Lara-long



I spent this weekend alternating between Lara and my Manos sweater. Last night I finally tackled the left front ribbing of Lara and I almost couldn't stop! It was getting later and my eyes were closing but still I wanted to knit!



Only two more rows and then I get to BIND OFF the left front. I do have a one question about one line of instruction in the sweater but with Purly Girls tonight, I'm pretty sure I'll get that resolved. Otherwise, my thinking cap will need to be put.

This morning when I arrived at work, I had a very nice present on my chair from someone I've just recently begun working with. They were chocolates from Moonstuck Chocolate Co. and are supposed to be Oprah's favorite chocolates. The last time I was in Portland, Stephanie and I spent a long time in the shop just gazing at thier selection. YUM! It's the perfect combination -- knitting and chocolate!

Manos

Since finishing Clapotis, I've been focusing on the Weekend Hooded Sweater and the Lara Sweater. Lara has gotten to large to carry around with me so she stays at home while I work on the sleeves for the Weekend Hooded Sweater.



Today I cast on for the second sleeve. Once complete, I'll begin work on the back.

This is the very first sweater I started when I began knitting almost three and half years ago. I've decided that I will finish this sweater immediately. It needs to be worn!

Have a great weekend!

This week is slippppinnnnngggggg by

Oh I've just been reprimanded for not posting like I should be! This week has just flown by, literally but I just don't have anything interesting to say so until then, check out my Photo Friday Blog and tell me what you think!

OK I gotta go think of a great and very fantastic blog entry to post later...

Miss Clap



Click for a bigger picture

Last night I stayed up a bit later than usual. It was for a good cause though as I was finishing up my Clapotis!



I LOVE it! I’m wearing my newest shawl/scarf today even though we are experiencing record highs while the East Coast is drowning in snow. Now I shall just hope for colder weather so that my obsessive wearing of Clapotis doesn’t appear strange.



This past weekend, I got to watch the Yip-Yips and we had the best time! Jack was too busy barking at dogs on television to pose with Lucy and I, but he was having a great time!

It was ALMOST a disaster!



I ALMOST had a knitting disaster this week BUT I was saved. This past weekend, I was knitting happily away on Clapotis when I noticed that I still had almost TWO sections to complete but I only had a tiny bit of yarn left. I knew something was wrong! So I did something I really should have done in December when I began this project, I CHECKED my gauge. You know where Kate says that the gauge is "19 sts/25 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch", well mine isn't. It's alot bigger, no I don't remember the exact numbers because I was in shock. SHOCK!

I always have a problem with gauge and I knew this pattern used up all three skeins of yarn it called for, so I have no explaination as to why I never checked gauge until it was too late. BUT I called
Angelika's Yarn Store and I was in luck! They had another skein of my yarn (Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in Vera) in MY DYELOT in stock. I received it last night and plan to work my fingers off on Clapotis this weekend.



Kate suggested that since I'll now have extra yarn that I add a dropped stitch section or make a matching hat. I'm still trying to decide what to do and I think both suggestions are great ones so it will be a tough decision. Hmmm I may need to take a stroll through Kate's designs

Whew! Disaster adverted.



So while waiting for my yarn to arrive, I worked on the drawstring bag from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.



Last night I did a three needle bind-off on the bottom of the bag last night and all I can say is WOW! I love how this looks. I'm going to use the three needle bind-off whereever possible now! I'll be using it everywhere! Now I just need to finish up the i-cord and attach some tassels. OH and figure out what I'm going to do with this little bag.

OK off to knit!

PS I'm adjusting to my desk and I have my swingline stapler!

Something or another

I was going to talk about Clapotis today but now I need to rant a little bit. Just a bit and then I'll get over it, maybe.

OK so I've been working at this place since April and today I moved desks for the FOURTH time. And I DO NOT LIKE CHANGE. God is obviously trying to teach me something here but what is happening is that I am feeling uncomfortable at my new desk. Everything tilts to the left and I work to the right. Seriously I don't feel comfortable. I feel like I'm tilting the wrong way and it's not working. I feel closed in. I can't work like this...oh I hope I can adjust but I don't see it happening. This isn't working! ugghhhghghggh!

**UPDATED** I wasn't very clear here. The desk doesn't actually tilt...it's one of those corner desks that has a longer end on one end and that side goes to the left which means I have no space to work on the right side of the desk and that is where I do a majority of my work. The clerk is totally feeling my pain and said this location has always been hard for people. He's trying to give me ideas but I'm not adjusting well.

Guess What I Did Last Night

After having blonde highlights added to my hair for the past few years, I decided to go in a totally different direction with my hair color. I was inspired by Kate Beckinsale's hair color.



My hair color is a bit redder than Kate's and I'm still getting used to it but I *think* I like it. I think next time, I'll ask that it be less red though.



This is me without make-up so I'm a bit pale!

FO



Bunnicula is finally finished and stuffed and gifted! The recipient loved her new bunny and since she is the one I taught to knit last week, she really appreciates it!

