Stacey's Corner Cafe

If you're still here

2007-03-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

Go to my new blog : http://www.purlingdervishes.com/blog/

I'm having a mini-stash sale... so bookmark the new site

I'm Moving

2006-12-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

I'm giving up on Blogger and have set up shop here.

Please change your bookmarks, subs...what ever.

Walk With Me Wednesday

2006-12-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

My surgeon only has office hours on Wed and Fri, so this was perfect for WWMW. It's a long day since it is about 2.5 hours each way. Add waiting, doc time and food and there's the whole day! La, I took some pictures for you :)

Chicken place info for all of you living out here or just visiting sunny L.A.

Zankou Chicken

It is the best chicken ever. I got one of the plates - the hummus is wonderful, the pita is fresh and warm, and the garlic spread - OMG!!!!! The garlic spread alone is worth the trip.

p.s. You know when you sleep the wrong way and you wake up with your arm all tingley? That's what my bad arm feels like most of the time. You want to know what really sucks? When I sleep wrong and my good arm wakes up all tingley too. :)

***ETA*** Sorry, no pictures of the chicken. It was toooooo yummy and I was so busy eating I forgot. The pictures on the website are pretty accurate. It's so good, I wish I still lived in L.A.

Sleepy Sunday

2006-12-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the final day for
So without further ado, here are my four loom knitted hats.

Which, by the way, are not winging to Canada as I had hoped. Apparently you need to present mail going to another country in person. Now to scour the internets for a home.

Here are my first attempts at stockings on the mini loom:

The heel worked quite well with the sport weight, but not so well with the worsted. Also, reaching down to make a cuff made it too bulky. I will try ribbing on the next one.

My current sleepy Sunday couch knitting progress:

The black yarn on the green loom is a dog sweater. The reddish yarn on the wooden loom is a cowl for a super secret present.

Of course, the scarf also needed to make an appearance. The scarf is most definately about the process since regular knitting is very limited. I can only get two to five rows done in a sitting.

I see even my can 'o ~~torture~~ soup made it in the picture. Looming is perfect because I can do it completely one handed - and get some progress in.

Yarn Plans

2006-12-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

It needed it's own post so I could find it again

purple yarn from Jean: Arwen Winter 06 IK

Schaefer Anne: Swallowtail Shawl Fall 06 IK

Knitpicks Shadow: Mim's Mountain Peaks

Baby Silk: Icarus Summer 06 IK

Malabrigo: Clapotis II

3000 lbs of red and black mohair: Kiri

Dave's Banana: Ene from Scarf Style

Kid Silk Haze: still don't remember - could be Susan's Mountain Stream which only uses one ball or Euny Jang's Print 'o the wave

Damn! All that lace! It's all Susan's fault. If she hadn't designed that Forest Canopy Shawl, I never would have thought lace was possible.

Stash Enhancement

2006-11-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Dave's Banana Lace Cake.

Go buy now! I told you to do it the other day and his stock is getting low! His yarn is great, delivery is quick and he included a little bit of lavender.

Berroco Foliage in Walnut...oh this is soft. I was thinking of a hat, but now I'm thinking maybe an arm cozy. Yeah, I need one...kind of like a legwarmer for my floppy paw.

Mega Boots Stretch. I got this because I was this close to the larger discount from WEBS. I can't wait to give this a try.

Gee...guess what this is for...Lamb's Pride Worsted

Kidssilk Haze in Jacob. OMG! This stuff is so soft! I couldn't decide between the varigated and the solid stuff. I'd love to see what the color repeat looks like in this. I had a project in mind when I ordered and now I can't remember. ACK! Was it Susan's Mountain Stream? But why did I order 3?

Malabrigo. I really wanted the stonechat colorway, but they were sold out. I was thinking a clapotis redux - unless I can come up with a simple, non boring shawl that uses about 700 yds.

Note to self:
purple yarn from Jean: Arwen Winter 06 IK
Schaefer Anne: Swallowtail Shawl Fall 06 IK
Knitpicks Shadow: Mim's Mountain Peaks
Baby Silk: Icarus Summer 06 IK
Malabrigo: Clapotis II
Kid Silk Haze: don't remember

1000 yds of red and black Mohair: HELP ME OUT PEOPLE!!! :) Give me some pattern ideas!

Lame Title, Lame Post

2006-11-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

Today was the surgeon's appointment. 6 hours in the car makes for a long day. I took my KUO hat with and got a little work done on it. I was distracted taking pictures for Walk With Me Wednesday.

I ate the best chicken ever (info tomorrow) Isela, when you come to L.A. you have to eat there!!! I think you're going to be in the Burbank area and there is one there.

Good news from the doc, so I forgot to take his picture. My bone is grown! It appears the bone has healed/ fused/ what ever it is they do. He actually said I'm making good progress with my physical therapy. His nurse even commented on it and checked to make sure that my surgery was 6 weeks ago. HAHAHAHA! YEAH!!!

And to think after my last visit I was so discouraged that I wasn't getting anywhere. He did warn me that now I had to get aggressive with physical therapy. Urg. I thought we were being aggressive. I feel like pulled pork after a session.

No work until 10 Jan 07. Boss isn't happy, but it's because all the junk is backing up and the Engineers are running rampant. She now has to deal with a lot of the bickering that never made it to her ears. All of my processes and rules are being ignored and it's causing problems. At least I know my job is secure!

Swelling is finally going down and I have knuckles forming again. Also, I can see and feel a lump where the metal and screws are. Apparently, it's o.k. Icky, but o.k.

If you've stayed this long, stash enhancement from WEBS will be posted tomorrow after PT. Yes, 4 appointments in 4 days...But I leave you with 3 words, Crack Silk Haze. YUMMY!

WIP Wednesday...when I wanna do it

2006-11-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

On the needles (and pegs?):

The little loom I spoke of yesterday. A dime is used for size reference on the finished sock. Love it, love it, love it! Faster than I hand knitted last year's. This is just the test color until I get the proper stocking look.

Another hat for Knit Unto Others:

My submission for

Oooh... is that another package in the background? Umm yeah, I don't know how that happened, but here is some fiber from FaerieLady Fibers

Stash Enhancement

2006-11-27T17:06:00.000-08:00

As promised, my stash enhancement - sorry for the blurry pics...it's dark and stormy today.

From The Loopy Ewe, Schaefer Anne and the goodies that were sent with it - a cute set of needle inventory cards and samples of Regia Bamboo and Regia Silk. This picture does not show the great colors! Imagine different caramel and chocolate colors. Looks good enough to eat!
First, I want to say that I am completely satisfied with the service. It was shipped quickly and email updates were sent often. Second, she sent samples...I don't have a LYS, so this was great. I considered both yarns, but I always double and triple think all purchases because I can't touch them. I will definitely purchase the bamboo and possibly the silk (if I can find a pattern that goes with such a great yarn). Please support this great online shop**!

Next up, some great looms and yarn. The looms are from Isela's (and her hubby's) loom company. ** They are wonderful! I can use worsted weight yarn with them! No more knifty knitter! I thought wood looms would be really heavy, but these are just perfect.
Do you see the tiny one in the middle? It makes tiny sweaters and stockings. I had planned to make all of my co-workers sweaters from LMKG as part of their presents. I also wanted to make a few for my tree. With the whole arm thing, that wasn't going to happen. Now it can! Thanks Isela and Sam for making that loom and helping me with my Christmas plans.

Also in the picture is two more pounds of wool from Jean. (she has more and in different colors!) It's the same that I ordered before, but I found this pattern in the latest IK :
I needed to get enough to make the sweater. (STOP SNICKERING!!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it)

** I am in no way affiliated with either shop or shop owner. I am just a very satisfied customer and a big fan of Isela!

Updated Measurements:
Extension - 22 degrees (old 24)
Hand - 45 degrees (old 37)
Bending - 106 degrees

Public Service

2006-11-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

Go now...Dave has some new yarn. I got mine! This is my first purchase from him, but I've been lusting for a while now and I've heard nothing but good things about it.

Picture post tomorrow hopefully. I got my order from Loopy Ewe. Also a first order (Schaefer Anne - yummy) but I am definitely shopping there again. It was sent quickly, she wrote a lovely little note and just wait til you see the goodies she sent with.

I'm trying to hold out until more of the stash enhancement arrives. I need a button - vicodin and shopping don't mix? - friends don't let friends shop doped up?

BAD!!!!

2006-11-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

Bad stash enhancing blogger! I haven't been sharing. So here it is!

From elann: Finally, a ball winder. No more hand winding. Yeah! A project for me to do while I'm bored out of my mind.** Baby silk for Icarus and Socks, Socks, Socks.

Sock Candy! Oh WOW!!! Must buy more!

Some Noro I got off of the destash blog.

**ETA** Bored out of my mind because I've been given a new exercise. Hold a can in my hand. That's it. Extend my arm as far as I can, turn my hand as far as I can and hold a can. I'm starting with a 10 oz "soup at hand" and will move up from there. It's supposed to passively stretch my hand and arm.

New measurements today: Arm extension is at 24 degrees (number should be getting lower - last measurement 30 degrees). Hand flexion (?) is at 37 degrees (number should be getting higher - last measurement forgotten) Official measurements for Dr to be done on Monday.

Lazy day

2006-11-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

I promised a floppy paw post and it appears the day after physical therapy may be the best time. I yoinked this idea from someone else - I don't remember who...sorry.

Check out these blogs. They are awesome reads and have far too few subscribers (in bloglines anyway)

Have you any wool?

brooklyntweed - worth it just for the pics - can I learn to take pictures of my knitting like that?

Dave Daniel's Cabin Cove What? You haven't heard of him and Miss Lulu? Bonus, he sells yarn and the greatest needle holders.

