Fascination with Needles.... I guess~

Natural strategies for fertility abound | Washington Times Communities

2011-03-22T22:19:00.000-04:00

Natural strategies for fertility abound | Washington Times Communities

But You're Not Chinese

2010-12-06T23:58:00.000-05:00

knitting

2010-10-18T14:18:00.004-04:00

So... here I am... scrolling through my blog~ and realizing... I haven't been posting any knitting!! OOPs! Sorry~ Let me catch you up... I've got to be honest and tell you that I don't feel like I've accomplished very much~ to add to which... my dad had taken my camera hostage for weeks! which really cuts down on the taking and uploading of photos... but here goes...
I've been focused on knitting shawls for the 10 Shawls in 2010 thing on Ravelry~

Pattern: Multnomah by Kate Flagg
Yarn: Black Trillium Fiber Studio BFL Sock in the For the Trees Colorway
Needles: Size 3 (Hiya Hiya interchangeable~)
Notes... this yarn was surprisingly thin, the color is really rich~ and interesting. The pattern was really easy garter triangle followed by some feather and fan~ its really pretty finish product~ and even better- its free!~

Pattern: Clothilde by Kristen Hanley Cardozo
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in the Lobster Pinch colorway
Needles: Size 7
Notes: pattern modification was un-intentional~ i left out one of the repeats of the 1st chart~ oops! its a tad smallish... but still wearable~

Pattern: Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante
Yarn: Hazel Knits- Artisan Sock in the Toad Lily colorway
Needles: Size 5
Notes: Did an extra repeat of Chart A...Ran out of yarn 2 rows from the bind-off, used Malabrigo Sock in the Tiziano Red Colorway

still catching up~ (June... only 3 months late!)

2010-09-13T12:26:00.011-04:00

Visited MoHonk Mountain Housein June for my friend Matt's birthday- err a month late due to my crazy travel schedule (thanks guys for waiting for me!!).... the Lovely Brunch followed by wandering around the grounds... seeing lots of snakes~ a good time was had by all (except maybe the poor folks who were out on the late when it started POURing rain!)

Also... in June... during my trip out to Portland, my buddies and I were able to get ourselves to the International Rose Test Garden Which really was an amazing experience~ I never thought visiting with Roses could have been so rewarding! Seriously... the most beautiful/spectacular Roses ever!! and I learned something new that day- not all Roses smell like boo-boo-boo (a la OutKast) oh... and the water droplets... are from rain~

Also in June... while in Portland, we were able to get out to Multnomah Falls... which I think was more beautiful this time around... probably because I wasn't feeling sick, as I was the last time I was there~

Back in May...

2010-07-12T14:41:00.003-04:00

So... for Memorial Day... my parents and I road-tripped it up to Seneca Falls, NY to visit my sister~ I can't say I'm familiar with all the entertainment/tourist options available at Cayuga Lake... but the one the activity that stands out for me (besides the usual joys of hanging out by/on a lake).... is the Wine tasting. NY wines really are getting better and better... and it was an affordable, interesting, and tasty way to spend the weekend~ I can't recall which winery's these photos were taken at... (I did know where I was at the time the photo's were taken~)

Way back in May...

2010-07-09T12:55:00.005-04:00

So... I'm going through my Flickr account and looking through my photos... realizing I never posted any of it here... so the next few posts will be my attempt to catch you up on my life... in photos~~

May... in Portland... my buddies and I visited the Japanese Garden after class one day... we paid like $8 each (with our student discount)... and it was an amazing evening~ really so beautiful!

Immediately following my "weekend" in Portland... I flew back into NY... only to fly out the same day... to Guatemala- to provide Acupuncture and other medical services to the Locals- living in the Mountain villages outside Antigua. We worked in some of the Best and Worst conditions I've ever visited in Central America. I personally had the opportunity to treat over 120 patients in the course of 24 hours of direct service. It was exhausting, but beyond rewarding~ we left Guatemala city- just before the Sink Hole occurred~

Acupuncture:

arabella

2010-07-08T19:19:00.003-04:00

DSC07558
Originally uploaded by cornchowdery

So... i guess I've been really distracted... so much so... I didn't even realize I had posted last month!! (perhaps I'm doing better than I expected!)... So... the Arabella shawlette... is done... actually its been really done for a while now... really done- meaning I un-did the bind-off and re-did it~ its pretty... its gone into the christmas stash.

... so the new look of flicker... is still a bit confusing for me... I can't decide how I feel about it... but for now... its just plain old- confusing!!

dysfunctional Bind-offs

2010-06-02T15:13:00.004-04:00

Its happened before... and it will probably happen again~ but really... I hate when bind-off just don't work out the way I want!! Specifically, I'm referring to my Arabella Shawlette designed by Kristen Hanley Cardozo... the design is really pretty... the body makes me feel like an excellent knitter... However... the bind off... had totally turned me off. Really, its me, not the shawl~ and its not a difficult fix- i just have to un-bind and re-do it using a stretchier bind-off, but i'm just not motivated to rip it out! Why couldn't it have worked the 1st time!! The bind off I did... was the P2Tog, back to left needle, P2tog~ continue~~ I even went up- 4 (!!!) needle sizes~ and its still too tight~ UGH!... so for now... its sitting on my desk... waiting~

to knit it- I did the set up chart, then chart A-2- 7 times, C-1, C-2 and then rows 1-3 of chart C-3~

On to more satisfying knits... the Juneberry by Jared Flood.

Pattern: Juneberry by Jared FLood
Yarn: Nordique by Classic Elite Yarn in the Ruby Wine colorway
Modifications: None... I'm sure it can be done... I just haven't thought about how to do it!
Comments: I bought the St-Denis magazine issue #2- for this pattern alone (P.S- Jared said he will be releasing it on his website in a few months)... and I personally think it was worth it! ITs beautiful!! The pattern itself... was... totally a breeze to follow... outside of chart 2. Unfortunately... chart 2- is the bulk of the body~ I'm just not knit smart enough to have made it work for me... and recharting it... never even crossed my mind!! Instead I e-mailed Mr. Flood, who was beyond helpful~ he "hooked me up" with the more user friendly chart #2... and I sailed along smoothly.

well there goes that new years resolution!

2010-04-28T14:42:00.005-04:00

Well, there goes that new years resolution to blog- once a month~~ I didn't realize my 1st quarter would be so busy!! Its hard to give an update as so much, and yet so little has happened!! so lets just move on from there~

I decided I was going to try an complete 10 shawls in 2010~ so far... I've done... 0~ ok well really I finished one- but its not off the blocking board yet- and I haven't taken any photos- so it mite as well be 0~

in the meantime, I've been doing alot of travelling~ mostly school related but~ some for fun as well...

I attended to Society for Acupuncture Research Conference- last month (I can't believe its already been a month!)... where I got to listen to some amazing researchers and the biggest brains in my field talk about where the medicine is headed and all about the intricacies of acupuncture research~ I really respect these researchers who are out there trying to prove a medicine, which is difficult to prove in the parameters defined by contemporary medicine and with minimal funding~
Dr Streitberger (as in Streitberger Needle) discussing the Germany acupuncture studies

my buddy Marina Ponton, of Greenville Natural Health, Greenville, SC and the amazing Misha Cohen, of Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine

After the conference I had to opportunity to visit Greenville, SC and Marina's office~~ to glean from her Acupuncture business expertise~ and a good time was had by all (all being Marina and myself... perhaps her hubby and doggy as well--> PS- go team JACOB!) Who knew Greenville was so cute!?

Hmm... During this mini-trip~ Marina and I visited 2 yarn shops - 1 was in Chapel hill, NC and the other was Hillsborough, NC~ both were soo cute~ but I was sticking to my STOP buying yarn policy~ and I don't know how I survived! (I have purchase yarn since... but I'll tell you about that later)... All I got was an Interweave Knits magazine and a size 4- 47" Addi Lace needle~ shocking I know~

Perhaps something useful?

2010-01-22T01:03:00.004-05:00

So, this blog is named... Fascination with Needles... because its true... I am~ fascinated with needles!! I've been wanted to write this particular post... or at least bits of it... for months~ but I've been putting it off... because I wanted a picture of all my needles in one place... and really I don't have the patience to hunt down all the needles from their various cubbies for a photo shoot... so you'll just have to take my word for it... I have a lot~ from very very cheap... to quite pricey... to very new ...to quite old (possibly older than me)... I love them all- not equally, but still its love. I see tons of posts on Ravelry about which is the "best" needles or which are the most cost effective needles... and really my opinion is- they all are, but for different reasons~

here is my personal mini review of 3 needle sets:
The Options Harmony Wood Interchangeable Needles

Needle sizes are 4-11, 9 needle pairs, 4 cables included 2- 24" and 2-32"

What I really like about these needles, are the sharp points and the smooth shaft of the needles. I really like the versatility of the length of the cables available and the cost of buying additional needles/cables is not prohibitive. I received these needles as a gift from my buddy Steve. They are my "go-to" needles- I start off most if not all projects with these needles.

What I don't like about these needles/set is- sometimes the glue holding the metal to the wood of the needle comes un-done and this can potentially happen in the middle of a super tricky lace project. It hasn't happened to me- personally- yet- but it could (knock on wood for me please.) Also I've had defective needles where the metal of the needle was too wide, so the cables could not lock in (the cable insert just keeps spinning around eventually becoming undone.) I've also had the little lock holes in the needle ends be too narrow for the key to fit into- I've had to used a safety pin to lock the needle to the cable in these cases.

This being said- Knit picks has great customer service- they have been very prompt and courteous in re-placing my broken or defective needles.

KA Switch Interchangeable Needles

Needle Sizes are 5-15, 10 needles in the set and 7 cables of various lengths

I purchased these needles about a year ago at my Local Yarn Store- Knit Knacks in Maplewood, NJ (I did not purchase them from the link above... I just google the needles, so you could see them as sold)

What I like about this set, is the packaging, I like the compact nature of the packaging which really is conducive to traveling with these needles in tow. I also like the cables- the joins from needles-to-cables is quite smooth. In general the cables are not as stuck in coil mode as some other circular type needles. I like the fact that these needles are bamboo, and therefore possess all the positive qualities of bamboo needles.

What I don't like about these needles, is the packaging!! The needles fall out of their little pockets, and the protective top flap doesn't always keep them in the case. I've had situations where all the needles fell out, and were swimming in my bag. Also, I'm not a big fan of the tips on these needles, they are blunt and using them against each other (maybe I'm the only one who knits this way) but the tips scratch each other leaving little scars. I'm also not a big fan of the fact that there are different cables for different needles. While it allows for a smoother more custom join, it also means more cables to sort through to find the right cable to fit the right needle, which is also the right length!

I'm happy to own these needles, because really, I'm happy to own all needles. However, if I had to do again, my life wouldn't be worse for not having purchased these.

Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Kit- Small sizes

I purchased these needles from Eat. Sleep. Knit late last year. They come in a cloth (kimono type fabric) in sizes 2-8, 7 pairs total, and 4 cables.

What I really like about these needles is the packaging! Seriously this time! The packaging is flat, compact, and it actually works. The needle stay inside the pockets, there is a separate zippered compartment for the cables and extra pockets- and the best part is that it all stays relatively closed, even without making a knot in the front closure. The needles are light and pointy, the cables are supportive and bendy without remaining coiled or limp. They are excellent needles to carry about with me, when I'm not quite sure which needle size I need to start a new project and you never know when you might want to change cable lengths or needles sizes!

