Back to the task at hand...

Has Friday ever snuck up on you? I mean, you are well into Friday afternoon when it finally hits you: IT'S FRIDAY! I don't mean that you don't realize what day it is (although not working it is possible that very thing could happen to me), but I mean when it's Friday and you know it's Friday, but then you realize what that means. You know what I'm talking about! That very thing happened to me. I was updating all FOUR of my blogs, planning a bridal shower I am co-hosting, working on invitations, getting a little website work done and BAM! The phone rings....it's Friday, and I am spending the weekend away from home. I packed myself some dirty (yes dirty, but to be washed upon arriving at my destination) clothes, some jammies, the necessary toiletries, my laptop, and of course my knitting bag, and I was off. And now here I am.


The bud, the brother, and the sister-in-law are off to TN, the puppies are all tucked in. The wind is blowing insanely hard outside, fall is in the air, and I am inside with my knitting bag, my laptop, some sorbet, and the Girls Next Door. Yes that is right, Holly, Bridget, Kendra, and Hef. What can I say? It is my one guilty pleasure. But poor TV aside I am hoping to have the PTBNL completed tomorrow. I am so excited to complete the PTBNL. It will be a big milestone for this newbie knitter. It's actually something useful and wearable! I can't wait! I also think Holly, Bridget, and Kendra would approve of my current project.

Well I am off to enjoy the solitude: Me, my faithful superhero sidekick Gidget, my sorbet, and my knitting. I hope to have good news to report soon!

Are digital cameras making us all seem crazy?

That is the question I asked myself a while back, as I was taking this picture after finding a solution to my twisted yarn problem:

It is something my mother has been accusing me of for months now. I am accused of being weird/crazy/off my rocker, etc. solely based on the photos I take with my digital camera. Oh but I'm not alone, she teases me about what other bloggers photograph and then publish.

Personally I like to look at it as taking full advantage of a situation. I mean, I remember just a short time ago when all I had was my Canon EOS Rebel and a camera bag, stuffed full of rolls of film. Oh the good old days. You were limited to 24 or 36 photos before you had to stop, wind, and reload. Then there were the developing fees. If you were lucky, as I was, you occasionally caught a break from a pal that worked at a pharmacy photo lab and you could get them free to cheap. But those places weren't great for those who dabbled in photography as an art form. Sure the pharmacy lab was great for the photos from dear old Grandma and Grandpa's 60 Wedding anniversary, but those artistic photos you took of that new Hemlock blanket, those needed to go someplace nicer...the photo lab. The place where you could not set foot in the door without spending at least $15.00. I mean sure you could wait two days and get them cheaper, but who wanted to do that when you could get them in 1 hour and not lose quality?! I certainly didn't!

Now you have your new pictures, some of them good, some of them embarrassing, but you have them...FINALLY. So what now? Some go in a photo album maybe, a few in the photo box, if you are real good maybe one or two in a frame, but what about the ones you want to share with friends across the globe. That was where the ol' scanner came in handy. I can hear the cranking and the grinding now as the scanner scanned my pictures. Oh the old days. You know, five or six years ago. LOL.

What is the point of this long and drawn out blog post you might ask? It is to say that I don't care if I seem crazy, I am going to enjoy every single minute of my digital camera, the free space on my hard drive, and the fact that my camera fits in my purse or pocket. You see, several of my near and dear friends live in other states, heck one even in another country, but why should that stop us from sharing our day-to-day lives with one another? AT&T unlimited mobile-to-mobile is a huge helper with that, but why not take it a step further? My friends and I certainly do. It helps strengthen relationships, build bonds, and lets us be a part of even the tiny, seemingly unimportant aspects of each others lives. I won't even bore you with the benefits it provides on Ravelry and flickr to let you see how a knitted keepsake looks as the pattern progresses. Folks, we are living in the information age, like it or not. The way I see it you can either join us by taking pictures of your feet, favorite cupcakes, the handmade invitations you are so proud of and want to show your crafty pals, or you can make fun of us and miss out on the entire experience. Who's with me?

