Adventures in Lace Knitting: Part Three - The Distractions

While the STB shawl project is still in time out, I've found a few nicer things to occupy my time this spring weekend.

First, I started knitting the Amelie Dress from Natural Knits for Moms and Babies. I've been eyeing this pattern for a while now. And the perfect opportunity came up when my dear friend announced her new baby is a girl. Act surprised when you get this Jen!

My other distraction is this baby quilt for another friend (seriously...I think there's something in the water...). I'm especially excited about this quilt, because I designed it. I have to say, the thing I'm loving most about sewing is the designing process. It's no secret that following directions isn't my best feature, but I do love getting an idea, sketching it out in my book, then getting to work.

Adventures in Lace Knitting: Part Two

@#$*! *&$%! #$%@!

Wondering how the adventure in lace knitting is going? Not well. Not well at all.

I finished the last portion of the body knitting, and the stitches basically matched up. However when I counted them to move on to the edging portion, I was 14 stitches short. That's a lot.

Now I have three choices here:

1. I can knit another row or two and creatively add 14 stitches. It's lace so what's a few extra holes here and there?

2. I can break my steadfast rule: don't turn back. Knitting, much like life, is never perfect so why go back and fix mistakes? But if I did, I'd have to rip back 12 rows to the third body section and hope the mistakes were just contained to the fourth section.

3. Shove the damn project in the bottom of the knitting bag and let it think long and hard about what its done.

I think I'm going to resort for option 3 for now.

In the meantime, I'm going to go play with my fabric for a while.

Adventures in Lace Knitting

Knitting on the Springtime Bandit Shawl is hitting a few bumps. The first three sections of the body portion worked out perfectly. Even numbers. Even knitting. It was lovely.

Then, somewhere, somehow in the fourth portion of the body section repeats, something got all pear shaped. The numbers didn't add up. The stitches weren't matching. At least that's how it was on one row, then the next, it'd magically all work out. I don't get it.

It's an adventure yes. And one I'm trying to remain patient on. But as we all know, that isn't really my strong suit. And I'm beginning to think neither is lace knitting.

But luckily, I'm always up for a good adventure.

Tag - I'm it!

Thanks Holli.

I've been photo tagged by Holli. She actually tagged me few days ago, but I've been enjoying an off-line weekend so I'm only now just discovering this. Unfortunately, it means a not-so-flattering pic for me.

Here are the rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.
Load the picture onto your blog.
Tag three people to play.

Today was my yoga class, laundry, errand running, craft Sunday. A perfect day. But I was doing all this without a shower and still wearing my yoga clothes and no make up. Lovely, I know.

So I just snapped the pic on my cell phone.

Now it's my turn to tag folks. I'm tagging Sara, Shannon, April and Jen. I know I'm only supposed to tag three people. But I just miss seeing these ladies lovely faces.

The creme brule quest continues

From France to Fremont.

The hubby and I went out to dinner at Rialto Pata Bar & Grill the other night. It's this cute little Italian place we've driven past hundreds of times and always thought we should try it. Well we finally did. It was pretty tasty and the ambiance was very quaint. The service was good and the wine was delish.

The dessert special of the night was creme brule so I just had to try it.

It was a coffee infused creme brule. I'm not a coffee drinker but that didn't deter me. Overall, the creme brule was tasty, but the quest for the French-like-creme brule is still on. Good thing I'm up for the challenge. It's also a good thing I've started back at the gym this week.

The search is on

I hit the Fiber Gallery sale this past weekend. I stocked up on the rest of the Baby Alpaca Chunky for the Springtime Bandit Shawl, which is coming along nicely if I do say so myself. It's my first lace pattern from a chart!

I also picked up this lovely pink Cahscotton DK. Now I just need to find a cute little baby sweater for this yarn. The search is on!

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd share some of the things I'm doing - or soon hope to do - to help Mother Earth. Plus they say if you share your goals, you're more likely to make them happen.

• Continue riding the bus to work and drive only a few times a month when needed (plus parking in Seattle really adds up!)
• Eliminate the use of paper towels in my house. We already use cloth napkins, but the hubby really likes paper towels.
• Start using homemade cleaners. Any one have any good recipes?
• Grow more veggies this year.
• Start making my own bread.
• Buy things with less packaging.

These are a good start I think, but I can't wait to add more to my list!

FO: My Socks

While I was in France, I was able to finish my socks!

Pattern: Simple Socks from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles

Yarn: Nodding Violet from Socks That Rock

Once again, I seemed to have a bit of a yarn pooling issue. Now that this is the second time I've made these socks with the same pooling issue. Which means it's the knitter. I've started a pair of socks the hubby and I'm seeing the same pooling. It's time to get smaller needles, rip out his sock and start over.

