Arigato Gozaimasu, Secret Pal!

Upon checking my email today, I found some treats from my SP! A copy of Crumpets (I know, I'm always the last one on the bandwagon, but I do have a little girl and a huge pile of Cotton Ease) and a nice e-card- ironically enough, the same one I sent to the person I'm spoiling the other day!
Speaking of the person I'm spoiling, I sent one little prize right away, and I have some other things coming in that I ordered for her (yarn, stitch markers, and a pattern she wants). I also found out that there's a new yarn store right down the street from my inlaws in South Lyon- so now there's a reason (I mean ANOTHER reason- wink wink) to visit. We're going there Sunday, and the shop will be open. I already told the Hubbo that we're making a pit stop! Apparently there's ANOTHER new yarn shop a few miles past them at the edge of Brighton, and one of these days I have to get out there too. (It's a compulsion, I know!)

The Triumphant Return to Knitting

Well, it's only been since Sunday night, but for me that's a long time! I don't know if I mentioned the obnoxious car trouble I had last week, but let's just say it involved begging rides home from coworkers. Believe it or not, we had a little reprise of that situation today, when the same thing broke, presumably from the work of mechanics who are incompetent, clueless, or smoking too much crack. The Hubbo insists all is now well, but I'll make that decision next week.
Anyway, tonight I start work on the second project for Creative Knitting. It's little (for their fast project July issue) so it won't take long. That's nice since I also want to finish the other 2 (now it's 2) projects for SWTC before I go to Louisville Nov. 9 for the NAGC conference with the girls from work. The rest of the week so far I have spent on my other favorite thing (no, not work!)-- tap. The Hubbo got me a nice big sheet of plywood to put under my porta-floor (I love this thing) so it won't wobble on the carpet and I can leave it out all the time. We're doing "Bye Bye Blackbird" from Fosse for this semester's performance. So far, so good. I'm even getting dangerously close to justifying a 4th pair of tap shoes (I made the mistake of checking out Discount Dance Supply last night and saw some cool ones I think I need:

Of course, I'd want them in black. I know, I don't need 4 pairs of tap shoes, I don't even need 3. You're talking to someone with over 200 sets of knitting needles here! (Yes, I love to buy things.)
Okay, now I'm rambling. Time to put Emma to bed and then to get out the new SWTC Amerah to knit my project and use this computer for its more practical function, showing DVDs.

Sweater for Knitter's FINISHED!

And just in time! (The deadline is this Friday.) I'm sending it out today. I think it turned out pretty good- a little hard to tell since it doesn't have buttons on it yet (they are going to select and add those.) As soon as the next issue comes out I guess we'll find out how it (really) looks. My lesson plans for this week aren't quite done, so I'd better get busy before I have to leave for work- till later!
P.S. 14 pounds now! :)

Frantically knitting

Sorry I've been pretty absent lately, but I spent the week maniacally knitting the toddler sweater for the next issue of Knitter's- I have to ship it Monday. Right now, the pieces are blocking so tomorrow I just need to do the finishing- I hate that part but at least I'll make it. After that I can take a little break, then I need to finish a NEW design for South West Trading Company and the one for the July 2006 Creative Knitting (a super quick project, won't take long to knit the sample.) One of these days I'll get back to my own projects and then I'll have pictures. Until then, we all must suffer, I suppose.

It's here!

Behold Cheaper Than Therapy. Why do I have 2 copies? Because I wrote 2 things in there, silly! If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?

SWTC sweater finished!

Well, I finally finished the sweater I designed for South West Trading Company (in their wonderful Karaoke yarn.) I don't think I should show you, so I won't-- basically it's a simple raglan turtleneck with a cable design and LOTS of sizes. I'll let you know when it's up on their website, okay? Now on to finish the sweater for Knitter's, then the other Creative Knitting project and 2 others for SWTC...(My own projects are gathering dust!)

Secret Pal Delights!

My final SP5 goodies arrived today! Here we see an array of enchanting Asian delights (the little one is a coin purse and the wooden one is a mirror) elegantly paired with a duet of Knit Picks sock yarn...


...and the lovely brocade shoes! Thanks Pal!

Wow!

10 days...10 pounds. This South Beach business is really working. Even though I am normally a sugar freak, once I got past the first few days it's been pretty easy (mind you, if it wasn't for artificially sweetened stuff I would have caved. Right away. Seriously.)
Almost done with the Karaoke sweater for SWTC, and am partially done with the one for Knitter's. Both need to be done soon, so I'm knitting every spare moment. Joe bought me some Kids in the Hall and Degrassi Jr. High DVDs(I loved those shows when I was a teenager/very young adult)and that keeps me company :) The house is a wreck though. Oh well!

