The Knottie Knitter

I've Moved

2006-12-25T23:04:00.000-08:00

I've Moved!

Come on by & visit me at string*THEORY.

Pictures are still at my Flickr page....and my archives will remain here, at KnottieKnitter.

See ya there, friends!

The Break-Up

2006-12-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Blogger,

We have to talk. This situation has gone out of hand. Really. The faulty posting. Shotty commenting. Yes you can upload a picture, NO you can’t upload more pictures.

Yes, I know you’re free. Yes, I know you’ve improved yourself. But, I’m starting to feel like we’re moving in different paths & it might be time to go our separate ways.

It’s not you, it’s me.
I think I’m growing out of these blogging clothes I’m wearing. A blogging puberty of sorts….

I’m moving on….and I’m taking my friends with me….

LETS GO, GUYS….

…update your Bloglines….
….& your link lists….

IT’S OFF TO string*THEORY WE GO!

Blogger, don’t cry, there will always be a place in my archives for you!

Love,

string*THEORY
::the bloggist formally known as the knottie knitter::

Ooh the Irony of it all!

2006-12-15T14:42:00.001-08:00

Funny how no one responded to my previous post (To Blogger or Not to Blogger - THAT is the question).

Well, it's becuase BLOGGER IS BROKEN!! ....and wont let anyone post!

Is that a sign?

At what point do we stop ignoring the red flags, people?

Blogger v. Typepad v. Other?

2006-12-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

Ok, first, a sweet (and, yes, random) photo of the little girl made of sugar. Remember her? What is she thinking about here?

Ooh...yes, back to my post....
Enough complaining about (free, I know! I'm an ingrate!) Blogger. What do you have? What do you like? Why? Am I moving? Possibly.....depends on if I need to or not. What do you think? Is there a big enough reason to switch to Typepad from a free service? I don't mind paying for a good thing...but is it worth it? I figure, if I'm going to make a move, then the new year is a good time to do it....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ooh, and...for mom...err, I mean, "Santa" - (yes, Mom! I still believe!) More hints....
Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick
A cream colored (natural) and wooden dress form
pottery classes
cooking classes

Visiting the Mile High Girlz!!

2006-12-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

Good girl time had by all last night in Denver! It was great seeing Stacey, Wanda, Jeni & Michelle again! Even though I've spent little time in my life with these lovely ladies, it feels like we go waaay back! I guess that's the charm of the blogging world, right?

We started the evening out at Colorful Yarns. A great little yarn shop jam packed with fiber goodness. And of course, with Stacey's bad influence...I left with some gorgeous - Donegal Tweed, homespun in orange.

Then, off to dinner with the ladies where much gossip was had. What more could a girl ask for but knitting gossip!?! It was great. And I learned some fun facts too...like, how Wanda knits at work. All day. Jealous? Me too.

Then it was off to the knitting nest we call Stacey's house. It was just as sweet as she is, a life size doll house, really. Decorated with knitting needles (I mean you just dont know the extent of it, people! Knitting needles everywhere)....sweet antiques AND lots and lots of board games. The doll house comes with it's own (not so doll size) yarn stash and knitting library!

And the Christmas decorations! Ooh...coordinated sewing and knitting supplies in Christmas colors...who does that? Adorable. And check this out, an antique birdcage full of ornaments....Martha move over!

Thanks for the fun visit, guys! Next time it's my turn to host! I hope you'll visit soon...

Now...off to figure out what the heck to turn that tweed in!

RelaxingRefueling*

2006-12-10T23:09:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend doing both.

::Started out with some lounging with a good friend::
thank you, Beth, for the home cooked meal...beer & ever-lasting birthday attention!

::Then some holiday decorating::
Remember these?
::And a soul feeding visit to a magical button store::
This trip deserves a post of its own....shortly it will come.
*
::I'm off to Denver for some girl time (ooh, and a little work too...but that's besides the point)::
Stacey, Wanda & girlyz ~ here I come! Sorry we couldn't connect this time, Allegra ~ but we will most definitely meet when I return in the Spring.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now for "Sudden Change of Subject":
I've been informed that I can be difficult to shop for....
So, as promised, a few helpful hints at the end of each post for the 'rents, and so, here it goes...
*Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel
*Lace Syle by Interweave Knits, Pam Allen & Ann Budd (not avail. until 2/2007~so sad)
*Twinkle's Big City Knits by Wenlan Chia
Ooh, and how could I forget?
This beautiful duvet! I know, looks a little busy (& pricey!!) - but wait until you see it in person...swoon.

Healing. Knitting.

2006-12-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm still having a really hard time dealing with the Kim's tragedy. It's on my mind constantly, and I think it's because I don't really understand the weight of what they went through, or the kind of pain the healing process holds for them.

I feel so desperate for them and want to do something to make things right. But there's not a lot I can do. Other's feel the same way. So, to map out a path towards healing and helping and extending love, the crafty birds, Stephanie, Lisa and mama birdie are organizing a benefit involving the selling of crafts, which Kati and James have always been big supporters of. I will be involved with this effort. Whether it's through buying gifts for the ones that I love. Or by making something to sell. Donations to help toward the cost of the rescue mission & impending financial struggle due to James' absence can be made here.
I find a lot of comfort in knitting. I think most people do, which is why we do it, right? I finished this scarf recently and just haven't had a free moment to share it with you. But here it is in all it's glory. The pattern is Candle Flame Scarf offered up free by Chantel. This was a great pattern to knit & creates such an interesting texture, especially in Misti Alpaca, Chunky weight.

It's heavy and warm and made with lots of love for my dear friend, Katy. Her birthday's not until May, so I guess this will need to be a very early gift. I don't want her to be cold in Chico.

This little pretty is a great find from my trip to Antiques by the Bay this past weekend. It's a delicate little white flower. I usually try to bargain a bit, because I think that's the dance of the antique dealer. And, well, when in Rome, right?. But when the dealer told me that this little baby was only $3 ~ how could one argue? I did the happy dance and bought it on the spot.

Haven't taken it off since.

Thinking of the Kim's today.

2006-12-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

May Kati, Sabine, Penelope & the Kim-Fleming families find peace in their hearts to heal this tragedy.

"Flight attendants, prepare for landing."

2006-12-05T20:35:00.000-08:00

I'm having trouble focusing, thinking a lot about the Kim Family. The whole situation is sad, and incredible, & scary & makes me to feel a lot of anxiety. Please keep James in your thoughts or heart or prayers, or however you choose to send love to the Kim family. Spending some quiet time, making. Above is a festive addition to the kitchen & my version of the button wreath you may have seen popping up here and there and everywhere. It was a fun project & successfully depleted my button stash. Vintage button shopping to replenish anyone? Ooh hurt me.

I just returned from a very quick trip (something like 18 hours!) to Chicago. Below is the scene as I was departing. The snow & cold was surprisingly shocking to me, & look at this beautiful scene...

"Ladies & Gentlemen the Captain has indicated our final decent into the San Francisco bay area. At this time please discontinue the use of all portable electronic devices, including iPod's, laptop computers, and portable DVD players. Please return your seat back and tray tables to their full up-right and locked positions. Please return all carry-on items that you may have taken out during the flight to the over-head compartment or beneath the seat in front of you."

"Flight attendants will be making their final pass through the cabin in order to collect any remaining service items. It truly has been a pleasure serving you this evening. We realize you have many choices when traveling and we thank you for choosing Generic Airlines. Welcome to San Francisco where the local time is 5:23pm."

"Flight attendants, prepare for landing."

At what point do I ask myself; "Have I been traveling too much?"

Getting Ready...

2006-12-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

I love 'em. I absolutely. love. them. Thank you, Stephanie for the inspiration. These were made from my felted sweater binge the other weekend, remember? This is an instant gratification project, taking a whole 15 minutes a piece to make. I almost wish they took longer because they're so darn fun.

Is it just me, or is this a little strange? I know that the Silicon Valley is "forward thinking" (technologically speaking anyway), but, iPods sold from a VENDING MACHINE? $200 in quarters anyone?

Click on the picture to make it bigger, see em'? Right there by the cookies & snickers...

Pom Pom's & the starting of a good thing.....garland and other Christmas goodies coming soon!

Just Talking About the Weather

2006-11-28T23:42:00.000-08:00

Everyone is talking about the weather…snow…everywhere…you…look. Not in San Francisco though. We’ve begun the rainy season, my favorite. The rainy season means, tights, wool & lots of plaid. All of which I love.

….and I’m taking care of a sick baby at home. And by “baby”, I mean my hubby…and by “home” I mean, some random hotel in the middle of the Silicon Valley. Sounds cozy, I know.

Moving on...

2006-11-26T01:48:00.000-08:00

:::Looking Back:::
Our Thanksgiving-marathon extravaganza has come to a close. The time I had to spend with my family energized me more then drained me as I had expected it to. Funny & convenient how it worked out that way.

The week spawned some unexpected thrifting and crafting, with folks that really know what thrifting and crafting is. I sometimes feel isolated in my obsessions, but all it takes is a little vino and Tryptophan to realize that all “this” is really part of my genetic make-up & a small part of the master plan.

Some years, Thanksgiving is a time to Give Thanks. Other years, it’s serves as an opportunity to remind me of the things that I'm thankful for. This year proved to be the latter.

:::Looking Forward:::
Not that I enjoy chaos, or am unable to live for the moment, but my thrifting moments these past few days has launched me into total Christmas-crazy mode. In a good way.

More on the goodies I found later, but first this…

Some cutting, & a little stitching....

& lots of lots of fun poly-fill (by-far his favorite ingredient of this project)!

I had so much fun watching him assemble Santa as he ooh’d & aah’d at his work.

Voi’la! Seamster & his little doll too.

P.S. Little wee Seamster and I picked up the pre-printed Santa fabric at an estate sale for .25 cents (he picked it out, can you imagine the excitement I felt?). Have you seen these in stores? My aunt fell in love with it & I promised her a google search. With little luck, since I don’t even know what it's called. I've seen them before at antique fairs printed on old flour sacks from the 30's(?)

I'm off to San Jose for a week...but not without a litttle holiday crafting! Pictures to come on that & my nearly finished Forecast too!

Confirmed: We are taking over the world.

2006-11-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Exhibit #1:
Tiffany’s Display, see Beth’s post here.

Exhibit #2:
Location: Anthropologie
Data collected: at 5:13pm on 11.10.2006
Thanks to the fine folks at Anthropologie, this rocks are no longer cold. I was worried there for a second.

Exhibit #3:
Location: J.Crew (or was it Banana Republic?).
Data collected: at 12:27am, 11.10.2006. My husband pointed out, "babe! those arent event real balls! It's yarn wrapped around styrofoam!" I was just as offended, but understanding of their plight...to be, just like us.

Exhibit #4:
Location: American Eagle
Data collected: at 8:42pm, 11.9.2006 Again, what's up with the flying yarn? I mean, I like it, and yes, I would probably decorate my house this way, if I could. But seriously, people.

Exhibit #5:
Location: Oakland Airport, Soutwest Airlines Terminal
Data collected: Ooh, heck, I dont know. But do you see me in the window there? Do I look excited? A display about dying yarn with mushrooms! Exhibit #6:
The Office, Phyllis, feet kicked up, knitting at work. At what point in our lives will we be as lucky as Phyllis?
Exhibit #7:
The Office, Pam’s alleged hand-knit sweater. It’s okay, honey, we know your mom didn’t knit that, we still think your sweet.
Have you witnessed other sightings? Fulfill your crafterly duties & please share.

The Coup d'état needs to be documented!!!

~Okay, enough of that silliness, Happy Turkey Day to you all~

Because I Felt Like It.

2006-11-19T23:48:00.000-08:00

I needed some time. To myself. So, I bailed on early Thanksgiving with the in-laws, not completely, but partly. I’m breathing easier now, considering this was the first weekend in five weeks that I’ve spent at my house. It wasn’t a full weekend, but I’ll take what I can get, even if it’s just a day. Guilty? A bit. Anxious? Not so much anymore.

::A quiet dinner at home, alone::
::Portishead & a comfy chair::
::A few drinks. A few sweaters::

::Mix in some hot water, vintage fabric from my sis & yarn from an old pal::

::And now off to Thanksgiving ONE & Thanksgiving TWO::

::Centered & much more equipped for the holidays now::

The Forecast Reads "Rainy" In Portland

2006-11-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

The Glampyre bites again. What do you think of this pattern?

Pretty interesting, huh? I was recently chosen out of 600 volunteers to be a test knitter for one of Stefanie’s new patterns, and I have to say, I’m pretty excited to be apart of the backstage preparations for this. Honored, really. Not that there’s a whole lot of honor in getting chosen for this, mostly luck, but I’m honored just the same.

I can’t say a whole lot on the specifics of the pattern, but I’ll blog my progress here, and who knows, maybe it’ll turn out so unbelievably adorable, that you all will need to make one too! Who knows.

Ooh, and, I’m on the hunt for some good yarn for this, so if you know of a nice bulky 3.5 stitches to the inch, do a sista a favor and holla at me.

I was so excited about test knitting that I almost forgot to tell you about Portland.

I’ll try to control the gushing, as I’m sure it comes off a little weird, and well, obsessive. The weekend started out with lots of rain, and then there was more rain….and then ended with puddles and puddles of rain. It was fine though! To me, rain marks the beginning of fall and, well, my birthday.

As long as I can remember, it has rained on my birthday, so for that, I’m okay with it. In fact, I like it. And I love Portland, so the two together made for a very happy birthday girl. We didn’t do anything in particular but just enjoyed the people, ate some amazing food and did a little shopping.

Ooh, and how’s the Forecast, you ask? Well, as you can imagine, rain in Portland resulted in lots of knitting for me and the Forecast is coming along just smashingly. Here she is after 7 days of work:
Not bad, huh? Throw on some sleeves…a button band and voi’ la…it will sit in my closet for 7 months until I build up the gumption to block her. Good grief, how many finished projects do I have to show you that I can’t because they’re curly, & nubby? A lot, I tell ya. Too many, really.
More on the Forecast at the KAL.

Warning: Sudden Subject Change
Who’s having a hard time with the early sunset and approaching holiday season? I am. I’m trying my best to keep my head up, but I have to admit that I feel pretty over-whelmed and bogged with all the commitments & obligations. I’m still learning my rhythm, and how it dances with my husbands, it’s a learning process I’m working through, no doubt. I mean, my house is in such disarray, that we’re sleeping in the guest bedroom! Can you imagine? Our BED is too MESSY to SLEEP in. Now, that’s bad.

Life was so much easier under the direction of my parents. “Be there by 4pm”, “Don’t forget to say THANK YOU” and “Make sure to iron your dress”. Growing up is hard sometimes, I guess, and now I have to remember all that stuff on my own. Ooh, the tragedy of it all.

This blog here, and more specifically, YOURS is a nice escape. And did you see Stephanie's post on the holiday spirit? It’s grounding, and very sweet.

I’m going to attempt a little escapism….a trip to the thrift store for some feltable knits will do the trick, I think some Alicia-esq Christmas garland is just what I need to chase the chaos away. Yeah, that’s it, a cup of tea, a pair of scissors and a big pile of brightly colored sweaters to re-fashion.

