AesderinaKnits

adventure

2011-04-17T14:26:00.010-07:00

Hello everyone,
As you know I started my first semester of Nursing in January and it's finally over. I'm just waiting for my final marks and I'm still amazed I made it through. Honestly though, I haven't started knitting yet, my right wrist hurts so much from writing so I'm giving it some rest. I'm thinking maybe I should learn contential knitting to prevent from getting carpal tunnel.

I have some very exciting news that I've been waiting over a month to blog about. My goal after I graduate nursing is to work with organizations like Doctors without Borders, to help those in countries less fortunate then ours. To increase global health.
I applied for a volunteer leadership program at my college and got accept! I will be going to Kitwe, Zambia for 3 months starting in May. I will be working with the Marie Stopes Organization. I can't express how excited I am. Since I was in elementary school I dreamt about working in Africa, I even tried in high school but could only find organizations that were religion based.

A little bit about Marie Stopes International (MSI):
A non-government organization that delivers quality family planning and reproductive health care to millions all over the world. MSI is one of the largest international family planning organizations in the world, providing family planning, safe abortion & post abortion care, maternal & child health care, HIV prevention and STI diagnosis and treatment.

The organization wants to meet with me first before deciding which project they are going to put me into. I am SO excited. Of course a little scared for the unknown, and also the length of time. However, I believe that this experience will be a life changing adventure. No words can explain what this means to me, I've literally been picturing myself working in Africa before adolescence... this really is a dream come true. I believe that is where the fear comes most, what if what I dreamt of isn't what it's really like. What if I hate it and realize that this isn't my cup of tea at all? What if I fall short of my expectations?

I don't believe any of these questions can be answered until I go. To be honest, I'm excited to answer these questions! To ask myself am I on the right track of life. I am living my life to the fullest. Is this who I want to be. We learned this semester that the definition of health is to be able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs. Health isn't just about the body, but also your mind, and I want to be as healthy as I can. I want to really live life the fullest. For the first time I feel that this experience will allow me to live my life the fullest, to live my life as I see fit. Furthermore, I feel that this adventure will broaden my future opportunities and I hope change me forever.

Because we are forever changing, never the same as the second before.

I'm so happy to be able to share this with the blogging world. I hope to blog a bit about my adventures when I am there but the internet is not very fast. Also, I hope to do some knitting while I'm away but am unsure what I should bring. Any suggestions? I know to avoid wool. If you were to go to Africa, what kind of project would you bring to knit?

help japan

2011-03-11T22:27:00.003-08:00

ways you can help those in need by donating to

Canadian Red Cross (click on link)

or

Rogers and Fido wireless customers can text ASIA to 30333 to donate $5 to earthquake relief efforts. Donations will go to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund and there is no charge for the text.

Looking forward to..

2011-02-13T21:34:00.004-08:00

April.. when this semester ends.
As I predicted, I haven't been able to knit at all.
I can't wait for the semester to end and to knit again!
I truly miss it and I'm going to be as productive with my free time as I can!
Can't wait for the squishy yarn between my fingers and all the pretty colours!!

Planning stage shall begin :)

Hiatus

2010-12-08T13:56:00.003-08:00

I have a final exam tomorrow, meaning this is the perfect time to write a post.

I'm sorry I haven't been posting but I have been consumed by school. I'm beginning my degree in Nursing in January and trying to accustom myself to the student life again.

There is a theme I've noticed: NOT ENOUGH TIME

I haven't even begun Christmas knitting, or any knitting for probably the past 3 months. This is only with me taking 2 courses, I'm not sure what is going to happen to me in January when I take 5. *insert image of me running like a chicken about to have it's life ended*

I need to better manage my time and I think cutting out blogging will help (not that I did it that often). I will still try to blog but it will be pretty sporadic. I guess I'm just relieving myself from the guilt I feel when I don't blog. However, I do enjoy reading all your blogs and I do that quiet regularly, so you will see me pop up in your comments :)

Happy Halloween

2010-11-03T14:55:00.006-07:00

I know I'm a few days late but I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween :)

My friends and I did an animal kingdom safari style theme.

top to bottom, left to right:
safari guide,
lion, giraffe, zebra ,ostrich, random not animal kingdom theme :(
tiger, gorilla, lion

One of my favourite things about Halloween is getting pumpkins and craving them! I love squishing my fingers between the seeds.

left to right: crazy eyes, cat bus from Totoro, and Jack the Pumpkin King

Cowl FOs

2010-10-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

A Cowl for my mom

Yarn: Mission Falls 136 Merino Superwash
Pattern: My own
Knit with 2 strands of yarn held together

A cowl for my aunt

Yarn: Knitpicks Palette
Pattern: My own
Knit with 2 strands of yarn held together

Thanksgiving

2010-10-10T20:36:00.003-07:00

For us Canadians, this weekend is our thanksgiving. It was sunny with a light breeze today, which is perfect for such a lovely event. We cleared our little place and cleaned. I've always been more of a fall clean then spring clean kind of person. Maybe it's the fact we'll be spending more time indoors or that all the trees are cleaning themselves of leaves?
We had a quiet dinner together at Whitespot (surprisingly, has a delicious turkey dinner) since his family lives up North and mine aren't in the country. This year we were thrown challenges I never thought I would have to face in my life or even at this age but we pulled through and I am thankful for everything except for my English paper that's due on Wednesday.
I hope you all have an amazing thanksgiving weekend and don't forget to laugh :)

October Goodies

2010-10-06T12:05:00.003-07:00

Since I'm back in school, October means papers, projects and midterms. I have found something that I like to escape from my studies and indulge a little bit back into the creative world.

Luvinthemommyhood is featuring Cozy knits vs Comfy sews this month! I am so excited! Round 1 begins today and it's knitted footwear versus sewn footwear. I am definitely, 100% behind cozy knits for this one!!

Yarn Crawl 2010

2010-10-04T23:28:00.008-07:00

Every time I've seen the word yarn crawl on a blog, I immediately start reading the post. I've always wanted to participate in one. Finally, the Fraser Valley Knitting Guild decided to host a Yarn Crawl this year :)

It was everything I had imagined and more..

I had planned on taking more photos, especially ones of all the yarn stores but I was SO excited for all the yarn and deals I completely forgot. It is my first year and I was definitely not prepared for the awesomeness of everything so I guess I can be forgiven.

Here's a photo of all the goodies I got

From top left to right: Misti Alpaca, Lustra, Malabrigo, Fleece Artist Big Merino, Sweet Georgia Merino Silk Lace, Manos del Uruguay, and West Coast Fibre Works Sock.

I can not wait for next year!!! I hope you get to go on a crawl yarn soon, and if you haven't been, you should definitely consider nudging your local guild into planning one!

D&G Fall Runway Inspiration

2010-09-02T07:38:00.005-07:00

AMAZING. see for yourself

Still alive

2010-08-05T22:18:00.003-07:00

sorry I've been so absent here. It's summer, the weather is finally AMAZING and I just find myself to be outside having adventures :)

I would like to leave you with something that makes my heart smile. I love this song. This is the instrumental version of Secret by One Republic (which is what I perfer).

Here is the original version :) Enjoy!

Modern Art

2010-07-02T15:24:00.006-07:00

I was browsing through some magazines at the doctors office and this very cool photograph caught my attention...

Pretty huh? Well guess what?!?! The walls are made of felt! FELT!
Here's a closer look!!

This is by an amazing artist, Kathryn Walter. She has installments all over the world from hotels, to office spaces and to costumer requests.

Sorry for the overload of pictures, but her art is too amazing to not share it with the world.
There are a lot more photos on her website.

Happy crafting everyone!

WWKiP Day

2010-06-11T11:24:00.008-07:00

It's here again, seems like we just had the last one (time goes by so fast). My knitting group is getting together on June 19 at a local park, and there will be tons of people there because it is also Love Langley Day! Hopefully this will entice prospective knitters to approach and I know, Holly has extra needles and yarn for them to try it out!

In the spirit of spreading good knitting cheer, I would like to share with you my knitting group. Please forgive the quality, I took them on my iPhone.

Anna & May.
Note the blurriness around Anna's hands.. that's her crazy speed knitting.

Julia,
balling some Cascade to make yoga socks for silks.

Renya,
who we rarely see anymore because of school and wedding planning.

Jen & Chris.
I made him move the drinks so they weren't blocking Jen, he decided to hold them.

Tiziana,
who graces us with her presence once in a well, but definitely not enough.

Fedoska,
who we rarely see because of her odd job hours.

May & Aaron
Recently married and still haven't killed each other (j/j, I don't think they ever will).

Unfortunately, there are a few others that are missing from the pictures, hopefully I will be able to capture them at WWKiP Day.

I hope you enjoyed a slice of my knitting world, cause I do! Hope you're Knit in Public Day goes well and can't wait to see your photos!!

Jane Richmond

2010-05-25T10:43:00.007-07:00

You might already know but if you don't, Jane Richmond the designer is having a pattern giveaway! It's not just one pattern, it's her WHOLE collection!!

All you have to do is comment at her blog: http://janerichmond.blogspot.com

Every pattern that I have knitted of hers have turned out great and I use them a lot for gift giving. So go check it out!! You have till June 10!!

Good Luck... but I hope I win!!!

Blog post from my phone!

2010-05-11T04:35:00.004-07:00

I'm testing blogging from my iPhone!

Michaels had a sale on a few weeks ago and I had to check it out. Didn't plan on buying anything but when I saw this I couldn't resist!!

It's Lion Brand Wool-Ease, Thick & Quick and 11 balls of it. I bought out the WHOLE bin. Regularly $8.99, it was on sale for $1.99. I could not not buy it!! Bulky yarn for 1.99!!! I know it's mostly acrylic but I've browsed through the comments for Think & Thin and the ratings were good. Could you have resisted??

I still haven't decided what I want to do with it yet. I have a couple patterns in mind and just need to decide if I want it to be a close or loose fit! it also doesn't feel right to plan a super bulky pattern during summer.....

No longer just waste...

2010-04-30T13:37:00.005-07:00

While I was in Taiwan, I came across this very interesting "program"(maybe the word incentive works better).
Everything in Taiwan has tax already included into the price and the way of shopping there is very different from Canada's. There a lot of street vendors or family owned businesses (I'm going to try to explain this the best I can). I guess they were running into problems with owners not paying taxes. Kind of like when you go to the flea market or garage sales, the exchange is just between the two of you. The government wanted to encourage proper business transactions so they created a lottery (unlike our government, who would just penalize us).On every receipt is a number and each month there is a draw... and you know how it works after that. The amount is not big like a million dollars but it's large enough that consumers wanted to go to places where they could get receipts. I thought this was a great idea and for the first time, I said yes to keeping receipts.

I have returned..

2010-04-21T21:28:00.005-07:00

for almost a whole month now..

Oops. Sorry I haven't blogged for so long. I just have been procrastinating because I wanted to post some pictures of my trip... but I took 1634 pictures and didn't know which ones to post..
So here are just some REALLY random ones.. (I really just picked a number and posted) :)

I love Taiwan, not just because I'm from there but it's really a fantastic place. The people are really nice, it's cheap and the food is amazing. I will blog about my FO that I finished before I left soon!

Adventure

2010-02-09T09:53:00.002-08:00

Sorry I've been so absent but life has been a bit crazy.

I am leaving tonight to return to my homeland, Taiwan.

I haven't packed yet.... my flight is in 12 hrs.. so I have some time..

I did finish my scabbard! I think I will have to blog about when I return.

But I do hope I'll have time to blog about my adventures in Taiwan when I am there!

Doubts

2010-01-15T18:56:00.005-08:00

Exactly 5 weeks ago I had strep throat, now I have a throat infection and a head cold.