Etherknitter

Marina

Stoneview Great knitting and wonderful recipes.

Whimsical Knitting
Destash

I don't have enough in me yet to write description for all...just go look!

F.O.'s and First Steps

2006-11-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

F.O.'s

Another hat done for Knit Unto Others. I think these three are going to sent off to Rabbitch and her hat challenge. I'll start the next batch later today.

First Steps

I can turn a door knob! With my right hand! It's just my bedroom and the hall bath, but it's more than I could do. I can now carry a glass and open my door. Hopefully my bathroom and the front door will follow soon.

Also, guess what I did this morning. Yep, I cast on and knit 5 rows!

I have no idea what the style of knitting was, but I held the right side stationary and the left was doing all of the work. It took a bit longer, but it is fabric out of fiber!

Size 9 needles are being used but I think I may have to set this aside for a project with bigger needles. The 9's are hard to hold onto and the pinching motion has caused some numbness and stiffness.

IT'S STARTING!!!!

2006-11-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

Knit Unto Others starts tomorrow! All it takes is a comment on the KUO blog to sign up. Take the time out of this crazy season to do something for others.

How long would it take to do the following?:

Knit some washcloths for a local woman's shelter
Knit some baby socks
Premie Hats
Heck even adult hats in bulky yarn
Scarves, scarves, scarves

According to my calculations, two to four hours. That's it. Half a Saturday. A week's worth of lunches. One road trip to grandmother's house (as long as someone else is driving). You can even pick your own charity. Just go there and sign up.

Margene explains my challenge better than I can. But if I can do it, so can you! Check out the prizes while you're there. Oh, did I forget that part. Yep, prizes will be handed out too!

I had a "I'm having a bad 'floppy paw' day so you're getting a crappy post" brewing...I'll save it for tomorrow...there will be links to some great blogs you have to read.

Random and F.O.A.D. Thursday

2006-11-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

What does one do when they finish a hat for Knit Unto Others? Make another! I forgot about all that yarn I bought when I started knitting. I dug out the acrylic stuff and got rid of at lest one skein. I'm awaiting a special package and until then I'll knit hats on the knifty knitter. As for where they are going? Any takers? If you want adult hats, drop me a comment.

F.O.A.D. - What's up with the O.J. Simpson thing? It makes me sick. The only way I would buy the book (and then promptly throw it away) would be if the families got all of the proceeds instead of the 3 mil going to him.

I just might end up being a great spinner after all of this. While I'm heating up my arm (eleventeen hundred times a day) I'm reading Spin-Off (and other books). I'm actually reading tips and understanding the process instead of just doing it. Maybe I will be able to spin lace weight yet.

Off to PT - blech.

Simple Brilliance

2006-11-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's the little things. Those little "why didn't I think of that" moments. Sometimes the brilliance of others comes and smacks you when you least expect it.

Margene had a post the other day showing her spinning in progress. About half way through the post, there it is! She predrafts her fiber, makes little bumps and puts them in a container! I've been struggling because I used to wrap a chunk'o fiber around my wrist and draft from there. So I've been pre-drafting and wrapping the fiber around a stick. I can't tell you how many times that stick hit the floor. Rolling the fiber into manageable bumps. Simple! Brilliant!

Rabbitch had another one. Towards the end of this post, she shows an orifice hook that she made. In case you haven't noticed, I'm having a little problem with my right hand. I can pick up my tiny hook, but when I go to move my hand, I lose my ability to grip it. How about a hook with a bigger handle that I can grab and hold. Simple! Brilliant!

A little known fact about me is that I used to paint needlepoint canvases. I hit a wall. I had no more. The well was dry. I also used to bead and make things with fimo. This time off from "doing" has allowed me to think, refresh and renew. The ideas have started to flow. I've started a journal of ideas and rough, (very rough) left handed sketches. Let's see where this all goes.

Wonderful Insanity

2006-11-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

For all of you regular folks going to work this morning, please ignore the crazy lady in her yard; camera in hand, wearing a big comfy robe, the best hat ever (liz claiborne - about 6 years old) and an oven mitt;

it was worth it!

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

Progressions

2006-11-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Canada, keep your cold front! It's cold again...brrrrrr.

Progression 1: My Knit Unto Others hat. I started out with k1p1 ribbing and switched to the loom stitch (easier on the hand).
Remember, if I can use my surgically enhanced arm to make something, you can too. Just one item, just a few hours.

Progression 2: The aforementioned arm. I have gone from a -40 degree angle to a -30 degree with it since Thursday. Zero degrees is straight. Now, at first I thought "Pffft...what's 10 degrees?" Apparently, it is no small thing. My PT also told me that I need to not be so hard on myself. Surprise! Ummm...can you say Type A?

Last post...meant to be comedic...hence the title. Of course I did not reveal some of the more embarrassing things that may or may not have happened. Did I mention that the hypothetical person that might have to help you in the rest room might be a co-worker...more specifically someone that might be in a supervisory role? :) You could be lucky and said hypothetical boss-like person could be r-e-a-l-l-y laid back.

Comedy Relief

2006-11-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have made the "Essential things you need the moment you break your arm" list. I may add more items as situations arise.

1. If it’s cold outside – get a pair of mittens. Your fat, swollen fingers aren’t going to fit in a glove. Trust me. And you’re going to need them since your hand is always going to feel about 20 degrees cooler than the rest of your body - more when you ice your arm down after working it out. Alternatively, I’ve found that an oven mitt will work in a pinch.

2. Plastic flossers/pick things. Have you tried to floss your teeth with one hand? Yeah, those are lifesavers.

3. While on the subject of oral hygiene, get an electric toothbrush. I finally broke down and got one because brushing left handed just wasn’t getting them clean enough. The toothbrush does all the work and my teeth have never felt cleaner.

4. and 5. A subscription to netflix and jigsaw puzzles. If you normally do anything with your hands, like…for example…something like… I don’t know… knitting – you will go out of your mind with boredom. You don’t have to go to the video store with hordes of people who seem to be blind and for some reason can’t see the enormous cast on your arm and consequently bump into you. Bonus, if you end up falling asleep constantly from the pain killers – no late fees. The jigsaw puzzles will give you something to do with your hand. Just don’t get 1000-piece puzzles. You will not be able to reach the middle.

6. Elastic-waisted pants, one size bigger than you normally wear. Yeah, they’re not that fashionable, but trust me on this one. Go ahead; spend the $5 at Walmart. I only had one pair of pants that didn’t have a zipper - you can’t do a zipper one handed. The larger size just makes it easier to get them up and down by yourself. Believe me, you don’t want to be stuck in a public bathroom and have to get your cell phone out to call the person you’re with to help you pull your pants up. I’m just sayin’. I refuse to confirm or deny that this is based on actual events.

7. A pair of shoes that you can slide into. I like those canvas ones with no back -again, $2.99 at Walmart. For me, these two items go together. Maybe I’m starting to show my age, but unless you’re a mother with a sick, screaming child or your partner has almost amputated his or her finger, going to the grocery store or pharmacy in your character print jammies and fuzzy slippers is not acceptable.

8. Deep plastic containers – you know like the medium size ones you can get at the deli. If you break your dominant hand, you can’t eat a lot of foods from a plate or a bowl. Try chasing pork fried rice around a plate a few times or eating cereal out of a bowl…you’ll convert. I’ve been getting a ton of “you’re loosing weight comments” Umm, yeah…I can’t get the food to my mouth. Half for me, half for the eager dogs at my feet. You will also learn that almost anything can be eaten with a soup spoon.

9. Some one who loves you enough to shave where you can’t reach.

Going Undercover

2006-11-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

Finally! I cast off my loom swatch a couple of days ago. Thanks to Isela (check out the beautiful gift her hubby made - WOW) for her great tutorials. I think loom knitting for a while will actually improve my regular knitting when I get back to it! Do you see the bobbles? I made bobbles...I haven't even done that with needle knitting. I'm easily entertained. Yes, this means I have cast on (or whatever you call it with looms) a hat for Knit Unto Others. Go on, take a day and make a hat, take a weekend and make a scarf or mittens.

Speaking of mittens...It is cold here! 37 degrees when I let the dogs out. I went to put on my gloves and realized that I need a mitten. Yes, just one for the floppy paw. I figured that I would just slip the glove on and not put the fingers in. It might have worked had the cuff of the glove not compressed something and caused pain and pins and needles. I should start a shopping list for people who break an arm. It's the little things - like those plastic flossers/pick things. Have you tried to floss your teeth with one hand? Yeah, those are lifesavers.

I'm going undercover...under my covers that is. My at home PT has been bumped up a little and it's wiping me out. It's been taking me about an hour from heat up to ice down. Three times a day - not including the theraputty that is always in my hand and the hand exercises. When I'm done, I can't even lift my arm. Who knew moving your arm was so tiring. Since I'm still not sleeping through the night (and not napping during the day has not improved my sleep) - I'm giving in. When I'm tired, I'm going to sleep. My schedule is kind of clear right now so why not give it a shot.

Yeah..... we'll see how that works. Hopefully I can turn off the "I could be, should be, want to be doing this or that" thoughts. :)

Walk with me Wednesday

2006-11-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

Oh I had the best plans! I was going to do a WWMW. I was going to take you all to USC for my follow up appointment. But I forgot my camera. How about next time?

It was mostly good news. The plate and screws are where they should be. They're a little concerned about my lack of ability to turn my hand/arm from palm down to palm up. I'll just have to work harder at PT and practice more at home.

