The Naked Greyhound

Row Your Boat

2009-07-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

Knitting Update and Personal Challenges

2009-07-12T09:08:00.002-05:00

Since summer is typically for planning the coming year (in school terms at least); I decided to set aside some time to determine what I want to challenge myself with this year. Part of this is because of a group I belong to on Ravelry called Sock Knitters Anonymous (SKA) which focuses on challenging yourself and broadening your horizons through sock-knitting. However, I'm expanding this out to all knitting challenges since I like to knit other things as well.

But first, an Update! Having languished in a box for years, and sat sad and confused in a closet, I'm happy to say that I finally rediscovered my Soliel shell sweater. The poor thing has been a work in progress since May 2006. It is almost complete. I've learned a valuable lesson from this: row upon row of stocking stitch is boring. On the plus side, I'm truly happy to see this near completion, and hope that I'll have it done by my birthday. This isn't the first time I've said this. This time, I mean it!

On to knitting challenges:
So what do I want to challenge myself with this year? Colorwork? Lace? Another sweater project? Yes!

Hopeful Knits list:

Lace wrap/stole. I've been fascinated by lace recently. I'm not very good at it though. This year, I want to try at least a lace wrap or maybe a scarf to start with. I know I want to knit a lace scarf for my mom in true laceweight yarn. I need to start this soon to have it done by Christmas.
Colorwork. Colorwork scares me. More than lace. Just the thought of playing with more than one strand of yarn at a time is enough to make me pause and truly decide if I want to knit the item. However, I've been wanting to make this really cute vest. I have the yarn, I have the pattern, I just need to give it a shot.
Cables. I have some bulky weight yarn that is just begging to big some big cozy oversized sweater that you snuggle into when temp dips to low. Considering how cold it got this past winter, this is getting moved up the queue!

So there are the knitting hopes for this year! Here's hoping for some finished projects!

Finally: An Update!

2009-06-17T08:47:00.002-05:00

So, I've been slacking on the blogs for a few months. Things have been kind of crazy. I finally sold my condo in Tampa (considering the market, this is a good thing!) and moved back in with my parents (which sometimes is nice and sometimes it sucks) as I get ready to determine what to do next with my life. I have a decent job, not full-time but hey you can't have everything. And though I lost Betty, Dugan is doing really well.
I've been doing really well with my knitting, getting lots of projects done and resurrecting an older project. I also started back writing again, so maybe I'll post some of that on the blog as well.
My goal is to still move back north, I'm not really a southern-type girl and I really miss the seasons. Other than that not too much going on. :-)

Knitting Updates!

2009-02-20T10:41:00.010-05:00

With the loss of Betty, I got behind on a lot of stuff. I got a stack of posts that I need to work through. I'm starting with the finished knitting objects as I finished quite a bit.

Let's start with:

Grey Coronet Cap:
Pattern: Coronet Cap from Knitty, Winter 2003
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool in Grey Mix
Size: Medium
Fun and easy knit no alterations and the cable was very easy. The hardest part was picking up the stitches along the cabled band. That's also one of the last pictures of Betty, she was always such a great model!

Rosy Garden Dystopian Mitts:

Pattern: Dystopian Mitts of the Future (a ravelry download)
Yarn: Schaefer Yarn Co., Lola in a pink/green/purple colorway
Size: as called for but with negative ease to fit snugly
This was an easy knit and I love the yarn. I still have enough yarn for another set of fingerless mitts.

Little Grey Dumpling Bag:

Pattern: Dumpling Bag from Interweave Knits Fall 2008
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool in Grey Mix with cotton floss embroidery
Size: as called for in pattern
This is felted after you knit it. I love how it came out with the embroidery. In the mag they suggest embroidering it before felting, but I wanted a more sharper look. Great little knit, you can whip these out quickly fr gifts and they are a great canvas for customizing!

