i'll knit if i want to...or not

Our First Christmas

2008-11-30T11:27:00.007-07:00

This will be all of our first Christmas' away from home. To keep our spirits up and in an attempt to avoid the horrible sinking of homesickness we have decided to get into the spirit of a homemade holiday!

We went and got our Christmas tree from the Optimist's Club day before last.

As we waited for all of the branches to drop we set to the task of making all of our own ornaments. Who doesn't love glitter, puffy paint, ribbon, and the holy grail of crafting...mod podge!

And now, the family photo (I'm thinking christmas cards, heh heh):

Happy Tofurkey Day!

2008-11-30T10:44:00.003-07:00

Seitan Roulade with Apple Rosemary Stuffing!

Thanksgiving was full of hours of cooking, but I think it was the best vegan feast anyone could hope for! Photos galore to follow:

We found these Japanese Sweet Potatoes the morning of the big day at the market. They looked absolutely gorgeous with the other yams I used from our local Boggy Creek Farm:

Here are the finished Candied Lime Sweet Potatoes, a recipe by VeganYumYum. Garnished with pastry leaves and hearts, and a few fresh cranberries. I made these last year as well, and they are one of Aly's absolute favorites!!

Now for Katie Rose's favorite dish of the day, Green Bean Casserole (recipe from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen):

I, personally, have come to love cranberry sauce. I had never had it until just about a week a go, and I must say it is just delicious paired with the seitan roulade! I still have never had it out of a can, and can't say I ever plan to, but homemade with fresh organic cranberries..mmmm...

Another must have is "Macaroni Hates Cheese"

Even my cheese loving mother loves this. (It seems to be one of the things I am always making when I go home!) I don't make it to much these days, as it is full of many of the things I usually try to avoid, but on the holidays its just perfectly comforting!

Now last but not least...the pie! I actually made both apple and pumpkin, but the apple was so beautiful it hogged all of the pictures! The pumpkin was equally delicious though, I have really perfected my pumpkin pie recipe! Anyways...onward with more pictures!

Lastly, a close up of the pie so you can see my little heart and leaf cut outs :)

I hope that all of you had a happy day of thanks! I know we did!

For the Love...

2008-10-15T20:59:00.003-06:00

It's finally finished!

For the Love...

a small collection of my vegan recipes

This is a handwritten & illustrated vegan cookbook of a few of my favorite vegan recipes. It took me a few months but it's finally ready! Complete with 10 amazingly delicious recipes and a step-by-step how to roll sushi!

In the back are blank pages for you to continue writing your favorite recipes! My best friend gave me the best present in the world when she gave me a blank "chef journal" to jot down my favorite recipes! (Being the sweetheart she is she even included a few vegan recipes she found just to get me started :)

Written, illustrated, cut, copied & glue all on my lonesome! Its more than a cookbook...its a work of art! Now for sale at my etsy store!

Pumpkin!

2008-10-14T05:58:00.014-06:00

So I've been on a total pumpkin kick lately. Maybe its me wishing it was fall, even though thats a season we lack down here in the South. Maybe its all the pumpkin displays at all the markets around here...or maybe I just really like pumpkin.

Anyways, these are what I've been working on to get ready for our Halloween Bake Sale! Mini Pumpkin Donuts with a Spiced Glaze! These are the most adorable things in the world, I pictured it with the teaspoon measure to show you just how small they are!

Added bonus, I tweaked VeganYumYum's recipe, and the first attempt at the new, fall inspired recipe, was a success! I made a dozen and they were gone by the end of day, slowing disappearing from the kitchen one by one.

Now here is something you would never expect to find pumpkin in:

Spaghetti Sauce! Both Aly & I suffer from carpal tunnel, and mine has been especially aggravated lately (considering all of my hobbies/work involve the use of my hands...knitting, baking, cooking, drawing, embroidery...). Anyways, I am hoping to help the situation by reducing our use of nightshades, especially now that tomato season is over for us. Eggplant & potatoes are usually not an issue for us, since we don't really like either. And the only time we ever use peppers are jalapenos in salsa. But tomatoes...we love tomatoes. In salsa, sauces, soups, & on sandwiches & salads. I even put tomato in our macaroni hates cheese. So when Aly wanted lasagna yesterday, what was I to do? I finally made the Mama Mia sauce I learned in my 2nd week of school! (Yes, it took me about 10 months to finally make it). This is a sauce made up of onion, carrot, parsnip and, you guessed it!, pumpkin (i.e. winter squash...butternut, kabocha, ect.) After pressure cooking the veggies with some water, you use them as though they were a can of crushed/pureed tomatoes! Just saute some onion & garlic with some italian spices, and then add in your veggies. Now the kicker: you grate in some beet to turn it red!

Now I had even told my little sister that I was going to make spaghetti sauce without tomatoes, but when she got home she looked at the lasagna..."ohh...so you decided to just use tomatoes?" No ma'am! I have to say it turned out just as delicious as it was beautiful. And I have enough left over to make pizza later this week!

**Not pictured in this post are pumpkin pancakes & pumpkin scones & pumpkin soup! I told you...I'm on a pumpkin kick!

Balance

2008-10-11T15:19:00.011-06:00

MMM....cupcakes! A few orders have started to come in & so I actually got to do quite a bit of baking the past couple of days. These are probably my favorite cupcakes as far as fancy icing goes! Cookies 'n' Mint Chocolate Cupcakes, wee style! These little guys are the tiny version. We crush vegan mint oreos and fold them into a peppermint buttercream icing. I think I enjoy them so much because they remind me of my sister, Leah's, Mint Oreo Ice Cream Cake she has every year for her birthday.

These are red velvet cake. I have perfected my vegan red velvet

cake recipe. To the left are the "sexy" version I had to do for a lingerie party...and below are more wee cupcakes for a birthday party, topped with vegan cream cheese icing.

And last, but certainly not least...the oh-so-simple mini chocolate cupcakes, with peanut butter chocolate buttercream icing:

Now, I love baking. The endless possibilities, and even more so with vegan baking! I can look at any recipe and then turn it vegan, which is a lot more fun than it sounds, because it is a never ending challenge. And when it turns out just right....*sigh of satisfaction*....its just so rewarding.

My one qualm with baking? Sugar, flour, baked...it's just not very good for us. Now a little something here or there...sure! But when you are a baker, you

are constantly surrounded by cakes, cookies, sweet breads...good smells!! Which may sound delightful, but my body doesn't always thank me. The sugar wreaks havoc in more ways than one, namely my blood sugar levels screaming up and then smashing down, and the baked flour is tough on our digestion and very drying!

So in order to be able to still "have my baked, and eat it too" I have started a little experiment. I have always wanted to learn more about unyeasted breads...namely sourdough. So today I finally mixed together my own sourdough starter:

Real sourdough breads are completely digestable and much easier on our bodies. Even better if they are steamed! Which I am hoping to accomplish once I get my hands around just baking up a decent loaf first.

In the meantime, I am busier now than I was when I had a job! Between baking, cooking for school & cooking at home, staying on top of multiple email accounts and websites...I barely have time to sit down. Which I have to say...is keeping me happy :) I am what one may call a work-a-holic, so hopefully the orders will keep rolling in and I will keep busy!

Where to stuff that Pecan Crumble...

2008-10-07T21:59:00.003-06:00

In August, I think, I decided that I wanted to start a "zine" style vegan cookbook, coming out with a few volumes a year. The first one was originally going to be a summer issue...blueberry pie, barbecue seitan, ect, ect. It's now October, and I am still working on the first issue! But now as we transition into fall, barbecue just doesn't sound right! So I've been doing some tweaking and I finally came up with my final recipe! I am just finishing up my illustrations and it will finally be ready to go.

In the meantime, here is that final recipe:

Baked Pecan Apples

~4 gala apples (smallish)

~1/2 cup oats

~1/2 cup whole wheat flour

~1/2 cup pecans, chopped

~2 tablespoons maple syrup

~2 tablespoons oil (I prefer to use safflower oil or untoasted sesame oil)

~1/4 teaspoon of each: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves

~Pinch salt

~1/4 cup apple juice or cider

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Form a cup out of each apple by cutting a cone out of the top, and scooping out any remaining core. In a bowl toss together the flour, oats, spices and pecans. Pour in the syrup and oil and mix well. Fill each apple with crumble. I prefer to bake these in my large muffin baking pan (grease the muffin cups). They fit the apples perfectly and keep it all tidy! If there is extra crumble, I put a scoop in the bottom of each muffin cup and place the apple on top. The apples can (and should!) be overflowing with crumble. Drizzle a tablespoon of the apple juice over each apple. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, until the apples are tender!

These are so easy, and can be ready by the time you finish dinner! Stay tuned for the full "cookbook", I plan to have it finished by the end of the week!

Baking on....

2008-10-04T10:35:00.004-06:00

Hey y'all!

We are working on our myspace now : http://myspace.com/veganbakery . Please check it out for photos, pricing, and ordering.

You can email us at atxveganbakers@gmail.com for any orders or questions.

We are currently accepting orders for cakes, pies, cookies, breakfast pastries, and any other special requests your heart desires!

We will also be planning some special bake sales (thinking halloween...thanksgiving???)

Thank you again to everyone who has been there for us during this difficult time and we will continue to spread our baked vegan love!

xo,
andrea (517)624-7903 & kathryn (512)351-6502

No Really...It has been a bloody awful day

2008-10-03T08:36:00.004-06:00

Hello my friends near and far,

Its been a few weeks since I lasted posted...a rough few weeks. I have tried to post a few times (there are multiple drafts still waiting to be finished)...but words have been escaping me. I flew home to Michigan for a week to spend time with my Grandpa who shortly after we arrived passed away. I am still not really ready to talk about it but I have to say that the best gift in the world was being able to see him again before he passed. If you would like to read about him please visit my Dad's blog for 2 beautifully written posts.

After feeling pretty numb and lost for a week I was (rather abrasively) shaken back to reality with this voicemail left on my phone Tuesday afternoon (about an hour after coming home from work.)

"Hey Andrea, this is Lizzie from Toy Joy. Today we officially acquired Toy Joy and Dhaba Joy. I am just calling to let you know not to show up for your shift tomorrow as you are no longer employed."

Yup. I just lost my job. Without even an hours notice. This woman who called had waved me goodbye as I left at the end of my shift, telling me to have a nice evening. Only to leave a message on my voicemail (thats right folks...it seems I did not even deserve the respect of being told this to my face, by my actual boss who has since gone out of town, conveniently.) It seems that increasing their sales by thousand of dollars every month, developing new recipes, and working my ass off just wasn't enough to warrant a little advance notice so I could try to prepare.

As of right now the new owners will be reopening the cafe, and some are "REALLY excited" about what has happened and a few of the dhaba staff may stay on to sell some vegan candy and coffee. I wish them and the new owners the best, as I understand what they are trying to do...but for myself and the rest of us not able to return...this sucks.

Now as I dread my tuition payment due in 2 weeks I sit here shell-shocked, not sure what I am suppose to do. My best friend who I moved to Austin with, and who initially I was trying to open and independent business with moved away to DC yesterday. I have to say...I'm glum. Sad. Betrayed. Grief-stricken. Poopy.

But there is a little light shining. I go to the most amazing culinary school ever...one that focuses on veganism, macrobiotics, and taking caring of yourself, others and the world. I live in a home filled with love and support, from Aly, Katie Rose, Roxie, Ara, and Meow (RIP Fatty). And my beautiful and talented baking partner, Kathryn Mueller, and myself are going to try to keep the baked vegan love coming. Independently, the best we can. Even (in her words) if we have to sell it in our front yards!

And now with this little bit of extra free time coming my way, I will be finishing my cookbook hopefully by the end of the weekend, along with many more Etsy items to keep you warm & snuggly as the colder months approach.

It's been a bloody stupid day

2008-09-06T14:58:00.006-06:00

Actually it hasn't at all...thats from a song, and I just wanted to say it.
But now to get serious...lets talk about peekers. I can't stand peekers. One peeker inparticular really grinds my gears. There is a man that peaks his little head over the counter and around the corner every time he comes in to my bakery to ask if I have made a certain something that he likes. I have repeatedly told him that, "no sir, unfortunately we have discontinued that item." But no, this one is a go-getter and just won't give up. Now I am a baker, hiding in the back, in my little corner baking away and well, thats my "me" time, my personal space. Its like being in a happy little bubble and this guy comes in all sweaty from lord-knows-what bursting my bubble asking the same question that I always have to say no to. He can see the case, can see that this item isn't there. OOO...and his favorite new game...after asking me (again) he has now taken to putting a suggestion in the suggestion box. His plan is that if he just keeps asking and putting it in the suggestion box that I will be forced to start making them again...little does he know he is just fueling my anti-making-that-item fire. ha!

Ok so I am generally not a mean person, just don't peek at me and I will continue making the things you love!

Here is my little corner, with Barista Amelia posing with the eyeball cupcakes I made:

On a very happy note I have the best sister-in-law in the world. I just went to check my etsy store and she bought 2 items from me! I teared up a little, so i just wanted to say thanks Larissa, you made me day! Here she is with my beautiful nephew Micah (wearing the hat I made him!)...he just had a birthday! Happy birthday Micah!!

Drea needs her groove back

2008-09-01T15:30:00.005-06:00

So after my last post I skimmed down the page and peaked over older posts. And my friends, after all this time has passed I think I lost a little bit of my posting groove. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I giggled out loud at an old post (more probably because everyday I realize more and more that I am by far the biggest nerd I know) and now...well lets just say that last post was a little lackluster.

Hopefully the pictures of the food will at least leave some drooling, but it seems I need to stretch these old typing fingers and put a little more effort into my poor little blog. Wipe away the dust bunnies and bring back that ol' "dreareneeknits" glimmer that once was!

Ok, that's all. Just wanted to get that off my chest, figure I had to start somewhere :)

**That picture up there is a petit layer cake (maybe 3"), using my red velvet cake that I have finally perfected! Iced with vegan buttercream and drizzled with chocolate ganache!**

A day off!

2008-09-01T15:15:00.003-06:00

happy labor day and congrats to all of you that actually got it off! I did, by happenstance, and have been enjoying every minute of it.

After swimming with the dogs this morning it has been a day full of crafting. I've mainly been knitting, and its funny, after almost a year break I have fallen completely in love with it all over again, and my hands haven't forgotten a stitch.

Pom flats! These were one of my favorite things to knit, mainly because I can get them done in a couple hours...and in knitting thats what we call immediate gratification!

I'm also working on a vegan cookbook, so if I'm not crafting, or at work baking, I'm probably at home cooking...

Vegan potstickers! I made the dough homemade as I can never find vegan wrappers at the store. This will be one of the recipes debuted in the first volume of my cookbook zine!

Here is the sushi I have been making at work. I usually just stick with a simple spicy tempeh roll, maki style. But after having a sushi series at class the other night I felt remotivated! Here is a tempeh temaki (i.e. handroll) and 2 pieces of avocado nigiri. I have also been playing around with frushi (fruit sushi), and its amazingly delicious in this texas summertime heat!

so I guess it's been a little while...

2008-08-27T10:38:00.006-06:00

Well just a year and a few months later...I'm back! I have been very busy, starting my life anew in Austin, Texas. I am now a baker, working at a vegan bakery right in central Austin. I am finally getting to a point where I am more settled in and making space again for all the things I love...

such as knitting!

...and embroidering

...and baking...

and cooking...

and my new puppy Ara!

I have even opened an Etsy store, For the Love!, so if any of you are still out there reading this, feel free to check it out.

Well thats all for this one, back with more (and I promise you won't have to wait a whole year next time).

Binding Off

2007-04-19T17:38:00.000-06:00

First and foremost...I just want to say thanks so much for your support. The fact that ya'll even check this anymore tickles me pink...and I can't say enough about the kind comments you left me. And now I of course couldn't post again without and FO!

Just a little one...but better than nothing! It is Calorimetry from knitty.com. I adjusted the pattern by casting on only 80 stitches, and didn't do nearly the amount of repeats of row 5 as suggested...as it seems i have a little head and otherwise it would be much to big. Plus I like the headband look. I finished it the night of my last post and it felt really good to not only start something, but finish it just about an hour and a half later. So if any of ya'll need a pick me up this little guy is a great project!

And just to give you some more pics to drool over....

Pumpkin Muffins from the Post Punk Kitchen. The only adjustment I did was replacing half the oil with applesauce to make them a little more "figure friendly" hehe. And they are absolutely scrumptious!

Who needs chicken?? This is super-yummy (baked) "chicken-fried tofu" mmmm

These little beauties are "Sunny Blueberry Corn Muffins" from Isa's cookbook, Vegan with a Vengeance. You can find the recipe sans blueberries on www.theppk.com.

