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August 28, 2007
More Reasons to Believe
The misery continues but here's something that saves me at least ten times a day.
Don't say I never did anything for you.
L, C
PS - Apparently it's a free download on ITunes this week as well.
Posted by Cara at 10:34 AM | Comments (24)
August 27, 2007
SPIN OUT 2007: Prize Update
Time for a Spin Out 2007 update! Right now we're at $5180! Keep the donations coming! I'm getting prizes in the mail every day and new vendors are coming forward all the time. Here's a list of new vendors that have been added to the sidebar:
Midnightsky Fibers
Simply Sock Yarn Company
Sophie's Toes Sock Yarn
Sunshine Yarns
THANK YOU ALL! I encourage you to explore their sites and see what goodies they have to offer. There is so much talent out there it's STAGGERING! THANK YOU!
We've got a TON of prizes to talk about this week!:
Fantastic Fiber Artist Lori Lawson at Capistrano Fiber Arts has sent us four skeins of hand-dyed sock yarn (two per pair) and two hand-dyed rovings. This stuff is GORGEOUS! THANK YOU LORI!
Janel at Chameleon Colorworks has sent us (from left to right) 4 oz Optim Tahiti Colorway, 2 oz Camel Down and 4 oz Baby Alpaca. Beautiful FIBER! THANK YOU JANEL!
Mandie of Ewe Give Me The Knits sent two wonderful hand-dyed Merino Tops. Look at those colors! THANK YOU MANDIE!
This next prize I'm sorely tempted to keep for myself! Danielle of Mad Caterpillar sent the cutest freaking sock pal bag! It's got a pocket on one side and a sock monkey on the other and there's a separate handle for over the shoulder holding! The lining is SOCK MONKEYS! Danielle makes these bags herself and the work is PERFECT! She also threw in four sets of her excellent beaded stitch markers! I particularly love these because they don't hang - they sit on the needle and look pretty. Oh yeah. And mark your stitch. THANK YOU DANIELLE!
Stephanie Martin has done it again! She's sent us two fantastically gorgeous handcarded batts from Spritely Goods! THANK YOU STEPHANIE!
Talk about fiber! Clockwise, from left to right, we've got two 8oz hand-painted fiber rovings from Allena of Spindle and Wheel and some lovely matching batts from Jenn of Midnightsky Fibers. THANK YOU ALLENA! THANK YOU JENN!
Evelyn from the Knitty Noddy has sent us some wonderful yarn: Five balls of Lana Grossa Numero Uno Fancy (on the left) and ten balls of Lana Grossa Silana. Beautiful yarn! THANK YOU EVELYN!
Here's a bunch of wonderful prizes! The gorgeous yarn in the background is Classic Merino Lace from Knitting Notions. Catherine sent it in one of my favorite colorways - Red Violet. (I used this yarn to make my Moth shawl - it's WONDERFUL!) I used the yarn to offset the lovely shawl pins we received. From left to right: a beaded shawl pin from Chris at Scotts Mountain Crafts and two copper shawl pins (the one in the middle is a sheep!) from Romi at Designs by Romi. THANK YOU CATHERINE! THANK YOU CHRIS! THANK YOU ROMI!
We've also got two GREAT kits to show off this week. The first, on the left, is a the Beaded Ribbon Scarf kit from Ellene Warren Designs. THANK YOU ELLENE! The second is a sock kit from Hollis at Full Thread Ahead. THANK YOU HOLLIS!
A few gift certificates arrived as well!
- A $25 gift certificate from The Yarn Tree and a gift certificate for Linda LaBelle's new book. THANK YOU LINDA!
- A $40.00 gift certificate from Lindsay at Elysium Yarns. THANK YOU LINDSAY!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
If you are a business and you would like to contribute a prize, please email me at prizes@spin-out.org . Also, if your name is not on this list and you feel it should be or there is a problem with your listing, please email me at the same address. THANK YOU! (HEY! YOU! Do you create or sell SPINDLES? I could use some SPINDLES for prizes. I like to make kits with all the wonderful fiber we receive. It's great for new spinners! THANK YOU!)
