head in your shell

Mail Day brings goodies.

2010-09-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

My postman automatically hands me my packages and waits for me to open them to show him my new yarn purchases. I don't think he's ever seen me wear a hand knit and he's commented on that recently. I have to get cracking and wow him.

This past week brought me a skein of Madelinetosh merino/bamboo and two of Cablefreak's little socks. The Madelinetosh will be socks for me and the remaining two were to contribute to a fundraiser and have no current plans.

I have also recently finished a hat for my little man. I doubt he'll be so reluctant to wear it when the temperatures start approaching freezing. It's cascade 220 heathers and the pattern is who? by Sara Amarosa.

A year later, a finished project.

2010-07-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Poor neglected blog. You realize just how long it's been when you use the yarn you last posted (July of 2009) a full year later in the next post.

It became this sweet little sweater for my neighbour's toddler.

It appears to have gently kicked my knitting mojo back into gear and hopefully there will be more to come.

Where dontcare does care.

2010-01-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

It's only taking me what feels like an entire lifetime to get to this point. Ordinarily at 32 that would be laughable but I have lived more in the past ten years of my life then more will in the remainder of theirs. The wedding went well, but I'm suffering from a letdown of all the build up and my husband's absence. With him being military he'll only be home for about 45 days between January 1st and October of this year. He's set to deploy to Afghanistan in a couple short months. Knitting keeps me sane. Without the soothing presence of knitting needles I don't think I have the coping skills to get by.

Just when I started to truly feel sorry for myself, that my first years as a newlywed will be mostly alone I received yarn in the mail. It always seems to show up the minute it's needed. It's colored string. It's much more than colored string. It's a bit of a bright light on a grey day.

Progress!

2009-07-08T07:34:00.001-07:00

I'm plugging away on my WIPS as part of the LSG Team over on Ravelry's Work in Progress Wrestling. Here are two of my finished projects.

The purple socks are Monkey by Cookie A. in Araucania Ranco Multy I picked up at Baadeck Yarns on our summer 2008 camping trip. The pink and purple head wrap is Ana by Adrienne Thomas in Handmaiden Lady Godiva from LK Yarns in Halifax.

In the mail came my July shipments of the Yarn Pirate's Booty Club, and ArtWalk Sock Yarn Club. The booty club, Iliana loves so it will be a hat for her. The Art Walk sock yarn is so my colours that I squeed when I opened it.

Summer of Socks and WIP Wrestling.

2009-06-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

Poor Corbin was trying to pack himself into daddy's bags. This is how I've been feeling lately with the constant absence of my man. He'll be home for the wedding day itself this Halloween but he'll be in Israel up to ten days prior.

My Tesla (hand maiden sea silk in Scottish Thistle I picked up from Baadeck Yarns last summer) is proving to be a bit of a pain in the ass. It's coming along now but I feel weak for having to use a life line to keep from frogging for the NINTH time.

Summer of Socks is starting this weekend over on Ravelry. My goal is to make a pair approximately every two weeks over the summer. I want to start with the red and blue skein that was hand dyed by Lulubelle.

Organized Chaos....

2009-03-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

On the needles is my second RPM sock done in a purple and green yarn called Spanky from etsy seller lizardsmells.

On my larger addi (I love my addi's) is a top down raglan sweater. The same cabin fever design as Corbin's woobu sweater. I have run out of the blue (6A Debbie Bliss Pure cotton) so I will have to hunt down more to complete it. It's such a cute pattern on him.

You may have to much yarn when you start stealing toy boxes from the kids. I rearranged their stash to use their bins. So things are sorted by weight and fiber content and I can better see what I already own. Which would be to many single 100 yard skeins of DK weight and not enough of anything to make garments for myself except for socks.

Happy Valentine's Day.

2009-02-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

He always brings me back something from his work trips. This time he found the Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria. The store sounds delicious. He comes home with a purple pottery mug ( I love pottery) a box of truffles, a sock book, and new yarn.

I was spoiled rotten, I'm ready to shove him back out the door again to see what his foraging brings back.

It's to cold to walk..

2009-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

I hate the trip up to preschool. It's only ten minutes but in January it seems longer. A half an hour of cramming two kids in snow suits only to have the baby toss his hat on the path somewhere along the way isn't my idea of a good time. He may hate me for this, but I finished this hat for him today. Hopefully it'll slow him down enough for me to save my knitting from winding up in someone's ditch again.

