I have this new commitment to write 1000 words a day, and so today (the first day) I wrote 1152 words over at my professional blog. http://bit.ly/hbQeVp
March 8, 2011
October 20, 2010
Dulci in her dress
I had my husband Chris take a picture of Dulci wearing her new dress. I think it’s really cute, and I’m going to make her one in black as well.
The dress is really easy to make and takes less than a typical skein of acrylic yarn. Dulci seems to like the dress and wears it willingly.
October 14, 2010
doggie dress
Here’s the back of the doggie dress, complete with ruffles. I’d never done ruffles before and so I’m glad that even on something this quick and simple I learned a new technique.
I’ve also knit up the front of the dress, so all that’s left to do is sew it up. I am NOT going to stitch pearls to it as she’d probably just try to eat them. I’ll take more pictures of her once it’s done.
October 13, 2010
doggie dress-up
My Pomeranian, Dulcinea, is going up with us to visit my parents next week. I cut all her fur off last month, and her top coat still hasn’t grown back, so I’m knitting her a little dress, based on this. I’ve just finished the back (but not the ruffles yet), and I imagine that I’ll get it done before we leave on Saturday. Pics to follow!
August 2, 2010
bamboo socks, finished
I finished a pair of bamboo socks the other day. The yarn is Happy 4 ply and OMG I love it. I’ve already bought another ball of it to make another pair, and I may go back for more. It’s so soft.
I’m also working on a pair of fingerless gloves using the rest of the ball. I’m doing this without a pattern, aside from referring to Fetching for thumb placement, so I don’t know how they’ll turn out. I have tiny hands and tiny feet, so that’s how I get away with using only half a ball for each!
July 30, 2010
knitting some more
I’ve been knitting a bit more again. I bought this book, and I’m going to be making the “Sunday Wrap” for my daughters, my younger daughter’s best friend, myself, and possible others because it is such a COOL PATTERN. I’m also working on a Sirdar pattern — a cardigan — for my new baby cousin Sophie, and when that’s done I’ll do a fuzzy coat for her from the same pattern book. Of course I’ve been knitting socks, most recently out of bamboo, and I bought this GORGEOUS ball of Trendsetter’s Minestrone™ yarn from my LYS and made a scarf with it. So I’ve got a lot to keep me busy!
June 27, 2010
uh whoops
I know, it’s been a million years since I’ve posted here. I was laid of from my job shortly before my last post, and while I’ve continued doing creative things since then, for some reason I just didn’t feel inclined to post about it here.
But rest assured, in addition to being gainfully employed again I’ve been doing creative work, a little knitting, a little jewelry making, and a little writing. I have a new writing group, and if you see this post and are interested, please do let me know if you’d like to join.
I’ll try to post here more frequently.
October 26, 2008
at webs
A photo of me at WEBS while I was visiting my parents in MA. It was really cool to finally be able to see the store and purchase yarn there. I actually pointed out where they had some yarn mislabeled (it said it was sock yarn, but it wasn’t).
Mostly these days I am working on socks. I do have a hoodie to knit for a KAL though, so I should really get started on it — I was supposed to have started a month ago, but I’ve been busy.
September 12, 2008
and still more socks
My latest pair of finished socks, from Noro Kureyon Sock. For once, the two socks are almost identical, except for the last couple of inches or so at the toe (the other sock goes into very dark indigo and then lighter blue, instead of the deep copper and then purple).
I’m now working on a pair in Regia Silk (silk and wool), which is a lot easier to work with. I still have two balls of Noro Kureyon though.
July 17, 2008
latest sockage
I’d gotten a bit bored with socks, especially the ribbed anklets, but somehow I ended up starting another pair…and oh GOD they’re driving me nuts.
My first pair of Noro socks knit up like a dream. The yarn was overspun, but it was worth it. This ball of Noro is overspun, then underspun, then over…It broke twice on this one sock, plus there was a knot, so that’s THREE times in one ball I had to “change”….ugh. I have never had so much trouble knitting before.
