OMG It's been over a year!

Okay so it has been over a year since I have posted on this thing. I'm going to try to start keeping it up to date again. I spend enough time on the net - I might as well do something more useful than Twitter or Facebook. Oh and surfing youtube.

The project that I am currently working on is a stuffed animal for an ex-boyfriend's nephew. When I started the monkey the boyfriend wasn't an ex. This project should have been done a long time ago but between watching WAY too much Law & Order and messing with Facebook I have neglected my knitting. Hopefully, getting back into this blog will help me stick to my projects. I still have a TON of UFO's around my place and have to do a gift for a friend's baby that is already here (even though I knew I wanted to make something for it during the entire pregnancy.)

I am a knitting slacker.

And I need to start working out again too. :)

Blue Ribbons, Purple Ribbons, Green Socks and more

BLUE and PURPLE RIBBONS

Hello all. I finally went and picked up my stuff from the Florida State Fair. My Jewels Cardigan won Best in Show for knitting and First Place in the "sweaters with pattern by different colors" category. And my "Elton" purse took first place also - however I cannot remember what category that was in.
There's some other exciting things going on with my Jewels Cardigan but I'm not going to post about it until everything is all 100% settled.






GREEN SOCKS

The socks are done. Whew! I really did not like working on this pattern at all. Not that it was difficult or anything. I just did not enjoy them. Luckily she does :) The yarn was Reynolds Soft Sea Wool. Yay for another FO!

MIA, FO's, and CPaAGG

So I have been MIA on this thing for two months. I have tons of excuses but mostly it has been out of laziness. Do I really need this blog since I have Ravelry to keep up with everything? But, if you're not a member of Ravelry you cannot see my projects and such so I guess I'll keep this thing going for now.

Finished Objects!!

Yes I have actually finished a few things.

First off, Ber's Sidewinder socks are done! WOO HOO!!




These socks would not look so awesome if it wasn't for the beautiful Wollmeise yarn. It is my favorite yarn of all time.

I also completed some baby booties - one pair for a girl at work and another for Jen, the creator of CPaAGG on Ravelry.

The first ones were done in Regia sock yarn and the second were, of course, some more Wollmeise. Aren't they the cutest things ever?!?

So 2008 is off to a good start when it comes to finishing up projects.


CPaAGG

The Completely Pointless and Arbitrary Group Group is a group on Ravelry that has been the center of my online life lately. If you are a Ravelry member and have a wicked sense of humor, I suggest joining in the fun.

Recently we had a Secret GroundhogBunny Swap (to celebrate a bunch of holidays at once) which was, of course, completely pointless and arbitrary. Pictures of my haul are located here. I'm too lazy to post them all on here too.

I'd like to thanks DreadPirateKel for the wonderful goodies and scary horrors that were included in the package.

Update

Hello! I know it's been about a month since I've posted anything. Here's a quick update:

Vegas was amazing! Eddie Izzard was wonderful and everyone should go see Zumanity.

I am now the proud owner of a drum carder!! Woot!! A used one came up for sale for a price I could not pass up. I haven't carded much because I'm waiting for a scale to weigh out fiber so that I can try to get close to 50/50 blends of husky fur and wool.

Both cats are fine and happy. Later this week we are going to be the happy recipients of a LITTER ROBOT. I will let you know how that goes.

I'm still planning on putting a lot of yarn up for sale on eBay. It's yet another thing that I just have to get around to doing.

Will post more soon with pics!

DRUM CARDER UPDATE

I have found a Finest drum carder for HALF OFF!! *swoon* I am in talks with the owner and she will email me the shipping info tomorrow. OMG a Finest for only *gasp* $345 plus shipping. So, I'm going to take the "donate" button down. Thank you, dear sister, for your donation and I will eventually make you husky socks.

Also, I am leaving Thursday for a 5 day trip to Vegas where I will see Eddie Izzard live. This week is just getting better and better. And just to clear things up - NO, I'm not getting married by an Elvis impersonator (if one more person comes up with that smart ass comment.....)

