Yarnatic

ALIVE, ALIVE, ALIVE!

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:05:00 +0000

Vikkie crawls out from under the rock she has been under and dusts herself off, straightens out her clothes and waves to everyone. "Why hello there all!"

Yes I still exist. I have had a crazy few months. I cannot begin to explain it all nor begin to tell you what has been going on. I had the busiest semester that I have ever had in my college career. The work was not difficult but the load was HUGE. But in the end, I recieved straight As. Woohoo me! Now I am doing student teaching at a great highschool. Charter school actually, with the best kids in the world. It is a lot of work but I love it. Actually I began in November, full time because the school was in desperate need of a Math teacher. My kids are creative and wonderful but a lot of work. I am also fortunate enough to work with a staff that is above the top fantastic. Its a small school and staff but this is what teaching is about. They talk the talk and then walk the walk. I landed in the right place for me. I will be done in May and I believe that it will be my job. I feel at home there so here is hoping.

On the knitting front, Yes I have been knitting. Not as much as I have wanted and needed to however. I actually did no knitting for about 3 months and made no handmade items for Christmas :-( . But I am back it. In the last month I have made a couple of unique scraves and am working on a cable hat for my mother. I will have pictures soon. There has been new yarn as well that I need to show off and also post on Ravelry. New books and magazines as well. Well I promise I will be back now regularly and post also. Probably not as much as I used to but regularly at least.

Drop me a note and let me know how you all are or just to say hi!!!!

Bags!

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:00 +0000

Finally felted and finished up all my bags (the ones that have been sitting around waiting to be fulled that is). I like them all except for one. The Lotrop II bag (from Noro Revisited) is HEDIOUS. I couldn't even bring myself to take a picture of it. Seriously...it is ugly as sin and because I chose the Berroco Hip Hop yarn; it just doesn't work for the pattern (which is really nice). The other bags though came out great. Here they are:

The Lucy Bag:

Came out fantastic! It looked nice unfelted and looks as good felted. I am really happy with it.

Yarn: Wisdom Yarn-Peoms in colorway 550; 3 skeins for the smaller version of the pattern.

Needles: US 7 dpns for the start and then circs.

Knitting for Peace Messenger Bag:

Fun, Fun , Fun! It shrunk up a lot thank goodness. It was so big before felting that I could stand in it and it went past my knees, with the strap going over my head lol. Yeah thats kind of big. After two times through the wash it know lays at my hip with the strap over my body diagonally. When it came out of the wash one corner of the flap was pointed outward and try as I might I could not get it to straighten so I pulled out the opposite corner to match and it looks great. It doesn't need a closure but if I find something that fits I will add one for embellishment. Its done though.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, in Black, Supreme Purple, Amethyst and Wild Violet. 1.5 Skeins each.

Needle: US 9 circs.

Vikkie's Summer Sunglass Neck Bag:

This is a pattern I made up myself. I have the notes all written down, have to put it into a coherent format however so that it can be shared. I called it a Sunglass Neck Bag because its just big enough to throw a pair of sunglasses, some money and an ID in. I love it. I added some glass leaf beads to it in autumn colors because of the colors in the yarn. So the colors are not very Summery lol...but still. Love the yarn...its one of my favorites. It was knit in one piece with one end of the strap kitchnered into place.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Handpaint Originals in New England Fall colorway; 1.5 skeins used.

Needles: US 8 dpns.

Nevada State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:00 +0000

The Nevada State Fair was held last week. I didn't have anything entered, I wanted to but time got away from me. (WORK) However two people I know did enter. Miss Caroline the supreme sock knitter mentioned in the last post entered some socks...and won a blue ribbon! (First place in the category) YEAH CAROLINE! Have not seen her yet though to congratulate her.

My friend Kathy entered a sewing project and a knitted bag. She won blue ribbons for both. Honey and I went with her to see if she had gotten a ribbon. This was the first time she had ever entered anything and was kind of nervous. When we got to the fair she kept procrastinating about going to the exhibit hall and seeing if she had gotten anything. I finally had to drag her. She entered a sewn sculpture piece...the category was toy...but its way more then a toy. It is a sculpture of a Dragon which she calls Starlight. The other item is a knitted bag that she named Vikkie's Dharma with Bells. (its my belated bday gift) She was soooooo excited. Couldn't stop squeeling LOL..yup she did. I was so excited for her. I have won a couple of ribbons at the Fair in prior years for paintings so I know exactly how she felt. Here is her happy face next to her pieces on display:

The bag is the bigger stripped one.

