Serena Zuo

What will I do for a high chair? What has my life come to?

2009-07-23T21:22:00.002-05:00

Adah is a couple of months away from needing a high chair, but I really want a Tripp Trapp. Coincidentally they are giving one away at Magic Beans. So this blog post is serving as another entry... They're giving stuff away for a month, so go check it out!

Does Mommy Love It - baby product review

2009-07-16T01:56:00.003-05:00

Now that I'm a mom, I'm definitely looking for those must have items. I came across this blog: DoesMommyLoveIt.com, which reviews various baby-related items. In fact they are giving away a Didymos wrap, which is my newest obsession. Here's hoping I win!!!

TDF - stage 5 and Oscar

2008-07-10T16:12:00.004-05:00

Well, today is the 5th stage of the Tour de France, but we're still on stage 3 (the time trial) on our DVR. I finally started spinning last night. I decided on some superwash merino from Tactile Fiber Arts that I bought at Bizarre Bazaar last year. Still can't find my camera cable or the card reader, so this is still a picture-less blog. Sorry! Just wanted to update on my Tour de Fleece progress.

In other news, Oscar just got back from a hike. Our regular dog walker wasn't working out because Oscar would come home and destroy stuff, so we had to find some way for him to get walked and get out some extra energy. Dog daycare doesn't work either since Oscar doesn't like other dogs and is aggresive towards him and the ones he's ok with he mostly ignores. Luckily I found a service on Craiglist that will take him on 2-3 hour hikes. For now he's going 1 day a week and I'm taking him to work 2 days a week (I only work 3 days/week). Today was his first hike and traning session (to get him to not be afraid of other dogs) and the report is that he did fabulously. He is currently hiked individually, with other handlers hiking 3 dogs at the same time and near him. Hopefully only 2 or 3 more hikes until he can join the rest of the group (which will be cheaper for us and means that he'll be better about other dogs). Yeah Oscar!!!

Tour de Fleece - stage 1

2008-07-05T02:11:00.000-05:00

Watching the Tour de France right now on the brand new HD DVR. I have narrowed down what I want to spin to 3. But I can't start spinning it until I finish my Bath Design final project (which I am supposed to be doing now.) I have decided though that I want to knit EZ's February Baby Sweater with whatever I spin. Now I know what weight yarn to aim for (sport weight). I've spun before knowing what weight yarn I wanted, but this will be the first time I've ever spun anything with a specific project in mind.

I've been thinking that I should knit a baby sweater so that the adult-sized sweaters I make will improve. I have made several, but they're not the greatest, so hopefully working on a baby sweater with EZ's guidance I'll be able to improve my techniques.

Ok, have to work on my project. I have to present it on Monday, so after that spinning will start in earnest. In the meantime I'll be narrowing down my choices of what to spin and deciding exactly which one.

Back in the saddle again?

2008-07-05T01:20:00.004-05:00

I've joined this year's Tour de Fleece hoping that it will jump-start this blog once again. I'll try to post every day or two on my progress.

We'll see how it goes. Looking forward to this year's Tour de France as well (we'll be watching on our new-to-us 30" HDTV!) Will there be as much scandal as last year? (Is that even possible?) Who will win since Team Astana and Tom Boonen (what an idiot) are out of the race? Should be interesting!

Anyway, the challenge for this year's Tour de Fleece is to spin from your stash. That shouldn't be a problem for me, since I buy way more than I spin. I just have to decide what to spin. I think my personal challenge is going to be to spin something from my stash that I think is really special (ie. I wanted to save until I thought I was a good spinner) and spin it into something usable. I also want to have an idea of what I am going to make out of the finished yarn. I'm looking forward to having more spinning blogs to read too!

Hopefully I'll find the cable to my camera so that I can post some pictures, otherwise this could become a very boring blog-resurrection.

See you soon!

why hello old blog

2008-06-26T12:37:00.002-05:00

remember me? I'm still here, just busy as usual. Plus I have a job that I like that keeps me busy, so there's not a lot of time to blog. But I'm going to work on it... In the meantime, read the twitter updates on the side - that I can manage since I can send them via text.

See you soon!

And so it begins!

2008-02-20T13:12:00.002-05:00

One of my college roommates had a baby boy over the weekend! She's the first of at least 10 people we know having a baby this year. Three more are due in the next couple of weeks. Should be an exciting year!!!

Unfortunately no one told us about the plan to have a baby in '08. Oh well!

Watch out for things picked by monkey's

2008-01-29T11:49:00.000-05:00

Because they are very expensive. And if you've been reading the price list thinking everything was around $4 per ounce and buy 4 ounces of tea picked by monkey's, you end up with a bill of $70 at the tea store (I bought some other, more reasonably priced tea too).

earthquake

2007-10-30T22:10:00.000-05:00

Holy moly there was just an earthquake - the first one I've really felt since we moved here. And boy did it scare the living daylights out of me. There was swaying and shaking and what did I do - um, just stood there. I'm definitely going to have to work on that... Oh, and if you're wondering, the dog is not good at predicting earthquakes.

Birthday present numero uno

2007-10-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Isaac's mom paid for my haircut at a fabulous salon. I love it! Thanks!

Niner

2007-10-26T01:46:00.000-05:00

You would think that with my new fancy MacBook, I'd be writing a lot more. But I'm not. I'm going to try and be better about it though.

Anyway, tomorrow is my birthday. It's the big 2-9. The last birthday before the really big three oh. As I was brushing my teeth last night, I started thinking about my other birthdays ending in a nine.

The year I turned nine, we were living with my aunt and uncle in the 'burbs of Chicago while our house was being built. I remember that birthday quite well because my sister and I were recovering from the chicken pox (I caught them from her.) I had a small birthday (due to the contagiousness and all) with only my aunt and uncle, parents and sister. I think we have pictures of me blowing out the candles somewhere.

I don't really remember much about turning 19, except that I was at Hopkins and I went to Tamber's Nifty Fifties one night (diner food and Indian on the same menu! What more could a girl want?) to celebrate with Tom and Jose. That's when Tom informed me that 19 was the most unexciting age to celebrate. When you turn 18 you can get into R rated movies, 20 is a whole new decade and 21 means no more drinking at E-Level (only you JHU'ers will get that one - basically you can drink at a real bar). I remember that year being one of the most carefree and fun I've had.

This year, I am in major transition mode - I'm back in school, starting a whole new career that I don't know if I'll be any good at, living on a whole new coast and trying to juggle our day to day needs and commuting to Berkeley and San Francisco 3 days a week. It's certainly a different place than anywhere I've ever been, but I am definitely enjoying it! As far as I can figure, it can only get better. Right?

I have decided that this is the year I start fighting aging and treating myself well (not that I don't treat myself well now, but I'll be treating myself even better now). This includes lots of running, yoga, swimming and biking, regular haircuts, manicures, massages, waxings and all the lotions and potions I can find that I think will help. As far as I can figure, once I hit 30 things will start going downhill even faster - and if we have kids, it will probably accelerate. So, this is the year to instill all of those good habits and treat myself well.

Hopefully that doesn't sound too selfish.

Isaac is in charge of the birthday plans. I've gotten several phone calls from him tonite (I'm in Berkeley, he's in Mountain View) asking me all sorts of cryptic questions, like what I am wearing on Saturday (I have a class in the city in the morning), what I'll be taking with me to class, whether or not I have something warm to wear and where the GPS is. I am pretty sure his parents know what the plan is, but they aren't giving any hints. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve!

Anyway, happy birthday to me! And to Dave, if you're reading this (if you are, email me!)

Back to school

2007-08-31T12:52:00.000-05:00

That's right folks - I'm headed back to school this fall. Not for Biostatistics though, which was the plan when we moved out here. Nope, I'm going to design school. Yesterday I signed up for Drafting, Fundamentals of AutoCAD and Introduction to Interior Design. This all started because I am working for Isaac's mom (since June) doing bookkeeping, but eventually I'm hoping to do design work.

Here goes nothing!

Socks!

2007-08-13T18:15:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo! I got my Sockapalooza 4 socks today! And I LOVE THEM!!! They're soft, warm, a beautiful color and squishy on my feet (in a good way of course). And to top it all off, they fit me perfectly! The nights here are getting to the point where it's cold and requires socks, so these are going to be perfect until I get the nerve to wear them with shoes.

madlinetosh Highland Sock yarn in Aster (superwash merino, fingering weight)

They fit like a glove :)

They're more purple in real life - with tweedy flecks of red, yellow, green and blue

On top of all that too, my pal sent me all sorts of other wonderful goodies. The rest of the yarn used to make my socks , a second skein of yarn hand dyed in Austin, Texas (near my pal's house, some yummy treats and anti-bacterial hand lotion and gel.

Harmony fingering weight yarn by Zen String in Chocolat Cherise (50/50 British superwash Merino/Tencel blend) - so pretty! I'm going to have to find a special project for this. Maybe some lace?

Socks, yarn, candy, lotion, pretty pictures, what more could a girl want?

Kathryn - thank you so much! I don't have an email address for you and couldn't find you on the Sockapalooza 4 database, so I am going to have to mail you a thank you card. In the meantime, know that I love the whole package and I'll definitely be wearing these socks a lot!!!

This was a fabulous exchange overall - my sock recipient pal is in Canada for work, so it's going to be a little wait until she opens her package, but hopefully she'll like my package as much as I liked mine! I'm ready for Sockapalooza 5 now! hehehe...

Sockapalooza 4 send off

2007-08-09T13:11:00.000-05:00

My Sockapalooza socks (plus some extras) are on their way to Pennsylvania. Actually, I think she'll be getting the package today... So here's what was in the package:
Pattern: Charade from I May Be Knitting a Ranch House (found via Ravelry)
Yarn: 1+part of a 2nd skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Envy from ebay
Needles: 2 x US1 Crystal Palace Bamboo DPN's (I started out doing one sock on two circulars, except one needle broke during the first sock, so I had to switch to magic loop on the remaining needle.)
Notes: I don't think I changed anything in this pattern, except that maybe I made the leg a little shorter than the pattern (I can't remember...) I really hope these fit here. Her feet are 2.5 sizes smaller than mine, so they definitely didn't fit me. Keep your fingers crossed!

I also sent a little emergency knitting kit to my pal because she has a history of getting stuck in her elevator at work.
(Sorry for the blurry pictures - I didn't realize they were blurry until today and of course I sent everything away already.)
The kit contains all the supplies necessary (except the DPN's) for her to knit a Harry Potter Bookscarf - in Gryffindor colors, naturally (her favorite house). I bought the same supplies for myself and lots of people are going to be getting these (whether they like it or not).

The last treat in there is some stitch markers I made as a spur of the moment idea.
I forgot to include a postcard from where I live, even though I managed to find a Mountain View postcard at Long's. I might just send it to her anyway. What am I going to do with it otherwise?

Now I just have to sit back and wait for her to receive the package. I can't wait! And I can't wait for my very own package to show up!

Socks are done! And on time!

2007-08-05T16:36:00.001-05:00

Only a small miracle given my usual ability to be on time for things. And I made something to send along with the socks for my pal. Pictures and descriptions coming soon...

I need a yarn intervention!

2007-08-03T12:13:00.001-05:00

The quilting shop down the street has all of their Cascade yarn 50% off right now and I can't stop looking for projects to make and rethinking all the yarn I already bought. I bought 6 skeins (in addition to a lot more) for the Central Park Hoodie in green (7814), but am thinking I want a different color - the problem is they don't have very many I like. So now I'm thinking of buying white and dyeing it myself. Or they have this tweedy variegated stuff that I don't know how it will knit up, but I've been looking for swatches all over the internet. Of course, I also run into new projects I could be making. Is it bad to go there 2 days in a row and drop a ridiculous amount of money? But it's all half off! Seriously, I need help.

Where did July go???

2007-07-25T22:40:00.000-05:00

Um, has anyone else noticed that August is NEXT WEEK!?!?!? I have not made it to the heel of my second Sockapalooza sock yet and it's supposed to be sent out on August 2nd. Yikes, I better get cracking - less baby bootie knitting and more sock knitting for me!

expanding horizons

2007-07-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

I took a workshop a couple of weekends ago at CCA in Oakland. The class was on alternative printmaking and we learned how to use cyanotype, van dyke brown, polaroid transfers and polaroid lifts. The workshop was awesome and I plan on using all of these techniques in the near future. They're all pretty easy but give some cool results.

Cyanotype

Polaroid transfer

Van Dyke BrownVan Dyke Brown

2007-07-09T20:18:00.000-05:00

For some reason blogger is not letting me put a title on this post - so for now it's nameless.

Although I enjoy knitting my Sockapalooza pal's socks, every know and then I have to take a break from the US1 needles. So on a recent trip to Milwaukee and Chicago, I finally broke down and started a One Skein Wonder.

Pattern: One Skein Wonder by Glampyre Knits (did you know she's pregnant?)
Size: 17" shoulder measurement
Yarn: Malabrigo worsted weight in charrua from Purlescence Yarns in Sunnyvale
Needles: Denise Interchangeables US9 and US 6
Time to complete: Started June 22, finished July 4 - 12 days
Comments: It really is a one skein wonder! I have 32.5 inches left of yarn. I made a couple of very minor modifications - I did 8 rows (1.25 inches) of k2p2 ribbing on both of the sleeves and 5 rows of k2p2 ribbing along the edges. At first I was completely confused by what was the sleeves and what was the body. In case anyone else is as confused as I was, everything in between the 2 markers is body (ie everything you put on a stitch holder at the end of the left sleeve) and everything to the left of the left stitch marker is the left sleeve and vice versa for the right sleeve. I also wasn't sure how far into the armpit I should pick up stitches. I went right up to the sleeve ribbing and it turned out fine.
I really liked this pattern a lot - it was quick , simple and only required one skein of yarn (making it ok to make with Malabrigo). I think I am going to knit a long sleeve version like this one on craftster. I'm not sure if I'll use Malabrigo again (too chunky?) but both the short sleeve version and the long sleeve version will get plenty of use in Berkeley, where it's always a lot colder than you think it should be.

Of course I haven't neglected my sock pal's socks either. Here's the first one, I just finished last night.

I'll post the details of these socks when I finish the second.

My only gripe about this sock is my grafting job at the toe. It's awfully square and pointy at the corners. I think though that once it's on a foot the toe will lay alright.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments about the heel worries I was having. I am now pretty confident that it will fit her, even though I didn't find anyone with a similar foot size to try it on.

