Babies!

No, not mine. I got invited to two baby showers yesterday. They are both for girls that I didn't know would even have showers. Yet, here they are.

The first is for an awesome, vegetarian, punk-ish, animal-lover who I have come to know over the last two years. She's pretty sure she's having a boy, but that is not confirmed. She's so thrilled, though. I'm so happy for her, too.

The second is for my cousin. She and I aren't all that close, even though we grew up in closer proximity than all of our other cousins. Regardless, since that one's a bit farther away (it's in PA, and it's two weeks after the first one), I have a bit more time to plan. On her registry, she has pink and purple pacifiers, so it looks like she thinks she's having a girl.

I thoroughly plan to knit beautiful baby things. Hopefully, I'll actually stick to that plan and get them done. I haven't completely decided on my projects, and I'm going yarn-hunting this afternoon. I don't quite have the right stuff in my minimal stash.

In the meantime, I cast on a sock...

This is the green Fearless Fibers skein. It's a lightweight sock yarn, and I plan to give the pair as a gift when they're done. Woohoo for awesome knitted gifts.

Long time, some progress

Ok, I have been busy, and I will post pictures tonight.

I spent last weekend in Boston with my awesome gal, Abbey. Much fun was had for her sister's 21st birthday. There was a limo. Everything was amazing.

During this last week, my car bit the dust. It currently has a flat tire, and it's parked in my parking lot at work. Good times then renting a car and driving to PA to pick up the family back-up car so Adam and I can still get to work. We don't actually know what is wrong with the car, but it's the same as a problem that we had been having in May, and we already tried the quick-fix on it. Something tells me that this will no longer be a quick fix.

Driving home to PA of course requires taking Monty with us, and he loves visitng, and does really well in the car. We have to break down his crate, though, and bring food and toys and blankets. We took more home for him than we did for ourselves. When we were told that having a dog was like practice for having kids, it's no joke. Now we definitely have a better idea of what will be required of us before we can completely devote ourselves to younglings. Monty's really great, though, so we have a positive outlook.

Seriously, I will post pictures later.

Plenty of Punk in the Package

From my punk-est pal, Shadkitty, I received a whole boat-load of goodies.









I was so excited to see all of these things! Especially the Yarns. She calls this package, "My Favorite Things." How awesome is that? Instead of trying to guess the cool things that your pal would love (which Crystal has done a great job with already), send off versions of your favorite things. I now know that Crystal and I share a similar affinity for the finer yarns in life, but not exclusively (She also loves Caron SS, my latst discovery). The Stephen King book is one of her favorites, that has clearly been read and re-read many times. I have a few books that are my absolute favorites, so I know how it must be to part with her copy. I have already started it, and I am already enjoying it. Who knows: maybe I'll read the rest of the Dark Tower series?


Back to the yarn: I find it interesting to get yarn and then try to figure out what to do with it. I'm still at the stage with my knitting where I'm not 100% sure how a yarn substitution will work out, or whether it'll totally bug out. That's part of my excitement at finally being added to Ravelry. I can search for the yarn I want to work with and hopefully I will find projects to work on with it.



I am really excited about the notions as well. STITCH MARKERS BY SUNNESHINE!! With pretty purple hearts! EEEeeee! Love them. The sheep ribbon is adorable too. I have to admit, though - I'm not sure what I'm going to use that for, either. I am a hoarder by nature - I have whole collections of cards/stickers/fancy papers that I collected during my scrapbooking days, and now that my books are completed, I don't use them. Hopefully, I won't fall into the same trap again.




Once I figure out the projects that I will be working on with these yarns, I will obviously produce an update.

Confessional

Ok, so there's a reason why I've been avoiding my knitting as of late. I have developed a side passion. Not one that will overtake my love for the pointy sticks, but definitely sidetracking.

Crochet.

But not just crochet in general.

The Ripple.



I'm definitely not a granny-square gal in any manner, shape or form. I have never really seen the appeal of crochet, and I definitely turned my nose up to it. I mean, who wants to work in the same spot for so many stitches and end up with this knobbly little mass of yarn? Don't even get me started on little lace doilies - I inherited my great-grandmother's lace-knitting hooks, and they are so tiny! I can hardly even see them, let alone imagine working with them.

