201st post ... 6 months later

I am a bad, bad blogger.

So it seems like I haven't actually posted anything since July. Not that nothing has happened. In fact, loads of things have happened! I just forgot to blog about it ;)

I think the most important thing to happen since July 2010 (or in 2010 at all) was the birth of my niece. She's absolutely adorable, and I finally have someone to knit baby things for :) So far, she's been the recipient of 4 pairs of booties, 2 hats, and a sweater. I'm in the process of knitting a baby cape for her too!

The second awesomest thing that happened in 2010 was my trip to Egypt. That was November, and I can't believe that it was 3 months ago. Time certainly flies.

And my big big news for 2011 (so far) is my move to Brantford, where I will start a shiny new job! That's my current stress factor right now. I hate moving.

So, happy 2011 everyone who reads this, and I'll try not to wait 6 more months before I blog again!

Busy Month of May

Wow. I've been neglecting the ol' blog again. I tend to do this from time to time, when my life gets exceedingly busy.

So, let's review, starting with knitting projects. A few posts ago (whoa - way back in February!), I was talking about all the beautiful things I've been knitting. Here's a status update:

1. Simone - flare sleeved cowl sweater
Hmm ... haven't touched this one in months. But I did get a good chunk of it done before getting side tracked. Hopefully I'll finish it this summer!

2. Proposition - entrelac gloves
After various attempts at getting gauge, this project is temporarily frogged. I will work on it again though! I still love it!

3. Lady Eleanor - entrelac stole
Ooo ... I'm *this close* to finishing it. It's huge and unweildy now, so it's tough for me to work on it. But it will be done! And (hopefully) soon!

4. Clapotis - rite of passage
Yeah. Not happening. Not yet, anyway.

5. Patchwork Trio Afghan - for Mom
So I got all the yarn for this one, figured out how to do the squares, gave a bunch of balls to my Mom so she could do her part ... and then my sister gave us some terrific news.

So, what have I been knitting, if all these projects seem to be paused? Well, based on my sister's terrific news, I've been a little bit baby crazy. So 99% of my knitting projects have been baby booties and I have plans for other baby things. Once this is done (and the kid is born), I'll get back to my regularly scheduled knitting.


That's my knitting update. Other than that, I've been seeing a new awesome guy and we've been hanging around together a lot. There's Dee's rapidly approaching wedding, which resulted in a fantastic bachelorette party ... first trip of the year to Wonderland with Corinna ... and a bunch of other great stuff that's been keeping me busy. So yeah. That explains the lack of updates, but I'll try to do better!

Knitting - On The Needles

So it appears as if I have a rather severe case of start-itis, meaning that there are a bunch of projects that I want to start and complete.

(note: photos are not the things I'm making ... well, they are, but their not the exact ones I'm making. Meaning I'm stealing the photos from other places to show you what the heck I'm talking about)

1. Simone - flare sleeved cowl sweater

My first attempt at a me-size sweater. I'm working on a boring part right now, just straight knitting the back for a good long time. Still, I'm stupidly proud that I'm making a sweater, so I can still make myself knit the boring parts.


2. Proposition - entrelac gloves

Another first - my first entrelac attempt. Ok, so far I've only done the 10 rows of ribbing at the bottom but I plan on knitting more tonight and possible doing the entrelac part tomorrow. I'm excited to try this out. Entrelac is, I think, one of the most beautiful designs you can do with yarn. And keeping that in mind, once I finish the gloves, I'll try this:

3. Lady Eleanor - entrelac stole

Pictures of this made out of Noro Taiyo (which is what I'll be using) made me squee out loud. Good thing I was at home! I'm absolutely dying to wrap this around me, so I'm hoping that the entrelac gloves won't be the end of me and entrelac ;)


4. Clapotis - rite of passage

Since nearly all my knitterly friends have either made (or are making) a Clapotis, I feel like it's a rite of passage for knitters to make one. A kind of fiber bar mitzvah (or bat mitzvah, I suppose). So once I find the elusive last skein of Noro Taiyo that I need to have enough to make a full size Clapotis, I will undertake this rite of passage myself!

And yes, I do have a gorgeous Clapotis that I adore, made by the wonderful Heather, but I feel like I should make my own to prove to the world that I Am A Knitter :)


5. Patchwork Trio Afghan - for Mom

 

Finally, the last project I want to tackle, is this afghan for Mom. She said she would knit part of it, so it'll be a joint venture. I just need to wait for the 26 balls of yarn I ordered to come in. This is going to take me a loooong time to make.