And to end this post I leave you with a story of my day. It seems I put off my laundry until I had at least 3 loads to do. This would be fine if i was, lets say...still living with my mom. But I'm not and it now costs me quarters. No not money...I am not concerned with the dollar amount...its the constant need for quarters that drives me bonkers. I am constantly one measly quarter short of being able to finish my laundry. And do you think they would have a quarter machine in the laundry? No of course not. Now i am not gonna walk 45 minutes to the closest grocer to ask for a freaking quarter (this is probably why my laundry got all the way up to 3 loads worth). So finally today I remember I need quarters and I make sure to get a couple dollars worth at the market before going home.
I load in my laundry and push go on all the washers...being a bit ocd I recount my quarters to make sure I have enough for the dryer. I don't. I am one. quarter. short. Now I am just totally steamed and I decide there has got to be a way. I must be able to find a quarter somewhere. And thats when the neon glow catches my attention. The pop machine in the corner. Oh sure I could put in $2 to buy a soda and get 3 quarters back, but a) I don't drink soda, and b) would rather not support soda companies. SO...my mind is ticking away and I start thinking...What if I pretend to buy a soda. You know...put the money in and then say...eh...nevermind. And push the change back button. So I do...and ...are you ready for this??? Out pops quarters!!! I have beat the system. My friends this is one for the little people. I came back with a handful of not-quarters change and traded them all in for quarters.
Glorious. Truly Glorious.

Casting on...

2007-04-15T21:20:00.000-06:00

For the past few weeks I kept trying to schedule in knitting. Which is just crazy. I have no reason to "schedule in" knitting...I just need to pick up the needles and do it. I have time...I do. But for some reason night after night I found that I wouldn't.

Until tonight. I picked up my needles, and my favorite yarn and I cast on. And as I twisted the yarn around my needle to measure out how much I needed, my heart hurt a little bit. And as I cast on those first few stitches...tears began to well in my eyes.

And thats when I realized why I haven't been knitting. Knitting for the past 3 years wasn't an activity I did on my own. It was something that I shared with someone very special. And although that someone wasn't a knitter...that person was there for almost every stitch I cast on...for every mistake I made, stitch I dropped, new skill I learned...and the countless stitches I proudly picked back up. This person cheered me on thru every project and congratulated me on every FO(finished object for you non-knitters) as if I was the first person to ever do such a thing. This person sat next to me in a sea of yarn gently feeding it to me little by little as I knit and purled it into something warm and comforting. This person proudly wore anything and everything I knit without ever complaining of a small little hole here or an itchy yarn there.

This person is no longer here as I gaze at my yarns trying to pick colors. Or waiting patiently at the bookstore as I contemplate buying my millionth knitting book. As I excitedly bind off a washcloth that just happens to have the most perfect colorwork I have ever done...I find that the only person to ooo and aahh is myself.

I had no intention of ever writing about this. Its a very personal matter and one that is painful to try to express. But I found it spectacular that a little piece of yarn and a size US #5 needle could bring out emotions that I have tried so hard not to feel. Knitting, as well as so many other crafts and hobbies, hold for us our memories and our feelings. As we sit and click our needles and feel the yarn pass thru our hands, our thoughts and surroundings are forever set into each little stitch. And this my friends is such a beautiful thing. And although sometimes it brings out sadness that we try to bury...its only because we have to feel that sadness before we can truly feel happy again. I feel sad, but I am feeling happier and by gosh...I'll Knit If I Want To.

Ya'll I'm one busy little bumblebee!

2007-04-05T20:01:00.000-06:00

Well last time I posted was (almost) a month a go. So I am still a slacker in blogland. But for all good reasons. First off that weekend I went to Chicago and got to hang out with my sister Meggy-mae who just moved there and with lots of old friends I hadn't seen in years. (Ryan in the middle there is one of them). The whole weekend was a blast and I was fortunate enough to be tipped off to this little gem. And I will be the proud new mother of one of those teacup yorkies (someday...someday...the name has already been picked out..heh heh). And speaking of new mothers my friend Saskia just recently shared the wonderful news that she is expecting a baby!! Yay Saskia!!!

I mentioned in my last post about my new job and I have to say it is really wonderful. I have learned loads and have quickly become queen the of the cakes there! It has also helped me to move back towards veganism which I am really enjoying. I feel healthier and am learning so much. Not to mention I have been baking some amazing vegan cupcakes and muffins at home. As well as Ancho Lentil Soup with Grilled Pineapple that was absolutely yummylicious! And that little diddy up there is a new sandwich I made up that is fresh and delicious. It is my homemade bread with avocado, strawberries, marinated grilled tofu and a little balsamic syrup. mmmmm. Now all of this has helped solidify a big decision I was trying to make....................

So my friends, I am going to Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago for Baking & Patisserie in August. And I am sooooooooooooo excited! I am a bit sad to be leaving Austin so soon as I was just beginning to settle in, but I think my new life in Chi-town will be amazing and full of opportunities. Some of which I am not quite ready to talk about...but all in due time :)

Now I don't think I had ever posted any pictures on here in the past of the tree I had on my back. But well...lets just say that was not a happy tree...it looked more like the evil tree in the carebears movie I watched as a kid. (Which if you ask me was a direct representation of the whole experience of getting that tattoo, the artist wasn't the nicest man in the world.) Since then I met a lovely lovely woman named Annie Mess. She has done a few others for me (including sunshine there on the back of my neck) and I asked her if she could do anything to make my tree more like me...happy and girly instead of dark and scary. And this is what she came up with...i l.o.v.e. it! Especially the little blue blossoms and cute little chickadees.

As you may have noticed no knitting has been mentioned in this blog. And I am sad to say that is because no knitting has been done! I have been working lots and walking lots and baking lots and well its been so warm here...and i know...there are no excuses for such behavior! I hope all the links I included will help feel that little hole i left!

Bad, Bad Blogger

2007-03-11T11:49:00.000-06:00

I know...shame on me! I am a bad bad blogger. I can't believe it has been a month since the last time I posted. But hey...I just moved and life has been hectic.

Even worse...this is one of the only things I have finished!! And I finished it a few days after I got here. There are just too many distractions right now. But things are settling down a bit and I promise to put in more effort :)

So its been a long time coming...but here is Wicked, from Zephyrstyle.com. I used superwash merino, handdyed at Woven Art. This was a really fast and easy knit. and I love the style of it. Great for a chilly fall day over a thermal. (which it has been 80 here in austin...may be one of the reasons my knitting has been slacking!)
As far as the rest of the my life goes...I have 2 new jobs. My favorite being Wild Wood Art Cafe. It reminds me of Woodys and I work with really excellent people. The most exciting part is I have been able to do some baking and have already learned a lot. It is a largely gluten-free bakery and I am so excited to be learning these new things. There is so much more to tell. Every day has been exciting and fun. I have been walking at least an hour everyday and we have been playing in the sunshine every chance we get.
I will end this post here...easing myself back into the blogger world :) More to come though! So check back!!

Weird Austin

2007-02-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well I have arrived in Austin and so far its a big thumbs up. There is a wonderful positive vibe here and I am really looking forward to exploring my new home.

In the meantime...I have been knitting (seeing as how I haven't found a job yet..I have a bit of time on my hands!). I finished my wicked...but no pictures yet. It turned out very well though...so I promise...coming soon!

In the meantime I whipped up these little "Flat-mates Washcloths".

And this picture is just because I was tickled pink with out neat and tidy my fair isle was on the back...

Wicked Michigander

2007-02-01T15:22:00.002-07:00

Let me begin by saying I am proud to be a Michigander. And this hoodie...well this hoodie rocks. Flat out...its awesome.

Now...on to the knitting.

I am proud to say I have finally moved on from washcloths and mittens and into a more exciting project that I actually feel like posting about. (Now don't get me wrong...mittens and washcloths are definitely post-worthy...its just that I have been reusing the same pattern again and again, and they are all packed up in a box and on their merry way to Texas and I didn't even take a picture...)Moving on, that pretty lil' thang up there is Wicked! I am using a superwash merino, hand dyed at Woven Art. There are numerous things I love about this pattern...#1 Its so so cute...Gay's finished Wicked is what inspired me to knit this little diddy up #2 I love the helpful hints thru-out the pattern on ways to shape and size so that it fits the individual how it should #3 i plan to do the short-sleeve version, which means I had to buy only 1 skein of this yarn! (ok so it was a 500 yard skein) but still to make a sweater for under $30.00...n.i.c.e.

And finally...I was so excited about Wicked that I went back to Zephyrstyle.com and ordered Rusted Root. I l.o.v.e. the puckered sleeves. Again...a sweater for under $30.00! I am using the recommended Brown Sheep cotton fleece yarn, but in "Mint Condition".

So yes my friends, I am back...with a vengeance. Its time to get my knitting freak on...and I have been doing so in every spare minute of my day!

Micah's Hat

2007-01-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

How cute is my nephew with his pretty mama and the hat I MADE HIM!! I am so happy that it fits! I had never made a baby hat before...I just made up the pattern and crossed my fingers that it would fit. I have been meaning to post the pattern ever since I finished it, and now that Iknow it does fit a baby's head I should really get on to that! It maybe not be before the move as things are a bit hectic...but I will try my darndest to do it this weekend.

In other news our poor Little Bit is a cone head. He has an injury under his right arm that he wouldn't stop licking so now...now this.

But the best part about it is...I think he likes it. He has been swaggering around the house all week now like he just got himself some major bling. Cute old man. And I have to say it has been the source of some major amusement. Minature Daschund + Cone + Snow almost as tall as him = one of the funniest things you've ever seen.

Vegetarian Meditarranean Feast!

2007-01-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Red Lentils for homemade soup

Chick Peas for a protein rich salad

Green Lentils for the main dish

Fresh RED strawberries for dessert

Lemons and Tomatoes to make it all taste fresh

All set up ready to cook!

Rice and Lentil Lemon Soup styled after the famous version at Woodys Oasis!

Homemade Pita Bread

Chick Pea salad tossed with feta cheese

Mujadara-a lebanese dish of lentils and bulgar

The final spread...vegetarian wonderfulness!

Thanks Ysolda!

2007-01-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have been sick sick sick. For the 3rd time this year I have found myself with a miserable cold! So after taking my shower I decided to take a page from Ysolda's Book this hairstyle is wonderful for when you get out of the shower and just don't have the time/energy/resources to mess with your hair. It is quick and very girly-pretty. I got so many compliments!
Now I am not one to usually post about something like hair...and I promise I have been knitting! and Cooking actually. More too come soon. Plenty of pictures are guaranteed.
Right now I have mainly been working on home items (aka washcloths!) as I am moving to Austin in less than 2 weeks. Wish me luck

Up to my same old tricks!

2007-01-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

Satisfaction guaranteed...It seems that in the little bit of free time I have had lately I have spent it baking bread (yes the same recipe..thanks again grandma!)

This time I do think I improved though. I found the kneading much easier, and I didn't get over excited and add an extra few cups of flour! I also decided formed half of the dough into rolls. I think placed a metal pan in the bottom of the oven as it preheated. When I was ready to bake I poured a cup of hot water into the pan which immediately turned to steam and helped to form a nice crisp crust on my bread. Very fun!

And as for knitting...well the same old thing on that front too! I am about to have mittens coming out of my ..eh...ears. I am happy to report though that I am finished! All eleven pairs have been delivered and should be on there way to keep somebody else's hands warm.
Which is finally necessary here in Michigan as we just started getting snow for pretty much the first time this year (!!) yesterday morning.

I am now off to knit anything my little heart desires :) and watch CSI...its going to be a nice night.

Do It like Your Grandma Taught You...

2007-01-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky. My grandma taught me and my best friend Meredith how to bake her homemade bread shortly before christmas time. And let me tell you "grandma's Homemade bread" is so so so yummy.

So yesterday I finally kicked my butt into gear (after I found out my Meredith was already on her 3rd rising and about to get hers in the oven!) and I went out bought some bread pans, lots of flour and yeast and got to work. Now I have to admit, I think I am going to need a lot more practice. My first attempt at kneading was met with sticky dough covering my hands and the quick addition of extra flour.

But I loved every step. Watching the yeast activate, getting covered in flour, and coming back every half hour to see that the dough has doubled in size. Very satisfying.

And nothing can compare to the smell of freshly baked bread tickling your nose as you eagerly wait for it to cool so you can cut off that first slice. Much to my glee (and relief) it turned out! And luckily it made 4 loaves because my mom came home with her friends and they polished off a whole loaf within minutes. Talk about an ego boost.

I had someone ask about my labels. The ones tied to the package are just printed on heavy card stock. The cloth labels I sewed on the inside I made myself with a little help from our friend the iron-on transfer! Adding that personal touch is way worth the extra bit of effort.

There She Is!

2007-01-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

It is beginning to feel like I am in a permanent bizarro world game of Hide 'n' Seek. This is what is exclaimed to me at least 5 times a day. One of my fellow coworkers...well he isn't so into the whole "hello" or "hey" or "how are you" nope...instead he just likes to say "THERE SHE IS!" everytime he catches a glimpse of me. And the problem here is...I have no idea how to respond to that. "Um..yes, here I am...You found me, sitting in the same spot I am always in monday thru friday...8 am to 4 pm. And there you are!" I have so say this man usually offeres my days lots of comic relief. He is usually wandering around a little lost and telling people how he locked himself in our delivery van "and was hollerin' but no one would let me out!" oh man. Onwards...

A New Year, and man is it about to be full of new beginnings. I do apologize for my absence...but hey the holidays...its been crazy. I have so much going on and a lot of personal growing and decisions. And well that is a whole other blog...

The holidays were a bit bittersweet for me this year. The highlight I must say was my sister Leah coming home. We spent New Years in northern Michigan at the The Inn at Bay Harbor in 2 fabulous suits thanks to Nick Remes. It was quite the girls weekend and I really cherish having that time with all of my sisters and my mom.

New Years was wonderful...we dressed up, paid way too much for dinner and topped it all off with champagne back at the hotel at midnight. A really wonderful way to kick off a new year.

Now I would love to tell you that I got a buttload of knitting done during this time as well...but I haven't :) I have been working steadily on mittens, and well nothing but mittens. But I do have these little precious packages to show off:

Filled of course...with mittens. But I am loving it. It has been so positive for me. And I have to say thanks to Linda and Randi for letting me grow in a new direction with my knitting. I am having so much fun with the final details, I feel like I have opened up an entirely new area of ideas to explore.

Finding a Nitch

2006-12-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to be everything under the moon. I wanted to be a marine biologist, an art teacher, a criminal psychologist, a cosmetologist, a travel agent, a small business owner, a ceramacist and of course a knitter.

Out of everything I wanted to be, my longest lasting would be teacher, small business owner and knitter. Then just about 2 weeks a go my sisters boyfriend's mom asked me if I would knit her some mittens.

Well besides just the enjoyment of knitting, I loved playing around with the packaging and going that extra step to make the final product worth her money. From printing my own fabric tags to sew in, to finding the perfect natural cloth, ribbon and recycled paper to give it the organic look i love...I just enjoyed every second.

As I finished tying up all the bundles I felt such a feeling of accomplishment. I think I am finding my perfect little nitch in the world...putting in to motion the things I want to do and that I believe I can do.
And I am so excited about it.

oh yeah, and to top it all off...she just ordered 6 more pairs.

Tour de Drea Flashback

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

Name of the Game: First sentence of the first post of each month for the past year.

March 2006: "Well lets see...My name is Andrea...and I'm a knitter."

April 2006: "Well after attending a party last night...the consensus is in...Michigan, mainly East Lansing, really is the friendliest place in the world."

May 2006: "Well photo #1 is me wearing teapot cozy as a hat with a ponytail hole before felting."

June 2006: "I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've been busy."

July 2006: "So this morning I woke up...and well, I was in a bit of a funk."

August 2006: "As you can tell from this early "head shot" of my father he's a pretty good looking guy, perfect for the stage...and always ready to bring a smile to your face."

September 2006: "So I would love to be posting today with a picture of my fabulously finished Shell Tank...but I can't."

October 2006: "Well, I'm back in my hometown."

Novermber 2006: "I felt like a deconstructed pumpkin wearing them."

December 2006: "As if your best friend coming to town wasn't exciting enough...she then shows up with the most gorgeous box of Norman Love chocolates you have ever seen."

And as long as I am doing a Tour de Drea...I was tagged by Saskia to post 6 of my strange habits...heres crossing my fingers y'all can look at me the same afterwards...

1. I can't finish brushing my teeth until I gag from brushing my tongue.
2. I talk in voices. If you have ever talked to me fore more than a minute...than you probably know what I am talking about.
3. I break out in song and dance at regular intervals during the day.
4. I cannot for the life of me sing the correct lyrics or melody to any song no matter how hard I try. (I've given up trying)
5. I have to make sure my wallet is in my bag at least 3-5 times before I go up to pay for something.
6. I have a bad case of speech impediments (i.e. dyslexia and stutter) that only hit me randomly...mainly at the most inopportune times possible....oh and my voice always raises at the ends of my sentences so that I sound like I am perpetually asking questions.

A Few of the things that Make Life Good

2006-12-10T15:59:00.001-07:00

Baking about 8 Dozen batches of Christmas Cookies.

Making a hat for my new nephew, Micah.

Making a washcloth for my Grandma who just generously taught us how to bake her homemade bread.

Turning broken sugar cookies into missing limbs.

24...24 Stitches To Gooo...I wanna be Sedated

2006-12-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

So my all time favorite scarf is a store bought. I just loved the giant ribs, the color (its the pink one there) and the cozy fit. When people (knowing I am a knitter) would ask me if I would make it, I would guiltily reply...no...this one here is a purchase, and definitely not handknit.

