Sadly, though the last time I was there BF’s hubby never didn’t have a camera in his hand, this time I have no pictures to share.  But I can make a quick little list of the things I did:  Visited Bruce and Brandon Lee’s grave (and the rest of the cemetery as well), got to try fresh blackcurrants (just as good as the candies…I <3 blackcurrant), saw a fish ladder (yes, a ladder fish climb…it was interesting), went shopping in a mall bigger than the town I live in, (though I didn’t buy anything but a little treat from Godiva – a chocolate cup topped with a mound of fresh berries), poi danced (and not with the practice poi, either…I may have a new obsession), gamed for the first time in many years (thanks K, for making an awesome one-shot for me), and got to eat at the Cheesecake Factory not once, but twice (we *so* need on in the Q…so much more than just cheesecake.)

I did finish the MS3, blocked and everything.  It didn’t turn out as large as I had hoped.  It’s more of a short, glorified scarf.  But it’s the perfect size stole for a small girl, so it works out alright. I also finally blocked the Invisibility shawl, though the ends are most definitely not woven in on that one.  It’s such perfect Ravenclaw colors that the resident house member in my knitting group will take it on it’s inaugural run when we go to see the newest HP movie (I’ve decided to raid the closet and go as a Death Eater, since I’ve got the supplies for that. Go me for deciding months in advance what I need.) And lastly, I also finished the evil socks of evilness that I started on the cruise at the beginning of the year.  I don’t know what it was about those things, but I just hated knitting them.  Oh, well.  They’re done and they fit, even if they are a little short for my tastes.

And no, I have no pictures of any of those things.  And I’m too lazy right now to go get pictures of them either.

I’ve been keeping up with the bento making, and it’s going well.  We’ve figured out a variety of nummy foods the girl likes that I can put in the bento, mostly fresh fruits and veg and the necessary bit’o’protein, but she also really enjoys things like curry and rice that I will try making a box of soon.  I do have pictures of some of those, but you only get one. Cause what’s a blog post without pictures? Boring, that’s what.  Click through to go to the set if you want to see more.

Girl and I went to the library yesterday, and I found a cookbook that is going straight to the top of my list:  Cooking Curries by Jane Lawson.  I’m flipping though it right now and *drooling*.  Last Sunday was Melon’s birthday, one of my knitting group and a good friend, and I invaded her house with yellow curry and satay.  I got marriage proposals from another friend who had never had curry before, and honestly, while it was ok, I was a little disappointed in it – too much water, not enough curry or coconut milk.  But like I say, it was still good, and I’d be happy to make moar curry for the rubberhoar, and even show her how to make it herself…or her son, since he’s turning out to be the cook of the family.  :D  (~wave~ I know you’re reading this!)

Other than that, not too much going on.  I do have a stealth knitting project for a friend who, if he doesn’t read the blog anymore, at least he did in the past….so no info there.  And I’ve been introduced the the wide world of online gaming.  I prefer Guild Wars, but bff and quite a few other good friends are on WoW, so I’m splitting my rather minute free time between the two.

I redecorated my bedroom.  It was extremely depressing before.  Nothing on the walls (which were a mid-dark grey.)  Black curtains.  Black and grey bedspread.  Mismatched furniture, enough of which was black to add to the cavelike feel of the room.  I’d been wanting to re-do it for two years, but every time I walked into the room the black got me so depressed I couldn’t think.  I think this is much more cheery.  Of course, a funeral would be more cheery than what it looked like before!  Say…want a closer look at that artwork?  I’m pretty proud of it if I do say so myself.

I thought about doing a tutorial for it, but it’s really so simple.  And cheap – 6 bottles of craft paint (pulled from the colors on the pillowcases) at .50/ea, 6 cheap front-loading frames at $4/ea, and a package of two striped standard pillowcases at $8.  $35 in total.  Which, when you consider that it’s a set of six large framed pieces, is really reasonable.  I just removed the glass from the frames, cut the pillowcases a few inches larger than the glass, and taped them to the back of the frame.  My pillowcases had a border on the hemmed edge, so I took advantage of it when I was placing them on the frames. Then, I printed some images out and transferred them to the paper (if I had been less impatient, I would have dug out my iron-on transfer pencil, but I just colored the back of the image in pencil then traced them onto the fabric.)  Last, paint, trying to keep inside the lines.  Don’t look too close at mine.  At first I was grabbing bottles of paint at random, but since the colors seemed to match the image, I just went with that look.  And any of you who don’t recognize these shapes?  Go watch a movie! 

