Handmade Nation

There is a documentary, due out March 2008 that is called "Handmade Nation". Found a demo video on youtube about it. It looks really interesting. Check it out.

Book Stash Flash

I saw that someone else had done a knitting book stash flash so I thought I would jump on the bang wagon as well. I was thinking while I looked over my knitting books which one was my favorite and I have to say that I cannot pick just one. LOL...I have a rule about knitting books: I will not buy it if there is only 1 or 2 patterns in the book that I like. As much as I am addicted to books I just do not see the point of buying a book if I cannot see myself making almost all of the patterns in the book. The first picture shows a pile on its side is of patterns I have downloaded and knitting magazines. Do any of you have a favorite knitting book? Something different then what you see in my "stash"? Let me know, I am always interested in new books! LOL

Lang's Mille Colori

I have had these done for a while but for some reason I failed to post about them. don't know why, because I am really in love with they way they came out. I used the same yarn for both projects. It is Lang Yarns' Mille Colori line. It is made up of 50% New wool and 50% Acrylic and gives a gauge of 15 stitches per 4 inches on US 10 needles. Each ball contains about 92m. It is absolutely lovely to work with. It is a bit fuzzy but lays down nicely after washing.


Pattern: Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole by Kathleen Power Johnson from Interweave Knits' "Scarf Style"; page 52

Needles: Addi Turbo circulars, U.S. 10

Yarn: Lang Yarns Mille Colori in colorway 0053; used 10 balls

Notes: I absolutely love this pattern. I did not add the netted fringe the pattern called for because I thought the yarn didn't need it. It is super soft and the yarn makes the wrap stretchy. The yarn also has a nice upscale sheen to it. I need to find a nice simple one color dress or suit to wear it with. I had so much fun see all the color changes that occured in every square. The pattern was super easy but the changes that are required for an Entrelac pattern kept it interesting. Finished it came out to about 70" by 25", so pretty large but I was surprised at how fast the pattern went. I was a little sad when it was finished it because it was so much fun to make. My honey actually wanted to turn it into a lapghan! No way in hell was that going to happen after how much all the yarn cost me (don't ask). LOL

Pattern: umm yeah pattern...well I found it free online somewhere but do not know where I put the printout. Yes I know ...duh!

Needles: US 8, Brittany's

Yarn: Lang Yarns Mille Colori in colorway 0046.

Notes: After I completed Lady Eleanor I was so in love with the yarn that I wanted to make something else with it in a different colorway. This pattern worked well with the colorway since it wasn't as busy as the other one. I believe that this will be going to someone special that I have in mind, next Christmas. Someone that I know loves purples.

Progress Report:
I have finished knitting up two of the bags I am going to felt and working on the 3rd. I will post pictures of them after felting. I took a break from sock knitting but I am getting the itch again. Also craving to get back to work on my lace projects. Oh yes and still working steadily on my "secret project" at my LYS. I work on that one when I go there in order to keep it a secret. shhhhhhhhhh....

Addiction...sigh

Came across this extremely addictive game linked on one of the blogs I visit. umm...don't remember who posted it. Sorry... The game is called "Boomshine" and has some nice music to go along with it. Its obssesive. I like it so thought I would share it. It is Java based so you do not have to download anything to your computer.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Yeah I know, I am spoiled. This picture is my bday gift from my (baby) sister, Deli (short for Delicia...which for those that do not speak Spanish, means delightful, and she is! too me anyway). I LOVE movies and inside the keepsake bowl there are treats that one would find at a theater snack counter. I once threw a kids party when my niece was about 12 and she came to visit me that was a movie theme. I printed up tickets (as the invites) and got fake money and set up movie type treats. It was a lot of fun. The kids seemed to have a good time (we showed a short and then Spy Kids). I had a blast and I hope my niece remembers it.

Well, thats about it really. Except for the next bit. My lovely friend Monkey Socks sent me a funny email that I thought was too good not to share. It is also the reason for the title of the post.

"FIRST GRADERS"

A first grade school teacher in Virginia had twenty-five students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first half of a well known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders.

Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1. Don't change horses........................until they stop running.
2. Strike while the...........................bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before.................Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of...........termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but..... ..how?
6. Don't bite the hand that....................looks dirty.
7. No news is.................................impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a ...................Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new .........math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll..........stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust.......................... me.
12. The pen is mightier than the..............pigs.
13. An idle mind is......................... .the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's...............pollution.
15. Happy is the bride who....................gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is..........................not much
17. Two's company, three's ................the Musketeers
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what ...... you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and.. you have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as.......... ....Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not...........spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed............ get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you ...see in the picture on the box.
24. When the blind lead the blind...... ....get out of the way.

