Yup...9 Days

I have been so busy with work that the last 9 days have just slipped by without me being able to post anything. Knitting has slowed down considerably as well due to work. Its been pretty stressful. Though there have been some fun things going on as well. Swimming, yarn playing nights at Deluxe yarns, outings with others...so its not all work...but ALL busy.



Had a weekend when I was able to hang out with my cool friend K, we played yarn, went to see the 5th Harry Potter movie and went out to dinner over a three day period. She lives far out and sometimes it gets a bit difficult to get together. Actually going to see her tonight for a belated bday dinner (her bday). All you can eat crab legs! YUM!


Earlier this week J and I were invited to the lovely Knitty Otter's for a DELICIOUS dinner! For those of you who read her blog you know that she posts original recipies every once in a while ... however...you may not know that she is a GOURMET cook. I have been fortunate enough to sample some of her tasty creations and have not had one thing that I did not like. The other thing is her food always looks pretty. lol...Dinner at her house was no exception. It was a lot of fun to visit with her and her honey. THANK YOU! Got to give their kitty, TKK, rubbies. She is so sweet.



Summer of Socks 2007: River Rapid Socks: I am in the middle of my second sock. These will be a part of my Summer of Socks. I really wanted to make some more socks this summer...thought I would be able too. Summer has gotten away from me. (geez I start my last semester at the University in just a few weeks...but it is my last ....YEAH...diploma will be in hand right around Christmas...YAHOO! There WILL be a party!)


Mystery Stole 3 by Pink Lemon Twist: Slowly but surely working on them. This one has been really slow because I have to really pay attention lol. We are on clue 4 as a group but I have still not knitted past clue 1. Yeah I know.


Summer CAL - KAL : Purse Round up: I picked up the beads I want to put on the one bag I made up myself (that pattern will be written up and shared for whom ever might be interested). I found some fantastic beads made of glass in the shape and colors of fall leaves. Which go with the colors of the bag perfectly. I have 3 other bags that still need to be felted (big purple thing, Lucy bag, Lotrop II bag). I also found a really nice handle (finally!) for the entrelac bag ...just need to pick it up from Deluxe Yarns (whom by the way was over with J and I for dinner the other night. We laughed so much! That always happens for some reason.)


Yarn-In-A-Teacup Swap: I finally got all the things I want to send together and will be wrapping up all the little items on Sunday and mailing them off on Monday to Elan in Canada. :-D

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: OH and how could I forget! I went to the local Border's release for the book last Friday night. By the time I got home with my book it was close to 2 am. So I slept so I could be alert and began reading on Saturday at noon and finished at about 2 pm Sunday. Though I still have questions and like many others thought the Epilogue was kind of sappy...I LOVE IT! JK Rowling, imho, is a creative genius! What a fun book. I need to re-read it again more slowly. I didn't want to accidently come across a spoiler so I stayed off the internet and didn't even check email until I was done. Though my sister called me to see where I was and so did K's hubby (whom I hung up on because he was teasing me too much...brat!). It was fun after I was done to go over the book with my sister and then with K's hubby. K was working on fixing her truck so she didn't get to it until this week. She is now finished and I am looking forward towards dinner tonight and I KNOW we will be going over the whole book! Can't wait!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie: Best one out of all the movies. Contained the best acting so for, best depicted action and though they changed HOW some of the story and important information was told it was done in such a way that it added to the story and so that it didn't take away from the story.

Other stuff: One of the OTHER reasons knitting has been a bit slow is because I stopped the above projects to get some secret knitting done. I do not want to say what because I don't want to spoil the surprise. I will be able to share after the 5th though. Also, finished writing and testing a pattern for a crocheted fish shaped wash cloth. Will clean it all up and post it soon (hopefully!).


Yarn: I have recieved some belated bday gifts as well. One from Knitty Otter lady and one from my friend K. BOTH gifted me with SCOUT YARN! Yeah me! I have some Scout yarn. Yippy! I have also purchased some more CherryTree Hill sock yarn. I love that yarn so much!

Books: The night I purchased the last (sniff sniff) Harry Potter book I also picked up "Knit it! Felt it!" Really nice..it has unique pieces in it that can be used as the base for projects that you can make entirely your own. It has patterns in it but it can also be used as book of ideas as a stepping stone to your own ideas.

