being a diva is great…except for the mostly negative connotation

 I finished the little design project I kept mentioning and I liked it enough that I did submit it for publication.  Keep your fingers crossed for me! 

After that, it has been a flurry of casting on new projects…one for project sanity  (if you’re reading this and you think you might be on my gift list, don’t bother clicking the project sanity link…just move along and nobody gets hurt) and two for travel (since I be on a plane an laying over many hours tomorrow).  It dawned on me that since I am now confirmed for the Maryland Sheep and wool Festival1 that it might be nice to have a new knitted garment to wear.  Since it’s likely to be warm most of my current knit wardrobe won’t do.  So I cast on for something I’ve been wanting to make for a while…Sahara.  I’m using SWTC Twize which I know from experience is quite drapey so I think it will make a good substitute.  If you’re going I’d love to meet you!  There is a great MS&W group on Ravelry and they have reserved a whole building for a Ravelry fest.

I also cast on for some socks, a travel must in my book.  Doesn’t the swirly toe on the koigu (PPM 113218 on US 1) just make you happy?  And last but not least, Hemlock.  I wasn’t sure about the yarn initially but now that I’m knitting it I really like it.  It still seems very neutral to me despite the orange and yellow.  I’m using Tahki Bunny Print color 74  (great sale at Webs) on US 11 needles.  It goes unbelievably fast at this point.  I know that will not be the case soon enough when I am knitting rounds of hundreds of stitches.  By the way, if you decide to knit the Hemlock Ring afghan, you may want to join the KAL…they have extended charts and a correction to row 35…the row which resulted in my tinking several times and drinking more wine!  I love having my Denise needles at times like this.  There is no way I could have spread that out for the picture without them!

Why I am showing you this again (out of the deep dark past)?  Well, I just frogged it.  The whole dang thing…which took a lot longer than you might think.  It was 29″ wide across the chest.  Yeesh..what was I thinking?!  Jim is tall but thin.  I know I must’ve had him try it on at some point so I’m not sure what went wrong.  I won’t be casting on again until the late summer or fall but I definitely intend to revisit it.  Jim is in love with it…all except for the part where it doesn’t fit him at all. 

If you haven’t already you might want to check out my podcast.  You can listen to it from your PC…no need for an ipod. :happydance:  Obviously, I have been spending some of my time doing that which is why I have had less frequent updates here.  Hopefully I’ll get in a groove at some point where I can manage to have the complement each other even more.

1. Did I tell y’all that already?  I know I mentioned it on the podcast. [↩]

My stash is really mad at Erica.  She sent the most beautiful colors of Koigu for my birthday and the new skeins are talking up all my attention!  The rest of the stash feels neglected.  Thank you for the fabulous gift seester!!!  She also sent Hannah who is growing at an incredibly slow pace.  I just love silly little things like that.  I’ll be sure to share a picture when she’s all grown up.

I’ve been working (slowly) on the design project I started in Arizona but I also found time to sneak in another little amigurumi and a new podcast.  This week I chatted with Amy and Sheldon of knittinghelp.com.  It was great to get all the details of their endeavor after using the site almost daily for a couple of years.

Yet another little amigurumi.  This one is going to live in Jim’s office as soon as I outfit him properly with a scarf and hat.  His soon to be born brother will be going to live with a very special lady whom I’ve never met.

I upgraded to Wordpress 2.5 today and they FINALLY are developing an integrated gallery.  Hopefully once the full release is finished there won’t be a need for me to have a separate gallery like I do now.  I thought I’d test this handy new feature with some pictures of the boys.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t allow the javascript pop up yet.  Maybe in the final release?  I guess I’ll stick to the gallery plug in for future posts.

I’ve tried to convince myself that I like this bag, but it’s just not happening.  I’m not sure if it’s just the size (too big for a handbag for me) or the overall look.  It doesn’t look like something I’d use in public (because I’m wayyyyyyyy too cool  :rofl: ).  If someone asked me if I made it, I’d be embarrassed to say yes.  Too harsh?  Maybe, but it’s my reality.  It’ll have to be relegated yarn holder or some such menial task.  Grrr…I hate it when a felting experiment goes awry!

