Angelarae Knits

Today was okay.  I cooked our turkey, a large one so it took several hours, and some stuff to go with it.  I worked on the huge sock for a little while and managed to turn the heel and start on the foot.  Mom's Birthday is November 29, so I need to have these done a day or two before.  Also, I spent a lot of time on the Etsy shop.  Listed a few things this morning and they were all gone by noon!  Yay!  So, got those orders together and shipped them out.  Nothing else can go out until Friday.  Are all of you guys going shopping Friday?  If so, where are you going first.  Do you have some kind of game plan for your shopping expeditions? Hit this store first, that store next? 

Ang

Michaels And The Cinna-Cones

Let me just say that I love Michael's Arts and Crafts Store.  They are the first place I have been this Christmas season that had something I could buy in my price range.  $2.49 Natural-looking yet faux evergreen wreaths are definitely affordable for me.   Since my Christmas decorating budget this year is twenty bucks, I have to do all I can to stretch those dollars.  They also had the cinnamon smelling pine cones for $3.49, a few cents cheaper than the Lowe's Food in my area.   

Can you smell the cinnamon?

Here's the yarn I got for the Fuzzy Feet I'm making for Mom.  The color is Pistachio.  Uh, yeah, I, uh, also had'a get another set of size 10 1/2 double points 'cause I could only find three of the five...so, now I have 8. 

One honkin' huge sock on the needles.  I love this yarn.

 

Almost Midnight

and I nearly forgot to post....see, I t old you.   I am more likely to forget to post than to run out of things to say.  Sorry for the inconvenience of having to read yet another quick, maningless post.  I did work on my two-socks-on-two circs today which, since I have finally chosen a pattern, can now be called, eyelet rib socks.  Whoo-hoo.  These are going a little more slowly than I had expected.  I know I am often slow to realize the obvious, but I somehow expected to get a little further along than two inches after 2 1/2 hours of knitting.  I guess, if you consider that I knit 2 inches on two socks, you could say that I knit 4 inches over 128 stitches (total) in 2 1/2 hours using tiny yarn and tiny needles.   That doesn't sound so bad.   I am also working on a pair of pocketbook slippers knit in fingering baby yarn with the same # of stitches as the worsted pattern.  I am hoping to make it the perfect size to fit Emma's little foot.  I am wondering if I should knit it the full 6 inch length.  Maybe it should be shorter, since she has a smaller foot and the scale is smaller due to smaller yarn and needles (size 5).   What say ya'll?

Ang

NoBloPoMo

Well, so far, NaBloPoMo is going fine.  I haven't forgotten to post (my biggerest worry), and we are  13 days into November.   I think that it has been good for me to write every day, whether or not anyone reads it.   I have learned a few things so far, too.  There really is more going on in my life that I could write about, than I give myself credit for.  Quite often, I think about posting, but say to myself, "No, I don't have any pictures to share," or, "No, nothing's happened that would be worth writing about."  So, I guess I need to think of this blog more as something for me rather than something that I want others to read.   
As for our Etsy Shop, we are working on the product photos and will, hopefully, be upload some tomorrow.  This is a very important part of the shop set-up process...people need to have a clear image of your product so they want to buy it.    I'll be trying to come up with an ad image for my blog and other knitting publications.   Lot's of work, but it will be worth it in the end, I think. 

As My Luck Goes

Well, as luck would have it, my Typepad account is having issues, so I am posting here for the first few days of NaBloPoMo or until this problem is fixed. I think it will be soon.   Typepad is usually really good about that stuff. I did not knit a stitch today.  Too much going on in the real world to spend much time in the knitting/blogging world. (or Virtual world...whichever you prefer). But, I am happy and taking problems more in stride than I used to. That is a very good thing.  It must mean that I am maturing(finally). Let us hope so, anyway.  Saw this version of the Mystic Water's Shawl today, finished through clue#2. Isn't it gorgeous?! Katty knit this. I hope mine looks half as good as hers.

Notice how she blocked the edges to have the little points? I want to do that. I think it gives it a more delicate look...no need for a special edging to be knit on.  Don't you think? I am still guessing as to what the center motif is going to be. Maybe a fish? What do you think it will be?

Click On Pic To Enlarge

*For those of you questioning the wisdom of posting a pic of someone else's shawl, it is the only way I know to show you how I want to block this.  Words fail me.