…aaahh…time…to…take…a…deep…breath…

Thank you.

2006-11-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

I'm still blushing from yesterday's public display of affection. I had a birthday post in mind, but, apparently, the hubby beat me to it. It was a warm surprise (which, I'm a sucker for), and I appreciate all of your comments and happy birthday wishes. Thank you for that.
The coming of my birthday always spawns a series of mixed emotions. Mostly related to excitement, anticipation and a little bit of anxiety. I can't explain it really, but possibly I fear disappointment, that my friends and family won't call or remember. It's silly, really, since this has never happened before, but it's a fear just the same. Once again, I was proved wrong. I received such an amazing out pour of love, more then I could ever imagine. Just what I needed during one of the most hectic times of the year for my hubby and I. Hubby & my sister even went as far as bringing me flowers in my favorite colors of the season, orchids in mustard and cranberry....and stargazers in, uuhm...well, mustard and cranberry. Perhaps I talk about my obsession more then I thought! I love them, and, my goodness, they smell amazing!
My day was soooo relaxing. Lot's of knitting was done, in between all the phone calls I received. Above is my newly started (and muchly double-guessed), Forecast. Can you guess what color it is? I'm really excited about this sweater, but I have some doubts that I'm diligently working through with help from Julia and the KAL. More on that later.

The photo above is a photo from my Walima (pronounced "Valima"). It's a good illustration of how I felt yesterday. Loved and spinning with happiness. (Is that mustard and cranberry again? Is there any hope for me, I don't think so).

The good news, is that it's not over yet. Hubby surprised me with a trip to one of my favorite U.S. cities - Portland, OR. We're leaving in a few hours, and trust me, there will be much to report on when I return - even if we have to swim through our weekend!

Denzel Washington, and isn't he a cutie?
Ooh, and I almost forgot! My little contest...and the results. So, okay, maybe it's wasn't that hard, I realize this now with how many people got the correct answer! And trust me, I would love to send a little somethin' somethin' to all of you, but there is only one winner here folks, and it's Madame Michigan (I won't say "Ms. Michigan", for those of you who have ever lived there, you know why!). She also happens to be the one who made my adorable Back Tack kitty, way back when. So email me your address...and some day very soon, you'll receive a little treat in the mail.

Happy Birthday to the Most Beautiful Woman in the World

2006-11-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: today's entry has been hijacked by the Knottie Husband.

Although I didn't know it at the time, ** years ago today was a day that changed my life. In a small room in Iberia, something knottie was being born. The doctor reported having trouble with the umbilical chord because it had been entrelac'ed (Okay, maybe not. But, she was born with it, I tell ya...).

Whichever way you spin it, my life has become so much stronger since it has been stitched together with her's. When I count my blessings, I count her twice.

Happy Birthday, Knottie Knitter!

With all my love...
The Knottie Husband

A Contest & WIP

2006-11-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

The weekend is wrapping up & we're heading back up north again, to turn around and head south...and then north. OC up to SF down to San Jose and back again...eeewwwfff, some time in my house would be nice.

Thankfully, I've spent the weekend with laughing nieces....spoiling mother-in-laws & this:
Two things here, folks.....

1. My WIP: The Candle Flame Scarf from FireBrunette. I'm using Misti Alpaca, I think - the yarn is a dream to work with - but will prove to be an enormous hand-washing headache for my best-friend. Such is life - she pretty much stabbed herself in the foot by giving me "full creative freedom". As she put it. I gave her a chance to pick a reasonable yarn. She didn't take it. More on that when we're blocking. Hopefully soon, since I can't stop thinking about this. Who needs a new Thanksgiving sweater? The Forecast says...ME.

2. A CONTEST: Something kinda fun. First person to give me specifics gets a little special surprise. What was I watching up there? You know who that is....but WHO was she interviewing? This is certainly not a shameless plug for *Oprah - goodness knows that woman needs no help in the marketing department. It's just what was on - and I'm curious to see if you guys can figure it out. Plus, who doesn't like a little contest?

*ooh, and, for the record.....Oprah annoys the CRAP out of me. Just thought that needed to be said.

P.S. Did anyone see the Project Runway skit on Mad TV tonight? It was f-ing HILARIOUS!!!

Ooh, and, um...what do you think of the new look?

The Queen & Her Pilgrim

2006-10-31T23:39:00.000-08:00

Halloween is by far one of my favorite holidays. My father, having spent the majority of his life in Spain, was exceptionally enthusiastic after moving to the U.S. about this holiday where people dress up in ridiculous outfits & eat a lot of candy. He always made it really fun for us - faking that he wasn't going to dress up, and then surprising us by emerging from the bedroom as a punk rocker....or woman....or the year we went to my mom's work to visit her - my father dressed as a nerd - pretending NOT to be dressed up at all. He continued with the act, thoroughly embarrassing my mom in front of her co-workers. That was pretty funny.

Speaking of my mom. Talk about crafty lady. Good God, that woman would make every single one of our most complicated costumes. From scratch. Pull all nighters at times. I had an appreciation for this labor this year as I saw not one single home-made costume. Including my own. All store bought. Kind of kills the creativity out of the holiday a bit - just running down to Target to pick up the latest version of "Tinker Bell". Some of my fondest memories of Halloween were all the preparations leading up to the big day. Whether it be spending a few hours at the fabric store with my mom picking out the perfect pattern and all the matching fabric - or helping my dad choose all the appropriate accessories at Goodwill or the hardware store.

Don't get me wrong, Halloween was great this year. But, I've really come to appreciate the "old days" before the holiday was so commercial. I'm going to try my best to remember this when I have kids and try to use the holiday as a chance for them to get creative. No matter how hectic our lives are.

Happy Halloween!!

2006-10-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

Watch out for alllllllll the scary creatures out there...

My very own Perdita

2006-10-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

I am loved. Look at the beauty that lovely Allison sent me this week! We had a little swapping action going on. Well, it wasn't supposed to be that way. I sent her a couple of buttons to help finish along one her beautiful perditas - & she sent me this. So sweet. And so tiny too. She said that knitting with embroidery floss doesn't hurt her fingers, but I don't believe her. I love it so much, I haven't taken it off. I even slept with it on last night. I had the bead imprint on my face when I woke up to prove it.

She ALSO sent me the softest most butteriest alpaca - hand painted and all. Thank you so much Allison - you are toooooo generous!

Another little somethin' somethin' for our fall Socktoberfest! In my color-way of the season, Cranberry & Mustard.....

Specs:
Pattern: "False Flame Crew Socks" from Socks Socks Socks by Elaine Rowley.
Time: Began on Oct. 18. Finished on Oct. 24 - less then 1 week!
Yarn: Andes in color No. 20. I used a little less then one skein (165 yds.) - but somehow thought that I would need 2. It's beyond me how one can over-estimate by 100%. Sooo....I guess that means someone will be getting a cranberry & mustard colored hat soon.
Needles: 2 bamboo circs. in US size 3's.
Modifications: Obviously, there is no real "pattern" or "flame" to these socks. I realized soon after I started knitting, that color variations was entertaining enough & that I didn't need to add on some crazy flame pattern to complicate matters. I'm happy with that decision.

~Weekend Recap~

These pretties are Italian cookies. For the Italian Cookie dance. My best friend got married this past weekend in Virginia. What a joyous event that was. I LOVE weddings. Almost as much as graduations. (I'm not being sarcastic - I really really love graduations. Graduations of any level). I learned how to dance the Italian Cookie Dance often celebrated at weddings. It involves a conga line led by the bride winding it's way through the wedding reception ending at the grad finale of everyone diving into the huge pile of gorgeously colorful cookies!

It doesn't get better then that, folks.

Thoughts on Color

2006-10-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest things that I love about making things is the opportunity it gives me to just play with color.

I can spend hours combining and recombining, grouping, piling, holding up various mediums together to produce pleasing color combinations. Whether it be with yarn, or fabric, or photographs, paint, beads or just found items from a walk around the neighborhood, I love to experiment with all of the millions of possibilities.

All summer long I've been pretty well obsessed with the aqua & dark red combo. Not really making anything out of them, but simply just feeling really quite pleased when happening upon the color combination.

Now as we're moving rather quickly into fall, and all things fall - pumpkins, colorful leaves, and fall cooking, I'm becoming more and more attracted to a new color combination.

This being huuhm, well we'll call it mustard & cranberry. Which brings me to my next point. Naming. I know I made a little remark about the color "yarrow" in my last post (remember, "what the hell is "yarrow" - I know, not very tactful). All jokes aside, I think it's important to think these things through. And, so, if you think that naming a color after a New England wild flower, so be it. And you know when you've got it right. Is it red? No. Dark pink? No. Cranberry, yes, just right.

Speaking of fall-ness, I'm going to try out Martha's chicken soup tonight in an attempt to get more domestic as we merge into the season of hibernation.

Speaking of Martha, have you seen all the great new ideas she's posted for fall & winter crafts? Like the felted knitting basket or the little lamb, chicken & piggie - equiped with their own templates and everything!

She's crazy, but you gotta love her style!

I'm off to the east coast this weekend for some fall-peekin' & best-friend nuptial celebrations. I hope there will be a little pumpkin patchin' in store for me!

As Promised

2006-10-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

A FO to announce here, folks. Socks I started for my abuela decades ago & realized half way through the 2nd sock that I HATED dpns. So I just stopped. But my grandmothers feet were still cold & I needed to think of a solution fast. In come 2 circs. Wow, 2 circles, where have you been all my life? I can't believe how much faster this technique is! (despite how Beth feels on the subject).

Some specs for ya:
Pattern: "Best Foot Forward" from Knit Socks! given to me by Susan.
Yarn: Andean Silk by Knit Picks in lettuce & yarrow. (what the hell is "yarrow"? is that a real color or just a made up name like "deep aubergine" or "montain pine"?)
Anyway, the yarn was amazing to work with, knits up fast & is slippery soft, AND it was from my stash to boot. Not to mention the notoriously cheap Knit Picks price. Are you wondering why the green goes so high up past the toe? Could it be because I dipped my toes in paint? Could it be because I mis-calculated my yarn supply?

The coolest part about this project is that it's for my abuela (that's spanish for "grandmother" incase you were wondering). She's lived a lifetime of knitting, not to mention knitting garments for the whole family using nothing but a few calculations stored in her head. The thing is, she could never quite figure out how to make socks, & thinks that they're this super advanced impossibility. In comes the beaming grand-daughter. Amazing what we'll do to impress our elders.

So, these will be off to Spain soon...keeping the feet of my abuela nice & toasty.

I had a quick trip up to Salt Lake City, Utah this past week. I was fairly umimpressed with the city. Perhaps because I was by myself, or...because I didn't take the time to visit some of the sites. Like the Salt Lake Temple.

This could have been for a few different reasons.
1. I was dressed like a skank.
2. I became seriously distracted after discovering Black Sheep Wool Co. yarn shop.
3. All of the above.

As most things, I'm always late to join...but in this case, it's better late then never. So, get your butt over to Lolly's and join in the fun!

Stitch and the City.

2006-10-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well, you all are were right, that last post WAS in Vegas. I know it seemed obvious, but I couldn't resist that picture. Show girls at a stuffy, dorky, IT convention....they're everywhere I tell ya.

Vegas = not my favorite place, so you can imagine how happy I was to end my week is this lovely city...can you guess where I was?

I also had a chance to escort Miss. Olive to her new adopted mother, Sofia. Olive's new name, evidently, is "Nila" which is so sweet - and grown up! They got along great as they explored the neighborhood together.

I have a finished project to share...more on that from my next stop this week...Salt Lake City, Utah.

~Lovely week to you all.~

Showgirlz

2006-10-02T23:39:00.000-07:00

Guess where I am right now.

Come on...just guess. Nevermind the dorky tradeshow badge okay...not my choice. Trust me.

My New Wheels

2006-09-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the help (and additional suggestions) in picking my next pattern. It was just the distraction I needed. I wasn’t able to pick just one, so instead of forcing myself to, I decided instead to prioritize…and start…one...at...a time. Aah. Breath. I bought some super-soft baby alpaca for the Cropped Cardigan in a camel color & some grey merino for the Sangria skirt. So, more on that to come.

A whole lot of interesting things happened this past weekend that I didn't get to report on due to my chronic pattern distraction.

:::I taught my mom to knit:::

My mom refers to herself as "the knitting school dropout". She didn't show much interest after the initial frustration of trying to learn from an impatient teacher. Until....I told her that I wouldn't have kids until she learned how to knit baby booties. Miraculously she's dying to learn. And she's damn good at it so far. Oops, I think she called my bluff.

:::Enjoyed watching my dad and Frida relax:::

Frida has a way of sneaking into every single photograph. She's such a flirt.

Aaaand…dun dun da dunnnn…I GOT A SPINNING WHEEL!!
I spotted it at an estate sale. She (for some reason, I feel the need to assign her a gender) was just sitting there quietly in the corner waiting for me to claim her. She's beautiful, and old, and gives me a sense of connection to the past.

I’m now presented with the interesting task of unraveling the mystery of the wheel and answering some pressing questions. Who has spun with her? How old is she? Where was she made? And…uuhm…how do I spin? Err…well I took a spinning class over a year ago but remember absolutely nothing.

Susan has been a great help in getting me introduced to some online resources about the wheel itself, a little on wool & of course, the online spinning culture. I think I need to take another formal class using my wheel & maybe even a consultation or two on things I need to fix on her. If you live in the bay area and spin or know of someone who does – keep me in mind for lessons. I have big dreams of things I eventually want to make…

Beth and I are going to the antique fair this weekend, so I'm hoping to find a beautiful new-old basket to keep my roving in. And maybe some buttons. And a few patterns. And...And...

What to do...what to do?

2006-09-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

I'm searching for the next big thing. I have some Berkshire stockinette stitch recovery to do, so I need something interestingly complicated, yet practical & straightforward. Here are a few options...

The first 2 are from Knit Spot & were suggested at Pink Purls.
Vine Flower Child's Dress:

Sangria: A lacey skirt with good drape & bounce.

Below is the super versatile Cropped Cardigan by Blue Sky Alpacas:
This one looks like a VERY quick knit using chunky yarn & big needles.
Karabella KK 219: I've never made a cardigan before and would love to try this one out because of the cables & good fit. But is the neck look uncomfortably high?
Karabella KK 206: I love the shape & lacey detailing on this. I see it in black or possibly cream. The only thing stopping me from making this one, is the thought of having to look at this woman's' frightening tan for a few weeks while working on the pattern. It's something to consider.
Karabella KK183: Cute. Cute. Cute. From the sounds of it as posted on other blogs, construction might be a little tricky. However, the fit is super cute. The style would be good for foggy San Francisco. And there might be some willing bloggers to help me me out when I get stuck.

Karabella KK 181: Cute fit. Strange arms...but that might not be too difficult to switch to a nice fitted ribbing, right?
I would put up one of those nifty little web-poll thingys, but I'm too sleepy to figure out how....maybe just a response would suffice in my decision making process!

