Geek in girl's clothing

My computer...not happy. There is something wrong either with the video card or the display. So what did I do? I took the laptop apart and put it back together. Pictures forthcoming. At least I was finally able to boot windows and upload some files I need in the next month to a friend's server.

thanksgiving

I think I was supposed to post some pictures. Oops!
I ran around the house looking for the needles I was making Kepler in...they were mixed in with another project. So I didn't get a chance to work on the collar. No finished picture.
Currently in the lovely (but small) state of Rhode Island. Relaxing over the long weekend. I'm going to wander down to the yarn store in a bit and knit and look for some patterns. Tomorrow, I cook.
The ruffled shawl is coming along. I'm about a third of the way through the straight section. I'm pretty sure that I'll have the main body part done before I get home on Saturday. Then I just need so string up some beads and start knitting the ruffles.

More I read, more I want to knit

After last night's game (grrrr...) I decided to work through my backlog on Tivo. I watched some Knitty Gritty's season 3. What did I find? Lingerie! Whoo! I am loving these designs. Not only is there lingerie, but there are cardigans and jackets. Throw back to a more ruffly and feminine time.
White Lies Designs
I also decided that perhaps it was time to be starting a Christmas wishlist for anyone who asks.
I'll get to that by the time Thanksgiving is over.
The rest of the projects...
- Kepler - I've got it seamed..finally! I need to sew in the ends and do the applied I-cord on the neck edge and then I'm done! I love love love the material. It's a mix of merino wool, microfiber, and a little bit of cashmere. Oh so soft! I'm going to try to put a picture of this up tomorrow if it's finished, else by the end of the week.
- Ruffled shawl - I'm onto the straight 36" section. I'm actually hoping that I can finish this shawl by the end of thanksgiving, at the very least, the main portion of it. It's okay if I still have the ruffles remaining by the time I get back.
- Hopeful - In about another 10 rows, I'm going to have to do some more math! Yeah, I know I'm supposed to do ALL my math before I start knitting. I'm still learning to deal with patience.

What am I watching?

Well, I spent last night watching the end of A&E's presentation of Pride and Prejudice. This is the version with Colin Firth...mmm...gotta watch this at least once a year. This was in anticipation of the new version of P&P that's out in theaters this week. I dunno, the guy playing Mr. Darcy...not as good looking as Colin Firth.
I also want to go catch the new Harry Potter.
TV...I am SO addicted to the Fox show Reunion. I love the concept behind it and I'm curious to know if they plan on doing a second season and if they do...how do you do something like that? This is more like a drawn out mini series.

What's on my needles? Hopeful and the Karabella ruffle shawl. I really like it. Beading...still writing right now. Getting stuff together for next week's holiday travel.

New projects, old projects

I was at Stitch DC Georgetown on Monday and found my next project - This isn't for me.... I stopped by Bead Obsessions after work today to pick up some size 8 beads. I want to knit that into the ruffles.
Kepler is still blocking. I'll probably finish it up this weekend.
Flowers - patterns patterns patterns. I need to make a poinsettia for Dorrie and eventually, another surprise project for her.
Right now, so sleepy.
I did pick up Madonna's new cd today - Confessions on a Dance Floor.

This and That

• Bulleted because it's some random things
• I started working on Hopeful...it's coming along. I spent last night with a spreadsheet and a tape measurer trying to get my measurements and convert them to the knit pattern. I have begun and I am now on row 15. Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton in pale pink.
• I spent lunchtime at Stitch DC Georgetown and bought a lovely pattern for a shawl along with some lovely yarn for it. This is going to be a Christmas present.
• I also decided that my dear father is going to get a scarf. Another Christmas present
• I realized how quickly Thanksgiving was approaching so I must travel, so I must find stuff to keep busy with in travel and during the much needed break.
• I ordered some books from Amazon. The Elizabeth Zimmerman portion of the order arrived today.
  
• So much crafting to do before Christmas! Ack!
• The purse frame I ordered is on back order. I'm not getting it until after Thanksgiving :(
• Kepler is still blocking.
  

Kepler is blocking!