See Ya'll when I get back

Christmas Drum Carder Fund

Hey Folks,
There's a new button over on the right for donations to the Christmas Drum Carder Fund. Originally my younger sis was going to orchestrate getting monies together from family members and friends to go towards a drum carder for me as a Christmas gift; however, she is extremely busy with her college courses and has asked me to place this button on my blog. Personally, I now feel like I'm begging and I'm a little uncomfortable with it BUT this probably is the easiest way. Sometimes technology weirds me out.

For those who do not know what a drum carder is here ya go: it's a device to prepare fiber for spinning. Exciting, eh?!?

I know that most people have no clue what to get me as gifts so I'm helping everyone out...online...in front of the world. Seriously, I feel so stupid doing this. I'm not expecting to pay for a whole drum carder this way and I'm totally prepared to pay for at least half of it myself. I'm planning on a major yarn stash sale on eBay to help fund it. If anyone out there is a yarny...I'll announce on this blog when I finally post items. Any extra $$ from the destash/christmas fund will go towards a Charkha spinning wheel.

Okay, so that's about it. I feel totally lame.

Fricken Awesome Fricke and a few FO's

I know I've been absent from blogging but I have been getting a lot of stuff done. AND....

My Fricken Awesome Fricke

I am now the proud owner of a Fricke Spinning Wheel. Woot!

When I first tried spinning at Yarn School I became very frustrated and almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't. Here is a pic of some yarn that I have spun with my new Fricke.

This picture does not do the colors justice at all. The wool I used was some of the "gift bag" stuff from Yarn School, handdyed by Sarah aka: Maisy Day Handspun

Besides spinning yarn I have also been busy finishing some of my knit projects.

Finished Objects

Woo hoo!! My sister's Malabrigo Clapotis is done (finally!) along with Perry's scarf and Farrell's hat. Below are pics of Farrell's hat. The pattern for it can be found here

Yarn School 2007 - Reader's Digest Version

Here is a list of why Yarn School is so supercool:


The Harveyville Project is an old school building



Our bedrooms are in old classrooms


There's a water tower which makes it easy to find


Everyone is awesome - especially Nikol (center) who IS the Harveyville Project and Yarn School


Kansas sunrises

Swing sets

Fiber dyeing

Spinning wheels

Fiber

Alpacas

Even more alpacas


Even more fiber


Drum carding

Kafka the wonder dog


Angora bunnies

Pygora goats


A gymnasium filled with spinning madness

Did I mention there was lots of pretty fiber?

More Yarn School 2007 photos can be found here on our Flickr group. You know you wanna look. And for more information on the Harveyville Project go here.

I'm Back

Hello all! I'm back from Yarn School!! It was amazing! I really want to sit here and write about it all but I'm still too damn drained to do so. This is just a quick post to let everyone know I have made it home...safe and sound.

More soon w/ pictures I promise.

See You When I Get Back

Okay, tons of stuff going on

I leave for YARN SCHOOL on Thursday morning. Eeeek! So much to do before then. I still cannot figure out which knitting project to take to work on during the flight and at the airport.

Last night I went to see the Henry Rollins "Provoked" spoken word show. He talked about not being in the experience but being beside it and observing what is going on so you can write about it later. I plan on totally being sucked in to Yarn School but I will try to remember enough to give a report when I get back.

And.... I'm going to see Eddie Izzard in Vegas in November!!! SQUEEEE!! This is turning out to be the the most amazing year ever!!

Shredded Tomatoes and LolPup

Shredded Tomato

The Tomato sweater I was working on has gone 100% tits up. It hurts too much to type out the whole fiasco. Maybe one day...after lots of counselling...I may be able to talk about it. The end result is that I'm frogging the project, donating the yarn to djMars, and going to redo the sweater in a solid colored yarn.


djMars Confusion

Apparently there has been some confusion as to which djMars I am talking about in my blog. She is the one and only Ms. M. that is my coworker/enabler and the person who taught me how to knit. Everyone clear now?! Good.

A Farrel/Farrell Wonderland

Long story short....my dad is friends with Perry Farrell's older bro, Farrel. Last night we went to the Satellite Party concert to celebrate Farrel's birthday.

