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.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Wrap up
List Your FO's
You can find them all HERE. I even updated it all nice and neat. There are still several pictures missing but those I won't be able to post until the fall of 2007.
The final tally is 46 projects:
18 Socks
8 Mittens/mitts
12 Sweaters/vests
2 Shawls/scarves
5 Hats
1 linen cloth
List Your Works In Progress
You have to be kidding me here. There are 27 projects.
Go HERE if you really want to see the horror that is my WIP pile.
What skeletons are in your knitting basket?
I think the thing that I hate having in there the most is a sweater from my handspun that I had great mojo for in 2005. I dont think I picked it up at all in 2006. I love it but I lost interest in working on it as new projects came along. I'll finish it someday I'm sure.
What was your favorite project of 2006?
It's hard to pick one. The one that comes to mind is one that I can't even show you. It would be the Gansey socks that I did. There are a handful of people that did see them and if it wasn't an item that had to go to a publication, there would have been a fight for them. My favorite that I can show you is:
I'm wearing them right now in fact. I love these socks.
What projects will you never knit again?
I don't think there was anything this past year that I will NEVER knit again. I wasn't fond of knitting with Linen, but I was really pleased with the end project. I'd like to knit a tank top out of it someday.
What was your major knitting accomplishment in 2006?
That would probably have to be this sweater:
It's a really nice sweater that I wish I still had, but the accomplishment comes in the fact that it took me 9 days from the time the yarn arrived, swatch, pattern creation, knitting, blocking, and sent off to the publisher. It let me know that even though I don't like to work that fast, I can do it.
What was your favorite yarn of 2006?
Elsa's Cormo
This yarn was for the Gansey socks that I did. I loved it so much that even before I had finished the socks, I had ordered more for me just so I could duplicate the socks.
What's your favorite yarn overall?
Overall? You're killing me with these questions.
I'd have to choose my handpainted yarns. I'm having so much fun working with them and coming up with new patterns. I could go on forever.
What new knitting techniques did you learn in 2006?
I don't think I did anything new in 2006. At least I can't remember doing any new techniques.
What are your knitting goals for 2007?
My goal is to try and finish a few more WIP's and to work a bit more from Stash. I am working on redoing that still. I have the list of all the "sweater" amounts of yarns done, now it's time for the socks. I think I'm avoiding that. Maybe tomorrow.
If you Call a Cab tonight, make sure to call a cab.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Couch potato New Year
If you need me, this is where I'll be. On the couch with my afghan, my knitting and the 2007 Burpee seed catalog. I'll be dreaming big dreams of huge weedless gardens and a bounty of vegies.I had big plans of redoing the stash page. I really wanted to see what stash I went through this year. Then reality hit, with all the work I did, I really didn't go through much. Not to mention I bought a couple of new things and found a few others that I obviously had hidden from myself.
I took a million photos and still didn't get to the sock yarn. Tha amount of sock yarn is scary. I'm thinking at this point a simple spread sheet would be faster, and shorter. I might actually get off my comfy couch to go drown in stash yarns.
Whatever you do this weekend, I hope it's fun and safe. A short 10 years ago fun and safe were mutually exclusive words. Now here I am uttering them together. What age will do to a girl.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Done
The holidays are done and I finished it all. You knew I would though, didn't you?
The 23rd
After finishing up the shipping/working for the day, I finished the sewing of the Christmas stockings.
We made sugar free sugar cookies and highly sugared but killer brownies. Then after bed for the girls I was able to finish the knitting of Girl Beast's sweater. What a big "phew" moment that was.The 24th
I cooked. I finished off the Brownies and made egg rolls for the Xmas Eve party. My sweet cousin came over and helped with the Egg rolls, which made them go so much faster. Then I made a pumpkin pie for Christmas dinner. In between the cooking I was able to sew buttons, weave ends, and graft underams of Girl Beast's sweater. Tada!
About 15 minutes before we left for Husbeast's parents, I realized that I had not made Girl Beast's Christmas Pj's. There were 2 pair cut out sitting on the sewing machine but neither had been finished. So I rushed down and litterally whipped up a set of Pj's. No one knew that they only took 15 minutes to make, in fact it shocked me that they were that fast. They are no frills and no buttons, but she liked them none-the-less.After that I was able to breath a little. I wasn't working again for a bit and all the gifts were done. More cooking was ahead but that's the norm. Yesterday I lay around like a complete slob in my new robe. I lay around sketching out ideas and knitting.