Where I have to sacrifice my knitting money for the greater good.

2009-01-04T08:28:00.001-08:00

It looks like my wedding day will be December 21st of this year. Of course that can't be official until I tie up some loose ends in the first couple months of this year, but I don't see it becoming a problem.

Now, this is a good thing. However, in order to bankroll such a thing it means a serious curtailing of anything above bills and food. I am grateful for my stash as this will be the year I'm knitting out of it.

So, every time I look weak remind me that we want to go to Morocco for a honeymoon and airfare doesn't come cheap.

In the meantime, I at least have a bit of a sock yarn stash. Enough for about 15 pair. It should tie me over for a bit.

The end of 2008...

2008-12-31T13:57:00.000-08:00

It's been a pretty decent year I would say. No major upsets in the lives of those closest to me which is always a blessing.

For 2009 I want:
To remain in this house, and not get posted out. (At least two years in one home since it hasn't happened for us quite yet)

To get married this year. I think after all this time we should be good and ready.

To hire a maid. We can afford it, and I really want someone else to do the bathroom. I promise to be exceptionally good to them.

To finish one knitting project a week, and one big one a month. I'm starting the year off with the one skein hat I made for Iliana over the past couple of days.

S.E.X!!!

2008-11-29T14:45:00.000-08:00

Even with two kids in tow, you can't deny my access to more yarn.

Yarn for bags, a pair of work socks, a hat, maybe some mittens and a couple I don't know but I liked the look of it!

Now to get Corbin's Woobu sweater done, so I can do something else. It is so very cute, and addictive!

Woe is Me

2008-11-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

I have been spoiled over the years. With any separations in the past I have always had internet or phone access to keep in touch. We even own webcams and a laptop because of him being away with work. Being out to sea with no contact all week is making me really unhappy. I just don't feel I have the right to complain to those who understand our life the best. Those women who have their husbands in a war zone for half a year. It just doesn't compare to my 5 weeks apart.

Corbin is turning 2 next week. We spent his first birthday in a hotel room on our move to our current home violently ill with food poisoning. I don't even have any pictures to mark the day, and I never saw the cake my friends brought over for him as I was in the bathroom. I wish this year was a bit more celebratory but he's to young to care. It really is all about how I feel we should be together and making a fuss over my baby not being a baby anymore.

Yeah I'm sick, my defenses are down so it's been a lot of moaning.

I have however accomplished some knitting. I am working on the gusset of a pair of monkeys for my mom out of my Araucania Ranco Multy. I finished a hat for him too, that he took with him out of a Alpaca/Soy/Angora blend.

I am the Hermit

2008-10-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

This doesn't surprise me. It's the polite way of saying I desperately wish to be left alone. You can't contemplate your life when you have a 4 year old climbing you like a tree!

You are The Hermit

Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.

The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Mittens, mittens everywhere

2008-10-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

I am now working on a pair of fingerless ones for me. I have had this apple green wool (I think it's the Georgia Wool from Walmart, similar to the big skeins of dish cloth cotton) in my stash for years. I love apple green and it deserved to be something bright and fun for me.

I also received my elann.com order today. I ordered 10 skeins of the Peruvian Baby Silk (80 baby alpaca/ 20 silk) and told my husband it was my birthday present. The Oxblood colour and I are in love.

A few hours later, I love the oxblood but I really truly hate lace projects. I think it is going to be a sweater, but I truly hate seaming. It can all go *bleepity bleepity* for now.

You Naughty Kittens!

2008-10-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

In spite of the hatred of mittens from Corbin, and Iliana's penchant for losing them, I have managed to complete two pair for him, and one pair for her in the past few days. She really likes the slit on her playground ones so she can slide her fingers free while keeping them on still.

The red yarn I had just enough of lying around in my stash. The blue and green is Mirasol Chirapa. The pink and green yarn is Artyarns Ultramerino. A single skein of each from my weekend foray into Tangled Skeins.

2008-10-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

These only took a little less then half the skein of Mirasol Chirapa I picked up from Tangled Skeins. I'm trying to get some mittens whipped up before the kids are in desperate need of being warm. There is enough left over to make another pair for someone else on my list.

