Raisinpie

How many of you knew it was leap year this year? Be honest. I couldn’t figure out why February had 29 days rather then 28. I checked all my calendars and they all had Feb 29. I thought well maybe I had forgotten about the rules for the month of February and it really was 29 days rather then 28 days. I know….sometimes I’m not so smart.

How do people have birthdays if they birth date doesn’t exist most years? How does that little 5 year old understand that this you don’t have a birthday because well there is no Feb 29 this year????!!!!! I like birthdays I like having a day that’s all about me me me. I like presents, I like cake, I like ice cream and well I like the attention. So my heart goes out to all those little kids who are born on Feb 29 and don’t get to have a ‘birthday day’ every year. I hope their mommies and daddies give them big parties on Feb 28 and March 1st. It’s the logical thing to do when you have your kid on a once in a blue moon day.

Sadly I have no pictures, I have been exceedingly lazy. Last night all I did was watch TV…..no knitting, no spinning, no dancing, no singing…..just me sitting on my big comfy wrecky chair with a blanket on my knees and LA Ink’s Kat Von D. I think it was a LA Ink marathon actually. Yes, I am a fan of tattoos. I recognize them as a valid art form and good art is good art regardless of the medium.

I prefer painting and drawing, reference to my BFA, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree also referred to as a Bachelor of F*%k All by some individuals I have come across. Let it be know that my BFA has assisted me in getting my promo position. Art and War are areas of history that always survive. Okay I will get off the soap box.

I will take oodles of pictures this weekend and show off some of my new work next week.

Happy happy leapin’ Leap Year

Today is a ‘No Knitting Day’ )c: I am currently working away like a busy little bee, but yesterday there was knitting to be had. I made the Tudora from Knitty.com. It turned out lovely. I will post pics of me and my Tudora tomorrow (*note remember to take pictures)

My New Year’s Resolution this year was to finish all my UFOs. An enormous resolution I agree but I am determined to finish some of those sweaters I started….a while ago…tee hee. Don’t laugh G you still have to finish that shawlllllll. LOL. Anyways, so far I have completed my Mom’s lace poncho. It is a golden yellow and really quite nice. I must admit there are some errors in the lace pattern but I am one of those knitters who likes to have at least one error in my knitting. I feel it adds to the ‘hand craftswoman ship’. If I wanted a totally perfect sweater of course I can make it but I want my work to be recognized as handmade. But now that I think of this I must admit I made the Tudora to the pattern no added twists and turns.

Can you believe that this is the last week of February for 2008! Already?! Its amazing how fast time is flying right now. Before you know it I will be pushing 60!

Sadly I have no pictures to share with you right now but I promise to fix that tomorrow.

Blog for the day

Brooklyn Tweed: this fellow is a knitter and a spinner. His technique is flawless. Have a look at his blog and you will recognize some of his patterns as they have been included in Interweave Knits.

Till next time.

I don’t know what is going on with this silly post, one minute it’s there the next it’s gone.

Okay here we are again.

My knitting projects currently on the go include:

1. socks
The pattern is from the 2007 Spring issue of Spin Off. If you can view the image here is the link to the magazine http://www.interweave.com/spin/spinoff_magazine/back_issues/sp-07.asp

My version

I still have 3/4 of a sock to go and will take better pictures when they are complete so you can see the lace pattern.

2. sweater (a few sweaters actually)
The sweater I wanted to talk about is from Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch. It is Annie Modesitt’s pattern and I am approximately 90% complete. I will take pics very soon. You can find Debbie Stoller’s site here and copies of all her books http://www.knithappens.com/

3. vest
I started this purple cotton vest for my Grandma, but my kitty Princess Buttercup decided to help knit it up and sadly I have to start knitting it again.

Princess Buttercup looks like an angel but sometimes she wears her halo on one ear. LOL

Here is another picture of my kitties except for Sookie Sunflower, I must take pictures of her asap.

Bella Donna being a cutie

Oops I lied here is a picture of Sookie Sunflower on the day I picked her out of the litter at my Cat Dealer’s house.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Family Day tomorrow and if you aren’t from Alberta and have no clue what Family Day is….it is a Stat Holiday.

Cheers!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! It’s been snowing all day…again. At least it isn’t -30 or some inhuman tempature like that. I believe it is -10, so definitely still sweater weather. Although you wouldn’t guess by the number of young women who walk around in leggins that hit mid-calf and ballet slippers in bare feet?! I’m a pretty groovey chick (or so I think) but I like to be warm and well that is kind of silly.

I have decided to purchase the knitting book where Tracey Ullman is the co-author.

Here is the link to amazon to purchase one for yourself http://www.amazon.com/dp/1584795344

I also want to purchase Crazy Aunt Purls book as well but haven’t been able to find it except on line. Hmmmm what to do what to do?

 Her is the link to Crazy Aunt Purl, there is a link to purchase. http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/

I must admit I am a book hound. I buy books, read books, hoping to write a book one day, save books, borrow books, cart books around in my purse (which may be why my neck is getting so sore either that or my hair is far too long) I think my bed is held up by books and yarn actually. Oh yeah and dust bunnies. My lovely son reminded me yesterday that 80 to 90 % of dust is actually human skin…..gross is all I said. But I can now relax about his schooling because he is learning something even if it is gross. LOL

I promised more blogs to visit.

A Simple Yarn is a blog I just recently discovered. The author is in Ireland and the images she shows are just lovely all green and rainy. She knits and I believe is into the new old concept of making your own rather then buying everything. This includes foods, soap etc etc. Check her blog out!

You all take care and I will post some pictures of knitting later this week. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

This blog post is dedicated to my good friend Gina. She and I keep a running tally of the disguarded clothing we see in downtown Edmonton and/or Edmonton and area. We started this tally last fall in Sept/Oct, when I started working downtown and started to notice the abandoned clothes lying everywhere. It started with a pair of socks, a pair of tighty whitys, and a light blue sweater shirt and even in these frigid tempatures the clothes keep on coming.

Usually gloves but today I spotted a navy blue zip up hoodie, a black glove and a black wool belt. The oddest thing I have spotted is a pair of undies but I suppose if someone was having a bit of fun in the backseat I guess it’s logical to throw those undies out the car window…..right???? Hmmmm anyways

I noticed a few of my picts from yesterday didn’t upload properly I will fix that later today when I am at my personal computer or maybe I will load my memory stick up with pictures to upload during my lunch hour????

I also wanted to point out a few of my favorite blogs. These are the blogs that I visit daily or almost daily. If I miss a day I feel weird…in a way they have become part of my family. They are all knitters of various levels and I heart them all.

Crazy Aunt Purl is a sweetheart who recently published a book based on her blog entries. She loves to knit big, big stitches, big scarves, big yarn. I enjoy her wittiness and heart her cats. I have 3 cats myself and well us furry people must stick together.

Dogs Steal Yarn is a word crafter aka writer, who recently moved across the USA with her family. I love her red hair and she can knit a pair of socks in a like a few days. I would love to sit down with Dogs Steal Yarn and chat about conceptualize and theorize about why we as a society do what we do….this one’s a smart cookie.

Yarn a Go Go is also a writer (I am starting to notice a theme…knitting and writing) and can knit a sweater really fast. What takes her a couple weeks takes me a few months. She has a house full of pets and while I have never met her I like to think she laughs a lot.

Ysolda is one of the most talented knitters I have come across. She is in Scotland and I have decided to adopt her. Cute as a button and a knitter she’s got it all. Ysolda if you read this I have made you my honourary daughter, I have three sons, so a daughter who likes the stuff I like would be very cool.

As time goes on and while I get the blog set up I will continue introducing a few more blogs and friends.

Ciao-ciao

Well I have finally joined the blogs of the world and well since I am a lurker of blogs, I do believe I will fit right in. I will list some of my favorite blogs and if you are into knitting you’ll be one happy camper. LOL

I knit
I knit socks, sweaters, scarfs, shawls, ponchos but I must admit I truly enjoy sock knitting. You can have a finished, wearable product in a week or two. Depending on how much you have to knit.

Here is a picture of the socks I am knitting my sister. I got the pattern out of the fall 07 Spin off….I think.

Another view

I also enjoy spinning and this is what is on my wheel at the moment. It is some merino wool from Fleece Artist blended with a big of mohair. I learned the hard way that spinning mohair without some wool to assist in binding it is well HARD. I’ll take a picture of those socks another day….Yes they are itchy but oh so warm

I’ll put more pics up tomorrow but here’s a pic to cheer you up NOT. The view from my Mom’s kitchen window (stay warm Mom & Dad)