May 09, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

sometimes i'm a little bit embarrassed by the amount of fiber i've accumulated in the almost 2 years since i've learned how to spin.  just a little.  it certainly helps that i know i'm not alone.

but most of the time, it makes me really happy, especially when it comes in the mail.  i currently belong to three fiber  clubs (well 2, adrian is going on a bit of a hiatus) and this is what i received in the past couple of weeks.

1.  4oz of rambouillet in Hyacinth from Funky Carolina.  mmm buttery.

hyacinth

2.  4oz of wennsyldale in Perfect Storm from Amy of Spunky Eclectic.

perfect storm

and finally,

3.  4oz. of faulklands in Hive by Hello Yarn

hive

i love belonging to clubs because i get fun packages every month but i also get to try fibers that i wouldn't normally think of trying (well if i didn't hoard so much) and i get exposed to colors that i don't naturally gravitate towards, which is my favorite reason for being surprised every month.  i mean really, how pretty is this stuff?

**************************
day 23  -- don't even think of getting your hands on any of it. 

May 08, 2008

Mermaid

so for today's post i've got another FO.   

ta-daa!  another scarf!!! 

green scarf

i know, i'm getting kind of boring with the scarves and the socks.  yeah whatever. and this is my second gathered scarf.  this time around i used berroco ultra alpaca (2 skeins) in pea soup and instead of casting on 48, i cast on 40.   i raveled the details here.

fish tail

i also made the stockinette ends longer in this version, giving the scarf a bit of a mermaid tail look.  well it looks like a mermaid to me anyway.

that's it!

**************************
day 22  -- a girl can never have enough scarves

May 07, 2008

WTF Wednesday

so a couple of weeks ago, i started another pair of socks.  green ones, for project spectrum. 

sock cuff

the yarn is Opal Rainforest in Chameleon. so i knit one sock.  put it aside, and started the next one, confident that the second one would match if i started the cuff at the same color repeat.  because opal is a machine dyed yarn and  all that.   and sure enough.  see how the stripes match up?  i'm not normally OCD about striping, being ok with wearing fraternally twinned socks, but this matching made me happy.

flap heel

la la la.  i'm knitting along ... look how the heels match!  excellent.

and then something weird happened.

gusset wtf?

WTF!!!  see that aqua colored stripe?  (and yes, i counted and recounted stitches).

my matchy socks RUINED!

crazy toes!

DON'T GO THINKING THAT I'M NOT OUTRAGED!  see?  i'm even using double negatives!

FO WTF

but clearly not outraged enough to frog and reknit.  stupid aqua stripe.

want details?  i've raveled them

**************************
day 21  -- foiled by a ball of german sock yarn.

May 06, 2008

A Day in the Life

inspired by michelle and kim...

4:15 am: the alarm goes off.  and i push the snooze button.  this is not my normal waking time but i'm driving j to the airport this morning.  j's already up.  he has trouble sleeping when he's nervous. 
4:30 am: BBK (big black kitty) comes and sniff my face followed by j (well j doesn't sniff my face) who suggests i make the coffee this morning.  (usually j makes coffee on weekdays but we've run out of half 'n' half and he refused to drink coffee with anything but half'n'half.  therefore, if i want coffee, i need to make it.
4:45 am:  i make coffee and check my email/flickr/bloglines.
5:00 am: shower.  while washing my hair i feel a slight pinch in my neck.  it doesn't hurt yet, but it will later.  since when has washing my hair become such a physically demanding exercise?
5:15 am: j is getting twitchy and hasn't had coffee yet and is therefore turning into a monster.  i tell him to settle down, have some coffee without the freakin' half 'n' half.  he doesn't need that crap anyway and that i'll be ready to go in 2 minutes.
5:20 am: i'm ready and out the door.
5:22 am: i forget my glasses, go back inside.
5:26 am:  we pull out of the driveway
5:30 am:  we get coffee at dunkin donuts.  all is well.
6:08 am:  we get to the airport.  the airport is over 40 miles away but at this hour the drive is magical in it's swiftness.  and complain all you want about the big dig, but the mass pike all the way to logan is the best thing ever.  seriously. 
6:15 am: j unloads his bags (he's going to Ohio for 2 weeks for work), we kiss good-bye.  he walks through the departure terminal doors and i get a little verklempt.  proof that i am not dead inside.
6:30 am: after getting back on the pike, i get to work.  it's weird being at work at this hour.  and for a few minutes i consider leaving the house every morning at 5:30 to beat the traffic.
7:30 am: i get a bagel at *$.  i order a multigrain, i get a cinnamon raisin.  i eat it anyway because i don't want to go back to *$.

