Thank you everyone for such thoughtful comments! I visited a lot of new blogs and I'm in the process now of updating my reading list to include all of you (I love delurking time). I'm also compiling a great list for those of you out there who need a little inspiration or jump start in the knitting and/or blogging realm.
I got started on a lot of those suggestions already but first I'll let you know the winner -
LANI - go check out her blog she just finished the ever popular Monkey Socks.
I've got a nice little package going out to her which I totally forgot to take a picture of.
So on to the things I'm doing to keep myself motivated.
#1 - finish the endless kneehigh sock - only the first one is done and I am waiting a bit before I cast on for the second one - I don't want to be thrown into knitting exile again so soon.
I made so many modifications to this, and of course didn't write any of them down, so it's going to be interesting recreating the 2nd sock. The original pattern is the cable twist socks. I LOVE this pattern. I already knit one pair and this will be my 2nd. It's so easy but you still have to think about where you are in the pattern. I think the modifications are: toe up, plain stockinette on the foot, increases on each side of the leg as it got longer, and a very interesting rib to top it off ( interesting because it's k2, p1, k2, p2 - it fit with the pattern)
#2 - Buy some yarn! I couldn't pass up these colors, especially since they were on sale, and neither could she.
Aren't they just lovely?
#3 - Start a new and exciting project. I started knitting a silver wire bracelet. I figured that is something I've never really done. Well I did try once, but silver wire and metal needles will drive you crazy and force you to hurl stuff across the room in frustration. I've since learned that one of the items (either yarn or needles) needs to have some "give", so this time I have 28g silver wire and US1 bamboo needles - the bamboo needles are nice and flexible. It's coming along nicely.
I plan to knit until it's the size of my wrist, then I'll fold it in half, wire the long side together, and either wear it like that or maybe I'll put in some larger beads into the tube and then close up the ends and either solder on or wire on a bar and clasp. I know it might be hard to visualize but I'll have pictures soon.
#4 - get outside and do something other than knit. Court and I went to Central Park last weekend and had a blast - isn't she cute?
Update - a winner has been chosen - Next post on Wednesday evening will name the winner and the prize!
I've been feeling blah about knitting and blogging lately. I'm sure this phase will pass but I always hate it when I get into these slumps. I've been working on the same annoying knee high sock for ages, since my vacation over a month ago, and I'm still not finished with the first one - it just goes on and on and on.
In order to get back into the swing of things, I am going back to my regular reading and commenting of blogs - I'm scared to even look at bloglines. I've also decided that in order to make things more exciting around here I am going to have a CONTEST.
Ok the rules - very simple - leave me a comment on what you do to get out of your yarn and blogging slumps. I'll then pick one of you at random and send over yarny gifts. If you happen to be a spinner as well, you'll get 1/2 yarn gifts and 1/2 spinning gifts. I'm also going to compile a list of all the suggestions in hopes of helping others during these dark hours of non-knitting and blogging. I'm not sure what the prize will be yet but you can be sure it'll be good - if you've seen my apartment in person, or just pictures here online, you know I have LOTS of stuff - many of which really could use a new home.
Aren't the Atlas mountains in Morocco amazing? - hey if you would like to take a peak at my vacation photos check out the Morocco flickr Pool or my flickr page
As the title suggests, I am indeed back from vacation. Although I am happy to be back in the good ol US of A, I am missing the days off from my 9-5 (well really 10-6 but that's neither here nor there). So where did I jet off to for just about 2 weeks? AFRICA - ok Morocco to be exact, it just sounds so much more dramatic to say Africa, and it isn't untrue.
I went with Virginia, her guy A, and Joe. All I can say is - what and adventure that was! I'm not going to bore you with all the details but I will tell you there were medieval cities, 8 hour train rides, the prophet's birthday, scheming snake charmers, lots of shopping, camel riding, sleeping in a Berber tent in the Sahara under a full moon, a transit strike, shady dealings with a cab driver, becoming friends with said cab driver, castles crumbled into the sea, the BEST seafood ever - I could go on but I'll stop here and show you some "best of" pictures.
There are many more where those came from but I won't put them all into a post. Hopefully soon I'll have them up on my flickr account so you can peruse them all at your convenience.
So the vacation was great but I am glad to be back home - especially because I was missing someone special. Yup I've got a special someone and she is really amazing. So creative - umm she knows all about dyeing fabric, and even does wonderful silk paintings (how I managed that - I don't know - what are the odds?). Oh and smart (I see future novelist here) and lovely...and I better stop before I make you all puke. So maybe - just maybe this is one of the reasons I've been a little absent from this here blog...you know I love you all but sometimes you just need extra time in the beginning of a new relationship to get to a little carried away. Oh and guess what? She wants me to teach her how to knit...mmm hmmm now you really like her don't you? Good cause so do I.
