cracking the code

It's 2010 and I'm back to blogging.....I hope! It took me 15 minutes to crack the secret code to get back into my blog, but I'm here now.

Where have I been? Well, no where unusual, just spending most my time working. Facebook and twitter have been my main social networking sites.

Why come back to blogging? After reflecting on what I've accomplished in the way of craftiness, I think I was probably more productive when I blogged.

Somethings that will be different. I always found the linking of the things I talked about very tedious with blogger and the part of blogging I hated the most.....so I won't be doing a ton of linking when I talk about patterns etc.......If for some reason you want to know about the links, let me know in a comment and I'll probably be willing to send them to you.....but really, we all know how to google now don't we?

I'm going to try to do a weekly craft update so I can make crafting a focus for 2010. I find I'm way less stabby when I craft, but sometimes life gets in the way and forget to do it.....= stabbystabby!

Of course, you can also find me on twitter and facebook for those short, mostly snarky, impulsive comments I make throughout the day.....if anyone cares. It's mostly so I don't say those things out loud and either get fired, or go to jail for getting into a fight in public.....Hey, it's cheaper than therapy, right?

I managed to finish something

I did manage to finish something recently, despite the serious lack of knitting going on around here.

Jaywalker #2. I think this is the only pattern I've knit more than once and would totally knit it again. I love this pattern! Easy to remember but interesting enough not to be mind numbing. These took a while to finish, you can see on my Ravelry details, but it's because they were the purse "standing in line, waiting in offices, nothing else to do etc socks". You know.....knit a row here and there.

Just because knitting has been slow, doesn't mean I'm not still VERY much interested in the craft!!

I recently fell down at Imagiknits in SF and somehow my purse flew open, $$ flew out and some yummy yarns flew in. Got me some Tosh sock, Malabrigo x 2, and Casbah. Oh, and the new Vogue and Knitscene also came home with me.

This Madeline Tosh sock is soooooo pretty, but very difficult to photograph. It's rich, luscious ,semi solid chocolate brown screams to be a simple shawl to show off it's wonderfulness......I'm thinking I've found my next cast on. The Casbah will be Christmas socks for my grandmother (pattern TBA) and the Malabrigo will be a Verity beret.....I wasn't sure which I liked better for the beret, the butter or the natural, so I had to just get both and figure it out later.

My recent trip to SF, made me realize it WILL again be cool enough to wear wool and I REALLY want to finish my Twist cardigan. All is left is 1 1/2 sleeves and sew her up......I just can't seem to be motivated to knit cables in wool.....

It's too hot to knit!

I just haven't been knitting that much these days......I'm not happy about that at all, but it is what it is. I think I remember this happening to me last summer.......Is it the heat? The fact I have way too many chores to do lately?? Whatever it is.......I DON'T LIKE IT! I'm yearning for cooler days, one might even say cold winter nights, so I can sit on the couch with a cup of hot tea and knit, knit, knit.....

So, I've done a little sewing instead.......

Mermaid themed apron for AJ........who is lucky enough to live at the beach, so it's appropriately themed!! The fabric is by Heather Ross. The pattern is Lorelei out of A is for Apron.....my all time FAVORITE sewing book.

I have some of this seahorse fabric left.......I think I need a cute skirt for walking on the beach out of it.....

And of course......

Also on the sewing table......Ahoy, me hearties!!!!

Pirate flannel rag quilt.......my first attempt at quilting.

Completely random, easy peasy design.....

Another quickie post.....

Got some Vanilla socks of the needles this week.......

They have been my "purse knitting" for a few months now.....knit here and there....amazing how a few spare moments can be made into wearable objects!!

That's BMFA STR lightweight in Flourite. I used 2- 24 inch circs size #1

As always........LOVE the STR. Not sure if these will be mine, or maybe Christmas gift for my grandmother, although I'm not sure she'll like the crazy color combo too much....it's more my speed.

Quickie FO post

I finished the Anthropologie inspired caplet a few weeks ago and just got around to taking pictures of it......

I barely had enough yarn to make it.....in fact I didn't have enough yarn, but a gracious fellow knitter on Ravelry sent my another ball of the same lot so I could finish her.....THANKS Marangbiti!!   She sent it all the way from Norway, and wouldn't let me pay a dime, how awesome is that !!!!  

She turned out kinda smaller than I thought she would......won't be buttoning up over the girls....but that's OK, I think she still looks pretty good! 

Will be nice this fall to wear over tank tops when there's a bit of chill in the air......

A sewing FO

While knitting has not been so productive.......sewing has seen at least one successful FO.....

Vintage inspired skull motif apron........

And don't forget the matching miniature dish soap apron......

Love!!! making aprons for folks who I know will enjoy them......and when I can find fabric that fits their persona.......

Did you notice I wrote "successful" sewing project......I'm currently in battle with some vinyl coated fabric......I'm attempting to make the reusable sandwich bag pattern from Sewing Green. Super easy pattern that will help my quest to avoid using plastic baggies......but that vinyl cloth is a bitch to work with.........I'll let ya know if I can conquer this sewing hill......

Where has my knitting mojo gone?

I just haven't been knitting that much lately........and it's making me sad!  I want to knit, but haven't wanted to cast on any new projects until I get some lingering projects off the needles........this idea SUCKS! 

I'm not digging my current projects and find I just don't want to knit on them.........Seriously, why did I think I wanted to knit a lace and 3x3 ribbed summer top, out of fingering weight splitty cotton yarn???  Orangina....I'm talking to you!  This thing just won't grow.  

And....Twist, your cables have burned me out for a while.....

Socks......you're fine, but I leave you for work knitting......

Looks like there's only one thing to do............start a cast on frenzy to fuel my mojo......