...the zed-word

I have a strange relationship with zombie movies. I can watch them, completely unbothered by any of the gore or horror, but that night I nearly always have nightmares. For example, in the wee hours Sunday morning, I dreamed about zombies coming out of the TV to eat me (a la The Ring). I suppose it was a bit funny. I kept trying to change the channel, but the batteries were dead. The zombies pressed their faces up against the screen at first, but eventually they were able to get through.

Well, on to the big news. I have been waiting for several weeks to mention anything because I was worried it would fall through, but it hasn't. So world: I HAVE A JOB. A good job. Involving technical writing, research, and some other neat things. I start on Monday. Whoa...

Have some finished knitted items I neglected to post about. More big news--my brother is expecting a little spawn all his own, so bring on the baby items:

Project: Baby Surprise Jacket [Ravelry Link] by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Green Eyed Monster
Needles: US 4 [3.5mm]
Size: Newborn
Recipient: Mason
Notes: Turtle buttons!!!





Project: Cable Rib Socks [Ravelry Link] by Erica Alexander
Yarn: Lornas Laces Shepherd Sport (1.2 skeins) in Baltic Sea
Needles: US 2 1/2 (3mm)
Recipient: Garrett
Notes: I made some sizing modifications on these socks--details on Ravelry



Project: Ravenclaw Scarf [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Galway Worsted (3 1/2 skeins in blue, 1/2 skein in silver gray)
Needles: US 8 (5mm)
Notes: I started this for myself nearly two years ago and finally finished it. As for the Harry Potter inspiration--indulge me, folks.



I have finished several other projects, and if you are interested in seeing them, check out my flickr photostream.


Next blog post: Charleston, SC! I saw dolphins (in the wild), a pineapple fountain, cobblestones, clandestine pirate meeting places, and horse crap!

Big Pillows for Little Heads

Made some pillows for the nieces. They promptly fought over who would get the one with the birds on it (the one which I love and thought they would hate).



Made an envelope cover for my mom's travel pillow because, well..I could.



Also, my brother climbs trees and cuts them down!



I should have some more substantial items to show next week or the week after. I am staying surprisingly busy despite my unemployment. I have a job prospect, but nothing concrete yet.

Take care, my friends!

Hello, my friends

First, thanks for the well-wishes in the last post.

Although I enjoy hearing the owls hooting at night, and the eagles calling in the morning, I do miss my friends. It is a lonely life, out in the country.

My running is improving, but I was a bit too lazy about it last week, and slacked off. The week before that I was visiting my grandmother and only ran one day. Wah. That's my fault though.

I have finished some knitted things, but I have been working on the sewing mostly.

Nearly finished a bag, although I am not happy with it. If you look closely you can see the pins. I am very proud of making the pleats though.



Made a tote bag out of a batik that I wasn't wild about. Misread the instructions and screwed up on one of the sides, so the bottom panel is a little off, but it isn't bad.



Made some kitchen towels with a decorative stitch, just to practice sewing in a straight line.



I can barely walk in a straight line on most days (just clumsy, folks), so I'm not sure why I expect to be able to sew in a straight line.

I think I might try to apply for a specialist position at the nearest Target since my job hunt in the corporate sphere hasn't been going anywhere.

Take care, my friends.

No More School Supplies

It was a bit of a revelation when August came around and for the first time I realized I do not need to buy school supplies. Work supplies, maybe. But not school supplies.

I am still in the deadzone, without a job (still looking). I have been spending the downtime trying very hard to get back in shape (running), and making baskets.

So, baskets:

A market basket filled with items from my dad's garden:



And a melon basket filled with items from my collection:





And a pair of socks I made from Wendy Johnson's new book, Socks from the Toe Up,

Diagonal Lace Socks in Malabrigo Sock, colorway Persia:



Wish me luck in my shaping up and basket making ventures. I hope both will be successful...

Still in the deadzone

Hello all, I am still in the internet dead zone. But I thought I would give you a glimpse of the farm, and the things I see every day:








And, I made this:



All for now. Completed knitting items will come much later.

Moving

So...two months....no post. Ahem. I'd blame homework, but I graduated in May, so....umm....you know how I procrastinate, right?

Well, I'm moving tomorrow, so I probably won't post again for a few weeks. Hopefully next time I post, I will be gainfully employed as a technical writer.

Until then, here are some pictures with absolutely no descriptions!







Wish me luck, and good luck to all of you!

(See Elizabeth, I finally posted!)

Finally...

It is entirely too early for blogging. But it is also entirely too early for paper writing. I made an executive decision as to which would be easier to complete at this time.

The birds are chirping and are delightfully annoying. Spring means allergies. Allergies mean I won't be able to breathe through my nose until July. I was around some smokers Friday night, and for all of Saturday it felt like there was an anvil on my chest. I even kept my distance from them, but still, with the anvil. I choose to believe that this is the reason I didn't get much writing done this weekend. Yes.