What I don't like about this set is that my hands sweat when i knit and it seems to cause the needles to become discolored? and slippery. The discoloration is only evident if you look really really closely and inspect them (which apparently, I've done.) I also don't like the fact that as you work with the needles- the joins slowly become undone, causing a gap between the needle and the cable. I have issues with this because my knitting falls into the gap and getting the stitches out of that space can potentially cause damage to the fibers of your yarn (wild guesses as to how I know this?) So its a bit annoying to check the joins before starting each round/row~ though not prohibitively so, but annoying none the less~ I've mostly used the smallest sizes for knitting socks (on 2 circ's.)

Overall, I really like this set, and am likely to purchase the larger set of these needles if I were to come across them at a yarn store (which I haven't.)

Hopefully, this post was... interesting or informative? These were just the points that stuck out in my mind- as I write this at 2am! If you have any questions~ leave a comment, or text me like ya'll usually do~

Happy New Year!

2010-01-08T12:02:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone~
My blogging kinda died down at the end of last year~ and one of my resolutions this year is to try and post at least once a month. Its not always my 1st thought when thinking about this blog- is that people actually read it! Its really a bit shocking! But thanks for all your comments.. texts and such... I'm always thinking I should post- I just don't often get around to it.
Despite everyone's concern- Yes, I've still been knitting... probably just as much~ Although I feel like I haven't been getting anything done? Which is weird because I have finished a few FO's mostly holiday gifts~ wellz most everything I knit is a gift~ and I've been buying yarn (lots of yarn)~

My 1st FO of the year... matchy match vests for Rosie's Twins~

2009-11-14T22:06:00.001-05:00

this is the rose city cosmo @ ParaGon in portland~ it makes me feel preetyyy~

and so the new school year begins... again~

2009-09-21T14:30:00.004-04:00

So here we are... at the beginning of my 25th (consecutive)year in school~ I remember when hitting senior year in high school was a BIG deal~ I wonder if there is a world record for consecutive years in school? just saying~

So I forgot to publicly (on my blog public)... thank my Malabrigo Swap (round 7? 8?) partner Mercourier who sent me an awesome Second City themed package...

It was filled with all kinds of awesome- including 2 hand knit items: a pair of flippy top mittens (the best kind there is!), and an adorable Monster named Frances who now is the guardian of my computer desk. It also included... 3 mini bars of Vosges chocolates, 2 flavored sugars, local Honey, homemade cherry jam, handmade knitting themed mug, local yarn (Liberty Farms in MI), a hand dyed Silk scarf, handmade buttons, Malabrigo Worsted in Forest- and Malabrigo Sock- in Aguas (which is a new colorway). This package was filled with all kinds of awesome~ and I'm soo grateful for the thoughtfulness of each item- Thanks Sam!

On the knitting front... I haven't been finishing much- its starting to give me an itch to cast off!
some projects from the last month or so~

Pattern: Heart and Sole by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Toddy- from the Yarn Yard in the Pillar box red colorway
Notes: this was the... May/June shipment from the Socktopus sock club. The pattern is very clever- and interesting and fits AWESOME~ but I had issues with the yarn- it wasn't as smooshy as I'd like and it didn't have alot of "give" It made my hands hurt to work with it. However, after a month of frequent wear- the socks still look good- so that means something good about the yarn (in my book)
I gifted these to my grandma (the lady who taught me to knit)... and she loves them (hurray!) She's wearing them whenever I go to visit her (even unannounced!)

Pattern: Horcux Socks by SusanLawrence
Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints Superwash
Needles: KA DPN's size 7
Notes: this pattern is awesome- I knit these socks up in 2 days!!! Seriously! (and no I wasn't knitting them day and night!
My grandmother likes them- but she finds the yarn slippery on our hard wood floors I'm going to have to get some puffy paint for the bottoms~

Pattern: Majestic by Elizabeth Warner
Yarn: Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Socks in the Gold Dynasty Colorway
Notes: this was the 1st package from the Wool girl sock club. Its' definitely not a color or sock pattern I would have picked up myself, which is what make these socks ever more amazing. The yarn- works up like a dream! and the pattern- how pretty are those socks?! I would definitely buy this yarn again~ and if your looking for a pretty pretty cable sock pattern- this is it!

Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #252 and #245
Needles: Knit Picks Options Size 7
Notes: fun mindless knit~~
CO 37 sts
Alternating skeins
Row 1- K1,p1 to end
Row 2- sl 1 (purlwise, wyf), k1, p1 to last stitch, sl1 purlwise, wyf.
drop yarn- pick up Contrast yarn- in front of the dropped yarn and works Row 1 and 2~
The yarn is a bit scratchy- I'll sock it in some SOAK or hair conditioner and see how that works out~

WIP's:
Vilai by Cookie A.

and my Eyelet Cardigan (still- does this count as WIP if I haven't touched it in over a month?)

Yarn: Lots of new yarn... but in the interest of time- I'll send you over to my Flickr page, you can PM me- if you have any specific questions or check out my Ravelry Stash page~

Cupcake 2

2009-08-26T15:37:00.002-04:00

hannah~ she not sure if her cupcake is tasty~

Cupcake

2009-08-26T15:35:00.003-04:00

yumm~

its raining... again!

2009-08-02T14:03:00.004-04:00

So its POURING outside... lighting stuck somewhere very close... light flashed... house shook... alarm went off~ and My crazy grandmother was waiting for her church van to pick her up... by standing outside in the POURING rain~ (yes she was carrying an umbrella)... but still... we could not keep that woman in the house!! I wish I had a picture to show you... but my camera was in the basement somewhere and my cell phone is dead.

So its a rainy Sunday afternoon- my plans are to cast on the 2nd sleeve for my eyelet cardigan (which I recast on Wednesday night... and modified the pattern and beginning to knit with the sleeves)... hopefully squeeze in a nap... write the last of my admissions essays (which are so so late!)... and maybe stop by barnes and nobles for a coffee and to study for my Massage boards~

I haven't been knitting much lately... because...

all this knitting has created/changed the way the lines on my finger run! I now have a diagonal finger line! if I get my hand lines read... my fortune has changed because of knitting! LOL!! I haven't been knitting because that line has been flared up... red and sore for a few days~~ I have a theory as to why... (a new kinda yarn... I'm not enjoying very much)... but yeah~ok... no wonder my friends think I'm crazy but, you all understand right?~

Ok so here it is...I've mentioned it a few times... but its finally done... Shipped... received and... now posted:

The Endpaper Mits by Eunny Jang made out of Malabrigo Sock... in Tiziano Red and Terracota... on Size 1.5 and Size 3 needles~ for my Malabrigo Swap Round & partner...WOOHOO!! it was a fast fun knit... and the finished product is so pretty it makes me feel smarter! I love those make me feel smarter projects!

Pattern: Ene Scarf by Nancy Bush found in the Scarf Style Book
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace Weight in Dusty and Apricot 1.5 skeins of each (held together)
Needles: Size 7 Knit Picks options
This scarf took FOREVER!! well at least it feels like forever. I started it back in January... and then frogged it... and started it again in early June~ it took about 2 months. I wasn't working on it daily... or every week even... and if I had to do one more repeat of Chart 3... I might have cried~ but the finished project is sooo pretty! Its going on my christmas gift stash~ so maybe if your good?

I haven't knit much since... because of the finger... also I hurt my Right hand... opening a window (don't ask)~ but thats that... its just about all better so I can get started again~ Lately I've had a growing desire to learn to Sew~~ hmm~

On the Acupuncture front.... I'm officially looking for office space... my NJ license will be at my doorstep anyday now~ but the thought of having to pay rent and Student loans... is FREAKING me out~~ wish me luck!!

2009-07-31T15:30:00.001-04:00

makes me want to do a rain dance!

So sad~~

2009-07-26T10:04:00.009-04:00

Recently... I think I've been feeling quite sad~~ nothing terrible... just sad. It started with my MapleStory character being hacked. I haven't played maple in recent months but still, this is my character since the beginning. Really I've only had this one, and now that someone has logged in and stolen her belongings... I feel so VIOLATED!! its just one of those things~~ some people have encouraged me to go and rebuild her~ and others have suggested I let it go~ and I agree with both. But still, its so sad~~ Bad karma and whom ever violated CORNCHOWDER!~ RAWR!

To add to the sad feeling I was having about my character being desecrated, I read the post on the Yarn Harlot's blog about the terrible ordeal she has been experiencing. Add to this, reflecting on the my recent terrible experience with a certain big headed lawyer (who works in NJ... who's name I will not mention, but just that if his head grows any bigger it surely will EXPLODE)... and it just makes me feel sad. Saying mean people SUX, just isn't enough, its really making my Liver Qi rise. To all of this... the sad situation, mean people (or in my case overly large ego, who's mama must not have taught him better)... I send a really mean look... its going to come back to you~ *hard stare*

In other news...
Whats on my needles:
I cast on these socks on Friday Night, but I'm currently seriously contemplating ripping them out and starting over....

I cast on the Size large.... but they are tooo big!! It doesn't help that I used larger size needles~ ugh~ yes, I'm sure they will fit someone, yes, I hate ripping out, but.... they aren't making me happy... I should do it...shouldn't I?

I also cast on... the Eyelet Cardigan but I've already frogged it... because... I didn't like the way the ribbing and the eyelet pattern didn't match up. Also, I don't like how SHORT it is... yes its a cropped Cardi... but I don't want it cropped! So I'm debating how I want to modify it... I think I will hunt on Ravelry to see what over people have done~ Also I wonder if I can knit it in the round~~

FO's
I've finished my SuperSecretSwap Project for my Malabrigo Swap Round 7 Swap partner... but for the sake of secrecy... I'll hold off posting any more about that~ other than... it is a totally satisfying project!

I've FINALLY finished my ENE~ WOOHOOO!!! but haven't photo'd it yet... its over cast... but I may try to do that today anyhow~ I don't know when I'll be able to block it... we have house guests~ again~ meh~~~

and something I cast off a while ago... but never posted...

my over the garden wall socks from the 2nd shipment of Socktopus Sock Club~ This pattern and yarn is AWESOME!! Fast fun knit~ interesting Heel, well written pattern~ Amazing~

Something I love...
is StitchIt!! Podcast
I love Meghan's stories about her son (Owen), and her Spinning advice... and I especially love her Favorite Thing section. LOVE it... if your a podcast listener... I really love this one~~

wanna see??

2009-07-14T18:01:00.004-04:00

look at what I made.... felted SOAP... yes this may be coming to a christmas stocking near you!! ...or not.... I think I suck at it!

I have a super secret project in the works... which with some very minimal stalking you can uncover... but... still its awesome... i feel so proud of it... I want to show everyone!! but it will wait... a little bit~~

So instead... here is the 'scarf' that is taking me FOREVER!!

In other news.... that I find fascinating... a friend of my read my Tarot cards during clinic today... I've always been curious... it was interesting... the first card off the pile was- the CRUETLY card~~ he said something along the lines of me possibly mistreating those around me? ... So just to cover my bases- I'm so SORRY~ I didn't realize~~ but apparently dispite my being a brat... I'm surround and supported by many~~ so thanx all for sticking about~~ and that I need to stop trying to decide on everything and just pick a focus and work at that... interesting~~ he also said not to be personally offended if something I'm wanting doesn't come to be...and here I thought they always told you- you were gonna be highly successful make lots of money and marry a rich guy!

yay a POST!

