Knit-o-rama

Wedding Books!

2011-09-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Finally finished the wedding photo book from Mixbook!

They arrived today and they look great, so I'm pleased. The big one that I plan to keep at our house was delivered to the shipping/receiving area @ work instead of my building (darn UPS), so still haven't seen that one, but the little ones I got just fine. Soft-cover about 8-9" squar(ish), and beautiful.

I'm very happy with how they turned out, even though I didn't get them done in time for our anniversary :)

"L" Sweater & baby hats

2011-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Learning = Affective Context

2011-01-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Awesome video explaining "Affective Context" which explains why we might want to move toward a "pull" learning model instead of a "push" model - because it works better!

Lacy Cocoon Kit - Grey from KnitPicks.com

2011-01-13T14:11:00.000-08:00

Lacy Cocoon Kit - Grey from KnitPicks.com

What do you think? good for a "rotund" girl, or not so much?

New resident of our tiny peach tree

2010-07-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Those notebooks I mentioned? STILL AWESOME!

2010-07-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

I love my Circa Notebook!!! I think if I had known about this thing longer, I could have been a much more organized person.

Drawback: I have too many projects to fit all in one book! hahahaha :) I've already added a set of 10 tabs, and then added sub-tabs that are stick-on ones from Avery because I just needed more than 10 divisions - sheesh! do you think maybe there's a lot going on at work? I certainly do...

I have already printed, punched and added documents of my own: a tab index, training program calendar, to-do lists, and a cheat sheet for "SMART" goals. So far, I obviously really like this whole Circa/Rollabind design :)

Summer Fair Isle

2010-07-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

It's done! And I think it turned out quite well - not perfect, but for a first attempt, I'll certainly take it! :)
Fair Isle Jacket by Debbie Bliss, from Essential Knits for Kids.

She likes it, and is willing to wear it, so that's a good thing ;)

There's a funky messed up part right in the center next to a button, but oh well!

I think next time I make it, if I do, I would make the cuffs of the sleeves a little wider - cast on more stitches & reduce the steepness of the increases - because they're a bit tight.

Ultimately, I'm pleased & would do it again! I just have to figure out how to carry the color to another row without messing up my stitches... or maybe I should just cut the yarn on every row, or do an extra stitch or two at the ends of the rows... Advice anyone?

Awesome Notebooks

2010-06-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

So, at work recently, we have discovered these really cool notebooks that you can sort of re-arrange & refill, adjust the size, add tabbed dividers, etc., etc., etc. - but the kicker is they flip open to LAY FLAT while you're writing on top of all that - and you can even flip the cover around to the back like a regular spiral notebook! And they're not heavy like a binder.

Levenger: Circa Notebooks

I am so stinking excited about this!!! I know, I'm a complete dork, please forgive me - but actually, if you read this blog, you already knew that. ;) They are a bit expensive, for sure, BUT, if you use it for work, and can expense it, awesome. Plus, you can get a hole-punch for them, and make your own refills or pages of any type anytime you want.

AWESOME!

Waiting for a co-worker to get back from vacation, and then we're all going to order them! :)

Cool free project instructions from Interweave!

2010-05-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Got an email from Interweave Press (I'm a member of the Knitting Daily distribution list), and though I would share! They are offering 16 free project instruction packages (multiple projects in each) from all their many crafty/artistic facets...

I downloaded a couple of the beading ones, a mixed media art one, a quilting one that had ideas to make things out of ties.

The quilting out of ties is something special for my family because my uncle died a few years ago, and left lots of fabulous ties that we all felt were very indicative of his personality. He was a defense lawyer, and would always dress "to-the-nines" for court, and his ties were really pretty cool. My cousin always wanted to make something special out of them, but I don't know if she's actually done anything yet. I sent her the pdf, so we'll see! :)

And the gift books arrived today!

2010-05-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! :)

These are gifts for Grammommy, Nona & G.G. - I will be giving them out this weekend! Perfect purse size, 6" x 4", and even though a few of my bazillion photos are a little small, and they'll definitely need their reading glasses if they want to read the journaling, that's still OK with me, 'cause they should always have them anyway! hahaha :)

It's HERE!!!

2010-05-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

I am sooooooo happy! :)

it's beautiful! I LOVE SCRAPBLOG!!!!

Scrapblog is awesome

2010-05-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if anyone actually reads this blog, but if you do, and have even the remotest (I know that's not really a word) interest in photography, journaling, scrapbooking, or digital photo editing, you MUST check out this site!

http://www.scrapblog.com/

They are fantastic!! :) I made the baby knitting scrapblog there, and have made a few others, including my daughter's first year baby book. I totally love them, they are completely responsive when you need help, and the application is super easy to use.

I ordered a keepsake book, and am waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive!

New Knitting pics

2010-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

there has actually been knitting!