This is the group of us. Note: me sitting at the end of the table with the "Yarrrrrn" t-shirt. This is the coolest shirt ever which was a gift from djMars.





Birthday boy Farrel and his bro Perry.



Farrel and his skully birthday cake. How cool is a skully cake??




And now the obligatory Perry pic:

Perry and my little sis, Ber


A great time was had by all. I want to thank Farrel for letting us tag along to the festivities and wish him a super special birthday! I highly suggest everyone go and see Satellite Party when they are in town. They play their own stuff, Porno for Pyros and Jane's Addiction tunes. Woot! Apparently they are supposed to do a make up date for the St. Pete show. Maybe I'll make Perry a scarf before then. I'm thinking something in Tilli Tomas "Rock Star" or "Disco Lights" in the Atmosphere colorway. Ooooh.

Also, if anyone is a biker or into super cool jewelry check out Custom Touch.

Action Photos

Here are action photos of djMars Calorimetry

.

It's a head cozy! :)

This is our interpretation of the pic from knitty. See here.

And here is the final project with the supercool matching button that djMars found at Joann's.

Warped Hookers....Secrets Revealed!

Okay, now that I have your attention. Hee hee. The title to this post is accurate - just not in the most obvious way.

WARPING BOARD

Construction of a warping board for me is now underway. It is being made so that I can wind up some skeins of yarn to dye in many colors. For more information on hand dyeing using this process click here . If you would like directions on how to make your own warping board click here. Pics will be posted of the uber awesome warping board when it is completed. Hopefully, this will *cough cough* be soon.

I'M A HOOKER

djMars has taught me how to do basic crochet - almost against my will. I want to learn it so that I can do a proper provisional cast-on and so that I can make hairpin lace. I might give up on my dream of hairpin lace but I have enough skill now to do the cast-on. I get a mean case of "crocheting tourette's" though. I don't think I will ever participate in this craft for fun but it is good to know.

SECRET PROJECTS REVEALED

The gifts have been given so now I can post.

I made some beer cozies. The pattern for which can be found here. Both of these were knit with yarn that I had previously hand dyed and couldn't figure out a project for. They were happily received and I should have taken some pics of them "in action." I have the feeling that I will be making many many more of these in the near future. They keep condensation away, the cables make nice "grips", and they really do keep the beer cold. Nifty.

While I was making these djMars was eyeing the "limeade" yarn so I knew I had to make her something out of it too. And since a beer cozy would not be her thing...I made her a Calorimetry head wrap. I don't have a picture of that "in action" either and I know the pic below isn't a great one. But if you click here you can see what one looks like while being worn AND get the handy dandy free pattern. Ooooh. Also, I know in this pic it is not "finished". I didn't weave in the stringy ends or put the button on. djMars has some extra buttons lying about from a sweater she made a I figured that she could use one of those on it. Okay, so it's a half-assed gift that she had to finish herself....I admit it. But she loved it anyway.

OPINIONS NEEDED

I recently added a music player to my blog. I need to know if I should leave it or not because I'm undecided. I have the same player on my myspace but I think it's normal to have that stuff there. I'm unsure as to whether or not it is annoying in this type of forum. Please leave comments on this matter and help me decide.

YARN SCHOOL

It's only a few weeks away!! SQUEEEE!!!!!

Outlaw Knitters and Secret Projects

OUTLAW KNITTERS
Oh yeah...anyone with the motto "If you don't knit...you ain't sh*t" is a group I have to be part of. Outlaw Knitters is a "gang" that has been started by the wonderful Mrs. H aka: Mrs. Aych, who also has a pretty nifty blog too. It is my understanding that there will be a t-shirt, patches, matching tattoos, and secret handshake to follow. (Okay, so I might be exaggerating a bit.) If you are a knitter that would like to join go here.

SECRET PROJECT
My secret project is complete. It has also been field tested my moi and I must say...supercool!! More info after the recipient has received it. I'm just happy that I have completed something since I'm a chronic project starter.

