Just a quick note. I'm here at Bryan's work for his going away party. Our computer is officially going in for repair today and hopefully we'll have it back on Friday or Saturday.
Until then, keep crafting!!!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Wahoo!
A quick update... though with no pictures because I think we have a virus that won't let me upload pictures. (Grrr.)
1. I finished the French Market Bag from Knitty and it looks great! I was really nervous about felting it and almost manually felted it by submerging it in a sink and agitating it myself. However, I decided to release control to my washing machine. The Galway felted wonderfully and it only took 10 minutes! It also took a long time to block and dry completely (about 14 hours total) which seemed to directly corrolate to my intense desire to use it.
2. I made a small bag for my knitting & crocheting notions. I used Lion Brand Micro Spun in Lilac and strand of Coates & Clark Crochet Thread in White that had flecks of silver. It's about 9" long and 4" wide with a zipper at the top. The great thing was that it only took about an hour and a half from start to finish, so I was able to do it while Owen was taking his nap. (For those curious people out there, I used an H hook and did it in single crochet to make it sturdier.)
3. I think that I may have a good stash of money that I forgot about and I know exactly how I'm going to be spending it! I deposited a check into my Pampered Chef account for a single order that someone made and noticed that I have something like $400 in that account! I forgot to pay myself last month! Can anyone say, "Hello, yarn goddesses! I have money to spend!" To my LYS, I go!
4. I did some searching on Yahoo Groups last night and found a local Stitch 'N Bitch type group in Springfield!!!! YAY!!! I'm totally excited because I just got an email from the moderator of the group and their first meeting is on the 10th, which is when we'll be driving down from Kansas City. I may have to do some begging and pleading to make sure that we get into town in time for me to go. It would be great to make some connections that quickly. Plus, I'll totally need to find out where a LYS is. You girls know.
Okay. The moving truck comes on Thursday and Salvation Army is coming today to pick up a ton of stuff. It's a busy busy couple of days here!!! I could use a bit of encouragement, so if any of you happen to have some lying around.... care to share?
1. I finished the French Market Bag from Knitty and it looks great! I was really nervous about felting it and almost manually felted it by submerging it in a sink and agitating it myself. However, I decided to release control to my washing machine. The Galway felted wonderfully and it only took 10 minutes! It also took a long time to block and dry completely (about 14 hours total) which seemed to directly corrolate to my intense desire to use it.
2. I made a small bag for my knitting & crocheting notions. I used Lion Brand Micro Spun in Lilac and strand of Coates & Clark Crochet Thread in White that had flecks of silver. It's about 9" long and 4" wide with a zipper at the top. The great thing was that it only took about an hour and a half from start to finish, so I was able to do it while Owen was taking his nap. (For those curious people out there, I used an H hook and did it in single crochet to make it sturdier.)
3. I think that I may have a good stash of money that I forgot about and I know exactly how I'm going to be spending it! I deposited a check into my Pampered Chef account for a single order that someone made and noticed that I have something like $400 in that account! I forgot to pay myself last month! Can anyone say, "Hello, yarn goddesses! I have money to spend!" To my LYS, I go!
4. I did some searching on Yahoo Groups last night and found a local Stitch 'N Bitch type group in Springfield!!!! YAY!!! I'm totally excited because I just got an email from the moderator of the group and their first meeting is on the 10th, which is when we'll be driving down from Kansas City. I may have to do some begging and pleading to make sure that we get into town in time for me to go. It would be great to make some connections that quickly. Plus, I'll totally need to find out where a LYS is. You girls know.
Okay. The moving truck comes on Thursday and Salvation Army is coming today to pick up a ton of stuff. It's a busy busy couple of days here!!! I could use a bit of encouragement, so if any of you happen to have some lying around.... care to share?
Friday, August 26, 2005
SP6
I'm so excited I could jump right out of my chair. I just signed up for Secret Pal 6 and got my confirmation email from the hostesses!
Woohooooooo! This will definitely give me some fun mail to look forward to at the new house in Missouri!!!
Why? Because it's all about sending and receiving fun mail. *grins!*
Woohooooooo! This will definitely give me some fun mail to look forward to at the new house in Missouri!!!
Why? Because it's all about sending and receiving fun mail. *grins!*
Thursday, August 25, 2005
One quick post before bed!
It's been a great night!!!!! For full details, see my personal journal. (The button link is to the right. It's called Being Brianne.)
I'm having a difficult time remembering what I've already written, so bear with me!
