Its all true, the boogie girl is real, and you've found her. She knits, sews, spins, does pottery and writes it all down in this blog.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Of goals and knitters
I'm thinking of trying something new. Not a New Year's resolution. I don't do resolutions. No one ever keeps their resolutions and besides, this is more of an experiment.
Don't laugh.
I'm warning you.
My plan might seem extreme.
Try to keep your composure.
Your boss will know you're not working if you laugh out loud.
Seriously, if you think you can't handle this then you should put your arm up to your mouth right now so you can muffle any noises that might escape.
Ready?
My new plan is....
To knit only one thing at a time.
Yup, no more multiple projects going at once. Well, I'll need one small take along project and one at home project. But that's it. No, really, that's it. I'm not going to make any other new rules. One project I can cart around and one big project that has to stay at home. I even need to finish seaming a big project before I can move onto a new big project.
Hey, I hear the guffaws. It could happen.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that up until a couple of years ago, I only worked on one project at a time. I have a bad memory so I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure of it. One item at a time. Seems like such a foreign thought now.
I think if I can get the knitting ADD under control I'll get a lot more done. One sweater at a time instead of 2 or 3 along with a couple of shawls and sock and mitten projects. Steady as she goes. One project at a time. I concentrated on that vest last week and finish that in 4 days! I can do this. I like the process but finished items are pretty cool too.
I think I've been too hectic in my daily life and looking forward too much. It's always about the next project. It's never about the "here and now". A little more Zen and I think I'll be a happy Boogie.
So, in light of this change, I've changed my WIP page to reflect the UFO's that need to be completed (others will be frogged). It also has a list of possible future projects. I'm not looking ahead, really I'm not. The list is there to remind me of what I have for yarn/fiber and what people have requested.
Now that that has been said I'm done. I've been working right through the holidays and I'm tired. I'm taking the rest of the year off. Extreme I know. Have a happy New Year celebration if you are doing so, stay safe and I'll be back on Monday.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Top Five for 2004
Lists.... oh goodie!
I don't do many lists but I love them. They are self serving and hold no other purpose than the stuffing in the turkey. If lists were stuffing and if my blog were a turkey. I'm not making sense am I? On with the show.
Favourite needles for 2004:
My favorite needles for 2004 are the favorites of all times. Bamboo needles of course. If you want specifics then I think I'd have to choose my 2.75mm DPN's.
Favourite online shop for 2004:
Elann. Hands down. I like my LYS but they don't carry it all (almost but not quite). If I buy yarn online I usually check the fabulous Elann first.
Favourite yarn for 2004:
My own. I love my handspun. I have to say that I love my yarn more than ever before. I love it so much that when I'm not knitting with my handspun, I'm dreaming of it.
Favourite finished object and KAL for 2004:
I'm not sure I have a favorite. I love my Rosedale. Before Rosedale I had only knitted myself one other sweater. I've become selfish this year and I love it! I used to give away more than I kept and this year I'm keeping much more. Hmmm, KALs.... Maybe this is why I don't do lists so often. Damn indecision. I'd have to say I love the Six Sox KAL. I love socks and free patterns. I'm behind in my KAL knitting but I'll catch up. Really I will.
Exciting new technique (for me) for 2004:
I finally tackled cabling without a cable needle. It was futzy at first but now I'm glad I decided to set my cabling needles aside and learn this technique.
End of list.
See it wasn't all that bad. You know you want to do it too.
Thank you all for your great comments yesterday. Keep it up and the clippers may actually start collecting dust.
When the husbeast sweater is finally done I think you will all hear my whoop of joy no matter where you live. I seamed one of the sides and wove in a bunch of ends last night. We are getting there folks.
Happy Humpday
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
FO pictures
Oh, doesn't look like I'm wearing the vest?
Looks like Spongebob in his buffpants?
You're right. I decided after wearing the vest for 30 minutes that it just had to be blocked. I also decided I had to take a picture anyway because I had a good hair day. Good hair days are far and few between for this girl who's used to styling her hair by shaving it off. Too bad you can't tell that its black with bright red highlights. ahh well, a girl can't have it all.
