Wednesday, April 30, 2008

I found a geek,

and I didn't even have to hunt down a basement first! Alright ladies and gents, I think the inner 16 year old girl has finished for a moment, but only a moment.

It is Wednesday, and therefore time for a happy list!

1. Geeks
2. Classes being over
3. Planning Hats
4. Making Things
5. Toe-Nail Polish

Monday, April 28, 2008

Look Shiny!


Stitch Markers!


Buttons!

Weekend is over, welcome back to real life.

Tomorrow is my last day of classes, then finals are upon me.

Instead of studying, I've spent the past several hours cleaning like mad. Yep, I've lost it.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Thursday, and nothing is driving me crazy!

Instead of a Thursday thing this week, I'm going to go on and on about my top drawer instead.

Earlier while randomly surfing the intrawebs I stumbled across this Pringles Can Organizer. It was squee at first sight, but in order to make one I would have to eat 9 cans of Pringles. I have nothing against Pringles, in fact I think they are quite tasty, but running out and buying then subsequently eating 9 cans just to make an organizer seems silly to me.
A few minutes after veiwing the Pringles organizer I wandered into the kitchen where I spotted our stash of 12 pack soda boxes and inspiration struck: drawer organizers! (ok so the Pringles organizer has very little to do with the story, I just really liked it.)

We started with this:



Then did some of this:



and we went from this:



to this:



Ta-Da!


Oh and: Dear Jayne I knit you this hat...



Despite telling my self I would not, I bought Jayne Hat yarn... I'm so bad someone should spank me.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

In Which She Reveals Something That Makes No Sense.

I usually don't post more than once in a day, but I need this.

I can not tell this story in any sort of chronological order, so I will not try. This story starts in Houston on an unremarkable day in July. I was in the city to pick up a kitten and have lunch with two of my nearest and dearest, we will call them A and B for now.
I was slouched in a booth next to B, A was sitting across the table, and the conversation turned to nipples. And I took what had been a perfectly light and lively discussion of anatomy and twisted it into something bleak. “You know, my nipples got darker recently.” I said, it seems perfectly innocent, a simple thing really, but it was only a preface. I had just poked the tip of an iceberg into our conversation, and we were about to hit it head on.
“Really, do you know why?” A asked, sucking on an edamame shell.
“Yeah…” I paused, thinking, how do you say it? There was no handy euphemism, despite my southern roots I could find no series of words to make the truth any softer.

Can't Say I Would Like it Any Other Way

Five Completely Random Things That Make Me Happy:

1. Silk, because it feel so yummy.
2. Austin, because it's a damned fine town.
3. Wheat Thins, the original kind.
4. Bandannas, for those days when ypu just don't feel like fixing your hair.
5. Firefly, because it's just awesome.


Last night I realized I am addicted to my random conversations with Barker. At about 11 pm I was feeling deprived because I hadn't heard from him. Turns out I missed his call earlier in the evening. I don't think there is a day that goes by in which I don't hear from him in some way shape or form, and I love it.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

No Pictures because I'm feeling Lazy

The Market Bag came off of my needles this week, and it is super cute, I just haven't taken any pictures of it. My criss cross garter is also halfway done, but at the moment it looks like a lopsided rectangle with random holes down the sides. It will be a long while before I cast on the second piece as I had the brilliant idea of knitting worsted weight yarn on size 0 needles. Oh my hands! I nick named the 0's "Squiggles." Grams gave them to me, which means they are older than I am.

Most of the day today was spent working on the garter, and watching Firefly, so now I'm trying to resist the urge to run to the nearest store, buy a bunch of yarn and make a Jayne hat. I will lose this battle eventually, especially since I know several people who would love to have a Jayne hat of their very own. I've also been thinking about an awesome Mario Afghan I saw on the Crochet Me blog. I could do that, and if I can't, the bat lady can show me how.

Christmas knitting is also on my brain at the moment, I know that I am going to make Branching Out for both Mom and Grandma, out of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. Colton who will turn 1 in October will get an afghan, his mom April will probably get the Doctor's Bag from Knit Two Together, and I'm thinking Clapotis for Rae. I can't think of anything to make for the men in the family, if you have any suggestions please send them in my direction.