DONATE DONATE DONATE!
Please, if you haven't purchased a raffle ticket, do so now. Here's how it works:
For every $10.00 you spend on The Heifer International Gift Registry, your name will be placed in the proverbial hat for prize drawings in October. For instance, if you spend $50.00, your name will be put in the hat 5 times. You can win more than one prize if your name is in there more than once - we will not be pulling out names after a win.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Last year I realized that while I get registry data, I don't get exact donation amounts. To get your full raffle value, YOU MUST EMAIL ME THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION! Please send an email, with RAFFLE in the subject line, to donations@spin-out.org. If you don't do this, your name will be placed in the raffle ONE TIME. THANK YOU!
Cross Posted at spin-out.org.
Posted by Cara at 02:44 PM | Comments (3)
August 23, 2007
I'm thinking of changing the blog name
to Fits and Starts. Anyone claim that yet?
I haven't knit since Sunday. I'm embarrassed to say that there were times I even left my house WITHOUT knitting. Scandalous I know. We've got less than two weeks until the big reveal and half of you have probably already guessed what's going on but I have a date in my mind to tell you and I'm sticking to it. Suffice it to say though this has been a really really hard summer. And I can't get ANYTHING done. I set out little tasks for myself each day and let's just say I'm lucky I still have a business and they haven't condemned my house. The best (or the worst) part is that I'm in such a shitty spot that I don't care.
There are things I miss though. I miss having the energy to knit. To get things done AND knit. I miss getting lost in something - ANYTHING - and being thoroughly preoccupied. I really miss that. I miss feeling, for lack of a better word, settled. NOTHING feels settled. Decidedly unsettled.
I miss feeling like I can talk about whatever the fuck I want on my blog. Of course, my deadlines are all self-imposed, but I'm feeling like I can't break them. No matter how much I'd like to.
Pretty pathetic post, no?
Anyway, I've got some GREAT news!! We've raised $4180! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! More prizes next week and keep the donations coming! THANK YOU!
Posted by Cara at 01:17 PM | Comments (77)
August 21, 2007
SPIN OUT 2007: Prize Update
Time for a Spin Out 2007 update! Right now we're at $2800! Keep the donations coming! I'm getting prizes in the mail every day and new vendors are coming forward all the time. Here's a list of new vendors that's just been added to the sidebar:
Briar Rose Fibers
C*EYE*BER FIBER
TheChicksWithSticks
Crash Into Ewe
Elysium Yarns
Handcrafted by Beth
Knitted Wit
Knitty Noddy
Painted Skeins
Scotts Mountain Crafts
SOAK
Spindle And Wheel
Spritely Goods
Ellene Warren
Woolgirl
Woolly Boully
The YoYo
THANK YOU ALL! I encourage you to explore their sites and see what goodies they have to offer. There is so much talent out there it's STAGGERING! THANK YOU!
Now here's some prizes already in the treasure chest:
From Lexie Barnes, a Lady B knitting bag and a Betty needle holder, both in the Bali Hai pattern. THANK YOU LEXIE!
Here we have nine, count 'em, NINE Handcarded Batts from Black Cat Handspun! The picture doesn't do them justice, so trust me when I tell you that each is unique and BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU AMANDA!
Next up we've got two hat kits. On the left is the XO hat and mitten kit from Briar Rose Fibers that includes the pattern and one hank of Sonoma to knit both the hat and gloves. THANKS CHRIS! On the right, we've got the Tiger Hat kit which includes Mary Lou's tiger hat pattern and two skeins of Malabrigo. How cute is that hat! THANK YOU MARY LOU!
Susan from Spinning Bunny sent us a couple of great prizes! On the left is the Scalloped Juliet Cap Kit and on the right is a FIVE fiber sampler in the Chocolate Covered Cherries colorway. This fiber is GORGEOUS! THANK YOU SUSAN!
Some of my favorite fiber ever comes from Amy Boogie of Spunky Eclectic! She's done it again for us with some gorgeous roving and a good enough to eat batt! THANK YOU AMY!
