A little Halloween music.

It just isn't Halloween without the Monster Mash. Bonus: this version is set to scenes from Arsenic and Old Lace!

Guess what I did today?

Today, on Halloween, I experienced a first. Although I've voted in every Presidential election (and some of the state ones in between) since I turned 18, I have never physically gone and voted. Today I waited in line for approximately an hour to vote early. I can't wait until next Tuesday so see who our next President will be.

Happy Halloween!

Beautiful fall.

Today I put Round 3 of interviews to bed and I'm feverishly hoping that soon I'll have good news to share. Until then I'll leave you with (of course) more knitting and some lovely pictures of fall.


The Pattern: Mega Cabled Scarf

The Needles: US 15's

The Yarn: Sheep Shop, Sheep Two

The Verdict: This was a really fun, quick knit. Since you're using bulky yarn and big needles the scarf goes like lightening. The only thing I might change is that I'd make the scarf wider across - a slightly larger, wider cable to keep me warmer. This one is going to live at a The Studio.

**

With our recent cold weather, the city is beautiful right now; full of gloriously colored leaves. My favorite trees are the ones that look orange and yellow and red, but I like all the leaves. I've been dying to shoot a few fall pictures and I got my chance yesterday wandering through midtown on my way to UFO night at MisKnits.

And here comes round 3.

The big news of this weekend (well Thursday and Friday) is that I have now progressed to Round 3 of job interviewing. That means that on Thursday of this coming week I will be meeting with a whole new set of potential colleagues and bosses, including the president and CEO of the company. Let's hope this goes well so that I'm happily employed soon!


Things haven't been too exciting around here. I've used my copious free time to crank out a few projects. I've done a second cowl for another local shop in another scrumptious yarn, I've progressed on several other projects I've got going and I finished another commission - an Elizabeth Zimmerman February Baby Sweater and hat. The yarn is VERY VERY pink, but the client brought it to me to make something cute for her granddaughter.


I've also managed to catch up a bit on reading. I'd had The Other Boleyn Girl on my must-read list for a while now, especially since I wanted to read it before I rent the movie. I tore right through the book and it was a pleasant read. I find myself sort of engrossed in the Tudors now having just watched Season 1 of The Tudors on Showtime and having pored over the internet today trying to learn more about the Boelyns and Henry VIII.

I've also gotten sucked into Mad Men. I'm now mid-Season 1 via my old friend Netflix, and I'm loving it so far. My only complaint is that I can't get the DVDs here fast enough to devour them!

The weather here has really turned to fall. The leaves are changing, and it's crisp and cold out. We've been down in the 40's at night, so the first frost can't be far off. All of this makes me want to knit up tons of warm sweaters and get myself ready for fall. Today was sunny, although a bit cold, and Wes and I managed to take a couple-mile walk through the parks and trails behind our house. It's been interesting living here over 9 months now and watching the area change with the seasons. Today I noticed how bare the trees are becoming and how the colorful leaves are burying the paths. I love the change in the seasons and I love fall, so I hope it sticks around for a while. No need for snow just yet!

Just knittin...

Yup that's me, still knittin'! Had a great second round of interviews yesterday and now the waiting begins for the response. In the mean time:


Pattern: Tinky from Berrocco (Baby poncho, size 2 years)

The Yarn: Dark Horse Fantasy, Filature di Crosa Bambi

The Needles: US 7's

The Verdict: I was skeptical about this one at first, but I have to admit that it came out really cute. I don't recommend knitting with fun fur of any type (even the premium stuff), but it does look awfully like something in which you'd want to dress your adorable little oo-ums.


I've got plenty more on the needles. Stay tuned!

And the world keeps turning.

Not much to report on the job front lately. I'm in between temp gigs at the moment and enjoying a little home time to catch up on knitting (LOTS and LOTS of commissions) and get myself together. I did have a promising interview this week and round two is set for next week, so wish me luck!

In the mean time I have a little craftiness to share:


The Pattern: Ridged Lace Cowl

The Needles: US 8's (16")

The Yarn: Sheep Shop, Number 3, Silk/Wool

The Verdict: This was a quick knit (less than 48 hours!) and very satisfying. The yarn was wonderful to work with and is quite warm despite the lace. None of the photos quite capture how bright this semi-solid purple is, nor it's subtle shading throughout. It's off to a LYS, but I might just have to make one for me!

