mmmm....patterns...

I had to post for a second time this evening. I had been looking at a purse pattern for a while and was really wanting to figure out the pattern myself but it just wasn't working out. So, I got online today and started looking at it again. I was having a total yarn/knitting store urge so I went out to Family Arts Needlework Shop. They are open Mondays. YAY!!!!! I went with the book number.... # 232 and they had it...






This was the pattern I was looking for...




But I stumbled upon these....








What are the chain handles you ask? Well they are dog's choke chains... What a much better use for them than around a dogs neck.... (without saying more, I get a little psycho when people use choke chains on their dogs.) I have the perfect yarns picked out for them. I can't wait to get started on them.

As for Calypso.. as much as I am trying I don't think it will be done tonight... As always life got in the way.. I will try hard though...

Happy knitting

I always try to think of some witty title and today I have nothin' sorry. So, I am just leaving it blank.

I have been working on Calypso. I just started into ball number nine and was only supposed to use up eight. I think it's a good thing that Jonelle gave me a few extra balls "just in case". I am almost to the arm holes on the front of the sweater. I have two more inches to go before I can start the decreasing and then after that it is smooth sailing. My goal is to have it finished by this afternoon or this evening. I want to get it to her tomorrow so I can start working on something else. Shannon had said that she didn't want to be a test knitter as she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to finish it becuase of time or the big one...she would get tired of working on it so she would just stop knitting it.

I had thought about not being able to complete it because of time constraints and as you all know how I am about finishing projects, I was more than worried about that one, too! So of course everything else got put on hold. Clapotis is sitting there, I haven't had the heart to rip back from where I made my mistake. My sister's socks, which need to be finished by March 9th are awaiting completion, my tweed socks are just sitting there, I know that I won't be able to get them done before warm weather comes in, and everything else I have been working on is just sitting there. I have cheated here and there and got a few rows worked on this or that but mostly I have been stuck on Calypso. I was thinking about all of this last night and telling my sister how much I missed working on other projects and then I realized something...

I WILL HAVE HAND KNIT A WOMAN'S SWEATER IN TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!

I am rather proud of that. It makes up for the fact that I haven't worked on other stuff. Awesome!

So, other news that I have to report...

My sister and I went to Fry's last night to get some soda's and other stuff for dinner and we were stopped on the way out....we were trapped.... and were pressured into buying a few things from these wonderful saleswomen...It was their smiles and enthusiasm... Okay okay it was the cookies.... WHO could say no to Brownies? Not me and not my sister... I walked away with these...






Looking for pictures of the cookies I stumbled across this... I am brainy, mysterious, complex...

I am off to take Maggie to the Vet today, she has to get her teeth scraped and some other work done that is not quite so nice to describe... I will just say that it deals with her bottom half...
I am also going to Bookman's. I gotta get rid of some more books. I think that I will just take the money this time... Or find out if I can use the credit at the other Bookmans in Mesa. I am going to finish my Calypso top today too!

Happy Knitting.

Big Happy Super Smile Post Time

So, I have been watching Most Extreme Eliminiation that we had recorded. I am so addicted to that show. For those who don't know what it is, it is an English dubbed Japanese challenge show. But the dubbers make the people doing the challenges look like total asses. I love it. I have decided that this post is going to only have Big Happy Super Smile subjects.

So on that note I picked up these materials at the fabric store today. The yellow one is for my purse that I got the yarn for last week and the other I just fell in love with so I had to have it. I have some yarn in that color so I think it will look really pretty.



I am awaiting our pizza and wings from Streets of New York. We both wanted Oregano's but were to lazy to go and pick up the food so we are settling. Don't ya just love those days.

Happy Knitting my friends....

Fighting in front of friends...

It seems that there is a lot of bitchiness going on in the air.....(NO!!! Not you folks with the blogs. I could care less about that crap!) I am talking about first my sisters.... WATCHOUT. They are both in psycho bad moods and have been for the last few days.
Last night I ended up getting into an argument with Amy in front of our friend Martha... Amy got pissed at me about YYY Topic. (Sorry I can't tell more but there are some things about my personal life that I need to keep off the internet!) Normally, not a problem and I would blow it off. But Martha was over and Amy proceeded to freak out at me in front of her...So, we go into our room. I tried to smooth things over and well we all know how well that can work when someone is pissed off. I, being the not so calm and rational person that I am get upset and we are in each other's faces. It isn't until 10 minutes into the yelling that I remember that Martha is sitting in our living room trying to act like nothing is happening. Amy yells at me to "Fuck off" and says she is going to bed. I slam the door and go about watching the rest of Project Runway with Martha. (mind you, Martha has been our friend for over 7 years apiece...she knew each of us seperately before she knew us as a couple.)
Most of the time, as with last night, we can get it out of our systems and we are done. We wake up in the morning (in the same bed)...still a little upset but okay. We will make it to year number 6.

Martha and I meet up for coffee after I get off work. I get there first. I am sitting there working on my STUPID Calypso top that is never finshing.... and we talk about what we are drinking and then she "splats" it out... "Are you going to break up with Amy now?" WHERE IN THE HELL DID THIS COME FROM?????? This is not the first time she has seen us get into a fight and of course it probably won't be the last time...She proceeds to tell me that we just aren't meant for each other and that we are hurting each other emotionally more and more each day and that there is no reason for us to be together. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM????? Of course, me being in the tired and grumpy mood I am after being on my feet for the last 6 hours of my shift at work I am not in the mood to argue but of course I am in the mood to make snide comments... What was the comment you ask?
"Martha you are one to talk about healthy relationships...... I am not the one who got kicked out of her apartment because of her boyfriend and then takes him back two months later and proceeds to take advantage of him for almost a year.... to "get him back"..."

Needless to say the evening ended quite quickly after that. I shouldn't have said it but I did, I will probably call her later tonight and work it out but it makes me wonder about what is going on in the air. It is total cat fight time..

I am developing a theory on this bitchiness that is going around, at least here in Phoenix. Normally, our spring begins now, the time for love in the air, our animal instincts for affection and love, for nurturing and mothering and all sorts of other womanly goodness are supposed to going on right now... and folks do we see any spring going on? NOPE. Nothing but rain rain rain and more rain. So, I think that nature wrecked our emotions and psychological wellness and putting us all into a funk... I am looking forward to a few good days with out rain...They say it is supposed to be at least until Tuesday but we will see what happens.

Happy Knitting and Happy Hoping for Spring...

Such is life..

So, with all intentions of going to the Fiber Factory yesterday I ended up not going. I had to stop and return a book as well as yarn yesterday. So, as Martha and I are heading well in to the direction of Mesa the following conversation happens...

Me: "Oh crap, I forgot the freakin' yarn!"

Martha: "Do you want to turn around and get it?"

Me: "No, I will just buy what I can and put the rest on hold."

Two or three miles up the road....

Martha: "We have to turn around"

Me: "Why?"

Martha: "I forgot my bank card...."

US: LAUGHING OUR HEADS OFF...

We turn around and decide that we really don't want to go to the Fiber Factory all much anyways.


I got to knit with Shannon last night. Yep! We are both alive and doing well. I also sent off a package to my secret pal and thanks to the invention of computers and a tracking number my package is sitting in a FedEx building somewhere in Sacramento, California. Cool. I am in the process of gathering ideas for my next package to send out. My SP loves Saint Patricks Day so it is going to be quite themed....

I have to get my buns moving on the Calypso top. I am just two inches away from the decreases on the 2nd sleeve. Then all I have to do is knit the front and the neck... Easy peasy...

Happy Knitting...

I

Martha and I are headed over to Fiber Factory. I need to do a return and she wants to buy more yarn. I think it is so fascinating to watch other people get yarn for new projects. Especially those who don't have a yarn stash, or at least those who don't have a huge one like me.

