« February 2005 | Main | April 2005 »
March 30, 2005
I've Got a Nose for News....
Okay - I have two takers for interviews! If anyone else wants to play, leave a comment below - and take a peek at the rules in my earlier post. Please note that since Heather and I are sisters... it was really hard to think of questions! Here we go! Heather's Interview: 1. If you could be any vegetable, which would you be and why? 2. What do you think is your absolute worst trait? Think you'll ever improve upon it? 3. List your favorite memory of each of your sisters. 4. Do you really think you sold your soul to the devil for a ride home? Maybe you'd best provide a little background info on this as well - since we might not all know the whole story! 5. What really happened to all the spoons in our house in Monroe? Karen's Interview: 1. You live in Brooklyn and I think that's rad! Have you lived in the city all your life? If not, what inspired you to move? 2. Okay, Okay - gotta ask the obvious question! You are an amazing knitter... How did you find knitting and how long have you been at it? 3. Your son is ridiculously cute. Please take this opportunity to tell us all about him - be as mushy as you want!!! 4. What are your favorite types of projects and why? You seem very fond of lace, as well as cables! 5. What is your proudest moment of life so far? Readers, I suggest you check these ladies' sites for their saucy responses! This is fun!
Posted by Sarah at 4:49 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 29, 2005
My Interview
Christine has interviewed me! Wanna play? Leave me a comment that you'd like to be interviewed and I will make up 5 questions for you to answer! :)
1) Aside from your fabulous blog STITCH!, you also are involved in an amazing circle of crafty ladies, the hat city scissor squad. Tell us a little about it, how it got started and what you all are currently up to!
Gladly! Basically, I wanted to get involved in a Stitch 'n Bitch in my area, but the closest gathering was still a 40 minute drive for me.... Not gonna happen! Then I heard of a group that was starting to meet at a nearby quilt shop - but it still just didn't feel right.... I was talking to my sister Mary about it and we both agreed that we really wanted to meet some like-minded craftistas! We didn't care about age - but we wanted to meet some open minded, fun, creative people! I whined to Mary that she needed to learn how to knit so she could come along if I started a group. And then we had a simultaneous epiphany. Why not start a SnB type of group for all crafts? Not just knit and crochet! We sat around and thought of a spunky name (we are QUITE proud of it, thank you very much) and thus, The Hat City Scissor Squad was born. We started as just me, Mary, and our bud Michelle hangin out at the local coffee house, but then we created a Yahoo! group site and posted on Craftster and Get Crafty and all of the sudden we had a half dozen scissorinas!
Over the past 9 months or so, we have grown to a group of 20 and have held Scissor Swap night (where we traded all of our extra craft supplies!), Bath Goodie Making Day, and have now started to hold charity craft-alongs. Right now we are running a Secret Scissor Swap - we each picked names out of a hat and we'll now make something for our Secret Scissor Pal! Next up will be a Naked Lady Party to swap unwanted clothes (and give the extras to Goodwill!) and we're thinking about organizing some "theme nights" where we might teach fellow scissorinas something that we've learned to do! Such as using a drop spindle, making knitting needles, or crafting your own stitch markers.....
I love this group of gals - they are exactly the people I needed to meet! We alternate our meetings between that good ol' coffee house and a bar. :) I love me some knitting and beer. I guess that kind of sums up our group's attitude right there... haha.
2) You have a tight-knit relationship with your family, tell us one thing about each member that you love them for.
Tight knit, eh? Haha. Thats about right... Well, there are a lot of us, so I'd best dive right into it!
My Pop - I love his tenacity... My Dad does't give up too easily on anything and it has rubbed off on me. He is quite stubborn, which I find to be a very good quality. Well, would you look at that? I have that quality, too! How convenient....
My Mom - I love her creativity! My mom can turn a bedsheet into a ballgown, I swear to God! She has always been able to make a whole lot out of a whole little, and with style....
My sisters:
Mary - My sister Mary is possibly the most whimsical person I have ever met. Now, this can sometimes be a frustrating quality for someone very practical minded such as myself... But, no matter how frustrating it can be, it really is my favorite quality she posesses. It's also something I find very difficult to describe or explain.... Let's just say, she quite often has her head in the clouds - and when she's up there she gets some pretty fantastic ideas....
