Denver Knits

Barebottom Gear

2007-11-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

First let me appologise for the photos - this is not my strong suit. However, here are the photos for the stitch marker order from sunneshine. They are divided by price. All sets are 6 identical markers.

Group #1 $4.00

wine bottle, paint brush, yellow glass heart, blue glass heart, wine opener, angel, @

Group #2 (divided into two photos) $4.75

sun, sheep, handcuff, pug, purple glass octopus (only 4 sets), brown glass dog heads (only 4 sets), snoopy (only 4 sets), blue glass whales ( only 4 sets)

All the markers in this photo are glass.

orange glass lady bugs (only 5 sets), blue glass lady bugs (only 5 sets), pink and white floral beads (4 sets), green floral heart (4 sets), silver and pink beads (4 sets), tiny victorian markers

Group#3 $5.50
(the white skulls are also available with black beads on top/bottom)

white skulls with clear beads, happiness, pick up trucks, flamingos

Group #4 $6.00

hockey player, gun, sand dollar, yarn ball, highwheel bike, fleur de lis, jet fighter, hockey stick, coffee bag, coffee bean, espresso maker, brass flower

Group #5 $6.75 (again, divided into two photos)

kimono, fortune cookie, hockey skate, pewter lady bug, dragonfly, butterfly

indy car, nascar, vw bug, football helmet, teapot, heart, small pewter skull, beaded coffee bean

The little pewter skulls in this photo are also available with black beads.

Group #6 $7.50

skull with bones, baseball glove, jet airplane, mini buddha, rubber ducky

Group #7 $8.50

sock monkey, large pewter skull, play airplane, angel wing

The play airplane is also available with black beads.

Group #8 $10.50

Maneki Neko (lucky cat of Japan), skull and crossbones

the skulls are show front and back.

Harry Potter Markers
These have been my best sellers of the year.
They are the dark mark, wizard, cat, owl, frog and rat (all the main characters pets).
They are available with the house colors beaded as shown for $10.50 or for $7.50 with just the charms. (add $0.50 for the organza bag and potion bottle)

All of the markers with this order will be made custom. If the charms are on loops in the photos, its how they are listed on etsy. You can choose from the following loops for no charge.
The far loop work with at least a size 13US needle, 10US and 6US respectively.

These small sterling loops will work with any of the markers as well. They are an additional $1.00 per set. The sizes are 9mm and 7mm, will work with needles 2mm smaller then the loop.

Additionally, if you would like an organza bag to hold your makers. I have brights and muted colors. If you would like a specific color, let me know and I will do my best to oblige, but no guarantees for exact colors.

Finally I am happy to offer anyone from the Bare Bottom Group 25% off anything on my etsy site (not including freight). There are several sets of markers that I did not have enough of to offer a large quantity to the group. To keep Alyssa's life less complicated, these markers will be paid for by paypal per order, if you get the order in before the group order is delivered, I will not charge freight and your order be packaged separately, but will be delivered to Alyssa with the group order. If you pay immediately with paypal, I will refund the difference, or if you would prefer, wait and I will send you a paypal invoice for your order.

Thanks so much!!

Hush Dress

2007-05-05T14:29:00.000-06:00

The hush dress from knitty - DONE! I love it, it fits well!!
Happy, happy, joy, joy!!

Finally some finished objects!!

2007-04-30T11:20:00.000-06:00

Here is my barbie for the Rocky Mountain News spring design contest - her sweater is knit with Habu black cotton on size 1 needles and her underpiece is knit on size 2 needles with a cotton/bamboo blend on size 2 needles.

And a couple errand hats that I have been needing to post for about a week!

Happy Knitting!!

my only fo this week...

2007-04-11T12:50:00.000-06:00

This is my only FO this week - I love it, though!! Very spring-y!! Made with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, remaining yarn from Fyns baby blanket from last summer!
More of these to come -
needles size 6, 84 stitches around...

I may have a hat problem...

2007-04-03T15:11:00.000-06:00

More hats...
Bunny Hats from Pattern Central...
size 9 needle
Blue Sky Organic Cotton in Wheat
Dream in white
love, love, love these

The other hats are all just finishing up odds and ends from my stash... off to be sold at sunneshine...

Have a good week!

Baby Hat Central

2007-03-26T11:47:00.000-06:00

There has been a lot of travel lately and everywhere I go, I seem to get commisioned for baby hats. I love two of these and not the other two, but what can you do? Five more commissioned hats to go....

another ufo and dashing

2007-03-20T16:23:00.000-06:00

Dashing from Knitty
Made from 125 yds of handspun undyed alpaca, llama and merino in a chocolate, charcoal, black - love, love, love the yarn....
Took about 4 hours total - easy and fun!

The scarf is my oldest UFO done!! I hate the yarn, it is a basic 25 stitch across stockinette scarf - boring and done!

On to more fun stuff!

for robbie

2007-03-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

knucks in cedar green - beautiful color!
for RobbiE

new baby hat

2007-03-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

New cotton baby hat - used up the last of the organic pink cotton that I had! There was an organic blue one this week, but it sold before I thought to photograph it. I have to get back on the baby hat wagon, as they are flying out of the store right now. And there are tons of requests for bigger sizes - 6 mos, 2yr - hats!

Have a great week!

knucks!!

2007-02-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Knucks - one for Becky, one for me -- no embroidery.

knit more, learn more

2007-02-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a kid's roll hat that was made while running errands - mostly at the bank, though. Its Lorna's Laces - Georgetown - Shepards Worsted - 88 stitches on size 8 needles.

And then we have my Pi R Square shawl - my first EZ project!! And great learning experience.... details on that at sunnelite. It was knit out of lace weight Alpacawear in charcoal - 250g (almost exactly) - on a size 3 needle. I should have counted the stitches at the end, but I know that I completed 36 rows after the third increase and it took about 70g of yarn to make the border.

layers of texture

2007-02-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

So one more errand hat down!! Its just a baby hat out of most the remaining Camoflauge Lornas Laces Shepards Worsted in my stash. It turned out cute.....

Then there is an old UFO that has dropped the U! These scarves never look that good to me off. But they look and feel good on with layers of texture, color and depth!! Not sure that I will make any more of these, but I am really glad to have this one done!!

Have a great week!

Two more off the list....

2007-01-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Here is my oldest UFO, now done! I turned my sample piece of felted fabric into the Kable needle case from Berrocco. While mine used all different wools to see how they would felt, not the alpaca that was called for, I think it turned out quite well. I used some left over philosopher's wool for the inside cables. I am quite pleased and it holds needles nicely! I am waiting to find some more scrap purple yarn in my stash to make straps with, but until then, I sewed some purple ribbon on the outside in two places and it works quite well!
The sweater is my Peace Fleece Cardigan. Done!! It was an easy quick sweater - they were right the size is pretty big and slouchy for a small. I wouldn't wear it to work, but it is great for cruisin' around the house. Super comfy and super warm! Plus, I love that I got to use some of my vintage buttons on it! The details on this sweater are - it was a purchased pattern called the Everyday Cardigan, I bought it from Kpixie it was meant to use Peace Fleece. The sweater was knit out of 4 1/4 balls of worsted Peace Fleece on size 6 and 8 needles. It is all knit flat then seamed. If I were to do it again, I would slim out the arms a bit and knit them in the round, but everything else was perfect on the pattern.

skaska brown warm shawl

2007-01-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

The brown cashmere skaska warm shawl is done! Blocked! And ready to wear! I did make a few mistakes on it - so maybe at some point I will knit another, but really I am so happy and proud of it!
It is 8 repeats of 72 rows of lace pattern, knit on size two needles from the pattern that I got in Gallena Skaska's "Russian Lace Knitting" class.
Still haven't figured out the best way to photograph it - oh, well!

errand hat and charity scarf

2007-01-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my oldest UFO's turned into a scarf for charity. Such a learning piece for me at the time. Now I will be glad to have it keep someone warm!

