Purlewe!

This week has been a blur. And while I don't think I would want to repeat it, I am proud of myself for getting things done.

The scarf for my sister is made. Tassles attached and each thread knotted so they don't unravel. She is such a hardworking mom I wanted to make sure it didn't get ratty. I am now working on her hubby's hat. I am thinking about making Tychus in knitty, but since I already started the brim maybe a horizontal hat will work.



And hello there SP! I know that soon you will be dropping in here to check up on me. I am really excited to start the new year with the next Secret Pal project. I hope you ahve as much fun gifting as getting from your SP!!

Well I am working on more projects all the time, and I'll get a list of WIPs here in a minute. But I've promised to get all of the purses online and here they are!



My very, very first felted purse, and my 2nd knitting project evah! I used cascade 220 and loved the colors. I think the green really sparked up the heathered purples. I took awhile to finish this because I was afraid of the cobbler. The owner lives in Hong Kong, and has written me to very nice notes about how much she loves it. I was glad she liked it, but sad to see it go.



This is one of those wha? purse colors. Knit in Galway wool the bottom is dark wine, the orange and the pink get lost in the definition b'cos they are the same value. My boss picked the colors and at first I'll admit I was afraid it would not work. But by the time I was done I saw these colors EVERYWHERE! She loves it and told me someone asked her where she bought it while she was visiting NYC. Quite a compliment.

WIPs:
Jean's baby sweater. I still have the sleeves to do!! But I am starting them this afternoon. 80% done
Judy's Purse: I cast off last nite. I need to sew the bottom, and then I want to make an i-cord top that includes a catch to close it up. 95% done
Sue's sweater: I only have the arms and neck edgings to knit. Why wait? well I think that I do not have the right amount of yarn and I don't want to start it and get frustrated. The Merino place is 4 hrs away. If I set the edging of the sleeve, find out I need more and have to buy a different lot I might have to frog. 90% done
Bobbi's beaded bag: I got the goods last week and showed her what I had, she picked a variagated red bag that I have knit just over an inch. I know this will knit fast. 10% done
Danni's layette: I swatched last nite.

What I want to work on: Amber's purse (I started but realized I grabbed the silk garden from my stash instead of the kureyon. It went into the frog pond.) Mom's purse. cotton tape tank for me. dk jaeger sweater set for me. a couple of pillows: silk garden and collinette. A red chenille scarf for Sheila. and that folks, would be the end of my stash! But I did see a very nice ballet shirt in the new IK (no yarn yet) by annie modesitt that I fell in love with. I would like to make one summer sweater, be it the cotton tape tank from rowan or the modesitt ballet shirt from IK.

Well, I know it looked ridiculous when I had so many WIPs on my needles. So, now I have some progress to report!!!

I'm thrilled to say I finished the beaded bag. I was supposed to finish the beading, cast off and then sew the bottom closed like a square. But being me I just connected it, knit it in the round and closed it that way. Perhaps not the wisest choice. It looks like I added something. (let's just say it isn't "streamlined") but next time I will knit the whole thing in the round, or just make it square. It is beautiful. I love it to bits. I think I am going to give it to my best friend. Everyone needs a bit of glamour in their life, and this is definitely it. DONE! 100%

Next Jean's baby sweater. I am done with the back and the left front. That leaves me the right front and the sleeves. Now I will admit, I am really happy with this project. It really looks nice. It is from Minnow Knits, and it is called Koko Kimono. I think the green is a nice touch for the color. I think I'll be done with this by the middle of the month. 50% done.

I'm still working on my sister Darci's purse. I am afraid it won't felt right. I am seriously only inches away from finishing. Then, of course, there is the i-cord to do. 75% done.

Judy's purse. I picked it up for the first time in about 2 weeks last nite. Easy knitting. I got a couple rows of color done last nite. 30% done.

Teva said the yarn would be sent by mail directly to me. I have not seen it yet. I think I'll worry if I don't get it by say.. next wednesday.

My present to Rowena shipped out yesterday. I was a bit disappointed in the shipping time. I ordered it from LUSH and they said when I ordered it that it was in stock.. but then waited a week for them to take it to UPS. huh? o well. At least it is in the mail so to speak.

Other good news: Annemieke, my Dutch friend, got her package of merino yarn I bought for her. She loves it and told me she is making a mobius scarf. Yippee.. knitting love all around.