Work wise: Its been an interesting summer program this year. I have come across some unique situations that I have not had before. As an example this was the first year that as a teacher I HAD to pull out and use "THE LAW" to help out some students. For those who are teachers, counselors or doctors/nurses they know what "THE LAW" is...for the rest here is a brief explanation:

"THE LAW": If a child/student is may cause harm to themselves or others, is being harmed or in jeapordy of being harmed, is involved in drugs, alcohol or criminal activity the property authorities and/or parents/gaurdians must be informed. The professional must take action to ensure the safety of the child/student immediately.

That is it ...simplified and in a nut shell but describes it well enough I think. I have always believed that WHEN it came time for me to pull out and use THE LAW that I would be able to do so with a feeling of knowing that it was for the benefit of my kids. Well intellectually that was the case...and I did what I had to do and what I believed to be the right thing personally but it was emotionally difficult to do and extremely stressful. Which took me by surprise. It was a learning experience to say the least.

School: On the 27th of August I will begin my final year for my license! Woohoo hoo! Its been a long long road. I have had many personal up-hevels that have made the road extremely difficult at times. But I am standing at the end in the light. YEAH! I have to say that the finish will also be well done...without tooting my own horn too loud lol...I will be ending with a flourish...with a high (high!) GPA...a great student teaching opp. lined up (paid at that) and many more grand things that will in the end make the entire trip over the long, windy and bumpy road worth it. Whew! Deep breath.

Ok super long post ...but I guess that is what happens when you don't post for almost 10 days. OOPS.

World's Biggest Stash?

I do not have time for a long post but just wanted to share a link for an out of control stash that Celtic Memory Yarns posted about. If your stash doesn't look like this then you can take a sigh of relief. I honestly thought I was really overboard with my stash. But this makes me feel better...I am NO WHERE near being this bad. WOW.

Mystery Stole 3: Chart A

I jumped in with both feet and started Mystery Stole 3. I could not decide what color I was going to use so I am doing two at the same time. :-) Just thought I would post some pics of my progress so far.


This pattern is beautiful. I hope you can see the details because there are beads included here and there. The pattern calls for size 8 beads but I couldn't find any that size so I am using size 6 which works really well. The beads are put on with a tiny crochet hook. A little fiddly but not difficult.

Summer of Socks: Monkey Socks

I really thought that I would be making more socks then I am, but work has been...well more work then I predicted and is taking up a lot of knitting time. Damnit! lol... Also I have slowed down my pace when knitting on a project. After Sock Madness I found that the process of a project is what I enjoy most not just getting it done. So though I am not completeing as many projects as I was a couple of months ago i am enjoying my knitting much more.


I finally finished my first pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2007. I love them. That Cookie A. sure can design/write a pattern. I have decided to gift these to a friends for her bday so I will have to do the pattern again because I want a pair for me. I still have socks for my honey going (though they are a car project so going really slowly) and I have "River Rapids Socks" from Sock bug. I have been thinking that since I have so many socks on needles waiting to be finished...even though they don't qualify for anything for the KAL that I am going to set a new goal to finish the socks I have started before starting anything new. :-s Lets see if how that works out. I can't seem to stop myself from starting new things lately. LOL...need. self. control.

Specs:

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A.


Yarn: Zitron Trekking (XXL) in colorway 04, I used about 75% of the skein.


Needles: Addi Turbo Lace circs in U.S. 1 (2.25 mm), I used Magic Loop technique for these.


Notes: When you look at the socks they make you think that the pattern is complicated but it really isn't. Its an 11 row pattern repeat, 3 of which are straight knitting. Its easy to memorize actually. I did not make them as long in the leg as the pattern calls for because I wanted an ankle sock. The pattern works well for that adjustment. The yarn is lovely. Trekking is one of my top 10 favorites. They have nice colors, interesting patterning and it feels nice to work with.

Geek, Nerd or Dork? Test

Ok found this test online and had to do it...it was funny :-)

This is what I scored (and I am not surprised lmao):

Your Score: Outcast Genius
73 % Nerd, 86% Geek, 60% Dork

For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations / interactions.

You scored better than half in all three, earning you the title of: Outcast Genius.

Outcast geniuses usually are bright enough to understand what society wants of them, and they just don't care! They are highly intelligent and passionate about the things they know are *truly* important in the world. Typically, this does not include sports, cars or make-up, but it can on occassion (and if it does then they know more than all of their friends combined in that subject). Outcast geniuses can be very lonely, due to their being outcast from most normal groups and too smart for the room among many other types of dorks and geeks, but they can also be the types to eventually rule the world, ala Bill Gates, the prototypical Outcast Genius. Congratulations!
The smoke in the air has finally gotten to me so I am home today. I am getting back in bed now, asthma has me wiped out.

