Peony!

I like peonies! I have a peony bush in my back yard but the flowers lasted for about a week. And then Donna came up with her peony pattern...and now I have visions of a peony and bells of Ireland arrangement in my living room. That will be coming in a few months :-)

But for now... Peony pattern by Donna DeAngelis Dickt. It even has a cute little bud. The pattern calls for 8 hanks of petal color beads.

Peony viewed from the top.


Peony viewed from the side.


Peony viewed from the back.


The cute little bud and leaves

Stitches East 2006 info

Info can be found here.

I signed up for Fair Isle Knitting with Amber from my SnB. This is for Saturday afternoon. I also signed up for Joy of Finishing to learn to better my skills at finishing off projects. This is going to be fun.

Too much work, not enough play time. I've moved onto my second ball of yarn for the Somewhat Cowl.
I also started researching road bikes.

Back on the bike again

It's like that saying about getting back on the bike...gee, I wish I could remember. Anyways, it's July and it's time for le Tour de France. For the last couple of years, in July, I start to obsessively watch le Tour. I only started watching yesterday (instead of July 1st) because I only got tv back yesterday. Tomorrow morning: Individual time trial. Yeah baby!
So I went bike riding after work today with some people from work, including my boss. Rosslyn to Old Town and back. I gotta tell ya, all those cycling classes I took in the last 3 years really came in handy! I'm not too sore yet but I guess I'll know for sure tomorrow. My upper back is sore cuz of the time spent hunched over. I even have the marks on my leg to show you of my biking adventure. Not bad for the first time on a bike in 10+ years.

Activities for the evening: today's Tour de France highlights and the Peacock Feathers shawl. I'm finishing up chart 5. Whee!!!!!!!!!

Then sleep for tomorrow morning's ITT! When are we gonna get to some mountains???

Stitches East, and Happy July 4th!

July 4th, I'm home. Yay!

Okay, now the important stuff :-)
Anyone interested in going to Stitches East with me? I'd like to take class or two over the weekend. It's the first weekend in November and I got my workshop mailing yesterday. More info can be found at Knitting Universe.

It smells like damp...ick

So, here are some scenes from my basement:


Yes that's right, the carpet is sitting on the recliner. Don't worry, I've got a layer of trash bags between the carpet and the recliner.

The carpet was glued to vinyl tiles (see below) that was glued to the tiles on the basement floor. When I pulled up this section of the carpet, it also pulled up the ugly vinyl tiles.

And now the story of the "Ugly Vinyl Tiles"

The left half of this picture, you see a design. That is the design of the ugly vinyl tiles that seem to be hidden underneath many of the floors in this house. Two years ago when I first moved in, I pulled up the carpet in what is currently my den. Underneath the carpet, I found these tiles glued down ON TOP of lovely hardwood floors. Why anyone would do that is beyond me. So imagine my surprise when I pulled up the carpet in the basement and find the same ugly ass vinyl tiles. The good thing about pulling up the carpets is that it pulled up a lot of them with it.
Now, the question is what to do? I can put the carpet back, but underneath is pretty messed up since parts of that tile is stuck to the floor and part is stuck to the carpet, so it won't exactly be even. I'm also thinking that tiling the entire basement over may be a better approach than carpet. If it floods again, it'll be easier to clean up.
Flood again? Well, if the water flows in faster than the sump pump can pump out, it will flood and according to the plumber, there isn't much anyone can really do about it.
So if I tile over, I'd like to do it myself cuz I'm just that kind of gal. But I'm not exactly sure how to prepare the floor. So sigh, I may have to get someone in here to actually do it.
Tile floor with some cheaper throw rugs that...well, if it floods, I can just throw them out. I must reexamine how I will go about refurnishing the basement.

More casualties

My basement.
For some reason, for which I need to call a plumber, my sump pump stopped pumping water. So what happens when the sump pump stops pumping water? the water goes out into your basement. I think I may need a new basement.
At least I managed to salvage my laptop and 2 digital cameras.
I think the tv is okay. It's a good thing I had unplugged everything just before I had gone upstairs to do some dishes. And it's not like I'm worried about my Tivo since that's already dead.
So tomorrow, I'm taking a mental health day to clean out my basement. Wah!
Current count of casualties:

1. internet connection - fixed now - they had to replace the entire box where the line was coming into the house and the battery was
2. Dish alignment
3. Tivo
4. Stove electric controller - but I can still cook, it's runs on propane
5. my basement.

and the peacock feather shawl got caught up in the flood. I freaked out at first but reminded myself that when I'm done, I usually like to wash things in woolite to wash off whatever crap got caught up in the fiber while knitting...so I'm gonna let it dry out and then I can continue on...

Casualties from the storm

Thursday night, as I went to sleep, a very pretty, but loud light storm was beginning. My lights were wavering for a bit so I decided to set the alarm on my cell phone. Well, good thing I did cuz the power went out for a bit.
I woke up and heard a beeping sound that didn't sound like my cell phone...and for some reason, I decided to turn on my computer...and found my internet was out...and the beeping was the low...and it was not recharging. Boo. So, silly me, I know I have electricity but I decided to see what else was dead. Well, Tivo was dead. Wah! and my dish needs realignment.
Later last night, I glanced over at the stove and realized that something didn't look right. Well, it looks like the storm fried the electronic control panel on it as well. My neighbor came in and helped me pull in out and unplug it but no such luck.
I finally just got internet back after sitting here waiting for 2 days. Sigh.

