The Wench Knits

loopy Swap

2010-07-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

So I participated in teh Loopy Ewe Swap on Ravelry and here's a direct copy/paste of a post about what i got (typing=hurty so I'm only doing it once with no re formatting-you understand I assume)

Ok so! I got my package a few days ago and was waiting for either good weather (it's been over cast here) and/or my arm to stop hurting enough to type. Since the two have yet to coincide I decided to just take the pictures anyway. :)

To here's the overview of the package that [MidnightD](/people/MidnightD) sent me I love it!!

Summer is movies and ice cream (which she sent but we'll get to that) so she got me blazing saddles (squee!!!) and everything came in the adorable woven bag! (I love it desperately btw) A little bowl, pen (I've used to write to my husband with) a "s" clip (already useful for my keys SO HANDY!!) and and and the best smelling soap EVER. Apparently her friend makes it and they are divine. One is Lavender and the other is sheer yummyness. My bathroom smells like an apothecary and I'm so delighted by it!

the knitted item was a pair of perfectly fitted socks (My left foot is a shoe size larger than my right) in all of my favorite colors! pardon the crappy photo lol:

She also sent me malibrigo off my loopy wishlist that I had wanted for...somethign in my que. But of course I forgot which. I'll jsut ave to look through it again! In purple, drool. J'adore purple!

And there's a "silk" hanky she dyed herself:

And the most amusing aspect- She sent me **ICE CREAM**!!

It's freeze dried and I can't wait to dig in. Hubby has already asked me to mail him one but I can't decide if I love him enough. :D :D :D (I do but it's *mine*!)

Thank you so so much!!!!

little Knitting

2010-07-08T00:57:00.001-07:00

Well, where to begin.

I've tendinitis in my left arm and I suspect my right arm is getting it too. The doctor put me off from knitting for a month and I've slowly worked at getting back into it. But I can either type or knit, and I assume you all know my preference.

Matthew deployed mid-may and I moved back in with my parents. he's doing well in that he's on a ship for this deployment so things are much less stressful than last. He has however been hideously sick once with a stomach bug and now with some kind of fever/sore throat. Of course the core-men have no clue what's going on and have given him nothing. -_- He's taking night quill of his own accord. But he's safe and that's whats important.

I've been good, reading and embroidering and sewing. I'll do another post soon, once i get pictures (I've had an excellent mail week)taken and all that fun stuff. I walked in my college graduation and have one more class this fall before I graduate! Adn then, matthew will be home and it's our last deployment! I bet you can tell I'm happy!

I hope everyone is doing well!

10,000 Hours

2010-04-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

I finally decided on a project for the whole 10,000 hours idea. That's where you do one thing for 10k hours and will become a master at it. I decided to learn to draw/paint, all of that art genre. I've a friend who is teaching me some of the basics, I'll take classes and all that. But to start off my friend had me draw a tree adn human form. I think I did alright all in all.

My First tree! And my first two people:

See? Not too bad for first attempts! I'm pretty pleased with myself all in all. In other news, I finished my S3x in the Knitty Scarf in Malabrigo Ravelry Red:

And am about to cast on a sock in BMFA Grimm's Willow Wren. I'm thinking RPM's since I've never done them before. Of course, I need to get some latin done first. :)

Projects!

2010-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hello! Happy Friday! Guess who has some projects to show you? :D The first is my most recent finished object; Swirls Socks in Fleece Artist (Cedar).

They were a nice, busy-work sort of knit. With everything that's been going on you could say I've needed easy thigns. :)

My current project otn is Carrie's Scarf (rav link). It's inspired by the new Sex in the City movie-of which I've never seen the prior or the show. But I got it as a lovely gift from my friend and it's in MALABRIGO! A bunch of us are doing it at knit night as a pseudo KAL. The color is Ravelry red and I'm well into the second ball of the 4 I got. The picture was taken when I was still working on the first ball so imagine it way longer! And sadly, the second ball is NOT the same shade of red despite begin in the same dye-lot. Way to go Malabrigo. Ah well. I'm really not that picky and also, so not willing to rip out the work. :)

(but longer) That's really all I'm working on currently, I've packing and school to attend to as well as deployment (ah, yes, that's coming up again) and COLLEGE GRADUATION! :D

Etsy Jewelry

2010-04-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well, time slipped by didn't it? I've gotten some knitting done, and will get to photos soooooooon(ish). But for today I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite Etsy Jewelry Sites (I've many categories so maybe this'll be a theme throughout posts?).

First up is one I just bought from today called birdzNbeez. She features all jewelry types with an emphasis on Lockets. Here's the bracelet I just bought.

Infusion Glassworks is up next. I was in a pottery throwing class with the artist so I was able to see first hand how careful she is with her (very, very nice) artwork. Jenny is fantastic and her jewelry is stunning!

Skylark Studio's has a few necklaces (lotus) and earrings I want but it's a bit pricey for myself at the moment. Looks like quality pieces though!

Biliana Art Things is another fave shop. I've a necklace and pair of earrings from her. I love her drawings, though I will say that the earrings I have is a cutout of her art and adhered to the jewelry piece. Doesn't bother me but it may some. Crazy fast (and cheap) shipping when I bought from her.

The next few are steam punk/goth/fantasy esque shops. I like costumes, and sparkly things as well as neat looking things sooo:

Trash & Trinkets- I adore gypsy type jewelry and she has such neat things!

EJP Creations- because everyone needs a wicked tiara!

BellaLilli -Shiny pretty things

And Finally, London's Gate, for all your steam punk needs!

So that's some of my favorite things (feel free by the way to buy me stuff from them *wink*). Enjoy!

Posted on the Wench at home as well

2009-12-19T18:49:00.001-08:00

Happy (ish) Saturday everyone! I've been in kind of a funk lately and haven't really done much of anything useful. Well, except for the fact that I finished my finals! I am done, done, done for 5 glorious weeks. What will I do with myself?

In any event, it doesn't feel like Christmas per-say lately. How can I when it looks like this outside:

And I'm doing this:

Winter is in two days and California was resoundingly cliche with 78 degree weather today. There's a blizzard on the east coast and I can't even get some clouds? Luckily, it's supposed to reach the 60's tomorrow!

But other than Finals and hanging out with some friends and doing a little bit of knitting, not much is going on around Casam Wench. I'm hoping the dissatisfaction and stress and doubts and nerves go away soon, it's driving me batty. Maybe I'll go knit something.

Happy Yule to those who celebrate it.

FInished Object!

2009-11-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Spring Beret by Natalie Larson (rav link)

It matches my sweater! I mean, clearly since it's the same yarn. But still!

Ta Daaaaaaa.

School, A Wedding and little-non existant knitting.

2009-10-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Long time no post and all that. These next few weeks are going to be even MORE crazy than before so pretty please bear with me as I do my best to knit and post and take pictures and be interesting for you all.

Here's a sample of my life for the next 6 weeks and even I'M shocked!

Last weekend (16th)I went to Las Vegas for my best friends Bacherloette party. Then that Sunday night I found out a dear cousin of mined passed away from cancer. The same cancer my Aunt is now fighting. Things got weird for a bit there.

Then last week and this week are midterms, This Saturday is Samhain (or, you know, Halloween for the non-religious), then the next weekend is my best friends wedding (!!) the USMC Ball and my own 2 year wedding anniversary. The weekend after that the hubbs leaves for a month for training, then papers start to need to get done, then it's thanksgiving, then papers are due THEN the hubbs comes home the week of finals then it Christmas and Yule.

Oh. Em. Gee. SO all I'm currently working on is Sommerwind by Monika Eckert (Rav link) out of lovely wollmeise for the Loopy Ewe KAL. The only other thing I want to knit I dont have the yarn for and no time to learn fair isle. Boo.

But I promise, I'll post more (if nothing else to show the wedding, MC Ball and our anniversary). Really.

Much Love,
Wenchy

Finished Sweater

2009-09-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

(Back to the old template because the new shiny one doesnt let my full pics show).

I participated the the Sexy Knitter's KAL 3rd Quarter Challenge (designers) and so I finished my Indigo Playmate Jacket by Wendy Bernard (Rav link of course). I used 4 of the 8 balls required out of Cascade 220 Superwash. What to do with the other 4? Bah.

It's the smallest size and the mods are only that I didn't knit a belt nor used short rows on the collar-because I don't know how and wasn't all that interested in figuring it out. LoL!

Photo's thanks to my mom. :) So now, I've some plying to do and then I get to wrestle with some lace. Ciao!

It Bugs Me.

2009-09-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

It bugs me when people think that public places are their living room. I know the Yarn Harlot and many others have said it, but good lord it drives me crazy. In fact, it down right pisses me the fuck off.

That being said, this isn't MY living room, so let's go to knitting content!

I'm soooo close to being done with my indigo playmate jacket! I'm picking up the stitches along the front now and have to figure out how to do short rows. I've never doen them before and, due to a lovely cold my hubby gave me, I don't have the brain power to "wrap" (i hear you do that in SW's) my brain around them. But it's so close. :)

Speaking of the hubby, he's doing training for 3 weeks. Boo. On the plus side, I quit my job at Rib Trader. Finally. After almost 10 years (January 2000-Sept 2009) I finally quit. It's such a weight off my shoulder -though the not having a job is trying to take it's place but I intend to enjoy myself first. I plan on taking the next 3 weeks to finish up misc projects, and start christmas gifts (it's that time again!), do school work, and I don't know, meditate/workout/pamper myself. I'm also planning on a few projects for the house while the hubby is gone as a surprise, but I'll wait until later to let you know since he keeps reading over my shoulder. LoL.

Have a lovely evening and I'll have pictures soon!

Getting back into the swing of things.

2009-09-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

So my knitting mojo is finally back. (Yea!) I've been working on the Indigo Playmate Jacket (rav link) from Custom Knits by: Wendy Bernard. I'm using Cascade 220 superwash in a heather light blue. It's going to look awesome on me when it's done (my eyes are going to look amazing...) modesty? Moi? I'll have to get pictures shortly. Right now I'm just trying to settle into my school and pick up from the summer. Trying to find a routine. Probably biting off mroe than I can chew. :) It's awesome.

September Already?!

2009-09-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? Good Grief. I kind of feel like everyone is just taking a step away from posting or some such. I have because A: I've done no knitting and B: have had absolutely no free time. Thankfully, I passed Latin with an "A" and now am panicking because I'm in the next lvl of Latin and so shouldn't be. >< Ah well. So my regular school has started back up again. Yay. It's been hella hot here, and if I'M saying it's hot, you know it's in the 90's. Blerg.

So, no knitting. I started on a jacket, and had to rip it out, pair of socks, ripped it out, lace shawl, ripped it out. So aggravating. I wondered what I used to do with my free time prior to knitting and it's this: read anywhere from 1-3.5 books in a day (If I dont have work or school), play internet games, hang out with non-knitting friends, do school work and related activities and sleep.

Who knew?

FO'S!

2009-07-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Salve! (Hello-pronunced sal-way. in Classical Latin V's are pronounced with a W sound).