Cupcakes!!!  The girl had a graduation for her preschool class, and I made cupcakes.  Teeny mini cupcakes.  The pink are strawberry, and the yellow lemonade.  They were nummy!  The husband said they were like candy…he couldn’t stop eating them!  And also?  Why doesn’t anyone make things anymore!?  I was the only one who didn’t grab a plastic box from the bakery!

Hey!  Look!  Pictures of knitting!  On a knitting blog!  How novel! That’s the Big Girl Bonnet, for the big girl in the house.  It was a stashbuster.  The details are on my ravelry page if anyone cares to know, but I’m a bit too lazy to link right now.

Om-nom-nom-nom.  I’ve been bento-ing again.  Onigiri?  So easy to make once you use half a braincell and get the right kind of rice.  And nummy!  So far, I’ve mostly either mixed in furikake, used teriyaki _____ as filling, or done plain, but they’re so easy and nummy I’m going to be filling with other things soon.

Anyway, I’ve actually been thinking about the blog, even if I can’t.  So, since I have a few minutes, I thought I’d post a little something up.  There’s a new blog out there worth reading: One Size Knits All.  I’m not just saying that ‘cause my Talia was featured.  She discusses and provides examples of patterns that flatter a range of sizes.  And that’s a great thing, especially when it’s something you have to work on for a while before you can even try it on to see if it looks good on you!  So, check it out.  Put it in your reader, and all that, and I’ll be back soon with a surprising (to me) finished object.

Anyway.  That’s not an apology.  I promised myself I wouldn’t do that.  Just an explanation.

I’ve been knitting.  Lots.  It helps keep me sane.  I’ve had to just sit a few times, and the amount of twitchy and anxious I get is almost unbearable.  But I want to get back to that knitting in a few (accompanied, I hardly need say, with watching of the Doctor and his various adventures.  Though, I do hear Top Gear is on Netflix instant watch now…I need to see more of that show.) 

I find it fairly apropos that the project I’m working on now is an abandoned one I blogged about back in the summer of 2007.  Mostly because that’s when I started it.  I even took a new picture today.  I’ve finished a whole chart this week.  There are four more charts left to go.  Then the blocking, if I ever get around to it.  I’ve got no less than two lace projects lying around the house, finished save for blocking.  One is even an epic, for me: a Herbert Niebling that will one day be stretched onto a vintage parasol frame. 

Ok, I’m done rambling.  Well, not done, I could probably type up a novel here, but it would be disjointed and tedious.  So I’ll end with that picture I took today of MS3/Swan Lake.  I’m going to keep the specs on Ravelry, it’s just easier that way, and anyone who would really care about them will have a Rav account anyway.

Oh, and just cause it’s too cute not to mention, MissV turned 4 last week.  No uber-special cake to post this year, but my good friend K made a shirt for her.  Anyone who knows me or her, knows that she loves Star Wars.  And the kid has taste - she only wants to watch episodes 4, 5, and 6.  And she *adores* Darth Vader.  There’s a little snap on cape on the back, but the majority of the pictures were very blurry.  I dare you to take a clear picture of an excited and wiggly small child without the use of an SLR.

What is your current obsession?

Embroidery.  A friend at our knitting group was doing it a few months back (extremely well, I might add) and I was drawn to it.  I’ve always wanted to do embroidery, but I couldn’t think of what to put it on…I had pillowcases my great grandmother had done, but that didn’t seem practical to me.  Then, last week I came across a huge pile of dresser scarves that the same relative had done.  Still think those are impractical (partly because I don’t have a dresser for them) but they are gorgeous.  I’ve put some together as a valance for my kitchen, but I still have almost twenty left to do something with.

What are you wearing today?