Just because I've met someone and went on vacation doesn't mean I haven't been knitting. I've got two pairs of socks done and I have the fist sock of a pair of knee highs almost done. Here is the progress pic of the knee highs - oh how I love knitting on the beach.
the yarn is Zara and it's soft and cushy and it knits up so fast on us 3 needles. It's quite a bit longer now. The pattern is the cable twist socks from Hello Yarn. I did change the pattern for toe up, short row heel, and the pattern is only on the leg. I really love this pattern it's simple, easy to memorize and customize, and stays up! This is actually my 2nd pair in this pattern.
When I get the other pictures off my home computer, I'll show you my FO's. I think I've made up for lost time though. I'm off to try and catch up on some much neglected blog reading.
The STORE has been updated - a real post to come soon.
I must pack - trip coming soon...
Sorry for the Lack of posts - I'll be back soon - I've got lots of stuff to show ya but very little time to post about it. All is well, just been busy busy busy. . .
Look what I've been up to -
I'll have a nice big update next week! Thanks to Virginia and my sister Lauren who both helped me dye up this crazy bunch of yarn - over 30 lbs of it I think.
Here is Lauren after washing a LOT of yarn.
Isn't she cute?
I've also had one sock fly off the needles - my mom's baby cashmerino sock - one down and the next one to do. I started knitting this sock last friday and I finished on Saturday - I love knitting on size 3US needles it goes so fast. I didn't cast on for the 2nd sock till last night and I am almost at the heel. Hopefully by tomorrow the pair will be done and my mom can stop hounding me (you hear that mom? I know you are reading this, they are almost done - I promise).
See, here is proof of the first one done!
Oh hey - here is a painting I did like 2 weeks ago. I was cleaning before having the spiders over and in the middle of cleaning I realized I needed to fill a space on my wall and I just HAD to make a new painting. So I put all the cleaning down and broke out the acrylics, the metallic powders and canvases and proceeded to make more of a mess. But I really like the way it came out. - check it out larger you can see the sparklies in it better.
So, I've had this fancy new camera since Christmas and I've been having a lot of fun learning about Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO speed and all that interesting stuff. The only problem is the weather - yes the weather. I'd like to go outside more often to experiment, walk around and take pictures but it's way too friggin cold. Although I can't really take the pics I want, I have been keeping myself busy taking pictures inside and from my window.
First here is a picture I took with Sandra in mind. She takes the coolest sock and shoe pics, although her shoes are way fancier than mine. Here I am sporting my finished socks and my brand new danskos.
I've been hearing about how comfortable these for so long from a bunch of the Spiders and they are so right! I love them.
Here is another shot of the socks where you can see more of them - and of Gary. He says they smell good! I swear that's what he said :)
Here are the specs:
Pattern: Lace Top Toe Up Sock
Yarn: BH - Soft Spun, Cool Beans colorway
Needles: Size 1 addis - magic loop
Time to complete: less than 2 weeks! - Personal best
Modifications: I didn't really look at the pattern till I got to the leg, I did a figure 8 cast on, increased to 72 st. and then did a simple short row heel using Misocrafty's method for no holes - thank you Steph for showing me!
I've already cast on for another pair of socks - this time using baby cashmerino...mmmmmm These are for my mom.
So I got this macro filter lens for my camera and I just had to show you how cool it is. Here is a picture of a poof of fiber nice and close.
And here is the crop - check out how close the baby gets!
I promise this is the last picture - this was taken from my window the other night after the snow - I Love the color of the sky.
This past Sunday was the 2nd annual Bay Ridge Spider gathering....I figure I'll make this a yearly thing from now on. This year the theme was spinning. As you can see in the following picture I have more than enough supplies in my craft room for us all to spin!
Here are a few of the girls in action -
And check out Melissa on the Lendrum!
While some of the girls were spinning the rest were enjoying food, drink, and the Money Pit...what a great movie...lol.
I'm so glad everyone trekked out to Bay Ridge - Thank you! I had a great time and I love having everyone over.
I was so tired by the time everyone left - but that didn't stop me from continuing to work on my socks. I have got one down and the 2nd is almost done. I'll have these done in under two weeks - a personal record. Here is the 1st finished sock -
This is a pattern I randomly found online - the picture was so small I really couldn't tell how it was going to come out but I'm glad I decided to go for it. I'm back in the sock knitting mode - I've already got some sock yarn put aside for my next pair - I'm thinking Monkey.