Heather - Wit, my friend. Wit. Heather has a sharp mind, but a sharper tongue. I love to sit around with this gal and make fun of stuff, people, ridiculous beliefs... When we are together, we often hazard a guess that we are going straight to Hell, but I am betting on God having an even better sense of humour than Heather.
Caitlin - Okay, by far the hardest to narrow down to just one thing! Cait is the youngest of us girls - and I am the oldest. When she was born, I was old enough to babysit. And I did! While my Mom worked nights, I changed diapers, sang her to sleep, and got to watch her grow into a cute little pixie. Of course, she kept growing and now towers over me... I feel like a dwarf next to this kid! When she was 3 or 4, she started calling me "best friend" along with her mangled version of my name (she called me "Chara") and we had little heart shaped necklaces to prove it. By the time I left for college, she was 5 and it was ridiculously hard to go! I love just about everything about Caitlin - I just can't pick one thing. I think the next people I will be able to say that about will be my own kids. :)
3) Who taught you to knit and what got you into knitting in the first place?
I decided to learn to knit about a year and a half ago because I do a lot of other crafts (sewing especially) and I thought it would be a good thing to know how to do just for the experience... To add embellishments to clothes, etc... So, I went out and bought a "Learn to Knit One Ugly Scarf Kit" and got crackin! I liked it so much I went out to the book store and searched around for a cool book..... Guess what I found? Once my eyes gazed upon Stitch n Bitch by Debbie Stoller, it was all over. I taught myself to knit using that first crappy kit, SnB, and the fabulous interweb, which is what turned me on to the wonder of knitting blogs! I love knitting more than I ever loved sewing - which is saying quite a bit.... Actually, I think that my love of knitting has sparked my love of sewing all over again - I can't wait to make some dresses this Spring to go along with some of the shrugs and wraps I have in mind.....
4) Where did you meet your man, what are his "intentions" (haha, sorry just had to use that phrase) and what is the number one reason you love him so? (That's a hard question! You can only pick ONE!)
I met my man at opening night of the re-release of Return of the Jedi. He was sitting behind me with a friend of mine. He called me a "hippie" and I told him that I preferred not to be classified as any one thing and that he should shove it. Upon speaking with him that night after the movie and participating in a heated discussion about vegetarianism (he was con, I was pro...), I decided this guy was an arrogant ass, who was definitely not worth my time! We became friends over time and he became one of the few people I felt I could really talk to. He's always told it like it is, with no apologies and it became clear that this was something very rare and admirable. It wasn't until 2 years ago, after being friends for almost 6 years, that anything romantic ever happened. I look back, of course and realize that I was absolutely in love with him for at least 4 out of those 6 years..... but hindsight's 20/20 right? Anyhoo, we've been together ever since and I have never had a relationship like this before - and honestly, didn't think I'd ever have one this good.....
His intentions are pure I assure you! We talk a lot about getting married, but he wants to improve his own financial situation before we do that. (I don't care about it, but he's pretty insistent). Whenever and however it happens, I can't wait. He's my best bud. :) And he's a looker to boot! Yowza!
The number one reason I love him so is.... drumroll please....his willingness (and desire) to talk about anything. He is an amazing communicator - anything that is going on, anything he is feeling, he wants to discuss. I love and appreciate that more than anything else. We don't have any secrets and we keep an open line of communication at all times. Because of that, I think we have mutual trust! I trust him enough to tell him what's on my mind or that I'm upset and I know his reaction isn't going to be that he doesn't want to deal with it! He always wants to know - and I think thats pretty amazing.
5) Have you ever been to a pyschic?
No, but I have been around plenty of people who fancy themselves to be psychic.... I've had my Tarot read more times than I can count, but I really doubt more than one of those people actually had a clue about what they were doing... I do believe there are people out there that have psychic abilities though! Just not the five dozen people who have told me they do.
p. s. here are the rules to play along!
1. Leave me a comment saying “interview me.”
2. I will respond by asking you five questions here. They will be different questions than the ones above.
3. You will update YOUR blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Posted by Sarah at 12:14 PM | Comments (6)
March 28, 2005
I'm a Knottygirl!!!
Oh baby. On Saturday, I took an excursion with my sistahs Mary and Heather to Knottygirl, the new yarn shop in Fairfield. Wow. What an awesome little shop! The owner is super enthusiastic, which I love to see!