It was finally time to take matters into my own hands. Equipped with a dream and my best friend it was time to head off to the yarn store and figure out how to replicate this oh so perfect scarf.

That was Saturday afternoon...by Monday afternoon we proudly bound off our better-than-look-a-likes and wore them out for the first time last night. I don't think I have ever in all of my knitting days gotten this excited about knitting something as basic as a scarf. But this...this just turned out better than we could've dreamed.

My only word of warning: Don't pose sitting in the snow, as it makes for a wet bum.

This pattern (which I could hardly call my own because it is not something difficult to dream up...) is as follows:

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, 3 skeins
Needles: Size US 17
Gauge: Roughly 2 stitches per inch
Pattern: Cast on 24 Stitches

Row 1: k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1
Row 2: p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Repeat these 2 rows until scarf measures 101 inches, or your desired length.
BO in Pattern

Cut 24 - 14 inch Strands from same yarn. Holding 2 together at a time thread thru center of each knit rib along the bottom and tie in a knot for the fringe (6 on each end). Voila!

Swapping Switches

2006-12-03T00:12:00.000-07:00

As if your best friend coming to town wasn't exciting enough...she then shows up with the most gorgeous box of Norman Love Chocolates you have ever seen.

And i FINALLY finished the Novella Socks from Knit 2 Together:

The only alteration I made to the pattern was to add in a 6th repeat of the stitch pattern so that they were long enough.

And last but not least, another new knitting book (because you know I need it). I got a copy for me and my visitor. I am especially excited to knit up some dishrags out of that yarn (after being inspired by my grandma).

Now I now this post is a little slack...and it had been a while...but I have been so sick I haven't even been able to barely pick up the needles. So cross your fingers that I will finally bounce back this week!

In the meantime I just cast on for a look-a-like of one of my favorite scarves and then have a whole lineup of things to knit.

Hoping to be appearing more frequently...and hopefully without the scabby nose and swollen eyes! Oh and the title of this post?? yes that was me mumbling in my sicky haze...

Things that make you go...eh

2006-11-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

So late on Monday afternoon JFC and I headed to the Peanut Barrel with 2 friends to play the Settlers of Catans (the funnest game ever of discovery, settlement and trade). Being that it was only about 4 or 5, it was pretty empty and we sat down at a big table, ordered a couple of beers and were quietly enjoying our game. There were 2 college students sitting behind us, one of which was a young lady who was getting steadily more tipsy as the minutes passed. Her male friend she was sitting with gets up to go to the bathroom and she decides to turn to our table and have a little chitty-chat.

Mid sentence she decides (and verbalizes rather loudly) that JFC's friend was really quite good looking. I informed her unfortunately that he was married. This is when the little hussy turns to JFC and declares "he isn't so bad either" as she tenderly tucks his hair behind his ear.

eh.

I was a little stunned and gently mentioned that actually...he belonged to me. She turned back to her table and as soon as her male friend returned from the bathroom she began attempting to canoodle with him. Talk about a girl on the prowl.

On to the knitting my friends...

It has been pretty slow going on this Novella Socks from Knit 2 Together. The pattern is quite intricate and was taking me ages for every single row. After doing the first set of the 16 row repeat of the stitch pattern though I am finally going a bit quicker. I also started using the needle-less cable method which has made a huge difference. I am still enjoying watching all of the colors change in my kool-aid yarn as well.
Even though this project is now moving along more quickly, I think I am still itching to start another project on the side...a sweater with some nice boring stockinette maybe....

Yesterday as I was looking for face paint at Michael's for my boss (don't ask) I happened upon this 100% wool from Lion Brand that was on sale. I am thinking Knee socks, with maybe some fair isle (think: squirrels) around the top band. heh heh

I also got the new Interweave. And I l.o.v.e. this sweater:

So I bought this yarn to make it. It is from my favorite LYS Woven Art where the owner totally helped me find everything I needed. That dark gray yarn is superfine alpaca, and being wrapped up in a fluffy cloud it is so soft.

Remember in my last post how we went to our friends farm? Well he gave me an entire yard bag full of alpaca and llama fibre. The gray and white is the llama and that gorgeous chocolate brown is the alpaca. One of the women at Woven Art told me about a place in Frankenmuth that will card and clean it for me so i can take it back to NZ.

And because I seem to have an addiction to Knitting books and I just can't help myself...I picked up this little diddy about a week a go....Greetings from the Knit Cafe.

And this is probably my favorite pattern out of the book:

And now this post is so incredibly long that it must end.

Merrily-We-Go-Round Jr.

2006-11-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday JFC and I spent a wonderful afternoon at our friend Wade's place. This place was an animal wonderland if you ask me. I'm talking llamas, an alpaca, goats, sheep, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, 2 roosters and even some birds from africa that I can't remember the name of.
This particular llama was named Lance. And he was quite the greedy guts when it came to the seeds we were feeding him. We tried to feed the lady llamas as well but they started getting snippy with each other and spitting so we decided to go back and play with the goats again. I would love to own land some day and have some animals (namely sheep for my own selfish reason..heh heh)

Anyways...on to the knitting!!

I finished this little diddy last week, but the pictures turned out bad and I was just lazy so you aren't seeing it til' now. I finally decided I didn't care that the pictures weren't the best...if I end up with a better one I will post it. heh heh

This is essentially the same pattern that I used for JFC's Merrily we go round hat. I just thinned out the lines in the spiral a bit and made it a touch smaller.

I really like the looser fit so I have the option to tuck my hair inside of it when hiking and what not. I wish you could see the spiralling effect a bit better in these pictures...but what can you do? I did finally write out the pattern for it, so if anyone is interested I will post it on here. It is a very quick and easy knit that looks more complicated than it is. It only took me about 2 or 3 hours to finish it.

I am still working steadily on the leg warmers from Knit2Together...so I willl take a progress shot soon!

A Year in Waiting

2006-11-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

I cast on for this sweater last October. After realizing I had made the entire body much much too big...it was put into a basket never to see the light of day again. Until a week or so ago. I have been promising poor JFC a sweater for so long. And finally, finally I sat down with that oversized sweater in my lap, frogged it, and recast on for a more appropriate size.

And now just about a week later it is done and dusted. Thank goodness. And it looks great on him! I was worried it would be too small this time, but he prefers it tighter with such a bulky yarn. The pattern is the Berkshire Pullover from Weekend Knits. I used Lions Brand bulky yarn in a dark gray and it only took about 3 and 1/2 - 4 balls. I made the smallest size, and added ribbing to the bottom and cuffs instead of the roll bottoms the book had.

JFC waited very patiently. And I have to say, seeing him wear it (yes, he even wore it in public!) was the best reward. So many worries and doubts come into your mind when knitting a bigger project, i.e. a sweater, and when it is for someone else it is doubled. So I am just tickled pink that it turned out so well!

In other good news, I have gotten back to my knitting machine self, and already have another FO to share...but that my friends will have to wait until tomorrow as I am pooped.

It's a good thing

2006-11-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

So my plan was to post this FO the day after I finished them...Halloween. I felt like a deconstructed pumpkin wearing them.

Unfortunately life happened and I just never had a chance to write a post. So here they are now!

I have never been one for matching so I don't mind that they are completely different. I loved playing around with the colors, and plan to continue focusing on that more.

I am really happy with how the orange one turned out. The mohair is very subtle, but it definitely brightens them up a bit, and not to mention makes them even softer than they would have been with just the worsted yarn alone. And I still have some of that mohair left. I can't believe how far that tiny little bundle stretched.

I also got a little treat this weekend. This beautiful yarn (pictured very crappily here...sorry..heh heh) is from Woven Art. I l.o.v.e. the colors. Greens, browns, and blues. I have so many things I want to make out of it I am just wondering how far I can stretch these 560 yards of goodness. I first plan to make a Merrily-We-Go-Round hat, like the one I made for JFC. Then I was also thinking some kneesocks? Or maybe another Tubular Camisole. Oh the possibilities....

Peanuts

2006-10-28T10:21:00.000-06:00

So here is (finally) a picture of an FO. It is the Super-Easy Leg Warmers from LMKG. I used Lambs Pride for the heavier yarn, and Jo Sharp Mohair for the dark green bits you see. I l.o.v.e. how long they are (26 inches!). Okay...so this is really only half of a finished object because I have yet to knit its partner. Due to me trying to save money and be strict on my spending, I forced myself to wait until my next pay day to buy more yarn for the other warmer.

Luckily yesterday was payday:

I decided to do it in different colors because I didn't really get the effect I wanted with the first one. I love how it turned out, but I am really interested in how the author of Last Minute Knitted Gifts (where this pattern is from) holds a mohair yarn with the heavier yarn and the effect is that it almost glows. My color choice for the first leg warmer was a bit to contrasting so I didn't get that effect. I think these oranges will work nicer. And it is always fun using different colors...I have never been one to match. I am especially excited for that little tiny bundle of Habu mohair/silk blend. It looks like it is just a sample of yarn, but there is actually almost 200 yards in that neat little package!

So in the meantime I have been working on a sweater for JFC. I had originally started this a year a go. Yes over 12 months a go I cast on for this puppy and then after knitting up to his underarms I realized it was WAY. TOO. BIG. so into a basket it went and I didn't touch it again until just a few days a go.

It is the Berkshire Pullover from Weekend Knits. I am making it 2 sizes smaller than I had originally planned, and I added ribbing to the bottom instead of the roll bottom in the book. Now lets just hope I finish it this time.

And lastly...This just really tickled my giggle bone:

Last night we were at our neighborhood bar, the Peanut Barrel, and at this particular bar they give you bowls of peanuts and you get to just drop your peanut shells on the floor and it is very novelty indeed. Well It seems that this lady had her jacket a little too close to the floor because she had half of a shell stuck just so on her collar as she was getting ready to leave. And it really just gave me a belly laugh. heh heh heh

The Cross-eyed Bear that you gave to me...

2006-10-22T13:36:00.000-06:00

So do you remember that angry song that made alanis morsette so popular way back when? I think it was called "you oughta know" and it was about an exboyfriend?? Anyways in it she sings (well i thought that she sang) something along the lines of "its not fair to deny me the CROSS-EYED BEAR that you gave to me!" And I remember thinking...yeah taking gifts back isn't nice. Then again if i was her, I probably wouldn't want the teddy bear anymore anyways.
Well I just recently realized that what she was actually saying was "..to deny me the cross I Bare, that you gave to me." heavy. heh heh heh

Anyways...this here is the cutest tape measure in the world. I had seen these before at JoAnn's but they were poor quality. Then I was at my LYS just a few days ago and found a table full of these adorable little things from Lantern Moon. You pull on the tail for the tape measure and then there is a button in its belly that pulls it back in. I l.o.v.e. it!

And this little girl right here is also the cutest thing ever. Whizzle, as my dad calls her, has a tongue that is too long for her mouth so it is always sticking out. Which means I am pretty much laughing the entire time I am at my dad and tracy's house.

And last, but not least...well ok kind of least. i have been slacking on the knitting big time. I have just been so busy with work and family stuff that I have barely been knitting for more than 10 to 15 minutes a day. And this is all i have to show:

The first 12" of my leg warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts". I love how the author describes the use of color and how by holding a strand of solid (in my case the lambs pride and bright green) yarn and a mohair (i'm using a darker greenish brown) to get such a fun new color effect. I will definitely be playing around with this a lot more.

Oh and those other legwarmers I want to make from Knit2Together...I didnt have the right needles, but I got them the other day so hopefully I will get back on track with the knitting pretty quick here!

New Knitting Books!!

2006-10-15T10:04:00.000-06:00

Amazon brought me a treat yesterday. The knitting book stash just keeps growing larger. I am really excited about both of these books. It seems like everyone has LMKG, and after seeing so many finished Hourglass Sweaters on other peoples blogs I just had to get it. There are so many great patterns, all of which are simple. I also appreciate the time frames she estimates for the projects...its just nice to have something to go on.

I didn't expect Knit2Together to really be a book I would like (don't ask me why), but I started peeking thru it and the patterns are amazing. I plan to start these puppies today:

My Baudelaire socks are just bigger than I would like so I think I will frog them and use the yarn to make these legwarmers. I mean I seriously have never seen anything so cute. I l-o-v-e the little ruffle and tassle. And the fact that they have a heel! Baudelaire isn't a lost cause though, I think I will just by some fun sock yarn that is the appropriate weight.

Grandmas and Oatmeal

2006-10-12T16:30:00.000-06:00

Well with all of this cold weather knocking at our door, there is just nothing better to start the day with than hot porridge. Which immediately brings to mind my grandma. Everytime we would stay at my grandparents house there were 2 things you could be sure to get...stove-popped popcorn and oatmeal with milk and brown sugar. (You could always count on dessert too, but that is a given!) I don't remember having it anywhere else but their house. I loved the way the brown sugar would melt on top of the warm oatmeal. My grandma was very good at warming us kids up...she knit every single one of her grandkids a blanket, letting us pick out the color (mine was turquoise). And she always made us warm, home-cooked meals like soup and on at least one occasion, from what my mother tells me, rabbit and squirrel stew, which I guess I l-o-v-e-d in my pre-vegetarian days.

So thanks grandma...for playing cards with me, teaching me to knit, and giving me a love of all things homemade (even if one of those happened to include rabbits and squirrels).

Oh Snow!

2006-10-11T16:14:00.000-06:00

So Michigan weather is pretty iconic for being "swift changing." It's the kind of place where one day it is 80 degrees and sunny and the next day we have 3 feet of snow after a freak blizzard.

So I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised that it snowed today...even if it is only the beginning of October. But I feel like I should be stringing up lights and practing my caroling. I mean seriously, it isn't even Halloween yet. Just a few days a go I was sitting in the sun...and could almost describe myself as HOT. Now...I am wondering if I brought enough hats mittens and scarves. And to think I packed a skirt! I have a feeling that puppy isn't leaving the suitcase. And once again, I couldn't be happier to be a knitter as we are so prepared for things like snow when the leaves haven't even had a chance to change color!

These wool socks I am knitting I am sure will prove to be very handy indeed. The pattern, Baudelaire, is a very entertaining knit. And I am really enjoying watching my handpainted yarn change color with every stitch. They are a little on the big side, but that is my own fault, my gauge is a little off, but I was too stubborn to use a different yarn. Now that I am back working full time, the knitting progress has slowed a bit, so I think I better go hop to it!

M....I....shhhh....I...G....A....N

2006-10-08T20:22:00.001-06:00

Well I'm back in my hometown. The traveling was very tiring but I thinking I am adjusting quickly. And I can't complain, poor JFC had to get on planes #4 AND 5 and continue onto England. Talk about jetlag. Ouch.

I have tried to control myself and have only gone to the yarn store once. And I didn't allow myself to buy any yarn! I just picked up the Addi Turbos I needed to start the socks I brought yarn for. But man is there a lot of yarn in there that i NEEEED. And I have to say, after casting on for Baudelaire with my handpainted yarn Aqua fluff, I l-o-v-e the addi turbos. And I am enjoying the toe up knitting.

As for being back on the mainland...I still cant' get over how cute my nephews are and how wonderful it has been hanging out with all 4 of my siblings and my parents. And school spirit is just a block from my front door:

did I mention I was a Trojan cheerleader?? heh heh

I go back to work tomorrow at the restaurant. I cant' wait to treat myself to a little yarny goodness after getting a paycheck :) There are so many crafty things I want to do while I have all of these wonderful resources at my fingertips. And hopefully with all of the inspiration (and the fact that I plan to force my sister to learn how to knit) I will have plenty of juicy blogs coming up.

Edited to Add: I totally forgot! I finished the Asymmetrical Cardigan and gifted it to my sister Meagann who looks fabulous in it...but I don't have a picture!! I will take one as soon as she wears it over again.

Last Minute

2006-09-29T22:06:00.000-06:00

So I have been a slack blogger...I know. But I just haven't been able to muster up the patience, time or energy. Tomorrow we leave to go back to the states. And i feel all nervous. Why? I don't know. Maybe its because this is the longest I have ever been away...maybe because I am leaving my new home for a whole 4 months...maybe because I am going to go back to work at the restaurant and I know I will be asked 20 times a day "oh you're back! did things not work out in N.z?" and then I will have to explain in as few words as possible...yes things are working out just fine thanks just home for a (long) visit and need to make some money (which already feels like way too long of an explanation). Also I won't see JFC for almost 3 months. That's a long time. And I'm not looking forward to it.

but I am looking forward to seeing my family and my friends and going to the peanut barrel, and good yarn stores (oooo the yarn stores) and riding a bike and looking thru all of the books and magazines at barnes and noble and then not buying them, and being able to get anything and everything my little heart desires, and good sushi and the list goes on and on...

So I'm excited...and i'm nervous....and really all that has been looping thru my head for the past 2 months is "can' you believe we're leaving in (insert lenght of time here) ?? isn't that nuts?) and rather than bore you with that phrase as i have done with jfc, I have just left the posting. I am sure I will have lots and lots to say in just a day or 2.