Well, it looks like I'm going to be busy for quite a while. Who's up for a Stitch 'n Bitch?

Distracted by Life

I've really, really been neglecting the ol' blog. Apologies to anyone out there who still reads this. Without getting into any details, let's just say my life has been a roller coaster ride the past few months with too many ups and downs.

Let's see... what I have I been working on?

Well, I've been knitting a gorgeous shawl out of the Noro Chirimen that Heather picked up for me at the Yarn Frolic (which I couldn't attend because, alas, I was working). Originally I was going to use it to make a sweater, but I really need a shawl for the summer (work is overly air conditioned) and the colours are so lovely!

And like usual, I don't have a picture of it. Sorry :(

The other thing occupying my time?

I've only had it for a few days, but it's oodles of fun :D

I also finished reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" (I'm stupidly proud of this - it's 1243 pages with really small type!) and I recommend it to anyone who has the time to read it.

Also, everyone should read "The Mystery of Grace" by Charles de Lint. I read it not knowing at all what it was about, and enjoyed it more that way. It's a fabulous read, supremely well written, and difficult to put down. Trust me, go read it :)

That's about it for my update. Once I figure out how to take pictures in Sims 3, I'll show you some of the wacky things you can do in the new game.

And once I get someone to take pictures of me in my recent knitting accomplishments, I'll post them too!

The most wonderful time of the spring...

It's Anime North day today :D

A few hiccups with this year's guest list, but I'm still going and looking forward to it! Pictures will inevitably follow.

I've been a bad blogger, so here's a quick catch up on what's going on in my life, hobby-wise.

Knitting:
Gave up on the baby sweater and am now knitting an orange and blue panda for baby Simon (who I think was just born - stay tuned for official confirmation)

Also, I got the Taiyo to finish the sweater I've been trying to finish for over a year now. Yay!

Gloves are 100% finished, and I have started on the matching beret, only to put it aside to finish the panda.

Movies:
GO SEE STAR TREK! It was *awesome* even if you never followed the original series. If you know the bare minimum (i.e. who Kirk is and who Spok is) you should be fine. Plus, the guy who plays Kirk is pretty damned hot.

see?

Next on the movie agenda: The X-Men Origins Wolverine movie. I'm really only looking forward to Ryan Renolds, and I heard his roll is very small, so I'm preparing myself for disappointment.

In Other News...
I have a 6 day vacation coming up in June, and since I think I'll be spending the majority of those days by myself, I wanted to buy a small, cheap laptop for word processing so I can work on one of my novels while I'm up there. Tuesday's mission: go to Best Buy and check out the laptops.

But for today, I'm off to ANIME NORTH! :D

Blogger's New Groove

I really gotta get back into the blogging grove, methinks. Here's a bit of an update:

1. I tried to get pictures of me wearing my now-complete shrug, but it rained and was cold so I didn't want to go outside wearing it. Now I have to wait for another weekend where I have a photographer (since it's hard for me to take a good picture of myself wearing it)

2. Both of my gloves are finished! Hooray! I love knitting gloves :) Now I need to buy/borrow a tapestry needle (I lost mine) to sew in the stray bits. Annoying how my gloves are finished just as the temperature starts getting into the 20s :(

3. Gonna start working on the beret to match the gloves :D

4. Finally finally FINALLY got the right Taiyo to finish the little sweater I was making last summer. I ran out of yarn :( Now I have enough to make the sleeves a little longer! Hooray!

5. Heather (my yarn enabler) found me another type of Noro that I can wear called Chirimon. Reminds me of a Pokemon name :) Need one more skein and some matching colours to make a sweater!

6. The baby sweater I was going to make for Andrea A has fallen by the wayside. Rule #1 of making knitted presents for people: Don't tell them what you're making until you're done! I hope Andrea A is not disappointed :(

Glove Love!

It's been a while since I've posted, and in that time I've managed to finish two things. One was my shrug (picture to follow when I get someone to take a picture of me wearing it), and the other was a glove!

The story of the glove begins on a train to Montreal...

Itty bitty thumb hat!

(incidentally, this is probably my most well documented knitting project *ever*)

By the end of the first train ride, I had an interesting knitting needles/yarn/fingers sculpture


While staying at Dee's aunt and uncle's place, I managed to knit a tiny bit more...

*quack*

On the train ride back to Toronto, I got all the fingers done!


