Creativity Rising

Goin' Retro

2012-02-10T19:49:00.004-05:00

Have you ever had the urge to get back to your roots? Or maybe revisit things from your past that made you totally happy?

I've had this overwhelming feeling to bring back into my life some of the retro joys that I have loved in my youth. Some of you may remember the original Nintendo system (if not, you need to learn. Now.) and this Christmas I was gifted with this beauty:

Along with this gaming set-up of awesomeness, I have also acquired many of the games I have loved as a child. Just a few include Paper Boy, Tetris, Super Mario Bros, and Dr. Mario. Can you say hell yeah?

Another recent addition has been a record player. I remember listening to 80's ladies like Debbie Gibson and Samantha Fox on vinyl while bee bopping in the privacy of my own stuffed animal lined bedroom. Well now I can do that again (minus the stuffed animals) with this:

Behold, my new Jensen record player, taken in vintage-y form, complete with a small selection of records from the Salvation Army. Vegas happens to have many second hand thrift shops, so it's going to be fun going on vinyl hunts. Stay tuned for more tidbits from the retro files! :)

What is it?

2012-01-17T18:46:00.002-05:00

Resolutions?

2012-01-02T22:16:00.003-05:00

Image via Calvin and Hobbes

I've given a lot of thought to my resolutions this year. I wasn't going to make any, since I have slacked off, and never really completed any in the past. Then I was thinking about how it might be a good idea to dust off my list of "31 before 31" that I posted last year. There are some major life changes to take into account as well as some new wishes/desires. So I plan to take a couple weeks, fix up my list, and re-post it, all shiny and new.

But off the top of my head, here are a few:

- Make it a point to tell all the people in my life how special they are.
- Complete a charity knitting project
- Increase my guitar-playing skills.

What's on your list?

Book Review: November's End by Zoe K. Howard

2011-12-01T19:56:00.001-05:00

November's End by Zoe K. Howard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author Zoe K. Howard is more than just a new face in the independent literary scene. She is a woman with great passion and power for not only her craft, but for her audience. November's End is a story of survival; a quest for definition of a changing world, and developing a character's stage. Howard takes the reader on a series of adventures based around Anya, the main character. Anya is young, methodical, and fearless. The overarching theme of survival is further brought to life by the fortuitous romance that forms between her and Halia. Coloring outside of the belletristic lines, Howard's inclusion of LGBT characters empowers as it manifests diversity in every sense of the word. While the genre is one of horror, the depth of the book is found within the souls of the characters. Braving and enduring a disaster brought on by these unknown creatures, the pack of friends become reliant upon, and centered within, each other. Howard's descriptive and unique writing style makes her a front runner in the new generation of writer. I see wonderful things for Howard, including a title on the best-selling books list.

View all my reviews

Currents: October

2011-10-21T03:01:00.005-04:00

Current B-day escape: What a better way to ring in October than with a trip up to the mountains? Day falls upon Mt. Charleston. It was a wonderful day trip and I plan to go back up there very soon.

Currently burning: Patchouli Forest, from the makers of the great Nag Champa.

Currently spinning: Moonrover's Bright Rainbow batts. It's part of the Rainbow Spin-a-long!

Currently crafting: Halloween stitch markers! These were made for a friend and swap partner of mine. I've been making a lot of stitch markers lately. You can check them out here: Silly Sheep Designs.

Current music: 90's alternative/grunge station on Pandora. Always awesome.

Current obsession: Peacocks.

Current goal: Weightloss.

What are your currents?

Shaping in Action: An 'Idol' Worth Worshipping

2011-10-14T22:32:00.000-04:00

Shaping in Action: An 'Idol' Worth Worshipping

Meet Jupiter!

2011-10-12T13:29:00.002-04:00

My First Shawl, the Naughty Nefertem...

2011-08-20T02:22:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it has taken me so long to knit a shawl! I did cast on the Swallowtail months and months ago, but as usual, other projects took preference. Actually, I did a good job of getting distracted by spinning!

Before blocking, the shawl was looking quite wonky. I was worried while I was knitting it that it was coming out uneven on the sides. Ah knitting, how you trick!

Behold, after blocking the shawl hangs beautifully showing texture and lace definition!

Not bad for a first shawl, eh? It was a good knit! Now I brainstorm my next shawl...

Selections from Valley of Fire: Part 1

2011-08-15T21:15:00.004-04:00

What do you see?

Linguistic Fail

2011-08-04T16:29:00.002-04:00

So I just found out that the word 'strenuating' is not, in fact, a word.

Not only have I used this word throughout my college career, but I have come to adore it.

Please someone prove that it's a real word! Because right now I am feeling like a little girl who was just told that Santa Claus is not real. Boo.

A Google search reveals that the word makes a small appearance in Urban Dictionary. FML.

Sock Summit 2011

2011-08-02T21:04:00.007-04:00

Every 2 years, something magical happens. Knitters from all over the world gather for what is the greatest sock knitting convention ever. It's called Sock Summit, and it is wonderful. I didn't have the opportunity to go in 2009, but I heard many great things about it. Shortly after moving to Vegas, forming a knit group, and planting myself locally, I decided it was time to plan a trip there. So myself and a few of our Sin City Knits gals decided to band together and attend this lovely convention. And we had a blast.

Some highlights included:

The Marketplace filled with wonderful vendors!

A tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

A trip to the Oregon Coast and a visit to Canon Beach.

And last but not least; it's not a party until a sheep is shorn!

Post-Holiday Planning

2011-01-07T17:59:00.003-05:00

The holidays have come and gone, and a new year is among us. Happy 2011 everybody.

I hope that your holidays were magical. January leaves us with the taste of resolutions, positive intentions, and goals for the upcoming months. I have resorted to not resolute to anything in particular, but to work on my 31 Before 31 list. I do, however, have great intentions for this year. The road to Vegas was a long and stressful one, but I have landed in a place where love and comfort are commonplace. Admittingly, I never thought that I would grow to enjoy being here, and feel as though this is the only place I want to be.

So what every you may resolve to do, or not do, I wish you love, light, and laughter! :)

Autumn in Vegas

2010-11-29T19:46:00.005-05:00

After a melancholy day, I picked up my camera and went on a small photo walk around my apartment complex. It was slightly overcast and chilly in Las Vegas today, and I think that these photos reflected my mood beautifully. Who says there can't be autumn in the desert?

The Fabulous Ladies of Sin City Knits!

2010-11-21T00:05:00.002-05:00

I love my knitting group, need I say more?

When I Miss New York...

2010-10-15T02:45:00.002-04:00

I can still visit. Las Vegas has a hip, New York themed casino called, you've guessed it, New York, New York. Located on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd, the NYNY has a fabulous location. The beaming Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge are exterior features that are fun, and photo-worthy. Inside, you will find a replica of the small, quaint streets of Manhattan... A place to get 'New York,' pizza as well as pastries from Little Italy. You can travel to all the boroughs, and even stay in a hotel room that is in the 'Chrysler Building.' It's casino mimicks the paths of Central Park, complete with old-fashioned lampposts and vintage NY photography. It may be gaudy and over-the-top, but it still reminds me of home, and puts me back in the NY state of mind.

