In Which the Heroine Languishes

It's a funny thing when you have your heart set on a matter. I've been disconsolate over the lack of #3 needles that have prevented me from working on the Snow Drop Jacket for more than a week. I tried starting another pattern in my queue in the meantime, but every aspect of that endeavor was met with dissatisfaction and I'm resigned to wait. Instead, I've spent the interim killing dragons in Final Fantasy IV in a manner that is both petulant and spiteful. Unexplained, my needles languished in Memphis Tennessee, and through fault of Fedex, dragons perish.

A Tale of Two Swatches

It took me a while before I finally admitted I need to actually make a swatch before beginning a project. It was only today that I realized that I've been VERY lucky so far when not blocking my swatches.

I've learned my lesson, so I made a swatch. Then I used smaller needles and did it again and was spot on. Eager to see my color scheme in it's full glory, I decide to begin with a pocket. Eager to see how my silky wool yarn after it has developed, I blocked it. The pockets grew. Substantially.

While I'm at a stand still for a few days until my smaller needles arrive, I've saved myself hours and hours of work, not to mention the soul sucking disappointment of watching my perfectly fitted cardigan grow three sizes too big. Remember: Swatch. Block.

And Now a Taste of Things to Come

I'm good about going to bed at a reasonable time. I'm not so good about staying in bed until I've had a "full night's sleep," so I count myself lucky that getting up early is considered a virtue. So, I got up before most people consider decent because I'm so excited to continue work on my new project, AND I get to feel smug about it.

My current knitting project is one I'd been wanting to start for quite a long time. Unfortunately, the back issue of Vogue Knitting Fall 2008 was sold out of the website, and took three attempts to snag off of ebay for less that $12. The Snow Drop Jacket was designed by James Coviello to be sold at Anthropologie, the pattern was released to Vogue, and destined to be knit by me in my current favorite color combination of grey and yellow.

Endpaper Mitts

As if the instant gratification of a small project isn't satisfaction enough, Eunny's Endpaper Mitts let me practice THREE new techniques: Fair isle knitting, Italian tubular cast-on method, and kitchener rib bind-off. There are some small fiddly details I would change, such as the faux purl seam, but the overall rewards per square inch more than compensate.

For those curious about my recommended adjustments, see my project notes on Ravelry.

Ok, Crochet!

I picked up a book on granny squares a few months back and taught myself to crochet. Three months ago I finished this purse. (I have no idea why i never posted pictures. I usually do.) I really like the way it turned out! I just never want to use it. I guess it's just not my style. I created an account at etsy to sell it. I figure I'm more likely to get the material costs covered if I sell it over there, rather than ebay, and I don't mind it sitting around in my closet for up to 6 months. Regardless, this is the bag i made, and played model this morning to get pictures of it to sell. It was fun!

Things I Like: Camera Phone Food Pictures

I used to work with a guy, and just about every day we worked, we would send each other pictures of whatever it was we were eating during lunch. I love playing picture tag, but barely anyone I know uses their camera. More people should play. The food theme is my favorite.

Things I Like: Hello Kitty Wall Scrolls

Nick and I picked these up during our trip to Japan a few years back at the Sanrio store in Shibuya 109. We thought a wall scroll would make a nice a souvenir, but he liked the boat and I liked the dragon. I'm incredibly happy that he overruled my thriftiness and bought both. They're the first decorations I put up when we move, and help establish a new place as home. I think it's because it's the first thing we bought for us together.

Success by Diagram: Parking!

Perhaps this is proof that reality really is subjective! Is there some sort of irony or paradox in phrasing reality as 'really subjective'?

Ant hill vs. boiling water: t - 15sec.

Oh, the carnage! After a night of sitting, there are so many dead ants on the pavement, they literally make an ant hill. Sadly, this is not the first time.

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International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Avast belay, yo ho, heave to,
A-pirating we go
And if we're parted by a shot
We're sure to meet below!

Yo ho, yo ho, the pirate life,
The flag o'skull and bones
A merry hour, a hempen rope,
And hey for Davy Jones.

- from Peter Pan

Willie Nillie

Sorry about the shoddy quality. = camera phone.
I keep a mental note of stuff to update about, but I never seem to get around to it, and it just gets passed by. So, a few things over the past two months:

I went with Nick to Gencon in Indianapolis last month. It's a four day long nerd convention to promote current and upcoming miniature, collectable card, and board games. It's not my thing, but I god-damn love super secret nerds, and I actually had a pretty good time. Indianapolis stinks, though. Stay away.

