I went to visit my Dad in California and had the most wonderful time.
We went hiking in the hills where he normally hikes. The trail we were on was part of Bidwell Park which is the the largest municipal park in the country.
We went to the Sierra Nevada Brewery which was really fun. I used to work in a brew pub so it was fun to sample the different beers.


We went to San Francisco for a couple days since I had never been and my Dad thought it would be fun for me to see.
We went to Fisherman's Wharf and saw the Sea Lions who took over Pier 39. We rode cable cars, visited Chinatown and went to Ghirardelli Square. The next day we rented bikes and biked across the Golden Gate Bridge.



We biked all the way to Tiburon but my future recommendation would be to bike to Old Mill Park and then bike back to Sausalito. I think it was just too long a distance with nothing touristy to look at in between Old Mill Park and Tiburon and it is really hilly.

I didn't get much of a chance to write but I did take a picture of a plaque of Robert Frost.

And the winner is not...

I spent this weekend spreading the word that I had won third place in The Meltdown Challenge at my Y. A team weight loss competition at my gym. Third place comes with a $50 prize which was really going to be exciting until I got an email last night that there had been a mistake in the tally and we had not won third place. OK so that is kind of a bummer. I feel like we should get good sportsman prizes since we were told that we had won and then it changed. But I guess that I will probably just have to accept that although there is no cash prize that I lost 10 pounds and probably feel a little better about myself then I did when I started.
I have gotten stronger as well and I am at my summer biking weight even though it isn't summer yet. woo hoo.

what stresses me out

Today I had an appointment at my little part time job. While I was there I talked with my boss about possibly changing how I get paid for rentals or changing how much I see of the restocking fee. So my boss said that we couldn't change the amount I get paid but if I wanted to stay and work a couple hours cleaning in the storage areas that I could. I said that I couldn't stay any longer today explaining about my busy week. Rental on Monday, Babysit on Tuesday, Matinee on Wednesday, errands on Thursday and Rental on Friday.
My boss said that he could tell I had baby sat because I had seemed stressed. Meaning that baby sitting stresses me out. I don't actually think this is the case. I think that not being able to write stresses me out. Running around and doing a bunch of other things that aren't writing leaves me with very little time to write. So instead I am thinking about stories I have written or story ideas I have in my head. I get stressed because I think about how I am not working on my writing.
In addition to getting stressed I get frustrated because I know that I should be setting side the time to write and not saying yes to everything. I am working on not being frustrated with myself when I chose to do something other than writing. Being frustrated means that I come back to my writing and write about being mad at myself for letting other things get in the way of writing.
I feel like it is better to be a little busy now and to take these opportunities to make a little extra money right now in hopes that I won't have to work two jobs at the same time and really steal time away from my writing.
I have been working on a story which I have been writing in a notebook for now until I have the time to sit and write at my desk on my computer. It is going really well and is really fun to write.
When I've written my NaNoWriMo novels in the past I have just written and not really worried about revising and structure. This time around I am taking my time and really thinking about chapter and timeline and plot.

What I'm reading

In addition to trying to write I also try to read a lot. Since my interest is in writing for teens I tend to read a lot in the teen fiction genre. This weekend I read a book that has been out for a couple years now and has been on my to read list for a while and it just happened to be at the library that I stopped at to return my books.
From the moment I started reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher I was hooked. The main character gets a set of cassette tapes mailed to him with no return address. The tapes are from a girl named Hannah who is dead. Being on the tapes means that he is one of the reasons Hannah is dead.
From the moment I started reading I was pulled into the story. I think I was driven to find out how the main character falls into the story. I think this story really makes you think how you treat people. Maybe what each of the people on Hannah's list did was small but it all added up to make her feel like no one cared for her. Like when she needed a friend or a kind word the most they couldn't be found.
When I read this book besides being totally engrossed in the story it made me want to be a better writer. I feel like this book is so well written and it makes me return to my own writing wondering if I picked up something I wrote and this book which one would I keep reading. How do I make my writing the kind that can't be put down?

The other day I had a fun idea for a middle grade novel. I started writing it in my journal. I was thinking about something that I think Flannery O' Conner ( I think) once said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough to write about for the rest of their lives. So I started writing a story based on a childhood experience of mine. Well it is more inspired by something from my childhood but I think the character is going to take off.
I have been worrying about work and the economy and writing about how that has effected my writing. For the last year I have been trying to say no to a lot of extra stuff so that I can focus more on my writing. This past year was the first year that I had actually been employed year round at my full time job. This meant I didn't have to worry about finding part time work but instead have been able to spend more time taking writing classes and writing in general.
I had a great experience taking a children's writing class and now we still meet as a writing group. It has really made me a better writer. It has given me a lot of confidence as a writer.
The other day my tooth started hurting. A lot. So much that going to the dentist seems to only option to get rid of the pain. So I am going for what will probably end up being a root canal. ew.