Knitting in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:00 +0000

A couple of weekends ago Florrie from Deluxe Yarns set up "Knitting in the Park" (August 19th). It was a really lovely day though if you were in the shade for the first part of the day it was a little chilly but then warmed up though there was a good breeze all day. We have had a horrendously hot summer here so it was a nice break. The company was lovely. My lovely friend Knitty Otter was there and others who I have missed knitting with this summer because WORK (that damn 4 letter word I swear!) got in the way.

Someone even brought a portable spinning wheel. We ate, we laughed, we spun....oh yeah and yours truly FELL. Right on her face! Sheesh...my flip flop caught a piece of raised walkway just right and I went sliding across the cement ...lunch everywhere. I went sliding...face first and scrapped up my elbow pretty nicely. At first I didn't think it was anything more then a scrapped up elbow. But has night came, at home, I went to stand up and my hip and knee where shot through with pain. I went to straighten my arm...the scrapped up elbow one...and couldn't. The elbow was swollen up like a below and bruised badly, my right hip had a huge black bruise and my knee did as well (my knees are already in bad shape so this doesn't help). It was so bad I couldn't get up and move to go to work. SHEESH! Only me! It honestly didn't feel that bad when it happened. It is all healing very nicely now though. But thats not what I needed lol.

Anyway ...one of my knitterly friends brought a huge wicker basket with her...at the request of Knitty Otter I was given to understand...of her socks. Caroline is a talented talented knitter of all kinds of items, but especially socks. The fantastic thing about her socks is that she makes very large socks...lol...like for someone who wears size 10 shoe and up (makes socks for her son who wears a size 13 shoe) and they are also wide. Pretty big socks...and she knits them on size - dpns. Yup! Fast too! Her socks come out with a beautiful fantastic fabric, if you didn't know you would think they had been machine made. So, when the basket was opened she had 52 pairs of the socks, and said she had given away at least as many. WOW...we of course HAD to take pictures. Of course! The cool thing for me is that Miss Caroline has similar tastes in sock yarn as I do...many of her completed socks are done in yarn that I have in my stash that I have not been able to match with a pattern because I wasn't sure what the stripping would do. Now that I have seen them knit up I have a better idea and can match them better with patterns. So here are her socks:

Summer of Socks Prize!

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:00 +0000

I won not just one...but two skeins of yarn from a contest for the Summer of Socks KAL! It is extemely lovely stuff with a generous amount of yardage. Here are the specs:

Yardage: 560 (4oz.)

Fiber: 2 ply soft 100% Superwash Merino Wool

Yarn weight: Fingering (of course it came from a sock KAL lol)

Made by: Cynthia's Skeins.

I won it for an internet Scavenger Hunt. Funny thing is that the first time I put an entry for the contest I didn't do it exactly right. I thought I had read the rules but with working being the way it was I didn't read them correctly and I ended up having to re-do it. So I figured I was out at that point lol....but guess what? I wasn't! lol

I have no chance at all of winning any of the other prizes because I have not been able to keep up with the sock knitting at all this summer...again due to work. Can you believe that Cookie from "Shut up and Knit!" has made 27 pairs so far? Wow! Right now she is in the lead for the Most Socks Contest but Jeannie from "Sewing, Knitting and Beyond" is close with 23. Wow.

Catching Up: Baby Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:52:00 +0000

DEEP SOOTHING BREATH...and exhale.

Finaly...LOL. What a summer! Last Friday was the last official day for my students with my summer program. This week I just admin stuff to clean up. They and I start the regular school year next Monday. Yikes. Unlike my students I finish up in December! YAHOO! I am so excited. This has been a long time coming with many sacrifices and life changes. I cannot believe it. So now for knitting blog updates. There are so many so I am going to do them in a series of different posts just so that I can keep myself organized lol.

My lovely friend, Knitting Otter, threw a baby shower for our other lovely friend Chipping Away and her partner A (it was the first time I had met A...what a great person!) :-). For never having given a baby shower (you would have never known if she hadn't said) it was the best one I have ever been too. KO and I made stitch markers (since all invited were from our knitting group lol) as invitee gifts, they were baby themed. I had soooo much fun going to the store and picking out the beads and charms...then sitting in her house making them together. It was so fun. She also went overboard with the party itself....well not overboard...above and beyond...fantastic food...lovely guests...and fun games. Have you ever played a game where you catapult a tiny plastic baby from a hand held device???? No? Then you are missing out...it was hilarious trying to hit the target. LOL. KO also had fantastic knitterly prizes for everyone. It was so much fun that the time just flew by...we started at noon and I didn't get home until 5 pm. LOL. Here are some pictures (no faces of people sorry because I didn't get permission and I don't play like that so there :-P ).