This is a fiber blog. Yes, it is.
That's the husbeast Manly Sleeves. I'm working up the red stripes. I have 24 rows with increases before I get to the end caps with all those much anticipated decreases.
Ahhh, sweet decreases.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Suspense
Are you on the edge of your seat?
You should be, I'll wait while you assume the proper position.
...
I might have a FO. I MIGHT but am not sure yet. Does it stay a vest? Do I have enough yarn to make sleeves? If I start the sleeves will I get to the second cap and realize I don't have enough? Should I just enjoy the vest? Should I knit or crochet around the edge to finish it off? If I even leave it as a vest? Do I add ribbing around the edges?
Oh the suspense. **read this while anxiously biting you nails**
Oh the decisions. **read this while holding the back of your wrist to your forehead**
**read all of it as if the author is a touch insane**
It could use a proper wet blocking but I'm far to impatient for that. I wanted to wear it today. Sheesh, can't expect me to wait can you?
I know it's not a particularly fabulous photo, but its the one I have. The colors are more accurate here. Maybe I'll get a modeled shot later.
Now, onto the everlasting husbeast sweater.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Merry Christmas
Happy Chanukah
Merry Kwanza
Happy Solstice
and
Fleece Navidad
Happy Chanukah
Merry Kwanza
Happy Solstice
and
Fleece Navidad
Whatever you celebrate, I hope its a good one!
Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday.
I put up tagboard to make messaging easier but I have a sneaky suspicion it's putting pop ups on my blog. Grrrr. I hate pop ups which is why I have 2 blockers. I think I have it stopped now. And we'll try blogger's commenting for a while.
So have a fun fiber filled relaxing good time! I have some kids PJ's to make.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
A FO, a felt, and a WIP
The FO
It's the Baristers from the sixsox KAL. Finally. Man have I gotten slow. Or rather I've been too many other things and almost no knitting.
The felted item
If you click you can see the huge photo. It looks blurry but it's really just fuzzy. You can barely tell it has cables. No, it wasn't intentional. I figured it had such a small amount of wool in it that it would be ok. I forgot that Husbeast washes in Warm/hot water not cold. Ahh well. It's an excuse to knit more, right?
**edit** I don't think husbeast even understands the whole felting thing. It was really my fault for putting it in the laundry basket. He just washes what's there, which is good because it means I don't have to.**
So because I can't live without my favorite vest I now have a new WIP to replace it.
I thought I would do another Boogie vest but maybe with different cables. But now as I go on, and I'm not very far, I keep making more and more changes. I have a feeling it will be a completely different vest. I'm such a pain in the butt that I can't even do one of my own patterns without changing it.
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And because people say they are having problems commenting through my Haloscan thingy there, I've added tagboard to the bottom of my sidebar. Maybe in the new year I'll use bloggers commenting, it seems to be working good these days.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
My bum held me up
Quite the title right?
I bet you are wondering what you are in for.
Bwaaahahhaaahaaa
Ok nothing quite so sinister.
I got a tail in the mail.
Taking a pic was the trick
It's not easy being this cheesy...
I think I need more coffee. Can you beleive that I almost gave that stuff up?!?! It was giving me heartburn so I didn't drink it for a few weeks (long weeks) until I remembered that I should be getting more calcium in my life. My doctor told me to take Tums with calcium. So now I think of the coffee heartburn as a way to tell me to take my Calcium. Coffee is looking out for me. Good coffee.
Ok back to the task at hand. Bum pictures. It's not easy to get a picture of my posterior. It seriously held me up from making my post this morning. Not that you really want to see it but I'm going to post it anyway. Laura my KR Santa pal sent me a "naughty and nice" gift. Very cute idea. Let's get on with the show.
That's the tail. And at my feet is our dog that was born without a tail inspecting my newly found appendage. I wonder if she's plotting how to take my tail. She is the "naughty" dog of the house. Then as I'm contemplating the naughty dog....
The naughty child comes up behind and steals my tail!