And the first errand hat of the year. It is already sold - so I really needed to get it done. It is on Lorna's Laces camoflague worsted yarn - 75 sts on a size 9 needle!!

made up mitts

2007-01-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here is my pretty bulky yarn turned into mitts. Since I winged it with the pattern, here is the Made Up Mitts Pattern:
CO 24 st on dpn - join in the round
k 3 rows m1 by knitting the front and back of the same stitch three times
k 4 more rows ( a total of thirteen rows or 2 1/2")
k2tog first and last stitch of the next row
turn work p row
turn work k row (do this two more times for a total of 6 rows, making sure that the RS stays the RS)
Do not turn work again at the beginning of the next row join the round again and start by m1 (knit front and back of same stitch) k row to last stitch m1 - back to 27 sts. Knit 5 more rounds (about an inch). Begin rib k2, p1 for 9 rows (about 2") and bind off loosely.
Easy, fast and fun!

We call them pirates hat

2007-01-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

One more down! We Call Them Pirates Hat!! It was a quick knit - the pattern was fun and rhythmic and in two days there is the hat. Mittens are next!!
The hat is made of smart wool from scandinavia - one skein of each color. The inside is lined with elite lavish cashmere (left over from my black cable hat) the lining goes from the bottom of the hat to the beginning of the decreases. (The smart wool was a little itchy and that eliminated that!)

SOCKS!

2007-01-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

These are my first socks! They are made from the spring hiking socks pattern from Halcyon Yarn in Wick yarn from Knit One, Crochet Two. The yarn is a soy/polypropeline blend that is supposed to wick moisture away from your skin. It sounds good in theory, but we will have to wait till spring to see how they are in practice!

A tale of two hats...

2007-01-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Working on that FO goal. Here are two of my stragglers. The fair-isle hat is one I started up to about an inch almost a year ago. It is kind of a random pattern on donated yarn. I found it doing my stash clean out this week - however my list was already too full, so it never got listed. It will go to a women's shelter. It was really good fair-isle practice. And quite fun to knit.

The other hat is for me. I made these for all the girls that I worked with for Christmas out of Alpaca and then really wanted one for myself. It has been straggling along and now I will be able to wear it for the cold snap this weekend!

Here's to lots more FO's!!

First finished object of the year!

2007-01-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is the first finished object of the year for me! I washed and blocked it this weekend, which really did seem to help with the curling. I hope that lasts!! I love this scarf!! It is the possum that mr sunneshine gave me for Christmas knit in the diagonal lace pattern on size five needles. It only took me 5 days of knitting to get it done. Now to wear it for the rest of the winter!! Sorry about the sideways picture, blogger won't let me upload the flipped one - oh, well!

stash-busting - p2

2007-01-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Since blogger is stingy with pictures and will only let me post 5 at a time, this is the second installement of my bust-along post. All the WIP's. So the first photo with the 6 pieces (including the skull scarf) are the 6 WIPs I admitted to the other day. Funny thing, though, as I am going through my various stashes and consolidating yarn there were a bunch of pieces that I found that were to be put together to make a big patchwork scarf and a few other scarves that for various reasons are not finished that I had conviently blocked out. Not sure what I will do with all of them, but best to attack the problem head on and take care of these while I am at it! Then there is the felted fabric that I want to make a needle case out of and a pair of
knucks, that I swear I knit identically, but they are definately two different sizes. Not sure what to do about those, but I admit to them and need to start by weaving their ends in and maybe making two more different sized knucks. They are certainly doing me no good as they are. Finally the last picture is other peoples WIPs that I have been enlisted to fix. One of them is about a month old, and it is not hard, I just haven't motivated to do it, so I put those down, so I would get them out of my house. I will edit my charts on this blog to include all my WIPs - there are 12 or less and hopefully by the time this stash busting thing ends, I will be back to my 6 confortable projects!! And a smaller group of unused yarn!

Bust Along - part 1

2007-01-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is my stash, well part of it. The other part you can see by going here. I just couldn't bear to pull it out of under the bed again!! I pulled all my little stashes out of here and there and the car and my office. So this is it! I am somewhere between embarassed and horrified. However, I am really excited to just knit all those projects that I bought this yarn for, for the next three months or more!! I will admit to a little pre-stash busting stock up. There were 4 skeins of yarn that could have made me cheat, so I bought them. Now I am ready!!

new purpose

2007-01-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I have found a new purpose for this blog!! Yipee!! It is so sad to see it sit idle....So I have decided that this will be the gallery of finished objects. All the details, rants and other stuff will be at http://sunnelite.blogspot.com still - this will just be finished projects with details to what I did, and pattern links - if there is one. This way, I will be able to flip through finished projects without all the other stuff and it will be fun to look back at the end of the year. Plus, for all those projects that I don't actually admit to making will be shown on here too! Shhhhhh! Quite excited about this little showcase....See you soon!

time to go!

2006-11-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, I lied, there will be no more picture posts to this blog -- well maybe, this may become the secret blog, maybe -- anyhow, please direct your attention to my new beta blog http://sunnelite.blogspot.com/ it will have all the newest of the new, all the knitting, all the posting, all the fun. Sorry for the inconvience, but it is very nice there -- you will feel right at home once you switch your links.

Thanks for reading!
Have a nice day!

the count down continues . . .

2006-11-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Everything is in the works to switch to beta on thursday - forever! I have at least one more post for this blog, but with Bill's surprise party and all, I forgot the camera this morning. Then there is LA tomorrow for work, wednesday will be lost to short-trip-recovery and merchandising, and thursday, I will probably have a little posting time between interviews - just to get you all linked, switched, settled and introduce you to the new digs.

There has been a bunch of crafting going on - working on my punk christmas trees, flowers to go on the boxes at the store and knitting. While I swore there wouldn't be, a couple of new hats have turned up. However, it is only a scarf and knucks that are making it on the plane with me. Photos soon . . .

Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

2006-11-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!
Sending you lots of love, good birthday wishes and many more fun filled Bill Meyer Days to be spent together!
I Love You!

kinda boring . . .

2006-11-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well, its kinda boring, but this is what I am doing right now. Its just hats. I have so many small christmas gifts and I have been working on so many big projects that I have been just knitting hats. I am using Lornas Laces shepard worsted - so they are easy and fast. I am getting one or two a day done. It is really fun to start a hat in the morning and finish it by the time I am ready for bed. Although, I am starting to get the itch for bigger projects. I still have knucks, fetching and mittens to do, so we will start with them next.

Have a great week!

done . . .

2006-11-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a less then inspiring photo of the amazing blanket that I finished for my MIL. The photo doesn't really do it any justice. It is the Ombre blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. She asked for the blanket and chose the colors and it really was a fun knit! The blanket turned out slightly larger then intended. It is 54" x 78". The alpaca has a great weight to it, so I will be really sad to see it go -- it was a joy to knit! (this is the project that I posted by husband winding all the yarn for back in Sept.)

And I am officially announcing that I will keep this blog till the 30th of November then I will be moving everything over to my new Beta Blog - Sunnelite. It is too much work to keep up with both, so soon you will have to come visit me there. By then I should have the beta site looking a little better, just like with this one, it is all a learning curve. . .

Tarot Cards . . .

2006-11-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

a relaxing weekend in virginia

2006-11-14T11:31:00.001-07:00

So here are a few of the photos from our very relaxing weekend in Virginia. We have Maeve with her "crazy hair day" braids -- Avalon actually smiling for the camera (rare for any 12 year old!) -- Faerin climbing on the tree -- me and the little girls on the swings -- and Foamhenge!!
It really was a very relaxing weekend! The weather was perfect - I got to knit with Jules (five hats done over the weekend!!) and go to this really wonderful yarn store/berry farm in the middle of nowhere (too cool!!) - go antiquing - run through the backside of W&L's campus - see Robert E Lee's tomb - and just generally decompress. Thanks Jules, James and girls!! I think that Bill really enjoyed himself too!

Now we are back to planning for the holiday - finishing up our Chirstmas shopping and knitting - working - and getting the house ready for our Christmas tree -- we go Christmas tree hunting in three weeks.

knitters coffee swap questions

2006-11-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Here are my coffee swap questions -

1. Whole bean or ground?
It really doesn't matter, the coffee fairy manages to brew both.

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
Definately fully-loaded!