It is blocking in the darkest room in the house. I ended up going out to buy thos pins you see stuck in the sleeves. Straight pins are hard on the fingers and you might miss one. With the flags, at least you can see them. So, this is exciting! I ended up lengthing both the body and the sleeves so we'll see how this comes out.
I guess I'm at that point now where I'm between projects. I could take up Hopeful again. Or maybe I could work on some Christmas presents for the family like scarves or shawls or something... In search of a pretty, but simple, shawl pattern I think...

Right, and we beat Harvard on Friday. Yay! And the game against Dartmouth last night...one in a string of tough losses at Thompson and I'd rather pretend it didn't happen.

Fish & Fowl 05-06 - part 1

Cornell vs Harvard at Lynah East...aka the Bright Athletic Center. Let's go Red! I wish I were in Cambridge tonight making the Harvard/Dartmouth trip. But no. I wasn't able to get tickets because the tickets were gone by the time I found out they were on sale. So instead tonight, I'm going to sit at home, listen to the game, and work on the instructions for the little mini roses.

Something wrong?

So...the purse frame that I ordered from Lacis. It looked really nice...until I compared it to my purse...

Hmmm...



The frame looks like it's a little small...I dunno...


So this picture makes the bag a little squishy. I know that when I first started knitting, I tended to knit way bigger than what gauge called for...could that be what's happening here?




Still...the other problem would be that I'm expecting lots of little holes to sew through but there aren't any here! Instead, there are two other metal pieces (not in the picture here) that screw into the few holes around the edge. I am NOT cutting holes in my purse. Had I known the frame was coming like this, I would've started out making eyelet holes when I began. Since I'm not sure about the whole size thing for a 5" frame, I think I'm going to look for a 5.5" frame...sigh...back to the drawing board! I was hoping to have a completed bag by the end of this weekend. Now, I may have everything but the frame. I guess I could experiment with an i-cord handle.

Chantress Progress

Sorry if the lighting and color look a little off. I wasn't exactly going for picture quality here. So this is where I am with Chantress. Size 11/0 ruby AB from Shipwreck on a charcoal grey size 8 pearl cotton. One side is finished, down to the fringe and I'm now part way back up the second side. I've already purchased the lining and the purse frame is in the mail. Arlington Stitch N' Bitch tomorrow night so I can keep working. Hopefully, my next weekend's project will be finishing up the knitted portion of this. Oy. My hands hurt.

Searching

Searching for a goal, searching for a purpose, and yet, so busy...eh?
So during packet pick up for the Marine Corps Marathon 8K, I was inspired by those around me to run the full. The seed was planted. I think I'm going to do it.
I did the 8K last week and even though I was dehydrated and starving when I began, I still managed to run 13 minute miles. Tomorrow I do the Veteran's Day 10K.
The time line right now is that if I can keep up with the workouts over the winter, I should be ready for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler the first weekend of April which will be a warm up for Broad Street Run (another 10 miles) at the beginning of May. This will continue on to next October and the Marine Corps Marathon. Here's hoping that I get in to all 3 races!

Crafting...Kepler is coming along. I am currently blocking the front piece. The back is now beyond the arm hole shaping so I'm almost done. I'm hoping to be able to finish with the back before the weekend is through.
Chantress is also coming along. Last weekend, I rounded the bottom so now I'm working my way back up. I haven't done much this week due to some problems at work which left me exhausted. I'm also running out of thread for Chantress so I'm really going to have to get more before I proceed.
Beading, I'm still working out patterns. I may be beaded out for a while. I don't know. We'll have to see. I feel as if I'm on a mission to finish up some of these knitted projects. Knitting and beading, it comes and goes. I'll be obsessed with one or the other.

2+hanks of beads strung up.

Saturday evening was spent spinning this up and starting in on the fringe row...that was horrendous. Sunday afternoon was spent on the fringe row and the row afterwards. That too was horrendous. But I just had to sit down and force myself to do it. I've now rounded the corner and am working my way back up again. I found out Monday night that I accidentally added two ridges of beads to this bag. Oh well. At least it was consistent and it's just a bag.
And those are my lovely toes at the bottom. Got myself a really nice pedicure at Sugarhouse. That's my favorite color - OPI I'm not really a waitress. I always managed to pick that one.