So, radio silence is over (as evidenced by this and the previous post). I've been to Seattle and back, and we're in the new house now (!!yay!!) though *nothing* is unpacked at the moment. Makes for lots of mess!
I saw nifty things in Seattle, and got great souvenir yarns there too. Sadly, I didn't get to meet up with some people I wanted to, but I still managed a good time.
I'll post all about the trip and the yarn later, right now my camera is packed away in the suitcase that needs unpacking (along with the rest of the house.) And my, but there are pictures. Too bad there's no "behind the cut" feature 'cause I'm sure some will be of no interest to anyone but me.
So, my friend's husband has a new camera and was clicking away at anything he thought would be a good picture. He can take a good picture with a crappy camera, too, but it got me thinking. I want to be able to take better pictures, and I've seen some other knitbloggers who say the same thing. So, I'm proposing a ring/blog, kinda like SPT. Basically, every week there will be a "theme" - a word or phrase to interpret and take a picture of. Something like "bars" could be taken as where drinks are served, things holding in prisoners, or chocolate. Get it? And everyone would post their pictures for the week, which would give everyone the chance to check them out and decide what it is about the composition of those pictures that draws you. All in the interest of taking a better picture, since I've found that if I really look at the ones that I like, I can see something that can be applied to my photography. Plus? Makes for a nice little photo scavenger hunt every week. :) So, I think it's going to be a blogger blog (for now) and if anyone interested could leave a comment, or drop me an email, I'll get an invite out to you!

Labels: photography, Seattle

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Slytherin

2. List your favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. Or would you prefer circulars? I *prefer* DPNs for most projects, but due to LMV being as active as she is, I've been using circs lately. I really like the magic loop since the two circs method tends to create clacking loose needles, so whatever project I have on those I can't work on while she nurses or sleeps. I do like metal just because the smaller sock size needles seem so flimsy. I don't like Inox, though - the join on those are horrible!

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? Hmm. I would love to try an ebony circ, but that's a caviar dream on a tuna budget. :)

4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? See question #1

5. Do you have any allergies? I've never used mohair, so I don't know about it, but otherwise I haven't been allergic to anything yet.

Labels: HSKS2

It's official. We're homeless. As of 10:30 this morning, we signed the papers and surrendered the keys. YEAH!!!!!! We take possession of the new house 9am Friday morning! I'm so excited, I can't sleep.
So what do I do? Why, I'm a knitter. I cast on for another project! I'm working in Lion Brand Microspun, which is the recommended yarn for this particular project. What is it, you ask? Well, here's a little picture from the pattern, since I currently have NO idea where my camera is in the jumble of boxes. I started this outfit (in crochet) in random yarns several times, back when I didn't think there was anything better than Lion Brand, and I didn't understand that *any* yarn could be substituted with *any other* yarn. So, working it again tonight in knit and the right yarn is making me feel like I've come full circle. It's really cute, too, and will be on LMV. So far, I've got bot legs going on the back, and have finished the crotch shaping. I'm using the purple (which on the website does *not* look anything like the yarn,) and I have two balls of contrasting color, but I'm not liking them together. I may go to the store tomorrow and see if I can get one or two more contrasts, depending on if they have anything that will work with what I already have.
The odd thing, as I'm knitting, a thought flashes through my head. I wonder, am I getting gauge? I know, I know. I *should* have swatched. But I didn't. If it's smaller than the written measurements, then it will fit now. If it's bigger, it will fit later. LMV is on the smaller side (she's still fitting into some 9m clothes, at least around. She's a bean sprout, though. Got that from ME!) so sizing is a little off for her. Finding her shoes that fit *and* she can walk in? Near impossible - she's still in size 2 - or three if they have adjustable straps - while most kids her age are in 4 or higher.
So, in a fit of... well, I don't quite know but I was definitely off my rocker, I signed up for Mystery Stole 3. What have I gotten myself into??? I'm hoping it's a way to help me finish a lace project, so everything else is going to be sidelined while I work on this. (Except, of course a fairly mindless traveling project.) I think I may have picked out the yarn - silk in anthracite - and the beads - matte gunmetal - but I'm waiting to place the order until I have an address for them to go to. (I'm not exactly a placing the horse before the cart kind of gal.) Once it gets in I will actually swatch it, beads and all, and decide if the silk will work, or if I want a wool laceweight. So, just in case, does anyone know where I can get a smooth or semi-smooth wool laceweight in black or grey tonal? And, hey, if they have a pale pink tonal, that'd be great too!

Labels: house, MS3, tutu onesie

1. Hannah Abbott

2. Bellatrix Lestrange

3. Florean Fortescue

4. Petunia

5. Bill

6. Bloody Baron

7.Cat

8. His hair in a ponytail

9. Broomstick

10. Cadwallader

Picture Scavenger Hunt
You can either upload the pictures to your blog or you can link the pictures. Please show us . . .

Lord Voldemort
Lu(s)ci(o)us Malfoy
The poster from movie number 5
Dolores Umbridge
Ginny Weasley

Oh, poo. I had to rip back the design sock. Again. I started the shaping too early, and I don't know of anyone's foot that is that short and wide. But the good news? I'm making great progress on the design. And the yarn is holding up well to all the working. I don't want to post pictures of it - I want it all to be a total surprise. And I *am* still looking for a test knitter or two, once the pattern is all worked out. I'm going to try to give enough information that it can be worked toe-up or cuff-down, cause I'm all helpful like that. (More like I'm crazy like that.)