Ok so now it's time to be nice. No more naughty. I don my halo
And put on my best "Yes Santa. I've been a very very good girl this year." I hope it works. I also received some bath salts. I wonder if they are the healing kind. You know, the kind that chases away demons. It didn't say they were exorcist ones but they should at least help sooth the inner beast.
And then to top it all off, Laura sent me some yarn and a pattern to make mittens just in case I can't keep up the "nice" I'll at least have warm hands.
The yarn is Noro and so soft. It's also in one of my most very favorite colors. Thank you Laura. You are a peach!
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Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Keeping Promises
With one post I'm keeping 2 promises.
1. Pictures.
2. Instructions for those felted ornaments.
Click on the ornament to get to the instructions.
It's my little Christmas present to all of you.
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Monday, December 20, 2004
Eat Desert FIRST
Don't you ever get tired of having to say "I ate my fill. I'm too full for desert". Screw that. Forget dinner and eat desert first.
This one is called Lemon Lush but it could be refered to as Funeral Desert. #1, it's to DIE for. and #2 it was made for us by a neighbor when my grandfather died and now it seems like everytime there is a funeral, we make this desert for the bereaved. Ok, maybe that's morbid but it really is one of those fabulous comfort foods.
Recipe:
Crust
1 stick of butter or margarine melted
1 Cup of crushed walnuts
1 Cup of flour
Mix this all together and spread in the bottom of your 9"x13" pan. Bake for 15 minutes in a 350 F oven. Then let it cool before you continue with the rest of the layers.
Layer 1
1 Cup Cool Whip
8 ounces of soft Cream Cheese
1 Cup Confectioners sugar
Mix this all up well and spread onto your cool crust
Layer 2
2 packages of Lemon Pudding
3 Cups of Milk
Mix well and put over layer 1
Put back in the fridge to set up
Spread a layer of cool whip on top and sprinkle with crushed walnuts.
VOILA!
It may seem like it takes a long time but really it doesn't and its sooooo good.
For those on a diabetic style diet you can omit the flour and it will come out ok, not as good as it is with four, but it's still really good. The confectioners sugar can be replaced with diet sugar or fructose. Of course you can get pudding and Cool whip that is sugar free. This realy is a desert than can be made for anyone. The Lemon pudding was replaced with chocolate once. I don't like chocolate that much but it can be done for those of you that need it.
We got the tree on Sunday. All the wheels have been banished from the living room for Christmas. The girls wanted to participate but they take up the space that the tree needs to sit. They understand and are ok waiting in the quiet spare room. I've got about 10 pounds of fiber in there keeping them company. They'd rather be with wool than a tree full of pin pitch anyway.
FIBER ARTS:
I spent my weekend pre-drafting, and working on bits of knitting. I swatched, blegh. I have 2 out of 6 swatches done. I did a few rows on the socks too. I did start organizing the fabric stash and I have more to get rid of than I thought.
In case you didn't notice, Suz nominated me for best blog. Very sweet of her, I'm glad people like my blog, I hope you all get something out of it or at least click away with a grin on your face.
Tomorrow I promise there will be pictures. Pictures of what remains to be seen but there will be some.
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Thursday, December 16, 2004
Awwww NUTS!
Spicy nuts to be exact.
Mix 1/4 Cup of sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and a bit of red pepper (how hot do you want it?)- set aside.
Beat 1 egg white until foamy (not into a merringue, you overachievers).
Stir in your favorite nuts (make sure they are shelled). I usually do a handful each of almonds, pecans, and walnuts. I also sometimes toss in Chex squares or other little wheat squares if I'm making a snack mix.
Mix until they are well coated.
Combine the sugar and spices with the nuts.
Spread onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 15-20 min
It's a good little snack for any time of year. You can add more things, or take things away. Play with it. Have fun with your nuts.
Thank you for all the fabulous comments about yesterday's ornaments. I started on a bunch more. I have a feeling we'll have a ton of wooly ornaments all over the house. There is a styrofoam ball inside. That's the thing that took me a bit to realize and why the first ornament failed. They are wet felted, needle felted, then wet felted again. I think that answers the questions.
