Happy Friday

Last night David and I went to dinner - We walked out to the car but I/o our little black Vibe this was parked outside! He got a really good deal from the dealership for trading up on his old lease. I really like it because there is a lot more room upfront so knitting while he drives will be much more comfortable. I will try that out this weekend.

Finished the first of the whodovoodoo mitts last night - I did the ribbing on a size 4 and the body on a size 5 and it fits really well - I will start the other one tonight. I want to finish Marilyn's poncho this weekend also - so that is probably what I will take with me on the road trip tmrw.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thursday Thursday Thursday

It's only claim to fame is that it is the day before Friday.

Started the 3rd skein of misty for Marilyn' poncho - should have it finished by next week when we will get together for her Birthday. Almost finished the first of the whodovoodoo mittenettes last night just deciding how far up my fingers I want them to go. I am definitely buying more of that yarn. I think I will be sending it out in a few RAOK's too. It is just lovely stuff!

Once I finish Mar's poncho and the mitts - I am going to cast on the Rowan capelet - it looks like such a pretty design and I love lace.

Happy Anniversary to me!

It was 11 years ago today that I first met David - It was a blind date set up by an old friend of mine from HS. It was also a Wednesday evening and we drove to Little Italy for Dinner, after parking the car and walking to the restaurant (Luna) we ran into on of his friends on patrol - got my first and only ride in a police car that night. We decided to go for a walk after dinner and went over to the WTC - His friend was a Port Authority cop and took us up to the observation deck - this was about 10:30 at night - it was clear and the moon was enormous - I could here van morrison singing "moondance" in my head. It was a perfect night, we were the only 2 people up there (his friend having made a well timed exit) and I KNEW I had found the one. I always wanted to go back to the WTC deck for out future big anniversary's (like last year's 10th) but sadly that is not to be. At least I have the memory.

Back to knitting: Started another pair on mittenettes/wrist warmers out of the Alpaca I bought at Smiley's. They are a combination of this and this - I like the mittenettes but wanted something a little longer. This yarn is so yummy - I love working with it.

NOTE: for some reason the ctrl shift a function is not allowing me to link back to the mittenettes and the voodoo wristwarmers. Anybody know whats up with this?

Help

If anyone can tell me why half of my side bar is now printing under my posts and how I can fix the @#*% this I would be eternally grateful - this is driving me crazy! And, as I am totally menstral and hormonal at the moment - I am thinking of killing my comp and claiming the PMS defense.

Which Queen are you?

Quiz
created by Polly Snodgrass.

WATER OF FIRE. You are energetic and dramatic. You don't hesitate to take the initiative and aren't normally comfortable being cooped up in the house. You need to be involved in some kind of cause or activity. Your charismatic personality gets you plenty of attention. You'd make a good artist and are very creative. You have a strong will; beware of jealousy or instability. You fiery wench you.

Not fiber related, but I couldn't resist!

Pictures, we have pictures!

Finally got my pics back so here are a few to show you:
Marilyn's poncho

Live Lobster poncho the first few rows I had done

Urban Autumn - the tree across the street from my apt.
the free gift I got from Rowan
the beaded crochet shawl Marilyn bought for me in Venice.

That should make up for all the pictureless posts of late.

Had a lovely anniversary - found the perfect fall bag and it was on sale so I also got a pink leather purse and copper earrings - very nice! David liked his trains too.

And now for something completely different

David and I are going shopping when he gets home from work for our anniversary presents - Wednesday is our 11th anniversary - it still boggles the mind that a commitment phobe like me has been in a relationship for 11 years. Every year we take each other shopping to pick out our gift. As usual I am taking him to the hobby store for train stuff, but this year (GASP) I am not going to the yarn store for mine. I am going to Target - I need a new bag and I saw one there that I really like and that is what I am getting.

I also need to get some other things in Target that are not gift worthy, but I need them anyway, like tights and Mr Clean.

Nothing new on the knitting front - Went out to a job related party last night at Strike, it was fun, but I definitely drank too much ( I LOVE ice cold beer ) so WW today was a stayed the same. Didn't have anytime to do any knitting yesterday, I want to work on Marilyn's poncho some more today.

A bargain found

Went to Smiley's today to get the rest of the yarn for Marilyn poncho and found the most wonderful yarn - Filatura Lanarota Puno 100% ALPACA it is soooooo soft and silky - 90m for $3.99 wow. I bought 2 skeins in a heathery brown to make gloves of some sort. Can't wait to cast this on to my needles. It comes in lovely colors too.

I went to Samurai too, found size 12 bamboo needles, bought a few pair, so they will probably turn up in some future RAOK's. I started a scarf to match the mittlets I made and they feel very nice and smooth.

