The Happiest Place on Earth!

Hi Everyone,

I’m off to Disneyland for the weekend with Mr. Nemesis and his sister! One of the side benefits to living in California for 5 months is the opportunity to hit all the tourist attractions. I haven’t been to Disney since I was 11 or so which is further back there than I care to remember at the moment.

Hope all of you have an awesome weekend! I’ll be back with some pictures of my haul at Michael Levine’s (fabric Mecca in the LA garment district) next week.

 

Nice weather makes me cranky!

Hi everyone,

I’m still in San Diego…..Its been a while since I have posted. I have had a bit of a roller-coaster of family things to do, so I have really been laying off my knitting for a bit. I’m still cranking along on my cedar creek socks and the scarf that I’m working on. It’s so hard to get in that groove when its 90 something in October. I’m definitely not used to this type of weather.

I have finally been to a couple knitting shops in the area. The Black Sheep in Encinitas was lovely with a wide variety of novelty yarns and a whole section devoted to cloth doll making, and using the yarns for wearable arts. The other shop was Knitting in La Jolla, which was another neat little shop. I saw my first Malabrigo in its natural habitat It was lovely, but I managed to get out without spending more than 10 bucks…..so I was happy. I may head back before I leave.

In other news I was privelaged to attend the baptism of my niece. It was a meaningful service, and I’m happy for her that she is progressing and growing up to be such a sweet girl. I had a great time with my sisters and brother in laws…..who are all great fun to be with.

I finally spent some time swimming our apartment. I can’t believe I haven’t spent more time doing it. Despite it being 98 degrees today, the pool was frigid…..They definitely don’t heat them down here.

To wind things up here is a shot I took recently. I have some more to download from my camera, and need to take a few more shots.

To wind things up, I was honored that my friend KissmyKnits nominated me for a blogger award…..Makes me feel so guilty for not blogging more lately! I do have new stuff coming….I promise

So the rules of this award are:

1. Please put the award on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. You must nominate at least 4 fellow bloggers for this award.
4. Add links to the recipients.
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

So my favorites (this is hard to come up with, because I read so many, and so many have already been nominated)

Spindles and Spices Who has a real flair for dressing her pets that I can relate to!

Octopus Knits Who has lovely creative projects and appreciates a cephalopod as much as I do.

Dandelion Mama A mommy blogger who writes so incredibly well that I love to read all her posts. Also a creative soul who shares her lovely paintings occaisonally.

Scribbet Another mommy blogger who shares a little of her life in the last frontier. She has a lot of contests and give-aways and such. Also has a lot of fun recipes

The Pioneer Woman Who has an absolutely enormous blog with several sub-sections. She usually has a contest a week or so, and has an awesome recipe section. I can vouch for her recipes…..tested and approved. She can have upwards of 14000 comments on her contest posts.

So enjoy

 

Just in case you don’t have enough fabric!

Sewing Room Faire

Kitsap County Clothing and Textile Advisors
8th annual Sewing Room Faire
Friday, September 12th, from 12-6 p.m.
Kitsap County Fairgrounds Event Center, 1200 Fairgrounds Road,
between Bremerton and Silverdale.

Featuring free demonstrations, educational displays, pattern selection and fitting help, fantastic bargains on fabrics, patterns, notions, craft supplies, yarn, and all kinds of sewing-related items. Fabric will be sold by the piece, pound, or “how much can you stuff in a bag?”

The Sewing Room Faire is a fund-raiser for the Kitsap CTA organization which provides educational workshops and programs for youth, adults, and low income families, youth scholarships for sewing-related activities, and cash awards for prize-winning entries for youth and adult exhibits at Kitsap County Fair.

The Kitsap County CTA’s are a great organization who promote sewing to the community-at-large. Please help out by coming by! The fabric and craft supplies are a great deal, and you can feel proud of yourself by helping to recycle stuff that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Sewing supplies as well as craft supplies are all sold. I understand that this year, a very large batch of yarn was donated, most of it cotton yarn.

If you are looking for affordable supplies for charity projects, this is your place! Plus the Sewing Room Faire is a great way to stretch your crafting budget during this lousy economy! Last year I scored several yards of a great knit that I have been working off of all year for less than 5 bucks.

Come on by and check it out!

 

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  I wanted to take a moment to remember and be thankful for all the lovely women and men in my life who have taught and supported me in my hobbies! 

My mom and dad who tirelessly supported me growing up, and taught me that it is Not a shameful thing to craft, either in fabric, words, or pictures, or the kitchen. 

 To my husband who loves and supports me and motivates me to finish projects. 

To my sister who has provided a lot of motivation and incentive over the years to hone my skills, and to Tana who encouraged me to start blogging so I could share my work.

 To all the other people who have supported, encouraged, educated, and dreamed with me. 

THANK YOU! 

To my readers; what are you thankful for?

 

Score!

Yesterday, while I was on a hunt for pattern at JoAnn’s using their $4.00 Vogue Pattern sale, I took a look through the book rack.  I don’t normally really find much at my local JoAnns, since their selection is pretty slim (there is a fairly decent JoAnns Etc. a little further afield that is a little more stocked). 

But low and behold on the bottom of the bookshelf, in the back corner, hidden behind six other books,  I scored a copy of Victorian Lace Today for $14.00, after using the Colombus Day Sale coupon for 50% off.