This morning I went to NobleKnits (my LYS) to find some yarn to make a knitting bag with. After consulting with the yarn goddesses, I decided on Galway and chose beautiful muted teal and oatmeal colors for the bag. I selected my needles and picked up a few I needed for other projects, too. I also saw some Sockatta that was great and picked up a bit to make Bryan some funky socks.
I about died when I got to the cash register and heard my total. YIKES! Yarn goddess #1 showed me that it was basically my needles racking up the bill. Yarn goddess #2 also pointed out that the Sockatta was also a bit more expensive, too.
Yarn Goddess #1 then said something that changed my life forever. "Have you ever seen the Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles?"
"No. Show me, yarn goddess."
It was so beautiful and amazing that I had to avert my eyes for a moment to avoid looking fully upon it's magnificence and be blinded. After letting my eyes adjust to the glory of Denise I was taken aback by the wonder of it all.
And so, for $47.95, Brianne walked away from NobleKnits with Denise. And it was good.
Oh yeah, and I also purchased the Galway, too!
I told Bryan about the Denise set on the way to the Padres game tonight and told him "thank you for my anniversary present!"
I wasn't sure how I'd feel knitting on plastic, but it's not bad at all. I still definitely want to try bamboo and possibly other types of wood, but the plastic is working out well. I started Knitty's French Market Bag and am almost 1/2 done with the base of it. All in one night! Yay! It's amazing what you can do at a baseball game! *grins*
Pictures soon! I promise!!!
I'm having a difficult time remembering what I've already written, so bear with me!
This morning I went to NobleKnits (my LYS) to find some yarn to make a knitting bag with. After consulting with the yarn goddesses, I decided on Galway and chose beautiful muted teal and oatmeal colors for the bag. I selected my needles and picked up a few I needed for other projects, too. I also saw some Sockatta that was great and picked up a bit to make Bryan some funky socks.
I about died when I got to the cash register and heard my total. YIKES! Yarn goddess #1 showed me that it was basically my needles racking up the bill. Yarn goddess #2 also pointed out that the Sockatta was also a bit more expensive, too.
Yarn Goddess #1 then said something that changed my life forever. "Have you ever seen the Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles?"
"No. Show me, yarn goddess."
It was so beautiful and amazing that I had to avert my eyes for a moment to avoid looking fully upon it's magnificence and be blinded. After letting my eyes adjust to the glory of Denise I was taken aback by the wonder of it all.
And so, for $47.95, Brianne walked away from NobleKnits with Denise. And it was good.
Oh yeah, and I also purchased the Galway, too!
I told Bryan about the Denise set on the way to the Padres game tonight and told him "thank you for my anniversary present!"
I wasn't sure how I'd feel knitting on plastic, but it's not bad at all. I still definitely want to try bamboo and possibly other types of wood, but the plastic is working out well. I started Knitty's French Market Bag and am almost 1/2 done with the base of it. All in one night! Yay! It's amazing what you can do at a baseball game! *grins*
Pictures soon! I promise!!!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hello!!! I'm still alive!!!
Well, it has been a little while since I last posted. There's been a lot going on and now that I'm home from Missouri I have a lot of packing to do before we move there on September 6th. That gives me 14 days to pack up my whole house!!! YEESH!!!
On the crafting front, not a whole lot has gone on there in the past few days and I know it will be a few weeks before anything good happens with it again. I snagged a few minutes of knitting time last night while Bryan was out getting Starbucks for us, and I had a few minutes to knit in the car on Monday night.
Did I mention that I finished Jared's scarf? It's done and it looks great on him. Isaac immediately asked where his scarf was. lol! Now that it's done I'm working on the baby blanket from Debbie Bliss' Easy Baby Knits for Beginners. I'm doing it to try my hand at seaming. If that goes well I'll work my way to doing a sweater for Owen. Missouri will get cold in the winter! The blanket will need 30 patches, and I'm finished with 13 and halfway through with 14.
Ugh. My brain is fried. I'll update later with a few pictures. Back to packing!!!
On the crafting front, not a whole lot has gone on there in the past few days and I know it will be a few weeks before anything good happens with it again. I snagged a few minutes of knitting time last night while Bryan was out getting Starbucks for us, and I had a few minutes to knit in the car on Monday night.
Did I mention that I finished Jared's scarf? It's done and it looks great on him. Isaac immediately asked where his scarf was. lol! Now that it's done I'm working on the baby blanket from Debbie Bliss' Easy Baby Knits for Beginners. I'm doing it to try my hand at seaming. If that goes well I'll work my way to doing a sweater for Owen. Missouri will get cold in the winter! The blanket will need 30 patches, and I'm finished with 13 and halfway through with 14.