Currently?  PJs.  Mostly cause I’ve only been awake for an hour and haven’t gotten dressed yet.  After that?  Probably shorts and a button-up top.

What’s for dinner?

Tonight is probably leftovers due to the lack to two spare inches to rub together in my fridge.  I’ve got lentil beef and veg stew from last night, yellow curry from the night before, and who knows what else in the fridge.  I think we’re covered.

What did you eat for your last meal?

Um, considering that I had a single bite of chocolate chip cookie dough for breakfast (I’m so *sick* of waffles, but that’s all the girlie wants and I don’t want to make anything else for just me) I’ll count dinner last night: the aforementioned lentil/beef/veg stew.

What’s the last thing you bought?

Groceries yesterday.  Wait, no, lunch from Taco Bell.  It’s only cause the traffic was deadlocked and both the girl and I were starving.

What are you listening to right now?

Girlie is watching Bolt.  It’s playing through the surround sound, so I have no choice but to hear it - throughout the house.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Either the UK or Kyoto.  Those are the two places I’d love to visit in my life, and I’m not sure that I’ll ever get to go.  Money sucks.

Which language do you want to learn?

Well, I took French for years in middle/high school.  I live in a heavily Spanish speaking area.  I’m teaching myself Japanese.  So, Irish Gaelic.  Cause when will I ever get the chance to use either of the last two?  I adore futility.

What do you love most about where you currently live?

Not much?  Um, the lack of swarms of insects is nice.  Though we make up for the lack of large amounts of insects - the ones we do have are severely nasty:  scorpions, black widows, brown wolfs, centipedes.  Also?  I’m loving my new knit group.  We’re small, but all of us are awesome!

What is your favorite colour?

By themselves?  All of them.  It’s when they’re put together that I can find fault.  I’m not a fan of muddy dark colors being mixed.  I tend to think of them as wintery and dreary.  Think dark berry colors mixed.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

Hard to say at present.  I’ve been working on dressing better lately, so I have lots of new clothes that I think look awesome on me.  Which tends to make them favorites.  Also, they’re not “trendy” so they won’t go out of style before I get to wear them twice (I hate that.  Why would I spend my money on something like that?)  But I would have to say my collection of A-line sleeveless dresses.  I feel pretty, and they’re easy.

What were you doing ten years ago?

Living in Denver, going to Bel-Rea, and wondering when I was going to grow up yet not trying to.

Describe your personal style?

Since there was a clothing question earlier, I’m going to assume this is a general life question.  I’d say I’m slightly kooky, handmade, eclectic with a softness to it.  Kinda a grown-up/vintage-y version of 80’s country (which I grew up with - my mother was addicted to that look.)

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?

A second spinning wheel for travel/MissV to use?  Jewelry from Sassafras Creations on Etsy?  Indie Perfume?  Spinning materials?  Home decor?  (I’m not happy with my living room or bedroom.  Both are dreary and sort of…dormroom-esque.)

What are you going to do after this?

Shower and get dressed for MissV’s gymnastics class. 

What are your favorite films?

Labyrinth, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ratatouille, Stardust.  The first three I grew up on, and have seen into the triple digits (with the notable exception of Labyrinth which if not already there is very close to quadriple digits.)  The latter two are my new favorites.  Stardust is just wonderfully realized, and Ratatouille is amazing - they made *taste* visible. 

What inspires you?

Just about anything. 

Whose work/designs are you inspired by?

I love Ysolda Teague’s designs, Anna Sui (though they are outlandish, they are good inspiration to take the outlandish and make it more usable by the average person.)  Norah Gaughan has interesting designs/constructions, but there is little of that I want to actually knit.  Cat Bordhi.

Your favourite books?

I love Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series, Jennifer Roberson’s Cheysuli Chronicles, and (guilty pleasure alert) Laurell Hamilton’s Anita Blake series.

Do you collect anything?

Teapots - mostly “tea-for-one.”  Fiber, yarn.  DVDs.  Failures.

What makes you follow a blog?

Interesting content, good pictures.  Regular updates (I guess I’m failing miserably on that one.)

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?

Hmm…still early.  Sleep?

Happy Birthday to my MissV.  Three years old already!  You amaze me everyday!