How do I knit?

This past Sunday, I took a class on continental knitting at Springwater Fibers in Alexandria. Now, I've got to tell you, I was very enthusiastic for class but I walked away from the class REALLY REALLY skeptical. I think it's due to the fact that continental knitting is supposed to be faster and more efficient. The thing is that just from the way I am, I always try to maximize efficiency in my movements. When I knit English style, I don't really move my hands much, other than to move the yarn over the needle. With the continental style, my hands have to open and close. And because the yarn is held in my left hand and my left hand really isn't all that mobile, I'm slower in tensioning and controlling. Due to this fact, while for most people, doing ribbing becomes a lot easier, I don't think I would find this to be true for me. Boo. Seriously, I study my movements. I mean, it all comes back down to that first theorm you learned in geometry class: "The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line." I try not to to expend extra unnecessary effort. Yes I am that lazy. But that's what makes me good at what I do.
But I have started the Somewhat Cowl to see how this goes. I shall report in periodically. It's been a long week and I finally have a moment to breathe, so I think I'm going to hop into bed early and go knit some more on the sweater.

Priorities

Monday night is knitting night. Tonight also happened to be game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. That's hockey, for those who don't know any better. I skipped knitting and watched the game with a couple of friends at a sports bar down town. Yup, that's where my priorities are...

Another week at the bead shop

That was the post class picture at Bead Obesssions yesterday. I brought in the 3 sunflowers on the right so everyone could see the class for next quarter. The purple gerbera is the shop piece and the brown/red one in the same vase was the one I was using to demonstrate how to assemble. The two on the left (peach and blue) are made by students. They look good. The thing I really like about this pattern is that no matter how well you make the parts of the flower, when you assemble it, it looks really good. Most of my students are beginners.
I love class. Everyone uses different beads and there are some colors that you never think about using, like this blue gerbera daisy. Sure, they exist in real life but who would've thought. The woman who made it loves blue. The peach one, the center, she used beads from Toho's amber series and it looks awesome.

Hockey and Beads

Stanley Cup playoffs. I had pretty much forgotten about the NHL after the college hockey season ended. I picked it up again in time for the Stanley Cup finals. If Carolina had won on Saturday, I would be skipping knitting tomorrow night to watch what could've been Carolina sweeping the series. Since they lost, I think I'll be going to knitting, but I don't know if I'll be knitting. I may be putting together a sunflower.
I'd like to have the sunflowers done by Saturday so I can bring them in for the second part of the gerbera daisy class. I'd also like to have parts made for a gerbera daisy. I'd also like to be able to get to the gym and do some running. It's going to be a busy week!
And I took the intro PMC class today. That was pretty cool. I think I could easily get into it. There is definite potential and it doesn't quite have the mess of working with regular silver and solder where you have to solder, and then worry about all the silver dust from the sanding and everything.

Forgetfulness

I went to yoga with my knitting, thinking I'd arrive early so would have time to sit around, wait, and knit. Well, I didn't. Afterwards, I walked to Cosi to grab lunch and as I was exiting Cosi, something felt missing. Well, it was my knitting. To be specific, the Peacock Feathers shawl. I think I left it in the studio. Hopefully, it will be there Tuesday night.

Well, I guess I'm beading tonight. Need to bead anyways. Must make demo pieces for Bead Obsessions for the next quarter. I'll be teaching the usual mini rose as the intro class, but also, I'll be teaching Donna's sunflower which is really exciting. I'll also be teaching a beaded cabochon class with Patricia. I'll be demonstrating how to bead the cabochon and she'll be demonstrating the actual necklace portion. Ideally, I'd like to have all of this done by the end of June... Yeah, it's probably a good thing that I've decided to just buy stuff for my relatives instead of making them stuff.

Catching up

First up...Ene's shawl finished.
Pattern: Ene's Shawl from Scarf Styles
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Laceweight in a dark chocolate brown
Needles: Size 2 Addi Turbos



Work was interesting yesterday. I got to stare out the window onto a pretty interesting view. Today was the 9th Annual CSC Invitational and the official race hotel was the Hyatt right next door to us at work...so all the equiptment trucks were parked in our parking garage. I had to move my car to a lower level for fear of not being able to get it out last night. However, I did get to spend a day looking at scenes like these (and yes, those are right out of my office window):

mmm...yummy

A pattern after my own heart from Stitch Diva Studios. Of course I bought it.

For every end, there is a new beginning

I finished Ene's Scarf! I'll try to get a better picture this weekend. Then, I started in on the Fiddlesticks Knitting's Peacock Feather's Shawl...



And I had gone to the Gem and Jewelry Show....ooo, dangerous place. I bought a few cabochons and I also bought this ring:



I'd never liked large clunky rings but this really called out to me. There is a booth at the Gem and Jewelry Show that sells amber jewelry and they sell the pieces based on weight. I was drawn to the rings and found this one. The amber itself is gorgeous but add to that the bright, shiny stirling silver, AND the design of the ring and setting...the prongs are good enought draw blood! I was a sucker to its seductive calls.

