Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Picture At Last!

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Last month I finally finished Hubby's Fair Isle sweater, after much searching for the additional yarn with the exact dye lot to finish a measly 2 inches of the last sleeve. Max loves it. He tends to like classic and traditional design sweater. I think he must have worn it at least three times since I gave it to him.
However, getting him to model so I can take a picture of him is a whole other story. He would come up with excuses like that his hair is messy, he haven't shaved yet or he's not wearing any pants. I'm convinced that he just loathe the idea of being featured in my blog and Ravelry album.

So when he emerged from our bedroom this morning wearing it, I grabbed my camera. I finally caught up with him outside when he was taking the trash out.

I may have to start withdrawing his hand knitted items if he continues to refuse being photograph with it.

Lately I haven't had the urge to knit any socks. I have 5 socks on the go right now and they are all in different stages of completion. I shouldn't even cast on another sock right now. I should just pick any of the WIPs and start knitting. I shouldn't even be allow near another socks yarn until I finish at least one sock, let alone a pair.

Oh well, this was casted on nonetheless.I think this should be an exception since this is knitted from my own first Fingering Weight that was hand spun from Dottie (my ladybug wheel). Sooner or later, my hand spun will need to be knitted because if it doesn't, then it would beat the purpose, right?

I also got some dyeing done this week. These are 50 gram/2 oz of merino. I think I need to buy different color dyes since all of my dye works are starting to look alike.


Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Count Your Blessings

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Every now and then, you come across a tragic story in the news that you can't help but shed quiet tears and say a small prayer.

Three days ago, a 31 year old father along with his two children, (Girl 5 and Boy 2) were killed instantly in a car accident. His wife was not with them as she had to work. Three precious lives had ended so early and tragically. My heart breaks for the woman that lost her whole family in an instant.

It makes me stop and think about my own family. Everyday we rush around going to work, school, and errands. I'm constantly frazzled and annoyed. I don't take the time to savour the moment anymore. It's a shame that it took a tragic story to realize that these wonderful moments can be taken away from me at anytime.

Please take the time to say "I love you" everyday, linger a little longer on those hugs, and shower everyone in your family with kisses every chance you get. You never know when it would be your last.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

February 14th

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

She's Here!

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After weeks of anticipations, she's finally here.

I am please to introduce to you the newest member of our family ................ Dottie!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Squirrel Cage Swift

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Ever since I have been knitting and spinning, I have a whole different level of appreciation for a handcrafted items. Of course, I still support Costco and still buy my items from mass productions of Pottery Barns but every now and then, I like unique things.

While browsing the internet, I have come across a truly unique item. An elderly who has been knitting all her life was starting to sell off some of her knitting notions because she might be moving out of her home and into a more smaller place since all of her kids have flown the coup.

One of the many things that she had for sale was a Squirrel Cage Swift. Most knitters are more familiar with the umbrella swift which is more portable and main stream. However, this is a stationary swift and it is vertical.


It is fashioned with 2 squirrel-like cage right on top of each other (hence the name) that moves up and down depending on the size of your hank. Both cage turns simultaneously when the yarn is being winded into a ball, either by hand or ball-winder.

This particular model was hand-crafted by a local woodturner right here in Niagara Falls back in 1983. He had fashioned it after seeing an antique model in England.

When asked how much she is selling it for, she told me that she only wanted to get what she had paid for back in 1983..............$75.

Well - I felt like I just hit a little old lady over the head and ran off with her purse.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Same job

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During Knit Night last night, I found myself sitting next to another knitter who’s other life is a Director of Communication at a large corporation. We started to reminisced about how similar both of our jobs is to one another.

As a sales professional in the hospitality field, I am often described as a professional Bull-S*#!%ter. We are taught early on in our career to always put a positive spin in our hotel's short-comings. Over the years, I had practically eliminated certain words from my vocabulary only to replace it with a more “positive” one.

Below are some examples:

Small = Cozy
Small = Intimate
Sparse = Contemporary
Loud = Lends great acoustic qualities
Hot = Comfortably Warm
Impersonal = Lofty and Airy
Silly = Whimsical
Boring = Classic and Traditional


After having so many years of putting a spin on my words, I found myself lending that ability to describe my own knitting.

Scratchy = Rustic
A bad handspun = Designer yarn
A sweater riddled with mistakes = an original design
Obsessive = Focused
Logging on Ravelry 164th time that day = Keeping current with changing trends
A drunken knit night = staff meetings
Cheap wool = Eco-wool
10 balls of cheap, scratchy, rainbow-color tweed wool = It was on sale


Who knew that a Director of Sales and a Knitter would have the same job description?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Still Sick

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Yes, it's 4 days later and I am still sick. Not only am I sick, but the whole family is sick. I didn't realize how annoying other people's whining can be aside from youself. This house is so contaminated that all delivery boys (midnight Chinese food and Pizza) are urged to where a HazMat suit before knocking this door.

In the mist of my pharmaceutical high, I learned to Navajo ply.This was my first attempt. A worst weight Corriedale / 100 yards.

The next one turned out a bit better. This is a DK weight Corriedale at 176 yards.

All this plying and spinning is making my head hurts and my stomach growling. I wonder if the local mexican restaurant deliver?

 

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