Yesterday was a good writing day.
I was able to channel some of the stress and concern I feel about the economy into an idea for a story.
I also got a contest submission in the mail.
Even though winter is hopefully winding down here in MN and spring will hopefully be arriving soon a couple of the things I am writing are winter pieces. This is good since magazines look into the future and are hopefully looking for winter pieces in the summer.
The good things is that when I go to my writing group on Tuesday I will have things to share instead of having to say that I have been a slacker for the last month. yay.

Sisters

my sister and I

I am currently working on a kids story. In the story the main character's little sister is always ruining her toys. Usually by accident. I have been trying to think of things that little sisters do but I am trying to keep the little sisters actions more accidental. So far I think I have come up with some things that the little sister does that kids can relate to.


I am into fitness. I love to swim, bike, run, swing a kettlebell and play sports. But I must admit that sometimes I need to slow my movement down in order to think about a story. Good ideas always come to me when I am walking. When I want to work out a problem in one of my stories I take a walk. New ideas occur to me when I am walking as well.
I am also able to get story ideas when I am swimming. But this happens less frequently.

Today on my walk home from the coffee shop I had a great story idea so I am excited to play around with it.

stress and writing

Lately it seems that all the stress in the economy has stifled my creativity a little when it comes to writing. Instead of spending time writing I have been spending time worrying about how much I will be working in the next year and once again I have been taking any chance to work in addition to my normal full time job. These little jobs tend to take away from the time that I would usually set aside for writing.
I find it hard to write and set aside time for writing when I am thinking about what I should be doing to ensure that I continue to have a steady income stream. Should I find a part time job that I can work more at when I have time off from my full time job or should I pick up more work at my old job? The problem with working at my old job in addition to my full time job is that the work there is full time which means working 72 hours a week and driving 1 1/2 hours a day. It means leaving my house at 7:15 a.m. and not getting home until 11 p.m. This leaves me with no creative energy to write and then when I do come back to writing I feel like I have taken huge steps back.
This week I don't have a lot of other things going on so I will be able to get some writing done.
I feel like I still have deadlines for contests I want to enter and since I had been concentrating on submitting some things that I had written I feel like I need to get back to that.
I am looking forward to a half day writing class I am taking in April.
My writing group meets next week so hopefully that will get me back on track as well. I am working on a couple things including a story that I would like to send to a magazine for tween girls.

Decisions, decisions

Last year I attended a conference here in Minnesota for children's writing. It was a lot of fun and I was really looking forward to attending again this year. Until I saw the brochure and saw that the price went up $100 from last year with no option to save money by only attending for one day of the conference.
So now I have decided to use my gift certificate for classes instead. I got so much out of the last class I took including a writing group that is made up of the members in the class. I would rather pay for another class and get to go to spend 6-12 weeks working on a story.
I recently read a book called Chapter by Chapter by Heather Sellers. In the book she talked about how in order to write a book you need to write. I have been trying to apply this to my life but the economic downturn has got me kind of worried which means that instead of writing I am doing things like baby sitting or picking up more hours at my second job. Then at the end of the week I realize that I have not gotten any writing done and that I haven't spent nearly as much time revising the things I have already written.
Writing is really something that needs to be done on a regular basis. I am finding that if I write everyday I am more ready when new ideas come. I am more perceptive to ideas for stories when I am writing on a regular basis. When I take time away from it I have a hard time getting back into the groove of writing. I end up spending time feeling guilty for not writing and thinking about all the things that took me away from my writing in the first place.

Running and Writing

A few years ago I became a runner. This has helped me so much as a writer.
I am not a gazelle who is going to win prizes or running shoe endorsements so running give me time to think about things that I am writing about. I think a lot about how to solve problems in my writing when I am running.
Since I finish races in twice the time as people who finish first I obviously run for different reasons. But this not coming in first all the time, well ever, has taught me self acceptance. Before I started running I would write in fits and starts and I would submit my work and it would get rejected and I would think that meant I wasn't a writer. Not winning races does not make me less of a runner just as not having my work in a book or magazine doesn't make me any less of a writer. Although it would be really cool to have a book published.
Groups are very helpful for both things. My running group pushes me to be a better runner. Those ladies push me to run farther and faster than I would on my own. My writing group does the same thing for my writing. It is so great to be connected to both groups.
Running is something you have to do on a regular basis if you want to be good at it. This is true of writing as well. No one would expect to run a long distance without first training for it. You run, you train and you work up to the distance. Most people do not wake up and say "I think I'll run 10 miles today" without having done some running before. The same is true for writing. It is something that needs time and practice and the more I work at it and make time for writing the better I get.
They both take commitment. There is always something that would be better than running 5 miles or writing 5 pages but once I do it I can cross it off my list of things to do and go about my day feeling accomplished.