My beef - the game. The worker's comp/dr/PT game. The doc recommends 24 visits, prescribes 8 and WC approves 6. WC is most likely going to approve more. But why the game? Write the script for 24, approve 1/2, get a progress report and approve more. Easy peasy. At least to me.

Ok...no more complaining. I'm working on some loom knitting swatches to practice and then I believe I'll be making a hat or two for Knit Unto Others. Go, see, join! If I can do it recovering from a broken arm - so can you!

Good News, Bad News

2006-11-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants to hear the bad news first. It's not really bad news, just disappointing.

I was approved for 6 PT visits, so I'm thinking by Thanksgiving I'd be driving and back to work shortly thereafter. My hopes have been crushed. These first 6-8 visits will be just for getting my arm moving. Just movement - no strengthening, no function. Just movement.

Because I was a good girl and did my PT homework, I went from only being able to open my arm 90 degrees to extending it to 45!! Big improvement. I can actually pull my shirt hem down to straighten it, put my hand in my pocket and get dressed by myself. (except for socks - still working on that one)

Apparently, knitting will be good therapy for hand and arm function. Just not yet :( He told me to chill, relax, take time, do it slowly and do it right.

The Postman Cometh

2006-11-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

First up, a great lavender Irish wool from Jean. Two pounds of pure wool love. I couldn't get a good picture of the flecks - purples,reds and blues.

Now on to the roving from Spunky Eclectic. Can you say YUMMY!?! Top to Bottom: BFL in Walking on the Sun, Wool in Claret, Romney in Kites and Merino in Autumn. 4 oz of each. Going the speed I'm going now, this gives me enough roving for the rest of my lifetime.

On a related side note, I want to get Spin To Knit by Shannon Okey. I've read quite a few of her blogland interviews and she has mentioned her traumatic elbow injury. Spinning and the beautiful work she's done after that has earned my respect. I've also heard nothing but good things about the book.

How about a Sunday morning sunrise?

Can anyone recommend a better digital camera then the one I have (vivitar vivicam4100) - I see all of the great things and they don't make it into the camera. Believe me, the desert sunrise is WAY more beautiful.

casa del brazo quebrado

2006-11-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

Since there are more inquiring minds out there... this is how we do it (imagine a little old skool club dancing here) ...at casa del brazo quebrado*:

Take your roving. In this case, a beautiful purple merino from my stash.

Split it in half length wise.

Split that in half again.

Keep splitting until it's about this thin. As you are splitting out the last section, pre draft the fiber.

I usually wrap what I'm going to spin around something so it's not all over the place. Mmmmm... cotton candy.

And then I spin.

Go congratulate Isela...she's going to be on Knitty Gritty!

*Babel Fish tells me that this means House of the Broken Arm

Eye Candy

2006-11-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

Some Artyarns that I got from the DeStash Blog. Yummy!

So what is a recently reformed smoker (thank you Jen for the post - that I now can't find - about quitting that put me over the edge )to do when they get injured and have to sit at home with a smoker who goes out eleventeen hundred times a day to smoke?

Yep, puzzles. Eight done and one in the works. Three - hundred piece, three 300 piece, and two 500 piece puzzles completed. I tried to do a 1000 piece, but I couldn’t reach the middle.

Now as for the smoking, I’m not gonna lie, I have had a few. The first after they tried to slip my elbow back in place four times – with no sedation. Then the day of surgery I bought a pack because if I was going to die on the operating table, I was going to have one last smoke damn it! Let’s not even talk about the hysterical phone call from the hospital asking my friend to come get me because I was too scared to go through with it. Yeah, I don’t do surgery well…especially alone. The last one on the ride home from the hospital. I gave the pack to my mom.

Finally, my November caledar for Deb.

Cheating

2006-11-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm cheating with this post and using a response to an email as most of the meat.

PT was actually pretty cool. I got heat for 10 mins and a hand and arm massage - omg it was WONDERFUL! Then some stretching and moving to see what I could do and a grand finish with some ice. Oh, and he gave me homework - great. Did you know they have a machine that mimics a stick shift? Once I get moving a little I'll get to try it out.

Since inquiring minds want to know:

Have you been in any pain with your elbow?

Lately there hasn't been much pain - unless I move it :) It's not used to that yet. The most annoying thing has been the numbness. My pinky and ring fingers feel fat and pins and needley. The whole forearm feels weird when touched. But, it's to be expected since the ulnar nerve was crushed in the incident and then moved to a new position during surgery.

And if you're still in a cast how do they do PT?

I'm not in a cast anymore. Ten days after surgery it came off and I was left to my own devices. Of course, the bone has been put together with a metal plate and 3 huge screws - I mean huge screws. You could hang pictures with these suckers - so the bone is not coming apart. It's the torn muscle, the missing cartilage, the nerve issue and the non-use for a month.

PSA

2006-11-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

Blue Moon is having sign ups for their next Socks That Rock Sock Club! Of course I signed up before letting y'all know.

The new Magknits is also out. I like the socks and the faux fair isle hat. Considering I bought some Noro off of the De-Stash blog, I might make one of the hats. Oh, and the sock yarn. And the 2lbs of yarn from Jean. And the roving from Boogie.

Must.Stop.Buying.Stuff.

Easily Amused

2006-10-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

Finally!!! Physical therapy starts Thursday. I really can’t wait to start. I think I may try some knitting with needles this week. I’ve been doing exercises and think that I can hold the needles.

I finished another wash cloth. I’m going to go in search of some other loom knitting patterns – I’m bored with them already. I have some wool left over from projects so I was thinking of doing hats for charity. In other news: I can make yarn out of wool! I have to pull off skinny strips and then predraft like crazy. Essentially, I’m just holding the wool and the wheel is doing its thing. It takes forever to prep and I can’t spin for long, but I can do it. It’s the process.

I have gone completely NUTS with yarn and wool purchases. As they come in, I’ll post pics. Speaking of pics, I made a slide show of things that amused me today – including the spinning.

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

Bloglines Ate My Post

2006-10-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

It's on my blog, but the feeds never updated bloglines.

And there is actually knitting content.

This is a test to see if bloglines updates me now

Narcissistic and Rude II

2006-10-29T06:42:00.000-08:00

It was bound to happen. Since this temporarily became the "broken arm blog", I have lost subscribers. (What!?! You don't subscribe to your own feed? It is all about me you know.)

That's ok. For those of you who stuck around, I present a genuine, certified F.O.

How you like me now?

Yeah, it's a wash cloth. Yeah, the project sheet said it should take an hour to complete and it took me 2 days. But I MADE FABRIC OUT OF YARN!!!

I borrowed a friend's kid's knifty knitter. After not using it for months, as soon as she saw me with it, she had a royal hissy fit. I struck a deal and walked outta there with the blue and the yellow one. Yes, I steal candy from babies, kick dogs and knock over old ladies that are in my way. You got a problem wit dat?

Why a wash cloth? It's small and completed relatively quickly completed and I could try out loom knitting with cheap cotton. I also finally used the other one I made and I love it!

Thoughts on knifty knitting - I wish the spaces were smaller. You have to use bulky or two strands of worsted. I have yarn I could use, but not enough if I have to double it. When Isela gets back from NY, I'm going to ask her about her looms. She (and her husband) have so many choices, I wouldn't know where to begin. Check out all the great tutorials she's done for loom knitting. Amazing!

In arm news - I can take my first unencumbered shower today. No bags, no tape, no slings - well I still need to rig a sling that I can get wet...but you get the idea. I guess the incision is healed enough that if the tape falls off, my arm won't fall out. I can't wait to see the incision - yeah I'm sick.

I've been doing some of the things the doc said to do and I have a little more movement in my hand. I can't wait for Pt. The pinky and ring are still numb, but they're moving. The freaky deaky - random muscle spasms and the nerve pain (think hot, burning flashes of pain). OY!!

I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my computer when I realized the time changed last night - whoops!

Released from bondage

2006-10-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

This was my arm this morning - mini special dark candy bar used for size comparison. The cast/wrapping was HUGE!!

This is my arm now. Doesn't look that bad. Still some swelling.

Here's the money shot - kind of. They took the staples out and taped it shut. I had my mom take a picture so I could see it. Somewhere in the middle of the swelling and tape is my elbow. Really. I swear. I can't wait to see what it looks like.

My hand and arm don't do what I want them to.

Put your hand flat on the table. Now stand it up so it is resting on the pinky side with your thumb up in the air.

The doc asked me to do that - and it wouldn't move. I thought it, I wished it, I screamed at it to "freakin move already" (in my head of course) - nothing. He said it would get better with physical therapy.

I'm scared.

OWM on a Tuesday

2006-10-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

dispirited

Eye candy

2006-10-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

From a stash sale Noro Kureyon, All Things HeatherHandpainted 100% merino superwash self-striping sock yarn- color: "Neapolitan"and some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock

I will knit again...I think. I was severely morphined up but what I remember being told was: ulna fixed, ulnar nerve crushed, picked out, repaired and moved, muscle ripped and cartilage torn off. Could cause mobility problems. Trying not to think about it until I can talk to the doc at the follow up next week. With a clear head.

Right now - not so clear, vicodan and lyrica (I think that's the name) are my friends.

Thursday

2006-10-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

and

OWWWW!

Surgery Day

2006-10-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

At 4 p.m. PST, please send do good vibes to the doc and bone healing ones to me

Prior to that, send non-freakout ones...cause I'm really gonna need all the help I can get to stay sane and rational.

It ain't knitting

2006-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

But it is fiber...and I can do it one handed and by myself. My mom has to separate the strands. I came up with a threading process, the back is sloppy since the I'm just letting the strands hang when I'm done...but I'm doing it. Picture of spinning attempts later.