If you're goin' to San Francisco

2010-10-07T14:54:00.003-04:00

Our trip to San Francisco was wonderful. It was the perfect way to celebrate my 30th birthday. I loved the smell by the bay, the sea fog, and the walking adventures that we went on. Here are a few highlights of our trip.

We walked from our hotel, The San Remo, to the Golden Gate Bridge. Then we walked over the Bridge, which was amazing. Our journey continued on the windy road that lead us down into the quaint town of Sausalito. After a quick ferry ride across the Bay, we were back in Fisherman's Warf.

By far the best part of this experience was spending time with my Beloved.

At Pier 39, I loved watching the hilarious sounds and antics of the sea lions. They are both charming and intellectual, and have a lovely home in San Fran.

A trip to San Fran would not be complete without a ride on the cable car. Having both the experience of sitting and standing, this was indeed a fun attraction. But by far the best thing about this mode of transportation, is the rich history that it brings to the city, and how the cars are still symbols of the simplicity of the time.

I cannot wait to return and explore more of this fantastic city. And by more I mean Golden Gate Park, the College area, Castro, and of course, the yarn shops!

31 Before 31

2010-09-17T19:56:00.007-04:00

In 13 days, I will be 30 years old. Before I turned 30, I wanted to create a list of goals or intentions, adventures to do before I turned 30. Well now, I am planning a list of things to do while I am 30. Here is my 31 before 31 list:

* Visit San Francisco - This goal will be achieved pretty quickly considering that I will be there when I turn 30. I am looking forward to walking across the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting many unique landmarks. DONE!

* Lose 31 pounds - Always a work in progress. I find that smaller, more realistic goals work better, and if I end up losing more, I won't complain!

* Complete a photo essay - Since graduating with my photo degree, I've had some small freelance photo gigs, but I would love to complete a large photo essay. Preferably Vegas related.

* Hit 31 sales in my Etsy shop - I think that this is most definitely a doable goal. I plan to add more fiber and roving soon, and have great things planned for the early winter.

* Take 31 yoga classes - I used to adore my practice. Since moving, I have let it all slide and I miss it terribly. It's time to get back into it.

* Visit the Grand Canyon - I've never been and this is going to be the year to go.

* Donate 31 Snuggles to a local animal shelter. Details here: http://www.snugglesproject.org/ Won't you also consider making some Snuggles?

* Ride in a helicopter. Yep. Preferably over the lights of Vegas.

* Get published somewhere. Book, newspaper, e-journal, anything.

* Go to Sock Summit with my Fabulous knitting group, Sin City Knits.

* Take more college classes. Whether it's towards a Master's Degree, another Bachelor's, or a cerificate program...I want to keep learning. Education never expires.

* Donate another 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love. I've done it once and it was super rewarding.

* Take piano lessons. I know that I may never be as good as my idol Tori Amos, but I sure can try!

* Finish my quilt! I mean, I took a beginner's class back in 2008, it's time to finish the quilt!

* Learn Spanish. I may not become fluent in a year, but I would love to be able to hold a conversation.

* Donate over $100 and/or volunteer with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I won't stop until there is a cure! Find out more at http://www.cff.org/

* Teach spinning classes.

* Plan a trip to Europe with my husband.

* Take pole dancing lessons. I want to tap into my inner stripper. Meow.

* Read 31 books. That list will pop up in my blog later.

* Go horseback riding. The last time I rode a horse was circa 1991. I used to ride every summer when my family would camp at Lake George. I always rode the same horse. His name was Yukon.

* Experience white water rafting.

* Visit Yellowstone National Park and take lots of photos.

* Paint a picture using oil paints. I haven't painted in a long time. I miss it.

* Continue to hoop and learn more tricks.

* Go to a Dodgers game.

* Write in my Journal while sitting on a Pacific Ocean beach.

* Plan a wine tasting night and taste over 31 wines. I have someone in mind to do this with!

* Record a song.

* Attend as many fruit festivals as possible. Strawberries, apples, oranges, lemons. You name it!

* Make a vintage apron.

Well there you have it folks. My list. Stay tuned for 31 before 31 updates!

Taking a break

2010-07-28T16:40:00.002-04:00

Being back in NY is lovely. I had missed the thunder and rainstorms, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the painted sky of stars at night. I had also missed the feeling of someplace familiar, and now that I am back I feel like I can move forward.

I will return home to the desert at the end of season. Until then I am going to enjoy my summer journey. Have a great summer!

Gettin' Tweedy

2010-05-16T17:28:00.002-04:00

My newest creation, ladybug tweed, is delightful merino and tweedy bits spun together to create 296 yards of goodness. I like the way the tweed spins, and it was super fun to see the results. The fiber came from batts carded by my good friend Theresa at Crystal City Fibers.

Letters to a Lost Friend

2010-05-10T19:52:00.002-04:00

You taught me that starting over doesn't have to be sad, and that there is hope in laughter.

I learned that kindness does not discriminate, and that those with an open heart have an open mind.

I learned to slow down, and not be quick to judge.

I also learned that boundaries are there for a reason, and to tread lightly. Life is too short to live with any regrets (which is something that I always believed).

And lastly, I've learned that it is perfectly okay to have a quiet faith, but to me, on the inside, it may be very loud.

So for all these things, I say thank you.

Work, work, work day after day

2010-04-24T14:21:00.003-04:00

I am still here! Forgive my lapse in posting. I have been quite busy in my 'daywalker' role, however I will have much more time to craft as the summer rolls into town. Las Vegas has been treating me quite well, and I am overjoyed with the friends I have made, the places I have gone, and the places yet to explore.

Even with working full-time, I have managed to re-vive a local knitting group, Sin City Knits, and we have been really active. Through meeting weekly and getting to know each other, we have packed our social calendar and have even planned field trips, including a recent trip to St. George, Utah. I have big plans for our group, and come October we will have a presence at the Taos Sheep and Wool Festival!

In more recent crafting news, I have been spinning, but I have also been making stitch markers. Take a peek at my most recent goodness:

These 'Lovely LadyBugs' and other markers can be found in my Etsy shop!

Vegas Water: First Dyeing Attempt

2010-03-24T11:26:00.003-04:00

I really want to report that my first day of dyeing here went well, but alas, I cannot. Back in NY, the properties of the water were much more dye-friendly. The water wasn't as hard, and the pH levels were more...pro-dyeing.

In Vegas, the water is very hard and yours truly did not compensate for extra chemicals. Whoops! The result, although not horrible, actually yielded some muted, natural looking desert colors. One in particular, which I named "Red Rock," was my favorite and now lives with my swap partner. Here are a few pics:

There will be more dyeing days soon. And since the sun is so majestic here, it will be perfect for drying!

It's raining....FIBER!

2010-03-13T13:54:00.005-05:00

And I am glad that I do not have an umbrella!