Last but not least we've got a lot going on in this picture! On the left are two beautiful superwash merino rovings sent by TheChicksWithSticks. THANK YOU ANN-MARIE! In the middle is some FANTASTIC handspun yarn from The YoYo. It's merino, alpaca and silk with a little bit of sparkle throw in. THANK YOU ALYSON! And finally, we've got FOUR SKEINS of Kim's GLORIOUS sock yarn! Kim, from The Woolen Rabbit, also included some of her hand-made soaps. It's quite the prize. THANK YOU KIM!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
As I said, prizes are pouring in daily. I will try to update the prizes at least once a week, and the sidebar more frequently. If you are a business and you would like to contribute a prize, please email me at prizes@spin-out.org . Also, if your name is not on this list and you feel it should be or there is a problem with your listing, please email me at the same address. THANK YOU!
DONATE DONATE DONATE!
Please, if you haven't purchased a raffle ticket, do so now. Here's how it works:
For every $10.00 you spend on The Heifer International Gift Registry, your name will be placed in the proverbial hat for prize drawings in October. For instance, if you spend $50.00, your name will be put in the hat 5 times. You can win more than one prize if your name is in there more than once - we will not be pulling out names after a win.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Last year I realized that while I get registry data, I don't get exact donation amounts. To get your full raffle value, YOU MUST EMAIL ME THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION! Please send an email, with RAFFLE in the subject line, to donations@spin-out.org. If you don't do this, your name will be placed in the raffle ONE TIME. THANK YOU!
Cross Posted at spin-out.org.
Posted by Cara at 11:47 AM | Comments (5)
August 20, 2007
Choose Your Own (Lace) Adventure
I know I've mentioned it before - my knit fantasy. It's not to design sweaters. It's not to knit a car. It's not even to write a book. My knit fantasy is to be a fabulous Lace Designer. A new Evelyn Clark, so to speak. Well, I can kind of live the fantasy now!
About a month ago, Jessica, of Rose-Kim Knits, featured a shawl she had knit using Evelyn Clark's new book Knitting Lace Triangles. I HAD to have the book! I waited and waited, and finally last week I got my copy. (From the Knitty Noddy. Very nice service.)
I had it a few days before I figured out what I was doing - my fault not Evelyn's - and while it's a great book, it's not REALLY about designing your own shawl. Although, I guess, if you had more patience than me you could use it a starting point.
What the book is, though, is a mix and match kind of a thing. Choose your own adventure if you will. Clark gives you four lace patterns (each with 10 stitch repeats, 3 with 10 row repeats, one with 20) and the knowledge to put these four lace patterns together in any kind of combination you'd like. There's an 18 row beginning for each pattern, and various transitions to get you from one pattern to the next smoothly. You can also opt NOT to use the transitions.
The book is spiral bound so you can open it flat and there are charts for all of the lace patterns, as well as the beginnings, edging and transitions. She suggests that you photocopy then cut and paste your charts together, but I found it easier to just copy the chart into Excel and print it out from there. The patterns aren't complicated at all so you don't need a lot of symbols. Using the draw tool in excel gets you K2TOG, SSK and SK2P no problem.
After a few false starts, I'm on my way:
I started with the Ripple beginning then one repeat of Ripple, and now I'm alternating between Medallion and Leaf Lace. I plan on alternating between these two until I like how big it is (I've got a lot of yarn and I believe that bigger is indeed better) then I'll go back to Ripple for a couple of repeats until the edging. I'm actually pretty much copying one of the ready made patterns she's got in the book - with at least one tweak. Turns out I'm not that original. The yarn is Twinkletoes sock yarn, which I bought off of Ebay a long time ago. I'll have to see what I can find about it for my next post on this shawl. (ETA: Margene sent me a link to Twinkletoes sock yarn. Now I just have to figure out what color this is....)
I'm enjoying the yarn and the pattern and I think my chosen adventure will be great!
Tomorrow - lots of SPIN OUT Prizes! The mail brought a lot of goodies today and I'm going to try to take pictures and write up the big post for tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who donated over the weekend! We're over $2000 now! THANK YOU!
