Simpsonize Me!!

Some of you suggested that I try using Google Reader instead of Bloglines. Great call! I knew it would be good since I already use Gmail and love that. I set up my iGoogle page and it has my email and all of my unread blog posts. That is awesome. I also love that I can star posts. It makes it super easy to come back to them later. Between Google Reader and Ravelry I think I got my blogging/knitting organized. Oh and if any of you are on Ravelry, my Ravelry ID is Micjones. Feel free to add me!

In honor of The Simpsons Movie that came out on Friday I Simpsonized myself. I did not get to see the movie yet but hopefully I will soon. This is me and Jessie. I could not change Jessie's colors though...



I made a trip out to Knit and Stitch in Cocoa Village on Saturday to see what they had in. They just started selling Cherry Tree Hill Yarns. They have some awesome colorways in. I ended up getting some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (at 40% off!!) and some new dpn’s. I had to get some more Debbie Bliss after what Jessie did to mine. I swear I left it out for 5 min to go find a calculator (the stupid think is in meters and the pattern is in yards) and this is what I came back to.


I casted on for Horcrux Socks from Susan's site with the new Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and was done with the ribbing last night. I got all the way to the pattern part of the leg and I don’t know what I did but I got all messed up. I guess I shouldn’t knit when I am that tired. Since I didn’t feel like trying to fix whatever I did, I frogged it.

Saturday night was very…interesting. Thomas had met Kip James of TNA Wrestling a while back at a celebrity golf tournament. He had invited us to come watch him a couple of times so we went out to Eau Gallie High School to see the show. Now if you are into wrestling I don’t mean to offend you but it was hilarious!! I knew it was fake but I had no idea how fake it was. At least the muscles were real, those guys were big! Imagine me, sitting in a room full of nerdy kids and very nerdy adults that were into this stuff and I am laughing hysterically. The people were interesting too. It is one thing to be a kid and into this stuff, but there were grown men (and one very interesting and loud grown woman) that were cheering them on. I mean come on, they weren’t even getting close to throwing real punches. Kip’s wife asked me to remind her not to come to these shows next time.

Please remind why I shouldn’t go next time the hubby says lets go watch wrestling.

-Michele-

Random Wednesday

Well, it’s another rainy afternoon here. I love Florida storms (when I’m not driving in them) because they are not like storms anywhere else. I had never seen it rain so hard until we moved here. I think it is beautiful. Even when the power flickers in and out we just turn off the TV and light some oil lamps. The hubby will read and I will knit. It’s kinda romantic with all the thundering and such. I am not looking forward to driving home in this. Ugh…

I finally got some pictures of my Pink Dot Beach Bag. Like the pattern from Knitting Wench said, it only took me an afternoon once I had all the pieces cut. Cutting the pieces was a whole other project. You see, I am new to sewing. I will measure and re-measure and then cut. I measure again and the stupid thing will be an inch too short. What was I thinking? It just amazes me that I can be this bad at measuring. Well I don’t really think I am that bad but I do need to pay more attention and maybe keep the kitty from walking all over it. Still I think it turned out nice.

And I just love how the handles look. They have a strip of quilt batting in them.

I also worked on the Big Bad Baby Blanket. I have not felt like working on my sock lately. I still like the yarn very much but I just really want to get the blanket done and I’m almost there.

Has anyone seen Cafepress yet? They have a whole list of 3,320 items that are all knitting related. There are so many things that I want already. Funny stuff too! Like this or this. It’s great!

I also discovered Bloglines and I hate it. Is there another site that sorta does the same thing out there? I don’t know why but I really don’t like the way the site runs. It is not very user friendly to me. Right now I just have a bookmark folder that I have all the blogs in. I need to organize and I want to be able to access it anywhere, not just at this computer. There has to be more ways to do this.

And, there is another contest. Check out LaVerna’s site and enter!

Well I hope everyone has a good night! Is anyone going to go to Barnes & Noble for the Wednesday night knitting group?