My new nephew!! I'm an AUNT!! :)

Isn't he the cutest little thing?

The sweater is the Pure & Sweet Layette from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Nursery.

It's not too hard, although I really couldn't get the hang of the embroidery (confirming that I am NOT a sew-er). I wish it came in bigger sizes though, not just newborn!

Fits the little man relatively well it looks like - he was 7lbs, 14oz at birth, so a good sized boy. :)

This horrible picture of me is accompanied by a Baby Raglan. This is the super-easy Raglan Sweater pattern from The Baby Knits Book (although I got it online somewhere) by Debbie Bliss. I ran out of yarn, of course not realizing until I had already knit too far, so went back to Yarn Dogs for some more of the yarn for stripes. I think it turned out pretty well :)

Baby to match the raglan has now joined us, congratulations to my dear friends & big sister!

He won't be able to wear his sweater for a while though - I think this is the 6-9 months size.

I also finished the "N" Sweater. It's the Knitty Double Scoop pattern by Gail Pfeifle, with my own charted "N."

I'm not super happy with my intarsia. It's very lumpy where I had to change colors & weave in ends, but if you look at it from a little farther away, it's OK.

The little one likes it, so I guess that's all that matters, especially since she's willing to wear it even though it's really too warm. hahahaha :)

And finally, the in-progress Fair Isle Jacket, also by Debbie Bliss, from Essential Knits for Kids.

This is my first attempt at fair isle, and it's actually not too bad! I'm not looking forward to weaving in ends, but I think the pattern is actually turning out pretty well.

I've finished the back & left front, and just started the right front. Picked up some ribbon, and will need to hunt up some buttons, but I think I either have some, or can find some without too much trouble. Hopefully I'll finish it soon, and she can actually use it this summer!

Baby Knitting Scrapblog

2009-05-22T16:06:00.001-07:00

gratuitous cuteness

2009-05-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

isn't he one of the cutest babies you've ever seen??? :)

First Steps!!!

2009-05-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this - My baby girl took her first steps last night!!! AHK! :) So excited, yet so emotional about it - my little baby girl is growing up!!!

actual knitting!

2009-04-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY finished this little baby jacket for my friend's baby - of course, he's gotten so big, that if he even fits into it at all, it will be for like 5 more minutes! Oh well, not much I can do about it now! I decided not to do the velvet edging, because just the knitting was taking so dang long, and I couldn't figure out how to do it without being such a pain.

I think it turned out pretty well despite the lack of trim :) Hopefully there will be a baby fashion show picture shortly.

I have now started a little baby blanket for another friend, but all I've done so far is wind the yarn into a ball - well really, SEVERAL balls because it was such a tangled mess!!! It seems there were 2 lengths of yarn (at least) and they got wound really weirdly, so it was impossible to find the right end, and it was pulling from the outside of a center section of the ball!! That was rather a nightmare...

Hopefully I'll be able to make more time for knitting in the future so this blanket doesn't take forever. Luckily, it's not a sizing issue to worry about :)

Don't you hate it when...

2009-04-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

...you don't have any time to do anything but the absolutely necessary things??

Baby has been growing like a weed, is now cruising around the furniture, crawling everywhere super fast, and saying a few things - "uh oooohhhh," "mama," "dada," "memo" (Elmo), "hi," and "buh bye." Craziness!!!

Catch-up

2008-10-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hi hi!!
I'm a terrible blogger - I think it was Ann who decided to not feel guilty about that, maybe I should try to join her. Anyway! I have been knitting, but since there is a baby to take care of, and my husband pretty much monopolizes the computer when we ARE home, I don't have many pictures to show you. I am hoping to take some this weekend, and I want to update my Ravelry stuff too, 'cause it's just too cool a tool to NOT use it! :)

I just finished a baby shrug for my cousin's baby, and before that one for my little one, a baby hat for my other cousin's baby (but then determined that a cotton, small, thin hat is not good for a growing baby in October in Buffalo, NY), and am now working on a baby raglan sweater for that same baby. THEN I will work on a velvet-edged jacket for a co-worker's baby (she's still preggo), and then a baby shawl for another co-worker's baby (who is 5 days younger than my daughter!). SO MUCH BABY KNITTING!

I will try to post some new pics this weekend - around DD's portrait appointment, how FUN!

oh - and in other news, I'm starting a NEW JOB on the 20th! YAY! I'm super-excited!! wish me luck, I think it's going to be more intense, but more fulfilling at the same time. AND I get to work at home 1 day per week to take care of DD, so YAY!

hope everyone is doing well!

WOW

2008-08-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know what else to say - I have been gone WAY too long. Suffice it to say that baby girl is now living here:

instead of in my tummy!

It's been a wild ride, that's for sure. I'm finally getting the hang of it I think, and am back at work unfortunately, which throws everything off again. Obviously, I haven't had time to blog, but I have done a smidgen of knitting - nothing that turned out well though. I'm making another little green dress for another new mom for her baby girl though, but since I've already made one, it's not that great blog-fodder. So, instead, see cute baby pictures!

I've actually been knitting!!

2008-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right - actual knitting content on the knitting blog!! (of course, I also have baby-knitting, and just baby-stuff to talk about) hehehe So, I remembered to take a picture of my morning dog-walking hat, and I think I've decided to make myself a scarf too to match - but of course, I started a baby thing instead of that... hehehe The pattern is from a Patons booklet, which I can't remember the name of right now, but I'll add it later if I remember... it's not on their website, so I can't find it at the moment!

It's very comfy, and keeps me toasty in the frosty mornings (poor Muggsy just fluffs up the hair on his back, but I have a warm hat!)

I also finished the knitting on a little dress for the baby!! It's from Debbie Bliss Special Knits, but I decided not to do the pocket...

I still have to block it, but I think it turned out pretty cute! :) hehehe

Then there's cute outfits we got for the baby from my sister, and a beautiful quilt made by Gramma!!

Then of course, there's nursery painting going on... I put a second coat on the palm tree (but I took this pic of it before I did that), and then I did the first coat on the shell that will go over a new bookcase. Hubby will have to help move the dressers out of the way so I can do the other ones!

I think it's going to be super-cute (if I do say so myself!) - I'm excited to finish, and to be ready for baby to come!!!! Of course, we have plenty of time left - I'll be 24 weeks along (out of 40) on Wednesday!

babe-o-rama

2008-01-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

Lots of fun stuff going on over the weekend - I finished a hat that was supposed to be for the baby, but it turned out too big (you know, maybe I should actually check gauge before I just knit the whole project, hmmm??). It's ok though because it was not a girly color, just green and off-white, and very plain design, so Ryan liked it - of course, now he wants another one hehehe. I also made a hat for ME! YAY! I have been wearing DH's Giants' hat for walking the dog in the morning since it's been so cold, but that's really dorky - so I made one for myself from Moda Dea Cache. I'll have to post pictures later since I haven't taken them yet. :)

I also remembered to get a belly pic last week! (finally) so this is 20-weeks, 1-day:
Now, please keep in mind, that is NOT a flock-of-seagulls haircut, it's part of the picture behind me. I'll have to ask DH to check for that next time we take one of these! hahahha

We've been busy doing nursery stuff over the weekend too - we bought some dressers, painted the baseboards, bought paint (we picked different colors that actually go better with the bedding), and sold the daybed! Wooohooo!!! lots of progress!!

On a side-note, Babycenter is not letting me into the bulletin boards today, and I'm very sad! This is what I DO all day!! hahahaha Work? what's work? heheheh just kidding - but if any of you are reading this from BBC, I'm still alive, baby is still great, and I'll catch up when it finally lets me back in! :)

baby update!

2008-01-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's a girl!!! I have been very lax in terms of scanning the ultrasound pictures, but we got a good profile & a good face shot! She was moving around and dancing like crazy, and even flipped over for us, it was SOOOO awesome to watch!

Now that we know she's a girl, we've started to plan the nursery - we'll do a beach/surfer-girl theme, and paint the walls a light and bright turquoise for fun, then paint some big beachy/surfer shape outlines on the walls in hot pink, like so (or close - the colors aren't perfect that's for sure):

The crib bedding will just be a modern pattern with lots of colors, since I haven't seen anything girly with this theme that I really like - AND I don't want EVERYTHING to be pink. I'm sure she'll get PLENTY of pink things as gifts along the way :) Maybe something like this:

We're starting our registry tonight - wish us luck! and please wish me a non-grumpy husband! hahahaha

Oh, and I do plan to take a new belly-pic, hopefully I'll remember tonight, but since I've said that for a week, no guarantee.... hehehe

Update - what is going on!?!?

2007-12-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

OK, so even though this is my first pregnancy, I think the belly is out of control. I mean, granted, I was a chubster to begin with, but good grief!!!

This is at 14 weeks and JUST into the 2nd trimester. It's the first belly pic because, to tell you the truth, I did NOT want to look at the pre-preggo belly. At least with this one, I have an excuse!

I just started wearing maternity stuff, because I seriously can't button even my FATTEST of fat pants anymore. I think that says it all...

ON TO KNITTING!!!

Yes! There has been knitting! I finally got off my butt (although literally, I'm still on my butt on the couch) and started some gifts! The little striped hat is for my new little cousin - and I'm also going to give them a tomato hat (see sidebar for pics). I'm also making something for his Christmas present, but I don't know if I should post that yet...