The decor is very, very cute - as you can see from the bag below, this lady knows style. In the front of the shop she has overstuffed velvet couches and a little plasma screen tv (ooh la la!) - it's called the Knotty Lounge. Tres chic!
I found the selection to be very nice - a great array of Colinette, Manos del Uruguay, Crystal Palace, Cascade and Berrocco. Along with a whole lot of little treats I simply have not seen anywhere else. If she adds Koigu, I doubt I'll shop anywhere else... Ah, Koigu...
While I was there I spent a disgusting amount of money - but how can one resist? I picked up some CP Squiggle for a skinny summer scarf, some Fizz and Fling for a future bag project, some Cherio (SUPER cute papery ribbon yarn covered in fleurs... I have no clue what I will use this for, but it will be something super, I assure you) and some Bling Bling for my Boozehag dedication project. Oh yeah, and a couple of sets of CP circ's for socks! The needles are soooo tiny!
The trip was a success and I will definitely be back! I heart Knottygirl.
Rating: 8 scissor slamma-jamma!
Posted by Sarah at 10:05 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 24, 2005
Makin me a Web Ring!
Okay - so you may or may not notice the funny little ring thing around here somewhere... For all those Scissor Squadders out there, I a working on making a web ring for us! Oooh! How vain we are!
SO - please bear with me while I figure it the hell out... Hmmm I love me some html! I'm actually getting better at it... but apparently, it has not been mastered... Harumph.
I'll keep all you Scissorinas updated. ;)
Posted by Sarah at 5:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 23, 2005
Random Musing
Okay, I don't have a theme right now so I'M WINGIN' IT! ;)
Fellow scissorina Michelle posted directions on making homemade knitting needles on The Hat City Scissor Squad blog! Go check it out - I am so inspired! These would make awesome gifts for knitting friends!
And check out my lady Christine's newest creation - a sexay little tank top which happens to be my namesake! I'm blushing, girl! Christine is an amazing knitter and an up and coming designer to boot! She is also my sounding board and the girl who gets to hear me virtually vent over email. :) Props to you my friend! And thanks - for using my name in yer knitting and for being a great knitting bud! Yet another job well done. All Hail Christine! My favorite Boozehag!
Posted by Sarah at 3:33 PM | Comments (1)
March 21, 2005
WARNING: Non Knitting Post :)
So my sister Mary and I and our two fellas went out to Port Jefferson on Long Island yesterday for dinner at my Aunt Nancy's house. We had a BLAST! We got to hang with our Aunty Nan and Cousin Connie - and her ridiculously adorable (and endlessly entertaining) kiddos!
The girls being girls....
Bridget getting some help with her necklace from Mary - and Aunt Nan supervising :)
I'd like to mention that my cousin Connie and her hubby Paul are saints - they have a 7 year old boy, Riley and 5 year old TRIPLETS! Bridget, Finn and Shane! And they are the happiest bunch of kids you'd ever wanna meet.... Every time I visit with them I walk away utterly impressed... I'd imagine it's hard enough to raise one good kid - let alone four!
The boys being boys...
Here we see RIley and Shane in one of the many feats of strength we were lucky enough to witness yesterday.
I've got to share some shots of the little guys playing Freeze Dance - a game sure to sweep the nation any day now! Connie sits at the stereo playing music while the kids dance - she stops the music AND - you guessed it! Last one moving is out! They dance on until there is a victor.... This was simply too funny...
Here they are all together....
Now it's down to Shane and Finn....
Finn took this round with a shake of his hip!
But Bridget came out on top in the next round - those ballet lessons are paying off, little bud!
I leave you with a picture of the guest of honor. A yummy blueberry topped cheesecake I made that was a hit hit hit! This recipe rocked my world, friends. I love me a good cheesecake....
Posted by Sarah at 10:51 PM | Comments (2)
March 18, 2005
I Got Goodies!!!
OOOOOOOOOOOOH!
I must have been a really good knitter in my past life to deserve what has just been bestowed upon me!!! Look at this!