During the photo shoot I found this little guy in the peanut gallery:

Visiting with the Yarn Harlot

Ok so maybe I didn't so much "visit" with her, but the Yarn Harlot was in Kansas City tonight and I got to hear her speak. To the right is a somewhat blurry photo of her doing her thing (check her blog tomorrow or the next day to see the other side of this photo).

Stephanie was funny, witty, charming and just as wonderful as I remembered her (from when I saw her in Los Angeles). I've been waiting to read my now-signed book, waiting to savor her words and laugh out loud. At the end of the event, I got to meet Stephanie. I even have photographic proof. She held my boob and I held her sock.

Knittin' Titties

Yes you read that right. I am knitting for Kansas City Knitters for Knockers. During the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kansas City knitters are joining in to knit prosthetic breasts for breast cancer survivors. What might a knitted prosthetic breast look like?
Well, like this:



Now if you'll excuse me, I have some boobies to be knitting.

When it Rains it Pours.**

I don't seem to be having much luck on the job hunt lately. I had a position that I interviewed for twice, and thought I was going to get, but as it turns out they decided I was overqualified, so they went with the less qualified candidate. I'm still with the temp service and given the economy, and the problem I'm having finding good jobs that fit my qualifications, I think I'm going to be with them a bit longer. Clearly my job juju needs some adjustment.

My knitting mojo, however, seems to be on fire. I'm in the midst of finishing up a few more store samples. I've also got a couple commission projects going. Then this morning, at my reception gig, several women came up asking if I made baby sweaters for order. Apparently the store sample and birthday present I'm making for Miss Melly have attracted quite a bit of attention. Suddenly I have a bunch of commission orders and even some super top secret special knitting work. Could I really be moving towards making my living as a knitter?

Probably not, but I guess I'll enjoy it while I can. I even ordered MOO cards today. My title? Knitting Superstar.

P.S. Please just don't let it pour any time soon. I came out of knit night last night to find an 18 inch crack in my windshield and several chips missing at the point of impact. There goes my new-earned commission income.

Desperately Seeking Button Band

I love love LOVE little knits because they're so quick and so unbelievably cute. I've cranked this one out in just a few days and it is ready to go except for, of course, the button band.


The Pattern: Little Boy's Cardigan, Dark Horse Yarns

The Yarn: Dark Horse, Fantasy (2 skeins brown, 1 teal)

The Needles: US 8's

Got Mead?

One of Wes' hobbies is brewing mead. For those not in the know, mead is honey wine. It starts as warm water and honey and with the addition of yeast, and sometimes flavorings, as well as 3-6 months fermentation or more, it turns into a wonderful wine.

Today was a work day around the house, and Wes mentioned that he had some mead which was ready for bottling. I'd never participated in this event, but I was eager to taste the blueberry mead that has been fermenting in our apartment since we moved in.

We began by setting up the siphon and filtering system and sterilizing the bottles.


After about 20 minutes we had bottles ready for corking.


And at the end, of course we had the most important part: a taste testing.


Sweet. Mellow. Perfect.

Finis!

The last few weeks I've had a lot of projects on the needles and not much completed work to show. Well, last night I impressed even myself by finishing not one but two projects! Don't worry, there are many, many more in the wings, but I thought I'd share these two.


The Pattern: Diamondback Shrug, by Sarah Wilson

The Needles: US 7's

The Yarn: Malabrigo Seleccion Privada, 3.5 skeins

The Verdict: This was a fun knit. You start with the back in a log cabin square and progressively add on. I'm not 100% behind the yarn colorway, but the Malabrigo was fabulous to work with. I think if I make one of these for myself (and I probably will!) I'll stick with a semi-solid color. This baby is destined for A Mano!


The Pattern: Clapotis (freebie on Knitty!)

The Needles: US 6's

The Yarn: Trekking Hand Paints

The Verdict: I love this pattern. It's fairly mindless, a quick knit and looks so classic and elegant. Other than the great yarn debacle, this was a pleasure to knit. It's now en route to a friend in Seattle. I hope she enjoys it!

What's a girl to do?

What's a girl to do when she gets sent on a temp job that's 35 miles and at least an hour from home? Well.... find a new yarn shop on her lunch hour?

Thanks to Amber for suggesting I use my fiber beacon and hone it in on Liberty's Old Mill Stitchery. It's a charming little shop in downtown Liberty that boast selections of fiber, needlepoint, beads, framing and probably several other crafts that I didn't happen to catch. I didn't have a ton of time for exploring (today is homecoming so downtown was MOBBED!) but I managed to pick up a little something. Now to think of something lovely and lacy to knit with it!