I finished Gram's 3rd pair of socks. The way she washes them, she should have enough to last her the week. Dad and I are now the only ones that don't have enough socks for a week. I'm working on Dad socks now. Since Dad works outside all day, he gets 2 pair then I'll work on some for me. Phew.
Really, it's nice to have all that hustle and bustle done for another year. The holidays are nice, I just wish they were a little more relaxing leading up to it. I hope you all had a good weekend and wonderful plans for the New year.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Jellyfish don't knit
My back and/or neck have been in pain for a couple of weeks. I have been worshipping the heating pad and the bottle of advil instead of going to the doctor. I know what they'll give me as it happened before. Muscle relaxes. While they can be fun and I enjoy my time as a limp out of water jellyfish.... Jellyfish don't knit.
FInally last night after going to the grocery and gather another round of food stuff to do holiday baking, I got out the bottle of what we call fukkit. You might call it wine. I don't drink often so one small glass should be good enough to relax the muscles and I can sit comfortably and knit.
I became a sleeping jellyfish. I'm not sure if a single stitch was knit but Husbeast woke me up and I still had knitting in my lap. I need to measure. Always with the measuring. It is starting to look deceptively long. Or I'm getting less objective as time goes on.
But I woke up fresh as a baby butt ready to get on with the day and my regimen of advil and heating pad. No more Fukkit until the sweater is done. I swear. This is the sky I woke up to. Or rather, the sky as I was writing this, I woke up to a black sky at 5 am.
This is my "Good morning" sky. I'm shipping club right now so I better get to work. I hope you all have a great Holiday weekend whatever you celebrate or not. Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza and a have a hell of a great Festivus.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The ruler is out
Feverish knitting has started.
You'd think I would have started the feverish pace sooner but I believe in "it will get done when it gets done. I believed in that unitl I heard from Girl Beast. "Doesn't look like you have a lot done. You got Baby's sweater done but you aren't going to finish mine?" I argueed back that she at least got her mittens which Baby Boogie hadn't yet. I didn't get any words back. I got the pouty lip and she walked away.
She's good that one. 6 years old, she knows.
I was knitting round and round Knit 3, purl 1, Knit 3, purl 1, Knit 3, purl 1,....So I got out the ruler. I can look at this sweater and know that it's not 12 inches long.
I know this. Yet for some reason in my little pea brain I keep hoping that the sweater has magically grown without my eyes being able to discern the growth. I pull out the measuring tape. Somewhere back in my skull I hear "come on 12 inches!"
6 SIX
We feel let down.
Then I hear from the same place "What about a cropped sweater? Cropped sweaters are all the rage. Just look at the stores, they're filled with cropped sweaters for kids."
Cropped means short and I don't need my little girl's belly hanging out. Sweaters are supposed to be comfortable and warm. You better knit faster.
I'm not above arguing with myself. Nor am I above acknowledging the little people in my head as another body and calling ourselves "we". Not at this point in the season.
I better be knitting (or getting my work day done early) instead of on this computer. Knit faster. 4 days.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Mothah
My Mothah rocks!
I will be able to ship the club before Christmas all because of Mom.
2 days ago, she walks in with packages for me to help her ship. Then she throws down her coat and starts to wind yarn. She wound half the club yarns for me. Yesterday she did the same thing and finished winding for the club!
What an incredible help that was. So I'm trying to think of a good thank you. Really my Mom and Dad help out tons around here. I had designed a gurnsey for Dad and now I have one designed for Mom too. I know I've said a million times, I'm going to make them sweaters. I want to and every time I get started they ask for socks instead.
I gladly make them socks, but all the help they give, seems like they deserve more than plain little socks. We'll see if my ideas come to fruition for the gurnseys. I'll show off the sketches as soon as I fine tune them into something that might mean something to someone other than me.
In the meantime, I have socks to finish.
And a sweater for a little girl of which there is no picture. I am in that stage of knitting where there is no end and you see no size improvement.Just to give you something to do - because no one wants to work the week before a paid holiday... Instead of writing "wash me" on the backof someone's dirty car..
Dirty car art
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Eating Monday
I'm going to try and post a few recipes this week. I know this is a huge cooking time of year for people. Today's recipe is a quickie. It's something that Girl Beast made in Girl Scouts last week. So you know it's easy and perfect to do with kids.
Pretzels (best to get the kind that don't have huge holes)
Hershey's Kisses
M&M's
Glutten free people - you can get gluten free pretzels in the health section of most grocerie stores. Sugar free people, the sugar free chocolates are fantastic with this. I take a few chocolate chips sweetened with barley malt (not glutten free) and use that instead.
