn't seem all that long ago that I posted about her birth. But it's been almost 8 months and the time has whizzed by.

She babbles. (I'm happy to say that I hear "mama" a lot.)

She cut her first tooth the other day, though I haven't been able to take a picture quite yet.

She's crawling at top speed.

She's pulling herself up to stand.

And, I'm happy to say, she's fitting in the sweaters and stuff that I've made for her.

I finished the second sleeve the other day. Ridiculous that it just sat in a bag as long as it did. Either way, it's finished and she looks beautiful in it.

Pattern: Sweater with Square Set in Sleeves by Debbie Bliss in "Baby Knits for Beginners"
Yarn: Lana Grossa Elastico, (approximately 2 1/2 skeins) in Bubblegum Pink
Needles: US 5's and 6's
Mods: None

This is probably one of my favorite patterns. I've knit it three times. It just keeps getting better. I like the Elastico because it was, well, pretty stretchy. And the color is great for a little girl. Plus I can throw it in the wash. That's always a plus when you have a baby.

In other knitting news, I am almost done with my Sock It To Me pal's socks. And I just have to do the sleeves on Wicked and I'll be done. This surgery has given me a little extra knitting time, which has been very nice indeed. Even if I'm sore.

Back to the beginning tomorrow though. Shawn goes back to work. Jem goes back to school. Just me and Scout. And you have no idea how long I've wanted it to be like that!

I'm alive

2007-08-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted you all to know, I'm alive!

Surgery went fine. Still sore. And tired.

I'll update when I feel a bit better.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

Weekend, (and movie review)

2007-08-12T20:07:00.001-07:00

I've been keeping busy. I must keep busy. Thursday is my upcoming surgery and while I'm 99.9% positive it's what I want to do, crazy as it may sound, I still feel like I'm sort of losing something. So I've been knitting and reading. AND last night, Shawn and I went to dinner at Buca di Beppo. (In lieu of the fair. I wanted to go, but since we had to fix the car it made more sense to spend what we had leftover on a dinner date and groceries compared to just the fair. I'd rather eat the entire week and not just one day.) So we had a delicious "quattro al forno", which is their HUGE sampler plate of: Ravioli, Baked Manicotti, Chicken Cannelloni, (which surprisingly was delicious, and I usually don't care much for sausage), and Spicy Sausage Baked Shells. And for dessert? A HUGE hunk of the most decadent Chocolate Vesuvio. Seriously, this was the best meal I've had all year. They are certainly becoming a favorite for us!

After that we tried watching "The Number 23" with Jim Carrey. But the DVD we rented was flawed. After cleaning the disc and then the DVD player, we gave up and watched "Hostel". Can't wait for #2. And I saw the previews to the new "Halloween". Now, if you don't know, I ♥ horror films with a passion. I've seen them all and many I own. I have to say that I've been very disappointed in many of the remakes. Now, I didn't really care for "House of 1000 Corpses" or "The Devil's Rejects" and I don't know what will happen with the new "Halloween" because Rob Zombie will also be directing this. The previews actually looked good, but you know how that goes! They put all the good stuff on preview and the rest of the movie is crap. I'm crossing my fingers because Michael Meyers is one of my favorite scary dudes. I also saw previews for "The Nanny Diaries" and it looks pretty good. I ♥ Scarlett Johannsen and the book was a hoot, so I think this will be a dead ringer. Shawn probably won't go see it, (too chick flick and I already made him watch 3 hours of "Memoirs of a Geisha" which he won't let me forget, LOL), but I might go on my own once it's out. Yes, I'm an odd duck. I do go to the movies on my own occasionally.

But onto the important stuff, like for my Sock It To Me Pal socks:

The yarn is TOFUtsies in a variegated pink and knit on US 2's. I am doing the same Garter Rib pattern that I used for my River Socks. I love the pattern. And these socks are awesome! (Might have to make another pair.) The yarn is wonderful to work with!

The heel:

I'm farther along though. I'm hoping to finish this one tonight.

Speaking of the swap, my pal sent me a very nice, very generous gift. In the box contained a small bottle of Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works, a yummy Soy candle and a handful of See's Lollipops, (Butterscotch...oooh yummy!). There was also this:

500 yards of Cider Moon Yarn (Icicle) in Asbury Park. I made the ladies at the LYS jealous! So thanks to my pal whose name I can't mention because then other players will know who is spoiling me already!

While at the LYS I bought the new IK, which arrived a few days early (which made me happy since I wanted to make sure to have it with me when I went to the hospital) and two skeins of this Koigu:

I ♥ Koigu. If I could have an LYS of my own, it would be filled with Koigu. Maybe only Koigu!

Ewe Bitch Creations has a few more stitch marker sets available. I love these, myself. I think I'm going to make myself a set of these, I love the teal.

And just to oblige Nora here is a picture of Scout soaking up the suds:

Hehe, she's so damn cute!

I lied, no pictures today

2007-08-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

So I joined yet another swap. The Monkey Sock Swap. And I can justify it. It's August. In 4 1/2 months all the knitters that I know of will be pulling out their hair, trying to make Christmas gifting deadlines. I will not. You see, I don't do Christmas knitting. There is a good reason too. For a few years I made sweaters for Jem. Sweaters he picked out. Yarn he picked out. And the last Christmas he chose one, it turned out to be an electric blue and green striped sweater with a big prancing tiger on the front. One of which he's only worn twice. But get this, I made him two more sweaters since then. Sweaters he chose! (He picked the pattern and the yarn combination and begged me to make them now.) He hasn't worn either except for me to take a 5.5 second picture in. They all sit in a Rubbermaid container. Hopefully they will hold some memories for him when I kick him out, with the 1/2 dozen sweaters that he needed. Mainly by Christmas.

Instead of making a scarf for Grandma, and socks for Mom, and a sweater for Fiancee, and matching mittens for Children, I bake. I shop and I bake. And I knit for me. When I first started to knit, I knit unselfishly. Everything I knit I gave away. It's only been in the past 2 years or so that I actually started knitting for me too. Not just baby afghans for people my mom knew were having babies, (mind you I never met them). No more knitting double stranded, queen sized, ugly brown afghans for friends. (Even if you get paid, it's not worth it sometimes.) No more scarves I'll never wear because let's face it, I live in Southern California where the weather goes from warm, warmer, hot, hot as hell.

This is why I don't do knitting for Christmas. Instead, I will be a part of the Secret Pal 11 Swap, the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2, the Sock It To Me Swap and now the Monkey Sock Swap.

So here's my Monkey Swap Questionnaire:

The basics:

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? Intermediate/Advanced. I've been knitting socks since March, so I'm not a pro, but I've knit enough socks to know what I'm doing.

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 9-91/2

Foot circumference: 9.5-9 3/4" (I have a high instep, wide foot)
Foot length: 9.5"

Yarn Preferences:

What colors do you love? Blue, Buttercup Yellow, Chocolate Brown (dark)
Do you prefer solids or variegated? Depends on the yarn, but overall I really like solids
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? Superwash Wool (I don't have much time for handwashing my knits)
What colors would you never wear? No orange socks. Not too into purple either.
What are your favorite brands of yarn? Koigu KPPPM, Socks That Rock, Tofutsies
Are there any new brands you would like to try? Louet Gems, Yarntini, Sundara, Chewy Spaghetti

Cookie A. Patterns: Which of her patterns have you already knit? I just bought her Rhiannon, but I haven't started it yet. Not sure what color I want to do yet.
Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? German Stocking or Twisted Flower

Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? Anywhere is fine by me.
Do you have any allergies? Nothing that I know of.
Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No and yes. I have two cats, but they don't get into my yarn. (I bag everything.)
Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? Just got my invite yesterday! My id is BluEyedPenny.

It Gets Better

2007-08-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

Post number two without pictures, though I do have some that I will load later on tonight.

We are going to the Ventura County Fair, but the car is going to cost somewhere close to $500 + to fix. *sigh*

And I just found out I have ringworm. *bleh* What's worse is when I was thinking about how I could have possibly got it, the only place I've been since getting it was the knit shop. I don't go out much and the LYS is the only place I've been. Twice. Go figure.

Dalton, luckily, hasn't brought home any more meals. Then again I've had to lock him out or lock him in, so as not to get a nasty surprise.

Scout is still up at 1, 2, 3, 4 in the morning. The tooth is just itching to cut through. Hopefully soon. I need to sleep.

Pix to follow tomorrow.

P.S. I got my Ravelry invite today. Yay!

Life Is Filled With Downs

2007-08-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but life has taken a hellish downward spiral for me. I don't tend to talk about it much on here, but right now I could really use some prayers, thoughts, spells, witchcraft...eh, anything that would help would be good at this point.

Dalton has gotten locked into our neighbors garage twice and our other neighbors storage, in the past two weeks. Yesterday he came home with a 6-7" lizard in his mouth. The lizard survived. His tail did not. This morning, (lucky I was awake, but not really), he came home with a HUGE rat. The rat did not survive and it took me 17 minutes to muster up the courage to throw it in the trash. (I'll spare you the gorey details.) Needless to say, I don't want to be around Dalton right now.
We had plans to go to the Ventura County Fair this Saturday. I've been waiting weeks, impatiently, to go. But Shawn has to take the car in to have the catalytic converters replaced, (mainly so I can get back and forth to school in September). I'm quite disappointed though. It's the one thing a year that I look forward to doing.
I met with my OB yesterday for a consult. Get this...my insurance won't cover my current birth control. They also won't cover an IUD. The cost of my current BC, for one year would be the same as a 10 year IUD. So we decided since there will be no more babies, I am having my tubes tied next Thursday at 11:30. No big deal, but in a way I feel like I'm giving something away. I know I don't want any more kids, this pregnancy was too stressful and caused me to be on bedrest. But there's still that .001% of "what if?". Shawn said he'd buy me a dog if that was the case.
Jem was upset last night. He remembered the day that we had to put our dog Ruff down. Mind you, he wasn't around much because my mom and I got Ruff in 1990, (I believe). The dog was a runt, has fallen in a pool, worn raincoats, (he hated water), been hit by a car, had pancreas problems...and then finally he started having bad seizures when he was about 13 years old. It was time to let go. For whatever reason though, Jem saw a picture of him and thought that we would have to put Dalton down. I don't know why, but it shook him up.
Scout is teething crazy and won't sleep. She, finally, went to bed around 12, but had me back up at 2. I slept for a little while, while she slept next to me. I've been up since 5. I'm tired. Very, very tired.
There is no knitting night this Friday. One of the co-owners of the LYS is moving and the LYS is also having an Anniversary Sale right now, so they decided not to do the Stitch and Bitch. It's my one night a month I look forward to. No cooking, no dishes, no children, no Shawn...just hours and hours of knitting. Now what?

Obviously things are not life or death, but they've all built up a really bad depressive episode and I can't stop wanting to cry. I don't even want to knit. I mean, I want to, but I don't. *sigh* Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

SP11 Questionnaire

2007-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? My favorite yarns are Rowan Wool/Cotton, Blue Sky Alpacas Wool/Silk, Koigu, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? My grandmother made me two knitting needle cases out of some fabric a few years ago. They are my absolute favorite!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I learned how to knit in 2000. I asked some ladies at a LYS to teach me and they did. I'd consider my level between intermediate and advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have an Amazon one. I think it's under blueyedpenny(at)yahoo(dot)(com).

