You know it's time to clean the house when...

...you can't find the nifty wire device that changes your iPod into a cool thing that play music in your car. As a matter of fact, you stomp around the house like a crazed woman who's lost all her marbles. If you hadn't guessed, that would be me. I hate, hate when I hide things from myself. I moved it from my car when I had the car fixed. I should have just left the damn thing in the car. Then I'd know where to find it.

And you know what even makes it better? The X calls to see what your message is about, right when you are in the middle of your focus. Why, oh why, did I end up making children with the one person on the planet that aggrivates me the most? I'm sure this is a question many ask themselves.

I've been having some thoughts rolling around in my head today.

First, I like the rain.

Second, contest.

Third, I'm a fairly intensely private person. This in itself is a contradiction. So, perhaps the better description is contradictive. Anyone can ask me anything and I'll give them an answer. Sometimes answers they don't want to hear. My thought process being is if they don't want the answer, then don't ask the question.


Lastly, looky what I made.

It's a spaghetti holder.

No, no, really it's a wine bottle cozy. My adventure in bags, felting of bags, and yarn that was on clearance that I just knew was going to look wicked cool when felted. I was right.

At least I like it and see? I do knit from my stash.

It's functional and fuzzy.

My relationship with the mail

Since I'm not so cool to pre-write blogs and remember to take all the pictures later...

This is my FO wine cozy. Cute. Can't wait to see what it looks like felted. It will be the first non clog I've felted. I like the green yarn with it's bits of color. I found it on clearance at the Recycled Lamb, years ago. It think the biggest trick will be to keep it from felting on itself.

This is the latest of the Noro scarves. I love the way the dark and the light are mixing together. There's another colorway of Kureyon that I think would look better, but I'm going to wait for an end of year sale. Besides, I have enough socks to keep me busy for years.

Yesterday in the mail I received stuff from Knit/Purl. They have Shibui AND they have new new colors of Shibui. I ordered, a lot. I think that Shibui will be my blog contest yarn, I just haven't figured out what color. I may wander up to Knit Knack and figure it out sometime in May or I may look on Simply Socks. I'm such a stash fiend.

I also received stuff from Damselfly Yarns. Apparently this was a dye and then a re-dye. It turned out lovely. I love the orangey/melon color, I think it goes so well with the pink and blue. I can't wait to see how this knits up.

I've realized something about myself recently. The more I seem to want stuff from the mail, the more distant I'm becoming socially. I'm not really sure what to make of it. I just happened to notice that I became very involved with swapping with penpals twice in my life and I've been feeling that desire to get back into that hobby again. However, I realize that the amount that I tend to get involved is very time consuming.

My ceiling is no longer dripping, now there is a gaping hole in the ceiling. We can please people some of the time but we can't please all the people all the time.

Ah..Monday

My apartment is leaking. This foul smelling drip from the fire extinguisher system. The bucket I placed under the slow drip is making the smell worse. Hopefully they will send the maintenance people soon.

My wine cozy is complete, and eagerly awaiting felting. I had enough yarn to make the handle. Now comes the test...how much will it shrink. Go me...patternless wonder.

I've been working on another Noro scarf out of Silk Garden. It's turning out well, soft and of course fun to watch the color changes. I'm pondering that I should finish up the other scarf and a pair of socks I started last year before diving head first into my sock yarn. If anyone who happens to read this and has any sock leftovers that you would like to get rid of...I'm willing to pay, at the very least postage, and depending on the size of the leftover, I'm willing to pay for the leftover. Send me your emails... taelixev AT gmail DOT com.

Speaking of sock yarn. Friday and Saturday left me with loot.


Woolgirl on Friday. I decided on Saturday to try and see how yarn photographs outside. Needless to say I did enjoy the results of the morning sun. I don't really have a good place to photograph though. I'll have to keep looking.

I think the pictures however do a better representation of the color of the skeins.

There was something wonderful with taking pictures in the warm sun with yarn in hand.

Purple, black and white. I wish there had been bigger skeins. I bought 3 just in case. I think they should make 1 pair of small socks.

Another black and purple skein. It didn't have white in it, but it's pretty. This is the picture that I over exposed. Ah yes, like everything in my life, I am in a hurry.

