A Knitted Frenzy

Blackberry

I think I might have mentioned that I was making Blackberry from KnittyTM.

I'm using the yarn called for in a chocolate brown.  I have been having tremendous problems with the bobbles, I even emailed the designer.  I ended up just not doing the bobbles so I could progress on this darn thing.  The fronts and back took no time at all to do and once I left off the bobbles, the first sleeve is progressing nicely.  I can't wait to wear it. 

I had read on the knittyboards that the sleeves are kind of on the large side so I am making them in the smallest size and the rest of the sweater is the medium size.  Hopefully it turns out.  I also read that blocking helps alleviate most issues.

I love the design and think I will wear it quite often!  Winter is upon us and I am all about wearing sweaters whenever possible. 

Brave New World

In honor of my new goal for 2006, I created a new blog.  Join me in all my insane-ness!

Google this

How fun!  I'm being googled!  Well, people are finding me by Google by typing in... 

"fat thick knit sock pattern"

"homemade knit Christmas stocking"

"cut of domesticity" (my blog was the first one that popped up with this one! oh my!)

:D

Tagged by Crazy Aunt Purl

She tagged everyone on the planet.  I'm just taking her up on it...

TEN random things you might not know about me
1. I enjoy a Guiness now and then
2. I cry during sad TV shows
3. I can paint a decent abstract
4. I'm a Mary Kay representative (k, some of you know that)
5. I am a pageant junkie... love to watch them!
6. I'm a little bit of a control freak sometimes
7. I've been in therapy and on anti-depressants... hated the drugs
8. I'm an entreprenuer in theory but not in practice
9. I talk to my animals and for them (Sam says hi)  :)
10. I am compulsive about checking my email

NINE places I’ve visited
1. New York City
2. Cabo San Lucas
3. Rosarito, Mexico
4. Yellowstone National Park
5. Victoria, British Columbia
6. San Francisco
7. Las Vegas
8. Mount Rushmore
9. San Diego (ok, I actually lived there for two years... does that count?  Boy, I don't get out of the country much....)

EIGHT ways to win my heart
1. Bring me flowers unexpectedly
2. Love my animals (really and truly, not just to be nice)
3. Make me laugh
4. Have passion in your life
5. Have consideration for other people
6. Be honest
7. Be vulnerable
8. Hug me and mean it

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1. Publish at least one novel
2. Travel Europe (all of it)
3. Meet up with my friend K that lives in Germany (it's been 16 years since we last saw each other)
4. Be madly and deeply loved
5. Sunbathe nude on a beach (or yacht!) in Greece
6. Learn to bellydance
7. Learn Spanish fluently

SIX things I’m afraid of
1. Never getting married again.
2. Getting married again.
3. Mice
4. Losing my entire family
5. Heights
6. Expired dairy

FIVE things I don't like
1. Ricotta cheese
2. Being out of shape
3. Bad drivers
4. Overtly nosy people
5. Acrylic yarn (I'm a snob... so sue me)

FOUR ways to turn me off
1. Be mean
2. Be indifferent
3. Kick an animal
4. Be difficult in an inflexible way

THREE Things I do everyday
1. Knit
2. Talk to my friends
3. Think about the direction my life is going

TWO things that make me happy
1. The little things in life
2. Chocolate cake (thanks mom!)

ONE thing on my mind right now
1. The last piece of chocolate cake

Hit the Nail on the Head!

You Are 28 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Intermission Update

I have failed at NaNoRiMo.  I was a bit preoccupied with other things than writing.  Maybe if it weren't in November when I'm trying to start and finish a zillion knitted Christmas presents...

It has been announced to my entire family so I might as well announce it into cyber-world... as of December, I will be training for a marathon to be run in December 2006.  I have corraled my sister in law (who roped my brother) and my mother into running it too.  J has volunteered to be a training running partner (and don't think I won't call you) and I might be able to snag B to train with me too.  Let me just say this... I do not run.  I have not run since I was forced to in high school gym 15 years ago.  This is a huge undertaking for me.  But it's definitely a goal worth having wouldn't you say?

I have two socks of two different pairs of socks completed.  A third sock of a third pair on on the needles.  I figure if I can at least finish one sock of each pair, they'll get the gist.  But I'm aiming to finish all socks. 

The Aftermath

Rule #1
Never ever ever weigh yourself the morning after Thanksgiving, even just "for fun."  Fun dies fast when the numbers pop up on the scale.  It's tea and vegetables for me for the next week.

Rule #2
Never ever ever go to dinner the night after Thanksgiving with the idea that no one will be out, insuring that y'all will be on time to the concert.  Hello?  Day after Thanksgiving?  Everyone is out because no one wants to cook again after a day of marathon cooking. Can you say 40 minute wait?  Dinner was good though, I just couldn't get over the huge parties of people that were streaming in.

Rule #3
Don't pass up an opportunity to use the restroom on your way out of said restaurant.  The time will come when it is impossible to sit for an extended length of time, thereby forcing you to get up an use the restroom just as the concert is starting.

Rule #4
Don't forget your camera (the camera that was specifically purchased to fit inside the tiniest of handbags) at home.  Enough said.

Rule #5
I don't have a fifth rule but like odd numbered sets of things.

Let me just say, if you ever have a chance to see Gwen live in concert, do it.  She put on a fantastic show last night.  (And does anyone know if she's pregnant?  Maybe it was the costumes but I could have sworn she looked a few months along - and looked fantastic btw - so jealous of her legs.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm in the middle of baking my first ever apple pie, knitting and debating on when to pack up to go to my parents house.  We're all going over to my brother's in laws for Thanksgiving - we were there last year but there will be considerably more people there this year.  I may hide in a closet and knit by flashlight for a while.

I love my brother's in laws.  My hiding in a closet has nothing to do with them.  It's large crowds that do me in.  A claustrophobia of sorts.  An inability to make small talk or intrusive talk with lots of people - especially people I don't know. 

But this is just an initial fear.  Once I get there, disperse my wares (jars of homemade applesauce, pumpkin bread AND an apple pie), have a glass of wine and start knitting, all will be good.

In other news, my grandma stayed with me last weekend.  She did this to my poor dog Sam:

I've never done this to Sam. Ever.  I think he's traumatized.











Here is my first ever apple pie in progress:

And my first ever sets of stitch markers that are going to my Grandma and Mom:

Okay, I need to go eat something other than pie dough.  Have a wonderful safe Thanksgiving!!

One more item on my To Do list...

I have picked up the art of making stitch markers.  The one seen here on a super secret project (shhhh!!!) is one of my first ones.  I really like glass beads.  They add enough weight to be useful but not so much to be a PITA.  I do have actual 'rings' coming (hopefully arriving today!) so that I don't have to bend the wire around to make a loop.  It's not a terrible process, it will just be so much cleaner looking with a ring.  I am so jealous of Wenders stitch markers... we all have to start somewhere though, right?  One of these days I'll get fancy.  :)

Steal of the Day

I found this chunky 60% cotton / 40%acrylic Gap sweater at the Goodwill for $2.50. It doesn't look like it's been worn very much and it's seamed together, not cut and sewn. :)  Have NO idea what I'll do with it or even how much yardage I'll have.