Thank you everyone for the Birthday wishes - I had a great time and all your comments really made my week!
I have knitting but - it's mainly secret knitting so I can't show ya. I'm also knitting a pair of socks but I forgot to take my cf card so I could upload it. I'm using Cool Beans. While I was reskeining I had a bit of a tangle issue and eventually got impatient and had to cut a big chunk of the yarn out so it was too short to sell, I figured I'd keep it - there is still plenty for a pair of socks.
Since I have no pretty pictures for you to look at - other than maybe a random sky picture
I'm going to get to the two memes that I think I might have been tagged for!
The first one is 6 weird things about me -
1: I adore cheese - all kinds of cheese, I must - at all times - have at least 5 different kinds of cheese in my refrigerator!
2: I love to cook but only for 2 or more people, I have no problem cooking for 20 (ask the Spiders!) but when I come home from work I really don't want to cook just for me, so I put together strange combinations of what I have around the kitchen. A little seasoned plain yogurt (makes a great dip), some pita bread, a bit of cheese, an avocado...this list constantly changes and can at times get very strange.
3: I have a strange obsession with Swirls - if you've been reading this blog for a bit you'll have noticed that I enjoy swirls in my jewelry, paintings, and sewing projects When I see swirly fabric I'm compelled to buy it, I'll take pictures of swirls and I've even designed a tattoo of a swirl tree for myself!
4: I research - a LOT. When I become interested in a particular topic I research the hell out of it and learn pretty much all I can (I think this is why I have lots of crazy facts rolling around in my head) and the topics are varied from all sorts of crafts to holocaust studies - and many topics in between.
5: I enjoy inventing contraptions out of stuff around the house like the home made icord maker and yarn skeiner. Even if eventually I'll get the commercial one I still enjoy trying to do my own take on it. This is helpful when you get ideas very late at night and must improvise.
6: I don't drive - you heard me I don't have a license, I had a learners permit but that expired ages ago. You see, I'm a New Yorker - born and raised. My family didn't have a car while I was younger so I never had anything to learn on and well, you really don't need a car in NYC. I know the subway system very well and, to me at least, the map is quite easy to understand - even the bus maps. One day I'll get my license...one day...
The second Meme -
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
Right next to me I have my latest read - The Good Fairies of New York - Martin Millar
Mairi had the second sight. "Not much farther. I can sense a very strange land only a little way away."
very strange land indeed this blog land of ours!
Have a great weekend!
Yup - another year, another birthday. I enjoy my birthday and the numbers going up have not started to phase me yet (let's see how I feel in another 10 years!) today I am 29. This past year I've had my ups (new website and buisness) and downs (ending of a relationship) but no matter what happened I am always looking forward to what comes next. I'm sending out a big thank you to all my friends and family who have helped me out, supported and encouraged me to always move forward, learn from my mistakes and those of others, and just be happy, hopeful me!
Here is an interesting fact: my little sister, who works with me and who you've probably seen a few times on this here blog, it is her birthday too! When I was 7 I ran into school yelling - guess what I got for my birthday? a BABY sister! And my other sister was born on my half birthday July 25th...pretty cool huh?
I don't have any new knitting pictures but I do have a birthday request - I have started a customer gallery and REALLY want to get lots of pictures up there to share with everyone. So if you have knit something or spun something with anything from Brooklyn Handspun I would LOVE to get a picture, a little description and what info you'd like me to add like name / blog/ etc...
If you send them over to me I'll send you a 10% off coupon for the store How does that sound?
Here are a few pictures I've gotten already from the lovely Regina - The Frist one is using 1 skein of soft spun in Breeze (she had 5 yards left over! - she likes to live on the edge!).
This one is Signature in Smarties colorway-
Aren't they great?! I love seeing how creative you guys are it really inspires me!
I'll leave you with a picture I took with my Fab new camera of the Verrazano Bridge - this is only a few blocks from my house.
Just letting you all know the STORE has been updated with lots of yarn!
Here is a preview:
Well the new year is here and the SICKNESS has lifted from my home - I was grounded for close to a week with a terrible cold. I guess I took my holiday partying a little too seriously.
I had a wonderful Holiday season and I hope you all did as well. I got a cool new toy for Christmas - a new camera - a sweet Canon Digital Rebel XT, so hopefully you'll see some nicer pics around here - but I make no promises. Now we'll see if the crappy pictures were because of the equipment or the photographer!
