Monday, May 30, 2005

Gotta Love the Long Weekend

I decided to change up the template for the blog. I liked the pink, but I think the pale blue is a little easier on the eyes. Of course some things still look wonky, so I've got some tinkering to do. For some reason I can't scroll all the way down the page, and my new profile pic isn't showing even though it shows when I post comments on other people's blogs. If anyone that uses blogger knows what the heck is going on, let me know. I've got an email into blogger help, but I'm not holding my breath on getting an answer. The weekend has been very nice. We went to the zoo yesterday and have basically been relaxing and BBQing. Very nice. I think I'm going to try to either finish up my I Do or try dyeing some yarn while the kidlets nap this afternoon. We'll see! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone!

Thursday, May 26, 2005

SP5 Questionnaire!

Well, here are my answers to the SP5 questions. I'm so excited! 1.Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? I certainly like higher quality yarns and natural fibers, but that’s not in my budget. I don’t have anything against Lion Brand, Bernat, etc. 2. Do you spin? Crochet? I’m learning how to spin using a hand spindle right now. I don’t crochet. 3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) Nope, no allergies here! 4. How long have you been knitting? I’ve been knitting for about 2 years now. 5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do have an Amazon online wish list, but’s it’s under my DH’s name Darin, same last name. 6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I love lavender and rose scents. 7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Not really. 8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I am a beader and I’m getting into dyeing my own yarn. 9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like 80’s music and 90s alt rock. I also love Classical Music and World music. My car stereo does play MP3s. I’d love to hear new kinds of music. Since the kidlets, I feel a bit out of it. 10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is purple, actually anything in the purple family. 11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married and have two kids, three and under. I have three cats 12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) I’d like to go back to teaching after my youngest starts school. I’d like to travel a little with DH. I’d like to get really good at knitting and perhaps sell some of my beadwork and yarn adventures. 13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Don’t have favorites, but I do quite like knitting with Cascade 220. 14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I don’t hate any fiber, but I don’t particularly enjoy novelty yarns. 15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I’m enjoying knitting with beads, and I love doing lacework. 16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I enjoy knitting sweaters. As far as small projects go, I like hats or handbags. 17. What are you knitting right now? I’m finishing up Knitty’s I Do shrug, and working on a Chickami for my SIL’s bridal shower gift. 18. What do you think about ponchos? I like them and have knitted a few. I like shrugs more. 19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? It depends on the project. I do most of my knitting with circs I’m finding. 20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Will use them all. Love Addis but are a bit expensive. Love bamboo. 21. Are you a sock knitter? Haven’t knitted a sock yet, but have plans to knit my kids Christmas Stockings this Fall. 22. How did you learn to knit? My mom showed me how to cast on and how to do garter stitch. I learned the rest from the first SnB book. 23. How old is your oldest UFO? 9 months. My sons lapghan. It’s taking me forever. 24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I love Piglet, Spongebob, and Hello Kitty. My favorite animal is probably the Tiger. 25. What is your favorite holiday? I love Christmas. 26. Is there anything that you collect? I collect interesting and unique lampwork beads, funky keychains, and drop spindles. 27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I subscribe to Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Family Circle Easy Knitting 28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? Last Minute Knitted gifts, Knitting on the Edge, Knitting Without Tears, Loop d Loop Whew! Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! BBQs rule!

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Just sitting on the deck... roasting!

Oh my goodness it's hot out here. Luckily, I like it a bit warm. I'm in the shade and DS is busy moving dirt around, a favorite three year old boy's activity. All in all we had a pretty good day today. DS has been having trouble with me leaving him at preschool. We've had about a month of me going with him, DD in a Baby Bjorn, trying to warm him up to the whole idea. I've been slowly leaving him longer and longer. Today, I left after about a half and hour. He cried, but the teacher said he got over it 30 seconds after I left. Whew! Of course, not knowing that I sat out in the car under a tree with DD sleeping in her carseat. I'm also bummed that school is almost out for the summer. I hope we don't have to go through all of that again when he starts summer school. I showed the bridal bracelets to my SIL this weekend at DS's birthday bash, and she loved them. I'm relieved. I'm also still enjoying the I Do progress. I should be done in the next week. Of course I've got to then block the thing, which looks to be painful. I also started making a Chickami from a bunk more French Vanilla Microspun that I have for my SIL's bridal shower gift. We're fairly poor here at Chez Craftylilly, so I'm making a lot of gifts for people. I'm also excited for Knit the Classics to start. On June 1st we're starting by reading Middlemarch. Everyone is knitting their own project along with the reading. I think I'm going to do the Felted French Market bag from knitty. I haven't felted anything before. SP5 is also starting pretty soon. I'll be posting my questionnaire answers by the end of the week. I can't wait to get my person!