Posted by Cara at 01:17 PM | Comments (26)
August 17, 2007
TGIF
It's a little bit scary how yesterday's announcement really alterered my perspective on things. Suddenly I'm not so miserable even though things have actually changed very little. I did get a bit of good news. One aspect of my summertime blues will end in about two weeks!! YAY! About that same time I'll also start being less cryptic. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Thank you. I really appreciate it!
Spin Out is off to a slow but steady start. We've raised about $1350 so far and prize donations out number raffle tickets 10 to 1. There are A LOT of prizes. I hoped to have an update today, but I'm exhausted, so it will come either tomorrow or Monday. There are lots of vendors to update and a few prizes to show which have already come in. Did I tell you already - there are A BOATLOAD of prizes this year! More than I can believe!
If you'd like to help spread the word, please copy the button (and put it onto your own server.)
You can link it to the Spin Out website: http://www.spin-out.org. Thank you so much! Heifer is a great cause and I hope we can raise lots and lots of money - because we're definitely going to be giving away LOTS and LOTS of prizes! THANK YOU!
Posted by Cara at 01:09 PM | Comments (15)
August 16, 2007
Reason To Believe
It's official. Springsteen's first album with the E Street Band since 2002's The Rising drops in less than seven weeks, and it's called Magic. In case that title makes you, like us, think of Doug Henning... check the Mark Seliger photo at right for a first peek at Bruce's 2007 look. No rainbows or unicorns to be found. (And that guitar... that's magic.)
According to manager Jon Landau, quoted in today's press release from Shore Fire Media, this one's a rocker: "Magic is a high energy rock CD. It's light on its feet, incredibly well played by Bruce and the members of the E Street Band, and, as always, has plenty to say. It's also immensely entertaining. Magic is the third collaboration between Bruce and Brendan O'Brien and is a culmination of their very productive creative relationship."
O'Brien produced and mixed the album at his home base in Atlanta, Southern Tracks Recording Studio.
Ready for 11 new Springsteen song titles?
1. Radio Nowhere
2. You'll Be Comin' Down
3. Livin' in the Future
4. Your Own Worst Enemy
5. Gypsy Biker
6. Girls in Their Summer Clothes
7. I'll Work for Your Love
8. Magic
9. Last to Die
10. Long Walk Home
11. Devil's Arcade
Of these, only "Long Walk Home" has been heard before; Springsteen debuted the song with the Sessions Band and played it live exactly once, in London on November 11, 2006 (reportedly the day after he wrote it).
Today's press release makes no mention of a tour, but we do expect a full-scale E Street Band tour to coincide with the album's release. Watch this space in the coming weeks -- and/or sign up for our mailing list below -- for details as soon as a tour is announced.
(Information from Backstreets.)
I just might make it through this summer yet.
Posted by Cara at 02:57 PM | Comments (24)
August 15, 2007
Welcome to Yarnival!, Eve's spectacular creation. This is Issue 11 and and it’s just the prefect summer reading! I hope you enjoy the issue. Thanks everyone for your submissions. This is my second chance at editing, and it hasn’t gotten any easier choosing submissions. If you like it, love it, can't live without it, please consider submitting to the next issue, which will be edited by Kelp!. This is a GREAT resource in finding new patterns, new techniques and new ideas and most definitely, new knitting blogs. Even if you don't get into one issue of Yarnival!, try, try again! Everyone is welcome and every issue is different - you might be the perfect fit for the next one! Let’s get started!
I’m warning you now – you might want to get the tissues out for the first two. “Knit on…through all crises,” Elizabeth Zimmermann said and that applies to saving your own life, and the lives of others. Gina gives her account of what knitting can do to help people in "Hokie Healing." Gina’s yarn shop, Mosaic Yarn Shop, located in Blacksburg, VA, the home of Virginia Tech, put out the call for blanket squares in the wake of the awful tragedy that occurred on the campus earlier this year. "Hokie Healing" is about giving back to a community that lost so much. Kim tells yet another story of knitting healing a heart – this time her own. It’s heartbreaking, but uplifting and it shows the power of knitting, especially when it comes to the heart and soul.