And as for knitting..well Lets just say I have worked my butt off on that sweater from Knitting Nature...and its finished. Finally. But i have new plans for that sweater. and so you won't see it for a little while yet. and right this second i am not knitting one damn thing. heh heh. i need a minibreak(okay i don't really...but i am kind of being forced into one)...and with all of the craziness of flying and heightened security I figured I will just start fresh once I have crossed borders. In the meantime I have 2 new lovely knitting magazines and a crossword book to keep me busy while traveling. and I will do my darndest to be a better blogger once everything settles down just a wee bit.

Edit : Undo

2006-09-20T22:51:00.000-06:00

When it comes to knitting...and especially the project I am currently working on...and well even life in general...I wish I had an Undo button. I wish I could just push Control Z and go back a step or 2. I am making the Asymmetrical Cardigan from Knittiing Nature...and I don't even have a picture to post of it, because the needle is so full of stitches I am afraid if I move it they will all fall off. She advises to use straight needles. Let me tell you...that isn't the best idea. Oh sure...you can make it work, but you better have one of those handy needle point topper things if you plan on setting it down otherwise you can say peace out to at least 20 of the those edge stitches. and the weight! holding up a needle so fully loaded...well lets just say my wrists are getting quite the workout.

I love this cardigan. I want it to be mine. But I will tell ya....it puts you thru hell and back trying to get it done. The directions are minimal to say the most. Now I love this book, and have done nothing but rave about it...but I could use a little more guidance. Especially with this pattern (the first pattern in the book I might add!) The chart is beyond confusing as she has you start and stop depending on the size you are doing...which sounds simple enough, and maybe it is and I just struggle...but I'm thinking no. she decreases and adds stitches without at all altering where you need to begin on the chart so that these hexagons don't end up all misalligned.

*deep breath* so basically, I'm struggling a bit (a big bit). I have frogged and restarted the front so many times I was worried the yarn might just fall apart. But I have taken matter into my own hands. adjusting the chart where I see fit. Is this wise? Should I have just trusted in the designer? Did as I was told? Maybe...only time will tell.

In other (very exciting) news...as of this afternoon I was informed that I am officially a Resident of New Zealand!! I am relieved to be done with that process and so excited that it all went smoothly. I was worried that it wouldn't be finished before I left to go back to Michigan for a long visit, and that would effect it and cause more delays. But with just a week left it looks like I am all set!

One last thought to leave you with...waxing your underarms, when you have never tried such a task...well lets just say it is another one of those times I wouldn't mind having that undo button. ouch.

Hugging Trees

2006-09-14T23:52:00.000-06:00

When I was about 6 I ran face first into a tree. But thats another story.

This is a camisole I designed back in June. I hadn't shown it because I had submitted it to try and be published. But unfortunately it wasn't what she was looking for. As I read the rejection email...I felt like running into a tree again.

I felt a bit sad, and then a bit embarassed. You know ...the whole "what made me think that I could design something they would want? I'm not good at this. Thank goodness I am going back to school in a year" kinda talk. But I feel better now. And I am happy to finally show it off. I love knitting...in all of its crafty goodness. I love that I am a knitter. Life is good...even if I do still have the scar from running into that tree all those years a go. Me and knitting...and trees - we're like apples and bananas and oranges.
heh heh

Merrily-We-Go-Round

2006-09-11T19:52:00.000-06:00

Well after JFC lost the other hat I made him this year...so I finally got around to making him a new one. He wanted something that kind of spiraled so this is what I came up with. I think it is very subtle, but with enough flare to catch the eye. I used a natural undyed n.z. wool that I had made his last hat out of, and luckily had just enough (only about 1/2 a yard left over!)

So there you go! his new "Merrily-We-Go-Round" Hat! Hopefully he won't lose this one :)

I also knit up a swatch for the Asymmetrical Cardigan in Knitting Nature, which I will hopefully finish before heading to the states in a few weeks, where I should be quickly greeted with a colder winter than the one I just experienced here...brrrr.

In other news...I had planned on posting on Sunday evening but it seems we forgot that we had guests coming to stay for 2 days! Woops. Got home sunday night to the phone ringing...they had been in town for about 5 hours. heh heh. Next time it seems we better write down the dates. All in all though, it turned out really nice. I must say it has been wonderful having people around so much at the house lately.

Oh yes...and one more word of caution: It isn't always the best idea to drink that extra glass of wine the night before hoofing it up a very steep 2 hour walk...ouch. But the views were spectacular! We could see all the way to the ocean...very nice.

Micah Phillip

2006-09-06T01:43:00.000-06:00

First and most importantly...please meet my brand new nephew! Micah Phillip, held here my 2 other absolutely adorable nephews- Aidan Xavier and Trace Urban!!! I can't wait to see all of them in less than a month!

And because I am such a good little knitter...I also present to you an FO!...okay so its been a while since I had something finished to show you..heh heh.

And here is a closer picture:

and cloooser:

and my normal shot in my pajamas just before bed. This is the Shell Tank from Knitting Nature. I did the size small with 2 inches added in length. As you can see this is quite the oversized top. It fits more like a tunic than a tank, but I still like how it looks, especially layered over something else. I used Cotone yarn, about 6 balls worth in a nice leafy green color...I promise my next project from this book will be in a different color...I jsut really like bright green. It took me probably a week total to knit...but that is just a rough estimate as I was highly distracted by all of the beautiful weather we have been having, not to mention numerous house guests.

I've said it before, and I will say it again...I highly suggest this book!

HEeeeyy You Guuuuyysss

2006-09-02T15:06:00.000-06:00

So I would love to be posting today with a picture of my fabulously finished Shell Tank.....But I can't. Because I haven't worked on it. I have probably only knit for a short a few minutes over the past week. I've said it before ...and I'lll say it again...I've just been really busy. Busier than you would think a girl who only works 3 days a week could be! But we have had lots of guests and the weather has been spectaculaaaarrrrr. So I haven't been inside...or for that matter even in a solitary position. We have been going on walks. Lots of walks.

And as proof that I am not just being a lazy knitter...here is me and JFC at the beginning of our 4 hour walk yesterday, sitting in front of the Tarawera Falls. I'll tell you what this whole walking/hiking/tramping whatever you like to call it...I like it. I like it a lot. Now I just need to work out how to walk, knit, and look at all of the nature-y splendor around me and I will be good to go.

Well it is Father's Day here today (so happy fathers day again daaaaaaaaaaad)...so it is time for me to make up a recipe for Fish Tacos and Mexican Brown Rice (it seems JFC thinks this is JFC day..he picked the menu) and we are going for a 3 hour walk..and ineed to grocery shop..and clean the house...and then maybe, just maybe...do some knitting tonight!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

2006-08-29T00:07:00.000-06:00

So it seems I forgot to mention the point of the title of my last post...heh heh. So, if you didn't catch on it was because I am getting to know my new home more and more each day...yeah. Okay moving on. This afternoon JFC and I did the Kaharoa Kokako track, you basically hike down thru beautiful and tangled native bush down to a river below. It was really amazing...you end up in this clearing, crystal clear water flowing thru, surrounded by high walls covered in moss and ferns. If you are lucky you can hear the call of the Kokako, a native bird on the endangered species list. I would love to go back in the early morning...they say that is the best time to hear the birds, and in the summer time you could definitely dip your feet in the gentle water. Here we are...cuppa tea time...MMMMM...very nice.

And I did some knitting! yay! I finished up the cable panel for the Shell Tank from Knitting Nature. One more panel and I will be able to sew the pieces of the puzzle together. I reallly enjoy the pattern, it is quick and the cable was big fun. JFC's hat has been put on hold...I didn't have quite enough yarn, so I bought more only to realize it isn't the right yarn. woops.

Getting to know you...getting to know alllllll about youuuu

2006-08-27T20:48:00.000-06:00

So i was going to post a picture or 2 from the amazing walks I have been on in the past week ...but they are taking ages to upload, so i can't be bothered. heh heh. As for knitting...I have only done a couple inches in about 5 days because there has just been a whirlwind of excitement around here lately.

We went down to Ohakune on Wednesday evening for the night. I went on a stunning 3 hour walk to Silica Rapids with a friend, and it was truly breathtaking and quite the adventure. (Note to self: don't go for a walk thru snow, over mountains and rapids with traction-less non-water resistant chuck taylors.) Today we did another walk and checked out a couple of crater lakes closer to us (and much warmer I might add). Inbetween all of that we had a house inspection where we had to hide the cat, and then had 4 friends come to stay for the weekend. Ah yes...we also finished purchasing all of our plane tickets for our trip to the states for this year, and part of next.
So back to posts with pictures tomorrow...for now I am going to go relax and catch up on my knitting!

Ok maybe just one picture:

Now I Understand

2006-08-21T21:14:00.000-06:00

I now understand why people have maids. We are getting ready for our inspection on Friday and so we need to have the house "rentable" and also remove all traces that a cat has decided to live here. In my younger days I assumed cleaning was basically about 3 to 4 things...laundry, dishes, dusting & vacuuming. Those 4 things...I do not mind. In fact, given the right mood, I enjoy them. But then there is the other cleaning...the REAL cleaning. The cleaning mom would do in the spring as we stood by thinking she was crazy. Because when you are young, and people clean for you...you don't realize HOW MUCH they clean. And how DIRTY things can get.

Dust. I. hate. dust.
Condensation I. hate. condensation.
dust + condensation = nasty gunk that I want nothing to do with.

Dust gets in places I didn't know dust could get in to! Sure throw me a vacuum! Toss me some dishes! But please don't ever make me clean the "gunk" out of a window sill or the odd little ledge that you forget about in the corner of the kitchen. Or the drips that drip down that handy dishwasher....or *gag* the weird little hairs *gag gag gag* and what not that you have to pull from *oh god here it comes* the drains...and please, please, please, somebody install a garbage disposal in our kitchen sink cause you don't even want to *gag* know what I have to pull out of there. Thank the sunshine king we are vegetarians!

Ok enough about that...I feel nauseous.

Onward HO! so knitting...I have been knitting. The problem is I am getting sick of little projects...I want to do more and more big projects. Sweaters, cardigans, and camisoles...oh my! But that throws a damper on the whole blogging as I just don't have as much to show...and you can only take so many progress pictures...anyways I am getting sidetracked...lets move on...

I am knitting Shedir for JFC, as he lost his other hat. I am knitting it out of some natural undyed new zealand wool. It is slow going though do to the intricate cable pattern and my slippery metal cable needle. I am thinking of using the needle-less cable method to speed things up.

I am also working on the Shell Tank from Knitting Nature, after being thoroughly impressed with how Anna's turned out. I am using Cotone in a pretty leaf green (yeah i know i am getting a little too excited about green lately..what can i say). I am doing it in the smallest size, but with 2 inches of length added on as I am not too into the whole show me your tum-tum deal. I am finished with the back and eagerly moving on to the front bits.

You spin me right 'round, baby, right 'round

2006-08-14T21:34:00.000-06:00

Well I have been busy busy busy! On saturday me and JFC went to Tauranga to visit Gay, the woman he bought my wheel from, and she taught us to spin (thats right...US...JFC got in on the action as well). Gay was absolutely fabulous, she told us all kinds of amazing stories and was such a great teacher. She even had a notebook full of home-spun yarn samples that she had dyed herself with all kinds of organic things-from onion skin to lichen to bark and leaves. That little heap of crazy yarn you see sitting towards the bottom there was our accomplishment for the day. It was so fun. The fleece was from her sons farm down on the South Island. I have been practicing ever since (hence the yarn you see on those bobbins)...but I think it will take a bit of time til' i really get the hang of it. Still...what a fun thing to practice! And to grasp the entire craft...from the sheep (or alpaca, or bamboo or soy plant!) to the finished beatiful handknit sweater (insert sigh of satisfaction here)...it just feels good.

And of course there has been knitting in the mix as well. I finished my knee socks using my hand-dyed ugly yarn:) And I love them!! And I love the 2-circular needles method, these socks only took me about a day or 2 each working on them when I felt like it/had time. Very efficient...I could easily finish a pair of shorter socks in one dedicated evening.

And to top off all of the excitement...I cut off most of my hair. As I watched the hair dresser snip snip snip I felt a bit anxious...but now that it is over and done with there is definitely a sense of a relief. I have put my hair thru a lot in the past 10 years...from dying it every color of the rainbow, to one horrible perm...a million bad haircuts...and dreads to finish it off...it needed a break. It needed some time to just be loved au-natural...so here it is. The rest of the damage has been cut out and all that is left is my natural hair color and ends that aren't split in 10 different directions. It is a bit shorter than I would like...but it should be to a more comfortable length in a few months. (insert another sigh of relief here). A fresh start.

Edited to Add: I almost forgot! I just wanted to say thanks for all of the nice comments on my bubble pullover! Talk about boosting a girls self esteem. Oh and it took me about 2 weeks I think...give or take a few days.

Yarn Yarn Yarn...I love Yarn

2006-08-11T15:30:00.000-06:00

Presenting.....

AQUAFLUFF! (name courtesy of JFC)

The yarn I used was a natural sheep wool, undyed from New Zealand, 200 grams worth. I dyed it with Koolaid so generously provided from Meredith..and one from you mom (although not the invisible one...i'm saving that for a special occasion..heh heh). The colors I used are Arctic Green Apple, Grape, and Ice Blue Raspberry. and I like it...i like it a lot. I used the handpainting method...in other words i just filled up some cups with a little bit of water and the koolaid and splashed it all around the kitchen. Most of which, thankfully, landed on the yarn. then Into a steamer basket in the soup pot over boiling water and an hour later...voila! Fruity smelling Aquafluff. I plan to use to knit up some Pomatomus socks.

In the meantime I am being taught how to use my spinning wheel today! So so so excited. I will report back on the progress tomorrow.

Bubble Pullover

2006-08-09T14:55:00.000-06:00

Well FINALLY I have a finished object. The Bubble Pullover from Knitting Nature. I used 10 & 1/2 balls of Rainbow Pure Wool in a discontinued shade = I made this sweater for under $30.00!! I love the color...so it is sad that it is discontinued. This sweater was veyr very fun to knit...the construction is just amazing. It's like putting together a puzzle. So very satisifying. I made the size small...so it fits a bit more like a normal sweater instead of like the really baggy one in the book. I love the wide collar. Really I just can't say enough about this book and author. If you want to see more pictures of finished objects by other people from the same book just click here.

Now the sweater is in the sink getting ready to be blocked...you may have noticed it is a little misshapen in the pictures, but I was just excited to finally post some knitting again.

Last night I cast on for a pair of knee socks using 2 circular needles and my handdyed yarn :) heh heh. I definitely like the technique, and I have to say, that the more I look at my ugly yarn...the more i love it! Pictures to follow shortly I'm sure. I also plan on dying more yarn today as my friend Meredith sent me a huge box of Kool-aid, and JFC is off for the day snowboarding.

well time to get crafty!

A Little Shout-Out to the Man I call "Daaaaaaaaad"

2006-08-05T16:47:00.000-06:00

As you can tell from this early "head shot" of my father he's a pretty good looking guy, perfect for the stage...and always ready to bring a smile to your face. Now there are a few key points you should pay attention to in that sentence. (He's thinking in his head ..yeah...the good looking part! heh heh). But I would like to focus on the next to parts...the stage and the smile. My father is currently following his dream to be an actor. Which although exciting and fun, is also hard work that doesn't always pay a Brad Pitt salary.

So along comes my birthday and I live across the world = not the cheapest shipping for a man on an actor's wage. But being oh so clever my dad digs out a box of stamps from when he was working his other job. Eureka! Just enough for the postage....so a short couple of weeks later and this arrives at my doorstep in New Zealand...I'm not sure what is better the package or whats inside!

Edited to Add: By the way I have been knitting and doing knitting things...but I've been very very sick, hence lack of posts. But I am doing a bit better now and will be taking pictures and posting more often!

Who's a Lucky Little Knitter??

2006-07-31T20:19:00.000-06:00

I'm a lucky little knitter. I hinted "gently" that there were a few knitting items I could use for my birthday. And man did people listen. They listened so well I may not be leaving the house again for quite some time, because I have sweaters to knit, knitting books to read...and possibly the most exciting of all-I have this:

It seems JFC picked up on my "subtle" hints loud and clear because he snuck home this beautiful spinning wheel. I mean, talk about EXCITING. I am going to spin yarn! Thats right folks, I am going to be spinning, dying, knitting...watch out world cause Drea Renee has arrived armed and ready for action. (I just need to learn how to use it..heh heh)

Now one of the things that I really admire about JFC is his love of all things with character...things with a bit of history to them. He doesn't just go buy any ol' spinning wheel. He finds one with a remarkable story to go along with it.

As you can read on the bottom of the "Lazy Kate", this particular wheel was made in 1972 by John Gibson out of native New Zealand wood (we think Remu) that had washed up on the beach in Seatoun, Wellington. The woman who sold it to us is the one who bought it in 1997, and now we purchased it from her in 2006. Justin added on our purchase so we can keep the history of this wheel going. I just think that is so fun. I think I will name her Meewi...why you may ask?? Basically just because I like to say "meeeewiii" in a highpitched voice and this gives me more opportunity to do just that. heh heh

Now last but definitely not least, I've also received one more knitting book from my big brother Aaron and his family:

Elizabeth Zimmerman is a knitting icon and I am very excited to have Knitting Around added to my collection.