Then started to work on the hand of the glove...


By the end of the train ride, I had enough of knitting... and staying awake


But I perservered and kept knitting, and today I finished the glove! *applause*


One down, one to go. And then (if I have enough yarn), a matching beret! *squee!*

The Friday Night Knitting Club

By all rights, I shouldn't have even read this book. It's definitely not the kind of book I usually pick up. I tend to avoid the adult reality type books, preferring to enjoy my escapism with books about fantasy and vampires.

But, the book is about knitting (which I enjoy) and I had just finished reading a fantasy book about politics and assassins ("The Way of the Shadows" by Brent Weeks - very good!), so I figured what the heck.

I was blown away by the readability of this book. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but I found all the characters to be extremely likeable. Their lives were beautifully displayed and each one was a unique and interesting person. The main character, Georgia, reminded me of the type of person I wanted to be. It was funny, heart warming, moving, and cathartic.

Whether you knit or not, you should read this book... okay, maybe not so much for guys, but everyone else should.

Guys, go pick up "The Way of the Shadows" instead. ;)

Busy fingers

I'm working away on Thorpe (the hat from the previous post) and I'm down to the ridgey part at the bottom.

I was hoping to have this hat done by Saturday so I can wear it skiing. Somehow, I doubt that will happen though :) I have to figure out how to crochet before it's done... and make ears. This hat is screaming for some ears.

Stay tuned for more hat updates!

(oh, and happy February!)

Neglecting the ol' blog

I have stuff to blog about, really, I just don't have any pictures. I am a lazy photographer in this digital age. I mean, I don't even have to leave my apartment anymore! Still, excuses, excuses :)

What have I been knitting?

Let's see ... I'm almost done a shrug. I think it's called the Retro Redux Shrug from Lace Style. Dee had knit one up and I borrowed it when we saw Avenue Q (the theatre was *cold*) and loved how it fit, so I decided to make one for myself.

someone else's shrug
see previous comment about too lazy to take my own pictures

What else? Well, one of my co-workers is pregnant, so I'm working on a surprise project for her (I don't know if she reads this blog or not) and a not-so surprise present which will hopefully end up looking like this:

The pattern is for free here

Only mine will be a solid colour (orangey) with dark dark blue trim.

I'm also going to start on my very own ski hat ... with ear flap and probably ears :) It'll be dark brown with a pale blue trim to match my new ski jacket. The pattern is called Thorpe (Rav link) and it looks like this:


Still gotta do a gauge swatch for this one. I doubt the hat will be done by my next ski trip in early February. Oh well :)


This concludes the blog post about what I've been up to, knitting-wise.

Sheer Freakin' GENIUS!

Check this out.

Some brilliant soul knit themselves a David Tennant!!

(picture yoinked from the Yarn Harlot's blog)

I want one.

Stealin' posts for my blog

I just read a good review of Breaking Dawn (the final book in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer). It's pretty much exactly how I feel about the book, so rather than litter the internet with the same thing twice, just go read it here.

Pictures from Nuit Blanche will be posted when I stop being so damned lazy and get the photos off my camera. I can't help it if every time I see my computer I automatically load up the Sims! I wonder if that's a sign I need help ;)

In knitting news, there's been a sudden baby boom among people I know (okay, only 2, but that's lots for me!) so I'm working on a surprise present for one friend, and thinking of a surprise present for the other. I also need more Taiyo to finish my sweater, and yarn to start a new sweater... Yarn crawl, anyone??

All This Post is Missing are Pictures

I had an awesome weekend this past weekend. I was out and about for both days, starting with seeing "Tropic Thunder" on Friday (just for Robert Downey Jr). It wasn't bad... I'd recommend waiting for the DVD if you want to see it. Or better still, taking it out of the library (for free).

Saturday I wandered around the Thornhill Festival, bought food (mmm... roasted yams), bugged some of my co-workers who were there representing the library... then hopped on the subway and went downtown to meet up with Dee and Pete, who were in town to see Blue Man Group.

Sunday I went to Wonderland to celebrate Corinna's birthday. We met up with Ian and Emily and Emily's sister Allison for a bit, then after all the fun roller coasters we went out for sushi.

It was lots of fun. I also got a bit of knitting done on my re-started scarf. Of course, every time I sit down to knit Hamlet tries to eat my yarn. I had to build a pillow barracade, which he took as a challenge and ended up attacking from a different direction. *sigh*

Oh, and last night I saw the TV show "The Mentalist". Originally, I thought this concept was pretty stupid, just like CSI and Law & Order, but I watched it and it's pretty good. (It helps that Simon Baker is pretty hot) ;)

Next post will have pictures of the aforementioned activities... except the TV show. You can Google that yourselves!