8:00 am - 12:00: i do some busy work, read bloglines, check email, check flickr, do busy work, read blogines, check email, check flickr, do busy work, etc.  i also think a lot about lunch.

12:00:  it's cinco de mayo today so we're having a little morale boosting shinding in the lunch room that only holds a fraction of all of the people who work here.  so that means that the rest of us poor schmucks end up eating by ourselves in our offices.  but hey, the corn jicama salad is good.  and we get flan!

12:30:  i have a 1 o'clock meeting with my boss halfway across town.  i walk to his office.  i wish i had a camera with me.  i see a turkey in brookline. 

1:00 - 2:30 pm:  i meet with the boss.  my eyes glaze over. 

2:30 - 3:00 pm:  i chat with his assistant, and other coworkers.

3:00pm: i'm done for the day (see the 6:30am start time) and go to wait for the T shuttle.  i get accosted by a cute boy with an australian accent trying to get me to stop so i can listen to him talk about saving whales or children or the environment.   i try to bargain with him.  "cross the street with me, where i have to wait for the shuttle and i'll listen to what you have to say, but over there."  he refuses.  i guess he doesn't care about the whales, children or environment as much as he says he does. 

3:15pm:  waiting for the T

3:30 pm:  get to the hospital where my 12 year old niece K is.  she was born with hydrocephaly (i think) and has a shunt that sometimes acts up.  it acted up earlier in the week so she's had to have surgery to remove it.  she's currently attached to an external shunt and she's being watched.   (she's scheduled to have an internal shunt put back in on wednesday).

3:40-5:20 pm:  sit with her while she watches TV.  we barely talk but that's ok.  she loves her TV.  and i'm proud of her for being such a trooper under these circumstances. 

5:20 pm:  another aunt shows up so i head back to work for my car.

6:00 pm:  i'm in my car, heading home.  it's after 6 so the traffic won't be totally heinous, if i'm lucky.

7:00pm: traffic not heinous so i'm  home by 7.  feed the cats.  make dinner.   just pasta leftovers with carrots.  and leftover strawberry shortcake (yeah i'm not really on the plan these days.  although the cool whip is sugar free.  yes, i like cool whip better than whipped cream. ).  i watch the "young and the restless" on the soap network.

8:00-9:00pm: i check email, bloglines, flickr while half watching that show before "how i met your mother" that is sometimes kind of funny but who's title i can never remember.   i also half watch "how i met your mother" while winding some freshly plied yarn onto a niddy noddy. 

9:00pm: get ready for bed, planning on watching "two and a half men" and "terms of engagement"  in bed, knowing though that i will fall asleep within minutes.

Sometimes after 9:05pm: i fall asleep.

i hate sucking at this

**************************
day 20 -- when stuck for something to blog about, steal from others.


 

May 05, 2008

Rosie O’Donnell’s Crafty U: 100 Easy Projects the Whole Family Can Enjoy All Year Long

51br3xmlbyl_ss500__2

So when I was asked to do this review, I was very nervous and I almost said no, concerned that I wouldn’t do a good job or I wouldn’t even like the book. 

Well I can’t be sure that this review isn't horrible, but I’m happy to say that any anxiety I had about not liking the book was unnecessary,  because I really liked it.

I have to be honest though.  When I saw Rosie’s mug on the cover, I was concerned.  I used to be a fan, but over the past few years, she’s kind of made me a little twitchy with her  feuds with various ridiculous celebrities   And well I was afraid that her face would be all over this book.  But it’s not.  Do not worry.

What is in this book are tons (well 100 it says so on the cover) of really great projects for kids of all ages. 

The book is divided into six project sections:  One devoted entirely to decoupage projects; another with rainy day playdate projects, and four seasonal.  In the Spring are cupcake flowers and a bunny piñata, presents for mom and dad.  Summer projects include sand art  and a royal icing sand castle.  In the Fall we have Halloween costumes and paper bag turkeys for Thanksgiving.  And in the Winter  are Holiday decorations and Valentines.   The last section, the rainy playdate section, also includes recipes for “silliest putty ever” and something called “kitchen clay” and invisible ink and fake blood.   A lot of these projects are variations on old classics that many adults will remember from their childhood.  But that’s the best part of this book.  They’re all here in one book.

2463438784_4a0dac5a12_m_2 2462600603_c52de18d67_m_2 2463437796_64a39b3416_m

Yes, I do have some favorites.  I like the section on tie-dye t-shirts and painted sneakers.  And deep down I’m a girlie girl so I like the decoupage bangles and the friendship bracelets.  And the cute Oink! Meow!  Glove Puppets.    I love the string bowl and all of the projects made with paper maché.  (See?  I told you there were some old classics.) 

