Hack Hack, Cough Cough

Ugh. Partway through my work day yesterday, my sinuses, throat and ears all started hurting kind of a lot. By bed time, I was sniffling and sad. When I woke up today, it was ouchytown with some phlegm tossed in for extra fun time. Ick!

I know what happens when I go to work in this condition: I get all supersick, and stay that way for weeks. So, today I stayed home and drank a lot of orange juice and rested. I figured while I was horizontal, I'd list a bunch of new things in my Etsy store... so I did just that! Here is a small sampling of these items:







They can be bought at my Etsy Shop. Feel free to just ogle, too. :)

This Saturday and next Saturday, Western Avenue Studios is having their Open Studios. It will be great, because a lot of artists will have their studios open because of the upcoming holidays, and hoping that people will come on by to do shopping. It will be a great opportunity not only to shop, but also to browse around and admire artwork created by local artists. You should totally come. 10-6, Dec. 1 and 8, 120 Western Ave, Lowell, MA. Sweeeeet! You can find additional directions at Western Ave's Website.

Finally, apologies for my severe lack of posting as of late. I have no excuse other than being busy and tired. Just like everyone else, right?

I will leave you with a cute picture of some of my dollies getting drowsy. No, we are not tired! We want to stay up!

Secret of the Stole

Two months ago, I joined a knitalong where you don't know ahead of time what the final project will look like. We knew it was a stole, we knew what style of yarn and beads to purchase, but we didn't really know how long or wide it would be, or whether the pattern would even be something we liked.

I went for it, and ended up enjoying the process as well as the end result.



It's hanging out (all NINE FEET OF IT) on my floor, happily blocking.

Informal final project words:

I liked doing a knitalong where you only get one section of the pattern per week; it meant that I didn't RUSH rush rush like I sometimes (okay, frequently) do.
I liked that it was fairly simple... pretty basic stitches and no need for a lifeline.
I liked seeing how other people's projects were coming along.
I liked the yarn.

I liiiiiiked it.

So there you have it.

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. It was a quiet day... my mom, dad, grandma, and myself. We ate loads of delicious food, and just hung out and mellowed. This wonderful day was followed by a day of terrible tragedy. Yes, tragedy. About 30 minutes after I left my parents' house, I realized I had left my wonderful, wonderful Thanksgiving leftovers on the top shelf of the fridge. Dagnabbit!
Well, there is always Christmas...

Self Portrait Thursday


Sneaky Fingerman met Toby... and I'm not so sure he is happy about it. He basically looks petrified!

By the way, check out Toby's little sweater... yep, I made it... from leftover sock yarn! Finally, I have a use for all of those little leftover balls of yarn! I'll make sure to post some more pics of the wee sweaters soon!

Okay, I'm outing myself...

Here is my confession... for a while now, I have thought that Blythe dolls were kinda cute, and I really wanted one. I found an online message board for lovers of Blythe, and scooped up several pre-loved dollies. I admit that the Blythe bug has hit pretty darn hard, and I just love them. I have never collected anything before, and not only am I collecting them (sort of... some Blytheaholics have dozens of them!), but I'm really interested in customizing them! Check this out:

This little dolly was a Prima Dolly Saffy, and had been customized by her former owner... the lipstick is a bit chunky in real life, and something needed to be done, and pronto! Soooooo.... check out the new and improved dolly, named October! (Toby for short, of course)

Blythes have a string in the back of their head that you pull and their eye color changes. Above is a honey color, backed with silver sparkly foil. Below is a light blue eyechip, backed with green foil. Yes, I changed these out myself! I also sand matted her face, gave her light makeup, painted on the freckles, and rerooted the mohair all by myself. I managed to gouge my thumb pretty badly with the teensy crochet hook, but I think the results are worth it!


I WILL be careful, jeez!


Is this better?


Fine then, you my all look at the BACK of my head, instead. Feel free to be jealous of my ridiculously fabulous and fluffy hair:

So, now you know. And even if you think Blythes are creepy (some do), you have to admit that I did a pretty nice freakin' job on the customization!