YOU SAY TOMATO...I SAY TOMATO WITHOUT ALL THAT FAIR ISLE CRAP
Like I said, I'm a chronic project started. I have just started the "Tomato" sweater. However, I am doing mine with just a nice variegated yarn so I'm not doing the fair isle pattern on the chest. Yay to making a pattern even easier!!

Secret Pal, Dirty White Boy and Rock of Ages

SUMMER CAMP SWAP 2007

Over on Ravelry a group of us decided to do a swap. The theme was sending packages to other knitters who are "away" at summer camp. We were supposed to send them yarn and goodies related to where the sender is from. My secret pal is BroadwayKnits from Memphis. Here is what she sent:

1) Cat treats for the cats

2) Reese's Elvis Peanut Butter and Banana Cups (get it...from Memphis)

3) BBQ Seasoning

4) Toys for the cats

5) Opal Rainforest II Sock Yarn in Hummel (Bumblebee)...awesome

6) A personalized LolDog from her dog, Tony, saying how he sent the treats and toys for the Quats

7) A skein of Socks That Rock Mediumweight Sock Yarn in the color Henpecked.

How freakin cool is all of this?? The cats have gone ballistic for the toys and treats. The yarn is awesome. My first skein of STR...woo hoo!! And in mediumweight so that the sock making will go quickly...super cool!

As you can see, Quirk wanted the picture taking to be finished with so she could play with the toys that were sent to her. She can be so demanding (um...I have no clue where she gets that from.)

I only hope that my Secret Pal that I'm sending to will be as happy with his/her gift.

ROCKING IN THE RAIN:

Last Friday my friend Tonia and I went to the Styx, Foreigner, and Def Leppard concert at the Tampa Bay Amphitheatre. It was pouring rain so the mile hike from the parking lot to the venue was quite interesting. I wish I was exaggerating but it is a well known fact that the parking for this venue is ridiculous. Parking at one end of the Florida State Fairgrounds...and the amphitheatre is at the other end. RIDICULOUS. At least our seats were out of the rain...but we were pretty soaked by the time we got there. We missed most of Styx...which is fine by me. Actually, we could hear "Sail Away" when we were standing in the merchandise line. Tonia got a Def Leppard t-shirt and I got a hoodie. Woot!! Def Leppard hoodie!! We did, however, make it to our seats in time for Foreigner. I admit it...I wasn't expecting too much. They were freakin AWESOME! All of the hits...one after another....except..... Dirty White Boy. Gah. I actually didn't miss it until later but it would have been cool. And then....DEF LEPPARD!! I used to have a huge thing for them "back in the day." As soon as they were on the stage...I remembered why. They were amazing! It was basically a 20,000 person sing along the whole night. Sweet.

Crocs and Super Secret Projects

WHO LET THE CROCS OUT???

I innocently visited the Crocs website yesterday and OMG...I have found my complete wishlist for Christmas. Yarn schmarn...I want SHOES! I will lovingly add links to all the ones I want onto "My Wishlist" and I'll delete them from the wishlist as I buy them for myself (which I know will happen to a few of them). Here's a sample:


Although those are not necessarily the colors I want. It's a good representation.

SUPER SECRET PROJECTS:
Last night I finally figured out something quick, small, easy, and nifty that I can make for a few different people in my life. I live in Florida so it's not like I can just make scarves for everyone. I have to get with djmars about the yarn requirements for it. I think I may be able to switch out one yarn for another. Squeeee....I'm so excited. Then again...if I start making 10 of these things - I might be less excited about it in the future.

YARN SCHOOL:
Woo hoo...it's only a few weeks away! Now I just have to figure out what all I'm taking and prepare the husky fiber. I'm not sure how much I have collected so far. Hopefully I'll get some more later this week. I know I have to wash it sometime soon and let it dry so that I can take it with me. The carding and the rest I'll leave for yarn school. (Damn you people who keep outbidding me on hand carders on eBay.)