So if you all don't here from me for a bit...well I am sure you can understand why...I have some homework to do, and its one heck of a big load.
By the way...I have been knitting as well...just a bit distractedly so it is slow going. I am currently working on the Bubble Pullover from Knitting Nature and it is coming along just swimmingly!

Dirty Little Secrets

2006-07-26T21:28:00.000-06:00

There are little, secret "habits" I have when it comes to my blog. Mainly the pictures. You see, every photograph you see on here is taken by me. Now this isn't because JFC refuses to offer help as I struggle taking a picture of myself. Oh no. I won't let him. In fact he gets locked out of the room. Why is this? Is it a woman thing? Or maybe just a knitter thing? Or maybe even a DreaRenee thing? Whatever it is...its a thing I just can't help.

There is something about finishing a project. It's just so personal. I need some time alone with it before showing it to the world. I need to try it on, get comfortable in it (or in some not so happy scenarios throw it in my "to be frogged" basket). When I knit something and then decide I like it and then take the monster step of wearing it in public...well, it makes me feel very vulnerable. I think I just need to practice a bit and then I will surely realize that no one notices me wearing a handmade sweater. But sometimes it makes me feel like I am walking into a crowded room naked... "Look at me! Look at me!"

Ok, I am straying from the point. Pay no attention, it's just another of my insecurities surfacing. Basically I lock JFC out of the room and take about a million pictures of myself in different poses and faces until finally I feel I have a passable one to post on here. You see, this is my first step out the door. My first step in public. With all my stitches bared...just hoping I'm accepted.

So here you go...I'm taking that step, and a few extra. Here are a few pictures of my latest FO... the Angel Sleeve Top from Vogue Winter 2005/06. I used a beautiful undyed thick and thin yarn name Periwinkle, handspun at Woven Art. Included you will notice a picture in which I accidentally chopped off my head, one where I was trying to hold my arms in a way that showed the oh so delicate and beautiful bell sleeves, and in a few of them how I have to slightly bend my legs to make sure I don't chop off my head again. Welcome to my therapy session..hope you enjoy.

Hording

2006-07-26T14:03:00.000-06:00

It seems I have grown an obsession not just with knitting, but with knitting books. I suppose all of us knitters are a bit obsessed with all of the paraphanalia (yah i don't know how to spell that) that goes into it. I never thought I would buy lots of knitting books though. At first it seemed to me like buying cookbooks. I can't bring myself to buy a cookbook because I know there are probably only like 2 recipes I will ever make out of it. Instead I just find recipes on Food Network. com and other handy sites of the sort.

There are a ridiculous amount of free patterns to be had out there in Internet land...but I just really love the books. I mean, I have books that I haven't made anything out of yet. But I just love looking thru them. Reading the authors blurbs about knitting and all its glory. It always inspires me and rejuvenates my passion for the craft (like it needs rejuvinating..heh heh).

So on to the books. My lovely sister Meagann sent me both of these for my birthday. Thats right, not one, but 2. Very exciting. I love the Knitting in Nature. Although I find some of the patterns a bit unrealistic for real life (kind of like Loop 'd Loop) there are a few that make it worth it, and the rest are brilliant to learn from. She really stretches the boundaries and makes you think outside the box.

And Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles...I can't wait to get my Ug-I mean Beautiful self dyed yarn knit up into some knee socks using this method.

JFC is off snowboarding today so I have a big day of knitting ahead of me. I am just putting the finishing touches on a sweater I finished last night, so pictures should follow shortly. Then the possibilities are endless. Oh yeah...I don't think I ever posted this picture of the mittens I finished. The pattern is from Weekend Knitting. I just love how rounded and perfect they are. I used baby alpaca yarn from Woven Art that is just AMAZING.

U-G-L-Y you ain't go no allaby...You ugly..yeah yeah, you ugly

2006-07-23T20:46:00.000-06:00

Alright, here is my first attempt at dyeing yarn. I think in the back of my head I knew it was going to turn out ugly. I didn't really have the exact colors right...plus i think I used too many colors that were a bit too different to actually meld well together. not to mention 3 of those colors are Dylon Cold dye...which in the directions said that it would have a very light outcome. Well it did the exact opposite and had a very concentrated outcome. Heh Heh. I am excited to keep trying. I figured I will just knit this up into some ugly knee socks. I made it self striping, which was a very fun experiment indeed. Now that I have got that first attempt out of my way, which was doomed to be ugly...I think it will be blue skies ahead. Kool-aid donations are welcome (but please, no more Invisible Flavors..heh heh)

I had to throw in a close-up...lets face it, it is my first attempt...my baby...and i love it, ugliness and all.

Mother Knows Best

2006-07-19T22:32:00.000-06:00

So this morning right as I was getting ready to leave, JFC came up with a big box that had been left on our front step...a package from my mom for my birthday. My birthday which isn't for another week and a half, but I just couldn't wait to open it. First off she sent me these cute cute cute shoes...which she said reminded her of me. I don't know about you, but I really love when someone happens upon a gift like this that they know is perfect for you. It just shows how well someone knows you..and I don't know, its just special. I love love love them. I have already been wearing them all day, hence the smudged toes.

Next up is the yarn I asked for. I ran out of it in the middle of a sweater...literally the middle...I have the front and one sleeve done. I can't wait to finish it now. I dream about the store this yarn came from. In fact I was dreaming about it just last night...and funnily enough in every dream, something happens where I don't quite make it into the store...hmmmm

This card is another really perfect for me kind of card. I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Not only does it fit me, my love of wine, and my awkward dancing to a T...but it also reminds me of my mom...because in those ways...I am a lot like her. (not to mention she tucked a nice little twenty in there for me...heh heh)

Last but not least she sent me the kool-aid I asked for. I have been wanting to dye some yarn, but as far as I know you can't get kool-aid around here. Now mom, I hope you don't mind the teasing...but this was just too good to pass up. Please take a closer look at that packet on the top. Do you see what I see? "Invisible! Clear Drink! Great Fruity Taste!" I think this was funnier than card. I guess I will be drinking that one.

Thanks so much mom...even half a world away...you know how to make me feel special!

Clapotis in all its glory

2006-07-18T13:51:00.000-06:00

Well Clapotis is finally done and dusted. Here is a close up of the dropped stitches. I love love love it. It was well worth all of the tedious hours and 6 balls of that sunset wool.

I had to block it on the area rug because it was so big. I started to worry I had made it too big, but I compared it to the pashmina my sister Leah got me for my birthday last year...just a few inches difference.

Here is the back view so you can see all of the lovely dropped stitches

Wrapped up. It is soft and cozy, and yet funky with a bit more style...I am definitely happy I added a few inches to make it into a larger stole instead of a scarf.

And yet it still looks cute as a scarf anyways.

so Yeah ...this project took me ages (at least it felt like ages as my mind quickly wandered to other projects I wanted to start.) Hence why it gets so many pictures. I've got to say in the end, this is probably my favorite item so far. So if there is any one left who hasn't made this...you should cause it is fantastic. Thanks Kate Gilbert for such a fabulous (free!) pattern and I will "Wear it everyday indoors and out and eat a croissant."

For the Love..

2006-07-16T14:54:00.000-06:00

So i have been doing stuff....just not anything I felt like posting about. I don't know why. I have been going thru...well lets call it a "transitional stage." or an early twenties crisis...whatev. You see, and i think you other knitters will be able to level with me on this one (or maybe not, no pressure) but its an obsession. I want to do nothing else. I dream about knitting. about yarn shops. about spinning and dying (which is next on my list...and the waiting is killing me). there are so many things i want to make that i get overwhelmed and just sit. patterns and ideas flowing thru my head.

in the meantime...there is real life. and what am i going to do with it? where will we live...will we just keep country hopping until we are old and gray? does that mean we can't ever get a dog? cause i want a dog. what will i do for work? will somebody see my love of knitting and say "i've just got to pay you to keep doing that...cause you shouldnt do anything else!" or will i have to find other work...like in an office or something.

there's also the fact that we are kind of hermits up here in our log cabin house. sometimes i wonder if i look all crazy when i leave the house...my hair has no style and i haven't really bought any new clothes (besides necessities, like jeans) since my freshmen year of college. next thing i know i am gonna be a crazy lady walking down the road wearing clothes from high school, with "i'd rather be knitting" silk screened on the back of my old cheerleading t shirt.

i suppose only time will tell. the good news...for now i get to spend most of my days fulfilling my obsession. clapotis up there is almost done (and yes that is me wearing my pajamas at about 6 in the evening on saturday night..heh heh). i finished that fit to be tied clutch a week or so a go. and i also just finished a pair of fabulous mittens out of the best yarn ever. i will post a picture when they are done blocking. next on the list? i need something big...something satisfying. not sure what though. there are too many ideas.

Fetching Indeed

2006-07-10T21:40:00.000-06:00

Well I finished up these fetching hand mitts a couple days a go. I used the Anchor Magic (color 1405) that Saskia sent me.

The yarn was just delicious. Very soft and luxurious to knit with. I only wish I could find it here!

The pattern I think is good...but a bit big for my hands. If I was to do it again I think I would use a solid color yarn and make them at least an inch shorter in circumference.

Lotto Girl, Where are you??

2006-07-07T14:37:00.000-06:00

Just a shorty...a pictorial if you will, of my morning yesterday...

5 minutes to get to work, we leave and get as far as the bottom of the driveway

realizing this is a great opportunity to learn how to change a flat tire...

I looked up every now and then to take mental notes.

The Affair

2006-07-05T21:52:00.000-06:00

I have never been a multi-project kind of gal. One is all I need to keep me happy. I am usually so excited to finish the project I'm working on and see the end result that I just don't have the time to venture into a second one. Until now.

I have been working on Clapotis, and although I know I will love the end result...the actual knitting of it has become a bit daunting. Like a relationship grown tired...it has started to feel boring and even tedious. So my eyes begin wandering...looking for something with a bit more pizzazz...something quick...and possibly even sexy. My hands slow and my mouth hangs just ever so slightly open as I spot a hot little number I just can't ignore...I slowly set down Clapotis, pick up my hook...and never look back....

It was like a whirlwind...I didn't know what had come over me. I sympathized with myself..."it was out of my control, it was only 2 hours...it won't happen again...nobody has to know..."

But it did happen again - I began working on Clapotis...and again my hands began to tire and again I urged for the excitement of something new...just a quickie...nothing long term, just a few hours...

Now I have Clapotis on my needles, Fit to be Tied on my hook...and still my eyes wander. They wander to the summer issue of Knitty and these Fetching Fingerless Mitts that would be just perfect for my frozen hands. Or these sexy little Baudelaire socks. Or even the oh so popular Pomatomus socks. I even went and bought some wire today to begin crocheting a cowboy hat...yes a cowboy hat (don't knock it till you try it) When will it end? Will I continue to juggle all that can be fooled by my seemingly innocent intentions? Or will the lust and two-timing turn and bite me in my back end? Will my youthful energy wain and projects go unfinished? Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

Well friends, only time will tell.

(Read: by the way the fact that Clapotis has becoming a bit tedious for me can only be blamed on my own poor decisions. It is a loving and nurturing knit that I will cherish upon its completion and I suggest it to anyone interested in making it...just don't choose an ultra fine yarn and then decide to make it into a stole instead of a scarf by adding lots of inches...it takes me at least 5 minutes to knit one row (=1 hour per 12 row section... x a minimum of 12 sections just for the body.)
The hat in the picture is "the pdq" and the clutch is "Fit to be Tied" both from the Happy Hooker.)

Saskia...You Rock

2006-07-03T19:39:00.000-06:00

So this morning I woke up...and well, I was in a bit of a funk. A bit of the ol' waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Me and JfC decided the best thing to do was to get out of the house. As we are piling into the car we hear another car trying to make it up the drive (we have a very steep driveway.) We turn around to see the Rural Post Delivery man stepping out of his van with a package. A package for me. Clueless as to what it could be I start peaking around looking for the senders address...and there I see Saskia's name. She sent me a care package, and the picture here just does not even do it justice. These for example...cute little "wooden" dutch shoes and green bobbles (which she remembered is my fave color)

Also a map of her home, a paper model of the Luxor that you build yourself, a book on Rotterdam. And I haven't even gotten to the yarn yet! 2 balls of yarn that I oggled in one of her previous posts on SaSKnitsItAgain, 2 beautiful hanks of a nice burgundy wool, and even a fun ball of novelty yarn. To top it all off a handknit headband, complete with her logo and a bag "Munten Drops" which I am thinking are mints, but from what I could tell on the back of the package you shouldn't eat too many in a short period of time or they could have a laxative effect...heh heh

Oh yeah and a wuppie! thats the Orange guy. Thank you so much Saskia...you turned my funky day into one with plenty of sunshine and happiness.

A week off

2006-06-30T15:15:00.000-06:00

Well our communication with the outside world was down for the week...no phone, no internet. And while it was annoying, it was a bit nice to forget about it for a few days. Now that I have it back though...it feels good to be back and blogging (yes the dorkiness never ends)

Well as you may be able to tell from the photo, I finally bought Happy Hooker. Which brings me to tell my story...

At 9 years old my grandma taught me to knit. I knit a 12x12 square (it was suppose to be a blanket for my teddy bear) but I never even bound off and it remained a tangled mess in my drawer well into my teens. Forgotten in the whirl wind of high school dramas my craftiness turned towards mainly ceramics and jewelry making, and I even attempted to sew together a few tops. And then there was a crafty draught in this girls life (enter working and parties).

Then about 2 and 1/2 ;years a go I found myself sitting bored on my couch, all of my girlfriends (really...every last one of 'em) studying abroad in countries far away. So I went to JoAnn's picked up a learn how to crochet kit and a ball of yarn (the worst yarn I have every purchased...hard, stiff, and very acrylic) and set off on a crocheting adventure. Finally one of my friends came home and we decided to be crafty together. Her mom taught her to knit and she brought over her shiny orange knitting needles and a scarf on the go. As I sat in one corner of the couch struggling with my hook and ropey yarn she happily clicked away progressing on her soon to be soft and cuddly scarf. I was jealous...and crochet became no more. I went and bought a trendy Urban Outfitters knitting kit and whipped out a yellow and pink striped scarf, the lessons from my grandma shining thru in little sparks as I cast on, knit and bound off. oh the satisfaction. I continued knitting random scarves for about 15 months and then debbie stoller entered my life with her Stitch n' Bitch books and there was no turning back. Knitting is my life and brinking on an unhealthy obsession.

So crochet...curiosity just got the best of me. I toyed with getting Stoller's Happy Hooker when it first came out. Even ordered it on Amazon...but I just couldn't do it. Thought "what do I need hooks for? I'm happy with my needles." So the order was cancelled. And temporarily forgotten. But that book just kept popping up. On blogs and in shops. And the patterns...oh the patterns...such good patterns. And slowly but surely I talked myself into "needing" this book. There tends to be a weird tension between knitters & crocheters, the highest offense it taken when ones fabric is mistaken for the oppostie craft. But I've decided for my love of fibers spun into yarn, and needles whether straight or hooked to blur the line of division and bring both crafts into my home and heart.

And I've got to say...I love crocheting. So fun and satisfying. Knitting will always be #1 in my heart, but crochet has found a cozy spot as #2. and for any other knitters out there who want to take a walk on the wild side...I definitely suggest this book and a hook. (that little purse? thats my "In Bloom" clutch from Happy Hooker, completed in a few hours, including time for my refresher course in crochet.) Fabulous.

He came back

2006-06-25T14:53:00.000-06:00

For those of you that read the beginning of our story I will continue on a bit.

JFC (when he was still just known as the cute boy who liked falafel) came back. I looked up and saw his curly hair and oversized headphones, and heard those 2 magical little words "falafel sandwich." And I smiled. I smiled very big. (And then my hands began shaking and I had to go in the back and have someone else ring him up because I was so nervous...)

He continued coming in every day for lunch, and I continued happily wiping down the already clean tables around him, attempting awkward small talk along the lines of

me: so you like music?

him: yeah

me: ME TOO!!

All of my coworkers knew about my infatuation, including my very, lets say talkitave, boss. She soon took it upon herself to not-so-subtly play matchmaker. She would tell me she needed to talk business, but over here (right where JFC would be sitting). Finally one day she asked him if he would like to come to the bar and grill we hung out at, not-so-casually mentioning that I would be there as well. He just smiled shyly.

He didn't show up.

Feeling silly, I toned down the smiles to just a friendly waitress smile. Things went back to normal, and I just quietly enjoyed his presence at lunch time.

Until finally, 2 months after I had first laid eyes on him, he came up to me as I was taking out the trash. Thinking he wanted to put a napkin or something in the bag I kind of offered it in his direction, with a slightly crazed smile on my face. But then much to my surprise he asked if I would like to go to a show with him that night at the bar. A bit surprised I just said "yes", but quickly realized I was only 20, and couldn't go to the bar. (I cleverly worked that all out the next day...but we will leave that alone). We decided he would call me the next day, so I wrote my phone number on a piece of waitress order paper...and well that was that. He still has that piece of paper with my number. I gave it to immigration as proof of our relationship. We hung out that next evening. And then the next day, and every day there after.