No sleep for me

It is 3:50 am and I am so not sleeping tonight, so here I am posting and surfing the net. I have been trying to find some absolutely gorgeous silk/wool yarn I read about in someone's blog this week. They were talking about making Clapotis from knitty and gave a link to a yarn shop that had the most beautiful yarn. I thought I book marked it, but I can't find the link. I left a comment about getting some for my birthday - If anyone knows what I am talking about - please drop me a note. I think it was something like $47 for 500 yds and $95 for 1000. I would really love to find it again.

On another note - of the 2 RAOK's I sent last week - it seems only one has arrived. The other one I sent to someone in California. I mailed it out last Wed. I would think it should have gotten there by now. It was a large envelope and went first class mail. I hope it isn't lost - I have no way of tracking it.

I mailed out 3 more pkgs today - one was for a upcoming birthday and 2 were just for fun. I am enjoying trying to pick out things for people I don't really know.

I finished the second mitten tonight - they are really cute - I plan to make another pair out of some other yarn I have in my stash, but I am going to try a smaller needle - I tend to knit loosely and this pair is a little big.

I am going to try to get some sleep now - thank the Goddess I don't have to go to work tmrw.

I needed a distraction last night...

....so I began these. I started them during CSI and finished the first one during the 11:00 news. Fun, easy pattern. I did get a few more inches done on Marilyn's poncho, but I really wanted to knit last night - hence the gloves. I'm making them in a varigated acrylic/wool blend all purples and greens.

I really want to start the Rowan caplet, but I have way too many things in progress right now to start anything larger than those gloves.

Mailing out a few more RAOK's today - just need to get some boxes at the post office later.

I love USPS

When I finally got home last night (after a fun Knitting meet-up), what do I see sticking out of pile o'mail on my kitchen table? A large squishy package from some where in New Hampshire or some such place - exited I tear it open -- and -- yes! -- it is my membership pkg from Rowan International Yippeee!! In it was the Autumn/Winter Newsletter, Rowan 36, sale notices and my free welcoming gift in case you don't remember - 5 balls of Cork in snuggle and the caplet pattern - which is much much prettier when you can see the details. I had an old, almost used up disposable camera - so I snapped a few pics and took it to Duane Reade today, so I should have lots of pics to post Monday. I love Rowan patterns and am so happy this came.

In the same pile of mail was the new Vogue Knitting. I really like all the metallic yarns they used, but don't know what they would be like to knit with. I love the first corset pattern and the bronze swing jacket. It is made in Needful yarns Sinflex, I tried to google for it but didn't come up with anything. The issue is also FULL of ponchos - so if you haven't had your fill yet, here are a whole bunch more! There is also a blue bulky coat I want badly made in Rowan's big wool. There is even a bunch of felted projects. I am pleased with this issue.

Got about 2' done on Mar's poncho last night - I need to pick up 2 more skeins this weekend and I should have it done in time for her birthday!

Now if I can just find someone to clean my house for me - life would be perfect.

Knit meet up tonight...

...but I am bringing my crochet. I started the birthday poncho for Marilyn last night - after much swatching and yarn debates and pattern searches, I decided to crochet a ponch out of Red Heart Misty (no cringing now) I think it is discontinued, but Smiley's had lots and it was not expensive, is very, very soft and totally easy care - Mar is not a had wash kind of gal. I picked a stitch out of the Crochet Bible - I recommend this book highly - and started last night. I am making your basic 2 rectangle poncho. It feels really soft and snuggly - I think she is really going to like it.

I mailed out my 2 sets of afghan squares, I did one knit and one crochet each. These are such fun little projects. I also picked out who will get the next RAOKs - I should be able to get these out Friday. I will be doing a Hollowe'en theme for the pkgs.

Now before my lunch is over I am going to work some more on the poncho.

2 for 2sday II

See even 2 posts today! I forgot to mention before that I also received 2 books in the mail - The Crochet Stitch Bible and Hip to Crochet. I admit I bought the last one because I saw the author at Knit Out NY wearing the mohair capelet and I have to have it so - I bought it. I am quite pleased with both of them.

It has been so cold here I decided I want to make these - they will be perfect and I love the name.

2 for 2sday

I am getting ready to send out 2 more RAOK's this week - this is so much fun, I really love sending out these little bits of cheer. Susan received my first one - it was great to her how much she liked it!

Today I also have 2 sets of afghan squares that have to be mailed. I still have 2 more loads of laundry waiting to be done - I live in a perpetual state of CHAOS - Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome (thanks Alyx ), I have to sew on merit badges for the 2 boys - do I see a trend here......

I worked on the afghan squares last night - of course I deleted the folder with the addresses of the recipients, so I have to email and ask for them again - I have done this before.