Birthday Update.

(Delicious Blue Pacific Martini from Chilis, this was my frufru drink for my bday.)

I realized that I didn't say much about my bday afterwards. We went to the book store where I spent my gift card from my Honey on these two books:

The one on the left is "The Knitters Bible: Knitted Bags" and the one on the right is the new Harry Potter themed book, "Charmed Knits". The first one has some really great and unique bag patterns. Its really nice and got the creative wheels turning. There are some things in it that I had not seen. Now as for the HP book...the patterns are great! The instructions are easy to follow and they range in skill from beginner to advance. What I also love is that all the patterns though based on the Harry Potter stories can be adapted to anything the knitter wants to change it too. As with the other book there are patterns in it that I had not seen before.

I also recieved these three skeins of yarn. Yes three! Going from right to left:

1. Colinette's Jitterbug line in the "popsicle" (146) colorway. I LOVE the colors. Totally me! Its 100% Merino with 267 yds.

2. Mountain Colors' Mountain Goat line in the "wildflower" colorway. It is 45% wool and 55% Mohair with 230 yds in the skein. The picture doesn't show it up will but there is a bit of a mustard and rust color running in between the purples. Makes a really nice contrast. I like high contrast in my colors.

3. Mountain Colors' Twizzle line in the "goldrush" colorway. I love warm colors. I have not used this line before but I know I will enjoy playing with it because its so soft. It is 85% Merino and 15% Silk with 250 yds.

I have to say that for color vibrancy and fiber feel Mountain colors is one of my top favorites. I love all their colors. Jitterbug goes into the top favorite category for colors. Colinette does a great job with unique and bright colors that I love.

The Knitterly Letter Swap

Hi there, Me again. Did any of you out there do Domesticat's "Knitterly Letter Swap"? I am just wondering how its going for others, I have sent out two letters but haven't recieved a reply in return nor have I seen the letters I sent mentioned on blogs. Shrugs...guess I am a little disappointed because I was really excited about doing it. Not trying to sound whiney here...but am curious to see how it has gone for others.

Summer of Socks

Yes I did it again! Joined another knit-along. The Summer of Socks KAL doesn't official begin until June 21st but others are making plans with patterns and yarn and the lock. I have soooo many patterns and soooooo much yarn and waaaaaayy to many needles that I am ready to go.

This one isn't a timed competition like Sock Madness was. Its a knit along that will have prizes as it goes along but not timed things that need me to sit for 2 days straight without stopping and knit like a crazy person. There are prizes for the person who did the most socks, knitted or crochet. I do make crochet socks but I have WAAAAYYYY too many knitted socks that I want to do soooooo not going there. With all the years of crocheting I have done I just do not have love for it right now. There is also a flickr group for it.

On another note: The prize I donated for Sock Madness was won by Golden Purl (aka Jean)....woohooo Jean. She is getting the lovely eboney needles (and some other little cute things that I hope she will enjoy....but shhhh don't tell her lol...well guess I just did since she visits here...me and my big mouth...wink to herlol) Before I send it out I will take a picture of it as well.

I am also getting ready to send a big surprise gift/thank you so some others soon. Probably in the next week or two. Some others are involved so I want to given everyone who wants to play with me in this a chance.

I am right now just out of control with projects....geez....I am slowly but surely finishing things but I get way to excited by starting something new:

1. Booga bag: waiting for hanles and a closure. I want something cool and different then what others did so that it will be uniquely mine! Sorry thats how I roll...like (LOVE) to be different (if you doubt this view the picture of my car below...enough said lol).

2. Entrelac Bag: felted, I made handles but I don't like them but I don't know what to do next. I want something cool and different to use as handles; it also needs a clasp as well

3. Duplicate Stitch Bag: main bag construction done but have not finished the duplicte stitch design yet; again as with the other bags I am not sure what to do about handles or closure.

4. Knitting for peace feltefd messenger bag: its begun and one more time (sorry) I need a cool closure for that. I want something like a fun and funky hing....but don't know where to find this sort of thing.

5. Small Lucy bag: just got to the handles and yes sorry....I need a cool closure

6. Amanda's Squatty Sidekick bag: not started yet but pulled out, it will need to be full/felted and yeah...i know bored with this....need a really cool closure....I am planning to use that SWS yarn from Patons (I think its Patons)

7. Hermione's Knitting bag: its from the new harry potter themed knitting book "Charmed knits". By the way this book is great, simple to understand patterns with easy to follow pictures of concstruction. It was a really well done book.

8. Charity projects: have child socks to make, hats and other bits for next november. I have some done but they need ends sew in and need a nice bath.