3. Regular or flavored?
Regular

4. How do you drink your coffee?
I take my coffee black and my espresso as a latte

5. Favorite coffee ever?
My favorite coffee ever was not so much about the coffee as the pot. One of my college roommates had this super old coffee pot that brewed coffee on the stove (I think, a little fuzzy on the details, it was a long time ago). This coffee pot made the best coffee! It was amazing with really good coffee, but it could also take icky cheap coffee and make it taste great! We think is was something about the seasoning on the pot. Never in all my years of thrifting have I seen a pot like that, or had coffee that tasted that good! I supposed its about the quest now . . .

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
Medium not fussy, I won't drink Maxwell House, but don't discriminate between Kona and Ethopian or the like.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
I like chocolate with my coffee. Sometimes its a little square of the real thing, sometimes a small cookie. I am allergic to wheat, so I have to be careful about my intake of wheat - which is in everything - so I small portions are key -- along with brown rice flour.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
No

9. What treats do you enjoy with your coffee?
please refer to #7 - chocolate!

10. Yarn/fiber you love?
This might be a little long. . . I am kind of a hippy girl at heart so I love the organic, low impact, natural yarns as long as they are not scratchy. Also, the yarns that are creating a sustainable economy in villages across the world. It is comforting for me to think that I am doing something that I love and helping someone else at the same time. On the regular knitter girls side, superwash merino is right up there too! It is not itchy, can be used for just about any project, and there are so many beautiful color options. I really like yarn produced by small manufacturers (local artists, Etsy shops, ect.), I like that people can live their dreams.

11. Yarn/fiber you hate?
Novelty, acrylic, mohair and angora

12. What's on your needles?
Right now I am down to mostly quickie holiday gifts - I have two hats on needles, one pair of knucks (fingerless gloves), a scarf, the ombre blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and on the back burner Hush,Hush dress by knitty for me. I have about 7 more sets of knucks to finish, and 5 more hats after the ones I am on right now, and my holiday knitting will be complete!

13. Favorite colors?
I like all the earthy colors; tans, browns, greens, blues, and deeper reds. Being pale pastels, oranges, pinks, and yellows tend to make me look a little dead.

14. Allergies?
Just wheat.

15. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
This is my first not-secret swap! I think it is going to be so fun to chat with my swapee and not have to be so secretive. Fun!Fun!

Too cute!

2006-11-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

I sent this hat to my friend Paul for his new(ish) daughter Lexi. This picture came with the thank you. It was too sweet to not share! Who doesn't love a cute, smiley, chubby baby?

And slowly I am conquoring the world with punk striped baby hats, one friend's baby at a time. This one is a little girlier then usual in pink and white.

hats and knucks, hats and knucks

2006-11-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well it is that giftie time of the year - or it is if you are making a bunch of your holiday gifts!
Since there hasn't been much knitting posting here for a bit - I am posting the flat hat that I made for Piper Maurer, 12 days old. It was my first flat hat. A very quick knit, even with the stripes - it was just the seaming that took a little time. I do think that it turned out really cute!

Then there are the holiday knucks in progress. We are leaving for VA this weekend and it is a long flight so I am hoping to whip out a few more knucks, so that one night next week I can just finish them all off! The tan ones are 100% alpaca - it is soooo soft, but it has no give. No more solid alpaca knucks! I accidently made them one size larger then I meant to, but that turned out to be great, since they would have been too small otherwise! The other are Lorna's laces shepards worsted, which is great! I am very excited about these since I dropped two needle sizes for the cuff - and it worked! No more floppy wrist!

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday Mubs!!

2006-11-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

This is my grandmother (and me Easter 2006) who taught me to knit. I love Mubs, that is what I call her. She has lived a wonderful life and seen so many things. She grew up on a farm in Montana, had to live in town away from her family to go to school, skipped two years of high school, graduated at the top of her class, worked till she married, raised two great daughters, did a ton of Volunteering for the American Red Cross, has always been a wonderful grandmother, mother and wife of 60 some years to Mac, a devoted Washinton State Univerity Cougars fan, Mariners Fan and Seahawk fan. She taught me to knit when I was 9. I think I still do it because she is so cool and it makes me feel closer to her. She is 100% Bohemian (so I was very excited to join that surf ring and again honor her.) She turned 87 on November 4th in Colfax, WA, where she still lives by herself, drives safely, gardens, goes to Pullman for all the WSU home football and basketball games, meets her two best girlfriends for coffee and to talk politics every Sunday, knits and sews occasionally and loves fast food restaurants (Arby's and Taco Time). Happy Birthday Mubs!! It was great to see you two weeks ago!! I love you!!

Halloween Re-cap

2006-11-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

So here was our Halloween last night! The very scary pumpkins on the porch - that photo does make the porch look a little scary, actually. The pumpkin to the far left got a little munched on by squirrels - it used to have 8 teeth upper and lower, oh well.

Then we have my cute husband (cute in a rugged and manly way) on the porch with the cocktail of the evening - Grandma Baileys Dirty Bush. It seemed that all the neighbors came to our porch to hang out and have a cocktail, which was fun! Unfortunately, there weren't too many trick or treaters as it was really cold!!

And finally we have Josh, who lives downstairs, and Bella his 8 month old Boston Terrier, who is the sweetest dog ever (as long as you don't mind having your fingers munched on occasionally!)

Fun all around, except that we have a whole huge bowl of candy left over from the non-existant trick or treaters!! At
least we buy the good stuff . . .

Hats

2006-11-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

It seems that right now, I am making a lot of hats. I think that its because it is getting really cold out! I finished this one while waiting on non-existant trick or treaters last night. It is for me and the best part is, I have enough yarn left to make a matching pair of knucks -- yikes! I am getting old, thinking of wearing things in matching sets! The funny thing about this hat is that the yarn looks really blue to me - and pretty blue in the photo too, but in person, I think it looks very green . . . magic, I guess.

this weekends fun . . .

2006-10-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

was a great package arriving from my prge pal - Thanks Whippy Gingersnaps!! It is the amazing knit picks yarn - Andean Silk - in black. The four skeins are perfect for the aran scarft that I have been wanting to make - and it will be sooo soft!!
There is a really cute measuring tape - and I am always looking for one of those! The knitticisms book, which my husband and I laughed about through breakfast yesterday and a cute Halloween card! And it came in the cute envelope, too (I had to picture that too, since it was so bright and happy!) Thanks again, Whippy!

Then there was Halloween for adults! Nothing too racy, just a black tie Halloween bash. It was very un-Denver. There was drag-queen karioke (sp?), an ariealist (sp?) who wound herself up in these long pieces of fabric and danced her way back down, an opera singer, and a firebreather. It was very cool and masks were required - the amount of time that people spent on their masks and outfits was amazing! Of course, I forgot my camera, so this was the after photo of Bill and I. If I get more photos from Andre, I will post because they were great!
Happy Halloween!!

Another quiz

2006-10-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

What Color is Your Brain?

GREEN:

At work or in school: I work best by myself. I like to focus on my ideas until my desire for understanding is satisfied. I am easily bored if the subject holds no interest to me. Sometimes, it is hard for me to set priorities because so many things are of interest.
With friends: I may seem reserved. Although my thoughts and feelings run deep, I am uneasy with frequent displays of emotion. I enjoy people who are interesting and of high integrity.
With family: I am probably seen as a loner because I like a lot of private time to think. Sometimes, I find family activities boring and have difficulty following family rules that don't make sense to me. I show love by spending time with my family and sharing ideas and interests.
Take this quiz!

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CAKE

2006-10-27T12:29:00.000-06:00

I personally believe that cake is its own food group -- good cake anyway! When I stopped to give myself a treat (yummy skinny chai) for driving to Boulder at 7:15 this morning -- the coffee shop had these cupcakes. (No, its not wheat free, so I should not eat it, but I promise I'll be good for a long time after this) Cake and skulls, does life get any better?

snow day!!

2006-10-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

I Think that someone in a high up place read my last blog entry (before today's three). Yesterday my number wasn't chosen for jury duty, so I got to get some house work done -- not fun, but definately made me feel better! And today I have a snow day, so work is slow and I can work on getting my office caught up - yeah!! Of course, what am I doing - posting on blogger -- typical procrastinator! No, really time to work, now that everything is posted!