Lastly, blue and yellow. I think this will knit up interestingly.

One day I will update Ravelry. I'm not sure when. Perhaps one day during the summer. I might find a great place to photograph yarn near the pool or tennis court. I'll have to explore the area I live in more this summer.


Hazel Knits on Saturday. As always, quick delivery. I love how this yarn feels. I think the hardest thing for me sometimes is that I make a purchase of yarn and then I see a color that I didn't notice before and I want to acquire that too.

I've realized that I don't really have a plan for the sock yarn. My initial idea, that got me jumping into sock yarn, was a mitered blanket made out of sock yarn. I haven't been able to locate any really good deals in destashs (there was one, and it was sock yarn enough to make 10 adult sized socks for $30 including shipping, ever since I saw that I've sort of been very picky about what I think is a great deal on a destash) and there weren't any leftover sales, so I started buying new. Then I figured out how easy Etsy was to use...and well, it was all downhill from there. So, with new sock yarn, I feel as though they truly need to be socks (or something) before they are piece mealed into a blanket. I've only made really plain socks thus far in my knitting career. Stockinette stitch, 2x2 rib...you know, kind of plain, but I am excited to begin these projects. I suppose I'll see how long it takes for me to get utterly bored with the idea of socks.

Process

Knitting is such a process to me. I love watching how the piece grows and shapes itself. This is too why I love working with variegated yarns.

My mailperson is not done delivering yet. However, my last order was ordered today. The colors of Shibui that Nachaele showed me today was just too much to resist. Who needs food, I have yarn.

Speaking of awesome beyond words. Nachaele brought me a pattern for the Transition Gloves and the Central Park hoodie today. She also brought me Malabrigo...blue, purple, and red. Gorgeous! I love love love how this stuff felts. I'm sure it will knit something nicely as well. It feels soft and not nearly as itchy as Kureyon, a scarf may be in order. Thank you Nachaele!

This is how the wine cozy looks so far. I have the top part and the handle to puzzle out still, as well as the felting.

I've discovered a use for this bucket too. My X-MIL gave me a bucket bath stuff for Christmas because she liked this bucket. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but it seems just the perfect thing for a small project and my couch.

This is the scarf for my friend. It just seemed like a good idea...and well, I apparently am the scarf maker. I think I can knit anything, but I always seem to make scarves. This is a multidirectional scarf. It's turning out sort of neat but the color transitions are just slightly longer than I anticipated. So it doesn't quite fit the picture I had in my head. Also I was hoping to start with black and end with black, however it makes for a very short scarf. Therefore, for the very tall person it will need to start with black and most likely end with white.

I can't wait until June. I need more spinning fiber.

In the mail today...3 packages greeted me.

This one is from Crash Into Ewe. This is the Jewel colorway. Pictures do not do this stuff justice. I'm not sure how it will knit up, but looking at it made me want al of the colors I could possibly get my hands on.

The reds look great the orange and green looked great. I don't know if I noticed a black or not, but I sure do hope she keeps making these great yarns for a long time.

This came from Stash Up Yarns. I liked the name, Peace Rose, on the left and the color on the right. Peace roses are my very favorite roses. This yarn looks just like one.



This came from Loopy Ewe. Angela is the colorway on the left. I love black and a contrasting colorway. The color on the left is Cosmic Dawn, it is silk and sea cell, and it is amazing to touch. I have plans for Cosmic Dawn in the form of a Clapotis, although this yarn is not worsted weight. Either way I think it'll make a grand scarf.

Okay, so my blog doesn't make any sense and doesn't follow any sort of writing pattern. That's what happens when I write part of the blog during the day and the rest at night.

I found this at Michaels today. It just screams felted bag to me. I hate it when yarn talks to me. I don't have a pattern in mind really, although the felted recycled bag pattern that I saw over the weekend and Knit Knack spoke to me.

I thought while I was driving home today what is my favorite color. I'm not sure. I'm still partial to purples, blues and blacks, but really I just enjoy yarn. Does the color rainbow count? Although I do have to admit that I had one friend who tried to buy yarn for me for 2 Christmas holidays and I wasn't exceptionally crazy about what she picked.

