Puppy.

Actual knitting picture in the post below.

What have I been up to? Although I am currently suffering from what I can only imagine is terrible allergies...I have gotten a number of things done in the past couple of days:

1. Finished the sock pattern & sock, as well as sweated blood trying to turn the Word document into a pdf. Blame it on the insanely cool pictures, I guess. They were corrupted.

2. Dyeing up 23 skeins of yarn within a few days...15 of them being for the Dracula sock club (I think you guys will love it! It's going to be awesome!!). Get this though...I have 35 skeins sitting in my room waiting to be sent between two clubs (Lost has 10 members, two skeins each). That doesn't include the other yarn for my shop.

3. Working on most of the Lost extras, which means that I will probably be able to send the packages tomorrow, or Friday at the latest. If you're receiving the package, I think you'll find the club to be really funny & a true "themed" club. I hope you guys love it as much as I do!

These are my new colorways from left to right: "Parade," Irish Spring (LOVIN' IT!), "Praying Mantis," and "Field of Violets." I dyed up two of the skeins on the left, because I think they might be the most popular. I'm doing some swapping with a blog friend, and she gets first dibs. After she's done picking, I'll put them up in my shop. She picked "Praying Mantis," so I just put the rest into the shop. Here is what I bought today. See all of those books? Less than 8 bucks, people. That's a whole lot of bang for your buck, huh? Get this... most of the books are 14 each, except for the Christie book. It's like me only paying for that book and getting all of those others free!

This ought to interest you. I'm basically a library. Look really closely at the shelves...they are triple stacked. Yeah, I know. Sick. Everyone has their quarks though. A lot of the middle case's bottom shelves are thriftstore finds though. Kind of. Joe's parents got a puppy! Squee!!! Her name, unfortunately is "Zada"...whatever the frick that means. Apparently, she is the "daughter of Sasquatch" (the Maliszewski men have a particular sense of humor). They adopted her at a shelter about a week ago. She's so cute. Can't they stay like that forever??

Teaser

Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Your "World's Worst Poster" reporting in

Hey guys.
I know, I know....where's the goods, right? I haven't made a decent post in a while. I know. I will get the "teaser" picture of the new sock pattern up hopefully tonight (it's Friday, you never know what will actually happen).

10 Reasons why I've been neglecting you:
1. Trying to get myself a "full-time job" that has an opening for a part-time job ministry (keep your fingers crossed for me...I'm going to need your prayers or help on this one!!!)
2. Working at my current part-time jobs
3. Teaching piano all day Monday (and make-ups on other days)
4. Trying to finish this sock pattern
5. Taking care of 2 clubs (I got myself in pretty deep, I know. But it will be fine...)
6. Hanging out with Joe on his last week or so here until he finishes up school for half a year
7. Babysitting for neighbor
8. dyeing up some yarn for a couple swaps, and for the shop ($$ to pay off debt)
9. Spending time with the 2 weeks of 2 different visits from my out-of-town relatives
10. Tired after work, and not feeling like doing anything but being a veggie by the 'ol tube

I'm sorry again. Once these two clubs are done (and the sock pattern), I should be good to go with knitting some stuff again. *sigh*

Just in.

I took the day off from my part-time job to work at home, dyeing up some more innovatory for my shop:

The Secret Life of Bees," Peruvian Fingering Weight yarn

"Go, Go, USA!" Peruvian Fingering Weight Yarn

"Go, Go, USA!" Superwash Blend Fingering Weight Yarn

"Double Potions with Snape," Superwash Blend Fingering Weight Yarn

I really love the "Secret Life of Bees" colorway. I wanted to dye up some immediately after I finished the book. I really recommend that you guys read it this summer if you have the time. I really like the texture of the peruvian wool. It's earthy. Almost like home-spun yarn.

My life has been super-busy lately. My relatives from out-of-town just left yesterday, and I am trying to get things in order...my life, my jobs (note the plurality), my stress, and also my designing. I had to change the design a little (story of my life, right?), so I am now working full-force on it again. The pattern is pretty simple. I'll be writing it up tonight if I can, while also knitting up as much as I can tonight as Joe gets back from Iowa. Thank God for TV series right? How else will I pass the time knitting for so many hours? You know Liz, this would have been easier to design had I had the yarn when I was leaving Iowa. Time wouldn't have been so sparse.