But I’ve started the second sock, and so far it’s behaving. I may end up making four socks and seeing what kind of pairs I can make; the second sock started on the red and so it’s not going to look much at all like the first…
I hope there are no more breakages! Dammit!
May 12, 2008
first pair of noro socks
This is the first pair of Noro socks I made. I got this ball of Noro when I was visiting my younger daughter, Cherry, in Washington (she lives in Olympia). I love them to death, and many more pairs are planned (I’ve got about six balls of Noro).
The one thing I don’t like about Noro is how it kinks up due to being overspun. Then again, the socks it makes are friggin’ awesome. Right now I’m back to more conventional sock yarn, finishing a pair of socks for my son.
April 19, 2008
a muse hat for my mom
While I was visiting my parents, my mother, who originally taught me to knit, went with me to Colorful Stitches in Lenox, MA. We purchased, among other yarn, some Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky, which I used to make a Muse hat for her. She was out when I finished it, so I had my son model it. She really loves the hat. It takes only a few hours to make.
In addition to the hat, and finishing one Noro sock, I made a bunch of jewelry right before the trip. I’ll be posting those as well. They all went to family members.
April 3, 2008
for my mom
My mom has a lovely amber necklace, but no bracelet or earrings to go with it. She asked me a while ago if I’d make her some. It took me quite a while to get around to it — amber is gorgeous, and I was intimidated — but finally I made her this set out of Swarovski crystals and vintage glass. I hope she likes them.
This picture doesn’t really do the set justice, though it’s fairly accurate as to color. Obviously the crystals sparkle a lot more than they do in the picture. I really like working with Swarovskis and I intend to keep using them in my work.
more socks!
When I first started making socks, Stacey sent me a skein of blue and brown striped Regia from her stash. Here’s the pair of socks I made from it. They’re ankle socks, and the instep and cuff are ribbed. I’m very happy with them, although I probably should have made them slightly longer.
The pattern I used was the basic Socks 101 from Knitty, but I got the idea to make them ribbed and ankle length from a pair of socks I saw in Creative Knitting (I didn’t follow their pattern at all though). I still have enough Regia to make another pair, but I don’t know if I want to or not. Currently I’m working on another pair with another yarn, in amongst other projects.
March 20, 2008
sox!
So this is the first pair of “real” socks I’ve made for myself. Basically, I just really love making socks, but I started making them for other people after I finished that first pair using acrylic worsted.
I had bought a second hank of “Rauen” mediumweight from Blue Moon Fiber Arts because I was afraid I’d run out of the one hank I bought for Chris’s socks. However, I only needed the first hank for his socks, so I decided that even though it wasn’t the color I’d have chosen, I’d go ahead, wind the second hank (with the new swift and nostepinne that Chris made me!), and make a pair for myself. I further decided that I would make ankle socks…well, just right above the ankle really. That’s my favorite height for socks.
I think they turned out really well. I’m now starting on another pair of ankle socks, this time ribbed, with the Regia yarn Stacey gave me from her stash. I’ll get back to doing socks for other people too, of course. I have to frog my son’s sock because it turned out too small, but he’ll get them eventually.
March 11, 2008
negative progress
I hate when something I make doesn’t work out. I think this is why I’m so cautious about new projects, actually — I’m afraid I’ll screw it up. I really need to stop worrying about that.
Still, I’m annoyed. I was making a pair of socks for my son, and the first one turned out GORGEOUS…but it’s too narrow for his foot. Generally when you’re making socks, you just size them for the ankle, but in his case, his feet are big but his ankles are small. I wouldn’t care, but it’s fairly fine yarn and so it took forever to make in the first place, and now I have to frog the whole thing and start over, bleah. In frustration I made myself another muse hat. I’ll get to the socks at some point though.
March 9, 2008
muse hat
Stacey from Charlotte Purls gave me some Baby Alpaca Grande for Valentine’s Day and this hat (the pattern for which I found here, through Ravelry). This is my new favorite hat!
I’d like to make a few more, in different colors, and using different yarns. The alpaca is awesome — I love alpaca — but it’s definitely a very warm hat ( alpaca is 3x as warm as wool). Also, I’ve made a whole bunch of things in green lately, and while I love green, I’d like to branch out a bit!
