Saturday, May 30, 2009

2009 Knitting (May)

I guess May was a month of selfish knitting, looking back. :) I had a lot of fun making these, though, and have more fun projects planned for June.

Project: My Jayne Hat

Pattern: Jayne Cobb Hat (Ravel It)
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid 'Brick', 'Rust' & 'Mustard'
Needles: US10 Knit Picks Harmony Wood 16" circular & 8" dpns
Started: April 26, 2009
Finished: May 4, 2009
Other Details: To use up the extras from Justin's birthday hat. My pom-pom is more professional, since Ma Cobb would have made one for Jayne's lady-friend a little fancier, I think. :)

Project: Amy-anda Hat

Pattern: The Amanda Hat (Ravel It)
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy 'Wisterious'
Needles: US9 Knit Picks Harmony Wood 16" circular & 8" dpns
Started: May 5, 2009
Finished: May 6, 2009
Other Details: Needed to make a fast project in worsted after that crazy lace project and loved the idea of this hat in this yarn. I was right - it's fabulous. :) I have enough left over to make another hat or a pair of mitts!

Project: Glacial Melt

Pattern: Falling Water (Ravel It)
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock 'Blue Ice'
Needles: US5 Knit Picks Harmony Wood 8" dpns
Measurements: 96" long x 5" wide
Started: May 5, 2009
Finished: May 24, 2009
Other Details: For the Sunshine Yarnies Ravelry Group's May Lace KAL. It turned out even better than I expected, and I am so glad that I am finally keeping something beautiful and lacy for myself! :D

2009 Crafting (April)

I also had a great time making some Twilight & Family themed stitch markers for Jenni's birthday present and it inspired me to make a few more sets for my new Etsy shop.

Project: Stitch Markers: Twilight

Details: Fits up to a US9, set of 6
Inspiration: Twilight, of course. Jenni had added a similar set to her wishlist, so I decided to make them for her birthday.
Notes: Two identical sets made, one for Jenni and one for me. :)

Project: Stitch Markers: Family

Details: Fits up to a US10.5, set of 5
Inspiration: I wanted to make Jenni another set of markers for her birthday that would be something personal, so I came up with this. :)

Project: Stitch Markers: Nature

Details: Fits up to a US6, set of 8 (4 of each design)
Inspiration: My friend Deneise's love of nature. Green grass, brown trees and a clear blue sky. I realized to me they also represent 'the meadow' from the Twilight books. :)
Notes: For sale on Etsy

Project: Stitch Markers: Strata

Details: Fits up to a US10.5, set of 2
Inspiration: The beads reminded me of layers of earth that would always peak my curiosity in Geology classes.
Notes: May be for sale on Etsy soon.

Project: Stitch Markers: Globs

Details: Fits up to a US10.5, set of 4
Inspiration: The beads themselves were so neat, like little drops of glass left over when making a hand-blown vase or bowl, so I decided they would just showcase themselves.
Notes: SOLD on Etsy!! My first Etsy sale!! :D

Project: Stitch Markers: Clovers

Details: Fits up to a US10.5, set of 14
Inspiration: The clover beads made me think about my Irish heritage. I thought they would look great surrounded by wood beads and little green glass spacers, and they do!
Notes: I know these would sell right away on Etsy, but I don't think I can give them up!!

2009 Knitting (April)

I just realized that it's the end of May and I haven't posted any of my finished knitting projects here! Please accept my sincere apologies for a few picture-heavy posts. :)

Project: Mother's Day Scarf

Pattern: Little Leaf Lace Scarf (Ravel It)
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock
Needles: US5 Knit Picks Harmony Wood 8" dpns
Measurements: 65" long x 8" wide
Started: April 1, 2009
Finished: April 24, 2009
Other Details: For the Sunshine Yarnies Ravelry Group's April KAL, and a Mother's Day present for my mom. :)

Project: Playtime Baby Blanket

Pattern: Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket (Ravel It)
Yarn: Baby Bee Little Britches 'Playtime'
Needles: US9 Knit Picks Harmony Wood Interchangable Circulars
Measurements: 19.5" square
Started: March 16, 2009
Finished: April 25, 2009
Other Details: A baby item for my 'FO/Present Stash'.

