ONE DOWN!!!!

YAY! I finished the first of my ocean toes socks! It went SOO fast. and I'm not anticipating much second sock syndrome at all! 

Look how pretty!

Too Much to do... too little time

Wow, what a long time it has been!

Sticks n Stitches went really really well. The Blues are already looking at next year for another (hopefully bigger) event. We sent over 50 squares to Warm-Up America. YAY! 

I'm working too much and knitting/spinning far too little. 

It is definitely spring. There are babies being announced EVERYWHERE! Friends, cousins, co-workers.... it is a never ending  list. I've finished a few bibs I had knit up but never followed through with buttons and things. I've got booties started (little sky practice sock from Cat Bordhi's Pathways), but it seems that it takes me forever to finish them.... how sad is it that i get second sock syndrome on 2 hour baby booties!!!! heaven help me, especially with 4 more pairs to go... not to mention the matching hats??????

I started on socks for myself. Also from Cat's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Ocean Toes. I'm doing them in the Little Traveller - Scotland from The Sanguine Gryphon

I've got the beginnings of them up on ravelry... they are listed as Gareloch.... named for the lake/inlet the my former Scottish boss/family now live on.

Anything else going on? I don't think so, not that I can remember right now...... perhaps later, then.

happy knitting!

Sticks N Stitches Update

The StL Blues' Sticks N Stitches is next Sunday evening, Feb 17th at 5pm! I'll be there at 330 to sit and knit with all of you! 

The goody bags are really shaping up.

They've had some really AWESOME donations from some of the local yarn shops. The bag itself is worth the price of the ticket! Not to mention that you get a great seat, hotdog, soda, and hours of knitting fun!

oh yeah, there is a hockey game too! 

t00w00t

So today, after a very very strange day, I went into Best Buy. I got to exchange my camera!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!

the new camera is really great for close up shots. you know what that means....

BETTER YARN PORN!

i'm sure you can tell that i'm not in the least bit excited (yeah right!)

so here, to celebrate, are a few pics i've snapped

my dusk-at-a-loch inspired yarn (Sanguine Gryphon) surrounded by Pride of Scotland tartan  sitting next to a picture from the house on Gareloch at dusk

it is amazing how things match so perfectly.

and my new Newsboy Cap from Stitch n Bitch Nation 

made from Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo and Tofutsies

and last but not least, my second spinning project. This is the first yarn to come from Morgana, and the first attempt at plying. its a bit itchy (llama) but came out very nicely after a little wash.

YaY

So I just have to do a bit of bragging.

I got the greatest pressies.....

My mom bought me the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book by Cat Bordhi. I had looked through it a few times, but was waiting to buy it. I can't wait to start the Coreolis socks. However, even more pressing, are the Ocean-Toes. I liked them well enough, but really, OMG I have a wondrous yarn in mind... In my b-day card, mom left me $20 for yarn to go with my book. You all know the extent of my sock yarn stash. (It has recently called to be moved to yet a larger bin!) But I could not resist. 

I clicked an ad on Ravelry because I was intrigued by the name - Sanguine Gryphon. Well, up pops this beautifully dyed yarn and roving. I figured, what better way to spend my bday money! and then I saw it!!! It was, well, exactly what I wanted, yes, the Little Traveller Superwash Merino Sock Yarn that I mentioned the other day. IT'S HERE ALREADY! AND SOOOOO SOFT! and SQUISHY! and the colors match my scarf and wooly exactly!!!! When I opened the box, I was (almost) without words.  there was a little note inside as well. "it was inspired by a beautiful photo of dusk over a Scottish lake." 

i'd put up new pics, but they won't transfer from my new camera.... have i said yet how much i'm NOT liking this camera... 

2-4-8 = 26

so i bought myself a birthday pressie today.

its pretty.
and it's for socks
and it's named SCOTLAND.
(and i'm a bit homesick after a couple of rounds of birthday text messaging)
it is PERFECT.
i already have a pattern picked out.

now i am stuck waiting for it to show up on my doorstep.
i am soooooo not a patient person.


as far as the rest of my knitting goes...
during a movie, i did a few rounds of the aweful big yellow mass that may someday be a sweater.
i finished my woolbamboo/tofutsie newsboy cap just in time for a winter storm.
i started the gusset on my bellatrix socks.

and i almost fixed my spinning wheel.

off to finish my day exactly as i desire.... and no one can argue with me! YAY!
ooooooooh yay for CUPCAKES!

Sticks N Stitches

I've been working with my friend Kari for a few months on this. I'm so excited I can't stand it!

