Swallowtail

Friday, December 28, 2007

I am so pissed right now. My stupid camera, which has hardly been working anyway, broke. Yep, won't work at all. I am pissed. I've only had the thing like a year. I'm gonna find out how much of a discount I can get on one. I will DIE without a camera. Before it decided to crap out I got pictures of my swallowtail blocking. That's right, I finally finished it.That last pic is without flash to show off the beads.

I have other things to show off, but I'm not in the mood and I have to get up for work at 6 so I need to run off to bed. Night.

Thank god...

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

...that the xmas season is going to be over! I'm so not a fan. Ok ok stop protesting, I'll tell you why. People are ruder than ever, the stores are packed, and I hate listening to non-stop xmas songs on the radio and in stores. Also it seems like thanksgiving and xmas are the only times that people think of giving and helping others (like the homeless or needy). It doesn't make sense why it's the only time some think to give. Aren't those people hungry and in need the rest of the year? I know there are groups and such that do that all year, but still...

So I've been pretty busy lately with work and all. When I am not working I try to catch up on sleep. Speaking of I should be in bed because I have to get up at 3am again...so I'm going to try and make this fast.

This is a shot of the gloves I made for my MIL. Chad couldn't think of what to get her so I offered last minute to knit these. They turned out GREAT and now I want a pair of my own.
This is my Electric Sheep fiber club shipment I got a few days ago. It's merino in hot pink and green and black. SO COOL.
The Jaywalker scarf I have started and am not sure about yet. I like the colors but I keep changing the pattern and I can't decide how to do it.
And here are a few pics of the kids I thought were funny. Nick giving a thumbs up:
Alexis with fingers up BOTH nostrils. There is a reason for this... and I'll admit it's my fault. I was showing them how to be "piggys" by pushing up the tip of their noses and oinking...and yea this is how they both interpreted that lol.
Nick having a blast in chads rubber boots for work...I think he was dancing...
I've been very addicted to my Wii now that I've had some time to try it out and get the hang of it. Even Chad likes it. I need to find a good two player game besides the sports ones. I'm thinking maybe Mario and Sonic Olympic Games...we'll see.

Ok now it's time for me to run to bed like a good girl. ;)

A glove!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

With all the knitting I do, or usually do, as lately it's been so limited, I never did get around to finishing up gloves for me. I actually have a pair but they are MIA...nevermind I just remembered where they were...so yay! I have mitts to wear in the morning. My hands have been so freezing and all I've had are those silk ones I did, and some cheapo store bought stretchy ones. Anywho, I've been knitting several pairs and just can't seem to finish any. I had half of these done and finished the second half today. They fit great too. They are a pattern I got from the Loopy Ewe by Monica and I love them. I had to modify them to be smaller, I took out two repeats of 8 stitches, 16 total. And they are just right.
So one is mostly done. I have ends to weave in and I have to sew down the edges on the top and bottom to show off the picot edging. I will probably start the second tomorrow and hopefully finish these soon! They are knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Georgetown I believe it is. I am not so happy with the pooling on the bottom, but whatever, I gave up worrying about it and I like how they look overall. I also might rip back the top to make them a bit longer, they are just right as is with the edge not sewn, so I may add one more repeat...I'm not sure if I feel like doing that though lol.I was doing some cleaning today and finally gathered all of my roving into one place, one of those big rubbermaid tote things...yeah I filled it...and that's not counting some that I have up in the etsy shop, or the few I have to send off to someone. So yeah...think I have enough?
Nahhhh you can never have enough...it's like sock yarn! I also starting spinning the rest of the seaweed merino tencel. Remember I did the half of it in a thick/thin with the beads? I sent that off to my secret pal and I think she liked it. They were perfect colors for her and I knew she'd appreciate it. This half is going to be lace. The tencel makes it feel so much stronger and I can get it really thin. It's so nice and shiny and I am enjoying spinning it a little bit at a time. Ok well off to bed now for me, that is as soon as the munchkins are all settled in. I have work at 7 am, which is much better than 5 am I must say!

