Friday, December 11, 2009

Wave your Geek FLag!

I have always considered myself a geek. Nothing wrong with it.

I don't speak Klingon, never been to a Con... or dressed as my favorite anime character.
I have seen every incarnation of Star Trek, love Star Wars (the ones made in the 70's) and can totally tell you what is wrong with the storyline in the x-men movies. Actually.......... don't get me started on that one.

Podcasts have become part of the little geekhood that I carry around everyday with me. I mostly listen to knitting, craft or literature casts, but Brass Needles bridges the gap in craft and si-fi for me... LOL
Lately it's alot of talk about Star Trek DS9...... but it's intresting.

Episode 34 mentioned a podcast that I had to go check out. Wil Wheatons' Memories of the Futurecast 

Fantastic!
So go give it a listen if you, like I, remember Wesley Crusher fondly. This is a podcast with excerpts from his book Memories of the future... check out his synopsis, it's much more direct than I could be here.

I really like this podcast, but I have to say that finding Radio Free Burrito was the best score. Check that out too......

Next post.... the geeky knitting I can't wait to show off! I have to get farther into the project so you can see the true glorious geek of it, but I promise pics! See you soon...... go geek out!

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Intresting things afoot and a confession.

This Challenge thing I talked about... may not work out this month.
Seriously..... December? What was I thinking? If I had been gift knitting since July.... sure. Now? Nope.
Silly me.
That is my confession. Not suprising I know.

Anyhow.... knitting.



I won a contest. Knitpicks has a podcast... and they have a question at the end of the new episodes. I won.... two skeins of Stroll handpainted. The blue is Lullaby and the purple/green is Make Believe. I asked for these colours because I love them... really not a suprise.. I have alot of those colours.

I have been knitting alot of gifts... pictures of those later in the month of course.

Also I went to the fantastic Dressew!! Yarn on for 1.99.... seriously.... Regia sock yarn.


Sweet!

And tons of other goodies.

You should totally go. It was amazing.
Hope you are all well, just wanted to pop in a update. Prehaps I will have a challenge that is sane for myself in the new year.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Knit on!

Fantastic week... very rainy but knitting has happened. That is a good thing!
My knitting is moving forward, and I keep adding to my pile. Startisis? I am not sure.... I am not just adding random things. I am knitting small gifts and finishing projects that I have had sitting as I mentiond in my last post. I plan on having more progress on my projects this week too. I am looking forward to completing gifts for family and friends, so much that I keep casting on these gifts.  Here is a neck cowl, only missing the buttons.



So I don't seem to have other images of the projects on the go. I think I shared them all last post. I will tke more for the next update.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

A good fall weekend

Hello... I just keep wondering how it got to be the middle of November! So much to do and only so many hours to do it in. I am very certian that I am not alone in this! LOL


I have been considering a few things lately and I think that I will be giving myself a personal challenge this December. I have been pretty slothly on the 100 Ball challenge so you you may wonder why I would consider a new challenge. Not that I haven't been knitting for that challenge. I never seem to record it. I try to wait until a project is finished before I actually add it to my tally and several big projects like my
CPH sweater and a baby blanket are progressing a bit slowly, so I have a really low count so far. It is a bit discouraging. I think that I will take this challenge on again in 2010, but with a modification on my record keeping. Stickers or something in my daytimer I think... not really sure yet. Any way the challenge I am going to set for myself this December includes all aspects of my crafting. I have to say that I kinda keep thinking about Toni's method of working through a project that she has on the go until her WIP's are gone. She bagged them, and pulls a new one out each month. Congrats Toni on being 4 project away from your goal!!


So I took my own steps..


Say hello to my WIP's bin. All kinds of things from knitting to embroidery. Looks pretty packed huh.. but it isn't really. Some things are a bit bulky, like the extra dog bed I am making. My December goals will include working through this bin. Now... I am not excluding working on new projects in December, and gift knitting will be happening as well. I just don't want them hiding in my wardrobe, or some corner of my room.. until I totally forget that I ever started them. I want to work on them. I spend my money on crafting supplies, and sometimes I never get around to the project. I want to make sure that I am making use of, and creating the thing that I have been inspire to, not to wast money on a project I will never get around to. So working through my stash of WIP's is going to help with that. I do want them done by the end of december... and if I start now, maybe that will happen.