Good heavens it's been quite awhile hasn't it? Sorry about that. Latin class swooped in and I didn't knit for a VERY long time. Very. I am taking a break from Latin to type this up then it's back to translation ectera....(or ect...) WHICH, I've learned, is Latin (duh) and mispronounced. It's eh-ket-tra. In case you were wondering. I did however manage to finish up some knitting:

Kai-Mei by Cookie A is FINALLY, FINALLY done!

It's finally summer here so I can't wear them but they are pretty aren't they? I also finished my Shetland Triangle Shawl in Sundara Yarns Aran silky merino. I used to skeins and so i still have enough to make a hat or some such for when it gets colder. Not that I have the time per-say. And sorry about the picture, I don't have the time to take pretty ones. :)

I've knit 4 dishcloths (two are a gift so i can't mention it yet) but these two were for a RAK (random acts of kindness) in my Reclaiming the Home on Ravelry group.

And so now currently, I've got Domus Aurea by Fiber Dreams OTN, but haven't been able to work on it very much. I've a st-st felted striped tote that's almost done (primarily due to not working Friday night) from the book One Skein by Leigh Radford- I'm trying to get that finished up so it can be felted and then I'll only have two projects OTN. The Last one is a mystery KAL I'm doing through the Unique Sheep (I love Laura's stuff). I started that on Friday and it was a small clue but since it's a Pi chart, well, it'll get bigger. It's in her gradience yarn and it's heaven to work with. Go. Go buy her yarn. It's so lovely and the color- caelum! (heaven)

So that's it for me for now. I've more translating to do. If you'd like, I can always put up some fun sentences for you to say/write in Latin. Leave me a comment and I'll put some up in a post. Otherwise, I'm afraid the next one will be more of the same. Have a lovely week or month or summer and I'll do my best to be more interesting. :) Vale! (bye! "wal-ay)

Creativity

2009-06-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

My question to you:

What inspires you to be creative? What gives you new ideas? What things have you tried?

Thanks!

(FO pictures in the near future!)

Knitting

2009-05-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

Well then. Knitting. I've done it.

First up: St-St Socks in Cashmere from Zen Yarn Garden:

Lovely stuff to work with. However They didn't ease the pain of the Kai-Mei socks so I then grabbed some hand spun and knit a scarf.

I think it's Lorna's Laces Roving. Anyway, that also fulfilled my 101 in 1001 to knit an item from hand spun. Not sure what to do with it per say. it's not really my style or anything but It's short (yet wide) so I don't know that it'll fit any adult I know. Ah well.

I've also fixed the kai-mei socks but I'm getting to the toe bit and really don't want to mess it up (again) so I'm going to have to wait until I can go to Monday knit night and get some help there. So for the duration, I've started on another pair of st-st socks in a forgotten colorway by Yarn Pirate. It's all blues, grays and silvers.

Oh! And I didn't get a picture at the time but I finished sewing a needle roll for myself when I did the star quilt. :)

I've had that material for years with the specific purpose of making a needle roll and I finally finished it. :) All projects of which are stash busting. How awesome is that?

I'm such a moron.

2009-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to post about anything else today save for the SUPREMELY AWESOME SWAP PACKAGE I got LAST FREAKING MONTH. It was for the Loopy Ewe Spring Fling Swap and I got it right before Matthew came home. You remember how much I blogged then right? Well, then the Fling came along and I got to meet my AMAZING partner LynnZimm (Rav Link). But (hangs head in shame) I still hadn't blogged about it. Then I moved. Then this and that and a whole bunch of other life-getting-in-the-way things. SO. I'm sorry Lynn, please don't hate me (and that bag I made you? It's somewhere in the boxes-I didn't forget).

Gorgeous Roving!; The green/purple/blue is Kaleidoscope by Freckle Face Fibers and the purple bag of holy goodness Merino w/ sparkle. I'm saving this and not spinning with it until I'm really good. (Trust me, in the next post you'll see).

Yarn; Yeah , she spun that. It's simply amazing. It's so even and perfect. I am so eternally grateful I didn't spin up any to give to her (I just bought some) because she is amazingly perfect (and I'm not exaggerating in my shame, I said do to her face-so there :P) and, and...it's so EVEN! I bow down.

The red black and white bag; She made that too. She gave it to me at the fling actually, and it's next to my red Ladybug spinning wheel holding my spinning supplies.

There's an adorable sheep felting kit as well as delicious chocolate (I held on to that until the hus-beast started eying it after he ate all his chocolate he brought back from Germany), tea (completely gone)and the adorable yarn card.

But seriously? The best part; the blue bubble wrapped sticks. She gave me a portable niddy noddy! OMG! I shrieked so loud when I saw it that the cat ran out of the room. My brain went sploody and I started babbling at my mom-who I might add looked at me like I was crazy... (a niddy noddy? That's nice dear). She does, thankfully, get my brand of crazy-ness.

So Lynn, thank you so much again for the lovely swap package. And I'm really, horribly, sorry it took me forever and a day to blog about it.

Quilting

2009-05-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I've been quilting because, quite frankly, my knitting is ticking me off. More so today than yesterday. Anyway, yesterday I went to my moms and we went to various quilt shops looking for material for two baby blankets I need to make. Afterward we went her her house and I started on a wall hanging kit I've had for years and jsut never did. And by years I mean since before Fall 2006 since I bought it before I knew how to sew.

Taaa Daah! All that is left is to do the binding and a strip of material so I can hang it and it'll all be finished!

I've also completed my st-st cashmere socks and started a scarf in hand spun since those bloody socks that shall not be named are in knitting purgatory until they've learned their lesson. The hand spun scarf, henceforth called the "Crazy Lady Scarf" is going to be very colorful and well, crappy. But it's an easy two row pattern repeat and my hand spun isn't at a decent level or consistency yet. What else would I do with it? And it's taken the rage off from knitting. Gah.

Nesting

2009-05-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

So I've been nesting more so than knitting lately. Although, since last week I have picked up the needles but for 2 weeks, I had ZERO (no, I'm not lying)projects OTN. I guess my creative energy only has enough to go around for one project at a time and moving, decorating the house and getting through finals was simply too much for it. Not to mention cooking, cleaning and baking.

(Smiles) However, finals are DONE, and school is DONE...er, for a month anyway. Then I'm back in for an intensive Latin course-a years worth of Latin in 9 weeks. Ahem. No I'm not crazy per-say, but it'll put me ahead of schedule by a year. That is, if the school doesn't drop all the freaking courses I need. Classes are scarce and I don't even have enough for 12 units (Have to take them in a certain order) Bah. Don't get me started on them raising tuition by $300 either.

But Knitting! Yes knitting! I started on Cookie A's Kai-Mei from Sock Innovation (In DyeDreams Sox (LOVE! Mad crazy LOVE!) and I am having a heck of a time. So, in between knit nights when I get help on the blasted things, I'm also working on a pair of Cashmere st-st socks and they are DIVINE! Really, the heavens parted and the angelic chorus sang. Ahem. I'm on the second sock of those (still the first on Kai-Mei) and once I finish that I'm either going to CO the Shetland Triangle Shawl or the Dream in Color Shrug. (All rav links btw) The Shetland Triangle is going to be done in the Sundara Yarn Silky Merino Aran and the DIC in DIC Classy (Tea Party).

I've knit night tonight and then home to bother and pester the hubby. :) I hope you all have a lovely day!

Spring Fling

2009-05-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

So I went to St. Louis to visit Sheri and Her elves at their Loopy Ewe Spring Fling! I met a TON of new people and finally got to meet people I knew from online. It was fabulous to say the very least. Allow me to do a picture montage for you since there was just so much that I couldn't possibly write it all:
Here is myself at Loopy Central!!

It was fantastic! Oh Man, there was so much YARN! (drool) And to be quite honest, for an ONLINE store, it's much nicer than many brick and mortar stores.

Here is the WALL of Cascade 220. I refrained since my LYS carries a huge ammount (and I don't felt enough of the stuff I have).

And one of my favorite pictures:

Sheri and I! She totally had to bend down to my height, she's tall. I'm short. Sigh. I'm ALWAYS short. :) She is FANTASTIC by the way. She knew people on sight and asked about things going on in their life that they've blogged about and such. Now THAT is excellent customer service. But more so, she's so welcoming from the get go that you feel like you've been friends forever! And now:

The Loot. :D There is Fleece artist, Dream in color (Classy and smoochy), malabrigo lace, and Antenti bag (a story will be given in the next post since that is so worth blogging about and patterns and so much more!

So right as I got home, we had to pack up everything in the house because we moved into our own place again. I'll have to get pictures for you once it's all done. :) I enjoy moving. New places, people, sights etc.. but still close enough to family, friends and good yarn stores (though I'd totally move to St. Louis for the Loopy Ewe). More to come!

Seeded Cables Cardigan

2009-04-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Matthew comes home TOMORROW! So that being said, I'll leave you with pictures of my newest cardigan:

(I was on the phone with him when this was being taken). Let's see, I started it January 13th and it was finished on April 6th. Hazza! it went into timeout a few times and I didn't work on it for weeks at a time so this is by far the longest time it's taken me to knit a sweater. It's the Seeded Cables Cardigan (rav link) from Sensual Knits (learn to test knit before printing a book). I used Zara yarn in some un-inspiring numbered colorway that I swapped with a friend from knit night. The color is gorgeous!

As for other knits, I'm on the toe decreases of Pomatomus socks by Cookie A (did you get her new book? I did!) and another Large Triangle shawl from Greetings From Knit Cafe (rav links again). The shawl is in dark gray instead of the nutmeg and won't have the tassels since they were so tedious to make. Since we have to wait around on base for about 4 hours before the guys will be dismissed, I'm thinking I'll bring both the sock and shawl to work on. Next time I post, Matthew and I will be in the same picture again!!! Have a lovely weekend everyone and happy Pagan/Christian holiday (easter)!

Not yet but 10 days!

2009-04-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Hubby will be home in 10 days. Which is funny considering I said that he *could* be home in 10 days (that's the advance party and they got back on Saturday). In any event, I've been away because I *gasp* haven't been knitting...Ok so that's not entirely true, but I've nothing to show for it. My Seeded Cables Cardigan is off being seamed up and the sock I'm working on is about to be ripped for the 3rd time and I haven't been taking pictures of the st-st shawl I've been half assing. And by half assing I mean a row or two before I put it don't and wander off elsewhere.

But then, I'm almost caught up on school-I'm currently on Spring Break. I've done no knitting (or studying-must get on that) but tonight is knit night so perhaps... Also, I've been doing a ton of sewing. OH! And I finally got my Asian Themed quilt (and my Asian I do mean the fabric has cherry blossoms on it) from the quilt shop, take a look:

But the back is by far my favorite because of the color!

Isn't it gorgeous?! I also finished an adorable apron:

And am almost done with my first needle roll. :) And check out what I scored for $188 (pre-taxhike) from an antique store in AMAZING condition:

(the chair not the cat...he cost more)

So hopefully I'll have more to show you soon when I stop being lazy(ha ha ha) and and get my butt in gear.

