tArA nIcHoLe'S kNiTTiNg BaG

ummm....

2006-04-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

I'm alive... really I am...

I'm just.... busy!

I have three research papers due in a couple weeks and my contemporary literature prof thinks we're all speed readers (or students with no life) and assign entire novels (like... 350 pagers) to read in an evening...

Stuipd Biotch!!!

I have not picked up a knitting needle since .....

(I'll wait while you sit down)

(Maybe you better grab some aspirin too in case you go into spontaneous cardiac arrest)

(Well... to be on the safe side .... call 911 now...)

...since beginning of February!!!!!!!!!

Whoa... no wonder I've been so cranky lately....

"opening ceremonies" - a paper I wrote for my english class on the day the knitting olympics started!!!!

2006-03-08T00:53:00.000-06:00

Okies... I know... I've been MIA. Trust me... I HAVE been busy!!!! My planner (a weekly one that the school has all our events and sport games and days off and whatnot and can be purchased that the bookstore for a measly 5.95) has been outgrown. Each page measures abouts 8 x 5 or so... prolly little bit smaller... and a two page spread covers an entire week. Well... this week... there is NO white space ANYWHERE on my planner. I have had SO many assingments and papers due this week and it's only wednesday. I thought two weeks ago was bad with tests and what not... no... (last week was spring break for us... usually the week before a long break the profs pile the work on). For some odd reason, my english professor decided it would be a good idea to read On the Road by Jack Keruac in two class periods. We had to have the first half of the book read by Monday and the rest has to be read before class tomorrow. We also have to write a paper about something about the characters morals or lack or something or other (can you tell I haven't really had the TIME to look at the assingment she sent us THIS MORNING via email!?!?!?!?!). Ok... So this book has 307 pages and each page took me about 1-2 minutes. Do the math to tell me how long it took me to read this book. (ok I'll do it for you.....10 hours at 2 minutes per page... dividing it up again for having it done in two class periods... that's 5 hours of outside work for ONE CLASS PERIOD). Did she just assume that we would read the whole damn book over spring break!? Umm... I worked and spent the week going to psych appointments (I have ADD) and dentist and getting Cal and Tay registered for ealry childhood screening and cleaning my mom's house because she's a CPA and during tax season she works 8am-10pm and my dad doesn't know which end of the broom does the sweeping. Callie and Taylor also had two skating shows that they were in (one saturday and one sunday plus a dress rehearsal friday night) and of course gymnastics on saturday morning. RAR....

So I didn't finish my knitting olympics project. I got REALLY close though. I have the front, back, and sleeves completed. I would have had it done though but I had to completely frog the front and redo it after I had already completed a front and back. The instructions were a little off and so when I did the back (I had done the front first) I went with my instincts and went with what looked good rather than what the pattern said. I still have to do the collar part and put it all together. I really like it though!!!! It's coming Amy!!!!!!!

I haven't picked up a knitting needle in so long. Like i mentioned above... I have ADD. I dappled a little bit with polymer clay and made a giraffe pen and a moose pen (which callie promptly broke the antler off of by accident and then started bawling cause I had just told her to be careful with it. I felt really bad and told her it was ok. It's just a pen for pete's sake! I told her mommy will glue it back on. She then showed the pen off to grandma and grandpa and great grandma and great grandpa (who had come to watch their skating show) and explained, "It's broken but Mommy is going to fix it.... It's ok... Don't worry!!!" She's so funny...

Doing polymer clay was nice over spring break when I was home because I could sit at the table with Cal and Tay and work on "projects" with them. I made them some play do late one night cause evidently all their super expensive play do brand stuff dried out and shtuff.. Jeez... what a big waste of money that stuff is... for pete's sake a kid can eat the homemade stuff and not get sick. Plus you can add KoolAid to it instead of food coloring and it will smell good too!

Oh! The point of my post! I'm only taking my English class to fulfill a humanities requirement here at school. Contemporary Literature is what it's about. We're (finally) over poetry (god I hate that stuff...) and onto REAL literature. We started off dappling in short stories and what not and spent a day talking about different classifications of lit. One of the subjects is a genre called hypertext and we were instructed to write a narrative in hypertext. I would explain what hypertext is... but if you are at all computer literate you know what it means in the computer world. Think of it in the literature sense as computer hypertext on paper... ??? get it...???? If not read my paper and you will understand:

Opening Ceremony

Beep…Beep…Beep…Beep. She slowly got up to hit the snooze button on her alarm clock (She hates the sound of the beeping but if it were set to wake up to radio, she’d continue sleeping, incorporating whatever song was playing into her dreams). Beep…Beep… Beep. After forty five minutes of hitting the snooze (she hit the snooze button five times, and each time she hits it, she gets an extra nine minutes in Dream Land), she sleepily crawled out of her warm bed. She walked to the fridge and grabbed a Diet Coke (making a pot of coffee in the morning takes too much effort. Besides, warm drinks make her slightly sleepy), and then sat down in front of her laptop to check her email (sometime last semester she realized that sometimes teachers will email the class in the morning and announce that class has been canceled). After deleting all of the junk mail (and being slightly irritated that when clubs send out mass emails about their stupid meeting that no one shows up for anyway, that they can’t ever get the information right and end up sending out four or five emails until they finally get it right; not to mention the fact that each of the emails contains a multitude of stupid little graphics and animations that clog up her inbox so much that she gets nasty emails from the computer people telling her to empty it out) she opened up her Mozilla FireFox internet explorer (she downloaded this program and prefers it to Microsoft’s explorer because you can customize the browser and make it pretty; the fact that it has superior “pop-up” ad blocking skills helps too) and headed on over to Bloglines.com (this is a site where you can subscribe to and keep track of different weblogs (a.k.a. online journals); it lets you know which blogs have been updated; she currently is subscribed to 80 blogs and all but two are knitting-related) and logged in.

She started at the top of the list and was a little confused (which usually doesn’t take much). Why are they all writing about starting on their Olympic knitting (the Knitting Olympics was started by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee a.k.a. the Yarn Harlot over at www.yarnharlot.ca. During the 16 days of the “real” Olympics over in Torino, Italy, 4,000+ knitters (4000 or so signed up with Stephanie at her site) will be casting on and finishing (finishing being the key word here since many knitters have a problem with what are called U.F.Os (UnFinished Objects)) projects; rules were the project you chose to knit had to be challenging, you couldn’t start it before the flame had been lit in Torino, and you had to be completely finished by the time the flame was extinguished), she thought (or said out loud, since she talks to herself quite often too). She glanced over at her desk calendar (which has little bits of knitting information for each day of the year) and realized that yes, it was February 10, and yes, that meant that the Olympics started today.

Crap (she probably said some other expletive instead), she thought (or said). She hurriedly ran to her yarn closet and grabbed the pattern she had signed up to work on. She had received the pattern and yarn for a sweater that was featured in many magazines last fall from her friend Amy (who is opening up her own yarn shop in April 2006 called Yarntopia) in Texas last October. She hadn’t really looked at the pattern much since then. She realized that she didn’t even have the right needle size to do the majority of the sweater! Oh well, no time to worry about that now, she thought (or said). She got herself ready and headed to class (which, she was disappointed to learn when she checked her email, was not canceled).

When she returned to her apartment (which is always slightly messy because her roommates like to leave their stuff everywhere) for the day, she decided that she would cast on (start for those people who don’t understand the knitting language) for the sweater a little early since she’d be driving home when in the evening (the flame was lit at about 2:00 U.S. time (she thinks)) and the drive would take three hours. In a very short amount of time, she got to the point in the sweater where she would need the bigger needles (size US15 32” circulars) (the sweater is started on size US13 double pointed needles, which she had), stopped, packed her bags for the weekend home, and headed to the craft store (telling herself the whole way that she was only going to get the needles she needed and not more yarn).

The whole time the prof was explaining what hypertext writing was I kept thinking... good god that's easy!!! That's not hypertext writing... that's BLOGGING baby!!!! he he he... anyway... the story is about the morning I realized that the knitting olympics had creeped up on me. By the way... I got a ++ on that paper (she gives checks if they meet her expectation, - if they are below her expectation and a + if they exceed her expectation. I got TWO plusses baby!!!! I've been getting checks and mostly minuses so far this semester... needless to say I was extatic!!!

Ok... so it's after 1am now and I just finished up On the Road and decided to take a BlogLines break. Sorry for the incohesiveness of the entry (if you've even made it this far). I'm hopped up on caffeine and my ADD medication in order to stay up all night to complete this goddam homework!!! Stupid profs....

Pictures will hopefully appear in the next entry. I wanted to take a pic and post it of my planner covered in scribbles to show how busy I am this week but my camera seems to have run away. Probably eloped with Mamma's Boyd. Damn that Boyd!!!!

The Olympics start TODAY!?!?!?!?!?!

