I cast on to the lace leaf pullover from "Loop-d-loop" while watching my weekly guilty pleasure VH1's "celebreality" on sunday night. The shows were all pretty lame this week (except best week ever ). I worked on the sweater for about 2 and a half hours and much to my surprise I finished the bottom. I must tell you that the rowan polar I'm using is one of the loveliest yarns I have ever handled. It is beyond soft but that isn't even the best part. The fact that it is a bulky yarn & I've knitted half a sweater & it isn't straining my puny arms to hold it up is AMAZING! Seriously folks I am salivating just thinking of going home & knitting with it! It even crossed my mind to skip the gym tonight to get home quicker- but I decided against that for the sake of future bulky yarns that won't be so light.

Here is my finished bottom:


The texture & color combo actually show off the leaf pattern nicely! I'll take a close up when I get home.

In other knitting news I also finished the ballet tee (sorry no pics til tonight). It is a super fun quick knit! I will definitely be making more of them! I lengthened mine to regular tee shirt length vs. the cropped look which just doesn't do it for me. I love the fit of the tee and the brown sheep co. cotton fleece is really nice in tee shirt form. I also really like the long sleeve version what was in IK last year. The mods for the long sleeves are up on craftster. I think my next one might be more "fall appropriate".

In weekend news Isaac & I went to see "The corpse bride" on Friday. It is a really lovely little flick! I really adore Tim Burton films & this is no exception! I also finally got around to buying the new Dane Cook CD/DVD "retaliation". He is so friggin funny!! I made a trip to the LYS to check out some ideas I had for my secret pal. Thanks Yaharia for all your recommendations! I also bought the rowan 4 ply cotton in black for Orangina. I ordered it from Jannette on ebay so it has a long trip from England but it was a steal!!!

Tonight- new Tiny showcase print!! It promises to be not only a "biggie" but possibly Halloween themed?!?! EEEK!!!! Oh & the new season of the amazing race is on! Yay!!

So I finally finished up the one button cardigan from the spring/summer issue of knit.1



It's not the most flattering pic on me since it's a size too large but, you get the idea. I lengthened the sleeves to come to the knuckles, the way Laura likes it. I used homespun in "romantique" it took 3 skeins on size 10.5 needles. I suppose it took me about 3 weeks off & on. I like the sweater but not the homespun. It's soft enough but so splitty & squeaky.

All that is really beside the point. I know Laura will love it. According to her it is the sweater of her dreams. Soft, warm and low maintenance.

On the needles now is the ballet tee from loop-d-loop. I'm knitting it up in brown sheep cotton fleece in a color called "rue". I love this yarn! It is such a soft cotton & double stranded on size 15's it knits up quick to boot! I adore quick knits!

I'm also a bit obsessed with my Denise needles. They are great to work with! They knit so smoothly & I am all about the flexible cords! I can't believe I ever knit with those cheap cruddy circ's before! All those wasted projects.....

Sandra was sweet enough to give me her unused Orangina pattern. I'm thinking of making one in black. It seems so fitting for a sexy lace pattern plus Wendy's at Knit and tonic looks so hot in black!

Oh! Harlem Nights is on! I love Richard Pryor!!!

We got our SP6 match ups today!! Woo hoo!! Now I just need to get that questionnaire filled out.

First, how about a finished object(s). The one button cardigan? Nope! I have all the stitches for the ribbing picked up and have 2 of the 7 rows of ribbing done. Maybe by tomorrow. No friends, my finished object is a hat & scarf set made from Erin's lovely absinthe yarn.
I used Lelah's simple & wonderful basic hat pattern and the scarf was completely winged. I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!! The color is fabulous & it's so soft & warm! Perfect for winter!! Thanks again Erin!!



Oh & check out that shirt! It's from Leah at craftster. I LOVE it!!!

Ok, now on to Secret pal!!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? I am but I'm not... I HATE acrylic that feels stiff and plasticy (like red heart supersaver) but I will use lion's brand wool ease or other soft acrylics if they are OK for what I'm making

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I can crochet but not well.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) I have seasonal hay fever but that shouldn't be a problem. I really dislike the smell of smoke.