Forgive me lovelies for the hiatus in my posting. I am here, and recently launched the opening of my Etsy shop. I've added wonderful handmade stitch markers and will soon be adding roving and handspun.

And now, it's time to share with you the lovely roving I recently received from theurchiness:

Isn't it lovely? I am really looking forward to spinning this all up, and will post more pics of it soon. I love the deep, peacock-like colors.

But a part of me is channeling the glory of the 80's and I also purchased this:

It's called "My Little Pony," and I love it! As a child of the 80's, I know a thing or two about My Little Pony. I think I had them all!

Stay tuned for my 'Tales from the Vegas Dye Pot, Part Uno'!

Hide and Seek: Pet Photo of the Week

2010-02-04T10:57:00.003-05:00

Lately our lovely kitty, Iris, has been playing a game. She has been hiding. This behavior started in Corning, when we had a large house, and she would hide and not come out for hours. We would frequently find her squeezed under the couch, or under the bed, and even under the birdcage stand (when we still had a bird). As Iris has grown with us; from a stray to a surprisingly cuddly feline, she has developed quite the personality. Since moving to Vegas, Iris has loved the apartment and has continued to do things that surprise us. The above photo shows Iris all curled up into a tiny 'fox' position. Cute, right? But what makes this so interesting is that she is in Tito's crate! Furthermore, I have caught the two of them sleeping together in the crate! This is leaps and bounds from when she would 'kitty slap' her brother and bite at his neck! If there is one thing that pets do quite well, it's bring joy into our lives.

Creating yarn is a wonderful thing

2010-01-27T15:12:00.005-05:00

My latest spinning goodness is featured above. The roving was from my dear friend Theresa over at CCFibers, and is lovely faulkland wool. Next step is to ply this, and figure out what to make out of it! I loe the colors so much - they remind me of a tropical oasis!

In this basket of goodies, you will find roving from another lovely friend, theurchiness. I finished this handspun just before leaving Corning, and the middle roving, called "Sean" - is my newest fiber. I can't wait to spin it up! Ah, the ideas I have! Perhaps this will be spun on the Ashford Traddy!

Creating yarn IS a wonderful thing. Other wonderful things worth celebrating on this hump day are:

* Rain in Las Vegas
* A sweet grapefruit
* Chihuahua kisses
* Connecting with people who love you
* Volunteering so that children can have safe drinking water.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

Spinning replaces TV

2010-01-17T18:41:00.002-05:00

Since moving to Las Vegas, the hubs and I have been job hunting... and since we are pretty much 'starting over,' we really don't have the funds for xtras. One of these xtras is cable. I've been cable free since the holidays, and I really haven't missed it much. It's actually giving me a lot of time to do some spinning.

A good friend of mine gave me some lovely roving before our cross country drive and I have been working on it everyday. I am almost done with it, and I must say that it looks quite smashing. I will be sure to post pics when I can get new batteries for the point and shoot. My Nikon is packed somewhere, and I need to find it!

I find that the absense of TV has made me more productive. I never realized how much time I wasted in front of the boob tube. In addition to spinning, I've been able to focus in on all the other tasks that I have. All in all, ditching cable has been fine!

Now it's time to do more spinning.

Settling in...

2010-01-08T01:21:00.002-05:00

We arrived in Las Vegas on January 1st. What a great way to begin the New Year. Our drive cross country was fun, mostly the part from New Mexico on, and we arrived safely and soundly.

We have started to unpack and make the transition to live as Las Vegans, including the 4 hours we spent at the DMV changing over our driver's licenses.

Ah, to be in a city again. So vibrant and fresh. The weather here is pure delight. I have picked up my knitting, working on my double zig zag lace scarf. Once my car arrives, I will explore the yarn shops, as there are 4 that I know of.

On the way here, I became inspired by the colors of the desert, and will be developing a new line of yarns soon. So many projects!

My road to happiness is paved with 5 cent video poker machines, and a cotton candy sunset. And I promise to say hello to Elvis when I see him.

I'm moving to Las Vegas!

2009-12-26T19:20:00.008-05:00

It's been an interesting year, that's for sure. There were very few high points, and several low points. For crafting, it was lovely. But with the New Year comes new changes, and one huge change for us is that we are moving to fabulous Las Vegas, NV!

I am really excited about the move, and should be all settled in by mid-January. It will indeed be a new adventure for Team Topple, and I am certain that our exploration of the West Coast will bring wonderful things.

On my itinerary? For starters, I simply must visit the Pinball Hall of Fame! Who doesn't like to play pinball?

I look forward to gazing at the most lovely fountains ever:

I am also looking forward to spending a relaxing Sunday afternoon here:

This is Lake Mead - the largest human-made lake in the United States. I can't wait to rent a boat, and just float and knit! And of course pack a yummy lunch!

And to round things out, I can't wait to go hiking here:

Red Rock Canyon. It's a wonderful place to hike, spend the day, and reflect. I can see myself taking my journal and sketch book there on a lovely Saturday morning.

These are just a few places that I will be visiting/exploring. I can't wait to try new things, start a new career, and enjoy my surroundings.

Did I mention that we are packing up a truck and driving cross country? Talk about an adventure within an adventure!

So whatever (or where ever) the New Year brings you, enjoy it - and have a lovely time.

Happy 2010.

To Dye For.

2009-12-22T11:39:00.005-05:00

A lovely combination of purple, lilac, and vermillion, this worsted weigh yarn was a lot of fun to dye. I am still relatively new to dyeing, but I love to experiment!

And speaking of dyeing, I wanted to share with you all my vintage inspired naturally dyed gift tags:

I must apologize for the poor quality of the photos, I still need to charge my Nikon's battery! It's super fun to create new things. I have a feeling that 2010 will be filled with crafty goodness.

My first plyed handspun!

2009-12-21T20:29:00.004-05:00

Here she is! My first plyed handspun! I spun this on my Golding and plyed it together on itself to create a lovely worsted weight yarn. The fiber was purchased from Brie's shop (see earlier post!). I am soooo happy with how this came out and I can't wait to spin more! I'm addicted!

And all the beauty that she creates

2009-12-08T00:06:00.003-05:00

For quality, brilliant yarns, you simply must visit my dear friend Brie's shop. It's magical.

Spinning on Queen Elizabeth

2009-12-07T16:05:00.004-05:00

Greetings!

Since I have been packing things up and reorganizing, I pulled out some pencil roving that I purchased at Rhinebeck in 2008 and decided to spin it up. I had an urge to spin it on the spindle, so I took out my Golding, which I named Queen Elizabeth - she's so royal! So I wanted to share my progress:

This lovely yarn will be knit into a warm scarf for a dear friend of mine in NYC. I hope that I can finish it soon!

I've also dyed some yarn recently, but it's for a swap, so I will have to post pics after my partner receives it!

All for the love of the craft

2009-11-29T16:22:00.006-05:00

As this month comes to a close, I am happy to report that I am a NaNoWriMo winner! My novel came in just under 51,000 words and is quite lovely. I plan to edit it a bit and who knows? Maybe self publish?