2006-02-10T16:34:00.000-06:00

Where the hell have I been!? So guess how prepared I am... I haven't really looked at the pattern much since I got it back in October. I thought I had the correct needle size. Yeah... I have the right size to START it. At row 14, I need to switch to circulars. Row 32, add another circular. So... before I head home tonight... I need to pick up two size 15 circs. Grr.... In case you forgot (bad bad bad reader...) this is the project I'm working on for the Olympics:
Yup... it was in IK and other knitting mags last fall. Anywho...

I think that the flame is officially like now in Torino (it's 4:30 central time, USA) but the opening ceremony isn't airing until 7pm tonight on NBC.

Since I'm assuming that the flame is lit and I will be driving when it is being aired in MN, I started on the sleeve (which is knit back and forth on size 15s...of which I have a set of straights). This is how far I got while watching part of Dr. Phil and Oprah:
(It looks black and white but... it was taken with my new camera phone which doesn't have flash) That is exactly one ball of yarn. I have 9 more to go! Knitting this won't be the challenge to me. It'll be the finishing and blocking part that'll be coming down to the wire. Anyone want to make bets on it!?

I'm going home this weekend so I'm all packed and ready to go!
Here's what's inside:
Let's see what we have up there...

yarn (enough for the project)
pattern
scissors
random needles from other projects (also handy as stitch holders)
row counter
reciept from LYS
knitpicks catalog
random patterns from other projects
laxatives (cause... you know... you just never know... ok ok... I was at Jake's a couple weeks ago and I just couldn't... you know.... GO)
yarn scraps (aka waste yarn)
2 Chibis
Wasted by Aiden Shaw (reading it for my English class)
pencil and pen
that Do Not Eat silica thing that I've never taken out of the bag
stitch holder / stitch markers
paper bag from LYS
chapstick
picture of my babies with santa

Yep... I think that'll hold me!

What...? I need to bring clothes...? what? deodarant... socks and underwear....? Who needs that stuff when there's knittin' to be done!!!

NewsFlash: Cell Phones do not like water!

2006-02-02T16:53:00.000-06:00

So... I had my cell phone in my front pocket of my sweatshirt on Sunday night. I took it off cause I got hot and through it on the floor. A few hours later I decided to do a load of laundry - some reds. Well, the sweatshirt I had been wearing that day was burgundy so I grabbed it and trhew it in with the others. I think you can pretty much deduce what happened from there!!!! Since I'm not far enough into my contract to get a discount on a new phone... I had to pay full price. The cheapest one that they had at Best Buy was still $150. I didn't want to get one from Ebay... i don't like spending more than $20 on stuff from there cause I don't always trust the sellers. Since I knew I would end up spending a crapton of money, I decided I might as well get my money's worth. This is the phone that I bought:
It's the Palm Treo 700w. They didn't even have it on display yet at Best Buy. I definately have the newest baddest cell phone/digital camera/mp3 player/ PDA around! Don't bother trying to look up how much I spent on this puppy because I don't want to be held liable for heart attacks and the like. Trust me... you REALLY don't want to know!!!!! One thing I'm not used to is the phone's size. It looks like I'm talking on and old ghetto phone (see right). That photo was actually taken in a mirror with the camera on the phone. The camera is 1.3 megapixels so it's pretty good for being a cell phone! The only place I ever took it was to work. I haven't taken it to class or anywhere else because I don't want to drop it or what have ya. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a cell phone if I never take it anywhere right? Ha ha. Given my current track record with cell phones (one was dropped at a street dance and found in pieces later, one was dropped in the street while drunk and found later run over, and the last one was sent through the washer... all within about 3 years) I'm going to put insurance on this baby. So... If I wreck it, I can get it replaced for about... $50 or so.

Lest you think I have forgotten that this is a knitting blog I will leave you with this. It is going to be the turtleneck shrug from ScarfStyle. The wool is hot pink and is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride. I started it at work on Monday January 23rd. I would have had it done by now but my professors think that we don't have lives and like to assign big projects (ok... big as in 3 page papers) due at the next class. Plus one of my professors likes to pile on an ungodly amount of reading and we have a mini assignment that she sends via email each time we meet. Sometimes... I just don't check the damn email! ok I need to stop before I blow a gasket.
Here is my Turtleneck Shrug in all her glory:

Remember that she is hot pink (I think the actual color is lotus pink or something like that). The bottom sleeve is done... she's just on a needle as a stitch holder. The sleeve itself is 22" long plus the little shoulder shaping part. Once the second sleeve is done I will pick up stitches and the ones on the holder and knit the turtleneck in the round. i give it maybe another 6 hours of work as a maximum.

Classes have started...

2006-01-19T15:29:00.000-06:00

So... classes have started and I feel as though I've been sucked into a tornado. I feel like I must be doing something constructive at all times. I'm already a day or two ahead of homework and ... I'm starting to feel like a big dork.

Seriously Tara... slow down! Put the books away! Pick up the needles and veg in front of the tv!!!

These are the classes I'm currently taking:

Christian Worship (required upper division theology class... ugh... stupid private catholic universities!!!! (taught by a gay theologian....like him and the class though)
Studies in Contemporary Literature (taught by a Sister)(I'm liking this class so far)
Applied Behavioral Statistics (have already taken a higher stats class but this one is required for acceptance into the psych program... taught by a Sister... who says this should be an easy A for me. Yay!)
Psychology of Gender (LOVE THIS CLASS SO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Readings in Psychology (one credit class that meets every other wednesday. We're going to be reading Monkeyluv by Robert Sapolsky. Looks VERY interesting... can't wait to get started!!!

On top of classes starting... I've been sick... not like poopie feeling sick... but like your concentrating so hard on not coughing up goobers in class that you can't think about anything else kind of sick... bleh.... I'm starting to feel a little bit better though finally... I can't imagine how Taylor felt (who I caught it from)

After MUCH MUCH MUCH deliberation, I've decided to join the Knitting Olympics. I've decided on the Skacel medallion sweater pattern that I received as a secret pal gift from Amy last october. Not too much of a stretch I don't think, but not too terribly easy either. I'm also really unsure of how many exams and papers I'll have during that time so I didn't want something with a lot of colorwork to do, or something on teeny tiny needles!

I guess that's really it for me... I am just about finished with the neck of the Giraffe Sweater. I'll probably try to finish that up tonight... since I really havne't got anything else going on... and it snowed today and has been kind of chilly lately... I NEED A NEW SWEATER!!!!!!

whoo doggie...

2006-01-15T00:09:00.000-06:00

I'm so doped up on Children's triaminic it's so not funny... seriously... I'm not able to drive I'm so doped!

Anyway... last weekend Taylor had a cold and she slept with me and well... she must have hacked in my face while we slept cause well... I'm sick now... and since I've acquired a taste for children's cough syrup... I bought the (very yummy) berry punch flavored Triaminic. but... the dosage guidelines only go to age twelve... so what does this smart girl do? Sip the bottle... damn i'm so dumb... the contents of the bottle magically disapperared...imagine that!

No wonder they don't make adult cough medicine taste good. There'd be a few too many accidental suicides on NyQuil if it didn't taste like poo!

So... I'm tipsy on cough medicine... at least i'm not coughing up a lung and wiping my snot on old kleenexes! HA! In fact... I feel GREAT!!!!! ha ha ha...

"Lizzie" - the Knitted Babe

2006-01-04T20:19:00.000-06:00

This is Lizzie, before she got stuffed. She's loving being a nudist right now but since her momma is making her wear clothes, she's requested an elegant ball gown (go figure). She will model her new dress as soon as it's finished!

I've added a "On my sewing table" list on the sidebar. All say 0% but some are actually cut out and ready to go... some are not.

About the child support issue... I waved the right to child support until Joey is done with college (as suggested by my mother). while he is in school he doens't work and during the summers he works for his dad (who owns his own construction company). Right after the girls were born his b*tch of a mother told my mom that they would just pay joey in cash or put his checks in his sister's name so that it would appear that he made no money. (What a nice grandma huh? By the way.... no money = no court ordered child support). So now even when he finishes (by the way... hes been taking his sweet time finishing too) he won't have to pay back child support. Gosh... everytime I talk about this I get cranky... Hes just so... selfish. If he does get the girls something or takes time out of his "busy" schedule to come to a program or something of theirs he has to make such a big deal out of the fact that he did so. His university is 1.5 hours away... Mine is 3.5!!!!!! I come home every weekend that I'm not working... He comes home... when it's convenient for him to do so. He maybe came home about 2 times (that were not holidays) during the fall semester. So really... he's not going to see them any less than he does now. There is NO WAY I'm going to let him push me around on this issue. The babies ARE GOING to live with me next year. He's just going to have to deal with it and maybe plan ahead for once in his life to see his only daughters.

hrmph...

*whips out the knitting to de-stress*

Still Here.... Still Knitting

2006-01-03T13:06:00.000-06:00

I'm still alive! I just haven't felt like taking pictures and blogging and all that good stuff... Too much shopping wears a girl out!