My girlie turns three in three weeks.  She got super excited about the prospect of a Mickey Mouse birthday party, so Mickey Mouse it is.  I had originally wanted to do the Clubhouse in cake…but I’m no Duff.  So, because I can’t keep the craftyness to myself, she’s getting a sheet cake.  But thanks to several styrofoam balls and some colored cocktail napkins (so much cheaper than tissue paper!!!) she still gets the Clubhouse.  The pieces are almost complete, and I’m still going to play with fondant for a few of the embellishments, but at least it won’t be a disaster day before her party!  (Speaking of which, I still haven’t heard back from any of the people with kids I invited…I would be *heartbroken* for her if she didn’t have anyone to play with.  hint-hint.)

I have taken the crazy pills.  I knew I was crazy when I tried to do “The” scarf on 000s with crochet cotton, but I’ve decided I want one.  (Probably because my sock mojo is on hiatus and I want something mindless I can carry around with me.)  However, I’m modifying it a bit.  A plurk-friend planted the seed - knit the scarf on the bias.  So, I’m doing that, but in an effort for it to not overwhelm me, I’m doing it in fingering on size 2s.  I’m about halfway through the first purple repeat as I type this.  And thanks muchly for the super cool graphic that automatically updates from the spreadsheet!!!

(I’m crossing my fingers that works!)

I made a lapghan for my mother.  I’m hoping she actually likes it.  It’s so hard to knit for people who don’t wear sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens, or (wool) socks.

Specs -

Pattern - Hemlock Ring Blanket , as made famous by Jared Flood

Needles - Knitpicks Options Harmony, US10/6mm & US11/8mm

Yarn - Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool, color 098 (natural cream) 1.5 skeins

Notes - Yeah.  Not so much cream, huh?  I had purchased the yarn with the intention of dyeing it a brown color.  I kettle dyed it twice.  The first time?  The dye never penetrated to the bottom of the pot, so I had giant chunks of blanket still off-white, so I did it again, this time with the undyed bits closer to the top.  The color isn’t uniform across, and I like that about it.  Sadly, I was shy about ten pins in the final blocking, but I still think it looks ok. 

Hmm…what else.  I’m Toodledo-ing myself now.  It’s helping.  My to-do lists are still as long as they used to be, but I can remember what they are now.  Which means they actually get done!  Yay for organization!

Ok, so I promised myself a while back I wasn’t going to apologize for lack of blog posts, and I’m still keeping to that, but I will apologize to everyone for other radio silence.  I haven’t had much time for, well, anything other than errands, to-do lists, etc lately.  And when I check my email, there are unanswered ones in there from *months* ago.  Sorry ’bout that!  I’m feeling really sheepish!  (Especially since I thought I had emailed one person last month about getting together, and when I checked tonight, I haven’t sent her an email since like December!  ~facepalm~)

I’ve got other stuff to post, but it’s late and I’m tired, so you’ll get the geeking out another time (and yes, there is geeking.  Lots of it.)

I spent a while there churning out the wearables - or at least it felt like it to me.  One of the vests is still not done, mostly due to the fact that I used the wrong needle on the whole of the thing.

Specs -

Pattern - Talia from Knitty by SweaterBabe

Yarn - Patons Classic Merino Wool in Charcoal, 3 balls

Needle - US 9/5.5mm KP Options Harmony

Notes - Quick knit.  Like, seriously quick.  I did the buttonholes a row late and wound up with them on the wrong side, but it’s a little thing.  I knew I’d be wearing this closed, so I went ahead and stitched the button band shut - with negative ease it would have just gaped open at the buttons.  Plus?  They are open spirals…not exactly easy to button onto a loosely knitted band!

Next?  Mmmmmmalabrigo.  Yum.