So I have had a interesting few days around here. The weather is trying its best to inflict its damage on us poor humans. I have been walking in the tunnels to get to and from work. It is a tad bit faster that way and definitely warmer (and at least no wind chill). My volleyball team won this week. (we were completely crushed last week. have no idea why. it seemed like we moved underwater while the other team wasn't so hindered) and Sue got to watch us play. Got some good/bad news at work. A co-worker is leaving and she is not allowed to be replaced (ah! great management system there) So what once was a team of 11 people, is now down to 7. Dan is getting her position, I am getting Dan's, and well I am also doing my stuff (minus my daily filing). SO everything is a bit off. And, to top it off, we are being moved back to 35. I feel like shouting MAKE UP YOUR MINDS! But perhaps they have none to make up. Got a package from my mother with my niece's latest picture in it. They grow up fast, but I do love how she looks so like me and my sister that it feels like she's a twin throwback.

Read the funniest thing today. Loved it!! So if I did not send you the blimp link be warned! too funny!

Knitting news: I finished the BACK of the koko kimono sweater for Jean's baby to be. Poor Jean was in a car accident right after I asked her if the color was ok. I am trying very hard to knit only good and happy thoughts into the baby sweater. I have knit a bit on the beaded purse, but will put it down tonite to get to Darci's purse. I will have access to a washer this weekend to full it and I want to make sure it is DONE. (if it doesn't get done, I'll try it at the laundrymat instead)

Other knit news (that might not seem like it at first): I bought tickets to goto FLORIDA with my mother to visit my grandfather. I also got a list of Local Yarn Shops to visit. Called my Aunt Gerri and asked her to check with my Uncle Tommy to see when I can see them when I am down there. And lastly, I got another email from Teva Durham today. I didn't know if she liked my work on the last design I knit for her, but she obviously liked it enough to ask me to knit another garment for her before March 1st. It makes me feel good to knit for her book, I hope she likes my work.

Afternoon folks!

I got to watch Spongebob last nite for the first time in what felt like a million years. It really does make me feel better, altho I know many of you wonder where my brain must go for the bit of time I watch it. Last year, when I was in the depths of my depression, for some reason, Spongebob was the only thing that made me feel good. When I had the Tivo, I would have it tape the Spongebobs all day long. Not long after I saw an article in tv guide regarding the "best shows to improve your mental health and mental outlook" and Spongebob was right up near the top. So somehow, I knew it was helping me feel better... And now the occassional Spongebob is just plain fun. Really I just love Gary and Patrick, but don't tell anyone.

ANYWAY! The whole reason I got to watch it is kinda funny. Just don't read if you get squeamish, ok? When I got this new apt, poor and all, the landlord told me that it got cable. She said it was part of the apt price and not to worry about it. When I moved in I was too tired to care. When I plugged it in I did get *something* like cable. But wacky cable indeed. The 3 major affiliates, msnbc, the weather channel, the history channel, disney and the movie channel. HUH?? half of those are pay cable around here, the other half are standard cable. (more what I was expecting.) About a month ago I came home to my poor Sue frantically scrabbling behind the tv with snow on the channel and a sheepish look. "um, well. the cat puked on the remote and I cleaned it off, but I hit some switches and the tv went to snow and well so I unhooked the tv and I can't get any cable anymore" Which, while I am not the biggest tv fan, was sad, b'c I am still a huge today show junkie. It wakes me up, I find out some news and weather and I set off for my day (and that DREAMY anne curry. *sigh*) SO i went to fiddling, wondering WHY on earth she unhooked it when it was only the remote. Couple of butch-like twiddles later and viola! but not the same channels!!! WHAT? now I get a whole BUNCH of channels.. the same 3 big affiliates, still weather channel and msnbc, but now (if I can remember cos it is still too new and I am not a big surfer/watcher) Discovery, abc family (whatever..), nick, fox, some of the homeshopping (which I detest) and a few others i can't remember. Sadly gone is the history channel and the movie channel which helped quite a bit when there was NOTHING on tv, you could always find some old movie with a famous old b/w movie star and watch it.