A moment of weakness

2006-10-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Neither the coffee nor the vicogoodness has kicked in yet. This is the hardest part of the day. When it's just me, myself and the floppy paw. No fortifications.

It's funny - I'm gauging my days by how long I can go before I need the magic pills. On average, I can now make it about 10 hours.

WEBS catalog came yesterday and it made me sad - and angry. There are so many great patterns and yarn that I want to fondle.

I want my hand to be ok. I'm hoping the stuff going on is just related to swelling or something....that magically, everything will go back to normal once the surgeon does his magic.

Ok.. off the pity pot!

Go on over to JenLa and give La some good karma for the wedding she's planning. Oh..and I hear there's a step grandchild in her future that will be wearing the family jewels and not thinking with them!

Cindylou recently had a birthday and could use some healing thoughts sent her way.

Go here and check out all the good things this knitter does. Just from reading her blog, it sounds like almost all of her knitting is charity (ok, so maybe that's an exaggeration - she only knits charity 92% of the time). Go on, help her out and give her some time to knit for herself too.

Go wish Dave a happy birthday and buy some of his scrumptious yarn.

more later about teaching an old dog new tricks a.k.a. mom drove (I'm using that term loosely)a stick

It's a go

2006-10-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

psssst... I took a shower all by myself this morning. YEAH!!

Monday is the day. 4 p.m. at the ultra swanky USC medical center. Supposedly, I could be released as early as Tuesday. I like the doc and his staff. Apparently he is one of the top 4 ortho Dr's in the U.S.

There was a lady there who came all the way from Idaho to have him operate. IDAHO!

Got my arm repositioned because some bones were rubbing inside. Got a new cast that allows me to have fingers - and be able to wash said fingers. NO MORE STINKY CAST FINGERS!!!! But...all sore and cranky now. My pinky is numb and doesn't move well. He hopes he can fix it. Physical therapy will start the day after I get released - sadist. Oh and i have swollen sausage fingers :(

First time ever doing worker's comp - so this is interesting. Luckily my raise went through and I'm going off my new salary. All dr's covered and approved.

Teaching mom to drive stick tomorrow - wish me (and my clutch) luck!

big day

2006-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's the day. I'm heading down to USC to meet with the surgeon. I'm kind of hoping he says "let's do the surgery right away". Let's get this over with. The pain and swelling is going away and the surgery is going to start it all over again.

Cross stitching is going great. Spinning - not so much. It has potential, so I'm going to keep at it. A single treadle would be easier - not so jarring - maybe I'll get a kit to convert it while I'm laid up.

In company news - the onsite office is being great - corporate, not so much. UMMMM hello... even given that you are on the East coast, you still had a report of the injury Thursday morning. Oh...and my raise that was effective Oct 1 - better be what you report as my salary.

I REALLY love my co-workers - great acts of kindness to report later.

x-ray vision

2006-10-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

I know it's not that clear, but the white cloud in the circle, that's the part of the bone that is now unattached. It's actually bigger than that, but my scanner didn't do such a good job scanning an x-ray. I have CT films too, but they make no sense to me.

It may take me a little while, but I'll write back to everyone who commented

Thank God for Netflix

2006-10-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

and vico-dreamy pill things and wonderful co-workers that are picking up scripts and groceries and hauling my butt around.

Oh, and that I throw myself full force into crafty pursuits. I had this hiding in my closet and think (if my mom threads the needles) that I should be able to do some cross stitching and embroidery.

still bored

one word

2006-10-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

bored

broke

2006-10-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

yep, surgery

get to go to USC

doc here doesn't want to risk it

ugh

one handed typing

2006-10-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

thanks for well wishes

let's start by saying i work in a safety office.

defective desk drawer that slides out on its own - slid out

i was backing up and fell backwards over it

felt bones moving when i hit

started out as dislocation - dr broke it when he popped it back in - oh and dr was fresh out of med school and this was the first elbow dislocation he fixed

saw orthopod today - sent for ct - find out tomorrow about surgery

will post as i can

broke arm

2006-10-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

just got home.

doping up and going to bed

Forest Canopy

2006-10-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl

Yarn: Claudia Handpainted - 2 skeins with some left

Needles: Denise

Start:9/4/06

Finish:10/1/06

FABULOUS PATTERN - go... buy it... I'll wait. Wow - lace made easy. The picture doesn't show the colors well. I was going to take sunny pictures today, but I woke up to rain - this is as good as it gets. If I could knit regularly, it would not have taken a month to do. I'm telling you - great pattern. Not only do you get clear written instructions, but charts and a primer on lace. I was worried about the size, but through the wonders of blocking, it turned out perfectly. The center point reaches my butt.

When I put it on to show my mom, her reaction was "Wow, that's an heirloom".

On to:

Yes, I joined again this year. I love Lolly's KAL's. No pressure - here's a theme - go, knit, enjoy.
I want to finish the pair of cotton blend anklets that I've been working on forever. I have some Trekking that I want to crack open and my DYE-O-RAMA yarn. Geeez, this wonderful person dyed me yarn and there it sits in my stash.

Winter is in the Air

2006-09-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

I was getting a little nostalgic at everyone mentioning the feel of fall. The Salt Lake girls are even talking about snow in them thar mountains. In true desert fashion, summer has given way to winter. It isn't snowing here, but DAMN! 43 at 0700 is a little chilly. Of course it is still hitting the high 90's during the day. Makes it kind of hard to dress for work. I had 3 wardrobe changes yesterday and it looks like more of the same today.

Must knit something warm.

Thanks for the comments about Gigi. Here she is on my messy, unmade bed. So far, so good. She's a snuggler, is house trained and is terrified of the cats. She's not really a barker either - only kids on bikes and if someone knocks on the door. WOW is she a bundle of energy! After living with a lazy dog it's a change.

Without further ado, the State of the WIP's Address:

Forest Canopy is coming along swimmingly. I only had one boo boo this week and luckily I had a lifeline and was on the 3rd line of the pattern repeat. I'm getting close to the end of the first skein of Claudia's Handpainted and I think I have 125 stitches on the needles. I've been loving this pattern and may make another one in the future.

Lady Eleanor is still stalled...as is the sock, mom's bathmat and the linen guest towel. I found a free pattern for a bath set done in linen and I think the stitch pattern will work better with the dark blue. I'm sure I'll get around to it.

No pictures because of lack of progress... no real difference from last week.

An FO ... my version of it.

Pattern: Sheep Tote
Designer: Fibertrends/Bev Galeskas
Needles: Denise Circs
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky in a red. I didn't find it on their website, so no link.
Started: 8 Sep 06
Finished: 10 Sep 06
Fulled: 11 Sep 06

No sheep, no pockets. I started to do the sheep and didn't like how she was coming out. I was going for a bag/purse big enough to hold all my junk and this fits the bill. I love how the corners of the bag are done and they add a bit of stability and "form" to it. I knit a "med" size - yes I know there are only 2 sizes in the pattern - I felt the large would be to deep and the small not deep enough. Kind of like Goldilocks...it's juuuuust right!

I would knit this again - this time as a knitting bag with the pockets.

Look what I saved today!

2006-09-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Introducing Gigi!

I am sooooooooo not a little dog person. Really. But this little girl was at Animal Control and Monday is euthanasia day. How could I not. She's about 2 years old and they're guessing a terrier / dashund mix. I put her in the car, she crawled on my lap and sat there the whole ride home.

Purse done and felted. I'm waiting for it to dry. Pictures when it's dry and the sheep are on. I'm going to attempt to line it. EEEK!

State of the WIPs Address

2006-09-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

The old. Lady Eleanor is quite like a redheaded step child. I know she's there, I've been ignoring her, and everytime I pull her out for a photo shoot, I feel guilty for neglecting her. The MDK bathmat for my mom is progressing. I make myself do at least a row a week. Can you tell I'm soooo over knitting with cotton right now? The second sock? It is there! Squint your eyes really tight and you can see I cast on and divided the stitches. It's there. Really. On the log cabin - at the top. See?!?

The new. Big blue sqiggle on the log cabin? MDK linen hand towel. I'm not loving it in the dark blue. What? I've only done 3 rows and I'm going to rip? Yes...sometimes you just know it's time. At the top, that's the Claudia handpainted I purchased at the LYS closing sale. I really like working with it. Your eyes do not decieve you. I am knitting lace and enjoying it! Of course, it's all the designer's fault. Great pattern!

To the left of the picture, it's a new purse. I needed a bigger one (more on that later) I've finally cast on for Fibertrends sheep tote and will be using it as a purse. It looks like a normal bag, doesn't it? But it's not! I've taught myself to knit continental. WOW! Does the knitting fly! Of course I haven't tried to purl yet. I've also been sitting in sifting through my stash for the perfect color combo for a second purse. Of course I have no pattern in mind...just yarn. I was thinking maybe doing a color work purse since I have the Knitpicks Pallete sampler.

Anyone else noticing the ummm color trend laid out here? I think I NEED some different colors up in here.

So, the reason I need a new purse. Too much shit! I went to see an endocronologist for my diabetes (supposed to be the best in the area) and
he put me on insulin. I barely have room in my current purses, add an insulin kit and I'm shit outta luck. I bought a new one, but I love my
felted ones. It's kind of creepy injecting yourself, but I'm getting used to
it.

Next time on the Corner Cafe:

The half-assed job search
The best boss ever
Will there be progress on the WIPS?
Red Moon Rising?

blogger ate my post

2006-09-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

grrrrr... I know... you get what you pay for.

I'll rewrite later

Because I'm lazy

2006-08-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

I hope to distract everyone with pictures - kind of like the kittens with a piece of tin foil - Oooh! Look! Shiny!

