This makes me want to do art NOW
I'm so in love with this site and the whole concept of finding a middle ground between science and culture--read the "about" part and it will all make sense. I wish I had this guy's brain!
I'm schizophrenic!
So I took this quiz, and look how close my responses are to each character! I could be any one of them, really. Well, except the last two. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't quite know who these characters are. My retention is terrible, and unless I've seen a movie or read a book multiple times, the details (including "minor" things like names) escape me. But I'm pleased to say I'm Jane Bennet as her description does sound alarmingly like me. But don't tell--I don't want everyone to know I'm such a pushover!
You scored as Jane Bennet. As someone who would rather see the good in people, Jane is a true pacifist and caregiver. At times, her shy temperament and naive outlook of people can land her in a compliant position, but those who know her love her for her positive spirit and cheerful view of what surrounds her.
Avoiding? Me?
So, I was supposed to have a completed wedding gift by this past Sunday...note the key phrase "supposed to" there.
Well, I started this project for no particular person out of yarn I just bought (rather than using stash yarn like a good little nerd). Lo and behold, the no-recipient-in-mind stole is complete.
You can't see it from the photo, but there are "stripes" in reverse stockette stitch and then broader stripes of garter stitch. The stripes in the photo are actually my decking showing through the fabric.
The yarn is hand-dyed wool/mohair boucle I bought from Mohair in Motion at Maryland Sheep & Wool just 3 weeks ago. Obsessed? I don't think so (although Nerdy Hubby might have something to say about that)!
Speaking of that wedding...here's some "eye candy" from the event.
Every once in awhile, I'm just struck by how incredible it is that we live in such a gorgeous neck of the woods (or mountains, as the case may be). This photo was taken at my friend's wedding at an historic home not 30 minutes away from our house. Isn't it amazing? I can't even wrap my nerdy little brain around the idea of living with and owning 4000+ acres of land. How you even maintain acreage like that, I don't know. But I'm sure glad these folks do it--it's breathtaking!
Before and After
Before...
During...
After:
Isn't he gorgeous?
What I've been up to...
Wow--I have all kinds of fun things to report. Let's see...I had visitors this weekend--my college friend, G, who is moving from NYS to CA, and made a "slight" detour to come to the Nerdy House for a visit. G is a great house-guest because he arrives with ideas for activities, but is happy to do anything (or nothing). We went to the Big University nearby and wandered around and took photos, then went to that University's special collections exhibit where we saw really interesting things (considering how ignorant I've always been about US history, it's amazing that this display about the Declaration of Independence held my attention, but it did). The weather this past weekend couldn't have been more perfect for wandering around outside. Sigh.
Then, on Sunday, we went to Mr. Jefferson's house. Yup, we went to Monticello. Did I mention this was my 5th or 6th trip in that many years? But this time we walked the nature path (close to 3 miles one-way) to Monticello, then toured Monticello and the grounds (floral photos to follow). It was yet another beautiful day for this type of activity!
And, when buying sandwiches from the kiosk after the tour, the server said to me, "You worked at my library." Yup, I've been identified in public; I think I'm a celebrity now, right? Autographs will be available for a nominal fee...8x10 glossies are extra. You see, I used to be a high school librarian, then left that place for the local community college. Coincidentally, the community college is where a lot of "my" high school students go for their first 2 years of college, so I see them for a lot of years. The Monticello employee in question is one of those students. But I prefer to think that I'm just famous all over town...
Then the rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law-in-law (what do you call the person who marries your sibling-in-law?). The coolest thing about this couple is that my sister-in-law-in-law is also my college friend and post-college roommate! Yup, my friend married my brother-in-law! So now she's a permanent member of my family. Yahoo!!!!!
So, we hung out Sunday night-this morning (except for when this pesky thing called "work" interfered). They are driving from Florida to NYS on their way to IRELAND. Sigh. I wish we were going with them!
Nerdy Hubby's family has roots in Dublin, with relatives still living there, so whenever we can get over there, we have a great, friendly place to stay.
Nerdy Brother-in-Law took some fantastic photos of the Beast, which I'll attach to my next all-photo post (they'll be linked to Flickr with captions and all).
Oh, and I also have photos of my cool friends...with what we were hoping would be the mountains in the background, but we ended up with my college's driveway and the shuttle bus, with a touch of mountains. Phooey!
