Yesterday was Election Day in America. It was also my very first time voting in my life. At 24 years old I figured well I'm not getting younger so I might as well do this thing while I'm not senile and incapacitated.
I knew Obama was going to win. Not because I really wanted him in office. In fact, I didn't like any of the candidates. I preferred Obama over McCain but tell you the truth I wrote Ron Paul's name on the ballot and kept it moving.
I then knocked on doors in my town and asked people to vote. It was fun cause I got to meet all sorts of people.
I went back to the Republican headquarters in my city and saw sad, scared faces. People were hoping that their candidates won. The energy was not there though. It was a dead scene.
Later on that evening I went to the Democratic headquarters of my city. BIG DIFFERENCE. There was probably 300 people there. All sorts of people. They were cheering and laughing and happy with one another and the election results. Surprisingly, Obama had won Indiana, which is a very red state.
So as I watched Fox News Network in HD, I looked at Obama go on stage to say his acceptance speech. I was scared out of my mind. Mainly because there are still crazy people that would try to assassinate this. Truthfully I only watched, mainly because 50 years from now, when I'm a grandmother of 20, I wanted to let my grandchildren know that I was there watching that thing happen before me, kind of like men who fought in World War II or Holocaust survivors. They were there and that's what makes them cool.
So even though I really wanted Ron Paul in office, it's still kind of cool that Obama won last night. Are you happy with the election results? Doesn't matter if you live in the US or not, let me know.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Where Da' Hell Have You Been?
I know what you all are thinking. Is she dead? Did she fall off the face of the earth? Did she decide that knitting wasn't for her anymore? None of the above, thank you very much. Many things have happened over the past 2 months of my life. I am now working full time from home with my business (check out the links on the side for my online store if you'd like to learn more). Since then I've been traveling to many places and have met tons of new people.
Currently I'm in a bathroom of my hotel room in Los Angeles. I'm with a group of other work collegues for a company convention and am super excited about meeting all the top producers, learning new strategies, and just having a good time. The month before I was in Detroit for more company training and next weekend I'm flying to Dallas for even more training. I figured if I don't constantly keep up, then my business will slide. Repetition is the mother of skill.
I have been knitting but obviously there are no pictures to prove that. Today, however, I am more interested in what you guys are doing. Since I haven't been keeping up with this blog, I also haven't been keeping up with you guys blogs. Let me know how things are going in the comments section. Just a quick blip so that I know you all are doing alright.
Doom & Gloom
I would like to take this time to talk about the US economy. Everyone is pessimistic about it. How our financial system will collapse and the effect will be worst than the Great Depression of the 20th century. The economic climate doesn't worry me because in my line of business times like these are were we see our largest growth. There will always be a cycle of 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Right now is that time of famine and we are paying for it because we did not prepare for it during the time of plenty.
The funny thing about this whole mess is that our political leaders have tried and failed to step in to soften the blow in the financial crisis and not make it so harsh on everyday Americans. The fact of the matter is that it's not fair for everyday Americans to pay for the mistakes of irresponsible people (investors, people who got into homes they knew they could not afford, etc.) I don't care if financial Armageddon happens next week! Capitalism is about paying for what you do (good or bad), not someone else footing the bill when you fail and only you benefiting from the upside. I guess Congress has forgotten that people are inwardly selfish. Even when we give to charity, there is something that we get out of it personally and we only do it because it makes us feel good about ourselves.
In the end, instead of focusing on doom and gloom, continue your work, continue living your life. That's what people did in the Great Depression and that's what people will continue to do now. Besides if you have food, a home, and clothes on your back, you're better off than half of the world's population who live on less than $1 a day.
Anyway, that's all for today. I hope I didn't sound preachy. I'm off to get professionally trained!
Currently I'm in a bathroom of my hotel room in Los Angeles. I'm with a group of other work collegues for a company convention and am super excited about meeting all the top producers, learning new strategies, and just having a good time. The month before I was in Detroit for more company training and next weekend I'm flying to Dallas for even more training. I figured if I don't constantly keep up, then my business will slide. Repetition is the mother of skill.
I have been knitting but obviously there are no pictures to prove that. Today, however, I am more interested in what you guys are doing. Since I haven't been keeping up with this blog, I also haven't been keeping up with you guys blogs. Let me know how things are going in the comments section. Just a quick blip so that I know you all are doing alright.
Doom & Gloom
I would like to take this time to talk about the US economy. Everyone is pessimistic about it. How our financial system will collapse and the effect will be worst than the Great Depression of the 20th century. The economic climate doesn't worry me because in my line of business times like these are were we see our largest growth. There will always be a cycle of 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Right now is that time of famine and we are paying for it because we did not prepare for it during the time of plenty.
The funny thing about this whole mess is that our political leaders have tried and failed to step in to soften the blow in the financial crisis and not make it so harsh on everyday Americans. The fact of the matter is that it's not fair for everyday Americans to pay for the mistakes of irresponsible people (investors, people who got into homes they knew they could not afford, etc.) I don't care if financial Armageddon happens next week! Capitalism is about paying for what you do (good or bad), not someone else footing the bill when you fail and only you benefiting from the upside. I guess Congress has forgotten that people are inwardly selfish. Even when we give to charity, there is something that we get out of it personally and we only do it because it makes us feel good about ourselves.
In the end, instead of focusing on doom and gloom, continue your work, continue living your life. That's what people did in the Great Depression and that's what people will continue to do now. Besides if you have food, a home, and clothes on your back, you're better off than half of the world's population who live on less than $1 a day.
Anyway, that's all for today. I hope I didn't sound preachy. I'm off to get professionally trained!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Stitches Midwest 2008 Splurge
So like I said, I really did break the bank with this trip. The money wasn't an issue for me, though. I wanted to have fun and that's what I did.