5. What's your favorite scent? Warm Vanilla Sugar by Bath and Body Works.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I &hearts; Chocolate! Milk chocolate. I love Werther's Caramels too.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I used to me a scrapbooker, though I admit I haven't done anything in a while. And I do some beading for stitch markers and some jewelry. (I just started recently.)

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Rock, like Linkin Park. Rap, like T.I. Country, like Tim Mcgraw. I pretty much like everything. Yes my computer plays MP3's and I have an iPod.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is blue. I also like buttercup yellow and dark brown. I don't like purple very much.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? It's me, my fiancee, Shawn, and our two kids, Jem (9 years old) and Scout (7 months old). We have two cats, Dalton and Pepper.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Sometimes, no, yes, and no.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Sweaters and socks. I've also enjoyed a little bit of lace, (Charlotte's Web), and I'm a bit eager to start something new.

13. What are you knitting right now? 1.) Fall 2006 Vogue Cabled Tunic 2.) Wicked by Zephyr and 3.) Socks for my SITM pal

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I tend to use my Susan Bates circulars, (sometimes Clover). And I prefer bamboo for my socks.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Not yet. But Shawn is going to make me one! YAY!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Almost a year old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving, (since I was born on Thanksgiving in 1980) and Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn, books...Nothing in particular anymore.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I don't subscribe to mags anymore. As for anything I'm dying to get my hands on...hmmm...nothing in particular I don't think. I'm up for anything.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'd like to try dying my own yarn. And I'd like to try entrelac. It's on my list, just not ready yet.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I am! My measurements are: Circumference=9 1/2", Length= 9 1/2", Shoe Size= 9-9 1/2.

23. When is your birthday? November 27th, 1980

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Not yet. I'm in the 300's right now.

I'm here, I'm here

2007-08-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, hasn't it? I've come to the conclusion that if I don't have any good progress pictures, there's no point in posting. Afterall, how interesting can two dozen pictures of my Charlotte's Web or the same sock I'd been knitting for a week be? Yeah, I thought so.

Nonetheless, things have been going on.

Today we went to the beach. We saw. That's about it. Every parking lot we passed on PCH, (that's Pacific Coast Highway), was full. It took forever to get there and forever to get back. We saw the ocean. We felt the breeze. But it just wasn't the same. I'm hoping in a few weeks when the kids are back in school we can take another trip and find a parking spot.

On the way we home, we took the mountain scenic route:

Those are the Malibu Mountains. Pretty huh?

On to the knitting. I hit the 50% sale at the LYS this week and scored two skeins of Tofutsies for $18! (That's 2 for the price of 1!) Can't really beat that, can you? Didn't get much else since they had a dwindling supply of Koigu. Not that I need more. I've slowly sold bits and pieces on eBay, just to make room.

Anywhoo, I started my Sock It To Me socks for my pal. And I know she's going to ♥ them because they are pink. I'm doing the garter stitch rib. That's knit one round, then do a k2, p2 round. Pretty simple. I don't think I need to do an intricate pattern for this yarn.

And...I finished my second Charlotte's Web.

This one is supposed to be for my neighbor who moved, but I haven't heard from them yet. If I don't hear back from them, I'll probably sell this because I'm not too keen on purple. It's pretty though. And it knit much quicker this time around now that I've done the pattern once already.

This one took three skeins of Koigu KPPPM. I had about 2 yards leftover, (lucky huh?). You know, I was thinking an all black one would be pretty, especially if added some beads to it. Though beading yarn isn't in the future anytime soon.

What is in my future though is Rhiannon by Cookie A. I'd been eyeing this pattern since she opened her shop. Yes, it's ambitious. Yes, it will cause headaches. Yes, I know I said no more cables. But they are pretty socks and I think a pair in dark brown would be very nice for this winter.

By the way, I have been working on the Vogue Cabled Tunic. Not too much. But in the past two days I've gotten about 12 cable rows done. And a few rows of Wicked. I still need 3" on the body for Wicked and I've yet to figure out it I'll be able to do the long sleeves like I first wanted.

Speaking of Vogue. I got my 25th Anniversary magazine last week. I'm quite disappointed. Out of all the patterns there are (maybe) three that I would consider doing. I don't know about everyone else, but the last couple issues have disappointed me greatly. So many of the patterns are not something that I'd, (the average knitter), would consider making, let alone wearing. Is it just me? I am anticipating the new issue of the IK. I have been quite happy with their new format and the fact the Eunny Jang is working with them, well it seems that IK has become the front runner in my favorite magazine.

And in the beading world, I've been working on more stitch markers and a new charm bracelet made with pearls and jump rings. Tell me what you think, I've already added it to my Etsy shop.

Sunday, Sunday

2007-07-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

There's been a moderate amount of knitting. And there will be a moderate amount of frogging, later on tonight. Maybe. I hate to frog. But there's good reason and I'll get to that in a minute.

In the meantime though, I've been working on a couple things. The first being Wicked. I had put it down for a little while, but I decided to work on it some more. It doesn't deserve to be neglected because of my impatience in starting something new. I just finished the shaping and now I'm pretty much working on the body at this point, sans pocket. I decided against doing pockets. I've done pockets and with the exception of ONE sweater with pockets I've knit, I have never, ever, used pockets on other items. It's not realistic. But I am going to do the long sleeve version of the sweater. I'm not quite there yet.

I've also been trekking along with the Charlotte's Web. I am on Row 105 right now. I still have a while to go. But it's been a bit easier this time around now that I know the pattern a little more. The Koigu reminds me of bubble gum. Pink and Purple bubble gum.

For those of you who don't know, the Interweave Knits Fall 2007 preview is up. I think I'll be picking this up at the bookstore. I let my subscription run out, like others, because I wasn't liking a lot of what I was getting. Such as with the last Vogue. I love the look of crochet, but I don't want crochet patterns in my knitting. What if I can't crochet? (I can't.) Anyway, I like a few of the patterns in this issue, like this cabled sweater:

Though, do I really want to do more cables while still working on the Vogue Cabled Sweater? Not yet.

I also like this sweater designed by Norah Gaughan, very pretty and neat design:

Speaking of Norah Gaughan, remember the Frost Jacket? I had frogged a good 40 some odd rows and decided to restart, only to realize I did not want to deal with adjusting selvedge stitches and doing 5 panels of cable. So I frogged. Again. I then decided to do the Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Sweater from IK's last issue, (cover pattern). I used the RYC and got gauge. Then I realized something was amiss. I was a good 6" into the pattern when I realized I was knitting with a US 7 and US 8, when I should only be using two US 8's. So I started to knit with the 8's and to my horror of knitting up to 16"- my stitches were not uniform! I blocked it. Nothing. And then I realized, frogging and starting over would be the only way. *sigh* The problem is that the Cashsoft should be on US 6's. I've knit on smaller needles and never had a problem, so it's obvious that I shouldn't knit it on US 8's. Should I adjust the pattern to knit on smaller needles? We will find out on Tuesday when I go to the LYS and get a little mathematical help.

So what's everyone else in the family doing? Well Scout and Daddy watched, "Beerfest", tonight. (Good thing she's too young to remember, huh?)

Jem is driving me crazy. Only 18 more days til school starts! My mom and I pierced his ear today after a very long week of relentless begging to go to the mall. So now he's a cool dude with a blue and pink turtle earring in his lobe. (It's all I had.)

Shawn is frogging the Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Sweater as I type. I didn't have the heart do it. So really, I'm only working on two major projects. I need to work on the Cabled Tunic, but cables aren't calling my name.

I'm doing ok I guess. I think the medications I take are making me feel like crap at the end of the day. Around 5 or 6 I start getting tension headaches and my stomach feels all unsettled. The insomnia hasn't gotten much better. I'm still up around 12 or 1 and Scout is teething, (she still hasn't cut a tooth, though she can sit up on her own and crawl now), so she's been getting up around 4:30, not wanting to sleep. Overall though, I'm doing good. Glad that summer is slowly ending and looking forward to a cool, windy Fall. Also looking forward to my French and Yoga classes at the college.

I've also been working on some more stitch markers, though I haven't posted them on my shop yet. I've looked into taking some beading, beadweving and wire classes at the local bead shop. I'd like to start making some jewelry pieces. The library has encouraged me all too much.

Oh! Bekka, good news! My mom and I were talking about her sewing machine. Shawn told me that he'd buy me a sewing machine of my own for my birthday, but last night my mom told me that I could have her Singer! (BTW, it's from the 60's-70's.) Anyway, you can imagine my excitement! I'm totally ready to start sewing. And today we discussed Halloween costumes for Scout. I thought she'd make a cute Ladybug or Lion. I have three months and two days to have it sewn!

For Sale

2007-07-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Normally I wouldn't think of getting rid of yarn, but lately my "spring cleaning" has gone to the extreme: bleaching the kitchen floors, washing walls, cleaning the carpet (on a weekly basis), organizing books, etc.

And while I'll still do my Ripple Afghan, (eventually), I am not going to be using the intended yarn and decided to sell it, (if I could).

First up: 4 skeins of Cascade 220 in mustard yellow, tan, cream, and navy blue. Each skein has already been wound into a cake and is 220 yards. 100% wool. Gauge: 18-20 sts per 4" on US 7/8. I would prefer to sell them as a lot, but I will sell them individually for $5 per cake or $20 for the lot plus shipping and handling. (Normal store price is $7-$9 per skein.)

And secondly, Koigu. I know, I would never think of selling Koigu. BUT...I had done a gauge swatch and decided that for whatever crazy and nonsensical reason, I don't like it!

There are two full skeins of Koigu KPM in a buttery yellow. (The picture is a little too extreme.) I wound one skein, by hand and did a small gauge swatch. Both skeins are the full 175 yards. 100% wool. Gauge: 28 sts=4" on US 3's. $18 for both skeins plus shipping and handling. (I paid $24 for both skeins.)

Anyway, if you want any of this yarn, leave me a comment or email me at blueyedpenny(at)yahoo(dot)(com).

And if you are in the market for stitch markers, (hint hint), I just added a few more sets.

Hogwarts, Year 2 Questionnaire

2007-07-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the answers to my Hogwarts Sock Swap questionnaire.

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Gryffindor.

2. Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference? Shoe Size- 9 to 9 1/2; Foot Length- 9 1/2; Foot Circumference- 9 1/2, (I have a wide foot and high instep)

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.
a. Koigu
b. Socks That Rock
c. Tofutsies

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand? I'd like to try Vesper, Austerman Step or Louet.

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn? Depending on the color, I tend to like solids more. But if it's a variegated combo that I love, then I'd go with that. (I love Koigu solids.)

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash? My "wish" list: STR, "Spinel", "Hoofle Foofle", and "Minestone" colorways. As for solids, I like blue, black, brown, yellow, pink...just not purple or orange.

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle? I'm still a beginner, so I'm willing to try anything. I really want to try a Cookie A. pattern.

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.) None

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them? No cigarette smoke. I do have two cats, but my knitting is always in plastic bags and then put in my knitting bag.

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? Sure!

A Day At The Zoo

2007-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Shawn took the day off of work, (which didn't really work out too well because his boss called him in to work today), so that we could go to the zoo. It was a really great day for it too, because there weren't scads of people running around with their children or women trying to manuever their babies strollers. It was a bit hot, but overall it was a nice outing.

