abbytrysagain

Come to my new blog

2005-11-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

It's offical, this will no longer be my blog. Come to my new blog http://abbytrysagain.typepad.com/abbytryagain/
here

Good bye for awhile

2005-11-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

The free trail ran out on tyepad and I won't renew it until later next week-I'm going back to California for a visit and will be busy-no time for blogging. Yay for the Bay area and Central Valley!

Come on over!

2005-10-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am trying out a free trail of the type-pad thing and this is your official invite-so you better come over! Here!

Self Portrait Tuesday is back--and I am "documenting"

2005-10-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so blogger is being dumb and won't let me post these in order. Basically, I look in the fridge, grab a plate, use the microwave, then stand around waiting for my food to be done. I have no time to post more-but look on flickr for some more SPT goodness. To all the reders, thanks so much for your lovely comments-I am super busy this week and want to answer them all-but can I just give a group "thanks" right now and tell you how lovely you all are? Thanks!

We Finally Got It!

2005-10-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. I am the proud owner of a Canon PowerShot A520 with a whooping 4.0megapixels! I would first like to thank my Parents for donating some moola towards it as well as James for putting up with my exhaustive research and inability to make a decision. I would also like to thank those blog readers out there for all of their kind advice-it really helped. As you can tell from the photos above, I have not read the instruction manual, but I plan on studying and becoming much better at taking non-blurry photos.
Thanks also for all of the kind words regarding my stamps. I am very happy with my results and am thinking about making some sets of cards and maybe selling them on etsy or through my blog using paypal. What do you think? Maybe the market is flooded with cards right now-we'll see.
Anyway, about the photos above, the first is a close up of the 1930's sewing machine I use. Yeah, that's what I use. It is so beautiful, it belonged to my step grandma Millie. It can really only sew straight lines-nothing else. Someday I'll upgrade (but never get rid of it). The sweaters are some thrift store finds that I scored today. The blue and white ones are OLD Pendelton. They fit great, and I hate to say it, but vests are back. I'll just call the white one a sleeveless deep v-neck cardigan. The books were also part of my thrift store adventures. James loves the "Spys" one and wants to name a band after it. I love the colors of the Shakespere and Nursing one. I also think the 1950's cookbook has great design elements.
I will be posting more this weekend, but this was just a little update.
*By the way...I am SO far behind on the trends. James and I just got Six Feet Under on our Netflix-so good!*

More Stamping

2005-10-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some more handcarved stamps! Also-I am working on moving my blog to typepad. I am currently tinkering with the design and trying to make it nice before I invite you all over there!

Some Stamping...

2005-10-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

**Thanks to everyone for your kind words and wishes! James and I enjoyed a great anniversary and have done something special for the past five days! To name the highlights...we ate the best (which is also the cheapest!) Japanese food in town, hung out with Ben and Lindee, had a scrumptious meal in the 30th story of the bank tower whilst enjoying a lovely, lovely view of the river and bridges, went thrift shopping, carved some stamps (while James serenaded me on guitar) and crowded together to eat blueberry pancakes at Fuller's. Now I know they all pretty much involve eating....but really we're good. We are now awaiting the arrival of a digital camera(really-next week)!!**
So here are some little samples of the stamps I carved. It was a lot of fun and I hope to make some recipe cards with them. I also carved a bunny and some funny babushka dolls. I need to figure out how to use them! I have a lovely three day weekend (yay for bank jobs!) and hope to craft up a storm. I have all my vintage swap stuff ready to mail, I desperatley need to get together everything for my secret pal and also need to finish my back tack bag. Boy, I need to get going!
a few sidenotes;
1.I never much cared for Nylon magazine, but this month is all about Paris-it's rad.
2. I just got Six Feet Under on Netflix-how did I not watch this sooner?
3. I am in love with Martha Stewart Mags from 2001-am I THAT out of style or do I just yearn for the quality that that mag used to deliver?

Happy Anniversary James!

2005-10-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Meet James. James, blog readers-blog readers-James. I tried to pick photos that show you a little about the person he was, so maybe you can understand the man he is today. Let's start with the suspenders picture. James is an old soul-he is cute in this picture, but doesn't he look kinda like a miniature man? Then there is the boca burger one; a vegetarian for almost ten years-James was vegan for most of them. Not the easiest thing when you are born and raised in cattle country. He was vegan before it was cool. He has such a big heart, that's why-oh-now I am gushing. Ok, now the microphone one. Yes, he is SCREAMING into the microphone. Didn't I tell you? He's been a member of a band in one form or another since the age of 12 and most of those bands were post-punk hardcore (=screaming). Not exactly my cup of tea, but it amazingly kept he and his friends out of drugs and into activism which is cool with me. The mummy picture-that's just here for the cute factor. The guitar picture was the begining of his "Kurt Cobain" phase. The bottom left picture is a random weird polaroid. Now look to the right and you'll notice two broken arms and some missing teeth. Poor James-he's smiles through the worst of times. In the middle is a random picture from our wedding day, isn't he cute? That was October 4, 2003. Our favors were cds with our favorite songs including some belle and sebastion, pavement, neutral milk hotel, and liz phair. The "groom's cake" was a tower of chocolate donuts with pink frosting (our colors) and my wedding dress was a 1950's cocktail dress. It was a lot of fun, and it has only gotten better. I hate to brag, but I love James so much. He is my best friend; a great listener and nice on the eyes. We take care of each other and are both so brutally honest that it works-really well. I love you James-thanks for the good times-hers's to many more!

A week in review

2005-10-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

-Wowza! It has been more than a week since I posted and it feels even longer. So where do I begin? Okay, I got some great mail this week; including two snazzy packages from my lovely Mom which held fabric, patterns, felt, buttons, and other vintage treasure including the monogramed hankies pictured above. Thanks Mom-I love you! I also got a sweet card from Jackie, James' Grandmother and a beautiful postcard from the port2port girls. If you don't know what I am talking about, you should-they are visualbloggers and now proud owners of a letterpress and have the best eye for beautiful things. Thanks Mav! Go here to visit their blog.
I finished the armwarmers (see above) and will be sent to a friend in a faraway place as soon as I can finish the matching scarf. The yarn pictured in the same scan in destined to become the cowl from Last Minute Knitted gifts. It is so nice to knit right now, the rain has returned to Portland and it is beautiful.
-I found out this week that I won't be able to go home for Thanksgiving. I am really sad because it is also my Parent's 40th anniversary and I will be the only kid out of nine that will not be there. I won't go home until Febraury- which will be more than a year since I have been back. Mine and James' schedules are so different, it is impossible for us to go home before. It's kind of a bummer because my sister Alison had a baby a few months ago who I've yet to meet and my brother elopped with his girlfriend and moved back to Cali from DC and I haven't met her either!!!Oh well, I just had to vent a little-I should be lucky that I can go home-many people can't. I think we will have a potluck here, with some friends-heh at least everything we eat will will be vegan...
-The fabric above is an Amy Butler print I purchased for the construction of my Back-tack partners bag. Isn't it cute? I want to keep it...I can't give away anymore than that.
Tuesday is my 2nd wedding anniversary-so I will be posting soon. Any thoughts on some little surprises for James? Seriously-it is hard to shop/craft/create stuff for men sometimes.