Ok so I lied there is one face (and yes I got permission)...LOL...that is the famous (in knitting blogland anyway lol) TKK :-) Miss Knitty Otter's fur baby. She is super super sweet and adorable. As for the knitting...the booties were my first ever baby items and the were fun to make. There is however no pattern, Florrie from Deluxe Yarns just told me verbally how to make them and I did. Easy peasy. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Worsted and part of a joint gift between myself and Knitty Otter who made matching hates. The other two knitted items are burp cloths made from Peaches n' Cream Cotton (1.5 balls) and the pattern is called "Baby Genius Burp Cloth" from Mason Dixon Knitting. Also very easy, though I made them longer then the patterned instructed because those who have had babies told me that a longer burp cloth would be better. LOL...I can only imagine so I followed there advice.

Ok so here Catch Up #1...purses, knitting in the park, stitch markers and yarn coming up. :-)

Yeah I Know...

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:28:00 +0000

...I have not blogged for a while and this one is going to be short. I have been knitting. I had several secret projects that I couldn't blog about before for a baby shower and bday gift. I have also completed through to felting 4 bags and also some socks. I am just working my you know what off for these final couple of weeks of the program I teach and it has just taken over. Whew! I will be posting soon, pictures included, about all the knitting and things. :-)

Yup...9 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:45:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:18:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:29:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:37:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:04:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:28:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:00:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:22:00 +0000

...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. :-)

Not Selling or Spamming

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:10:00 +0000

I think that I need to make a clarification about yesterday's posts on my artwork. My purpose was not to put them up as a "selling" trick...and I didn't send out the email that I did as "spam" to sell something. I was truly seeking to share my artwork thats it. I am very sorry if my email and my posts came across as spam or my trying to push something, that was not my intention at all. It was about sharing and nothing more. Truthfully. None of the artwork is for sale and if it were I wouldn't push it on anyone in this manner. I should have been clearer and I feel badly that it came across that way. Spam and spamming is annoying and I did not think that it would come across as such. I apologize that it has.

It took A LOT for me to put up my artwork. Can't really explain why it did but it did. So I am sorry that it was or is taken poorly and that the means I chose to share came out negatively.

One more time I apologize.

Happy 4th to all.

My Artwork: Math, Chaos Theory, Fractals and Comp. Images

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:37:00 +0000

Both of these were created with a free program called Artrage. When you expand them you can see texture and it looks as if the paper is showing through behind the color. It is really a great program and everything you create is done on the computer.

The following pictures IS Math. Yes it is! Its Chaos Theory, Tessellations, Fractals, Trig, Algebra, Geometry (Sacred Geometry) and on and on. Math is art, its visual and colorful. Every image was created with mathematical formulas and manipulations including the colors. None of them were rendered or colored in Photoshop or any other photographic manipulation software. I created them with Math programs and Fractal programs.

I hope to use art as a way of reaching kids and connecting math in way that it is not numbers and formulas on a page. In the past other artists look at me as if I am crazy when I say "Math and Art go hand in hand...Math is not just found in music but it can be seen and it is beautiful". Remember SpiroGraphs? That's math! You may even see some of these images and say "hey that looks familiar" or "I have seen 'designs' like that online". Many fractals and mathematical art is used online (by non-math people) for computer imagry, backgrounds, icons etc. Also though you may not have known it many of the images come from nature because nature is math (leaves, seashells etc.) patterns that occur or recur in nature are math.

I created these as studies for possible paintings or drawings. Something else that is floating around in the back of my mind.

My Artwork: Paintings: Oil and Acrylic

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:08:00 +0000

Painting. I sort of fell into it. One Christmas my artistically supportive Mom (thanks Mom) created one of the best Christmas I ever recieved. She purchased every color that Liquitex Brand acrylic paints came in, plus a myriad of tools because she thought I would get off on painting. I loved the gift but had no clue what to do with the paint (sorry Mom). I still have a lot of that paint (smile at Mom) and yes its still good. They have been used more then when I was 15 or 16. About 10 years ago I just felt like I needed to learn how to paint. The paintings look very different from my other work mostly because of how I learned to paint. I fell completely in love with the feel of paint. How it mixes, moves on canvas and how it feels on a brush. I love what brushes do to paint and what they do to color. Several of the paintings are multi-media. I have glued, sewn or some how attached beads, glass, stones and leafing of some kind to them in order to tell a story.