Here is a lovely parcel, packed to the brim, all the way from Sicily! Zibbibo sent me a lovely thank you for being her Secret Pal in the Knitty Coffeshop's Secret Pal 2 swap! Here you see some bee-yoo-tea-full cotton tape (which is sure to be something faboo for summer!!!), some deelish Italian olives, TWO bags of the most amazingly delicious smelling coffee, a beautiful deck of cards and a postcard of Zib's town! Thanks Wendy for these lovelies! What a thoughtful and generous gift! :)
Here you see two sets of grandiose knitting needles that Michelle made! She brought a whole pile to Tuesday's Scissor Squad meeting for all of us to partake in! This girl simply rocks! And rumor has it that she's working on a new website where she'll be selling these.... Oh, don't worry, I will keep you all informed! :)
And here's a present to myself.... some progress on my Silkroad Cardigan! Back's all done... I'm starting the journey down the front now! I love the way this cardi is constructed. You knit the back and then when you get up to the neck, you bind off the center third and then keep knitting the sides all the way down the front. You then knit another piece for the front which has the ties - and then sew it to the body! Cle-vah!
Posted by Sarah at 7:40 PM | Comments (3)
March 17, 2005
Erin go bragh!
Happy St. Pat's everyone!
On this glorious day, I thought I'd post a couple of links in honor of my heritage (my Pop's side...). For anyone who wants to know the real deal behind the most famous of Irish Holidays (it's really not about drinking, folks!), you can get the scoop at the History Channel website or check out the festivities planned in Dublin!
And though it's not about drinking, I will remind you that Guiness is indeed good for you. (Fulla iron and oh so tasty!) Hell, why not make some unique ice cream in honor of the occasion?
And don't freak, Mom - I'll post some super interesting stuff about being Swedish on St. Lucia Day. :)
SLAINTE!!!!
Posted by Sarah at 5:16 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 16, 2005
cute Cute CUTE!
This is the cutest site ever... and I am going to spend all my money here.
This is the new site that the company my sis works at just launched. It is so ridiculously adorable, I can barely contain myself. They have all these beautiful kits for making shampoo, soap, bath bombs, bath salts.... from novice to pro... And the packaging is stunning. Great instructions and photos - and though it is geared toward children, I think a giganto chunk of the crafty population is gong to eat this site up! :)
So, yes, I highly reccommend this site! Not to mention the people that own the company - and those who work there - are super nice!!! And we'd all much rather give our money to nice folks, right? I hate giving my money to jerks.
Posted by Sarah at 4:46 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 11, 2005
J'aime Vendredi
Have I ever mentioned that I love Fridays?
Look at the happy super surprise I found in my mailbox! Maura sent me a Random Act of Kindness all the way from Sendai, Japan!
This is the equivalent of crack for a Hello Kitty addict such as myself. I was so giddy opening this parcel that I think I giggled all of my words out rather than speaking them. Truly awesome. Thank you Maura!!!!
I've made some progress on my shrug design! However, what you see is not what you'll get as I will be ripping back into the cap sleeves to soften them a bit.....
Now, unexpected ripping causes a bit more.... stress. :) I've decided to rip out my bind-off edge on Charlotte and try to bind off a bit looser to allow some more stretch for blocking. After all that work, it just doesn't do the ol' gal justice to have her miniaturized due to laziness on my part! I think that's my weekend project right there.... But I'm sure to feel triumphant once she's blocked all prim and proper!
Posted by Sarah at 9:36 PM | Comments (2)
March 9, 2005
On the horizon....
Okay, so as I am nearing completion of Charlotte (slowly mind you! a second blocking is in order... and let's hope that's all!), my mind is already racing with ideas for what's next on those darn needles!
Yes, yes, that Silkroad cardigan is progressing nicely.... and I do have a Butterflies are Free scarf from SnB Nation in the works... and those socks keep getting thrown back into the knitting busket... but is this enough to satiate a hungry knitter? Please.
Sooo.... last night I cast on for a little cap sleeved shrug I've decided that I need. It's my own design, and I am hoping that I am pleased enough with the outcome to post the pattern when I'm finished... (Unlike that horrible tease I was guilty of with those cabled mitts... You know, folks, they just never seemed quite right. They'll need a serious re-vamping before I subject you to those bad boys....) Anyhoo, the shrug is being knit with a hank of some loverly Giotto that Karen sent me a while back. I am LOVING the way this stuff knits up! To die for. For real. If this yarn walked out in front of a speeding bus, I would risk my life by pushing it out of the way.
And what sits there lurking in the back of the room, just waiting for it's turn in the spotlight???? Why, it's a fuzzy mohair-look tube top designed by Kristin, one of the talented knitting goddesses of Craftster. And would you look at that.. I just happen to have 2 skeins of HOT PINK Jiffy yarn just dying to be made into a sex-ay little somethin.... It's fate.
