Tuesday, March 28, 2006

I've Picked My Next Project!


This is the Renaissance pattern from Rowan. I've been looking for something to do with my 20 balls of Rowanspun Aran, and this project jumped out at me. I've got 10 balls of a lighter blue, and 1o of the darker blue (I think it's called midnight).

I'll try to snap some pics as soon as I start. It probably won't be until the weekend though. I've been itching to do some more fair isle type stuff for a while. Although, I think this is more intarsia like (at least that's what it says in the pattern).

I've got a project on the go that I've been keeping from you... Well, not purposely, but I just haven't mentioned it. I only started on Sunday.

I'm using the sock yarn that my SP7 pal gave me. It's Lorna's Laces in Girly Stripe. I have to say that I would not have, in a million years, ever, have picked out this color for myself, but I absolutely love it! I love the color so much!! Thanks again secret pal! No pics yet, but soon.

Have I Ever??...

Place an X by all the things you've done. This is for your entire life:
(X) Smoked a cigarette
(X) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car
(X ) Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
(X) Been dumped
(X) Shoplifted
(X) Been laid off/fired
(X) Quit your job
(X )Been in a fist fight
(X) Snuck out of your parent's house
(X) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
(X) Been arrested
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Lied to a friend
(X) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico (my parents went w/o me, and left me home with my grandparents. I will never forgive them).
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
() Been on the opposite side of the country.
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Felt like dying
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Made a bonfire on the beach
(X) Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
(X) Ice-skating

Friday, March 24, 2006

Did Someone Say Something About Socks?!?


I managed to stay off my butt for long enough after I got home to take a few pics of things I've been working on. Well, actually I've only been working on one of them....


To your left is a picture of the Fleece Artist sock I've been working on. It's my new "bus project". I'm winging it on this one, and I don't think I did enough ribbing type stuff so it's rolling a bit. Not much though, so I think it might be fine once it's on. If it's not, I'll put some sort of edge on it. I'm using a 2.5mm 12" needle, and I cast on 60 stitches, at least I think it was 60. It should be 60, but don't hold me to it :)

I've been doing too much thinking at work, so I needed a plain project that I could knit mindlessly.

This next sock is the Embossed Leaves sock from the Winter IK. I'm using Koigu KPPPM (I think that's enough "P's" anyway". I'm "magic looping" with a 32" 2.5 mm needle (an Addi of course!).

Unfortunately, it's a little too brain intensive for me right now, so it's just sitting on my desk.

It's a really pretty color though. I'd love to be able to enjoy working on it right now, but it's just not working for me right now.

I had a bit of a rough day at work yesterday, so I went for a bit of flower shopping after work. It helps that there's a garden store 100 meters from my front door. I'll leave you with some of my purchases from my trip yesterday.


Saturday, March 18, 2006

Shoes!

I used to love shoes. Really, I had an insatiable lust for any fashion-forward shoes that I saw. Then....I became a student and had nowhere to wear fancy fashionable shoes and I couldn't afford shoes anyway. Almost all my shoes are 5 years plus old, and they're worn out and looking pretty ratty.

I did get 2 new pairs before I started working and realizing that I didn't have a job that I could wear heels to, and still have normal looking feet at the end of the day. You probably remember my mad hunt for comfy work shoes when I started my job (by the way, it's been 2 months already!). Those shoes are great, but with warmer weather approaching, I needed something I could wear with skirts and capris.

I made a fairly quick stop at Ronsons (super comfy shoe store) this morning. I was hoping to find something suitable, but I wasn't holding my breath.

I found two pairs of perfect shoes for spring and summer! Not only are they fashionable, they are comfortable too! They're both Clarks, which have a really good reputation for being comfy.

The tan-ish ones have gemstone things in the bottom, and the strap bits on the front are metalic (neither of which show well/at all in any of the pictures).

I wanted to upload a pic of my new Fleece Artist yarn that I got last weekend, but Blogger is being difficult, so it'll have to wait for another day.

The Bolero Jacket is blocking right now, so I hope it's dry enough to try tomorrow.

Oh yeah, today is Stu's and my anniversary. We've been together for seven long yea....I mean fabulous years!

