Time to Make the Donuts

Well – I did something last night I never thought I’d do. I sat in the parking lot of Krispy Kreme and knit!! Ok – I will explain.

My husband is a car nut. He loves his cars – more specifically VWs. He likes to hang out with other freaks – I mean car lovers – at the local Krispy Kreme. They all arrive and line up their cars and pop the hoods and oohh and ahh over their “mods” and new wheels and everything like. I thought it was scarily similar to the way us ladies ooh and aahh over yarn – but if I mentioned that to hubby – he’s probably deny it.

Anyway – I get dragged to this event more often that I care to go. So – I mentioned this fact to one of my knitting friends, Holly Anne and she suggested she could bring her son (who also likes cars) to the Tuesday get together. We could meet up and knit – she suggested. What an idea! I could combine something I love with something I don’t and voila! Car night at Krispy Kreme won’t be so bad!!

So – I arrive at said location and wonder of wonders – not only is Holly Anne there – but she also brought another one of our knitting obsessed gal pals, Margaret! How awesome is that!! So now we have me, 2 of my knitting friends and their children – all sprawled out on the sidewalk looking like a couple of square pegs in a sea of car guys. It was hilarious!

Here’s a pic to prove it actually happened.



I felt kind of bad exposing the children of my friends to one of the car guys that showed up. Most are friendly – but there was one guy there who drives a car with a license plate that read “LUCIFER” and he even had SATAN put on the car itself in metal letters. Great! Just what you want to see at a sit and knit. We had no trouble picking out the guy the car belonged to. He was the one covered head to toe in tattoos – one of which read 666. Fun! Sorry Margaret! If your children are scarred for life – you can brand me with 666!

Anyway – I am very close to finishing my second sock. I should hopefully be able to finish it tonight or tomorrow. Fingers crossed! I did finally get around to finishing my felted bag. I added a cool sewn in lining in a lovely Chinese looking fabric.












I just need the handles now. I have some – but they just aren’t quite right. I’ll need to buy some others – if only Joann’s would restock their purse handle selection. They have been sold out for a week now! Argh!

On the jealous side of my world – my hubby just got an iPod yesterday. He bought it from a guy he works with. Now – I have my own iPod and I love it – but his came with 12,000 songs!! I mean this thing will play for a year and never run out of new material!! I was at the computer for over an hour last night looking at the songs and I only got down to about D going in alphabetical order by artist! I want 12,000 songs on my iPod!

I will get them soon enough *Evil laugh*
Hahahahahaha!!!!

Bailey and Hurley!

Thanks for all the kind comments about my dogs. They are cute aren't they!! Both are miniature schauzers. Bailey is my older dog and my sweet boy! He was named after the drink Bailey's Irish Creme....



He's 6 and has been with me longer than my husband :)

Hurley is the puppy and he's 10 months old. He is named after the big guy on Lost. (We thought he was lovable!) We got him so that he could be my husband's dog - here he is the first day we brought him home. He was so tiny!!




He was also meant to be a playmate for Bailey. Even though he was meant for everyone but me - he has somehow chosen me as his favorite. He follows me everywhere.

Bailey was very jealous at first. That was one of the main reasons we got Hurley. Anytime I would touch another dog or a baby - Bailey would freak out and try to get onto my lap. It's like he was claiming me as his and no one else was allowed to get love from me. Well - He was very upset when we first brought Hurley home - but now they are very good friends. They play together and wrestle and even sleep near each other. Hurley wants to snuggle with Bailey - but Bailey's still not having anything to do with that. I think he sees him as an annoying little brother. OK to play with once in a while - but "Geez mom - don't let my friends see me hanging out with him!"




Even though they are both the same breed of dog - it's amazing how much they each have their own personality. Bailey is definitely NOT a lap dog. He's a lay next to kind you dog. He wants to be touching you - just not actually be on you. Hurley on the other hand - thinks he's a parrot. He wants to climb to the highest point (usually my shoulder) and perch himself there to watch the goings on. He always wants to be playing or sitting on my lap. I swear I have developed some pretty major arm muscles just from playing tug with him!