Project: Burgundy Sparkle Scarf 1

Pattern: Mile-a-Minute Scarf #4 (Ravel It)
Yarn: Patons Brilliant 'Beautiful Burgundy'
Needles: US10 Boye 10" Aluminum
Measurements: 130" long x 6" wide
Started: January 21, 2009
Finished: April 26, 2009
Other Details: For my 'FO/Present Stash'. I have enough to make two more in this color and another three in lilac.

2009 Knitting (Jan-Mar)

I just realized that it's the end of May and I haven't posted any of my finished knitting projects here! Please accept my sincere apologies for a few picture-heavy posts. :)

Project: Mom's Wimple

Pattern: Smoke Ring (Ravel It)
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too Ty-Dy Socks '1631'
Needles: US5, US6, US7, US8 Knit Picks Harmony 16" circs
Started: December 6, 2008
Finished: January 17, 2009
Other Details: A birthday present for my mom - I wanted to knit her my first lace, and settled on this cowl. I picked this yarn from my stash because I thought she would like the green in it. :)

Project: Noro Calorimetry

Pattern: Calorimetry (Ravel It)
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Chunky '3'
Needles: US8 Boye 14" Aluminum
Measurements: 15.5" long unstretched
Started & Finished: January 20, 2009
Other Details: Yarn was a present from Jenni, so I thought I'd make a Calorimetry like she did. :)

Project: Yukon Calorimetry

Pattern: Calorimetry (Ravel It)
Yarn: Knit Picks Sock Landscape 'Yukon'
Needles: US6 Boye 14" Aluminum
Measurements: 16.5" long unstretched
Started & Finished: January 25, 2009
Other Details: Knitted 2 strands together, one from each end of the ball, to prevent pooling. Used a cute wood button from Hobby Lobby. A little tight, but nice and warm. :)

Project: Pastel Bunny Buddy 1

Pattern: Bunny Blanket Buddy - Knit (Ravel It)
Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombre 'Pretty Pastels'
Needles: US6 & US8 Boye 14" Aluminum
Started: January 27, 2009
Finished: February 1, 2009
Other Details: For my 'FO/Presents Stash'. There's babies popping out everywhere, so I'm sure I'll need more!

Project: Justin's Jayne Hat

Pattern: Jayne Cobb Hat (Ravel It)
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid 'Brick', 'Rust' & 'Mustard'
Needles: US10 Knit Picks Harmony Wood 16" circular & 8" dpns
Started: March 12, 2009
Finished: March 14, 2009
Other Details: 3rd try was a charm! I got SO frustrated making this one! Blah. But I managed to squeak it out just in time for his birthday. :)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The 'grown up' quiz

Because I'm bored.

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids? Here you have 40 questions for the people who are a little older...

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Utilities, because it's the biggest since I paid my car off.

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Chili's! I find fajitas incredibly romantic.

3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Eating spaghetti and watching TV, but I gotta wait till J-man gets home.

4. How many colleges did you attend?
Just the one.

5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Because it's light teal and enhances my crazy light blue eyes.

6. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I like them under $2.

7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
When I saw myself in the mirror I wondered where the weird hand prints on my chest came from...

8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
'Mmmmm I love snuggles.'

9. Do you miss being a child?
No, because I'm pretty child-ish. Ask anyone.

10. What errand/chore do you despise?
Doing dishes. They are smelly and make my nails all soggy and bendy.

11. Get up early or sleep in?
I always get up early now, I'm old.

12. Have you found real love yet?
Yes! YAY!

13. Favorite lunch meat?
Umm.. honey ham! Yums.

14. What do you get every time you go into Target?
I hardly ever go there anymore, but usually a cheap DVD or two.

15. Beach or lake?
Snow. Crabs live on the beach (and chase me) and there's bugs at the lake. Ick.

16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Nope, I think it's fun to lay claim to my manly man.

