It's gone!

Waaaaaah! My sock is gone. The second one that I was working on. I can't find it or the size 5 dpns attached to it. I've looked at work, in my car, my house. I have no idea what happened to it.... And it was about 1/2 done. Luckily, I have another ball of the yarn, I'll just have to buy new dpns.

My Denise's came yesterday! WOOO HOOO! I'm going to transfer my clapotis to them tonight (it was getting WAY too heavy) and I'm going to cast on for the sheep bag. (thanks again Trish! )

And thanks to Alison and her wonderful Friday Book Reviews, I ended up getting Knit Socks (see her 2/25 post) and since I lost my other one and since I have some fabulous yarn from knitpicks, I may have to start a new sock.

I spent most of the day weed whacking and WHOA are my allergies letting me know it. It's supposed to start raining again tommorow... what happened to sunny California? Huh!?! Anyone? This one day off a week kind of bites. I hope the owner finds someone to cover next Saturday, because I'd like two days off this weekend. I can't get everything done around the house I need to. At least I can knit and xstitch at work.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

Jumpin' Jehosophat

I'm having a freaky allergy attack (tmi= I know it's allergies and not a cold because my snot is clear)

It started Wednesday morning at 4 a.m. with what I can only describe as a burning ember implanting itself in my nose. The left side was stuffed all day yesterday and around 10 p.m. last night it decided to switch sides. Now I can't breathe out of my right side. I'm just excited I can at least use one nostril.

I was contemplating causes at work yesterday. My favorite: a bug crawled up my nose while I was sleeping and implanted itself in my nasal cavity. Yuck, I know. But I've had that irrational fear since seeing Blue Lagoon and watching the crab crawl out of the guy's mouth in the beginning.

I really think I'm allergic to the rain.

If you've stuck around through all of that:
work =good
boredom = BAD
time for stitching and knitting = good
boredom = BAD

Did I mention it was boring? No customers, no calls (well except for the boss who FINALLY stopped calling every hour) I understand that the business is just starting - but let go a little - you have another job - you hired me to work - let me manage the leads and get the mailings and the phone calls done. You can't do everything - and paying me to sit and stitch is (while quite enjoyable to me) kind of silly.

I haven't gotten much knitting done at work because I've been on this kick with a cross stitch project I started almost a year ago. My second sock is languishing on the needles along with clapotis.

Have I mentioned that my mom loves me? In a few days I will have in my hands a set of Denise needles. She said she would get them for my birthday (which isn't until April) but she ordered them for me on Friday because I need them. No, really, I need them.

Oh, and I got 2 R.A.O.K.'s sent out on Tuesday. One is going to the south and one to the northeast. And one includes yarn. HA!! Oh and Beth- I promise I will get the book out this week.

Where I've Been

Yeah, so I did this meme too

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Under $5 

Orange you jealous

tba

I know the ole pda camera doesn't quite catch the color right, but this is a beautiful orange handknit sweater that (close your eyes) I'm going to rip apart. I got all three sweaters above for under $5 at the local thrift shop. They have 50% off on Sundays. WOO HOOO! Yes, I am joining the ranks of rippers. I can't wait to throw together something with all of this.

**added** I forgot... I also got the CUTEST r.a.o.k's to send out. While I'm at work tomorrow, I'm going to get them ready. I was going to do a contest, but NAH! I'll just pick random. First one went out by favorite scent, second was by a certain name and the third was by favorite color. How should I pick this one?

Yarn, yarn, yarn

yarn yarn yarn!!

I got my first batch of yarn from knitpicks! I'd link, but I'm being lazy today (my first official day of work!) The shimmer is fiberlicious. Baby alpaca and silk - YUMMY! I've completely molested it - several times. I can't wait to start a pair of socks with the sock garden but I have to finshish the ones I have going on (don't I?)

I'm off to get ready for work! Oh yeah... I love saying that!
The wool is for the sheep bag from fiber trends

Baaaaaaaa!!!

Sheep bag kit

Trish is awesome!! Not only did she find me the above pattern and felting kit, AND shipped it to me (talk about above and beyond!!) but she also sent me the most beautiful stitch markers (in my favorite color - yes I am an orange freak) a book mark and a great peace bracelet. Sorry the pictures are so darn blurry, but I'm using my palm until I get a new camera. Now for my yarn from knitpicks to come in. Oh I want to start it now! I got my shopping list in hand (I hope Hancock has size 11 dpns) and will have everything ready for when my yarn gets here.