I covet this pattern!

2005-09-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to all of you for the lovely congrats and words of encouragement I've recieved this past week. Adjusting to this new job was not as hard as I thought, but still very draining. By the end of next week, I hope to be back in the groove of things.
For now, I wish to leave a little post for my secret pal who may be watching--and anyone else. Look at this BEAUTIFUL sweater Anna has made! I want this pattern so bad! It's for sale at Hipknits-I need this.

A new book in celebration...

2005-09-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

So, I got a new book to celebrate the fact that I got the job!!! Yes, I am a vault teller now! I start Tuesday-I am so nervous! James drove me out to Beaverton, (he is too nice) and got me some Japanese craft goodness. This book is all about stamping. More specifically, it includes graphics to make your own stamps and ideas of what to do with them. I did not put up my favorite images on purpose, because I am carving some stamps of my own. It is a lot easier than I thought-fun, too!

Bags, colors, and styles that I LOVE and a winner

2005-09-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

So my back tack buddy wanted to know about the kind of bag they should make me. I feel like such a brat pointing these things out...but this is what I'd want my back tackee to do so here goes. These pictures above are signifigant because first of all, the colors and patterns of the fabric are jsut great. So pretty! I love the deep reds paired with linen and the blues are so cute! The patchwork totebag is dreamy-I do realize it is too perfect-but I just love the size. I also love patch work. I hope this give my back tacker some ideas....
***
On to the winner of the contest. Thanks to everyone who participated. I think I will do so more contests soon. So-after much ado I would like to first announce the runner up. I LOVE my Aunt Diana's suggestion of "Willy Wonky" but this cat is female. So I will make another cat, this time a male, destined to be "willy". So that leaves my pick to be "Theodora Rose"-submitted by Jenny from Queenthings. Yay! Thanks Jenny-I will email you for your info so I can send you a little prize!

Secret Pal 6 questionaire

2005-09-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Okay. So I am participating in Back-tack II, Vintage Swap, and Secret Pal 6-not to mention the contest still has a little more time...Phew! So here is the post for secret pal 6-my secret pal-you know who you are! Sorry everyone else-this is boring.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
-umm..I guess I am a snob. I will use red heart/lion brand for this random square throw I am doing (if anyone has some they want to trash). But if I am going to spend so much time making and wearing something, I would like it to be nice. But I definitly don't spend $25 a skein...

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
-I have crocheted before, but not at this time. I would love to do some amiguri (japanese crocheted animal toys). I do not spin-would love to learn!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
-no..but I don't care for the smell of smoke and my husband can't stand anything smelly.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I took some lessons two years ago with my mom-but have only been a "knitter" for the past seven months

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
-yes

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
-lavender-or-cucumber melon

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
-yes-chocolate only-no candy

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
-I like to sew, make cards and collages, cook, I am obsessed with Japanese craft books-(look at my flickr to see)

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
-um...kinda a music snob. I guess you can call the music I like indie rock or post that -magnetic fields, elliot smith, the evens, I like bluegrass too

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
-any color can be right in the right setting. I really do love red. I hate country blue!

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
-I am married..which is kinda like a pet...

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
-to move to France, become an expatriate, live on a farm, raise children, make our clothes, and can our food-no politics-co consumerism-own my own sheep and love some goats

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
-help me find out!! I hate cotton (except blue sky alpaca organic cotton-that's awesome!)

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
-whoops-see above for the answer

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
-I love rowan stuff-they are so pretty ;0 i like weird fashion-y stuff umm..but not crazy weird

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
-I'm still kinda new-I love the glampyre stuff I've made her patterns are simple and contemparary

17. What are you knitting right now?
-wristwarmers and random squares from my stash for a blanket

18. What do you think about ponchos?
-oy-no! but...I have seen ONE I liked...but no!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
-depends on the project-I do love my addi turbos though!

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
plastic or addi turbos-I want to like bamboo, I really do, but I just can't!

21. Are you a sock knitter?
-no-in my dreams

22. How did you learn to knit?
-took some lessons with my mom a few years back, but the teacher was a little frustrated with me. Then, (7 months ago) my mom showed me how she started knitting continental and it "clicked"

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
-3 months-I don't want to talk about it!

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
-animated character...? I guess I like penguins

25. What is your favorite holiday?
-Thanksgiving

26. Is there anything that you collect?
-yes! Vintage and strange virgin mary memorabilia, Native American tchotckes (piggybanks, book ends...), old rosaries

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
-none-but I always buy interweave

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
-yeah-I'll put them on my wishlist with priority one ok?

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
-i do like rown vintage patterns (I guess thats a book too)

ETA: 30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?
size 8 shoe-don not feel like you need to make me socks-that would be too much!

Finally something new...

2005-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

So I am still knitting some scarves but also this! What is pictured above may not seem like so much but it will hopefully be these Vodoo handwarmer/fingerless glove thing-ies. This picture doen't show the true brightness of the yarn-but hopefully they will be beautiful.
***
It is beginning to feel a little bit more like fall here in Portland. Except for the year I lived in France, I have never experienced a true autumn. For tips, check out this beautiful post over at queenthings. I always imagined myself bundled in scarves, wearing sweaters with elbow pads, sporting boots and loden colored plaid skirts-basically a J.Crew catalog meets a French prep school. I cannot wait to watch the leaves change colors and fall.
***
The contest ends Wednesday! Be sure to enter (see previous post). My sister-in-law, Tiffany, reminded me of the awesome names we used to give our real life cats. My little sister, Maci, named one trapper-keeper-isn't that great?

100th post and a contest!

2005-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I feel a little better-now the waiting begins....
***Thanks to ANOTHER Lesa-this time my mother in law for mailing me these handknit pincushions and pins. I really need some-desperately and i love the colors! You are so awesome-keep on craftin'
***The cat pictured above is (well-a horrible scanned image) my first attempt form the Denyse Schmidt quilt book. I love this cat. It's a little wonky-but so cute. It is made from a sweater I found on the sidewalk that was felted, some fabric from swaps, and a recent thrift store button score. It was a quick sew, and I even stuffed her with an old lumpy pillow! What should I name her? She was to be a gift for my niece Brianna's 5th b-day, but I think I should make one with better seams and felt eyes. No choking on buttons for Bri-Bri! So-the contest-What should I name this cat? Anyone can enter, anyone! If I chose your suggested name, I will mail you a package of goodies. So-just leave your idea for the perfect name as a comment and I'll pick a winner by next Wednesday-so get on commenting people, tell your friends! I'll make it worth your while! I will also publish a cuter photo of my kitty next week!
***
keep your fingers crossed for me...I find out about my job next week...

2005-09-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

www.lastplanetojakarta.com Long live freedom of speech

Another Scarf!

