What's in your Knitting Bag??

This is my new knitting bag...looks like luggage don't it. But too big to fit in the overhead...RATS!

This is it opened. I really dig the pink stripes. Look it is full already.

I have to admit I just dumped what was in my two knitting bags into this one. But did some organization at the hotel last weekend (No CourtTV on the tv. Means no so cool shows like Forensic Files and all that).

What is in your knitting bag???

This is a picture of mine. Here is the list

• 6 Skeins of Berroco Cotton Twist
• 1 Ball of Gioco
• 1 ball of Eros
• 1 skein of Trendsetter Segue
• 1 ball of Eros and Flirt wound together
• Set of Denise Interchangeable
• 2 balls of Eros and eyelash wound together
• Lantern Moon Sheep Tape Measurer
• Joann's Sheep Tape Measurer
• 2 gauge markers
• my knitting supply kit (holds needles, scissors, stitch markers, and
• stitch holders)
• 2 balls of Koigu KPPPM
• Calculator
• Notebook
• Wine carrier for my straight needle
• Pencil case for my double points
• Noro 18
• Laines Du Nord #2
• Vogue Knitting Fall 2005
• Shapely Tank Pattern

Here are some close ups of the Pencil Case and Wine Carrier. I have to say they work rather well for holding needles.

Projects:

• Shapely Tank -Burple Sweater
  
  
  
  
• Ruffle Purse (own design)
  
  
  
  
• Pair of ankle socks
  
  
  
  
• Kiri (thrown in there in disgust)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Ribbon Shawl
  
• Harry Potter Slytherin Scarf
  
  
  
  
• Vogue Knitting Fall 05 Arm Warmers
  
  
• Furry Scarf
  
  
  
  
  

Wilma Pics

Here are two pics from my mom's house the day Wilma hit. As you can see, the sky is blue and no rain (we got very little at her place). Check the trees out. They are blowing big time. All her area got was a lot of wind.

Even the wind was not as bad as where I work. No pictures from there because of building security rules.

Happy Halloween

Man, it has been a busy two weeks here. First, we had Wilma come through the lower half the state. This weekend was a trip to Epcot and to a Wholesale show (not yarn...Jewelry stuff). Two things that will make your wallet leaner a trip to the House the Mouse Built and a Wholesale show. I will post the goods probably tomorrow.

Cause I got this WONDERFUL present in the mail I think it is from my SP6 judging by the note. She had someone on whip up this wonderful Hello Kitty Halloween bag. (Picture taken at the hotel this weekend). I was tempted to use it this weekend but decided it was too pretty to haul around Epcot (not to mention it would not have held everything I bought) and way to small for a wholesale show.

So instead I used to carry around my new drop spindle and some fiber.

Tomorrow:
Kam not your typical tourist.
Proof once again Kam does not justify her jewelry related purchases.
What's in the TARDIS aka Kam's new knitting carrier...You will be surprised or maybe not I was.

Waiting...

Waiting for something...a feeder band...some wind...maybe a little rain. So far nothing. Wilma makes land fall tomorrow and right now you would never know in my neck of the woods.

I have been working on school work trying to get ahead before I go to Ireland next month.

I have also been working on what I am going to write this year for NaNoWriMo. It is between a time travel story and an adult version of Harry Potters world kind of ...sort of ...it is hard to explain. I will say the latter has been itching the brain more so than the former.

Wilma saga continues...

Still no real clue on where she might make land fall in Florida yet. I have a crink in my neck from holding a phone receiver...they want us to call all potential customers of our unit in Florida. Mind you that that is over 400 customers and only 2 people to do the calls because of vacations and meetings. Most of our customer base is small businesses who don't have other sites. So it is just reassuring them and making some contact.

My boss said that what we were doing was a good thing because she hears us laughing with the customers and wishing them well and to be safe. She says we are showing that the bank cares. I think of it more as we as people care for others. Someone is going to get hit by this storm it might be our customers or it might be our building. It is not about them being bank customers it is about them being another living being.

If you are in the projected path of this storm. Please be safe. Remember you can replace things you can't replace a life.

K

WILMA!!!!!!!!

Last name they planned on this year...next is Hurricane Alpha. How strange and we still have until Dec 1 before the active season ends (though they can happen at any time). Wilma is projected to make land fall some time Saturday/Sunday in the wee hours of morning (talk about your sleepless nights) here on the West Coast of Florida-where is anyone's guess. Though most are saying it should make land fall south of Tampa. One word CHARLIE. Charlie that was suppose to come right up Tampa Bay but hit Port Charlotte instead about 2-3 hours south of Tampa Bay Area. What does all this mean? Means Ms K here is one busy camper at work. MY partner in crime is out this week, so I am busy. I was busy programming a new database. Now I am busy trying to figure out how to contact some 300 + customers about the storm (heck just make us call them all) what is another 300 customers. As well as planning recovery (more trying to figure out where or who takes home our databases), because our backup server is in Miami and our main server is about 5 miles down the road in an evac zone. Then to make it all even more exciting I am trying to get ahead in my classes in case we lose power. So what do I do...I went knitting tonight at the B&N where a really cool knitting group meets once a month. The Store Manager is a total doll, she even offered to move the big comfy chair I was sitting in when we had to move (they had some guy doing his book tour and were sitting in some section hogging space and creating a fire hazard). I had fun and got to talk with people I have not seen in a while. Tomorrow I can deal with Wilma again...sigh. One point- it seems all the hurricanes that have hit Florida this year and last year seem to hit on a weekend...Totally unfair. No free days off from work.