But that is why I watched SB SP last nite, and then went over to discovery channel and saw monster garage and american choppers. (which reminds me that my little knitting hobby is MILD. MILD I tell you compared to what these guys do to their houses and their cars and motorcycles.) One guy has BUILT his OWN monster garage with a heated floor. I bet that wife gets to spend money on whatever she wants, cause she can always point to the garage and say she will never ring up a tab like that. UGH!

In knitting news: I did knit on 2 purses this weekend. One I am designing and really just not feeling it right now. The colors are beautiful (it is Noro yarn), but I wish it looked a little different. And the other is my standard pattern: knit a tube, seam it, gusset it and felt it. But the big thing I did was to make a knitting journal (like this, but without the extra commentary) and put pics and scraps of yarn and yarn ball guards in it. I have knit 15 items this year, with only Sue's sweater being the UFO (unfinished object for you out there in non-knit land) I have only to make the arm ribbings and the v-neck ribbing. I was taught how last wednesday, but it is a lengthy process I was not in the mood for this weekend.

We did see R & D this weekend for our game nite. Lots of fun. We played my new xmas present: Series of Unfortunate Events game and it was awesome. We beat Sue 2xs. She was not pleased. And she does do Count Olaf's voice so well. And watched an Affair to Remember with them. Cary Grant was quite good, so was Deborah Kerr. Lots of fun for an oldie, and we rented it from the library for FREE!

And for those of you who made it this far. I have made myself a promise. Sue and I will get pics on this website. It might not be tomorrow, but it will be before spring. OK?

I may look naive (case and point: co-worker yesterday at FAX machine profusely apologizing for cursing in front of me. My response: I curse all the time. Her shocked answer: You don't look like it) but I am not. The survey I posted below (and sent to a bunch of friends, thanks all!) is not going to change the AFA's view on homosexuality or the right to marry. But what gets me is the gall they have to present their numbers to congress and state them as FACT. I know anyone who wants to skew numbers can and will do it, but to post a poll on your website in hopes of getting only your contact list to pay attention to it is ludicrous.

Let me get on my soapbox a minute. All those bored by my soapbox please move along.

Generally this country is evenly divided on the issue of gay marriage. It is cut into thirds. One third hates the idea, one third loves the idea and one third is either having a nice lunch somewhere or doesn't give a fig. Now in reality this should not matter. There was an editorial out a few weeks ago where the writer stated (paraphrase): sometimes polls do not matter, what matters is what is right. Whether it is supported by popular opinion or not. I sincerely doubt that when people of different colors were allowed by the courts to marry that it was "popular," but it was right. And no one has the right to decide who loves whom except the people who are happy and in love. Now as a bi-sexual woman I find it appalling that if I decided to marry a man tomorrow (say an immigrant who needed a nice visa to stay in this country to flee some sort of persecution even). All of my property and tax rights and benefits would be guaranteed, but not so if I wanted to marry a woman. I have seriously dated and loved both sexes. I have seen futures with both sexes. But one future is full of privileges I would receive be marrying the correct gender, while the other is a financial and legal morass that I would have to wade through (and pay good money to several types of people: accountants, lawyers, etc). Currently I am in love with, and happily dating a woman (hi honey!). The last serious relationship I was with a woman. The last serious relationship before that (skipping a few people in the dating process that were not as "serious") was a man. What makes any of these more important than the other? In my heart, nothing. In the eyes of my country, alot. A friend from the Netherlands wrote me and asked about marriage in this country, and hinted that it was legal in hers. Many countries are adopting the same stance: Germany, Canada, etc. I told her that while I don't treat my friends differently by their color, gender or sexual preference, my country does not give me the same consideration. It is a design flaw that stems from (in my eyes) the puritanical roots that founded this country. I look forward and happily wait for the day that I can marry the person I love, whoever that might be. I do feel that it will be in my lifetime. And no matter what I will work towards that goal with alerting people to polls, paying attention to elections and voting with my ballot and my dollar to help make it happen.