Accidental Hiatus

Hello, there. I was reminded by my sister last night (howdy, Lizmo) that it is hard to spy on me if I don't post in my blog! Soooo, here is the latest from me. Sorry, not a picture to be had. Well, maybe. We'll see...

1. I have been feeling kinda down in the dumps lately. Tired, lethargic, blah. I think I came close to crying while talking to my mom on the phone the other day. It's like I just cannot get enough sleep and am tired a LOT. I don't find much energy even to do the things I like to do.

2. Despite the above, I have been trying hard to get up and do the things I like to do. I have been going for walks and enjoying the unseasonably warm October we've been having. It's nice to have the river nearby as well as a nice neighborhood to go and stroll around in.

3. This past week was a full moon. It was also the week at work where I had the most referrals ever... the kids were bouncing off the walls! It really made a couple of days zip by quite quickly, and it made me feel really useful and competent at my job. It was really nice to leave at the end of the day, feeling like I had done a good job.... you know, maybe help a couple kids here and there... that kind of thing!

4. Lately, I have been having the urge to play the piano again. I took lessons years and years ago, and was pretty good at one time. I have been bemoaning the fact that I don't have access to a piano... until I remembered that I have been working in a building with a nice piano for an entire year! A couple of weeks ago, I stayed after work and played the piano for about an hour. It was pretty rough going... whereas my fingers used to be very supple and compliant when it came to 'tickling the ivories', they now feel stiff and awkward. There isn't much muscle memory left there at all. Interestingly, my foot seemed to remember when/ how to use the pedal, but my fingers were another story. I have left some sheet music at school and will stay after to play whenever I feel like it!

5. I recently got the urge to buy a Blythe doll. So, I did. I may or may not have bought more than one. I may or may not have spent time washing their hair, putting it in little barrettes, and contemplating getting my childhood Barbie Dream House out of storage. I haven't figured out what all of this is about... but it appears as though a whole bunch of people in this world collect things, and I don't really collect anything. Why not a few dollies? Now, I just have to figure out how to hide them when (okay IF) I ever start dating someone again! Nothing sends 'em running like a big ol' pile of dolls... well, maybe a big ol' pile of dead bodies would also be a bit offputting... but you know what I mean.

6. Today, I spent the afternoon/ evening with my friend Cece, not knitting, but sewing! I have not taken pictures, and it's hard to do so at night in my apartment... I made a zippered pouch, a matching tote bag (the tote was my own made up pattern and it turned out great), I sewed the lining for a knitting project that has been in the UFO pile for quite some time, and I even made some monkey - flannel pajama bottoms that are quite cuddly.

7. My dad did some sewing once, on the sweatshirt below. I was always proud that he did a little sewing just for me. Pinch those cheeks, you know you want to!



So, that's all for this installment. Regarding #1, if you would like to help me feel better, send money. It is less fattening than cookies. Or, go for a walk with me. It will be nice.

Boobilious?

According to the dictionary, it is not a word. However, according to the person in Omaha Nebraska who searched the internet for that word and came up with MY BLOG AS A RESULT... and to MY FRIEND CECE WHO TYPED THAT WORD IN A COMMENT ON MY BLOG (see here)... it is indeed a word. Who knew?

Just as with the Super Nice Booty incident from last month, I am going to go out on a limb and guess that the searcher did not find what they were looking for on my blog. Who knows, really!

Houston, the Squid has Landed

I am seriously tired right now. I will totally add project details some other time.

Self Portrait Thursday

Oops, almost forgot it was Thursday... here is my surprised forehead!

There is a Squid in my Kitchen!



I found this pattern on Ravelry today, and was feeling kinda lousy and lazy today, so I decided to make it! It's Shoney the Squid by Kristy Schueler. I knit him all up and felted him in the sink today. If you have never done any hand felting in a warm apartment, allow me to tell you that it is a sweaty job. Liz/ Made in Lowell had mentioned this to me, but i had not really appreciated the magnitude of this truth: creating friction while wearing rubber gloves and standing over a sink full of near simmering water is icky! However, I got to make a squid, so it's all good.
Now, I just have to wait for him to dry so I can stuff him!