Well, OK, I will - his mom probably doesn't read the blog, she's busy with a newborn!!! hahahaha :)

This is actually a really cute blankie, but I'm making it in worsted weight (same as the cardigan) instead of sport weight, so I don't think I'll need as many repeats to make it big enough. I've messed up a LITTLE bit, but I don't think it's really noticeable - just gives it character... yeah, character, that's it. ;)

I'm still alive!

2007-11-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well, there's a reason I've been MIA for a while...

...and those of you who've been there can relate...

...really tired...

...really sick...

...every day, all day, for the last 3 weeks...

...because...

We're PREGNANT!!!!! Due June 4th!!

I haven't been knitting since I found out - being exhausted all the time really limits your creative energy I guess. My speed has been lay on the couch, watch TV. MAYBE I can read a book. Knitting has not been in the cards - BUT I just got a medication for the morning sickness (make that all-day-everyday-but mostly-afternoon/evening sickness) , and am feeling MUCH better. I now feel like I have energy to do stuff, even though the side effects are supposed to be that you're more tired and possibly dizzy. I'm still going to bed around 8:30 or 9:00 every night, but at least I'm not a slug all afternoon also! :)

Hopefully I'll have some more knitting content next time around - I need to take a picture of the simple raglan cardigan - it's an FO! It will be a gift though since it is too big in the arm area and just all around - although, now that I'm preggo, maybe I'll need that... we'll see ;)

Hope everyone is doing well!

-Meg

Blocking - simple raglan cardigan

2007-08-31T23:19:00.001-07:00

Blocking - simple raglan cardigan
Originally uploaded by megbertapelle

I did finally get around to blocking, sewing, and knitting the button bands for this simple raglan cardigan. I only have the sleeve-blocking photo to share at the moment, and it's too dark now to take more pictures, but I'll get it eventually :) Of course, now that it's almost done, I think it's too big for me. If I can't get it to shrink right in the wash, it will have to be another gifty... :) gifts are good though - one less Christmas gift to knit, right?

Hannah's shrug

2007-08-31T23:14:00.001-07:00

Hannah's shrug
Originally uploaded by megbertapelle

This one was the I'm-putting-off-blocking-and-sewing-up-the-really-huge-sweater-for-me project. Very quick and easy - hopefully it will be cute on, when Hannah gets big enough. She is the cutest baby ever though, so she probably can make ANYTHING look cute :)

Raglan baby sweater

2007-08-31T23:10:00.001-07:00

heart_raglan
Originally uploaded by megbertapelle

Another of those things that's been done for a while... and no, I haven't figured out how to blog more than 1 photo at a time from Flickr... :)

This is for my new cousin, and was fun to make - I like the color combinations on this yarn. It's Sugar & Cream, but I forget the colorway - and I gave away the leftovers to a friend who's learning to knit! yay! :) I added the little heart on the front as purl stitches, then did a chain-stitch embroidery around the edge (not very well) with a cotton embroidery floss.

She has received her gift, and I am told she loved it, but of course, newborns aren't picky! hehehehe

"L" Sweater

2007-08-31T22:33:00.001-07:00

"L" Sweater,
originally uploaded by megbertapelle.

A little something made for my cousin L. She is a cutie-patootie, and this sweater should fit her when fall rolls around. It's a size 2T I think... From the Knitty.com "Double Scoop" pattern, in Red Heart Hokey Pokey. I didn't even realize that the orange stripes didn't match on the arms until L's mom pointed it out - hehehehe - OOPS! Oh well, it's artistic license, right?

Updates - long overdue

2007-08-28T19:46:00.001-07:00

Wow, I know, this is pretty ridiculous that I haven't blogged in months... but! I've gotten some knitting done! :) This is a baby hat I just started while blocking sweater pieces for a sweater for me! :) I'm using Flickr now, so I don't have to upload a ton of photos each time I want to blog - hopefully that will make things quicker all around.. we'll see. I've got to figure out how to blog more than one photo at a time. In the meantime, I think the link on this photo will bring you to my "Projects" photo set. I'm going to see if I can get the photos of everything else I've been working on all in one more post... :)

KnitPicks "Palette" - Tidepool Heather,
originally uploaded by megbertapelle.

Craze-o-rama

2007-04-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I have not gone down the drain (as my gramma used to say when I'd stay in the bath too long as a kid). I'm here, I've just been completely overwhelmed with things happening all the time! I am really looking forward to just CHILLING OUT! sheesh!

Muggsy is awesome, but an extra time commitment of course. I think he appreciates a walk in the evenings more than the pictures I would post of him on the blog - especially since I don't think dogs can see in 2D...

He really likes to tear around through the backyard...

...and eat grass when I'm not looking

Knitting Content!

There are more finished objects!!!

First off, some new baby beanies...

This one is the "I think I'll try the picot cast-on... ok that was OK, but now it needs something, how about some eyelets?... maybe it needs some color" version. I'm not sure. I think I should have just stuck with the one color. oh well.

