shutterboo

I have this thing.  About school supplies.  I suppose office supplies could be included but staplers and hole punches don’t really do it for me.  Pens and pencils and notebooks and paper and markers and push pins and generally anything related… I dig it.

I have a pack of Sharpies that come in 12 different colors.   I bought a box of crayons last year for a quarter.  One for me, one for PodMate.  I know, Big Spender.  I have a super fun notebook to keep my blog notes in.  Recently, I purchased some colored pencils.  A pack of 24.  I had to have a box of my own after getting some for my niece’s birthday.  To use with her Project Runway fashion stencil set.  I envied a ten-year-old’s birthday gift – I think I may have a problem.

(I didn’t purchase the fashion stencil set.  I thought about it – but then thought better of it.  Vacation fund donation.)

I know that I’m not the only one that enjoys these little things.  But I feel like a dweeb.  I’ve tried sorting out exactly why walking down the Crayola aisle makes me happy and I’ve come to two conclusions:

1. I’m a crafter.  I like crafting.  I have a huge stockpile of scrapbooking supplies, boxes of paints and brushes, stamps and inks and even supplies to emboss things.  I like to emboss.

2. I’m a girl.  A woman rather.  But definitely girly.  But not like fru-fru girly.

The second conclusion falls into that old formal logic Venn diagram where not all school supplies lovers are women and not all women are school supplies lovers but a portion of them fit the bill.  Are you asking why would I even think this?  Never fear, I have reasoning behind my logic: my niece.

My Monkey of niece is obsessed.  We walk into Target or a book store or wherever, she flocks to look at ink pens and markers and journals in the coveted Crayola aisle.  She always wants to go into the book store when she visits.  Not for books to read.  For books to doodle in.  With pretty colors.  Child after my own heart.  This was me when I was ten.  Hell, this is me now.  A new pack of colored pencils excited me; I was  immediately inspired to draw.  And think of different ways to photograph the colors.

So tell me, am I on to something?  Or am I completely wrong and possibly *gasp* stereotyping?  Or am I just a complete weirdo that thinks about school supplies a bit too much?  I could live with that last one… I do love me some colored pencils.

When I usually get together with friends from college, it tends to be a large group.  Husbands with their wives, boyfriends with their girlfriends, babies and more babies.  Of late though, us ladies have decided to ditch the men [and call up babysitters for appropriate parties] and have a girls night.  Nothing wild and crazy.  Just a fun, relaxing time where we can catch up.

Last time we got together, we painted pottery.  I always wanted to do it but once there I was completely overwhelmed.  And it took me forever to decide what piece I was going to paint, my design, etc.  The whole darn thing took forever.  We decided to try something different this time: making jewelry.

There’s a beading store in Middletown called Beadlings.  And at Beadlings, not only do they sell everything you need to make your own beaded jewelry but they’ll let you make it there.  We made a reservation and made ourselves at home for three hours.  Because beading proved to be just as overwhelming as painting a damn plate.  Glass beads, plated beads, natural stone beads… how do you choose?!

But it was fun.  The ladies at Beadlings were extremely helpful and even helped us finish up our pieces.  I don’t know how they do it.  But in the few times I stood by to watch her finish off a bracelet or necklace, my fingers began to ache.  If think I have hand issues now, I can’t imagine how cramped they’d feel if I did what she did.  Ouch.

The night was finished at Señor Iguana.  You have no flippin idea how satisfied I was to finally eat Mexican food.  I’ve asked the hubs repeatedly and he kept using such a lame excuse.  It’s something like it upsets his stomach.  Whatever.  Don’t get a taco – get a salad – and then I go home as happy as a stuffed tamale and his stomach is A-OK.  Rantometer went way up.  Lo siento.

But before we left, I snagged some photos of the store.  Pretty beads, pretty colors and pretty girlfriends – it was a great night.

Beadlings

in Dorsey Plaza

10304 Shelbyville Road

Louisville, KY 40223

www.beadlingsonline.com

A few days back, I showed you my new yarn for my new knitting project.  It’s filled with greens and blues and grays and very very pretty.  But in the photo, it looks really drab. 

I used my light box to take this photo.  And I did open this in Photoshop and lightened it and did a few other tweaks but not much.  At the time, I thought it was OK but now I think it’s drab. 

Drab.  That’s the word of the day.  It’s drabby outside right now too.  Boo drab, boo.

But I’ve decided: no more light box photos after dark.  Why?  Because I took the photo below of the same yarn with help from light sneaking through the blinds.

Yowza.  You can see the greens and blues and grays much much better.  Now, I did a little boosting in Photoshop so the colors do pop a bit more but the background is actually white.  As oppose to ecru.  No more light box after dark.  Either that or I need to bring more lamps into the dining room.

I told you I finished my hat.  Toboggan.  Beanie.  Whatever you call it in your region.  But I didn’t show you.