9. Baby projects: need to work on blankies, socks, bibs and wash cloths all for gifts, oh yeah and binky holder :-)

10 Pomatomus Socks: First sock almost to toe...needs its mate

11 Monkey Socks: not started yet

12 Diagonal Rib Socks: not started yet

13 Snowflake lace socks: started and both are past the cuff with one set of the 12 row repeat done on the leg

14. Magic loop socks: pair almost to toe

15. Jaywalkers: needs a mate

16 Surprise gift: can say no more here :-D

17 Dave KAL Scarf: 1/4 of the way

18 Last minute knitted Gifts Chevron Scarf: more then halfway

19 Red Lace project: from Arctic Lace, half way through

20 Purple lace project: was started but ummm messed and had to rip out and it is waiting for love.

21 Mint green lace project: umm waiting....cast-on but thats it

22 Peach lace project: 2 pattern repeats done

23 Harry Potter set for sweetie nephew: yarn is staring at me, must start soon

24Round 7 socks: One finished one to go

25 Diagonal Rib Socks: not started yet

26: Lace from Victorian Lace today: not started yet

27 Lace sweater for me: yarn is on hold and waiting for me :-D

28 Mobious scraf: finished

29 Entrelac socks: waiting for me

30 Entrelac stole from Scraf Style: Finished waiting to be take to the state fair to be admired lol

31 Zig Zig scarf: waiting to be gifted to a lovely person. enough said there.

32 Afghan: yeah honey is still waiting for one :-s sigh.....have made him 6 pairs of socks and gorgeous scarves, hats and mittens...and something else coming his way....but....he wants a blankie! sigh i just can't find the right pattern.

33 knitted toys: waiting for me

34 Yarn to dye: mmm yummy....special yarn needs special dye...having a hard time finding what I want.

35 Stitch markers; waiting to make more

36 Spinning: need roving, tools and a teacher. I NEED TO SPIN!

37 Yarn covets: Scout yarn, Socks that Rocks Yarn...sigh.

Well thats it...enough is a better word. LOL....geez I am way over the top here huh? Yeah I know! Don't say it....I do know!

Rainbow Bug Picture

A picture of my car was requested...so here is my car..."Rainbow"...yes she has a name and no its not silly...what would be silly is that a car that looks like this doesn't have a name...sheesh...lol

Random things...

Well I have been tagged by several lovely bloggers...I was tagged for a 7, 8 and 20 Meme. LOL....umm sorry not going to do them seperately. Also I am sorry to those who tagged me but the people I would have chosen to tag, tagged me first. LOL...oh ummm and by the way...what the heck does "meme" stand for anyway? Is it supposed to be "me...me" that has been put together or does it mean something else that I am missing? LOL....please enlighten me? Hate to be in the dark about things! To curious a person for that....which leads to the random things:

1. I LOVE to read. All sorts of things....art, crafts, novels, how to...on and on and on. Once a book comes into my hands I have a HARD time ever letting go of it again, even if I know I will never read it again. I love the way a new book smells and next to my LYS my favorite place to go to is the bookstore or library. It would kill me to spend $50.00 on piece of jewelry but I will not blink once at paying the same for one book. I am willing my books first to my family and then to a local library of a rural district in my area. I have books to fit almost every category in a library's catalogue. When I travel my favorite items to purchase as a remembrance is a book. Next to getting or giving yarn as a gift my favorite gift to get or give is a gift card to the bookstore or a book!

2. I am a Sci-Fi, Star Trek, Star Wars geek. Yuppers...I have the entire original Star Trek series on VHS. LOL. My top favorite TV channel is the Sci-Fi Channel (History Channels and Science channels close behind). I greatly miss that there isn't currently a version of Star Trek on the air. Angered really! I never miss an episode of the new Battle Star Galactica! (Who thinks the doctor is a Cylone?)

3. Though I talk about art alot I do not think many really understand how much art is a part of who and what I am. My passion for art and creating objects of color is in my DNA. When I go any length of time without being able to create something it actually affects me not just emotionally and mentally but physically as well. Without art of some kind in my life I believe that I would be shut away in the looney bin. Art is not just a hobby for me but it is like breathing for me. I could not live without it as a part of everyday just as I could not live without air. Some may find that a dramatic statement but even if it is so it makes none the less true.

4. When my little dog Duster died, about 7 years ago (as of August 5th) I didn't leave my house for 30 days. Anyone who doesn't understand that I cannot explain it too...those who do get it I do not need to explain it to so will just leave it there.

5. Growing up my most favorite place to be in the world was the Muesum of Metropolotain Art in New York City. I once knew it better then my own house. I could sit in the Impressionist Gallery for hours on end and feel more peace there then anywhere else.