I put a shout out to get some people on the westside to come and knit with me tonight but I don't know if it is going to happen. Amy has band practice tonight and I don't want to be sitting there so I jus might go and hang out by myself anyways. My niece may come with me and do her homework.

I am contemplating buying this book:

I have checked it out from the library a few times and I like the patterns in the book. Very quick and simple to work on. If I do buy it, it won't be for a few weeks. I have a few other main things to buy first.

We'll see. I have a few rows done on my summer purse. It is made of fluffy goodness. I don't think that everyone will like the way the colors are turning out but I do and that is all that matters right? I am trying to figure out what purse handles I want to add on there. Hmm...

I will write more later if I can
Happy Knitting.

A little party and some sun

I had lunch with Martha today. She was quite depressed today so we went to lunch to try to cheer each other up. I wasn't feeling so great myself so it didn't work out so well. I was driving home and I remembered that I wanted to check out the this little shop at Seventh street and Missouri called Family Arts Needlework shop. I had heard that they had some knitting supplies in there so I went in and ending up finding two lovely yarns there.

The first one was Classic Elite Bravo yarn called Hawaaian Sun. It is a silk and mohair blend. I picked up two skeins. Very yummy and of course the scanner doesn't give the colors justice.



The second one I came across I thought I could work in with the other one somehow, I just don't know how yet. But it is called Fantasi and made by a company called Marks and Kattens. It is a blend of wool, acrylic and Polyester. The name of the color? Party!



Yellow is not normally a color I would buy but with my total bill being 16.00 I had to grab them all! I figured that I could make my spring purse out of this. I haven't started on anything else lately so we'll see.

Happy Knitting my friends.

I don't have a title for this post. It is 12:00 at night and I should be sleeping but I wanted to get this posted.

The back of the Calypso is done. It looks really cool. Kind of bunchy at the top as the neck stitches are on a holder but I think it turned out rather nice. I also finished the increases of the sleeve on the Calypso. I am only 3 inches away from my decreases so that is exciting.


But I wanted to show off the pictures of what i have been doing...







I will write more when I am not so sleepy. Happy Knitting my friends.

The curse has been lifted.

Thanks to a special someone out there I am looking at in my apartment, on my computer desk and near my being this special little present that my secret pal got me...




My secret pal rocks!

I have sore thumbs this morning. I stayed up way too late last night and worked on my Calypso top. It is kind of addicting. I am only 3 inches away from finishing the back of the sweater! Yay!
Of course, I got side tracked and started working on the sleeves. Only realizing after I had knit 6 inches into the sleeve that I would be done with the back by now. Oh well, that is life.

I am feeling up to par this morning. I still need Dayquil but I can function. Better than yesterday. I get to have my haircut this afternoon. I can't wait. This mop needs to go. I also get my order from Aveda in. That is the one I think is crappy. If I want something from Aveda I can either order it and wait two and 1/2 weeks to get my discount on it or I can buy it right then and receive no discount. Grrrr. So, being that I need to bone up on my product knowledge I am going to list the benefits about the stuff I am getting.

Shampure Shampoo

• Your everyday shampoo for those who do little with their hair
• It has Morikue protein ( a combination of Brazil nuts and wheat protien) to fortify hair
• A blend of 25 Pure Plant and Flower Extracts...it is the "signature" Aveda aroma
• Allure's readers choice award for best shampoo

Shampure Conditioner

• Everyday conditioner that provides environmental protection to your hair.
• Infused with Morikue protein
• Blend of 25 Pure Plant and Flower Extracts

Hand Relief

• A super duty hand moisturizer for dry, chapped skin
• Vitamin's A and E to nourish and soften skin
• Contains plant emolliants to moisturize the skin
• Editor's choice for best hand cream form Allure Magazine

Cuticle Control

• Softens and soothes cuticle for easy removal
• Contains corn based humectant to moisturize cuticle
• Mineral based ingredients to break down protein bonds of the cuticle
• Aloe to soothe the skin

So, I hoped you liked this little bit o' info... I am hoping to get more of the sweater done. I will try to get a picture of it posted before I have to send it back.

Happy Knitting

I got my first test knitting project yesterday. It is a sweater made from Calypso yarn. Unfortunately, there isn't a picture of the yarn, but it is like a ribbon/railroad yarn. I thought that it would be a pain to work with but it is coming along nicely. I have about 1/2 of the back of the sweater done. I had to go down a size on my needles, I guess I am a loose knitter. I never thought I would say that!

Anyways, I am not going to our SNB meet up tonight. I don't want to infect all the others with the dang cold. I feel a lot better today. I just know, though, that I will be hanging on to the cough for a couple of weeks.

What are the things to tell?

I finished the 5 hour baby sweater. It takes more than 5 hours but, it looks really cute. Sent it out before I could get a picture taken. D'oh.

I got some yarn for Amber's baby's sweater. I am going to knit the Baby's First Tattoo Sweater from the SNB Nation book.

I am going to work the stars and it is going to be done in black and red. That way if it is a boy or a girl it will still be really cute.

That's just about all I gotta say today. Have fun knitting tonight my SNB pals.

Happy Knitting.

Back to life...

I have decided that I am not going to mope around the house as I did yesterday. I have too much stuff to take care of.

I took some Dayquil and I think it is working. My mind is at least functional and that is all that counts right?

I have to go over to Southwest Trading Company this morning and pick up my first test knitting project. WOOHOO! I am also heading over to the Fiber Factory to drop off a spool that I borrowed from someone. I have had it for like three weeks but I just haven't had the time to take it over.

After that I don't know what my plans are. Probably coming back home and sleeping on the couch. But at least I will get some fresh air into these lungs. I will try to post more later.

Happy Knitting.

That is what I get...

I thought I had cheated fate... The winter had passed and I was feeling good. And then Sunday morning came. It was the sore throat, the achy body and then sniff sniff... Arrgghhh My nose was backed up too! I am officially sick. I had tried so long to stay away from the sickies. I avoided them at all costs. I don't know who or when I caught this but I have it. And let me tell you folks, I am not the kind of person who will be sick for a couple of days and then get better. I am a take a full two or three weeks to even start feeling better kinda girl. I have a horrible immune system and no matter what kinds of vitamins I take I will be sick for quite awhile.

So, being the nice girl that I am I will not be going knitting any time soon. I hope that you all understand. Speaking of which. I haven't knit anything in two days. Not even picked it up since Friday after work. I haven't had the time and right now I don't have the mindset to do it.

I am getting paid by my sister to make her some knitted name plaques for her office. I got the yarn yesterday for the test one. I will try to work on it today but I am not going to bet on it.

Sorry for such a lame post. I have had my sitting time for the day. It is off to bed again

happy knitting.

Look at those bags....

Okay seeing how I only have like twos of most yarns I am going to make a few bags. I am not going to give them a recipient right now. I just want to get my stash down. While I don't have the exact yarn I do have some similar yarns... Here is what I have up...

The Cancun Bag

Going to be knit with Melody yarn from Southwest Trading Company

On The Moon Bag

I think that I may use this as a regular purse

The Mini Skull Tote

I don't think I am going to use the skull motif but rather use up all my left over wool bits from my Christmas slippers I made.

Big Wool Tote

I am going to use up a double strand of something.

I have more pictures and patterns saved but I want to get those done first. I have still yet to complete a second project so I can buy my Rowan Denim yarn. Maybe I will have a sock done by this weekend... Or at least by Tuesday as that is my weekend ending. :)

Happy Knitting.

I don't really have all that much to say for my 2nd post of the day. I just have been feeling really out of the world today and need to get back in it. Seeing how I am in blah mood I am going to type ten things that I liked about today.