Woooo! 10 days!

HOLY SHIT!

2009-03-13T17:04:00.001-07:00

MY HUSBAND IS COMING HOME EARLY FROM IRAQ!!!!

OH MY GOD! He could be here in as little as TEN DAYS!!!!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

(and here we all thought it would be may 1st!)

Are you game?

2009-02-26T12:40:00.001-08:00

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!Who's in?

Where TIme Drags on

2009-02-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

I've not too much going on in my life, it's all sort of fallen into a rut. Get up go to school, com home, do homework (knit night if I'm lucky), go to bed, Get up and so forth ending the week with work and then starting all over again.

School has been kicking my arse and I'm sad to say I'm still not nearly caught up in some classes. 9 books for one class if that's any indication for you. There has been a little bit of knitting on the Seeded Cables Cardigan (I've finished the back and front left part) and a pair of st-st socks, as well as a quick knit beanie. I'm at school however so I can't do much more than show you the back of my Cardigan and I will hopefully get a reprieve soon:

Computer Woes

2009-01-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

I'd show you my two latest projects that I finished (a Chevron Scarf and Pillars of Fire socks) but my computer died and I won't be able to do anything with photos for a little while. Bah.

And then I'm casting on a cabled cardigan. Hopefully. If someone can show me how to do the specific Cast on it calls for. /facepalm

Chevron Scarf

2009-01-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

...I get the addiction now. I'm finally making a Chevron Scarf from Last Minuet Knitted Gifts out of BMFA STR Lightweight Blarney Stone (I love that colorway) and Jabberwocky. Gorgeous colors. Here's Jabberwocky:

And I CO'd the scarf around 12, so after 4 ish hours I am here on the scarf:

I'd be further along but I did want to finish:

THis pair of Monkey's. I think it's a Fleece Artist colorway but I am not 100% sure.

But the Chevron scarf? I have a feeling I'll be making a few (not all at once). It also helps me work on my 101 in 1001 list item #79 which is to complete 20 projects from my Ravelry Que. I'd knit more on it but my hands are starting to hurt and I've work soon. Have a great day!

(I'm drooling over the colors).

Best Way to End the Year

2008-12-31T15:35:00.000-08:00

1: Got a call from the boss; we are going to be on TV next week (which should help with business)

2: FINALLY got my 3 skeins of BMFA STR;2 for a chevron scarf 1 for socks

3: (And the best): MY AUNT IS PREGNANT!!!! They've been trying for 10 or so years, did the invetro-fertilization and on the 4th time they took! They are going to have babies! I cannot think of ANYONE who'd be better parents!

(And for the person who asked -sorry I forgot who did, I'm all hopped up on the excitement- Spring Fling is a knitting retreate hosted by The Loopy Ewe in April. Hard to get into as hundreds try but there is only 50ish spots and it's all lottery picked. I got uber lucky).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

101 in 1001

2008-12-30T23:40:00.000-08:00

I updated my LIST. Go look. I've got a busy 2ish years ahead of me.

(also, does anyone know what Exact date is 1001 days from January 21, 2008? Thanks, teh maths...they work not so good in mai brain)

Distraction

2008-12-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

Nothing has been going on really on the knitting front so allow me to distract you with a quilt top I finished and sent off to be quilted this weekend:

That is draped over my parents sofa. I had pieced the blocks 2 years (ish) ago and was planning on adding sashing to it but since it was supposed to be a gift for someone I'm no longer friends with and they aren't my colors, I said "Screw it", and sewed it as is. It'll make a great throw to snuggle under, take to the park or let guests use. But I'm pleased it didn't take too many hours of my life.

Here's a detail shot of the material.

Other than that I've been spinning a little, and will have to up that since I got 8oz of roving from my mom for xmas of one type of colorway and 100 grams of roving of another as well as 8oz bats from my lovely Loopy Ewe swap partner. Anyway, I have tons of idea swirling through my brain so I need to get going. Have a good day everyone!

AND!!! Speaking of the Loopy Ewe, I got into the Spring Fling!!! I'm so excited! I get to meet so many people I've become friends with and I can't can't can't WAIT to go!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T14:55:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a lovely holiday filled with family and love (and lots of quality yarn!!!).

Merry Christmas Matthew, stay safe- I love you.

Finished Projects!

2008-12-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

I finished my first Cabled Project! Not only did I knit this in 7 days, (really more like 6) but it also completed the last of my knitting goals I had set to learn at the beginning of the year!

It's Fifi (Rav link)By: Kristeen Griffin-Grimes. I used Rowan Calmer that the pattern called for, but only used 3.5 skeins instead of the 5 it calls for.

I'm uber proud and it's lovely!!!

Bleh Sorry!

2008-12-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the cryptic post, it was all I could do from making the whole thing have every other word be "fuck" or a derivative of. Yesterday there were 2 suicide bombers in the area Matthew is located who killed 15 or so people and injured over 100 more. Matthew is however safe (last time we talked yesterday morning) if pissy and exhausted. So he's fine, but that was really all I could spit out before going off on a tangent. SOrry about that.

Alexis

2008-12-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew is fine. That's all I'm saying.

Beanies.

2008-12-01T20:40:00.000-08:00

So my husband has two beanies I knit him and his friend was saying how "lame" it was he wore them and how much of a loser he was. My husband comes to find out it's because he's jealous HE doesn't have one, so Matthew (hubby) tells him he'll get me to knit Brennan(his friend) one-but that it'll be pink. Brennen replies with, "I'd f-ing rock a pink beanie" So I knit him one...but added little ears to it. :D He gets our type of humor.

(ETA: The general Consensus is he does, in fact Rock a pink beanie.)

The guy in read is their Coreman (Naval Doc assigned to the Plt) and he said how he'd maybe like one so I knit him up one as well.

And here's a group shot with my Husband in the center (who is a cashew addict).

And now, I have a knit list for 5 guys who want beanies. 3 want a specific color (black, red/black, MC green) one is good with whatever, and one, *snort*, one wants a beanie with dog ears ("but pretty please not pink?"). And I'll do it cause I'm told there are even funnier pictures and the boys are sleeping in them (even the pink one). That makes it all worth while.... Now I need to find some good wool brown yarn. :D :D :D

Quick Style

2008-11-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Quickly now, because I've things to do today, all my most recent FO's.(in no particular order)

First up, St-St socks Colorway-Purple Rain by Chameleon Colorworks.

Next we have my brother's x-mas gift. The pattern is Sugar Push by FiberDreams (SP for the Rav Link, FD for the blog link). The detail on my pic is a little hard to see but it's an easy pattern! These were my 1st pair of Fingerless mitts (ok, my first-anything to do with hands project).

Then, one of many Beanies (3 in total but I didn't get pictures of the other two) of Matthew's fellow Marines. This one has a great story behind it. His buddy was teasing him for wearing the beanies I made him (every night) saying how lame it was etc. Well Matthew finds out it's because he's jealous he doesn't have one so Matthew tells him I'll make him a beanie (Thanks for asking hun) but that it'll be pink. He was all, "I'd f-ing rock a pink beanie". So I knit one. Then last minuet (no pic yet sorry) I added cat ears. *snort* Luckily the guys since of humor matches ours and I think he'll fully appreciate it. (That and I offered to knit him a real one once he opens it). He promised me pictures.

And finally, I scored TWO skeins of WOLLMEISE LACE! Details later, cause I have no clue what to knit with them! (And really? I don't need 3400yards of the same colorway. I"d be willing to trade for a different colorway if you've got one).

Have a lovely day! (and help! I've no WIP's AT ALL!!!)

Must Have Calander

2008-11-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

*snork* I NEED this calendar. It's just too funny. You can click to see all the months. I love!

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Ahhhh good times. Good yarn.

How do you thin my husband would feel if I had this on my wall when he got home? *snicker*

I've Been Knitting!

2008-11-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

Really! Which is why I haven't posted! (or perhaps I'm lazy? naah)
So my current WIP's are a pair of st-st socks done in Chameleon Colorworks Bambino, color Purple Rain (no pics sorry) and a pair of Fingerless Gloves called "Sugar Push" by Laura Patterson (Rav Link). I finished one glove and am one pattern repeat away from starting the thumb gusset. Yea! They've turned out wonderfully and the pattern is very easy to use. My first pair!

I've also finished 2 beanies for Matthew's co-workers; one in red and one in pink with cat ears (but he'll get the humor behind it). Although since it's in pink, it looks more like piggy ears. Oh well.

I've been reading too. A bunch. And I spun a little as well. I really need to finish that colorway (ask me later) since it's been on there forever. I've got good plans for it though. Can't say yet. :)

Have a great one.

Strawberry Fields

2008-11-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

My Strawberry Quilt is finally done! It's being modeled on my parents California King sized bed. However, I didn't pre-wash any of the material so it'll shrink up a bit in the wash. This way, it'll still more than cover my queen size bed and I won't have to fight for the covers when Matthew gets home....much. :)

The color is true in the top picture. The Bottom shows the quilting detail but the color is off. It's strawberries and flowers/leaves.

I got to talk to Matthew yesterday and he is doing well. it was a wonderful conversation and I still have a smile on my face from it. I love him so, so much. :D

I'm Proud to be An American Again.

2008-11-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

Thank You.

Aaaaaand I'm Back!

2008-11-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

It was quite the month I must say! Matthew is doing well and I'm doing well. I've kept stupid busy last month (!) and am looking forward to some down time. I am so happy it's November. We've gone one month already and now only 6 more to go! SO what exactly did I do the past month, and why didn't I blog? Well....:

1: I read 36 books in 28 days
2: I finished 2 pairs of socks (all that reading kept me from knitting)
3: I worked.
4: I talked with Matthew fairly frequently.
5: There was some stupid drama involving his parents.
6: I was in a craft swap.

I'd list all the books, but really, it's just too many. However they ARE series so: *Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evaonvich
* Hanna Swenson Series by Joanne Fluke
*Fever Series by Karen Marie Moaning
* Random non-series books

Now the socks: Ugh. I hated the color on the first pair, Red, Black and White are not my favorite by any stretch. I've done the pattern Before (Swirls by Monica Jines) and while I like it, it was just boring to do the same pattern for the 3rd time. The yarn was BMFA STR and it was the Knitter's Without Borders colorway (which was the only reason I bought them).

The second Pair was from the Loopy Ewe Sock Club kit. I was doing fine on it until I got stuck on the pattern after you start the gusset decreases so it sat there for over a month. Again, the color is not my scheme really, but it was a sock club so there you go. It's was Dream In Color Smooshy: Spicy Smooches and the Pattern was Hug's and Kisses (it's X's and O's not that you can tell from the pic) By: Debbie O'Neil.

I'm currentally working on a scarf for my aunt for X-Mas and it's coming along nicely (and in a color I love). It's an easy pattern (The Waltz by Sarah Dupuis) to memorize so I'm finding my knitting MoJo again.