Ravelry! Secret of the Stole! Thelonious Sock!


Item 1: Ravelry
Yeah, there are some updates to be shared. First off, I finally made it onto Ravelry, which for those of you who don't know, is the awesomest ever. Really. It is an online meeting place for knitters, and you can upload pictures of your knitting/ crocheting projects, yarn in your stash, and patterns you'd like to knit. There are groups and forum message boards, so that you can find (and share ideas) with people who have similar knitting interests. If you have some yarn in your stash and are stumped as to how to use it, just look it up... chances are that there are dozens of people who have already used it to make something. I have been working on uploading loads of pictures, and will continue to document previous projects, dating as far back as possible. My Ravelry screen name is "BrickMillStudio". Add me as a friend if you haven't already!

Item 2: Secret of the Stole

I got into Ravelry (there is a waiting list) on October 3. My first order of business, after uploading an avatar, was to cruise the knitting groups and pick some out that I felt like being a part of. I came across a knitalong called "Secret of the Stole". It is a knitalong, but what makes it different is that you don't get to see the pattern ahead of time. The project is tantalizingly revealed one portion at a time, beginning with yarn and bead requirements, a swatch graph... and finally, section one of the stole. The group closed to members on October 4 - I made it in under the wire - and hint #1 was revealed last night. Yes, I knit until just before midnight and managed to finish! Nerd? Yes. I am comfortable with that.

Anyway, here are some pictures, starting with my selection for yarn and beads:



I selected some yarn from my stash, Valley Yarns 2/14 alpaca silk in Eggplant. I bought it a while back at Webs, and was thinking I might knit something from Victorian Lace Today with it, but hey. An opportunity presented itself, and I changed my mind!

I picked out some size 6 beads from Lush Beads. They match very well... perhaps a little TOO well. But I am willing to live with that.

Next, I swatched:


And finally, I completed Hint #1. Truly, the yarn is prettier than I captured with this shot. I swear it.


Item 3: Thelonious Sock
People, I am tired today. I am going to leave you with a picture of the progress, with a promise that you will, as usual, receive an update in the future.



Now, back to uploading projects to Ravelry!

Self Portrait Thursday



Well, I came across Sneaky Fingerman again, and he was taking a nap in my latest knitting project! It's the yarn from the most recent Sundara Yarns Petals Collection sock club, but I decided against knitting the pattern that came with it, because I was so excited to knit the Thelonius Sock pattern by Cookie A. Sorry, no links for you tonight... it's past my bed time.

New Yarn, Lotsa Bracelets!



This yarn came in the mail today from Sundara Yarns Petals Collection. The color name is "Poppy". It's beautiful and right up my alley! I was hoping for a purply yarn this time around, and I was obviously not disappointed. I think it shows up more blue on my computer monitor than it is in real life... it's more of a 'merlot' in real life.

As always, a pattern came with the yarn. Now, when I first started getting 'sock of the month club' yarns and patterns, I diligently followed the patterns... but somewhere along the way, I strayed from the prescribed patterns and did my own thing. This go around, I can't decide. The pattern that came with it is nice, but there are a couple of patterns I've found that I'm really dying to try. What to do, what to do?

This weekend is Lowell Open Studios, and I've been preparing by making a TON of bead crochet bracelets. Fifteen new ones, to be precise. That is better described by me telling you that this has taken up approximately 45 hours of my life over the past couple of weeks. I'm on fire! However, I have not been all that inspired with the simple bead stringing projects, which is too bad... they are so much faster!
Anyway, here is a pic of some of the new bracelets:



Anyway, if you live nearby, come visit me this weekend over at Western Ave. You can paw the bead crochet. Open studios is the reason I am hesitating to cast on for these new socks... I feel like I should be focusing on jewelry. But new yarn is so hard to resist! Aggh!

