Thursday, September 28, 2006

Progress pictures



These are my scarf pictures. I think I want to dye it/paint it after I'm done. Also here's a better picture of my cool-aid dyeing attempt. Its the same yarn as the cream scarf.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Cutest little girl in the whole world!




Dinner September 24th at Grandma Sandy's!


Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Dyeing adventures!




















So I thought I'd try my hand at kool-aid dyeing some yarn I got a good deal on off eBay. I got 9 hanks for 3.00 each. It's very soft natural color, gotta be a mohair blend, fingering/sock yarn. The person selling it wasn't exactly sure of the fiber content. It looked like a wool blend so I figured at that price I could try it. The colors were just something I thought I'd try, no plan in mind. Since I wanted enough to do something with I dyed 2 hanks at once. They sorta look like the Irving Park colorway from Lornas Laces. Gee, I already have some of that! Go figure! Oh, and in the background, is a shower curtain I made.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Progress on a scarf using the Rowan Tapestry yarn


I decided to try the Old Shale pattern. It's coming along quite nicely and isn't giving me the problems it has in the past. A different pattern and larger needle worked wonders. The picture makes the colors seem bright, but they're not. I'll upload a better picture once I've made more progress on it. This was supposed to be the yarn for my scarf exchange but since I've learned more about my pal, I've decided to use different yarn. I may try a solid yarn and add beads to it.

Lunch with Molly and Martha





We tried a new Italian place just of NW Market St here in Ballard. It was awesome. I've tried serveral times to get Lyle to do dinner there but it's usually very busy and there is a wait. This morning though, it was very open. I have to say their bacon was great! I'm a huge lover of bacon, I think I could eat it several times a week and not get tired of it!

Molly is growing so fast, she makes the most adorable sounds and faces! Every time I see her there's something new to watch for.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

This past week...


So this past week a family member was in a motorcycle accident, he's okay enough to be at home now. Anyways, I got some knitting done in the Hospital and worked out a lace pattern that I love. Here's a picture of the 2x2 ribbed scarf I've been working on. It's used up 3 balls but I think it'll be a better length once the 4th is done. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Merino chunky. I bought a bag of it at a LYS at a great price though I didn't know at the time what I'd do with it. I've since found the same yarn on sale at Elann. They have several different colors to work with - I see several scarves in my future!

On another front, my cat Kiki has taken it in her head that the sock basket is a great place to find things to carry around and meow with. She constantly has a sock in her mouth and walks around the apartment leaving them like presents for my husband and I to find. I don't mind the present part, but I have to draw the line at the loud meowing that goes on at any time of the day or night! She can wake you out of a dead sleep, even if you're wearing earplugs!

Sunday, September 10, 2006

First time dying, over dying to be more clear





So, I decided to try overdying some yarn and the results were better than I could have expected. I didn't follow the directions exactly for proportions so I know I can't get an exact duplicate skein, but I stil enjoyed it immensly. Here are some shots of the test swatch. Once the 2nd batch cools enough to spin in my washer I'll post those too. The orange beast is my cat Simon. He's a 15lb loving machine that sometimes likes to jump into my husbands arms with no warning!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

International Scarf Exchange

So it's begun! I found my yarn and isn't it gorgeous! I thought I'd try a new type of yarn. It's from Rowan - tapestry - color potpourri. The colors aren't as vibrant as I saw online, but I still like them! Hope my pal will too.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Molly Pictures!



This is my favorite little girl! She's such a doll! I had a great time with her this past weekend. She is at the stage where she is starting to imitate sounds and smile a lot. She loves to blow bubbles and stick out her tongue. She was born June 3rd weighing 6lb 9 oz now she's approximately 14lbs and just over 3 months old.

My small stash!






































I finally decided to post a picture of my stash. This doesn't include projects I have on the needle or my acrylic that I use for utilitarian afgans we keep for the couch. I have a football inspired one in Gold/Purple that I have to finish before my husband kills me.

I have some Debbie Bliss, Reynolds Rapture, Patons Decor, Lorna's Laces, Missions Falls, Knit Picks ( merino, alpaca, cotton, felting wool), Hand Painted Mohair from a gal off Ebay, Plymouth Rimini Rainbow, Lions Brand WoolEase, Brown Sheep Lambs Pride, and some other wool stripe 2 balls. As you can see I have a ways to go when it comes to having a real "stash". My favorites are the Lorna's Lace. I love the handpainted look! I haven't worked with Mohair yarn yet and am hoping to produce a nice lacy scarf from it. It has a some great shades of blue and green.

Monday, September 04, 2006

100 things about me, okay only 50 so far! I'll add more!