But at least his socks had a bit of an adventure. Here they are soaking up some sun in Nice, France. Nice, huh. (Editor's note: while the socks may look like they are striping, the other side is really pooling.)

Grateful

That's me.

I'm grateful for all the generosity that poured out at last night's charity auction for our very worthy cause.

I'm grateful for all the help I got in organizing the event and for the businesses that donated goods for our live and silent auction.

I'm grateful for my family and friends that put up with me as I planned, organized, stressed and was a wee bit crazed during this time.

And, I'll be honest here, I'm grateful it's over.

The reason for radio silence

Life is a little crazy around here and there is a very good reason for it. I'm in the final throws of organizing a big charity auction for a group I'm involved in. While it's very rewarding, and I'm excited at the possibility to help out a worth charity during these tough economic times, it's been a little more time consuming than I anticipated.

Very little knitting - OK none if you can believe that - has occurred (except when I manage to make it Purly Girls!) I really can't remember the last time I've made it to the gym and any "free time" I do find myself with basically consists of me lying in front of the TV because I'm too tired/brain dead to do anything else! It's quite sad really.

But the auction is this Saturday night! I'm very excited for the event and I confess, I am also excited to have it over with! Then I can get back to my crafty/exercising ways! I'm already dreaming of my next projects. They include a baby quilt, several baby sweaters a shawl and a pair of socks for the hubby! I also can't wait to get back to reading all of the blogs that I've grown to love! I miss every one's creativity!

France: It's all about the food

I have no shame and I'm fine admitting it. I basically ate my way through France and loved every minute of it! In fact, I've been craving some serious carbs since I got back! Apparently my diet is craving uber amounts of bread! Here are some of the delectable dishes we consumed - or salivated over:

Creme Brule was the dessert of choice for us. We "tested" it out all over the place and I can officially say the best is at La 16 in Arles, our favorite restaurant of the trip. I'm determined to learn how to make this dish!

These Sables were from the bakery down the street from our apartment. The picture above that is another dessert we ate with friends on night in Paris. Below, chocolate Eiffel Towers for sale in Montmart.We hit the Sunday morning farmers market at the Bastille and it's amazing to see the people who shop there every week! Below are some seasonings for sale.

More carbs please!

Cheese please! I was salivating over a huge hunks of cheese at the market! I had to have a cheese plate at La 16 in Alres! I love how the French eat their cheese plates for desserts, however I prefer to eat mine as an appetizer and have some chocolate or creme brule for dessert! But that's just me.
Above are some of the biggest beef steak tomatoes at the farmers market in Alres! I was amazed by how large the fruit and produce were at these small town markets! And what would a trip to France be without a crepe? So we had a nutella crepe in Aux-en-Provence. We had to slow down long enough for me to snap the picture. It was really good!
It's time to hit the gym...but worth every minute on the treadmill!

Finally, France!

It's been a very busy week, one made more difficult by the fact that jet lag kicked my ass much worse than I thought it would! But now, things have slowed down, sleep has been caught up on and I've finally had time to sift through some of my favorite pics from France. Enjoy!

A self portrait from the river cruise boat. Don't let the sunshine fool you, it was freakin' freezing in Paris! In fact, the night we went to the to the top of the Eiffel Tower, it was snowing! Pretty neat to see, but really cold! The stained glass windows in the Sainte-Chappelle Cathedral. They were the most beautiful windows I've ever seen. It's this little cathedral 2 blocks from the Notre Dame. On your next trip, this is a must. Plus there is no line. Below is a street pic I snapped just two blocks from our apartment in the Saint Germaine neighborhood. It was the perfect place to stay! The neighborhood was very lively and full of quaint shops, bakeries, tasty restaurants and walking distance from all the major sites! I'll be staying there again!

This block in Montmart was filled with artists....very inspirational to see! Below is the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. We took a 1/2 day trip out there and it was quite the palace. It was too early for the gardens to bloom, so I guess I'll have to go back.

This is the courtyard in our little hotel in Arles, the Hotel du Musee. It was the cutest little place I've ever stayed. Arles was a great town, full of beautiful old buildings, Roman ruins and great people. We were lucky enough to be there before their big tourist season hit. We were able to chat with shop owners, they told us where they liked eat in town and what they loved to do in the area. If you go to the South of France, you must stay in Arles at the Hotel du Musee. Below is a picture from inside the big Roman Amphitheater. They still have bull fights there. Easter weekend is their big fighting tournament.