2009-07-08T18:23:00.004-04:00

monkey socks

So I've been trying to post from my cell for weeks... and it hasn't been working.. and I swear tonight I did the same thing I do everytime I try to post from my cell... but tonight it worked!!! The full moon... does make a difference!! So there is it... a picture I took my with cellphone camera... during class... because I just finished the toe on my 1st pair of monkey socks... I need to graft them... and they are good to go!

The yarn is... Yarn Love- Elizabeth Bennet in the Fondly colorway... and the pattern is Monkey Socks by cookieA. I've gotten lots of complements on them- whenever I pull them out in school or on the bus~ Quick and fun knit~

TA DA

Pattern: Girasol by Jared Flood
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Paris Night Colorway
Needles: Crystal Palace size 10.5 DPN's and Knit Picks Harmony Interchangable size 10.5 in the 24", 40", and 60" cables
Notes~ OMG so much fun to knit... I cast another one on... I did an extra repeat of Chart G- because I had so much yarn left. I used 7 full skeins plus like 20g of an 8th skein~

So... I've a bunch of things I've finished in the last omg... 2 months is it? and a swap and some yarn club packages I've received in that time also... I'll try to post some of it in the coming days~ I've been running about like a nearly headless chicken.

Just to give you a gist of what has been going on in my life... is... I was seeing someone... now I'm not... I ran into old buddies and made new buddies~ I when through these crazy hoops to get my Acupuncture License in New Jersey... which should be finalized any day now.... and I also got my school to approve me for expedited graduation so I can sit for the NYS massage board exam... and I've been applying to Doctoral programs.... got a new job... working on building my own practice... and... learned that I'm graduating in the top 3 of my class (hurrah!).... so yes... I think I've been a bit distracted. So Sorry for nearly abandoning the blog... Hope you all come back and visit me now... that I will try to post regularly once again!

Where does Time go... and why can't I get it back!!

2009-06-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

Time~ where has it going... I believe it is moving far tooo quickly... someone make it slow down just a bit please...

I can't even begin to tell you all where I've been for the past month+... because I've been here... and there... and... had all these posts in my head but not time to actually sit down to write them out!! it is unfortunate. I've tried to do the post by mobile... but for some reason the bloggr- hates me~

I just pulled up this window... because I would like to ask you all for your support regarding HR 646- it is a bill regarding the coverage of Acupuncture- by medicare part B. Please take a moment to follow this Link to contact your government representatives regarding this very important matter!... I would go into full detail here... unfortunately- time does not permit. However, I'm happy to have a conversation with you regarding this bill... or acupuncture in general!!

Thanks for your support!!!

Err its the end of the month... already!?

2009-04-30T13:27:00.006-04:00

where has this month gone!? I can't believe its the last day of april already!!.... Seriously... the rate at which time is passing is beginning to scare me a bit~~ Someone once said to me... the older you get the faster time passes... scary!! So what have I accomplished this past month...
I took finals... and I'm guessing I passed them all... because I did receive my report card it in the mail... and it was...acceptable~.... I took the last of my necessary NCCAOM board exams... and I passed that as well... I submitted the last of my paper work to be licensed in NYS... and the initial paperwork for my NJ license~... I talked to ThePinkCLoud (Laura)... about my business logo and such~... I talked to my parents about my plans to start my business... I checked off- speak in front of 300 people+ off my life to do list~... and... I have now reached the end of april... and possibly the last real day off before I start my Spring...and final semester of PCOM (massage program~)... woohoo!~
Some photos...

Happy birthday to my cousin Hannah and my mom who aged the day before I did... I treated my family to a night at Medieval Times... which we enjoyed~ the food was better than expected... but that may have been because we were at the 8pm show~ by the time it all started... we were starved! The Black and White Knight won... which according to my sister... he always wins~ but it was a fun something to do~

Pattern: Juliet by Sarah & Rachel
Yarn: Malabrigo- Worsted
Colorway: Buscando Azul and Azul Bolita- about 2.5 skeins of each
Needles: Size 10 1/2 Knit Picks Harmony Options
Notes/Mods: CO for size S increased 17 times (rather than 16) because the arm holes were too tight
Beginning lace pattern- I had 116 sts OTN… I decreased down to 109 which is inbetween the XS and S~
used: this website to calculate where to place the decreases~ (very clever)
Mina asked for a pocket on the sweater... Basically I knit 12 stitches (what would make the lacey portion of the stitch pattern Row 1) onto waste yarn… I slipped those stitches back onto the left needle… and continued in pattern… The next row is purled back (row 2)… and then row 3 i just knit those 12 sitches… because I thought it would make the structure of it all stronger than if I continued the lace pattern just yet…
Continue as normal…. After the bindoff… I picked up the stitches from the waste yarn (26 stitches in all) on the inside of the sweater…. and… joined in the round.. and knit 2 rows (Originally I was going to purl the stitches on the back of the pocket and knit the front portion (to help the join (of pocket and front of sweater) to fold over… but I forgot~ then I purled until the pocket was as long as I could make without it poking out the bottom… Kitchnered shut~
Handwashed in Soak- it took DAYS to dry! (i need a sweater drying rack)... and... The PinkCloud crochet me the button connectory thingies~ DONE.

Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park
Yarn: Tofutsies by SWTC in the Feet First (#790) colorway
Needles: Blue Sky Alpaca DPN Size 0
Notes: CO 80, after 16 repeats of the leg pattern- decreased down to 76 sts- repeat pattern 16 times before starting heel.
RE: Yarn- it was interesting to work with- it was splitty, a bit annoying, but it comes with amazing yardage~ The yarn is a blend of Cotton, Wool, Soy, and Chitin (which is a component of crustacean shells~)... If it weren't so splitty! I would want to use it again~

Stash Enhancements...
I was on a self imposted Yarn Diet... for all of... oh... 3 days?... at which time I gave up... and nearly doubled my stash. I have decided that Yarn diets are a dangerous thing as they lead me to binge purchase once released~ Please Note the following may include Spoilers~
Socktopus Sock Club (march 2009)

Yarn: Artist Palette- Sweet Feet in Sweet Pea Colorway
Pattern: Over the Garden Wall by Loumms creation
Notes: Package also included a small Satiny pouch containing Seeds for Peas and Mint and recipe to make Peas Mint Soup

Wool Girl Sock Club Package (April, 2009)

Yarn: Curious Creek Fibers- Wasonga- in the Old Head of Kinsale Colorway
Patterns: Crooked Brook Sock by Anne Hanson and Stormy Seas Cowl By Lisa Dykstra
Notes: Package also included: 2 small sheep figures, a Cranberry Farm Shortbread Cookie shaped like a sheep, a Note (to DO list)pad and Tea Sample, A tea shaped Tape measure/Key ring, a gold color teapot Stitch marker from Sunneshine on etsy, a note card, and a LARGE travel bag with the WoolGirl Sock club logo embroidered on it.

Sundara Seasons Yarn Club (Winter)- Final Shipment- 3 Skeins of ASM in Black Cherry

Eat Sleep Knit- Do over Sale Purchase...
here I will not list everything that I bought... as it is a bit embarrassing... but please note... it was on SALE~~ if you are so inclined please feel free to click the photo and head over to Flickr' where the photo has notes and lists exactly what each yarn is~

what else... OTN: yes, while I have been madly purchasing yarn... I have also been knitting... not quite as the same rate of acquisition... but... thats not the point!...right?

Pattern: Over the Garden Wall by Loumms Creation
Yarn: Artists Palette- Sweet feet in Sweet Pea Colorway
Needles: Size 2 Knit Picks Harmony DPN's
Notes: You see! I just got this kit this month and its being knit up!! actually as to tonight it will be an FO! I just need to bind off the 2nd sock. I recommend this pattern as it was really fun and fast to knit! the heel is interesting and... the finished sock is very pretty. I will not be adding the embellishments as it does not really suit me~ and not very practical for wearing in a shoe~ but thats just me~ Please note that these socks took less than the requisite 2 months that it normally requires for me to finish socks.

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Alchemy Yarns- Synchronicity in The Night Air and Dylan's Blue Depths
Notes: NONE! its a CLAP!!

Pattern: Girasol by Jared Flood
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Paris Night
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Options Size 10 1/2
Notes: this pattern is AWESOME! I'm knitting the blanket size... currently finishing up Chart E- and i'm not bored with it... I'm excited to knit on it whenever I pick it up, its not HARD... and its amazingly Beautiful~ I'm considering knitting it again!?

and the winner is...

2009-04-08T21:46:00.001-04:00

SUSAN~~
FYI... i used random.org to generate the number... which was #11 of 17 (Cara double posted)... YAY susan... I'm gonna go running about the house to put together your prize!~ Thanks everyone for playing~

ContestContestContest~

2009-03-30T20:57:00.007-04:00

Happy Blogiversary to me! Ok technically speaking.. I'm a day early~ meh~ So here it is... Leave me a comment... regarding your favorite needles and why... can be any kinda needles... knitting...acupuncture...erm~ actually just those two categories... because that is the extent of my interest! and if your not a Knitter... if you could give me a suggestion about what you would like to read about on my blog or havehand knit for you... that works too!

the Prize... I have 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted!! OoOOOoOooh~ in Azul bolita and Buscando Azul (1 of each)...+ some left-overs (after finishing the Juliet- which I will post soon)... + some extras~~ of course if your a non-knitter... your prize will be... a hand knit item from me! (yay!... please note... this mite take me a while~ patience please!)... I will plug the comments into a random # generator... and that person wins!!

off to study... for those dreaded board exams and finals!!... Last day to enter is... April 8th! and don't forget... I have to have a way to find you!
... sometime before i go to bed~

Awesome~

2009-03-18T20:54:00.000-04:00

the things that amuse me...

contemplating a contest?

2009-03-16T19:12:00.008-04:00

hello all~... so I've just realized that the end of this month... the 31st to be exact... will be my Blogiversary..... and I'm thinking I might want to have a contest... you know the usual sort... leave a comment and a random # generator will pick a number and that person will win a prize?~ I'm just not sure what I want to put up as a prize yet (if you have any special requests... you can leave it in the comments... I'm really thinking that I might want to give away yarn from my stash~ or a hand knit prize if your a non-knitter?)... till then~ I will be thinking about it~~... just a heads up~

What I've been working on...