Oh and here is another quiz:


You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep you close because you are so softhearted.
You love to be comfortable and warm from your
head to your toes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by

I don't like Mondays

And while I have never shot anyone because of it - I really don't like Mondays. Weekends on the other hand I rather enjoy. This weekend especially. Despite being totally broke (see Friday's post) I had a great weekend.

Saturday, I met my girlfriend Sharon for lunch to celebrate her passing the state boards. Then we did what we do best - shopping! Or at least she shopped, I enabled. Afterwards it was back to her condo where we proceeded to talk till 1:30 in the morning. Now Sharon lives in the nether reaches of Suffolk county and it is over an hour drive from her place to mine, but thanks to the lack of traffic on the LIE I made it home in just about an hour.

On Sunday, I did laundry and waited for David to come home from camping, poor man - he really is too old to be sleeping on the floor of a tent. I may have to buy him an air mattress for Christmas. Once he was home safe and sound, I drove over to Marilyn's to see her vacation pix - she and her hubby went to Rome, Florence and Venice. It was almost the same trip David and I took, except we couldn't go to Venice because of flooding, so we just stayed in Rome and Florence for an extra couple of Days each. It was fun looking at her pictures - some where almost identical to pictures we had taken. She brought me back a lovely ruana from Florence and beautiful beaded crochet shawl in Venice. She was laughing, after she bought the shawl, she realized it had a tag that said made in China. I told her it was bought it Venice - that' s all that matters.

Obviously I did no knitting this weekend - but it was lovely just spending time with my girlfriends. What with life always getting in the way - it was nice to have some me time with my friends!

I have dropped off a roll of film and as soon as I get it back I will have pictures.

100 Things

I finished my list of 100 things about me. Man was that hard! It took me days to come up with the info, not that I am boring or anything ( no, really) - I just have never tried to quantify myself before.

This should be a good knitting weekend - I am broke, so I can't really do anything. David and the boys are camping - they leave tonight - once I get back, I will have the whole weekend free to knit.

I also need to clear out my summer clothes and get out the winter stuff. I always love doing that.

Down and out in Forest Hills

Aaarrrggghhh! Due to an error on my part and an oversite by my supervisor - I am not getting paid this week. Nothing, nada, zilch. I will get paid double next week, but that does nothing to help me this week.

On a happier note, I mailed out my first 2 RAOK's on Wednesday, hopefully they will arrive with no problems. I put small pieces of Godiva chocolate in each package. Nothing like chocolate to make you feel better!

I heard from my best bud from school - she passed the licensing exam and is now an LMT. We are supposed to out this weekend to celebrate. I will have to see. I can't wait to take the boards, but my exam is not until January and by the time I get the results it will be March! That seems a very long time away.

Got another couple of inches done on the lobster poncho. I am liking it a lot.

Mid week slump

I have really not gotten anything done this week, no knitting, no pictures, no getting my stash organized - nothing. So I finally forced myself to get moving on something and today I mailed out my first RAOK - this way at least I am doing something for someone else. I can't wait till the person receives it. I am not naming names so as not to spoil any surprises. I have a bunch of stuff to send out to other people - I am just trying to make sure what I send it something that will be wanted.

Now I just need to get knitting again!

Calling all cooks

On the FiberRAOK list, one of the members Elizabeth is putting together a knitting bloggers cookbook. She is looking for recipes from other bloggers, check out her website and send in a recipe! I sent in mine for escarole with white beans and sausage. Take a look and send a recipe.

We have been going through an audit at work so I have been very busy and not knitting much these last few days, I also have 2 RAOK's to be mailed out, but couldn't get out to the post office today - I will get them out tmrw.

Tonight I want to get more work done on my lobster poncho - I really love Cottage Craft yarn - I can't wait for my color card to come.

Divine musings on a Monday

Last week someone on the ROAK list mentioned looking for a Knitting Goddess, and since Goddess issues are close to my heart, I decided to do a little research. One of the Goddesses I found is the Egyptian Goddess Neith which I found really interesting because of her connection to Hathor - A Goddess I am particularly drawn to. If anyone has their own Knitting Goddess, drop me a note - I'd be interested in learning more about Her.

On the knitting front - I got to RedLipstick way to early yesterday, so I took my knitting and went over to Blue Sky Bakery for coffee. I didn't do any knitting there but I enjoyed my cuppa. It was such a beautiful day so I sat outside and knit till 2:00 when the book signing was starting. If you are in Brooklyn, you should stop at this shop. Stacyjoy had some really lovely things here. I was working on my lobster poncho - I am really loving the cable pattern. I find I enjoy complicated patterns more that just simple knitting.

I brought my FFF Isis scarf to work with me today. I won 2 ball of this on eBay and it is making a very pretty drop stitch scarf.

Well my lunch is over so it is back to work for me.