Beautiful stitch markers and bookmark 

Here's the whole haul! 

blah blah blah

I finshed my second bag from Last Minute. Now to stuff them full with valentines goodies. First sock is still on the needles. I have an order coming in from knitpicks. I'm waiting for a pattern from Trish. Thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand times!!

Other than that, I haven't been knitting the past 2 days. I've been working on a cross stitch project. Megs and I bought projects the same day about 9 months ago and would have "Bad Girls Stitching Guild" get togethers regularly. I of course got start-itis and moved on to other projects, had Christmas stuff to make and learned knitting. Meagan is in the home stretch of finishing and I, well lets just say it's not a pretty sight.

It's tough.... I have these knitting projects calling me. Actually, they are screaming at me. But I also want to finish some cross stitch things. I have an x-stitch UFO that I started in 1997. I love it, it's huge, it has lots of colors that are really, really close to each other so I work on it a little and put it away for a couple of days. (ok, ok, months) Geeez, you people... don't let me get away with anything.

I sent out some holiday R.A.O.K's. Nothing special, just hoping it brightens someone's day.

Thank you for your kind comments... I was just feeling yucky for a few days. Back to a positive attitude.

two things

Thank you Alison (with one L) for the lovely card and recipes. It did brighten my day.

Lupus sucks.

ok, 3 things... more later :)

Stick a fork in me... I'm done

Ugh! All you can eat sushi is a BAD idea.

I never want to eat again.

Ever.

I think I have to take a nap.

Now.

going for a new look

I have finally figured out how to throw a picture up at the top. Yeah me! Now I just have to figure out how to make my own blog template. I was so darn tired of those dots! I even am working on a sheepy button for anyone to steal.

On the job front: I got a call today, they didn't have a chance to check all of my references yet. Although, they do want me. They said they would call on Thursday to give me a start date. URGH!! He asked if I'd be willing to use the forklift once in a while - heck, I'd drive an 18 wheeler if you taught me how! It's a great job opportunity. Thanks everyone for the congratulations.

On the knitting front: Still working on Clapotis. I've started another bag from Last Minute Knitted Gifts this will be the last one I have to make. I'm going to stuff them with candy and things for V-day and give them to friends. I haven't finished my first sock - it kind of got set aside for Clapotis.

Plus I'm dreaming of an order from knitpicks that I want to place. I was thinking of ordering white wool and dying it myself for the felted bag I want to make. I also want to order some shimmer to make another clapotis. Oh and I want a set of Denise Needles.

I'm also going to try my first sweater - but it's going to be a baby sweater for a friend. I figure a) it'll be faster than a full size and b) if I can make a tiny sweater, I can do a sweater for me. Kind of a confidence booster.

I'm off to knit and play with my blog a little more. Hope everyone had an easy Monday!

doing the happy dance

I believe I am now employed!! YEEEEEE HAW!!!! I had the interview today and all they want to do is check my references (which are fabulous) and they will call me Monday afternoon to set up a start date!

Of course I'm going to have to build up my savings again after having ravaged them for the past 6 months, but the first thing on my list ---- a trip down to L.A. to a LYS. Oh yeah, the first whole paycheck.... it's gone already. I have two more months of living expenses saved, so I can splurge with one paycheck... right? Besides, the sale of my camera is ending in 2 hours and it's going really well.

I've been stroking the D.B. Merino that Lori sent and fantasizing about seeing a whole store FULL of yarn. Since my mom moved out here, she hasn't really seen L.A. so it'll be a nice day for her also. I want to start early, hit the French Marketplace (7958 Santa Monica Blvd) in We.Ho. for breakfast (oh yeah, you have to go there if you haven't - the french toast stuffed with marmalade and creamcheese is to DIE for). The toss up will be dinner - Pinks or this wonderful Japanese place in the Bonaventure.

I'll probably be hitting stores in the Chatsworth and Silverlake areas - why such odd places you ask? Well, my first year out here I lived in Silverlake and my job was in Chatsworth. I'm most familiar with those areas.