Ohhhh yeah I forgot, I got a new toy today! We've been crazy at work the past month whenever we get shipments containing the infamous Wii. Well we got one on this past Sunday and weren't supposed to get more. And then today rolls around and midweek truck comes, and there are Wii's! I couldn't believe it. The only reason I haven't got one yet is I'm not about to sit all night in the cold to maybe get one. Plus I've been working those days. Sooo I was really excited and I was also just about to leave, so I got one while they were still there! I can't wait to use it, and now it will have to wait until tomorrow since it's late, but I am so thrilled to death lol. (I'm the biggest video game dork ever...) We got the Wii console itself, which comes with Wii Sports (bowling, tennis, baseball, golf, and boxing). Then we got an extra set of controllers, one of which comes with more games, and lastly we got Super Mario Galaxy which I have heard from everyone who has played it, is the best game EVER. So I can't wait to try it out! I will take pics next time, it's too late now.

Ok well that's all the news, and I'm really gonna go this time. Night!

Sleepy!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I am SO tired. I have been up since 3:30 am and it sucks. I have butter fingers today and have been dropping everything. Lack of sleep has also made my mind fuzzy and I can't think straight.

I did remember though that I forgot to mention that my secret sock pattern for the Keegan Lane Yarns Spring Fling sock club is done! I kept it simple and it came out much better than I expected. I have four people testing it for me and I'm working on writing up the pattern and making it pretty. Please please please join up! It's going to be awesome!

In other news, the weather here, yea it sucks. It snowed all morning (as in 2-5 am or something) and I know because I was up so damned early. Then it decided to rain all day and turn the snow into treacherous slush. Ick.

The kids are down for their naps and I'm gonna go lay on the couch and maybe sleep for an hour or two. Then veg the rest of the night. Tomorrow I don't have work so I get to sleep in a bit. The kids have their dr appt though, but not until 2. I feel bad after the flu shot they just had that they are going to get more shots...poor things.

Another year...

Monday, December 17, 2007

Time seems to pass by me so fast these days. The kids are growing like weeds, and it doesn't seem fair! I love the new things they do every day but at the same time I miss the little helpless babies they were when I brought them home. Today I turned 23 and thought of my own mother, and how we haven't talked in months... so long I can't even remember. I feel much older than I am and wish that my life was more settled. All the same, things considered, I'm happy for the most part with the big picture and I think that's what matters. The other things, well they will work out eventually.

It helps that today was a good mail day. I got both yarn and roving, and a pattern for some gorgeous socks! First off this is the pattern, my apologies that it's a Ravelry link, since the pic is no longer available on the site it was originally from. I got it from another Raveler who finished knitting the socks and gave it to me! I'm thrilled because I love it and I can't wait to knit them!

I also got the order from the Loopy Ewe today, of some skeins of Cherry Tree Hill that were dyed in custom colorways just for them. Two of them are going to be for the Charlotte's Web shawl that Melissa and I are going to knit together. She has two skeins she is sending half of to me, and I will send her half of these two. The first one is Tide Pool:And the second one is Enchanted:
Don't they match well? The other three colorways I got just because...yeah bad me.
Snapdragon:
Blueberry Buckle (better in real life I swear!)
Lake Michigan (very similar to another colorway I have...)
Next up is some yarn I got from a raveler destashing, and for a decent price and I'm glad because they are GORGEOUS. Zen Yarn Garden in the color Banana Raspberry, it's merino, bamboo, and nylon.And Mama Llama merino tencel in Plumeria. I think I might use this to knit that sock pattern I mentioned.

On to the roving...

The Funky Carolina I bought awhile ago. I think that miss Carrie is a busy girl so she doesn't always ship right away, but honestly it's worth the wait, and it's not like I'm gonna spin it right this second...oh and I got some Soak from her in Celebration as well.

Merino silk in Funky Peach...SOO pretty...And more bfl in Warned:
To make this quick and finish up this post already...two more from Spunky Eclectic. More bfl in Thunderstorm:
And more merino silk in Tahiti. I have been eyeing this one for months...I just love the colors!
Well I'm sure there is more but for now I have to get the kids, and myself to bed. Since I have to get up at 3:30 for work...sigh...

A quick peek...

Thursday, December 13, 2007

at my swallowtail! I found my hook to do beads with and did a few rows tonight. The beads are a bit fussy because the yarn is thicker than I would usually be using. Here are a few shots:

Without flash for detail:With flash to show off the real color and sparkle!
I think it's looking awesome, the beads match perfect and are adding a lot of sparkle to it! Can't wait to finish this one. :)

Flu Shots...ick

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Today the kids had their appt for getting flu shots. They should have gotten them earlier this season, but they finally have them, so I'm relieved. Especially after how sick I got a few weeks ago. No one else in my house got it, it was really weird. Anyway, that's a good thing, but makes me wonder...

