I'm home.

It smells like home.

Mom was surprised when I asked her for tips on making her beef stew. Yeah, I'm usually vegetarian. There are moments when sentiment, or manners, win over animal ethics. (Feel free to flame if you're hardcore veggie. I know.) The stew is cooking, and I feel like I'm home.

I haven't blogged in months.
Life had some twists, and I chose to spend my time reading, knitting, and socializing instead of blogging. (If anyone wants to provide me with DSL that could all change! Dialup does not make photo-blogging a quick process.)

I had thought of just slinking in to the class, sitting in the last row, and hoping no one would notice my tardiness. I once read a complaint about bloggers that were absent and then apologized about their reappearance. True. She's back. Not really worth READING about! Slink I shall.

I have been knitting.
I have been reading about knitting.
The joy of feeling yarn, seeing new stitches, finding new project ideas...all alive and well.

Tootsie is done.
I made a sweater. I haven't woven in the ends. I'm stalling on that.
I've made a few washcloths and the angelic (blogless) Karen made even more. They're for a charity project for the office mgr at work.
I started a breast cancer ribbon scarf in a yummy sparkly pink mohair blend.
I started a lacy scarf in Rowan summer tweed that I will be frogging.
I'm ignoring my clapotis.
I've started the 2nd strap for my quattro bag.
I still need to make my Dad's footies with his father's day yarn. (nope, dad, didn't forget!!)
I started some wrist warmers in Orangeade cottonease (hi there, cottonease followers!) and Target fun fur.
I started a multidirectional scarf using DiVe Teseo. I love love love it. It's browns and oranges and yummy.

and

I hopped.
And shopped.
and shop-hopped.

I have a lovely bag full of yarn, 500 miles on my car, and 12 stamps on my shophop card. 12 stores across Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio had a contest. I had a vacation day and an urge to spend some time alone fondling yarn. The fall leaves were lovely. I had a soft bed and quiet room in Georgetown, KY. My stash is bursting at the seams. It was fun, and I got lots of new ideas for projects.

I might post pics soon...of projects, and new stash.

But, I'm still on vacation, and it smells like home.

no knitting news here

nothin'.
I haven't finished any projects since last post.
Tootsie Roll pillow has seen progress.
My social life has seen progress.
but,
I got nothin'.

(I will pat self on back that I've resisted all craft/yarn purchases for a couple weeks now!)

My secret pal asked me to post an ACTION! pic of the bag she made me. Without further ado...

Project updates

just knitting.
No exciting recipes to share, no tales to tell, no sunsets to view.
just knitting.

Tootsie Roll makes my hands happy. I'm starting to wobble on its beauty as a pillow, but it's a divine knit. I hung out at starbucks friday nite listening to an unexpected 'concert' and worked a few inches (with plenty of curious glances regarding this bold KIPing.) How often does one innocently head out for a chai and get to listen to really good guitar/singing? Tootsie recorded it. Last nite, I watched the Aviator (good enough movie, but kept thinking...END already!) and did another few rounds. So...pillow: 3 movies, 1 sunset, 1 concert.



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In early July I sent my secret pal a big ole package that was enough to cover my SP obligation, but I feel bad that I haven't been sending her other little goodies. Mail is always a good thing. So, I tried to whip up a washcloth for her this week. My knit group didn't really make me think that this would be the bestest gift to get (the pattern disappointed me.) I've kept my last 2 washcloth experiments...debating whether to go ahead and send this, just so she knows I'm thinking of her. hmmmm....



pattern: tiny cables washcloth
yarn: sugar and cream daisy ombre
needles: US7 fiddlesticks bamboo
dates: 8.1.05-8.2.05

---
quick pic of felted quatro. Still need to make the strap, having a few problems with color choices. I knew what I wanted in my head, but found that wouldn't work with the i-cord. Back to scheming.



(including before pic again to compare)


--
SP: I wasn't able to get a pic of your bag in action yet. My camera batteries died at SnB last week, and it's hard to take a pic of myself USING something. It's being enjoyed, tho...I promise.