Hurley is the ultimate lovable pup though and even though he's hyper and loves to chew on everything from plants to shoes to paper to cardboard boxes to knitting needles (wait I think he's gone too far now!!) I still love him. He just gives kisses all day long.

But - I must admit - Bailey will always be my little man. My pookey dookey. My poopie bear... my lova duba... wait. I think I've said too much!

Tell me about your pets! What kinds do you have, how many, what are their names?

Lunch time is play time :)

I got these off the Crochet Dude's Website and spent my lunchtime getting to know myself better.... I definitely recommend trying this out - it's a little scary!

The Ipod - get to know yourself quiz:
The way it works:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.

How am I feeling today?
Macy’s Day Parade - Green Day (here come the balloon animals!)

Will I get far in life?
Get There - Boa (hope so!)

How do my friends see me?
Brother John - Blues Traveler (hmmm… maybe I should tell them I’m a girl?)

When will I get married?
Touch Me - The Doors (already am – so I guess this are my instructions to him?)

What is the story of my life?
Fugitive - Indigo Girls (and I’m still on the run…)

What was high school like?
Welcome to Paradise - Green Day (not exactly what I would have called it!)

How am I going to get ahead in life?
The Island - Aselin Debison ( I could buy in island…)

What is the best thing about me?
Innocence Maintained - Jewel (aawwwe)

How is today going to be?
It’s a Monster - Extreme (not looking forward to that !)

What is in store for this weekend?
Tear in Your Hand - Tori Amos (I guess my week isn’t looking too hot)

What song describes my parents?
Eternal Flame - Bangles (very true – they’ve been together forever and will always be
crazy about each other!)

What song describes your grandparents?
Everything - Lifehouse – (they did have full lives and experienced everything it has
to offer)

How is my life going?
My Stupid Mouth - John Mayer (I better shut up more….)

What song will they play at my funeral?
Put Me Down - Cranberries (enough said)

How does the world see me?
Alright - Janet Jackson (well thanks y’all!)

Will I have a happy life?
Let it Be Me - Indigo Girls (pick me pick me!)

What do my friends really think of me?
The Freshman - The Verve Pipe ( come on – I’m at least a sohpomore man!)

Do people secretly lust after me?
Longview - Green Day – (maybe from afar?)

How can I make myself happy?
Cut Here - The Cure (cut what?)

What should I do with my life?
Somebody Else’s Song - Lifehouse (but I just wanna be me…)

Will I ever have children?
Late in the Evening - Paul Simon – (hubby and I better get busy …)


What is some good advice for me?
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles ( after the weekend I’m supposed to have – I gues
I’ll need to look towards the sun)

What is my signature dancing song?
Our Love is Here to Stay - Loius Armstrong - I like slow dancing with my honey – so this is appropriate)

What do I think my current theme song is?
A Girl - Boa (finally – they know I’m a girl!)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Fat Boy - Jewel (well hey – you can’t argue with that)

What type of men/women do you like?
At Last - Etta James (this was the hubby and I danced to at our wedding – so I guess it means I like him!)

What kind of kisser are you?
Sent From Up Above - Mariah Carey – (I’m an angel!)

What's your style?
When I see you Smile - Bad English ()

What kind of lover are you?
Least Complicated - Indigo Girls – (No whips and chains for me)

What would be playing on a first date?
You’re in Love - Wilson Phillips (I do tend to fall in love too quickly)

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day (apparently I’ll be asleep)


Let me know what your answer are!

I finished a sock!!

Yippee! I finished my first sock!






