Sunday, December 03, 2006

PROGRESS!

I've been pretty busy the past couple of weeks and have finished a number of lingering projects.

First - Felting
Jeff's Slippers -













Bag 1













Bag 2


It may be kind of tough to see in the bag photos, but I discovered that the Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (stripes on the bags and all 3 colors on the slipper) felts GREAT! The terra cotta color (bottom and top of the bags) is Anny Blatt Rustique, which is apparently washable! I want to go ahead and shape and line the bags before I send them to Awl Cowgirl.

And then we have an Original Fair Isle Hat for myself (Tulip, Stream, Avocado and Chocolate Knit Picks Wool of the Andes from the stash)

Another hour or so tonight will wrap it up so I can wear it! (Update as of Monday afternoon - yeah, it doesn't really cover my ears, so I've added the first of the earflaps!)






Last, but not least, I've managed to finish my first sock - Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in River...


That's it for now...

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Another link... progress

Another inspirational add - they boys from Project RunGay have launched Project Gay

Sweater : none

Spiral scarf : Still plugging away on ball 2 of 3

Bag number 2 : no progress

I have, however, begun another scarf and am into the 2nd of 3 balls - going rather quickly on 10.5s.

I've also got to get something going for the Dulaan Knit In on Saturday.

Monday, October 30, 2006

New Links

I've added some new links in my sidebar

Seth Godin's blog is great as well as his book - keeping me motivated

Vive la Femme is keeping my wardrobe in tip top shape

Dulaan is helping children and shrinking my stash

Eco Tecture is keeping me informed of green architecture.

Have a great week!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Sweater Drama

Unfortunately, Jeff has the camera tonight, otherwise I'd have more pictures to post.

I made enough progress on my sweater to try it on again. The short row bust shaping is on target. The ribbing is nice and close fitting. The back, above the ribbing, is too big - if my shoulder blades were fat and jutted out of my back, it would great! But, they don't. I can do one of two things 1 - take the sweater in by sewing darts (with the sewing maching, to line up with the knit darts) 2 - calculate how far I need to rip it back (current estimation - back to the end of the 1st ball or beginning of 2nd (I'm up to the 5th ball)) and RIP RIP RIP (how appropriate for Halloween ;) ) Option 1 is relatively easy, but option 2 is more appealing (though much more work).

I embarked on this sweater to learn how to make clothes for my body, particularly in the clever way that can only be achieved with knit (and crochet) - by creating and sculpting the fabric as you go, fitting the sweater to the body.

Anywho, I still need rebound a little from the setback. I can work full time on my friend's purse, so that's exciting.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Brief Update

Last week I finished knitting Jeff's Fiber Trends Felted Clog Slippers.

I am one ball (of 3) into the spiral scarf in Scarf Style,
Image 1
Using Rowan Tapestry Rainbow colorway (it's GORGEOUS!)


I have re-knit the part of my sweater I ripped out (really not that much) and am onto the ribbing. My goal is to complete it by the end of October. I am also moving forward on the 2nd of the felted bags (client has approved color scheme :) )

Plans for November : 2 baby blankets, something for Dulaan, and maybe 2 more scarves as gifts.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Morning Views


 Posted by Picasa

My Sweater

I've begun Bombshell from Big Girl Knits in GGH Bel Air, Teal I got into the 5 of 7 balls, but then realized I had done too much short row bust shaping, so rip rip rip I need to do. Of course, I realized this at about 9:30 pm on Sunday, so it sits until I can devote a little more time to it. Posted by Picasa

Bag Project - Part One

While on vacation this summer, I was inspired by a felted purse in the one yarn shop I was in. An idea developed - I would knit the bag bodies and felt them, I would then send them to Jess, and she would work her magic with leather handles and beautiful leather and metal adornments. Here you see the first bag, pre-felting. I've begun the second bag body, in a similar palette. Posted by Picasa

Finished Shawl/Scarf

Bamboo yarn - so soft and easy to knit. A simple chevron lace pattern. About 20" x 40" blocked. It's for my mom's birthday. Posted by Picasa

Current Books

I've got a couple of things on my plate. To scratch my academic itch, I've begun reading Modern Architecture Since 1900. I don't have much to say about it yet, since I've only read the introduction (which I only do with about 25% of books).

