Yarn Yarn Everywhere

Yeah! A long awaited blog post! *The crowd goes wild*

So. I'm a knitter. I also crochet. I also have too much yarn. Way too much....not quite to the point of hoarding - it hasnt spread beyond my bedroom.

I am excited to say I'm going to do a Knit Down Along with a knitting group I attend. WOOT! This means, I may actually *HAVE* stuff for family members, etc for Christmas presents.

Good for stash busting, trying new patterns, having something on hand for gifts, and poissibly have a cleaner bedroom.

We'll see how well this works out for me.....

TTFN

Music, Music Everywhere!

Ok. Last weekend I went to a house concert not too far from where I live, to see SJ Tucker (click here to listen to her music).

What made it interesting is that I've never had herd of SJ Tucker before my friend invited me. I wasn't sure what to expect from the house party, other than listening to live music. I did listen to a little of her music and liked what I heard (note: just enough to get a flavor of what I was getting myself into).

It was a great experience, going with a couple of friends to listen to this female musician at an intimate setting (something other than a concert hall or whatever), listening to awesome music (SJ Tucker is AWESOMESAUCE), and coming away happy that I said yes to the invitation.

The friend who invited me along is actually doing a contest/music giveaway of this artist (found here). It's open for entries through Oct 31, 2010. Ohhh. You wont regret entering this contest. The CD that's up for grabs is Mythcreants, a CD SJ Tucker has done last year with a band she's apart of - Tricky Pixie.

GO MUSIC!

KittyGrrlz Giveaway

What a nice way to get back into blogging! :)

The KittyGrrlz of The Fiber Cooperative is dong a giveaway of a $25 gift certificate to their Etsy shop. They look like they have some nummy yarns!

Go check out The Fiber Cooperative's Blog for details.

Now is the time....

....for me to post something! It's been a little over a month or two since I've posted something.

Funny how life kind of sneaks up on ya.

Anywho. What have I been up to? Where to begin.

The store director of the gift shop upped and left (we didnt know what happened initially, but now we do. not something I want to get into here) and we have a new store director (new person = change. not sure how much I'm liking the ALL the changes going on. Some change is to be expected, but with all the changes that have come to pass.....well, let me just say it's an interesting kettle of fish), been looking for FT work (well, ramped up the amount of searching), went to a friend's wedding (LOVED it!), both brothers moved out (one's in IA an the other is in CA), researching some history on Tarot for a presentation I'm giving in September (hopefully all will go well), and most importantly, redefining where I want my life to be heading.

Still knitting. Entered some items in the county fair and all won ribbons (only one got first place - just happy they got ribbons).

That's all for now.

Tuesday Ten

This week, I think I'll talk about some places I'd like to visit!

1. Ireland - always wanted to go, never been. I like the accents of the people. Also, the country almost calls to me to visit. Funny, I know.
   
2. England - visited once. London. But I want to see the rest of the country, something other than immediately around the airport or where you can go in a day.
   
3. The rest of the US I havent been to - I've been to 27 states and want to visit the remaining 23. It's been a goal to visit as many of the states as possible
   
4. Canada - Like England, I want to see more than Niagara Falls. I also know quite a few people from there and they've inspired me to visit the country
   
5. Greece - was there once for a month, and fell in love with the country and people and would love to go back and visit.
   
6. Scotland - when in England, I'll pop over to Scotland and visit. Beautiful country, bla, bla bla...
   
7. Iceland - seems like an out of way place to relax and recenter oneself
   
8. The Beach - only b/c i havent been in AGES! and i miss it *sad face*
   
9. Iowa. Went to college there and have good friends there. Another out of the way place to recenter. But b/c it's a small town and i sort of know alot of people there, i dont know how centered i can get....
10. As many yarn shops as possible - this is a secret addiction of mine, yarn....mmmmmm
    

Tuesday Ten - Shoes

I've been wanting to post more here on my blog, but more often than not, I cant think of things to blog about.



SO, in hopes for more fodder for the blog, I am intending to do a Tuesday 1o on a weekly basis. This way, I'll have something to share with y'all.



Today topic: SHOES!


Oh my freaking goodness! Shoes!

1. Pleather GoGo Shoes - these are darn cute. and black goes with everything. also, it has some lift to give me some much needed height.