1. Waking up to clean laundry
2. Getting dressed early enough to do something besides rush out the door
3. Being to work 20 minutes early even on a donut tire.
4. Finding out my first client of the day was a referral from one I had on Saturday
5. Was told I give great pedicures
6. Getting a great scalp massage
7. Having no headaches today
8. Getting in and out of Michael's for a return and not spending any money
9. Maggie wagging her tail when I walk in the door.
10. Amy being home early from work

Ten little things but ten things all the same. I know that I had said in an earlier post that I see myself as optimistic but I am going to really try to keep that up. I need to get Shannon's cards done. The stuff is all sitting there. I just need to get it together. I haven't forgot about you guys.

I am still working on my socks. I am going to use the time watching the Simpson's to work on my green sock. Happy KNitting.

It all started so innocently. I thought I would just whip up some stitch markers to use up the excess beads that I ahd left form my necklace. I did, they looked really pretty. How is it then, that I have a crap load of stitch markers and haven't done any real knitting in about three days?

Okay that last part isn't true but I somehow mananged to make a ton of markers. I think that I am going to send them off to as RAOK's. I know that people have been sending them out like crazy to others but I just have too many to count. I know that I won't use them all.

There are no photo's today. I forgot to take all the stuff my SP got me to my sister's house last night. When I asked to use her camera she got kinda huffy about it. I told her nevermind.

I got a flat tire yesterday. Not one of those "Wow, that thing is really low", but a super "looks like it could be in a cartoon flat tire". It was at my sister's house so it wasn't a problem. But becuase of timing I have to drive around on a donut for a couple of days. Speaking of which. I am so in the mood for Krispy Creme right now. I think that I will shuffle on over to them before I head off to work.

I have set Clapotis aside for awhile. I have to make sure I get my sister's socks done by her birthday. It is in March but I want to be sure all the same. I also am dying to get my tweed socks done. Last night I was working on the Tweed one and was feeling how soft it was. I read the back of the label . 85& wool, 10 & silk and 5% cashmere. I was knitting luxury socks and didn't even realize it. I had justified the price of the yarn becuase I really like the colors of it. So, that was a nice bonus.

Well off to work with a stop at Krispy Creme First... :) Happy Knitting.

:( and :)

I feel like the drama masks right now... The happy and the sad..

First I got a package from my secret pal yesterday... so freakin' cool. It was filled with lots of Valentine's goodness. Thank you secret pal. The chocolate is all eaten up! Yummy! I love the little pen. Amy says that is so me as I have 6 lipsticks in my purse right now! I will try to get a picture of all my goodies today!



I also get to watch Matthew today. Which totally rocks. He is such a good baby. I love it.


Now for the sad news. My favorite pair of jeans bit the dust yesterday. They were this super soft denim and after wearing and washing and wearing over and over and over, they finally decided to leave me. I was constantly sewing them up. This time it is irrepairable. I am going to cut them into little strips and make a bag out of them. I don't know how well this will go but I am going to try. If not, I tried my best. They were going to be tossed anyways.

Off to watch Matt.

Happy Knitting.

ahh finished.

I finished my necklace today. I couldn't find the wire I wanted to use on it again, as realized that I was also out of wire... so I picked up some stuff that was a lot harder to work with than I thought. But here it is... It it's beautiful glory...


Click on the picture to see it bigger...

Thank you Illana for posting such a beautiful picture and thank you to Melissa who was an inspiration for this necklace... Your work is beautiful and your dog is soo cute too!


I am off to try to make beaded stitch markers and then clean house.. Don't you love priorities?

Damn you Clapotis... and necklaces

How is it that I can measure out enough length and then some to go around my neck for the necklace that I was making and still have it be too small? Now, this didn't happen once, twice, three times but count em FOUR YEP FOUR TIMES! I am really starting to piss myself off. I have to go find more crimp beads today. This fun little project is turning into a pain in my ass.

So, what is going on with Clapotis... I made a big fat mistake and I was 4 rows short of dropping my first stitch. The row was just finished and I started looking at it. It didn't look right. Sure enough there is a mistake and it is like 40 rows back... Oh well, good thing I have today off from work.


Other news. Nothing much. I am going to the Fiber Factory tomorrow morning to get something for my secret pal. I really want one for myself so I am going to see if I can find a cheap one there. I think my SP reads my blog so I will not say anymore about it. I also want to pick up some more or at least some roving scraps. I figured that since I am doing the wire and bead working I might as well take a stab making myself some stitch markers, too.

I didn't get my book yesterday. I flipped through it and decided it really wasnt worth it for the two projects I wanted to knit.

The Five hour baby sweater is coming along nicely. I am at row 17 or 18 I forget which one. I am using the Mexicana yarn that I was going to make a scarf out of and then decided against it. It isn't the softest yarn but it looks pretty and the baby will be wearing a shirt underneath it anyways.

Happy Knitting

This is the case of....stick to what you know best...

I found out the other day that I am not a jewelry maker. I suck big time at it. I decided to make a felted bead necklace. It actually looked really pretty all the beads in a row and then I go to try it on... It will probably fit my 19 month old nephew. How could I have made it so small? I am going to try to make it again. I just didn't have the patience the other night.

I have two main errands to do today. 1 is pick up a newspaper and the other is to go to Michaels. I have been really wanting this book.




So, I have to pick up a paper and get the Michaels 40% off coupon. The book will only be 12.00 rather than 20 bucks. Cool huh? I also need to make a return on a stamp and stamp pad. I don't know why I got them. I already have them both. I guess I just wasn't thinking.

Then it is off to the library. Amy has to do some research for one of her papers and her prof. said absolutely no internet sources.

So, I am going to take my Crochet. Yep, you read that right. I am making a crocheted purse and I am hoping to have it finished by the end of the evening. It is done on this huge hook and is very open and loopy. Kinda cool! I still prefer knitting though. I haven't done much on Clapotis. I just haven't had the time to work on it. So maybe that one will go to the library with me.

UPDATE....

I just received an invitation to a baby shower this weekend coming up. I am going to take on the 5 hour baby sweater... wish me luck. If anyone knows of any tricks or tips let me know...

the other 50 about me... and Alison is a stinker

So be prepared this is going to be a long post... I have a few things to tell.....

Here are the other 50 things about me...

1. I Simpson's Junkie. I can quote way too often... My favorite 3 quotes are:
2. "I am so smart, I am so smart, I am so smart S-M-R-T. OH, I mean S-M-A-R-T."
3. "It tastes's like burning...."
4. "You're bad Bart Simpson and I LIKE IT."
5. I am into the whole "badboy" image.
6. I couldn't ever do it... I am too chicken
7. I was voted by my friends as "most likely to be a soccer mom"
8. I really like punk music... More than any other music scene out there.
9. This is one of the first times in my life when I have more female friends than male friends
10. I have never had just one best friend
11. I love to set people up. I am not very good at it.
12. My favorite flower is the carnation.
13. My favorite joke is.... "If Canada was full of pink cars what would Canada be?"
14. "A PINK CAR NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
15. I love lame jokes and really lame comics
16. I work on crossword puzzles every night to fall asleep
17. I am not very good at them... except for the Jumbles.
18. I will read the last few pages in a book.
19. I have issues about people writing in books.
20. I used to raise dairy cattle, pigs and rabbits when in was in the FFA and 4-H
21. I still know the FFA Creed.
22. I like to memorize things.
23. I read trivial pursuit cards over and over again
24. I have no qualms about cheating on games
25. Slot Machines treat me really well. ( I don't cheat on those, though!)
26. I played on a slot machine for 30 mintes of off 50 cents and walked away with 45 dollars
27. That has been my biggest winning ever
28. I don't know how to save money
29. I got my pattern published in the Stitch 'N Bitch Nation book. It is the fuzzy dice and steering wheel cover
30. The friend in the paragraph is Amy.
31. I have never been friends with someone before I dated them
32. All of the people I have ever dated, I "stole" away from someone else.
33. I hate laundry and will avoid it at all costs
34. I love dessert wines.
35. My favorite food to eat is called Ham and noodles
36. I was a vegetarian for 3 1/2 years
37. I ate "And Noodles" a lot... with no ham
38. I love to cook and to bake.. when I have a clean kitchen
39. When I want to eat dinner out I tell Amy it is her turn to cook dinner- works every time
40. I love novelty yarns but I won't buy them.... I don't have a reason why.... I guess cause I am cheap
41. I believe that I am cursed... Every and I mean every time I go to buy the Kacha Kacha row counter it is out of stock
42. I believe in ghosts and Angels.
43. I will not touch a bathroom doorknob unless I know it's clean
44. I don't like to sit with my back towards a door
45. I have only seen 2 scary movies ever
46. Poltergiest and The Village
47. I only went to see The Village for the knitting in the movie
48. I want practice yoga
49. I named my cats after a cartoon. Their names are Pepper Ann and Moose
50. I see myself as an optimistic person

Whew! I did it... I can't believe it... That was a hard one...