I took a few pictures, including one of the koalas during his lunch "break":

And we finally had a chance to see the Black Bear. He was missing the previous two trips, so it was nice to see him. (There were actually two this time.) This guy was lounging behind the cave, in the shade:

This was Scout's first trip to the zoo. She wasn't too aware of what was going on, but she was definitely interested in those big furry things that were swimming under the faucets of water. Here she is with Daddy taking a peek at what was down in the pool:

On the way to, and from, the zoo I had a chance to work a few rows of sock #2 for the Pink Granite socks. I got about 12 rows done in the car, (meaning traffic was very light on a Friday on the 5). I worked on the rest of the sock last night and, successfully, finished while watching an episode of, "Murder, She Wrote".

Not entirely sure why these striped like Shawn's Stormy Socks, when my Little Bunny Foo and Dalton Socks didn't stripe at all. Must be the gauge I suppose.

Close up of the lace pattern on the foot:

And the short row heels:

I used the Easy Toe and Short Row Heel pattern, like always. (I'm in my comfort zone). And I knit the 4 row Little Arrowhead pattern from Charlene Schurch's, "More Sensational Knitted Socks". I used US 2's for the sock and US 1's for the 2x2 ribbing. I really like these socks. Lacy and feminine without being too frilly. And they are uber comfy!

I updated my Etsy shop with a couple more sock stitch marker sets, including these pretty little pink butterflies:

And now? Well, my neighbors moved a day earlier than expected, though the Charlottes Web was nowhere near being done. So I'll be working on that, and Wicked. I might start another pair of socks, and I might not. I have to figure out what socks I will knit for my Sock It To Me Pal. And since I joined the Hogwarts Sock Swap, Round 2, I will need to get on the ball for that as well.

I suppose you'll see the next I post!

All in All

2007-07-18T21:37:00.001-07:00

It's been a fairly good week. The weather has calmed down, a bit. The pool was re-opened yesterday. I've been working on socks and knitting stitch markers. I've joined a couple KAL's.

Yes, all in all, things have been pretty good.

Nothing really special to report since I'm in the middle of projects, but I thought I'd give you a "teaser" for the new socks I'm working on:

It's Socks That Rock in Pink Granite, lightweight. And yes, another pair for myself. These won't be anklets though. I actually finished the other one the other day, and I know many of you will say WOW, but don't get too impressed. While life is busy, I'm not drowning in so many fancy and exciting things to do. Knitting is it.

I'm also still working on Wicked, though I have already separated the sleeves and am now just doing the mindless stockinette stitch for the body until I get to the shaping. I have yet to decide on short or long sleeves. I've seen a lot of short sleeved ones on Craftster. They are all very nice and very pretty. But I'm thinking long sleeve might be the way to go. Especially since it's made in Cashmerino and it would be a great sweater to wear on those cool fall/winter nights when school starts. (Not too long to go, you know? I'll be whizzing my way through French and Yoga!)

I've also updated my shop tonight. I have been a little discouraged. I have a number of views, but no buys yet. I guess it's one of those word of mouth things. So go do it people! *smile*

This was a set of glass beads in aquamarine and black that I just added. I ♥ black onyx. It's very pretty indeed. I've also added a few sets of freshwater pearl markers.

In other news, well things are fine. I've been reading up on beading and started looking into classes. I decided to do Year Two of the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I originally hadn't intended on it, but I had fun and decided why not? I also joined Secret Pal 11 for the third time. This last round was fun. And I hope Katie is loving every moment of her new baby! She made this round very special for me, all the while being pregnant. Thanks again Katie! Let's see, I also joined another round of Sock a Month 4. Since joining at the end of February I have knit 7 pair of socks. This KAL really gets me going because while I love to knit socks, I love seeing what everyone has created and getting a chance to see more patterns and yarns. Knitters are quite resourceful.

Everything on the homefront is good. Jem is more than ready for school to start, and I can't say that I don't blame him. He's driving me N.U.T.S. "Bored" has taken on a new meaning in our house. Scout is great. She's sitting up on her own and had a chance to swim in the pool today. She was bouncing up and down and drinking water, (ewww), and just having a great time.

So that's it for now.

One Sock, Two Sock

2007-07-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

Just call me a sock knitting machine, because I just finished pair number two for the month.

A pair of Anklets. I'm calling them my Sunset Socks.

The symmetry.

And the close up of the stitch pattern, (sorry it's not that defined).

Sunset Socks

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in blues, greens and oranges, I used a skein and a half

Needles: US 2's and US 0's for the ribbing and cast off

Gauge: 7 1/4 stitches = 1" on US 2's

Pattern: Toe Up Sock from "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch; Lattice Stitch (p. 94 I believe, it's the same as the Diamonds Sweater that I'm knitting for Scout from Debbie Bliss' book); Short Row Heel; 1x1 ribbing

These socks were really easy to knit. I guess now that I know how to knit socks it's "easy", huh? I started the toe of the first sock last Friday. I started the foot of the first sock on Saturday. I started and finished the leg on Sunday. Yesterday, I started the toe and the foot and the leg. I did the last 22 rows today. Fast huh? I was in a hurry. After the first sock was done, I had to finish the second one. They are just too pretty.

I suppose I'll have to start another pair. But what yarn? And what pattern?

No More Weaving!!!!

2007-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

That's right folks, no more weaving because I'm D.O.N.E. Oh yeah.

My Hogwarts Socks for my Gryffindor pal are finished:

Gryffindor Striped Socks

Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Cranberry and Sunshine

Needles: US 2 DPN's and US 4's for cast off, (I can't find my 3's)

Pattern: Basic 56 stitch sock; Toe Up with a Short Row Heel; Six Row Stripes; 2x2 Ribbing

Essentially that's it.

What's really bad is that I started the toe of another sock, (the Koigu Sunset Socks), on Friday night. I finished the foot and heel by Saturday night. I finished the leg and ribbing yesterday. I'm ready to cast on for the second sock today.

Or maybe I'll work on the Charlotte's Web.

Or Wicked.

Or the sleeve for Scout's sweater.

Or maybe, just maybe, I'll do something else.

Something Good

2007-07-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

It's like I've done something right.

*sigh* She makes me so proud.

2007-07-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

Today was a busy day, most of it sitting in traffic while getting to or from the places I was going. My first stop was the LYS so I could knit my new pair of socks, (see below), and skein up the STR Pink Granite yarn. Doing 300 some odd yarns by hand isn't my idea of a good Saturday night. I really need a yarn swift. Badly.

After that I stopped by the bead shop and bought some more supplies for my shop. I only have four items up for sale at the moment, but I have oodles and oodles of things being listed soon.

Then I stopped by the r/c shop for Shawn. He's temporarily blind. He has a sty of some sort on the inside of his eyelid, (I attribute it to the fact that he very rarely changes his contacts and though his Dr. said it's ok to wear them at night, he always wears them and doesn't let his eyes rest...This is the second time this has happened.) It's caused him to be extremely sensitive to the light, so he can't drive.

After getting home in the 103 degree heat, (and the pool still being shut down by the Health Department), I found a package of goodness waiting for me from my Hogwarts Sock Pal, Marie:

Here are my socks. I was in the Ravenclaw house and boy was I lucky with the colors! They are awesome!

But it doesn't stop there, Marie spoiled me even more with stitch markers, Crystal Palace size 0 DPN's, a little lamb candy dispenser, (that can also be a keychain), some Bertie's Botts Beans, some mints in a really cute container, a Ravenclaw keychain and a gray knitted bunny! I have been quite the lucky duck lately. I ♥ Marie! Thank you lady, you totally ROCK!

Tonight I spent some time working on my socks, but I also spent some time with these:

Chocolate Frosted Donettes. Right before dinner I was having a powerful chocolate craving. But not just any chocolate. I wanted chocolate donuts and chocolate ice cream. (I haven't had the ice cream. Yet.)

Every few rows I'd pop a donette and make progress with my new project. (I just had to, you understand.)

I'm a tease though. I'm not showing you, or telling you, what stitch I'm using for the instep. I will tell you though, that it looks great and I'm about 1/2 to the heel. These are going by quickly. I wish I could say the same for my pals Hogwarts socks. I guess that's what I get for not buying self striping yarn and knowing that I will hate myself once I get to the weaving. The deadline is coming up. I only have about 8 sets of 6 rows in changing colors. But the weaving. Oh the weaving.

I also started Wicked the other night, though I haven't done much more than 10 or 12 rows. I will say that I'm loving working with the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK. It's silky soft and I know this sweater will quickly become a favorite.

In other news...Dalton didn't come home yesterday. All day I went outside searching for him. I walked to all of his hiding spots. I called him. I yelled for him. Then finally I cried. Here's the thing about Dalton. I rescued him when he was about 7 weeks old when I still worked at the Vet. He had an upper respiratory infection and I nursed him back to health. He's been my best friend for the past 7 1/2 years. The other thing is that he's declawed. And while he can kick some serious cat ass, he can't defend himself from owls or coyotes. I don't see coyotes near here, though they are around, (they just don't come into our apartment complex). But I have seen owls and while Dalton is a good 20 lbs., and owl can easily carry 3x their own weight.

After hours of searching we heard some meowing in our neighbors storage. It turns out that they were out of town for the past week. They came home and their storage door was open, so they locked it. It wasn't until a few hours later that we realized that they locked Dalton inside.

So now he's home, safe and sound. And he got a good cuddling and lecture about not leaving for so long and hiding because I love him too much and could never replace him. That darn cat!

Watch Out For the Yarny Goodness

2007-07-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a chance to hit the LYS and get a little bit done on the Charlotte's Web. I also caked the skein of Yarn Pirate yarn that Katie got me and it looks even prettier in the cake:

Imagine my suprise when I came home and there was a package. Of course, I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when because it was backordered and had to be dyed. I'd been waiting almost two weeks for this:

It's Socks That Rock in Pink Granite and I think it looks even better in person than on the webiste. They forgot to send both my orders together so I should be getting another skein in the mail today or tomorrow. You'll have to wait and see what I ordered.

Over the Fourth of July we hung out at home and BBQ'd. Dalton wasn't too happy though because we couldn't let him out due to the fireworks. My mom tortured him almost all night:

Doesn't look too happy does he?

Scout had a chance to wear her new pink and white striped jumper, (I think this is by far my most favorite outfit so far):

I've also opened up my new Etsy, (I know, who hasn't). I am lucky to have a number of bead stores in the area and decided that I'd like to make stitch markers. Afterall, I'm creative and I have a following out here in Canyon Country, (I'm pop-ular! LOL). Anywhoo, check it out! Here's one set of my pearl stitch markers:

Check out Ewe Bitch Creations. That's the name of our "company". I will be adding some really cute cards soon, (good thing my mom works for a printer huh?) and postcards. There is a chance I will add some scrapbook albums, but that will be a bit further into the future. And if you are one of my regular blog readers I will offer you a special discount on a set of stitch markers!

My Hogwarts socks are almost done. I turned the heel and just need to finish the leg. I'm almost there! (I'm not including the weaving, because that's the part I dread the most.) I started Wicked last night, but only got through about 3 or 4 rows. And there are two pair of socks waiting in the wings. Maybe three because I really want to get a pair of Cookie's socks done. She rocks!

And for my questionnaire for my Sock it to Me Sock Swap:

1. What are your foot measurements? US 9 1/2 shoe, 9 1/2 circumference, 9" long

2.How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? I've been knitting for about 7 years and would say I'm intermediate/advanced. I still have a lot to learn.

3. What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color? Blues, Yellow and Chocolatey Browns. I don't care for purple.