Labels: socks, stealth knitting

My great-grandmother died two weeks ago, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. Everyone in my family called her Nanny. I don't think she had heard her given name in years. Nanny was a quilter. Everyone in the family has at least one quilt hand pieced, and maybe even hand quilted by Nanny. I even have a quilt top that needs backing and quilting. Nanny was my source of information on the "old days." The first time I heard about carding and spinning (cotton) I went to Nanny and asked. She dug out some old carders for me, and explained how they worked. When I was little, hopping across the US with my military father and mother, we would always come back home, where the rest of the family was. I would walk up the driveway from my grandmother's house to Nanny's. She let me (and usually Cousin J) in the garage door. We would procure a cookie from the jar in the kitchen, and go sit with her in the living room on her vinyl sofa. There was always a puzzle half worked on a card table in the corner of the room, and masses of family pictures on every flat surface. I swear, every time I walked up to her little house, I would ask about the little green dress hanging in the kitchen. I vaguely remember the story (remember, I *did* need to ask all the time) that she wore it as a little girl, but when I asked my aunt about the dress, she said it was a "holder." Of what, I don't know, but that dress and sitting with my cookie in her living room are what I think of when I think of Nanny. My daughter got to meet her great-great-grandmother, twice, and for that I'm thankful. I still haven't shed a tear over Nanny's passing, but I think that's because I know she had a full, happy life with her family. The family reunion was just a month before her death, so she got to see us all one last time. I just wanted to remember Nanny to someone else, and let my daughter know who that little old lady was in the pictures from when she was one.

Labels: misc

Old business first - the HSKS trivia answer is Voldemort
On to new business - I'm designing another sock. Yes, I know I haven't made the mate to the last one, but this one was just SCREAMING to be made. I'm at the tricky part right now, and I just ripped back for the second time, but this sock is scratching at the inside of my skull, trying to get out and say "LOOK!!! how cool I am! Admire me!!!" Normally, I wouldn't be so, I guess egotistical? But this sock doesn't seem of me - it seems more like I'm the vessel it's using to get made. But anyways - a description. I recently re-watched Cat Bordhi's recent Knitty Gritty appearance, and her discussion about approaching sock construction differently got me thinking about how I could do it differently. It's nothing too outrageous, but it's definitely different. And that's all I'm saying about that. So the new business? I need a test knitter for when the pattern is done. If you think you may be interested, let me know. I'm trying to keep meticulous notes, but this will be my first written out pattern. I should *hopefully* have it done by the end of the month, but if it takes longer, it takes longer.
We get our house in just over a week! AAAHHH!!!! Hmmm...I better do a double check on all my addresses.....
In other news, the SockMonkey bag has been found, contents and all!!!! It got stuck away by MathMan, who then promptly forgot that he had touched it at all. The problem? I now have to face the fact that the sock inside is too small for it's intended recipient, as well as everyone else I know. Oh, well. I enjoy the knitting, right?

Labels: HSKS, socks

::Doin' the happy dance:: ::doin the happy dance::
The Weasley is done!! And that means MMT has a new nickname - Little Miss V! (or LMV for short.) Since "MissMonkeyToes" doesn't really describe her anymore, and there's already a "MissV", LMV it is! So, what does everyone think?

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I did not get my books, but I did see my movie. I got a yummy dinner, and a new gadget for one of mine.
Now, I'm wondering if I can set something like this up at the new house.....
My first blogiversary is coming up in a few days. I'm thinking of maybe a contest, but I'm not sure what. Let me get back to everyone on that count.

Labels: misc

Have you seen these? Soo pretty. I *MUST* get these books! Every time I go to the bookstore nor the LYS, I see them. I flip through. I contemplate getting them. I put them back on the shelf. Why?? Why do I do this to myself? Maybe it's because I've dropped mad hints to MathMan that I want them for my birthday. (Which is today. Happy birthday to me.) If He doesn't give them to me, I may go out and get them tomorrow. Right before I make him take me to PoTC3 (he's trying for Shrek3. But 2 didn't end in a cliffhanger, and JOHNNY DEPP!!!!! Hello!!!) We're having dinner with friends tomorrow, after making a trip to the house for a load of stuff. (I still hate moving.) Girlie (who will have a new blog nickname once the sweater is "initialed") is staying with the grandparents during all this. I may ask them for a solo nap as well. MMT has gotten particularly rough when she is sleeping, plus being that close to a little furnace during the unbearable heat is not conducive to good sleep for either of us.
I've been plugging away at Chevron #2, but as I'm only getting about 15 minutes an evening to knit, it's slow going. I'll try to get a picture later today.
I just learned today that cousin J has made his goal for the Aids Life Cycle! Go, C-J! I'll be rooting for you on that loooong ride!
SheepofaDifferentColor has turned me on to this. Possibly the greatest thing on the internet: free, accessible, and it streams fast, too!
I had to run to the store yesterday, and MMT stayed with grandma. When I got back, grandma told me about the heart attack waiting to happen, and MMT showed me her new trick. Repeatedly. She has learned how to climb onto the coffee table. And walk around on it. And even fall off. I love that she is independent and fearless, but she's giving me grey hair!!! It's like the Harlot said, children need to be taught the skills needed as adults (free thinking), not the ones desired by adults (obedience).
So, a few people have asked me about Ravelry. OMG, it's so wonderful! I figured it would just be another site, eh, whatever. But since it's made by techno geeks that knit, and knitters have been putting their input in, it's AMAZING. That's all I can really say that hasn't already been said. From what I understand, they're finishing up the bugs, and it will soon be open to all. I can't wait to see everyone on there! (The only thing I'm not using right now is the "stash" options. Since I just started my StashSheet, I figure I'll get everything into that, and once we move I'll take pictures of everything and get it into Ravelry.)

Labels: chevron scarf, Life, MMT