Have a great week!

the stash

2006-10-26T13:58:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I had a free day. My jury duty was cancelled! Yeah!! So I decided that as a house cleaning project, I really should organize and re-stash my stash. It was slowly taking over the whole house! Not too hard to believe when you see the photos - keep in mind that there are no before and after - there is just multiple photos because I could not fit it all in one. There was yarn that I had forgotten that I had, that I knew I had but couldn't find, that is for a project that was next on my list and then got pushed down because there was something else I HAD to make, and then there was just yarn. After 5+ hours it is now all organized into 8 bins and two
xxl zip lock bags. I know that I have all the yarn that I need for making all the christmas presents that I had planned - yeah!! There was even the gold sparkly yarn that my mom requested in her knucks (scary but true). Hopefully, I can keep it nice and organized and use some of my stash up! Now I remember why I am on a yarn diet -- it is either that or opening up my own yarn store with what lives under my bed! :)

things that I have been meaning to post

2006-10-26T13:42:00.000-06:00

We are having a snow day today - so I am getting all my posting done that I wanted to do.

These are the hats that I was so excited about in the last posting!! They are all gifts and were so fun to make! An easy Ann Norling pattern with slipping a stitch on just a basic rib hat. They are made out of Blue sky alpaca scraps from Lou's blanket. I couldn't believe how fast they knit either - fun, fun, fun!

Finally, I got my offical volunteer's badge from the Gathering place! Very exciting! I do love teaching knitting!

Have a good week!

time . . .

2006-10-24T19:50:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I am back from my big trip, back from my little work trip and I have not posted in a week! Yikes!! I will post again - I am just really short on time. My real job and husband have been taking more time then usual right now. I have these really cute hats that I knit on my way to LA sun/mon - I am really excited about them, but alas, too much real work to do to take the time to fight with blogger to get them on. And to cap it all off - I have jury duty tomorrow!! Itsn't that how it always works, when you are stupid busy -- there are all kinds of peripheral things that start sucking your time as well! At least I should have a bunch of time to knit while I sit there and wait for them to call me . . . More on jury duty tomorrow, I am sure . . . Will post hats soon . . .
Have a great night girls!

the last trip post

2006-10-19T17:13:00.000-06:00

Last trip blog post!!

So here is the picture of me and my dad at the auction. I like this photo of us, so I wanted to post it!

Finally, when in Seattle, one of the things that I really wanted to do was go to the Fiber Gallery. They have tons of earth friendly, low impact, organic, veg dyed yarns. This is my stash that I purchased there. Most of it is for gifts for the holidays. (Yes, I actually got organized enough to go in with a list of gifts, yarn weight, and yards needed - I am a geek! And can't believe that I was actually that organized!)
I can't tell you what is for what, someone may have a surprise spoiled! But I can tell you that there is organic, veg dyed merino, veg dyed cotton, recycled silk, recycled cotton, hemp, this funky soy that is a by-product of making tofu, undyed camel and undyed yak (ok, the last two I didn't count on, but they were too cool to pass up!!) So now I can feel like a good hippie girl, as I am knitting my holiday presents!

Like I said in a previous post, I am bummed with myself for not getting a photo of knitting with my grandma. Mubs taught me how to knit when I was nine. We had so much fun going through her old pattern books and talking about the things that she had knit for us and others. We found an old pattern for a baby afghan that didn't make sense to either of us while just reading it, so we decided to start it and see how the pattern worked. It was great sitting there with her and we were both knitting the pattern. She hadn't picked up her needles in two years, so it was a great moment. I will cherish it always, but am hoping that there are more moments like that to come in future years! And I was purling backwards, which looks the same but was twisting my stitchs, so she straightened me out, which is a little slow right now, but better in the long run!

Have a great week!

More of the Northwest

2006-10-19T16:58:00.000-06:00

Every year, I plan my Seattle trip around the Pilchuck Glass Art Auction
It is always a really fun auction, a lot of the artist who donate the pieces are there. And there is everything from emerging artist to amazing well know artists, so pieces range from $100 to $40,000. And everything sold goes to support the Pilchuck Glass School, which supports the artists, it is a good cycle. The auction is black tie, which is fun, because in my life there are not too many black tie parties that we attend. So here are the photos from the auction - I clean up all right, but my husband looks great in his tux!!
This top photo is Bill and I (kind of) with Dale
Chihuly. He is one of the famous guys. He did the ceiling at the Bellagio, a big installation at the new Wynn hotel in Vegas, and tons of other amazing glass work. He is also one of the founders of Pilchuck. He donated an amazing piece this year - which you can see by clicking on the Pilcuck link.
And here I am with my very serious husband - it is too bad that in this photo you can't see that my hair matches his bow tie. Its all in the details!

The day after the auction, Bill and I had to get up early and drive across the state to meet my mom and grandma for the WSU homecoming game. Grandma took the photo below, demonstrating that not only do we clean up well, we dress down well too!

The bottom picture is from the dining room in my dad's old place with the Dale Chihuly centerpiece in the picture. It was fun to watch the boats go by the windows. Although I
think that we get a different view of the same thing in the new place. You'll have to wait a few months for those photos though!
Again, blogger has kicked the rest of my photos out - so one more blog to come!

My Trip

2006-10-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

So here is the beginning of my trip - notice all the nice smashed bugs on the windshield! I
actually took this photo when I first crossed over into Washington! It was the end of the long drive. And I had this beautiful view of the back side of Mount Rainier. It was such a treat driving through Prosser up toward Yakima where it disappeared. Unfortunately, my camera needs better vision (and it probably would have helped if I would have stopped and got out of the car - instead of trying to capture it at 80 miles an hour!)

These next photos are from the rooftop and the
windows of my dad's old house on Alki. It was a spectacular view, and I am thankful that I get to go to Seattle a couple times a year and take advantage of it! The first four days of my trip after the drive was spent helping him move out of this house and to his new diggs in the Millenium Tower downtown. That place has a different but amazing view as well - I just didn't take any photos from there yet . . .
(I believe these are the Olympic Mountains)

The space needle - gotta have one of those
photos!

During the move it was Linda's (the Linda of wavy shawl fame) Birthday. So here she is with my dad in her birthday hat! And yes, she did show a lot of enthusiasm for the shawl, so she will continue to receive knitted gifts -- and she is sweet, fun and makes my dad happy. So really what more could I ask for . . .

Blogger didn't want to take all my photos at once so there will be more Northwest trip blog photos posted later!!!

Home Again!!

2006-10-18T12:42:00.000-06:00

Sooo, these are the photos that i was trying to load when I was trying to get on the road! Bill's black cashmere scarf, which turned out great! It was such a quick and easy knit - and it is COLD here today, so he took it to wear!! I love that!

And here is my huge table (4'x6') covered with drying herbs. There is basil, sage, thyme, oregano, and parsley. The basil was dry by the time that I got home, the others are still on the table!

It was a long and intense trip. Of course I packed my camera charger on the bottom of my
suitcase - so no new photos till the battery charges. Till then, it will suffice to say that it was a really good, really intense trip! The highlight of which was getting to sit on the couch and knit with my grandma "Mubs" who taught me to knit!! I didn't get a photo of that - but it will stay with me forever! More on that and the trip with the photos later!

Getting on the road

2006-10-09T11:16:00.000-06:00

Well, once again blogger hates me and won't upload my photos! I am off to the pacific northwest for a couple days of semi-relaxation! I won't be working in the store, but my dad is moving and I am nervous about going away. It seems that everything that can go wrong in the last couple days, has! Hopefully, this will be a good trip!!

Blogger won't let me post the photos of all the herbs that we picked out of the back garden and are drying on the kitchen table. There is so much parsley, basil, oregano, sage and thyme! Our house smells amazing!

And in an effort to get things taken care of before I leave, I finished Bill's black cashmere scarf! I had a photo to post, but again -- blogger! When I get home I will post it! It turned out really nice!

I am off - have a great week!

Bill's hat and progress

2006-10-06T09:23:00.000-06:00

So here are the latest! There is the progress on my MIL's blanket. I was so bummed a couple nights ago I had to rip out almost 6 inches for a mistake ( I knit 10 instead of k1, s1) . It is back on the needles and I got a couple rows done last night, despite working really late!