Pattern: technically speaking... I think its my own~ its just the gull lace pattern knit as a tube with a thumb thrown in for good measure~
Yarn: Morehouse Merino 3 ply
Needles: Empress DPN's size 7
Notes:
no really, its just the gull lace pattern (same lace as the February lady sweater) knit in a tube... with garter at each end... and a thumb picked up along the way~
It took me 10 days to knit... not literally... just... i started it... and i knit a little bit on it every other day or so~

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
Yarn: Morehouse Merino 3 ply (none of the yarn I bought- like 8 skeins- was labeled with a color... but I think its Rosebud?)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Options Size 8,9,10, Empress DPN's size 7
Notes:
I knit the body with Size 8- Cast off with size 10; knit the arms with Size 7, cast off with size 9. The pattern is a modification of an Elizabeth Zimmerman February baby sweater- its really easy to knit... top down, seamless raglan~ but the sizing on the pattern does run large (as everyone who has knit this before me... have come to realize) so I knit the Medium size and it fits just fine~
the Yarn is really soft and nice to work with- it is like roving so it pulls apart quite easily- but this wasn't a problem while knitting... the knitted fabric seems just fine (noodles and I had many a tug-o-war sessions with the sweater!... and it survived)... it also has a good amount of vegetable matter- but again... not a big deal~ just pick them out as you work~ I bought the yarn at Brooklyn general- in January during their sale (I paid like less than $8 a skein)... so it was definitely a good value~ I would use their yarn again~

Pattern: Pocketbook Slippers by Lisa Vienneau & Allison Barrett modifications by: Miss Twiss
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky- Verdes
Needles: Knit Picks Options Size 6
Notes: I knit the slippers basically as per Miss Twiss's modifications~
because I used a chunky gauge yarn I went down a needle size... CO 2sts... increased to 4~ and the strap was also knit across 4sts. I increased to a total of 36 as opposed to the 44 called for... it did produce a smaller size... which works well for my grandmother and my e-moh's feet (they wear like a size 5 women's.) These slippers are very cute, and a quick knit~ I'm fairly certain I will have to knit these until they come out of my ears this year~

and here is some Yarn 'pron'... I'm trying to cut back on my yarn buying and just knit from stash... I KNOW~~ me... yarn DIET? only because I want to go to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and my stash has expanded quite a bit this past year... Yarn Diet is HARD!! It helps that I'm in quite a few (will not state exactly how many at the moment)... yarn clubs... here is the kit I received most recently... from Woolgirl ... it is the February Kit from the Sock Club

see the shiny black pen in the photo? it says... Queen of Knitting... yes, yes it does~

and others...

It snowed!

2009-03-03T20:22:00.007-05:00

IT snowed!!! the most its snowed this winter I think~~ it was quite a bit~ luckily I didn't have to shovel... thats what Cousins who get driven about are for!! (poor SAM!)

Noodles... loves snow... like LOOOVES snow... she bounced out the front door at her 1st opportunity~ and didn't want to come back in... we had to bribe her with treats~ (when don't we bribe her!! its a good thing I don't have to worry about her growing up and living on her own and such~ she wouldn't be very successful- the way we are raising her!)

She came back in... her legs and her belly were snow encrusted... she was dripping mini-snowballs all over the house... so we cornered her in the bathroom and defrosted her with the blow dryer... it took...forever!!

On the knitting front... I got me a new knitting bag...YAY!
it is the Namaste- Zuma in the Peacock colorway... everyone wants to know why I'm carrying a bowling bag... but its ok... it fits in sooo much STUFF~ its amazing~

WIP...

I had wanted to finish my February Lady Sweater in February... but it didn't happen~ I'm working on the 2nd sleeve now~

FO~
I did officially finish my Om Shanti Socks... which are the 1st socks of the Socktopus Sock CLub for this year~ very fun fast knit~

Pattern: Om Shanti bed socks by Alice Yu
Yarn: Chameleon Colorworks- Evolution in Peppermint Cheer
Needles: Knit Picks Nickle DPN's in Size 2 and 3.
Notes: really fast fun knit... the socks are soooo soft and cozy~
These are my 1st toe up socks... 1st provisional crochet cast on...my 1st cool braid-y thing~ and 1st sew cast-off~ The yarn is really interesting... its 100% merino... that has been pulled/thinned to the same microns as cashmere~ it shiny and feels amazing~ The pattern is well written and easy to memorize and follow~ oooh and I should mention... they did GROW quite a bit after washing... so much that they did begin to scare me... but all is well.. they still fit just fine~~

Other shopping news... I signed up for the Woolgirl Oz Sock Club... as if I need another sock club! but this is what sold me on it... the Glinda Sock Kit

in a word... its... amazing~

argh!

2009-02-24T20:35:00.006-05:00

How many great blog posts do I think of each week... and then I sit at my computer and its just mindless e-mail deleting... and ravelry checking!? and then get up and walk away and completely forget about everything I wanted to blog about?!~ ARGH!

First... I would like to thank... LUPIE for the Kreativ Blogger Award
I feel very honored... that you like my sporadic and random posts~ I love... and even better... READ~ your site often as well~~ I'm always impressed by your amazing knitting... and more than once... I've oogled your beautiful needles~ THANK you LUPIE!!

Now... the rules of the Kreativ Blogger Award state that...I must...
1. Copy the award to your site.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 8 other bloggers.
4. Link to those on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.

Here are my nominees:
1- my buddy nelson...... his is not a knitting blog... but his randomness is wonderful~ and he is very encouraging of my knitting... *cough*cough* do i get my needles now?~

2- Alison.. at A.Co Knits... how many projects have I started or queued because of this amazing knitter?

3- Currently Purring... I love her banner (is that what its called?)... and her knitting always makes me want to start a new project!

4- Fran @Finally! Fran Knitting!

5- Pepper @ Geek of All Trades

6- LizzzKnits

7- Leigh Grey Knits'

8- Lee's blog~

...just a note... the blogs I have nominated... may not have specific artsy/Knitterly content but often in such cases... its just that the inspire me in other ways?~

some FO's

2009-02-05T21:38:00.006-05:00

I've been distracted lately... and have been having a hard time- finding time to sit and work up a post... I don't know that this is going to be much better~~ here are some FO's:

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by E. Zimmerman
Yarn: Cotton Joy Jr.
Needles: Addi Lace Turbo's (because I love them!) Size 5
Notes: I started this way back in august... the knitting has been done for MONTHS~ but I hate seaming... Laura (in the photo)... took pity on my and seamed up my shoulders and sewed the buttons on... she ROCKS~!

Pattern: Preemie Hats for Charity by Carissa Browning
Needles: Knit Picks DPN's- size 3
Yarn: Random acrylic ~ the Pink is Sirdar's Snuggly
Notes: I made 3 of these little hats to donate~

Pattern: Pocketbook Slippers
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky- Forest
Needles: Size 6 Knit Picks Harmony Options
Notes: so fast and clever~

>
Pattern: Witter Cottage Mittens by Dee Bamford
Yarn: Posh Yarns Lucia Sock in the Pansies and Cream colorways
Needles: Knit Picks DPN's Size 2 and 2.5
Notes: These knit up quickly, after I frogged and restarted like 5 times (the yarn held up well.) This is my 1st stranded knitting project. I love them~ Fernella actually accidentally washed them and they felted a bit... but they still fit... actually they are better now- because the fit is tighter (like negative ease) and it is warmer (warm to begin with...just warmer now)

A picture of my newest needles... since the title is called fascination with needles...

they are the Blue Sky Alpaca DPN's in Size 0~ I would have preferred a size 1 or 2 but I picked them up during the superbowl sale at Knit-a-Bit (Westfield, NJ) and they were sold out~ I'm still waiting for someone to buy me the signature dpn's~ :)

this post is for Hannah~

2009-01-30T22:22:00.001-05:00

Which Twilight Character Are You?

Created by BuddyTV

Malabrigo Swap- Round 5~

2009-01-30T16:49:00.003-05:00

I was the 1st person to receive their swap package this past round~ which is always fun~ I'm not soo good at waiting sometimes~ I got an awesome package from Leigh (LeighGreyKnits on ravelry)~ she was so thoughtful and sweet... i love every part of it...
-1 skein of amazingly yummy Hand-dyed, hand-spun Blue-faced Leceister yarn~ which I think we have all lovingly named- Creamsicle~
-1 Skein of Malabrigo Sock- in Persia…. Its soooo pretty~~ i’ve been lusting after this~~and whenever I’ve gone out to get it… its been sold out!
-2 skeins of… Malabrigo DOS- in the Boticelli Red… its sooo smooshy and soft… (this is going to live in my special yarn stash till I can figure out what to make!!)
-the interweave Winter 2006 magazine… sooo many patterns I’ve been wanting from this magazine!…
-a book about spinning yarn (a new hobby of mine)…
-the amanda hat pattern~
-100 bangles~ in silver and torquiosish blue… soo cute!! I love them~ :)
-a bottle of Hazelnut syrup…. to flavor coffee and such~
-so so so cute stitch markers… from etsy… of tea pots and leaves~~
-SOAK in Aquae- which is my fave scent!
-Stash Tea and Twinings Tea… in wild raspberry and Orange Pekoe
-and the bestest best part… is a hat knit for my nephew… . Malabrigo… worsted… black forest… its sooo soft…. he’s going to LOVE IT~ I don’t know how you did it with your injury… your amazing! THANK YOU LEIGH!!

Random much?

2009-01-20T21:29:00.001-05:00

51 seconds

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T15:00:00.005-05:00

Christmas...
opening presents...

Playing with presents...

Christmas Lunch...

Christmas evening... walking about the city~

After Christmas...
American Museum of Natural History~ was there on Monday... it was beyond packed~ craziness~ still... I like looking at the diarama's... and all the stuff~ stuffed birds... although there are no pickled babies... its still worth a visit every few years~

The Cookie Jar, Staten Island, NY... Yummy Cookies!!

Knitting stuff...
Blue Sky Alpaca Swap- Round 2 amazing package from Tricia- SFCorgi~

FO:

Pattern: Pomatomusby Cookie A.
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Colorway: Indiecita
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony DPN's- Size 2
Notes: no changes to pattern. malabrigo is so soft~~ really nice to work with~

WIP's

Pattern: Winter Cottage Mittens by Dee Bamford
Yarn: Posh Yarn- Lucia Sock
Color: Pansy and Cream
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony DPN's Size: 2.75mm and 3.0mm
Notes: Long Tail Tubular Cast on... moved up to 3.0mm size needles to cast on + 2 rows... then worked remainder of mitten with 2.75mm needles~
My 1st color work- learning to knit with right hand as I'm knitting these mittens= wonky stitches~

its Snowing!

2008-12-16T21:27:00.007-05:00

its snowing!!... how exciting!! (only because I don't have anywhere I have to be at a specific time... and such)... but YAY!!

You are all going to be soo proud of me... I was all set up and ready to sign up for the Socks that Rock club for next year... but I resisted... me resist yarn~ a whole Years worth of yarn... from a sock club~ I must be growing up~

Ok... so... I've been wanting to share... how deeply deeply I am in love with... this book~ The Best of Interweave Knits... I have made the... Lotus Blossom Tank and the Icarus Shawl... and most recently in process of making the Man's Brioche Vest for my dad... not only are the patterns within the pages awesome~ but the mini-lessons regarding the knitting Basics (casting-on/off, seaming, color work, lace work, etc,.) are sooo incredibly helpful! I know how to do a few cast-ons/offs and such~ but I'm not always so sure which method is the best for which projects... and this book explains it~ If your a knitter and you don't already own this book... I recommend it~

Today~ I sat in Barnes and Nobles...'studying' for my exams~ but I can only stare at my textbooks for so long... Today I was distracted by... Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah... I read it cover to cover... it was quite good.. and made me cry a few times~ so I picked up... her auto-biography...Falling Leaves... gonna make Mina read it first... because I don't have time... you know... with the studying and all~

Union Square Market on Saturday~ there was sooo many people there... all my pictures were of peoples backs... except when I got to the yarn stand... somehow the crowds cleared~ and I was able to get a crowdless photo... that is till the all swarmed in again~

WIP's~
Man's Brioche Vest- for my dad's christmas gift~

Pomatomus
as usual... my socks take way longer to complete a pair than expected~ this is the 2nd sock... moving along very slowly~

Wisteria Scarf (aka Smooshy Scarf)
I started this last night on a whim~ hopefully it will get done in time for christmas~

Yarn buys:
Wollmeise: This update was fast and scary!! I thought I was going to end up with nothing... but... I got a few in the end... I'm soo in love with all the colors here~ (Am kalter Polar (left 2), Suzanne (middle 1), and Blue Suzanne (right 2)

Sundara Seasons Yarn Club~
This is her fingering Silky merino... from the Winter collection of her Seasons yarn club... no clue what to do with it~

Food... from last Thursday Nights Knitting meeting

YUM!

for Geana...

p.s- I recommend purchasing a gift cert to Eat. Sleep. knit for me~ k?