Writing goals

I don't really consider it a new years resolution because I started working on it in December. I think I just figured why wait until the new year to start?
I have been trying to focus more on writing. After taking writing classes and filling my toolbox with writing tools I feel more confident about writing. I am focusing on writing, revising and submitting stories.
So far I have been doing well. I have a couple projects that I am working on and I have actually been working on them.
Actually having stories that I have written that I need to revise is good motivation. Instead of turning on the computer to a blank page I find that I get to revisit a new friend.
As many writers know looking at a blank page can be very scary. Just getting enough written before an inner editor takes over to tell you what is wrong with it can be a race.
The challenge for me is saying no to other things that come up. So the real goal this year is to treat writing as more of a job. I have been writing to do lists and I have been doing tasks from said lists. Tasks include sending out submissions, working on new stories and revising stories that have already been written. So far it seems to be working.
Having the list has been helping me take the writing more seriously. Now when people ask me to do things like baby sit I am able to put my own limits on how much I can do because I have tasks that I have to do for my writing.

The slim Cat

A few weeks ago I got an interactive cat feeding toy or a ball with holes in it to feed my cats. This is what cable will do. I watch one episode of Housecat Housecall and all of the sudden I decide that my cat is bored and needs interactive feeding toys so he will stop begging for food.
After reviewing the directions I realized that both of my cats were on the fat side of the picture.
The result with the slim cat so far is that at night I feed them real food in a bowl so that they will let me sleep. Then during the day I put their food in the Slim Cat toy.
One strange side effect is that my cat has decided to try to escape when I open the door to my condo. The good thing is that I have a condo and he just escapes into the hallway. The bad thing is that he seems to be looking for a new home and would paw at neighbor's doors to get to this end.
This is a cat who has never really ventured past the door mat and whose idea of adventure is to go into the laundry room while I wait with the door open. Now all of the sudden he is running up and down stairs and hallways in my building.
They have also begun to leave their toy mice in a pile in front of my bike. I am not sure if they see the bike as an extension of me or perhaps they hope to make an alliance with the bike so the bike will feed them while I am away even though the bike goes where I go.
On a positive note Snoop did look thinner as he ran up and down the stairs and hallway of my building in an attempt to escape his new starvation diet.
*Note: I am not feeding them less food just the method of feeding has changed.

biking laws

Today I was reading a story in the Downtown Journal about cops writing more tickets for bicyclists.
The story was bout a guy who got a $128 ticket for rolling through a stop sign. The car actually turned on its sirens and everything according to the story. Really was the bike running a stop light that big a deal.
As a cyclist I see cyclists rolling through stop signs and riding the wrong way on one way streets and riding without lights at night.
While I know that cops are cracking down on cyclists I think that some of this is unfair. For example there are some stop lights which are controlled by sensors and the sensors do not sense bikes so I can sit at certain stop lights until a car comes to change the light or I can wait until it is safe for me and then go.
I think that maybe the city needs to be educating people about biking. I know that bikes and cars should share the road but does the cyclist riding at night with no lights on the wrong side of the street know that?
One thing I have noticed this summer more than ever is that there are more bikers on the road and people have strong opinions about that. There was one kid who tried to tell me that his mom yelled at a biker that he should be riding on the bike path and not the road when bikers actually have a right to be on the road. There are always the people who think that bikes should be on the sidewalk.
But really I wonder if people who are in cars are even more unhappy about being in those cars. I mean gas is $4 a gallon, there is always traffic or road construction and then you see people on bikes, with smiles on their faces riding past and it has to be frustrating.
The other day while waiting for a light to change a car came up behind me and wanted to make a right on red. The kept inching closer and closer to me and revving their engine and turning up their Green Day. Really why aren't there laws against harassing people on bikes like this person was doing. The thing that really bugged me about this was that I was near a school and could have been a student.

remembering my first bike

For some reason today I was thinking about the first bike I ever bought. It was actually the first bike I ever owned.
It was a pink bike with fenders and a pink flame banana seat.
I remember saving my money as a kid so that I could buy this bike. I saved money from the tooth fairy and my birthday and I even tried to sell things like rocks and pictures.
My dad even let me spend a dollar of my money to buy a lottery ticket and I won $25. That was the only time I have ever won any money at the lottery.
My best money making endeavor was to pick up rocks that had fallen out of the rock bed and get paid a penny for each rock. Then I would try to sell the rocks to my friends for a penny.
So finally once I had saved enough money I bought this great pink bike with a flame banana seat.
Now I ride a bike everyday. I ride to work. I ride where ever and whenever I can. So I was thinking about where this love of bikes may have started and this is what I came up with.

