November 20, 2007
I started another pair of ‘on the bus’ socks, this time based on Ann Budd’s sock spectacular in the Summer 2007 interweave. The pattern isn’t exactly earth shattering, but it’s pleasant, easy knitting. great for bus time with focus on listening to Mr. Qpod. The sock is pictured below with my new Mimobot super cute USB drive. 1 GB of data storage, and happy cuteness.
While the mimobot is not specifically knitting related, it comes with this set of velvet pj’s, which you can use to hook to a keychain, phone, etc.
I also received this alpaca made of alpaca as a scorpio bday gift, pictured below as a resident of my Happiness Stimulation Centre in my office at work. There’s so much cuteness–I can hardly stand it– and it has sustained me through some recent unpleasantries, for which I am thankful.
November 16, 2007
I finished the Fleur de Lis mittens during the filler times while my Qdad and I were installing the dishwasher earlier this week.
Getting the dishwasher is part of my plan to spend more time doing things that I like, and less time on stupid things like getting dishpan hands. I had fun screwing and hammering things, but I never want to watch anyone using a reciprocating saw ever again. The reciprocating saw, or SawzAll, is a cross between an electric knife and a machine gun. There’s a lot of kickback, and it would be pretty easy to draw blood or lose an appendage.
I may stage all of my knitting photos in the dishwasher from now on. It provides great contrast, and the lighting in my kitchen above the DW seems to be better than anywhere else.
November 8, 2007
I finished the second set of pomotamus socks. I worked on the first pair during the Luna de Miel, mostly while we were in Sevilla, and a little bit while we were flying between Sevilla, Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid.
The purple and oranges remind me of the orange groves we saw on the train into the Andalusia, and the purple flowering trees all over Sevilla.
For some reason, I thought that I’d do a lot of knitting on our honeymoon, and brought enough yarn to make not one but two pairs of socks. There just wasn’t that much time, and too much living, sightseeing, and eating to do. I carried this purple and orange yarn all over Spain, and didn’t get to using it until this fall. I’ll give these socks to my mom for the holidays. I kept the first pair for myself.
November 6, 2007
Party I: KB’s intergalactic bowling extravaganza
I went to two very fun bachelorette parties within the past month. I thought I’d pass on what we did in case anyone else is trying to figure this out. The Brits call such things “Hen Parties,”which is quite charming.
I was responsible for organizing KB’s hen party, which was at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes in JP. You can reserve private party areas in the lounge, or just get a large table for dinner in the lounge and order from the regular menu. The pizzas and other food at the Milky Way are delicious, and they offer many unique and original pizza combinations, like the Diedre Deluxe, a white pizza with sweetened cranberries, gorgonzola, caramelized onions. They have a large cocktail menu and full bar.
In addition to great food, they also have 8 candlepin bowling alleys. We ate, drank, and then turned to bowling. They have desserts on the menu, but they will allow you to bring in outside cakes (add $10). Our dinner was topped off by Red Velvet Cupcakes from Lulu’s. I feel strongly that Lulu’s may make the best cupcakes in Boston. The red velvet cupcakes were incredibly moist and flavorful, and the frosting was smooth yet appropriately tart. Pizzas cost around $17, which can be split, drinks vary, and bowling is $25/lane per hour + shoes for $2/person.
The service at the Milky Way was great. Our server was a sweetheart, she took lots of photos for us, and even took part in wearing temporary tattoos. I was crunched for time in prepping for the party, and they were able to accommodate us with only about 3 weeks of notice.
In unrelated bowling news, there was a fracas at another local bowling alley which resulted in people going to the hospital. Fortunately, KB’s fete was band-aid free. [link via Bostonist] Note: Mr. Xls and I were actually accused of stealing bowling from Lanes ‘N Games about 2 years ago. It’s too bad that people were hurt, but I can’t say I’m surprised that something bad happened there.
Party II: Pot Luck at Nina’s followed by Karaoke at Do Re Mi
Alicia’s party started with snacks and cosmos at Nina’s shiny new apartment, with silly gift giving to follow. Nina was the host with the most, and Alicia was a great sport in wearing about 4 layers of bridal bling, including blinking tiara, blinking sash, sexy little bride inscribed tank top, and feather bowa.
We then trekked over to Do Re Mi for enjoyment in our private karaoke room. The room was completely private, filled with plush pleather sofas, and binders of thousands of songs. I’ve never sung private karaoke before, only having belted out tunes in crowded dive bars like the Courtside or Razzy’s. Private-style was super fun, and I didn’t have to listen to Aqualung. With a group of 12, karaoke was $15 each for 2 hours of singing.
You can also bring your own snacks, and discreet beverages. My songs to Alicia were: Carly Simon-Nobody Does it Better, Hall & Oates-Sarah Smile, and Tina Turner- Better Be Good to Me. Theresa did a kickass version of Bust A Move, and other highlights were Son of a Preacherman and Sweet Transvestite from Rocky Horror.
Blinkies are key! people will do anything when there are fun blinking lights.