Afterwards we stopped at a store and I ran in while they stayed in the car with my MIL, who came along to help, because it's hard to wrangle two kids at the dr you know. So apparently while I ran in, Nick told her he wanted french fries to fix his owie. Lol. Kids...

So we got them french fries. I don't think it helped with the owies, poor thing has been complaining about it all day. Alexis on the other hand seems fine.

Anyways, I had another sale at the shop this morning, so I went to the post office to mail it, and had a few things there waiting. Here is some roving I was bad and ordered last week when the Yarn Wench updated.

Some falkland in the color Fruit Cocktail 2.And more bfl, I just can't get enough! This one is called Cherrybomb 1. I could not get a true color pic for this one, it's way less bright in person, lots of orange and deep cherry red, with a little pink and peach. They are both gorgeous and I think I might spin the Fruit Cocktail next after I finish what's on the wheel.

I also got the last box from my secret pal. She has been super busy with a brand new baby in the house. I miss having a little baby around... Anywho, I forgot to take a picture, but she sent some Toffee Crunch Hershey's Kisses and some Stephen's gourmet hot chocolate in chocolate mint truffle flavor. I can't wait to make some and try it out. Doesn't that sound like the best flavor for hot chocolate? There were a few postcards and a note on pink paper that Nicholas took off with because he thought they were "soooo beauuuutiful!!!". Haha, goofy kid.

I was hoping to have more progress to show you on the swallowtail with the beads, but for the last day or two my bead crochet hook that's super tiny, well it's missing. I'm sure the mess on my desk isn't helping things...

Instead I've been working on my sock I'm designing and am onto the foot and it's gorgeous! I'm so happy with it, and I can't wait to finish. I've also been working on the shawl for the knitters project. So I'm covered until I find the hook, but I'm annoyed that it just disappeared.

Ok well that's about it I think. I have a few other things on the way...as always. I seriously have like no self control, and this roving collection is getting tough to hide...so now I must go clean up in hopes of finding the hook, and hiding the roving lol.

Hand dyed yarn swap!

Saturday, December 08, 2007

So I did the second round of the hand dyed yarn swap. My package is still on the way to my partner, but I received mine yesterday. Here it is! Pretty and realllllly soft yarn, maple sugar candy, olive and vanilla soap (from Italy!) and cute little koalas (from Australia!).
I am very excited for her to get mine, and hope that she likes it!

I also got a bundle of roving from Pigeonroof on etsy. It's really pretty colors of black and green. I can't wait to see how this bfl spins up.
I also got my tags for the knitters project I volunteered to do. Pretty much I knit something, anything I want, and attach little tags as I knit, like a journal. Of whatever I'm thinking, doing that day, feeling...etc. I think I'll do a shawl, I think that would be the easiest thing especially since I've got so many I want to do. I have 3 or 4 months to do it, so it will be totally doable.

Here's a little progress shot for you. I only got one row beaded so far on the swallowtail but it looks good! My gretel is still drying, and sadly is going to be huge. My MIL said that she'd wear it though, and will seam it to make it smaller. Guess I'll have to make another...

Beads!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

I don't have much new worth posting about. I did get some beads today. Pretty ones too. I finally decided to do beads on the swallowtail (after first deciding on the nupps) after I saw the harlot's post where she used beads on hers. I won't do that many, but I do like how it looks. I actually got two different colors of the beads the other day, but neither of them looked right. I had picked them out without my shawl to compare it, as I forgot it at home...so I exchanged them (they don't do returns, and besides I already lost the receipt!). I got the perfect color for my shawl, as well as for Melissa's Swallowtail shawl that she is also knitting. We are doing it together. Anyway since I dyed the yarn she's knitting it with, I had a good idea of what would match. At least I hope it will. Here are our beads:

Mine, which are a champagne color, in a pink tone though. My shawl has a good bit more pink in it than I realized! These are also not round, they are hex beads. Like they have facets and it makes them sparkle nicely. And Melissa's, which are a lavender color with a bluish sort of tint when they move. Really really cool. I am way excited about these lol, and they aren't even for me.Yeah...so that's mostly it. Still no pics of Gretel. I keep forgetting to block it. I'm test knitting a hat right now, working on my brother's hat again, the shawl now that I have the beads, and I'm also knitting my secret project that I cannot show you. I can say that it's for Melissa's sock club, so that's a dead give away. Yep, I'm designing a sock, and I must say that I'm MORE than pleased with the way it's knitting up. The pattern will be exclusive to the club until the end, and then I will release it for sale, probably in my etsy shop. Anyway I'll post about it when I can show it to you, which won't be until next year since the club runs March through May.