Sunday in the Park (Slope) with Amy

Went down to Red Lipstick for the Knit Wit book signing with Amy Singer. Some if the patterns are from knitty.com, like Kyoto, others are new. It is spiral bound and you can stand it up while you work from it. I love the denim skirt pattern - I would definitely wear that. Staceyjoy served this really delicious Mexican hot chocolate made with dried chili pepper, cinnamon and Mexican chocolate - yummy! Amy was wearing a beautiful silk Charlotte shawl - the one from her blog - it is really gorgeous in person.

All in all, a very good day.

TGIF

I got ROAK's this morning! Annie sent me 2 free audio books - I think this great - I can listen while I knit and combine 2 hobbies in one. Thanks Annie.

I'm at lunch now, so I am blogging and working on a crochet hat & booties for Mary's (David's ex and mother to my stepsons) new baby boy. I want to have the blanket, hat & booties down by the time we take the kids home Sat night.

I think I might head down to Red Lipstick on Sunday for Amy Singer's book signing. I wonder if I can buy the book there - or should I stop at B&N tmrw and pick it up first.

Back to work.............

Hi, My name is Colette and I am a fiberholic

There is so much yarn all over my apartment - I am seriously considering renting storage space. The only thing holding me back is that once I had all that room - I would go out and buy more yarn.

I finally found a pattern for the Oxford yarn I got at elann -

My yarn is a rust tweed sport wt that I think will be perfect for this sweater. I found the pattern at One Fine Yarn - I really like shopping there - they are always helpful and respond to your emails very quickly. I was asking about Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Book Number Two because I have gotten the urge to do Klaralund and wanted the pattern. They don't have it in stock right now, but I found the sweater so - I am happy.

Decided to crochet the baby blanket for David's ex - I crochet much faster than I knit and I need it done this weekend.

Work is progressing on the Lopi poncho - hope to have pix soon.

A quick question - what is the best way to respond to people who leave comments? I can't email them back when I get the email comment- do most people comment back or mention their respone in their blog? I want to thank everyone who left me comments - I get so excited when someone leaves one - You like me you really like me.

I love Autumn

What a perfect day for wearing knits. It was only 50F when I left the house this morning. I put on an old Icelandic sweater and my diamond lace shawl and shivered at the bus stop this morning. I need to finish taking out my winter clothes and putting away the summer stuff. I really love this weather - I just don't want it to get much colder - I love sweater weather, not coat/hat/scarf/shawl/gloves & mittens/frost bite weather like we had last winter.

I completed the first cable repeat on the lopi poncho last night. I really love the Cottage Craft yarn - I requested a color card on their yarn as they do not show them on the website. The Live Lobster really is the color of a live lobster - it is sort of green and brown with flecks of red and olive. This yarn blooms beautifully and gets really soft - though it is a little stiff while you are knitting it. This poncho will be so much warmer that the lacy one.

Poncho pictures

Well here they are my crocheted Posh Poncho: and the Lacy Poncho:

These are pretty lousy pictures, but you can get an idea. (also please ignore the mess in the boys room - it was the only place I could stand that David was far enugh away to snap a pic).

I started another one tonight from Lopi made from stash cottage craft yarn in live lobster - great color - strange name.

Lack of pix

Sorry I didn't post pix last night - my camera batteries were dead. David plugged the charger in last night - so I will take lots of pictures tonight and post them. We have a video camera that takes digital stills - not the best pictures but till I get a real digital camera, it will have to do.

My mailman left this pattern for me yesterday: C'est la vie - I have the variegated yarn I bought in Idaho for the edging - I just need to find a coordinating yarn for the main color.

I am really thinking I would like to do more beading. I just ordered Lily Chin's new book and looking around the internet - I want to make these - and I found them on the MMoA website.

That's all I need - another hobby!

Happy Monday

Yes - it is - that is not an oxymoron.

I was added to the FiberROAK list this weekend and already got ROAK'd: an ecard from Steph wishing me a Happy Monday (see!) and a gift cert for Adagio Teas from Lisa Y. So you see - not crazy (well yeah ok - not wrong) about the Happy Monday.

Wore the lacy poncho to Knit Out NY yesterday - very very happy with this - will get David to take digital pix tonight to post. The knitout was fun - saw lots of beautiful knit and crochet sweaters, ponchos, scarves on everyone there. Also saw some beautiful yarns at the retail tables. There is a new yarn store opening up in Brooklyn I will have to check out called Yarnivore that is only about 5 miles from my house and they have open knitting on Friday nights. They had this really beautiful hemp/wool yarn by dzined that I have never seen in person, now that I have I want some - oh yes I do. Well lunch is over so back to work (no not happy).

Lacy Poncho Done!

11:30 last night - washed and blocked. Yeah! I have to finish lining the drawers in my mother's kitchen and putting away the rest of the stuff there, then I can come home sew it together and finish the neck then it is off to Knit Out NY.