November 5, 2007
Since the esposo and I will be hosting the Qfam VegetarianDiabeticThanksgivingSpectacular again this year, I figured I deserved a new apron for cooking (and a dishwasher–that’s another story, but one that should be coming to a close thanks to the Power of HandymanDad).
These are cafe aprons from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing book. Pretty easy, but I could not master making a hand-shaped pocket, so these pockets are a little more angular. Fabric is from ReproDepot.
November 2, 2007
Somedays, I wish I lived in New York. going to this learn to make your own coral class at Purl is yet another reason. It makes me so happy when craft and science collide, and love love love natural patterns in coral, cells, and microscopy.
Too bad that Knitting Nature book was so disappointing. It really could have been so much better, like Gooseflesh’s work.
I’ve added the Purl class to my list of reasons why Boston is an inferior city, but most of them revolve around lack of quality shoppes, vegetarian restaurants, and the loser complex of it’s residents, where people still need to chant “Yankess Suck” in the middle of the second world series *Victory* celebration. ‘nuf said.
I won’t go on about why I gave up blogging for a while. It had something to do with a flurry of activity surrounding getting married, post-vacation/luna de miel depression, general frustration with the Administration, and feeling like I needed some time away from the computer. However, I had fun at the ASIST conference two weeks ago, and met some fun knitters , and it’s brought me back. Plus, I got into Ravelry, so the blogging just seems so much easier. Besides, if Lucian the cutie infant can keep a blog going, I can do better than I have in the past.
So, as the host of my favorite tv show say, Pardon the Interruption. This post is 100% OVER!
March 6, 2007
Let the record reflect that I’m not a large fan of “hippies,” “frat boys with Grateful dead tshirts,” or “camping,” “vw buses,” or “smelling bad on purpose.” Paradoxically, I present you these “wavy gravy” or “reefer induced hallucination” socks. I loved the colors when I saw the skeins in the store, but in the process of knitting, realized that these socks might be in a pattern that Shaggy would see behind his eyelids after eating too many scooby snacks in the mystery machine. I thought they’d be more of a striped pattern, and less of a collage.
While they’re not free range, organic, or fair trade, these socks are progressing in Knitty’s beaudelaire pattern, in Regia’s wool silk blend. I worked on a similar pair for MizBP while I was in Maui over the summer, in a tamer color way that didn’t look like a magic eye picture. These socks are a little fruity for my tastes, but hopefully the recipient is free-spirited enough to find them humorous. She went to school at Hampshire, so she’s probably used to tye-dyes and the like.
In the spirit of cross examination the record should also reflect that I did visit Hampshire in the early 90’s, posisbly to go to school there, and did in fact purchase a kickass tye-dye tshirt that I wore in my high school yearbook senior picture. It was also my first introduction to hummus, falafel, and vegans.
In the end, I was not experimental enough to take out huge school loans to attend a free wheeling university like Hampshire that did not give out degrees that corresponded to actual “majors.” I think the world needs institutions like Hampshire, but I don’t think my ragaholic personality would have thrived in such a love filled environment. Ironically, I’m bossed by quite a few former hippies, most of which drive SUV’s. The “hippies” that I know these days are mostly trustfund babies in hiding, who have or are attending Ivy League schools. No amount of thrift store clothing, organic deoderant, or vintage bicycles can hide them for long.
I’m enjoying knitting these socks, but didn’t expect them to look so trippy. Sorry for the rant, I can’t help it, it’s Tuesday!
February 27, 2007
I had some problems with the free form Brindle blankie. Picking up random numbers of stitches when you can’t see how many are out there, makes for some wacky results. at first, homey and quaint. as it progressed, a little too “blob that wants to eat your head” for my comfort. A new start has been started. I was able to save the intarsia “b” but that was all that was worth saving.
Onward!
before:
after:
February 8, 2007
This project began as a dog sweater, but languished for many months for a variety of reasons. Like a pheonix from the ashes, it’s been reborn as a pooch blanket. The “b” is for Brindle, the pooch recipient. Picking up the stitches with the Lion homespun is very problematic, since it’s so hard to see the stitches. As a result, I’m having trouble being accurate in the number of stitches, so this blanket will likely not be completely square in the corners. I’ve decided to just go with it, and allow it to morph as it sees fit. Blocking may assist with some, but I’m picking up as many stitches on each edge as I feel like, so it will be like every corner and door frame in my home growing up– a little bit off, but functional never the less.
I’ve never done intarsia before–and now see that there’s a small mistake in the “b”– but what’s done is done. There’s probably an intelligent way to deal with the bobbins of yarn all over the place on the back side, during this kind of knitting but at this point I don’t know what it is, and found it to be kind of tedious with all of the weaving in of ends. It seems like knitting in the round and carrying the colors one at a time as you could be less painful–but I can only tolerate so much pain at one time, and a blanket does not want to be a tube.
January 17, 2007
January 16, 2007
Binx and I got our needle & thread on over the weekend.
The net result was one under door draft stopper for Binx
And some grocery bag dispensers for me.
Mad props go to Binx for her encouragement in getting me to break out the sewing machine. Ran out of time for the zipper pouches, but will get to them next time.
January 10, 2007
I think I might make a girl-ified version of the Retrograde Pullover in the Winter IWK.