I find this is a great way to add to both my sewing and knitting reference library.  JoAnn’s routinely sends out 40% off coupons in their fliers.  I don’t always have anything that I really want to get, so a lot of times the coupons go by unused.  I have been able to pick up several good reference books, usually stitch dictionaries, or how-to guides….but occaisonally a gem like this pops up and I snap it up.

 For those of you on a budget, keep an eye out at your local big box fabric and craft stores and use those coupons to stock your library!

 

An open question to readers!

What is your favorite knitting magazine and why?

 I am currently subscribed to Interweave Knits, which I love.  I am on the lookout for other great magazines.  What I’m primarily interested in is something that also includes plus size patterns, up to 22-24 women’s at least, and with more contemporary styles.

 So what say you knitters?  Name your sources and inspirations!

 

Double Post Tuesday!

I thought I would post a picture or two of my other hobby.  My Cats!  Since I am still trying to learn how to use Adobe to resize my pictures here is a link to Snickers and the Eyes O’ Death (just click on the partial picture to see the full size image).  She is obviously not amused.

 Can  you tell I finally found the cable to download the pictures off my camera?

 

At long last the Lizard Ridge

After a long blog posting hiatus here are some more pictures of knitting progress.  Can you spot the new squares?  I have one more square on the needles.  But I may lay aside the Lizard for a while to work on my next pair of socks. 

 I am on to my second pair of socks.  I am working on a pair of Monkey Socks from Knitty. After looking at several other knitting Blogs like January One and Fiberjinx for my knitterly inspiration, I just couldn’t let this pattern go unknit. I am through the cuff and the first three of six repeats on the lace pattern. I am working in Socks That Rock; “Rolling Stone” .  The lace pattern is fairly easy to learn, even if I did have to practice yarn overs a lot .  Pictures will be forthcoming!

Happy Summer Knitting Everyone!

 

8 Things

Apparently I have been tagged!  So, 8 things about me:

1.  I have been sewing since I was 5 years old, since way before Project Runway made it popular to sew again.

2.  Much to my dismay, I have gone to the dark side and started watching reality television.  Guilty pleasure of the moment is Shear Genius on Bravo, and counting down the days until So You Think You  Can Dance, and Project Runway :)  I still have never, and will never watch Survivor.

3.  After a lot of angst over it I have decided that I have nothing to feel guilty about for enjoying my lifestyle as a childfree (for the moment) stay at home wife.  I fill my life with plenty of activities outside the home, including volunteer, and guild organizations, so I feel like I am a relatively well rounded person.

4.  My number one guilty pleasure in life is reading cheesy romance novels.  I have a huge collection of my favorite authors.  Lori Foster, Catherine Coulter, Julia Quinn, Erin McCarthey, Stephanie Laurens, Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Howard, Merline Lovelace, and Lindsay McKenna, all grace my bookshelves.  When I’m not reading romance I love Clive Cussler, Jack DuBrul, Philllapa Gregory, and Gillian Bradshaw.

5.  One of my favorite movies of all time is Airplane……Surely you can’t be serious.  I hate movies that make me cry, so most of my movie collection is comedy or Disney (the happy ones, not the sad ones!) 

6.  I have a younger sister, who I am incredibly proud of.  She is doing graduate work at the Colorado School of Mines.  She is one of the most talented people I know, an incredible glass artist and seamstress, but also incredibly driven and motivated in her field of hydrogeolgy.  Hi Gretchen!

7.  I played the French Horn all throughout Junior High, and Highschool.  I loved being in band, despite not being the most talented person there.  I loved marching and pep bands, but could really take or leave the rest of it.  Even though I haven’t played at all since graduating from high school 10 years ago (eeeeek)  I still have a wonderful appreciation for all types of music.

8.  I am a certified SCUBA Diver.  I am not terribly good at it, and gaining weight has only made it harder.  But it is the most absolutely incredible zen-like experience, when it all goes right.  The Puget Sound is one of the most awesome places the life here is incredible.  My favorite sightings have been the absolutely enormous anenomes around here.  The ones you see in an aquarium are nothing like what you see out in the open water.  The open water variety are more along the lines of a small bush…..and they grow in forests.  There is nothing like peacefully floating above a field of orange and white anenomes watching them wave gently in the current.

 I will try to think of who I want to tag.  I don’t think I have 8 people.  I read a lot of blogs, but comment on only a couple…..so these people would have no clue.

 

Ummmm I think I already know the answer to this…….

“It’s been alleged that if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, figure out whether you’ve got a life or not, and post it.”

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
(X) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
(X) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
(X) The Princess Bride
(X) AnchorMan
() Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(X ) The Princess Diaries
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
(X) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
(X) American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
() Lilo & Stitch
(X) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
() Signs
(X) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
() 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
(X) Robots
(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(X) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() King Kong
() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving Christmas
() Flubber
() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
(X) The Whole Ten Yards
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number SlevIn
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X) Ocean’s Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
(X) Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
(X) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(X) E.T.
() Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(X) She’s All That
( ) Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(X) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
(X) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3
(X) X-Men
() X-2
() X3
() Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
(X ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
() Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
() Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
(X) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
(X) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
( ) Three
() The Jacket
(X) Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
() Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld
(X) Kill Bill Vol. 1
(X) Kill Bill Vol. 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix: Reloaded
() The Matrix: Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal

I’m shocked!  I missed it by one….I thought for sure I had no life

 More knitting and sewing progress coming soon.  Got to download the pictures.