Lay out the pretzels on a baking sheet, top with the chocolate kisses or the chips. Bake at 350F for about 5 minutes - watch them, you just want the chocolates to melt. Pull them out and immediately top with the M&M's if you're going all out. Voila. That simple. Good kids activity. Then they can eat them all, get hyper and you can pawn them off onto other relatives.
Knitting
Because knitting is the only thing that's keeping me barely sane around here. That and the sage advice from The Learning Channel. I particularly like Life Lessons #18, #24 and #40. I think there are a few lessons they missed. I might have to email them on that one.
One sweater done, one to go. One week left. One week left and I have to work all week, but also sew 3 Xmas stockings, 2 pairs of Pj's and knit that sweater. I have my doubts. At least my stocking is the one out of the 4 that's done. 
Please excuse the early morning crappy photo. I swear it looks better than that. Santa is bringing all the new stockings or they would have had to be done and hanging on the fireplace already. I suppose if they don't get done, I can blame Santa.My sweet Aunt Nancy sent me a ton of buttons for the girls sweaters. they both will need Spring Cardi's so I'll definately have use for them.
There's more Ladybugs and a ton of obnoxious pink. When I say obnoxious, it really is the most obnoxious pink available. Girl Beast loves them.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Giftie Issue #4
Here it is, the final gift issue of 2006. This one is all about the stocking stuffer. From ridiculous to cool, cheap to ridiculaously expensive, here it is. Stuff your stockings good.
This company's name is All Stix. The name fits well. You need to check these out. They are so cool! So many needles and hooks and none of them plain. I think we all need at least one pair of these in our stockings this year (even if you don't "do" Christmas, hang a stocking and ask for these)
Are you the cool cat at the knitting cirlce? The coffee mug or plain ice tea glass not good enough? This "Pimp Cup" is for you.
Wild woman knitter pins They used my hair as a model for these little ladies.
I've heard/read many a blog post that says "I am a princess dammit!". Well dear, I found the mug for you Princess clicks here
These Skulls need to be in my stocking this year. You hear that? I may not be a princess but I need more skulls. If someone should buy me these and they're gone, she's others.
Have you ever looked at your can of soda and wondered if there was more life in the can. You felt sad throwing the can in the recycling. You missed it? Proclaim yourself as a Soda Lover
Arleta posted this earlier in the week but it needed to be posted again. Knitting T's - I need a new knitting tee. I need one of the skully ones. Santa, are you reading this. I've been good and I know you're not going to help out with the earlier list of aching legs, naps and the secret compartment behind the fridge. Get me a t-shirt and I won't "doctor" the milk and cookies.
Got a big nose? This guy will make you feel better. Ernesto will boost your spirits. I have a big nose but I'd rather have the Big Brown Hairy Eye. These things are awesome! Every good little knitter needs a mascot.
You thought knitting a bra was silly? Well this isn't. It's practical. If you get hungry but have no snacks, you can eat your bra. Mmmmm Candy Bra
You know your teeth could use some sprucing up. You drink too much tea and or coffee. They're stained and they just don't shine like they should. You could get a ready made pair of these Teeth or have them make you a custom set. I bet they'd make you a set with yarn and needles if you said pretty please. You know you want it.
I have to end here. I can't imagine a gift more perfect than bling teeth. Not to mention I need to get to work on a shop update. Happy Shopping!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wanna See?
Would you like to see the mistakes I've made this week?
Sure you do. My mistakes make everyone feel better about their little ones too. Right?
Number 1
I threw Baby Boogies striped sweater in the laundry. I knew I was doing it. It's made of superwash and I was assured that the man only uses cold water. I think it was the hot dryer that did it though.
The stripey sweater used to be a wee bit bigger than the blue one beneath it. So, um, it's not a mistake. My experiment worked! aha! Cascade 220 superwash does felt when you put it in a hot dryer for an hour or so.Number 2
I must have been doing some fierce dyeing yesterday. Although I didn't get a lick of dye on my body. I did get several spots above my EYE.
I'm not entirely sure what made me think I needed a picture of it. Now though, I'm thinking it wasn't a mistake. The blue dye hopped up there to remind me to wax my sasquatch eyebrows before the many pictures of Christmas. Now if only I can get the dye off. I might have to wax that off too.Number 3
Just to make you groan, I'm only using one word....GAUGE. Scary isn't it. The only time I really do a swatch is if I'm knitting one of my own designs. I need to know gague before I start. Well, I'm bad, sometimes I don't even swatch or rather, you know my theory on sleeves. This time I was starting with the body and I went at thinking I'd get 6 sts/1 inch. Nope. 5 sts/1 inch. I reworked the pattern to accomodate. Fine. Now the damn thing won't even hit 5. I'm at 4.5 which is unacceptable.
