Master Blackhead and I have spent all day today cleaning our new house. There were parts so gross that double gloves and strong cleaners were called in to save the day. The place is shaping up so well that a vendor who stopped by today didn't realize that we bought a foreclosure until he went to the basement (we hadn't touched it then yet). The vendor even said that our house was the cleanest and most well-maintained foreclosure he's seen. I promptly told him it was because I spent the last week cleaning it.
All this work would usually seem absolutely laborious and painful, but somehow it isn't this time. I think it's because we love this house and I truly believe that this house loves us back. I know it sounds so absolutely silly, but I really do believe that. Case in point: after vacuuming the entire above ground square footage, the house actually sighed with relief. I kid you not. The house went, "ahhhhhhhhhh." Hasn't made the noise since, and no I didn't have the A/C running. Maybe I'm projecting my own feelings onto the house, or maybe the house just likes us. I prefer the latter theory.
Anyway, I'm bushed. Unlike Master Blackhead, I've put in two 14-hour days in a row. Goodnight.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
You Want Him in Your Corner
We just closed on our house. Finally. After all the crap the seller's bank put us through, we have the house and couldn't be happier. This would not have been possible if we had just any Realtor, we needed the best and got the best. If you live in Minnesota and need a Realtor, call Gary Kreb.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Freeze: We've Got You Surrounded
Knitter's are extremely talented individuals (if I do say so myself), but the ladies in my knitting group put all others to shame. It's often said that Cid, Designer Extraordinaire, has more talent in her pinky than most people have in their whole bodies. (Let's not even talk about her extremely talented pinky toe.) Remember this particularly lovely Cid creation:
Yeah, these ladies can strut their collective creative crafty joojoo better than anyone else. My birthday gifts offer a glimpse into their immense creativity and dedication to their crafts. As you can see they don't just knit.
JennyK: Handspun yarn. This merino/silk blend is beautiful and perfect in every way.
MamaSara: An asymmetrical rose quartz necklace with turtles. Lovely.
ZeldaBeast: Whimsical stitch markers to honor the Little Blackheads. Very thoughtful (especially since I'm the one always bumming stitch markers.)
Yeah, these ladies can strut their collective creative crafty joojoo better than anyone else. My birthday gifts offer a glimpse into their immense creativity and dedication to their crafts. As you can see they don't just knit.
JennyK: Handspun yarn. This merino/silk blend is beautiful and perfect in every way.
MamaSara: An asymmetrical rose quartz necklace with turtles. Lovely.
ZeldaBeast: Whimsical stitch markers to honor the Little Blackheads. Very thoughtful (especially since I'm the one always bumming stitch markers.) 
Ttink: Elegant and gracious, just like her. The colors are perfect, and the kitty bead is just too sweet.
Maybe I've just always been lucky to be surrounded by strong and creative women. My mom is fabulousness personified. Even my mom's cat, Ariel, is a queen amongst cats. My friends are all smart and savvy. Just check out how much thought and love went into my birthday gift from SisterB. Handpainted to capture some of the most important aspects of my life. (I added the ugly blue lines to protect the innocent and not so innocent.)
SisterB: Cats, friends, love, and knitting. Perfect.
It's daunting that so many people you know have amazing skill and focus. It's hard for me not to freeze up in wonderment at their seamless grace with everyday things great and small. I'm lucky to be surrounded by these women. I hope you feel the same way about the women in your life.
SisterB: Cats, friends, love, and knitting. Perfect.It's daunting that so many people you know have amazing skill and focus. It's hard for me not to freeze up in wonderment at their seamless grace with everyday things great and small. I'm lucky to be surrounded by these women. I hope you feel the same way about the women in your life.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Priority Hex
As I was wrapping the LGJ Purse and getting it ready send, our resident box inspector once again tested the structural integrity of the box. Apparently, there was some drama, and went down somewhat like this.
Hex: Something isn't right with this box
Jynx: That's because they're mailing you to Timbuktu in it. Haha!
Hex: They can't do that! Who else will inspect all the boxes.
Jynx: Yeah like you do a good job of that. You were licking on the job. See, I have proof.
Hex: Oh.
Hex: Mmmm... let's keep this between us. The Big Blackheads don't need to know.