I am always sick and since I was a little girl, getting the cold or flu always lasts longer and seems stronger than with anyone else. I don't know why? It could be because I'm working in a hospital and currently am building my immune system. Or it could be because I'm just weak and need a new immune system. Either way I am worried. I have doubts. How will I be able to be a nurse if I am sick almost the whole winter?
This has made me so sad and so unsure of life that I have not been doing any school work. I think I may drop the class. It's probably not a very smart idea but my mind just doesn't seem to be in the right place. I'm not sure if it's the combition of being sick, stuck at home and my SAD but I'm not really sure of anything.

I don't know if I want to be a nurse anymore... and it freaks me out.

Sorry for the depressing talk. One good thing about being stuck home is lots of knitting! I have been working on my silken scabbard and I am very close to finished. I'm just trying to decide if I should do 3/4 sleeves or long sleeves. I am so indecisive.
While I wait for the decision I picked up my gathered pullover (it's been sitting there since summer) and have CO for the sleeves. I think I am getting another wind of excitement for this project. I can't wait to finish and wear it.

Another thing I like to do when I am sick is bake.
I know weird right?? I think it might be because no one wants to eat sick bake goods, meaning I get all for myself.... MOWAHAHA lol just joking. J seems to not really care and eat it anyways.. and I do wash my hands.
Today I tried a new recipe for Madeleines. I've only made them one other time but the recipe turned out too sweet and too buttery.
I just ate one, and I have to say it's a great success! mmm they taste like the ones you can get at Starbucks.

Yum.

Here's the link to the website I got them from :)
I omitted the lemon-glazed part.

Christmas Gifts

2009-12-26T11:30:00.007-08:00

I'm had Christmas dinner at a friend's sister's house. The first time I had turkey was with this family and also the first time I celebrated Christmas! I wasn't planning on knitting any Christmas gifts but it's them.. and they are the exception.

Christmas Jane

Pattern: Jane by Jane Richmond
Yarn: 1 ball of Patons Classic Wool in Black
This is my second time making this pattern and I absolutely love it. It's an easy knit but also an intriguing pattern and the finished product is fabulous. I think every type of head would look good in this toque. I think I knit this toque in less than 8 hours, so it's a perfect last minute gift or a relaxing side knit. Hopefully I can get some pictures of the recipient in the toque!

Turkey for Dishcloths
Pattern: Standard Dishcloth
Yarn: 2 balls of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Naturals
I also added some soaps with the dishcloths, don't worry it wasn't just a straight dishcloth and turkey trade. What can I say, they are dish cloths... lol I really love this colourway!

Insanity

2009-12-21T17:02:00.004-08:00

Not sure if I've mentioned this before.. but I REALLY dislike Christmas.

I finally finished my last exam on Friday.. also meaning I can start applying for Nursing schools! YEAH!!! Now that I have more time, I decided to back some sugar cookies.. mmm..

To keep me sane from all the Christmas madness, I used my Halloween cutouts for the sugar cookies!!

Bats, lots of bats, pumpkins, moons and owls!! I kind of stayed with a "winter" theme.. I avoided the witches, tombstones and ghosts.

I'll be making some Madeleine's next and a pumpkin-pecan pie!!

I'm fortunate enough to work on Christmas so I'll definitely be sharing my goodies with them!

Can't avoid it

2009-12-11T11:36:00.002-08:00

I really didn't want to talk about knitting because I'm embarrassed. My fellow blog knitters and real friend knitters seem to always plow through a project with no problem.
I am following a pattern and I still have problems: LAME.

Instead of studying, I've been watching criminal minds and knitting this

It's Silken Scabbard with the summer neckline. As you can see it doesn't look too good right?? I'm not sure why the neckline is all bunchy and too big, so I've frogged quiet a lot back and hopefully can fix it by starting the armpits earlier.

*sigh* I wanted to blog about an wonderful FO but I'm pretty sure if I was to, you guys would have to wait forever!

It does knit pretty fast and I actually don't feel too bad about frogging.. maybe it's because the yarn is so nice to knit with and my fingers want to prolong our time together.. lol

I follow knitrawr's blog pretty closely lately because she is overseas in school and it's so exciting!
I'm kind of envious... I've always wanted to leave this rainy city and I don't know why I haven't. I guess it's probably because of school... I'm currently finishing my pre-reqs for Nursing and will be applying in the new year. I suppose I could apply else where.. but where?? It would have be an English speaking country.. England? too much rain and cloud. USA? it's the states.. I think that explains it and American schools have never looked appealing to me. So I guess I'm out of options and will stick here in BC. I have thought about going east but it's so cold....
I weigh most of my decision on weather, and you may be asking why?! it's because I have "SAD" Seasonal affective disorder and I REALLY love the sun. So if I were to move, I want to move somewhere it would make it better.. or maybe I'm just scared and making an excuse??

I think it will be okay though, I read knitrawrs blog closely and live a little bit through her experiences and I'm looking into Nursing schools on the island (a little change is a change!) I've already picked my master's that I want to do and maybe during then I can go overseas! I am really excited to move my life forward. I can not wait to get back into school full time (I love school) and finally get somewhere. I've been out of high school for 5 years now so a lot of my friends have their degree and here I am sitting with my certificate! Don't misunderstand though, I don't regret anything. A lot of those friends have a degree that they don't know what to do with or have no interest in it anymore. I am happy I took the time to understand what kind of person I am and find a career in which I will love.

I'm thankful for the person in my English class would convinced me to look into Unit Clerking
I'm thankful for the Nurses at my work who answer my million questions
I'm thankful for my other half, waiting patiently and listening me to struggle to what I want to be when I grow up
I'm thankful for my parents putting me in school and paying for it and being patient with me
I'm thankful for my friends who have listened to me rave about the "career" of the month (I wanted to be an archaeologist to a mythologist) and supporting me.
I'm thankful for my Sociology Prof, you have opened my eyes to the real world and really it's you who showed me what means the most to me and how to exercise what I believe in.

Without these people, I would not be who am I am and know what I know.

2009-12-10T22:38:00.005-08:00

What can I say.. it's winter and I'm sick again.
but this time, I have strep throat..I guess it gives me another excuse to drink more green tea!
wrote my lab final exam today.. let's not talk about it.

I've been knitting a sweater and kind of hit a road block so hopefully I can resolve the problem soon and keep on going so you guys can get some FO pictures:)

I also need to be less lazy and actually take photos.

did anyone check out the music I posted ?? if you did, what did you think??

Busy

2009-11-25T10:48:00.002-08:00

working and going to school, prepping for finals. No time to knit or blog.
I'm suppose to be on my way to school right now..

So I will give you this.
I love this. I think we all are like this at some point in time.. lol

Something New

2009-11-02T17:18:00.005-08:00

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you all had a good one! I had a fabulous time, watched my friend make kids cry and celebrated Halloween with all my favourite people.

I was a porcelain doll this year, a Victorian porcelain doll.

Isn't my costume cute?? I can say that because I didn't make it at all. My wonderful friend, Tiziana made it. We went to a vintage store and found this dress (it was long and very 80's prom dress). I absolutely love my bloomers.. my boyfriend actually was the one to think of them.

Anyways I hope you all had an awesome Halloween.

What I really want to blog about was music.
I'm a lover of music, but who really isn't?
A few years ago I went to concert at least once a month and blew my savings going to Coachella to see one of my favourite bands reunite: Rage Against the Machine. So in the past few years there was very few concerts that I went to because I had seen almost everyone I wanted to!
But in the past few months, my love for concerts has been rekindled.
I love finding new music so I thought maybe I should share it.

Please keep in mind that I'm not showing you these youtube videos because of the videos. It just the easiest way to share the music.

CocoRosie: 2 sisters who lives were very different and lost contact in their early years but then were reunited and brought back together because of music. This is definitely a different type of music, they use children toys in their songs. I just saw them live for the 2nd time and it was amazing. They have a pianist, bassist, beat boxer (the best beat boxer I have ever seen or heard) and children's toys. It was amazing. There is nothing like getting goosebumps while sweating. I hope you enjoy this video. I love almost all their songs, but most popular ones are Rainbow warriors, Japan, Noah's Ark and Beautiful Boys.

Ganga Giri: What can I say, everytime his music comes I can't help but smile. Watch the video and you'll understand. I love the didgeridoo.

Dead Man's Bones: a fairly new band, you might have heard of it because Ryan Gosling is in the band (YUM) but that's not the reason why I like them. The music is really amazing if you don't believe, check it out yourself!

Well I hope you guys enjoyed the music I shared with you today.
Let me know what you think!! I hope they make you smile and dance!

Festive October

2009-10-05T21:54:00.018-07:00

October is probably one of my favourite months.

It has nothing to do with the weather. The weather sucks... well here in BC. I suppose if you live elsewhere *cough* Australia *cough* then October weather can be fabulous.

It's my favourite because of the holidays! Thanksgiving and Halloween!

I love Halloween!!!

Thanksgiving is fantastic because of turkey and also getting together with family and close friends. I know most people feel this way about Christmas but it makes more sense to me to feel this at Thanksgiving.
Give thanks, let the closet people know you love and appreciate them, eat together, laugh together and create new memories with each other. What could top that?
Isn't that part of being thankful?
Christmas is so overrated (I dislike Christmas.. if you haven't noticed).

but Halloween..
Now let's be serious, best Holiday ever.

I am so excited that I changed my blog theme! I don't know why I enjoy it so much, but I just do.

Last year I was a dust bunny

and the year before that a tea fairy

and this year I will be.... You will have to wait and see!!!

Star Cross Alaska

2009-09-25T12:36:00.009-07:00

Haven't been knitting lots... have been ~~spring~~ fall cleaning

Photos for this project was so over-due.
Have so much free time since I quit my full time job and I finally was able to take some pictures!

Star Crossed Alaska
named because I knitted it for my cruise to Alaska with my parents

Pattern: Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica
Needle Size: US 8 & 10

Mods: I knit the toque shorter in length.
Notes:
If you are going to knit this pattern, I would recommend to knit the length even shorter. I just find that it's too long and the slouch is no longer slouchy but just foldy (creating words is my forte). I feel like if I don't tuck my hair into the toque, it doesn't look good or give me the look I want. I do really like this pattern. I think the cables look great, used only one ball of yarn and it was a super fast knit.

Finished Project: Eloping

2009-09-14T22:58:00.005-07:00

Pattern: Eloping by Abigail van Roode and Kristi Geraci
Needle: 2.75mm
Yarn: Handspun by Splynk

If I could describe this pattern in one word, it would be QUICK! Wow, so fast! The knitting only took a few hours, making this pattern the perfect last minute bridal/wedding gift. I did spend a couple hours seaming it together, putting in the ribbon and elastic. I wasn't really sure about the pattern but after blocking and placing in the ribbon, I love it. I just hope it fits and doesn't cut off the circulation to the recipients leg!

Sahara

2009-09-06T02:15:00.011-07:00

My Sahara

I'm pretty much finished, just have to weave in ends.

I think I have an "I don't finish project" syndrome. Most people lose interest halfway through there project but once they are almost to the end, the get a kick and finish it off.
I'm more the type that once I'm almost done I just stop.
What's up with that?? hmm..

Got my 2 bottom wisdom teeth pulled on Saturday.
I was freaking out. Mostly because everyone kept telling me their stories about being knocked out or having laughing gas.
I was planning on getting 3 removed (had one done a year ago) just with local anesthetic. I've had teeth removed for braces but teeth that hasn't grown in yet made me nervous.
Well it was nothing. My dentist could tell I was nervous so he gave me so much anesthetic my mouth was frozen for 2 hours after.
And realistically, after having a tattoo done on my feet... nothing compares to that pain.
The worst is definitely the hunger and pain that follows.
It's been a day and I look like a chipmunk.
Well I think I look like Popeye..
What do you guys think??