Also, got a promotion and a raise. I finally gave in to my managers prodding because I need the money. I had to do this panel interview and present a coffee pairing. French Roast + smoked salmon.

Few days ago I worked an 8 hr shift, and then covered for a friend on a movie set for another 8hrs because he had to be in class. Helped the actress rehearse lines and made sure she had everything she needed. Helped the woman doing makeup a bit, too. So exhausted after 16 hours straight of work, I felt like I was driving home drunk. At least I met Willie Nelson.

Things I Like: Mortar and Pestel

I used to think this was a staple in any kitchen until I moved out of the house. For as long as I can remember, my mom has had the same wooden mortar and pestel to crush garlic. For all I know, she brought it with her from Colombia, because it took me a few months before I actually stumbled upon one in Whole Foods.

I guess porcelain or stone is more common, but the idea of grinding porcelin/stone agianst itself makes me imagine nails on a chalkboard. Apparently most people use a garlic crusher? Nick had one we used to use before I found my mortar, and I hated it. It's annoying to clean properly, and doesn't break up the garlic enough.

I knit a kitty last night.

No kitty, that's my ball of yarn!

Goodbye Sun

1 hr photoshop painting.

Better (di)Late than Never

I got back from the optometrist over three and half hours ago, and my eyes are only just now starting to return from dilation. I was told they'd be back to normal in about an hour. On the bright side, I did win out with those sweet sweet disposable sunglasses they send you home in. (Doubles as a wrist band.)

It's about time I went to the optometrist. It was getting the point where I could barely make out street signs until I'd already passed them.

Halloween: Rhymes with 'Where've you been.'

Four months? What a slacker I've been. Moving just does that to you.

Anyway, here's a picture someone just sent me from Halloween. Don't ask me what kind of pose that's supposed to be.

Because I really need it.

Repairing bathroom fixtures gives me an excuse to go to Home Depot and ask young guys working there if they know where I can get some caulk.

Book Nerd

Yesterday I went to Book People to have some stuff signed by Garth Nix. I'm rather proud of my growing collection of signed books.

I've said both before that I am a book nerd, and I skip around in my hobbies. Since I have neither the tools, the money, or the frame needed to reupholstered a gorgeous antique style chair, I've gone full force into a reading frenzy. I've had no compulsion lately for computer games, video games, or art journaling. Unfortunately, with my schedule, I only manage one book a week, but at least I'm making progress on my to-read list.

I finished Harry Potter yesterday (and by the way, I was very pissed to find that the major one-line spoiler someone posted on a community was true,) and I'm already 50 pages into The Neverending Story. I've heard for ages that it was good, but what really made me want to get it was when I discovered that certain hardcover versions are printed in green and purple ink, just like the book within the Neverending Story is supposed to be. (Green narrates Fantastica, and purple the real world.)

Habitual Hobbyist

I got to work yesterday to discover I'd missed Sandra Bullock by about five minutes. Today, I had a customer with an American Express centurion card. I'm not sure who has heard of that, but it's an an invitation only credit card for the super wealthy with essentially no credit limit (people buy bentleys and jet planes with these things) a $2,500 annual fee, and pretty much gives you your own personal concierge who will get you whatever the fuck you want whenever the fuck you want it.

I always jump around with my hobbies. Nick's dad is bribing him a to loose a certain amount of weight by next March and it's put me on this healthy cooking kick. I think I've just been so malnourished from all the fast food I've been eating, that my body is flipping out and going OMFGVEGETABLES! I make stuff like greek chicken (chicken with feta and kalamata olives over spinach) and marinated tofu over rice noodles with baked garlic asparagus.

I stumbled on an upholstery book and now I want to make a wing chair or a fainting couch from scratch. But, carpentry tools are expensive, so I'm just going to reupholster my couch with awesome fabric when I get a chance, since my dog chewed it up when he was a puppy. Maybe I can try out carpentry later.

I'm in Texas

After 8 months with an expired registration, and a year and a half after receiving the title of my car to transfer, I finally went down to the closest Tax Assessor's office to get shit done. I've lived in Texas for seven years, now, but this was the first time I ever actually went somewhere where little old men were swaggering down Main Street in cowboy boots, hats, and big belt-buckles. There was even a little white church (protected by the historical society.) How can any road with a name like Main Street have 4-way Stop signs?

I'm a city girl, even if it happens to be a smallish city.