Anyway... I ended up finishing all but the Waverly Cardigan in time for Christmas. I knew that I wouldn't finish it unless I really kicked it into high gear... and I was just too lazy . So I bought my mom a quilting book with funny stories in it, similar to the ones that the Yarn Harlot writes. I'll finish it in time for her to receive as a Mothers' Day gift. She wouldn't be able to wear it until then anyway since it's lacy and we live in minnesota.

Suprisingly... I didn't get a whole lot of knitting stuff. I got Knitting Over the Edge, and a few pairs of bamboo circs. I did get a whole slew of giftcards to use on stuff for the new apartment and an Ipod mini so.... i don't have much to complain about!

Speaking of the new apartment... Jake made it official... he's going to live with us next year!!!!

Callie and Taylor's dad has been putting up a stink about the babies living with me. He claims it's not good for kids to move so often (they'd start kindergarten in the fall and then more than likely we would move againt he following summer). Whatever joe... the younger you move a child the better... I went to two different schools for kindergarten and then yet another school for 1st grade... I barely remember that time and it did not affect me at all. And then he says that its not fair to him either. Whatever joe... you are hardly ever home as it is. You are the visiting parent and you've never had them more than a few days at a time... They WANT to live with me. My mom is behind me on this one and will stick up for me, which is huge because my mom has always been the one to tell me to back down and just kind of let joey and his family have their way (their last name... holidays... no child support... etc.) "Don't burn your bridges" is what she's always said. So... basically I feel like I've been Joey's doormat for the last 5 years.

I'm getting cranky just writing all this stuff out... rar... I gotta go do some stress knitting.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!

2005-12-19T19:17:00.000-06:00

I don't have a whole lot of time to post but thought that I should quick. I got spoiled by my parents for my (22nd) birthday. They bought me;

new set of snow tires (that ROCK!!! I can't skid if I try!)
wool pea-coat from Old Navy
bagless vacuum cleaner from Eureka
$50 that I just spent last night at Aeropostale on a pair of jeans, a long sleeve tee, and a polo

Callie and Taylor got me (among many many MANY handmade cards and whatnot) Vicki Howell's book, New Knits on the Block. Ok, ok... so I really just picked it up that morning at Barnes and Noble on my way outta town cause it was on sale for 20% off and said that they bought it for my birthday. However... had they been with... they totally would have approved! Callie desperately wants the mermaid costume!

Jake bought me a charm bracelet with a charm on it that is a mini butterfly box and inside is a note that says "You are beautiful." It would have been a lot cooler if it would have said "Will you marry me?" instead but we'll not go there....! :) He also bought me a pair of "choppers" because the mittens I had were just not keeping the fingers all too warm while waiting to catch the bus to go to class. 20 degrees below zero with windchill was a little bit beyond the capabilities of my knit ones.

My friend Jolene got me a blanket with the Norwegian Snowflake motif knit into it. Her boyfriend's mom works at the Bemidji Woolen Mills which is where she got it!! I hope to have pictures up of all my gifts within the next couple of days. I'm just feeling a little lazy to dig stuff out.

Well... Saturday night was Callie and Taylor's Gymnastics holiday show. They were so so so cute!!!! At the end of their little performance, they all got medals! My mom has pics of them with their medals on but I only have pics of them before the show.
Here we are watching the first half of the show (their class ... the ADVANCED preschool class ;) started off the second half) [Taylor, Callie, Mommy]
And here they are backstage right before they went on in their fancy schmancy brand new hot pink leos (that we had to pay ($32 each for!!!) GRGA is the name of the gym that they practice at. They've been going there for a little over 2 years now. [Callie, Taylor]:
I tried to get pictures of them during their performance but they all turned out blurry and really really dark. If any of you out there are also gym rat mommies this is what they did:

Bars:

pullover
3 casts
another pullover
(then they rolled forward off the bar... not sure what it's called)

Floor:

cartwheel
forward roll

Beam:

Forward roll (with spotter of course)
High kicks

What was really funny was when Level 5 (roughly 4th -6th graders...???) were up and they were taking turns doing tumbling passes (like roundoff backhandspring back tucks) Callie says... "They do that with no help!? All by themselves??" It was cute.

During the show Patrick (the head coach/gym owner's husband) called off some ticket numbers for prizes witht he gym's logo on them. Joey (cal and tay's dad) won a sweatshirt! He had to leave early so he gave the winning ticket to me. He said he probably wouldn't wear it so I get to keep it! I had to order an adult size, since they only brought up to adult small but when it comes in I'm going to have "Callie and Taylor's Mom" embroidered on the back.

Anywhos... I've got to get packing and whatnot.. going home for a few days. I'm picking cal and tay up from nursery school tomorrow and they don't know I'm diong it. I love surprising them!

ps... FINALS ARE DONE FINALS ARE DONE FINALS ARE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is totally a procrastination post

2005-12-16T21:37:00.000-06:00

I have a statistics final at 8am tomorrow morning and... I'm not studying... I'm taking a well deserved break ;)

Here's an update on my hair:
Picture was actually taken yesterday but... it looks about the same today.

I got a new purse!!!:
Lookie what's inside!!!:
He he he... Just in case you know... I get stuck somewhere!

Ho hum ho hum... here's a picture of the Giraffe sweater pieces:
And the knitting progress I did on Waverly's sleeve since yesterday:
I went shopping yesterday! I bought a book that I'm sure ya'll have already:
Yeah I know... my eyes go in two different directions when I try to cross them. I think it's cool. Here's another example that was taken last year:

**Any volumteers to come take this stats final for me tomorrow!?!?!?! I'll tempt you with some Noro.....**

Ok... so I realize that getting up early on a Saturday morning to take a stats final when there is holiday knitting to be done does not sound like a good idea to anyone. I better just suck it up and study huh?

Did I mention that tomorrow is also my birthday?

Finals week has crept upon us...

2005-12-15T12:02:00.000-06:00

It is officially the start of finals week. I have two finals (one saturday morning and one monday afternoon) and a final paper (due monday by 5pm). Have I started studying or writing yet? Nope!

I've been cranking away at the Waverly Cardigan (Knit n Style December 04). I have the back and two fronts completed and have this much done on the sleeve as of this morning:

Nothing really interesting to report knitting wise about this project... It's actually pretty easy.

I'm also just about done with the knitting portion of the Giraffe sweater. Just have the neck and seaming to do.

I know who my SP was !!!! It was amylovie!!! She sent me this lovely bracelet with charm for the reveal package. She's opening up a yarn store soon called Yarntopia, and she's got twin daughters... just like me!!!!! She's so sweet and such a great spoiler!!! Thank you so very much Amy!!!!
The bracelet is by James Avery and the charm is of two girls. I LOVE bracelets... especially if they dangle and/or make noise (I love to annoy people... imagine that). I've been wearing it every day since I got it!!!!

Ok... so last Friday was "Jake Day." My hunny, Jake, had a really rough week last week with lots of projects and tests and whatnot. So... I declared Friday "Jake Day" and I made him dinner, paid for and let him pick out whatever stupid violent boy movie he wanted to watch at the theater and later on that evening... I even let him dye my hair red. (He has a soft spot for red heads and after all... it was "Jake Day"). Well... I think we left it in too long and it was BRIGHT RED... I mean... Red Heart Acrylic red! Thankfully I wouldn't let him do the permanent dye and we bought the 8-10 shampoo color but... wow...

Some guy at the library one night said I looked very festive. Ha! Anyway... now it's like a very subtle redish/pinkish color and the ends are mostly back to blonde. To prove to you that I'm not lying here's a photo (with the VERY spoiled boy).

Ahhh... so so so cute!!!!!

I was looking through my photo album on my computer and I found some pics that Joe (Callie and Taylor's dad) sent me a couple weeks ago from Halloween. Here are my little Dorothy's:

And here they are again with their Daddy:

(Callie left and Taylor right)

Must Knit 2006

2005-12-09T14:24:00.000-06:00

I'm probably not going to be able to blog until Sunday so today while I have a few spare minutes I'm posting my (tentative) Must knit 2006 list that I will start on at 12:00am January 1st.

Skacel Ad Sweater (have yarn)
Branching Out #2 (have yarn)
Angeled Poise (Simply knitting November 2005)
Inside Out Sweater (Knit Scene fall/winter 2005)
"C" Weasley type sweater (blueblog has the pattern? I dunno... don't want to look it up)
"T" Weasley type sweater
Picovoli (Sexy Knitters Club KAL #1 project. Not sure if I like it enough yet)
Tubey
Ultra Femme
Kidsilk haze knitted Camisole (see below)

Hopefully I will start at the top and work my way down but... who knows!?

Temptations and Magazine Reviews

2005-12-07T00:23:00.000-06:00

I really really really really want to buy yarn. Never mind the fact that I don't get paid til next week (and I have bills to pay...)! I went to Barnes & Noble today and picked up two magazines: Knit Simple (new magazine by VK... website isn't finished yet) and a British mag, Simply Knitting.