I had this grand plan to take a picture of my WIPs every week and post their progress. That obviously didn't work. Here is the first picture from 2 weeks ago.

Both wash cloths are done. Quick, easy and mindless. Oh and both my mother and step mother love them - easy peasy christmas presents! I've done nothing on the Lady Eleanor. The sock is ready for toe decreases. I want to finish it up this weekend and cast on the second. The rug for my mom (from Mason-Dixon) is kind of coming along. I've completed the first log cabin. It's great for mindless knitting while watching DVD's.

Now for the stash enhancement - the good, the bad and the ugly! I FINALLY found a LYS that is only about an hour away - instead of two hours. That being said, they're closing the end of this month. I first went there last week and found out that the 50% sale started this weekend. Guess where I spent 3 hours today?

The whole haul - yes, that is a queen size bed:

Knitting stuff. Enough cotton fleece to make a tank - I hope. 2 skeins of Claudia Handpainted - in a colorway that reminds me of chocolate covered cherries. I also snagged the only skein of Trekking XXL in the shop. I FINALLY got the Fiber Trends Sheep pattern and lamb's pride in grey, white, black and black tweed. (too bad they didn't have the birdhouses or the flamingos - I know...tacky - shut up!)

Although, I think I went a little overboard on the embroidery side of the shop:
Obviously, I love Sam Sarah designs. I also got a cute sampler pattern that has two versions in it - a sheep sampler and a rabbit sampler. There's a tiny Sweetheart Tree project in there somewhere. I also purchased a TON 'O FLOSS - about 30 skeins of Gentle Art Sampler threads, 9 Caron Watercolors, and 6 Weeks. Not really visible - fabric, tons of linen and aida - hand dyed and regular.

Even with the 50% off, you don't want to know what I spent.

**after posting and talking about the WIPs, I really like the idea I had and am going to try to keep it up. (yeah, right)

CSI

2006-08-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

I know why it's called c*ck-sucking intarsia. I ended up pulling way too tight and had to rip it out. Now it's just a bunch of balls. Oh well, now to find something else to make with the yarn.

The puppy has a home! Yeah! He was so sweet and so smart. It's a shame I just couldn't keep him.

HEY LA!!! BABIES!!! They're almost ready to go.... time to start thinking about it

Pimping Pussy and Puppy

2006-07-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

And the winner is................

2006-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

PBnJ!!!

Email me solimar31 at gmail dot com with your address and I'll send off a goody package... yes, malabrigo will be in there! Plus some other goodness.

Good news and bad news. Good news... lump is not a lump... my lupus is causing inflamation in my spleen and liver and pushing things around. YEAH!!!! Slap some steroids in me and I should be good to go in a week or so!

Bad news... I have diabetes. My blood sugar came back at 240, so he did a quick one in the office this morning and - without eating or drinking anything other than water this morning, It was 359. So he prescribed a bunch o' crap for me to take and I have to test three times a day. Blah blah blah.

I also have a tad bit high cholesterol level, diverticulosis (he didn't really explain that one..just told me it wasn't bad) and a tiny hernia.

He said he had never had anyone that was so happy to have diabetes. DUDE...last week you were telling me I had a lump and that you were sending me to a surgeon... hell yeah... I like this week's diagnosis betterI'm off to pick up meds and testing stuff. Thanks for playing along with the contest!

and the beat goes on

2006-07-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Mr. Hooper is in the lead ! Really, I just keep thinking "get in my belly" and singing "I want my baby back, baby back, baby back". A friend sent me a little cut out of Fat Bastard because I've been so amused.

I was really doing good... until today. A co-worker overheard me talking to my boss and came up to me later to ask what was going on. I went through the whole I don't know thing. He asked me if I had swollen glands anywhere and then proceeded to tell me about his uncle who had non-hodgkins lymphoma and how it was diagnosed because he had a swollen spleen. So I've been freaking all afternoon. I think I've pretty much come down from it, but I hate when people do that!

Thanks for all of the well wishes. I really started this whole contest to have some fun with a scary situation... and put extra good vibes out there just in case. Gotta cover all my bases!

I also needed a little place to vent. My mom has some major depression issues, so I don't want to piss and moan to her and get her all upset if it's just some scar tissue. Believe me... she would also immediately go into BOOM & DOOM mode and I'm not there yet.

Anyway... too.hot.to.knit. I'm gonna complain because it's been over 100 since the beginning of June - but, I'm also going to agree with La - 33% humidity IS NOT HUMID PEOPLE!!! I'm from PA... 105 with 90% is hot and nasty. 115 with 20% = not so bad. At least I'm not all sweaty and drippy and don't feel like I'm inhaling water. I love watching the news and seeing the people from Westlake whining. Oh, and stop whining about the area code overlay... so you have to dial a few digits.. the Philadelphia area did it a while ago...it's not bad...it's not evil...just do it and stop bitching.

/end rant

PHEW!! Anyway... off to have some sweet tea and sit under the misters.

Go ahead... VOTE!!

2006-07-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Come on... give some lucky reader more yarn. Go on over to my side bar and give IT a name!

I've been cruising my stash and I know for sure there is going to be at least one skein of malabrigo.

Dr. got the results...won't give 'em to me over the phone. Hmmmm. must. not. think. bad. thoughts.

I didn't get a raise. Corporate decided not to give raises to the 3 of us who got promotions in March. I was told a.) I only got a little raise when I got the promotion because I would be getting a raise in July and b) I would get at least a 3% raise...my supervisor actually recommended a 6%. BLAH!!!!!!!!!! My supervisor is fighting the decision for all of us.

I was asked to apply for a job today...lots more $$ for a boss I could work for.

Ying and yang... the universe evens itself out.

The poll is here

2006-07-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'll leave it up until I find out on Thursday what they think IT is. I loved reading the different names.

How can you not love Noey's Mommy's ex boyfriend who was awful, but turned out to be harmless? I went with naming the long lost twin Daisy... because it seems that people hear Stacey as Daisy on the phone. I injected my own twist on Thermalgal's Alien reference and added Sigourney Weaver - cause she's freaked me out since those movies. Ms. Moonbeam... it was funny.. and Lisa, twisted is good. PBnJ, I couldn't help but take your Mr. Hooper and think of Fat Bastard..." Get in my belly little man"

So without further ado... here it is

*** WHOOPS! Blogger wouldn't let me put it here so it's on my side bar *******

I've noticed that I am a little emotional first thing in the morning. At least until I have my first cup of coffee and "armor up". And it is hard being a pollyanna all day. Yes, I do kind of feel that I have to be a pollyanna. My mom has depression issues and I don't want to upset her too much. So yeah, this blog is going to be a bit of an outlet for my worries and fears. Today I just want to crawl back into bed.

The MRI - or should I say two MRI's (pelvic and abdominal) took about 2 hours. Luckily, I didn't panic in the tube. Well except for the moment the gum I was chewing fell to the back of my throat. And I did go into crazy mode when the lady running it stopped calling me Stacey and started calling me sweetie and hon. You know...the neurosis that happens - why'd she stop calling me by my name? Did she see something horrible? I stole from Project Runway and just kept saying "it is what it is".

LOVE the car! I'm so darn happy with it. I knit half a sock on the bus ride down to get it and I'll post a picture soon.

Thanks again for all of the great ideas!

Looky Looky Here

2006-07-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Look what came to visit!! We actually had a thunderstorm today and this little guy was huddled under my carport. I called animal control, but they weren't in... so it looks like we have a puppy until Monday! My mom thinks his fur looks a little sheepy. I know he's part golden retriever and am that he's mixed with chow because his little tail curls.

Here's an unplanned addition to my garden. My mom wanted to pull it a few months ago, but I wanted to see what it was.

Saturday Sky

2006-07-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

This is the closest you're getting to a Saturday Sky picture. It's too damn hot.

I'm going to extend entries for the Name the Unknown Mass constest until tomorrow...because it's too damn hot.

Have a good one!

Flippant?

2006-07-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

So, I received an email about being too flippant. Hmmm. It's not the first time someone has named a growth - remember the badger ?

And it's my "unknown mass" so I can damn well be flippant if I want.

I've been through this before. I've had pre-cancerous growths, non cancerous growths and I form internal scar tissue faster than a rabbit shits. It's still unknown...there's nothing I can do yet...so I choose to have some fun with it.

I'm choosing not to go down the boom and doom path right now. I may take a detour in the future and be a blubbering pile of woe... but that's next week.

Greatest response to the situation so far... my mom said "you'll do anything to lose some weight, won't you?"

Worst response..."aren't you being a little flippant?"

You think they can do a little tummy tuck while they're in there?

The Universe Evens It All Out - A contest **

2006-07-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

I got approved for a new car! Well new to me anyway. A 2003 Mazda.. with low mileage and all. It's white (which is sooooo needed out here in the desert) with a black leather interior. The windows in the back are so blacked out, I don't know if I'll be able to see out of them at night. I feel kind of silly because it has one of those HUGE spoilers on the back. It has some nice rims and a great stereo too. I'm going gangsta. It has power windows (my current car doesn't), a sunroof and an air conditioner that works! I pick it up tomorrow. Can I get a whoooot!?!?

I got the final word on the car after the universal smackdown. Went to the doctor today and he ordered a "stat" MRI - which I get to do tomorrow (after I pick up the new car) and made an appointment with a surgeon for me next week.

It appears I have sprouted an unidentified object in my abdomen. I'm thinking of naming it. And no, it's not a pregnancy since everything has already been ripped out - about 9 years ago.

So lets have a little contest... shall we? (Yes, I am a little kooky...it runs in the family)

Give It A Name!