Pretty close eh?? LOL I don't mean to be making that angry face.. but it's the only one I can make!!
It's all good though. My man is so good to me and makes me garlic mashed potatoes and buys my congee. He even hasn't been eating meat because I'm going through my meat withdraws!! LOL I am definitely not a vegetarian.

Distant

2009-08-28T17:07:00.004-07:00

Hello. I know it's been a while but you know how I feel about blogging.

I've picked up my Sahara again and decided that there will be no beads. I just don't have the time to go down to the store to buy more and I really wanted to knit it! I'm excited though, I've been knitting it the past 2 days and only have the neck ribbing left.

Gathered Pullover came along so fast. I couldn't believe it. On hold right now because I'm trying to understand how to do short row shoulders and it's not really coming to me yet. Hopefully it will come soon!!

You should check this out:

Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty

It's fantastic. My good friend SilverIlix blogged about this podcast a while ago and I finally got around to listening to it. I was hooked immediately. You can get it for free at iTunes and please do. I listened to it while commuting to work everyday and it made the 45 min drive so enjoyable! The story is intriguing, light and fun. You can listen it while knitting, crafting or even while doing dishes. Trust me, you won't be able to stop and once it's done you'll subscribe to her other podcast Heaven.

Hopefully I'll get around to taking some photos and post them but in the mean time happy knitting!

Reason and Pictures

2009-07-26T04:21:00.003-07:00

I do not enjoy blogging. I've never been much of a diary/journal person and a blog is a online journal and it's just not really working out.

I do however, love posting pictures.. and reading other people's blogs.

So. I'm going to post some pictures.. and read your blog... :)

WWKiP Day

2009-07-04T00:18:00.004-07:00

World Wide Knit in Public Day was fantastic!
We went to one of our local parks, Douglas Park and knit in the sun!

It was also Love Langley Day and there was tons of other people around and free food!
Couldn't have ask for anything better!
We even had furry little ones join us!

Hope your WWKiP was just as great as ours!!

Oh My Where Have I Been?

2009-05-16T02:37:00.004-07:00

Here.
I've been here. Mostly on my couch, reading.
I saw the Twilight movie and there we so many questions that I decided to read the books and that's about when the rest of my life paused.
I read all 4 books in 4 days. I didn't eat and didn't sleep much. I think I may be the only person in the world that gets so involved into books that life necessities are forgettable..
It happens to me every time I get into a book but this was the first time that I got addicted to a series and .. man I was hungry.. LOL..
Towards the end of the last book I started feeling a little bit sad because it was all ending... so I gave myself maybe 10 hours after I was done and picked up the 1st one again!! LOL I read them slower this time though. Well obviously I like the books, not the best writing in the world and reading it the 2nd time, the writing style started to bother me. Despite all that, it's a good story with a great love story and I love vampires. Underworld... Interview with a vampire.. Dracula... all excellent..

Anyways... So I'm slightly back to life, and picked up knitting again (I envy those who can read and knit at the same time) I do have an FO but haven't gotten around to taking photos. I am off in a week to ALASKA!! So excited.. but I had planned on knitting toques, scarfs, mittens and gloves for my parents but.. as you can tell I'm a little bit behind.

Just letting you all know I am still alive and knitting.. Just was distracted for a bit!

HAPPY KNITTING!

FO: Herringbone Wristwarmers

2009-04-16T23:44:00.004-07:00

Finally an FO for you and for me!

Pattern: Herringbone Slouch by CanarySancturay
Yarn: Mission Falls 136 Superwash Merino
1 ball each of Charcoal and Light Gray
Needles: US3 Magic Loop

This is a great pattern, it is easy to read, knit and remember! I have always found herringbone very appealing so when I saw this pattern I knew I had to make a pair for myself.

I have such a great job and get to knit at work and worked on this project often. This wonderful pattern has inspired a lot of my co-workers to knit and I have taught them in the hopes that one day they will make them! Come on.. that's pretty awesome right?? A pattern that makes people want to learn knitting! I think that's freaking sweeeet! Good Job Canary!! PROPS TO YOU!

Mods: Like a said this pattern was well written so I didn't make much mods. I just didn't knit as long as the pattern calls for because I have short arms. I did change the thumb holes. All I did was knit with waste yarn for 8 sts and than CO and did 1x1 rib for 4 rows. I haven't blocked them yet and now sure if I will.. They seem to always be around my hands.. so hard to block with them on... lol

OH another great thing about this pattern is it only requires one ball of each colour and I have tons of the light gray left!

Check this out..

2009-04-16T17:12:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone..

thanks for all the comments and get well wishes:)

You guys got to hope over to luvinthemommyhood's blog and check out the interview she did with the amazing designer of Alterknits! Got some good questions and good answers!

Happy Knitting all!

Unwanted Resting Stop

2009-04-15T23:14:00.006-07:00

Been out for the past 2 weeks due to this

Got wrist surgery to get 2 ganglions (a sac-like swelling or cyst formed from the tissue that lines a joint or tendon) removed. This was my first surgery and it was great! I got to see my hand when it was open, my surgeon was playing with my tendon and there was no blood.. so amazing.
The post-surgery was the most difficult, kntting withdrawals were strong, couldn't work, couldn't write and it was painful.

Couldn't knit but I could take pictures!! Some shots of my knitting group:)

But it's been 2 weeks and I am back to knitting. I have to knit in small bits since it is still sore but I am happy to be knitting and the time I was away gave me a lot of motivation to knit MORE!

:)

Fibrewest 2009

2009-03-22T02:47:00.002-07:00

1st year of Fibrewest and it was good.

Pet a lot of yarn and found this friend to take home with me.

Alpaca... half a pound of alpaca for a very reasonable price.

It's soft, incredibly soft.

SKA March Decided

2009-03-20T02:08:00.002-07:00

Thanks everyone for your help!
I have decided to knit Lakeside in the Black Hemp.
I chose this pattern because
1. Black yarn is so boring and with lakeside it can actaully be bearable
2. Lakeside size is made for "most adult women".. well I have "most YOUNG children" feet and my black hemp is of a ligther weight (I'm don't have a label for it anymore) so I'm hoping that it will make up the difference

I like that it took me 20 days into March to decide what I was going to knit.. I don't think I'll be able to finish by end of April, simply because they are almost to the knees and I have birthday gifts too finish.

Wish Me Luck!

Ps. I have a few FO's but a camera without the USB cord is so useless

SKA March Undecided

2009-03-05T19:06:00.003-08:00

Hello Reader(s),

I need your opinion on what you think I should knit! I have a few patterns I like

1.) Lakeside by Julia Vaconsin
2.) Blackrose Socks by Suzi Anvin
3.) Baudelair by Cookie A.

And I'm choosing from these 2 yarns

Purple Hemp.. and Black Hemp.

I'm leaning more towards the black only because when else can I use black and have it be interesting?? I think LACE!

Any help will be appreciated!!

Secret Grinch: Part I - Knitted Gifts

2009-01-31T02:04:00.009-08:00

Sorry it took me so long to post, I'm having doubts about having a blog. I'm not a good blogger and mine is so boring but I promised to post about the gifts!

First I'll start with the Quant:

Pattern: Quant by Star Athena
Yarn: Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes)
Needles: US 6

Mods: used mightbekatrina's mod of symmetrical ends.

I loved knitting this project! It was fast and very easy to understand. I recommend to start with this pattern if you want to knit entrelac. I got super lucky with the yarn. I was very worried at first that the dark colours would show up at the wrong time but it seemed to work out good!

I found that the head band is HUGE!
It fits both my head and the recipents but it's too big for my likeing. It feels like its a toque wanna-be, so if I was to knit this for myself I would cast-on less.

Next I'll talk about the heat pillows and covers I made.

Pattern: My Own
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Needle: 3.75 mm

Notes: I did an provincial Cast-On, knitted a tube, Cast-off one end and a flap on the other with button holes.
Bought some fabric, sewed them to the right size and stuffed it with rice and jasmine.. mmm it smelt SO nice!

I wasn't planning on knitting it as a cover but I wasn't sure if alpaca was microwaveable and decided to be safe.
I did also knit a cover for the long heat pillow but because I stuffed it with so much rice (it weighs a ton) it looked terrible with the cover on and the pattern of the fabric was beautiful enough to stand on its own.

Last of the knitted items

Pattern: Evenstar Gloves by Audrey MacDonald
Yarn: Sandnes Garn Alpakka
Needle: 3.25 mm

Mods: None

Notes: I am in LOVE with this pattern. Not sure if it's because this was my first real cable project but it was so much fun to knit! The yarn is also wonderful, I want to make myself a pair of wrist warmers with it. I definitely recommend this pattern because it was easy, intriguing and quick. I think I may use some of the cables for a sweater in the future!

Hope you guys enjoyed! Secret Grinch: Part II - non-knitted projects will be coming next!

Secret Grinch

2009-01-19T19:03:00.004-08:00

Finally I can post about my secret Grinch and what I've been working on! The girls I knit with this year decided we would do something like a Secret Santa Gift Exchange. $50 min and names were picked.

I will be posting this in parts or else this post would be VERY long.

Here is a picture of all the stuff I made

Next Post (Part II) will be on the knitted gifts! Stay tuned.....

2009

2009-01-10T00:46:00.005-08:00

A new year. Not one for resolutions, I believe you can make those any time, any day. But this year I want to make some for Knitting.

Knit more!

Yep that simple. I was looking through my projects and I only finished 3 projects . The shawl of Love, Lelah Top (I'm not happy with it so I'm going to go back and fix it) and Spumoni Thigh High Socks. I also completed a few pair of regular socks but I don't really consider them "projects". They are quick, satisfying knits to help me through big projects (I get distracted easily.. lol). I did finish some Christmas presents and secret Grinch presents (we haven't exchanged gifts yet so can't talk about them.. I know it's Jan but.. I saw someone with their tree up still so we're not that bad).

To help me accomplish my resolution I've come up with a time frame. After I'm done Christmas Presents ( I know I'm terrible but just wait.. I have a plan for next year) I will start on summer knits, then fall/winter knits and start Christmas gifts around October. I'm not sure how people start Christmas gifts in July... my problem is what if the person knits what you knit for themselve?? I guess it would work fine for the receivers who don't knit but it seems risky for those who do!

So I've made a list from my queue that are summer knits and will be starting that hopefully in Febuary. Of course in between I'll be knitting socks, maybe some sweater kals.

I'm hoping to finish a project a month.. almost like a sweater a month.. but I don't need that many sweaters.. lol

And hopefully I won't be distracted by my cute kitty too much!

Healthy Children

2008-12-31T04:25:00.009-08:00

slow time at work means healthy kids!
Found this MeMe from Susan of Knitters Delight

Happy New Years Everyone!! hope 2008 was good.. I hope to accomplish some of the italics in 2009!

Things I’ve Done (In Bold)

Things I Want to Do (In Italics)

1. Started my own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower (can't get enough.. one of the most amazing happenings)

6. Given more than I can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain - so long ago.. and when i did that.. it was my VERY first girl time.. yea... not fun.. not fun at all so wouldn't mind doing it again.. lol

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sung a solo - i feel bad for them.. lol

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris - so amazing.. would LOVE to go back again!

13. Watched lightning at sea

14. Taught myself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown my own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train - i was a baby so barely remember it and plan on doing it through Canada:)

21. Had a pillow fight - honestly.. who hasn't??

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - ............ lol i'm at work.. shhhssshh

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - so beautiful.. really a must see!

