New tricks for an old dog December 6, 2009

Well I’ve had the opportunity to learn all sorts of new things recently. Mainly because I’ve had all sorts of mishaps the last few weeks. Nothing really major. Mostly inconvenient, although nowadays an inconvenience can be major hassle.

For instance, the computer virus snafu of a month ago that CR fixed, ended up requiring completely reinstalling all my programs.  Luckily, CR did most of this for me, and honestly, I did know how to do this because I set the laptop up myself when I got it two years ago. Still, finding where all my files, pictures, and favorite sites had gone to was the most frustrating game of hide and seek of all time. Thanks to CR, they were located. And now for some unexplained reason, whenever this laptop feels like it, the screen shuts down. To get the screen back requires a restart of the computer, and although the long-suffering CR keeps attempting to figure out why the computer does this, it is the one thing he hasn’t been able to figure out (this doesn’t happen to him often–he always figures stuff out). Why doesn’t he call Dell and ask what might be a problem you might ask? I can only think that this is something like the male refusal to stop at the gas station and ask for directions when lost.

But I digress.

So for my second trick. 

Wee merino baby socks...

Here we see a wee pair of socks. Baby socks made from the most delightfully soft merino Shibui Sock yarn. I used the free pattern “High Energy Baby Socks” by Jodi Green. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/high-energy-baby-socks Made ‘em in a day and a half for my electrician’s new baby.  I love making baby things. Love, love, love. They go fast, let me use small amounts of delicious fibers, and nearly always fit. Or at least grow into.

This pattern was super fun, and easy. And it gave me a chance to try making a picot edge differently than I’d done before. Unfortunately, I screwed it up doing the first sock, and didn’t realize how bad it was until I started the 2nd sock.

Which leads me to my third trick.

Snip snip. Rip rip.

I decided to cut and rip out the top of the sock and reknit it going the other direction. I figured if I screwed it up, I’d have to knit another one anyway. So I gritted my teeth and cut. And ripped. And reknit. And it worked. Yippee!

Meanwhile, I started (finally) on my dad’s Sir Lancelot Shawl. At this point I’m about one third finished; I’ll probably have to finish it in Chicago. Oh well, it’ll take care of my concern about what to being along to knit, although I’ll likely bring along a skein of sock yarn and a pattern for either a shawl, a beret, or (gasp) some socks. I’ve been dying to make a pair of socks from Wendy D. Johnson’s “Socks from the Toe Up.” http://www.amazon.com/Socks-Toe-Up-Essential-Techniques/dp/0307449440%3FSubscriptionId%3D1YZR91QYB6WCG3PM78G2%26tag%3Dravelry-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0307449440  There are at least 5 patterns I’d like to make, but even her “Dead Simple Lace Socks” would make me happy. I’ve made a pair of toe ups, and wasn’t happy with the way the bind off ended up looking all stretched out and floppy. But she gives a few different cast offs that I hope will work better than the very loose  cast off I did for the other socks.

For papa

I’m a little bummed I won’t have time to even start the Teensy February Lady Sweater for the Bug’s American Girl doll to match hers. I picked up another skein of DIC Classy in Blue Lagoon at my LYS’s Pajama Jammie Jam Black Friday Sale, along with a few colorways of Shibui Sock, since I fell in love with it working on those baby socks. 35% off, plus, I got to use my birthday gift certificate from CR and the Bug, as well as some well-earned jewelry-making bucks.

Well, I need to type up the inventory for the list of new jewels I’m dropping off to Retreat Salon and Spa tomorrow, and I’d better do so while the screen still works! Happy getting ready for the Holidays!

The party’s over November 16, 2009

I love that phrase for so many reasons, especially this week.

Here's what I'm gonna make for Pops; one of my all time favorite projects!!

The big jewelry show’s finished, except for those few custom orders I’ll be putting together. (And big thanks to all of you who were able to come by!! I love love love seeing you!!)

And this is what I'm using for it. I'm calling it "Sir Lancelot Shawl"

Now I need to put my nose to the grindstone and get the following in order:

I. Christmas gifts

   A. CR  sweater

   B. Dashing Mitts for (secret!)

   C. Sir Lancelot Shawl for Pops

   D. Rooster Rock Socks for the Bug (I think they’ll fit her better)

   E. Composed Mitts (for me, dammit)

II. Purge and Pack House

   A. Bug’s Room–especially important since we will be living in there, God help us

   B. Kitchen, Hall Bathroom, Linen Closet, Living/Dining Room, Front Hall Closet

   C. Get a break and get to work on the bedrooms while house is under construction since we won’t get new carpet in there til the big job is done.