Lastly, aren't presents great? This one is for a friend. Won't she be surprised. :)

Snow day

I don't have a picture of the cloudy cold today. It depresses me. I don't know why this year especially, I am so over the snow.

I have completed my redo of my daughter's scarf. Here's to kids not acting like puppies and pulling on it again. I wish it was just a little longer, but it works out okay.

I also love Knitty Cat. I picked up some Noro Silk Garden the other day. I was inspired by a light colored yarn vs a dark colored yarn scarf, so I thought I would make one. Knitty Cat is having a sale in June and I couldn't bring myself to buy yarns that will be on sale then, even though the light colored Kureyon better. Sock yarn too is going to be on sale. I hope they get more in before the sale.

Last night I started my wine bottle cozy. I don't think I have enough of this yarn to make it completely olive green, so I used some Lamb's Pride on the bottom and depending on how tall this turns out I may use it for the top cuff and maybe a handle. I think this green yarn is going to felt wonderfully. It is fun to watch how the colors mesh together as I knit.

Other than that, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm not sure by what. Relationship woes, car woes, tax woes, kid woes, work woes. Just a lot of woes.

My second yarn blogiversary is in May. I'm not sure what day, that's okay. As much as I think I can live online, I can't, although I do try. I think this year, since I didn't even acknowledge it last year I may have a contest...some just random number contest. I'll keep you posted.

I'm still into my sock yarn buying craze, although I think I'm starting to slow down as i run out of room to store it. I need to knit from my stash a bit before I start collecting more. However, I've said this before too. I would like to start a toe up sock with some Noro that I've stashed, although that has been kind of put on the back burner since I started another 1x1 rib Noro scarf. Someday I will update my Ravelry.

Today Starbug Knits delivered. Lovely orange and black, and pink and black sock yarn.

Almost ready...

So the bad news is, no one turned in the blankie. I'm more upset than my son, which is good news. Although he tells me he misses his yarn blankie.


Finished, clogs for EB. Kind of a fuzzy picture. Herm.


Anyway, felting in the new Woolite bag was delightful. No trying to keep the pillowcase shut. Fuzzballs contained inside. Super!

Rabbit done for AW. Now just to mail. Sadly not in time for Christmas, but pretty close. I hope to make more, they're awfully fun to make. I hope to make one for JB and a co-worker. Although I'm not sure if I'll have time to complete one for the co-worker.

Christmas present done for J. He even said I could actually embroider the face on it. I had to resew a leg on since he got excited and pulled it off a few weeks ago.


Christmas present done for C. Three of them. Have I ever mentioned how I'm not fond of sewing? I'd enjoy knitting a lot more if I enjoyed sewing more. But necessary evil. Turned out pretty cute. The pink, white, purple and gray yarn is all handspun. That was fun to spin and knit.

I wish I could think of more things to do with my handspun.

Happy Holidays!

Snow...is still the topic of the day

Ah...


Thursday was a snow day. I haven't had a snow day since I was in high school. Something about 2+ feet of snow and the city was shut down. I still could have made it into the office. The plus and minus of living about 2 minutes from work. However, I must admit I was happy to have a snow day, even though I didn't have anyone else in my home since the kids were visiting others. What other better thing to do when there is a ton of snow outside? Knitting of course!


I finally finished the set of slippers for my daughter...these shrunk up quick too...I'm glad I checked them after 5 minutes. I also worked on the black and orange scarf. I didn't actually finish that until 12/23. But the recipient greeted it with much enthusiam. And of course, in true fashion I forgot my camera and therefore I do not have a picture of the final product. He did say he'd stop by and I'll have to take pictures then.

The next day at work on 12/22, greeted us with open parking lots. There was so much snow off the top parking lot that you can't really tell that this picture to the left is a parking garage. You could just hop off the top and slide on down.


Lastly, I have made stich markers, 3 sets actually, this is only the blue set. I'm still organizing my mass chaos I call, beads, but it's working out. I received new organizing boxes for Christmas. Grand things I'm sure will occur.

Well, it started out as a good thought.