Noodles

2008-12-09T12:09:00.004-05:00

I think Noodles loves yarn more than I do~~~

Finally... some FO's~

Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too- Babyboo- Pink
used nearly 8 full skeins of yarn
Needles: Knit picks Harmony Options: size 6 and 7
Made for: my granny~
Size made: the 2nd size listed
Notes/Modifications:
- added 1 repeat of the Lace pattern
- added length to the stockinette portion of the bust and back
- when finishing... I picked up stitches around the entire neck (including the front) and knit 4 rows in garter stitch.
- The front was kinda floppy so while knitting the 4 garter stitch rows I k2tog every 11th stitch on the front aspect, and again p2tog every 11th stitch while binding off.
- also k2tog 6 stitches- 3 at each front corner
- BO on purl-wise

Pattern: Diamond Scarf by Wenlan Chia
Yarn: Twinkle- Soft Chunky- white
2 full skeins for the scarf... and 1/2 skein for fringe
Needles: Size 19- Boye
Made for: a cousin
Notes:
I love this scarf... I'm currently seriously considering keeping it for myself. Its super soft and smooshy... and super super long (i love long scarves)... downside: its a bit on the heavy side. The yarn shed like nobody's business when I was working with it... I washed it in nearly Boiling water... and then soaked in... SOAK (aquae)... the shedding has improved... the Soaking process left it with a funny smell(like permed hair)~ I will be sending it off to be dry cleaned next

Pattern: A Christmas Dishcloth Story by Kristen Patay
Yarn: Be Sweet- Bamboo- 661
Needles: Knit Picks harmony Options- Size 4
Made for... grandma's Nurse (part of her christmas gift)
Notes:
it was a very easy... super fast knit... I followed the written instructions... which were very clear~ perfect!
my 1st wash cloth~

*hint**HINT*

2008-12-05T23:46:00.004-05:00

is it really near Christmas... already?... *hint*hint*hint* size 1 or 2 dpns(5) stilettos thanx~ or here...

Meme

2008-12-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

a filler meme, found on Cybèle's blog:

1. What is your occupation right now? Professional Student

2. What color are your socks right now? Grey (argyle)

3. What are you listening to right now? the playlist on my blog~ (Wizards of Winter to be exact)

4. What was the last thing that you ate? a Cranberry-apple smoked turkey sandwich @ Barnes & Nobles

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Sorta~ I dunno if I remember how! but I did learn at some point~

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Chang Young oppa~ (apparently he has texting issues!)

7. How old are you today? 27

8. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? on TV? soccer...gymnastics?

9. What is your favorite drink? Root beer~

10. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes~ I think its almost become a necessity~ otherwise people might think I'm middle-aged!

11. Favorite food? good food~ I'm especially partial to 'comfort foods' mashed potatoes anyone?

12. What is the last movie you watched? A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving... in the Theater I watched Twilight (unfortunately...it SUCKED!)

13. Favorite day of the year? Mid-summers eve~

14. How do you vent anger? venting~ and then taking a nap~

15. What was your favorite toy as a child? I don't remember... I remember having these blue cars that you sat in... Pre-power-wheels, you powered them with your own feet~ channelling the flintstones now~

16. What is your favorite season? Fall.

17. Cherries or Blueberries? Blueberries...I don't eat fake cherries- ever (marachino cherries... GROSS!)

18. Living arrangements? At home~

19. When was the last time you cried? I'm a movie/tv/book/sympathy Crier~

20. What is on the floor of your closet? Laundry basket... and a duffel bag full of stuff from when we moved~ (yet to be unpacked)

21. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese.

22. Favorite dog breed? Llhasa Apso

23. Favorite day of the week? Wednesdays

24. How many states have you lived in? 1~

25. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds~

26. What is your favorite flower? Daffodils~

post turkey recovery~

2008-12-01T16:15:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving this year... was a bit more stressful than years past... because of the whole cooking factor... but I think it turned out ok... nobody got sick (I don't think)... and for the most part the stuff tasted ok~ (I over brined the turkey legs~)Here is a picture of most of the spread (we added a few things to the table after the photo) but you get the gist of it...

I totally did not work on Desserts at all... leave it to my family to bring more than enough (we have like 3 pies in the fridge still)... but here was the cutest addition...

the Turkey Cake brought by my aunt... its Carvel...with the yummy crunchies in the middle- yay!
In preparation for the massive amounts of cooking leading up to Thanksgiving... my mother thought it would be fun to have guests over the Sunday before... and here is a photo of that dinner

All this cooking hasn't left much time for knitting- Yesterday was the 1st line I knit in about a week! (beginning to worry about Christmas Gifts)... but that doesn't mean there wasn't time to shop...
Wollmeise (again- yes I have been getting lucky these past 2 updates)

its cold~

2008-11-19T18:09:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving is around the corner... and normally this would mean going to the Wine Library to pick out wine~ and looking forward to eating~ but this year... my mother insists we cook Thanksgiving at home... Instead of having it catered like we normally do~ Seeing as how my older sister...offered to help me cook... but then bailed to say she was going to eat at her mother-in-laws house... and my younger sister doesn't cook~ and my mom will be working full time leading up to Thanksgiving Day... that leaves me~ perhaps I should give my doctor buddies a heads up~ (just in case the dinner ends up not sitting well?)
On the knitting front... I haven't done much~ been busy studying for finals... and such~ Tho I have completed my 1st 2 real de-stashes this past week~ (meaning I sold off 2 skeins of yarn from my stash~)... I was feeling quite brave~

Congrats to Jasmine and Jin Young Oppa~ (they got married last weekend)...

HURRAY for Malabrigo LOVE~

2008-11-12T16:01:00.007-05:00

So after a month of being sick... and trying to figure out what to do about my Grandmother (she fell the other week...and hasn't gotten up since...*worry*)... and a 3rd visit to a doctor (not really my doctor just a buddy who is a doctor)... who prescribed me hardcore meds for my cough~ I came home to find this on my doorstep...

It was my package from Laurie aka TruMom of the Malabrigo Swap Group on Ravelry I can't even begin to describe how I love it so~~~ I think it is the most thoughtful and generous swap package I've ever received~

so here are the details...

1st thing I opened was the cute little project bag (which... I love...especially since its my 1st one~)... I've always just used ziplock baggies... but now I have this really cute bag to put my WIP's in (i'm seriously excited about this... you have no IDEA!)... but to add to the awesomeness that is the bag... it was stuffed with goodies!!... from left to right... it had... a little package of stitch markers from Spindle Cat Studio made of Copper and Czech Glass (the colors are called Grape Trio~)... then there was a package of Upcycled Cork Stitch stoppers from auroramae on Etsy! OMG! so perfect!! I'm forever dropping stitches off my needles when I throw my projects in my zip lock bag~ and I love the fact that they are recycled cork stoppers from wine bottles~ A package of Mulling Spices from Williams-sonoma... which I popped open and am beyond tempted to brew up...but I'm going to try to wait... I've been volunteered to cook Thanksgiving Dinner...I want to save them for then!... I love mulled anything... yumm~ I think I will mull wine! Then there was a package of super cute elephant candles and incense~ I don't know how she knew but my family has a slight candle obsession~ it has something to do with the fact that everyone is my family is very sensitive to odors... and we live with a dog~ its perfect!...
This came next...

a knit bag for Wine! which held something... dare I say it... better than WINE? MALABRIGO SOCK YARN!!! the color is Impressionist Sky.... its sooo prefect... and sofe... and lovely~ I just finished my 1st sock using Malabrigo Sock yarn the other day (which I will post up a bit further down)... but the stuff... is delightful!! and the color... oh my... I could go on forever!~...
Then... next came... the MALABRIGO.... (ooooooohh~~)...

4 skeins of worsted in Azul Bolita.... totally enough to make the Briar Rose or the Juliet... which patterns she also sent me... already cozy in their plastic protectors (you have no idea how beat up my patterns get!)!!! I loveeee these patterns~~ I've been waiting to buy them off my queue~ till I had a moment of sanity~ when I can actually sit down and knit for myself *cough**cough* It will happen!! one day *sigh*

I'm totally in love with my Package... the Wine theme was sooo perfect... I loooove wine... and... love Mal~~ yay this totally made my week! Thank you sooo much Laurie! You ROCK!

Nearly FO:...
finished a sock... using malabrigo Sock yarn... Indiecita... which is.... its lovely lovely yarn~ and the Pattern is... Cookie A.'s Pomatomus... the Foot part looks obnoxiously long however... it fits my size 6 foot~ (and its not too big!)

On Halloween Day... Wollmeise had an update... which was super-intense... it was all over in like less than 20 mins (its hard to pick yarn, put it in cart, and check out in 20 mins!)... in which I scored! WOOHOO! it was crazy because the server kept crashing and such~ and I was sure I got nothing~ but in the end I did get a few that I wanted... I've already 'de-stashed' 3 skeins~ I'm debating a 4th~ but still it was a very exciting yarn buy~

left to right...(all wollmeise)
80/20 Twin- Tiefer See
80/20 Twin- Versuchskaninchen 1 (destashed)
100% Versuchskaninchen 1
100% Poison No. 5
100% Baba Yaga (destashed)
2 skeins of Lace (Garn)- in the Baba Yaga Colorway (destashed 1)

Noodles watching the puppies~

2008-11-06T22:22:00.002-05:00

this is how Noodles spent her evening... watching the cute puppies~

If you haven't already seen the puppies... find them here...

still sickly~

2008-11-02T22:24:00.006-05:00

yup... as the title reads... i'm still sickly!~ so I haven't been doing much~ besides being sick~~
Yunnan Bai Yao powder is amazing... today~ my aunt accidentally lopped off a chunk of skin from my grandmothers finger (don't ask)~ ... Granny~ being on blood thinners for YEARS... wouldn't stop bleeding~ and who knew fingers could bleed so much? I finally remembered I had some Yunnan Bai Yao~ we scooped a bit out... and coated my grandmothers finger in the powder and the bleeding stopped within minutes...it was amazing! TCM never stops amazing me~~ thats why I love it so~~

I haven't been knitting much... on account of being ill... (so ill I haven't even been knitting.... it has been that bad!)... but here are all my finished objects (FO's) from the month of October... the Malabrigo Junkies (on Ravelry)... were having a knit along... to help motivate people finish some holiday knitting... it was also a mini-competition (with prizes)... so here were my entries:

nothing too complicated... the goal was to knit for others~ so what you see here are some Christmas gifts... I won't label whats what or for whom here... (thou its not really a secret)... it might look like a lot (its really not)... most the projects you see didn't take more than a day~

Being sick... left me at home... shopping~ so here is some eye candy...
from Posh Yarns... in the UK

... from Butterfly Girl Designs on Etsy

...and my absolute more favorite item... Pfefferminz Prinz Lace Weight Yarn from Wollmeise

...there is actually more Wollmeise... it just hasn't arrived yet~
so anyhow... I'm working on getting myself put back together and rejoin the social world soon~ I miss you guyz!

sick in bed... for 2 weeks?!