I have been blogging away on myspace which is why I haven't posted in a year.

I have become one of those people who has created all these little blogs and journals on the web and I just don't always have time to maintain them all.
Now everyone seems to be over on facebook. That is fine but now if I move over there then I have to bring all of my stuff over there.
I originally created this blog to talk about my knitting and my life but I don't knit enough anymore to really track my projects on a blog.
So I am not sure what this blog will become and if I will keep maintaining it or what. I guess that I will see what happens.

Dino crochet

At the beginning of the year I cleaned my house. I reorganized my craft closet. The craft closet is the one bedroom condo owners version of a craft room since the only way to have a craft room would have been to live in the suburbs. Anyway I cleaned out my craft closet and decided that I needed to use a lot of yan before I ws allowed to buy more yarn.
Crochet has been very helpful with this but I havent used nearly enough.
But my finished objects are piling up very nicely. So far there are 2 crocheted beanies, 1 turtle potholder and various body parts of a crocheted dinosaur.
I've been blogging on myspace, but not about knitting or crochet or being crafty in general. So I have totally neglected this blog.

Rock out

This is the guitar strap from a 2004 issue of knit1 that I made for my cousin.

Rock Star

I found an old issue of Knit1 and there was a pattern for a crocheted guitar strap. So I had to make it for my cousin.
My grandma says she plays guitar and for a while she had pink and black hair so I made a pink and black version.
But really it rocks and it makes me want my own guitar just so I can make one for myself.
So now I will be making pj pants for presents for everyone.

New Knit1

My winter issue of knit1 just came in the mail today.
I still haven't finished my project from the fall issue. I guess I have been a little busy. But I am thinking of just making a bunch a beanies just to burn through some of my yarn stash.
OK that's all.

project choir dress

Currently I am making a lot of choir dresses so there hasn't been much time for fun crafty projects.
I am thinking of making some soap for the holidays. I made some last year and I would like to make some more. Plus I have some fun ideas for sets of soap.

I am also making sockings for the Minnesota Aids Project. I am making a lot of quick ones that people can then add sparkle to. Pimp my Ride, Trick my Truck, Sparkle my Stocking. I guess sparkle would be adding whatever sort of buttons and trim a person wanted to add. So I have made three for this purpose so far.

I started another square for my granny square skirt.

I have also been writing a lot lately so my hands have been busy writing and I haven't been knitting and crocheting as much.

pooh bear

I am mear stitches away from finishing the pooh bear crosstitch that I started a year ago.
All other project have been at a stand still while I have been vigorously working to get Pooh Bear finished.
The next project I wan to do is the Hollywood Granny Squares skirt from the Fall 06 Knit1
Still no pictures because still no new computer.

I started Cupcake from the Happy Hooker book. Mine will be lavender like the one in the book. I only got through three rows the other day but it is a start.

This has been a busy summer of running 5K's, and celebrating with friends who are getting married. I've been to a lot of showers and I have to stay that my skill at the swipe the gift game is getting better. Last shower I left with a gift.

This September I will be riding in the St Paul Classic bike tour. I've set up a fundrasing pageCarrie's St.Paul Classic

Also there are some new fun crochet hook cases at my etsy storeCarrie's Craft Fair

Fit to be Tied

I finished my Fit to be Tied bag. It turned out realy cute.
I haven't been doing a lot of knitting mostly because of the discovery of crochet and also because I have been sewing a lot and reading a lot as well.
I made the cutest skirt for bike your treat to work day on Wednesday. It had little retro bikes on it. However I had to wear shorts and change into the skirt at work because my brother just gave me new chain grease and so my chain is particularly greasy.
Still no pictures because still no new computer but I have realized that when I get a new computer I will also have to get a new digital camera because my camera uses 31/4 inch floppy disks and I'm noticing that computers don't have that slot any more.