And here is the photo of Bill's Punk Hat. This is my ususal baby gift - but he wanted one super sized for his full grown noggin! So this one has been in the works for about 3 weeks now. It is the project that I carry with me all the time and work on while I am in the bank, grocery or anywhere else I am forced to wait. It takes all my waiting anxiety and turns it into something posative and tangable. I am off to work!
Have a great weekend!

rock star hair and my dress!

2006-10-05T17:18:00.000-06:00

So I went to get my hair cut and colored today and it is always an adventure with Andre -- but today he outdid himself! My hair has a large purple patch on one side. It is actually pretty cute, I just can't get used to seeing it. It is much darker and blue/purple in real life and the not purple is actually a dark black with blue highlights - I just couldn't get the camera and flash to cooperate. So now the joke at work is - its my rock star hair!
I can only imagine on my road trip, I will be stopping somewhere in the middle of nowhere and the truck drivers will just all be staring . . . Not that getting stares for looking different is unusual - its just ususally the clothes more then the hair. I may even have to start wearing make-up again to keep up with my hair . . .
So on my road trip, when I am in Seattle I always go the Pilchuck glass art auction.
It is a super fun black tie affair, many of the people who go are artists so it is always interesting to see what people are wearing. This time I am so excited because I get to wear my wedding dress. A friend and designer that I work with in my store, Gary Graham
made it for me. He tried to do something not too wedding-y and I think that he suceeded. I just took my skirt into the tailor to have the small train turned into a bussle (not sure how you spell that one!). I couldn't be more excited to wear the dress again! I really really loved it! And the best part is that it is not as tight as it was for the wedding!! The deconstructed lace corset top is to the left. My hubby is going to wear his tux, so we will be quite dressed! Its so fun because it is like playing dress up!
Only this time the clothes fit . . .

And another photo of the purple hair - just couldn't get the lighting right!!

moonlighting

2006-10-04T08:58:00.000-06:00

As if my real job doesn't take enough of my time, I have been moonlighting at my LYS for yarn. I finally rolled all my trade last night, since I am about done with my big projects - so I can start on my christmas gifts. There are 4 market bags -- the green, brown, taupe and blue, four sets of alpaca knucks and two skeins of alpaca and silk that I will roll with some cotton Wool in the Woods yarn for a rouched scarf. With the holidays coming, it is all small projects till the christmas lists are all marked off!

I used my market bag at the grocery last night. Now I really have to rewrite the pattern! It hung to almost 4" below my knee. And it only had a couple pounds (dinner for two) in it. Imagine if I was doing the weekly shopping -- it would have been dragging on the ground! Curse that pattern. I have started to re-write it, so I will probably start knitting the new handles tomorrow. As for my current bag, I am going to try to undo the seam between the handles and tie them in a square knot to bring it up! I may try to wash and dry it (in a lingerie bag, of course) to see if the 100% cotton yarn has any shrinkage :)

Thanks for reading!

SP9 Questionaire

2006-10-03T18:33:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like knitting with any natural fibers, wool, alpaca, soy, cotton, ect. I am not into the fake fibers and novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My needles are stored in buckets, the metal ones that you get at the hardware store - one for straight, one for circular -- not ideal, because I am always searching for sizes, but I haven't come up with a better system yet.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting since I was 9, there have been some off times, but mostly on. I am somewhere between intermediate and advanced. There is always a new skill to learn or medium to try. Next summer I am hoping to knit a screen door for our house.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, there is an amazon one, not too complete but its a start

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Clean, natural scents, nothing too sweet - Lilies, lilacs, aloe, lemon, ect.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Doesn't everyone think that cake is its own food group? It is the reason that I work out! I love chocolate (milk or white) in pretty much every form, just not too many nuts.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Knitting is most of my crafting problem, there is a little sewing, making invitations (even though it usually isn't necessary), a few other minor crafty pursuits.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
This could be a long question -- folk, punk, pop boy punk, some metal, pop, acoustic, old country, singer songwriter, blues, new wave -- there is a long list of artists under my profile for my blog, but I would say just stay away from jazz and rap - since there is so much I didn't cover and so much that I may not have heard yet. And my computer does not play MP3's - maybe there will be a new one before this exchange is over . . .

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite color is purple, but that is hard to wear. I tend to like black, neutrals, earth tones and jewel tones. I can't stand pastels, neon, and am not good in yellows and oranges.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married to the love of my life! We do not have any pets, yet -- a chocolate lab is at the top of my christmas list, but probably won't happen till we buy a new house next spring.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear and love scarves, hats (and they look better with my new short hair) and shawls but not ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting scarves, hats, gloves, shawls and bags (more of the market bag then the felted bags.)

13. What are you knitting right now?
There is a blanket for my MIL, a scarf for my hubby, a couple baby hats, a market bag, a dress, and a couple scarves - and a list of projects to start that is a mile long!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I am an equal opportunity knitting needle user, whatever I need for the project - given my choice it would be straight, but that is not always the easiest. I prefer bamboo or bakelite for my straight needles and metal for my circulars.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, I have both - knitting time is too precious to waist on winding yarn

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
about 6 months old - I don't think it will ever be finished as the project that I started, so I am trying to figure out what to turn it into that gets me interested in it again

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas -- presents, family, fun!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Is there anything that I don't? Salt and Pepper shakers, 30's and older knitting patterns, yarn, vintage clothing, anything with a skull on it, red wine from Washington State, and the list goes on!!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any knitting subscriptions, I seem to be able to get in enough trouble with books and free patterns online (knitty, the anti-craft, ect). There are a couple yarns that I am interested in trying nettle, recycled yarn (silk, soy, ect.), possum/merino blends and I am always game for a fun organic or handspun, handpainted. There aren't any needles or patterns that come to mind and probably none that I wouldn't try . . .

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Not that I can think of, I am trying to use the skills that I have a little more (fair isle, intarsia, ect.) but I am open to trying anything. That is the fun part of knitting there is so much to do, try, master. I knit continental.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I haven't knit any socks yet. I just received some wicking yarn (wicks moisture away from the skin) in the mail that I wanted to try making socks with and I am taking a sock class with Judy Ditsmore of Interlacements in November, so I will be . . . My foot is a size 8 1/2 or 9

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
July 31st

another one done!

2006-10-03T17:42:00.000-06:00

This is the shawl for Linda! It is the Wavy Lace Shawl from Vogue Knitting - Fall '05. This is the second one that I have done. It was so much more fun to do this one, by the time I started, I knew the pattern so well, it was much easier. I don't think that I had to frog even a row because I messed up the pattern and with 28 rows of pattern - there is a lot of messing up potential. The shawl right now is 26"x 70". So it is fairly substantial. I had to change the border to a feathered lace - the cabled lattice border that was called for didn't look like anything with the Inca Alpaca that I used. I think the yarn needed more twist to show pattern for something more intricate. Plus, I knit continental and think that I may twist my stitch's on the purls, but I don't know anyone else that knits the same way I do (that I haven't taught to knit). So I am waiting to see my grandmother in two weeks and ask her, since she taught me (and even that may or may not work.) The nice part of the Alpaca is it feels like cashmere! I have blocked it once, but will do it at least one more time with my steamer, it is still curling on the edges and it seems to me that my first one required three blockings before the alpaca was happy to lay flat and live as a rectangle. One more big project off my list!!

I'm trying!!

2006-10-03T15:34:00.000-06:00

Blogger does not want me to post photos of Linda's shawl that is finally finished!! I am really quite excited to show it off. So keep checking back - as soon as I am able, I will post it!! Promise!!

Look who has a cute hat!

2006-10-02T12:34:00.000-06:00

Gatsby Van Gutsch came to visit sunneshine today and he had such a cute hat on I had to take a picture and post it! Of course, I made the hat, so I may be a little bias about that! Although, I love the way the organic cotton knits, great nubby texture and feel!
Happy Monday!

Thanks Whippy!

2006-09-30T15:13:00.000-06:00

Whippy, Thank YOU! I love everything! I have never had pretty stitch markers before -- just dumb plastic one -- I love these! Now I have to find a new project to start so I can use them!! And the pretty box fits right in my accessory pouch, so I will always have them with me! I love everything! Thank you, thank you!

Look what I found!

2006-09-29T19:00:00.000-06:00

This little beauty just showed up in my garden! It snuck up on me - I love the color!! Most of my sunflowers are yellow so I am really thrilled with this burgandy beauty! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

the market bag is done!!