Yarny Adventure

For some reason I keep forgetting to write up the post about my little trip up to North Star. On June 30th about 12 of us from my area (including my friend K, Monkeysocks, Freddie and Knitty Otter).

We began the day by having a really nice lunch at the River Ranch Lodge, which sits on the Truckee River. And I do mean it sits right on the river. They have an outdoor patio and bbq grill which juts out over the river (just a little). The service was really nice and the food was great! Gourmet hamburgers and fries.

After lunch we went up to The Village at North Star (a popular ski area) and visited "Loopy at Tahoe" yarn shop. The shop used to be located in North Lake Tahoe (under the name "Three Dog Knit") but has recently moved to North Star. The owner (Judy) of the shop was featured last year on an episode of Knitty Gritty with her kids in which Ski patterns were featured. It is a small shop but very nice welcoming atmosphere in a lovely spot. Judy couldn't have been any nicer and didn't hesitate when I asked if I could take her picture for my blog. Thank you Judy! I didn't buy much but what I got I really like. Going to make a felted bag with the yarn. The booklet was a great find, had not seen it before and it has given me some really great ideas. Not only for bags but for some other things. Love when that happens. :-)

After the yarn shop we strolled down the path and found a great bead shop. Nice service and beautiful beads. Though the shop was in a high price area I found the prices to be comparable to other bead shops in less afluent areas. The service was great (which seemed to be the way it was on saturday...every where we went we were treated really well). The shop is called Farrah Rale. Not only do they sell beads but if you are not a jewelry crafter and you find some beads and trinkets you like they will put it together for you right there. I found a really nice large bead that will serve well as a closure for a bag, plus some interesting beads that will make nice stitch markers. Now I need more beads like I need more yarn and more books (my bead stash is 3rd in size only to my book stash and my yarn stash). lol

It was a really nice day with some really nice people. My friend K was able to come as well and she got to meet some of the people I talk to her about. She lives sort of far out town and doesn't get to participate in some of the yarny things because of distance. I love going to my LYS (Deluxe Yarns) and playing yarn there but every once in while its nice to see what else is going on. :-)

Yarn in A Teacup Swap

I came home early because the smoke from all the fires in my area are giving me serious asthma difficulties. I couldn't even focus clearly at work. The nice thing about coming home early, besides being able to breath better, is that I found a package waiting for me. Mentalrose of the Tangled blog was my upstream partner. She couldn't have sent me a better package if she tried! Seriously it is lovely and she hit it right on the nose. She sent me a gorgeous tea cup and a lovely skein of Wool/Silk blend...she ALSO sent me some very adorable geometric looking stitch markers (geometry just up my alley) ...as well as....a hand made spindle...and (drum roll) handpainted silk roving! WOOHOO! YEAH ME! I HAVE MY OWN SPINDLE NOW! Can you guess what I am doing tonight? She included a lovely handwritten note which included some links for sites that show you how to use what she sent me. Thank you so much. :-D My friend K is buying a wheel and is going to let me try it out ...I have that nice Australian handpainted wool roving that I won from Yarnivorous.

Here are the links for anyone who is interested:

Spinning Basics Fall 06 (pdf)

How to Use a Support Spindle or takkli.

I am almost ready to send my downstream package. I hope Elan will like hers as much as I like mine.

New Saturday Outing

I had a FABULOUS DAY yesterday with the Knitty Otter lady and with Monkey Socks (whom I have mentioned before). We did some knitting and shopping and eating. It was a really nice did with people the I love and share things in common with.

The reason for the day of shopping was to help me get clothes. I hate going clothes shopping alone I get frustrated. To be honest I am just not good at pickingout clothing. Never have been. Knitty Otter has the eye and knack. I hit the jack pot...well for me it was...I found really nice dress pants and two gorgeous blouses. :-) Yeah me! Then when honey picked me up and took me to get some shoes (that I need for an outing this Wednesday).

Oh and to end the day I came home to a cool apartment (the temp outside is about 105+, gross), dinner made and was able to sit and knit. All in all a great day!

Yes I did again...