I finished a Christmas present. I finished a hat - WOOHOO!!! just a pair of socks, the star gloves, and that husbeast sweater to go. 11 days? I've said it before and I'll say it again... My family should be used to getting late presents. I want them to have gifts but not so much that I'm going to stress over it. If it happens then it was meant to be. If it doesn't happen then it was meant to be the same as always.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Battered Wool
I love beating the heck out of wool.
I think I might like that more than being nice to it.
I've been beating the heck out of some ornaments. After some failed trials, badly failed ornaments, I have some really pretty ornaments. One for each of us.
Jay
Mine
Little M's
I wish you could hold them, they truly are pretty and I'm really proud of them. The pictures really don't give them justice.
Now, if we can just get a tree to hang them on....
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Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Holiday Cooking
I'm going to post some of my favorite recipes up until Xmas. You can look at is I'm giving you ideas of what to feed your guests or to bring to your holiday celebrations. Or you can read the truth and know that I don't have squat to talk about today so I'm throwing a recipe at you.
Comfort food
Mom's Mac and Cheese
1 box Macaroni noodles or rotini works good too.
3-4 kinds of cheeses (shredded or cubed)**
1 Cup milk
2TBS flour
1/2 cup butter
finely chopped medium onion
breadcrumbs or your own toasted bread cubes (don't use croutons)
** Strong flavored cheeses work best.
Cook the macaroni drain and set aside
Make the cheese sauce. melt butter in a sauce pan, saute your onion until it is clear. pull off the stove (or work fast) whisk in the flour to make your roux. Add in milk, return to stove whisk til smooth and add in your cheese gradually to get it all blended in. Once you have your gooey cheese sauce mix it into your macoroni making sure it all gets covered.
Put this all into a big casserole dish (or individual crocks), top with your breadcrumbs or cubes (the amount is to whatever you desire but don't overdo it on the breadcrumbs.)
Bake at 350 F until its all bubbly and brown.
You can make this vegan simply by using soy replacement products.
I've added measurements to this recipe but in reality I cook without measuring. If it needs more or less of something, that's what I do. Mom likes to add worcestershire to the cheese sauce and I think it's good if you add sun dried tomatos to the cheese mixture.
Husbeast sleeves are about 7 inches and I still haven't decided which yarn to spin first. It is a knitting blog so I had to add in that last sentence.
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Monday, December 13, 2004
Crockpot
Have I mentioned how much I love my crockpot?
Have I mentioned how cool it looks?
It's so neat and the colorways are so gorgeous.
This is going to be a very pretty sweater. I'm plying this with a commercial yarn and it will be used to make Eloise. If it all works out like my little brain is planning on, it will be very cool. When I pulled the roving out of the crock I started thinking that this might be the best "camo" I've done.
This is the 5th sweater's worth of wool that I have all dyed and waiting. I have the wool dyed for (1)the Moorit sweater from IK,(2) Klaralund from the Noro Cornelia Tuttle book, (3)York from the Noro Jane Ellison book, (4) for a Retro Prep from IK.
These are the frivilous kinds of decisions I look forward to. If only all of life were as easy as this. But I did finish Carissa's yarn over the weekend so now I'll have to decide what to work on and I can start doing a sweater for me.
Knitting group meets tonight. Let's see if I remember after a hectic day.
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Friday, December 10, 2004
Manly pitiful
I'm not a slow knitter. Not terribly fast but definitely not slow. Sadly in over a week, I only have a couple of inches done on the Manly sleeves.
No I haven't been knitting on anything else.
Brace yourselves.
Some days I haven't knit or spun at all.
Tis the season to finish up work. So I've been helping my Mom some and doing my stuff. Of course I added a new bag to the line so there's half my problem. When I add a new item I try to get a ton done to list and that's what I've been doing. Sewing and pottering (nope, not a real word) like crazy and working many hours more a day than I'm used to.
Last weekend I worked all weekend and even re-did my pottery website. It still needs work but at least it's easier to navigate now. And I finally have alpaca mugs.
Ok, I'm off to work now. Have a good relaxing weekend!
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Thursday, December 09, 2004
YNBA
YNBA?
What's that?
I've been seeing it all over the place. Ahhh, an agreement not to buy yarn. Similar to the good ole Yarn Diet. The Atkins of the knitting world.