-Michele-

Sewing and Another Contest

I hardly knit anything over the weekend. That’s because I was sewing a new bag. I got the pattern from Knitting Wench and when I started the bag I noticed how similar my fabric was to hers. I was just looking for something 100% cotton, cheap and cute. I got this:

This was the smaller drawstring bag that I made with the scraps. I have to get some good pictures of the larger bag tonight. It is BIG. I knew that is was beach bag sized from the pattern but I had no idea it would be this big. And mine was even a few inches smaller because I can’t cut a straight line. (Yes even with a rotary cutter and ruler, I am a nerd)

So with what little knitting I did this weekend I worked on the Big Bad Baby Blanket. I don’t know why I picked it up again. I haven’t touched the thing in months but about a week ago I saw it. It just stayed in my mind every time I opened the drawer it was in. So I’m back to it and this time I aim to finish it. I am almost ¾ of the way done.


I also got to have lunch with Angie on Saturday down in Melbourne. I only had to drive through a hurricane to get there. Well it wasn’t exactly a hurricane but driving down South Tropical Trail in the wind and rain sure felt like it. I was soaked from just running from the car to the coffee shop. We had a great time though! It’s nice to meet another knitter in the area that’s into the same things as me.

There is another contest going on. It seems like everyone is having a contest right now. This one is over at Knitting Sutra. Here are the rules from her site:

Just send an email to knittingsutraATgmailDOTcom Subject: Contest with a link or citation to your favorite pool-defying sock pattern.

Deadline for entries: July 31, 2007, 6:00PM EST

1. Obviously there's no way to absolutely prevent the pool, but the pattern has to do a pretty good job of it. If possible, your links should include photos so I can verify. For patterns from books, see if you can find a photo in Flickr or Ravelry.

2. You cannot suggest Monkey Socks because its pool-blocking properties are well-known.

3. It's OK if you think the pattern combats the pool of a specific yarn, and it doesn't have to be Jitterbug.

4. Since submissions are anonymous, people can submit the same pattern.

So go enter and make sure to mention that you found it here!!

Also, Alyson mentioned that the Knitty surprises are up. I happen to love her favorite, the Everlasting Bagstopper. Cute!! Now what yarn to use…

-Michele-

What A Long Night

Well last night was unexpectedly long. The hubby came home at lunch after getting something in his eye at work. He installs home theater systems so it could have been wood, insulation or something else. We decided to go get some dinner at La Fiesta in Cape Canaveral but ended up going to the ER right after since his eye had not stopped hurting him. After waiting 3 ½ hours to see a doctor we found out he scratched his cornea. He went to the eye doctor this morning and he will be fine. It just takes a few days to heal. I was glad I had my sock with me to knit while we were waiting though.

I also knit in the restaurant while we were waiting for our food. After we left there was a car parked next to mine that had a sticker that said “I’d rather be knitting” and a license plate frame that said” I brake for sheep” I was so excited that it took all I had in me not to run back in the restaurant waving my needles shouting that I’m a knitter too. I don’t think I have ever just come across another knitter in public before. I was surprised they didn’t see me knitting in the restaurant. I got to get me one of those stickers…anyone know where to get some??

I got a package from my mom a couple days ago. She sent me holiday placemats. I loved them. They are so cute! I have never really decorated for the holidays, except for a tree, because I don’t really have any decorations. We have only been married 2 years and have not accumulated much on our own yet. Last year after Christmas I got a ton of stuff though. You know, the Wal-Mart day-after-Christmas sales. So now I have one more thing to decorate with. I got a set for Christmas, Valentines Day and Easter.

Ooooh, I almost forgot. I won another contest. This time it was over at Kitten Knits Yarn. I can’t believe that I have never one a contest before in my life and here I win two in one month! I am so excited. I can’t wait to get my set of stitch markers. Thanks Shell!!

Oh and did ya see?? Harlot is going to Atlanta in Sept. Is that too far to go see her??

Have a good day!!

-Michele-

Another Contest

Just a quickie post to let you all in on a contest. Head over to The Heathern Housewife and enter to win a copy of Victorian Lace Today and a skein of laceweight merino. She will even dye it for you in your choice of colors! Just be sure to let her know that you found out by my blog so I can get another entry!!

Have a good day!!

-Michele-

So Much For a Lazy Weekend

What I thought was going to be a lazy weekend was anything but. We had a good night Friday. It was one of those stormy, eat toasted coconut ice cream at 10pm kind of nights.

