UGH October!

Since the first my job has essentially doubled and while I've been knitting still, I haven't been finishing things. Except for one thing, the most adorable thing I've ever made.

I just walked around for 5 minutes looking for the knitting bag I left in my trunk that contains the knit bear I made Sunday. I'll add a picture later.

There is one awesome thing to add... I'm in Yarnival! (More realistically the kitties are.)

Big Weekend

Lorrie's wedding is on Saturday and I am so thrilled. I get to live vicariously through her because she is doing all the things I didn't get to do for my wedding, and I don't have to do any work to experience this. Fun things like grandpa playing polkas on his saxophone as we get dressed for the wedding, this is what I am most looking forward to. I also am thrilled because after the rehearsal I don't have to drive anywhere and will be driven.

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from September:

Ava at her 1st Birthday Party

Bob the Llama at Llamafest 2007

I just had the power go off... I'm glad that this has auto save.
Two weekends ago Jim, Michelle and I went to the Michigan Renaissance Festival. (For Free!!)
I had a great time with one notable exception, the man in this picture. He was the most boring thing I've ever seen there in all the years I've gone. It was a Falconry Exhibit on the main field where they do the jousting and he lectured for 40 minutes before he even had the birds do anything and kept saying snotty comments about the people in the audience eating the giant turkey drumsticks. What the hell?? I hope that he doesn't get invited/hired to come back because he was awful. But I like this picture.



As for knitting I made another cotton shopping bag with the handle/strap of my own invention and this one is much better than the first. It is already in use holding my curlers and makeup for the wedding. I'll have to take another picture of it all loaded up.



I've been working on 3 things:

Frost Flowers & Leaves





Pomatomus Sock (with accessory cat)




Something Red

I won a prize from a blog contest, this gorgeous ice cream colored sock yarn from Jess of mikknits

I think I'll try the Monkey pattern with this, I'm not sure so any suggestions are appreciated.

This was fun

You Are Japanese Food

Strange yet delicious. Contrary to popular belief, you're not always eaten raw.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Cats in Skirts

One of my favorite blogs ever is having a contest and I HAVE to enter. This requires a Plan of Action to be outlined, then executed.

PLAN
1. Find sweater/skirt
2. Find cat1, cat2 & cat3
3. Put skirt on cats
4. Run fast taking pictures
5. Maniacal laughter (step 5 can be out of order)
6. Enter contest
7. Blog about it here

OK that is the plan, now onto execution.
I found the "sweater" and a couple of cats, then went all fancy and actually wove in the ends of the "sweater."
Cat 1 and Cat 2 were easy to find and the first photo shoot was accomplished with a minimum of whining and more an attitude of inevitability and a hope that I would get it over with quickly and leave them alone to poop and sleep.
4 minutes elapsed time

Cat 3 is hiding, not because of his upcoming modeling career, but because he stunk up the front closet and I believe is ashamed of himself. I must remember to light a candle after the photo shoot is completed.
20 minutes elapsed-still can't find cat 3
25 minutes- found cat 3, he is 2 feet above my head on a shelf. I must now contemplate alternative extraction methods because my first idea is unworkable (tall husband at work for another hour).




Extraction:
First idea: shake food jug- nope
Second idea: move canned cat food around- nope
Third idea: open can of cat food- yup roasted salmon with wild rice worked like a charm

30 minutes
Now I must isolate Cat 3 and remove him from the food area
31 minutes
Fashion photography completed, with only mild clawing and major whining of the third model. There was also some running and chasing by both the photographer and the model.

Results:

Azriel is resigned yet ornery.




Lucretia is starting to make the unhappy noise.



Lucretia believes that the fit and colors do not flatter her, she request something pink or blue to go with her eyes.



Kelvin is running, yowling, tripping, falling and trying to get to the salmon all at the same time.


This was even more fun than I expected.

Why do I keep doing this?

Even with all this help,
I keep starting things.

Everlasting Bagstopper (1)
Something Red
Frost Flowers & Leaves
Sock Club Socks
Everlasting Bagstopper (2)




Pattern: Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty
Yarn: leftover cotton washrag yarn, lion brand, peaches & creme, sugar & creme
Needles: denise 6s 11s and 8s as well as double point 8s
I really like using one 11 and one 8 to make the openwork portion of the bag, it doesn't hurt the hands as much.

I braided 3 I-cords to make the handle, it is too short but a cool idea that I'm going to use on the second one. The handle doesn't stretch that much and is really sturdy as well as neat looking.






Pattern: Something Red by Wendy of knitandtonic
Yarn: Blue Sky Cotton
Needles: denise 7s
This is the softest cotton, but it is still cotton and gets to be hard on my hands after a while. I've made another pattern of Wendy's and loved the construction and total lack of seaming. The color is the exact one used in the original pattern.