Kiera Lace Socks:

Pattern: Kiera Lace Socks from knitting-socks.com
Yarn: Schaefer Yan Co., Anne in The Blues colorway
Size: as called for in pattern
It feels like I've been knitting these forever! I'm so glad that they're done. They came out great and I love them! There's some more great patterns on that site that I can't wait to get to!

Goodbye to Betty

2008-12-18T10:55:00.006-05:00

Last week I put my sweet little Betty to sleep. She was suffering from bad arthritis and nerve damage and it was difficult for her to get around. While her spirit kept up with everything around her, her body was worn out and in pain. It broke my heart to see her suffer like that so I made the most difficult decision and released her from her suffering. I miss her more than words can express. She made me laugh and taught me to love. She showed me that being alone did not mean being lonely. She kept me sane when everything seemed to be falling apart. More than anything she was a silent friend who made me smile. While I only had her a few years, those years were filled with love and laughter.

It was Betty who brought Dugan into my life. He came to us as a foster dog, but Betty laid down next to him and looked up at me with those big, brown eyes and asked "Can we keep him?" They were inseparable ever since. He misses her quite a bit.

I really miss seeing her sweet, white face. But I know she's running free and playing with all her doggy friends that have passed on before her.

Dugan's Doggy Coat

2008-11-17T12:08:00.004-05:00

I started this for the Ravelympics, but realized that the coat was too small when I was halfway through. I tossed it aside trying to figure out how to modify the pattern or to just frog it and start over. I was even making the largest size available, but Dugan is pretty big for a greyhound. The belly strap needed at least an extra two inches. I decided to plow on and compensate with adding another belly strap on the other side of the coat. If I had known at the time I cast on for the belly strap that I needed more width, I could have avoided some of this trouble. I also screwed up the rump shaping, but it's not too bad. If I had to do everything all over again, I'll start right off the bat with a longer gusset front and more stitches around the neck and chest. I would also do less side shaping and of course the larger belly strap. Other than that this is a really nice pattern for your greyhound! Here's some pictures of Dugan in his coat as well as the Specs:

Dugan Sidebutton Dog Coat
Size: XL
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Natural

Lacy Baby Blanket

2008-08-15T08:14:00.006-05:00

I started a baby blanket way back in December and never finished it. The poor thing sat around languishing and wondering when it will get done. Well it is finally finished. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, probably donate it to charity. Anyway here's a picture:

And a Close-up of the pattern:

Lacy Baby Blanket by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby Soft Print
Colorway: Twinkle Print
Crochet
Size: 31in Square.
Started in December 2007
Finished: Aug 11 2008
More info on Ravelry

On Ravelry, we had the challenge of completing a project during the Olympics. What we were calling the Ravelympics One of the projects was to finish up a WIP. I chose this WIP and I was extremely glad to get it done. However, I was feeling kind of self-assured and decided to enter another project, Dugan's Side Button Coat. That one didn't turn out as well. Here's my badge for finishing in the challenge time!

Olympics? . . . Try Ravelympics!

2008-07-29T18:34:00.003-05:00

This is strictly a Ravelry thing, so if you're not on Ravelry, you're missing out on some super fun. In honor of the Olympics, there is a group, called Ravelympics, that started the challenge of starting and completing a project during the games. That's right, cast on during opening ceremonies and have a completed project by the time the flame is extinguished. Sounds challenging and because I really needed to challenge myself at the moment, I signed up. I'm entered in two events, WIPs Wrestling, which is to finish a WIP that's been hanging around for awhile, and as a new project, I'm doing a dog coat for Dugan. Can't wait, so stay tuned for progress updates. Go team, Go!

New Knitting Bag

2008-07-18T14:14:00.009-05:00

For my birthday I decided to get a new knitting bag. I didn't want anything expensive or fancy, just something to carry and store my bigger projects in. It must have a zippered top though. Over on Knitter's Review Forum, someone mentioned the site The Animal Rescue Site. That's where I picked up this cute little bag, called the Pink Diva Floral Duffel:

While the bag is made of vinyl, not what I really wanted but that's ok, it still feels pretty sturdy and has a nice size zippered interior, two end side pouches and a zippered front pocket. It also has two zippered slots in the back so you can either use them as a pocket or as a place to slide your bag onto a rolling case like this:

I like that the inside can hold my yarn-tainer and the baby blanket.

