Friday, June 29, 2007

Various Things

Well, not much knitting has been going on, sad to say. Monday I did manage to finish off the back of the Cable Trim Pullover (read: alpaca sweater) and today I cast on for the front. Other than that, not much else.
On Wednesday I went to my school for the orientation meeting and registration process. I think I ought to re-think this whole "History Major" thing. LB is very focused on paper writing, and can I just say I SUCK at paper writing? Not to mention my editor is joining the USMC in August so I'll be out of luck? It's not that I don't passionately love history and learning all about it, I'm just terrified about the billions of papers I'm going to have to write. Hell. Maybe I ought to be a dance major. Few papers then although I'm sure they have some. But a few is better than a paper for every class every semester. Hell.

My classes leave much to be desired. I was lucky enough to get the times I want but the classes themselves? Ick. To be a history major at CSULB you have to take (and do well in) 3 classes. The first one is the Methodology of History (or 301), I blacked out on the second one (302) and the Senior Seminar (499). I blacked out on the 2nd one because they went on, and on and on about how bloody hard 301 will be and that they only advise you take one other history class while doing 301 due to work load. Hell.

So I'm taking 4 classes next semester. 301, Pagan Culture, U.S. Colonial History and Religious Diversity in America. The Pagan Culture isn't as awesome and amazing as it sounds. It's classic Greek/Roman lit. Apparently the teacher rocks, and that was told by a math major and history major student. OK, I'll be positive about that. The US History one I'm completely ok with (that's my "Fun" class for the semester) and shoot me over the head I don't want to take Religious Diversity in US. I wanted to take the class on Buddhism but it was all full. Suck.

Thursday, Matthew and I had our Engagement photo's taken and we picked up our Handfasting rings form the jewelers. We are wearing them now, because he didn't want to wait despite it not being until July 22nd. I wish I could say that was our wedding date as well, but...he wants to wait for his first duty station...So January-ish I'll be getting married. I don't think I'm working all weekend which is a relaxing experience but sucky money wise. Alas, I shall survive.

I'm off to work on that pullover, if only to have more done by Monday's class.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Socks and a tattoo!

My first pair of socks!!! I'm so stinking proud!! The yarn was Cherry Tree Hill in "Blues/Purples" 100% superwash merino fingering weight. Beautimus! The pattern book is in my car, it's 1:00am and I'll let you know but it's just a generic knit in the round sock.
Taaa Daaa!
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That is the artistic View. Here's what they look like on my pale, "Have never seen daylight" legs:
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How flattering. AND! I got my first tattoo. It's the top view of a lotus flower in purple with white hi-lights.

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I haven't done much knitting this week, but things have been a tad busy. I'm hoping to get some work done on the Cable Trim Pullover this weekend, but we'll have to see how tired work leaves me.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Socks!

It's official, I've finished my first pair of socks!! I took pictures but alas, I can't upload them tonight. Woe to me-woe to you if I went into details. I'm not sure what to knit next. Should I do a summery tank top in pale aqua green/blue cotton, or should I knit up a sweater to toss over myself after yoga? Yoga, by the way is awesome. I go Thursday nights, and there is a class on Sunday mornings (I take classes through 24hour fitness). I'd like to go to the Sunday morning one, but so far there's always something keeping me from it. Figures.

Where was I? Oh, knitting. I could also start on a Debbie Bliss Bolero I've been eyeballing or maybe start on a blanket using that Irish wool Matthew's mother got me. Speaking of Irish yarn, my boss went to Ireland and brought me back some acrylic yarn. Nice! I haven't gotten it yet (it was a rough weekend, but it was nice of him to think of me. I'm planning on making up a baby blanket out of organic cotton for my cousion's daughter's 1 year b-day, but since I'll be out in Southern Illinois for just about the entire month of august (the heat and humidity will suck I know) I want to wait to start that.

I suppose I could just work on the Cable Trim Pullover (read: meh to it atm) but I like to have 2 projects going at once. I could knit more socks, there is always that available to me. Who can say?

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

New Projects, Shawls, and finished Projects!!