On to other news, I frogged the project I was working on last nite. I kept looking at the directions and not seeing the gauge. A friend asked me how I knew it was the right size and I told her that I had looked at the pattern but it wasn't clear, and then we both saw it. The gauge listing! so I checked and I was 2 stitches off. So off came 5 inches, but I'll feel better in the long run. On the chocolate sweater number 2: I am in the middle of the armholes. Tonite I go to the knitalong in Chestnut Hill. I need to be far along on these project before this weekend (like one of them done!!) so I can do my holiday cookies and cards. I have an order for about 5 doz cookies on monday. I have a nice long quiet weekend with my friend Sam the pug. I am babysitting at my old apt address for my neighbors. Sam the pug is a great dog. He is just wild about me, and I can say the sentiment is returned. I want to mail my presents on Monday (I know they will be late, but I really don't care) and hopefully I can settle down to a nice quiet christmas and vacation.

today has been weird.

for some reason the past few days i cannot get out of bed in the morning. I push myself to get out of bed and make sue's tea or lunch and by the time she leaves either i am WIDE awake or completely in bed on my way to twilight. when my alarm goes off I struggle. It feels like being underwater. I wish it was easier to just WAKE UP!

so I've been knitting at my desk for lunch. trying desperately to finish this project. I don't think it is gonna happen. On another project last nite I think I knit myself until it was too late. I know I checked the number of stitches before I did the next decreasing row, but after I finished the row I was 2 short.. UGH. It said decrease, not over decrease. I felt like a knucklehead and turned out the light.

Sue and I made a few decisions last nite. We decided that we would stay in Stratford-upon-Avon for 4 days and then goto Surrey for 5 days. I know it is running a bit late, but we are trying to firm up hotel plans now. I wish we just KNEW what was gonna happen with this job thingy. But maybe not knowing is what is best.

My best friend, Cassandra, called me at work today. Her daughter received my lacey knit scarf and LOVED it. she wanted to go to bed with it. Her dad had to put his foot down and say she couldn't wear it to bed (she is on the top bunk, there was some concern about her hanging herself by accident EEK!!) They finally decided she could sleep with it all folded up and snuggled like a stuffed toy. I have two things to say: a) I am so glad that she LOVES her scarf. It is the the same color as her brother and he was excited that she matched him (and I was worried that they would not like matching) and b) I am still so glad I have never had children. I would not think of things like accidental hangings. But it was sure a joy to hear from Cassandra that the scarves as presents idea is not a bad one. So far everyone but her husband, Alan, has gotten one. I think I have just the thing for his. But it will have to wait until after the holidays.

And I just got the temple U non-credit course guide. As always i want to take everything. I'll scour the classes and let you know if anything piques my interests.

Well good morning all. This is my first post. I wanted to be able to download pics of my knitting as well as keep you guys updated about my coming trip to England with Sue. Last nite I downloaded pics from my camera from my weekend in New Paltz with my mother. We had a very nice time. I cooked dinner at Judy's and it went very ,very well. I felt bad that we had forgotten to bring Sue's father's recipe for stuffing, but I improvised and everyone was happy with the results- even Christopher! And he is hard to impress (he likes his stovetop stuffing). After dinner we had an early Christmas with presents. I got lots of really nice presents and my mom was extremely good to me this year. My new computer and digital camera are quite a blessing. Without them I wouldn't even be entering this.

I have been wanting to start a blog showing people my work and letting them see the kinds of things I have been working on. Right now I am in the midst of a bunch of sweaters. One is a super secret project (shh!) the other 2 are for my sisters. I had gotten one of them almost done the other day (actually the whole knitting process only took one whole day! I was quite proud.) It is one of Teva Durham's designs. I got to the neck and looked the sweater over very carefully. I realized I had made 2 mistakes: one in row 5 or 9 and the other near the sleeves. I decided that since it only took me a day to knit, and since it wasn't quite right, I might as well frog the whole thing. No sense giving it away just to say I completed it in one day if I wasn't happy with the end result. When I get those done I have a list of 3 baby sweaters to put on the needles. I picked out 2 designs and will soon buy the yarn. I'll let you know the final decisions when it gets closer. The most recently completed projects are 2 scarves I made. One is for Amy my KR buddy. I won't post it till she gets it, but the other is for Ivey, my best friend's daughter. I think it turned out real sweet and is in the exact same colors as her brothers (except her bro's doesn't have the lace) Once I get better at this journaling thing I will post the pics. I just wanna make sure I can :)
Everyone have a nice day. It is snowing here. Sue left early so she could get to work without killing herself. Her brother gets married this weekend on Sunday and I get to play photographer for the big day. I hope the pics turn out good. I am sure to let you know what antics happen this weekend. (and trust me, there will be antics.. I can feel it)