For summer, silk or bulky cotton would be great…well, we’ll see. This hat is really very quick to make, so I can see dashing off quite a few of them!
February 20, 2008
spinny spin spin
Okay, I didn’t actually make this; Chris did. It’s a bottom whorl drop spindle which he put together from stuff we got at a hobby store. He’s also going to make me a top whorl spindle (which is better for spinning short fibers like the bunny wool I’m gathering). But I put in in this set because it’s a tool that I’ll be making things with.
If I ever get the hang of it, that is. I’m a little frustrated right now. I can see how it’s supposed to work, but it’s not happening for me. I’m gonna be SOOOO happy if I ever figure it out.
sock for chris
My first socks made with actual “sock yarn” are for Chris’s birthday. They’re late, of course, but here is the first one on his foot. He says it fits perfectly, so I’ll try to exactly duplicate it for the second.
The socks are made with Blue Moon Fiber Arts medium weight sock yarn in the “Rauen” colorway.
Next on my list is Bun, then Angela. :D
February 9, 2008
socks for the girls
With the Lamb’s Pride Worsted yarn I got from Janet’s stash, I’ve made another two pairs of socks (well, I’m almost done with the second pair). After this I’ll start making socks with actual “sock” yarn, because I have a ton of it now. I have socks promised to Chris, Angela, and Bun, plus I may get to make myself another pair. ;)
I made Cherry’s socks first because her feet are the same size as mine are. After casting around for a sizing chart, I started Chibi’s, and now I’m almost done.
Yup, I’ve definitely caught the sock bug. Of course, I also want to learn to spin, so as soon as I get a spindle, I’m going to start in on that.
January 19, 2008
first sock
Behold my first sock! I made this sock in worsted weight yarn on size 6 DPNs, because that’s what I had lying around (Stacey gave me some sock yarn, but 6 was the smallest DPN size I had). I figured I’d make my first pair on cheap synthetic yarn in case I screwed up, and then use the Lamb’s Pride I got from Janet’s stash to make a couple of pairs for my daughters (the yarn I got from Janet is close in color to the yarn I used for the two pairs of Fetchings I made, which I’m also giving my daughters). By then I should be able to run out and get some smaller DPNs and dive into other sock patterns.
I think for my very first sock this came out pretty well. I have to fly to Vegas tomorrow for a few days, so I’ll knit the second one on the plane.
January 17, 2008
sox and rock ‘n’ roll
I’m starting my first pair of socks! The pattern I chose uses worsted yarn. Stacey is kindly sending me some sock yarn, but I realized I didn’t have needles small enough, and I’m broke, so I’m using this pattern instead, because it uses worsted yarn and size 6 DPNs, both of which I have a lot of.
Very excited. Oh, also, I finished my “Autumn tones” moebius scarf. It’s lovely and looks beautiful with my coat. I bought a cheap pair of brown gloves to wear with them because I was getting tired of making things to go with it, *grin*
These socks won’t be gorgeous, which is why I’m using crappy yarn to start with. But this could be the start of something big!
January 7, 2008
fingerless gloves
Oh, and I forgot to mention: I finished the fingerless gloves that I started way back in September. I’d have finished them earlier, but I was a little timid about doing the thumbs, and I really needed to jam on doing the coat. However, I hauled them out again and finished the last bits, and now I have two pairs. I’ll probably give them to my darling daughters.
This is really a fabulous pattern, and one I think I’ll make over and over again. I’m thinking of making a pair in a shade to go with my coat; it may not be obvious from pictures, but these definitely do not match. They’re a lovely grayish green color though. I’m hoping that even if they’re not the girls’ favorite color that they’ll like them anyway — they’re great just to throw on to warm your hands.
Can’t wait to do this one again!
draw string bag
I had four skeins of yarn left over from knitting my coat and I wanted to try something I’d seen in the same issue of Vogue Knitting, so I whipped up this bag. The one in the pattern is supposed to be tiny, but mine is tote bag sized.