Friday, May 20, 2005

It's a sunshiny day!

Thank you to everyone who sent good health wishes. DD and I are feeling much better, and DH didn't get the ick. We are all thankful! Today is gorgeous here, so I have high hopes for DS's birthday party at the park tomorrow. I'm ready for it to start getting warm and sunny. I thought I'd post the finished bridal jewelry for my SIL's wedding. The pic doesn't capture the pearly sheen of the white bracelet, but it's very pretty. The red bracelet is what all the bridesmaids will be wearing. Her color is that lovely deep red. I hope she likes them. I plan to show them to her at DS's party. The design is mine and kind of a modified right angle weave stitch. I also got a lovely RAK package from Slipstitch. She fed my irrational love of all things Hello Kitty. I love all of the stuff, but I especially like the Hello Kitty puffy stickers. There's a sticker for each member of Hello Kitty's family. Too Cute! I think a chocolate didn't make it's way into the pic. I suspect DH has confiscated it. Thanks Slipstitch!!!!!

Here are two of the bracelets I designed for SIL's wedding. Posted by Hello

A much appreciated RAK package. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

We're all sick! WAHHHH!!!

Well, to be more specific, DD and I are sick, DS is almost over the ick, and DH has yet to be infected. DS came home from preschool last week with a little cold... for HIM! I've been sick for a week. The boy has had three days of illness, tops. Now he has the obligatory slight cough, but other than that he's his usual crazy self. DD held off pretty well, but was laid low yesterday with it. She's now in bed sleeping as nothing, and I mean nothing was satisfying her. The upshot of all this illness is that we aren't going on DS's preschool field trip today to a nature park. I'm a bit bummed as it sounded like fun. However, it's DS's birthday tomorrow, and I've got to be rested and over this cold by Thursday for his school party, and the family and friends party we are throwing for him this weekend. Send good health vibes. We need it. In knitting/beading news. I totally threw in the towel on the Glampyre mini-sweater. I can't get gauge on the yarn I've chosen and so the whole project is tabled until I can find a suitable yarn in the stash. Of course, now I'm so sick of the pattern I just can't face starting it again. I Do is halfway done. I'm planning on starting the left sleeve today or tomorrow. I've also stopped procrastinating and started working on my SIL's wedding jewelry. I finished another prototype last night, but want to tinker a little more with it before I post a pic. Off I go to lay on the couch and commune with Dora the Explorer.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Three little tidbits

Last week I entered a contest put on by Bliss. I guessed a sitcom quote correctly and she gifted me with this lovely Opal sock yarn in beautiful blue colors. Thanks Bliss! I also bought my first copy of the Spin Off magazine. Very interesting articles. Now I just need to buy a book on how to use my hand spindle... It's sick. I'm drooling over some beautiful hand spindles, and haven't even spun my first yarn yet. As for the book in the picture, well I left the house without a book or knitting when taking DS to preschool. So I'm sitting in my car with DD taking a nap in the back and find myself with nothing to do. I go to the grocery store and buy this Debbie Macomber book because I'm desperate for something to do, and it features knitting. I'm enjoying it actually. It's a fast read and fun. As for the third tidbit, I'm in desperate need of some suggestions for good movies to see. DH and I have rented some atrocious ones lately. Why DH thought Blade Trinity, National Treasure, and Darkness were good ideas is beyond me. We'll pretty much watch any genre.

My blog contest winnings! Posted by Hello

Good reading and embarassing reading. Posted by Hello

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Gathering inspiration from nature

It's finally not raining here in the Bay Area, which means walks with the kidlets. DH was home today and so we all went out for a walk on a trail that runs behind where we live. We live right at the foot of Mount Diablo, and so there are lots of terrific walks and hikes in our area. It's one of the reasons I love living here. I get more inspired to try new things with knitting and beading after one of these walks as well. I absolutely love the color of the flower/weed that I took a pic of. It's my favorite color. It amazes me that with all the colors that we create in clothes and jewelry, etc. that nature comes up with even more fantastic colors and textures.