Inside this mag is the CUTEST SWEATER EVER!!!!!!!!

It's called Angled Poise by Debbie Bliss and is a ribbed sweater with an assymetric neckline and bottom. I am thinking about knitting it up in Knitpicks Merino style... probably some sort of pink. Of course... I won't be buying the yarn til January!!! ...damn resolutions...

I haven't been doing much knitting today. For some reason the idea of a new sweater took all my attn and I also scoured the net for the best price for Rowan Kidsilk Haze because I want to do this sweater by Jenna Adorno as well:

I already have some Lamb's pride worsted in lotus pink (a hot pink color) and was trying to find some kidsilk haze for the mohair part on top to match but it's so hard on the puter so... I'm going to have to drive a little further out of my way to try some yarn shops in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area OR order online and hope for the best.

While at yarnmarket.com, I found this very very beautiful top knitted up in the kidsilk haze:
It is so so so so so so gorgeous. It is found in Rowan Magazine #37. Oooof.... I really want to put in an order at angel yarns for the yarn and magazine so incredibly bad!!!! Even with shipping from the UK and the currency change it ends up being cheaper from there (vs. Yarnmarket)

I suppose I never properly reviewed either magazine that I talked about up there. I'll do my best:

Knit Simple (Vogue Knitting) Winter 2005
It's target audience is beginning knitters and advanced knitters who want something simple to knit up quickly. The designs are basic but not cheesy or Lion-Brand-esque. There are two sweaters that jumped out at me (I'd scan them but my roomie is really really busy right now and she has the scanner). One has a couple of granny squares in the front and down the sleeve and the other has a leaf like lace pattern on the bottom of the sweater and sleeves (I saw someone just post a pic of a similar sweater that they designed themselves. I liked the sweater that she made better than the one in this magazine though. I hope I'm able to find her blog again when/if she's able to post the pattern!). The designs in this mag are not too terribly trendy but anyone of all age ranges should be able to find something.

They are kind of lacking in articles, I believe there was only one...but being this is their premiere issue it should (hopefully) get better.

They must be planning on making this mag a permanent member of the VK family as there are subscription options already available.

All in all, I would buy the next issue, but after flipping through it a time or two beforehand.

Simply Knitting Issue 8 (November)
(Issue 9 has already come out in the UK... we must be behind the times by a month)

This mag rocks! It's a little more expensive (8.99 USD), but the pages are larger. There is lots of color on every page (but not so much it looks like paper vomit). This happens to be one of those magazines that lists the patterns for the project on the same page (vs. having to flip to the back ... get what I mean?), which makes it really easy, at least for me. It's a little short on patterns (12-15 or so) but the patterns that they do have are of good quality. Another thing about the patterns that I just adored was that they take one technique out of the pattern (make one stich, changing colors) and explain out to do it in the side bar (in full color photos... NOT drawings!). I thought this was awesome because it explained how to knit with beads for one of their patterns and it just so happens that the waverly cardigan has a beaded trim!! Not too shabby eh?

At the very end you know how all those mags have the "how to knit and crochet" bit and it's like ... a half a page? Well, this mag has ELEVEN of them. Let me say that again... ELEVEN. All of that stuff I already know of course but this mag just went above and beyond (or maybe that's just how the Brits do it! I dunno!).

Additionally, this issue came with a Christmas Gifts Extra supplement. Patterns for a doiley some different ornaments, and the CUTEST little gnomes ever. Seriously... I want to knit one pretty badly! Iwill hopefully get a picture scanned tomorrow.

I love this mag so much I looked into the subscription costs of having it shipped to the US. It would be about $60 (for 13 issues) so about $4.60 per issue... versus the $7.99 I would pay at Barnes and Noble... it's tempting..... oh boy is it ever.... but $60 is a lot of money to put up front!

All in all... I will buy this mag again. I would like to buy at least one or two more issues before fully deciding that it is worth subscribing to (maybe this is the only issue that was ever good... this is only the 8th issue)

"December Resolutions"

2005-12-05T15:39:00.000-06:00

So... I have decided that I cannot cast on or buy yarn for any new project until Jan 1. I want to start keeping track of Finished Objects by year and I don't want to start 2006 off with half finished projects..! This way also, I 'll be able to concentrate on christmas knitting more too. And then I think I'm going to start off in January working on the Skacel ad sweater, followed by Branching out #2. At least for those two projects I already have the yarn for!

Over the weekend I did a lot more reading than knitting. I'm just about to the toe decreases on Jodi's second sock but it's not really worth photographing since it looks just like its mate. I'm not too worried about finishing the Waverly cardigan on time bceause I'm scheduled to work christmas eve and christmas day (48 hour shift) and all I do basically is sit and watch tv or knit or surf the net (well... I do other things like talk with residents and paperwork and crap like that but it doesn't take too long to do those things. I work at a residential home for pregnant women and their babies in case you are slightly confused.). We are not planning on having our family Christmas until Jan 1 anyway so I have an extra week than you all... (ha ha ha... :P). The waverly cardigan isn't hard... it's just kind of boring... for some reason... yeah figure that one out!!!

Funny story... Callie and Taylor got bumped up to the Advanced preschool gymnastics class which we didn't find out until we got there (Adv. class starts at 10 and the regular starts at 9:15) so... i suggested we go to the knitting store or target until their new class started. Callie wanted to go to the knitting store right away because she "needs new needles" Callie then goes on to say, " I'm making you a scarf, mommy. I need new needles so I can knit all day long.... like you do." I found that comment kind of funny coming from a four year old bright and early on Saturday morning! True... I do get a lot of knitting done when I go home to my parents house, but I have been reading a book called, The Other Boleyn Girl and am about halfway through it now. It is so so so so so good!!! If you know anything about King Henry VIII or even if you just like royalty or whatnot... you need to read this!!!

Anyway... Oprah's about to start so... bye!

off to see the wizard...

2005-12-02T14:43:00.000-06:00

Bye kids! I'm outtie for the weekend... going home to see the babies and will *hopefully* have some knitting progress to update ya'll on when I get back Sunday night. Have a good weekend all!!!!

Me and My "Cave"

2005-12-01T14:25:00.000-06:00

I'm a little bored... waiting for my roomie to get back from work so that we can go to the post office and mail stuff. I have a (very) belated birthday gift to mail to my friends daughter (that was Oct 28... It was sitting in my desk drawer for the longest time), and one for my SP. So... I decided to take a picture of where I spend the majority of my day... in my little homely cave. First we have a picture of my cave from the hallway... see how teeny it is? That big black metal thing is actual my (twin size) bed lofted. I just cannot live without my puppy (papasan) chair so... up went the bed.

In those plastic drawers in the lower left hand side is filled with sewing stuff (fabric, patterns... whatnot) and other crafty goodies like polymer clay and soap stuff. Next to it are two small containers (a basket and a tucker tote thinggee) that have random knitting stuff in them. In the pink striped bag (Victoria's Secret shopping bag) is my current knitting projects... all socks it seems). Oh... and yes I do have a purple puppy chair cushion. I bought the chair from Pier 1 and got a cream colored cushion with it... but I found a seller on ebay that made covers for papasan chairs so.... I bought a purple one... When I move I'll probably have to get a burgundy one to match the couch that my mom is making me take but we'll deal with that when the time comes!!!

Next is the view from my desk of my tv, hamster, radio, and knitting stuff that I took with me to school. At home I have another one of those wire things half filled with yarn too.
(Callie and Taylor's gymnastics pictures from last year are pinned to the side of that tapestry draped over the top of the wire rack. I bought those huge pins to put on my backpack but they kept falling off) All other pictures of Cal and Tay are taped to the outside of my door.

Lastly we have the view from my puppy chair of my messy messy desk. I opted not to clean it before the picture because it would jsut get messy again. I know that it looks like my laptop is floating in midair but I have it on one of thsoe riser things and I have an additional keyboard hooked up. I needed the keyboard because I spilled Smirnoff Ice on the one on my laptop and most of the keys are sticky now... Oops! Ignore the empty diet coke cans lined up on the side... and if you click on the pick you get to see (maybe if the pic gets large enough) my small knitting book collection! (left side of bookshelf).

Lastly... I leave you with a cute picture of me taken about lunchtime today ... sitting at my desk.
No new knitting content today... I slept a lot yesterday (feel fine today now) and worked on the mate to that sock I showed ya'll yesterday... still working on the leg part, but I'm past the ribbing!

Progress Update...

2005-11-30T18:38:00.000-06:00

I was able to finish one of my cousin's socks in a few days. It seemed to go really REALLY quick. I didn't have a pattern... just cast on 60 stitches and just sort of... went. I tried it on and I wish I would have bought more yarn to make some for myself! It's knit in Knit Picks Simple Stripes, color is sweet tarts. Really makes me want candy while knitting!