My new side project is some baby booties I saw on Brooklyn Tweed. Um, hello, how cute are those?!?!? I happen to have some Cashsoft 4 ply and DK lying around from a gift for a baby shower (which I forgot to post here) and thought I'd make the baby some booties to match. Should be a pretty quick knit. Of course the booties are in addition to the sewing side project I have going on, which is a new quilt for our bed. Here's the top, ready to be marked for quilting.

Hopefully the marking and quilting won't be to painful. Luckily I have all that knitting to work on if I need to take a break.

Sock woes

2007-06-19T12:58:00.000-05:00

I am now on the foot of my first sock for Sockapalooza 4 (I forgot to take a picture though). I'm growing more and more concerned though that I should maybe rip it out and reknit it either on a larger needle or with a different pattern (I'm currently knitting Charade) . Right now it barely fits over my heel, but once it's on it fits pretty well. My partners foot is smaller than mine (I wear a 10 and sometimes an 11, where she wears a 6.5).

Help! I need some advice from experienced sock knitters. This is my second pair of socks ever and my first pair for someone else. Should I rip the sock and start over or figure that since her foot is smaller, it will fit over her heel alright?

I started out knitting these on 2 circulars (Crystal Palace US1 bamboo) but I broke one over the weekend!

So it's magic loop the rest of the way for me...

2 pairs for the price of 1

2007-06-07T14:04:00.000-05:00

I bought some new shoes at Nordstrom's semi annual sale yesterday. Today when I went to try them on, look what I found in the box (upper right corner in case you don't see it):

Here's a picture of them close up:

The dog instantly tried to steal the red one. Wonder if he knows they clash with his fur?

Ravelry addiction

2007-06-05T14:42:00.000-05:00

I got an invite to join Ravelry yesterday (yeah!!!) and since then it has been sucking up much of my time. Not only have I actually uploaded pictures to my flickr account (and I'm thinking about upgrading to a pro account), I've also been updating my projects, adding projects to my queue and looking at other people's accounts for things to knit. I am in love with Ravelry! If you want an invite, click here. I think I signed up for the list when Hello Yarn first posted about it and got the invite yesterday - so it took about a month to get invited. But let me tell you it was well worth it.

Never mind that I'm supposed to be working on cover letters and resumes...

If you want me, you can find me here.

Time for a new plan!

2007-06-03T02:05:00.001-05:00

After much pattern deliberation, I started a pair of Conwy socks Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road for my Sockapalooza 4 partner tonite. I was really concerned about them not fitting, so I was looking around her blog only to find that she had already knit herself a pair.

Back to the drawing/decision board. At least I can still use the yarn. RPM perhaps? In the meantime, hopefully I'll find the US0 dpn I have managed to lose in the last hour.

kusha kusha progress

2007-05-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

I love this yarn! Next time we go to Manhattan I am definitely going to Habu.

Finished Fetching

2007-05-16T14:08:00.000-05:00

I finished Fetching finally. I started these over the winter, but ran out of yarn before the bind off of the second mitt. I still had to do the thumbs, so I knew some ripping was required. Here are the details.

Pattern: Fetching from Knitty. I took out 5 of the stockinette rows in order to be able to use 1 skein or yarn. I also didn't do the picot bind off. I tried it on the first mitt and didn't really like it, so I just went with a regular bind off.

Yarn: Peru DK Luxury from AC Moore (love that place!), color 06. 70% merino, 20% alpaca and 10% silk (kind of similar to the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran used in the original pattern, but way cheaper).

Needles: Denise Interchangeable US 6, I used an extra long cable so that I could do the magic loop method

Comments: This is a super fast knit and with the weather here (way colder than you think it should be), certainly useful. Isaac's mom has asked for a pair with longer cuffs. As soon as we go to the yarn store I'll be starting those for her. I did however manage to loose my cable needle while making these. I have a feeling it's somewhere deep down in the couch :(

Another crafting decision

2007-05-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

Isaac and I really need a new bed quilt. We have a down comforter and a lightweight summer quilt that we got for our wedding. But it's usually about 55 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night, so neither of those is quite right. I figured it would be really easy to make us a medium weight quilt and broke out my copy of Denyse Schmidt Quilts. I picked the Day at the Beach quilt as my starting point (without the pockets on the back for rocks), found these quilts by glitter goods and headed off to the quilting store down the street (they were having a Mother's day sale - 30% off all fabric!) A whole lot of money later and here are my options.

What do you think? My favorites are the first and last ones, I think. Or do I need different colors all together?

I am going to try to add a rust colored piece to the middle piece. Originally I was looking for a teal-ish color to go with the brown, but I couldn't find the color I wanted anywhere! So I'm going with grey and green instead. The best part is that I'm going to make it reversible since I would have had to piece the back together anyway, so I get to use two of these.

Hopefully I'll get this started soon. We're sweating to death under the down blanket!

What to knit for Sockapalooza?

2007-05-15T21:30:00.000-05:00

I have 10 million finished projects to show (knitting and otherwise), but I haven't gotten around to it. I'll do it one of these days though. Today most of my crafting brain has been thinking about socks for my Sockapalooza recipient. She seems pretty easy going as far as the socks are concerned and only requested nothing too lacy and in a superwash yarn. I've narrowed it down to the following:

Pomatomus from Knitty (but have these already been made by too many people?)

Rib and Cable socks (half way down the page) by Nancy Bush from Interweave Knits Fall 2005

BFF from Cookie A (quite similar to the Rib and Cable socks - haven't taken the time to see how they differ yet.)

Poseidon socks from exercise before knitting

RPM from Knitty (look at this pair!)

Bayerische socks from Eunny (wish I had as cool of a job as her - we're almost the same age :( )

Wyvern Woman's Sock by Marnie MacLean

As for yarn, I'm thinking a semi solid color in a medium purple or moss green (see the flickr link to the RPM socks above) in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn (from Grumperina's favorite Lorna's Laces seller), Fleece Artist Merino or from someone on etsy. I am considering dyeing my own yarn too.

Any opinions/suggestions on yarn or patterns?

(sorry for all the linking and lack of pictures, but I don't want to get in trouble for posting pictures without permission.)

Finally done with the Clapotis!

2007-04-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

I mentioned how ready I was to be done with my Clapotis and I finally finished it on Friday. I absolutely love it. The design is so simple, but ingenious. It's extremely versatile - it can easily be worn as a scarf or shawl and the way the fabric rolls in between the drop stitches make it texturally interesting. Even Isaac said it was cool! I didn't take any pictures of myself modeling it because it's hard to take pictures of yourself wearing something like that and there are like a bajillion pictures already out there.

I blocked it today, but kind of wish I didn't. It doesn't roll in between the drops as much as it used to, but maybe they'll come back with time.

Here's a picture of the blocked Clapotis:
Here's the post-project round up:
Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty (Possibly the most knit pattern ever?!?!) I followed the directions pretty much to the T, except that I did 14 repeats of the straight rows (which is only 1 more repeat than the pattern states).
Yarn: Knitpicks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor, 4 balls total with the yarn held doubled, some yarn leftover from the last 2 balls (like a fistful of each ball).
Needles: Denise Interchangeable, US 5
Finished dimensions: 19" x 80"

Comments: This pattern was really fun to start knitting at the beginning, but got really, really old after awhile. It was most definitely worth it though, because I LOVE it!!! It's perfect for the weather we have here - warm sometimes, but more often chilly. I decided to do one extra repeat because I was trying to use up all of the yarn, so when balls 1 and 2 ran out, I counted the number of drops at that point, subtracted out the number that would be made by the decrease rows (divided by 2 though since the decrease rows have 2 drops per repeat) and knit that many more repeats. Apparently my calculating was somehow a little off since I have a good amount of yarn leftover, but it's plenty long, so it works out just fine. The Knitpicks Shimmer is super lux too, 30% silk, 70% baby alpaca. I'd definitely use it again for another project, but I wish it came in solid colors. It's cheap enough though that I could just buy whatever color and overdye it. I might have to try it with the leftovers I have. I'm already thinking about making another one in a solid color, maybe smaller with the dyed leftovers? It will have to wait awhile though since I have plenty of other projects in the cue and I want to see how much I really use this one. Oh and I was much more careful winding the third and fourth center pull balls and didn't have any tangling problems, unlike with the first two balls. I may eventually invest in a ball winder, but I think I'd rather have a swift instead.

I've already started my next project (mentioned in the middle of this post) - I had to rip it out twice to get the right needle size and to get the rate of decreases right, but I think it's looking good so far.
The black thick line in the picture is the lifeline (my first ever!) I put in when I switched from US 3 to US 4 needles (just in case I didn't like the size). I'm pretty much basing what I think the pattern is based on this picture. Of course, I'm pretty sure that whatever it comes out like, I'm going to love it. I do wish I had pointier needles since the yarn is so thin. It's almost like thread. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I signed up for Sockapalooza 4. Should be interesting!

You'd think I would have learned the first time

2007-04-12T13:32:00.000-05:00

Isaac and I got 2 sets of these storage containers from Crate and Barrel when we got married. A couple of months ago I was microwaving leftovers in one of the medium sized container when I heard this loud pop. Well, needless to say that was the container breaking in half. I just did it again!!!! I am going to have to go to Crate and Barrel and see if they'll exchange them for me. They are supposedly microwave safe...

Ready to be done and ready to start

2007-04-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

I've been working on my Clapotis now for what seems like forever. But in reality I think I started it in January or February. I'm at the decreases now, so the end is in sight.

I'm on balls 3 and 4 now of the Knitpicks Shimmer and I can't wait for it to be over!!! It's measuring at about 5 feet long. I wish I had made it a little wider, but oh well, there's no way I'd go back now.

The biggest reason I want to be done with the Clapotis (other than the fact that I am just tired of it) is because I really want to cast on for this.

I bought the yarn from the Habu booth at Stitches West this year and I'm going to wing the pattern. It doesn't seem that complicated and I would have bought the kit, except that I really didn't like the colors that were in the one kit they had left. I like these colors much better (sorry, the picture is kind of dark).

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the grey yarn is their stainless silk (it bends and holds it's shape!) and the rust yarn(color 45 - terra cotta to be exact) is merino, which gets felted after the whole thing is knit up. I really hope it turns out well and not just one of those things that I think is easy but turns out really difficult. It's really taking all my will power not to cast on for this right now.

The other crafty thing I am currently obsessing over is this skirt from Target.

The picture really doesn't do it much justice, but it has a wide waist band and these really nice wide pleats that go about half way down that give it a nice shape/line or whatever you call it. I would just spend the $20 on it, except that they didn't have it in my size. I did buy a 14 and I am going to try and make a pattern from it.

I think those three things should keep me busy for awhile! I also have a finished (non-knitting) project to show, but that will be for my next post.

Domestication continues

2007-04-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

Just learned how to cut a whole chicken into pieces. Thanks to my friend Betty and a sharp knife, it took me almost no time to show that chicken who's boss.

Needle book

2007-04-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about making myself a needle book for some time now and I finally got around to it this week after realizing that my needles are sort of in disarray and always a little difficult to locate. I often just stick them in my cake pincushion (like the one I made for my first back tack swap), but I'm afraid that without any yarn threaded they'll sink in and be lost forever. I followed some of Martha's instructions (mostly the measurements) and kind of winged the rest.

Details: Wool felt, all hand sewn, next time I'll use a more contrasting color for the pages because the needles can be a little difficult to see.

I have tons of ideas for other things to sew on the front of these. I think I'm going to start making some more and putting them on etsy. Does that seem like a good idea or do people who would need/want a needle just make them for themselves?

A birthday crown for a special birthday boy

2007-04-07T20:18:00.000-05:00

Isaac's godson is turning 1 on Monday, so taking a page from SouleMama, I made him a birthday crown. Unfortunately we won't be at his birthday party next weekend, but hopefully the crown will make the celebration just a little more special. Hopefully it will fit him too - I have no idea how big a one year old's head it, so I made it to fit the bottom 5% of the growth charts up to a size that's off the charts.

Here it is ((modeled here by our lovely Lion friend - he's much older than 1 and, yes, his name is Lion) :

Details: Wool felt crown, 17.5" in circumference (felt only), hand embroidered 1, everything else machine sewn, tie made from 1" grossgrain ribbon folded in half.

catch up.

2007-03-30T20:25:00.000-05:00

Considering I don't have a job, you'd think I would post more, huh. I've been busy doing things like planning my porch container garden, going to yoga, riding my new bike (yeah!), trying not to kill myself with my first real bike pedals (you have clip into them), making felt and clay cupcakes to sell (at an actual store!), walking the dog a lot, hanging out with visitors, oh and cleaning the house, calling a bajillion people to help get our condo in DC sold, cooking dinner and grocery shopping.

I suppose I don't have much to show, which is why I don't update often. I'm going to have to make some more felt and clay cupcakes since I gave everything to the shop as samples and I'll post pictures of them when I'm done. I'm also planning to start selling them somewhere online, so keep an eye out for that. Still loving my wheel, I just wish I had more fiber. I'm thinking about putting an order into the Sheep Shed...

Sorry for the boring post. I'll try to make the next one more interesting (with pictures!)

Feelin' low

2007-03-14T15:45:00.000-05:00

Why is it that I feel a little bad for myself when friends get married and I'm not part of their wedding party? I only had 2 bridesmaids, one of which who was my sister, so I don't know why I think I should be part of other people's weddings, but I can't help it. I think it's the excitement of being involved in a wedding. I have lots of very good friends, but apparently I'm not as good of a friend as I think I am. Oh well...

On a totally different note, I didn't get into UC Berkeley or Stanford, so the job hunt begins. Although Isaac keeps saying that he likes having a housewife and I have to say I don't mind it too much (except for the lack of money).

Move to California

2007-03-12T11:12:00.000-05:00

You know you want to. The weather report for the week might help your decision.

Weather for Mountain View, CA

60°F
Clear
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 69%

Mon

79° | 51°

Tue

72° | 45°

Wed

69° | 43°

Thu

71° | 46°

Woo hoo! Lots of walks for me and Oscar this week.

I do not heart center pull balls

2007-03-08T13:57:00.001-05:00

I'm working on a Clapotis in Knitpicks Shimmer held doubled and I'm nearing the end of the first 2 balls. I originally wound the skeins into center pull balls by hand (since I don't have a ball winder or swift) and now they're both a giant knotty mess. Last night one of them even broke on me. argh!

Even with center pull balls wound on a skein winder, I'm always fighting knots. I think from now on I'm going to wind skeins into non center pull balls and pull the yarn from the outside. I don't really care if they end up rolling across the floor, I'll figure something out some way to deal with that.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Still here...