I've also begun Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and I'm enjoying it very much (thanks for the loan, Kel). Since I've developed the skill of reading while knitting, I've been able to work through much more of both than I have in the past. It also helps that I've been trying to keep the idiot box off, with the exception of specific programs (Project Runway, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report, plus a little real news in the am.)

Enough media advertisement for now. One more knitting project below.

New Scarf

Aqua Mohair lace scarf, approximately 4" by 72" very light. I still need to block it properly.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Preview

I did manage to photograph a number of my completed and in-progress knitting projects this weekend. I will be doing an image dump most likely tomorrow, so be on the look out for that.

I finished reading John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany this weekend - I highly recommend it! I also learned to play Nerts, which is pretty decent as far as card games are concerned.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Hearing the truth is as important as speaking it

My parents taught me to tell the truth, and I still do. I feel icky inside when I don't (that's my gut talking, something else my folks brought my attention to). I don't find it difficult to tell the truth, but in my experience, others are not interested in the truth. It is sometimes hard for me to hear the truth about myself, but I am better for the listening. When it is something negative, I work to improve. Which lead me to the title of today's blog - Hearing the truth is as important as speaking it. A quick internet search yielded this useful biblical reference.

Communication is in two parts - speaking (not only the words themselves, but also body language, intonation, eye contact) and listening (not only hearing the words, but not simply waiting your turn to speak, reading other cues from the speaker (see above) ). To speak the truth to a party not listening does not mean the truth should not be spoken. Conversely, the speaker may not speak the truth, but their other means of communication will reveal themselves to the successfull listener.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Is YOUR mug on an album cover?


I just found out (purely by accident, of course) that my face (along with other family members') face is featured on a children's album my aunt made. See if you can find me.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Rainy Monday

Here in Chicago, the weather was dreary, but I was rather motivated. Friday was quite beautiful, so after work (and skipping yoga : ( ) Jeff and I grabbed some appetizers (crispy stuffed olives are divine) and drinks (16oz vodka tonics for $6.35!) outside at the new restaurant BB's. Satuday we caught up with a friend back from vacation for brunch at Tweet. Excellent service and meal, as well as many more menu choices than I expected. Then I had the boys drop me off at Arcadia Knitting, where I armed myself with materials for my new project, from Big Girl Knits. I'll post more info/stats on the project as I get further into it. I am onto ball 3 of 7. This will be the first garment for myself.

I also realize I've got a bunch of completed (or nearly so) projects that need photographing and posting, so I'll see what I can do this week.

I should get my butt back to work, but do check out Cleo's blog, as she's been updating her blog more regularly, so gotta show her some love.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Off to work I go

My office went back to normal hours this week (8:30-5:30, m-f) from our summer hours (8-6, m-h, 8-12 f), plus we had Labor Day off. I have to admit that I was looking forward to the schedule change. Last summer I definately made the most of the half-day fridays, feeling like I had a long weekend every week. This summer was different. After the Avon walk, I was waiting for my vacation. After the vacation, I was waiting for Jeff to get going on, and get comfortable with his new job. I just want to get back in the swing of things - get back to my regular Friday night yoga class.

Having basically taken the summer off of yoga, I really feel the difference in myself. I'm more irritable and worry about things I have no control over. While I was studying yoga regularly (December to April or May) I had gotten better control over my mind and body. I was less suceptible to depression and found life more satisfying. Since I know yoga works for me, I need to get it back in my life.

A thing of beauty and function : Boffi Cut
../Cut Boffi Cut @ Stylepark0

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Vacation

Early July was spent on a fantastic 10 day road trip. This pic was in the Bear Tooths (L to R) Meghan, me, Jeff, Joel.

These good times didn't kill me. Posted by Picasa

Friday, August 04, 2006

For those of you that were wondering

I've recently become interested in the Myers-Briggs Personality Profile, with my classification being Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging (INTJ). You can find out what you are HERE.