Monday, April 21, 2008

I squealed like a 12 year old girl,

when I read this

Knitty has had 50,000,000 visits, is holding a contest, and I can't quit drooling over the list of stuff they are giving out.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Vagueness;

it just doesn't sound right. I always thought the noun form of the adjective vague was vagaries, it just sounds fun. Alas, I was disabused of this notion a few moments ago when I looked it up on ditionary.com. I am sad.

On to the actual "vagueness"

It was: a weekend, quite a weekend, a good weekend.

Much Love from Carat Land!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Thursday Thing and Knitting

My eyelashes drive me crazy, yes I know they are long and pretty, yada yada yada, but they get into everything, like cat hair. When I say everything I mean everything, not just my eyes, which is frustrating. Earlier I was eating a bowl of ravioli and I found one in that; why can't my eyelashes stay attached to my face, where they belong?

On to the knitting.

Over the last week or so I got a lot of stuff done, I finished the scarf for my dad on his birthday:



I also finished the "Felted Rug;" it was a disaster:



So I cut it into pieces:



I made a scarf out of Baby Llama, which is deliciously soft, and needs blocking.

I also restarted the cursed sock, and made a colossal mistake while turning the heel: so I frogged it, again:



And once again made a sock yarn porcupine:



I got a ton of work done on the green and black afghan.

And finally I am done with all but the second handle of the linen mesh market bag:



I told you I got a lot done!

With love from Carat Land.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Happy Happy Happy Listing!

1. Learning to make an I-cord
2. Having the first three seasons of Grey's Anatomy on DVD
3. Pants that make my ass look fabulous, and are extremely comfortable
4. Clearance sales at book stores
5. Bombing a test, but still having an A average in government

No post yesterday due to sleep, I'll update on the knitting tomorrow. Lots of finished objects.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Whoops it's Tuesday already

It's only 12:45, and after reading Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" for Lit Class I'm going to go to bed. It is, however, time for MONDAY MANIA! Yes the once fabled "RSE" is finally here.

So this Monday I am totally in love with the Craftzine blog; check it out, it's awesome (drink!) - Whoops! sorry, habit.

And now a question for anyone so brave as to read this thing:

When you leave a comment would you prefer I answer here on the page, via email, or both?

also:

How do you feel about serial commas?

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Photographic Evidence

I've told this story many a time, and many don't believe it.

A few years ago I took a friend to meet my dear batlady Grams. Grams made a snarky comment, to which I responded in kind, and she then flipped me the bird, much to my friends amazement. I know that I am not the only person on Earth with a grandmother who is at times a bit crude, but there are many people who just can't visualize "dear old grannie" swearing at the afghan she is crocheting. So here is photographic evidence that my Grams will indeed flip you the bird if you irritate her:



And for extra measure a picture of my cousin Ryan flipping her off about 30 seconds after walking in the door:



And a cute poodle picture to make up for vulgarity of this post:

Friday, April 11, 2008

Rearranging and Thursday

First off I'm rearranging the RSE's they will be as follows:

Monday: Monday Mania
Tuesday: Knitting Update
Wednesday: Happy List
Thursday: Thursdays are For Things That Drive Me Crazy
Friday: Weekly Writing Weigh In

I'm changing it up for two reasons: at some point I mentioned Monday Mania, then forgot about it, and the Wiffer Forum does the weekly weigh in on Friday.

This week I've written about 10 pages for Tex, which I've been trying very hard to not turn around and tear apart.

I also backed every thing up, cause I thought my computer died.

Oh and I love these pictures from yesterday:







Thursday, April 10, 2008

Before I Pass Out

Thursdays are for things that drive me crazy.

Looking at bags and bags of Noro Kureyon , and not being able to afford any right now. ::big pout::

I'm off to sleep now, I'll post about all of Today tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Hokay so...

It's Happy List Time

1. Not having a catastrophic computer meltdown.
2. dictionary.com
3. Organizing stash while listening to podcasts.
4. Baby Cat helping put all of the laundry away, if by helping you mean playing in the basket of T-Shirts while I try to fold them.
5. Flip Flops

Monday, April 7, 2008

Click Click Click Go The Sticks

My computer had a slight melt down, and this one is refusing to recognize my camera, otherwise you would have lots of pretty pictures to ooh and ahh over. In a minute I will try a restart and see if that helps at all.

