So last Thursday was my birthday and after last year's trip to the bar for my 30th, I decided to do a little more relaxed day this year and invited a bunch of family and friends over for a game night. It was tons of fun and my family is awesome. See, one of my favorite bands is Flogging Molly who is coming to Chicago on St. Patrick's day and I really wanted to go, but finances wouldn't allow it. So they all pitched in and got me tickets to the sold out show, even though some of them weren't even able to get tickets for themselves. I can't wait to go! Overall, this was one of my better birthdays, not because of the gifts, but because I got to spend so much time with my family and some friends that I don't often get to see. Most of my friends, at least those that are my good friends, I have known for a very long time. My best friend I have known for 21 years and I have some friends I have known even longer....since I was my daughters age. And to count so many of my family members as friends is so important to me. Anyway, getting older just shows me how much more important all of these friendships are to me and how lucky I am to have the life I have. We may struggle with money and just getting by financially, but I have so many wonderful people in my life that I am happy and content in my life.
As for knitting, I do have some of that to show too, mainly the Assemblage Cardigan by Norah Gaughan from volume 3. I am very happy with the sweater and it softened up considerably after washing. I actually really love the orange too.
I am taking part in malabrigo march too and have already finished up the first of my meret berets. This one is for my daughter in dusty olive colorway.
I made the small size with an extra repeat. It was originally supposed to be for me, but it was a little small. But it is perfect for her. So now I am going to make one for me in a different color. I am also making the Peasant cap and have already cast on for the Tweedy Aran cardigan in the Dark Earth color. So much malabrigo, so little time!
When I have some progress on the cardi, I'll post it here. Ok off to get my hair cut...finally!
The Elder
So tonight, after our regularly scheduled meeting time, the Knitting Illini trooped from the Caffe Paradiso to the corner of Green and Wright. We gathered under the Alma Mater, a statue that symbolizes the University in all it's cold bronze, and scaled it. Yes, we scaled the Alma Mater and tied hand knit and crocheted scarves to the three statue's necks. It was fun, and there are pictures (of course)! Ed climbed up first to put the scarves on, then Amy and I climbed up (Amy wearing her standard bloomers, slip, skirt, and overskirt.) and crocheted the scarves together so that they couldn't just be pulled off. :)Ok, 'nuff talk, more pics!
So I have always been kind of anti resolutions at the new year, just because I think that if you want to change something, any time in the year works for that. That said, I AM going to try to post more. Little sister hadn't posted for a while, but I have been downright awful with posting in the last 6 months or so. It all started when my daughter went to Kindergarten and for some reason my life became so much busier. So instead of regaling you with all that has been going on since I stopped posting, I will start over with some new stuff. (Well...starting with December anyway). Like the Younger, we also have a new kitty in the house named huntress. She was my daughter's 6th birthday present. She named her herself. She came up with about six different names for her but had to wait until we got her home and
see what name the kitty picked...which turned out to be huntress. You would have to ask my daughter how she knew that though. Other than that, Christmas was great filled with a small selection of hand knits this year which I of course do not have photos of. We got a Wii recently and that has been quite a bit of a timesucker but man is it fun!My daughter is saving her allowances now to get herself a DS...we shall see if she can do it. That's a lot of money for a 6 year old to put away!
I am working on a few projects right now. I have 2 patterns that have been lingering on the sidelines just waiting for a final proofreading and some good photos, so hopefully that will happen soon. I am also working on the Assemblage cardigan which I am making in ShiBui knits Merino Kid. I went a little crazy and picked the orange which is very unlike me, so I hope I love it when it is finally finished. The orange is a really pretty burnt orange though and for some reason I just couldn't resist.
This picture does not capture the color at all.
This sweater has a ridiculous amount of seeming invloved, so I am modifying as I go... I absolutely hate seeming and this sweater not only has the normal body pieces and sleeves to be seemed but also the button bands and the collar are all done as separate pieces and sewed on. Insane. I couldn't do it. I would have a pile of pieces sitting around forever. So I am doing the body all in one piece and will do the sleeves in the round (at least after the pattern stitch is comlete since I may ahve to do that flat. We'll see whe I get there). I will also attach the collar and button bands on as I go.