TGIF

2006-09-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, fine, we're friends again. After a VERY rough start, he & I made up. There have been many things that have gone wrong with this sweater. Some my fault, yes, some not so much. Anne put it in terms I could understand:

"...when knitting for a man, it is essential to...glean as many details as possible, while completely wiping your mind of your own taste AND JUST LISTEN. many men have extremely exact likes and dislikes, but have a pathetically small vocabulary for describing them, especially in knitting terms."

THIS, my friends. Is so true. When he says he wants a sweater made of 8 miles of stockinette stitch. He means this. And it doesn't matter what you say to convince him otherwise....YOU WILL BE KNITTING THAT THING OVER AGAIN. Heed my warning, girls.

This week was a little tough.

Call me crazy, but it might be because I stated it out by watching Spike Lee's, "When the Levees Broke". Enlightening? Yes. Depressing? Very.
Lots of tears were had.
Dreamy-Eyes wouldn't even let me watch the 2nd part. It was THAT bad and THAT good all at the same time.

I tried to lighten things up around here with a little "makin'"....and uuh...."breakin'". My sewing machine wasn't having it. This is what I ended up with. A rugged camera bag.

I like it, but there was blood on the sewing machine when I was done. You think I'm kidding. There really was. I checked my hands. No blood. So, a logical assumption would be that the sewing machine herself was the one bleeding. I wouldn't be surprised.

The week of negative energy finally let up last night when I began to sew my friend, Tasha's Birthday-Bag.

Once midnight struck...it was smooth sailing for me, and I've never finished a bag in such a short amount of time with almost NO issues. Ooh, and by the way, I love wool. And I love the beautiful fabric pieces that Erieann sent me. And I love the design sense that Dreamy-Eyes contributes every once in awhile.

Rant: CRAM CREAM & how I want to marry it:

Uuhm, okay, so NEXT time some genius comes up with Funky-Japanese-Cute tape & other household accessories, can someone PLEASE do me a favor and clue me in??? Like within the same century that it happens? Please? I stumbled upon this stuff at Mi's blog & fell in love. Did a search, and realized that it's been around for ages. There's even a flikr support...urr...I mean, discussion group dedicated to the stuff. Good God, where have I been?

P.S. Is it just me? Why would you let your child slide out of an elephant's ass like that? Would that lead him to being anal retentive? I'm no Sigmund Freud but...uuhh....

Photo courtesy of imagevenue.

Okay...one last P.S. - Just wanted to share some *really*really* great tutorials & pattern resources:

Owl Softie - Not sure if I'm in love with the design, or the fact that we're pulling this poor little girl into our chaotic crafty world...

Awesome Lovely Leafy Spring Bag.

Zakka inspired Boxy Cosmetics Pouch by Small Hands.

Knit Spot Patterns brought to my attention by Esther. Knit Spot ACTUALLY has a skirt pattern that I would consider trying. Like how I act like I haven't already purchased the pattern and the 8 balls of yarn? Who am I kidding?

~Lovely Lovely weekend to all of you~

Cave Man

2006-09-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

Okay...here it is, just for Cyn Cyn. (he's going to kill me, you know that, right?)

See entry below:

2006-09-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Berkshire Sweater....ooh how I Hate Thou

*picture to come...blogger's acting stupid again (big shock). Is it time to change to TypePad?

I started this sweater because I am happy to and because I promised Dreamy-Eyes a knit sweater.

Right now, I AM TOTALLY FRUSTRATED. Had I not made my promise AND spend like $60 on the yarn & 8 million hours knitting I would throw it in the bay.

Or had I not made a public promise to finish this no matter what.

I did everything right this time.
I even swatched, (despite my reputation).
My swatch came out perfect, and I knit 80% of the sweater (entire week in Maui). I was in denial the entire time, when Dreamy-Eyes finally achknowledged the elephant in the room - "uuh, babe, does that look a little small to you?". It did. The whole time. So we tried it on, & it looked RIDICULOUS.

Like he was a 19 year old girl "goin' to the club" - tight.

So, I ripped the whole thing out, calculated a more accurate gauge....& re-wrote the pattern.

As frustrated as I am, I have to admit to having a pretty good laugh at my husbands expense. Now he looks like a cave man.

After I picked myself up off the floor....I begged him....

"...please (chuckle chuckle)...let me (laugh...choking).....take a picture to show my blogger friends..."

I'm determined to finish this damn thing, and I will. But for now, I need a break.
This thing is really challenging my patience.

Olive thought it was pretty funny too. Here she is laughing. She's laughing because all she had to do was wait a few hours for me to knit up her sweater.

She's sittin' pretty now. Not a single cuss word for her sweater, nope, not one.

Eye Infection

2006-09-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

I think I have one.

What do you think?

Friday WIP

2006-09-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

Friday WIP

Who could this be? Any guesses?
....and a finished one too....

Pattern: Saturday Market Bag

Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Dusty Sage (from the stash) purchased here on this trip with this lovely lady & this one too.

Modifications: I didn't want my apples hangin' down to my knees (wait, can I rephrase that?) so I used a few suggestions from the 8/28/06 Disdressed post, as well as added my own little signature seed stitch touch.

We'll see how it works out tomorrow at Noe Valley's lovely neighborhood farmers market!

~Happy Friday Everyone ~

The Windy City

2006-09-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dreamy-Eyes and I are in Chicago right now.
Huh?
What's that you say?
Ooh, Chicago wasn't one of the stops on our Fall/Winter tour?
Riiiiigggghhhhtttt.....unless you have wind...rain....and a tarmac under construction.

First person to give me the name of the genius who thought Chicago would be a good place for a major U.S. airport gets a prize. Seriously. I have some words for that guy.

After many an hour sitting around waiting to get on the outbound flight for Chicago from Boston....we finally boarded for a relatively smooth flight. We arrived....just to wait around again for hours and hours.

We decided to hunt down the silver lining in what looked to be a fairly dismal travel day....and bought one of these babies:

Actually, that's not really what I meant to say, but it slipped out, because these hot dogs are really the only thing on my mind right now. Partly because I still have a stomach ache from the one I ate last night, and partly because I can't wait to get back to the airport so I can indulge in another before I fly back to the vegan-land others refer to as "San Francisco".

The silver-lining was actually our decision to give up our seats in exchange for 2 free tickets anywhere in the continental U.S., a night in the (very swanky) Sofitel Hotel of Chicago & a whooping $6 to cover 3 square meals for 2 people (hence, the hot dogs). We found out later that the flight ended up leaving hours and hours later. We reveled in our good decision making skills. Skills that don't come to light that often. We need to celebrate when they do.

Sitting around. Waiting. More sitting. Looking. Gave me lots and lots of time to think about...well...myself. I know. Sounds bad. I came across the most wonderful picture while blog surfing last night, of YarnBoy knitting with his wife, Z. The picture prompted me to add to my ever-expanding list of birthday wishes.

So I looked over at Dreamy-Eyes, and this is how the conversation went:

KK: Sooooo, aren't you wondering what I want for my birthday?
DE: No. You already told me. You told me lots of things.
KK: I want an afternoon with you...to....well...teach you how to knit. And then I want you to make me a striped scarf.
DE: I already know how to knit.
KK: laugh. pause. wait. nothing. Is that right? Then, how?
DE: I know how to purl. And, I know how to knit. But I only know the long tail cast on. (which I don't know how to do, by the way).
KK: Is that right?
DE: yeah, you didn't know that?
KK: No. I guess I didn't.
DE: What kind of scarf do you want?
KK: I changed my mind, I want a sweater now.
DE: No, I'm making you a scarf.
KK: Fine. Then, I want a scarf.
DE: But, then that means, I'll be knitting you something before you've made me something. You know that right?
KK: laugh. laugh some more. fall off the bed. laugh again. turn red. realize he's right. laughing some more....turning really really bright red. Enough said. You're right.

Yes folks, you've heard it here first. I have never knit anything for my husband. Unless of course, the "beanie" (that's actually a ridiculous "beret") counts. Or the 12 inch scarf (I was too cheap to spring for more yarn. It was $30 a hank, do you blame me?). Or...the...uuhh...crap, I think that's it. I'm so selfish. Damnit, my selfishness amazes, even, me.

But I'm working to redeem myself. Yes, that's right. I'm knitting up a sweater right this very minute. It's about 880 miles of stockinette stitch AND it's the 3rd time I've started it (more on that later). THAT, folks, is love. This is the sweater that he wants. And this is the sweater that I'm knitting. Happily.

It's The Berkshire Sweater from Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick in Cascade - Eco-Wool. Pictures to come.

Now...off to the airport...again. Wish us luck!

Blogger hates me.

2006-09-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Here's that detail shot of the bag - blogger seams to hate me. But only sometimes. Ooh well...add 'em to the list.

Commish

2006-09-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

Uuh ooh! What do we have here? Could it be...wait...no...not...an acutal finished project!?!

I know, I can't believe it myself. Not only did I ACTUALLY finish something...but I even followed through to photograph & blog it. Good God, what has gotten into me? Must be some left over gusto from my vacation.

This little pretty you see here is the completed "Mama's Lunch Bag" for my mom's new job. This was a free pattern that came with my sewing machine - started back in January....finished...well, a couple of nights ago.

"It's cute, but not 8 months cute, why did it take so long" you ask?

Well....a little anxiety with the pattern....led to....screw the pattern....led to throwing the pattern away (not literally, you know I dont throw anything away)....led to just getting it done & a little matching tissue holder to boot.

Absorb the leather detail, 'cuz it's the last time you'll ever see me use 'n it....that stuff is a total bitch to work with. I used a Teflon foot, which worked well to feed it through, but then the feed dog scratched the heck out of the bottom side of what I was sewing. Annoying!!

A Note on Web Surfing:
To me, surfing the crafting blogosphere is like visiting one big Victorian home, where each room is a different studio - or different blog page. Posie Get's Cozy is the Kitchen Studio. Soule Mama is the Backyard Studio (a BIG New England backyard), and Bara + Design is in the Library Studio. So, when I stumble across a new blog that I had never come across before, an awesome feeling rushes over me like finding a secret garden in this great big Victorian house that I didn't know existed. Okay, sorry, that was probably too much information. Anyway, last night, I found another secret garden. Or more like, a big Mid-Western Porch Studio - the blog of See Eunny Knit. She has completed some of the most gorgeous knit projects and you have to check out her original designs. I'm constantly amazed by the creativity I find around here.

Getting back to my travel schedule - I've got a few trips in the works. Mostly for family reasons. 'Tis the season of weddings & birthday parties...which makes the trips fun and exciting.

Most are quickies...but I might be able to sneak out for a bit should there be good enough reason....left in the comments section of the post...perhaps...just maybe?

New Hampshire - leaving tomorrow for the weekend.
-Wedding.

NYC - End of Sept./Beginning of October.
-Business...but wanted to check out:
-NYC garment district
-M&J Trimmings
-Purl Soho

Washington D.C./Arlington/Fall's Church - Oct. 19th - 22nd.
-Wedding - bestfriend, Crystl getting married.

Orange County, CA - End of October
-Birthday parties.
-Halloween (?)

Toldeo & Madrid, Spain - End of the year
-Family, Family, Family
-3 Kings (Christmas)
-New Years

I'm Back from Maui!!!

2006-09-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

wow. an energizer indeed. 8 days in maui & i'm feeling refreshed. inspired. sun burned & a bit itchy. amazing how that happens when you have a little time to frolic in the jungle.

a few quick highlights from the adventure....and i'll try my best not to bore you.

first, let me start, by saying..."no, i'm not pregnant". sorry mom. as much as you hoped that this vacation would bring to you...possibly...just maybe...a grandchild. it did not. just a daughter with an ill-fitting dress and lots & lots of wind.
i appreciate your candor, though, mom.
it's good to communicate your needs.
back on subject - how 'bout that view?
it's a stop along the road, somewhere in west maui.

the oldest banyan tree in the u.s.a. it's in lahaina, maui and it.is.amazing. my best friend, Katy told me to check this puppy out....and boooy am I glad that I did.
planted in 1873.
60 feet tall.
200 feet wide.
12 major tree trunks. all. connected.
one little tree became 12 big trees. all connected. all creating shade and inspiration for those that have the opportunity to visit it. here's an explaination of how this works.
kinda like this little crafty-blogging community we have goin' here, huh?

bamboo forest. this is something you have to experience...too hard to explain here. but, i'll try.

picture millions and millions of long thin bamboo trees completely encasing your pathway, making it very dark..but bright green all at the same time. now picture the sweet fresh smell of their leaves coupled with this sqweeky clapping, flapping, sqwacking sound they make when the wind blows and they start smacking together. it's rhythmic like music.

crap description. sorry. just go. trust me, it's unlike anything you've probably experienced before. just an assumption here.

sunrise at the summit of haleakala volcano.

waking up at 2:30am.
driving 3 windy hours on a dirt road skirting both boulders AND death.
sunrise on the top of a volcano.
priceless.

ooookay...sooorry, that was cheesy, but i couldn't resist.

red sand beach, hana, maui.
a slippery, steep, anxiety inducing climb on the side of a cliff to find a private cove to swim in.
red sand beach was a highlight fo-shizzle.
the red volcanic sand up against the turquoise blue water.
quiet. private. beautiful. it's what vacation is all about.

not that i'm usually "matchy matchy"...but the color of my back is now matchy-matchy with the color of the sand at red sand beach.
i do it for the glamour and style of blending in to surrounding nature.
it's a "couture" meets "zen" moment.
keeps me close to nature.
and stuff.

Drum Roll Please.
and now...for the "what I learned on my summer vacation" moment.
or better yet...."My End-of-Summer Resolutions":

1. Over-all healthier living
a. more cooking, less eating out.
b. more exercising, less excuses.
c. more balance, less time-wasting.

2. Peaceful Home
a. more use-what-you-have, less look-what-i-bought
b. more look-what-i-took-to-goodwill, less (see 2a "less of")
c. more walks
d. organization

3. Living in the "here" & "now"
a. less planning, more living & doing.
b. less blogging, more making (don't worry readers, all 2 of you, you'll still see me...I'll just cut back a bit with the blog-surfing).
c. less obsessing about other peoples lack of regard for recycling, reducing, re-using and more appreciating my own RRR and unique things people ARE trying to do to RRR.

Off for a little R&R:

2006-08-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

See ya'all when I get back next weekend....aaahhh....time to rest.

Honeymoon Journal: Entry #1

2006-08-19T02:14:00.000-07:00

Click on the photo to enlarge.

One of my favorite things to do in this world (beside make things of course!) is travel. I can find joy in almost anything when I'm traveling....whether its an old European cathedral, a jittery bus ride in Central America or just a farmers market in the midwest.

This past week was my one year anniversary living in San Francisco. It got me doing the old "what was I doing this time last year?" philosophical bit (did I mention that our TV broke? It's been a good thing as far as fueling reflections and such).

Well, this time last year, our honeymoon was coming to a close (in a physical sense...emotional honeymoon is still alive!). We were just arriving back into the U.S. and I was making the big move to the city.

I thought this would be a good time to start sharing some of the highlights of our trek. So, each week (I can't guarantee which day each week), I'm going to share with the blogosphere...and my new crafty friends, a page from our travel journal.