Whoa...two posts in 1 Day...

I am feeling a bit better...bit more creative. I picked up my needles and cast on for Kira-my first lace project. It is slow going. I have made some booboos already but rather than frogging back to a life line I try to understand how the stitches are and how it should be. I try to fix them and then frog back to my life line. I tend to overthink things with knitting. But have to say lace knitting is some of the most interesting to date-amazing what those yo will create.

For my secret pal the lace patterns I have: Pacific Northwest Shawl, Field of Flowers, Seascape Shawl, Leaf Lace Shawl, Flower Basket, and Top-down Mock Faroese Lace Shawl.

I like the Faroese style more than the triangle shaped ones.

On the writing front:
Writing A book is far easier than writing a book that is a series. A Book is contained. A series you have to have the book container and something that ties it over a series. But I am just about done with my major secondary characters and jotting out plot points. I like to have a lot created upfront because while I am creating I am getting a feel for the characters. I have to say out of all my writing Lilith and Daemon are my favorite so far.

Here I was thinking...

That it was that time of year when Yankee Candle carries Witches Brew and that I should swing by the mall. That would be a trial because they just added Sephora's and well I am A MAKEUP Fiend. A knock at the door brought this lovely gift...from my Secret Pal.

THANK YOU!!!! I thank you my bank account thanks you...

Ennui...feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction

How I love that word, problem is during Sept I seem to suffer greatly from it. I am tired all the time and have not one gram of creativity in me.
I have not done very much knitting or jewelry. It is hard to get motivated to just get up and go to work. Work is not as productive (well that and the monster headache Rita thought I should have).

I usually snap out of it mid October. Usually because I am getting ready for NaNoWriMo.

My Secret Pal asked some questions and I thought I would share the answers with everyone.

was wondering, do enjoy coffee or teas?
I love both equally.

regular or decaf?
Regular...caffeine is my friend.

do you have a favorite?
Coffee: Starbucks as all my friends know- I have about 300 dollars in GC from there for coffee from by Birthday.
Tea: Oolong is my favorite.

what do you do for a living?
I work in banking (Very large institution) as a departmental programmer and db admin.

I know you must be a very busy gal, you don't seem to post much in your journal. it looks like perhaps you're a student?
I am a student as well as working full time

or a teacher?
I do teach but not school related things. Usually some jewelry related classes.

Other things:
I am a writer who is working on her second book which will be a cross of Anita Blake meets CSI. It is set in New Orleans in the near future (Katrina made me rethink setting there but I decided to continue on). I will reveal more details if anyone is interested. I have been published for writing naughty fics in my late teens early twenties.

I want to study Forensic Anthropology. The one thing holding me back is fear...mainly because I have a good job but one that I have to be where I am to do. I can do so many other things (there is alphabet soup after my name because of my certifications). I am usually a go do it kind of gal but this no so much even though I do want it badly.

I am a peacock (some relationship class for work taught me that) you can be a dove, an owl, an eagle or a peacock. Everyone thought I would be an Eagle or near the border of being a Peacock/Eagle. I surprised everyone. I am WAY OUT there in Peacock land. Almost off the scale.

I hate it when people get error messages at work but don't read the screen when all it is asking is do you want to repair the database. Instead they come running to me going something is wrong with the database.

I hate it even more when they get a serious error message and just start hitting enter until it goes away. Creating even bigger problems.

I hate people get into classes and have to ask the teacher how to turn on the bloody computer, when I spent two hours begging to be let in the same class. It was a web design class, I have had sites listed as sites of the day on the net and in publications for design and I have to beg to be in a design class? (Oddly, one of my first listings was the Wall Street Journal site of the day go fig.)

I have the best mom in the world. She always encourages me to do things I want to try but is practical about it. I told her I wanted to try drop spinning she said great just don't get a wheel you have too much on your plate. She also picks up my hobbies so we can do things together. She was also the mom, when I was showing horses, up at 2 am, at the barn with me at 3 am, on the show grounds taking care of my horse when I was riding others for hours on end and never complained. She was not the mom who dropped me off and showed up at the show grounds at a REASONABLE TIME. She was the one who held my horse when he had to have surgery, even though she was scared of him and I was out of state. She was the one who while on her vacation bought my horse a contoured sweat scrapper because she thought the design was so much better even though it cost 10 bucks and my $1 one worked fine. She was the one who took care of everything when my horse died on July 2, 1992 and I was an emotional wreck. She was the one who paid my bills while I was trying to function after that loss. She is my best friend and I would miss her more than anything if she went away.