What? You want knitting content...well, I'm "this close" to finishing the stole out of my Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest boucle. When I finish I'll post a photo. Right now, it's basically a big blob of lumpy yarn. It will be beautiful when blocked, honest. I swear.
Did you see my question on Eunny's blog? I'm in there--isn't that cool?! I love Eunny's thorough, well-thought-out responses to questions. I wish I had her brain. Maybe I can be reincarnated in the form of a super-smart, super-creative knitter with long, red curly hair, and peaches-and-cream complexion...oh, wait--that's my own private fantasy. Sorry--too much information, I know.
Moving on...hopefully the next post will be my photos.
Enjoy!
For my One Skein Secret Pal
Well, I haven't actually heard from my One Skein pal yet, but I have faith that s/he is out there somewhere, so I'm going to post the answers to our get-to-know-you questions here.
Pal, this is for you!
1. Which fiber is most like your personality? I don't know about fiber content...I love how soft merino is, and I'm not quite upscale enough to be cashmere...the color is what I think I can identify best--that mixture of pink and orange that's like a dish of sherbet. It's used for kids' clothing a lot (what does that say about me, I wonder?). I love that combination, and I think it indicates my cheery, happy nature.
2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit with? I am often drawn to colors I can't wear (well, I could wear them, but I'd look like death). I looooove weathered colors, especially faded pumpkin, heathered pinks and purples, saturated burgundies and eggplants, and one of my favorites is "maize," basically a nice, faded, natural cornmeal yellow. The colors that actually suit me are the reds and purples and blues that I enjoy wearing, but aren't the ones that draw me to yarns for some reason.
3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns? I made socks for my nephew from some Opal yarn, and one of my first pairs of socks was from a self-striping yarn. I recently bought some more self-striping yarn to try socks again, but haven't used it yet. I really like hand-dyed variegated yarns.
4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns? Not really--color is really what captures my interest, although I've learned that better yarns are better in a lot of cases (to avoid pilling after wear). But I don't have any prejudices against "unnatural" fibers.
5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn? I don't care--I have a ball-winder and a swift, so I can wind skeins on my own. I can never find the center-pull piece when I try, and end up with a knotted mess, but I still try.
6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them? I haven't used organic yarns, but I have used recycled sari silk and recycled cotton (from fabric factory remnants), and I'm really interested in using bamboo.
7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year? I'm not quite sure...if I look at an exact 12-month period from now, I'd say...1 pair of socks (kid-sized), 4 shawls (2 lace, one garter, 1 Clapotis), 3 scarves, 2 sweaters (1 for DH, and 1 for Nephew#2), 2 secret projects for a swap (I haven't given the gift yet), 1 "shelf-warmer" (aka a ponchette), 1 baby bunting (for Nephew#3), 2 felted heart-shaped bowls (hostess gifts), 1 pair of baby booties, 1 stuffed toy (tiger? bear?)...I think that's it.
8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year? Yes, I hope to knit for a friend's wedding gift and maybe for some birthdays. I promised a friend I'd make a Wonderful Wallaby for her little boy who's 2.
9. What is your favorite one skein project? Right now, I've just discovered the Java a Go-Go from MagKnits and love it! I think I might be making a ton of those with my little bits of yarn in my stash. Hee hee hee.
10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it? I have no idea how much yarn I have, but it's an alarming amount, in my mind. It doesn't hold a candle to other knitters' stash, I'm sure, but it kind of embarrasses me. I store it in clear plastic tubs in my office. I have a lot of leftover partial skeins and small amounts of nice yarn I've received in swaps. I have very little in my stash that would enable me to make a whole garment!
11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it? I do have this huuuuuge ball of rewound yarn that someone gave to me once. It had been partially knit into a bizarre rectangular shape like it was going to be a placemat. It's a combination of a bunch of luxurious-looking yarns in pinks, reds, and purples. I don't have a clue how much yarn is in there, and I don't know what to do with it, so I've been enjoying looking at the ball. Not sure when I'll ever actually use it.
12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer? Not that I know of--nothing conscious. I used to stay late at work so I could knit in a nice, air-conditioned environment, but that was before I lived in a place with central air conditioning. Now it doesn't matter how hot or cold it is outside--the inside is plenty comfy.
13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)? Well, I'm on Knitters Review and Knitting Help. I have weird work hours that make it almost impossible to meet up with any in-person groups.
14. Please confirm your mailing address--I'll do that when I hear from my pal.
So, now "all" of my readers know all about my knitting preferences. If it makes you want to rush out to the store to buy something you know I'll just love, I won't stop you. Hee hee.