A quick rundown of the trip. I met a woman named KallieKY on Ravelry. She's a sweet person and she, her mother, and I drove to a certain point in Indiana to board a bus that was coming from Kalamazoo to pick us up to take us to Chicago to get to Stitches Midwest. Needless to say we felt like hitch hikers waiting in the McDonald's parking lot for our bus ride.
We got on the bus and then we were all each given this lovely bag:
Doesn't it look like a knitter's tool kit? Each of these bags had some little trinkets like a pen and notepad, animal crakers for snacking and this wonderful ball of yarn:
I've never knit with this stuff before but I do plan on making a hat or maybe some fingerless mitts. Something small and great for a holiday gift.
Two hours later we got to the convention center and began the frenzy. For a Friday, the place was already buzzing. I was glad we went that day because we probably would have not gotten to every single booth due to the crowds. I bought a ton of stuff and then we got back on the bus to go home.
On the bus ride, I got to know KallieKY personally. We learned that we like knitting pretty much the same things and are always ready for a challenge. She's been knitting longer than I have and is older than me, but I believe we established something special together last Friday. She's also a spinner and promised to teach me how to do it on her wheel some day soon. And you guys know my boyfriend knows how to knit but he's not very passionate about knitting. It's nice to meet people like KallieKY who are just as fanatical and crazy about yarn and needles as you are. Great trip and a great knitter!
The Goods
Two skeins of Noro sock yarn and a skein of Kauni (remember the Yarn Harlot made that crazy cardigan out of this stuff). The yarn itself is not the softest, but those colors are just spectacular.
I got this whole bag of orange DK weight yarn to make a sweater out of the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. I can't remember the exact name of the pattern, but it is a turtleneck with tons of cables. Couldn't resist this yarn (Mission Falls DK to be exact).
Malabrigo silk/wool blend. I only got it because it is Malabrigo and I wanted to try out this new yarn. Pretty colors. Christmas presents? Maybe.
Of course I could not leave that place without some sock yarn. From left to right:
Arucania from Chile, Shelridge Farm from Canada, Creatively Dyed Yarns, and and STR mediumweight in Farmhouse. I would have linked the other companies, but they should be well known by you guys, right? Moving on to...
The Luxury Goods
I did not really go to Stitches Midwest with a plan. However, I did tell myself that I wanted to get things that I did not already have in my stash. Here's what I got:
Some angora/wool blend and a drop spindle from Illinois Green Pastures Fiber Cooperative. I also got...
SOME CASHMERE!!!
Sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I had to get this stuff. The price was right, the vendors were friendly, and the yarn was GORGEOUS.
And that of course is the climax of our Stitches Midwest 2008 review. This weekend is Labor Day weekend in Canada and the United States. Therefore enjoy the holiday and everyone else, happy knitting!
A quick rundown of the trip. I met a woman named KallieKY on Ravelry. She's a sweet person and she, her mother, and I drove to a certain point in Indiana to board a bus that was coming from Kalamazoo to pick us up to take us to Chicago to get to Stitches Midwest. Needless to say we felt like hitch hikers waiting in the McDonald's parking lot for our bus ride.
We got on the bus and then we were all each given this lovely bag:
Doesn't it look like a knitter's tool kit? Each of these bags had some little trinkets like a pen and notepad, animal crakers for snacking and this wonderful ball of yarn:
I've never knit with this stuff before but I do plan on making a hat or maybe some fingerless mitts. Something small and great for a holiday gift.
Two hours later we got to the convention center and began the frenzy. For a Friday, the place was already buzzing. I was glad we went that day because we probably would have not gotten to every single booth due to the crowds. I bought a ton of stuff and then we got back on the bus to go home.
On the bus ride, I got to know KallieKY personally. We learned that we like knitting pretty much the same things and are always ready for a challenge. She's been knitting longer than I have and is older than me, but I believe we established something special together last Friday. She's also a spinner and promised to teach me how to do it on her wheel some day soon. And you guys know my boyfriend knows how to knit but he's not very passionate about knitting. It's nice to meet people like KallieKY who are just as fanatical and crazy about yarn and needles as you are. Great trip and a great knitter!
The Goods
Two skeins of Noro sock yarn and a skein of Kauni (remember the Yarn Harlot made that crazy cardigan out of this stuff). The yarn itself is not the softest, but those colors are just spectacular.
I got this whole bag of orange DK weight yarn to make a sweater out of the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. I can't remember the exact name of the pattern, but it is a turtleneck with tons of cables. Couldn't resist this yarn (Mission Falls DK to be exact).
Malabrigo silk/wool blend. I only got it because it is Malabrigo and I wanted to try out this new yarn. Pretty colors. Christmas presents? Maybe.
Of course I could not leave that place without some sock yarn. From left to right:
Arucania from Chile, Shelridge Farm from Canada, Creatively Dyed Yarns, and and STR mediumweight in Farmhouse. I would have linked the other companies, but they should be well known by you guys, right? Moving on to...
The Luxury Goods
I did not really go to Stitches Midwest with a plan. However, I did tell myself that I wanted to get things that I did not already have in my stash. Here's what I got:
Some angora/wool blend and a drop spindle from Illinois Green Pastures Fiber Cooperative. I also got...
SOME CASHMERE!!!
Sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I had to get this stuff. The price was right, the vendors were friendly, and the yarn was GORGEOUS.
And that of course is the climax of our Stitches Midwest 2008 review. This weekend is Labor Day weekend in Canada and the United States. Therefore enjoy the holiday and everyone else, happy knitting!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Birthdays Are Fun...
When your family drives all the way from New York to play in your garden:
When your friends bring their baby:
When your father gives you a hug:
When you look this damn good at 24 years old! Well, maybe not so much this picture, but trust me I am quite hot in person (hehehe).
It was a good day.
Next post I promise pictures from my Stitches Midwest trip last Friday. Oh yeah. This trip did break the bank!
When your friends bring their baby:
When your father gives you a hug:
When you look this damn good at 24 years old! Well, maybe not so much this picture, but trust me I am quite hot in person (hehehe).
It was a good day.
Next post I promise pictures from my Stitches Midwest trip last Friday. Oh yeah. This trip did break the bank!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Since Last Post...
Lots of things have happened in my life. So much so that I will share them with you in bullet form.
Anyway, off to bed I go. If you're going to Stitches, holla at me. If not, tell me what are your plans for this weekend? Take care!
- I quit my day job this past Wednesday. I am so FUCKING excited about that (sorry had to curse for joy there). I have accepted a position at the country prosecutor's office as a caseworker. In the interim, I will work on my nutrition business and even do some translation work on the side to keep things interesting for me.
I turned 24 years old this past Sunday. My family drove all the way from New York City to see me. My grandmother baked me a cake and made yellow rice. We grilled salmon, had many salads, and had a good time. I did not feel like a foreigner in Indiana with my family here. It was great!
Tomorrow is Stitches Midwest and I scored a bus ticket to go. Now I can spend more of my money on yarn than on gas. Perfect! I am meeting some new knitters and do intend to splurge. Down US economy or not, I intend to have some expensive fun.
We started the renovation of our home. We're starting with the easiest room in the house--the office. We have most of the plaster off the walls and we have to clean up and get the electrical work done. We have been taking it slow. No rush. I like it that way.
I have been knitting somewhat. A plain sock and some not so plain socks. I plan on bringing both of them to Stitches tomorrow.
Anyway, off to bed I go. If you're going to Stitches, holla at me. If not, tell me what are your plans for this weekend? Take care!
Friday, August 01, 2008
Twist Collective is Here!!!
RUN DO NOT WALK TO THIS SITE!!! I literally want to knit EVERY SINGLE PATTERN on this site! Remember that you heard it here first. I will say it right here, right now. Twist Collective is definetely the best thing that has happened to knitting on the interwebs since the dawn of Ravelry. Now that's a bold statement.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Noro, How I Love Thee
Uh, I think I have a problem.
I finished a Noro and Malabrigo hat a couple weeks ago and love the result. I took the stitch pattern for Ziggy and felt that it would look cool in a hat form.
I have also found a local gem. Erica's Craft & Sewing Center is mainly a sewing shop but has an amazing selection of quality yarns. One of them is the Noro Kureyon sock yarn you see above and I couldn't resist.
I also could not pass up trying the new Lion Brand Sock Yarn. I love basic sock yarn and this fits the bill. The only bad side is that the color selection is rather limited but I'm sure this yarn will get a good response and they will come out with new colors soon.
I finished a Noro and Malabrigo hat a couple weeks ago and love the result. I took the stitch pattern for Ziggy and felt that it would look cool in a hat form.
I have also found a local gem. Erica's Craft & Sewing Center is mainly a sewing shop but has an amazing selection of quality yarns. One of them is the Noro Kureyon sock yarn you see above and I couldn't resist.
I also could not pass up trying the new Lion Brand Sock Yarn. I love basic sock yarn and this fits the bill. The only bad side is that the color selection is rather limited but I'm sure this yarn will get a good response and they will come out with new colors soon.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wollmeise Rant
Am I foolish for thinking that I would be able to buy a skein of Wollmeise sock yarn? I guess so. Last week the sneak up at The Loopy Ewe came up at 9 p.m. Central Standard Time. By 9:05 p.m. Central Standard Time, all 300 skeins were gone! Can you imagine the amount of profit Sherry is making right now. I can't even imagine. Maybe more or less than we all think, but either way, that's good for the knitting industry. As long as someone buys it, yarn (and might I mention good yarn) will still be available to the rest of us.
I guess what I'm more upset about is the fact that I checked the website every day several times for a whole month and a half. I figured if I checked multiple times a day, I would catch the sneak up and have my chance to knit with this stuff. But alas, I did not check the site when it really mattered. This reminds me of American football. You could have a perfect field goal score in practice, but if you do not kick a good field goal when the Super Bowl is on the line, you're toast.
What disturbs me more is how obsessed I became with getting the yarn. It was almost like I forgot why I knit. I mean many of the yarns I have in my stash are good quality stuff. However when I was thinking about Wollmeise, it was almost like I thought my stash was really balls of twine and skeins of acrylic. I felt when it came to knitting, nothing else mattered and my stash would finally be complete with some of this stuff. Wollmeise is like the Holy Grail of sock yarns right now and unfortunately I can't get any of it.
And for those of you on Ravelry, just look up Wollmeise and see what you find. It resembles more of a stock market or trading bazaar than a place to display your stash. There are tons of people on there looking to trade Wollmeise for other Wollmeise sock yarn. It kind of makes me think that maybe a lot of the people that bought last week were just trying to get what they could and if they didn't like the color, they figured they could trade for something they liked on Ravelry. I must admit that was my plan too, but again, I failed.
Wollmeise is like crack for knitters. And even though I'm jealous of all of you who have a skein, I will be a big girl and wait till the next sneak up. Hopefully I will be clicking on the Loopy Ewe at the right time. Otherwise, I'm just going to have to get over this obsession I have with this lady's stuff. Or fly to Germany and take her hostage and force her to dye some yarn specifically for me. You know, I'm just saying (LOL).
I guess what I'm more upset about is the fact that I checked the website every day several times for a whole month and a half. I figured if I checked multiple times a day, I would catch the sneak up and have my chance to knit with this stuff. But alas, I did not check the site when it really mattered. This reminds me of American football. You could have a perfect field goal score in practice, but if you do not kick a good field goal when the Super Bowl is on the line, you're toast.
What disturbs me more is how obsessed I became with getting the yarn. It was almost like I forgot why I knit. I mean many of the yarns I have in my stash are good quality stuff. However when I was thinking about Wollmeise, it was almost like I thought my stash was really balls of twine and skeins of acrylic. I felt when it came to knitting, nothing else mattered and my stash would finally be complete with some of this stuff. Wollmeise is like the Holy Grail of sock yarns right now and unfortunately I can't get any of it.
And for those of you on Ravelry, just look up Wollmeise and see what you find. It resembles more of a stock market or trading bazaar than a place to display your stash. There are tons of people on there looking to trade Wollmeise for other Wollmeise sock yarn. It kind of makes me think that maybe a lot of the people that bought last week were just trying to get what they could and if they didn't like the color, they figured they could trade for something they liked on Ravelry. I must admit that was my plan too, but again, I failed.
Wollmeise is like crack for knitters. And even though I'm jealous of all of you who have a skein, I will be a big girl and wait till the next sneak up. Hopefully I will be clicking on the Loopy Ewe at the right time. Otherwise, I'm just going to have to get over this obsession I have with this lady's stuff. Or fly to Germany and take her hostage and force her to dye some yarn specifically for me. You know, I'm just saying (LOL).
Monday, July 21, 2008
Tejedora Autentica
Everyone, meet Bullseye:
Isn't she cute? My boyfriend and his brother (we all live together) surprised me on Saturday with a cute little kitty. Now I feel like an official knitter because I have a cat. I already know that she likes string, so I'm keeping my stash away from her. You know, just in case.
And yesterday said boyfriend got a little dirty working in the fireplace (isn't he cute, well actually, don't answer that). He took out the old frame and in a week or so will put in a new fireplace insert. Experts say this fireplace insert will be 70% more efficient than a normal one. We plan on using the fireplace to heat our house since it is well known that Natural Gas prices (in the Midwest, at least) have doubled since last winter. Whenever I hear news like that, I just scoff and say, "Man I'm glad I'm a knitter!"
See ya!
Isn't she cute? My boyfriend and his brother (we all live together) surprised me on Saturday with a cute little kitty. Now I feel like an official knitter because I have a cat. I already know that she likes string, so I'm keeping my stash away from her. You know, just in case.
And yesterday said boyfriend got a little dirty working in the fireplace (isn't he cute, well actually, don't answer that). He took out the old frame and in a week or so will put in a new fireplace insert. Experts say this fireplace insert will be 70% more efficient than a normal one. We plan on using the fireplace to heat our house since it is well known that Natural Gas prices (in the Midwest, at least) have doubled since last winter. Whenever I hear news like that, I just scoff and say, "Man I'm glad I'm a knitter!"
See ya!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Traveling Again
Tonight I shall begin my journey to the wonderful land of Canada. I love that place. It's so clean and the people are friendly and the natural beauty of the place is gorgeous!
We will be driving (Lord help us with the gas prices), and I do plan to knit for most of the trip. I'm so excited because my boyfriend has agreed to take me to a yarn store in Toronto and I do plan to purchase some soveniers.
Therefore, I wish everyone in the States a Happy 4th of July and I'll post when I get back.
We will be driving (Lord help us with the gas prices), and I do plan to knit for most of the trip. I'm so excited because my boyfriend has agreed to take me to a yarn store in Toronto and I do plan to purchase some soveniers.
Therefore, I wish everyone in the States a Happy 4th of July and I'll post when I get back.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
I Love New York!
Came back from New York City last night. What a trip! I did everything that I could for the short 3 day trip. So much so that I am completly sleep-deprived, but in a good way. Most of the time was spent with family and friends. But I also got to do some very New York things like ride the subway, drive in rush hour traffic, and even go to a night club that played only dancehall, soca, and reggae music. I felt right at home with my Caribbean people, food, and culture.
As soon as I got off the plane, my mother, sisters, and I went to this fabulous Japaneese restaurant for lunch. Later on that day I went to see my grandmother, some cousins, and some aunts. The next day I went to see some more aunts and a very good friend of mine. Later on that night I went out to a club with my best friend. Can you tell that we had fun?
The next day I spent it with my very good friend all the way from Argentina. Guess where we went?
To the Empire State Building! I only mention this because just like her, this was my first time up there. Isn't that a shame? How many New Yorkers do you know that have never been on top of this building? I've traveled to Rio de Janeiro to visit O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue and Machu Picchu in Peru but I've never been to the Empire State building until this past Monday. I'm sure there are people who live in Rio de Janeiro that have never stepped foot on Corcovado to see the Jesus Christ statue but have been to the Empire State building. I guess in the end, we never really appreciate what we have till we loose it.
I had a great time showing my friend the city. We haven't seen each other in 2 years and the only reason she was able to come up here is because she won $5000 pesos in this contests that a Spanish bank called Banco Santander was having in Argentina. I would have done the same thing. I mean how often does a person get that much money at one time? I'm just glad she came. We only spent a few hours together, but I enjoyed ever momemnt. Siempre estara en mi corazon. Es muy buena esa chica.
But alas, even though I love NYC, there are just certain things about it that I can't live with anymore. Like how dirty everything is. Or how expensive living there could be. So in the end, even though I don't see myself moving back to my hometown, New York will always be in my heart.
I did get some knitting done on the plane but sorry, no pictures today. I do have a great surprise to show you guys but that will be later. Right now I really need to rest up. Traveling can really drain you man.
As soon as I got off the plane, my mother, sisters, and I went to this fabulous Japaneese restaurant for lunch. Later on that day I went to see my grandmother, some cousins, and some aunts. The next day I went to see some more aunts and a very good friend of mine. Later on that night I went out to a club with my best friend. Can you tell that we had fun?
The next day I spent it with my very good friend all the way from Argentina. Guess where we went?
To the Empire State Building! I only mention this because just like her, this was my first time up there. Isn't that a shame? How many New Yorkers do you know that have never been on top of this building? I've traveled to Rio de Janeiro to visit O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue and Machu Picchu in Peru but I've never been to the Empire State building until this past Monday. I'm sure there are people who live in Rio de Janeiro that have never stepped foot on Corcovado to see the Jesus Christ statue but have been to the Empire State building. I guess in the end, we never really appreciate what we have till we loose it.
I had a great time showing my friend the city. We haven't seen each other in 2 years and the only reason she was able to come up here is because she won $5000 pesos in this contests that a Spanish bank called Banco Santander was having in Argentina. I would have done the same thing. I mean how often does a person get that much money at one time? I'm just glad she came. We only spent a few hours together, but I enjoyed ever momemnt. Siempre estara en mi corazon. Es muy buena esa chica.
But alas, even though I love NYC, there are just certain things about it that I can't live with anymore. Like how dirty everything is. Or how expensive living there could be. So in the end, even though I don't see myself moving back to my hometown, New York will always be in my heart.
I did get some knitting done on the plane but sorry, no pictures today. I do have a great surprise to show you guys but that will be later. Right now I really need to rest up. Traveling can really drain you man.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Mi Patria
I'm flying out to New York this evening to see family and friends. A friend from Argentina is going to be there too and we are going to hang out. We haven't seen each other in 2 years so we have a lot to talk about. Needless to say I am super excited to be going home.
Que tengan un buen fin de semana! See you next week! Happy knitting!
Que tengan un buen fin de semana! See you next week! Happy knitting!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Pretty Yarn
Recently, I heard a report on National Public Radio talking about the rise in lipstick sales in the United States of America. The journalist stated that usually in hard economic times, women cut back on more expensive cosmetic related items like facials and day spa trips, but lipstick seems to be a cheap "pick-me up" type of consumer good to buy. I mean let's think about it. Women, even in hard times, want to feel beautiful. And if a new tube of red lipstick or sparkly lip gloss will give them the "pick-me up" they need to get through the week, why not? Seeing that I don't wear lipstick, yarn has replaced that "pick-me up" that I need so badly right now.
Yesterday I went to the world famous Thread Bear yarn store in Lansing, MI. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the store itself because I forgot to bring my camera. But I will say that if you are anywhere near Lansing, MI, pay a visit to this store. It is huge, carries a wide selection of yarns and knitting notions, and they even sell spinning wheels, drop spindles, and fiber. I even got to meet with the owners of the store, Rob and Matt, who were both very funny, pretty nice and hospitable. Love that place and do plan on returning whenever I'm in the Lansing area.
I'm sure you're wondering what type of yarns are these. From top to bottom, some worsted weight Malabrigo, some gorgeous hand dyed sock yarn by Susie (hmm, that makes 4 skeins from her), some Colinette Jitterbug, and some more Malabrigo in the chunky weight. I only picked up the Malabrigo because that fire in Uruguay really destroyed a lot of the inventory. I hear it will take them anywhere from 6 months to a whole year to get back to full capacity (anyone can correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, Malabrigo addicts, you need to snatch whatever skeins you can up before it is all gone for a while (see I wasn't crazy when I talked about "THE END"). The Jitterbug was too beautiful to pass up, as the colors were just so whimsical and pretty.
As for the pink variegated yarn above, I must take a moment to talk about the Perchance to Knit sock yarn. I saw this skein and knew that it had to come home with me. The price was a little steep, but quite frankly, the dye job on this skein was hard to beat. Like I said, I have about 4 skeins and from time to time I just admire and pet them. GORGEOUS!!! I command all who read this to run over to the Loopy Ewe and buy Perchance to Knit because I would do anything for Susie and the work she does is phenomenal.
Remember the secret hat I was working on? Here are the pictures.
This was my first time using Noro Kureyon and each time I picked this hat up to work on it, I felt such peace and calm with my knitting. I only mention this because whenever I knit, I'm completely obsessed with getting the project done ASAP. That definetely makes me a project knitter. But seeing the colors transition so well in this hat was really intriguing. A very enjoyable project for me indeed.
So today I'm cooling out. Lots of knitting and getting some housework done (you know the usual).
Later! Ate logo! Hasta luego!
Yesterday I went to the world famous Thread Bear yarn store in Lansing, MI. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the store itself because I forgot to bring my camera. But I will say that if you are anywhere near Lansing, MI, pay a visit to this store. It is huge, carries a wide selection of yarns and knitting notions, and they even sell spinning wheels, drop spindles, and fiber. I even got to meet with the owners of the store, Rob and Matt, who were both very funny, pretty nice and hospitable. Love that place and do plan on returning whenever I'm in the Lansing area.
I'm sure you're wondering what type of yarns are these. From top to bottom, some worsted weight Malabrigo, some gorgeous hand dyed sock yarn by Susie (hmm, that makes 4 skeins from her), some Colinette Jitterbug, and some more Malabrigo in the chunky weight. I only picked up the Malabrigo because that fire in Uruguay really destroyed a lot of the inventory. I hear it will take them anywhere from 6 months to a whole year to get back to full capacity (anyone can correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, Malabrigo addicts, you need to snatch whatever skeins you can up before it is all gone for a while (see I wasn't crazy when I talked about "THE END"). The Jitterbug was too beautiful to pass up, as the colors were just so whimsical and pretty.
As for the pink variegated yarn above, I must take a moment to talk about the Perchance to Knit sock yarn. I saw this skein and knew that it had to come home with me. The price was a little steep, but quite frankly, the dye job on this skein was hard to beat. Like I said, I have about 4 skeins and from time to time I just admire and pet them. GORGEOUS!!! I command all who read this to run over to the Loopy Ewe and buy Perchance to Knit because I would do anything for Susie and the work she does is phenomenal.
Remember the secret hat I was working on? Here are the pictures.
This was my first time using Noro Kureyon and each time I picked this hat up to work on it, I felt such peace and calm with my knitting. I only mention this because whenever I knit, I'm completely obsessed with getting the project done ASAP. That definetely makes me a project knitter. But seeing the colors transition so well in this hat was really intriguing. A very enjoyable project for me indeed.
So today I'm cooling out. Lots of knitting and getting some housework done (you know the usual).
Later! Ate logo! Hasta luego!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Women and "Getting Ready"
You ever think about the amount of time we spend wasting time? I mean, I'm sure the majority of you that read this thing are women. And women for some reason are notorious for taking ass loads of time just to "get ready" everyday. And as the importance of an occassion increases, so does the amount of time a woman will spend "getting ready".