Ugh. My brain is fried. I'll update later with a few pictures. Back to packing!!!
Monday, August 15, 2005
I'm still here!
It has been a very busy few days since I last posted. Since that day...
~ Bryan accepted a job near Springfield
~ Bryan agreed to start September 12
~ We looked for houses
~ We realized that we will really have to sell our condo before we can buy a house
~ My grandmother might buy our condo... but we don't know
~ We have started looking for an apartment here as the houses we like won't be finished for another couple of months
~ We have agreed not to tell Bryan's boss and coworkers until the end of the week
~ We have freaked out a few times at the thought of moving
~ Our families have freaked out a few times at the thought of us moving
~ Bryan has gone home and started packing things easier done while Owen isn't in the state
~ I have been knitting away to help soothe my brain
~ I finished Jared's scarf and immediately started another project
A little overwhelmed? Yeah. Me too.
It has been an interesting time here and this is really the first completely restfull day since arriving.
On a crafty note, I did finish Jared's scarf and he was thrilled with it. Isaac wants to know where his scarf is. So when we go to Hobby Lobby I'll let him pick out which yarn he wants for it. I know he'll pick orange. *grins*
I did immediately start another project once I had woven in the ends (there were a ton since it was striped) and balled the leftover yarn. It is the baby blanket in the Debbie Bliss, Baby Knits for Beginners. I'm using Lion Brand's Baby Soft in purple, pink and green. This is not the easiest yarn to knit with because it is very fine, though it is heavenly soft and will be great once it's made up. I'm doing this, not so much because I think I need practice with a garter stitch, but because I think my next project will be a sweater for Owen and I need to work on getting a consistent gauge with my patches and on seaming. This will make the sweater come together a lot easier.
Okay, now time to see if I can download any of my pictures from the digital camera onto mom's computer. Wish me luck!
~ Bryan accepted a job near Springfield
~ Bryan agreed to start September 12
~ We looked for houses
~ We realized that we will really have to sell our condo before we can buy a house
~ My grandmother might buy our condo... but we don't know
~ We have started looking for an apartment here as the houses we like won't be finished for another couple of months
~ We have agreed not to tell Bryan's boss and coworkers until the end of the week
~ We have freaked out a few times at the thought of moving
~ Our families have freaked out a few times at the thought of us moving
~ Bryan has gone home and started packing things easier done while Owen isn't in the state
~ I have been knitting away to help soothe my brain
~ I finished Jared's scarf and immediately started another project
A little overwhelmed? Yeah. Me too.
It has been an interesting time here and this is really the first completely restfull day since arriving.
On a crafty note, I did finish Jared's scarf and he was thrilled with it. Isaac wants to know where his scarf is. So when we go to Hobby Lobby I'll let him pick out which yarn he wants for it. I know he'll pick orange. *grins*
I did immediately start another project once I had woven in the ends (there were a ton since it was striped) and balled the leftover yarn. It is the baby blanket in the Debbie Bliss, Baby Knits for Beginners. I'm using Lion Brand's Baby Soft in purple, pink and green. This is not the easiest yarn to knit with because it is very fine, though it is heavenly soft and will be great once it's made up. I'm doing this, not so much because I think I need practice with a garter stitch, but because I think my next project will be a sweater for Owen and I need to work on getting a consistent gauge with my patches and on seaming. This will make the sweater come together a lot easier.
Okay, now time to see if I can download any of my pictures from the digital camera onto mom's computer. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Greetings from Branson, Missouri!
Well, we're having a great time here!!! You can read all about our trip in my personal journal. (The link is on the right.)
I've had plenty of time to work on my knitting, as it was a 3 hour drive from Tulsa, OK into Branson... as well as we've spent a lot of time in the car. Since I'm just making a scarf right now I can totally bring it with me! I'm about 27% done right now and it is looking great! I hope to finish it before I leave so that I don't have to mail it back here. (It's for my brother, Jared.)
Next week we'll be making the visit to Hobby Lobby, and I'm so excited about it!!! Yay! I definitely hope to find a couple of new knitting needles and perhaps a knitting bag if I'm lucky. I'd also be very interested in seeing what kinds of yarn they have in stock.
Bryan and I are seriously considering relocating to this area. We'll see how that goes! We should have a pretty definite answer by tomorrow evening. Yikes!!!