Pattern: Frost Flowers and Leaves from A Gathering of Lace
Yarn: Jagger cone 2/8
Needles: Addi lace turbo 4s, Knitpicks 4s I had to get the knitpicks needles because I ran out of space on the addi's. This pattern is incredible. I'm on the second repeat of the second chart and each round is taking around an hour but I am still loving it. It is all consuming and the only thing I want to be knitting right now. This is going to be huge.






Pattern: Summer of Love Socks, August Sock Club pattern from Blue Moon
Yarn: Blue Moon lightweight in Flower Power
Needles: 1s
I've made one cuff, blocked it and then have done nothing at all with these. The yarn is awesome, the pattern is interesting and different, but I want to finish a pair of socks that I started in March before I get back to working on these.

Back from Brimley

We've been back for almost a month and I don't know what's in the air, if it is the heat and humidity or a long summer or if Mars in the cusp of Venus, but whatever it is everything and almost everyone is in an odd mood lately or had horrible tragedy or something and its driving me batty.

People are freaking out about weird things too. The whole muggles and ravelry, us vs them strikes me as absolutely ridiculous. The knitbloggers will know what this means, and funnily enough saying just that furthers the whole problem don't ya think?

I'm done with dwelling on it. Onto fun nice things that make me happy and don't make me want to sit on the bed and listen to The Cure and The Smiths and mope. (I'll just listen to them anyway and not mope, I've had enough of it)

First the knitting:
I finished the Central Park Hoodie and love it. I found buttons yesterday at surprisingly JoAnn Fabrics in Pontiac that look both the exact same purple color as well have a tint of brown and a little iridescent scroll image on them. I had thought that I would want either toggle or leather buttons and would have to go online to find ones I liked enough. Also if anyone has found any good online button retailers please share them with me and I'll post any suggestions.
I will post a modeled picture after the sun comes out which I believe will be in 2 or 3 days.


Calling all internets: should it take 5 minutes for blogger to upload a photo?

Back to knitting content.
Coachella was a bust, literally. I got to the part where you can try it on and see if its working and the cowl drooped all the way to my navel. So it is frogged and already rewound into yarn cakes and back in its plastic baggie waiting for me to come up with a better use for it.

Insert wonderful phone call from mom here. Which went:

Mom: Hey Nia I'm at the fabric and yarn store in Paradise and they have this yarn with fur for 75% off do you want any?
Me: What do you mean fur?
Mom: It says merino and possum.
Me: What is it called?
- 5 minutes in which I talk to mom and the store lady who tells me the brand name and fiber content and yardage and verifies that it is not fun fur and then a couple of minutes of searching on ravelry and google and now I'm the proud owner of at least a sweaters worth of Purple Possum Yarn and some others that she liked. Woo Hoo.
Also anyone who reads this and knows my mother also knows that she will call back at least once in less than 10 minutes with something else she found in the store.
First Call:
Mom: Do you know that they have knitting needles that light up?
Me: Yes mom, but I don't want any.

I'm still waiting here with all search windows open for the next phone call.

Second call:
Mom: Hey, Nia I'm in the woods.... dropped

Third call:
Mom: Hey, Nia I got the yarn and am heading home. I'll give it to you at Ava's birthday.
Me: Ok, don't let Jim see it.

Onto Vacation:
I had a really good time if I block out the unhappy return Bridge ride. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Back from Vacation

Well I've been back from vacation for over a week and managed to finish the lace for Lorrie's wedding in time for the Girl's Weekend Wine Tasting and have wonderful pictures of both in the camera. Unfortunately I have no clue how this cord attaches to the computer. I'm sitting here glaring at the pile of wires on the desk next to me, they are taunting me... "you can do it" "you won't break the computers" "no the cats have not been chewing on us" I'm pretty sure that last one is an outright lie. I shall give it a try and if it doesn't work that I'll nag Jim until he does it.

Waiting Impatiently

Jim should be home from work any minute now. As soon as he is here we are loading up and driving up north for a week at my parents. I've been packed for 3 hours and I believe I have enough knitting with me to survive for several months.

Here's what I've got:


1. Central Park Hoodie that is about 65% done. I've got the back and fronts done and the sleeves started. All that is left is the rest of the sleeves and the hood. I should be easily able to finish this, especially since I want to wear it up there where it is occasionally cold.

2. Yarn for Cochella.

3. Lots of sock yarn.

4. Lots of cotton to make up my own pattern for a shopping bag that will have no seaming. All of the online patterns I've seen have some kind of seaming and with an openwork cotton bag that is too much of a pain in my ass.

5. Yarn for Calorimetry. I want to do this in a Noro cotton that I can't remember the name of right now. I've seen one done in this and loved it. I read all the entries on Ravelry about it and am thinking I will definitely cast on fewer stitches.

I totally had to stop myself from taking the yarn for this and this. I know I won't find the time amidst all the relaxing to even likely finish my CPH.

