Sunday, September 30, 2007

Socktoberfest 2007!

I meant to post to my blog last night and I was so tired that I fell asleep. I fell asleep knitting my second Waterfall sock from the Woolgirl sock club. I have 2 more lace repeats on it then I can start with the toe decreases. I want to finish it before I cast on for another sock.

Yesterdays mail brought me my first installment of Knitting Centrals Sock Club which I will post at the end as not to spoil it for others who havent received theirs yet. Even though everyone gets a different color of the same brand of yarn we all get the same pattern. I love the color that was sent to me but I was thinking about using the BM yarn that I ordered the other day. I am anxiously awaiting it. Since its Socktoberfest starting Oct 1st I plan on knitting as many socks as my left hand will allow because its killing me lately! I am calling the Occupational Therapist on Monday to see if she can squeeze me in for an appointment this coming week.

Of course, I did make some jewelry this week:

Blue Metallic Ceramic Set
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Hemalyke Fan Necklace with Pearls
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Turquoise Set
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Butterfly & Flowers Bracelets
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Twist of Pink
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Purple & Yellow Blown Glass Pendant Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Polyclay, Czech Pressed Glass and Swarovski Crystal Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Glass Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Invisible Set Paula Radke Dichroic Glass and Fire Opal Swarovski Crystal Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Paula Radke Dichroic Glass and Fire Opal Bracelet
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here is the gorgeous sock kit from Knitting Central and thats KOIGU baby!!
The name of the pattern is "Cables, Cables Everywhere!" by Knitting centrals own Danni Conway.
You can find her blog Danni Knits in my sidebar. She has made some awesome patterns that she has for sale there so check them out.
IMG_2364

Waterfall Sock #1 Complete
IMG_2369

I plan on finishing the second sock today and working on the Solstice Slip Sock if so inclined. I think I wil be more inclined to cast on for another sock though. Since finishing the baby sky sock from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book I wanted to knit one of the adult socks from there. I cant remember which but I think its one of the Sky Architecture ones. Since Cat uses a lot of the Blue Moon colorways in her book to demonstrate I wanted to use it also so I have a big decision to make as to which one I use. Somthing to think about until the mailman arrives.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

9 Years

The traditional gifts are supposed to be pottery, willow and leather but I think I will just stick to sock yarn and socks. My husband bought me my third sock club membership and he wants socks in return. I hate when he says I never made him anything when I personally designed my 1st Fair Isle hat for him! BUT since I never made him socks then I guess I never made him anything. Here is a picture of us 9 years ago today:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sorry for that crappy picture but its been in my wallet for 9 years what do you expect? It was the only one I could find that I scanned into the computer. I do have a lot of wedding pictures but this is my favorite and this is the one we used as our thank you card.

Since I am having the jewelry party fast approaching I have been trying to make as much last minute stuff as possible.
This is one of the necklaces I made for my Mom's birthday gift. I also made a Kazuri bead and swarovski necklace but I forgot to get a picture of it before I gave it to her, darn!

Crystal pendant
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mother of Pearl
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Turquoise & Howlite
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Creme Brulee
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Swarovski Bracelets
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Swarovski Crystal Squares Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Unakite Choker
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Pink Stone and Crystal Pendant
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Valentine's Day
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Purple Flower Glass Pendant
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Red & Orange Heart
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Swarovski Chandelier Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Czech Glass Chandelier Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Cascade of Heart Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

On the knitting front I have finished one of my Woolgirl Waterfall socks!! I am so happy that I finished one and have started the second. I LOVE sport weight yarn! I also caved in and had to order some of the new BlueMoon Fiber Arts colorways in mediumweight of course. When they arrive I will post a picture.

On Monday I had a PET scan to check for anything growing inside me that shouldnt be. I am awaiting my results for that so I am a little nervous. Last time I had a PET scan they found the tumor on my sciatic nerve which was subsequently removed in June. My leg has been bothering me for the past 2 weeks but I have tried not to think about it otherwise it would drive me nuts. Lets wait and see what the Dr says and do some knitting while we wait.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Hair Growth Update & Autumn's Arrival

My last haircut was July 24th (I think) and I dont have any plans on getting it cut any time soon. For these pictures I blow dried it straight for a date night out with my husband. As everyone knows I am CurlyBrunette and I do wear it curly 99.9% of the time but like some variety and wear it like this a couple of times a month for a change.

IMG_2274
IMG_2260
IMG_2286

You can see that my bangs are no longer really bangs which is great because I want them to grow out to be one length with the rest of my hair. Growing out bangs can be a very annoying prospect but I think I am passed the most annoying point of growing them out. I wont get it cut until it becomes annoying to me and needs a shaping. Maybe sometime before the holidays. I am trying to pull off that Veronica Lake look in this picture.

This is the pink raven bead made by Joan Miller that I purchased at the Connecticut Bead Society Show a few weekends ago. You can check out her other creations at www.joanmiller.com :
IMG_2288

Since it was the only pink one left I had no choice but to buy it. I am still trying to think of a name for it. Maybe the Pink Winged Boobie? LOL Oh, of course this is not for sale!