Who taught you to knit? For many of us, it was a beloved older relative. And even if they didn’t knit or they didn’t teach us themselves, their own crafty pursuits often leave a lasting legacy long after they’re gone. Ruth gives us "Love Letters," a moving tale of the grandmother whose knits shaped Ruth’s life. Christine tells the story of "(Great-Great) Grandmother Daugherty’s Quilt" and how her own crafty history is intertwined within its borders.
Sarah provides a different kind of history lesson with "Homefront meets battlefront." Sarah embarked on a school project that wove history and knitting, war and the people left behind.
Last but not least, all together now: She knit the whole world, with her hands, she knit the whole world, with her hands! Chicago artist Lindsay Obermeyer is one of the contributors to a public works exhibition on display in Chicago this summer entitled Cool Globes. Lindsay undertook to paint and design a globe, then knit it a cover! Her unique vision and how it came to be should be read. Follow these blog links to read all about it: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11.
Who doesn’t love a free pattern? This month we’ve got two!
Gracielou has taken a love of video games and a love of blankets to give us Tetris! High score wins more yarn! And Nicole has given us a sock pattern designed to bring out our best Dolly Parton! Working 9-5, what a way to knit a so-ock! Her 9-5 sock pattern is free and gorgeous-no work necessary! Thank you both so much!
How to do a tubular cast-on, Italian style by Francesca. (Italians do it without waste!)
How to do a toe-up sock gusset by Maia.
How to do a half-graft hem by Julie.
How to choose a spinning wheel by Abby.
How to crochet cast-on by KarenJo.
How to purl like a Norwegian by Cheryl.
This might just be the cutest freaking dinosaur I’ve ever seen! Leigh presents Stegalicious!
Monique’s gorgeous butterfly has her place in the sun!
Mandy still might not be a shawl person, but her Leaf Lace is fantastic! And look at her eyes! Great self-portrait!
Baby knits are everywhere! Vicki’s trying to blow up my ovaries with her baby surprise jacket and Nova? Well, there’s just no defense for a baby that cute! The trellis sweater ain’t bad either!
Socks, socks, SOCKS! Tinky gives us some sockapalooza socks from start to finish. Kelp has her own take on the sockapalooza swap – Ironstone socks – her own creation to boot! Lastly, Tiennie just about kills me with the matching socks she made her daughters – look at those sweet little feet!
Helen tries to put her best foot forward. What’s your favorite sock pose?
Dr. B tells the cautionary tale of asking a friend to bring home souvenir yarn. Then she asks the age old question: can you have too much?
Disaster, yarn and poetry – perfect together! Karen shares her Dance of the Stitches and Donyale her Ode to My Clapotis.
No, she’s not making soup! Anne’s knitting mittens! With lima beans. Check it out.
It doesn’t get any more hardcore than Christina! Now that’s some rockstar knitting!
As Heather learned the hard way, NEVER GO THROUGH YOUR PARENT’S DRAWERS! Ew! And yet, cool folks!
We all know that knitting lace can cause brain contortions, but Janet says it’s more like meditation. I can’t do downward dog, how am I going to assume the Lace position?
I’m doing it! I’m bringing back the Yarnival HUNK! This month’s pick is Alyson’s husband Travis! Check out her man and his sock.
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this issue of Yarnival! And remember, when you visit, it's nice to leave a comment letting folks know you've been there. Some of the blogs listed today have had barely a comment. Let them know how it good it feels! One more thing - don't forget to SUBMIT to next month's Yarnival! And if you're interested in editing a future edition of Yarnival!, head over to Eve's and let her know. THANK YOU and HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Special Copyright Notice: The posts linked from this page are each the property of their respective authors and are subject to the copyright restrictions as specified by each site. Unless otherwise noted, no reproduction is allowed without express written consent.
Posted by Cara at 04:16 PM | Comments (22)
August 13, 2007
SPIN OUT 2007!!!!!
The REGISTRY IS OPEN!
Once again, SPIN OUT 2007 is dedicating its fundraising efforts to Heifer International. If you'd like to find out more about this tremendous organization, please visit their website.