However, when I saw the pattern for the Ripple Afghan, I was smitten. Especially since it was done in such beautiful and vibrant colors! Then, I found a Ripple-Along, and realized that there are many, many people that are whipping these up. I went and perused the aisles at Michaels and found Caron Simply Soft in some beautiful colors to make up a queen-sized blanket for my bed. Adam likes the colors too, so it will definitely make it to the bed once it's done. Machine-washable, too.



It's a lot of work, I know. 3x the yarn. A small hook-type creature. I definitely feel like a traitor.

I also have a plain-knit stockinette shawl in gorgeous alpaca going right now, too. Just to remind me of my roots.

Dog Party

We took our little gentleman to a Dog Party on Sunday. This was a gathering of 17 or so dogs and their owners in a huge fenced-in backyard. Now, Monty loves people. Absolutely adores people. Wants to crawl into your lap and be hugged. Other dogs are a different story. He just wants to run and play alone, and other dogs crowd him out. Plus, he doesn't like to be part of the meet-and-greet ritual that dogs naturally assume. Plus, it was on and off drizzling all day, and his highness doesn't like wet paws - poor baby.





I have still been knitting - I swear. I just haven't made any progress that would be significant to post about. Especially since it's been warm and rainy up here, and tht is certainly not knitting weather.

Memorial Weekend...whew!

This past week has involved a lot of time focused on the new pooch. Having had him now for almost three weeks, we are learning his moods and needs. He loves to nap - preferably on someone's lap, redering them useless.


Last week also marked the departure of our roommate, Brigette. She finished up her class at the University and headed back to Long Island to pursue her newest endeavors.

It's weird not to have that third person in your house, when you're used to them being there. Even Monty goes looking for her. We miss her dearly.

This past weekend, we packed Monty into the car and headed to PA to visit all of the parents and friends that we haven't seen since Christmas. It was quite a drive, but our little boy handled it like a champ. He just curled up on the back seat and fell asleep. He charmed everyone that he met, and he definitely met a lot of people.

Today, I got Monty signed up for an obedience class. He needs just a bit of training. He needs to learn a little bit more about what we try to do to get his attention, and then we can have a skill set to work with him. We want him to be proud of himself and the achivements that he will be able to master.

More pictures coming soon!

Playing tag

Really, it'll be fun. :D

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. Here are my facts:

1) I love knitting things that you can't buy in stores. Every FO is even more special then.

2) I have many piercings and a number of tattoos, but I'm a total girly-girl.

3) I read really fast. I can buy a 400-page novel and have it finished in less than two business days. I do the same thing with instruction manuals, how-to books, self-help books, etc.

4) I'm a size 14, and I love it.

5) I married my high-school sweetheart. He's great.

6) I was a spelling bee champion (nod to Shadkitty). I think this comes from reading so much - I've seen a lot of words, and so I can just see them to spell them.

7) I have 8 parents. Adam and I each come from divorced families that have expanded.

I tag,
Brenda, Gothknits, Kyira, Lana, and Jenn. Those are my only web-friends that haven't been tagged yet.

Long time, no blog.

So much has been going on.

First, I had ordered and received two skeins of Fearless Fibers sock yarn, which I ordered from Etsy.

I absolutely love this purple - Midnight Passion is it's official name.

Here's a closeup so you can see the loveliness:


I need to pick up another pair of #1 DPN's so I can work on more than one pair at a atime. And maybe one of those small sock project bags that dangles from your wrist.... I know Lantern Moon makes nice ones - does anyone else know of a kind that they like? I plan to wait on working on the purple socks though. I have to still finish my second STR (about half done) and then I'm going to knit up the green Fearless into a pair for a friend of mine.

In other news, we found a dog!! We've named him Montgomery, and he loves life. He's amazing in so many ways. We've had him home since Thursday, and he seems to really like us.




He has a bit of seperation anxiety, so he loves being with us at all times. Good for us, mostly.

Beautiful again

Worked a lot this week - and watched the beautiful day outside.

Adam and I have decided tht we're ready to adopt a puppy. Something small, something shorthaired, and gets along with Avery.

Otherwise, it's been busy as usual.