And just because I'm a total braggart:

It's a 2.10 Karat Topaz with smaller white topaz in a yellow gold setting. One of the jewelers at the mall near my house is going out of business (OK FIX THE ECONOMY PLEASE) and so everything was 50-70% off. I got that ring for $150 with tax. Matthew hasn't seen it yet, but who knows, maybe he'll buy it as a gift for me. Our anniversary *is* next Sunday. (Ok so our tattoos are the real anniversary present but I can't hardly resist good jewelry for cheap).

Anyway, I hope everyone has been having a lovely month and i'll be posting MUCH more frequently now. :)It's back to knitting for me.

Deployment

2008-10-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well Matthew has finally deployed to Iraq and is doing ok from last I heard. I'm doing pretty good all things considered. I think it's because it's all out of my hands now and so there's nothing I can do about it.

That was the day he deployed.

And not that he knows it yet but he bought my christmas present already (teehee):

I've been wanting my own for years now and since the man who makes them is retiring in March, I figured I might as well get it now. :) I've just been reading books, and haven't done much in the way of knitting. I'll post when I do. I hope everyone is doing well.

I'll Be back Soon

2008-10-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Matthew is Deploying tomorrow, so while I've been gone for a month, and not much knitting has been done, there will be plenty to talk about, and plenty of pictures to post. Just not right now.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Done Done Done!

2008-09-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

It's Done!

Now what do I knit?

Almost Complete

2008-09-06T22:28:00.001-07:00

I've been knitting madly away on my Minimalist Cardigan (ravelry.com link)from IK's Spring 08. I'm currently on the last sleeve and then I'll be able to block and seam it all together. I had set the goal to knit 2 sweaters this year and this one will be my 2nd! I did do the shrug but that's more 1/4th a sweater I think. Once I get it all sewn up I'll post a picture. Other than that, all I've been working on is my spinning. I've hit a snag at the moment where the yarn/roving keeps breaking and i try to adjust the tension but still!!! I tried it for 10 minutes twice today and it's still being crap. Sigh. I'll go back to it soon since I want to learn to ply on Monday because Matthew comes home this week! I want to be able to show him finished yarn and say, "Look Honey, I made *YARN* from the gift you bought me! I love it so". It'll make him feel good I bet. :)

So my sweater is almost complete and my roving is almost complete. And now, my tea is done seeping so off I go. Have a lovely night/day/etc..

Finally!

2008-08-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

I have a FO/Picture to Blog about!

Blarney Stone from BMFA-LW. Yes I'm better, but hurried since i need ot run to work.

Pssst, Go give Pat some lovin, she's a new Grandma!!! (But totally isn't old enough to be one)

Insert Title Here

2008-08-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

So I've been gone from the web for forever due to a reaction I had to some new medicine Wednesday night. The hi-light of the week was myself getting taken to the ER by my mom because my heart rate was 124bpm (it should be 80-100) and I was greatly dehydrated. Fun. 2 bags of fluids and blood work later I went home with my parents and crashed at their place. I'm doing better don't worry, though I'm still tired I feel like I can do stuff. The doc in the ER said the medication should be almost out of my system by now so here's hoping. :)

So basically I sat around on my couch since wednesday watching TV (I love cable) and getting nothing done. So nothing new on the knitting front. I'll take care, don't worry and I hope everyone else is doing well.

What I've Been Up To

2008-08-11T21:53:00.000-07:00

First, I want to say I love my monday knit night group. Even though I've been gone for ever to spend time with Matthew, they hugged me and welcomed me back. And to think I almost didn't go. All I wanted to do was go home a have a good cry but instead went and had a blast. And some of us are meeting up on Friday to check out a yarn store near me. :D

So Matthew left for a month long training on a different base today which means I don't get to see or visit him. I had to drive him down so he could be on our regular base by 3 am and I've been bummed ever since. Things should be looking up soon, but I miss him a ton. The reception out there is sketchy so trying to talk to him on the cell is a little difficult.

So here is what I have been up to. Not knitting (though I've made headway since the last post) but quilting: (the best is last)

First quilt is one I've worked on for a "year". I bought most of the material last year, during one of the time's Matthew was gone (in April 08?) I pieced it together in 5 days, and then put the borders on in one this past month. It's a large queen size measuring in at 111 inches long and is at the quilt shop waiting to become a quilt: It's HUGE!

Here is a christmas one I threw together over 2 days at the end of last month. I'm planning on trying to quilt it at my mom's house tomorrow if I can get the material for the backing but it depends on if I can get to the store in time.

A Halloween one (it's languished for 2 years while I waited to learn how to put binding on):

But my favorite, absolute favorite is the Log Cabin Quilt top I finished for Matthew to take with him to Iraq.

There's even one tiny square with strawberry material at his request. It's at the quilt shop now and they've promised me it'll be done on or before September 25th so that when he leaves, it'll be ready for him to take. Can't get into the mushy stuff right now, but I'm sure you all know I put allot of love and prayers int making it.

On the knitting front, I've almost finished the Spring Thing's Shawl that's an Xmas gift but I'm not sure what to start next. There's a sweater I've my eye on and would like to be able to wear it this winter... Of course, my new spinning wheel comes in tomorrow...Hmmmm

Uh, yeah? Sure. Huh?

2008-08-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

I honest to god cannot think of anything interesting to write about. That may be due in part because it's 2:27am and it looks like I won't be going to bed in the near future. I started cleaning my kitchen around oh, 11pm then the bathroom, and then started laundry at 1:30 am. 11 minutes before i can get it from the dryer and fold the 2 loads. You know you're jealous. And Matthew has to get up at 4 am for work (after a month of basically sleeping in from vacation and RA-it was the Company's pre-deployment leave block this month) so really, what's the point? I fell off the face the the earth (or online) since I was fully enjoying my time with him before he leaves for a month long training stint at a different base (of which I cannot visit). He's then home for 3 weeks then gone for 7 months. Trying to be positive and happy seems to get more difficult. Bugger all.

Ah, there's the laundry alarm. Once I get some interesting pictures of what I'm skinning..or knitting actually ("skinning"? WTF? Clearly I need sleep. lol), I'll make a posty post. I hope everyone is well!

Vacation Pictures

2008-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

So Ok I'm lazy, uber lazy and will try my best to not do a series of pictures (ha ha). First up are from my FIL's camera while we were taking out 2nd series of Old Time Pictures:

I actually think I look cute. Yea! And the 2nd one I thought was neat with both of our eyes hidden.

Skip forward a few days to where we leave his mom and step-dad's house and drive to Silverlake where his dad's side of the family owns a cabin (his great grandpappy helped build the CA aqueduct or some such and was granted federal land).The drive up:

Here is my Super Sexy Husband on the front porch:

Which Faces THIS:

How freaking amazing is that? It's gorgeous. I have over 200 pictures that I just can't get through them all. It's so lovely there (if a tad too rustic for my bug-feared tastes) but my favorite spot (and your moment of FarmGirl Zen) is this:

Love. Will be back. And hopefully next time he'll know how to turn on the propane so we can have hot water to shower. (That is melted SNOW water there to FREEZE your girly bits off-needless to say I didn't take a shower).

Just a Teaser

2008-07-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

Have a quick gander at how I spent part of my vacation with my in-laws.

You know you wish you had in-law's like mine. :P

Vacation

2008-07-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Knitting has finally decided to be my friend again and I finished the 1st sock of my 5th pair of SoS08 (also known as my Cousin's Xmas gift). Pretty stuff and it feels so soft. (Cherry Tree Hill). I also embroidered a tea towel the other night but don't have pictures because I'm waiting to wash all the blue ink off from what I didn't cover with thread. It'll be a set of Weekday towels so I still have Tuesday-Sunday to do.

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow with Mathew to drive up north to visit his mom and step-dad in Monterey and then head to his dad's Family's cabin in Mammoth for a few days. Bitter sweet I think because while it's great to get away, it's for his pre-deployment leave. Sometimes I can't keep the horrible thoughts at bay and I can't help but think, "Where the hell did the year go?" He joined his Company Feb. 2nd, and now it's almost time to deploy?

Granted, it's in October but He is gone training all of august and part of September, home to do legal paperwork (Trusts, wills, PoA, figuring out what he'd want at his funeral) then he's gone. For 7 months. He is still applying for Officer's School and if he get's accepted, he'll be going from Iraq to Virginia in January, but due to how long that lasts, he'll still be gone the same amount of time. So while yes, it'll be a good trip, I'd rather be stuck here in the daily swing of things and have him here with me.

On that positive, upbeat note, I'm off to knit for awhile. xoxo

FarmGirl Crafty Bits

2008-07-09T21:21:00.001-07:00

Not much has been going on around here in the knitting world. I started on my cousin's socks for christmas and had to frog them 4 times before I just went with it. It's probably still too big but there is no way I'm frogging the same damned sock 5 times. You couldn't pay me.

However, in terms of sewing, I have been doing very well. :) First up, my SIL asked for a set of sewn coasters as part of her wedding present (we also got them nice bedsheets and the Martha Stewart Home Keeping Handbook) so I went ahead and made some yesterday (perhaps the day before?)-She likes blue so that's why I picked these colors:

And I snagged some for myself and made:

Aren't they beautiful? I LOOOOVE the material. Love. Also, I've been waiting rather impatiently for the next FarmGirl update/project/whatever so I went to the store and bought material to make this:

It's a pretty Purple gingham with roses pattern and green gingham for the sashing. I apologize for the quality of the pictures, It's a bathroom shot since I'm home alone. :) I love the material and the apron is great considering i made it with out a pattern, but I can't wait until my sewing skills are much improved.

And speaking of sewing, lookie what I got for $50.00 at an antique store for a christmas gift:

I KNOW! FIFTY BUCKS! It even comes in it's own sewing stand:

I'm not sure it works but who cares? A: It'll be for decoration since damn near every woman on my mom's side of the family sews (save my cousin of whom I'm knitting socks for her hubby for x-mas) and so we all have excellent new machines. And B: It's not like we can't take it to our friends shop to have it repaired. :) My husband was at the antique shop with me and was like, "Get it. Get it now, $50.00 we can do". Clearly, I'm going to rock the christmas gifts this year. Perhaps I should start this early every year? (smug smug-lol) Have a great day/night!

Happy 4th of July and a bit of rambling

2008-07-03T22:02:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July (even though I've 2 hours to go)

So tomorrow, I have work form 10-am to 3 and then a party/bbq/welcome home at my best friends place. I'll probably trade out the beer for yarn. But we also have company coming over to go to the party and they'll be crashing here. I still wish I was strictly a house wife so my house could be *pristine* like it was when I wasn't working versus spending the last 2 days or so making it look like I have. -_- Or something along those lines. Anyway the house guests are 2 guys and one's wife. Whom I met before, but she had brought along her girlfriends so it wasn't like she was talkative with me. Awkward silences much?

It really pains me to admit this because it's so goddamned catty, bitchy and dare I say spiteful, but I totally want her to see my home and wish her's could be like mine. See? I'm a total bitch. I feel bad about it because hello, her and her husband still live with 2 other marines, and gods know they are not the cleanest creatures on the planet. Sigh. Does anyone else feel like this? I mean, it is also about taking pride in my home and thinking to myself, "This is awesome" but do I need to be so damn catty? Where's my bowl of cream?