So I finished my Glittens a LONG time ago but here is a pic.
I made a number of mistakes but I still love them and am now knitting another pair in black for myself - the green ones were gifted already.
Since I don't have much more knitting news, I'll show you another little project I have been working on. This is a fabric wall hanging that I pieced together this past weekend. 
It's not done yet - I have to add lots of decorative stitching to keep all the fabric in place and to create more depth in the piece. I'll add some metallic thread and maybe even some yarn to embellish. I think the embellishment process will take a lot longer than the piecing - we'll see. I call this cheat quilting since no sewing was done. It's basically applique but using double sided fusible interfacing - Fabric Collage! Once the stitching is down I think it'll be a little more acceptable as a applique art quilt.
In other news - I am FINALLY updating the store! I was going to put it up this weekend but I think Tuesday is going to be the update day. It'll give me enough time to gather everything and take nice pics. I feel like I am finally back in the swing of things after being on and off for the past few months. This is a BIG update with a ton of yarn and fiber. Remember, mailing list friends get first dibs. Here is a sneak peak.
I actually have knitting to show you - are you amazed? Yup I pulled it out of the poor UFO pile and finished it up. Without further ado here is SIZZLE!
Pattern: Sizzle
Designer: Wendy Bernard
Yarn: Cathay
Modifications: knit in the round and close up the side slits (I hate side slits on sweaters...they look weird on me)
Needles: US 7 Addi Turbos
Date Started: umm a long time ago sometime in the summer
Date Completed: December 13, 2006
I had most of this done for so long but I just had no motivation to finish the border on the arms...well it's done now and I think it's way cute. I'm not sure I can get away with wearing it as a tank top without something under it....super sexy v-neck...but I love it. It is a little big because I started knitting it before I lost 30 lbs!
I've actually got another project underway already - Glittens. This pattern is too cute. I knit this in 1 evening (and a little clandestine knitting at my desk on a slow day)
I'll start on the mitten part tonight. I've made quite a few mistakes and I'm thinking I'll end up knitting 3 of these - this one is a learning tool...or at least that's what I'll tell myself...lol.
The Weekender bag is all done - I didn't take pics because it really doesn't look any different just the inside is lined in plain black cotton. I've got two scarves on the needles and a few more to cast on for...I'll make it for Christmas - maybe.
I am *almost* finished with my Amy Butler Weekender Bag (I have to finish the lining and sew it in) . 2 1/2 evenings of insane cutting, sewing, cursing, and ironing and I came up with this -
Here is another view -
And the side view -
I picked this pattern up Saturday at Brooklyn General after knitting with mah girls. I had just gone on a fabric buying binge and needed to soak up that fabric somehow, so I thought I'd give the most challenging pattern a try...what was I thinking!
The pattern itself isn't complicated but the pinning, maneuvering and sewing of all those thick layers is. I did take some shortcuts though -
- I used Fast2Fuse instead of the timtex - it's basically the same thickness but the advantage is you can fuse it to your fabric instead of having to sew it in. (for those of you in NYC I picked this up at City Quilter)
- I also used fusible interfacing instead of sew in - the less sewing I have to do the better (eventually it was going to be sewn anyway when attaching the sides.
- instead of going out and buying proper cording I had some lacing which I covered to make the piping - I think even a thick yarn would have worked...I didn't want my piping to be too thick anyway.
- I don't think I'm going to need the false bottom - it's already very sturdy.
- I'll be adding a zippered pocket to the inside. (38th Street between 7th and 8th in Manhattan is the best place to get zippers by the way)
I really liked the way it came out and I think I would make another one but next time I might use maybe two layers of heavy fusible interfacing instead of the fast2fuse (timtex). I enjoy the way it's very sturdy and stands up on it's own, but I think it would be just as strong without it and a lot easier to sew. Although if I did that, I would definitely do the false bottom (whenever I type false bottom I think about those pants with a fake butt sewn into them...like I need that! LOL)
Hopefully the bag will be totally completed by Saturday...I'll keep you updated
I certainly am crafting...take a looksee
Painting -
Jewelry Making -
Sewing -
Quilting/Applique stuff -
And SHOPPING (way too much) check out the fabric stash enhancement. All thick cotton 45" 3 bucks a yard...there are certain reasons to venture out into Bay Ridge - $3 cotton and $10 embroidered silk! (I didn't pick up any this time around)
This one is my favorite -
Next time I'll have some real content...