OOOOOH alright... I'll stop boring you all and go back to knitting and planning. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Knitting and talking

Can't be done. At least by me. And I won't even attempt talking and frogging again. Clapotis is a pile of yarn again.

There I was, sitting in the sun, catching a tan, sipping some tea, chatting with Megs, on my 3rd repeat of the increases - I look down and see a partial row of garter where there should be stockingette. About 7 rows back. Fine. I can handle it. Frogging is my speciality. The bamboo yarn holds it's loops, I can count back how many rows I need to re-do to find my place.

HA!!

There I am frogging and talking when I realize I didn't count. I don't know where I am in the pattern. I wanted to cry. I wanted to curse the knitting gods. Instead I just ripped the whole damn thing.

My Adagio came today. So I will make a cup, put on some music and sit alone. I will catch back up to where I was - tonight. I will not sleep until I'm there. I will ignore the sock, I will ignore the shawl. I'm all about my girl Clapotis.

In other news... job interview tomorrow at 12. This is the 10-6, M-F job. The one with all of the knitting time.

Oh, and I fondle the Debbie Bliss every night. I'm a yarn perv.

Allison ROCKS!!!!!

WOOO HOOOO! Allison rocks!!

Allison was giving these away and they arrived today! YEAH!!! I tore into the envelope, but was waiting until I brew a cuppa Adagio (chamomile because I finished the peppermint already) and settle in with them. THANK YOU ALLISON!!!!!!!!

As you can see below, I finished the bag from LMNG this morning! Just ignore the crappy photos, I used my Palm Zire instead of my good camera and that thing just doesn't take good indoor pics. It took some awesome ones of the fires this past summer - (yes I was driving and taking pictures , hey at least I don't do my makeup at 65 mph) but get it indoors and under unnatural light and it is crap.

I hear my tea timer beeping... thanks again Allison!

Small bag from Last Minute Knitted Gifts 

Lori, YOU R.A.O.K!!!!!

R.A.O.K.'d!!!

Lori sent me my first R.A.O.K! Thank you thank you thank you!!!! She knitted up some beautiful pastor hats ( for a pastor in training and an extra to pass on) and sent some yummmmmy See's, assorted candy and 2, yes ladies and gentlemen - count them - 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Merino Yarn!

Some major fondling has occurred already and is showing no signs of stopping! (at least until I start to get wool burns) I even made my non-knitting friend carress it. It's beautiful! I've started the search for a pattern to use it with. It's made me long for a LYS even more. Of course, my first trip to a LYS may find me jailed for illicit behaviour with a skein of yarn, but hey.... it'll be worth it!

Thank you Lori!!

stitchmarkers

I made these out of my mother's childhood charm bracelet to use with clapotis. Below of course is my sock. It is quite a bit further along, but I'm cleaning off my camera to put on e-bay.

Great camera, a sony mavica CD400 - (just ignore that price tag I'm not listing it THAT high) It takes pictures AND mpeg movies on the same disk. Uses a mini CD to save the pictures (or you can use the usb to transfer). I still have the box, book and accesories, so I'm ahead of the game.

This was my sock yesterday morning 

Another Beautiful Day

I love So. Cal!! I spent most of the morning (10-2) sitting outside at Starbucks with my friend Meagan and have a red, sun kissed nose to prove it. I tried the new chocolate drink. WHOA! I needed to have a glass of water with it. Way too chocolaty. (did I just say that?)

I am about 1/2 way done with my first sock. Ok, so it is just an ankle sock, and has no heel, but it sure is giving me confidence to work with dpns. I felt like I had 10 thumbs for the first couple of hours, but now it's flying. My next pair will have a heel.

I cast on Clapotis, did 5 rows and ripped, then cast on again, and ripped. I even got on line to make sure I was doing the stitches rigt. For some reason I'm getting honking big loops on the pfb when I finish with the back side. I wonder if it's the yarn or if I'm not making it tight enough. I was thinking of using a smaller needle, but that would require getting another circ (I only have an 8 long enough) and I haven't seen anyone doing it on straight needles.

I spoke to the owner of the one company I've applied to and will meet with him the end of this week. I better get a job or find some way to make money soon. Any ideas?