What was weird is that when we went to Bugsy’s to get ice cream, they had one of those stuffed animal machines that take all your money, only it didn’t have just toys. I couldn’t believe it but there was an iPod Shuffle in there. I was stunned. Needless to say that $10 later I still didn’t have an iPod. My way of thinking went like this: “Even if I have to spend $20 it’s still cheaper than buying one!” Too bad I didn’t have my camera with me. It was so weird to see it in there.

Then Saturday morning rolls around and I got a call from a friend. Their new house has been built for about a month now and they just had not moved yet. So they decided to do it now. And they had not packed yet. It wasn’t so bad though. It was only 2 streets away from their old house and it only took about 4 hours to get everything over there. Not too bad at all.

Sunday evening we went to a party for a friends daughter. It was amazing. They had a pool party with a blow up bouncer water slide thingy, catered food and bar (Yum!), and over $2000 in fireworks, a whole truck full. I still can’t believe the kind of fireworks that you can buy in Florida. The show was beautiful but quick. They had to light them all at once and get it over quick because the cops had already been by for the noise. Fireworks are only supposed to be for agricultural use here. So we were…um…scaring squirrels…right. I think The Harlot would approve of that! I wish my dad put on a fireworks show for my birthday!!

I did get some knitting in over the weekend. I finished the tow for the Purple Eater sock. I think I like it but it may be a bit big. I don’t know for sure but I do know I am not frogging another toe!


And for now it’s back to work!! How was your weekend??

-Michele-

Friday the 13th Are You Scared?

I have to admit that I am not a very superstitious person and I have no reason to fear Friday the 13^th because nothing good or bad has happened to me on this day. (now I better knock on wood!) II just thought it was weird that so many odd things happen to include 13’s.

For instance:

“According to Smithsonian Magazine "fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month."
*
Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.
*
Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.
*
Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.
*
Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper
(although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).
*
Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.
*
There are 13 steps leading to the gallows and 13 knots in a hangman's noose.
*
The guillotine blade falls 13 feet.
*
The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l'Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.
*
Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger's fears on Friday the 13th.
*
British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th
(as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.
*
Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launch pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.”

Info courtesy of Donna @ Cosmic Society

Weird… Well I still see today as just another day, but maybe I will just stay home tonight and knit... Speaking of knitting, I finished Zeeby's bag.

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Superwash in Deep Ocean and Baby Blue
Pattern: Zeeby's Bag from Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitters Handbook by Debbie Stoller
Pattern Designer: Tina Paredes
Date Finished: 7/12/2007

It got kinda boring in the middle when it just seemed like there were miles of stockinette stitch. I like how it turned out but just like some of the reviews said, it is kinda stretchy. If I don’t put a liner in it I don’t think I could put anything heavy in it or use it as an every day purse. Here is a close up of the detailing.

I started over on the Purple Eater Sock and am almost halfway done with the short row toe. I like how it looks so far. I hope to be well into the foot by the end of the weekend.

So is anyone a little bit nervous about what today is???

-Michele-

Surprise, Surprise

I just love Surprises

Sometimes they are great. Like this one:

I got this from a contest that I won on Kris’s blog. I can’t believe it…I won a contest. It is my first win and the prize is so awesome. This is the bag that Kris made. Yes, I know, she made it…beautiful. If you want a bag for yourself, you can get one from her etsy shop or find a store here.


Also in the bag was a skein of Merino Oro lace weight and a hand knit dishcloth. Beautiful stuff. I can’t wait to knit with the Merino Oro but the only problem is that I have never knit lace before. Any suggestions for an easy beginners pattern with this yarn? I searched it on Ravelry and found a couple of nice shawls. The dishcloth is beautiful too. Love the colors and stitch pattern. I will have to ask Kris for it.

Thanks so much for a great contest prize!! I love it!

Other Surprises are sometimes not so great, like this one:

This was from Jessie. I came home to find the last ball of Knit Picks Swish Superwash that I am using for Zeeby’s Bag stretched all the way down the hallway into my bedroom where she leaves all her toys. I don’t know how she got it because I swear that I put it in a drawer. At least she didn’t chew through any of it.

Isn’t she sweet??