34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught myself a new language -.. can you REALLY teach yourself a language ALL by yourself?? there's books and audio and teachers.. or friends..

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke - i'm asian.. it's a prerequisite lol

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - it was SO amazing! i would Love to go back and visit again!

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had my portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - I've also walked down the eiffel tower!

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie - home made movies count?? lol

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - just my baby toes.. don't really count
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox - this is a MAYBE.. my parent's don't remember (i know.. i'm not sure if they love me either... lol but for work I got texted and it shows I have the antibodies.. so I must have!!)
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famouse - I met MICHAEL BUBBLE!!!
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

2008-12-26T10:09:00.004-08:00

WOW it's snowed A LOT here! it's been amazing! I LOVE SNOW! love love love love it! I can't get enough! it helps that I have a 4x4 and can get around but even if I didn't I would still LOVE IT!!

I have NEVER seen it snow this much since I've moved here!

First day when it all started!

Then a couple of hours later!!

Few days after!

Cute little mountain inside the fire pit!

and then there was MORE snow!!! SO MUCH SNOW!

Up to my knees!! So having a 4x4 but not snow tires doesn't really help.. I almost didn't make it into my garage!

and as I'm posting.. it is SNOWING AGAIN! oh so awesome:)

and a FO for you..

Pattern: Mustard Scarf by Jane Richmond
Needles: US 15
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca

No Mods.. I started this on Dec 23 and finished Christmas Eve. Super quick knit! I love it because it looks complicated! Given to a friend on Christmas and she loves it!

TAGGED!

2008-12-03T16:15:00.004-08:00

I've been tagged by SilverIlix !

The rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random, arbitrary things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

My 6 random, arbitrary things:

1. I love tea. I drink tea all day.. I would say about.. 10 - 12 cups of tea. I don't drink water just tea. Green, black, red, white.. everything.. loose only!!

2. I want to live off the grid.. or at least semi off! Somewhere were I can grow my own veggies, and live in a mud house!

3. when I'm sitting in the passenger sit, I tend to lean for corners unconsciously! Like I'm riding a scooter or a bike!! lol

4.I would love to live in the city too!! I'm both city and country girl:) I love the business of the city and the easy access to food!

5. I would pay good money to live at a place with a wood burning fireplace! I love them so much.. I would only need one room, I would sleep, eat, and knit in front of it

6. I hate being cold. It kind of embarrassing, I love snowboarding but sometimes dread going or snowboard super slow... less wind! lol

Now I Tag:

1. canarysanctuary
2. Arzu
3. theyarniad
4. teamknit
5. zeitgeistyarn
6. knitrawr

Quickie

2008-11-17T10:07:00.005-08:00

been a while since I've updated about knitting.

Don't have a lot of time, suppose to be sleeping right now... but

Boomer Hats!

Added a few more to the pile and it's still growing!

Thermal is still going, Socktober socks are done, my camera died and my battery charger is missing so no photos yet! :(

A little moment

2008-11-12T05:38:00.004-08:00

Remembrance Day was yesterday and I have to say I'm a little bit disappointed. Not sure if all of you heard but some people were stealing poppy boxes. Honestly, what has our world come to? Went to Ihop for breakfast yesterday and the slot to insert money in was taped off with a note reading "due to people stealing money from poppy boxes, please give your donation to the cashier." That blows my mind. I'm speechless, only words I have are anger and there's no point. I am ashamed of the direction our world is going into.

FO: Leaf Lace Shawl

2008-10-05T22:49:00.007-07:00

I'm very proud to present to you this FO: Leaf Lace Shawl aka Shawl of Loove....

Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl (S-2010) by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Merino ORO - Red
Needles: US 1

I needed this shawl is for my friend Holly (aka SilverIlix). She got engaged to her other half of a LONG time... lol. I could not think of anyone more deserving than her. She is a great friend, a great person and wedding shawls (I think 3 this summer) for others whom were getting married while planning her own wedding. WOW. I know. Amazing girl. I have to be honest, I had a mental break down a few days before the wedding because I was SO scared that she wouldn't like it, the colour wasn't right, the size was going to be too big or too small or that I would not get it finished in time. So I am so happy to say that it is done, and I will not knit another shawl for a LONG time.

Pre Blocked Measurements: 40 " across the neck
19" down the centre

This picture was taken 2 nights before the wedding, I stayed up till 4 knitting and still had to wake up early the next day to finish 5 more rows! ( I am a slow knitter... doesn't help that I have a HUGE ganglion growing on my right wrist)

Pre-Block (excuse the camera strap in the right bottom corner... I had to stand on my tippy toes to fit the shawl into the frame)

This was my first shawl, first time blocking and beading. My LYS was so kind to lend me their blocking board.. but I had a little bit of a problem... So close but yet so far..... (an emergency call to a friend in panic got me a bigger truck!)

I used pins to block and I have to say it was easy. I was a little bit apprehensive at first about the blocking but it ain't no biggie.. lol

After Blocking Measurements: 71 " across the neck

23 1/2" down the centre

Notes: 15 repeats and 1 row of beads. I would have liked to add more beads in but because I was so short for time and this shawl being my first everything, I was recommended to stay with the pattern so no Mods.

Well I'll stop rambling and leave you with a few more photos. I hope you enjoy!!

Happy Knitting and Congratulations to Holly and Chris

fo: seaweed socks

2008-09-11T14:39:00.002-07:00

I've finished my seaweed socks! yeah :) and here they are

pattern : toe up socks from sensational knitted socks
Yarn: Seaweed from Nestucca Bay Yarns in Oregon
Notes: Yarn over cable pattern
I love this yarn, it's super squeeshy, and was wonderful to knit with. I would definitely go back and pick up some more of this sock yarn.
The colour in these pictures aren't quiet right. They are more purple then in the pictures. Not as purple as the close up picture in the last post though.

I hope you guys enjoy these socks cause I did!! Happy knitting

Quick Update

2008-09-02T00:20:00.005-07:00

Socks are going good. I'm almost done.. here's a close up picture of them (close up was the only really real colour I could get on camera)
it's not that purple.. it's more violet and under sunlight it more blueberry. But it really depends. I realized yesterday that I had already done the yarn over cable stitch with my other socks. That's kind of sad that I forgot. LOL

Hmm the surprise.. I don't want to talk about it. >.<

at work the other day, Michael Buble came to visit.. and he hugged me (really he asked me to hug him..) and took some pictures with me.. I <3 him...

Almost September?

2008-08-23T16:49:00.002-07:00

Where has the time gone?
I'm not quite sure. Summer is coming to an end and.. what summer? Okay, this summer was not as bad as last year. I did get 2 full road trips in, saw pandas, and went to Shambhala. I also had an awesome birthday, went out to dinner with my good friends and I have to say I had a WONDERFUL time. I was a bit hestitant to invite all my different types of friends but I think it turned out well.. or I just was so involved with conversations I didn't see the awkwardness, lol.

Knitting: Wow. What can I say, I have no pictures for you, since I'm at work right now. I riped out the socks I was making for Jordan. I couldn't do it anymore, I hated it. I cursed it every single time I picked it up so I just decided, I'm not knitting these anymore. I have boxes full of yarn (that I love) waiting for me and here I am so unhappy. Jordan was fine with it. He understands the boringness of black yarn... and is willing now to wear different colours, like gray, black varieted, brown, etc. THANK GOD or else that man was never going to get knitted socks from me!
1. Since I tore (literally) the yarn off my sock needles, I IMMEDIATLY cast on my beautiful seaweed sock yarn that I picked up in Oregon. It's so squishy and so excellent to knit with. I'm in love with them.
2nd project I'm working on is the Surprise. It's going well. Taking a while though, but I always find that when I knit surprises they can never happen fast enough because I'm REALLY excited about it. Can't give you anymore.. I've already said too much.

Rant:
Few new blogs I'm stocking, Canary Knits and the Yarniad. I'm sure everyone is familiar with Carnary Knits, she's fabulous. what more can I say. Check it out!
I need to improve my knitting, as in, I need to knit faster! I'm not sure if giving myself deadlines will work, since my work schedule is all over the place. But I need to figure out a way to make myself (or inspire myself) to knit more projects!
I'm stopping with summer stuff, therefore, beaded cami is going into hibernation and started on winter. So Thermal, here I come again:)
Christmas, got to remember christmas..

lazy girl

2008-07-26T12:32:00.004-07:00

well.. i am ashamed... I have nothing for you. I went to california and brought my knitting with me but I didn't knit.. only for about 2 hours one day. I like to stare out the window at nature and that's what I pretty much did the whole time and when I was ready to knit, it was night time and it's hard knitting lace patterns in the dark! lol
Here are just some pictures of my trip.. I have like 200 more.. lol

Went to the oregon caves... it was really cool!!

Beach picture is of us in California.. it was so awesome swimming, I thought it was going to be super cold but it wasn't. The waves were SO much fun... we just stand there and it would pick us up a few feet and throw us!!

Went to Seqouia National Park. WOW. these trees are so beautiful and HUGE i love it.

And of course went to san diego zoo and saw the PANDAS!!!! we were so lucky that there was a baby panda and her mama there!!! WOOT WOOT!

Picture of the sunset on the coast or oregon. it was cold.. oh so cold.. but so beautiful

I'm hoping to get some good quality knitting time in when I had up to Nelson to see Jordan's parents and for Shambhala.. but I can't promise.. lol the drive to nelson is really beautiful too.. lol

Slow Going...

2008-06-18T00:24:00.005-07:00

No FP's yet (finished project, I don't like saying finished object.. so weird). If you look at my preivous post, you'll see from the pictures that I was working super hard on my purple Lelah Top.
I really want to finish it before summer hotness passes by but it just seems to be taking forever.
I am being super OCD about it because its my first knitted tank top and I want it to be fab! But it's okay.. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... I'm doing short rows for the low back and then BO (praying it will go well... >.<)

CO for Beaded Cami but then realized there are some terrific mods done on this cami from ravelryers (sp?). So I will be doing some research and I think I'll be re-COing on.

Started a new book. You may be familiar with it as the author was on Oprah's show. When I saw that episode, I just thought that this woman was so beautiful and calm. Like REALLY calm, her soul, her whole being and she just drew me in. This book is wonderful so far and I'm only a few pages in. It speaks of God, but that's not what it's about. It's about finding happiness and balance in life. I love the way she writes, it's like ME! doesn't use too many big words and is super causal. I like it so far, and I'll definitely let you guys know how I like it in the end.!

WWKiP Day

2008-06-16T18:21:00.007-07:00

Yes, it was great! The sun finally came out and welcomed us knitters with great warmth!! I was hoping to see a few more familiar faces but was happy to meet some unfamiliar faces:)

I have some pictures to share, I do hope you all enjoy!

we held our WWKiP at Douglas Park in Langley (just a little bit aways from Knitopia), coincendently it was the "Market in the Park" day (the booths you see behind us in the pictures)! It was an excellent day and we're even thinking about knitting in the park again and will definitely do this again next year. Must give a shout out to SilverIlix for taking time out of her busy day and organizing this event for us!!! we appericate it :)

Happy Knitting All!! Hope you all had a good WWKiP DAY!