4. How long have you been knitting? One year and 4 months

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, I have an Amazon wish list.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Gardenia & Jasmine.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes!! I love chocolate!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I do embroidery, stencil & silkscreen shirts, lino cut, photography, & sew

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes, I can play MP3's. I love all kinds of music. 60's & 70's rock, 80's rap & hip hop, Indie rock, & classic country.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Red is my favorite. I also love blue, green, yellow and orange. I'm not a huge fan of pink.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm married to an amazing man, Isaac & we live happily with our cat Max.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) To live peacefully, travel and gain as much knowledge and as many interesting life experiences as possible.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I love cascade 220, noro kureyon and manos del uruguay.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Squeaky rough acrylics, novelty yarn, rough cotton

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I've been knitting a lot of lace lately. I also love making felted things!!

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love making felted bags, sweaters & anything that makes lace look cool & modern & hats!!

17. What are you knitting right now? The one button cardigan from the spring/summer issue of Knit.1, the ballet tee from loop-d-loop & I'm about to start on the lace leaf pullover from loop-d-loop.

18. What do you think about ponchos? They are really not my style.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circs for somethings & straights for others. I am completely obsessed with my new Denise kit right now so I want to knit everything on circs lately!!

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? For straights I love Bamboo unless it's tiny needles, then I prefer plastic or aluminum.

21. Are you a sock knitter? Not yet but I really want to be!

22. How did you learn to knit? I wanted to spend more time with my great aunt who is a knitter/crocheter so I asked her to teach me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? 5 months. It's the baby's first tattoo sweater from Sn'B nation.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I don't have a favorite cartoon character but my favorite show in general is the Simpsons. As far as animals go I love cats, elephants, owls & finches.

25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

26. Is there anything that you collect? Vintage (50's mostly) halloween decorations & costumes

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Sadly none but I have been thinking of getting a subscription to Interweave Knits.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? Knitting over the edge & Last minute knitted gifts

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?? None now, thanks Sandra!!! :)

30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like? I wear a size 8 shoe. My ankle measurement is 8" as is the length of my foot. I like socks to come above my ankle.

So, thats it secret pal!! :)

I was tagged by Kym at stix and the city. Thanks Kym!!

TEN YEARS AGO: I had just started college and was working at the Italia D' Oro coffee shop in downtown Jax. I was dating a guy named Mickey Faith (I kid you not) and spending every night as a runner for the coolest bar (at the time) in Jax, the Milkbar. I usually slept about 3 hours a night. I met John & John from TMBG, Mike Ness, all the guys from De La Soul, blink 182 (who were not surprisingly a-holes). The most important person I met that year was Isaac.

FIVE YEARS AGO: I was working at the Jericho school for children with autism & developmental delays & hating the bureaucracy. Isaac & I had just started dating (FINALLY) and I was planning a move to Atlanta.

ONE YEAR AGO: Isaac & I were planning our one year wedding anniversary trip to Cumberland Island. I was starting my 3rd year of running Play for Tomorrow ,an afterschool inclusion group for children with developmental delays, that I founded and being amazed that we were not only still running but making money!

FIVE SNACKS: Homemade chocolate chip cookies, Ben & Jerry's chubby hubby ice cream, fresh hot southern style biscuits, cool ranch doritos, samosas.

FIVE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO: Allison by Elvis Costello, It takes 2 by Rob Base, Reno Dakota by Magnetic Fields, I walk the line by Johnny Cash, Epic by faith no more .

FIVE THINGS I WOULD DO WITH $100 MILLION: 1. Set up my family & friends so they would never have to worry about money. 2. Set up trustfunds for all the kids that I work with so their families would know they would always be taken care of. 3. Give to all my favorite charities 4. Invest well 5. Travel around the world at least twice!

FIVE PLACES TO RUN AWAY TO: Asheville N.C., Paris France , Fushimi-Inari in Kyoto Japan, my parents house in FL, anyplace with Isaac.