6. I went to an all girls Catholic high school in Midtown-Manhattan (Cathedral High School for girls). I miss my three best friends of that time Olga Rosado (who sends me funny emails now and again), Patty Ayala (who has dissappeared into the mists of time...sad) and Hanan Gabr from Egypt whose father worked at the UN and since the school was a block away sent her there even though, not only was she not a Catholic she wasn't even a Christian. She was sent back to Egypt the day after graduation and her father would not let me contact her nor her me. I think about her often and HOPE with all my heart and soul that she is living a happy life. She wanted to be a doctor and I hope that she was able to do that. It saddens me that I was not able to go to my 25 anniversary.

7. I miss my sisters everday. There is never a day that goes by that I don't think about them. (I don't think that they even know that.) Won't say any more there, 'cause my eyes are getting a little leaky...lol. Huggies M and D.

8. I am retired from the U.S. Navy and was able to see many great places. I worked as an Aviation Electrician. While I was in, I lived in Christchurch, New Zealand and worked in Antarctica where I was able to go to the South Pole. I am proud of my service though I did things that I had to do and that way heavy on my mind at times. Enough said there as well.

9. Mid-July will make a year that I have been knitting! woohoo! Hmm...might have to have a contest to celebrate it with some kind of cool prize. LOL

10. Honey and I hope to adopt a child. There is a little one out there that is waiting for me to come and get them and be their Mommy. I can feel it to my very bones.

11. I once was homeless and lived in my car.

12. I am grateful for what I have today. I know some really great people who believe in me and love me.

13. I am an extremely spiritual but I am not religious.

14. I love my furry children with all my heart. It breaks my heart to see kitties running around the street without a home. Literally breaks my heart. I once saved a little dog from a shelter to come and find out the next day that he was very sick and two days later I had to put him to sleep but for those two days I loved him with everything I had and when he died I cried as hard as if I had had him from when he was a puppy. I can still see his little face and big eyes asking him to just take him home....Ok well thats enought of that. Dang what the hell my eyes seem to have sprung a leak. geez hate when that happens.

15. I am a Harry Potter fan.

16. I love flowers, plants, green and growing things and nature; but asking me to help garden is liking asking me if I want acid poured in my eyes. Its just not my thing. I can spend days camping but for pity sake don't ask me to help weed or plant anything. Please!

17. I love the sound of water and have 7 waterfalls in my little two bedroom apartment. LOL

18. I used to live in a house that looked like an old mine shaft in an old mining town. LOL

19. When I finish with my degree I will NOT be teaching in the regular system and I hope that before I leave this life I will be able to write "Ph.d" after my name. Yeah, I know I keep saying I am tired of school but so what! LOL...doesn't "Dr. Vikkie" have a nice ring to it? I think so!

20. I drive around in a rainbow bug. Yes its the truth! lol

Ok soooooo this turned out to be more serious then I had planned. I didn't know what I was going to say when I started so I just wrote. This is what came out so take it for what it is worth lol. Actually this was an enlightening excersize for me. Allowed me to examine the things that I value. Maybe a "Meme" isn't been to be that but this is how it turned out for me.

Happy Birthday

Well...to start with today is my birthday...yuppers. I am 42...blah...I do not have a big thing about age actually but for some reason I just don't like that number. Yes I know the alternative to getting older is not getting any older so that isn't that cool...so of course I would rather take the larger number. lol


I awoke to several surprises. Honey, got up earlier and cleaned the place up...went to the store and purchased special breakfast stuff and a Little Mermaid balloon (no not flowers, he gets me flowers all the time but see...I have this "thing" for balloons...don't know why but I love balloons...yeah I know, strange but oh well!)


So anyhoo...in the living room I found the balloon hovering over the coffee table. Then there was a brightly colored gift box with a card on top. Inside was a funny card with Bugs Bunny on the front (yes I LOVE bugs...he is way cool...sorry I like cartoons and comics...and today we are going to see Shrek 3... :-P) Inside the card was a generous gift certificate to the bookstore! I happen to be addicted to books as MUCH as I am addicted to yarn. Its pretty bad.