Comfort Fibre

2008-05-29T22:47:00.003-07:00

Since I was umemployed and going to school, I haven't been able to purchase any fibre goodies. The other day I was woken up by some hospital politics (before I even worked 1 shift as a non-student) and it just ruined my day. I was upset, angry and confused so I decided to celebrate and comfort myself with some YARN! hehe i know what a great idea eh?!
TA DA meet my new friend - Sari Silk. It is scrap silk from silk workshops in India and the wonderful workers collect them and then drop spins them into YARN! Every skien is different and has it's own character! When I saw this yarn (from Knitting unbiased), I knew it was meant for me! I had to have it and when I saw it at Knitopia, I asked them to stash it for me until i had money!
My plans are to knit a scarf with it. I do have enough to make the unbiased purse but what I have planed for a scarf I think will be a lot more me! I'm so excited:)

Finally a FO!!

2008-05-22T12:58:00.004-07:00

it's been a while since I've had an FO and I'm super excited. This is like a kick in the butt, and also a reminder why I love to knit! I've finished my Thigh High Socks!!! YEAH! and I've really used up all the yarn, all that is left is maybe 1 foot long and I think that's pretty awesome!!
So I used Wild Geese Fibre bought at Fibrefest in Abby. This yarn is handspun and hand dyed, by barb herself and is 70% wool and 30% Kid Mohair.
Pattern: Sensational Knitted Socks, Toe-up.

Mods:This is my first time ever knitting toe up and 2 socks at the same time with one magic loop!! I ever pretty nervous and hesitant at first because I was trying so many new skills at one time, but I LOVE IT! I don't think I'll ever knit socks one at a time and I love toe up! I just did 2x2 Rib and kept knitting, and knitting and around my knees I increased by adding in 1 set of rib and then to bind off I added sts in every other sts.

Thanks for looking, Comments are always welcomed:)

the end and the beginning....

2008-05-17T17:51:00.004-07:00

I am finished my program and I have been HIRED!!!!!!!! Here's me and my excitement!!
hehe... I'm so excited, I can't believe I got hired at Childrens. I love that hospital, everyone is so friendly and great. I haven't got set up for orientation yet but she (the HR lady) will be calling me on Tuesday to set it all up! ALSO, I'm going for testing on tuesday for Vancouver Costal Health, that includes VGH, Richmond, and other big hospitals and clinics in the vanoucer district. YEAH! I do hope I do well and can get in there too! I'm so excited to start making money again, then I can go shopping and buy some new clothes so I can stop having to wear my holely clothes. lol

Today is a beautiful day, it's goregous outside, the sun is shinning and it's hot as hell. I love it. I do hope it lasts but they say it will end on Monday :(

Knitting: still working on finishing off the socks, I think I'm going to just keep knitting that until it's finished and not work on anything else. I have lelah top on needles and the baby log cabin blanket.

Hope you all are enjoying the sunshine.. enjoy you're looong weekend:)

Sick @ Home

2008-05-03T20:49:00.003-07:00

So I'm half sick, I think.. I'm feeling very tired, and weak and I just don't have a lot of energy. My thoart has this little tingle that just won't go away. I've drank 3 cups of ginger tea today and I think about 5-6 cups of green tea (that's very normal for me.. LOL). So I'm staying home, and trying to get lots of rest because I do not want to be sick for the last 2 weeks of my practicum (i'm in ER!!).

Just a quick update on my practicum, like i just said, I'm finished on 3 Medical (cardiology and UBC teaching unit) and I had a good time. It was pretty slow and apparently I was the "magic item" (can't think of the word) that made it slow. It was busy towards the last 3 days, it was nice. My preceptor has said yes to being one of my references (YEAH!) and she even said she's going to call the HR for Unit Clerks and talk to her (double YEAH!!). I'm super excited for ER cause it's a completely different experince and I'm excited to listen to all the disney movies that they play on the tv (my friend told me that, she's going to 3M now).

update on my knitting: Still working on my thigh high socks, they are coming along well.. just seem to be taking forever. I'm at the stage in a baby blanket when it just doesn't seem to be growing. Oh yes, that wonderful stage.. lol. But I have no one to blame but myself since I want super long socks. Speaking of socks, my boyfriend's wonderful mother knitting me knee high socks for Christmas, and the other day I was wearing them and they have HOLES!!! yes holes!!!! I was, am still, SO upset!! I don't know how to fix holes?? can you even fix holes on the bottom of you're sock?? the holes are located on the ball of my foot, I think I got them while snowboarding :(. So sad. I've also started swatching for Lelah top, using both rayon (that I bought from fibrefest) and with eco-fil. Never worked with rayon before, so i'm not sure how it'll do as a lace pattern. Swatch so far with rayon, I do not like. It looks weird. It just doesn't showcase the lace pattern like the eco-fil so I think I'm going to make the top with eco-fil. Last year I already started the lelah top with eco-fil but for some reason I didn't like it. I think it was because I didn't like how "heavy" or "stiff" it was, but after ripping it out, I remembered.. hey, the yarn will change after washing! (sometimes I think I'm stupid...) So like I said I'm swatching with it and I'm going to wash it and we'll see!! wish me luck!

well guys, ciao for now.. I put chicken soup on before starting this post and completely forgot about it until I heard it boiling over.. lol So I must go and eat it before I forget!!!

English

2008-04-20T22:12:00.003-07:00

English, that's my topic. I've been thinking a lot lately, well I actually always think a lot (I know, a huge surprise:p), but I just never put them onto paper, or on a screen. That's exactly what I want to talk about, why I never put my thoughts on paper. I can't, well.. that's not fully accurate, I just can't find the right words to describe how I feel or what I think. My vocab is very limited to everyday words and it just doesn't do justice for what I want to talk about. It's fustrating. Fustrating because I love to have discussions and lately I find myself, saying nothing because I'm not getting my exact point out and people miss understand me. Have you ever had that feeling? The feeling where you just feel that no one understands you? not in english nor mandarin? Everyone says it's so great to know 2 languages and I do not disagree with them but I would love to excell in one, to be able to express how I feel with beautiful words and intellence. This is not a pitty post, please do not think that, I'm just trying to express myself. Keeping it inside isn't working, so I'm trying to express it, and hoping that maybe this will improve my english.
So of course, when you have a problem, you try to find ways to fix it.. and a good one is to take an english class.. well i've tried that, it's so hard, not sure why it's so hard. Maybe it's because my difficutly is already holding me back and ontop of that having a time line just makes me want to kick things.
Well then, why not read more books, well I do read a lot, and that doesn't help either. so you may think maybe i'm not reading books that challange me, you may be right. I've tried but it seems that I have to look up every 3-4 word in the dictionary, and that just kills the rhythm of the book.

Hm, i've ran out of words, this post is an excellent example to my fustration. Some people can make this post much shorter, much more .. hmm.. what's the word.. insightful? immagtive? no.. I don't know. but yes, this is fustrating for me.

an FO!!

2008-04-03T17:05:00.007-07:00

Yeah I've finished my yarn over cable socks!! I love them so!! everyone is right.. wearing hand knit socks are very different and muuuuch better.. I must try Jordan's socks again cause he feet deserve some handknits!

Here's a picture of them!! I just finished washing them.. and look how purrrrrty they are!! Static even loves them!! (wow.. whitest leg ever.. lol)

I still have TONS of the yarn left.... i think I used up 1/3 or 1/4 of the yarn so I will make another pair.

For Pattern: I just made my own.. kind of.. I just followed Yarn Harlot's advice in one of her books (thanks holly) and use the yarn over cable sts from sensational knits. I love them but.. I don't like the yarn over cable with the colour of the yarn so the next ones I'm going to do probably a rib or something without holes!

But.... first I must play with my wool!! I bought this at Fibrefest, from Wild Geese. This is 70% wool and 30% Kid Mohair. (i think.. i'm pretty sure.. but I can't fully remember) I can't wait to knit this up! I'm going to try toe up and 2 at a time because I want to make these as high knee as possible. I hope it works out okay.. Never done toe up and haven't knit 2 socks at the same time. I found a pattern for 1 circ and 2 circ.. haven't decided which pattern I want to use. The colour isn't very accurate in this phone.. the grey colour is more of a mint green!! it's reminds me of ICE CREAM!! yum.. perfect for summer:)

Oh wow.. already end of March...

2008-03-24T18:28:00.002-07:00

I can't believe it.. time goes by so fast. I only have 9 more days of class and then I start my particum!! My teacher finally decided to tell us what where we were for our particums and I am a HAPPY girl. I got BC Children's Hospital (which was what I wanted from the beginning) but the best part of being at children's is I have EMERGENCY!!! well not for the whole particum, it's split half first at 3-medical (i was reading about that floor and it said lots of residents... hehe hopefully hot young ones.. LOL) so i do 3-m first then emergency! I can't wait to start!!!!! a bit nervous because getting placed in emergency means teacher believes in you and that just freaks me out!! lol makes me proud but still freaks me out a little..

well i'm supppose to be studying right now for my CPR but of course.. I am procrastinating.. didn't go snowboarding to study and.. yet I am still not studying.. hmm love how that works.. well I shall update and then go straight to it... (hmm I hope!!)

Well not sure if I said Thermal is on hold right now, I'm knitting a big swatch and I'm going to watch it and see what happens. Almost done one sock for me with lynn's yarn!! YEAH so excited!:) New project is going to be a spring top.. I'm thinking Sahara since I've had the yarn for more the 6 months!!!

Fibrefest!!!!!!!

2008-03-08T17:03:00.004-08:00

YEAH! fibrefest was yesterday and I am a HAPPY girl:D This was my first time into the wonderful new world and I loved it so! My fellow friends said it was much smaller then the previous years.. but I think that was a good thing for me.. lol.. cause I was very overwhelmed! I was suprised as to how calm I was.. and how I didn't buy almost everything!! lol I bought homespun 100% Cashmere.. and.. seriously.. softest thing I have ever felt in my LIFE.. not really I had to have it.. expensive but completely worth is. I bought some sock yarn, it's 70% wool and 30% Kid Mohair! super nice colours, very excited to knit with it and see how it turns out. The lady that sold it had knitted a sock for example and it had a wicked spiral pattern going on.. so maybe that will happen with my sock yarn!!! I bought a basket too!! I LOVE my basket!! it folds down, so it looks like a big bowl and when you fold it up, it's a sweet basket!! I wanted to buy some yarn for a summer top but was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to make and find the yarn for it. we came across this super nice rayon and I really liked it and wanted to buy some.. cuase I could either make a top or a skirt! But we decided to walk around some more.. search a bit more cause each skien was 9.75 (not very expensive but.. it's fibrefest.. you have to double check! lol) So I pretty much decided it wasn't a big deal and that i had already gotten a lot of goodies and we were saying bye to Lynn when...... THEY CALLED MY NAME!! my name had been picked for a door prize!! YEAH! i never win anything (i'm glad my luck saved it for fibrefest.. lol).. so they had a table and you can choice what you wanted and I was like.... mm.. I want the loom (but that wasn't for this draw sad:( ) and so i picked out some bamboo roving and holly's like.. WAIT.. this is a $20 gift certificate for the place with the rayon!! I was like FREAKING SWEET ASS!! it's meant to be! so of course I grabbed that and went straight over.. picked out this AMAZING copper colour in rayon and paid only $10 for 3 skeins! YEAH! so after that we booked it out of there, or else we all would have bought more!

I've decided though.. I'm going to learn how to weave next.. becuase I really love it and I've always wanted to do it! So that's my next goal:D

In the middle of the week, my knitpicks order FINALLY arrived!! I'm in love with the colour grass and immediatly decided that was what I was going to make Themral out of. I always ordered some purple, which is also super beautiful but I'm already knitting purple so knitting 2 projects of the same colour just didn't sound good to me. My iron ore was a bit lighter then I had thought.. but I still love it.. it's more just red.. lol.. Knitpicks needs better namers.. cause they kind of suck.. lol well they just don't match up very well.. anyways.. I'm still super happy with Iron Ore! So I've started knitting my thermal and I loooove it! I looove the grass colour.. I'm sad that it's on clearance! I don't know why more people don't looove it! it's so wonderful but I have to say.. the computer colour doesn't do it justice. haven't started on my enterlac socks yet... I'm going to knit a swatch using the quant pattern first (as recommended by Hols). But I'm working on some socks for my man.. it's not going good... Nothing bad in particular, it's just giving me problems..