This week in the wide wide world of my knitting:

I casted on a sock, knit the toe, frogged it, cast it on again, knit the toe and part of the arch, frogged it, cast it on again, knit the toe, frogged it, cast it on again... see a pattern? Right now it is a "sock yarn porcupine" I figured stabbing the yarn with tiny DPNs would make it more cooperative when I came back to the sock.

I've also cast on, and frogged my traveling scarf three times now, twice in one yarn, once in another. The first yarn is lovely soft, but the ply is so loose it has no stitch definition, grrr.

Tin's Scarf got blocked and is ready to send, as soon as I have an address (Tin?)

Dad's scarf did not get finished, but most of the felted rug did, including most of the seaming and weaving in of ends.

Of course my knitting ADD means I have cast on yet another project, a mesh tote bag. It's farmers market season here in Waxahachie so it should be quite handy in the near future.

That is all I can think of at the moment. Off to try the re-boot, and hope that the camera likes it.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

I meant to I swear!

I had every intention of posting this on Friday, but shiny things, ya know?

Ooh look, a butterfly!

Oh sorry I was posting something, what was it?

Ahh yes, this week my recommended reading is this: I Has A Sweet Potato which at this moment in time is about the right speed for me, my brain is operating not so well.

Give me a few minutes and I'll post this weeks Rage for you to enjoy.

Half a pint of Blue Bell Later:

Rage of the Week!

"Snip 'N' Save: Creative Ways to Break Up

* Stash a box of pantyliners in his medicine cabinet.
* Blow up photos of the two of you, frame them, and place in every room of your house. Hang one from your rearveiw mirror to seal the deal.
*Flirt with his sister.
*Tell his best friend that he is secretly in love with him.
*Invite all your bad girl friends over to his place during Super Bowl Sunday for a gab fest.
*Call his mother every day.
*Fake your death and move to another country."

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Wardrobe Mishaps

This Thursday it drives me crazy when I accidentally grab a pair of pants and stash them in my bag instead of a jacket. For those of you giving me an incredulous look: lemme 'splain.

Melly and I went to The Shabby Sheep tonight for PJs and Purls. Before hand I stashed some random items in my knitting bag, including what I thought was my old drill team jacket. Yes, I was on drill team in high school, I don't recommend it, you never know when you might end up made up like a prostitute, wearing a green wig:



I digress, I thought I put the jacket in my bag. It's made out of a light weight material and if you shove it into the bottom of a bag full of knitting stuff, a shake or two and it's just like new. In other words the jacket is handy, but it has a matching pair of pants. When wadded up on the floor, as all of my laundry is wont to be, the two look nearly identical to the hasty eye. So much to my chagrin, while sitting around knitting I pulled out my "jacket" only to discover that I had a pair of pants instead.

Oh and I figured it out, the answer lies in this:


Wednesday, April 2, 2008

It's Wednesday!

So therefore it is time for a Happy List!
5 completely random things that make me happy:

1. Finding my drivers license, before I gave in a trekked over to DPS to get a new one made
2. Discovering a random 4 ft long plank in the middle bedroom which I will turn into a "yardage measure" with two handy dandy nails.
2&1/2. Typing a blog entry while balancing said plank on my head, because I'm silly that way.
3. Discovering this:


I couldn't believe I found such a gem in Waxahachie, I think they opened last week.

4. Kettle Chips

5. Finding a ton of new blogs to read, my poor google reader is going to go into overload soon.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Urrgh Arrgh

Research papers are taking over my life!

Because I am currently having a crap time writing a crap load of research papers there will be no writing update this week, cause I'm cranky. Instead I'm going to ramble more about knitting, because it makes me happy.

I finished the Mary Jane Slippers yesterday.



They are comfy toasty, and I love love love them, in fact I am wearing them right now. :)

Today I finally got Tin's Scarf off of the needles, and now it is time to block it, a project for tomorrow. Sorry loves, no pictures until he has it in his hands.

So tomorrow I'm planning to block the scarf for Tin, and finally finish the ribbed Maroon and White Scarf for Dad that spent something like 3 months hibernating.




Ok it might not be finished tomorrow, but soon.

Much love from Carat Land!