2005-09-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm knitting yet another scarf. I was on to sweaters*** and then-for some strange reason-I've become obsessed with scarves. I'm knitting this in a knit one purl one rib and I'm in love. It is the cheap Lion brand "landscapes", an expensive brown angora yarn, and a funky pink novelty yarn all held together. I love the freedom and quickness of scarves. I am also thinking about the holidays and their abilities to be nice gifts.
****
So I have applied for a job and I am so nervous. It would be lovely, and I don't want to jinx it...I'll shut up now.
****
I have reconnected with some friends I hadn't seen in a while an it feels so good. I went to their house and picked grapes, tons of tomatoes and some cucumbers. We hung out for hours. It was lovely. I also went for a bike ride and realized how out of shape I have become these past few months.
****
I will write more later

Thank you Lisa

2005-09-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

I got this in the mail today from Lisa. It is so cute-it totally made me happy. I've got a lot stewing right now-I must leave the keyboard

Warning:This gets a little personal-sorry if I offend

2005-09-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to write down what I am feeling today-I don't want to sound selfish or inconsiderate or sensational. Here goes...all this horrible devistation is literally making me sick. I don't know what to say about the hurricaine victims and the horrible atrocities they are dealing with right now. Please, if you can, read this

. I cannot even fathom what it would be like. Seeing your home, your life, your neighbors, your family, swept away in the water. Then, waiting on a rooftop-watching bodies flotat by, no water to drink, raw sewage seeping up around you. It would be hell. These people need our help so very desperatley. Angry mobs by the thousands wait in New Orleans-some people fighting and raping other victims-this is devistating. How can I come home from work, watch Oprah and pretend this didn't happen? We are all connected to this-we are all human.
Two years ago, my good friend, Brandon, drowned saving another friend, Rene's life. I thought a lot about how awful that must have been for him. I think that is an awful way to die. His death made me clean up a lot of things in my life and made me examine it truthfully. It is moments like this where we must band together and feel, and act and react. Complacency is not an option. Please donate whatever you can. Please FEEL this. Please wish, hope, and or pray for these people.
Our country needs to re-examine a lot of things. We need "group therapy". We must band together and not turn away. What do you think? What do you feel? Jenny at Queenthings is auctioning a collage, Hillary at Wee Wonderfuls is donating her talents, too. I'm sure many of you have seen the etsy red cross store. I just feel the need to write, it calms me...
****
September 11,2001 was a huge turning point in my ideals/ life...I feel this will be a re-affirmation of that day. At the time, I was the editor in cheif of my campus newspaper-I wrote ALL the time-journalism was my life. I woke up early that day-to meet a deadline. I woke up to a phone call from my brother telling my mom to turn on the tv. I watched the 2nd plane hit the tower-I froze. That whole day was a sick, twisted, horrific blur, -that was the day I decided I could never be a journalist. The day I decided I HATED our president. The day I was truly sickened by the lack of introspection in my country. I hope our country can come together during this tragedy.I hope this is not offensive-but you know-this is my blog-my journal-sorry.

I wish this was my self portrait tuesday

2005-08-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

A couple things;
1. Thanks so much Lisa (from O-town) for the wonderful package! She sent me fabric, handmade cards, cute magnets, and a few other goodies. I am so lucky, two swaps in one week. Aren't the little trees so cute? Check out Lisa's art by going through her bolg-Lisa's Musing (link is on the side). The little robot is hers-isn't it beautiful?
2. I am working on the camera thing. For proof that I actually CAN sew you can look here.
3. My grandma June is pictured above in lieu of my self portrait. In a way, I feel as though she is a part of me. She died of cancer in 1972-ten years before I was born. I was born on her birthday so maybe she IS part of me. That year was the year my mother's mother and my mother's father also passed away. It is the year my mother converted to Mormonism (and my dad re-converted) and the year my sister Jana (my parent's 3rd daughter) was born. In that year, my parents bought the house they live in today. My mom was 25. I am 23, and the thought of that all happening at once makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide. I wish I could have known my grandparents. I feel like it is an important part of understanding your parents. I only briefly knew my dad's dad, but by the time I was born-he was deep in the grasp of alcholism. My heart breaks for my dad, I cannot imagine what it would be like to have an alcholic parent. I now understand why it was so important for him to stress complete sobreity. I wonder what my grandma June felt about it. I wonder if she would like me-you know? Would she be proud, would she have doted on me, taught me to sew or how to properly clean? Would she have approved of my short hair and complete fear of makeup? If I have kids-they most know my parents.

I've been tagged and swaped!

2005-08-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Okay-first off-pictured above is just a tiny of fraction of the wonderful goodies I recieved yesterday from Lisa in Colorado. Note the wonderful 1950's kokeshi doll (sorry I had to scan this), awesome sublimestitching, funky 50's cookbook and cute origami boxes. She also sent me beads, buttons, a beautiful collection of funky tags, back issues of Readymade, ME, and Victoria. Oh yeah and some cool vintage "ephmera". She is just too sweet! Thanks "Colorado" Lisa! (I'm swapping with an "Oakland" Lisa, too!)
***
Emma tagged me-wow I feel special-
five songs I'm loving right now
!.if it's water-the evens
2.come back from san francisco-the magnetic fields
3.tehachapi girl-matt suggs
4.holland, 1945-neautral milk hotel
5.The Royal Tennenbaum's Soundtrack (cheating)
I need new music-I am kinda in rut-I have like the same 40 songs over and over with the occasional new face. It's bad-I know

Isbn4-7762-0167-4 (or no Self-Portrait Day)

2005-08-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Still no camera, but I AM looking and shopping around. So in the meantime, I am going to do a little post about this book I got a little while back. Yes, it is Japanese-and I think the title means something like "how to make old things new"-I'm not sure-but all the patterns are made using old fabric. Skirts, dishtowels, blouses, curtains, pants, even something called a zabuton (someone said it's a floor cushion) are used to make these super cute bags. There are illustrated instructions in the back as well as a tear out pattern section. In the pattern section it even includes a copy of Lotta Jansdotter's design which you can use if you know how to screen print (or paint it on the bag I guess). It's the design on the last bag there-the plantlike one. You can learn more about Lotta here. She's been around for awhile, but I just really like her stuff and there's this great book about her that's been published in Japan. You can see some flickr pictures starting here. This is a beautiful bag and I find it to be very inspirational.
***
I made these pincushions the other day to send off in some swaps and though they are a little raw-I'm in love. It was fun to make something small. I hope I can post photos after they are recieved-no ruining surprises here! Must go to work-ciao

Does anyone use these anymore?

2005-08-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a small part of my collection of mixed tapes. They are from old boyfriends, sisters, and friends. I pretty much only listen to tapes. I buy or burn cds and then sit down on the floor with several lists and create my own mixes. I am so 1992-but I just really love tapes. Even if I burn a mixed cd-I'll end up changing the order of the mix on the tape. One of my favorites is from my friend Ali C.-a birthday mix from my sweet 16(1998). It has good old Liz Phair, blur, beck, veruca salt, ash, and some cranberries. Yes, it is old-but I love it.
***
My obsession with tapes started young, we would make our own radio shows when I was little. And of course-having 7 sisters, I started seeing the art of wooing a guy through mixed tape at an early age. I think of it this way-I like phones with twisty cords(not cordless), typewriters(not computers), videos(not dvds), and tapes (not cds).
***
I am so not gonna start a swap. But I would really love to exchange some mixed tapes. I love working to figure out just the right order, collage-ing a funny cover, and wrapping it in silly paper. Wasn't that fun? I've seen music swaps around on blogs these days-but they're all "high tec" and use cds. Doesn't anyone out there make tapes anymore, or am I alone?