17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Ick, neither! I'll take Bones and Supernatural instead.

18. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Oh, to choose! J would say that I would pick David Boreanaz, but I think I would pick Rob Pattinson now because he seems more reserved like me and wouldn't mind the awkward silences.

19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
My vehicle was crashed into, but I have never caused it to crash.

20. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No, I call the police and they do it very well.

21. Ring tone?
'Leave Out All the Rest' - Linkin Park. But mostly I hear 'Far Away' by Nickelback because that's my one for J-man.

22. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
Um.. Alaska?

23. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Any and everywhere, I've never been to Cali.

24. Do you go to church?
Only with family when they are going.

25. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career - and that's what I'm doing!

26. How old are you?
28, will be 29 in 3 mths and 5 days. :)

27. Do you have a go-to person?
Yup, hubster J. If it's a girly thing, then Jenn-face.

28. Are you where you want to be in life?
Not yet, but getting there. Once I become a teacher and pop out a kid, I will be.

29. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?
Smurfs, Gummi Bears, Duck Tales

30. What about you do you think has changed the most?
My temper and attitude. I had to work long and hard to overcome certain things about me that I didn't like.

31. Looking back at high school, were they the best years of your life?
Not nearly. I miss the friends and hanging with them a lot but I was very different back then.

32. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
Most of the time. I'm still wondering if 'adult mode' will ever kick in.

33. Did you ever own troll dolls?
Yes, lots! I had them all dressed up, with belly jewels, and earrings too.

34. Did you have a pager?
Wow, yes. When I started college. I felt so pimp!

35. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Hmm.. usually a friend's place but I would go to Meijer's or the Lansing Mall when I was bored.

36. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Very much yes, because I was never able to find trouble no matter how hard I looked for it.

37. Who do you think impacted your life the most?
My ex, Jer. It might suck, but he made me realize a lot of things about myself when we were happy, and again when it was over.

38. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
My band instructor, JK. He always saw the best in me.

39. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
Yes, but mostly to be funny. :) I mean, I married a younger man and have 2 little sisters, so it's fun.

40. Is it better to love and lose it or never to love at all?
It's better to love and lose, it can make you a better person if you are open to it, and love is always worth it.

Racist Pins?

Oh, the fun I have. I think times like this may be the only reason Jenni IMs with me in the first place. :)

[screen names removed to protect us, even though we are far from innocent]

Back story: I had been contemplating getting a pin cushion for about a week. During my trip to Hobby Lobby today I finally just purchased the cheap (lame) tomato one, for $1.58 instead of the wicked-cool flower ones for $7.99. When I got home, I decided to get my sewing pins all on my new little tomato, sorted by color since I like to pin out my knitting projects with them all co-ordinated. (I mean, Hanie segregated her pins too so I knew it was OK since she's all government-y and stuff.) After staring at my completed project, a thought popped in to my head, and I had to share it with Jenni (because that's what we do).



amy: i think my pins are racist
amy: there is a big minority of white ones but an overwhelming amount of yellow ones
jenni: LMAO
amy: poor little white pins
jenni: HAHA
amy: ok white black and green all have 15
amy: red only has 14!
amy: it's discriminating against native americans?
jenni: weirdo!
amy: 22 blues
amy: i think that represents frozen nordic people
amy: TWENTY FIVE YELLOWS
amy: it's the asians
amy: they are racist-ing my pins

and when Jenni told me I should share this rant...

amy: >.>
amy: i dunno, not everyone can enjoy racial humor at the expense of pins

But she convinced me to blog it anyway. Because I am, as always, a drunk lemming in search of a cheap laugh.