Ok farm girl stuff (pat, have you joined? you should :P). I've always wanted a country/cottage themed home but the red's and gold's and green's (or bright cheery yellow's) never quite appealed to me. And I was looking at the curtains at target (because let's be honest, it's more cost effective to buy $40 curtains than $100 material to make curtains-that's allot of knittin' time there) and I was literally stressed out. Back and forth on the colors. Should i grab the plum colored faux silk ones that I loved so much or the green? I couldn't see how I wanted the house to be decorated and it was driving me nuts! Not to mention the other guy coming over helped my husband hang the curtain rod in our "dining room" last time he was over and I wanted to make sure he knew I appreciated his efforts.

ANYWAY... It then hit me. As I was walking through Michael's (I bought the plum curtains-purple is my favorite color ever) fake flower section I realized that what I had gotten was PERFECT. They have started putting out fall stuff in the flower section and I walked by an arrangement that had the deep red, gold, brown and PLUM colors-all fall and harvesty. Hot damn! Wait, where was I going with this? Oh! So my country theme will simply be red's gold's and purple's. :D The Curtains btw? Look amazing.

I'll have to post pictures later, but for now I'm off to finish cleaning....meeeeoowww.

HenCircle and my Inner Farm Girl

2008-07-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!I'm not sure who's reading from where, but I joined the Plurkett Sisterhood (ie: http://www.moderngypsy.com/farmgirl/ ) Enjoy that btw, I am. So to my fellow sisters:

My name is Alexis, I'm 23 years old, Married to a U.S. Marine and trying to find a way to cope and deal with the world around me (sounds profound eh?). I have to be honest, I'm scared for the future for the world (terrified and depressed might be better adjectives) and how we'll all be able to deal,but the energy from people *Waking up* is amazing and beautiful.

I got into knitting little over a year ago and it has saved my sanity time and time again. If it wasn't for knitting I wouldn't have found Lime and Violet's podcast and they saved me from 2 major breakdowns, and probably many more. It's interesting to see how parallel my life is with others, I've wanted to knit for forever, sew (I got a sewing machine xmas 06 and looove it), make my own essential oil smell good things and oh, all sorts of stuff for as long as I can remember. Now I found people who want the same!

As for my inner farm girl, I live in an apartment in So Cal with a cement slab for a back yard (it's prettier than that really, check out my Feb 08 blog posts). Every summer I used to visit family out in Southern Illinois and would get to play on various family farms (but mostly indoors, bugs and heat I like not) and even got to pick and shuck corn one year. I've never grown anything myself and while I can for sure try (I almost said do-best not tempt fate) the potted plant thing on my patio, the trees outside are COVERED in spider webs and I'm arachnaphobic. I have a feeling those bastards would try to make a home on my plants. OH! And i only get about 3 hours of direct sunlight a day.

But I'm so energized and excited to start getting in touch with my inner farm girl. I want to make aprons (though the only one i wear is for work at the restaurant), bake bread from scratch, learn to cook in general, decorate my home, keep my sanity while Matthew goes on deployment, craft, create, inspire, and regain my spirituality.

And now, let me leave you with a dose of farm girl zen (My knitting nook).

Swapy Goodness

2008-06-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

So i was involved in the Loopy Ewe Swap over on Ravelry and my awesome partner (not sure I can say who she is) completely, totally, utterly spoiled the freaking rotten out of me. No, seriously. Check this out!

That is a whole bunch of stuff right there. SO here are the edible goodies:

matthew totally jumped on the honey and claimed it for himself (I think he was feeling left out...the box was freaking huge):

Then we have the fairy and moon bar soap (the detailing is amazing), soak wash samples (yum!) and a cute sock blocker key chain (which is on my key ring as we speak):

A namaste pouch (love, love, love) and Punky's Place bag (the cute one with the handel) a tape measure with butterflys and flowers on it, and gorgeous stitch markers:

Here's the close up of the stitch markers:

BUT! That's not all! (I save my two favorite's for last because they are A-freaking-mazing). Twisted Flower Sock's by Cookie A. done up in ChameleonColorworks color Cobalt (I own a skein of it myself) and they fit like a dream!! I want to be as talented as her for she knit me socks that are to die for!!

And Oh. My. God. My head EXPLODED when I opened this:

She spun me 300yards of Crown Mountain Farm's roving in the Layla colorway. For me. Hand spun yarn (and a ton of it) for me. I may have teared up a little (I'd explain why but then we get into that whole self-esteem crap) and the color is exactly what I would have picked. And it's so even! I could totally make a pair of house socks out of this (if i knew how many stitches to co in sportweight and on what size needles.
I can't believe how amazing this package was. My head kind of exploded with I had finished opening it all (which is why it took me so long to write this-I totally had to calm down).

In other news I finished another pair of socks but more on that next time, I've been chatty enough I think. Happy knitting!

Just a quickie

2008-06-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still too hyped up on my swap package I got so I'll finish editing those pictures tomorrow and write a blog post worthy of my AWESOME package. :D

But i wanted to make sure I got this up for my plurketts:

Here are my first finished pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2008. They are knit with Yarn Pirate (I want Candy) and I used Cookie A's monkey pattern. I have it memorized now. lol. They are all wrapped up and ready to get sent to the person I made them for. :)

YOu can see them from space but I love the colors.

Wherin I get Sucked Back to the Land of the Living

2008-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

So ok, I finished my shrug a week ago. Yes, a week ago. I've worn it twice, once to a going away party (where I got allot of complements but no pictures) and once to knit night. Love. It's so soft and comfortable. But what kept me away from here was plurk.com Eeevil site that is. (If you scroll down this page you can see some of mine) So, without further ado, my b0obalishis shrug shot!

It is so comfortable and soft. It's Debbie Bliss Cashmerio yarn in a dark navy blue. I don't think I've updated with pictures of my new yarn, but that can wait for another day I suppose. Tonight is the kick off for the Summer of Socks 08 and I'm itching to start....

..which reminds me Summer starts tomorrow and I've done nothing in preparation. bah.

2008-06-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

I'm almost done with the Two Toned shrug (in one color) that I CO on friday. Yea! Pictures as soon as I can get it done!

Stitch and Pitch

2008-06-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

I went to a baseball game. Yes me. No I'm not joking. I know! Me! Sports! And I had fun (mostly). It was for the LA Dodgers Stitch and Pitch game againist the Colorado Rockies and we won 8-1 (It had to be the knitterly mojo)! I even have proof!

And here is Loopy and my complementary S&P hat:

We were fairly hight up though and so he never really turned around:

And because I'm so eloquent today, here is my current project (sock stash busting blanket) at the game and then at home:

I'm actually working on the Two Toned shrug from Stefane Japel's book Fitted Knits again. Anything to keep me from knitting socks right now. :)

Stash Busting!

2008-05-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

So! I have decided to stash bust some sock yarn so that i can pare down the sock heard and *ahem* buy more. :D Thus far, I am taking all my leftover skeins and knitting (loosely based on the Maison-Dixon book)a log cabin blanket-ish. I'll take some pictures shortly. Other than that I've not don emuch else, other than try to stay away from socks until summer since I joined The Summer of Socks 2008 (linky-linky) so that I can be all geared up for knitting socks, socks, socks. Oh, and socks. My goal in de-stashing is to get all my current partial skeins knitte dup and then I can buy 3 skeind from BMFA I'm thinking this one, this one, and this one to start! I especially love the last one. I'm thinking Monkeys out of them.

Eta: I just bought them. Hubby Said I could buy yarn. :D

Where have You been?! IMG Heavy

2008-05-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, long time no hear...er, type. I hope things are going well for all of you. My life has been lovely crazy and while a ton of knitting has been getting done (a whole bunch of which I can't post about since it's for a secret swap) I've just not the pizazz to post about it all. So! First up, I finished my Secret of the Stole 2 KAL by Nautical Knitter And while Savannah (that's the stole's name) is done, do you think I have a finished picture of it? Of course not. I did try though, and Matthew helped me take some pictures of me holding it (all of which were awful) so I'll have to wait for a nice day and try for later.

Speaking of Matthew, he won't wear most knitted things (ie the bloody socks I slaved away over) but that boy loves himself a beanie. So after the last black one I made him was stolen, for our 6 month anniversary I knit him another one. This time I embroidered a T on it so he'd be able to tell what was his. Surprise, surprise it came home when he got back from the field. Now his friend wants one.
It's just your typical k2p2 rib beanie.

Next up we have a pair of st-st socks in Cherry Tree Hill yarn I knit for mindless enjoyment. :)

And my new favroite pair (in progress still) of socks, in CTH again is March's shipment of the Loopy Ewe Sock Club. The pattern is to die for and I'm now through the cuff of the 2nd sock despite my pictures showing the cuff of the first sock. (because oyu know, I'm super amazing at proper photography.

And very long over due: dmop on Ravelry sent me the most gorgeous skein of sock yarn ever! It's such a beautiful deep rich green that made me all squeely. Why? Well I had sent her off some Wollmeise I had won in the last Loopy Ewe sneakup and decided to share the love. I think I made out way better but that's because dmop is awesome!

Also this month's shipment happens to be Wollmeise in a bright lovely red color (that I'd never would have picked out myself but love!) and a beautiful pattern...that calls for knitting it toe-up and on 2 circs. Can't do either. But I'm sure I could learn?

And lastly, I joined Summer of Socks 2008 and so took a picture of my sock stash to see where I was:

I'm thinking I don't need to buy sock yarn for the summer....Not that that'll stop me or anything. :)

Brain Went Sploody

2008-04-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

I was going to post all the pictures from monday, but my brain decided last night that a migraine was a good idea. I'm all kinds of drugged up atm and *still* hurt (though at least I can be vertical) so let's just do a picture parade ok? First up: SOTS2 up to clue 6

Then a 100%cashmere Scarf I knit at knit night on monday (start to finish) and Loopy Helped:

Let me get back to you on knit night itself. I need to edit the pictures more but kinda want to lay down again.

Quick Quick Quick

2008-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've got a zillion pictures to edit and post so hopefully sometime today they'll get up, unless I get sucked back into my lace knitting....Then mabey tomorrow.

Just Hit Me Over The Head

2008-04-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

*SMACK* I made a mistake 35 rows back on my lace stole. (Insert a TON of F-words here) and have to TINK back.

Hmmmmm, Sewing is looking good again....

(Oh and to soothe the pain I bought more yarn from The Loopy Ewe).

ETA: It's 2pm and I started tinking back and found the *real* mistake that messed me over. Not to worry about the other one it doesn't affect the pattern and is hard ot find. Besides, it's always good to have one mistake in every project. Thats whole ticking off Athena and all...