These are excellent seats (i sat there a couple of times) on the plaza level behind the goal (blues defend twice). Normally the seat alone would cost $42, but because they love us fiber artists, they made the whole package deal $30, hotdog, soda and goodies included!

See you all there!

Quickie....

Quick update before i start work...

Newsboy cap.... CUTE! love it! and it is going sooooo fast. i was at the half way point Sunday night..... i realized i had cabled the wrong way on the 2nd cable on one of the front cables... that's right time to ladder down.... or not... it is a biiiiiiiiiiig mess. i think i'm going to have to pull it out. ah well. i'll knit it back up during the next movie.

turned the heel on the first bellatrix sock....

finished the back on my sweater.... it looks a little funny. i may pull out the last few rows and try it again.

can you tell i'm a bit less stressed? and happier? and much much more productive this week!
i accepted the keyholder position at job 3 so i can cut my hours back at job 2.
and 2 very very very cute boys delivered the new fridge, range and dishwasher this morning. new cabinets tomorrow..... that means full working kitchen before Burns Night Dinner! YAY!


hopefully this means pictures next week!

Happy 2008

Anyone else hate the feeling of time passing? 26 is looming just around the corner. no major mile stones to mark this year. just the passing of time.
though leap years are usually pretty good...?
yay for leap years!

I hope everyone had a happy new years! I spent it frogging. 2 1/2 rows of big yellow and the whole back panel of the shawl sweater (goodness she needs a name!!!). Really, I need to pay more attention to my knitting during movies so I can fix fewer messes.

I made the sweater back a hint bigger.
And I knit it back up to the second decrease. I hope to finish the back before KnitNight.... We'll see if that happens............

Ah to finish the back before knit night.......

Tis a Puzzlement

This sweater is knitting up so fast! It's one I may actually finish!

My gauge was different from my swatch, as usual, and the back is a bit smaller than I planned.
It was also originally planned with some shaping, but then I got knitting during a movie and I was so engrossed in the film, I forgot to do it! I'm debating whether to pull out 12 inches and redo it with the shaping, or to just do the shaping on the front side. Really, it is at 4 stitches to the inch and wouldn't take me long to redo, but then again, it is me. And I'm not so good at finishing things...

Shawl Sweater Started, FINALLY!

So I worked on the pattern for my shawl neck sweater. I have the back mapped out and knit a good 5 inches of it. Very pleased with that!

I was going to try to work from a couple of patterns I have in books, but they were all working with worsted weight (or smaller) yarn and this is aran weight. I really didn't want to have to play with the gauge or numbers that much.

Then this lovely, talented, and very beautiful friend of mine had an extra little pressie for me for christmas. Rowan's Scottish Highland Knits book.... And the first pattern is a chunky weight sweater with a shawl closure. Sure it is all in seed stitch, (and you all know how much I love that!) but it is much closer in the gauge and shaping that I was wanting. I've looked through the pattern and seen a few tweeks here and there (adding some shaping). and of course had to adjust to a larger size. but for the most part, the backs are the same. it is the front flaps that are going to have to be improvised. eh, should be done in a week, right???

ah well, time to knit!

Can I breathe yet?

Holidays

really

we have them why?

It's been a while since I've been online at all.
Between working retail (holiday hours suck!) and a couple of other "normal" jobs AND getting ready for the holidays, i've hardly had time to breathe.

I have done almost no knitting.
I finished lappy 2 a little while back. I still haven't woven in the ends.
I did 3 rows on "big yella" while in the movie theater tonight.
I think that's all.
Oh have I said that I started Bellatrix socks? LOVE THEM! adore them. Can't wait until next christmas when i finish them!
How sad!

And Morgana is having issues. The little flexible piece that connects the treadle to the footman (i think) broke. Madalene has the piece that I need, but she keeps forgetting to bring it to knit night. not that i'd have had much time to work on it anyway.

ah well, perhaps a more interesting update next week. I have a new digital camera (slightly better than the last) to start taking pictures. YAY!

until next time......

More Monday Madness - A.D.D. Strikes again!

