I have an FO to post!!

Pattern: Fiery Bolero by Debbie Bliss [rav pattern] [rav project page]

Yarn: Brooks Farm Solo Silk [rav link] [site link]

Needles: Size 5 circs and DPNs for ribbing and uh…8’s? For body

Modifications: I omitted the short rows on the collar because I couldn’t seem to pick up the right # of stitches and saw no need for them anyway. In hindsight I was correct as this looks and fits perfect without them.

I’m mid-packing hell right now so I haven’t been knitting much. However I thought I’d post some swap goodies from the LSG Tacky Ornament Swap from crabbycrocheter (the ever-awesome Jean).

Look at this haul!

I started unwrapping, first came the Poo Poo Paper…which is made from elephant shit. RLY. We tricked Ministicks into rubbing a piece on her face and called her poop face all night. Ah, lolz.

Next the package for Babysticks, which is just so unbelievably awesome…I got a little misty. Then I punched my husband in the face to make up for it. (Kidding)

Babysticks approved:

And next came my ball-o-tacky:

Me approved:

Other goodies, on par with the shit-theme of this swap?

And a surprise for my mother in law which I will give her today on the way to the MFA where I’m meeting up with some other LSG bitches!

Thanks Jean, you are fucking awesome and I will treasure my tacky forever. <3

I’ve also been nesting and packing like crazy over here. We’re hoping to get the keys this weekend. I painted my old plain wood magazine rack, made a wist of my IKEA furniture needs, and whipped up a magazine bowl…which I’ve been wanting to do forever.

Restocked the Etsy shop! (Finally) Grass Green, Hot Pink, Black, Candy Apple Red, Royal Purple and True Blue earrings are posted now. As always, I’m happy to take custom orders for no extra charge! Visit the shop!

Life is slowly falling back into order. I’m working on the ribbing on my bolero after frogging it a few times. I have a lot of trouble picking up stitches without it looking sloppy and terrible. I seamed the sides and arms and tried it on, it fits great. Swatching…who knew?

I just added “Rhinebeck haul and shrug pictures” to my to-do list so I can actually post them here. I really suck lately, sorry about that. My photography blog is being updated more so you can tell where my spare time is being spent!

Coming up for knitting I’ve got my Mom’s xmas clapotis and a scarf for an Obama Scarf Swap I joined on Ravelry. Picking up yarn for that on Wednesday.

There isn’t enough time in the day!

Oh, and Babysticks is working on his rolling over:

Everyone have an awesome Thanksgiving (for those of you in the states, anyway!) This will be my first Thanksgiving meat-free.

I may not be doing much posting but I have been knitting! Sort of. I’ve finished the body of my Fiery Bolero!

I just realized I forgot to take pictures of my Rhinebeck haul…well…that was the other part of this entry. D’oh. Ummm…here…look at the pretty baby…

Slips out

This weekend was wicked awesome, here are some photos!
Random fest pics:

Kinnearing the Yarn Harlot

CUTE

FINALLY met Melody Knitphomaniacs

Day one meet-up:

Mary Heather and Susan

ZantiMissKnit

LSG!

Niseema and eseelye

cicadaqueen and sseybert (susan)

The Rav Party:

Ma and Allison in the booze line:

weavingtheweb, scottishnana, and ghillie

The fruit of a long line:

sseybert and cicadaqueen:

Casey trying to set my camera on fire with his mind?

Drunk? Nooooo

Day Two meet up:

Mary Heather and Creative

YankeeLagniappe and Jess:

Awesome weekend!
You can get to my flickr and all the pics by clicking on any of these pics. I still have more to upload…

Be one of the first 5 people to find me Saturday at Rhinebeck!! I’ll also have a dozen more pairs for sale if you want them.

IF YOU’RE GOING COME SAY HELLO. Do it, don’t be a wussy.

See those of you who are going there, and for those who aren’t- I’ll smell some fiber for you and drink the bar dry at the RavParty in your honor.

Look for this LSG shirt:

T-minus 5 days until I leave for Rhinebeck!! Are you going?

I am going to will myself to make a bunch of knitting earrings…IF I DO, the first 5 people to find me get a free pair! I’ll bring sell-able pairs as well. However many I can make before going insane.

Extra points if you scream LICK MY STICKS across Rhinebeck. That never gets any less funny. The puzzled and about-to-be-offended looks on the delicates are always priceless. I will be wearing my black and white LSG baseball shirt. It has a weasel holding a ball of yarn on it. My hair is dark brown and short these days. I still look about 5 months pregnant. The latter really pisses me off.
I am knitting, I swear to Jack Daniels. I just haven’t taken a new WIP pick yet. Tomorrow is my Knit Night so I’ll get some progress going on my Fiery Bolero. I was hoping to have it for the festival but that’s looking unpossible.
I have been busy getting NOTHING done. It’s disgusting. I know I techinically get a pass, baby and all…but dude. I’m behind on homework (due purely to putting it off), I am WAY behind on reading, I’m behind on blogging, cleaning, phonecalls, bills. Ugh.

Something I DID get done however was finally getting my Photography website online! Yay! I had a maternity shoot today and I think I’m very close to having enough to turn in a portfolio and get my ass official with the college of visual arts at UMASS. I just need a few more drawings (yeah, they make me draw shit to study photography) and I’m good to go!