Ohh congratulations to Holly on her 100 post!! WOW!!!! YEAH HOLS!

I've been bad

2008-02-18T16:30:00.004-08:00

Oh yes.. I have been a bad girl.. I put in a order to knitpicks last night and spent around $60.. but on the good side.. I bought all clearance colours and I bought yarn for 4 projects!!! Palette for Enterlac Socks, Palette for Thermal, Wool of the Andes for Drops 103 and Paletter for another Thermal or another project depending on how much I like Thermal.
Thanks so Ravelry, it's been super easy for me to find yarn for a project or a project for a yarn! I'm in love with Ravelry.. oh so... I seem to spend more time on ravelry then I do on knitting which i find kind of ironic!!
Still working on the baby sqaures and the Gallery Jacket.

well i must go do some studying.. I haven't been doing it at all and my grades are starting to reflect...

Ravelry!!

2008-02-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

That's right!! I FINALLY got ravelry!! well... it said I got it in Oct, 2007 but I think it lies.. lol

Non the less.. I'm in looove. I love Ravelry, it kind of reminds me of a facebook for knitters!!!

Gallery Jacket is coming along quiet well:) I'm using my eco-fil purple. As you can see Static likes it too!! lol

Hopefully soon I'll be able to take a progress picture! I had to rip out Jordan's socks AGAIN.. just didn't feel right and then I forgot how many COs I did.. so... Jordan get's not socks right now.. lol

Going to start my Beaded cami soon...

Well better stop blogging and surfing on Ravelry and go knit:)

hm... more time..

2008-01-28T21:07:00.000-08:00

well i was fired today.. first time being fired!!! my potty mouth got me in trouble.. but they still fired me for a reason I though was unjust... and the situation was definitely manipulated to make me look like that bad one. I have to give them credit though cause they almost fooled me for a moment.. but I suppose this is alright. Why work for someone who is like that... and in a few months I'll have to leave anyways. Just hurts.. cause i loved them so.. yes I did.. I loved my bosses, took them in as friends.. but that's life right? people can fool you!

Since today is my first day of none employment.. I have been doing research!! Looking into what pattern I shall attack next. I am knitting socks but I'm not happy with the pattern right now and it is because I have using 3.25 mm ndls when it calls for 2.75mm. So work is looking all stretched out. So when I save up (I'm not sure how I'll do that without a job.. LOL) I'm going to order the right ndls from Knitpicks.

So I'm planning on knitting beaded Cami next with my purple eco-fil yarn. I was using it for lelah top but I think that yarn is too thick for the lelah top.

Was reading through a new fav blog of mine: team knit... and saw this!

It's called Gallery Jacket from valley yarns Sheffield.. it's only $1.99, so i believe I can budget this into my ssshmal budget. I'm planning on making this with my green ecofil. Pattern calls for 18sts and eco-fil is 19sts so I think I'll be okay with 1 sts off.. If not then I will know for future patterns! A few people have made this jacket already and I've since a whole bunch of ways it can be worn so I'm super excited:)

My goal for 2008 is to try and find patterns for all my yarn and if I have extra money, buy yarn for a pattern that I really want to knit! the recommended yarn or something similar, I'm very sick of trying and figuring out gauges, etc. I'm thinking yarn for the Intolerable Cruelty.

Well this shall be good for now, the more I choose, the more I forget about which ones I want to knit.

OH YES! that reminds me.. I REALLY want to knit Thermal.. yes must remember that. No I want to buy yarn for thermal first!

quick update!

2008-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

just a quick update! I finished Holly's christmas present and gave it to her on Knitting night. I made her a pair of fetching!! I don't have a digital camera right now (horrible for a photographer.. i feel lost.. lol) so holly's going to send me some pictures of them in the future and i'll post them:)

I can't believe it! i finished my christmas presents by Jan 8! much better than last year when i finished in March.. lol. But i did only knit 2 christmas presents.. still i did good!!! YEAH:)

Righ tnow I'm just amking some toques for Jordan and me. I've decided to stop knitting (or not continue) with my carolyn.. I don't like it anymore.. so bye bye carolyn! So what to do?? hmm i don't know... I want to knit Sahara but I don't have money right now for the pattern. I'm going to be making some socks.. but I need a bigger project.. I suppose i can continue with my knit2together doctors bag.. but... i'm not really feeling it right now.. I want to knit a top.. or something big.. or easy!! maybe i'll next a wicked!!! oohh.. yes excellent brain storming! well i better go since this is only suppose to be a quick update! hehe <3

back from the depts..

2008-01-05T14:07:00.001-08:00

so i almost died... lol okay maybe not.. but i thought i was!! I don't even want to talk about it anymore.. in short.. couldn't eat for 5 days.. went to the hospital, told me i had the flu but i had no diarrhea or fever just abd pains... couldn't get out of bed for 8 days.. and yea.. so woot woot christmas! lol

jordan made turkey all by himself, and after he was done he was so tired he wasn't even hungry and i couldn't eat!! lol so we have lots of turkey leftovers:P

finished Brandi's Illusion scarf last night, it very nice... except for the fact that i accidently ironed out the illusion.. so i tired washing it today, drying it and pulling at the pattern and it didn't work.. so i just gave it to her.. you can kind of see it still.. just not as effective if i hadn't ironed it..

Holly's christmas present is coming along quite well.. i am very pleased with it! i'm so excited to give it to her!! a bit nervous though... cause she knits so well and i don't.. lol i know she won't care but we all second guess ourselves!!

Steph gave me the most beautiful christmas present!!! she drew an anime panda of me!!! i LOVE it so much! it was the first art piece we put up on our walls!! yeppppie

Christmas

2007-12-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

Oh how much i hate Christmas.. Christmas reminds me of how alone i am. How i have no family here and no connection to my family. I fucking hate Christmas. all the music and the "commericalness" of it just makes me sick. If Christmas was celebrate still because of Jesus i would understand but it isn't and it just makes me sick.
but.... this year, for the first time Jordan and I have been together, we are not going to Nelson for christmas! So we decided to buy a christmas tree, and since it was my first christmas, jordan let me pick out all the decorations for the tree.. and i have to say.. I'm pretty good at it! lol Even though the ornaments on the christmas tree are suppose to signify something but seriously.. do i sound like i have ornaments stashed from the past years.. no.. so i bought cheap ones from zellers!!! lol
For christmas this year, Jordan and I decided to do stockings (thanks to Holly's suggestion). We both are pretty poor and feel that it's un-necessary to spend so much money on each other like we have in the past. our 3 year anniversary was on Sunday the 16, we also decided to not give each other anything but just to spend time with each other and save the money for christmas. Ironically though, jordan has finished christmas shopping for me and I am almost finished and we still don't have stockings!!! lol So i guess really we aren't doing stockings... we're just spending less on each other.. lol maybe next year we will actually get stockings!! Although Jordan did spend around $200 on me (which he wasn't suppose to but it still better then in the past), i still feel it's too much. How much do you guys normally spend for your signaficant other around christmas? Next year I definitely want to make the budget smaller and more crafts. I was too busy and sick this year to make everyone something. Even though i said this last christmas, this year I am really going to try make christmas gifts... so to help me.. can everyone make a christmas list in july!!!! lol oh how much i hate christmas.... i hate all of this thinking and i hate people asking me why do you hate christmas, why do you hate christmas.. BAH it's none of your fucking business.. yes i am grumpy and i am the "grinch" but how can i not be when people are so rude. I do think though, when i have a family, I will enjoy christmas more... I don't want my kids to turn out like me.. all bitter and such.. lol
So to sum it up. i still hate christmas but had fun decorting the tree.. HAHAHA oh life.. the good and the bad.. the cons and the pros.. i suppose we just take from it what we need and move on..

additions

2007-11-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

just added a couple more lists on the side
one is of my christmas list... I'll keep adding to it so you call know when i update! if you want me to go into more detail on any items just leave me a comment on my last post!

the other list is really just for me and keeping track of what i need to do and budget of them

I've already started on radha's gift, and that's it.. I know what i'm making for Brandi so that's nice. Other than that i'm pretty screwed lol

Nothing Good

2007-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, just wanted to update
I have been a lazy girl.. well not really.. I have just been a BUSY girl!! Busy with school, busy with work.. work work work.. lol..
So not as much Knitting as I would like.. I said a month ago I was going to start on Christmas presents and still I have not.. I am bad, oh so bad.

well I better go and knit.. lol ciao:)

Hope you enjoy my new header!!!

Lists!!

2007-10-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I have finally added a little section for my completed projects.. you will find them under "Shinning Butterflies"!! Just click on them and it will take you to a picture!! I will hopefully add more info to the pictures in the future and comments, so as of now if you have any questions about a project just as me:)

So everyone has made a lovely christmas list.. which I REALLY appericate! thank you so much:)
I know exactly what I am making for Holly.. hehe it makes me giggle with excitment when I think about it.

I have some AWESOME ideas for Steph but they are not confirmed yet.. I need to do more research! I have no idea what I'm making for Julia or Tizi or my other half yet.. oh so many choices..
I have decided to knit my boss a scarf.. she's pretty awesome (so far anyways.. lol)
I have said that I want to knit for Chris and James but now I am worried I will not have enough time.. but I think the boys will not mind if I don't make them anything.. or at least I'm hoping they won't.. lol.. or maybe I'm deciding they won't.. hehe

So my list.. wow... um.. it's hard

afghan/blanket
sweater
purse
that lovely mushroom pillow Stephy has
panda pencil box/bag
panda sweater

Okay, I know I only listed 2 panda thing, it's because I really need to venture myself out of the panda world.. I really don't want to turn into a panda lady.. like those chicken ladies (where everything in their kitchen is chickens!) I do love pandas though, if it's a panda lookin or fabric thing that I will be able to use that's great! I definitly do NOT need anymore panda stuff animals! Honestly though Please knit anything you think I will like.. in any colour EXCEPT blue.. I hope I have given you all some ideas.. but I'm sure you already had ideas cause you're not lame like me who can't think of anything.. lol

where have I been?

2007-10-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

I have been here.. but just lazy! I started school and a lot of my time is spend memorizing medical terms. I usually have a test every week if not two... so I am trying to stay focused.

My Carolyn is going well, I haven't been able to work on it for a bit since I have run out of balled yarn.. and I am too scared to attack the skien by myself without a winder or help... so Carolyn has been put on hold.

I have started on a pair of socks for my other half though! I saw Jen working away on her sock at one of our knit night on a crazy circle needle... and I asked her what it was and she said it's just a super long and flexible circle needle and that this needle can be substitute for double points!! My dreams came true...... So one night when I was at Knitopia, I asked my man if he wouldn't mind buying me a magic loop!! he said sure... but when the price came out.. I felt so bad..it was so expensive!! so I decided to make him a pair of cozy socks for him in payment back:) I think it's fair.. lol

So I am getting one of my wisdom tooth taken out today.. it's been growing and now it's to a point where it's poking at my bottom gum and back cheek.. not comfy. Well.. I must be off... off to Richmond where I can stuff my face with food before they pull my tooth out!

Business Name

2007-09-13T14:48:00.001-07:00

Hmm.. I'm looking for a business name.. and having a very hard time so any help would be great!