He doesn't appear to appreciate them to much. He tried to gnaw them off before I could even get a picture.

slowly picking away at my stash...

2008-10-02T07:25:00.001-07:00

It's been pretty quiet around this front. I just had my 31st birthday and haven't quite gotten through all of the chocolate yet. On the day itself I was able to attend Pacafiesta and pick up 2 lbs of superwash wool to spin. I forgot that I'm not very good at it, but oh well it's there for practice when I get the chance. I also received some nice yarn from Ann, and a project bag and stitch markers from Lesley which comes in handy when I'm dragging my knitting to the park with me.

I have been able to finish a hat for Iliana out of a skein of Del Cerro. I completed her pink and orange Opal socks today as well. I have to get started on some Christmas knitting but I'm just not feeling that great the past few weeks so all my knitting has been done curled up on the couch in ugly sweats.

Slow start to September

2008-09-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

September has been a slow knitting month so far. I am working on a simple diagonal knit baby blanket for Corbin out of Bernat's Cot'NCorn. Iliana finds her hands are starting to get chilly when she's out in the early morning, but it's not cold enough for mittens quite yet. I made her a quick little pair of fingerless gloves in an afternoon to suit her for the time being.

My yarn from Politically Incorrect Yarns has arrived. I'm not sure what I am going to make with it quite yet, but with it being named Manwhore, I just had to have it.

The beauty of Cape Breton Island

2008-08-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

We drove up to Louisbourg to see the Fortress of Louisbourg. While we were there we took our train enthusiast of a toddler to the Sydney and Louisbourg railway museum. After about four days there, we headed up and camped in the Baddeck area so we could drive up the Cabot Trail. Hundreds of pictures later, here's a sampling of what we got to see while we were on vacation.

and a partridge in a pear tree

2008-08-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

Baadeck Yarns. Oh boy. I picked up some nice goodies while in Cape Breton. There are a few more but I don't have the pictures uploaded for them. I went a bit hog wild but the colours were worth it.

I also found a potter I liked and bought a few of her pieces. Overall an excellent haul.

I'm on vacation!

2008-08-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

We won't leave until the morning but we're headed to Cape Breton Island for the week with the kids and our camping trailer. We should have a good time. The dog is off to the kennel and the packing has been started.

Before I left I wanted to complete a couple of projects for my team LSG in the Ravelympics so I leave you with these FO's.

I'm a medalist!

2008-08-14T03:09:00.000-07:00

Look folks. I managed to medal in WIP Wrestling for completing the swirling confetti socks. HURRAY.

progress in the Ravelympics

2008-08-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

My first tagged project is done for WIP wrestling. Corbin's second swirling confetti socks are finished as of last night while watching the men's beach volleyball (mmmm).

Ravelympics 2008

2008-08-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'm busy over on Ravelry plugging away at my mom's "sailor's delight" socks. I have never knit a sock using magic loop, not completed a lace pattern before. I hear tell blocking makes it look attractive when I'm done. Right now it's just a big puddle of blue/green yarn that does not even resemble a sock.

I will try to do the socks, Corbin's baby blanket, and the second of his confetti socks before the torch goes out.

2008-07-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

I have another set of 2.75mm needles courtesy of some shopping I have been doing lately. So the Orange Zoom socks are done finally. I love them very much, little faults and all. Excellent turn out for my first adult pair for myself.

More progress on the deck staining is taking place, so this picture was taken on my front step instead of out back as per usual. Staining an old deck with a good hundred spindly rails is NOT my idea of a good time. But it's looking nice.

2008-07-28T11:19:00.001-07:00

I have completed my baby ribs sock in a red/orange shade of Trekking for fellow LSG'er lickmysticks new son. They turned out so very cute.

Now I have to finish some things up and get my yarns and needles ready for the ravelympics. If LSG finish anything I'll be impressed.

2008-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

The orange socks are on the back burner as I snapped a needle working on the gusset of the second sock. *grumble*

This week what I have finished are Corbin's paintbox socks, and a cotton broken rib tea cozy for my husband (the only thing he has ever asked me to make since I learned how to knit a few years ago now)

With the weather cooperating I now like to take a drink outside and knit on the deck. We haven't finished staining it yet, or put in our fence, but at least the furniture is purchased and is quite comfortable for hours of knitting.