So, this is November 1st, the very first day of Nablopomo so I am posting to my blog.  I have been working on the Mysitic Waters shawl and have finished up to row 103.  That is *not* all of clue#1, by the way, and clue number 2 has already been posted. It is only 27 rows, thank goodness, so I am hoping to catch up with both of these before the next clue comes out. On the blogging side, I am sort of planning to post both here and on my blog every day of November (including Saturdays and Sundays). At this point, I can't see that as anything but a good thing. I need to write more and this will force me to do it. I don't know if everyone really wants to hear from me every single day, but, too bad, you are stuck with me anyway;->
I spent a good part of today knitting with friends at the Barnes and Noble in Cary. (There used to be a Catholic Church where the B and N now stands. I just thought I would mention that) Anyhoo, we girls knit and talked for almost 2 hours. It was a hoot. Kaki, blogless Kitty, and blogless Laura were there and we talked endlessly about issues we are dealing with and our teenage kids and how embarrassed they are of all of us. (I can't think why??)
For example, my 18 yr. old Son wanted me to drop him off in the church parking lot across from his school today. I said "Why can't I just drop you off in the school parking lot, there isn't a line?"
He said it was embarrassing because he is a senior and he 'should' have a car. I said " Is there some rule that seniors have to have cars? I didn't have a car when I was a senior and neither did any of my friends..." I don't know, but teenagers are awfully expensive. Really. And there are a lot of rules like this one in their social lives. I was thinking, and maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be much worse to be seen being dropped off in the church parking lot than in the school parking lot?

A Picture

"Ian...could you come here a minute?"

Ian: Jumps off his skateboard and begins walking toward me. "What?"

Me:  "Just come here, please..."

Ian: Slightly annoyed, "What?" 

Me: Grabbing a scarf and camera stealth-ly hidden on the table by the door.  "Could you pul-eeeese let me take a picture of this on you.."

Ian: "MOM! "

Me: "C'mon, Ian...I won't even take it of your face, just the scarf. "

 

Ian: "Hurry up." (Exaggerated breaths of agitation forthcoming now)

I don't know what the problem is...he's a good looking boy.

Exciting News

First, my blogging machine is back, and functioning!  Finally!  It took 3 returns via Fed Ex to receive this baby back in working condition.  Glad to have it.  (Yes, that's a pack of chocolate covered mint Oreos...what of it?)

I had to download all my favorite free-ware and set things up in Thunderbird for the Knit Notes newsletter, but I think I have everything covered now.  The third issue should already be in subscribers' email boxes.  Let me know if anyone is missing theirs.

Next, my son, Sam, has a film coming out December 25th 2007.  It is called 'The Great Debaters and features Denzel Washington (also directing) and Forrest Whitaker.  Sam is playing one of the Oklahoma City Debaters.  We are all so excited for Sam, and very proud!

Knit-wise, for now, nothing really all that earth shaking.  I am working on a classic wool scarf (more later) and a pair of white tweed socks.  I'll pass along the pics as soon as I have them.   

Re: the white tweed...I did attempt to knit Maia's Scherherazade's Slippers .  They are her Mystery Sock project for all us suckers out there who think we can knit...myself being the chief offendee.  (Hey, I never said there weren't people who could actually  knit)  Here is what the sock is supposed to look like so far:   (This is from Pat's blog-her lovely knitting)

And this is my weak attempt:

I don't think that those side cables on my sock look like actual cables at all.  They look more like a mock cable, and that's being generous.   Clearly, this little pattern kicked my arse and I was, obviously, over confident to attempt it, despite Maia's warning that this is really an intermediate to advanced knitter project.   Oh well, you live, you learn.  The yarn is pretty, though, right?  I told you it was white tweed.

An Open Letter to Stephanie Pearl McPhee

Dear Stephanie,

I have been an avid reader of your blog and your books for more than a year now. Your writing has been so encouraging to me.  You make me feel better about myself.  I can embrace my disorganized habits and my obsession with yarn and knitting and even laugh at myself, because I know there are others out there just like me.  I am inspired to accept my gifts and give myself well deserved praise. I have grown as a knitter and a person.

But, Dear Steph, how is it that you can make me feel so adept, yet so inept at the same time? I mean, your work, the actual knitting, and I am speaking particularly about the shawls here, is so pretty, so delicate and resplendent, that I am determined to wear something equally as beautiful.

There was the Icarus Shawl, and the Snowdrop shawl and that lovely thing you wore on Knitty Gritty.  But my jaw dropped to the floor at the sight of your Wedding Shawl.  Gorgeous.  I have been inspired to try my hand at knitting something lacey and lovely because of you.  Yarn is purchased, a pattern chosen and work cast-on.  But, alas...I do not get on so well. And I was just wondering....

Do you rip your shawls back several times before you get them right and then, rip again becase you realize you forgot the increase at the end of the last row?  Do you struggle with the charts and instructions as I am struggling with the Snowdrop Shawl chart right now?  Do you examine your work thus far, and think it is not exactly right, maybe that is an extra hole? and rip back, yet again? Do you give up on a chosen pattern and try to find something easier to understand?  Several times?  Of course, you do. As a matter of fact, I know you do, because you have written about it.  It just doesn't feel the same when it is actually happening to me.  I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to turn out anything as lovely as your Snowdrop.  I could use a little encouragement right now... I am running out of Jack.  And I think you should help me... I never would have chosen charcoal gray mohair, were it not for you.

Sincerely,

Angelarae "I now need Rogain" Knits(and I use that term loosely)

G-Rating

Well...what'd you expect? I'm an elementary school teacher....