My computer crashed a few weeks ago so I haven't been able to update thingsas I might normally like. I am currently working on the Fit to be Tied clutch from the Stitch and Bitch Happy Hooker.
I don't have any pics because of the computer crash thing but I am making it out of some yarn I found in one of my mom's boxes while we were looking for some bears my Great Gram had crocheted for us when we were kids.

Lots of crochet hook cases for sale on my Etsy site Carrie's Craft Fair

Happy Easter- Don't eat the Peeps 

Sock Monkey baby hat 

Boy beanie 

Happy Hooker- boy beanie

My first finished project from the SnB crochet book is the boy beanie. It is sort of a warm up for the sock monkey hat.
For some reason my pics aren't working so I'll have to post those some other time.
I haven't started the Sock monkey hat yet because I am working on a Winnie the Pooh crossstitch. I am very close to being done with the pooh bear part and then I'll get to move on to the border and then all of the outline stuff.

Crochet

This weekend I bought Debbie Stoller's new book Stitch and Bitch Crochet The Happy Hooker.
I've never crocheted more than a chain and so it is a little weird to try to figure out what the patterns are telling me to do. The abbreviations could be confusing. Like the one for double crochet(dc) makes me think I need to decrease.
My Gram Madora made many a granny square blankets but one of my favorite creations of hers was the set of three bears that she crocheted. I have to learn how to crochet so I can make cute bears too.
I think I am starting with the Sock Monkey hat. A couple of my friends are having baby boys this summer.

I have new items on my Etsy store. Carrie's Craft Fair

Stitch and Bitch

Ok so last weekend I went to an SnB. I have to admit that this was the first SnB I had ever been to despite always looking at the SnB meetings around town. It was fun. I think I came in at the end of the "bitch" portion but I started another pair of little kid mittens. I think it was the only thing that I could think of last week when I went.
But my friend said some nice things about me and my talent and stuff and basically I am thinking of starting a sweater or at least some sort of sweater tank top thing. I may not be ready for sleeves yet but I think I am ready to graduate to sweaters. It really is a big step though. I mean it took me a year and a half to make socks and what if I make a sweater and it takes me 5 years or something outragous like that.
But no really I am going to make a sweater.
And I am going to finish all of my other crafty projects like the Winnie the Pooh crossstitch projects I have to finish.

In other news my kitty may need to have lab tests done to see if something is wrong with him if he keeps getting sick. So keep your fingers crossed that he stops getting sick.

And Check out my Etsy Store Carrie's Craft Fair

Red Scarf project

My current project is Knitting a Red Scarf for The Orphan Foundation's Red Scarf Project Red Scarf Project

Here is a little something about it from their website
Earlier this fall, 2,500 college students without families across the nation received care packages assembled on Capitol Hill by members of Congress, their staff, volunteers and caring individuals who know the importance of feeling connected to others. On Valentine's Day, those same college students will receive care packages containing individually hand-knitted or crocheted red scarves. For young people without loving families and homes to serve as a practical lifeline, the scarves send a powerful message of hope.



I think they are collecting them at Einstein Bros. Bagels

I have also been busy working on stuff the sell at my Etsy store. Today I listed a super cute skirt.

Cute baby hat 

Stop and Go Mittens 

Carrie's craft fair

OK so in looking for a place to sell my needle cases and bags and stuff I stumbled upon something and I listed a few things.
It is really great cause it isn't an auction so it is listed until it sells and the fees are much cheaper than Ebay so we'll see.
So here's the link to Carrie's Craft Fair. Carrie's Craft Fair

Stash reduction the Christmas way. 

Reducing my fabric stash in a totally useful, creative and fun way. I am making stockings for local organizations that give them to people living with HIV and AIDS. My neighbor made 11 stockings to use up some of his fabric. I will be making some at a holiday stocking making party at work tonight so that should be fun.
I did see some of the ones that the people at work had already made and I was quite impressed with the museum quality stockings that were on display.
OK peace.
C

Take that consumerism

My Mom came to visit this weekend. On Friday we went to The Crafty Planet where my mom picked up a Knifty Knitter. It is this knitting loom in the shape of a circle and it is a great way to whip a a quick little hat.

On Saturday she was going to go to the Mall of America with the rest of the world but then she decided that she would rather just stay home and work on her hat on her Knifty Knitter.

It will be fun to see what hats she whips up for every one this Christmas.