2007-03-01T12:12:00.001-05:00

It's amazing that once you don't have to sit at your desk for 8 hours a day how much your blogging suffers. Since November, we've moved from the East Coast to the Left Coast, I've become a house wife (and a poor one at that - except for the cooking, I've gotten a lot better at that), we've reconnected with a bunch of friends from Hopkins, I fell on my face while running spraining my ankle in the process(luckily Isaac was with me), we went to San Diego, adopted a dog and I got a spinning wheel. I'm pretty sure more stuff has happened, but I can't really remember any of it right now.

Oscar and me across the street from the Humane Society

I'm going to try and update much more often, but I'm not making any promises.
Next post I'll write about my new wheel, what I've spun so far and the other projects I'm working on and the projects I've finished.

socktober sock(s)

2006-10-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I almost had them both done. But then I tried on the second sock and realized that I had knit it waaaayyyyy tighter than the first. So last night I ripped it all out.

Here's what they looked like before the ripping:The sock on the bottom is the completed one and the sock on the top is the now non-existent one. I restarted it though this morning on the Metro.

Here are the details for now:
Pattern: Alison's ankle socks
Yarn: Socks that rock in Cobalt Bloom from my ksks swap partner
Needles: 4 DPN's in US 3.

Remarks: I really like everything about this project so far. I love the sock that I've made so far and it's possible that you can sometimes find me walking around the house with this sock on. I am a fan of DPN's now too. In the past I have always used the Magic Loop method for stuff like this and my one DPN experience didn't work out that well (it was for the Shining Star hat, which starts out at the top with one stitch per DPN - that's where my problem was). I am only mildly entertained by the short row toes and heels, but I think that is only because I haven't mastered them yet. I hope. Most of all though I LOVE the socks that rock yarn. I've found a yarn store near where we are moving and I know for a fact that they stock the Socks that Rock.

Now, do you think I can finish the other sock by Tuesday? I only have to prepare for moving and run a 10k. No problemo. HA!

My sock history

2006-10-09T20:24:00.000-05:00

Somehow I started knitting a pair of socks. I'm not really sure how it happened. Maybe because all of my yarn, with the exception of some stuff in progress and the sock yarn I got from the ksks swap, is in a box somewhere. So, I figured I might as well join Socktoberfest. Here are my answers to the questions lolly posted.

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started my first sock last Thursday (Octboer 5, 2006) using socks that rock (which is absolutely fabulous!!!) I taught myself by reading Sensational Knitted Socks (again from my ksks partner) and Alison's ankle sock tutorial. I managed to teach myself how to make short row toes and heels using another of Alison's tutorials. I had to redo the heel about 1,000 times, but didn't have to restart the toe at all. I'm already planning ankle socks for everyone for Christmas!

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

So far they've held up great! Of course I've only worn the one finished sock for about a total of five minutes. The 2nd sock is still being worked on.

What would you have done differently?

I would have made the heel and toe on smaller needles and done the short row toe on the top half of the stitches so that the kitchener stitch is on the bottom of the foot instead of the top (for purely asthetic reasons that no one but me will notice).

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

Well, so far I've only used the Socks that Rock. And I'm already picking out new colorways to buy! And I have also been checking out the Koigu kppm with plans to buy some next time I'm at knit happens. I love the idea of superwash too.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I'm using DPNs right now, which is not actually too bad. I use the Magic Loop method for other small circular knits, so I could see using it for socks. And there's a good description of the 2 circular method in the Sensational Knitted Socks book that definitely seems do-able and has some good points.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

Right now, short-row because it's the only method I know. Plus I like ankle socks, so I can't imagine that flaps will work too well. Who knows though!?!?

How many pairs have you made?

1.5 No pictures yet because I can't find the card reader. But let me assure you that they are pretty! If you're nice, maybe you'll get a pair for Christmas.

Proof I was at Crafty Bastards

2006-10-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

Since I didn't manage to take any pictures of my own (doh!), there's one here that Teresa took of me helping her set up her booth. Her booth was super crowded all day. Yeah for her!

And don't forget that Heather is going to be on Martha today!

Tidbits

2006-10-03T15:20:00.000-05:00

I have totally slacked on posting for a couple of months now, but hopefully I'll get better at it again.

Crafty Bastards was this past Sunday. I helped Teresa of sewingstars set up her booth and then walked around a bit. I ended up not really buying anything. I may have been slightly disenchanted by the whole thing since we didn't get in. Plus these days most of my purchases are based on whether it is immediately consumable or if I really want to pack it. Anyway, Teresa was super duper nice and I ended up getting two pouches from her as thank you's for helping her set up (as well as some stationary and brownies) and I bought one of her owls. I figured since I didn't buy anything else I could splurge. I don't have a picture of my owl, but you can find him here in the sewing stars shop. He's sitting on my nightstand now. I also met Teresa's friend Heather of Bright Lights Little City. She found out on Friday that she is going to be on Martha this Wednesday. How awesome is that?! I have the Tivo set already to record the show. Her lamps are super pretty too. I'll definitely be keeping her lamps in mind for our new digs in California. I'll probably need a bedside lamp.

Most of my craft supplies are already packed up, but I've kept out some unfinished knits to hopefully complete during the transition. I've also kept some top and my drop spindles out to keep me occupied. I finished the side-way ribs sweater from Knitscene but need to take a picture of it still. I'm also trying to figure out the best way to block it. I wet blocked the swatch, but re-reading the knitty article made me hesitate to do it on the whole sweater because she says that alpaca will stretch when wet, the sweater may be a little too long already and the yarn is of course full of alpaca. We'll see. Pictures may or may not show up here at some point.

I wore a hole in my shoe

2006-09-26T09:56:00.000-05:00

I seriously wear these flip flops every day. I thought that there was just a piece of paper stuck in the bottom that I was too lazy to pick off. That is until Isaac pointed out that I wore right through them. Guess it's time for a new pair!

Oh and we're moving to California.

ksks swap received!

2006-07-28T15:46:00.000-05:00

I must be the luckiest swap recipient of the KSKS swap. Ann, my ksks pal was so generous and put together such a lovely package for me. She's certainly given me more motivation to make my kit fabulous as well. She just got back from England, so go to her blog and read about her trip.

Okay, now that you are done with that, let's see what I got, shall we?

Here's everything as it came out of the box. Ann wrapped everything up in dishtowels. What a great idea!

The first thing I opened was this tile. Isaac and I go to the National Zoo all the time and every other zoo we can whenever we get a chance (which is really mostly just the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Central Park Zoo). So this tile is perfect for me! It's a Grevy's Zebra, which you can read more about here. The St. Loius Zoo is doing a bunch of conservation work to protect the Grevy's zebra in Africa. Cool!!!

The whole package was scented like lavender, thanks to these candles and soap. If it were up to me, everything in this world would be scented with lavender. I told Ann that I want to put all of this under my pillow. Would that be wrong?

Sorry this picture is blurry, but as you can see it's "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. I've already read the whole thing and can't wait to start on my first pair of socks. This is a great book (my copy is better than the average copy though because it smells like lavender when you turn the pages)! It explains the different methods for knitting socks, gives lots of charts so you can adjust and make your socks the right size, explains how to use 4 or 5 needles to knit or 2 circulars and lots of different options. No wonder Ann said it is one of her favorites.

Here is the motherload of notions. Seriously, I was spoiled rotten! There is a cute tin of safety pins (small tin in the front), a box of labels (large tin in the bag), a yellow Chibi :), a counter, needle protector thingies and 2 pairs of bamboo circular needles for knitting on two circulars. Hooray! I am all set to start knitting socks!

But wait, what about the best parts of the package (in no particular order) ???

The yarn! It's Socks that Rock Superwash in Cobalt Bloom already wound up into a nice little yarn cake for me. It's beautiful and I am already predicting more Socks that Rock yarn in my future. I can see why people are so crazy about it! Plus I'm all over the superwash part.

Best part number 2 is the bag of course!

Look at this cute bag! The print of the fabric and the colors are absolutely perfect! My sister is going to be super jealous when she's sees the monkeys. I want to carry this bag around with me at all times too. I love the satin ribbon drawstring and the beads and the way the yarn cake fits perfectly in the bottom :)

Thank you so much Ann! You are truly a wonderful swap partner and I feel so lucky to have been your swapee!

Work is still progressing slowly but steadily on my own swap package...

rejected

2006-07-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

well, we didn't get into crafty bastards this year. wwaaahhh.... oh well. I guess our ceramics just aren't offbeat enough. I'm definitely dissapointed, but at least now I won't have to work on making a trillion pieces before October 1st and can focus instead on getting familiar with porcelain and lusters - my latest obsessions.

In other news:

1) I have been running my brains out. Well, not really, but I have cranked up the mileage and feel ready for the Annapolis 10-miler at the end of August. I would be a little happier though if it weren't so hot and humid outside all of the time.

2) I'm studying this knitty article so that I will hopefully be able to figure out which size of the Essential Indulgence sweater to knit from the Fall '05 Interweave Knits (scroll down about1/4 of the page). I got a deal on 7 skeins of the Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk at Knit Happens. Hopefully I'll be able to get it done in time for the fall. Of course I still haven't finished my Sitcom Chic that was my Olympic knitting...

3) We sold our one bedroom condo and (knock on wood) close at the end of August. woo hoo!

4) Still working on my ksks swap bag. It's coming along quite well and I installed my first magnetic snap last night. Easy peasy!

That's it for now. Tomorrow night we go see the Nats vs. the Cubs. Since the both stink, it should be a good game. And I win no matter who wins since they are both my favorite teams. Plus it's the grand re-opening of RFK and we get free hats!

ksks fabric

2006-07-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

Although I've been super busy not posting, I haven't forgotten my swap obligations. Here's proof:
I bought this fabric the other day and I plan to use this tutorial for the main bag, this pattern for a drawstring bag with some modifications to hopefully look something like this (scroll down past the yarn pictures - if you can) and a zip pouch or roll for notions. I'm planning to make the outside of the bag in the pinky-purple fabric and lining it with the swirly mosaic fabric (which will also make up the straps). The pattern I'm using makes a reversible bag, but I think that I'll be adding custom pockets and stuff on the inside, so it won't really be reversible. The greenish fabric will be for the pouch/roll that goes inside.

I also bought some knitting notions to go along with the kit, but I forgot to take a picture of them. And I bought some yarn dyed at Springwater, but I can't find it right now. You heard me right - I LOST YARN. It'll turn up eventually I'm sure. Our house is in more disarray than usual, so I'm not too surprised I can't find it.

All that's left (besides the sewing, which shouldn't be too bad) is to find a pattern to send along with the kit (and the non-knitting related goodies to add to the package). Choosing a pattern would be easier if I'd ever knitted a sock before... Oh well, that's my own fault I guess. Hopefully that will change after this swap.

So, that's it for now. I'm working on some crazy ceramics and it's pretty much all I want to do these days (well, except spin, but no wheel sort of helps with that). Hopefully I'll be able to post some ceramics stuff one of these days soon.

Another prop to occupy my time

2006-06-27T13:37:00.000-05:00

You get props too if you know what the title refers to.

I took a wheel spinning class this weekend at Springwater. Woo what a big mistake - don't get me wrong, I loved the class and I feel like I sort of know what I'm doing. The problem is that now I want a wheel and a drum carder. I don't just want them, I am consumed by the desire for a wheel and the desire to be spinning on a wheel at all time.

The first day of the class I used a Schacht Matchless single treadle wheel (the one I used had a single treadle, but only on the right side somehow). Of course I fell in love with that wheel, but when I went home that night and found out that it cost $800, I decided to try a different, cheaper wheel the next day. So, the next day I used the Fricke S-160-F which is less than $300. Right now I'm thinking about the Fricke s-160-DT and the Ashford Kiwi. I would really like something that folds like the s-160-f, but that only comes with a single treadle and I definitely want a double treadle. I think I might be able to convince one of our woodworking uncles to create some sort of conversion for me so that I can have something like the s160f but with double treadles. I'm thinking like the way you can get the Ashford Kiwi "converted" by the Merlin Tree.

Also on my list of wants are scotch tensioning and the ability to add a jumbo plying head and bobbins.

Every now and then I think about just getting the Lendrum original or the Schacht, but we'll see. I told myself and Isaac that I won't be buying a wheel until I can fit all of my clothes in the closet (I have a 2 foot pile of pants and an overflowing laundry basket of clothes from my parent's house that have no home) and I clean out the area between my craft table and the wall (where I'll ideally be able to store the wheel). That's definitely not happening in the next couple of weeks, so we'll see when I get a wheel. Also, I'll probably go to the Springwater spinning group to try out the wheels again before I actually buy one. Or I'll stalk around the internet looking for a really great deal (it has to be pretty good, I get 10% off of anything I buy at Springwater).

Oh, I learned so much this past weekend - like how to draft better and make joins better (my drop spindling has benefited from that one), you can buy silk waste (little end leftover from fabric making or sari making), cut it up and card it into your wool (so cool!), I learned how to ply, that I need to card my wool into batts or rolags before I spin it and I hate handcarding (hence the desire for a drumcarder - I'm too impatient to handcard).

Here are the 4 skeins I made this weekend - when I got home Isaac asked my why I didn't make them all smooth - I told him I couldn't. Silly boy!

The plied skein is on the left.

High school reunion or ....

2006-06-21T15:38:00.000-05:00

Yarn school?

Unfortunately, they are both on the same weekend and no where near each other. Hopefully they'll have another one next year. After all, look at this schedule! All the fun things I could be doing! Hopefully the reunion is fun or I will be quite upset...

My KSKS swap partner asked me how I feel about lace patterns for socks. I am certainly capable of lace knitting and I really hate doing endless amount of stockinette, so I think a simple lace pattern would be ok (but not mandatory). She's going to England at the end of the week - I am very jealous. Have a great trip!!!

Oh and have you seen these yet? Interesting....

KSKS questionnaire

2006-06-19T20:59:00.000-05:00

So, I signed up for the knit sock kit swap afterall. I am really, really looking forward to this, especially because the only thing I have to make is a bag and I am pretty proficient in the bag-making department. Plus I have tons of ideas running around my head already.

I already answered a lot of these questions for DyeORama, so I am going to link to my previous answers here. If you can't find the answer to one of the questions, it's most likely there. As for the new questions, here they are:

1) Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks?

No, I'm not a new sock knitter, I'm a "never knit a sock before" knitter! Although I am going to try and make a pair using this pattern with the yarn I got from my Dye O Rama pal.

2) Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn?