2. Old Gringo Marsha Mule - ohhh another cute shoe. i like all the color versions of the shoe but like the White Crackelada coloring the best. And it would go with pretty much everything i have. i like the simplicity of the shoe's design and the design on the shoe. It seems like a comfortable shoe too.


3. Alexander McQueen shoes - these shoes remind me of bees! and i think it'd be rockin' to be wearing bee shoes. i can see myself walking around in theses going "bzzz bzzz bzzz"


4. J.Renee Brinda shoes - i will say i nearly fell out of my chair when i saw these lovely shoes. tres chic! they remind me of the ocean and i have a feeling these shoes would inspire sound effects as well. ;) i like the darker color of the two shoes but both are pretty spiffy.


5. Traditional Saddle Oxford - time for a little style change! classic look, comfortable (as fas as i know) and good with a dress suit! and from the looks of it, will keep your feet warm on colder days!


6. Knee High Gladiator Boots - b/c every girl needs a pair of these!


7. Gladiator High Heels - this particular set caught my eye. not only are they nifty high heel shoes, but they're GLADIATOR heels!


8. Indian Sandals - love the gold and bangles on these


9. Fringe Sandle Boots - this may be one of the 'wtf' items, but the fringe add a certain je ne sai quoi


10. Lucky green shoes - I will say these shoes are my all time favorite! Hands down, no questions asked! They're green, they're sparkle like nobody's business, and they go with my favorite holiday!

Trivia Tuesday

It's Tuesday. Work is unbelievably slow. Thought I'd share some random trivia with y'all

1. Norma Jean Baker Mortenson, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe, was born today
2. The first recorded earthquake in U.S. history occurred in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts in 1638
3. Today in 1908 - John Krohn decided to take a walk around the United States - with his wheelbarrow! He completed the walk around the perimeter of the U.S. in 357 days. He walked 9,024 miles, went through 11 pair of shoes, 112 pair of socks, five wheels for his trusty wheelbarrow and never walked on Sunday.
4. Today is Nursing Assistants day
5. My middle name is Beth
6. Lincoln's face was put on the penny in 1909. Why? It was the 100th anniversary of his birth
7. It takes anywhere between a few minutes and 1 hour for a cloud to be created.
8. Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
9. The average bra size today is 36C. Ten years ago it was 34B.
10. This is the 10th bullet point in this blog

Games...

I need to do an in depth blog about all the playing cards I have, with photos and diagrams.....

*wanders off somewhere*

~List of Ten~

It's another fine Tuesday for making lists of things. This one is about spring.

1. Warmer weather - no more snow baby! After having 50" of snow this winter, I am SO ready for spring. I dont mind the snow, but for the area I live in, 50" is unheard of. Maybe 20 - 30", but definately not 50 (and virtually all at once).
2. Flowers - they're starting to bloom! It kind of goes with the "SO MUCH SNOW!" we had this winter, I am so ready for the color.
3. Flip flops - I can wear them with out getting funny looks from people. I don't like to keep my feet in enclosed things (socks, shoes, boots, what ever....). They're kind of like my hands, they tend to be on the warm side and anything covering them makes them a little TOO warm (and makes my feet and hands feel weird)
4. Skirts - I can wear skirts again with out freezing my legs off. Granted, this means shaving, but I'm willing to shave.
5. Sunglasses - warmer weather brings sunnier days (for the most part) and I like wearing funky sunglasses. The funkier, the better.
6. Sunbathing - I know too much sun is bad for you, but it can be so relaxing laying out in the sun.
7. Knitting - though I do do this year round, but this inspires me to knit small or lighter ware items. (Light ware = shawls)
8. Sun Tea - I really like sun tea. Light, refreshing, and easy to make. SOOOOO good! :)
9. The Beach - 'Nuf said! I like the beach. For the most part. I like relaxing under the umbrella, reading a good book, swimming in the ocean (some how, mysteriously avoiding getting sand into my swim suit), drying in the sun....you get the idea.
10. It would have been robins, but it kind of defeats the purpose if you see about a dozen of them on Christmas Day. Yes, I said it correctly. I saw about 10 - 12 robins in a tree, ON Christmas Day.

Yeah for blogs, right?

La la la.....

I got a package today.

It was a "special" package. Well, to me it was.

It was my NEW drop spindle (high whorl?).

It's not the highest quality of drop spindle but for $6.50 INCLUDING shipping, I cant complain.