Have a great Saturday!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I Know, I Suck...

It seems like forever since I last posted. For the most part, I just haven't felt like it. When I do feel like blogging, I always seem to be to tired to do my subject justice. I've still been reading lots of blogs though.

Also, I always want to post pictures, and I just haven't taken very many lately.

Here are the last few weeks in a nutshell--

*I've almost finished my bolero jacket from Debbie Bliss's book, Simply Soft. I only have a few more ends to sew in before I block it. I'm hoping I like it more after the magic of blocking, because I really didn't like it when I tried it on.

*Work continues to go well. I've logged 30 minutes of overtime in the last 15 days. Yeah, I know, impressive isn't it?

*I've been cooking more lately. I made Fettuccine Alfredo on Sunday, and we had steak in a mushroom Dijon cream sauce tonight. The steak was really expensive, but I'm a red meat lover, and I think it was worth it.

*Saturday was Stu's 28th Birthday, and we had a nice dinner with his family, then went to a lecture on "Environmental Sustainability". (I knit through the whole thing, so it didn't seem that bad. Those who weren't knitting didn't have as good of time.)

*We got kicked out of the tennis club dining room on Friday for wearing jeans. For God's sake, it was a Friday, and as you know, I spend my Fridays in a casual way. We ended up going for a drive and getting Mexican food for dinner instead.

*I've been trying to work on my Embossed leaves sock from Winter IK, but it's been slow going, and I haven't been motivated. I think I've knit 3 rows in the last 2 weeks.

*I picked up a Fleece Artist shrug kit from Urban Yarns on Sunday. I've knit about 2 inches on that.

*I'm still working on crosswords, but I haven't been doing as well lately.

*I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the Fall 2005 IK.

*I went and did a bit of clothes shopping last night after work. I've gone from a size 12 (November-ish), to a size 6. Yay shrinking!! I was a size 8 a month ago.

There, hows that for a ramble! I hope to post something with some more substance soon. Oh, and I've been drooling over Dani's new editions at Sunshine Yarns.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

The Pictures You've Been Waiting For...


I finally took some sock pics of my new Falling Leaves socks from knitty. Just to refresh your memory, the yarn is from Sunshine Yarns, and it is in the Figi colourway. As usual, this yarn knit up very nicely, and I actually had a fair amount left over. Finishing this pair in March means I get a nice "M" to go with my previous "F" for the sock-a-month knit along.

I've already cast on and started the Embossed Leaves socks from the Winter Interweave Knits magazine. I'm using the Koigu I picked up from the Knit and Stitch Shoppe in West Vancouver. It's a pretty purple and blue color.


Well, I'm off to do some knitting for the evening! I hope everyone's doing well.


Thanks for all of your congratulations about my promotion. I love this knit blogging community that I'm so lucky to be a part of. And did everyone see that my aunt left a comment? Isn't that cool!?! My first family member to comment.




Thursday, March 02, 2006

For Those Of You Who Are Keeping Track....

At the end of the workday tomorrow, I've been working at my "new job" for 6 full weeks. It's the first time in my whole life that I've worked a job for that long and haven't seriously considered quitting on several occasions.

Thursdays are always my favorite day, because there's the anticipation of Friday, which is casual, and the weekend (also casual).

Speaking of casual, did I tell you that I was hired for a six month contract when I started my job? Ah, the dreaded "casual" position. No benefits, no security, no idea what you'll do when the contract expires.

Guess what? I was called into the boss's office this afternoon around 3pm, and I am no longer a casual. Well, as of April 1st anyway. They offered me a permanent position!! I was thrilled at the possibility of benefits, but what I didn't realize was that becoming permanent comes with a raise of several thousand dollars a year. I am ecstatic!! Granted, I wasn't really making much before, so I'm not making really "good" money, but it's progress.

So, what can we take away from this blog entry? Casual is only good when referring to Fridays. A hefty raise after 6 weeks means you must be doing something right. And, Thursdays are still the best days ever!!

I hope everyone else is having a wonderful Thursday!

PS. I finished my second Falling Leaves sock on the first (yesterday), but haven't taken a pic yet. It's too dark now, but I'll take one this weekend.