Crazy at it is. As I write this, I'm thinking that I might need to go back and try to make 6 sts/1 inch. This would be my punishment for starting a new knit before the years end. Maybe I should leave it to sit until January 1. So it's not a mistake, it's a lesson in designing and keeping promises to your other knits.Scratch that title up there. This post was about learning. If indeed I did learn something. If I won't ever throw a sweater in the wash for husbeast to do. If I will have time and remember to wax that fur forest above my eyes. If I will remember to swatch and check gauge carefully.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Subtle
Many words can be used to describe my family, subtle would nto be one of them. Oh, sometimes they think they're being subtle but it's not hard at all to figure out what they're getting at.
Gram had a conversation about socks last week with my Mom. She was wearing the socks that I made her and mentioned how nice they were and how warm her feet. Gram wished she didn't have just one pair, she wants to wear wool socks every day.
Then she suggested that maybe she could borrow yarn and needles from me and make herself another pair. She didn't want to bother me since it's the busy time of year But then she starts to think out loud about how hard it is to count and remember what number she's on these days....
I never thought about how much counting there is in knitting until Gram mentioned it. There really is quite a bit. Even if you have the needles spaced right there is a certain amount of memory needed for the heel. Gram is not very subtle but I don't mind. I like making socks for the family.
I whipped these up out of the Spunky Speckled yarn. Gram can have handwash socks so I'll be using up all my handwash skeins for Gram. Oh, Mom swears she's better now with the handwash socks but, well, now I kow where my defective laundry gene comes from.
This will be the next pair for Gram. They work up fast and I think the colors in the speckles are so cool.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Eating Monday
Banana Walnut Pancakes
Vegan, Sugar free, Gluten free.
Yes, they're good - see:
They each ate 2. Of course Girl beast had the ones with chocolate chips.
Recipe:
1.5 cups Rice Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 shake of Cinnamon
1 TBs Vegetable oil
1 tsp Vanilla
2 large old Bananas, mushed
.5 cup Pecans, crushed well
1.25 cups of Soy milk (if you want thinner batter, you can add more)
Mix it all up and cook like regular pancakes.
At the request of the big one, I added in Chocolate chips. The ones I have are Malt sweetened so they're not exactly Glutten free but they are good. If you're on a glutten free diet, add in your favorite chocolate chips if you need that little chocolate kick in the morning.
Knitting
Proof that I do actually get knitting time.
It's a sample of a pattern that I made several years ago to go with handspun yarn. I finally redid it in regular handpaint. Superwash too. It's cute. I'm sure to find a baby that needs this soon enough. It was actually so quick to knit, I'm thinking of making some for the premie project (and dowsize it of course) or making some for ronald Mc Donald house.Finally, I thought this needed to be published. I received this email from fellow crazy Orange crayon loving Mom, PippiKneeSocks. Thank you lady for the Xmas wish list, now I don't have to find the orange crayon to write mine out, I'll send this one to Santa:
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's orange crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes,Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
Friday, December 08, 2006
The gift of eating
Some of my favorite gifts are food. I love food and I want to share some of my favorites. I like homemade things but sometimes it's just easier to buy them. Especially if it's a hard to make or time consuming project.
First up is Mother's Mountain. I got a lot of gifts from them one year because they make a lot of stuff that is Gluten free. I'm not sure if it's advertised but they're such a nice company, if you email them, I'm sure they'll help you out.These guys rock. Jack's Pickles makes the best Red Pepper Jam. But their relishes are awesome too. And don't forget to pick up a jar of "Toe Jam" while you're at. Silly sounding but oh so good.
Salsa. Oh my Salsa. Guzman's has terrific salsa. they have some odd blends but some traditional ones too. They're all fantastic, or at least the ones I've tried so far. I imagine that all of them are as good as the 20 or so I've tried so far. Really, 20, I like my salsa and they've been around for a while.
Stanchfield Farms Dilly beans, jams, Barbeque sauce and so much more. This stuff is good. Buy some for a stocking stuffer but don't forget to get something for yourself.Carpe Diem Coffee I get so giddy when I see these ladies at a show. The coffee is to die for. Really. If you have a coffee lover in your family and you want to get them a little something extra good, get this stuff.