In other breaking news, my first copy of Scarf Style has been located!



I returned the second one yesterday for store credit. Now I can go out and buy those books recommended to me by Carolyn

And last night's Spanish class was wonderful! I completely understood most of what the teacher was saying and I learned alot of new words which I'll be practicing today. I could feel my Spanish brain kicking in which felt great!

Today I leave you with Mot's Gnome whom she has named "Psycho" since he scares her in the morning when she leaves the house. You know this means I spend my time repositioning him on her front porch in order to scare her more. I'm such a great Best Friend!




P.S. Go see Hotel Rwanda. It is a MUST see. It makes me want to do more for the world and make America do more for the world because this kind of thing is not acceptable.

Hot Stuff

In my eternal quest to become sexy, I visited the foot doctor last week. While training for the marathon this past year, I developed plantar fasciitis. My visit with the doctor was very informative and he took the time to repair my orthotics. He also gave me a night splint to wear every night. This is where the sexiness comes in. This thing is gigantic and bulky!



I am also convinced that this "splint" is actually a form of modern torture. First of all, it is HUGE and makes getting your now elephant leg under the bedcovers extremely difficult. Then it forces your foot into an uncomfortable position to "stretch" the foot, causing you extruciating pain the next day. So far, I've not made it through a night wearing this device. Somehow without waking myself up, I rip it off in the night and throw it away from myself in a self protective manuever. I've been told through that one must suffer a bit before this works and they had better not be lying to me! This "treatment" is worse than the initial pain!

On a better note, last night a Seattle Times reporter visited the Purly Girls for an article about knitting and its rise in popularity. I can not wait to see what is written. The reporter's questions were fantastic and quite thoughtful.

Bunnincula

This weekend provided us with some SNOW!



Which also provided me with time to finish up my very first Bunnincula! I LOVE this bunny! If anyone is looking for a quick, fun potential baby gift, then I suggest this pattern. Now I just need to stuff this bunny and give it to a pregnant co-worker ASAP.



I gave this little guy a quick wash in the washing machine to give him a slighty more fuzzy look and tighten up some of my stitches. I opted to leave off the pom-pom since this is going to a newborn baby.

Today the roads appear a bit icy so I might be working from home until it warms up! Tonight the Purly Girls is being visited by a reporter! Look for that breaking news story!

No Snow Day

I had a disappointing start to the day -- the streets were not dusted with white, icicles did not drip from the house eves, and most disappointing the television screens weren't blaring with news of a SNOW day.

Oh they tried to report on the SNOW but only areas north of Seattle where hit with any SNOW. Down here, there was rain and that I've seen before.

Last night though I did start a Kate Gilbert bunny last night and just wish I could be at home right now finishing him up!



So far the pattern has been excellent. I did have one confusing part but I've decided that has to do with the fact that it was 1 a.m. and I really should have been sleeping instead of knitting. I'll just have to check that on my next bunny because there will be many more bunnies made with this fun pattern!

Actual Knitting Content

The past few days have been filled with activities sadly lacking in knitting but I do have some progress to report on Ms. Clap!



and here is a close up of more dropped stitches...



I have to say that while I love this pattern, I am growing tired of knitting this piece. I just want it to be done so I can wear it and show everyone how awesome it is! I'm just not knitting fast enough and for some reason, I think I've inherited Claw Hand from Ryan! Purling especially aggravates this condition so I've been taking it easy with the knitting.

I may have more knitting time in the near future though since the weather forecast calls for SNOW! It rarely snows here in Seattle so when it does, the city shuts down. We've been experiencing a cold blast for the past few days which I alternate between secretly loving and hating. Loving because I love the cold, hating because I can't run outside on the ice with such cold air! *WAH!* I've been forced into the gym which gets super BORING after 30 minutes. At least I have the option though so I try to keep that in mind.

Thanks for the comments on my 30s list. I'm very excited about it and know that I will have a successful year tackling these goals!

OK off to weather watch...

30 at 30

Since turning 30, I've decided instead of traditional resolutions, I will instead focus on doing 30 things while I am 30 years old. I was inspired by Kerri Smith of Wish Jar Journal and some day soon I plan to assemble my life list.

Without further a due, I present my list:

1. Read 30 books
2. Re-Learn Spanish (I've signed up for classes!)
3. Focus on Photography by participating in Photo Friday
4. Proactively celebrate other's birthdays
5. Knit down stash
6. Knit Rogue
7. Finish knitting Yarn Girls Sweater
8. Learn to knit socks on 2 circular needles
9. Run the Vancouver 1/2 marathon in 2:50
10. Learn the butterfly stroke
11. Learn to Dive
12. Do an Olympic Tri
13. Recycle more
14. Complain less
15. Use less, be more environmentally conscious
16. Observe more
17. Gather those observations and get them in a book
18. Declutter!
19. Take a photo a day
20. Respect the Ordinary
21. Appreciate what I have
22. Frame my Cat Poster
23. Plan what I can, accept what I can't
24. Give dating a chance
25. Lose more weight
26. Use up beauty products (esp. soap!) before buying more
27. Appreciate my family more
28. Do a "Carpe Diem" activity with Mot at least once a month
29. Attempt Fair Isle knitting
30. Eat healthier

SO there they are, and boy 30 is a LOT but definitely a do-able amount!