I even cast on the second! I feel like I have passed some kind of knitter's test. I can now officially call myself a Knitter because of this. Well - I guess I should really finish the second one before I claim that status! It didn't take nearly as long as I was expecting it to - but I did use #3 needles instead of the ultra mini 1 or 2. I will have to try a more decorative pattern next - something lacy or with cables maybe! The possibilities are endless. I definitely want to make that Pomatomus sock one day - but it may be a little over my head for a second sock.

Went to my knitting group last night too. We are now offficially "spinning friendly"! There were two gals there spinning away and making the coolest yarn. It looks ever so cool and I do want to try it - but I have to keep telling myself "Just keep knitting just keep knitting!" because I don't even have enough time to knit as much as I want. Imagine if I also spun! I would just have to quit my job and never sleep. It would also be kind of hard to spin in the car....









I talked about how I had "car knitting" on the Mason Dixon KAL and everyone was excited to learn that they weren't the only ones! I never knew the great idea was so widespread. I keep a small project in the car for those times at red lights where there is nothing else to do - or waiting in line at the fast food lane - or pumping gas, getting oil changed - or anything else where I find myself sitting in the car. It really is amazing how much you can get done just with knitting during the times you would otherwise be sitting still doing nothing!


I found a cute Wikipedia quiz on another person's blog and I just had to play along. I hope you do too!


The Wikipedia Game:
Search for your birthday. Post 3 events (ok I posted 4), 3 births(I did 4 again!), 1 death.

Events:
1922 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is formed.
1924 - Edwin Hubble announces the existence of other galaxies.
1927 - The Ginza Line, the first subway line in Asia, opens in Tokyo.
1953 - The first color television sets go on sale for about USD at $1,175 each.

Births:
1945 - Davy Jones, English singer (The Monkees)
1959 - Tracey Ullman, English actress and singer
1969 - Jay Kay, English musician and singer (Jamiroquai)
1975 - Tiger Woods, American golfer - Can you believe I am the exact same age as Tiger Woods! If only I had the exact same about of money!!



Deaths:
2004 - Artie Shaw, American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader (b. 1910)

Too many UFOs!!

There is definitely something in the air. Pollen? No - Something else that makes me want to cast on new projects. I have way too many things still on the needles for this urge to come on every day - but alas it does and I end up casting on something new.

This weekend the hubby was away playing with cars - and I was reading the Yarn Harlot's latest - Knitting Rules - and after reading the chapter on socks - I just had to cast one on.





I am quite happy with these so far. I finished the cuff, leg and heel on Saturday and most of the rest of the foot on Sunday. I started the toe last night and hope to be done with the first one this evening. Unfortunately – hubby saw what I was up to and claimed them as his – so I had to make them a little longer for his big size 12 feet. (I owe him socks!!) So – I may still wear them – there’s nothing wrong with big socks!


My “car knitting” is coming along fine so far – not too much progress – but hey – I only work on it at red lights!

I cast on the next strip this morning – so I will try to update the photo with the new colors soon.

Here it is as of yesterday:



My knitting group is taking part in a charity to make sweaters for kids in less fortunate areas. I got the pattern and the yarn over the weekend – so of course I had to cast on…..



This photo looks a little pink to me…. This closeup is truer to the colors…



I got the yarn from Margaret’s extensive donated stash. She has donated yarn and fabric in every corner of her guest room! I chose a huge Pound ‘o Love in tan



and some red for some accent stripes.





I hope it comes out ok – if I get this finished – it will actually be my first sweater! I started one for myself over the winter – but it’s still not done…. I actually haven’t worked on it in quite a while! Ooops!!


Anyway – Margaret has a dog – a big shedding dog – so of course the moment I stepped back inside my house – my two pups were all over me – sniffing and clawing to get inside my bag where the dog hair covered yarn was.

Here’s a pic of Bailey checking it out.



The two yarns together are almost as big as Hurley!!




Oh – I almost forgot! I was at the Columbia Festival of the Arts this weekend too. We set up a little knitting area in front of our usual café and attracted many onlookers with our knitterly ways. It was a great day – I had sausage and peppers and bought a cool fused class necklace and make from great progress on my socks!