And in case you didn't think I was busy enough...I also took the beginning chain class at Bead Obsessions and made these chains:


From top to bottom: the 3 in 3, flower basket, and byzantine chains. I like I like I like!

Knitting software

So, I've been looking for some sort of an html editor that is designed more towards programmers and crazies who actually want to write their own html, and not of the WYSIWYG variety. Those drive me nuts. I think I found a nice little editor in jEdit that is about 1 step above Notepad which is what I'm currently coding in. For the record, I hate FrontPage. I can't stand it. And like any other Microsoft product that you write code in, it adds in this extra crap.
I found jEdit over at sourceforge.net which is mainly a repository of open source applications. And as I was surfing around to see what sorts of random pieces of software there were out there, I wondered if there was another insane knitter out there who had started an open source piece of software to design knitted garments. The answer was no.
So now I"m wondering...what would it take to start an open source knit design software? I don't know if I quite have the capabilities to do it since then, it would become my third job (job 1: software developer. job 2: crafty beady lady) and I really don't need to have 2 jobs that overlap so much. Hmm...ponder ponder.

What is this?

It's from a company called Sei Water...yup, that's right, that's water in a plastic flask. I found it at Balducci's and was really amused by it.

What is this?

It's from a company called Sei Water...yup, that's right, that's water in a plastic flask. I found it at Balducci's and was really amused by it.

The first cabochon necklace

I'm getting around to these pictures. It is a lot easier now that I can pop out the memory card and stick it directly into the computer.
I'm not really sure what the stone is but this was my first attempt at a beaded cabohon. Picot bezel. The necklace itself is made from a combination of a double spiral and a single spiral technique and it all reminded me of chocolate as I was making it. I didn't think this was quite my style of necklace when it was first finished but I have grown to love it. 4

To New Orleans and Back

In smaller news, I just bought another digital camera. It's smaller and fits more easily into my pocket and uses and SD memory card for which my computer has a slot for. That kind of takes away excuses to not post more pictures.

Ene's scarf - in theory, there are fewer and fewer stitches on my needle. I think I'll believe it when I bind off.

My first impression of New Orleans was made when I stepped off the plane. It was really hot. I got up at 5am and in the airport at 6 for my 6:45 flight. I had one of those horrific headaches when the plane arrived in New Orleans. Ick.
Jazz Fest was great. There are many reasons people are there. Me, I think primarily, it was the food. I am a food addict and compulsive eater after all. There was so much good food. All the shrimp and crawfish and po boys. Couchon au Lait Po Boy was every bit as good as everyone said. And then there were these ribs with white beans and rice and cole slaw, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And to drink, well, I was addicted to the strawberry lemonade. These were also great when you added some vodka, rum, or both to it!
Music. Zydeco music is pretty good. I think I can only take so much of it. I do like some of the old time stuff. Gospel...that tent was a little freaky as the people in there, according to my friend Mark, were high something, but it's not alcohol or drugs. I didn't catch much of Jimmie Buffet. We were watching Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. Nathan (the main guy) had a 6 year old son who was playing the wash board. Then he had him play the drums for a song and wow! That kid was amazing. I'd love to see him in 20 years. Irma Thomas - I liked her. Paul Simon, that was a great set too. Didn't get to see Fats Domino. He was on the way to the hospital during Paul Simon's set. Instead, Lionel Ritchie ended up playing the Acura stage and while you would think he'd be cheesy, it was actually pretty good.
Saturday night, we had some really good African food in the French Quarter, even though we had to wait 2 hours and didn't start eating til sometime after 11pm. Then John (the local) took us to his Irish/80s bar where the band featured the sister of his infamous Lolita. I was half asleep there until they started doing Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" and I perked back up briefly.
Sunday night found us wandering out by John's place for a bite to eat and then just sitting around. I left Monday and missed the trip back to the quarter and Yo Mama's burgers. That's kind of sad.

Pictures. I didn't bring my camera. However, I point you to Mark's Flickr account where he has pictures of stuff, including me asleep at various times at JazzFest.

knitters at Victoria's Secret?

Tubey is still on the needles and there are no new updates.
But I was shopping Victoria's Secret website since I do have a $10 card I need to use before May 15 and came across this that made me think of Tubey. Kinda makes me go "hmm....I wonder if the designer was a knitter..."

So, I continue onward into the sweater section and come across something that reminds me of Angelina. As a refresher, this is the Angelina sweater.

I am, however, considering buying this. I figure it will be another in the "layer over my bra shelf tank top" collection.

In actual knitting news, I did purchase the pattern for the somewhat cowl. I figured it was inevitable since I'm planning on knitting that as my first continental knitting project, after my class at Springwater Fibers in June.

Ebb and flow...