I've had plenty of time to work on my knitting, as it was a 3 hour drive from Tulsa, OK into Branson... as well as we've spent a lot of time in the car. Since I'm just making a scarf right now I can totally bring it with me! I'm about 27% done right now and it is looking great! I hope to finish it before I leave so that I don't have to mail it back here. (It's for my brother, Jared.)
Next week we'll be making the visit to Hobby Lobby, and I'm so excited about it!!! Yay! I definitely hope to find a couple of new knitting needles and perhaps a knitting bag if I'm lucky. I'd also be very interested in seeing what kinds of yarn they have in stock.
Bryan and I are seriously considering relocating to this area. We'll see how that goes! We should have a pretty definite answer by tomorrow evening. Yikes!!!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Last blanket finished!!!
Oh my. That took a looong time to do. I think it felt like it took even longer because I was anxious to finish it. I'm sure you crafty people out there know what I'm talking about. It's a universal thing. "I really want to finish this book because there's another one even better waiting for me!"
Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Knitting!
2. Knitting from a pattern!
3. Seeing my family tomorrow
4. Traveling (I love it!)
5. Finding out if we love or hate Missouri
6. The 3 1/5 hour drive from Tulsa to Branson. Can anyone say knitting?
Things I'm not looking forward to:
1. Losing a whole day for travel
2. Keeping control of an independent almost-2 year old on the plane
3. Leaving the house at 5:30am
4. Holding my breath at the rental car place hoping they have an available car seat for Owen
5. Bryan leaving early
6. Having to make the return trip by myself (with Owen, of course)
I'm listening to Frank Sinatra right now. I would marry his voice if I could. Seriously. If I could do the whole "Little Mermaid" thing and put a shell around Bryan's neck with Frank's singing voice... I'd be a happy woman. We got this cd at Starbucks while on vacation in San Luis Obispo in April. I love doing that because I'll forever remember that trip whenever I hear this cd. *reminisces*
Back to today, I'm mailing out the package for the Pine Ridge Reservation as well as the product return for a customer. Then, just last minute clean up stuff and we're pretty much done! We packed last night so I wouldn't have to worry about laundry too much. Yay!
Okay, now to get cleaning! I want to put in some knitting time this afternoon! *grins muchly*
Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Knitting!
2. Knitting from a pattern!
3. Seeing my family tomorrow
4. Traveling (I love it!)
5. Finding out if we love or hate Missouri
6. The 3 1/5 hour drive from Tulsa to Branson. Can anyone say knitting?
Things I'm not looking forward to:
1. Losing a whole day for travel
2. Keeping control of an independent almost-2 year old on the plane
3. Leaving the house at 5:30am
4. Holding my breath at the rental car place hoping they have an available car seat for Owen
5. Bryan leaving early
6. Having to make the return trip by myself (with Owen, of course)
I'm listening to Frank Sinatra right now. I would marry his voice if I could. Seriously. If I could do the whole "Little Mermaid" thing and put a shell around Bryan's neck with Frank's singing voice... I'd be a happy woman. We got this cd at Starbucks while on vacation in San Luis Obispo in April. I love doing that because I'll forever remember that trip whenever I hear this cd. *reminisces*
Back to today, I'm mailing out the package for the Pine Ridge Reservation as well as the product return for a customer. Then, just last minute clean up stuff and we're pretty much done! We packed last night so I wouldn't have to worry about laundry too much. Yay!
Okay, now to get cleaning! I want to put in some knitting time this afternoon! *grins muchly*
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Have you ever had that moment...
when you realized that the difficult thing you've been trying to do has finally clicked?
It happened.
Knitting has finally clicked.
It didn't take as long as I thought it would, which was surprising. Don't overestimate my abilities either. I'm talking about working on a simple scarf in a 2x2 ribbed pattern. But it was really neat, finally not having to think about every step to the stitch. My hands are beginning to know what to do without needing much in the way of intense supervision.
The only thing that is bugging me now is that I've sworn to finish the last crocheted blanket for the Pine Ridge Reservation before I pick up the knitted scarf again. That means it'll probably be Thursday before I'm knitting again, which is annoying since I just got into the groove... but that's okay.
Once the blanket is done, I'll post pictures of that and my amazing "clicking" scarf. *is proud and stuff*
It happened.
Knitting has finally clicked.
It didn't take as long as I thought it would, which was surprising. Don't overestimate my abilities either. I'm talking about working on a simple scarf in a 2x2 ribbed pattern. But it was really neat, finally not having to think about every step to the stitch. My hands are beginning to know what to do without needing much in the way of intense supervision.