So, Alison being the little stinker that she is.. Tagged me for the Music Meme.... Thanks a whole lot Alison... I rarely listen to music but I will be sport... I was hoping that it would pass me up..

So for all those still interested in reading...

1. Total amount of music on my files...you got me. Amy is the one who deals with that kind of stuff.
2. I don't remember the last CD I bought, but I really wanted the new Queen Latifah cd and I got it for Christmas
3. The last song I listened to was We Got the Beat.
4. My five favorite songs... Santeria by Sublime, Fur Elise composed by Beethoven, Fools Rush in by Elvis, Girls just Wanna have fun by Cyndi Lauper, Will you be the one by Melissa Ferrick
5. Here is where I am going to be a sore sport... I won't pass it along to anyone... I don't really like getting stuff like this, so I will follow the golden rule... Sorry Al, I hope that you aren't too mad at me... :(

I think that is all I have to tell you all today. Happy Knitting...

100 things about me.

I keep seeing the "100 things about me" posts and figured that although late I wil give it a little try. I don't know if I will be able to do 100 of them at once but what the heck...

1. I am an Arizona native. This is something that I am truly proud of.
2. I grew up in small town and what to raise kids in a small town.
3. I think the John Mellencamp song "Jack and Diane" sums up my small town.
4. My sisters and I are very close knit
5. My mom died 5 years ago when I was 20
6. My dad died when I was 16.
7. I haven't dealt with my mom's death.
8. I have 4 nephews and a niece. I love them all to death
9. My dream in life was to be mother and a housewife.
10. I still haven't gotten to those dreams
11. I want to have at least 2 kids
12. My girlfriend took a long time in admitting that she wants kids
13. We've been together for 6 years in March
14. Now we have baby fever
15. My extended family doesn't know I am lesbian
16. They would disown not only me but my sisters for knowing.
17. Being gay isn't that much apart of my life.
18. I hate gay pride stuff. It is just sooooo tacky
19. I really dislike "campy" or cult films.
20. Especially the Heathers or The Rocky Horror Picture Show
21. There are a lot of things that peeve me.
22. I was going to write a book about them but it got too boring and long
23. Please don't call me "Hon" GRRRRRR
24. I fall into other people's habits. I call Maggie Choo Choo because of my friend Angela
25. I want to get more tattoos - Don't know which ones
26. I want to get my lobes stretched down to size 4...about the size of a size 4 needle.
27. I am a closet pack rat
28. I will hold on to the most trivial things
29. I still have a yarn label from yarn that they discontinued and I fell in love with it.
30. I love Valentine's Day
31. Amy always craps out on Valentine's Day.
32. Every year I expect it to be better. It doesn't happen
33. I make her a handmade Valentine every year
34. I love to make cards
35. I am trying to start my card making company for knitters...It hasn't been going so well
36. Besides yarn I collect handmade paper
37. My dream car is a 1970 VW Beetle.
38. I haven't been outside the country.
39. I had a ticket to go to Germany - my boyfriend at the time was stationed there
40. We broke up 2 weeks before I went. I got my money back
41. I want to learn to speak German
42. I am 1/2 German - 1/2 Heinz 57 Variety
43. I will mark "Other" on forms that ask for Race... I am an American...
44. I am a total Patriot.
45. I cry at the National Anthem
46. I cry on the 4th of July
47. I cry at just about everything
48. I feel like there are times when I am an emotional defect
49. I like that about me though
50. I don't like trying to find 100 things about me.

So, I will stop at 50 for now.. and will get the other 50 posted probably tomorrow I am off to work today. I had a really good day yesterday. I had a hair color...it turned out really nice. I really like all my new co-workers but I really miss Lindsay. I will post later tonight about my felted bead making...

Happy Knitting

Long live the felt...

So, I have been steadily working on my Clapotis. I am serious about this shawl... It is so addicting. It is ridiculous. I thought that everyone else in my SNB was fibbing when they were talking about how addictive it is...They so weren't lying. I haven't gotten to a point where I drop a stitch just yet, but I am almost there.


Illana got this beautiful necklace from someone in the RAOK group. You may have to scroll down to see it. I looked up online and saw how to do the felted beads and thinking that I might make a few of them. I haven't ever done any real jewelry making before but I keep going back and looking at that necklace. Illana posted that it doesn't look half as beautiful as it does in person. This is so true. It is gorgeous. So, I have some free time tonight and I think I might get my hands dirty with dying some roving and make some beads...


Sorry folks I don't have any pictures to post today... I am pictured out... Happy Knitting.

knitting and more knitting

This morning I sent off a little Valentine's present for my Secret Pal. It wasn't anything big. Just a card and a few magnets. I have been thinking really hard about what to send her. I sent her a list of 20 more questions to answer for me. It has been a lot of fun to read about her, though.

I think that this title should have been socks and more socks. As I was sitting and looking at my stash last night I realized that half of the projects I had been working on were things that I started and I didn't how it was turning out. So, I made last night my Frog night and ripped out a few things. I frogged a scarf, three single almost done socks and 1 completed sock that I didn't remember the pattern to. It was one that I had made up myself but I didn't right the pattern out for it. I figured that it had been sitting there for a year so I was time to be undone and made into something else.

I am thinking about doing the scarf from last minute knitted gifts. The Chevron scarf.
So, here are the progress photos of my frogging the roll top sock. If you have ever ripped out anything that has been sitting for awhile you NEED to make a hank and wet it and let it dry with some weight to get the tension back in the yarn....







In the Beginning there was one lonely but not forgotten about sock.



This is taking out the toe of the sock... :( it was one of the saddest days in my knitting history. I had to admit defeat.



Up to the heel. In less than 2 minutes..... I wish I could knit that fast...



Last but not least the roll top cuff. I got a little snagged at the cast on but other wise it went smoothly.



Ready for a bath.... Look at all those waves



Hang her out to dry... I checked this morning and it was still wet....



I really contemplated taking this sock apart. I started to rip it out and then decided not to. I didn't have anyone to knit for but I had really wanted to knit some tweed socks. As I started ripping I realized that I still wanted to... I am just done with the gusset shaping now on the first sock. The other one should go rather quickly.

I also learned two things last night. 1) I don't have enough yarn to make the clapotis out my handspun. 2) I am so not interested in knitting the hourglass sweater anymore. So, with that said I am going to frog my hourglass and use that yarn to knit my Clapotis.

Is there anything else left to say.....hmm let me think.....

I can't check my email right now becuase it is all getting filtered from Cox to my Outloook account. I left my computer on so it goes straight to there. I am at my sister's house right now so I can't read anything. When I get home tonight I will post more if I need to. Happy Knitting

lot's o pics to see.

I finally have some pictures to show. they are not the best of quality but they are pictures none the less. (Secret Pal this will give you an idea of the colors I like....) I really do like most anything besides orange...

These are socks for my sister's birthday. She is turning the big 28! I love it!!!! (okay so I am only two years behind but I am still the baby) I really like this yarn. I wasn't sure if I really wanted it because it was a gank load of money but I thought I would splurge a little. I will have a lot left over. So I think I am going to make my pal Lindsay a pair for her daughter Daisy.