One thing is for sure, this was an amazing experience and I encourage others to tap into their literary selves next year!

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Somehow, I also managed to finish a sock this month, too! I recently learned the 2 circular needle method, and I must say that I love it. I still love my dpns, but the circs are a nice change. Now I need to knit #2. What good is just one sock?

In appreciation of knitting, I would like to leave you with you some of my favorite images. Happy Knitting!

A lovely rendering from a Victorian trading card

An adorable image from a 1918 knitting pamplet

It came, I saw, I spun.

2009-11-19T23:16:00.004-05:00

I received some super yummy fiber in the mail today from Brie, AKA theurchiness. The colorway is called Ford, and I spun it right away. I am pleased with the results considering that this is only my second skein! It ended up being 177 yards, and it looks like a worsted weight (although in some spots it's fingering weight!). It's a lovely mix!

Eye candy:

Things are looking up and up

2009-11-03T23:53:00.002-05:00

It was such a lovely day today. I am filled with joy for all the upcoming events. Good things are in store. I hope that you can take a minute out of your day to recall something beautiful you saw or felt today.

Welcome, Sweet November

2009-11-01T16:10:00.005-05:00

Halloween was lovely this year. It was a lot of fun to decorate, carve a pumpkin with my BFF, and make pumpkin apple crisp for dessert. It's always a pleasure to see all the young trick-or-treaters in their fabulously creative costumes. The weather was a tad bit chilly, but the classic October wind made the night pure genius.

Some pics to share:

Tito, our little goblin dressed as a pumpkin.

Our lovely Pagan jack-o-lantern!

Now it's onto November, the month known for shuffling in the holiday season. This will be a busy month for me, as I have taken up another hobby, embossing and stamping - to go along nicely with all the other things I do! As for the knitting, I am still working on a variety of projects, and hope to update my Ravelry page soon. It's an all around exciting time at the Topps compound as we are preparing for some great things.

Up next: Wanda tackles the world of handmade tags!

Best of Both Worlds

2009-10-09T17:09:00.005-04:00

I love Market Street in the fall. The leaves are scattered over the streets like New Years confetti in Times Square. There is a chill in the air, but people don't seem to mind much. Even when it's overcast and rainy, people are still out and about, and tourists proudly don their raincoats and wellies.

Living in a small town has it's perks; especially during this time of year when the leaves are changing and the feeling of quaintess fills the town. But there is still a part of me that misses the Big Apple, especially the area where I grew up and lived til I was in my early twenties.

I grew up in Greenwich Village, NYC. Among my ole stompin' grounds were Washington Square Park and Union Square. I have much love for this place and hope to return there someday!

I hope that you are basking in all the joys of fall, whereever you may be!

You Spin Me Round

2009-10-05T15:33:00.004-04:00

Almost a month ago, I purchased a used Ashford Traditional wheel from a friend and I have been loving it. My friend was quite generous and included some practice romney fiber with the wheel, and I've been working on spinning that up. I am almost done, but wanted to share with you my progress. The first time I spun, I spun worsted. This time around, I am trying to create a thin, fingering type weight. So far, so good. I can't wait to throw some color on the wheel soon. Hello new addiction.

Not too bad, eh? Sure there is a lot of stopping and going, but I am learning how to control both the drafting and the tension!

Behold, my wheel! It looks as though I will have plenty of projects to keep me busy this winter!

A Lady in Waiting

2009-09-30T14:24:00.002-04:00

Christmas is right around the corner, and even before that, we will all be graced with Tori's new Christmas album, Midwinter Graces, debuting on November 11th. Since attending my first Tori concert in 1998, the non-stop dissection of her lyrics and the raw alarm of her voice has kept me waiting. Album after album, she never disappoints, and this season will prove the Goddess of self-discovery can sing holy and highly. I, for one, am super excited about this one, and if you've never heard of Tori, I suggest you google her NOW.

tracklisting:

1. What Child, Nowell

2. Star of Wonder

3. A Silent Night with You

4. Candle: Coventry Carol

5. Holy, Ivy, and Rose

6. Harps of Gold

7. Snow Angel

8. Jeanette, Isabella

9. Pink and Glitter

10. Emmanuel

11. Winter’s Carol

12. Our New Year

So can you say Amazon pre-order?

The Beauty of Fall Cuisine!

2009-09-24T20:06:00.005-04:00

Fall is in the air! In addition to today being an organization day, I had the desire to bake. I purchased a variety of fall veggies from my local farmer's market and created a veggie-bake, which filled the house with that good ole smell of home cooking! In addition to zucchini squash, I included a type of yellow heirloom squash, which I sliced thinner so that it would cook faster. I added in baby carrots, green lentils, and a variety of organic spices to bring out all the flavors. The result was lovely and the bed of lentils below the veggies were cooked perfectly!

After making dinner, I wanted to make apple scones to share with my Spinning Guild at our get together in the morning. I've made scones a few times, but I never made them with locally grown granny smith apples. So I modified my recipe and made a bunch of scones. Don't they look super yummy?

I'm looking forward to sharing these scones with my friends! I think that my next baking adventure will be some more muffins!

A New Look!

2009-09-24T14:56:00.002-04:00

My blog has a new look!

After having the same ole template for what seemed to be forever, I decided to dedicate some time to fixing up my blog. I wanted to create something artistic and colorful :) I think that she is look quite spiffy! What do you all think?

Sunny Days

2009-08-10T21:04:00.003-04:00

What a busy, busy, summer this has been! I have been having a blast visiting family and hanging out with friends! I've hardly had time to knit, and I look forward to making more creations! In the mean time, I have been doing other crafts, like making yoga products and jewelry!

In other news, my yoga teacher training starts soon, so I am planning the prep work and doing lots of reading!

Up next: adventures in muffin-baking! :-)

Stoneware doesn't burn

2009-06-29T19:46:00.002-04:00

Wow, it's been a while since my last post!

I've been enjoying life and the joys of cooking. More specifically, I'm enjoying being a Pampered Chef Consultant and throwing great cooking shows. Not only am I improving my cooking skills, but I am really loving all the new products and educating people on how to use them. I just threw a party for my Aunt, and lately I have been inspired to make healthy chocolate chip bran muffins. I look forward to receiving my muffin stoneware soon so that I can start!

As for knitting, I have been trying to finish my car lap blanket that is double knit out of boucle yarn. It's been sitting in my craft room collecting dust, and now that I have rescued it, I feel like I need to finish it! Other projects are tempting, and Ravelry isn't helping!

Speaking of my craft room, renovations are in order. I've been spending some time packing things up in preparation for painting and reorganizing. I do have a few ideas, but I think that I will delve into design later and ask for your opinions.

Are you on Weight Watchers? Let's be buddies. It's good to have buddies who understand the journey. And in addition to dropping the poundage, I'm looking into training for a marathon!

It's time to walk the pooch, who turns 3 in August. Seriously, where does the time go?