On the other hand, I am absolutely enamoured with Fred.  I love him!  It’s the first time I’ve picked up a hook in a couple of years now.  I’ve been getting the toy bug and of course there is no better way to deal with that than crochet amigurumi.  I wanted so start with something very simple just to make sure I still knew what I was doing with only one stick instead of two.  If you’ve been living in a cave and somehow missed the amigurumi craze (it is a craze, isn’t it?) then check out this article:  http://www.crochetme.com/amigurumi  You may also enjoy checking out the picture at this flickr site:  http://flickr.com/photos/samyii/533548255/

Even if you don’t normally listen to podcasts, you may want to check out my latest episode.  I know many of you also read the JenLa blog and my interview this week was with Laura!  We had an absolute blast recording this (at least I did) and she has some interesting things to say plus a little news for you.

I’m always pleased with how quickly a felted bag gets finished.  I’m not 100% happy with the way my bag turned out (I would have preferred a smaller bottom) but it’s cute and I’m still planning to use it as my spring bag.  It’s drying right now.  With the weather we’ve been having that could take quite a while! 1  I’m not sure if there will be much interest but I do plan to write up the pattern.  I mainly used Valley Yarns Bershire and Crystal Palace Icelandic Print from my stash.  Coincidentally, I just got an email from Webs saying that Berkshire is on sale. It felts quickly and they have lots of great colors.  I guess I’ll have to go back to my Bordhi socks now or get cracking on the design project I started in Arizona.  If I don’t finish that soon I won’t even be able to wear it until next fall!

1. Isn’t it supposed to be spring? [↩]

Thanks so much for all the kind get well wishes!  Everything went great and now that the packing is out I am feeling a little human again.  Let me just say…I would NEVER do this again (now I am wishing it all hadn’t gone so quickly so maybe I could have thought over some appearance changes to my nose).  I just keep telling myself it will all be worth it when I can actually breathe.  Apparently after they got in there, they could really see where years of allergies had done a number on my turbinates.  Plus they were able to fix my deviated septum and the new dent Loki had created.

I have gotten some great mail the last couple of weeks.  Maybe the universe felt that I could use a little cheering up after the surgery.  Laura sent me some of her beautiful hand dyed yarn.  For no good reason at all except she is a lovely person (I’m sure she’ll add some smart ass comment about that  :angel:) Stunning, isn’t it?  It has some great yardage so I’m debating whether it will become socks or something else like a shawl or wrap.  I also go my first shipment from the Hill Country yarn sock club, which I had totally forgotten I had signed up for…and I mean totally forgotten in the sense that I actually had to email discountyarnsale.com to find out what fantastically sweet, thoughtful person had sent it only to find out that sweet thoughtful person was forgetful, dorky, stupid me.  :doh:  Lilac isn’t a color I would have chosen but that is the risk with a sock club, no?  I’m sure I’ll still put it to good use.

I’ve been hankering for a new spring purse and was inspired by the new Noni Patterns I received for the store.  I just cast on for one of my own design last night with some stash yarn.  More on that to come!

Well I’m still not 100% sure what’s going on, but I tried another sock out of the New Pathways book by Cat Bordhi and the sizing is way off!  It’s not a gauge thing since you plug whatever your gauge happens to be into a chart.  I know I’m reading it right this time so I’ll have to do some more research to figure out what is going on.  Fortunately, I sort of expected this so I was able to compensate to make it fit.  I am totally in love with the yarn!  Interlacements Tiny Toes…just YUM.

In other sock news, I finished the second pair of Baudelaire socks I started forever ago with  Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Socka (which by the way I hate and will never use again).  Erica has claimed them and they will be shipped off to their new owner shortly.  I used US 1 needles and the row gauge was significantly off from the pattern which resulted in several frogging episodes before I finally got the length right.  That is one thing I have decided I hate about following a pattern when doing socks…the fit is never quite as good as when I just gauge it myself.

Fortunately for my next little project, gauge was completely irrelevant.  I knew I just had to make one of these as soon as I saw it.  Freakin’ adorable.