As you can see, I've started using it right away. I'm not sure what to think of it yet, but I'll play with it some more to see how well I can master it.

20 Questions.

I picked up this 20 Questions from The Painted Sheep blog (they do yarn/fibre type stuff). I think they're a fun thing to do (and a good way to kill time).

Anyway, here goes......

20 Questions

1. Explain what ended your last relationship?
um, it didn't end b/c it never began.....and to be truthful, I've never been in a romantic relationship

2. When was the last time you shaved?
Hrm. A few months. It's winter time, and it's called "I can wear pants"

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.
At work already. Doing my stuff to open up shop!

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Talking to a patron about seeing different historical stuff we had

5. Some things you are excited about?
Knitting group tomorrow night, working more hours (more hours = more money), rereading the Wheel of Time series, spring time (yes, winter has been a real bitch this year),

6. What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O? If it's done as jell-o shots, I like raspberry, strawberry, and orange

7. Your prom night, what do you remember about it?
Never went to prom.

8. Do you have any famous ancestors?
I don't know how far back you would need to go to qualify someone as an ancestor, but my great uncle (or was it my great great uncle?) was the guy who created Fuller Brush. (For those too young to know what Fuller Brush is, click here).

9. Last thing received in the mail?
Hrm. I think it was an herbal tincture I had gotten myself

10. How many different beverages have you had today?
Two - Water and Coffee

11. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?
Heck yes! It's very annoying when someone calls, gets the voice mail (and it starts recording no less), and you hear the "click" of them hanging up or you hear them talking to someone else. Gotta love when they pull the "Why didn't you call me back?". Why didn't you leave a message saying you wanted me to call you back, if it was *that* important? (sorry, small pet peeve).

12. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
Um, no

13. Any plans for Friday night?
Working

14. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
Ick. No. Does anyone really?

15. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorn?
Yes. My grandmother use to get them just for the tins. She'd give it to us to eat and we'd give the tin back. Got old after a little while and usually gave the popcorn to the birds.

16. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
Yes. As long as no one messes with my system. 'Cus you don't want to dry your face where you dried your rear.

17. Describe your key chain(s)?
I have two. they have various things on them. One set has a shamrock beaner, a gecko led light, and various keys. The other one is a regular beaner with a chap stick cozy in the shape of the male genitalia. Both have various cards the different stores have.

18. Where do you keep your change?
As in coins? Usually in my pocket until I get home. Then I sort them into different places

19. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?
College for a speech class

20. What kind of winter coat do you own?
Various. I tend to layer up with shirts and coats. So I don't have a heavy duty winter coat.

CHEERS!

Another shawl....Really?

So, I just completed my first knitted shawl the other day. Yeah me! And now I have begun knitting another one. Both are apart of a KAL (Knit-A-Long) and I am surprised at the fact that I am knitting something OTHER than hats.......something outside my familurarity zone. :)

I'll try to get photos posted here as soon as possible.

Always Room for One More

I've been knitting for about 10 years now. A decade. (Sheesh, don't I feel old now ;) ).

One thing I've noticed, is how I've developed an affinity for knitting hats. More so for me than anyone else, but hey, I know I'll enjoy them - and I know what color/s to knit the hat/s in.

So, this year, I've actually challenged myself to knit as many hats as possible (desirable 52 - one per week) and I've actually started the process. This is mostly (but not entirely) due to the fact that I am participating in the 2010 Ravelympics. Ravelympics? It's a knitter/crocheter/weaver/spinner's version of the Olympics, where we challenge ourselves to make 'x' during the Olympics - from opening ceremony/lighting of the torch to closing ceremony/extinguishing of the torch. And everything needs to start and finish in between the opening and closing ceremonies. (I'm just a little excited about it)

So far, so good. I'm on hat #5. Granted I should be on hat #8, at least - but life is life and sometimes it means putting some things on the back burner.

On a different note:

/begin rant

I haven't considered myself a selfish knitter, until more recently (going on 4.5 months now). Personally, I've gotten a little fed up with people (more in face-to-face life) asking if I do commission work or make suggestions that I should sell my stuff.

If I really wanted to sell my stuff, I would be doing it already.

I do have a couple exceptions to the rule. Family and friends - more often than not, they are appreciative and take care of the hand made items.

/end rant


Anyway.