I'm quite happy with the bag! I also recommend this site for anyone who wants a unique gift and wants to support a good cause. It's not just for animal rescue either! On the website are links to other stores that raise money and awareness for breast cancer, world hunger, literacy, child health care, and rain forest conservation. A large portion of the goods sold were handcrafted or come from developing nations/regions that the website sponsors. And let's say you don't want to buy anything; go there anyway and click on the big button that says "click here." It costs you nothing and you're still helping to support these worthy causes. Consider it good karma!

Obligatory greyhound picture (Because Dugan is so cute wearing my socks):

Kiera Lace Socks

2008-07-10T10:16:00.004-05:00

The first sock is coming along quite well. It's knitting up really nice and the yarn is giving it a nice mottled look. I just hope it doesn't pool or do anything weird. I don't think it will considering how nice the repeats of color are spaced. You really can't see the colors to well in the photo. It's also knitting up real quick, which surprises me considering how fine the gauge is. Can't wait to see the finished results.

Branching Out - Frogged!

2008-07-04T17:32:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we just need to admit to ourselves that a project is just not going the way it should. While I love the Branching Out scarf and still want to make one, I think that my yarn choice sucked. It just wasn't knitting up the way I wanted it to. So it's been frogged. So now what should I do with my yarn? I found a really simple lace sock pattern, Kiera Lace Socks, that'll be much better. I think these will look great with this colorway. I really like the way the blue shifts through the spectrum.

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Branching Out

2008-06-15T18:49:00.004-05:00

So I needed something to knit to take my mind off my delayed move. I wanted something to keep my mind busy so I decided to work on Branching Out as most of my other WIPs are packed away (including my books and needles). Pulling from a limited amount of stash, since most of that is packed away too, I decided to work on the lace scarf with Schaefer's Anne in The Blues colorway. I don't have a swift and ball-winder so I knew I had to hand-wind the hank. I was doing pretty good with keeping it from getting tangled too. Until it hit a snag, which turned into a tangle, which turned into this:

After much fighting with it, I finally winded enough to start the project. I had to frog and restart because I did the cast-on too tight, but it's now looking pretty good:

I can't wait to see it all done and blocked.

Mic's Picks

2008-04-11T18:53:00.016-05:00

Starting today I'm going to randomly recommend three books/music/whatever to highlight some of my favorite things. I'll probably do this a few times a month or when I remember.

Presenting: Mic's Picks (hey that rhymes (note: I pronounce "Mic" as "Mick"; "Mike" is my brother)). I already love to share books that I truly enjoyed, though usually I prefer to give relatively in-depth reviews. So I decided to leave this space for 3 quick picks that bounce out of my head on the fly. Shall we get started?

1. Adventure/Action Book: You want non-stop thrills, death-defying spills and a grisly murder that needs to be solved? Well, look no further than the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. The first book in the series is called Storm Front and is just a non-stop roller coaster ride of supernatural craziness. I guess that's what happens when you enlist the help of Chicago's only wizard for hire. I stayed up until 1 am just to see what happened next. I suppose it doesn't help that I have a small crush on the main character, Harry Dresden. Maybe he'll give me the special discounted damsel-in-distress rate if I should ever need him??

2. Offbeat Book: Need a book that's not like anything you ever read before? Looking for something different? Then I would recommend History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes. This book is a collection of short stories that turn everything you think you know on its head. The most well-known story from this collection is the first one called "The Stowaway" about a certain pair of critters that stowaway on Noah's Ark. Many of the stories reference Noah's Ark or are about the ship itself. While some of the stories aren't as strong as the beginning story, they are worth a quick read through. But the ones that really stick with you are the first story and the last story "The Dream," which is a quick look at Heaven. Another amusing and well-written story is "The Wars of Religion."