With a polaroid camera in tow, we backpacked across Indonesia with the pledge that we would take 2 polaroid pictures each day....one of someone that represented the day and one for the person we took a picture of. The polaroid would become the illustration in our journal.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Journal Entry:

(Not word for word, of course. I like you guys too much to bore you like that). After our extremely tiring 3-day wedding (more on that another day), we set off for the Los Angeles airport. We were dropped off by my parents, Aunt and Godfather (shown in the polaroid - yes they got a copy polaroid of this shot!). Our wedding was the first time they had come to the U.S., and we were really really sad to have to say good-bye.

The folks of Northwest Airlines were pretty pissed off that we showed up "extremely late" (an hour & a half prior to departure - they have no idea what we're capable of)....and escorted us through security right to a couple of extremely roomy exit row seats. If this is the way they're going to "punish" us when we're late, then, well...you know....

Our cushy ride promptly ended with some motherly duties. Not my motherly duties, some other mother's duties. I'm not a mother...but...you get the point anyway. We'll call them that, but I've never experienced anything like it before. Now, I understand that I don't have kids, and I may not know what it means to have to respond to the call of duty. But the story that follows was like a re-occurring visit to bathroom bizarr-o.

So we're sitting there in the exit row trying our best to keep ourselves entertained on this excessively loooong flight. A woman and her 5 year old daughter march over to directly in front of us, and squats down. Let me help you picture this...by "directly in-front of"....I mean..."six to 12 inches in front of...". The woman pulls out a small bucket, sets it on the ground, lines it with a plastic bag. She then pulls her daughters pants down and prompts her to squat....and...take....a...well...shit. The little girl took a crap right in front of us.

We didn't actually "see" the #2, but trust me when I say that it was.

We had other ways of knowing.

After she was done, she pulled her pants up, tied the bag as if she had just walked her dog in the park, and discards it in the bathroom trash can.

Now. Am I like overly proper, or was that weird? I know that "age 5" is not too young to use the toilet. I know this because I used to babysit when I was 12. And it's not like there was a huge line outside of the bathroom stall, and the little girl couldn't hold it. Did she think that would be entertaining to us?

Were we on candid camera?

About 10 hours later we landed in Tokyo. I was still figuratively paralyzed from the unfortunate toileting experience, but managed to set it aside to enjoy the little slice of Japan that I could. We did our best to soak up as much of Tokyo as we could - considering we were there for an hour and not allowed to actually "leave" the airport. A little gift shop window shopping and a bowl of udon later...we were boarded and flying to next layover of Seoul, Korea.

....to be continued....

I Heart Oilcloth

2006-08-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of OilCloth.Com.

In seaching for some new inspiration & materials to work with, I discovered OILCLOTH.
This bright, interesting and ever so easy-to-clean substance has been the object of affection for mothers and messy children for generations. And now....I intend to exploit the hell out of it. I want to cover every surface of my house with it and drive my husband absolutely mad! He HATES oilcloth. It makes him feel like a child. Do you blame him? It's plastic fabric for crying out loud.

Look what Yvestown did with it! The possibilities for the stuff are endless and OilCloth.com offers lots and lots of ideas on how to turn this wipeable substance into everyday items....and all with a vintage flair.
Photo courtesy of Cath Kidston.

This little polka dot pretty is a bag sold on the Cath Kidston website. This website goes nuts with Oil Cloth stuff to decorate your kitchen and deck or patio. Have you seen a pattern that looks like this bag? Amy Butler has the Weekender Travel Bag that sorta looks like it....but I'm looking for more of a "blowling ball bag" design. Any ideas??

Oooh...speaking of ideas....check out Amy Butler's inspiration page, it has the most beautiful ideas for projects and all the pictures just grab you and force you to feel like your on vacation in the back county savannah of the south.

Before embarking on an oil cloth extravaganza....don't forget to check out these tips for pushing that sticking plastic through your sewing machine

No LIQUIDS!!

2006-08-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

OOOOh Travelling in the current state of affairs is boat loads of fun, isn't it though?
More on that later....

A few distractions - I'm currently evaluating a few books for my collection. Have you snuck a peak? What do you think?

The first one is In Stitches by Amy Butler. I'm a huge fan of Amy....and this book comes with a bag full of surprises.....so I imagine it's a good one....

The 2nd one is Sublime Stitching by Jenny Hart. This one has an Oct. release date and boasts pages and pages of iron-on embroidery designs. I have the Stitch it Kit but have yet to make anything from it....I just *dream* about subjecting my guests to kitchy crafted bed linens.

I'm half way through my 4 city tour....and taking a breather for the weekend in sunny Sacramento where I'll check out the infamous outdoor Antique Fair & The 60th Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar! Yuuuummm, what could be better then a weekend filled with vintage goodies and tempura udon?

Pics to come!
Have a lovely weekend everyone.....

XOXO

Sweater Whore

2006-08-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Sarah of Zephyr Style.

I am one. A Sweater Whore. Thanks to Stacy....I'm addicted. Damnit. Ooh well, I might as well embrace my fate and pick cute patterns right?

Yeah!! Zephyr girls Rachel and Sarah to the rescue! They were the ones that designed my first sweater project - Green Gable...remember? From like 3 days ago? I know...not much time has passed....and here I am...casting on with #2...pretty cool considering I have like 10 other projects that were waiting in que prior to this one. And damnit, I've become such a selfish knitter! So anyway.....here it is....I present to you: Rusted Root...what do you think?
Photo courtesy of Sarah of Zephyr Style.

The Zephyr grrrrlz are pretty talented....so make sure an' check 'em out ye hear? Hip designs with a vintage flair.....

I'm using Rowan ~ Rowanspun 4 ply in Hansel (how cute is that name, though?):

You have to trust me when I say that it's a lot less baby-poo green in real life. The gauge is too tight and I know the sweater is going to be too small (wait a second! maybe THAT'S why I'm the "sweater whore"....because I look like one when I wear them!). Enough with the self-hate talk (that's what my therapist calls it).

Can I admit something to you without fear of judgment? This is the first time I've ever knit with tweed...and....Rowan for that matter. There. I said it. Am I considered a knit-blogger outcast now? Do I need to learn intarsia to redeem myself?

....los angeles....boise.....sacramento....minneapolis....

Well....I'm going back on the road.....4 city tour in 11 days. Think I'll survive? We'll see I guess...considering I'm PMS-ing (big time)....have a cold. My husband lovingly referred to my voice as "manly"....and here I thought it was a sexy-raspy.....no...not sexy. Manly. Thanks for that babe.

Well, I may not have a sexy voice...but I do have my rusted root...and with that folks....I'll catch you on the flip side!

2006-07-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Silicon Valley, California

Well, it's been a crazy week in the smoldering pit others called "Silicon Valley". Not much to report on considering that I was cooped up in an office or hotel room all week. Except for this:
This is a super-stealthy bathroom shot I grabbed at work. It's not the first time I've risked embarrassment and ridicule to bring you good quality bathroom shots...remember this? Who the hell really considers feminine hygiene products to be in the "toy" category? Seriously. I understand that the basket may have been on sale, or some resourceful mother brought it into work hoping to recycle something her children have grown out of....but come on people....TAMPONS AND PADS????

MY FIRST SWEATER: DONE!

2006-07-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

Can you guys believe it? I FINALLY made my first sweater! With a bit of gentle nudging and encouragement from Stacey and Cynthia, I completed the top-down knit of Green Gable. Does this pattern pay homage to the one and only Ann of Green Gables?

So...here are my stats (for those of you who care):
Pattern: Green Gable and the KAL here.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Co. - Cotton Fleece in Candy Apple. Purchased at Lamb Shoppe in Denver from this trip.
Alterations: I did a couple of extra lace rows for an increased sexiness factor. I also added about 2 or 3 inches to the bottom. A little peep show at the top is cool...but no one needs to see my stomache.
Time to Knit: 2.5 weeks (well...really 2 weeks, but I frogged once).

In other news.....my obsession with all things vintage lives on. Old stuff....new stuff that looks old....and old people that...well...you get the picture.

The above dresses are from the Butterick pattern #6582. Think it's too adventerous? Especially for my first ever sewn garment (with the exception of the baby doll dress I made myself when I was 12 - someone asked me if I was pregnant - again, I was TWELVE....what is this world coming to?). Picture that teal number in the back in a satin-ny red...can anyone say VIXEN?...ooh ya baby!

The ladies of Sew Retro have got it goin' on...check out their projects & links - lots of great resources there! Oh oh oh and check out Harts Fabrics and Reproduction Fabrics (my favorites are the 1930's-50's designs!) and of course, everyones favorites Repro Depot.

That up there is Simplicity 4179 and you can see what cuteness Soule Mama turned it into here.

Craft Room Revivial SUNDAY

2006-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

What the hell is "Craft Room Revival Sunday" you ask?

It's my attempt to document the progress of converting what essentially is a "throw-your-crap-there-if-you-don't-know-where-else-it-goes" room into my santuary of crafting crazitivity. My hope is that committing to documenting the progress - will actually force me to MAKE some progress. We'll see I guess.

At this point in the game....my crap is all over the house...the yarn...the fabric...the notions...EVERYTHING. This "sun room" (shall I be so bold as to call it a "sun room") is the perfect place to hide...er...I mean..."keep" my supplies.

Check out what it looks like now (feel free to judge me ~ I know it looks like HELL).

Check out these beautiful studios of some of our favorite crafty goddesses:
Posie Gets Cozy

All Sorts

Little Birds

Make It - collection of quite a few studios

I present to you "the" QUILLO

2006-07-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

After many many months of living vacariously though Bird In The Hand (flickr set here), I finally set out what I've been obsessing about....we'll call it the....QUILLO....a cheesy way to say "quilted-pillow". Since I'm showing it off:

It took a night to make the pattern and do all the cutting and another to actually put it all together....not bad considering I have a pattern now that I can use for future Quillos (do you feel silly reading that word - i feel silly typing it). As you may have noticed, I also snuck my latest Mason Dixon project in there, the Ballband Dishcloth...all pink....all girly...all being hand delivered next week to my gramma in Ventura, California.
What's up with the yellow tint of this photograph???
Next time....
1. I'll use thinner strips to add more color.
2. I won't be a cheap bastard and peice scraps of batting together instead of buying large enough peices to cover the entire area of the Quillo. Note: The whole "piece work" idea only applies to the outside...not the batting. I'm an idiot.

Tomorrow I'm off to Southern California where I'll be spending some much needed time with my grandparents. Pictures of gramma's super girly china collection & tricked out antique'd pad ("pad" meaning "house") to come.....

Also to come....pictures from Stitch N' Pitch at the Giants game....this Thursday....yeaaaahhhh baby!!

i hEarT the pAciFic nW

2006-07-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Well, our 2 week jaunt through the pacific northwest is coming to an end tomorrow and booooy has it been a trip! We started off in Seattle where I got to check out the one and ONLY 100 yen store in the US of A, called Daiso in Seattle. I first saw traces of it here at Wise Craft. I usually don't get THAT excited about dollar stores....but hello!! this was a JAPANESE dollar store!! Chock full of *japanese cute*....and I left with a big bag of ceramic bowls....cool chop sticks and colorful gifting/packing tape (amongst other crap I'll never use, but will look at often)!

Then we moved on to the awesome Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington.....up in the 95 degree woods of fun....frolick....and nuptual adventures. We married off our friends Kyle and Tasha and celebrated our 1 year anniversary!! It's crazy to think that we've been married an entire year already. It's been a very peaceful and fun newleywed year of marriage. We learned a lot about eachother....like the fact that my husband shuts the lid to the toilet. Who does that? Not that I'm complaining or anything....but my goodness....the lid?? Okay...so that's not the craziest thing I've learned about him...but we're not going to go there! I'm sure he has a few things to say about the piles of yarn and fabric he's forced to live amongst....all....over...the house!
Then we went on to Portland. Portland o' Portland o' how I love thee. How have I lived so long without you in my life? The button store lady put it best: "Portland feels like home the minute you drive into the city". I love San Francisco...the food....the scenery....the art can't be beat....but I've never felt like it's "home". I can't say the same for Portland. I felt comfortable the minute we got there, and I hope to actually live there some day.

Top 6 things I loved about Portland:
1. The warm people.
2. The food is soooo good and healthy.
3. The music scene (even the radio was good!)
4. The greenary & outdoor activities options.
5. The arts & crafts community.
6. The sunny weather.

Okay, just kidding about that last one...the over-cast-ness is probably the only thing that I'll have a problem with.

While there, we hit up all the hot spots with help from Sally and Alicia. Including....Ella Posie, Alicia's *gorgeous* little boutique that just makes you love being a girl and forces you to wear pink...even if you're not the type to.

(By the way, when I say "we", I'm referring to my husband and I - who I found out is, by far, the most patient man on the face of the planet earth). We also went to Portland craft supply hot spots....Fabric Depot - 70,000 square feet of fabric goodness....every print you can think of....all at 30% off (I got lucky - they were having a sale). I'm bringing home lots of oil-cloth for baby bibs.

Knittn Kitten - craft supply thrift store...which is soooo much more then that! It's actually a jackpot of vintage fabric, buttons, beads and ribbon. SCORE!! The woman who owns the shop is sooooo sweet and I hope that Portland crafters are generous with their donations so they can stay in business forever. It seems like it's more a "labor of love" then a serious money making venture.

Lint - yarn store - so cool, & sweet staff. Knit-Knot yarn store...which was a very cool hole in the wall yarn store with great prices. After doing a search for the store website, I came across this review of store.....too bad....I didn't have this experience. I hate snobby yarn store workers more then anything in the world. Dava Bead & Trade was a great store with lots of Thai silver findings and semi-precious stones for jewlery making. The Button Emporium & Ribbonry where I scored some cool 1970's vintage ribbon from Germany. The shop owners were very cool ex-hippies from Haight & Ashbury.

Portland was a magical place. We kept stumbling upon these spontaneous public gatherings.
It all started as we were driving into the city during Portland's 4th of July firework extraveganza. Check out these awesome photographs.

Then it was 1st Thursday's - which is an wine & art fair throughout the Pearl District....and then the pillow fight at Pioneer Square on Friday night:

Photo courtesy of Laughing Squid.
And thousands and thousands of fans spilling out of Pioneer Square to watch the the final game of the World Cup on a jumbotron on Sunday. Of course, I can't talk about the World Cup without mentioning Zidane's infamous dead-butt:
Photo courtesy of Mumbai Mirror.

What a way to just sock-it to a guy....I'll never grow tired of watching the clip. So awesome.

We also stumbled upon an outdoor play of Alice in Wonderland at International Test Rose Garden which was so beautiful and awesome to see all the kids running around and families laying around pic-nic-ing on the grass.

.....and Pittock Mansion at the top of a hill that we magically found by just driving around enjoying the trees.

Change of subject. Does it seem like everyone and their mothers (no pun intended) is preg's right now? I have like 6 friends that are all due on like August 2nd. Seriously. So I've been thinking of everything I can make for these future little crafting victims of mine...and I found Bitty Booties by Heather Bailey....and of course, here is the flickr group. Check out this great pattern for bib's too from Poop Pockets. Is that the cutest and grossest name ever?