Not-Sims update

I was reading through my blog the other day and came across a few pictures of this alpaca scarf I was knitting last year. I know I never finished it, so I dug around my apartment until I found it. Apparently I had screwed up the pattern somewhere (and I couldn't remember what the pattern was), so I pulled it all out, found the pattern online, and started again. No pictures yet, but Hamlet has a taste for alpaca (almost as strong as his taste for lamb) so I have to keep the scarf in a box. Good thing kittens don't have thumbs!

And now, a random alpaca picture:

Adventures in Toronto

*Warning: This will be a picture heavy post (because I'm lazy and just took lots of these pictures off my camera now)*

Back in July (I think it was in July - that was a busy month and most of it is a blur), Dee came to Toronto to visit. So, of course, Heather and I took her on a yarn crawl.


While walking, we passed an old building that I adore. If I ever in my life get a chance to build a building, it's going to look like this:

Here we are having fun at Romni Wool...

The red ball of yarn was sooooooooooooooooooo soft...

Heather thinks I'm nuts

My Noro! Mine!

And after dropping Dee off, Heather and I strolled about for a bit and spotted two moose. Remember those moose statues that were scattered around Toronto? Well, we found two

On someone's balcony.

Then in August (August 5th to be exact) was the 2nd Annual Stitch N Pitch! We had quite the crowd come this year - Nancy, Heather, Mike, me, Richard, Jane, and Dave ... and I bought a ticket for Sarah, but unfortunately she had to rescue her boyfriend in Pickering and missed the game :(

Take me out to the ball game...

Heather and Nancy

Modeling my nearly completed Noro sweater... I love Taiyo!

Me and Jane (and Jane's mitten)

Me and Richard (who actually came to watch the game... go figure)

Oh, and for the record, the Jays won against the Oakland A's 4-3 at the bottom of the ninth. Way to wait until the very last minute!

Exciting Day

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day for me ... well, not the entire day, but from about 6:30pm to around 8:45pm (if you want to be precise)

Why was yesterday so exciting? Because the Yarn Harlot came to my library for an author talk!

Now, if you're not a knitter, you're going to wonder what's wrong with my sanity that I would get so excited about meeting an author of humorous knitting books. Well, the fact that she's an author is enough for me since I'm still holding onto that dream that one day I'll see one of my books in print (every year my New Years resolution is to send some writing to a publisher... hard to believe that I achieved the much more difficult loose-weight resolution before the send-something-to-a-publisher one!)

But the real reason I was excited to meet her in person was because I read her blog every day and she's a truly hilarious writer. I've heard her speak before, and she's a gifted public speaker (even if she denies it). And I've seen pictures of the things she can knit, and it's honestly inspirational. And in person, she's all those things too.

And now, I can brag to my knitting friends that I had a 30 minute conversation with the Yarn Harlot. That's probably enough to make them jealous ;)

After the talk (which was very successful as far as author talks at my library go), I went out for hot chocolate with Heather & Mike. It honestly felt like I hadn't seen them in ages, so I was glad they decided to stick around for a bit. We went to a kosher Second Cup (kosher in that sense, meaning really expensive cupcakes)!

So far, it's been a busy but good week. Two more days of work to go!

What I've Been Up To: The Knitting Edition

I haven't updated in a while, so I thought I'd bring everyone up to speed on what I'm knitting.

I got a good chunk of knitting done at the cottage at the end of June (which was very nice) and I've been trying to knit a little every night, but life can be pretty busy sometimes. It helps that I'm head-over-heels in love with Noro Taiyo and want to buy more.

So, I'm still plugging away at the Montego Bay Scarf (Ravelry link) made from the sock yarn Heather and I won for doing the scavenger hunt back on April Fools Day.

Yes, it's still not very long, but you try saying "no" to Noro

The colours of this yarn are beautiful!

I finished putting together my little Lamby, but sadly he is lacking eyes. He also has a bit of a club foot but I love him anyway. Not bad for my first attempt at a stuffed animal, I think. Dee, Heather, when we go sight seeing in Toronto (which I'm assuming will include stops at yarn stores), I should buy this little guy some button eyes.