Hey! What's that sound?
(cue crashes and giggles)
Well, if it isn't Lelah.
Full of Spunk! Moxie! Gin! She's tellin' me what's what, dontchaknow... "Knit me! Knit me!", she giddily screams while running in circles around my living room. Patience, my dear - perhaps you're next in line! Surely I have some stash yarn that fits the bill..... That gal's got "it" - Men wanna get near her and Women wanna knit her! Mama Christine, be proud!
So it's a full house here. I feel cabin fever rapidly taking control of every molecule of my body.....
so. antsy.
can't. take. much. more.
must. go. out. side.
Posted by Sarah at 2:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 6, 2005
Meet Ms. Billie
My ribbie cardi is complete! I installed the 2-way zipper and finally got around to taking a pic.... I call her Billie on accounta the yummy Schaeffer yarn I used - ooooh purples and blues!!!!
Thanks to Bonne Marie for this spectacular pattern!!! I looooooved knitting this and am sure to make more!
The specs:
Pattern: Ribby Cardi by Bonne Marie of ChicKnits.com
Yarn: Body knit in Schaeffer Laurel in the Billie Holliday colourway... oooh pima cotton.. drool... Arms knit in Reynold Saucy in dusty purple.
Needles: Clover Bamboo circ's in US7 and US8
2-way reversible zipper from Zipperstop
Comments: This was a great, easy and surprisingly quick knit! I lengthened the arms by 1", but aside from that followed the pattern exactly! It fits great and I've been getting compliments on it everywhere I go!
Posted by Sarah at 6:45 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
March 5, 2005
Time for a Block Party
Who wants to be blocked??????
Charlotte is complete! Time to block and decide what to do for the edge.... Fringe? Knotted fringe? Beads? Hmmm.... What do ya think?
Doesn't Chilly Willy look soooo happy? Yeah. He's a happy little feller.
Posted by Sarah at 6:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 4, 2005
Baking for the Bune
So it was my hunny's birthday yesterday. Lookie what I made for him!
He always requests a cake (or cupcakes) made from a boxed mix - completely counter-intuitive for me! So, he agrees to let me decorate whichever way I see fit.... as long as it's doesn't mess with the flavor too much. This year.... a Radiohead Bearthday cake! Whaddya think? :)
Posted by Sarah at 7:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 3, 2005
So you say it's yer Berfday....
Today is the birthday of two people very near and dear (awww!) - my mama and my man. So I thought I would put up some info regarding this infamous day...... Did you know that the Bune and my Mom share their birthday with a whole slew of folks?? Of course you didn't! Well, here are the coolest: James Doohan (Scotty from Star Trek!), Allen Ginsberg, Jean Harlow, Miranda Richardson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tone Loc, Alexander Graham Bell, and Vincent Van Gogh (my favorite of the post impressionists!). And some interesting events have ocurred on this very day in history (lots of racial and gender based events! Their birthday is a progressive one - way to go!): In 1845, Florida became the 27th state. In 1849, the U.S. Department of the Interior was established. In 1849, Congress created the Minnesota Territory. In 1879, Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood became the first woman to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. On March 3, 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" officially became the national anthem of the United States. In 1940, Artie Shaw and his orchestra recorded "Frenesi" for RCA Victor. In 1969, Apollo 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to test the lunar module. In 1991, in a case that sparked a national outcry, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video. Ten Years ago, President Clinton held a news conference in which he asserted his administration had built a safer world and stronger economy while Republicans were trying to cut money for the needy to give tax breaks to the rich. Five Years ago, Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian college, said it was lifting its ban on interracial dating. (University president Bob Jones III made the announcement on CNN’s "Larry King Live.") One Year ago, The first same-sex marriage licenses were issued in Multnomah County, Ore. Happy birthday, Mama! You taught me to ... well... do pretty much everything that I love to do. So, thanks! I hope you have a wonderful birthday filled with lotsa fun - and some time for craftiness, since no day should go by without it. :) and Happy birthday to my darling Bune! Yer the kewlest or some junk. psst! I think yer cute, too! YOWZA! I love you hune! You truly are my better half. NO, really!
p.s. Thanks to my lady Christine for kicking my rear to remind me that I have a blog to post on! Der!!!!
Posted by Sarah at 3:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack