You've got mail!

Specifically.. packages.

Okay, not many. But I got a few. I went a little wild you see. I ordered Romantic Hand Knits and an abacus counter (THIS oneand some of those GORGEOUS stitch markers that hug the needles from from HIDEandSHEEP (I got my order in before they showed up on Lime and Violet though. HA!)

Last week I got some Noro Kureyon. Gorgeous colours.

Then what did I do? I spent more. I blame my Mom though, she's an enabler. I showed her the yarn and what I was going to do as gifts (and for us!) and she said oh so innocently "Can you buy more of this? Make one for my Mom and other sister?" How could I say no? Especially when she's helping to pay. ;)

Then I joined up the Mystic Watrs KAL. How could I not with a description like this?

Have you ever found yourself staring into a deep ocean pondering the mysteries beneath the surface?
Or swam in a dark lake at sunset?
Do you feel the lightness of the summer rain?
Water has many forms and faces, and yet they are all the same - simple H2O.

Presented in an original design, this triangular shawl show some of the many faces of water.

The laciest thing I've made is the montego bay scarf (as yet unfinished.. it'll be done by next spring lol) but this called to me. And I must've had a premonition cuz those stitch markers? Are the size of the needles called for in the pattern (of course I may have to go up or down a size, but let me have my moment..).

So of course I had to order some lace weight, from knitpicks. And while I was at it, looking at the needles and realized I didn't have any in the size called for.. and then mentally calculated what I've been paying for just in needles.. and slipped and fell, clicking on the options set (not the harmony though).

And I had to buy enough yarn for mittens for the men in my life.

So I'm going to hope that my review is good this year, and gets me a raise, just to pay for all this! Or maybe I'll be using my gain share to pay for it. That's what I did last time I went on a splurge like this. This will keep me busy for ages!

Oh, and that bag I am working on? Well, I have yet to felt it (still) but I found some really cute buttons at Make1. One of which will go for this purse, and a couple for future purses (one for me, and one for BFF for Christmas).

Me + extra money + yarn = crazy

When I've got extra money (like, say.. my tax return) do not let me loose in the yarn store.

Yeah, I wandered over to Make1 the day I got my tax return since I had also seen on their blog that they had this new yarn from Sublime, an Angora Merino in DK weight that is ohhh so soft. It looked so yummy in their picture that I just had to check it out.

So of course I went over, and ended up spending lots of money since I bought enough for a cardigan, and needles for it (because I buy as I go and I knew I didn't have that size at home yet). You see me and.. uhm the one I talked to at the store (I'm so bad with names, forgive me) figured that it would work beautifully for the Dollar and a Half Cardigan in Spring Interweave. I also bought yarn to make this for my uncle, whose birthday is coming up. Actually the guy who designed it looks a little like him, only younger heh.

And of course I bought a new bag, by a local designer. It was just so cute and spring-like that I didn't want to put it down. So I didn't.

I was shaking when I bought the stuff lol. It was like a yarn fix. That happen to other people? Or maybe it's just because I was spending so much. I was shaking like that when I bought myself a a Jone New York suit (because it was the only one I could find that fit me right at the time.. but worth it).

I really really want to start on one of my sweaters, but I promised to finish my son's before I start on one of mine. That way I'm not distracted and he'll get his sweater before he grows out of it lol.

You figure I could finish most of it this weekend? I only have the top of the second sleeve and the hood to knit (I finished all the decreases last night during Top Chef, we're a season behind up here). I figure finish the sleeve and watch a movie tonight and knit.. then I can block it and do the finishing in the evenings (when not doing homework of course). Hmm need some buttons too.

I got mail!

Wow..

So, I just got my Namaste bag. This thing is GREAT!

It's big. Bigger than I thought it would be (for some reason that always happens).

Inside is split in half lengthwise by a zippered pocket, with another zippered pocket at the back (like most purses) and 3 open top pockets of varying size. Two flapped pockets at the front, then another in the top part you fold over. It's deep and can seriously carry everything. I can fit my knitting and accoutrements ie pattern and notions, mp3 player, gameboy, book, wallet.. everything. I'm thinking of throwing it all in there tomorrow and just carrying my lunch kit and it instead of the whole backpack like I usually do. Just to try it out. Heck, maybe I can fit my lunch kit in there too!

Well worth the $110 I paid when you take into account the exchange rate, quick shipping and customs fee (I probably wouldn't get it cheaper if I went to the LYS that carries it.. I'm not even sure where that one is though, nor how to get to it on the buses).

Scout's Swag was great also. Sent it off right away (and so polite about it.. note to self, email her your thanks).

Working on the Pithy Hat pattern. It's coming along really nicely, so I can't wait to finish it.

Tendonitis, knitting, shopping and other random thoughts

Yeah, I hate that stuff. I managed to strain my wrist last September at a Dropkick Murphy's concert while fending off crowd-surfers in the mosh pit (man that was SUCH a blast, I wish I could've gone to Billy Talent and done the same..) and ever since then my wrist likes to act up.