Secret Pal 6 Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? I am a total snob, thank you! :)
2. Do you spin? Crochet? Not really—I’ve played around with spinning a bit and used to crochet, but now I just knit, mostly.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) I don’t like smoke or strong perfumes.
4. How long have you been knitting? 5 years
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have a little one on Froogle.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I’m a teacher, and get boatloads of scented candles, lotions, etc. every Christmas. I have more than I could ever use—please, no more!
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, but only sugar-free. Please.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I’m really just into knitting right now, plus my beloved tap dance.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes, I can do MP3s. I mostly like the same things I did in high school- my favorite band is the Pixies.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? Favorites are pink, purple, teal, and black. I strongly dislike anything “autumny.”
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I’m 31, Married, one little girl (in kindergarten). I have 2 cats.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) To design all the time- no day job required (not realistic, I know)
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Noro, Koigu, Karabella Aurora 8, South West Trading, anything luxurious
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Acrylic- not real big on cotton either. I also tend to avoid novelties, in general.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Small projects that I have time for- hats, purses, etc. No scarves. I love Fair Isle, though- all types of colorwork.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Same as above.
17. What are you knitting right now? Stuff I designed for SWTC, Creative Knitting, and Knitter’s, my long suffering Level 3 Aran for TKGA, and some other stuff that I don’t often get around to.
18. What do you think about ponchos? Can do without them, but they’re not always horrible.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular all the way, baby! Though I do like fancy straights if they look cool, and I use dpns a lot.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Addi Turbos!
21. Are you a sock knitter? Yes
22. How did you learn to knit? Taught myself
23. How old is your oldest UFO? About 6 months or so
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Hello Kitty
25. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas- though I am totally nonreligious- I like the “family and presents” aspect.
26. Is there anything that you collect? Cool looking knitting needles, funky stuff with sushi on it
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? You name it, I got it- but not Knit n’ Style (don’t like it)
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? I have a ton of books, I buy them, I preorder them- so it’s hard to say what I’d want. However, I have an almost perfect collection of the Vogue Knitting on the Go series, except the newer one about crocheted hats or something. Even though I rarely crochet I still want it.
29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?? I could go for Crumpets- I do have a little girl, you know!

First Day of Kindergarten

Yes, I know it was almost a week ago, and I know that she was in Pre-K at the same school last year (independent elementary/middle school), but there's still something about the first day of kindergarten.

More reasons to hate my guts

I'm back, having survived the first week back to school with my adorable pack o' kidlets. I have been officially notified of the impending arrival of my final secret pal goodies, which of course delights me to no end. But that's not the part that will make you "hate my guts" as per the title.
I just got off the phone with the charming editor of Creative Knitting, and lo and behold the other submission I sent them has been accepted! This one is for the July 2006 issue (I mentioned this possibility a while back- just took longer to find out than expected.) So yay! Even though Knitty (love them anyway) has rejected every design I've sent, I'm batting nearly 1000 with everyone else. Guess I just don't have that Knitty style. Oh well, I can live with that.
In South Beach news, I haven't cracked yet, though I nearly came close- last night I was at a little get together with many a sweet and tasty and/or alcoholic treat. Believe or not, I held it together and drank water. Really. This is pretty wild for me because I didn't gain 50 pounds by having good self-control. I've lost 6 in the first week, which totally rocks (obviously).
As soon as my Secret Pal goodies arrive, I'll let you know!

More Teddy News

I was looking around a bit and discovered that the teddy I designed for SWTC has been made into kits with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina victims! They are available at
Full Thread Ahead

Incognito

The combination of back to work + lots of knitting deadlines + getting sick = no time to blog. Taking a week or so off-- hopefully I'll have something finished to share by then.

In other news, I got the yarn for the Knitter's item- they changed the brand and fiber but left the rest as is. Got a bunch of papers today to read through for that too. I'm pretty much ready for school to start Tuesday but was at work until 8:00 today finishing up. The teachers and the Head of School have decided to go on the South Beach diet together-- if anyone has done it and has any useful tidbits of info let me know. We had a last hurrah of pasta and rich sugary desserts today to make it official.

The new MagKnits is up, I see. Look for my design in either the next one or the one after that-- last I heard Kerrie hadn't decided which. I guess it will be a surprise!