2006-09-29T16:26:00.000-06:00

The market bag is done! I am actually going to use it for a grocery bag, so i didn't do the single crochet edging and there are definately some small mistakes that i did not bother to rip out and re-do. This bag, which should have been so easy, was really a massive pain in the ass! The pattern was poorly written, I had to adapt it to be knit in the round, and then the pattern required alot of attention. I felt a little better when Jules said she found it a nightmare too, then a lot better when I went into my LYS and found three other ladies all much more experienced knitters then I am, all had started the pattern, non had finished and all had their own nightmares to recount with the bag. I am now determined to write a new market bag pattern that makes sense and it easier! I will keep you updated. Until then, at least for all my effort a couple of trees will be saved!

Getting there

2006-09-26T17:23:00.000-06:00

Well, the green bag is getting close to being done. I am making the XL version since I don't want to have any left over yarn. Since I will be using this as a grocery bag - I don't think it is such a big deal - it will just hold more! I am hoping in the next day or so to get it done -- get it off the sidebar! And there is so little finishing to do!!

updating the thrown gauntlet . . .

2006-09-23T17:59:00.000-06:00

Well, I did it -- kinda . . . Of course, there had to be a hick-up . . . So on Thursday morning I was adding the 5th of the 6 colors, when I realized that color 4 and 5 were identical!!! I called my LYS in a panic and as it turned out the yarn that was supposed to be color 5 was marked correctly in the package but not on the packing list. Since my sweetie rolled all the yarn for me and didn't know what he was looking at, he couldn't alert me to the problem. Since I was easily on track to be done by Saturday, we settled the bet early and I have the correct color of yarn coming in this week! Now I really want to get it DONE!! My husband is in the mountains with the camera this weekend, so as soon as he is back I will post the photos!! Now what to do with the yarn credits I have . . . somehow I am sure that it won't be a problem!! Although, right now, I am committed to not starting any new projects, till I am done with all the old ones that are started. I am just writing down my wish list, instead of starting everything. On that note, I am on to my market bag - that now seems to be easily knitting in pattern - maybe by the time the camera is back that will be done and I can post it too!
Have a good weekend!

the gauntlet is thrown

2006-09-17T12:12:00.000-06:00

So, I was doing so well finishing my UFO's. Here are Bill's knucks. He wore them and bragged about them this morning!! (We had to leave the house at 5:30 am - and it was only 44 degrees!!)

Then there is Dom's little sweater. I did block it, but I am still not too happy with where I had to change the stitches from knitting in the round to knitting and purling -- so I may block it again!

Finally there are all three pairs of knucks that I have made. I was getting all fancy and taking photos of them in the garden - I liked all the colors together. Sooo, when I go out there to actually take the pics - it is a huge wind storm. I am trying to keep the gloves from blowing off the plants, but keep them placed where they are still visible! Wow, I am a huge geek!!

Sooo, yesterday I am in my LYS and talking with the owner, showing here the beginnings of the blanket that I am making for my MIL -- the one that my husband wound all the yarn for. She asked me how long it would take for me to finish it - thinking it would be about a month. When I said a week or so, she threw down the gauntlet. If I can finish all the knitting on the blanket in a week, by next saturday, she will give me $100 in yarn!! What an awesome offer -- so of course I took her up on it! Now all my knitting time for the week will be devoted to the blanket, so I am sure to have it done! I am traveling this week and I don't care how awkward it is -- I will be working like a fiend on it!! Check back next saturday to see how I did - I won't be posting again till then, all my free time will be spend knitting!!

Wish me luck!! Have a great week!

2006-09-15T14:28:00.000-06:00

So - the R2 sweater is finally done!!! Yeah!!! It did turn out a little bigger then I was hoping, so I may felt it one more time and see if I can get it to shrink a bit. It is super forward and funky, which I love! I did get some weird looks when I was in the bank this morning, although, I have had two of my knit girls ask for the pattern after finding out that I made it and it was not part of the fall goodies that are blasting into the store everyday, right now!

There are a couple of would-haves that I will mention, since I have handed the pattern out a few times. I think I spent just over 4 hours knitting the sweater and just over three hours sewing it together. If I had to do it again - I would not have made it in so many panels. I would have edited it down to two sleeve, two front panels and one back panel -- not sure why they did it as they did. Next I would have trusted my instincts and cut some rows off the long panels - they are 15 or 18 rows longer then the inside panels, which didn't make sense to me and still doesn't. I kinda like them long, but who knows, they may eventually get trimmed - the beauty of felting! Finally, I would have sewn the sweater together with the R2 yarn and then felted the whole thing together. Again, why they didn't have us do that I am not sure. I don't usually have the patience to knit the same thing twice, so i don't know that I will do this sweater again - but for future patterns out of the book - I will remember my own advice.

So, you gotta love my skills as a super-model -- hehehe.
I do really like the sweater, and it is actually quite warm, which sucks since today was only supposed to be in the 50's but typical denver, it is close to 80! So I am hiding in my air-conditioned store, pretending that it is cooler outside. I do feel very avant-guard cool in my sweater, tunic and skinny jeans -- man, I am such a huge geek!!

Have a good friday! There are two more almost done UFO's that I am trying to get off the side of my blog, especially since I started the blanket for my MIL (that my husband wound all the yarn for) yesterday. A long ramble later, that means that I will post again before the end of the weekend!

more progress

2006-09-13T12:21:00.000-06:00

In one of my august posts, I said that I was going to try to make the last of the month a time to finish all the old projects so I could start some new fall ones. Well, with only 11 days left in the month with three of them traveling, that probably wasn't the most realistic of ideas. Then September came, I stayed on this finishing kick. It has been a ton of long work hours (and by that I mean my real job - not knitting work), but I am making progress! Here is Dom' s sweater -- it still has some weaving and blocking to be done to it, but soon it will be posted as a finished piece. And Bill's knucks, finally received some embroidery (I use the word embroidery very loosely) love, while I was getting a pedi yesterday! Soon I will be able to post all three of my finished knucks on the KAL blog - YEAH!! More progress coming soon. . . .

Bill's Tri

2006-09-11T17:05:00.000-06:00

This weekend was the Fall Frenzi Triathalon (a word that I have tried to spell and am now resigned to the fact that I can't). It was held in Parker, Colorado on Sunday morning. This was Bill's big race for the season, since for the past two summers things have been too crazy for him to do much mountain bike racing. If I was a better photographer, there would be better photos. As it is, between the cameras limitations and mine - the photos are sketchy at best. There is a cute one of him getting his shoes on for the bike portion (He just loves it when I call him cute -- I do mean it in a rugged and manly way!). Look at the socks - Love It!!
The Bianchi is on the site, because Bill spotted it before the tri and it made his day. A single speed mountain bike named P.U.S.S. with a flask holder! Neither of us had ever seen a flask holder before. Maybe someday, Bill will have a bike with one too. We would prolly have to have it made, since I don't think that they are actually made.
Well, those are the photos for the weekend - hopefully, knitting progress soon - as soon as I make some! I did figure out how to get buttons onto my blog today!! That was very exciting! And I had a great class this morning. All the women that I taught to knit picked it up right away and were uber-pleased with themselves. I love that!! It was a good way to start the week!!

Posted by sunneshine

my new pirate name

2006-09-09T14:12:00.000-06:00

My pirate name is:

Iron Anne Rackham

A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you a tough person. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Green Green Green Green Green

2006-09-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Apparently, green is the color of the week!! I have been working on green projects all this week -- not actually on purpose -- must some underlying freudian thing. There is the grandbaby's little sweater - the round body with the stitch markers marking where the sleeves go, and one little 3/4 sleeve. Then there is the HushHush from Knitty that I ordered the yarn for - got some cute skinny jeans, and now I just need to finish the tunic and finally there is the french market bag that Jules and I are doing. I have actually screwed up the pattern, so I have to frog about 4 rows and start the pattern again. That is what I get for deciding that I hate finishing work and so instead of knitting like the pattern said, I changed it to knit in the round and then didn't read the pattern carefully. Although, 4 rows isn't too much. I'll update later when it actually looks like something, right now it looks like a warped bikini top. It is rainy and cool here today - I am not much in a work mood, so I think I will get the essentials done and head back home to cook - steaks with spicy pears (pears stuffed with jalapenos and marinated in a honey lime sauce) for dinner - and knit!! There are some UFO's that have to get finished this weekend - I want them off my blog page -- r2 sweater anyone??