I like multicolored yarn and I also like yarn that is different shades of the same color.

3) What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn?

Having not knit any socks yet, I'm guessing here, but I think I'll like something machine washable and not to harsh on the bottom of my feet.

4) Where do you usually knit socks?

Nowhere right now, but I'll likely be knitting them in the car and on the train and keeping larger projects for knitting at home.

5) How do you usually carry/store small projects?

In zip pouches, drawstring bags or those cloth bags that pajama pants and stuff like that come in (cloth with draw strings or foldover tops) that are then put into a larger bag with all of my other crap.

6) What are your favorite sock knitting patterns?

None yet. Maybe my swap partner will be able to influence me some here :)

7) What are your favorite sock knitting techniques?

I don't know yet! I did teach myself how to magic loop though and it's all I use for knitting small things in the round.

8) What new techniques would you like to try?

I have been reading about short rows and 3-needle bind offs recently and they seem interesting.

9) Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting?

In general, I prefer circulars. I tried dpns for the shining star hat and returned them after realizing that I hated them and that magic loop was way easier.

Sent and received

2006-06-12T21:59:00.000-05:00

I am so in love with swaps right now. I'm even thinking of signing up for Scout's sock kit swap - and I don't knit socks (yet.) Why am I loving swaps so much? Well, you've already seen the back tack love I got from Laura. And today I got the greatest package from Linda, my Dye o Rama sender!

Here are all of the package contents (minus the lifesaver mints, which are in my bag already.) Along with my beeootiful yarn, Linda included a sock pattern booklet and dpns (trying to turn me into a sock knitter from afar!) and really, really cute shrinky dink stitch markers.

Here's a close-up of the yarn, which is definitely reminiscent of fall - like Linda intended.

The color in this picture is not so great - there is orange, green, brown, red and yellow in the real thing.

And here's a close-up of the shrinky dink stitch markers - all insects and so freakin' cute I can hardly stand it!

These are definitely going to be the ones I reach for first when I need stitch markers! And they are also making me want to break out the shrinky dinks, which I have actually been thinking about lately.

Thank you soooo much Linda! I love it all!!!

Now, as for the yarn I sent off (at the last possible moment - the deadline is today and I sent it off today!). It took me many, many tries to get it right and here is the final result -

My dye o rama recipient said that her favorite colors are pink, purple, blue and green - all of which I managed to get into this yarn, except for the green. I included some green stitch markers though to make up for it. I really hope she likes it!

I think Isaac has had enough of the dyeing in the house for awhile. I got a request to move everything from the kitchen to the spare bathroom (which I did). But when he saw this yarn, he didn't want me to send it off either!

See!!! That or he just wanted some attention and knew that kidnapping the yarn was the only way to get it...

Well, I'm off to sign up for the sock kit swap. I just can't help it!!! Plus this time around, the only thing I have to make is a project bag - and maybe some stitch markers.

Final back tack post

2006-06-09T22:03:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd summarize my softie making process - if not for some random person on the internet, then for myself in case I want to make one again (which I am pretty sure I do). There are lots of cute pictures at the end!

I used the kitty pattern out of this book.

(ISBN: 4-529-04076-3 - I bought it at the Matsuwa in Schaumburg, IL)

I photo copied the pattern at 90% (to make it ~ 20cm tall per back tack requirements) and cut them all out. The fabric I used for the softie was black and white jersey with iron on interfacing (Pellon interfacing for apparel and crafts - the most flexible one I could find since I didn't need it for stiffness but to prevent stretching when I stuffed the softie)

The other big thing I did was to use moveable joints for the first time ever. I bought them from CR's crafts per a suggestion in the back of the small toys to sew book from sewing stars. They didn't work as well as I thought they would... I had to file down the inside of the lock washer in order to get it to fit on the post. That really stunk - I'm sure there is some way to use them without the filing, but I haven't figured it out. If I didn't file the lock washer I could not for the life of me get them onto the post. The other problem I had was a floppy head issue. I didn't know what to do about it and I still don't, so I had to send her that way.

See how her head flops back and forth? That's her one big flaw in my opinion.

I think my favorite part of making this softie was all of the dresses I made for her. They were so easy to sew and so cute!

The three dresses from the front

The three dresses from the back.

The dress with ties was made from this pattern and is reversible. All of the dresses were made with stash fabric (the mint green one is felt). These dresses are where I chose to incorporate my 5 buttons per back tack requirements.

I think that pretty much summarizes the whole creation process. I am definitely going to be sewing more softies in the near future!

Here are some additional pictures I took before I sent her off. Enjoy!

Nekid!

Outfit #1

Outfit #1 - other side

Outfit #2 - the one I sent her in

Outfit #3

Before I sent her off, I figured I would take her on a little sight seeing tour of DC.

A building on 14th Street

A tree on the National Mall

In front of the Washington Monument

I wanted to take her couple more places, but I ran out of time before I had to send her off. Hopefully she saw enough of DC and is enjoying her new home!

Can someone tell me why my sidebar is showing up at the bottom of my blog instead of at the side? And why aren't the link names showing up? You can still click on them, they just look blank. What happened!?!?!?

A pointy kitty of my own!

2006-06-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

I received my back tack III package in the mail yesterday from the wonderful Laura.

My first pleasant surprise was that she had wrapped everything in the box in beautiful wrapping paper. See:

For anyone who has ever seen me unwrap a present, you know it took me forever to unwrap these so that I could save that beautiful paper.

Here's a picture of everything in the package (except for the beautiful letter press note that Laura wrote):

Laura included a delicous looking bar of chocolate that I can not wait to break into (the only reason I haven't yet is because I still have leftover guilt from eating a lot of pie at work yesterday - but I'm sure it will be eaten this weekend). She also included a journal book kit for me to make since I mentioned that I want to do more bookbinding. It's even from one of my favorite stores - Paper Source! I think I am going to make the book (after I finish my yarn for Dye-o-rama this weekend) and use it for recording notes on knitting patterns that I use.

Here's are some shots of the kitty on her own.

I don't know what it is about her, but I love her to bits! Somehow she has her own personality - a little sassy and very self-confident. I also love this button on her collar:

It's a cow jumping over the moon! So cute!!! And definitely a button right up my alley. (In case you aren't participating in back tack and are wondering, the pattern for this kitty is from Hilary of Wee Wonderfuls - one of several provided for the swap.)

I am debating where to put her - on my nightstand or at my crafting/sewing table to watch over all of my crafting. I am leaning toward the craft table since she came from a crafting swap and I don't have a studio confidante yet. Also, I think I might name her Blu Kitty in honor of Laura and her daughter.

I am definitely going to enjoy her - don't worry about that Laura! Thank you so much!!!

Oh, and my back tack recipient received her package last week - go check it out on her blog. It was hard to send my stuffy away, but getting such a great one in return has made everything okay again :)

I'm done ahead of schedule!

2006-05-30T12:09:00.001-05:00

I finished up my back tack III project over the weekend. I'll actually be sending her out (barely) ahead of schedule!

I realized though last night that I broke almost all of the rules.

1. They must be made from black and/or white materials. How much of either you use is up to you. It can be plain, or patterned. It can be knitted, felted, plastic whatever your imagination comes up with. We want you to get creative here, and think outside the box.

Ok, I actually followed this rule...

2. 1 additional colour - and one only - may be used, but it cannot comprise more than 20% of the final piece.

This is a bit tricky. The stuffy itself does not use any other colors except for some yellow floss I used to embroider the initial. If the right included accessory is utilized, then 20% of the final piece is one additional color. But if one of the other 2 accessories are utilized, then there is more than 1 additional color. Just try to ignore the fact that there are 3 accessories of different color that, combined, add up to more area of fabric than the stuffy itself. Does any of that make sense?

3. The softie cannot be any higher than 20cm

Uh, when sitting, she sits probably 22cm tall...

4. You must attach 5 buttons of your choice, in locations also of your choice, to the softie.

I didn't realize that I broke this rule until last night. I used 5 buttons, but they are attached to her accessories, not the softie. oops.

5. You must include on your softie somewhere the first initial of the person you are sending this to. So if you are sending to Sarah, you must have a letter 'S' somewhere on the softie. Again, use your imagination.

I managed to follow this one too even though I don't feel like the initial is my finest work. It's more like something I did because I had to. But one of her accessories has the initial on it.

So, are you dying for some pictures? Well, here's one I took on the way to work this morning that doesn't show her completely, so hopefully I'm not giving too much away. By the way, that's the Washington monument in the background.

That's the only one for now though until I send her off. I'm going to include some silk cap and maybe some handmade stitch markers in the package. I don't know what else to send though. Any suggestions?

I'll post more information on the pattern and what I did after Jenanne has received her.

back tack III update

2006-05-23T12:11:00.000-05:00

I was reading the other back tack participant blogs and was reminded by someone (I can't remember who) that we are supposed to be posting regularly on our progress. I've been doing a pretty stinky job at that, wouldn't you say.

I have been making progress though! As I mentioned yesterday, I just need to stuff her (I did one leg last night) and make a few more things and I'll be done. I think the hardest parts are going to be 1) giving her away and 2) finding other things to send with her.

Just to show you that I am actually making progress, I took 2 blurry shots on my way out the door this morning. They're small because they're blurry and I don't want to give away too much detail...

Where am I?

2006-05-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

I feel like I am neglecting my blog lately. But between the sewing for back tack and the equipment/supply purchasing for dye-o-rama, I don't have much time for posting left! Add that to the wool-washing class I took at Springwater last week (sheep are smell-ee!) and the drop spindle spinning I have been doing, there's not much time left for picture uploading and blogging!

If you are my back tack recipient, never fear, I have been dilligently working on your stuffy! I'm currently working on some details before I stuff her and sew her up. Then I have to sew a few additional pieces and I will be finito! I embroidered on the initial yesterday, but I'm not sure I like it, so I may have to fiddle with that some more. She's coming along quite nicely though. Isaac is a little sad that I will be sending her away. I think I will be right on time for the deadline!

My dyeorama project is currently taking backseat to backtack since the deadline for dyeorama is later. I was all ready to mix the acid dyes up this weekend, but I saw a couple of posts on the dyeorama blog that made me worried about the health risks involved. Looks like I might be dyeing with kool-aid after all. My recipient posted a picture of some yarn she dyed this past weekend and I think that what I have in mind will fit her nicely.

Since this is an anonymous process I'm going to tell you that I am plannning to dye a colorway called Cherry Blossom. I'm not normally into pinks, but I think the combination of pink, white and a little green and brown might come out really nicely.

Here's a couple of pictures of the cherry blossoms around the tidal basin here in DC, in case you don't quite know what I'm imagining. (Click for a larger version)

by gdallasc

© SuperStock, Inc.

by garysmom725

by petrarick

I probably am going to tone down the pink some though. It will most likely not be the predominant color. I am also not planning on making self-striping yarn because that just seems way too complicated.

Oh and hey, today's our 2 year anniversary!

Dye-O-Rama meme

2006-05-16T13:58:00.000-05:00

The dye-o-rama mamas posted this meme and I thought I'd fill it out. Here goes.

1) Your favorite colors? Dark brown and all colors that go with it (especially strong pinks, blue, greens, etc). I'm not particularly fond of pastels.

2) Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? Any weight is ok with me. I don't knit socks, but there are plenty of other patterns using all of those weights out there. I'll figure out what to do with it later!

3) Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? Probably mulitcolored or one-color but with shade variations (ie. not just one solid color).

4) If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? Sure, but don't kill yourself trying it if you can't! I like plain old dyed yarn too :)

5) Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? I'm open to anything

6) Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? mmm.. I can't tell you because it's what I'm making for my partner! The second perfect colorway would be called Spring because it's my favorite time of the year and I love all of the colors associated with spring (flowers blooming, grass turning green, blue skies, etc)

7) What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? It gives me a good excuse to buy yarn and dye and experiment with yarn dyeing.

General yarn/fiber questions:

8) Have you dyed yarn/fiber before?

Yes, but only roving dyed with koolaid in the microwave in really small batches.

9) If so, what's your favorite dye and method?

I guess it would have to be kool-aid in the microwave! But for this swap, I'm going to try acid dyes on the stove or in the oven.

10) Do you spin?

yes - I just bought a boat-load of stuff to spin at MDSW - check out the handful of posts before this one.

11) Have you knit socks before?

nope - not sure I ever will either. Their portability appeals to me, but actually wearing them doesn't really - unless they're footies, I might go for those. There is a sample pair that I really like at Knit Happens, but Holly told me that she doesn't have a pattern for them :(

12) Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too?

Well, seeing as I've never knit a sock, I guess it's only for other patterns.

13) What are some of your favorite yarns?

I really like the wool/silk blends they have a Springwater.

14) What yarn do you totally covet?

Debbie Bliss Alpaca silk, only because I really want to make Lara, but have a really hard time spending $100+ on the yarn to make it. I have tried to find a substitute, but the Alpaca silk is so soft and pretty!

15) Favorite patterns?

I love the shining star hat pattern by Kate Gilbert. It's so easy and quick to make (especially for babies) and the result is pretty. I like patterns that are more than just stockinette stitch but not so complicated that I have to be reading the pattern for every stitch. I also like patterns that don't require any seaming, teach me a new skill (like with the sleeves of sitcom chick) and quick patterns to knit (especially those that use some of the single skeins I couldn't live without in my stash).

16) Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?

I would love to make one of Hanne Falkenberg's kits (Diva, Ballerina, Tweedie or Jazz), but would pick a less itchy yarn. They have them here. As I mentioned before also, I would love to knit Lara (I already have the pattern, just need the money!)

17) Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?

Addi Turbo circs - but due to the fact that I don't want to be spending tons and tons of money on needles, I use my 2 sets of Denise Interchangeables a lot. Ideally I would like a needle with the fast metal needles and skinny, flexible Addi Turbo cables but for it to be interchangeable.

18) If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?

I would be a hanspun yarn made of ostly wool with a few fun little bits and fiber types thrown in here and there. I would probably be somewhere between DK and bulky weight. Not super colorful, but every now and then have a little surprise color or fiber bit. One thing is for sure - I would be one of a kind!

Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

19) Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?

I'm not really a big candy eater. I love chocolate and oreo cookies, but really don't eat them that much because of their sugar content. I like dried fruit a lot (including fruit leather!) And I like a lot of weird snacks that you would buy at the health food store (seeds and nuts) and the asian grocery store (like dried squid!) no one else will eat.

20) What's your favorite animal?

Cats and pandas (I know that's 2 favorite animals, but I am an animal lover!)

21) Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages?