Ta-Da!

There are two mistakes but you’d never know unless I told.  OK, so one is that it’s a tad too short.  My first hat… with chunky yarn… it was bound to happen… but dually noted.  The other mishap is that I “short knitted” (I think that’s the term PodMate used) and added two extra rows to about 3 inches of hat.  But who cares.  I don’t.  It’s done and it’s cute and it matches my ribbed-for-her-pleasure scarf perfectly.

That happens when you use the same yarn and the same k2 p2 pattern.  You see what I did there?  I used knitting lingo.  I’m casting on, my crafting friends.  Ha ha!  I can’t help myself!

But I do think I’m ready for something larger.  Something bigger.  Something that’s going to take more than 2 skeins of yarn.  Just one more thing for me to make for myself.  That’s big.  So I bought the new strings last night.  Here’s the sneak peak:

I know – I’ve become an addict.  A knitoholic.  But I like it.  And so does my mom.

Let me start off with something completely off subject: the microwave at work.  Why does it smell like Lean Cuisine all of the time?  I just opened after heating up some water for oatmeal and WHAM! stale Lean Cuisine smell hits me in the face.  Ick.  People need to start eating real food.  Food that doesn’t leave it’s stench permanently etched in the microwave walls.  For reals.

---

Back to the lecture at hand [perfection is perfected so let 'em understand], on to Act II: El Sombrero.  I started knitting my matching hat last night.  So far, so good.

You can see the ribbing already.  But this did not start well.  Not at all.

Mom taught me how to cast on.  Not very hard.  But this circular/round/whatever you call them needles are some twisty little bitches.  It took me an hour to cast on 72 stitches.  Well, part of that is because Mom guesstimated the incorrect length of yarn it would take for 72 stitches so I had to start over at one point.  And then it took another 45 minutes to finish the first row.  I swear, those needles had a life of their own.

But after Bev got me connected (see the green marker?), I was smooth sailing.  Round and round I went.  Knit two, purl two, knit two, purl two… it was like I haven’t had a five-week knitting hiatus.

After 30 more rows of that, the confusion will settle in as I will have to start decreasing my stitches.  To make the dome on my hat.  Very interesting.  But  I have a feeling I’m going to be bugging the crap out of Mom and Bev when that starts.  Just an inkling.

As you know, I’m new to knitting.  I’ve got my scarf done and I have yet to start on the matching hat.  I’ve enjoyed knitting so far.  I go to “class” with my Mom and her knitting friends but my PodMate, Susan, also gives me tips along the way.  She encourages me in my new craft that I find fun and relaxing but complex.  When it comes to sticks and string, it can be very complex.

I look at my beginner level scarf – and I love it – but then marvel at the stuff PodMate creates.  She’s really good at knitting.  So she shared a secret.  Well, maybe not a secret but something special nonetheless: her first knitting book.  Which, thanks to her, happens to be my first knitting book too.

Stitch’n Bitch.

Groovy title.  Cool quips and sayings on the inside.  With drawings and easy-to-understand directions.  This is my kind of book.

I haven’t dived into yet but have flipped through it several times.  This will be an excellent resource for when I get stuck again [and again].  And there are some cute patterns too.

Like this one.  Pretty much the same pattern for my scarf only mine has 22 stitches and this one has 32 (making it wider).  I can’t wait to start telling people “This is my ‘ribbed-for-her-pleasure’ scarf.”  I didn’t say that to my Granny though – I have manners ya know.

And Miss Wendi, this is the difference between a knit and a purl.  I couldn’t have said it better.  Actually, I didn’t.  I kind of failed at that.  But now we know. 

And knowing is half the battle.  I kill myself.

PodMate, I really really like my new book.  You know you didn’t have to go and do a thing like this but it is very appreciated.  Muchas Gracias, my amiga!  I can’t wait to break in the binding.  And still bog you down with crafting questions.

I finished my scarf!

I started this knitting gig about six weeks ago.  My Mom got me started, fixed my mistakes and helped finish her up.  And so did Bev’s magic hands.  I know how to bind off now.  I have absolutely no idea how to cast on.  Which is why I haven’t started on another project yet.  Minor details though.

Here she is, in all her glory, my long, squishy, warm, incredibly soft and static-infused scarf:

It took me 1 week to mess up as much as I possible could.

It took me 2 weeks to distinguish a knit from a purl.

It took me 3 weeks to be able to undo my row to fix a mistake.

It took me 4 weeks to complete 3 rows without a mistake.

It took me 5 weeks to feel like I was “knitting into a black hole”.  (says PodMate)

It took me 6 weeks to finish the darn thing and then tell everyone I’ve met “I made this.  Myself.  With yarn and wooden sticks.  Isn’t it fantastic?”