Also for anyone curious...that cat that decided to come live with us?? He's still here...and he has a taste for chives.

Burnt Sierra Fancy Socks

2006-06-25T00:38:00.000-06:00

I have an issue with matching. I really struggle with it. In fact...I am almost anti it. I tend to feel like a bit of a tool if I match...not that I have anything against other people who match. I just personally cannot fathom matching say...my shirt to my belt, shoes, purse and lipstick (especially because i don't own 2 of those 4 items). I couldn't even if I wanted to, because I just don't pay that much attention during my once a year shopping spree. Now this doesn't mean I go out of my way to "unmatch". I don't wear black &white polka dot slacks with techni-colored plaid shirts or anything.

The fact of the matter is that I haven't always been anti-matching. My outfit didn't necessarily match itsself...but it would match...(please don't judge me for this) my friends. In fact we even went as far as to attempt "matching mondays".

Examples: 7 of us (yes SEVEN) would all wear overalls (and yes we all had the same pair from the Gap) with a white t-shirt underneath. Now that one isn't too bad...it could be played off as a very horrible coincidence...but it gets worse...

Another "Monday Outfit" we had planned was to all wear sarongs (yes those brightly colored tapestrys your wrap around like a skirt) with wife beaters...as if the brightly colored sarongs weren't enough...we decided "why not make our own t shirts???" So we went to the craft store, bought fabric pens and puffy paint, white t shirts and promptly made sets of matching tshirts with all sorts of dorky inside jokes written on them.

this continued thru out my high school career, the whole time believing it was cool. Sadly, it wasn't until the other day when I was explaining "matching mondays" to JFC, that I realized just how big of a dork I (and all of my friends...they're coming down with me) are.

Now it gets a little worse...this didn't stop in high school. Oh no...it continued well into "college years". I distinctly remember having the same pair of DKNY jeans, Puma hoodie, and steve madden red slip on shoes as 3 of my other friends. And just last year I was bringing my friend some more comfortable clothes to wear (she had gone out partying and stayed at someone else's house and I didn't think she would want to stay in her party clothes) and it wasn't until she put on the outfit that I realized it exactly matched the outfit I had on. I am not saying "similar"...i mean exactly...moosejaw hoodie, gaucho pants, knit boots...the whole nine yards. Every once in a while I even realize that me and JFC match...

*sigh* so maybe i don't wear matching outfits in an attempt to counteract my overwhelming tendency to match those close to me. Or maybe I just wear such great outfits that everyone else copies me???

Either way...it seems I am a bit of a dork. Love me or leave me...and ifyou love me...feel free to match me, cause its the cool thing to do. And those socks?? yes those are JFC's new fancy socks I made for him. There is also a cable running up the back of the sock and some fancy shaping...but my camera died before I had a chance to take a picture. And those burnt sierra colored toes? I was short a little bit of yarn...and yeah...the whole matching thing just doen'st come easily to me. But it looks alright. Right?

Thats Snow on That Thur Mount'n

2006-06-19T17:39:00.000-06:00

Winter is here. JFC is off snowboarding and I am home attempting to keep a pitiful little fire going in the fire place. Looks like I need to learn some man skills as well. I'm definitely not into the grabbing of the logs off of the spider infested wood pile...*shudder*

The funny thing is JFC works from home and I knit from home (heh heh), yet he leaves for a few hours and I still miss him. Sickening isn't it?? I remember the first time I saw JFC. I was working at the restaurant and noticed him come up to the counter in a huge knee length winter coat, giant headphones wrapped around his curly brown hair...short stubby beard, tattered jeans and chuck taylors. He came up and asked for a falafel sandwich. And those are the only 2 words I heard him speak for the next month. He came in every weekday, walked up to the counter and said "falafel sandwich." I would watch him walk in the door during the lunch rush and would make whoever I was working with switch places with me so I could be the one to hear those 2 little words. I didn't even realize he had an accent for the first 2 or 3 weeks. I decided I would win him over by smiling really big whenever he looked over...that surely would let him know my intentions. So Monday thru Friday at about 12:45 it was "falafel sandwich" and a big smile.

After a month of these going ons I left to go visit a friend in Philedelphia for a little over a week. Telling her about the cute boy that came into the restaurant every day.

I came back, looking forward to working and spotting the cute boy with the big coat and headphones...but he didn't show up that Monday. Or Tuesday...or any other day that week. I was sad. And work quickly became just counting down the minutes again to go home. Nothing to look forward to, to break up the day.

I decided he must've been an exchange student whose term had ended and he had gone home. I gave up on all my daydreams and hopes that he would finally realize what all the crazy smiling was about and went about life as normal.

OO...the phone is ringing, and should be a friend from back home...I hope...more on all that at a later date...back to knitting in the next post, i promise.

Back to Normal

2006-06-18T17:15:00.000-06:00

Well I have been working on a pattern that I am trying to get published. I am finally done and it is sent in...waiting to be scrutinized...and then maybe, hopefully, please...chosen. Cross your fingers for me! That is by the way the pattern that has been keeping me from posting...I am not sure if I should show it in my blog..not sure how that all works.

Anyways it is finished and out of my life for a bit. So now i can get back to knitting things I can share. Right now I am working on a simple hair wrap for a friend. I will post a pic when it is done. The picture included...I was making soup a few nights a go and pulled that heart shaped potato out of the bag. Isnt it fabulous?? Just a little love omen to brighten the day.

I am trying to decide what to knit next. JFC is begging for a pair of socks...anybody have any fun patterns? Besides that I want to do another sweater/top I think. The one I made to *hopefully* get published turned out really well and now I am totally motivated to do more more more! I was thinking of redoing Fad Classic. But now I am thinking I would like to use the yarn from that for a different project...and use a better suited yarn for that. Something a bit thinner...a bit lighter than what I used before. Decisions Decisions. Ah well..time to go put the kettle on for afternoon tea.

Women and Jeans (and maybe men too??)

2006-06-13T21:34:00.000-06:00

First things first...I just want to say thanks for everyone that left comments on my blog the other day. I was feeling a bit blue and all of those kind and encouraging words really helped to bring my color back around to a nice warm green (green's my favorite...don't ask). So thank you.

On to important things...and since I can't talk about the knitting that is taking up all of my time...i will talk about jeans. Buying jeans is a chore. A special chore. Because if it turns out well...it isn't like a chore at all, but if it doesn't...well then the world comes crumbling down and most ladies I know sink into a mini depression. I buy a pair of jeans once a year. That is usually all I can handle (and most times all i can afford..heh heh) Now if you are reading this and going "what is she rambling on about?? I LOVE buying jeans" then you are probably shaped like the manequins that they drape the fancy jeans on in the store windows...and read no more. If you are reading this and thinking "Who cares...my wife/girlfriend/mom buys my jeans for me from Old Navy...don't even need to try them on" then are you probably male in gender, and it just isn't that difficult to find jeans to fit your no hips simple straight man figure...and read no more.

For everyone left...I'm thinking you can feel my pain. Jeans are the most difficult item of clothing for me to find. Oh sure...there are plenty of pairs out on offer...but to actually have them fit. And I mean really fit. Hug the right places...don't pinch the bad places. Ya know? We should really just be assigned our own individual jean maker at birth. They can travel thru life with us, constructing jeans to perfectly fit our bodies as the fashions change, as we lose 5 pounds...then gain 10...then lose 12...and so on. My personal dilemma?? Well some women are pear shaped...some boy shaped...some "curves in all the right places" shaped...me?? I'm "perma-pregnant" shaped. No...there is no bun in the oven....and there never has been...but for some reason, for as long as i can remember, I have always had a round tummy (i tend to believe i have yet to lose my baby fat) but thinner arms and legs. Now as far as I can tell when I am shopping for jeans..every other person in the world (besides the mannequin shaped ones) have the opposite problem...tiny flat waist...big legs. Because all jeans are huge in the legs and tight on the stomach. Now this is not flattering...this means, my tummy gets pinched over the tight waste of the jeans and my legs look twice as big because there is twice as much fabric as necessary for my legs.

(read: it just struck me i should probably just be shopping at maternity stores...hmmm)

Anyways, if you couldn't tell I went jeans shopping today. the first store that i tried is called "just jeans"...yeah well just jeans my back end...because they had about 3 different brands in 2 different styles...wide leg or so low you better not wear underwear.
I left feeling the need to urgently go on a diet and never try on jeans again...

but then by some lucky chance i stopped in "just one more store". Tried on 2 pairs...and much to my glee...they both fit! So to make a short story long :) i bought 2 pairs of jeans today. And so shouldn't be complaining...I just thought some of you would be able to feel me on the drama of denim. Now to push it to the back of my mind until next year.

Ch-Ch-Changes

2006-06-10T14:33:00.000-06:00

So this is probably the longest I have gone without posting. Due mainly to the fact that I am working on something that I can't post about...and since I have had to restart/revamp it about 4 times...it is taking allllll of my time. That and the fantastic cooking voyages I have been on. I even made homemade granola bars yesterday. I am very interested in macrobiotics and whole foods and all that so I am trying to learn more and experiment more...and well that would be a whole other blog...

I also I am going thru a bit of transition period right now. Less than a year a go I was working at a fast paced restaurant 40 to 70 hours a week. I lived in my home town (East lansing michigan) in my dads basement. Now...now I live in a remote lake cabin on Lake Okareka in the middle of the north island of new zealand. I don't work more than a day a week (although i kind of like to think of my knitting as "working" towards my future career..heh heh). In the 5 months I have been here i have not made a single friend. (read: Wait I have made a friend! It just happens that she lives in the Netherlands...not New Zealand...and well I haven't exactly met her in person...ok i am making this worse...but she's great..check out her blog by clicking the SAS knits it again button in my sidebar)

The homesickness has set in as just a backthought always kind of lingering. Little things remind me of home...and I miss it. But then I look around...and realize all of the good things I have gained. I think the hardest part of moving so far away...is worrying that you are slowly being phased out. When I first moved the email box was always full, I talked to people more than when I lived at home. But slowly...slowly that tapers off. I get just a spattering here and there. I write people 2 or 3 times with no response. I know it is my responsibility to hold up relationships...I am the one that chose to move. I also know I shouldn't be so dramatic...people are busy. and probably don't have as much time to dwell on these things as I do.

Originally I had a great little story planned of how I don't drink sugar in my tea anymore and how that links up to feelings of self doubt in my knitting. Ah well. Oh and a little lesson I learned the hard way...don't do colorwork in the round...there is actually a reason why they are always written in flat patterns....

Today I am going to focus on getting over my "sluggish" feelings and enjoy where I am right now. Cause lets face it...i live in a pretty freaking amazing place. And I just reread that last line...cheesy enough to spread on a cracker...ouch...gotta stop. Better ones to come...cross your fingers

Mancala Hour

2006-06-03T21:33:00.000-06:00

Well here it is...the project I have been talking about. A homemade mancala game. I had one when I was little. It was wooden and had turqoise stones as the playing pieces. I use to play for hours with my god sister. Then just a couple years a go, I played again with my nephew Aidan. I love this game because it is simple enough for even young children to play...but entertaining enough to keep playing thru-out adulthood as well. It was very fun to do something besides clothing. Something a bit out of the ordinary...even if I did have to felt until my hands just about fell off. We even made our own playing pebbles out of clay. Let the epic mancala battles begin!

Top Hunter

2006-06-03T02:27:00.000-06:00

I would like to reminisce on a story my best of friends told me last year.

It was a sunny day, they had been packing for their move down to Florida. She took a break to look out the window at the beautiful day and spotted their cat, Tage, in the front yard. As she watched him a warm feeling bloomed inside of her and she sat thinking "aww, he is so cute, I love our cat" a tender smile stretched across her face. "what is he doing??" she wondered as she saw him sinking low in the grass. "silly cat"

and then...then the horrible happened. Tage pounced, fur flew and from the window my friend watched as he clasped a baby bunny between his fatal jaws. She screamed, ran out of the house and tried to stop the murder taking place. She was awe-stricken.

Household cats are one of the best hunters of the animal world. Did you know that? Better than many of their wild cat family members.

This afternoon, after spending a lovely morning at the farmers market and then a nice chat with my sister and mom I worked on making some homemade ciabatta. As I stood at the counter kneading my dough, I heard a startled reaction from JFC. I looked up just in time (hold on a sec...this is, *gulp*, hard for me to write)...

I looked up just in time to see Puss jump back in thru the window holding...holding...a. ....a... RAT in his mouth. Not a mouse...not a bunny...a rat. A rodent a third the size of himself. With its naked horrible rat tail...stiff...but still warm in Puss's mouth.

We reacted poorly. Frantic...wanting the rat out of the house...ASAP. Poor Puss, so proud of himself...as he should be, helping get rid of the demon rats that torment this country...but, well...it was just so unexpected. So startling. You just don't expect your precious little adolescent kitten to jump thru the window holding a rat he just tracked down and killed in the middle of a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Now we both feel guilty, wishing we had given him the praise he deserved...instead of flipping out and tossing his "catch" back into the bush. Don't get me wrong, the rat had to get out of the house and would've in a quick matter....but we should've let Puss know he did a good job.

But, I can't help but still shudder. Days like these I miss Little Bit...the simple, lazy, graying minature dachsund back home.

One Tree Hat

2006-06-02T03:42:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've been busy. I shouldn't really say that considering I only work about 1 day every 2 weeks...but it seems I have an amazing talent at keeping myself busy all the same. In fact it scares me...because I am not sure how I will ever fit anything more in at the rate I am going.

Anyways...the project I have been working on, which I choose not to speak too much about...well it involves felting. A lot of felting. A lot as in I finally got fed up trying to do it in the sink and just got in the bath with a million bits of wool and turned into one giant agitator (for those of you out there who may not knit, or who may knit but not felt...well just ignore that last comment). Basically to make a long story short I needed a mini break. And the other night as I was looking longingly up at my stash I noticed 2 balls of yarn that seemed to be gazing at each other. They had to meet...and they were going to do it with my help or not. So I decided to help.

It was a simple pale yellow merino and a perfect gray-softest-you-have-ever-had-the-fortune-to-touch-yarn and as I held them my thoughts began running a marathon around my head...Voila...I needed to make a hat. But not just any hat. I have already made a couple hats this year, and although I like them, they aren't really getting my heart pumping. I needed a hat that could be worn any time...rain, shine, or snow...something that looked like a favorite. Something worn every other day (the day the hair is not shampooed). So I cast on an extra 12 stitches for a loose fit and threw in a random stripe sequence. But hadn't I seen the most amazing tree the other day?? And why did it keep popping into my head? What could I do with that tree???? Ah yes...I had to wear it. And wear it I would. I was nervous, embroidering can be like drawing without an eraser...but it was meant to be, and I had to try...

And so was born...the one tree hat. And a much needed break from "the other project". Which by the way..here is another sneak peek:

Domestic Bliss

2006-05-30T14:09:00.000-06:00

Well it's been a few days...but I've been busy. For starters, the sun has finally come out. So spirits are high, and energy levels even higher after all those dormant rainy days. So what have I been doing? Well lets just say its been a little slice of domestic bliss in these parts...
JFC and I have begun doing yoga every morning. Which I know I am a bit late to the game...but it is terrific. Also I have been delving deeper into the culinary world. So yesterday we decided to start a little herb garden...just some basics-rosemary, basil, parsley. We are crossing our fingers that it works seeing as though we are going into winter..heh heh...but we use so many herbs in the cooking these days we decided it would be cost effective and JFC especially has been itching to put his green thumb to good use (racking up more man skills...it is a never ending quest, if he has it his way we will have some crazy multi-leveled self watering system filled with grasses, herbs, and veggies spanning the whole of our balcony and roof...yes, roof.)
As far as culinary adventures go...the sky is the limit. I have been doing everything from homemade pizza dough and ciabatta...to homemade sauces and biscuits (as in amercian style biscuits with soup and what these crazies call cookies). It will never cease to amaze me what you can do with a little flour....or a little string for that matter (and yup, just like that i am on to a new topic)...I have been knitting and I am so excited for this project. So excited I am not even going to tell you what it is I am making. In the end it may only amaze me...but it is just turning out magically. Hopefully not long to go before I can share the finished project with all of you...and now i leave you in suspense

Raining

2006-05-26T13:35:00.000-06:00

Well it has now been raining here for 6 (and a half!) straight days. Sure the first day or 2 can be quite cozy...light the fire get snuggled up in front of it and knit to my hearts content. But now, as I look out on terrential downpour and gusting winds...I've pretty much had enough. My vitamin D levels must be at an all time low. Yesterday we decided to get out of the house and go on alittel road trip to help with the rainy day blues...I personally was uber-excited because from my internet research there were not 1, but THREE good yarn stores in the town we were going to. So the whole drive down I am imagining the yarn I want to buy, the projects I want to knit...and the rain...try as it may..could not dampen my mood. Then we get to town...2 of the yarn shops have been closed, and the third switched hands and is now a fabric store with a few balls of yarn in the corner. I almost cried. This isnt the first time this has happened...there was suppose to be a "yarn world" with the "largest selection of yarn ever!!!" near where we use to live...closed. How I miss my michigan yarn stores...I had 3 amazing ones right where I lived...not to mention the basic craft stores that had a decent selection. *sigh* The good news?? It seems all this rain makes for perfect lighting in the bush to take interesting macro shots. I really love bright green of those leaves...and that moss down there looks like it should be underwater. Ah nature...you cure my woes.