Have a good weekend!

Posted by sunneshine

Hello to Heather!!

2006-09-08T12:45:00.000-06:00

This is Heather!! She is the new manager of sunneshine! Heather is going to allow me to have at least one day off a week! I love Heather! She is doing a great job!! Thanks Heather!

Posted by sunneshine

Punk Rock Gift Exchange Questionaire

2006-09-03T16:18:00.000-06:00

1) How long have you been spinning/Knitting/Crocheting?
I have knit since I was nine, 27 or so years -- on and off, crochet since I was 13, more off then on, and no spinning - not enough time now . . .

2) Do you consider yourself a beginner, novice, or experienced Yarn Artist?
Experienced Yarn Artist, now it is all about knowing how to do the technique correctly then push that knowlege into something new.

3) What type of fibers have you worked with?
Several novelty yarns, wool, alpaca, cotton, silk, rayon, bamboo, rag, paper, wire, thread - and several combinations of those too!

4) What types are you dying to try?
When we were in New Zealand, we bought these sweaters that were Possum and Merino wool, beautiful and so soft -- I want to try knitting with that, but can't find it here. I am also seeing some wicking yarn that I am just starting to see out - the yarn wicks moisture away from the skin -- I am really curious to try these yarns for socks and sweaters. It would be so nice to have some knitted goods that I can actually wear when I am being active. Other then that I really like natural fibers but I am not sure what I would be looking for, there are so many good choices out there!!

5) Are you allergic to anything, (Fibers, Food, Smells that make you want to puke, etc.)?
I am allergic to wheat - which is in everything, so I just try to be careful about how much of it I eat, and some wools made me ITCHITCHITCH!

6) Do you have any Disorders, ex: Diabetes?
None.

7) What is your Favorite Time/Style period, ex: Romatic, Grecian,Metal, Goth,etc?
It would be some combination of victorian and goth - I love the texture, the layers, the inticate patterns of the fabrics and lace and the decadence of the way that people dressed and put these things together. Also, these times there was so much ceremony surrounding clothing and what you wore and why you wore it. Very beautiful.

8) What fibers do you dislike?
I dislike novelty and man made fibers - acrylic, rayon, polys, I tend to stick with natural fibers, there are so many choices and they look better and wear better.

9) Name some of your favorite Artist, Movie wise, Television if you watch it ex: I heart Keanu, some things cant be helped, and Rachel loves Mike Ness !?
Ryan Adams and Pete Yorn make me melt, also Jason Leigh - and he is even tall!! That has always been one of my "things" about men that is for some reason important. Then there is the cute doctor from Greys Anatomy (Patrick Dempsey??) but he is probably not tall, though. Truely, though I wouldn't trade my hot husband for any of them.

10) Whos your favorite Character ex: Jack or Cpt Jack?
My favorite character is Earl from "My name is Earl" - I love how simple and funny he is and how the tides of the gods work for him, even accidently! I don't watch much TV or go to the movies, but for some reason, this show makes my week every week!

11) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
I love yarn and both natural colored fibers and handpainted/dyed fibers are both regulars in my knitting. It is just finding the right yarn for the right project.

12) What are you favorite colors?
Black and purple are my favorite colors.

13) What colors do you dislike?
Bright colors - my palate tends to be more muted, and no yellows.

14) What projects are you currently working on?
By the time my secret pally sees this it could be totatlly different, but here is the real and embarassingly long list:
knucks for my husband
black cashmere scarf
wavy lace shawl for my dad's girlfriend
alpaca blanket for MIL
raglan sweater for my grandson
punk stripe hat
r2 sweater
market bag
hush hush top for me!

15) Do you have a wishlist?
I don't have a wishlist - other then for more arms and hands - so I could get through my projects faster.

16) Do you have any other favorite hobbies?
I love to garden and don't mind tending the flowers, either, and I love cooking. Those two kinda go together. Is ebaying a hobby? Then there is cruiser bike riding, hiking, camping, running and pilates.

17) When your birthday?
July 31st

18) What is your favorite food, candy, scents that you love!! Etc.?
My favorite food has to be cake! Especially chocolate cake with white frosting, yum. Otherwise, my food tastes go through phases - right now it is asian grilling but I think as fall hits it may be moving to french provincial cuisine. The scents that I love the most are not too sweet; lily, rose, lillac, cloves, vanilla -- really anything that is not too sweet. My favorite candy involves chocolate - since it is always a decadent treat. I don't care for nuts (but am not allergic) so that is the biggest thing that I try to work around with my candy - kitkat, butterfinger, twix, pretty much all of them. I am allergic to wheat so I don't eat much cake or many cookies, but it is definately a guilty pleasure and I just have to be careful. For cookies, my favorites are Berger cookies found on the east coast only, but the magic of online ordering.

19) Are you pierced at all? Any tattoos? Can you/would you wear jewelry that isnâ€™t real?
My piercing are quite tame - just ears. I have several tattoos, again fairly tame as I have always had the theory that when I dress up, I don't want them to be seen. And I usually wear jewelry that is not real, accessories are meant to be fun, not break the bank.

20) What do you like Culturally, ex: Celtic, African, Devil Worshiping, Kidding!?
I think I tend towards native american more then any other culture. I was raised in a very catholic family, but later in my life when my parents split my dad converted to judism -- talk about guilt. Somehow, I haven't ended up with much allegience to either. When I was married the minister did a ceremony with a lot of celtic and native american rituals, it was beautiful. I tend to be very organic and into leaving the earth in a better position then I found it in. Keeping things natural, and organic , worshiping nature and the tides of the gods, of karma and the way that things are meant to be is really what I believe.

21) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Don't laugh, while I do have one needle holder (that around our house has been nicknames "the quiver") most of my needles live in a galvanized pail, dps in a long skinny cardboard box, and a second pail holds my circulars in zip lock bags by size.

22) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
First off, my computer does not play mp3's - which sucks and means that one day I need to update. I like all different kinds of music. Right now, it is boy pop punk that I listen to most - sum 41, the fray, blink 182, green day, 30 seconds to mars, the killers, panic at the disco, ect. There is also my singer songwriter side with ryan adams, pete yorn, kathleen edwards, steve earl and neil young. There is a little country - only old country willie nelson, don williams hank williams, bob wills, johnny cash, and such (even at the risk of being tossed out of this exchange - kidding), and all the good old 80's punk and new wave, then the silly feel good pop -- kelly clarkson, ect., and there is also my husband's band - lots of variety (I didn't even get to jazz, classical or so many other types of music!!)

23) What's your favorite season and why?
I love fall and winter, because I get to wear 17 layers (kidding - kinda). I do love the colder seasons, the holidays, the good vegetables to cook with, wearing lots of clothes, hiking in the snow, cuddling up with my husband, ect.

24) What season do you abhor?
I don't have a season that I abhor, I think my least favorite thing of the seasons is when spring doesn't come or it stays super hot into the end of October. I like to experience all of my seasons.

25) How about Sports, any that you just cant get enough of or do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?
My secret sports weakness is Washington State University Football (we even have the flag hanging outside our house on game day -- geeky). I used to be a professional bike racer, so I do occasionally flip on the tour (de france) and see how the guys that I know are doing. Then there are the Mariners, Mubs and I keep up with them. Other then that I am not a big sports fan -- however Denver can be a pretty sports crazy town, and espcially the Broncos make me throw up in my mouth a little.

26) What is your family situation Do you live alone?
I live with my husband in a big house that is divided into apartments. We have a sort of pseudo family of our tenants, especially the man who has lived in the basement apartment for just shy of 40 years, but I swear that we are not the crazy landlords that are all in your shit. (We all have had one of those!) And I have a retail store with 8 employees who all end up being my kids too. (Again, I am not one of those weird crazy nosey employers either - I swear!!)

27) Do you have any pets?
not yet, but a chocolate lab is on the top of the christmas list (even though I know I won't be getting one till we move next spring.)