Well, I finally have an evening off. How shall I spend it? I guess I could take pictures of my FOs and WIPs, but no, that would take too much energy (the camera is at the opposite end of the house).
I should work on my big yellow ribbing from hell. No, that is, well, I'm not in the mood. Lets see, what else should I be doing?
The lap blanket? Its a possibility, but it's been a lot harder to get in the mood since I realized I'm going to be short on yardage for the size i wanted to make it. And of course it was the only one in its color. Ah well. It'll just have to be patient and wait until it's turn on Thursday. It is after all the perfect Knit Night project.
What does that leave me with?
Start my Christmas Knitting? Na, still to early! I'm not in the holiday mood yet.
Start a project from my queue? Eh, maybe.
Start a new sock? Definite possibility. I don't have any going right now. That's right. They are all finished. Hmmm. I never thought that possible. Must fix that.
I could spin. Almost ready to start plying! I'm definitely excited about that! And as soon as I'm finished with the plying I have some very very pretty Horizon Blue merino to spin up! WOOHOOO! Somehow I think this may be tonights winner.
Or I could do the sock.
Perhaps I should pull out mom's sweater and start my pattern for it. The yarn for mine should be here in a couple of days. Now that is one project for which I might just call in sick from my jobs... all of them!

A Belated Happy Turkey Day to YOU!

Well, another holiday has come and gone. We gave thanks for our family, our friends, our pets and the many blessings we have been given... and are still to receive. This year we give thanks for the time we have been given with those we loved, and have lost. We give thanks for the time that remains with all those hold closest to our hearts. For the food on our over-flowing table. And the finally-no-longer-leaking roof over our heads.

I gave special thanks to my knitting and spinning
For the peace of mind and glimpse of sanity it restores every night.
For the warmth it bestows on my toes and hands and neck and other bits.
And for the huge dent in my paycheck it leaves behind... I can't forget that.

And how better to show my gratitude than to finish a project (my Angelica socks), buy new yarn (more Snow Leopard Trust Handspun Camel), and to start spinning new roving (next bobbin of llama).

And another special note of thanks. To Casey, Jesse, and of course to Bob. For the miracle of Ravelry. For the friends you've given me, my swap partner, the new yarns and patterns you've encouraged. The new techniques I intend to try.... and for Morgana. I can never thank you enough.

Tuesday

So, I had too much to do on Monday and I didn't get to post.
Not too much happening in my knitting micro-universe.
I got a couple of magazines I'd been waiting on and queued a few projects. I am turning the heel of my angelica socks as I am typing...
OH!
And I started a lace scarf with my pastel angora... have I ever said how much I love bunnies????? LOVE THEM! It is fuzzing alot and my nose is filling with fluff, but totally worth it. It is knitting up beautifully.
What else?
Still working on lappy2. i have less red than I thought I would, so I'm making a few slight adjustments.
Should be done by the weekend. I'll be trying to keep myself sane all day thanksgiving so there will probably be several FOs by saturday.

Right. Must go work so I can go to KC this afternoon. Rumor has it that Heather will be meeting me there....

Happy Knitting

Packages

Well, this week has been full of packages.
I've sent a couple.... and received a couple.
Firstly, I GOT MY RAVELRY SHIRTS! AND BUTTONS!!!!!!!!
I bought 2 different shirts because one size is always a little big and the other a little small so get 2 shirts that don't quite fit! they are both awesome. maybe i'll have pictures of them soon.

now for pictures of my other packages. I was in the Favorite Color / Favorite Place Yarn Swap
First you get pictures of what I sent.

package 1 (thanks Sixfeet for the pic, i forgot to take one!)
In her questionnaire she said she collected Eiffel Towers. What do I do? That's right, I pulled out my box from my first trip to France and took out the souvenirs that I haven't looked at since the trip, and I sent them to someone who will appreciate them for her own memories.





Package #2
What good is a yarn swap without really lovely Yarn? and a few other fun tidbits?
I sent her 2 skeins of Dream in Color. I LOVE Dream in Color! It is so soft and knits up beautifully! I never buy it for myself because I can't afford to buy it in the mass quantities it would take to make myself a sweater, and I never can think of something I want to knit small enough to afford! However, when wanting to spoil someone, like a swap partner, who makes beautiful hats and scarves (and has several of each in her Ravelry Queue) I will absolutely buy it for her!
To represent my favorite place, I sent her a Charles Rennie Mackintosh mug, a picture and a pencil i got on my last trip to Scotland, a couple of Snow Leopard Trust toys for her cats, and a jingle tire toy for her doggy.
My mother also sent her an eiffel tower shoe.. yes, that's right, the red and skunk striped shoe has an eiffel tower heel!

okay, now for the package I received this week from Cathy.

2 balls of Lily Sugar 'n Cream in an interesting bright blue variegated color-way. I've been thinking of what to make with it. since it is cotton, i could make it up into scrubbies or dishclothes, but it is fingering weight. i may attempt some house socks for my mom, but i'll have to wait since i'm up to my eyeballs in ribbing right now.
I think it will just head over to the "what do I do with cotton" drawer for now.