Still working on my Woolgirl Sock Club socks and am almost finished with one. I did a short row heel instead of the heel flap that was suggested in the pattern. It fits comfortably and thats what counts. I am certainly loving the yarn by Ms Babs and have to get my hands on some more.

Last night DH and I went to dinner and a movie to celebrate our 9th Wedding Anniversary. We went to an Asian Fusion place and the food was pretty good then we went to see "3:10 to Yuma" with my favorite man, Christian Bale. It was the best western I have seen next to Clint Eastwoods "Unforgiven". I am hoping Mr. Bale gets nominated for his superb acting in this movie.

I am having my first jewelry party in October and I am so excited about it. I am trying to get as many pieces ready for sale and that means I might have to put knitting on the back burner for a while. I dont want to do that because it seems I just got my mojo back and dont want to lose it again. When the kids are in school I am going to try and get as many things completed as I can.

There are many exciting activities coming up in October:
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer~Oct 6-7, 2007
Two BIG Bead Shows in NYC~Oct 19-21, 2007
NY Sheep & Wool Festival at Rhinebeck~Oct 20-21, 2007
My 1st Jewelry Show the middle of October

Who can forget Pumpkin picking (which my kids went to do after school yesterday with my husband while I got ready for our date and bought the largest pumpkins I have ever seen) and apple picking. I dont plan on carving them until we get closer to Halloween because then they get rotten within a few days. Halloween is also another fun holiday that I have always loved. The kids are trying to decide what they want to be this year. Hopefully they will decide before Oct 31st!

Happy Fall/Autumn everyone!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Up to my !@*?%^ in SOCKS!!

I received my Woolgirl Sock Club Kit in the mail the other day and I officially started it today. Its colorway is called Waterfall and so is the pattern. Its a gorgeous sport weight yarn by Ms Babs and its so soft and quishy I love it!
IMG_2210

I also finished the Little Sky Learning Sock last night. They are made with Plymouth Baby Alpaca DK yarn and are so soft that I want to make a pair for myself!
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Of course it wouldnt be my blog without some jewelry pics:
Blue Flower Porcelain Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Red and Black
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Falling Leaves Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Star with Ruby Crystals
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Poppy Jasper and Wire Wrapped Rose Quartz
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Large Poppy Jasper with Czech Crystal
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Polymer Clay Pendant by Duck 'N Run Designs on a necklace made by me. I met this wonderful polymer clay artist at the Connecticut Society Bead Show this past weekend and I fell in love with this pendant. It looks so much like dichroic glass and I was shocked when she told me that it was polymer clay. Her website is www.ducknrun.com
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I have a couple more pics that I cant post because one is a gift for someone that reads my blog. I will post it after I give it to her. I also got a chance to see, Joan Miller, my favorite bead artist this weekend. I purchased the cutest bead I have ever seen and I will post a picture as soon as can. You'll know why I fell in love with it when you see it. She is an amazing artist and all her work is done with porcelain not glass. It looks so much like glass that it will leave you guessing but its most definitely porcelain. Her website is: www.joanmiller.com
You might think that they are a bit expensive but when you see them in person there is no question that they are well worth it for the time and creativity that is put into each bead. Every time I wear one of her designs I get at least 4-5 people inquiring about it.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Anticipation is Making Me Wait

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 1st Woolgirl Sock Club Kit. I havent started the next BMFA Sock Kit because I wanted to see what pattern was in this kit. The Knitting Central Sock Club starts on the 29th so I will be up to my ears in socks pretty soon! The Solstice Slip Socks are still waiting to be finished but since it has such and annoying little cable that I havent yet mastered doing without a cable needle yet, well, they're not done yet. I am just a few rows away from finishing my 1st baby learning sock in the Cat Bordhi book. They are going to go to my GI Dr's wife who is due any day with a baby girl. I also started the Minnowknits Brittany Jumper with some Handspun Cotton from Great Adirondack Yarns. Its very much like Blue Sky Cotton which is my favorite cotton to knit with. I love knitting with cotton yarns.

Of course I did some beading and I actually did some bead weaving too!

Lampwork Bracelet and Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Crackle Beaded Bracelet and Earrings
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Czech Crystal Bracelet with Vintage Swarovski Clasp (my first bead weaving project!)
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Pink Shell Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Earth Tones Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mother Of Pearl Star Necklace
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mother of Pearl Flower Pendant with matching clasp
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mother of Pearl and Shell Necklace with Dangler
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Hand Blown Glass Pendant with Green Semi-Precious Chips
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Dichroic Glass with Vintage Swarovski Crystals
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Liquid Silver Star Pendant with Swarovski Crystals
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Swarovski Cross with Silver Mesh and Pearls
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

In other interesting news our lawnmover of almost 6 years died last week and as an (wedding) anniversary present my Mom is getting us a new one. I am very happy about this because those damn things are so expensive and our oven also needs replacing because it no longer heats up. It seems all appliances go to appliance heaven all at once around here.