Links and bits about my type are listed below.

http://www.typelogic.com/intj.html
http://www.keirsey.com/personality/ntij.html
http://www.geocities.com/lifexplore/intj.htm

And, From http://fuzzy.snakeden.org/intj/

How to deal with an INTJ:
  1. Be willing to back up your statements with facts - or at least some pretty sound reasoning.

  2. Don't expect them to respect you or your viewpoints just because you say so. INTJ respect must be earned.

  3. Be willing to concede when you are wrong. The average INTJ respects the truth over being "right". Withdraw your erroneous comment and admit your mistake and they will see you as a very reasonable person. Stick to erroneous comments and they will think you are an irrational idiot and treat everything you say as being questionable.

  4. Try not to be repetitive. It annoys them.

  5. Do not feed them a line of bull.

  6. Expect debate. INTJs like to tear ideas apart and prove their worthiness. They will even argue a point they don't actually support for the sake of argument.

  7. Do not mistake the strength of your conviction with the strength of your argument. INTJs do not need to believe in a position to argue it or argue it well. Therefore, it will take more than fervor to sway them.

  8. Do not be surprised at sarcasm.

  9. Remember that INTJs believe in workable solutions. They are extremely open-minded to possibilities, but they will quickly discard any idea that is unfeasible. INTJ open-mindedness means that they are willing to have a go at an idea by trying to pull it apart. This horrifies people who expect oohs and ahhs and reverence. The ultimate INTJ insult to an idea is to ignore it, because that means it's not even interesting enough to deconstruct.

    This also means that they will not just accept any viewpoint that is presented to them. The bottom line is "Does it work?" - end discussion.

  10. Do not expect INTJs to actually care about how you view them. They already know that they are arrogant bastards with a morbid sense of humor. Telling them the obvious accomplishes nothing.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

ReDesign

It's time for a ReDesign - of my life, of my goals, of my blog. The motivation is most clearly represented by Karim Rashid's approach, as presented in his text Design Yourself.

I get to keep all the things that work and work to change all the things I want to improve. I'm interested in so many things, and I'm going to use this blog to document and focus my energies as necessary. I've still got knitting projects in the works, but there is so much more to be explored.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Other things that have been taking up my time

It was a record setting weekend for the Chicago Avon Walk for Breast Cancer , which was this past weekend

We set a record for number of participants – 3,600

And we set a record for most money raised at any one event – 8.2 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For reference – the Avon Foundation funds 42 clinical trials annually, at the cost of 7 million dollars!

The walk was really wonderful – lots of fantastic people, and I really felt that my efforts were worth while. Along the route there were many people cheering us on – breast cancer survivors, their families, those who had lost loved ones – all out there cheering us on, thanking us walkers for our efforts. It was truly amazing.

I walked 13.1 miles on Saturday and made my way to Warren Park, where the Wellness Village where Jeff had been working all of Friday and most of Saturday laying out and setting up tents, tables and chairs for the mess hall, and other miscellaneous hard labor to get camp set up for the walkers. After dinner, Jeff wasn’t feeling well so we went over to the medical tent where we were sent home. Jeff was experiencing the beginning stages of dehydration and exhaustion. Unfortunately, I did not wake up in time on Sunday to get in the second day of walking.

All in all, it was truly moving experience and I will consider participating in it again!!!


Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Happy Birthday to Me


A beautiful knitting bag (it holds 6 pounds of yarn!) from Scott, Kelly, Joe and Jeff


and flowers from my husband

A sewing project



A little pillow - I've sewn ladder yarn onto some fabric samples....

Another almost finished


A baby blanket for my cousins - crocheted in cotton, I have to decide on the edging.

2 finished objects





Two scaves for charity:

Monday, January 23, 2006

Another image!



This was a holiday gift:

Pattern: Knit Picks Bella Scarf by Susan Lawrence
Yarn: Merino Frappe in Ivory , knit on US13 needles

FIN


The blanket was completed this weekend!

Friday, January 20, 2006

"Damn' the man. Save the Empire"

Favorite quote from the movie "Empire Records", as spoken by Ethan Embry's character Mark. As you may or may not have heard, trouble is brewing with naming of particular knitting groups, and as a member (and co-organizer) of one of said groups, I say : Free to Stitch Free to Bitch. Other bloggers share their thoughts.