A Knitted Frenzy

Step back in time...

A post on the knitty boards caused me to hunt for my senior yearbook picture.  Can't find the yearbook but I did find these:

My modeling days are just about the only thing I'd keep from my teenage years.  The rest of it was hell.

I was probably 16 when these photos were taken.  I loved that photo shoot.  I used to do commercials and fashion shows for a local department store and shows for other events.  I went on to compete in the Miss California USA system.  That was a good time for me.  Built up my confidence when I really needed it... shortly after my parents divorced, the other half of my biological gene pool disowned my brother and I, high school hell.  And I learned how to pose for a decent photo.  ;-)

New Goal

My new knitting goal for the month of March is to finish up my WIPs.

First and foremost, the pretty purple alpaca test knitting sweater for Karen (almost there!) Months on the needles: 4 and counting

2nd up, the black Jo Sharp scarf design in pretty black Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran.  Months on the needles: 4 and counting

3rd to finish, 2nd sock for brother.  Lorna's Laces Sport in Safari.  Due in January.  Months on needles: haven't even cast on yet.

4th to be completed, Picovoli for myself in red Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere.  Months on needles: 3 and counting.

5th to finish, red Odessa with black beads for myself.  It will probably be the first one done because it's so quick.  Months on needles: 1/10th

In recent FO news, I did complete the Big Bad Baby Blanket in time for the shower last Saturday.

I have to tell you, I was very impressed with the way Lion Brand Wool-Ease washed up.  It was a little scratchy while knitting and that made me nervous.  No one wants a scratchy baby blanket!  But once I tossed it in the washer on cool with some towels and a pair of khakis and then dried it on medium with a dryer sheet, it softened up quite a bit.  I was thrilled. 

I also finished up Lolo's 2nd sock.  It is currently blocking in my very sophisticated blocking room a.k.a. the hall bathroom counter top.  Pic to post soon.

I did end up giving my first Odessa to my friend J.  Her head is much smaller.  And she loves green.  :)  I may or may not get a pic of her wearing it as she is leaving me for moving to Oregon next Friday.  sniff!

D-Day is Almost Here

It's almost here.  D-Day. 

Next Monday, I go to a settlement conference with jackass and his attorney.  Not sure exactly what we're supposed to be "settling" because I haven't argued about anything.  I might have lagged on getting some paperwork over to his attorney but that's all in good vidictiveness.

So.... that means I will officially be "D-I-V-O-R-C-E-D" soon.  I will officially take back my maiden name soon (we didn't last longer than most of my medications nor did I bear him any children, so no, I'm not keeping the name).  Soon I will be able to say, "Yes, I'm divorced" instead of answering What's your name? with "Do you want my married name or my maiden name?"

Soon my stomach aches will be gone, he'll be off my insurance and I will be able to spend hours and hours in line at the DMV to order a new drivers license.

Gotta keep things in perspective here.

For some reason I find this totally applicable...

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it. You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less. You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way. Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

I'm Not Dead, I Promise.

Well.

I failed miserably at my Knitting Olympics challenge.  Miserably.

Knitting with wire is fun, if you know what you're doing.  I really do have pictures to show how badly it all turned out.  But I'm not sure I want to show you.  It's pretty ugly.  Okay, I'll show you:

I actually completed more than this photo shows.  I have about 2 inches done, maybe 3.

The beads repeatedly disobeyed my command to go where they were supposed to go.  And wire does not frog.  No, it doesn't. 

I do not have one pair of votive holders.  Not even one pair of the three I challenged myself to make.

I'm not going to blame the five days I was down with a nasty cold (I didn't even have the desire to pet yarn, much less knit).  Even if I hadn't been out of commission, I still don't think I would have finished on time.

I'll keep playing with the wire and the beads.  And someday, maybe, I'll finish a complete pair.  But sadly, I did not finish during my allotted time.

(I really wanted to write this up in an Olympic announcer voice and proclaim defeat but my head is still swimming in Sudafed and can barely put together coherent sentences.)

See it here folks... a momentary truce has been called

Sorry for such a crappy picture.  My camera phone was the only thing handy.  I didn't want to disturb the beasts by getting up.

My cats rarely share breathing space.  They aren't cute and cuddly sleeping together.  They live in separate quarters of the house.  This was a rare moment to capture on film.

It's hard to see Velvet because she's on top of a dark purple blanket but she's there, in the lower right corner.  Charlie has taken to climbing up my left arm and halfway into my lap when I'm knitting.  That makes it sort of difficult to knit at all.

And just for reference, Charlie now weighs about 20 lbs.  Official weigh-in tonight.  **Edited to add: Charlie officially weighs 18.4 pounds.  Velvet weighs 11.1.  He eats the same food as Velvet and she weighs 8 pounds see above.  They get the same amount of exercise.  And Charlie is still a tank.

I fight the clock at dawn
I watch the face until procrastination loses
I sit and work and watch the time move
My life is measured in minutes and hours
A constant countdown
Time! I tick off the minutes until I sleep again
And fight the clock again at dawn

Knitting, the Olympics and Something Black

Just so you all know, I'm not a complete slacker.  Maybe a little bit, but not completely.

