Too Many Scarves

What I've been up to...

In picture format:

 

Apron...

A couple of months ago I started this apron.

Remember this picture?

I had cut out all the pieces, sewn a few pieces, then my machine jammed and I had to take it in to get it fixed. The apron got forgotten about until a few days ago.

This is almost as cute as the earrings Carrie sent me:

Here's the other side, and with the tie in the back instead:

I love this thing. I love it so much I am tempted to wear it in public. I won't, but I would love to find a dress like this though...

I thought I was going to like the polka dot side more, but I think I prefer the floral side.

So there you have it. The cutest thing I have ever sewn.

New things...

So I've been in the mood to blog more lately. Probably because I've been doing things or wanting to show off some recent acquisitions, but you know what? I really don't like this new set up on Typepad.

Have you noticed the gap after the pictures in the past couple of posts? I had to do that so the text wouldn't wrap on the side of the picture. Now, I know there's options when you post pictures but I haven't worked out the combo where the picture is decent sized and the text is not wrapped. We'll see how this goes today. If there are gaps you know I walked away from the computer cursing.

Let me show you first, the best thing I have received in the mail in a long time:

Oh my god...how cute are those?!  Carrie made them, blogged about them, I commented on how cute they were and she sent them to me. She is fabulous. And very talented! I know they were some of the first pairs you made Carrie, but really, they're very good! I'm sure you all will agree with me. I've toyed with the idea of getting to this kind of thing, but Tracey claims she has no hobbies and she likes the idea of beading so she says I need to leave this for her. Ha ha! That's fine...just as long as she makes some stuff for me!

Another recent acquisition:

I've always wanted Keens and last night when I was at REI, I'm telling you, it was fate. One pair, on clearance, in my size and the perfect color. I would have taken the light olive green color I've seen some Keens in too, but this rust would have been my first choice. They are soooooo comfy. I originally tried them on just out of curiosity (I mean, I shouldn't be buying shoes, I am unemployed!) but, my god, as soon as I put them on...it was over. I got out the credit card. Horrible, I know, but I don't do that too often. I don't consider myself to be an impulse buyer but they were that comfortable. Now I want more Keens.

There are a few other things I wanted to talk about, but so far, Typepad has been cooperating and I don't want to push my luck. Tomorrow, pictures of the cutest thing I have ever sewn.

*I figued out the picture problem on here. Yay for being smarter than the computer.

Let's try this again...

I can't bear the idea of typing all the Orangina info again considering I've done it about 5 times now. So here you go.

Done. 2 months to the day that I cast on. I don't know if I will be doing another lace project for a while. This one was really testing my patience for a bit there. It has nothing to do with the pattern, Stefanie did a great job, it's written very simply, it was my doing. I just wasn't paying enough attention.

It's supposed to be a little more loose fitting, but I kept hearing on Ravelry how some were stretching out, so I took that into consideration and made a smaller size. I've already worn it a few times and have received compliments.

I might make one slight change soon though, if I can find what I want. Buttons at the shoulder seams purely for decoration. I put these on originally but then took them off because it wasn't quite the effect I was going for.

I want something that looks a little more antique to go with the lace. Anyway, it's good enough for now.

Testing...

This is the second time today that I have tried to post with pictures (I think its the pics that send the computer over the edge) and out of nowhere it says Internet Explorer has stopped working and it shuts down Typepad.

Just a test here...

Ok, well it seems to have worked this time, but I really don't like the new set up here on Typepad. Ok, I'll try again later with a real post when I have regained some of my patience.

Oh my god...

*Long deep breath*

I just tried to post a long entry...complete with a ton of pictures. And in the middle of it my computer said "Internet Explorer has stopped working" and shut down Typepad. ??? Oh, and it happened twice. The first time I was frustrated, but I was determined, so I tried it again. The it happened again. I don't have the patience right now. Maybe I can get these two pictures in from the graduation weekend before my internet goes out on me again:

 

 

Those are the best pictures from that weekend. Explanations later.

(I've decided to keep the blog up a bit longer. Pictures of Orangina soon.)