I heart garter stitch

2005-08-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Today I am feeling a little crampy and not so hot (very cold actually) and am knitting an incredibly easy, long, scarf. Above is an up close picture of it. I bought this very thin brown and fern green wool a few months ago at Knit/Purl before I realized I only need to buy exactly the amount of yarn for a lovely project-not an inexact amount for no particular reason. So today, I am just surfing flickr while I knit this scarf. I think that the two yarns held together and knit look cool. I'm gonna add some tassels and I think I will be sporting it this fall. Sometimes I get all caught up in the fact that I need to be braching out with my kniting (like tackle those socks!) but sometimes I feel it's the really simple stuff I actually like to wear. It's like "do I knit to knit-or do I knit for thr product"?
***In other news, I got a new Japanese craft book. It's awesome. The patterns use old clothes, tea towels, blankets, etc. You can see photos starting here.

Golly I need a camera

2005-08-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

So, I started this blog as a place to show my family what I was up to-mostly my mom and the knitting I began when I moved to Portland. Slowly, as I made my way into blog universe, I have discovered some interesting people and the crafts they do-dare I say-internet friends? I never thought of myself as a person who would be able to make friends over such a strange medium. After seeing these ladies lovely creations I yearn to post my own yet all I have for posting is an 8inch by 12inch scanner-no camera at all. I have pretty much faked it until this point; borrowing a friend's camera occaisionally, stuffing books onto my scanner, grabbing images off the web or taking photos with my dinosaur camera and posting them via scanner. But oh, I am so sick of faking. I need a camera! I made a great embroidered bag that was inspired by new Japanese book but I must wait to borrow a camera. So here goes-James and I didn't want to buy a clunky camera just cause it was in our price range. We wanted to wait until we could spend a good amount of money and get a really nice one. But you know-I just want to clunk down a little chunk o change and get one right now! Does anyone have any reccommendations? I am no pro, so I was thinking a little easy to use kodak would be cool. What do you all use? Thanks for the help! (by the way-the photo is a postcard I made out of boredom and a want to be able to post SOMETHING-anyone want me to mail it to them?)*I updated my links-check them out*

Self Portrait Tuesday- nieces and nephews

2005-08-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Above is a picture of Jared, my nephew, and I and my sister Juli with her daughter Brianna. I miss my nieces and nephews so much. I now have 9 of them which is kinda funny because my mom and dad have 9 kids. Being an aunt from the age of seven definitley affects you and I miss that role a lot. Not that I am not still an aunt-but I'm used to being up to my ears in kids and I'm so far from home now.

Sign-up now for a vintage swap!!

2005-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Toni from here has started a "vintage swap" which you can sign up for here . You take whatever cool vintage stuff you can find; tea towels, fabric scraps, buttons, rick rack, postcards, rosaries, knitting needles, whatever-and stuff it in a standard 81/2 by 11 inch manilla envelope and mail it off. Then, you get to wait for your goodies to arrive. Think of the possiblities! I am excited. And it's great cause you don't have to spend a lot of money and you have (I think) about a month to scour your house, junk stores, and yard sales for your treasures! Go sign up!!! You do have to have a blog though-so Mom-go make one (it takes like 5 minutes with blogspot-seriously) and sign up! This means you! Lesa, you and Lorraine go get a blog and do it!

Hospital visits and more craft books

2005-08-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

Well, today James and I had it off and we were prepared for an adventure-and I guess in one way, we kind of got it. As we were descending in the elevator from the parking garage to my work (it is payday after all) James recieved a phone call from Zack informing us that our friend Bob is in the hospital. I'm sure Bob would not appriciate me getting uber personal here but he has pnuemonia and is hooked up to ivs and an oxegyn machine. It was so strange to see a young man of 25 years like that. I've had a few friends who have passed, but the deaths were sort of freak accidents. Now I am not suggesting that Bob is terminal by any means-just that I've never visited a young ill friend in the hospital and it was strange. I hope he wil be ok........
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Not to change the subject.....but on a happier note...here are some of my finds over the past few days. I got a Japanese paper craft magazine and a Donna Hay magazine-both of which will be in the mail soon as part of a swap. The paper book is really cool, I am just not that great at paper crafts. The Donna Hay magazine is kind of like an australian cooking Martha Stewart. It is truly beautiful but almost all the recipes include meat. So I am swapping with one of my flickr contacts and I am so excited!
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Also, thanks to Maitreya over at craftlog and James' mom-the magazine I was searching for was the Feb. 2001 issue. Above is the picture I was searching for-so cute!

My first real Japanese Craft Book!!!!!!!

2005-08-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh! I am going to have a heart attack! James and I worked the early shift this morning and he was nice enough to drive out to the suburbs so I could drool over way too many Japanese Craft Books. The cuteness was almost too much to take and I found myself wondering why I spent time living in France learning the language when I SHOULD HAVE learned Japanese. Thank you Super Eggplant for telling me about this place. I finally decided on a book with 20 patterns (yes-the patterns and illustrated instructions-I love these guys) for bags, purses and wallets. You can see more pictures of the book-including the cover and isbn here.

Self Portrait "single Moms"

2005-08-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am with my little sister Maci and our cabbage patch kids. Over the years I think I had over ten cpks all together. I loved them so much and until about the age of 12 I believed that they would come alive at night - crying if they had a bad day or throwing a party if it was a good one. My sister Ally just had a new baby, Sean Michael. I wonder when I will be a mom. Will the many years of raising cabbage patch kids help, or was that in vain?
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I had my six-month review at work yesterday. I cannot believe James and I have been here that long! I feel like our apartment is our home, but I really miss my friends. I need more crafty ones-hello sam-move here please!
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I am searching despartely for a Martha Stewart Living Mag that had a small article on embroidery which included an embroidered dishcloth turned into a cookbook cover. If anyone knows what I am talking about-please email me with what issue it is-I am losing my mind. I've looked on the web index and can't seem to find it. Thanks!

I want to copy everyone and craft Japanese

2005-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

So I am so totally obsessed with this site. Just about every interesting blog I look at has mentioned Japanese Craft books at least 100 times in the past several months and I have finally caught the bug. I always found them adorable but when I actually went to amazon.jp and found out how cheap and attainable they are-I lost it. The teapot I embroidered on linen above is super tiny (about 1 1/2 in) and will be part of a tiny coin purse. My favorite "zakka" (Japanese craft) book is one called point. You can see beatiful pictures here. What simple, yet stunning projects are in it! I must have it.
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I went to the fabric thrift store and scored some cool vintage fabric and interesting buttons. The yellow one reminds me of Mary Englebriet (but not as cheesey). I really want to start quilting I love modern qulits-but these ones are too cool. No knitting-it has actually been really hot the past few days!