Secondly, a sweater - it's small, but it's still a sweater!

Modelled here by the lovely mom-to-be (now official mom), this is the free Bernat Baby Coordinates hoodie pattern.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the pictures are a little better. That's because for my birthday, my wonderful hubby gave me a new camera! I'm still learning the settings, but it seems to take MUCH better just-point-and-shoot pictures than the old one, and (this part is amazing) pays attention when I want to take a detailed photo!!!

More news tomorrow - I'm off to more knitting! :)

Non-knitting News - It's a Boy!

2006-12-30T13:06:00.000-08:00

... dog that is. :)

He's a cutie - SO sweet and lovey-dovey. He's hanging out with me all day when I'm working at home. His name is Muggsy, and we LOVE him!

We've had him for about two weeks, but while we were away, we had to send him to be doggy-sat because it was too overwhelming for him to be in a new place, with new people, and with 3 other new dogs for 5 days or so. We missed him tons though, and are happy to have him home again permanently.

He is SUCH a smart dog too - we have to be careful about locking the door into the garage from the house or he wants to follow us wherever we go! hehehe He even opened the door to the backyard (which opens inward) while were were at the gym last night! Our floors will never be the same, but we LOVE him! :D

Santa was good to me

2006-12-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hello! I hope that you all had a lovely celebration of the holiday season - whatever you celebrate :)

Christmas knitting (unfortunately not pictured) was finished in the very last moments - at 2 am Christmas morning. WHEW!! I didn't bring the now broken sucky digital camera on our Christmas trip, so had to give things away without pictures.

After Christmas though, I did make a couple of baby hats for the fun of it, and since I have a couple of friends who are pregnant, it works out well. :)

These are done in Patons Grace cotton - a discontinued color, the leftovers from my Bonita shirt. I found the pattern in Knit It! Fall/Winter 2006 (which I can't find a website for), but it's apparently from Louisa Harding's book, Natural Knits for Babies and Moms. The real pattern is striped and SUPER cute, but this is the only yarn I had with me, so no stripes for these ones. The little girl version is super cute too :) I've never tried picot edging before, so I may tackle that soon. But, since I'm home now with my unfinished projects (like the mommy snug) sitting around waiting for me, I think I'll table that exploration for later ;)

Christmas was really nice - hung out with the in-laws and just relaxed in the wine country :) Lots of fun gifts were given and received, and tested out by all - especially the back massage pillow that my father in-law got, It's very loud, but feels really good! While Santa did not bring a new digital camera this year, he did bring a new all-in-one printer, which is AWESOME. I've been wanting that for over a year already, so I'm very happy :)

Well, back to work for me - hopefully all the Windows Update installations have fixed the problem on my work computer... :)

Happy New Year!!

My Life. My Blog.

2006-11-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks Cara, for the idea :)

And Julie too!

Portrait is the perfect day, even though I was pretty chubby - better now, but still on the road...

Knitting progress on the Mommy Snug has been halted by Christmas gift knitting, but I did get pretty far on the back, so that's a good thing. I doubt I'll have it finished for her by Christmas though, which is rather sad - but not unexpected. The good thing is that non-handmade Christmas gifts have mostly been purchased online already, and a bunch of them showed up today!

Yay for not procrastinating this year!

no longer MIA

2006-11-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

WOW
Have I mentioned that life is crazy?

If I haven't, LIFE IS CRAZY!!!!!!

Hawaii was AWESOME! I wore my Bonita shirt on the plane, and thank goodness it was comfy, because I was on that plane for a REALLY long time! We flew in on the day of the earthquake, landed just fine, but since the power was out at the airport, we got stuck ON THE PLANE for an extra 3-1/2 hours.

That's 8-1/2 hours

ON ... THE ... PLANE!!!

The rest of the trip was fab - we ended our crankiness with some food once we finally got to our destination, slept, and spent the next 8 days enjoying the beach, the pool, the sun, the scenery, and some yummy food :)

Job has been really good as well - things are moving along, I'm finding things pretty easy, and getting good feedback, so YAY! I'm officially an instructional designer!

New knitting:
Mommy Snug Interweave Knits 2006 (scroll down)
I hope it fits. I hope that I get it done before she has the baby!!
See that pooch in the middle? That's for the BABY! hahahahah I LOVE IT! My first-ever attempt at short rows. I don't think there are any holes, but I haven't totally stretched it out yet to see...

I've really missed reading blogs, so hopefully I'll be able to catch up one of these days and start leaving comments again... :) feel free to leave me one! I'm better at answering email...

Happy Thanksgiving!

So Close

2006-10-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Seriously - I mean, I know there's a bunch of ends to weave in as well (I hid them in the picture because it looks nicer), but look at this!!!

I mean really, SO CLOSE!!!!