I figure I should go with something that has a little bit of me in it... so I love stars.. i have 2 star tattoos.. and live by the stars.. so i figure maybe something to do with the stars?? Illuminating soul.. I guess is like starry soul.. or glowing soul.. but hm.. i'm not sure if i like it so much anymore

So.. i like pandas.. I LOVE pandas.. if you haven't noticed yet.. but then I don't know if i really want to incorporate panda into the name.. cause what if i don't like pandas anymore.. I HIGHLY doubt that.. but just for safety right?

I want something that's just AWESOME.. okay that's not very specific so maybe some examples may help.. "very hush hush", Holly's "Up Late Designs" (i love it.. cause she really is up late... and does design!!), "Bia Boro", "Coca Cola" (com'n .. it's a greaat name! easy to prononce, easy to remember), "made with love"

So.. i see a pattern so far.. i like more than one word names...

So here are some i thought of...
meteor stars
panda stars
enlighened star
star gazer

i don't know... these just don't sound that great..hm.. any ideas anyone??

I've been Lazzzzy

2007-09-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yes I have been very lazy... I finished my wrist warmers (finally!!) and I have been too lazy to take pictures of them and post them.. so I will hopefully do that soon:)

I'm adding a website to the blogs that i visit... *drum rollll* it's... steezah's blog ! it's awesome.. go check it out.. the blog is actually called teamknit, it's hosted by two girls. Steezah is the one the inspired me to knit lelah top.. and recently she just finished beaded halter ... and I think I will have to knit this also!! well I hope you guys check it out!!

Nelson Inspired

2007-08-24T01:33:00.000-07:00

So last week was Shambhala... and I didn't go.. :( I avoided the subject as much as possible because it made me really sad. Since Jordan and I decided not to go and we both were feeling pretty down about it, we decided to go up to Nelson to visit and shop our sorrows away.

Every time that I have been up to Nelson, I feel inspired... one of the reasons why I LOOOVE to shop there. There is a LOT of local artists that make amazing, unique items. Every time I go up, I have all these ideas of things i can make but once I come back down.. they disappear and I feel.. empty. I think lately, I've lost a bit of myself. I'm not as connected as I have been and would like to be and I really think doing crafts will help me look deep inside. It's hard to lose yourself.. since that's all you have. It's really hard for me because I need to know who I am, especially in the summer when the sun is shinning or else I will be in the dark in the winter with nothing. I feel that these new goals will also help me in my hard times, keep my mind off the fact I'm not getting enough sunshine. So here they are!

1. Learn to spin
2. learn to dye
3. learn to do leather work
4. invest more money into my crafts (I always cheap out.. I think it maybe because my parents always say arts aren't worth it.. so it's kind of gotten to me.. but nope.. I'm putting a end to that!!!)
5. learn to silkscreen
6. learn to stencil
7. take a sewing class

there they are!! I think these will help me a lot. Before I left for nelson, I was going through the "I don't know what to wear" phase. I'm not sure if any of you have experienced it but it's sucks. When you stand in front of your closet and you just don't know what you want to wear.. and you put something on and 2 minutes later you're taking it off.. and you just don't feel right. Well after shopping in nelson I feel great. I think the thing was, everything I had was like everyone else.. and since I've been feeling lost... wearing the same clothes as other people just made me feel more lost. So with these goals, I would like to start making some of my own clothes! Of course I'm still going to go shopping for some stuff, but I really want to try to start making my own tops. nothing crazy.. I'm not that talented YET! I use to be very good in sewing but it's been a very long time so I definitely need a class to re-freshen my memory!

So I've already started doing a bit of research on some of these goals... my FAVOURITE and most deadly knitting shop moved to LANGLEY! YIPPEE! In the fall, they will have spinning classes! They have drop spin needles for an average of $50 also. So once I start spinning then I will venture myself into the world of dying!!

Leather work - was taking to a guy (Can't remember his name..) at Knitopia, he actually makes the drop spin needles and spins himself!! Well he ALSO does leather work and gave Holly and I some good tips about where to buy tools:)..... EBAY! lol So once I get some money I will invest in a leather working kit!

Well I better head off to bed.. I have to go to the doctors tomorrow.. poo. Night Night!

What's new...

2007-07-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

So I gave the baby blanket to the rightful owner on her birthday! Yes it was perfect timing, I finished and it was her birthday 3 days later!! YEAH! I think she liked it... lol.. yes.. "I think" I don't know.. but honestly I'm not bothered, I had so much fun knitting the blanket!

Well.. the next day I finished the blanket, I went back to my wrist warmers that have been neglected for a LONG long long time. I had only about 1 inch left for the second hand but since I had lugged it around with me for such a long time, some stitches were dropped so I decided to start over. I started it around 4:30 and around 9, I binded off. Then as I was working my way towards the thumb.... i realized I made 2 left hands!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! BAH I was so excited that I was FINALLY going to finish my wrist warmers and it was all ruined... I worked SO fast that i made 2 left hands.. poo on me!!! So I have decided to put the wrist warmers aside and to work on other projects.

I started 2 new projects!

The Eiffel

Lelah Top

Not sure if I'm enjoying the Eiffel.. well maybe "enjoy" is not the right word. I'm worried about the Eiffel, my gauge is right (cause I did a swatch!! lol) but my stitches are really big and holey, so I'm not quiet sure what to do. The lelah top is doing well, I want to do some decreases in the lace pattern to make it for form fitting but I'm not sure how to do lace decreases. Hopefully the girl I have asked will MSG me back soon!! Well that's it for now:)

Baby Blanket

2007-07-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

I have finished my first baby blanket!!! I love it SO much! Here are the details and some pictures!!!

Pattern: Blue Tranquillity by Rachel J. Terrill (found in "Our Best Knit Baby Afghans")
Yarn: Bernat/Baby Coordinates
Finished Size: I actually forgot to measure the finished but approx. 32" x 35"
Time: approx . 3 weeks only!! this is the complete size!

oh the baby blanket on me!
to show the texture and the beauty of this pattern!

My Opinions:
Well I have to say I loved knitting this blanket! The pattern was easy to follow, easy to remember and easy to fix any mistakes if you made any. I definitely recommend this pattern for those who like to knit it casually. I found it extremely easy to find out where I was in the pattern and I never screwed up once!! What I love more is that it's so beautiful, and perfect for a boy. It's very elegant but not over the top. I would definitely knit this pattern again:) thanks for looking!!

I've been tagged.....

2007-07-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

well I was tagged a few months ago, but back then I was addicted to facebook so I didn't reply. Also, I only had 2 people to tag and they had both already been tagged, if not more than once already.

Here's how it all goes down: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog 7 facts as well as the rules of the game.

1. I don't really like chocolate.. usually only a few days before and beginning of my "time"

2. I have a suspicion about my jewelry, I feel that if I don't have it on, something bad will happen.. hence why I never take off my jewelry.

3. when I'm in the passanger side of car, if turning a corner or curing around a curve.. I turn my body or my head with the car... I think i developed this from riding scooters when I was little

4. it's took me 43 minutes to come up with 3 things and a whole day before I contiune on....

5. I like to clean when I'm stoned

6. when i was younger I really wanted to become a vampire, so much that i use to file my teeth!! (i don't do it anymore!)

7. I wear contacts to sleep - they are corrective lense, which means they shape my eye back to 20/20 vision in the day.. but sometimes they slide (when I sleep on my side) and then I see double or triple.. lol

YEAH 7 things!! phew.. wow that took me a long time.

Panda Update

javastain has taken over the panda swap and we have been PMing each other. She got a hold of my swap angel and my swap angel is shooting for a dateline of July 28 for a sendout!! I'm so happy and excited!

Baby Blanket

2007-07-19T14:26:00.001-07:00

I have been working very hard on the baby blanket. I am already one ball through and working on the 2nd ball. Here are some pictures of my progress:) this is the ball of yarn...... and then .... POOF

oh the blanket!!!!!! WOW.. I'm magical!! lol
don't mind the black paint on my forehead.. i was painting and got a little out of control and didn't notice the paint.. lol

a close up on the blanket, I love this pattern:)

well other then this, I haven't been working on anything else. After I'm done the blanket though, I do plan on finishing my wrist warmers (shouldn't take very long) and then after that I'll be making some presents. I still have not gotten my Panda swap yet :( I don't think I'll be getting it actually. My partner said she got me an angel but I haven't heard anything from the angel yet. My partner's father passed away during the swap, so she sent late. She sent the package but it never arrived and when she checked with Canada post, they said her tracking number doesn't exist. The last I heard from her, she said her husband's mother was dieing, so I feel terrible bugging her. However though, I am disappointed. This was my first swap and I worked SO hard on my gifts and in return I haven't received anything. I know it's not always like this and it's not my partners fault but still... it's crappy. Not sure what to do, don't want to bug her, she hasn't been on craftsters since the end of June, so she's not ignoring me... I guess I shall wait.

Sorry...

2007-06-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Wow it has been long.. sorry guys (and I mean Holly.. and sometimes Steph.. because you too I believe are the only ones that read my blog.. lol). I have been swallowed by the facebook.. but lately I haven't been going on as much, it's getting annoying with all the new applications they keep adding. I have just not feel like posting.. since I haven't really been able to work on my knitting! :( I got a new job, I'm serving (more working the till) at a golf course in Langley called Belmont Golf Course. So I work 5 days a week and when I come home.. I'm super tired, so I don't want to knit. Also, I have not been able to attend knitting because I was on shift.
But today, I am feeling good because I'm working mornings for the next 2 weeks (crappy cause I have to wake up at 8) but good because now I can go to knitting:)! So here I come knitting ladies!!
I'm adding a project: a baby blanket.. FINALLY I know someone (and I actually KNOW them personally.. not know them through someone else) is having a baby BOY! I'm super excited because Holly gave me this beautiful baby blue baby yarn and I haven't been able to use it! So tonight at knit night, I will hopefully pick a pattern:)
I will also be taking a few things off my projects as I'm not really knitting them right now and add them to my hopefuls.
Tomorrow I do not work until 6 PM so I'm hoping in the mid-morning I will organize my knitting and record all the yarn I have in my knitting notebook so I can start knitting from my stash.

PS. I am still super upset about missing the fibre festival.. :( Now I have to wait ANOTHER whole year!!

Blogging vs. Facebooking

2007-05-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

wow.. so um.. I've been home for a few weeks now and still have not updated.. the reason would be... I'm addicted to facebook! lol when I'm on the computer, i spend most of the time on facebook.. I don't know why.. but it's so must fun..

I think the reason why I like it is because it's like MSN but you can have conversations with each other without having to be on at the same time, I found a bunch of my elementary friends that I had lost communication with and there is a place for photos.. I love looking, loading photos.. I LOVE IT...

Well I haven't been knitting a lot, I got extermely ill after California because the weather here was so different.

So California was awesome.. Coachella was great.. I cried after Red Hot Chili Peppers played.. and I couldn't sleep the night before of Rage.. lol it was awesome:) Apparently, Indio (where Coachella was) hasn't rained for almost 70 years... I mean it is the desert.. but 70 years!! lol.. that's my kind of place! lol it was EXTREMELY hot.. I almost got sun stroke but some nice man I was with fanned me with his hat and it saved me.

I saw the pandas! and it was beautiful! I was SO excited.. I ran, skipped, jumped to where the panda's were and scared little kids along the way:) I took as many pictures as I could of them, and restrained myself from climbing the fence and hugging the pandas.. they are so cute!!
first time I saw them, they were sleeping (2 of them.. separated), I almost cried.. then then 2nd time they were eating!! I couldn't believe it! Panda's sleep A LOT.. and don't move that much.. so I was pretty lucky to get to see them EATING!.. their little ears would move back and forth while they were eating.. it was so damn cute..
I think i know why I love pandas so much.. because they ALWAYS have a smile on their face.. or they look like they are always smiling.. it's like.. how can you not like a big fluffy bear that's always smiling at you!! mahh I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
I spent so much money at the zoo.. oh dear.. I realized that I ended up buying like 14 things that had a panda on it.. haha... 14.. that's extreme.. I'm trying to calm myself down.. or else I'll turn into one of those crazy ladies with pandas EVERYWHERE in her house!