I was also able to finish the back of the Waverly cardigan as i mentioned before. Here is a picture of it... Not too terribly exciting. I tried to get a close up shot but my camera wasn't cooperating.

I'm knitting it in Knit Picks Essential in burgundy.

I've been so so so so so so tired lately it's not even funny. Every time I'm awake, I'm just counting down the time until I can get home and take a nap. I've taken two naps already today and would be sleeping now but I have to go clean chem labs and pick up my roomie from work because her bumper fell off when she spun out and went in the ditch on monday. Minnesota weather is not so nice sometimes for driving!!

I was toying with the idea of changing the background of my blog but I didn't like the other ones blogger provides... and I couldn't get the one that I had downloaded to work quite right so... I left it. Instead I think I'm going to join one of those webring things though... I found one that I liked so you might see it someday! I also got rid of the computerized version of my hamster and the doll thing... I dunno... they just weren't doing anything for me anymore!

Last night I stayed up a little late (by late I mean like 11pm) by looking up grad schools and what not. I'm pretty sure that I'll be going .... more than likely to the U of MN in Minneapolis. Their PhD program is 6 years so I don't know if I'll go for that right away... I'd like to get my master's in psych and then poop out another baby or two before becoming Dr. Tara.

Anyway... that's about it for me... I think I'm going to go watch America's Next Top Model and take a nap or work on the mate to Jodi's sock!

Au revoir!

Just quick...

2005-11-28T21:48:00.000-06:00

I'm supposed to be doing homework with Jake right now...

I've been updating my progress bars over the holiday and have gotten significant sock progress! yay! I have also completely finished the back of the Waverly cardigan, while watching all three harry potter dvds. I also braved shopping the saturday after thanksgiving as they were having a mucho sale and I needed to get a couple of little things for my SP. I was really disappointed that they didn't have exactly what I wanted to get for her so I had to do some last minute substitutions. I hope I get to the post office tomorrow... but it's supposed to be near blizzard outsitde!!!!

Picture Day..

2005-11-21T23:44:00.000-06:00

No knitting progress since last time. I had a paper to write on environmental racism. Just thought i'd upload some pics of my cuties!!!

Here's some pics of Callie(pink) and Taylor (purple) wearing this sweater, knitted in my favorite yarn of all time... Lion Brand Wool Ease. (I'm not a fan of handwashing... especially for kids wear!)
Here is a picture of Callie (pink) and Taylor before figure skating practice on Sunday:

And here is an action photo of them on the ice (bad lighting... I know...)

Lastly... my eldest child... Ahna... pouting ....

Hooray!

2005-11-20T14:53:00.000-06:00

Mom said she changed her mind about one of the pairs of socks. (Good thing I didn't order the yarn yet!) I'm not getting much knitting done this weekend because i have a mountain of papers that I've been putting off that HAVE to get done...like... now. Currently I"m taking a break from researching for my paper on Environmental racism for my philosophy class. I also have to write two other little blurbs about events I went to recently which shouldn't take too long for the same philosophy class.

Just thought that I'd share the good news about me having to knit one less pair of socks!!!

Quick progress post

2005-11-19T16:22:00.000-06:00

I have been so busy this week... but have still found the time (mostly last weekend) to knit. Here's what I've been up to:

This is exactly how much sock you get out of one ball of Knit Picks Palette (don't worry... I have another ball... just haven't worked on these socks since I finished off the first one):
Next is the Giraffe sweater. I should really move the sweater progress bar down under the chrismas knitting list because it is a christmas present to myself and I would feel better working on it (maybe). I wanted to knit this because my mom volunteered me to knit three pairs of socks for my cousins and I was a little irked. I'm almost 22 years old and I still feel the need to rebel against my mother... :) THis is the back and most of the front. It knits up pretty easy (on size 8 needles) and is nice mindless knitting to do while watching tv.
Lastly... this is the beginning of Callie's sock that I started this morning on the drive up to my parents house (where I'm at now). I've put it next to Taylor's so that you can see how far I got. (Jake drove.)

Progress update and SP gift!!!!!!!!!!

2005-11-11T13:07:00.000-06:00

So Tuesday was a good day for me. I officially dropped biochem with one last hur-rah with the cholesterol lab poster session. I rocked at it (probably because I wasn't nervous about the grade I got on the presentation.) After the poster session we got our exams back (the one that I KNEW that I failed). There was a possibility to get 130 points, but it was only out of 100. I got a 6 (six). Ha ha... so... probably a good thing that I dropped that god-awful class.

After that, I went to check my mail and I had a cute little white box from my SP!!! This is what I got:

I got a 365 knitting stitch a day calendar, a set of size 11 dpn (that I needed to start the skacel ad sweater), a GORGEOUS hand beaded row counter in purple and white, candy for the kidlets (like they need more after halloween... ha!) and an awesome ball of rowan kidsilk haze to make another branching out.. for me!!! I've never touched such fancy yarn! It's going to feel so nice and soft around my neck!

WHen I was opening up the calendar, I was really excited cause I wanted it for a long long time ( since last christmas or so) that I got a nasty nasty papercut that actually needed a bandaid to heal!!! Since I'm a momma of two lil girls of COURSE I have cute bandaids around (and since it's kind of a funny story how I got wounded) I thought I'd take a picture of my bandaged wound. I thought about photographing it while it was still bleeding like a mofo but... I'll spare you!

We have lots of Hello Kitty in our house (well... not lots compared to some people...) but my favorite is the Hello Kitty soap I picked up at target. It's got glitter in it and it makes our sink sparkle! ha ha ... just ignore the dried up toothpaste and we'll call it good...

On to the knitting progress:

So I broke down and went to buy the yarn to make the giraffe sweater and ended up realizing that the store had a 30% coupon in its flyer!!! So I grabbed the coupon and bought not only the yarn, but Loop-d-Loop too! It was about the same price that it was on KnitPicks but... I got some major instant gratification. I was lucky enough at the store that they had the color in Wool Ease that I wanted for this sweater. I had picked out a dusty rose type color online. I needed 6 balls (hopefully that's all I need) at 2.99 = great deal on a sweater! Here's the progress pic:

I'm about 8" into it. Knitting it on size 8 needles. It's just a ribbed pattern so that's all I got to say about it for now!

Next we have a finished object. Well ok... literally half of a finished ohject:

I used this tutorial as a pattern but chose to do the standard decreases for the toe because of the holes that the sherman heel technique creates. I like the holes in this sock because it's pretty plain so the holes kind of look lik lace and are an added "design element" (he he he)

These socks are knit from Knit Picks Pallette in petal (which wasn't the color I expected it to be... I had ordered merino style earlier in petal and I thought that the pallette would be more pale pink similar to the merino style but instead it's more corally pink...oh well.. I'll live). It's knit on size one dpns with a knit 3 purl 2 rib.

Next is the Waverly Cardigan. Seems I forgot to mention where this baby is from! Knit N Stlye December 2004 I believe.
I don't buy this magazine anymore cause I think their patterns are kind of cheesy and use way too much novelty yarns but at least one good (normal) pattern came out of it right? I'm knitting it out of Knit picks essential in burgundy. It's going a lot faster now because I have the pattern memorized and I've been using my handy dandy beaded row counter to help me keep track of where I am!

For a close up of the stitch definition check out the previous post.

I also got a package today that was totally unexpected! I got this:

It was for some sort of promotion back in August that you just signed up to receive a free ball of Bernat Disco. I got a brown ball, a mary maxim catalog, and some free patterns. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with this yarn except make maybe a fuzzy brown disco scarf??? i dunno... I just wanted something for free!!!

On some unknitting related content... I've been in touch with the school district here and found out that there is half day and full day kindergarten! To go full day it costs a little bit but with my income being so low as a college student, this fee will be SOOOOOOO much cheaper than day care! Hopefully they will get in, though it shouldn't be a problem!

Waverly Cardigan

2005-11-07T15:07:00.000-06:00

This is a Christmas gift... one of... 8.
Christmas Gift List:

Taylor's Socks
Branching Out scarf for Grandma (needs to be blocked)
Callie's Socks
Jodi's Socks
Jessi's Socks
Danielle's Socks
Pink Socks for roomie
Cardigan for Mom

(Green signifies it's completed)

I did a mini swatch to practice the stitch and test for gauge (I hate gauge testing). I got gauge with size 6 needles so I was a little disappointed and also happy that I didn't have to go buy new needles. I was disappointed because I was going to buy the yarn for the Giraffe sweater (see post below) if they had the color I wanted at the craft store. So... now I don't have a "good" excuse to go to the craft store... so.... I will cast on for the Waverly cardigan tonight instead.

Here is the picture of the cardigan and the mini swatch. I'm using Knit Picks Essential in Burgundy:

Here is a close up of the mini swatch. I can already tell that blocking is going to be my best friend with this project. It's easy to knit up but not so easy that it's boring.