My poor blind little lamb

And the current love-of-my-knitting-life, is the Capelet I'm making with the Noro Taiyo (*heart*) ... (Ravelry link). If you look at the Ravelry link, I'm planning on making the sleeves and body of my capelet a touch longer so that it doesn't look like I'm wearing a baby sweater ;)

What I've got so far... I live for the colour change!

Close up! My family was wondering why there were so many holes in this, and didn't believe me when I said it was intentional.

So there's my knitting update. I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that I went to Canada's Wonderland on Canada Day and rode the Behemoth... AT THE VERY VERY FRONT!


I think my heart stopped for a few seconds. It was AWESOME :D

Because I don't have enough on the go...

I'm still plugging away at the Montego Bay scarf (which is really pretty even if I keep making small mistakes that shift the pattern around a touch. That's what makes it an original!) and I finished my Easter lamb (minus the button eyes), so I'm looking for a new quick and easy project to start on.

I was thinking of making another pair of fingerless gloves, since I have the Fleece Artist Merino sock yarn that is pretty much the same as the yarn I used to make my first pair of gauntlets... they are currently in the form of a large sock which will be reverted into its more yarnular form.


But it's summer. The weather is going to be hot and gorgeous. I don't want to make mittens or hats or heavy winter things that will remind me of the cold that is sure to come.

Anyone have suggestions? I'm open to anything as long as its easy and something I would wear/use :D

And it doesn't have to be using the Fleece Artist. There are plenty of other yarns in my stash to use... like the Noro Taiyo that currently does not have a project but is screaming to be used.
(I do so love Noro)


p.s. would someone like to make my little naked lamb a sweater? or a vest? ;)

It's been about a week....

It's been about a week since I last posted here, so I figured I should write something.

Unfortunately, not much has been going on.

Sure, I've been doing the usual going-to-work and being-shed-on-by-cats, but nothing really exciting has happened to me lately.

Let's see.... how about some updates on what I've been working on?

After cleaning out my bookshelf and getting rid of a lot of old books, I've decided to reread David Eddings' Belgariad series. Oh the memories. Reading these old books makes me smile because it reminds me of the style in which I used to write. I would mimic various authors in an attempt to find my own voice, and I definitely went through a David Eddings phase.

I'm still writing, but I found an old story on my hard drive that I hadn't touched in a while, reread it, and decided to start working on it again. It's based off an old D&D character I created, and then found too tricky to play. She's much easier to write, since I can control the other characters too ;)

Spirit Saga is on a temporary hiatus while I work out some details.... namely, should I kill this one character? It's an agonizing decision.

Knitting... well, Heather showed me how to do seams (which are really neat) so I'm stitching together my Easter lamb. The stupid yarn makes it really tricky, so only the head is attached to the body. And in the picture of the lamb, the body looks oval, but my lamb seems to have more of a triangular line-backer body. Weird.

I'm also knitting the Montego Bay scarf (is that what it's called? I'm too lazy to look it up), which is progressing nicely. I made a mistake, knit that mistake for a few inches, then made another mistake that corrected the original mistake and now I'm back on the pattern. Still looks good, though :)


But I haven't had a lot of time for my hobbies since I'm still trying to find a place to live. Gotta have one by the end of June or else I'm homeless... wish me luck!

Trying to think of a post

Let's see... something must have happened during the past week for me to blog about...

I visited London on Friday/Saturday, just to make sure that Dee and Sam were still talking to me ;) It was lots of fun - I miss that city! It made me long for my university days when almost all my friends were in one place. Ah, nostalgia.

Hamlet helps me pack in the most unhelpful way possible

While in London, Dee and I looked at lots of pretty dresses (which, unfortunately, I can't show you) and did some knitting (which, fortunately, I can show you!)

I'm pleased to say that with Dee's help, I finished my gauntlets! Right in time for summer.... d'oh! We got Sam, did some shopping, ate some yummy ice cream... it was lots of fun! (Don't worry Sam, I won't post the picture of you eating ice cream) ;)

We were each knitting from one end of the ball, like Lady and the Tramp - only with yarn
(and no dogs)

The finished gauntlets

And I started making a lacy scarf, using a pattern Dee found for me.

It's the Montego Bay Scarf, and I'm using the sock yarn Heather and I won during the sock scavenger hunt (since I dislike knitting socks). I'm debating whether or not to scrap the Toronto sock (the one that's in all the scavenger hunt pictures) and either start over or give up. I haven't decided yet.


Huh. Apparently I did have some things to post about :)