Happy Tuesday.

Tuesday's Ten

So, inspired by The Painted Sheep, I decided to do a Tuesday 10 about some of my fav. places to knit. Scandalous, I know, almost selacious. But here we go!

1. On my couch, watching TV - usually "bad" shows that I enjoy.
2. In front of my computer - watching more "bad" shows on Hulu.com
3. During my commute into and out of work - come on, how else am I suppose to kill 30 - 45 min of travel time? Read? ;)
4. A local knitting group - yeah for national chain book stores!
5. Local bar - some days after work, you *REALLY* need a cold one
6. In my bed - while listening to book on tape, my hands need something to do
7. Passenger seat of a car - I love the luxury of sitting in a passenger seat and knitting to my hearts content
8. On the loo - yes, i am guilty knitting on the toilet, but sometimes......SOMETIMES.....you've just gotta do it
9. On my back porch - when the family sits down for a rare family meal, we tend to talk a lot - a lot of talking = time to whip out knitting.
   
10. Last but not least, while walking - granted this isn't a specific place per se, but I can get a lot done that way

Anyway, that's it for today.....

Tuesday Ten

Ok. So, I'm trying to get in the habbit of blogging more. Even if it's a list of something. :)



For today's ten list, I thought I'd share some stuff about knitting. YEAH! Mostly it's going to be about projects that I have knitted and places I like to knit.

1. An unusual capstick cozy. I would say, this is a fav of mine to knit. Granted, I haven't done many of these lately (and I need to) but it always gives me the giggles when I knit this.
2. Hats! Oh my gosh, I love knitting hats. One of my favorite is one called Dependence. Unfortunately, the blog that USE to have it posted, is no longer available. BUT! You can see pics of it here and here. So far I have 3 of them in different colors and plan on making myself some more!
3. Another favorite hat I like to knit is called Tychus. It's a short row hat, making super easy to do (and I think a good beginning project for a beginner to intermediate beginner).
4. Oh, how could I forget my Glove Hat (aka Knitted Motorway Moses Hat). I've done this pattern about 5 times already in different colors and yarn weight. I am planning on doing more! *insert evil laugh*
5. I've done some fingerless gloves/mittens a fair number of times (I would say in the ball park of 8.......so far).
6. I have a chunk of time to kill when I commute to and from work (about an hour each way), and I end up knitting on the public transit (yeah metro)
7. I've been known to knit in Bars, Movie theatres, and watching TV.
8. I've also been known to knit while walking. I have yet to be documented while doing so. Eluding the camera isn't a set skill for this phenomenon apparently.
9. I've knitted durring an ice hockey game.....probably the only time I'll ever do that.
10. Last but not least, I have been know to sneak in a stitch or two at some EXTREAMLY LONG lights in the area. NOTE: I DO NOT KNIT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHEN I AM BEHIND THE WHEEL, NOR DO I ENDORSE SUCH ACTIVITIES.

Tuesday Ten

It's Tuesday. And b/c Ten sounds better with Tuesday (as opposed to Thursday), here's another 10 list for today.

Topic is: Fibre.

Specifically, what I enjoy about it.

1. Wool yarn - the way it slides so easily over my needles and into a finished object.
2. Spinning - I *love* spinning my own yarn. I have what is called a low-whorl spindle, making it easier to make thicker yarn - as opposed to thin or lace weight yarns. I am planning to make myself another drop spindle, probably a high-whorl one.
3. Portable - Alot of my projects are easily portable, making my commute to and from work bearable, watching TV shows more interesting, killing downtime without killing other people. And the upside is I get stuff to wear/use!
4. Look Ma No Hands - well, more like "Look Ma, Not Looking!". I really enjoy projects that I dont have to look at it to knit it. And some how this amazes people. To me, it's like, do you need to look at the car's gas pedal to use it?
5. Possibilities - how much stuff one can make from fibre: sweaters, mittens, hats, willie warmers to name a few
6. Relaxing - wheather I'm spinning or knitting it, it's relaxing
7. Conversation - well, I havent really experienced this much, but apparently others have started conversations over their knitting
8. Socializing - I found some good friends, online and in person, from my knitting/spinning adventures
9. Gifts - making stuff out of fibre makes getting gifts easier, esp if you start off early enough
10. Selfish - I love making stuff for myself. I know exactly what I want, in what color and what style :P