So much to do.

Perhaps now that I don't have schoolwork to do, and likely won't until at -least- Fall 08 and perhaps even Spring 09, I can get more knitting done. I have so many projects I want to do, as is evidenced by my Ravelry Queue and my list of stuff On Deck.


There has been much knitting however. I'm still working on my second Wicked-themed dishcloth .. I'm about a pattern repeat from finishing that one. But I have other dishcloths finished too; more of my ecospun and cotton ones.


Details on Ravelry

There is also the sweater I do intend to finish at some point. I'd like to maybe have it done by SAFF this year, but I'm not making any promises. I bought the yarn two years ago, started a sweater and got halfway through before I hated the design and the pattern and ripped it out, so .. we'll see. I have swatched though.


Details on Ravelry

I'm still plugging away on my Gluttony socks. A good thing too, because the new Seven Deadly S(p)ins project is on its way to us. I was -hoping- it'd arrive today, but they likely did not get shipped until yesterday, and I don't think Ellen shipped them overnight. Sigh.


Details on Ravelry

In which there is more knitting, and other fun things.

I am trying, trying to keep up with the blogging. Things got really really hectic around here, since it was the end of the semester. But that's done, and both honey and I are happily taking the summer off. No classes, whatsoever.

And look at the wonderful thing his parents gave us to celebrate us both graduating with honors!

Why yes, that is a beer bottle sitting next to the plate. My husband has a taste for Yeungling. And what sort of grilling picture would it be if there wasn't a beer in the picture?

In more knitterly news, I've been greatly enjoying getting together with ohter knitters in Rock Hill, and it looks like our new permanent location is going to be Durango Bagel, thanks to the generosity of the owner. In fact, tomorrow night we're getting together again, and I'm actually looking forward to going out. Amazing, hmm?

Honey and B and I are doing our own little knit-along. We're making adorable little stuffed owls. See!


Isn't he cute!

I've also been working on my sock still. I'm up to the arch ribbing now. Not too far now! And it's a good thing, because I'm running out of the 2nd colorway. I think I should be able to make it work though.


And not a moment too soon, too. Jason just got notification from Ellen @ Earthfaire that she's shipping out the next 7 Deadly S(p)ins package. I should have it by week's end. Yay!

My HOA can Bite Me!

The 'president' of my HOA just rang my doorbell ... to inform me that any 'modifications' I make to the exterior of my home ... including landscaping ... 'do not belong to you'. WTF? This aged bitch who sounds like she's had a pack-a-day habit for 50-years wants to come 'inform' me that I can't landscape my fucking yard? She can take my stones and shove them up her ass. Better yet. I think I'll help her.

Nosy busybodies need to avoid my doorstep. Because I'm more likely to get in a fistfight than discuss something. I have to get 'approval' to plant a fucking flower? I have to 'take a picture' and submit my work for some dumbass bitch and her cronies to 'approve' something I put my sweat into? Yeah. Fuck you, bitch.

This has completely ruined what was otherwise a lovely day. We went to a farmer's market in the next town, visited with one of the ladies we met in the Rock Hill Knitaholics group Wednesday, had a wonderful little lunch, and I -was- excited about putting in some new plants. Not anymore. Fucking bitch had to come over and ruin my day. Now I'm all pissed off. And have no way to vent it.

WIP - Gluttony Socks and FO - Pink Goes Good With Green Dishcloth

I was inspired, by my trip to see Wicked last Friday in Charlotte, to create something in Wicked colors. I didn't have green and Black, but I did have green and pink.


And thus was born the Pink Goes Good With Green dishcloth. I used the Ballband Dishcloth pattern from the Mason-Dixon girls, and I think it looks pretty good. a little Easter-y, a little cherry tree blossoms in spring, a little pink dogwood-y. But I like it. And I knitted it while at the show .. though not during. That would be silliness.



I also finished a sock. Not a pair. I haven't yet cast on the second one, though I'd best get to it if I intend to finish before the next Sin arrives.


If I were to re-knit it, I'd move the arch shaping a bit, and maaaybe make the foot a little longer, but we'll see how they wear.

Once I'm finished.

The House That Yarn Built

Before I go on to gush and gush and gush about how phenomenal the Wicked performace last Friday was, and about the sock that I finished, and the new dishcloth I finished and the new one I'm making, I need to take a moment to post about an organization I feel strongly about.

About the Make It Right Project

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The slow reaction to the initial emergency and to the ongoing crisis exposed troubling realities about the response capabilities of the American government when the citizens of our most culturally diverse city were in desperate need of help.

When Brad Pitt visited the Lower 9th Ward for the first time after the storm, he was shocked by what he saw: the remnants of people's lives strewn across the streets and an entire neighborhood torn apart and turned upside down. Pitt was even more disturbed by the lack of a clear plan to address the situation. Many were quietly saying there was no chance the Lower 9th Ward would ever be re-built.