Self Portrait with bag

2005-08-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here is my "hand" self portrait with the quilted bag I made yesterday. It's my "knitting on the bus" bag. The bageis just perfect because the sides are open and allow for great yarn flowage! I am a little proud of it-since I used no pins, patterns and my sewing machine is from 1922 (literally). I need to sew more.

finally!

2005-07-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well, here is my finished sweater-sort of. It's missing a few buttons and wasn't blocked when this photo was taken, but you get the idea.
Ubernatural
pattern from glampyre knits
needles: size 15 circular (length doesn't matter) and 101/2
yarn : casacade ecological wool, two strands held together
This sweater only took a couple days to knit, it just takes me forever to do the finishing on things. Once I got this pattern, it turned out to be a quick and easy knit. I highly suggest this as a first sweater. I think I will give this one to Cassie (she is much mor funky than I) and I will make a long sleeve version for myself.
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There is a new yarn shop opening just a few blocks from my house and it looks super cute. Also-I think a fabric shop is going to open next door to it! YAY!!!!!!!

Self Portrait Day "rememberance of things past"

2005-07-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Photo booths are my favorite thing to search for when I am at the beach. For some reason, you can always find at least one really odd photo booth at any given beach town in California. James and I took these photos during our honeymoon in Santa Cruz. The machine was at least 45 years old and I think the lighting makes us look Eastern European. I can only imagine how many portraits have been taken there-thousands I'm sure. Memories of roller coasters, sunburns, and funnel cakes captured forever at $2 a pop. Martha from Naive Knitting posted some beautiful "found" photo booth portraits a week or so ago-go check them out.
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My ubernatural sweater is done. Just waiting to borrow a camera before I can post pictures. (I really NEED to buy one!) I brought it to my knit group last night and was so proud.
After searching around on the internet last night, I found an awesome book about handspinning strange yarn called "Pluckyfluff; Handspun Revolution". It is #1 on my to buy book list. I really want to start spinning with a drop spindle. Has anyone in blogland tried it? If so-what did you think? Was it hard? Where is the best online source for wool?
I finally made it to the yarn store Lint yesterday-after months of admiring their website. I loved it! Their displays speak to me; knitted food, strange skirts and totally wearable shirts. They carry a huge selection on lamb's pride, strand handspun delights, and yummy crystal palace yarns. It is my new LYS.
The new KnitCast features Amy Singer, the editor of Knitty. It's nice to download and listen to while knitting/crafting/cleaning. She is so down-to-earth.
James' parents will be here tommorrow-so I must go and finish my chores!

Self-Portait Tuesday-I mean- Wednesday

2005-07-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm cheating. My friend April Henderson drew this picture of James and me and put it in a beautiful frame for our wedding present-isn't it lovely? I miss April a lot. I lost touch with her when we moved to Portland because she was at some mountain retreat and would be there for several months. Visalia kinda works that way. You think that you needn't worry too much about keeping in touch-you can always go back to the same coffee shop or restaurant and see all your friends. Maybe she'll find this and email me.
So, after posting my frustrations about knitting the "ubernatural" pattern I was able to sit down and knit it. I don't know what happened-the pattern and I just clicked. I now have all but the ribbing on the sleeves done. I love it! I am knitting it with two strands of Cascade Eco-wool held together. I would love to make them for Maci, Cassie, and Katelyn. Once I got it-it was a super fast knit. Lindee is visiting this weekend, maybe she can take some photos!
It finally became summer here in Portland. I was laughing at all the people dying from last weeks 90 degrees. But, Karma is a *&%# and it got a little humid-and I about croaked. I'll take 110 degree dry heat in a town where everyone has central air over 90 degree humid heat when it was 70 the day before.

Pay no attention to the order of the photos-bogger sucks!

2005-07-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well, haven't posted for a little while-so this is going to be a big post of my frustrations/discoveries over the past week. First:
1. All sweaters are not created equal
The above sweaters are both knitted/created by Stephanie Japel aka Glampyre Knits. Notice how the first sweater is fitted, interesting, alluring, and oh so unique. The second is not bad, I'd wear it to the supermarket or while cooking supper on a chilly night-nothing speacial just comforting and warm. So I started the bottom sweater in some Noro yarn-and it's simply comimg along beautifully. But oh, that top sweater-is it just me or she smirking on that bench? This is when I learned my second lesson:
2. All patterns (even if written by the same person) are not created equal
While the less cute sweater is coming along just swimmingly-the second sweater...is driving me nuts! It's not that the skills used to create this sweater are hard-no no it's rather easy it's just that the pattern is not consistent. I really don't want to complain about Ms. Japel-she is awesome-I really love her stuff. It's just that the pattern is written in a very confusing manner.
"raglan increases are worked by knitting to the marker, yo pass marker, yo." Okay, I get that-but when I actually DO that two of the rows of increases are fine-and two of them are backwards. I've frogged several inches of this sweater SEVEN times thinking I was doing something wrong-and finally I am just going to switch those two rows and just do what works for me. It was just so strange, because the other stuff she's written makes sense-am I crazy? Well, yeah-but oh well. On to the next lesson;
3. Urban Outfitters makes shotty clothes, but they have some darn cute ideas
I learned part one of this lesson while putting on my almost new shirt from Urban Outfitters and discovering the hem stitches were gone. *how cool* But of course, stupid me, as soon as I get an email about their new catalouge-I voraciously comb it for hours. I decided that one of there cute zigzag qult bags (pictured here on my blog) would be made cuter by me using some vintage fabric I own.
4. British people are too cool
Check out the knit Sgt. Pepper's jacket with free pattern at autscopia.com/amelia/

Self Portrait Tuesday and Baby Sweater

2005-07-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

So finally, I have posted my finished baby sweater. I tried to fit it on my scanner-so please excuse the funky angles and strange colors. This was the best I could do. It is going in the mail today to my sister Ally for her soon to be born son, Sean. It is a simple garter stitch sweater knit in one piece and sewn up the sides. Right now, I'm working on a sweater in the round for myself-and let me tell you-it's 10x easier and 10x cuter. I think I'll be doing my sweaters in the round from now on.
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Well, it's self portrait Tuesday and I'm cheating. This is a picture of me, age seven, holding my newborn niece, Katelyn. She turned 16 last week-Happy Birthday girl! And now I am an official loser because she has her driver's liscense before me! Oh well-Barbra Walters and Sarah Vowell don't drive...

Felted Beauty

2005-07-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

So I've heard through the rumor mill that Marta McCall, the creator of this beautiful felted bag, will be teaching a felting class in Portland very soon!(For pattern of the bag check out Interweave Knits Fall 2005-totally awesome!) Could this be true? I must find out. What a talented artist she is. I literally think that this carpetbag is the most beautiful piece of felting I've seen! I can't wait to figure this one out.
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In other news...My "bottom up" sweater in Noro is coming along quite nicely. I snagged the "pattern" from glampyre and I really like the way she knits. She just says "figure out how many stitches you have per inch, and multiply it by the number of inches you want your sweater to be". Now, it's like "duh" but I really needed that simple explination to get me going. I also cast-on for Lindee's felted lap-top bag. The pattern is from Interweave but was reprinted from a book called "AlterKnits". I'm excited to see what else the book has.
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Just getting news of the bombings in London...my heart goes out to anyone there, there are several wonderful knitbloggers over there and I hope all is well. Londoners are in my thoughts and hopes today...

