Wavybend Knits

Knitting update

2005-09-22T15:23:00.000+09:00

Brian mailed off 7 squares, 2 bunnies, and 1 bubby bear to Ali for the Katrina Relief Knitalong! Yea!! I also am about 1/2way done on the first sleeve of my Kepler sweater. I love the cable pattern on the cuff! The Catalina yarns alpaca is knitting up beautifully on size 5 needles, only 2 sizes smaller than the recomendation. But it's like butter and the drape is wonderful. Unfortunately, this guage is WAY off of the recomendation, so I am doing all kinds of math to figure out dimensions. But, that's okay....the sweater is worth it.

Just in case you were wondering...

2005-09-12T21:28:00.000+09:00

You are Mohair.

Clapotis on the Move

2005-09-11T21:12:00.001+09:00

Clapotis on the Move
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Here, let me adjust my Clapotis

2005-09-11T21:12:00.000+09:00

Here, let me adjust my Clapotis
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Clapotis all for Me

2005-09-11T21:11:00.002+09:00

Clapotis all for Me
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Multi Directional Headband

2005-09-11T21:11:00.001+09:00

Multi Directional Headband
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Brian models my multi-directional headband. This is destined to become a hat, as I plan to pick up stitches around the brim and knit up...

Square Bag

2005-09-11T21:11:00.000+09:00

Square Bag
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Kool-Aid Dyed & Felted Bag
modeled by Miss Flora Borealis
Yarn-Wool of the Andes
Time Required to knit: 3 Movies + 45 min assembly.

Firefly

2005-09-08T06:41:00.000+09:00

My copy of the complete firefly series arrived with Brian from the states. So, last night we started watching it. In honor of this important event, I bring you...

You are Zoe. While most others see you as a
stone-cold bitch and yes.woman to the captain,
you can be both a loving wife and quite
emotional - though you never let it show.

Which Firefly character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmm... does this mean I can go to school and chew out the principal for telling me I can't knit anymore? Not knitting wouldn't be so bad if I actually had something to do! But, I have so little to do, and am so totally bored most of the time that knitting has been a big part of my sanity check. I guess I get to start reading all the time now. I bet it will take him another 6 months before he complains about that...

General Update

2005-09-06T19:10:00.000+09:00

My husband's back, and I'm a happy camper! He was back in the states for a couple of weeks in order to attend the mandatory 1 week residency for his school (www.goddard.edu). He got back home last night, just in time to take care of me. Somehow I managed to sprain my lower back, and have been home from work the last 2 days as a result. Today I headed into the doctor and got to see x-rays of my lower spine. Not a pretty sight. Basically, the collagen between my lower disks is wearing away and as a result I am more prone to lower back pain and sprains as things can move around more than they are supposed to. So, I got to spend time in the cool tracion machine and am supposed to exercise me abs in order to keep things in place. But, although I'd never had a diagnosis before, this totally made sense to me, and explains a lot.

Other than that, I've been sleeping, knitting and blogging ;)

BTW, watch this space. In honor of my impending 200th post on the Knittyboard, and to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina, I will be holding my first ever contest. Details to be posted soon!

Jasmine Beads

2005-09-06T19:06:00.000+09:00

Jasmine Beads
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

A close-up of some of my beads. These ones really remind me of Jasmine flowers. This picture doesn't show it off well, but the flowers are actually very 3-D, with the centers plunging into the blue below. Cool technique!

Beads

2005-09-06T19:04:00.000+09:00

Beads
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Here's some of my beads hanging out on the yummy alpaca. I've been making beads for about 5 years now. But, prior to moving to Japan I really focused upon recreating historical styles (especially Viking). Now, I take classes from a fabulous teacher here in Sendai. So, my beads are much more modern in style, but my technique is really improving.

Bunny Hop/Square Dance

2005-09-06T19:03:00.000+09:00

Bunny Hop/Square Dance
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Here's another bunny for Katrina's Kids, and my third afghan square. The fourth square is on the needles now and nearly done.

Clapotis

2005-09-06T19:02:00.000+09:00

Clapotis
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Here's my very first Clapotis. The yarn is Noro Airisu, which is a blend of silk (the white) and rayon (the colors). I made a fairly small one, so it's a perfect scarf size. I'm ready for fall!