The angora baby booties that I said I would post a picture of a few weeks back. This also was a total splurge for me. Amy's little sister is pregnant and she is due in August or September....maybe July I forget which month. But I figured they could work for a boy or a girl.




The eyelet lace scarf. I really like these colors. These are just about the colors of my living room and kitchen in my apartment. I have a grape, Old French advertisement theme going on. I think that this is going to be a runner for the Piano but who knows.




This was one of my first scarves ever knit. I still wear this. For some reason I am addicted to lime green. It was knit with a kelly green metallic floss and I still have like a whole spool of it left. I think that is replenishes itself.




On the lime green topic. This is the purse that I am carrying right now. It is grungy and dirty and needs to be retired. I can't wash it, as I forgot to wash the lining first and when I handwashed the matching coin purse it shrunk up to a little ball of disfigurement.




Speaking of purses. These are for the purse I have planned for my spring purse. I don't know what design I am going to use. Probably same ol, same ol. But I really like the lining I picked. I was thinking about using clear plastic handles or something really kitschy to match the lining but haven't figured out what to use yet.




I have more pictures to post but I really have to get house work done today. I keep putting it off, especially the laundry. I am having chicken something for dinner tonight but just can't decide what.

Happy Knitting

An organized stash is an organized home???

I did it. I am officially organized. My yarn is tucked nicely away in its cubby hole. Fancies are with fancies, wools are with wools, acrylics are with acrylics and all is good. I even went through my needles. I kept thinking that I was really short on needles and then I took a look at my UFO pile.... There they are... So, as not to incriminate myself I will just say that it is a lot. To give a peek in... 46% of my projects are socks.

As I was sitting with mounds of yarn around me I was thinking a few things... 1) I have way too much yarn.... 2) I don't have as much yarn as it seems.... 3) I think that there needs to be a new term besides SABLE... (Stash Aquired is Beyond Life Expectancy.) I can definitely knit all this stuff up. I just have to sit down and do it. I shouldn't have guilt when I look at yarn that was supposed to be knit and then rewound into a little ball and just sits there. I see what all it's potential was and now look at it just a plain ol' ball of yarn that will be sitting there for years to come. I have decided that I am gonna do something about this..

So, I really, really, really want some Rowan Denim Yarn to make the baby pants from last minute knitted gifts. This is the color that I want.



The color is Memphis. Ain't it purrrddddy.

My goal is to finish two projects I have going before I can buy this yarn. I know that it won't do much to help with the stash that is already there, but I will at least be able to get some UFO's done.

Amy and I are off to Bookman's today. We have some books that we can get rid off and those that we can't are gonna go to the Goodwill. There is just no need to keep books that are filling up space around. Especially the ones that have no value and have not been looked at in years.

Happy Knitting my friends.

I am sure there is room on my plate for more...

It has been rainy and cold and blah today. I have been feeling terrible. Amy is sick with a cold, I am praying that I won't get it. This is the first year in a long time that I haven't been sick sick sick. I have a horrible immune system.

I know that I already have a ton of things going on right now but I was thinking all day about what I want to knit, what I have the yarn for and what I am working on. Illana gave herself lists to follow for her UFO's and timelines to finish it. I really want to do that but I am so afraid that I will not be able to finish them and then will just be dissappointed in myself. But I seeing how I am in the mood for knitty things, but not actually knitting or spinning I think that I will actually make the transition for my yarn to come over.

I know I keep saying I was going to do it but I had to rearrange some things before I could fit it all in! So after I sort through all the bills and papers on that I tossed on the floor last night I will really get it all moved in tonight and then just sit and knit.

Happy Knitting.

A whale of a tale... This one is a long one folks!

This post is dedicated to my secret pal. Who has emailed me earlier this morning... what a nice way to start off a really crappy morning.

I have been dropping everything all morning long. I spilled my purse all over my car. My dog decides that she can't wait to go outside to go potty, I forgot to put the clothes in the dryer last night so had horribly wet clothes this morning and nothing to wear as I decided to do all the sheets and towels first... But enough complaining... You have sent me a little ray of sunshine in my cloudy day..


So here are my answers to the questions in paragraph form...

I don't conisder myself to be a yarn snob. I will knit with the occasional red heart if needed. I do like wool-ease, but will pass on the lionbrand homespun...it creeps me out. I love knitting with cotton. The first real thing I knit in cotton was a purse and have been carrying it around for quite awhile. Some of my favorite brands... Tahki Cotton Classic, Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere, Brown sheep Cotton Fleece (not cotton but like Koigu KPPPM), I really do like the Lily's Sugar and Cream Cotton. It is wondeful to knit with on Bamboo. It kind of shines 'em up for you. Speaking of which I love bamboo. I prefer not to knit with metal needles unless they are Addi's. So I guess you could say that I am a needle snob. I just got my first pair of Crystal Palace bamboo needles and love love love them. I also am highly fond of Brittany needles.


I have just gotten into spinning. My girlfriend has yet to buy my wheel for me. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but then again it was also supposed to be a birthday, anniversary and valentines day present and it has yet to arrive. I am fairly decent with a drop spindle. My sister got two alpacas from a friend that was moving and we are going to do our first real shearing on them this march. Can't wait. I am not a crocheter. I am just all thumbs, although I am going to try again.

I have been knitting steadily for about 5 years now. I am 25 now. I first learned to knit when I was 14 or 15 and quickly forgot how to do everything. I took a class at my LYS and have been self taught ever since. I used to do a lot of bookbinding and stamping but those got too expensive...like knitting isnt.... :) I am just now getting into embroidery, although I don't have the patience for it.

Right now I am working on quite a few projects... The main one is the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I am also working on a pair of socks called Disco Socks, the PI shawl by EZ, tweed socks, my handspun yarn, a scarf I am calling the Flapper scarf, Little Eyelet scarf, as you can see I like to keep my options open. I am definitely a sock knitter. Most of my socks are worked on 2 circular needles. Although I would love to learn how to do the magic loop method. My oldest UFO is from 2002. I just need to finish one half of a slipper to be done with them but can't get myself to do it because the first one is too big... Oh well.

I don't really have a current obsession right now. I fell into the poncho craze, knit one up looked like an idiot wearing it so I seamed the neck opening and am going to give it to my sister for a blanket for her son's room. I do believe that spinning is going to take over quite quickly though, I really got into knitting purses for a while, but I love to knit socks. I am also into knitting baby and little kid items. I am awaiting the coupon for my craft store on Sunday to get Adorable Knits for Tots. I have a lot of babies to knit for this coming year, so I think I need to get a move on that.

I am a born and raised Arizona native. I wanted desperately to get out of here but have settled down with a wonderful girl named Amy. We have two cats Pepper Ann and Moose (who are brother and sister) a chihuahua named Maggie and Amy's hamster named Pinky. (which I hate)
I don't have that much of a sweet tooth, at least not for candy. I love cookies, brownies, junk like that. But I am a sucker for a good chocolate. Milk only please. I worked at See's Candy Shops for an easter season one year and have fallen in love with good chocolate. I strongly beleive in quality versus quantity on the chocolate factor...Okay okay if I can have a ton of awesome chocolate I won't complain. I have no allergies. Favorite scents? Nothing comes to mind right now as my favorite. I do love the smell of Mexican cooking vanilla. It is the best. Scents that I can't stand include Lavender and patchouli.

My favorite holiday is Christmas. Every year I want to buy a nativity scene but I end up not liking any that are out there. It has to be the exact one....I did fall in love with one at a shop when we were on vacation in August, but Amy wouldn't let me start Christmas shopping that early. I don't really collect anything. My favorite animals are the cow, pig and my pets. I listen to all types of music...(Don't fence me in please) Anything from Sublime to George Strait to Ella Fitzgerald to Kittie. Anything with a good bass line...Amy is a bass player in band so I can pick up the bass in a heartbeat.