Self-Portrait #2

2005-07-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess this is going to be a weekly thing. I was just put in the "self-portait links" section of the red current blog-so I better post, right?
This was an unintentional self portrait taken at The Wagon Wheel in Visalia, Ca December 2002. I do believe I was there to celebrate my friend Laurence's birthday (he's a Christmas baby). It's crazy how much my life has changed. One week later, I would be re-united with James (having met him in 2000 during my research of a newspaper article on local vegans) and by the next year, married. Crazy, no? I miss my days of haunting the downtown Visalia scene but I must say that I love Portland and the married life even more.
My knitting is coming along great. I knitted in the bus today and taught an older lady how to purl, it was cool. Hopefully I can post pics this weekend of my bottom up raglan made of Noro Kureyon! Cheers!

Best Weekend Ever!

2005-07-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

This photo shows my sister Cassie using a #13 needle to part Maci's hair before cutting it-Brillant!

2005-07-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

What a lovely weekend I had! At this time, my Mom and three of my seven sisters are on the road back to San Francisco after a whirlwind weekend here in Oregon. After their arrival on Friday, we spent all of our time knitting, eating, yarn shop hunting, and sightseeing (while knitting). I had a blast. One of the biggest highlights was going to Foothills Yarns and Fibers in Odell (near Hood River). It has a BEAUTIFUL view of Mt. Hood, nice people, a great dog, the BEST yarn shop oh-and of course these awesome alpacas!!! We got to feed them and touch them and watch the owner spin yarn. This place was breathtaking and I think that it has recently had a makeover so you should defintely check it out. I love my family so much and miss them already. Now I ahve so much to work on-a beautiful bottom up sweater with some Noro yarn, a glampyre sweater with some eco dye free yarn from Foothills, some cuffs in a beautiful marron baby alpaca yarn and a felted laptop case for Lindee with some yarn from Tangle. I must go knit!

2005-06-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the picture of Clapotis from Knitty.com-I hope I"m not breaking the law by showing this-fingers crossed! Isn't it so beautiful?

Clapotis and Knitcast

2005-06-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

So I admit it. I have joined the Clapotis mania! I realize I am late jumping on this bandwagon, but I just wasn't ready yet. (For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, I am referring to the pattern found on Knitty.com that has become very popular.) I don't know which yarn I am going to use, but am totally up for some suggestions. This scarf brings back memories of the year I spent living as a student in France. Let me tell you, a scarf can make an outfit and Clapotis is so that scarf. While I was surfing for some Clapotis ideas, I ran into knitcast.com- A RADIO SHOW ABOUT KNITTING!!!! My two loves have married and I am so happy to find it! The most recent edition features Kate Gilbert, Clapotis designer. I am so adding it to my links when I can. I must admit there are a few boring installments (the show involving wendyknits was a little above my head) but overall it is so cool. Download an installment and knit as you listen!
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Also, we had a yarn swap at SnB last night and I ended up with tons of pale green cotton(?). ---And there was a man knitter---I should embrace this, but I have to admit, I was a little surprised at first, but Todd is so good.This guy is totally cool and teaches sock and glove classes. Maybe I will be inspired enough to tackle some socks!

Sunday post #2

2005-06-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day, shameful I know. Yeterday I went to Lake Oswego with Ben and Lindee and visited the new yarn store "Tangle". It was so cool. Huge, beautiful, great prices and selection and the owner was so nice to me even though I looked like a ragamuffin. Lidee got me some wool for a felted bag I want to do. (Thanks girl!!!) I'm thinking a variation on the buttonhole bag-maybe with stars knitted into it? and the best aquisistion of the day was some addi turbos!!***Sidenote-Early yesterday morning I volunteered with some co-workers to serve breakfast at a shelter. It was a lot of un-and the place was awesome. It's called "The Blanchette House" and runs entirely on donations. We (Starbucks) donate food to them. I think that I will do it a few times a month.

The cozy I knit Friday night

2005-06-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

I knit this cozy from scrap yarn and no pattern. I just wanted to see if I could knit something using the fair isle method-and I can. It looks less frumpy in real life-my scanner couldn't make anything look good!-I looked at the cozy pattern in Stitch and Bitch, but it was huge and overly complicated for such a simple idea. I decided on a red cross because my phone's beat up and needs some "first aid". I definitely think that as a knitter(and life in general) I like to look at patterns for inspiration, but would rather figure out a different way that suits me. Everyone probably does this, and I'm sure I'll run into problems the more complicated I get-oh well.

2005-06-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Remember that greeting card swap a few weeks back? Well, I got mine today! These three cards are from Erin Klauk in Brooklyn. Aren't they awesome? So very professional. I feel bad for her because the ones I sent her were not nearly as cute!
*** Lindee came over today and the weather was/is beautiful. We went to Mt. Tabor park and played catch with Foster. If you ever go to Portland, you should check out this park-it has some great trails and awesome views.
***Yesterday I finally got my Portland Library card and was able to explore the gigantic downtown library. It is truly stunning. I got some of the "Mary Frances" books suggested by Amy from Angry Chicken. They are so funny, check them out. I also got a book about the history of domestic advice in America-really cool.

Self-Portrait Day

2005-06-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

There's this thing going around called "Self Portrait Day" where you can submit a picture from your blog/site and then they post it and all these people get to see it and it potentially creates a new network of "web colleagues". Anyway, so not ready to do that, but I thought it was an interesting idea to set aside a day of the week for it. I am still using Lindee's camera-so I can actually take a picture. We'll see if I keep up with it.
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So I live in the "Alberta Arts" neighborhood and the last Thursday of every month they have this huge flea mart type thing where random folks sell their goods on the street. I am kinda thinking about making a zine and a few others things and selling them there. I don't want to give away too many details-I am superstitious like that. Also, I am working on a project where i've created a blog from the life of a character I'd like to use someday. I am hoping to get responses from people about topics posted in order to be able to better identify with her fictional situation. Does this make sense? Is it mean? People who would read her blog have no way of connecting us (i think). We'll see what happens.

2005-06-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

First entry for Self-Portrait Tuesday, not that I am actually entering it anywhere except on my blog, but you get the picture.

2005-06-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Right: Me and my Dad at an Edison Company picnic-Left: James and his dad on Christmas

Happy Father's Day and buy nothing

2005-06-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to my Dad-happy father's day (and James' dad, too). You really should all be amazed-my dad is alive and well after raising 8 crazy girls and 1 boy!!! It's truly amazing, I know. I can't fathom how it was done, the money, the stress, remebering names...thanks dad-we totally owe you one (I mean, we owe you a LOT).
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Today I decided that I will buy nothing until my fam visits on the 2nd of July. Now, there are exceptions to every rule, I will allow myself 5 food items and to mail JuJu's promised package (I can't be a flake)-but other than that-I will buy nothing. Maybe this sounds normal to you, maybe it sounds crazy-but I need to do it. I have a bunch of new knitting books, decent enough yarn, some notions, fabric, magazines, more than enough to keep me busy. Recently I find myself buying food out when I have more than enough at home, buying coffee-when I get FREE drinks at work, and obsessively buying books and magazines, when I have more than I can handle. I must stop. I'm thinking I will try to create something new everyday as well. I want to continue this all summer-but not while my sisters are here-that can't count. It seems so silly that I have to declare a "Buy Nothing Fortnight" but I've just got to do it.