What do you think of this sweater designed by Glampyre Knits? Or what about this one? Here's the free pattern!

Ooohh...I almost forgot...speaking of babies....I wanted to show off the "Robot Man" baby blankie I made for my co-workers tummy bump (please excuse the crappy picture and dirty kitchen counter....life's hectic these days. Not really, but what other excuse do I have?):

I made it using the cutest "Robot Man" and red corduroy fabric with help from Nikki Shell...check out her blankets....sooooo cute!!

Sorry about the MASSIVE posts lately....thats it for now.....

Wrinkles Wrock

2006-06-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

WARNING.....BARE BREASTS.....
TURN BACK IF YOUR NOT ATLEAST 18

This past weekend was quite eventful on our little 16th Street in the Castro - San Francisco. It was Gay Pride weekend....and we started it off right with the Trans March Festival on Friday, and the Dyke March on Saturday.

It all started with a not-so-impromptu concert with our neighbors as the stars. It was pretty cool, until we realized that they're repertoire consisted of 3 songs....that they sung...over and over....again....for 8 hours...straight.

Then came about 800 women driving motorcycles - most of which were *really loud* Harley Davidson's for the Dykes on Bikes processional, shall I call it. There were lots of people lining the streets watching the festivities, including this couple:

Dyke March continued...

2006-06-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a closer look at her whale tail:

You gotta love a girl who can create such a work of art with a few simple supplies from the local hardware store.

Following the bykes....was the Dyke March. Behold, the making of the most sensitive man on the face of the planet - he's on the right in blue:

I wonder if the "sign-holders" realized that they would not only be holding up the sign...but....this womans breasts as well:

In a nut-shell:

Off to Seattle & Portland

2006-06-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm heading on another trip....and this time I'm going to one of my favorite places....Seattle & Portland! This time it's all pleasure....(not taking time off....but I won't have any business obligations while I'm there....yeah!!)

Do you live in Portland or Seattle? Where should I go? The best suggestions that I get are from local crafters because we all think alike!!

PORTLAND
Here's what Sally had to contribute:
Portland
1. Fabric Depot = huge selection of fabric, often discounted 30-40%
2. Bolt Fabric Boutique = modern fabric [Amy Butler, Denyse Schmidt, Michael Miller, Kaufman]
3. Knittn Kitten = fabric thrift store [hit or miss in terms of selection]
4. Lint = yarn shop
5. Knit-Purl = yarn shop

Beaverton [SW Portland]
1. Kinokuniya = Japanese craft books

Crafty Wonderland is a monthly craft fair held in SE Portland. It is held the second Sunday of every month. YEAH!! I'LL BE AROUND FOR THIS!!

SEATTLE
Daiso, a Japanese dollar store (by Alderwood Mall & Sears)! - (From WiseCraft & GoodToBeGirl).
Wild Ginger an AWESOME restaurant serving Asian fusion fair.

Seattle Craft-Bloggers: WiseCraft, GoodToBeGirl, SticksInSeattle
Portland Craft-Bloggers: Shim & Sons,

SWAP SWAP SWAPPING MADNESS!!

2006-06-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

The color of the month for Project Spectrum is BLUE. I was lucky enough to get matched up with an old bloggin' friend, Pink Purls! How fun is that? She sent me a wonderful package chock full of blue creative goodness....including a blue candle....4 balls of blue yarn....and the best part of all......check out the artist genius in this:
Seriously though, lets stop and consider this work of art. I'd like to draw your attention to the mini knitting needles and pink ball of yarn. Adorable!! And the shells...ooh! A piece of Miami, right here in San Francisco....love it!! Thank you Esther!!
BackTack3 has come to a close and I received (quite awhile ago) my beautiful pointy kitty from Seriously & Beyond.....I loved it!! She put soooo much hard work into putting a really wonderful package together for me and my new little friend, Vixen. (Vixen is the name of my new pointy kitty). Thank you for the new little friend....thank you for the candles....and the ribbon....and the kick-ass pin cushion....and.....and....that wee pointy black and white custom carrier!! I love it all! My BackTack partner, Marga...should have received her's by now....the above postcard is a little hint of what her new little friend looks like....
Betty Crafter recipe postcards are FINALLY being sent out today...can you believe that I'm 9 days late sending them off?? Pretty pathetic, considering that I am one of the organizers! Aaaggrr....I irritate myself.

Well....my friends....I'm afraid to announce that Knottie Knitter here must take a break from all the swaps. I just love love love receiving all this creative goodness in the mail, but I'm having trouble keeping up on my end...I'll be back into the swapping madness in the fall. Am I the only the one that's a little worn out?

I met famous Bloggers!

2006-06-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Aren't knitters the greatest??? So....I was in Denver for business this past week...and guess who I got to hang out with??? Non other then...my SP7...Stacey!! She's just as adorable in real life as she is in her blog.

Here we are at a open air concert in the park:

I also got a chance to meet her crew...first I met Cynthia, Wanda, Michelle at dinner...then we went on to DTC for an outdoor concert....were any of us listening?? I couldnt hear the music over the clickity clacking of our knitting needles (aaah....music to my ears!). At the concert, I met Jeni, Nachaele and Kristina....all VERY cool girls...and soooo fun to knit with.

I really need a local crew like this....Beth, we've got to find some other addicts!!

Stacey and Cythnia also took me to a great yarn shop called Lamp Shoppe. We sat around for awhile talking to the shop owner and just touching yarn and looking at books...it was great! Stacey's bad influence turned me into a total maniac and I walked out of there with like 8 million yards of cotton that I may never use. EXCEPT for the 3 red skeins of cotton that I bought for Green Gables...which will be my first knitted garmet...yyyeeehaaaahh....excitement!! We ended up the night at Monkey Bean where I tried Monkey Balls for the first time....jeez...that Stacey sure is a bad influence:)

Anyway....thanks to all you ladies...who provided me with hours of entertainment and fun while away from home....I loved getting the knitters tour of Denver!!

*STILL TO COME....IN A NEAR FUTURE POST:

BackTacking fun....and a really spectacular kitty that came purring at my front door from Seriously & Beyond.

Project Spectrum postcard swap...and how Pink Purls turns something "average" into something "amazing".

Betty Crafter postcard swap....and the beautiful peices of artwork that are slowly arriving to my house...and even slower-ly leaving my mailbox (yes, mine are now 7 days late...and counting!)....

A Little Mason Dixon Lovin'

2006-05-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

So, basically, I'm the luckiest girl alive.

When hubby and I arrived home today from our trip to D.C. and Baltimore, there was a UPS label waiting for us. I figured it was yet again, another boring package from work. So I called UPS....and found out that it was actually from Purl Soho! Huh?? I didn't place an order....what could be the mix up? I waiting anxiously for UPS to return (psych, I actually tracked him down in our neighborhood - so I was a little excited, what can I say?).

When I tracked him down, I found out that it wasn't a mix up at all...it was pure Mason Dixon lovin'!!
Kay and Ann sent me a wonderful package full of 1/2 yard cotton fabric pieces of a bunch of different beautiful color combinations....I LOVE IT!! Some of them are from the Denyse Schmidt line of fabrics ~ I've been eyeing those puppies...but thought it was a luxury that was out of my reach. Thank you KAY and ANN your generosity is breath-taking!!!
Ahhh....feels good to be loved!

In other news....Extreme Craft highlighted this amazing project by artist Theresa Honeywell who created this knit motorcycle. It was on display at the Georgia Museum of Art. Her work explores the cool tough male world with her pieces like the knit tool belt, knit jackammer, as well as embroidery work of tattoo designs. Rock on sista!

Editor Bag by Roots - I think I may have just found my next all-in-one-good-for-style-and-business-travel-purse:

What do you think? Karissa is modeling it here and here. She pretty much makes everything look cute. Check out her Etsy shop...and her blog.

This is awesome! Check out this homage to the punk rock life of every knitter.

I added a new link to my sidebar...."It's Your Life Presents..." she has amazing Japanese inspired creations and you must take a peek!

I took this "quiz" (if you want to call it that). It's tough looking at yourself in such an honest mirror, but here it is...take it yourself if you dare. Seven Deadly Sins

Greed:	Very Low
Gluttony:	Low
Wrath:	Medium
Sloth:	Medium
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Very Low
Pride:	High

Creative People Everywhere You Turn

2006-05-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

I just purchased the most beautiful print from an artist in Barcelona (gotta support my peeps!) named Alex Noriega. Check out his tutorial creating artwork using his style of painting. I'd like to try to illustrate my constant obsession....mass production....over consumption...over flowing landfills and polluted air and water ways = OUR DEMISE.

I found Alex via KnotWithoutMyKnitting which is a great blog with lots of fun finished projects in both knitting and sewing. Crafty girl that Caitlyn.

I'm still working on a pair of socks from my abuelita (direct translation is "little grandmother") and I've been held back quite a bit for the thought of wrestling with those dpns. So, I've committed myself to learning "magin loop", and I'm in the process of collecting websites that will teach me:
Unwind
Streets and YOs
Demo

Also, check out this gorgeous bag that Eunny made for BitterPurl:

Washington D.C.: The cleanest city on the face of the planet.

2006-05-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

damn this is place is cool. and i'm not just saying that because i'm with my hubby and i convinced him to go to stitch D.C. tomorrow!! (yeah baby!!). heard its the hottest place to hang out. today we went to tryst, the hippest, coolest place in adams morgan with the best sando's a girl could find.....eeemmm yum!

tonight we took the subway (which is UNBELIEVABLY sanitary and orderly - you can actually touch the polls in the train without feeling like your hand is going to curl up and fall off from all the disgusting germs growing off of it). equipped with our tour guide, george, we went to the area near howard for some AWESOME ethiopian food and dancing at dukem restaurant. if you've never tried ethiopian food (or have only had one bad experience with ethiopian food like i had) this is a perfect place to re-acquaint yourself with the tasty cuisine.
like any and all good tourists, we couldn't miss the opportunity to check out all the monuments at night...here are some (pretty lame, i know) pictures i grabbed with my camera phone:

and (as some would say) "warsh-ington" monument (my artist rendition of said monument):
in crafty news....i've totally obsessed with bags and sewing in general lately....some great finds in the blogosphere and beyond:

The Bag Blog and her tutorials and links.
Tote-Along

Tutorial for an invisible hem on a pair of jeans.

Thimble's patchwork wallets.

Bella Dia's tissue holder tutorial.

Hip to Piece Squares

SF Food Recommendations - Tablehopper

Crafty podcasts at CraftSanity and WhipUp.

I think I may have found an excellent Back Tack III pattern - Mini Moopy Bunny - designed by Moopy & Me!

Know...if only Beth would post a picture of the bag she made at house other day!

Next Stop....WASHINGTON D.C.

2006-05-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

well...I'm back in San Francisco for the weekend. my trip to minny (minneapolis/st.paul for those of you who aren't in the "know" - just kidding, i overheard someone use that term....and shamelessly stole it).

my trip ROCKED. with lots of help from eireann, my virtual tour guide, i was able to hit up most of the hot spots. on my last day i went over to grand ave. in st. paul and stopped by the treadle yard goods where i picked up some (hard to find in S.F.) patterns by amy butler. how chic are these?:

her stuff is so fresh and happy.

i came across SCRAP when surfing the net the other night. it's a non-profit that recycles arts and crafts supplies. it's a great place to promote recycling....reusing...and reducing - you donate stuff you don't use anymore...pick up things you need to finish a project....AND take a workshop or two at a very low cost. don't live in the bay area? check to see if there's a similar organization in your hood!

NEXT STOP...WASHINGTON D.C. AND BALTIMORE....do you live there? do you spend a lot of time there? HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO:)

MINNEAPOLIS: Where Have You Been All My Life???

2006-05-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

How is it that you can ask SIX different people the question: "Where can I go that is uniquely Minneapolis?" and they ALL send me to FRICKIN' STARBUCK'S???

Except for a trusty member of the crafting community..........go figure!

As you may have guessed....I'm in the beautiful TWIN CITIES right now. Feeling a little frustrated and discouraged, I contacted Eireann for some crafty guidance. Booooy was I glad I contacted her! Eireann sent me to...what shall I call it? Uuh, PARADISE. Ever heard of SR Harris Fabric "store"?

Well, its 30,000 square feet of discounted goodness! It's amazing....I really don't know how to describe it but, "WOW". Its a HUGE (picture Costco)....wall to wall...floor to ceiling....crowded aisle after aisle after bin of 50% off fabric!!

I bought zippers (.75 cents each) in every color imaginable.....4 foot barrels FULL of buttons .5 cents each....velcro...elastic....every trim imaginable....lace, $1 patterns...anything and everything you could possibly think of. This place alone is worth a trip to Minneapolis....I don't care if you live in Ohio or Belize.....you gotta check this place out!! Thanks Eireann!!

You have me in Stitches

2006-05-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend my mom, sister and I were at Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabric store. We came across this great bolt of dishcloth fabric. Can you believe that it was already pre-hemmed? So all you do is...cut...hem the ends....and decorate with some sassy embroidery!

Needlecrafter has free images that you can print out and trace onto a given dishcloth to beautify with some colorful stitches.

PatternBee has vintage patterns for sale and a couple nursery rhymes as for free downloads! Also check out there super cute vintage children's apron pattern.

Also...dont forget E-Bay - there are lots of people selling vintage patterns there!

And.....of course...can't talk about sassy embroidery without mentioning Sublime Stitching! How can you possibly live without Roller Derby and Scooter Babe designs?

Happy Spring!

2006-05-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

Above is a shirt that I made for my best-friends birthday....I totally jumped on the stencil band wagon with this one.

I made the flowers using a stamp that I carved from little rubber chunks. So like now, I'm totally addicted to making stamps and got this cool little stamp making Japanese book ISBN 4-07-248881-X

I've been going nuts with my sewing machine lately and used a great online tutorial to make these little puppies:

Other great tutorials in the blogosphere:

Felt Cakes
(Photoshop) High contrast a photo to make a stencil.
School Bag made out of neckties.
Make your own lables.

So, what do you guys think of the new Spring Time blog look?

2006-05-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

"You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap! " - Dolly Parton
I know this is the 2nd time I'm posting about this...but I'm just so damn proud of it!

With help from Liz, I completed the Ballband Dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting using Peaches N' Cream and cotton chenille.

I added a backing from some cotton dishcloth type substance from the fabric store. The whole project cost like 0.14 cents, I swear, it was like the most low budget knitting project I've ever done. Sometimes I just want to laugh my ass off when non-knitters try to tell me that knitting is a way to "save money" by "making your own things". If only they knew the level of debt I'm in because of this little hobby of mine. Saving $$ is so far from anything related to knitting its not even funny. I'm like "yeah, if you consider making a scarf for like $90 'saving money', then yeah, I guess I'm saving $$. I mean I guess I could go out and buy a diamond encrusted angora scarf for $8 Million in which case $90 is a bargain, right?!".

Viva La Knit Picks!

The funniest Man Alive (besides my Husband and my Dad)

2006-05-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Here we are folks in beautiful Napa Valley. I'm working right now....and although it's technically "work"...it's hard to feel that way with the surroundings....