I've been giving some thought to closing down the blog.

About 4 years ago I started reading blogs while trying to look busy at a temp job. I was hooked. An insight into other peoples lives through knitting and pictures? I was in. I started my own blog a few months later. Over the years I have met people from all over the country and I've come to consider them friends. All of the comments, advice and words of encouragement from people I have never met in person have meant the world to me.

I have enjoyed this blog immensely...but I'm thinking it might be time. I'm going to think about it for a little while though...

I am trying to blog more often since it helps clear my mind, but here's the catch which I'm sure many of you can appreciate:

The times that I really need to blog are when I am stressed because I have no time. And therefore no time to blog. Oh the irony.

I was in San Francisco this past weekend for Randy's graduation, then yesterday I started a temp job and tomorrow Fan is flying down to stay with us for the weekend. Busy busy right now.

Purely because I didn't want this post to be pictureless...a picture I took this weekend of my old apartment in San Francisco. I miss it now.

Knit night

I have gone to a new knit night in Huntington Beach for the past two weeks. It's a little bit of a drive, but what else do I have to do with my time right now?! It's held at a coffee shop just blocks from my friend Nicole's place, and Nicole is learning to knit. How perfect is that?

She's made a few scarves so far, remember this picture?

Well, she's learning new stuff. I showed her how to Magic Loop last night.

We were just screwing around for that picture, she actually did quite well. She didn't twist the stitches or anything. Good job Nicole!

In other news, Randy and I are driving up to San Francisco early this Friday for his graduation. (So proud of him. Yay!) I'm looking forward to the knitting time. I put down the Not-So-Orangina for a couple of weeks there, I just couldn't stand looking at it anymore, but we've reconciled. I've made a few inches of progress on it. I'm taking it with me to SF. That will be the only project I take, even though I am dying to bring something else. I'm hoping to make enough progress on it this weekend to be up to the ribbing by next week, then be done with it by the end of the month. Sheesh.

And then I'll be hoping it fit me.

(Uhmmmm...what is with this layout?! I'd fix it right now, but honestly, I woke with a huge migraine this morning and don't have the patience right now.)

Same amount of pictures but more words...

Things are good today. Maybe it's because it's Friday and I know that the next two days will be busy and will keep my mind off of the fact that I am unemployed. And that I am too busy to look for a job on the weekend, so there is no guilt.

Today could also be good because of the warm weather we are having today.

(An attempt to show you how gorgeous and sunny it is here since I can't show you how warm it is. Also, we rearranged the bedroom the other night and now the bed is right under the window. That is a huge bonus for Randy when it starts getting warmer at night.)

This may be the first day that has been warm enough for me to go out to the pool. I've been waiting for this day for months.

First, a couple of quickie projects:

Bibs...based on the Mason Dixon ones. I don't own the book, I just winged it from looking at pictures. I wonder if the pattern suggests slipped stitches for the edges. Probably. Here are the edges:

It didn't occur to me till the third one to slip the stitches:

Much cleaner finish. Too bad I ran out of yarn and that last one there is going to be a dishcloth for the kitchen. I'm sure the counters will appreciate those slipped stitch edges though, it was not in vain.

I also now know that if I take a few stitches off of the width the next time around I can get 3 bibs out of one ball of CottonTots. These are going to two different girls. My cousin had a baby boy the other day and my friend Anita is due in about a month. I'm going to see if I can stitch up some onesies today. Yay for quick baby projects.

Also, I give you the "deer in the headlights" picture of me in the Tweed Beret:

Ok, so maybe I don't look that wide eyed, but it's the best one I could get of the beret "in action". I was hoping to cut down on the stash with this one but it only took about half of a ball of Rowan Felted Tweed. I don't consider it cutting down unless the whole ball is gone. Anyway. I'm still on the fence with the finished product. I think I want it slightly slouchier. But I don't care enough to rip it back, so I guess it's not that big of a deal. We'll see how much use it gets when it gets cooler around here.

Ok...gotta go take advantage of the fabulous weather now!