2005-06-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my crafty weekend endeavors. I made tiny clay sushi and used it to top some homemade knitting needles and stitch markers. It was really fun, a little squirrely-but with a couple of tools I think I could improve greatly. I am sending this package to JuJu, (from JuJu loves polka dots)-as a thank you for the wonderful goodie bag I got earlier this week. I will post more later, for now my favorite NPR stuff is on!!!

Today is a great mail day

2005-06-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Just a short post of the awesome mail I got today. Thanks Juju (www.jujulovespolkadots.typepad.com) for the most beautiful package.

2005-06-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

The cover does not do this justice. It is written by the owner of Purl (the most beautiful yarn shop) who was also an editor for Martha Stewart Living.

2005-06-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

This book has cute anecdotes like a list of movies to watch while knitting, what to put in a "knitter's gift basket" and how to brew a proper pot of tea.

2005-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

The package included beatiful fabric, images, and the best beaded pink penguin ever!!

In desperate need of some down time

2005-06-14T18:23:00.001-07:00

So, lately I've been working too much, so I informed my boss that I'd like to have my schedule pared down a bit. I am so looking forward to a little more "me" time and a little less "frappaccino" time.
***In more important news...***
- I am still knitting the baby sweater and the neck shaping is going along quite nice. I figure it's all downhill from here.
- I am constantly thinking about posting the mini-sweater pattern, but I'd like to wait untill I have the time to knit one from it to make sure it makes sense.
-Still no digital camera. James and I have spent about an hour of non-sleep time together in the past five days-no time for shopping!
-I went to my second installment of Stitch and Bitch last night and it was cool. There were some cool new people and one suggested we do a yarn swap next week-yay!
-I am going back to school in the fall-I am!
-James is doing really well at his job and is being promoted (=me being able to go back to school)
Anyway, I am posting below some yarn I have that I love, but that I'm not sure what to do with. I definitely want to steer clear of winter scarves-but I am so open to suggestion. The green and brown are to be used with size 2 or 3 needles (socks??) and the other size 6 or 8. Please I need ideas!

2005-06-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Here is my random yarn.

Forgive me

2005-06-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

So, I am NOT a computer person and blogger's not the best-I messed up and the following entries should be switched. read today's first post first, and the second one second-hopefully it will make more sense now. Sorry for the confusion.

2005-06-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

The girl who I am sending the cards to is named Erin, so that explains the big "E" card. This second card is a birthday candle with a blank spot to write "happy birthday" or maybe a name. I'm not sure if that one makes sense but I like it. I can't wait to get my secret swap cards!! also, I just special ordered two knit books-so it's gonna be a great mail week.

2005-06-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful morning perusing the aisles of Powell's Books and feeling all the beautiful handspun yarns at Knit/Purl I decided it was time to get down to business. I signed up for a greeting card swap on craftster and really needed to finish the cards. I fooled around with a few things, and I ended up sewing designs on them with my machine. They look childlike and the texture is great! They fit perfectly inside these 3"x5" manilla envelopes I bought three years ago and never knew what to do with. The colors are a ferny green and muted pink (my scanner shows awful color).

My first mini-sweater!!!

2005-06-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

2005-06-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! My first mini-sweater is complete. I saw a post over on the Naive Knitting blog where she had made a bunch of mini-sweaters and sent them out as holiday greetings. It was so inspiring that I wanted to try it. I went to work early this morning and rode the bus through the mad-house that was the rose parade, so I didn't feel like hopping back on it to get the book with the mini-sweater pattern. (*note-this book is now on my amazon wishlist*) So after a few failed attempts of trying to find a good one online-I came up with my own! I will post it shortly.

2005-06-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here is the second stage of the baby sweater. It's hard to tell in the scan, but I have begun to shape the arms. It is so exciting to see a sweater unfold! I am excoted to know how Ally will like it.

2005-06-09T17:47:00.000-07:00

This fabric is for my mom for her birthday. I will be mailing it this weekend (sorry it's late mom).

Stitch and Bitch

2005-06-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Yay! So tonight I went to one of Portland's many SNBs. It was a Suena, a cafe in Hollywood. I got quite a bit of knitting done, and the girls were great. I am knitting a sweater for the My sister Ally's unborn child. It is green and yellow stripes that have flecks of color mixed in. Here is a photo of it, but turned sideways!

2005-06-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

The Rose Festival Sucks

2005-06-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, here in Portland there's a month long celebration known as the Rose Festival. It involves parades, fireworks, carnivals, etc. I wish I could love this, and I'm trying-but I work in a coffe shop in dtown pdx and we are just too crazy busy!! Also, I am a busrider and there is a new funky schedule cuz of the festival and it can be a bit confusing. All right, I'm done venting. Anyway-still waiting on a digital camera to upload some knitting photos (I swear it's coming). In the meantime, the blogger from angry chicken has suggested a month of aprons where each month she picks a theme and one creates an apron according to that theme. It is a great idea! This month's theme si "home on the range". Anyway, since I have to work all day until 11pm, I better go and get some stuff done-mom-the photo below is for you!

2005-06-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

I found this felted knit birhouse on the Mason/Dixon knitting blog. I just know my mom would love it. The pattern is only a few bucks, so maybe when I have more than $12 to my name, I'll get it. On the site they have a post for a free pattern for a birdhouse dishcloth-way cute.

Fry-up baby

2005-06-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

This is just a short post-here's the scoop. We were going to borrow J&S's camera to take pictures of my newly finished sweater and knit satin ballet slippers-but Shelby didn't feel *comfortable* letting us use her camera. Zack offered us the use of his this weekend, so that kinda sucks, but at least you'll finally see some finished knits(this means you mom)(yeah Zack!). Anyway, I found this horrible/awesome picture and pattern while surfing the web. I am kinda considering making the purse-is this crazy? ***tell me what y'all think---

2005-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

??????This is so cool!!!Or is it hideous??

2005-06-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

I finished my first knit sweater/shrug thing-but have not had a chance to borrow a friend's camera yet-so it will have to wait until tomorrow. Other than that, I have been obsessed with anything Spanish. In "Elle" magazine they have a feature about a southern Spanish hotel named Trisierra. This is a picture of it's pool. At the hotel, all the food is from the local farms, the lavender grows outside your window, and horseback riding around Seville is the norm. That sounds like so much fun. I yearn for the sun!! The rain is back in Portland.

2005-06-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

This photo is from the article in "Elle". The article is well-written and gives the hotal tons of praise. It inspired me to start saving money for another trip to Europe (this time with James).