Yes, we have a fishtank full of fish - no names and ages vary. We also have a red-eared slider (a turtle) named Dario. I think he is about 4 years old. He was one of those turtles sold in NYC's Chinatown for $3. He started out about the size of a half dollar and is now about 10" across!

22) If you were a color what color would you be?

A calm, but intense/deep color like sea green or sea blue.

23) Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else's).

A dark brown (shocking, I know) t-shirt from Target that is just the right length and has some stretch to it, making it not too tight, but not loose either. I love t-shirts with some stretch to them. I also really like the sleevless t's from American Apparel

24) What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature?

I don't think there is any one thing in nature that most inspires me. I find everything in nature inspiring - the colors, the shapes of trees, flowers on trees, flowers in general, the color of the sky, the wind, I could go on and on! Spring definitely inspires me a lot too (the weather, everything blooming, people going outside more, etc)

25) Tell me the best quote you've ever heard or read.

I know there are some, but I can't think of them off of the top of my head.

26) Do you have a wishlist?

yes. sort of. I made it more for myself so that I can remember what I want to eventually buy.

27) Anything else you'd like to share with the group today?

I think anything my dye-o-rama partner makes for me will be spectacular! I hope they are having a good time with this all!

I'm posting this to blogger via email. How cool is that? Unfortunately, it does not support pictures, but great for text!

Off to the thrift store!

2006-05-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

It's 4pm and I can hardly concentrate on work anymore. I have a trip planned to the thrift store down the road to buy the pots and spoons and stuff needed to acid dye. I can't wait!

And whatever I can't find there, hopefully I'll find at a chruch rummage sale I'm going to tomorrow.

Also, the rest of the MD sheep and wool stuff is coming, I just haven't had time to write the posts. Hopefully I'll have a chance this weekend.

Maryland Sheep and Wool - Yarn report

2006-05-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

Isaac is asking me if I can use the power drill to spin yarn. I am thinking that maybe with a lot of pre-drafting it can work. He is currently investigating the possibility...

Oh wait, this post is supposed to be about yarn. (Scroll down to the bottom for swap progress updates.)

I only bought 5 skeins of yarn at MDSW! I guess after all the spinning fiber I bought, I couldn't really justify buying yarn. But the yarn I bought is pretty nice.

It's my first Noro purchase ever! 5 balls of Noro Kureyon in color 134 from Misty Mountain Farm. Thanks to my handy-dandy spreadsheet I took with me, I knew that these would be sufficient to make Tovesta (shown below) from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Noro 2 (which I will be buying from Springwater next time I am there).

The best part is that the Kureyon was 30% off - so each ball was only $7.20! Now I'll get a chance to see what all of the fuss is about over Noro.

So, that's all the yarn I bought. Not too bad at all (just don't think about all the other stuff I bought...)

I did see this really cool giant basket outside of the Hillcreek Fiber Studio tent.

You can't really see the scale too well here, but it's probably about a foot in diameter across the mouth and was made holding several strands of yarn together. I am guess that it is crocheted, but I really have no idea. I know it's not knit, but that's about it. Can anyone help me with this one? Is it from some pattern I don't know about? (which, when it comes to crochet, I don't know much about any of them)

I also found the perfect yarn for a blanket that my sister wants me to knit for her. It was also at Hillcreek - it's Brown Sheep's Burley Spun. It's got a super big gauge and comes in the grey she wants. Now I just have to order some from somewhere.

Dye-o-rama and back tack III updates

dye-o-rama
I placed an order with knitpicks for a whole bunch of fingering weight 'color your own' yarn (and some shimmer in turquoise splendor for a clapotis while I was at it - hey, I wanted free shipping, what can I say?) I also got 6 packs of Cushing's acid dyes at MDSW, a mask and pvc to make a niddy noddy at Lowe's. I need to get some pots and stuff dedicated to dying at the thrift store, wait for the yarn to arrive and I will be ready to dye my heart out (oh and borrow - indefinitely - some disposable gloves from work.) I also scoped out the paint section while I was at Lowe's today picking out various possible color combinations for my yarn. I highly recommend it - it was fun and an easy way to figure out which colors go well together.

back tack III
The prototype has been sewn, but the joints just came in the mail today. Last night I realized that the prototype is going to be more than 20cm in height, so I had to make some pattern modifications on the xerox machine today. Hopefully they will work out ok. I picked out fabric for the body today, but still need to go back and get some more for accessories. This weekend I'll probably start working on the final stuffy.

For once I am actually on schedule for a swap (knock on wood it stays that way). And I am really enjoying both of them a lot!

Now though, I must go to bed.

Maryland Sheep and Wool 2006 - Spinning edition

2006-05-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

alpaca chillin' at the festival

My spinning fiber shopping list for MDSW consisted of EcoSpun (made from recycled pop (not soda) bottles) and fun stuff to add into my yarn.

Well, needless to say, I found that and then some...

My first purchase of the day came pretty much a half hour to 45 minutes after I got there and looks like this.

One pound of blue-faced leicester roving bought from Haltwhistle Fibre in the main building (whose owner is retiring - this was the last year for them at sheep and wool). It came from a guy like this in England.

The roving is super soft and I just want to rub my hands over it all day! Even Isaac agreed that it is super soft. And it's in my current favorite color - brown! This roving might have to wait until I can get my hands on a wheel though because I really want to spin it into a nice consistent skein of yarn, which would take eons with a drop spindle.

Before I could inflict anymore harm on my credit card, Isaac was done with the first sheep dog demo and was starving, so he bought a lamb sausage from the boys scouts and he ate it in the shade. That's when I discovered that I really, really do not like lamb sausage from the boy scouts. It had a really bad taste to me. I don't quite understand why.

After the lamb sausage break, I went back to the main building and discovered the Little Barn. Apparently I was not the only one.

Beginning of the line

End of the line

Luckily when I checked out the line was only 2 people deep, but I saw at least 20 people in line at various times during the day (this is where I saw one of the girls from woolarina.com). Once I got over the size of the line, I ventured into the booth. Holee cow! No wonder the line was so long!!! There was an abundance of fiber for spinning in addition to some cheap yarn. The booth was jam packed with goodness. I managed to come away with a lot and all for 50 bucks!

This is not really the best picture ever (not to mention that it is upside down), but it will have to do. Clockwise from the top, we have one bag of blue and orange 90% wool, 10% silk combed top (I have big plans for this color combo), white ecospun (there are 2 more bags not in this picture), recycled denim and cotton and finally, yak! The yak is probably as soft as the blue-faced leicester and I just couldn't resist getting it (again, it's brown). I think the Little Barn just may become one of my primary spinning fiber suppliers and a must visit booth for future festivals. (Do you like how I say supplier, like I purchase vast quantities of fiber all the time? Oh wait, I did this weekend - but really, I don't normally.)

The next stop was in the main building also. I went back to the Carolina Homepsun booth to buy some dyed merino roving I had seen there earlier (just now while looking up the link for Carlina Homspun, I realized that they are in San Francisco - when we move to Berkeley eventually I know where to get my fiber fix!)

Isn't it pretty? It was a tough call between the colorway I bought and this one:

I think I might try something like this when I am experimenting for dye-o-rama. Saturday night I realized I could have picked up something like this for my backtack 3 partner too, but wasn't thinking about anyone but myself all day apparently!

My last spinning fiber purchase of the day was from The Fold - located a couple of towns away from where I grew up! If only I had known about spinning back then...
'Glitz' (I don't really like that name, but I don't know what else to call it) for spinning. I'm interested to see how this will turn out.

On Sunday, I only had a slight desire to go back. Today though, reading some of the blogs of the girls from knit happens and their MDSW experience really makes me want to go back!!! Just goes to show you that everyone's experience is different.

On the agenda for tomorrow: the yarn I bought! (A much, much shorter post than today's, I promise)

Sheep and wool - part 1 of several

2006-05-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

The Mayland Sheep and Wool festival was amazing! There are so many vendors with great yarn, fleece, dyed roving, equipment, accessories, animals and tons more. It was not as nearly of a crazy time as I thought it would be, which is definitely good.

I originally intended getting there at 8:30 before the gates opened at 9 so I could get a semi-decent parking spot and rush to booths that I thought would have nothing left by the time I got to them. Well, that didn't happen...

Harlequin sheep

Isaac decided on Friday night to come with me and see the border collies and the sheep and then go hang out with a friend in Columbia until I was done. I am glad he came because he had a great time and so did I. We didn't get out of the house until 8:30 and didn't make it to the Howard County Fairgrounds until 11am (conveniently when the border collie sheep herding demo started). I fully admit that this is mostly my fault since I didn't make us get up earlier and forgot both the directions and the memory card for the camera. So, we had to stop in Columbia at Compusa and Target to find a cheapo memory card. Then while we were there, I went to JoAnn's next door to get thread for my new serger since I knew I probably wouldn't be stopping there again. So, with our new memory card, serger thread and Isaac having looked at a map at Border's for directions, we were off.

Blue faced leicester

The line of cars from 70 to get into the fairgrounds was quite long, but it moved really quickly. Those Boy Scout troop leaders sure know how to move traffic. We followed their directions and as we turned left into the first aisle a woman was leaving. Score! We got an excellent parking spot! (One of the things I had heard about was that if you got there too late, you would have to park up to a mile away) I guess if you show up late enough, the early birds are leaving by then.

Meat lambs :(

I dropped Isaac off at the sheep dog demo and started in the main building. I managed to see every vendor there (although not every sheep breed - the start to blend together after awhile). I did not find a long spinning, heavy drop spindle, niddy noddy (there were lots, just not any that really caught my eye) or sock yarn to dye for dye-o-rama, but I definitely spent plenty of money! Looking back, I should have bought some stuff for my backtack and dyeorama recipients, but I didn't. oops. I did manage to spend less than $200 (just barely!), which I think is pretty good. I also saw a lot more people that I recognized there than I expected - Holly from knit happens, one of the girls (the one that lives in DC) from Woolarina, two fiber crazy women that I took the vessel felting class with at Springwater (also the only 2 I said hi to since they're the only 2 that I felt comfortable saying hi to), one of my old ceramics teachers and Sharon Costello (who had her own booth and taught the vessel felting class - I saw lots of people walking around with her felting 'mats'). I didn't see Heidi though, which is too bad.

Jacob sheep

General festival observations:

I do not like lamb sausage - Isaac got one from the boy scouts and liked it, but I really, really did not like it at all, which is surprising, because I usually love to eat lamb
Sheep are waaayyyy cute!
When the baa they stick their tongues out!
I'm sure people sold out of stuff, but if they did, I didn't really notice - I never found the Noro ends booth and don't care, The Fold sold out of Socks That Rock yarn in the morning and again, I didn't really care.
I thought there would be more handmade spindles there, but there weren't.
The weather was gorgeous! A little windy (which meant lots of dust), but otherwise just great.
One long day there was plenty. I could probably go back there today, but I'd just end up spending more money...
The sheep dog thing is really just a demonstration of 3 border collies herding sheep - it's not a competition and the demo is the same all day
Boy scouts sell iced tea and lemonade for $1.50

The only sheep that came home with us! (from the Border Collie Rescue Group)

If you have any interest what so ever in fiber arts, I highly recommend you make the trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival sometime. It's completely worth it! I will definitely be going back next year (on Saturday around 11 am)!

Stay tuned this week for all of the goodies I brought home with me!

Maryland Sheep and Wool!

2006-05-04T11:38:00.000-05:00

Is only 2 days away now and I have to admit that I am a little intimidated. I went to an informal thing at Springwater last week called "Preparing for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival". At least I now have some idea of what to excpect, but I'm expecting a mad rush for the gate at 9am, lots and lots of fiber, animals and mostly people, including fiber crazy knitters and spinners, but no toilet paper or shade.

I've already visited multiple forums to find 'must visit' booths, written a list (that I am putting in Excel soon) of the projects I would like to knit so that when I find yarn I absolutely love, I will buy enough to actually make something with and printed out a wpi/gauge/yardage/yarn weight table in case yarns are not labelled by their type. I am not taking my calculator, even though the engineer in me really wants to.

I think I might be going a little crazy here. I'm sort of predicting that I end up buying no yarn for any sort of knitting projects. Here's the list of things I will be looking to buy (I love lists!):

roving, fun bits to spin in my yarn, ecospun
heavy bottom whorl spindle for spinning thicker yarn
undyed wool sock yarn for dye-o-rama
undyed roving and yarn for future endeavors
if I come across a yarn that will work for one of the projects on my list and it is cheaper than the recommended or a substitute yarn or unique, I'll most likely get it
super duper bulky grey yarn for a blanket I am making up for my sister (or maybe roving for the blanket - or maybe part of a raw fleece, we'll see)
acid dye

I may be going crazy/overboard in the prep, but at least the weather is looking good for the weekend! Isaac has already mentioned several times how excited I am. I can't decide if I want him to come with me or not - on one hand, there will be lots of fiber animals for him to see (sheep, alpaca, rabbits, etc), sheep dog trials (border collies only, I think) to watch and food for him to eat, but on the other hand, I won't get to run around like a mad woman as much if he is there.

I will take lots of pictures and post them next week!

Ceramics wednesday - Trough

2006-05-03T12:39:00.000-05:00

Trough - April 2006

This piece was originally destined to become the base for a fountain. I started out with a slab that I texturized on both sides using these mats made by Chinese Clay Art.

Then I tore chunks off and randomly placed them all over the mold (sorry no picture of the mold), overlapping the pieces in an attempt to get some adhesion. There was a brief moment of panic when I couldn't get the piece off the mold that involved a blow torch and the director of the clay program, but I digress...

After coming off the slump mold:

Outside - tree texture

Inside - rock texture

It became clear after the bisque firing though that this puppy was never going to hold water due to some (unintentional!) cracks that had developed in the kiln. But not to worry, I had paperclay to patch them up! (no, not the kind you can buy at Michael's, but a special blend I made up in the blender consisting of toilet paper, clay and water) I didn't take any pictures of that process, but let me tell you that my life is inifintely better after I was taught the virtues of paper clay - this stuff can fix many of your problems.

After a second bisque firing to make sure the paper clay sealed up the cracks, I glazed the piece with satin green brushed on the inside and copper iron oxide wash followed by a layer of blue-black brushed on the outside. Then I went over the inside and outside with a dry brush and sponge.

I give full credit to Susan, my ceramics pal, for the glaze. I glazed it, but it was her color combinations and techniques that really made it all work.

Ta-da!

After glaze firing:

The red areas are from the red iron oxide wash and the greenish areas are from the red iron oxide wash + blue-black combo.

The piece shrunk and warped in the glaze firing and developed a new, large crack on the outside, but I don't care, because I LOVE IT!!!!

My ceramics teacher said that the piece got a lot of comments in the kiln room, which I am quite proud of. And I have to again thank Susan for her glaze expertise, without her, this piece would not have been half as spectacular.

I see lots of wood-textured pieces in my future, as well as more of the copper iron oxide wash + blue-black combo in my future.

No luck at Michael's

2006-05-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

The search for stuffy joints (or whatever they're called) was a bust at Michael's. They have sort of a random selection of doll/bear making supplies - tons and tons of googly eyes, some hair, some fleece for beards and such, those black eyes that need a back (like these) and some half-sphere things that are eyes, I guess, but I couldn't figure out how to attach them (hot glue maybe?) But no joints and no noses and no buttons for eyes.

Tomorrow I'll be placing an order at CR's craft (a link I got out of the back of the small toys to sew booklet I bought from Sewing Stars) for all the goods I need (especially since Joann's and AC Moore are a pain to get to). Hopefully they'll get here soon so I won't be rushing to meet the deadline!!!

I took some ceramics pictures, so there will actually be ceramics Wednesday tomorrow.

If you are Jenanne, don't read this post!!!

2006-05-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

I have been matched with Jenanne for back tack III and don't want her to read this post, since it divulges my plans for her stuffy. So, if you are Jenanne, I am serious, don't read this. You'll spoil your surpise!

----------------------------------------------
Ok, so now that she's gone, here are all of my plans so far:

I have decided to make a cat. Probably not a huge surprise to anyone who knows me, since I love cats. But I found a pattern in one of the Japanese craft books I bought at Mitsuwa back in March while I was in Chicago. I am pretty confident in my ability to make this, but we'll see what happens, considering all of the instructions are in Japanese!!!

Here's a picture of the cat from the cover of the book (along with a pig and a frog).

The ISBN for this book is 4-529-04076-3 - if you are wondering.

In some ways, I am not being very creative in dealing with the fabric "challenge" the back tack organizers asked for (black and white fabric only except for 20% color, with the body being black and white and the smock being the color - I consider it to be 20% or less of the whole stuffy), but I think it will still turn out really cute. I haven't decided yet if the J should go on her smock front or somewhere else (another swap rule - the initial of the recipient must be somewhere on the stuffy), but I do know that I am going to make her eyes open (most likely with buttons - I might draw some eyes on shrinky dinks and put holes in them like a button). Tonite I'm going to Michael's to look for a button nose and some doll joint parts so that the head, arms and legs can move, since that's what they use in the book and it looks easy enough to do (famous last words!) I have some soft fake ultrasuede type stuff in black that I am going to use for most of the body and I think everything else will be in wool felt.

That's it for the plans so far!
Hopefully there will be some sort of sewing progress to show on Monday. Stay tuned!

One little last note: I bought a serger yesterday from Costco.com - don't think it will help me much with this project, but I don't care. I have a serger!!! yeah!!!! Lots of spring skirts with rolled edge hems on the way!

why what do we have here?

2006-04-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

It's an actual finished object - the turtleneck shrug!

The picture is inentionally small because I look horrid (we just got home from yoga), but you get the idea. I still need to sew in the ends and block it, but the hard part is now done! Isaac hates it, but he's not really too into fashionable items (which is good for me because then he doesn't expect me to be fashionable). The sleeves are a little long and the part under my arm doesn't quite reach my armpits, but when I blocked my swatch, it shrunk/tightened the stitches some, so I think the same will happen here and it will fit better.

Details:
Pattern - Turtleneck Shrug from Scarf Style
Yarn - Nashua Creative Focus Worsted in Chocolate #3249, 3 skeins
Needles - Addi Turbo, US7, 16"

Pattern notes - I pretty much followed the pattern to a T. Except that I used a different yarn (due to my cheapness) and only knit 7" of the turtleneck instead of the 8" given in the pattern (because I ran out of yarn). The turtleneck part turned out just fine. I used the twisted german cast on for the sleeves (for the stretchiness) and a regular (but loose) bind off. If I were to knit this again, I would make the sleeves about 2 inches shorter. The sleeves go past my knuckles right now. As for the yarn, I really love it. It's soft (not super, super soft, but good enough) and not too expensive (I think I paid about $8 per skein). I will not be doing garments in 3x3 rib for awhile though.

Up next:
I started the swatch for my next project this morning on the train - the craftster UO circular shrug in Peru DK luxury (bought on sale at AC Moore) in color #01 (creamish).

More pictures after I've finished it completely!

Ceramics wednesday excuses

2006-04-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

So, I don't have much for ceramics Wednesday this week. (Do I really ever?) This weeks excuses are 1) I can't find the card reader for the camera (which also explains the lack of pictures lately) and 2) the mug I have from Starbucks (which is the greatest mug ever) is still at ceramics where I realized I left it this morning.

Instead, here's a link to Heath Ceramics, which has some very nice, simple, functional pieces. There is a 25% off deal right now too if you subscribe to Daily Candy (easy and free to sign up!) and know the code (good on everything but teapots). I will definitely be spending some more time browsing their website for some inpiring pieces.

If you're into reading today, there was a good piece on whip up about ceramic decals, something we learned about last session that can really spruce up a piece that you think is just butt ugly after glazing.

Stop staring!

2006-04-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

I took the Metro to and from work today and yesterday. People were staring at me knitting on the train and in the station. What, you've never seen anyone knit before? geesh, stop staring at me. I thought since everyone and their brother knits these days, it wouldn't be such an attention-getter. Guess I was wrong.

A little help please

2006-04-25T12:37:00.000-05:00

My wedding dress is at the cleaners finally!!! Almost 2 years later, I hope they'll be able to get the mud and goose poo out of the hem. I am looking forward to getting it back and seeing how pretty it is again.

Speaking of wedding - anyone have any good ideas for an anniversary present for the 2nd anniversary (the cotton anniversary)? Last year it was the paper anniversary and I changed my name (unbeknownst to Isaac) and gave him all the documents from that (including the stationary I had printed for myself with my new name :) He really liked that and I am not sure how I am going to top it this year. And I want something meaningful, not socks like my sister suggested.

If you actually help me with this, I'll send you some homespun yarn! (hmm.. is that really a prize or a punishment?)

spinning = addictive = trouble

2006-04-25T12:07:00.000-05:00

I took a class on using the drop spindle this weekend at Springwater. Although I already knew the basics of using a drop spindle, my yarn was very thick and thin all over the place and short. Not very useful for knitting anything other than a scarf, hat or maybe a pot holder. I learned how to fix that by predrafting, carding, fixing any trouble spots and putting my hands in the right place when drafting.

I am now officially addicted to spinning. I dyed a bunch of roving I had lying around in various kool aid colors and spent last night carding a bunch of it and spinning it with the undyed stuff. I did 3 more colors last night and will add those to the pile sometime this week. I also learned how to add multiple sections of spun yarn together so that I am not limited in length by what fits on the spindle. That was definitely one of the major limitations I saw with a drop spindle.

I am currently obsessed with spinning more yarn, dying and combing more fiber and plotting ways and types of fiber I am going to buy. I am really interested in EcoSpun, which is made from recycled pop bottles, but I can't find any to buy online and Springwater is currently waiting for their shipment. I am also thinking of buying some Brown Sheep mill ends (cheap!!! and I've been looking for a way to get some superwash!)

Spring = sneezy!

2006-04-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

Spring is definitely showing us who's boss around here. The weather is nice (rainy at times, but it is spring after all), but the pollen is kicking many people's butts. My nose is not happy at all. I think the layer of yellow pollen on all of the cars might have something to do with it.

Spring swaps

2006-04-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

I signed up for 2 crafty swaps that will take me from the beautiful weather of spring to the hot, humid weather of summer.

The first swap is back tack III - I never got anything from my last back tack partner, so I'm hoping this time there won't be a repeat performance. Although I think the same thing happened to lots of people last time because the organizers have changed the rules significantly and I think are planning to out those who don't fulfill their swap obligations. I think this swap will be a challenge for myself, not because of the sewing (which is how I plan to make my stuffy), but more because of the design-related rules:

(from this back tack post)
1. They [the stuffies] must be made from black and/or white materials. How much of either you use is up to you. It can be plain, or patterned. It can be knitted, felted, plastic whatever your imagination comes up with. We want you to get creative here, and think outside the box.
2. 1 additional colour - and one only - may be used, but it cannot comprise more than 20% of the final piece.
3. The softie cannot be any higher than 20cm
4. You must attach 5 buttons of your choice, in locations also of your choice, to the softie.
5. You must include on your softie somewhere the first initial of the person you are sending this to. So if you are sending to Sarah, you must have a letter 'S' somewhere on the softie. Again, use your imagination.

We'll see how it turns out!

The second swap I joined is Dye-O-Rama. Sign ups are open until 8pm EST this saturday, so if you want to join too it's not too late. I have joined in the "WTF am I doing?" group. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the yarn I dye doesn't actually come out looking like I have no idea what I am doing.

I am going to Springwater this weekend for a drop spindle class, so I'll check out the yarn (wool sock yarn only according to the rules) available for dying and their dye selection. I am probably either going to use kool aid, easter egg dye, or I may branch out and try some acid dye. I also signed up to be an angel. I figure once dying some extra yarn when I dye for my recipient won't be a big deal (knock on wood).

Here goes nothing!!!

finish-itis?

2006-04-18T09:24:00.000-05:00

or ADD?

I am not sure what my problem is, but I seem to be really (really) good at starting a knitting or sewing project and then not finishing it. I think I want instant gratification with my projects, so I start something I just have to make, get impatient because I can't finish it in a week and jump to the next thing (which is always already lined up).

Case in point -

Projects currently being made (sort of a repeat from this post):

Turtleneck shrug (I am half way done with the second sleeve at least). I have told myself that I can't start any of the knitting projects I have waiting until I finish this.
Sitcom chic cardigan (aka my knitting olympics project) - although I have picked this back up again thanks to the comment from Amy
A blanket from Sarah Dallas knitting that I started a really, really long time ago and have yet to finish - I blame that on the fact that it is only stockinette stitch, which is quite boring (and slight motivation to get a knitting machine...) I think I am over half way done, I just need the time and the push to pick it back up (and no projects available that are more interesting).
The Clapotis that I started last week, which is only going to be 1 skein worth of yarn, so hopefully it will go fast.
I have a couple of other projects that were abandoned a long time ago hiding somewhere in my yarn cabinet. I am going to have to dig those out and inventory them.

Things on the list to knit next (in order of least likely to start next at the top and most likely to knit next at the bottom):

Baby Bobbi Bear - I already have the yarn and pattern for this
Lara by Debbie Bliss - I have the pattern and maybe the yarn for this (not sure if I bought enough or if the gauge is right)
A scarf idea that is running around in my head inspired by one I saw in Hong Kong last year - yarn already purchased.
A blanket for my sister in a superchunky yarn that is yet to be identified - I sort of have the pattern for this since I am making one up based on a blanket we saw at Marshall Field's .
Circular shrug from Craftster(link to simplified pattern and an example for me to aspire to ~~and a pdf version~~ so you don't have to wade through the 49 pages of the original topic). - I am pretty sure I have the yarn for this (same yarn as for Lara, but in a different color) and obviously already have the pattern.

So, let's recap: 4 projects in the works (plus a handful of projects on indefinite hold) and 4 in the wings. And these are only the knitting projects!!!

I could honestly go on and on about the circular shrug and how much I love it and can't wait to knit it, but I think I will wait until I actually start it.

Sorry if you came for non-repetitive, non-knitting content - you're probably bored out of your skull!!!

I'll try to update this post later this week with some progress pictures.

Reading

2006-04-13T11:13:00.000-05:00

1) yogabeans (side project of mrs. kennedy) - educational and entertaining!
(and really hard to not burst out laughing here at my desk...)

2) A nice list of books to borrow from the library
(and I feel good that I've already read a handful of them)

3) ooohhh... a pincushion challenge/swap. That is right up my alley. I have several ideas running through my head already. (in part thanks to this tutorial)

4) a new podcast about yarn and dying and sewing and all other fun stuff.

5) all sorts of fun places to go in Chicago that I never knew about. Can't wait to go back and visit them!

Ceramics wednesday

2006-04-12T13:54:00.000-05:00

I've got nothing for ceramics Wednesday today. Last night was the first class back after the break and the pictures I have from before the break are quite boring. I am thinking a little about trying to silk screen on some pieces and work on the knitting/ceramics combined pieces I talked about awhile ago.

As for you, you should go check out some pictures we took this past weekend.

Update: I decided to find some ceramics blogs and such (which I have been meaning to do for awhile) and here are the results -

Ceramics and pottery makers blog
Touch the Earth Ceramics
Gina DeSantis
A Pottery Log
PBA Pottery Blog
Campbells Ceramic Supply News & Events Blog
Emily Murphy
*Karin's Style Blog (also a contributer to whip up)
Potters Guild of BC (located on Granville Island)

I haven't looked too deeply at any of these, except for the one with a *, so I can't say too much about any of them. Karin's blog is definitely worth looking at though. I'll have to add these to the sidebar or update them periodically or something...

later!

oh, where have I been?

2006-04-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

hhmm... Well, certainly not here. So what's been going on?

We went to both Berkeley and Chicago last month (~~pictures forthcoming from Chicago, but we didn't take the camera to Berkeley. and by forthcoming I mean just like those pictures from Europe...~~ - hey 'whaddya know? I put them up already!) A lovely time was had at both places. My parents' new place is really great. The rats in the ceiling at their current favorite dim sum place not so great though.

Speaking of Chicago, please sign this petition. I realize that it really doesn't matter too much since Macy's already owns Marshall Field's, but please sign anyway. And I won't be shopping at Macy's or Hecht's ever again.

We finished our taxes early (by a week!) I will be buying this with some of our return (yeah! watch out, non-stop sewing and serging will be occuring soon). Don't worry, Isaac will be buying himself a new toy too. We are an equal opportunity family after all.

One of Isaac's groomsmen and his wife just had their first baby (a boy!). The craziest part though is that I had a dream Friday night/Saturday morning that they had the baby, but never told us. Turns out that the baby was born on Saturday afternoon, but they went to the hospital at around 5:30 on Saturday morning. We got the call yesterday (Monday) that they had the baby. Crazy, no? Maybe only to me and Isaac...

