I just don't get it...

I do understand artisitic license and the need to create. I am a crafter, I get it. What I don't get is this stuff. I have admired Pluckyfluff's creations for awhile now but from afar. I don't enjoy spinning so maybe that is partly why I don't get it. Why use stuff like bubblewrap, plumber's tape, wallpaper shreds, etc.? That's the part I don't get. And what do you do with it?? Does this stuff ever get used? Or is it just purely creative and that's it. Just wondering...

Fan & Feather Blanket

The reason I am so jazzed to knit this blanket is because BrooklynTweed knit something very similar and it turned out beautiful. It could also be that he is a professional photographer and his photographs are just lovely... But that being beside the point. Last Christmas I knit the Fan & Feather Shawl out of GoL. Around that same time, Chauntel decided to try knitting that same pattern out of HPY Merino, to use as a blanket. And it just looked so warm and wonderful. So, I decided to make my own. BrooklynTweed's is based off a doily pattern but I figure since I have already knit the F&F, why not do the same thing? This is my F&F shawl, blocking. Don't you think a blanket version would be so cool?? Of course, it won't be the full pattern. And I got enough yarn for a lap version of it.

Long time no talk!

Well, it's been a little while since I posted, hasn't it! How about a little update. My teeth are fine, thank you for all of your well wishes. I am now just dealing with 4 gaping holes in my mouth that are going to take far to long to fill in. Not complaining, mind you! Just making a statement of fact. :) I was off the innernets there for about a week and a half due to computer complications. No need to get into detail, just know that I am now up and running on dial-up, still working on the wireless. Oh, and then I was gone for a weekend to visit my dad. It was a surprise for his birthday (I can't believe he turned 60!). And yes, he was surprised! His girlfriend, JeriLyn, had some events planned for the weekend. Friday we went to the Imax theater (along with Kalah and her parents, Margaret and Al) to see Harry Potter 5 in 3D. That was pretty cool! The last 20 minutes were in 3D. On Saturday, Dad, Jerilyn, and I went up to Plymouth for a bluegrass festival. What a kick in the pants that was! It was a very good weekend, exactly what I needed.

You know, it's funny. I always think when I am sick or just down and out, that I will get plenty of knitting done seeing as how I am just sitting in my chair, doing nothing else, not feeling up to doing anything really. But no. It doesn't happen like that. I end up reading, napping, or watching tv. So, I didn't make all that much progress on the Tangled Yoke during the surgery recovery but I have been working on it. The body is finished (I may have posted about that already) and one sleeve is about 2/3rds done. See, what happened was...I was distracted by babies. My cousin and his wife are having twin boys in about 5 weeks. I have been wanting to make something for them (they already have a 2.5 year old son) but after the Tiramisu, I had NO desire to make another blanket. I finally settled on a baby version of the Shedir. After much discussion and debate (mostly in my head) I picked up two balls of Little Lehigh Pebbles. This is a great yarn if you haven't tried it yet. 250 yards for $6? Can't go wrong! I have finished up the green hat and cast on for the blue. It's not the easiest pattern (I had to frog it twice to get the ribbing right) but I love the way it turned out.

I also picked up 7 balls of SWS in Natural Wood for a version of BrooklynTweed's Hemlock Ring blanket. I am just going to do the Feather and Fan shawl from Gathering of Lace. I am so very tempted to cast on for it right this very minute but I need to get that second hat done before the babies arrive. So, I will hold off. Besides, it turns out that when knitting a sweater, sleeves tend to be my downfall. I went through some of my older projects recently and discovered most of the sweaters have stalled because I stopped knitting on the sleeves. Try three projects: Rebecca lace sweater, my beautiful Julia, and the Tangled Yoke. When you find yourself stalled on a project, is it something different every time? Or do you have one particular portion that stops you in your tracks? Just curious.

Go Speed Racer!

I had forgotten how pleasureable stockinette stitch can be. Being incapacitated this week, well, just for a few days, it made it so much easier to knit when it was on plain 'ole boring stockinette. I finished up the body and have moved onto a sleeve. I will say it again and again, I love love this yarn. It's the perfect yarn for our weather. I am already trying to figure out how to use this yarn in my next project. Haven't picked it out yet but if it could incorporate my 5 hanks of Silky Wool in purple, that would be super!

The One About The Teeth

I unexpectedly had all four wisdom teeth taken out yesterday. I have had my wisdom teeth fully in for years but have always known that they needed to be taken out. I waited because I have such a high fear of being in the dentist chair. Well, over the weekend, one of the teeth started to fall apart and I knew it was time. I made the call Tuesday and was lucky enough to be able to have the surgery on Wednesday (the surgeon is only in SB once a month). I was very nervous that morning, I couldn't even laugh at Chauntel's jokes. Nor could I stop my leg from shaking. They took me in and got me hooked up to an IV and a half hour later, I was awake and questioning whether or not they had gotten all four. Are they sure they got all four? :) I felt them pulling one of the teeth out and I was so sure it was the first tooth but it turned out to be the last. A few minutes later, I was walked into the recovery room where Chaun met me. All in all, not a bad experience. I am just so glad to have it over with. I am recovering here on my couch at home. I am a little tired of oatmeal, yogurt, and applesauce but it's all fine. Soon enough I will be able to have my cheeseburger and salty fries. Oh, and I am not swelling up like some people do. I have some slight swelling but no chipmunk cheeks. Whew!!

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. :) This is a very common surgery and I feel a bit silly for having put it off for so many years. I had it so built up in my head to be horrible but it went fine. Thank you again!

And a big fat Thank You to Chauntel. BFF's!!

New knitting and an Old moon

The time has finally come... I started a new project! I made myself finish up the Rusted Root before I cast on again. I don't have photos yet of the Root, she's languishing in the finishing pile. A dozen or so ends that still need to be tied in. And you know how much I love tying in ends... So, I moved onto the Tangled Yoke Cardigan from IK Fall '07. I was so excited to cast on! And to start knitting. Not so excited to remember how much I dislike 2x2 rib. :) Don't get me wrong, I love knitting this but ~sigh~ it's the entire sweater on the needles at one time. I do have the Mystery Stole still to work on when I can't take the stockinette any longer... I am knitting the Tangled out of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in a dark chocolate. I absolutely love this yarn. It's a very springy/spongy/tweedy yarn. I think it's going to turn out very nice in this sweater.

We had a full moon this week and I took the camera down to the stairs at the beach to see if I could get some cool photos. I was trying to play around with shutter speed on the camera but I didn't get the effeect I was looking for. Despite that, there is something that attracts me to these pictures...maybe a quietness or something about them. Anyway! Here they are:

And on a complete sidenote, having nothing to do with knitting or moons, I absolutely love the music in the Lord of the Rings movies. Our cable is out this morning and I am not a fan of just turning on the radio so I popped in the Fellowship of the Ring. The music evokes such feelings for me. I love how the music reflects the lifestyles of the people in the movie. Long flowing music for the elves (it brings to mind their jewelry with the long delicate strands of silver) and hard choppy music for the Orks. I love these movies...