The pattern notes say that this is “intermediate”, but I found it easy once I’d cast on (and the only difficult thing about casting on is that my circular needles were new and therefore the cables were somewhat recalcitrant).
I still have two more skeins of yarn left, and no real idea what to do with them…
December 23, 2007
I finished!
I finished my coat last night. Once I got the sleeves set in, the last bits (seaming up the sides and arms) went very quickly. I’m really happy with how it turned out; it’s not error-free but it really works. The coat looks and fits exactly as I expected it to. In short, I’m really pleased with the coat.
That said, I’m not sure I would ever want to repeat the experience. I do have to say that if I ever do a seasonal project again, I want to start it WELL before the season in question so that I can pursue it in a more leisurely fashion. For the last month plus I’ve been all “MUST FINISH COAT CANNOT HAVE FUN” and that’s just not okay.
Anyway, I now feel confident that I can knit sweaters and all that, having been forced to get a bit past my comfort level in terms of setting in sleeves and all that. A simple stockinette sweater will actually be easier than this coat, now.
December 9, 2007
frustrated
Dear lord in heaven. I’m up to the sleeve cap of the first sleeve on this coat and I feel much as I felt late in my first pregnancy: I am going to be knitting this damned thing FOREVER. In reality I want to be done with it by this weekend, but I don’t know if I will be.
I’m going to finish this sleeve TONIGHT. God.
Next time I want to do a seasonal project like this I’m going to start it WELL before the season in question, so when I get bored with it or my hands start to hurt I can stray from it and then go back. There are so many other projects I’d like to do, but I don’t dare because I need this coat. And when I’m done with this I still have to do a scarf and gloves (though I’m not going to kill myself quite so much with those, and anyway, they should go more quickly).
Oy.
December 6, 2007
the coat I’m knitting
Originally uploaded by lothie
I’m mostly done with this coat I’m making: I’ve done the front and back and I’m halfway up one of the sleeves. I’m hoping to be finished by next weekend, because it’s getting damn cold and I don’t have a coat that fits me and that I can wear in front of customers. Since this coat doesn’t button, I’m not too worried if it doesn’t fit perfectly, as long as it doesn’t gap too much. but I’m really getting tired of working on it (it’s SO bulky) and so I hope I’m done soon.
I do like the color and when I’m done with this I’ll be finishing up a moebius scarf in matching colors. I think I have enough yarn to do fingerless gloves as well (though it might have to be just a simple pair of wristlets rather than anything as fancy as the “Fetchings” I was working on earlier).
Can’t wait to finish!
October 23, 2007
pearls for the princess
Originally uploaded by lothie
I made this necklace and earrings set for Angela’s birthday. It’s Japanese faux pearls, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, glass, and silver. It took me a while but I think it turned out very well. I based it on a (shorter) necklace that I saw in a local bead supply store, but I like mine better (I added the crystals and freshwater pearls, plus the glass beads up near the clasp).
What took a while was putting in all the individual crimp beads to “set” the pearls. Still, I’d do it again. The beads are all randomly set, rather than being carefully measured, which I think was also the case with the original necklace I based it on.
October 17, 2007
“Fetching” fingerless gloves
jewelry stuff
After the striped diva bracelet, I also made necklaces for my daughters, which came out quite well. And now I’ve been sent some lovely wire-wrapped pendants by a friend, Leigh Ann Timper; some of the pendants are wrapped in gold wire so I guess I will be starting to work in gold now, yay!
October 9, 2007
striped diva bracelet
Originally uploaded by lothie
I completed this bracelet originally because Stacey from Charlotte Purls asked me about making a bracelet with red and brown in it. However, it turns out she prefers gold to silver. Currently I work exclusively with silver so I don’t have anything she’d be interested in. I might start working with gold later.
The bracelet itself was made with glass, magnetic hematite, wood, and tiger eye beads, with my usual silver rose clasp.
September 17, 2007
so much i don’t know
Seems that everywhere I look these days, everyone’s doing entrelac. Me, I’ve just learned knitting in the round and basic cables — now I need to learn short rows and entrelac. Ai! All in good time…
September 9, 2007
knittin’ away
Originally uploaded by lothie
This is me, knitting with double! pointed! needles! at long last, at a Charlotte Purls meeting. I’m making fingerless gloves. Now that I’m using DPNs and doing cables, nothin’s gonna stop me!