You comment on this post, I'll pick my top 5 favorites (or use all if I don't get enough). Saturday around Noon PDT, I'll do a poll. The winner will get some yarn. If more than one person picks the same name, I'll either pick a random number or maybe both will get something.

** Edited to add***
Come on... I know there are people out there as twisted as me

Hey La.....

2006-07-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Since Everyone is Doing It

2006-07-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

I figured that I'd show my temp today. If you're here for the kittens, keep scrolling.

Yes, it was only 110. Not bad. Plus, the heat index makes it feel like 108. Bonus! (insert dripping sarcasm here) While I was writing, my little weather bug popped up to 111.

Here is a dishcloth I just finished up Friday.

Yarn: Peaches and Cream
Needles: Size 7, Susan Bates
Pattern: July's KAL from Monthly Dishcloth Group

And here is what you've all been waiting for:

It's so hard to get a decent pic of the babies. They've just started standing on their spindly little legs and kind of throwing themselves forward.

What I'm doing with Malabrigo

2006-07-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out what to do with my malabrigo. I was doppin'** around the net and stumbled onto Yarn Ball Boogie. Now go check out his FO album. Yes, that is a pillowcase made out of Manos. How freakin' perfect is that? Every night I'll be able to lay my head on the softest, like buttah yarn ever.

**doppin - (v) to dop; meander

Saturday Sky

2006-07-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to get some nice pictures this morning. The wind shifted yesterday and the smoke from the fires made the most beautiful sunset. (and sent my allergies through the roof) I jumped out of bed this morning and rushed out to get these pictures.

B.C. (before caffeine)

A.C.
Amazing what happens while the coffee is brewing.

Thanks for the comments about the award! I'm gonna "pimp some pussy" tomorrow... stay tuned!

2006-07-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

Yep, I won an award at work. My boss (technically customer - it's a whole gov't/contractor lingo thing) sent an email to my company and I ended up getting an award. For superior customer service. For developing a document tracking procedure and implementing it ... which means, I beat and badger people until they review/ comment/ approve/ sign/whatever it is they have to do with it. We now have a 5 day document turn around compared to an average of 3-5 months. Which isn't bad when on average 8 people need to review each document. (it is the gov't... EVERYONE needs to look at EVERYTHING)

What is that?

2006-07-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Why, it would be...

:::::looking to make sure the men in white coats aren't around::::::

it's intarsia

Yep, my first attempt. In the hand dyed I was playing with yesterday.

I said there would be an F.O.

2006-07-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

I figured the cats or the dog wouldn't put up with modeling, so eeyore it is. I had to knit up some of the yarn that Shanti sent.

Pattern: Clapotis - modified to be skinnier and more scarf-like
Yarn: Hip Knits Aran Silk - Peace colorway
Needles: Denise - US9
Started: 30 June 06
Finished: 2 July 06

This yarn was beautiful and I used less than one skein. I'm going to have to find something else to knit with the other one. Have I mentioned it's beautiful. Not just the feel of it, but the color also. I thought it was purple, but there are various shades of deep blues and purples. Very regal. I was thinking of trying Branching Out, but I believe the silk is too drapey for it.

I've been dying today. It's drying, so I'll get pics tomorrow.

And the Momma Cat's F.O.'s - yes La, still peddling pussy over here.

Looks like the same kitten... but it's not. The last one has a white necklace all the way around it's little neck and has a little dab of white in the middle.

Saturday Sky

2006-07-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

I know I shouldn't join things. I've been a failure at every KAL I tried. ABC along? HA! I think I'm doing just the vowels. So, I'm going to do this without actually joining. Thanks for the great idea Sandy!

Thanks to Isela for the presentation idea and for using "Slide" and getting me addicted.

I started this morning with the thought that I'd do pictures 12 hours apart. It was a good idea in theory. However, it was a hot, cloudless day and the sunset wasn't spectacular. The sky looks pretty much the same. Maybe next Saturday.

Hide and seek

2006-07-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

Momma kitty isn't happy with the birthing bin. I'll hear a kitten screaming and see momma trotting around with one in her mouth. I've found kittens in my shoes, under my bathroom sink, in the built-ins that hold my cook books. I've put the container in my closet and slid the doors closed. She actually stayed there all night with them, so hopefully this works. Pictures later today.

psssssssssst...the new magknits is up! YEAH!! Maybe I'll also have a F.O. later

**edited to add** Got another RAOK in the mail!

Stash enhancement?

2006-06-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

I was expecting my knitpicks and elann orders, but I came home to 3 packages.

I forgot... I won a contest over at Shanti's blog. I opened up the package to this beautiful bag! I've been using a big bag that I made myself to cart my knitting to work and this one is the perfect size. I've already moved my socks over. The camera really doesn't capture the colors.

What was inside? Some gorgeous, gorgeous, and have I mentioned gorgeous? Hip Knits Aran Silk in the Peace colorway. Its a subtly variegated purple. I love it! Now what project do I make? ACK!!! I've already stacked my books to look through.

My elann stash. Some Linus (linen) to maybe make a handtowel from MDK and some Den-m-nit in each color. I've been wanting to try this yarn for a while. It's supposed to fade like your favorite pair of jeans.

From knitpicks, some Shadow in Grape Jelly for the Mystery Stole Along and some Sock Memories in Pansy. Definitely not the colors I saw online. Knitpicks never does really match. Missing from the picture? The Denise's I ordered when they were 50% off. Yeah, they ran out. Couldn't they have sent an email or something to let me know so I wasn't disappointed?
Finally, a better picture of the kitten stash enhancement. Five, yes five kittens for her first litter. The "owner" who didn't get the cat fixed and then was just going to toss her out on the street suddenly wants one of them. Uhhh... not just no... but fuck no. Have some responsibility with your animals people. I've already made the appointment to get the momma fixed. Oh and yes I'm keeping her. But she needs a better name than Darlene.

There are 3 black and white ones, 1 white and 1 grey and white. I don't know the sexes yet La, it usually takes a week before I can tell the difference. I'll take some better individual pictures this weekend. I can't wait to see if the white one is albino or has normal eyes.

First look

2006-06-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hey La... here's the first look at the new babies. Better pictures when

I'm more awake
I'm more caffinated
There is more light
The new momma isn't so freaked by hands coming at her! (remember, she's new to my home)

Since you asked...and a finish

2006-06-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a close up of the hibiscus and shells on the chest of drawers. No, I did not draw them myself. However, I did do the layout. The shells were from one book and the hibiscus from another. A little playing with paintshop and viola! I'm not so good at drawing, but I give good layout.

I'm almost embarrassed to show this F.O. Ahhhh...what the heck! Hopefully my mistakes will help someone else. It's supposed to be Absorba from MDK.
I haven't done the finishing on it yet. I believe I bound off too tightlysince it kind of pulls and puckers. You might also notice the 3 or so holes. KNIT LOOSELY. Really. It was hard to pick up the stitches and I missed some.
It was fun and quick and there is nothing wrong with the pattern. I'll see what happens when I wash it and stretch it out a bit. I'm not going to sew in the ends until I do so.

Pattern: Absorba, The Great Bathmat
Found in: Mason Dixon Knitting
Needles: Denise, size 15
Yarn: Peaches and Cream
Colors: Light Blue - 2 strands and White - 1 strand (center)
Light Blue - 1 strand and White - 2 strands (top)
White - 3 strands (left)
Daisy Ombre - 1 strand and White - 2 strands (bottom)
Faded Denim - 1 strand and White - 2 strands (right)
Started: 25 June 06
Finished: 27 June 06

Oh, and I sent a RAOK out this week.

Non-knitting F.O.

2006-06-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

Full frontal:

Here's the money shot:

Latest Painting Project

2006-06-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

Still not sure what is going to happen with the drawer fronts
hibiscus and shells in progress

Dye-o-rama

2006-06-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

My wonderful Dye-O-Rama pal was Enjay. Look at the beautiful yarn! Why yes, that is some roving she threw in too. How awesome is that?

Here is a close up of the yarn she dyed. Beautiful purples and blues and pinks. Her son helped with the process and she says he started pouring black into every color. I think it's wonderful!

But, she was worried, so she went out and bought some hand dyed to compensate. (really, she didn't have to!)

I love the rainbow! Such a dye-o-rama themed package! Look! I have my very own dye-o-rama stitch marker! Enjay also made a few wonderful beaded stitch markers - which are perfect. I really don't like to use metal ones with socks and lace.

Thank you Enjay!

One Word

2006-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I tried to resist. Really I did. But that damn La! Since the knotty one doesn't do meme's often, I had to oblige.

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.

Not just knitting

2006-06-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

I finished painting my bookcase yesterday. I used Mary Englebreit patterns for the flowers and put tiny life-sized ladybugs on the shelves.

It's painted about 20 different colors, but I wanted something to really brighten up my room. The shelving I have already is a pale color and my walls are pale wood paneling. Even my bedding is pretty boring.
I know the direction that I want to go with for the decorating. I'm working on a set of drawers that a coworker gave to me.

I made a headboard last weekend with an old bedspread I had. It's blue tone-on-tone and toile looking. I used 2 inch padding, but I think I need to get some 4 inch.

Another F.O. (and a couple of rips)
Pattern: DW Washcloth
Yarn: Peaches and Cream "Sea Mist"
Needles: #7 Straight
Started: 11 June 06 1030
Finished: 11 June 06 1430

Started and ripped a sock and the Moss Grid Handtowel from Mason Dixon. The sock just wasn't working with the yarn I used. Maybe if I go up another needle size. With the hand towel, I ended up with 2 extra stitches somewhere between the 3rd and 6th row. I figured that it would be easier to rip and start over rather than tinking back. It's only a couple of rows.

WWYK

2006-06-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

What would you knit?