Do a little dance, Knit a little love, Get down tonight

2006-05-24T19:43:00.000-06:00

So I have just been in a quickie mood lately...not motivated enough to knit something big, but itching to do something quick, something fun, something interesting...I needed something with a semi intricate pattern to keep my short-attention-spanned-self focused...but not too intricate 'cause I like to do other things while I knit...such as watching Coronation Street and Little Britian. So I cast on to do a hair wrap...easy and perfect for putting in a fun stitch pattern.

I decided to do this easy heart pattern, and was enjoying it so much I cast on in another color and knit both at the same time. As I was knit-knitting away I realized I should share the love...so here's the pattern...go ahead...do a little dance, knit a little a love, get down tonight...

I 'Heart' Highlighters Hair Wrap
(named after the first yarn I cast on with ...as it is the exact colors of highlighters...and yes I purchased it the same day as the "techni-color yarn mistake")

Needles: size US 4/3.5mm straight needles
Yarn: for the I 'heart' Highlighters I used a fine sock yarn by Patons,
for the I 'heart' Snow I used a sport weight merino wool by Naturally
I didn't bother doing a gauge...cause its a hair wrap and I'm lazy...but I suggest knitting quite tightly if you are using the sport weight so that it isn't too wide

Special Stuff:
*When I say YO, I'm not including the knitting the next stitch...so basically what I mean by YO since it is always on a knit side...is just bring the yarn to the front.
*SKP: Slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knit
*S4K: same as a SSK, but slipping 4 stitches knitwise, instead of just 2
*SK2togP: slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit next 2 stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over the stitches you just knit together

Directions:

CO 27 stitches
K first 3 rows (garter stitch)
Begin Stitch Pattern:

Row 1: k2, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, skp, yo, k2
Row 2 & all even rows: purl
Row 3: k3, yo, k4tog, yo, k3, yo, s4k, yo, k3, yo, k4tog, yo, k3, yo, s4k, yo, k3
Row 5: k3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, skp, k3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, skp, k3
Row 7: k2, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, skp, k1, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, skp, k2
Row 9: k1, ktog, yo, k9, yo, sk2togp, yo, k9, skp, k1

Repeat stitch pattern until desire length...I would suggest anywhere between 35 to 45 inches. When you have reached desire length:

Knit thru Row 3 of the pattern
Row 4: purl
K 3 rows (garter stitch)
BO

Voila...feel the love.

Surgeon for a Day

2006-05-22T14:28:00.000-06:00

So what do you do when your darling dearest accidentally burns a hole in his (almost) brand new hand knit socks from yours truly?

First off, you can't help but look, I mean feel, a bit hurt...a creation you made has had a possibly fatal wound. Is it fixable? Can you salvage what was once your perfect skinny legs sock? Or will darling dearest have to walk around with one very cold foot?
I began by grabbing a needle and matching yarn and tried to graft new yarn over the burn area. Unfortunately the wound couldn't stand up to the poking and pulling and just began to crumble in my fingers. So then I tried to just sew the hole shut and then I would knit a patch and fasten it over the wound...so I begin stitching, and the slightly burnt yarn I was sewing into, slowly but surely began to tear.
Dooms day thoughts begin enterting my head and I am sure there is no way I am going to be able to fix this poor sock, and I will probably have to knit a whole other sock (which is fine...but I had other projects lined up..). Then luckily a light bulb went off in my head. Hadn't I just seen, the very day before, and episode of knitty gritty where they undid parts of sweaters?? Couldn't I apply the same idea to fix these socks???

So I scrambled to get my neon red yarn to use as a tourniquet and very carefully thread it into one side of each stitch all the way around the top of the burn. I then very carefully snip snip snipped away until I had successfully removed the ankle/foot from the calf.

That having gone smoothly I carefully slipped all of my "new" live stitches back onto the DPN's I had knitted the socks with in the first place. And then went thru the tourniquet procedure again with foot, carefully threading my waste yarn in and then snip snipping away.

With the injury amputated from the sock, it was time to replace the area I had removed. I simply counted how many rows I had cut out, and reknit them straight down from the leg. Easy Peasy!

So now I have the leg to the point I need it, and my foot is ready and waiting...I just needed to reattach them without leaving a big noticable line. So I arranged the leg stitches on to 2 needles, and then the foot stitches onto 2 needles, held them together and used kitchener stitch (3 needle bind off would have worked just as well i'm sure) and voila!

It was an intense procedure, but the sock is back and beautiful and ready to keep JFC's skinny little legs toasty warm. Aren't I clever?

Topless Mitts on Rainbow Mountain

2006-05-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

We had a friend stay for the weekend and so it was jampacked with fun filled activities. Including climbing rainbow mountain. Now this was no Everest, but 1 and 1/2 hours of a continuous steep uphill hike...and it gets you puffing. But once we got to the top it was spectacular and wouldn't you just know it...a perfect place for a photo shoot for my new topless mittens! One of the differences between my new home and my old is that they don't usually have any central heating in new zealand. Now coming from michigan...you would just about die without central heating. Here you just light the fire and snuggle in close. But even with JFC's amazing fire skills, I find my hands and nose still going numb with the chill. Now I don't plan on knitting up a nose cap anytime soon but these fingerless/topless mittens are just terrific. I can keep on knitting with my fingers free to do as they please, but my hands toasty warm in their new wooly homes. I got so excited I knit up 2 pairs because it only takes about 1-2 hours per mitt. The pattern is from Weekend Knitting and I used Naturally Harmony 8 ply 100% NZ merino in white & gray and Naturally Merino & Fur 10 ply (NZ possum/merino) in purple and black for one pair. And the other pair was made out of Hummingbird Calliope 8 ply in that lovely red color. The thing I really liked about this pattern is that it is knit in just garter stitch...but from the side instead of top, so it gives it a totally different look and best of all, you pick up stitches on your co edge and then do a 3 needle bind off with the other edge and voila! a tube with no annoying seam rubbing along on your hand. So as the grand finale...here is a picture of me in the official Team Zissou pose on top of Rainbow Mountain wearing my new Topless Mitts.

When Good Yarn Goes Bad

2006-05-19T15:54:00.000-06:00

I can't really blame the yarn...it was my own fault. I wanted to make another Dream Swatch out of something a bit finer and more colorful then the last one. Unfortunately I think I must've had on some rose tinted glasses when I spotted this techni-color dream yarn and thought it was a great idea. Something about all the neon colors got me all excited and I thought it would look just fab in my blonde hair. Even after JFC tried to sneak in a suttle warning "its awfully bright don't you think? kinda like kid styles?" my response"no honey, its fun, you've just got to imagine the finished product!" Unfortunately the finished product was a neon mess that when worn is bright enough to guide planes down a runway...just another dream (swatch..heh heh) to bright to come true. I am thinking I can just knit it into some slippers which i can hide under long pajama pants.

Man Skills Scarf

2006-05-18T13:48:00.000-06:00

JFC has an obsession...obtaining more of those coveted Man Skills. He realized about a year or so a go when discussing the matter with his friends, that he just didn't have many man skills...especially compared to the men of yester-year. From that moment it has become his quest to learn manly skills, such as fixing the car, chopping wood, starting a fire (and i am talking about a long burning very carefully attended to fire), building things, fixing household items and so on so on so on...all the way to just having a good sense of direction.

So when JFC hinted at the fact that he was expecting a new scarf soon (as he is under the impression he gets one every year), I wanted to do something with a little more pizz-azz then years past. Mainly just to save me from the boring task of plain scarf knitting. So I decided to incorporate a stitch pattern, but it had to be something manly, so that JFC could perform all of his man skill tasks in true man skills style. I decided to go with a nice bulky natural new zealand wool in a chocolate brown and used a stitch pattern that looks like a flat oversized cable. Worked on size US 9 needles, it went by quickly and painlessly, and now JFC is nice and snug while chopping wood for our fire.

Friendly Fast Informed Fun!!

2006-05-17T02:39:00.000-06:00

So yesterday I did something I never thought I would do...I had to go to a 9 hour lotto class. As in the lottery. As in sitting in a room with 10 other people learning about lottery...and how to sell it. Hence the title of this post...thats the Lotto's Motto. It all began with me being the last one there...and the only available seat was dead center. There were some bonuses to having to do something like this...namely the other people involved. There were of course the few that were really into it. Chit chatting away with the instructor, asking lots of inquisitive question, cracking jokes...then there was the 16 year old teenage girl, really only there so she could skip out on a day of school. The one male (who was extremely well dressed for a lotto class), and last...and my most favorite the 40-something who wore hip hugger low cut jeans, a tummy shirt (as in a shirt that young teenage girls wear to show off there tummies) a glittering belly button ring, too much black eye makeup, and nice big frizzy hair (in the U.S. we would refer to this along the lines of white trash...here in New Zealand they are known as bogans). By the end of the day she was hootin' and hollerin' and cracking dirty jokes left and right. I had the 16 year old sitting next to me and cheating off my quizzes (yes we had quizzes...and posters...and almost play role, luckily we ran out of time). To frost the cake that was my day, we had to correct the quizzes, and everyone called out the answers as we went along...unfortunately the only question i decided to answer i answered wrong. I get one question out of thirty wrong...and that is the one I decided to yell out (not to mention i shouted at a delay...so everyone heard my wrong answer loud and clear.)

good news...I get a lotto badge as I am now a professional learned lotto girl.

Well I am now being distracted by my glass of wine...back to knitting matters tomorrow :)

Just a Quickie

2006-05-14T04:27:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to do a quick post and then i am off to bed! Here is the "man skills" scarf I am working on for JFC. He is constantly trying to obtain new man skills such as building fires, fixing cars, and packing up moving trucks with heavy furniture (hence the name). I decided to do a nice bulky stitch pattern which looks basically like a giant cable. And the nice rich brown new zealand wool has been wonderful to work with. Here is the close up:

It's the little things that count

2006-05-12T21:56:00.000-06:00

In downtown Rotorua there is a Trade Aid shop, which basically is a store that sells fair trade goods from different countries around the world. They have great jewelry and gifts and even coffees and chocolates. And this...this fabulous little pencil sharpener. Now I am usually a pen girl all the way...but with the whole design aspect coming into my knitting I have begun keeping a few pencils in the stash...and now I can't wait to sharpen them. This little lady is just so perfect. Her little handpainted face and pearl necklace...red lips and long eyelashes. I just think she is wonderful. I think I will name her Felula, and have her by my side at all times...I may have not made any real girlfriends yet in my new home, but now I have Felula...and its all good.

Also I am making steps forward in the cooking world. Me and JFC have a horrible habit of finding 2 good recipes and rotating that day after day, week after week. We have eaten so many stirfrys in the past 2 years we are going to start sprouting broccoli and tofu from you don't want to know where! Now I would love to delve into the world of Indian cooking or maybe Malaysian or Thai (well besides thai green curry...we've mastered that one)...but am still a bit intimidated by how long the dishes need to cook for and the huge range of spices necessary (many of which can be difficult to come by). Wow I am really straying from my point here...back to it! So I have begun dipping my toes into the Italian pool. I am currently slow roasting some tomatoes in the oven with basil, garlic, rosemary and olive oil. And tonight I am going to serve some cannellini crostinis with are normal hearty potato soup. So far everything smells great...but I am still keeping my fingers crossed until those tomatoes are done. When tomatoes first came into season we bought a huge bag of them and I attempted to make a fresh marinara sauce...it was less than great.

Oh yeah...as far as knitting goes I am just working on the Man Skills Scarf while trying to work up the motivation to frog a couple items that have been sitting in a basket for ages...

Back to Basics

2006-05-11T18:17:00.000-06:00

Alright so here she is...the to dye for (or in my case to stripe for) sweater from snb handbook. All in all i think it turned out good. It is big and cozy. I am going to taper the sleeves a bit, as the bell on them is literally the size of my head, and a bit too "piratey" for me.

Last night i decided to get back to the basics and cast on for a new "man skills scarf" for jfc. i am using a more masculine and bulky stitch pattern and a nice heavy brown new zealand wool. i didn't think i would be doing a scarf again any time soon but JFC seems to think he is entitled to a new one every season...so here we go. Besides that I just plan to do some touch-ups on other projects while snuggling next to the fire.

Oh! and since I am a blogtard and can't figure out how to link my free pattern for JFC SKINNY SOCKS I will just email it to anyone interested in a pdf file. Just click the "email me" link in my sidebar there, or leave me a comment with your email address.

Very Dreamy Indeed

2006-05-10T17:23:00.000-06:00

Well this Dream Swatch freebie from Wendy at Knit & Tonic was the perfect conclusion to my day last night. After working about 3 days solid on my sweater I needed something quick easy and interesting to knit up. (and yes the sweater is finished and blocking, i will probably post pics tonight). I had just happened to buy a fun ball of yarn the other day that i figured i would just make socks or something out of but this is way more fun. It only takes about an hourish to knit up and voila! perfect for after sleeping on my wet hair. I got a little picture crazy, and it is always hard to decide which one to use...you know the routine - well this one the hair wrap is nice and clear, but my nose looks better in that one....and this one i kind of have a lazy eye thing going on, but my hair looks good...ect ect ect. So you get three! enjoy

the Curse of Confidence

2006-05-08T20:19:00.000-06:00

Ah confidence...it seems like everyone always has too much or not enough. Can't it just be spread around equally?? I personally am severely lacking. Sometimes after I have a good long chat to myself (you know the usual "you're fine just the way you are, love yourself - flaws and all!") then I feel good, for a little while. I have a very contorted image of myself. So I try to keep this in mind as I peer into the mirror and "love my curves!" But then of course that little evil voice in the back of my head says "eheh...that'd be a lot easier if those curves were in the right places!"....

now don't worry, this isn't a rant complaining about my poor self-image, I actually do have a point...I am only mentioning my tortured relationship with the mirror because I am finding it hindering in the ways of knitting. I see a sweater or top or any garment really and first thing I try to do is picture it on me instead of the mannequin shaped girl in the magazine. and by now i pretty much know what I can pull off and what I can't. So I decide to do the project and i am so excited, visions of granduer (aka me looking fabulous in my handmade top)...and I begin working away. But the farther along I go, the more worried I get. What if it doesn't fit right? Excencuates all the wrong areas?? Worry begins to plague me more and more with each stitch i knit. Its not like at the store where you just try it on and if it puckers funny or hugs a bit too tightly you toss it into the "not in a million years pile" and move on to the next item. But when making it yourself you put your feelings, time, and money into it.

*sigh* ok so i am being a bit dramatic. and i love the thrill of it just as much as i hate it. if i only wanted to make surefire things i would just stick to mittens and scarves and toys, right? but you have to branch out, right?? You've finally just got to look in the mirror and say "i love me for me, whether this sweaters looks good or not." right?

**the picture up there^^^that is the cute little lamb we saw on our walk to the lake for our afternoon tea. isn't he adorable?? i love him...and his gimply little leg in the back there. i bet he has no confidence issues. He just trotted along with his not so perfect hind leg and munched away on grass.

A Swatch-Buckling Good Time

2006-05-07T18:41:00.000-06:00

Well I've had it up to here with swatches! I know they are important, and not to be messed with...but well, they just feel like such a waste of time & yarn...and so boring! Now usually I wouldn't be such a complainer...but here's my problem. So all those ones to the right there (minus the teapot cozy swatch)... I did for the mancala game I plan to make. Now if you look closely you will notice the green one is felted, but the other 2 orange toned ones are not. This is because I made the foolish mistake of not reading the label closely, and only after trying to hand felt them for about 15 minutes, did I realize they had been treated so they are machine washable (=no felting). So I can't use them for the game. So I went and bought more yarn today, which means I will have to do more swatches. In the meantime I just finished up that little black mohair swatch for the "to dye for" sweater out of SnB Handbook. It looks really simple, and with all of the disasters I have had in knitting clothes so far, I am hoping this one is a bit more fool-proof. (speaking of, I plan on frogging the fad-classic tonight so I can begin reknitting it in the smaller size...oy) Now my only worry is after knitting that little swatch, if I pull it one way it is 4 inches across but 5 inches tall, then i pull it the other way and it becomes 5 inches across, 4 inches tall. So do i just go for it and pull it in the hopefully right direction when I wear it? Ah the drama. I also would like to try knitting the pattern from the top down, as my torso is about all of a whopping 3 inches long and everything is always way to long on me..but that equals me rearranging the pattern...and do I really want to do that to myself knowing my previous bad luck history in knitting sweaters??? choices choices...swatches swatches swatches.

Logo Love

2006-05-06T21:10:00.001-06:00

Well with a little boost of inspiration from my blog friend Saskia (check out her fabulous button in my sidebar!!), and a lot of hand holding from JFC (not to mention the required computer programs on his computer) I designed my very own logo. And if you don't mind me saying, I feel fantabulous. It was so much fun to just start by sketching out some doodles and then sit down and actually turn it into something! JFC is even going to screen print it onto a hoodie for me (mmm..merchandising). If you scroll down a little bit you will see the thumbnail you can use to link to me!