The pic was originally taken by Stacey (http://crimsonpurl.blogspot.com/), but I cut it down so you can’t see anyone else’s face. Not that you can see much of mine either! *grin*
September 4, 2007
blue waltz
September 3, 2007
took me long enough
So, I finally got the hang of double-pointed needles. Basically, I joined this new knitting group that I found through Ravelry, and we were all going to be working on fingerless gloves at next Saturday’s meeting. Well, I make fingerless gloves a lot actually, but I knit them flat and sew them up the side (with a hole for the thumb). It’s a viable way of doing things and all, but I figured that this wasn’t going to cut it for the meeting. So I found a fairly simple pattern, bought some yarn and needles, and consulted my knitting handbook on how to join knitting.
It’s not easy for me to learn stuff from written instructions; I need to be shown. But I figured that at a two hour meeting nobody was going to have time to show me something basic like this. So I just concentrated really hard on the written instructions, and finally managed it.
Well, obviously, this is going to change the way I knit a LOT. Whee!
August 26, 2007
hearts and flowers
Originally uploaded by lothie
I made another bracelet. This one wasn’t made for anyone in particular, although I was thinking of a particular person’s preferences when I made it. It’s made with pink and purple fire glass beads, purple and silver heart-shaped glass beads, and silver rosette beads with my usual silver rosette clasp.
This bracelet will sell for $15 at my Etsy Shop.
August 21, 2007
making bracelets for my daughters
Originally uploaded by lothie
Tonight I sat down and made a couple of bracelets for my daughters’ birthdays. I used glass beads and silver clasps, and strung them on tiger tail. This is the first jewelry I’ve made in years and I’m pretty proud of how they came out; I’d proudly wear these myself and so I expect the girls will like them.
August 20, 2007
bead my baby
A long time ago I started making jewelry. I stopped because some earrings I made were too heavy for the person I made them for, and left that person (my older daughter) with a scarred ear. I didn’t feel horrible or something — there were other issues that contributed to what happened — but it sort of took away my desire to stay with it. But recently Jason started making stuff, and I remembered what I used to enjoy about it, so I got some new stuff and I’m dipping my toe in that pond again. First up will be bracelets for my daughters, as their birthdays are imminent.
August 19, 2007
going to the LYS for SEX
Er, I mean, going to the Local Yarn Store for a Stash Enrichment eXpedition!
So I thought to myself that, having been in Charlotte for several months now (since May), I should find a local yarn store. Back when we lived in LA, I used to go to Yarn Lady a lot. Well, the other day we went to Charlotte Yarn, and it’s just as awesome. I immediately met some very cool girls there and I’m going to be attending some local get-togethers. I also spent WAY too much on some dreamy alpaca yarn to make a moebius scarf with.
In case I didn’t mention it, I am also on Ravelry now. I’m a little intimidated, but it’s a great site and I think I’ll get a lot out of it.
August 14, 2007
writing update
I went to a science fiction/fantasy con for the first time in ages, mostly to attend a couple of writing workshops. I submitted my Champions character sketch, “Incident At the Club”, because I didn’t have time to write anything longer or more fleshed out.
As it turned out, that was a good decision. Because I submitted a piece that I wasn’t all that emotionally attached to, I could really listen to the criticism people had, most of which dealt anyway with the fact that it was a sketch more than an all-inclusive short. However, it was suggested that I write more on the subject (which will be easy to do; the campaign is over) and I was given contact info that could lead to publication. So I’m really happy about that.
I’ve mostly finished one of my current short stories but, while I think it’s well-written, I’m not sure how publishable it is, so when I’m done with this, I may drop the short story project for a while and go back to the (ex) Champions subject.
current projects
I bought some Lion Brand Suede Print in the “Water Lilies” color scheme a while ago, and I just finished the body of the scarf I was making (I still need to fringe it). They have another similar color without the green (called Mountain) which I intend to use for a scarf for Chris later.