PUT THE NEEDLES DOWN SLOWLY. PICK UP THE KEYS TO THE TRACTOR.

Because the pasture needs mowing!

I don't talk about it much on either of my blogs really, but I am a horse person. Nay (or should I say neigh), a horse freak. I talk about them, spend most of my free time with them, not to mention every extra penny on them. That's right, I am horse person, a horseaholic. If any of you know a horse person you know that it's not quite like owning a dog, oh no, horses are a lifestyle, a passion, a full blown addiction. They are my therapy, much like knitting. And as I really need to put the needles down, turn off the computer, and head out to the barn, I thought I'd post a few pictures of my ponies, past and present:

I Might Be on to Something People!

So how freakin' excited was I to see the new fall online catalog for DKNY?! Just look at what this starved, sun deprived model is wearing on her arms! They are handwarmers! Mitts! Whatever you prefer to call them, but they are there! Between this and the Victoria's Secret link Ol' Pinkie sent me, knitted attire and accessories are going to be big for fall. Well aren't my non-knitting friends going to be shocked when they see this! And to think all this time they have been teasing me. What do they know?! Even my mother teases me. And we are talking about a woman who has a two piece knit ensemble from the 80's, that if I'm not mistaken is still in her closet. I am hoping these things might make it into fall fashion and aren't just something you see in the fashion mags that don't quite make it into mainstream America. OK and while I am taking shots at people: what is up with elephant arms in the lower picture? Is she hiding some Popeye forearms under those things or what? Well I am off now, off to pick myself out a nice pattern for handwarmers, and who knows, I might even attempt a hat.

Project Status Update

My buddy has a status update on the right hand side of her blog, I am just too lazy, but I did think that it might be nice to give an update on my current projects, and my progress. Here goes:

Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket: 100% WHOOHOO
Wild Stripes Blanket: 30%
Elsie Blanket: 30%
Potholders: 50% (knitting completed, now I need fabric!)
Fish Blanket 1% (I have successfully knit one fish! LOL)

Not too shabby in my opinion considering all of these projects besides the Elsie blanket were started in the past week or two. I haven't blogged about the potholders yet, and there is also another project I left out. It will be getting it's own blog entry shortly, but to keep with the updating, I am at 75% with the PTBNL.

Here is a little preview of the Project to be Named Later:

I'm Done!!

Well it's official! I completed my Ravelympics project. My Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket is complete! Now I am wishing I had chosen a more challenging project, but all in all I am happy with the pattern and the end result. This blanket is sooooo soft, and hopefully will not end up going to the dogs.

So Much Yarn, So Little Time

As you may recall from my previous post, I have talked myself into attempting to make this Wild Stripes Baby Blanket from Knitty.com. Well I have finally purchased all of my yarn and I am pretty happy with my color choices. As you can see in the photo below, there are 14 skeins of yarn, and only 13 skeins in 12 colors are needed. It was late, I was hungry, there were creepy old women breathing down my neck because I was hogging the aisle, and I could not decide between two colors of pink. I bought them both and got the heck out of there. You will probably also notice that I did not tidy up my lose yarn pieces in the photo. So shoot me. My mother was expected to pop in at any moment. She is relentless at teasing me about the photos I take for my blog and for my ravelry profile.

I decided to go with Caron Simply Soft yarn. Under perfect circumstances I would have chosen something different, but I am in the middle of nowhere and my only yarn purchasing options are Wal Mart or Hancock Fabrics. Wal Mart in Corneila has a surprisingly well stocked yarn inventory, even if their needle selection is lacking. Now my final task is to locate a size 5 or 6 circular needle. I have searched three separate local shops to no avail. After a few more attempts I am going to settle on a size 8 and reduce my number of stitches. I am pretty excited about this project so I am ready to get started. Not to mention I need to catch up with Mrs. Pinkie, who is much further ahead than I had originally thought.