My moods come and go, and this applys to the crafty things I do as well. Ene's Scarf is moving along. I have finished the first repeat of chart 3. I have 4 more to go. The good news is that according to the book, I am now under 300 stitches. I'm not really going to bother to go back and do that.
Flowers...I taught another class today and it went well. I think I'm getting better at this. Each time, I remember difficulties people had and I try to use it. I do want to get back to flower beading soon, but first I want to finish Ene's Scarf and start in on the Peacock Feathers shawl.
Gerbera, yes, the pattern is done (finally!).
But what I really want to do...well, there are two things. First, I want to get my own domain for the beady things and go play with it. I think in some ways, work isn't enough. I want to come home and continue doing it. I guess I could start off working on the style sheet and get my colors and fonts in order. I can study my current blog template and see how I can incorporate that into my final vision.
I've also been playing around with google calendar this week. It's pretty cool. You have your main calendar, and then you can overlay additional calendars on top. I've got my own schedule and I've got the US Holidays overlay. This morning, I came up with the brilliant idea of overlaying my calendar with the Bead Obsessions calendar. It drives me nuts to see the class listing because it's in alphabetical order on the website. I need something in calendar form so I can see what there is today, or for the coming week. To do that, I either have to go into the shop, or come home and pull out my hard copy calendar, or search through email for the pdf of the hardcopy. And you all know I'm lazy and how I'd rather spend a few hours coding...so that I don't have to do this stuff again. So I started reading up on XSL and XSLT. Ah...personal enrichment exercise.
It's true. If I didn't do this stuff for a living, I'd be not sleeping and doing it in my spare time.

Friends don't let friends...

...knit drunk. So the voices in my head said, "you should bead!" so I am.

The geek emerges again

I like the new template. But I can't stop thinking about tweaking the template, and it has me up at nearly midnight looking at the source code and trying to figure out all the css and the blog tags. Maybe I need another day job? But, like my boss said, if I weren't messing around with code for my day job, I'd probably be doing it at night. I just get to get it out of my system 8 hours a day.

Second finished cabochon necklace

And I haven't even posted pictures of the first!

Well, the cabochon is a piece of diachroic glass I had bought at the gem and jewelry show earlier this year. I backed it against ruby colored felt to bring out the red. The seed beads used where size 8 Tohos and delicas in a gold/topaz tone to bring out the gold specks in the glass.


This is the whole necklace. There are certainly aspects of this I would do again and wished I had paid more attention, like paying more attention that the thread had not gotten tangled up in beads in certain parts of this necklace. Fortunately, you can't really tell.


Here's a close up picture.

Finished - Angelina Sweater

I finally got around to taking some pictures this weekend. First up is Angelina. no, you do not get to see my head. Head and legs are cut off. And note that these were taken of myself in the mirror. Sorry if they look like crap. I'm really pleased with how this sweater turned out. I wish it were maybe a couple of inches longer but I'm not going to complain.

Yarn and Pattern from White Lies Designs. The yarn is a wool/mohair blend in an ivory/eggshell color. Needles used were size 5 clovers, and size 7 and size 10 Addis.

Other knitty thoughts

So, I'm planning a trip to Taiwan to visit family in November. I've also been eyeing the Fiddlesticks lace shawl patterns. It is late April. If I chose something on the simple side, or maybe the intermediate level...okay, I'm thinking the Peacock Feathers shawl...would I have time to make 6 of them? And maybe some sort of a thin scarf for my grandfather? Will I have gone crazy by the end of this? Hmmmm....

New Look...and some progress

Yup, I got a new look. I wanted some lighter colors so I searched the web and found this template called "Tickle". Pretty neat!

Made some progress (again) on Ene's scarf. I am now done with 16 rows. Time to lifeline again before I move on.

I'm hoping to finish up with the gerbera daisy pattern and be done with that once and for all this weekend. Otherwise, rainy weekend. Do some laundry. Work on some projects.

Enes progress

Row 11. Urg.
This basically goes back to where I was before the start of the annual homeowner's meeting. Urg. At least I lifelined.

Work smarter, not over and over again

I finally am progressing (knock on wood) with ene's shawl. Once the Misti Alpaca starts to work up....oooh, does it feel nice!
I attended the annual home owner's meeting for my neighborhood and I am apparently remembered as "the smart girl who brought knitting to the meeting last year cuz she was the only one who got anything accomplished that night". I can't help it if I fall asleep listening to lectures or presentations if my hands aren't moving! I"m currently on row 14 of the first set of charts. Whee!

The complaining post

Things to moan and bitch about today.
1. I was working on Ene's Scarf...happily going along on row 11..12..13...wait...I dropped a stitch...how did I miss that? So what do I do, I decide to venture down 2 rows to see if I can pick the stitch back up. Oh, and I was living on the wild side by not having a lifeline. URG!

I think I will be starting over again for the 4th time. URG! I can not buy a Fiddlesticks shawl pattern until I do Ene's scarf. I think it's time to rewind the Mista Alpaca laceweight. And I should not be too proud, or daring, or whatever to use a lifeline.

2. I went to Tyson's to go to Hechts to see about a bag. Tyson's was closed. My first thought..."WTF kind of hick place to do I live where they still close for a religious holiday???? Time to move north!" Still, I"m annoyed. Heck, if they needed someone to keep the stores open, I would've worked! And I wasn't the only one out and about at the mall. There were lots of others out there. The only portion open was the new end...and even more specifically, the Barnes and Noble and the restaurants around it. Bastards.