The prayer shawl that I was making for Chris’s grandmother will probably go to his aunt because his grandmother died in July. I haven’t really done much on it since June, and I feel bad about that, but so much other stuff gets in the way.
I’m making a moebius scarf in soy silk and wool, in a pink color scheme. It’s not really a color scheme I want to wear so I am not sure what I’ll do with it when I’m done…
June 11, 2007
more knitting
I’ve started another prayer shawl, for Chris’s grandmother; I’d say I’m about halfway through, maybe a little less. It’s in Lion Brand Homespun “Quartz”. I’m also working on a scarf in Lion Brand Suede Print; I’ve got one going for me in “Water Lilies” and then I’m going to do one for Chris in “Mountain”. Very simple design but that’s what I was in the mood for.
May 7, 2007
short stories
I’m working on another collection of short erotic stories. This time both the book itself and the individual stories will be much longer. I’ve got two in progress. It’s been slow but I really hope to have the collection done before November, because I really want to do NaNoWriMo again this year. (Though, with the new job, we’ll see how that goes…)
done with shawls for a bit
I finished and fringed the three prayer shawls I’d been working on. Two of them were for women in my church, and I delivered those on Sunday, which was my last day there for a while, as we’re moving to North Carolina this week. The last one is for my mother and I will probably give it to her in person. Except for the third shawl, they’d all been done but the fringing months ago. I’m so lame sometimes.
Right now I’m working on a scarf in my favorite colors, using Lion Brand’s Suede Print in Waterlilies. I’ll probably do one for Chris in Mountain when I’m done. I have various other small things as well.
April 23, 2007
creative hiatus
Creativity has fallen by the wayside, a bit, but I’ve gotten back to knitting to some extent and am also doing some writing. Just very busy. Need to finish the shawls I’ve been doing.
January 2, 2007
knitting a lot
I spent the holidays doing nothing but knitting, essentially. I’ve decided Cherry’s hat was too big and I’m redoing it; meanwhile I’ve also completed hats for Scout and her little sister Snoopy. I’m also planning one for my other daughter Chibi. I have a TON to do still.
December 28, 2006
hat trick
Finished Cherry’s hat, started on Scout’s. Cherry’s hat seems a little large (due to the bulk of the yarn) and I’m a bit worried that it’ll be too big. I hope not. I hope Scout likes hers when it’s done…
December 27, 2006
slightly more productive
Yesterday I started working on Cherry’s hat. I’d started on it during my last trip to Louisville but didn’t even get the brim done. Last night I finished the brim and then took the crown up through the first decrease, so it’s about 1/3 done. These go pretty fast so I expect I’ll probably finish it tonight. After that I have one that I promised to do for Jason and Angela’s daughter Scout. I’m trying to decide whether to do it full size or try to “cut” the pattern down since she’s a four year old. Not sure.
After I’m done with that I’ll go back to the prayer shawl I was working on. I’d also like to make a hat for Chibi but I’d need to buy yarn for that.
At some point I want to get some circular needles and try this shrug pattern I found. You basically knit two “funnels” of yarn and then sew them together, forming the back. The tapering parts are the sleeves. It’s pretty easy but I’ve been resisting doing circular knitting up till now, so I’m a little nervous. Anyway, I think it’s a neat pattern and I’d like to try it.
December 26, 2006
xmas non-productivity
Well, I had all these grandiose plans involving baking (four pies) and knitting (wristlets, hats, finishing my latest shawl), but I didn’t really do much at all. I did make two pairs of wristlets: one shorter pair, made out of Trendsetter Natasha yarn, and then my normal length made out of superfine alpaca in black and red. I do still have plans for the pies as the week wears on. But I don’t feel very creative at the moment.
December 12, 2006
publishing
Well, I just self-published my first book on Lulu. It’s called Becoming His, and it contains four short bdsm-themed erotic stories, available for download or printing.
I know that it’s pretty short at 16 pages, but I wanted to put something out there; obviously I’ll keep writing. I’m pretty happy with these stories, so I hope they’ll do well.