OK peace

Finally finished socks 

stitching not knitting

After working on my sock the other day I realized how much I miss sitting down and knitting. During the summer I had copious amounts of free time and made the decision to use my free time to make tote bags, needle cases and crochet hook cases. So now when I have copious amounts of free time I sit down and work on that. My closet is getting full of knitting totes and all my projects sit unfinished.

knitting and TV

OK last night for the first time I mixed these two activities. Watching a movie and knitting. My socks are still not finished and so that is what I was working on I am fairly sure that if I can master this skill of knitting and watching TV that I will be able to finish some more of my projects. This may also not help at all because I really don't watch that much TV.
I may try it again on Wed. or perhaps I will bring my knitting to my condo association meeting.

cute kitty 

bags just listed

Hey all
I have a couple cute little purses listed on ebay. check them out. Carrie's bags

What I did on my summer vacation

In the tradition of the offical back to school writing assignment this is what I have been up to for the last week and a half.
Last Satuurday, Aug. 27 I drove to Iowa to meet my Mom because we were helping my brother move to New York. He had gone ahead to get an apartment before all the other students got back.
Upon arriving in Iowa I headed to Whitey's Ice Cream to get a Smurf ice cream cone, my childhood favorite. Then I went and had a visit with my Grandma Berry.
My Mom and I left on Sunday afternoon and drove late into the night and then woke up and drove into NYC the next day. We get there at about 4:30 and my mom drove like a pro in the city.
We checked out my brother's place which was on the 5th floor and then helped him move in. I'm glad I'm in shape, 5 floors is rough.
The next day we helped my brother register and participated in a lot of Welcome to College activities at Cooper Union. I didn't know anything about the school other then that it free. But I guess a lot of people have spoken there in the Great Hall including Abraham Lincoln.
That evening we went to go see March of the Penguins which was a really great movie. I'm glad we got to see it since we had all wanted to see it but none of us knew anyone else who would want to see it until we were talking about it and realized that we all really wanted to see it.
Then next day we went to breakfast with my cousin Katie before leaving NYC to head to Utica, NY. We saw my Aunts, Uncles and cousins. My Uncle Rick took my on a tour of the the Sturges factory where he is the President.
While we were visiting my Mom's childhood neighbor we walked over to look at the goldfish pond that is in the backyard of the house my mom grew up in. While we were there the current owner came out and invited us in to see the place and tell him what it was like when my mom grew up there. It was really exciting to see the rooms that I had heard my Mom talk about but had never seen. It was like walking into someone's childhood.
We got our half-moon cookies at Gingerbread Bake Shop and we ate them at the cemetary. Then we headed out to see my family on my dad's side of the family in Mt. Morris, NY. We had a great time seeing everyone. We went garage saling and to the farm market and for dinner we had fish fry at a place over in the next town. It was a great time. I was really excited to be eating something good and familiar because we ate some not so familiar food in NYC.
The next day we headed home to Iowa, making wonderful time getting there in 12 hours. In Iowa I was able to see my best friend from high school, Kerry. Kerry and I have been friends since 6th grade. Her friend Brandon came with us as well. We went to Maid-Rite because when you are from Iowa nothing says home like a loose meat sandwich.
Then for old times sake we went to see The Metrolites. Scott and Neal had been in our high school and college favorite The Kabalahs. Their klezmer polka evolved into "the hardest rocking lounge band". We table hopped until we got a table right up front. After awhile we decided to go back to Brandon's and play board games but since Kerry and I had a hankering for Candyland we had to go to Brandon's parents house to get the game.
I returned home yesterday and was back to work today.

2005 fringe pony 

Fringe shows

I have been absent from this blog that I keep because for the last 11 days I have been keeping a Minnesota Fringe blog keeping track of all the shows that I have been seeing. I should have brought my knitting to Fringeville last night gut the only thing that I have started and not finished currently is my sock and the spiderweb capelet but the capelet has a stitch pattern that I need to pay attention to. I am also afraid that knitting in public makes me unapproachable. I think that other crafters will come up and talk to me but non-crafters think that I am busy knitting and avoid talking to me.

ponies

My friend Beth is moving and I have inhereted the My Little Pony collection.
I feel so responsible now. I am going to have to be the one in charge of when pimp your pony day is.
Plans are in the works for Christmas carol ponies.

ponies

My friend Beth is moving and I have inhereted the My Little Pony collection.
I feel so responsible now. I am going to have to be the one in charge of when pimp your pony day is.
Plans are in the works for Christmas carol ponies.

Today the Jane Pauley show was about knitting, cake decorating and pottery. While watching I felt the need to knit.
I bought some lion brand micro spun and I am going to make a tank top. If I am lucky it will be done in time for the end of summer and I can maybe get some use out of it this year. Otherwise It will be done for next summer.