Other than that, we've had a great weekend. Using the Museum Passes we checked out at the library we went to the Bakken Museum of Electricity and Magnetism, and the American Swedish Institute for FREE. These passes are the coolest thing. We've been to all sorts of interesting places with them. Last week we used a pass to visit the Landscape Arboretum.
Anyway, both these buildings are beautiful. I prefer Bakken's exterior and the ASI's interior. Bakken was orginally built by a Goodfellow in order to impress his girlfriend who refused marry him because he was cheap. She still didn't marry him after he built a mansion. I wonder if it was because he still cheaped out here and there (like stamped concrete floors rather than tile). One weird thing (unrelated to the cheap thing), the building exterior is divided between Tudor and Gothic Revival styles, which delineated the servant quarters and the family spaces, respectively. Was Goodfellow trying to perserve the distinction of rank? Here are a few photos of the Bakken including a banister finial purportedly blessed by the Pope.
Here's the exterior of the ASI. No photos are allowed inside, which is a real shame. It's beautiful inside. There was also an exhibit of 18 ball gowns worn by Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Nobel Ceremonies. There a few I really loved and few that had me quite puzzled.
In knitting news, I've started a side-to-side vest for afghans for Afghans. The pattern is in Betty Christiansen's Knitting for Peace (part of my birthday gift from MamaSara). It's in a green from Knit Picks via MamaSara. I hope it turns out nicely for the kid who gets it. Here's a quick peek of how far I am (not far at all). Happy Knitting!
Hex: Something isn't right with this boxJynx: That's because they're mailing you to Timbuktu in it. Haha!
Hex: They can't do that! Who else will inspect all the boxes.Jynx: Yeah like you do a good job of that. You were licking on the job. See, I have proof.
Hex: Oh.
Hex: Mmmm... let's keep this between us. The Big Blackheads don't need to know.
Other than that, we've had a great weekend. Using the Museum Passes we checked out at the library we went to the Bakken Museum of Electricity and Magnetism, and the American Swedish Institute for FREE. These passes are the coolest thing. We've been to all sorts of interesting places with them. Last week we used a pass to visit the Landscape Arboretum.
Anyway, both these buildings are beautiful. I prefer Bakken's exterior and the ASI's interior. Bakken was orginally built by a Goodfellow in order to impress his girlfriend who refused marry him because he was cheap. She still didn't marry him after he built a mansion. I wonder if it was because he still cheaped out here and there (like stamped concrete floors rather than tile). One weird thing (unrelated to the cheap thing), the building exterior is divided between Tudor and Gothic Revival styles, which delineated the servant quarters and the family spaces, respectively. Was Goodfellow trying to perserve the distinction of rank? Here are a few photos of the Bakken including a banister finial purportedly blessed by the Pope.
Here's the exterior of the ASI. No photos are allowed inside, which is a real shame. It's beautiful inside. There was also an exhibit of 18 ball gowns worn by Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Nobel Ceremonies. There a few I really loved and few that had me quite puzzled.
In knitting news, I've started a side-to-side vest for afghans for Afghans. The pattern is in Betty Christiansen's Knitting for Peace (part of my birthday gift from MamaSara). It's in a green from Knit Picks via MamaSara. I hope it turns out nicely for the kid who gets it. Here's a quick peek of how far I am (not far at all). Happy Knitting!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Little Girl January Revealed
I gave a mystery clue a while back and today I reveal what all the hush hush was about. One of my dearest friends Little Girl January (LGJ) will be finishing up her PhD soon. In honor of that great achievement, I have designed a purse for her. Her favorite color is purple and she's very environmentally savvy. So, my first pattern to be published, the Little Girl January Purse, is purple and made of sustainable bamboo. I will be posting the pattern as soon as I finish editing it, but here is the bag itself.
What do you think? It's the perfect size for all your essentials and just a bit more. A paperback even fits into it. I made a longer strap for LGJ since she tends to carry her bags with the strap crossing her chest. It's a pretty easy project and great for the ambitious beginner. Its knit in two identical pieces; stitches are picked up along the sides; then the three edges are seamed together with a three-needle bind off. The strap is super easy: just cast on whatever number stitches you need for your desired strap length and bind 'em off. I think this bag would be great as a tote too: just use heavier yarn and larger needles.