I need more knitting time people, what's with all this work!?

and working extra hours!?!? who invented that?!?!

When it's this close, can you justify taking time off to just FINISH?!?!

Well, maybe if you hadn't just been laid off.

Or maybe if you had just been laid off, but you already found a new permanent postition.

At least the contracts for these 2 weeks before vacation are going pretty well. Except one where I couldn't do much work until yesterday at 3pm - which means I have only been able to work about 8 hours so far, instead of the 20 I expected to work.

ugh.

Once I finish, and weave in all the ends and stuff, I'll take a mirror picture to show you :)

have a great weekend everyone!

Rejection

2006-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

sort of.

So the interview on Monday I thought went really well - and then I called the recruiter today. Well, he actually said they liked me and that they did say no to another candidate, and yes to me - but not definitely. So, they are going to bring someone else on right away for part-time, and because I'm going on vacation for about 10 days (7 business days), my availability doesn't fit for this first role. Which is totally lame because they had told me before that I was the best fit of all the candidates BECAUSE I was going on the vacation and I was less of a risk to hire and then have their start date later as planned. >:( Anyway, then he said that they are going to need a second role and I am "leading the race" for that position and it's a "strong possibility" - which is all well and good except that I won't find out for sure until Oct. 9th.

ugh

on a lighter note, I am getting very close to the finish line with Bonita - doesn't look much different except that 1/2 of it is off the needles :) picture once I bind of the front half!

thanks for all your good wishes, I've needed them :)

Bonita Progress

2006-09-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

Man, I'm so close to being able to finish the back, but we've been busy this weekend.

We decided to undertake painting our bedroom furniture (which is of course free hand-me-down stuff) to match the new bedroom scheme. One coat did NOT do it, and since I spilled some of the paint, the one quart just barely made it. sigh.

Then we thought - hey that spray paint I used on the frames for the prints in the kitchen turned out pretty good - let's try that, might be faster.

No.

It was faster, if you don't mind it looking like CRAP.

If you went back over it enough times to make it look good - if you even could - it would not be faster.

Back to Home Depot for more regular paint.

Another 2 coats later, we're finally OK with it. SHEESH!

Then, DH wanted me to finish another drawing so we could hang the last of the pictures, so I did that, and we hung pictures. Now I'm off to the grocery store, and then back to knitting!!! :D

And remember - good vibes at 1:00 - 2:00 pm Pacific please! interview!!! :D thanks!

I am feeling the vibes...

2006-09-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

I have to say that all these good vibes, praying, good thoughts, whatever you're all sending is working!!! :D

I have an in-person interview on Monday afternoon, and the recruiter is saying that it's a really good prospect.
I have a possibility to do some contract work for a project that is continuing here through my company - not sure the hours or rate, but hey, it's income
I have another possibility of contract work with a co-worker after we leave our company
Then there's the option, which seems pretty do-able, of working for my previous company as a contractor - probably part time, but again, it's income

Keep it up people, I really really appreciate it!!! :D

Fun Stuff

2006-09-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Lu from Full Thread Ahead sent me the picture she took at the Yarn Harlot event! Through that door on the far right is the huge group of knitters, and apparently (because she popped out on the balcony at one point) Stephanie was hiding in that upstairs area while everyone filed in.

I really love the store - it's very open and easy to get around and see things. So many beautiful cubbies of yarny goodness!!!

I did notice though, that I need to re-focus my efforts on the weight-loss regime. sigh

Much progress has been made on the job front! YAY! I've got a phone interview at 3:00pm today!!! WOOOHOO!!! keep the good vibes coming, they are WORKING!

thanks guys!

Better picture...

2006-09-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

...of the baby sweater :)
The hat looks worse in this picture, but at least the sweater looks better. :)

In other news, the yarn for my Sizzle showed up! YAY! Elann.com Sonata in a nice fire-engine-y red (color 3611).
MMMM yummy yarny redness :D

I realize these pictures aren't great - but it's definitely not Christmas yet, so don't expect miracles from the crappy camera :) I messed with them in photoshop to get them this good.

On the job front - 2 rejections for sure, and a couple possible opportunities to do some contract work. Still freaking out, but the contracting work options are making me breathe a bit easier. Still, I could use all the crossed fingers, prayers and good vibes you're willing to send my way...

:) thanks

Freak Out

2006-09-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

I think I deserve to be able to freak out, whether I actually have the luxury or not.
I've been laid off!!!!!!!! UGH!! I will be employed until the end of the month, and then get 2 weeks pay and my accrued PTO cashed out. Seriously, this is so not what I planned to do with my spare time!

It puts rather a damper in the vacation plans - Hawaii in October - right after I get laid off. We're still going, mainly because we probably couldn't cancel anyway, and also a lot of it ends up being free.