I will give you an example. If you are getting ready for work, it may take you about 45 minutes to shower, get your hair combed, put on your make up, find an outfit to wear, etc. Forty-five minutes isn't too long of a time for most women. But lets say you are going on a first date with a man that you have fancied for months now. Add some girlfriends and another 30 minutes to your routine. How about a special dinner with your husband or a special ceremony held in your honor? Plan on at least 2 1/2 hours to get ready.
Last year, my boyfriend's step brother was getting married and I had the pleasure of hanging out with the women of the bridal party. I'm always with men (not in a slutty way, come on guys), so it was nice to be with some women. Needless to say the high amounts of estrogen were at times overwhemling over that weekend, but it was a cool observe women enjoying each other. So that Sunday was the wedding ceremony and the bride woke up a 8 a.m. to start the process of getting ready. FOUR (4) HOURS LATER she was ready to take her first set of pictures. Of course she looked gorgeous, but 4 HOURS!!! Why can't women get married in burlap sacks? When men get married, they spend most of the wedding day golfing or playing basketball. Then 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, they remember "Oh yeah, I'm getting married today" and race back to the hotel to slosh some Listerine in their mouth, slap on their tux, and make sure to wear lots of cologne to hide the smell of sweat build up on their backs.
I don't know if many of you guys know this, but when I was in high school, I used to chemically straighten my hair (perm is what most black people say). Anyway, there were many reasons why I stopped (we won't go into them here). But do you really want to know the main reason why I stopped? It is because I am completely lazy. You see, when you have permed hair, you have to do all sorts of things to keep it looking fresh. Touch ups every 2 months, wash and sets every 2 weeks, deep conditioning every month so your hair doesn't fall out from being so dry from the harsh chemicals you put on them in order to keep it straight. Did I also mention this cost a fortune and requires much time in a salon, just to do hair! No wonder celebrities like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera wear weaves, wigs, and hair extentions. The chemical processes, heat styling and excessive products just kill your hair.
So it goes without saying that when it comes to making myself presentable to the world, I do the BARE MINIMUM. Shower, deodarant, chapstick. You're lucky if I even put on lotion (which I have to do in the warmer months because crusty legs and feet are just not a good look). And forget about make-up. To me it is just another waste of time and money.
Another reason why I'm so terribly minimalistic with my daily routine is because I feel there are better things I could be doing. Like cleaning my house, working on my business, and of course, knitting.
So my final argument is this. Are you a knitter who always complains about not getting enough knitting done? If you find yourself spending hours in the bathroom getting ready for the day, think about redirecting that time to knitting. I'm sure you'll get a lot more done and feel a whole lot better about yourself in the end for accomplishing so much. That would mean forgoing make up application, elaborate hair styling, and maybe leg shaving if you could handle it. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Shower daily, brush your teeth, and if you plan on showing some skin, make sure those areas being shown are well moisturized. That's my two cents, what's yours?
I will give you an example. If you are getting ready for work, it may take you about 45 minutes to shower, get your hair combed, put on your make up, find an outfit to wear, etc. Forty-five minutes isn't too long of a time for most women. But lets say you are going on a first date with a man that you have fancied for months now. Add some girlfriends and another 30 minutes to your routine. How about a special dinner with your husband or a special ceremony held in your honor? Plan on at least 2 1/2 hours to get ready.
Last year, my boyfriend's step brother was getting married and I had the pleasure of hanging out with the women of the bridal party. I'm always with men (not in a slutty way, come on guys), so it was nice to be with some women. Needless to say the high amounts of estrogen were at times overwhemling over that weekend, but it was a cool observe women enjoying each other. So that Sunday was the wedding ceremony and the bride woke up a 8 a.m. to start the process of getting ready. FOUR (4) HOURS LATER she was ready to take her first set of pictures. Of course she looked gorgeous, but 4 HOURS!!! Why can't women get married in burlap sacks? When men get married, they spend most of the wedding day golfing or playing basketball. Then 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, they remember "Oh yeah, I'm getting married today" and race back to the hotel to slosh some Listerine in their mouth, slap on their tux, and make sure to wear lots of cologne to hide the smell of sweat build up on their backs.
I don't know if many of you guys know this, but when I was in high school, I used to chemically straighten my hair (perm is what most black people say). Anyway, there were many reasons why I stopped (we won't go into them here). But do you really want to know the main reason why I stopped? It is because I am completely lazy. You see, when you have permed hair, you have to do all sorts of things to keep it looking fresh. Touch ups every 2 months, wash and sets every 2 weeks, deep conditioning every month so your hair doesn't fall out from being so dry from the harsh chemicals you put on them in order to keep it straight. Did I also mention this cost a fortune and requires much time in a salon, just to do hair! No wonder celebrities like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera wear weaves, wigs, and hair extentions. The chemical processes, heat styling and excessive products just kill your hair.
So it goes without saying that when it comes to making myself presentable to the world, I do the BARE MINIMUM. Shower, deodarant, chapstick. You're lucky if I even put on lotion (which I have to do in the warmer months because crusty legs and feet are just not a good look). And forget about make-up. To me it is just another waste of time and money.
Another reason why I'm so terribly minimalistic with my daily routine is because I feel there are better things I could be doing. Like cleaning my house, working on my business, and of course, knitting.
So my final argument is this. Are you a knitter who always complains about not getting enough knitting done? If you find yourself spending hours in the bathroom getting ready for the day, think about redirecting that time to knitting. I'm sure you'll get a lot more done and feel a whole lot better about yourself in the end for accomplishing so much. That would mean forgoing make up application, elaborate hair styling, and maybe leg shaving if you could handle it. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Shower daily, brush your teeth, and if you plan on showing some skin, make sure those areas being shown are well moisturized. That's my two cents, what's yours?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Blah Day
Yesterday was World Wide Knit in Public Day. Did anyone participate? I sure didn't. I mean, I wanted to and all but I got lazy. Quite frankly, knitting is a very solitary activity for me. Now, I do like chatting and socializing with people, especially knitters. But why should I leave my house just to knit with perfect strangers? Yeah, I'll save my money on gas and stay at home, thank you!
