Yarn Harlot!

Guess what I did today?

Duh! I saw the Yarn Harlot at the Ann Arbor library!
The Harlot and I with our socks (I went from 1/2" of ribbing to halfway down the gusset while I was there).

The Harlot's Olympic Sweater in all its glory.

The whole thing was great, even though it was super hot and sweaty in there. I saw Jillian Moreno in the audience and managed to finally meet Dana, Amby, and all the other lovely Knit Detroit ladies. After I finally got through the book signing line (I deeply admire The Harlot's ability to sign books and graciously pose for pictures for hours on end without a break!!) I caught up with the girls at Parthenon for a bite and then some much deserved (and 20% off) yarn shopping at Busy Hands. I bought some cottony-goodness for a project that I really should do now if I ever plan to use it. We'll see.

New design (and DSL again!!)

After 3 agonizing weeks, our dear computer is back with us after a horrifying malfunction- so I have DSL again! No more having to choose between pokey old dial up on the laptop or going out to Panera or something to use the wireless. Yay!

The new issue of Cast On has a design of mine- it's what is shown on pg. 49 in this preview. Basically a felted, Fair Isle pillow- nothing huge. This was one of the parade of projects I had to complete in the spring- I got this one done in 2 days. Design-wise, right now I am working on one project for SWTC, have another in the works, and (maybe) 2 or 3 other things magazine and other yarn company-wise that I don't want to jinx so I'll say nothing more- but I did have some potentially encouraging emails lately. I also did another submission today.

Tomorrow is the 10K, then Sunday is the Harlot!! (If you live around me, you must go- Ann Arbor District Library at 2:00).

New sock!

I've finished another sock (yes, AGAIN in Socks That Rock Lightweight- Cobalt Bloom) and have started its friend. I shipped out the hat and scarf set in Gianna to SWTC and cast on another sweater for them today- apparently I'm also going to be working on some "top secret" stuff for them too- sounds fun. I think I've settled into a nice routine of doing almost all my design work for them- keeps me from getting stretched too thin and they keep me plenty busy all by themselves! I'll occasionally submit to magazines, but not too much- I learned my lesson in the spring when I had 9 projects to finish in as many weeks.

Saturday is the deadline for my little contest- don't miss out!

Only 1 week left!!

Don't miss out on your chance to win some fabulous prizes! The prizes include Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Trekking XXL (great for you Summer of Sock-ers!), an issue of Keito Dama, Art of Knitting 2 DVD, and some ADORABLE Knit Notes made and donated by Jennifer of Major Knitter (also one of my most generous contributors). All you need to do to get a crack at these goodies is to make a donation to the cause I'm running for in the Detroit Free Press Marathon this fall, Girls on the Run. Any size donation will earn you a chance in the prize drawing, so go for it! Help me help those girls-- I've got less than $200 to go to my fundraising goal.
Go HERE to donate
Thank you!!

Sweaty

Hubbo is back in Toronto now for business, so Emma and I had a girls day out. After my usual workout this morning, I thought it would be a good idea to pull Emma in the wagon 2 miles to the bowling alley so she could use the Free Bowling coupon she got from the library from the summer reading club. Why? I guess because I'm Into Exercise now. Anyway, it was not such a hot idea- I was totally sweaty and gross by the time we got there, and some teenage boys mocked our wagon. She did walk/run a good part of the way, to her credit (she's doing the kid race at the 10K I'm in next weekend, and takes her "training" seriously.) Anyway, we bowled, we went out for some linner (totally off-schedule on meals today) and stopped at the playground on the way home (as we came up to it she said, "Say Mom, since it's such a beautiful day and you look tired and I'm sure there's some knitting in your purse you need to work on, let's stop at the playground for a bit." She was correct on all counts.) As a result, I got a bit more done on my sock. At home, I am nearly finished with a design for SWTC and have been watching all the "_______ House" DVDs (you know, those PBS shows) from Netflix. Ahhh, summer vacation.

Finished socks, and pictures too

Finished socks! Just simple toe-ups in Socks That Rock Lightweight. The color is Carbon Dating.

Also, some pictures from Toronto:

Emma and I on the log ride at Centreville


Emma and her Daddy in the CN Tower


Me and the New Sock (another in STR, this time in Cobalt Bloom)

I'm back!

I'm back from Toronto, and I've got pictures, but due to technical difficulties I can't show them yet, sorry! Suffice to say I did ditch Hubbo and Emma at Eaton Centre and walked to Lettuce Knit on Tuesday- and bought some Fleece Artist yarn while I was there. That was fun. Besides that we did a lot of touristy stuff. Emma really liked riding the subway.

In other news, Cathi will be happy to know that I bought not one, but two running skirts. They are totally cute. (Yes, I didn't need them but I do need the motivation, and outfits do it for me. I'm up to 20 miles a week now!)

Knit-wise, I'm working on some designs for SWTC and a couple of things for me (socks socks socks!) I'm hoping to have 2 more pairs finished soon.

Hello from Toronto!

I'm in Toronto for the next few days, and having a good time so far. I started another pair of summer socks on the train this morning from Windsor, and have few inches done. It's another in Socks That Rock, this time in Cobalt Bloom. Very pretty- I'll be able to put pictures up when I get home to my camera cord. More later!

Yarn Pile!

Some days you just want to marry the UPS man- look what he brought me today for my upcoming designs for SWTC! (Plus samples, copies of my most recent 3 patterns for them and 2 bags o' Karaoke for something I'm making for me---Sally Melville's Faith Jacket. I didn't like it at all when I saw it in her book Color, but in person it's really gorgeous and something I think I'll wear. It's knit in strips, just garter stitch, perfect for brain-dead knitting and easy to carry around too.)

Socks and Team Tiara Update

The socks are coming along, one is done:


I love STR more than words can express.
As far as Team Tiara is concerned, the fundraising is coming along! So far we have raised $338 toward helping young girls ! Here's a picture of those prizes I mentioned (remember, they can be yours by making a donation by July 29). Behold!


Yes, that's Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Trekking XXL, The Art of Knitting 2 DVD, and yes, a pristine issue of Keito Dama. Help out and get your hands on these babies!
P.S. Check out the summer Knitty when it comes out. I'm just saying.

News from the pit of squalor

The socks I started at TNNA are coming along- I started the second one yesterday. Though I'd like nothing better than to sit around and knit today, I am going to Toronto (!) soon and I really need to get this (really messy) house cleaned up. As in cleaning out the closets kind of clean. I know, this is foreign to me, but it should be kind of exciting since I don't really know what is in the backs of all those closets. If you don't hear from me soon, send help. And yarn.