Giggity giggity

I'm just excited. I'm not Quagmire from Family Guy. I'm excited that Angelina is seamed. I've got a couple of loose ends to weave in and it will be done, DONE!

I started a new beaded cabochon yesterday at bead and chocolate. The cab itself is set now. At some point, I need to make the necklace part. Patricia and I discussed doing a beaded cabochon class. That will be exciting...and give me an excuse to go buy some cabs over on Fire Mountain and make some pretty necklaces.

I need to finish up...

• the gerbera daisy pattern


• beaded hydrangea


• Charlotte's Web


• Ene's Scarf - though I just started this

Seaming and Steaming

I bound off the last edge of Angelina last night. Tonight, as I watched Kill Bill Vol1 for the first time, I was weaving in ends, as a distraction from the endless slaughter and flowing of blood. I just finished steam blocking the lace edgings. Tomorrow, I'll pick it up and seam. I should be done before the weekend is over if all goes well. Whee!

Angelina-almost

Angelina-almost
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

So, I thought it was time to take a picture. I've still got all the ends to sew in but I finished the collar and the lower edge. The body itself didn't make any sense until I realized that it's more like a shrug in construction...one of those that you knit in 1 long rectangluar piece and sew up the sides except for the middle. I used safety pins to pin the front and back together so I could try this on and get a feeling for how long the sleeves are. Now I'm working on the lace edgings for the sleeves. I'll have to try this on again to make sure I've got the sleeve length okay.

ballwinder

ballwinder
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

I finally got a ball winder, and it helped after I read the instructions. I'm not sure how I managed to live without it!
The first ball of yarn that I wound was Koigu for the Charlotte's Web shawl...currently in a hold state.

Tough Choice

I think I may have to choose between the MD Sheep and Wool Festival and New Orleans JazzFest. MD Sheep and Wool will be there next year. My friend in New Orleans is moving to Germany in June...sniff...I'm leaning towards New Orleans.

LET'S GO RED!

I didn't touch Angelina today. I was instead working on Ene's Scarf until I realized that my size 3 needles are a little big. And then I switched to Charlottes's Web. And what happens. We come back from 2 and beat Colorado College 3-2.
I wonder how much of Charlotte's Web will be done by the time this weekend is over. I've been watching these games since noon today. Two more games tomorrow, starting at 2:30.

Next up!

Photos of some finished necklaces to come. Anglina sweater is on pause for the weekend. I was knitting it through the games all last weekend and we lost to Harvard. While our chances are slim to none in a game against a team that has a better offense (compared to none for us), I'm not taking any chances. I'm going with all superstitions!
So instead, I'm going to start Ene's Scarf from Scarf Styles and use some of the Misti Alpaca in a dark chocolate brown I had bought.

Been a while

So much to do, not enough time.

Here's something interesting I came across:

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
Take this quiz!

For those that know me, sounds kinda like me, eh?

Otherwise, in the works...
I must finish my double spiral for class tomorrow night, along with the cabochon I want on it.
I'm finishing the left front of Anglina and after that's done, I can start in on the lace edges. And currently, we are into March Madness but no basketball for me! Give me men's division 1 college hockey! whee! Cornell's in Green Bay and unfortunately, I can't go to the land of the cheeseheads.

Yarn sale!

At Handworks Gallery. Some good stuff in there. I want more lace weight yarn! The question is...when am I going to get to it?

Lace Knitting

For anyone interested in lace knitting, check out Eunny Knit!. She's starting a lace knitting tutorial. I found this blog while surfing the Knitting Olympics website. I fell in love with the frosted flowers shawl she made and the color of the yarn used was amazing!

When knitting comes in handy...

So, we're getting ready to move from the 8th floor to the 4th floor of our building at work. Today, we spent some time trying to figure out how to arrange furniture and if things would fit. My boss walks out and asks, "on the off chance...do either of you have a tape measurer?" I'm about to reply no when I realized..."Wait, I'm knitting to 11.5 inches on Angelina's sleeve so I keep breaking out the tape measurer which I keep with it in the bag." so out came the tape measurer and I think everyone was slightly amused that yes I do keep a 60 inch tape measurer on me.

On the beading front...

I've been working on some jewelry but the only finished objects I have are flowers. I'm still on the gerbera daisy kick and this one I made as the demo piece for Bead Obsessions. The pattern itself is more intermediate due to the larger size of the crossovers in the petals and the lacing. My friend Jean, whom I use as a guinea pig for these things, told me at one point that she'd been swearing at me for all the lacing. And then she asked me, "Do I really have to lace the calyx?" Well, after I walked her through the assembly, she was converted!

So, I'm still working through this pattern but it's almost there. I am scheduled to teach this as an advanced beginner class at Bead Obsessions in June.

Gerberas fall into my category of "happy flowers" along with the sunflower. I LOVE SUNFLOWERS!

On the knitting front

I'm making some progress on both Tubey and Anglina. I'm limited to half a row at a time on Angelina and then Tubey with its larger needles gives my hands something different to try.