Food for thought.

It's finally up...and there are only 3 more slots left! (lol.)
I swear, I was planning on doing this club before I even got into buffy.
(However, it does make things all the more exciting now...since I'm even more in the mood.)

I bought a few really nice recipe books at Borders several days ago, and decided to try out some "Unleavened Lavish," or what a grocery store would call an "Everything Cracker." What strikes me intersting is that it's a little pricey in the stores, yet it is really quick and easy, and requires barely any ingrediants. Plus, it's really tasty. Of course, you know me. I can't follow any instructions without modifying them...one of the many reasons why I only really design and don't use (already painstakingly written out) patterns. I added a few things to give it that extra kick of flavor.

Knitting update soon. I'm sorry...I've just been so busy with out-of-town relatives, family parties and working my arse off to be more intersting at the moment. Sock preview coming up soon.

Love affair

It pleases me greatly that I have finally gotten the hang of spinning by the second go. I approached the roving differently this time: take less. "Less is more." Isn't that what we are told all the time anyways? What I got was a thinner, and very consistantly-even strand, because I would pull the fibers easier...and there was less to pull.
The strands give off this faux-double-ply look, because when I pull the fiber, the color seperates and gets twisted with the white that didn't get dyed in the middle of the fiber.
So, ok. This is how I'm spending my time while I wait patiently for sockyarn in a club I have to design for. I have the general jist of the pattern already in my mind...but I'll have to see the colors and method used to dyeing them up. I might just have to change the design on a whim.
It's best to do a lot of your drafting first, before you spin. That way, you can enjoy the pleasant ease and soft noise of spinning. It's almost like taking time out to "smell the roses," but not.

Club stuff: Everyone should have received their "Gatsby" packages by now (maybe not if you're in Switzerland!). I'm so relieve that you all loved everything! If you want to "lurk," look HERE. Also, I've gotten some requests to "extend" their membership. If you would like that, email me. I can set up a special item for you. I will be putting up the next month's book-sock club in about a week. It will be "Dracula," and there are only 8 spots left already.

Pretty in pink

It's been busy-busy-busy on the fronteer here. I'm already back at work. I guess there goes relaxation.
But, I finally finished spinning my single-ply yarn that I plan on using to knit up a chunky garter stitch hat later on. I think it went pretty well. I had to soak it in hot water first, and then hang it to dry with some weights so that I don't have the "curlies" while knitting it up later on. Next time, I'll do the real deal, and double-ply it. This was just to get the hand of things.
Purdy, huh?
Ok gang, I hate to be brief, but I have to run now. I don't even have the time to calculate the yardage on it. I'll do that later.

I'm planning on meeting up with the gals right now at Chilies. It's been quite a long time since we've really hung out as a group. I promise to not be so boring soon. I plan on creating a sock pattern, as well as a neat tank-top.
Until then. Enjoy the eye-candy for a bit. Sorry.
Thanks again for the congrats! Ya guys are the "bomb." btw- what is the new word for that now? lol.

One among thousands

Ok...I'm a little late on posting. I've been super busy, unpacking, attending my grad party, going to two different dental appointments (out of 3, I skipped 3 years. They weren't kidding when they meant "intensive cleaning" for the second appointment. Yowzers.), working out, dyeing up 14 skeins of yarn...!!! Thanks for the congrats, All! You're the best!!! :)

The ceremony was three solid hours long. Good thing I went to the bathroom first, right? There was 2 hours of just name calling...my name was called toward the end. People were so bored they were actually text-messaging people. lol. This ceremony was for the college of liberal arts and science, meaning that there were just 1,600 students there. Yeah. My family spent the whole 3 hours trying to find me among the crowd. They saw me only when they called my name. Look among the audience. You'll notice that several rows are dedicated to all of the graduates that couldn't fit into the center of the arena.
I treated myself to a mystic tan for my graduation, so I wouldn't be so pasty-white. Here's a concept: don't bend your arms while studying afterwards...you'll regret the dark patch spots. My tan looked great, except for my hands. God did they look awful. For some reason, my hands had weird patches of dark bronze on my hands. I did everything they told me to during the spray. Who knows.
This ought to make you laugh. This is my aunt and uncle from Tennessee. Yes, he's wearing boots too. No more words are necessary, I think.