She also sent a sand dollar from the beach just outside her house, a bar of chocolate, some post-its, and very nice handmade beaded stitch markers from Alabama Fiber Dreams. They are very sweet.


Well, poo. I can't elaborate any more right now. I have to run to work. It never ends!
I'll catch you up a bit more soon!

Happy Knitting!

Tuesday? Are you sure it isn't Monday?

Right, so if my boss ever finds this blog, i might just get into a bit of trouble.
I'm at job#2 again.
And I have NOTHING to do. Literally. I finished all this week's work yesterday.
today I have 2 things I can work on.
1. put 17 boxes of envelopes with the wrong return address into trashbags.
2. Shread 1,500 sheets of paper in a 3 sheet limit shreader.

Right, i am leaving realtivly early to go try out Thi's new couch since she is just a mile away.

Lets see, what else is on my plate?

Sticks 'n Stitches.
I contacted a friend with the Blues. She is going to attempt (note: there is no guarentee at this point!) to work at getting one of these nights for us here. A night of Hockey and Knitting. Sounds great to me!
She also said that if they can't get this going for this year, we can absolutely get a group together anyway. She will book for us any time we want. I think it is either 15 or 20 people to make it a group, and if we go during the week we may be able to get tickets for as little as $15 a person.

So, if anyone is up for either set of events (or both???), let me know, you can contact me on here, email, or ravelry (we have a thread going in the STL forum)!

Right, off to work! (or something resembling it)

Pics are up! (some of them at least)

I've finally uploaded some of my pictures. My dog decided my mom isn't the best model and hopped up on the couch to model the blanket for me. She's so sweet! And cute to boot!

There are badges below my links that contain my spinning and some of my FO. I'll upload some of those and the small portion of my WIP and Stash onto Ravelry tomorrow.

it's late now so i'm off to spin for a few minutes then off to dream land!

nighty night!
sleep tight!
don't let the lady bugs bite!

Productive Week

Well, its monday again. blogging day?
I'm at job #2. Not much work to be done.

This has been a great week!
I took pictures of some of my lovelies, but haven't gotten them onto flickr yet. I'll let you know when that happens.

I got lots of fun rovings for practicing on Morgana. Ellen is such a doll! She handed me a whole box of Llama and 2 bells of random sheepy goodness. Ball 1 of 3 of the llama is on bobbin #1 and shall very soon be joined by his little buddies. I can't wait! This is the ultimate way to relax! 30-45 minutes (if i can stop) of spinning before bed, and i'm out like a light! I haven't slept this well in months.
Knitting to de-stress and spinning to sleep. I wish I'd have learned these things as a child!!!!!!!!!!

Let's see. What else?
Oh DUH!
Thi's store, Knity Couture (website on the right! -->) had it's grand openning!
So much fun. I went a little nutso, and totally over-ran my budget. However, I got some wonderful little beauties to feed my addiction until (hopefully) at least Christmas. My budget can't handle any more until New Years.

I also grabbed my Spomoni Trekking from Madalene (will you PLEASE get a website so I can link to it!). This time I refuse to do it on #1 needles. 2s or 3s all the way!

My SnowLeopardTrust Camel Yarn should be coming soon. I hope. I can't wait much longer for it. My hands are simply itching to start on the shawl neck sweater. I pulled mom's out yesterday to start attempting to look at it and think about the pattern. Not only am I going to try to make a pattern out of a purchased garment, but i'm going to have to adapt it to a different guage? this may take a while.

Hmmmmm. Speaking of Camels.......
I wove in the ends on Grandma's Camel Lap Blanket. Its very pretty. Very warm. And VERY soft. I used it on the KC Campout. GORGEOUS! So I started the pattern again in red with gold accent. This was initially supposed to be for Grandma #2, but I think it's going to be for me.... Gryffindor colors can't be given away... especially to an anti-HP grandmother! No, I think I'll finish this one for myself and make her a blue one to match Granny #1s.

Right, I should get back to work. They are paying me to at least attempt to look like I'm working. Perhaps I'll reorganize the other office? (insert sarcastic tone here -->) YAY!

Happy Knitting!

Not Bob!

You know, Bob, the ravelry mascot, is awefully darned cute. However, when I am in the middle of upgrading my stash and his little face pops up instead of my yarn.... he really isn't so cute. he's just down right maddening.
I understand that all the things we high maintenance ravelers demand require Casey (god that he undoubtedly is) to temporarily shut the site down for upgrades, but really? in the middle of a SATURDAY. sure it was only 5 minutes (maybe) and just long enough to type this (it is back up!YAY!). but still with an addiction such as mine......

oi
i think i need help.