The BIG Reveal

I am so Sorry I have not post in what seems forever. I have been working on 2 different projects for work and school is back in session.

I did get my final gift from my SP5 person. Jessica from Show Me Your Knits

THANK YOU JESSICA!!!

She sent me a book on Ireland, some Hello Kitty mints (in the first pic) and best of all she knitted me a purse and SOCKS!!.

The socks fit like a dream and are safely hidden away until it gets cooler (90 degrees is too hot for any sock). My mom was around when I opened them. I think she might make a move steal them. She was going hmm hmm very pretty I really like that color way can I see them closer. She has never said that about any yarn I have gotten (she knits too). I will have to watch these socks like a hawk when she comes around.

I have never had anyone knit anything for me in a long long time (since I was a very small child). Thank you Jessica. I loved everything you sent and loved the little notes. And what makes this even more special is the time you invested to give me this gifts and the gift of time is the most precious thing.

Secret Pal 6 About Me

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- and/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I tend to prefer the nicer yarns found in yarn stores over Red Heart and Lion Brand, mainly because I have come to realize they are not cheaper than some yarns you can find in a yarn store. So I am a bit of a yarn snob. That being said I like alot of the Lion Brand yarns though.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I have several drop spindles. Kind of dig spinning this way.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I am allergic to of all things Vit C, I can have small doses but I cannot eat a lot of it. Strange I know. Stranger if you can find Vit C laden yarn. Also I have problems with smoke from cigarettes.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Seriously since Sept 04.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Why yes I do...Amazon Wish List It might come up Ann because my mom set it up originally, since I am so hard to buy for.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like clean smells not overly floral or sweet and exotic scents. I like
melon scents. My favorite candle is the Halloween ones from Yankee in Witches Brew. I tend to steer clear of anything overpowering.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Is the Pope Roman Catholic? Yes. I like all kinds of candy. Especially Frango from Marshal Fields and dark chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I am a beader (big time sitting on a couple thousand dollars worth of beads). With beads I am a bead snob. I also do metal work, PMC3 and wire wrapping.

Hmmmm beads... but have yet to combine knitting and beading. I also do some drawing.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love all kinds of music except for rap and religous. I tend to listen to a lot of Celtic, soundtracks (Broadway shows are my favorite) and alternative. I can play MP3s.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color
family/season/palette you prefer?
Because of my coloring I have to go with jewel tones. I avoid yellows and orange colors and any reds that are not blue based. I am drawn to blacks, purples, and the blue greens. I avoid white, except for socks and Keds, because the uncapped highlighters, markers and pens way across the room will sense I am wearing white and come flying across the room to target my shirt or it will rain.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Single and loving it. No pets. My mom has a cat does that count? A cat who does not act very catish.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here,
I know)
To marry Orlando Bloom...hehe. Actually, I would like to go to Grad School for Forensic Anthropology. Be a published and successful writer/artist.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I don't really have a favorite yarn. I am still too new to knitting. I go more
for color and feel. I love soft feeling yarns but I am willing to try anything.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Scratchy yarns and very heavy yarns. I live in Florida where it is cold
about a month and only in the mornings and evenings really.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I have been itching to do some lace work.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don't have anything really I am enjoying it all since it is so new to me.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Sweater and a pair of anklets.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
So last year, fashion wise, plus shawls are more practical in Florida.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends on the project. I love my Addi Turbos (use them for larger projects as well as circular). I also love double pointed needles. I like wooden needles too.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Wooden and Addi Turbo metal

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yup.

22. How did you learn to knit?
Self Taught I'm self taught in many things because I have ADD/HDD

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Just finished my oldest now working on the second one which was started in Feb before it became to hot to do a sweater.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hello Kitty. I also like gargoyles but I LOVE Hello Kitty. I also like different rubber duckies.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas and St Patrick's Day. Have bad memories of birthdays between my family never remembering what day it was (one aunt thought it was in June or July...May 2 actually.) and the fact when I was little I always had wine cake for my birthday...everyone loved it...but me. So I couldn't even have my own cake.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Lampwork beads and hand blown from glass artists and Hello Kitty.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I only get the Interweave publication

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Most of them are on my Amazon list.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
I have gotten into lace shawls I have several patterns from Fibre Trends I will post them later.

ETA: 30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
Let me get back to this soon as I can find my tape measure hehe.

Thanks....

I give thanks that my best friend in NO is safe and sound with her family. They left Friday with family heirlooms for this area. They have each other and they have some things. But not everyone was so lucky.

We have all seen the aftermath of this storm. Now it is time to help. What is needed is not clothing, basic personal items or even food (though they are welcomed). What is need is Cash. Money gets there faster and what many do not realize is they purchase things locally as much as possible this helps local economy.