I'm also on the computer most of the day at work, and I'm an internet junkie at home (when I can spare time between life of course) but even the jelly wrist rest for my mouse pad doesn't help a whole lot (don't have one for the keyboard, awkward to put one on my set-up and how I type).

So as I knit tonight I can feel my wrist hurting just a little, the precursor to possibly more hurting and icing and taking motrin while sticking it in a brace to immobilize it. And no knitting.

You really don't realize how much you use your wrist in everyday actions until you stick it in a brace. Knitting becomes a very awkward thing when you have to keep your wrist straight. Try doing it if you don't believe me.

But, it seems to be fine again for the moment and I've finished the front panels of Chill Chaser (sorry, no pics.. I really will get around to taking them, some day) and have got a few inches on the first sleeve. When I work on it, it really goes fast. I'm just such a flibbertigibbet that I don't work on it much (since I also have those socks that I'm still working on, and I really ought to finish the Ravenclaw scarf in time for the last Harry Potter book). I'll find time. Somewhere.

My son is really excited about the sweater though, when I pull it out to knit he wants to sit next to me and hold the ball of yarn. Which is really cute, but doesn't work so well when he holds it tight enough that I can't pull more yarn out to keep knitting. It seems to be turning out good so far though *knocks on wood* and soon as I do the rest of the knitting I'll be doing the blocking and finishing.

I've never had to seam a knitted item in my life. Thankfully, I've got books to help me.

In other news, I did a crazy thing. I saw the Namaste bag on Subway Knitter and I bought it (in chocolate, not there, elsewhere, as I heard some not good things about their shipping of bagsand found better reviews at Scout's Swag). I must've been feverish. I really do not need another bag (knitting or otherwise). I don't know what has happened to me, but me.. the tomboy, the hater of shopping, has started a collection of bags and purses.

Now I must admit, I haven't taken it too far. All the purses and bags in my posession I do use on a regular basis. Purses get rotated as the mood and occasion strikes, bigger bags and totes get used to store knitting and books, or other things (for example I have the huge ugly straw looking bag that hangs on a hook on the back of my door to hold all my bandannas and belts and the like) but if I keep going like this I will be buying tiny useless bags that I will not use.

Someone needs to stop me!

Or distract me with yarn.

But now, now is the time to go rest my wrist, drink a lot of water and pack away my knitting. The bus has been emptier lately on the way to work, so I can sit and knit! I've also gotten a few more audiobooks (the first three Dresden Files) and grabbed some radio shows (The Shadow, Roy Rogers, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) to listen to. In some ways I really will miss my bus time when I finally get my license and a car.

The first day of fall.

So I did make it down to Make 1, and I bought some stuff for my slowly growing stash.

Not that I want it to grow too big, instead I try to only go when I have definite plans in mind. This way, I get stuff that I know I will use (at some point) and don't have too much excess floating around.

Ended up spending $80, so I am glad for the sale! I should've grabbed one of those little bags they had to hang off your purse or beltloop and stash your yarn in. Would've been perfect to tuck into my backpack for work. Ah well. Maybe I can do something with my sewing stash. (Another reason to go with definite ideas in mind, no multiple stashes.. I have one for sewing, one for knitting/crochet and one for cross-stitch. Only knitting gets pulled out regularly because I know what I want to do with it. Well, so do I with the others so I suppose that's not an excuse.)

So now I have one ball of Trekking XXL in deep berry (I want to try making socks, and if they turn out well I can make a pair for my sock fanatic pal), 3 balls of Cashsoft DK in sweet, black and kingfisher and Rowan kid classic in glacier. I also bought 3 new sets of bamboo DPNs in sizes I don't already have.

So all in all it was a gorgeous first day of fall, spent checking out some nifty little stores and creating a small stash for myself.

Just lovely.

Plans, plans, plans

Today the plan is:

- Call the bus operator because the website sucks and refuses to give me directions to Make One Yarn Studio.
- If it's a reasonable distance/time to get there, call up my friend and we will meet somewhere and go check it out.

Otherwise we both are going to Gina's.

I need some supplies so I can get started on stuff for presents and hopefully finish before Christmas. That's why I also picked small projects, so they go faster and will keep my attention better. Big projects always take me a long time to finish (Says as she recalls her stack of cross-stitch projects from a few years back that are put away until little fingers know better than to get into pointy needles and embroidery thread).

In other news, NEXT weekend is a knitting/sewing/cross-stitch etc fair down at the Roundup Centre. With lots of demos and hands on things to do, try and buy.

There's even a coupon for $2 off admission on the very last page of the brochure!

I now know what next weekend's plans are.

But, right now, I'd better go call and drink my coffee.

ETA: Good thing I checked my blogs today! Make 1 has 20% off if you mention that you saw the post on their blog for TODAY ONLY.

WHEE! More incentive to go!