3. Fluff!: Like eating Marshmallow Fluff right from the jar, it's sweet and you know you shouldn't but the ending makes it worth it. Try The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. All about knitting and a gaggle of unlikely women coming together and becoming friends. Toss in a series of unfortunate and slightly improbable events and have all problems resolved in time for tea and you'll have a nice little beach read to go along with your frozen margarita. The ending wraps everything into a nice little package with a pretty bow that makes it hard to say no to this book. Includes a free knitting pattern!

Well, there you have it. Three quick picks by me for your reading pleasure. The Monkey has spoken!

...And we're back!

2008-03-14T13:47:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since my last posting. Sorry about that! Many things have happened like trying to find a job and such. The pickings are quite slim here in Tampa so I decided that it's time to pack up and head for greener fields. Specifically Washington, DC. So I'm in the process of getting my place ready to sell and looking for a new job in the DC area. Can't wait to see what's in store for me up there. In the meantime here's some more books to read:

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder: second in the Study Series, this book follows the adventures of Yelena as she learns how to control her magic. An excellent sequel to the story and another book I truly enjoyed. 5 out of 5 stars. The next book in the series is Fire Study. You can read a excerpt at Ms. Snyder's website, along with the in-between story Assassin Study: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/

Uglies and Pretties by Scott Westerfield: an sci-fi epic about the price of being pretty. These are the first two books in the Uglies series. The books follow the story of Tally, who wants nothing more than to turn 16 and get the operation that turns her pretty. The problem is her friend, Shay runs away and Tally is forced into helping the bad guys bring Shay back. Lots of twists and turns and interesting sci-tech stuff. This series is extremely popular with the teens at the moment. I give both books 4 out of 5 stars. The next book in the series is Specials.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2007-12-21T13:39:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, nothing better than to relax with a good book. So this is one of those titles I found while shelving books one day. It looked interesting but at the time I didn't have a spare moment to read it. I finally had a chance to read it.

Synopsis: Yelena is about to be executed for murder but is saved from the noose by an offer. She is offered the job as poison-tester to the ruler of the land. She accepts and is immediately poisoned. If she doesn't show up for her daily antidote, than she dies a slow and painful death. After being trained on how to detect various poisons she is put to work. While she tries to escape her new dilemmas, it seems trouble follows her everywhere she goes. Yelena needs to figure out how to control her magical powers, before they get her killed, and uncover plots to overtake the country and start a war. She is forced to make many difficult choices and learn new things about herself. More importantly, she learns how much she overcame but finding love and new friends.

Review: It's very Shakespearean in a way, almost Romeo and Juliet. Yelena biggest obstacle to overcome is her lack of self-esteem. Years of torture and fear have robbed her of parts of her identity. However, her perseverance to always keep moving forward brings her strong allies and love. While at the end of the book she triumphed over her enemies, she is forced to flee the country or be executed for being a magician. She is forced from her love, but this seems to be a temporary problem.
What I liked about the book is that it had a nice flow to it. You weren't bounced from one story to another and the rhythm worked very nicely. It is told in first person, so you have only Yelena's perspective on what goes on. This is makes the story a bit one-sided but it works nicely. This is the first book in the series, so the story will most likely pick up where this one left off. As is typical for most series, there are many gaps that still need to be filled in. There are parts of this story that are heart-breaking. I stayed up until 2am just because I wanted to see what will happen next. That in a nutshell should tell you how much I liked this book. 5 out of 5 stars for being inventive and keeping me up all night! If you like fantasy, than you should give this one a shot, I look forward to reading Yelena's further adventures.

D-O-N-E!