So, I think that is about it. I didn't put the colors up that I like becuase I need to think about that one. Don't have any wishlists going. I will post more later. I will try to get some color suggestions up later this evening... Off to work I go...

Inspiration.

I went to our mini SNB last night. It was a blast. There were a few people there but it was still small enough to get a chance to talk. Kirsten was working on her Clapotis from knitty last night and Shannon decided to join in on the fun and cast on for hers. I wasn't too sure what I was going to knit with my handspun yarn but after seeing Kirsten's Clapotis I was inspired. I just have to get going on my spinning. It calls for 600 yards so I hope that I will have enough. I think I might call the Fiber Factory and ask if they have another one of the red hanks of roving.

I'm not going to Jessica's or to Michael's for our SNB meet ups. I am just too tired and there is just way too much laundry. I am going to head out to Lux on Tuesday for a little knitting time with Brooke and some of the other girls around noon. Ahhh, I love when I can get knitting time in!

I will post more later I gotta get to work.. .
Happy Knitting

oooohhh red...

I was able to convinve Amy to go to Fiber Factory today. I wanted to get lots and lots of stuff but I just got some roving and some sparkly fiber to go in it. I wanted to go plain but Amy thinks it will look cool. The roving is mostly red but has black and purple and yellow and all sorts of other lovely colors going on. The sparkly Fibers are a burnt orange color. My scanner isn't working so well today, so I will have pictures posted up of it tomorrow.

Illana called me earlier today and asked I was going to be there in the evening as she had some errands to do around Mesa... As much as I wanted to go, I was more excited about having a real day off and to just do whatever I wanted and I wanted more than anything to lounge around on my couch and zone in front of the t.v.

We also went to Ikea today. A wasted trip. Okay not quite, but we went there to get a futon matress for our futon and we decided that because it was only going to be used for sitting on in the computer/knitting room that we didn't want to shell out 180.00 dollars for one. We found one at Big Lots for 80.00 bucks and that is a little more in our price range. Not the best quality but if it lasts a few years we will be happy.

So, what did we get from Ikea. A new storage system for my yarn. My wooden chest is becoming over loaded and it doesn't really fit into the computer/knitting/guitar room. SO, we picked up these




Two of them. They are really big. We also got a little rack for them to sit hang on. There is enough left on the rack for a small little one to fit in between. I think that it will look rather nice with all the yarn in there. I just have to take the time to actually move everything over.

It's kind of sad really, I mean I just have to move my yarn and books from the front of the house to the back of the house and yet, I was too lazy to do it tonight. Darn you law and order on tnt...
Well, it is off to bed as I have a full day ahead of me. I am still trying to decide if I want to go to Mama Java's tonight. I saw Latoya at Fiber Factory and she told me that I had to go... So did Illana and Shannon... One more person and I might think about really doing it... Just kidding!!!
I am 95% sure that I will be there...

Happy Knitting my friends.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...

I worked a little on my Pi Shawl last night but I think that it is looking rather crappy. I am just not happy with how it is turning out. I think I am going to frog it. I jus thave had too mayn mistakes on it that I have to be going back on. I am fully willing to admit defeat and throw in the towel. (Or should it be yarn?)

I was thinking about working the shawl in some other yarn. Maybe even my beyond yarn. I know that it is knubby, but if I work it in just the plain knitting with the Yarn overs and size 8 or 9 needles and not the whole lace pattern it will turn out really pretty I think. You will be able to see all those lovely little knubs of the yarn.


I spun some more last night. I think that I am getting good enough to actually buy some nicer fiber. So when Amy and I go to Ikea tomorrow I will try to convince her to go the the Fiber Factory and get me some more roving. In a few months I will have a nice wad of Alpaca to spin up but I need something for right now....

The zoo was a lot of fun. I got to see the cute little monkeys. Adorable. I loved how the babies were just hanging on for dear life as the mom's swung here and there.

Trying to figure out if I can make it to Mama Java's on Wednesday. I have to work until 7:00 but I only work right down the street. The biggest thing is to see how I feel after work that day.

Happy Knitting

Fun in the sun with a hangover...

Today my sisters and I are going to the zoo with all the kids. I was originally looking forward to that until I woke up this mornign with a lovely little hangover. Amy and I never, I mean never go out and drink, so last night when we met up with Marie we figured let's go to a bar and have a few drinks. And of course a few drinks turns into a massive headache in the morning.

I am really looking forward to going. I want to see the little monkeys. I have always been fascinated by them.





I have been working on my spindling and I am getting quite good at it. Maybe I won't need a wheel for a while now... Hmmmm.... Let me think...

Happy Knitting.

ahhh when life gets in the way...

So, as I said before I am posting about what has been going on in my crazy little world. It doesn't seem like much when I am putting it down in writing but it sure feels like it.

bad things first:

1) I haven't been able to really find time to sit down and knit.
2) I still haven't celebrated Christmas with a good friend
3) My "Diet" is not going so well... the saddest part... it wasn't like a real "diet" it was just cutting down on the junk food.
4) My last paycheck was an embarassment to me and my boss. I work on commission, so it ended up with me earning something like $1.57 an hour. YIKES!!!!
5) My house is a pigsty. I mean not even let family in messy.
6) I haven't had a chance to sit and talk with Amy in about 6 days.

Good things:
1) I started messing around with my drop spindle again and have fallen in love with spinning.
a) I did get a chance to go to Coffee Talk and cast on for my Pi shawl (but I made a mistake so I have to frog it.
b) I met a lovely woman there...she is sweet as pie and she is going to let me borrow one of her spinning wheels for a while.
c) I am going to kool-aid dye some of my roving for this
2) I am celebrating christmas with friend above tonight!
3) I have been sticking to Diet Colas and coffee only in the morning and mostly water all day.
4) I have a new job, but you all know this.
5) I have all morning to clean my house.
6) Amy is got off work early tonight and we aren't going out until 10:00 tonight... so she better be in the mood to chitchat.


I will post pictures of how well my dye jobs go. :)

happy Knitting.

4 days since my last post... what's going on?

So, the last few days have been really crazy.

Things to update on:

1) I haven't finished any projects but I have started another one. This one is going to be done over a period of time, so I am not that worried about finishing it. It the Easy as Pi shawl by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I love it I love it I love it.
2) I put in my notice for my job.
3) I start a new job on February 3rd. The name of the salon is called Savant Salon and Spa. It is an Aveda Concept Salon. I am excited about going back to Aveda.
4) I got accepted into the Random Acts of Kindness ring.

I am sure that there is more to tell but I can't think of it right now. I will try to post more tonight when I get home. I am going to be at Coffee Talk doing a little knitting with some friends at about 6:30 so please feel free to join... It is at 1st Street and Robson in Mesa. Right by the Fiber Factory.

Happy KNitting my friends.

4 days since my last post... what

okay okay I gotta get some pictures

I know, I have been rather lazy about putting pictures up here. I just don't have anything finished to show off. My hourglasss sweater looks like a blue blob. Not much to show off on that one. The little lace scarf has only about an inch more done on that one... No show offs on that either. So what else is there? A big fat nothin'.

Don't know where this attitude is coming from today but it is here. I am have to re-type my resume tonight becuase I am a dumbass and didn't save it on a hard copy.

Oh, there is a couple of things to tell... I totally forgot about this. I got a big fat tip from client today so I picked up some wool-ease to make the "Almost Famous Luggy Bonnet" from Weekened Knitting. This is a smaller worsted so I think that it will work. I am only doing it in seven colors instead of eight because I didn't like the way all the colors looked together. But I have wanted to knit this hat for a while. Just was cheap about buying the yarn. I thought what the heck and did it out of cheaper stuff.