It was a glorious and sunny day in northern Indiana. I woke up refreshed and decided that since it was the Lord's Day, I was going to rest and knit for the entire time. And I did:
I worked on the Clapotis, started a hat out of Noro (pics later), and continued working on the socks above. It is a pattern from Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue and I'm so happy to be doing this project. Unfortuntely, my hands tend to hurt after a while of knitting on these stockings. I think it's because this yarn is supposed to be knit on size 8 US needles but I'm using a size 3 US , just like the pattern says. I don't know how long it will take me to get these stockings done, but I love cables and will enjoy every minute of knitting on this thing.
Photo Shoot
I also got a package in the mail from KnitPicks. Here are some shots:
It's the blue/green lace sampler pack. Six skeins of gorgeous lace weight at a very economical price I must say. I have only shown you half of the package because I'm sending the other 3 skeins to a friend of mine in Chile. This should be a real treat for her, seeing that Knitpicks does not ship anywhere else but the United States and Canada.
Anyway, today I will be working on my health business and cleaning my house. I might as well, seeing that it will be raining all day. But before I close this post off, do tell me, what did you do yesterday for World Wide Knit in Public Day?
See ya!
It was a glorious and sunny day in northern Indiana. I woke up refreshed and decided that since it was the Lord's Day, I was going to rest and knit for the entire time. And I did:
I worked on the Clapotis, started a hat out of Noro (pics later), and continued working on the socks above. It is a pattern from Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue and I'm so happy to be doing this project. Unfortuntely, my hands tend to hurt after a while of knitting on these stockings. I think it's because this yarn is supposed to be knit on size 8 US needles but I'm using a size 3 US , just like the pattern says. I don't know how long it will take me to get these stockings done, but I love cables and will enjoy every minute of knitting on this thing.
Photo Shoot
I also got a package in the mail from KnitPicks. Here are some shots:
It's the blue/green lace sampler pack. Six skeins of gorgeous lace weight at a very economical price I must say. I have only shown you half of the package because I'm sending the other 3 skeins to a friend of mine in Chile. This should be a real treat for her, seeing that Knitpicks does not ship anywhere else but the United States and Canada.
Anyway, today I will be working on my health business and cleaning my house. I might as well, seeing that it will be raining all day. But before I close this post off, do tell me, what did you do yesterday for World Wide Knit in Public Day?
See ya!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Why Stash?
This will be short and hopefully what I am going to say is not something you have heard before.
There are many reasons why knitters stash yarn. Some revel in it while others dread the stash and work to cull it down only to find themselves helpless in front of some lace weight merino-silk blend. As for me, I stash because I like how it looks in my room. My stash is on a book shelf right next to my bed so I get to see it every single morning. It gives me much joy and pleasure being able to be lulled asleep by the stash and quickly rejuvenated by it the next morning.
Today at the job, I came up with another reason I, and probably you too, should stash. Let's face it. The popularity of knitting is fading. And if it hasn't yet, it sure will pretty soon. That means that the market for the knitting industry will dry up and not be as hot as it once was. Therefore, all the cool fibers that have been coming out lately like bamboo, seacell, and soysilk will be the first to go. Then the more traditional materials will become less available like silk, cashmere, and alpaca. If there is not a market of knitters clamoring for beautiful yarn made for hand knitting, then yarn producers will go out of business. Places like Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Cascade, and smaller hand dying operations will cease to exist. And all of those knitters who are now obsessed with stash busting will be left with nothing but lint and scraps to knit with. Oh how they will regret their present day actions in the future!
In short, in order to keep the current yarns we have available to the knitting community, consumers must continue buying. As long as someone can make money and fill a gap in the market, then we knitter's will have what we want. But realistically, 10 years from now, the knitting industry could revert back to the days of the 70's of Kevlar acrylic and itchy as all hell wools. Mind you, I was born in 1984 but I have heard the horror stories and do NOT wish to return to the "good ol' days." God forbid when that day comes, your left with only a couple skeins of hand dyed sock yarn to last you for 2 months. You WANT to be prepared for the day when fiber artisans and hand knitting producers finally shut down shop by the thousands. When your source for high quality wool ceases to exist, you don't want to be left high and dry without any yarn.
So my advice? Buy within your means and remember that if you don't buy yarn, businesses will loose revenue and eventually go out of business. Always remember that the party will have to end at some point. The stuff you covet now will be gone tomorrow. Nothing lasts forever, therefore BE PREPARED FOR THE END!!!
Don't I sound like a religious fanatic? What do you think?
There are many reasons why knitters stash yarn. Some revel in it while others dread the stash and work to cull it down only to find themselves helpless in front of some lace weight merino-silk blend. As for me, I stash because I like how it looks in my room. My stash is on a book shelf right next to my bed so I get to see it every single morning. It gives me much joy and pleasure being able to be lulled asleep by the stash and quickly rejuvenated by it the next morning.
Today at the job, I came up with another reason I, and probably you too, should stash. Let's face it. The popularity of knitting is fading. And if it hasn't yet, it sure will pretty soon. That means that the market for the knitting industry will dry up and not be as hot as it once was. Therefore, all the cool fibers that have been coming out lately like bamboo, seacell, and soysilk will be the first to go. Then the more traditional materials will become less available like silk, cashmere, and alpaca. If there is not a market of knitters clamoring for beautiful yarn made for hand knitting, then yarn producers will go out of business. Places like Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Cascade, and smaller hand dying operations will cease to exist. And all of those knitters who are now obsessed with stash busting will be left with nothing but lint and scraps to knit with. Oh how they will regret their present day actions in the future!
In short, in order to keep the current yarns we have available to the knitting community, consumers must continue buying. As long as someone can make money and fill a gap in the market, then we knitter's will have what we want. But realistically, 10 years from now, the knitting industry could revert back to the days of the 70's of Kevlar acrylic and itchy as all hell wools. Mind you, I was born in 1984 but I have heard the horror stories and do NOT wish to return to the "good ol' days." God forbid when that day comes, your left with only a couple skeins of hand dyed sock yarn to last you for 2 months. You WANT to be prepared for the day when fiber artisans and hand knitting producers finally shut down shop by the thousands. When your source for high quality wool ceases to exist, you don't want to be left high and dry without any yarn.
So my advice? Buy within your means and remember that if you don't buy yarn, businesses will loose revenue and eventually go out of business. Always remember that the party will have to end at some point. The stuff you covet now will be gone tomorrow. Nothing lasts forever, therefore BE PREPARED FOR THE END!!!
Don't I sound like a religious fanatic? What do you think?
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Rewarding Myself
Hey everyone! How has your weekend been turning out? Para mi, ayer fue espectacular! The day started off with washing dishes, making breakfast, and finishing up some knitting related stuff. After all of this, I was ready to sit and knit for hours on end when I realized that my house was a mess and needed to be cleaned from top to bottom. The problem was that I really wanted to go outside and make a frivolous yarn purchase. That's when I said, "Hey, if I clean the house to my satisfaction, then I will reward myself with a trip to the yarn store." Needless to say, I got what I needed to do done and headed straight to the yarn store a couple hours later. Here's what I got.
Some more lovely roving. I finally learned that the fiber I was spinning last time was Corriedale and this roving is the same animal just in different colors. I like the whole barber pole affect of plying 2 monochromatic singles together and I think that these two colors together will give me a more sophisticated yarn (unlike the last one I made, which was more sporty). What I really like about these two colors is the 80's feel they have together. The colors are soft and pretty and remind me of a businesswoman in Manhattan in a a tan pencil skirt with a purple satin blouse, pearls, chocolate brown shoes, and chocolate brown crocodile patterned purse to match.
I also bought some yarn I've never worked with before.
Two skeins of Noro Kureyon. I picked it up only because of the colors. The yarn itself is not the softest but as I mature as a knitter, I don't think everything has to be baby soft and cushy. Besides, I like working with rougher yarns to make some really tough as nails garments like hats and mittens. And seeing that I am trapped in the Midwest for the next couple years, long wearing knitwear is needed for the terrible winters we experience.
Spinning
I do agree with Jenny and Nicole from Stash & Burn podcast. Spinning is the new sock knitting! The yarn store I went to yesterday happens to sell wheels, particularly Ashford wheels. The owner was kind enough to give me a catalog and my boyfriend and I looked through it. I've spun on the Joy before and thought it was cool but my boyfriend really likes the Traveller just because of the way it looks. Believe it or not, he actually learned how to spin a LONG time ago when he was a young boy of 7 or 8 years. I'm sure if he started up again, he could pick it up fast.
That's all for now. Today I'm going to the beach with some friends to get a tan. I know, I know, I'm already fairly dark skinned (i.e., I'm a black person) but I have to say that sitting in the sun for a couple hours doesn't just darken my skin, it also adds a nice golden glow to it that I absolutely LOVE. Plus laying on a towel on the beach and sun bathing is even more relaxing than a full body massage or a pedicure and yet it is a lot cheaper!
Lastly, here are some pictures of my boyfriend's garden. He's the one with the green thumb and I'm proud of his accomplishments. He has some zucchini, tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, and thyme growing. Enjoy!
NOTE
We didn't end up going to the beach because a tornado decided to mess up our sunny day. Nevertheless, I had fun with my friends inside waiting out the storm. Later!
Some more lovely roving. I finally learned that the fiber I was spinning last time was Corriedale and this roving is the same animal just in different colors. I like the whole barber pole affect of plying 2 monochromatic singles together and I think that these two colors together will give me a more sophisticated yarn (unlike the last one I made, which was more sporty). What I really like about these two colors is the 80's feel they have together. The colors are soft and pretty and remind me of a businesswoman in Manhattan in a a tan pencil skirt with a purple satin blouse, pearls, chocolate brown shoes, and chocolate brown crocodile patterned purse to match.
I also bought some yarn I've never worked with before.
Two skeins of Noro Kureyon. I picked it up only because of the colors. The yarn itself is not the softest but as I mature as a knitter, I don't think everything has to be baby soft and cushy. Besides, I like working with rougher yarns to make some really tough as nails garments like hats and mittens. And seeing that I am trapped in the Midwest for the next couple years, long wearing knitwear is needed for the terrible winters we experience.
Spinning
I do agree with Jenny and Nicole from Stash & Burn podcast. Spinning is the new sock knitting! The yarn store I went to yesterday happens to sell wheels, particularly Ashford wheels. The owner was kind enough to give me a catalog and my boyfriend and I looked through it. I've spun on the Joy before and thought it was cool but my boyfriend really likes the Traveller just because of the way it looks. Believe it or not, he actually learned how to spin a LONG time ago when he was a young boy of 7 or 8 years. I'm sure if he started up again, he could pick it up fast.
That's all for now. Today I'm going to the beach with some friends to get a tan. I know, I know, I'm already fairly dark skinned (i.e., I'm a black person) but I have to say that sitting in the sun for a couple hours doesn't just darken my skin, it also adds a nice golden glow to it that I absolutely LOVE. Plus laying on a towel on the beach and sun bathing is even more relaxing than a full body massage or a pedicure and yet it is a lot cheaper!
Lastly, here are some pictures of my boyfriend's garden. He's the one with the green thumb and I'm proud of his accomplishments. He has some zucchini, tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, and thyme growing. Enjoy!
NOTE
We didn't end up going to the beach because a tornado decided to mess up our sunny day. Nevertheless, I had fun with my friends inside waiting out the storm. Later!
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