Catalina Yarns Alpaca

2005-09-06T19:01:00.000+09:00

Catalina Yarns Alpaca
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Shawn, the owner of Catalina Yarns had a haiku contest for knitting/wool related haiku. Here's what I received last week. It's sooper soft and yummy. Perhaps destined to become Blaze from Knitty. The color is a purple heather melange. Very pretty

Japan, Earthquakes and Bamboo

2005-09-06T18:13:00.000+09:00

I was just about to post this, when a very minor earthquake hit. It's funny how I often hear things rattling before I feel anything at all. It's amazing how prior to moving to Japan, I had felt only one earthquake in my entire lifetime. I think I was about 10 and living in rural Vermont. Now, I have no idea how many earthquakes I've felt, but I still can't remember the word in Japanese. ;)

You are bamboo.
Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and
enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You
love the craft and beauty of traditional
things, and you value the comfort and
experience of knitting as much as the results.
But while you are reveling in your warm cozies,
don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is
the whole wide world!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Someone asked...

2005-09-05T20:04:00.000+09:00

Someone asked me about my bead making, and thought I would post an old picture of me dressed in Viking Garb, wearing lots of beads I made myself. I currently am taking classes here in Japan, but am not doing anything remotely historical, but am learning a heck of a lot.

For the pic, go to:
http://storvik.atlantia.sca.org/images/gallery/images/0006_jpg.jpg

Tag, I'm it!

2005-09-05T16:57:00.000+09:00

Wow, I just got tagged for the first time ever by UrbanPagan. She was my secret pal, and I had a lots of fun spoiling her silly! So, now she decides to tag me in return ;)

ten years ago: I was 20, and had just transferred to SUNY Purchase as a theatrical lighting design major, where I would spend the next 3 years. I doubt I was that miserable, yet... I was also dating Brian and spending every possible free weekend with him. As he lived in DC, and I was outside NYC, my phone bills were HORRIBLE! My roomates also hated me for hogging the phone line.

five years ago: I was working at VitalSpring Technologies as an Administrative Assistant and doing lighting design for dance performances on the side. Brian and I had been married a year, and were living in Takoma Park, MD. I'd also been in recovery from compulsive eating for a bit over a year.

one year ago: I had been living in Japan for one month, and was escorting my husband from Tokyo to our new appt in Sendai.

five snacks:
Kinda hard to answer as I don't eat between meals...
1. Strawberries
2. Pineapple
3. Pecans
4. Grapefruit Juice
5. Sea Chicken Onigiri (A Ball of rice, filled with tuna salad, and wrapped in a sheet of seaweed).

five songs I know all the words to (and will sing at the top of my lungs in the car):
1. Boston and St. Johns (Great Big Sea)
2. A Life Less Ordinary (Carbon Leaf)
3. Seventeen (Winger)
4. Talk Dirty to Me (Poison)
5.Angel (Aerosmith) - Actually one of my best Karaoke songs

five things I would do with $100 million:
1. Travel, staying in really really fancy hotels
2. Pay off all my relatives houses. (Just like Urban Pagan)
3. Open a Craft/Knitting/Yoga retreat center somewhere amazing
4. Fly by private Jet, or at least first class
5.Have a huge private party with Great Big Sea and Carbon Leaf providing entertainment

five places to run away to:
1. My bed to take a nap
2. The Mountains.. I always feel at peace out there
3. In front of my TV, knitting and watching american tv shows on DVD
4. At School - My Car, no kids,no teachers...
5. Brian's arms... yup, I'm a a sappy one

five things I would never wear:
1. A Size 26 - Been There, Done That, got the photos to prove it...
2. A Size 6 - What, do I look dead to you?
3. Pleather Pants... Although, I bet I'd look hot in a pair of real leather pants... ;)
4. Full Elizabethan Garb... way too much fabric
5.Anything Pink, Frilly, lacy and girly!

five favorite TV shows:
1. Babylon 5
2. Alias
3. Star Trek, Deep Space 9 (Final Season)
4. Law and Order Reruns
5.Random Anime on TV in Japan

five biggest joys:
1. Hanging out with Brian
2. Sleeping Late and taking looong naps
3. Exploring Japan and wherever else I happen to be
4. Lounging at the Onsen
5. Knitting and making glass beads

favorite toys:
1. Brian ;) Husbands count, right?
2. My lampworking blowtorch... cause I love playing with fire and hot glass!
3. My iPod, affectionately known as my iPoodle
4. My collection of stuffed animals, Graaar!
5. My car, the Boxer, cause it takes me to neat places whenever I want to go

five people to pass this on to:
1. Alcariel, cause she was my SP, and I want to know more about her.
2. Roxy, cause I love her name and think she's way cool!
3. schmeebot, because I love her blog and wanna knit her soooper cute bunny pattern
4. Helen, because I think her life looks so much like the one my viking alter ego would like to have
5. Jenny, because she moved back home to London and Sendai isn't the same without her.