Now for the box...hmm well this is kind of strange...if you are a geeky type person you will totally get how cool this gift is...if you aren't well I'm sorry for you LOL ...you will just have to take my word for it....THIS IS A WAY COOL GIFT...my guy is unbelievably smart to have come up with it. So...he made me something...I am forever forgetting to charge my Ipod and like to fall asleep with it (long story) so lots of time I go to bed and realize its not charged...duh me. So, Honey figured that I needed a way to charge it or plug it in to the wall socket so that it would stay charged. Now, they sell wall charges for Ipods all over the darn place but do you think he would go to the store and simply buy one? Of course NOT...silly. He makes me one...and its WAY cooler then the one in the store because not only can I plug into the wall socket...but see the black piece attached to the HUB? That piece olds batteries, rechargable batteries so if I am some place that I cannot readily access a wall socket, I don't need it because the batteries will charge my Ipod for me! (the black piece is also removable) Can't buy those anywhere! So, as he said, its not the prettiest thing but its way functional and convient. He also included a pouch so that I can put everything in it and just carry it along. Ok...now tell me that isn't SUPER SMART! You can't I know! LOL I really love this gift...do you think that tells you how much of a geek I am? lol


Ok now onto more gifts...earlier in the week I recieved a great package from Ireland from the lovely Jo. She got herself a cone of 50% Suri Alpaca and 50% Blue Face Leicester undyed yarn. She wound some up for me (657 yds of some) and sent it to me. Wow! Its about a sock weight....and really soft. I want to do a special dye job. Jo did not know that my bday was coming she just sent it because she wanted to share with me. Is that not really cool or what? I really hope to meet her someday because I KNOW we would have a blast. I also know that she will fit right into our strange little group of yarn addicts. If you have yet to visit her blog you are missing out. She is a great and funny writer, her writting has a storytellers style and she also post gorgeous photos of where she lives.


As for the dye job, I would like to do something metallic looking like the yarn that Mr. Dave spun himself. I really think this yarn needs something special to really make it stand out and metallics would do it up right. Just have to figure out how to get that silver, gold, copper look.


Also, last Tuesday my lovely blogless friend, Monkey Socks, came in and handed me a skein of yarn and said: "Here for you", "Me? Why?" , "Well I ordered it and it looked different online, I don't like it as much now and I thought it just SCREAMED Vikkie" LOL....she is right it does and I love it. Its from Bright Dyes and its called "Easter Parade". I do not know what its made of nor how many yards it is. I have looked at the Bright Dyes page for yardage on their skeins but could not find it...so if anyone knows please drop me a line. Again, as with Jo, Monkey Socks did not know my bday was coming. hehehe...


Ok, one more gift. After opeing my lovely gifts from Honey, I checked email and found a message from "Yarnivorous". She had a contest at the beginning of the month. Someone else had one but did not claim their prize...Sooooo.....guess what? YUP! I won it. I get to choose from her shop any handdye OR handspun yarn up 100grs! Is that cool or what? She even has handdye roving...I do not know if I can choose from the roving but if so that would be cool, since as I have mentioned: I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPIN! LOL....She has really great colors so I don't have a prefrence there. I would be happy with anything! One more time, she had no idea that it was my birthday. LOL...good yarn karma. Oh, and she lives in Victoria, Australia! (Victoria is a beautiful place...its the area of Australia where Melbourne is located) Isn't that something considering my first name is Victoria? LOL...well I think it is. LOL My stash is getting an international flavor to it. How fun!


Oh and finally but not the least. My Mom sent me a really nice card...I mean its really pretty. Its covered in silk with felted flowers on the front. It came with the following message:


"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation."


Lovely. The card also contained a generous gift for yarn shopping. Well I don't know if intended it for yarn but since its not specified that I should purchase something specific then I am getting some yarn that I have been coveting. Isn't there always some of that? LOL


For the rest of the day I will be going to the bookstore, and Honey is taking me to play Minituare Golf (which I haven't played in years, which I am really bad at, which I love because its a hoot) and then we are going to see Shrek 3 and then dinner. Not too bad for a 42nd bday. Especially since I really didn't feel like celebrating my bday...not sure why but I just didn't. LOL

Was just getting ready to post and had a lovely bday call from the lovely Knitty Otter lady! :-D Makes my day. My (baby...lol) sister called me last night just to make sure she didn't miss me today lol....thank you honey I love you!

Have a great Sunday all. I have been tagged to do a couple of meme's and will post those this coming week because I think this post is long enough. LOL

It's Over...Darn

Well Sock Madness 2007 is over...and the winner is...drum roll...KristiR! Woohooo...Conffetti...Balloons...cheers for her! I am happy to say that the communications on the flickr group is still going on...which I am glad for because I have really enjoyed getting to know a lot of the people who played the game. Our lovely hostess have already stated that there will be a 2nd SM...but in the mean time we will continue to keep the flickr group going. Yeah!

As for my Round 6 socks...the pattern that put me out LOL...well I ripped them out...I got half-way into the foot of one and it didn't fit...it was soooo tight I could barely get it over my foot. The stitches were puckering and the floats were wonky. Yes I know that means I pulled it to tight. I WANT to do these socks because they are gorgeous. But I want to find a pattern for Fair Isle that is simple and flat so that I can practice the technique, so that I can get the hang of two color work and floats. I also need some color inspiration because after I ripped out my first version I realized I had lost the love for the color combo and started the pattern again...toe up this time. But I didn't like that color combo either.