In other news...this past weekend, we went to hear David Sedaris speak. He is easily one of the most brilliant, talented and inspiring men alive. I know that's quite a statement, but I really feel that way...and he's fu%#ing FUNNY!! Damn, that man can make me laugh.

Here's a paparazzi picture that I took of him with my phone standing a mere TWO feet away from him!!

I know that he doesn't like having his photograph taken, so I felt kinda bad exploiting him this way...but obviously not bad enough to actually stop, so I guess this makes me kind of a jerk.

Another funny thing that happened that night (besides everything that came out of David's mouth) occurred in the ladies restroom. I had to go into the bathroom several times to get this shot. I had to hide the fact that I was taking the picture every time someone came in. Even I would think it odd to walk in on someone taking pictures in the bathroom. But, I took one for the team, and I brought you this.

What this is folks, is the tampon machine in the bathroom at the theater. Now, I don't know about you ladies, but I'm sorry, I don't care how desperate I am for a tampon....I will NEVER ask the little 80 year old usher-man for a tampon. EVER. Would it have killed them to just place a few in a basket near the sink? Or, not even in a basket, just thrown on the wet counter top would have been better then having to ask an usher.

ooh, before I go, Check out this Japanese craft source!

And...of course....SIGN UP FOR THE MASON DIXON KAL!!

Join Mason Dixon KAL!

2006-04-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've put together a KAL for the Mason Dixon Knitting book, and I hope you'll join up! Click here to join. Hubby is in the process of making a button....so stay tuned for that!

Design Spotting

2006-04-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

These little pretties were made by the designer Bee@Home (how cute is that name!). They make me want to learn how to crochet!
Sublime Stitching came out with a new design...Roller Queen...and I am diggin't it! Can you picture this stitched on to your guest pillow?

Right now I'm currently obsessed with the Ballband Dishcloth by Mason Dixon Knitting. Here are some others that having completed this project:
When A Door Closes
Simply Knit (thank for your help Liz!)
Cat's Crafty Corner
Knitting in the Valley
Sknitty

My favorite picture of my Grampa....

2006-04-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

:::tEn SiMpLe pLeASuReS:::

2006-04-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

I've been *TAGGED!* by Amanda:

Ten Simple Pleasures
10. spooning
9. finding a REALLY GOOD hole in the wall restaurant
8. japanese fabrics
7. reading on the compfiest couch as the sun streams through the window
6. a friendly yarn store
5. eating dinner at home
4. popcorn
3. e-mails from my friends
2. posts on my blog!
1. phone calls from my parents

aaah....looks whos next! Beth, Susan and Stacey!!

Don't mess with Texas

2006-04-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

SIGN UP *HERE* FOR BETTY CRAFTER RECIPE & POSTCARD SWAP TODAY!

Above is a picture that came out the community newspaper from my in-laws 38th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago...look how cute my nieces are! I'm on the far left with my husband (as if you couldn't tell!).

The night before Easter we took my cousins to the local Miniature Golf/Teen hang out (or "put-put" as most baby-boomers refer to it as - gotta laugh, that sounds soooo silly!).

The following is just ONE of many reasons why YOU SHOULDN'T TRASH TALK TO AN 8 YEAR OLD FROM TEXAS- NAMED *BUBBA*:

So I was riding passenger (or "riding bitch" as I would have phrased it in high school) in a race car driven by my husband. Just as we were coming around the corner going waaaaay toooo fast we noticed that Bubba (why they let 8 year olds drive race cars is waaaay beyond me!) was stopped on the side of the track with my mom (as his passenger) looking scared out of her mind. Bubba had slammed into the back of another driver....violating rule #3 of the Miniature Golf Race Car Manifesto. So being the obnoxious older cousin that I am, I seized on the opportunity to talk crap. I began to yell competitive obscenities while wildly waving my arm out the window. Low and behold *Karma Struck*. I misjudged the close proximity we were to the stalled cars and hit my arm against race car going like 30 miles an hour. *OUCH* I thought I broke it. Seriously, I'm not just being dramatic. My hand went numb and started to bleed a little bit and it HURT LIKE A MUTHA. Ok, so I lied about the bleeding part, but it was numb and it did bear a completely different temperature then the other arm. We contemplated pulling over, but that would involve getting the attention of the 14 year-old ride operators who were well absorbed in some all-American teenage flirtation with a huge group of make-up wearing 13-year-olds. Afterwards, Bubba quickly forgiving me and my temporary bout of immaturity, ran over to the soda machine to try to cure my arm with something cold. He's so sweet. I'm so not. And that's the end of the story as I sit here with a black and blue arm.

ON A DESIGN NOTE....check out this awesome lamp designed by Marta Mathew first spotted this morning on design*sponge:

*by the way...that random leaf is this awesome necklace I scored in L.A. this past weekend at a great little shop called "Espiritu De Vida" in Hollywood across the street from the Scientology Celebrity Center (weird place!). The owners of the shop find pretty leaves and dip them in 18k gold. Kick Ass!

SIGN UP FOR BETTY CRAFTER!!

2006-04-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

BETTY CRAFTER RECIEPE POSTCARD SWAP IS OPEN FOR SIGN-UPS....DON'T MISS OUT ON THE FUN! click here TO sign-up....

Easter ended up being a mad dash towards the my-dad-is-leaving-for-spain-and-i-decided-to-do-all-handmade-gifts-for-relatives finish line....but I made it....well sort of. So what it my grandma only gets one sock!

Above i'm working on Ruffles using the wonderfully soft Knit Picks yarn that my Brianne sent me.

Back Tack III started and I got my partners...check em out!
I will be making a softie for: Marga....and Seriously & Beyond will be making for me! I love the pattern we're making by Wee Wonderfuls....and I'm keen (sorry for the 1950's lingo) on the idea of knowing who your partners are so you can kinda check up on eachother throughout the process. Kick ass.

Here we have a little vintage apron number for my aunt. Offically my 2nd sewing project ever! (Do over-sized baby doll dresses and scrunchies from 7th grade count?)....i love love love the little pink pom-pom's (what are they called?)....I love 'em like people love rick-rack.

This is a colored pencil roll for my other aunt. Notice the same color scheme...I bought this pink flowered fabric from a store in Portland, OR called "3 Monkeys". The owners search the country for treasures at estate sales and re-sell them in their cute little shop. Estate sales always seem a little creepy to me, but for some reason, buying things in the store like this sort of detaches me from the whole someone-died-thats-why-this-is-for-sale idea. The colored pencil roll idea came from Red Current. Here's a shot of the inside:
Santa's little workshop also had these little puppies to present:

What do you think of me putting these up for sale in an Etsy shop? Would anyone care to add them to their accessories collection?

Spring is in the AIR!

2006-04-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Easter EVERYONE!!

Sorry for the long delay in posting....more to come tonight...including....

1. The Betty Crafter Recipe/Postcard SWAP!!! - for all you swapping addicts out there!
2. Latest crafting projects - pictures!
3. Back Tack partners.....and more!!!!

I Heart Huckabees

2006-04-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

If you haven't see I *heart* Huckabees yet, YOU NEED TO!! It's a very unique, interesting, quirky film. Dustin Hoffman, Lilly Tomlin, Jude Law, Jason Schwatzman, Mark Wahlburg amongst many others take the viewer into an existential ride through the self-discovery of the meaning of life for the main character, Albert, played by Jason Schwartzman. That, of course, was a very high level view of this complex and entertaining movie....go see for yourself...this movie is KILLER!!

::oN tHe CRafTiNg FrOnT::
Sorry for the delay and spastic posting.....I'm frantically trying to finish some projects for family in Spain....and TIME is running OUT.....I'll post about all that shortly!

A couple of things to keep you occupied....check out this *cute* blog called Shim + Sons....she makes the most beautiful Japanese inspired crafts and posts pictures of her super cute sons.

Spring, my Sweet Pea swapee posted about this great thrift store called Legacy in Sepastapol. All they sell is arts and crafts stuff and run $1 a pound fabric sales!!

I was clicking around the Creative Spaces blog and found this great source for ribbon storing ideas! Check out what this crafter did with a spice rack...

For those of you looking for that super popular pattern, Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina, here they are!

Journey Beyond Boredom

2006-03-30T00:45:00.000-08:00

***My SP7 has been revealed!! Its Brianne!! Check out her blog and her very cute son Owen....THANKS AGAIN BRIANNE...this was fun fun fun***

I'm becoming increasingly obsessed with Ploymer Clay...check out Bethany Cooper's designs and her Etsy store - mostly made with polymer clay...I just bought this pendant from her....ooohh...I'm soooo excited!

Check out the Sunrise Circle Jacket KAL that Susan told me about....it's a really cool pattern available here. Adorable!

April 5th is sign-ups for Back Tack III.....I'm participating this time....!!

::Pretty trees::

2006-03-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

What kind of tree is this?

I saw this cute little washcloth made by Pink Purls back in February and decided to try my hand at an "M" for my hubby.

Specs:

Yarn: Sugar Cream Lily Cotton in orange/pink/yellow varigated yarn

Needles: Size 3

Pattern: This pattern from Knitting Nonesense.

Notes: The "M" pattern was hard to see, so if I do this again, I would choose a non varigated yarn and instead of doing the letter in garter stitch, I would do it in reverse stockinette stitch. The "M" is actually a lot clearer in this picture then it is in person.

Keeping it Real

2006-03-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

The past few days have been soooo eventful!.....Let me start by saying a public THANKS to Susan and the awesome yarn she spun for me....here is a swatch (yes, I DO swatch...no matter what Beth says!....okay....so I never swatch, but I couldn't resist on this one.) I also snuck the little bunny in there (it's not a dog!! long ears=bunny....according to Susan anyway....I don't know what planet she comes from where bunnies have long ears). Okay, so maybe it is a bunny...

Another bucket of joy came in from SP7...and booooy did she go NUTS this time...wow!! THANK YOU SECRET PAL!! It came via UPS, and I passively opened it up thinking it was something for work...to my surprise it was BURSTING with color and surprise.... Zorro by Isabel Allende (one of my favorite authors thank you very much for reading my mind!)...yarn from Hand Painted Yarns...a kit to make a black plaid purse (so cool!....I'm really into this right now)...a gorgeous dark green frame decorated with little sparkly jewels....a really cool candle called "duck farts!" lol....i guess duck farts smell really good....if they smell anything like this candle....and....hhaahh, I'm out of breath....and my favorite thing of all....2 very special handmade goodies....
a little drawstring bag made from a pattern from "Last Minute Hand Knit Gifts"...this is what the bag looks like, but mine is really pretty blue-ish gray:

...and last but not least and really pretty doily (crocheted I think...I'm so jealous you know how to crochet!)...its blue and green and white. THANK YOU SP7....but there's one little problem....I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE:( I did some investigative work involving google and the UPS tag...with no luck:(

SP8 is just around the corner...sign up before its too late!

Does anyone care about where I've been for the last week or so...probably not, lets keep it real. Well... I traveled to Portland, OR for the first time and LOVED IT. It's a creative, happy, peaceful place with plenty of interesting people to look at and talk to. I could live there. Hubby and I also headed down to Orange County this past weeked for his parents 38th wedding anniversary! Wow...can you imagine?!

Ill-Behaved Tourists

2006-03-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were in Southeast Asia this past summer on our honeymoon. On our way back...we "got stuck" in Tokyo and "had" to spend the night. (Read between the lines....we gave up our seats....told our people that we had no control over it....and got a free 24 hour trip to galavant about the city...not to mention $1000 voucher for a future flight! Love it!)

So being the lover of Japanese-anything that I am...I picked up this stationary...Its a cut out placed on top of the most beautiful (and PERFECTLY placed - gotta love that precision) origami paper.

The above picture is this gorgeous mural/mosiac/peice-of-art-that-makes-me-happy-to-live-in-San-Francisco. I'm lucky enough to live next door to it, and often sit at my window spying on boat loads of tourists posing next to it for photographs. Is it rude that I yell at them out of the window "move it, your ruining the picture"??

Am I the only person that thinks it's weird that tourists want to be IN the picture? I can't tell you how many laughs we got while in Indonesia watching tourists pose next to a statue....often times imitating the face on the statue....usually in sacred places....odd.

Other news in the blogosphere:

I'm into tissue holders these days....check out these that Bird in the Hand made.
An a tutorial by Stardust Shoes.

Great Blogs: Mommy Coddle and Simple Sparrow

Great Concept: Use What You Have Month

and I love this quilted handbag.....Wise made so many of them...and so did Creative Little Daisy...

PDX Super Crafty of Portland put together this great resource for crafsters thinking of building their own businesses.

2006-03-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

I just finished and sent off my CD for the Penguins CD Club! Its an awesome set if I do say so myself....here is the set list:

1. Kahyangan" By a Gamelan Orchestra feat. On Degung Klasik Vol.3
2. "Indigo" By Lady Mecca and mixed by Carmen Rizzo
3. "Appleorange" By Alpha
4. "Glory Box" By Portishead
5. "El Estuche" By Asterciopelados
6. "Progression Sessions" By LTF Bukem and DJ Conrad
7. "Sea Song" By Doves
8. "Sometimes" By James
9. "Going, Going, Gone" By Stars
10. "Jamma Jenngii" By Baaba Maal
11. "Le Parcours d’unne Larme" By Princess Agnes
12. "Breathing Light" By Nitin Sawhney
13. "1er Gaou" By Magic System
14. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" By Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole
15. "All That You Give" By Cinematic Orchestra Feat. Fontella Bass
16. "Nothing Without You" By Dohl Foundation & Fun Dr. Mental, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

If your a total music whore too, like I am...lets do a cd swap! Email me or leave a comment.

1970's-catholic-school-cordaroy-uniform meets Denyse Schmidt!

2006-03-17T01:06:00.000-08:00

Stacey Beach....where art thou?? If you haven't figured me out yet, I'm your Secret Pal 7!! Recognize the little birdies??
For those of you who like "wtf is she talking about"....the back of these little birdie cards have clues to my identity sent to my SP7 for her to figure out who keeps sending her goodies.... hopefully she'll actually find her way here so that I don't look like a total jack-ass giving impossible to crack clues!

I'm working on ruffles right now using the buttery soft yarn that my SP7 gave me (and the beautiful stich markers that SP6 - Susan made for me....didn't actually NEED them for this project...but I could'nt resist...they just make me so happy, so I threw them on there!!). Forgot to mention that SP7 used the brown/pink and brown/baby blue color combo in my last package which I totally dig. I've been paying attention to the color combo since then, and apparently (according to some HGTV remodeling show I was watching in the middle of the night while bored out of my mind in fort worthless), the color combo became famous b/c it was a favorite of Louis XIV. So thats why you see a lot Parisian flats painted using this combination! I'lll just have to go to Paris myself and verify this fact!
I'm having some major ergonomic blogging and knitting related carpal tunnel issues, so my hubby (looking out for my health as well as his sanity as I turn into a total BABY when I don't feel good....poor guy...) has banned the above mentioned activities (thank god for wireless...I'm posting this from the bathroom...he thinks i'm brushing my teeth...ssshhh don't tell!). Anyway, the good news, is that i decided to make the Sticky Wicket beeswax candles as a result of my total bordem.....not bad, huh?