2462607263_4891b91a7f_m 2462605411_e16bced213_m 2462596137_a44d4d442f_m

And there’s a recipe for bubble stuff.  But my most favorite?  The one project that made me seriously consider keeping a copy of this book for myself?  The crystal garden called the Mad Scientist Experiment.  Heh heh.   How great is that thing!?

2463427828_f586f08c07_m  2462595305_becd6a685a_m

The instructions appear clear and concise and don't overwhelm with dozens of unnecessary steps.   I do recommend that an adult be present for most of these projects though.  A lot of them require mixing and measuring, a glue gun, cutting tool, etc.  If you and your kids are even the tiny bit crafty, you’ll have no trouble with any of these projects.  Some of these projects I admit are less for the kids than for the grown-ups.   For example, only older kids or adults would probably want to make the Miss Lazy Daisy costume by themselves.  But there are plenty for the younger set too.

2463436604_509e3093df_m 2462599673_9130e7fc13_m_2

Now I'll admit that I didn't try any of these projects so I can't vouch for how accurate the recipes are or how relevant the instructions are once you're in the thick of things.  But having read the book, cover to cover, I'm impressed.  I plan on trying many of these projects with my 12 year old nieces, even if they don't want to. (So sad, I'm the only crafty one in the family.)

I've got four copies to give away.  One copy is being donated as a prize for Claudia's MS ride fund raiser.  But if  you want to increase your odds of winning a copy, just leave me a comment and I'll select three winners using a random number generator.

What are you waiting for?  Leave a comment, will you?

**************************
day 19 -- begging for comments

May 04, 2008

Rainy Sunday

this daily blogging thing is hard work.  can i just tell you?  you've got the pictures to take then you have to download them and then you've got to come up with something to say.  funny thing is that i don't have trouble talking.  but  this writing thing.  ugh.  and i can't keep posting pictures of my cats.

anyway, i do have a couple of posts planned for the next few days.  tomorrow i've got a book review.  an OFFICIAL book review.  complete with books to give away.  so come back tomorrow and leave a comment (you know, if you want to win a book). 

i've also got a couple of FOs to show you.   details later.

Earth FOs

good thing i've got to go to work tomorrow and actually get out of the house because i need new material.

**************************
day 18 --  staying in my pjs all weekend does not make for interesting posts.  even i'm boring myself.

May 03, 2008

No Saturday Sky

the skies today were gray and not very springlike.  it was a perfect day for hanging around the house in my pjs until 3pm, which is when my sister-in-law called and asked if we wanted to go to Friendly's.  Duh.

other than that i didn't do much.  but i did manage to take pictures of eggs.

local eggs

eggs

egg macro

these aren't any eggs though.  these were laid by carole's friend, blogless sharon's chickens.

**************************
day 17 -- i might have knitting or fiber content tomorrow, but i can't promise anything.

May 02, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

look what came in the mail yesterday.

for the book stash

my kind of candy.

**************************
day 16 -- it's quite possible that i love books more than yarn.  maybe.

May 01, 2008

Stupid Questions

while at work, prefacing a question with "this may sound like a stupid question" doesn't distract anyone from the fact that the question is stupid.

**************************
day 15 -- today is may 1 and the first day of maritza's Macro May where for each day of may we're taking macro shots.  if you want to play along, come and join us. (by the way maritza is an incredibly talented toymaker)

DSC_0105.JPG

April 30, 2008

WIP Wednesday

i've been having internet problems all evening so i'm getting this in before my connection disappears again.  just a couple of things that i've been working on.

one sock and one to come

more spinning

**************************
day 14 -- almost didn't happen.

My Photo

abc 2008

  • 2174629028_97c7e55fec_t
  • www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called abc2008. Make your own badge here.

project spectrum 2008

  • 2183717361_7abe87c28c_m

  • www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called earth. Make your own badge here.
  • www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called fire. Make your own badge here.

i finished this in 2008!

  • www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called i finished this is 2008!. Make your own badge here.

my patterns

  • my gathered scarf

    gathered scarf

  • my fun-fur kitschmas tree

    2053365751_21b5bd0d9c_t

my etsy shop

i finished this in 2007!

  • www.flickr.com
    This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called i finished this in 2007!. Make your own badge here.

knitting for a cure

  • Gs_logo_3

  • Bone2

general clutter

  • Get your own free Blogoversary button!
  • Yarnival
  • Eyecandyfriday_1

  • Saturday_sky

May 2008

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
        1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Subscribe in
Bloglines

my favorite links

  • Wdaheader_1
    spinning supplies, instruction, gorgeous hand dyed yarns and fibers
  • crochetme
    is that a hook in your pocket?
  • knittywordmark
    where it all began

bloggers i stalk

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner