Break Time

I am taking a break from cleaning which is going well. I recently discovered that this book has the most amazing leg warmers that I have to make for my friend Abby for her birthday which is in two days. She'll forgive me for being a bit late since I have to fly back to Tennessee the day before. I also have to make them for me. So frickin AMAZING! The designer of the leg warmers lists Siouxsie from Siouxsie and the Banshees as her source of inspiration. Which makes this a must must knit.

Nathan called and we're going to have a picnic on the beach after he gets off work. Hurray! We'll stop at Echo's of time first so I can sell my stuff hopefully. I have some shoes from the 30's, a vintage hand bag, a black pill box hat, a 70's dress that I love but never wear and some other things. I have a really hard time giving things up but I feel at least if I can give them up to Echo's they will go to a good home and I can make a couple bucks.

Man I can't wait to knit those leg warmers and wear them. They are going to be hot!!!

101 things to do in 1001 days

From Triplux.com:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

"Here's my list"

001. Grow hair out till the end of the 1001 days small trims for dead ends allowed but no more than 2 inches.
002. Plan a Wedding that doesn’t break the bank and still looks fabulous.
003. Move back to Virginia
004. Sew at least one item a month
005. Read at least one new book a month.
006. Knit all projects that I have already purchased yarn and patterns for
007. Learn to Screen Print like a pro
008. Learn to crochet a lot better
009. Crochet Amuragumi for friends
010. Knit Viking hats for god kids
011. Eat better with more veggies, fruits, and less junk.
012. Travel somewhere out of country
013. Learn to pin stripe
014. Throw a cocktail party.
015. Send letters of appreciation and love to Nathan at least once a month.
016. Get a Double Dutch group going
017. Learn to Double Dutch
018. Order custom tags for handmade items.
019. Go camping.
020. Get a full-time job.
021. Design a knitting pattern
022. Test Knit the designed pattern
023. Purchase from Stop Staring,Black Cherry Clothing, and Zombie Kitten
024. Submit the pattern to a knitting group/magazine
025. Do 1 sketch every day for 1 month.
026. Wear red lipstick every day for a month
027. Dress like a Harajuku girl for a month
028. Write pen pals and send small surprise once a month
029. Learn to style hair in a vintage style
030. Knit graffiti something
031. Organize files on computer
032. Sew a dress all by myself.
033. Make bath bombs.
034. Make marshmallows.
035. Build a piece of furniture from scratch.
036. Tag.
037. Create an alias.
038. Bake all the cupcakes in the 75 vegan cupcakes book
039. Write everyone’s phone numbers down so when I kill my phone I actually have them
040. Sew a corset
041. Make a sock monkey.
042. Move into my own place.
043. Join a new SNB
044. Go to either: Rockabilly Weekender, Viva Las Vegas or Bonneville Speed Week
045. Take a picture of myself everyday for a month
046. Get a dog
047. Get tattoo
048. Get and install throwers for the car
049. Visit the zoo
050. Fix the passenger seat in the car by myself
051. Sew new upholstery for the car
052. Create a resume.
053. Get all the Knit 1 magazines
054. Build a small model-sized house out of matches -- then burn it down.
055. Learn to tie a bowtie.
056. Subscribe to Interweave Knits
057. get an IUD
058. Watch all 54 horror movies I got for my birthday and any other horror movies in my collection that I have not yet watched
059. Go to the drive-in.
060. Skinny-dip.
061. Watch "The Wizard Of OZ" while listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon".
062. Re-establish Tanksylvainia
063. Add the new edition Bait’s Motel
064. Start as 401K
065. Start actively saving $30 a month (a least) in a no touch savings account
066. Get Married to my awesome boyfriend
067. Go apple-picking in the fall.
068. Make jam.
069. Burn all photos on computers to disk by interest (i.e. inspiration, family/friends etc)
070. Get a new degree
071. Graduate TCC
072. Learn how to design a website
073. Learn the lyrics to 4 rap songs efficiently enough to rap along. I'm so white.
074. Start and herb garden
075. Create & bury a time-capsule.
076. be more active in my online communities
077. Call family regularly
078. Write a thank you note for all gifts and kind gestures from people
079. Go streaking
080. Learn how to mix drinks well
081. See at least one band a month live
082. Go out dancing at least once a month
083. Go through all belongings and get rid of stuff
084. Sing in public (in a band, another person, karaoke, anything).
085. Make a 5 year plan with Nathan
086. Build a display case(s) for all Nathan’s loose WWF action figures
087. Watch all David Lynch movies.
088. Learn the US state capitols.
089. Get a new bed.
090. Get a free slurpiee on free slurpiee day (july 11)
091. Participate in another secret pal along
092. Host a mail along
093. Join a Mix tape group
094. Dress up as a hot dog and go tanning
095. Dress up as a hamster and go zorbing
096. Create faux fox stole from design to prototype
097. Put an entire paycheck into savings.
098. Transfer all my MP3 files to AAC for the sake of computer space or invest in a portable hard drive to hold just music.
099. Tell friends & family "I love you" regularly.
100. Embroider something once a month
101. Throw a day of the Dead party

Mohawk Hats and dumpster dive rants

All finished! Hurray! And I actually have a photo to share. I know its amazing!
So now the plan is to make about five more of the little baby ones but for 5 different babies most of them boys. I'll be getting started on that as soon as I get back from VA.

Speaking of getting back from VA to TN. I am going to be a busy girl. I am taking summer classes,both Biology Sciences with a Labs. Classes start every morning at 8. I haven't had to wake up that early in a while so that will be fun. I want to start getting back on my old sleeping schedule anyways. I was way more productive. I also need to find a job when I get back. Tired of being broke. Plus I have an upcoming wedding, move and all that razzamataz so ya job is necessary.

Today my plans are to clean Nathan's room, Hang out with Nathan, Andrew, Abby, Goob and who ever else shows up at Andrew's house. MMM... oh and go to Echo's in Time to sell some of my vintage or vintage style clothing to them since I don't wear it or need it and I can't bear to just give it to Goodwill where it will be miss treated or thrown away. Don't get me wrong I love good will and donate to them regularly but their policy of if its ripped or broken they can't sell it really pisses me off. Mainly because they toss out perfectly fine items that could and are offered to be purchased with out a care to the person offering to purchase it, the environment, or our wasteful society. Plus at most Goodwill stores these days they have COMPACTORS! Those things are the devil and should be destroyed. If you think its trash and others think its a treasure let them have the d*mn thing don't destroy it. If your worried about law suites just put up a sign with a whole long list on a legal document on the dumpster saying if someone dies, gets hurt, or what ever else someone thinks they can sue a company for when they dumpster dive that person/company owning the dumpster can't be held responsible. I am done ranting.

New Face

Well I just gave the blog a huge face lift. I'm still working on putting in the links that I use to have which is probably of no consequence to any of you but I thought I'd let you know in case it was.

Hat is sewn together and I am cutting fringe. Got a little side tracked redoing the blog. Let me know what you think of it.

Pop Lock it Drop it

I have just completed the kitting for the baby Mohawk hat for the unborn, unnamed girl of my friends Josh and Marley. I don't have my needles here and Nathan and I have been on a kind of tight budget this month with all the traveling so when I ran into issues with my circulars being to big for the pattern I was using and to small to do the magic loop with I fudged the pattern and made it so I can seam up the back and wallah (hopefully). I am at the seaming part so we shall see in a few mere moments how this hat will turn out. I also fiddled with the pattern's cast ons after making the ear flaps. It has 15 sts for each ear flap (total 30 sts) so I cast on 5 sts picked up the 15 sts then cast on 12 sts picked up 15 sts and cast on 5 more sts (total 52 sts in all). Oh and that was using the pattern for Ethan's hat.

When Nathan gets home I hope to have the baby hat finished complete with mohawk. If it is I'll have Nathan take a picture of the hats. Yay!

List Gank

Swiped this from Gothknits.
You know the drill.
Mark with bold the things you have knit (or are knitting)/crocheting, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American knitting
English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards (???)
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

tada that was yesterday

Knitting away on the baby hat. I thought I would be done by now but yesterday I went to the Virginia Marine and Science Museum with Nathan to check out the temporary penguin exhibit. There were only 8 of the penguins and they all looked kind of bored and cooped up. I did have a great time though. I got to pet sting ray, horseshoe crab(I also got to feed it a shrimp and touch its mouth), and a snake. It was a beautiful day.

We had lunch with Nathan's mom at a Mexican restaurant and to dinner later in the day with both of his parents at the Wild Wings Cantina. After that Nathan and I went to see Foxy Shazam play. I was excited to find out that Tubring was also on the set list as I really like them as well. Then there was a big surprise later when at Nathan and I'd friend Andrew's house I discovered that I had seen Darren from This show is the Rainbow on his first ever tour. I had sadly missed his show which was earlier in the evening before Foxy and Tubring. I wish I had seen him preform again because he was AMAZING when I saw him in Tulsa, OK.

We got home around 1:30 since Nathan had to work today at 8 in the A.M.. So today I have been sluggin it. Doing laundry since I have no clean pants, shirts, or under panties left on this trip. I guess thats normal when your trip gets extended for twice the amount of time you thought you we're going to be somewhere. No biggie.

tra-la-la

I finished knitting and fringing the hat for Ethan last night while watching Nathan and I's newest favorite show, Trailer Park Boys. The hat turned out great and I hope that Ethan likes it. The show which is also equally if not even more amazing doesn't air in the US of A so we watch it online.

Hope to start the babies Mohawk hat a-sapple. Can't wait to give them to Marley and Josh. So excited. If the Mohawk baby hat is a hit I am going to make a whole load of them for my other expecting or recently blessed friends.

I find it amusing that the Mohawk hat is all over the place recently. Its in Domiknitrix new book, there is a site that specializes in just making knit Mohawk hats some of which are very cool(they also claim to be its inventor which I severely disagree with but thats not worth dithering over), the Dior hat a good 5 years or so ago that hit the runways which I still love and want and so on. I think its an exciting trend mainly because I think they are fun hats.

This is a bit of kitchen fun I stumbled on to,the voodoo 5 knife holder. I really want one actually. I see how some people would think that its really morbid but its so cartoon-ish I really don't feel that its threatening. Can't help what you love I guess.


I'm planning on moving back to VA with in the next 6 months and I have always dreamed of having a cartoon inspired kitchen. Kind of retro with bold primary colors. All the appliances would be stainless steel with pops of red occasionally. I want my mixer to be bright red. Anywhoodles enough with the day dreams.

viking hat

For the new pillager in your family this is a link to a baby viking hat pattern.

Meet the squiddies

This hat is adorable. A little Squid hat for baby.
It reminds me of this squid hat pattern which is for adults.

Babies babies every where

This year is a year for babies. In the past 6 months I have had 7 friends reveal that they were having babies soon. Most are due at some point during the summer so I am working on getting things knit for them.

I am working on a set of hats for my friends Josh and Marley's daughter. They already have a 10 year old named Ethan so I am also knitting him a hat to match his sisters. Marley and Josh are kind of punky so I am making the kids Mohawk hats. For Ethan's hat I am using this pattern as the base hat. It will be black with an orange Mohawk(his favorite color) for his sisters I am going to use white for the base and a variegated pink for the Mohawk.Hopefully this pattern will work out for me. I hope they turn out and the family likes them.

Wow! Its been so long since I posted. Well we'll have to correct that.

Since I last posted I have attended Knittapolooza in Virginia Beach with my mother. I had a great time. Took some awesome classes and got really inspired to try my hand at getting ideas I have for knitting patterns out of my head and onto paper. I am determined to have one complete pattern at the very least by the end of the summer.

School has been hectic as it should be but is now over. My last final is in 2 hours. Thank goodness.
I made some great projects from my fibers class. Hopefully I can get some good pictures of them when Nathan comes to visit so I can share my work with all of you.

I got the book Naughty Knits which was a little more Naughty than I was expecting but still has some really cute patterns in it besides.

Nathan is coming to visit me in a week and 7 hours. Hurray!

In my knitting news.
I got the bag part of the rose bag finished. I am working on finishing all the roses and petals. Can't wait for it all to be finished and sewn together.

Well I have to jet but more later.

Sites to see, books to read

So I have discovered some great new sites.

inspireco which is to charming for words. I am just over joyed at a site that makes me feel so girlie and cute just reading it. Great ideas beautiful work. Ya she's a fun one.

I also found out about this clothing company, Knuckleheads Clothing which has the most adorably retro clothes for little boys. I can't wait to get together some extra cash and get some for my god son. So so so cute.

This is a stationary site. While the work is fairly plain it is still rather fetching in its simplisity. Pink loves Brown

In other news. I have attempted to once agian try my hand at knitting a bikini. I don't know why I have such rotten luck with getting a pattern that I like to work out to a point where I feel comfortable giving it away to my Aunt (who I really want to make one for). So my latest attempt was for the Ashley Paige Blue Suede Bikini. It knit up quickly except for one thing. The chart messed up. I am trying to figure out if I went wrong or the pattern did. More on that as I find time to work on it. School has been so terribly busy I hadly have time to knit but I am going to start forcing it into my scheduel. I love it to much and it relaxes me so well to just let it sit in baskets waiting for me.


My boyfriend even told me he misses me knitting. I geuss he misses it so much he thought I needed inspiration so he bought me (with out even knowing how long I have been waiting for this book to come out I might add) Dominknitrix book. I am so excited to get it and start knitting.

I just discovered some other books that I am super excited about as well. Namely Naughty Knits and Knitting lingerie Style. I can't wait to go get those. I think I am going to go look for them tomorrow. I new project would lift my spirits plus there is bound to be a bikini in one if not both of them. Ah knitting how I love you.

Oh ya the craft center is supose to be starting a stitch n bitch. Not sure when. Super excited though.

Back at large

Been on the down low. We'll see what happens this year.

Found my pattern so the knitting is back on. YAY!

I really want to make that pencil skirt from kitty. I can't afford bamboo yarn though that would be positively scrumcious. Any suggestions as to anything else I could use?

trades, dyes, and weaves

Back agian.

The skull scarf is going well. Half of it is finished and a quarter of the next half is finished. I miss placed my pattern for a week so I couldn't finish it. I was suprised to realize I handled the pattern every day that it was missing and hadn't even realized it haha. I had used the back of it to write out my weaving pattern for class and had been using it daily for that. That project it done hurray. I really like weaving. I'll take a picture and show you the first sampler I did. Its got some mistakes but I love the colors and had fun making it. Its a shame looms cost a whopper or I'd be begging to get one this christmas. Maybe next year... probubly not.

So ya. Knitting is back underway. Hopefully I'll get up to weaving this weekend. Tomorrow we are starting a yarn dying section in fibers. YAY! granted we're using it for weaving I can't wait to experiment this x-mas break on my own. I need to make a bunch of hats for trading purposes.

Walt wants a hat, I want some of his bowls and a watering can.
I want some of brittany's beer glasses, don't know what she might want yet.
some other people have asked about hats but I can't think who off the top of my head.

I think I'll make a bunch and have them at the ready so people can just choose.

Chicken little

Hello

Things seem to keep getting away from me this semester. I haven't been on top of anything. My classes, my blogging, my knitting, my relationships. It sort of feels like everything is coming crashing down around me leaving me feeling a lot like chicken little.

So I have been trying to take the bull by the horns and get back on top of things. I am caught up in school agian and started knitting agian yesterday. I missed it so much I can't begin to tell you.

I am working on a skull scarf from knitty. I really like it the pattern is easy to understand and fast to knit so hopefully I can get it done quickly. haha.

Speaking of knitty I am in love with a skirt from the new knitty. Its a pencil skirt. Amazing. I am temted to work on that this winter break since I will be at home most of the break.

What else. Nothing to report really been pretty well entangled in school and making friends and am currently trying to just get in a groove to finish out this semester. I am hoping next semster I will be much more organised and on top of the game.

Move In Day

Today I moved into my new apartment at the Appalachian Center for Craft. I am very, very excited to be attending school there. I missed meeting my room mate, Anna. She's visiting her mother this weekend so I'll meet her on Monday. I think that I may already have a job with the Appalachian Centers Art Gallaries. I have to go pick up an official transcript tomorrow but I already talked to the people in charge of placing me at the Facility so we will see how it goes.

Felted Bag Part III
I found my missing yarn. YAY! I started the back panel before I went to bed last night. I am right about to start the trellis pattern. Then its just the bottom, leaves, flowers and bows. I can't wait!

lil' Mermaid top
I finished the front pannel. I hope that it will all work out I am pretty sure that it will. I am working on the i-cord that goes throught the eyelets and as soon as that finishes I will seam up the front and back pannels and start the ruffle. I am hoping to finish it by Monday so I can wear it to classes with the necklace and bracelet my Tante Chrissy gave me. The necklace and braclets color was the inspiration for the color I chose for the top. I have to say other than the minor problem with the pattern this tube top is really easy to make.

Then I just have to decide what to pick up next. I still haven't finished the Angelina Jacket. hmmm...

to gnome me is to love me

While visiting my friends blogs I ran into the cutest of cute patterns that a friend of mine is doing and had to find it so I can do it myself. The pattern is a crochet gnome! I love gnomes. They have a spot in my heart not only because they are freakin' adorable but because my grandparents, parents and brothers all love gnomes. We have them in the garden, we have them in the house, when we were little we'd watch "David the Gnome" and my father would make up stories when we'd go hiking about all the things gnomes, elves and dawrfs would do. I love gnomes and now I can make cute little gnomes too. The pattern is from Let's go Ice Skating whose blog is really very fun. I am defiantly going to have to keep reading her blog. The link above will lead you straight to the gnome pattern on her blog for all interested parties. I am going to go look for my hooks and some yarn tonight and get started on some gnomes to send to friends and family. So so cute.

SnB and Felted Rose Bag part II
Last night I went to the Tullahoma Stitch and Bitch for the second time. I love the yarn store where its held and the women are very nice though most of them were there for a dying class rather than the SnB. But it was still nice to meet people and see some of the ladies from last week. I worked on the Felted Rose bag by Nicky Epstien. I finished the Handles. I miss placed three skeins of the yarn I bought for it and so I have been working on whatever I can untill I find it. Which should be soon. I know its around here somewhere since I had it not two weeks ago. I have a terrible habit of putting things places so they will be safe and then forgetting where it was that I put it. Really rather annoying. So the front pannel and the handles are finished. YAY.

No news on the Lil' Mermaid Top Corrections
So I am just going to fudge it. I am rather sad about not being able to get the corrections for any of the patterns. I had wanted to do some of the other patterns in the book. I'll keep looking though and see what happens. I'll also keep you all in the loop as to what happens with the top. I really want to wear it this summer.

The dreaded BF sweater

So my boyfriend finally popped the question. No! Not that question, the other question. The "Will you knit me a sweater?" question. And I said yes of course. So we went through the whole what do you want kick. He doesn't really own any sweaters so he had no idea he just wanted a sweater and I was like I'm not knitting something that your not wearing. So he went through patterns and liked the Warrior pattern by Brandon Mably in the Rowan Magazine 39. Its pictured below.



He didn't want that color palette however so we are going to change it to White, Grey, Charcoal Grey, Black and a deep blue based Red. He looks good in those colors and he wears them alot. I think we're going to do cotton because Nathan is always to warm.

The project should get underway soon. I plan on looking at yarn tomorrow while I am at the Stitch n Bitch and seeing what options are available to me. Nathan will be sending me his chest dimensions tomorrow as well since I don't know if he is an xl or a xxl. He's a big guy. If he's a xxl I need to figure out how to enlarge the pattern which doesn't look like it will be to difficult... hopefully. Its a beautiful sweater though and I am excited to do it. Although I am praying that the break up susperstition is just a superstition.

Knitters are Sexy

So I stumbled across this club on some of the other knitting blogs I had been reading lately and really liked what it was rooting for. The Sexy Knitters club is for knitters who think knitting is for sexy vibrant women which we all are and so I decided to join. So here's to the sexy knitters club.

New icon

I made a new button for my blog. Its on the left and contains this cute little fellow that I just created.

Thought he'd make a good mascot. Now if I can just figure out how to get it in the banner. hmmm... still working on that.

Vogue's Felted Rose Bag part I

I ripped out what I had knit of the felted rose bag because I couldn't figure out where I was in realtion to the pattern and since I hadn't gotten very far decided to just go for it.

I finished the front panel. It looks awesome. I can't wait to finish the rest of the bag which shouldn't take very long. I am trying to figure out if I am doing the bottom right. It says to cast on 10 stitches and then increase every other row til I have 14 stitches then knit in Stockinet til I get to 6 inches. The thing is that the bottom of my front panel is alot longer than 6 inches. Am I supose to just sew it in a manor that it will work or am I doing something wrong. I am curious.

I joined this knit-along for the felted rose bag. I am excited about that. Here is a button that will link any interested parties to that blog. It will also be posted on the side bar which to my annoyance seems to move up and down the page at a whim. I am going to have to figure out a way to make that stop.


I still haven't heard anything about the pattern corrections for the Little Mermaid Tubetop which is sad and some what annoying I am about ready to fudge it. I really want to know what other patterns have issues though since I have the book and I do like some of the other patterns in it. Hopefully something will come through with that.

I finished an embrodered pillow case for Nathan. I hope he likes it its part of our Alphabet-along. It covers the letter A. I need to find the camera so I can share all this stuff.

My knitting was going along famously... until I finished the eyelet rows. I followed the pattern to the letter and it ended up to long (it called for it to be 17 3/4 inches before you start the rib to finish the panel and I got 19 inches on the row of the last eyelets) Very frustrating. I went on a search to try and find any pattern corrections but haven't been able to find anything except another knitter having a problem with one of her patterns who couldn't find any corrections either. So I did the next logical thing. I found her swimsuit business email and I emailed her about my problem. I am praying that her spammer doesn't reduce my email to trash and I make it though as well as get a responce. This is really annoying I was in the last little bit of finishing. I really wanted to wear this while the weather was still hot. Sigh. We'll see what happens. I will post pictures of what I have for now for you Denise since you had requested it as well as scan in a picture of what the pattern is supose to turn out like since I am sure you are all curious.

I also got in touch with a fellow knitting blogger,The knitting virgin who also had a problem with one of Ashely Paige's patterns. She replied with this email.

"I'll find the corrections I used and forward them along to you by email. I'll also send you another blogger's info to contact. She got some corrections from the publisher, but I couldn't open her attachments. Maybe she could send it to you. I actually got fed up and am giving away my book. It wasn't worth the effort to me as I'm still a moderate knitter and not ready to improvise and think that hard. I'll try to get my stuff together by tomorrow. :)"

I am very grateful to her for her quick responce and help and would also like to extend a note of thanks to whom ever it was who helped her. I will be sending another email to ashley Paige requesting she make a webpage listing her book corrections.

So finsihed school at TCC. I should be walking in December for two AAA's one in Fine Arts and one in Crafts. Hurray for being finished.

I start school at the Appalachian Center for Crafts in a week. I'll be working on getting a BA in Fiber Arts aka Textile design. I am really stoked on that.

I moved to Tennessee about a week ago. Its beautiful here. Tons of forests and lakes and wildlife. My parents live about an hour from Nashville. There is still tons to do though. For example there is a 3 screen drive in theater down the road along with a yarn store sporting a stitch and bitch every tuesday. I'll be going tomorrow and let you know how that goes. There alot of museums and attractions around as well. The Jack Daniels distillery for example is just 12 miles downt he road.

My knitting has been coming along since I finished school. I am almost done with the front panel of the Little Mermaid Tube Top from the Ashliegh Paige book. I am really excited about finishing it since it means I'll finally have something to wear a really cute orange beaded neckalce and bracelet that my aunt sent me that I didn't have anything that matched it. So thats exciteing.

Once thats done I am going to go back and fix the problem I was having with the Flame skirt. I should have just gone with the intarsia but I decided to weave and it was my undoing. I think I can get away with cutting the back thread and weavign it in. If it doesn't work... then I will buy new yarn and start a new. For now the plan is to try this idea out. I think it should work.

My knitting class went well. I was excited to teach it and all the girls were lovely. 3 of the four were able to finish their pencil bags and the last one was going to take the class agian this month with Nancy.

So that whats new with me. Sorry to have not posted for so long.

Been busy around here. My parents have moved to Tennessee I'll be joining them in about two weeks to live with them for two weeks before I go to school.

My knitting class for this month showed. I had 4 students. they all did really well. I thought them to Cast on, Knit, Purl, and Bind off. They were making pencil cases off a pattern of my design. I'll post that in the next post. 3 of the girls finished their bags before the end of the class. The 4th girl really has the knits down but has a small tendency to drop stitches. But she is doing a really good job.

I finished the back pannel of my tube top from the Ashley paige book. Can't wait to finish it so I can wear it well I am going to jet. Hopefully I'll get to post agian soon. Right now I don't have a computer with interweb access.

My student for the knitting class never showed. Thats ok I am teaching a class next month to so its not like it won't happen agian.

I finished the flames on my skirt. Now I just need to finish the top. YAY! I started to and I was running two threads togethe which was silly because its caused the last five rows that I've done to pucker. DOH! so I am going to un ravel and just knit it with one strand even though that will make it thicker at the flames I don't think it will be a major issue because it will be even and I cn say that I made it that way to add weight to the skirt at the bottom. So yes frogging is the name of the game for the next part of the skirt.

Still haven't gotten any farther on the Rose bag which is shame but I'm going to get to work on it as soon as the unraveling is completed.

I found this link and thought some of you might enjoy it. crochet me.

Today I teach a beginners knitting class to 8-13 year olds. Should be fun. I have never taught a class before so it will probubly send me down in flames. I'm really nervous about it. Hopefully I can teach them how to knit. The plan is a small scarf, bag, or hat... in their two days of knitting class. So wish me luck!

Vacation all I ever wanted

The mid terms have arrived and I am slowly strarting to wish for the end of the semester. I am just ready to have some time to myself. Time to make stuff, time to get use to the fact that I have finished a whole chapter of my life and time to figure out what the hell I am doing.

I am leaving in August to go study Fiber Arts. I'm not sure what I can do when I'm done and that kind of scares me. But I am really excited about getting to study something I already love indepth.

I worked on an illustration for a childrens book a friend is writting. I'm not allowed to show it to you because its agianst the contract but I am still excited to give it ot her and see what she thinks. This is just a test illustration to see if she likes my ideas and if she thinks it will work for her book. So we'll see.

I am working on a plastic canvas bag that I hope will be a sucess. I am pretty sure it will since my lil' brother walked in and looked at the first peice and said he thought it looked really cool. So that is a good indicator.

I found all my missing bags from the last move(we thought they lost a box) in a suitcase no one had used in forever that was in the garage. YAY! I was so sad when I thought that those bags had been lost but now they are found and I can finally fit my school books all in one bag agian(that box was for my large tote bags in particular).

I have to say I have been pretty happy with the way things are going latly although my knitting is lacking. I still have yet to finish the flame motif on the skirt. All other areas of life and craft are doing good. I started an on line journal to sell my excess items of craft and what-not.

those are a pair of earrings I made to sell as an example.

I have been asked to sell some of my wares down at a store on the ocean front as well so I am going to do that. Excited about it really,

School is going well. I am actually doing well in Math and I can't say I have any issues with any of my classes, teachers or classmates. I am suprised that its already mid-term. Hard to believe.

The house is beginning to look like one giant box of boxes. Kind of sad really never liked how houses look when your moving out. Its fun when your moving in because its like opening presents. Well I'm going to get back to what I need to be doing but I wanted to let you know what I've been up too.

what did the daddy tomato say to the baby tomato when he fell behind?

Katchup! that the pulp fiction quote of the weekend and the name of the game.

13 rows and counting left of the motif.

the rose bag hasn't budged same with the Angelina Jacket.

My weekend will be filled with the partial disassemblement of my room. So far I have gathered most everything to take up to storage. I still need to take apart my bed (the fram is going to storage). Man I am so ready to just vegg.

Plan today in the craft way is to make earrings lots and lots of them. like... 20 of them. yup. Maybe I'll see about making candles tomorrow. I need to use the wax that Nathan's mom gave me and soon. I'm not moving that stuff.

I also need to go in and put handles on my pitcher before it dries (I was thinking about making it look like a granade too since it kind of has that shape already and I thought it'd be kind of cool to have a granade pitcher. If i do that I'm going to have to make some mini granade cups to match. fun stuff. I am really enjoying pttery this semester. I loathed it the last time I took it but this semster I feel like I'm doing alot better at controlling the forms. Its still a 6 to 1 ratio. I mess up 6 forms before I get one that I can keep(these are by no means perfect either).

I also have to study Math with Sara she has a test tuesday and I have a test thursday and we're both not to excited about either. I am so glad I didn't take her class. I could never remember 5 chapters of math for one test. My class has a test for every 2 chapters. Thank heavens.

Feeling a bit down but I think its more because I'm not doing anything than anything else.

I wish my Zombie Kitten Skirt would get here. I want to wear it everywhere.

666 the number of the beast

So today yesterday is was the day that most metal bands have been looking forward to forever.

skirt count down t-minus 20 rows of motif.

I cancled the bonneville trip. I am not going to be able to pull in the extra cash so I am going to invest the money into equipment that I have been wanting for quite a while now... and clothes. I've been oggling some dresses and things on diffrent sites so we'll see.

So last night I was going through one of my many stacks of papers that I have around that I need to file and sort and what was in it? My Angelina Jacket pattern. Sweet! I am stoked that I can start working on that agian. I have been wanting to finish that for quite a while.

The skirt has t-mis 26 rows of motif left til the black. I am going to start doing a count down.

I haven't worked on the rose bag since the last post. Shameful.

In other news. Some friends and I are going to start crafting together. We're actually getting together as soon as I get off of here so I geuss I should hop to that. haha.

Hey

I've gotten through the first row of the Trellis pattern of the felted rose bag. I am a little suprised. I thought this pattern would be alot more difficult than it is and I can't wait to have it finished so I can felt it.

Today while I was checking out more podcast for knitting I heard about World Wide Knit in Public Day. Which is on June 10th. I think thats cool. I don't really see why its such a big deal to knit in public but I geuss thats probubly because I do it all the time. haha. I would invite everyone else to do it though. Its really quite fun to bring a simple project with you when your stuck in lines, traffic, waiting for someone. Its amazing how fast you can get through projects when you are just doing a line here and there.

Lately I have been getting really into listening to pod casts about knitting. My favorites so far are:

Cast-On
Knitcast

Those are the two I like the most so far because they have alot of good information about fibers and they seem to do alot of research for their show. Cast-On has music mixed in which very nice. Most of the pod casts are just the host talking which is usually fine. There are so many pod casts popping up its alot of fun. If anyone else has any that they love I'd love to know about them.

New projects to start a new semester

Summer schools started agian. I am taking Algebra, Intro to Psychology, Wheel thrown pottery and Drawing 4(which I do as an independant study).

So far the semester is going amazingly well. I even get time to knit while waiting for my math teacher to get to class he's always late.

I started a new project. The felted rose bag from the March 2005 Vogue Knitting Magazine. I am very excited to be finally making this bag. Ican't wait to see how it is going to turn out.

My skirt is coming along really well too. I have 32 rows of the 58 that make up the flame motif finished. It shouldn't be to much longer til I get through those last 26. Then its home free knitting all in black with out having to worry bout counting or unwinding bobbins. It will be amazing.

My dress that I am sewing from the New Look pattern # 6457 is almost finished. I am really happy with how its turning out. I am having a small issue with the piping moving once or twice when I was sewing it on so I am going to remove that and resew it on the band that goes acoss the chest of the dress. I will make sure to post pictures gallore when its all finished.

My friend Sara is getting married next summer and wants a traditional 30's dress to honor her grandmother so she asked me to make it. I would be honored to do it so I found a pattern at the fabric store I think that she will love and then we can get the fabric and I can get that going. Pretty awesome.

I ordered an item off my long wish list last week.A zombie kitten skirt. They are so cute. I am getting the one with the rocket on the front on black instead of navy. Which I'll admit I was a little sad at first til I was thinking about it. I wear alot more black than I do navy so its a whole lot better to get it on black.
Also new to my wish list is a cupcake tree. Ya. I think I need one.


The double dutch group has yet to get off the ground. I am sad about that.

ok so here I am at work and it just started pouring down rain so I thought its time to update my blog.

The skirt is coming along great I am almost through the flames which means that I'd move right into the fast stuff YES!

I was thinking about it and you know its seems really silly that I am willing to drop over a hundred dollars on rowan yarn that I can't even wash in the washer but I am not willing to get the sari silk or the lorna's laces that I love. I just don't get it. I think its because I have a plan already when I buy the rowan and I don't for the other yarns even though they'd be amazing for all sorts of millions of things. Sigh. I am going to have to give in an get them soon.

I am also giving into the fact that I can not find the Angelina Jacket pattern anywhere and I need to buy a replacement. I want to finish that jacket really badly. Its just sitting there mocking me. So I'll do that this week. I supose that should be my next project to finish.

I've been trying to get through the flame motif on the the skirt but its just not something that moves very quickly so I am only about half way through it. Its looking awesome though. I am very excited about it.

I bought some new knitting books and Magazines. Namely the new K1, the interveiw crochet issue, and the books



I am really excited about a few of the peices I really want to make a tub top that is in the sexy little knits. I think I am going to have to go get the yarn for that as soon as I fall in to some extra cash. I have been being really terrible about saving up my money the last $200 I got has gone down the drain and I am still trying to save up for Bonneville. I need to get all the money soon. I need to get the plane tickets. Maybe I'll go ahead and get those and then I'll worry about where my food money will come from later. Sigh. Ya. Shameful. I got enough for everything but the food and extra spending so that good.

I made a pearl necklace today with some of the beads and things I had laying around I am pretty stoked on it. Can't wait to wear it out.

So I am really excited because some girl friends and I are going to start a small double dutch group for the summer. I am so stoked on this I can not even begin to tell you all about it. If you've ever seen the group double dutchess then you to are probubly already amazed by the wonder that is double dutch after the age of 6. So I have been starting to practice jumping for that. I jumped for 15 minutes straight the other day and my calves were killing me for the next three days. Now that they aren't screaming at me I am going to go out and jump agian. Probubly tomorrow since I am exhausted from staying up all night last night (went to bed at 4) woke up at 9. I have issues where I can't sleep in. Never have been able to unless I force my self or I am exhausted and sick.

I have been trying to make a dress using a pattern I got from the store. I geuss the hard part is that I haven't used a pattern in years so I have already made a number of mistakes. Small things really but I am confused about something now that I have all the peice cut out and I am pinning them together for the front it seems like it'd need darts(i think thats the right terminalogy but I could be a million light years off) or something in order to make it bow out correctly and the pattern although it has it drawn on the small picture doesn't have a position marked on the actual peice for cutting those little dart spots out. So I am trying to figure that out. Sigh. It should look amazing once I get this all figured. And I use to think sewing was so easy in middle school.haha. We'll see eh.

You know I have been having this itch for making shrink-a-dinks for months and I have yet to do it. I think I'm gonna go get the stuff to do it and do that this week. I mean why not I love shrink-a-dinks its about time to scratch that itch.

I know I've been off in la la land. My finals are starting to wind down the spring semester will be finished on Tuesday! HURRAY! That means I can devote all my time to knitting and knitting and carshows and nathan. So till tuesday when I will have the grand finale I leave you with this. I have finished ten rows of inerstia on the hot tamale skirt. I only have like 48 more rows of inerstia to go. I am so excited. then it should finish up really fast because its just straight knitting no more weaving in ends.

So I have been doing alot of school work lately so I haven't had much time to post. I have been managing to squeeze in some knitting time here and there though. I finished a hat with cat ears and ear flaps for Kaligh since she made hers to big a didn't like it. I geuss she doesn't want it though since she made another one at Michelle's when we were all hanging out knitting and watching Audrey Hepburn movies.
Michelle and I dyed mohair that I had been given a while ago with easter egg dye. I am really excited to show it off. I had to leave before it was fully dry so I don' t have pictures to show yet but soon.
I am working on my hot tamale skirt. Its a slow knit since i have to weave the colors into each other as I go. I hate bobbining so I have to un wind he yarns from one another periodiclly. I only have a like 40 more rows to go. Its coming along well though.

Ok well i had better get back to working on my photography since I am in class right now. Shhh.

Man. Knittapalooza has me working hard.
Today I won an award for a charcoal drawing I did in Drawing one. I got the Dean's award and $250. So thats nice it'll all go toward Bonneville. I am determined to make it there. I am just $350 away... Well really only about $300. The plane tickets are going to be the most expensive part. Oh well I am totally determined to go.

I finished my cowboy hat on Monday this past week and took pictures.

It was alot of fun to make and went suprisingly quickly. This was my first real crochet project and I bought the yarn Saturday and finished it Monday. Pretty crazy.

I finished my Alicia jacket from the Rowan Big Wool book today. It fits great although the pattern calls for a zipper and I keep getting everyone telling me "no no don't put in a zipper it looks lovely with out it and it'd be easier to dress it up with out one" so now I am going to wait on a zipper. Need to debate it a bit longer. For anyone knitting the pattern I will say that I think that picture was being a bit crafty because when you follow the directions for installing the collar it leaves some nasty gaps (they are totally fixable) on the front panel sections. I just wove the holes together so it looked normal but I was a bit annoyed with the fact that it did that and that it appears that they had the same problem and just covered it up with the models hair. Still the jacket is lovely and very charming.

Made some vynil bracelts with multiple friends this week. they are jsut so easy and fun to make its hard not to whip the up. Here's one I gave to my friend joy.


I think that about covers it. Well I am off to craft some more.

bountious booty

bountious booty
Originally uploaded by dielaydbugdie.

This is from my pirate pal, Elspeth all the way from San Fran. Thank you! I love love loved it! The edible gold, the seeing eye patch, the pirates booty(yummy), THE YARN, the beads, the noise makers and everything was AMAZING!!!! I especially loved the Playmobile guy. I love playmobile and have quite a bit of it from when I was little. I am definatly going to have to go get all the pirate stuff now. Thank you.

I jumped in to the ocean of crochet today. I started the Yeehaw Lady cowboy hat. I am using berrocco suede, one skein of the bone color and one of the glittry tan. It's looking pretty good so far. i need to find some stitch markers before I can continue so I put it down for the evening.

I sewed up the side sems of Alicia and realized to my horror that I had put the neck decreases for the front panels on the wrong side so I am going to have to rip those back about 6 rows, no biggie.

I think I'm going to cut some more panels for my band sirt quilt tomorrow.

Welp I'm off to beddie bye.

I finished the sleeve for Alicia and plan on finishing it all up tomorrow. YAY!
I realised in glassblowing while working on Justin's sweatervest that it is going to be to large so I need to rip it out. Meh!
I really want to make the cowboy hat in Happy Hooker. hmmm...

Tee hee

All must view this wonder that is called entertainment. apache boy
yoinked from Red Lipstick. So amazing!

The weather which was so perfect last week after I got back from Boston has been very chilly this week. I have to say I am not a fan of teaser weather. I get all excited and then its cold. Its ok in the end since its been helping me focus on my school work. I have been so bad this semester. I think its because I am so close to being done and I am looking forward to the next step in my education in Tennessee. I am really excited about being able to work with fibers all the time.

I am almost finished with the last sleeve on Alicia. Then I can sew it all up and put on the neck collar. Then I can wear it and be all warm and snuggly. YES!

I have been compliling things to mail to my booty swap partner. I hope she likes them I hope to mail it out this weekend to make sure it gets out in time.

I have been asked to judge a children's art show. I am very honored and excited about this expericance. I hope I do a good job.

I'm back from Boston. had a wonderful time visiting friends and checking out a new city. There was a really nice yarn shop call Woolcot and co. in Cambridge. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area of Harvard Square.

I finished Nathan's grandmothers scarf. I hope she really likes it. Other than that I got the new stitch and Bitch: happy hooker and I've been working on a few projects here and there in between classes and homework.

I geuss thats all that I have time for right now. Check ya'll later.

I must be seriously addicted to yarn. I mean who in their right mind chooses knitting over sleep? Or decides that since they are heading some where cold it's the perfect time to finish a sweater so they can wear it when the get up there? haha I geuss it would be me.

Alicia the sweater is coming along well. I am a bit tired so I have to rip out what I started of the right panel today since I caught that I was off by a row in my increases which bothers me and since it knits so quickly I would feel ashamed if I weren't to go back and correct this minor of minor mistakes. I am fairly confindant that I wll have it finished in time for Boston though or at least to the point where I am sewing in the zipper.

Especially since I was wrong about it being Knitapolluza weekend. Its not until next month. Thank goodness. I was about to collapse from exhaustion. I think I am going to crash into bed now and finish my sweater tomorrow.

I am getting a hair cut tomorrow as well. Hurrah! Oh and my friend Ryan called from Tulsa. He's had a bad week and was looking for someone to cheer him up I was so flattered that he'd call me long distance and everything.

I am uber excited about going to Boston sunday. eeee! ok nite

So I finished the left front panel of the Alicia Cradigan. YAY! that was just knitting during glassblowing which is a three hour class and I only knit for part of it (namely the parts when I am not blowing glass or watching the teacher give a demo). Exciting! yes I know. Also exciting is I just sold one of my glass cupcakes. Joy and I designed these cupcakes as an idea on her birthday. I love the design and have become obsessed with making them.

Any whoodles. I really need to get on the ball and take photo's of my FO's. I have like four now and I haven't posted any except Jesse's scarf and thats a rather ambigious shot. Anywhoodles. I best get to bed or work on homework since its getting so late.

I can't wait til I go to Tennesse and can play with fabrics all the time. I am sure there will be a day in the not so distant future when I will rue the day I said that but I am really excited about the Appalachian craft center's program. I think this is going to be an amazing experiance. I am just waiting for my acceptance letter. Oh I do hope it comes I don't know why it wouldn't I have good grades and what not. Hmm not going to dwell on it.

I started Justin's vest. So far so good. I couldn't find a pattern I liked or that was just what he wanted so I am writing my own. We'll see how well that does over. I'll post it when I'm done.

Nathan needed his camera back so I have none for which to use to post the bike bag. I am very saddened by this I am so wanting to share it with the world.

I decided to hold off on my fanatic knitting of justin's vest for a moment and finish Alicia the cardigan made with Rowan big wool in a cranberry color. I have the back already finished and would like to have the front and sleeves finished by the time I have to go to Boston so I can wear it. YES! we'll see though. Man I love rowan so much. I wish I could fill a pool with it and jump in like scroooge the duck does with his money. Oh it would be glorious. ***Yarn Fantasy**drools***

*pop* back to reality. my goals for the next week are to finish,

Alicia the cardigan
Justin's vest
Nathan's Grandmothers scarf

Once these have been completed I'll figure out what I want to do next. Oh the limitless possibilities. By the way the new Mag knits issue is out. I like the Twister scarf. Very niffty.

Well I am off to complete my errands for the day. Toodles.

I still need to put the pictures of my new bike bag on the computer but until then here is a tantalizing image of my dog. Pheffer sporting the new look, Jesse's scarf.

Very chic.

I also am now part of Nipper's Booty swap. AR! YE Harties! I can't wait to see who I get. I am planning the package already.

I started Justin's sweater vest. I couldn't find a pattern that was just right though so I am taking about 5 and combining them to make mine. I think I'll post it when its finished. I am about a quarter way through the back. We'll see how it goes.

I also wound the yarn for Nathan's grandmothers' scarf. I decided I am going to add a few strands to it to give it more bulk and warmth. She lives in Wisconson for crying out loud it gets cold there unlike here where it just gets annoying.

Nathan is up in Hampton some where with his band the Bastille recording their first Demo. I am so excited and proud of them. They have been a band for a little over three months and already they are recording and playing shows and I think that they sound diffrent and fun. I am not just saying that because I am his girl friend either. I really do like their sound. I am not sure how to discribe it since its gridcore mixed with some other elements but it works. They could bump their stage presence though and get some better lyrics but the sound is good.

Going for the GOLD

geuss who just finished sewing the handles on her bike bag! YA! they aren't the wooden handles that are pictured in the pattern I couldn't find any of those but these look very nice as well. I am going to watch the close of the Olympics now and take some pictures to share. Hope everyone else had as much of a blast as I did participating in this.

I'm taking a break. I can't get the very end of the backward finishing section out and I am tired of playing with it. I think I am going to drink a cup of tea to warm up set my alarm for 10 and then I'll go to the fabric store and finish all the finishing. It'll go quickly once I get that blasted section out. there had to be a fowl up right before the finish line of course.

Well I am finished knitting all the peices. I started the finishing and attached half of two panels incorrectly so I'm ripping it out to do it over. I am really excited since that means as long as I can find the handles or handles that are comprable at the fabric store later this morning that it'll be all done by the 8pm deadline. YIPEE!!!!

I think the next projects will be worked as followed:

*Rowan Sweater (I can't remember the name right now I have the back finished its a cardigan)so I can wear it in Boston.

*Black and White lashy frilly fun scarf for Nathan's grandmother. I think I am going to make it a ruffle scarf since I think that would be fun and I haven't made one.

*Justin's v neck sweater vest. So far I haven't had any luck finding a worsted weight plain high v necked vest pattern. I have one for sport that has ribbing all the way up it(I am planning to just convert that one) and another that is for DK weight. I think that altering the sport weight pattern would be the easiest thing to do.

Other things I need to do this weekend consist of:

*write Resume
*portfolio Pictures for portfolio and Resume
*still life final in colored pencil (start it)
*math homework
*start taking photo's for the 3rd portfolio in photography
*make porfolio book or purchase one

things I'd like to do:

*start packing things in boxes that I want to go in storage when I move
*breaking down my magazines scrap booking those images and articles I find inspiring
*put the clothing I have set aside to sell up on the internet
*post images of knitting olympic progress

oh I'd like a Brandy, Thank you.

Hello Darlings!
I am staying up late for the final stretch of knitting involved in my Knitting olympic challenge. I am on the last panel. The 9 inches that connect the two bags while I watch my favorite movie of all time, The Pink Panther. Now if you haven't seen the original you've missed out. It's sophisticated, slap-slapstick, and charming all in one. I have never not been in the mood to watch it. I saw the new Pink panther movie and actually really enjoied it as well. My only complaint was that there was no Pink Pather cartoon ending which is in all the pink panther movies made prior to this one. Other than that I thought it was a very well done film.

What else is there to tell? hmm... I found this delightful blog called Just Jussi. She has the cutest fortune cat pattern. too cute! I recommend everyone check it out. Well I am had better get back to finishing my knitting. I hope I can finish in time.

I am one determined cookie to finish my olympic knitting tonight. I am down to the last two panels (one quarter panel and the 9 inch seed stitch patch that connects the two bag peices).

I have had alot of fun participating in this even though I've been bad about keeping up on updating about my progress. I do have some pictures to post but I think I'll do that tomorrow as a final post a sort of beginning to end thing.


In other news the new Stitch and Bitch book is out. I have already ordered it off Amazon they have them on sale right now. My freind and co-worker Sherry was going to submit a pattern but decided not to at the last minute but three other crafters whose journals I read made it in so I am really excited to see their patterns and try them.

Sherry gave me a noni pattern Camellia Flowers for felting, or not. Excited to try that out soon.

I am going to Boston next week so I want to check out a knit shop or two up that way. They have a cute one called the Knittin Kitten that I would love to go check out.

Nathan my boyfriend got me these tights for Valentine's Day! Love them.

Moving on.

My knitting olympics challenge is going ok. I had a really busy week at school so I haven't gotten as far as I would have liked to be. I have finished one of the quarter panels and I am half way through the second of the four but thats as far as I have gotten. I have pictures of the progress I have made I'll post them a little later.

I found all the yarn stores in Boston in preparation for my trip there. Can't wait to see Christina. I haven't seen her since Berlin in 2002. We seem to see each other about every 5 years since it was 5 years before Berlin that we had seen each other.

I did all the finishings on my mom's vest she knit for my Omi(grandmother).It looks great. She's working on her slippers for the olympic knitting challenge now. She's already finished her first pair and started her second. Go mom.

I will try to be a bit more frequent with the Olympic knitting challenge updates since I think this week will be a little less busy.

Today the Olympic knitting originator, the yarn harlot, was on NPR. Pretty awesome.

I joined. My mom is joining.

Not to much has been going on. I have been knitting but just kind of jumping around from project to project. I am a stripe away from completion on Jesse's scarf though so that'll be the first to go.

The project I am knitting for the olympic games is going to be the bike bag from the Winter 2004/2005 Vogue knitting magazine. Love that bag. Have been wanting to knit it for a whole year but haven't been able to so now I can. I am ready. In three days the games will begin and I will become a knitting machine. Going head to head with some of the best knitters in the world. Compeating for that illustrious award, THE GOLD METAL! I am determined.

My goal is to finish Jesse's scarf today it has 3 and a half stripes to go. for goodness sake and has been sitting around in my knitting basket, a constant reminder of my wonderful procrastination skills. I have decided to add a thin red stripe in the center of the last black stripe to spice it up a bit and also to fufill the request for some red. So that should be good give it a bit of an edge. Then I can pack it up and mail it out. YES!

on another not I have been thinking about the double helix scarf that is sitting in the bottom of a knitting bin a quarter done or so and really contemplating pulling it out and finishing it. CRAZY yes probubly that scarf caused me enough greif to throw it into a bin where it has remained since last year but we'll see. I want to finish the skirt first.

the first rule of Knit Club

I ran into this in one of the communities I read. Its pretty cute. I have a few complaints about it but they are minor and its still a fun mini-flick. So check it out
Knit Club

Let me know what you think about it.

excuses excuses

Injuries are the best excuses for knitting. I spained my back cleaning my room, I always knew cleaning was dangerous. Anyways. I have finally gotten into the Tamale shirt and am enjoying playing around on the Punkrockdomestics forum. I am so in love with that site I can't even begin to tell you.

Nathan, my other, had found one of the knitted images from this site and I have to say that they are amusing. Check them out. I'll warn you they are a bit morbid so if you aren't into the macabe I don't know if you'd like it. yumlum knitwear

other items of interest. Nothing much really. School is school is school. Nathan and I are great, I am a bit peeved about the delay in getting anything done and missing a few days of school due to my back injury but other than that I am feeling really really great!

Welp I am off to keep knitting.

almost there

So I bought new addi turbos since I can't take how slow knitting on denises are anymore. I will be using htem to finally start this pattern. Which I am very impressed to say only cost me a measley $15 to purchase all the yarn for. YAY!

I will be starting it as soon as I finish Nathan's scarf which is very close. YAY! Can anyone please explain to me why scarves can be so painful to knit? I can get through about half fine and then it becomes such a chore. I can fully knit and finish a sweater in a quarter the time it takes me to finish a scarf. Shameful? probubly but still true.

The super bowl sale is going to be happening soon at work. I am very very excited. If you live in the Va Beach area at all you should come out. Bobbie puts awesome stuff at the lowest prices ever for a day so she can get ready for her new inventory and that day is always Super Bowl Sunday. Amusing yes.

Thats that. I started to knit the Jaywalker socks from Mag knits. I really really wanna be in the knit along. I want to know why I never hear about the knitalongs I would like to do until they are already closed. Sigh. Depressing I'll still knit it all anyways and lurk the knitalong but its not the same.

So wha else. .... nothing much. I watched sci-fi fridays with my family as usual and I am still loving Battlestar Galactica. They put out a new show though that looks really good called John Doe. I watched the first episode today interested to see where it goes.

organizing crisis

So I got an email back from the lego knitting machine creator. He was very nice and it read
"Hi Heidi,

Thank you for your nice note. As of now, I do not intend to put
together plans for the knitting machine. In the near future (once my
bandwidth crisis dies down), I will be posting some more pictures.
Perhaps these pictures will help others who are trying to build
something similar.

Again, Thanks for the note,

Tom"

So thats that. Still I am totally impressed that there is a lego knitting machine.

I have been really weird lately in the fact that I have been cleaning my room when I want to procrastinate on something. Now while this might sound like a normal thing this is not a regular occurance for me. I think it has to do with the fact that I hadn't seen my desk top in.... months. And that means I can't sew which I have been wanting to do lately. I have also been wanting to purge lately which is great because I really am a terrible pack rat. (I save wrappers to packaging I like to give you an example of exactly how bad it is). Yesterday was actually sort of embarassing. I saw my friend Joy's room which is really very cool, but back to the point, she has everything extremely organized. Down to little labled boxes and books of like subjects put together and then we came to my room to get something and I have things balanced here that hold up this yada yada yada. I geuss I really don't think about it I just get up and go but still I was kind of jealous of the way everything was so organized. I want to be organized.

So what else. I have been working on Nathan's scarf and it doesn't feel like its getting anywhere. I think thats why I don't like knitting scarves. I get through the first half in like a half a day and the second half takes me a month. Go figure. It think its because on most scarves by that point its just repeative. At least on a sweater you have increasing and decreasing and all sorts of other suprises to get to. On scarves they are just repeative after the first half. I am determined however to finish Nathan and Jesse's scarves so help me Amelia Bedelia. I miss Amelia Bedelia. What mistchif she could get her self into. hehe. In fact here's some fun with Amelia Bedilia.

babies

I finally have a photo of the baby pants for Jill's wee one and the baby blanket for Denise's lil treasure.

I still need to post pics of the One skein wonder and Erin the sweater. but i figure we'll get to that all in good time.


not much going on today.

lego knitting machine

So my friend Atlanta sent me this amazing link of a knitting lego machine. How cool is that? I have to say I think its pretty awesome. So you should all check it out.

Other than that I have been running around like a chicken with out a head trying to get everything settled for school and settle into the new scheduel. I haven't had a chance to pick up my needles all week. I miss them. I have some cool ideas for some things that I hope to do tonight. We'll see. I have to finish my home work first. No ones geussed where the Button's from yet. I am going to give it another week then I'll announce what its from and what the prize would have been.

I signed up for food swap on flickr. Should be fun. Not sure what I should send just yet. I am thinking Route 11 chips since its an American Chip company and they make some really great flavors. We'll see.

Button contest

Things have been going crazy the past few days. I started school up today so I am sure that I will be wondering around for the next week trying to get adjusted to the new scheduel. I should actually be sleeping since I have Math tomorrow at 8 in the morning. Math is the bane of my existance. I am terrible at it. I am planning to go to class then go straight to a tutor and do my homework then prey that I pass what ever tests might be thrown at me. ICk to math. Sorry to all you all who like it.

So yup. I had Digital Photography and Glassblowing today. I am very excited about glassblowing this semester. I still have to post pictures of my glass from last semester. I'll have to do that.

Well I really need to get to bed but I wanted to direct all of ya'lls attention over to the side bar to see my new button. If anyone can geuss where the black sheep on the button is I will send them a prize. So leave me a comment with an email and where the sheep is from origionally.

Things have been kind of busy lately. Today I'm going to the Jivin and Drivin radio show and later the Bloodshot Bill's show. I am really excited about both. I have to go pick up Nathan's dad from the airport inbetween the two since Nathan is at work and Evan is at a Funeral. So thats the day ahead.

Crafty things I finished are:

the Erin sweater
Denises's baby blanket
The One Skein Wonder (which did only take one skein)

I am working on: (how much is completed)

Nathan's double knit scarf (1/2)
Jesse's cabled scarf (3/4)
Angelina Jacket (I misplaced the pattern so its on hold) (1/2)
a Rowan sweater the name of which aludes me right now (1/2)

I made cupcakes yesterday they were a big hit even though they didn't turn out the way I wanted. I was trying to make them the blog cupcakes. I'll load pictures later.
I think they are possible I just need to work on them. We'll see I'll make them again some time soon.

Well I best get ready for all the running around I'm going to be doing.

jelly kitten heels

jelly kitten heels
Originally uploaded by dielaydbugdie.

Hey everyone. I am putting these up on Ebay. I'll post a link tomorrow when I do. Their a size 7. Very comfy. My feet were just to small. What can I say I missed out on having the chace to relieve my 8 year old dreams of wearing jellies my whole life. Oh well I hope some one else will love them.

!

Juicey Fruiter is an amusing blog about park ranger life. I quite enjoied it.

As for life in the wonderful world of me. Well a few things of interest have occured. I got the last skein I needed to finish the baby blanket. YES! I am going to finish it before the New Year ball falls.

Nathan returned from Wisconson. I mailed my Flickr pals gift. Ordered this shirt. I really don't need it but it was on sale and I like that company so I wanted something from it. Its still a cute shirt though and I am excited to get it even though I should have put the money aside for spendage for my Bonneville Speed week vacation.

I wish I could find the USB cord to the camera so I could post all the cool loot I got for X-mas and all the projects I've finished or am working on.

I made plans for August to attend the Bonneville Speed Week on the Salt Flats of Utah before I transfer to Richmond, VA to attend VCU. Very exciting both the Speed week and VCU. though I have to admit at the moment I am a bit more excited about Speed week. Especially since I am going to fly into Tulsa and Ryan and I are going to drive the rest of the way in his Bel Aire. Can I just say that this is a dream? I am going to be spending two glorious days in a Bel Aire a car whose tires I am not fit to wash. Sigh pure bliss just thinking about it. So that is in between summer school and moving. YES!

A friend of mine gave me this link. I think some of you might like it. Its all about color in fashion. very niffty. Fashion in Colors

I think that about covers it for today folks.

Busy

I have been knitting up a storm. I am on the last 7 rows of trim for the Glamprye One skein Wonder which is turning out wonderfully. I'll be sure to post pictures once I find my camera or Nathan gets back. I am waiting for the last skein for the baby blanket but in the mean time I started to write a pattern for a Jacket and Bag that are a take after Cruella De Vills' from 101 Dalmations. I am ordering the yarn for it on tuesday so hopefully it will work so I can dress up as cruella for Halloween next year.

I am working on Jesse's scarf which is a slightly altered Here and There cbales scarf from the Scarf Style book (pg. 15) its really easy but looks like it would have been hard. I did the first half of the scarf in a week and then took 6 months to finish the rest of it because I was being side tracked by other projects, school etc... The alterations include making it striped, about a quater shorter in width, and adding a fisher man's necking to it (where its more narrow at the point where the scarf naturaly rests on the neck). I have a few pictures from when I was working on it earlier this year. I should have the final pictures soon since i have four stripes to go. YAY! Thats the plan for tonight. Watch movies and finish Jesse's scarf so I can mail it to him.

I started the Bike bag from an old Vogue knitting (the one with the felted rose bag). I have to rip it though since i was working on it while watching Lost in Translation and messed up on the original cast on. I put on one to many stitches. No biggie didn't get very far into it.

Graffiti

Not Martha (see links) just recently posted this article about knitting graffiti. Very cool.

Another Graffiti artist I have stumbled upon recently is Swoon.This is an interview with the New York Times that she did recently. I really admire her work not only for the idea behind it but for the beauty and details that she puts into it. She really had great ability as an artist. I would love to continue to ramble on about it but honestly I think the work speaks for it self.

Sigh. I think I am going to have to ask Donna for that book I lent her on Graffiti back. I really sort of miss it.

delays

due to a MIA(missing in action) camera I haven't been able to take photos of my sweater yet but I have worn it out twice already and recieved compliments. I have been commisioned for a sweater vest and two scarves. I will work on them shortly. Tomorrow I am going to go purchase more fling in code pink since I ran out of it in the home stretch. DERN! I needed it for 8 more rows. I have 30 more to go and sadly I can't get through the plain section that didn't need the Fling run with it because I ran out of the fling before that part.

Which gives me the perfect excuse to start Glamprye's One Skein Wonder which I am so excited to start. hmm... well I am going to go run off and work on some more knitting while catching up on my reading of everyone elses blog.

Race to the Finish.

YAY! I finally finished the Rowan Ribbon Twist sweater "Erin". After it taking a whole year, a lack of one skein, and the sewing of one sleeve inside out due to not paying attention to how I had lined it up its all done. I wore it to work today and it was awesome. Love it. I will post pictures tomorrow.

Now that school is in recess I am determined to finish all my back logged projects. I am going to finish the baby blanket tonight for example since I have only 50 rows left. Yes! then it can get washed and packaged to mail out to Denise for her little girl.

I have four more stripes to go on Jesse's scarf another one thats taken a year to do. For shame on me. After I get those done I am going straight to the Angelina jacket and my Rowan Cardigan whose name I can't remember at the moment.

Tomorrow will be picture day and I am super excited to have two projects for sure finished. I'll photo the progress on the others as well.

Thanksgiving

So this was a great holiday. I have a good idea for a fast easy craft project to do this weekend if I ever get off my lazy butt. haha

Turkey preparations this year were recommened to me by Ellyne who says you should soak your turkey overnight in a vinger and water bath then rinse throughly. Rub Kosher salt liberally over the whole turkey allowing it to sit for 15 minutes per pound. Rinse extremely well. butter, salt, pepper and stuff. Place in Brown paper bag and cook till browning then rip open the bag and finish off the browining process. Your turkey should come out suckulant and juicey. truely sublime.

So yes. That is about all that I have been up to. I am hoping to get in a photo shoot with Nathan (my boyfriend also photographer check out www.nathannovak.net). I have been trying to convince him to take some old kitchy retro pictures of me since I love that whole thing. With the long weekend for both of us I thought itd be a great time to do it.

I promise to post my latest watercolors tomorrow as well.

xxxhugs

The Debate

The debate over what is art and what is craft has been a long and tedious one filled with many scalding arguments and heated words. In the end the only thing I could honestly deduce was that attitude toward the piece and the atmosphere it is intended to exude is the only real defining factor between art and craft.
On an extremely general note people like to define crafts as everyday items while art is defined as specialized items for viewing purposes only. This debate charges further debates as to who works harder for their purpose; the artist or the crafts man and to that which is more skilled. In the end it seems those both works hard for their ideas and are bound by the same basic guidelines of design. The defining difference seems to be that crafts workers use those guidelines to further their work while remaining inside them on the other hand artists while fully trained in and comprehending those same guidelines throws them out to push the envelope.
This is evidenced in the "Nuba Woman II" by William Morris for example in the way he not only treats the glass but uses it to represent a personal statement. He treats the glass in new ways creating complex shapes building upon an abstract concept. Namely that we draw from Nature in our everyday lives. It is the attitude that William Morris and the viewer lend the piece which in turn creates an atmosphere which the piece should continue to exude. Meaning because the “Nuba Woman II” is treated as a piece of art it becomes art. This is the same concept the Dadaists were after in such works as Duchamp’s fountain more commonly referred to as the urinal. Which seems to be a contradiction as it is an everyday item that was made for the mass consumption of male urine. However it was given a new life by Duchamp as art through his attitude of the piece which to this day hangs in the Indiana Art Museum gallery as art proving that it is the attitude given the piece by the creator for it to exude the atmosphere of art.
The attitude lent toward crafts however is that of mass production for people’s personal use which leads to a casual atmosphere in which the work is determined useable and abuse able to say it crudely. It becomes seemingly temporary while the art seems timeless. A goblet for example remains a goblet even after hundreds of years. Look at the Facon De Venice Goblet despite the fact that you run into this piece in a museum you treat it with little a here or there. It could very well sit in your cupboard at home, on a shelf in a store, or in the garbage for all that it would matter despite its decorative details and delicate hand etched designs. The only thing giving it authority to be there seems to be its age. This lack of presence is not created by the fact that it is a goblet however but by the attitude we are introduced to when we come in contact with it. The lack of an artists name to be included with the piece as well as its cramped proximity to similarly designed pieces by other anonymous creators from the same time period in a room filled to the brim with other such clusters of like pieces cause you to treat it with a casual disregard unlike the room in which the “Nuba Woman II” rests. Which is sparsely filled, more brightly lit and defines itself with large plaque cards filled with details about it and a creators name.
So where is the problem in defining art and craft then? We touched on it slightly with Duchamp’s fountain and it’s a visible question in pieces like the dinner sets created by Judy Chicago for her “Dinner Party”, or African American quilts they are examples taken out of their usual definition as craft and given meaning through the attitude lent by the statement despite their daily association with our lives. This attitude is not always readily accepted however which is where issues of art vs. craft ensue. These blocks of acceptance are often caused by the medium used to create the piece, the style in which is done and so forth. All these issues come down to matters of personal opinion and the creators’ intent of the piece. Whether it is a concept placed on an adopted piece such as Duchamp’s found object “Fountain” and the African American Quilts or if it was originally intended from start to finish as an artistic statement all along as in Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party” and William Morris “Nuba Woman II”.

Up to date and up coming

So I am doing pretty good on the finishing of the baby pants. They are definatly going to be up and running on time at the rate they are going. HURRAY!

I purchsed the last skein of Rowan Ribbon Twist to finish my Sweater Erin. thank goodness its getting cold enough to wear it too so I think I am going to finhish it tomorrow in glassblowing while I wait for the other people to blow their glass. That class has been aweosme for the knitting.

I am turning in a paper in there on art vs. crafts relating two peices from the chrysler museum that we had to choose and discuss. I am going to post it and am interested in what you all have to say about it.

I have also decided to delight you with the wonders of school projects since well that is a definate part of my life and why shouldn't you all get to enjoy it? So that will be coming up this break. Look forward to it.

Another use for left over yarn now includes pom-pom smowmen and pom pom scraves.

leftover yarn uses

this is another left overs project. I really need to post that on the side bar. I'll get to it later this week since I should have time.
Candy cane Covers

So this is a fun idea to run with crochet soda tab accesories. I stumbled upon it in a knitting community I glance in on from time to time.

Anyways. I have decided to knit the plaid corset in the latest knit.1 however am first going to finish the baby pants for one very pregnent Jill and the 5 hour baby sweater.

Back Trackin

So I go half way through a pair of short baby pants that go with an outfit that is being knit communally by the group I go to for a certain someone when I realized that they probubly actually wanted the long pants so I decided to rip it all out and start over. I began agian only to get into it and realize I had started on the wrong needle size. BLAST! so I ripped agian and may attempt it agian in a bit.

Been finishing a baby blanket for another friend. Need to pick up the last skein of Rowan Ribbon twist so I can finish the Erin sweater. I think I am going to spend the rest of this week finishing up Jesse's scarf that I ment to finish at this time last year. Ooops. goes to show how fast this year has flown by. Sigh...

Other knitting projects have been taking the back seat to school projects. Some of which are vey fun for example we're building chairs out of cardboard. I am enjoying the project so far. A few of the other prjects have inspired me to have some really good ideas. I can't wait to ahve a bit of extra time to try them out. We'll see.

Next week Amber wants to have a craft night so I am looking forward to having that and hope it'll be come a regular occurance. well I think thats cool for now.

new vogue

So I was looking through the new Vogue knitting magazine and I have to say I love a few things in it. Namely the highland fairilse, the victorian jacket, James Coviello and Twinkle sweaters, as well as the crochet scarf by Yolaine Turcotte. So I am going to have to go get that issue.

I finished the back of my most recent sweater and am working on the front panels now. I hope to post pictures soon. Had the last skein for the Erin sweater ordered so I can finish that up soon. Hurray!

I am really feeling the need to decide between this blog and Live journal. I honestly can't decide. hmmm... I just don't have enough energy to make new posts for both. I supose I'll just have to start double posting. Sorry to the people who read both. I supose. We'll see

Eek!

I had a wonderful weekend in Richmond with Mikie. It was a nice break from everything. WE carved pumpkins, went to see the Fiery Furnace play at the black cat, went out eat, I knit you get the picture a simple relaxing weekend.
Unfortunatly that means back to the grind tomorrow. The semester is going to be over soon though and I can get back on to my knitting. I stumbled across Monster Crochets blog today. Hope you all enjoy it. She's very in season. Well I have to hit the hay. Good knitting and sweet projects to you all, Nite

rambles

So I just finished my paper on Alberto Giacometti. Hurray! Now all I have to do is catch up in her other class (pottery). I like pottery and I think if I didn't feel so much pressure to finish so much so quickly I would not be so frustrated with it right now. I am not haveing the easiest of times with it at the moment. It doesn't help that I keep getting sick and so I missed last weeks class. The next time I take a pottery class I want to take it as a two days a week course instead of a once a week class. I am just not as productive.
Anyways. I had some cool ideas for glazing and making so we'll see if I am good enough to pull the out huh?

Other stuff. I need to return some library books. My mom bought me a new duvet cover which is really pretty I want to build a bed.... Not exactly sure why but I am really wanting to do this ( I have a feeling it is going to have to wait though till I move to Richmond)

Speaking of Richmond. I don't think Mikie my best friend is speaking to me. I keep trying to get in touch with him leaving him messages, aims yada yada. nothing is working. I think I am going to have to pull out the big guns to get his attention. hmm. Ya.

I am thinking about having a Knit-o-ween party. Invitite all the Snb girls over for a good knit fest with classic horror movies and so on and so forth. We'll see if I can manage to fit it in.

Well I best get off to bed. Nite all.

missing amber

missing amber
Originally uploaded by dielaydbugdie.

missing friends.

So much yarn not enough time.

Oh my gosh I hadn't realized it had been so liong since I last posted.
To let you know I have been busy with school. Studio classes seem to just obsorbe the time. I'm taking Glass blowing, Intro to Pottery, watercolor, 3-d design, and drawing 2. I am really enjoying all the classes but miss my knitting and craft time which I haven't had time for at all this semester.
I have bought a few new knitting books and Magazines but nothing major. I'm hoping that I can start to squeeze in some knitting time once my midterm papers are written for my classes. We'll see.