No, I did not cast on during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.  I didn't cast on for my votive holders for an entire week.  Yep, an entire week of lost time. 

But I strung my beads and began the most interesting process last Friday.  The 1st 2 rows of my knitting looked like garbage.  I have a pic I will post just to prove how bad it all looked.  Just one big gnarled mess.  But after a few rows it straighten out and actually looks intentional.

But the beads aren't where I want them.  Some are bunched up in different areas.  But I now have about an inch and a half of wire knitting on the needles.  If I complete one pair, I'll be happy.  Pics to be posted soon.  If anything, it's an exercise in creativity.... the "set" won't match at all and that's ok.

Sidebar on the Olympics:  Are you as aware of all the falls and spills the Olympians are taking as I am?  Maybe I've never paid attention as much to the Olympics in the past but I am just amazed at all the falling that's going on in Turin. 

***

I love Wendy's Something Red.  I love it so much I bought the pattern and have designated the onyx Suss cotton in my stash (buried way down deep as it was one of my 1st stash purchases) to be my Something Black.  I wear black, a lot.  But I rarely knit with black yarn.  Why?  Why is that?  Oh yah, because my cursing quotient goes up considerably when knitting with black yarn.  Too bad.  I need more wearable wardrobe things and Something Black will be perfect for that void.

***

My test pattern for Karen is now up to the neck.  I've done my decreases on one side and am *this* close to completion.  The back will be a breeze as it has none of the eyelet pattern.  Almost there, Karen!

***

Have I mentioned how in love with my new tote I am?  I luurrvve it.  I have it tucked under my desk and I open it periodically just because I can.  It smells pretty and new and I never want to let it go.  The straps are in the perfect position for tossing it ever so jauntily on my shoulder and it holds everything.  I have the world's most boring baby blanket that's due on Saturday, my accessories and all my purse items tucked in it.  The bag is fabulous.

6 Hour Drive Home

Ugh.  6 hours in stopped traffic and pouring down rain.  Sure, it only took us 3 hours to get to Stitches West...  6 hours to get home.  It was a long long day yesterday.

BUT

The yarn petting was fun.  I brought home a much coveted item:

I've been eyeing this baby online for some time.  It's a new design by Jordana Paige.  It's so classic yet throws slightly back to a time when women wore gloves and dresses and perky little hats.  I love it.  Here's what the inside looks like:

For corralling all my knitterly accessories.  I forgot to take an inside shot of the front flap of the bag.  I can keep all my DPNs nice and neat there.  It's a huge bag and I love having a huge bag with everything I could possibly need for months inside of it.  :D

Now on to the yarrrn p0rn:

This is 300+ yds of 50%wool/50% tencel purple yarn from Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm.  Beautiful stuff they have.  My mom bought a 1200+ yd hank of creams, grays and roses. 

Since I gave away my green Odessa, I needed a replacement yarn to try another Odessa for myself.  I found this:

Full Thread Ahead had open container upon open container of this 150+yd skeins of 100% Optim Wool for a steal.  I found this one for my next Odessa hat.  What do you think?  (I think I'm seeing a trend of purple in this post!)

Oh no wait, I also have this:

Green & tan sock yarn from Brown Sheep...  it's not purple!

One more stop by Brook's Farm Fibers gave me this:

A beautiful wool/mohair blend of 500 yds.  I immediately thought of Clapotis in this, as I've not yet done one of those.  Brook's Farm displayed their yarns in such a pettable way, unhanked on wooden hooks.  I wanted to pet all of their yarn.

I love when the unexpected show up at trade shows.  Bistro Blends has the most fabulous oils and vinegars.  I came home with Basil Garlic Parmasean, Thai Sesame Ginger and White Truffle oils.  Mom took home Blackberry Vinegar.  Yum.

I don't have any photos to show you but my mom found the most gorgeous hand made buttons from Moving Mud.  Stunning buttons.  She found three sets she couldn't live without.  From what I overheard understand, they will custom make your buttons if you send a swatch of yarn to them. 

And that was the end of Stitches West.  There were a lot of people, a lot of knitters.

Tell me this, can the smell of moth balls be gotten out of wool?  There were a couple of vendors selling package yarn at unbelievable prices but the wool smelled of moth balls.  Since I had no way of looking up any information about getting the smell out, I opted not to buy.  It would have been a splurge purchase anyway.

Road Trip to Pet Yarn!

I know I said yesterday I was going to cool it on the hibernating under my knitting BUT I already planned this trip to Stitches West and I'm VERY excited about it.  :D

My mom and I are trekking up to Stitches West in Santa Clara tomorrow morning to be there when the market doors open.  The schedule of classes was so completely overwhelming that I decided maybe just petting yarn this year would be okay. 

I'm planning on enhancing my stash a bit and taking a lot of pics!  If you're going to be there, send me an email and keep an eye out for me.  Just know that if you're captured on digital film, you will most likely be a part of my next blog entry.  :D

I can't wait!  Yarn overload!!!