Alas....I'd like to unveil my very first pillow project slash creative swap that I'm doing with Susan. It's an homage to the 1970's-catholic-school-cordaroy-uniform meets Denyse Schmidt!
What do you think Susan? I'm throwing this puppy in the mail this weekend....(unless you think it sucks, which, just let me know and I can make something with a different color theme or something...i'll only be a little hurt...actually...really sad...just tell me it got lost in the mail or something and i'll make you a new one:)

Yarn Porn

2006-03-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

"The shot location was picked because
1) if you look at the very highest point of the yarn in the picture, that is about the location of my house, and
2) the little park where I took the pic is the farthest upstream that Lewis and Clark traveled up the Columbia River on their trek west."
How cool is that?!

A new picture in this morning on the beautiful yarn that Susan's sending me! Susan was kind enough to entertain my yarn porn addiction and take some hank shots before widing it into a CP (that "center pulling" for those of you like me who had NO IDEA what the heck that is) ball.

Susan...your so hard on yourself....this is awesome! Not "stinky"!
Pic's of the pillow I made her for our swap to come....stay tuned!

2006-03-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

I'm diggin....Amy Butler designs (fabric and patterns!). She's allllll talent and you gotta check out her prints and patterns.
Repro Depot Fabrics is an EXCELLENT place to find interesting fabircs, buttons, t-shirts, patterns what-have-yous! This one is called "Rodeo Music" - how cute is that? ....just trying to find something to make out of it! A small throw perhaps?!

Came across Marta's blog and her interesting broches and other bead, button and felt peices of art...can't read one darn word on her site (Portuguese...damn me for not being more linguistically versitile!)...but the photos are BEAUTIFUL!

I'm going to Portland, OR for the first time in my life next week for 2 days and I AM EXCITED!! I know there is a huge DIY crafting community there, so I can't wait to check it out. I'm looking for cool places to check out...so leave a comment if you know of any! Collection ideas...
Bolt Fabrics on Alberta
The Ella Posie shop of our own, Posie Gets Cozy!

Secret Pal 7 is coming to a close, and I'm in the process of slowly revealing myself to my pal. I'm sending her on a little treasure hunt to my identity before sending her final gift. Mean you say? OOohh nooo not eeeeevil at all......bbbbuuuuaaaahhhhh......

Spinning Out Of Control

2006-03-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

I'm just getting spoooooiiiiiled this week! Susan just sent me a picture of the yarn goodness that will be miiine allllllllllll mine!! (please excuse my tendency to behave like a 4 year old...i can't help it!).

It's so beautiful and perfect and I love it. She said that its quite a bit of yardage at DK weight so....I'm going to try to find a pair of toe-up socks to knit with it....this will be my first for:
1. knitting with yarn spun by someone i know
2. knitting with DK weight yarn
3. knitting socks for myself
4. knitting toe-up socks
5. knitting with commissioned yarn!

thank you susan!!

Haight & Ashbury

2006-03-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

I'm Baaaaack!!!!

The past two weeks have REALLY tested my patience....they have been full of:
1. Texan hair
2. Bad food and lots of cholesterol (Olive Garden and Fudruckers to be exact) crap crap crap.
3. Sinus and stress head-aches
4. A cat-fight
5. sore feet
6. Human Resource violations (no joke!)
6. turbulance, flight delays, re-routing and cancellations
7. Mean flight attendents named "Henrietta".

But I'm back in San Francisco now, and I've never been so appreciative of the Hubby and the Home!

I came arrived to a really really special surprise....HAIGHT & ASHBURY HANDMADE STICH MARKERS BY SUSAN! They're so beautiful and so special, and they're by far the nicest markers that I own. Note all the special details.....Thank you SUSAN, these set the tone of a peaceful weekend for me!!

Fort Woth-Less

2006-02-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

can i get a veggie around here? i'm in fort worthless right now ending a week of starch, meat and a complete lack of fiber and vitamins.

i'm trying my best to survive this dreadful place with my ususal wandering of local craft and art supply stores.

a few good links in the mean time....
Otsu this is a really cool store with a handcrafted focus.....all vegan...which is interesting!

free clutch purse pattern: kwiksew clutch. i'm totally obsessed with all things sewing right now.

more to come later...

Crafty Bi-otches & SP6 Swap

2006-02-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

the crafty bi-otches just left and i have to say WOW....thanks girls, for popping me out of that mood! we had such a great time eating (beth taught us how to make calzones....rather....beth made calzones for us and we sat back and ate the results...works for me!).

with rachel and beth's guidence we made humming bird feeders from recycled glass bottles and lots and lots of glitter, buttons and sequins. mine, selfishly turned into a sequins container...
the swap with susan is going well....she posted a pic of the yarn she's spinning up for me and i gotta say I'MMMM SOOOOO EXCITED! i've never knit with yarn spun by someone i know and i can't wait. the colors are so beautiful too! yay! last night i did some planning and sketches of the pillow that i'm going to make for her...and i think i'm going to go with a denyse schmidt quilting style of modern design....is this cool with you, susan?

*photograph shamelessly stolen from susan. let me know if you want it back, it's so beautiful...i couldn't resist!

100% Baby Alpaca

2006-02-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

THE SECRET PAL GODS MUST BE SINGING B/C I HAD A LITTLE COINK-A-DINK WHEN I WENT TO THE P.O. TO MAIL MY 2ND SP7 GIFT....SOMETHING FUN WAITING FOR ME FROM MY OWN PERSONAL SECRET PAL!!

does anyone really know the splender of 100% pure baby alpaca? ooooh thank you sp for this wonderful pink and brown goodness! i'm on a yarn-fast right now, so it's good to know that i have people willing to sneak this contraband directly through the bars of my knitting cell. also included were some lotion samples...and ever so useful tapestry needles (w/ case! yay! needed that!) AND a cute little note book that will serve as my projects journal. how did you know that i LOVE grid paper?
THANK YOU MYSTERIOUS-SP7!!

finished object to announce....
(sorry the photo sucks)....finished off my sewing class with a ....green velvetized roses purse...and i'm so proud of it...it's lined, velcro'd and everything. lining:
i'm thinking of adding a knitted pocket for my cell (using the yellow silk/wool stuff that my sp sent last month). hubby rolls his eyes everytime i'm launched into frantic search-ness when my phone rings. i feel confident enough to join back-tack now...in the mean time, check out this fabric resource and this pattern for bags and wallets. it's been really fun so far with the exception of the minor mis-hap with the rotary cutter...damnit that shit is SHARP! here is the artist rendition of what went down last night:
i came across a crafter last night that wrote "the rotary cutter is the best thing that's happened to me" (i might be exagerating again). can't remember who that was...but she forgot to mention that its the best thing, until it ever so sligtly taps you in the wrong place inciting blood gushing craziness. thank God it wasn't a major artery.
I found out via Mrs. Pilkington that LollyGirl put together the coolest inspiration group and postcard swap...project spectrum...which is all about color!! check it out and join up!

tomorrow....crafty bi-otches are coming over...and we're making bird feeders!

Obtain the Air Angels Breathe

2006-02-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I know this is becoming like a "what-cristina-did-this-past-weekend-blog".....but I just couldn't resist these pics....In the news this past week.....

I had an eventful weekend...it started with a trip to Sacramento to witness my mom's swearing in! She's a judge now!! How exciting is that....I've been selfishly scheming up ways of how I can exploit this new position of hers. My 2 hour trips home will now be collapsed to a breeeeezy 15 minutes!

My 8-ish year old cousins, Bubba and Jake learned how to drive. Kids start younger and younger each year.

We topped it off with a trip to Lake Tahoe...one of the most beautiful places on earth. Okay...so, maybe I need to get out a little, but really, Tahoe is soooo gorgeous, and if you haven't been yet, you need to!!

Even Mark Twain thought so!
"Three months of camp life at Lake Tahoe would restore an Egyptian mummy to his pristine vigor and give him an appetite like an alligator. The air is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious, the same as angels breathe."
Mark Twain, 1860's

ON THE CRAFTING FRONT:
I finally finished my mom's red-hot-birthday socks....I did the tacky-crafter thing that EVERY knitter has done one time in his/her life (don't deny it!!)...and wrapped up one and a half socks for her to open on her birthday. She was a little confused...but figured it out pretty quick after getting poked by 4 dpn's as she ripped open the package!
My last Sewing 101 class is tonight, and I'm signing up for the 202 class at Stonemountain & Daugher Fabrics....buttons...zippers...seams...ooh my!

And lastely I'll leave you with this little number by Knit Daisy Knit from the Melanie Falick Handknit Holiday Book. And....this cute little wash cloth knitted up by Pink Purls, originally designed by KnittingKnonSense. KnittingKnonSense also has patterns for letters too!!

Do You Remember Me?

2006-02-12T22:38:00.000-08:00

Of course I do, SP7....how could I forget you?? And thank you for making my day!! I got this wonderful and super unique postcard from my SP7 today....I've never seen anything like it...and it's amazing, I love it!! The scan doesn't do it justice, but let's just say that this thing will be riding around in my purse the next few weeks for easy pull-out-show-off action...before it ends up in its permanent place on my craft wall for inspiration.
This is soooo great...thank you!!!
Wow what a beautiful day in the city! I can't help but feel sorry for all the poor saps on the east coast drudging through 12 inches of snow as I spend the weekend frolicking about with my friends...sisters....and hubby!
hubby....sisssser and kyle re-enacting the infamous beetle crosswalk shot...except that i was too chicken to stand in the middle of the street to take the shot....
my sisters and i taking a shot at the top of the coolest park ever...overlooking the bay - awesome! we're so super goth...yeah...totally...
my gorgeous cousin susan...wow what a hottie....posing o-so-european style at my front gate. she's soooo damn cute with her little retro necklace!!

Liiiive from Boise!

2006-02-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

You say "boi-ssss-y".
I say "boi-zzzie"...
you say potato....
i say..."what the hell am I doing in Boizzie"?

Just checking in to say hello...some cute stuff I came across....
Yard stick shelf by Merwing.
Gifty gift exchange, by the Paper Princess.
Tag Sale Tales, a running dialogue of the crativity found in yard sales.
Back Tack exchange.
Very Mom. Okay, I'm more of "does-that-book-have-pictures" type of blog "reader" (I know Beth can sympathize), but this one is really really funny! Check out the shirts she's selling to attend....
BlogHer. Where the women bloggers are.
Martha's at it again! Check out what she's doing with crayons...
These are gorgeous and unique necklaces designed by Pashupatina ....wow! what talent!
Beth made some changes to her banner and added a button!

...Its the Age of Aquarius...the Age of Aquarius

2006-02-05T22:03:00.000-08:00

and I took my little aq-curious to the sea (thought that was appropriate) to celebrate his 29th birthday....

here we are in the little hansel n' gretle village of carmel-by-the-sea. breakfast...so romantical...

...and a swim with the fish and sharks....feeding time with the "dale the diver" at the monterey bay aquarium. check out their webcam, too...feeding time is 11am and 4pm pacific-ocean-standard-time.

no-one around to take your picture? try using the reflection of an aquarium! a little fish...a little sea....a lotta smoochin'. perfect!

we took lots of picture of the beautiful marine life....jelly fish are always so much more pleasant when behind some protective glass!

Just checking in...to say hello!

2006-02-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

In the news the past week....

I recieved a few more lovely postcards this week! Upper left hand one is a line drawing by Krafola (or photo-shopped) picture of a dog....its very cool and so is her blog....so check it out!
The upper right is from Lil Fish and is a photograph of a super cute eye-patch dog she made. It's not really called an "eye patch dog"...but it looks like he has one...like a pirate...aaarrrr!!
Last and not least we have Little Moochi...and how cute is that?? Wow...thanks! She drew a bunch of different animals representing other years of the chinese calendar. I feel extra special because not only do I get to have a peice of her art in my house...but because she's the organizer of our swap..and wow what a great job she did...it was sooo much fun...THANKS MOCHI!.

Knitting Olympics is coming up fast (cast-on is on Feb. 10th at 2pm!). Beth has been kind enough to loan me her Yarn Girl Guide to Beyond the Basics , so I'm going to be knitting my first ever sweater..."a sweater for the ages" pictured above in a dark aqua color (the color, I'm sure will change 5 or 6 times before I actually cast on)...but hey...that's what physical training is for right?

I've made a little progress on my Red Hot Socks for the KAL...and my mom's birthday! (this is will my first knitted item gift to my mom!!) I'm pretty happy with them so far...but I'm a little afraid that the ribbing isn't going to be tight enough for my mom's taste...she likes her socks TIGHT. Ooh, well, I imagine she'll do me the courtesy and just fake it!

Last but most certainly not least...I'd like to make a shot out to Susan. She's my SP6 spoiler...and she has agreed to share her craft with me and engage in a swap..yay!! So, she's going to spin me some yarn, and I'm going to (attempt) to make her a pillow....I have lots of ideas...but I know if this should be a surprise kinda thing or not..what do you think Susan?

P.S. Is this cool or what, I guess you can buy your own stamp-making kit at Michaels!. A cheaper way to do it, is by making shapes out of craft foam and glueing them to wood....a project for the crafty bi-otches....perhaps???!!

2006-01-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

The Mail Man's here!! (sorry to be so gender-specific, but he really is a man!)

I recieved a couple of super fun things in the mail today....the first being from FOUR postcard swappers...check 'em out!

The blue one is from Bettsi and actually came from Citrus Heights which is right next door from Sacramento, where I grew up! Weird. The black n' white photo is really cool, but I'm sad to say that I can't read the print well enough to tell where its from! Blogger o' blogger who art' thou?? If this is yours, please let me know! ***UPDATE***Amy was kind enough to educate....the Black & White photo if by Ness of Australia!! Thank you Ness...I totally dig b&w photography...this is a great picture.! Thanks Amy for pointing me in the right direction.

The one on top is by Ann from North Carolina. She made her cards using blue cordory and some really cool letter stamps that she made out of wine corks!! So cool! My sister recently gave me an exacto knife (don't ask why!), so i think I'm just going to have to try this out...
The second one is from La Fee Coriandre and includes some romantical french magazine cut-out (I have no idea if it's romantical, but, hey, it's French, so it probably is!)....and a cute little blue and white dog. Thanks everyone for the gorgeous cards!!

In other news, my order from Sticky Wicket came in today with my DIY candle making kit and cool decorative class tray kit. Sticky Wicket is a really cool small company that focuses on the DIY movement as well as using environtmenally friendly and recycled products.

This past weekend was mildly producting on the crafting front. I made another decoupaged canister using Mod Podge and origami paper, this one will hold come colored pens. I also dragged my sweet poor husband to Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics for their annual open house and scored some felt, a few beautiful Japanese fabics for my leap on to the Crafting Japanese bandwagon!

2006-01-29T22:27:00.000-08:00

Whip Up
Today I received the most exciting news! A few of the super-cool craft bloggers got together and made yet another creation...a craft blog called "whip up". Here they will chronicle news, events and stories from the crafting community. They officially go live on Feb. 1 and I cant wait! Check it out....it should be a good one!