I’m totally taking the fiber arts class they have too. I think it’s mostly weaving but I’m all over that for an elective.

Well I’m about to ATTEMPT to upgrade wordpress for this blog. This could very well result in my blog vanishing into the bowels of the internetz so uh…cross your fingers for me? <3

A real post is coming soon (I have so much to post about for once!) but in the meantime, please accept my apologies for sucking ass in the form of nom-able pictures of reason #1 why I have no time to blog:

Wow, I can’t believe how long it’s been since I blogged! Loser! I have stuffs to show off!

So I crossed the finish line of the 2008 Ravelympics two out of three times. I showed off the Pea Pod already, so here’s the second FO…my Central Park Hoodie! Finally! Only took 13 months.

• Pattern: Central Park Hoodie from KnitScene [ravelry]
• Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers
• Needles: US7 and US9
• Modifications: Omitted the hood and did a bolero-like ribbing all the way around
• Size Made: 38″

I’m pretty pleased with it overall. I need to get back to my pre-baby weight before it’ll fit the way I have intended on it fitting! I left it as a buttonless cardigan, partially because I’m lazy and partially because I had no buttons.

Then there was the Jaywalker sock I’ve been knitting on since Rhinebeck last year.

Well…that’s as far as I got. Because I ran out of time, you ask? No. Because I was busy? Nope. Because I hate that fucking sock. I love the yarn and the pattern, but I hate knitting it. Every stitch of it. Back into the bottom of my closet it goes!!

After the close of the Ravelympics (and the first Olympic Games I’ve ever been GLUED to…seriously, for all 17 days) I cast on for a nice new project: The Fiery Bolero [ravelry] by Debbie Bliss from the Summer ‘05 Interweave Knits. I think this is the first Interweave pattern I’ve actually knit. I always intend to knit their patterns, but just haven’t gotten there until now. This is a nice quick knit, and will be great for the Fall. I’m using Brooks Farm’s Solo Silk that I picked up at Maryland Sheep and Wool. I LOVE this yarn, it’s beautiful and orgasmically soft. Is that a word? Whatever, it is now.

I’m increasing for the sleeves now so I’m like 35% done already. I can’t wait to wear it, I’m going to bust my ass and try to finish before next week when I start…SCHOOL!

Yep- back to school time again. This time I’m in a real university! UMASS Dartmouth. I went to orientation Monday and suffered through endless speakers and power point presentations about bullshit I already knew. I was feeling particularly miserable because when I started community college I figured I’d surely know what I wanted to be when I grew up by the time I hit a four-year. Well I was staring at the “Liberal Arts” on my stupid name tag and thinking “Fuck. I don’t want this.”

Then someone mentioned the FOUR levels of French I’d need (I barely passed the two I have) and the addition math and science, and the literature…I wasn’t feeling any of it. I wanted to run out the front doors, especially when I saw the “Quantum Reasoning” class I was placed in. (I don’t even know what that IS)

So when I met my adviser she asked the whole group “how many of you plan to transfer out of Liberal Arts?” My hand shot up before she even finished asking. She went around the room and asked everyone what they wanted to major in, when she got to me I had already made my decision: photography.

So now? I’m on the path to a Bachelor of Arts in photography and for the first time in my college career (and my adult life), I have a plan. I know what I want. I’m so happy I can barely stand it.

I have a plan, it’s been beautiful out, it’s almost fall (my favorite season), and I get to look at this little guy every day:

Babysticks has been quite spoiled by my LSG cohorts. Shannon [dontcare] sent him beautiful hand knit socks. The blue one on the keychain was one she cast on the night before I went into labor. She was sending me labor juju by casting on and it totally worked! The sock ended up too small so she put it on a keychain for keepsake purposes. And then she knit up these beautiful red socks that DID fit! So thoughtful, I adore them.

And then Melanie [LanieRed on Ravelry] sent this HILARIOUS and very “LSG” t-shirt to him:

It’s from tshirthell.com and so wrong it’s right. LOVE it!

He’s also got a couple more goodies coming his way. I can’t believe how awesome everyone has been sending him presents. Just goes to show you how thoughtful and awesome the girls of LSG really are. We’re a misunderstood group, for sure.

I also finally felted my French Market Bag! MONTHS after I finished knitting the thing!! I love it, it’s a great bedside knitting sack.

• Pattern: French Market Bag from Knitty [ravelry]
• Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Amethyst Heather
• Needles: US7
• Modifications: Made it a bit deeper

Whew. Lot of stuff to post about.

I got Wendy Knit and Tonic’s new book Custom Knits…I would just like to sing from the rooftops about it. This book is amazing. The patterns, the tips, the customizing information, the alterations for each pattern, the photos, the layout…all incredible. Go get it, seriously. It’s so great. I haven’t been so happy with a pattern book in ages.

So I’m thinking of changing the look of my blog. I don’t like how narrow the template is because I have to resize photos and that kills the quality. Since I’ll be in school for photography I think my template should be photo-friendly! But do I want to re-learn how to do all that editing? CSS? Meh. We’ll see.

Alright I’m going to shut up now. Happy knitting!