Knitty came out with their winter surprise and I'm thinking I may try Starsky after I've finished with Tubey as my next large needle project. I think I'm already loaded up on small needle projects for the year.

I knit again!

I'm taking it easy and knitting along bit by bit. It's exciting! I'll knit a few stitches and rest. Knit a few stitches and rest.

I'm seeing all these knit alongs...I'm thinking of maybe doing a pattern bead along...I should do my taxes soon, like before the month of March. See what I come up with.

i'm weak

This morning, I knit a row of Tubey. I'm supposed to be on knitting probation through Friday. But I am weak I tell you! Weak! I spent last night taking pictures for gerbera assembly. Not enough. want to be able to pick up the needles and alternate knit a couple of rows, bead a little.

I did go try out Pure Prana today. It's a yoga studio over in Old Town and they do have some vinyasa classes. Yay! I feel great. We'll see how my arms feel tomorrow as my forearms feel a bit stretched than they should be.

Why is it that there are certain pieces of music that people like to create programs to? I mean, some have become classics but you do need a certain amount of skill to pull it off. Otherwise, you just suck!

Sadness

I finally faced the facts today. I must pull out of the Knitty Olympics. My left arm had been bothering me a bit since last week and the Tubey cramming. Monday, I over did it at the SnB. Now, I knit a few stitches and I hurt. For my own physical health, and use of my hands in the future to knit and bead, I am putting myself on a "no knitting" probation for a week. Situation to be evaluated in a week.

Olympic Progress

Some musings as I watch the Olympics

• No one, male or female, should ever wear grape purple pants. Horrors of the 80s. (Men's skating competition)
• No one shoud wear tiger print either. Especially if it's one color on the front and another color on the back. (More men's skating)
• I must switch between Angelina and Tubey. The larger needles of Tubey are good for me.
• I like the Swiss men's hockey team. It was awesome watching them beat the Czech Republic today. I don't like Jagr. I like the Swiss underdogs. I also like the German underdogs. Poor Italians....
• mmmmmm.... - The pattern looks great and the color...WOW! I love that color!
  

Spring time and flowers

I am actually working on the gerbera daisy pattern. I've got 3 that are done and a couple in progress. A few people have actually seen these and 1 even has a rough copy of the pattern. She's my official editor and guinea pig. It is also in the works that this will be taught at Bead Obsessions sometime in the April - June period.

The parts over all are simple. It just pushes you a bit if you're a newbie. Check back for more news on the gerbera!

My hand hurts from too much knitting :(

Olympics - Knitting on!

I've accomplished my goal for the day. I've made it to the sleeve increases tonight at the SnB! Whoo hoo!
Goal for tomorrow is finish the increases and start in on the even rows of knitting.


I also came up with a plan for both the Olympics and the training for the races. I'll get up early, go to the gym. Then, I come home, shower, and I'll still have 30-60 minutes before I have to leave. Since I've already gone to the gym for the day, I don't have to try to get home early, or go to the gym after work, so I can metro to work...more knitting time. Okay, so I have problems getting up early to go to the gym...

The flame has been lit.

20060212-Angelina
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

A few of us got together Friday night and watched the opening ceremonies. I cast on then...it took a couple of tries. This photo is at 4.5 inches. At 7 inches, I can start on the sleeves. Yay! There may be hope for finishing before the flame goes out.
I knit a couple of rows, rest a few minutes. Knit a couple of more rows, rest a few minutes.

Not the best start

I left work early because my back had been bothering me so much, I could barely type with my left hand. Boo! So I came home and laid on my heating pad for 2 hours...and it relaxed me enough to do some swatching.
Maybe I run off to Bailey's to the AC Moore to see if they have any ball winders...before I start in on the rest of the bottle of wine. I think I may have to finish it off to get to sleep tonight to keep the back pain away.
The heating pad is coming to work with me tomorrow.

In preparation for the Olympics...

Well, I spent another few hours at Bead Obsessions tonight and made a wire heart necklace. It's quite pretty, if I do say so myself. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow or something. It's late and I'd rather be sleeping.
And when I got home, what did I find? A priority mail box and inside, was yarn and pattern for the Angelina Vintage Jacket. Tomorrow night, I swatch...and then I think I will be good to go for Friday. Friday night, I shall first be hitting Bead Obesssions with my floral necklace to meet the bead artist who made that purple flower at Bead and Chocolate night. After that, I shall be heading over to a fellow SnBer's place to cast on for the Knitting Olympics.

Beaded Floral Necklace

Beaded Floral Necklace
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

On Wednesday, I walked into Bead obsessions, remembered the Trunk Show, and then refused to leave the store without that purple flower you see on the necklace. I was also inspired to play with the spiral rope beading technique...and this was the result. Pretty isn't it? Spring is here!

Chantress - finally a picture

Chantress
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

It's been a long time coming. I've had Chantress doen for a month, and finally, I've got a picture of this. I'm really happy with it and I think I need to take a better picture. This really doesn't do it justice. It didn't take the full half kilo of beads. I had some..."fun"...with the purse frame. The handle is made using the spiral rope technique. Would I do this again, yeah...I would.

Knitting Olympics...