I'm getting antsy so I think I'll go and wind yarn to occupy myself.

I spent less than I expected!

Yesterday I went to a knitters meet up at Threadbear in Lansing. I bought some Karabella Aurora 8 to make Cochella from Knitty as well as some lilac purple lace weight to make something lacy to be decided later. I still haven't decided what yarn to make the Mystery Stole 3 in. They had some Malabrigo lace weight but not in any colors that seemed appropriate based on the clue.Sarahlou and Kelli
Erin and Karen

I had a great time knitting and hanging out with Kelli, Saralou, Karen, Erin, Sarah and Renee. They are all making some very beautiful things. Later on, Kelli and I went to Old Town to join Erin to again knit, just this time with Annie her dog. (I so thought I took a picture of Annie.. darn.)


The picture of the waterfall is taken from atop a fish ladder. I don't think I'd been near a fish ladder in at least 20 years. I remember some trip to Grand Rapids with Grandpa to look at flooding and I think furniture or grandfather clocks. Anyway, there also was a nice river walk in Old Town Lansing, going under a bridge which we got to from a terrifying metal spiral staircase. I'm definitely dragging Jim back there. Not only is there a lot of cool shops in that area, but there is also a huge pet store which Jim will likely love. For Cochella based on Saralou's recommendation or it can be considered copying of a cool idea.


Next time: Progress shots of the Central Park Hoodie

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Pay No Attention

I actually have pictures of the sweater I'm making, its just that the pictures are in the camera and not uploaded to the hard drive or flickr yet. Its sad to say but I'm waiting for Jim to come home to supervise me. I've had bad luck with picture uploads, they go and hide in places that they are not wanted. So until the pictures are rescued from the camera I will show pictures I can get to without breaking anything.

I am getting frustrated with blogger and I don't think blogger is the problem. I think I'm the problem. Here is what I want to do:

1. Have more than one picture per post.
2. Have a picture show up after the paragraph and not at the top of the post.
   
3. Somehow label the picture.
4. Know how to add a button for the groups I'm currently in like Mystery Stole 3 or Ravelry
   
5. Figure out how to get my photo's from flickr to show up here. I thought I configured it correctly, but it looks like I would have to blog from there instead of here to get it to work.
6. Clean off my desk. (Which has nothing to do with this but is bothering me nonetheless.)
7. Figure out how to show a YouTube video.
8. I would like to have some of those cool progress bars to show how far along I am in my projects, but again I have no clue where to find those or how to add them if I ever do find them.
9. Have an RSS feed, I know what it does, but I don't know what it means or how to set it up to work, or if it automatically does it for me through blogger.
   
10. Track who or why people get here. I know it can be done, I just have no clue how.
11. Find an easy to understand tutorial or instructional website to help me with all of the above things
    

Here's what I know how to do:

1. Spellcheck- I figure make myself feel better by feeling more accomplished and trying to have more than 11 things on this list.
2. Link and excitingly I even know what it means, which is to go directly to whichever website you want by clicking the word that shows up underlined.
3. Upload photos to the blog and to flickr. I should count that as 2 things shouldn't I? I'm not going to though, because I don't think I'm doing it correctly.
   
4. Google Reader- if anyone (Shana) doesn't know about this and what it does let me know because I think its magic or at least powered by magic gnome
5. Post a blog entry- woo hoo this is the third one

Well that sucks that I could only come up with 5. I think I will post lots of memes and photos of cats until I get some of these things figured out.

Also I will soon start to read Eats, Shoots & Leaves so that I can start to use commas correctly and have slightly less horrible grammar.

Hungry like the Wolf

I got my sock club yarn today from Blue Moon and it is so cute. The colors are definitely me, but then all loud colors are me so I'm being redundant.

It is odd to me that every time I get the package and see the Rocking Sock Club label I never think "rocking/rock and roll/cool", I always get the line from Dazed and Confused instead: "if this trucks rockin' don't come knockin". I'm pretty sure that is not what they were going for when they named the club.

The title of todays post:Hungry like the Wolf is because the song is completely implanted in my head from a new Old Spice commercial with Bruce Campbell playing the piano and singing that song.

(Can you tell I learned how to link today? Now if only I could figure out how to have more than one picture, or have sidebar buttons, or have a clue what the hell I'm doing. Maybe tomorrow.)

Here Goes Nothing

Testing. Testing.

I've wanted a blog for a while now, but as with every journal I've ever had, I never knew what to write. So here goes...

Today's been cool. I got my invite to Ravelry and started a flickr as well, then spent an hour looking in our hard drive for a single photo of anything I've knitted. No luck so far. Christmas 2006 has completely vanished. I had made and gifted some felted clogs, hats and a mohawk cap all of which I cannot find a single picture of.

So instead I'll show my new haircut: see above (I'm a dumbass)