2007-12-18T20:10:00.000-05:00

It was 10 o'clock on Monday night. I had just finished editing my final paper and was preparing it to be sent. I wrote a brief note to my professor and attached the documents. Slowly, almost hesitantly I pressed the "send" button. I was done! I had finished all my required coursework, I turned in my papers, I finished my projects, and I read my last textbook. I am finished with school! I walked in graduation on Saturday Dec 15th. I was so happy and beside myself. Though I do admit, I'm not "official." I'm still waiting on final grades, but I feel confident to say that I have graduated and obtained my Master's in Library and Information Science.
After I hit that send button, I started laughing. Hysterically laughing, like the kind of laughter that can only come when you reached the top of the mountain. I was giddy and nearly crying. My poor hounds thought I had completely lost my mind from one too many late nights. But I am satisfied at my accomplishment.
Now the tough part: finding a job...Anyone need a newly minted librarian?

Beer Beef Stew

2007-11-15T11:13:00.000-05:00

I got this recipe out of the Sandra Lee Slow Cooker Cookbook. She has it labeled as Guiness Beef Stew since she used Guiness beer. I tried it with a different variety and it came out quite tasty.

Beer Beef Stew

2 pounds of beef stew meat
1 10-oz package of frozen loose pearl onions
1 10-oz package of frozen cut carrots
1 pound of red potatoes, diced
1 package of au jus mix
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 bottle of beer (stout-style)

Mix everything into a 5 qt slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Notes: Dark beer works best with this recipe. I used a dark lager and a dark ale with good results. Light beer just doesn't impart the same taste as a dark. Also if you can't find the frozen veggies (which makes prep so easy) then fresh works just as well. Lastly, some package au jus mixes contain MSG so it's best to read the ingredients before buying if you're sensitive to that (MSG is often linked to headaches and other health concerns).

Enjoy!

Socks are Done!

2007-11-13T09:12:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my baby-cable socks! Yay!!! They look pretty good for my first pair of socks, however they're a little big.
The Stats:
Yarn: Regia Tweed 6 ply (70% new wool; 25% polyamid; 5% viscose) color number 53
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
Gauge: 7 st per inch
Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch

Betty checking out my new socks!
And this one is a close-up of the baby-cable pattern (I've also seen it called the mock cable or right-twist):

I'm starting on some embroidery kits that have been laying around for while. Though I'm searching for a table runner with a winter scene on it, which I know I have in one of these boxes, I did find a needlepoint pillow I finished a while ago. It's one of my favorite pieces so I decided to add it here for others to enjoy! Angel Playing Guitar pillow from a kit:
Here's a close-up of her face:

Returned Home from a Nice Vacation

2007-09-21T16:17:00.000-05:00

So last week I went on vacation to visit family in New York (Long Island). I dropped my babies off at a friend's house. I felt guilty about leaving them, particularly Betty, she's old and at times frail and I worry about her. Dugan is a tank, nothing seems to slow him down. So I left them with a hug and a kiss and told them I'll be back in a week. It's not like they could complain too much since they had a large yard to run around in and two other dogs to play with.

I had a wonderful vacation! It was just what I needed. I reluctantly came back home, missing my hounds very much. Of course when I picked them up I was happily greeted by Dugan! He must have missed his mom very much. Betty on the other hand gave me a very evil look and refused to greet me! She laid in the other room and didn't so much as whine a hello. After a few minutes she finally decided to come over a see me. I guess she's pretty mad I didn't bring her.
Here's a pic of Betty and her little friend Bonnet:
For something a little different here's a recipe of what I had for dinner the other night. It comes from the South Beach Diet Book, but I added the garlic. It's also ovo-lacto vegetarian.

Mini Veggie Quiche

1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
3/4 c liquid egg substitute
3/4 c shredded reduced-fat cheese
1/4 c diced green peppers
1/4 c diced onions
1 clove garlic

Microwave spinach for 2 1/2 minutes on high. Drain excess liquid. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups. Spray cups with cooking spray.
Conbine the egg substitute, cheese, peppers, onions, garlic and spinach in a bowl. Mix well. Divide evenly among the muffin cups. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

These can also be frozen and reheated in the microwave. Get creative and change up the cheese and veggie options!