Some knitting I am currently working on is the Magic Yarn ball project. It's a bit akward. I gotta admit, I unrolled the ball and got all the goodies out....... because the stuff kept getting caught and snagging me mid-stitch! MMMM chocolate.

I am knitting an Yvaine but I have no idea how much yarn it's going to take up. Luckily there are two skeins of the Araucania... so I can choose later. So far I really like the look of it! Seems simple doesn't it... but there is some garter and some stocking sts in there too.

So that is in the works, which I think will be ideal work knitting... easy to put down and pickup.

I also started a Minimalist Cardigan and a new pair of Endpaper Mitts. The cardigan is for me... I am knitting the body in one piece, back and forth... as I have totally relised my seaming dislike! LOL Next sweater... maybe back to steeking! The mitts are a gift. I see myself making a few more pairs again this year for those who didn't get them last year. At leas it's fast. I am rocking on mitt number two and I have really only been working on them a couple of nights this week... good progress. Having the pair done by tonight or tomorrow would be great!

Oh and I did a bit more dyeing. With koolaid. The picture really isn't exciting. I am knitting a gift with that so I will update you when there is progress. I did get up to one thing yesterday morning that I totally reccomend, Pumpkin Muffins. The recipe is from the Stitch It podcast blog. I did not add the fruit or nuts... I may try next time, but I usually don't like that in my muffins. I also did not make the glaze...... but the muffins were yummy! Funny thing though.... in Canada Pumpkin comes in 14 oz. or 19oz........ oh well. no 150z can for me! Happy weekend everyone, and bake something yummy!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A Time of Remembrance


Remembrance Day, to Canadains

Vetrans Day, to Americans

Armistice Day, to UK folk


A time for remembrance......
Lest we forget.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Some pics and Happy Thanksgiving!


It is a lovely fall Thanksgiving day! the sun has been shining all weekend, so I have taken some pictures of recent stuff for you!As you can see I have made some stash enhancement. The two dark skeins at the bottom were purchased at the Thanksgiving sale at 88 Stitches.. another LYS. Berroco ultra Alpalca Fine and Malabrigo Lace in Purple Mystery.

The top three were dyed, and in the case of the pink/red overdyed the other night with some friends... who knew a dyepot party could be so fun! mow all I want to do is buy more white to dye it! LOL. The pink is Orangi Filati Merion Oro. The pink wasn't me, I bought it to match the Hanami stole pattern, but that is a mistake huh... never buy the yarn colour the pattern is in unless it is flattering! LOL

The other two are a Patons Classic Merino and another Berroco Ultra ALpalce Fine. They turned out very bright... but I love them. The flashes of white, and the pop of purple. Fantastic!!



This has been my easy "on the road "project but it is at the end so I am moving on soon. The was an experiment in log cabin. I made it off centre, but I am unsure if it was succesful or not. Glad I tried it though.



I also have a Multnoma shawl on the go in a green skein of West Coast Colours dyed by the owner of Knitopia the other lys. I was planning on making socks or a baby jacket, but the colours are a bit more suited to this project. This shawl has been a bit of a hit on Ravelry and I think that I would make more, maybe with some modification. I do really like it though. The begining is all garter stitch with increases that are very easy to follow. I think that I have been knitting this in the car and at work primarily in the last week, because it is really so easy. The Manic Purl Podcast has been talking about it too. The host has made two, in a larger size. Check hers out.
So a pal of mine has mentioned that a group she is in in Ravelry are having a finishing month. No new projects, just completion. I like the idea, but I won't comit to it, I really am trying to finish off all the outstanding projects on my needles, but what fun is it if you can't cast on something new when you feel like it! LOL
I suppose, because I have been frogging and einishing fairly wel; recently, I am really not too worried about this. I will be completing finishing on a few projects this week for sure, and that is always a nice thing. to use the items, or pass them on tho the rightful recipient.
Hope fall is treating you well and you are cozy with a pot of tea and some great knitting... maybe a book too. Have a great week and a holiday for those of us up in Canada. Take time to be thankful! I know I am!