I’m intrigued by the reversible nature of this sweater, and have wanted to make a seamless top down yoke sweater, but something with a little more life to it than your everyday stockinette stitch. I also love it when the purl side is visible on things. This could be the solution to my turtleneck addiction, and resolve the problem of the half done, never to be finished, fully doomed colchique from last winter. I could unravel, and make it something new that I might be able to finish and wear.
I’m also drawn to the Rambling Rose cardigan, but I don’t like the fan details at the bottom of the sweater and sleeves. It’s mildly hideous/loud, but also engaging. Strangely attractive. Maybe the fans at the bottom would seem less fug to me if they were done in a single color.
In all, it’s pretty cute, but it will have to wait until after the yarn purchasing diet is over in the fall. But you know what they say about self-scarifice. In all honesty, I haven’t really given up anything…I’ve bought sock yarn and knitting magazines twice in the past two weeks…but all through the miracle of gift certificates.
the clapper continues. overall the knitting is pretty zen like, with brief peaks of excitement due to the drops.
My substitution of Artyarns instead of LL was designed to save me money, since the yardage on 3 sk of the Artyarns nearly matched the yardage on the specified skeins of LL. However, I’m onto ball #3, and now fearing that I’ll run out of yarn. So I had to get some more, to finish the project, which is allowed. I think I’ll save about $10 in total, but most of the yarn was bought with a kpixie gc, so I’m still ahead of the game.
January 5, 2007
I started making a Clapotis. I didn’t like any of the lorna’s laces colors that I saw available, and was drawn to this lava-like colorway from Artyarns, so I changed needle sizes and am making a slightly smaller version.
Dropping the stitches is the most fun part, yet I’m in perrenial fear of making a mistake where I twist or fail to twist the stitches at the wrong time, causing the dropped stitches to wonk out and unravel the entire thing. Whatever happens happens.
I hope sometime in my life to see a lava flow close up–by choice, not raining down on me–but we’ll see. It’s on the life to do list, this will have to suffice for now.
January 3, 2007
holidays were generous to yours truly, and I had lots of time to relax. My sister asked for a knitting lesson, and is on her way to making what she describes as a “single serve afghan.” it was heart warming and exciting to see.
I finished the embossed leaves socks, and then got to work on a pair of jaywalkers.
I will be following Wendy’s rules and trying to knit from my stash for the next several months, so these are a re-knit of some unfinished socks from two years ago. To come fully clean about it, I did just buy yarn a few days ago. However it was with a gift certificate from my birthday in November, so I’m not gonna feel sorry about it. I picked up some Regia wool/bamboo sock yarn, which I’m quite excited about.
Casper is a perfect blank canvas. He’s been watching the marathon of America’s Next Top Model, so he knows how to be edgy, to be sexy without looking like a Ho, and he can also do “intense” as well. He was lounging on the scale this morning, waiting for his Tyra Mail, and I observed that he’s officially 20 pounds. He’s big boned, and he’s 20 pounds of extreme kitty. He can take on Janice Dickinson any day.
December 18, 2006
I love these Noni Prism bags. The knitting on this bag should be interesting, and the instructions are pretty explicit about lining the bag and using a bag form to keep it in shape.
Very Sassy. I wonder who the sassiest boy of the month is, this month.
November 3, 2006
Could cake + art be the new peanut butter and chocolate? Not sure yet. A colleague of mine is participating in this Art Cake show at Axiom gallery in Inman Square tonight. G’s cake involves a chocolate bundt cake, speakers, and recordings of the cake baking itself.
It’s a one night show, so I’m not sure if the cakes will eaten afterward…will have to go to the gym first, just in case.
November 1, 2006
In the spirit of halloween, I had hoped to have Bristow done by now. I’m close! I need to bind off the sleeves, and then start weaving in ends, sewing up, and then doing the seed stitch trim and button bands. Maybe I’ll give myself ’til thanksgiving.
October 31, 2006
I was contacted via Flickr a few weeks ago by the people at Schmap! They put together online travel guides that combine reviews, photos, and online mapping applications — which are free. They saw some pix in my flickr photo stream from my trip to Maui, and asked if they could include them in their newest Maui & Molokai Guide. I said yes.
You have to download a Schmap viewer to get the guide to work, but it seems like a pretty clever idea. The software is a bit kludgy, and seems to be PeeCee only, but you might want to give it a try if you don’t want to shell out for travel books. You can browse lists of attractions, and then zoom in on them. The mapping tools include a distance guage, multiple levels of zoom, and ability to toggle between map view, text reviews, photos, and other links.
The photo in the upper right is one of mine, of the old Lahaina Prison.
I checked out the Schmap! Barcelona guide, and it’s pretty cool. Hopefully it will be useful in planning the post wedding vacation in May.
This listing if for the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Nifty!
October 11, 2006
After fanatically monitoring my mail box, my Moo photo cards arrived today. I’ve described myself as “Librarian, knitter, busybody” which seems to sum it up. I LOVE them!
It was fun to just pick sections of some of my flickr pix, and has given me a great idea for a halloween costume…if I choose to celebrate the pagan holdiay.
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