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

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~

So sad~~

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~~

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

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!?

It snowed!

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~