Stylish critters in turtlenecks
These sheepies were in an awkward position to get a really good photo, but look at what they're wearing, for pete's sake! They must have been tired of all the attention they were getting. STRIPED TURTLENECK SHIRTS, people!
By the way...does anyone know why the young sheepies were tethered so close to the fence that they couldn't really even stand upright? We passed more than one stall with lambs tied to close that they had to be on their tippy-toes (so to speak). Is there a reasonable explanation for this? Anyone?
You guessed it--I finally finished the second attempt at Nerdy Hubby's Rhapsody in Tweed! Unfortunately, the texture doesn't show up very well at all, but if you follow the flickr link, you can see the work-in-progress photo of the cabling. He looks so handsome in his sweater!!
Actually, I posted a link to the photo on Knitters Review, and a commenter said Nerdy Hubby is "yummy." Good thing I've got him where I can see him--someone might try to steal him away!
Finishing this project (again) is another excuse for starting my stole rather than concentrating on the Wedding Gift Project...I deserve something simple and mindless after knitting and ripping and knitting...right? Right?!
Maryland on my mind
Sunday was My Day at MSW (for the uninitiated, that's "Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival"). I saw more gorgeous, hand-dyed, handspun yarn than I could take in, fleece in gazillions of eye-popping colors, and live critters that couldn't be any cuter. Who knew that Merino sheep have wrinkly snouts?! AND that even big, huge, grown-up sheepies shnugle like these two?
Oh, you want to know what I bought? Not much, actually...more on that in a moment.
First, a thank-you to my friend, J, who accompanied me with great enthusiasm, and even got sucked into buying yarn for a garter stitch stole.
I, of course, have abandoned the wedding project that's time-sensitive, and have started a garter stitch stole with no particular recipient in mind, or anything. Hm. Wonder where I got that idea...
Actually, I'm playing with a variation on the lap blanket in Weekend Knitting, you know, the one with the "ruching" (I think that's the word)...I'm doing "stripes" of different gauges. (The original pattern uses different colors and different gauges.) I did 2-3" of size 11 needles in garter stitch (it's fuzzy boucle), and now I'm doing a section of reverse stockinette on size 7 needles. My intention is to create areas where the fabric is "gathered" in and then it will be wider when I got back to my garter stitch, size 11 stripe. I'm excited--this is the first time I've even remotely played with doing something on my own. Granted, I wouldn't have thought of it if I hadn't dreamed of making the lap blanket in Weekend Knits, but still--I'm making it up as I go, which is new for me. Yahoo! Stay tuned for details...
This is the only purchase I've photographed so far...it's mohair/wool boucle from Mohair in Motion, a store without a web presence, if you can believe it. But they will do mail-order, so follow the flickr link in the photo to see a scan of the tag with their information if you're interested. They had gorgeous colorways, especially the autumnal one my friend drooled over forever and ever...all chocolate browns, teals, etc.
Why is it that I'm always tempted to buy colors that don't suit my coloring?! This purchse you see here is not remotely in my "cool" color family, but I love it. It might become a gift if my experiment goes well. We'll see about that.
What else did I buy, you ask?
Not too much...a skein of absolutely wonderful teal boucle for my friend to use to make her garter stitch stole (also from Mohair in Motion); a kit for a blue/white fair isle hat from another not-on-the-web store; a kit for a hat from Shelridge Farm (I love their wools...the way they dye them makes the fabric look like it has been painted with watercolors!); and a few (3 or 4) patterns...one (#241) is a duplicate of one I already had--I have such good taste that I recognize a beautiful sweater when I see one...but it takes more than one purchase for my brain to retain the whereabouts of the patterns, I guess. So, someone in my life might be receiving the pattern for a wonderful cardigan. Aren't they lucky?
It's funny--the reason I HAD to have the pattern was I saw a sample hanging on the vendor's wall, and it looked so nice and simple and wearable that I thought it was something practical to make, and very stylish. If I hadn't seen it in real life, I don't know how long it would have taken me to get around to noticing the pattern in my library, and to decide I should make it. I'm such a visual person--seeing makes me believe!
Who could disturb this sweet scene?
I was "this close" to finishing the new-and-improved Rhapsody in Tweed project, but how could I ask my poor, sleepy pup to move when he's so cute and comfy?
You guessed it--I left him there and watched TV instead. Sigh. I'm such a sucker for a cute face!