2006-01-28T00:35:00.000-08:00

Post Card Swap is approaching its peak! Tonight I finished up my cards and will be sending them out to fellow swappees....Thanks, Myra for putting this together!

Each card was required to have a dog (for year of the dog), blog address and "happy new year" in any language. I wrote mine in American. *b/c i'm patriotic like that* I'm not a really big "dog person", so I opted for snoop dogg, which, NO crafter can resist! The lucky (if I do say so myself!!) recipients of my postcards will be: Nicole, Amanda, Amy, Crystal, Tyn, Wenche, Tina, Raellyn, Veronica, and Kathi!

I already got 2 post cards in the mail today...and let me tell you how exciting that was!! The first one was from Debbie of Virgina, and included quilted, embroidered & colored doggies playing in the grass. It was mounted on soft brown felt and is gorgeous!

The second was from Kate of England. She sent me a close up picture of a quilted outdoor scene that she did (I think), with a little West Highland Terrior. I'm so curious to see the rest of the quilt!! Thanks Kate!

2006-01-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

So last night was my first of 6 sewing classes at StoneMountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley. (Whats up with that name, anyway?). The fact that it was IN the fabric store, made it really hard for me to concentrate....so i scored little a scrap of gorgeous woven pink fabric which I fondled under the table.*behavior very similar to eating paste* (which I'm not above doing, by the way).

I'm taking this class because my mom hooked me up with a cool sewing machine...that has just been sitting in the corner of the room whispering at me *use me*use me* like a guy at a club. The other reason why I'm taking this class is because of AWESOME inspiration like this:

These were all made by the ever-so-talented Miss Alice Faye...and I decided that I want to be JUST like her when I grow up and make neat things for my friends. She also made a matching bag, which she made using a purse that she made using a crafters tutorial.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers

2006-01-24T13:59:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to say that I'm knitting my second (ever!!) pair of socks....and I'm doin' 'em for the red hot sizzling socks group started by the lovely Becky (check out her awesome blog if you have a chance!).

I'm working the "Best Foot Forward" pattern from the Knit Socks! book that Susan sent me for SP6 using Knit Picks superfine alpaca/silk/merino wool worstered weight yarn called Andean Silk in Barn Red...it rocks!! For a breezy 3 skeins at $3.29 each...you can whip out a pair of super-luxiurious socks in no time!

Take note of the matching red robe....it's good to really get in the red-hot-knitting mood by wearing matching "clothes". (Note the time I posted...yes, it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon....and yes, I'm STILL in my robe!)

TAG...I'm it!

2006-01-23T23:30:00.000-08:00

These are so much fun! I got tagged by kitkatknit ....read to the end to see if your next!!

Four Jobs You Have Had In Your Life:
1. hospital candy striper (thats Stipe..not STRIP)
2. copy center girl
3. disabilities rights advocate
4. field marketing specialist
Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1. charlie & the chocolate factory (the real one)
2. the hair dressers husband
3. sound of music
4. wizard of oz
Four Places You Have Lived
1. sacramento, california
2. madrid, spain
3. east lansing, michigan
4. santa cruz, california
Four TV Shows You Love(d) to Watch
1. the apprentice
2. beverly hills 90210
3. knitty gritty
4. girls behaving badly
Four Places You Have Been on Vacation
1. indonesia
2. panama
3. belize
4. korea
Four Places You want to visit
1. the rest of europe
2. brazil
3. all of africa
4. pakistan
Four Websites You Visit Daily
1. kitkatknit
2. knitknitknitknit
3. google
4. red current
Four of your Favorite Foods
1. tortilla espanola
2. rainbow salad
3. strawberry/nutella crepes
4. wonton soup
Four things currently on the floor in your car (truck)
1. an ice-cream maker
2. my husbands swim trunks
3. one shoe
4. magazines
Four Bloggers You are Tagging:
1. knitknitknitknit
2. miss mcSpazzitron
3. mopsp (that's "my own personal secret pal"...you know who you are!!)
4.

Crafty Bi-otches

2006-01-22T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today my the Crafty Bi-otches came over for our first ever crafty sunday. We're getting together once a month (or more!!) and taking turns teaching eachother something new. This time it was my turn, and of course, we made...my most current obsession....Decoupage!

This is my sister, Monica, and her beautiful glass candle holder decoupaged with interesting magazine cut-outs (isn't she adorable?):

Beth and her crazy red and white fuzzy bucket....she had a cute name for it, of which i forget...what did you call it Beth? This one will be filled with yarn in NO time!

Rachel showing off her snazzy flower pots with total sparkle power!

...and a close up of her pots...so cool!!

Last but not least....here is my homage to Japanese oragami prints. My sister was trying to hide inside of my bucket!!:

SP7 Has Arrived!!!

2006-01-20T18:26:00.000-08:00

So...I went to the post office today to drop off my first secret little baggie of suprises when my post-master informed me that *I* had something waiting for me from *MY* secret pal!!!!

She sent me the coolest stuff!! A ball of my all time favorite Noro Kureyon...in a color way that I've never seen before. This will most likely turn into this cool scarf made by Becky.

She also sent me the nicest yellow silky wool yarn that I've never come across (thanks SP for exposing me to all this cool new stuff!!)...this might become apart of the above scarf...or turn into socks...not sure yet!

For good measure she threw in the sweetest knitty card....along with some matching ones of my own....some great skin spoiling stuff AND....my very first embroidery thread!! Yay for SP....This is all so great and I appreciate all the great loot!!

The best part of it all? I'm one step closer to figuring out who she is!! The return address was from Mossuri!! HA!

Magnets Made...SP7 Sent...

2006-01-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

So today was a pretty productive day on the crafting home-front. Beth told me about the highly althletic Olympic Sweater Making Team...and I gotta tell ya...I'm really going for the gold this time! I'm going to be making my first sweater ever...and I'm doing it in 16 days flat!

Pictures to come after training camp (aka swatch making)...when we light the flame on Feb.10th!

I also finished a couple more magnets, one of which I sent to my SP7 today....

I hope she likes it, I have a feeling she will considering that she's a total sucka for the color pink!

I also finshed up my little decoupage pen holder magnet thingy...for my dry-erase pens that I keep on the fridge.

How to make Pen-Holder-Magnet-Thingy:
1. Go to the super-market and buy one of those band-aid-bubble-gum things (sounds disgusting, I know!!)
2. Eat all the gum inside...or dump it out if you don't want to embarrass yourself like I did.
3. Rip off the top...now you just have an aluminum cannister.
4. With some Mod Podge, a brush and some cool paper or fabric, glue that puppy to the cannister.
5. Seal the decoupage by painting the Mod Podge over the paper or fabric too.
6. After dried, super-glue a strong magnet to the back and throw that baby on the fridge...voi la!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

SP7 and Branching Out

2006-01-11T23:19:00.000-08:00

Well so far SP7 is going well....yeah I know, it's only being going for like 3 minutes so far, seeing that we only received our names yesterday....but I got a really cool spoilee this time around and I'm excited to get started....

In other news...I finished my aunt-lina-birthday scarf, "branching out" from knitty. it came out pretty cool....the weirdest coink-a-dink was that knitknitknitknit brought up the pattern the other night when we were hanging out NOT knowing that I was in the process of knitting it...oooooaaahhhh weird!

Anyway...it came out really nice, and I know my aunt is going to love it....and I love it because:
1. I conqured my fear of laces
2. it served as a stash-busting session, since I didn't buy new yarn for the project.
3. the yarn was a gift from sp6, Susan.
4. I had enough yarn to make a little scarf for my SP6 bear (which was a Christmas bear, but I couldn't bring myself to putting her away until next Christmas, so I converted her to a scarfy-year-around bear).

One annoying thing that I've run into for the second time, although, much worse this time....is the wavy cast-on....but strait cast-off....grrr....how do I fix this???

SP7 Is up!! I've contacted my SP...here is my questionaire for anyone lurking...

2006-01-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
Yes...yarn snob...big time! Can't stand those scratchy acrylics.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Tried both, haven't really gotten into either.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Straits are in a cloth wine gift bag...DPN's and circulars in a little case.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I say I'm a beginner because I've only been knitting for a little over a year, but I might be more like an intermediate because knitting is ALL i do....so I've scored quite a bit of practice.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No....willing to start one though...might be something I'll add.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like fall scents like cinnomon on orange and giner.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes....I actually have sweet TEETH! i like sour stuff and chocolate and starbursts, stuff like that. I also like chocolate and peanut butter numbers.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I love making stuff with my hands. So, decoupage, painting, drawing, jewlery making, magnet making, cooking, I want to get into ceramics, japanese crafting is something I'm a little obsessed with getting into right now, and quilting eventually, along with sewing too, I want to get into embroidery....etc...

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s?
I like drum and bass, world music, hip hop, mellow girlie music like morcheeba, oldies. I'm really into learning about new music. I find out about a lot of cool stuff through my cd exchange club.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
I like reds, oranges, pinks, creams, greens. I'm not really geared toward "preppy" colors that remind me of The Gap circa mid-90's like forest green and maroon and navy blue.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a plant and a husband. I'm a newlywed, and I just moved to San Francisco about 6 months ago. So I'm having fun learning about my city and making new friends. I'm also really close with my parents and sisters who all live within an hour an a half of me, my plant and my husband. My friends are part of my extended family too.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, sometimes, no and no. Mittens and ponchose are too constricting for me, they make me feel trapped....I can't move my fingers in mittens and with a poncho, I can't really have any sudden reactions without the whole thing flying over my head.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Noro. Alpaca. Fun and interesting stuff. Brown Sheep Lions Pride bulky is cool too because it knits up fast and they have an amazing color palette. But honestly, I'm kinda tapped out on yarn, I'm ready to start something new or expand on other arts and crafts. Like embroidery. Or illustration.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Cheap scratchy acrylics. They make my skin hurt.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I just learned how to knit socks, so I spend a lot of time thinking and scheming about my next sock knitting project. I learned with strong encouragement from SP6...thanks Susan!!
I also just got Jess Hutchisons new booklet, so I'm also into unusual toys as well. Although, I haven't knit much of that yet....it's in the plans...

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Little, quick, bulky things. Scarves are always a good stand-by....and now, socks...even though I've only knit one pair so far!

17. What are you knitting right now?
I just finished the scarf from knitty "Branching Out", and I'm about to start on a cable knit scarf for my mom's birthday using Knit Picks yarn.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!! Love it!!! I actually prefer hand-made gifts because they're truely special and one-of-a-kind. I love seeing all the amazing creative stuff that people come up with. And of course, I appreciate all the time they put into making them!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends on what I'm knitting. I have the Denise Interchangables, so I tend to use those a lot, but I really like DPN's which I don't have a large collection of.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo all the way baby...

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope. No room for one:( Ooh well....

22. How did you learn to knit?
Knitting School at the Davis Adult School in California.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?About a year. But I'm an avid and super-compulsive frogger....so if a project doesnt get done right away...it usually just gets frogged when I have time. I love frogging stuff.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I don't have one particular favorite, but I love all the softies characters and all the unique illustrated characters on some of the crafty blogs I have links on my website to. Japanese characters like Hello Kitty are super cute too.

25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween. Candy. Drunk people. Costumes. What more could I ask for? Plus, my husband and I live in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco which is notorious for it's halloween bashes....and it makes it really fun for us!

26. Is there anything that you collect?I don't have one particular thing that I collect, because I'm trying to reduce the amount of *stuff* in my house, so most of what I collect are consumables, like arts and crafts supplies. Not that I eat paste or anything, but things that I can turn into someting else and give away as gifts.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Maybe some Japanese crafting books. DPN's of various sizes....of which I'll post in a bit.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Quilting and sewing cute stuff. I'm really into decorating and making my little nest comfortable, so stuff related to that. Embroidery too.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am now, I guess! I wear a size 9 shoe. Is that what you mean by measurements?

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
Nov. 8 - scorpio

Self Portrait Tuesday

2006-01-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

2006-01-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

I've officially taken the plunge...and signed up for sewing classes. This is, of course after, having my brand new sewing machine for a year without opening it! After years and years of stearing clear of what I thought to be an old ladies sport, I'm jumping in after many inspirations of fellow creatives and artists. Funny...how I can knit and knit for days and days and never think twice about how THAT may be something for certain Sarasota residents!! My class will be a traffic jam or hour long train ride away in Berkeley at Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics (thats the weirdest name ever!!)....and I can't wait to check out the digs at Britex's Fabrics in downtown SF. Equipped with my skillz...I'll have my new place decked out in no time!

www.BuyNothingChristmas.Org

2005-12-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

I found this website during my search for others iritated with the current system. It's a little loaded with religious content, but the over-all idea is right in line with what I'm thinking about these days...scroll below for ideas of meaningful gifts....

The Knottie Knitter

I've Moved

The Break-Up

Ooh the Irony of it all!

Blogger v. Typepad v. Other?

Visiting the Mile High Girlz!!

*Relaxing*Refueling*

Healing. Knitting.

Thinking of the Kim's today.

"Flight attendants, prepare for landing."

Getting Ready...

Just Talking About the Weather

Moving on...

Confirmed: We are taking over the world.

Because I Felt Like It.

The Forecast Reads "Rainy" In Portland

Thank you.

Happy Birthday to the Most Beautiful Woman in the World

A Contest & WIP

The Queen & Her Pilgrim

Happy Halloween!!

My very own Perdita

Thoughts on Color

As Promised

Stitch and the City.

Showgirlz

My New Wheels

What to do...what to do?

TGIF

Cave Man

Eye Infection

Friday WIP

The Windy City

Blogger hates me.

Commish

I'm Back from Maui!!!

Off for a little R&R:

Honeymoon Journal: Entry #1

I *Heart* Oilcloth

No LIQUIDS!!

Sweater Whore

MY FIRST SWEATER: DONE!

Craft Room Revivial SUNDAY

I present to you "the" QUILLO

i *hEarT* the pAciFic nW

Wrinkles Wrock

Dyke March continued...

Off to Seattle & Portland

SWAP SWAP SWAPPING MADNESS!!

I met famous Bloggers!

A Little Mason Dixon Lovin'

Creative People Everywhere You Turn

Washington D.C.: The cleanest city on the face of the planet.

Next Stop....WASHINGTON D.C.

MINNEAPOLIS: Where Have You Been All My Life???

You have me in Stitches

Happy Spring!

The funniest Man Alive (besides my Husband and my Dad)

Join Mason Dixon KAL!

Design Spotting

My favorite picture of my Grampa....

:::tEn SiMpLe pLeASuReS:::

Don't mess with Texas

SIGN UP FOR BETTY CRAFTER!!

Spring is in the AIR!

I *Heart* Huckabees

Journey Beyond Boredom

::Pretty trees::

Keeping it Real

Ill-Behaved Tourists

1970's-catholic-school-cordaroy-uniform meets Denyse Schmidt!

Yarn Porn

Spinning Out Of Control

Haight & Ashbury

Fort Woth-Less

Crafty Bi-otches & SP6 Swap

100% Baby Alpaca

Obtain the Air Angels Breathe

Do You Remember Me?

Liiiive from Boise!

RelaxingRefueling*

I Heart Oilcloth

i hEarT the pAciFic nW

I Heart Huckabees