Finished a scarf a few weekends ago. Been working on it for over year--it was actually my first cable project.

Project: Palindrome byKristin Bellehumeur [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Worsted (3 skeins)
Needle: US 8 [5.0mm]
Notes: Widened the original pattern by one repeat. The scarf is very long, about 7'.



Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, I survived the snow without cracking my head open.

Seriously...

Yes, my friends, I have a chance to fall on my head (again).

And again

I have a cold. I am tired of having a cold and not feeling well. By the time I get over this cold, allergy season will start, and I will be miserable until July. Tarnation...

I am technically starting my Spring Break, but I will be pretty swamped with class work. Exam, paper, etc. Same old, same old.

Anyway, finished a project. I read a few chapters, then knit a little. Reward system to keep me from going nuts.

Project: Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Organic Merino Wool DK (2 skeins)
Needle: US 6 (4.0mm)
Notes: Magic Looped these because I couldn't find my DPNs



To answer the question about Chai from the last post: Flamingo Vanilla Chai (made with real flamingos!)

Congratulations Izzy for taking the leap. The key to making sure you get a second sock is to cast on the next one immediately after finishing the first, even if you aren't going to knit more than a few rows. Either way, I hope it's okay if I still knit you socks =)

Cables and Slumdog

So I haven't had much time to finish any large knitted items, but today I did take some time off to go see a movie: Slumdog Millionaire. All I can say is, go see it. I thought it was fantastic. Plot movement was specifically well-developed. I loved how the movie was framed. Even the music was great. Watching this movie was like reading a good book, if that makes sense.

There are a few knitted things that I finished, in between studying and writing.

Pattern: Universal Toe-Up Sock Pattern by Amy Swenson [Ravelry Link] (Again)
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock (Again)
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm)
Notes: Worked over 52 stitches. These will also probably be the last Noro S.G. socks I make for a while.





So, Grandma B. requested that I knit this Neckwarmer for her, I finished it relatively quickly (in two sittings), but those sittings spanned a month and a half.

Pattern: Cabled Neck Wrap by Plymouth Yarn Company [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande (1 skein)
Needles: US 9 (5.5mm)
Notes: The directions indicate that the bottoms should be seamed together, but I left it alone. I think the button will work just fine, and I thought Grandma might have trouble lifting her arms that high to pull this wrap over her head.



I think the interweaving detail on the button matches the cables well. Bought the button at JoAnns.



As a side note to Izzy. I just tried the Chai you sent me, and I can't believe it is sugar free. It is sweet and delicious! I also love the stitch marker (pictures eventually). They are so unique. And mine, all mine. Muahahaha.

Well, got to get back to the reading and the writing.

Help Me, I'm Falllinnngg

Scratch that. I already fell. I suppose I should have seen this coming. I mean...there is ice on the ground. Of course, I usually expect to fall on my butt and make a loud "oomph" noise. This time, I completely lost my footing, fell onto my side, bruised my hip, arm, knee, and cracked my head on the sidewalk. I have a bump on my head to prove it. I'm not the only one that dropped either....an f-bomb managed to escape my lips as my head touched pavement. One of my neighbors, a kindly looking older woman, gave me an incredulous look before asking if I was okay. I laid on the ground for a little while, contemplating my existence, wondering if I have bent my glasses to hell (My glasses are fine, by the way).

Moving on (but slowly, with a limp). I have lots of pictures to show today, and as promised Elizabeth, this post is (mostly) dedicated to your feet.

Pattern: Thuja by Bobby Ziegler [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Olive
Needles: US 7 [4.5mm]
Recipient: Garrett



Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt from Favorite Socks (Interweave Press)
Yarn: Keegan Lane Yarns Toasty Sock in Milky Way
Needles: US 2 [2.75mm]
Recipient: Elizabeth



Pattern: Thermis by Kristen Patay [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool
Needles: US 6 [4.0mm]
Recipient: Me!



Button Love:



Many thanks to Scott and Lauren for your comments last post.

Off to take some ibuprofen....

A Very Merry Un-Birthday to Me

Because I made myself a Birthday Cowl. A very quick knit, and surprisingly comfortable since I usually hate anything right up by my neck.

Pattern: Birthday Cowl by Nova Seals[Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Tuareg
Needles: US 8 (5.00mm)





I took the picture wearing my favorite coat...because I could.

I also finished this pair of socks last week:

Pattern: Universal Toe-Up Sock Pattern by Amy Swenson [Ravelry Link]
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm)
Notes: Worked over 52 stitches



I have been reading all week for my thesis preparation, so I haven't had too much of a "break." Unfortunately, I am nowhere close to completing the amount of reading that I need to. Of course, knitting instead of reading doesn't really help that. But if you had to choose between reading about the Edwardian staging of Henry VI and knitting, which would YOU choose?