Month: September 2007

Knitting · links

Must. Knit. Faster.

Jen1 Comment


The newsletter is done and I survived my foray into MS Publisher. We now return to our regularly scheduled knitting blog.

The secret project I’ve been working on is coming along nicely–I would say I’m about 3/4 of the way through it. I’ve started trying to knit faster because I fear I may run out of yarn. We’ll see if this helps.

I’m still working on my charade sock. I’ve turned the heel and have started the gusset decreases. Really, it takes a long time to knit a sock when you only work on it while you’re out and about. But that’s okay. I really need to focus on my secret (read:holiday) knitting. I only have another month to get it all finished because November is booked. Can you guess what I’ll be doing?

Halloween is just around the corner. Why not make up some witch jars for your kitchen?

My favorite is the jar of shrunken Garden Gnome Heads. (Thanks Crafty Crafty!)

random

Website Wednesday

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Wow. I mean, wow.

(Thanks to Boing Boing for the link!)

Uncategorized

Newsday Tuesday 3

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Stories that caught my attention for 5 minutes this week:

Taser dude.

MIT chick.

Insane world leader.

Back to the newsletter!

off topic

Chained

Jen5 Comments


There is a “no screens after 8 am” rule in my house, mostly to keep the children from watching too much TV, but it also helps keep me from looking at the computer all day.

Today (and much of this week) is different. I volunteered to do the church newsletter for our church secretary who is going on vacation this week (lucky woman!). Before I had children, I did a lot of work with Quark Xpress, but St. James’ uses Microsoft Publisher, so “doing the newsletter” means I also have to “learn a new layout program”.

First impressions: I prefer Quark. And not just because I am more familiar with Quark. Quark is a much friendlier application for working with multiple pages of text boxes.

Also, this is cutting into my knitting time so I am feeling a little grumpy. Hear that? It’s my teeth grinding. *grr*

stash

Recently Acquired…

Jen3 Comments


…at Knitting Nation in Nyack–Tillitomas Rock Star in the Hydrangea colorway. Isn’t it beautiful?

Uncategorized

Shiver Me Timbers!

Jen

Ahoy, me hearties! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, arr! How d’ye plan to celebrate?

How about a quiz? What kind of pirate be ye? Here be me results:

You are The Cap’n!

Some men and women are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any scalawag who stands between them and unlimited power. You never met a man – or woman – you couldn’t eviscerate. You are the definitive woMan of Action, the CEO of the Seven Seas, Lee Iacocca in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. You’re mission-oriented, and if anyone gets in the way, that’s his problem, now ini’t? Your buckle was swashed long ago and you have never been so sure of anything as your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off his head if he shows any sign of taking you on or backing down. If one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones’ locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed – a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.

What’s Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

And don’t ye be forgettin’ it! Aarr!

After ye take the quiz, me hearties, ye can go git yerself a fine pirate nickname and yer pirate swag at Think Geek. When ye be properly outfitted, ye can check out the swashbuckling links over at David Byrne’s pirate zen page. Arr!

Then ye can read about the real-world dialect that inspired the pirate accent we know (and love) today.

And, if ye still be interested in knittin’, the Yaaarrrn Haarrrlot had a great link round-up last year. (I hope they still work!)

Happy TLAP Day everyone! Aaarrr!

Uncategorized

Newsday Tuesday 2

Jen

OMG, what in the hell is going on with OJ?

also,
EPA cleans up Anthrax contamination.

Retirees give up knitting for wii.

Yarn Harlot to appear in Wichita (yes, this is news, apparently!). I especially loved how the bookstore owner was surprised that people from miles away were registering the event. “It was then that I realized that this had mass appeal.”

Happy Tuesday, everyone! See you here tomorrow for International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

off topic

I Am Sad

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Robert Jordan died yesterday afternoon after long struggle with amyloidosis. His series, The Wheel of Time, consumed many, many hours of my reading time and I am grateful he shared this story with the world.

Go in the Light, RJ.

Knitting · Summer of Socks

Sock Progress

Jen4 Comments

OK, I know I said I would take a break from sock knitting, but I am seriously weak. I mean, it’s SOCKS. How can you take a break from knitting socks? Especially when there is Yarn Pirate Booty Club yarn in your stash!
I cast this sock on, specifically to be my traveling sock. Let me tell you, the going is slow when you are only knitting a project while you’re out somewhere. It’s good, though. The pattern is simple and the yarn is beautiful. It’s almost like seeing an old friend when I take it out (even thought I’ve only been working on it for a week or so).

Speaking of sock knitting, check out these kick-ass shoes I got for fall.

I think they will show of my hand knits perfectly. Granted, I only have one pair of hand knit socks, but I’m working on more. I’m not normally a shoe person, but seriously? Could you resist?

Knitting

Secret Progress and Website Wednesday

Jen3 Comments


Here’s the progress I’ve made on the secret project I started the other day. Any more guesses?

Finally, in honor of Website Wednesday, here’s a link from Nea. This guy builds Escher replications from Legos. Awesome.

PS–> another link: Holly is having a destashing contest. Leave her a comment (don’t forget to mention me) about a pattern you’ve knit multiple times and you could win a skein of Manos Cotton Stria and a lovely dpn case. Contest closes midnight, PDT, September 14.