28) Do you like handmade gifts?
Yes! In my estimation, if you can knit or crochet, you are creative and thoughtful creative gifts are the best. (That is one of the things that made me fall in love with my husband - handmade gifts.)

29) Whatâ€™s your favorite thing to make, knit/crochet or other craft wise?
Scarves and shawls are my favorite thing since you can stretch your knitting ability with new stitches, new shapes, lots of variety, can use any yarn, and I wear them all the time!

30) Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I don't really have a preference - for big projects its always circular, and smaller items are on straight needles. I probably prefer straight, but sometimes they just aren't practical, so I don't want to start having a bad attitude about circular because it will make the big hard projects seem harder.

31) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
As much as I love it when my husband acts as a swift, I do own both a swift and winder. My knitting time is precious, I don't want to waste it winding yarn.

32) Tell us how you learned to knit/crochet?
My Grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 9. I got to go to my grandparents house by myself for two weeks - it was such a big deal. That summer my Grandmother "Mubs" taught me how to knit ( I had made several dishcloths by the time my two weeks were up, the last ones were perfect, too!) and how to embroider (I made a pillow top) while I was there. It was one of the coolest memories from my childhood.
When I was thirteen, I stayed with a girlfriend while my parents were at a convention. Her mom taught us how to crochet while I was there for four days. It just never quite held the same appeal. But it is quite handy for borders and such.
About two years ago, I was with my hubby in Omaha, staying with some of his friends for the weekend. The little boy was trying to learn how to crochet for a cub scout merrit badge (that is a whole other story), while I showed him how to do a single crochet - it really jumpstarted my knitting from a casual occasional thing to a full blown "problem" (not my word).

33) Do you enjoy getting helpful hints from others or does it just piss you off?
It is great getting tips from others!

34) How old is your oldest UFO?
6 months or so - anything that is older then that gets frogged - this one is on the fence, it may be going away soon!

35) Is there anything that you collect?
Other then yarn? Yes, vintage salt and pepper shakers, vintage pyrex, 20's/30's/40's and sometimes 50's pattern books for knitting, glass art, really art of most kinds, Washington State wine, vintage costume jewelry and vintage garden accessories.

36) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Not that I know of. My last craze was R2 by Rowan,but I think I have exhausted that -- now there are just 10 more projects on my to-knit list. I am always looking for things that stretch the boundaries of my knitting (ie, the screendoor in AlterKnits, the wire planters in Simple Knits With A Twist - weird and functional.)

37) What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have if any?
I don't have any subscriptions, I tend to buy magazines on an issue by issue basis - depending on if I see projects that I want to do.

38) Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I have never knit socks, is that a technique? I am not sure about any other that I would want to learn . . . Never close the door to learning or possibilities!

39) Do you enjoy knitting socks? How big are yer boats (feet)?
I have never knit socks, but I just ordered a pattern and some wicking (keeps the moisture away from your skin) yarn, so I am going to try - my feet are an 8 1/2 US or 38 1/2-39 euro.

40) When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
07/31

just a little update

2006-09-03T07:14:00.000-06:00

Just got this sweatshirt - made my day - I LOVE it!! I know that skulls are not going to be hip forever, to me that means I should stock up now!

And I got great news yesterday, I had my volunteer knitting class extended! I am so thrilled! It is so great to help others learn what you love to do.

Have a great long weekend!

the garden

2006-09-01T15:25:00.000-06:00

I am finding my creativity again! Finally after years of too much work, it time to create and give life again! This year for the first time in a long while, I planted a garden. After the first couple of weeks, when I was SURE nothing was going to get that big and the whole thing was not going to be very sucessful, I planted more. Just to be sure and because it was pretty fun. Now look at the mass of plants!! The tomatoes are taller then me (5'5") and I keep having to chop things back, cut off branches, to make sure that everything is getting some sunlight. It has been amazing to have all these fresh veggies around the house too! Last night, Bill made big salads and all he had to buy was lettuce and carrots - the peppers, tomatoes, lemon basil, cucumbers were all home grown. I love that!! And every morning when I look out the back deck and see my mess of plants, it just makes me smile!! And I love being able to call my friends and neighbors and give away everything that we can't eat - which is quite a bit!! If anyone local actually reads this and would like some freshies, let me know . . .

I have to get Bill's knucks finished so that I can hang them in the garden and take some photos!

I have a knucks posting for later - back to the grindstone!!

Posted by sunneshine

Look Ma, no pictures!

2006-08-28T14:59:00.000-06:00

Well, today was my last official morning teaching knitting at the Gathering Place - a shelter in Denver that helps women and children get back on their feet. Most of the women are homeless or staying in shelters. It was such a wonderful experience!! I am hoping that they renew my volunteer contract to teach. It was so great to see knitting click with these women. Some of them were starting from scratch and some had learned from a Grandmother or Aunt to knit previously, but had fallen out of the habit. If you know how, a quick refresher, and you are off to the races again. The yarn and some needles were donated and the women were so appreciative. It was so cool to see them come to the project room on Monday mornings and as they sat down pull out what they had done during the week to show the others! They were so proud of their accomplishment, and eager to learn more - and I was so proud of what they could do. I think I was most proud of the fact that all these women had a new sense of pride, found a new creative outlet and I was the spark -- they have to tend their own fires.

I am in Vegas for work till Thursday - so this is my last post for the week! Hopefully I will come home with some good knitting progress, all that waiting time in the airport and on the plane is good for that! I was just accepted into the knucks kal, so I think I will shoot to get at least two pairs done on this trip. I have six fingers started for my multi pair and I really want to knock out the black ones for Bill asap, so there you go!

Have a good week!

another one done!!

2006-08-25T15:39:00.000-06:00

I should have joined UFO August blog, since right now I am on a mission to finish all my summer projects so I can start fall with a clean slate. This project has been 20 minutes from completion since July 1st. Today was the day to finish. I don't think the herringbone pattern showed up well in the photos, so I tried a close up (which I don't know if it is much better). This was the herringbone poncho from Last Minuite Knitted Gifts, which I didn't connect then I added the crossover cable ends from Knitting on the Edge, because I thought it needed something if it wasn't going to be connected. I didn't want it to look like a blanket draped around me. I love the way it looks! And it is a wool, alpaca, cashmere blend of yarn, so it feels great on too!
6 items finished off my list of 11 - by the end of the month, I would like to be down to 2 or 3, so I can start some fun fall projects without the old hanging over my head. And added to my list of things that I want to knit, I have three people who want knucks! So I have to get started on that -- at least I know it will be a knit christmas. I should start soon . . .
Have a good weekend!

Posted by sunneshine

progress

2006-08-21T18:23:00.000-06:00

I am posting the progress on two of my 11 ufo's - just in case anyone is actually out there. I have been working on the R2 sweater for a while, the knitting was finished at the end of July and I finally had time to felt it! It was my first real felting project -- and the first time in a couple of years that I used the washer (nice to have a laundry doing husband). I think it turned out quite well. It did shrink and strangely enough some of the ends came out of the weave, so I will have to weave them together when I am sewing the sweater up. I am going to start the sewing tonight - so hopefully soon it will be wearable!

The other project is the creme wavy lace shawl. This one is for my dad's girlfriend. I have this shawl in more of a tan. I am really loving making it. I have progressed in my knitting to where this pattern that was so hard for me when I made mine, is now fairly easy! I can read the stitches and know where I am in the pattern at all times and I can even hold a conversation while knitting this, which I couldn't with mine. (run on sentence)

I posted the one project that I finished at PRKG (www.knitgirls.blogspot.com) It is the one time that peer pressure actually worked out well - I LOVE my knucks. Now if it would just start raining again!!

Have a great week!

Posted by sunneshine

first post

2006-08-14T16:45:00.000-06:00

Everything has to start somewhere - so here begins my blog.

The hope for this blog is that maybe some of the knitters in Denver would like to join and contribute. We have a (very small right now) group of womens who meet to knit from 8:30 to 10 am on Saturday mornings at Peaberry Coffee at 2nd and St. Paul. We welcome everyone of every ablility. The hope is that those who know more will help those who know less -- and if you don't know how, please let us know and we will teach you and get you started. There is no cost or obligation, show up when you would like, when it works into your schedule - it is just the physical manifestation of a blog. If you accidently happen on this and know someone who would like to join us, please pass this on.