Above is a picture of an Arles courtyard where they were growing their own lemon trees. Below if the Mediterranean coast in Nice. The day we went down there, it was nearly 70 and people were frolicking in the water! I even saw one lady knitting on the beach!
The sister's self portrait series was snapped throughout France, her we are on the rocky beach of Nice - it was so nice!

This was only the tip of the iceburg of pictures. Tomorrow, I'll be posting many of the pics of French food! It was that tasty so it deserves its own blog post!

Home Sweet Home

France with my mother and sister was absolutely amazing! The trip was a ton of fun and a huge adventure! Now I'm back home, doing laundry, unpacking my treasures and getting ready to get back to life.

I have nearly 600 pics that I need to download, sort through and then post (not all of them, don't worry!) Until then, I'm catching up on all my emails, blog reading and such (thank you jet lag for waking me up from 12-2 and then again at 5am to get this all accomplished...).

But for now, I have sweet memories, fun pics and a strong desire for pain au chocolate for another breakfast. Thank goodness there is a delicious French bakery at the Pike Place Market. I think they have a new customer for life. Oh, and I decided I must learn how to make my own bread and creme brulee.

Stay tuned.

A bientot mes amies!

I leave in a few hours for France with my mom and my sister! We are all very excited about this trip! This is something we've talked about for years, but one of those things we've never really acted on until a few months ago. And I'm so glad we did! I know it'll be a great adventure full of fun sights, yummy food, and I'm sure a few squabbles...we are family after all! But at the end of the day, your family loves you no matter what! Plus, in our case, it's usually all settled with a glass of wine or a good gin and tonic!

I'm currently debating about the whole knitting needle on flight issues. Normally, I'm fine, but now I'm working on my socks with two long metal circs. If I can take them on the plane, I'll have a new pair of socks to walk around France in. Otherwise, I'll have to shove them in my suitcase and hope there are good movies on the flight to entertain me. But then again, how do you enjoy a good movie without good knitting? Ah...I know...my issues....you all feel for me. I can tell!

Enjoy your crafting/cooking/travel adventures while I'm away! I look forward to reading all about them on your blogs that I've come to treasure so much!

Well I almost made it....

The plan was no more yarn/knitting stuff until after France. (I also had to amend that plan to include no new fabric after several trips to the fabric shop resulted in lots of new pretty fabric in the craft closet.) So what do I do five days before I leave? Bought new needles for my latest project: Springtime Bandit Scarf.

Oh well, at least I'm holding off until buying the rest of the yarn until I get back. So it almost counts....right?

Look! Look! Look!

I can see out my windows! My view is back!!!

I came home yesterday and the plastic construction wrap was gone, but the scaffolding was still there!

Then, I came home today and the scaffolding was gone!

I'll admit it, I got a little misty....

I guess the hubby was listening

Last Friday night, as I was finishing my first sock, I was singing the praises of just knitting on one project at a time. I quickly cast on for the second sock and got to work. I showed the hubby my fabulous new sock and he too agreed, it was fabulous, then went back to watching T.V.

Fast forward 48 hours to Sunday night. I was getting ready to pick up the sock, when I was distracted by the lovely new scarf pattern Rebecca sent me, Springtime Bandit. Then I realized this lovely yarn I had needed the perfect pattern to go with it. And there you have it. The beginning of my next project.

So here I was: in one hand, the pattern, in the other, my luscious yarn. Then I heard it:

The hubby: "What are you doing? You can't start another project until your socks are done. Isn't that what you were talking about the other night?"

Me: "Ah....huh."

Hubby: "Where's your sock? Put that down and finish your sock."

Me: "Uh, O.K."

What's a wife to do? That's right. I knit on the sock on Sunday night. And on Monday at my knitting group, I started the scarf. Pictures to come later. Stay tuned.

Well huh.

I've been using the "Erin" method of knitting (focus on only one project instead of my usual three at the same time) for a while now and it still amazes me at how quickly I get things done.

Like this sock for instance. It is supposed to be my travel knitting project, but clearly I'm just whipping right through it. I've got the first one done and the second one is well on its way. I guess I'll just have to wear them around France instead of working on them!

Now to find another project....perhaps the hubby will get a hand knit pair of socks for being understanding about this two week trip with my mom and sister to France that he wasn't invited on.

Getting closer...

Je suis tres enthousiaste por mon vogage a France avec mon mere et mon soeur!