I have a bunch of auctions ending in the next couple days bags and cases.
After racing through book 6 I am back to my socks. I began working on the heel flap last night.
Book 6 has a couple good knitting references. Dumbledore comes out of the bathroom and when asked what has taken him so long he said. "I was reading the Muggle magazines, I love looking at knitting patterns." And at Christmal Harry gets a sweater with a golden snitch knitted into it. I wonder if Mrs. Weasley actually knits of if she uses magic to knit all those sweaters for her family.

Harry Potter

My socks have not made any progress since my last post about them. I am at the part where I need to work on the heel flap and I keep forgetting to bring my directions.
I am not sure that there will be any progress to report over the next couple of days either since I purchased my new Harry Potter book last night and will probably spend every available minute reading that for the next couple days.

My second sock of my pair of socks it coming along much faster than my first sock. I have one more inch to knit before I have to do the heel stuff. I can't believe how fast this one has knit up.
I have been sewing up a storm making bags and needle cases to sell on ebay.

my big catch 
It took me three tries to catch this fish.
The first attempt I was reeling my hook in and he followed my bait in and I noticed him because he came really close to the surface. I left my bait in the water and he tried to take it but then he spit it out.

The next cast I was paying attention to something else and I looked and my bobber was completely submerged. I tried to pull him in but he cut my line with his teeth.

The third time was the real deal. When I noticed my submerged bobber this time I reeled him in. He's 22 inches so I got to keep him and have him for dinner.
The other catches of the vacation were less noteworthy. There was a bass that was too small to keep and a couple good sized blue gills.

After spending 10 days in and around national forests(Superior and Chippewa) it is a little strange to be back in the city where the trees look so short compared to the tall pine trees I've gotten used to seeing.

mama and baby loons 

my first sock 

bags and socks

I listed several bags and needle cases on ebay. The last ones sold so I am hoping that these do too.
bags and cases

My socks are almost finished. I just have to "graft" the toe together and then the first one will be done and it will be on to sock #2. I am trying to figure out exactly what it means to graft something together.

After consulting the Stitch and Bitch book I think I have it figured out. and will have a completed sock at the end of the day today.

I bought more fabric for bags and needle cases. I am totally hoping that they sell because I keep making them and if they don't sell I am going to end up with a closet full of bags, tote and needle cases.
Maybe I can get hooked up wtih a craft sale or something.

I have turned the heel and started working on the foot part of my sock. I have about 3 inches more to knit before I start doing the toe decreases. Then I will have to start the other sock. My brother can knit socks in 6 weeks. I wonder if he is just talking about one sock or if he means a pair of socks in 6 weeks. Either I think that is fast.

The Snoop Oven Mitt 

a new look on socks

I started knitting some socks in September. I worked on them until October when I bought the Stitch and Bitch book and decided my time was better spent making armbands. They had originally been in a project bag but had gotten moved out of the project bag in favor of more exciting projects like knitting sushi. Anyway this weekend I reapproached my socks and holy cow. All I can say is that I knit like the wind. I didn't finish but they started out being 4 inches long which had taken me forever to achieve and now they are 8 inches long. Now comes the hard part about turning the heel and all that but I am brave and I can do it.

I thought that everyone in my life, knitter and non knitters alike, would be getting knitting needle cases for Christmas because I started making some to sell on ebay. Fortunately I sold one with a matching tote bag and I plan on making more so this will hopefully not be the case.
I am also going to be making a baby sling for a friend of mine so that is good.
The sun has been shining for three hours. I rollerbladed before the sun broke through but then went on a walk around the park just to get my Vitamin D.
The garage sales were a let down. By let down I mean that no one was trying to unload any yarn or knitting needles. But I did find an oven mitt that matches one of my cats.

knit sushi roll 

Spiderweb capelet.

I am working on the Spiderweb capelet from Stitch and Bitch Nation. I ran out of yarn cause I am not using the yarn from the book so that project is on pause until I can get back to the Crafty Planet for more yarn.
I am working on some knitting totes for selling on ebay.
And I am using up the acrylic yarn that people have given me to make knitted sushi.
Soon I hope to have a done project to post pictures of.

I haven't had time to post in a while and I also haven't really been knitting too much. Too busy working.
One of my cats totally loves non cat toy toys. He likes twisty ties, milk cap rings, pony tail holders and now he is crazy for the end of the yarn.
My other cat was very brave this weekend. My mom visited and instead of hiding the whole time like she normally does she was out playing and visiting and hanging out and watching movies with us. I'm so proud of her.