That’s all for now!

I have knitteritis!

I think there's something wrong with me...

I'm completely obsessed with buying new yarn and casting on new projects - even though I have plenty of nice yarn and am already making more projects than I can finish! What is wrong with me!!!

Everytime I go online to my favorite blogs or pattern websites I see things that I just have to have or make RIGHT NOW!!

I can’t finish the things I already have on the needles – yet I want to start that lace stole that takes 10 skeins and like 100 years to make! I want it finished by tomorrow – because then I can make the stuffed dinosaur I saw.
http://www.xtreme-knitting.com/Dinosaurspattern.pdf



After that there’s this cute Chinese looking shirt I need for all those summer time gatherings. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTfestive.html



Oh and after that – here’s a darling little necklace I can’t wait to make for all my friends at Christmas. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTknecklace.html




Maybe there’s there a knitting gene, or chemical in my brain that makes me this way. I don’t know why I am the way I am. I just saw on the news this morning that people who have road rage – are chemically imbalanced. Maybe they ought to do a study on knitters.


My husband just doesn’t understand that when he does things like want me to join him for dinner – he’s taking time away from my knitting! I mean come on – I don’t really need to go with you to that party do it? Your mom will understand that I can’t make it to her birthday dinner because I’m on a yarn shopping spree! Yeah – right….


I must also confess that I am a sensitive knitter. I want people to love what I do! When I show my husband the latest project I have on my needles I want him to sawy – Wow! That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen! (And not being sarcastic about it!!) But alas – it seems only another knitter can appreciate the perils and charms of knitting that perfect item with that perfect pattern in that newly purchased perfect yarn.


I just finished a scarf made out of my wonderful Isis that I got in Scotland. I started a scrunchie yesterday – (yes – even you can have knitted scrunchies – look here…) and have taken it into my car as my “car knitting” project. I can now get almost an entire row done just at stoplights! Who knew! Thank you Hollyanne for suggesting this marvelous idea to me! (And no – I’m not making a hat!!)

My June horoscope

The official Aunt Purl Horoscopes are out! Get yours here....http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/

Mine is:
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
Peacemaker isn’t your favorite roll, I know you too well. It’s always easier to sit on the sidelines and watch others beat each other over the head with their proverbial big sticks. (What is it with the mean and ugly stick this month?) But right now your job, unwelcome as it may be, is to step in and be the lone voice of reason. You’re the only one firmly planted in reality right now, and by the way, this job does not pay well! Take it from a middle child! But Head Honcho Of Dispute Resolution has great benefits and growth potential. Plus, Cappies like to feel that everything has been settled and changed and happily re-charted with their expert eye, you know it's true. Luckily, you do have an expert eye when it comes to deciphering people and your heart is in the right place, so I predict that by the new moon at month's end you'll have managed to completely smooth over whatever prickly, uncomfortable issue it is that's got you in knots. Also, according to this thing called a "chart" which I am supposed to carefully read before making this wide-flung predictions, the first few weeks of June will be excellent for hanky panky, if hanky panky is present. Just so you know.


Thanks to Crazy Aunt Purl - I now have June to look forward to. I always love her monthly horoscopes - but this one was particularly interesting. I haven’t exactly had the most “peaceful” month of May around my neighborhood. You may remember my post about my nasty neighbor complaining about dog poop. Well – I had it out with her a few days ago. She was the one complaining that my dog went into her yard and pooped – well… Let me just mention the fact that she felt she was excused from the decision we reached at the home owners meeting to leash all dogs. After about the 10th time of seeing her dog outside with no leash – I went out and confronted her. I said, “ So – I guess we’re not doing the leash thing anything…”

She had the nerve to say, “ well I don’t think Sage (the pooping off leash dog) needs to be on a leash. He’s a different caliber dog than yours are.”