Most of my spare time has therefore been spent updating my resume, searching for jobs, getting feedback on my resume, revising my resume, applying for jobs, revising my resume some more... you get the idea.

There is precious little knitting going on around here, but I am rather excited that I fixed a missed yarn-over without ripping out the 6 or so rows back! I was really proud of myself for that. (We're not mentioning that I didn't notice and address the problem before I got 6 or so rows past it - sshhhh) Thank you Stephanie [scroll down to June 27 & 23], for the inspirational post about S. Kate's surgery of the extremely complicated lace project - I don't know if I'd tackle that, but I figured if the major knitters could do that, I could fix my little psuedo-lace mistake :)

Did I think to take a picture before I attempted the fix? no.

Would my camera have even focused on a detail shot like that? no.

What am I asking for for Christmas? a new digital camera. (well, that and a ball winder - on super sale right now, but obviously, with the layoff, I'm not buying anything)

Ok, on to more fun things, like more crappy photos! yay! :)
California:
Since this was really a foggy place anyway, I'm ok with this drawing, but I still like the Arizona one best - I think I'm just a contrast girl. But then again...

Wisconsin:
This one, while obviously the highest contrast, is not my favorite. What can I say, I like the sun.

Check out my portfolio site if you have the inclination, and tell me if any of the links are broken, k?

A Little Cheer

2006-09-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I think today is a tough day for everyone, and I hope that you can find a little cheer today.

I decided to count my blessings today, even though they are less than they were early last week - and really, I'm an extremely lucky and blessed person. The big ones are my wonderful husband, great family, and loving and supportive friends who are all helping me through a rather tough time. Thank you all.

I thought it might take my mind of things to post a couple more finished crafty projects, one knitting, one not.

Pillows

Now, the pillow forms are a bit lumpy - I probably should have stuffed them myself - but they are so much better than the pillows we used to have, that I'm OK with it :)

They're soft and fluffy and comfy to nap on, and they were easy in-front-of-the-TV knitting for quite a while.

Drawings

These are white Prismacolor pencil on black paper. I drew them for my hubby when he was living far away in Milwaukee for grad school. I like the Arizona one best. :)

But the California and Wisconsin ones turned out OK.

[well, apparently Blogger has decided that's enough pictures for one post, so sorry - I'll post the others so you can actually see them some other time]

Bonita Progress Update - and YARN HARLOT!!!

2006-09-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been an interesting week - but it's too upsetting to talk about it now (plus I'm under obligation until end-of-day Tuesday not to talk about it) sigh
It's just a sad day all around isn't it?

However, I do have some fun things to show you!

Progress Update
Into the increase rows of waist shaping - and yes, that is the top half of the 3rd diamond!! YAY! I brought this to the Yarn Harlot at Full Thread Ahead over the weekend, and (this is almost completely unprecedented) I actually WON something! Good grief!

I was apparently the one with the most unconventional stitchmarkers in the place (with about 300 knitters there even!), because they're earring backs with beads on them, and the main one is a frog (or maybe a chipmunk, I can never tell for sure). This picture is obviously very weird - I think I've figured it out, my camera does not understand that I want it to take a detail picture, even when I use the zoom function.

My friend Deanna made them for me, and then wasn't able to be there to see me win! She was very sad to miss the harlot, and I think she may have been the one to win if she were there. :)

Here's what I won:

Stitch markers from Giblin Glass Works - they're very cool, my crappy camera does not do them justice. Four are pink, and one is black, but all of them have something cool and irridescent about them - I love them :)

Stephanie, the Yarn Harlot - what can I say? She is awesome! She was totally funny - I must have laughed out loud at least 100 times - and everything she talks about really resonates, even though I've only been knitting for a little while :) I really enjoyed it, and wish I could have stuck around longer!

Sexy Knitters Club

2006-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Woohoo - NON FRUMP! I've just joined the Sexy Knitters Club, and the knit-along.

I've decided to knit the "Sizzle" by Wendy Bernard, and just purchased the pattern. I also purchased some cotton yarn on sale at elann.com - hopefully, I can work out the gauge correctly, but if not, I like this yarn, so I'll use it for something else :)

I like cotton, and I like red, and this one seems to have some sheen to it - plus, sales are good :D Hopefully it will feel good too...

My problem will be how to finish the Bonita Shirt in time for the KAL - while I am just finished with the waist decreases (2nd diamond in lace pattern), that still leaves an awful lot of knitting to go. I will probably be starting the KAL late - if you follow along with me on this blog, that will most likely become a refrain of mine... I also wanted to make something for a friend of mine that I think will be a rather large project, so hhmmm... some decisions to make soon I think. sigh

Wish me luck!

Labor Day Weekend

2006-09-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I was busy hanging out with my sister and my cousin, shopping, and hanging pictures over the weekend, and completely forgot to take pictures until it was too dark to get good pictures with my crappy camera.