2008-10-22T14:14:00.008-04:00

Hi people... most of you haven't been seeing me about because I've been sick in bed for 2 weeks!!! seriously... who catches a cold that knocks them out for 2 weeks?! Details: started as a sinus infection... to which I tried to rest but kept doing all my usual things and such... just got sicker... kept doing the usual stuff+ entertain my aunt and uncle from korea... and errands and such~~ thought I was going to Die... so I went to the doctor... I have... strep... bronchitis... and laryngitis (which is a bit better)~ I'm on meds~ but I still feel like death~~ word of advice... only take Buckleys cough syrup if your cough is going to be the death of you...cause otherwise it will just kill you straight up~ it tastes like brushed your teeth with bengay~ its BAD~~~ but there has been a bright side to all this staying home with the plague... like the fact that I was home to receive my Yarn Snob Swap Package from Agnes of New Jersey~~

This is the bestest swap Package I've ever ever received!! I can't stop petting and hugging the yarn!! I'm hoping it doesn't catch my plague~ but I can't help it! its amazing!

Its cashmere yarn from Posh yarns~ in a bright pink and lilac colorway... with matching beads~ I've always wondered about Posh yarns... seen it about on Ravelry~ its... divine! Also included in the package... was... Trader Joe's Jasmine Pearl Tea... which jasmine tea is my most favorite kind~ I drink it daily~~~ A lavender scented Satchel... cute artsy bookmarks (yay no more folding the corner of pages...and losing my spot anyhow!)... Jelly Belly jellybeans (we all know about my relationship with chewy candy~)... a sweet card all packaged in a pretty gift bag... ok I can't help myself... here are some more photos~

So what I've been doing since I've been sick... drinking massive quantities of tea... thank goodness that tea swap package came before I was sick!! its contents have been amazingly useful~ a different kinda tea every other cup! its good stuff~~

On Sunday... I treked out to Rhinebeck... for the NYS sheep and wool festival... I was the chick there with no voice! I was surprised by just how many people were there... that was ALOT of people... luckily Mr Park and his family went with me... so I didn't have to drive and such in my condition~ and they enjoyed it also~ we met some sheep and llama's~ watched some Pumpkin chuckin'... tasted from fried Articokes... and pet alot of yarn!

This is my Rhinebeck haul...

A 1.3 oz Drop spindle from Goldings... Silk Hankies from Delly's Delights Farm... Wool Roving and silk Cap from Spinners Hill... and best part... Malabrigo Sock yarn in Indicita from Socktopus (from the UK) she didn't have a stand or such~ but rather she brought the yarn for me... from her Shop~ and we loosely discussed a crazy meet up at Rhinebeck to hand off the yarn~ which I had doubts about...but it worked! She brought me 2 skeins of Malabrigo Sock... but 1 was for my Malabrigo Swap partner~ Thanx Alice...you ROCK!

After Rhinebeck... we met up with my parents... and went to Weeds Orchard... in Newburgh~ for some Apple picking.. and boy...we sure did pick ALOT of Apples...

Since Sunday... I have...
a Finished Object (FO)

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky- Wisteria, 5 skeins
Made for: a best buddy~ for christmas...
Notes...this was mindless knitting~ but the FO is amazing... i <3 it!

my 1st handspun

its lot lots thick and thin spots... but I think its decent for a 1st go~ now to learn to ply...

october... already?

2008-10-06T17:42:00.009-04:00

Ok so the verdict is in... I'm keeping the yarn... for now~ :)

Dinner with Lillian... @ Pasticceria Bruno last Sunday night~
<
We shared the Polenta... I had the Sven Burger... and the Chocolate Pear Royale... and Lil had... the Chocolate Mousse (I think~) It was really cute~ and they had live music on a Sunday night~

I received my Travelling Tea Box (#3) for the CuppaTeaForum on Ravelry~

I got me a new mini collection of new tea's to try~

FO's:

Pattern: Official Kittyville Hat by Kitty Schmidt
Yarn: Sheep Shop Yarn Company- Sheep Three (1/2 skein, lavender-ish color)
Needles: Size 7 and 8 (DPNs- crystal Palace Bamboo)
Made for: a friend... hannah was just modelling it for me~

Pattern: Ribbed Beanie by Woolly Wormhead
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky (olive colorway)
Needles: Size 13 (Knit picks Harmony Options)
Made for: Joe (mina's joe)

Pattern: Dolores Park Cowl by Parikha Mehta
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky (olive colorway)
Needles: Size 13
Made for: Joe (mina's joe)

Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock- Edgewater
Needles: Lantern Moon Sox Stix- Size 1

Have you guys noticed this:

Movie Reviews

I thought the results were hilarious~ apparently... my non-use of standard sentences... and just connecting everything with... or ~ is a higher form of english~ I write at an Undergraduate college level! (at least I Have something to show after graduating from college 3 times!)

Magnolia Society

2008-09-26T16:07:00.004-04:00

So I received my 1st installment of yarn from Madeline Tosh's Magnolia Society
I'm not sure how I feel about it... I'm not really big on brown yarn~ its beautiful~ but I don't know if I want to keep it or let it move on to someone who will truly LOVE it~ so my 1st ever Poll... Please Vote in the Poll to right of this screen~ or leave me a comment with your suggestion~ Thanx!

WIP... and FO's~

2008-09-24T16:32:00.003-04:00

Nearly FO (Finished Object)...
baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ)

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by E. Zimmerman
Yarn: Needful Yarns: Cotton Joy Jr.
Pink (light and dark)- Purple (light and dark) and a khaki color variation
2 skeins
Needles: Addi Turbo Size 5, 32" circular
Notes: No modifications... and of course I didn't check guage! Its a bit small... even after frogging the original... which was knit with size 3 needles~ its like nearly half the size of Laura's (thePinkCloud) which just goes to show.. i'm an obnoxiously tight knitter~
Its Nearly FO... because i didn't sew up the shoulder seams and I haven't found buttons I like for it yet~

Meet Elijah~

Pattern: Elijah by Ysolda
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo
Light blue, 2 skeins
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony DPN's Size 2.75mm
Notes: He's so cute and huggable... He is knit up.. with no seams... his limbs are added on as picked up stitches as are his ears~ I stuffed him with standard polyfil stuffing~ and added Poly-pellets to the ends of his 4 limbs, his bottom, and the tip of his nose... Next time I knit this... I will use more poly-pellets and less polyfil~

WIP:
started a Lotus blossom Tank for grandma... as requested~

...odds and ends~

2008-09-24T16:13:00.002-04:00

This post... is a bunch of random odds and ends~ pictures I've finally uploaded and such~
Dorney Park:
Here are two video's I took way back over the summer on our trip to Dorney Park... This is the newest roller coaster in the park... and of course I've forgotten its name~ Sam, Daniel and Hannah rode it... while Mina and I were being old foogie's~ actually I had the beginnings of a massive headache and mina is just aging before her years~

Another picture from over the Summer... here is Andrew playing Rock Band... and yes He does have a mullet in this photo... Geana thought he looked cute with it~ as for me... I was going to take him to get a mohawk... but ended up not having enough time before they headed back home~ Oh well... one day when he gets older and has a girlfriend... I'll be sure to whip it out~

Visiting with Sam
Here is a picture with Sam and one of his roomie's~ I took several pictures of them.. and each picture.. one of them is being dysfunctional (not on purpose either!)

Random night I met up with Kev (YesIKSedYou- maplestory Bera)... and had coffee~ Hi kev~

Next... my mother likes to think up new forms of child abuse... her most recent... was dinner for several of our employee's~ But of course she couldn't serve the usual Korean food... no... instead she insisted I cook~ so I did the old fall back... steak... lasagna... and lots of veggies~

Then after dinner... Mr Park +family, Tommy and my mother got their groove on~ singing Karaoke~

BSA Swap

2008-09-17T22:39:00.006-04:00

So on Ravelry (a knitting forum) Sometime back in the summer I signed up for a Swap~ Specifically the Blue Sky Alpaca Swap~ I sent my package out right away~ because I have a tendency to forget these things~ and then my poor swap partner would end up waiting for me~ so I sent my package out early~~ I had just about forgotten that I would be receiving a package in return~ Until I got an e-mail saying my package had been sent by Lisa (Lmorris) of Tennessee was my swap partner... and she sent me the cutest... most helpful package ever!!
a skein of BSA organic Cotton in the Nut colorway, Hazelnut coffees, Awake Tazo tea, Stitch markers (big and small), measuring tape, and darning needles~ exactly what I needed this week~ Thank you Lisa!

mini update

2008-09-17T22:39:00.005-04:00

My yarn came! woohoo!
I ordered some Sundara Silk Lace yarn... which I happened to catch in an update~ For all you non-knitter buddies~ the world of buying and stashing yarn is cut throat! People get highly competitive and emotional about their yarn~ Sundara happens to be one of those brands that people can get a little feisty over~ (there is more to come of this stuff over the next year... I signed up for a Seasons collection (1 skein of yarn every 3 months) and the Socks (Darks) Collection (3 skeins every 3 months)... so tell me... what do you think?
This is Charcoal over Blue Lagoon- Silk Lace... We will not discuss its cost as non-knitters might become A) frightened or B) question my sanity

and here is the completed Lotus Blossom Tank for my e-moh~
Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo- Lavender colorway (SH137)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Options- size 5 and 6~
Notes:
1) completed 6 repeats of lace pattern~
2) added 1/2" of st all around
3) added two repeats of the decrease pattern to the back- at the beginning of the arm holes
4) added an extra row of knitting to the neck/arm hole edging
Blocked in SOAK~
Overall it was an easy knit~ If I would just pay attention to the pattern and look at size before I start! I think I may have to make another one for my granny (paternal)... she was very disappointed not to have received this one~ and a Final note... it was made intentionally longish~ my aunt was adamant that it be made long- even tho she is quite short~ she didn't want it to be too short and look like it was for younger people... which is sort of how the original design was intended~

Labor Day

2008-09-05T20:17:00.007-04:00

Over the weekend, my parents and I took Mr Park and his family on a road trip down to Ocean City, MD~

From Ocean City 2008

(it was a short trip but lotsa stuff packed in...Just a little note... the picture of Mr. Park and his kids on the Jet ski- is before they fell in~ *Good Times* and the boat we are riding (with wind blowing in hair photos) was something called the OC WaterSports- Thriller... the last photo is on the Lewes-Cape May ferry~ and... another little note... that is the replacement car Mr and Mrs. Park are standing in front of~)

Now on to Knitting~

I broke a knitting needle this morning... my love- the Lantern Moon Sox Stix~ I called Lantern Mood because I had read on Ravelry about their great Customer Service- and they are sending me a replacement needle on Monday~ woohoo!

and all plans to keep the Icarus shawl from my Mother were complete FAIL!!! I don't know when she did it... but she sneaked- it into her room~ (I went nuts looking for it in the meantime)and it re-appeared on our ocean city trip~

Nearly completed Lotus Blossom Tank...

and began a BSJ~ in Needful Yarns Cotton Joy~ using size 3 Addi Lace Turbo's (my Knit-Picks Harmony Options didn't come in size 3~ sorry Steve~)

Ravelympics and other stuff~

2008-08-24T18:01:00.005-04:00

So I'm like overly excited about this... my Ravelympics Project... the Icarus Shawl...is DONE!!

What started as this...

is now...