Satisfaction Gauranteed

2006-05-04T02:55:00.000-06:00

Well here is the coziest cozy in action...keeping my english breakfast tea toasty warm as we get ready to pack it up in a thermos and enjoy it sitting by the lake. The vogue mini sweater...i ran out of yarn, i have the front and one sleeve done...and now it is put on hold til' my dear mother rescues me and sends me another skein (wink wink mom). I have a pair of knee socks brewing and also I am thinking up a felted mancala board game. But for now, its been a busy day, and at the ripe time of 9 p.m...i am off to bed to snuggle up with a good book and ponder my next projects. (Especially because i have been staring at the word "gauranteed" in my title for so long, trying to figure out if i spelled it right that it doesn't make since anymore and my brain is now fried)

Better by Hand

2006-05-03T03:53:00.000-06:00

Well photo #1 is me wearing teapot cozy as a hat with a ponytail hole before felting. (okay yeah...i've had a couple glasses of wine..heheh) Farther down is the post felting pick of the teapot cozy drying on some pinecones on top ofthe fire place. I must say, I think i may just be a hand felter from now on. I felted my laptop bag by machine wash and well..it just didn't turn out so hot. some spots didn't felt as much as others, it took ages, there were creases, waste of water..and i realize now how much better it could've been, with a little elbow grease, dish soap, and hot water. Tonight I created a perfectly felted little teapot cozy that i just can't wait to throw on my teapot tomorrow morning...and then well, just sit back and enjoy a hot cup of tea. also i just did the pattern as i went along (ok so it is pretty simple...but still...with the felting and gaps for the handle and plunger...it took some math) and it just made me all that more excited to keep writing my own patterns. In the beginning it is horribly scary...thinking about it not turning out...the wasted yarn (well at least post felting)...wasted time...and feelings of failure...but then...to have it turn out...and better than you expected. well, it just is so worth it. soooo...all is happy in the knitting world.

projects projects projects...i love projects

2006-04-30T13:33:00.000-06:00

So what do we have here?? Well the creamy getup on the needles is that there picture on the vogue magazine. Cropped sweater=not as bad as it sounds...don't ya think?? Although I am pretty sure I only have enough yarn to do the front piece and one sleeve...haha...so unless i am gonna be real crazy and try to wear a halfy cropped sweater...it looks like i better order some yarn. The little swatch below it I did yesterday. That is what the teapot cozy will (hopefully) look like...i am really happy with how the felting turned out. So I am going to take measurements, do some maths, and get to work on a quickie pattern for that. And last but not least is the finished baby singlet I knit for a friend of JFC's family. She is coming into the shop today to pick it up...I am crossing my fingers that she likes it...and that it fits (as i just made it up as i went along..heheheh).

As far as the sock pattern goes...well I just don't know. I guess that I could just post it in a blog and then put a permanent link to that post in my sidebar? Although I was all excited to have it all nice and easy in a downloadable pdf file..ah well. Suggestions still welcome. PLEASE.

Time for work!

Frustration Station

2006-04-29T17:06:00.000-06:00

Well the sock pattern is all written up and ready to go....problem is, i have no idea how to attach a link to it on my blog...so yeah. anyone have any ideas on how to do this?? help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, My name is Andrea, and I'm an Addict

2006-04-27T23:14:00.000-06:00

I have a sick and unhealthy addiction. Ever since I was young...for as long as I can remember...I've been addicted...to pens. Yes pens...and not just pens (but mainly), also pencils, markers, crayons...school supplies in general have always sent my heart a flutter. When I had an allowance...I would ride my bike down to Rite Aid and spend the whole lot on new pens and pencils. I just can't help myself. I've been known to carry upwards of 30 writing utensils at a time in my purse...you just never know what one you will have the urge to use. Now I never TRY to steal pens from others...if I am at lets say a restaurant, and the waiter gives me a marvelous pen to sign the slip with..well I may take their pen...but its a trade, cause I always leave them one of my less desirable pens in its place. But well...the sick truth is that sometimes, without realizing it...my subconscious takes over and steals pens without me knowing it! (not off of store shelves or anything...i'm talking used pens)...which brings me to this afternoon. All day at work I was using an absolutely fabulous purple pen. Wrote like a dream, ink flowing in smooth even lines. And in my head I thought to myself, man I like this pen...but I must leave it here...I am working for JFC's parents and there is no way I am going to swipe one of their counter pens (you know the old ones you give people to sign their credit card slips with). Besides I don't need anymore purple pens...I have at least 10 or 20 at home! So I set it down and just reminded myself that I will be able to use it whenever I work. And that was the end of it...didn 't think about it again. Until I got home and was flipping thru a magazine and found a sudoku puzzle to do. I reached my hand into my pocket and what did I pull out??!! THE PURPLE PEN! But i didn't mean to take it. And I have abosultely no recollection of taking it. I swear, its like I have no control. But I will return it on Monday...because I will not allow myself to sink so low into my addiction that I begin swiping the pens of JFC's parents. Oh man.

Anyways I have been deligently working away on writing up the sock pattern. And it was going so very smoothly..until I got to the heel. It is proving quite difficult to describe the craziness in which I accomplished the heel...its really very simple...and I want whoever else that does it to find it simple as well...but to do that I must find a way to write it clearly...and that is well, not so simple. I am thinking I will just draw up some diagrams. Because I think if I had pictures to go with my crazy mumbo-jumbo, it would make it much easier for the reader. Cross your fingers.

Well it is time for me to start dinner...and then I plan to knit knit knit tonight. I haven't been able to do any knitting due to the pattern writing. But hopefully with a little luck I will finishe the pattern and have it posted in the next few days.

Thats all. Thanks for listening.

JFC Skinny Socks

2006-04-27T22:37:00.000-06:00

Well they are completely finished, after a marathon last night and some finishing up this morning before work. Here are pictures of the model trying them on...and after a full day of "man jobs", he has reported that they were up to the task of keeping his feet warm and comfortable. I am going to write up the pattern this weekend (well hopefully...knowing me I will get distracted with knitting something else..but i will try my darndest) and post it as a free pattern on the blog. so keep your eyes peeled :) i also plan to start a female version (which will be in a bigger size as my legs are not nearly as skinny as JFC...) and with hopefully a fun stitch pattern. In the meantime I also started a fun cropped sweater (its not as bad as it sounds..i hope) that I found in vogue...although i don't think i have enough yarn to finish...i will just do as much as i can and order more yarn from the states or something. I also bought yarn today to make a teapot cozy (which i had intended to make about a year a go, the whole reason i bought the snb books..heheh...i am very distractable). which i would take a picture of, but i thought all of the good ones i got of JFC and the socks were plenty for a days blog. I think that about sums up the updates...i am really looking forward to a michigan style saturday tomorrow as we will be watching the nba playoffs on tv and i even made my moms macaroni and cheese recipe...now if only my dad were here with his spaghetti sauce (sans meat) and some heinekens....and maybe my little sister so she can tell me all the players i don't know...

Well i will try to enhance the number of posts...things have been busy with the "job" and all, and i hate posting when i don't have anything finished...but I will try harder...and hopefully have something funny to write about as well. (sorry guys...this one wasn't my best)...although i did save the best for last:

First Day of Work

2006-04-24T13:50:00.000-06:00

See that there in the middle?? That is probably the coolest puzzle in the world. It is round and has all of the important things about michigan, like state birds and great lakes (which of course = great times). I love it. The yarn below it was my treat after my first day of work. Yay! And it is wonderful, so soft, and the colors are excellent. although i have no idea what i will do with it....all in good time. on the right is JFC's rugby style knee sock with reinforced contrasting heel and toe. i finished it last night and much to my delight it fits his skinny little legs like a dream (sans pattern!!). so if any of you out there have a husband/brother/son/boyfriend with skinny little legs...let me know and I will write you the pattern. So first day of work...went very smoothly. Although I did find myself very nervous the night before and the next morning. I don't know why..I just get that way. I am a walking embarassing moment half the time, and this is working with JFC's parents...so that equals a dangerous mix. But it went well. They have a book/stationary shop, that also has the lotto. And let me tell you...that lotto machine is lots of fun. All kinds of bells & whistles, it even plays the tune to "you're in the money" when someone wins. Ok so I shouldn't glorify gambling, and I don't do it myself..but that machine...its big fun. And a guy even asked for my number, with a real slick line "Yeah i'll take the tape...and your number..." wink wink snap of the fingers. (i politely replied that "somebody already has my number, but thanks anyway") all in a days work. And then new yarn...fabulous.

Rainbow

2006-04-23T00:48:00.000-06:00

Well here is the finished fad classic. Unfortunately, i have a slightly skewed body image and made the wrong size (it fits to loosely and ends up making me look like a lumpy bag of potatoes)...so now is the time to make a decision. It would fit someone with a better endowed bust size very well...so I could give it to a certain someone I know who I think it would look nice on...or I could frog it and knit a size smaller. But I need a break before i tackle that decision, so in the meantime i am knitting JFC some socks. There is a hitch with that as well though, you see JFC inherited his grandpas skinny-minny legs...so I am writing a pattern to fit such lanky limbs (in other words winging it as I go along with my fingers crossed, not even bothering to do a gauge...heheheh)...but so far so good. I have the guidance of Elizabeth Zimmermans "Knitting Without Tears" so I think all will be well.

In other news I am going to be doing a little bit of work at JFC's bookshop, I train tomorrow. Wish me luck...mmm...yarn money :) I also realized today that we get the Knitty Gritty on the Living Channel...yay!

Well today was rainy all day, but we were fortunate to have a break in the afternoon...I leave you with the beautiful rainbow we viewed from our balcony.

classic fads

2006-04-20T22:29:00.000-06:00

hello hello...been a few days...a bit distracted with the cat and settling into our new routine. first things first...isn't that just an adorable little lemon (unripe) it is on the tree out front. ok on to good stuff...

exciting news...i drove for the first time by myself today in the town. i have been a bit nervous (opposite side of the car/road, different rules..ect.) but I am proud to say that it went very smoothly except when i left the bakery i got into the wrong side of the car (the side with no pedals or steering wheel...so that was a little embarassing...heheh)

after i got back we had some lunch and then i packed us up some tea in a thermos to go enjoy by the lake. on the way back i was struck with a memory from my childhood...encouraged by the title of my latest knitted item the "fad classic" (which by the way is finished and blocked and just drying on the table...as soon as it is dry i will try it on and take a picture)...so anyways...fashions. Now when you are young...you only have so much control over what you wear...I had this particular pair of pants ( I am pretty sure they were a hand-me-down from one of the older sisters). Now these pants...how can I put this...well they were navy blue, as required by school uniform. but they had a little extra "pizaz" built in. they were a version of what you might call "mc hammer pants". these cotton pants had 2 triangles (big ones) sewn on to each leg-side that you crossed over and buttoned on the other side. Now as if that isn't bad enough I have a distinct memory of very often unbuttoning said pants and holding the triangle corners out while signing "can't touch this". and i am pretty sure i tried to talk a few of my friends into buying a pair, because lets face it, they were really freaking cool. I also remember wearing my moms bra to class in 2nd grade and convincing all of my teachers that my name was renee (which is actually my middle name), and they didn't find out i was lying until they referred to me as renee during parent-teacher conferences.

anyways back to present day, i have started a pair of socks for JFC. But cross your fingers because I am pretty much just winging them. I also want to do a teapot cover and Orangina by glampyre and a sweater of my own design...we'll see what actually gets accomplished. as for a quick cat update, i think "she" is a "he", and seems to be responding to the name "puss" and is well a bit nuts. gets frantic anytime anyone goes near the kitchen and wakes me up every morning at 7 a.m. to be fed. attacked me when i was knitting (beware, if a cat stares at you when working with string..they are probably gearing up to pounce). Last but not least...we have been trying to spritz him with water whenever he jumps on the counter so he learns not to...we thought this was working very well until i woke up this morning and say little dirty paw prints ALL OVER the kitchen counters/sink/ect. Eh...he is one little disobedient fella. well time to get some knitting done (wow this was a long one)..oh WAIT hahaah one more thing...it seems i have a weird yawning problem. whenever i am walking or excercising i start yawning and I mean nonstop really gianormous yawns. what do you think that means??? maybe i don't take deep enough breaths? i once heard you yawn cause you are getting enough oxygen to the brain?? hmmmmm

The Culprit

2006-04-17T23:53:00.000-06:00

3 a.m. woken out of deep sleep thinking that we are being robbed...shake awake JFC. Peer towards the window and see the silhouette of a small feline trying its darndest to break in thru the window. Try to fall back asleep and ignore it...she begins meowing.

4 a.m. JFC gets too hot, opens window a tiny crack...but not enough for any small animals to get thru.

7 a.m. after nonstop attempts the smitten kitten finally forces the window open wide enough to sidle her way thru. Jumps inside and straight on to our bed where she begins clawing at everything soft (including skin) and purring/meowing.

At this point I can no longer sleep so I get up and decide to just enjoy the company of the cat until we find out what the deal is. What can I say..its hard not to like a cute little cat. She is being good, although we notice she gets frantic whenever she is left alone...follows us everywhere.

10 a.m. sit down to knit, enjoying the cat purring next to me.

11 a.m. she tries to bite me...I am left feeling a bit shocked...and well, hurt. Talk about a stab in the back...we let you in, hang out, pet you, you knit with me...and then WHAM! you decide to try and bite me. I force her to sit farther away and she pouts and looks away from me

2 p.m. time to go visit JFC's grandma and parents (aka time for the cat to leave the house...we dont' let her stay when we aren't here). so even though it is raining we make her go out. she hadn't eaten or gone to the bathroom since 7 a.m. she goes and sits in the shelter.

5 p.m. we return to see her waiting by the door, we let her in and she gets warm by the fire. JFC leaves to go talk to the neighbors and find out information

Present time...she just puked on the kitchen floor after trying to eat some crumbs out from under the dishwasher. *sigh* I think this little smitten needs a home, and fast, we are going to talk to our landlord tomorrow and see if we can keep her if we can't find out who she belongs to...in the meantime, i have cat vomit to attend to.

Update: well the kitten is much happier, sitting with a full belly in front of the fire. we finally broke down and fed her. We just got too worried that she was abandoned, or had run away...and i think we made the right decision because she scarfed down her cat food like there was no tomorrow (even made weird little gremlin sounds while she did it)

Smitten Kitten

2006-04-17T01:47:00.000-06:00

MMmmmm...pinecones. We collected a huge canvas bag of these for the fire...and let me tell you, they work like a charm. The fire is roaring away, and we are toasty warm. And the only downfall was that a little while a go I picked one up and a bug crawled out of it and on to me...and well, I am a bit skittish when it comes to itty bitty critters (oh sure I love the big ones that are fluorescent green....) but pretty much anything else makes my skin crawl...such as yesterday when I wandered into the toilet (a compact space mind you) and this insect starts jumping all around. So, naturally I scream and get out of there as quickly as possible, but calm down once I realize it was just a cricket...or so I thought. JFC came running in thinking I was injured and says "Oh, its just a jumping spider!". "just" my bum! As if spiders weren't bad enough I don't need them jumping at high speeds around me in tight quarters. Yeck.

Anyways...the kitten (who I am currently calling "smitten"...was sitting meowing outside of our bedroom window the second I opened the curtain this morning..pawing to get in. I don't think she went home all night. Tomorrow we will have to hunt for her owners and find someone to adopt her (JFC's parents maybe??)

As far as the knitting goes...well yeah...its been going very slowly. I made some headway last night, but it was a nother busy day so I have yet to do anything. I spent the whole morning ( I am talking a solid 3 hours) talking to every member of my family. And directly after that it was time to take care of the "to do" list...which included buying a TV (yes we finally succumbed to the mighty power of TV...we live in the boondocks...don't want to go crazy just listening to each other talk!) We are even going the full monty and getting digital cable. What can you do??

the Calm After the Storm

2006-04-16T02:08:00.000-06:00

First things first I just want to wish my sister Meagann the happiest of birthdays...this little guy is for you! I named him Maevery (derived from meggy mae) but you can name him whatever you wish. I hope he brings you some happy rays on your special day!!

Secondly, for anyone who reads this and emails me as well I am sorry for being slack on the replies...it has been hectic hectic around here. We got all moved in, finished unpacking on Friday morning and immediately had a stream of guests after that. Ending with a couple we are friends with from Auckland staying for the weekend. It was a good weekend...we did lots of exploring of our new home. But now it is finally just me and JFC left here alone to well relax :)

Now I should also mention a surprise visitor we had as well. It seems a neighbors cat thinks this is her 2nd home. We found her sneaking in twice and when we finally just let her in she hung out all day til we kicked her out before bedtime. This morning she was meowing the second she noticed we were up at about 8 a.m. Now I like cats and all...but she won't leave now! She has been here all day. And she is quite the talker...doesn't shut up. Thing is we aren't allowed to have pets...and she obviously belongs to someone else. Even though we offer her no food, and barely that much attention she seems to liket his place better than her permanent home. Oy....who gets harassed by a cat?? And how do you pretend to not hear or see the cute little face meowing outside your window. She has even taken to pacing along our balcony railing where she knows we can see her.

Ah well...time to watch American Splendor.