Adventures in Dyeing

2009-04-06T22:20:00.002-04:00

Last week, I went over to a friend's house to dye my first skein of yarn. Interestingly, it wasn't that bad of a process, and it was really quite fun! I ended up with a luscious pomegranate-esque color and now I just want to dye, dye, dye!

The thing about dyeing is that you need the tools and you need the space... it's also a process that is time sensitive to some degree. I am looking forward to creating a dyeing space in my basement complete with a utility sink and dyeing racks-galore!

I will be sure to take a photo of my first dyed skein and will post soon. I need to get better about the whole posting photos thing! So photos to come!!

Are two really better than one?

2009-04-01T17:20:00.002-04:00

Spring is here! There are robins, adventurous squirrels, and mild temperatures. Sure the weather in upstate NY is a bit crazy, but it still beats summers in NYC! I have started to work on a bunch of projects, kinda like an early spring cleaning. I have plans to revamp my craft room and design it right down to the yarn cubbies and darker paint colors. I will be sure to post before and after photos, as well! I can't even begin to tell you how great it is to have a craft room, especially as the craft stash continues to grow.

On the knitting front, I have been working on two-at-a-time socks. At first I was a bit skeptical, being a die hard dpn girl! But once I got the hang of it, it's actually quite nice. It will be great to have both done and not have second-sock anxiety! I'm almost done with the first pair and I can't wait to wear them!

I've also been approached to do some business-knitting. I realized that I really enjoy it, and look forward to more projects!

On the work front, working at the Pottery Studio is great. I have been teaching techniques, learning a lot about the firing process, and really getting involved in the local art community. I feel as though there are lots of great things in store for me and I must stay focused on the positive!

Up next - outdoor projects and landscaping. Hubby and I are looking forward to planting our garden!

Happy Spring!

These stitches that bring us together

2009-03-11T19:49:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since my last post. I have been doing a bit more knitting, but since participating in a local weight loss challenge, I feel like I have been at the gym more than I've been at home! Which is a good thing, but there is always knitting to get done and crafty things to finish!

And speaking of crafty things, I am getting ready to launch my Etsy shop soon. More to come on this!

So what is on the project list? I am making newborn cocoons/baby sacs for a friend of mine. They are really quite darling. She is also a photographer, but has a studio business and will be using them as studio props. I am also working on mittens, two-at-a-time socks, and my car lap blanket. I also have a lot of other projects that I want to do...where does all the time go?

It probably goes where all the missing socks go.

Snow Day

2009-01-28T13:45:00.003-05:00

It's a cold day in Upstate, NY and the snow has fallen rapidly. I've already been out twice to shovel, and haven't seen too many of my neighbors. The snow is pretty, but it's been covered by a thin layer of ice. Today has given me the perfect opportunity to catch up on random things and of course, do some knitting!

So I am off to work on the traveling scarves I received a few days ago!

A fresh list o'goals

2009-01-08T13:22:00.002-05:00

I told myself that I really didn't want to make resolutions this year. I have taken that road in the past and sadly it's led me to a dead end. Instead, I am wiping the dust of my big list of goals. Some people may call it that. Others may refer to it as their on-going to-do list.

And since I have been feeling very re-newed lately, I am certain that this year my goals will become achieved. I can smell the sweet smell of success in the air but alas, I must not get a head of myself!

Some of my craft related goals include:

- painting, re-organizing, and jazzing up my craft room
- finally get some items onto Etsy
- start my series of folk paintings
- finish all knitting projects before I start new ones (yeah, right!)
- learn how to dye yarn
- and finally, do more spinning! Perhaps take a wheel class!

It's not that bad of a list, eh? Something to work towards. And I'll check back with you all in a few months with a friendly progress report!

I've been a naughty blogger!

2009-01-04T21:37:00.003-05:00

Where does the time go? Seriously? It really does have a way of just flying right by! My last post was regarding my super awesome trip to Rhinebeck. I miss those days - and the weather that went a long with it.

While it's been very chilly, I haven't been getting that much knitting done. I didn't really promise to do any holiday knitting - with the exception of Craig's first pair of socks....which I did finish one BEFORE Christmas! Does that count? Needless to say, the other one has been on hold. OH WAIT - I did forget to mention that I took a 4 needle mitten class and made the hubby a pair of snazzy mittens out of Mission Falls!

I think that I simply must make myself a pair of mittens. And I have been wanting to start a whole bevy of other projects, but I must restrain myself! High five to me for not buying yarn in a while....must.resist.alpaca!

Rhinebeck Goodness!

2008-10-29T06:29:00.011-04:00

The NYS Sheep & Wool Festival was GREAT fun! It was my first time there, and I really did have a complete blast!

We camped at a nearby State Park and thank goodness for really good North Face sleeping bags! It was a good time, and we even got a nice view of the Hudson River!

Ready to go! I got my button on, representing my Rav folks!

It was a gorgeous day for a festival! The trees were gorgeous fall colors!

Alas, yarn! The handspun/dyed yarns were to dye for!

It's not a Sheep & Wool Festival with out the sheep! Craig and I made some new friends!

I met Kim (AKA Afroknits ) at the Ravelry daytime Sat. party! Kim is a fabulous knitter AND baker! Her cookies are heaven!

Wheels = love. The buildings were filled with goodies to browse!

I bought my first Golding Spindle! I shall call her Queen Elizabeth! :)

I saw Robin (AKA Robinsegg) at the Sat. night Ravelry party at the Elks Lodge! After looking for her the whole day, I saw her that night! Yay! It was so much fun to meet other Ravelers and make some new friends!

And a tired couple left Rhinebeck feeling refreshed and relaxed. Can't wait for next year! Counting down already!

Bad Blogger!

2008-10-29T06:28:00.001-04:00

I have been such a naughty blogger!

I am black-blogged!

Final SP12 Package!

2008-10-04T15:21:00.005-04:00

What a fabulous package!

Gorgeous goodies all for me! I just love the red sheep knitting bag! She included a variety of natural yarns and the book "No Sheep For You"!

And she sent me some adorable sheepy buttons and stitch markers!

Don't you want to know more? She has an Etsy site filled with gorgeous paper goods and more! I encourage you to check her out!

Winemakerssister's Etsy page

SP 12 Questions

2008-09-02T23:38:00.002-04:00

Here are more question-of-the-weeks!

6. What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
I like to take my socks, scarves or perhaps fingerless gloves with me!

If you’d like to share a story…Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting. I once made the mistake of taking my crochet blanket with me. It was big and bulky and I didn't even end up working on it!

7. What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? and what supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?
I love to knit at my local coffeehouse, Soul Full Cup. When I am not there, I love to knit in my sitting room at home. There is so much natural light!

8. What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?
I love everything! But I would have to go with pizza. It's easy and can be delivered and I don't have to turn on my oven! lol.

10. Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?
Nope, I've never done this. I would consider it if I was good enough! Still consider myself intermediate!

11. What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?
Probably floor gymnastics - it's always fun and different!

12. What is your proudest knitting moment??
Most recently, it was when I learned how to do cables and saw the actual cable! It was exciting.