Pattern: Icarus Shawl by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Mababrigo Lace- Polar Morn Colorway
Needles: Addi Lace- size 5
Cast on: 08/08/08 @ 8PM (EST)
Bind off: 08/24/08 @ 2AM (EST)
Notes and such: Added an extra repeat of Chart 1~ because my mom wanted the shawl to be larger... it took a total of about 2.5 skeins of the Malabrigo~ which is the most yummiest yarn ever-ever-ever~
I must really love this shawl because in the process of making it...I lost a beloved stitch marker...*sob* they were special pewter ones that looked like sheep and had lil' pink bead-ies on top... so cute... RIP little sheep stitch marker... I believe you are lost in New Jersey somewhere~

now non-knitting related...
My car...is now GONE~ we returned it on Tuesday~ the lease was up...and my mom was really hoping to ride in a different... errr... new car... I will miss it~ it was a good car~ the last picture of my car... out in the rain last week~

More rain pictures~

I made "hho-dduk" for my grandmother last week~ they weren't pretty to look at but they tasted good~

stuff~

2008-08-12T11:42:00.003-04:00

Last sunday... err ok maybe not last sunday~ the sunday before (wow time flies!)...I cooked dinner for my family... we had steak with mushrooms and onions (Steamed on the grill), salad, corn... etc~ I really like condimens... can you tell?

Then I headed down to Virginia to help Geana look after the kids... so to keep them occupied, we baked a bit.. these are sugar cookies, shaped and designed by jonathan and andrew... the frosting was soo thick- it was hard to actually draw things~ but they didn't seem to mind.. and of course they really loved the extra sugar~

This past Sunday was our graduation ceremony, even tho I finished school back in April, the school holds 1 ceremony a year~ Sam and my mom ended up playing with the camera during the ceremony, and killed the camera battery~ which I think accounts for why these pictures look so funky~

and here is a picture of my latest work in progress... it is the Icarus Shawl, which I'm knitting as part of the Ravelympics~ (to answer Geana's question, I take pictures of my yarn and work in progress and stuff on my keyboard because its convenient! I take the photo, and then just attach my camera... move the photo..etc, etc~ get it?

Dear BSA swap Partner/buddy person~

2008-08-06T13:43:00.003-04:00

hi! Thanks for checking my blog as part of the stalking process~ As i'm working on stalking my swappee~ I've discovered that maybe my answers to the questionaire, or forum questions might not be very helpful. So~ here is a little bit more about my preferences?...
I really like soft, smooshy, non-pilling yarn~ I don't have a specific knitting love... though I do knit socks and sweaters and scarves and such~ I'm not particularly fond of hats- as they don't look good on me~ I tend to like soft colors and avoid dramatic colors especially very colorful varigated type yarns~ I like pink, blues and greens, I've actually never really liked purple- although I have been purchasing purple yarn (I didn't even realize till I reviewed my stash)... Baby pastel type colors are cool- especially since I finally know a baby I can knit for (somehow I know nearly no babies at the moment)... I don't like fall colors in general- at least not right now- I'll probably feel differently in the fall~ I like deep cranberry/wine colors but those burnt oranges/golds are not my cup of tea. Which brings me to... I drink both coffee and tea... I love Hazelnut anything and... On a recent trip to China I was introduced to Pu-erh~ Its my new love~ oh and don't forget my love of wine~
I'm forever losing stitch markers and yarn needles (I've lost my last yarn needle just this week) and lent my tape measure to someone at SnB- but I can't remember who~ My favorite yarn brands are sold at: Eat Sleep Knit~I'm a fan of just about every brand she carries~ I use to SOAK to wash my knits- Currently Aquae is the flavor of the month~ I don't own a needle organizer or knitting bag~
I'm kinda all around eclectic and somewhat random~ anything and everything you grace my way~ I'll love! Thanks for looking/reading! <3, t

in progress...

2008-08-03T13:22:00.002-04:00

Work on Jaywalker- I got a bit of it done while sitting in the parent/family freshman orientation for Sam at SUNY Stony Brook...

Work on Lotus Blossom Tank- worked on it a bit at work on saturday~ because it was surprisingly slow (work that is)~ thank God I had this to work on!

Finding that I really love the KnitPicks Options Needles... I went out and bought the Sock Needle Set~ I'm not an exclusive Sock knitter~ but the majority of my recent projects have been socks so~~

random (it usually is)~

2008-07-30T21:34:00.004-04:00

71 words

Speedtest

Currently working on:

and...(its made some progress... just haven't taken a picture of it... i've completed the heel...working on the gusset~ of the 1st sock)

anticipating working on this...for the Ravelympics 2008:

Loving... this... a gift from my buddy Steve~

Completed this... for my sister's friend who is having her 1st baby~

its DONE!

2008-07-23T20:23:00.004-04:00

my adamas shawl is DONE!! woohoo!

I started on my 1st pair of Jaywalkers (Sock), which I was working on at dorney park~ while I was waiting for my cousins to return from their rides~ and Can it be? I wasn't on the rides myself?! *Shock*Shock* After spending the morning at the waterpark (I hate waterparks) I had a massive headache~ So I only rode my favorite dorney coasters- Talon and Steel Force~

I'm using my Lantern Moon, Sock Sox- I love these needles!! so Smooth and feel nice in my hands~ I'm just scared I'm gonna break them!! they are quite bendy~
The yarn is... Lorna's Laces Sock- in the Edgewater Colorway~ I'm totally in love with this yarn and the color!! its sooo pretty~
Last night I had a huge battle with this yarn~ I had it wound into a ball at the store I bought it at (a few MONTHS ago)... and it was kinda loose and falling apart but still~ i thought it would be ok~ It ended up getting horribly horribly knotted~ I was up to the wee hours of the night unknotting~ and ended up cutting it (*Heartbroken*)
Still I love this yarn!

adamas (cont.)

2008-07-15T21:32:00.002-04:00

work in progress:

lately~

2008-07-06T14:20:00.005-04:00

heres what I've been up to lately... besides working that is~

a Basic Sock using Lang Jawoll Cotton Jaquard... on size 2 needles
This picture makes them look quite small.. which I guess they are~ they are a size 6 womans~

Adamas shawl using JoJoLand Harmony (to skeins at once) on Size 5 Addi Lace Turbo's-This is my 1st real lace project... if it turns out ok~ its supposed to be a gift... (i'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog)...but I'm having major issues with it... I keep losing stitches!!
Also I have a new favorite place to buy yarn (see the little link on the side)... and I'm like obsessed with Malabrigo... I need to finish this shawl and the socks for the boys (jonathan and andrew) so I can start on something with my mmmmmmal~

a little late~ but at least its up~!

2008-07-06T13:52:00.004-04:00

Pictures from my last 2 weeks in korea...

Dinner with MiYun unni~ and family~

We went to another fish market-place after dinner~ I ate soooo much sushi while I was in korea~

Visit to Min-suk-Chon~ (traditional Korean Village)

Flowers in Korea...

Visit to JeJuDo~

More Random photos from JeJuDo~

the end is near~

2008-06-15T09:20:00.002-04:00

I'm COMING HOME!

...

2008-06-04T08:43:00.002-04:00

어린이 대공원 (Children's Grand Park)... with my aunt Eun Joo~ Random park pictures:

Two even more Random photos:

(left) they were filming a movie of some sort (sorry bad picture~)... they are always filming something in korea... a movie... commercial... tv drama~ its everywhere!
(Right) I took a walk to Henesys~ tell me these mushroom houses do not remind you of henesys? Am I just going through withdrawal? (miss you maple buddies!)
I only realized I never took pictures of the ride portion of the park... once we were headed out! oops~

스리산

국립주우앙박물관 (National Museum of Korea)

Acupuncture related stuff from the museum:

Magician dude from Korean television... was performing outside the Museum... it was windy and cold...

After the Museum we went to hang out at Han River Park...We being...myself... Ki Hyul (Yoon Kyungs brother) and his girlfriend...Ah-Rah~ We flew a kite which eventually we wrote "wishes" on and once it flew to the end of the kite string...we left it go~ (Korean's are so cute)... ate Cup-RaMyun.... followed by beer, puffed macaroni, and fruit salad (random much?)~ it was great fun~ I just barely caught the last subway train back to InCheon~

김포- to visit family and see the property my grandfather owns~

Dinner with a new friend- Hye Rim~ she is an Intern at KyungHee~

Last Day at KyungHee~ the hallway I walked down every morning at KyungHee, and Me with Dr Go- the SaSang Constitutional Medicine Professor~

my weekend~

2008-05-25T05:59:00.009-04:00

Mini Road-Trip to go clamming (about 2.5 hour drive from Incheon- optimal knitting time~)... Korea is very hilly~ saw lotsa rice paddy's along the way~

"Mhat"조개 (clam) catching~ basically... the water receeds from this beach at low tide... and people go to work catching the 조개~

The video was the 1st catch of the day~ with commentary by my uncle~ he cracks me up~ The process to catching the clams... is to 1st lightly shovel away the top layer of sand, this is reveal holes in the sand... sprinkle salt into the holes to lure the clams up~ and then pull the clams out before they start to borrow back into the sand~ they can be quick little buggers!
After working all morning... the tide began to rise... so we made for shore~ to have a Korean style picnic~ with BBQ'd pork, ra-myun and kim-bap~

post~ low-tide

We drove back to Incheon,... and off I went to stay the night at my cousin MiYoung언니's house~ and of course we went out to eat... really good KalBi~

She has a super cute... and well behaved doggie... his name is ShinDoRhee~

This morning... we took the double decker Seoul tour bus... on the course that visits the Palaces in the area

Short visit to InSaDong (traditional Korean items) shopping alley

Seoul City Hall

(protesters demanding Korea stop importing US beef~)

Chun-Geh-Chun(man made stream~) filled with water from the Han River- in the middle of Seoul~ it was beautiful~

Korea...week 3

2008-05-20T07:10:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday... I went to YongDongPoh to have Lunch with an old family friend... when I walked out of the subway station, they were filming this... for a TV show... she is an actress of some sort...someone told me her name... but I can't even remember the names of American actors...korea actor's names are beyond my abilities~

Saturday evening, I met up with YoonKyung (the girlie who stayed at my house back in February... they took me to BaeGunLake~ it was Beautiful~

Then we went out to dinner... It was a very cute resturant up on the side of a big hill, they served very traditional Imperial style Korean Food... it was a lovely experience, and the food was very good~

Here are the Doggies again~ the mean doggie on the left is the son of the doggie who is in the picture alone on the right... the MamaDog, she likes me~

My cousin HanYoungOppa's younger son, SeungHoon- He is the happiest baby I've ever met!

Walking in the Rain

2008-05-18T05:01:00.003-04:00

Korea...is very interesting when it rains, it doesn't seem to deter people from going out and such... at least not very much~ and you know... back in the states... in general~ everyone carries a black unbrella.... here...the umbrella's are sooo colorful~ I wish my bus had taken its time arriving at the bus stop today~ so I coulda taken some photos... but maybe next time? I'm expecting it to rain again while i'm here~
....
Random photos:
Where are the trash bins in Korea? I can't ever seem to find a trashcan! I carry home all my garbage...well really I put my garbage in my bag so I can chuck it once I find a bin... but very rarely do I ever find a trash can! I really am surprised Korea isn't more polluted with the lack of garbage cans... here is a photo of the lamppost next to my bus stop... I guess people improvised a trash bin~

We all know that I'm a sucker for packaging... everything is Korea has such cute packaging!! Its sooo hard to pick something to drink... because i'm attracted to like every drink on the shelf...because it all looks sooo pretty!

these are basically all bottled tea's~ The last one on the right... was the biggest disappointment... it was a flower tea... which normally i don't mind flowery tea's but this one... was like over poweringly flowery~
Here are 2 of the 3 doggies that live here... these are the 2 that hate me... they bark at me whenever I come and go~

This is a photo I took on Friday on my way home from clinic... its the park across the street from my aunts house... this was the 1st time I saw the fountains on~

Pictures of Seung Joon... he doesn't really speak yet... he's very funny though~ he likes to back his powerwheels into his brother...who doesn't actually seem to mind~

Seung Joon and my uncle in his new favorite hat...the BeiJing 2008 olympic hat I brought him from China~

Korea... (dedicated to mr. nelson)...

