First Sock

When I was dragging out the Easter decorations I found my first sock!! Actually, my only sock. I had one-sockitis. It isn't very comfortable, and I couldn't imagine wasting time knitting another one. I made this sock 14 years ago when I learned how to knit. I thought I had thrown it away. I am happy that I didn't.

I also made mittens, hat, and a headband, all of which were worn out and tossed out years ago.

Spring Fling Coffee Swap Topic #1

I found that Cetta enjoys drinking her coffee from a big travel mug and so do I! She just bought tickets to see Eddie Izzard, and she posted a the cutest darn YouTube video ever of her new puppy. Go watch it!

Overtime, Vacation Booked

It keeps snowing here in Minnesota and I've been working 100+ hours a week to meet a deadline, so knitting on my Intolerable Cruelty Skirt has been put aside for a while. I did book a vacation to South Beach and Key West, so my knitting will be the first thing to get packed, then the bathing suit goes in next, and then clothes--but only if there is room next to the knitting!! hee hee!

It's been a few years since I've been in Miami and I am really looking forward to it. I will stay at Eden House Inn in Key West and The Richmond Hotel in SoBe. I stayed at the Eden House before and it is so relaxing. The hammock area is calling me and I can't wait to take at least 3 naps a day in it! This will be my first time staying at The Richmond, but I've stayed a few doors down from there before and it is in a great location. It has a pool and it is on the beach, so how bad can it be?!

Going loopy in Chinese

Here she is lined with the Chinese silk. mmmmmmmmmmmm

Loopiness

Here is the purse that is going to make Lisa go Loooopy! Even with all of the forced modifications -- the loops would not stand up erect over the rim of the purse, so I sewed them on going down -- I am so happy with it. If I have time I will line it with some red Chinese silk that I have somewhere in my house.

Works calls. I have so much overtime this week. Thank goodness I get paid for it. I owe the IRS some money this year, so it will come in handy. Hopefully I will have enough to go to South Beach for a short weekend vacation.

Cruel cruel skirt

Hand cramps. Today is 9 knit rows, 1/2 purl row later. A bajillion more to go. If I wasn't so in love with this skirt, I would've quit a long time ago. After casting on (220) and starting my first knit row, I realized that I had twisted it and I had to rip back to the beginning of the knit row. URGH! Then I c.a.r.e.f.u.l.l.y knit the row. It looks great now.

New Swap: Spring Coffee n Yarn Swap and Questionnaire

I had so much fun in the last swap that I decided to join another one. The Spring Coffee and Yarn Swap can be found at http://coffeenyarnswap.blogspot.com/ . Sign up soon!

Questionnaire:

Coffee
1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground?
Ground for a flat wire basket.

2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Leaded or non?
Anything leaded and strong enough to grow hair on my chest.

3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up?
I love Mocha Java from Caribou.

4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both?
BOTH! I drink it for the joy it gives me preventing a pounding headache if I don't drink it. I love to sit at a sidewalk cafe (preferably in Europe), sip on a cup of coffee and people watch. When I get a chance to just sit and do nothing but enjoy my cup of coffee, it makes me realize how truly blessed I am and how lucky I am to be living the life I live. Usually I am multi-tasking while drinking coffee, but when those times happen it makes me soooo happy!

5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers?
I love chocolate flavored coffees only. I add chocolate flavored creamers. If those aren't available, then just plain creamers. If those aren't available, then black. I also like those cool pictured sugar cubes that you get in the coffee shops in Europe.

6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup?
I use lots of insulated travel mugs for my commute into Minneapolis. I could never have enough.

7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it!
A large mocha java from Caribou, skim, no whipped cream (altho I love it, my thighs don't).

8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee?
Dark chocolate, rich brownie, soup, chips, sandwich, pie, pretzels, cookies, nuts, mints, yogurt, pasta salad, ...you get the idea. I love chocolate and also salty snacks.


Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet?
I attempt to knit.

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with?
Debbie Bliss (cashmerino is my favorite), alpaca, anything soft and gooshy.

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now?
Intolerable Cruelty skirt http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTcruelty.html Yes, I am a self abuser.