The deal is the same as last year: For every $10.00 you spend on The Heifer International Gift Registry, your name will be placed in the proverbial hat for prize drawings in October. For instance, if you spend $50.00, your name will be put in the hat 5 times. You can win more than one prize if your name is in there more than once - we will not be pulling out names after a win. There are many, many various ways to spend:
-- Knitting Basket: $500.00
-- Share of a Knitting Basket: $50.00
-- A Full Llama: $150.00
-- Share of a Llama: $20.00
-- A Full Sheep: $120.00
-- Share of a Sheep: $10.00
That's just the tip of the iceberg - to see all available registry gifts, please visit the registry. I hope there is something for everyone here. The prizes will be awarded ALL OVER THE WORLD! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE EVENT TO WIN! So if you can't be there on the 29th, you can still be there in SPIRIT! LET'S BUY A WHOLE HERD PEOPLE!
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION! Last year I realized that while I get registry data, I don't get exact donation amounts. To get your full raffle value, YOU MUST EMAIL ME THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION! Please send an email, with RAFFLE in the subject line, to donations@spin-out.org. If you don't do this, your name will be placed in the raffle ONE TIME. THANK YOU!
PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED IF THE EVENT HAPPENS OR NOT! I'm sure the event will go off without a hitch, but say it's like a hurricane or something, in the middle of Central Park or it snows. Or whatever. We'll still be giving prizes away. YAY!
Already we have fiber and yarn and patterns and books and swifts and bags and gift certificates GENEROUSLY DONATED by the following vendors:
Actual Size Creations
Azul Bath and Body
Lexie Barnes
Black Cat Handspun
Black Sheep Bags
Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio
Celtic Crossroads
Chameleon Colorworks
Crown Mountain Farms
Designs By Romi
Doodlebirds Creations
Ewe Give Me The Knits
The Fold
Franquemont Fibers
Full Thread Ahead
Funky Carolina
GypsyKnits
Sivia Harding Knit Design
Hello Yarn
IndigoMuse Originals
Knitting As Fast As I Can
The Knitting Hutch
Knitting Notions
KnitWit Momma
Mad Caterpillar
Mama Blue Knitting Goods
Moonlight Knitter
Purlescence Yarns
Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks
Spin Off / Interweave Press
Spinning Bunny
Spunky Eclectic
Sundara Yarn
The Sweet Sheep
Tipsy Knitter Sock Bags
Twisted Traditions
WEBS
Wild Fibers Magazine
The Woolen Rabbit
Woolybuns
The Yarn Tree
Yarnerinas
Details are coming, BUT WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY ANOTHER SPINNING WHEEL THIS YEAR!!! THE FOLD HAS COME THROUGH AGAIN WITH OUR GRAND PRIZE! Thank you TONI!
If you have a fiber or knitting or spinning business and would like to donate a prize, please email me at prizes@spin-out.org . Also, if your name is not on this list and you feel it should be or there is a problem with your listing, please email me at the same address. THANK YOU!
Last year we came close to raising $19,000. Am I being crazy to think we can get to $30,000? SHOW ME HOW SANE I REALLY AM!
Cross Posted at spin-out.org.
Posted by Cara at 06:32 PM | Comments (8)
SPIN OUT 2007: LOGO WINNER!
Here it is! The moment we've all be waiting for! The new SPIN OUT 2007 LOGO is....
I'm SO SO PLEASED to announce the designer of the new logo is....
You can visit Cheryl's blog, Yarn Bee, and give her your congratulations! Thank you SO MUCH Cheryl! I can't tell you how much I love it!
And a HUGE thank you to everyone who entered the contest! I wish I didn' t have to choose! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
With a nice new shiny logo, well, you know what that means! SWAG!
Come visit the new SPIN OUT 2007 Cafe Press Store and buy lots of stuff! There's no mark-up on any of the products, so have fun!
I just LOVE how the logo looks! YAY! Thanks again Cheryl! ENJOY!
Cross Posted at spin-out.org.
Posted by Cara at 06:31 PM | Comments (16)
No Knit Weekend
Sadly, this is what it's come to. I didn't knit at all this weekend. But I did a lot of knitty stuff! I started preparing Yarnival! for Wednesday, picked a winner in the Spin Out Logo contest, and started putting together the kick off post for SPIN OUT 2007! Look for that probably Thursday. Maybe tomorrow if I can kick ass today, but don't count on it. The prizes are OVERFLOWING already and I'm sure this is just the beginning of things.
Things have been really tough around here lately. Not necessarily bad tough, but tough nonetheless. Knitting content might be thinner than it's been for a long while - and that pains me to no end. Although the good news, to some of you I'm sure, is that I've been dreaming of seaming. Hard to believe, I know, but you might see those miters sooner rather than later.
Thanks for sticking it out with me. I'll be so happy when this summer is over!
Posted by Cara at 10:36 AM | Comments (16)
August 10, 2007
Purple Rain
I started a new pair of monkeys yesterday. The yarn is STR Lightweight Purple Rain (it's not on the website right now - I have no idea if it will be up anytime soon.) It's got me thinking about my teenage movie memories: Class, the first R rated movie I was allowed to see IN the movies. It was such a big deal to get permission! And what an awful movie! Footloose! Oh my god - we actually DANCED in the AISLES! Crazy! Romancing The Stone - the first "date movie" I ever went on - and really - the first date. I've always loved that movie. Ghostbusters - I saw it like five times - IN the theater. There was the time I lied and told my mom there was a double feature, when actually we went to two movies back to back. It was one of the Friday the 13th movies and Against All Odds. My mom came into the theater looking for me with my baby sister (literally a toddler at the time) and possibly my other siblings. I remember realizing she was there right during the hot pyramid love scene with Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward. Too much for this fourteen yr old to handle for sure! Man did I get in trouble! Now that I think back - 1984 was a HUGE movie year in my life. HUGE.
Purple Rain huge. I'll never forget seeing this movie in the theater - we saw it at least twice. At the Orleans Theater. Did we take the bus there? It was summer and my boyfriend worked at Kinney shoes at the Roosevelt Mall and I remember walking over there after the movie - was it the first or second time my girlfriends and I saw it? And I think he was pissed because I liked it so much. It was a CRAZY movie. Unlike anything I had seen before. Morris Day and the Time totally stole the show too! I'll never forget it. I'm not the biggest Prince fan in the world (although I'd LOVE to go to a concert - I've heard from Bruce fanatics that he rivals our beloved live performance wise) but Darling Nikki will always have a place in my heart.
What was your movie "year" so to speak? What movies changed your teen life forever?
See you next week! Have a good weekend!
Posted by Cara at 03:21 PM | Comments (71)
August 08, 2007
Through Six
I finished section 6 of Babette today:
This is where it stands right now:
I made a deal with myself that once I was through six, I would start seaming before I moved onto the next section. Let's see if I can keep my end of the bargain. I'm definitely loving how it's looking and I think it will look even better seamed up, especially if Ann's is any indication. But I'm the greatest procrastinator in the world when it comes to sewing stuff up (not that I don't like sewing, I just like knitting/crocheting better) so your guess is as good as mine as to what I'll do.
Right now, though, I'm off to romp through the sock yarn. Tomorrow is a vacation day, so no post, but I'll see you Friday with a new monkey on the needles!
Posted by Cara at 04:52 PM | Comments (26)
August 07, 2007
Hot Sox
Not only is today my beloved's birthday, but it's ONE MILLION DEGREES OUTSIDE! What better way to celebrate than a new pair of socks!
At least they're minis!
Yes, my friends, it's another pair of monkeys off the needles. As I previously mentioned, this yarn is STR Seastone - a discontinued colorway in the OLD (325 yds) put up. PERFECT for mini-monkeys!
This is my FIFTH completed pair of monkey socks and as such, I thought a bit of a monkey parade was in order:
From left to right you've got: minimonkeys in STR Seastone, regular monkeys in STR Rare Gems; regular monkeys in STR Dutch Canyon; picot monkeys in STR Chicabiddy, and minimonkeys in STR Watermelon Tourmaline. I am in NO WAY FINISHED with monkeys! I will be choosing a new color to cast on today! And I can guarantee two things - no THREE things. 1) They will be knit with STR. 2) They will have a Picot Edge. And 3) They will be regular size. You'll just have to wait and see what color I pick. SO MANY to choose from.... Hmmmm.