2008-05-15T05:02:00.006-04:00

Food... "Mok-jah-gol" (means alley of eating... or at least thats how I think of it) in Incheon...nearly all places to eat... if not a place to eat.. then its a karaoke place~~ Welcome to Korea~~

A Momil-Myun (noodles) place my Go-moh (aunt) took me to the 2nd day I was in Korea... there was a line at 3pm... it was good

Good ole' Mool-Nyeng-Myun (Water-Cold-Noodles)this was at the "Mok-Jal-Gol" at "Jong-Noh 4ga" (i think that means street 4- it was inbetween the "Uul-Ji-Ro 3rd and 5th subway stops on Line 1- dark blue)

The computers I used to access the internet when I'm at "clinic"- Kyung Hee University Hospital...

(Not my maple game... I stood and watched some kid play KMS for a little bit... and felt nostalgic... nothing more~ and.. hmm... who's blog was I reading...
This past Monday was a holiday- buddha's birthday~ so my cousins, their families and I took a boat ride- from Wol-mi-do, called the Cosmo's with Russian and Chinese performers... and lotsa dancing old ladies (why does my camera battery die when all the good pictures are to be had?)

Inchon Fish Market... I once had a conversation with Peter (my clinic supervisor) about Korean Markets and how they display Meat... this place reminded me of him~

Kyung Hee University Hospital, and treatment room

My Cousin- HanYoung Oppa's Kids... Seung Joon(3), Seung Hoon(8mo)
they are so cute!
...
p.s- I learned how to change my slideshow (on sidebar) so strange people don't show up in it anymore! Right now... it is slidshow of my photo's from China~ hurrah! I love it!

socks

2008-05-12T04:54:00.004-04:00

Knitting... very slowly working on socks~ using Colinette Jitterbug 4-ply finger weight yarn in Velvet Damson with stripes and toe in Velvet Plumb.

Food in China

2008-05-09T06:26:00.001-04:00

Photobucket Album

power adaptor

2008-05-05T07:04:00.003-04:00

YAY! my cousin found the right power adaptor for me~ and my laptop finally works! Ok~ well it was working yesterday too... but by the time the pictures were done uploading I was tooo tired to post~ so here they are! or rather here are SOME highlights! I have like 4G's of photos and video~ if your interested you'll all welcome to my home for a picture viewing party once I return!? Meanwhile... I will try to post a few now and again~ and include a little info about each?
http://picasaweb.google.com/tinnakim/China02

Today I ate Korean Pizza- it was interesting~ the toppings included ham, green peppers, olives, onions and extra cheese... it also included corn, bulgogi and sweet Yama Potato (mashed and encircling the pizza just inside the crust)...now WHY oh WHY didn't I take a picture of this!? it was... as I said... interesting

Knitting progress: after "frogging" the 1 sock I've been working onsince the begginning of this trip too many times to remember... I finally finished the 1st sock last night~ HURRAH! I cast on the second side and now intend on going upstairs to work on it for a little bit.

Tomorrow is my 1st day of Clinic here in Korea- Why do I feel nervous? I guess it has something to do with the fact that I'm worried I won't understand a Word of what is going on and people will be upset with me for it... like they were in CHINA! oye~ I don't think I'll survive if these next 5 weeks are going to be like CHINA~ pray for me!!

Korea~

2008-05-01T07:55:00.003-04:00

I've made it to Korea~ I caught that really bad coughing-up a lung-bug everyone else in the China group was going through~ Good news~ my aunt has internet at her house! hurrah! bad news- her computer is really slow~ good news~ I brought my own laptop~ bad news~ my adapter from China doesn't WORK here! I showed her the plug and she was very confused~ we will be taking it to an electronics store tomorrow to hopefully find an adapter for it! otherwise~ I'm going to have the same 5 episodes of Numbers on my ipod for a month and a half! eww~ I'll try to post after I can figure out my computer situation~ Miss you all~
By the way~ nopes~ I wasn't on that train in CHINA! (kinda obvious now) but scary enough... we were travelling by overnight train that SAME DAY~! and of course we heard about the accident while on the TRAIN! a group member's husband texted our group leader... by the way~ i think i forgot to mention this... I left my Cell phone in new york (on purpose)~ sorry! you guys who called me and ended up chatting with my MOM!

China

2008-04-27T10:30:00.015-04:00

Arrive in China...
Lama Temple

HePingLe Hospital- Dr Lee

Chicken Feet...i think~
The "birds nest" Bei Jing Olympics 2008 stadium

Me in with Shang Hai Skyline~ on a boat- quite cold~

Temple of Heaven

Amazing lecture by author of CAM- Dr. Xinnong Cheng

Acupuncture assisted Anesthesia Neuro-Surgery~ (yes that is his foot~ LIVER 3)

Pictures to come... the great wall... Xi An (terra cotta soliders)... and other random stuffs~ but this internet hates me now- it won't load any more~

Currently at XiAn China- headed back to BeiJing by overnight sleeper train- tonite... and off to Korea on Thursday~ hopefully the internet situation will be better over there than it has been here~

2008-04-22T04:08:00.001-04:00

so~ I made it all the way to the internet cafe- with my camera in tow- guess what? NO USB port to connect my camera TO!!! RAWAR!! there is a chick smoking two computers down from my...its making my lungs hurt~ gonna run out to the tea store instead~ whats new in life people?

tired as hell~

2008-04-18T09:15:00.002-04:00

hi~
i'm tired as hell~
headed to shang hai in the morning~
still at the gross computer in the hotel...and only just NOW realized that... I CANNOT charge my laptop! i don't have the right kinda converter!! EWW! (mine is only a 2 prong converter- i need one that has a grounding fx ~3 prongs!)
there is strife within the group which is making me more tired.... for those of you out there who know us... guess WHO is makin waves!!??

on the otherhand- i saw some AMAZING acupuncture today! like blew my mind away~!! case study: male, beyond middle age, cheif complaint: hiccups for 5 days. Present history- hiccupping for 5 days following heart surgery and subsequent CAT scan... Treatment implemented: like 40 needles in EACH EAR!! Fire needling along the back Shu points and DU mai, followed by needles retained ALL over the body including a 5 inch needle threaded down the UBmai @ back and ST mai along abdomen!!! Yes~ this treatment has changed my life- i am a new person just by observing it!!

ok I can't take the grimy keyboard n e more- time to go SANITIZE my hands~ miss you all~

Hello from BeiJing

2008-04-16T03:37:00.004-04:00

So I'm here! I'm sitting at the internet computer (single) at my Hotel in BeiJing- because we don't have enough time to head over to the Internet cafe~ (which we briefly visited yesterday only to have a look-see) and this computer is just short of complete fail! Ah well, it only took 5 minutes to load the blogger page~

So~ we've barely had a chance to stop and rest- we've been on the go since we got here! We arrived Sunday evening~ at BeiJing airport- Terminal 3. We rode one of those HUGE internation flight planes (AirChina) except it wasn't completely full (yay me!) only instead of walking thru the walkway into the airport it dropped us off in middle of the tarmac- and had to take a shuttle bus... to a shuttle tram... to... a long moving walkway~ to go thru immigration and baggage and such~ I've never been in such a HUGE but EMPTY airport in my LIFE! it was eerie~ kinda like those commercials you see on tv- where everyone is at some kinda sale or something?

Monday and Tuesday morning we began Clinic- we were observing and assisting at HePing *something*something* Out Patient Hospital- It was really neat- the doctors see like 30 patients in about 3 hours... and the people are sooo funny... China definitely has NOT heard about HIPPA- its GREAT! We also got to meet some Medical school students from NYU- they are doing a rotation here~ to study chinese medicine~ all we had to say after meet and observing them was... errr "I am never going to let that dude needle me"- it was a good try tho (the doctors ask one of the students to freehand a needle into UB 40- it looked entirely tooo painful!)

In the afternoons we sit in lectures... and in the evenings we go out as tourists- rushing like mad-men because the places close kinda early and such~ its a bit insane~

The food is SOOOOO good! I feel like, the most sane, calm, centering time of the day are our meals (After we finally can decide on which dishes to order) Today we had Peking Duck~ it was sooo good! pictures to come~

(Knitting progress on SOCK- minimal- Stephan told me I could not Knit on the subway/bus here; and everywhere else we go...we walk! how sad~ but it will get done! eventually)

Going to try to get to the Internet cafe we visited later this week to upload my pictures and such- i should have brought a travel drive- it would have made my life soo much easier! oh well...next time?

...to come...info on Mops~

Leaving~

2008-04-12T01:11:00.003-04:00

Ok you guyz...I'm just about all set~
my plane is taking off in about.... 15 hours~
Am I done packing? errr~ kinda? ok... not really... its a work in progress~
I've narrowed down the yarn I'm taking~ I feel like I've accomplished alot! it was hard because i'm not taking alot~ I'm hoping to find some cool yarn along the way?~

Wellz~ the next time I post~ I'll be in China!
G'nite people~

1st flower on tree in front of house~ it must be spring

2008-04-11T17:50:00.001-04:00

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required. Visit www.apple.com/quicktime/download to download the free player or upgrade your existing QuickTime� Player. Note: During the download process when asked to choose an installation type (Minimum, Recommended or Custom), select Minimum for faster download.

PCOM graduation Party~

2008-04-09T21:39:00.008-04:00

birthday....cake.... socks~

2008-04-03T23:19:00.009-04:00

wow~ i opened my e-mail box to like 89 new e-mails~ and amazingly enough.... it wasn't all SPAM! thanx guyz for all the birthday wishes! <3>

my mom and grandma singing happy birthday~ to me? we brought the cake home from the resturant cause we were all tooo stuffed to eat it~ My grandmother is sooo cute! She was laughing hysterically after all the singing... and of course Noodles had to join in on the festivities~

these are the sock that I just finished knitting last night... HURRAH! okay lets be honest here... I started them last year! errr.... I've been distracted??... They were originally planned for my grandma- but my aunt really loved them... so these are my aunties feet in the sock's~

Took my LAST FINAL EXAM of Acupuncture School!

2008-04-02T16:05:00.005-04:00

I just got out of the last FINAL EXAM of my acupuncture school career~ HURRAH!!!! I feel.... sooo accomplished.... yay its DONE!

ok here's a random picture for u?~ taken 2 days ago~ (with my new camera!- which I LOVE)~

Here's Noodles.... she's soooo CUTE!! if only she were better behaved... Anybody have access to a dog whisper'er? Tell them to come by~ we have LOTSA things to work on~

1st entry~

2008-03-31T19:00:00.003-04:00

WOW! Hi! You came! so you do love me! I don't have much to write at the moment~ Really I should be working on some final assignments... LAST WEEK of SCHOOl! HURRAH! so here is a random photo... till I can get this thing started...