I met some pretty amazing people at Coachella, it was wonderful! They were all so sweet and we all had so much in common... Rage.. even though it's JUST a band.. being a fan of Rage says something about your political views or part of it ... so we all had that in common.. the fact that we all dis-liked George Bush.. a lot...
and now I have connections at random places if I ever decide to travel there.. which I probably will:)

So I missed Fibrefest.. very upset but I was very sick and walking just didn't seem that exciting! but Steph brought me back a little gift which was very nice of her! thanks Stephie:) *heart*

Well... I should go study Japanese.. this class is SO hard, tomorrow... she's testing us on ALL the vocab in Lesson 7... ALL of it, that's nouns, verbs, adjectives.. and more.. that 2 pages of vocab.. I think she's crazy.. well she has her doctorate, she has to be...

Been a while

2007-04-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

well I have been crazy busy like I said I would and today was my last exam:) So I am happy!!

I'm only posting a little one as I still need to pack!! I'm heading off to California tomorrow:) I will be there for 8 days and 2 hrs. 4 and 2 hrs in Indio and the rest in SAN DEIGO! a lot of that time I will be chilling with the pandas of course:)

I'm super excited! I can't wait:) well I better get going and start packing!!

Sayonara!

Procrastinating

2007-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

well I should be working on my final paper right now... but blogging just seems to be way more interesting! lol Procrastinating

I have completed both scarfs for my Japanese teacher.. they look awesome:) I will take pictures of them and post them to show you guys.

My last week of school.. I still have my photo project and my essay.. that I'm freaking out about and of course I have my Jap oral.. UGH..

I am quitting Bronco!! YEAH!! I am so excited to quit!!! I've decided to take Japanese 1101 (the 2nd part of Japanese) in the Summer semester at Kwantlen. So I will be going to school 4 times a week in Richmond. It sucks that it's ALL the way out in Richmond but if I didn't want to take it in Richmond I would have to wait an ENTIRE year for this course to be offered at Surrey..
it helps that Andrew is going to take it with me so then at least I have someone to go there with and someone to carpool with.

So I have to give HOLLA out to Steph!! she made turkey dinner for us yesterday and it was YUUUMMMY! the turkey was sooooooo juicy and tender... *Drool* the stuffing was SOOOO good too!!! it was quite the meal.. it was so delicious.. THANKS STEPHANIE!!!!!!!!!!
I *heart* You FOREVER!
and I love you WAY more than turkey now:)

well I better go and start my paper.. it's due on Tuesday.. oy vaiy...

what

2007-04-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Been a while... I have been very busy.. I kind of forgot about my blog for a few days.... lol

So I was completely shocked with the weather this morning.. I laughed at it.. I thought to myself.. only BC could have crazy weather like this. I didn't think much of it until it was POURING down snow in Port Kells while I was at work and all i could think about was to NOT get sick.

Sean and I have bought our plane tickets for coachella and booked our hostel in San Diego. I am SUPER excited because when we are in San Diego we will be visiting the San Diego Zoo... and what does that mean?!?! That means PANDA!! THAT'S RIGHT! I GET TO MEET THE PANDAS! OMG... currently I am more excited about the Pandas than Coachella.. lol..

I'm currently making scarfs for my Japanese teachers. I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left of school!!! Oh dear.. that means exams will be coming soon, which means in 2 week I will forget about my blog again...

Thanks Steph for letting me know about that link! I have fixed it. Holly can you still not see my hopefuls??? can anyone else not see my list of hopefuls??

On the weekend, I went to Michael's and bought a whole bunch of supplies for my panda swap... I'm so excited.. I'm just waiting now for my partner to msg me back with some personal details.

I was watching the news today (one of the 3 channels I get) and they had a report about some lady who loved to blog on blogger but has recently stopped due to death threats. Whomever this person is has been e-mailing her threats and also posting pictures like a photo of her with a noose. Apparently this person didn't like this lady (her net name i think is Cute Kitty) because she was TOO happy.
Okay.. I can understand someone being overly happy annoying someone but to actually make threats and photoshop pictures to threaten a person is taking it waaaay to far. I do not understand why some people spend so much time in creating hate. This person who have had to spend quite some time photoshopping the pictures of her. There is something wrong with our world... something very wrong. I don't know what to do and most of the time I am just so shocked at what humans do.
I do not understand human behaviour and honestly sometimes I'm not sure I want too.
I wish love could drive humans like hatred

2007-03-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've started my Wrist Warmers. I love them, they are knitting up fast and the lace pattern is nice and easy. I think I'm not too far away from finishing my first one. I'm excited. It's good timing cause I can still wear them right now...

Oh yes.. BC... also know as the province that is a HUGE puddle. I look outside and my heart goes *asldkfjwioerhksf* (that's a crushing sound...) I want it to stop raining............ at least I'm not living on 82nd anymore.. or else my basement would probably be flooded right now... *phew*

Well I'm here at my new job.. well it's my new 2nd job, i'm still working at Bronco. I'm job sharing Saturday reception with Becky. This way she doesn't have to work 6 days a week and it gives me more $$ (which I need). It's pretty good. My first day today, it's been pretty slow. I haven't had too many crazy calls.. mostly just other realtors looking for realtors.

I'm excited for tonight cause Kyle, Jordan and I are going to UBC to see Ady. She's in a musical called Crazy for You. I love muscials and Ady is a dope singer.. so YEAH! I'm excited.

So Sean finally got his passport which means we can start planning for our trip to COACHELLA!!!! I'm sooooo freaking excited. we're trying to figure out right now if we want to stay in california after the concert. But what is it that we are visiting, how much it will cost, where we can sleep, how that that will be and how we can get around from city to city. So a lot of researching and budgeting..
we really want to go to LONG BEACH! and of course to San Franscicio... (8) if you're going to San Fran scico... (8) So yeah... lots of PLANNING!

Happy Happy Happy

2007-03-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

I'm am super happy right now and there are several reasons.

1. It's sunny and sun makes me happy! (really)

2. My panda swap started today and I got my partner and I am SUPER stoked

3. I got my in-class essay back and I DIDN'T fail!!! I really thought I failed, no exaggeration.. I really thought I failed or I just passed but I actually got a B-. That to some people may not be high but for me it's great!!! To get a B- on an in class essay I think is AWESOME! So I am super happy with myself.

I went to Penny Pincher's today and finally got my 3.25 mm needles! I actually went yesterday and I got there at 3:38 and I was there for maybe about 1 minute and they started saying "We're closing, please take your stuff to the cashier". Apparently they close at 3:45!! I didn't know that, Holly doesn't know that and neither did anyone else in the store! lol It was kind of frustrating since I drove into town just to go there but it's okay.. I got them today:)

So I frogged my top-down raglan. I tired it on last night and it looked fine.. I just didn't like the way the neck was so I decided to just ditch it. I've been struggling so much with that pattern, I realized I have SO many more things I want to make that I can put it off for a while.

I started using another costum top-down raglan pattern. Also, I made a swatch and I actually kept it. I'm going to hopefully make a blanket of all my swatches.. in the future... in the FAR future. But the pattern was a bit confusing and now that I have the needles I need, I think I'm going to start on my wrist warmers.

I found another project I want to make... (people on craftsters need to slllllow down.. they make WAY to many pretty things too fast). its this Cropped Shrug. Cute eh? I normally don't like cut off shirts but I love anything with a hood... i love hoods.. I do not know why...

Goodies

2007-03-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

So I went to Chapters the other night... I was hoping to find a copy of the winter issue of Interweave.. it was unsuccessful.. BUT.. they FINALLY had another copy of the SnB Journal. After Steph bought one sometime ago, I knew I wanted it they just never carried it. But when I was there on Friday night they had one copy! YEAH for me!! I love it.
It has sections for designing, what yarns I have, what i want to make, what I have made, measurements, what needles I have and more... I *heart* it!!
I'm a bit worried though cause it's very similar to what I do here and I know I'm not the type of person to write something down twice. But it's okay.. I think I know what I'm going to do with it.

Also every time I go to chapters I look at the bookmarks.. I always look for a panda book mark and they never have one but.. they did on Friday!!!!!! Here it is:
Isn't it the cutest thing in the world??!?!??! I LOVE IT! I saw it, I grabbed and I kissed it. I love snacks..... and pandas!!!

I can't believe that I have no mentioned about my panda shoes yet... Yes, that's right PANDA SHOES!!! They are the cutest things in the world... I love them. I love them so very much. They are like secret pandas, you can't tell there are pandas on there unless you are looking REALLY REALLY close. hehe they are great.

So my panda swap begins in 2 days.. well I suppose I could have started making things around but I wanted to wait and see who I got as a partner and see what it is they wished for.

I added another project to hopefuls, it's the intolerable cruelty, I can't believe I for about about it before cause it's so beautiful. I know.. I don't wear skirts but.. still I want to make it.. lol

Hopefuls

2007-03-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

So I finally made a list of things I'm hoping to make.. hence why it's called hopefuls. I just got home from my in-class essay.. which I failed... and to keep my mind off of it I'm going to KNIT!
I don't know how i survived without knitting before... I love it so much.
I saw a my best friend from highschool a few weeks ago and she asked me what I've been up too.. and I said well.. not a whole lot, school, work, you know the same old.. and I was like.. well I knit a lot now.
I love it.
I was going to go and get my taxes done today but I think I'm just going to make my mom take it to her accountant... she doesn't know yet (both my mom and her accountant who is a woman) but it's okay.. always remember the great words or Willy Wonka (played by Johnny Depp *heart*), "The best prize is a SUR-prize" :)

oh p.s. to Holly (I wasn't sure if you would see it if I replied to your comment in the comments) I need 3.25 mm (3US) dpn

Update

2007-03-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

It's been a while and not much has changed. I haven't had my time to knit lately because of school homework. I left my photo project until the last minute again so I had to rush and stress about it... I have an inclass essay tomorrow, which I'm really worried about, so no knitting or crafts for me till after Friday. Well realisticly... I should start on my final photo project.. but we all know I'm going to put it off.
My photo project was due today and I got pretty good comments back so I'm super happy about that. My teacher even said I should submit one of them to adbusters and they might publish it in thier maganize.. but I'm not sure cause I haven't made a profilo yet and I'm really doing photography because I really enjoy it. We shall see...

I found a whole lot of new projects I want to make. There are mostly sweaters.. lol I don't even wear sweaters that often.. but maybe once I make them I will! I really need to make a "I want to make list" cause there's so many things I want to make I don't even remember.

I finally got my arm warmer pattern from www.hempforknitting.com. I can't wait to make them.. but I still need to buy the needles for them. I've been meaning to go to penny pinchers but everytime I have time, they are closed. It's okay after tomorrow I will have more time.

But I better go and start notes on my inclass essay.. WISH ME LUCK!

Slippers

2007-03-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

Here they are! I'm finally done them and I finally gave them to Holly!!!

that ugly leg is mine! the sun needs to shine more so I can have a nicer tan!! hehe

What do you guys think of them?

Arm Warmers

2007-02-26T17:08:00.001-08:00

I have completed the arm warmers I am donating to Lliane for her art show on March 2nd.
Here they are!!!

Oh i do hope someone will buy them!!