Conquering the Lace

2008-04-21T01:59:00.001-07:00

SO I was working on clue 4 of the Secret of the Stole 2 by nautical Knitter and managed to drop a stitch a few months back. I didn't have the mental fortitude to deal with it but tonight, I rocked that pile of knittings world! I tinked back 6 rows and re-knit and am well into the 4th clue (finally) after two months of avoiding it. I suppose I have my husband to thank. He has to be at work an extra hour earlier and went to be before I could grab my sewing stuff. I don't want to wake him up because tomorrow will be a long day for him (ahhh, the idiot LCpl's-thanks AlanaMarie and kathryn for your comments, they were *much* appreciated) so had to keep myself occupied somehow.

And volia! I'm back in business baby!

Military Rant (and some fould language-sory)

2008-04-19T02:29:00.000-07:00

May I just bitch for like, 2 seconds on the idiocy of LCpl's and stupid military wives?

Mind you I've met some nice and intelligent military wives. Some, not so much. While our husbands were out in the field this past week (and they didn't do anything on sat or sun but had to stay out there) some wife called up the platoon's FIRST SARGENT and BITCHED HIM OUT for not letting the guys come home since they were not doing anything on those two days and how she had not seen her husband in 3 weeks. (I'd like to point out that I have seen my husband prior to the field work so it's not the the marine Corps fault she has not seen her husband).....(head smack) So now, the guys are not allowed to bring their cell phones out to the field anymore thanks to the stupid bitch. It was hard enough not seeing him and now she cuts off my communication with him? Whom ever she is she had better hope I don't find out. I am *pissed*.

And the stupid LCpl (Lance-Corporals-3rd rank in the enlisted world for you non-military folk). Most of them are 18 year old high school grads who think they are hot shit because "They've played in the sand box"...because oyu know, being in Iraq really shows your contribution to the world. And let's be honest, in society today, aside from getting "a quick piece of ass" it's not necessarily something you'd want to *brag* about. Now if you went to Iraq, saved a bunch of people, ok then THERE are your bragging rights. But these little boys who play the "My dick is bigger than yours woo hoo!" games are little annoying fuck-tards (pardon my language it's a heated topic) piss me the fuck off. And these are the fucking idiots who give my husband hard times because he has a college degree.... What because he has a higher education? That he has contributed to society in a Positive way? That he doesn't screw around (literally and figuratively I suppose)? God forbid he be a DECENT human being.

Honestly.

Knitting for a year

2008-04-16T21:27:00.001-07:00

So on April 1st I have been knitting for a year. Neat huh? Although lately, not much knitting has been going on. It's been attack of the creepy crawly's, moping from missing the hubby (gone for 8 days), and quilting. I did manage to finish my first pair of Wollmeise socks in Cookie A's Monkey pattern (even on effing size 0's dps they are *still* too big). I was worried that they wouldn't stripe beautifully the second sock around but *sigh* gorgeous. Where did I get this lovely yarn you ask? From Pquetsch as a gift because the woman is simply amazing (nod nod).

And this is what else I've done this past week:

The Strawberry Quilt!!!! I love strawberries! They are my "thing" along with fairy's. :) I was sooo freaking happy to get all the blocks done. All that is left to do is sew the borders and then take it to the quilt shop and have one of the guys quilt it for me. :)

So happy...

At least some things are getting Done

2008-04-11T13:38:00.001-07:00

Matthew is gone for a week for work (boo-lonely) but it's given me a ton of free time. I picked up quilting and am almost piecing together a strawberry quilt. Then I'll add the borders and send off for the actual quilting. :) That's pretty much taken up my time but I did pick up my monkey socks again- I'm on the last repeat before the toe decreases. Yea! I'll post pictures soon.

Well some things at least have been getting done

2008-03-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here at Casa de Tabor things have been rather hectic this past week. Lots of cleaning and re-cleaning as Matthew brings home is junk from the field and messes up the place. Alas. :)

I started another pair of monkey socks this time in Wollmeise-the colorway being Suzanne that my friend pquetsch sent me from a blog contest. The picture doesn't really do the color justice but once I finish both (I'm halfway through the 1st) Ill make sure to show them off in grand style.

And speaking of Wollmeise, Sheri from The Loopy Ewe sent me a skein of Krauterbeet For being the 1500th post on Ravelry.com. :) The woman is beyond Generous so go buy yarn from her. She rocks.

It was on my wish list on her website and that was the one she sent me! The purple and green is gorgeous!

And then because I'm a sucker and such I plunked down $60.00 for a skein of chasmere from Noro that i'll make a scarf out of...Never you mind that we are out of scarf weather. Sigh. but it's pretty.

There isn't great lighting right now in the apartment so all the pictures are less than desirable. But I'm sure I'll manage. Have a great day!

Blah blah blah

2008-03-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Spring comes then two days later? BAM! Hit with 83 degree weather.

Ugh.

Happy St. pattys Day!

2008-03-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

I finished socks! I finished a Project!

They are a wee bit big but that is ok! And lookie what I got in the Mail today from The Loopy Ewe:

My new namaste clutch is HUGE as well as my two skeins of Wollmeise I stayed up all night for. :) See? huge!

But I love it. And the hubby got home SUPER EARLY from work today so we are off to spend some quality time together! Yea!

Bits and Pieces

2008-03-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've been having a fun time on the Ravelry Loopy Ewe boards this past week waiting for the Wollmeise sneakup (I scored 2 skeins!) an dmade some lovely friends. I knit a bit. And there is nothing else my husband and I like to do than to harass our cats:

But it's just our brand of love. :D :D Here are the socks I've been working on-I'm about to turn the heel on the 2nd.

And here is a picture we bought at the swap meet that hangs in our bedroom:

OH! And guess who's Loopy Ewe Swap Package came in? MINE! Tee hee Inside was a skein of Cherry Tree Hill, Loopy Kisses, Soap (in the shape of loopy kisses) the cute project bag and a pattern. :)

Feeling the Blah's

2008-03-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

I've done some knitting. But not a whole lot. I have pictures to share, but I've not up-loaded them from my camera and edited them. Matthew and I were supposed to go on a Marriage Retreat via the marines but we got DENIED because it was FULL-he turned it in to late. Never mind the fact that they wouldn't let him turn in the info all last week and when he'd manage to GET to the freaking office, NO ONE WAS THERE!!!! So we don't get to go and we are probably one of the ones who actually need it. There are a few nice people in the military but honest to god, the f-ing assholes out number them.

I've knit one sock in plain st-st and am just so underwhelmed about doing the 2nd one. My secret of the stole still needs me to rip back 8 rows but I can't really face that right now. I've had no movotiation to do anything creative lately and it's bumming me out.

And his stupid cat just horked up two hairballs on my *$#^%(&^@* white carpet.

And then...

2008-03-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

My cat snores in his sleep. HAHAHAHAHAHHA. rock.

(No, no knitting has been done. Why do you ask?)

P.S. My living room is full of lumber. Mathew decided it would be better to build cat perches than buy them.

....Full.

Wedding Pictures!

2008-03-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the wonderful comments! The baskets have been *such* alife saver (as well as the hutch! I LOOOOOVE IT!) in terms of keeping things organized and easy to clean. I got those at TJ Maxx (feel free to steal the idea). The bathroom hutch is from bed Bath and beyond(Kind of like THIS ONE but the legs on mine are knobbed).

And now....

More later!

Bathroom Blues

2008-02-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

I love me some blue. :) Here is my almost finished bathroom:

Taa Daaa!

Still Playing Catch Up

2008-02-26T00:28:00.000-08:00

In all things to be honest. We still are eating off a folding card table (our dining set, 2 coffees tables[one for linen storage] and an end table) all of which are still two weeks away from getting to the warehouse and from there-delivery to us.

Knitting wise I've missed 3 knit nights (the first from move-in day, the second was my birthday (the 18th) and then tonight, I looked at the piles of laundry, boxes in my bedroom, and was unable to find my friggin knitting pattern (thanks husband) and decided I needed to stay home. OH! And I tried to make brownies tonight but when I went to pre-heat the oven, SMOKE started streaming out. Not to bad at first (and all white) but it progressively got worse and smelled kind of gassy so now my brownie mix is in the fridge and I'll have to pop down to the housing office and have them send a guy out to check on it.

Also, I just finished clue 3 from the Secret of the Stole 2 KAL (clue 6 just went up last friday) and other than that, have done no knitting. None. Zip. I may be insane. I also have not really bought yarn lately-at all actually. So I've been avoiding The Loopy Ewe and have yet to check out the new stores in my area.

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments:
Alanna I'm glad to see you guys arrives safely and hope your cat get's out of kitty prison soon.

Brena-Congrats on moving in with your guy! The town house looks BEAUTIFUL!

And all of a sudden my brain has the "hurt" (which is probably from sitting on the freaking couch all night playing sims and watching TV (We have CABLE!!!)) so I'm going to take a Tylenol and hit the sheets (where the handsome man is already zonked out since he has to be up in oh 3 hours, but he did goto bed at 9:30pm so he'll get plenty of sleep).

I'll try to get more pictures up in the next few days.

OH OH OH! And on Thursday, we are getting our wedding pictures! YES!

Whew!

2008-02-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

I'm back! We just got internet back last night and I'm so relieved!! Here is what my home looked like move in day:
Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen:

Bedroom:

And here is our living room after a week:

More Later!!

Life-Such as it Is.

2008-02-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

Mom's Monkey Socks are finished! My first non-st-st socks! They are dome in Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Blue Moonstone Medium weight. It was lovely yarn to knit with! I may just have to buy more in the future.

So Would you like the good news first or the bad? Me, I like the bad news first so that the good news can cut the crappyness of the bad down. Let's go that way.

Bad First:

See that handsome man? He graduated from School of Infantry this past Friday and joined a unit that is Deploying in September. That is very, very bad news. It's "Well fuck me" news. I'm still in lovely denial and have hope that his Officer Packet will be picked up before the Unit deploys (We are using "The Secret" and Positive thinking because that really works) which would be either June or September. So please, add your positive thoughts of him getting in to OCS before then for me. Which is really weird asking the general public, but any prayers, wishes or good vibes you want to throw my way, I'll take. :) Thank you.

So! Super crappy right? What could possibly make that any better?

The view from our soon-to-be bedroom window. I just got the call in (which is why I was waiting to post) saying we got approved for our First Apartment!!!! Oh my god we both are over the moon about it! It's a 1 bedroom/1 bath on the bottom floor (we also get a covered single car garage!) that has a waterfall and stream right past the porch out side of the living room:

With a Bird Avary just past that (which is the round structure you see from our bedroom window)> The WHOLE complex is like that. And we have ducks! They walked right up to our porch! Our cats, are going to go crazy! The place has 600 units so there are 5 pools (2 are "award winning for best design"-one is a 30 second walk from our place but far enough away that we don't see it) 2 clubhouses (with a billiards room up top-we love our pool) gyms, tennis/racquet ball courts and 5 laundry facilities). It is with in a 5 minuet walking distance from my bank and the grocery store as well as a 15 minuet walk from a Theater (a movie theater as well as theatrical) and a 10 minuet walk from a mall that is apparentally a huge tourist attraction. It's full of expensive stores like Prada, Bloomingdales, Louis Vuittion-you know, stuff I couldn't afford if you gave me money. Lol.