Specs -

Pattern - A Better Bucket by Amy Swenson 

Yarn - Malabrigo Merino Worsted, 1 skein Pearl and leftovers of Tortuga

Needle - US 7/5.5mm KP Options

Notes - I used Solaris’ mods for a bigger hat.  I’m glad I did, but I spaced on reading the directions and did the brim on the same needle size as the crown, so it doesn’t have the flare I’d like it to.  I knit a little rosebud and attached it, but if I can find a pretty vintage paste jewel or something, I’ll trade it out.  This thing is warm and soft, and I love it!  I love it so much that I cast on for another one the next night.  Sadly, the second was done in a cotton/silk that had been marinating in the stash for over a year (I was searching for the *perfect pattern*, you know how that goes.)  I should have used smaller needles,  and fewer stitches.  I can’t even frog the failure to reclaim the yarn - it breaks with the slightest tug.  It was souviner yarn, too…but it’s lost now.  ~sad face~

Spinning…this one is my favorite.

This would be bamboo/merino blend I acquired from MizViolet’s studio when I visited.  It’s a heavy fingering/sport weight.  I’m getting pretty darn proud of my spinning!  Currently, it’s all skeined up hanging on my wall looking pretty, but I’m thinking it’d going to be a pair of socks one day.  It’s a true three ply, about 360 yards.  It garnered a serious pat on the back when it was done.  Only two weeks playing with my wheel and I managed this?  (Sorry, getting all “Hooray for me” again.  I’m better now.)

Lessee…oh!  A pair of socks. 

Specs -

Pattern - Plain vanilla Stockinette toe-up

Yarn - Austermann Step in Vulcan

Needle - US0/2mm Addi Turbo magic loop

Notes - These started out life as toe up Annetrelacs from IK holiday 07, but two rows/squares/whatever into it, I really did not enjoy knitting them  I’m fine with entrelac, so I’m guessing it was the “in the round” bit that I wasn’t digging.  So, I ripped back and worked the cuff in stockinette.  I tried to knit until the yan ran out, but there was still a few yards left on each sock.  They were just getting too snug near the top and I didn’t want to do increases on the last few rows.  I can’t wait to wear these…what with the Aloe and Jojoba in the yarn.  I’m hoping it’ll be like a mini pedicure for my feet.

Ahh, a hat from handspun.  This was from the other roving I got from MizViolet when I was there.

Specs -

Pattern - Chapeau Marnier by Marnie Maclean from Knitty

Yarn - 4oz Handspun Merino/Tencel. I spun a long single and Navajo plied.  Sadly, my spinning was not as even on this one.

Needle - 16″ US 1/2.25mm KP.  Thing was *sharp* - it put a hole in my index finger from pushing the tip to advance the stitches.

Notes - I actually knit this to pattern specs (large) for the length, but sadly it’s still too snug and short for me.  I’m either going to hang on to it, or find a preteen girl who likes to wear hats to give this one to. The roving was really beautiful - blacks and greys with light green and pink.  Sadly, my spinning didn’t do it justice, and when I went to soak it, I knew that it would bleed, but I didn’t add any vinegar to the water so the whole thing got a grey cast.  I was sad. all round.

I’ve spent this weekend taking apart my wheel and staining/sealing it.  Pictures to come soon, though - it looks better in the sun and there are a few embellishments that I need to finish before I want to show it off.

Speaking of spinning, I’m really drawn to artyarns now that I have the wheel.  I still have no desire to knit with them, but I want to spin them so badly I can taste it.  I’ve got a notebook next to the computer with three pages of notes for different artyarns.  So expect to be seeing some of those sometime soon.

The game goes like this:

1. Grab your iPod or other MP3 player and randomize your songs.
2. Type the first line/phrase of the first 20-40 songs that come up (you can skip one if the first line is, say, the actual title of the song).
3. Anyone can try and guess the title of the song by commenting on this note.
4. When the title has been guessed, bold out the lyric and add the name of the person who guessed it.
5. NO cheating by using search engines to find answers.