In the mean time I have plenty of projects going as I have previously listed LOL... Here is an update picture of the Round 7 pattern. I really like it. I don't find it as difficult as the R6 socks. That pattern is lacey cables with an interesting open work effect on the back of the leg. almost to the toe. The pattern was written for 2 circulars but I decided to do it by Magic Loop. They are going pretty fast. I think I would have been done with the pair if I didn't have to stop knitting to study for finals.

Speaking of which...FINALS ARE OVER! Woohoo. I am pretty sure that I am getting 2 A's out of four classes. For the other two...well I am on the border for an A to a B for one and C+ to B- for another. So until the grades are posted I will not know. Bs I can handle but I reall do NOT want that C... I worked so hard for that darn class and was carrying a solid A for 2/3rds of the semester....and then after Spring Break we were given the hardest take home exam I have ever had. The teacher "tested" on information he didn't lecture on...and since we didn't have a textbook (yes thats right no book) we had to research the info. Since its Mathematical proofing its not an easy thing to research. Though I did not fail the exam I did low enough to affect my overall class grade and went into the final hoping to get 80/120 points in order to get a B for the class. I HATE that! Anyway...I am done bitching....lol just needed to VENT.

The upside is that I took my last final on Monday night and am now off for the rest of the week. YIPPY! I am taking a class for the Mini-Summer Term starting next Monday but for now I am off! So guess what that means....you got it! KNITTING...AND MY LYS! No money to go shopping but can still play yarn! YAHOO ME!

Final Round

Ok the 7th and Final round of Sock Madness begins today. Just recieved the pattern and it starts with: "Cast on 99 stitches on two circulars..." WHAT THE....???? LOL...It is a really nice looking pattern. I don't know how fast someone can go when starting with that many stitches...should be interesting. I have been working on my Round 6 socks...but I got to the foot part and tried on the socks and it was so tight I could barely put it on. Sooooooooo.....I ripped it out...yes I did. LOL...and then I started in a different color combo...but this morning looking at it ...I did not like it...was not feeling the love. Soooooo.....I ripped it out LOL. I am putting the R6 socks on the side, I need color combo inspiration, I WANT to do the socks but I think first I need practice doing Fair Isle on a flat piece so that I can understand how to do the floats, because the reason my socks were so tight is because I pulled them to tight and many of the stitches caused the sock fabric to pucker. So I am going to try R7 and I am thinking of using my super wild yarn that I dyed. I also have so many projects on needles:

1. Magic Loop Socks
2. Pomatomus socks
3. Schaefer/Arctic Lace shawl
4. 3 Lace projects
5. Feather and fan scarf
6. Chevron scarf
7. Entrelac bag needs handle and button (and possibly a lining but I don't sew)
8. Booga bag needs handle and closure
9. two charity scraves need ends woven
10. Duplicate stitch bag needs designed finished on front, handle and button

Ok so ummm I shouldn't have made that list LOL because now I am in shock LOL. Oh boy...lets not talk about the projects that I have seperated out with their patterns and yarn that I want to start as well. LOL....umm okie dokie.....

Anyway, tonight playing yarn with some other yarn fanatics. Tommorrow going down to the Truckee River for the River Festival and then going to see Spiderman. Some good movies coming out soon as well: Pirates 3, Harry Potter 5, Shrek 3...etc. Good Summer movie season coming...hope it lives up to the hype.

Drop everything...

...to do this! I have a serious problem! ...a problem with beautiful hand painted yarn

Cabin Cove Mercantile
Fingering weight
450 yds
Handpainted By Dave Daniels
Colorway: Mountain Meadow MN096
US 9 24" Circulars
Chevron/feather fan pattern

I love it....its super soft and the colors are bright and soothing...reminds me of spring wild flowers....and though I have tons of projects going and a lot of yarn that I want to play with i HAD to stop and play with this one. Isn't it great! Yes I know its sock yarn but I have been wanting some of Dave's yarn for so long that I didn't want to make something that would be hidden under pants...it needed to be showed off....thought I have to see thay socks made for this yarn will be really happy and relaxed feet because it is so very soft.

Sigh now the only problem with this is that once I use it I will want more Dave Yarn....damn that sucks when that happens huh? hehehehe......

Oh and by the way lovely enabler Florrie from Deluxe yarn is way too accomodating sometimes....I just mentioned to her that I want to try spinning but that I just wanted to get my hand on a drop spindle and some roving just to see if I could do it and if I would like and what does she do.....oh here had this in the back just sitting there....hands be a good size portion of roving in a natural color and a spindle that she just has lying around....no she doesn't sell spinning supplies....yet anyway.....it her stuff but she let me take it home with her to try.....she is such an enabler lol...geez!