Please go Here to see where you can make a donation.

I have given money already to the Red Cross (they have an account with my bank) I really didn't need that IPod right now. Do you really need that yarn or whatever you have been dreaming about?

Please give what you can, every penny helps.

K

My prayers are with those in Katrina's path...

When you live in the South you know the possibility is always there for a Cat 5 to come barreling your way. Florida got luck so far...I feel horrible for thinking that way, but I am human and we got hit pretty bad last year. But Katrina is something that no one should have to deal with (another storm names after a friend out to do serious damage), I can remember Andrew and the nightmare it created afterwards.

When a hurricane is heading towards you and you are in evac area it is best to leave. To stay is stupid, you can replace belongings you can't replace your life.

By Tuesday, we will know what is needed and what needs to be done. Please give monetary donates to the RedCross and to the relief agencies, while food and clothing are often welcome. Cash is easier to get to the right areas and they often know what the people hurt by this storm really need.

This is from Felicia. OnLine Sock yarn is not to be found in my area of Florida it seems.

Felicia's blog is one of the first blogs I ever went to when I started knitting. She has been a great inspiration. Her work is divine. I hope to some day be as good as she is. Then there is her photography- I really don't think anyone on the knitting blog world that can top it. When she puts up the pictures of food for a class assignment or that hubby or her has made you drool and just FEEL those Calories coming over the net

I could go on about her wonderful hand dyed yarns and spinning....

First ROAK

This is my very first ROAK from Moze! I love this card why because it reminds me of my Mom's cat Kallie who sleeps like this most of the time, she is even the same coloring.

It is always nice when people think of you while they are on vacation.

Moze I have a lot of the same pictures from when I was there in April. :)

It sounded so easy....

Make a cd to swap with some Knitters...until you look at your 1000+ collection of cds, scan through your 40G of digital song files, another 40G of Song Vids you could pull songs from and well you can see my dilema.

Honestly, I never realized just how much music I had and how much I listen to only certain songs. Please do not think I paid for all those cds. I get many as gifts, some just show up in the mail because I have friends in the music business and some are copies from indie bands trying to get a fan following. I actually got one cd from a wire artist who was a musician because I said I love music.

Needless to say, I got it down to 1 cd 20 songs though I was tempted to do a second one.

You know your work day is going to heck in a hand basket when...

You walk in and 5 people are surrounding the production floor computer and the person sitting at the keyboards doesn't know anything about databases and how they work...

It was a long day. My mind is goo. Not good goo at that. I still can not figure out what happened or why (besides the fact that certain people should not be in our databases). And worse of all they are looking for someone to blame...blame the person who let a certain person on a computer.

I knew someone was playing in something, while trying to pull a report the dates mysteriously disappeared for all of August while I was scrolling through the list trying to find the date I needed.

Tomorrow does not look any better since I will have to try to recreate the problem to prevent the problem in the future. Which usually will not work because soon as I figure out what they did and prevent it from happening they find a new and even more inventive way to kill the database.

Knitting stuff tomorrow I promise.

Day 1 of the Yarn Diet...

I have gone on a yarn diet...the stash has gotten a tad to big and needs to be tamed.
But the main reason is I bought my tickets for Ireland for Nov. and the check book groaned. I think this had to do with I have also just paid my fall tution.

So I'm on a yarn diet. Thankfully everything I wanted to start next has already been purchased, now I just need to get started.

Sorry no pictures but I have been working on a baby shower gift...I thought I had more time. Until the person in question thought she went into labor on Monday and got rushed to the hospital only to find out it was a UTI. I guess that was a given since the baby is 9 lbs already and this girl has a month to go. Needless to say they are going to induce in a week so the shower got moved up. So the only thing I have been working on has been a baby jacket. I'm on the last two inches of the back

A wonderful gift from my SP5 person. I came early in the week, but I was late one out this week so it has been dark by the time I get home and with finals....well you understand. 

Take one drop spindle class and end up with 4 spindles a week later. The one second from the left is from my AKSecretPal.The third one from the left is a cd drop spindle the teacher gave us. The other two are new additions this weekend. It seems I have a knack for lace weight, but the two original spindles were too heavy. The far right is hand painted on the top. 

Sandy's Knitting had a picture of this totally goregous yarn on it. And I had to have some. I came this weekend -Furryarns. No clue what I am going to make yet, but I bought at least one of each of the colorways I was intersted in. 

We now return to normal programming....

I feel much better today. My best friend read my blog and called. She made a valid point on all this while cursing the school. I have a degree in Industrial Engineering I sat the EIT and never got so stressed out as I did this week about finals. Not even sitting the EIT got to me as much as this...a test which I had to sit and pass to graduate. NO Pass no graduate...

But today the mailman (it is a guy) must really be wondering what is going on...I got a SLEW of yarn from all over and a new drop spindle. Pictures will be taken tomorrow.