Hey Battah Battah Battah

This past Saturday , Ms. M (djmars) and I attended the Tampa Bay Stitch N Pitch. A good time was had by all....except for maybe the true Rays fans because they lost big time. Not only was it the Stitch N Pitch night...but also their "disco" night and Barry Williams (Greg Brady) threw out the first pitch. Hello....how much cooler could it get??

Here is a pic of the tote bag and goodies that we received for attending:

There was also a Vogue Knit1 magazine that somehow did not make it into the picture. Although I'm not a big fan of the yarn...I'm sure it will end up in a good home. I'll probably make it to the Sunday knitting group at Barnes N Noble next week so it'll be up for grabs there.

There were also tables set up where people were selling some yarn and other goods. I came home with this:

Crayons Lite from Rainbow Mills...100% hand dyed cotton. A mere $20....retail is $60 something. I'm not sure what it will end up being. I'm thinking about the Tomato sweater but without the fair isle design? I have looked on Ravelry and no one really has any projects posted in this yarn. :( I was hoping to find some inspiration there. Still, it was a good deal that could not be passed up.

Speaking of Ravelry, we got free Ravelry pins at the Stitch N Pitch too. How cool is that?

The highlight of the event for me (besides making major progress on my Malabrigo clapotis) was the couple sitting behind us, Lynn (?) and Tim. Apparently they have only been dating for 2 weeks yet he's already learning how to knit. AND went to a yarn store of his own free will. WOW!! Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera with me to the Stitch N Pitch so I have no proof of this BUT Ms. M. (djmars) was there to witness the events as well.

STASH UPDATE:

I just realized that there is a TON of stuff that I have purchased and have not included on here....such as Reynolds Sea Sock, Tofutsies (the August special one and others), the new Kaffe Fassett sock yarn....etc etc. I will take a pic and post soon. This is mostly to help me keep track of everything. Yes, I also need to update my stash on Ravelry too. Geesh.

KITTEH UPDATE:

Both of the furballs have been sick recently with upper respiratory infections. Tons of sneezing and kitty boogers. I even tried to help Queue blow his nose once during a drunken game of Trivial Pursuit (after he sneezed kitty boogers all over the board). Oh, but just so it's clear....I wasn't playing against the cats in Trivial Pursuit...there was another human involved. I wasn't THAT drunk! :) Anyway, the kitties are both doing better and tomorrow morning I have to take them both to the vet for their check up. I'm not looking forward to the group trip. Chaos awaits!

Yarn and puppy pr0n

Wollmeise:
Okay, I have finally uploaded pics of my new Wollmeise:


Versuchskaninchen#1


Mitternacht


Versuchskaninchen #2

The pics do not even begin to do the colors justice.

Other yarn purchases:
I have also purchased 2 balls of Regia's new Kaffe Fassett line of sock yarn. I'm not too impressed with the Landscape colors but the Mirage patterns are supercool looking. Like I needed any more sock yarn!
I also am expecting my August ball of sock yarn from the Tofutsies sock club. I previewed the color way on the yahoo group and it looks like it is going to be very bright. I'm a little disappointed that I have not received it yet but I'm trying not to be all Cranky Ms. Twistypants about it.

WIP's:
I have not been knitting too much. Bad knitter....no cookie. Blame the unusual amount of social events, new boyfriend, the boyfriend's cable and dvr (omg...it's so addicting), OR a little bit of all of the above. However, I have managed to finish the Dream Swatch Headwrap for my sis. Currently I am working on the Malabrigo Clapotis and Wollmeise Sidewinder socks.

Stitch n Pitch
Just 2 more weeks until the Tampa Bay Stitch n Pitch!! Woot! I am looking forward to the goodie bags. I plan on taking the clapotis with me to work on.

Yarn School
Only a month & 1/2 until Yarn School! Squeeee! I must keep repeating to myself "I will not smuggle back a wheel...I will not smuggle back a wheel"

PUPPIES
The little ankle biting 5 week old huskies, Odin and Freya, are growing fast. And I do mean the whole ankle biting thing literally. Although it will be a while until their fur can be "harvested" for yarn purposes....I HAVE to include pics of them here.....because of their undeniable cuteness.