III. Thanksgiving. I love it and I hate it. All day long: standing, cooking, cleaning up, serving, eating, unbuttoning jeans (better yet, wear stretchy yoga pants), cleaning up. Passing out. Turkey sandwiches and leftovers. Yea!

IV. Bug’s birthday. Not too tough; we never have a party because noone can ever make her birthday party. Will do a pool party this summer I think.

V. Various and sundry school activities leading up to the holiday break

   A. Waldorf Holiday Faire (endless, week-long participation, culminating in all day Saturday event)

   B. Holiday musical performances

   C. Teacher gifties

Well, I’d better get going, huh?

The knitting will be the easiest to get started on, since I love it so very much.

Show shot (from summer–forgot to take shots this time, so busy!!)

This past weekend’s show was twice as big

Here are some pictures from the Summer show–yeah for CR–he found my pictures!

Been a long time… November 13, 2009

Well, not all that long, but you all know I like to post at least once or twice a week.

I’ve been wanting to post for days now, and although I’d like to blame all the work I”ve been doing for my jewelry open house tomorrow, I had a worse reason not to be able to post.

My laptop got smacked by a rogue program—specifically “Active Security.” What a pain. Totally wiped out my computer! Thankfully, Captain Romance is my hero when it comes to computer ills. So even after I spent on the phone with a very nice lady from McAfee trying to fix this mess (she gave up and said this was a problem for her supervisor), CR leaped into the fray and slayed the evil dragon churning inside my computer. Yipee.

Except at this moment I’m having a horrifying revelation that all my pictures are missing. Oh. my. God.

I wish I could sue those jerks at Active Security. What the heck is wrong with people  that makes them think that it’s okay for them to do **** like that to other people?!

Oh well, on the knitting front, the very fun, very cool Broadripple sock (yes, it’s still the first one; I’ve been making jewelry and meeting with contractors!) are up to the toe and I plan to finish it on this Sunday morning.

Hope you can make it to my show!!

With any luck, a nice looong post on Monday!

Baked Apples and Market Spice Tea. Mmmm… October 23, 2009

Yum! Sweet, sticky, warm!

Yesterday I came home from taking the Bug to the dentist and found a wonderful surprise! A package from my BFF Meggie!

It was so sweet and clever, filled with lovely fall leaves from my beloved Chicagoland, adorable  Halloween napkins, a delightful Vintage Halloween postcard, and, best of all, a bag of my favorite tea on earth—Market Spice Tea from Casteel Coffee on Central street in Evanston (www.casteelcoffee.com).  Thank you, darling girl!!

What fun! This required making Baked Apples for dessert last night to have with the tea. Bug gave the whole sweet, sticky, spicy experience 2 thumbs up! You’d think Chuck Yeager was my daughter.

So, thank you, darling friend, for the delightful gift and the inspiration to bake a little.

Listen, dear readers, if you want true inspiration for making wonderful things to eat, you mustmustmust check out my Meg’s blog—A Place in the Country—http://theapporchard.com/meg/. Do it!!

Anyway, took time out last night from a day spent making rings to work on my Broadripple Socks. I love how easy the pattern is and fast it’s knitting up! And I lovelovelove the Blue Moon Fibers Rooster Rock colorway—see it here–http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=19_20_46

Picked up CR’s Christmas Sweater and—gaak—it took one hour to do 4 loooong rows. I think it was a combination of big needles that hurt my hands, thick yarn that isn’t very strong which makes me more careful with how hard I manipulate the stitches, and a riveting episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” (they were picking the top 20 dancers, what can I say?).

I’ve never completely mastered the “knitting without looking” technique. Perhaps this will be the project where I finally learn. I mean, I know how, I just never feel really confident about it. But with straight stockinette, I should be able to handle it. We shall see.

We have a winner (or two) October 21, 2009

First, thanks to you, delightful friends, who’ve spent the past month reading the blog and commenting!  It was so nice to hear from you all, and I hope you enjoyed the reading part. For my part, I absolutely cannot believe how fast the past month went by.

I must also say that this was an extremely close contest—one comment clinched it!  But if you didn’t win this time, keep an eye open, as I will be having another contest again, probably in tandem with the opening of my new Etsy store: Talisman Knits in late November. I plan to sell special “knitting” jewelry, as well as stitch markers and special row counter bracelets.