Ok, on to the GIFTS!!! I have to admit, the gifts were better than any Christmas I've had. They were better than combined Christmases. I got spoiled rotten, and I mean it! Ok, I have bragging rights for one post this month (or year), right?

A Spinning wheel!!!!!! Yay! Isn't she gorgeous?? This was a gift from my grandpa, aunt Charlene (picture) and parents. They out did themselves, even adding in the chair. This is an Ashford "Elizabeth II" spinning wheel made in New Zealand. It came with a lazy kate too, which is hiding in the picture. I just tried this out the other day, basically having to learn it myself...because the little booklet isn't that helpful. Surprisingly, Youtube doesn't offer much either when it comes to how-to's on spinning with a wheel.
It looks like a double-drive, single treadle wheel. It takes a little getting used to. I'm spinning up some pink yarn right now and the result is less than satisfying. But hey, it's my first time. I'll get used to how long to spin it before feeding it into the wheel, and how to actually draft fiber efficiently.
It's so pretty to look at. It really looks great when the sunset hits my room. My Aunt really outdid herself. She also stuck with the "spinning" theme and got me some rare things. This is a "Rumpelstiltskin" plate from Germany. I have the certificate and everything. She also got me a necklace made from another broken plate (rare plates) with another "Rumpelstiltskin" character on it, AND alpaca yarn, AND all of these neat pins with knitterly things written on them. The pictures are below.
Joe's parents and grandparents really outdid themselves too! Man! Joe's grandparents bought me a gorgeous pearl necklace, and his parents, a pearl bracelet. Looks like I'm set already for my wedding accessories! Aren't they beautiful? My grandfather also gave me jewelry. My grandmother's diamond necklace, the last grand thing he bought her 4 months before she passed away (the day after mother's day in '00). I feel privileged to inherit such a magnificent piece of work, and now feel obligated to wear it to my wedding. Somehow. I don't know how that is going to happen when I plan to wear the pearl necklace. Maybe I should wear it during the rehearsal dinner.
NOTE: I have taken the precaution of taking the jewelry and locking them up in someone 's home. Sorry, no big ideas for anyone. They are securely hibernating.

And now for the grand finale!!!!! I used all of my gift-money as a down-payment on my brand new car! It's a 2008 Honda civic, equipped with everything I could ever ask for: sunroof, great gas mileage, power-locks, lock remotes, a navigation system (with the built-in command system where you talk to your car and it does stuff for you. I mainly use it to change the radio stations or tell it to "go home."). This car seriously spoils me...but know that I am going to be paying out of the wazoo for it for the next 5 years.

Again, don't get any ideas. 2008's can't be stolen, hot-wired, and the navigation system cannot be taken out and still work. If my battery dies, the navigation system thinks it's being stolen and won't work without a code. I feel safe knowing that the whole car has anti-theft...everywhere. I mean, it can't even be hot-wired? Hazaah! Go Honda. Finally using some brains.

I just finished Water for Elephants. It was great! After dyeing up 14 skeins of yarn a couple of days ago, I'm recuperating. I went to the theaters with Joe to watch "Iron Man" (a great movie, by the way), I've been exercising again, putting my room back together, and I plan to spend the rest of my Saturday reading and watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer, S.1" (thanks Joe! Now I'm going to waste another countless hours of my life watching more series that you get me hooked on) and reading a new book. Ahh. This summer will be spent teaching 6 piano students, working at my part-time job, working for my etsy shop and maybe babysitting for my neighbors once a week. I'm not planning on aquiring a full-time job until Joe and I figure out where we are going to live once he get's his biomedical job. It will all work out, I keep telling myself. Patience is a virtue.

"Gatsby" members. I just emailed you all. If you did not get an email from me today, let me know.

School's out...for..ever!

I. Am. Done!

I took my last final at 7:3o am this morning, and man does it feel good to be done!

