Likely Story

FOs and Works In Progress

Typepad has been making me crazy lately and I'm looking in switching over to another platform, but in the mean time I've been extremely busy!  Yes, with work and school and the ridiculous number of dental appointments I am currently entertaining, it's been hectic.  But I have managed to squeeze out a bit of progress on the knit and sew front.

J's Norwegian Star Ear Flap Hat is finished!  I forgot how much I liked color work that's not in a teeny tiny gauge.  SO much so that I learned how to make these:

Christmas Tree Ornaments!  Fast and easy and more of them to come.
The color work thing made me so happy that I spent a whole night planning my own color work hat.  It will be beret or tam style in charcoal with variegated pink octopi!  See?

If parties are interested, I can publish the chart for others.  Right now it's just for one other color, but it would be very easy to make it for multiple colors.  FUN!  What kid doesn't need an octopus on their sweater, I ask you?  Also, there has been quilting....

and more quilting (sorry for the blurry pic but I am both lazy and busy and that doesn't bode well for a re-shoot).

This just needs some hand stitching on the applique and then it too will be finished.
Finally, on a more somber note, a Jemima update:

Oh Jemima.  not only are you STILL missing a sleeve but you are enormous!!
What have you been eating?  Can sweaters eat yardage and gain sizes?
Has Jemima been neglected for so long that, like SkyNet, she has gained consciousness and awakened?
Oh Jey-Jey, what will we do with you?  I don't want to put you in the failure bin with Tree Jacket (though she patiently sits there and waits) but I don't see many other options.

Sigh.....

And that's what's up.

And To All A Good Night!

Santa was good to us this year!  No knitting projects - THANK GOD - I have enough of my own!  But plenty of cookbooks, dvds and an amazing quilting kit!  We ate a cruelty free holiday dinner consisting of a lentil/potato loaf, roasted carrots and parsnips, cauliflower gratin, port wine cranberry sauce and a massive yorkshire pudding!  No pictures of the dinner, but here's some pictures of the loot!  Now that the holidays have passed, I can FINALLY start knitting for myself - I have the complete Twin Peaks to see me through!!  Progress pics to come!

Pre-Holiday Updates

Well, I have been frantically trying to finish one final present for someone who I am 99.7% sure does not read this.  In case they do, I only have this to say:  "Hey!  Look at the insane thing I made you!  Ain't it purty?"  Otherwise, this thing, this craft, this monstrosity snowballed from a simple idea into a project that was a bit over my head.  But I faked it 'til I made it and this is the result of my labor:

It doesn't look like much, but I promise you it is 5 feet of blood, sweat and tears in addition to multiple pin pricks.

On a MUCH happier note, my friend Rachael sent me a lovely xmas present that I opened early and it is BEAUTIFUL!  The pattern for Hanami, the beads, the teeniest crochet hook in the known universe, some delicious yarn - Buttercream by Yarn Chef, and one of her famous, homemade project bags!

Now, if only the presents I ordered her 3 weeks ago would hurry up and bloody well get here!  Grrr!  I haven't forgotten you Rachael, Baby!  There's something lovely coming for you!

Holiday Baking pt. 1

Double Ginger Gingersnaps (with crystallized ginger bits):

and a veritable TON of Bea's Rumballs (there are at least 4 layers in that container):

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Thank you for being so patient.  I know, you were all waiting with baited breath thinking, "What in the heavens is that mad woman up to these days?  Its been ages since she has polluted teh internetz with her exploits and wisdom!  Has she forgotten us, her loyal readers?"  No, Mom and Dad, I haven't. 

I have however been slammin' busy with random projects.  I have one book in pre-press and I have just finished laying out another (ed. note:  for those people not related to me, I design/edit books and stuff).  I have the potential for a few website consultations which, time permitting, will spiral into full site builds (time, incidentally, will most likely not permit).  I am officially behind in writing book reviews for two titles now.  It looks like I am unofficially catering my friend's gallery opening next weekend.  I am frantically knitting/sewing  holiday presents (which means my SKC knitting is on hold).  Also, in class, this Saturday, I am building and decorating a 4 tier wedding cake. 

But finally, and I think we all know, most importantly, I have discovered an Apple IIgs emulator for my laptop.  Oh sweet Jesus YES!!!  Today I have just beaten (with the aid of a walkthrough, yes...) TASS TIMES IN TONE TOWN.  And it's only taken me, what, 21-22 years?  Thank Christ!  That has been bugging me.  That game was the bane of my existence (when I was 9).  My cousin can attest to this.  She used to spend summers with us and she, too, rotted away her brain one summer pounding her skull against the hefty weight of the IIgs running Tass Times.  But now, who's the loser, Tass Times?  Huh?  I win, TTiTT.  You lose.  All I have to say is this:  Suck it Tass Times, there is nothing sad about my wrath. 

Ooooh.  That felt good.

Dream Zone - You're next!

On that note, here is a grainy picture of a giraffe cake.  Bon Appetit!

Home From The Holidays

I am home!  The holiday was fun, but its really nice to be home.  One of my Xmas gifts was a new digital camera, but it was DOA so I won't have the replacement until next week sometime.  So, sorry, no pictures for now.  But there was Le Creuset and much kitchen fun with, unfortunately, very little knitting.

I have to get back on the knitting wagon, before I lose all momentum.  I also start school on 1/8/07 and am currently looking for a PT job (fingers crossed for Barnes and Noble or Whole Foods).  But in the more immediate future, J and I are having a quiet little New Years at home.  Our regular New Years tradition of lounging with Mike and Mary for a week has been put on hold while they settle in to their new apartment, job and state.  We may have to have a Xmas in March (or something like it) later on this year.

So, pictures forthcoming!

Clapotis Progress and My Awesome Digital Camera

Well I would love to show you all my awesome progress on the Silk Garden Clapotis by my ancient digital camera (which when purchased in 2001 was only a better, low-end model) has finally decided to start dying on me.  The digital death was in the works for some time.  There were signs.  Battery life was practically non-existent, sometimes photos would just cease to exist....yes, there were signs.  But, I think this is proof that the end is near.  Here is my Clapotis photo:

It looks ok when its only 200 pixels across but if you click on it for detail, you'll see what I mean.  My camera needs glasses.  But at least you can get the idea of the clap.

Wiiiiiiiiiii-ha!

Josh and I just went out and picked up my Xmas gift!

That's right, I'm getting a Wii!!!!

The line wasn't too bad.  We got to Best Buy around 7:45 and we were ticket #25 (out of 55 Wiis available).  Best Buy was super organized and really nice about the whole thing.  Tickets were handed out at 9am and doors opened at 10am.  If you had a ticket, you were guaranteed a Wii, but you had to purchase it by 11am or else it went back on the shelf.

Now, the really hard part is waiting for Xmas before we open it and start playing.

Christmas Spectacular Spectacular

Holy crap am I tired.  We had Christmas part one from 12/15 to 12/19 with one side of the family.  We just finished up Christmas in Florida (a.k.a. Xmas part deux) with the other side and I am spent.  Everyone was lovely, everything was tasty, but as someone who is "in charge" of a lot of the festivites - I am done.  I'll post picks of the favorite presents later.  Merry Christmas.  Sleep will be soon, I need about a week of it.

ps- Knitpicks NLM - wow is that pattern confusing!  Do not attempt if they are your first mittens (like I am) b/c the whole thumb thing is baffling.

Christmas time is here...

...and it is so on!  Watch out Santa Claus! 

We've gone Christmas Crazy!