Ravelympics: 2 days and counting! Happy knitting!

How Many Baby Blankets Does One Single Girl Need?

I am not quite sure where my fascination with knitting baby blankets is coming from, but it is becoming a problem. As I mentioned months ago in a previous post, nobody I know is expecting, trying, or really even thinking about it for that matter. OK well that last part isn't entirely true, but none of them are seriously contemplating it, so I guess you could say it is only half true. I will say this though: whichever one of my friends or relatives does decide to bring a little bundle of joy into this world first will be completely stocked with knit baby blankets!

I just love baby blanket patterns. They are either too cute to pass up, or challenging, or both. I mean, I would really love to knit a blanket for myself or my mom, but every time I search "blanket" I am inundated with tons of adorable baby blanket patterns I just can't pass up...which brings us to my latest project:

The Wild Stripes Blanket compliments of Knitty.com. How freakin' cute is this blanket?

This project calls for 12 different colors, and 13 skeins of yarn. I am in need of 5 more colors (skeins) and a size 6, 32" circular needle and I will be set. Who knows if I will actually finish this project, but for now I am pretty excited about it.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that my old pal Knit Pinkie STOLE it from me? Well I guess it is my fault, I have been talking about it a good bit recently, and making her help me choose colors. It's all good though, I am hoping she finishes hers first and practices sewing on the fabric backing so she can then do, oh I mean help, with mine.

Let the Games Begin!

Well it's official, I am a ravelthete! You know, for the Ravelympics. OK well just in case you think I have lost my mind and have resorted to making up words... I will elaborate.

The Ravelympics is open to all knitters and crocheters on Ravelry who want to challenge themselves to complete a project (start to finish) in 17 days. More specifically, the 17 days in which the Summer Olympic Games takes place.

Here are a few guidelines:

• You cannot cast on prior to the opening ceremonies in Beijing.
• The project must be a challenge for you to complete in 17 days.
• Finish before the flame goes out at the closing ceremonies.
• You may swatch before the game.

The project I have chosen is the Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket. It is not a difficult pattern, and not at all a challenge to actually knit. But where does the challenge come in you might ask? Well I will tell you: that would be me completing ANY knitting project in 17 days without getting distracted! Yes perhaps I could have chosen a more difficult project to complete, but I also wanted to be realistic...disappointment SUCKS.

I did a little "test run" on my pattern and speed. No I am not cheating, this blanket will not be used. The honor system gets me every time. I have also decided to add one more project to complete in the 17 days. Hey it's not like I'm employed full time or in school this semester or anything!

I have entered in Baby Dressage and Afghan Marathon. Go Team G.R.I.T.S.!!

*Team G.R.I.T.S. icon stolen, no borrowed, from my pal KnitPinkie.

I'm Back! Well at Least I Think I Am...

It has been long enough, I have decided to stop slacking and actually get some knitting done. I am embarrassed to say that I LOST my Elsie baby blanket! Yes that is correct, I lost it, and my entire knitting bag. No worries though, a quick emptying of my closet and all has been found, safe, sound and undamaged I might add.

The Elsie blanket, as you might recall, is my first project doing anything but a basic knit or purl. I am not finding the pattern hard to execute, everything is quite easy actually, I am however having a hard time paying attention to where I am in the row/pattern. Just a side effect of having a very short attention span I guess...my mind wanders and BAM I forget where I am. So far I only have two minor (unrepaired) slipups that are barely noticeable. I have decided to press on with my project. I figure worst-case scenario my friend CJ will be getting an extra baby blanket someday, or the dog will have yet another blanket to snuggle with.

I doubt I will restart the Elsie blanket just yet, I think a few quick and easy projects are in order to get me motivated again.
I have signed myself up for Ravelympics 2008! I will post my entries soon.