... more.... socks....

2005-11-07T00:10:00.000-06:00

No new pics today... I really wanted to post pics of callie and taylor from halloween (forgot to ask my mom to email them to me), and from figure skating (battery died right before I was going to take the fist snapshot). I might have grabbed a copy of the newspaper they are on the cover of but I'm too lazy to go check to see if it's in my bag.

So... mother saw me finishing up Taylor's socks saturday afternoon and was like... "I should really have you knit socks for Jessi, Jodi, and Danielle for Christmas as something to go along with the gift cards I'm getting them." She mentioned this throughout the rest of the weekend in all different formats and finally I was just like... Ok yeah whatever. So... She flipped through the latest Knit Picks catalog and picked out the colors she wants for their socks and I'll order them this week sometime. So now that I have MORE 'other people' gifts to knit... all I want to do is knit myself I big cozy comfy cowl neck sweater and picked this one. I was going to do it in Wool of the Andes color: Holly Berry.... but then I remembered how I HATE to hadnwash things so I am thinking about this color in WoolEase instead:

I'm only thinking about it so if I never mention this sweater again... don't hold it against me.

Busy Busy week for this girl... and stressful too...

2005-11-04T11:08:00.000-06:00

So .... this week has been the week from hell. I had to register for classes and had a big exam on Wednesday... I mean BIG exam. I failed the last exam and so if I were to fail this one, oof... I'd have to work REALLY hard to keep my grade above a C. Well... So Tuesday I studied like there was no tomorrow... Studied all my notes, reread the chapters and looked over pathways a little bit (this was for nutritional biochemistry). Get to the test... we were given a few blank sheets of paper and were told a scenario and we had to demonstrate (by writing out the pathway) of say... how we maintain blood glucose levels during a fast. Easy to explain... hard to show all the enzymes and chemical structures, without memorizing and such... There's no way I got more than 15 points because I chose to understand the material rather than simply memorize stupid pathways. So... guess what? I changed my major and withdrew from the course.

Yep... I'm no longer a dietetics major but a psychology major. I'll still have chemistry to know (by god do i hate chemistry), but it will only be one orgain instead of all of them. I feel so much better about myself now that I'm out of that god-awful, taught by the daughter of the devil , biochemistry course.

I also had to miss Halloween this week. Since it was on a Monday, I didn't have time to get home (3 hour drive) for the Halloween party that Callie and Taylor go to every year. Joey (Callie and Taylor's dad) didn't have class that day (he's going to grad school for occupational therapy) so he was able to take them. They were both Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and they tied for 3rd place in the judging! Yay!!!! They were also on the front page of the paper! And they were quoted!!! Callie said that she likes the candy, and Taylor said she likes dressing up. My mom hasn't sent me pictures yet so i won't have any until this weekend.

I've been apartment hunting this week. I looked at one yesterday and fell in love with this layout:
I just want to move in now! It has a breakfast bar, pantry, full size washer and dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and free garage. It has a playground, is secluded, in a middle class nice neighborhood and is about 3-4 blocks from an elementary school. And yes, most units have a fireplace!!! I have to go back in January to fill out the forms and whatnot ( I won't be moving until May 15).

Ok... so I was feverishly knitting the last two nights trying to get Jake's little present finished before deer opener this weekend. THis is what I came up with:
It's a Willie Warmer!!!! I used this pattern as a template. It's bigger than it looks in the picture and I didn't have time to put string around it but Jake got a big kick out of it! Some of the directions were confusing to me (the gusset part with picking up stitches) so I kind of made it up after I got confused... It worked out just fine!

Pictures come forth!!!!

2005-10-28T00:02:00.000-05:00

Secret Pal Presents:
There was more to this first one, chocolate, bath set, presents for cal and tay... but this is what I have in my knitting basket (chocolate was gone 10 minutes after package was opened!): The yarn is to make some really cute cabled chokers. I plan to make one for me and my roomie!

This is what was in my second package. There were 10 balls of yarn but I figured you'd get the same idea from 6... I can NOT wait to knit this up!!!!

SOCKTOBER FEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The burgundy sock yarn is for no one in particular... probably me... but we'll see...

This is how far I've gotten on Taylor's pair... One down, one to go!!!

This is the yarn that Callie picked out for her pair...

And this is my VERY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!!!!!!!

Here they are as a WIP:

On to Hopeful....

Here is Hopeful as a WIP:

Here she is again nearly finished (still with her wonky collar that her momma still has to fix...)

Branching Out:

Here it is as a WIP. I used Red Heart Luster Sheen... Good cheap beautiful Christmas present for me granny....

WIPs to Be.....

This is going to be Knitty.com's I Do. The other hank is wound up into a ball. I'm nervous that I will run out of yarn for this project. I had already cast on for the project 4 times and had to keep frogging because of some stupid thing I did... so I cast on for Branching Out instead that night...

This is going to be a little special something for my boy toy. It's as close to blaze orange that I could find (it's tangerine). I can't say what it is going to be in case he stops by the blog but with deer season starting in two weeks you won't have to wait very long to find out!!!

This was supposed to be the bottom of Ultra Femme (Stitch n bitch nation) but I can't find a color close enough for the mohair top so... I don't know what this will end up being but you can't go wrong with hot pink wool!

What kind of knitter am I?

2005-10-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

SocktoberFest

2005-10-17T17:50:00.000-05:00

I'm a member of SocktoberFest 2005!!!! (Click the link on sidebar to check it out). I cast on for my first pair of socks today but I think I need smaller needles. I used a four on Plymouth Yarn's Sockotta (not the color shown... color number 15). I should have known better, it says to use size 2 needles in the label but for some reason I thought I could get away with a four since I already had them. Nope... I didn't like how loose it was (I was like... 1/2 inch into them). I will stop at the craft store again (SP they are STILL sold out of size 11 needles! Sheesh! I'm soooo lucky to have you!) and get size 2 dpns so I can be an active participant in the socktoberfest celebration! he he he. I also bought the book you see there. There are some really really really cute sockies in there! For those of you that may have this book, I'm starting off with pattern number 5, Autumn Leaves, except I don't plan on folding the cuff down. There are also some Angel socks in there that I want to eventually make for my little angels. They love cute socks! i don't know why I didn't think to make them socks before... DUH!!! ha ha...

Got some more progress done on Branching out. I'm probably 60% done now. I love it but I'm getting startitis and I haven't been working on it for more than a few days. Maybe it's just sockitis... that's probably it!

Finished Object!!!

2005-10-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

I HAVE A FINISHED OBJECT!!!!!!!!!!! All done... ALL DONE!!!!! No more weaving of ends... I even sewed the button on!!!!!!!!! I wish I had a picture... It's the sweter on the cover of the second knit.1 mag.
I'm ALMOST done with Hopeful. Well.. I was basically done but I don't like how the collar puckers and poofs out. So... I'm going to rip it out and use smaller needles and pick up fewer stitches than Jenna recommends. I haven't blocked it yet, but I don't think that any amout of blocking is going to fix the collar. I've seen pictues of other people's hopefuls on the KAL and their collars don't look as messed up as mine! hrmph... oh well... If i don't get it perfect I won't wear it!!

I haven't been home to grab my digi cam and printer software drivers so I'm still without either. I've still been taking pictures with my camera in case I just want to go to Target and get prints and then scan them in with Jake's scanner later... but that is just SO much work! :)

I cast on a new project this weekend. Branching out. I'm making it for my mom for christmas (or my grandma... but probably my mom). I'm about half done with it. It goes up so quick and it's really easy. My first lace project! Yay!

My super awesome SP got me yarn and the pattern from the skacel ads ( it's the one where the front panel is knit in the round) I wish I knew what page it was on in IK... Anyway... I wanted to start that sweater this weekend but when I was at the craft store there were sold out of the dpn that I needed (size 11) I have size 13 dpn so I might try those if it's not too holy.

So when I was in the craftstore (HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE craft store... has more yarn than my yarn shop back home... ) and I saw this pair of socks haning above their meager collection of sock yarn (still... being a craft store and not a yarn shop they carry an abnoxiously large selection of Red Heart and novelty yarns... but they have good stuff like brown sheep and Jo Sharp too). I just HAD to knit them. There was no pattern attached to them though!!! I looked through all their loose leaft single patterns for sale, and their pattern books that featured socks and coul not find them! They were a ribbed sock and the ribbing went down to the top of the foot. I've found a pattern online that *might* be pretty close Here, but I'm not sure cause the pic is so small. I'm new to the sock knitting world and never had a desire to knit them until seeing these socks! Anywhos... I think I'll try out that pattern in the yarn that the special socks were knit in (I don't remember what brand it was or anything..) I'll probably stop hack there tomorrow or Tuesday when I get groceries and cast on! Yay!