Spring is definitely my favorite time of year and it makes me love DC a lot. If it was like this all year round, we might never leave. But fortunately it's not, so we will probably eventually move to another city. Anyway, all the cherry blossoms are already gone though (we were in Berkeley on the peak weekend), but many other trees are in bloom and the weather is pretty darn great. Now if only all the tourists and protesters would go home so we could enjoy the city to ourselves...

An example of how pretty DC can be when the trees are in bloom. This one is a random tree on my way to work - I mostly added it so this post had some pictures.

We finally got to see the baby panda! A month or 2 ago, I had finally scored some tickets to see him and we invited some friends along. The crazy thing though is that since the weather was nice, he was outside and we didn't need the tickets to see him after all! He is quite cute. He fell (sort of) out of a tree while we were there. Did I mention he is cute? (pictures also 'forthcoming')

(Skip the rest of the bullets if you don't really care about what I've been doing craft-wise)

I have started multiple knitting projects and managed to finish none. Here's a run down of current projects:

Sitcom chic (aka my olympic knitting) - (pattern from knitty - I'm too lazy to link)- on hold because it was hurting my thumbs to work on it with the sleeves on and stuff. But the sleeves are on and I'm definitely more than half-way done. I should finish this soon since it will be perfect for summer...
Turtleneck shrug (from the Scarf Style book) - I have finished the first sleeve and am over a quarter, but less than half way done with the second sleeve. I'm still working on this, but it's sort of monotonous.
Clapotis (from knitty too) - I have finally joined the clapotis craze. I am modifying it though to be a scarf (with help from here) since I am using 1 skein of Springwater merino sport (it's purple and pretty though). I have done 2 repeats of the dropped stitches, but I am not sure that I like it. I may frog the whole thing and start again on smaller needles. We'll see.

I am trying really hard to not buy any knitting or sewing supplies for the month of April (sort of in the theme of "Use What You Have Month"). I have done quite well (except that I bought a zipper yesterday for a shoe bag that I need to make since Isaac stole mine - but I do have immediate plans for it at least).

I made a felt cupcake while I was in Chicago and left it with my sister. I am going to try and make more. ~~I have a picture of that too, somewhere...~~ Here it is enjoying a view of Navy Pier. What do you think? Seriously, let me know.

Uh, that's really about it craft-wise. As always, there are lots of good ideas floating around, but a lack of time and implementation know-how to bring them all to life.

Wait! I forgot that I signed up for back tack III yesterday. I'm looking forward to it and really hoping I don't get screwed again like I did last time. I have some ideas in the works already (fabric, stuffie pattern, etc.), but I want to wait to see who I get matched up with first and figure out what they might like best.

Spring cleaning this Good Friday for me. I am actually looking forward to it!

Ceramics Wedneswhoops!

2006-03-02T19:21:00.000-05:00

Remember how one of my ceramics pieces was going to be in the student show at the Art League? Well, that's not happening any more for reasons that are entirely my fault. (I was supposed to call our instructor and tell her where the pieces were, which I did, but she didn't have an answering machine and I completely forgot to call back.) So that stinks.

But what stinks even more is that on my way home from class, I dropped it out of my bag on the garage floor.

This is what happens when ceramics hit cement: Ta Da!!!

I may look calm on the outside, but inside I am freaking out

2006-02-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

We found out yesterday that there was a fatal shooting in our neigborhood early yesterday morning (3 am). We don't live in the safest of neighborhoods by any means, but I have felt pretty safe the whole time we have lived here. We generally use our "street smarts" and I don't walk around by myself late at night. Here's what's really freaking me out about this incident:

The shooting occured less than 100 feet from the front door of our building at a spot that Isaac passes every day on his way to the Metro. Last night, the Fox 5 news guy was reporting from the corner at the end of our block.
The shooting resulted from a dispute over a parking spot. If you don't live in the area, you have absolutely no idea how bad the drivers are here. It's almost as if they never actually learned any rules for driving - there is always double parking, people stopping at a red light and then just deciding to go through it, passing cars on the shoulder just to get ahead of them at a stop light, turning left from behind another vehicle that is waiting to turn left, no yielding, the list just goes on. And it's not just occasionally that I see drivers like this. I see someone doing something unbelievably stupid almost every day. It's not even aggressive driving, it's just stupid. The number of days I have gotten mad at someone for doing something stupid while driving easily outnumber the days that someone has willingly let me merge or done something nice for me while driving. This is the type of argument I could easily see myself getting into with someone.
The man that was killed and the woman that was injured were not even involved in the argument. They were bystanders in front of the restaurant. A restaurant we walk past to get anywhere in our neighborhood.
The men that did this are yet to be found. No one is even exactly sure as to what kind of vehicle they were in.
Although a separate incident, apparently there was an incident at the other end of our block in January involving a dispute that started 3 blocks away. Shots were fired and a bullet is actually lodged in the exterior wall of one of the units in our building. Fortunately no one was hurt. Thankfully for us, our unit does not face the street. Again, no arrests were made in connection with this incident.

I'm not really sure why these events are bothering me so much more than the other violent crimes that occur all the time in DC. I guess the proximity of the shootings and the fact that I could easily see myself getting into a similar argument are what's doing it. Normally I consider myself pretty city smart and I usually ignore any sort of harrasment that might happen. But when a gun is involved, that's a whole different story. Especially when the shootings are happening on our block, involving our building structure and their victims (both human and inanimate) are all bystanders at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Like I said, I am freaking out.

I think between the violence and the crappy driving, it might be time for us to find a new city to call home.

Closing ceremonies

2006-02-26T22:34:00.000-05:00

Warning: Lots of knitting talk coming up.

Well, I am getting a big fat DNF (did not finish) for the Knitting Olympics. Here's how far I made it.
The body up to the armpits (awaiting the sleeves to be attached before knitting the top part) and 1.5 sleeves. Although, really, I think I am going to have to knit one of the sleeves over. I think I read the directions wrong and the increases are spiraling up the arm. For the second sleeve, I lined all the increases up. I am not exactly sure which way is correct, but I am going to go for the all in a line method.

I am going to continue working on this sweater so it doesn't become another UFO (unfinished object) in my arsenal. Maybe I could extend the Knitting Olympics to end when I finish watching all the recorded olympic things on the Tivo...

The only thing that makes me feel a little better is the fact that not everyone finished (including the Harlot herself) and this was a pretty challenging project for me (mostly because it's a big project with lots of boring stockinette). I feel like I was the underdog coming into these games (sort of like Silvia Fontana), no real chance of medaling, but just happy to be able to participate.

I'll post the final results when I'm done (hopefully in the next week or 2!)

2nd post of the day: Sonic fabric

2006-02-17T13:57:00.000-05:00

This is just too cool - sonic fabric (via whipup). It's 50% recycled audiotape and 50% cotton woven together and you can run a tape head over the fabric and hear sounds from the tapes it is made of (the artist put together a special music mix).

I'm considering getting some just because (I have no idea what I would do with it). Plus, I really like the inspiration behind the fabric (scroll down to #7).

Houston, we have, um, a problem

2006-02-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

So, last night I was chugging along on my SC and knit the last increase row. Then, I decided that it might be nice to check that my stitch count matched up to the one given in the pattern. Um, yeah, that was probably a good thing, but I am a dumb a$$ and way back when I put the stitch markers on the needles, I read the directions for putting the stitch markers on for the smallest size, not the second to smallest size (which is the size I am making). So all of my increases are off by 5 (as in 5 stitches closer to the front of the cardigan). I am really, really hoping that it won't matter too much and that they will end up somewhere along the side of the cardigan like they're supposed to be. They're not too visible and I doubt that anyone will be looking too hard, but still I'll know... Good thing this isn't the real olympics, because if it were, I would be out of gold medal contention. (And no picture either because it would probably be the world's most boring picture and you can't really see the screw up unless you count the stitches - maybe I'll post one after the sleeves are on.)

I did go through last night and circle all of the numbers related to the size I am making. I should have listened to Kristine's wise ways to begin with...

Oh and yesterday I was reminded that I 10 days left to finish this sucker (which means only 9 today). Yikes!

I did a naugh ty thing

2006-02-16T16:02:00.000-05:00

I had to return something to the yarn store and came home with this :

(much darker brown in real life - our camera has some flash issues)

I am planning to make the turtleneck shrug from Scarf Style, which Isaac so kindly borrowed for me from the library and which I have been obsessing about since seeing it here.

(sorry for the crappy pictures, but apparently it's hard to take pictures of a book - but how cute is this???)

I figured that the item I returned was for store credit anyway, so I went ahead and bought these 3 balls, which was very bad of me for 3 reasons (in order of badness).

1) I have tons and tons of yarn already (but really, what knitter/crocheter doesn't?)

2) I am supposed to be working on my sitcom chic for the knitting olympics (which I really don't see how I am going to get done in time)

3) It's almost spring, which is followed by summer, so when on earth will I wear this? (On the other hand, it is supposed to fall back down to the 30's this weekend. Oh, but wait, the knitting olympics. yeah, right)

It wasn't a break the bank purchase, so I don't feel too guilty (versus the 4 additional skeins of blue sky alpacas worsted I could have picked to add to the 2 I already own for this project).

I really want to cast on for this right now. But I will use what little will power I have and wait until I am done with sitcom chic. Even more incentive to knit it up quickly.

Speaking of the knitting olympics, here is my current progress:

I only have one more increase left before I can just straight knit for awhile. oh yeah. Have I mentioned how boring knitting in stockinette can be? Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks so.

Let me wrap up today by saying that I forgot about ceramics Wednesday this week. Sorry about that, but all I had to show this week really was some dirty fingernails from stirring glaze. However, I am going to be showing a piece at the Art League student show! It's not juried (and apparently doesn't have anything worthwhile to link to), so don't get too excited, but at least it's a show!

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

To celebrate, here are 33 things I love (idea taken from mmm, brains, who did 50 things, but 33 was all I could come up with for now).

My husband (of course!)
My family (I was going to list them one by one, but that would probably be all 50 things right there)
Our home
Vacationing
Spending quality time with friends and family
Chicago
Berkeley
Korean food (espeically Nam Kang and kim chi jigee)
Spring
Snowboarding all day in great snow and on steep mountains (but I do not love tow bars in anyway whatsoever)
All animals (especially kittys and doggies and pandas)
Crafty-ness
Sleeping in on the weekends
Naps in the middle of the day
The fact that Isaac and I are so goofy
Falling right back in step with an old friend after not having seen them for a long time
The spot on Isaac's shoulder where I like to sleep with his arm around me
Snow/hurricane days
Europe
Hong Kong
Oceans and rivers (especially the river near Weaverville where it's all nice and cold)
Maui
Good, loud music
Yoga
The way you feel after a good run and a shower
Spending all day in bed with the hubby
Being married
euchre
Growing more in love with Isaac all the time
Washington DC (except for the driving, murders, gangs, and general exceptions like that)
Chocolate
homemade ice cream
Wandering around Eastern Market on a nice day (I know, it's in DC, but I love it so much it deserves its own number)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Knitting Olympics Report - Day 3

2006-02-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

***NEWS FLASH***

As of 11pm, February 12, 2006, Knitting Olympics contender Serena is on row 35 of her Sitcom Chic cardi. Progress is coming along quite nicely, but questions are being raised as to whether or not she will be able to mantain the current pace for the entire Olympic games. The in-laws are visiting next weekend and there is still some cleaning to be done. We will keep you updated on her quest for gold.

***BREAKING NEWS***

There has been a sighting of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Last reported sighting was at 8:00 am, February 13, 2006. Please take note of the many noodly appendages.

(I guess this is why you should re-wind your yarn. Just because it was supposed to be center pull, doesn't mean it will work that way.) (Make your own FSM with help from one of these links: wee wonderfuls, boing boing, the knitting fiend)

mail order tomorrow! + a knitting update

2006-02-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

Amy of Angry Chicken is starting a fun mail club. (mentioned here and here also.) Each bi-monthly mailing will consist of a fun crafty project and will contain all sorts of fun paper goods. Amy makes some wonderful things, including mini quilts (used as art), full size quilts and paintings, all of which you can see on her kingpod website.

The mailorder sign ups will be available tomorrow morning at 8am PST (which is 11 am EST for those of you in the east like me). I have something for work scheduled at that time, but I am really hoping that somehow I'll be able to sign up. Judging by the number of comments left on the 2 posts given above, it might be tight!!!

And now for the knitting content:

I have finished yet another swatch for the sitcom chic cardigan that I will be making for the knitting olympics. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that I get the proper gauge, because I still need to wash the current one and I don't know if there will be time to make another before the opening ceremonies tomorrow night.

Before I started swatching for the olympics, I was working on this crepe paper crown from Alterknits (which by the way is a really great book). Here's the progress I had made as of Monday.

Last night I started the points and now only have 3 to finish. I should mention that I am not making the crown merely because I want a crown to wear (which I do, but that's beside the point). I thought it would be a good project to test out knitting with crepe paper in hopes of using it for the ceramics pieces I mentioned yesterday. I am still not sure about it, but I know that the crepe paper will at least burn off in the kiln. I think I am going to just have to knit a piece and test it out. The crown may or may not be finished until after the olympics.

Yikes, I have to knit a sweater in 16 days!!! What was I thinking?!?!?!

Inspirational ceramics

2006-02-08T19:08:00.000-05:00

I was reading this post at posie gets cozy, which led me to the website for loop, a yarn store in London. From there, I discovered a fabulous artist with a wonderful idea that combines 2 of my most beloved craft/art mediums.

Photo from loop website. Click on over for more (scroll down to bottom of page).

Look at that! Those are amazing pieces! I cannot wait to try this out. I couldn't find too much else about the artist, but here's some of what a google search turned up.

There happens to be a guy in my ceramics class who does something similar to this with gauze and slip (I think). So, I am going to pick his brain, knit up some small swatches for experimentation and we'll see what happens from there. I'll keep you updated and I can't wait to get started!!!

what the ?$#%

2006-02-04T23:27:00.000-05:00

Rule number 6 of the knitting olympics:

6. You may swatch before the games. (I consider this "training.")

So, I thought I would since this is the first garment I have ever made where fit actually matters. I made my first swatch using the recommended needle size (us8) and yarn (lion brand cotton ease) and ended up with 15.5sts/24 rows per 4" after washing and drying the swatch (the pattern calls for 18sts/24 rows per 4"). So I went down a needles size and swatched again. This time after washing and drying, I ended up with 14.5 sts/21 1/3 rows per 4". When I line them up together, the stitches of the new swatch are definitely bigger than the old one.