OK, real quick:

I got my package from my secret pal, SHADKITTY!

I'm so excited that it's her - I've actually been an avid reader of her site for quite some time now. I love Johnny Depp as well, so the page is worth visiting just for the montage. But then you're on this really well-written page that is funny and informative.

She sent me lovely stuff:





There are two skeins of Cascade Yarn - grey and red; Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Creme (luscious); two buttons (which are kinda hard to see in the picture) "Yarrn, ho!" and "Knit or Die", and an awesome t-shirt -> "I Knit, Therefore I ROCK!"




I so do.

So busy

With the semester wrapping up and a new phase at the store, I have been working like mad. I promise to blog really soon. I DID receive my second package from my secret pal - SHADKITTY!!! I already wore my new t-shirt to work. I have lots of new pictures, too.

I really want to do it now but I have to grade papers instead.

It's so beautiful

First, it was gorgeous outside when I left the University, so I took a picture of Adam:

















Then, when I got to the car, Adam had brought with him a package that I received from Amazon:





I have looked through this book a couple of times, and I was so happy to have received it from my PRGE Secret Pal, Peppy. Thank you so much!!!












A few weeks ago, I had been working on a pair of Widdershins socks, but had a hard time with the bind-off. I wasn't making a loose enough top edge. Then, as part of the Anastasia pattern that I'm currently working on, I read the Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind-off. Very stretchy and pretty. So now I have a finished pair of Widdershins:



















Also in the sock realm, I have finished my first Anastasia/Widdershins hybrid:

My hybrid is built as follows: Judy's Magic Cast-On (from Knitty), which can be used for either sock; knit straight for an inch; start working the chart for the Anastasia swirls; I chose the gusset and heel from Widdershins; then the leg, cuff and bind-off from Anastasia.












Oh! I also saw The Yarn Harlot on Knitty Gritty! She did her socks presentation, and it was wonderful! Knitting socks looks so ridiculously easy when watching her do it.

Now I have a few hours to relax before I go back into work. I leave you with "Sunshine and Avery".

Too much Rain

There has been so much rain, that when I look out into the small yard in front of my apartment, it is clear the grass will not hold any more water. That was mostly on Sunday, when it was a heavy rain for 18 hours straight. I realize that was nothing compared to some areas of New York and New Jersey, but I stayed inside and off the roads nonetheless. I worked until 11:30am, and then went home and got back in my pajama pants - where I actually got to stay for the rest of the day. It was amazing, and I am totally energized as a result.

The first Anastasia/Widdershins sock is finished!! I actually finished it on Saturday. I know that I made a number of stylistic mistakes in it, but I know what they are, and once I knit those same mistakes into the second sock, they are no longer mistakes but rather strokes of uniqueness. It looks good, fits like a glove, and of course at home, where I can't take a picture of it right now.

A while ago, I fell in love with Yarnstorm's Ripple Blanket and I know she's working from a pattern and all, but I was smitten. I also knew that I would have to learn to crochet in order to get anywhere near the beauty of this blanket.
So, I picked up a copy of Stich & Bitch: The Happy Hooker and looked up the Double Crochet. And off I go. I have this soft 1970's acrylic yarn that fades from bright green to white and back. It's kinda neat, and honey likes it. The only issue is that I cannot crochet in public. I was working on this blanket at my Starbucks before a shift one day, and a woman came into the store, saw me working, and walked up and asked, "Is there a baby on the way?" I had to politely tell her no, and vowed that the blanket would not be leaving the house anymore.

In other news, I got a great postcard from my Punk Rock Gift Exchange Pal yeasterday. I never once mentioned The Labyrinth to her, so there's way she could have known how obsessed I was as a kid, but it arrived anyway.



Amazing.

Progress

First and foremost -> Happy Birthday, Denise!!!!


I have made progress. When I posted on Sunday, I was hoping that I would indeed be able to continually make progress on these socks, plural. I have turned the heel, and began working on the leg. 6 inches of the spirals - woohoo!!

Also in this picture, I have my Molskine book. I love these things. I get the graph paper books, and they are perfect for me for re-writing my patterns into. In this way, I have a smaller book to contain all of my notes. I copy the charts in there, and work them in where they belong as integrated into the pattern itself. I write the actual pattern in pen and marker, and then my row counts and whatnot can be in pencil. Also, the book is slim enough that I can actually bend it backwards and it's a small board to lay on my lap with my notes right there. Another fun perk: they come in 3 packs. I love 'em.