For those of you who read this blog...here's another picture of slippers. Same like the ones below, but a bigger size so hopefully this time I will not shrink them too much. I am curious as to who reads this blog. I know of perhaps 2 or 3.


Lately, I've been going through this lonely phase. Not sure what that is about...other than I feel sort of bored. I know I have tons of things to do...like the bottom sole of the slipper and the scarf to your right. I somehow keep finding new things to do though. I hate when I start to wander...things just end up piling up. And really, these two items need be done by the end of next week.


The scarf is for my friend. I think he'll like it. I've never knit anything for a man before...well my dad I did...but someone outside the family? I hope I get it done. I'm doing a lengthwise garter

stitch...it seemed like a good idea at first. I am finding that it is taking longer than I thought. Also I didn't plan out how I was going to sew in the ends very well because I wasn't going to put fringe on this. I will go on the theory no one will notice.




So, when I was in high school, I had a business making jewelry. When I moved out of my parent's house I boxed up all of my stuff which had been sitting for a long time gathering dust since my interest had waned due to college and thinking that drinking beer was more interesting. And as moving things...well...moves them, stuff got all jumbled up.

I spent last weekend sorting out seed beads...thousands of them...by color...it's a sickness I know :). It's good to know it'll be carried on by the next generation too...since my girl kept asking me, "Mama, can I sort some beads for you?"

So, then, as I nosed on the internet, I thought, "oh...stitch markers look nifty...I should make hundreds some."

Well, I learned a few things. 1) Just because a picture looks nifty does not make it easy. 2) Memory wire is evil. 3) Seed beeds are a pain in the ass. 4) I don't think my eyesight is what it used to be.

But in the end I created this...and it turned out okay. I don't know how many I will make one.

Mantra

knitting is relaxing...

knitting is relaxing...

So yesterday I got to catch up with some friends and we happily played cards until yawn 3 AM. Always seems like an awesome thing until I have to deal with that ball of fire in the sky the next day. Anywhoo...I then couldn't sleep after they left...so I watched some Star Trek: TNG and knitted. I finished my girl's first slipper. Hmm...my yarn senses are tingling...I think somethings missing...oh well...I'm sleepy.

Snore...Zzzz

The next morning came...I wander to go find out what time it is...pick up said slipper and stare at it and the pattern...something's wrong...keep in mind...I frogged it Thursday night because the toe was 2 stitches off...I was thinking about just keeping it that way and then my the need to frog overwhelmed me and I frogged off the toe and did it again...

I continue to stare and make the slipper nervous...I had finished the cuff and bound it off last night...

crap



The purls seem to have crawled *inside* the slipper. Rats. How'd that happen .

So...do I 1) frog, 2) felt it inside out, 3) felt it right side out and pick up on the side stitches when I combine the outer sole...

Did I say ?

Curse you perfectionism!

I've been busy

So, I've been pretty bad at updating my blog. There are reasons for this. They aren't great reasons, but they are "life" reasons.

1) I work a lot. My job seems to take up more of my precious knitting time.

2) I have these two smallish people who call me "mom" and follow me home...ALL the time! ;)

3) I've been dating a man on a regular basis. I guess you could say he's my boyfriend. Freaky huh? It amuses me to no end really. We dropped off my girl over at a birthday party in a part of town neither of us were familiar with. Would you believe he noticed the yarn store before I did and he pointed it out to me and encouraged me to go back and check it out. I like this guy.

So in the time I've been playing hooky. I've finished plying the wool I spun that I purchased in Estes Park. I can't wait until the fiber festival comes back next summer. I keep seeing all this lovely fluff online and I'm just trying to wait until summer. But I think it turned out pretty good.

So, there I was thinking that I was done for awhile spinning yarn because I needed to start on Christmas presents. Most importantly two pairs of slippers for my children and a scarf for my...ahem...boyfriend.

But then I was seduced by this gorgeous spindle Imbrium gave me. It spins amazingly smooth.

I've had to put it up on a shelf. Out of sight out of mind right?

But it spins so thinly...and fast...and and...