I don't like Mondays

2005-09-05T06:11:00.000+09:00

One of the problems with living in Japan is that when Monday arrives for me, it's still the weekend for everyone I know back home! I stayed up too late last night to finish a third square and then pawed through my stash to find more worsted weight yarn to turn in to bunnies/other stuffed animals.

So, no one showed up for Karaoke yesterday, which makes me feel kinda lame and unpopular. BUt, I didn't really feel like goin anyway and consoled myself buy buying a pretty cook Japanesse knitting book/mag instead. Now I have to go back to the store to buy the book that explains the sybols used in the patterns as this book doesn't come with the magic decoder ring. ;(

But, in good news.. Brian comes home todau! Yay!!! I'm very happy!! He's been gone 2 1/2 weeks. Everytime we're separated I rembember just how much I prefer living with him to living alone. Ahh.. a good marriage is a good thing.

Bunny Closeup

2005-09-04T15:56:00.000+09:00

Bunny Closeup
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Isn't my bunny cute?

Squares and Bunny

2005-09-04T15:55:00.001+09:00

Squares and Bunny
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

Bunny and Squares OH MY!

Cabled Heart

2005-09-04T15:55:00.000+09:00

Cabled Heart
Originally uploaded by Wavybend.

The Cabled Heart

Katrina Knits

2005-09-04T15:35:00.000+09:00

In response to Hurricane Katrina I decided to dedicate my weekend to knitting items to help the victims of the storm. I started with making afghan squares, and have actually completed two at this point. I'm hoping to get a couple of more done, or at least finish off the acrylic yarn I bought for this purpose. Have I mentioned that I HATE knitting with acrylic. The good new is that I am happy with my two squares so far. The pink and black one with the cabled heart is particularly cool.

Also knowing that lots of kids were affected and have lost everything including toys has been really hard to bear. So, to that end I knit up a really cute bunny. It starts with stockinette square and with some clever sewing and fiberfill turns into a bunny. The ears are knit separately, and I needle felted a fuzzy white tail. The yarn is some lefterover knitpicks wool of the andes that I had dyed blue for my spiderweb capelet, and then just overdyed a couple nights ago with a bit of dark green dye. The result is a kinda dull slate blue. But, it made a cute bunny, and finished off some yarn already in my stash. Always a good thing. Once I get bored with afghan squares I think I'll start making baby booties and hats for the same cause.

Gotta go change, I organized a karaoke fundraiser this afternoon. I don't think anyone is actually coming though, so I feel really lame. But, I did raise nearly $300 by simply passing the hat at last Friday's monthly ALT meeting.

True Love

2005-07-11T20:55:00.000+09:00

True love is detangling 200+ yards of yarn and making it into a ball... without a single complaint.

Secret Pal Package #2!!!

2005-07-11T20:47:00.000+09:00

I must admit that I've been totally lame when it comes to blogging lately, and I am WAY overdue with posting a public thanks for the goodies sent by my secret pal.

This time around, I was good... I started taking pictures before I began openning packages. One might even claim I was "restrained". But... then the little girl in me dropped the camera and started ripping away the paper to reveal the fuzzy goodness within! So, that explains why there are no more pictures!

But, enclosed within were 2 boxes of homemade chocolate chip cookies for Brian. He says they were very yummy and are all long gone! He also put on his best little boy face and says "Tank ewe very much!" :)

Also, homemade was a box of gorgeous cloisone enamel bead-stitch markers. I've even had a chance to use them and must say they are fabulous! Pretty and so very nice to use!

Not to stop there though, I now have my very own fuzzy sheep retractable tape measure! It's so cute!!! I love it!!!

And then there was the yarn... 2 skeins of knitpics simple stripes in crayon. I just cast on tonight and am working on sock number one! No fancy pattern, just letting the yarn shine through on its own.