It's getting closer and I've been so busy lately that I just realized it's less than two weeks away! I've been brushing up on my French. I feel pretty good about it. I've got some of the basics down:

- Where is the bathroom? Ou es les toilettes?
- I'd like a chocolate eclair please. Je voudrais un chocolate eclair s'il vous plais.
- I'd like a glass of white wine please. Je voudrais un verre de vin blanc s'il vous plais.

Really, do I need much else in France?

If you have any great French travel tips, places I should see, cafes I should stop and get a bit to eat in, please share! Merci!

They are not so much stripes...

...as they are diagonals. But it's better than the yarn pooling so I'll take it.

The things you find in houses

The hubby and I have started house hunting. It's kind of exciting and scary at the same time. I guess it's time to give up our renting ways to put down some roots.

We've been out with our realtor a couple of times now and well, there's a lot of overpriced crap out there. There's also some interesting crap out there. You never know what you're going to find when house hunting.

Like today for instance. We went into one one house and saw not one, but two, organs that seems liked the house -which was built in the 1920's - was literally built around them. They were tucked away in these cubby like organ holes. The one on the main level was huge, then I went into the basement to discover there was another one:

Ah, the things you find in houses. The organs were also for sale so if you're in the market for one, I can hook you up with the realtor.

The Nebraska Gift of the Month CLub

For the hubby's birthday his year, his sisters gave him a 6 month membership to the Nebraska Gift of the Month Club. Now, I'm sure you're wondering why Nebraska. Well, a very small town in Nebraska called Guide Rock is where the hubby's dad and his four brothers grew up on a farm.

So for the last few months we've enjoyed salsa from Nebraska, and Italian salad dressing (I know, who knew). Now, being the massive popcorn lover that I am, I was waiting for the box of popcorn to arrive.

And arrive, it finally did.

In the box was 5 flavors of popcorn: carmel, kettle, salt & vinegar, cheese and tutti frutti.

Now I have to say, I was a little frightened at this. I'm a popcorn purist. I believe all you need is just the butter. The carmel and kettle corns were quite tasty. We tried the salt & vinegar, but neither of us liked it so we pawned it off on a friend. But the cheese and tutti fruitti just scare us.

For one thing, the tutti fruitti weights 10 oz. All that candy coating is quite heavy on the popcorn. And I'm sure you're curious about what exactly is shellacked on the popcorn since its not naturally flavored like strawberries, grapes and bananas. Such natural ingredients like; sodium bensoate, lecithin, mono and diglycerides. Yum.

The hubby is taking the cheese and tutti fruitti flavors to work in the hopes that some people will eat them so I don't have to feel guilty about throwing the food away. Although I'm sure with all of those preservatives, it wouldn't go bad.

Project Update: Condo Progress!

Since another busy week around the Knitting Knot means little progress on knitting, I thought I'd share some progress on the condo construction!

Construction crews finally installed the insulation in our entry way along with new drywall that's now all patched up! It's nice to finally have insulation again now that spring is coming up. I mean, it's not like I needed it December and January when we were having record low temps.

And the new windows are really nice too! The new skylights will look great once I can look up and see the sky instead of construction workers.

They've also started adding the new exterior siding. It's darker than I'd like, but as long as I don't look out the window and see the mold growing on the side of my condo, I'm quite happy.

And the best news is, they've started taking the scaffolding and plastic wrap down on the other two buildings! Ours is hopefully not far off either. In fact, I used my journalistic interviewing skills to get to the bottom of this matter. The following interview was conducted in my elevator as I headed to the bus stop this morning:

Me: "Hey, how's it going?"

Construction guy who happened to get into the elevator with me: "Good, and you?"

Me: "Good thanks."

CG: "Good."

Me: "So, um, when are you going to be done?"

CG: Laughing. "Uh, well, we're starting to take down the scaffolding on the second building today so yours should start to come down in about two weeks."

Me: Playing it journalisticly cool, "Really? Ohmygosh that's so great! Really? You're not just making that up?"

CG: Now trying to get off the elevator and get to work, "Uh, yeah. Have a nice day."

Back in the saddle again

It's been a very long week and sadly, there has been no knitting. Last week I finished my project (a gift to be shown later). And to top it off, I also finished my book! I don't like that anxious feeling of what to knit next as I dig through the yarn stash while also flipping through my library of knitting books. Usually, I don't have this issue as I have projects lined up. But not this time. And this crazy week I just had didn't leave me with any knitting time, let alone much free time anyway.

But I'm happy to say it's a new week. And a new project was cast on this morning in fact. Then progress was made when I met up with Jessica, Rebecca and new knitter Margaret at Trophy Cupcake for knitting and a sweet treat! Nothing like friends and a good sugar rush to get a sock project off to a good start!