I purchased some great malabrigo a few months ago. 2 geranio (dark pink) and 2 polygala (purple). Each is about 216 yards. What would you make with it?

Important facts:

I live in the desert. The Mojave Desert. It's hot about 3/4 of the year. Right now, it is 7 p.m. and 91 degrees.

However, I usually end up putting a sweatshirt on when it hits 65-70. Yes, that is considered cold. Especially when you put it in this perspective: the difference between 120 F and 70 F is 50 degrees. Think of the difference between 50 F and 0F. COLD.

Here's my weird thinking: This yarn is special and deserves a special project and it has been sitting for that "special" project. It will sadly sit on the shelf and get dusty and musty until it is either "not special" anymore or that project comes along.

I do this a lot. I have a lot of sad yarn waiting for that "perfect" pattern. It is wrong. I know.

A friend once said to me (about a $150 bottle of wine) that this wine should not sit and be saved for a special occasion - just opening it was the special occasion.

I want to use my yarn.

So...

What would you knit?

I've got a pair

2006-06-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Pattern:The "Not Pedestrian" Ped
Yarn: Knitpicks Sock Garden in Star Gazer Lily
Needles: Clover Bamboo Size 2
Started: 30 May 2006
Finished: 4 June 06

My first pair of socks! Yes, I have knit socks before. However, I have never completed a pair. I needed a quick fix.

Gratuitous kitten shot:

It's a mental health kind of day.

2006-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it was a three day weekend. I did actually go to work on Tuesday. And I have to go tomorrow, or I'll need a Dr's note. I just needed a little break. I've been feeling so wiped the past few days and just didn't want to get out of bed.

In the immortal words of Jen: "The first person to mention that one sock does not qualify as an FO dies." And yes, my foot does have a black furry ear and tail.

For La:
The poor unwanted kids. It's hard to get an action picture when it's 103. They just lay around all afternoon.

And here is a picture of Mouche's smootch.

Happy Memorial Day

2006-05-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU!

Saturday Randomness

2006-05-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed that the quality of knitting books has increased? I haven't been knitting for long, but I've seen a change. Three out of the last 4 books I purchased have been homeruns! The latest added to my list of must haves? Mason Dixon Knitting . If you don't have it, go buy it. I understand why there is a bandwagon to jump on.

Have you also noticed the decrease in the quality of patterns in knitting magazines? Is it because everyone is writing a book?

I'm wondering if I should renew my Interweave Knits subscription. On the plus side - I'm nowhere near a LYS so I can't pick one up easily or even review the patterns to see if I really want it. On the bad side - I've only received one magazine when I should have. I've consistently had to email customer service asking where my issue is. They have no problem getting the renewal notices to me - just the magazines. After a year, the last issue is the only one that came on time (or at all). It very well could be the post office.

Semi wasted the day today. I drove about an hour each way (yes, in CA you don't have miles...just how long it takes you to get there) to go to the big town of Kramer's Junction. I'm not even sure if it is really a town. It's the intersection of 58 and 395... and really, it is just an intersection. 2 gas stations, a diner and a gift/cactus shop. The highlight was the gift shop. I picked up a bunch o' cacti for my back "yard" and fell in LOVE LOVE LOVE with all the wonderful pots and pottery. The selection of plants (both succulents and cacti) was worth it. I'll be going back... maybe next time I'll keep driving to Barstow and hit it on the way back.

Came home and took a 5 hour nap. YUMMY!

Any one have any idea what's in Barstow? Anything fun to do? Any yarn shops? It's closer than L.A. and really, choosing between Ridgecrest, Tehachipi or Lancaster for going shopping is getting old. (When you start calling Lancaster "the BIG CITY" you know it's bad)

Sometimes I wish I still lived in L.A. (or at least closer) I miss the choices and the excitement. I also miss the pay. Yeah, it's more expensive, I know.

I've been working out almost every day. With relatively no change in diet, I've lost about 10 lbs in 6 weeks. I'm thinking if I cut out my soda addiction I could increase that greatly!

Got a great review at work. My boss loves me and the customer loves me. Please give me a good raise! I'll find out 1 July what that raise will be.

Have I destracted ya'll enough from the fact there is no actual knitting content?

Sent out my Dye-o-rama yarn. I used knitpicks dye your own and I was disappointed. Both skeins I dyed had knots and thin spots. That's why I sent one full skein and one partial. If there had been time to order more and actually dye it, I would have. Big apology to my pal who is going to have to fight with those knots. Sadly, my pal doesn't have a blog so I can't point you in that direction. From her emails she seems really nice.

La, I promise I'll post more pictures soon.

For La

2006-05-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

These aren't that great, but it's a start! The little black girl and the black and white boy. He has a little black smootch on his nose and always has a little bit of wet food left on it. I've just been calling him Boopers for now.

He's a suave little man and already knows how to suck up.

This is Einstein the 5 month old male. He follows me around, comes running when I get home, cuddles with me on the couch and enjoys long moonlit walks on the beach.

He only has 8 lives left since my mom tried to kill him She threw some steak fat away and he got in the trash can and choked on it. It took a lot of shaking and a pair of needle nose, but it finally came out.

Despite all of his cuteness, he has a bit of attitude:

I feed them wet food twice a day. If you go in the kitchen around those times and don't actually feed him, he swats at your ankles.

I thought you'd enjoy the evil cat looks. Honestly, he's going to be the hardest to let go...but I can't keep all the babies. I'll post some pics of the big black boy and hopefully some daytime shots this weekend.

Another purse

2006-05-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, another felted purse. Again from Bags a Knitter's Dozen!

I finished it 6 May and have used it since then. I used Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool in Daffodil. Of course I used my trusty Denise's.

Oh...I almost forgot. My SP7 gave me a gift certificate to Amazon and I got Weekend Knitting and Big Girl Knits. I've already started a tank top. although I don't know if you can call 6 rounds a start.

One word

2006-05-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Bellinis!

I've been making raspberry ones. What better way to cool off? Yes, it hit 100 here today...and the swamp cooler took another dump.

What temp is it at 7:20 p.m.? Well according to my weather bug, it's 80.

Fans, Bellinis, very little clothing and a fabulous outdoor misting system are the only thing keeping me sane. But, misters mean no knitting. :(

::::::: getting on my knees :::::::::::::::::

PLEASE LET THE LANDLORD GET HERE TOMORROW BEFORE IT GETS HOT!!!

I'm alive!

2006-05-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have survived the season know as Finals and Papers. I think I bit off more than I could chew. Once I got the promotion, I had courses to take for work and I was already past the drop date at school. We'll see how it went.

Work has been super crazy. I work in a Safety Office and I never realized how much safety is involved in everything! Someone wants to tie their shoe? You need a procedure. Blow your nose? Procedure. I'm working quite a few extra hours because of the nature of the job.

No knitting has occurred. The purse? On the bind off row - for two weeks. Really, all I have to do is bind off and I'm done. Lady E? Who's that?

I'm also quite thankful to be on this side of the dirt. Tuesday, I had just gotten off the freeway on my way to work(speed limit 70 - actual speed...umm a little higher) and as I was pulling out from the stop sign, I had a blow out. Luckily, I was only going about 20 miles an hour and had just passed the point where the embankment leveled out. I was safely able to guide my car into the desert. I ended up getting 2 new tires because something wasn't balanced and the inside of both front tires was rubbing them. I'm going to have to get new struts too. I was bummed about the cash flow ... until someone pointed out to me that I could have blown it on the freeway.

BTW, I joined Dye-o-rama and have heard from my dyer. Hi Anino! The person that I'm dying for doesn't have a blog, so I'm having to ask a ton of questions - which is incredibly fun.

Gettin' Dirrrrrty

2006-04-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been much knitting, but yarn buying has occurred. Elann Highland Wool in brilliant blue, new leaf and daffodil. The daffodil is in the process of becoming the Felted Pocketbook from Bags: A Knitter's Dozen. The blue and green are slated to become Snaps from the same book. I also have the Sheep Tote from Fibertrends slowly progressing. What about Lady E? She's ummm on vacation.

I've been busy getting dirty in the garden. First up my irises bloomin' away.

This garden was formerly nothin' but grass.

This garden - also brand new. My mom picked the plants for this one.

Why the new gardens? To save this:
A tiny rose bush that was growing in the middle of the lawn. I figured if this thing kept coming back after being mowed under for at least 3 years, it deserved to live.
Here's the veggies I planted. 4 tomato plants and 6 pepper plants. YUMMMM ! I can taste the homemade tomato sauce and salads already!

April 12th was a wonderful day!

2006-04-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Even though I've seen this at a couple of blogs, January One made me do it (well ...today being my birthday had something to do with it too!)

Do a Wikipedia search of your birthdate, minus the year; list three interesting events, three people who were born, and three people who died on that day.

Births:
1869 - Henri Désiré Landru, French serial killer (d. 1922)
1922 - Tiny Tim, American musician (d. 1996)
1947 - Tom Clancy, American author
1947 - David Letterman, American talk show host

(well that explains a whole lot!)

Deaths:
1912 - Clara Barton, American nurse and Red Cross advocate (b. 1821)
1945 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States (b. 1882)
1999 - Boxcar Willie, American singer (b. 1931)

Events:
1606 - The Union Jack is adopted as the national flag of Great Britain.
1633 - The formal inquest of Galileo Galilei by the Inquisition begins.
1861 - American Civil War: The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
1961 - Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to fly in space.
1981 - The first launch of a Space Shuttle: Columbia launches on the STS-1 mission.

Ok...so I did a couple of more events, but so many interesting things happened! I couldn't pick just 3.

I was going to do what?

2006-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

F is for FINISHED!!