Self Portrait Thursday

The floor of my condo is concrete. It feels nice and cool on a hot day, but if you ever drop anything, it is GOING TO BREAK. I have spent a lot of minutes in this place cursing and wiping up dishes and glasses and candleholders (and so on) that have dashed to absolute smithereens.

Yes, I generally wear shoes walking around the house...

Self Portrait Thursday

The floor of my condo is concrete. It feels nice and cool on a hot day, but if you ever drop anything, it is GOING TO BREAK. I have spent a lot of minutes in this place cursing and wiping up dishes and glasses and candleholders (and so on) that have dashed to absolute smithereens.

Yes, I generally wear shoes walking around the house...

Super Nice Booty!

So, according to Clicky, my blog had a visitor from Dubai today... who found me by searching "super nice booty".

People, I was not expecting this, but I did indeed get quite a larf out of it. I am assuming that the person visiting me was not really expecting a knitting blog, either. Here is a link to the search; my blog was on page 4.

Little does s/he know how right that search is.... awwwwww yeahhhhhh! Oh, and if super nice booty person returns, hello and thanks for visiting. Are you an American soldier, or a native of Dubai? Either way, howdy!

Autumn is Coming

A small handful of things have happened recently to tip me off to this realization, including of course, the calendar telling me so. A few days ago, I left my house in the morning to go to work, and I could see my breath against the chilly morning air. Yesterday, I was driving along the highway and spotted the first hints of leaves turning from green to yellow. I have also needed to toss on a sweater here and there... tank top weather is slowly fading away. Starting school doesn't count, since I have to go back to school mid-August... that is still summer, I tells ya! I also saw a movie on t.v. recently that showed a Nor'Easter... the snowy season is sneaking up on us, people. My flip flops are already feeling sad. They told me so.

Another sign of Autumn is Lowell Open Studios. This coming weekend, from noon to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday, dozens and dozens of Lowell artists open their studio doors and share their artistic talents with the public. I have participated over the past two years, but in my own home, which was always great fun. This year, I'll be participating in my new studio space at Western Avenue Studios , studio #327. If you're in my neck of the woods, do stop by... I have been working on some new pieces, including about 20 new bead crochet bracelets - my hands are tired!

In unrelated news, I got to be an elementary school gym teacher this past Friday! The circumstances that led to this event were very sad: a local firefighter died in the line of duty, and his wife works in the Lowell school system. The school she works at asked for volunteers from other schools to come over and sub for teachers who wished to attend the funeral mass, and I volunteered to go over. I ended up getting placed in the gym, and taught 4 gym classes, in grades Kindergarten through 3rd. We did jumping jacks, stretches, played pac man tag, and watched a very dated 80's movie on bicycle safety. I reminded kids to sit 'criss cross applesauce' (cross legged) when we were sitting down on the floor, and sweated up a storm, running around in 80 degree heat in my work clothes. Kindergarten kids in gym class was a hoot... it was a welcome change of pace for me.

When I used to do individual counseling, the little ones were always my favorites. I'm a little out of practice, having worked exclusively with teenagers for the last five years. I got a kick out of their little lisps and their tiny velcro shoes and how small they all were, with their adorable haircuts and unabashed enjoyment of jumping jacks, stretching and running around. No one complained about any of the activities or acted too cool to participate... both boys and girls alike enjoyed themselves equally. It was really great.

Self Portrait Thursday

It's that time of week again. Today's picture is a bit of 'reality photographing' for you... definitely not trying to gloss over what I REALLY look and feel like today.
Evidently, I am developing seasonal environmental allergies. I am watery and sneezy and my sinuses are full of concrete. Up until maybe a year ago, this was not the case. Now, well, it IS the case. I am using so many Kleenexes every day, their stock will probably go up. Claritin is not helping, and if it IS helping... well, wow. That is terrible to even think about.
It doesn't help that it is hot out today. I'm sweaty AND sneezy. But no, I'm not actually sneezing in this shot, and the tissue is clean. I promise. :)

Yarrrrrr, mateys!