In a series of community meetings, residents of the Lower 9th Ward told Pitt about the challenges their community faced, both before and after the storm. The rising cost of energy placed a strain on the low-income households of the neighborhood and residents expressed concern about worsening environmental conditions. Their concerns have been validated by many scientists, who have concluded that climate change is increasing the frequency and strength of hurricanes, resulting in the erosion of wetlands and barrier islands that once protected the coast. The residents of the Lower 9th Ward told Pitt that while their terrible crisis had exposed their vulnerability, Katrina had also created an opportunity: to build something better than what had existed before.

Inspired by the courage and hope of the residents he met, Pitt resolved to do whatever he could to help them rebuild. Just as importantly, he wanted to help recreate and nurture the unique culture and spirit of the Lower 9th Ward, which symbolizes the soul of New Orleans. He understood instinctively that a New Orleans rebuilt without the Lower 9th Ward would never be whole.

He began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Pitt worked with local community leaders as well as experts from around the world to develop viable ideas for the Lower 9th Ward. That successful project inspired Pitt's new focus: Make It Right.

The Mission of Make It Right is clear: It is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community's culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.

I learned about this project from Allison at SimplySockYarn, and I've donated $20 for this month, and plan to try to make a monthly donation to this very worthy cause. I have had a chance to visit New Orleans twice, both before the disater, and have not had opportunity to go back. I do however have a friend that lives there that had to evacuate, and so I know from her stories what it was like to have to clean up afterwards .. and her house wasn't destroyed.

Thus has been born The House That Yarn Built. I think it's an incredibly amazing idea, and I've already donated $20, and hope to be able to donate more. I might make it a monthly thing .. I'll not purchase some yarn, or something I want, and instead put that money towards The House That Yarn Built. I encourage you to donate too. Let's give some home, and some homes, to people that sorely need them both.

WIP - Gluttony Socks

We went on a trip to the mountains this weekend .. intending on taking a leisurely drive to see the blooming dogwood trees. Sadly, the dogwoods in the mountains aren't yet blooming. Best we saw was some cherry trees.


I did bring my sock with me, however, and managed to get quite a bit of work done on it. There was a bit of a dicey moment when I dropped two stitches, but I was able to catch them and work them back up, all without a crochet hook, cos I was silly enough to travel without one.




The trip was lovely indeed. We got to stop at two not-so-local yarn shops in the area. The first was Yarn to Dye For in Hendersonville, NC. There we got to meet the proprietor, a lovely woman by the name of Donna, as well as her husband and another lady whose name I've sadly forgotten, but I believe she helps out at the shop. In addition to many lovely yarns .. including quiviut, which is incredibly light I must say (no I didn't buy any, but I got to feel some. Lovely stuff!) .. Donna says that her passion is painting silks, and we got to see some of her creations. Absolutely stunning, I have to say. She teaches at the John C. Campbell school, and I'm highly considering asking my mother for a weekend class there so I can take Donna's silk painting class. It sounds like an amazing art.

Our second stop was in Brevard, NC, a lovely shop called Charlotte's Fibers. We even met Charlotte, and I have to say, I very much enjoyed my experience there. I even found that they carry Unique Sheep yarns, so I have a place I can go that's not a far drive where I can fondle the yarn before buying it. I actually did pick up some yarn there .. some Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in Cherry Blossom, and some Tofutsies in a colorway I've forgotten.

As we usually do, we asked in Charlotte's Fibers for a restaurant recommendation. We try to ask the locals where to go, rather than picking something touristy, or worse yet, going to a chain we could go to at home. Charlotte suggested to us a place called The Square Root, and if you are ever in Brevard NC, you should stop in. It's located in an alley, and kinda easy to miss, but it's a delightful little place and something you shouldn't ever miss. We opted to each get a different sandwich and share, and we weren't disappointed. They have a fried green tomato sandwhich that was a hit with hunny and Brandon, but wasn't to my taste .. not being a fan of the fried green tomatoes. They make a mean apple and brie grilled cheese, however. And their london broil sandwich, which was my choice, is divine. They also have sweet potato chips which are about the yummiest thing ever, and fried zucchini fries, which were notably yummy-licious.






This is a white squirrel. He's not, as you can tell, an albino. Apparently, there is a story about how the white squirrels came to be in Brevard NC. Something about a circus train back a long time ago. Now, they run wild. One of our main goals was to see a white squirrel, and unlike the unsuccessful trip clear through Maine to see a moose for Jason, we actually did get to see the white squirrel. Isn't he .. erm .. she cute?
So. That was my weekend. How was yours?

Ravelraiser!