I haven't bought yarn (except for stuff to give as gifts) in about 5 weeks. I don't plan on buying any yarn any time soon either. My lovely SP3 did give me a gift certificate to Elann. Thank you, you were a great secret pal. So if I can't help it and I need yarn, I won't need to spend money, I can use my gift certificate. But really I don't need yarn. I need to get spinning and use up some of my wool.
I won't be joining the YNBA group though. You see that would make me break my idea of not buying yarn. Why? It all goes back to having the mentality of a teenager. "You aren't going to tell me what to buy and when". Even if it's myself telling me. Confused yet? For some reason, I just can't follow through when I make an official pact. I'm just that way. Yes, I need professional help.
What is going to keep me from buying yarn?
Yes, that is a ton of wool. It should last me about a year. I've been dying it in bunches to make sweaters. Lots and lots of sweaters. And some yarn to share too. The big bag of Red stuff is the same wool as I'm using for Carissa. I dyed an extra kilo because after working with this color scheme so much, I need a sweater from it too.
This is a lovely rainbow of a bunch of wool that I've got all dyed and awaiting some love. Yes, if you click on it you will get a blast of color. Careful, its huge.
This came from Carissa. It's what I got in the yarn trade. I know its all still in the boxes. I'm afraid that if i play with it to much i'll have to start working with it and then no one will get their xmas gifts.
Ok there's another 8 pounds. And that's the last shot of wool stash. There is more but it would take too long to take all the pictures. I couldn't even tell you how much more I have, I just know that it's all over the place. A little here and a little there. In small doses it doesn't look like alot. Like that rainbow picture above. I didn't think I had that much. Eeeeps.
So you see, no more yarn for the Boogie.
I need to get my fingers and gear and spin spin spin. As soon as xmas gifts are done though, I'm breaking into those boxes from Carissa. I already have the first sweater all planned out. It's killing me to stare at these boxes and not play with the yarn. Carissa was incredibly generous to give me the yarn before I gave her hers. I'm on the last 600 yards.
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Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Meow!
I've got things to make kitties happy for Xmas.
Aren't these awesome! they are snuggling into one of the dog blankets until I wrap them up for thier new kitty owners.
I got them from Roxi. They are the most awesome felted catnip mice. Not like those puny little things that you get at most stores. Nice fat mice for the good little kitties.
If you haven't read about the other ideas for Knitland you need to go now. It truly will be the happiest place on Earth.
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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
KnitLand
Did you hear that Disneyland closed it doors? The official response was that they could no longer attract the amount of visitors and will be starting a new venture in the same area.
Due to the popularity of the fiber arts Disney land will re-open as KnitLand. It will be the happiest little place on Earth for all the fiber folks. The perfect place to meet up with other knitters.
Special new Features:
- The movie theaters will have little lights at the armrest of each seat so each knitter could knit as they wished.
There will be many areas set up with comfy couches and special spinning stools. Some areas will have spinning wheels that any one can use so you won't have to tote your wheel around. But should you bring your own wheel there wil be golf carts for your use that are specially fitted to safely carry your wheel as you move from area to area.
Epcot center will now show how the fiber arts are in other areas of the world. You will be able to purchase goods and take classes in traditional techniques.
In the Imax theater you will be able to see a 3-d movie of the life of yarn. From animal to finished garment. How fun will that be to "BE" the yarn? "no no, not the spit splice!"
**edit** Very important, I forgot about all the Husbeasts.... They need a beer garden so they'll be happy being dragged along. The beer garden is going to have a fully stocked bar and also giant screen TV's (many so they can all watch different sports or whatever) and also pool tables, air hockey and darts. Plenty of stuff to keep the men busy for a couple of days.
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Monday, December 06, 2004
Barbie
It was mean of me to tease you. A couple of you mentioned it to me. I understand your pain. There is a certain knit-blogger that won't fess up on her sock count. For some reason I'm dying to know. So truly, I understand your pain.
I would like to introduce "Barbie". She's a Babe Production Wheel.
Click it to see it full size
Want a better look at the treadle?