Adventures of the Orange sock

2008-07-06T17:00:00.001-07:00

Sock number one was getting lonely, so sock number two has been started. It did not feel like sitting home on a nice Sunday so we went to the beach. Macdonald beach is on a lake on 12 Wing Shearwater property, so it only cost me 4 dollars to get in, and another 4 dollars for the paddle boat for my husband and daughter to take a spin. They had a good time, and sock #2 grew a few inches in the shade.

Whose hobby cost us more?

2008-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is why I can't afford yarn at the present. It would be the main body of a 1938 Bren Gun Carrier. I tried to show off my finished sock to the husband and even knit most of it in the garage with him, his response was to pose with his track. *snort* It does however keep him and his little pink clad helper busy rebuilding the engine in the evenings so I can knit. I predict a spinning wheel in my future and A LOT of sock yarn to offset the cost of shipping something the size of a baby tank from British Columbia.

Doesn't everyone have one of these in the garage? :)

2008-06-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

We spent last Saturday at the family days at the Naval Dockyards in Halifax. I think dad and Iliana had a good time. She sure enjoyed the fast boat ride in the harbour, and her tour of the HMCS Charlottetown. This is a shot of her sitting in dad's work station on board one of our Seaking helicopters. Hopefully we won't have the same equipment when she comes of age too!

Orange Zoom has a project.

2008-06-27T09:30:00.001-07:00

this is what I am working on at present with the orange zoom I just received in the mail. It's such a pretty colour. The pattern and WIP is listed in my projects on ravelry.

More sock yarn for stash

2008-06-24T10:11:00.001-07:00

This arrived in my mail today via a rather long trek. I had the wrong address on my paypal account so it went from the states up to Ontario, back to the states and back here to me in Nova Scotia.

This comes from a fellow raveler's etsy store (theytoldmesew) and it is absolutely gorgeous in person. Shades of orange, and a touch of yellow and pink. I am in love.

My latest Finished Objects

2008-06-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

I finished the pair of Handmaiden Casbah socks in Masala for my daughter. She seems pleased with them.

I think I'll cast on for a pair for her little brother right now. I am in the mood for more small socks.

2008-06-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Halifax's WWKIP day is having a scavenger hunt for prizes. I am slowly picking my way through the list, but since I live on the wrong side of the water, have two kids, and no driver's license it's not coming along as well as some others. I have tried at least.

My WIP for my pictures is a sock out of the handmaiden casbah. The ones for my son didn't turn out, so my daughter is getting a pair out of the same yarn instead.

2008-06-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure where I went wrong. I think I picked it up again on the wrong row but I managed to mangle the toe on the baby monkey socks I was making. It looks alright in the picture, but not worthy of gifting and as it doesn't fit my own little monkey I have higher standards for stuff that leaves my house. I shall make them again, as the pattern is cute and it went quickly.

I was making the lace leaf kimono top from Interweave's summer 2008 issue but lace doesn't work with the kids awake. I had to frog five repeats because I couldn't figure out where I had lost an extra stitch. I shall try again, because damn it. I had bought 8 skeins of yarn for me, and I don't usually do this. I want that top.

Mail Day!

2008-05-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

I just got my exclusive order from Mox Nix Fiber Arts. As a member of LSG I have been dying for it to get here. Introducing my pretty new yarn, Twatweasel. It's a sock weight shades of brown and pink, and oh so very soft.

Today I also got my ravelry order with my green daily dose of fiber shirt and my logo pin. As well I received some Rowan Denim, and in the hunt for something nice to send back to the lady who swapped it with me.

baby gets a touch of cashmere

2008-05-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Little man is getting some of my Handmaiden Casbah. It said it wanted to be socks for him, so who am I to argue. Beautiful yarn, what a pleasure to make, these will be.

I'm singing in the rain.

2008-05-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Does it ever do anything but rain in the Halifax area? I'm growing flippers. Lack of sleep headache due to being up late plugging away on a knitting pattern. Have my Q2 bag swap to knit. This time around it's going to a lady in Gettysburg, PA. We're big historical re-enactment fans in my house so Civil War stuff would be lots of fun if we weren't already involved in pre-1600's European history.

follow the sheep

2008-05-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

I can't be the only person left without a blog nobody else will ever read. So here I am wondering why I bother, but feeling compelled to do so.