Got $10 to spare? I'm sure I do, somewhere. It's only half a pair of socks, y'know.

Fricknits has started a fundraiser to help Jess and Casey of Ravelry fame purchase a new server and assist with the upkeep of such an amazing resource for all of us in the fiber community.

What do you have to do? Just go to this thread, and click the 'Donate to Ravelry' button at the top. It's a good idea to put 'Ravelraiser' in the comments section, too!

Quote of the Day.

"Restored steam locomotives left unattended in the wee small hours of a fine spring night are a good place to kiss someone."

That just sounds.. nice, Juno.

There is progress, I swear!

So I'm a very, very bad blogger. But I'm not a very, very bad knitter! (At least I hope I'm not!)

I took the plunge recently and started my very first sock. Well, -technically- it's my second, because I finished the mini sock for the mini sock-blocker keychain. But as far as socks that would fit a human of any size, it's my first sock. And though I've been a mite concerned about the stitch numbers, it's looking good now, so I'm pretty sure I've done alright thus far.


I absolutely love this pattern. Just some slipped stitches and pur rows to give it substance. No complicated lace or anything. This gives me confidence that I actually can knit socks.



See how lovely the pattern is! I just adore it. I made the cuff a wee bit smaller than the pattern called for, because I'm not a fan of cuffs. We'll see how that works out in the end, I suppose.


I knit a heel flap! And I (successfully?) turned a heel!


I picked up (probably a few too many) stitches for the gusset, and have remembered to knit the even rows as well as the decrease ones!

I suspect I'll be done with this sock this weekend, and will immediately cast on the second one, lest I get caught in the 'one sock' trap I hear so much about.

As with everything now, project details on Ravelry.

Quote of the Day

Homespun is like boot camp for knitters ..

From a post in the the Coast to Coast AM listeners Ravelry group.

FO - Sock Blocker Keychain

Details on Ravelry

I figure if I can knit a sock this tiny, it's time for me to try a real one.

Project Spectrum 2008: Fire

Early Easter

Because Brandon is going home today, we decided we could have easter a little bit early. So lastnight we gave eachother our easter baskets. Jason got me some DPNs, size 0, Some absolutely gorgeous bamboo/merino yarn, and a book: 2-at-a-Time Socks. (And some candy too .. yay candy!) I'm so excited about it! Just about every sock pattern in it I can see myself knitting and wearing .. I just have to figure out the technique!




Our other gift to us was a home theater system, something that'll grow with us, that's not just a 'set' with a receiver and speakers, but that we can add to and change pieces of. You can read the fun of my annoyance with setting up av equipment in my boring blog

FO - Heartstrings' Beaded Smoke Ring

I finished this a long time ago .. not long after we got back from Spain in August. But I never took pictures. So .. here 'tis.




Details on Ravelry

Blog-quote of the day.

".. I’d rather have my exposed liver julienned by a flock of psychotic, inbred geese than try to shake off another fistful of Styrofoam peanuts, while I scream ineffectually down the darkened hallways of my own private Hell."

That quote is from The Worsted Witch's blog. Yes, it's an older post, but I'm playing catch-up.

FO Alert!

I actually finished something .. and something for myself!


Don't mind the priority mail box beneath it. I'm not about to ship them off anywhere. I just have been mailing things like a fiend today, and didn't think to move it before I snapped the photos.



Details on Ravelry

Spring Knitty

It's been out a few days, and I've finally managed to decide which patterns I'd really like to knit. Not that I don't already have a huge queue for Knitty patterns but .. isn't that why we all love Knitty?

Jaden
Nob Hill
Yosimite
Honeycomb
Salto
Laminaria
Brighton
Spirogyra
Marjorie
Posey - Just because I think they're an interesting construction.

Fetchings

Still working on my Fetchings .. Revelry is actually taking away from my knitting time .. but that's just because I'm going through all the groups I joined and trying to decide which I really like, and which .. well .. I probably won't keep up with.

Hello Again

I've been neglecting blog-landia, and the reason is a bit embarrassing. I let myself get a bit too addicted to WoW. A bit too engrossed in the need to gather as much gold as possible. But I've had an epiphany, and have discovered I don't -need- to be on the game every day. And with that discovery, I've found time to actually knit again.

I've also become more active on Ravelry. I even started my own group, in preparation for my friend Larissa's book release this summer. Her fantasy novel _Shorn_ is being released in June, and we're all -very- excited. I've been adding my stash to my Ravelry the last couple of days, which has been a lesson in obsession for me. I found yarn I had forgotten I had. And that, my dears, is most certainly a crime.

Elann.com Wishlist

Sonata Print - Sea Shell & Rose Garden
Sonata Solids - Pecan & Burgundy Rose
Seta Lana