1. I spent the first 17 years of my life in the Bay Area ( SF/San Jose/Cupertino Ca), but I feel I didn't grown up until I moved to Seattle Wa in 1993.
2. I have 3 cats, Kiki, Simon, and L'il Bitty, and 1 husband, Lyle.
3. I hate Apartment living.
4. I have plans for what I'd do it I won 25Million dollars. Yes, I actually think about this a few times a week!
5. I feel everyone should have some hobby or "work" that produces a tangible item.
6. I like having "stuff" though so many people say its a "freeing experience" to live with less clutter.
7. I don't have a drivers license. Hey, I live on a good bus route.
8. I really enjoy gandening, but have no luck with it on my balcony. House plants do very well in my hands.
9. I've been to Canada, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, Neveda, Utah, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas - most of those just on a layover between flights!
10. I love, love, love to read. ( Mostly Scifi, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy)
11. If I could have a part time job that I'd love, it would be home remodeling/demolition/decorating.
12. I quilt, knit, crochet and sometimes scrap book.
13. I can't imagine living far from the Ocean.
14. It took me 30 years to discover what a really good beach was like. I never realy understood why people just loved the beach until I visited the Oregon coast. There I found the brilliant golden/creamy sands. When I visited Hawaii, it was 2 months after a hurricane and the beaches were awful!
15. My middle name is Michelle
16. I like watching football ( sometimes ) Okay, as long as I have a knitting/crocheting project to work on at the same time.
17. I love to vaccume!
18. I recently discovered a passion for Indian food.
19. I may never have childern as I'm too selfish and don't think I could handle the responsibility! Though, I love being Auntie to my best friends new baby Molly.
20. I can eat just a few bites of my favorite pint of HaggenDaz Coffee Ice cream and then put it back in the freezer.
21. I preferr fountain drinks to bottled or canned. It's the crushed ice I think.
22. I had some gray hair at age 13.
23. I keeping telling myself I don't like pink but I have too many pink items in my closets to really make that a true statement.
24. Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors.
25. I like milk and dark chocolate.
26. I really hate the smell of peanuts on anyones breath but I love peanut butter and peanuts, go figure.
27. I'll drink milk a few days past the expiration date.
28. I love the smell of real roses but hate the fake sent that is used in so many products to smell like roses. Icky!
29. My favorite sents are Crabtree & Evelyn "Savannah Gardens" and Kneipp Body oil or shower gel "Ylang-yalng".
30. My favorite tea is Earl Grey. I always sniff the packet of tea before putting it in water! The bergmont scent is increditble! I enjoy a good green tea every so often too.
31. I think that everyone should have a lavender plant in their garden.
32. I have a Creative Zen Xtra 30gb MP3 player that I use daily. ( work alone in the evening so I need entertainment)
33. I think that stores/places that don't take debit cards are crappy and should be closed!!!!
34. People who hurt animals/children should be shot!
35. Just about everyone should have their eybrown shaped.
36. I can curl my tounge into a tube.
37. I have pierced ears and used to have a pierced nose. ( had to take it out for work).
38. I want to get a tatoo someday.
39. I watch every home decorating/remodling show I can. I have TIVO
40. I enjoy Micro-brew beer. Mass produced beer is terrible!
41. I enjoy looking at pretty clothes and accessories but I usually prefer simple items. I'm not in to "bling". I really appreciate the detail work and precision that goes into hand crafting.
42. The only time I've been scuba diving was in a pool on Maui. We never did make it into the ocean.
43. I think Vancouver BC & Portland Or are some of the most beautiful cities in the world. If I could move to either I would.
44. I like dogs, but am I cat person.
45. I own slippers with a rabbit fur puff ball on them. The cats really like those!
46. I have a fabric addition. I have over 30 yards sitting in my closet for no other reason than because it looks pretty!
47. I used to play online games for 10 hours at a time.
48. I use only Philosophy face products.
49. I am the picture queen of my circle of friends. I always have my digital camera with me!
50. I shop for Christmas all year long.

Berry bag ( aka 3rd felted bag)

So I didn't have enough yarn to complete it, oh well, off to the yarn store! I did hold back and only purchased what I needed to complete the bag. Hopefully, I'll have it done by 9-6 so I can begin on my International Scarf Exchange item.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Progress pictures of my 3rd bag



I was able to work on the bag yesterday and a bit this morning. So now the top flap is done and I've cast on the required number of stitches for the sides & front then joined it. I'm now working in the round and have approximztely 4 inches of the body of the bag done. Here are some pictures that show the color. The 3 shades that I chose are different from one another 2 of them seem very close depending on the light they're viewed in.

Friday, September 01, 2006

I finally have enough on the needles to show some progress!


Since my first two bags were smaller than I had wanted I've made this was deliberately large. The flap is now done and I'm casing on stitches for what will be the front. I'll then join and work in the round. It'll go much faster as I wont have to purl anymore!