Hopeful

2005-10-10T17:31:00.000-05:00

I wish I could post a picture but I'm thisclose to finishing hopeful. I just have that teeny tie thing to do and then block it and I'm finished. I'm a little disappointed in the collar portion. It like... poofes out in the back and in the front a little. Like... I picked up too many stitches or something... But I picked up the right amount...! I'm going to check out the knit along to see if anyone else had the same issue or not.

This has been just a hellish week for me. Papers and papers and presentations .... Oh my! plus Beaner and Boo came down with my mom for a visit over the weekend and wore me out. Little leeches those two are when you don't see them for awhile! I have thrusday and friday off of school this week, but I work on sunday. I might drive down and pick them up from nursery school on friday... to surprise them. I haven't decided yet though. I just know that over this long weekend that I will probably get bored. Jake is going up to his hunting shack to get his stands ready for deer season and the roomies are going to be gone... bored bored broed. I don't even have any major papers due soon (they were due this week or last week). Hmmm... yup... probably will go home.

That's about it for me ... Stupid digi cam screwed up my printer port/driver so now my printer has taken a poop on me too.... hmmm... so this blog will be pretty boring without pictures for awhile!... not that it was interesting anyway right!? ha!

Pics Pics Pics!!!!!

2005-09-25T18:38:00.000-05:00

I got my first secret pal package A LONG TIME AGO.... but never uploaded the pictures or anything... (what a slacker I am!!!)

I got lots of cool stuff. I got a sheep tape measure that I've wanted for a long time, I got instructions to make really cool cable chockers, yarn and needles to make them, uber good white chocolate (which didn't last very long in my drawer), some bath stuff that came in handy last weekend, and Callie and Taylor got my little pony playdoh! I brought it to them and they opened it at grandma's. I have a picture of them but it's on my mom's camera.

Ok, so I just tried to upload my pictures onto my computer and something happened.... all my pics were deleted! Grrr...... So no picture of secret pal surprise, no pictures from the wedding on the 17th... no pictures from cal and tay's birthday! stupid technology.....

Well... It's about time!!!

2005-09-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

Yea... I know... I've just about dropped off the face of the planet right? Well, I finally feel like I have some sense of order back in my life...

I moved the last weekend in august three hours south to my beautiful college campus. I am sharing an on campus apartment with three other girls. Callie and Taylor are staying with grandma and grandpa and I drive home most weekends. It was a lot harder for me to leave this year than it was last year. Well, I should say that it's taken me longer to adjust. I have an off campus job this year (as well as on campus) and my classes are already starting to kick me in the butt. At least Jake, my boyfriend, is going to a university 20 minutes or so (about 10 by freeway) so I'm not quite so alone. I haven't even been able to knit! If I wasn't in class, doing homework, or working... I was sleeping!

Wavy pics...

2005-08-25T15:12:00.000-05:00

I'm in a picture taking mood lately... Anything I guess to keep from having to pack!!!! Last night I noticed that my eldest child, Ahna (actually a kitty... five years old) was checking out momma's knitting.

She is your stereotypical cat with knitter. I usually let her bat at the yarn (she's chubby... so any exercise she's willing to do is fine by me!) and usually end up with yarn covered in cat slobber. Oh well. A lot of the times she'll lay right on my lap and I'll have to knit around her. Twenty pounds of stubborn cat with a "You pay too much attn to your knitting and not enough to me" attitude is hard to move. Plus I love her!! I hope I can get a picture of her "knitting" with me one day. It'll be frameworthy!
Anyway... So here's another pic of Ahna. She's modeling Wavy.

Then today I figured I should get some human shots with Wavy so here ya go! It is knit up with some leftover Cascade 220 from a felting project and that's why it has black ends. I love it! I was really nervous about it when I was knitting it but after blocking it turned out perfect. Though it was a pain in the pooper to get the little waves to line up right after blocking it.
This is me and my (youngest human) daughter, Taylor:

And this is Tay solo:

Kinda starting to pack....

2005-08-24T20:05:00.000-05:00

I decided to post some pics of stuff today instead of writing a whole bunch. I also cast on a new project!!!!!

This is Wavy blocking: (Notice two little legs on the balance beam! Taylor was practicing...)

I stopped into the LYS while cal and tay were at gymnastics and it has doubled in size!! They are renting the attic of an old school turned into a cute craft "mall" and they must have bought the place next door so now they have the ENTIRE attic. It's so cute up there. The space was just empty but it just seems so much brighter up there. I bought a plasitc crochet hook for these many stitches I seem to keep dropping and two more balls of purple yarn -Aristocrat heirloom. It's been on sale since forever and have picked up a ball here and there so now I have five - four purple and one pink. I think they would make good pink and purple mittens.

Callie and taylor got a balance beam for their birthday from Jake. He built it himself. Here they are standing on it but you can't see it. (Trust me... it's there!) Taylor has the scrunched up face.

This is my favorite picture of my lil squirrels. I'm not sure if I posted it yet or not but they are so cute, who cares!? Taylor is in white, Callie in red. Notice Lizzie McGuire is on tv!!

Here are some pics from today. Callie wanted to have her picture taken with mommy's knitting and since i wanted a picture of this yarn anyway... This is some fushia LB Homespun that I got at Joann last week on sale for 3.75 ea. They are going to make up a new One button cardigan (cover of Knit.1). I ruined the old one. Turns out when the label says not to iron a yarn... they mean it!!!

Here's a pic of the knitting I did on it today. It is the official cast on photo. It took me forever and a day to find gauge.. I guess I'm not that good at using a tape measure 20 minutes after waking up beause I used 4 different needle sizes only to use the first one I tried after all. The color is so so so so pretty. It's got little splashes of purple in it and I can't wait to wear it around. Everyone will be so so jealous!!!!

Last but not least, Callie and Taylor came home from Grammies with an early birthday present: Ruby Red slippers! I wanted a full shot of Taylor with her full get-up on but she ran away before I could get another picuter. She didn't take those darn shoes off all day. She even took a nap in them! Callie says her toe hurts so she didn't want to wear hers. :)

I talked to Callie and Tay tonight at Pizza Hut and they said it would be ok if I didn't finish those princess sweaters for them, as long as I made them something else really cool. Since they just saw March of the Penguins with grandma Bonnie, I thought I'd make them each a Pasha the penguin (knitty.com)!!!!

Should be packing....

2005-08-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

I am moving this weekend and i SHOULD be packing... but I've been knitting. I feel the urge to finish some projects first and start the new school year off fresh. I've been updating the progress bars daily and you may be wondering why some are 90+% finished... WELL..... I despise seaming... and two of the sweaters (the disney princess ones) are seamed and blocked... just need the damn embroidery to bring life to their faces. I worked on Ariel a bit today (got most of it seamed up) but... err.... good three hours of my life gone. I hope to god that they don't wear these sweaters to school or anything. I've started them SO SO SO long ago it seems and I keep noticing mistake after mistake. They look so crappy! Maybe I should hide some catnip inside both of them and let the cats have a go at it at night. At least then it's not like I really quit... right??? The cats ruined your sweaters sweeties!!! ugh...

I've got wavy all ready and rarin to go... except I cant get the smell of wet animal out! I washed it in some good smelling gentle shampoo but it still reeks like drowned dead sheep. My mom even turned the AC on more because she thought there was mold or something growing downstairs... no mom.... that's my wool scarf... thanks though.

Belle Epoque is ready to be blocked. I would have blocked it earlier today but I didnt want two wet things lying around. The only problem with this one is that the front ribbing seems really really wide. I don't think blocking will fix it but my sewing machine sure can! Ill just take out a few inches or so along the side of the ribbing. I'll have to bust out the "plastic surgeon" sweater skills!!!

The zip up cardigan is going ok. Its from an issue of Easy knitting... forget which one... and I'm making it with some white icky red heart that I wanted to get rid of. Plus it knits up quick on size 8 needles.

I decided on another project for my "anxiously awaiting needles" list. It's the ballet seed stich wrap that is in the holiday 2004 issue of Easy Knitting. It looks really ugly in the magazine but when I saw it knit up in Libby Baker (designer of Belle Epoque)'s blog (Creazitivity... link in sidebar), I had to knit it. She says it was a pain in the butt but hopefully by the time I get to it, they'll have the bugs up on an errata page. If not, well... I'll just have to figure it out. Whatever doens't kill you only makes you stronger right??

buying yarn

2005-08-17T19:25:00.000-05:00

I received my Hopeful pattern and have figured that I'll buy the yarn from Knit Picks tomorrow if I don't find anything cheaper than merino style at craftsdirect when I stop there. I doubt I will, but... just in case... I like to support the local shops! ;) If I do buy from Knit Picks, I'm going to shoot for the $30 exactly mark because of the free shipping over $30... otherwise... it's a waste of some good yarn money!!! Anyway... this was the color I am going to buy from knit picks, or search for at the craft store:

Hopeful

2005-08-16T00:55:00.000-05:00

I just purchased the pattern for this sweater - "Hopeful." I haven't received it yet (will be sent within the next 24 hours from This Girl Knits). Go buy the pattern for $5. 120% of the proceeds go to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. I'm pretty excited. After I order the yarn from knit picks I will then join the KAL that has been started here. I can't wait to get the pattern!!!