So, I was crazy enough to join the Knitting Olympics. I am planning on making the Angelina jacket. I'm just hoping that the materials get to me by next week. I had emailed the woman once and she never answered. Boo!

I'm slow, but I'm learning

I had kept my lifeline at row 26. And I've ripped it back to row 26 3 times now. I'm learning. Lifeline has now moved to row 34. I've still got all of my stitches.

Why does Charlotte's Web hate me?

I had cast on for Charlotte's Web with the very nifty Koigu. This is the 3rd time that I'm going to have to rip back to my lifeline because I am missing a stitch somewhere. I count 86. I am not supposed to have 86. I'm supposed to have 87. 43 stitches on each side of the center stitch. Sigh.

I've decided over the weekend that Bead Obsessions is like the crack house. I keep going there and buying another couple of tubes of beads. Gotta keep working to feed the food, bead, yarn addiction!

My first class was this past Saturday. I think it went well. It was definitely a learning experience for me, but I think it's something you learn as you go along. I have a few mental notes for myself for the future.

Casting On...

Charlotte's Web. I bought the pattern and my 5 skeins of Koigu during Knit Happens' pre-inventory sale and I've cast on tonight. First color is a blue/purple mix (426-275). Moving onto a varigated purple (305-198). I kinda want to go out and buy more of these two colors. They're so pretty!

Finished! 1 tea rose topiary

TeaRoseTopiary01-Final
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

I finished this a few minutes before 9am on Saturday morning, right before Reshma and I were going to leave Philly and head up to NYC. This was a present for my friend Dorrie who graduated law school last year and had just begun her job.
This was another Donna Dickt pattern except I used a smaller ball (4") than the one her pattern called for (6"). Lots of beads and I'm a bit worried that it's top heavy, but it still stands.

Do I need some real leaves?

TeaRoseTopiary1-WIP
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

Brunch is Saturday and I have until sometime Friday night to finish this. I've added little boxwood branches and I definitely need more boxwood. The question is...the pattern calls for leaves around the tea roses, do I really need them?
I'm starting to think that if I don't have time, it's not getting leaves. At the same time, it looks perfectly fine without. I can just make more boxwoods in different (darker) shades. I have a nice dark olive...

crazy ripping

So, I've begun the dismantling of Kepler. And now I'm thinking...maybe instead of remaking Kepler, I should just go ahead and use the yarn to make Tubey. I don't know how I still feel towards the Kepler pattern, seeing how I lengthened it and really didn't like it and I don't know how I feel about it being as short as it is. And I really am fascinated with Tubey. What to do?

Status check

In progress:

• Kepler - it's almost done except for the neck edge...and I'm taking it all apart to start over
• Hopeful
• A surprise topiary for a bday present - the bday is next weekend so pictures to be posted then.
• Blue sky alpaca's Opera Scarf - belated xmas present
• various beaded flower things
• finishing up the pattern for my intro beaded flower class at Bead Obsessions
• must write up the gerbera daisy pattern and make some leaves for it.
  

Materials in hand:

• Charlotte's web - have the pattern, have the Koigu, have the needles, need to cast on

Wishlist (That I actually plan on getting to):

• Fiddlesticks Knitting - Lotus Blossom Shawl - I picked up this pattern
  

Look what I made!

Chicos-crochetshawl
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

Okay, not really ;) I was at Chico's admiring some jewelry when the door opened and one of the sales women had this around her neck. It took all my restraint to keep myself from reaching out and ripping it off her neck. This is actually a shawl, and not a scarf. They really have some really amazing things. This is inspiration for a future project.

Year end is fast approaching!

How is it that I come upon the end of the year and I still feel as if I've got lots to do? I'm mostly finished with knitting projects for now and I need a break anyways after the presents. I have 1 more scarf to finish and then work on Hopeful. I'd love to get started on Lady Eleanor from Scarf Styles...this would be after I find me some money and some cheap Noro. I dunno, does cheap Noro exist?
On the beading front, I still owe 3 people beady presents, two patterns to finish up with a hard deadline on one of them...and lots of my own projects and houseplants I want to make. I also picked up the latest copy of Beadwork where there was a slight focus on Swarovski crystals and some patterns that look awesome and I want to make jewelry! On top of that, dad's here and we're shopping and eating and all I want to do is sleep!
So, I think thoughts for next year...I will only start buying materials for the next project once I know I have projects coming off the needles. Beads...well, heck, let's see if I can make money off of any of it and in the mean time, I've got enough on the "To do/wishlist".
Pictures up coming.

Chantress saga...continued

So, I tend to get brilliant thoughts either in the bathroom, or in that semi awake period while in bed. This morning, it was in bed. With French beaded flowers, I learned to lace from the center out because it keeps the petal shape even. When I'm being really careful, I will actually go back and forth on each side and work my way out. So why not do that with Chantress? So this morning, I cut myself a piece of thread and started working out from the center of one side of the frame, left side, right side...and have the piece stretched out over the frame. Yippee! So one side is attached. I did make a stupid little mistake...as I was cutting the thread at the end, I'd accidentally nipped one of the fringes at the top...grrr...so I just pulled the beads out of that fringe and knotted it. Something like that is stupid, careless, and heck, I'd rather have the knot than remake this entire thing.