I love this thing and we don’t even know each other that well yet.  But we will.  Because I plan to wear it everyday it is under 40 degrees outside.  So that when I meet more people I can say “I made this.  Me.  I know, seems impossible right?  Who knew wooden sticks were so useful.  Those apes were on to something.”

My favorite part is the fringe.  I knew I wanted fringe on the scarf when I started it.  And I love it.  I just don’t love how static has these little guys floating through the air and taking my hair with it.  Boo static, boo.

For my next act, I will be doing a hat.  A matching hat.  So it will be ribbed like my scarf.  And in the same yarn.  But I may have to omit fringe.  Or just put a big tassel on top.  We’ll play that one by ear.

To see my scarf’s progress:

I’m On My Way

I’ve Been Bitten

… by the Knitting Bug.  I’m digging this knitting thing.  I’ve had three fat mess ups since last week.  One I was able to fix myself but that’s 30 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.  The second mistake my wonderful Mom was able to correct in a couple minutes.  And the third error my Mom had fixed in 5  seconds flat with a crochet hook.  Show off.

But it’s going good.  Knitting that is.  And if I can keep a steady pace [and not have catastrophic mess ups] I could quite possibly be done in a week or so.  This is how far I’ve gotten since last week:

With just a week of knitting under my belt, I’ve learned things.  Things I didn’t think I’d be able to accomplish like

• how to knit and purl at once and be able to distinguish them.
• realizing how relaxing it is.
• how to hold my needles correctly instead of balancing them on my belly.
• how to fix mistakes – which this might help me with my impatience.  Or not.
• noticing how annoyed the BDD gets that 1) she cannot sit in my lap (like she fits) and 2) keeps getting spooked by a rogue needle that taps her while she sleeps.

I think I’m going to be sticking to these easy to do/easy to finish knitting numbers.  Hats and scarves will begin to take over the hall closet.  Or my friends will all start wearing the “Brooke Winter Collection.”

To becoming the world’s best knitter.  I went to knitting class last night.  I stopped by JoAnn’s Fabrics on the way home (you have NO idea how frickin happy I am we FINALLY got a JoAnn’s!  Love that place!) and picked out some yarn.  I wanted something soft and bright… and chunky.  Mom helped me pick out a pattern – we decided that a scarf would be a good first project because it would move pretty fast.  And then she started casting me on.  I have no idea how to do this because the lady moves so fast with needles.  She never moves this fast with other things.

And after 3 hours and 3 televisions shows, I know how to do it.  Don’t get me wrong, I screwed up a lot.  Mom helped me a lot.  But like Bev says, “it’s an heirloom, who cares if you miss a stitch here or there.”  And since my scarf has ribbing, not only do I know how to knit but I know how to purl.  How ’bout them apples. 

This is what I’ve done so far.  I’m very pleased with it. 

If you got something negative to say about my first stab, take your remarks somewhere else.  I took the day off work to be happy – if I wanted somebody to tell me what I could have done better, I’d had gone to work.

I do really like it so far.  It’s so soft and cushy.  I really like Mom’s needles.  They are multi-colored bamboo sticks and are slick and pretty and fit in my hands so nicely after I knew what I was doing.  I did have a big hiccup at the beginning – I should have purled when I knitted and should have knitted when I purled.  But Bev said she’d help me make the same mistake on the other end so that it looks like it was on purpose.  Now that you know that it might be a waste of time.  I just don’t know when to shut up.

Since I went to JoAnn’s, I stopped next door to the “paint your own pottery” pottery place to pick up my plate I painted.  I like it too.  Firing it made all the difference.  The pencil lines are gone.  It’s all shiny and smooth.  I’ll probably use it tomorrow for the hubs’s party.

And that’s all she wrote.  I need to get my rear in gear because I took today off work to do work around the house.  And get my hair cut because I haven’t done it in like four months and I’m starting to look like a shaggy dog.  More tomorrow since I’m trying NaBloPoMo on for size.  Enjoy the sunshine [if ya got it].

Last night I met up with six of my wife-friends for a girls night out.  And we did something we’d never in a million years talk our husbands into doing: we painted pottery.  I’ve never painted pottery besides what I did in art class back in high school but this was fun.  And stressful (for me at least).  But when in good company, time flies by and the good times roll. 

I didn’t take the kahuna – I wanted to paint.  But Mel had the hunk and was flexing her muscles.  We seriously need to weigh this camera.  I’m waiting for the day Mel picks it up and starts doing arm curls with it.  Then we can all get tickets to her gun show. 

It took me FOREVER to figure out what I was going to do.  I knew I wanted something that would be used so I chose a square platter and then free-hand my design.  I’m satisfied.  I can’t wait to see what it looks like after its fired.  Why do they make you wait a week? 

I want to do this again.  Only next time I’m going to plan ahead and have a design already to go.  So I won’t pace the pottery walls in search of the perfect piece.  Or stand at the paint wall minutes at a time trying decide on colors.  Yep, definitely need a POA next time.