Well – I don’t go into the nasty details of what happened next – but let’s just say – I let her have it. I was shaking with anger by the time I got back inside after calling her a hypocrite and everything else I could think of.

SO that brings me back to the horoscope for June. Apparently I will be a peacemaker. I can’t wait to see if that happens – because god knows I won’t apologize with getting one first!

It’s also good to know – I’m the only one “firmly planted in reality right now”, to quote Aunt Purl. I knew I like her.

She also goes on to say:
“I predict that by the new moon at month's end you'll have managed to completely smooth over whatever prickly, uncomfortable issue it is that's got you in knots.”

I sure hope she’s right!

And if all else fails – she does mention some good hanky panky :)

I made beaded stitch markers!

I was browsing around the internet the other day and I came upon the coolest little bead. It's in the shape of a ball of yarn with knitting needles through it. How perfect is that I thought! I immediately ordered 50 of them.

Don't look at me like that! Buying in bulk was cheaper! :)

I had it in my head that I'd make a necklace or something for everyone in my knitting group. But that's a lot of beading! It would take me forever. So - I was rolling it around in my head - a bracelet may - well - hmm - do they really wear jewelry? - maybe not - I don't know. So - obviously I was confused for a good long while about what to do with these 50 knitting beads.

It's not like I can make a big huge necklace out of needles beads all for me - NO! I have to share the wealth! (besides those beads are sharp little suckers with those mini knitting needles!)

So - I was looking at my friend's blog the other day and saw that she made herself some really cool stitch markers and I thought - AHA! That's it! I'll make stitch markers for everyone. I mean - we're a knitting group after all - what better gift than that!

I think they came out great if I do say so myself. I don't know why I did't try this sooner - it was so easy! I have a million beads and bobs and wires from my days when I made jewelry - so I managed to dig out all the boxes of stuff last night. I rummaged around until I found some wire, picked out some beads and voila! Instant gratification and some pretty cool stitch markers too!

I think I'm going to spoil my secret pal in the SP8 knitting exchange with some too.

I made some green ones for my secret pal:



some blue ones for me!


I made these for my knitting group...


and these...



I also got some kniting done - beleive it or not - and I am about 4 inches shy of being done with the Mason Dixon bib I started. Yeah!

The Loot

I'm having trouble posting pics - hopefully these will turn out....

Before I get to the loot - I have to brag.

I finished my first “warshrag” last night – Yeah!

">Finished!

I absolutely love the Mason Dixon book – whose official title is so long – I’m not even going to try to remember it… Here it is cut and pasted from Amazon.com:

“">

Mason-Dixon Knitting : The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures”
by Kay Gardiner, Ann Meador Shayne


They make simple projects seem somehow new and different. I mean – come on – why would I want a hand knit washcloth? I would never normally have made one – but these are too cute. I really like the style. I am still constantly amazed at what you can do with just two stitches – knit and purl.

I also started a baby bib – the pattern is also from the same book. I didn’t take a pictures yet – but I pretty much almost finished it last night with about 2 hours of knitting. I can’t believe how easy it was – just garter stitch – yet it still looks great. I get to find a cute button to put on it too. My friend Mary Ellen will love it!

Now - on to the loot....
I am also finally getting around to posting some pics of my loot from my Scotland! I was actually extremely surprised at how few yarn shops there are in a country that has more sheep per acre than people! It was so hard to find yarn that I had to Google Scotland yarn and only found out about some of the shops I went to through other people’s recommendations. Most shops didn’t even have websites. Another thing I found strange is that most department stores have yarn. They have a “haberdashery” section – which I found quite charming. All the yarn, fabric and sewing supplies you could ever want – all in one place.
I visited Liberty Department store in London and although their haberdashery was quite beautiful and had an immense selection of every kind of needle art that exists (enough cross-stitch, loop rugs, yarn, needles, threads, feathers, and fabrics to make any textile lover blush) they were rather limited on their selection of brands. In fact – even though they had a very long wall dedicated to yarn – they only seemed to carry Rowan – but they still had a fabulous selection. I got some wonderful Rowan Cotton Tweed in three shades of denim – ">here

and a Rowan pattern book. I think I’ll make a very lacy Victorian pillow case I saw in the book with my new Cotton tweed.