4.Do you have a favorite fiber? What type? I love Rowan Wool/Cotton, it's probably my favorite tried and true yarn. I also like Blue Sky Alpacas Wool/Silk, Socks that Rock, (lightweight), Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, Koigu...I could go on and on.

5. Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? No allergies.

6. Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? I have an Amazon wishlist, but I don't think there's anything on it right now.

7. What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? Entrelac

8. Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? Oh yes I do. I love chocolate. And I love Werther's Candies. YumO.

9. What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.) My fiancee, Shawn, and I live together in Canyon Country, California with my son, Jem (9), and our daughter, Scout (6 months). We have two cats, a Siamese named Dalton and a black/white kitten named Pepper.

10. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood? I use both straight and circulars. I usually use the straight needles for baby items and circulars for sweaters, lace or big afghans. I prefer bamboo needles.

11. Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? I ♥ baby items because they finish so quickly. And I like making sweaters, (as long as they don't take years).

12. Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? I'd love to try Cookie's Rhiannon Socks.

13. Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? I ♥ to read. Right now I'm reading the autobiography of King Henry the 8th.

14. Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) Yes I do. I have an iPod.

15. What kind of music do you listen to? My favorites are Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Bob Marley, Sublime, T.I., Christina Aguliera and a bunch of other stuff. I pretty much listen to everything.

16. Is there anything you collect? Besides yarn? I used to collect Tigger stuff. I don't collect too many things anymore. (We've moved a lot and I hate packing, ergo I don't want to pack even more stuff.) Right now I'm into beading. So I'd say I collected beads.

17. What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? Reading, going to the beach, drawing, swimming, a little bit of crochet, watching movies, cooking/baking

18. Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? I was in the Secret Pal 9 and 10 swap and will be in the 11th and I'm in the Hogwarts Sock Swap; I am in a few KAL's: Rusted Root, Knitting Nature, Cable Along, Knitting Lingerie Style, and probably a few more that I can't think of at the moment.

19. Do you have a favorite scent? Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works

20. When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.) November 27th, 1980

A Little and A Lot

2007-07-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

I got around to taking a couple pictures today. I should have been taking more pictures lately. Maybe a few to capture those special moments, like Jem's 9th birthday. (Which was last Friday.) Or when Pepper fell asleep next to Scout in her crib. Or maybe when Shawn was sprawled out across the bed when I got up for a drink of water at 4 in the morning. (He adamantly denies that he does not cross the halfway line when we are sleeping in the middle of the night. What a liar!)

But in all honesty, the camera has been the last thing I've been thinking about grabbing and using. Instead I've been trekking away at some of my FO's. The ones that I just have to get done. Or the socks that I owe my Hogwarts Pal in about 2 1/2 weeks. Or the package I had to send my Secret Pal because I couldn't make it to the Post Office in time. Or how about paying the bills and credit card accounts because I've been lagging when it comes to signing the checks. Yes, my friends, I am in deep! (But don't worry, I paid the rent and the bills. I am working on those socks. I sent my package out after waiting in line for 30 minutes yesterday. I'm finally back on top of things!)

I've even been reading. So much in fact that last night, while reading, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, I stayed up til 2 a.m. just to finish the last 100 pages. I was half way there and then decided that I needed to finish it and find out what happens. It was worth staying up for. Next on the list, besides the few Yoga books I wanted to check out, (I want to be a little prepared before I take the class), is a 932 page autobiography on King Henry the 8th. (I blame such an undertaking on "The Tudors", on Showtime, and Philippa Gregory and her books on him and the Boleyn family.

But onto the knitting.

I finished the Rowan Flood Sweater a couple weeks ago. Here's the, (crappy), picture of me, (wearing it in 109 degree weather):

Last night I finished the Rusted Root Sweater by Zephyr Style. And then something bad happened. A hole. In the back. Near the top. I think Pepper has been messing with my knitting. She certainly likes yarn. And my Namaste bag. Little devil!

And a close up of the leaves lace panel.

Rusted Root by Zephyr Style

Needles: US 6's for the body, (circulars); 3's and 4's for the ribbing

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton in Gray

Mods: Instead of using 4's for the ribbing on the bottom, I did 3's for a little bit of a tighter rib. The ribbing on the neck and sleeves were done with 4's.

I'd definitely knit this again. In fact I was looking at some Cotton Ease at Michael's today and I'm thinking that the Navy Blue would look quite nice.

Now onto bigger and better things...I've decided to start the Wicked Sweater. In the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK that I had ordered for the tank in the Spring IK. (Since my gauge was off, I decided that this would be perfect for Wicked.) Can't wait to start!

I'm still working on the Charlotte's Web, but I've given up hope that I will finish it by the time my neighbors leave. So I'll be sending this baby off. I'm also working on the sleeves for the Debbie Bliss Diamonds Sweater for Scout. I'm 12 rows short of finishing the first one. I'm a knitting machine!

Happy Thursday!

2007-06-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

So last night, Shawn bought a car. A big car. A boat. It's a 1989/1990, (I forgot the year), Lincoln Towncar. A silverish one. A boat! A car nevertheless. So my sanity is slowly seeping back into my bloodstream, (though the neverending, "I'm bored", coming from Jem could be quieted and then I'd really be happy).

I was even happier to get a very lovely package from my very lovely secret pal. Katie has spoiled me beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I have to say that I was very lucky to have her as a pal. She understood me! And she was even having contractions, (every 8 minutes apart she said), when she wrote me a quick note. Talk about dedicated!

So here's the package:

No, Pepper wasn't mailed back to me. She thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the box and popping out to attack your ankles. (Thanks Katie!)

And here are the contents of the package:

Included is: a box of See's Candies, (YUM-O), a Knitted Puffy, Cupcakes! book, (all about baking and decorating cupcakes), a little pink and orange purse that has Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Shower Gel and Body Butter, AND a skein of Yarn Pirate's yummarific yarn.

In Village, (which was only available at the shop that Katie went to, told you I was spoiled):

So, Katie: THANK YOU!!! I am so excited to start using the YP yarn. The candy will be gone tonight, I assure you! ;)

In other news, I started my neighbors Charlotte's Web this afternoon. I even went to the LYS and had a chance to knit for two hours! TWO hours! So nice, so nice. So I think I'm on row 31. But the deadline is July 18th and I don't know if I can do it. It's awfully pretty though, don't you think?

Then I had a chance to check out the new KnitScene and I want to knit the Ingenue Blouse:

Sorry for the small picture, but it's all they had on the website. Anyway, it's made from Classic Elite Bamboo, and since I've never worked with bamboo, I think I'll have to pick up a skein and swatch first.

After the Rusted Root, which needs about 3"-4" of body and then the ribbing. I'm 1/4 way done with my second sock for the Hogwarts Socks. I guess I'm procrastinating because I dread the ends. Oh the ends. No more striped socks for me. Unless it's self striping yarn. Oh, and the Wicked. I started a swatch for that too.

Boy, I have a lot of knitting ahead of me. One good thing, I finished the neck on the Rowan Flood, I just need to take some pictures of me in it. Next post.

BTW, there's a few open spots left in the Sock It To Me Sock Swap, so come join us if you wanna have fun!

Nothing Better

2007-06-23T21:58:00.001-07:00

Than yarn.

Yarn is great.

Yarn is better than great.

After a little birthday present shopping for Jem, (his 9th birthday is Friday, the 29th), I stopped over at the LYS and picked up some Koigu for my neighbors' daughters' Charlotte Web. I will start it once I finish the neck on the Rowan Flood sweater, (which I started tonight). And once I finish the Rusted Root, (which I predict I will finish Monday, maybe).

I have already shown her the yarn, to make sure she "approved", and she says she ♥ it. She doesn't know that I'm making her a shawl. But she knows I'm making her something and that I'm hoping to have it done by the time they move, (which is July 18th). I don't think I'll have it done by then. I have to finish my Hogwarts socks by then and get my SP10 gift off, and I'm thinking I might make her a little something. But I don't know. There's just so much to do.

Another thing that can't be topped:

No bake cheesecake with strawberries. Oh yes. I know you are jealous. I would be if I were you too.

Oh and by the way, Shawn's race series, (finally), ended tonight and he won 2nd place out of the series. He just brought home a trophy! Woo Hoo.

A good Saturday indeed.

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program...

2007-06-22T20:44:00.001-07:00

It seems whatever burp that Blogger was having, (in regards to my blog), has ended. I can now post pictures and pictures I shall post!

A sea of yellows, greens and blues:

Yesterday afternoon I took the Pinwheel Sweater, sans sleeves, out of the UFO box and decided it was high time to finish it. After all, Scout is getting bigger and I want her to be able to wear my knitted items more than once in her life time.

It took me about 4-5 hours to do both sleeves and all the weaving of the ends. I ended up running out of one skein of the greens, due to me picking out a sky blue that just didn't work with the color scheme.

Here it is with the hood:

She looks like a nun doesn't she? I couldn't get her to sit with the hood down, so I worked with what I had. The last three rounds of color are knit in garter stitch. And I didn't knit the I-cord looping like the pattern said.

She was quite tired from all that modeling:

elann Pinwheel Sweater

Needles: US 8 and 9 circulars

Yarn: Peruvian Highland Wool in Butter, Teal, Dusty Teal, New Leaf, Summer Sky and Irish Moss, (I used 2 skeins of Dusty Teal)

Mods: I didn't do the I-cord edging, (when I started this, back in September, I had planned on yellows and greens and no borders since we didn't know if Scout would be a girl. If I had to do it again, I would probably make it with the I-cord edge just to try the technique.)

Overall, I liked the pattern though I had a couple rough starts when I first started it. Like I didn't understand the provisional cast on, (for the sleeves). And I had a little bit of a hard time with the increasing, because I really wasn't keeping track of my rows. (My own fault. I learned my lesson, to say the least.) But it's cute. And though it doesn't fit Scout quite yet, I think it will look great when she's ready to walk and talk. And of course, it's nice to have an FO to add to the list.

Right now I'm working on the body of my Rusted Root. I also decided to do the Wicked Sweater, while working on the Cabled Tunic. Plus I need to knit the sleeves to Scout's Debbie Bliss Sweater. I'm slowly but surely getting things done. I'm almost done with the weaving of the ends on the Hogwarts Socks. Next sock I'm just going to weave while I knit. It will save time! I hope.

WTF? is going on!

2007-06-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Am I seriously the only person in blog land that is having major issues with Blogger? For some reason I am having a lot of problems signing in. Other problems with posting. And now problems with uploading pictures. And I have an FO! I want to share! If you, too, are on Blogger and are having problems as well, let me know. I don't know if it's the server or my computer. I did try setting up an accout on Typepad, just to try it out. But, I really don't like it. And I don't know any of the html to add all my pictures and links and blog buttons...Do I really need to start over?

P.S.: I posted the finished projects pictures on to my Knitting Pictures accout on flickr. Let me know what you think, until I can post them on here. Hopefully soon.

It's Been a Long While

2007-06-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

By now, I'd usually have posted something about knitting. But, we have been quite busy. Not busy doing things that we want to do, rather things we need to do.

But I'll talk about the things that I want to do, before the things I've needed to do. First up are my Hogwarts Socks for my pal. This is what I'm getting myself into, just on the first sock:

This is what it should look like on the right side:

No, through the magic of computer technology, the ends have not been weaved in. Nonetheless, they will get done. (Eventually.) Especially since I have one more sock to go.