Oh, just a word out Michael's has their dollar days right now and some of the foo foo yarns and quite cheap. I couldn't think if anything I would need them for in the next few projects so I passed but thought I would let others know.

Happy Knitting.

this that and other stuff.

I am heading out to my sister's house today. We are going to paint their house. They just got their countertops in and the contractor is doing the last minute details before the inspector comes. I am absolutely in love with the floors they have so, when I am out there I will have my other sister take a picture of them.

Not much to tell on the knitting front. I do beleive that I am not supposed to have a Kacha kacha row counter. Every time for the last four trips I have made to get one places have been out. I am seeing this as a sign...

I was supposed to wake up this morning and go for a walk with Lindsay, her three year old Daisy and our doggies (both named Maggie). I forgot to switch my phone back on so when I woke up this morning at 9:00 I checked and she hadn't called. So at least I don't feel bad.

I have lost all of my saved items. I MEAN ALL OF THEM!!! Amy had installed Linux on the computer (for those non computer nerds it is some sort of DOS program...which is the super old school method of computing). Well it wasn't working out right. I left to work yesterday with all well and normal and when I walk in the door I go to get on the computer. She tells me no. Why? There is nothing to compute on. I don't know how late she was up last night but she ended up having to get out the reinstall CD's from when we first got the computer. All of my patterns, my tips, well just everything! GONE, GONE GONE!!! I am going to spend today getting everything back in order. Or at least this morning.

I am still working on the hourglass sweater, disco socks, flapper scarf and the eyelet lace scarf.
Happy knitting.

What's to tell...

It is 10:00 and I haven't knit one single stitch. I hate that. I am going to keep this post short. I have an early day tomorrow and I want to get a semi decent nights sleep. I am hoping to get two more rows done on my hourglass sweater. I love mindless knitting. More later .



Happy Knitting

knitting tonight

Martha and I are heading up to Mama Java's to do some knitting. I want to get to work on my disco socks. I have the heel done on one of them and working on my gusset decreases. I was going to head over to the FF but decided not to.


I am trying to get approved for the ROAK site. If I read this all correctly I have to put my blog on the blog and then I have to wait to get on the list. I don't know. If I am doing this incorrectly someone please let me know.

I didn't do much knitting last night. I got a terrible headache and just wanted to zone in front of the T.V. I am a Simpson's addict so I put in season 3 and zoned out.

Pam's little quiz the other day got me to thinking about doing something fun... so here is a little quiz for you...The first person to get it right will get a little surprise from me. (please leave your email for me to contact you) Who sings the following song and what was the inital reason this craziness came about?

The best time to wear a striped sweater

Is all the time.

One with a collar, turtle neck

That's the kind...

'Cause when you're wearing

that...one.. special.. sweater.........

Happy knitting and happy guessing.....

fuzzy wrists.

I know that some of you may have seen the "resolution 2005" on my side bar. I got an email the other day asking if that was really my goal for the year..."to get all my possessions repossesed by the government". You silly things... it is a joke resolution. Please click and find out what yours will be.

I finished my wrist cuffs. As expected they are two different sizes and don't really match all that well. But only a knitter would be able to see this! I am going to wear them with pride. I wasn't able to get a photo of them last night so they aren't in the greatest shot but you get the idea.



I am looking for my pattern for my flapper scarf. It is lost in the pile somewhere. I am still trying to figure out how to make a felt case for my double points and if I had thought about it I could have gone to Michaels. But I guess I will go there tomorrow.

My plan for this evening is to sit on my rump and to make some progress on my hourglass sweater. I wish I got my Kacha kacha yesterday but the FF was out and I didn't want to stop anywhere else.

Happy Knitting

Today is a good day. I have an interview at 11:00 for a salon. I decided that until I build up my experience and clientele I need to work in a salon that will pay me base and or wage. My interview today is with Regis salons. I think that this is going to be the best thing for me right now.

After that Martha and I are going to the Fiber Factory. She wanted to go to Jessica's but I need to get some more yarn that I have on hold there. She is finally willing to buy good yarn. I think the biggest motivation on that is because she started a purse that needed to be finished by March and she put the final touches on it last night. It is really cute. I helped her figure out the pattern so I think that I am gonna "steal" the idea back from her.

Then it is off to my sister's and we are going watch Napoleon Dynomite. I will get some pictures posted and all will be good!

Last night I was able to get half of the 2nd wrist warmer done. It is looking good so far. I think that I just need to splurge and buy the counter from Clover.




I keep thinking about buying one but I don't want to shell out 8 bucks for it. Although, if I do then I won't always have to make sure I have a little piece of paper and pen with me.

happy knitting.

A man walks into a bar and say OW!

Amy asked me if I considered myself to be an all around crafty gal. I told her yep I sure do! She smiles at me and says "Good, then you need to make something for all your double points!" D'oh. I walked straight into that one. So, I am now on the hunt to make a case for my double points. I am not that great of a seamstress so I was thinking that it has to be something easy. Or at least something that I can use bonding strips with. I wanted to do something with felt, so at first I thought I could knit something up and then felt it, but figured it wouldn't be that easy to fold. and that is a lot of seaming for those pockets! What about regular felt. That can be done with heat and bond right? At least I hope so because that is what I am using. Hopefully it will work out. I have a few sketches drawn out but not betting on anything.

I finished 1 of my wrist cuffs. Of course, I didn't write down my modifications so I am going to wing it. I will see what I can do about getting a picture of them tomorrow when I go to my sister's. I will also get a picture of the angora baby booties I finished up.

I joined the bootie knit along today. I think that I am going to be in bootie overtime as my sister is trying to have another baby, Amy's little sister is due and my cousin is going to have a baby.

A question out there for those with babies. I was thinking about making some Angora mitts for the winter time but I am not sure if it will be too fuzzy for the baby. Let me know any suggetions!

happy knitting.

FO!

I finished my angora baby booties last night. They are so adorable. I can't wait to get to one of the meetings to show 'em off. I was also able to get a little more done on my wrist warmers. I just hope that it will still be cold enough to wear them. My luck I will be getting them done when it is too warm to wear them. I work a 9 hour day today but it will more than likely be slow so hopefully I can get some knitting done.

I will post more later tonight.

Happy Knitting.

Sorry folks, no pics today...

I was at my sister's house for most of the day. Actually, we were out shopping for most of the day so I wasn't able to get that much knitting done. I got one angora baby bootie finished and I am about 1/2 way through with the second one. Amy fell in love with the angora and wants me to knit a baby hat out of it, too. I am not sure how well it will hold up but it would be awfully nice on that little babies head. I just have to figure out how much it would cost. That part is the thing that really worries me!

As I am super fickle (we all know this by now) I have been working on some wrist warmers from LMKG. They are a modified version of the mens and the womens. I am using some mohair and some Encore DK and they are turning out fuzzy and soft and nice.

I haven't worked more on my Little Leaf scarf I haven't been in the mood to think about the pattern. It is really easy but you have to get a rythm going for the pattern and I just haven't been up to do that.

I want to start my cast on for the Pi Shawl really really bad but I am holding out for the cast on date. Some people in Phoenix are having a get together on the 20th to cast on together. Maybe by then I will have the cast on method figured out. If anyone is interested in joining check out this site.

Oh, I got accepted into Secret Pals 4. I am super excited about that. I can't wait for it to start.

I think that is about all that I have to tell for the day. Happy Knitting to you all.

To the yarn store and back...

I am rather proud of myself today. I woke up at 9:00, out of the door by 9:25 and at the Fiber Factory at 9:55. OMG! There was a line already waiting outside the doors on both entrances of the store. I knew exactly what I wanted so I snuck in, grabbed my stuff and got out of there by 10:09! Not too bad, huh? So what was I able to get my grubby little hands on?

I picked up a ball of angora for the Angora Baby Booties in "Last minute knitted gifts".