Thanks again Secret Pal! You totally rock, and I'm having a blast getting your patterns. Now if only this darn cold would go away so I can think properly again!!!

The Bead Demon Strikes Again

2005-07-06T18:13:00.000+09:00

Okay, so I had a great time at my lampworking class last night. I learned how to make a really cute (and VERY Japanese) bunny and moon design. Now I've got plans and thoughts about how to make a couple of other Japanese designs. One is dragonflies, the other is concentric circles that looks like rain on water. I even pulled out my lampworking notebook, sketched out my ideas and how to make them work. I really wish I had more torch time. I may have to find a way to make that happen, as I wanna play darn it.

I'm feeling a bit grumpy about my summer ragland (which I named Lacing Stripes). I realized last night that the really cute raglan decreases I was doing, actually didn't decrease at all... so much for the cute yarn overs... So, I need to rip it back and start that section over again... sounds like that's how I'll spend my evening. Exciting! Rip it Rip it!!

Dyeing your own Spiderweb Capelet

2005-07-03T17:34:00.000+09:00

The planets have finally aligned! My SP sent my the fabulous book, Yarns to Dye for. Since it came, I've been totally wanting to dye some yarn using some of those techniques. Unfortunately, I didn't have any appropriate yarn to dye. So, I ordered some knitpicks dyeable, had it shipped to family in the states who then shipped it to me... It came last week, and I've been staring at it longingly ever since. So, this weekend come around, and I find myself with lots of free time and just a little spare cash. But, it's Friday evening I needed a knitty noddy to so I can wind my newly dyed wool onto it when done. Off we went to the Japanese version of Home Despot, Homac totally rules BTW, bought some PVC pipe, and appropriate T connectors. Then we stopped at Jusco, to pick up a pack of RIT dye. Back at the ranch (or small Japanese appartment), Brian hacked away at the PVC pipe, filed the rough edges and made me 2 knitty noddies (cost $5 for 2!).

So, Saturday morning arrived bright and glorious (I thought this was supposed to be the rainy season). I repotted my tomato and basil plants, and then set about to dye my wool. I bought a great dress when I was in Tokyo, but needed a little something to go over the shoulders. I also knew I wanted to do a gradiated dye job, so set about looking for a pattern that would work. The Spiderweb Capelet from SnB Natioin was the winner. Soft gradations of a periwinkle/sky blue look lovely. This pattern was fun to knit, and totally fast! In under 12 hours, I dyed the yarn, and finished the entire garment. How cool is that? I wasn't real fond of the pom poms in the pattern, but came up with a fabulous solution. One of my handmade glass beads is working in a kinda bolo tie fashion, and works wonders as a closure. What can I say, it looks fabulous.

If I were to make this pattern again, I would make it a bit longer by doing another pair of lace patterns (row-wise). So thanks SP for getting me inspired to play with color. I even have separated one skein of color your own into two balls that will be dyed into matching gradiated sock yarn.. hence the 2 knitty noddies...

Here's picture one... Yes, I do plan to buy a ribbon to match my capelet. The yellow that came with the dress is simply not working.

And here's the front. I really love the way my bead is working as a closure. I'm so happy to find homes for my lampworking.

Have you seen my sock?

2005-07-03T17:23:00.000+09:00

So, I'm a really bad blogger. It's been one month to the day since I last updated my blog. I haven't wanted to post, as I have bad news. The bad news is that I have a sad sad sock story to tell...

Get out your tissues, here goes my story of woe... My wonderful SP gifted me with 2 skeins of Knitpicks Sock Garden Zinnia last month. It's fabulous yarn and I loved knitting with it. So, off I went to my conference in tokyo, 2 skeins of yarn, brand new addi turbos and the super cool book Kniting on the Road. I spent all week working on the Spey Valley sock, and was able to finish it on the last day of the conference. It was beautiful. It was also a tad too small... but I still loved it, and knew I could find a good home for it someday. So, on the train home, I pulled it out of my bag and showed it to my husband, and made him try it on, just for good luck. The sad tale there truly begins. I haven't seen my sock since. Even worse, I don't even have a picture of it. I can't place lost sock notices, or ask random people on the street if they've seen my sock... It's mate was begun, but is sitting abandoned (even without needles) in my stash.