On a side note... I really really really wish that I could own every single episode of Knitty Gritty on DVD. Why they do not just do that (they would make lots of money) I do not know... I don't get DIY anymore and have actually NEVER seen a single episode. Poor.... poor..... me... I know.....

Quizilla Quiz Results:

2005-08-16T00:11:00.000-05:00

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by

Ra ra ra!

2005-07-26T14:44:00.000-05:00

Another FO!!! This is the laptop bag from SnB Nation using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride. I used the general pattern adding a few stitches because my laptop is a widescreen. I plan on felting it either later tonight or tomorrow (other laundry comes first ya know!)

I also got some new yarn. The first is Aristocrat Heirloom that I picked up at my LYS when they were having a 25% off sale. I think I might make Knitty.com's Voodoo, but I haven't touched the gauge or anything.

Lastly... I picked up 10 skeins of Lion Brand's Imagine from ebay. All 10 for 12.50!!!! Great deal! If gauge works out (and I have enough), I'll be making Knitty.com's Belle Epoque, a sweater I've been just DIEING to make since I saw the pattern!!!

FO's over the last couple of months...

2005-07-19T00:05:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics of FO's. Not all of them are pictured because I gave them away as soon as they were completed!

Kitty Hat from SnB:

Manly Sweater from SnB:

One Button Cardigan from second issue of Knit.1:

ChildHood Cardigan for Callie (from Knitty.com):

Last but not least... My decorative way to store some of my stash! The butterflies around the top edge are actually lights but I don't have an extension cord there yet and then the big pink butterfly in the middle is from the family dollar store! he he... can't pass up a good (cute!) bargain!!!

Slow but steady....

2005-02-15T20:43:00.000-06:00

Here are some updated pics of two of my WIP:

That is Jake's summer snuggle blanket (SnB's Big Bad Baby Blanket). The color got screwey but it's an army green color. (Lion Brand Wool-Ease)

That is what i've gotten done so far on Taylor's Belle sweater. I just ordered another skein of the (very elusive!) blue color for Callie's Ariel so I'll be able to finish both of them up shortly. (Red Heart Worsted Weight)

And this is a finished object!!!!! it's the mini skull tote from HelloYarn.com. I added fun fur to the skull part... but it didn't turn out as nicely as I thought it would... oh well... it's still cute though! (Cascade 220, pink and black & Lion Brand fun fur, purple)

Lesson of the Day...

2005-02-06T23:53:00.000-06:00

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn is NOT center pull!!!

Big Bad Baby Blanket

2005-02-05T23:31:00.000-06:00

Here is what I've got so far on the summer snuggle blanket I'm making for my hunny, Jake. I'm going to make a burgundy one for his sister this summer, whose expecting a baby in the fall. I can't wait to be an auntie!!!!!

WOW!!!!

2005-02-04T13:47:00.000-06:00

Holy crap it's been a long time. It feels like I haven't been doing much knitting but... I have. I started and finished a mini skull tote, am working on a babyblanket, mittens, and am continuing to work on Taylor's Belle sweater.

On an off note, I'm a little disappointed today. I thought I was going to win a free ipod but i'd have to sign up for an offer, and then five of my other friends to sign up and sign up for an offer. Yeah,,, probably NOT going to happen! *sighs* So, that's what I've been doing all morning,... looking at free offers and ways to make a quick buck on the net. All of which, either involve a lot of offer signing up (which most require a fee) or getting a lot of other people to sign up. Grr... So I'm all sad... :(

Maybe I should start selling mark makeup or something... Ha! I would but there's a girl in my dietetics program that sells Quixtar stuff ... which also sells makeup... rar... so... no money for the poor college girl!!!!

Fun Fun Stuff!

2005-01-07T19:07:00.000-06:00

I finally got around to taking pics of the Ariel sweater I'm making for my daughter, Callie. I was watching Dr. Phil or something when I was making her shoulder and I lost track of where i was so... she looks kinda like quasimodo right now. I still have to embroider on her eyes and mouth and all the other details but you still get the idea. The only reason that it's not a FO is because I ran out of the blue yarn and have to wait until I can get back to the particular craft store that has that color of blue.

I got this yarn at my LYS to make a handbag. But... I might use the Lamb's Pride stuff I had gotten earlier and use the Cascade 220 (below) for a laptop bag instead since I heard at knittyboard.com that Cascade tends to shrink more in length than width (actually... someone said that it almost doesn't shrink at all width wise. This would be awesome because I have a widescreen laptop so it's a little bit wider and I want to make sure that it would fit in the bag I made... or I would cry.)

Now this is a cool gift I got from my brother for Christmas. It's a fabric knitting kit and it says that it only takes 4 hours to complete! whoo hoo!

This has nothing to do with knitting but my sweet sweet boyfriend painted this for me for our anniversary (I made him a sweater... yes yes I know... I'm willing to risk the curse!) The big rose in the middle is me and there are two rose buds below it and they are Callie and Taylor, and they haven't bloomed yet. I bawled when I opened it!!

I haven't been doing too much knitting lately. I've been working and then my friends haven't left me alone a single night this week.

Oh... I ended up frogging the front of the Belle sweater because I wanted to have the darker yellow next to her skin. THere wans't much distinction between the pale yellow and the peach yarn. Maybe I'll knit up that cute little bag tonight... just so I feel accomplished!!!

That Damn Manly Sweater...

2005-01-02T21:04:00.000-06:00

I thought that I only needed to make one sleeve a little shorter. Jake tried on the sweater and said that one side was too tight in the armpit. Cripes... good thing I saved all that unnecessary knitting but now I need to find a piece that will fit there... AND look like it's supposed to be there. Ho hum...

Here is the Manly Sweater knit from Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Yarn:

I also finished the bottom part of the Belle sweater that I am making for my daughter, Taylor. Here is a pic of the bottom part of the chart:

This is what I've gotten done so far:

This is the yarn colors that I have picked up for the felted laptop bag that I am going to work on next. I have two hanks of each color and they are Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride

Fixed The Manly Sweater from SnB

2004-12-30T20:45:00.000-06:00

Well... I finally got the manly sweater ... wearable. I swear I must have cut out about 10 pounds of unneeded knitting. Jeez... It wouldn't have taken so long IF I WOULD HAVE CHECKED THE GAUGE EVERY ONCE IN AWHIlE!!!!!!! rrrrrrrr.....

Well you live and learn...

and then get luvs! jk ;)

I'll photograph my hunnie in it when he opens it and tries it on!

knitting all day.... everyday....

2004-12-28T15:12:00.000-06:00

This morning I finished off another set of fuzzy mittens..purple ones this time (pic to come) I'm now knitting at the computer... working on the second sleeve of Taylor's Belle sweater. I also started the designing process of the front of her sweater... the Belle face. The graph paper I had it on made the gauge too small so now I have to add rows and columns and still have Belle look normal.

I have been looking for the right color of blue to finish off Callie's Ariel sweater. I ran out as i was trying to finish up the last sleeve. I'll just have to wait until I get back to school to stop at the massive craft store to pick up the correct shade.

Have been coming up with some more projects that I want to get started on. MOst of them are felted. I do want to design some stuff too... So I'll do that stuff when I'm commuting to school on the bus and whatnot.

Purple Fuzzies:

I also made this really cool knitting bag this afternoon. I had been eyeing the Port-a-pocket all morning but... it's kinda ugly. So, I made my own! Actually... once I get to school I plan on attaching a carabeaner keychain so that it can be attached to my belt loop. It's actually pretty big. One of those huge cheap acrylic skeins of yarn fits nicely inside along with needles and the WIP. yay for my creativeness! PS. I got to use the super fancy sewing machine that I got for my birthday!!

Tara's Carabeaner Knitting Bag (w/o the carabeaner):

Yes, that is fur trim and leopard fleece fabric. I knit on the wild side!

Sorry the photos are blurry... I resized them too many times and they got distorted.

2004-12-22T13:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I started (and finished) a small purse out of Noro yarn that I will felt later today. It was a pattern that you use the entire skein for so there is no leftovers! I never know what to do with the leftover yarn sometimes! This morning I got up and worked on the back of Callie's intarsia Ariel sweater (photo to come). I'm taking a knitting break now to check the boards at knittyboard.com and other random stuff (like email checking and whatnot).

Callie and Taylor are watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey version) again today. They say it's their favorite. We have watched it about every day now... I have the whole thing memorized practically! Aw well...

New Blog!!!

2004-12-22T12:45:00.000-06:00

I ust started this new blog where I will showcase all of my awesome knitting projects! As soon as I get back to school (where I forgot my digital camera) I will start to upload photos of my Works in Progress and finished knitting!!!