I joined the Myster Stole 3 KAL. It just sounded way to intriguing. It is now closed for new sign-ups as of the 6th, I signed up on the 5th. I had been hearing about it for weeks all over blogland but swore I was NOT going to join it. But then ....then...I made the mistake of reading that "Yarnharlot's" blog how she describes she fell down the rabbit hole....and instead of detering me it just pushed me further and I fell down the rabbit hole as well...in total about 4k fell into the whole so I will have lots of company. It actually started on June 20th so two clues have already been posted. From the pictures that have been posted for clue 1...it is a gorgeous pattern.

Lets see what the KAL count is now:

1. Summer of Socks: really going slow for me, I have 3 socks cast on and have completed 1 of a pair. LOLOL...I find it funny considering that I participated in Sock Madness and was able to get all the way to the final four. Its probably the reason why I have slowed down my sock making and my knitting in general. SM was able to show me how much I enjoy the process of knitting.

2. Summer KAL-CAL Purse Round: Since it started I made 6 bags. One of the 6 is completed, the other 5 need felting and the closures. I have 3 sitting on the side that need closures, linings and 2 which need a lining.

3. Mystery Stole 3: began swatching two different yarns to test which one would look the best to my cray eyes of colors lol.

4. Yarn in a cup: I don't have to knit anything for this one but am putting together a package. I have several items that I still would like to get but am almost ready to send it. It needs to be sent by July 30th. I will make it. lol

Thrift Store Finds

1. 2. 3.

1. These two old crochet books ("Crochet Your Way" and "Family Circles: Favorite Needlecrafts", the 2nd one I believe is out of print and can only be found used) were donated and the manager just grabbed them for me. There are some nice ideas in them even though the patterns are old fashioned but they can be simply modernized.

2. Rosearts "Knit & Gem Machine": I am really excited to have gotten this. Lots of people are after this "child's toy" and they are hard to come by used never mind new. The only thing that is "wrong" with this one is that funny little stickers were put all over it, which I will remove simply enough. All the parts and book came with it.

3. The 50 cent Black Bag: This still had the tag on it! Yes it only cost me $0.50 (U.S.)! Its lined and the "label" on the front says "Rosetti: New York". I have no idea if thats a good label or not, I am not a label type person nor am I into "trendy" or "in-now" kind of things. I like what I like whether its in or not. lol I usually go for things that are totally against a trend anyway because I want to be different. :-P~~~ It has great inside pockets, is lined and has nice outside pockets. I love it!

I have also come away with about 10 8" wide leather belts (black, navy and brown) that I thought I could up and use in a creative way. Also found some pins, earrings and belt buckles that could be used as embelishments.

I live with an enabler...

...I am so lucky. Have some new goodies to share. Some came from my honey the others came from the thrift store at the non-profit I work with. The manager of the store finds things of a "yarny" nature and saves them for me. Sometimes the items still have the tag on it. The store gets a lot of things donated but its small so she just passes some items on to me. Lucky me. As for honey...well he just loves me and I am spoiled. LOL...might as well admit the obvious.

First from the honey:

Three new books:

"Mason Dixon Knitting", I didn't know how funny the authors are. I am not crazy about the cover because it really doesn't give you a clue as to how nice the book really is on the inside. Thank goodness that I know better then to judge a book by it cover. ;-) I am liking it alot.

"World of Knitted Toys", I really like this one because it is different from other 'toy' type books. The animals are not cutsey cartoon types, instead they are made to represent realistic animals around the world. I am especially in love with the section on animals from the frozen parts of world...having lived on Antarctica for a tiny portion of my life I have an affinity for the animals that survive there.

"Beautiful Knitting Patterns", this is a knitting stitch dictionary/encyclopedia book. The stitches are as beautiful as the title states...but what I like about it is that the majority of the stitches I have not seen before even in bigger books of its types. Always looking for the unique and different.

Knifty Knitter Handloom: This comes from the Knifty Knitter Loom people. Its a mini-hand loom. I have recently complained how I can't find handles that I like or that are unique so when I saw this I thought it might be an interesting way to create handles for bags that would be my own creation and would stand out. Shall see how it works. :-) I can't seem to find a link for it. Honey got for me at Ben Franklin's craft store.

Crafters on the Go Bag: Has lots of pockets for needles and notions and a good size for projects. Again can't find a link for the bag but it was purchased from Michael's Craft Store.

JJ's Specialty Yarns: This came from New Zealand. Love the colors and I think it is destined to become a felted bag. Shall see.

Next post: Thrift store finds, and the one after that trip to Tahoe. :-)