FIVE THINGS I WOULD NEVER WEAR: Anything with huge logos on it (GAP, old navy, Tommy) I don't know why people need to know whose clothes I'm wearing, Yellow- unfortunately it looks terrible on me, Fur, those jeans with "whiskers"- bleck!, porn star shoes- you know the 5 inch heels.

FIVE FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Simpsons, Lost, Freaks & Geeks, Mr. Show, The Daily Show

FIVE BIGGEST JOYS: Traveling, all my hobbies- knitting, stenciling, embroidery etc., teaching, cooking, Making Isaac smile!!!

FAVORITE TOYS: Yarn & needles, my laptop, my cameras, my bike, my volvo v-40

PEOPLE TO PASS THIS ON TO: Erin at knitters not quitters, Amy at sew wabi sabi, Lori at yes I made that Eunny at see eunny knit and Byrony at library girl knits.

I'm almost finished with my umami homemade absinthe yarn project!! I think I will finish it up tonight when we watch "The man with the screaming brain". Bruce Campbell RULES!!

I'm also feeling much better! Thanks for all your well wishes guys!!

Oh & anyone who was interested in the Threadless hurricane katrina relief shirt. They are continuing to print them so check back often. Even though they already reached $50,000.00 they are going to donate all the proceeds from the shirt sales to the red cross (they just aren't doubling it anymore).

Threadless is offering up a very cool shirt to help with relief for those affected by hurricane Katrina. For every $10.00 shirt they sell they will donate $20.00 to the red cross. The shirts are selling fast & can be found here.

Secondly I just heard a Stephen Malkmus song in a Sears commercial!?!?!? What the fuck!!!

I hate being sick! Luckily it doesn't happen often but this cold is a M.F.!!!!

I haven't done much of anything in the past 3 days. I haven't knitted since Saturday *GASP* which is quite possibly the longest I've gone since I really started knitting about a year and a half ago.

I did get a lovely treat in the mail yesterday. Erin's absinthe yarn showed up at my doorstep! It is even more wonderful in person!! I think I will put the cardi on the back burner for a couple of days and knit something up with this immediately!!

The new knitty is up. It is chocked full of goodness. The bonus is that 3 of the pattern contributors are craftster regulars!! This is probably my favorite issue of knitty thus far! So many things to knit so little time!

Secret pal 6 starts soon! I see that the questionnaire is up which means matches soon! I can't wait to see who I get to spoil!!

Oh & sorry about turning on the word verification for anyone it bothers. There is just too much spam going around lately!!

Isaac is out for the day volunteering at decatur yellow bike. It's a non profit that takes old run down bikes & fixes them up for people in the community to use vs. driving. It's a great cause & I have a feeling that as gas prices rise more people will be taking advantage of it!

The mass hysteria that abounded here on Wed. was shocking! A rumor was going around that Atlanta would run out of gas so EVERYONE decided they had to get gas. Luckily I filled up on Tuesday! It looked like the pictures from the 1970's where cars spilled out into the street trying to get gas. People pulled guns on each other & got into fist fights. I really feel like mad max time is here.

It makes me glad that Isaac decided to get a bio-diesel car. Down with dependence on non renewable resources!! I love my volvo v-40 but it really makes me wish I could get one that ran on bio-diesel. Boo! Our friend Rob is passionate about converting everyone to bio-diesel. His website is a wealth of info!! Veg energy.

In Knitting news I just seamed up my sweater & need to pick up the stiches for ribbing. I am so slooooooow at picking up stitches. Maybe I will finish it by next week! Hmmmmph!

Oh & I just wanted to post for those who haven't seen:

Craft Revolution/crafters united has FAR surpassed their initial goal of $1,000.00! It is great to see the response!! It makes me glad to be a creative mind!! The two shirts we donated sold the first couple of hours they were up!! YAY! I've bought a couple of christmas gifts from them so far as well as some things for myself!!



Thanks to Erin for offering up her yummy absinthe yarn! I can't wait to get me knitty little hands on it!!