…crafts n such
I finally finished the cardigan with mixed results. I did two pockets, one large, and one small that turned out okay but it certainly a skill that could be improved on future projects. No really great photos yet, need to get S or someone to take some. Now that it is getting cooler out there should be plenty of chances to wear it. The yarn does seem to pill though so that is less that pleasing.
Hello everyone! Just wanted to give a few updates about my current knitting projects. I’ve been sewing some dolly bags a well, but knitting is much more conducive to catching up on my DVR so I can stop running out of room.
First up the February Lady Sweater. I am getting close to finishing up the first sleeve, which of course leaves the second sleeve. So far so good. I’ve become quite practiced at fixing the gull lace parts when I mess up.
The other main project is fair isle fingerless mitts. Last weekend Candace and I took a fair isle class and started on these. They are knit in the round and we will steek them (yes, CUT the knitting eep!) and have two mits. I had the hardest time at first with continental knitting (with fair isle you knit with two strands of yarn, one in each hand usually) but found that I was wrapping the yarn the wrong way around so of course it was hard.
I’m also finding that I am acquiring more yarn. Really, it is just leaping into my arms and there isn’t a thing I can do about it. Did you buy that? Okay so yes being on my own is driving me a bit mad. Last Sunday Candace and I tried to go to Scottsdale to check out the hyperbolic crochet reef exhibit but turns out there was also a culinary festival so no parking for us. So like good little girls we went home. Ok I lied, we went shopping. First we checked out this yarn shop called Jessica Knits where I found some sale yarn and some yummy alpaca silk (it jumped at me really it did) and then we went to JoAnn’s there I proceeded to buy fabric. I have no idea if I’m doomed to be alone forever so I guess I’m just stocking up on stuff to do.
Which now leads me to today. The yarn shop hosted a stash sale today. Tables were rented to people wanting to sell off some of their stash. The table rental plus some that a generous person gave with the proceeds of their sales went to Ronald McDonald House. About $250 raised! So I was kind and helped some people lighten their load. $160 some worth of cotton cashmere for $80! So yeah, now I have like 3 more sweaters worth of yarn. Maybe the aqua should be kitchen stuff.
Last weekend C and I headed over to Gilbert to see some people about some Alpacas. The fantastic people at Mesquite Valley Alpacas had an open house so we were able to meet and greet with some nice people and some nice animals. The rain didn’t start up again until after we left so it was a good time had by all, with the exception of my back. The alpacas were very sweet and quite interested in the bucket of food that C got to hold. As for purchases, I bought about 4 ounces of fiber from a nice Alpaca named Cal and some laceweight from an unnamed Peruvian alpaca I have dubbed Pepe. As much as I like knitted lace I think my brain would seep out my ears if I tried it so I think the laceweight will be something to ply with the singles I spin from Cal.
I’d love to show you my progress of the February Lady Sweater. But I’m at work so I can’t get to Flickr. So like go to my stream and stuff and see. I just past my 2nd buttonhole so it is going well. I have two other gift projects to work on as well so I’m going to have to alternate projects. That and I want more hats done for the shop.
Once upon a time my friend C had a Mini Cooper. Sugar was its name and it was a fine little car even it she was a bit of a lemon. Life changed and Sugar went on to a new home but C still pined for the Mini life. Another piece of the universe fell back into place last Friday when C drove off with her new Mini Clubman. I had the pleasure of riding in the new car to the Pavilions on Saturday night to meet up with other Minis and on a ride to Show Low and Payson on Sunday. Most of my February Lady Sweater progress was done on the run.
Other than that life is much the same as when I last left off. I’m still trying to get the house clean and the animals are still ruling said household. It still isn’t May (for reals, what’s up with that?! haha) so I haven’t left for my vacation yet.
I’m knitting and sewing and playing Mafia Wars on Facebook and chatting and smiling and working and exercising and thinking and cleaning and falling hard and crocheting and catching up and pondering and well…living
Let’s start at this weekend and work backwards shall we? Okay so, Friday was the annual trek to the Phoenix Quilting & Sewing show. C and I have made this trip a little tradition over the past few years. I like to joke that we are the youngest people there not in strollers but it is still a good time.
This year we skipped the make and takes as none of the projects really caught our eye. We did however check out the Fair Isle clinic. HOLY CRACKERS! I was able to do it! No, really, I was able to knit with two colors of yarn and with one in each hand. I do hope you were sitting down for that one because it shocked the heck outta me. So now of course I totally want to try it some more. Which then just reminded me that I have been really slacking at Ravelry. Oops.
After the Sewing we went on to yarn and visited TYF. I’ve been a big baby about the cold and haven’t been there in ages but it was awesome to see Terry, Candy, and Fred. I bought some more wool to make fulled hats for the shop and also some yummy sock yarn. I HAVE to finish my niece’s socks first.
Now let’s travel back in time!! Last weekend was Las Vegas with C and D. We went up on Friday and came home Sunday. Getting there was like running the gauntlet! So the plan was to leave early, like noonish. Well, D and I needed to stop at a post office and a credit union on the way to C’s house. Easy peasy right? I tell her to go to the Hallmark by my house since they have a PO and it is so much faster than the regular one. Um yeah…they were closed for lunch and wouldn’t open for another hour. *sigh* Ok so we will go to the CU and then the big PO. I can’t make this stuff up people…we turn into the strip mall where the CU is and the CU is blocked off by yellow tape and there are cop cars everywhere and news crews. So yeah….let’s find a CU that isn’t being robbed. We then go to another Hallmark and ship off the items that needed sending. Then we go to Wal Mart that has the CU in it that D needs. Me, I just need an ATM for Vegas money. Guess what…the ATM was broke. So we got on the road late but did make it to Vegas after driving through lots of fog and watching out for zombies.
While in Vegas we met up with a Blythe pal and had a meet over at the mall. I’ve met Laura before and she is just fabulous. She brought her daughter this time who was so bored with us. Poor kid. 
While at the mall I picked up a new bag and such from leSportSac which is super cool and I freaking LOST MY MIND and bought Gracie (yes, Gracie the plastic doll) a keychain at Coach. The rationalization I have came up with is that I won’t have to put her through college or pay for a babysitter or for bail money.
The last big ticket item news wise is that I joined a gym…again. This time I have been twice and am already sticking to it much better than the other times i have joined. I am very motivated to get into shape. Both because I just plain need to for my own sake and that I’ve got a vacation coming up in May. I will be meeting up with someone I haven’t seen in 16 years so I’m a bit more than freaked out. EEP!
Ick and my flipping divorce paper work STILL isn’t done. GAH!! It serves me right, you get all upset and don’t want to thing to happen and then when you accept it and actually look forward to it it takes for-frickin-ever.