Stress it's a Killer...Finals Update

Well by 10:30 am, I had finished my final. Only 10 hours late, though she is not counting it against me, that is 1 hour for every question I had remaining.

I am highly pissed. I called the SO CALLED HELPLINE...got no help. Plus the kid said he just works there. To which I informed him, he is a representative of the school the only one I am talking to. Needless to say, a letter will be going to the provost and the dean of my program.

I was not able to finish the rest of my course work due today until 4:45pm, 15 minutes before it had to be in. Funny thing is we are switching from Web CT to a program called Angel-Angel is working picture perfect through out this.

I am all stressed out...looking like death warmed over (not an unusual look for me I am told). THANK THE STARS...it is over for now.

And on a funny note...the heat index was 110F here in the SunShine State. Of course I had to go to the postal box barefoot...entertaining my neighbors with a modern dance routine on the way back. I always said I had high entertainment value.

New Form of Hell....

HELL is WEBCT.....HELL IS TECH SUPPORT WHO IS NOT THERE WHEN THEY KNOW THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING!@@!@!@!@!@!+****

Couple days ago, the school's server went down...we are talking totally down. While normally not a big deal--IT IS WHEN IT'S FINALS WEEK!!!!!

So instead of having man power around the clock to make sure the damn thing is functioning correctly...or instead of prioritizing what is made functional at 100%, decide, at least this is what it is feeling like, to get everything functioning but the QUIZ and TEST parts of the system at 100%. You would think that SOME IDIOT would realize that during finals they would be using the QUIZ AND TEST portions MORE.

I started my final---had 10 questions left (which by some grace of god I had printed -ridge counting can not be done on a monitor easily) when guess what...IT WENT DOWN and didn't come up. Mind you they don't seem to care I only have 2 hours to take the test, nope not one care in the world. I quickly emailed the instructor who said she would not hold it against me (might have been the screen caps I sent her taken every 5 minutes to prove I could not get into the system). I get up at 4 F-ing AM on a vacation day, to attempt it again. 2 count them 1 2 questions answered and BAM guess what...DOWN Again. Go back to bed get up at 6:45am to try it again once again 2 count them 1 2 questions answered and BAM Down AGAIN. Are we seeing a pattern here. 7:10 same thing...At this rate I might be done some time Tonight.

Can I sue the school for UNDUE STRESS???

Happiness is a new Harry Potter Book

Yes, I was out at Midnight...to get THE BOOK. Actually I got there at 11:15pm and was fifth in line at Walmart.

I have read the first two chapters and am now going to bed since I have a drop spindle class in the morning.

AKSP Surprise

Sorry I have not updated...last weeks of summer session. I probably would not
have posted if not for...

A WONDERFUL surprise. My AKSP knitter sent me an vague email stating to
expect not 1 but 2 packages. One from Amazon and another mystery one...Gosh
knows I love a mystery. Every night was DID I GET SOMETHING?

Well, one came Saturday...but I couldn't get any pictures, why--Hurricane Dennis...leave it to my cousin to ruin my weekend. Then yesterday, I got thesecond part a book. What has me all excited everything had to do withSPINNING....oh I am going to make some yarn. The timing was PERFECT because this Saturday I have class 1 of a 2 part class in Drop Spindle.

A large Drop Spindle, some wool, plum dye, Spin Off Magazine and Spin It book.

Very nice drop spindle---Ashford

I am holding off until my class...plus I have school work to wrap up.

OUCH!!!!

Okay, hopefully y'all did your homework assignment...now imagine 120 dollars worth of yarn. Any kind of yarn...heck roving if that is what floats your boat.

Now check out what $120 in Swarovski 5040 Crystal looks like.

Sorry the picture is not to hot. It is raining and dark here. And you can't see my glass cup by a local glass
artist in the back clearly. Yes that is a AA battery for scale (I though the Crime Scene Rulers would freak some out).

Shocking ain't it and that is just above wholesale or at wholesale prices.

The funny thing is...I can look at a project and say need 10 skeins of yarn that would come out to the same price and I will talk myself out of it. When it comes to beads...well I have no qualms about forking over the money. Mind you Swarovski is on the high end of beads.

I had one person tell me that Michael's sells Swarovski knock offs that are just as nice...NOPE. So not true. Swarovski's in true daylight will sparkle almost like a diamond. No crystal looks like a Swarovski.

Today is a good day...

First, a good friend called and asked what beading mags I got and the other ones I liked but did not get via Subscription. I told her I got everything I am really interested in getting. Then she goes what about knitting...ooohhh. So I am now the happy subscriber to Interweave Knits.

Then, I get home and there is a present from Parikha who I had as a SP4 person to spoil. Out of which she made me a scarf out of some mohair I had sent her. I did not get a good photo of it but I will try tomorrow. THANK YOU!!!! I had a fun time buying stuff for her, though it is totally her fault I am hooked on LUSH products now but forgive her for that.