Pony Day!!
Pony Day was yesterday. My pony is the one on the right with the black lacy dress on. They were inspired by a couple characters in a show I am working on.
It sounds like there will not be time for pony day or any other crafts on the next show.

yarn over

OK for some reason I just could never really grasp the yarn over. But I think I finally got it. I am attempting to make the Spiderweb Capelet from Stitch and Bitch Nation so I'll be tracking my progress on that. First I made a mistake cause I didn't get the whole yarn over thing and I had to unknit it. Now it seems like it will be ok.
A certain Critic at Large that we listen to every week on State of the Arts is going to come to my work to interview the designer of the show. I think that there needs to be a big group picture.

Barb's Birthday fishnets 

I love saving daylight

The eye mask is OK for helping me fall asleep but it falls off at some time during the night. But the personal satisfaction of making up my own little thing to knit and just being all free and easy with my knitting was kind of cool. Usually I knit from a pattern so it is good for me to do some experimenting.
I went running today after work. My endurance is really increasing each time I run. It is awesome to feel like I am making personal progress. But I am also trying to watch any development of shin splints cause I think that is what has kept me from running in the past. Seems OK so far though.
Kitties are mellow tonight.


Napping eye mask

spring ahead

I haven't been sleeping well. I wake up a couple times in the middle of the night, it also takes me a while to fall asleep. I blame Nyquil dependancy but whatever. It could also be that I need to have my room darker. A lot of light comes in from the street lights through the living room window.
The whole point is I knit myself the cutest little eyemask today for the purpose of sleeping.
I'll post pics and update on its usefulness tomorrow.
The really great thing is that I just decided- I want to knit this and that is what I did, no pattern or anything. I totally made it up and I'm kind of proud of it. I kinda remember what I did but I would like to modify if a little if I were really going to post a pattern for it. So I'll work on that.
C

I am not sure how it got to be nearly 3 pm. I guess this is what happens when you sleep in. I have to work at 6 and I don't want to think about it.
Really I should be working on making feathers for The Amazing Mazy but I am tired. I have been playing the role of most motivated person in my condo building all weekend and I am tired.
I had to call the gas company to get them to find out why the building smelled like gas on Friday night and then yesterday morning I had to have them come out and turn the gas on and then today I made them come out and turn the water heater back on. I just didn't want to have to shower at work and I have ths crazy idea that whoever turned back on the gas yesterday should have checked that.

Cat in the Hat- see just like Besty Ross 

just like Betsy Ross

I am working on making Cat in the Hat hats for Suessical the Musical. I am sewing red and white stripes together so I totally feel like Besty Ross might have felt sewing all those flags together.

My friends have the cutest baby. Yesterday I went to visit and he was chasing the cats and meowing at them. The meow is so funny, it sounds just like a cat that wants to be let in or let out. It was hilarious.

I'll post pictures of the hats later.

done in time

OK so my friend Barb's birthday is next week and I finally finished these fishnets.
OK so they were basically done a while ago but then when I stitched them up I realized that perhaps I had gotten a little excited about binding off because they were to tight. So I had to unknit a couple rows and rebind them off so that they would not cause circulation to be cut off.


done and done 

short attention span projects 

the best $2.50 I ever spent

At the most recent 50% off sale at Savers I picked up a crockpot for $2.50. So for just a little more than the price of gas I picked up a used crockpot.
It works and so yesterday I made Sweet Potato Chili. This will probably feed me the rest of the week. Why have I never had one of these things before? How did I get so far into my life without a slow cooker.
Best $2.50 I have ever spent.

my house smells

so good. Thanks to the star gazer lilies that I bought myself at the grocery store last night.
When I walked in my condo this evening it smelled so wonderful and I was like Wow it smells awesome in here, why does it smell so good? Then I saw my lilies and I was like Oh yeah, I bought myself flowers cause I rock.

star gazer lilies 

no pony pimping

Pimp my Pony day has been cancelled due to one of the creators being sick.

Although it would be acceptable to Pimp Ponies without her it would not be the same. So I don't have to decide how I want to dress my pony.

almost done

I am so close to being done with Barbie's fishnets. I just have to stitch up the back seam and block them.

Sunday is Pimp your Pony day at work. It is sort of like Pimp my Ride but with My Little Ponys. I am trying to decide how I want to pimp my pony. Maybe I should knit a legwarmers or fishnets for my pony.

I'll post pics of this event on Monday.


almost done 

Who would send such a lovely pair of pants to Goodwill?
But what luck that I found them.
I have declared Friday "dress like a pirate" day in honor of these pants.




awesome pirate pants