Fickr update

I have been updating and adding to my flickr photos...some really cute shots of my furry children...check them out and let me know what you think? :-)

I will also be posting my artwork on there soon...opinions and thoughts are welcome.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yarnatic/

Yeah me!

I am now the proud owner of some Dave Yarn! My lovely Knitty Otter friends surprised me with some lovely Cabin Cove Mercantile sock yarn! Yeah...1 of the 3 that I am craving! I don't know why...she just did! She is really lovely...can't believe it...its a sock weight but I am not going to use it for socks...I want to make something super cool that will show Dave's gorgeous colors! I can also now join the KAL for the Cabin Cove fiber! More...yeah to me! I do not think that KO understand how happy I am to have recieved this yarn! Seriously! Here are the specs:
Yd: 450 Fingering weight
Gauge: 6.5 to 8 stitches to the inch on US 1 to US 3 needles
Fiber: 80% Merino, 20% Nylon
Colorway: Mountain Meadow, MN 096


I am now on the hunt for a fabulous pattern for this lovely yarn...it is really soft and the colors are very vibrant that does not show up in the picture very well.

Over

Well I gave it my best shot but my partner is a knitting machine

stayed up until almost 4 am and got this far:

Which is halfway up the foot...not fast enough darn it!

Congrats to KristiR!

I will finishe but much slower....I am tired!

Happy Star Wars Day!

Yes I am a Sci-Fi geek! So what? Wanna make something of it?????

I was checking out a post at Wendy's Woolies and she posted that today makes 30 years since the first Star Wars movie came out! Damn do I feel old! I remember the day it came out...my Mom took my sisters and I...plus a neighborhood of kids (about 15 or so..yes) to the theatre to see it...I remember sitting there excited because having been a Star Trek fan for years....it was thrilling to see the future on the big screen....I remember when the theatre went dark and silent and the opening music began to play and the screen started to scroll: "In a Galaxy far, far away..." I do believe I held my breadth until the credits rolled at the end. I was completely in love with Luke, Lea was my hero...I wanted my own R2 unit...and I wanted to meet a Wookie! I saw that movie in the theatres 27 times.....YES I SURE DID! :-P~~~~ And though Lucas has made a lot of changes to that original movie (which I hate btw) I still get a chill every time I put it in my DVD.....I know many of the lines by heart....but the scenes still get me!

30 years? Wow! LOL...I love it!

Borrowing from Wendy....MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!

The Semi-Finals

Alrighty...I am doing the lavender with white accent for my Round 6 colors. I am paired up with a tough knitter. She was the first person finished in Round 5...even with the pattern instructions having many mistakes! Woohoo! Its all good for me though...I have done a lot of thinking about this:

1. This game started with 128 players from all over the world. Many of whom could easily say that they had been knitting for 40+ years. Yes 40! Wow...and here I am in Round 6 in the Semi-finals...having won my division! WOWIE ZOWIE...who knew?!?

2. I am happy to be in the top 4 and in the Semi-finals. I have yet to have a full year knitting.

3. I basically taught myself from www.knittinghelp.com videos.

4. I have been fortunate enough to have a LYS, in which I have made the most encouraging and supportive friends.

5. In this past year I have met some of the most artistic and talented knitters who do not hesitate to share their knowledge and skill. The Knitty Otter lady, to name one of the many.

6. I continue to push myself and try to learn something new and this game has helped me gain many new skills to add to my knitting tool box. With this I learned ...or rather re-learned the lesson ....that you never know what you are capable of until you try and if you work at it you will succeed (nothing that is worth anything is ever gotten easily...it takes work to get the things that trully mean something in life!)

7. Through this game I have seen how to play a game. I watched other knitters stop their own knitting to help others even their opponent. True demenstrations of sportsman ship.

8. I got free original patterns! Woohoo.

9. I won a prize for making a mistake and not giving up! A really nice prize too!

10. Finally and most importantly....I have made some new friends. Seriously....I haven't met them face to face....but they are friends...and whether or not we ever meet I will count them among my friends and know that I will keep in contact with them. Celtic Memory, to name one.

All of these things put together....whether or not I make it to Round 7 Finals....I have won...if you don't thinks so then go back and read the numbered portion of this post LOL....I won...and won big time!

Anyway...the pattern is to come out between 12 and 4 pm my time. In the mean time going to have some lovely Vanilla coffee...and read a bit in the Yarn Harlot's newest book..."Casts Off"....if don't have....MUST GET IT....SHE IS TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS!

