Sometimes I Even Confuse Myself

How sad is it that it has been SO long that I've posted anything here that I actually forgot my password. Honestly, I don't even remember changing it in the first place. I must have changed it in my sleep or something, because I have NO clue what I changed it to. SAD SAD SAD

At any rate. I haven't done much knitting since I churned out 5 of those headbands in a week. Not sure why, but I really enjoyed that pattern. I changed it up ever time I made it, too. I did one for each little girl in the family and 2 for a baby girl (grandbaby) of one of my favorite buds.

I really thought that I'd be working on some sort of red lace something or other by now. That's the problem with getting really excited about doing something and then not being able to start it during the initial motivation period. (since I had to wait and wait for the yarn to arrive) Once the yarn finally came and I got it all wound into pretty little cakes, I hit a rough spot. The anniversary of the date my dad died cropped up and bit me in the arse and that really sucked.

My problem is, that when some huge horrible thing happens, I completely shut down and go straight into shock. So I just muddle through feeling nothing for between 1 and 3 years, then it all hails down on me all at once. My biggest problem is the personality trait of always wanting to know the why and how and what the HELL of any given issue. In many cases however, there are only facts and figures without a why or how or what the hell, that adds up to anything other than: alcohol and guns don't mix - and depression makes for really stupid choices sometimes - and sometimes things really suck and "live isn't fair, and anyone who tells you differently is selling something"

I know I KNOW, there I go again, making a joke through the tears of reality, laughing at stuff that isn't funny. That's me.

It really doesn't matter why or how it happened, it still really makes me angry. I don't care if he didn't know what he was doing it still pisses me off.

Of course what all of this really boils down to is - I need to be knitting so I can knit and purl my way through it. (non knitters, just so you know, it actually works, so don't point and laugh - okay?)

I'm actually more OK than I sound, sometimes you just hafta vent before the knitting can commence.

Swatch/Practice FO

Oddly, I have knitting to share, finished knitting to boot.

Inspired by Amy again, I embarked on a headband.

It is a bit fiddly and quite imperfect, the lattice goes this way and that way,

and I even accidentally added and extra row of "YO K2tog" in roughly

the middle of the headband,so it almost has the look of something intentional.

It fits the daughter nicely,

and I'm going to embark on a second one for the eldest niece.

(not my usual model, her older sister)

On another note, we've had some spectacular storm systems go through. Some have given us a little rain and some just go by us and flood someone else.

Now I'm off to get started on my second swatch type practice headband.

I may modify it some or I may not.

The Spoils of Internet Shopping!

my sweet key-chain fix it on the go

double sided crochet hook thingy =)

size 3, 47 inch harmony circulars

size 0, 40 inch harmony BROKEN circ - lol

the replacement for the broken one

size 0, 40 inch harmony circular needles

the swift that has been winding

dozens of yarn cakes

the ball winder - or cake winder, whatever

the beginning of the yarn for my cardi

now to see if my reverse engineering skills exist

the winder in action

swift in action

2,200 yards of Gloss Lace from Knit Picks (of course)

70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk in Fiesta

that should be enough for a decent sized shawl thing

right? hahahaha

my new massage chair

demonstration by the sweet niece

The Orders are Rolling In!

I have now joined the land of the knitters who have swifts and ball winders. It's a very happy land. I'll have pictures in the next few days, once I get the laundry off my normal photo taking couch. I've ordered my red lace-weight AND I also ordered the organic cotton to start my replacement, reverse engineered wubbie cardigan.

Guess what I ordered today? (besides the yarn) Well, it has nothing to do with knitting. I finally bit the bullet and ordered this:

In a very pretty blue that matches my massage table. I have a sweet opportunity to do some chair massage at a business near my office, so I'm jumping on it. I've been wanting to get a chair for a while, so I did it! Then in a couple of weeks or so, I'm going to go up to the salon where my sister works and do some massages there for the women who work there and maybe some of their clients. cue me singing ~exCITing~

I promised pictures of my clematis last time, so here they are - I wish now I'd tried one more angle on them, but didn't get to do it before they lost their luster.

At one point the kids counted more than twenty blooms at once. This is a really good year for flowers, everyone is saying the same thing. I've already missed about 12 of my lavender roses, so I'll have to wait until they go on their second blooming spree.

I'll have more pics in a day or two, like I said, can't wait to wind more yarn! =)

oh SNAP!

Thanks to Chris at Drop Stitch Knitter I'm getting a swift! I so totally forgot that she and her husband have an Etsy shop, Scott's Mountain Crafts, with all sorts of wonderful goodies. I'm SO glad she reminded me in the comments about their very well priced hand made OAK swifts. hehehehehe

Now once Monday gets here I can order my red lace weight and start planning what I'm gonna do, namely triangular shawl or another stole (or some other thing I haven't thought of). I really should just break down and order Victorian Lace Today or some such lace pattern book. I really loved Grumperina's review a couple of years ago. Gorgeous stuff. I really think I'm going to go in search of the butterfly stitch in lace on Ravelry this time, though. Save my $ for yarn, even though Amazon.com has some really great deals on used copies

Sometimes Good-bye is Second Chance

SO... I've been thinking. (instead of knitting, thinking) The thing is, the lace scarf I've started is definitely too wide. I've lost the desire to knit it in it's current width, since I know it won't be long enough. This leads me to the sad reality that I will be ripping it all out and starting over.

To make myself feel better I did some online retail therapy via Knit Picks. I'm getting a ball winder, (no swift, but one big thing at a time) a very cute key chain two sided crochet hook for 'on the go' dropped stitches, some more magnets for my chart holder, and 2 sets of fixed circular harmony needles to try out. That may be all, but I'm probably forgetting something. Oh yeah, some cuticle and nail stuff made from beeswax or something like that.

Anyway, I got it in my head to get some red lace-weight because Amy keeps knitting beautiful red stuff and I keep wishing I had some red lace stuff to wear. Go see and scroll down and then subscribe to her blog because she rocks. Red IS my best color to wear, btw. I took a serious liking to this yarn:

FiestaSee more from:

Gloss Lace Yarn
70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk
Lace Weight
$3.99 / 50 gm hank
AVAILABLE 4/26/10

As you see, I am a few days too early to order it. DRAT! However, it does give me a good excuse to do a little more retail therapy next Wednesday. ~~cue devious/maniacal laughter~~ This means I'll be looking for another cool stitch pattern. ACTUALLY... I saw a really pretty stole the other day done in a very pretty butterfly stitch. I need to photograph it or search for lace patterns that include it, because it was so cool. If any of you know of a pretty pattern already that you can suggest, I'd love to hear about it.

Tune in next time for sad pictures of the dismantled lace and awesome pictures of my clematis blooms, they've really gone berserk this year.

Spring Blooms

At the risk of being annually repetitive, I must share my tree's blossoms. They seem to have really outdone themselves this year. Even the tiny one in my back yard, which receives daily (ahem) "attention" from my dog, is blooming like a pro. Hopefully all the pictures will distract all of you from the obvious and serious lack of knitting going on. My children and I seem to be playing volleyball with at least 2 or 3 different viruses. I have had a low grade fever off and on for about 3 weeks now. (annoying)

So... feast yer eyes me hearties on me bloomin trees! ARGH!

You know I love bees