As I see my poor abandoned yarn today though, I see that it really wants to be a cute pair of sandle socks to wear with my Birks. I'm fairly certain I have enough yarn for that. Even better, I have some of the knitpicks color your own, that I can dye to work as an accent color for the toes and heels. So, my tale of woe, will have a new beginning. If you see my poor lost sock, please do give her a good home. She answers to the name of Spey Zinnia.

Strange Thoughts/Sights

2005-06-03T08:35:00.000+09:00

Odd thought of the day (okay, so it's only one of many!) Has anyone else noticed that when you have 1 comment on Blogspot it says 1 Comments? or have I just been an English teacher too long?

This morning on my drive to work, I actually saw a construction crew doing morning calisthenics as a group, complete with hard hats. Add to that the very interesting earthquake & fire drill we had at school yesterday. This was rather unlike the American version where everyone files out in an orderly & typically bored manner, then stands around waiting to be left in. In contrast, the students and staff ran from the building (once being instructed to do so), across the sports field to gather at a large red flag (which I got to hold). This wouldn't have been so odd, but some students were "injured" and required various types of assistance, from being carried piggy back, helped by a friend, or carried on a stretcher. Some later "passed out" and required assistance. There was a "triage" area where the school nurse put arms in slings, bandaged heads, splinted legs ect... All of this was just a drill. It was very interesting to say the least!

In knitting news (okay, so it's not really news)... I started working on the heel flap of my sock. Hopefully I'll finish turning the heel today and then it's on to the toes.

I'm off to Tokyo tonight. My Mom and Aunt arrived in Tokyo yesterday after a very very long day of travel. So, we're headed down to spend a couple of days with them in Tokyo, then I've got a conference in Tokyo Mon-Wed. Eventually, I'll make it back to Sendai, just in time for my Mom and Aunt to visit us here.

Morning Musings

2005-06-02T09:44:00.000+09:00

Yay! I won a prize from the Wendy Knits raffle. Not only that, but the raffle raised over $2000 for the Susan B. Komen Foundation. What I'm personally going to do with a melon sized ball of roving is yet to be determined. I have some ideas however...

1) Give it to Brian to spin, he?s really good at it!
2) Send it to my Secret Pal who wants to learn how to spin
3) Try spinning again myself and see if I like it any better now that I?m a knitter
4) Send it to Dari? she?s a spinner
5) Try making something large and needle felted

Not a bad way to start off my morning!

I had a bad idea yesterday... yes, I must admit it... I want to knit more socks. Not just any socks however, but specifically, socks knit with KnitPicks Merino. It's yummy, fun to knit and soft and cozy on my toesies. Between the Sock Garden and Landscape lines, there's only 16 different colorways? that's only about $128. Hey, Brian?. Yeah,like that will go over well. Besides, I can't really imagine knitting all 16 colorways in the near future. I totally have knitting ADD!! But, it's a plan.

In other good news, Brian successfully completed step one in the journey to getting a Japanese Drivers License. Our US Licenses have been officially been translated into Japanese! Yay!!! There was a small concern that we'd need to get from Maryland the official original issue date of our licenses, not just the date of last renewal. Thankfully however, this wasn't an issue. I really didn't want to have to deal with the #$^! Red tape that would have involved. Now onto step 2, passing the written test (thankfully in English!).

Sock in Progress

2005-06-01T20:19:00.000+09:00

Thanks to my Secret Pal, I've been really wanting to cast on for a new pair of socks. I've got the yarn, I've got the book, and thanks to Elann.com I've now got the needles. Can I just say, how much better magic loop works with my new Addi Turbos? No more yanking yarn over the cable join! Hooray! They're a bit slicker than I like, but I find myself getting used to them.

This will be a great project for me to bring to Tokyo with me. I've got lots of seminars to go to that are likely to be boring, so having socks to knit is wonderful. Although, for some reason I expect my Mom will be far to amused (in that non-knitter kind of way) that I will always have my knitting with me. Heck, I expect she'll be amused that I knit at all!!

Finished Soleil

2005-06-01T20:08:00.000+09:00

I finished my Soleil last week! Yay!! Hoooray!! Yippee!!! The weather even cooperated and I got to wear it to a BBQ on Saturday. It looked great, I had a wonderful pashmina that matched it (major coincidence), and it even drew comments from my knitting friends!

