Monday, October 29, 2007

Fake Rhinebeck

So - I have fallen in love with this Manos Del Uruguay - Color 113 - Wildflowers - Knitting it up into My So Called Scarf.












Next in my 'haul' is some Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn - in colors Elderberry (left) and Purple Mountain (right) - it will end up being a chevron scarf!











Finally we have some Mountain Colors Mountain Goat - Painted Rocks color - discontinued, but I absconded with 3 skeins!! It is well on it's way to becoming an entrelac scarf!















Not a bad haul - huh??

Friday, October 12, 2007

Coffee, Fiber, Music - all addictions...

Hi - My name is Mary. I am an addict. (I can hear you all saying "Hi Mary!") I know the first step is admitting I have a problem - but I don't know if I can call it a problem...but I do know they are addictions....Anyhoo - this post will share some of my favorite and most recent addictions...

Coffee. Java. Joe. Mud. Love it morning, afternoon and night. So much so that when I heard about something that combines Coffee and one of my other additions (yarn) I had to join! I am a member of the Knitters' Coffee Swap 3!! I wanted to get my answers onto the blog asap for my new pal Rachel. So without further ado - here we go!

1. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean – I grind my beans as I brew them – it’s the whole experience – the sound of the beans, the feel of the grinder in my hand, to the smell of the freshly ground coffee – unless I am taking it to the office – but I am gonna hoard my goodies from my partner for myself!
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully Loaded, of course.
3. Regular or flavored? Either.
4. How do you drink your coffee? Creamer and splenda
5. Favorite coffee ever? Gingerbread flavored (a new seasonal special at Candlelight - great news since S***bucks doesn't have the G-B Lattes till November...) and Mochas. One of my two favorite local coffee house has this concoction – chocolate orange sunrise – omg is it great.
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Not too fussy..but it has to be good…
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Rice krispy treats, snickerdoodle or dark chocolate chip cookies, dark chocolate all by itself. Lately I have been jonesin for a good slice of pie..hmmmm
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Only that if it is supposed to be hot - I want it HOT. Steaming Hot. If you have other questions - just ask.
9. Yarn/fiber you love? Mountain Colors’ Mountain Goat, Brooks’ Farm Fourplay, Wool/silk blend, merino wool (they are all natural fibers, soft & non scratchy)
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Novelty yarn – I got a bit out of control when starting into knitting and my stash is overflowing with lots of novelty yarns
11. What's on your needles? My first sweater – Bombshell from Big Girl Knits, Clapotis from Knitty, Entrelac scarf, Market Squares Entrelac bag, My So Called Scarf,
12. Favorite colors? Jewel tones – Purple, Green, Teal, Orange, Pink
13. Allergies? Cloves!
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? No – this is one to leave alone – no need to get me on a soapbox….

That is enough about the Coffee - and a good start on the YARN....Here are some pics of my wips!





First - My entrelac scarf - Mountain Colors Painted Rocks Colorway (I am totally bummed that the color is discontinued - but I have stocked up!!)

















Next - my Crapotis....LL's Lion and Lamb - Watercolor colorway, Knitpicks Options size 8 - I am about 1/2 way - 7 repeats of the straight rows here - and almost 2 skeins used. I am loving these colors!









Finally!!! Bombshell, from Big Girl Knits - Brooks' Farm Riata on Knitpicks Options size 8....(next time I will use Fourplay - no mohair)




And for my final obsession of the night...MUSIC!! - I found Girls and Boys! The Ingrid Michaelson album. I love all the songs - My faves are The Hat (see below for a free listen - I knew I liked her - she KNITS!!), Overboard and The Way I Am. Check it out - It's available at Borders!!! Support indie musicians!

More later this weekend. I am going to go catch Elizabeth: The Golden Years...mmm movies the other obsession!




Monday, October 01, 2007

Tag - You're It!

I've been tagged by Michelle ....so here goes - I get share with you a relevant fact starting with each letter of my name...then I will tag 4 of you for this!!! Here goes nothing!

M - This one has to be Music/Movies. For as long as I can remember** I have been madly obsessed with both... anyway, I have music on almost all the time - anything from Mozart to Tori Amos to The Refreshments to Del Amitri to my new fave - Ingrid Michaelson - check it out below... and Movies...I own an obscene amount of movies too -classics, modern classics, musicals (duh), romances, horror, suspense..I can't get enough and I love em all! (and I'm almost always game to go catch a new one at the theater...!! No butter on the popcorn please!)

(**which isn't as long as you may think - that is a story for another day...)

A - I love me my lil' animals. No, not bugs - my pets! I love my Tigger! I just cannot imagine coming home and not hearing the pitter patter of four little feet coming to greet me. That's it. Plain and simple! (and yes - I love all other animals too!)

R - Romantic. As in hopeless... Don't get me wrong - I am all over women's lib, emancipation, chivalry that works both ways etc....but I am a sucker for romance. And it really isn't the broad sweeping gestures - it's the little things - a dozen daisies b/c I failed a test (it really happened!), a song dedicated to you on your favorite radio station or even doing someone else's chores because they had a bad day.... I think it's the concept that love can conquer all - and seeing my folks' success over the last 50 years...I know it can...

Y - do I really need to say it?
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.
.
.
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ok - Yarn. You knew it was coming - right?

It symbolizes my love of all things crafty. Be it drawing, welding sculpture, pottery, playing music, singing, crochet, or scrapbooking...I have done them all...and something artistic at every point in my life...and the yarn is a tie to my grandmother who taught me many, many, many...many moons ago. And for that, I will always remember her and the love she shared with me. When I pick up my sticks, I can kinda remember her teaching me....her patience and how much giggling and fun ensued during the lessons. I also feel closer to her. (and my dad - who she taught when he was a kid).

There you go. That's all f-f-f-folks!

I tag Amy, David, Bezzie and Courtney.... Have fun guys!

BTW - pics later this week of wips (one is BRAND NEW!!! and is all for ME!!!!). AND if you haven't checked out Bezzie's stuff at her ETSY store - check it out! She was quick as can be with shipping - and when there was a damaged item, she resent the part AND a little something else! SHE ROCKS! GO! SHOP!

OH - here is a taste of Ingrid Michaelson! I love her voice!!!! A cross of Suzanne Vega, Lisa Loeb and a hint of Tori in the lyrics... Think Old Navy...sweaters...SHE IS GOING TO BE IN AUSTIN verrry soon!! I feel a road trip in my future.