Betty Denied

2007-09-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

I do some volunteer work with the Greyhound Rescue group I got my babies from. Yesterday we had a meet and greet at a local dog expo. So I got ready and pulled out my greyhound shirt. Well both Betty and Dugan got really excited! They knew what that shirt meant! They love meeting and greeting people and letting everyone know how great greyhounds are. However, I was only taking Dugan to this event, since it was going to be all morning. I snapped Dugan into his harness and Betty got all excited, she was bouncing around (which was comical because of her arthritis). But she was so upset when I told her that she wasn't going. I loaded Dugan into the car and Betty just stood there pouting:

Betty: Why does he get to go?
Me: This event will be too much for you Betty.
B: Please bring me!
M: Next time, I promise!
B: That's not fair! You used to take me all the time!
M: You can't do these anymore because of your arthritis. I worry about you. Now take care of the house, I'll see you later. (kiss, kiss)
B: (BIG WHINE)

I just knew I was going to get it when I got home. When I went upstairs I found a plastic bag all ripped up and trash strewed around the den. Yup, she was mad at me. However, Betty still got the last laugh. Dugan got microchipped at the Expo. He came back all whiny and still slightly bleeding from where he got injected. My poor baby...

Dugan's Car Ride

2007-08-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

A little while ago I had to take Dugan to the vet. Thankfully, Dugan loves his car rides. So, into my SUV we go and headed off to the vet. He laid down in the back and got all comfy and such. While stopped at a red light, Dugan gets up and is sniffing like mad. He's looking out the window and whining like crazy. So I look over to see what the fuss is about:

Me: What is Dugan?
Dugan: whine, whine, WHINE! (translation: I want McDonald's!)
M: No, we're not stopping! We're already running late.
D: whine whine Whine! (But, they have a drive-thru!)
M: I said no!
D: whine whine Whine! (But I want a happy meal!)
M: I don't care if you want a happy meal! Look the light turned green, lay down and give it a rest.
D: whimper, whimper, WHINE! (You're so mean!)

So we arrived at the vet on time and I promised Dugan I'll get him a treat later. At the vet, I discovered that my big boy, is indeed a really BIG boy. He topped the scale at 95 pounds. Not completely unheard of for a greyhound, but it's not something you see everyday. Also found out that Dugan has extremely low thyroid levels, which means he's hypothyroid. He'll need to be on medicine for the rest of his life, but it also explains why he gained so much weight so quickly. Unfortunately, Dugan really didn't like going to the vet and gave me attitude for the rest of the day. He's such a brat!

A little love from Starbucks

2007-08-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

So the other day I went to get the mail and found an yellow envelope waiting for me. It came from Starbucks. I thought, "gee, I haven't ordered anything from them." So I raced inside and ripped it open. Inside I found a little card stating that they were very happy that I was such a good customer and for being so loyal and such, here's a complimentary CD. Which brought two very important questions to my mind:

Just how much money did I spend at Starbucks?? I love those rechargeable gift cards, they refill themselves like magic. (Only because I set it up that way, but please let me pretend.)
Who are the Low Stars??

I ignored the dreaded thought of what one needs to spend at Starbucks before being graced with a $15 gift and decided to focus on the CD. So I pop the CD into my car and took a drive. We do our best thinking in the car, don't we? Well, at least I do. So a couple of first thoughts on the music: very folk/americana type, nice and acoustic and early Eagles. Not that those are bad things, far from it since its such a nice departure from the some of the music that's clogging the airways today. Honestly, I don't really listen to the radio that much anymore. They are either playing crappy music, a commercial or flapping their mouths about the latest stupid celebrity. Anywho, this music is nice, soothing and has such a honest feel about that I was really surprised and happy that Starbucks selected it for me. I like surprises, especially good ones. So here are some more thoughts on the album, you can go to their myspace page to take a listen and learn some more about Low Stars: http://www.myspace.com/lowstars:

Keep a tissue handy song: Can't Live Without Your Love
Get up and dance song: Just Around the Corner
Favorite Sing-along song: Mexico
All-Around Best feel good song: Calling All Friends

Honestly, I loved the album and really like how laid back it felt. And while it there's a throwback feeling to the great groups of 1960s/1970s, you don't have to be from that time period to enjoy it. This is a group of musicians who obviously care about the music they produce, and that shows through on the album. That care and love of music is what makes this a good album.