This really is one of the first things I've knitted that doesn't *look* like I made it myself. In some ways that's wonderful and in others it's disappointing as I really want other people to look at the stuff I made and say... wow, that's great! she's so cool, I wish I could do that... ;)

But, since I'm a knitter, and this *is* my knitting blog, I get to complain that the shirt is a wee bit too short for my taste. At the moment it's reblocking to see if that helps. The first time I only used the iron and steam method (yes, I was impatient!, and yes it's cotton!). this time I'm using the wet blocking method, which looks like it must might help. I also had trouble crocheting the arm holes. I tried it twice, with different size crochet hooks to no avail... it became simpy too tight. So, as it is, I like the slightly rolled look the un-finished seam gives and am leaving it as is. There's always I chance I'll decide to add sleves to this later, but for now I really like it the way it is. I thought I wanted sleeves, and even have the yarn for it, but I'm happy now... too bad I can't wear it to work... ah well, a girl always needs play clothes!

Beads Beads Beads!!

2005-05-26T20:54:00.000+09:00

Last week I went in with Yuri-chan from work to take an introduction to lampworking class at a local glass studio I stumbled upon last fall. It was fabulous! One of the teachers is simply amazing. So, I signed up to take a real class twice a month. This week was my first class. Yay! I had so much fun!!! It's so great to be back on the torch again. I didn't realize how much I'd missed it. Lest you worry that I know everything (yeah right) the glass and the torch are both VERY different to work with. As such, the techniques are also quite different. But, it's great! And I can't wait for my next class. The sensei is very good, and the other students are doing things I can only dream of at this point. So, while I love to hop from one thing to the next, the sensei seems to want to put me through my paces. A good thing for me. I need that, and I certainly won't do it myself!

An almost FO

2005-05-26T20:42:00.000+09:00

So, I've almost finished Soleil. Now, I find myself debating whether or not to add sleeves. I LOVE the way it looks now, but find myself thinking that I can't quite wear it to school as it is now. But, the Japanese summers are really hot... so a nice looking sleeveless top would be a wonderful addition to my wardrobe. Maybe I'll just have to knit another top, this one with sleeves.

In other knitting news, I love my new pretty petals socks. They are making my toes very very happy. My students also love them. I can't wait for my addis to get here, so I can cast on with the Knitpicks yarn sent by my SP. I'm hoping they arrive before I leave for Tokyo next weekend as I'd love to bring them with me to work on during the conference. My knitting on the road book should come in handy ;)

Happy Toe Dance!

2005-05-20T20:10:00.000+09:00

It only took me just over a week, but I finished my pretty petals socks! The yarn was a RAOK (KnitPicks Color Your Own) as was the dye (KoolAid). The pattern is Pretty Petals by Jeanie Townsend (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TownsendSocksKnitALong/). I modified it very slightly by only doing 3 pattern repeats on the cuff rather than 5. I just don't like really tall socks (yet...). The result is yummy!

One of the nice thing about being a foreigner in Japan is that everything I do comes under scrutity and is viewed as being different or excentric. This in many ways is actually very freeing, because it lets me simply be me, and not worry about what others think. It simply doesn't matter. Mind you, it also doesn't matter in the States, but there I would feel very strange and like a fashion victim wearing Birks and socks. Besides, at school I see teachers wearing sandals with socks on a daily basis. What scares me is that it no longer looks strange to me. Add that to the reality that I no longer grimmace at the thought of having to use a squat toilet. ...

My Secret Pal Rocks!

2005-05-19T20:50:00.000+09:00

I got a great package today from my Secret Pal! Can I just say that she rocks? The yarn is yummy... I can't wait to finish my current sock project so I can dig into it. I was almost out of pecans, so a new shipment is VERY timely! I mean, what would my morning oatmeal be without pecans???? And, I must admit that I have been coveting these very books. I feel really ready to move onto more advanced dyeing, so the dyeing book is right on time! I love the watermellon pattern in it! I'm already figuring out how to make a 40 foot diameter skein outside my appartment!

Thanks again SP

before...pretty ne?

here's the goodies after I opened them

Kool Aid Party!

2005-05-10T20:44:00.000+09:00

Life is good when I don't have to do homework. To celebrate this event (and the wonderful kindness of Knitty ROAKs) I invited Jenny and Jen over to play with KoolAid and yarn. It was really neat to see how different our results were, even working with the same color palate.