So, without further adieu, the winner of the earrings is, Cyndy! I will be dropping the earrings in the mail in the next day or two, so you should have them very soon! Congratulations!

On my own knitting front, I’ve finished the February Girle Sweater, and it is indeed a winner, too. It fits the bug like a dream—she refuses to take it off. I think I done good.

I haven’t had much time to work on CR’s Christmas sweater, but since he’ll be traveling on and off now for a bit, I’ll have a chance to work on it in the evenings after I’ve spent the day working on some new designs for my upcoming jewelry show on November 14th.

Well, I’m off to tidy my studio. It’s a tiny space and I really trashed it the other day looking for something. I cannot work in a chaotic space—I’ve tried and it’s useless. Believe me.

Anyway, thanks for visiting!! Come back soon! And please don’t stop commenting; I always like to hear from my pals, both old and new!

Monogamy…under-rated? October 15, 2009

I’ve always been of the mind that for me,  monogamy was/is/forever will be the way to go. No question. No monogamy=no integrity

But project monogamy? Well, there you may well see my capricious side at its undone best er, worst, I mean.

Here, I feel a sin coming on. Seriously, how could I possibly ignore a smushy, softy, merino-y cake of yarn, brilliantly colored by Madame Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts fame named “Crabby McHappyPants?” Seriously.  Just take a look:

So much better in person...

Wound it all, even though I could hardly stand up

This delightful colorway, along with another 2 scrumdillyicious colors I’ve been lusting after since my last Stitches West safari ran out of funding–”Rooster Rock” and Lettuce Knit”–arrived on my doorstep last week when this feverish knitter really needed a pick-me-up. Fueled by the discovery of a few new (free Rav and Knitty) patterns, and the lovely book by Wendy D. Johnson, “Socks from the Toe-up,” I find my willpower vanquished yet again.

Find this lovely book here http://www.amazon.com/Socks-Toe-Up-Essential-Techniques/dp/0307449440

Even though I tried and didn’t love making a pair this way, this book has me rethinking the idea…

Well, at least I’m nearly finished with my February Girlie Sweater. Just 10 pattern repeats and 14 rounds of garter stitch to go.

And being very nearly monogamous on this project has helped me finish it sooner. No question. This was pointed out to me by my darling cuz just a few days ago. She always makes such good sense to me.

So perhaps I’ll finish my Composed mitts and Dancing Poppies Scarf, and CR sweater before casting on anything else…

We shall see.

Speaking of endings…this is the last post for the earring contest.

Today at 12 midnight (Pacific Time, givin’ you guys who live east of me even a little more time) I close the books. It’s a close race. Neck in neck, or perhaps, ear in ear.

Oink, oink. October 11, 2009

Okay, it really isn’t funny, but the Bug and I are both down with H1N1…you know, swine flu.  And everything they say about it is true. It stinks. You really feel rotten. Luckily for the 2 of us, since we both have asthma (never would’ve thought that was lucky), we were able to have prescriptions for Tamiflu. And that really helps. What also really helps is having a wonderful guy like CR around to play nursemaid to us girls. He even postponed his trip to Yosemite this weekend to take care of us. I only hope he doesn’t come down with it!

So enough of my little pity party here. I’d been hoping that this post would be one of the Bug modeling her February Girlie Sweater, but believe me when I tell you that I’ve been too sick to even knit. (!!!) I’ve gotten the first sleeve nearly finished and hope to have it done in the next ten days or so.

Every couple of years or so I get clobbered by some  illness/malady of some sort. I’ve learned it’s a kind of sign for me to slow down, recalibrate, appreciate, and live in the present moment.

That said, I will do my best to live in the moment this week, thinking, healing, and hopefully, knitting.

more to come...

One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday… October 7, 2009

…is to spend it with the Bug, watching movies and knitting. She’s Great Company!

The body's finished!

So last weekend, CR went off to Yosemite with a pal to do a hike up in the sky past May Lake,  and the Bug and I got up early and headed off to the local breakfast place for amazing Swedish Pancakes, gabbing, and giggling.

After filling our tummies (I had a wonderful Bacon Omlette/Souffle that was so huge, I only ate half and had the rest for lunch), we made a quick stop at the Home Depot across the street for some product investigation, and then headed home.