Speaking of knitting group...we're officially part of Barnes & Noble's roster now! We all grabbed our cameras to get pics with the store sign. Knitters...taking over the world. One coffeeshop and bookstore at a time... A bunch of this group is heading to Toledo in a few months for a knitfest. Non-knitters are picturing grannies sitting around being boring. Ha! Maybe there WILL be some grannies, but I promise that the knitters WON'T be boring! Maybe a hotel lobby full of partying gals (and guys...?) with sticks 'n string will help that image change! I've already taken the day off from work for the festivities (no pressure there, Bonnie! heh.) Still need to decide on workshops, hotel, etc.

Cotton Ease Hoarding (CEHD) is still in need of a cure. I think we've at least wiped the town out of stock. I had a big score this week...7 balls of Strawberry Creme. I'm planning to use it for the Sitcom Chic cardigan (with a bit of tweaking,) and perhaps a tank under it. I got Bob and myself some Licorice. The stash is maxed out. NO MORE.

I'm being summoned now to go out for some Indian yumminess. It's been so hot still, eating isn't really a priority...good for waistline, tho! I'm sure a samosa or 2 will have my name on it anyway!

cheers.

it's all about faith.

Quatro (the bag) is knitted.
It's FELTED.
It was 22 longx17 high.
Now: 20x12.
This means I have about 112 inches of strap to knit...

A few minutes into the felting process, I just had to peek.
Oh no.
My lovely quatro yarn was ugly mud. The top of the bag hadn't felted and was a stretchy mess. I KEPT THE FAITH. 2 cycles later....a lovely felted bag emerged! Amazing!
It's still drying, so no 'after' pics yet. Here's a view of its final moments as a knitted bag:



I'm actually pretty excited about it. I've been working on this for several months now. It's a lot larger than I anticipated, but will make a great tote/bookbag...um....yarn bag!?! I'll keep y'all posted for felted pics and the strap.

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Here's a shot of the bookmark before I handed it off at work. It was fun enough to make. I think I'm cured of my itsybitsy toothpick knitting obsession for a while now, tho. (I accepted that my own Potter bookmark on DPNs just wasn't happ'nin. I can live with that.)


pattern: 15 st wide garter, with border that used CROCHET HOOK, Bob.
yarn: #5 DMC floss, colors 312 and 400 (blue and bronze)
needles: boye US 0 circ
dates: 07.17.05-07.24.05

---
Thanks to Karen showing off her latest pillow creation, I started another new project this week on a whim. (whimZ has whims? hmmmmm.) She had made a bolster pillow cover that looks like a tootsie roll...long tube, tie up the ends. Hers was CottonEase. Mine...isn't. I was at the LYS and found Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton, color Sand. Soooooo soft. I found a comment by someone using this that compared it to knitting clouds. REALLY soft. I'm using Lorna Lace Grace Mohair/Wool Boucle in pinkish-purple/chocolate/sage for random stripes. Lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it. AND...it's the first project I've ever been able to knit without having to watch my hands at all. Perfect for...
knitting while watching movies.
Which I did twice this weekend.

Friday nite, I watched Hotel Rwanda. I don't even know what words to use for it. Intense, horrifying, inspiring? It made me question humanity. My fingers poured that into the yarn, stitch by stitch.
Saturday, Bob, Jeff and I went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch, then saw March of the Penguins. Go See This Movie!! It's everything a film should be...funny, educational, moving, beautiful. Bob and I measured out the penguins' long journey in lengths of yarn in the dark theater. (yeah...mohair boucle is NOT ideal movie yarn. It didn't come out too wonky, tho.) I love that my feelings seem to be pouring into this project. The first few inches were done during a stunning sunset at a park near my house. I wished on the first evening star that day.
I'm gonna love this pillow when it's done for more than just its beauty and softness!

The title of the post is a recurring theme for me...in life, in writing, in blogging.
Must. Have. Faith.
I feel like my world is becoming a continual lesson of that right now.
I'm trying to listen.

ohmy ohmy!

secret pal...you rock.

I was kind of 'waiting' on the last package, so finding it on my porch was gleeful, but not Unexpected. Tonite...
I was in a fairly crabby mood coming home (good day in general, but some stress I didn't need at the end,) and it's hot out. Very hot out. I stepped onto the porch to see...

my mailbox wasn't closed. There was a big ole box stickin' out of it.