Lastly, there was another package BEADS!!!!!!!!!!! It is from a crystal buy I was part of...tomorrow I will have pics. So in your mind imagine $125 dollars worth of yarn and how the yarn that would look like all piled up (now don't go picking the expensive stuff). Tomorrow you will see how much $125 dollars worth of crystals look like (kind of depressing but oh well).

AKSP and Stash Enhancement

My order from Knit Picks- two patterns and a selection of yarn. I ordered yarns that interested me to see what they like. I will probably make scarves from these to see how they feel.







These wonderful goodies are from my AKSPal. I was worried something had happened to her because I have not heard from her. I asked the mods of the exchange to see if she was okay. They checked and found out that RL had came crashing in. I was relieved to know she was okay. Then I got this wonderful package from her in the mail.

I hope everything is going better for her.

She probably thinks I am a nut bag...

My criminal justice teacher that is...

I have completed my second paper for her and have yet to go to a library for research. Oh sure you are saying that I probably find everything on the net. Well, sorry laddies and lassies we are only allowed 1 internet site as reference out of three sources. The rest, well all, have come from my personal book collection. Okay so I pick anything with a forensics slant.

Still, the 4 books on the first one on Jack the Ripper had to make her wonder.

I have to say this has been the worst class wise of any summer. The classes just don't interest me or in the case of the fingerprint classifications just don't make sense to me.

Still Alive...they have not won yet...

I think I caused some heart attacks at work...part of my job is to resolve and write up any errors the floor makes. Since I was helping clear the back log on the floor on top of my own job, things have been resolved but not written up. Yesterday, I spent 4 hours researching and writing up the errors and informational. I am sure the floor would have preferred me helping them again but you can only put off for so long.

Today, I spent programming and reworking a database. What I love to do actually so it is not really a chore. If they would let me do just that the world would be a happier place.


Now for the knitting content of the blog:

Interweave has their Fall preview up. I love the cabled shrug, the Union Square Market Sweater and the Chenille Cutaway Jacket. But it is hard to tell what some of the others look like with the pictures they post online.

Phildar also has new stuff up according to Felicia. I didn't look around much other than the pattern she liked. I like their yarn, it is just so hard to get here in the States.

Tomorrow it is sit and knit night at one of the LYS. They expanded a couple months ago, so there is a lot more room for everyone. Since I am off Friday, I will be dragging my current project on over along with some books and Rowan Mags for a friend to check out.

Still Alive...No Life but Alive

No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. I have been buried under a mountain of work at the office and homework for school.

It is a new session of the Knitting Secret Pals--Number 5 to be exact.

I came home from a crazy day at work to find a very bright green mailing envelope and inside pretty pink packages.

I saved the little notes on the packages in my scrap book (the old fashion kind).

A HELLO KITTY TOOTHBRUSH!!!!!! I needed a new toothbrush and now I have one. At Knits End which is in the work bag I bring it out when work starts getting me really down. 2 skeins of solid color sock yarn ( have a pattern in mind for them, just need to locate it). A card with a poncho pattern (the only people who always look totally adorable in ponchos are kids). And a lady bug handmade soap bar, it is almost too pretty to use.

Thank you so much for the wonderful presents. I really love the toothbrush.

I did a raid on Knit Happens...mainly because NO ONE sells Rowan books here (well one store is carrying a small selection of the yarn and two books). I also picked up some Jaeger books. The Noro is from Fiber Arts here in Tampa, it has a hat pattern I really like. I like Noro...Noro does not seem to really like me though which is a shame.

Today Knit N Knibble had their first birthday party. They had door prizes (didn't win sniff) and some little free things (fridge magnet, needle record, and FREE COOKIE!! homemade kind not store bought COOKIE!!!) I picked up some things I needed. Did not go crazy. I did get some Denise needles for travel. The Laines Du Nord has some great patterns in it. I heart their yarn.

You have to love Joann's 50% off coupons. I usually get three so here is what I picked up Two books on jewelry- the one front and center has some KILLER pieces I can't wait until I get some free time ( as in No School) to create some of them. The metal clay has some cool patterns. I need to work some in this medium I took a workshop and had fun. But you really need a kiln which I don't have yet. The studio has one but I don't get down there enough. The other three are knitting books.

Speaking of 50% off...

Clearance yarns---I went a bit crazy but they were all around $1.50 each. The red and gold yarns are going to a friend who wants to make a Harry Potter scarf in time for the new movie, she is new to knitting and does not want to use expensive yarns. The rest are mine. I got several skeins of lace weight yarn to make some shawls with...$1.50 a skein yarn will make good practice yarn. I like to make a trial one first...it works for me I don't freak out about frogging over and over good yarn and making it look all nasty like.

(as always click for a larger pic.)

SP 4-Holey Moley

We were suppose to reveal who we had and who had us at the end of April. But I was not going to be able to get my package out until early May because I was going to be on vacation. My SP4 was Kirsten from Holey Moley. Thank you so much Kirsten for all the wonderful treats and yarn. (Yes I still have Frango's left.)