Boca Java While I'm on the subject of coffee. These guys are awesome too. They're not a local company but they have such a huge selection of fun coffees, cocoas and teas.
Keeping with the subject of drinks...Adagio. If you don't know about thes guys yet, crawl out from that cave and go shopping. They by far have the best selection of teas around.
As for knitting...
I got an advance copy of Knit Simple Magazine. There is one particularly fantastic sweater in it.
I want to make one that I get to keep now.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Lots and lots and lots....
of Fiber - including NEW hand painted angora!
and sock sets
Lots and lots and lots....
of yarn in all categories
There is even a few new mitten kits
I've also brought back some oldies but goodies that I haven't done in a while, like Spumoni, Poison, and Nice Melons!
Thank you for the well wishes
I finally took a trip to the doc today. I knew what I had but kept trying to avoid going. I need to be reminded that I've never licked Bronchitis without western meds. Let this be a lesson to me. I'll be sleeping good on codeine tonight.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tolerance Level
is at Zero.I can't seem to shake this cold and I'm getting cranky. I've gone through a bottle of Robitussin and am now onto some Vick's 44. When I'm not feeling good my tolerance level drops way way way below normal. Normally I can tolerate or ignore all the loudness in the house, the bad knitting and the general chaos. When I'm sick, no way.
Dog barking for no reason other than to hear her voice (and never gets hoarse), Go to your crate
Child screaming out songs in the middle of talking to herself out loud in large run on sentences that never seem to stop when all the while she's jumping up and down and building something here and reading a book and and and Go to your room
Trying to complete shipping for the day, leave the computer to go grab a weight from a box, come back, keys are missing. Boogie Baby decided it would be great fun to pull off keys and use them for teething chews. No food for you today - eat your shoe
Ok, that was just a joke. Shoes are too expensive, I made her eat her socks.Knitting projects not going how I want RIP!
Another sleeve (Girl Beast sweater this time). The pattern is right this time. For some reason, I just forgot what size she is, now we are here all over again.
Silk mountain socks (one sock was done but for kitchenering).I just didn't like how it fit around my ankle and now it's such a lovely ball of yarn again:
Part of me is afraid to look at other old projects and part of me thinks it might be a good idea. I might actually get projects cleaned up. Still in the middle of the crank, I managed to finish Dad's socks.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Gifties
Today's issue is for someone in need of pampering.
I've mentioned Evermore Soap Factory before and the fact that the owner is my friend. Even if I wasn't her friend, I'd be buying her stuff. It's some good stuff. I recommend the soaps (in any flavor really) and the body butter. Some of the flavors are even good for the manly man on your list.Want some candles with a flare not just a flame? Check out the etsy shop for Artsy Chica Saint Oprah, Saint Audrey, and lots of others.
Like the primitive look? Check out these candles by Downeast Candle Makers. A good Maine company making and interesting product line.
Maine mountain does it all. Soap and candles. The soap is no nonsence square but smells fantastic. Their candles are long lasting and fantastic too. I love the little 7 ounce square jars. Perfect for smelling up the living room good.
I have to mention this one Flaming Wick. I just purchased some candles this week. I wish I had more to say but I just found them. the titles cracked me up and well, you know it's love if you open up a gift of Monkey Farts.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the comforts of a good blanket.Grammy's Afghans
Grammy and I, well, all of us are so happy that you loved the afghans enough to buy some. I just wanted to mention them again before Christmas. I took all new pictures of ALL the afghans this time. And with a flash so you can see the colors better. Someday we'll have natural light here in Maine again.While I'm pimping family I might as well mention my Mom and her sheep quilts.
All flannel with batting inside. So comfy and crazy cute. You can Email me or Email Mom for information on what colors she has done and pricing. She of course has more than sheep but the sheep and the skulls are my favorite.Knitting and me
Well, the cold has settled nicely in my chest. *hack - cough*
I've still been attempting to work full days so my only knitting is still at night. Although I've given up the idea of putting the living room back together and I'm not cleaning. This has given me a touch more knitting time. Or sitting in front of the teevee spacing out time. I managed to finish one.
At least it doesn't look phallic anymore, it just looks like it's going to strangle a foot. This stuff is wonderfully sproingy and Dad likes his socks tight so they stay up. This yarn goes incredibly fast. Maybe I'm getting delirious but it almost feels like it's knitting itself. Maybe it will knit the dreaded second sock for me.