The University of Iowa
Major: Religious Studies

You're looking at my "Butterfly" colorway that I dyed a long while ago. I dyed up two of them, so there is one left in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested. I had "startitis" a couple of days ago, and knit two at once to nip my "second sock syndrome" in the butt. I think the colors look really neat. It's a lot brighter in person. More orange-y. It's a gentle leaning diagonal of colors, which is perfect. Can anyone guess what's different about the execution of this sock, that I normally don't do?

It feels so great to be done (I can't say it enough). My folks are still driving up as we speak, as well as my Aunt and Uncle. I think they might be at my school in about 15 minutes. Let the festivities begin! I hear a pina colada calling me, somewhere.

I will post some graduation ceremony/party pictures Sunday or Monday. I know I have an amazing gift coming my way....whoot whoot!

Cheers to not knowing what's ahead of me now!

Ask and you shall receive*

*Obviously, we are NOT talking about my totally, completely, wholly, utterly BOGUS 7:30 am final in Prehistory which I'm quite sure 90% of the class populus failed. Not kiddin'. Talk about taking out the "big guns" with this one. My Linguistics final this evening went pretty well. Thanks for the encouragement, Kate (and all)!
Waking up at the crack of dawn was interesting. Really.

What I did take from Prehistory, as a relevant knitterly fact, is how far we have come with animal domestication, such as our famous Andean celebrity, Mr. Paci. Clearly, we have room for improvement, such as knitting socks for Anna while she's studying...but balancing an uneven load of spinning wheel stitch markers is a good start. He's even a gentlemen and offers what he can to hold my page.
My Aunt Charlene ordered these stitchmarkers during one of her ebay escapades. She was visiting when I just got into the stitch marker business last summer (gosh, that was a year ago. Lordie Lord) and finally bought a set for me to have, because the spinning wheel charms are pretty sweet. I hate to get all "lit" on ya, but perhaps this is a "foreshadow" of many wonderful things to come in the future. E-hem. hem. hem.
Like I said, ask and you shall recieve. My Brittany replacements came in the mail (oh crud, I forgot to check who, oh you wonderful person, mentioned about the 5-year replacement deal). It really did take a while, but they came! Two of mine broke, and I really only expected them to send me one, but here-be THREE! Whee!!

Oh kiddos. I've got two finals left. I'm off to take a quick shower (what, you expected me to wake up that early...AND take a shower?? Ha.) and then get a little bit of studying done. Then, I'll probably read a little bit more. You must get Water for Elephants! Squee! It's soo good! I do plan on making a colorway inspired by the book, as well as The Secret Life of Bees, because that book was really awesome too!

Oh, May 20th is coming up. That means that the Gatsby club sign-ups is closing in few more days. I have room for only 2ONE more member!

Takin' care of business

You should run. Jog. Skip. Anything that gets you quickly to the bookstore or library to get your hands on this book! I've only read 100 pages and I'm entirely captivated!

It's about the 1930's, when the depression hit, and a college vet drop-out who joined the circus having no other choice, where he faces hardship and crueltly, and later romance.

My allergies are really acting up, causing a nasty sore throat. Ick. I was a fool, and took some "severe allergy" medicine, forgetting that it makes you drowsy, and I had a very hard time staying awake in the front row of my Prehistory class. Half way through it, I realized that I was falling alseep in the last actual class I have, ever...as an undergraduate.

Don't expect me to see the sunshine this entire week. Here's my schedule:

Today:
Classes-9:30am & 11:30am
Study for Earth System, exam III (not the final)
EXAM (such a nice prof,...huh?): 2:30pm
Work on fiction porfolio
Study for 2 Monday finals

Friday-Sunday:
Turn in porfolio
Study mainly on 2 Monday finals, and than other finals

Monday:
FINALS: 7:30-9:30AM-Prehistory & 7-9pm-Linguistics
Study for last two finals

Tuesday-Wednesday: study & pack

Thursday:
FINAL: 9:45am-Western Music and Concepts
Pack

Friday:
FINAL: 7:30-9:30AM- Earth Systems
Packing
Getting drunk & seeing my family

Saturday:
Graduation at 9AM

Sunday:
Party!!

Monday, on...dyeing!
Doing whatever I want!

Because I don't want to bore you all week, here's some cute of some of my past hammies:

Kit. (or "kit-kat" or Joe's version, "Twitch.")