4. What are your favorite colors in yarns? What about those that you'd never find in your stash?
I love purple, blue, brown, bronze, gold, red, terra cotta, black, pink. Jewel tones mostly.I am not a huge fan of variegated yarns. Other than that, I pretty much find a reason to love all colors.

5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest?
I want to try bamboo. I usually use Addi Turbo or the needles that my mom used in the 60s and 70s.

6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan?
Nope. I am a newbie, so I am still spending big bucks on this stuff. I need blocking materials and a circular needle holder.

7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going..The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated..a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and sproingy in your hands.. a soft, worsted weight wool like malabrigo.. and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with?
I am not a big fan of variegated yarn, so I would choose a solid color. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in brown, bronze, terra cotta, or pink.

Spring

1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are?
Um, sort of. It is 40 degrees. I didn't even wear a jacket today!! It is very warm compared to the below zero winter we've been having. Minneapolis has been unseasonably cold this year. Is that an oxymoron?

2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one?
Lilac, Hyacinth, and tulip.

3. What do you most look forward to about springtime?
The smell of dirt. Cute pedicure. Toes in the grass. Thunderstorms. Birds singing so loudly that they wake you up in the morning.

4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day?
I would take my son for a walk around Lake Calhoun. We would people watch, look at ducks, skip rocks across the water, complain about the 2.5 mile walk, pet the dogs. We'd stop off at the playground so he can play and I can sit and knit. Then we'd go for our first ice cream cone habit of the summer, or the fish tacos at the outdoor stand. Once we got home, I'd sit on my deck with a big glass of red wine and knit some more.

5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? what helps cheer you up?
I really enjoy the rain!! It makes me so happy, especially if there is some thunder in the distance. I open the windows just a little bit and listen. The smell is incredible! And I knit.

Odds n Ends
1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles?
Shoes!!! :)
My house is fairly simple and streamlined.
I mostly collect memories from my many travels.

I am a girly girl, so I like lotions, soaps, lip gloss, perfume, high heels, ruffles n lace, candles, costume jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets) from stores like Target... all that fru-fru stuff.

2. Are you allergic to anything?
No, but I don't like the taste of licorice.

3. Do you have pets?
No, but I love dogs.

4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in?
I've only particpated in two, but holy cow do they ever suck you in!! It is addicting.
-Hot Cocoa Swap
-Stitch Marker Exchange

5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them.
1. Lime and Violet. podcast, blog, daily chum. Very informative. Very sarcastic and funny.
2. Crazy Aunt Purl. I swear she is stalking me and writing about my life.
3. The Minneapoline http://theminneapoline.blogspot.com/. I pretend that I dress as cool as the kewl cats on there. humpf.
4. Does Ravelry count? I can't go a single day without at least 15 minutes looking at the stuff other people created. So inspiring! So amazing! I am on Ravelry -- kmslange

Too Cruel to be Kewl Skirt

I cast on for the Intolerable Cruelty skirt last night after whipping out a mean gauge. All of this while I sat in the waiting room for one of life's greatest joys: routine mammogram. One of the questions on the multitude of forms was:

Has your weight changed since your last mammogram?

__x__ Yes

_____ No

If so, how much? ___+30___ pounds.

Do you really think you should be casting on for an ultra sexy skirt until you lose those 30 pounds? _x_No

Just kidding.

Yikes.

Yes, it was almost 20 years ago and I was scarecrow thin then, but to see it in actual print was shocking.

It is odd changing from size 17 needle to size 4. It feels like this skirt may take awhile.

Here's to throwing caution to the wind, embracing all of my lovely curves, and shaking what my mama gave me! Cheers! (diet Coke, please)

Hoodie Vest

I wore the hoodie vest from Knit Simple magazine Holiday 2007 out to eat tonight. We went to Fogo de Chao. Soooo good. Damn Good. I blocked it during the day today and didn't have time to put the buttons on, so I used a fance stitch marker to hold it together at the throat. My Mom saw me come out of my house wearing it and said, "Did you make that?!" (She helped me with the cables.) She swore that it was store purchased. I am pretty darn proud of it.