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?
I can't seem to get myself to learn more abbreviations and pattern reading. I still need practice and more classes. I haven't completed my dog sweater b/c I haven't seemed it together yet! As for embarrassing projects, anything knit with lots of Red Heart! lol.

Summer Slacking

2008-08-14T14:40:00.002-04:00

I haven't been posting as regularly as I'd like. Between this blog, Livejournal, Myspace, and Facebook, sometimes it is hard to keep up! Especially when my knitting and crafting spills over into other areas.

I took my lace shawl with me on my trip to NJ. Don't get too excited, it's not an Icarus or anything, lol. It's a basic rectangular garter stitch lace shawl. It's 80 stitches on size 10 needles. It's very slow. Not one of those instant grat type of projects! And I look away for one minute and BAM! I lost like 8 stitches....talk about panic. So it's a bit holey. It gives it character!

I taught my good friend Lisa how to knit recently, too. I'm sharing the many joys (and obsessions) of the craft with her. And she is quickly learning how easy it is to drop money on yarn and goodies. Welcome to the world of knitting! hehe.

I have a ton of projects going on right now, and I hope to catch up on secret pal postings and other stuff soon.

Happy summer! It's almost over. Make way for Fall -- my favoritest season! hehe.

Summer Knits

2008-07-19T09:10:00.002-04:00

So I know that it's probably better to knit with linens and cottons in the summer time, but for some reason I tend to pick the heavier yarns. I took my mom to Joann's - and while I don't usually buy yarns there, I was attracted to this beautiful rasberry/burgundy color. Problem is, it's boucle yarn, and needs to be knit double... so I figured what the heck - it's on sale and I do need a nice blanket for road trips. So I tried to follow the pattern (which was a zig-zag k/p combo) and it came out like crap. So I frogged and decided to garter it in decent strips and sew them together. It may take me a while, but who cares? I think this makes 12 projects on the drawing board now! hehehe.

But yes, the heat is making it tough for me to be inspired to knit. My mom is here visiting and she is even too warm to knit. And her project of choice: winter booties! hehe. I guess we all want to get an early start!

SP12 Questions-of-the-weeks!

2008-07-02T22:52:00.002-04:00

I am a bit behind on these! So here ya go Pal! :-)

Question #1: What's your favorite summer beverage? Iced water with fresh lemon and lime and my unsweetened iced tea!

Question #2: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation? This one is easy! I looked forward to camping all summer long at Lake George. We had a 5th wheeler and were seasonals. I loved to go out on our boat and go fishing, swimming, etc. When I close my eyes I can remember the sound of the water...

Question #3: What would you consider the perfect amount of stash? Stash so big that it would fill all my cubbies, yet I'd need a few more cubbies to hold the last bit!

Question #4:
1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
Hmmm, well I love to try new yarns, but I would probably want some more Blue Sky Organic Cotton b/c it's so soft and more importantly eco-friendly!!

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?
I never want to be without yarn in general! :)

Thanks Pal!

2008-06-23T20:10:00.003-04:00

My secret pal from SP12 has sent me the most amazing 1st package!!

Behold the awesomeness:

And the book! It's FABULOUS!

My Cable Progress

2008-06-23T20:01:00.003-04:00

Okay, since I've already posted about my cable knitting, I wanted to post a pic. I really haven't done any more work on the pillow. I suspect that I will work on it soon. I don't want to go to far and lose any knowledge!

Cabled Up

2008-06-18T22:43:00.002-04:00

Tonight I participated in a "cabled pillow class" at Wooley Minded.

I managed to get one row of cables done, but it was interesting. I've never cabled before so I needed to choose my cable. Apparently, there are several different designs. There is the straight up plain one that looks like a mini double-pointed needle....which is the one I like. There is the one that looks like a bat, with a point in the middle to house your stitches. And lastly, there is the U-shaped cable needle, which is super "unique."

The class ended at 9 pm and it's 10:45 pm. I really want to pick up my knitting, but I am tired and I think that cables require me to be completely awake....or at least heavily caffeinated! They aren't that bad, really - but I def. needed to concentrate and found myself putting on my "serious knitting face" (and I hope I didn't scare anyone!).

More cable fun to come.

Extra Warmth

2008-06-09T13:07:00.002-04:00

Our local paper, The Corning Leader, stated that "temperatures continue to break records..." Great. It's been high 90's for the past 3 days and I am really not a heat person. You will probably never hear me utter the words, "I want to move to Florida for retirement" - nope, not me, not ever. Ironically enough, the hubby and I moved from NYC to the Finger Lakes region to enjoy cool summer (or atleast cooler) weather. Turns out we have record highs. Hemph.

So my evenings have consisted of going home and trying to stay cool. We need to put our little window AC in the den and then maybe I can work on some UFOs. I haven't had the urge to knit that much, but I do want to make some stitch markers. I do, however, keep ordering yarn off the internet and the stash continues to grow. I just really hope to knit some of it up soon!

Since we've only been in our new house for a month, I haven't had a chance to organize my craft room. My excitement grows when I think of everything in its own special place, as I really hope to creat a shabby chic place where I can escape with my craft. Soon I hope to give it my all and make a lovely working space.

I'm still on the hunt for a perfect tea cosy pattern. I've been tempted to buy the tea cosy book, but I fear that most patterns harbor extreme kitsch, and it does scare me. I'm not too skilled with knitting extravagent flowers or animal heads. Well, atleast not yet. All in due time!

So that is about all. More adventures to come soon. Oh, I am a Loopy Groupy! How exciting is that?

Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire

2008-05-30T00:33:00.002-04:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like? I love Blue Sky Alpacas cotton, other soft cottons, soysilk, bamboo, and handspun/indy yarns! I don't really knit with dishcloth cotton, acrylic, novelty yarns or heavy wools. I don't mind cotton/acrylic blends, just not 100% acrylic. Handspun yarn with novelty stuff in it is different, and sometimes fun! I like humane animal fibers as well!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have an artbin needle case that I use, but that is getting kinda full!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting for 4 1/2 years. My mom taught me while we were still living in Manhattan. It's special because my Dad was still alive and he was so amazed by how fast I took to it! I would say that I am intermediate. I can knit socks and bags, so that is good. I would like to explore lace soon! And yarn dyeing!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes! It's: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2ITPFG5R8P58D

5. What’s your favorite scent? I like citrus, coconut, vanilla, patchouli, and fruit smells. I love Yankee Candle and love the mandarin cranberry and sage scents!

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I like chocolate - especially chocolate and peanut butter! I also love rock candy and Twizzlers. I try not to each too much candy because I am on Jenny Craig!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?I love to paint and since I am a freelance photographer, I love photos. I enjoy sewing and am taking a beginning quilting class. I love to explore all crafts, really! I do hand spin, but I am more interesting in learning how to dye yarn!

8.What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes! I use iTunes, and would consider my musical taste to be really diverse. I listen to everything from oldies/motown to top 40 and country. I like dance music, yoga music, pop, rock, alternative, you name it! I like local bands, and indy stuff, too. I love Tori Amos and similar style piano music. If you want to make me a CD, that is cool!