So then I started a slipper for my girl. It's with bulky Lamb's Pride and Malabrigo. I thought the kids needed matching slippers. My girl, "Is that for me?" Well, yes, do you like it? "Well you can give that to my brother because I want to have slippers made out of the yarn you're spinning for me." That's not going to be thick enough (see picture above). "Oh, well I guess that can be for me."

This coming from the girl who told me she likes green. Well, she is 7 and a girl...mind changes constantly. Santa is in for a big job.

This was the first project I ever felted. I prepared my washer, stuck the slippers in a pillowcase and started the machine. I checked it after about a minute and it seemed as though the process was starting. I was surprised at the amount of wool that had already come off in the pillowcase. I put them back in thinking to myself that if I watch it I'm going to go nuts. So, I went and sat down and watched TV for 5 minutes. I came back. And wah-la...slippers. The size...for my son. Rats. I tried fitting them on my sleeping girl to see if they would fit. Nope. Tried when she woke up this morning...nope. Rats. Back to the knitting needles to make a pair for my girl. At least I started with her in mind.

quick updates

Another finished pair of socks...smaller than the first pair...so now Grandma and granddaughter have matching pair.

Ready to be felted...it's a bag of some sort.

Well then

Busy weekend.

Friday I hung out with friends. They are starting a new game of Spelljammer. I spent the evening knitting...

...I'm hoping that it will be a felted purse for my daughter. So we'll see...my first venture into felting. I also spent the few hours trying to convince the GM that I should be allowed to play a mind flayer. I would open up the conversation, "So...what's your feeling on Illithids?" Followed by all of my dear friends in unison saying "No!" to which my reply was "Well what about an eye tyrant?" I still find some amusement in play a completely difficult character. I don't know how well I'd do it though. I've noticed that many gamers who play table top and LARPs to a certain degree tend to play similar characters. At least I do...in all 5 games I've played in over the last 10 years. I'm still not convinced that gaming is my thing. I like watching, I like to listen...I even was the mast in a 7th sea game...which was me coming over with my then...well...guy I was dating and watching him and the rest of our friends play this game. So one day I was there and they were playing...I was knitting, and someone said "Run up the pirate flag" to which I held up my knitting needle and the piece of scarf I was knitting, and thus became the mast. At least I am amused. I think I get to be the ship's nav computer next time...since they are going to start a space adventure next. That game was the first game I ever saw, in my 10 years, come to a close.

On Saturday...I went to lovely Estes Park with Imbrium and her boyfriend who was gracious enough to drive to the Fiber Festival.

What I learned from going there...

1) Llamas are cute but creepy. They stare. I like their fur.

2) I should never ever shop with Imbrium. We are such a bad influence on each other..."No, no...now really where are you going to find something like that except for here?" Yes...I'm sure we'll be shopping together again.

3) Always, always...it's a small world...since I ran into my co-worker up there. Which didn't surprise me since she does love knitting.

4) I am an impulse buyer. I found this beautiful spindle I held it for awhile and then I put it back worried that I would miss something else and wanted to check out everything first. And of course it was gone by the time I got back. SIGH I emailed the designer today...perhaps I will get one yet...lesson learned? Listen to Imbrium next time...see #2. :)

So...we then went to dinner with Bakerina and Snow who invited us to their cabins with many other knit bloggers (and if I missed anyone please forgive me). It was wonderful meeting all of you. I hope to read your blogs in the future. :) Bakerina made a wonderful shepherds pie and strawberry and peach pies for dessert. Yum!

Whilst I was there I worked on my heel flap and turning my heel on my sock project. I also learned how to knit socks on circular needles. I'll have to try that one of these days. I'm a visual learner. I can remember...usually what people show me...

I bought the following at the fiber festival...

Spindle and roving...oh and the best part of that was I learned how to draft out the roving in a new way. Much faster, much thinner...beautiful!

Cashmere for a lace scarf...

Lace weight yarn, for something lacy (also Imbrium's doing because of her fantastic work on her lace work)...

And something for my daughter...it'll be something lacy.

And a little something for the kids. I think I should have gotten two. Girl child calls it her "pet"...its been strategically in her bedroom...I think to make sure her little brother doesn't notice it...

And last but not least...an ornament for the Christmas tree. I need to glue a ribbon to it. Once I get my glue gun...out of the storage unit.