What do you think? It's the perfect size for all your essentials and just a bit more. A paperback even fits into it. I made a longer strap for LGJ since she tends to carry her bags with the strap crossing her chest. It's a pretty easy project and great for the ambitious beginner. Its knit in two identical pieces; stitches are picked up along the sides; then the three edges are seamed together with a three-needle bind off. The strap is super easy: just cast on whatever number stitches you need for your desired strap length and bind 'em off. I think this bag would be great as a tote too: just use heavier yarn and larger needles.Stay tuned for the FREE pattern.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Glacial Mimosa- All Done
Finally, everything is done with this project. I'm done. I thought it would never end. I blocked the sucker and I'm done. Yay!!
To celebrate here is a gratuitous photo of a cute Hex sleeping. Awww!
To celebrate here is a gratuitous photo of a cute Hex sleeping. Awww!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sneak Peek, Mimosa, and Other Fiber Cocktails
It seems that most of my friends have birthdays in the summer. One such friend is getting a surprise for hers. Here's a sneak peek. The pattern will be available free on this blog during late August.
After deciding that the project was too persnickety to continue and letting the thing marinate/hibernate for a few weeks, I have finally finished the Glacial Mimosa. Pictures of the completed garment are forthcoming, but for now here are some pics of it in progress.
You just might be able to tell that it is very slightly (possibly?) striped. Well, it is and I'm still fuming about it. The yarn (originally for the Puff Sleeved Feminine Cardigan by Stephanie Japel, below in red) was from two distinct dye lots.
How did I discover this? Oh... I just knit about 95% of the sweater, saw it in natural light instead of my compact fluorescents, and went S*&^&^@#%((*&*%$!!!!!! Then with an unceremonious 'ugh' I tossed it in the darkest corner of my least used closet. Months later, I ripped out the monstrosity (my dye lot boo boo, not the pattern, I love glampyre's designs) and started the Pink Mimosa from Interweave. Thinking that if I alternate rows with the different dye lots, I might be able to make this work. I must admit that I am pleased with the striping. It is very subtle, and lends a heathery quality to the garment. So why was it banished yet again?
Did you know that an aran and DK weight garment differ by a factor of 2 in the number of stitches? Even more, there is a factor of 4 between aran and sockweight! Just look at the numbers. Hmmm... chunky yarn is looking really appealing right now.
To end on a sweeter note, the feline-fiber bonding continues. Jynx has found yet another yarny place to cuddle, this one even comes with a view.
After deciding that the project was too persnickety to continue and letting the thing marinate/hibernate for a few weeks, I have finally finished the Glacial Mimosa. Pictures of the completed garment are forthcoming, but for now here are some pics of it in progress.
You just might be able to tell that it is very slightly (possibly?) striped. Well, it is and I'm still fuming about it. The yarn (originally for the Puff Sleeved Feminine Cardigan by Stephanie Japel, below in red) was from two distinct dye lots.
How did I discover this? Oh... I just knit about 95% of the sweater, saw it in natural light instead of my compact fluorescents, and went S*&^&^@#%((*&*%$!!!!!! Then with an unceremonious 'ugh' I tossed it in the darkest corner of my least used closet. Months later, I ripped out the monstrosity (my dye lot boo boo, not the pattern, I love glampyre's designs) and started the Pink Mimosa from Interweave. Thinking that if I alternate rows with the different dye lots, I might be able to make this work. I must admit that I am pleased with the striping. It is very subtle, and lends a heathery quality to the garment. So why was it banished yet again?
- Absolute torturous need for carrying two balls at once
- All the ends that needed to be woven end
- DK weight is SLOOOOOWWWW knitting
Did you know that an aran and DK weight garment differ by a factor of 2 in the number of stitches? Even more, there is a factor of 4 between aran and sockweight! Just look at the numbers. Hmmm... chunky yarn is looking really appealing right now.
- Aran 4" square: 16 sts x 20 rows = 320
- DK 4" square: 22 sts x 28 rows = 616
- Sock 4" square: 32 sts x 40 rows = 1280
To end on a sweeter note, the feline-fiber bonding continues. Jynx has found yet another yarny place to cuddle, this one even comes with a view.
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