What on earth is going on here? What the heck should I do now??? Going down a needles size should result in more stitches per inch, not less!!!

Part of me really wants to bag the swatch, but apparently that would be a horrible idea since I am not getting the expected results.

(no pictures because they would be insanely boring)

On to swatch 3 using us5's (all the us6's are in use).

ceramics

2006-01-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

I've been collecting some images from the web that I think might be interesting to put on some of my pieces. I made some test tiles last week and tonite I will put a layer of colored slip on them and put them in to be bisque fired. Then next week, I am going to use some wax resist to draw/paint the pattern on the colored tile and put glaze on top of that.
These are the vases that started it all. I saw these at Target one day (they're on clearance now online!). You might not be able to tell from the picture, but the lighter blue areas are recessed and sort of rough, while the darker blue areas are smooth and raised. I am assuming that some sort of resist was used in the light blue areas, which is what I plan to do, as explained above.

I really like the simplicity of this asian/cherry blossom type of design. It seems fairly easy to do, which is good since I'm not too good with wax and a paint brush. (from: Crate and Barrel - I can't find the exact link, sorry.)
This is from wrapables.com and the pattern is super simple, which again is why I like it. I'm not a fan of the gold, but it might make an interesting piece with the slip, wax and glaze method.
I am not sure exactly how a pattern like this would work on a ceramic piece in one color, but I am going to give it a try. (from: Anthroplogie)
And last but not least, this is actually a desktop from this great site and was made by this place (which I have not looked at much yet, but looks like it could be a cool website).

I am truly working on writing ceramics-related posts on Wednesdays. So far, I am not doing too well...

maps and legends

2006-01-31T11:10:00.000-05:00

I found this picture in the Urban Outfitters catalog. Of course the one thing I want is not available in the catalog.
In case you can't tell from the picture, it's a map of the world (with no fold lines - not one of those ones that you get in National Geographic) that is mounted with a flush black frame with no glass. Or at least that's what I interperet it to be and that's what I want.

I think we could really use it in our bedroom over our bed to map out where we've been and where we're going. I know it's a pretty unoriginal idea, but I think it will look nice. The closest one I have found online is from the National Geographic map store, but we can only get it mounted in white or gold (even though it says that it comes in black too).

hhmm... I am just going to have to get crafty I guess! Any suggestions are more than welcome (either for a place to buy one or mounting suggestions).

I've joined the olympics!

2006-01-29T23:55:00.000-05:00

The knitting olympics that is...

I will be knitting sitcom chic from knitty. I actually have the yarn called for and made a swatch last night. This will be my first sweater/knitted item that requires assembly. We'll see what happens!

I'm declaring myself a member of team chocolate! (Button from here via this)

I am looking forward to many hours on the couch knitting and watching the skiers and snowboarders do things I only wish I could do.
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In a completely unrelated note, gun hay fat choy (happy new year!)
May the year of the dog find you prosperous, happy and healthy!

goals for 2006

2006-01-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Isaac and I spent our new year's eve on our couch drinking really, really good hot chocolate. Hot chocolate as good as any we had in Europe - well, except for that hot chocolate we had at the top of the lift to Torgon, Switzerland...

But I digress.

After we watched Regis fumble the countdown, we both wrote down 5 goals for 2006. Here are mine (you'll have to ask Isaac for his):

get rid of 30 - 50% of the stuff in our house
run regularly
go back to yoga regularly
sell some of the things I make by either a) setting up a shop online or b) participating in a fair of some sort
purge, organize and clean our house so that we aren't embarrassed when people come over

So far, I have started to run regularly (nothing like a 10-mile race in 2 months to motivate you), went to yoga once (and plan to go tonite) and we are spending our weekends purging and organizing - hopefully we'll be mostly done before Isaac's parents come in February.

2006 is off to a good start.

back tack

2006-01-24T13:13:00.000-05:00

So, remember way back when I participated in back-tack II? Well, I still haven't received anything from my sender. I have figured out who she is and she said that she would send something, but that was quite some time ago. And this round, the back-tack organizers didn't ask for any "angels" like they did last time.

Oh well, I still enjoyed making a bag and kit for Tiffany and am quite proud of how they turned out, but it makes me a little sad that I didn't receive anything in return.

made something pretty for myself

2006-01-24T13:02:00.000-05:00

I am working on setting up a craft area for myself in our spare bedroom and needed somewhere to store my straight knitting needles. What to do, what to do?

oatmeal container + paper from paper source =

I know, not too exciting, but for some reason, it's such a simple idea, that my brain couldn't think it up. I guess I am used to projects that take hours, days, weeks and sometime even months and lots and lots of steps!

I got the idea from budget living magazine (5 buckaroos for a year subscription!)

knitting update

2006-01-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

We're back! Europe and the wedding were absolutely wonderful and being back in the US and at work is really hard. The trip was full of snow, skiing, good company, lots of border crossings, drinking, cheese and chocolate. More on the rest of the trip later.

While we were on vacation, I managed to make 2 hats. The first is the Esther Williams hat (by poor miss finch - no permalink, just scroll down the page to find the pattern) and the second is a baby sized Shining Star hat (by Kate Gilbert).

The Esther Williams hat turned out alright, but it's a little bit too big (that's what I get for not swatching). I am going to try and block the living daylights out of it and get it to fit. I haven't crocheted on the edge yet though since I won't be able to see with it on if it doesn't shrink.
Pattern: Esther Williams hat by Poor Miss Finch
Yarn: 1 skein (with lots left over!) of Lamb's Pride Worsted in Rust (someone at the chalet thought it looked like ground beef, so it's now known as the ground beef hat)
Needles: Addi Turbo Naturals, US8, 16" circulars

The shining star hat is quite cute. I used the same needles as the Esther Williams hat since it was the only pair I took with me to Europe.

Pattern: Shining Star by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Rowan Calmer in Drift (460)
Needles: Addi Turbo Naturals, US8, 16" circulars (using the magic loop method for the beginning)

I'm already working on another shining star with the same ball of Calmer. However, this time I am making a couple of modifications to my methods. First, after reading this entry by Grumperina, I cast on using this method. Second, I am using 6 dpn's in US 7. What possesed me to learn how to use dpn's is beyond me, since I have no intention of ever knitting socks, but after the first few rows, things are not too bad. The beginning was a little shaky, but I'm getting the hang of it. However, once I am done with the increases, I think I will be switching back to circulars. I have a whole slew of these hats in the que (3 of the babies were born while we were away, so I'm already behind!!!), so by the time I'm done, I should be an expert and have my methods down.

Next hat in line: this one by Grumperina, as soon as she gets the pattern written. (I am on a HUGE hat kick right now, only 1 skein of yarn required and quick to knit up. Plus, it's cold outside!!!)

Final knitting note of the day: I was thinking that I would start a list of projects that take 1 skein of yarn or less in the sidebar. I think I am still going to, but someone apparently had a similar idea.

Update: I finished the second shining star hat this weekend. I eliminated one round of repeats at the end to make it a little shorter. In the end, it looks about the same as the first one (except shorter) so I think I will be sticking with the circular us 8's. I never did switch from the dpn's to a circular needle. Now I just need to send them off. Hopefully they'll fit since I have no idea what size a babies head is. I am just going off the pattern!

a yogi once again

2006-01-21T13:05:00.000-05:00

Thursday night, I took Isaac to yoga. I have been on a year+ hiatus after going for more than a year at least twice a week, so it was really nice to go back. Hopefully I'll be able to continue going regularly. It's amazing how much I have missed not only the physical part of yoga, but also the mental effect, which is hard to describe other than peaceful.

If you live in DC, here's the only and best place to go: boundless yoga

Now you see it... now you don't!

2006-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:00

I got my hair cut last night.

Before

1/2 way there!
Ta da!

Details
Salon: salon xyz
Why: long hair was driving me crazy, haircut was free and I'm helping a kid feel less self-concious - they have enough to deal with already.
Amount: 12 whole inches!

Happy new year!

2006-01-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

hhmmm.. That's pretty much the most generic title ever. oh well! It's true - I wish everyone a very happy new year.

We had a very lovely 4 day weekend doing nothing much outside of the house, but we did finally begin to start organizing the house and getting rid of junk we really don't need. Friday we had to deal with some furniture and anew renter (there were some brief moments of inexperience on our part, but everything seems to have turned out ok). Overall, it was a great weekend and I wish it weren't over. We watched the ball drop in NYC from the comfort of our couch and gawked at Regis' inability to count down properly (did anyone else catch that?)

All that home time gave me plenty of opportunitites to knit some more. Here's my latest project a hat of course!):
Pattern: Esther Williams by poor miss finch
Yarn: Lamb's pride worsted in rust
Needles: US 8 Denise interchangeables (for now - I am planning to buy some bamboo circulars tonite to take on the plane with me just to make sure they don't get confiscated and if they do, I won't cry over lost parts to my Denise interchangeables)

Here's a stitch marker I made for myself this weekend too - it's a monkey, if you can't tell.

Tonite I am going to pack up all my knitting for the plane, which will include the Esther Williams hat and 3 skeins of Calmer to knit 4 baby shining star hats. I'll be missing the baby shower for one of the babies while we are away, so hopefully I'll have it to give to the mom to be when we get back.

Oh and I'll be getting my hair cut tonite too! More on that tomorrow with the before and after pictures (and maybe some during).

And some other point in the future - new year's resolutions! oh yeah, how can you stand the excitement?!?!

You may be wondering about this plane and trip I keep mentioning? We're going to a wedding! In another country! With snow and skiing! And cheese! (I'm excited, can you tell?)

Alrighty then

2005-12-29T13:58:00.000-05:00

Class has been over for a couple of weeks now. (I got an A- yeah!) What have I been doing since then? Well, among several other things, mostly knitting.

Here's a knitting update:

Finished in the last week or so -

knitty pumpkin in Cascade 220 - post here
double knit ski cap from the blue blog in Cascade 220 superwash - I made it a little too short though and there are definitely some mistakes in it. Isaac likes to point them out for me.
2 knitty pocket creatures in the same Cascade 220 superwash as the double knit hat - I gave these to Isaac last night for his Hannukah present
one shining star hat in the baby size (super fast knit!) in some lion's brand yarn

On the needles -

a suprise project that I am still working on and I'm not sure that it will be done anytime soon in Jaeger Matchmaker DK - it's a suprise, so here's a cryptic picture I found on the camera
a shining star hat in the adult xxl size in ??? (I can't remeber right now) - no picture either
hush hush (still!), which has been on temporary hiatus while I work on the surprise project - no picture again!

In the wings -

at least 3 more shining star hats in the baby or toddler size (depending on how the swatch turns out) in Rowan Calmer (that's right 3 people we know are having babies in the next 6 months!)
a baby blanket for one of the babies in Lion Brand Cotton Ease
Sitcom chic in Lion Brand Cotton Ease
hhmmm... I'm sure I'll think of more things. I am really into hats right now, so probably some more hats. Plus, they're good for using up single skeins of yarn.

Finally, here's a picture of my sister learning how to dye roving using kool aid. I taught her while my family was visiting in November.

Knitty pumpkins - done!

2005-12-29T13:49:00.000-05:00

I finished the knitty pumpkin! I knit the big one because I am crazy.

Here is the pumpkin body all knit and seamed.

And the stem.

I had all of this done a long time ago (not too long after halloween actually), but then I never got around to throwing it in the washer for fulling. I finally felted it on Tuesday (I had the day off since Christmas was on the weekend) and then stuffed and sewed it shut last night.

Here's the finished product (picture could be a lot better, sorry!):

So close I can smell it...

2005-12-08T22:34:00.000-05:00

We have a Christmas tree for once and it's beautiful!!!! Pre-lit trees rock!

One week from today and I will be free! Last night was my last statistics class and next Wednesday is the final exam. Oh the things I have planned.

For example:

umm... can we say Christmas shop?
oh and maybe some Christmas card writing
lots of knitting, including a double knit hat for myself, finishing up the pumpkins from fall's knitty, and some presents that I won't talk about much until they are completed and gifted
I am actually looking forward to running again - on Monday I'm signing up for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler in April. I am officially crazy.
I'm definitely going on a nice little shopping spree at Paper Source (why you may ask? because a new one opened up in Old Town, which is on my way home from work - AND I took a workshop on bookbinding last week and I am now addicted!!! - see the bottom of this post for a picture) and Springwater (before my associate's discount expires) for some reward yarn.
I have to bake 10 dozen cookies for cookie exchanges at both my and Isaac's work. I got a delicious, easy recipe though and I am looking forward to making it. They'll be chocolate of course!
and last but not least, more blogging!!! I have so much to write about - hopefully ceramics wednesdays will become more regular (can you even say they are irregular if I've only done it once?), running progress (currently zero), in progress and finished knitting and sewing projects, there's more but I can't think of it right now.

We just got home from seeing the ABT perform the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center. Now we're getting into the Christmas spirit!

Here are two accordian books I made in my bookbinding workshop

Hope the holiday season is treating you well!!!

Fabric store frustration

2005-11-22T19:23:00.000-05:00

So, I need to find a new fabric store. There are only two convenient choices for me right now. Wally-mart or Hancock Fabrics. Well, I have been silently boycotting wal-mart for a year or so now (I don't really want to get into it, but if you are paying attention to the news in the US, then you probably have an idea why - poor employee benefits, cheap crap made in china, etc...), so that's out of the question. Out of convenience, I have been stopping at Hancock Fabrics instead. That is until today. I have had several bad experiences there in the past and really, the number of bad experiences I have had there outweigh the good (and even mediocre) experiences by about 4 to 1. I had yet another bad experience today. In a nutshell, the employees in general are unhelpful and certainly not knowledgable when it comes to fabric cutting (including cutting in a straight line and straightening out the fabric before cutting) and store policies (what chain store does not give rain checks or price adjustments ???) There is one employee there that I really, really like, but I have not seen him in awhile and it's always a guess as to whether or not he is free to help me. And to top it all off, their prices are not good at all.

So, now I have to find a new place to get my fabric and sewing supply fix. I know of a smaller variety store somewhat out of my way and that's where I think I will go. At least the people there are nice, they have a pretty decent selection of fabric and notions and they are a mom and pop kind of store (so I won't mind paying regular prices for everything). It's either that or make a huge list of everything I want and go to the JoAnn's superstore in Maryland every couple of months. It might have to be a combination of both. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I might just have to make the leap to buying fabric online...

If you have read this far, congratulations. Leave me a comment and maybe I'll sew you a present! (Then again maybe not, so don't hold your breath). Stay tuned for my first ceramics post tomorrow!