I also had lots of ripping out and re-knitting on the Bonita shirt - apparently I can't count, and can't read a chart. sigh

I think that a trip to Macy's is in order to pick up a shower gift for this weekend - but even more exciting is the YARN HARLOT will be in town Saturday evening - I'm so super excited I can't STAND IT!!! My friend Deanna and I will be going to Full Thread Ahead in Los Altos, and since 10% of sales for that day are going to Doctors Without Borders in the name of Knitters Without Borders, I'm saving up!

Wooohoooo for Yarn Harlot! :D

More Finished Objects!

2006-08-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

A couple more FOs to show:

This is the fruit baby hat - see sidebar for pattern link. I made a couple of these in different colors, but have already given them away without taking pictures (oops!), so use your imagination for a lemon and a peach one :)

This one is the raglan baby sweater - again, see sidebar for pattern link. It's a really bad picture, I'm sorry - I'll take another one in the sunshine this weekend, then need to wrap these up and give them away! :) I hope the baby this is for gets big enough to wear it when it's still cold! I thought bigger would last longer, but I'm nervous it will be too big, oh well, we'll just have to see :)

I may be helping my sister figure out a pattern for a tube-top she saw in Cosmo that she wants to make - we have a sleeveless shell pattern to start from, but any ideas anyone has about tube-top construction (she should be able to hold it up OK, but better safe than sorry, right?) would be greatly appreciated!

Have a great long weekend! :)

On the Needles

2006-08-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

Well, my camera is quite lame apparently and is unable to focus, so these are the best I've got:

Currently on the needles: Bonita Shirt, Interweave Knits - Summer 2006

I've enjoyed this one so far - I'm at the point of starting the waist shaping (and I'm just hoping I'm measuring from the right point, if not, I'd have to rip back quite a bit, and I don't want to do that). This was the first time I've tried the crochet chain cast-on, and I really did NOT enjoy that.

And, I wish I would have read Jenny's blog and seen her reference to Nona's awesome left-slanting decrease options before I started.(I like # 7 the best, go Nona) Can you see my problem here?

How about now?

Seriously irritating jagged left slant compared to the right. Oh well, I'm not starting over now, and I don't want to switch in the middle of the sweater. Next time, I am definitely using the fab-o-rama Nona left decrease.

P's Sweater

2006-08-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks Ann, for my very first blog comment! :D

The pattern is from Tahki/Stacey Charles, Fall/Winter 2004, which doesn't seem to be shown on their site - although some of the patterns from this book are in the free patterns section (of course not this one). It's the #14 Fitted Cable Jacket, design by Rosemary Drysdale. I did start it in the medium size, make the ENTIRE back of it, held it up to my mom (who's about the same size as P) and went CRAP. Ripped the whole thing, and started the large size - then also extended the length about 2".

Apparently everything is short on P because she has a longer torso than average, and then with her swimmer shoulders, the large worked out better. :) She's actually a great swimmer, and I had the pleasure of watching her at a swim meet earlier this summer and was AMAZED - she usually gets around 2nd place at her meets, so REALLY good :D

Homeowners Drama

2006-08-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

So, we now have a NEW sprinkler timer, and while there was some possibility of a hospital trip for stitches to DH's thumb, it was not necessary! So good things all around - the sprinklers go on and off BY THEMSELVES, EVERY DAY, and hopefully the grass will be happy :)

In other news, the "big" Labor Day plans include:

sleepover at our house with sister and cousin
painting bedroom furniture
DH working on Monday (while not a good vacation thing, this does mean more knitting time for me!)

wooohooo
I do however have some more FOs to post in the side bar, but for interest's sake, I'll post them here as well. Please excuse the terrible photos, I really need a new camera :)

Gramma's V-neck
This was actually originally made for me, but then I lost weight and it was too big, and since Gramma liked it, it is now hers :) Don't tell her I posted her picture, she'll get mad. By the way, that is Buttons on the couch - she's not normally allowed up there, but for picture purposes, it was OK. :)

P's SweaterI'm actually pretty proud of this one - this is the first sweater I started, second finished because I had to special order an orange zipper - who knew? But it has the cables, and the zipper (which I'm sure I didn't sew in correctly, but it's not moving that's for sure). The important thing is P likes it, so all is well. :) [P is my sister by the way]

Welcome

2006-08-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm jumping on the blogging bandwagon. I don't know if anyone will ever read it except me, but I have fun reading other people's blogs, so here goes!
I am a knitter - not a great knitter, more of a newbie, but I have a lot of fun with it. I am currently knitting something from the summer Interweave Knits - the Bonita Shirt - and aside from the pain-in-the-butt cast on, it's going really well. I'll be posting some pictures some other time because I'm still getting the hang of this blog thing, stay tuned!

:)