I will say though, that I will need pattern testers. You won't have to knit it until January, after the holiday season. I have one potential person in mind (Mizz Opal, if you decide to). I'd need at least two more. You would not be able to post about it, upload pictures of it ANYWHERE, even your private flickr, etc. It's completely and utterly top secret. The only compensation I can offer is a free copy of the revised and complete pattern, as well as a mention in the pattern as a test knitter, and the joy of knitting it. I will need one person to do it in a solid colored yarn also, just as an example. Lastly, it needs to be knit within the month of January. Preferably as soon as possible after I give you the pattern. At least one sock. If you're interested, let me know, it won't be long now before January will be here!

Have you seen the new Knitty yet? I must knit Ice Queen. I am disturbed that it is in mohair because of my allergy...and the only other sorta fuzzy yarn is either synthetic or angora....I know I could do it in a non fuzzy yarn, but I love that halo it gets. Anyway, I'd love to do it in Artyarns Cashmere 1. It's a 1 ply (single) of pure cashmere and GORGEOUS. I've touched the cashmere 5 (difference in it, is there are five plys I think) and it's the softest thing I've ever touched. SERIOUSLY. I could get two out of one skein probably. But that one skein is 44 bucks!!! I'm still thinking about it...in baby pink. Ooooooh boy...anyone want to go halvsies???

Ok well, hopefully next post I can show off my hat, I will probably block it tomorrow. I'd like to be able to wear it! As well as beaded progress on the shawl, and a bit about spinning that I'm doing and am too lazy to take pics of right now....

Shop Update

Monday, December 03, 2007

So today I got all my dyed rovings photographed and updated in the etsy shop. I'm excited. It feels good to update finally. Here are pictures of the five new ones, so if you want something, go get it!

Tigerlily bfl:Keylimeaid bfl:
Blue Lagoon bfl:
Kitten Kisses bfl:
Aphrodite merino:
I finished the Gretel hat. It looks terrible on me though. I think it's just because it needs a good wash and block. We'll see. I haven't gotten around to getting a pic yet either, so it will have to wait until I do (wash and block that is).

Other than that, things are pretty boring. I'll have more to talk about later.

Pics as promised!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

I was FINALLY able to do some dyeing today. I'm excited with the colors I got, I pretty much flew by the seat of my pants with this. I had no rhyme or reason, just mixed what I thought would go well together. Here are two pics of what I did. The first with flash, and the second without. The second is a bit closer to the true colors. This is in my bathtub, so it's hard to get it to be accurate...Most of those are bfl, there is one merino...I think it's the red one. And some sock yarn for a swap pal, who I hope doesn't read my blog lol...I love how the sock yarn came out though...

Here are updated progress pics of Gretel. I am about to start the crown decreases. I thought I could finish it today, and could have, but only if I didn't dye. I had to choose, and I can't have a nearly empty shop now can I?
This second pic is closer to the real color, but it's really in between the two pics...
And here is my shawl. I'm done with the first lace pattern. I decided to stick with the written size because it's pretty big. If it was in lace on 3 or 4's, then maybe, but this is being knit with 6's. I think it will probably come out just the right size. I'm so excited with this I can't stand it.
Ok so other than that, not much is going on. I'm feeling tons better, although I didn't take my antibiotic today. I can't deal with the pain it gives me. I'm taking Claritin D though for my sinus and stuff and it's making a world of difference. I can't believe it's taken over a week to get better, I never get sick like this. I can't even remember the last time I had to go to the doctor to get medicine to feel better. I don't ever run fevers either. I think once when I was a little kid. I just don't get sick. So it's been sucky, but I appreciate all the well wishes I've gotten from everyone.

Also, being sick has had one tiny upside to it. When I went to the doctor the other day they weighed me. I lost TEN pounds. Insane right? Goes to show you how sick I really was. I have never lost weight when I've gotten sick. Especially that much. Now if I can find a way to keep it off...

Not much progress.

Friday, November 30, 2007

I hate being sick. It really sucks. I haven't much been in the mood for anything. I have been knitting a little, but really not a whole lot. I mean out of the whole last week, I've done barely anything. And no spinning. I don't even have a bobbin on the wheel. That's more due to the fact I can't decide what I want to spin.