I did it! I didn't think I could, but I did. I managed to finish the Pirate Queen's Booty Bag in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is tomorrow. I sincerely doubt that anyone at work will know of this glorious international holiday, however, I know there are people out there who will speak to me in spirit!

Anyway, here is a shot of the knitted-up bag pre- felting.



Now, here are a couple of shots of the bag post - felting. The first one is hung up right in the same spot as the prefelted one, for comparison.
The second one shows the inside of the bag, too... it's reversible, even!

Project Notes:

Pattern: Pirate Queen's Booty Bag, by Pat Knight
Needles: Denise Interchangeable needles, size 8
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Pacific (#2433) and Jet (#4002), three skeins each
Pattern Notes: I liked this pattern, although double knitting is very slow going. I never thought I'd be done in time! There is a typo right near the beginning, where you knit rows 1-20 in straight double knit, but then you start the little skulls on row 11! Ewps. Other than that, it was straightforward and easy to follow. There is lots and lots of i-cord edging, which gives the bag a nice finished look at the end, and it went a lot faster than I thought.
The bag felted a little different than I expected: it shrank more lengthwise than widthwise, and the opening of the bag is a little wider and more floppy than I would really like, but the bag is still cool and totally usable. And hey - there are SKULLS! I saw somewhere that someone did this bag with another pattern on it, which would be cool. I might use smaller needles next time since I'm such a loose knitter, but hey. All in all, I'm happy. Thumbs up!

I always like it when I run into cool free patterns on the net. Thank you, Pat Knight!

Now, all of you check out the Talk Like a Pirate website and try out a few key phrases tomorrow. You won't be sorry!

Wow- Sleepy, Much?

Now, while it is true that I hadn't been sleeping very well this week, I wasn't expecting this... I managed to sleep until one in the afternoon today! This really never happens. On the weekends, I usually wake right up at the time I usually get up to go to work, which is about 7 AM. Then, I can usually force myself to sleep another hour or two - you know, the luxury of being able to sleep in on the weekends.

Not today.

I guess I really needed it. Deep, heavy, crazy dreamed sleep. No tossing and turning. You could have prodded me with a chocolate covered bowl of ice cream and I still would have remained completely asleep.

In other news, I went over to Cece's house yesterday evening for some knitting, hanging out, and casual birthday celebration (it's her birthday on Tuesday). I was very excited about this, because I actually managed to think of a birthday gift that I knew she would like and that I knew she didn't have - fancy schmancy tea and a tea infuser from Simpson & Vail. They have really lovely teas of all different varieties. I got her Monkey King Jasmine, Lilac, Rooibos Chai, and a decaf Earl Grey. If you are a tea fan, this place has most likely got the tea you are looking for, and it is really delicious and high quality. Super yum.

Speaking of super yum, I made an ice cream cake for Cece, following my mother's example: 1 springform pan lined with saran wrap. 1 layer of crumbled Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafer cookies. 1 layer of chocolate brownie ice cream. 1 layer of chocolate fudge with sweetened coconut (or macaroon crumbles). 1 layer of vanilla bean ice cream. 1 layer of chocolate fudge with more choco cookies. Freeze at least 1 day.

You can use whatever flavors of ice cream you like, of course. This was a big hit. It is admittedly not the most attractive of desserts, but once you bite into it, it really doesn't matter. Yum yum yum.

And now, I must go make lunch - haven't eaten anything since that ice cream cake last night!

Self Portrait Thursday

Conveniently enough, this will serve as both my SPT picture and a knitting update... how convenient! AND, amazingly enough, I was totally satisfied with the first and only shot I snapped!


So, I'm mostly done with the big skulls, too, but there is still soooo much left... the rest of the body of the bag, then the handles (pre felted, there are four handles that are 18 inches long each!), then the i-cord bindoff around all 4 handle holes, then the i-cord around the bottom of the bag inside and out, and then finally the felting, shaping and drying. Done in one week? Not so sure. I'm doing what I can, people. Doing what I can.