It is normally 7.25 a pop for 56 yards, but with the sale going on I got it for 5.44. Still more than I would normally pay for something but these are going to go to Amy's little sister. She is due in October.

I also got some size 5 WOODEN dpn's. I kept using these plastic ones and they are just a pain in the rear to use.




I also was able to dig through and get 3 more skeins of the Berroco Softwist for my hourglass sweater.




When I got there, there was a sign that said that you can't get anything of the hold shelf. So thankfully there were a few skeins in the same dye lot. I would have bought more those were the only 3 they had left in that dye lot.

I got it all for $24.34! A nice way to start my day.

Last night I helped Lindsay, my co-worker and old classmate from school work on her first knitting project. A dishcloth. Next Sunday we are going to Jessica's and she is going to start a real project. She really fell in love withe the zipped raglan from LMKG. So maybe that will be it. HMMMM...
Happy Knitting my friends.
I wish you all happy knitting.

D'OH!!!!!

So, I got out of work early today. There were no clients. Literally. But it looked that way in the whole complex so I am not that upset. I decided that because I had my knitting with me I would go to the Fiber Factory and knit for a little while. I really miss "my ladies". I got a little bit more done on my hourglass sweater and my Flapper Scarf.

I found out that there are 1400 yards in 4 oz. of Infinity Yarn from Southwest Trading Company. I have gank load of it so I am in very nice shape to do the pi shawl. I was going to to the Charlotte's Lace but it just didn't look right. This bit of info on the amount of yarn I have also means that I got a spankin' deal on it. I knew that I did already but this just made it even better!

I saw Melanie and Pam there tonight and we got to chit chat a little bit. Melanie is working on another pair of felted baby booties from a pattern from FiberTrends. I didn't get a chance to find out what Pam is working on as I monopolized the conversation. Sorry about that!
So, where does this D'OH!!! come in at? As I was just about to leave I wanted to show what I was working on to Diane one of the ladies that works there. I show her, we chat, and then I turn around to leave and I knock a $600.00 spinning wheel over and the bobbin flies off. I go instantly into having a heart attack. It was okay but I was mortified!

Oh, on Saturday the Fiber Factory is having a "Candy Wrapper Sale". You go in and take a piece of candy out of a bowl and take off the wrapper and it will tell you how much of a percentage off you get on your purchase that day. Cool, huh? I was going to pick up some needles and some yarn but I am going to wait and do that first thing in the morning before I go to work on Saturday.

I have had a really long day and Amy is going to take me to Applebee's for drinks and dinner tonight! Oooooh How romantic!!!!
Happy Knitting my friends.

Feeling uncertain...

I had an interview today for a new salon. Why am I feeling so uncertain about taking a position there? I accepted the position but deep down in my gut it just doesn't feel right. I don't know what to do about it. If it was any normal salon I would just call up and say that I changed my mind and no longer interested in the position. Why can't I do it with this one? Well, one of my best friend's father works there as a stylist and I feel like I will look like a really crappy person if I don't take the position there. I know that deep down in my heart I have to do what is best for myself and if I don't feel right working there then I need to say something. You see this is what I was afraid of when Gary first asked me if I wanted to work there. That it would be a conflict of my personal relationships and my work relationships. Now I am in the middle of something that I started. I don't start there until the end of the month so I have a little bit of time but I just am at a loss on what to do. Suggestions anyone?

Will post more about knitting later.

So, Brooke asked me if there was any chance that my boss would read my blog. Nope, she doesn't. I haven't ever mentioned to her that I had one. Wheeww!

I didn't get to do knit too much yesterday. I went over to my sis's house and she has a full blown bronchial infection. She had been sick for the last few days so I helped around her house. Did a few loads of laundry for her and did very minor grocery shopping.

I then fell asleep for a three hour nap. Which means that I ended up staying awake until 2:30 this moring. YAY!

I did get to work on my Flapper Scarf and a little bit on my Hourglass sweater. Sorry no pics of that. But as you all know I am a fickle knitter and I just HAD to check out the little leaf lace pattern. Here it is. I just have 57 mor repeats to go!





I am off to work a little more on my hourglass sweater. I want to work on my Flapper Scarf but it is hard to do at night because it's black.

Happy Knitting

What's on my plate today...

Well, I got called into work. She then called me back as I was just about to leave and told me nevermind. So, I had to reschedule my interview and rather feel like a dork and reschedule back for today I am just going to leave it for next week.

So, I have today available and can sit and knit in while watching the rain and it will just be lovely. My hourglass sweater is calling to be worked on and so are my Disco Socks. I will probably take those over to my sister's today. Later tonight Amy and I have to go to an obligatory dinner with a couple of her friends that I don't care for all that much. But you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

Oh, I forgot to say this. The other day when I was feeling really crappy and yucky Amy got me this book:




Although, she forgot about it and gave it to me on Sunday! But hey I've got it now right?!?!?!?!!!


Happy Knitting!

Don't you love it when..

This post contains foul language.... just a warning.

Today I am having a really good day. I have an interview tomorrow for a new salon. I am really excited about this. I know I haven't posted much about the whole work scene but feel like some explaining is due.

My boss is a bitch. Not just your typical "My boss is bitchy today" but a mean, lying, backstabbing, selfish, and careless one. With out filling up this whole post with things about my boss I will just do the main topics. Those that feel they need to know more just email me and I will tell.

Things that my boss has done or not done (depending on the situation)

• will not commit to regular and SET hours.
• lied to me when I was sick and said I would be doing 1 manicure, so I came in expecting to do only that and finding out that she scheduled me with 3 haircuts and 2 color jobs.
• Needed to make sure that there was money in the account before giving us paychecks
• Believes that the AZ rules and regulations are just guidelines to follow.
• Won't adhere to City Code
• messed up on paychecks three (YEP 3) times
• will take a walk in or schedule a hair color 5 minutes before the end of you shift
• Lied about being a stylist. (okay she didn't lie...she just didn't say that she wasn't one and I found out from girl that she hired who went to school with her. Seems my boss started cosmo school in June. 6 mos. after she bought the salon)
• Won't finish the simple tasks that should have been done before the remodel reopening
• Doesn't see any problem in scheduling someone 6 days a week or even 7 "becuase they are short hours".

There is more that I could go on and on and on but I won't. Most of this stuff I could get over but the AZ rules and regs are what get me the most. I don't want to put my license at risk anymore. So, I have an interview and I will see how it goes.

Knitting was very accomplished tonight.

• I started and finished the cotton knit baby hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.
• I worked a lot on my hourglass sweater
• I taught Martha how to use DPN's and how make and I-cord and how to design a purse for a gift.
• Frogged my fluted banister sock
• (not tonight but...) I got Jeremy's hat and Marie's scarf finished

I will try to get some pictures posted but not too sure if I can. I am going out to my sister's tomorrow while Amy has band practice so maybe I can use her camera. Day off and lot's of knitting time. What else could a girl ask for?

Happy Knitting.

frogging is the new knitting...

So, you know how every season they say that "(insert color here) is the new black" Like this year fashionistas were saying that turquoise was the new black. Well, I am declaring that today, Frogging is the new knitting. It seems that everyone lately is taking trips to the frog pond. Not to be outdone I am heading down that path, too.

I have been browsing through my knitting pattern a day calendar and I came across a few items that I want to use from stuff I need to frog.


This is the Slip Stitch Baby hat. This is going to be done in pink and white.






This one isn't really frog pond but I have had the yarn sitting for quite a while now. I want to use it up. Fana-tastic Socks.






This one I am really excited about. The Little Leaf Lace Scarf.






I am going to use my Koigu for this one. It doesn't say what yarn was used in it but it looks like Koigu to me.


These aren't going to be started anytime soon. I have a few other projects to finish up. My goal for the month of Janurary is to finish up a few projects. In no particular order they are:

• Flapper scarf
• Disco socks
• Hourglass sweater
• Tweed socks

Happy Knitting!