Crabby mood GONE.

I ran inside to see what the treat was...and I'm stunned! I can't sew a thing (my mom did my 4-H project for me after my attempts at machine sewing were going to cause excessive frustration for all parties involved.) My buddy made me an awesome satchel (knitting bag) with long straps and inside pockets. She MADE it! It will make a fabu knitting bag, altho I love it so much, I might use it for a market bag (can sling across neck.) If that weren't excitement enough, I peeked inside....

bubbles. me 'n the kitties love us some bubbles. (I'm not a grown-up. really I'm not. I kept saying I was going to go hide in my treehouse during stressful moments today.)

Jelly bellies. I have an official Jelly Belly dispenser. Love them JB's!!

A festive looking collection of mystery stories, Malice Domestic 6. It will be great lunch time reading since the stories are fairly short.

A really nice note on a cat postcard.

sigh. I needed this today. I love this. Thank you so much!

p.s. The JBs were a good choice...the chocolate surprisingly survived the heat before...I think even air would melt today!
p.p.s. I don't see what you were worried about with the bag. I think it looks perfect!

(pics will follow, but I just had to get a post up ASAP.)

the Big zucchini and a new knitter

Thursday nite the big zucchini began as this.


[wine bottle for size comparison only, of course.] [darned good wine, tho.]

Poor thing. He soon was this.



and then this.



Joy, oh joy...before noon the next day, he was this!



The coworkers set a record devouring one of my baked goods offerings. Made me smile.
chocolate zucchini cake. Can't really post the recipe since it was found in a comment on someone's blog. Feel free to mail me for it if you're interested.
---
Like everyone else is saying...it's hot. Really hot. Too hot for meaningful posts. Can't complain, tho...at least I have A.C. (unlike poor Aunt Purl!)
---
Knittin' news:
finished Ravenclaw bookmark. I'm just telling everyone an 8 year old child made it. Sides are kinda wonky. (aside: wonky has hit my fave word list in the past few weeks. odd.)

Clap has had 4th drop. Totally digging the pattern, but kinda dreading how long it's gonna go on. (ADD 'n all...)

I got a sudden burst of inspiration to work on Quattro last nite. (ok. I was watching a movie...Princess Diaries...very cute/sweet, and it's the only straight garter project already OTN.) There's even a chance I'll finish the bag today and MAYBE felt it. The strap will have to wait.

Friday was very exciting in knittingland. A coworker (the recipient of said bookmark) was begging me to teach her to knit. I agreed to do it during lunch. I taught myself to knit from a book OVER A WEEKEND. She had a half hour. With my same yarn and needles (11s and icky acrylic,) and another knitter's advice (2 knitters providing more style options,) she actually got a garter swatch done. I was very impressed. She spent the afternoon walking around with the yarn in her labcoat pocket, knitting away. I'm sure our supervisors were just loving that I've created yet another addict. (Director came in and said to me...you just HAD to do that knowing her OCD, didn't ya....I evilly grinned.) I'm curious if she's gonna still be interested on Monday. I'm guessing yes! If anyone reading this happens to have some needles (probably 11 and up for beginner's scarf) and soft green yarns that they aren't wanting...give me a holler, and maybe I can buy them from you. I promised her purling and better supplies if she practiced! (she HATED the acrylic, but it's a good learning yarn because it doesn't split.)

stay cool, everyone!

colors of the sky

In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Vermeer opens Griet's eyes to clouds not being white. They're full of colors. That was the moment in the book that has lingered with me the most. Since then, I've spent hours studying stormy evening skies, intensely desiring to be able to piece together the colors to pin that moment down. As a knitter, I study the clouds for colors fibers could be. Could I ever make a sky as beautiful as tonite's in yarn?



closeup:



who knew I could drive and take pics at same time? heh. Yes, with hands at 10 and 2 even.
...
Ravenclaw bookmark almost done. Worked on it tonite at Meetup with a nice group of gals at a great li'l coffeehouse. Chai 'n knitting. Life is good.