Missy. Eating. What else?

Also, some "pictures of pictures" in B&W. I love that syle for hammies.

They sleep in the weirdest positions sometimes.

They once ran away, and I found Tunip sleeping soundly in a shoe on one of the basement stairs! I still have no clue how I spotted that!

Yes, we are both musicians.

I see you.

Sniffing. He looks like such the puff-ball.

The early bird catches the worm

EDIT: I'm starting to sound like a person with issues. I have now ordered more yarn (yet again), and will extend this club to 15 members, meaning that there is only 9 slots left! They are going like hot-cakes, and I don't blame them...LOST is AWESOME, and this type of club gives me so many ideas! I'm at the point where I think only allowing 15 members per type of club is sufficient, and doable for me...as I am taking the first week or two off when I graduate.

LOST! Yeah! I had this idea after the Gatsby club went up. I couldn't help myself!

This one is a lot different. It has fingering weight yarn (theme colors) and laceweight yarn (jungle colors), as well as different SECRET extras! You're like Ben & Locke...and will have to let the island reveal its secret when you're ready.

to be only 15 spots in the Gatsby club. We have 11 members already. Sign-ups close on the 20th for those.

One of the secrets

Remember over break, I said that I had a couple of things I was working on for my shop, but I wouldn't show you until I was done. Well, after tinkering with the whole thing, I'm finally ready to show you my cards. I've tried ribbon, and other stamps...but these simple, yet elegantly textured cards are my favorite.

They are up on my shop.

I've gotta go study some more now, so I'll leave you with this pretty picture. If you want to see some more pics, feel free to browse on my shop. I also reactivated like 30 expired items. Oops.

Thanks Cassie for wishing my eye well! (See post below.)

A perfectly normal Saturday evening

So, ok. I guess spending an hour in the ER isn't that normal, I guess.

For a couple of days, I've had a grey blotch in my right eye (not the clear "floater" circle with a grey strand) that moves everytime my right eye moves. I've read that it could be "vitreous fluid/floaters" or a detached retina. I definitely didn't want to sit around and get the latter, so I went to the ER tonight to get it checked out. The doctor and his intern (oh God, I thought she was going to give me the exam) looked it over, and decided that since my peripheral vision is fine, and I don't have headaches or sensitivity...it most likely is the "vitreous floater," a protein fluid inside your eye that will slowly get dissolved within a few more days. If it doesn't go away by Tuesday or Wednesday, it's back to the doctor again (maybe a slight detachment). You have no idea how weird I felt walking into an ER while looking absolutely normal, despite the grey spots.
Pray that it's just the darn fluid. The doc calls them "ghosts."
I hate ghost stories.

A quick note

Sorry, I'm just popping in here real quick to say how exited I am about my KUAS sockclub, and how it's taking off so well, concerning members & their assured excitement with me.

I know I said that I can only take 20 members, but it is now down to 15, because I also made the LOST theme package as well.

So far, I have 11 members for June, and 5 of them being 3 month-ers. That means that there are 14 spots left, and if you want in...now's your chance. I'm closing the sign-ups on the 20th, so I can get right to dyeing them , creating the stitch markers and sending them out.

I also want to let you know that if you are one of the members already, I have created the ravelry group: "KUAS June Sockclub" for you all to post your pictures, comments, discussions, etc. Now I just have to learn how to link the picture to that group in a month.

YAY!!! I can't wait to start dyeing up a storm. :)

Not totally useless

What did I say...what did I say? You say you aren't planning on knitting for a week, and then you finish an object the next day. It's magic, I tell you.
Well, magic and a little "knitting in class" time.

Yarn: Lorna Laces
Needles: size 2 dpns (Crystal Palace Bamboo, the ones Joe got me)
Pattern: My "LT Rib Socks"
CO: 72 sts
Status: single, & looking for a hot date

I bought my cap and gown today! Squee! It's almost over, It's almost over...It's. Almost. Over.

Ok kiddos, I'm off to study some linquists for my exam tomorrow. I have a couple of those classes that have an exam right before finals. Go figure. They like to tell us that it's good prep-work for the final. I tell them to shove-it. (But only in my mind.)