Finally, I may be MIA for a few days.  Remember how I briefly mentioned that I had a trip to the emergency room right before I left for AZ in January?  Well, I had an appointment on Friday to get my nose checked out and it turns out I’ll be having surgery TOMORROW.  Yep, that quick.  Turns out he had a cancellation so I’m in.  I think it’s a good thing though so I don’t’ have time to really think about it.  Wish me luck!

I have been very lucky to have this extended stay alone in Arizona.  Although I miss Jim and the doggies terribly, I am sorry to see it end.  I have seen so many beautiful days, beautiful things, beautiful yarn, beautiful people and beautiful healthy food.  I won’t let myself get too sad though since we come back for shorter stays in April and May.1   I can’t wait until the day we are able to move here!

Pinky and Hippo’s clogs are finished.  Sheila was afraid she might mess up the felting process somehow so I went ahead and did it here.  She can always tweak the size by felting more once they get to their new home in Virginia.  This is the first time I have used Lamb’s Pride  for felting.  I love the way it turns out so fuzzy and felting was quick compared to other yarns I have used.  I’m leaving it fuzzy for now in case they need to felt them more but they can always trim it later.  Personally, I’m kind of liking the fuzzy feet look.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I LOVE the fiber trends clog pattern.  It just amazes me each time how those awesome short rows turn into footwear.

Finally, some color inspiration for you.  If you can’t be wooed by spring in the desert then I don’t know what can move you.

1. Thank goodness for frequent flier miles. [↩]

I saw this over at Bonnie’s and decided to try it:

What Cheryl Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.  UM…no…at least the very first part, that is.You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.  Sort of A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.  Up until the original part…not too sure about that one Success comes rather easily for you… especially in business and academia. Yes Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You’re a strong person.  Hmmm…I’ll have to ask someone about this one :P You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.  Pretty much You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.  True At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.  Maybe true in some aspects of my life You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You’re always up to something.  LOL…maybe the last part You have a ton of energy, and most people can’t handle you. You’re very intense.  Not so much You definitely are a handful, and you’re likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.  LOL You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.  Not so much You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.  LOL…is this thing really talking about me? You may miss out by not settling down, but you’re too busy having fun to care.  Huh? You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.  YES!  Finally we have one that is appropriate. You are light hearted and accepting. You don’t get worked up easily.  Ditto Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.  Yes.

The contest winner is Stephanie!  Thanks to everyone for both participation and voting.  If you see this before I get a chance to email you Stephanie, please go ahead and send your mailing address and I’ll get the Malabrigo out to you.

Well…of COURSE Cat Bordhi is not wrong.  I actually knew that when I wrote the last blog post about these socks, but I had not yet discovered the depth of my own ineptitude.  When I got to the arch expansion increases for the second sock, I peeked at the instructions again.  :doh:  I was only increasing every other row when I should have been increasing two every three rows.  That explains the huge discrepancy in length.  However, since the first sock was already finished I had to just repeat my stupidity compensation on the second sock.  They fit and that’s really all that’s important.  I won’t give all the specs since I screwed up so badly but to refresh your memory the yarn is Mira Sol Hacho 100% Merino in 303.  I used US 4 needles.

Erica’s birthday sweater is almost finished and it’s looking so cute!  Doing the cowl over and increasing the needle size did the trick.  I initially knit it with US 13 same as the body, but that made the cowl fabric way too tight so that it didn’t drape properly.  The second time around I went from 13 to 15 to 17 to 19 every inch or so.  I’m waiting until she gets here so we can consult on the final skein of yarn.  I’d like to either make the cowl even larger (I think that would look cool) or make a belt to go with it.  Meanwhile, I’ve been knitting some plain socks in Rio de La Plata as Jim and and I tool around Phoenix in pursuit of new stamps (letterboxing) and hikes (we had a fabulous one yesterday at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park on the Ford Canyon Trail).  We’re having a great time and I’m so happy to finally have him here.  Erica arrives Saturday and then Jim goes back home on Tuesday.  I still have a few glorious weeks left in the sun before I head back to Ohio.

Thanks so much for all of the support with the podcast!  I really appreciate all the email and comments I have been receiving.  If you haven’t tried it yet, you may want to at least try episode 3.  I’m having another little contest and giving away some great yarn.