Yarn for two projects I have been wanting to do Flower Basket Shawl and Clapotis. She also sent a Hello Kitty charm for a keychain, but I couldn't get a good photograph.

Fancy that she's still alive

Yes, I am still alive and kicking, though my sanity was in question for a while there. At work, we were discussing if the wards had group rates...why???

Computer refresh from hell (there is no polite way to say it).

Every 3-5 years we get new computers at work. It is suppose to be an easy process. I assume it is an easy process for all the other areas but my own.

The main reason is they ask the wrong person a badly phrased question. The question being "Do we have any special needs that they don't know about?" The person being asked the one person in my department who thinks Print Shop Pro is the end all and be all of programs. If she could do all her work in it, she would be a computer expert. Not the person to be asking in this case. She said only that we work 7 days a week (well some part of my department does). What she forgot is we have (and what the man was really asking) specialized programs, fonts, etc. All needed for our unit to function. A two day computer install took over a week to do and I had to play go between and get certain computers back to where they were. Needless to say, it was very stressful and I had just come back from the first TRUE vacation I had in two years, I was relaxed until all this.

But there have been some great moments:

Felicia from Sweetgeorgia sent me this:

Sock yarn in some of my favorite colors and a Hello Kitty Charm she picked up in Japan. Totally cool...

My SP4 sent me this from Chicago before the reveal:
I hate all mint chocolate except for Frango Mints and Summer IK which could not be found for the longest time here.

Romance....Looking for a home.

I have several romance books looking for a good home. They are mainly Joann Lindsey, Catherine Coulter and Amanda Quick. But you are interested just me an email. (it is located in in my complete profile).

K

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Just a quick note since this is finals week, though I will be done by Wednesday... No pictures yet but I will load them up on Wed.

Thank to my SP4 knitter and Felicia of Sweet Georgia!!

I came home from Vacation and found a package from Felicia with a Hello Kitty dangle and two skeins of sock yarn in gorgeous colors. I actually jumped around all excited- never mind I just spent 100 bucks at Fiber Arts 1st Anniversary (she only had a very small amount of sock yarn and I pretty much own 2 skeins of each).

Then today I had another prezzie from my SP4 buddy who was in Chicago...she sent me a box of FRANGO MINTS!!! I hate mints except for FRANGO MINTS!!!! I had to pull them out of the hands of my mom who LOVES Frango mints too. Plus I got the new IK Summer mag (which has been rather hard to find locally here) and a lovely birthday card...cause TODAY is My Birthday!!!

Now for the real fun...my logic final (let's see how illogical I can be).

To return back to normal services on Weds.

Vacation all I ever wanted...

Sorry I have not posted anything since the beginning of the month. I am the campus coordinator for March of Dimes where I work and it has been a busy few weeks.

I have also been on vacation...at the House the Mouse Built-Disney World.

I am now exhausted but much more relaxed than in a long time. Also a lot poorer.

More to come...once I finish unpacking.

Hanka, Hanka, burning love...

This is how they were before...


In zip locks and then thrown into a bin until they were needed.


Here they are now. Since I don't have many hanks of seed beads I just put them into one container. As I am organizing I am sure I will find more. This little bead box is full.

I did find this...truthfully I don't remember buying it. I must have had a reason because I really don't go for bugles unless it is for Christmas Ornaments.

Want to see how Japanese beads come in bulk?

Exciting I know. These are a kilo of black and another of white 11/0s. I traded them for some Charlotte's I had. I plan on using them for a class sometime.

Beading Tips for the Non-Beading Knitter #3: Dealing with them pesky hanks.

If you click on the picture, a better image will open in another window.

The hank of beads.

Most hanks are Czech beads, why...because the Japanese don't see the sense in hiring people to string them on to string. Seriously, bead hanks are done by hand still, in really big bead spinners.

The quality of beads is usually very good but you will get your odd looking bead now and then and beads with too small holes. So small you can't get a beading needle through it and that says a lot.

Most instructions will tell you to pull one of the strands of beads near the knot until the string comes free. Now some cases this is rather easy in others...well be prepared for flying beads.

When you pull the string from the knot you weaken the structure of the knot; at some point the other strands are going to come out--usually when you are lifting the strand to move them. (Getting beads out of a keyboard is not fun and the Geek Squad at Best Buys will give you strange looks, I have been informed.)

How I deal with Hanks:
Step 1: Use a beading surface like velux (what I take my photos on- from Jane's Fiber and Beads under $2), if anything to cover your keyboard. Your family will thank you so they are not munching on beads that find their way from the dining room table to the dining room plate.

Step 2: Using a needle (depending on if you are beading or knitting) run it through about a needle's length of beads.

Step 3: Carefully, with some sharp pointed scissors cut the string holding the beads. I usually cut it right where the beads start on the hank.

Step 4: Slip the beads off the hank string. Now you have an open ending to work from.

Because I don't pull the string out the knot stays together, when you finish the strand cut the loose thread.