Two weeks ago I started the Rusted Root sweater. This is where I am now:

I tried it on last night, after putting the sleeves on scrap yarn and doing some heavy duty stitch holding. (29" circular needles do not fit over a 42" bust!) The 40-43 (size Large) fits wonderfully, if not just a tad too big. I'm sure once it's completely knit and blocked it will fit perfectly. I really am enjoying knitting from the top down and already am looking at knitting Zephyr Style's Wicked. I'm debating on what yarn to use and if I want to make the front pockets. They are cute, but quite inconvenient to knit. We shall see.

So, in other news. Last Thursday I had three doctors appointments to go to in the Valley. On the way home, at around 12 p.m., in around 95 degree, (if not hotter), weather, the car overheated on the freeway, about 3 miles away from our house. Not only did it overheat, the engine completely blew out. We are in the process of looking at used cars, but what a pain in the butt. We knew that it would happen soon. But it would have been nice to not get stuck on the freeway, (where there were no on ramps, off ramps or call boxes nearby, and I don't have a cell phone so go figure), with Scout after she just had 4 shots! Luckily, karma being my friend, a woman saw my car overheating and offered us a ride home so I could get the baby home and get the car towed. The piece of crap is sitting in the garage! Argh!

We named the kitten Pepper and she is a pip! She and Dalton are finally getting along, though Dalton puts her in her place. She loves to sleep in between the two body pillows that are on the bed, so we have to be careful when we lay down because she's still so small. But she's a lot of fun and loves yarn, just like me. Though I don't eat it. I smell it, I admit. But I don't smell it.

Jem is officially on summer break and officially driving me crazy. I suppose it doesn't help that we don't have a car that we can just get in and take off in. But he's really driving me nuts. I bought him a Paint by Numbers kit, thinking it would keep him busy with all the details. Oh no. He decided to just paint. Not by numbers. *sigh* Summer school starts next Monday, but they are not offering bus transportation from the house anymore. Normally he takes the bus that picks up right outside. But for summer school, they want us to take the kids to their homeschool and then they will bus the kids to the Academic Academy. (Which is pretty much the same distance as the other school.) Anyway, if we don't have a car by then I won't be able to take him. (It's too far to walk with the baby.)

Speaking of the baby:

Scout had her 6 month check up last week. Can you believe it? Almost 6 months! She now weighs 17 lbs. 2 oz. And is almost 26". She's laughing all the time, which if you check my Flickr accout, (on the right), you will see some great smiley pictures.

We've been swimming as much as possible, and even Shawn joined us. (He has the thing about public pools, I don't blame him.) Scout is a big fishy. She loves the water and her canopy boat. I can't wait to take her to the beach.

Right now her thing is sucking on her monkey toes:

I'm almost completely done with my UFO's, which is nice. Now I can start on some new stuff, like Wicked or Rhiannon by Cookie. Oh, and another Charlotte's Web for my neighbors 9 year old daughter. Who, by the way, I taught to knit. She's a crocheter and she's doing very well for learning how to knit, left handed too. (I am right handed, but she had a better go at it when she did it left handed.)

So that's what we've been doing. Oh and my swap. Go join my swap! It's gonna be uber fun. LOL. Uber!

Don't Ask Me Why

2007-06-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

But I started a Sock Swap.

Be a pal and join!

Sock It To Me.

Knitting update to follow.

Rusted Root

2007-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Way back in September I bought the Rusted Root pattern by Zephyr Style. In October I bought a few skeins of Rowan Wool Cotton in a pigeon grey color. (Wool Cotton is my fave and the fact that I saved a few bucks on it made the deal all the sweeter!) Nonetheless, no matter how easy the pattern could be or how nice the yarn was I still hadn't knit it. I did make a swatch. To my dismay, I wasn't knitting to gauge and I'd have to go up to size 7's, (instead of 6's).

But Friday night came around and I went to the Stitch and Bitch at Simply Knitting, with a new swatch, (that was knit to gauge), and the goal of at least starting the pattern. However, I didn't start the sweater at the SnB. I did have a chance to show off my newly finished Charlotte's Web, (which by the way, I blocked last night and it makes a big difference in size), and I worked on Scout's Debbie Bliss Diamond Cardigan. (More on that in a moment.)

I left around 8 or 9 and when I got home I cast on for the Rusted Root sweater. This was my first attempts at knitting a sweater in the round, and I must say that I'm quite pleased. I especially like the sleeve increases. Very nice and linear.

The lace pattern is very easy as well. (Can't beat that.) It's a 15 stitch, 10 row repeat. (Even numbered rows you just knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches.) I like the repetitiveness of knitting in the round and a little bit of excitement when you get to the lace panel. It's kind of hard to see at the moment, (I blame lighting and positioning), but the lace panel makes the stitches turn into leaves.

So I'm happy. (And the reason I started the sweater was because I'm awaiting the last skein of yarn to arrive from England so that I can finish the Rowan Flood sweaters neck.) And I don't believe that socks count as a project. (I can justify almost anything.)

So Friday night I didn't really get too much done. In part because I was talking a lot to the other ladies and in part because, (ssshhh, don't tell anyone), I wasn't feeling the vibe from some of the women. I was talking to my neighbor about this the other day and how I felt "out of place" when I used to go to the scrapbook crops. Sometimes there are some people who look down on you and make you feel like you aren't good enough. Unfortunately that was how I was feeling Friday night. On the flip side, one of the girls there that I talk to told me she'd meet me on Thursday so she can help me with my crocheting for the Ripple blanket that I intend on starting. And I could sure use the help. (I don't do the increases/decreases so well.) Anywhoo, I did finish the front to the Debbie Bliss Diamond Sweater. And I did a three needles bind off for the shoulder seams. All that's left to do are the sleeves and a little bit of seam sewing.

I really like this pattern. This is the third time I've made it. The 6 row pattern is really easy to memorize and it knits fast. (Gotta love baby knits.)

In other news, I took our new kitten to get her vaccines and she's doing very well. We've named her too. Pepper. She looks like a Pepper. She's gotten very comfortable living here. She likes to hide behind the couches, inside the TV stand, (where the CD's are), and in my knitting bag:

Yes, in my knitting bag. I caught her taking a cat nap there this afternoon when I cleaned everything out. And she likes yarn. A little too much I think.

Dalton hasn't really warmed up to her. But we did catch her trying to play with his tail and he trying batting at her, (without the growls and hissing). There will come a day when he loves her so much and we'll catch them curled up together. Until then...

Scout is doing quite well too. We had a nice, (too short), weekend. Most of it spent at the pool. I took Jem and Scout swimming. Scout really likes you to hold her in the water, rather than just sitting in the little boat. But she was especially happy when Daddy got in the pool too. Not much else happened over the weekend, except for a little Secret Pal shopping. Can't tell you what though. (Don't you just hate a tease?) I'm not sure if I will do the next round of SP though. I had a lot of fun with whoever is spoiling me. But the person I'm spoiling doesn't really respond to my emails. (And it's so hard to buy for someone who says to get them, "whatever".) For some reason I don't get very active partners. But that's ok. My SP has made this round a lot of fun. (I still have some chocolate leftover, can you believe it?)

Other than that, I am now participating in the Knitting Lingerie Style KAL. I think my first project from the book will be the Bedjacket. Very pretty. My Hogwarts Socks are coming along. I need to cast on for the second one and get the package off to it's owner. I still have a month, so I'm good. Lots of projects in the que, just need to find the time and the right yarn!

Mission Accomplished

2007-06-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I decided to try and finish the Rowan Flood Sweater. After all, the back was finished and it been wasting away in the closet. So I finished the front in two or three days. I trekked along and did a sleeve. Two days later I did another sleeve, (in one day). I was driven by knitting madness. That night I stayed up til 1 a.m. and did the seams.

Too bad I ran out of yarn to do the cowl neck. *sigh* I had decided to do the XL size, rather than the large. And since there is one skein difference, when I ordered the yarn on eBay originally, I was one skein short. So, lucky for me, the woman I ordered from still has this in stock, (the Rowan Plaid is a discontinued yarn now). The best part? It's only costing $6.50 and no shipping charges! That's a deal. Check out her eBay Shop. She has really great deals on Debbie Bliss and Rowan.

While I put the sweater on hold I decided to work on my Charlotte's Web with the last skein of Koigu that I bought over the weekend. I really wasn't sure it would work because the Koigu wasn't a multi colored like the previous two I had. (The problem was that the shop carried a lot of different colors, but no blue multi's.)

And voila!

It's finished. And quite lovely if I do say so myself. I showed my neighbors upstairs and her 9 year old daughter loved it. (She's a crocheter, but I told her I would teach her how to knit before they move.) I'm thinking I might make her one for Christmas, maybe in some pinks. She'd definitely get some use out of it.

I liked the project. Especially seeing how the colors all flowed. The yarn overs, as I expected, were a pain in the butt. Overall not too many problems though.

Charlotte's Web by Koigu

Yarn: Koigu KPPM and KPM, 3 skeins in various blues/greens

Needles: US 6 circulars, 29"

My other good news?

My Secret Pal sent me a very, very nice gift. I got it this afternoon, yay me! She knows the way to my heart I tell you! 5 skeins of yellow, (the most perfect shade I might add), Debbie Bliss cotton DK yarn, chocolate, (ALL mine), and a bottle of Warm Vanilla Sugar hand soap from Bath and Body Works.

She also sent Scout two adorable outfits for the summer! Isn't she the greatest? I have to say that I really had fun this round!

And to top off the deliciousness of this post:

Our new addition to the family.

I drove with Shawn to work this morning to pick up our new kitten and here she is. She's a bit timid, but very playful. She has already gotten into the yarn, (I'm working on Scout's diamond sweater), and likes to bat at my knitting needles. I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with Dalton though. Normally we don't have problems with him warming up to kittens, (I've foster mommy'd kittens before), but he was hissing at her today. Jealousy doesn't suit him. I hope he gets over it soon.

We don't have a name yet, so if you have any suggestions by all means, leave a comment! I thought "Snoopy", but I think it's too much of a boy name. We'll see.

So that's been my week. Oh, and I went to UCLA to see someone about my TMJ. They really didn't tell me anything different, but they want me to go back for a CAT scan, X Rays and they want to do a dental impression for a splint. In the meantime, they just said to continue taking the Ibuprofen and muscle relaxers. My jaw is feeling a bit better, though it's still sore. I've been trying to stretch my muscles in my mouth and it seems to help even though it still hurst. It doesn't hurt as much. I guess that's a start.

Oh So Soft

2007-06-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I had a date night last night and it was wonderful. I swear that I forgot what it was like to have someone else make, and serve, me a delicious dinner. (Not that I don't appreciate Shawn's attempts with grilled cheese sandwiches/soup or spaghetti, but it's nice to have something that you don't normally have on a daily basis, ya know?) We went to Buca di Beppo in Valencia and had a very yummy dinner. Shawn ordered spaghetti and (1/2 lb. each) meatballs, (there were 2!!!), and brought home about 3/4 of it. (Their portions are HUGE.) I ordered the baked shells with spicy sausage. Yum. We also ordered a tiramisu, (again, HUGE), but I have to say, I ♥, (so does Shawn), the sweet type of tiramisu. This one tasted 100% like rum. Not like the cream pudding or the chocolate. But rum. Either way, it was worth the night out and we will definitely be returning, (after having gone over the menu after dinner thinking about what we might order next time).

Afterwards, we went to Borders books and I picked up my copy of Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowen-Michael, who was featured in the Interweave Knits Spring 2007 Issue. Don't worry, I'm not turning my sock knitting addiction into a thong knitting addiction. But there are some lovely items in the book and definitely worth the $29.95. Go. Buy. It.

