Just seeing if i can post from my mobile

In the Beginning... There was Yarn

With this ball of yarn (Tibet Recycled Silk, Himalayan Yarn Company) an obsession began. My mom, an amazing quilter, wanted to stop at a quilting shop while we were on vacation in Traverse City, Michigan. Mom is obsessed with fabrics (knitters aren't the only ones who have stashes). At the time I was not very crafty; I did not sew or quilt. I would usually wander around this type of store and wait for her to quit abusing her credit cards.

This store was different, it had yarn as well as the usual quilter fare. I saw this sexy recycled silk and wanted to knit something out of it. But I really didn't knit, hadn't a clue, but I fondled the yarn anyway. I walked away and right into the most spirited women I have ever meet. She was a 72 year old, white-haired lady who had knitted since she was 3. I loved the sparkle in her eyes and the way she talked about knitting. I wanted to be her, I wanted to knit.

I showed her the yarn and the wrist warmer pattern I wanted to knit with it asking her if she thought I could do it. Being an avid ambassador into the world of knitting, she excitedly said yes and was genuinely disappointed she could not teach me. I don't remember her name, but her smile and her zest for life affected me so much that I commit ed myself to learn to knit.

OK it took a little longer to get there, BUT a year and half later I made good on that promise and took a beginning knitting class. Yet, still the yarn languishes, no wrist warmers, and technically this is the first ball of yarn in my stash.

Happy Feet?

I am on a quest, a quest to love my inner sock knitter. If you remember I previously blogged about my not so successful first pair and how it took a year to knit them. (http://tempestinapot.blogspot.com/2008/11/again-no-pics.html ). But I am not deterred, in January I took a sock knitting class using two circular needles with the goal of doing two socks at a time. The class went well, I got a single sock done.

I have even started the second sock, but....

On the last day of class I had Ariel ,the awesome instructor, help me get started on the two socks at a time on the two circular needles. Ariel even came in for a guest appearance later to help me with the gusset. These socks are turning out great and my gussets are gorgeous.
You could cut butter with those stitches on that gusset, but why would you want too?
But they still aren't done.

Finally, last Tuesday I started a new sock class, the Basic Toe-Up Magical Socks on a single circular at Hearthstone with Georgia. It was intriguing to think of myself knitting two socks toe up satisfying that inner miser who wants to use up all her yarn on a sock.


You can see how far I've got on that sock, a whole toe.

So all the sock up or down and with two circulars or one aside. In my quest I am now in a world of sock debt. I have three pairs of socks started and only one sock done. Looks like I might need a couple of years to catch up. And worst of all I am now a knitter with 3 project going at a time. I have fallen off the monogamy wagon and I am all tangled in sock yarn. Is this where I yell, "Help, I am sock knitting and I can't get a pair done!"

My New Knit Kit

I have a neat new gadget! It is called a knit kit and it is like a knitter's Swiss Army Knife. It was designed with a stitch counter, tape measure, crochet hook, and a TSA approved yarn cutter in the front. In the back is a not so secret compartment with stitch markers, point protectors, and again TSA approved collapsible scissors. And all in a little container that looks suspiciously like a birth control device container. I can stash it in my purse and have it available for any and all knit emergencies. I loved it so much I bought a few for a couple of recently birthdayed friends.

Okay, despite its rather subversive similarity to other things a younger woman might stash in their purse, I do wonder that it is only available in a cream and pink colors. After all a lime green one would be just even that much more irresistible. I do love green.

Cry Me a River

I recently applied for a job at a different library. Long story short, I did not get the job. I am very disappointed and frustrated. Bottom line it sucks. But hey, I keep getting reminded I should consider myself lucky to have a job. Yeah, but I sure wouldn't mind a better one. Professionally, the last year has just been devasting to my self esteem. I know cry me a river.

On a completely unrelated issue I recently joined facebook. The badge (what I earned a virtual merit badge because I can type in an e-mail address and a name) is now on my blog. I am already thinking my virtual life is out of control so I sign up for facebook. Yikes, at least I am not on myspace.

Alice in Tim Burtonland

I am so excited about this, Tim Burton is directing a version of Alice in Wonderland. The cast is stellar. Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar, Stephen Frye as the Cheshire Cat, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter to name some of the more inspired casting. The film is set to be released in 2010. I just can't wait!

A complete list of the cast is at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/ . I like Burton as a director and I think if anyone could do a quality production of the story it is him. I also think the pairing of Depp and Burton is always worth a trip to a multiplex. However, one of the few photos I found on the web of Depp as the Mad Hatter is a little creepy. I am hoping it is just a bad photo and the magic of film will bring the insane vivacity of the Mad Hatter with the personality of Depp together into something I will love. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I hate to harp on this but...

I am still trying to get use to the whole square Fiestaware thing. I even used the dish last night for dinner to hold chips. It just felt wrong. I am trying, but when one of my dinner companions looked right at me and said, "Fiesta is square." It was not very pretty. I made the mistake of telling her that Homer Laughlin is making square bowls and mugs to go with the plates. She keeps telling me she is going to get a square mug and make me watch her drink out of it. I thought, sure and I will make sure you are drinking more than coffee.