In work news, I am booked. I work every day at the Studio, and then I have a job every evening. I work both days this weekend, and then Monday and Tuesday night next week as well. *Sigh* If I really didn't love everything I was doing, I might be upset by this. Really, the only thing that's a bit disconcerting to me is that I wake up, get dressed and leave my house, and then don't return until it's time to change again and go to sleep. Once the semester is over, my time will free up, and be in softball season! Playing outside - Yeah!!

New socks

First of all, I love-love-love this colorway!

I started knitting sock #1 with the Magic cast-on for toe-up according to Knitty. I love this cast-on since it feels like a really secure binding for keeping my toes covered. I wanted a pattern on the instep of these socks, but nothing too intricate. I found Anastasia by Perpperknits to be exactly what I was looking for. I love the swirls, and the way they integrate on the leg.

Also, I love the way the bright green of the wool just pops out very evenly through the work. The hot pink does this too. When I first looked at the colors before winding it, I don't even remember seeing these very bright colors in there at all.

I just started these late on Friday, so we'll see how far I can actually get on them.

Materials for the Beret

I realized from Peppy's comment that I neglected to reference my materials for making the beret. I suppose I was so deliriously happy to finish something, that it simply slipped my mind.

Using US 3 needles - first a 24" circular Addi turbo, and then DPN's - I used Frog Tree 100% Alpaca Wool in sport weight. I had two balls, each 130 yards, and used up the first one and then a bit of the second one. I don't actually remember buying this yarn, but when I found it in my stash, I really loved it. It matches my eyes pretty closely and looks good with my dark hair, so I knew deep down that it was hat material.

It's been so long since I've worn a hat for style rather than just function that I'm really looking forward to breaking it out - maybe tomorrow?!??!?!

I Finished Something!!

From Greetings from Knit Cafe, I have completed:
Beret.


There's hope for me yet.

The new camera is here!!

Woohoo!!

Actually, I received it Tuesday, but I'm still working on getting to know how to manipulate everything.

This is a shot of my workspace in the Recording Studio. Very flashy, I know. I use the Stitch N Bitch Page-A-Day calendar to organize booking deadlines.

Just to the right of the PC on the right side of the picture is my sign from the Yarn Harlot's talk last week.


I am a firm believer in the following: "A cluttered desk is a sign of an organized mind." I stand by that fully.

More pictures to come! The disposable is at CVS as I type!

Perfect Premiere Punk Pal Package!!

I received my first Punk-Rock Gift Exchange package today. Everything in it is totally beautiful. Peppy, my Secret Pal, has done a beautiful job.


First, I unfolded a beautiful colorway of Socks that Rock called Rolling Stone.

I love the colors - so rich - and I am very eager to knit it right up. I must exercise some patience, though. I want to make sure that I find just the right pattern.









That brings up: Nancy Bush's Knitting On the Road - Socks Patterns for the Traveling Knitter.




I also found a lovely candle scented in Water Garden - very lovely. An adorable note, a blank note card, and a Hershey's bar with Almonds - my favorite!

This is so great!!

Thank you so much, Peppy!!!

Getting a new camera

The pictures that I have posted before have all been taken with my honey's awesome Canon Rebel. I love the pictures that it takes, but it's not exactly portable for me. So, this weekend, while I was out, I bought a disposable Kodak camera. It took pictures for me, but obviously I have no idea how they turned out. So, Friday night, I ordered a new digital camera which should be delivered to me at work sometime this week.

In the meantime, I have to get the disposable camera to CVS to get me prints.

I had a fabulous time in NYC. I didn't make it there in time for the Strawberry Fields gathering, but I did make it there in plenty of time to check out the Radical Lace exhibit before heading over to FIT. Adam and I were both entertained by the Yarn Harlot's talk. After the talk, on our way out, Adam was complimented and congratulated for being my supporter. I'm always happy that he's proud of my knitting, but it's nice when other people notice it too.

As soon as I get my images developed, this we will be the first palce they end up.