The only thing that is bugging me now is that I've sworn to finish the last crocheted blanket for the Pine Ridge Reservation before I pick up the knitted scarf again. That means it'll probably be Thursday before I'm knitting again, which is annoying since I just got into the groove... but that's okay.
Once the blanket is done, I'll post pictures of that and my amazing "clicking" scarf. *is proud and stuff*
I love libraries!
I especially love that the Carlsbad Libraries keep their catalogues online. That means that last night I found and held 3 books and a video for myself and spent minimal time having to find anything today. Good stuff!
I checked out:
Encyclopedia of Crochet
Stitch 'n Bitch
Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for Beginners
I covet all of them. I want them in my house and next to me as I work on stuff. *drools*
I love each of them for different reasons. The Encyclopedia is so incredibly thorough. I love all the stitches it diagrams and imagined so many wonderful projects coming to life under my hook. Stitch 'n Bitch is hilarious and the explanations for things are great. She totally solved so many of my knitting issues!!! The single biggest one was that I was casting on much too tight and the recommendation was to hold both needles together while casting on, making it impossible to do it too tightly. Tried it! AMAZED!!! What a difference this made in my knitting!!! Oh my gosh. Huge. And the Debbie Bliss book is just simply precious and I want to make every single thing she has in there. I see this as a big advantage for all the baby showers coming up.
So with my current knitting issues solved... a momentous occasion happened tonight. I did not touch my crocheting once. I spent all my yarn time tonight on knitting. I cast on a scarf for Jared in blue & grey... and it has ridges. k2 p2, baby! I can do this!
Bryan is so sweet and seems to be actually trying to learn the differences between crocheting and knitting. He's asking questions and I'm showing him samples. What a good man he is!
Ack. Time for bed! It's another long day tomorrow and we have a lot to do before we leave for Branson on Saturday morning!!!
I checked out:
Encyclopedia of Crochet
Stitch 'n Bitch
Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for Beginners
I covet all of them. I want them in my house and next to me as I work on stuff. *drools*
I love each of them for different reasons. The Encyclopedia is so incredibly thorough. I love all the stitches it diagrams and imagined so many wonderful projects coming to life under my hook. Stitch 'n Bitch is hilarious and the explanations for things are great. She totally solved so many of my knitting issues!!! The single biggest one was that I was casting on much too tight and the recommendation was to hold both needles together while casting on, making it impossible to do it too tightly. Tried it! AMAZED!!! What a difference this made in my knitting!!! Oh my gosh. Huge. And the Debbie Bliss book is just simply precious and I want to make every single thing she has in there. I see this as a big advantage for all the baby showers coming up.
So with my current knitting issues solved... a momentous occasion happened tonight. I did not touch my crocheting once. I spent all my yarn time tonight on knitting. I cast on a scarf for Jared in blue & grey... and it has ridges. k2 p2, baby! I can do this!
Bryan is so sweet and seems to be actually trying to learn the differences between crocheting and knitting. He's asking questions and I'm showing him samples. What a good man he is!
Ack. Time for bed! It's another long day tomorrow and we have a lot to do before we leave for Branson on Saturday morning!!!
Monday, August 01, 2005
Picture as promised! This is my treat yarn. The single skein that I picked up from Noble Knits on Friday. Isn't it delectable?!
My plan for this yarn... save it. Work for it. Earn it. Basically, I've lost 15 pounds and the bargain is that I can make myself something with this when I've lost another 10. I plan on making a slinky, lacy shawl/wrap type thing with it. Should I knit or crochet it? I'm debating.
I can't remember if I mentioned it, but when I went back in yesterday I purchased 2 skeins of yarn (I can't remember what) for my secret sister at church. She doesn't knit or crochet, but I did make a lucious chocolate brown scarf for her with it. It was like a present for both of us! *grins* It made up really quickly since it was chunky, so I knocked that thing out in about an hour and a half. It was $12 for the yarn (total), as it was 50% off. *grins even more!*
2 bummers:
1. I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to her today.
2. I didn't have a chance to see her open it.
I'm working on my last item for the Pine Ridge Reservation project and will hopefully finish the blanket in the next day or two. I'd love to mail that out on Wednesday and get it out of my house and into someone's arms who could actually use it. I went through some of Owen's stuff and included 5 pairs of shoes that he's grown out of, as well as some warm sweaters and shirts. Yay!
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