So that is the brief rundown of what has happened this weekend. Oh boy. Up's and Downs much? For my SOTS2 KAL I haven't done the 3rd clue but I will hopefully get to it tomorrow after I get my hair done (for what will probably be a long time). :) Talk to you later!

P.S. Thank god for knitting or I'd be unable to cope with life atm. But-that's life such as it is.

Monkey's on my Lace

2008-01-31T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I started school this past week and so far it seems to be going well. My first class is Classical Archeology and while the Professor is interesting (ish-but at least I'm not bored to tears) I do have an idiot in the class who is desperate to correct my pronouncation of random words... Uh huh. RUDE much? However, I am amazing sauce and just turned to him and ever so sweetly replied, "What did you just say?" (bluster mumble "Nothing") "That's what I thought". Ahem. My other class (I only signed up for two lest Matthew and I had to move) is the Underworld and I love that professor. He is awesome, but that's a whole other blog post (and not in that way). :)

I am working on: My first pair of Lace socks and NON st-st to boot. They are Cookie A's Monkey Socks done in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Blue Moonstone Colorway. They are far, far too big for myself so I am making them for my mom. Which ties in sentimentally to our trip out to Illinois back in August when we went to Stitches Midwest and I bought them from The Fold. Mom isn't around right now so you'll have to see what it looks like on my feet-no laughing.

I'm actually further along, but you get the general idea. I'm kind of afraid that I'm going to run out halfway through the second sock (which would then make me buy another skein of yarn and-whoops! Some Raven might just follow that home) but we'll have to see.

Next up is my Secret of the Stole 2 KAL I've been working on and just finished. The second clue that is. The 3rd comes out tomorrow and that will be hopefully prior to when I leave for Camp Pendleton to see Matthew graduate. He's got check in but we aren't sure when he'll be able to leave so after 10:30 I get to sit around on base all day. If I've got clue 3 I can then sit in the library and stay entertained for hours! I love this color by the way and the yarn is absolutely lovely to work with (Jagger Spun Wool/Silk 2/18 laceweight)

And I was actually going to post about the wonderful Sit&Knit I went to on Monday but this is getting a little long so I shall save that for tomorrow (because I'll have to post pictures of my sexy Marine Graduating...again...lol).

ETA: LoL!!! I didn't even realize that on my stole, the right half of the pins used to hold it down are yellow, and the left orange! I didn't plan it that way! Hehehe

Lots of pictures!!!

2008-01-21T00:09:00.000-08:00

This past week was a good mail week. First it was the Wollmeise, then my Lace weight from Sarah's Yarns, then Yarn Pirate (a GORGEOUS color way) if it were not for Barnes and Noble's weird shipping policy I'd have 2 books too but that means something to look forward too on Tuesday. :)
Here are the icky socks of doomy doom and my cat. He's about as impressed as I am...More so perhaps:

The yarn was so bad that I threw the rest away and I had allot...see?

The new Yarn Pirate color is amazing. It' reminds me of antique lamps and Victorian Homes. I don't know if I can knit with it!!

I'm in the Secret of the Stole 2 KAL right? I got my yarn on the day the first clue came out and cast on...3 hours later had a mistake I don't know where and ripped it out. Saturday evening after frogging it I re-cast on and worked for another 3 hours before crashing into sleep with my husband (I wish I could say I sleep better when hes home but he snores too loud-lol). Today after breakfast (IE: noon) I started working on it and didn't stop until I finished the clue (IE: 5 hours later). The yarn is JaggerSpun 2/18 Silk/Wool Blend. It's adream to work with! Here you go!

And finally (I'l wrap this up quick) I finally finished the Split-Neckline Cap Sleeve Tee from the Fitted Knits book. Here it is:

Have a lovely night/day/afternoon or what have you. Now, I'm off to claim my knit wars points!

Pictorial Goodness!

2008-01-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

It was a good day today. A very good day. But re-winding to yesterday:

Here is the Cherry Tree Hill I got from The Loopy Ewe for becoming a Groupy:

It's called "Salt Water Taffey!
Here is my stupid sock (I'm on the ankle of the 2nd one-anyone want whatever is left?) along with my bea-u-tiful nails that I finally got fixed (acrylics are teh suck).
height="375" alt="DSCN0418" />

(You realize Pquetsch I'm taking my time to just be a tease right? )

And then!!!! Today saw me sitting my computer f-5ing on Ravelry and my email to see if I got into The Loopy Ewe's Sock Club....You bet I did!!!! There were only 100(approx) Spots avaiable and 500 (ish) people trying to get in. I am a very thankful, lucky lady.

AND THEN! THEN the mail arrived....

And now I am the happy owner of 2 skeins of Wollemise:

Poison Number 5:

And Mitternact (midnight):

And I still have mail coming! My Sarah's Yarns for my SOTS2 and my Yarn Pirate Club which I'm staying in until March (My bargian with god/spirit/karma so I could get into loopy) and 2 books!!!

All I need now is for Matthew to call and tell me where on earth we are going to be living!!!

And oh my god what am I going to knit with the wollemise?

No Pictures This Time

2008-01-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

But next post should have a ton in for you. I finished a st-st sock using The Knittery's Coral Reef.... I hate it. It's splitty, slippery and loose despite dropping down to size 1 DPN's. The skein also had 3 knots, THREE knots in it....Do they not understand the concept of quality yarn? The color is amazing but working with the yarn ruined my appreciation with it. If I wasn't OCD enough I'd just not make the second sock but A: What in the heck would I do with 1 sock? B: I want my KnitWars points and C: I can update my ravelry page once it's done.
But what on earth am I going to do with the rest of the skein? Ugh!

I'm soooo close to being done with my Split-Lince Cap-Sleeve Tee. ALl that's left to do is knit the neckline, sew the clasp and block it. However I've yet to find a clasp. Gah!

The Mystery Stole 2 KAL starts this Friday and my yarn should be coming in either Thursday or Friday...I may not have the time to swatch but...It's a stole. It's not as if it has to be perfectly on gauage or anything. ...And it' snot as if I really to swatches anyway. Ahem.

N-E-Ways! I became a Loopy Groupy Last week and THIS week I got 2 skeins of Wollemise! How exciting! Of course that means I've spent $90.00 on yarn this week and can't buy for awhile but that's ok! I still have a ton I can knit up. I'm thinking of branching out and trying Cookie A's Monkey socks in my Moonstone STR. We'll see. :) See you guys later!

Yarn-gasim

2008-01-14T18:50:00.000-08:00

I SCORED WOLLMEISE!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!! WEEEEEEEE!

{Insert Catchy Title Here}

2008-01-13T22:25:00.001-08:00

So apparently there are rumors (as usual) flying around the squad bay that some guys might be stationed in Hawaii.... So My husband asks me how I feel about it. Now I'm sure everyone's gut reaction would be "Hell yes! It's Hawaii!!!" Which admittedly would rock but I logically know that we'd be better off if we stayed in So Cal. I'm waffling back and forth on the issue (no, I don't think we'll actually be in Hawaii) since the same thoughts and feelings apply to if we were sent out to 29 Palms (3 hours away from my parents so 3.5 from school).

But Hawaii would be kind of cool don't you think? I highly doubt we'd be lacking in company. -_- We'd probably see more of Everyone than we'd really want to (we are not the most social of creatures).

In knititng related news I'm 95% done with the Cap-sleeve tee by Ms. Japel. Eh on the fit despite getting gauge pictures to come once I finish the neckline and block it (oh and find a clasp).

(And no I honestly don't think we'd be stationed in Hawaii...it would be too cool).

.....(people mentioned we'd be bored as hell after the first month or so but I feel I ought to point out that we are complete home-bodies. It'd take us a year or so to do that months worth of sight seeing. Just sayin'.)

Sweaters, Alpaca and Dressers

2008-01-08T22:31:00.000-08:00

So today my best friend and I went to Ikea to look for bedroom stuff for her so she could change around her room. I needed a dresser ("I" being "we", "we" being "Matthew and I"-anyway) so we picked one out and naturally, couldn't find anything for her. We brought it home (because Ikea makes you put the damned things together) and spent the next 3 hours putting it in place. Here she is modeling the lovely thing:

Hopefully Matthew will like it. Oh! Here is where I am after ripping back 4 hours worth of work on my Cap-Sleeved tee:

I'm actually further along now but you get the general idea yes? Turns out there was no problem with the ripping back and so I have been blissfully knitting along while watching Sailor Moon the first season (oh my god the memories).

So here is a question for you all: I have a ton of Alpaca yarn I have no clue what to do with:
2440 yards of the small green one, and 1000 yards of the grey one and 332 yards of the brown. Any suggestions?

Finished Projects and Frustration

2008-01-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

So I am working on Stefanie Japel's Split-Neckline cap-sleeve tee from her book Fitted Knits. I've just finished 4 hours of work and come to find out that despite reading the directions obsessively carefully, 4 times, I still managed to read them wrong (I checked the errata for it) so I have to frog 22+ rows of my sweater.

Naturally this means I'll finally update with all my FO's and counters.

First up: 3 Hats from the Holiday Knits Kit. One for me (made from handdyed from MissVicki), my husband and his friend from training (debbie bliss Cashmierno aran):

And then we have 2 gifts a-la Miss Violet from LimeNViolet for the in-laws:Both made from noro silk garden).

And once again I frogged the madder sock-this time because it was too small. WTF? Sigh. I'm a bit nervous about ripping back on my Fitted Knits shirt because I've never ripped only to a certain part before. >< Gah and I was sooooo close to only having to do the st-st for 16 inches! (I love me some mindless knittin') I'm also doing that one in the Cashmerino Aran from Debbie Bliss too. The Top/light color is the main color and the bottom is the lining.

I'm off to stare depressingly at my sweater and pulling out some scrap yarn. *sigh* Wish me luck!

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T23:00:00.001-08:00

I don't make resolutions on New Year's Day, I make goals. I have since I started this 2 years ago completed every goal save one by the end of the year. I rocked last year and finished all 6. 6 doesn't sound like much but they were big things. Moving out (I did, even if I moved back in) getting a queen sized bed (it's so comfy) getting into the college of my choice. This year i have 8.
1: Move out (officially)
2: Set up my home
3: Get a new Job
4: Knit 2 sweaters (technally I did this last year but I had to throw something
knititng in)
5: Make a scrap book from Matthew's time at boot camp
6: Make a wedding scrap book
7: Visit Someplace new (shoulden't be hard with the husband in the MC)
8: Make strawberry quilt (I've been collecting material all of last year).

I mean, there are a ton of things I'd like to do knitting wise, but I don't think those need to be on a goals list. I think this will keep me busy enough.

Happy 2008!

P.S. Picture post soon with a ton of FO's.

Not yet...

2007-12-29T00:13:00.000-08:00

...but soon I will have a good blog post for you. I just need to get through my wedding tomorrow and then I can finally freaking RELAX.

Just sayin.

The Week from Hell.