When we came home I worked on my Hogwarts Socks. I got the heel done and then I didn't like it, so I ripped it out today and restarted it. I'm hoping it will knit up better. I like Lorna's Laces but I have to say after working with Koigu and STR yarns, it just doesn't knit the same. I'll have some weaving to do too, after I finishing with the striping. What was I thinking with stripes? All the same they are looking nice and I hope my pal will like them. I already have her stitch markers, (which I will eventually show you guys, after I send them off), and today I got her some DPN's.

Today we drove down to Santa Monica and visited Wildfiber and, (for the first time), A Mano Yarn. Wildfiber used to be a fave of mine, but the past few times I've been there I've been a little put off. They have a phenomenal array of yarns. I bought a skein of Koigu to finish my Charlotte's Web, (not seen below because it's in the knitting bag in the car), and a skein of 2 ply Mongolian Cashmere by Jade Sapphire (which is the caked greyish/green yarn on the right). Both gorgeous yarns. What was I put off by? Customer Service! When I asked the lady to cake my yarn, (which she had just done for the customer who spent $30 more than I did before I got to the register), she rolled her eyes and said, "We'll see." I explained that I did not want to go home to wind 400 yards of 2 ply 100% cashmere by hand. She did cake it for me. After complaining about how thin it was and how she didn't think it would work. Needless to say I will return. But only for the yarn. It really makes me mad that someone who shares the craft can be such a * * * * *, (choose your choice expletive).

A Mano Yarn was totally different. Small shop. GREAT yarns. And the woman who was working there was the nice woman who used to work at Wildfiber a few years back that I really liked. She was willing to help you out. Very nice. I bought the Malabrigo Baby Merino Wool Lace yarn for my Secret Pal. I hope she likes it. It's incredibly soft. And she likes green! The middle yarn is for me! It is Rio De La Plata 100% Pure New Wool in a blue/brown/green/grey colorway. Yummy!

So that was my yarn pron for the weekend!

Today we went swimming, since it was way hotter here than down by the beach. Scout tried out her new bathing suit and little canopy boat. She's a little fish. She liked sucking on the water that got the front of the boat wet.

And don't tell Grandma that I put this on here, she'll kick my butt! Scout and her grammy.

Happy Weekend.

Tuesday Afternoon

2007-05-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

There is nothing greater than a three day weekend, (four for my son).

There is nothing greater than waking up next to Shawn, three mornings in a row, (and a little bit later than normal which I'm glad to say).

There is nothing greater than having a day of quiet and solitude, (save the new vocal sounds acquired and practiced by Scout).

So that was my day, today. Tuesday. The day after Monday. The day before Wednesday.

After the usual morning routine, (you know: laundry, make bed, feed the cat, wash dishes, put toys away, change and feed Scout, take a shower, blah, blah, blah...), I worked on my Hogwarts Sock Swap Pals socks. She's a Gryffindor. And actually, I started them last night but had a chance to work on them today. Along with the Flood Sweater.

Plus, I started a new book. "French Women for All Seasons". I read the first book, "French Women Don't Get Fat" and ♥'d it. There's something reassuring about not being the perfectly built size -00 that American society so loves. I finished "Amityville Horror" lastnight and wanted to share that I changed my mind: It would not be cool to live in a haunted house. (Unless the ghosts were friendly. Like Casper. Maybe.)

Along with knitting and book reading, Scout and I took a trip to the pool. Not to swim. But to sit. She babbled and fell asleep while I flipped through some pattern books that I haven't set my eyes on in a while. Our neighbors, (our nice neighbors), are moving back to Seattle at the end of July and I was hoping to make each kid a scarf or something. BUT, there are three kids and so little knitting time as it is. Maybe I'll make them and send them off for Christmas?

Scout says "hi" and "gimme your finger, I want a taste". Teething here we come!

A Big Pile of Stuff

2007-05-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

I realize that my posting has been quite infrequent. But so has my knitting, I'm sorry to say. I don't have too much to update on, on a daily basis. I am in awe of those knitters who constantly have a flow of FO's, like Tienne. She makes me want to be a better knitter. (When I get the time, *smile*.)

But there has been some big piles of stuff that I've been working on, (or giving away). For starters, I haven't started another pair of socks, (yet). I decided to finish the Rowan Plaid Sweater, (dubbed "The Flood"). I had about an inch going on the front side, (the back was complete), and decided to pull it out of the deep depths of my closet. That was last Wednesday. It's Sunday and I finished the front the other day. I forgot how wonderful big needles, (US 10 1/2's), and how big yarn, (Rowan Big Wool), make a project go somewhat quicker. I am now a few inches into the first sleeve. (The best part? I have enough yarn. After getting the back done, it didn't look like I had enough.)

So it's just a big pile of grey/white stitches. For now. I'm hoping to complete it by next week. That all depends on the rate of knitting I get done with this damn thing:

I'm still trekking away with the Charlotte's Web. For some very odd reason, (and I attribute it to the fact that I'm reading "Amityville Horror" and the fact that I told Shawn it would be kinda neat to live in a haunted house), I've been having major issues with row 103. I easily ripped back a few rows at least 4 times!!! Yarnovers are not easy to pick up! Sometimes I'd get 2 stitches too many and other times I'd be one stitch short. Finally I ripped back about 5 rows and I'm now on track. Nonetheless, I'm thinking there is a ghost that's messing with my lace!

I did a little, (late), Spring cleaning and gave some more yarn to my neighbors 9 year old daughter. She's already crocheted a blue baby blanket out of some acrylic that I gave her. Plus she made a scarf with some yellow cotton. And I saw the way she was eyeing the pink cotton. I also gave her some fabric and stuffing. I feel cleansed. And I know she'll use it and appreciate it. I get the warm fuzzies.

One of the reasons I haven't been knitting is that my TMJ came back full force. Tuesday morning my jaw locked after trying to eat cereal. That was around 8 a.m. 3 a.m. the next morning it finally unlocked, but it was still very sore. Thursday morning I saw the dentist, who really didn't tell me anything new except that I didn't have any cavities. (By the way, I don't think I told any of you about this, but when my TMJ first started with the jaw locking I went to Western Dental. They took 2 1/2 hours to get to me after my appointment time and told me that I had three cavities. I didn't believe them, so I left. Looks like I'll making a complaint with the BBB for them trying to dupe my insurance company.) Anywhoo, a few hours later the pain was worse, (my face has been swollen, my eyes, ears and throat hurt, and obviously I can't eat much of anything, not to mention that I've been feverish). I went to Urgent Care and was given a prescription for Ibuprofen, (for the inflammation), and some muscle relaxers to help with the actual tensing. The muscle relaxers have kicked my butt! So I have been sleeping a lot, (when I can), and not trying to stress with my knitting, (i.e.: Charlotte's Web).

I did end up getting a referral to an oral surgeon at UCLA, so I'll be making an appointment Tuesday and hoping that they can do something, (anything), to make the pain go away. My jaw isn't locked, but the muscles are sore. I can't open my mouth all the way, (which sucks because Shawn bought some yummy doughnuts which I had to squish to get in my mouth), and when I chew I have to chew evenly on both sides so my right side doesn't hurt. What a life!

Jem started his ADD meds and is still forgetful as ever, but has calmed down considerably. I met with the staff about his IEP and they feel that he doesn't have a learning disability or need special ed. They say he's a little behind in the third grade, but as long as he does Summer School, he should catch up and be ready for 4th grade. He's excited. Also, because his birthday is at the end of June. We've discussed "field trips" and decided to see "Ratatouille" at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood. We are also going to a beach day, bowling day and a zoo day. Hopefully that will keep him busy, along with swimming.

Scout is doing good. She's found her voice and using it! She really doesn't like being alone and will scream a good scream if we are in the kitchen too long. I don't think she's going to be the, "good, quiet baby", at the yarn shop anymore. I can't believe she's already five months old. She's eating even better. She still loves her nanas, but she's also been scarfing down the pears. She's still not too keen on the green stuff, but hopefully that will change. She's not quite sitting up on her own yet, but she is rolling over. And she loves to lay on her side. When we do tummy time she tries really hard to crawl. I'm happy we aren't there yet. (We aren't quite babyproofed.)

Look at those bright eyes!

Snake Socks Complete

2007-05-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

I finished Shawn's Snake Socks last night. This gives me time to work on the Charlotte's Web. (The one that I accidently dropped a stitch two rows beneath and am now having to unknit two complete rows of 191 stitches...of LACE.) But that's ok. I really am trying to stick to working on one big project at a time. My WIP's are, (finally), decreasing.

Snake Socks for Shawn

Yarn: Koigu KPPM (the stuff I bought from the 50% off sale last month)

Gauge: 8 sts to 1" on US 1's

Pattern: I attempted to do that Basketweave pattern from Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks", but it was wrong, (and I have to say that Charlene emailed me! and sent me the right pattern which will probably be the next pair of socks I knit). So I used her template and just did stockinette stitch over 80 sts in the round, Easy Toe and Short Row Heel, with a 1x1 rib for the cuff.

That's pretty much it.

We ended up not going to the Strawberry Festival, due to finances, which was kind of a bummer. But I did have a chance to sleep in this morning, Shawn made a fantastic breakfast, I went swimming with Jem, and now I'm making manicotti and chocolate cupcakes. (Even though my TMJ flared up, again, yesterday...I'm willing to risk it again with cupcakes. I just won't open my mouth too wide.) Yum!

Other than that, I am going to do Ann Budd's 2x2 Toe Up sock from IK Summer 2007 for my Hogwarts Sock Pal in her House Colors and maybe make some headway on the Rowan Flood Sweater since it's been sitting in the bin for a while.

Ciao!

I Hate Robyn!

2007-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe "hate" is too strong a word. How about despise!?

Why, you ask?

Because Robyn from Secret Pal 10 started another contest. This one is all about our WIP's. I don't even want to think about all the stuff I still need to finish, let alone post. It depresses me. But I'll do it anyway. (You know I ♥ you Robyn, right?)

First up is the Fall 2006 Vogue Cabled Tunic in Filatura di Crosa Zara. I finished the back a couple of weeks ago, but haven't made too much headway with the front. In fact, I haven't even gotten through the first 24 row repeat. But I vow, yes vow, to have this done by September 2007. I will be wearing it in the Fall!

Second up is the Charlotte's Web that I started this past Saturday. I am making a bit of headway with this though. In fact, I'm now on row 85 and have finished one complete skein of Koigu. I started the second skein yesterday afternoon. This is a fairly quick knit, (if you keep track of your rows correctly), so I have a feeling it will be done in a week or so. Then comes blocking. (*sigh*)

Third is the Frost Jacket that I'm knitting for the Knitting Nature KAL. After screwing up the cables and having to rip it a couple of times, this is on hiatus. I know I need to work on it soon. This would make a great coat for winter time.

Fourth is the Elann Pinwheel Sweater. No progress on this for quite some time. I just don't feel like doing sleeves. I need to though. Scout could totally wear this come her first birthday. I just need to finish those darn sleeves. (Why must there be two!?)

Here's Shawn's second Snake Sock. I'm on Row 30 of 62 for the foot. Since they are shorter socks, than normal, it won't take that long. But 80 sts around on US 1's is kinda tedious. But these should be done by next week. I know he's anxious to wear them after trying the first one on. (Plus, I want to make him another pair for Father's Day, so I really need to get on the ball don't I?)