Start:

1.  Through the rise and fall
2.  Over sea under stone I will find myself alone
3.  I can only give you love that lasts forever
4.  I love the time and in between
5.  Day after day I’ll always love you
6.  I know the sickening thoughts that slither around your head
7.  E saw miny briddes seten on a tree - “Omnes Gentes Plaudite (The Drinking Song)” Mediaeval Baebes
8.  A cross upon her bedroom wall - Type-O-Negative ‘Christian Woman’
9.  One might see in Mina my disease but it is she who has infected me for all eternity - Cradle of Filth “Lovesick for Mina”
10. Yellow bird flying gets shot in the wing
11. Oh you get me ready in your 56 chevy - “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” by Paula Cole
12. You’re not ready for the world outside - Tony Head as Giles, from Buffy Once More With Feeling “Standing”
13. Oh, baby you’re young but that’s ok
14. Baby you’re dada loves you
15. The songwriter’s dead
16. Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies - Dire Straits “Walk of Life”
17. Its still getting worse after everything I tried
18. She said she needed a break, a little time to think - Ohio (Come Back To Texas) by Bowling for Soup
19. You’re attention please.  Now turn off the light
20. Swingin’ on the front porch
21. How lucky can one guy be? - “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head” Dean Martin
22. Lying in the bed I hear the clock tick and think of you - Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time”
23. Well there is no such thing as you
24. Waking in a sweat forsaking pleasures for regret - Cradle of Filth “Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt”
25. There’s always the diamond friendly
26. I don’t know where I’m going but I sure know where I’ve been - Whitesnake “Here I go Again”
27. So I ran faster - Precious Things by Tori Amos
28. Those fingers in my hair
29. Last day of the rest of my life .D.
30. When I come to terms, to terms with this
31. Checkmate, honey, beat you at your own damn game
32. Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away “Tainted Love” Soft Cell
33. On the first part of the journey
34. Some folks are born made to wave the flag
35. I know we got some history we got some issues that we need to solve
36. If you ever get close to a human and human behaviour - Bjork “Human Behaviour”
37. I was sent to outer space to find another happy place
38. Johnny thinks that prozac can help him out a bit
39. Here we go vertigo video vertigo
40. It’s the sad story about a deer and a man

(Alright, I went a little overboard, but it was fun!  I was a little liberal with the use of the “skip” button, partly because I have a lot of instrumental-type songs, and partly because my iPod is where I store MissV’s car music, so these are all songs I freely listen to rather than the ones a toddler forces upon me.  Also?  I never realized how eclectic is the stuff I listen to!)

Ok, so when I get excited my brain doesn’t function normally - I either think in LolCat, or in Binks (as in JarJar.)  In order for the entire scifi geek community to not kill me, you’re getting LolCat.

Also?  Please forgive the craptastic flash photography - I couldn’t hold back the tide of squee until morning light.  Now that the PSAs are done with, on with the show!

I got a spinning wheel!

Isn’t it gorgeous!?  (I just about typed “she”, but then I realized that it doesn’t so much seem like a “she” to me - it’s more of a “he”.  Maybe it’s the heft - 22lbs!!)

So, it’s a Mach 1 from Spinolution.  And that’s the lazy kate beside it, with four extra bobbins.  And these things are *massive*!  It can hold around ten ounces of fiber.  TEN OUNCES!!!  Most other wheels hold around four, and only some come with a jumbo flyer/bobbin accessory.  I don’t see myself having  space problems anytime soon.  It’s also got heel rests to keep the wheel from scooting away from me while I spin, foot breaks on either side, and true scotch tensioning.  It’s got an open orifice, pegs instead of hooks, and four ratios from 1:3 - 1:15.  It’s everything I wanted, and it looks awesome doing it!  I got the unfinished one, and I’m debating on how I want to finish it (I know I’m not going to just leave it.  I have a two year old…)  Originally, I had thought about a copper paint job, and hit the low points with dark stain to “age” it - Steampunk wheel ftw!  But now that I have it I’m not so sure.  I know the flyer assembly, treadles, and heel rests are getting a few coats of lacquer to help prevent staining (both from feet and from stray dye on fiber.) Other than that, maybe just a nice rub down with some Tung oil, though I do still want some sort of personalization.  Anyway!

I couldn’t wait to play with it, so I dug out the “caramel drizzled vanilla” fiber hunk I picked up at Taos S&W and spun it up.  It made about two ounces of a fluffy two-ply.  I’m going to wash and set it tomorrow, but I’m guessing it varies from DK to aran.  Isn’t it yummy????  I’m calling it “Caramel a la Mode.”