2007-12-18T23:56:00.001-08:00

...What do you mean it's only Tuesday? So it's Finals week for my school, oh lucky, lucky me. Monday I get awakened (after staying up until 3 am studying) at 9 am by the step MIL...NINE AM!!! Zomg. I had to be nice and gracious at 9 am. I made my mom tell her i was sleeping and would call her when I woke up. Then went back to sleep until 10. So I'm running around all day getting things on my ToDo list done (read: not studying because I had the whole night and I got home at 4pm). I get home, put my stuff away, knit a little (to decompress) and I get this phone call from work. "Are you on your way to work?" Uh..No. It's monday night, why would I be on my way to work? "We have a show. I told you about it." What show? I know nothing about a show (Mind you we only have shows on the WEEKEND) "I told you about it on saturday" I didn't work on saturday. "Then I must have told you about it on Friday" No, I didn't know anything about a show.

I'm gonna say it: Fuck me. Fuck my job. I'm going to fail one of my classes because they "Couldn't find anyone else to work" so I had to take 5 FUCKING HOURS out of my studying time to work this piece of shit and wound up standing around doing practically NOTHING because we were then over staffed (some customers didn't show up) but was I able to go home? No. Fuck you! So I had to pick which class I was more willing to fail. I made my decision and stayed up the rest of the night working on a portfolio for my class and re-editing papers.

Moving on because I get really fucking bitter and resentful and since i have to work ANOTHER extra show on Friday and be NICE to people, I think I ought to move on. Today saw allot of knititng (4 hours worth as a treat for getting through yesterday) but I wasn't able to post any of it until I finished a take home final (done!). I started on a ribbed hat form Winter Knits kit for my husband's liberty buddy and I'm about half way done:

As well as my solstice socks:

And Matthew got to play with grenades today and survived the experience. This makes me happy (the survival bit). Well I'm off for sleep since I can now guilt free crash for the night (oh but wait, theres that other pesky final tomorrow) oh well. Teh Brain is done.

My brownies ARE better than sex.

2007-12-16T22:26:00.001-08:00

My brownies are better than sex!

I love Marines. No, really. I sent my husband and his Liberty buddy back to the base for the week with some brownies I had made for them this weekend. Three went to specific guys (namely the ones who sleep in the bunk-beds next to my husband and don't inform the Sergeants he's calling me during the week when he isn't supposed to) and 3 were left over. Well apparently, one of the guys broke his in half and gave one to his friend to eat. His friend took one bite (I make em big), looked at my husband and said, "This brownie is better than the sex I had this morning!!!"

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

There have apparently been requests for a full batch this weekend. LMAO. See? You gotta love Marines because they are so...appreciative. *snicker*

So my night has gone much better since my husband told me that. He said he'd try to call on Tuesday (this is when they are playing with grenades) to let me know I'm alive but otherwise it's no calls for me this week. One of his Sergeants said if they are caught on the phones not only will he take the phone away but he'll make it so they can't go home for x-mas. ZOMG. How $&%^@% would we be if that happened to us?

I've decided to crochet granny squares out of misc sock yarn but it's not a project I'm actively working on (other than tonight to clear out some of my f-ing sock yarn). I make the squares as I go but I don't particularly care for granny squares. Especially the weaving in bit. Ugh. But I am almost (Ha) done with two skeins.

My brownies are better than sex. Rock.

Sunday-ness

2007-12-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

I've this thing about Sundays. I'm not sure why but about 1/3 of my Sundays leave me feeling melancholy and slightly uncomfortable. No particular reason really but there you have it.

Knitting wise some things are moving trippingly along and others are doing their best to stop. My solstice socks are about half done, one sock is completed and I am working on the st-st park oo the ankle.

This was the first one prior to finish but theres your idea of what it looks like. The yarn is disgustingly splitty and annoying to work with but I do love the color. Hopefully the next shipment of YP is better quality.

My lace shawl is stopped because i made a mistake somewhere and tat means I have to tink back until I find it. Goody. But it is pretty:

Other than those two things I've nothing on the needles. I'm going to start a hat for my husband's liberty buddy for x-mas but I need the yarn for that so it'll be off to the yarn store for me tomorrow.

Perhaps I ought to study for finals or something...bah.

Procrastination you evil being.

2007-12-11T23:19:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm avoiding my Roman paper that I have to finish writing and is due tomorrow (yet have no time to write tomorrow). Sigh.

So I cast on the Orel Lace Scarf and have worked a few pattern repeats and it's going well so far (knock on wood) but that came to a screeching halt because i haven't had time to sit down and knit really. This weekend was mad crazy driving back and froth from Pendleton and working the whole weekend and baby showers. Also, yesterday (omg it's only Tuesday?!) I belly danced at a local college then went out looking for an outfit to wear for my bridal shower which is tomorrow. Found nothing. Came home and started my paper. Not sure were to go with it so it came to a screeching halt.

Today I meant with the DJ, found an outfit to wear (Banana Republic thank you!) for the Bridal shower tomorrow (omg so not ready), and (SQUEE!) my wedding dress came in a week and a half early so i was able to go and get it tailored and it should be done this weekend! Sooooo excited. I do have pictures but my husband pokes around here from time to time so I can't post any. Boo. It's stunning. I managed to get in a round of knititng on the Solstice socks after frogging the whole damned first one because I cast on the wrong number of stitches (dood) while waiting in line to buy stuff for tomorrow. Blah.

So! I will have to post pictures after the shower (possiably Thursday?) of knititng and the shower. Have a great night guys!

Finished Socks and stress

2007-12-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

I finished my Briar Rose socks. I'm far, far ot stressed to do any kind of magical linking, so I got them form www.theloopyewe.com.

They turned out nice. I also got in my Helen's Lace form Lorna's Laces (also form TLE) but I just need the needles to start my project:

And I'm far, far to stressed out with my life. To the point where I'm "knititng because if i think about everything going on I will break down and cry" type stress. I RAN OUT OF PAPER FOR MY TO-DO LIST!!!

omg.
So it's another pair of st-st socks in Solstice from Yarn Pirate's booty club.

Sick

2007-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

I am the lucky recipient of a Sinus Infection. Oh joy! I wound up going to my school's health care facility and getting medication through them-mind you I have 3, count them THREE health care coverages but couldn't access 2 of them. One is through the Marine Corps but I have to go on base to set it up, but I don't have my ID yet and can only go on the weekends during visiting hours which is most likely when they are closed. Gah.

Anyway, I've got my medicinal cocktail and feel only slightly more human since other monthly events have started..You get my drift. Knitting!

I'm past the gusset and just working on the rounds of the foot on the Briar Rose socks 9I keep changing their name) and my yarn came in from The Loopy Ewe last night so I'll be casting on my first lace project today.

At least now that I'm full of medicine my brain only slightly hurts and I'll be able to concentrate tonight....although I do have 2 papers w/ presentations due soon...One I haven't even started the research on. Please, shoot me now.

Knitting, Hubby and New Skilz!

2007-11-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

I am officially now Alexis Tabor!! I went down to the SS office and got my named changed. How exciting!!! And to amuse you with pictures of the happy couple (1/2 of which was off learning to throw grenades and DIDN'T CALL HIS WIFE TO LET HER KNOW HE'S ALIVE-not that I'm bitter or anything):

This picture makes me smile. :)
Moving onto knitting:

So I finished a bag for an x-mas gift and i'm less than pleased. The whole thing just seems so unfinished and really, kind of blah. Which means I'm going to have to add something to make it a good gift since it's for my brothers fiancee. Espically since she's painting me a picture in exchange. I hate when I give what I feel is crappy gifts.

Looking at it more and more I dislike it more and more. Damn.

But for good news!!! I learned a new skill tonight! I learned how to kitchener a toe on a sock!!!! I'm using Sheepaints Briar Rose and finished hte 1st sock of the pair. I've also cast on the 2nd sock. (I'm of the mind set that if you cast the 2nd sock on within 20 minutes of casting off the 1st oyu can avoid SSS *knock on wood*).
(These are true colors by the way. Isnt' it lovely!!!??)

And now my New TOE!!...Er...Toe Cast off...ahem.

I'm waiting for my new lace weight from The Loopy Ewe to make a shawl for my best friend for Christmas. :)I'll let oyu know if the hubby survived Grenade throwing 101 as soon as I find out. (not that I'm bitter or anything).

Edited to add:They wound up not tossing grenades thanks to rain. Whew. Glad to see he's alive.

And so it begins again

2007-11-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

I'm driving my wonderful husband (still makes me smile to say it) down to Pendleton for more training. He'll be living on base most of the month (although he'll get xmas and our wedding date off-the family hooplah-) and he may get a few weekends here and there off. However, it's still two months of him basically being gone and I've really enjoyed living with him again.

Although I've got to say it kind of feels like this month has been a dream. A very lovely dream.

Knit wise (to make this somewhat related) I've re-cast on the Briar Rose socks and have made decent headway on the old boring purse (39 inches of garter stitch).

Have a great day everyone.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

Food was good.
Knitting was boring.
More food was better.
Pumpkin pie was yummy.
Knitting was still dull and boring.
Mashed Potatoes were fantastic.

Alas, the knitting was still boring. But I'm not knititng something I enjoy, it's a gift so...you know...blah.

However, my thanksgiving was fun and food filled. How can you complain? I actually went to the mall with my hubby on Black Friday and we found parking w/in 3 minutes of arriving... This is of course due to me walking with people to their car and standing in the space until he could bring the car around. Pissed of some silly twit who said, "Just so you know you can't do that" Really? Because I just did. BAM!

It's called being prepared you gas guzzling half wit. But don't get me started on her supped-out truck. Ugh.

And alas, more boring knititng coming my way.

Drink the Night Away

2007-11-21T16:02:00.001-08:00

So the hubby wants to go see Saw 4 and some other movie I would absolutely hate, and loathe after he gets off work. Since he has my car and I won't be going anywhere until 10pm at the earliest- I've whipped out the wine to drink while knititng on this "purple bag of boring doom that I really didn't want to make in the first place but it's a christmas gift dammit and I have to do 11 inches, INCHES of st-st TWICE!!!" and listen to Lime and Violet (click their names for their blog-as if you haven't already heard of them. If I've heard of someone that means EVERYONE on the face of this planet already has). It should prove to be amusing. :D

In other news, I've donated a ton of yarn to goodwill (single balls and some cotton I had laying about) and feel much better about the whole stash thing. (as in "the crap is gone" and not "I have too much").

Pictorial Update

2007-11-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am killing time prior to class to bring you this Pictorial Update. Weee!

Finally here is a picture of the Alpaca Scarf I knit for my cousin:

Yea! Next up we have the socks I made from one of the 2 skeins I got in a swap (because I have teeny tiny feet)

And finally! Here is the sock yarn I'm going to be knitting up next:

Zomg, isn't it beautiful?!?! Can't wait!

Especially since i have NO PROJECTS ON MY NEEDLES! I have some in the que list but not actually on the needles. Weird. I am next knititng up a purple bag from Stitch and Bitch for my future SIL for christmas. That being said, I'm off to cast on!