Reggie

On New Year's Eve, Julie got to meet her musical idol, Reggie Watts of Maktub. It was a night to end all nights.

You see, Julie has this doll that looks like Reggie. She takes this doll, also named Reggie, on all trips, special occasions and makes sure to take fun Reggie Photos. One year she left the Reggie doll behind when she traveled to Chicago and I took took the opportunity to document Reggie's Christmas. Let me tell you, he had fun! She still has the book to prove it!

So on New Year's Eve she announced she was getting a photo with Reggie and her Reggie doll. I carried little Reggie in my purse for awhile and we got some good photos for little Reggie crowd surfing. After the show, the Real Reggie was a bit hard to find but Julie is not one to be deterred. Oh sure there was some persuading on my (and Eric's) part but in the end, she approached Reggie and I snapped their photo.



That hair! The Reggie doll's hair can't even compete with the real Reggie's hair!

One Word -- Fabulous!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I'm off to see Maktub!

Keep it safe but have fun!

Give!

If you can, please give generously here or here to help in the Tsunami Relief Effort.

Oops!

Today's post will be short and sweet. Mainly I just realized that I didn't wish Stephanie! a very Happy Birthday on this blog yesterday. Oh I went to dinner with her and gave her adoration and presents BUT I didn't wish her happy birthday on the blog and really, what kind of friend am I if I miss out on doing that!?!



This past year, Stephanie has done so much! She ran a marathon with me because she didn't want me to run alone (how awesome is that!),



she invited me to go to France with her and Jen (AND that was SUPER fun!),



she bought her very first condo and had a blast redecorating it, she gained a greater appreciation of yarn (though she says she's not interested in knitting), there was the great Exercise Book accumulation, and a summer spent with Roux at Cake Zoka!



Whew! Now I wonder what she has up her sleeve for this year! With Stephanie one only knows where she'll go and I hope I'm invited along for the ride again this year! Last year's was soooooo much fun! So in the end, Happy (Belated) Birthday Stephanie!

Holidays and Clap-o-tis!

The holiday break was nice and refreshing though not long enough. It's back to the grind for me and this week will be a busy one! The team I support have a major tradeshow next week so countless hours will be spent preparing for that!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent with my family and my furry nephew, Phoenix. Phoenix was able to meet Destiny AND amazingly enough I think she tolerated him. She was very curious about him and really wanted to get really close to him but I think his endless bouncing made her nervous.

In between Halo 2 and Sims 2 playing, I worked on Clapotis and reached the dropping point. See my stitch markers...



Here is a close-up of the dropped stitches. Oh! I can't wait to finish this and wear it all over town.



I also finished The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman. I quickly picked up the third (and final) installment, "The Amber Spyglass". This is a great series and I would highly recommend it. I'll write a review on my reading blog later this week.

Stitch Marker Addiction

Oh I think I may have another crafty addiction starting -- making stitchmarkers!

Last night after celebrating my Grandfather's 79th birthday, I went about making stitchmarkers. See:



I had so much fun with them and made Ariana watch me make them. It was more fun that way and we decided on color combinations together. I think I'll need to re-visit the bead store today and on Christmas maybe Ariana and I can make more!

I don't have much else to report on today. I've started reading "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman and it is enthralling. I'm also looking forward to having the next few days off. Today we get to leave work early so I'm going to do that very last minute Christmas shopping I need to get done before heading over to check on Bailey and going home to rest!

Happy Holidays!

Headed Toward Celebration Overload

Today is my other Grandfather's birthday. To celebrate this we are having Homemade Macaroni and Cheese and Cheesecake. I'm quite excited for dinner but I am reaching my celebration overload point.

December is a busy time for most people and for me, it is even busier since I also have birthdays to celebrate. Both of my Grandfathers have December birthdays along with my Father, myself, two of my dearest friends and a multitude of cousins. It can get hectic but it is always fun!

Last night I worked a bit more on Clapotis and boy do I love this pattern!



She's a bit rolly in this photo but that is because I only have so many hands and a very curvy, twisty circular needle. I am loving the stitch markers though. I purchased some additional pretty ones because Miss Clap is too pretty for the basic plastic ones. She deserves only the best.

I have only one more day here at work this week before a mini-Christmas holiday break. I plan to really tidy up my yarn stash and get it organized. I have way too many WIPs and I need to decide what to focus on (i.e. Lara needs to be finished!)and I still need to finish up my 30 things in my 30th year. That will appear here tomorrow morning!