An update and pic of Dugan

2007-08-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

So I'm lazy and I forgot to update the blog. :-( Not much going on in the knitting front. I'm still no further along on the Soleil and I almost got one sock done. I wish I could just get something finished, I really need that sense of accomplishment right now. On the reading front, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I loved it! I won't go into detail in this post since I want to reread books 5 and 6 again before posting completely on the series. I'm not reading anything at the moment so it will be a while before the next book review, unless I find some time...
Speaking of relaxing and finding time, here's a picture of Dugan doing what he does best, sleeping:
Oh, BTW that green and white blanket is something I crocheted. The hounds love it and drag it all over the house. I'm so glad it's made out of Red Heart Super Saver. :-)

Stash Enhancements

2007-07-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got around to taking pictures of my recent purchases. My new thing lately has been sock yarn. So I'll start with that.
First up from The Loopy Ewe: 1 skein of Schaefer Yarn called Lola in a very pretty colorway. This color is pretty much a one time only offer. The colors in the yarn are pinks, violets, dark green and a sort of light olive green. Very pretty. Can't wait to see how it knits up. Also from The Loopy Ewe, I got two skeins of Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in the chocolate almond color. It is new yarn made from bamboo, cotton and elastic nylon. I really can't wait to see how socks turn out from this. I heard that the yarn can be a little splitty, though. Also on the Crystal Palace website are some free patterns using this yarn. Also included in my little package was some free samples of Regia Silk and Regia Bamboo; a Loopy postcard and nifty needle inventory cards. Betty makes such a good model, doesn't she?

Next up, we have our really nice selection from Simply Socks Yarn Company. From there I got another Schaefer yarn, this time it's Anne, in the colorway called The Blues. Blue is my favorite color and this yarn has all of them in it, from the gray-blue to a pretty turquoise. I heard a lot of good things about this yarn so I had high expectations that were certainly met. Also included was a free pattern with the purchase. I'm a little bummed about the pattern though since it's exactly same pattern I'm working on right now! It's called a "mock cable twist" but in the Sensational Knitted Socks book it's listed as a "baby-cable." Also I bought Seacoast Handpainted Yarns Panda Sock in the colorway "truffles." This is such a pretty color: it goes from bright violet to a light brown/gray color. Aside from the free pattern I also got a free sample of Cascade Fixation. There's Betty being oh so useful again! :-)

Last but not least, I need to celebrate the birthday of my LYS, Knit 'N Knibble. They were celebrating their third birthday with a big sale. I really went there to get another ball of sock yarn for the pair that I'm making right now, but added a few extras on to the bill. Let's see I picked up 3 balls of Knit 1, Crochet too's Wick for a pair of socks (as seen in No Sheep For You, by Amy Singer.) Five skeins of On Line's Clip in a very pretty pale pink. This will be a summer top. And lastly, 7 balls of Cascade's Pima Tencel in a minty green for the Lacy Tank as seen in Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. The best part was that they were all on sale! ;-) Many belly rubs to my model Betty!

All in all, a good stash enhancement. Now if only I can do some time enhancement and add a few extra hours onto the day to knit everything up.

Betty's New Collar

2007-06-21T20:27:00.000-05:00

My mom bought Betty a new collar for Christmas. Since it's Summer, I figured it was time for Betty to wear and show her summer colors. Doesn't she look cute!! She was sleeping when I took the picture and I accidentally woke her up.