Zeeby’s Bag now has a pocket on the inside so all that’s left are the straps. I didn’t work at all on the last strap in the last few days because I am trying to cast on for the Purple Eater Sock. I started it using Wendy’s Toe-Up Sock with Gusset and Slip Stitch Heel but I don’t think I like how the toe looks. I am frogging it tonight and I will retry it with a short row toe.

Now back to looking for lace patterns :-)

-Michele-

Crazy Busy Monday

Wow this post ended up late. I was sooo busy at work today!

Well I can almost see the bottom of my WIP drawer. When I finish up Zeeby’s bag I definitely will be able to. I got the panels all sewed up to the gusset and I am working on the pocket. I have one strap complete and the other on the needles. I can see the finish line now!!




I guess I could have finished it over the weekend but I got a new book. I got Knitting Under The Influence. I figured out that I can read faster than I can knit. I am already half way through it. I hate when I do that because I finish the book lightning fast but then I have nothing new to read again. I think that it is cute so far but a lot of drama and not a lot of knitting. I think I want to read The Friday Night Knitting Club next.

I also did a swatch for my new sock. I decided to go with my Zen String Lotus Toes in Purple Eater Yarn since it was already wound. I got it from The Loopy Ewe and I just love the color!!

I got a nice surprise at work today. One of our clients was so happy with us that she brought in some handmade bracelets that a friend of her made. So pretty! I don’t have much gold but now at least I have a bracelet to go with it!

Btw, I signed up for Secret Pal 11 last week. I can't wait for it to start! This is my first time joining and I know it will be a lot of fun. You can go sign up here. Have Fun!!

-Michele-

A Day of Lounging and A Fiber-In

Our 4^th of July was awesome. We didn’t do much of anything but that’s how I wanted it. We lounged around the house until about 1pm then we delivered some things the hubby was working on to finish the theatre room in a house in Melbourne Beach. This house was gorgeous! Just the front doors alone cost $30,000 and you wouldn’t believe the theatre room. Geez, maybe I should have married a doctor too. ;-) After that we went to the movies and saw Evan Almighty. It was ok…not as funny as I hoped it would be. Then off to home to relax and knit.

Speaking of knitting. I don’t know what came over me but I have not cast on for another sock yet. Instead I have been working on WIP’s that have been sitting in my drawer. That’s why I finished Sheldon and now I am almost done with Zeeby’s bag. I have both panels, the pocket, gusset and one strap finished. I started sewing the panels to the gusset and finished one of them last night. I don’t have a picture though because the hubby decided that he needed to take the camera to work today. I will post some tomorrow and will probably have the 2^nd panel attached as well. For this weekend I hope to finish Zeeby’s bag and cast on for Socks with Alice’s Garden.

So instead of a knitting progress picture we have a cute kitty picture.

"Why are you looking at me like that??"

Oh, and what is a Fiber In you say? The Florida Fiber In will have demos and lots of knitting/spinning things to buy. Alyson let me in on it yesterday. It is September 14-16 at the Hampton Inn/Courtyard in Cocoa Beach. It looks like a lot of fun. This is the first time I have heard of a knitting event so close to home. I can’t wait until September!!

The Yahoo Group is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/florida_fiber_in

-Michele-

Can’t we have one more day off??

I think we need to celebrate Canada Day here too ;-)

The fishing clinic was great!! There were about 700 kids that showed up and they all got to learn to fish. Our booth was teaching the kids to cast. Since we were so busy I did not get any pictures but we had a blast. Most of them got the hang of it pretty quickly. I was surprised at how many were catching fish too. There also was a sea turtle that kept swimming by and he got hooked about 4 times. He was beautiful but not so smart…

This is my new friend. I was cleaning our new listing up for some extra cash on Sunday and these guys were very interested in us. I just Love horses! I felt bad for this guy, he was missing an eye. They sure are sweet though.

Even though I really wasn’t home all that much, I got a lot of knitting done. I did not cast on a new sock but I finished the 2^nd panel for Zeeby’s bag and the pocket. The pocket seems a bit small so I may knit a bigger one, if I feel like it. Now I am working on the gusset. It is knit in garter stitch and seems kind of stretchy. I wonder how this purse will hold up. I may need to sew in a liner when it is finished.

I had to pin everything down for the picture so it didn’t roll.

I am so wiped out today!! We definitely had fun though :-)

-Michele-