For bead knitting, invest in a big eye needle. The ones I am currently using I got from my friend Cindy's shop. She also carries some bead knitting books and the perle cotton. Thread the perle through the eye which runs the length of the needle and away you go. If you run into beads that don't want to go on don't force them or pull and tug on the needle, skip that bead and go on. Most likely the hole is too small.

Using a needle to string the beads from the hank to the knitting yarn/thread is faster than tying a knot small enough for the beads to slid over but secure enough so they don't slide apart.

Bead Tips for the non Beading Knitter

I am a beader who knits.

Bead Knitting seems to becoming the rage for many knitters. I have found though some very bizarre instructions and strange doings. The beader in me says it is because the pattern designers are not beaders but knitters. The Knitter in me wonders if they were just trying to make due without using the many tools beaders have.

So periodically now I will put beading tips for the knitter in my blog, once a week I will gather all these little tips and putting them on their own page to be added at a future date to the right.

Beading Tip 2 for the Knitter: Get thee to a Bead Store... a good one. Check the phone book. If you live in Florida I can probably guide you to one. If you don't have any I can recommend some places that are online.

Most knitters I see on blogs order from Fire Mountain Gems. Don't get me wrong they are a great store but it is mail order. Yes, they have great prices (I order from them a lot 100 dollars plus an order every month or so). But is that $25.00 order really a savings when you add another $5 for shipping, when the local beading store has it for $30.75 cents? And you get instant satisfaction? Not to mention, you get to see what you are buying before hand.

Pictures of bead really do not do them justice. You must really hold them up and see the sunlight shining through them. You must grope them to feel how the surface feels. (Think of it as yarn made of glass...).

You are also supporting a local business...that being said. Do not go hog wild at the first store you visit. Do your homework the next store you visit might have it for less than the first. The net is a wonderful place to get an idea of the prices but go to the small stores not the big ones. They are like Wal-Mart, they get volume pricing.

At the bead store, you have found a wonderful strand or hank of beads...one thing to remember is these beads are strung on white thread in most cases or a color thread to enhance the color. They may not look the same on that dark thread you are planning on using.

Next: Dealing with them Pesky Hanks of Beads…

Things...

I got an RAOK from the Fiber RAOK list--several people have emailed me and said some very nice things about my blog- thank you very much for the kindness and the invite to join.

Mary Ella Paging Mary Ella
After I saw Cathi's Mary Ella (In the Pink), I knew i had to make one.
The beads I had bought in Savannah last October. I actually was making something else with them but decided this would be better. They are Czech Beads (love hanks man) in teal lined in Silver and DMC Perle Cotton 8 in Black.

Oooh Pretty.

Bead Knitting Tip #1:
Most bead knitting instructions call for you to tie the string from the hank to the thread you are going to knit with (why I don't know). Instead invest in a big eye needle--with this time of needle the eye runs the entire length (no trouble putting the thread through that hole). Then slide them into the beads and then slide them off the hank string. The needle will abuse the thread a bit but there is less frustration and less bead spillage this way. Just make sure your beads can fit over the needle and onto the thread.

My rather deformed needle...(it's by Darice)

The Surprise:

Surprise!! Kam is a very unhappy beader. I really don't care for one part
that has been woven so far...so I am going to do the beading version of frogging and rework it. Just need to find some graph paper first. :(

This offends me.

RAOK from a coworker

I thought I would share this with you...I went into work today and discovered something in my chair...not anything unusal---papers and mail usually gets placed there for fear of the pit of darkness. Sometimes my friend Zen leaves me some bags of Filipino food (which is a very wonderful thing). But inside was Yarn Harlot's new book and a note from a new associate. She had seen the book at the book store and got it for me for taking time to help her with an account when she first came to work for the bank.

I went to Uncommon Threads to picked up some 00 and 000 dpn's and got these. 10 spools of DMC Cotton Perle 8. Now to figure out what I am going to make with them. 

Surprise Progress...

Not to much to report...I have been relaxing this week working
on homework and reading some books.

I did do some beading though. Here is an update on the surprise
gift for someone.

It is not as wonky as it is in the picture. When I attach the back it will straighten it out. It is warped a bit I admit but that is from doing the beading. This is a flat peyote rather than a circular.

This is not such a great pic, my digital does not do close ups of detail well. But on the left are Delicas and on the right Japanese seed beads. Seeds are more rounded than Delicas, while Delicas tend to lock into each other better than seed beads.

Japanese Seed beads differ from their Czech counterparts in that they are a bit larger and more uniform. They also have larger holes, for knitters means a thicker than Perle Cotton #8 could go through them. To beaders, it means more passes of a needle and thread.

I am thinking about writing a book about Knitting with Beads, I have looked at the ones on the market and truthfully I am not to impressed. They don't really talk about beads and how to select them. Beaders know about surface finishes, durability, etc. that I think knitters need to know.

Thus ends our beading lesson for today.