Yeah, I know, I was going to knit. But instead, I was installing this:
Yes, a brand new dishwasher. It was suprisingly not hard at all. I had to run out and get new wire nuts because I had a disagreement with the ones I had. I got it all hooked up and then figured out that the existing compression fitting was no good. 1 dishwasher + 2 trips to the hardware store = a damn proud dishwasher installer.

While I was taking pictures, I thought I'd take pictures of the kitchen. I think the people who painted this were smoking crack. None of the lines are straight and really, the yellow is not a pretty yellow. Plus the flowers behind the stove top? REALLLLLY old contact paper.

How about this floor. Vintage is a nice way of saying it. Avocado green and blue. Yum. With the blue countertops and the floor, it really doesn't leave much choice for colors to paint with. Any ideas?

Zee purse... it is feeenished

2006-04-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well, almost. I still have to make a button. But, here it is:

Pattern: Flaps
Book: Bags - a Knitter's Dozen
Needles: Denise
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes
Colors: Maple Syrup and Pumpkin

The pattern calls for 3 swirls on the band. I'm not sure if I'm going to do the swirls or not. If I do, it will be in Cranberry.

I've gone through my WIPs and I've been harsh. The sweater I was working on? Frogged. Frills from Knitty? Frogged. I've only kept Dainty Bess (thanks again SP) and Lady E. I'll have a new pic of Lady E later. I picked it back up last night and got two tiers done. I'm going to park in front of the tv right now and get some work done on it. The General is coming tomorrow, so I need to soak up some relaxation today and get a good night's sleep.

Speaking of secret pals... mine was Melissa from Needlephile! Go say hi!

And my spoilee is....

2006-03-31T15:38:00.000-08:00

Lisa from Daily Distractions! Hi there!! Go say hi! She is a sweater knitting queen... while preparing for a wedding AND knitting fuzzy feet for her bridesmaids.

I still don't know who my SP was... but HI!!! Hope you reveal yourself soon!

The Haul!

2006-03-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

First up, some loverly Malabrigo! The purple is named Polygala, the pink is Geranio and the lone knot is Red Java. The camera just does not do the colors justice.

I finally got my Cat Bordhi books!! Yeah! There are quite a few projects I want to jump into. I'm thinking I might use some of that gorgeous Malabrigo and start another project.

But before I do that, I have something to finish. I started this purse many moons ago. (cover picture purse from Bags- A Knitter's Dozen) This picture was taken earlier in the day. I just cast off the back and am going to work on the handles while I do baby watch. Yep, Momma kitty is about to drop another load.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I won AGAIN!

2006-03-18T07:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, I won again! And so did the RAOK'er who I signed up from! So go ahead... click... sign up and win!

Thanks SP for the e-card! I can't wait to find out who you are!

Spring break is here! Yeah! Time for knitting! My birthday is also fast approaching and my mom gave me some $$ to go yarn shopping. I'm now awaiting my very own Malabrigo, tons of yarn to dye myself and the two Cat Bordhi books I've been craving....magical knitting 1 and 2. I can't wait!

The new position is still going great. I love working in my new branch. Love, love, love it! I don't have an RDO anymore, but I hardly notice it. I'm too busy! All of the people are great and quirky. It's like a family... you might have your little squabbles, but you kiss and make up. My boss is wonderful. I really hope she gets her slot back and I can swing from contractor to civilian.

My raise took effect on the 15th and I'll see the results of it on the 10th. Just around the time that the new, higher premium for my health insurance takes effect! YEAH!!! I got a 6% raise and the new premium takes 50 % of that. My company has messed up my check 2 out of the last 3 pays and I'm supposed to be reimbursed on my next pay, so I'll have (hopefully)a nice lump sum to play with. I'm debating between a new t.v., a new vacuum, some outdoor furniture or more yarn. The problem with more yarn is that my stash has outgrown the containers needed to contain it. must.knit.faster.

Hopefully I'll have some new pics late tomorrow or Monday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2006-03-17T05:29:00.000-08:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Aren't we all Irish today? Have fun, but don't drink and drive!

E is for...

2006-03-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

E is for evolution!

First up, the evolution of Western Civilization. Currently I'm up to Roman Civilization. The class is relatively easy. Could it be all the Latin I endured? The professor has no people skills. (Can you tell I'm studying for the mid-term and have nothing else to wow you with?)

Next up the evolution of the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders. Mid-term is done with! Yes, I am working on my final paper already. I love personality disorders. They are so fascinating. This professor is wonderful and so is her student assistant.

Ahhhh.... now we're talking! The evolution of Lady Eleanor. I completed a skein last weekend and between studying, working and sleeping, I have another half skein done. Noro Silk Garden is interesting. I love the color variations. It has the roughness and VM you find in the kureyon, but you definitely can feel the softness of the mohair and silk. After a few hours of knitting, it started to feel a little like twine...lots of lotion helped.

There was a comment /question about the Malabrigo and what it was. It is the finest, softest, handspun, 100% Merino wool that I have ever felt. It feels like a rose petal brushing against your cheek. It is hard to describe the softness. It's even softer than my beloved Alpaca. This is one of the reasons that I love knitting (and spinning) ...the tactile sensations. I've used Merino before... and yes, it is softer than regular wool, but the variations in texture with different brands keep me enthralled.

I got it! I got it!

2006-02-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

My Silk Garden came in! Feast your eyes on this!

I also got some Malabrigo for my SP. Now, I've never seen this nor used it, but everyone was raving about it, so I thought I'd get it for her.
OHHHHHHHHHH MY GOSH!!!!!!! It's like BUTTAH! Like a baby's behind! It's almost orgasmic.
I WANT SOME FOR MYSELF!! It's going to be hard to ship this off, but I don't think I can get another order in and here before the end of SP. must. hide. yarn. Some were comparing it to other well known Uraguian (is that a word?) yarns... but NO... it's softer, smoother... I could roll around naked in it. And if it wasn't for my SP, I would. I was rationalizing what I could send in it's place. must. control. self.

**ahem** anyway... I'll be fine

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

2006-02-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

Make me a match
Find me a scarf
That I can knit.

So... which scarf and yarn did I pick? Dainty Bess in the Alpaca Cloud my SP sent me and Town and Country in Shadow Grape Jelly. I had to take pictures before I frogged the T&C. I took it to work and jacked up the pattern. It figures that I didn't put a life line in because it was an "easy" pattern repeat. HA!

Here's a close up of the Dainty Bess. It's turning out fabulous! I love, love love it!

In a burst of creativity that started around 9 p.m. and kept me up until 4 a.m., I made two bracelets and a necklace. You can't really see the three hole spacer bar I used on the stone bracelet, but it has a really pretty Celtic Design.

Here's a very fuzzy close up of the black beads. I made them a little over a year ago out of Fimo and just didn't know what I was going to do with them until last night.
I also painted last night. Really, I have no idea where it all came from. I just had to make stuff!
My (rather large)living room furniture is sage green and was just dominating the room. I got these beautiful plum drapes for the sliding glass door about a month ago and thought that I needed a big bang to draw it around the room. I'm thinking a black metal something needs to go on the right of the grouping and maybe a picture of an orchid on the right. Right now this is the only thing on that wall. I now know I need a plant for the corner to soften the bang a little.

**editor's note: I really hate when others use lyrics for titles because I usually end up GETTING THE SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD. I figured I would try to spread some of that love!

The contenders

2006-02-18T04:47:00.000-08:00

l-r: Alpaca Cloud Tide Pool, Mist, Autumn, Stream; Shimmer Happy Dance; Gossamer Caribbean; Shadow Vineyard, Grape Jelly, Sunset.

All beautiful yarns. The Shadow and Gossamer are heavier than the Alpaca Cloud and Shimmer. Obviously, Shimmer and Gossamer have ahh, ummm, bright colorways. I simply do not know what to do with those two, so they got thrown in the mix! I was thinking of staying away from the merinos since I have something on the needles with another Gossamer yarn. I did make a whole bunch o' Airy scarves with the Alpaca cloud and love, love, loved! the way they felt.

Ok... narrowed down to the 4 colors on the left. Now to figure out which scarf. All three are lovely. :::::::::::::: sigh ::::::::::::::::::

** please excuse the nasty picture. 430 am under icky fluorescent lighting - 'nuff said!

2006-02-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

I promised some pictures...so...
First up, my SP's awesome package. Eucalan, which I've never used. Smells wonderful and I can't wait to give it a try. Elizabeth I ! WOOHOO! I've wanted this for a while and always forget to get it. (while spending way too much on yarn!) Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud... I love this stuff.. soft and warm and wonderful. After taking the picture this morning I fondled it for a while. I'm about ready to take out all of my lace weight and try to decide what I want to use... and which of the three scarfs to make. Decisions, decisions, decisions. THANKS SP!

Next up... I'm going to try to make all you snowbirds jealous with my beautiful daffodils and iris. (lets just not mention that the snow level may drop to 1500 feet in a freak snow storm and dump a couple of inches on me)

The wonderful warm weather we had last week (high 70's) made these little ones pop out of the ground. I wish I would have gotten a picture with all the new clumps blooming. Yes, I know, I have some work to do in the garden. No one's taken care of this thing in years and I can't wait to dig in.

Thank you for the congrats on the promotion. I've been waiting 5 months to get away from the big bad boss. What? I've only been with the company 6 months? Imagine that! I told you ... big bad boss. Just when I get comfortable with what I'm doing, I'm starting over again. It's all good... new challenges, new skills. Best part... the job is a gov't slot that got pulled and given to my company, so direct GS experience. This should help get me in- in.

And just for fun:

Stacey Lynn --

[adjective]:

Fuzzy to the touch

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com