Year's End

I cannot believe I have not posted in almost a month. This year has really flown by and I think it's pretty clear that since the startup of Ravelry I've been blog MIA.

Well, I have some big blog news!

On the last day of this year, 2007, I'm posting my final post to this blog name. It's been a good blog name but not one I ever really connected with or felt truly expressed who I was or my love of knitting.

Upon a recent survey with family and friends I've decided to rename my blog The Knitting Type. You can follow the link to view it, but please keep in mind that I just set it up so all my links and photos are not current and will be updated over the next month.

Now that the big announcement is out of the way I can finally post some of the things I've been knitting for the holidays!

I made three Mug Cozies for my coworkers: I filled them with hot coccoa, chocolate, and candycanes! You can ignore the zyrtec hershey kisses in the mug above, my coworker gave them out as a joke. Sorry the photo is so dark but I forgot to take photos of them at home and had to use my cell phone camera at the office.

I then made a knitted swatch bangle for another coworker: all her jewelry was stolen recently when her house was robbed so I figured she deserved some new jewelry!

Lastly, I made for my friend Kristin an Irish Hiking Scarf. She and my friend Gabe have been bugging me to make them something hand knit for 2 years now. And since I am not the speediest of knitters Kristin received her handmade knit first...Gabe will get her's next year.

This year I also made 2 Ballband washcloths for my friend Bridget but again, in all the rush to get christmas knits completed and wrapped I forgot to take photos.

I'm currently working on the Cardigan for Arwen but have huge plans for the next sweater I'm going to start! You'll be able to read about it on the new blog soon!

Christmas flew by this year. I decorated the apt., made the gifts, baked the cookies, went to the parties, and the next thing I knew it was Christmas morning! Mom, Dylan, Denny and I all had a great Christmas opening presents, laughing, and sharing in the holiday spirit. However, I don't think any of us had more fun than the family dog, Sally. She decided that this year her new gift from Santa was his hat. She proceeded to pull it out of our decoration box and wouldn't let it go for over 24 hours. By the end of all the celebrating the hat was torn apart and Sally was joyfully exhausted.

Hope you all had a joyfully exhausting holiday season as well!

See you over at my blog!

Mama Said...

You Should Get a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts)

You're a blooming artistic talent, even if you aren't quite convinced. You'd make an incredible artist, photographer, or film maker.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree I guess.

Knitting for Christmas?

Some knitters out in the blogosphere and ravelry world are spending their time prepping for all the wonderful handmade knits they intend to give their friends and family.

Unfortunately, us over here at Yarncoffee can't consume enough caffeine to stay awake and get all our "promised knits" done much less our "holiday knits". I have about 5 or 6 knits on my holiday knit list and have not completed one, not one!

So, what have I been working on?

Well there was the scarf for my brother:

Keep in mind that I started this scarf last January, after I gave him this (see link) hat for Xmas! I thought it would be nice if he had a scarf to match. But doing 6ft of a ribbed stockinette stitch can entertain for only so long so I put it down for oh, 10 months! It was well received at his family birthday celebration and I think he'll get some use out of it this winter.

Then I had the promised hat to my friend, Bridget:

I promised this hat to her last year when we were up in NY. We went to the EMS store and she found a white cable knitted hat that she loved. I told her not to spend the $40 on it then because I could make her one. Ever since then, for about 7 months now, every week or so she brings up the hat and asks where it is. So, without a doubt I had to get that finished before I could start another project! So, here it is: (so is my Christmas tree, all decorated and pretty!)

I used the Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat pattern and made a few modifications. I shortened the wide cable and lengthened the skinnier cable. I also added a roll-up ribbed brim. Here's the top of it:

It turned out pretty well and I completed it in about 3 or 4 days.

But this is not a present, not really. She'll receive it next week! I still have 1 scarf, 1 market bag, 1 or 2 more hats, and one knitted bangle bracelette to knit up, and I would like to make a couple animal toys.

How, how am I suppose to get this all done when already the Christmas time invites are rolling in? "Family Holiday Gift Exchange" (1st weekend in Dec), "Come to our Ho Ho Holiday Party!" (2nd Weekend), "Wanna go to NYC and see all the decorations?" (3rd weekend inDec), and then it's Christmas!!!!!

How do you knitters out there in the blog world get it all done in time? Do you have any advice? Any secret tips to knitting while you sleep? I'm calling out to the masses for advice on getting through your December Holiday Knits!

Here's one last photo of the promised hat:
I think it looks much better on him than me!

Happy Knitting!

Birthday Scarves and Balconies

The other day I noticed that buses and cop cars have their public transportation numbers painted on their roofs. I noticed this as I was standing on the third floor balcony of my new studio apartment in downtown Baltimore. So I asked my friend why they would print the vehicle numbers on the roofs when the pedestrians clearly aren't tall enough to read them. He supposed it was probably for traffic helicopters. I thought about this for a little while and decided that he was wrong. I informed him that I believed it was done purely for the visual pleasure of people with balconies in the city.

That's my balcony at the top center of the photo.