The Dyeing Process

My Yarn... It's KnitPicks Color Your Own Merino.... a yummy ROAK!!!

Jenny's Yarn

Look... let's freak out the neighbors!

Back to Work

2005-05-09T19:58:00.000+09:00

The trip to Hokkaido, although not what I intended, was still pretty darn cool. Since I was sick, I certainly wasn't nearly as adventurous as I might have been otherwise, but had fun! I also got to try my hand at pottery (which I think I could be good at) and glass blowing (which surprisingly I wasn't good at). In addition, I frogged part of my fjord sock (which I'd finished, but it was WAY too big), and got ready to try again. I also finished my test swatch of the KnitPicks Color Your Own Merino (Which is YUMMY!!). Finally, I did several repeats on my Branching Out scarf. I'm now onto ball number 2 of 2. It's looking good, just time and attention consuming. I'm on a bit of a FINISH IT Darn It! trend. So, although there are a millon other new projects I want to work on, I'm trying to be good and not cast on (or buy) any more yarn.

In book news, I finished reading Snow Falling on Cedars. I found this one really interesting to read while living in Japan. My experiences with Japanese culture really helped me to see how easy it was to miscommunicate accross cultures. I enjoyed the book, but was ready when it ended. In terms of literary popcorn, I read The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks (Which was in the appt. when I arrived). Fun popcorn romance/thriller for those who don't usually admit to reading either genre. It's funny that I've always been a SF/Fantasy junkie, but since coming to Japan I just haven't been into that genre at all.

Okay.. now to go watch some Alias and Knit :)

Kitting Update

2005-05-01T13:29:00.000+09:00

Soleil's going well. My guage seems to be a bit off, but since I'm planning to add sleeves, a bit big is better anyway. We'll see how it turns out.

I finished a sock last night using self-patterning sock yarn I found here in Japan. It was a cute little anklet, but is WAY too big and simply falls off. I'll have to frog it and try again. But, I can take guage meausurements from it before I frog it!

No progress on my sampler from the Sweater Workshop. I simply haven't touched it.

My Branching Out Scarf likewise hasn't been worked on in a couple of weeks. But I'm brining it with me to Hokkaido.

I did spend some time working on a swatch of the Knit Picks Color Your Own Merino that Chutka RAOKed me with. This stuff is so lovely! Soft, and yummy!!! I keep wanting to rub it against my face and purr.... And I'm not a cat person! Puuurhaps I'll bring that along too....

My Trip to China

2005-05-01T12:48:00.000+09:00

We've been planning this trip to China for a couple of months now. We re-arranged our class work, I took time off from work, We conatacted folks we *knew* in Shanghai, I figured out what knitting to bring with me.... Then, I got tonsillitis. So, although the doc insists that I'm getting better, I still feel like crap. But, I sent off my paper for the class from Hell, and into the car we hopped to drive the 2 hours to the airport. 10 Minutes into the drive, almost within sight of my school, the transmission in the car died! So, we hobble off the highway at 20km/hour, get it towed to the Suzuki dealer near our house, and then go into the travel agent to find out options. To make a long-story short, it would cost $2000 more to fly to Shanghai. So, we decided not to go to China. Instead, we're taking the ferry to Hokkaido. In some ways this is better, as my Tonsillitis is still not cleared up, and I REALLY didn't want to be sick in China. Visiting a Chinese hospital scares the living crap out of me! Besides, this way, I get to relax and rest before we head out again on Sunday. Sometimes you've just gotta listen to the universe when it talks to you!

Soleil, Sunday, Sunshine and Suckiness!

2005-04-11T07:07:00.000+09:00

So, I had a great day yesterday. Took Brian out for a secret adventure that involved a hot air baloon ride. Since we'd never been to this park, and can't read much kanji, we had no idea what else was there. But, they had this really cool trampoline, climbing, bubble thing (that I can't describe, and didn't take a picture of).

Then we went back to the car, and had a knitting porn photo shoot. Fun, Fun, Fun! Later, we ventured over to a bunch of traditional japanese houses from differnt eras. I played with woodburning and paintng while Brian was a geek. Then it was lunch, and more photo shoot. We had a great day!

Then, I came home, and realized that yet again, I'd managed to include twists in my Soleil!!! Humph... I think it's the susan bates circs I had sitting around. I was so careful, but no luck. Brian agrees that I need to head out and buy some Clover circs instead.