My favorite painting of all is the last one. It is a portrait of Chief Joseph (known by his people as Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt) of the Nez Perce. He is my hero because of what he did for his people and the ability he had to make himself heard at time when Native Americans were being ignored. It is not the best of my artwork but it is the piece that is the closest to my heart and soul.

I have entered several of these in state fairs and won a blue ribbon for the 4th painting (the ballerina: "Dancer's Kiss"). Many have ben exhibited in joint shows and some have been sold. Much of my artwork is gone and disappeared before I gained the where with all to photograph them. Yes I know, I know...and is why I am now so fanatical about photographing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I make no matter how simple.

My Artwork: Colored Pencil

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:08:00 +0000

I love colored pencils. I like the way the smell (yes I know weird, shrugs), I like the way they feel in my hand and I love the texture I can get when the pencil and paper connect. I love the ability to use a colored pencil as I would paint or as a crayon. The first two pictures are completed paintings the rest were color studies.

My Artwork: Geometrics

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:08:00 +0000

The majority of my geometrics are done in marker and Rapidograph pens. When I first found my art I would spend hours...HOURS...working up geometrics. One simple shape would lead to another and then another. I have samples back 25 years or more (such as pictures 9, 10 and 11). The majority of what is shown here are the last pieces of artwork of any kind that I created. The first 6 I created about 3 years ago, I showed them in a class at the university in which the professor said to me "your work is like Visual Prozac". LOL...if I ever have a solo show (not shooting for one, just saying), I will call the exhibit "Visual Prozac". I created the first six shown here as color studies with the intention of making huge 3 dimensional pieces. It is still in the back of my mind as an idea. Need the space in which to do something like I have in mind however.

My Artwork: Marker Pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:11:00 +0000

There was a time when all I day was draw and "paint" in marker. I have pieces that I did back in 5th grade. I was fortunate enough to grow-up with a Mom who believed in the arts and supported me. She would buy me all the supplies I needed and wanted to try. I had the best paper and markers (you know the kind that smell really strong and make you a little light headed). Since I had such high quality supplies my pieces have lasted. I keep everything even doodles. Some of my marker pieces were meant to be "drafts" for future pieces but many are complete.

My Artwork: Drawings

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:11:00 +0000

I have mentioned a couple of times in the past that I would some time soon share my own artwork (non-fiber related). Today finally I woke up and for some reason said "It has to be today". I believe that many people who know me may have heard me say I am an artist but in the past few years I have not talked about it much (due to some private issues). There was a time that I had a website dedicated to my art and sold my pieces. These past few years, however, it has almost become this secret part of me (again due to some private issues). Lately I have felt the need to share my art again. I believe that it is due to the creativity that knitting has re-awaken in my heart. Knitting has re-connected me to art in a way that I had come to believe I had lost. I have kept creating in some fashion or another because I have TOO...it is what makes me...me. I cannot live with artistic endeavors of sometime as a part of my life...it is like breathing for me. I could no sooner stop breathing and expect to survive as I could stop creating. Art is like taking a breath for me. I have to have it as a part of my life in order to be a sane, happy and healthy person. I stop creating I stop living. That all may sound overly dramatic to of you out there...and it may be...shrugs...it makes it no less the truth. I have been disconnected from my art for a few years....haven't even drawn a stick figure (again...private issues). I have continued to seek creative activities that though satisfying have not really met the need in my soul for art. What I have been doing has just allowed me to take quick breaths and in between each I find that I am holding my breath. If that makes any sense. So as I begin to connect again with my art for me the first step is to share it. I am not looking for accolades or anything like that...just simple sharing. I would very much lovely constructive commentary, so please leave comments or thoughts or send me an email.

So what kind of artist am I? I am a painter, optical illusionist, mathematical/fractal manipulator. I love geometrics and twisting them but I also love people...their faces, shapes, colors etc. I am also a colorist. Color is emotion for me. All color has meaning to me and for me. Color is symbol as well for me and I use as representative of thoughts, ideas, feelings, history, story...etc.

Ok with a deep breadth (and a nervous knot in my stomach) I share what and who I truely am. I will start with the drawings: (damn I am nervous as hell...wowie)