2005-06-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here is Carolina Herrera Jr.'s bookshelf. In the premier issue of "Domino" magazine (a home magazine from the creators of "Lucky") they feature a photo spread pf her Spanish apartment. I redid my bookshelf to look like this.

2005-05-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

I was browsing throught the links from the yahoo group I'm in and there are a bunch of "inspirational" ones and I found two that are really cool. This is a quilt made by Lynn Whipple. I will make James put it in my links-for now the website is www.whippleart.com/Lynn/site/aboutartist.htm#

2005-05-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

So I am posting the rest of my swap cards today-as I will be throwing them in the mailbox today to make sure they will be postmarked before June. These are the "quote" apcs. I am so not a "quote" person-so these were really hard to do. This first one has a fabric background, weird textured paper and a national geographic photo. The quote is the same on all of them- "Insist on yourself, never imitate. Everyman is unique." I don't know-it was hard to pick a quote without sounding totally cheesey. Hope people don't find my cards totally weird-we'll see.

2005-05-29T15:05:00.001-07:00

This has vintage rick rack and the back is a photo cut from a 1970's encyclopedia.

2005-05-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

This card has vintage rick rack, an old national geographic photo, and the background is the inside of a bill envelope.

Red, White, Black, and a Bike

2005-05-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

This morning Lindee and Ben came over and bought my bike!!! Yay! It is a little rusty and needs a check-up, but is okay to ride around the 'hood. We then walked to the cup and saucer and ate breakfast outside in the BEAUTIFUL weather. When we came back, we put a blanket in the yard and hung out. I worked on my postcards which are due to be mailed by Monday. (I am part of a yahoo group that exchanges art postcards) Each swap has guidlines or a theme which the cards must exhibit. These two cards are "red, white, and black". Tomorrow I'll post the cards from the "quote" swap.
Later on in the afternoon, I went to Hood River and James met us there. We ate yummy tacos outside and played with Foster (Ben's pooch). It was so fun.

2005-05-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

The background of this card is heart fabric I bought at Knittn' Kitten. The bullrider is a bad photocopy from an old book on Spain I got from the Visalia Library. I have ton's of copies from that book-I knew I'd use them someday.

2005-05-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

The background of this card is made from the inside of a bill envelope and the graphics are from a 50's boy scout manual. I still have some more swap cards to make tommorrow- I'll post them when I' m done.

Mint and Chip goodness

2005-05-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

James finally started his blog today!!Check it out, there's a link to it. He was also way nice and added some nifty links to this blog. The blogs are pretty much people I don't know, but whose blogs I think are funny, cool, creative, and/or interesting. If you check out any of the links, check out 101 cookbooks. This woman has tons of cookbooks and has made a goal to make a few recipes a week and post her true results in a blog. It is such a simple, genius idea. I have a pretty hefty collection myself-I so want to copy her. We really need a digital camera though, because I don't think I could scan my results. Hopefully my next check will go towards a camera.

2005-05-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

So, in a matter of a couple days, Portland went from being in the 50s and 60s to over 90 degrees! Where am I, v-town? Anyway, James and I have no air and no fans (of course, we never do) so we went to the local Walgreens to grab a cold treat. I found this-the most awesome ice cream sandwich ever mass produced. It is sooo good. Mom, try it!!

Powell's Rules

2005-05-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

So, I couldn't stay inside today-it was actually sunny! I went downtown to meet James for lunch, and to my suprise there was a giant tent in Pioneer Square under which was a book sale. I bought several books and spent less than $15. (My blog has been acting up today-so hopefully you can see the following pictures.)

2005-05-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

I wish I could scan the inside of this book. There are photos of Japanese theater houses, how to paint a kabuki face, and intricate costumes.

2005-05-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

This book has great images-I think I might scan some and blow them up for iron ons or stitch patterns.

2005-05-24T21:52:00.001-07:00

This litttle guy would be cool to embroider.

2005-05-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

This book is full of color photos of needlework from so many different countries and time periods. It also includes some pattern including a cool cross-stitch rose one.

2005-05-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

These dolls are from the needlework book. The pattern is included-I think I'll try it.

2005-05-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite book I got. It is full of icomic peasant and communist images. It has several different types of artists-$2!!

2005-05-24T21:48:00.001-07:00

This illustration is from the peasant art book.

2005-05-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

This book has cool projects

My blog just went missing

2005-05-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

So, my blog was missing there for a second.....hope it's back

2005-05-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Okay......my job isn't the best I'll ever have-but there are some great perks-like if you really want a day off, it is pretty easy to switch with someone to make it happen. That is what I did today. Today is my "go through the crap in your boxes day". For those of you that know me, I keep crap-I keep crap in boxes-yeah it's soooo cool (*that was sarcasm folks*). But really, I will probably post a zillion times today to show you some of my great *crap*. Thus the collage you see here. All those years mom wondered why I kept dirty old magazines-well here you go-so I could make funny collages for my blog! Now I must continue with the going through of the crappiage!

2005-05-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

So, Lindee bought this at Powell's books yesterday and I am borrowing it until the next time she comes back to Portland. Thirty-two pages into the book, I am begining to realize the erie similarities between Sarah Vowell and I. Her last name is VOWELL-mine POWELL, I love "This American Life"-she is a contributor for "TAL", she is from Muskogee-my family is from Muskogee, she's had a weird Ford theater experience-and so have I. I think that is one too many coincidences!! Anyway, this book is pretty funny. She is visting all these weird places that have something to with a president's assasination or assainator. So, did you know that Lincoln's son Robert Todd was present at 3 presidential assasinations (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley)?! I have to dig up the photo of my family at Ford's Theater-this is bringing up some great memories!!

2005-05-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

I got this in the mail a few days ago (my 1st ebay purchase). I am so excited to try and knit wooly tubes that I can felt to make purse handles. I don't have to many other ideas on how to use it, but if I use it for only that-I think the $3 I spent on it would be worth it. This came with no instructions, but a really nice lady named Sheetha just emailed me some (yay!). I was really inspired to buy this from the glampyre website/blog. She made an awesome felted skully bag partially using KnitMagic. If anyone has other ideas on how to use it-I would more than welcome them.

Knitten' Kitten is the Bomb!!

2005-05-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

2005-05-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the most awesome thrift store I have ever been to!! It is called Knitten' Kitten and you should go there (or at least the website) ASAP! The following are photos of my finds-I only spent $14!!! I love it.

2005-05-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the random stuff I got at Knittn' Kitten-old cool pink yarn, funny stamps, vintage coral beads (hard to tell from photo), old rickrack and near trim. I want to use the yarn for a felting project-small purse or makeup bag? the backgroung would be pink and Could knit a silohette with the white

2005-05-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

This picture displays my fab finds at Knitten' Kitten. The book includes instructions on how to knit toy monkeys, frog, dogs, and dolls. I do believe this place is a crafters paradise!

2005-05-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is the cover of JoAnna Newsom's cd "The Milk Eyed Mender". I am not a huge fan of her music, but this cover is beautiful. It really inspires me to get off this blog and start to embroider!

***abbytrysagain***