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...