Settling on the couch, I picked up her sweater, and by the time we’d gone through 2 movies and were midway through “Howard’s End (Oh how I always wished to look like Helena Bonham Carter…),” ( it was now mid-afternoon–can you believe how lazy I was?!) I was finally binding off the bottom of her February Girlie Sweater. –just about the point where you think that the sweater will never end. Where you knit and knit, but it never seems to grow any longer.  Anyway…

Over the past few days, I’ve started a sleeve, and by my estimation, I’m nearly halfway done with the first one. Yippee!

I also snuck in some work on CR’s Smokin’ Christmas Sweater, and even a few more rows on my Self-composed Mitts.

Been busy on the home-remodel front interviewing prospective subs and getting bids. I must admit, it seemed a bit daunting at first, but it’s been an extremely good learning experience and things are starting to come together.

Well, need to wrap this little post up and start wrapping up some new jewels…hope to post some pictures of them soon!

It’s official–I’m insane. October 1, 2009

I must apologize for not updating the blog for a few days. I’ve turned down the path of homeowner hell: the most-of-the-house remodel.  We have a pretty decent budget, but only if I’m the contractor. I think I’m pretty organized, but I gotta say, this will definitely tax the gray matter. Even more than knitting a pattern from Rebecca Magazine–you know, the pattern mag from German ggh yarn co.?

I’m not complaining. We really need this remodel and I’m excited about it. 

The thing is (for those of you who don’t know about Eichlers), it’s a complicated process. Everything is sort of, well, connected. I guess you could say it’s a bit like a house of cards. There’s no attic, and no crawl space, so any electrical or plumbing updates need to go over/through the roof (which is also the ceiling, so if we want any pendant lights or fans, they have to go in now.) and then be sealed by the addition of a new roof. The new limestone tile floor in the kitchen must continue around the wall into the living room and then down the hall to the bathroom. Bang. 880 sq ft. And one really shouldn’t put in a new floor before one fixes up the kitchen (which desperately needs it) and the bathroom (which needs it even more).  So we have to do everything in a very specific order, or it will be a huge mess.

I want my mom.

Oh yes, and then there’s that Holiday Jewelry Open House I have planned for mid November.

Well, it should be an interesting couple of months ahead to say the least.

Just please don’t take it personally, dear friends, if for any reason I don’t return calls or email right away. I love you all. I’ll probably just be buried under some sort of construction rubble. LOL

Only 91 Days Until Christmas, or A Ripping Tale. September 24, 2009

Can it be true?

I’ve already fooled myself into thinking that I have plenty of time to make a couple of gifties for the guys in my life. But only 91 days?

Please don’t remind me that now is my most busy/important time of year for jewelry making and that I desperately must take pictures of new jewelry goodies to post on my website and on Etsy.  Blah blah blah. My same old story.

So this weekend, while CR went off backpacking, I started his present: “Smokin’” by Jared Flood, who is, may I say, the King Dude of Cool Patterns for Guy Stuff. Check out his blog in my sidebar. Amazing photos of his work. This pattern is from the book “Son of Stitch & Bitch.” http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/smokin 

The second time around

Anyway… I’ve had the yarn well over a year. I wound it and swatched it as soon as it hit the front porch. Came up with size 9 needles but never managed to find time to cast on.

Fast forward to last Sunday morning when I dragged out the tub of yarn, my old swatch with notes, and smugly cast on before leaving to take the Bug to see the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (cute movie with a funny twist on the “be careful what you wish for” message) (seems like there was a fire sale on quotation marks this post–sorry.)

Well I learned 2 things that day:

1) I can knit in the dark! Hooray. Okay, it was only garter stitch. But I did it! I actually knit 7 looong rows of the bottom edge of the cardigan.

2) If more than 1 year has passed since you last swatched for a project, swatch again. Things change, sometimes.

Indeed I must be rather more tense (no surprise there) than I was a year ago, because instead of my stitches gauging 3.25/inch, they were a full 4 stitches to the inch. Ah well. Making this a ripping tale indeed.

I also worked this week a bit on the Bug’s sweater. Need another 7 repeats of the pattern before I can start the bottom edge and move on to the sleeves. At least it’s still hot as Hades here.

Gettin' there...

I just hope I can get back to those Composed Mitts. They’re fun as heck, and go fast.

And maybe one of these days I’ll finish up my “Something Rum Raisin.” I’m nearly to the sleeves.

And then there’s Poppa’s gift that I have to start. The thing about that is, that since it’s entrelac, once I start it, I won’t want to stop, ’cause I think it’s truly one of my most favorite things to do.  Ah well.

Ho ho ho.