Another Gift!

Ok...My bday isn't until the 20th of May and I have recieved another gift! Yesterday, my Knitty Otter friend presented me with a lovely gift from her trip to the Bay Area...to the Aquarium. Isn't it beautiful? I LOVE glass....I used to have a huge collection of glass items....but last year the shelves on which my collection were show cased collapsed and I lost 98% of my collection. :-( yeah I know...some of it I can't ever replace but I have a few pieces that were saved which is nice. This lovely gifts helps start my collection back up! Thank you my friend!

Round 6...Choice?

OK....FIRST OFF...It's the 2nd of May and we are supposed to get snow today! WTF! Ok sorry for the base comment ...but I mean really now...snow in May? What gives.

Well as I have mentioned Round 6 starts on Friday, not sure yet what the time for the release of the pattern yet....they haven't said. The specs given are as follows:

"Needles = US #2 The designer used double-pointed needles but I favor the magic loop. As always, I say that you should use what makes you happy - as long as it’s the right size.
Yarn = fingering weight in 2 colors. She used Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton (209 yards per ball.) I used one skein of Cherry Tree Hill (420 yds per hank) and one hank of Louet Gems (185 yards per skein). I used a variegated and a solid but the variegated is really subtle. The designer used 2 solids. What the yarns we chose have in common is that they both had a high degree of contrast and I think it adds to the design but… it’s up to you, I could be wrong.
Gauge = 38 stitches/4 inches"

That is quoted from the SM webpage...I did some swatches as you can see above, I got about 9 (to 10) stitches to the inch. I have posted three ways to go with this sock...either a lavender sock (yes its lavender and not bluish as it looks in the pick), with and accent color of white, black or yellow.....or a yellow sock with an accent of blue (on the bottom), black or lavender....OR a white sock with a blue accent or one of the funky colors that I dyed recently. Not sure which to go with...have not knitted a swatch with the white...its just a hair thiner then the yellow and lavender....its also a nice yarn, softer and has a lovely sheen to it....

oh and before anyone asks....I have no idea what the white, yellow and lavender yarns are....umm well I have had them in my stash for years....and I do mean YEARS....I purchased them from a shop in Carson City, Nevada that used to sell yarn on cones for machine knitting (the shop has since closed because the owner retired)....at that time I was still crocheting and made lace items with them but I have a ton left ...and in different colors. I know that the yellow and lavender are wool and acrylic blends...but have no diea who made it....the white has a lovely sheen to it and is extremely soft....on close examination it looks like its a cotton blend and it make gorgeous lace....and I do mean gorgeous (even if it was crochet lol) I have a lot of it so socks from it will not make a dent in what I have of it....anyway .....LOL not sure which way to go with these.

I pulled out all of my sock yarn yesterday....umm which was a thrill for the dog and one of the kitties....darn them! LOL Honey just rolled his eyes and looked away...I sat there sifting through it all ...trying to combing variegated with solids, the variegated I have is just all too busy...LOL...I love wild colors and patterns and my sock stash shows that big time but for this upcoming pattern I do not think that wild will work well. Thats what I get for always walking off the beaten path! sheesh!

I am pretty certain that the pattern will be Fair Isle/Intarsia...I have yet do make anything with these techiniques because what I have practiced with it always comes out looking wonky. I just don't get how to get the floats on WS to come out flat so that the stitches on the RS don't looke squished and pulled to tight. Even with the practice swatches above...the stitches didn't not look nice though I tried to keep the floats in the back loose. Is there some trick that I am missing....My lovely Knitty Otter friend did a gorgeous hat and her floats are expert...it was her first try with the technique too....If I have a chance to meet up with her before Friday I will show her my swatches and see if she notices what I am doing incorrectly. She is super nice and I am sure she would offer me tips if she can see what I am doing. She rolls that way! :-D

Oh speaking of the Knitty Otter...she isn't feeling to well, so stop on by her blog and send her good vibes will ya? She just had a bday too and then promptly became ill...yuk!

Well thats it for now...finals are coming up...they start next Thursday but I only have one that I am worried about...Math 475: Sets and Numbers....the last few proofs I did were bad, bad, bad.....the class was going really easy for me until the last month when every proof and theory the Prof. has lectured on has looked like something from another planet! Hate when that happens!

Prepping

Well Round 6 starts on Friday...I was hoping for a little break. The specs say that we need US 2 and fingering weight yarn...we need two contrasting colors...both can be solid or one can be solid and the other lightly variegat....its really but I have already did up some swatches....but it is late so I will put up picks tomorrow. I am not sure what colors to pick. I think I am doing two solid combo. Shall see...now is time for sleep! LOL