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?I love earth tones! (eggplant, olive, chocolate brown, pumpkin, dark green, brick red) and black and bright red and purple. I'm not a fan of pastels, or bright neons. I really don't like lime or orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?I 'm married without children, and I have a cat and a chihuahua doggy. My pets are my kids!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I do wear scarves and hats and mittens. And I like fingerless gloves! I would wear a poncho but not the kind that's pointy in the front and back. I'd like a round one! Ponchos are fun!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I like to knit market bags, scarves, accessories, shawls, and dog sweaters.

13. What are you knitting right now? Right now I'm working on a few things! I'm working on a triangle shawl, a crocheted blanket for the hubby, a lace tie scarf, a tablerunner, fingerless gloves, and another market bag!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES!! I love them.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like both. I don't have that many circs. I do like the Addi Turbos, especially a larger size for shawl knitting. I really like the Knit Picks Harmony needles!! I have the cable needle set, but would love any size in those!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No but I really need to get them!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 4.5 years. My oldest UFO is a scarf that was my first knitting project. I really need to finish it! It will probably be a table runner!

18. What is your favorite holiday? I'm tempted to say Christmas b/c of all the fin traditions and the tree, etc. But I really love Halloween. I love dressing up, and I love that time of year!

19. Is there anything that you collect? I recently started to collect sheep! Especially sheep stuff for my kitchen! I also love oils that you can use in a tealight burner (like from the Body Shop). I like vintage fabric/ fabric with animals, sheep! and knitting! I guess you could say that I collect zen items too - like windchimes, incense, eyepillows, massage balm, etc.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I subscribe to knit.1 and Interweave Knits. I love natural fiber yarns, and I would love patterns/books from my Amazon Wishlist! As for needles, I'd love some Knit Picks Harmony needles - they are sooo purty!

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? I'd love to learn how to dye yarn! I would also like to learn more about lace knitting.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am a beginner sock knitter! As for shoe size, I wear a size 10 women's regular, or a 9.5 wide width. I tend to have wide feet...hehe.

23. When is your birthday? Sept. 30th!

24. What’s your Ravelry ID? kalamandah

Whoa!

2008-05-20T14:06:00.001-04:00

Where did the time go? I am sorry blog, for I have neglected you. Alas, I will come again soon and fully share with you my new crafting goodies!

For now, I will keep working on my market bags and hope to launch my Etsy shop very soon!

Sock-cess!

2008-03-18T00:40:00.003-04:00

Yes! I did it! I finally managed to finish my lovely green socks! All thanks to the basic sock class at Wolley Minded in Corning Stitch Works - thanks Jean! :) So I am quite pleased with the results. Number 2 was a bit smaller, but I stretched it a bit and hope to be wearing these sexy things out and about soon! Up next? Socks for the hubby! I ordered some lovely Jitterbug in a mossy color, which I am certain that he will love. And the best part? I did the Kitchener Stitch all on my own, and I think I did it right! Yay!

So that is my big knitting news. I posted some new projects on Ravelry. I finished the Filippi Scarf that I was knitting for my Real Estate Agent, too. I think that perhaps I will work on a tea cosy next!

Happy Knitting!

An Evening of Tea & Knitting

2008-02-28T22:44:00.005-05:00

Tonight our knitting group met at The Tea Chest on Market Street. It was very nice to see 2 new faces and to chit chat with my regulars! I love meetups like this. We all got along so well and it was almost as if we've been friends for years. Everyone is so easy going and it's really nice having a group like this. I am really happy with the direction that we are going!

The Tea Chest is a great place. I've really expanded my knowledge of loose tea, and begun to drink tea a lot more. I never knew that there were so many varieties, and I think that it's great to try and ounce here and there of something new!

I've quickly become friends with the owner and she is really nice. I enjoy conversing with her and look forward to having future meetups there. The group really seemed to like it, too.

A small view of the tea set-up. See those little labeled containers? Those are sniffing samples! How cool is that?

I loved the peach green tea we ordered. All it needed was a spoonful of sugar!

As you can see, it was a pretty fun evening. I did take more photos, but those are posted on the meetup site. I am really glad I am making new friends and exploring different venues. But one thing's for sure- you can't go wrong with tea and knitting.

Hemp

2008-02-12T15:03:00.000-05:00

I bought some neat-o hemp from an etsy shop and I am looking forward to spinning it! I wanted to share it's hempy goodness with you all.

And the fiber fairy left some goodies on my door.

Something new to explore

2008-02-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I know that this blog is mostly about knitting, but since I am a very artsy person, I love to try different things. Lately I have been Ms. Crafty and have been exploring different things. Last Friday I took a beading class at the Crafting Cottage on Market St. It was such a fun class. We made wire crochet bracelets and I took to it like a fish to water. I loved it so much that I am going to keep making more and more. And I may just open up an etsy shop soon to sell my assorted handmade goods!

Okay, so here are pics of my creation:

As you can probably tell, I was inspired by nature. I named this "Earth 2 Earth." I can't wait to get started on more!

Dreaming of Dog Sweaters, Part Deux

2008-02-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I found a pattern that I could follow.

It's the basic pup sweater from the book "Posh Pooches" - it was a Barnes and Noble set that came with adorable wooden needles with dogs at the top. Since I didn't have size 9 needles, I had to use the ones that came with the set. You know what? They suck. But I have started the knitting and it looks really good!

I know that I am increasing my knitting skills when I actually have to use stitch markers. Woo hoo! I feel oh so official now.

The yarn is Misson Falls 1824 Wool. It's a gorgeous deep red. It will look smashing on my fawn colored pup! And because I promised pics, feast your eyes on my adorable Chi!

Dog in da hood

From one craft to another

2008-02-05T21:26:00.001-05:00

Don't fear, my dear knitting...I have not left you...

I wandered into the local beading/scrapbooking shop with a friend today and stumbled upon their creative classes. Of course they have a sample of what you can make, and a stunning bracelet caught my eye. It was gorgeous, and then I saw the name: wire crochet. Yes, you crochet beautiful beads onto wire and it looks so fun. So Friday night I will be taking this fun beading class. I will post pics of my creations! Oh, and I had to buy a size 2 crochet needle. I almost needed a microscope to see the tip!

Did I mention that they have scrapbooking classes, too? *grin* So many classes, so little time!

Dreaming of Dog Sweaters

2008-02-02T17:21:00.000-05:00

I found a pattern for what looks like an easy dog sweater. So I started to make it and realized that it looks horrible. Not only was I using mystery garage sale wool, but the size 13 needles and odd pattern details were a bit hard to follow... So I frogged what I had and need to find myself a new dog sweater pattern.

I do have a few books that I could look in, but lately I have been a bit of a lazy knitter.

However, since I have wanted to make a dog sweater for Tito for the longest time, the search continues. I will update you with *hopefully* some progress.

I've also found that tea and knitting go together quite well.