Don't know the name of this weed, but it sure is pretty! Posted by Hello

This is a pic from a trail that runs behind my house. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Stash Enhancement

For Mother's Day, my mom and I went yarn shopping. We went down to Skein Lane in El Cerrito and then to The Knitting Basket in Oakland. Skein Lane is huge! I got yarn overload once I entered the door. They had everything, but the prices were a bit too rich for my blood. The Knitting Basket was also a nice shop with friendly sales people and decent prices. I enhanced the stash... I got enough Tahki Cotton Classic for the scallop tank from the last Interweave Knits, a whole bag of chunky wool yarn for a project not determined yet, and some Lorna's Laces. I've never owned any Lorna's Laces before, and all I can say is the colors are beautiful, and the yarn is so soft! The bag of yarn... well I couldn't resist. The colors were gorgeous, the price was right, my mom was buying... I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I'm sure it will make a fab winter sweater. Got to look towards future knitting! No FO to show, unfortunately. I'm still trucking along on I Do and the Minisweater. I hope to have the minisweater done in the next week or so. I'd like to start beading for real on my sis-in-laws wedding jewelry, and I have a bead knitting bracelet/necklace design I'm working on that I'd like to test.

Tahki Cotton Classic in a lovely reddish brown, and some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Girly Stripe." Posted by Hello

Some yummy yarn! It's Jamieson's Chunky. The color didn't show up here well. It's a beautiful green, teal, and purple mix. Got a whole bag of it! Posted by Hello

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

I got tagged!

By Pioggia Here's the rules: Pick 5 of the following and then complete the sentences. Then pass it on to 3 more of your blog friends! But no tag backs! The Premise (pick 5): If I could be a scientist… If I could be a farmer… If I could be a musician… If I could be a doctor… If I could be a painter… If I could be a gardener… If I could be a missionary… If I could be a chef… If I could be an architect… If I could be a linguist… If I could be a psychologist… If I could be a librarian… If I could be an athlete… If I could be a lawyer… If I could be an inn-keeper… If I could be a professor… If I could be a writer… If I could be a llama-rider… If I could be a bonnie pirate… If I could be an astronaut… If I could be a world famous blogger… If I could be a justice on any one court in the world… If I could be married to any current famous political figure… So here are my answers... 1) If I could be a gardener I'd have one of those large shrub mazes. Those just seem so cool, that scene from The Shining notwithstanding. I especially like the idea that I could lose myself in there and get some peace from the kidlets and the hubby every once in a while. It might work better than locking myself in the bathroom. :) 2) If I could be a chef I'd be an Iron Chef! Not one of the Iron Chef America people, one of the original Japanese ones. Maybe Iron Chef Chinese. Yummy! I'd whip up five dishes all incorporating the rutabaga in an hour... I can hear the judges now... You've incorporated the rutabaga in a very subtle yet delicious way! 3) If I could be an inn-keeper, I'd own a bed and breakfast in Pacific Grove, CA. That whole area is just gorgeous. 4) If I could be a writer, I'd write screenplays. Actually, this is something I once aspired to do. I wrote a 15 minute movie once. I'm not saying it was any good, but I do enjoy writing and appreciating good dialogue in the movies. 5) If I could be a professor, I'd teach philosophy/theology and ethics. I actually did teach this at the high school level for six years. I think it would be so much fun to do it at the college level where you really could delve into all the controverial topics! Now to tag three other people... I think I will tag Amylovie, Karen, and Tesoro. Thanks Pioggia! That was fun!

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

A FO just in time for Mother's Day!

Well, it didn't take me as long as I thought to finish this cowl neck sweater off for my mother. We're planning on hitting Skein Lane in El Cerrito on Saturday to celebrate Mother's day, so I'll be able to get her the sweater and the other little gifties I've got for her. I'm so lucky to share this craft/art with her. We drool over yarn together! I hope I have that eventually with my own little ones. My DS likes looking at yarn, and loves it when I make things for him. I'm hoping my DD will be the same. As Mother's day approaches I just give thanks that I was blessed with my children and am lucky enough to experience motherhood. I am also truly grateful to my own mother as I now recognize how hard that job is!

Here's the cowl neck sleeveless sweater I made my mother for Mother's Day. Finished it just in time! Posted by Hello

Sunday, May 01, 2005

Finally got some pics!

Don't have loads to report. I wanted to show my new Little Si spindle that the kids "bought" me for Mother's Day. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but I love just looking at it. I also was able to download the pic of my I Do progress. I'm up to the elbow and am preparing to start adding stitches. I can't wait to get to where I can use my circ again. DPN's are so fiddly to deal with. I still love my yarn, Cascade Sierra. I think it will be a great little shrug for summer!

The I Do shrug is progressing nicely so far. Posted by Hello

Here's my first spindle, the Cascade Little Si! Posted by Hello
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