Thanks for all the anniversary wishes. Poor Georgie's getting a bum deal on both the anniversary AND his birthday, as I'm still not up to par. I'll make it up to him though - don't you worry. And he's planning on getting himself a new toy so that should ease things a bit.
Two things I want to put out there - Have you seen Norma's NEW (old) cause? The Red Scarf Project has taken on a whole new dimension - one that I can get on board with for sure. Don't feel like knitting a scarf (my most dreaded project honestly) then you can GIVE MONEY instead! Check it out!
Also, Eve needs editors for upcoming issues of YARNIVAL! It's not that hard and you get great exposure to all kinds of new and interesting blogs. Plus it's a great way to give your OWN blog exposure! Come on! What are you waiting for?
Posted by Cara at 01:01 PM | Comments (46)
August 06, 2007
Today
might just be one of my favorite dates of all. August 6 is G and my anniversary! Happy Anniversary my love! Six years legal, 16 cohabitating, 17 committed! Pretty damn good if I don't say so myself. If I haven't loved every minute of it, I've been IN LOVE every minute. Thank you Georgie!
Unfortunately, I'm still feeling really really shitty. Which means we probably won't be doing dinner out tonight. And it means I never got to finish the sock I was sure I was going to finish over the weekend. I've got the toe decreases left. That's it. I hope to show you a finished pair tomorrow.
I also did some good work on Babette, but didn't finish that goal either.
Okay. Now I have to go take a nap. But before I go, don't forget! THIS CONTEST ends on Wednesday! I've only received a few entries so far and I hope that means you're all waiting until the last possible second to submit. COME ON! There's YARN to be won!
Posted by Cara at 03:26 PM | Comments (48)
August 03, 2007
One of those OTHER kinds of Days
Yesterday, Georgie and I had one of those life changing kind of days. And then we headed to the beach. (Ba dum dum!)
We're more Fall season beach goers - often times hitting the Jersey Shore way into October when only the die hards are there. G actually goes in the water too! He's NUTS! Yesterday's beach scene was straight out of Jaws. The water was so packed with kids it looked like a community pool instead of the Atlantic Ocean.
We had a nice day, but I didn't get much done, knitting, crochet or otherwise.
My knitting has definitely hit a state of flux. Unfortunately, the Bee Shawl and I have hit an impasse. I'm not sure where I went wrong with it - probably a case of don't knit lace when you should be asleep - and anything that brings me to tears gets put away for a while. So don't look for it here.
I finished the last square of Section V on Babette and stalled out. I've even stalled out on the second mini monkey I've put off far too long. I knit a row and then put it down. Maybe it's the Summer finally catching up with me.
This morning I feel awful and I still have a ton of work to catch up on so that's what I'll be doing today. There is one bright spot in all this - look what's come home!
Thank you so much Tina! I can't tell you how surprised and happy I was to pull it out of the box! And shocked! There may have been tears, but don't kid yourself - it doesn't take much these days. I LOVE YOU! THANK YOU!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted by Cara at 08:30 AM | Comments (25)
August 01, 2007
One of THOSE Days
My day started out pretty shitty - and it's the first day of one of my favorite months, but let's try to distract ourselves with some pretty pictures!
This is 3/4 of section 5 - Babette - in case you can't tell. I have one more 8 rounder to go before I'm done 5. Then it's onto 6, then seaming. Here's how the whole thing is looking right now:
I'm really enjoying how this is all coming together. Sure, I chose the colors and assigned them letters, but every time I look at the directions and see what letter combinations are coming up it's a surprise! Sometimes I'm like ugh - that color next to THAT color, but so far I love the way it's coming out! I wouldn't change a thing!
I hope you like Babette. I think you might be seeing a bit of her for awhile. She's captured my heart again.
Posted by Cara at 09:09 AM | Comments (35)