And then there's his blanket that he's been waiting so patiently for. I'll work on it today since I took it out of the bin and have it sitting on the couch still. Not that he needs it right now, but back in November when we bought the yarn he thought he'd get it fairly soon. (What does he know? LOL.)

Other than that, there is a sweater in the works for Scout. The back is done. I just need to work on the front. The sleeves will take no time at all. I should probably stop my sock addiction because it's causing me to put down all my other projects. But alas, I cannot. I have a pair to knit for my Hogwarts Sock Pal and a pair for Debbie at the LYS since she's been nice enough to wind my billions of skeins of yarn for me.

So there, Robyn. Happy?

I'm not. I have lots of knitting to do! Which would be a good thing, but Jem gets out early today and I promised to take him swimming. Then I have to go grocery shopping, stop by Borders to pick up a copy of Knitting Lingerie Style, (grab a copy, it's a very classy and cute book), then I have to get my nails done, make dinner and attend Open House. Somewhere in there I will do some breathing and maybe get a row or two done.

Happy Mothers Day

2007-05-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

So I kept telling everyone, and myself, that I would not knit the Charlotte's Web that everyone has been getting so worked up about. I've heard nothing but complaints, (and then the occasional "how beautiful is that" comment on finished shawls). But I made the mistake of jumping right in last night.

How beautiful is that? (If I don't say so myself.) I started this around 5 p.m. last night. I worked 44 rows so far. And except for a typo that caused a little frustration on the first YO row, I've had pretty smooth sailing. (Oh, and for when Shawn said, "What's this?" and I accidently dropped a stitch when showing him...then there was smooth sailing.)

This is the skein of Koigu that Jillian traded with me. Originally I thought I could find a matching skein and then I'd make a pair of socks. Well woe is me. I ordered the same color, only the dye lot differed greatly, (let that be a lesson to you), so I decided I'd do the shawl in a variation of Koigu blues.

I'm thinking it's working quite well so far. What do you think?

I also finished a sock. Not a pair, yet. But one sock for Shawn. Just plain old stockinette stitch in Koigu. Took a little while longer than expected, but I suspect that's because I'm using size 1 needles and getting about 9 sts per inch.

One more sock to go.

I've finished the back to Scout's DB Diamond Sweater. But since I've diligently been working on Shawn's socks, I haven't had time to cast on for the front. It's a quick knit, so I don't worry about it taking forever like some projects. In fact there are two WIP's that I've decided to give up on. One is the Sweet Pea Sacque. Scout is too big for it now. I think I'm going to rip it and make her a sweater instead. Three skeins of Rowan Cashsoft will suffice. The other is a blanket that I'm not really happy about. The texture doesn't help show the pattern, so what's the point of that?

That doesn't mean I don't have other things to work on. Slowly I'm making progress with the Cabled Tunic. But not enough to have me believe it would be ready to wear by October. I'm really going to try.

In addition to those things, I also need to cast on for my Gryffindor pal's Hogwarts socks for the Sock Swap. But I can't do that until the yarn gets here. Give it a day or two and I'll be a sock striping queen! And I can't wait to send her the stitch markers I got her. Those should be here in a day or two as well. I'll post pictures when I get them. (Shhh, don't tell her!)

The family is doing well. It's Mother's Day, (Happy Mother's Day to all), and it's been a pretty good day. Shawn made me pancakes and bacon for breakfast and gave me a 1/2 lb. box of See's candy. (Yum!) He's also having our family pictures done too. Can't wait to get those! Oh, and the kitten. He found me a black/white kitten that his coworker is raising and giving us in a couple weeks. I'm pleased!

Jem had his psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. He's started on meds and we can see a noticable difference in his attention and with his fidgeting. Scout is doing well. We started giving her cereals and baby foods the past two weeks. The bottle just wasn't enough. She really likes bananas. And pears. Not so much with the green beans. Maybe peas?

Yeah, she's my little pea pod. Oh how I love her.

Wouldn't you know?

2007-05-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'd say that I've been busy, that would be my excuse. And to some extent it's been true. But the real reason I haven't posted, (or knit much for that matter), is that I've been extremely tired. This whole week has been draining. But this weekend was excellent and here's why:

After finishing the Little Bunny Foo Foo socks, (which I have to say thanks to all of you for your nice comments, I appreciate them), Shawn requested another pair. So I cast on for his socks and lo and behold, the pattern from Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks" was, dare I say, wrong! The picture didn't match the stitch pattern. Instead, Shawn asked that I make them plain. As in Stockinette Stitch. Sounds good to me.

I had to use Scout's Dino for a model. I couldn't find anything else. We are going to call these Shawn's Snake Socks. The Koigu reminds me of a snake. Thus, Snake Socks. I have no complaints about these socks, except that I may have cast on 6 sts too many, but I found a way around having to rip them out and start over. Stay tuned for that!

I started Scout's Diamond Sweater from one of my many Debbie Bliss books. I'm using the Lana Grossa Elastico that I got from the 50% off sale that I got last week. I love this pattern. It's the third time I've knit it and it's never gotten old.

And a close up to show the texture.

And I bet you wouldn't believe it if I didn't have a picture huh?

Yup, that's Shawn knitting!

You see, we kind of made this deal about him racing his r/c's every Saturday night and me going knitting once a week for a few hours, (at night). Well after reading, "Babyproofing your Marriage", I realized we really needed to make more attempts at spending more time together, rather than apart for our own hobbies. So yesterday, I went to see him race at 5:30. We stayed til about 8:30. And then today, he said he wanted me to teach him to knit. Now mind you, he's not interested in knit/purl/dec/inc...he is just doing garter stitch. He says he'll make me a scarf. I said I'd wear it. I'm really proud of him for a.) asking me to teach him and b.) that he took to it so well. Are you jealous? LOL.

This afternoon I made some cupcakes, (which would later turn my craving into my demise), for May: Yeah, I brought out the piping tips and all. I felt creative. Unfortunately, eating a cupcake caused my TMJ to flare up. My right jaw is extremely sore after having it locked up for about a half hour. The biggest problem is that the dentist really can't do anything. They can send me to an oral surgeon, but short of surgery all I can do is take Tylenol and wear a mouth guard at night, (which I'm doing anyway). Surgery isn't in the cards at the moment. Cold compress it is for the time being. *sigh* Were the cupcakes worth it, you ask? Yes. They were.

On the homefront, Jem is doing his State Testing this week. He also has his Psych Evaluation this Wednesday. It's looking more and more like ADD/ADHD. We'll find out the details on Wednesday and go from there. I must say, he's been a pretty good kid the past couple of days. After he got called out on the attitude though. *boys*

Scout is doing well, as always. She's eating cereal and baby food now. She ♥ Sweet Potatoes and Bananas.

She also ♥ her toys. She loves to suck on them.

As you can see.

And on a final note. I'd really like to know what you all think about swaps. I'm a bit disappointed in the Sockret Pal Swap. Not in the person who spoiled me. But in the person I spoiled. I sent off the first package, no problem. The second and third, I put into one box and had Shawn mail off for me. Stupid me for not having him get a delivery confirmation. Apparently the box hasn't gotten there yet, and it's been weeks. Now, I understand her disappointment BUT she's posted about how she's been "jilted" (mind you she doesn't post my name), even after I offered to knit her another pair of socks and replace the things that I bought her. But I'm irked. It really bothers me that some people can't be grateful for the things they do get. I tried my best. In fact, in my first package alone I went above and beyond the "minimum", not to mention I constantly emailed without many responses.

I suppose my expectations of swaps are a bit more than the "post a blog twice a month, contact your pal on the 1st and 15th", kind of thing. I do a lot for my pals and now I feel like I am being outted because the lousy Post Office lost her package. *sigh* So anyway, I just want to know how you feel about swaps? Do you join them or stay away? What have your experiences been like?

Little Bunny Foo Foo

2007-05-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

I finished the Little Bunny Foo Foo socks. Yay!

And the up close:

Little Bunny Foo Foo Socks

Yarn: Little Bunny Foo Foo, light weight, by Socks That Rock

Pattern: Baby Fern from "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch

Gauge: 7 sts=1" on US 2's

Mods: I used US 1 DPN's for the K1, P1 ribbing for a tighter fit.

I've already started another pair. For Shawn. In Koigu. Yum! I really need to get on the ball. Fall is only 6 months away, but I have a feeling if I continue to procrastinate then I won't have the Cabled Tunic done for another 18 months.

In other news: I took Scarlett to the shelter. I didn't want to, but it had to be done. I miss her. And that's all I have to say about that.

I can't say there's too much going on. Shawn has decided to go on the racing circuit with this r/c cars. In return for this Saturday night races, I will get one night of knitting a week. I'm looking forward to a few baby/child free hours of knitting. Some days I can't even get a stitch in edgewise at home.

Our room is painted. No pix right now though. I'm waiting on picking out the new bedset and some other decor. You'll just have to wait.

It May Not Be A Lot

2007-04-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

I've been trying, very hard, to get things done. But it's really not happening. I'm making progress, but not much.

Starting with the Little Bunny Foo Foo Socks:

No, I didn't finish them. But I did finish one. And I couldn't wait to show you. I'm about 50% done with the second one. But again, one sock won't do anyone good unless you are a one legged person, which I am not.

I've also been working on the Cabled Tunic, but two or three rows really isn't working out too well. I'd have to do one 24 row repeat to see a noticable difference, you know? Cables are endless!

I made a gauge swatch out of the Lana Grossa Elastico yarn:

It's going to make a Diamond Sweater by Debbie Bliss for Scout. I've actually knit this sweater twice, (one in cream Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton and another in some Sirdar Snuggly in a pale pink shade).

So that's it really. Not much to even blog about.

Other things to note in life:

I spoke with my therapist on Tuesday morning and we went over the DSM, (which is a book that psychiatrists/pyschologists/therapists use to follow the criteria, and diagnose, mental/behavioral disorders). Jem has 9 out of 9 under the ADD symptoms guidelines. He has 8 out of 9 under the ADHD symptoms. I've spoken with his therapist as well. We have a psychiatric evaluation on May 9th and then we can go from there. I know there is much controversy about diagnosing and medicating, but it seems it's our last option as this point. And I'm really hoping that it will help him.

We still have Scarlett, though I don't know for how long. We haven't found anyone who can take her, which makes things hard because I really don't want to take her to a shelter not knowing what will happen to her, you know?

I went the LYS, again, for the sale and bought two more skeins of cashmere. I'm thinking I, (might), try Eunny Jang's Anemoi Mittens. I'm not sure, mind you. But I might. They'd be awfully pretty in baby blue and white cashmere, don't you think?

Not much else to report really. I did finish Scout's letters for the bedroom, but I couldn't take a nice enough picture. Believe me when I say they look great! Jem says he wants his done too, so I will do his next week.

This weekend, you ask? Tomorrow, I'm going to have my nails done. (It's time for a fill.) I'm also going to catch up on my blog reading, since it's been about a week. I plan on making lasagna, (from scratch), and maybe something from The Cake Book. (If you are a baker or you just plain &hearts; cake, get this book!) Sunday, I'm going to sand and paint Jem's dresser, (it's pink and white...he wants blue and white). Then Shawn and I are going to paint our bedroom.

Pictures to follow...

50% OFF!!!