That's my main project on the needles right now. I have another in the works for the shop display as well as some socks and other small things going on. As well as the elusive husband sweater that I haven't even begun. Ever try knitting for a man that knows exactly how he wants the sweater to look but has no idea how that translates to knitting? Fun.
The Elder
WARNING: This is a LONG post. I've been MIA for too long, so I'm making up for it. I'm also bored.
So much for posting consistently, huh? Well, along with losing 45 pounds, finishing all my WIPs, starting some new projects, and beginning my Christmas knitting in August, rather than November, one of my resolutions is to post a bit more frequently. I think a quick overview of the projects that I've been working on in the past months will suffice.
It's a well known fact among anyone who's met me that I am an animal lover. So yesterday, when I was walking home from class and I passed what looked like a yellow-ish green leaf sitting in the middle of a busy walkway, and I thought I saw it move, I did a double take. It wasn't a leaf, but a prothonotary warbler (a pretty little yellow songbird). He seemed dazed and lethargic, and when I got closer, he didn't hop or flit away. He let me pick him, and I gently carried him from the busy, death-trap-for-an-injured-bird walkways of the campus. I called a few different people to tell them about him. I had planned on bringing him home with me and nursing him to health, or at least keeping him alive, but the problem of my playful kitty and a cage-less apartment kept nagging at me. As I was walking with him cupped in my hand, he started to move a bit more, and lifted his head, opened his eyes and looked around. I was about a block away from my apartment, when he ruffled his feathers in thanks and took flight. It was so neat, one to have saved his little life, as surely he would have been trampled or run over by a cyclist, and second to have held such a gorgeous little bird in my hand. He was so fragile, and soft! Anyway, he's probably home safe now, and I'm happy for it.
Becki, The Younger
Yesterday was the second time that I went to the RenFaire without garb. I wore plain clothes, and somehow felt out of place. I'm so used to wearing my handmade bodice, chamise, overskirt, stockings of some sort (hose, most likely) and shoes that are pretty comfy, period-ish, but that I got from Target.
It was shorts and a t-shirt yesterday. Ed and the other couple we were with also wore "mundane" clothing. Ed's friend Steve, and his girlfriend Robyn, joined us for the day, and we did have fun. Moonie, with his no-speaking, hoots-and-whistles-and-sound-effects act was hilarious, as always. His sarcastic humor (completely evident, despite the lack of words), combines with audience participation for a fun, laugh out loud event. That's Ed's favorite, probably because he likes the juggling, and Moonie's sarcasm is a nigh match for Ed's! One of the high-lights of the day, I think. We saw fairies hiding in bushes, and one that spins giant spider webs between trees. There was the Puppet Master
, with his "life-like" puppet (can you tell which is master, and which is puppet?). The food was amazing, as usual. Ed and I shared a giant turkey leg, and we both guzzled enough Sassafras to drown an elf. (Sassafras, for those who don't know, is a root-beer like drink with a licorice kick.) Ed hates licorice, which completely baffles me, since he loves sassafras so much! The weather was perfect for once! August has never been kind at the RenFaire, with the high heat and humidity, it's always uncomfortable, but yesterday's cool breezes and cloud scattered sky left me almost wishing for a sweater! Robyn, who used to go all the time as a kid, wanted to see Swordsman show with Dirk & Guido, which was funny too. All the costume shops were packed with really amazing work, and I had to fight the urge to dive into Pendragon costumes and buy myself that green leather bodice I've been coveting for 2 years now...
Imagine it in dark forest green and black. *Drool*. I'd also love to get a nice set of leather shoes (boots, or otherwise). I'm one of those weird people who would actually wear them outside of the Faire. :) They're so gorgeous! One pair that I saw had different colored leaf detailing on the side. Knee high boots, 100% leather, AMAZING(ly expensive...). Haha.