I finally, FINALLY finished the Alpaca shawl from "Greeting's from Knit Cafe" done in Prime Alpaca color-Nutmeg. Yum. I turned out so lovely look!
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Here is my parent's deck railing modeling it for you (I couldn't bear to think of putting it on foilage-all of ours are either spiky or cobweb ridden).
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I was also going to post on tuesday about how I started my first pair of socks!!!! I feel like a real Knitter (as opposed to -k-nitter). Heres where I finished on Monday (with pictures on Tuesday prior to working on it):
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Here's where I am about now :
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I finished my first sock! That's the love of my life posing as sexy as ever. I'm working on my second sock and am still working on the ankle bit prior to making the heel flap. My first sock! I went to the LYS and showed my LYS who were super proud of me. I wound up buying more sock yarn for Matthew to make him a pair (like he has a choice) and a pattern book for Sampler Afgans. Matthew's mom brough tme home32ounces of Irish Wool (white) so i'm going to knit that up into something blanket like. Anywho, back to my second sock!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Bag Sale!

Well this morning was eventful and the day has hardly started! I'm up to row 191/200 on the alpaca shawl thanks to knitting at 1:30 in the morning. After the 191 row I made myself stop, and go to bed. Wherein I laid there for an hour or so wide awake thinking to myself, "I could be knitting right now".

Around 6 am my alarm clock went off (god help me) and I dragged myself out of bed. I would just like to point out that I haven't gotten up at 6 am since 2002. 7:45-8am mabey but 6?! No thank you. However it is/was Yarn lady's big Bag sale where you get a bag full of 10 skeins of yarn at 75% off the price. I got there around 7:45-ish and there were already ladies digging through these containers (for lack of a better word) which were so huge you pratically had to swan dive to get through. I'm so thankful I got there early because by 8:30-9:00am it was packed.

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That's just one side of the store and there was so so much more yarn. I'm particularly amused by the lady on the lefts facial expression. "NO! It's MY yarn! You can't have it!!". LoL. The women were going wild. You know the huge Ikea bags you can go shopping with? They had those for your shopping use while at the sale. Several women had 4 bags PACKED full and were still going. Personally I was a bit disappointed with the selection but I did find a few gems (pic further down).
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That was the truck that was FULL of yarn from their storage bins. You can barely make out on the left all the empty boxes. Good grief.

Th eline, while long did go by fast:Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The staff was all very nice, outgoing and all had a good sence of humor. There were a few grabby people, and some would throw the discarded bags in front of you while you were searching but all in all everyone was nice and polite. I look like something the cat dragged in but remember, I am working of 4 hours of sleep.
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Here's my goodies:Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

20 skeins of 100% Silk (origionally $300.00) for $75.00
20 Skeins of Tweedy Cotton (origionally $120:00) $30.00
20 skeins of 100% Extra Fine Merino ($120.00) for $30.00.
And 2 pattern books. All for $140.00. Nice. :D So my stash has grown but The cotton is going to be made into a tank and the merino into a sweater to put on after yoga. Woo Hoo!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

In Progress

I finally, finally found my camera and was able to take pictures of my two WIP's.

Here's the Cable Pullover I'm working on (this is the back panel):
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and the Alpaca shawl complete with a ticket stub to help you get a gist of the size it is so far:
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Only 40-something rows to go!

Friday, June 1, 2007

WIP's

The past 7 days have been a nightmare of worry, stress, terror, tears and love. The first few days I was a mess to be sure, but I've slowly pulled myself together fragile as it may be. I'm grateful to knitting for being there to keep me reasonably busy. I've gotten a nice bit of knitting done on the Cable Trim Pullover (I still love that alpaca) and the Alpaca Shawl. Yum. However, my digital camera is hiding somewhere in my room so I can't take pictures and post my progress. Humph. My next two projects are going to be a Debbie Bliss Bolero in cashmerino, and Intolerable Cruelty (linky) from Knitty.com. The bolero I have been eying for a month or so and the skirt from knitty I'm making for my Fiancee. Technically, the skirt is for me, but during boot camp he'll get one day out of the 3 months for a family day, so I'm going to wear it there. He'll be all proud of his "sexy fairy" and be kicking himself for leaving me. :P He's even picked out what two colors to use. Any who, once I find my camera I'll post some in progress but for now, enjoy your day.