Every time I sit at her all I can think of is the song by Aqua:
I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world.
Life in plastic, it's fantastic!
you can brush my wool, and keep my bobbins full.
Imagination, life is your creation
Come on Barbie, let's go party!
(Ah-ah-ah-yeah)
Of course the Lunachicks also have a Barbie song. Somehow, Bitterness Barbie just doesn't seem to fit a shiney new spinning wheel.
I hope you weren't expecting some expensive fabulous wooden contraption. I must admit I was a little tentative about buying a plastic wheel. But once I looked at all the options I knew Barbie was the gal for me.
Why?
1.She's light and comes apart. I can drag her around with me. I haven't wanted to take out either of my other wheels for fear of getting them scarred and they were cumbersome to boot. I pulled Barbie out of the box and without any instructions I threw her together in 30 seconds and she was ready to go. Seriously she was easy to put together (Bettie took me about an hour). I will be making a bag to put her in so she's easier to drag around (without actually dragging her) and it will help to pad her pieces just to make sure she won't be damaged.
2.I have no qualms about painting and modifying her. She practically begs for me to slap paint all over her. She came all dressed in her sleek little black outfit but she needed a bit more dressing up. Barbie is a diva after all. Maybe I'll buy some rhinestones and glue them all over her.
3.She's cheap and versatile. Barbie is the toy all little girls want. Easily customizable. Comes apart, then you can put her back together. No matter what you do to her, she still loves you. Plus she has a ton of accessories that you can get for her. Blonde Barbie has a mansion and cars. My Barbie has a skein winder and different bobbins. You tell me who has the better Barbie.
4.I'm still wholly in love with Marilyn and Bettie (yes, I'm a tramp) but you should see what Barbie can do. She spins really well but the kicker is her plying. I liked that she has 4 ounce bobbins but I got the other flyer that holds 8 ounce bobbins!! Bettie only takes 2 ounces at a time. Small skeins. This means I'm going to be able to make mondo-giant skeins. I'm just drooling over that. See the difference:
5.Did I mention I get to paint all over her. She really speaks to the "artist" in me. I painted all over my truck that I kept the longest, I have painted leather jackets, painted shoes, the list goes on. I've even painted random spots on walls in the garage and in my shop. I can't help myself. As you see Barbie now, she will have more paint on her eventually. I'm trying to figure out how much of the flyer gets too much wear so I can paint around those areas.
6.Little M can use this. This is the first wheel that she has been able to sit at treadling away for an extended time. She tried the other wheels and Marilyn is almost impossible for her, and Bettie is difficult to keep going. With Barbie, M can go on and on. She has been too. M is totally in love with Barbie. Someday Barbie may be hers. Passing on the art form is what it's all about.
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Friday, December 03, 2004
Boogie Shopper Update
But first, before I update the list...
It's Anj's Birthday. Go wish that sweet awesome gal a happy birthday.
On to the updates...
I pulled these right from the comments. Do you read the comments? People leave great things in my comments, better than what I write.
Jaimi wanted to add Merry Moose Workshop. they make candles and Jaimi says they have a chocolate candle that is awesome.
Melissa wanted to add Nervous Nellies Jellies and Jams. I love that name. With a name like that how can you go wrong.
Nannette wanted to Peacecraft. They sell some really neat fair trade foods and coffees and some beautiful crafts from impoverished people around the world.
I know you wanted to shop more.
That's all I have for this week.
Oh, did I mention that I bought a new spinning wheel?
Have a good weekend all.
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Thursday, December 02, 2004
A very manly body
Short post with a long body of a sweater. I can't believe it's done. I've now cast on for both sleeves. We are in the home stretch now, baby. How many days til Christmas? 23? It'll be a stretch.
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Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Happy Blog-day
1 year old!
Isn't she looking good for a one year old? Still not walking all by herself but she is a good little blog. Except this morning when she wouldn't wake up. Still, most of the time does what I ask and holds all my posts well. Oh sure sometimes she's tempermental and won't let me access her (today for example). Sometimes she will eat a post and it will disappear into the nether regions never to be seen again.
But at least I don't have to change the diaper of this one year old.
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