Chantress frustration

So, tonight, I decided that while watching the Harvard/Dartmouth game, I would put Chantress together. I cut the fabric, sewed it together and seamed my bag. Then, I went to attach the frame. So, a while back I got the 5 inch frame and thought it was too small so I went and bought a 5.2 inch frame. Well, turns out the 5 inch frame would've been just right. Urg! And now, the 5 inch frame I originally bought wouldn't work either. Doubld urg! What is a girl to do?
I found a 5 inch frame that looks like the style would fit and the price is right. It's from this lovely store called M&J Trim and I had happened to wander into it this summer while in New York. Now, I will be up in New York in a couple of weeks...the question is...should I buy it now and pay the $5.95 in shipping? Or should I wait two weeks and pay the $4 for NY sales tax???
And dad's scarf is finished....just in time!

A cold and dreary night

And I think I've got about 4 more rows of my dad's scarf to do. My left wrist is starting to get ouchy... so I think I'm going to go take a shower, put on my wrist brace and finish this baby up. Tomorrow, I can weave in the ends and give it a quick wash!

Productive Weekend

Scroll down, you'll see a poinsettia and a shawl. Unfortunately, I was a little bit too obsessive compulsive about finishing the karabella shawl...and so my arms are getting a mandatory rest period today. I may even have to bring my wrist braces to work tomorrow. So then I switched the the beads...and it was still aggravating my forearm muscles...so...I just have to be careful.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

I've finished the poinsettia for Ms. Dorrie. This will get packed up and get sent out tomorrow. The pattern is based on Virginia Nathanson's patter for the red petals. The centers were my own creation, and you can see the trial and error in what I had done different between the larger cluster and the smaller. Then I added some holly and berries as filler at the bottom. I hadn't expected to do this much but one needs greenery to complete the arrangmenet!

Poinsettia - the larger cluster close up


Poinsettia - the smaller cluster close up

Karabella Ruffle Shawl - blocking!

KarabellaRuffleShawl-block
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

I finished up the shawl last night and it is now blocking in the hallway...as that was the largest expanse of carpet upstairs that I could find. Exciting! Exciting! I'm hoping that because it is a mohair blend and really thin that it dries quickly and I can bring it to the SnB tomorrow night.

Some specs:
Pattern: Karabella Ruffled Gassamer Shawl, Pattern # KK420
Yarn: 3 skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze (used nearly all of it, not enough extra for a gauge swatch if I had chosen to do that)
Needles: Size 11 Addis
Other: size 11 Toho beads

The Christmas Flower

Poinsettia1
Originally uploaded by jyiu7.

Poinsettias...I'm making one for Dorrie so she can give it away as a Christmas present.

I started with Virginia Nathanson's patterns for the red leaves. Then I made my own version of the centers. Did you know that the centers in poinsettias are really the flowers? The things I learn from beaded flowers...

Cosmos

I have a new computer. And I'm so thankful I uploaded a working copy of my miniature rose pattern to my friend's server...because I don't think I can boot the compaq anymore.

On other fronts...I took the spiral rope class at Bead Obsessions last night. It was a first foray into needle work and I survived! I hope to have Chantress done soon so I can put the spiral rope on as a handle.

Karabella ruffle shawl...2 more rows...2 more rows...

I started Ruffles from "Scarf Styles".

Dad's scarf is on hold.

Work's been hectic and you could say that I've otherwise been depressed at home due to the lack of a functional computer. But I'm back!

Geek in Girl's Clothing Part 2

So, here are those pictures I promised.
First, I removed the battery (lower left) and the harddrive (to the right of the battery), memory (just above), and the pci board (upper right).


Next, flip it over and remove the keyboard.



Then, the display is disconncted and removed.


And the top cover is removed

Removed the video card and underneath it lay the Intel centrino...Of course, it had to get its own close up.

and here we've zoomed out and you can see the video card in the lower right hand corner.


And when I put it back together, it still worked...sort of. Turned out that the display is dying. I had my monitor plugged in and had managed to boot it up. As I was IM-ing, the display started to go but the monitor was fine...and the verdict was...it's the display, time for a new computer.
I've still got this old Pentium III 6oo mHz computer with its 382 megs of ram from the college days. But it is slow and in terms of computers, it's ancient.

So sorry if I don't blog much. I'm a little depressed that I'm lacking in a more up to date computer. But I am busy working on some scarves so hopefully, I start getting some finished products soon.
I've decided to that I'm going to take apart kepler and re knit the body. I'll have to take a picture of it first.

Also, IT'S OFFICIAL! I'm on schedule to teach my flowers at Bead Obsessions!

Work In Progress 3

Ya. I'm a busy girl. This is supposed to be Ruffles from the Scarves Style book. I think the gauge is a bit loose on the 11s so I'm going to have to swap down, maybe to 10s. And get shorter needles.

Work In Progress 2

this is something, not just a blob. It's that Karabella ruffle shawl...yeah, you can't tell right now. I'm working on the ruffles so it's gathered on the side.

Work In Progress 1

sead stitch border, basketweave body. Waiting to be finished