Anywho, Melissa urged me to go to the doctor when I started having some serious sinus pressure (HEADSPLITTING pain) and chest pains where I felt like I couldn't breathe. I thought I was getting better, but no. So I went and they gave me a prescription antibiotic. Great, so I can get better, except when I take the antibiotic I get some severe stomach pains (yes even with food). Sigh...

But I AM feeling better other than the few hours after taking the meds. Today I woke up and felt pretty good compared to the last week. Thank god. I have so much to do.

I am hoping to dye tomorrow, it's the weekend, so hubby can help watch the kids (I'm sure he'll be thrilled lol) so I can dye some stuff for the shop. Hopefully it won't take all day.

I have to pack up my last secret pals box. It's all here, just not in the box...and then I can mail it and wait to see how she likes it!

I also have to send out quite a few other things...I usually don't procrastinate with these things but life has been in such an upheaval.

I have almost gotten past the main patterning on the shawl, and will be doing the lily of the valley border. I am just thinking I might want the shawl bigger, it's going to be a pretty small shawl at this point. Then again, at this size there would be leftover yarn for me to knit something else...like mitts! Lol, so I'm torn. It's not like the shawl will be tiny...anyhow to increase it evenly to make the border work would mean adding five whole repeats on the budding lace pattern (main pattern). Any thoughts? Should I make it bigger???

As far as the Gretel hat, I'm almost to the part where I get to decrease!!! I'm so excited and can't wait to wear it! Oh yea and Chad told me his Koolhaas hat is too big (as in long in the back, which it *is*...) and he wants me to fix it. At least he's been wearing it anyway. SO that means undoing the crown and frogging maybe half a repeat or something...not too hard, but then I have to reknit the crown lol. Oh boy...but I'd rather him wear it ya know?

Well that's all for now, but if I dye tomorrow I'll take pics.

Night!

Mail day!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

So today was a decent mail day. That last order I've been waiting for came and a little skein of yarn I got from someone on Ravelry. The skein is Claudia Handpainted and it's in the color John B. which I've never seen anywhere. I had to have it. I plan to use it for mitts of course. A pair I started in other yarn and need to size down...I was also surprised to see two cute little markers tied to the end of the skein. How adorable are they?Then I got the Funky Carolina order from not this past weekend, but the weekend before that. Two more merino and one bfl. I now have enough of her merino in semi-coordinating colors to spin for a feather and fan shawl. Miss FC herself inspired me. Check out hers here. It's GORGEOUS. I want one of my own. I think also that with the amount of roving I own of hers, and the fact that I lurk on her blog and flickr may have bumped me up to being a full fledged Funky Carolina stalker...

Here's what I got, they are all 4 ounces each.

Inquire Redux bfl...
Flasker merino...And Surprise merino.
I have one more thing coming that I bought when I was sick, yeah, really sick, so sick I didn't realize I clicked the add to cart button. And the buy button, and then the paypal. Nope I don't remember any of that. It's one 4 ounce roving of bfl and it should be here soon...but now I really need to stop buying stuff. It's getting to be a bad habit. Especially with working now and having less time to spin.

Here are pics of the hats in progress, my gretel, and my brother's hat which is slow going...Other than that stuff, I'm not working again until Sunday so I have a few days to myself. Hopefully to clean and knit, and most of all, DYE. I hate that there's nothing in the shop. So that's next up. Ok, well, bye for now!

First Snow

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Last night it started to snow, and this morning when I got up (at FOUR) to go to work, there was a beautiful white blanket covering everything. It's a good thing that we got the snow tires on yesterday!

Needless to say the kids were beyond thrilled, and after lunch when I got home, we took them out. Here is nick trying to pull alexis in the sled. "Mom, knock it off ok?"
He was squirming in this one.
Oh and here's a pic from dinner last night. There was cake...key word WAS. With orange frosting. Yep.
So not much else going on. Just working, trying to get over being sick, and knitting a little bit. I am thinking that the second half of my Seaweed roving wants to be lace yarn. So I'll either start spinning that, or something else. I just don't know if I want to spin lace right now. So we'll see. I'm knitting my Gretel hat, it's going well so far. I've also done quite a bit on the Swallowtail shawl as well.

Oh yea and I'm sure you may have noticed that I changed my blog up a bit. I'll be slowly adding clicky stuff back as time goes on. I was getting pretty bored with the basic template, so I found this one and I really like it.

Ok well that's it for now, I'm sure there was something I'm forgetting, but I'll just talk about it next time if I remember.

 
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