I'm in love with my balcony. It's very small but beautiful. The paint is chipping on the railings, that I'm pretty certain are not up to regulation for it's height (they stand about 2.5 feet tall and you could easily flip over one and *splat* on the street) but I love it's dirty, peeling, faded lemon yellow color. I love that its flooring was recently relayed even though I've found 2 rusty nails and two boards that had 4 sharp nails each poking out of it, hello tetnis. Mostly I love the view...

I can see almost all they way downtown if I look one way and all they way uptown if I look the other. I can also see the roof of the Belvedere Hotel which is one of the oldest Hotels in Baltimore, notorious for its celebrity citings, Owl Bar (a speakeasy during prohibition), and the 13th Floor (a club upstairs that claims to have to have the best view in all of Baltimore)!

I'm also loving the interior architecture of this old studio. The wall trim and window trims, the closed up fireplace and kitchen alcove. Coming from a four room apt to a two room studio (that's including the bathroom) I have learned how to maximize my small space with clever fabric draping and working with vertical space.

See that beautiful fireplace...see the candle abra on top of the red box? Oh wait that's not a red box! That is my clever disguise for my Tupperware container full of yarn! I draped red fabric over the ugly military green box and now it blends beautifully with the floor!

With all the moving (again) I've hardly had time to knit but I have managed to finish my birthday scarf, aka: Shifting Sands! I'm not thrilled with this photo but it will have to do for now.

Happy Knitting!

I would have been fourth?

Which wife of Henry VIII would you have been?

So true!

Except for maybe the shoe thing. I like my feet and like to dress them up!

A Mother Always Knows

Some how she knew I was going to work in the Fashion Industry!



Even at such a young age my mother could see that I had the makings of a very fashionable girl. I mean who doesn't wear that hairstyle?





Thank you for the memorable gift Mamasita

Not Divorced, Sometimes Drunk, Now Covered in Cat Hair

It's here, it's here and I've already read the first couple chapters even though I am in the middle of two other books!

I can't believe other knitters aren't posting more about Divorced, Drunk, and Covered in Cat Hair!. I've enjoyed reading Crazy Aunt Purl's blog for over a year. As a matter of fact it was her blog that first introduced me to the knitting blogsophere, which is kinda funny considering she writes more about her life and less about actually knitting. I just connected, as many others have, with her raw honesty about where she was in life and how it was not what she had expected it to be.

So far the book has been exactly what her blog is like, funny, witty, and sometimes honestly sad. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest and learning from her experiences.

Although I am not divorced, never been married, I can relate to the Drunkeness that follows a great let down and life change. And now that I've had to move into a house recently where five cats reside I can honestly say that most the time I'm covered in cat hair. While I don't like that part of living with that many cats and I certainly don't like the smell of too many litter boxes or finding kitty vomit (looks like cat food covered in slime) in Tupperware containers on top of the fridge (roommates quickly threw containers away) I cannot stop myself from wanting to say hello to each cat, scratching there heads, and making sure there food is replenished.

All in all I would have to say the book is entertaining just like Miss Laurie Perry's blog. There are even a couple of knitting pattern at the back of the book!

Happy Knitty Reading!

3 Things

Three Things Post
I stole this from Annie's Blog at Knittibell.
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Sara
2. Kirby
3. Kirbster
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. Kbiascut
2. Krbstr213
3. Yarncoffee
THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. I have great hair...I think.
2. My upper back.
3. I'm compassionate
THREE THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My calves
2. My eyesight, almost legally blind in my left eye.
3. I'm not as financially responsible as I should be
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Irish
2. German
3. French
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Death of loved ones
2. losing control
3. supernatural thrillers
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Coffee
2. Lip Gloss
3. Coffee
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Jeans
2. Red Toenail polish
3. Perfume
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS (at the moment):
1. U2
2. John Mayer
3. Ingrid Michelson
THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. Becoming financially responsible
2. Bikram Yoga
3. Applying to more jobs out of state
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP
1. honesty
2. passion
3. laughter
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
1. My Step parents are named Ken and Barbie
2. I danced in the New York Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
3. I tried out for a Broadway show but only got a part in the chorus
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX (or same) THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Ambition
2. Sense of humor
3. Being open minded
THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T DO:
1. Stay in one location for more than 2 years
2. Cartwheel
3. Aim
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Knitting
2. Dancing
3. Sewing
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Move to Boston, MA.
2. Find a stable living environment
3. Knit quicker
THREE CAREERS YOU’VE CONSIDERED:
1. Whale Trainer, I will always blame the 6th grade guidance counselor for crushing this dream
2. Interior Designer
3. Store Owner
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Ireland
2. Italy
3. England
THREE FUTURE KID’S NAMES:
1. Sophia
2. Sage
3. Aidan
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Visit my three countries above
2. Fall in love again, and again, and again (even if it's with the same person)
3. Become financially stable (notice a theme here?)
THREE WAYS I AM STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I have short hair
2. I can have a short attention span
3. I'm actually not that much like a boy at all
THREE WAYS I AM STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL:
1. My toe nails are always painted
2. I cry easily
3. I own almost every chicflick released in the last 10 years.