">here

Another find in London was at Camden Lock Market (love the sights!) It was just a little shop - selling touristy things - but they also happened to have yarn. It was the first yarn I spied on the trip - so I may have bought more than I should have - if I had waited... But - it was very unique - and although not wool - I liked it.

">camden finds

On to the Scotland finds!

My favorite shop by far was a little place in Ullapool. It is called Unlimited Colour Company. (Don’t you just love the way the Brits spell?) It is just a little unassuming shop from the outside that carries the best yarn (and carpets) I’ve seen in a while. It’s on the only main street in the town – across the street from the best fish and chips shop ever by the way!

">fish n chips

The lady who owned the shop, Polly,

">polly

was the sweetest thing ever! I walked in and as soon as I saw the gorgeous yarn in the back of the shop – she could tell I was a yarn lover.

">the shop

Wiping the drool from my chin – I went on to explain where I was from and how much I loved her stuff. I couldn’t stop oohing and aahing and she seemed to have had just as much fun as I did showing me all the different colors and styles she carried.

Most of the yarn I loved was hand dyed by a woman in Wales - her line is called Isis. I couldn’t stop petting it – she had it all draped around the walls and it felt like walking into a rainbow.

">yarn

">more yarn


Polly also had some of her own personal yarn stash for sale – which I could tell was breaking her heart to part with. She had had accident which left her partially paralyzed on one side. She could no longer knit. She had been a quite a famous knitwear designer in her past and as we got to talking – she brought out a catalogue of some of her designs. All I can say is wow! She is a master. It’s such a tragedy that she can’t knit anymore. I spent over an hour in her shop and came home with these goodies:

">the loot!

">details

">more

">more

">more

">and more


I think I gave my husband a heart attack while I was gone - because I left while we were waiting to check in the B and B. I said – I’m just going to have a little look around town. (I mean how long can it take to walk the only block in town – right?) Well – it took me five minutes to find the place and an hour to get out again!

Another yarn find was my gray/black Harris Tweed Wool. I went to Scotland hoping that I would possibly find some real Harris tweed. The only tweed that can ever be called true Harris Tweed - is that made by the people of the island of Harris - and since I wasn't able to actually get to the island of Harris - I didn't think I'd get very lucky. BUt! Low and behold - I did manage to find a little shop that carried some Harris Tweed. They weren't even a yarn shop really - just a little shop on the Island of Skye in Portree called Over the Rainbow. I was breathless when I found it under a rather benign display of jewerly and other odd objects 'd art. But - I did find some and it came home with me :)

">Harris Tweed

The label is hand written... and it does say Harris wool!

">label detail


Although it's a bit scratchy - I just have to make a sweater or something fabulous out of it!

All these random little yarn shops in the middle of nowhere - surely - I'd find something in the big city of Edinburgh - right?

Wrong. I found the only shop that I could find mentioned on Google to be within walking distance of the old city -Drummond Wools - and it was a big dissappointment. Very little selection - mostly Rowan and not much of it either. Hardly any wool at all! I did buy some sock yarn -

">sock yarn


because I had to get something - right! But I wasn't too happy that I trekked almost 2 miles from my B and B to get there.


Other than yarn - I also came home with some highland critters...

">critters

a Hairy Coo

a Sheep

and Nessie!


and some tasty goodies!

My husband collects coke - so we got the official cokes of the World Cup and of course some McVities, Cadburry's, shortbread, and my personal favorite - Prawn flavored Walkers Crisps!

">Yum!

All in all - it was a great trip. I can't wait to start knitting with my new yarn!!

If all else fails to make me happy - I always have my program from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with my man Christian Slayter.

">Isn't he dreamy!