And it's February! My Valentines Day meetup and my sock class is coming up! Yay!

Up, Up, and Away!

2008-01-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

Although it may seem as if I am talking about balloons, I am not.

I am referring to my newly acquired increasing skills. I still consider myself a beginner plus, but I have recently learned how to increase. And it was a joyous feeling. I made a simple black kerchief from "Stitch n' Bitch," and although there were a few mistakes, I think it's neat-o. I hope to start making more kerchiefs and eventually my market bag.

I am in love with the pattern for the market bag. I am actually more in love with the eggplant colored euro flax yarn. It's delish. Check it out on pattern works. I will be sure to post more pics here soon. I need to get my photo act together! I won't use school as an excuse either! But I am sure that once I am in the Nursing labs and classes, I will be a busy beaver. But it's okay. I will still love you my dear sweet knitting blog!

Since my last update, I have had 2 meetups. One was a general meetup, and the one tonight was a special meetup where members started making blankets for the Snuggles Project. In short, we knit blankets, mats, pads, etc. for shelter animals. It's a cause close to my heart and I can't wait to make the donations! The animals will love us! :-)

In other news, a fellow Silly Sheeper helped me set up my sewing machine. I seriously need to send her chocolate b/c I have been waiting 3 years to set this bad boy up! I am already thinking of sewing projects. The first, and perhaps most important, will be a cover for my bookcase. Why a cover for a bookcase? you ask.... well my stash is located in a new home, and I need to sew a cover so that the hubby cannot see the volume of my stash. Sooo, this in turn then means that I can do more shopping. Shopping, especially for all things fiber arts, makes my world go round, and I love the look and feel of new yarns!

So that is my goings-ons. More updates and photos to follow. So stay tuned and keep knitting!

Spindlicious!

2007-12-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

For some time I have been wanting to learn how to spin. So I bought all the parts and made my own spindle! I am sure that once I get familiar with spinning, I will want to upgrade to a fancy Golding! But for now, I will go the beginner's route.

The top of the spindle

The bottom of the spindle

I still have enough materials to make 2 more spindles! So I can think up some creative designs.

The next Silly Sheep meetup is in 3 days, so I am looking forward to that! :-)

Holidays

2007-12-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

As I glance at my calendar, I still can't believe that it's December.

November went by so fast that all I remember is moving and having Thanksgiving dinner. The holidays are so much fun. On with the decorating of the tree and the smell of Scotch tape (yes tape has a smell). Afterall, I do have a fair share of presents to wrap!

I didn't make any knit gifts this year. I am currently working on a brushed mohair scarf for my cousin Samantha, and I am working on a Christmas table runner for my Aunt. I actually still need to finish my sock - I wish that I could finish all these projects! Instead of sugar plums, visions of new projects are dancing in my head.

I ordered Euro Flax from Patternworks to make a Market Bag for all my trips to the Farmer's Market this spring. I love fresh fruits and veggies and I love supporting local farmers! What else? Well I want to work on more socks and eventually make a lace shawl.

As Christmas is nearing, I am glad that I have had the opportunity to meet lovely local knitters. Just today I met some of the ladies with the Chemung Valley Handspinners and Fiber Arts Guild. I had a wonderful time knitting this morning and can't wait to return.

So there you have it folks. These are the happenings of Silly Sheep. OH, and I am going to attempt to make my own spindle! *wish me luck!*

Knitting...what knitting?

2007-11-27T14:50:00.000-05:00

Sadly, I haven't been knitting too much lately.

I actually have been trying to balance it with all my other duties. I have entered a new domestic realm, and although it is interesting, my poor jitterbug socks have been lonely sitting in my lantern moon bag.

I did, however, start a new holiday project. I am knitting a red and green table runner which I will probably give to my aunt. I tend to just start lots of projects and somehow get sidetracked. I love ravelry, and soon I hope to update that with photos and stash info!

In other great news, I am planning my first meetup for this Thursday. So far 5 people have RSVP'ed and I am really excited! I just need to clean up the apartment a bit more and get my food plans in order!

Once the holidays are over, I plan to take some classes at my LYS. In addition I am looking forward to learning how to quilt. Lots of crafty goodness is planned for '08!

Greetings from Corning!

2007-11-07T14:04:00.000-05:00

Well folks, I have officially moved!

Since it has been a few days, I wanted to write a quick blog entry to let you
know how things are going. We have started to unpack and organize things. We also went shopping to find new furniture for our cute apartment. The building is
old and historic and we have great hardwood floors. Tito loves to run
around and play with his fleece toys. Iris is adjusting pretty well
too, she is quite the detective - wandering around and trying to
discover new things. We have a gorgeous gas fireplace that we will be
able to use in a week after the glass is installed. We live across the
street from a really nice park situated on a hill, and Tito and I took
a walk and he experienced his first romp in the leaves. Things are
moving along great. I did some laundry at midnight a few nights ago
and we already have a yummy Chinese place to deliver from! As soon as
I get a bit more settled I will take and post some photos.

I am really excited to start up my knitting soon as well as go to Finger Lakes Fibers in Watkins Glen! I have already stopped in a spoke to someone at Corning Stitch Works/Wolley-Minded about classes. They have a sock-of-the-month club and I am interested in joining!

More goodness is sure to come.

With Love from the Crystal City,

Wanda :)

Ra Ra Ra Ravelry!

2007-10-29T18:03:00.000-04:00

I have spent a good portion of the afternoon playing on Ravelry. I must say the folks over there really have created something wonderful. I am working to build my profile, my group, and find my friends (and make new ones!). I love that you can add projects and patterns and share photos, etc. It really is a community. I encourage all my knitting buddies to join!

If you are already obsessed, then come and find me. I am 'kalamandah' - no real surprise there. It's my username for everything.

Since most of my yarn is all packed up, I will have to wait weeks before I can add my stash. I am quite excited. I found out that there is a store in Watkins Glen called Finger Lakes Fiber and I am looking forward to visiting!

*Sock update*

I have knitted about 21 rounds. I want to keep on going. I promise photos will be coming soon. With the move, everything is all bajumbled! But tomorrow at 10 AM I will be at the Yarn Girl for my lessons! Lesson #2 making the heel! Very exciting!

The Creation of Something Great!

2007-10-29T00:34:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Silly Sheep.

What inspired this blog? Well, for one, my knitting group: Silly Sheep Knitting Meetup Group. You can find us here: http://knitting.meetup.com/1350/

And second, my love for the craft!

I want to track my progress and my growth. I want to share with others my struggles and successes. I want to talk about my favorite books and patterns. All in all, I want to explore and share! Sounds pretty good, right?

I am about to embark on a fabulous journey. In 6 days I will be moving from Staten Island to Corning, NY. Armed with my needles and a Nikon D 80, I want to knit and photograph my way through the Finger Lakes Region! Who wants to join me?

So since it's getting pretty late, I am going to sign off. More knitting goodness to come! I promise! (I am taking private lessons on how to knit socks! - details to follow!)

Happy Knitting,

-W