2007-04-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you guys know me. I love to save money on yarn, but I don't tend to buy a bunch at once unless I have a project already in mind. However, the LYS is having a 50% off everything SALE, starting today! I went with the intentions of only buying some Koigu for a pair, or three, of socks. I wanted to get some for Shawn too. So I did.

Top Right: Lana Grossa "Elastico" in a Bubblegum Pink (it's a cotton/polyester blend), (480 yards can yield something for Scout, right?)

Bottom Right: Two more hanks of Cascade 220 for my Ripple Afghan, that I intend on starting this week. (I hope.)

Bottom Left: Two skeins of Koigu KPPM in dark greens for a new pair of socks for Shawn.

Top Right: Two skeins of Karabella Margrite, (an extrafine merino and cashmere blend), in a baby blue for a cabled hat and scarf from "Cables Untangled". (I have a feeling I will need more though, so I might pick up another skein or two tomorrow, while I can still get it on sale.)

So that's my stash enhancement for now.

Little Lamb

2007-04-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I ordered some more stitch markers from Jillian's Etsy. I got them in the mail the other day, aren't they cute?

I already had some light colored Siamese cats, but I wanted a set that looked like Dalton, (can you tell that I'm obsessed with my cat?). Anyway, now I have four Siamese kitties and they won't be lonely!

I've been working, relentlessly, on the Cabled Tunic. Last night I finished Row 19 of the twisted rib. Twisted rib feels like it takes four times longer than just a plain old K1, P1 ribbing. But it does give the edging a bit more of give, elasticity wise. And it's pretty. I can't complain.

I started my Little Bunny Foo Foo Socks, (I don't have a name for these, so I'm going with the colorway name):

It's, as you can see, a toe up sock. I'm using a pattern from the new Charlene Schurch book, "More Sensational Knitted Socks". But you'll have to wait and see which one! No sneak peeks this time!

Life around here has been kinda quiet. Yesterday, Scout had her four month check up. 14 lbs. 13 oz. and 25 1/4" long!!! I can't believe it. Her Dr. said she's a wonderful baby and I'm lucky to have such a mellow little girl! I agree.

It started raining around 6 a.m. this morning and though I don't tend to keep the windows/blinds open on a sunny day, they are today! I ♥ the rain! But since it's a little chilly I dressed Scout in her Little Lamb outfit, (it's the one I blogged about in August/September). She's still a bit too little to fill it out, but she's still cute.

Isn't she?

Ahh, Life

2007-04-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Life has seemed to caught up with me. That's part of the reason I haven't been posting as often as I'd like. (That and I haven't made much progress with any of my projects. Except for socks, I have been trying to keep to doing one project at a time since I have so many WIP's.) Ahhh, life. Nothing but the good stuff, eh?

As some of you may know, my son Jem, (who is 8 years old), has really been struggling the past year, what with us moving, (without his Grandma at that), going to a new school, having a new sister, etc. The problems have only gotten worse and I'm sorry to say that I'm at a point of giving up. We got, another, phone call from the VP of his school yesterday. Apparently Jem tried stealing a first graders lunch box. He tried scribbling out the childs name and putting his on it instead. After realizing he couldn't get away with it, he ditched the lunch box and someone found it yesterday. The biggest problem is he continued to lie about what happened even after the VP called. *sigh* Boys! *sigh* Children! I've had to meet with the school staff twice now, as well. This time to start an IEP. His progress for third grade has been minimal. Not enough to pass him to go to the fourth grade. And his teacher has told us that he has been participating less and less in class. I honestly don't know what else to do. He's in therapy, (at first we thought maybe he had ADD/ADHD), outside of school and then has school counseling once a week on Thursdays. They have in an extra reading group, three times a week, and a math group once a week.

I know things will come to pass, but it seems as though things will only get worse first. "Worse" enough that we have to take Scarlett, (our dog), to a shelter. (This is what's really been eating away at me for a while.) She's a great dog. But, the way Jem plays with her isn't so great. She gets so riled up and has nearly tripped me, and Shawn, when we hold the baby. She chases Dalton, (our cat), and while she doesn't hurt him, he goes nutty. At our old apartment I had a huge park I could take her to next door, but now I can't even let her run around outside since we aren't technically supposed to have a dog. (That's the "rule" though we aren't the only one with a large dog. We have a neighbor who has two dogs and another who has two pit bulls across the way.) Shawn worries that Scarlett will eventually get sick of the rough housing and I have to agree. She really needs a home that doesn't have an out of control boy. It really saddens me. I love her to death. We tried giving her to two people, but one has a broken fence and four sets of cats, (two of which are pregnant), that live in the back yard, and the other already has a dog. I can't get rid of the kid, so I have to do something with the dog. *sigh*

In knitting news, I managed to finished the back of the Cabled Tunic. If this thing gets finished by Fall/Winter 07, I will be shocked. It's just a lot of work. I've counted the minutes it takes just to do the twisted rib rows at the bottom...9 minutes each. That's a lot for 169 measly stitches.

I know that it will be worth it.

Close up of the cable panels and twisted rib:

And the honeycomb panels:

Scout is happy, and that's one thing I can be thankful for while the rest of my life seems to be collapsing, (yes, I'm being melodramatic)...

And because I love the M and M commercial about making your own M and M character:

This is me as an M and M! LOL. My name is Queen Sugar Britches A La Mode! Want one? Check it out!

Done and Done

2007-04-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Not too much to report, except that I finished Shawn's Stormy Socks last night.

Stormy Socks

Yarn: "Stormy" by Socks That Rock, light weight

Needles: US 2's, 4 dpn's

Gauge: Approximately 7 sts=1"

These socks fit a US 10 shoe size, approximately 9 3/4" foot circumference.

Pattern: Yarn Over Cables from "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch

So it's over. Shawn has his socks. Finally.

Friday night I went to the LYS for a little SnB and was able to do about 30 some odd rounds on the sock. (I forgot my note book so I had to stop at row 56 because that's where I thought I ended before starting the heel. I was right.) Then yesterday morning, I was up at about 6:30 with Scout, (me no likey early mornings), and decided to work the heel. So I finished that and then did the leg last night.

Two pair of socks in a month! I'm on a roll. So much so that I had my Little Bunny Foo Foo caked and it's ready to get on the needles today. Well maybe. I'd really like to get more done on the Cabled Sweater. I'm almost finished with the back. Almost.

And Friday, when I came home I was welcomed by this box of goodness:

My SP 10 pal sent me a gift! Yay for me! It's three skeins of Artyarns Supermerino in a blue and yellow colorway and some chocolatey goodness too! She knows the way to my ♥! Thank you to my SP whoever you are!

And here's Shawn in his happy place when he put his handknit socks on:

It was a good weekend.

What a weekend!

2007-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

We've had a pretty good week since my last blog update.

Thursday and Friday, Shawn and I rented a couple movies and stayed home and cozied up on the couch to watch them. First we saw Turistas, which has made me pretty adamant that I will never, (ever), travel to Brazil, and then we saw Black Christmas, which convinced me that sororities really are evil. Both movies were cheesy, but good. Not the explicit gore and guts you'd get from an old "Halloween" or "Friday the Thirteenth", (which by the way, this Friday is Friday the Thirteenth, so beware).

Saturday we drove up to the zoo around noon and guess what the signs said: Parking Lots Full. We ended up having to drive back home. Normally the LA Zoo has a week of Easter activities around spring break. This year they only did the Easter stuff Friday-Sunday. So it was a no go. We are going this Saturday instead.

Since we didn't make the zoo, I headed over to the LYS earlier than expected so I could work on this:

That's right! They are Shawn's Stormy Socks. I finished the first one last night and cast on for the second one this morning. I still don't know what's up with the striping, but I am hoping I can get the second sock to stripe just as well. We shall see. But all in all, they are cool. Shawn tried it on and absolutely loves them. He was quite upset that there weren't two already. Talk about impatience! I swear!

Easter was really fun as well. I made some bunny cupcakes for Jem and the neighbor kids, (not that Shawn and I didn't eat like a dozen on our own or anything!):

Easter morning Jem went searching for his eggs. Out of 14 plastic filled eggs, he found 12. He needed help with 2. One of them got knocked over by Dalton's tail when he was laying on the couch. Jem made out like a bandit. He got a helicoptor set, froggy squirt toys, a load of candy, money, two pairs of jean shorts, and more I'm sure. Shawn got a 1/2 lb. box of his favorites chocolates from See's Candies and a card. Scout got a new dress and a blue and green musical dinosaur that she absolutely loves. She really loves music. My mom gave her a pink piggy bank and we both put some money in it for her as well. Me? Shawn said I could order some sock yarn, so I'm a happy woman! (Who wouldn't be?) But, I haven't decided on what I want yet. Maybe some Koigu? Or Socks that Rock? Or Lorna's Laces? I'd ♥ to order some yarn from Yarn Pirate but last week when she updated, she sold out as I was looking at the colors she had available. Literally sold out in like 5 minutes!

Anywhoo, we also took a few pictures, though I have to say I look pretty crappy after running in and out of the kitchen to make a turkey, (which my mom pretty much took over), and all the fixins. But I love this picture of us either way:

But my favorite is this one of Scout:

(You can check my flickr pictures for more pictures of Scout and the color version of this if you want to see the actual dress.)

In other news, I followed Abigail, (who is a GREAT secret pal, by the way), and joined the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I ♥ Harry Potter, though I will admit that I still haven't finished the last book. I'm maybe a 1/4 into it. (It's not my fault really, a friend of mine kinda ruined the story for me, so now I'm not as motivated to read it you know?) Anyway, I am in the Ravenclaw group and decided to post my swap questionnaire as well:

1.What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw

2. Shoe size? 9-9 1/2

3. Foot Length? 9 1/2

4. Foot Circumference? 9 1/2 (high instep)

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length: I mainly work with Clover bamboos, usually size 2 or 3.

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? Sure, maybe Lantern Moon or Blue Sky Alpacas. Small size like 0's or 1's. Length doesn't matter.

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? Doesn't matter a whole lot to me!

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? Yes

So that's about it. I'm happily knitting along and enjoying the change in seasons. And excited for another knit night this Friday night.

In With The New?

2007-04-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm on a sock kick. After finishing the Dalton socks, I started the Stormy socks for Shawn. Guess what? He wanted the same pattern for his socks like the ones I did for the Dalton socks. Guess what? I got the same gauge with the lightweight STR. Guess what? I am making the exact same socks for him, only a little bit longer for the foot. (I wear a 9 1/2 and he wears a 10 1/2.) So these are coming along quite quickly since I already know the pattern and have the notes for a size 9 1/2. The only thing I will have to change is a few more rows for length. Plus, he wants his to be regular socks. Not ankle socks. The only thing I'm not too sure of is the pooling and striping:

The yarn is doing this on it's own, which I wasn't anticipating. I think it looks sort of neat, but I would have preferred to have more variations like with the other socks. But as long as Shawn likes them, (which he does so far), that's all that really matters, right?

Yesterday, I bought these:

I am going to paint and decorate them this weekend and have Shawn drill holes in the back so I can hang them over the crib.

And this came in the mail yesterday too and I was quite delighted!

It's the Little Bunny Foo Foo and I am quite happy that the pink is subdued, because as you know colors vary from monitor to monitor and the STR website shows a much darker pink. I like it as it is.

Have a great Easter weekend for those of you who celebrate. We will be going on a trip to the LA Zoo tomorrow. Later I'll be hitting the yarn shop and Shawn is going to check out the R/C races. Don't know if I'll have an update this weekend, so just in case: HAPPY EASTER!